A funeral service will be held at 11:08 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the First Lutheran Church in Algona. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at the first Lutheran Church in Algona. Udaku Special NAFASI ZA AJIRA BONYEZA HAPA President Uhuru Kenyatta has banned maize exports to the country with immediate effect.This follows ravaging drought in many parts of the country that has affected the grain reserves.Uhuru said a stern action will be taken against those who will be found exporting grain or hoarding stocks in order to sell at inflated prices during the dry season.''We will not allow any trader to buy maize in large amount so as to store and eventually cash in following the ravaging drought in the country,'' the president said on Friday during a tour of Isiolo, which is among the drought stricken counties in the country.According to the government, drought is worst in the Coastal region, specifically in Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River and Taita Taveta counties.Other counties that have been hit include Kitui, Garissa, Mandera, Marsabit, Makueni, Samburu and Wajir.Uhuru said the national government will revise its budget in order to address the drought menace in the country.I'm also urging county governments to relook their budgets in order to cushion Kenyans against the effects of the drought, he said.The country consumes about 29 million bags of maize every six months but there is biting shortage due to poor rains which reduced harvests and affected stocks in the national grain reserve in the past season.Reports from the Ministry of Agriculture indicates the country has 21 million bags of maize as of now, translating to a deficit of eight million bags.The stocks include those held by farmers and the Strategic Grain Reserve and can only last until June.Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett however said there is no plan to import maize since there is enough stock of other types of foods grains and legumes.The CS said the government will purchase two million bags of maize from farmers before end month to increase the stocks.The government is offering Sh3000 for a bag of maize, which the CS said is fair enough.So far, we have bought 1.4 million bags of 90 kilogrammes each, he said noting purchases would have been higher if farmers were not hoarding maize. Editors note: More information has become available since this statement was released on January 23. While many details of the Global Gag Rule policy are still unclear, it now appears to expand to other aspects of global health assistance in addition to family planning and reproductive health, potentially impacting U.S. funding for maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, infectious diseases, and neglected tropical diseases. The UN Foundation is deeply concerned about the Global Gag Rule, which may have devastating implications for millions of women and families. United Nations Foundation President and CEO Kathy Calvin today issued the following statement on the imposition of the Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule, last enacted in 2001. The policy, enacted again today through Executive action, prohibits foreign non-governmental organizations from receiving any U.S. foreign assistance for family planning if they provide information, referrals, or services for legal abortion or lobby for abortion. U.S. law already prohibits the use of U.S. foreign assistance to pay for abortion information and services as a method of family planning. Therefore, organizations that provide abortion information or services do so with non-U.S. government funding. The enactment of the Global Gag Rule means organizations that provide abortion information or services or lobby for abortion cannot receive any U.S. foreign assistance, even for their non-abortion work, including providing voluntary family planning services and reproductive health care. Calvin said: The United Nations Foundation does not support the Global Gag Rule, which jeopardizes the health and well-being of the worlds most vulnerable girls and women. This action will do more than change policy; it will make it more difficult for millions of girls and women to access the contraception and health care they need to determine their futures. When the policy was last enacted, health care clinics in many countries were forced to close and outreach services for the hardest to reach populations were eliminated, leaving many of the worlds poorest people without access to critical services, such as maternal and child health care, HIV testing and counseling, and contraceptives, including condoms. Without these life-saving services, more women and infants died due to pregnancy-related complications. In some countries, the Global Gag Rule led to increases in abortions as women had more unintended pregnancies. The Global Gag Rule also runs counter to long-standing bipartisan support in Congress and in the American public for U.S. leadership in providing voluntary family planning services to women and couples around the world who want it. U.S. funding for voluntary family planning programs globally has allowed girls to stay in school, pursue jobs, and have children if and when they are ready. It has helped to improve maternal and child health, decrease unintended pregnancies, lower HIV infection rates, and reduce poverty. Still, more than 225 million women worldwide who want to delay or avoid pregnancy are not using modern contraception and need our support. Now is the time to build on progress, not reverse it. The United Nations Foundation stands ready to work with the new U.S. Administration to continue Americas leadership in improving health around the world. Access to reproductive health care, including contraception, is a human right and enables girls and women to plan their lives, climb out of poverty, and achieve a more sustainable future. ### About the United Nations Foundation The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the worlds most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: www.unfoundation.org. MASON CITY Two North Iowans who allegedly led police on a high-speed chase down gravel roads in Cerro Gordo County face criminal charges, officials say. According to a report from Sheriff Kevin Pals, a deputy attempted to stop a pickup near Partridge and Owl avenues for a traffic violation at 8:58 p.m. Saturday. The driver refused to stop and a pursuit went on for several miles on gravel roads. Officials say the chase topped 80 mph. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals said the chased ended when the driver, Danny Lee Belcher, drove into a farm field. A sheriff's deputy then stopped Belcher's car by hitting it, a move called a pit maneuver. No one was hurt. The pickup and patrol car were both damaged. Belcher, 45, Rockwell, was charged with felony eluding and felony possession of a controlled substance. The passenger, Vanessa Rose Belcher, 42, Rockwell, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, felony failure to affix a tax stamp, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. Both were being held at the Cerro Gordo County Jail. Bond for Vanessa Belcher was set at $25,000 while bond for Danny Belcher was set at $10,000. Who says school has to be boring? It may not sound exciting to wake up early in the morning only to attend a dragging 7AM class but this university might just change the way you look at going to school, especially when you are just about to listen about something that you really, really love. This goes out to all the anime fans out there. Recently, the University of South Carolina is now offering a course all about anime, according to Comicbook. This course is currently being offered as an English 101 course, so if you are an incoming freshman student, you can go ahead and check whether you can take this anime class. This English introductory course is titled "Reading and Writing about Magical Girls". This class, given that it is a course introducing the basics of English aim to excite students about writing and interacting with media according to Crunchyroll. It could even be more effective compared to using the traditional methods, because who will not be excited to watch an anime for a homework? The course was taught by a PhD candidate who is currently studying English and was first held last semester in the university. The professor is being highly praised online for being enthusiastic for the class, rather than cynical. Sure enough, it will only take a matter of time before similar courses will alsp start being offered around the world. The abbreviated list of the objectives of the course is as follows: Understand the basic tropes and methodologies of the magical girl genre. Use the genre to introduce basic tenets of feminism. Question whether niche interests like anime can elaborate on theoretical questions of aesthetics versus politics in a meaningful way. Connect the magical girl genre to larger questions of political importance. Teach students how to write (this is, after all, an introductory level English course). A student group is suing a Michigan community college after its members were arrested and jailed for distributing pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution on campus, news reports say. Two student members of the Young Americans for Liberty chapter at Kellogg Community College in Michigan, along with other members of the group, were distributing free copies of the Constitution in an open area in front of the college's Binda Performing Arts Center on Sept. 20, 2016, Watchdog reported. They allege in their lawsuit that school administrators reprimanded them for violating the school's Solicitation Policy and then had them arrested by campus police. Michelle Gregoire and Brandon Withers, both from KCC, allege in the lawsuit that the administrator told them they violated the policy because they were giving copies of the Constitution without prior approval. Additionally, the administrator told them that holding such activity in the said location inside the campus was also a violation. The students also allege that the administrator said they were an "obstruction to [the] education" of students passing in the said area, because they were asking passersby if they "like freedom and liberty." Prior to the incident, Gregoire alleged that she did give efforts to establishing YAL's KCC chapter, but was prohibited from approaching students with the intention of recruiting members. Seeing that she won't succeed in doing so, she asked help from the Leadership Institute, an organization that trains young conservative activists, to recruit students. After that, Gregoire and Withers, along with YAL - Michigan State University chapter vice president Isaac Edikaukas, proceeded to distribute the copies. They were initially approached by an administrator who, after listening to Gregoire's explanation as to why they proceeded to hold the activity without prior approval, left them and gave them enough time to continue. Another administrator, however, appeared and tried to stop what they were doing. Withers left the area, but Gregoire, Edikaukas, and Nathan Berning from the Leadership Institute, were arrested and jailed (see video below). The three were released after posting bond seven hours later, but the administrator prohibited Gregoire from returning to school without his permission. Ten days after the arrest, the charges against them were dropped. The students, who received help from Alliance Defending Freedom, allege in their lawsuit that KCC violated their rights of freedom of speech, due process, and equal protection under the law. KCC, for its part, is a public institution and is therefore bound by the First Amendment. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is poised to be one of the most impressive phones to debut this year, but this could all be ruined if Samsung copies Apple's move to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. Samsung will feature the USB Type-C headphone port, which is complicated for the Android ecosystem with incompatible devices like headphones only working for one type of device. Samsung Galaxy S8 - Expected iPhone-like Features As of now, only Apple and Google have smart assistants, but the Samsung Galaxy S8 will now have its own Bixby. This report is backed up by Samsung's acquisition of Viv Labs Inc., a company run by a co-creator of the Siri voice assistant program. The Samsung Galaxy S8 like the iPhone 7 Plus will also have two rear cameras and reported to incorporate the pressure-sensitive technology like the 3D Touch first used in the iPhone 6S. Moreover, Samsung will reportedly ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of the USB Type-C port, Express Online has learned. If this is the case, then the Samsung Galaxy S8 will ruin its chance to be the smartphone to beat this year mainly because the port is problematic in the Android ecosystem. HTC to achieve sonar-like capabilities in its audio opted for the USB-C headphone port with the USonic headphone compatible only with HTC devices. Incompatibility of gadgets among Android phones defeats the purpose of having the USB-C port, which supports the ability to share cables among various devices. Consumers are expecting that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have both the 3.5mm headphone jack and the standard USB-C port to optimize usage. Samsung Galaxy S8 Specs - What Is Known So Far Meanwhile, what is known so far about the Samsung Galaxy S8 reveals a bezel-less display and no home physical button. The new design will increase the screen area while keeping its overall size, but as to where the fingerprint reader will be relocated is still undisclosed. The Samsung Galaxy S8 will also have the dual-curved display with Quad HD resolution, but new leaks suggest a 4K display. The higher display requires greater power, which could indicate a bigger and more powerful battery, the Tribune reported. Since the Samsung Galaxy S8 is a flagship device, it is only logical that it will be run with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. Moreover, Samsung will unveil the phone not in the MWC 2017, but in a special event set in April. College-bound students are often tense about being accepted to that dream college or university they applied to. While some are not accepted and are devastated by it (or not), some are accepted into the universities they send applications to. Some of them, however, don't enroll where they are accepted. A report from U.S. News ranks the colleges that have high yield rates. Yield rates indicate the number of students who actually enroll in comparison to the number of applications that were accepted. A college with a low yield rate might have accepted more than 6,000 applications, but only saw about 3,000 students enroll for the semester. Another with a high yield rate would expect to have almost all accepted students enroll for the semester. Among National Universities, Stanford University topped the list as having the highest yield rate for fall 2015 at 80.4% . A National University offers a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master's and doctoral degrees. Among National Liberal Arts Colleges, on the other hand, the United States Naval Academy had the highest yield for fall 2015 at 86.7%. National Liberal Arts Colleges, unlike National Universities, place emphasis on undergraduate education, awarding about half of all degrees in the liberal arts. Here's a list of colleges with high yield rates: Top National Universities According to Yield Rates Stanford University (CA) - 80.4% Harvard University (MA) - 79.8% Brigham Young University-Provo (UT) - 79.8% Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 72.8% University of Alaska-Fairbanks - 70.2% Princeton University (NJ) - 67.7% Yale University (CT) - 67.2% University of Pennsylvania - 64.3% Columbia University (NY) - 63.0% University of Nebraska-Lincoln - 62.3% Top National Liberal Arts Colleges According to Yield Rates With the soaring costs of higher education, which includes tuition, housing, food, and textbook costs, many students can only dream of going to college. Many stop at high school due to lack of funds, while others cannot afford to study while raising a family. Student loans, although helpful, become a burden especially for those who don't graduate. Income-share agreements, on the other hand, also provide a great alternative to college funding, but pose risks to students who don't understand how they work. Thankfully, there is an even better alternative to both: colleges with zero tuition. CNBC reports that there are a few colleges that offer good quality education at no cost. But while the idea of free education sounds dreamy, the requirements and the non-financial costs of entering are actually high. Still, these colleges provide good training to students, both academically and practically. Here are some colleges where students can study for free. Berea College - Kentucky Berea College aims to provide education to committed students. In exchange for mandatory classroom attendance and a set number of hours of campus work per week, deserving students are given a four-year scholarship and a laptop. Room, board, and other expenses are shouldered by students. College of the Ozarks - Missouri Also called "Hard Work U," the College of the Ozarks is one of the hardest Midwestern schools to enter. In exchange for 15 hours of work a week plus two 40-hour weeks as part of the school's Work Education Program, students don't pay anything for tuition. Room and board, however, are shouldered by students. Webb Institute - Long Island, New York Webb Institute, founded by the shipbuilder William Webb, gives full scholarships for students who wish to pursue naval architecture and marine engineering. Students who graduate from this little college in New York often find themselves employed soon enough with its 100 placement rate. College is often the first time a student gets to live outside the comforts of home. While living in a dorm on campus is a most comfortable and ideal choice for many, it does have some disadvantages that living off-campus does not. As such, living off campus can be a good choice. Second year Literary Journalism major at the University of California, Irvine, and part-time barista Kaitlin Hurtado, however, noted in an article in Uloop that choosing to live off campus will greatly affect your overall college experience. It might make it better, or it might make it worse, depending on what happens. To help you decide if living off-campus is for you, here are a few considerations you should make. The Commute One of the biggest, if not most time-consuming, factor you should consider is the commute you'll have if you live outside your campus. While living in a dorm on campus means spending a lot less time going to and from the classroom, living off campus means traveling to and from school to your apartment or housing. And that will take time. A car might even be necessary. The Financial Situation On-campus housing options are usually far more expensive than off-campus choices. On-campus dorms often come with a meal plan, which is usually expensive: Students can expect to pay between $8,887 to $10,089 for dorming. Off-campus options can be way cheaper, to as low as $500 a month for rent, food and utilities excluded. The Responsibility On campus residents are monitored by housing staff, and are given housing guidelines they need to adhere to. Off campus residents, on the other hand, have it easier than on campus residents, although the risk of danger and of poor discipline due to a lighter enforcement of guidelines (if any). In addition, on campus residents have the added benefit of having housing staff help mediate in cases of issues between roommates, while off campus living does not. More than that, living outside the campus does not guarantee that students will have a community that encourages them to study well. The farther from the campus your housing gets, the less likely your community will be conducive to your education. With the Internet and the social media, the world has become smaller and closer. More so, information has become readily available and accessible. However, a recent study by a team of researchers revealed that social media can, in fact, cause people to become more narrow-minded. Just like any other thing in this world, social media has a dark side. According to a recent study called "The spreading of misinformation online" said that it can create polarized communities because they developed the same content consumption pattern. The study explains that social media is now awash with user-provided content, a lot of which are unverified rumors or just personal opinions not based on logic or fact. Most of these user-provided content has two distinct narratives - scientific news and conspiracy theories. It added that selective exposure to such content will create homogeneous clusters or echo chambers which diffuse the same content while ignoring the rest. Thus, even if the information is wrong, a homogeneous group will still consume and share it. Alessandro Bessi, the co-author of the study and a post-doctoral with the Information Science Institute at the University of Southern California, said that their main objective for the study was about how fake new proliferates in the World Wide Web after the World New Forum listed digital misinformation as one of the main threats to the society today. As they analyzed this phenomena, they also discovered that scientific news and conspiracy theories drew a lot of attention with communities built around them to discuss related topics around these subjects. Bessi explained that the reason for this is confirmation bias - people's tendency to confirm their pre-existing beliefs to prove that it is true. Because of this, they tend to block out any information, no matter how strong the facts are, that does not agree with their beliefs. He also cautions that all people are subject to confirmation bias although there are different degrees how deep the bias goes. This becomes even stronger if a person receives that information from someone they trust or close to them who shares their beliefs. Then, information is shared without really examining how legitimate it is or not. Machine learning is becoming more and more sophisticated as technology also advances. One of its latest achievements is helping liver patients find a match from liver donors by streamlining the process. Two medical specialists at the Austin Health's Liver Transplant Unit in Melbourne, Australia developed an algorithm that matches potential liver donor with patients. The specialists said that they modeled the algorithm from the dating site, eHarmony, hoping to make the process faster which will, eventually, save more lives. Bob Jones, director of the liver transplant unit, and Lawrence Lau said that they used 25 different features of donors and recipients and plug them into the algorithm to create faster and better outcome. Those features include the basic information, such as sex, age, and blood type, as well as certain characteristics the donors have. After that, they used the machine learning algorithm to assess the results of 75 patients who have undergone transplants. The algorithm is 84 percent accurate compared to the traditional method of matching donors and recipients which is only 68 percent. Jones said that this was the first time for them to asses the suitability of the liver compared to the current method where the specialist has to do all the work to assess everything. Although the first stage was successful, Jeremy Chapman, the director of renal transplant at the Westmead Hospital, said that although the result is positive, the information should be used to inform the decision but not to make the decision. Jones agreed saying their research is still in its early stages but he added that they want to add a thorough process that will include quantifiable considerations. They said that they want to use it in a randomized clinical trial with ethical approval. The study, titled "Machine Learning Algorithms Predict Graft Failure," has been submitted to a number of medical journals. /> java.io.FileNotFoundException: /web/unodc/content/en/frontpage/2017/january/unodc-gathers-penal-reform-leaders-from-across-the-globe-to-promote-prison-rehabilitation--reintegration-and-tackle-re-offending.html (No such file or directory) java.io.FileInputStream.open0(Native Method) java.io.FileInputStream.open(FileInputStream.java:195) java.io.FileInputStream.(FileInputStream.java:138) java.io.FileInputStream.(FileInputStream.java:93) org.apache.jsp.WEB_002dINF.dyncontent.util_005fsupport.cms3_005fredirect_jsp._jspService(cms3_005fredirect_jsp.java:166) org.apache.jasper.runtime.HttpJspBase.service(HttpJspBase.java:70) javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:764) org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServletWrapper.service(JspServletWrapper.java:466) org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.serviceJspFile(JspServlet.java:379) org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.service(JspServlet.java:327) javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:764) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:228) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:163) org.apache.logging.log4j.web.Log4jServletFilter.doFilter(Log4jServletFilter.java:64) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:190) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:163) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationDispatcher.invoke(ApplicationDispatcher.java:711) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationDispatcher.doInclude(ApplicationDispatcher.java:578) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationDispatcher.include(ApplicationDispatcher.java:517) org.undcp.common.WebResourceHandler.processDynamicContent(WebResourceHandler.java:347) org.undcp.common.WebResourceHandler.doFilter(WebResourceHandler.java:142) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:190) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:163) org.undcp.common.EntryPoint.doFilter(EntryPoint.java:710) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:190) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:163) org.apache.logging.log4j.web.Log4jServletFilter.doFilter(Log4jServletFilter.java:71) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:190) org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:163) org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:188) org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:97) org.keycloak.adapters.tomcat.AbstractAuthenticatedActionsValve.invoke(AbstractAuthenticatedActionsValve.java:67) org.apache.catalina.authenticator.AuthenticatorBase.invoke(AuthenticatorBase.java:542) org.keycloak.adapters.tomcat.AbstractKeycloakAuthenticatorValve.invoke(AbstractKeycloakAuthenticatorValve.java:181) org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:143) psiprobe.Tomcat90AgentValve.invoke(Tomcat90AgentValve.java:38) org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:92) org.apache.catalina.valves.AbstractAccessLogValve.invoke(AbstractAccessLogValve.java:687) org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:78) org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:357) org.apache.coyote.ajp.AjpProcessor.service(AjpProcessor.java:433) org.apache.coyote.AbstractProcessorLight.process(AbstractProcessorLight.java:65) org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol$ConnectionHandler.process(AbstractProtocol.java:893) org.apache.tomcat.util.net.NioEndpoint$SocketProcessor.doRun(NioEndpoint.java:1723) org.apache.tomcat.util.net.SocketProcessorBase.run(SocketProcessorBase.java:49) java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1149) java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:624) org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.TaskThread$WrappingRunnable.run(TaskThread.java:61) java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:748) Orlando, Jan. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erin Gray, deputy general counsel of capital markets for CNL Financial Group, will speak at the Society for Corporate Governance Essentials Seminar being held Jan. 2527 at Walt Disney Worlds BoardWalk Inn. Gray is a member of a panel that will discuss the significance of developing a company-wide record management and retention policy, including protecting personally identifiable information, mobile devices, electronic files and litigation holds. At CNL, Gray is responsible for overseeing the companys wholesale broker-dealer regulatory team, providing legal and regulatory support, and overseeing the firms private placement investment opportunities. She has previously managed the corporate legal, litigation, contract negotiation and legal billing functions for CNL and its affiliates. As data breaches, both accidental and through hackers, become more commonplace, it becomes even more important that companies have policies and procedures in place to protect all of their devices and the information they contain, Gray said. I look forward to sharing with other industry professionals the necessity of establishing and implementing these policies, and hearing how other businesses are approaching this issue. About CNL Financial Group CNL Financial Group (CNL) is a leading private investment management firm providing global real estate and alternative investments. Since inception in 1973, CNL and/or its affiliates have formed or acquired companies with more than $34 billion in assets. CNL is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit CNL.com. ### January 23 2017 Photography by Gillian Hayes The National Theatre of Scotland has formally unveiled its brand new headquarters at Speirs Locks, Glasgow , on the banks of the Forth & Clyde canal.Designed by Hoskins Architects the 6.5m project entailed remodelling an existing warehouse to create facilities for production, rehearsal and talent development but no public performance space.Rockvilla will bring the company together under one roof for the first time and includes a community suite, wardrobe, workshop, offices and technical store.In a statement Hoskins Architects said: "The retention of the structural warehouse frame creates a typically factory-like form; a new biomass boiler enclosure adjacent being the only additional footprint on the site. The building is clad in sinusoidal metal, a material synonymous with the industrial aesthetic, appropriate for the vision of a creative factory and in keeping with the history of the site. The elevation is raised above the banal by the careful arrangement of openings and cladding into four distinct bands, creating a calm, controlled facade. The use of a limited palette of materials internally (white walls and a polished concrete ground floor with an exposed steel structure, existing and new) continues the raw aesthetic while meeting the performance requirements of a modern theatre company."Visual connections often by way of high-performance acoustic glazing between the different departments, including the rehearsal spaces, is key to the design and bringing together a company who have never before been housed under the same roof."In excess of 500 student beds are planned for the Speirs Locks area as part of a wider masterplan. January 23 2017 Organic Architects have tabled plans for what would be the largest whisky distillery in Britain outside Scotland at Princetown, Dartmoor The 4m plant is being backed by Princetown Distillers for the remote site owing to its high annual rainfall and low temperatures, ideal conditions for storing spirits for the three-year minimum period before it can legal.ly be classed as whisky.Formed from natural granite rubble, white render the facility would sit beneath a pagoda-style roof on the site of a number of disused workshops.Outlining this approach the architects observed: The square plan is topped by an iconic pagoda roof which forms a new landmark feature. This style of roof form originally vented malting kilns and has come to typify distilleries around the world. The creation of an attractive pagoda roof is therefore an appropriate feature for this building typology.In urban design terms it is placed at the heart of the building grouping as a strong architectural feature.Once fully operational the distillery would be capable of producing around 400,000 litres of pure alcohol a year and is expected to attract as many as 30,000 tourists to an on-site visitor centre every year. J.-C. Chiao, a University of Texas at Arlington electrical engineering professor, has been named a Fellow of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. J.-C. Chiao, a UTA electrical engineering professor, was named a Fellow of SPIE, the leading organization for those in optics and photonics technology. He was recognized for achievements in micro medical devices and systems, and will be formally inducted as a Fellow Jan. 30 during the SPIE Fellows luncheon at The Moscone Center in San Francisco. Chiao, who holds a life membership in SPIE, joined the UTA College of Engineering in 2002 and has secured nearly $5 million in research funding during his career. His work is focused on medical micro devices and microsystems, bioelectronics systems, MEMS or Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, quasi-optical wireless systems and micro-nano-optics. He is the Janet and Mike Greene Endowed Professor and Jenkins Garrett Endowed Professor of Electrical Engineering. He has published and edited numerous peer-reviewed technical journal and conference papers, book chapters, proceedings and books. He holds 11 U.S. patents in MEMS, liquid crystal and wireless medical sensor technologies. It is truly an honor to be recognized by such a group of innovative scientists and engineers for my career work in micro medical devices and systems. I am proud to have my name added to the list of Fellows in this great organization, Chiao said. Chiao joins UTA electrical engineering professors Robert Magnusson and Weidong Zhou as fellows of SPIE. Chiao has been general chair/co-chair for 16 SPIE international conferences. Dr. Chiao has greatly contributed to the health care field through his work with microfluidic sensors to detect cancer metastasization, gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD sensing, and electronic pain management. He has been a positive force for our department in research and teaching since his arrival, said Jonathan Bredow, professor and chair of UTAs Electrical Engineering Department. Being named a Fellow of SPIE is a well-deserved award. Chiao has won several prestigious awards, such as the 2012 Heroes of Healthcare Research in Medicine Award, the 2011 Tech Titans Technology Innovator Award, the 2012 IEEE Region 5 Outstanding Engineering Educator award, and the 2011 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Engineering by The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas. To date, more than 1,000 SPIE members have been elected as Fellows. Boasting more than 18,000 members worldwide, SPIE was founded as the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers. It is the most recognized and largest association for optics and photonics. The nonprofit organization provided $3.2 million in support of education and outreach programs in 2013, including about $396,000 in scholarships and more than $90,000 in support of photonics-related education and outreach projects. Excel in academics at UW-Stevens Point The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point offers more than 120 undergraduate programs in 48 majors and 78 minors. As a Pointer, you will learn from a diverse faculty eager to guide you at one of the best colleges in Wisconsin and the Midwest. About your academic journey At UW-Stevens Point, you will enter a broad-based general education program. Our faculty will guide you toward global citizenship. They will challenge you to see the world from others perspectives. Choosing a major Your UW-Stevens Point major will give you hands-on classwork inside and outside classrooms to set you up for success. UW-Stevens Points majors and minors, graduate programs and online programs are housed within four colleges: University College helps students find services and programs that lead to a successful transition into UW-Stevens Point. Discover more through the UW-Stevens Point course catalog. You also can examine the UW-Stevens Point timetable. We will support you We offer services such as the Tutoring-Learning Center. It provides help with writing assignments, assistive technology and computer programs, and math and science. Albertson Hall, which houses the University Library, supports students with research information, reference assistance and more. The Disability and Assistive Technology Center helps UW-Stevens Point students who have disabilities. You also can get help selecting a major or with planning your career through the Academic and Career Advising Center. Explore your opportunities Learn more about us , visit UW-Stevens Point and apply today. Learn more about core UW-Stevens Point ideas, administration, employment and campus information. NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments, the global asset management and investment advisory business of Guggenheim Partners, today provided its 10 Macro Themes for 2017. Scott Minerd, Chairman of Investment and Global CIO, and Guggenheims Macroeconomic and Investment Research Group analyze in 10 annotated charts the global macroeconomic trends believed most likely to shape the investment environment in 2017 and beyond. Among the major views: The combination of tax cuts and infrastructure spending under a range of fiscal stimulus plansincluding the Trump campaign proposalwill boost GDP growth, but the impact will be determined by size, scope, and timing. We expect three, possibly four, rate hikes in 2017, which will result in a yield curve flattening. A barbell portfolio strategy is appropriate for this kind of market. Thanks to improving oil prices, easier lending conditions, and stronger economic growth, the high-yield corporate default rate will fall to 4 percent in 2017, a level below the 25-year average. Investors should maintain exposure to leveraged credit. Oil will rise but average less than $60 per barrel, the unemployment rate will fall below 4 percent, and inflation will be contained. About Guggenheim Investments Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, with $204 billion1 in assets across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 275+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification and attractive long-term results. 1Guggenheim Investments' total asset figure is as of 9.30.2016 and includes $11.7 billion of leverage for assets under management and $0.5 billion for assets for which Guggenheim provides administrative services. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited and Guggenheim Partners India Management. This material is distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investing advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. This article contains opinions of the author but not necessarily those of Guggenheim Partners or its subsidiaries. The authors opinions are subject to change without notice. Forward looking statements, estimates, and certain information contained herein are based upon proprietary and non-proprietary research and other sources. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but are not assured as to accuracy. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of Guggenheim Partners, LLC. 2017, Guggenheim Partners. Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is neither representation nor warranty as to the current accuracy of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information. Judges Needed for Wyoming State Science Fair at UW in March Volunteer judges are being sought to help judge student projects for the 2017 Wyoming State Science Fair March 5-7 at the University of Wyoming. The event draws more than 300 middle school and high school students representing nearly 50 Wyoming schools each year. This is an excellent chance to get an early start recruiting enthusiastic students and to encourage the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professionals, says Erin Stoesz, Wyoming State Science Fair coordinator. This event brings hundreds of talented junior and senior high school students to the University of Wyoming campus each year. Judging will take place Monday, March 6, and food will be provided to volunteers. More than 100 volunteers in the past have judged student-led research that may cover areas as diverse as robotics, environmental management, behavioral and social science, energy and transportation, and chemistry. For more information, call Stoesz at (307) 766-9863 or email wyostatefair@gmail.com. For more information about the State Science Fair and judging criteria, click here. UW Staff Members Honored for Communications Excellence University of Wyoming communications and marketing specialists received 14 awards during the Jan. 19-21 Wyoming Press Association (WPA) associates group annual contest. Winners were announced at the WPAs annual winter meeting in Cheyenne. The convention attracts Wyomings newspaper professionals and the WPAs associate members for two days of workshops, seminars and speakers. About 200 WPA and associate members attended the convention, which culminated with the awards banquet where the top newspapers in three divisions (daily, Cheyennes Wyoming Tribune Eagle; large weekly, Jackson Hole News and Guide; and small weekly, Sublette County Examiner in Pinedale) were named. Individual award winners also were announced in several categories. UW staff members won three first-place awards in the associates contest, five second places, four third places and two honorable mentions. This years contest drew a high number of entries from communications specialists from around the state. Our staff members work hard to tell UWs story across Wyoming and beyond, and its wonderful to see them recognized for their quality work, says Chad Baldwin, UW associate vice president for communications and marketing. There is certainly an abundance of stories to tell about UWs great students, faculty and staff, and we appreciate their cooperation in spreading the good word about the university. WPA associate members, including those from UW, attended three workshops last Friday, participated in a roundtable discussion on media relations strategies and held their annual associates meeting. Listed are UW communications specialists with their individual awards, contest categories in which they won and titles of their entries: -- Andy Chapman, UW College of Engineering and Applied Science marketing/communications specialist, third place, single feature, Small-Town Wyoming Sisters Use UW Education to Reach Higher Goals. -- Chavawn Kelley, UW Extension Communications and Technology writer/editor, first place, single feature, A Man on a Horse and a Man on Foot Are Two Different Things; and honorable mention, single feature, Wyoming Conservation Exchange to Put Sagebrush on the Market -- for Good. -- Steve Miller, UW Extension Communications and Technology editor, first place, photo page or story, Sheridan Field Days; and honorable mention, feature photo, Pistol and Pete. -- Micaela Myers, Institutional Marketing editor, second place, publications, UWyo Magazine; and third place, magazine articles, Serving Wyoming. -- Milton Ontiveroz, Institutional Communications specialist, second place, three features on one topic, UW-Led Gaming and Robotics Project Helps Boost Student Math Scores; third place, three features on one topic, UW Technology Program Focuses on Increasing High School Graduation Rates; and third place, single news release, Tribal Liaisons Meet with UW American Indian Studies Students, Staff. -- Ron Podell, Institutional Communications specialist, first place, single news release, UW Part of Study to Improve Safety, Reduce Traffic Closures on I-80; second place, single news release, UW Professor Heads State Portion of NASA Project to View August 2017 Eclipse; second place, single feature, UW Student Commissioned to Paint Work for 75th Pearl Harbor Day Anniversary; and second place, three news releases on one topic, UW to Take Major Step Forward with Enzi STEM Facility Opening. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. UPDATE: The driver, 23-year-old Morgan Foote, of the Chevy Silverado, ran a stop sign on a McKenzie county road and struck a semi. 19-year-old, Samantha Hurkes, was in the passenger seat. Both Foote and Hurkes were thrown from the pickup and died on the scene. The semi driver, Justin Dhamers, was airlifted to Minot. He is expected to be okay. ORIGINAL: Two people were killed when the pickup they were in collided with a semi in western North Dakota. The North Dakota Highway Patrol say the driver of a Chevy Silverado didn't stop at a stop sign on McKenzie County Road 14 and struck a Peterbilt frac tank that was driving on Highway 73. The crash happened around 9:15 Sunday night near Watford City. Troopers say the pickup slid into the ditch after impact. The Peterbilt veered onto the shoulder and tipped onto its passenger side. The frac tank blocked the eastbound lane of Highway 73 for awhile. Both occupants of the pickup were thrown from the vehicle and died on the scene. It is unknown which person was driving. A male and female were killed. Their names will be released once family is notified. The driver of the semi was airlifted to a Minot hospital with injuries. nachol98 wrote: Hello! Please could you provide me with feedback on my profile: Profile Agentinian, Male, 29 years old Education : Industrial Engineer, GPA: 7.5/10 (in the top 10 of my class) GMAT 770, Q50 - V44 - IR 8 Work Experience (5.5 years) Data IQ (June 2011 - Nov 2012) Small Business Intelligence consulting firm. Worked as a Business Intelligence Consultant, worked in projects for Pfizer, Telecom and Coca Cola Ecuador. Coca Cola FEMSA (Dec 2012 - Nov 2014) Warehouse Processes Jr Analyst. Worked in various process optimization projects with the warehouses. For example: capacity expansion, implementation of a new voice picking system, lay-out redesign. Coca Cola FEMSA (Dec 2014 - Today) Supply Chain Planning Ssr Analyst. Strategic planning, middle and long term supplies planning, line shifts and distribution fleet sizing, inventory policies and safety stock definition, KPI calculation and monitoring. Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (Ago 2012 - Oct 2014) Opeations Research Teaching Assistant Extracurricular - I play bass guitar in a rock band. Have been playing in different bands for about 11 years. I also play guitar and take singing lessons, doing a couple of shows every year - Passionate for travelling, been to Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, UK, France Volunteer work - For the past for years I have been part of the team that holds a Christian spiritual retreat every year for school students fo about 16 years old, as a coordinator, giving talks. Last year I participated also as vice captain of the team - Participated in a project for Engineering Without Borders, an NGO Post MBA Goals Work in Europe in a FMCG or Retail company, in Supply Chain Management or Strategic Planning Target Schools INSEAD, IE, RSM, HEC Paris Thank you! Ignacio Dear Ignacio,Great to hear from you!First of all: Wicked GMAT Dude!How did you do that?Second: Sorry for my delay in answering you here. I was abroad for business. But now I'm back in action!Third: With your profile and GMAT, from the list I think only INSEAD might be a real challenge. The other schools, as long as you give a good application should be strong. Since you are a Spanish speaker and applying to IE, you might also look into IESE and ESADE, since they also have very strong connections with Latin America.Other than that what I like is that your profile has a bit of breadth - from your NGO work to your travels, music participation in your religious community. Use it in your applications! It's to your benefit.If you'd like a more in depth review, feel free to fill out our questionnaire and we'll dig in DEEP: http://admissionado.com/free-consultati ... n=mba_blog Best,Jon Headlining duo Luniz worked the stage for jam-packed crowd at LAX Nightclub inside Luxor Hotel and Casino on Thursday, Jan. 19. The two performed their hit single, I Got 5 on It bringing fans to their feet for an epic Throwback party (Photo credit: Powers Imagery). Photo credit: Powers Imagery. The Platinum-selling pair skyrocketed to international stardom in 1995 with the release of their debut album, Operation Stackola and its lead single I Got 5 on It. Photo credit: Powers Imagery. Made up of rappers Yukmouth and Numskull, Luniz went on to release albums Lunitik Muzik, Silver & Black, and most recently, High Timez in 2015. Photo credit: Powers Imagery. sirishamunagala wrote: Hi Aditya Thanks for your inputs. Reg $$$..no scholorships from either pgm..regarding the pgm..let me be a little bit more specific..i have been admitted into the Executive MBA program at berkeley..its a 19month program. Although my immediate job plans are in India..long term i see a high probability of looking at opportunities globally...I am little concerned how the student group , diversity and experience level of the students will be at ISB compared to exec students at berkeley which is catered for people with 8+ years of work experience. http://unclearadmit.tumblr.com Latest Blog Entry: 09-05-13 Its been too long ... Updates & the Tuck Loan Signature Read More Sirisha - I am an executive recruiter based in India. My firm caters exclusively to talent with more than 15-20 years of experience, I am an incoming MBA student at Tuck and hence am well informed regarding senior/mid management jobs as well as MBA perceptions back home.1. If you want to transition to India, ISB is a DECENT bet but certainly not the best. The ISB brand has diluted over the years owing to a) a higher percentage of class with work ex <4 years, and b) opening a new campus taking class to 1.5 times its size with no proven placement record to sustain it2. There are limited jobs that are appealing that are offered to students at ISB - my definition of appeal is jobs at McK, Bain (Doesnt visit ISB), BCG (doesnt visit ISB), global leadership programs (some Indian subsidiaries visit ISB) etc.3. However, these 'appealing' jobs typically go to the more experienced - maybe a 5 to 8 year range - versus the less experienced4. ISB's brand name while recruiting is not as well regarded as, say, IIM Ahmedabad5. As IIM Ahmedabad has a PGPX program - similar to ISBs program its a 1 year program for senior executives and has seen good placements - which you should consider6. Berkeley has a good brand here - what I mean by that is that people would recognize Berkeley on your resume. They won't recognize Haas at all7. The 'Executive MBA' tag is seen with a lot of speculation here. it doesn't have the same level of acceptance as in the US - be prepared for that8. Someone who does an Exec MBA from Berkeley and wants to come to India, will mostly be seen a someone who couldnt get a job there and is hence applying here. The perception that the US would be your first choice a place of employment if you studied there existsPls take my comments with a pinch of salt and apply the pareto principle of 80/20. My comments above reflect, in my view, what 80% of the populace would have. There will always be anomalies much fewer in number that will result in different outcome.All the best!_________________ Nguyen Xuan Ky The Cai Mep-Thi Vai port area, in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, not only functions as a gateway port for the southern economic hub, but is also set to become an important transhipment port. The Cai Mep-Thi Vai port area is now home to seven ports, including SP-PSA (a joint venture between Vinalines and Singaporean PSA), TCCT, TCIT, CMIT (backed by Vinalines and Danish company APMT), TCTT, and SSIT (backed by Vinalines and US firm Carrix/SSA). Gateway to the south All containers exported to the US and a majority of those shipped to Europe from the southern key economic region are loaded directly onto mother vessels in the Cai Mep area. the countrys exports, may just behind Malaysias, are being connected with foreign markets by the best way, much better than exports of Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines. Cai Mep-Thi Vai ports accommodate 10 direct services to the US weekly, with deployed vessel capacity at 8,000-9,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Three of those berth at CMIT, while the remaining seven services anchor at the three terminals of Saigon New Port. For imports and exports from and to the European market, there are three weekly mainline services connecting directly with Europe. One of them calls at TCIT while the remaining two dock at CMIT, which deploys vessels with capacities up to 14,000-15,000TEU. Terminals in Cai Mep-Thi Vai also berth seven services dedicated to intra-Asia imports and exports. With seven ports and an 18,000TEU capacity on the horizon, Cai Mep-Thi Vais ports are making waves Transhipment Goods transhipment from northern and central Vietnam has picked up with CMITs two weekly mainliner services direct to Europe. These services are deployed by Ocean 3 and CKY(H)E alliances, featuring vessels with 14,000TEU capacities. Along with the four domestic feeder services per week that call at the Cai Mep area, good conditions are in place to develop domestic transhipment. Currently, CMIT is preparing a trial berth for 18,000TEU vessels. A successful trial will provide greater opportunities for Cai Mep to take over transhipment from Malaysian and Singaporean ports, with domestic feeders from northern and central Vietnam providing inputs. This will be also a good opportunity to enhance co-operation between the terminals in the port complex. For international transhipment, mega transhipment hubs like Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, SCCT in Egypt, or Tangier in Morocco are no longer popular. Shipping lines and alliances have formed their own transhipment hubs a long time ago. On the condition that berths in Cai Mep can practise better co-operation and customs procedures for transhipment at Cai Mep are relaxed, Cai Mep will be in position to act as a gateway port and attract larger volumes of internationally-transhipped goods. Increasing operational efficiency In 2016, the global shipping market witnessed many changes due to the formation of alliances between a number of shipping firms, and numerous mergers and acquisitions in the sector. These changes impacted Vietnamese ports, especially those in Cai Mep. Container throughput at Cai Mep in 2016 rose 36 per cent on-year, placing the areas ports among those with the highest growth rates in the world as they did last year (with growth rate at 28.2 per cent), according to the Alphaliner-TOP 100s ranking. In October 2016, CMIT was also voted one of the top four Asian port operators by Lloyds List. In order to increase operational efficiency, ports in Cai Mep-Thi Vai should strengthen co-operation to enable them to simultaneously accommodate more mainliners at the combined berths, increasing operational capacity and providing more flexibility to customers. Cai Meps channel has been dredged continuously to enable it to accommodate ultra-large container vessels of up to 160,000 deadweight tonnes. It is necessary to dredge the channel in Cai Mep to a 15.5m depth to meet the demands of larger vessels, as the majority of vessels operating on the Asia-Europe route have a capacity of at least 18,000TEU. This need will only increase in the future, with orders of 20,000TEU vessels from carriers. The port authority model is a successful administrative model applied at many big ports around the world. A similar model will be applied in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port area the Port Management Board. The establishment of such a board with functions similar to a port authority will help manage investment and competition activities in a strict, strategy-centric manner. Cargoes allocated among port complexes will also be regulated more efficiently, and infrastructure connecting ports will be developed more quickly. A man feeds his chickens in central Quang Binh Provinces Van Ninh Commune.-VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh Tran inh Thanh, head of the Farmers Association of Ba Vi Districts Cam Linh Commune said the association includes 61 households raising a total of 270,000 chickens, reported by Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper. It needs VN17 billion (US$748,000) to maintain their breeding activities, he said. This meant each household was required to contribute about VN300 million ($13,200). However, most of them could only borrow VN100 million ($4,400) from banks because to borrow more, banks required farmers to use their land-use right certificate as collateral, he said. Most co-operatives households rent land for breeding farms, so they have no land-use right certificates. Ngo Thanh Tung, head of a group of animal breeders in ong Anh Districts Viet Hung Commune in Ha Noi said the group was raising more than 50 sows and hundreds of pigs. The group provided jobs for more than 20 local labourers with regular income of VN3-5 million ($132-220) each month, he said. Yet he and other breeders could only access 12 month loans from the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV). The short-term loans affected the breeders mindsets as they had to pay their loans back quickly, he said. Thanh said he hoped the Government would help farmers could borrow middle and long-term loans in the future. In June 2015, the Government issued Decree 55/N-CP, aiming to create favourable conditions for farmers to borrow money with preferential treatment. Under the decree, farmers can get a loan from VN50 million 3 billion ($2,200 - $1.3 million) but were required to give banks their land-use right certificates before receiving money. A representative from the SBV admitted to shortcomings in providing loans for farmers. Nguyen Tien ong, head of the SVBs Credit Department said he knew many famers failed to borrow money due to the need to provide land-use right certificates as collateral. ong said the SVB would ask the Government to amend regulations on mortgages to fix the shortcomings. Economist Can Van Luc said lending money without collateral should be carefully considered because banks would risks borrowers failing to pay back their loans. It was easy to see why banks had to carefully calculate the feasibility of a project before lending money, he said. Luc said authorised agencies were advised to provide training for farmers so that they used the money they borrowed from banks effectively. When they presented a feasible plan, they could borrow money from banks easier. 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. US President Donald Trump speaks, as Vice President Mike Pence watches, before the swearing in of the White House senior staff at the White House on Jan 22, 2017, in Washington, DC. (Photo: AFP/Mandel Ngan) "We're meeting with the prime minister of Canada and we will be meeting with the president of Mexico, who I know, and we're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said while addressing White House staff on his second full day in office. Trump will receive his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on Jan 31. No date has been given for a meeting with Canada's Justin Trudeau, but it is expected "soon," according to a readout from a call between the two leaders on Saturday. Trump praised the Mexican leader, saying: "The president has been really very amazing and I think we are going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, for everybody involved. It's very important." As a candidate Trump made a surprise visit to Mexico in a bid to portray himself as a capable statesman on the international stage. The meeting turned controversial after Pena Nieto and Trump contradicted each other's accounts of the encounter. Trump told reporters that the pair did not discuss who would pay for the hotly contested border wall he has promised to construct, while Pena Nieto said he "made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall." The real estate magnate vowed throughout his campaign to construct a massive wall along the US-Mexican border to stem illegal immigration, promising that Mexico would foot the bill. Concerning NAFTA, the White House website was updated immediately after Trump's swearing-in to reflect his campaign commitment to renegotiate the free trade agreement that has linked Canada, the United States and Mexico since 1994. On the campaign trail, Trump called NAFTA the worst trade deal the United States has ever signed and vowed to renegotiate or rip it up. The rules governing the free trade agreement allow any country to withdraw simply by notifying other parties. This would start a 180-day clock to allow for new negotiations. If no new deal is reached by then, the accord would be dissolved. Since Trump's November victory, both Canada and Mexico have announced that they are willing to sit down with the new US administration to reexamine the free trade agreement. Canada has said it expects to keep its 1989 bilateral free trade agreement with the US even if Trump withdraws from NAFTA. Ted Osius - photo source: vietnamnet It is chief among our mutual interests to create sustainable economic growth in Vietnam and the region by expanding trade and investment. There are many strong advocators of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) because of its potential to promote economic growth here in Vietnam. But even in the absence of TPP, we are not giving up on pursuing our positive trade agenda within the region. In fact, it is just the opposite. The values embedded in TPP a rules-based approach to economic relations, higher standards on labour and the environment, and safeguards against corruption are all consistent with the demands of the Vietnamese people and the economic interests of the US. During Secretary John Kerrys recent trip to Vietnam, he reminded us that as a Pacific nation, the US cares about what is happening here, and we want to continue to build a stronger and stronger partnership between our two countries. Indeed, we are linked to our partners around the Pacific by enduring networks of commerce, diplomacy, communication, and family ties. In Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) particularly, we have a forum to build powerful consensus among these partners to break down barriers to trade by promoting a rules-based regional architecture that supports free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region, and further strengthen the ties that already bind us together. Vietnams hosting of the 2017 APEC year presents a tremendous opportunity to further the advocacy of American values with Vietnams leaders. They know they are in the spotlight, and as Vietnam looks to take on a larger role in regional policy discussions, they will be looking for chances to collaborate with American investors to show the rest of the APEC economies that Vietnam has arrived. Vietnam has set an ambitious agenda for its host year, and the US fully supports its priorities. We are determined to increase regional economic integration and foster a more business-friendly environment through a rules-based architecture. We want to ensure that economic growth is sustainable and includes all sectors of society. In addition, we are committed to strengthening the competitiveness of small- to medium-sized enterprises. The US also shares the goal of guaranteeing the security of Vietnams food supply as it faces the consequences of climate change. We look forward to strengthening our co-operation with AmCham committees in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to demonstrate the concrete business results of that advocacy. I look forward to working with all of the American business community throughout Vietnams APEC year and beyond. The private sector is going to play a key role in ensuring that Vietnam succeeds with its agenda. I believe that together, we can make 2017 a truly successful year both for Vietnam and for the US business community. I look at initiatives like the imminent launch of Fulbright University Vietnam. The first private, non-profit, independent American-style Vietnamese University indicates Vietnams tremendous desire to learn from the US model of higher education. I saw the same when Secretary Kerry spoke at the Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Education, a university founded in 1962 with $3.5 million from USAID, that continues to be one of the best universities for technology education in Vietnam. The university has formed new partnerships with USAID and AmCham, US universities like ASU, and companies like Intel, GE, Rockwell Automation, and Texas Instruments. This pursuit of excellence also extends to the economic sectors in which the US excels. With that in mind, the US mission has launched four industry groups in key sectors that focus on helping US companies in keystone industries expand business opportunities in rebuilding Vietnams infrastructure. American companies report to us that they are experiencing double digit growth in the aviation, energy, healthcare, and ICT sectors. Those sectors are all dominated by Vietnamese government actors, and the Consul General and I are committed to advocating on American investors behalf in those and other sectors. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (2nd from the left) at a session in WEF Davos 2017 Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son made the remarks during an interview granted to the media after PM Phucs tour of Switzerland to take part in the event from January 17-21. This is the first time after seven years Vietnam has had a Prime Minister attending the WEF Davos, he said. At the meeting, the PM highlighted Vietnams determination to promote comprehensive national reform, economic restructuring and growth model shifting by 2020, Son said. The Government leader affirmed Vietnams commitment to building a constructive and action-minded government as well as its efforts to improve the business and investment climate, foster startups, renovation and creativeness, contributing to raising the countrys position and image at the meeting. The PM met with senior officials from countries like Switzerland, the Netherland and Austria and representatives from the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation, the Asian Development Bank and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to deepen relations with the countries and organisations. Notably, he met and joined dialogues with representatives of about 40 out of 500 largest economic groups in the world, like Microsoft, Facebook, Alphabet (Google), Qualcom, Standard Chartered, Prudential, Alibaba, Mitsubishi, UPS, and Swiss Re, during which he called on them to expand their investment in Vietnam, Son said. Accompanying Vietnamese ministers actively joined sessions and had meeting with businesses to enhance links in agriculture and industry-manufacturing. According to Deputy FM Son, the WEF and Vietnam signed a cooperation agreement, in which the WEF will assist Vietnam in sustainable economic development through policy consultation on economic restructuring, competitiveness improvement, sand hi-tech agriculture development. Vietnam is the first country that WEF has signed a cooperation agreement under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) form to help the country access and take advantage of resources and knowledge of the WEF and its members. Through WEF Davos 2017, Vietnam promoted its position and role as the host of APEC Year 2017 by inviting leaders of many world leading economic groups and international organisations to attend this event. The PMs attendance in activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN during the meeting contributed to highlighting Vietnams responsible contributions to the formation of the ASEAN Community, Son noted. The Deputy FM affirmed that Vietnams presence at WEF DAVOS 2017 showed efforts made by the countrys diplomatic sector to seek opportunities to boost connection and promote Vietnams image to world-leading companies, thus attracting more high-quality resources for the country. Themed Responsive and Responsible Leadership, the meeting called on leaders and governments of WEF member countries to take responsible actions before the people and enterprises, towards contributing to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the world, Son said. WEF Davos 2017 included 446 sessions, focusing on promoting global economic growth, embracing inclusive growth, measures to take advantage of the fourth on-going industrial revolution, and shaping global cooperation orientations to effectively tackle issues related to peace, development and humanity, migration and the environment. Established in 1971, the WEF is an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging businesses, politicians, academics and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industrial agendas. The FBI ran a child porn site to catch predators, and now the accused are crying foul You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Members of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce join co-owners Savannah Holden Ridgway and Kris Massicott to cut the ribbon on Adorn at the corner of Queen Cross Street and Company Street in Christiansted, St. Croix. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. U.S. officials have said that Cambodias postponement of the annual military exercise Angkor Sentinel will not impact on security assistance to the country. But analysts say Cambodia risks alienating the United States as it continues to firm up its ties with China. The Angkor Sentinel exercises have been held in Cambodia for almost a decade, but this year the Ministry of Defense told the U.S. It was delaying the scheduled event due to preparations for the local elections that are coming up in June. Jay Raman, U.S. Embassy spokesman, said that other military exchanges and training programs with Cambodia are not affected. But Chheang Vannarith, president of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, said the postponing of the exercise would affect Cambodias defense capacity and its hedging strategy. He explained that the Cambodian Peoples Party has tried to distance Cambodia from the U.S., and that the cancellation of this years exercise was the latest example. The ruling party has deeply, strategically aligned Cambodia with China while gradually distancing Cambodia from the US. Cambodia's destiny attaches to China, he wrote in an email. The postponement of the joint military exercise between Cambodias army and the U.S. came after Cambodia carried out its first ever exercise with China in late 2016. Ou Virak, president of Future Forum think-tank, said on Thursday that Cambodias military would suffer as a result. What I am concerned by the most is the losing of balance [between the two super powers], which would reflect that Cambodias biased. This would affect Cambodias stability in the long term, he said. Although analysts offered mixed views on the consequences, the head of Cambodias military defended the move, explaining that Cambodias army is preparing for the upcoming elections. Defense Minister Tea Banh told reporters after the annual meeting of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces that Cambodias army would be too busy to take part in the training. He added that the most important work for Cambodias army to do was to maintain stability during an election period. The military side must complete its task, meaning to do whatever to keep stability and make the environment better for the election to go ahead, fair and free for all, he said. Seven Cambodian women were rescued from a sex trafficking in Japan, the first case of sexual trafficking to the East Asian country the foreign ministry says it has encountered. According to a press release issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the seven women arrived in Japan in November 2016 after coordination between a broker and a Japanese restaurant owner. The Japanese restaurateur promised to offer them jobs at his restaurant, the press release added, but they were forced to offer sex services at the restaurant instead. After the victims wrote a complaint on the Cambodian Embassy in Japans Facebook page, the embassy intervened. Chum Sounry, a spokesman for the ministry, told VOA Khmer on Thursday that it was the first recorded case of Cambodian women being trafficked to Japan. In China its not sex trafficking issue. In China, brokers cheated them to marry Chinese guys. So its not sexual business, he claimed. One of the women has already returned to Cambodia suffering ill-health, he added. Official data for 2016 show that 64 Cambodian women were rescued from human trafficking to China. More than 700 Cambodians were also rescued from other countries. Am Sam Ath, monitoring manager at local rights group Licadho, called for a government review to stop further incidents of transnational sex trafficking from Cambodia. A senior Cambodian opposition official, Prince Sisowath Thomico, has claimed that his party will officially ask the new US administration to help Cambodia ahead of local elections in June. He also said he would ask Trump to clarify his partys foreign policy regarding Cambodia. The stance of the CNRP is to request other democratic and human rights defending countries to participate in monitoring the elections and make it free and fair. And we will officially request to Donald Trumps administration to jointly support financially and help the election in Cambodia to be free and fair, he said. Thomico was speaking at a public forum in Vienna, Virginia, organized by the Cambodian America Alliance. He told the forum that Cambodia would seek to maintain a neutral position in international relations with the United States and China. The CPP, I raise again as an example regarding to the South China Sea issue, seems to be biased to China without respecting the interest of Asean that is the important institution. So I state that the stance of opposition is absolutely not biased, he said. China is Cambodias largest foreign donor and lender, having spent billions of dollars in the country in the past two decades. Men Vannak, a Lowell, MA, resident who joined the forum said Cambodia needs help and a good relationship with the new US administration. So if we associate with communists and associate with those who have not got a code of ethics, we dont have a code of ethics, he said. Ou Kim Huot a Cambodian-American from Philadelphia, PA, who attended the forum, told VOA Khmer that the US relationship was important for Cambodia and he does not believe the ruling CPP is interested in fostering better relations. If we help ourselves, It is easy for the US to help. It not only US, but any country as well. Nhay Chamroeun an opposition MP who was beaten outside parliament by thugs linked to Prime Minister Hun Sens Bodyguard Unit, said he hoped the Trump administration would help further his case. I hope that the new US government will do more work because the new government is from the Republican party and President Donald Trump personally that I know of him, he does not like dictators and their sort. The World Health Organization's director-general, Margaret Chan, is calling for greater equity in the delivery of health care for rich and poor alike. The WHO chief is urging delegates attending the agencys annual executive board meeting to do more to close the health gap between the haves and have-nots. This is Margaret Chans last term as director-general. The new head of the World Health Organization will be confirmed at the World Health Assembly in May. So, perhaps, unsurprisingly, Chan stressed the many achievements, which have been made in health under her watch, while not shying away from pointing out the shortcomings. She says health inequalities often are aggravated by the high price of medical products, but notes that WHO initiatives have successfully pushed down the prices of vaccines and other medical items. Life-saving vaccines She says huge price reductions in a vaccine for chronic hepatitis C infection are now making it possible for more than 1 million people living with this illness in developing countries to receive life-saving treatment. Chan says positive actions by WHO succeeded in ending a yellow fever epidemic in Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo in September. She also says measles immunizations over the past 15 years have saved the lives of 20 million children and progress continues to be made in controlling HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. The achievement that brought the most joyful headlines came at the end of last year, when WHO published final trial results demonstrating that the new Ebola vaccine confers nearly 100 percent protection We have by no means defeated this re-emerging disease, but when the next outbreak inevitably occurs, responders will not be empty-handed, Chan said. Chan, however, warns nations must remain vigilant of the many existing health threats and emerging diseases. She urges all countries to keep a close watch over outbreaks of avian influenza in birds and related human cases. She says the world is better prepared to tackle the next bird flu pandemic, but not well enough, adding that nations must remain on high alert for fresh outbreaks of this deadly disease. Chan says the global tobacco epidemic is killing 6 million people prematurely every year but that cheap, effective measures, such as raising taxes on cigarettes, can control and prevent this epidemic from spreading. Britain has indicated that is will seek a so-called "hard" exit from the European Union, likely to include leaving the Single Market, the worlds largest free trade bloc. The country is looking for new trading partners around the world, but the government will find it difficult to balance voters demands for lower immigration with the need for new free trade deals. The British government says its vision is of a more global Britain, trading freely with growing economies like India and China once it is outside the European Union. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited several Indian cities last week, eager to build bridges before Britain drops out of the European Union. We may be leaving the EU, we may be we may be taking back control of our borders. But my Indian friends, I say to you, that does not mean we want to haul up the drawbridge, he said. But critics say Britain is doing just that even as it asks India to open trade talks. Tightening of visa system Education is a major British product. But numbers of Indian students in Britain are falling fast, halving in just five years. India blames Britains tightening visa system. Pratik Dattani is British director for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It is not all one way traffic, that the UK can sell internationally and not bring anything in," said Dattani. "There has to be an open policy in terms of allowing immigration. That could be a tough sell to Britons who voted to leave the EU hoping it would cut immigration. Britain is hoping for flexibility. At the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Indian ministers voiced willingness to discuss a deal. But no formal talks can take place until after Britain has left the European Union. Even then, a deal would likely take years to reach agreement, says Dattani. India and the EU have been negotiating a free trade agreement for seven or eight years. And many of the areas that have meant it has taken such a long time have been asks from the UK itself, said Dattani. Seeking new trade deals Britain says it will look to the Commonwealth for new trade deals when it leaves the European Union. A Commonwealth heads of government meeting is due to take place later this year in London. "That is an opportunity really for the British government to show the rest of the Commonwealth, of which India is a massive part, that Britain is open for business," he said. Despite the big ambitions, analysts say Britain will find it difficult to strike quick trade deals after it leaves the European Union. That has raised fears in London that businesses could face a so-called cliff edge the day Britain leaves the bloc. Britain's power since 1945 has depended on hugging the United States as hard as it can the trans-Atlantic partnership between Washington and London has magnified Britain's global clout. The country's politicians and press fret when there's any perceived chill. Comparisons are made inevitably to the strength of the special relationship that ideological allies Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan had. Since then, the special relationship has had ups and downs, although there was a strong partnership between Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush. Following Bill Clinton's election in 1992, there were reports he was angry with Britain's ruling Conservatives and Prime Minister John Major for allegedly trying to help the Republicans during the presidential race. The Clinton-Major relationship never warmed and many in Britain was felt the government's clout in Washington diminished. On Friday in Washington, British Prime Minister Theresa May will become the first foreign leader to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump since the inauguration. Brexit concerns Brexit, or Britain's decision to leave the European Union, is just two years away and for all the outward confidence of British officialdom, and talk of how Global Britain will be a huge success, there is alarm. A Britain standing alone will be weakened economically and its global political strength potentially much diminished outside the EU. The British are eager for a trade deal with the United States to help improve post-Brexit economic prospects. Trump has promised to deliver, but it is not clear how quickly a trade deal can move through Congress. The British are desperate also to ensure they are seen as America's indispensable partner for the foreseeable future. The United States is the only game in town for us, a British official told VOA. A former British intelligence official said, The Trump team realizes it needs a good international friend. I think you will see them turning to three countries in particular: Australia, India and most of all Britain, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Britain remains committed to NATO, seeing it as the bedrock of Western security. During the presidential campaign and since his election, Trump has questioned the military alliance's relevance, recently dubbing it obsolete. Trump is unpopular in Britain, and May's ruling Conservative Party is wary of him, worried that a close association could tarnish them. Trump-Farage relationship Conservative wariness has grown because of the ties developing between the Trump team and Nigel Farage, a key figure in last year's Brexit referendum campaign and a founding member of Britain's United Kingdom Independence Party, which remains a threat to the Conservatives. On Thursday night at a lavish Washington inauguration party attended by Farage and other Brexiters, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, a key Trump ally, said Farage would be an informal adviser to Trump about Britain. I don't want to speak for the president, but I know that the president has a great deal of trust in Nigel Farage, and I think he is going to turn to him as an adviser and there would be none better, Bryant said. He added There's an opportunity for him to work directly with the president; we call it close but unofficial. Downing Street fears Farage's influence will be stronger with Trump than May's. Another complexity for May, say British officials, comes with Trump's determination to improve relations with Moscow, including a possible lifting of Western sanctions on Russia in return for nuclear arms reductions and the possibility of accepting the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. Change on Crimea? Last week in Kyiv, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Britain will stand alongside Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia because freedom cannot be traded. He announced new British military training for Ukrainian forces battling Russian-backed separatists and said a Royal Navy warship will visit the country soon. Still, a former senior British intelligence official said he could see the British government accepting Russia's annexation of Crimea, if pushed by Trump. We may well have to accept the annexation, he said. The tectonic plates have shifted. May told the BBC Trump has said he wants a very strong relationship between the U.K. and the U.S., but, she insisted she would stand up to him when it comes to issues on which they disagree. It is going to be a difficult balancing act for May, a senior British official told VOA. Last year, humanitarian aid workers in the Central African Republic were involved in more than 365 security incidents more than Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. The security challenges in the C.A.R. make it difficult for aid workers to stay safe and to deliver much needed aid. About 2.2 million people here nearly half of the population are in need of humanitarian assistance. In Bambari, a flashpoint in the country, fighting involving rival armed groups has displaced about 10,000 people in the past month alone. The volatile security situation has also disrupted the ability of aid workers to provide medical care. In late December, the Doctors Without Borders compound in Bambari was robbed twice. Mathieu Bataben, the towns mayor, said "unidentified individuals" committed the robberies not the armed rebel groups that control the town. We deplore all that, he told VOA in his office. I think the cause of all that break in all that is the misery. The poverty. That could perhaps explain it. But its also the mentality, the education. If youre not well educated, one can do this kind of behavior. The country's flag was on the Bambari mayor's desk; but, the central government has no control over the town and provides limited social services. Militias with AK-47's stand guard on the side of the road as an initial force to fend off attacks from rival armed groups. The courthouse in town is deserted. The World Food Program provides food to about 115,000 people about half the population of the whole prefecture. The attacks on humanitarians in places like Bambari limit the ability to provide aid. In Bambari, Doctors Without Borders reduced the size of its team and its activities. The effects are not just short-term. Small children are not being immunized, so they are more vulnerable to those kinds of transmittable diseases or other activities in terms of prevention like diarrheal diseases, Emmanuel Lampaert, Doctors Without Borders representative in C.A.R., said in Bangui. The rate of mortality for children has increased over the past few years as a result of children not being immunized during the crisis. Across the country, the International NGO Safety Organization recorded 27 injuries in attacks against aid workers in the C.A.R. last year ahead of Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. Five humanitarians died as well. According to Barbara Batista of the U.N.s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the C.A.R., aid organizations rely on the government and MINUSCA the U.N.s forces in the C.A.R. to protect them and the civilian population. Its challenging because none of the two has the means to implement full coverage, she told VOA in Bangui. The forces of MINUSCA are limited. They cant cover the whole country. While the U.N. has about 12,000 soldiers throughout the country with heavy machine guns and armored vehicles, the governments army and police are under an arms embargo, have little training and maintain little presence outside the capital. There have been some better conditions in Bangui, or what sometimes is called the Republic of Bangui, Lampaert said. But its clear that in the rest of the Central African territory we might say the situation has been in a full stagnation or even has deteriorated. The militias controlling most of the country get weapons from neighboring countries like Sudan and Chad. Lampaert said the worsening security situation is a result of fighting over natural resources, making access for humanitarians increasingly difficult. For its part, OCHA officials coordinate with the U.N. forces to try to get appropriate protection. Considering that the means and capacity are limited, at least we can prioritize and say, Listen, this we believe is a hot spot and should be taken care of in the coming months and weeks, OCHAs Batista said, "and I have to say that so far they are reactive, they are considering what the humanitarians are saying." Batista added that the U.N. also pursues dialogue, mediation and negotiation with armed groups. Even though sometimes it's a little difficult and, well, [an] ethical compromise, everything is considered in a case by case scenario, she said. International NGO Safety Organization reports that there is no sign of improvement and the security situation is likely to continue to deteriorate. China is not happy with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's high-profile visits to the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam over concerns that he may be trying to pull the rug out from under Beijing's efforts to pacify its neighbors in and around the South China Sea. "The Japanese leader spared no effort in driving a wedge and playing up the regional tension, showing his ulterior motives and extremely unhealthy mindset," Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters. She said Abe's Asia tour came just as Beijing and its neighbors have stabilized the situation in the South China Sea. In the Philippines, which is hosting Southeast Asian leaders this year, Abe said the South China Sea issue is linked directly to regional peace and stability and is a "concern to the entire international community." He also welcomed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's efforts to improve Manila's ties with Beijing following the Philippines' victory in an arbitration ruling last year declaring China's maritime claims invalid. China has refused to recognize the arbitration decision and has warned the United States and other countries not involved in the territorial row not to meddle in the disputes, which Beijing wants to settle through one-on-one negotiations. A commentary by the state-run Xinhua News Agency said although Abe raised the arbitration ruling with Duterte, he "will probably feel disappointed" as Duterte made no direct mention of the disputes. In fact, Duterte described Japan as a "friend closer than brother" during a state dinner for Abe. "We are friends who are bound by shared common resolve to uphold democracy, adherence to the rule of law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes," Duterte said. In both the Philippines and Vietnam, Abe pledged investment opportunities and support for the countries' coast guards in protecting their waters. He said that Japan will provide new patrol vessels to both nations. Philippines files rare protest against China The Philippine foreign secretary has filed a verbal protest to China over Beijing's placing of anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons on its man-made islands in the South China Sea - a rare move since Manila warmed up to Beijing last year. "I just want to assure the Filipino people that when we take action at engaging China in this dispute, we do not want to take such aggressive, provocative action that will not solve the problem," Perfecto Yasay told CNN Philippines. He added: "We cannot engage China in a war." Beijing says the artificial islands are intended to boost maritime safety in the region while downplaying their military utility. They also buttress China's claim to ownership of practically the entire South China Sea. Vietnam, China agree to set aside maritime disputes Days before Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Vietnam, the country's Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong led a high-power delegation to Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping. Vietnam has had complicated relationship with China: both are nominally allies ruled by communists, but unresolved maritime boundaries and China's pressing ahead with its territorial claims over objections of other claimants has rattled Hanoi. In 2014, China moved an oil rig into the disputed Paracel Islands, triggering a tense standoff that involved Vietnamese and Chinese vessels ramming each other. The statement at the end of the talks said both sides would try to peacefully settle their claims. The official Xinhua News Agency said that China and Vietnam have jointly patrolled and explored for oil in the Gulf of Tonkin in one of the "success stories" that "demonstrate that both countries are committed to shelving their maritime differences through cooperation rather than confrontation, which will yield more win-win results and larger-scale cooperation." In Hanoi, police broke up a rally to mark the anniversary of a 1974 naval clash in which Chinese forces gained control of the Paracels, killing 74 sailors from the former South Vietnam. Cambodia shelves U.S. military drills Cambodia, long a loyal friend to China, has told the United States that it is canceling annual joint military exercises this year and next, even though planning had already begun. The reasons given by the Defense Ministry raised some suspicion. According to spokesman Gen. Chhum Socheath, the Angkor Sentinel exercise had to be postponed because Cambodian forces would be unable to fully participate as a result of two important events: local elections in June and a six-month campaign to eradicate drug-related crime. The drills have been ongoing for the past seven years, including in 2013 when Cambodia held its last national election, according to Diplomat news site. Cambodia depends on China as its most important ally and has demonstrated its willingness to do Beijing's bidding in diplomatic meetings, especially regarding Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. Cambodia in December for the first time hosted the Golden Dragon joint exercise with Chinese troops similar in size and purpose to Angkor Sentinel. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a decree barring federal funding for non-governmental international groups that support abortions, relaunching a political battle that has long divided Republican and Democratic administrations. The rule prohibits foreign organizations that receive U.S. money from providing abortion services or giving information about the procedure, even if the groups use separate money for those purposes. The regulation, known as the Mexico City Policy, was first put in place in 1984 by Republican President Ronald Reagan. The law has become a political volleyball with former Democratic President Bill Clinton revoking it when he took office in 1993, former Republican President George W. Bush reinstating in 2001, and former Democratic President Barack Obama annulling it again in 2009. It has been used by incoming presidents to signal their position on abortion rights. Although the move Monday by Trump to reinstate the rule was widely expected, it still drew criticism from women's groups. "Women's health and rights are now one of the first casualties of the Trump administration," said Serra Sippel, president of the Center for Health and Gender Equity in Washington, D.C. "President Trump and his administration have made it clear that they are hostile to women, health and science, she said. Make no mistake: Trump's global gag will not make U.S. investments more efficient or effective. The global gag rule has been associated with an increase in unsafe abortions and we expect that Trump's global gag rule will cost women their lives." Trump's reinstatement of the rule comes two days after hundreds of thousands of women marched in Washington and in cities across the U.S. and around the world to show support for women's rights, including abortion. Trump campaigned on a platform opposing abortion. He has promised to appoint an anti-abortion justice to fill a vacancy at the nation's highest court and has said he wants to remove government funding from Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest provider of women's health care, including abortions. Trump's positions against abortion are supported by many Republican lawmakers, who control both houses of Congress. Many of those Republicans also ran on a platform of opposing abortion. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his right-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ran a full page newspaper advertisement Monday calling for people to "act normal or leave" the Netherlands if they do not like the country and its values. The message is seen by critics as targeted at Dutch citizens of a non-Western background. Political parties in the Netherlands have kicked off their campaigns for March 15 parliamentary elections. Despite the Dutch reputation of being an open and tolerant country, populist Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party are leading the polls. His message is anti-establishment, anti-immigrant, anti-EU and anti-Islam. The prime minister's party is in second place. Andre Krouwel is a political analyst and director of Kieskompas (Electoral Compass), an online website advising voters. He says Dutch anti-immigrant populism started in the 1990s, after the collapse of the Berlin Wall: You see that people became less secure about voting for the traditional parties in the Netherlands. They started to look to alternatives, and also populist alternatives, because of their increased insecurity in the economic, but also the cultural sphere. Several populist and anti-immigrant parties were established and some made it into parliament, but Wilders' is the only one still standing. Kay van de Linde is a political spin doctor who worked with some of those anti-establishment parties in the 2000s. He says most parties fail because they blow themselves up: The most difficult thing was to organize a political party and get good people. And thats always the problem. Even Wilders is not immune to that. The thing he fears the most is dissent within his own ranks. Thats why he organizes very secretive[ly]. He is basically in charge of everything. He fears infighting. Wilders Freedom Party is not really a party, as he is the only official member. It is said he is the only one calling the shots, with the others following his lead. Dutch governments are always coalitions of several political parties. Almost all political leaders, including the prime minister, have said they will never govern with Wilders because of his hardline views. The Freedom Party backed a Cabinet coalition once, between 2010 and 2012. But a split between Wilders and the other two parties led to the fall of the Cabinet, and the government did not have enough parliamentary seats without Wilders support. Krouwel says that Wilders has achieved very little, even during those two years when he was supporting the government: Populists have a very bad record of turning their ideas into policies. The only impact they really have is that they push mainstream parties towards their goal. A number of new political parties, mostly anti-EU and anti-establishment, are also on the ballot for the March elections. Jan Roos, a TV presenter turned politician, is the leader of VNL, a new right-wing party. He was the driving force behind the national referendum on a deal between Ukraine and the European Union, a deal that was rejected by more than 60 percent of Dutch voters. Roos says the Dutch have never been particularly pro-EU, two referendums on European issues, one in 2005 and another in 2016, were both rejected by citizens. Those were the only two times we had a real popularity poll on the policies of the European Union. Both times a large majority rejected it. So the Netherlands has never been pro-European Union. T he pro-EU story is just simply not true. While Dutch politics clearly shifted to right in 2010, populist rhetoric is now causing polarization on both sides of the political spectrum. As a fight for the support right-wing voters continues, the battle for left-wing Dutch voters has yet to be settled and has become more competitive in recent weeks. Just three days after taking office, U.S.President Donald Trump is facing the first legal challenge to his administration. A watchdog group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, filed the lawsuit Monday in New York, charging that the new president's vast business holdings place him in violation of an obscure clause in the U.S. Constitution. Trump quickly dismissed the move, saying the lawsuit is "totally without merit." The case is based on the so-called "emoluments clause" of the Constitution, which says foreign powers and governments may not provide payments or gifts to the president without the approval of Congress. Monetary damages not sought According to The New York Times, which first reported the story Sunday, the suit does not seek monetary damages, but asks the court to stop the president from taking payments from foreign "entities." CREW says because Trump has refused to completely divest from his businesses, "he is now getting cash and favors from foreign governments, through guests and events at his hotels, leases in his buildings and valuable real estate deals abroad." The group's executive director, Noah Bookbinder, said in a statement, "We did not want to get to this point. It was our hope that President Trump would take the necessary steps to avoid violating the Constitution before he took office." However Sherri Dillon, one of Trump's lawyers, insisted that the president was meeting all his ethical obligations at a press conference earlier this month. "No one would have thought when the Constitution was written that paying your hotel bill was an emolument," she said. Trump announced at that news conference that he was handing over full control of his businesses to his two sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., along with one of his Trump Organization executives. Eric Trump characterized CREW's lawsuit as "very, very sad," telling The New York Times it is "purely harassment for political gain." Ethics experts have warned for some time that Trump could be in violation of the emoluments clause if he did not sell off all his assets and place the proceeds in a blind trust, in which he would not know how his money is invested. He has pledged not to discuss business with his sons and lawyers for the president point out that he is exempt from laws requiring other senior members of the executive branch to divest their holdings. Most ethics analysts, however, say that anything short of a blind trust leaves Trump open to repeated questions about whether his actions as president are intended to benefit his financial interests. When Trump sits down to negotiate trade deals with other countries, CREW says, "the American people will have no way of knowing whether he will also be thinking about the profits of Trump the businessman." "President Trump has made his slogan 'America First," said Bookbinder. "So you would think he would want to strictly follow the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause, since it was written to ensure our government officials are thinking of Americans first, and not foreign governments." Norm Eisen, an Obama administration ethics lawyer, is a member of CREW's legal team. He told The Times that the suit is intended in part to acquire access to Trump's federal tax returns so the group can evaluate the president's business dealings with foreign governments such as China and Russia. Trump is the first U.S. president in decades who has refused to voluntarily make his tax returns public. The Emergence of a Post-Fact World . STANFORD One of the more striking developments of 2016 and its highly unusual politics was the emergence of a post-fact world, in which virtually all authoritative information sources were called into question and challenged by contrary facts of dubious quality and provenance. The emergence of the Internet and the World Wide Web in the 1990s was greeted as a moment of liberation and a boon for democracy worldwide. Information constitutes a form of power, and to the extent that information was becoming cheaper and more accessible, democratic publics would be able to participate in domains from which they had been hitherto excluded. The development of social media in the early 2000s appeared to accelerate this trend, permitting the mass mobilization that fueled various democratic color revolutions around the world, from Ukraine to Burma (Myanmar) to Egypt. In a world of peer-to-peer communication, the old gatekeepers of information, largely seen to be oppressive authoritarian states, could now be bypassed. While there was some truth to this positive narrative, another, darker one was also taking shape. Those old authoritarian forces were responding in dialectical fashion, learning to control the Internet, as in China, with its tens of thousands of censors, or, as in Russia, by recruiting legions of trolls and unleashing bots to flood social media with bad information. These trends all came together in a hugely visible way during 2016, in ways that bridged foreign and domestic politics. The premier manipulator of social media turned out to be Russia. Its government has put out blatant falsehoods like the fact that Ukrainian nationalists were crucifying small children, or that Ukrainian government forces shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014. These same sources contributed to the debates on Scottish independence, Brexit, and the Dutch referendum on the EUs Association Agreement with Ukraine, amplifying any dubious fact that would weaken pro-EU forces. Use of bad information as a weapon by authoritarian powers would be bad enough, but the practice took root big time during the US election campaign. All politicians lie or, more charitably, spin the truth for their own benefit; but Donald Trump took the practice to new and unprecedented heights. This began several years ago with his promotion of birtherism, the accusation that President Barack Obama was not born in the US; Trump continued to propagate the claim even after Obama produced a birth certificate showing that he was. In the recent US presidential debates, Trump insisted that he had never supported the Iraq War and never called climate change a hoax. After the election, he asserted that he had won even the popular vote (which he lost by more than two million), because of fraudulent voting. These were not simply shadings of facts, but outright lies whose falsehood could be easily demonstrated. That he asserted them was bad enough; what was worse was that he appeared to suffer no penalty from Republican voters for his repeated and egregious mendacity. The traditional remedy for bad information, according to freedom-of-information advocates, is simply to put out good information, which in a marketplace of ideas will rise to the top. This solution, unfortunately, works much less well in a social-media world of trolls and bots. There are estimates that as many as a third to a quarter of Twitter users fall into this category. The Internet was supposed to liberate us from gatekeepers; and, indeed, information now comes at us from all possible sources, all with equal credibility. There is no reason to think that good information will win out over bad information. This highlights a more serious problem than individual falsehoods and their effect on the election outcome. Why do we believe in the authority of any fact, given that few of us are in a position to verify most of them? The reason is that there are impartial institutions tasked with producing factual information that we trust. Americans get crime statistics from the US Department of Justice, and unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mainstream media outlets like the New York Times were indeed biased against Trump, yet they have systems in place to prevent egregious factual errors from appearing in their copy. I seriously doubt that Matt Drudge or Breitbart News have legions of fact-checkers verifying the accuracy of material posted on their websites. In Trumps world, by contrast, everything is politicized. In the course of the campaign, he suggested that Janet Yellens Federal Reserve was working for Hillary Clintons campaign, that the election would be rigged, that official sources were deliberately underreporting crime, and that the FBIs refusal to indict Clinton reflected her campaigns corruption of FBI Director James Comey. He also refused to accept the authority of the intelligence agencies blaming Russia for hacking the Democratic National Committees computer system. And, of course, Trump and his supporters have eagerly denigrated all reporting by the mainstream media as hopelessly biased. The inability to agree on the most basic facts is the direct product of an across-the-board assault on democratic institutions in the US, in Britain, and around the world. And this is where the democracies are headed for trouble. In the US, there has in fact been real institutional decay, whereby powerful interest groups have been able to protect themselves through a system of unlimited campaign finance. The primary locus of this decay is Congress, and the bad behavior is for the most part as legal as it is widespread. So ordinary people are right to be upset. And yet, the US election campaign has shifted the ground to a general belief that everything has been rigged or politicized, and that outright bribery is rampant. If the election authorities certify that your favored candidate is not the victor, or if the other candidate seemed to perform better in a debate, it must be the result of an elaborate conspiracy by the other side to corrupt the outcome. The belief in the corruptibility of all institutions leads to a dead end of universal distrust. American democracy, all democracy, will not survive a lack of belief in the possibility of impartial institutions; instead, partisan political combat will come to pervade every aspect of life. Turkeys pro-government media, usually critical of the United States, welcomed the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin spoke warmly of the new American president, saying the Trump administration "has a perspective that will guard Turkeys sensitive position in the region." I hear from U.S. sources, Trump is going to be more amenable toward the Erdogan government than many people assume. I think this is what Ankara is relying on, said Semih Idiz, a Turkish political columnist for the Al-Monitor website. Idiz suggests that while bilateral ties were severely strained under the Barack Obama presidency, there is hope Trump can put relations back on track. They have common enemies, I think they will try and concentrate on that. So yes, the government is expecting more from the Trump administration than it got from the Obama administration." Prime Minister Binali Yildirim last week spelled out what the Trump administration needs to do to reset relations. On the list was speeding up the extradition of U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey's government accuses of being behind a failed coup last July. Yildirim also has demanded Washington end its military support for the Syrian Kurdish PYD group and its militia, the YPG, which is fighting to capture Raqqa, the Islamic State groups self-declared capital. Ankara accuses the PYD of links with Kurdish insurgents in Turkey. But many experts are advising caution. "The extradition of Gulen is a judicial matter on which Trump has very little control, said Atilla Yesilada, a consultant with GlobalSource Partners, adding: The PYD is doing a good job marching on Raqqa. I do not see Trump immediately interfering with this relationship. According to Yesilada, last weeks U.S. Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson is instructive. Rex Tillerson, the new secretary of state, he also defended the Kurds as valiant allies and he said the United States will be fighting the Muslim Brotherhood, which is an ally of Erdogan, said Yesilada. Idiz called for a lowering of expectations, but said there is still reason to be cautiously optimistic about bilateral relations: "Obama was seen as a panacea to everything and it did not work out. This is an endemic situation, and so you are going to be disappointed no matter what. But I think you will see a change of tone under the Trump administration in relations between Turkey and the United States. So that it is what a lot of people are looking for, rather than any panacea or magic wand that will fix everything overnight." Analysts warn relations could be strained further over the Trump administration's deliberations to move the U.S. Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trumps strong backing of Israels settlement building program on the West Bank and in Jerusalem is also likely to cause Ankara concern. A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement slammed Israel's approval for new Jerusalem settlements, describing it as another indication of disregard for international law, Israels latest." We keep hearing words [from Trump] about the Middle East that are actually disturbing, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday before leaving on a visit to three African countries. I think Turkey has built up this picture of Trump as anti-Obama and therefore pro-Turkish, which is foolish and it's not going to happen, said consultant Yesilada. Concern is growing over how Erdogan will react if expectations of a reset with Washington are dashed. I think they [Turkey] will side closer to Russia, predicted Yesilada. Bilateral relations with Moscow have recently been improving, as relations plummeted with Washington. The Turkish airbase at Incirlik, which is used by U.S. forces, will likely again be on the agenda. "Their [U.S.] presence [in Incirlik] is being questioned by our people and nation, and this issue is on the agenda of the government, said Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak earlier this month. However, a question increasingly being asked is how a Trump administration would react to any hardball tactics by Ankara,. A senior European diplomat, speaking anonymously, warned of unpredictable consequences given the volatile nature of the two countries' leaders. With President Donald Trumps emphasis on America First economic policies, Japan and South Korea are bracing for contentious negotiations over trade and defense sharing costs. In his inauguration address on Friday, President Trump said he would enact protectionist policies to end free trade practices that he said had caused the U.S. economy to decline while enriching foreign industry. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength, Trump said in his inaugural address. The White House also issued a statement that the U.S. would renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was signed in 1994 by the United States, Canada and Mexico. President Trump is also expected to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement that has yet to be ratified. The TPP includes the U.S., Japan and 10 other Pacific Rim countries that account for 40 percent of the worlds economy. Leaders in Asia reacted with caution on Monday to Trumps tough talk on trade. Japan Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference that Tokyo wants to further deepen economic ties with Washington. But Tokyo shares fell on Monday morning, signaling a negative Japanese market reaction to Trump's inauguration speech. Japan's Parliament ratified the TPP on Friday, the day President Trump took office. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said without U.S. participation, the pact would become meaningless. Abe had sent a congratulatory message to President Trump after he was sworn in, saying he looks forward to working hand in hand with the new president to ensure the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. The Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said efforts are underway to arrange a meeting soon between Abe and Trump, so that the Japanese leader can stress the importance of the TPP pact. Over 1,000 Japanese companies also have operations in Mexico that export to the U.S., and that could suffer from any changes in NAFTA. Japanese business leaders have voiced concern that U.S. protectionism will lead to a global economic downturn. A protectionist approach, such as quitting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), will have a significant negative impact on the world economy, said Akio Mimura, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a written statement on Saturday South Korea South Korea is not a member of the TPP but does have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. that Trump also criticized during the campaign. Some American companies have complained that South Korea tries to get around the FTA by imposing excessive and confusing non-tariff regulations on U.S. imports. On Monday South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said his government has been in contact with the Trump administration to reassure them that they are living up to their end of the agreement. We are fully explaining the mutual benefits and the contributions we have been making to South Korea and U.S. relations, to persuade them. So we will continue our efforts to improve the relationship through cooperation, said Acting President Hwang during a press conference. Defense costs In his inaugural address President Trump also vowed to change U.S. policies that, subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military. During the campaign Trump included Japan and South Korea among what he called free rider nations that were not properly reimbursing the U.S. for defense sharing costs. There are over 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan and more than 28,500 in South Korea to maintain regional security and to defend its allies in case of an attack from North Korea or China. The Korea Times newspaper in an editorial on Monday said the Seoul government should cooperate and prepare win-win strategies to deal with the U.S. on thorny issues such as the possible demand by the U.S. for South Korea to a take on a larger share of defense costs. Both countries, however, argue they are currently in compliance with current defense sharing agreements. Tokyo reportedly pays about $1.6 billion in defense costs, and Seoul contributes over $866 million annually to Washington for the military bases in their countries. During Islamic States two-and-a-half-year rule of eastern Mosul, many forms of communication were banned, with rule breakers facing imprisonment or death. Despite the danger, the Internet was still available in much of the city. From his home in Mosul, Bilal Ahmed, 27, tells VOA the story of how he kept his neighborhood online through beatings and threats for nearly two years. He spoke in Arabic and his story is edited for clarity. I had a small Internet shop. About nine months ago a girl came in and asked me to put the Viber app on her phone. She was fully veiled, but when the militants saw her, they stormed into the shop. What are you doing in here alone? they asked the woman. A man and a woman who dont even know each other are alone together? I was surprised. The door was open. It was practically like we were standing on the street. I was just helping her put Viber on the phone, I told them. They took her phone and my ID and told us to both report to their office. When I got there, the Emir sat me down and lectured me for 30 minutes, saying my behavior was immoral. I didnt know it was wrong, I told him. Im sorry. I dont actually think what I did was wrong, but if I didnt apologize I would go to jail. And going to jail was basically the end for many people. Militants would operate their bases in the same houses they held prisoners. When airstrikes hit, prisoners would die in their collapsed cells. Before they let me go they whipped me 60 times. They whip on the back, on the inside of the thighs and sometimes on the bottom of the feet. I think maybe 10 percent of the men in Mosul have not been whipped. Providing Internet Dont try to imagine what it was like here back then. It was terrifying. But half of Mosul was using the Internet when IS got here, and they didnt have the capacity to ban everything. Mobile phone SIM cards and satellites were not allowed, but people did use the Internet to keep in touch with family members that had escaped, even though it was dangerous. I had been providing Internet for a long time for my job, so IS gave me forms for my customers to fill out. Militants told me, If they do anything bad, you are responsible. A colleague of mine had a customer who was caught talking online to someone in the Iraqi army. The customer was executed. My colleague, the Internet provider, spent a month in jail. He was tortured and beaten every day. They wanted me to confess to being aware of the guys conversations, he told me. I had 250 customers at the time, which was too many to monitor, but I didn't sell to anyone I didn't already know. Many other people were too scared to sign up because they had to give their IDs to IS to get online. If IS accused you of breaking their rules, they could kill you like it was nothing. Militants were always on the lookout for anyone who was communicating with the Iraqi Army. But there were other things. For example, if you were caught talking to a woman who was not your mother or wife on Facebook, you could be whipped. Even if she was your cousin. Everyday Terror It was only the first time they searched my house that they broke down my door. They searched under carpets, in the refrigerator, everywhere. Later that day I went to their office and asked why they broke into my house. We have orders to search every Internet providers houses, a militant told me. I complained about my broken door and windows. May God help you, they told me. The other three times they searched my home they didnt break anything. They just handcuffed me and locked me in their car while they looked. My customers would use the Internet on their mobile phones, then delete the messages and hide the phones when they were done. There were spies everywhere. Many people didnt even want their children to know they were communicating with anyone on the outside. They were afraid the children would be heard talking about it on the streets. Honestly, if there were any other job I could do, I wouldnt have done it. I was scared all the time. But people wanted Internet, especially because we were so otherwise isolated. About six months ago an airstrike hit our Internet tower because it was near an IS base. Since Iraqi forces took back my neighborhood, we've been working to get service again. People stop by my house every day, saying Bilal, when can we get Internet? The prime minister of Mauritius has officially handed over the office to his son in a controversial transition of power. Outgoing Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, 86, said Monday, "The job of prime minister involves great responsibility. It is a great burden. I have carried it, but now it is time to make way for the youth...." Pravind Jugnauth, the new prime minister, is 55, and was the finance minister before the handover. The transition was made without the benefit of an election, prompting accusations of nepotism and calls for a new election. "Everywhere on the island it can be seen that the population is against the 'father and son deal' which has not gone through an election," said Paul Berenger, a former prime minister and a member of the opposition Mauritian Militant Movement. Berenger said demonstrations will be held to oppose the appointment of the new prime minister. Mauritius is a model of political stability in Africa, however the handover has created an uproar on the Indian Ocean island, best known as a dream beach holiday destination. New Gambian President Adama Barrow has selected as his vice president a woman who was key in helping united the country's opposition parties against former leader Yahya Jammeh. The choice of Fatoumata Tambajang comes as preparations continue for Barrow to return to Gambia from neighboring Senegal, where he was sworn into office last week as Jammeh refused to leave office. Jammeh left Gambia on Saturday under threat of military action by from the West African bloc ECOWAS.The former president had refused to accept Barrows victory in the December 1 presidential election. Barrow told VOA in an interview Sunday that he will establish and truth and reconciliation commission to examine allegations of misrule during Jammeh's 22 years in power. Twenty-two years is a long time, said Barrow.People need to know the truth. Jammeh left Gambia on Saturday under threat of military action by from the West African bloc ECOWAS. The former president had refused to accept Barrows victory in the December 1 presidential election. Journalist Sainey Marenah spoke to Barrow in Dakar, where he was sworn in Friday at the Gambian embassy. The new president said he turned down a request from Jammeh to remain in Gambia, on the grounds that he could not guarantee Jammehs security. Barrow, 51, said his government will push for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure future presidents face term limits. We want to bring in a very good foundation for democracy and also strong pillars of democracy where terms are limited, he said. Presidents will always be very careful. We will avoid what has happened with Yahya Jammeh being here for 22 years and never wanted to leave power. Barrow said his administration will work to professionalize the Gambian security forces and the army. We want to get a very disciplined force that is organized; a force that has training. We want [to] separate the forces. Internal security is police. We want to get the police to do internal security. The military is our defense. There will be serious reform to get that done, he said. Barrow said he does not intend to retain Jammehs Cabinet ministers, but he will reassess the security forces to see where they fit because they are all Gambians. To foreign investors, Barrow said Gambia, often referred to as the smiling coast, is back. What we are going to tell them is the door is open, he said. Investment people cannot invest if the environment is not there. The environment is good governance, security, rule of law. These are the things that can encourage business people. And that will be first class in the Gambia. We will make sure people are secure so they can invest. With that investment, we can create jobs, we can develop this country. He refused to say how many terms he would like to serve, saying that decision will be left to Gambians. We are here, giving this responsibility, based on trust. We want execute that to the fullest. Now its up to the Gambian people to decide. Samsung, South Korea's largest conglomerate, says an internal investigation has revealed thatfaulty batteries are responsible for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone last year, causing a nosedive in the company's profits and a serious swipe to its reputation. Koh Dong-jin, chief of Samsung's mobile division, bowed as he apologized at a press conference Monday in Seoul.He said, "From now on, our first priorities will be product quality and customer safety." Samsung was forced to take the device off the market after replacement phones also caught fire. The smartphones were in the headlines last year when their fires injured people, destroyed a car and caused the evacuation of a Southwest Airlines flight. Analysts say the drive to produce a thin phone with longer battery life may have contributed to Samsung's woes. The company said in a statement that "We have taken several corrective actions to ensure this never happens again.The lessons of the past several months are now deeply reflected in our processes and in our culture." Samsung is expected to release another smartphone soon. A Bangladesh court verdict, in which 16 former members of Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were handed death sentences for their involvement in the 2014 murder of seven people, has received mixed reactions. The court found 35 men, including 25 former RAB officials, guilty of the abduction and murder of a city mayor and leader of Bangladeshs ruling Awami League (AL) party and his six other companions from Narayanganj. In the case, known as Narayanganj 7, the court handed down the death penalty to 26 of the convicts, who included 16 RAB members. The countrys home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that the verdict has been welcomed by the country. None, including member of any law and order enforcement agency, will be spared after committing such crime. Nobody is above the law. This verdict sends out that stern message to all, Kamal said. Some relatives of the murdered men said that they are satisfied with the sentences in the case. They ruined my family life. I want a quicker execution of the court order, Selina Islam, wife of the murdered mayor and AL leader, Nazrul Islam, told VOA. But relatives of other victims of enforced disappearances and murders said the verdict does not trigger much hope in their cases. In little over two years the trial of the Narayanganj 7 case is over, perhaps because the main victim was politically powerful. I am a poor street hawker. In my sons 5-year-old case, the government has not begun the trial as yet, Ruhul Amin told VOA, referring to the 2012 case of his son Mohammad Imam Hassan, who allegedly disappeared while in RAB custody. I doubt if I shall ever get justice. Powerful Interests The court ruled Nur Hossain, an expelled AL leader in Narayanjanj, hired RAB members to abduct and kill his political rival Nazrul Islam for political and business interests. Islam and six other men were abducted on April 27, 2014. Three days later, bodies of the seven men were found floating in a nearby river. Since its establishment as a counter-terrorism force in 2004, the RAB, which is led by officers from the army and other security agencies, has been accused by local and global groups of indulging in serious human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and murders, often locally known as cross-fire deaths. This is the first time that RAB members have been convicted and sentenced in any case related to an enforced disappearance and murder. Dhaka-based security analyst retired Brigadier General Sakhawat Hossain views the latest verdict as a positive step in the governments attempt to bring related cases to justice. Many people perhaps lost faith in the justice system. This verdict will help restore peoples faith in the judiciary. Now many members of the security agencies, including the elite forces, will perhaps restrain themselves from being involved in such heinous crimes, Hossain told VOA. But opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader AKM Wahiduzzaman said that he is not so hopeful about the execution of Mondays court orders. The orders against different defendants have come from a lower court. They will surely appeal the verdicts in the High Court, and later, even the Supreme Court. We cannot be sure now if the sentences handed out in the lower court will be upheld in the higher courts later, Wahiduzzaman told VOA. The BNP leader said that the government fast-tracked the Narayanganj 7 case because the main victim in the case was a ruling party leader. About 80% of the people, who have been victims of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh in the past eight years are opposition party leaders, workers and their relatives, Wahiduzzaman said. The government has not shown much interest to properly process any of those cases to bring the perpetrators to justice. Long History Allegations of enforced disappearances began surfacing in Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed formed the AL-led government in 2009. According to the Bangladeshi human rights group Odhikar, at least 326 people have vanished through enforced disappearances in the country in the past eight years, with 42 found dead, 162 arrested or returned alive, and the whereabouts of 122 remain unknown. Another Bangladeshi rights group, Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK), counted at least 97 victims of enforced disappearances last year, up from 55 in 2015. ASKs executive director Nur Khan said that his group strongly suspects law enforcement agencies, including RAB, had been involved in many enforced disappearances cases. The government should set up a judicial commission to properly investigate all the related allegations leveled against RAB and other forces. That commission should be tasked to identify the culprits and bring them to justice. Otherwise, this culture of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, which began 10 or 15 years ago, will not end, Khan told VOA. Phil Robertson, deputy director of Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, said that the Bangladesh government should make these convictions a turning point for the way RAB operates, and send a clear message to the forces commanders and rank-and-file officers alike that anyone found violating rights will be severely punished without exception. This case is just one of many cases where the RAB have been involved in enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings, which they try to excuse away as so-called cross-fire deaths. When ordinary Bangladeshis with neither money nor connections are taken away by the RAB, all they can hope for is mercy. Ask the man on the street being led away by the RAB is seen as a death sentence, Robertson told VOA. Inspired by the movie Terminator, Yingzhe Fu has wanted to make robots ever since he was a child. That dream is now being realized in the form of a smart device for new homes, created by a startup called Togg that he co-founded. The computer would be built into the infrastructure for new homes, so it can turn lights on and off, respond to commands, such as giving a weather report, and even tell jokes. So we are basically making a mini computer. Home builders directly build our devices into the wall, and that device will help you to connect with your mobile phone, [and] with your other smart devices, said Fu. Being from China, Fu said there was little chance he could have stayed in the United States to start a company without the aid of an early-stage venture capital firm called Unshackled. Without their help, without them sponsoring me, I dont think I would do that, said Fu. Foreign nationals Unshackled was created to help immigrant entrepreneurs stay in the United States as they pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship. One of Unshackleds founding partners, Manan Mehta, is an American, but he learned first-hand the challenges facing foreign nationals who aspire to be entrepreneurs in the U.S. Both me and my co-founder Nitin, respectively, had to shut our own companies down due to co-founders on visas, so for the last two and a half years," said Mehta. "Weve been putting our minds to how do we navigate and solve the problem that a lot of immigrant founders face which is, 'How do I start my business and maintain sponsorship in the United States so I can dedicate every waking hour to my entrepreneurial desires?'" Foreign nationals often stay in the United States by getting a job with a company that can sponsor a special workers visa called the H-1B. But getting this type of visa is not easy. In 2017, there were 236,000 applications for a skilled workers visa. There are just 85,000 visas available, some of them requiring an advanced degree. H-1B visas also make it tough for foreign nationals to start their own businesses in the U.S. "As a H-1B holder, youre not supposed to be unemployed at any given point of time," said India native Prateek Joshi. "You have to be under employment contract, so the thing is, you cannot just quit your job and start working on your product because thats not allowed. So you have to do it nights and weekends." That is why Mehtas earlier startup failed. We were left to work with them on nights and weekends, and in this day of improbable innovation, if you dont move fast, youre falling behind, noted Mehta. Undivided attention Mehta and his partners created Unshackled to solve that dilemma and allow immigrant entrepreneurs to work on their startup fulltime, in the United States. Unshackled sponsors work visas and hires founders of startups to work fulltime on their own projects. The firm invests up to $300,000 in the startups and provides entrepreneurs with a free co-working space in the heart of Silicon Valley. In the initial days of a startup, any cost saving is very, very helpful. For example, we would not be able to afford this space in the middle of Palo Alto if youre going to pay rent, said Joshi who now is able to work on his startup, Pluto AI, a platform for water management. Unshackled also provides a network of resources, legal help and mentors for entrepreneurs who may be relatively new to the United States. One of the biggest challenges we see with immigrant founders is that they dont have deep networks," Mehta said. "Someone like myself whos born and raised in the U.S., I have 32 years of networks thats been built. But if you came to this country for university or for a job, you may be limited to five or seven years at most. Invaluable information Fu said the business idea development, marketing and how to do the pitch for investors to get funding were particularly helpful pieces of information that Unshackled provided for his startup. So by having this ecosystem where we have everyone working out of our space, they now also create a community which allows them to share and move faster on experiences and things that work and oftentimes things that dont work, said Mehta. Unshackled has invested in founders from 15 different countries, on almost every continent, with the hope that the company will benefit financially from startups like Togg and Pluto AI as they become successful in the future. The Thai government is backing a plan by China to demolish islets and rocky outcrops on the Mekong River as part of a decade long project to boost shipping navigation from China's Yunnan province to Luang Prabang in Laos. The project, known as the Development Plan for International Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong River (2015-2025) is set in three phases, with an initial survey, design, and environmental and social assessments. The navigational improvements cover 630 kilometers from China to Myanmar boundary marker 243 to Luang Prabang. The aim is to make the river passable for 500-ton cargo vessels. A second phase, starting in 2020, includes navigational improvements over a distance of 259 kilometers, as well as the construction of cargo and passenger ports. In 2015 an estimated 3,500 commercial ships, largely between 100 and 300 tons, were making the journey bringing goods to Thailand. Assistant Minister to the Thai Prime Ministers Office Kobsak Pootrakool told Thai media that China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand set up a team to survey the river and had agreed the navigation needed to be improved. For the safety of goods and transport of people, as well as reducing risk from accidents and environmental impacts, it is necessary to make way for navigational improvements in the river to make it passable for 500-ton ships, Kobsak said. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang set out the plan to improve inter-connectivity and cooperation among the six member countries of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) initiative: China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. China is reported to be providing $1.54 billion in loans and $10 billion in credit lines to fund infrastructure and improve transport networks in the Mekong region. Protests over environmental impact But the plans, agreed to by the Thai Cabinet in late December, have triggered protests from conservationists who say clearing of the islets would have a disastrous impact on vital aquatic wildlife and local communities. Conservationists say the latest plans come as the Mekong River is already facing impacts from dam construction, including three hydro-power projects now being built or under consideration by Laos on the lower Mekong mainstream. Along the Lower Mekong, millions of people are dependent on the river as a vital source of food. Conservationists' main concerns center on a 1.6 kilometer stretch of river, known as Khon PiLuang -- a stretch of islets and rocky outcrops, and a marker of the border between Thailand and Laos in Chiang Khnon district of Chiang Rai. Phillip Hirsch, a professor of human geography at Australias Sydney University, said clearing of islets is the last major obstacle for large vessels to ply the river. The key site to which NGOs [non-government organizations] are focused and which local fishermen are concerned about is the set of rapids on the stretch of river between Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong, called Khon Pi Luang. If they clear that area there theres very little left by way of obstacles for the largest ships to go all the way downstream, Hirsch told VOA. Previous attempts to improve shipping Chinas plans to boost navigation on the Mekong River dates back over 25 years. Blasting of islets further upstream has already taken place. A program of blasting islets on the lower Mekong occurred in 2001, near Shan State in Myanmar. In 2002 a Thai government under former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - aiming to win favor from China - proceeded with blasting upstream from Khon Pi Luang. But the program was halted by the Thai Defense Ministry over fears of border disputes with neighboring Laos. The Thai-Lao border is set at the rivers deepest point. Destroying the islets would change the line of the border at a possible disadvantage to Thailand. Conservationists say the islets have a vital role in fish habitat and breeding for the 200 species of fish living along that stretch of river. Robert Mather, a scientist and conservationist, said destroying almost 270 different islets or outcrops is potentially devastating for the rivers aquatic diversity. These are areas, very important for fish breeding, fish eating areas, because you have algae growing on the rocks and islets. They are important, Mather told VOA. The end result of what is happening is its making the river more like a canal really its making it easier, its making it more uniform, so the diversity of different habitats will be reduced, he said. A coalition of local environmentalists representing eight Mekong Provinces has launched a campaign opposing the plans. Pianporn Deetes, Thai campaign director for the U.S.-based International Rivers, said the wider impact of the plans is on local communities. We are now seeing the Mekong to be like a buffet for different companies, different government agencies to take to build their projects and to make their profits without considering the richness, the complex diversity and the eco-system, Deetes told VOA. Conservationists say China should further develop highway links from China to Laos as an alternative to sending cargo by river. But economist Somphob Manarangsan said China sees the river system as the most efficient transport option. All the other means of transportation or the going by car or other ways is difficult. [Thats] the reason why hundreds of ship that that travel the Mekong River from Yunnan province to Laos or Thailand, Somphob told VOA. Saowaruj Rattanakhamfu, a senior researcher with the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said based on foreign trade, China would gain the most from the increased trading business. From an economic perspective [Thailand] will not benefit from the water navigation plan, Saowaruj told local media. She said the Lao people would even be at a greater disadvantage than the Thais. The government should study whether it is really worth the investment as the project will have immense impacts on the poor, she said. The top Hamas official from the Gaza Strip has arrived in Egypt for meetings with security officials, the highest level visit by a member of the Palestinian militant group since Egypt's army overthrew an Islamist president in 2013. Ismail Haniyeh arrived late Sunday, Egyptian security officials said, as Hamas officials confirmed the visit. All spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters. Hamas, an Islamic militant group with historic links to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed warm relations with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, a top Brotherhood figure who was overthrown by the military after a divisive year in power. The Egyptian government tightened an Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza shortly thereafter, but in recent months there have been signs of a thaw in relations. For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, stifling the economy and largely blocking its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, signs are emerging that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the group. In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013, and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations. Haniyeh left Gaza in September to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca - the first time Egypt allowed him to leave the territory since Morsi's ouster. He then went to Qatar to see Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal and discuss issues including the group's upcoming elections. Mashaal is slated to step down from his position this spring, and Haniya is considered a strong candidate to replace him. Meshaal's deputy Moussa Abu Marzouk is the other main candidate. Belvedere Castle in the 1980s. (Courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy) Let's say you were to Google some keywords in an effort to find out if there are any underground bunkers in New York that you can hole up in if President Trump fulfills your worst nightmares. What would you find? A wonderful conspiracy theory that places an underground city beneath Central Park. The conspiracy theory is called "Manhattan Project" (not to be confused with the other Manhattan Project), and it claims that in 1853, hundreds of acres were developed for a secret subterranean city, which still remains 100 feet beneath the park. It also claims that the U.S. government kept it a secret, and used it to hide Czar Nicholas, Adolf Hitler, and the Roswell aliens. We asked Parks rep Sam Biederman about this magical underground city, and he told us this afternoon, "The Central Park Mole City is strictly off-limits to the Above Grounders. I mean, we dont know what youre talking about." (Yep, you just got Biedermanned.) The theory goes on to say that park architects Vaux and Olmstead were completely unaware that the park "was paid for by the Federal government as the place to house the first underground government complex in the world," and presumably their above-ground work was all just a cover-up. From the website dedicated to this theory, which shockingly uses normal fonts and a non-black background, stepping back from a conspiracy theory web design tradition: This complex, known as the Manhattan Project (or MP) was housed in a series of underground caves designed to protect the Union government if the Confederacy started to win the United States Civil War (1861-1865). After the war the project was abandoned until it was later revised and expanded to 300 acres during World War One (1914-1918). Since that time it has been expanded several times to now include over 700 acres in a huge underground city within a city. It is located deep within the bedrock, over 300 feet below the park. This massive city complex is now designed to safely house up to 4,000 central Government personnel in the event of a nuclear strike. It presently houses all United States government UFO activities and was the home for Nazi Adolf Hitler until his death in 1956. This Super-secret location is the site of the main Emergency Government War Headquarters - the hub of the Country's alternative seat of power outside Washington, D.C. It is said to contain hospitals, supplies for survival, an underground lake, 60 miles of roads, accommodations for the President of the United States and his entire Cabinet Office, civil servants and an army of domestic support staff. It is "blast proof and completely self-sufficient and can accommodate up to 14,000 people." You know, aside from that business of giving the President a desk (according to the theory, Hitler's already got one down there anyway), maybe this whole survival bunker thing isn't a bad idea. Previously: Are there dinosaurs under Central Park? U.S. President Donald Trump began his first full week in office by withdrawing the country from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, instituting a hiring freeze at federal agencies and reiterating to congressional leaders his false assertion that voter fraud kept him from winning the popular vote in the November election. At a White House meeting that included House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, several people familiar with the talks said Trump claimed between 3 million and 5 million fraudulent votes by illegal immigrants were cast for his opponent Hillary Clinton. There has been little evidence of any voter fraud during the election, and certainly not on that scale. Clinton won the nationwide popular vote by about 3 million votes.Trump is in office because he won by a huge margin in the Electoral College that actually decides presidential elections. Trump has made similar claims before, warning throughout the campaign that the process would be rigged against him.A few weeks after being elected, he wrote on Twitter, "In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions who voted illegally." Trump also campaigned against the TPP trade deal that was negotiated during former President Barack Obama's term, but never ratified by Congress.It would have covered trade with Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Chile, Canada, Mexico and four other countries. After signing an executive order Monday to withdraw from the TPP and instead pursue bilateral trade agreements, Trump called it a "great thing for the American worker - what we just did. WATCH: 'Were Going to Have a Tremendous Amount of Business Coming Back' White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that as Trump "has said many times, this type of multinational agreement is not in our best interest, and hes moving quickly to advance trade policies that increase the competitiveness of the American worker and manufacturer." The TPP would have been the biggest regional trade deal in history, covering nearly 40 percent of the world's economy and about a third of world trade. China didn't take part in the talks, but appears ready to step into the vacuum and create its own deals with the Southeast Asian countries that would have been part of the 12-nation agreement. In advocating for the deal, Obama said last year, "We can't let countries like China write the rules of the global economy. We should write those rules." Even before announcing his run for the presidency a year-and-a-half ago, Trump said, "The Trans-Pacific Partnership is an attack on America's business. It does not stop China's currency manipulation. This is a bad deal." The agreement would have cut more than 18,000 tariffs, including on all U.S. manufactured goods and almost all American farm products. The deal sought to end exploitative child labor and set acceptable work conditions on minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health. Trump, as past Republican chief executives have done, also signed an order reinstating a ban on providing government funds to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about the procedure. In addition, Trump, honoring a campaign pledge, froze civilian hiring at federal agencies, billing the freeze as a way to reduce the cost of government and rein in its growth.Military hiring is not affected. He also met with a group of business leaders, telling them he will "massively" cut regulations as well as reduce taxes. WATCH: President Trump on regulations Trump warned the executives to not move their operations to other countries, saying they would face a hefty tariff if they manufacture products elsewhere and then attempt to bring them back across the border to sell in the U.S. Among those meeting with him were the leaders of Dow Chemical, SpaceX, the Dell computing firm, the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin. The president called on the business leaders to come up with a list in the next 30 days of ways to boost U.S. manufacturing, an important sector of the world's largest economy, but one that has lagged in the recovery since the country's steep recession in 2008 and 2009. Trump says he is not against trade deals, but wants more favorable terms for the United States that benefit American workers. The White House says President Donald Trump will meet with Mexican President Enrique Nieto Pena next week for talks on immigration and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. "Mexico has been terrific...the president has been really very amazing, and I think we're going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, and for everyone involved," Trump said. The meeting is set for January 31. Trump said he also plans to meet soon with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. Pena Nieto and Trudeau spoke by phone Sunday about the importance of the two countries' relationship with the U.S., according to a statement issued by the Mexican president's office. The two leaders agreed to combine efforts to promote North American economic integration. Trump campaigned on renegotiating NAFTA. His insistence that Mexico will pay for a wall along the U.S. border to help curb illegal immigration has become one of Trump's trademarks. Nieto Pena has dismissed the idea that his government will fund a wall as "ridiculous." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday talked about trade and security on the first stop of an African tour, urging Tanzania's leader to shut institutions linked to a Muslim cleric who is accused by Turkey of leading a failed coup. Erdogan met Tanzanian President John Magufuli in the city of Dar es Salaam, and he will return to Turkey on Wednesday after stops in Mozambique and Madagascar. The trip is part of Turkey's effort to develop relationships on the African continent, evident in the opening of more embassies and Turkish Airlines routes over more than a decade. Erdogan said there is potential for partnership in tourism, agriculture, construction and other fields with Tanzania. A key priority for the Turkish government is also targeting international schools and other institutions inspired by cleric Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based critic of Erdogan who has denied involvement in the botched military uprising in Turkey in July. "This organization is not only a threat to Turkey, it is a great threat to all countries where it operates," Erdogan said. "We are informing our friends about this organization so that they are not exposed to the difficulty, the pain, the disillusion we went through." In Tanzania, 11 schools in the Feza system inspired by Gulen have a total of 3,000 students, just over half of them Muslim. The school leadership denies any link to the coup attempt that led to a purge of alleged loyalists of Gulen, who had expanded his international influence with a message of interfaith harmony. Center-leaning Manuel Valls will face more liberal Benoit Hamon in a runoff Sunday (January 29) when French left-wing voters will choose their candidate to confront conservative and nationalist rivals in the April-May presidential election. Hamon, a former education minister, won more than 36 percent of the vote, with former prime minister Valls trailing at 31 percent, according to nearly complete results from polling stations. A defiant Valls, 54, told his supporters the Socialist primary runoff would be "a clear choice between unachievable promises and a credible left." Hamon, 49, said he offered hope to a party ailing after five years under President Francois Hollande beset by economic sluggishness and mass protests. With Europe shifting to the right and the deeply unpopular Hollande ruling himself out, the competition is expected to be tough for the Socialist nominee in the race for the two-round presidential election on April 23 and May 7. The far-right National Front party of Marine Le Pen, running against conservative former prime minister Francois Fillon, and 39-year-old former economy minister Emmanuel Macron, is generally expected to dominate the first round, reflecting a wider populist backlash in Europe and the U.S., where President Donald Trump took office Friday. Offering prized bags of flour to police and hurling empty medicine boxes on the floor, Venezuelan opposition protesters launched a new push on Monday to force President Nicolas Maduro from power and end 18 years of socialist rule. Turnout for the opposition's first rallies of 2017 was not massive, reflecting disillusionment over last year's failure to bring about a referendum to recall the 54-year-old leader and successor to Hugo Chavez. But those who did march in a string of rallies around the country turned creative in their complaints about the South American OPEC nation's unprecedented economic crisis. Tear gas used In the politically volatile western state of Tachira, long a hotbed of anti-Maduro sentiment, some demonstrators proffered flour an increasingly scarce and expensive commodity during the nation's three-year recession to police, witnesses said. In Caracas, where several thousand opposition supporters marched, some threw empty medicine cartons on the floor to symbolize shortages afflicting the health sector. Security forces fired tear gas in Tachira to stop protesters from reaching an office of the National Election Council, while in Caracas they used tear gas against people blocking a highway. Prices soar for basics With many of Venezuela's 30 million people skipping meals, unable to pay soaring prices for basic goods and facing long lines for scarce subsidized products, Maduro, who won a 2013 election to succeed Chavez, has become deeply unpopular. Polls showed a majority of Venezuelans wanted a referendum last year which could have brought his rule to an early end and sparked a presidential vote. But compliant courts and election authorities thwarted the move, alleging fraud in signature collections. This government is scared of votes, and the election council is the instrument they use to avoid them," said housewife Zoraida Castro, 46, during a march to the election council's office in southern Ciudad Bolivar city. Call for elections The opposition Democratic Unity coalition is demanding dates for regional elections that are supposed to happen this year, and also urging Maduro to hold a new presidential ballot. "It's a day of struggle in Venezuela," said coalition secretary general Jesus Torrealba, in Barquisimeto town to show solidarity with a Catholic archbishop whose residence was recently attacked after he criticized the government. Maduro's six-year term is due to end in early 2019. Red-shirted government supporters, who accuse the opposition of seeking a coup with U.S. connivance, were also marching on Monday, a politically significant day for Venezuelans: the anniversary of the 1958 fall of dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez. They gathered at the National Pantheon building to honor leftist guerrilla Fabricio Ojeda, who was murdered in 1966. Troops from a regionwide military force moved Sunday into Gambia's capital, Banjul, where they were greeted by cheering throngs, hours after defeated leader Yahya Jammeh fled into exile. The regional force is expected to clear the way for the return of the country's newly elected President Adama Barrow, who earlier took refuge in nearby Senegal when Jammeh refused to leave office. Barrow was sworn in Thursday at a ceremony in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. No time frame had been announced by late Sunday for Barrow's return, but a spokesman told reporters it would be "as soon as possible." Marcel Alain de Souza said parts of Gambia's security forces needed to be "immobilized" ahead of Barrow's return. A second spokesman told reporters in Banjul that the capital would be inspected Monday to determine whether security is adequate for Barrow's safe return to the country of 1.5 million residents. U.S. reaction The U.S. State Department welcomed "the ongoing peaceful transition of power in Gambia," and congratulated Barrow on his inauguration. Acting spokesman Mark Toner also praised "the restraint shown by the Gambian people over the past weeks," as Jammeh struggled unsuccessfully to maintain his grip on power. Top aide cites looted bank accounts Separately on Sunday, a top adviser to Barrow, speaking in Senegal, alleged that Jammeh looted government bank accounts in the last days of his rule. Mai Ahmad Fatty told reporters the coffers in his tiny nation are, in his words, "virtually empty." He said the finance ministry and Gambia's Central Bank had confirmed that more than $11 million went missing in the past two weeks alone. Fatty also said he confirmed that a cargo plane from Chad had moved luxury goods, including an unknown number of vehicles, out of the country on Jammeh's behalf in the final hours of his rule. By late Sunday, Jammeh was reported in Equatorial Guinea, which is not a member of the regional security grouping that spearheaded the planned intervention. Barrow promises change Barrow reaffirmed Sunday his plans to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to shed light on widely alleged human rights abuses during Jammeh's rule, which began in 1994 when he seized power in a bloodless coup. Human rights activists have alleged those abuses included arbitrary detentions, torture and the killings of some opponents. "Twenty-two years is a long time. People need to know the truth," he told VOA in an interview Sunday from the Senegalese capital. The president said he has rejected proposals that would have allowed Jammeh to remain in Gambia after stepping down. Without addressing security or political issues arising from Jammeh's continued presence in the country, Barrow said the new government could not guarantee Jammeh's safety if he stayed. He also said he will not retain Jammeh's Cabinet ministers and will work to improve the professionalism of Gambian security forces and the army. Departure sparked celebrations in Banjul Early last week, Jammeh declared a national state of emergency in a last-ditch effort to hold on to power. He dissolved his Cabinet while the National Assembly extended his term of office by three months. But by Friday, as pressure mounted, he was negotiating with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania before agreeing to step down. Sources said the talks centered on where Jammeh would live and whether he would be granted amnesty for alleged crimes committed during his rule. Barrow, a property developer, celebrated as it became clear on Friday that Jammeh's departure was imminent. "The rule of fear has been banished from Gambia for good," Barrow said in Dakar as he prepared to return to his homeland. Jubilant Gambians took to the streets of the capital Sunday as the West African military force entered the capital and took control of the presidential palace, the seat of power during Jammeh's two decade authoritarian rule. Picardo to Address European Parliament Constitutional Affairs Committee Next Monday The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, has been invited to attend before the European Parliament's Select Committee Constitutional Affairs, known as the "AFCO Committee". The invitation is for the morning of next Monday, the 30th January and is in addition to the Chief Minister's appearance before the House of Commons' BREXIT Select Committee on Wednesday of this week. Mr Picardo's appearance before this important Committee of the European Parliament was due to have occurred late last year but was delayed because some members of the Committee were not available at the time. The Committee will also be seeking to take evidence from other political leaders in the United Kingdom. The Chairperson of the Committee is Ms Danuta Hubner. Ms Hubner has been a European Commissioner for Trade (in which post she has been preceded by Pascal Lamy and succeeded by Peter Mandelson) and for Regional Policy. Members of the Committee include Spanish MEPs including PSOE MEP Ramon Jauregui and PP leader in the European Parliament Esteban Gonzalez Pons. The Chief Minister said: "I am now able to confirm my appearance before the Constitutional Affairs Committee Community of the European Parliament will be going ahead next Monday. This is an important Committee of the Parliament that is taking evidence in Brussels also in the context of Brexit, as the House of Lords and the House of Commons are doing in London. I very much look forward to appearing before this influential Committee and making the position of the people of Gibraltar clear to all members of the Committee, in particular our clear and unequivocal position in relation to continued and exclusive British Sovereignty going forward." The proceedings of the Committee are expected to be streamed live. In the meantime, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, who will attend the parliamentary session, will also continue with a separate round of meetings designed to put across the Gibraltar point of view on Brexit issues to decision makers in the European Union. The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister leave for London today. Mr Picardo will hold preparatory meetings throughout tomorrow, together with Dr Garcia and Attorney General Michael Llamas, in anticipation of the appearance before the House of Commons BREXIT Select Committee on Wednesday morning. In the absence of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, the Minister for Education and the Environment Dr John Cortes will act as Chief Minister. Touring with the E Street Band in Australia, Bruce Springsteen couldnt show his support for the Womens March in person. Even from across the world, though, the Boss made it clear that his solidarity is with the protesters, telling a Perth crowd that our hearts and spirits are with the hundreds of thousands of women and men that marched yesterday in every city in America, and in Melbourne who rallied against hate and division and in support of tolerance, inclusion, reproductive rights, civil rights, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, the environment, wage equality, gender equality, healthcare, and immigrant rights. Springsteen, who has made no secret of his antipathy for the new president, calling Donald Trump a moron, ended his message with a rallying cry: We stand with you. We are the new American resistance. Watch above. Photo: Joe Lederer/Universal Pictures The controversy surrounding video footage of a handler pushing a dog into a pool for a stunt while filming A Dogs Purpose continues, and the movies animal supplier has released a statement contextualizing the footage released to TMZ. Ahead of Fridays release, Birds and Animals Unlimited has defended production practices on A Dogs Purpose, blaming the falsely edited video for misrepresenting how the animal actors were treated on set. It portrayed a dog being forced to enter a pool against its will and suggested that the dog was traumatized as a result. No such thing occurred, nor would it ever occur under the supervision of our animal trainers, Birds and Animals Unlimited said in a statement provided to Deadline. The handlers account matches the one producer Gavin Polone gave in an op-ed: While rehearsing the rushing-water-rescue scene, the German shepherd (named Hercules) was fine. When the dogs mark was moved to the other side of the pool, Hercules no longer wanted to enter the pool, so handlers returned him to his original mark. These safety measures that were put in place worked flawlessly to ensure that no harm came to the dog (or the people) who were in the water during filming that day, the animal supplier clarified in the statement. PETA, which plans to picket the opening of A Dogs Purpose, has been critical of Birds and Animals Unlimited in the past, accusing the company of several violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act and alleging that several animals have either died or been mistreated under the suppliers care. Photo: Storytelle/Universal Studios Boycotting A Dogs Purpose is a personal decision, but make sure you have all the information, one of the movies producers asks. Gavin Polone is a longtime animal-rights advocate and film producer, and the movie about canine companionship was a passion project for him. So when footage was released by TMZ showing a clearly terrified German shepherd named Hercules being forced into a pool of churning water, he launched his own inquiry into what exactly happened. His conclusions: that video wasnt in any way indicative of animal treatment on set, and it misrepresents the entire production and that one scene. In his Hollywood Reporter op-ed, Polone wrote that he questioned studio executives and viewed all footage shot the day the video was taken. As with the TMZ video that you saw, two things were evident: (1) the dog handler tries to force the dog, for 35 to 40 seconds, into the water when, clearly, he didnt want to go in; and (2) in a separate take filmed sometime later, the dog did go into the water, on his own, and, at the end, his head is submerged for about 4 seconds. These two things are absolutely INEXCUSABLE and should NEVER have happened, Polone wrote. The producer says that he holds himself accountable because he didnt protest the films hiring of an American Humane Association (AHA) representative to oversee animal handling. I knew and had written about how ineffective AHA has been over the years [AHA] is the standard guarantor of animal safety on all studio productions and I was not consulted when they nor the dog trainers were hired, Polone wrote. I should have fought with the studio to come up with alternatives to serve those functions. The footage released to TMZ, Polone wrote, edited out context necessary to understanding the dogs distress. After rehearsing the scene without protest, the dogs mark was swapped to the other side of the pool, causing the animal to get spooked. When the scene was filmed as it was rehearsed, the German shepherd was fine. Polone censures both the person who took and held onto the video, along with PETAs calls for a boycott. PETA told TMZ it plans to picket this Fridays opening of A Dogs Purpose, but Polone suggests audiences take a closer look at its practices. The production ought to take responsibility for a few moments of distress, he argues, but PETAs vitriol is directed at the inclusion of animal actors in any circumstance. Not only have they been circulating the TMZ video, which portrays an inaccurate picture of what happened, but they have included a clip from our trailer where you see the dog jumping into a treacherous rushing wall of water. But THAT ISNT A REAL DOG, it is a computer-generated dog leaping into the water. Isnt that the definition of fake news? The QS World Grad School Tour is the largest global series of graduate information fairs, and it returns to New York this Sunday. For students and young professionals interested in pursuing a global education and kick-starting an international career, this is the perfect event to gain access to information and hear first-hand about these opportunities from the experts. The QS World Grad School Tour brings together admissions directors from top-ranked grad schools, advice panels, and free seminars from industry experts for this January 29 event. Fair attendees will also be exclusively eligible to apply for $1.7 million worth of scholarships from QS and partner institutions. Leading institutions such as Columbia and NYU will also take part alongside global peers to present a broad range of graduate programs. Find out how grad school can help you fast-track your path to a thriving, enjoyable and in demand careerattend the QS World Grad School Tour this Sunday and get all your grad questions answered in one day. QS World Grad School Tour NYC When: Sunday, January 29th 2017 Time: 12:30 pm - 06:00 pm Where: Millennium Broadway Hotel - Times Square, 145 West 44th Street New York Exclusive free entry offer for Gothamist readers: secure your free entry by registering online, and name-drop Gothamist at the door. This post is brought to you by the QS World Grad School Tour. Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images The red carpet at next months Cesar Awards might feature more than the usual assortment of movie-making actors, directors, and professionals schmoozing and posing for the cameras. According to The Hollywood Reporter, now that director Roman Polanski has been named the president of ceremonies for the French film honor, feminist organization dOsez le Feminisme is vowing to protest outside the venue and boycott the televised ceremony. The appointment of Roman Polanski is an outrageous act to the many victims of rape and sexual assault, the organization wrote in a press release. They argued that Polanskis career as a filmmaker does not excuse his past actions: We reply that the quality of his filmography has little do with the crime he committed, his flight, and his refusal to assume his responsibilities. Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to charges that he raped a 13-year-old-girl in the United States, but he fled the country before he could be sentenced. The supreme court of his native Poland denied the governments attempts to extradite the director to America, and France has no extradition treaty with the U.S. As the president of ceremony, Polanski will be tasked with giving a speech before a host takes over to do fun skits and introduce specific awards. The French Minister of Womens Rights Laurence Rossignol echoed the organizers from dOsez le Feminisme, saying she found the academys choice to elect Polanski shocking. Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay, however seemed to defend the French Academys decision as an independent organization. The case will continue to haunt Roman Polanski the rest of his life, she said. But he nevertheless remains a filmmaker of great talent who has since been honored with multiple Cesars. This is what is at issue in the choice made by the Academy. Homeland follows up its character-driven season premiere with an even more somber, relatively slow episode. This is a good thing. Its nice to see the show feeling more like a drama than the 24 clone it sometimes became over the last five seasons although I do expect a bomb to go off at the end of every scene. I think I have Post Homeland Stress Disorder; every scene feels like it could with an explosion. The Man in the Basement is a study of two very different men, both trapped by their situation: Quinn (Rupert Friend), recovering from the sarin gas poisoning at the end of last season, and Sekou (J. Mallory McCree), stuck in a cell while the legal system determines if hes a threat to national security. Meanwhile, Carrie Mathison is still bad at following orders and really good at lying to Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin). The episode opens with Quinn, the titular man in the basement, living in the home owned and occupied by Carrie. Hes moping around, listening to an Alex Jonestype as he rants about the criminal element being brought into America by foreigners, and he throws his coffee cup at the door when Carrie tries to come in. Will Quinn be radicalized against his own country? Its not that far of a stretch, especially if or more likely when he learns that his recovery was threatened by Saul and Carrie waking him up against doctors orders in last seasons finale so they could question him. The last line we hear in this scene sounds particularly ominous: If you feel this calling to be an independent American, the time to rise up is now. NOW! Carrie has Max (Maury Sterling) come over to help take care of Quinn while she goes with Reda (Patrick Sabongui) to meet with Sekou. They found $5,000 under his mattress, which he claims to have hidden so it wouldnt be stolen before he could get tickets to Nigeria for his family. The government claims it was material support for a foreign terrorist organization. Was he finally going to see his father, who was deported 14 years earlier? Or was he planning to support an attack against the United States? We just dont know yet. Sekou does reveal that his buddy (Leo Manzari) gave him the money, and that he wanted Sekou to meet with someone in return. Uh oh. While Max tries to get Quinn to take a shower, Saul visits Carrie. He thinks that PEOTUS Keane (Elizabeth Marvel) has shaped her national-security policy with Carries help, since theyre connected via their mutual friend, Otto (Sebastian Koch). Carrie denies it, pretty believably. Saul isnt buying it, and Carrie gets angrier. At times, Saul can be a bit threatening. He definitely has an aggressive side and Carrie is tired of dealing with it. She kicks him out, claiming that shes given up on intrigue and is happy doing what she does to protect Muslim Americans against harassment. Of course, we later learn that shes still a damn good liar, and Sauls instincts were correct: Carrie is feeding Keane information about the CIAs policies and procedures. As far as Carrie Mathisons particular brand of subterfuge goes, few people know her tricks better than Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham), who meets with Keanes top advisor Rob Hemmis (Hill Harper). He has a line that contains this episodes most startling real-world commentary, coming days after one of the Americas most controversial inaugurations: Presidents dont get chances. They get tested. He reveals that theres an Iranian nuclear program being run covertly outside of the country, and this could be the way that Homeland goes international this season, especially when Carrie and the new POTUS decide to send Saul to deal with it on the ground. Saul heads overseas, so perhaps Carrie will follow when an international incident takes place. But what will the show do with Quinn? Before any of that can happen, Max does some research on Sekous mysterious benefactor and videographer, who we learn is really named Tyrone Banks Jr. He was a power player in the Steel City Gang in Pittsburgh and turned into a confidential informant by the FBI. Hes not only under FBI protection hes the one who actually busted Sekou. Did he entrap him, too? Reda argues that they need to ask him this question in court, but the FBI blocks all access to their guy. Conlin (Dominic Fumusa) tells Carrie that the tickets to Nigeria were bought and paid for before his C.I. even showed up. So what was the money really for? Its a tough call: Did the FBI find a terrorist or make one? Sekou is stuck either way, and Reda wants to encourage him to take a plea deal of seven years behind bars. While Carrie is at work, Quinn goes for a walk and suffers a seizure in a nearby bodega. The EMTs come, but he refuses to go to the hospital. Much like Quinn is trapped by his physical situation, Sekou learns the depth of his legal one. Hes understandably furious, swearing at the officer nearby and getting dragged away. Reda tells Carrie that they should be happy with anything under 15 years. Even though Carries disobeys orders and tracks down Tyrone who reveals he told Conlin that Sekou wasnt a terrorist Im starting to wonder if this isnt a bait and switch. Remember: Homeland is built on Carries feeling that she got it wrong on 9/11, and her subsequent relationship with a man turned against his country. What if Sekous innocence arc is a ruse? It would fit perfectly within the history of the show. Perhaps Carrie gets Sekou out of prison, then he commits a terrorist act. Or his narrative could merely be that of a young man caught in an FBI-enabled nightmare. I have a feeling well know soon. Meanwhile, Quinns nightmare may be easing up a bit. He finally confronts something hes never seen before: the video of his poisoning that Carrie used to save his life. In a starkly depressing moment, Quinn asks Carrie why she saved his life. How do you answer that question? Whats the alternative? Carrie doesnt know what to say, and Danes does a great job selling the emotions that flood her. She cries, apologizes, and walks away, turning off the light. Other Notes: Im all for Phaedras philanthropic efforts to help the children of Flint believe me, I really am but unfortunately, it doesnt make for great television. Lucky for us, thats why you add Kenya trying to drive a convertible while a scarf flies in her face, then teaching children how to twirl and shout, I AM FABULOUS. Now thats something to watch. The fact that Kenya thinks character development means teaching 12-year-old girls to strut their problems away is exactly what is oh-so-wrong and oh-so-right about Kenya. Its also pretty shady of the children that theyre more excited to see Kenyas puppies. Phaedra and Kenya are driving to the camp and Kenya decides that they should have a Thelma & Louise moment and gives Phaedra a scarf. Kenya, because shes Kenya, doesnt secure her scarf and attempts to drive from the Detroit Airport to the camp in Fenton, Michigan, with her scarf in her face and absolutely no urgency to fix it. Black Jesus take the wheel. Once they arrive at the camp, Kenya and Phaedra go to what appears to be a dorm and Kenya immediately starts talking shit about it. She calls the room a prison cell. Kenya. Could you just not? For one damn minute? She says shes going to abandon her cot to find a nearby Hilton. Now listen, I know a thing or two about that part of Michigan. Kenya is going to have to go a long way to find a hotel that doesnt have Express or Courtyard or Extended Stay in the title. Phaedra says in her confessional that Kenya has laid on a lot of beds and not all of them are Ritz-Carltons. I cant improve on that joke. I know when Ive been bested. Back in Atlanta, Porsha is meeting Todd for dinner. Shes been house hunting and just wants some quality time with her ma WHAT? HE QUIT HIS JOB? WHY? Oh Todd. Is there a single man in these womens lives who isnt constantly engaging in some nonsense? According to Todd, his employers saw that Porsha was posting pictures from the DNC and a Vine of the two of them (and Porshas ass) on vacation, then they told him it was his job or Porsha. JOB, TODD. You always pick job. Porsha rightfully flips out and says that Todd isnt taking their life seriously. Even if quitting his job was the right move because his boss probably voted for Trump, they should at least talk about the decision. They should be on the same page. While Porsha explains to Todd that hes not responsible and makes rash decisions, hes busy eating Porshas salmon off her plate. Porsha is completely upset that Todd is smiling and laughing through the whole conversation. This would drive me up a wall. Todd is acting like a 15-year-old. Its not romantic to quit your job for your girlfriend when you got bills. At the camp, Kenya keeps herself busy teaching kids how to twirl and chant, I AM FABULOUS like an army of Real Housewives. Somehow, this is character development and it speaks a lot about Kenyas character. I cant with this woman right now. Cynthia is moving into Kandis guest room while she waits for Lake Bailey to get ready. Anyone else think Lake Bailey will be a whole mess of trouble? Cynthia just brings the essentials: cranberry juice, family photos, Froot Loops, and a small collection of wigs. In the morning, she gets a call from her realtor that Lake Bailey is ready to close. Well just see about that. On the final night of the camp, Phaedra leads the children in a ritual fire ceremony. Its not a bonfire because I didnt see one single marshmallow. How you gonna have a camp without roasting marshmallows? Kenya and Phaedra take advantage of their high spirits and declare a truce. Then they walk through the fire and come out the other side unburnt and unbothered. Oh, Bob is back! Any episode with Bob is a dumb-ass treat. Bob takes Sheree to what appears to be a Parisian-themed vintage shop with a restaurant and stage in the back. He gets onstage with a boa and does his version of a burlesque, which is just shaking onstage with some pelvic thrusts. When he gets offstage, he tells Sheree that she raised his children to be good people and he never thanked her for that. She says in her confessional that if this is the new Bob, shes interested in letting him back in her life. Porsha is at home on bed rest because she fainted leaving the nail salon and TMZ reported it. She says its happened to her before, but when shes under stress, it can get worse. Todd comes over to bring her some ice cream to cheer her up. Of course, he takes a bite before he gives it to her. Thats classic Todd. Hes mad they cant spend any time together because she works too much. Yeah. Okay. Porsha tells him that shes a grown woman and doesnt need a partner who is immature and thinks their relationship is a joke. Then she kicks him out of her mothers house. Finally, the ladies all gather for a dinner and parade in one by one to show off their outfits. Porsha is wearing an unnecessary hat. The purpose of the dinner is for Phaedra to propose a glamping trip for the ladies. Everyone is a little dubious, but Kenya doesnt want to go on the trip until Porshas anger issues are addressed. Apparently, she doesnt want to be stuck in the woods if Porsha is going to snap and turn it into a murder camp. Kenya says that Phaedra told her that Porsha was excited to tell everyone about her progress in anger management. (Yes, there are video clips to back up this assertion.) Phaedra claims she never said that and Porsha says she was never going to talk to anyone about anger management. Its also up for debate if Porsha was ever in anger management in the first place. Kenya keeps launching a series of questions at Porsha about her anger management. Porsha does not appreciate the tone of this conversation. Kandi tries to jump in, as is her wont, and asks Porsha what triggers her outbursts. Kenya also tries to compare the fact that Matt has never put his hands on anyone to Porsha. To make what point, Im not exactly sure, but it is tasteless. So your boyfriend who has broken every window in your house in fits of rage is better than Porsha because hes never hit you? Okay. Kenya also tries to bring up that Matt has never hit her when Sheree tells her that Kenya provokes people. In response, Kenya reminds Sheree that shes been hit by a man. TO PROVE WHAT POINT? This is not a good bar or a marker of a true abusive relationship. This also shouldnt be your rebuttal when someone accuses you of provoking people: If Im such a pot-stirrer, why hasnt my boyfriend hit me yet, unlike yours? We are getting into a truly messy and problematic area and Kenya needs to shut up. Porsha drives off in the middle of the whole fracas and half the group goes home. Porsha sits down with Sheree and Phaedra and they talk about how something is off with Kenya, but Phaedra continues to lie about how she told Kenya about Porshas anger management. Porsha says she doesnt want to be around the ladies if they cant quit out the drama and we know shes dead to the situation because shes wearing all black. I guess its not an unnecessary hat, after all. Stacey Dash. Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images Stacey Dash, professional troll both online and offline, and vocal Trump supporter, will not be returning to Fox News. The Clueless actress (remember the good old days?) made her Fox News debut in 2014, but she hasnt been seen on-air since last September. The Hollywood Reporter was told that the decision not to renew Dashs contract was made last fall. Since publicly voting for the Romney-Ryan ticket instead of Obama-Biden in 2012, Dash has remained very vocal about her conservative and often controversial positions. Dash has said that she believes the feminist movement is ruining men, that Black History Month shouldnt exist, and that trans people should have to pee in the bushes. Since Dash is very abrasive on social media, we have a feeling Twitter will have something to say about the news. Go ahead, Twitter. Do your thing. Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin, and Olivia Cooke appear in Thoroughbred by Cory Finley. Photo: Claire Folger/Courtesy of Sundance Institute Anton Yelchins tragic death last year was above all else a human tragedy, the loss of a young man far too early in his life. But it also marked the passing of a tremendously talented actor who, at age 27, was only growing as an artist. Further evidence of that arrived at Sundance on Saturday with the premiere of Thoroughbred, the feature debut of writer-director Cory Finley that has become an early standout of the festival. The story of two young women, one incapable of experiencing emotion and one whose uptight Connecticut environment wont let her do so honestly, Thoroughbred features standout performances from two of the more promising young actors around, Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke. But in addition to those two leads, Yelchin is terrific as Tim, the films comic relief and counterpoint to its tandem of powerful women; he inhabits the role as very few other actors could. Tim is a symptom of the movies upper-class environment: a dropout, drug dealer, and statutory rapist, his hair wild and his behavior erratic, he claims to be pushing back against the staid expectations and behavior of those around him, even if he mostly just seems like a mess. While the role is very well-written, it couldve been, in the hands of lesser actors, a purely antagonistic performance, a jerk undeserving of much in the way of empathy. But Yelchin infuses Tim with a remarkable vulnerability; even as he needles and threatens the people around him, youre fascinated by his weird energy. Yelchin has always been a physically gifted performer, and here hes no different: His body language constantly projects the insecurity that lies beneath his words, culminating in a final scene emblematic of the power shift that forms one of the movies central arcs. If Lily and Amanda, the two characters played by Taylor-Joy and Cooke, are both operating on a more deadpan frequency, as befits two characters struggling with honest feeling, Yelchin gets to be the live wire that provokes and disturbs the films otherwise smooth veneer. Finley, a playwright, drew from noir and the work of filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick to construct Thoroughbreds atmospheric menace, and in that space, Yelchin feels particularly volatile. He put so much thought into every little tic and mannerism and delivery for that character, and was just, probably more than anyone on set, including me, a real student of film, and particularly of film noir, Finley told me. All those very subtle performances gave room for that one performance, Antons performance, to really be more playful. And its worth appreciating just how funny Yelchin is in this film, whether hes bragging about his future as a kingpin, trying to hustle some poor kid, or puzzling over the teenage girls who end up making their own power play. Yelchin portrays the character as a man afraid hell be outed as a fraud at any minute, one who tries to talk and posture his way out of every situation. On set, he is such an amazing improviser, Finley said. A lot of the little lines and moments that ended up in the film were not at all scripted. Yelchin also has a role in another movie at the festival, Mark Palanskys Rememory, which premieres Wednesday. Its hard to imagine hell be anything less than great in that as well. But Thoroughbred especially offers a showcase for a consummate character actor, the kind of presence that cant help but elevate the film around him. Beyond that, though, Yelchin will be missed for who he was, not only what he brought to his work. He was just an amazing human being, and a light on set, and a really generous spirit, Finley said. We were really lucky to have him. Just when you think there couldnt possibly be another man who thinks he has the right to control the young Queen Victoria, Uncle Leopold (Alex Jennings), King of Belgium, arrives looking to do just that. I am plagued by uncles, Victoria laments to her dear Lord M, and this particular uncle has a very clear agenda. He rolls into Buckingham Palace, drops a passive-aggressive comment about Victorias height (real hot take, Leo), and immediately gets down to business. The queen needs a husband and that husband should be his nephew, Prince Albert, who also happens to be Victorias cousin. Queen Victoria has no time for talk of marriage. Also, the last time she saw Albert, he went to bed early and was a total snoozefest. She says thanks but no thanks, then heads off to do some real queening in a fabulous tiara. (So much great headwear in this episode!) Plus, it is a truth universally known that Victoria only has eyes for Lord M. The real question of the hour: How does Lord M feel about his queen? When she wonders aloud if she could live a life like her personal hero Queen Elizabeth and never marry, Lord M repeatedly tells her that marriage would be politically beneficial. Of course, then he goes and rags on every potential candidate. Albert? Hes your first cousin and a German. Gross. Whats a young girl to think when the man she loves suggests that Elizabeth found companions and that an English marriage is preferable? She thinks theres still hope for her crush, thats what. The forbidden flirting in this episode is off the charts. Victoria does have some other suitors to consider, so the whole crew heads to the opera to let the considering begin. In addition to Albert, the Russian Grand Duke is still in town. He seemed very pushy last we saw him, but he and Victoria begin to bond over #RoyalPeopleProblems. He is not terrible? Uncle Cumberland, still reeling from his failed regency plot, tosses his own nephew, George Cambridge (Nicholas Agnew) into the ring as well. George is a doofus and Victoria isnt interested. She is, however, very interested in Lord M, as evidenced by all of the googly eyes she makes at him. Uncle Leopold notices and rides home in her carriage, mainly so he can make threatening statements in the dark about how dangerous her actions are. He literally lights and then extinguishes a candle just to show Victoria how easy it is to lose the throne. I dont like how Leopold treats Victoria, but I cannot deny that the guys got a flair for drama. Another example: While Victoria and Co. are unveiling a monument for her late father, a group of angry protesters begin to cause commotion. Theyre angry because a group of Chartists a working-class movement seeking more government representation were arrested and sentenced to a traitors death. (Not to worry, though: Victoria commutes their sentences after learning that Mrs. Jenkins has a connection to the men, and theyre shipped off to Australia.) It is in the middle of this skirmish that Leopold pulls Lord M aside to talk about Victorias marriage prospects. Leopold reaffirms that Albert is the best choice shes got. After all, hes the same age as Victoria. VICTORIAN BURN. Lord M doesnt think he can help persuade the queen, but Leopold makes clear that hes seen the way Victoria looks at the guy. Leopold is on fire tonight. The conversation with Leopold really messes with Lord M, who runs off to his home, the titular Brocket Hall, to have a good think. This absence from court will not do for Victoria, who, after all this talk about suitors and marriage, has come to a very important conclusion. She runs off to Brocket Hall, incognito. There she happens upon Lord M contemplating the rooks (its a bird, yall). Could this dude get any dreamier? Hes just out there pondering life amongst the foliage and birds, wearing a very becoming jacket, mind you. SO BECOMING. Victoria thinks so, too, and launches into a speech that begins with her telling Lord M that she is speaking to him not as a queen, but as a woman. You know this is going to be so good. Victoria tells Lord M that she knows he is the only companion she could ever want. He looks into her eyes, takes her tiny, precious hand in his, and just when you think he might kiss her, he talks about how rooks mate for life and how people would learn so much from watching those birds build their nests together. (See? Dreamy!). When Victoria gives away her heart, he knows it will be without hesitation, but she cant give it away to him. Because he has no use for it. LIKE A ROOK, HE MATES FOR LIFE. Victoria starts her long, heartbroken walk away from him. Who knew prime ministers were so achingly romantic? But not all hope is lost! When Victorias lady-in-waiting Emma sees that Lord M has sent orchids from the greenhouse at Brocket Hall to wear for the big costume party (yes, theres a costume party), she tells her queen that Lord M hasnt opened up the greenhouse since his wife died. He may say hes only in love with his wife, but those orchids tell a different story. Also a giveaway that Lord M feels something? Victoria is dressed up as Queen Elizabeth for the party, and Lord M arrives dressed as the Earl of Leicester. If that means nothing to you, go watch the Elizabeth I miniseries with Helen Mirren as the queen and Jeremy Irons as Leicester. There is heat, people. While they dance, Lord M explains that Elizabeth and Leicester realized they could never marry, no matter how they felt about one another. Victoria may be young, but God bless her, she understands subtext. They can never be together, but knowing Lord M feels something for her helps a little. Later, as Victoria continues to talk of reigning alone, Lord M implores her to at least try to find a husband. She wont be happy alone, he says. You need a husband. To love you. Honor you. Cherish you. Twist the knife in our gaping hearts a little more, why dont you? Lord M might soon regret his final push to get Victoria to move on from their star-crossed lovers ordeal. Although George is out of the running for being dumb and Alexander gets sent away to marry someone else, a new man saunters into Buckingham Palace. His name is Prince Albert. Meanwhile, Victoria isnt the only woman nursing a broken heart in Brocket Hall. The poor Duchess of Kent, you guys! Her brother, King Leopold, warns that although she thinks she cant live without Conroy, she should really nail down if he feels the same. As most would guess, he doesnt. Once it finally sinks into his side-burned clad head that theres no way in hell hell ever rule over Victoria (the queen says that shed never marry a man who would look to Conroy for advice is the clincher), he asks Victoria for a trade: Hell return to Ireland forever, if she gives him a title and some cold, hard cash. The agreement really works in Victorias favor, but she still feels the need to announce that she accepts Conroys request right in front of her mother. She obviously wants her mother to know what a monster she tied herself to, but I dont know, still seems kind of harsh. The duchess is beside herself. Victoria tries to smooth things over with some very nice looking lace, but, alas, it does not work. Instead, Victoria commiserates with her mother; she too knows what it feels like to lose the one you love. Her mother has every right to stay angry just a little while longer, but instead, she immediately comforts her daughter. No man would give you up, she says, unless he knew that it was his duty. Moms are the best! Victoria must think so, too. She collapses into her mothers arms, heartbroken. Its a nice reminder that Victoria is still so young, and even a queen needs a hug from her mommy sometimes. Photo: Sundance Institute An hour after the sensational Call Me by Your Name unspooled for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival, director Luca Guadagnino and his stars Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet gathered in a cramped little room for a post-premiere ritual: the reading of the tweets. Standing ovation at Sundance for Call Me by Your Name, Guadagnino recited in his thick Italian accent, which is beautiful visually, emotionally, and, my god, sexually. Guadagnino continued scrolling through his smart phone and read another: Im on a cinematic high from Call Me by Your Name still. Dancing around the streets, cant stop thinking about it. This film. THIS FILM. Hammer, whose right arm is in a sling thanks to a torn pectoral muscle, used his other arm to give Chalamet an appreciative slap on the back. He was beaming, and a little confused. Isnt the internet supposed to be mean? Hammer said. Not this time. Several of this years Sundance movies have scored the Kumail Nanjiani comedy The Big Sick merited an eye-popping, well-deserved sale, while critics were buzzing about Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara in the languorous drama A Ghost Story but its Call Me by Your Name that feels like a landmark. Adapted from the novel by Andre Aciman, it stars Chalamet as the 17-year-old Elio, whos spending a lazy summer in the Italian countryside with his parents. Excitement arrives in the form of Hammers tall, tanned Oliver, an American research assistant whos come to the country to work with Elios professor father (Michael Stuhlbarg). At first, Elio regards the newcomer warily. Though he comes up with all sorts of reasons to spend time with Oliver, Elio also condescends to him: The child of two brainy academics, Elio mocks Olivers American slang and pulls away, as if burned, from Olivers friendly touch. But if Elio sometimes treats Oliver like an irritant, its only because the older man has gotten under his skin. Their verbal jousting starts to carry an erotic charge, and the summer gets its spine as Elio and Oliver circle one another, each daring the other to make the first move. Once theyve finally consummated their flirtation with a first kiss that is as playful as it is sexy its impossible to part them, though the looming end of Olivers stay in Italy will curtail their relationship just as its beginning. We wasted so many days, a regretful Elio says, wrapped up in Olivers arms. This is his first love, and while their affair may be brief, what it stirs in Elios heart and mind will be there forever. Though many thought the success of 2005s Brokeback Mountain would pave the way for more top-tier films about same-sex love, its only recently, with movies like Carol and Moonlight, that Brokebacks accomplishment appears to have borne fruit. Call Me by Your Name is every bit as marvelous as those films, and its directed with striking confidence by Guadagnino, whose previous movies, A Bigger Splash and I Am Love, were delightful in their bratty brashness. This film is more tempered but every bit as intimate, especially when Hammer and Chalamet shed their clothes, their bodies becoming billboards for desire. I truly tried to diminish the sense of sacredness that happens when you film naked actors and actresses, Guadagnino told me last night. I dont like that prudishness. It wouldnt have worked if his leads had refused to give their all. After a string of would-be franchise-starters like The Lone Ranger and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Hammer turns in his best work since his breakout dual role as the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network, and he said he relished the opportunity Call Me by Your Name gave him. This movie will forever stay with me, Hammer told me. We moved for several months to a tiny town in Italy where no one spoke English, giving up everything about our normal lives back home and committing to this. Going to those places it was just an amazing experience, all around. Hammers strongest praise, though, was reserved for his young co-star. Timothee is the best thing in this movie, said Hammer, and he deserves every single accolade hes going to get for it. Best known for a Homeland arc as Dana Brodys boyfriend, the 21-year-old Chalamet is a major revelation here. So whippet-thin that he appears to have hit a growth spurt overnight, Chalamet delivers an impressively physical performance, testing not just his sexuality but his gangly arms and legs. He dances in and out of frame, lunges for his lover, and thrashes around in bed, suggesting that as he enters adulthood, Elio leads with his body and lets his brain catch up. It all culminates in a remarkable whopper of a final shot that simply films Chalamet in close-up for several minutes as he processes the impact of his affair, tears in his eyes and a smile playing on his lips. Its the movie in miniature, and if Guadagnino hadnt already called a film I Am Love, he could use those three words to describe what Chalamet does in that scene. His heart is broken, but his spirit is soaring. Love can do that, and falling in love with a movie can do that, too. 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. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute will accept nominations for the inaugural class of its newly created Free Enterprise Hall of Fame. During the first three induction years, three nominees will be selected. Thereafter, one nominee per year will be selected. Any entrepreneur, living or deceased, is eligible for induction. Eligible nominees are individuals who started an enterprise, lasting or not, which created jobs, products, services or legacy for the people of Waco and beyond. For nomination forms or more information, visit www.drpeppermuseum.com or call 757-1025. CRRC meeting The Community Race Relations Coalition will have its quarterly meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Parish Hall of St. Albans Episcopal Church, 305 N. 30th St. The meeting will feature a panel discussion about our fears that prevent our unity. Dinner will be provided, with donations accepted. The event is free, but a reservation is required. For reservations, call 717-7903 or email Jo@welterfamily.org. Baylor MSEd info Baylor School of Education will present an information session for MSEd with Teacher Certification Strickland Scholars program from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday in Room 328 of Baylors Marrs McLean Science Building, 1214 S. Fourth St. The program allows students who hold a bachelors degree in a pertinent field to earn a masters degree and secondary teacher certification in 15 months. For more information, call 710-3111, email trena_wilkerson@baylor.edu or visit www.baylor.edu/SOE/Strickland. Hewitt story times The Hewitt Public Library, 200 Patriot Court, will present story times for toddlers, ages 12 to 36 months, and preschoolers, ages 3 to 5, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The toddler sessions will start at 9:30 a.m. with a program on cats and kittens. Preschoolers will meet at 10:30 a.m. with a program about crazy hair day. Guests are welcome to attend with their wildest coiffure. For more information, call 666-2442. GriefShare Peace Lutheran Church, 9301 Panther Way in the Hewitt area, will host a GriefShare program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and continuing weekly through April 16. The support group allows participants to address the grieving process with others who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. For reservations or more information, call Becky Ritz at 857-9794 or email rjritz@earthlink.net. Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com. Development along Franklin Avenue near the heart of downtown Waco will continue at the former Big Green Automotive building at 1020 Franklin Ave. An investment group bought the property late last year, and it may become the site of retail stores and restaurants, according to a local real estate agent. The 9,000-square-foot building previously owned by Hoppenstein Properties has for decades served as home to a succession of auto repair shops. But investors from inside and outside Waco saw the structure as another opportunity in the heated growth areas of Washington, Austin and Franklin avenues, real estate agent Mike Meadows said. Meadows is marketing the space in sizes ranging from 1,000 to 9,000 square feet and said he already is getting feelers, though he declined to name prospects. Meadows said he would expect most potential users to have an interest in 1,000- to 3,000-square-foot sections of the structure. Interest already has been shown, and were now waiting on different renderings and concepts for how Big Green will take shape, Meadows said. Hoppenstein Properties spokeswoman Vivian Griffith said buyers snapped up the building just a couple of months after it hit the market. Weve called the place Big Green for years, obviously because of its color and because Big Green Automotive was the most recent user. They left in September or October, I believe, and it was not empty long before it was sold, Griffith said. She declined to reveal the sale price. Meadows said he would rather not name all the partners involved in the deal, but Griffith said the name on the contract is Tate Christensen. Christensen, president of Barsh Construction and immediate past chairman of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, could not be reached for comment. Megan Henderson, who promotes downtown improvements as executive director of City Center Waco, called Big Green a neat location with a lot of possibilities. Ive seen really good projects start with something bare-bones like this, Henderson said. The building is right by Balcones Distilling and its on the downtown trolley route and probably will stay there. I expect it to see a lot of traffic, because weve seen a sharp increase in interest in both Washington and Franklin avenues since conversation began about turning both into two-way streets downtown. There has been overwhelming support for both ideas. Balcones Distilling Balcones Distilling spent more than $15 million remodeling the old Texas Fireproof Storage building at 225 S. 11th St., transforming it into the company headquarters. Alpha Omega Mediterranean Grill & Bakery opened about eight months ago at 929 Franklin Ave., across the street from what was then a still-operating Big Green Automotive. Alpha Omega owner Dorothy Lentis said she noticed the space availability sign go up outside Big Green, and it appeared someone was inside cleaning up the place. Lentis said she welcomes any neighbor that will bring more traffic to the area. Business has been going well, and I feel very blessed, she said. Im grateful for the support from the Waco community. Others in the restaurant industry know this is a risky business, and they have supported me. Baylor being back in class really helps. Lentis said she sells a lot of Greek specialties, including gyros, and house specials that include chicken-fried pork. A few blocks up Franklin Avenue, developers Shane and Cody Turner last week received a recommendation for $761,667 in Tax Increment Finance funds for work on Franklin Square, in the 700 block. The partnership already has gutted three buildings, including the old Labor Temple, and plans lofts, retail space and restaurants. Were hoping to have our 15 lofts finished by the end of summer, Shane Turner said. They range in size from about 600 square feet to 1,000 square feet, and we really havent marketed them yet, but based on the success weve had with other dwelling units we manage and own right now, we should have no problem leasing them up. The team has built about 400 lofts, apartments and town homes near Wacos inner city, and they are very close to 100 percent occupied, he said. I just think people want to live downtown. They like the location, Shane Turner said. Most of the people who live in the lofts work at Baylor University or at Hillcrest Medical Center. Some even work at SpaceX. Its easy to get around from downtown, as people know or are finding out. Franklin Square A sign on the $4 million development site features a drawing of Franklin Square, with retailers occupying space on the bottom floor of the Waco Labor Temple, lofts on its upper floors and an ice cream parlor fronting Franklin Avenue in the building at Franklin and Eighth Street. We have about 17,000 square feet of available space that can be cut up in a lot of different ways, Shane Turner said. Were pretty flexible. The development also has room for 70 to 80 parking spots, and interest has been good, he said. Next door, at Sixth Street and Franklin Avenue, the hulking Franklin Place prepares to break ground for 96 new apartments. It now has 63 units, all filled, as are three of the five retail units on the ground floor, general manager Christiana Webber said Friday. Austin-based Realtex Development owns Franklin Place, which found itself four months delinquent on a tax bill that climbed to $240,327 last year. But the McLennan County Tax Office on Friday said Realtex paid its delinquency May 31 and is current on its tax bill, owing $247,744 by Jan. 31. The delinquent taxes had jeopardized $750,000 Realtex was scheduled to receive as a Tax Increment Finance Zone incentive for the second phase of the $23 million project. The first phase of the project had received $1.3 million from the downtown fund. Were putting a push on that project right now, though we have a few financial issues to get straightened out with our bank. Im told we may begin construction by April 1, said Harald Heer, vice president of construction for Realtex. Were definitely going to build. Its just a matter of when, not if. Heer said Realtex representatives plan to meet with city of Waco officials in early February to provide an update. A Harmony Science Academy employee was arrested Sunday on a felony charge of aiding in suicide after a woman was admitted to a local hospital following a failed suicide attempt, authorities said. Billy Wade Moore, 52, of China Spring, was arrested after McLennan County Sheriffs Office investigators were called to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital on Sunday after the woman was admitted to the intensive care unit. The woman, who is known to Moore, told officers that she was involved in a disturbance with Moore early Friday morning, but there was no indication one had occurred. She was not injured in the disturbance. She states that due to a recent injury, she is unable to open a bottle of Percocet and asked Moore to open it, the arrest affidavit states. Moore then poured the contents of the bottle into the victims hand and told her to kill herself with it. She states that she then took those pills. Sheriff Parnell McNamara said the woman took the pills with the Moores help. He said Moore provided the pills to the woman and assisted in the suicide attempt and did not attempt to stop or seek help for the woman. The victim states that Moore again handed her a large amount of pills, again telling her to take more pills in order to commit suicide, the affidavit states. She states she again took those pills. County records state that Moore is employed through Harmony Public Schools, a string of high-performing K-12 public charter schools focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math, which have several campuses in Texas, including Waco. Harmony spokesperson Stephanie Butts confirmed Moore is employed at Harmonys Waco campus, but could not provide any other information about his job title. On Sunday, McLennan County Sheriffs Office Detective Joseph Scaramucci stated that he determined that the woman was given Endocet, a prescription narcotic given to treat moderate to moderately severe pain, and Oxycodone with acetominophen, a similar prescription narcotic. While each pill bottle was marked with a quantity of 60 pills each and both pill bottles were empty when detectives began investigating, family members and the woman estimated that the woman took between 60 and 90 pills. The victim states at the time, Moore sat at the end of the bed while she stayed in the bed, telling Moore she would be dying, the arrest affidavit states. She states after about 30 minutes, she informed him that he would need to contact medical assistance or leave the residence as she was dying. She stated that he told her no (and) that he was just going to sit there. The woman told investigators that she began to write a suicide note while Moore continued to sit on the bed and watch. The note, which deputies obtained, stated that Moore provided the woman a lot of pills to try to kill me, the affidavit states. The woman told detectives that she began to feel the effects of the medication and she called a family member to say goodbye, the affidavit states. Detectives also spoke with the family member, who told officers that she began to drive to the home. The family member asked Moore if he had called for help, the affidavit states. He said he had not, and the family member instructed him to call 911, which he later did. That family member also indicates that upon arriving at the residence, Moore was on the phone with dispatch and was seated, holding the victim, the arrest affidavit states. She states that he then let her go when she arrived and sat down holding out the phone for her to be told what to do. She adds at no time did he assist with resuscitation or any aid. Emergency responders arrived at the couples home and provided CPR. The woman began to breathe again before she was taken to the hospital. McNamara said the woman continued to recover at the hospital Monday. Moore was taken into custody and was booked into McLennan County Jail before he posted a $3,000 surety bond Monday and was released. WAHOO Cody Hull began his new duties as fire chief of the Wahoo Fire Department on Jan. 1. Hull served as assistant fire chief for the last two years and has been with the Wahoo Fire Department for almost four years. Originally from Valley, where he served as assistant fire chief, Hull has been an EMT for 10 years. Right out of high school it was something I had an interest in, Hull said about fire and rescue. At the behest of a friend that had recently joined the Valley Fire Department after high school, Hull said he attended some meetings and liked what he saw. And hes been involved in some capacity ever since. Hull attended Southeast Community College where he studied fire science and earned his EMT and other certifications. He also studied paramedicine at Metro Community College. As fire chief, Hull said his responsibilities include public education, communication and public relations in addition to managing the budget and providing leadership within the department. Hull will also work alongside Grant Anderson, the City of Wahoos new EMS department head. Grant and I have a very good working relationship. It will be good for the department, city and community, Hull said. Hull said his goals for the department are about relationships. They include building a strong relationship with the city council and rural fire board. We have a very good relationship with the community, but I want to make it even better, Hull said. Hull said he would also like to work with the city to develop a truck replacement program. It would entail a schedule to replace older trucks with newer ones as time goes on, so the department is not making many purchases all at once, he said. Hull said he does not see any major expenditures for this year, but that seven sets of bunker gear will expire this year. Each set would cost close to $1,700, he said. An ongoing change Hull will have to help with is a new communications program that will have new and updated technology. The new system will work with the countys dispatchers and be able to utilize all the capabilities of the new dispatch software, he said. Hull also said he plans to put effort toward recruitment and retention. Recruitment and retention is not just a fire department issue, but a problem in the EMS department too. Recruitment is harder than retention, Hull said, but would like to see anywhere from three to five new firefighters join in the next year. Hull said he could not pinpoint one issue that would cause a problem with recruitment and retention, but that he believes a firefighters main goal is to help. When someone calls 911 they are in distress for either life or property. Were getting called to help, Hull said. WASHINGTON -- The question that swirls around Donald Trump's inaugural address is whether his aggressively pronounced policy of America First will actually result in America Last -- not literally last, but declining in power and prestige because the United States no longer views its role in the world as promoting economic and geopolitical stability for our allies. Instead, he imagines a world in which America takes what it can and worries about others only as an afterthought. What does he expect other countries to do? The answer is obvious. They will act more aggressively in their own selfish interests, leading to a further disintegration of post-World War II economic and political alliances. It is not that all countries, including the United States, haven't always acted in their own interests. But, for decades, they and we have identified self-interest with collective commitments to global commerce and military cooperation. If the leader of these arrangements -- the United States -- now forsakes them, other countries will look to make new economic and security arrangements, with China and Russia as leading alternatives. This breakdown threatens the greater American prosperity that Trump promises. A changing world economic order will generate enormous uncertainty, as other countries rush to protect their markets from competitors. Companies may reduce investment spending, which is already weak. Slower economic growth, or outright recessions, will make it harder for governments and companies to service their high debts. This would further darken prospects for the global economy. In the short run, the president's speech -- and the policies that would flow from it -- may be a crowd-pleaser. It's patriotism on steroids: America's economic problems are caused largely by foreigners, aided by footloose U.S. multinationals. They have taken our jobs, flooded the country with immigrants, and cost us trillions of dollars in overseas military spending. It is comforting to think that our most serious economic problems stem from our being too generous -- or not tough enough -- with foreigners. It exonerates us from most responsibility for our own faults and dictates that the remedy of being too soft is to be more hard-nosed. Simple. But it is a complete delusion and, therefore, is dangerous because it causes us to misunderstand our own predicament. In truth, most of our serious economic problems are homegrown. Consider. Chicago's high murder rate is not the result of Chinese imports. The often-dreary performance of our schools for minority students is not a consequence of a strong dollar on foreign exchange markets. The 2008-09 financial crisis did not have foreign roots. (The proximate causes were financial speculation and an overheated housing market.) America's budget deficits aren't caused by Russia's warmongering. Economic nationalism is a powerful potion, made more powerful by the president's overwrought rhetoric. "We've made other countries rich, while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has dissipated over the horizon," he complains. It's true that open trade, championed by the United States, created a framework conducive to other countries' success, but mostly they created their own wealth. This does not mean that some of our economic problems don't originate abroad, that illegal immigration isn't serious or that unfair trade practices, intellectual espionage, and distorted exchange rates should be ignored. But they are second-order problems, not the crux of our difficulties, as Trump portrays. Trump's inaugural declaration (which mirrored much of what he said in the campaign) is a historic milestone, but not in the way Trump believes. It's a formula for America's decline on the world stage and runs enormous risks of destabilizing the global economy. For the first time since World War II, an American president has made isolationism the political centerpiece of his administration. It is possible that, in practice, Trump's policies will be more moderate and more in line with the traditional policies of previous presidents, Democratic and Republican. Some of his Cabinet selections, in their confirmation hearings, have sounded much more conventional than their boss. Still, this illuminates the dilemma Trump has created for himself. The full implications of what he's proposed, if implemented, would be disastrous. But if he retreats significantly, he may alienate many of his fervent followers, who will feel rightly that they've been betrayed. Robert J. Samuelson is a columnist for The Washington Post. MISSOULA -- The Office of Public Instructions social media accounts disappeared during the transition to a new administration, highlighting inconsistencies in how the state manages these public records. The OPI Facebook and Twitter accounts under former superintendent Denise Juneau were managed by Juneau and her communications director, Emilie Ritter Saunders. Once the term in office expires, the pages essentially expire, Ritter Saunders said in an email. She said social media is a vehicle linking constituents to public records rather than being public records themselves. Thats not how the state sees it. Montanas social media policy says "communication to or from state personnel through Social Media is likely presumed to be a public record. Montana law defines public records based on content, not format. If a newsletter, email or Facebook post contains information about government business, it is a public record. That makes the law flexible enough to cover new forms of public information created as technology and culture change and even accounts that mix personal and public use. That flexibility also can be a challenge for public officials who must actually manage the files. The state does not have a centralized method to manage digital content as public records, and each branch writes its own guidelines. The manual for the executive branch says digital records, like emails and social media posts, must be retained and destroyed according to schedules in state law, but does not provide specific steps on how to do so. That leaves each agency to decide for itself. For elected officials like legislators, the responsibility falls to them personally. *** Secretary of State Corey Stapleton has said that Montanas records retention policies likely are behind the times, although he questioned whether government could ever keep up with the pace of technology evolution today. Nonetheless, he said a lack of clear policy or consistency in following existing rules limits the publics ability to access records that show how their government is run. People are interested in policy, in political things going on, in communications between people who make decisions and (records that) provide oversight so we dont have waste, fraud or abuse, he said, noting that the publics right to know can interfere with the desire of leaders to sometimes communicate privately to craft unpopular, but necessary, deals or to talk out a thorny issue. We ought to have a discussion about meaningful retention of the right things, he said. But it might be an uphill battle. Thirty-one of the states 36 agencies have at least one social media account; many have accounts on multiple platforms. Many department heads also have their own social media, which they often use to discuss state business. Most legislators use Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch with constituents back home, take stands on proposed bills or track down free food offerings in the Capitol. Its kind of interesting. Were in a new age where social media becomes part of official work, said Dylan Klapmeier, communications director for Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. In this instance, the Twitter account and Facebook were operated under Denise Juneaus administration and privately held by her and her communications director. Arntzen, a Republican, took over as superintendent of public instruction this month, replacing Democrat Juneau, who termed out. We have never had access to them and OPIs IT department does not have any records of them, Klapmeier wrote in an email regarding the former OPI accounts. Going forward, Superintendent Arntzen will be creating a new Facebook and Twitter account for the Office of Public Instruction with transparency so that they become the official OPI accounts and can be transferred to future administrations. He said when OPIs new accounts are set up, that will be done using state email and state devices. Ritter Saunders said she did not know what email addresses were used to set up OPIs former Facebook and Twitter accounts. *** A similar story played out in the auditors office. Kyle Schmauch, media specialist for Auditor Matt Rosendale, said Facebook and Twitter accounts under former Auditor Monica Lindeen have also been taken down. Schmauch said he set up new accounts to function as Rosendales official social media as auditor to make sure theres a bright line, or as bright as we can make it on social media. We talked about that and Matt agreed it would be good policy to have two different accounts to make sure people know whats coming from the auditors office, and if anything campaign or other personal political activity comes from a different account, Schmauch said. Schmauch said he talked about social media with Lindeens communications staff before taking over, where he learned the previous Facebook and Twitter accounts would be taken down to minimize confusion. He received the log-in information for the offices YouTube account. Were still in the process of reviewing the policies and procedures manual from the past administration to see what changes we want to make there, Schmauch said. At the Secretary of States Office, Spokeswoman Morgan Williams said they did not have access to the social media accounts created and used by Linda McCulloch and her staff. She said they are still discussing how to manage accounts going forward. *** State governments have been slow to adopt transition and preservation strategies. Even though weve had electronic records for decades, its not been that long. We used to call it social media 2.0. Were even past that now, said Utah State Archivist Patricia Smith. Until the last five years, we still considered ourselves as working in a paper environment even though that wasnt really what was happening. Nonetheless, Utah state policy includes guidelines about the use and retention of social media as public records, just like an increasing number of states around the country. National experts repeatedly pointed to North Carolina as a leader in developing a plan to preserve social media posts. In 2012, the state became the first to capture the hundreds of thousands of posts made by more than 130 government social media accounts and, just as importantly, experts say, make them readily available on a public webpage. At least one state agency in Montana uses the same software tool as North Carolina, although the resulting archive is not publicly available. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation uses social media to promote projects, highlight the work of partners such as conservation districts, post job openings, educate the public on emerging issues and share updates about emergencies. The Facebook page includes a video of firefighters using a Blackhawk helicopter to combat the Holter Complex blaze, a news story about the Blackfeet Water Compact, and a photo of a golden field with the fun fact that Teton County was the number one producer of malting barley in Montana. All of those posts have been copied and stored using ArchiveSocial so future Montanans can see how this segment of their government interacted with the public and promoted its mission. Other state agencies have policies not to delete posts, but do not actively make copies of them. *** Helena attorney Mike Meloy, who volunteers for the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, said the law is quite clear about what is a public record even if state policies about how to store records are not. The form in which information is held is irrelevant to the question of access, he said. Although digital records often are easier to use in the moment, they can be more difficult to organize and store, especially because electronic formats enable more information to be created than ever was available in paper formats, said Tanya Marshall, spokeswoman for the National Association of Government Archives and Records Managers. If you look back 50 years, we had file clerks and secretaries who did records information management with paper. There was less of it but it was much better managed, she said. All these technologies are supposed to automate and make everything efficient, but we lost the management aspect of records information management. Computers and subsequent technologies changed the way people think or dont think about preserving digital documents. Scrolling down an endless page of Tweets or never clearing out an email inbox is not the same as actively organizing and managing paper records. In some ways, social media has increased the transparency of government in action, even if it remains unclear what is the best way to preserve those records. It helps us do our job, Rep. Ellie Hill Smith, D-Missoula, said. Particularly when were such a large geographic state, we can communicate in real time with constituents about whats going on in the Capitol, so it certainly makes the Legislature more accessible to the general public. They can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Although Smith was one of the first to use Twitter to broadly share her thoughts about proposed laws as they were being debated, many legislators, media members, lobbyists and others now make dozens of social media posts each day, providing people outside the Capitol a glimpse at bill debates, legislators' thoughts and party dynamics. Many others use Facebook, discussing ideas with supporters and urging them to testify at upcoming bill hearings. *** Conversations also happen outside the publics immediate view. Smith and other legislators said they text each other or send private messages on apps like Twitter. They coordinate questions for bills, make lunch plans and tell colleagues when caucuses will be meetings where legislators meet with fellow party members to strategize and that are open to the public, but not noticed in advance. Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, said some constituents and government employees who worry about being reprimanded prefer to send her private Facebook messages. They are generally viewed as outside public scrutiny, unlike emails that are routinely released under open government laws. Fielder said she did not feel as though legislators have clear guidance about which kinds of digital messages might be public records and what they should be doing to keep them to comply with state law. All of that is like the Wild West frontier, she said. Theres really no clarity. Adam Marshall, an attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, argued governments must work out how to manage new forms of digital records properly. People conduct their duties in different ways and that changes over time, right? Perhaps once we did everything with forms and notes and memos on paper. Increasingly, we do everything electronically because its faster and better, he said. Just because were changing to an electronic medium doesnt alter the legal issue of the fact the public has a right of access and a right to know how the government is working. BILLINGS -- As bipartisan crowd-pleasers go, few get Montanans nodding more approvingly than calls for a balanced federal budget, which is why U.S. Sen. Steve Daines recently offered a bill forcing his peers to go unpaid unless they reign in spending. As I travel around Montana, as I did in December wrapping up a 56-county tour, when I talk about this bill, its a bill that will literally bring applause from across the state, Daines told The Gazette. The state of Montana balances its budget. The federal government should do the same, or so goes the narrative that literally every member of Montanas delegation has adopted for 35 years. Elected officials need to be accountable to the folks they serve and that starts with getting our fiscal house in order. Montana families balance their budgets, its unreasonable that Congress cant do the same, Daines said in making a balanced budget bill his first of the year for the consecutive year. One year ago it was Montanas senior Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, proposing the U.S. Constitution be amended to require a balanced budget. Daines' bill, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act, doesnt go as far as changing the Constitution. Families across Montana balance their budget every day, and they deserve a government that does the same, Tester said in an email. Whether its balancing the checkbook at the kitchen table or in Congress, fiscal responsibility is a Montana value. We cannot keep voting for budget resolutions like last weeks that add $9 trillion to the debt and swipe the credit card of our kids and grandkids. The resolution to which Tester refers doesnt actually bind the Senate to increasing the debt $9 trillion over the next 10 years. That bill was about clearing the way for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and recognizing that if the Senate doesnt act in the future, the debt will in fact increase $9 trillion in 2026. That just like families do it that politicians use when calling for balanced budgets is dishonest, dangerous pablum, said Richard Kogan, economist for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Families balance checkbooks, but they spend much more than they earn in year. Average household debt in the United States in 2016 was $90,000, according to the Federal Reserve. Included in that debt were home mortgages, student loans, auto loans and credit cards. If a family has an emergency, out comes the credit card, or the second mortgage. Life would be a lot different for American families if they truly didnt spend more than they made in a single year. Balancing the checkbook doesnt mean you balance the budget that way, Kogan said. If thats what it meant, no family would ever take out a mortgage or a car loan, or a student loan. They would never have any credit card debt and of course thats nonsense. There was a time when Congress did balance the federal budget, never spending more than it took in except to fund wars, Kogen said. Those times were particularly rough economically, because when the United States went into recession, which was about every two years, the federal government didnt respond with things like unemployment, or food stamps. There was also no Social Security. Consequently, when the U.S. economy emerged from recession it wasnt strong enough to really get growing again before the next financial crisis. After balancing the budget through the first two years of the Great Depression and witnessing no improvement in the economy, Congress and President Franklin Roosevelt starting spending more money to counter the Depression than the government was taking in. Part of the reasoning for going with an unbalanced budget was that the U.S. economy was expected to grow, which it has with few exceptions for more than 60 years. Some of that growth is made possible because federal spending has made coming out of tough financial times easier, Kogan said. The amount of time between recessions when from two years, to five to eight. Thats not to dismiss the concerns the American public has about federal debt and the likelihood, as Tester puts it, of passing that debt to the nations children and grandchildren. Sure enough, we have debt and the debt people worry about going to their children and grandchildren, thats a genuine instinct. Thats a thoughtful concern, Kogan said. Theyre not nuts, and families and countries have gone bankrupt. But the United States isnt going bankrupt even as its debt rises. Thats because the assets of the United States are also increasing. The U.S. is worth more than it owes. On Tuesday 7 February 2017 the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be marking the 10th anniversary of the award-winning National Cold War Exhibition with a special event for aviation fans. The 12.5 million landmark building and exhibition was officially opened in 2007 by HRH The Princess Royal and invited VIP guests included the Rt Hon Baroness Thatcher. Its eye-catching architecture and dynamic aircraft displays truly have the wow factor and in addition to the unique aircraft collection, visitors can also view iconic cars, tanks, memorabilia and even life-sized Russian dolls. Immersive Hotspots covering topics including the Space Race and the Cuban Missile Crisis are a hub of information, engaging visitors with a Cold War history spanning over four decades. Cosford is also the only place in the world where you can see all three of Britains V-Bombers; the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant displayed together under one roof. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, visitors are invited to join Museum staff and volunteers for a special event that will see a number of Cold War aircraft opened for exclusive close up access, including the Vickers Valiant B1 and the Handley Page Victor K2. Both aircraft are being opened to the public for the very first time and the Cosford team hope aviation fans will seize the opportunity to step on board two of Britains nuclear strike force aircraft, which played a vital role during the critical Cold War years. The Valiant was the first of Bomber Commands V class aircraft and established Britains air-borne nuclear deterrent force before pioneering operational in-flight refuelling in the Royal Air Force. Not only was it the first V-Bomber to enter service, it was also the first to drop an operational British nuclear weapon over Christmas Island in 1957. The Victor was designed and in service as a strategic nuclear bomber, some were converted to in-flight refuelling tankers and remained in service until 1993. Victors were heavily utilised in the 1982 Falklands campaign and the 1991 Gulf War before retiring from service in 1993. Both aircraft now reside at the RAF Museum Cosford, displayed alongside the Hawker Siddeley Vulcan B2 and dominate the upper level of the National Cold War Exhibition. In addition to the Victor and Valiant, other Cold War aircraft and vehicles being opened to the public for the anniversary event will include the General Dynamics F-111F-CF, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 21PF, Hawker Hunter F.4 (nose section), Avro York C1, McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 (nose section) and the Short Brothers Belfast. Aviation fans will also be able to take a look inside the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis, the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, Green Goddess auxiliary fire engine and the Tracked Rapier missile launcher. RAF Museum Assistant Director, Paul Pomfret said: The National Cold War Exhibition transformed the Cosford site with its award winning architecture and catapulted the Museum onto a global stage, doubling the number of visitors who pass through its doors each year. Since its opening in 2007, over 3.2 million visitors have passed through its doors and interest in the exhibition and the Museum has remained consistent ever since. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Museum next month, to share in the celebrations for this milestone. As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations the Museums shop will be offering 10% off gifts and souvenirs and for anyone who wishes to enjoy a hot lunch in the Refuel Restaurant, the Museums caterers Kudos will be offering 10% off their lunchtime menu. This rare opportunity to see inside these aircraft is FREE of charge for visitors. Any donations made by visitors on the day will support the work of the RAF Museum (registered charity number 244708). The Museum is open from 10am until 4pm and the event will run for the entire day giving visitors up to eight hours to climb on board and peek inside some of the Museums iconic Cold War aircraft. Aircraft available on the day are subject to change. Full details can be found on the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford including information on aircraft accessibility. Soaring prices of electricity and gas are prompting many more people to consider adding solar panels and batteries to give them greater control over costs, a consumer survey has found. The study, involving almost 2500 households conducted by UMR Research for Energy Consumers Australia and KPMG, found about 34 per cent were considering adopting solar panels within the next five year compared with the 15 per cent now owing photovoltaics. The interest jump for batteries was even greater, with 27 per cent examining adding batteries compared with just five per cent owning storage. "Their overall assessment is that they are not happy with the value they are getting from energy prices and the energy sector," Rosemary Sinclair, chief executive of ECA, said. "Consumers now have an option which is to take matters into their own hands, and invest in assets that give them independence." If there is one word that encapsulated the mood at Davos this year, it is uncertainty. At one event, when asked to describe how his fellow executives were feeling, a glum senior City figure simply replied "despondent". According to Meg Whitman, boss of Hewlett Packard, there had never been anything like the current climate before. "The chickens have come home to roost," she said. Another talked about "a shock to the system". Everywhere you went, from the various halls of the main congress centre to the cocktail bars, hotels, and evening parties, the biggest names in business fretted about what lies ahead. Suddenly unsure of their place in the world and the prospects for their companies, many, it seemed, had come to Switzerland seeking reassurance from only those that could provide it - the current crop of world leaders. Perhaps most striking was an almost universal acknowledgement that the system of the last few decades - democracy and globalisation - had failed millions of people around the world. The Queen has latched onto the English sparkling wine craze by producing 3,000 bottles from vines grown on her estate - and they were soon snapped up. The industry is booming with the tipple becoming so popular that the UK is currently shipping out to 27 countries and boasts annual sales of about 100million. The Queen and Prince Philip ride in a carriage during the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace in London on June 11, 2016. Credit:AP Her Majesty has tapped into that success with her own her vineyard on the Windsor Great Park estate, where 16,700 chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier vines were planted on a seven-acre patch back in 2011. The English Quality Sparkling Wine is made from grapes harvested two years later in October 2013 and was only released three months ago. As far as red carpet trends go, this month's Golden Globes delivered on several fronts. Pink cemented its place as the colour of the year, thanks to blushing gowns on Lily Collins in Zuhair Murad, Clare Foy in shimmering Erdem, and Zoe Saldana and Felicity Jones in Gucci. Metallics, especially silver, also got top billing, courtesy of the stunningly original Louis Vuitton dress worn by Ruth Negga, among others. But for me, the dress that made the greatest style impact was Emma Stone's Valentino gown not only because La La Land won so many awards, but because the star motif all over it is going to be everywhere this season. If previous female leaders are anything to go by, Gladys Berejiklian will be unlikely to escape sexism. Credit:Andrew Meares If they're not married and have no children, they're pilloried for being unwomanly. If they do have husbands and children, they're constantly asked the question no men ever get: "Who is looking after your children?" Men have wives to look after their children; women have husbands and children they're supposed to be looking after. Or, if they don't, they become an object of suspicion. It's a classic case of damned of you do, damned if you don't. As Tanya Plibersek told Annabel Crabb for the latter's book The Wife Drought, "So many of the criticisms of Julia Gillard were about the fact that she was unmarried and childless. But on the flip side, if she'd been exactly who she was, only married and a working mother, the criticisms about neglecting her children would have been just as strong possibly, they would have come from the same people." Plibersek's point about the source of gendered criticisms is an interesting one. Will the fact that Berejiklian is from the Liberal party make a difference? Alan Jones, whose terror of women in positions of power "destroying the joint" is well documented, has not (yet) advocated her disposal in a chaff bag. He did, however, call 2GB from his hospital bed to express his considered opinion that although "Gladys Berejiklian is a nice person, she is not across these issues in a million light-years". Perhaps it was her two postgraduate qualifications, 14 years in parliament, 12 years in portfolio positions, three years as deputy leader of the NSW Liberal party, and nearly two years as NSW treasurer that led him to this conclusion. Jones, however, is not the only source of gendered commentary. Before she even took the leadership, there was discussion of whether Berejiklian "is too nice and too understated to carry the party to an election victory". Niceness, in its excess or lack, is not something commonly examined in male politicians, but the double standard rolls ever onwards, and it's a frequent indication of female failing. "Nice" women are not ambitious, tough, hard-hitting, determined or assertive. These are solely the province of successful male leaders. Women are shrill or ruthless, too masculine to be likeable or too feminine to be effective leaders. And of course, there is the inevitable focus on appearance. Women's clothes, hair, make-up, figures, shoes and earlobes are the source of endless critique. Andrew P Street, a regular Fairfax columnist, says that while he gets an enormous amount of negative feedback, his weight and the number of sexual partners he's had are mentioned "very, very rarely and absolutely never, respectively". I couldn't find a female columnist who isn't regularly called a fat slut in comments, tweets, Facebook threads and emails. Such comments are the norm for any woman in public life. Some of this commentary about Berejiklian started before she became premier. Last week The Australian ran a comment from "someone who knows her well" who was quoted as saying "Mr Right hasn't come along yet. She's a powerful woman." Another bizarre article from 2011, just after she was sworn in as transport minister, had this to say about her: "There is something of the Jane Austen heroine about her: not so much the flirty Elizabeth Bennet as the cautious but passionate heroine of Sense and Sensibility, Elinor Dashwood". The article also noted that "she seems to have a comfort in her skin unusual in female politicians, who so often can come across as brittle, flirty or motherly". There are few things that buoy the spirit more than a good protest. As a student, I marched for and against everything refugees (for), voluntary student unionism (against), John Howard (definitely against), Reclaim The Night (for, always and forever). For a middle class girl with a conservative father and a wardrobe full of student union issued t-shirts, it felt rebellious to be "on the streets" in a torrid storm of political activism. At night, my friends and I would paint the banners that we planned to wave above our heads the next day, heads made soft and foggy from the cheap wine passed around in a box. Change wrought by our own hands seemed inevitable. This was what we had come to university for to be invincible street rats, thumbing our noses at the establishment and challenging the status quo. I suppose it's a consequence of age that each generation looks back and considers themselves to have been part of the "last hurrah" of something special. My university peers and I failed to stop voluntary student unionism, and its introduction decimated the resources previously available to run events, activities, social gatherings and yes, foster political activism. After graduating, it seemed like the change we felt responsible for engineering had soared briefly before crashing spectacularly. I'm not a pessimistic person, but it was hard not to feel despondent when the rallies we'd cut our teeth on as students started dwindling in numbers. You'd always show up because you wanted to believe a spark remained in the dying embers, but sometimes you couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. Samsung looked to regain the trust of its customers as it revealed late Sunday that two separate battery issues caused one of its best-selling smartphones to catch fire and explode this past fall. The South Korean tech giant disclosed in a report that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not properly fit in the battery's casing. That design caused the initial round of fires, which led to property damage and personal injury for its owners. The damaged batteries in these phones were crimped at the battery cell's upper-right corner. The second round of fires, which affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones, were caused by several manufacturing issues, including inadequate welding at the battery manufacturer the company raced to produce those new phones. "We are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences," said DJ Koh, Samsung's president of its Mobile Communications Business in a statement. The company said 96 percent of Galaxy Note 7 phones have been returned. The youngest victim of the Bourke Street rampage has been identified as three-month-old baby Zachary Bryant. Zachary's two-year-old sister Zara was also injured in the incident. Their parents Matthew and Nawwar Bryant released a statement on Monday evening, remembering Zachary as a "beautiful, loving, happy and perfect little baby". "On 20th January a man drove through Melbourne city, killing and hurting people, including our two-year-old toddler Zara and our three-month-old son, Zachary. Western Australia is set to get a new $5.6 billion Pilbara iron ore project involving the billionaire Todd family from New Zealand. Premier Colin Barnett said Balla Balla Infrastructure Group would build the six to 10 million-tonne-a-year iron ore mine on the Pilbara coast between Karratha and Port Hedland. The project, which is expected to create 3,300 jobs during construction and 910 jobs once operational, will also see a 162-kilometre railway linked to central Pilbara. "This State agreement includes a requirement for local industry participation and community development plans to be submitted to the government for approval, maximising the benefits of the project for West Australians," Mr Barnett said on Monday morning. Judah Adunbi has spent the greater part of a decade trying to improve relations between police in southwestern England and the members of his Afro-Caribbean community. Still, all the advocacy and the meetings with police were ineffective in getting the 63-year-old dreadlocked man out of the predicament he was in earlier this month - staring at the business end of a police officer's Taser. Adunbi had been out walking his dog in Bristol, about 120 miles west of London, when officers mistook him for a robbery suspect, according to the Guardian. They didn't know him - or that he was a founding member of the police department's Independent Advisory Group, an organisation formed to improve police-community relations. The officers asked his name but, agitated, Adunbi refused to tell them. The Workshop, a follow up event on the WCO Security Programme Strategic Seminar held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels in June 2016, was hosted by the Jordan Customs administration at the Regional Training Center for the MENA Region and attended by 15 participants from 11 countries. During the three-day event the WCO provided members with an update on WCO Security Programme activities. Moreover it provided a platform to discuss challenges member administrations in the region face regarding flows of migrants, dual use goods, arms and explosives linked to ongoing conflicts and terrorist activity. Members shared their national approaches in relation to these challenges in an open and objective dialogue allowing identifying common issues and security related training and capacity building needs. The WCO provided a comprehensive overview of the Programme Global Shield and Strategic Trade Control Enforcement activities planned for the MENA region. For further details please contact James McColm (james.mccolm@wcoomd.org) and Roman Bruhwiler (roman.bruhwiler@wcoomd.org). The WCO, along with Europol, INTERPOL and UNESCO has supported a joint pan-European operation of law enforcement authorities from 18 countries against theft and illicit trafficking of cultural goods that resulted in the seizure of 3,561 works of art and artefacts. Led by Cyprus and Spain, Operation Pandora took place in October and November 2016 with a common action phase from 17 to 23 November 2016. The Operation focused on cultural spoliation (the act of taking goods by force, particularly in times of war), illicit trafficking of cultural goods (with a special focus on conflict countries), cultural theft and criminal networks (to improve the understanding about criminal groups who operate in this domain and to identify possible links with other criminal areas). To strengthen cooperation during the action week, several police officers were deployed abroad in order to cooperate during inspections and searches. Most of the actions were carried out in coordination with other authorities such as Customs, Ministries of Culture, religious institutions, etc. A total of 48,588 persons, 29,340 vehicles and 50 ships were checked and those controls led to the arrest of 75 people and the opening of 92 new investigations. In total, 3,561 works of art and cultural goods were seized and almost half of them were artefacts, several of which are of great cultural importance in the archaeological world. Spanish Guardia Civil seized more than 500 archeological objects in Murcia: 19 were stolen from a Museum of Archeology in Murcia in 2014. These actions also included check of suspicious Internet announcements where over 400 coins from different origin and periods were seized because of their illegal origin. Greek police seized a part of a marble Ottoman tombstone and a post-Byzantine painting of the 18th century, which depicts Saint George and two other Saints, along with two Byzantine artifacts. The following countries participated in the Operation Pandora: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom. The WCO supported the countries involved by alerting all concerned Customs administrations of the ongoing action and asking for full cooperation and assistance to police. Europol supported involved experts by providing operational and analytical support during the action. INTERPOL assisted the investigators in the field by cross checking hundreds of objects against 50,000 records in the INTERPOL Stolen Works of Art database and also by providing a swift response when identifying illicit objects. UNESCO supported with training materials and advice to the participating countries. ----------------------------------------------- Related information: Official press releases: Spanish Ministry of Interior (in Spanish), Europol The Secretary General of the WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, participated in a special panel debate on Cultural Leadership in Davos on Wednesday 18 January 2017, in the context of the World Economic Forums 47th Annual Meeting, and highlighted the work undertaken by the WCO and its partners, including the development of a specialized curriculum on cultural heritage for Customs officers and of a dedicated communication platform named ARCHEO. A small alpine resort, Davos-Klosters, with the population of around 1,000 people has hosted one of the most prestigious events World Economic Forums 47th Annual Meeting from 17 to 20 January 2017. More than 3,000 delegates from around 90 countries, including 50 Heads of States and more than 500 journalists attended this flagship event. This years topic is Responsive and Responsible Leadership. Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF described it in the following way: Responsive Leadership means recognizing the increasing frustration and discontent among those not experiencing economic development and social progress. () Responsive Leadership requires a deeper commitment to inclusive development and equitable growth, both nationally and globally. The themes that were discussed at this years Forum revolved around the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the way technologies affect social, economic and political developments; the dark side of globalisation; the rise of populism and protectionism. The future of Europe, in view of Brexit and the US Presidency of Donald Trump were widely discussed within the scope of the changes these events will eventually bring to the global landscape. The WCO Secretary General, Dr. Mikuriya, was invited to participate in a special panel debate in Davos on Safe Havens for Heritage in Wartime: Cultural Leadership in a Dangerous World. He was joined at the panel by other distinguished speakers: UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova; Acting Provost and Undersecretary for Museums and Research at the Smithsonian Institution, Richard Kurin; and a Clown and Storyteller from Clown-Me-In, Lebanon, Sabine Choucair. The debate was moderated by Hadley Gamble, a CNBC reporter and anchor. The objective of the session was to discuss the challenges involved in dealing with cultural heritage under threat. Dr Mikuriya gave an insight on the role Customs authorities play in the prevention of illicit trafficking of cultural objects and their subsequent restitution. He also highlighted an urge for partnerships and provided an example of excellent partnership between the WCO, UNESCO, INTERPOL, UNODC and ICOM (International Council of Museums) in the area of prevention of illicit trafficking as well as with the Smithsonian in the development of a specialised curriculum for Customs officers in this domain, which will be deployed later this year. He pointed out that the dimensions of the problem being too large, a common effort is needed to protect cultural heritage. Dr. Mikuriya also participated in a number of private bilateral meetings with political, business and opinion leaders to discuss the global trade agenda and its vulnerabilities, as well as the role Customs can play in tackling these challenges in an efficient manner. DECATUR It's a lot easier to go out on stage in the musical world and "break a leg" if the "leg" is real. Millikin University students have been getting their reality check outside of the classroom through an innovative program called the New Musicals Workshop, now celebrating its 10th year. Some 17 students, from theater majors to those studying stage management, have spent several days working with industry professionals who are crafting and recrafting actual production pieces. The public can get a taste of what they've been up to with a free show beginning at 6 p.m. today in Kaeuper Hall, part of Millikin's Perkinson Music Center. Students will perform numbers from the musical Island Song and do a complete stage reading of the musical Unlock'd. These are the works of lyricist Sam Carner and composer Derek Gregor, winners of the 2004 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater. The Millikin students sing the creative team's work but also interact with them as they fine-tune songs and make changes on the fly. The speed of it all, it's a lot faster, said musical theater major Heather Banks, 21, describing the pace of the workshop to regular class. And it's beyond useful experience for us because they structure it in a way that instills a great worth ethic in us and a sense of selflessness because we're serving the piece and the writers, and it's not about us. The students have also been learning alongside lyricist Chris Dimond and composer Michael Kooman, both members of the Dramatists Guild and currently working on an animated series for the Disney Channel. They have worked with the students in previous workshops and developed several shows through the program. Dimond says the value of the workshops cuts both ways, allowing the creative team to get instant feedback on how a number is working and what they need to do to make it happen. It's really important to see your musical develop over every stage and to respond to how it feels out loud and on its feet, he added. Lori Bales, an associate professor with the school of theater and dance at Millikin, says her students learn much and gild their resumes with some star power as they rise to new challenges. We expect them to bring their professional game here, she added. It's great experience. DECATUR A Decatur woman who pleaded guilty to charges of stealing more than $3,800 in taxpayer dollars by submitting fraudulent claims for work performed was sentenced to 24 months' probation and ordered to pay restitution. Yolanda Plato, 45, was also ordered to perform 30 hours of community service after she was convicted in a Jan. 18 Macon County court hearing of stealing government property by deception, a class four felony. A statement from the Illinois State Police described Plato as working for both the Illinois Department of Human Services as a personal assistant and also working for a private company called Help at Home Services that provides assistance for the elderly and receives funding from the Illinois Department of Aging. An investigation found that Plato was billing for overlapping hours from both jobs and being overpaid by the state. Between May 30, 2013, and July 4, 2014, she was overpaid for a total of 340 hours involving Medicaid dollars. She was caught by a police unit called the Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau, commanded by Capt. Brian Ley. It's especially troubling when people steal from government programs designed to help some of our state's most vulnerable citizens, Ley said. Our goal is to investigate these cases and send a message that we are monitoring how Medicaid dollars are being spent, all in an effort to deter future criminal acts against the Medicaid program. The Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau was established in 1978 and was created to hunt down those who try to steal from or defraud the program. In 2016 alone, the bureau had 223 opened cases, made 24 arrests and recovered more than $31 million. ALLETE, Inc. operates as an energy company. The company operates through Regulated Operations, ALLETE Clean Energy, and Corporate and Other segments. It generates electricity from coal-fired, biomass co-fired / natural gas, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The company provides regulated utility electric services in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 natural gas customers, and 10,000 water customers, as well as regulated utility electric services in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 145,000 retail customers and 15 non-affiliated municipal customers. It also owns and maintains electric transmission assets in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois. In addition, the company focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating clean and renewable energy projects; and owns and operates approximately 1,000 megawatts of wind energy generation facility. Further, it is involved in the coal mining operations in North Dakota; and real estate investment activities in Florida. The company owns and operates 158 substations with a total capacity of 10,066 megavolt amperes. It serves taconite mining, paper, pulp and secondary wood products, pipeline, and other industries. The company was formerly known as Minnesota Power, Inc. and changed its name to ALLETE, Inc. in May 2001. ALLETE, Inc. was incorporated in 1906 and is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. Welcome to Weird Science DC Comics, the DC Comics site for the common man and woman. We love comics and hope you do too. Remember, our reviews are only one persons opinion and doesnt mean you have to agree or disagree, just be you. Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Thunderstorms. Some strong to locally severe early. Heavy rain will accompany some storms especially overnight. Low 57F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.. Tonight Thunderstorms. Some strong to locally severe early. Heavy rain will accompany some storms especially overnight. Low 57F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. CHARLESTON A Mattoon woman died from injuries she received after the car in which she was riding hit a bridge north of Charleston late Friday. Kayla Eggers, 23, was ejected from the car and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release from the Coles County Sheriff's Office. It also said the car's driver was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol. The release said the driver, Shelby Espe, 23, of Mattoon, failed to stop at the intersection of Illinois Route 130 and County Road 1500N, about six miles north of Charleston, just before 11:25 p.m. Friday. The car went off the road and traveled about 400 feet before hitting the bridge and going into a creek, the news release said. It said Espe and another passenger, Andrea Garcia, 23, of Effingham, were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Espe was listed in good condition on Monday, according to a Carle representative, but no information on Garcia's condition was available. The release also said Espe also received citations for disobeying a stop sign and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. By Bill Hughes Jan. 23, 2017 | 02:04 PM | PADUCAH, KY Sorry for the delay How about we do something great for the those who have served out nation & 1st responders https://t.co/G9BPmVAXKS Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) January 24, 2017 They aren't sure why it's even being discussed, but the folks at Dippin' Dots hope to make friends with White House press secretary Sean Spicer.After multiple news outlets including the New York Daily News shared Tweets from Spicer about the ice cream company dating back to 2010, company president Scott Fisher wrote an open letter to Spicer on Monday, saying they should be, "friends, rather than foes."Dippin' Dots media relations manager Billie Stuber told West Kentucky Star that neither Fisher or founder and CEO Curt Jones have had any interaction with Spicer.Stuber said, "We've not really had an relationship with him in the past, so I'm not really sure (of) the genesis of his comments about Dippin' Dots, but we certainly want to turn him into a fan."In April 2010, a Spicer Tweet contended Dippin' Dots is not "the ice cream of the future," refuting the company's long-time slogan. At the time, Spicer was working at a public relations firm he had co-founded near the nation's capitol.When Dippin' Dots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011, Spicer shared a link to an article about it, calling it the "ice cream of the past."While it may have been less high-profile than his statement this weekend while arguing with news media about crowd size at President Trump's inauguration, Spicer's claim about the Paducah-based company has apparently been proven wrong.In Fisher's letter, he says under his ownership, Dippin' Dots has experienced double-digit growth over the last three years, creating jobs and opportunities."We hear that's on your agenda, too," Fisher wrote, acknowledging Spicer's new job with the president.Fisher's letter offered to bring the new administration some of their product.Stuber said, "We're happy to treat them to some Dippin' Dots, to an ice cream party. We want to have fun. Ice cream is serious to us, and apparently it's serious to him as well."Here is the entire letter from Fisher:Spicer has since responded back to the company with another tweet: On the Net: Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 23, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 23, 2017 | 11:49 AM | PADUCAH, KY Paducah Mayor Brandi Harless is in New Orleans this week, attending the Delta Leadership Network Annual Conference. The theme of this three-day conference is "resilience." Attendees have the opportunity to network, explore best practices and hear from world-renown speakers. They include Bonnie Canal, managing partner with The Resiliency Network, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and Mark Romig, president/CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. Mayor Harless said, "Last year, the Delta Regional Authority provided funding support to two very important projects in Paducah: the floodwall and the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center. I have the privilege of being a graduate of the DRA Leadership Institute and am proud to represent Paducah at this year's conference. This is one step toward my goal of identifying and securing even more resources for the work ahead in Paducah." Last December, the city accepted a $400,000 grant from the DRA Community Infrastructure Fund for the rehabilitation of Floodwall Pump Station #2 on North 6th Street. The project includes the replacement of discharge pipes and sluice gate, and the rehabilitation of various mechanical/electrical components of all seven pumps and motors not previously repaired. The Delta Leadership Network was organized by members of the Delta Leadership Institute, which in turn is a program of the Delta Regional Authority. The institute educates leaders on issues facing the region, including public health, education, transportation, small business, entrepreneurship, workforce training, and economic development. Powerball up to $1.6 billion, now largest jackpot on record Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 23, 2017 | 10:19 AM | GILBERTSVILLE, KY A Marshall County man faces drug charges after an incident at a Gilbertsville motel. According to the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to the Cinderella Motel Saturday in reference to an unwanted guest. The owner of the motel told deputies that 25-year-old Lawrence A. Hobbs of Calvert City had not paid for his motel stay on Friday and was asked to leave. The following morning Hobbs was still in his room. Deputies made contact with Hobbs and said he appeared very nervous while speaking with them. When deputies searched Hobbs, they reportedly found a metal pipe and a black bag containing marijuana in his pocket. Hobbs was placed under arrest and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Marshall County Detention Center. By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 23, 2017 | 06:07 AM | FRANKFORT, KY National School Choice Week begins today in Kentucky and across the country. There are 371 events planned in the Bluegrass State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 21,392 events nationwide. The events in Kentucky, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. Highlighted events include a large rally for school choice January 27 at 10 a.m. at the state capitol steps. The counties of Taylor, Lawrence, Trigg, White, and Franklin; cities of Corbin, Eminence, Hawesville, Hillview, Pioneer Village, Southgate, Sturgis, and West Buechel; and Governor Bevin have issued official proclamations recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as School Choice Week. National School Choice Week provides families in Kentucky with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options. National School Choice Week has the ability to bring together every type of student, parent, and educator to celebrate the opportunity that makes each way of learning possible, said Andrew Vandiver of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky. Lets start the new year by focusing on the positive success stories from every type of school and student on a statewide scale. "We are grateful that so many Kentucky students, parents, teachers, and community leaders will focus on the importance of opportunity in education during National School Choice Week." said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "Research demonstrates that the more options parents have for their children's education, the better opportunities students have to graduate from school and succeed in their careers." With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US history. MATTOON -- Douglas-Hart Nature Center is set to receive a $1,000 grant for enhancing wetland habitat with the help of students from Charleston Middle School and Kansas High School. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation announced on Friday that the nature center has been awarded one of the Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grants from the fall 2016 application period. Douglas-Hart Land Steward Director Marissa Grant said the grant will provide funding for a hands-on education project for the Charleston and Kansas students at the nature center in Mattoon. Grant said the students will identify plants in the wetlands on the northwest side of the center this spring and then remove some of the willows that have crowded out other plants there. She said the students will return in the fall to plant native vegetation in the wetlands. "The fact that they can come out to the nature center more than once is really nice," Grant said, adding that the students also will hear a presentation at their schools about the wetland project. Some of the willows will be left in place in the wetlands because these plants provide good cover for animals and are a good pollinator for insects, Grant said. Douglas-Hart Nature Center has received other Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant funding in recent years and used the money for habitat enhancement work involving Charleston high school and middle school students. "They love it because they get out of school for the day and get to come out to the nature center," Grant said. She noted that some of the Charleston students later returned to the site as volunteers on their own time. The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program supports the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on school grounds or other public places. Funding for the program is provided through donations to the Illinois Conservation Foundation. DECATUR The Decatur Police Department is testing a new computer software system that could enhance the ability of its officers to communicate and access information from other agencies. The department is evaluating use of the COPsync Network, which provides an advanced communication and information sharing system. It offers advance warnings of dangerous people and real-time notification of crimes in progress, which the company said can save minutes when seconds count and save lives by doing so. I place a high priority on both the safety and accountability of my officers, police Chief Jim Getz said. Any product that could potentially improve both of those things, as well as give us the ability to share information with other agencies and jurisdictions more quickly, is worth looking into. Sgt. Chris Copeland said the system has been easy to use. He is anticipating several weeks to months of testing. It is awaiting approval from the state to allow the product connect to the Law Enforcement Agencies Database System, or LEADS, Copeland said. He said officers use that system to search for background information, such as checking on license plates, driver's licenses, outstanding warrants, criminal history and stolen checks. Once that happens, we will expand the number of officers testing it and we'll have a better idea of how it functions, Copeland said. Testing the system comes at no cost to the department, he said. If it meets our needs, and we ultimately decide to replace our current system with it, it appears it will be a significant annual savings, Copeland said. He said the Decatur department has received positive feedback from police in other states, including Texas, where COPsync got its start. The system includes a report writing and approval system, similar to what Decatur police use now, Copeland said. He said Decatur officials are interested in several features, including the ability to integrate with GPS units on squad cars to see where officers are at in real time. It can overlay a weather radar layer on top of that map, Copeland said. City Manager Tim Gleason supports the police department's evaluation process. One of the most important functions of city government is providing for the safety of residents and visitors, Gleason said. The city of Decatur is committed to exploring products and services which could potentially enhance our ability to do so. Copeland said the police department has gone almost completely digital, becoming virtually paperless in tasks such as writing reports and citations. He said the COPsync evaluation is part of an ongoing effort to look at products that could provide the same or enhanced functionality, while being more easy to use and at a lower cost. Unsurprisingly, 2016 was the hottest year on record the third straight year in which worldwide temperatures have reached record levels. Ironically, Scott Pruitt, the climate change skeptic whom Donald Trump has chosen to run the Environmental Protection Agency, just happened to be testifying before a Senate committee charged with vetting his nomination when the announcement was made. So the nation was reminded simultaneously of the threat the world faces and that the Trump administration seems poised to ignore it. The facts are plain, and verifiable. The Arctic experienced an unfathomably warm fall up to 35 degrees warmer than usual in places which is expected to accelerate the shrinking of the Arctic ice cap. And the Antarctic ice shelves are melting faster than scientists anticipated as warming salt water eats away at them from below. It may be quixotic to hope that President Trump or Oklahoma Attorney General Pruitt will respect the science and change their tunes on global warming. It is unlikely the new administration will advance the Obama administrations policies to address rising temperatures rather than rolling back crucial regulations. But if Trump continues to question the significant role that human activity particularly the burning of fossil fuels has played in increasing global temperatures, American states and cities and countries around the world can still press forward. Trump might deny the science, but the rest of the world cannot. Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal challenging Illinois' system for issuing permits for people to carry concealed weapons in public. The justices on Monday let stand a lower court ruling that upheld the state's requirements for obtaining a concealed-carry license. Three men sued state officials after they said a state review board denied their permit requests without offering an adequate explanation. After the state amended its regulations in 2015, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the new requirements. The new regulations require a review board to explain the basis for any denial and give an applicant 15 days to respond. The men say the new rules still violate their due process rights. The NKR Ministry of Defense reports that Artsakh Defense Army contract soldier Karen Ulubabyan was killed yesterday while on sentry duty at an eastern army base by Azerbaijani gunfire. The ministry says that Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire 55 times, firing 430 rounds of various caliber small arms, including sniper rifles. Two 82mm mortar shells were also fired across the border. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be bringing his connecting with Canadians tour to Winnipeg this Thursday. Trudeau is scheduled to attend a town hall at the Caboto Centre beginning at 3:30 Thursday afternoon. It is the only Manitoba stop planned on his post-Christmas campaign-style tour of town halls and glad-handing events at coffee shops and other local sites across the country. He has already spent several days touring in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. He has a town hall in Calgary on Tuesday following a two-day cabinet retreat in the city. TODD KOROL / THE CANADIAN PRESS Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets the press before going into the Liberal cabinet retreat in Calgary on Monday. The prime minister cancelled his plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this month in favour of hitting the road to talk with Canadians. Trudeau has faced criticism over the last few months, including questions about cash-for-access fundraisers that provide Liberal party donors access to him and other cabinet ministers at exclusive events. His Christmas trip to the private Bahamian Island owned by the Aga Khan also have caused him grief, as questions about the appropriateness of the trip have been raised and are being looked at by the Ethics Commissioner. The town hall meetings are open to all Canadians, but even those havent gone off without criticisms. At least two complaints were made with the official languages commissioner after he answered English questions in French at a stop in Sherbrooke, Que. He has since apologized and said he realizes he should have answered in English. People can register in advance for tickets (jcarr.liberal.ca/events/), which will get you in the door half an hour before those who do not register, however a ticket does not guarantee a seat. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Fabulous food. Wonderful wine. Sensational scenery. Heapings of history. And now there is another reason to move to France: people there now have the right to ignore business-related emails that arrive after the workday is done. A new law that came into effect with the new year says companies with more than 50 employees must give workers the right to disconnect from email, smartphones and other devices during negotiated hours. Bob Edme / The Associated Press People enjoy a lunch at a cafe terrace in Biarritz, southwestern France, Wednesday, Dec.23, 2015. Temperatures rose up 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit). These measures are designed to ensure respect for rest periods and balance between work and family and personal life, a spokesperson from Frances ministry of labour said in a statement. The regulations, though, contain several items that are designed to sharpen Frances workforce, which has been criticized as over-regulated and rigid in the face of globalization. Other measures include more flexibility on work rules and overtime as well as granting employers more power to hire and fire. But theres also acknowledgement that recent technology has dealt a tremendous blow to the French way of life, which emphasizes enjoying time off and regulations that encourage a 35-hour workweek. All the studies show there is far more work-related stress today than there used to be and that the stress is constant, Benoit Hamon of the French National Assembly told the BBC when the law was being mulled last year. Employees physically leave the office, but they do not leave their work. They remain attached by a kind of electronic leash like a dog. The texts, the messages, the emails they colonize the life of the individual to the point where he or she eventually breaks down. And Technologia, a risk analysis firm, found 3.2 million French workers were emotionally exhausted from work and at risk of developing burnout symptoms such as exhaustion and chronic stress. It is a real problem, said Yves Lasfargue, a sociologist who specializes in teleworking. Twenty years ago, before emails had been invented and we could not reach colleagues, we would have to go and knock on their doors. Traditional courtesy teaches you to abstain from disturbing people. With these new tools, this form of courtesy has totally disappeared. Meanwhile, a union survey in November found 75 per cent of its managers worked at home in the evening. More than 50 per cent of managers said they worked on weekends and holidays, according to UGICT-CGT, a union of engineers, managers and technicians. The union became aware of the problem after it heard German automaker Volkswagen shuts down its servers after work so employees cant send emails. It made us reflect upon our own work conditions, so we launched our own campaign, said Sophie Binet, the unions secretary-general. Areva, a French nuclear power company, drew up rules four years ago to let workers disconnect. We wanted to negotiate a general agreement on the quality of life at work. This included the use of new technologies, said Philippe Thurat, Arevas diversity and work-life balance manager. Areva didnt adopt strict guidelines. Workers can still send emails at night, but the company launched an education campaign asking employees not to email between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. or on their days off. The idea was not so much to establish a right to switch off but rather to address the topic of a healthy use of emails and set clear boundaries, Thurat said. After-hour emails dropped 11 per cent in 2015, from 20 per cent in 2012, and the staff is just as productive, said Areva spokesman Christophe Neugnot. If I receive an email from one of my colleagues during the weekend, I dont feel that I have an obligation to reply, Neugnot said. And I wont answer because I dont wish to prompt him to reply back again. USA Today On January 24, 2017, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission will conduct a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, in the north-west of Seysulan village of the NKR Martakert region. From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring will be conducted by Field Assistants to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Jiri Aberle (Czech Republic) and Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova). The NKR authorities have expressed their readiness to assist in conducting the monitoring and to ensure the security of the OSCE Mission members. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ask Charlie Medd why she decided to get involved with the John Howard Society of Manitoba and she will give you a simple answer. It just seemed like a good idea to help them out, she says. The JHS is a non-profit, community-based organization that offers a variety of supports and resources aimed at helping men involved in the criminal justice system. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Charlie Medd volunteers her time as the manager/organizer of the We Fit You Closet at the John Howard Society. Medd, 69, has volunteered her time organizing the clothing closet at the Manitoba chapters office near the corner of Ellice Avenue and Sherbrook Street since October. She stocks and distributes gently used mens clothing to members of the community free of charge. The majority of recipients are men who have been incarcerated and need help reintegrating into the community. At the JHS clothing closet, they can find clothes for job interviews or clothes that will keep them warm during the frigid Winnipeg winter. Medd volunteers every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, sorting donations and putting them on display. She helps men find clothes and puts together packages of clothing for men who are about to be released from prison. I just like helping these guys, Medd says, adding she also enjoys the kind staff at the JHS. Besides the clothing closet, they do a lot of good work. This isnt the first time Medd has worked with clothing. She used to run a clothing bank out of the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre. Although it had to close five years ago due to dwindling donations, the clothing bank was a boon to the community for the seven years that it existed. I think it was so successful because it really wasnt part of any organization. We just did it on our own, Medd says. There werent any rules or that kind of thing. People could take as much as they wanted to. They didnt have to prove to me that they were poor they just came in and took whatever they wanted. When she isnt volunteering at the JHS or working part-time at Humboldts Legacy, an eco-friendly store on Lilac Street, Medd keeps busy with a number of other volunteer commitments. She volunteers with the Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association, the Broadway Seniors Resource Council, Prairie Theatre Exchange and the Winnipeg Symphony. Medd grew up in the northern Manitoba town of Snow Lake, and says it was growing up in a small community that taught her the value of getting involved and giving back. This Thursday, Medd will be at the JHS for an event celebrating the recent renovation of the clothing closet, which has been renamed the We Fit You Closet. The name comes from the slogan of Canadian Footwear, which has contributed greatly to upgrading the closet. Medd invites people to make their own contribution to the closet. The JHS is always in need of good, gently used mens clothing and footwear. Anyone interested can drop items off at 583 Ellice Ave. If people are interested in donating, that would be great, Medd says. If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has been around for less than two years, but its roots date back to a defining moment in Winnipegs history that happened decades ago. The idea of having an IIU an independent organization to eliminate situations where police officers investigate fellow officers was first raised almost three decades ago during the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. Part of the inquirys mandate was to examine the fatal shooting of an aboriginal man, J.J. Harper, by Const. Robert Cross in 1988 and the resulting investigation by city police. Their investigation concluded the shooting was an accident, but the inquiry later determined excessive force had been used. The idea of a such a unit took on greater urgency in the aftermath of the car crash that killed Crystal Taman in 2005. A pickup truck driven by an off-duty officer, Derek Harvey-Zenk, slammed into the back of Tamans car at a red light and killed her. He was convicted of dangerous driving causing death after a controversial plea deal led to other charges of impaired driving causing death, refusing a breathalyzer and criminal negligence causing death being stayed by the Crown. TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Zane Tessler (above) is the civilian director of the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba. The organization has its roots in cases involving J.J. Harper, Robert Cross, Crystal Taman and Derek Harvey-Zenk. Later, after it was revealed the charges had to be dropped because of a botched investigation by the East St. Paul police force, which was disbanded, an inquiry looked into the entire case. The Taman Inquiry recommended a civilian unit oversee investigations that involve police. This time, the provincial government decided to set one up. The IIU launched more than 18 months ago and will soon publish its first annual report. It officially became operational on June 18, 2015. Zane Tessler, who was a defence counsel and Crown attorney for three decades, was hired as its first civilian director in March 2013 for a five-year term. The units investigators started work in May 2015. The units mandate is to investigate all serious incidents involving police officers in Manitoba, whether occurring on or off duty. Its goal, Tessler said, is to ensure all Manitobans trust the independence and impartiality of our work and have confidence in our investigative findings. The scope of our mandate is actually very broad, Tessler said. You have death and serious-injury incidents these are mandatory. But we also have jurisdiction over any other allegation or breach of the criminal code. When police forces investigate themselves its a no-win situation so independence is called for then-attorney general Gord Mackintosh in June 2015It is my privilege to be part of this new and historic chapter in policing in Manitoba Manitobas IIU (Independent Investigation Unit) joins an elite group of officers tasked with investigating serious incidents involving police Zane Tessler after being introduced as the IIUs first director Tessler said they take only investigations referred to them by police agencies. Im not saying the public cant contact us, but we cant start an investigation simply with a citizen complaint, he said. Tessler said there are times when the IIU learns about cases in other ways, including social media. He said thats how they first heard about the incident that led to a fatal police shooting of 24-year-old Mark Dicesare at the Kapyong Barracks site in November 2015. A final report on that incident is expected to be released soon. I was sitting in the office, and someone got a phone call saying they got a tweet about something happening on Kenaston, Tessler said. We started following it on Twitter. We started getting our resources ready just in case. Within minutes, we realized it was more serious, and within minutes, we were notified. We even saw some posted video ahead of time. Tessler said they have used social media to help with their investigations, too. Derek Harvey-Zenk Weve been able to find potential witnesses, he said. We will do Twitter scans after shootings to check for potential witnesses and see if there is video and photos. So this one incident taught us a lot its now another tool that didnt exist 10 years ago. The IIU, which is located in a downtown office building, isnt a large organization. On the administrative side, there is Tessler, an office manager, a director of strategic planning and an administrative assistant. On the investigative side, there is a director of investigations, a team commander and eight full-time investigators seven of whom are full-time, permanent employees and one who has been seconded from a police force. Tessler noted while the units counterpart in Alberta investigated 10 police shootings in Calgary over the entire year, Manitobas IIU at one point was investigating three in a six-week period. At one point, the IIU was investigating two major cases on a single weekend one in Winnipeg and the other in Dauphin. Tessler said so far the investigators have been able to handle all the cases coming in. We havent had to turn anything away. There has never been a time we havent been able to get out right away, he said. Crystal Taman As of the end of December, the first 18 months of the IIUs existence had seen police forces across the province contact them 65 times. They were matters they felt were within our mandate. Of the 65, 36 became matters that were IIU investigations, and the IIU took over jurisdiction. Twenty-seven were monitored by the IIU, and two we felt were outside our mandate, and we declined, Tessler said. From the IIU side, Id rather know all the matters and not keep it in the dark. The most recent IIU decision came out Friday. Thats when Tessler rejected an allegation by a suspect that an arresting officer with the Dakota Ojibway Police Service had used excessive force and broken his wrist at Long Plain First Nation in May. Tessler concluded, based on medical and X-ray reports, the wrist was never broken and, after reviewing the evidence, concluded the force used by the officer was reasonable in the circumstances. Only one officer has been charged after an IIU investigation. On Oct. 8, 2015, RCMP Corp. Gordon Lethbridge was charged with assault in connection with an off-duty incident after Tessler concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence occurred. That charge was later stayed, and Lethbridge has since been charged with another assault. To respond quickly, Tessler said the IIU has worked on numerous contingency plans for getting and potentially staying for a period in any area of the province. Robert Cross Its so we know what to expect, not only from how we get there, but how we operate, how to get around, and how we communicate. We cant use their (police force) cars or offices, he said. Weve come up with some pretty good plans to do things. The investigators do have tents and sleeping bags if required. Coun. Jeff Browaty, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said the IIU, along with the Winnipeg Police Services professional standards unit and the Law Enforcement Review Agency, help the police chief maintain discipline in the ranks. I believe Winnipeggers expect that concerns about police conduct are taken seriously and are investigated fairly, impartially and thoroughly, he said. The IIU, together with LERA and the services own professional standards unit, serve essential roles in maintaining public confidence and trust in policing. The IIU is still in its infancy, but Tessler is already nearing the end of his appointment. I am eligible for one further extension of five years, but no director can serve more than 10 years, he said. This is a wonderful opportunity. I am so honoured to get this chance, and I am so blessed to be here in this role. J.J. Harper kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Manitoba municipalities are starting the heavy lifting to upgrade at least four dozen railway crossings to meet new federal standards, a process that has to be complete within four years. It could cost municipalities and railways which will cost share most of the upgrades with some help from the federal government between $10 million and $12 million minimum. The municipalities had until the end of November to share information with railway companies and Transport Canada about the specifics of all 2,100 grade crossings in the province those are the ones where trains and vehicles can meet directly without benefit of an overpass or underpass. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A train holds up traffic on Waverley Street near Taylor Avenue. Now they are combing the data to determine what needs to be done to meet new standards by the 2021 deadline issued by the federal government. It is the first time the government is implementing national standards for safety at railway crossings. Until now, safety elements at a crossing were determined by the industry and municipalities. The new standards dictate more than a dozen new elements, including when a crossing needs to have warning lights or bells or gates, the grade of the road, the position, size and presence of signs, and sightlines as a vehicle approaches a crossing. A Free Press analysis of railway crossing data provided by Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board suggests at least 44 crossings need to have warning lights and bells installed, because the number of daily trains, multiplied by the average number of vehicles that cross those tracks, is higher than 2,000. Another four crossings, all in Winnipeg, already have lights and bells, but need to have gates added because that number is higher than 50,000. The RM of Springfield has at least six crossings to upgrade and began working on them last year, with the first one costing the RM about $60,000. The RM of Ste. Anne added lights, bells and gates to a crossing where Highway 210 becomes Seine Road, at a cost of more than $200,000. Winnipeg has at least 10 crossings that need upgrades. There are 18 other municipalities with at least one crossing that needs work. These numbers dont take into account crossings that need upgrades or repairs to the roads or tracks, additional signs, or additional warning systems based on factors such as the number of tracks. The City is currently undertaking a review, risk analysis and prioritization of all at-grade railway crossings in order to develop a remediation plan to meet the new Railway Regulations, wrote spokeswoman Lisa Fraser in an email. Winnipeg intends to pay for its improvements using the Traffic Engineering Improvement Program. That fund, to improve safety at city intersections, was recently cut from $1.9 million to $1 million for the 2017 budget. Winnipeg could face at least a $1-million bill over the next four years to bring its crossings up to standard. The Association of Manitoba Municipalities has communicated the information about the new standards to all municipalities. At this point in time, we are closely monitoring how these changes may affect local communities, said Association of Manitoba Municipalities President Chris Goertzen in an emailed statement. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. And then there were six. The united front of provinces and territories formed last year to fight Ottawa over health-care funding is eroding before our eyes. Last week, Saskatchewan agreed to sign on to a deal that provides 3.5 per cent in annual funding increases and additional money targeted specifically to mental health and home care. The provinces had been seeking an annual funding increase of 5.2 per cent. Now four provinces and three territories have agreed to the federal plan. That leaves just six remaining provinces Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island holding out hope they can get a sweeter deal. The fact is that Manitoba and the remaining holdout provinces appear to have built their campaign against Ottawa on a sand bar. And every time the tide comes in, it seems to wash away another member of the united front. The remaining provinces are going to have to reach some sort of agreement very soon. Certainly, something will have to give before they need to set their budgets for 2017-18, which will be in March or April. If they have not signed by that time, the holdout provinces will get a 3.5 per cent increase in basic health transfers, but wont share in the ancillary funding for home care and mental-health services. That will mean a loss of hundreds of millions of additional dollars for each holdout province. For example, Manitoba expects to lose $38 million from health transfers in the next fiscal year when the escalator is set at 3.5 per cent. That would be offset, however, by an estimated $40 million in additional funding for mental health and home care. Over the next decade, Manitoba estimates it will lose increasingly more each year, for a total of $2.2 billion in unrealized federal transfers, an amount that would be offset only partially by the $400 million it will receive in ancillary funding. All of which leads to an important question: what is a smaller province such as Manitoba going to do to dig itself out of this predicament? Premier Brian Pallister was not wrong to hold out on the health-funding deal offered by Ottawa. He doubled down on that when he also refused to sign a federal carbon-tax scheme being orchestrated by the Trudeau Liberals. Pallisters sense of outrage was appropriate, given the circumstances. In its decision to cut the health escalator from six per cent annually to just 3.5 per cent, the Trudeau Liberals are essentially adopting the strategy devised by the former Conservative government. Its a strategy the Liberals denounced in opposition and promised to change during the federal election campaign. The premiers had every reason to believe there were going to get a new deal, one that reflected the real year-over-year increases in the costs of providing health care. Instead, what they got was the same cold Tory gruel, repackaged by a Liberal government that didnt have the guts to admit it was abandoning a core campaign pledge. However, in this instance, occupying the moral high ground wont pay the bills. The standoff strategy Pallister has employed to this point is rapidly falling apart. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, Pallisters chief ally in the New West Partnership internal trade pact, may have achieved a sweet deal for his own province, but he has profoundly weakened the position of the remaining holdouts. Of course, Wall didnt roll over for nothing. Saskatchewan got a reprieve from Ottawa on sanctions it faced for allowing citizens to pay for private MRIs. The deal in place requires MRI clinics to provide one free scan for every one purchased privately. Ottawa had threatened to cut Saskatchewans health transfer if it did not end the program; now, Wall has a year to figure out a way of fitting his two-for-one MRI scheme into the provisions of the Canada Health Act. Its not clear right now that Manitoba has a similar issue that could be used as a bargaining chip with Ottawa. As a result, it will be much harder for Pallister to create a face-saving scenario such as Saskatchewans. To this point, Manitoba has fought a good and noble fight against an unfair federal strategy on health transfers. However, the time is fast approaching for Pallister to propose an alternate solution. Undoubtedly, negotiations are going on behind the scenes. It wouldnt take a lot of additional money to turn this into a win-win scenario for the holdouts. An extra half-point or so added to the escalator, which still gives Ottawa relief from the six-point annual bump it was paying before, would provide the holdout provinces with more cash and an opportunity to save face back home. Of course, if Ottawa holds the line and picks off the holdout provinces one by one, then premiers such as Pallister will be left with only three things: a visible black eye, a compromised relationship with Ottawa, and a widening fiscal gap on health care. For those of you scoring at home, thats a lose-lose-lose scenario. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/01/2017 (2112 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Childhood memories of the day we marched come back to me in flashes. They arrive as still pictures captured by my eyes, and from a lofty vantage: my sapling legs dangling over my fathers shoulders, the Golden Boy, white banners. The doves caught my attention. If I squint my minds eye I can still see them, flying in silhouettes painted on white fabric. They had round curves for bellies, and squiggles to suggest tail feathers. They carried olive branches. That means peace, my dad told me, as I watched wide-eyed from his shoulders. The doves stand for peace. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Thousands of people took part in Saturday's Women's March in Winnipeg as part of a global day of solidarity in support of women's rights. So if doves flew over the people marching on Broadway Avenue, I knew then the march must mean peace too. At the time, the late 1980s, the grinding global politics that animated Winnipegs old peace marches escaped me, but peace itself was easy for a child to grasp. Peace was perfectly simple: who, I thought, would not want that? The tragedy of growing up, perhaps, is how adulthood fogs the crystal clarity of childrens gentle facts. I thought about that on Saturday, as Winnipeggers spilled down Portage Avenue by the thousands. Through their presence, they amplified a global action that contained the voice of millions: voices full of hope, and resistance. As the march left Portage Place, two tiny girls toddled beside their father. One wore a crisp white coat, the other a bright pink parka. What images will take flight in their minds, 30 years from now? What will they remember? If nothing else, perhaps they will keep this picture: on one damp January day, Winnipeggers took to the street as friends and neighbours. They took to the street in groups that bound generations: as grandmothers, mothers and daughters. The march was led by the drumbeat of indigenous women and elders. It rang with the voices of women of colour. It featured people of all genders, from all parts of the city and all walks of life: students, entrepreneurs, teachers and doctors. At the heart of it were the children, bundled in coats and packed in strollers, watching wide-eyed as they rolled. We marched for them, you know. In Seattle, in Washington, in London and Seoul, people took the streets to make a statement about the future. It was about the man in the White House, sure, but it was also about something greater. The message need not be a complicated one. It can be this simple: we will defend our rights, and in great numbers. To be sure, a myriad of deeper issues wove through the womens marches. Much of that was highlighted in the weeks before Jan. 21, as some observers smugly declared internal divisions were tearing the events asunder. Or, to quote a Jan. 5 headline in the New York Post: The Womens March on Washington is becoming a joke. As evidence, they pointed to forums where folks were hashing out the politics of resistance. Women of colour critiqued white march organizers on failures to address issues of race; this was invariably described as infighting. But if anyone purports to uphold doing battle with ideas, well, this is what that looks like. It can be messy. And it should be understood not as a bug of feminist debate, but as a feature: this is how we learn to listen to each other. Indeed, as Saturdays marches swelled to bursting, it became clear this process did not make them any weaker. Instead, the Womens March surged with ideas, both international and local. In the United States, it spurred new projects to increase political engagement; in Winnipeg, folks cheered signs in solidarity with indigenous women. Above all else, there is value in being seen, and being counted. And that is the legacy of these marches, too: when the streets are clear and the signs are packed away, our friends and neighbours know they are not alone. One last thing. After the Winnipeg march was over, when there was time to sit and marvel at images flooding in from around the world, I heard a common complaint: Why protest in Canada? Women here are already equal. Setting aside more pointed critiques of that statement, I would like to answer it, because to me it is quite simple. By marching here, we also marched for those who cant, due to oppression or to circumstance. If women in Canada have rights that our sisters elsewhere do not share, then that only makes it more vital that we did march here. After all, what use is the right to use our voices if we do not use them? If we are to consider Canada as a beacon for womens rights, then that beacon must be tended, defended and regularly infused with new and brightened light. This was not just about one president, or one nation, or one day in January 2017, it was about passing what we have done through generations. It is about showing our children their voices belong in the conversation. At Portage and Main, as the Womens March began its return to Portage Place, one woman with steel-grey hair turned to a young woman wearing bright lipstick. She rested her hand on the 20-somethings shoulder. This is all about you guys, she said, laughing. Were getting old. melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. There seems to be a persistent misunderstanding and mythology surrounding the Manitoba Basic Annual Income Experiment or Mincome, as it came to be known. With the recent publication of a working paper on the Ontario Basic Annual Income and the universal basic income experiment about to begin in Finland, it is time to review Manitobas experience with a basic income, also known as a guaranteed annual income. What was Mincome? To many, it is an experiment synonymous with Dauphin. But Dauphin was a limited component of the entire project. KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Dauphin residents Hugh and Doreen Henderson, with their children, Helen and George, in the 1970s when they took part in the so-called Mincome program. Mincome was a $17-million (equivalent to about $56 million in 2017) social research project that ran from 1974 to 1978. Jointly sponsored by the federal Liberal and provincial NDP governments, Mincomes primary goal was to evaluate the economic and social consequences of an alternative social welfare system based on the concept of a negative income tax. In particular, the data and research were to understand the impact of a guaranteed annual income on willingness to work. Eventually, a second objective emerged: to comprehend the logistics of administering a guaranteed annual income and assess the financial cost of extending such a plan to the entire population. Mincome followed the design of other large social experiments in the United States that were popular in the 70s. The massive amounts of data could be processed using the emerging mainframe computing technology, and we would be able to answer some big questions. If people received a guaranteed annual income, would they use the increased economic security to remain in work and invest in education or, to use a 70s reference, would they smoke dope all day and listen to the Grateful Dead? The core of Mincome was the Winnipeg site. Here, participants were anonymously divided into seven treatment groups and one control group. Those in the treatment groups received one of several levels of income support based on family size and structure. Starting from a baseline interview, all household members over 15 years old completed periodic surveys about every three months, as well as a monthly report on their income. Those in the control group received no income but also completed the baseline, periodic surveys and income report, in exchange for an honorarium. The Dauphin site was an afterthought that some members of the research team vigorously opposed as a waste of money. Eventually, it was rationalized as a way to assess the extent of uptake if the program became universally available. This is an important policy issue. Participants in Dauphin only participated in a single treatment, and no control group was constructed. Several myths endure about Mincome. The first is that between 1974 and 1978, Dauphin experienced no poverty, and life was all puppies and posies. In fact, only about 40 per cent of the eligible population of Dauphin participated in Mincome. Mincome staff had to go door to door to solicit participants despite widespread publicity. In addition as is common with research that extends over time participants left the experiment, further reducing the participation. Finally, the support from Mincome replaced income assistance and other forms of public welfare, further reducing the net impact of the cash infusion from basic income. It is quite a stretch to suggest Mincome eliminated poverty in Dauphin. The second is that the Dauphin data (and Mincome in general) show a basic annual income contributes to better health outcomes. The relationship between income and health outcomes is a very important association and, if true, could show that funds spent on a guaranteed annual income would be repaid at least partially by a reduction in health-care costs. Unfortunately, Mincome collected no information on health status or health behaviours, and thus Mincome did not add anything to the analysis of income, wealth and their effects on health. The third myth is that the federal government terminated Mincome abruptly. In fact, termination was a mutual decision by both levels of government. Data collection proved to be much costlier than originally forecast. By 1978, with no analysis completed, Canada and Manitoba decided to suspend operations. Most of the 200-plus staff were let go, and a skeleton crew was left to document the research and archive the data. Fourth, the Mincome data do not reside in hundreds of dusty boxes. In 1980, the federal government decided spending $17 million with no research results represented a waste. It contracted with the University of Manitoba to rehabilitate the information and make it available to the research community. This task was completed in 1984. The dusty boxes do exist, and much information on the survey forms remains to be digitized. But the core data have been preserved in digital form. The fifth myth is Mincome supported no research studies. Between 1984 and 1991, several studies emerged. The most important of these was by Derek Hum and Wayne Simpson, who published a major analysis of how the basic-income plan of Mincome affected work behaviour. In general, they found the impact on male household heads was relatively small. Women tended to withdraw from the workforce more readily, but this is entirely consistent with family responsibilities common to the 70s. Therefore, the central question posed for Mincome was finally answered in 1991, some 13 years after the termination of the experiment. With the renewed interest in basic income, the Mincome data and technical documentation are available for public access. Certainly the socio-economic context of 2017 is different than that of 1977; however, the research design and quality control used to collect the data was state-of-the-art, which remains obvious to this day. Important questions on income and wealth, the impact of a basic income on family stability and how changes in income affect investment in education are all topics Mincome can still usefully address. Those wishing to investigate Mincome in more detail can visit gregorymason.ca/mincome/ to locate the portal to the Mincome dataverse held by the University of Manitoba. Gregory Mason is associate professor of economics and directed the restoration of the Mincome data between 1981 and 1984. He is the custodian of the Mincome Dataverse at the University of Manitoba Libraries. Turkish police busted a human trafficking ring Friday, detaining 23 alleged traffickers suspected of smuggling migrants from Turkey to Europe, local media reported. Police in Izmir were reportedly tracking the suspects since October and caught them as they were planning to smuggle more migrants to Italy. Police estimated the group made a profit of about 4 million Turkish Lira (US$ 1 million) smuggling migrants along the dangerous sea route from Turkeys coast to Europe. According to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, out of the nearly 1.4 million migrants and refugees that crossed the Mediterranean in the past two years, some 7,500 drowned because smugglers were using flimsy inflatable rafts that often do not last the journey. The arrested suspects charged between US$ 500 and US$ 1,000 per person to take migrants to the Greek islands and US$ 4,000 to take them to Italy, the Daily Sabah reported. The group admitted to contacting Syrians living in provinces along the border, transferring them to Istanbul and Izmir, and finally taking them to the coastal cities where they would begin their boat journey. In an attempt to crack down on the massive human trafficking network in western Turkey the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Unit has carried out so far 14 operations, intercepting some 491 migrants from all over the world including Syria, Yemen, Ghana, Bangladesh and Myanmar. A total of 37 suspects have been detained, three of them Syrian and the rest Turkish citizens. Seven suspects were released, and the rest, including the Syrian nationals, remained in custody. occrp.org Dan Florness, the chief executive officer of Fastenal, has joined the Gundersen Board of Trustees. Speaking as a patient and as a parent, Gundersen has always provided excellent care to me and my family, Florness said. Speaking as a member of the business community, strong organizations like Gundersen are an asset to the area. I am honored to serve on the board of trustees and serve the communities that make this a great region to live and receive care. Florness earned a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and has served on the universitys College of Business Advisory Board. He has also been involved in several Winona community organizations, serving on the local American Red Cross board, the Winona Community Foundation board and the endowment committee at Faith Lutheran Church. Prior to his current postition with Fastenal on Jan 1, 2016, Florness was Fastenals chief financial officer from the time he joined the organization in 1996. From 2002 to 2015 Florness also served as executive vice president. During the last five years, Florness additional responsibilities included overseeing Fastenals supply chain and product development and, more recently, overseeing Fastenals National Accounts sales division. In 2012, Florness was named one of the nations 10 best CFOs by The Wall Street Journal and was honored as CFO of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Winona State Universitys Inclusion and Diversity Office will host Jason Sole for a workshop and keynote speech Monday, Jan. 30. From 1 to 2 p.m. that day, Sole will present the workshop School to Prison Pipeline: From Prison to Ph.D., a Memoir of Hope, Resilience and Second Chance in Kryzsko Commons, Oak Rooms, room 224. Later that day from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Sole will present his keynote speech Black Lives Matter: Connecting the Movements Platform to the Civil rights and Black Power Movements, in Kryzsko Commons, East Hall. Sole was raised on the streets of Chicago by a father who was addicted to drugs and an overburdened mother. He is a former drug dealer, member of a notorious street gang and a three-time convicted felon. Sole is now an assistant professor at Metropolitan State University and a keynote speaker and gang trainer, including serving as a national trainer for One Circle Foundation. Through his firm, Jason Sole Consulting, he offers juvenile and criminal justice agencies the tools they need to influence people impacted by delinquency, incarceration, poverty and other social ills. Sole is also a 2013 Bush Fellow. Those who wish to attend the workshop should RSVP to Dia Yang at dyang@winona.edu. SENTENCED Jayne M. Buckley, 36, of Eau Claire, was sentenced to eight years of probation for possession with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of amphetamine in Buffalo County. Charges of attempting to intimidate a witness and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed. Jessica M. Sobotta, 31, of Menomonie, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating probation on a 2015 methamphetamine drug offense. Two years of extended supervision were ordered following release, as well as counseling as recommended by the state Department of Corrections. Andrew V. Ziegler, 26, of Blair, entered a deferred prosecution or sentencing agreement on a felony drug charge of possessing methamphetamine. Ziegler pleaded no contest and was found guilty of driving with a revoked license and possessing drug paraphernalia. He was placed on probation for one year. CHARGED Alexander M. Rud, 31, of Mondovi, was bound over for trial and scheduled to have an arraignment hearing Jan. 26 on felony charges accusing him of fourth-offense operating while intoxicated and fleeing a police officer. Rud also is accused of driving with a revoked license, a stop sign violation, unreasonable and imprudent speed and tampering or failure to install a required ignition interlock device. Theodore W. Akina, 45, of Mondovi, had a hearing adjourned to March 8 on a felony charge accusing him of fourth-offense operating while intoxicated. Paul S. Hammel, 66, of Buffalo City, has a hearing March 28 on a felony charge accusing him of threatening a law enforcement officer. A criminal complaint says Hammel threatened bodily harm to a sheriffs investigator on Dec. 8. Tyler L. Green, 22, of Grand Meadow, Minn., has an arraignment hearing Feb. 15 on a felony charge accusing him of possession with intent to deliver up to 10 grams of amphetamines. Haylee M. Queensland, 19, of Byron, Minn., has a preliminary hearing March 3 on a felony charge accusing her of possession with intent to deliver amphetamines in Buffalo County. Martin Rodriquez-Montes, 19, of Kasson, Minn., has an arraignment hearing Feb. 15 on a felony charge accusing him of possession with intent to deliver amphetamines. Jonathan Gonzalez, 21, of Winona, had an arrest warrant issued Jan. 19 for failure to appear in court as scheduled on charges accusing him of battery, maintaining a drug trafficking place and manufacture/delivery of marijuana. William W. Johnson, 31, of Weyerhaeuser, has a hearing March 3 on charges accusing him of possession with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Salam Neighbor, one of 81 premier documentary films the Frozen River Film Festival will show next month, screens Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. at Winona State University in SLC 120. Salam Neighbor is more than just a documentary. Directed by Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci, the film depicts their time in Jordans Zaatari refugee camp, as they live alongside more than 85,000 Syrian refugees. The two filmmakers were the UNs first documentarians allowed to cover one of the worlds most harrowing crises. However, Salam Neighbor doesnt stop at just highlighting the refugees struggles: It shows their aspirations, hopes and fears. It is a lovely and affecting film that serves as a near-perfect documentation of Jordans refugee crisis. Temple and Ingrascis journey began several months before the beginning of their stay, when they created their nonprofit Living on One. With this, they hoped to create documentaries highlighting the struggles of the disenfranchised. For their first project, they chose the Syrian refugee crisis. They hoped that by living the same way as the refugees, they would be able to understand the humanity behind such a massive issue. In that sense, the two succeed in spades. The film is split between explanation of the crisis and problems, and intimate interviews with refugees and UN workers. Instead of settling for simply informing audiences of the struggles, they also let the emotions of the refugees (and the filmmakers themselves) take center stage. The interviews are often depressing and disenchanting. However, glimmers of hope and pride slip through the cracks. Even in the face of such intense hardships, the people of Zaatari are shown to be not only resilient, but proud of who they are and their lifestyles. Over the course of the film, Temple and Ingasci show how the camp grew from a field of tents and relocated people to a bustling, yet small, economic village. This is a very emotional film on all sides. Children live out their days without a home, school, or even a full family. Mothers struggle to care for or even enjoy being around their children. Families are violently ripped from their homes. Temple breaks down in one scene after playing with a child. The struggles of the refugees are laid out plain and clear, and any documentary that creates emotion in the viewer deserves remarkable praise. Salam Neighbor is not, however, a depressing film. Harrowing, yes, but filled to the brim with hope. As one of the refugees, Ghassem, says, If you find someone deeply traumatized, the first thing you should do is plant the seed of hope. Temple and Ingrasci manage to sow that seed into the audience itself, using the stories of five refugees to show the humanity behind one of the most misunderstood crises of the modern era. Salam is more than just a documentary. Its a film that can truly push viewers to action, and for that alone, its an absolute must-see. So, that happened. Let us pray. Yes, of course, you can go back to sleep, Mr. Van Winkle, but it won't change the facts. Donald Trump is the president of the United States. The humble, warm and engaging Trump we'd hoped to meet on Inauguration Day failed to make an appearance. We've heard he exists, but shtick is shtick, and Trump is Trump. He was, is and apparently intends to run the nation as a populist. Elites, stand down. To sum up Trump's mercifully short-ish speech: We're Americans, America comes first, we love America, America will be great again. In other words, he said nothing new or remarkable except perhaps when he said people would look back on Jan. 20, 2017, and remember ... I didn't hear the rest because I was paralyzed by the foreboding in his fierce countenance and the possibility of so many perilous things that could potentially flow from that moment. In all other respects, it was a run-of-the-mill campaign speech. And while Trump spoke of inclusivity, saying that prejudice has no place in his America, he certainly conveyed something entirely different during the past 18 months. No one reading this needs to be reminded of the many examples related to Mexicans, Muslims and others. Notably in low attendance at the speech were African-Americans, which needn't have been the case. Trump's message of jobs, better education, immigration reform and other tenets of his campaign should be equally appealing to all. Vexing was always the how. And the style with which the celebrity-bully expressed his intent. Trump may fervently wish to improve conditions in the inner cities where so many black families suffer, but telling black America, "What do you have to lose?" wasn't the most effective way to build solidarity. Meanwhile, a large bulk of the nation mourns or prepares to protest. As I wrote this Friday at The Washington Post building, police barricades were blocking hundreds of demonstrators who seem itching for a fight. Elsewhere, millions are filled with despair amid the alienation from a country they barely recognize. Trump's months of insults aimed at igniting resentment toward "others" can't be erased by his citing the Bible telling us "how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." There's a reason people are clashing with police. There's a reason a large throng of women (and their male sympathizers) will be protesting the new president and his boasts about manhandling women at his pleasure. These are among the reasons one might have hoped that Trump would rise to the occasion of this quadrennial event when America swaps out presidents for a new charge toward a better future. This go-round, the future felt up for grabs as Barack Obama and the former first lady lifted off in a military helicopter. One needn't have approved of the past eight years of liberal policies to appreciate (and soon miss) the contagious sense of calm Obama exuded. He was all grace and, yes, beauty when he waved, and smiled and, said, "Come on, man." Perhaps Trump's fist-punching finale was mere punctuation to his patriotic song of nationalism, but it somehow felt threatening. Most presidents and politicians show an open hand of nonthreatening conciliation as they wave to a crowd. Not Trump. He's all fist and in your face. From what Trump has said and projected, it's not a leap to imagine an increasingly militaristic society in which individual choices (to pray or pledge) are not so voluntary. Already we've seen hints as Trump trashes dissenters and tries to diminish reporters and news organizations as "fake news" to the detriment of a free society that, without a robust media presence, isn't likely to long remain free. Even with all of that, Donald Trump is our president. He deserves a chance to prove us doubters wrong; to create a government that he thinks will bring jobs and money back to the U.S.; to enhance educational opportunities for the less-privileged; to enhance our military defense without yearning to test it; to reform the tax and regulatory codes with deference to economic realities. I had intended to mention our role as wards of the planet, but it would appear that this has already been resolved. All mention of climate was removed from the White House website moments after Trump took office. So that also happened. Pray. Pray that our country survives these next few years and that the new president is both wiser and less impetuous than he seems. It's the least and the best we can do for now. I am writing in regards to Rep. Steve Drazkowski's amendment of health insurance and reform legislation. In the amendment, it included getting rid of the requirement to cover the healthcare issues of maternity care, cancer, cardiac problems, and kidney failure, and dozens more to numerous to list. He wants people to be allowed to buy health insurance a la carte. To Rep. Drazkowski and the GOP party, you claim to be pro-life. You claim to have Christian values. The risks are far to high to support such a selfish amendment. It's my hope and prayer that Gov. Mark Dayton will veto this proposal! In August and September 2016, three times more citizens, for the first time, of Armenia applied for asylum status from Europe than the average over the past nine years. If, on a monthly average, 385 citizens of Armenia applied for asylum status since 2008 from EU countries, in August 2016, that number was 1,110 and 1,185 in September of that year. (These figures are from the EUs database Eurostat). The above numbers follow the July armed seizure of a Yerevan police building by the Sasna Dzrer group. The demonstrations and clashes subsequent to the seizure, that lasted for 15 days, started in Yerevan. On July 31, members of the group laid down their weapons and gave themselves up. Three policemen died during the incident. Scores of protesters were injured in clashes with police and some fifty were hospitalized. More people applied for asylum status in Europe after the July 2016 incidents in Yerevan than after the March 1, 2008 presidential protests. According to Eurostat, 49% of Armenian citizens who applied last August and September were women. 33% were between the ages of 35-64, bringing with them children under the age of 14 (32%). 18-34-year-olds comprised 32% of the total. 5% were between the ages of 14-17. 2% were 66 or older. It seems that domestic instability in Armenia during 2016, coupled with excessive use of force by law enforcement, spurred greater numbers of young families to leave. Between January 2008 and December 2016, 41,310 citizens of Armenia applied for European asylum status for the first time. The map below shows the countries where applicants requested to be granted asylum status. Top photo: Sona Kocharyan Photos: Narek Aleksanyan This article was produced during #ddjcamp, a data journalism training organized by European Youth Press - Network of Young Media Makers. Disagreement over a Sauk County Board rule that involves closing off debate is mainly due to its ambiguous phrasing, according to two outside experts. Although the two specialists disagree about how the rule has been interpreted by the boards chairman and the countys attorney, both said the problem seems to stem from the rules wording. It might be worth clearing up the language of the board rules, which are currently confusing, said Jim Slaughter, a North Carolina-based attorney and past President of the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers. The rule in question says a motion to close debate and vote on a matter shall not be in order until every board member who wishes to speak has had that opportunity. Budget discussion Disagreement over the rule came up during the boards annual budget meeting in November. After an hour and 40 minutes of debate on the countys $84 million spending plan, one supervisor made a motion to end discussion and vote. Chairman Marty Krueger asked whether supervisors who had not yet chimed in still wanted to speak. There were several. After consulting with Sauk County Corporation Counsel Todd Liebman, Krueger decided not to rule the motion out of order. Instead, he told supervisors he would grant those who wished to speak a first time their allotted three minutes. But he restricted them from offering further budget amendments until the motion to end debate could be considered. Supervisor Tom Kriegl of Baraboo objected, saying Krueger should have immediately ruled the motion out of order once he saw there were supervisors who still wished speak a first time. A motion to appeal Kruegers ruling failed, and supervisors were asked to vote on whether to close the budget debate. The board ultimately decided not to do that, and the discussion continued. Slaughters interpretation Procedurally, Slaughter said, Krueger handled the matter appropriately by consulting with the boards attorney and allowing an appeal. However, he said, he agrees with Kriegl that the motion to end discussion should not have been entertained. One way to handle the rule, Slaughter said, is that if someone moves to close debate, the chair could ask, Is there anyone who wishes to speak a first time? If hands go up, the chair should rule the motion out of order. Slaughter is an expert on Roberts Rules of Order, a guidebook to meeting procedures. Under those rules, he said, motions to close debate are not debatable, require a two-thirds vote to pass, and can be made regardless of whether there are members who have not spoken. But he said the boards adopted rules supersede the procedural guide. Any state statute, city ordinance, or board-adopted rule would override Roberts Rules, Slaughter said, and he was unsure whether any higher authority addresses the matter. A different view Another expert says he interprets the rule differently, but agrees that cleaning up the language might resolve the controversy. Sometimes semantics get in the way, said Wisconsin Counties Association Chief of Staff J. Michael Blaska, who writes a monthly guide to meeting procedures in Wisconsin Counties magazine. Blaska agrees with Krueger and Liebman that a motion to close debate should be entertained even if supervisors who still wish to speak have not yet had that opportunity. They should be permitted to speak once, Blaska said, and then the board should vote on the motion. During the November meeting, Liebman said its not practical to permit amendments after someone has made a motion to end discussion. Debate on an amendment would start a new round of comments, which could allow discussion to continue indefinitely. Blaska said he agrees with that too. He also said the intention of the rule when it was created is a factor. Suggested revisions If the board wants to reinforce Krueger and Liebmans interpretation, Blaska said, it could rewrite the rule to say that a motion to close debate is in order, but not until after every board member who wishes to speak has had that opportunity. Slaughter had a different suggestion. For instance, the rule could state that if a motion to close debate is adopted, members who have not spoken to the issue would be permitted to speak once, he said. That would at least let you know how to handle the motion. Debate over the rule came up again during a December board meeting when Kriegl attempted to amend minutes from the November meeting to read that Krueger and Liebman had violated the rules. The board rejected the changes. Krueger, past President of the Wisconsin Counties Association, promised to invite Blaska to a future meeting to offer guidance. He told a committee Jan. 3 that Blaska had declined his invitation. The Wisconsin Lions Camp, owned and operated by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation Inc., begins its 61st year of camping for youth and adults with disabilities on May 31, 2017. The 11-week summer camping program is provided free of charge, made possible by the financial support of the Lions, Lioness and Leo Clubs of Wisconsin. Individuals and corporate donors also assist the Lions with financial support, making the camp possible. Specialized camping sessions are scheduled for youth and adults who are blind or visually impaired or deaf or hard of hearing. Camping sessions are also scheduled for youth who socially or educationally function as having an intellectual disability or educational autism or for youth with diabetes. The Lions Camp provides summer employment opportunities in positions of cabin counselors, program specialists and nurses, with male counselors and nurses being the greatest need. The Lions also offer a counselor-in-training program for youth ages 16 and 17 for a fee. In addition to the regular summer camping program, the Wisconsin Lions Camp has rental opportunities during the off-season. The facility is available for rental, with preference given to school groups, organizations serving persons with disabilities and other non-profit groups. Camper applications for various programs or information on summer employment opportunities may be obtained by contacting: Wisconsin Lions Camp, 3834 County Road A, Rosholt, WI 54473. Call 715-677-4969, email info@wisconsinlionscamp.com or visit the website at www.wisconsinlionscamp.com. Mary Fields Mary J. Fields, 84, of Reedsburg, passed away Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in her home surrounded by her loving family. Mary was born May 16, 1932, in Rice Lake, to the late Paul and Mary (McLeod) Penzkover, the youngest of 12 children. She graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1950. On Aug. 8, 1951, she married George M. Fields at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Mauston. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Donna and Dora. Mary was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish. She enjoyed her soap operas, the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers, watching NASCAR, playing cards, fish fries, and was known for preparing many special meals including her poppy seed cake. Most of all, she loved being a grandma and spending time with her family with which she was recently a part of a five generation picture. She was employed by the Reedsburg Hospital in food service for 41 years. She also worked with her husband George for many years on the farm in rural Cazenovia. She is survived by her daughter Donna Fields of Reedsburg. She is also survived by her grandson Robert (Darcy) Fields of Reedsburg, granddaughter Karla Kowalke of La Valle; her great-grandchildren, Dan (Mariah) Fields, Samantha Dick, Noah Kowalke, and Emma Strabel; her great-great-granddaughter Lillian Fields; and many other family and friends. In addition to her husband George, who preceded her in death on Jan. 15, 1996, she was preceded in death by her daughter Dora on May 7, 1999; and nine brothers; and two sisters. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Mary at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Reedsburg. The Reverend David Carrano, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will follow services at St. Anthony Cemetery in Germantown. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the conducting of a rosary service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, at Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service Thursday at the church. A memorial fund has been established in her name. Farber Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Some kinds of childhood The books of Prof. Robert Muponde illustrate how critical redress in cultures of representation can yield cross-disciplinary innovation in global humanities. Muponde is a writer and an intellectual in the Department of English at Wits. He has edited titles which have contributed to an intellectual infrastructure in the study of Zimbabwean literature and culture. These titles include No More Plastic Balls: New Voices in the Zimbabwean Short Story, which is now a set book at A-Level schools in Zimbabwe. Sign and Taboo: Perspectives on the Poetic Fiction of Yvonne Vera remains a major reference book. Versions of Zimbabwe: New Approaches to Literature and Culture has become the canonical go-to for anyone beginning explorations of Zimbabwean literature while Manning the Nation: Father Figures in Zimbabwean Literature and Society is on the reading lists for gender studies in South Africa and African Studies institutions in Africa and abroad. Mupondes monograph, entitled Some Kinds of Childhood: Images of History and Resistance in Zimbabwean Literature, focuses on the child/childhoods to connect creative works to historical trajectories and political and social movements. The monograph has been described as an important contribution to the field of Zimbabwean literature and beyond. Mupondes subsequent study on the configurations of childhoods takes the form of creative non-fiction titled The Scandalous Times of a Book Louse and a book provisionally titled Cultures of Representation, an anthology of critical essays. Read more about research at Wits in Wits Research Matters. Babcock International Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides value-add services for aerospace, defense, and security in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Africa, North America, Australasia, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Marine, Nuclear, Land, and Aviation. It designs, procures, operates, and manages critical utility and process equipment; offers asset management, defense and maritime training, information and intelligence, equipment and system, and facilities and infrastructure services, as well as naval platforms; and designs, manufactures, and provides through-life support for mechanical and electrical systems and equipment. The company also offers naval architecture, engineering, and project management services; submarines and complex engineering services in support of various decommissioning programs and projects, training and operation support, new build program management, and design and installation; critical vehicle fleet management, and equipment support and training services for military and civil customers; and designs, assesses, manufactures, installs, maintains, and decommissions vehicles for police, fire and ambulance, civil service, military, and other security-focused organizations. In addition, it provides plain line track renewal services; and engineering services for track projects, signaling, telecommunications, and on-track plants. Further, the company offers critical engineering services to defense and civil customers, including pilot training, equipment support, and airbase management, as well as operates aviation fleets that provide delivering emergency services. Babcock International Group PLC was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. The following companies are subsidiares of Laboratory Co. of America: 1957285 Ontario Inc. dba Quality Underwriting Services, 2089729 Ontario Inc., 2248848 Ontario Inc., 3065619 Nova Scotia Company, 3257959 Nova Scotia Company, 8165335 Canada Inc., 8348596 Canada Inc., 896988 Ontario Limited, 9279-3280 Quebec Inc., Accupath Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Assets of Pathology Inc, Beacon LBS IPA Inc., Beacon Laboratory Benefit Solutions Inc., CannAmm GP Inc., CannAmm Limited Partnership, Center for Disease Detection International, Center for Disease Detection LLC, Centrex Clinical Laboratories Inc., Chiltern, Clearstone Central Laboratories (U.S.) Inc., Clearstone Holdings (International) Ltd., Clinical Outreach Laboratory Services, Clipper Holdings Inc., Colorado Coagulation Consultants Inc., Colorado Laboratory Services LLC, Correlagen Diagnostics Inc., Covance Inc., Curalab Inc., Cytometry Associates Inc., Czura Thornton (Hong Kong) Limited, DCL Acquisition Inc., DCL Medical Laboratories LLC, DCL Sub LLC, DIANON Systems Inc., DL Holdings Limited Partnership, Decision Diagnostics L.L.C. (aka DaVinici/Medicorp LLC), Diagnostic Services Inc., DynaLifeDX, Dynacare - Gamma Laboratory Partnership, Dynacare Company, Dynacare G.P. Inc., Dynacare Holdco LLC, Dynacare Laboratories Inc., Dynacare Laboratories Limited Partnership, Dynacare Northwest Inc., Dynacare Realty Inc., DynalifeDX Infrastructure Inc., Envigo's nonclinical contract research services business, Esoterix Genetic Counseling LLC, Esoterix Genetic Laboratories LLC, Esoterix Inc., Execmed Health Services Inc., FirstSource Laboratory Solutions Inc., GDML Medical Laboratories Inc, Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratories GP Inc., Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratory Limited Partnership, HHLA Lab-In-An-Envelope LLC, Health Testing Centers Inc., Health Trans Services Inc., Home Healthcare Laboratory of America LLC, IDX Pathology Inc., Impact Genetics Corporation, Impact Genetics Inc., Kaleida LabCorp LLC, Lab Delivery Service of New York City Inc., LabCorp BVBA, LabCorp Belgium Holdings Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Canada) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (China) Inc., LabCorp Colorado Inc., LabCorp Development Company, LabCorp Employer Services Inc., LabCorp Health System Diagnostics LLC, LabCorp Indiana Inc., LabCorp Japan G.K., LabCorp Limited, LabCorp Michigan Inc., LabCorp Nebraska Inc., LabCorp Neon Ltd., LabCorp Neon Switzerland S.a.r.l., LabCorp Specialty Testing Billing Service Inc., LabCorp Specialty Testing Group Inc., LabCorp Staffing Solutions Inc., LabCorp Tennessee LLC, LabCorp UK Holdings Ltd., LabWest Inc., Laboratoire Bio-Medic Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America, Lifecodes Corporation, LipoScience Inc., Litholink Corporation, MEDTOX Scientific Inc., MNG Laboratories, MedAxio Insurance Medical Services GP Inc., MedAxio Insurance Medical Services LP, Medical Neurogenitics LLC, Medtox Diagnostics Inc., Medtox Laboratories Inc., Monogram Biosciences Inc., Monogram Biosciences UK Limited, Myriad Autoimmunes Vectra Testing Business, NWT Inc., National Genetics Institute, New Brighton Business Center LLC, New Imaging Diagnostics LLC, New Molecular Diagnostics Ventures LLC, Orchid Cellmark ULC, Ovia Health, PA Labs Inc., Paclab LLC, Path Lab Incorporated, Pathology Associates Medical Lab LLC, Pee Dee Pathology Associates Inc., Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc., Persys Technology Inc., Pixel by LabCorp, Princeton Diagnostic Laboratories of America Inc., Protedyne Corporation, SW/DL LLC, Saint Josephs-PAML LLC, Sequenom Biosciences (India) Pvt. Ltd., Sequenom Inc, Sequenom Inc., Tandem Labs Inc., Toxikon Corporation, Tri-Cities Laboratory LLC, Viro-Med Laboratories Inc., Visiun, and Yakima Medical Arts Inc.. Read More Harley-Davidson, Inc. manufactures and sells motorcycles. The company operates in two segments, Motorcycles and Related Products and Financial Services. The Motorcycles and Related Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including cruiser, touring, standard, sportbike, and dual models, as well as motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and related services. This segment sells its products to retail customers through a network of independent dealers, as well as e-commerce channels in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The Financial Services segment provides wholesale financing services, such as floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and parts and accessories; and retail financing services, including installment lending for the purchase of new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as well as point-of-sale protection products comprising motorcycle insurance, extended service contracts, and motorcycle maintenance protection. This segment also licenses third-party financial institutions that issue credit cards bearing the Harley-Davidson brand. Harley-Davidson, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Sherwin-Williams Company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells paints, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. The Americas Group segment offers architectural paints and coatings, and protective and marine products, as well as OEM product finishes and related products for architectural and industrial paint contractors, and do-it-yourself homeowners. The Consumer Brands Group segment supplies a portfolio of branded and private-label architectural paints, stains, varnishes, industrial products, wood finishes products, wood preservatives, applicators, corrosion inhibitors, aerosols, caulks, and adhesives to retailers and distributors. The Performance Coatings Group segment develops and sells industrial coatings for wood finishing and general industrial applications, automotive refinish products, protective and marine coatings, coil coatings, packaging coatings, and performance-based resins and colorants. It serves retailers, dealers, jobbers, licensees, and other third-party distributors through its branches and direct sales staff, as well as through outside sales representatives. The company has operations primarily in the North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As of February 17, 2022, it operated approximately 5,000 company-operated stores and facilities. The Sherwin-Williams Company was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Telefonica Brasil S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides mobile and fixed telecommunications services to residential and corporate customers in Brazil. Its fixed line services portfolio includes local, domestic long-distance, and international long-distance calls; and mobile portfolio comprises voice and broadband internet access through 3G, 4G, 4.5G, and 5G as well as mobile value-added services and wireless roaming services. The company also offers data services, including broadband and mobile data services. In addition, it provides pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology, IPTV, and cable, as well as pay-per-view and video on demand services; network services, such as rental of facilities; other services comprising internet access, private network connectivity, computer equipment leasing, extended service, caller identification, voice mail, cellular blocker, and others; wholesale services, including interconnection services to users of other network providers; and digital services, such as entertainment, cloud, and security and financial services. Further, the company offers multimedia communication services, which include audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, texts, and other information, as well as sells devices, such as smartphones, broadband USB modems, and other devices. Additionally, it provides telecommunications solutions and IT support to various industries, such as retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, government, etc. It markets and sells its solutions through own stores, dealers, retail and distribution channels, door-to-door sales, and outbound tele sales. The company was formerly known as Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A. - TELESP and changed its name to Telefonica Brasil S.A. in October 2011. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. After spending a few weeks in Wisconsin during January, I, too, felt I needed a calf jacket wherever I went. Maybe I was just being dramatic, but I felt much more comfortable the more layers I had on. Once I made my way back to a warmer climate, the winter coat, scarf, hat, and mittens were no longer needed. In fact, they made me feel worse. The same can be said for calves as temperatures begin to rise. A calfs thermal neutral zone ranges from 32 to 78F. Any temperature below or above that can cause stress for the animal, making it harder for them to maintain body weight. It is also important to factor in wind chill, as a breeze can also affect a calfs body temperature. Newborn calves in particular do not have enough body fat to maintain their own body temperature. Calf jackets can serve as protection from the winter elements and help with average daily gain. However, once things start to warm up, jackets may need to be shed. When using calf jackets, it is important to monitor how snug the jacket fits. A jacket that is too tight can cause irritation and create raw spots on the animals skin. Make sure that jackets are adjusted as the calf continues to grow. Wet jackets can also lead to problems. Moisture trapped beneath the jacket can cause skin irritation and health problems. Keeping jackets clean and dry is a good management practice. Jackets left on during warmer weather can cause animals to overheat. With the inconsistent weather that spring brings, the rise and fall of temperatures can lead to respiratory problems. Determine a temperature in which you feel calf jackets are no longer needed. On our farm, we like to take calf jackets off when temperatures consistently range from 35 to 40F. Keep in mind that well bedded hutches can help keep calves warm if temperatures drop overnight. Though it is still probably too early take off calf jackets in most parts of the country, it wont be long before they become unnecessary. I needed lots of layers while living in Wisconsin, but after moving back to Oklahoma, a light sweatshirt will keep me comfortable. Keep these calf jacket tips in mind as the weather starts to warm up in your neck of the woods. Taylor Leach grew up on her familys dairy farm in Linwood, Kansas. Leach graduated with an associates degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College and now attends Oklahoma State University, majoring in animal science and agriculture communications. On campus, she is a member of the dairy club and also works on the university's dairy farm. Leach was the 2016 Hoards Dairyman summer editorial intern. Ben Zhang 17 to receive Jefferson Prize in Natural Philosophy Jefferson Prize winner Ben Zhang 17 is a chemist, a blogger and a polyglot who is translating an art history book into Chinese. He could leave William & Mary as first author on as many as three scientific papers. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption Ben Zhang has always been interested in complex systems. He began by collecting maps of the intricate street system of his home city in China, Yangzhou, which dates to 486 BCE. My city was complicated in terms of its street structure, because its ancient, so I had maps of all that, he explained. I came into William & Mary looking for a class that dealt with maps or had something to do with the Earth. So he enrolled in Reading the Earth, a freshman seminar taught by Chancellor Professor of Geology Heather Macdonald, an incredible mentor who encouraged me to get deeper into earth sciences. Zhang is this years recipient of William & Marys Thomas Jefferson Prize in Natural Philosophy. Endowed by the trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, the award recognizes excellence in the sciences and mathematics in an undergraduate student and commemorates Jeffersons relationship with Professor William Small. The namesake of the William Small Physical Laboratory, Prof. Small was Jeffersons science and mathematics tutor at William & Mary. The Jefferson Prize is one of the awards traditionally bestowed on Charter Day, which commemorates the founding of the institution in 1693. Zhang 17 will graduate as a chemistry major with an impressive list of academic and research accomplishments. He enjoyed geology and even completed all the courses necessary for the geology major, but the idea of doing honors projects in two departments caused him to abandon, reluctantly, plans for a double major in chemistry and geology. But geology has left its mark. From geology, I started to appreciate complex systems, how convoluted a system can be and how a scientists endeavor is not in seeking the ultimate truth, Zhang said. Thats not what scientists are interested in: scientists are interested in explaining and coming up with a narrative about natural processes and then applying that knowledge. He has made significant progress on his own scientific narrative in the laboratory of Elizabeth Harbron, professor of chemistry. Zhang joined a project that was investigating properties of conjugated polymer nanoparticles that would fluoresce light up when exposed to visible light. In a letter of nomination for the Jefferson Prize, Harbron outlined how Zhang took over leadership of the project, an immediately took the project to a new level, designing and executing a series of experiments. It is not unusual for outstanding students to get to this point in a project but then leave the deep data analysis to me. Not Ben!, Harbron wrote. He drilled deeply into the data on his own. Even when I would perform a separate analysis that he hadnt seen before, he would reproduce it on his own to make sure he understood it and would then often figure out a way to take it a step further. Zhang is first author on a paper on the work that appeared in the journal Chemical Communications. The paper is the first to demonstrate off-to-on fluorescence switching with visible light in the class of nanoparticles they studied. From the way these molecules interact with light, we can learn a lot about their structural and energetic properties, Zhang explained. We can string different variables together and make mathematical rules and see how they evolve over time. In preparing the paper, both Harbron and Zhang realized that there was a lot more work to be done on their polymer study. They planned to do two additional papers, a second that explains the mechanism more fully and a third that addresses potential applications, including introducing their unique, switchable system into cells. Right now were in the fogland, Ill call it, of working on the theory paper the second paper, Zhang said. Harbron says she expects the second and third papers to emerge from the fogland and be accepted for publication with Zhang as first author by the time he graduates or shortly thereafter. Zhang is more than just an accomplished researcher, and he notes that scientific analysis and synthesis is just one way in which we perceive the world. He joined Humans of William & Mary a month after the founding of the photoblog, which was inspired by the based on the popular Humans of New York initiative. Zhang became co-director of Humans of William & Mary in 2015. I sort of major in people as well, he explained. I love writing about thoughts, and my fundamental perception of the world kind of bleeds into science. Zhang started learning English at age 5 in China and he says immersion among his English-speaking peers allowed him to correct a few sounds and lose any remnants of an accent. Carey Bagdassarian, a fellow in the universitys Center for the Liberal Arts, used his his letter supporting Zhangs nomination for the Jefferson Prize to outline some of Zhangs non-science assets. Hes an accomplished photographer, a student of ancient and contemporary Chinese calligraphy, of linguistics and philosophy, Bagdassarian wrote. One afternoon, he gave me an hour-long, masterfully lucid explanation of the works of a Chinese poet, leaving me astounded. Ben came to this country from mainland China at 18 years old, and he speaks flawless English without an accent. His ear is that good. Zhang has not only mastered English, but became a deft enough Latinist to impress Georgia Irby, associate professor of classical studies at William & Mary. He did so well in the basic Latin 101-102 sequence that Irby brought Zhang into a by invitation only section for advanced classicists. Ben never missed a beat he could extrapolate unfamiliar vocabulary and piece together extremely complex Latin, Irby wrote. Ben was essentially doing advanced level Latin after two semesters. And not just the grammar. He reads the language beautifully, is sensitive to the literary devices that Latin authors employ, and was able to pick up on intertextuality (e.g., where Ovid echoes Vergil). Zhang is putting his linguistic skills to use in a project that involves translating an art history text into Chinese. Hes done with the first draft of the translation of Art is More, by Jan Laurens Siesling. I need to go back and revise, he said. My understanding of art history, and my approach to the language that I use in the book, have evolved a lot over the past year. I used a lot of classical Chinese phrases in the first draft and I want to go back over it and make it more accessible to the contemporary native Chinese speaker. His post-W&M plans include pursuing a chemistry Ph.D., specializing in theoretical chemistry, in a program to be determined. But, Zhang also said he wants to keep writing, a combination of interests that will help govern his choice of universities. One of my criteria is that I want to go to a school that has an East Asian library. Most of the major schools do. Id like to be more immersed in Chinese literature, he said. There is an attrition in my Chinese skill that makes me nervous. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page A hoodoo is a slender and tall spire of rock protruding from the base of an arid drainage basin or badland. Hoodoos portray one of the unique geological landforms formed through erosion processes. The formations are also referred as fairy chimneys, tent rocks, or earth pyramids and have been sighted in different regions of the world. Formation Of A Hoodoo The geological processes that lead to the hoodoos formation begin action on one giant plateau. In a desert setting, layers of soft rock including mudstone and tuff made of consolidated volcanic ash are overlain by a layer of durable rock such as limestone or basalt. Weather conditions from the wind, low temperatures, to rain cause the weathering of the soft layers on the side. Cracks occurring on the top layer enable water to trickle to the soft layer and cause weathering as well. Rainwater reacts with carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid which erodes the limestone on the top and causes cracks. As the weathering processes continue, a small cap of the hard rock remains to protect a cone of the soft layer below and a hoodoo is formed. The soft layer is however continuously eroded, and the formation eventually ceases to exist. Appearance Of A Hoodoo Hoodoos have a lumpy and bulging appearance due to the weathering processes that lead to their formation. The landform resembles a pillar or a column except with an uneven form. Hoodoos range in size from 1.5 to 45 meters, and their color depends on the minerals they contain. Where Are Hoodoos Found? Hoodoos primarily occur in arid regions with sporadic heavy rainfall. The landforms also form in proximity to steep slopes. The western area of the US is dotted with these landforms. The State of Utah takes the crown of the region with the largest concentration of hoodoos on the planet. The landforms are preserved in the Bryce Canyon National Park. Hoodoos in this park vary in color from white, red, to orange and can be as tall as 200 meters. The hoodoos in the park form spectacular natural amphitheaters popular with tourists. A few hundred miles away from the park is a collection of other spectacular hoodoos enclosed in the Goblin Valley State Park. Outside of the US, hoodoos appear prominently in Turkey, specifically in Goreme, Cappadocia region. The hoodoos here resemble giant mushrooms since they are formed from volcanic rock. Yehliu Cape of northern Taiwan boasts a collection of water-eroded hoodoos, the most famous of them being the Queens Head. It is claimed that it resembles Queen Elizabeth I. A stretch of badland in San Juan County, New Mexico is home to strangely formed hoodoos which appear to defy gravity. Another collection of hoodoos in the country is located in Kasha-Katuwe. In Europe, the tallest hoodoos reside in South Tyrol, Italy. These formations appear spiky and are carved out from moraine clay soil. avolja Varos in Serbia has 202 hoodoos which are accorded protection by the state. Other countries which also feature hoodoos are Canada, France, and New Zealand. Significance Of Hoodoos Hoodoos portray excellent examples of the geological process. The landforms provide scientists with identifiable and tangible illustrations to explain such processes as erosion and weathering. The hoodoos often strange formations have engaged the imagination of scientists as well as artists across the world. The landforms existence has also promoted tourism in the regions where they are located. 7. Fruska Gora - Fruska Gora is a mountain located in north Srem in Serbia and is often nicknamed as the jewel of Serbia due to the beautiful landscape of the region. The Danube River flows to the north of the mountain. The mountain stretches for about 80 km from east to west and 15 km from south to north. The 539-meter Crveni Cot is the highest peak in the mountain. Wine making is a popular activity in the region. 6. Vratna Gates - Three natural stone bridges constitute the Prerasts of Vratna. Two of these bridges lie in the vicinity of the medieval Vratna monastery, and the other is farther away. Marked hiking trails lead to these stone bridges. Due to its scenic beauty and photogenic landscape, the Prerasts of Vratna is regarded as one of the Seven Serbian Wonders of Nature. 5. Iron Gate (erdap) - The Iron Gates is a gorge located on the River Danube where it forms the border between Romania and Serbia. The gorge encompasses a 134 km route and hosts two hydroelectric dams and power stations. The erdap national park lies on the Serbian side of the Iron Gates gorge while the Iron Gates natural park lies on the Romanian side. 4. Tara National Park - Tara is a mountainous landscape that is part of the Dinaric Alps located in western Serbia. The mountain stands 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea-level. The entire landscape of Tara is a picturesque one with densely forested slopes, clearings and meadows, deep ravines, limestone caves, and steep cliffs. A part of the landscape was declared as Tara's national park in 1981. The national park is a popular tourist attraction encompassing 220 square km and altitudes varying between 250 and 1,500 meters above sea level. Roe deer, chamois, griffon vulture, peregrine falcon, black grouse, wolves, lynxes, etc., constitute the fauna of the national park. 3. avolja Varos - avolja Varos is an interesting and unique rock formation located on the Radan Mountain in south Serbia. 202 exotic formations nicknamed as earth pyramids form the landscape of the area. The formations are about 2 to15 meters tall and 4 to 6 meters wide at the base. Strong soil erosion triggered by intense volcanic activity in the past led to the creation of these rock formations. Recognizing the geological significance of the avolja Varos, the government of Serbia declared the site as a major natural monument and today it is also one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Serbia. A natural spring with a high mineral concentration flows below the rock formations. 2. Uvac - The Uvac is a river rising beneath the Pester plateau and the Golija mountain. The river then flows across southwestern Serbia into Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is thus a trans-boundary river which finally empties into the Lim River. The rivers forms the boundary between the two countries for a distance of 10 km. The meandering river snaking its way through the mountainous route in the upper course provides plenty of opportunities to tourists to capture breathtaking views of the landscape in their cameras. 1. Drina with spring - The Drina River is a 346 km long river that forms a part of the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The river is the longest karst river in the Dinaric Alps region. It is the Sava Rivers longest tributary and part of the Danube Rivers watershed region. What Is The RAMSAR Convention? The RAMSAR Convention is an international treaty aimed towards the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. The Convention was signed in the city of Ramsar in Iran where it derives its name in the year 1971. Representatives from the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP) meet after every three years to supervise the work done by the convention and to upgrade the Parties ability to carry out its objectives. In 2015 Punta del Este, Uruguay held the most recent conference dubbed COP12 whereas COP13 will take place in 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Ramsars List of Wetlands Of International Importance By March 2016 there were approximately 2,231 sites in the Ramar list of wetlands of international importance. The sites in the list cover over 2.1 million square kilometers. The United Kingdom is the country that has the highest number of Ramar sites standing at 170. Bolivia is the country with the largest area of listed wetlands covering an estimated area of over 140,000 square kilometers. International Partnership And Other Partners There are 18 Transboundary Ramsar Sites and 15 Regional Ramsar Initiatives that cover Asia, South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean regions. The Convention works jointly with other international organizations referred to as the International Organization Partners (IOPs). There are six IOPs and they include; Wetlands International, WWF International, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Birdlife International, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These organizations encourage and assist the Conventions work through financial support, providing professional and technical advice to aid in the implementation of field studies. The IOPs also regularly participate as observing members of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel during COP meetings. Other Ramsar partners include; UN agencies such as UNESCO, UNEP, and UNDP, biodiversity related conventions, a number of Non-governmental organizations that deal with nature conservancy, private companies, and project funding bodies including financial institutions. Bodies That Were Founded As A Result Of The Convention Since the establishment of the Ramsar Convention, there has been a total of four bodies that were established to assist in the operation of Convention. The first one is the Conference of Parties (COP) which is the main body in the convention that governs all nations that have ratified the treaty. The Standing Committee is an intercessional governing branch of the Convention which acts as COPs representative between the triennial meetings. The Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) is a branch of the Convention responsible for providing technical and scientific guidance to the Conventions other bodies. The Secretariat is the branch of the Convention that is in charge of carrying out the daily coordination of activities that are run by the Convention. The Secretariat is situated at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. The Ramsar Convention policies are implemented by the consistent partnership with other organizations and the support from its Partners. The World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2nd of every year which marks the date the Convention of Wetlands was adopted on February 2nd, 1971. World Wetlands day was founded to help raise awareness of the significance of wetlands to the ecosystem and humanity; it was first celebrated in 1997 and was celebrated by 59 countries in 2015. Robert and Victoria Bance By: Wayne Morin WorldWideWeirdNews.com A jealous husband flew into a rage after seeing his wife talking to another man at a bar, according to police in the United Kingdom. Plymouth police said that they have arrested 53-year-old Robert Bance, after being accused of stabbing his wife 16 times, causing her death. In court, Bance pleaded guilty to killing 37-year-old Victoria Bance. Robert has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 15 years. According to the police investigation, the husband and wife went out to drink at several bars until they became extremely intoxicated. At one point, Robert saw Victoria speaking to another man, and he flew into a rage. He grabbed her belonging and stormed out of the bar. Victoria went home, where she began arguing with Robert. Robert grabbed a knife and stabbed her 16 times in the chest. He then called police and confessed to stabbing his wife. Victoria was rushed to the Derriford Hospital, where she died of the stab wounds. Woman eating apple (illustration) By: Tanya Malhotra WorldWideWeirdNews.com A man is angry after customs agents at an airport in Fiji, gave him a large fine for being in possession of an apple. Douglas Korman, who is a successful businessman in the United States, said that he flew to Fiji, in order to study a potential business deal in the Pacific Harbor. Korman was excited to visit the country, but his enthusiasm was quickly put to rest when he had his first encounter with the authorities in the country. When the businessman was on the plane, he was handed a customs form to fill out. Korman had difficulty reading the form due to the small font and dim lighting on the plane. He signed the form in order to be able to enter the country. When he arrived at the Nadi International Airport, he was questioned by customs agents. Before he was let go, the agents asked him if he had any food. Korman said that he is in the possession of an apple. He pulled out his red apple and handed it over to the agents. The agents slapped him with a fine of $400 for failing to report the apple on the customs form. Korman was given 7 days to pay his fine. Bala Chinda and Jessica McGraa By: Chan Yuan WorldWideWeirdNews.com A man was shocked when he received a call, informing him that his wife was killed by her client while she was prostituting herself. 37-year-old Jessica McGraa of Scotland, was killed by the son of a Nigerian Diplomat. McGraa, a mother of one 8-year-old boy, lived a double life. She told her family that she was traveling for her successful business selling hair extensions. However, in reality, she made the money by charging A1,800 ($2,200) a night working as an escort. One day, she meet with a client, Bala Chinda, 26, at an apartment in Aberdeen. Chinda, who is from Nigeria, arrived in Scotland to study at Robert Gordonas University a few weeks before he killed the woman during a dispute over her fee. Chinda was found guilty of raping and murdering McGraa, who suffered blunt force injuries to her chest, jaw, and chin. Chinda also stole her two cellphones and destroyed his own SIM card to get rid of evidence when he left the woman to die while she was naked from the waist down. McGraaas husband of 10 years, Gareth, 57, said: aNo matter what Jessica was doing behind my back, she didnat deserve to die the way she did, no woman does.a Gareth also said that he does not regret bringing his wife to the United Kingdom from Nigeria, because she gave him their beautiful son, whom he is now raising on his own. Chinda was sentenced to up to 26 years in prison. 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 An 18-year-old man was arrested for assaulting his 83-year-old grandfather on Monday morning. The incident occurred just after midnight, when police responded to a call of an assault in the 3900 Block of Everett. When authorities arrived, they discovered that Jacob Wiebelhaus, 18, tipped over a recliner where his grandfather was sitting. Wiebelhaus then grabbed a clothes hanger and hit the grandfather a number of times. Wiebelhaus mother attempted to intervene, but was unsuccessful. The grandfather was transported to the hospital with a nasal fracture and internal bleeding in the head. The reason for the assault is still unknown, but according to police, Wiebelhaus said its time for him to go during the incident. Warning Over A483 Bypass Roadworks Drivers Encountered This Morning This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 23rd, 2017 Motorists are being warned of long delays on the A483 with essential drainage works being undertaken throughout this week with many already encountering them this morning. The roadworks, which are taking place between Junctions 4 and 5 (Ruthin Road and Mold Road interchange) started this morning however appeared to catch many motorists by surprise. The works will be undertaken during the day under lane restrictions. Earlier this morning that particular section of the A483 was brought to a standstill, with a broken down car and the lane restrictions resulting in long delays for motorists. At the time of writing delays on are already in place along the A483 towards Rhostyllen and on the A525 Ruthin Road slip road. Additionally resurfacing works are to be undertaken by NMWTRA between junctions 5 and 6 (Mold Road and Gresford Roundabout), scheduled to commence from Monday 6th February which will take approximately eight weeks. These works will require 24 hour lane restrictions. Motorists are being advised that delays are likely while the works are undertaken and should allow extra time for their journey. The works are being undertaken by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Agency with details of the roadworks only being released by Wrexham Council to us this afternoon after translations delays. Welsh Governments Traffic Wales, and the Trunk Road Agency have not been in touch. In response to a brewing competency tweet earlier today we replied: Wrexham Council to Crackdown on Dog Fouling & Issue No Nonsense Message to Irresponsible Owners This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 23rd, 2017 Wrexham Council has pledged to continue to crackdown on those who refuse to pick up after their dog fouls. The no-nonsense message to irresponsible dog owners has been issued by a senior councillor following reports of dog fouling hotspots across the county borough. Dog fouling has been an ongoing issue across Wrexham for sometime, with many often criticising the irresponsibility of those who allow their dogs to foul on pavements and country parks. In a bid to tackle to problem, Wrexham Council say that enforcement officers will continue to work throughout the county borough out of hours, particularly in areas where dog fouling is brought to their attention. Kingdom, on the Councils behalf, will patrol as many of the reported areas as possible including out of hours in many cases which will either deter or catch those who still refuse to pick up after their dog has fouled. Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said those caught not clearing up after their dogs will be fined for the irresponsible behaviour. He continued: This is our no-nonsense message to dog foulers. Not picking up after your dog has fouled is socially and environmentally unacceptable and we will be looking for those responsible at all hours of the day. Those who are caught will be fined for their irresponsible behaviour. Dog fouling is one of the most emotive issues that residents bring to my attention and I am pleased that the enforcement action Kingdom officers has been taking on behalf of the Council is being welcomed by residents, responsible dog owners and councillors. Cllr Bithell added: We intend to continue our no nonsense and zero tolerance approach of fining offenders and will be making even more efforts to fine those responsible. During December 2016 enforcement officers issued eight 75.00 fines to irresponsible dog owners. Residents are asked to continue to report the issue by emailing contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk with details of where it is happening and at what time of day. The information will be treated confidentially. Millions of people participated in demonstrations throughout the United States and the world Saturday in a powerful and unprecedented show of opposition to the administration of US President Donald Trump. The protests were the biggest demonstrations coordinated on a global scale since the 2003 protests in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, with some estimates calling it the largest one-day protest in US history. Protests took place in over 600 locations on every continent. The rally in Washington DC drew more than 500,000 people, twice the reported size of Trumps inauguration crowd the day before, with an equal number marching in Los Angeles. An estimated 250,000 gathered at the rally in downtown Chicago, while as many as 175,000 people joined the march in Boston. At least 400,000 people marched in New York City, home of Trump, as well as 90,000 in St. Paul, Minnesota, at least 75,000 in Madison, Wisconsin, and 60,000 in Atlanta, Georgia. Internationally, demonstrations took place in Mexico City, Paris, Berlin, Prague and Sydney. Up to 100,000 people marched in London, as well as in the British cities of Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The World Socialist Web Site has extensive coverage of the protests and presented an initial report on Sunday. We will be providing additional reports and interviews over the next few days. Washington, DC The massive demonstration in Washington DC flooded the citys transit system, and the citys transit authority noted its subway system had reached crush capacity. The organizers of the DC demonstration, which they called a womens march, and speakers at the protest portrayed the danger of a Trump presidency solely on the basis of race and gender. By contrast, those interviewed by the WSWS displayed a profound and genuine hatred of Trumps incoming fascistic and war-bound administration, and for the entire political system that paved the way for his rise to power. Ed, a program director for a federal contractor, said, What happened with the election was wrong. This is a strong statement to the new president that the election was not legitimate and the Republican Party has shown it has no right to govern. I am depressed and very disappointed in the American electoral system. It is antiquated, and empowers small states. Asked about his thoughts on inequality in the election, he said, It is beyond the tipping point. It started with Reagan and the right wing has control over the dialogue on these issues. The extremely rich demonize the more disadvantaged sections of the society. They want to make education worse, and make the environment disaster worse. We cant have a situation where eight people have the same wealth as over 3 billion people. Jack, a student at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, said, This whole election has exposed the failure of our democratic system, and that corporations and financial interests permeate throughout politics. The politicians feel they know what is best, and they act like they have a divine mandate to do whatever is in their own interests. Our country is controlled by the 1 percent. As horrible as Trump is, this is the first time we saw working-class people resisting. The liberals are shocked, but they forgot about working-class people. That is why Trump could win. I hope something like this demonstration will empower people like they did in the 1960s, like the antiwar marches did. After some discussion with a WSWS reporter about the USs current preparations for war against Russia and China, he replied, It is crazy that there is this subtle warmongering [with the accusations of Russian hacking]. China and Russia are big superpowers, but they are not an immediate threat. The US is always pointing the finger outward, but the problems are inside the country. On the day of the inauguration there was renewed police repression of activists at Standing Rock. Where is the coverage of Standing Rock, or lead poisoning in California and Flint? Everyone is getting misled by the media. Boston More than 150,000 people joined the march in Boston, far outpacing the organizers expectations. The march was possibly the biggest protest on the Boston Common since the Vietnam War-era demonstrations. The featured speaker was Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who was joined by other Democratic politicians on the speakers platform. While Warrens focus was on the Democrats prospects in the 2018 and 2020 elections, the signs and sentiments of marchers indicated a deeply held concern about the policies of the new Trump administration, including threats to social and democratic rights and the danger of war. I think this is bigger than the inauguration, Samantha said, and I think that says something. I think people want equality and peace. And thats why I think everyone is here, people of all races and colors and ages. I feel love here. I feel hope, although I know a lot of people are losing that. As President, Trump is seen as the face of our country. Its sad thats what the world is going to think of us now. This [pointing to the protest] is what the world should think of us. It shouldnt be an ignorant misogynistic man. Asked about Trumps inaugural address, Samantha said, I think its a nationalistic statement to say, We are first. I mean, we are connected in every which way to every other country. Borders arent real. So I dont think it was a threat of war, but I think that he doesnt see the world as big as we see the world. The World Socialist Web Site spoke to Natalie and Fran at the Boston protest about Trumps inauguration. I watched the whole speech, Fran said. Hes an imbecile, hes a mad man, he is Hitler. And its not even America first, Natalie said. Its him first. If you took I and me out of his conversation, the man would have nothing to say and we all could be breathing a sigh of relief. Its very frightening and its very sad. Fran added, There are people that are so far above us, that are keeping us slaves. We think were free, but we are not free. Natalie said the message of the march was: Wake up, wake up, America. People are going to be in for a big shock. I dont understand how you can feel so desperate and so marginalized that you would believe somebody like that. Why would anyone believe that someone with that lifestyle, who has been rich his whole life, would even care about you? Little do they realize that theyre going to the showers, Fran said, referring to the Nazi gas chambers. We have the power, Natalie said, but we just dont use it. Its going to take really tough times to make people realize that they have to stick together. Thats the only way out of this. The Boston protest was one of a number throughout New England, including one in Northampton, Massachusetts, which drew about 2,000. Speeches and protest signs there overwhelmingly addressed worries about gender and sexual discrimination, with various slogans denouncing hate. Pittsburgh There were two protest rallies held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. About 10,000 people took part in the downtown rally and another 2,000 people joined a rally in the East Liberty neighborhood. Ryan, Anna, Alena and Brian along with their children Ava and Ezra who took part in the downtown rally explained why they came. We are here to support womens rights. We were really upset with the results of the election, Anna said. We brought our kids and entire household here to show that we dont support what Trump wants to do. We are excited to be part of a whole movement. We want to stop Trump from taking steps backwards. He wants to defund Planned Parenthood. Abortion rates are at their lowest rate because people have access to contraception. Cutting Planned Parenthood and making abortions illegal again will only drive poor women into illegal back alley abortions while the rich will still be able to get them. Bryan said, The election was shocking when it happened. There will be no option for the poor. Trump is pushing the classes further apart. They are doing a lot of things that are just helping the wealthiest while hurting the poor. Look at his cabinet; they are nothing but billionaires. We are here so the people have a voice, were here to take up issues of the common person who need health care and public education. What do Trump and the rich care? They have the money to send their kids to private schools and get the best health care. Blocking the borders is not what we are about, Ryan said. People who come here are people who only want to have a job and support their families. People need to be able to do that. At the East Liberty rally in Pittsburgh, Drek, a student, focused on the role of the Democrats in paving the way for a Trump presidency. Obama did so much in his presidency to invalidate the legitimacy of law within the United States, and now thats being handed to Trump. Hes getting the deportations Obama carried out, hes getting the NSA, hes getting a drone program like Obama had. The big thing that scares me is that hes inheriting eight wars right now. Were in Afghanistan still, the longest war in US history. The country was really looking for a change eight years ago. We elected somebody who really promised a lot of change, and basically gave us eight more years of George Bush. In both economic and foreign policy, it really ended up being like Bush. He extended the Bush tax cuts indefinitely; he didnt close Guantanamo Bay. Hes deported more immigrants than any other president. He ended habeas corpus. Thats literally the foundation of world democracy over the last 800 years. Asked his thoughts on building a party of the working class, Drek responded, I dont think that the Democratic Party is the answer. I agree that there needs to be some other form of party structure. Sophia continued, I was so glad to vote for a woman for president, but I didnt fully agree with her politically, I dont agree with Donald Trump politically. I dont believe there was somebody who stands for who I am, as a young female student artist. It was upsetting to have that be my first election to vote in. Asked why Trump won the election, Bella, a student at University of Pittsburgh also working as a waitress, argued, Right now the Democratic Party is failing to represent the people who identify with the Democratic Party, or have previously through history. Im a registered Democrat, but I feel like the Democratic Party in no way represents my personal views, and I know a lot of people feel that way. Aubyn, a drama student at Carnegie Mellon University, stated her reasons for opposing Trump: Im opposed to the climate-denying, the sexism, the racism, the xenophobia. The Trump administration doesnt stand for anything except hate. She added, I would love to break the two-party system, but its going to be a struggle. Thomas, a graduate student in philosophy, explained, Im here because we got sold out, not in November, but this spring at the DNC [Democratic National Convention]. People focus on that there was a hack on the DNC [Democratic National Committee], not the content of the leaks. They focus on this shadow game, saying Putin and the Russians hacked it. Even if that were true, the content is still damning, and theres no proof. He added, The crazy thing to me is that you have Bush, who everybody was opposed to on the left. Then you have Obama come in and further his wars. Hes dropped more bombs on more countries than Bush did. He took the spying game of the United States to a whole other level. He took the drone program to a whole other level. He took domestic persecution of whistleblowers to a whole other level. Hes deported more immigrants than any other president in history. And yet the left is completely blind. Were happy to have a Trump hate fest, but we wont look critically at ourselves. Thats why Im here, because Im generally angry. Im half angry at all these people [at the rally], because if they were this vocal and this active six months ago, we would have had a Bernie Sanders candidate, and maybe we would have a Bernie Sanders president. And even Bernie Sanders sold us out. [Green Party presidential candidate] Jill Stein offered him a spot, and he said no and backed a corrupt candidate, a candidate that he knew was corrupt. Josh, another philosophy graduate student, also expressed opposition to the right-wing policies of the Democrats, Hillary sold us out in the 90s when she campaigned for the crime bill, for welfare reform. [Bill] Clinton was a Republican who called himself a Democrat. He added, Sanders voted for war in Afghanistan. He didnt vote for the invasion of Iraq, but every vote after that he voted for war. One day after US President Donald Trump delivered an ultranationalist speech at his inaguration, and even as millions in the US and hundreds of thousands more around the world were protesting his inauguration, Trump went to the Langley, Virginia headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency to pledge his love and 1,000 percent support. The bulk of his rambling remarks, however, consisted of an attack on the media. Trump first accused the press of fabricating a feud between his transition team and the intelligence agencies and then charged it with deliberately underreporting the turnout for his inauguration the previous day. The new administrations open feud with the corporate-controlled media underscores the degree of conflict and tension within the state as Trump takes office. Trumps anger is directed in the first instance against an utterly corrupt and subservient corporate-controlled press, which is rightly held in contempt by broad sections of the population because of its role as a purveyor of government lies and propaganda. The new government, a direct instrument of the financial oligarchy, is nevertheless out to further muzzle the media in order to carry through a violent attack on the democratic rights and social conditions of the working class and prepare bigger and bloodier wars internationally. And the reason youre my first stop, Trump told the audience of some 400 CIA employees, is that, as you know, I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on earth they sort of made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community. Just ten days before, Trump had used his first postelection press conference to accuse the CIA of leaking a report claiming that the Kremlin had a dossier of compromising information on him. He compared the CIAs alleged leak to the tactics of Nazi Germany. This was a high point in a months-long public conflict between Trump and the bulk of the intelligence establishment over official claims of Russian government intervention in the 2016 election, allegedly aimed at undermining Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and tipping the vote to Trump. Spearheaded politically by the Democratic Party and the Clinton campaign, and promoted by most of the corporate media, the McCarthyite-style campaign portrayed Trump as a stooge of Russian President Vladimir Putin because he talked of seeking improved relations with the Kremlin. This warmongering agitation, carried out without any factual substantiation of Russian meddling in the election, was initially aimed at attacking Trump from the right and creating the conditions for a Clinton administration to sharply escalate US military preparations against Russia. After Trumps unexpected election victory, the campaign was revived in an attempt to block any rapprochement by the incoming government with Moscow. Despite the complicity of the media in this reactionary campaign, Trumps attempt to portray his feud with the CIA as a media invention is a patent lie. In Langley, he followed up this charge with a harangue against the press for allegedly underestimating the turnout for the inauguration in order to discredit his administration. He estimated the attendance at a million, a million and a half people, an absurdly inflated figure refuted by aerial photographs showing a far smaller crowd than for Barack Obamas 2009 inauguration and by Washington Metro statistics pointing to a crowd of about 250,000. Saying we caught them in a beauty of a lie, he declared ominously, And I think theyre going to pay a big price. He then made much of an inaccurate report published Friday by Time magazine, and quickly retracted, that Trump had moved a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. out of the Oval Office. Several hours later, the new White House held an, if anything, even more bizarre event. Trump press secretary Sean Spicer called a news conference in the White House briefing room at which he angrily attacked the press corps for lying about the inauguration turnout and all but accused it of sedition. After lashing out for some ten minutes, spouting a series of falsehoods about the attendance at the previous days event, he turned on his heels and walked out, refusing to take questions from the stunned reporters. At neither appearance was any acknowledgment made of the unprecedented character and massive scale of the anti-Trump demonstration taking place a few blocks away and the hundreds of others taking place across the country and internationally. Declaring Fridays turnout to be the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe,a complete fabricationSpicer added, These attempts to lessen the enthusiasm of the inauguration are shameful and wrong. He then accused the media of sowing division with deliberately false reporting in an effort to undermine the new president, whose address was about unifying the country. Theres been a lot of talk in the media about the responsibility to hold Donald Trump accountable, he warned, and Im here to tell you that it goes two ways. We are going to hold the press accountable as well. This was followed up by further threats against the press by Trump spokespeople who appeared on the Sunday morning news interview programs. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told Fox News Sunday that The media, from day one, has been talking about delegitimizing the election, talking about the Russians, talking about everything you can imagine, except the fact that we need to move this country forward. He continued: Im saying theres an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president, and we are not going to sit around and let it happen. Were going to fight back tooth and nail every day, and twice on Sunday. Top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway reinforced the attack in an appearance on NBC News Meet the Press. Speaking of Trump, she declared, He has just absorbed an unprecedenteddeluge of negative criticism and coverage thats frankly unfair and a little bit dangerous to our democracy. In relation to press accounts of Spicers performance, she said, It is completely irresponsible, if not worse, for members of the media to be calling our press secretary a liar or worse She called Spicers lies alternative facts and followed with a direct threat: If we are going to keep referring to our press secretary in those type of terms, I think we are going to have to rethink our relationship here. Cowardly to its core and thoroughly bribed by the corporate elite, the establishment press is incapable of offering a principled defense of freedom of the press and speech. Nor will the Democrats oppose Trumps assault on democratic rights. This has already been demonstrated by the attempts of leading Democrats to attack Trumps appearance at CIA headquarters from the right. The New York Times, which functions as the unofficial house organ of the Democratic Party, managed to incorporate an attack on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in its coverage of Trumps appearance, writing: He did not mention his apparent willingness to believe Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, who is widely detested at the CIA, over his own intelligence agencies. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, and Charles Schumer, the Democratic Senate minority leader, both attacked Trump for showing insufficient deference to the CIA. Neither of them even raised the threat to press freedom and democratic rights posed by the administrations broadsides. Schiff said: While standing in front of the stairs representing CIA personnel who lost their lives in the service of their countryhallowed groundTrump gave little more than a perfunctory acknowledgment of their service and sacrifice. Schumer, appearing on ABC News This Week program, denounced Trump for raising the possibility of reducing sanctions against Russia. He touted legislation he is cosponsoring with Republican war hawks John McCain and Lindsey Graham to block the executive branch from easing the sanctions. As the January 22 and 29 Socialist Party (PS) presidential primary approached, 46 PS elected officials in the Lyon region signed a manifesto on January 17 announcing a boycott of the two rounds of the Socialist Party presidential primary. They are instead supporting the PS governments former economy minister, Emmanuel Macron, who is running an independent campaign. Socialist Party officials in other districts, including Maine-et-Loire and the Pas-de-Calais, also signalled that they would support Macron if there were not significant voter participation in the PS primary. The decision of various PS members to oppose a candidate of their own party testifies to the advanced state of crisis of the party, which fears a debacle in the April-May 2017 French presidential election. The Socialist Party has been profoundly discredited by President Francois Hollandes record of austerity, police-state measures and war. His approval rating has sunk to 4 percent in the polls, and Hollande is Frances most unpopular president of all time. All throughout their campaigns, however, the PS candidates hailed the Hollande administration, and all of them signalled that they would continue the broad outlines of the current administrations agenda. After a decade of deep austerity since the 2008 financial crisis and the escalating imperialist war drive in Mali, Libya and Syria, the Socialist Party is hated by a large majority of the French population. Whichever candidate wins the primary, polls indicate he is likely to obtain fewer votes than Macron, right-wing candidate Francois Fillon or Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front (FN). The candidacies of Benoit Hamon and Arnaud Montebourgwho are rising in the polls, with Hamon ultimately beating Valls in the first roundrepresent the Socialist Partys so-called rebel wing. In government and in their presidential campaigns, they weakly criticized the Hollande government, in order to win support and give a thin political cover to the PSs anti-worker, anti-democratic and pro-war policies. Hamon, who calls for the creation of a universal basic income and increases to public spending, represents those sections of the PS who want to keep close links with pseudo-left organizations like the New Anti-capitalist Party and the Left Front and create illusions that the PS can represent a left alternative in France. Hamon has called for discussionsshould he become the PS presidential candidatewith Jean-Luc Melenchon, the former leader of the Left Party (PG). A considerable fraction of the Socialist Party, which does not want to align itself with Hamon if he becomes the PS candidate after the primary, is preparing to back Macron. According to Hollandes associates, the president himself is considering ditching the PS and supporting Macron. Francois Hollande will probably support Macron, one of his friends, the lawyer Dominique Villemot, told the Journal du Dimanche, before distancing himself from the comment a few hours later. In this crisis, PS officials and members are trying to best position themselves for the post-election situation. Broad sections of the Socialist Party backing Hollande are using the predicted debacle to line up behind Macron. The latter, as Hollandes former economy minister, enjoys the support of considerable portions of the ruling elite and the media, who are promoting his campaign as an alternative to Fillon and Le Pen. Last April, as demonstrations against the PSs regressive labour law exploded across France, Macron launched his electoral movement, Onward March! He stressed his style as a young entrepreneur to give a false veneer of modernity and progressiveness to social attacks on the working class. Macron backs the European Union (EU), opposes the 35-hour workweek and calls for more law and order, including the creation of 10,000 state employees working in the police or the paramilitary gendarmerie. Faced with the crisis resulting from Brexit, Donald Trumps hostility to the EU and popular opposition to the EU across the continent, business circles are seeking a safe pair of hands to pursue the pro-austerity, pro-EU program of Hollande and prevent a collapse of the EU. Fillon and Le Pen are criticizing the EU from the right and seeking to establish closer links with Moscow. Macron seems thus to be the only candidate who conceivably could win the election and who also proposes a strategy of protecting the French bourgeoisies interests from within the EU. Macron is hardly the first PS-linked official to decide to create a semi-independent group. In 2009, Melenchon left the Socialist Party to create the Left Party (PG), which he tied up to the political and trade union apparatus of the Communist Party to create an effective electoral alliance. These tendencies emerging from the PS are not launching their movements because they are hostile to Hollandes anti-worker policies. If Macron is more explicitly hostile to workers and more openly favourable to the interests of the financial aristocracy, Melenchon, for his part, proclaimed the death of the left and socialism and the political irrelevance of the working class in 2014. The Socialist Partys turn towards Macron is not simply the product of the most recent crisis shaking the PS. The conception of a party of the bourgeois left working to defend capitalism in the post-World War II period is collapsing. The Socialist Party crisis and the turn of large sections of it toward Macron underscore the reactionary and pro-capitalist character of the PS, which can offer nothing to the working class. A strange and disturbing sequence took place behind President Donald Trump as he delivered his inaugural address Friday, which has gone virtually without comment in the news media. Early in his address, ten military officers walked up and stood behind the president so they would prominently appear with Trump in the camera shots beamed across the US and the world. After 45 seconds, a Marine officer prompts the sailors and soldiers to leave, and they walk away. The unusual incident prompted two comments during the New York Times live blog of the address. Jon Meacham, a presidential historian and the current executive editor at publisher Random House wrote, The military guard behind him seems unusual; am I right? Maggie Haberman, the New York Times White House correspondent, responded, Yes, and they have dispersed, but was it because it was raining? Meacham is presumably a well-informed commentator on inaugural protocol, having written a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Andrew Jackson in 2009 and a 2012 biography of Thomas Jefferson. However, the Times, the Washington Post and other major dailies and news networks never commented on the event further. The only mention of it was in the celebrity gossip web site TMZ and in the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom. The innocent explanation about protecting the president and his guests from the light drizzle does not seem credible. While the first Air Force officer comes down with an umbrella in hand at one minute into the speech, the other officers who appear 16 seconds later have nothing in their hands. What happened during that 16 seconds was not seen by most viewers because most networks cut away from Trump to view former President Obama nod approvingly as Trump praises Barack and Michelle Obama for their gracious aid during this transition. However, a more distant camera shot available on the web site of USA Today provides more detail. At one minute and 16 seconds into the speech, Trump turns around, at which point two marine sentries behind him open the doors of the west side of the capitol building to allow the group of 10 officers to walk down the steps to stand directly behind Trump. The group, consisting of mostly junior officers along with captains and higher-ranking officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, appeared just as Trump was saying, Todays ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to anotherbut we are transferring power from Washington, DC, and giving it back to you, the American People. For too long, a small group in our nations capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. At that point, the Marine officer tells the officers to disperse. In its report, TMZ wrote, Donald Trumps inaugural speech did not go off without a hitchthere was a clear fumble by the militarybut everyones clammed up. It notes that the officers stand motionless for 40 seconds when another man in uniform appears, clearly whispers something to the effect of, We gotta get outta here STAT [as soon as possible], and they quickly leave. Weve made a ton of calls to the military and no ones giving us an answer. Several of the people we spoke with say it was clearly a misstep for the guys to come out, but they wont say how it happened. One of the last people we spoke with simply said, No ones saying anything. The Daily Mail wrote, The unprecedented move saw military soldiers suddenly walk up unannounced behind the recently-pronounced US President Donald Trump. The President had just begun his address when several members of the armed forces in uniform walked up behind him and stood there stoically. Viewers could have gotten the impression that all was going as planned, if not for the appearance of an extra man in uniform. That man seemed to tell the soldiers something, prompting them to leave before the end of the speech. Trump didnt seem to notice anything out of the ordinary and carried on with his address. One explanation is that the prominent presence of the military was meant as a signal to Trumps political enemiesboth within the state and more broadly among the masses of people in the US and around the world opposing himthat he has the Pentagon and US military machine at his disposal. According to the Huffington Post, a member of Trumps transition team wanted to have tanks and missile launchers in the inaugural parade. They were legit thinking Red Square/North Korea-style parade, a source involved in inaugural planning told the Huffington Post, referring to massive military parades in Moscow and Pyongyang, typically seen as an aggressive display of muscle-flexing. The military turned down the request, the Huffington Post said, because Some were concerned about the optics of having tanks and missile launchers rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue. But they also worried that the tanks, which often weigh over 100,000 pounds, would destroy the roads. I could absolutely see structural support being a reason [not to use tanks], a Department of Defense official said. D.C. is built on a swamp to begin with. The ultranationalist and militarist speechnow broadly acknowledged to have been written by Trumps fascistic chief strategist Steve Bannon and senior advisor Stephen Millerincluded threats against radical Islam and virtually the entire world. He denounced those who had depleted our military and issued a chilling threat against political dissent, saying, At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. He added, There should be no fear... We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God. Trump has sought to build up support in the military ranks, bringing ex-generals into his cabinet and calling for a sharp expansion of military spendingto be paid for through slashing social spendingan expansion of troop levels and increase of the Navy fleet from its current 274 ships to 350. Minutes after being sworn in at the Capitol, Trump went to the Presidents Room to sign a series of papers, including legislation cleared by Congress last week that provides a waiver for General James N. Mattis from a legal requirement that military officers wait seven years before serving as defense secretary. Thousands of people joined anti-Trump protests in New Zealand on Saturday. About 1,000 protested in Auckland, 600 in Wellington and hundreds more in Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. Those in attendance included students, workers and retired people, among whom were immigrants from the US. The demonstrations were held in conjunction with marches across the US and internationally to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president. Millions of people are deeply concerned about the installation of the billionaire demagogue, whose administration includes generals responsible for war crimes and a collection of extreme right-wing ideologues and fascistic figures. Many of those in attendance were concerned about Trumps promotion of extreme nationalism and xenophobia, his anti-Muslim policies, as well as the growing danger of war and widening social inequality in the US and internationally. Some people spoken to by the WSWS said they held both the Democrats and the Republicans responsible for these conditions. However, the main speakersincluding trade union officials, environmentalists, journalists and members of the opposition Labour Party and the Greenslimited themselves to denunciations of Trump, particularly his sexist remarks and boasts about sexually assaulting women. Like the demonstrations in the US, the New Zealand events were billed as womens marches, in line with the Democratic Partys promotion of gender-related identity politics. The Wellington protest was advertised on social media using the slogan from Hillary Clintons campaign, Love Trumps Hate. In Myers Park, Auckland, the opening speaker, New Zealand-American journalist Tracey Barnett recalled the 2008 inauguration of Barack Obama, who she ludicrously described as Albert Einstein, George Clooney and Gandhi all rolled into one. She spoke of the need for respect, diversity, inclusiveness, compassion, and called on the New Zealand government to accept more refugees. None of the speakers mentioned the Obama administrations record of imperialist war abroad and its assault on workers wages and living standards at home. Labour Party MP Jacinda Ardern (campaigning for a by-election next month in the Mt Albert electorate) spoke briefly, pointing to fears in the US about Trumps anti-immigrant policies, increased police violence and attacks on birth control rights. Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter (originally from the US) told the Wellington rally that many Americans were alienated by politics because it was mainly older, white males shouting at each other. She glorified New Zealands political system for its greater diversity, including women and Maori politicians. The statements by Labour and the Greens are profoundly duplicitous. In fact, prior to the US election Labour Party leader Andrew Little told Radio NZ he wanted as strong a relationship with the US as possible and was prepared to work with Trump. The Greens have denounced Trump, calling his views abhorrent, but the party aims to become part of a Labour-led government and supports the military and intelligence alliance with the US. Labour and the Greens have joined the right-wing populist New Zealand First in calling for economic nationalist policies and cuts to immigration, similar to policies advocated by Trump. All three parties support the National Party governments increased military spending and its integration of New Zealand into the US encirclement and war preparations against China. Members of the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) spoke to protesters in Wellington and distributed the statement of the Socialist Equality Party (US): The inauguration of Donald Trump: A day that will live in infamy. Abby, an anthropologist originally from the US, had watched the protests unfold in the US after the election. She said she was concerned about environmental issues, education issues, womens rights, the rights of minorities, LGBTQ, its a broad spectrum. She thought the election of Trump would lead to the promotion of inequity and hate and bigotry. Its a tough thing to stand up against but I think its important. Asked what she thought of the Democrats she said she had voted for Clinton but was in full support of rival candidate Bernie Sanders, who initially presented himself as a democratic socialist. She agreed that economic inequality has gotten worse for many people; fewer people own more of the wealth under the Obama administration, and she believed this would get even worse under Trump. Abby noted that a lot of Trump voters, it seemed, were voting for him because they were opposed to further military intervention advocated by Clinton, yet Trump wants to rebuild the military. Its terrifying. Arlo, an unemployed 22-year-old from Wellington, said he had come to protest because he was concerned about injustice, inequality and violence around the world. To have someone running the most powerful country in the world like an extreme racist and sexist such as Donald Trump, Im very fearful of what that means. It not only affects America, it affects everyone around the world. He said the Democrats were not significantly different from the Republicans, that when Obama first got in it was a great victory for black people, but he didnt really live up to what he said he was going to do, nothing really changed. He encouraged more violence around the world. The issue is not one single party, the issue is the entire electoral system. Its very unfair; it doesnt work for ordinary people, it works for the most powerful, the richest. Donald Trump received less votes than his competition but he still managed to come to power. Its all about who has the most wealth. Arlo had never voted in New Zealand elections because the political system is very corrupt and doesnt work for ordinary people. Its the rich elite that have taken over. Nicole, an American IT worker who has lived in New Zealand for 15 years, was most concerned about the xenophobic sentiment, the homophobic sentiment, the anti-women sentiment that is trying to take us back to a time that I thought I would never see again in my own lifetime. She said there was a very high risk of the world being drawn into more conflicts with significantly higher costs in human life because of catastrophic weapons and the military-industrial complex. Nicole believed Trump had been elected because theres a lot of fear and a lot of feeling disenfranchised. Nobody trusts politicians, full stop. You see people who voted for Trump because they feel hes anti-establishment, which is not even close to what he stands for. Nicole said she voted for Hillary Clinton but agreed that both parties were controlled by big business. She said there was a real need for something that goes beyond the two-party establishment. Any third party pretty much doesnt get a look in. The eruption of mass demonstrations involving millions of people only one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump is politically and historically unprecedented. It is an initial indication of the crisis-ridden character of the new US government and the immense social upheavals to come. The demonstrations against Trump on Saturday were the largest and most widespread protest marches in American history, involving somewhere between three and five million people in more than 500 US cities. With protests in at least 100 other cities worldwide, they were the first significant internationally coordinated demonstrations since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The sheer scale of the protests points to the immense social anger that has been suppressed during eight years of the Obama administration. The main Womens March in Washington DC drew more than 500,000 people, double the crowd estimate for Trumps inauguration the previous day. The march in Los Angeles may have been even larger, and media estimates placed the New York City march at 400,000 to 500,000, Chicagos at 250,000, and Denvers at 200,000. The global hostility to Trump was expressed in marches on every continent, with the largest turnouts in London (100,000) and Toronto (60,000). The size of the demonstrations clearly exceeded the expectations of the organizers, which included individuals and groups that are in or around the Democratic Party. The concerns animating those who took part in the protests went beyond the narrow framework upon which the demonstrations were called. Millions of people are opposed to Trumps plans for mass round-ups of immigrants, a federal registry of Muslims, military action far beyond the wars of Bush and Obama, and the gutting of essential programs such as public education, health care and Social Security. That a Trump government will face mass popular opposition is undeniable. This makes all the more necessary the development of a clear perspective and strategy to oppose not only Trump, but the social and economic system that produced him. The incoming administration is the true face of the capitalist oligarchy. Trump is not an aberration in an otherwise peaceful and democratic society, but the outcome of decades of social cuts, growing inequality and unending war, under both Democrats and Republicans. With Trump, the ruling class is taking off its mask while preparing ever more violent methods to defend its interests both at home and abroad. This is not a government that will change its policies because of protests. It is set on a path of war and repression. The fascistic character of Trumps inaugural address makes clear the character of the political forces it is preparing to unleash. The only social force that can settle accounts with the capitalist oligarchy is a politically conscious working class, armed with a socialist and internationalist program. To the extent that opposition is not rooted in the working class, mobilized as an independent and revolutionary force, it will be suppressed, dissipated or channeled behind the reactionary policies of the Democratic Party. The protests expressed the genuine and deeply-felt opposition of millions of people. But the organizers and those who dominated the speakers rostrums were by and large supporters of the Democratic Party. They sought to subordinate issues of class and economic inequality to questions of identitygender, race and sexual orientation. While it did not find a popular response, speakers at several of the rallies sought to promote the anti-Russia and pro-war campaign that was the central focus of the Democratic Party throughout the election campaign and has continued in its aftermath. The implicit or explicit premise of the political forces that led the demonstrations was that there would be nothing to protest if only Hillary Clinton had won. Yet Clinton ran as the candidate of the status quo, the alliance of Wall Street and the military/intelligence apparatus. The Democrats hostility to any appeal to the social and economic interests of the working class opened the way for Trumps demagogy and posturing as the friend of workers in devastated factory towns and rural areas throughout the United States. Whatever the differences the Democratic Party has with Trump, they are over tactics. The fraud of the Democrats opposition was revealed in the fact that Senator Bernie Sanders, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination as a supposed socialist, voted to approve the nomination of General James Mad Dog Mattis as Trumps defense secretary the day before he spoke at the rally in Boston. He was joined in this vote by all but one of the Democratic senators. Those who oppose Trump today must learn the lessons of the past, and particularly the failure of the mass antiwar protests of 2003 against the Iraq war. This protest campaign was subordinated to the Democratic Party, which provided the votes in Congress to authorize and fund the war, and then diverted into the election campaigns of the Democrats. What did the victories of the Democratic Party produce? Obama continued Bushs wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, instigated new wars in Libya, Syria and Yemen, and began open preparations for wars with both Russia and China. On the domestic front, Obama deported more immigrants than any previous president, supplied military hardware to the police, backed an unprecedented expansion of electronic surveillance, and oversaw the greatest transfer of wealth from the working class to the rich in American history. To be effective, opposition to the Trump administration must be rooted in the working class, the decisive revolutionary force in capitalist society. This means linking the defense of democratic rightsincluding the rights of women, minorities, immigrants and gaysto the fight against inequality, unemployment, poverty, police violence, dictatorship and, most critically, war. The defense of democratic rights, the fight for jobs and living standards, and the struggle against war: these are the three component parts that must form the basis of the political mobilization of the working class against the Trump administration. The fight against Trump is a fight against capitalism and all of its political representatives. It depends on the education, organization and mobilization of workers in every country of the world against a social and economic system rooted in inequality and exploitationa system that is driving mankind toward catastrophe. The Socialist Equality Party alone is leading this struggle, in political alliance with all of the sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International. We are entering a period of mass radicalization and unprecedented political struggles. Now is the time to get involved. Join and help build the SEP! French President Francois Hollandes government suffered another humiliating setback last night in the presidential primary of his Socialist Party (PS), as former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who resigned his position to run for president, was beaten into second place by Benoit Hamon. Hamon, a former education minister, took 36.21 percent of the vote, Valls 31.19 percent, former Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg 17.62 percent, and Vincent Peillon 6.48 percent. The remaining candidates each won less than 5 percent. The primary took place amid a general atmosphere of popular indifference. Some two million voters participated in the PS primary, after over 4 million voters participated in the primary elections that selected Francois Fillon as the right-wing The Republicans (LR) candidate. While Fillon was broadly expected to win the presidency after the LR primary, neither Hamon nor Valls is currently expected to survive to the second round of the presidential elections. The latest Ipsos poll showed that they would receive 8 and 9 percent of the vote, respectively, setting up a second round between Fillon and Marine Le Pen of the neo-fascist National Front (FN). The vote is set to intensify the deep crisis in the PS, one of the French bourgeoisies two major parties of government, whose survival itself is at stake. After five years of a deeply unpopular presidency, the PS is deeply divided and threatened with a split as it faces a wipe-out in the April-May 2017 elections. Now, however, broad sections of the PS closer to the government may back investment banker and former Hollande advisor Emmanuel Macron rather than backing Hamon, should Hamon beat Valls in the run-off and become the PS candidate. Hamon, who ran based on appeals to discontent with Hollandes austerity policies and a demagogic promise to institute a minimum universal income for everyone in France, called for his voters to again vote in the second round of the PS primary this coming Sunday. Left-wing voters, this is my conviction, voted by conviction and not by resignation, he said in a press conference after the vote. He added, Now we must broaden the mobilization in the first round, to give it more strength. Hamon also thanked Montebourg, who left the race with an appeal to his voters to vote for Hamon in the second round of the primaries. Valls, who in the days preceding the vote had been expected to take first place but then lose in the second round to Hamon, tried to put the best face on his surprise second-place finish and claimed to be the only viable candidate to oppose Donald Trump, Russia, and the National Front. A new campaign is starting from this evening, he said. A very clear choice is presenting itself to us now, and to you. The choice between certain defeat and possible victory, the choice between unrealizable and unaffordable promises and a credible left wing that takes responsibility for our country. He continued, I refuse to abandon the French people to its fate in the face with the far right that would destroy our country, or the right wing led by Francois Fillon, hard and free-market as never before, and conservative in its policy faced with Donald Trumps America and Vladimir Putins Russia. PS First Secretary Jean-Christophe Cambadelis hailed the vote as successful and proof that the PS and its voters could resist the spirit of the times and avoid a complete collapse of his party. Nonetheless, he could not avoid striking a pessimistic tone as he described the PS future prospects. I am convinced that this democratic exercise will hold the left together, Cambadelis declared. I am persuaded that a new alliance is being born, forged by todays vote. I am persuaded that the presidential election is not yet over. The crisis that is engulfing the PS points to the broad, international character of the collapse and discrediting of the political institutions of the post-World War II period. The PS played a central role in pressing for the construction of the European Union (EU) and the euro under President Francois Mitterrand in the 1980s and 1990s. Compared to Le Pens party and LR, it still takes the least hostile stance towards the EU of any major party in the French presidential elections. However, after the Socialist Party disappointed expectations of the population in successive governmentsMitterrands presidency, the 1997-2002 Plural Left government led by Mitterrands top aide Lionel Jospin, and now with Hollandes presidencyit is politically disintegrating. Hollande is currently at 4 percent in polls. Like other European social-democratic parties that have imposed a ruthless austerity diktat since the 2008 Wall Street crash, like Greeces Pasok or the Spanish Socialist Party, the PS now faces the prospect of collapse or even electoral annihilation. The geo-strategic stakes of such a collapse are all the greater, in that a dissolution of the PS would deal a further blow to the EU, which is already reeling from Brexit and from Trumps expression of overt hostility to the EU and Germany before his inauguration. In this context, the emergence of Valls and Hamon as the PS two main candidates points to the bankruptcy of the PS and the EU more broadly. Valls personifies like no one else the socially regressive character of the PS. A politician who has called for the PS to simply abandon the name socialist, he is directly associated with the most reactionary policies of Hollandes presidency. He defends the state of emergency, austerity measures like the labor law and the Responsibility Pact, and the ever-closer integration of the PS and the police and intelligence apparatus, based on law-and-order and anti-Muslim appeals. Should Valls fail to defeat Hamon, powerful sections of the bourgeoisie will intensify pressure on his allies within PS to rally behind Macron, effectively liquidating itself into the personal electoral movement of an investment banker with close ties to the nationalist far right, such as Philippe de Villiers. In other words, Valls posturing as an anti-FN force is a hypocritical and empty fraud. The decision to run Hamon as a candidate points to broad awareness in sections of the ruling class and the media of the deep social opposition and anger over economic inequality developing in the working class in France and internationally. Nonetheless, Hamons proposals offer little to workers and, above all, are not seriously intended. His plans for a 600 [$US645]-800 [$US859] per month universal wage would barely lift the unemployed out of poverty, but would cost hundreds of billions of euros, under conditions where the bourgeoisie itself is hostile to any new social spending. And, as the Hollande presidency has made very clear, not only will the PS implement the bourgeoisies austerity diktat, but its so-called rebel faction, from which Hamon hails, will not mount any effective oppositionciting the need to keep the right wing out of power. Under these conditions, Hamons plans are simply dust which he hopes to throw into the eyes of those remaining sections of the electorate still willing to vote for the PS. Former Democratic presidential candidate and self-proclaimed democratic socialist, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren were among the Democratic senators who joined their Republican counterparts in overwhelmingly approving General James Mad Dog Mattis to serve as President Donald Trumps secretary of defense. Sanders and Warren, leaders of the supposedly progressive wing of the Democratic Party, joined nearly every Democratic senator in giving their support to a general who is personally responsible for countless war crimes in Iraq. As the commander of the 1st Marine Division, Mattis directed the bloody assault on Fallujah in 2004, which reduced the city to rubble and resulted in the deaths of untold thousands of civilians. Mattis was appointed by former President Barack Obama in August 2010 to oversee Central Command, making him responsible for overseeing all of the US war and military operations in the Middle East, North East Africa, and Central Asia. Mattis served in that position until his retirement from the military in 2013. Only one senator, New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, voted against Mattis, on the grounds that he has not been out of the military for more than seven years before serving as secretary of defense, as is stipulated by law. Mattis was granted a waiver by Congress, with overwhelming Democratic Party support, making him only the second recently retired military member to head the Pentagon after General George Marshall in 1950, who had served as secretary of state before his tenure as secretary of defense. Sanders also joined his Republican colleagues in voting to confirm retired General John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Kelly was the commander of Southern Command, responsible for US military operations in Central and South America, including the notorious military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from September 2012 until January last year. Warren joined 10 other Democrats in voting against Kelly. As head of Homeland Security, Kelly, who has advocated a more aggressive position towards immigrants in the United States and supports Trumps calls for a wall on the Mexico border, will command the security forces tasked with policing the border and deporting immigrants. The Democrats, including Sanders and Warren, have put up no significant resistance to Trumps plan to fill out his cabinet with generals, far-right ideologues, and super-wealthy oligarchs. Instead they have sought to place pressure on the Trump administration from the right, promoting unsubstantiated allegations that Moscow hacked the 2016 election to the benefit of Trump, in order to get his nominees to stake out pro-war positions against Russia. In his Congressional testimony last week Mattis distanced himself from Trumps conciliatory positions regarding Moscow and singled out Russia as one of the leading threats to the US. Kelly also took an aggressive position against Russia in confirmation hearings. While Sanders has not released a statement explaining his votes last Friday, those who followed his presidential primary campaign last year should not be surprised by his support for Generals Mattis and Kelly. The generals who now take their place in Trumps cabinet could just have easily found their place in a progressive Democratic administration under a President Sanders. Senator Sanders consistently combined left populist rhetoric against social inequality and the billionaire class with an unwavering support for Barack Obamas wars and foreign policy, as well as staking out nationalist and anti-immigrant positions. During the Democratic primary, in which he faced the war-hawk and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sanders made clear that he would continue the imperialist military operations waged by the Obama administration. He openly supported the deployment of hundreds of US Special Forces to Syria, and advocated for the intervention of Saudi and other Arab forces in the civil war stoked by the US and its allies. The esteemed Senator endorsed the kill lists and drone assassination program utilized by Obama to kill without due process alleged terrorists, including American citizens, as well as thousands of civilians across the Middle East over the last eight years. Asked by NBC Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd in late 2015 if he would use drones and Special Forces in military operations overseas, Sanders insisted that his foreign policy would involve all of that and more. Sanders support for imperialist war goes hand-in-hand with his economic nationalism. He used his stump speeches during the primaries to scapegoat Mexican and Chinese workers for the problems confronting American workers. His nationalist and pro-capitalist politics were made clear in a Vox interview in July 2015 when he denounced an open borders immigration policy as a right-wing Koch Brothers proposal which would make everybody in America poorer. Eighteen people died over 48 hours in tornadoes that swept across broad swathes of the southeastern United States over Saturday and Sunday. Dangerous weather continued throughout Sunday night and early this morning. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) storm prediction center has warned that particularly dangerous situations (PDS) exist for areas ranging from central Florida into northern Georgia and central South Carolina, with a high risk of even more tornadoes. NOAAs Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a high risk severe weather outlook for the remainder of Sunday evening. This was the first time since June 2014 that the center has issued such a warning. The destruction began in the predawn hours on Saturday morning. Tornadoes tore through southeast Mississippi, killing four in Hattiesburg and its suburbs and laying waste to hundreds of homes in the area. Portions of Interstate 59 were closed because of debris littering the roadway; it is estimated that it will take weeks to completely clear up the damage. Many residential areas remain without electricity. Power is not expected to be restored for at least another week. Edna Smith of Hattiesburg related to the Associate Press (AP) how the storm sheared the roof from her brick home. Smith had moved to Hattiesburg from New Orleans in 2005 as a survivor of Hurricane Katrina. I dont know what Im going to do now, she said to the AP as she picked through the rubble of her house in the rain. Im going to try to get some help. As the day progressed, multiple waves of tornadoes swept through portions of southern Louisiana, eastern Texas, northern Florida, southern Alabama, and southern Georgia. Around 30 separate reports of tornadoes were counted by NOAAs Storm Prediction Center from Saturday morning to Sunday morning. Twelve people were killed by the storms in Georgia, with most of the deaths concentrated in Cook County. Speaking to the AP, Cook County Coroner Tim Purvis reported that an apparent tornado leveled mobile homes in the Sunshine Acres mobile home park near Adel. The trailer park accommodates 40 mobile homes; half of those were destroyed by the storms. First responders combed the wreckage for possible survivors throughout the morning. Two of the deaths in Georgia occurred in the same home in Barney, in Brooks County, when the house was lifted off its foundation and deposited upon Highway 122. Historically, winter tornadoes have been a rarity. In the Southeast, tornadoes typically occurred in spring, beginning in the latter part of February as the temperatures warm, with a spike in April. That has changed in recent years, however, with the period from November to early January being marked as a secondary tornado season in the region. Dangerous winter tornadoes have become almost commonplace in the South since December 16, 2000, when a freak tornado leveled a Tuscaloosa, Alabama trailer park and killed 35 throughout the state. Particularly along the Gulf Coast and the lower Mississippi Valley, winter tornadoes now occur frequently. Since 1954, the average number of tornadoes in outbreaks has increased. The chance of extreme tornadoes, which cause widespread property damage and claim lives, has increased since then as well. Climate scientists are still investigating the link between climate change, which has been well-documented, and the increase in tornadoes. While most of them hesitate to assign global warming as the causative factor in these increases, the correlation certainly exists. Part of the difficulty in pinning down why tornadoes are more frequent and more severe is the lack of historical, long-range studies. The issue certainly warrants more scientific investigation; lives are at stake, first of all, in the immediate present. Secondly, identifying the factors by which tornadoes could be predicted in the future, as global warming continues to rise, would assist in planning and building better structures in tornado-prone areas. Such studies, though, are already politically charged. Since Republican President Donald Trumps inauguration, the fate of future climate change studies hangs in the balance. Moreover, many scientists fear that the data that has already been collected could be destroyed by Trumps administration. At the precise moment of Trumps inauguration on January 20, all mention of climate change disappeared from the White House website. Dr. James Concha, a geochemist, wrote in Forbes on Sunday morning: Its not like the new administration is going to start burning books or flushing files down the toilet, but website access will disappear, reports will be put in deep storage, and datasets will become more difficult to access, or will degrade in quality, as funding is cut from the agencies maintaining them. The purge of climate change information on the White House website has been presaged by budget cuts to agencies that research climate and weather: the Department of Energy, NOAA, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have all seen their budgets fall in recent years. Trump has appointed several climate change denialists to key positions in his cabinet. His Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, told Fox News in November that Trump believes that most of climate change science is a bunch of bunk. His nominees have all carefully avoided such strong wording in their confirmation hearings, but have still made it clear that they feel that human impact on global warming is debatable. Trumps administration will obviously invest itself in protecting energy companies from science that might impact their profits. On top of this other industries also stand to lose should tornadic activity and climate change gain greater scrutiny. The Manufactured Homes Association, which lobbies for mobile home builders, has expended a great amount of effort to convince the publicbut more especially the governmentthat their products are as safe as any other form of housing in tornadoes. The MHA has gone so far as to lobby NOAA to try to convince it to drop its recommendations that all mobile home parks be required to provide storm shelters to their residents. The association has mounted absurd claims, based upon manipulation of statistical evidence, that manufactured homes could even be safer than other structures. This flies in the face of research conducted by both NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS). According to the NWS, mobile homes and manufactured homeswhich are overwhelmingly chosen by the poor who cannot afford traditional housingare more prone to damage by low-speed winds than are traditional homes. In addition, residents of mobile homes are more than 22 times likely to die in a tornado than are residents of traditional homes, according to NOAA studies. Even when allowances are made for the fact that tornadoes occur more frequently in areas where mobile homes are used as shelter, the fatality rate is greater than ten times that for people living in homes with foundations. Should the Trump administration proceed as expected, scientific research will be ever more subordinated to the interests of profit. This subordination is not new: lobby groups such as the MHA have managed to convince lawmakers for years that the death traps they sell are safe in tornadoes. The deaths in Georgia and Mississippi attest to the deadly intersection of climate change and profit-driven housing standards. That intersection stands to become much more dangerous under Trump. Just as he vowed he would, US President Donald Trump effectively killed off the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade bloc on his first day in office, as part of his aggressive America First agenda to boost the US economy at the expense of the rest of the world. Within hours of assuming power, Trumps White House web site not only affirmed his intention to withdraw from the TPP. It placed that decision side-by-side with a demand for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, adding to the consternation in capitals around the Asia-Pacific, especially in Tokyo, Mexico City, Ottawa and Canberra. As one of the Trump administrations six highest priorities, alongside An America First Foreign Policy and Making Our Military Strong Again, the web site declared that the United States government would pursue a course of rejecting and reworking failed trade deals that had allegedly produced a mounting trade deficit and a devastated manufacturing base. This strategy starts by withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and making certain that any new trade deals are in the interests of American workers. President Trump is committed to renegotiating NAFTA. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States intent to withdraw from NAFTA. While cynically couched in terms of a fair deal for American workers, this is a nakedly nationalist and protectionist agenda that seeks to halt the protracted decline of US capitalism, bolster corporate profits and further enrich the American financial elite. It goes hand in hand with threats of crippling tariffs, such as 45 percent penalties on Chinese imports that could trigger a global trade war, with devastating results for workers in America and all around the world. This is not a retreat into US isolationism but a dramatic ramping up of the offensive, already commenced by the Obama administration, to reassert US hegemony throughout the Asia-Pacific over its economic and strategic rivals, notably China and Japan. The 12-country TPP itself was never a free trade agreement. It was a US-led economic bloc directed especially at undermining China, which was excluded from the TPP, and ensuring the unrestricted plundering of the regions resources and markets by US financial, media, pharmaceutical and other transnational giants. The TPP was a key aspect of Obamas pivot to Asiaa concerted military, diplomatic and economic drive to encircle and dominate over China. As Obama stated repeatedly, the purpose was to ensure that the US, not China, writes the rules of the road for trade in the 21st century. As part of this quest, the TPP sought to cement alliances across the region, particularly with Japan and Australia, Washingtons two key military allies, both of which hoped to gain greater access to US and other TPP markets. By jettisoning the TPP and targeting the two decade-old NAFTA, Trump has made it clear his administration will not work within the old, post-war framework that sought to avoid the outright trade wars that erupted during the 1930s, collapsed world trade and set the stage for World War II. The TPP agreement states that it can go ahead only if at least six of its 12 original members ratify the deal, and if those six countries represent 85 percent of the combined gross domestic product (GDP) of all 12 countries. That means the deal cannot come into force if the US fails to ratify it, because the US accounts for more than 55 percent of the total GDP. There was dismay in ruling circles throughout the region, especially in Japan, where Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has banked on the TPP as a major pillar of his Abenomics program to end the countrys prolonged stagnation. Japans auto and corporate giants have also used NAFTA to establish low-wage operations in Mexico as means of gaining entry to US markets. About 1,000 Japanese companies operate in Mexico today, spearheaded by Toyota, Nissan and Honda, which utilise their factories in Mexico as exporting hubs to the US and Canada. In a last-ditch effort to avert a TPP pull-out by Trump, Abe last month secured the Japanese parliaments formal ratification of the treaty, even though Trump had made his intentions very clear. Last week, Abe also conducted a quick-fire trip to the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam in an effort to shore up Japans position. While in Australia, Abe and his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull reaffirmed their support for the TPP, issuing a joint statement that it remained an indispensable priority because of its significant economic and strategic benefits. Even though Abe and Turnbull also pledged their commitment to their respective military alliances with the United States, Trump has bluntly dashed their plea to retain the TPP. According to yesterdays Yomiuri Shimbun, the Japanese government now has been forced to review its trade policy. Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Akio Mimura released a statement condemning Trumps America first policy, saying it would promote the spread of protectionism, significantly disrupting the system of open trade that has supported the growth of the global economy. The nervousness is also palpable in Australias corporate and media elite, for whom Trumps inauguration message that the whole world must be made to fear us not only points to trade wars but escalates the danger of military conflict between the US, on which Canberra depends militarily, and China, Australias largest export market. Todays Australian Financial Review editorial described Trumps declarations as chilling for the future of world trade. Turnbulls government is still saying it will go flat out to rescue the TPP, or try to concoct a Plan B treaty without the US. Trade Minister Steve Ciobo met officials from Japan, Canada, Mexico, Singapore and New Zealand last week in Switzerland to discuss ways to take the TPP forward without the US. The Chinese regimes reaction to Trumps statements was muted. The normally strident Global Times, a state-owned media outlet, said negotiations around Chinas rival to the TPP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), could finally see some momentum but no one is celebrating yet as countries, including China, still try to grasp specific policies and actions the US might take going forward. The 16-nation RCEP would include countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, but not the US. High-ranking Japanese and Chinese trade officials met in Tokyo last month to advance RCEP. If these moves continue, China will not be the only country in Trumps sights. Japan could find itself increasingly at odds with Washington. UK Prime Minister Theresa May is to be the first foreign leader to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington DC, Friday. With a Supreme Court ruling Tuesday expected to require her government to secure parliamentary approval for triggering the two-year process of the UK leaving the European Union (EU), the days leading up to the meeting will see escalating political conflict in ruling circles. May has made Trumps election the cornerstone of her post-Brexit strategy, adapting to a yet more open embrace of Trump by the anti-EU right-wing of her party, as well as the UK Independence Party and the largely pro-Brexit press. Last week May gave a speech at Lancaster House threatening the EU states with trade war measures that all concerned knew were underscored by a belief that the Trump administration stood behind her in supporting Brexitas confirmed by Trumps earlier interview with the Sunday Times in which he said Brexit is going to end up being a great thing because the EU is basically a vehicle for Germany. Even so, May hopes the threat of a hard Brexit, with the UK leaving the Single Market and Customs Union, will act as a bargaining chip ensuring that the UK is able to continue the favourable trade terms with Europe on which the UK economy relies. To this end, May used an interview with the Financial Times to explain that she did not share Trumps relish at the prospect of the break-up of the EU. I want the EU to continue to be strong and I want to continue to have a close and strategic partnership with the EU, she said. She was sure that Trump recognises the importance and significance of NATO and will recognise the importance of the co-operation we have in Europe to ensure our collective defence and collective security. This is a mixture of wishful thinking and overt dissembling. The impact of Trump on Europe and the UKs relations with the continent is indicated by the talks on a new trade deal conducted prior to Mays visit by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Bloomberg reported that the January 8 talks had the specific aim of encouraging May to be more aggressive in exiting the union. They were held between Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and Trumps chief strategy adviser Steve Bannon, alongside separate talks with National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and UK defence and intelligence leaders. An ecstatic article by Freddy Gray in the right-wing Tory magazine, the Spectator, described the fascistic Bannon as a true Brexit believer and an EU hater. ... It is Bannon who brought [UKIP leader Nigel] Farage into Trumps orbit and was thought to have arranged for the Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen [of the fascist National Front] to visit Trump Tower last week. Gray boasts that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the EU can either fall in with Trumps new world orderor fall out with the worlds greatest superpower. The EU project, he continued, has always been nurtured with American backing. ... America used trade and NATO to make the continent a bulwark against the East. That often meant sacrificing Americas short-term economic gains in the interests of security and world peace. Trump has no time for that. These are the political and geostrategic calculations on which the Tory right bases itselfof an escalating conflict between the US and Europe that will force the European powers to once again know their place in the New World Order, while Britain can benefit from its alliance with the thuggish bully in the White House. Hence the Daily Telegraph urging, Mr. Trump is now the most powerful man in the worldand the UK has to work with him. If he offers the hand of friendship, we would be fools not to accept it. And Rupert Murdochs the Sun claiming that Trump could spell great things for UK too ... with apologies to JFKask not what Trump can do for his country, ask what he can do for ours. Even such positive comments are tinged with concern that Trumps America First doctrine will militate against achieving a partnership that serves Britains interests. But outside these circles, the reaction to Trumps inauguration speech, on the official right and left of politics, was one of barely concealed dread. The Financial Times editorialised that his address was perhaps the most xenophobic in US history. The rest of the world should be on notice. Mr. Trump intends to rip up the US-created global order. His address will go down as a turning point in Americas post-war roleand quite possibly its death knell. The Observer, Sunday sister paper of the politically liberal Guardian, stated baldly that it is not too much to say Trumps ranting scream of America first, America first! carries an echo of the Sieg Heil (hail victory) of another, not-forgotten era of brutish nationalist triumphalism. US protectionism, it continued, would plunge a blunt knife into Theresa Mays hopes of a post-Brexit sweetheart trade deal. The newspaper urged a European alliance against Trump, insisting, If he is inclined to meddle, which is entirely possible, Europes members must be ready to repulse him. Efforts to consolidate such an alternative EU-based foreign policy for British imperialism are being stepped up. The Guardian Saturday reported that a cross-party group of MPs is plotting to thwart Theresa Mays attempts to drive through a hard Brexit amid rising fears that UK businesses could soon have to pay huge export tariffs on goods they sell to the EU. Encompassing Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Tories, the move is accompanied by an open letter to May, signed by 43 Labour MPs as a public declaration of opposition to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for being soft on Brexit. Led by Blairites such as Chuka Umunna, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, the letter was used by the Observer to solicit comments by former Tory Chancellor Kenneth Clarke that it is time for all pro-EU MPs to abandon a bit of the tribalism in British politics. With Trump making clear that the US is set on confrontation with any country deemed to be a threat or challenge to its interests, Germany has made clear it intends to respond in kind. The reconsolidating of the UKs relations with the EU is therefore only an alternative path towards trade and military war. Corbyns own response to Trump has been typically flaccid moralising bordering on caricature. He noted that he previously gave Barack Obama a copy of What Would Keir Hardie Say?a collection of essays on the founder of the Labour Party. I think the whole world needs to learn the lesson of Keir Hardie, Corbyn said. He came up from the most appalling poverty and circumstances and gave himself an education, filled his home with learning and books and filled his heart with love and humanity. Lets hope, he went on, that he reaches out to communities across the United States. Lets hope he [Trump] is prepared to engage with people to maintain the Iran Nuclear Deal ... that he doesnt go ahead with his proposal to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and that he promotes engagement, critical engagement but engagement with Russia and others. Lets hope, as the old saw goes, for pie in the sky. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's chief environmental regulator is stepping down from his job. Jon Steverson, secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, submitted his resignation letter Friday to Gov. Rick Scott. His last day is Feb. 3. Steverson, first hired in 2014, did not say why he was leaving now. In a statement, Scott thanked Steverson and pointed out that during his tenure the state had increased money on several programs including one to clean up the state's troubled freshwater springs. But Steverson came under fire after he suggested raising more money from state parks by expanding cattle grazing and timber harvesting. DEP last year did not immediately notify the public that a huge sinkhole formed under a fertilizer plant and sent contaminated water and fertilizer into Florida's main drinking water aquifer. CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Florida authorities say a man has been arrested in Michigan for allegedly perpetrating a real estate scheme that defrauded victims of nearly $50,000. In a statement Monday, Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Angela Starke said Kervin Moreno was arrested Friday in Wayne County, Michigan. Starke said Moreno will face a charge in Pasco County of organized scheme to defraud. Moreno allegedly posted ads online for homes for sale or rent from April 2012 through June 2014. Authorities say Moreno had no authority to sell or rent the properties. According to FDLE, Moreno collected down payments or deposits on eight homes throughout the Tampa Bay area. The victims only became aware of the scheme after receiving foreclosure notices or visits from lender representatives. Jail records didn't show whether the 45-year-old had an attorney. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Some rough number-crunching from a digital content strategist shows that Madison's "turnout rate" for the protest was one of the nation's highest. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Best and Brightest Nominees from Amos P. Godby lend a helping hand to those who need it. This Saturday, from 7:00am- 10:00am high school students will provide warm food and drinks to homeless or less fortunate individuals in the Big Bend area. The soup kitchen will take place across from the Renaissance Center (On Macomb Street in Frenchtown) on Saturday, January 28, 2017 from 7:00am - 10:00am. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WTXL) - A Holmes County woman faces up to 10 years in prison for the theft of almost $400,000 in government funds. Veronica Dale Hahn, 60, plead guilty of theft after receiving disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs for blindness in both eyes for over 15 years. In order to get monthly disability checks, Hahn convinced multiple doctors that she was nearly blind. Despite this, within just a year of convincing the Veteran's Health Administration of her alleged poor eyesight, Hahn received drivers licenses in New Mexico, Alabama, and Florida and passed vision exams with no restrictions. She was then observed seen driving her personal vehicle. Throughout the time she received disability payments, Hahn also worked full time as a case manager and transition counselor at a number of state correctional facilities, jobs which both require normal eyesight to perform. Hahn's hearing is scheduled for April 13th in Panama City. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Over fifteen thousand individuals joined in on a march in Tallahassee on Saturday morning in support of women's rights, along with the millions of women marching in their own cities all around the world. The march, led by the Florida Planned Parenthood Alliance and held at the Florida A&M University Recreation Center, was inspired by the Woman's March on Washington that took place simultaneously, the day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. "Times are tough and we will be tougher," said organizers of the local event on their Facebook page, "These marches will send a bold message to the new administration and Congress in Washington, to Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature, and to the world that women's rights are human rights." The event was projected to be part of the largest mass mobilization of citizens for women's rights since the suffrage movement in the 1920s. Jason Eaton, owner of a Pita Pit franchise, looks out an opening between the boards that hide the century-old facade of the upper level of theLee Semon building on Yakima Avenue in Yakima, Wash. Monday, July 11, 2016. Officials in Yakima and Selah say the contributions their cities make to the downtown associations have been beneficial. The Pita Pit franchise was part of the downtown association's Facade program. (SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic file) PROSSER, Wash. The staff at the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center often hear from visitors about Prossers wine offerings. You are the owner of this article. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. The Umm al-Hiram story should begin with the rule of law, with the courts evacuation decisions, and end with the rule of common sense regarding the Amona argument. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter I have been dealing with the Bedouin community in the Negev for several years now. I see it as the embodiment of governmental weakness: Two thousand illegal buildings constructed in one year; agricultural crimes; polygamy; protection money; property and traffic offenses; lack of education and infrastructure; and mainly the victory of nationalistic forces over the supporters of Israelization. Sheikh Raed Salahs northern branch, with the teachers and the budgets sent to the Bedouin community on a daily basis, is defeating the moderate forces, and the State of Israel standing behind them. Last weeks violent evacuation of Umm al-Hiran. The governments helplessness in light of the chaos in the Negev has turned the Bedouins into a pawn in the hands of Arab nationalists (Photo: AFP) Whoever wants to learn about the ills of governmental disregard can take the Bedouins in the Negev as an important lesson. The years after the states establishment were promising: The community members enlistment with the IDF, their integration into the labor market, the tourism, etc. But from there, it only deteriorated. Unlike the Bedouins in the north, discharged soldiers were boycotted by the Islamic movements that took over local politics, and the state failed to intervene. It did not intervene even when crime beganto expand or when the Negev turned into the wild south. Today, there are hardly any Bedouin soldiers in the Negev and hardly any trace of the State of Israel within the Bedouin community. Umm al-Hiran is just one example. Here is the chain of events: The affair began in 1956, when members of the Abu al-Qiyan tribe were willingly relocated to the Beit Kama area on land leased for agriculture. Ten years later, the tribe spread to additional lands beyond the allotted territory, including lands that were later designated for the community of Hiran (as part of a government decision from 2011 to establish 10 communities in the northern Negev). In the 1980s, the government suggested that the Bedouin community members move to permanent communities with infrastructures and nearly full subsidization of the landshalf a dunam for each Bedouin man from the community, way beyond what Jews in the area are entitled to. Tribe members were offered lands in the town of Hura, and the majority indeed moved there. The remaining minority petitioned the court. After countless discussions and petitions, the court ruled that the petitioners have no ownership over the land and their settlement in the area is only temporary. In January 2016, Justice Miriam Naor ruled that the case was conclusive and that the court was unable to discuss the issue. Last week, an evacutin was carried out. The only question that needs to be asked is whether Israel is a law-abiding state which implements court rulings. My answer is yes, without any buts. I am in favor of regulation, including of the homes in Amona and Ofra. Wherever the evacuation of families can be prevented, it should be done. Such an attempt was made in Umm al-Hiran too. As soon as it failed, the court ruling had to be obeyed. Amona will eventually be evacuated because thats what the court ruled, and Umm al-Hiran had to be evacuated too. The same applies to any other place in the country over which we claim to have sovereignty, whether it involves Haredim who built an illegal yeshiva, Bedouins or my little sister somewhere in Samaria. We can reach understandings, argue and protest, but at the end of the day the state must implement its decisions, and if anyoneregardless of their religious, race or genderraises their hand on police officers and soldiers, they must pay a price. The first of the two greatest tragedies in this story are the Bedouins, who as part of the governments helplessness in light of the chaos in the Negev have become a pawn in the hands of Arab nationalists and organizations like Adalah and Rabbis for Human Rights. The campaigns they have waged while being funed by foreign governments have turned the court ruling into a Nakba, racism and ethnic cleansing and helped inflame the situation. The second tragedy here is the Jews statehood. The inability to look forward to the long run. Right and duties. Coexistence. The inability to accept the rule of law as a world view, not just when it's politically convenient. The second World Congress on Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) will convene in Cannes, France from January 1922. Led by Prof. Asher Bashiri, the director of the maternity center at the Soroka University Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, the four-day conference will bring together influential doctors representing over 50 countries. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "The 2017 Congress is an important platform to share the latest research and development on the sensitive subject of miscarriage," said Bashiri. "Getting medical professionals together to share their studies and research is an opportunity to shed some light on this neglected issue," Bashiri told Tazpit Press Service (TPS). Bashiri organized the first world conference on recurrent pregnancy loss, which also took place in Cannes, in 2016 in the belief that international collaboration will ultimately lead to finding a cure. "Last year, we had over 200 delegates come to the conference, and it was a success," Bashiri said. Prof. Bashiri (L) director of the maternity center at the Soroka University Medical Center, and Dr. Frank Chikli Deputy mayor of Cannes "An estimated 5 percent of women suffer from RPL each year," said Bashiri. For over 15 years, Bashiri has run the recurrent pregnancy loss clinic at Soroka University Medical Center, part of the Clalit Health Service system, which is supported in the United States by the Israel Healthcare Foundation. The clinic's unique database includes information on more than 1,000 patients on all clinical aspects of the problem. According to Bashiri, the clinic has had many success stories. While there are many documented causes of spontaneous abortion, in about half of the occurrences there is no identified cause, leading to frustration and anxiety for couples who are concerned about future pregnancies. The congress will address the medical issues leading to a clearer understanding of the causes of miscarriage, increasing awareness, and improving the response and care of affected women. "The Israel Healthcare Foundation recognizes and supports the ongoing Israeli research which we look forward to presenting during the congress," said Bashiri, who also serves as the director of the obstetrics and gynecology clerkship for advanced medical students at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Over the four-day conference, a variety of subjects will be discussed, including research conducted at Soroka Medical Center about infertility among women with recurring miscarriages, uterine malformations and fetal abnormalities, and how to emotionally support women who miscarry. "With years of experience in this field, the one thing I can say to patients who are suffering from RPL, is not to give up. It is important to find a dedicated clinic and a specialist who can provide professional support," Bashiri said. "With an opportunity for the top professionals in the field to join forces, progress is being made towards a better outcome for RPL," concluded Bashiri. In their first conversation since US President Donald Trump was inaugurated, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited to the White House for a meeting next month. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter A White House statement on the call said the meeting will be held early next month, while Jerusalem noted that the date and time of the visit will be determined in the coming days. Trump and Netanyahu meet ahead of the elections (Photo: Koby Gideon, GPO) "The Prime Minister expressed his desire to work together with President Trump on their shared vision to promote peace and security in the region without having gaps between the US and Israel," said a statement from the prime minister. "The two leaders discussed the Iranian deal, the peace process with the Palestinians and other issues." The White House said that the two "discussed ways to advance and strengthen the special relationship between the United States and Israel and the security and stability of the Middle East. The President emphasized the importance the US places on close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and binding partnership between the two countries." The statement also mentioned that the two "agreed to continue to discuss regional issues closely, including the Iranian threat," and that President Trump once again confirmed the US's unprecedented commitment to Israel's security and stressed that the fight against ISIS and other radical Islamic terrorist groups is a top priority for the US government. "President Trump stressed that a Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement can only be achieved through direct negotiations and the US will work closely with Israel to achieve this goal," read the statement. The White House issued a statement on the call without referencing the issue of transferring the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. While sources close to the American president said no official announcement on the issue is expected anytime soon, the State Department has already sent an architect to Jerusalem to examine American properties in the capital. Among the possibilities that are being examined: Having the American ambassador living and working from the Jerusalem consulate building; having the embassy moved to one of the consulate buildings in the capital, or building it on land owned by the United States in Jerusalem. The balls are over; the dazzling dresses have been returned to the fashion houses with due respect; the protestors have returned to their homes, and so have the police. Its Donald Trumps first working days as president of the United States. Its time to raise one of his festive election promises for discussionthe promise to move the US embassy to Jerusalem . Whereas some of his predecessors had promised to do so and did not, Trump promised to keep his promise. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The American administrations refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital is a nearly 70-year-old act of foolishness. It originates in the Partition Plan of 1947, which saw Jerusalem as an international city. The War of Independence erased the partition borders and allowed David Ben-Gurion to move the states institutions to west Jerusalem, as befitting its status as a capital. The world grumbled, but eventually adapted: Leaders who visited Israel, including all US presidents and heads of Arab states, came to Jerusalem. They did not, however, recognize Israels sovereignty in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There is no better time than the first week of a new presidents term to create change (Photo: AFP) Israels governments share the guilt. They spoke pompously about Jerusalems importance, but were afraid to go all the way in implementing its status as a capital. Things got complicated in 1967, after Israel annexed the eastern part of the city. An overwhelming majority of the worlds countries formed a complex opinion: Israels sovereignty in the western part of the city was recognized de facto, but was not recognized de jure; Israels sovereignty in east Jerusalem was recognized neither in practice nor in law. The US ambassador held his meetings in the western part of the city, but was forbidden to visit the eastern part of the city. When Menachem Begin was prime minister, he decided it was time to implement the sovereignty. He ordered the construction of his bureau in Sheikh Jarrah, in the eastern part of the city. Then he panicked and handed the bureau over to the police minister. It serves the public security minister to this very day. Prime ministers, from the Left and from the Right, avoided pressing the Americans to recognize Jerusalem. On the eve of the end of his term, I asked US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ever raised the issue of moving the embassy to Jerusalem in his conversations with the Obama administration. Not once, he replied. Netanyahu, like his predecessors, did not want to take responsibility for the burning of embassies in the Muslim world. The came the election of Trump. Every president seeks to do things differently in the beginning, but Trump wants more. He is aiming for a revolution. The fact that his predecessors avoided recognizing Jerusalem is making him do the opposite. He is raising the banner of Jerusalem: His right hand wont forget its ability, his tongue wont cleave to the roof of his mouth. The question he hasnt thought about is, which Jerusalem will he recognize. If he recognizes Israels sovereignty in all of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, he will arouse the anger of the entire Muslim world against America; if he only recognizes west Jerusalem, he will arouse the anger of the evangelical right and the Israeli government. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity here. There is no better time than the first week of a new presidents term to create change. The world, including the Muslim world, is prepared to accept during this week more than it will be prepared to accept in a month or a year from now. The same applies to Israels supporters. Trump can announce that the embassy will be moved to west Jerusalem and leave the east Jerusalem question for the future. Its problematic in terms of international law, but the problem is reduced compared to much worse legal problems that have emerged since Trumps election. An American embassy is not built in one day. It will take at least 10 years. In the meantime, the new ambassador will be able to use the apartment at his service in the southern wing of the David Citadel hotel, raise a large flag over it and call it the ambassadors residence. That will do as a start. I doubt we will derive any pleasure from the Trump administration later on. Trumps first comments as president show that he has no intention of changing: The same tongue-lashing, the same lies, the same separatist statements threatening the worlds stability. Britain has Brexit; America has Trumpexit. At this stage, the biggest danger in Trump is not what he does, but the spirit he brings along, what he embodies. His rhetoric legitimizes anti-democratic, racist, fascist trends, both in Europe and here. Its dangerous. But he can move the embassy. Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, held a graduation ceremony for its fighters on Sunday, with pictures of the event showing a Palestinian child setting fire to an Israeli flag. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter According to a report by the Daily Mail, participants were children and middle-aged adults. During the ceremony, which featured military exercises and drills, a simulated IDF outpost was "conquered" by Hamas forces and the Israeli flag was replaced with a Palestinian flag. Child burns Israeli flag during graduation ceremony (Photo: Reuters) The new Hamas graduates also conducted drills including marching and breaking flaming concrete blocks with their hands. Photo: Reuters Photo: Reuters Photo: EPA Photo: EPA Photo: EPA Photo: AFP Photo: AFP The graduation ceremony comes as security forces uncovered a Hamas command center that was active in the Ramallah area. In a coordinated operation between the Shin Bet and the IDF, 13 Hamas members were arrested, including a member of the legislative council. As part of the operation, money, vehicles and propaganda material were seized. According to security forces, the infrastructure was under the auspices of the Hamas commander of the West Bank region and was meant to strengthen the grip of Hamas in the West Bank. ASTANA - The Syrian rebel delegation has no plans for direct talks with representatives of the Damascus government in Astana, a rebel source said on Monday. The two sides both appeared at the opening ceremony of the talks in Kazakhstan's capital. But the rebels did not plan to meet the other side face to face, the source told Reuters. A secret subcommittee within the State Control Committee is likely to vote in favor of revealing the findings of the State Comptroller's report regarding Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, Ynet learned on Sunday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The subcommittee is made of five members of Knesset including three from the governing coalition and two members of the opposition. Despite a coalition majority on the subcommittee, it was revealed that members intend to vote to release the report and its findings to the public, as coalition considerations were not being taken into consideration. Photo: Ido Erez "I am committed only to the bereaved families," said committee member MK Merav Ben Ari. "This is the only consideration that guides me in the vote and I think there is public interest and great importance to the publication of the report." Ben Ari's statements indicate a majority in favor of publication as the two opposition members are also expected to vote for publishing the report as well. Merav Ben Ari (Photo: Knesset Spokesperson) This Tuesday, the subcommittee will also discuss sensitive matters related to the report, including the conduct of the cabinet before and during the operation. The family of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was kidnapped by Hamas in a Rafah tunnel during fighting, joined the demand of bereaved families to publish the report and called on the government to remove its objections to full publication of the comptroller's report. "Everyone already knows that the government's favorite sentence 'the Israeli government is doing everything in its power,' is meaningless," the family said in a statement. "For two and a half years the Israeli government is abandoning Hadar and Oron (Shaul, another soldier whose body was snatched by Hamas) in Gaza and not doing anything for their return. We remind (Prime Minister) Netanyahu that Operation Protective Edge isn't over as long as Hadar and Oron are being held." A Jordanian physician has saved an injured owl that crossed the border from Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter A surgeon from the Jordanian town of Irbid went shopping a few weeks ago in the local market and was amazed to find an injured barn owl offered for sale. The physician noticed that the nocturnal raptor's condition was severe, so he purchased it from the merchant and started caring for it at his home, with the owl eventually flying around the house. During treatment, the physician noticed a metal ring on one of the owl's legs, engraved with an English inscription from Tel Aviv University. He contacted Prof. Noga Kornfeld-Schor, the Head of the Zoology Department in Tel Aviv University, via Facebook and told her about the owl. The owl in the physician's home (photo: Acpd) Prof. Yossi Leshem from the Zoology Department at the university discovered that the owl was marked in May 2014 as part of a project by Kobi Mirom in the date plantations in Kibbutz Shluchot. Prof. Leshem has been heading the national project for the use of owls and common kestrels as biological pest control in agriculture since 1982 with the cooperation of The Society for the Protection of Nature. According to Prof. Leshem, the owl, an adult male, had apparently crossed the border into Jordan where it was captured and transferred to the market to be sold. Yussuf Quasem, member of the Owl Project in Jordan, taking notes of the owl prior to its release (photo: Acpd) Leshem contacted the Jordanian project partner, General Mansur Abu-Rashid, the Chairman of the Amman Center for Peace and Development. After contacting the physician, the Israeli researchers offered him payment for the owl he saved at his own expense, but the physician refused and upon finishing the medical treatment, he gave the owl to the general. The nocturnal raptor was taken to a veterinarian, who declared the owl fit to return to nature. General Mansur Abu-Rashid, Chirman of the ACPD presenting "Israeli" owl in Kibbutz Sdeh Eliahu, bringing luck and peace (photo: Dr. Motti Charter) Leshem notes that in Jordan there is a widespread phenomenon of illegal hunting and capturing of owls and that they suffer from an ill reputation as they are considered "bad luck" omens. The project of using owls and kestrels as biological pest control in agriculture provides a cheap resource for a serious agricultural problem in a friendly manner that combines nature preservation with an actual benefit to society. The project is a joint cooperation between The Society for the Protection of Nature, the Duchifat Fund, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Cooperation Council, Tel Aviv University and Haifa University. The project incorporates rich experience and academic research commenced in 1983 in Kibbutz Sdeh Eliahu, the flag-bearer of environmentally friendly agricultural development. The project already includes more than 3,500 nesting boxes for owls and about 400 nesting boxes for kestrels in agricultural lands around Israel. Recently, the two partners from Israel and Jordan presented, along with Prof. Alexandre Roulin, a world renowned expert of owls from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, the project's principles and regional cooperation at the DLD conference for innovation, art, culture, science and technology, conducted in Munich, Germany in order to change the prevalent opinion that owls bode bad luck, and at the same time, increase awareness regarding the owl's function as a biological exterminator among the farmers and decision makers in Jordan, and reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture. CAIRO -- The Egyptian army says jihadi militants have killed five soldiers in the restive Sinai Peninsula, the latest casualties in a yearslong struggle to control the area's northeast. In a statement released early Monday by the military spokesman, the army expressed its condolences to the soldiers' families and described the attackers as "enemies of the nation." Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief reporters, said the militants intercepted the men returning from monthly leave in a taxi, shooting them dead but sparing the driver. Heads up to viewers of American Pickers at 8 p.m. Monday on the History Channel: John Satory isnt spelling challenged. Rather, he christened his downtown La Crosse store Satori Arts Gallery for reasons of ancestry, archives and art. When my great-grandfather came to the United States in 1852, he changed the i to y. The name (with the i) is Zen Buddhist, meaning the highest level, enlightenment. And art is enlightenment, Satory explained during an interview about his TV appearance. Asked how the Pickers picked his 201 Pearl Street gallery of fine art and historical artifacts when they often seem more inclined to roll the cameras on mishmash collections that look like hoarding, Satory laughed and acknowledged that the TV crew spent most of the time at his studio in another building, where he confessed to harboring a bit of disorder. Satory, a history buff and collector since childhood, also has a connection with the show by virtue of his friendship with Frank Fritz, Pickers co-star with Mike Wolfe. Frank comes to Oktoberfest every year, and he stops in, Satory said, adding with a laugh that Fritz didnt realize until the crew arrived for the shooting in August that it would spotlight Satory for Episode 16 of Season 16. The episodes title, The Beer Factor, has less to do with the content than the location. Like Satorys studio, Satori Gallery abounds with historical artifacts from La Crosses history, including two concrete cones that once were atop the City Hall torn down in 1970 after its replacement had been built, brackets from tops of buildings long since removed to make way for new structures and one of two large Italian-imported, stained-glass windows salvaged from the old Stoddard Hotel, which closed in 1980 and was razed in 1982. I bought it for $250, and was offered $5,000 the next day. The guy who had the other one had it on eBay for $40,000, said Satory, who said he didnt know whether the seller pocketed that much. The Stoddard, at the southeast corner of Fourth and State streets, was named after La Crosses first mayor, Thomas B. Stoddard, and was considered the premier place to stay when visiting La Crosse, as well as the venue for all sorts of events, ranging from concerts to political gatherings and wedding receptions, according to the La Crosse Public Library Archives. The Stoddard, billed as the only fireproof hotel in Wisconsin, hosted guests such as Presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, Elvis Presley, Frank Lloyd Wright, Sinclair Lewis, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Tallulah Bankhead, among others. Many items in the collections at the gallery are courtesy of people who have an artifact of their own or a relatives or friends that they no longer have use for but dont want to toss out, said Satorys wife of 22 years, Beth, who runs the business side of the gallery. They know hell take care of it, she said. I call him Mr. La Crosse. Sometimes, Satory buys artifacts that have been repurposed in novel ways, such as those two concrete cones from the old City Hall. I bought them from a guy who (turned them upside-down and) used them as planters, said the 65-year-old Satory, a former longtime city council member who served as president of the La Crosse County Historical Society and the citys Historic Preservation Commission. People look at La Crosse as a historic old town, he said, lamenting the fact that so many buildings have fallen victim to wrecking balls and expressing particular chagrin at the loss of the county courthouse and city hall. Noting the countys recent sale of its administrative headquarters for redevelopment, he said, Thats one of the buildings I wish wasnt there. The historical artifacts are only half of the story of Satory, an award-winning silversmith, artist and photographer whose works are for sale, along with items of world-renowned artists such as Salvador Dali, Peter Max and John Lennon. Satory picked up his acumen for working with silver and other metals in a rather odd classroom: during his 20 years in the Army Medical Corps. In the Army, I did dental work, with dentures and fillings and gold crowns, he said. The equipment I used then is the same I use now. One particularly striking photo is Satorys interpretation of da Vincis Mona Lisa, in which her image is blurred. When you take a picture of somebody elses work, you need to make it your own, he explained. I took the picture at the Louvre, and I purposely blurred it. People look at it and get dizzy, said Beth, who met her future husband when she was getting by on a teachers salary and bought a ring on a time payment plan. The regular visits for payments must have kindled a spark that led to another sort of ring. I still owe the last payment, Beth said jokingly. She taunts John about his continuing habit of stockpiling artifacts. If he keeps buying things, I tell him Ill bury them with him, Beth says with a smile. When I see him looking at something, I tell him, Dont buy that it wont fit in your grave. Amona residents on Monday threatened "a forced, unpleasant evacuation" of their outpost after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief of staff Yoav Horowitz announced that it is not possible to implement the agreement signed with them at this point due to legal reasons. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The High Court of Justice determined that the homes in the outpost were built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian lands and ordered to evacuate the settlers and demolish their homes. View from Amona (Photo: Ido Erez) The government received a 45-day extension on the evacuation deadline in order to implement a compromise agreement reached with the settlers, with the new deadline set to February 7. The plan was to resettle Amona families on property belonging to absentee landowners, but Palestinians have filed ownership claims on the lands that were found to be justified. According to Horowitz, the settlers were offered to move to the Ofra settlements in a nearby mountain in the Mateh Binyamin area, but they refused. Photo: Ohad Zweigenberg The agreement signed with the Amona residents includes the construction of 24 homes that will be 180sqm in size and able to house two families each on Hill 38, located at the entrance of the outpost. Concurrently, the government will begin unfreezing lands on Hill 30 that belong to absentee owners so more homes can be built. A project manager selected by the Amona residents will accompany the legal process. The plan is to have a "door-to-door" evacuation in which each of the 41 families could move from their current homes in Amona directly to their new homes in "Amona North." Families whose housing won't be ready on time will temporarily move to the nearby settlement of Ofra. Eventually, the goal is to unite the different plots into one town. "For us, this is now a struggle. Either it'll be a difficult and painful evacuation or the Regulation Bill will pass including Amona," the Amona settlers said in a statement. "At the current state of things, we have no choice but to renew the public struggle in full force and call upon our thousands of supporters to come to Amona posthaste, stand beside us, and do everything possible to prevent the evacuation," the statement went on to say. Avichai Buaron, who leads the Amona settlers' protest, criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu and Education Minister Naftali Bennett, whose Bayit Yehudi party backs the settlement enterprise in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Activists in Amona (Photo: Gil Yohanan) "You fooled us and deceived us," Buaron said in an interview with Ynet. "The agreement said alternative homes will be built for the families. That hasn't happened and is not in the process of happening. We won't meet our side of the agreement of peaceful evacuation because you did not meet your side. Agreements must be honored." The settlers called on the government to promote the Regulation Bill, which passed a first reading in the Knesset after the article concerning Amona was removed from it. On Sunday, Netanyahu, who has voted in favor of the bill thus far, reportedly criticized it, calling in an "irresponsible move" that may have brought on a UN Security Council resolution against the settlements. The comments were made in a closed forum, and the Prime Minister's Office later denied having made them, which was cited by one of the ministers present in the meeting. PM Netanyahu (Photo: Amit Shabi) "We need to apply the law," Buaron said. "It passed a preliminary reading and a first reading in the Knesset. Despite what Netanyahu says, it was the right move in the Obama era. Now the conditions changed with the Trump era and the situation is seemingly ripe to pass the Regulation Bill." Amona was removed from the Regulation Bill due to strong objections from Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon. Buaron claimed Kahlon had ideas on how to include the outpost in the legislation. "I suggest the prime minister and education minister talk to Minister Kahlon." Buaron claimed the settlers do not want to reach a point where an evacuation is forced on them. "We are not seeking compensation, we're not asking for anything. We're asking to resolve the legal lacuna that allows expropriating lands anywhere else in the country (except in the West Bank)." ANKARA -- A solution at Syrian peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana should not be expected within one or two days, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday. "There are parties that have been at war with each other for six years around the table at Astana. A solution in one or two days should not be expected," Kurtulmus said at a news conference in Ankara after a Turkish cabinet meeting. Senior PLO official Saeb Erekat threatened on Monday that the Palestinians will revoke recognition of the State of Israel and seek to have Israel suspended from the UN if the United States moves its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "The PLO will not be able to continue to recognize Israel as east Jerusalem is annexed," Erekat said in an interview with Ynet. During the interview, Erekat pointed the finger at the Israeli government saying, "The Israeli government is aligning itself with the most extreme, white supremacist, nationalist, populist parties in Europe and the United States against Arabs and Muslims; these people are inciting war against the values and concepts of Arabs and Muslims. "I hope that Trump will not do it and we urge him not to do it. We urge him to try and bring Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table." Saeb Erekat (Photo: EPA) In a heated exchange, Erekat said, "Palestinians intend to fight for the freedom of the Palestinian people and for Israeli seekers of peace. Israel is working to annex the lands of the Palestinian people. Israel is working to humiliate people and create an apartheid regime for West Bank Palestinians and steal their land and confiscate their future and their hope. Stop your blind Israeli policy. It is time to wake up. If you want to be part of the Middle East, you cannot continue with the arrogance of your power. " Nir Barkat (Photo: Daniel Elior) Meanwhile, in a separate interview with Ynet, Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat said that he believes US President Donald Trump is serious about keeping his campaign promise of moving the embassy. "I think everyone knows that the American administration is very serious in its intention to support the State of Israel and the moving of the embassy is a part of the decisions Trump made before his campaign. I have no doubt he will make it happen," said Barkat. In regards to Palestinian threats, Barkat said, "I think we need to listen well to the threats and to take them seriously, but not move an inch from doing the right thing. If we were afraid of the threats of our enemies, there wouldn't be a country. I expect the new American administration, which has great sympathy for Israel in contrast to eight difficult years under Obama, will be better and will ease demands for building freezes." BEIRUT -- The head of Syria's rebel delegation at the peace talks in Kazakhstan says the opposition is "ready to go to the ends of the earth" to end the bloodshed in Syria. Mohammad Alloush told reporters on Monday, after an hour of indirect talks with government representatives in Astana that the rebels "are men of peace, and at the same time knights of war." ADEN -- Yemeni army forces backed by Gulf Arabs fought their way into the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha on Monday, military officials said, pushing out Iran-allied Houthi militia. "Houthi forces began withdrawing this morning, and the city is nearly abandoned after most of its residents departed," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The city and the port under the control of national army." IDF forces from the Judea and Samaria Division along with Israel Police forces have arrested three Palestinians on suspicion of throwing Molotov cocktails at the entrance of Kibbutz Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion over the weekend. No injuries were reported. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter In footage released by the IDF, the suspects are seen approaching the kibbutz at night and hurling several Molotov cocktails at the entrance before fleeing. Molotov cocktail attack footage (Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) (: ") X Utilizing Police and Shin Bet intelligence, Givati forces raided the homes of the suspects in Beit Fajjar and detained them for questioning. Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit The Renault vehicle used in the attack was seized as part of new security policy in which vehicles used in the commission of terrorist attacks are confiscated. Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit The IDF has recently increased anti-terror activities in the eastern sector of Gush Etzion following increases in Molotov cocktail and stone-throwing attacks on Israeli settlements and vehicles. Sixty Palestinian suspects have been detained in the past year for such activity. Hamas Deputy Chief Ismail Haniyeh has arrived in Egypt for meetings with security officials, the highest level visit by a member of the Palestinian militant group since Egypt's army overthrew an Islamist president in 2013. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Haniyeh arrived late Sunday, Egyptian security officials said, as Hamas officials confirmed the visit. All spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters. Ismail Haniyeh (Photo: AFP) Hamas, an Islamic terrorist group with historic links to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed warm relations with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, a top Brotherhood figure who was overthrown by the military after a divisive year in power. The Egyptian government tightened an Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza shortly thereafter, but in recent months there have been signs of a thaw in relations. For most of the past decade, Egypt had issued a blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, stifling the economy and largely blocking its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, signs are emerging that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with Hamas. In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013, and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations. Haniyeh left Gaza in September to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Meccathe first time Egypt allowed him to leave the territory since Morsi's ouster. He then went to Qatar to see Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal and discuss issues including the group's upcoming elections. Mashaal is slated to step down from his position this spring, and Haniya is considered a strong candidate to replace him. Meshaal's deputy Moussa Abu Marzouk is the other main candidate. The High Court of Justice accepted on Monday a petition submitted by the family of Yaqoub Abu al-Qiyanwho ran over and killed police officer Erez Levi last Wednesdayordering that his body be returned for a burial. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The incident came during protests over the evacuation of illegal homes in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran. The state had opposed returning the body, stating that doing so and allowing Abu al-Qiyan's family to hold a funeral service without any limitations could cause "a serious public disruption." At present, the details surrounding al-Qiyan's actions leading up to his death are under heated dispute: while the police claim Abu al-Qiyan was a terrorist who deliberately sought to attack the police force with his car, protestors and those close to Abu al-Qiyan deny that he was not a terrorist, positing instead that he had been shot by policemen in the knee while he was behind the wheel, causing him to press down on the accelerator and swerve with his car into a group of the policemen just metres away. L to R: MKs Ahmed Tibi, Ayman Odeh protesting for the return of Abu al-Qiyan's body (Photo: Gil Yohanan) The court decision was reached by a two-to-one majority. Justices Yitzchak Amit and Uri Shoham decided in favor of the family's petition, while Justice Noam Solberg opposed it due to security concerns. Yaqoub Abu al-Qiyan Justice Amit wrote in the court's decision that "We hereby instruct the police to release the body of the deceased to the family or a representative on its behalf. In order to prevent any further disputes, we declare that the funeral take place tomorrow during the daytime and not the nighttime." The decision further said that if the police deems it necessary, the family will make sure to have ushers to maintain the peace during the funeral. Sgt. Erez Levi "I will also mention the obvious: the funeral will be held in the Negev, in Israeli territory. The deceased's family belongs to the Bedouin community, whose sons are law-abiding Israeli citizens, some of whom serve in security forces. There hasn't been a single voice from within this community heard to be praising a terrorist vehicular attack, and the family and Bedouin community emphatically condemn this phenomenon." Solberg's dissent stated that "At present, no satisfactory funeral arrangements have been made. We are dealing with human lives here. It is as simple as that. For this reason I chose to reject the petition." Abu al-Qiyan's vehicle A video of the incident and a forensic report on the matter have both raised serious questions about the police's version of events. Aerial footage shows that police opened fire while Abu al-Qiyan was travelling slowly. It remains unclear as to whether the shots were fired at al-Qiyan or in the air. Only after shots were fired however did he suddenly accelerate and run over Levi. The post-mortem performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine found that a bullet wounded Abu al-Qiyan in the knee that had pressed down on the gas pedal. According to some assessments, this may have been what caused him to accelerate. Photo: Gil Yohanan The state's response to the petition said that the day after the event, the police had been prepared to turn the body over to the Abu al-Qiyan's family but only on condition that certain criteria were be met. Among them was agreeing on a set time for the funeral, limiting the number of participants and refraining from having any political speeches. The state said that the family had refused to abide by these conditions. Protestors (Photo: Gil Yohanan) The state further claimed that the police are in possession of evidence that the incident was in fact a vehicular terrorist attack. "Considering the current volatile public atmosphere, a funeral attended by a mass of people could lead to a real disruption of public order," the state wrote. "The Israel Police estimates that extremist entities might use the funeral to incite people while causing disruptions that could result in injury." Protestors (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Prior to the court's convening, hundreds of protestors, many from the Arab populationincluding MKs from the Joint Listdemonstrated the planned demolition of houses in Umm al-Hiran and the Arab town of Qalansawe. Among other chants, the protestors yelled "No to the blood-stained government" and "Hand over the body of the shahid." In related news, an indictment has been issued against two Bedouin brothers accused of attacking police officers during last week's protest at Umm al-Hiran, where Levi and Abu al-Qiyan were killed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his opposition to members of the right-wing flank of his coalition government, warning against initiating steps to annex Maale Adumim on Monday afternoon. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Speaking at a Likud party faction meeting, Netanyahu said: We have before us massive and significant opportunities for the security and future of the State of Israel. But they require responsibility from us and common sense so that we dont miss themneither the hour or the opportunities. PM Netanyahu (Photo: Amit Shabi) This was not the time, Netanyahu continued, for what he described as knee-jerk reactions or dictating or for surprises. This is the time for responsible and intelligent diplomacy with friends, diplomacy that will strengthen the cooperation between us and restore the faith in the government of Israel and the new administration in Washington for the betterment of the State of Israel. The statement was largely intended for the consumption of Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett, who has been spearheading a bill to impose sovereignty on Maale Adumim, adding notable impetus behind the proposal since President Trump was elected in November. Bennett, who serves as Education Minister in Netanyahus government, made headlines when he began calling for immediate annexation and declaring the era of a two-state solution dead with Trumps ascent to the White House. He also said that he had spoken to President Trump on the phone on Sunday night for half an hour. During the conversation, he invited me to meet with him in Washington as soon as possible, the prime minister told his party members. I place great importance on this meeting. It is important for the State of Israel. It is also important for the continued strengthening of personal trust between us, the president of the US and me, the prime minister of Israel. I feel the expectations that are coming from the majority of Israeli citizens. This is obvious after eight years in which I was placed under enormous pressure on a string of issues, the most important of which was Iran. The Pentagon has held its first news briefing since Defense Secretary James Mattis was sworn in on Friday. A spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, on Monday described several of Mattis' first activities as Pentagon chief but declined to discuss any policy issues. That includes potential changes in the U.S. approach to fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, which President Donald Trump has singled out as a priority. Davis said Mattis has made retired Navy Rear Adm. Kevin M. Sweeney his chief of staff and Rear Adm. Craig S. Faller his senior military assistant. The spokesman said Mattis would be meeting with the military service chiefs and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Joseph Dunford, on Tuesday, and had conducted a phone conversation with his Canadian counterpart. A Ho-Chunk casino expansion in northern Wisconsin would draw $37 million in gambling revenue per year from other tribes, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the tribe that would take the biggest hit. The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians stands to lose $22 million, or about 37 percent of its gambling revenue, at its North Star Mohican Casino and Resort in Bowler, according to the study by Chicago-based Market & Feasibility Advisers. The Stockbridge-Munsee casino is about 17 miles east of the Ho-Chunk Wittenberg facility, which broke ground on a $33 million expansion that will increase the number of slot machines from 506 to 778, while adding an area with high-limit gaming and 10 table games, and constructing an 86-room hotel and 84-seat restaurant and bar. The Stockbridge-Munsee have asked the state to intervene, saying the expansion violates the terms of the Ho-Chunk Nations casino compact with the state. However, the Department of Administration determined in September that the expansion of the Wittenberg facility does not violate the compact. Were investigating all options going forward, said Dennis Puzz, a Stockbridge-Munsee lawyer. If this goes forward, this is our lifeblood, this is our revenue source. If no one is going to step in and enforce the compact, were going to be forced to compete. Puzz said the tribe has asked the state to hire a lawyer to review the Ho-Chunk compact and come to a different conclusion. If a resolution cant be reached, the tribe may consider filing a lawsuit. DOA spokesman Steve Michels said the state has not yet read the economic impact study. A spokesman for the Ho-Chunk Nation did not respond to a request for comment. According to the study, the casino gambling market is completely saturated in Wisconsin, particularly in the northern part of the state. The study projected four other tribes the Potawatomi, Oneida, Chippewa and Menominee would lose a combined $14.7 million in revenue at nine casinos. The Ho-Chunk would also lose $8.3 million at two locations, but the Wittenberg facility would gain $45 million in revenue. The expansion would also mean the Ho-Chunk nation would have five of the top 10 revenue-generating casinos in the state, though its market share would increase by only one point to 34 percent, the study found. Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, said hes not sure if anything can be done, but hed like to see a resolution that doesnt damage the Stockbridge-Munsee. Theyre already a poor tribe, Cowles said. I see it as imminently unfair to this tribe. Its a shame that this was allowed to happen. A legal representative of Israeli-American Billionaire Arnon Milchan warned MK David Amsalem (Likud) Monday that unless he apologizes within 48 for allegations of corruption, he will be facing a law suit. Amsalem grabbed Milchan's attention when he questioned his character and suggested that he may have lied about providing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with hundreds of shekels' worth of illicit gifts. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "Who's to say (Milchan) isn't lying? He's a 75-year-old billionaire. What, did Netanyahu put a gun to his head? You can see for yourself that something impure is happening here," said Amsalem on Sunday during an interview with Army Radio. Milchan (L) and Netanyahu (Photo: Gettyimages) Attorney Boaz Ben Zur issued a letter to Amsalem, stating, "You are hereby required to retract your remarks against Mr. Milchan, publicly apologize, and desist from making further defamatory remarks as we see them to be in the matter of Mr. Milchan. Should you fail to comply with this, Mr. Milchan will take legal action starting tomorrow, by approaching the relevant entities and sue you for damages in full. Anything Mr. Milchan receives from this, he will, as usual, donate to a worthy cause. "You claimed that Mr. Milchan went, on his own initiative, to the Israel Police in regard to what is being referred as 'Case 1000' (involving the alleged receiving of illicit gifts by the Netanyahu family from Milchan) in an effort to achieve nothing less than to end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure. You additionally claimed that Mr. Milchan's goal is to degrade the prime minister. Even worse, during the string of interviews you conducted, you added that if Mr. Milchan's words are true, he is a 'despicable' man. These are your words. "These statements and others are wild, unbridled and groundless defamations. These are falsehoods that amount to slander," said Milchan's lawyer. The Haaretz newspaper reported Friday that Milchan testified that both Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu demanded he give them illicit gifts, such as cigars and champagne. Netanyahu is expected to be called in for another round of questioning by the Police's Lahav 443 Special Investigations Unit for Fraud later in the week. MK David Amsalem (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) Channel 2 News commentator Amnon Abramovich claimed in his report on Friday that Milchan had bought Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, expensive jewelry as per her request. The report detailed a specific event that took place back in 2004, while Netanyahu served as finance minister. Meanwhile, over the last few days, a number of rumours have circulated against various senior officers in the police investigative department, prompting the police to issue a statement slamming the hearsay and promising to continue its investigation against the prime minister with integrity. According to a report on Channel 10 on Monday evening, officers in the police force tied the rumors to the ongoing investigation. In the last few days, according to reporters and different claims, we recognize what seems to be an orchestrated campaign designed to fabricate false allegations against senior officers in the investigative department, said a statement issued by the Police Spokespersons Unit. We take seriously the pressure being applied, obviously fabricated, which is intended to deter law enforces from fulfilling their duties faithfully by baselessly harming the credibility of the investigators, the statement claimed. Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh (Photo: Daniel Elior) Despite the rumors, it added, the Israel Police will provide full support to the investigators. The police will continue to do its job faithfully, without prejudice and without fear. Channel 10 also reported that the police was apparently investigating two other incidents related to the prime minister. One of the incidents is allegedly connected to submarines in the IDF navy. In the meantime, the subject of the other alleged investigation is not yet clear. The Haaretz newspaper reported Friday that Milchan testified that both Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu demanded he give them illicit gifts, such as cigars and champagne. Netanyahu is expected to be called in for another round of questioning by the Police's Lahav 443 Special Investigations Unit for Fraud later in the week. Channel 2 News commentator Amnon Abramovich claimed in his report on Friday that Milchan had bought Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, expensive jewelry as per her request. The report detailed a specific event that took place back in 2004, while Netanyahu served as finance minister. Egypt must launch an independent and thorough investigation into the recent killing of 10 men by security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, Amnesty International said on Monday. The government announced earlier this month that the 10 had been killed in a shootout in the northern Sinai city of al-Arish. But in a Monday statement, the London-based advocacy group repeated what the families of the slain men already claimthat at least six of them had already been in police custody for weeks before their deaths. Authorities deny the charge and insist the men had left their families to join the local affiliate of the Islamic State group and that they later participated in a string of attacks targeting security forces in Sinai. A speech delivered by IDF Planning Directorate and appointed Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin was interrupted Monday during a conference on research focused on matters of national security by members in the audience who demanded to know what is being done to secure the release of Abera Mengistu, an Israeli currently being held by terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "What about Abera Mengistu? Mengistu is also part of the country. Maj. Gen., what about his safety, why hasn't the tape been made public?" yelled out the protestors during his speech, before being removed from the auditorium. After the yelling ceased, Norkin continued his speech. Protestors during Norkin's speech (Photo: Switzeland Productions Lira SHimon, Aharon Gdalia) Abera Mengistu Abera Mengistu has been held by Hamas since voluntarily crossing the border into Gaza in September 2014. His family has said that he suffers from mental illness. Two other Israelis, Hisham al-Sayed and Jumaa Ibrahim Abu-Ghanima , are also being held by Hamas after reportedly crossing into Gaza of their own accord on two separate occasions. Photo: Motti Kimchi Earlier this month, Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) was forced to cut short a speech he was delivering at a National Student Union event held at Tel Aviv University, due to a loud demonstration staged by several dozen protestors who burst into the room and called for Mengistu's release. Norkin (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Norkin's speech focused on cutting edge technology used by the IDF to fight global terrorism. "ISIS is using advanced technology. The IDF has to contend with non-kinetic threats, with cyber being a central one. We estimate that we will no longer have a two week evaluation period, as we did during the Six Day War," he said. "The IDF Intelligence Directorate is dealing with dozens of entities it has to neutralize, and on a certain level, it's hard to deter them." MK Eli Cohen (Kulanu) was appointed to become the Minister of Economics while MK Ayoob Kara (Likud) was appointed to the position of minister without portfolio during a Knesset plenum vote that took place on Monday afternoon. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The two new minister were voted in by a vote of 45-33. An elated Cohen outlined his plans for strengthening the economy, placing particular emphasis on attracting investment Eli Cohen (L) and Ayoob Kara (Photo: Yitzhak Harari) Advancing the economy and industry is a subject that is close to my heart, Cohen said I will work to strengthen the economic growth by increasing investment in industry, raising productivity, attracting investors and international companies to Israel, investing in and advancing education in technology and protecting the rights of workers who constitute the source of human capital crucial to development. Cohen went on to say that strong industry, competition and efficiency lay at the core of his ideals, will enable fair employment and promotion of the workers and bring about the blooming of the economy. Leader of the Kulanu party, Moshe Kahlon, welcomed the nomination, exclaiming from the Knesset podium: Eli gave up a lot in order to join Kulanu. When he hesitated I told him that the test of values and morals for a man, which I see in him, is to tell his grandchildren what he has done for his people and for his country. For their part, the opposition attacked the nomination of the minister without portfolio. Leader of the Yesh Atid party, MK Yair Lapid, asked ridiculed the title of minister without portfolio. What is a minister without portfolio?, he rhetorically asked. It is a person who has an office of a minister, a car of a minister, associates of a minister and the appointment of a minister but there is just one thing he doesnt havework. You come to the office and then you go home. It is sad that the government doesnt even hide this. You dont even recognize a sliver of shame in the Israeli government. US President Donald Trump will focus immigration enforcement efforts first on criminal immigrants in the country illegally, his administration said on Monday, offering hope to more than three-quarters of a million young immigrants protected from deportation under the Obama administration. Those protected from deportation under former President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program have been worried that Trump would follow through on a campaign pledge to immediately end the "illegal amnesty." While White House spokesman Sean Spicer, at his first press briefing, did not explicitly rule out action on the program known as DACA, his comments suggest that Trump's initial policies will be similar to Obama's. Spicer noted Trump has said his focus would be on immigrants in the country illegally who have a criminal record or pose a threat. US President Donald Trump will discuss ways to expand trade with Britain when British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with him at the White House on Friday, although trade may not be the central focus of their conversation, the White House said. "I'm sure that there will be a discussion of trade ... the degree to which I don't know yet," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Monday. "He's going to have a great conversation about the potential for greater trade with the UK." Spicer added that he did not believe there were currently any plans for the two leaders to hold a joint news conference. Trump, asked in the Oval Office what his agenda was for the meeting, would not go into details, saying only, "I look forward to seeing her." YORK Jamie L. Bishop, 37, of Seward, has been sentenced to a term of 10-16 years in prison after being convicted of first degree sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy who had been a client at Epworth Village while she was employed there. Bishop appeared before York County District Judge James Stecker, with her attorney, Chad Wythers. In early December, she pleaded no contest to the charge. There was no plea agreement. Prosecutors said Bishop had multiple sexual encounters with the boy while she was a staff member and he was living at the Epworth group home for juveniles in York. According to court documents, the boy and Bishop had sexual relations between January and July of 2015. All sexual relations took place in the victims room at Epworth Village or outside on the facilitys grounds. Surveillance video seized by investigators from Epworth Village placed Bishop alone several times with the victim. According to the arrest affidavit, an investigation was launched by the York Police Department and officers searched Bishops cell phone. They found images of the victim on the device, along with recent internet search history queries about the definitions of degrees of assault and sexual assault in Nebraska, consequences of lying under Miranda, and the age of consent in Nebraska. Court documents also indicate that Bishop became pregnant and a baby was born in December, 2015. Investigators say that paternity testing shows the boy is the biological father of the child. Epworth officials said Bishop was immediately fired after they were contacted by police and notified of the investigation. On Monday, in District Court, Wythers argued against a recommendation made by the probation office that said his client was not fit for probation and incarceration was necessary. The statutes do not provide the ability of the probation officer to make a finding, Wythers said to Judge Stecker. Thats up to the court to make that determination. Thats solely for you to decide, not a probation officer. The court makes its own decision, regardless of the probations recommendations, Judge Stecker responded. York County Attorney Candace Bottorf referred to letters from the victims family, which is part of the pre-sentence report. The letter accurately reflects the seriousness and impact of her actions, Bottorf said. They (the victims family) are good people. They have had their lives impacted. The victims are the child father, the baby (born of the relationship), the child fathers family and including her own children. The child father had just turned 15 and she was 38 years old, Bottorf told the court. The difference in age is worthy to note we all have a duty to protect children. In this situation, she stood in a relationship with her employment being to keep the child safe so he could go to counseling and programming and then return home. Instead, the child had to be removed from the group home in York where his family was, which made it harder for them. And he is still not at home. He was already vulnerable. In his (Wythers) letter (in the pre-sentence report), he (Wythers) points to the fact that she gave birth to the baby, not the minor. Well, the minor had no choice about the babys birth, the babys name, no say in how he is raised, Bottorf said. And he is now struggling to see if he has parental rights to assert. As he gets older and someday has children of his own, he will think of this child and he will struggle with that. This will also cause him to struggle with relationships. Remember, Bottorf continued. A 15-year-old does not have the ability to consent to sex they are incapable of understanding the ramifications. And this happened with a 37-year-old who had the authority to keep him safe. And just like a prison guard (as an example), she had the ability to take away privileges because she had authority over him. In so many ways, the child didnt have the ability to consent to these acts. The victims family accurately states how he has been impacted and I hope the court understands how this has impacted them, Bottorf said. They were thrust into this and did nothing but trust the state to help their son. The nature of this act is so serious . . . a lesser sentence other than incarceration would depreciate the effects this has had on the victim and many others. This is a horrible, unfortunate situation, Wythers told the court. It is a crime for a 37-year-old to have sex with a 15-year-old. When we are talking about age, 16 is the age of consent. Had the victim been one year older, it would have been a horrible situation but it wouldnt have been this crime. The county attorney talks about where the child is now, Wythers continued. What happened is horrible but there is no evidence to suggest that he is in Boys Town now because of this situation. Nebraska law requires the court to consider probation as an option unless three things happen Wythers continued. First, the court has to consider if there is a substantial risk the offender will engage in further criminal conduct while on probation. There is nothing to suggest that she will. She has no criminal history. The evidence (from doctors, in the pre-sentence report) shows that the risk is low, basically non-existent. Second, is the offender in need of treatment that is best done in a correctional facility, Wythers said. The evidence from the doctors is that the best treatment is the continued counseling that shes been engaged in. No one can say that treatment in the department of correctional services is better than in the private sector. And third, would a lesser sentence depreciate the seriousness of the offense and show disrespect for the law? We know of other situations where people have been given probation in similar situations. So whether or not getting pregnant and having a baby is so serious she doesnt deserve probation . . . The court can consider if probation is appropriate, he said. She has five children, one is the child of this relationship and not yet two years old. The doctors indicate that incarceration of her will be an emotional detriment on her children. We have submitted 40 letters from others that say she is a good mother, a good friend, a good person who made a mistake. All this points to probation. Im really sorry for everything Ive done, Bishop told the court. The decisions I made were bad and I am so sorry. I didnt want to hurt anyone. Judge Stecker acknowledged the points made: that she has five children, she has had only minor traffic tickets in her criminal past. You have also engaged in counseling on your own, Judge Stecker said. There was no threat of physical harm in this situation, but there was psychological harm (for the victim). What strikes me are the reports (in the pre-sentence report) that Epworth staff had confronted you about rumors and despite that your relationship continued and you got pregnant. You took advantage of a 15-year-old, he was vulnerable and you had authority over him. Your employment was to take care of that child through programming and boundaries and counseling. In this instance, the court finds that a 15-year-old is not capable of consent, is not mature psychologically or emotionally. And he was in a group home for treatment, Judge Stecker continued. The court cannot ignore the consequences on the victim, the baby, the victims family, Judge Stecker said. You are not fit for probation due to the seriousness of the crime. She was given credit for one day served in the county jail. This is unfortunate for a lot of people that have been impacted, Judge Stecker said. I hope you take this and understand the consequences for the victim, the victims family, your family, everyone you know and the community. The two EOD technicians from the 94th Civil Engineering Squadron were Tech Sgts. Matthew Halstead and Ivan Tarin. They teamed up with other technicians and local authorities to perform sweeps of designated protected areas. "This was an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of history and for our technicians to work hand in hand with other military and civilian authorities," said Senior Master Sgt. Ross Kurashima, 94th EOD flight superintendent. "It's what we train for each and every day." "It was an honor to be selected to support such a high-level event," Halstead said."I've trained with technicians from all around the world," Tarin said. "Few can say that they have participated in a presidential inauguration." In addition to the EOD Citizen Airmen, 90 members of the 459th Air Refueling Wing from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, took to the streets in Washington to participate in the inauguration parade. Lt. Col. Rebecca Fox, 459th ARW executive officer, said it was a privilege for the wings Citizen Airman to be able to represent the entire Air Force Reserve Command in the parade. She said the parade included a total of 360 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and Air Force Academy Airmen, representing the entire Air Force. We are a total force, and its great to showcase our camaraderie on such a big platform as the inauguration, Fox said. (Information for this article taken from a story written by 2nd Lt. Katie Spencer, 459th ARW public affairs, Joint Base Andrews.) MacDill Reservists host civilian employers The 927th Air Refueling Wing here hosted nearly 30 Floridian civic leaders on a two-day orientation flight onboard a KC-135 Stratotanker, Jan.19-20. The event was sponsored by the Florida Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; a Department of Defense organization which develops and promotes a supportive work environment for service members, through outreach opportunities directed towards influential members of the civilian community. The bosslift was specifically intended to target civilians that are employers of the wing's traditional reservists to educate them on the roles and missions of the Air Force Reserve. The mission was also designed to give them an understanding of what their employee does when they are fulfilling their military commitment. This trip really opened up my eyes to the amount of work the Reserve does to keep each wing moving, said Pete Denove, Senior Director at Arthrex, Inc. The program was perfectly done without a minute wasted, and I want to thank the wing for a learning experience I will never forget. The event began with a mission briefing from Col. Mike Remualdo, 927th ARW vice commander, and remarks from the state ESGR Chairman, James Dicks. Shortly after departing MacDill AFB, the civilians were able to witness an air-to-air refueling mission as two Joint Base Charleston, S.C., C-17s received fuel from the KC-135. Over the next day and a half, the group was able to tour a C-17 static display at JB Charleston and visit the 482nd Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. The whirlwind tour consisting of three units in two days, showcased the diverse weapon systems the Reserve operates in defense of our nation. The Air Force Reserve is involved in every nearly mission the active duty is involved in, and this was a great opportunity to showcase the wide variety of skills our reservists possess, Remualdo said. Without the support of the civilian community, and employers like those that were on this flight, we would not be able to produce the qualified Airmen needed to accomplish our mission. For some of the reservists, this was also a way to show their employers how much they appreciate the support they have received over the years. Master Sgt. Monica Eastman, a flight medic assigned to the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and also a point of care technician in an emergency room, nominated her employer for the flight. Julie (Carter) has always been willing to work with me in taking time off to serve my country. The support Florida Hospital gives me has been unbelievable, Eastman said. One thing I have never had to worry about while serving overseas was not having a job to come home to. Carter considers it an honor to be selected for this flight and is appreciative of all of her employees that come to her with military experience. "They've done more in the military than they can ever do here," Carter said. "They come with a lot of knowledge and skills before they even get here and their training is so good, they almost show us what to do." To learn more about the ESGR, or to volunteer, visit http://esgr.mil/. When Shane Garthwaite was asked by an officer how much he had to drink, he responded "Enough alcohol to get myself into trouble." That's what happened Saturday afternoon, when Garthwaite, 41, of Janesville was arrested for his fourth alleged drunken driving offense by Janesville police. Officers were sent to the area of Beloit Avenue and Reuther Way at about 1:15 p.m. Saturday for a driver passed out behind the wheel of a blue-colored pickup truck, in a lane of traffic. The truck took off as officers arrived, but it was stopped at Beloit Avenue and Palmer Drive. Garthwaite refused to take field sobriety tests so he was arrested for operating while intoxicated. A breath test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20. A DeForest man who allegedly was driving all over the road and sidewalk Sunday afternoon turned on two Madison police officers trying to place him under arrest, allegedly punching one officer in the face and twisting the thumb of the second one before bystanders subdued the driver. Nathan Beyer, 39, faces multiple charges including a fifth alleged drunken driving offense, two counts of resisting/obstructing causing substantial bodily harm/soft tissue injury, and disarming a peace officer, Madison police said. The incident happened about 3 p.m. in the 4500 block of East Washington Avenue. Witnesses said Beyer was driving all over Portage Road before getting to East Washington Avenue, at one point forcing a pedestrian to hide behind a telephone pole as he drove on the sidewalk. "The pedestrian called 911, fearing he was going to kill someone," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. Beyer's driving ended when he crashed into a light pole in the parking lot of a hotel on East Washington Avenue, but he took off on foot, hiding behind a fast food restaurant. "He failed to follow officers' orders and instead fought with them," DeSpain said. "One officer needed stitches to close a wound above his eye after getting punched, while the officer tried to prevent the suspect from taking his service weapon, which was in the officer's hand." The second officer injured her thumb trying to get Beyer off the other officer. "A couple of citizens joined in the struggle, with one helping hold down his legs and the other holding down his hands," DeSpain said. "We want to thank the citizens who came to the officers' aid as the out of control suspect resisted arrest." Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Pe retelele de socializare circula o inregistrare in care romanii ar protesta impotriva desfasurarii de trupe NATO pe teritoriul Romaniei si impotriva ajutorului oferit Ucrainei de catre guvernul de la Bucuresti, transmite Hotnews . Mai multe conturi de Twitter de propaganda lanseaza informatii false - Pe retelele de socializare circula o inregistrare in care romanii ar protesta impotriva desfasurarii de trupe NATO pe teritoriul tarii noastre si impotriva ajutorului oferit Ucrainei de catre guvernul de la Bucuresti. Mai multe conturi de Twitter de propaganda lanseaza informatii false despre asa-zise - The coordinator of the Observatory for Innovation in the Public Sector within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Marco Daglio, present on Tuesday in Bucharest, said that steps are being taken with the Government to implement the innovation laboratory, stressing that - The documentary film Phoenix - The Story will have its gala premiere, on Sunday, at the Palace Hall in Bucharest, informs a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - Several thousand believers arrived, Sunday evening at the Metropolitanate of Moldova and Bucovina to take part in the Calea Sfintilor pilgrimage, a procession in which the box with the relics of Saint Pious Paraskeva was carried through the streets of Iasi, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu - A new edition of Asia Fest will take place, from Friday to Sunday, in the National Park in Bucharest, and the organizers have prepared shows, films, workshops and exhibitions, a press release from the organizers, sent to AGERPRES reads. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste - Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said that, so far, the Government does not have data to justify the concern regarding the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, adding that the Bucharest authorities are constantly monitoring the environmental data in this case. Fii la curent Police checking into possible criminal activity in a Madison city park led to officers finding 20 bullet casings in the park. A park ranger for Madison Parks called police on Sunday after a citizen reported the activity in Door Creek Park, 7035 Littlemore Drive, Madison police said. "During a check of the parking lot in the park, 20 casings were found," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "There had been no reports of anyone being shot or any property damage." A neighbor told police noises during the night the past few weeks could have been gunfire. A Madison woman entering a building Downtown Saturday morning was mugged by a man who allegedly pushed his way into the entry way when she unlocked it, but the suspect was followed and arrested later. Willie Thomas, 46, no permanent address, was tentatively charged with robbery, Madison police said. The incident happened at about 8 a.m. at 22 East Mifflin Street, as the 36-year-old woman used her access card to enter her place of work. "The stranger pushed his way into the vestibule with her," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "He grabbed for the victim's purse as she struggled to keep control, dropping her coffee, jacket and water bottle." The suspect got control of the purse and ran, while the distraught victim ran after him, yelling for help. "A witness saw what was happening and ordered the suspect to drop the purse, which he did, causing its contents to spill all over the sidewalk," DeSpain said. Thanks to a good description given by the victim and the witness, Thomas was found and arrested not long after the alleged mugging. Edgewood High School students who attended Fridays historic presidential inauguration were surprised by both the level and tone of the disdain others showed for the past administration. Junior Alexandra Wheeler is a Trump supporter but was among those in the Edgewood group who were disheartened by jeers for some of those attending the ceremony such as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and outgoing President Barack Obama. The students, who got VIP tickets through the offices of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Rep. Mark Pocan, were standing a good distance away, so they could only make out forms and colors such as first lady Melania Trumps blue dress. But they said there was no mistaking when attention was drawn to someone the decidedly pro-Trump crowd disliked. On the flip side, senior Will Swita, who was about 150 yards away from Trump because of a friend who had access to better tickets, said he was struck by the rapt attention of those sitting around him mostly older adults when Trump spoke. When he spoke it was dead quiet. You could have heard a pin drop, which opened my eyes, he said. They really like this guy. The trip to Washington was a voluntary culminating activity for the American Political Systems class at Edgewood. A total of 44 students chose to go from the 190 who took the semesterlong course open to juniors and seniors. Students had to sign up before the election, so they didnt go based on who won. The thought was were there to experience and witness the transition of power from one elected president to another elected president, said Wade DallaGrana, one of the teachers. It was not about politics. Some of the class sections are taught by Derek Behnke, another chaperone on the trip along with Kym Husom, social studies department chair. For some students like junior Katie Thompson, a Clinton backer, attending the inauguration for someone she didnt support was buffered by the experience of attending the Womens March on Washington on Saturday. Students initially had the choice of whether to attend the march, but some who planned to go to the Smithsonian Institution on Saturday couldnt get there because of the sea of humanity. The crowd at the womens march was more powerful for me than the crowd at the inauguration. I felt like they had more energy, junior Yuritzi Rosado Lagunes said. On Saturday, the students went to Arlington National Cemetery, where four of them laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the changing of the guard. They went to a number of museums and said they were particularly touched by the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Newseum. UW-Madison benefactors are funding a new scholarship for international students that they hope will help nurture the next generation of development and anti-poverty leaders around the world. The university announced its new King-Morgridge Scholars Program last week. Its named for the two couples who are funding it with a $36 million donation Robert and Dorothy King, and UW-Madison mega-donors John and Tashia Morgridge. The four-year scholarship will go to high-achieving students from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and South Asia, university officials said, and starts with its first cohort of six students this fall. It is run by the UW-Madison International Division. Students will hold internships, take part in service learning projects and meet with alumni who are experts on international development and poverty. When they graduate, officials said, they will have sharpened skills to help address those challenges in their home countries. This is a phenomenal opportunity for international students to explore solutions to major world problems alongside our domestic students, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said. Dorothy King grew up in Madison and attended UW-Madison; she and her husband Robert founded R. Eliot King and Associates, an investment management firm. The couple has funded several efforts pairing higher education with global development, including an institute at Stanford University and a scholarship program at Dartmouth similar to the newly announced one at UW- Madison. The Morgridges, who graduated from UW-Madison in 1955, have given hundreds of millions of dollars to the university for research, faculty, facilities and scholarships. Students plan Chinese New Year celebration UW-Madison students will mark the Chinese New Year with an event at the Memorial Union on Saturday. The universitys Chinese Students and Scholars Association is putting on the Spring Festival Gala, which includes performances and a fireworks show to celebrate the upcoming lunar new year. The event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Wisconsin Union Theater. A Powerball ticket worth $1 million, sold in Madison in August, is still out there, waiting to be turned into cash. The Wisconsin Lottery said on Monday that the ticket holder only has 10 days left to turn it in, or the money will be used for property tax relief. The ticket for the Aug. 6, 2016 Powerball drawing was sold at the Mobil station at 2601 Shopko Drive on the city's East Side. Lottery rules give winners 180 days to claim their prizes, so whoever has the $1 million Powerball ticket needs to show up by 4 p.m. on Feb. 2 at lottery headquarters, 2135 Rimrock Road. The winning numbers in the Aug. 6 drawing were 20, 33, 36, 47 and 52, with the Powerball of 12. The unclaimed ticket has the five numbers correct but not a correct Powerball number, so the set prize is $1 million and not the big jackpot, which was $52 million for that drawing. "If the ticket is not redeemed by the deadline, the $1 million will be returned to Wisconsinites in the form of property tax relief," said lottery spokesman Casey Langan. The store where the ticket was sold gets a two percent incentive for selling it, so the Mobil store got $20,000 from the lottery for selling the winning ticket last year. The current Powerball jackpot is up to an estimated $170 million. The next drawing is Wednesday night; a single play costs $2. We dont often find much to admire in Russian President Vladimir Putin, Annexer of Crimea, Flatterer of Trump, Enemy of Democracy. But Putin soon may grab a title that we envy Vanquisher of Cigarettes. Heres why: Russia proposes to ban the sale of cigarettes to people born in 2015 and thereafter. Everyone older is presumably grandfathered in. Everyone else, generations to come, would not be able to buy cigarettes legally. Eventually, when the last Russian born in 2014 dies, so would legal cigarette sales. (Generation-X-tinguish?) In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into low Earth orbit, igniting the space race. Could Moscow now spur a global rivalry to be the first country to puff its last cigarette? Go, Vlad, go! No, we dont believe a proposal similar to Moscows could gain traction in the United States. Such draconian laws didnt prevent Americans from drinking during Prohibition. Even if cigarettes were illegal, people would find ways to smuggle and smoke, creating a thriving black market. Speak-easies would become smoke-easies. And imagine the political outcry if cigarettes were legal for people born in one year but not ever for those born a year later. Having often railed against nanny-state policies and promoted individual choice in many realms, were often the wrong party to declare Thou Shalt Not. But were free to anticipate a fascinating experiment in social engineering, Kremlin-style if it happens. The Russian proposal isnt law yet. Even if it is passed, Putin and other leaders presumably will be out of office long before the first generation of those banned at birth from tobacco become adults and start pushing for repeal and replace. Or not. Putin has already accelerated efforts to cut smoking, which kills about 300,000 to 400,000 people there every year. In 2013, Russia banned smoking in most public places, including workplaces, hiked tobacco taxes and quashed the sale of smokes in street kiosks. Still, smoking rates remain high in Russia. But the Russians report progress: The number of youths ages 13 to 15 who smoke sank to 9.3 percent in 2015 from a staggering 25.4 percent in 2004, according to the Health Ministry, The New York Times reports. As a rough comparison: U.S. teen smoking has plummeted by half or more in just five years, according to the University of Michigans Monitoring the Future study. The 2016 government-sponsored survey found that just under 1 percent of eighth-graders report smoking cigarettes daily, down from 2.4 percent five years ago, while 1.9 percent of 10th-graders smoked, down from 5.5 percent five years ago. The same pattern held for 12th-graders: 4.8 percent light up daily, down from 10.3 percent. The battle to defeat cigarettes isnt just a superpower contest. The tiny kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas, for instance, outlawed the sale of tobacco more than a decade ago and banned smoking in public places and private offices. In 2011, researchers noted, the overall smoking rate 2.8 percent in Bhutan was by far the lowest in Asia. The researchers couldnt pinpoint the effect of the ban because they didnt collect comparative data before the ban. But all the signs are that it has reduced use, the researchers wrote. Our conclusion: The country known as Shangri-La is busy creating a non-smokers paradise. Will Moscow or anyone else beat them to it? The world knows that helping people quit smoking, or never start, carries immense health benefits. In a scant generation or two, smoking has lost much of its appeal. An American culture that once glamorized it now ostracizes it. Smoking rates plummet. And the race is on. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. It was courageous and right of Garo Paylan, in the Turkish Parliament to call in remembrance the genocide of the Armenians, Turkish MP of the German Bundestag Sevim Dagdelen said in an interview with Armenpress. It is undemocratic that the deputy was expelled from further parliamentary meetings. President Erdogan and his AKP do not want to hear the historical truth and they cannot bear it. President Erdogan acts rigorously against his critics, after the failed military coup last summer more than ever, the lawmaker said. She said they have to fear that Garo Paylan can also be imprisoned like the other deputies. HDP deputies are imprisoned. The party chairmen Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag are to be sentenced together to more than 200 years in prison. In Erdogan's heated mood, however, one must also worry about health and life: Just think about Hrant Dink, who was shot dead ten years ago by a nationalist in Istanbul. The men behind this assassination have remained undisturbed to this day, Sevim Dagdelen said. Member of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party Garo Paylan raised the issue of the Armenian Genocide during the discussions of the Constitutional changes in Turkeys Parliament. He was expelled from three parliamentary sessions for his statement. Syuzi Muradyan A town of Fort Winnebago bridge over Interstate 39 in Columbia County is scheduled to be replaced in seven years, but state officials want to find out what the public thinks about it now. A public meeting about the Grotzke Road bridge project is on tap Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. at Portage High School, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said. The proposed project includes removing and replacing the bridge as well as the usual approach work. The meeting is an open house, with exhibits displaying the intended work. DOT staff will be at the open house to explain the work being considered, traffic impacts, construction staging and the timeline. The current DOT schedule has the bridge work set for 2024, but that could be moved up. Those not able to attend the public meeting but want to provide input can contact project manager Mahesh Shrestha by phone, 608-245-2674, by regular mail, 2101 Wright St., Madison WI 53704 or email, mahesh.shrestha@dot.wi.gov YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. 18 people died and around 50 were injured as a tornado ripped through Southern United States, Associated Press reported on January 22. At least 15 died in the state of Georgia, and 4 in Mississippi. Strong winds have destroyed homes, knocked down trees and electricity networks. Meteorologists dont forecast weather improvements quite yet, while new tornadoes are expected in Mississippi, Florida and Alabama. A state of emergency has been declared in Georgia, and President Donald Trump vowed to support the affected states. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed admiration regarding the anti-Trump Womens Marches. The former Democratic Presidential candidate said on Twitter: Scrolling through images of the #WomensMarch is awe-inspiring. Hope it brought joy to others as it did to me. More than two million women took part in the anti-Trump protests worldwide, after a day of his inauguration. The largest protest was held in Washington D.C., where hundreds of thousands of people protested the inauguration of the new US President. The protests included numerous Hollywood stars, musicians and activists. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. In accordance to the assignment of Justice Minister Arpine Hovhannisyan, the Control Service of the ministry visited the Nubarashen correctional facility on January 23, to clarify and check the recent media reports on the prison. The ministry told ARMENPRESS results of the visit will be releases soon. Recently media reports said convicts of the prison are complaining over their incarceration conditions and are demanding the Ombudsmans visit. Some prisoners have engaged in self-harm actions, media reports stated. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. A group of US Senators, including both the representatives of the Democratic and the Republican parties, are going to submit a bill which will limit President Donald Trumps ability to eliminate the sanctions against Russia, reports BBC. In an interview with NBC TV, Democrats leader in Senate Chuck Schumer said the legislators worry that Trump administration may eliminate the sanctions instead of reducing the nuclear weapons by Russia. If we eliminate the sanctions, we will tell Russia go ahead and continue intervening in our elections and do bad things. This will send the same signal to China and Iran. That would be terrible, Schumer said. He said the document was supported by Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham. As it is expected, the bill will be submitted to the Congress next week. Photo by Reuters YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The New York Times Twitter account appears to have been hacked, the Hill reports. The @NYTvideo account tweeted BREAKING: leaked statement from Vladimir Putin says: Russia will attack the United States with Missiles. The post was taken down by 10 a.m. The screenshot has been published by The Hill. Around 10:15, The New York Times Video account tweeted "We deleted a series of tweets published from this account earlier today without our authorization. We are investigating the situation." YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Turkeys opposition Kemalist party the Republican Peoples Party, which opposes to the expected Constitutional changes in the country, has made a decision to appeal to the Constitutional Court over this issue, T24.com.tr reports. Ozgur Ozel, head of the partys parliamentary faction, said after when President Erdogan will ratify the package of constitutional changes adopted in the Parliament, they will transfer the issue to the Constitutional Court. They are going to mention in their application that the package of changes contains parts that contradict to the Constitution, as well as the secrecy of the voting over its adoption in the Parliament has been violated. The Constitutional changes, proposed by Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP) are comprised of 18 points. Opposition Nationalist movement party approved them. After the Parliaments approval, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will sign the document which will be followed by a referendum. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump has said that he will soon begin "renegotiating" the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts. Meetings have been scheduled with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, he said. Earlier, Trump said the trade deal is the worst deal to have ever been signed by the United States. The White House website says that if Canada and Mexico refuse to accept a renegotiation of Nafta that provides a "fair deal" for American workers, then the US will move to withdraw from it. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The delegations of the Syrian government and opposition will sit down around the negotiation table on January 23 and will hold direct talks under the presence of a mediator, deputy head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces Abdul Hakim Bashar told TASS. Yes, these will be direct talks, he saying as quoted by TASS. However, he didnt clarify who is going to act as mediator. He said this can be Russia, Turkey or the UN. Earlier Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko said the meeting format is still being discussed. United Nations Secretary Generals Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura said he is optimistic over the upcoming Astana talks on Syria. We, as always, are optimistic, he said. The Astana talks on Syria will be held on January 23-24 between the Syrian government and opposition. The delegations of Russia, Iran, Turkey and Staffan de Mistura will take part in the talks. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. In accordance to the Governments balanced regional development and popularization of Armenian winemaking traditions, a new project on boosting exports kicked off in the Armenian resort town Tsakhkadzor. Visitors are offered to have a taste of traditional Armenian dishes and Armenian wine in the VINUM wine house. According to Stepan Avagyan, founder of the project, Armenian winemaking traditions arent properly presented around the world, although, there are prerequisites to state that Armenia can become famous worldwide for its high quality productions, the Development Foundation of Armenia told ARMENPRESS. We have adopted a new approach by solving several issues, tourism development, popularization of wine culture and becoming a platform for local winemakers. We have a goal of transforming VINUM into a trademark, under which local producers will be able to offer their products to both domestic and foreign consumers, Stepan Avagyan from the Investor Support Department of the DFA said. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur Kati Piri expressed confidence that the expected constitutional changes in Turkey will weaken the rule of law in the country, Demokrathaber.net reports. In a society, where the grounds of democracy are being weakened, concentrating more power in the hand of a one body, in other words, the President, will weaken the rule of law in the country, Kati Piri said. She also talked about the violation of freedom of media in Turkey, stating: There is no alternative than to call on the European Parliament to temporarily suspend the EU accession talks. The political message we want to address to the Turkish government is the following: if you seriously want to join the EU, this is not the way you must move forward. The EP rapporteur said their message is open and clear. She expressed hope Turkeys government will return to the path of reforms. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The traditional festive reception of the members of Chezh Republic-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group was held in the Armenian Embassy in Prague on January 19, press service of the MFA told Armenpress. In his welcoming speech, Armenian Ambassador Tigran Seyranyan talked about the bilateral relations, stating that the positive dynamics of the previous years continued in 2016, and the year was marked by the official visit of the Czech President Milos Zeman to Armenia, as well as by a number of mutual visits. The Ambassador expressed confidence the mutual partnership between the two states in various sectors will expand during 2017. Speaking about the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, Ambassador Seyranyan said Armenia is interested in holding fair and transparent elections in accordance with the international standards. Chairman of the Czech Republic-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Robin Bohnisch in his turn thanked for the traditional reception and wished success to the two countries and peoples. Other high-ranking officials of the Czech Republic, Armenian community representatives took part in the reception. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Authorities have banned the imports of several Iranian products to Armenia amid documented bird flu cases in the country. The State Service for Food Safety (SSFS) told ARMENPRESS in accordance to the executive order of the SSFS director a temporary ban has been imposed on imports of all kinds of live poultry from Irans Ghazvin, Tehran, Kermanshah, Gilan, Merkezi and Golestan provinces. The ban includes all kinds of poultry products until the Iranian authorities report of containing the bird flu. The ban doesnt include products which were imported from Iran prior to January 20. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Arsen Voskanyan, who had been taken hostage in Colombia by the countrys National Liberation Army armed group, has been released in mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Tiempo reported. Earlier in 2016 Tiempo reported that foreigner Arsen Voskanyan who had been captured by the National Liberation Army, attempted to illegally transport endangered poisonous frogs, according to authorities. Smugglers can sell just one of these frogs for up to 1500 Euros. Tiempo also reported that Voskanyan was born in Armenia, however entered Colombia on a Russian passport. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The political group of the European Peoples Party (EPP) at PACE is discussing the issue of former Chairman of the EPP group, Italian Luca Volonte who has been charged by the Milan Prosecution on taking bribe from Azerbaijan, member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE, RPA faction MP Samvel Farmanyan writes on Facebook. 1 hour 45 minutes the PACE EPP political group is discussing one issue: the charge by the Milan Prosecution against former Chairman of the EPP group, Italian Luca Volonte on taking a bribe from Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani lobby threw into a battle its all clients who have been discovered and are being discovered. We urge that the PACE must appoint a special rapporteur-investigator on this issue who in a short period of time will report to the PACE on the corruption scandal which doubted the EPPs reputation across Europe, Farmanyan writes. The Milan Police and Prosecution launched a criminal case against Luca Volonte in February, 2016, who is a former MP of the Christian-Democratic Party and is the former Chairman of the EPP faction at PACE. Volonte is accused of taking a bribe of 2.4 million Euros from Azerbaijan in 2012-2013. Instead, he was being used by official Baku in the Italian Parliament and the PACE. The criminal case launched against Volonte is comprised of two parts: Bribery and money laundering. It is important to state that Volonte keeps silent and refuses to talk with the investigators. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Moscow doesnt get excited with regards to the relations of Russia and the US during the presidency of Donald Trump, but ready for their normalization based on equality, Russians Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, reports TASS. We dont get too excited, but we will be ready to go our own part of the way so that the relations with the US normalize. This is possible only based on equality, respect for each other and search for balance of interests where we have common goals such as war on terror", Lavrov saying as quoted by TASS. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan had a meeting with President of the European Court of Human Rights Guido Raimondi in Strasbourg, press service of the Ombudsmans Office told Armenpress. Judge appointed by Armenia Armen Harutyunayn and Secretary of the Court Roderick Liddell were present at the meeting. Issues related to the cooperation between the Armenian Ombudsmans Institute and the ECHR were discussed. The talk, in particular, relates to the legal mechanism on involving the Armenian Ombudsman in the investigation of cases in the ECHR as a third side. The ECHR President attached importance to the Ombudsmans such initiative, stating that it would be the best international experience and will contribute to raising the effectiveness of the ECHR activity. The new form of making decisions by the Ombudsman on revealing violations of rights has also been discussed. This new decision-making form is based on the principles applied by the ECHR. At the end of the meeting the sides agreed to ensure the continuous cooperation and to pursue the protection of human rights. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Police Chief of Armenia Vladimir Gasparyan on January 23 had a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Armenia Maria Pavlova Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva, press service of the Police told Armenpress. Welcoming the guest, the Police Chief attached importance to the cooperation of the law enforcement agencies of the two countries and assured that Armenias Police will take practical steps on that path. In her turn, the Bulgarian Ambassador thanked for the warm reception and underlined the necessity of exchange of experience between the Police structures. Vladimir Gasparyan introduced the Ambassador the results of the ongoing reforms in Armenias Police, adding that the effectiveness of the law enforcement activity is related with partnering relations of Police structures of various countries, particularly, in the direction of combating contemporary challenges. Maria Pavlova Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva said the Bulgarian Embassy is ready to assist intensifying the mutual cooperation between the Police structures of the two states. Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt states that conflicts can have no military solution, referring to Nogaorno Karabakh conflict as well. Armenpress reports Pedro Agramunt noted with grief that it has been so far impossible to record any progress in the conflict settlement processes between PACE member states. We witnesses escalation on Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line in April, 2016. Today the situation remains tense there, Armenpress reports Agramunt saying. He added that the situation in Ukraine has not normalized as well, noting that ceasefire violation cases in Donbas continue. The situation becomes strain in the Balkans as well, but the long and painful history of Europe shows that conflicts should have no military solution, the PACE President said. Agramunt stated the role of parliamentarians in the conflict settlement processes. Parliamentary diplomacy is a key format for dialogue, therefore our Assembly should make use of its entire capacity in this regard, he said. During the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) launched on January 23, Pedro Agramunt was re-elected as PACE President for one-year term. There were no other candidates running for the Presidents post. After being re-elected Agramunt thanked the parliamentarians for the trust and cooperation. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan met on January 23 with Philippe Boillat, CoE Director General, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law in Strasburg, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Ombudsman of Armenia. During the meeting Philippe Boillat highlighted the adoption of the new law on the Human Rights Defender, expressing readiness to further deepen the existing cooperation. Accordingly, agreements were reached to expand joint projects and implement new projects in the sphere of the rights of prisoners, soldiers and other areas. The close cooperation with the civil society and journalists was highlighted. Arman Tatoyan discussed also the issue of Alexander Lapshins extradition with Philippe Boillat. He particularly mentioned that his extradition is politically motivated and directly threatens the freedom of speech. It grossly violates the European system of human rights protection. The visit of reporters to Artsakh has a preventive nature and cannot become a reason for persecution. According to Armenias Human Rights Defender, this incident makes visits to Artsakh more reasonable, as well as the participation of Artsakhs Ombudsman and the civil society in international processes. Arman Tatoyan also handed the report on the Azerbaijani attacks on Armenias Chinari village in December 2016 and January 2017 to Philippe Boillat. A special interactive report reflecting the full results of the fact-finding works has been elaborated. US President Donald Trump holds up an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership after signing it in the Oval Office of the White House on January 23, 2017 President Donald Trump's first moves on trade have cast a pall over US trade relations and could hurt US businesses, trade experts say. Trump has begun his term by pulling out of one major agreement, vowing to renegotiate or exit another, and threatening to impose border taxes on imports -- a clear shift away from decades of policy putting the United States at the forefront of the global push for free trade. A strident critic of existing US free trade agreements throughout his campaign, Trump's first order of business Monday was to sign an executive order officially withdrawing from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership. The move was the fulfillment of a campaign promise -- one that was easy to do because the 2015 agreement had never been implemented, but which nonetheless sent a clear signal the United States is backing away from hard-fought trade pacts. "It's a sign of a brake on global integration," said International Monetary Fund official Alejandro Werner, who heads the Western Hemisphere Department. Jake Colvin, vice president of the National Foreign Trade Council, a pro-trade business group, said US leadership on trade issues remains key. "It is critical that the United States not cede leadership on the global economy to countries like China," he told AFP. "It's important to have a muscular trade policy, but we need to make sure we're playing offense as well as defense and continue to open up foreign markets for American business and workers." He said the NFTC will engage with the new administration to point out the good things the TPP would have accomplished. - 'A disruptive guy' - The TPP withdrawal followed shortly on Trump's threat in a meeting with corporate CEOs at the White House early Monday to impose "a substantial border tax" on products coming into the US market, to encourage firms to move manufacturing into the country. "Now, some people would say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," since countries like China and others make it "very, very hard" to sell US products there, he said. "In some cases it's impossible." Story continues "What we want is fair trade, fair trade. We're going to treat countries fairly, but they have to treat us fairly." But trade experts caution that such moves risk retaliation and in an extreme event a trade war. "This is going to be disruptive. It's not a surprise. We elected a disruptive guy as president," said Scott Miller, an international business expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Discriminatory tariffs on particular countries -- like those Trump threatened to impose on Mexico and China during the campaign -- are "just chaos," said Barry Bosworth, chair of international economics at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. "They always respond," Bosworth said of China. "They will start responding. And then we have the significant risk of trade war, because there is no underlying principle, it's just, does Donald Trump like them or not." That would impose "a high cost to American companies," like Boeing, since China would just switch to Airbus, he said. "How is that going to help us?" - Modernize NAFTA? - Trump on Sunday repeated his pledge to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement in upcoming talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. In a statement Friday shortly after his inauguration, the White House said he will pull out of the 23-year-old deal unless there is a "fair deal." The trade experts said they are at a loss to understand Trump's objectives in renegotiating a deal that already provides tariff-free trade among the three members, but acknowledged that there are areas that can be brought up to date, such as e-commerce rules. But they cautioned that manufacturing in the region is highly interconnected, and change could be disruptive. "Is he going to throw all that away?" Bosworth asked. "I think a lot of American businesses are going to be upset about this." Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, noted that Trump did not invoke the NAFTA article governing renegotiation, which would have "triggered a ticking clock" dissolving the treaty in six months unless an agreement was reached. Trump will receive his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on January 31. No date has been given for a meeting with Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but it is expected soon. Yahoo announced in September 2016 that hackers in 2014 stole personal data from more than 500 million of its user accounts The US Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into whether Yahoo should have informed investors sooner about two major data breaches, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter. The SEC in December requested documents from the tech company concerning the cyberattacks, the paper reported. US law requires companies that fall victim to such hacks disclose them as soon as they are deemed to affect stock prices. Yahoo announced in September that hackers in 2014 stole personal data from more than 500 million of its user accounts. It admitted another cyberattack in December, this one dating from 2013, affecting over a billion users. Yahoo is in the process of a buy-out by Verizon, which is investigating the cyberattacks' impact on the $4.8 billion deal. The telecom giant plans to acquire Yahoo's core business, namely its online advertising activities as well as websites including Yahoo Mail and Yahoo News. The SEC's investigation is focusing on why it took Yahoo several years to reveal the 2013 and 2014 attacks. However, the agency has not yet decided whether it will file suit against Yahoo, the Journal reported. Yahoo is expected to report its fourth-quarter earnings for 2016 after the market closes on Monday. The data breaches have been a major embarrassment for a former internet star that has failed to keep up with Google, Facebook and other rising stars. By David Ljunggren CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - The Trump administration's main concerns about trade revolve around deficits with Mexico and China, Canada's ambassador to the United States told reporters on Sunday, saying his country was not the focus of U.S. efforts to renegotiate NAFTA. David MacNaughton, a key Canadian player in the North American Free Trade Agreement issue, also said U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had agreed to meet "very soon." Earlier on Sunday, Trump said he would meet Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to begin renegotiating NAFTA, under which both nations send most of their exports to the United States. "I don't think Canada is the focus at all," MacNaughton said. "But we are part of NAFTA, and there are discussions that need to be had, and we'll be having them over the next few weeks." MacNaughton expressed optimism that Canada would make progress in the talks. Senior Trudeau aides in recent weeks have tried to persuade their U.S. counterparts that given the tight links between the two nations' economies, protectionist moves would hurt both Canadians and Americans. "What we've got to worry about is that we're collateral damage," said MacNaughton. The envoy also suggested Canada might at some point focus on bilateral relations with the United States rather than including Mexico in all the NAFTA talks. That could upset Mexico, whose economy has suffered since Trump started expressing unhappiness with U.S. companies that have factories there. "We will cooperate on trilateral matters when it's in our interests, and we'll be looking to do things that are in our interests bilaterally," said MacNaughton, declining to give details. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Peter Cooney and Lisa Von Ahn) Toronto entrepreneur looks to bring the world together through clothing line The colours of the world form the palette for Toronto company CDN Apparel. It's founder, Faris Mirza just launched his clothing line of jackets and t-shirts. The clothes bear the colours of different countries with one constant. Each country's flag is merged with the maple leaf. "Creating this was like walking the streets of Toronto everyday," he said. "We have people from so many different beliefs so many different backgrounds, they're all Canadian and it's just beautiful." From Australia, to Zimbabwe Each country gets its own badge. "I pretty much know all the flags," says Mirza. The company has created badge designs from 195 different countries and manufactures the clothes in Toronto. "It's our differences and it's our colours that are so beautiful that when you combine the fact that we're all Canadians but we're all from so many different colours that is something I truly wanted to celebrate." 'It's been quite a journey' It's not just an appreciation for the country he lives in. Mirza is also grateful for the opportunities Canada has given him. At 18-years- old, he says he was kicked out of his home in London, Ontario because of family problems. He took the bus to Toronto and was forced to live in shelters for six months. "It was the roughest time of my life," he remembers. "I didn't even know shelters existed...I remember walking around Greyhound (bus station) to Union Station. It was the winter, I would go from Tim Hortons to Tim Hortons just stay warm." Seven years later, he's fulfilled his dream of owning a business. "You can come from the worst of the worst. I have a grade nine education. But it's your persistence, it's how hard you want to succeed when everyone says you can't do it." All eyes were on Donald Trump last week but it is the new Presidents press secretary who has become something of a star in his own dubious right. Sean Spicer gave his first press conference over the weekend and it was immediately bad tempered. Rather than talk about the Presidents first day in office, Spicer instead focused a lot of anger at media reports about the amount of people who turned up at the inauguration. Photographs from the day showed a scattering crowd compared to the record number who turned up for Barack Obamas big day in 2009. Swearing in: Donald Trumps camp claim huge numbers watched him become President (Rex) MORE: One in five Brits havent cycled for a decade and have forgotten what to do MORE: Burnt toast and crispy roast potatoes linked to cancer: FSA warns against overcooking starchy foods However, the Trump administration claimed that the photos published from last week were from before the actual swearing in as President and published their own photos to prove it. In a tetchy tone, Spicer then boasted to the journalists in the press room at the White House: This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration period both in person and around the globe. Spicer didnt actually have the figures to prove that and his grand claims were jumped on by an unforgiving social media, who posted their own #SpicerFacts about things that may not strictly be true: The bass lines for Ice Ice Baby and Under Pressure are completely different. Period. #SpicerFacts pic.twitter.com/Sg4uY3OHgA Erik The Web (@torgospizza) January 22, 2017 Suicide Squad was the most critically acclaimed movie of 2016. Period. #SpicerFacts pic.twitter.com/wvjrmH8mfj Film School Rejects (@rejectnation) January 22, 2017 The groundhog is the most accurate predictor of weather in history. Period #SpicerFacts pic.twitter.com/QyEOOvn8DX Chaco (@Chaco_Chicken) January 22, 2017 The world is 6,000 years old, and very, very flat. #SpicerFacts Matt 67s Skinner ???? (@KrankyKanuck) January 21, 2017 Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Slash all bowed in reverence as Trump stole the show and played Hendrix solos note-for-note. #SpicerFacts Eric Garland (@ericgarland) January 21, 2017 Nickleback has sold more records than any other band in history. Period. Sean Spicer pic.twitter.com/4l3Hbx9cLK Bob (@bstephen) January 22, 2017 Youre free to leave the Hotel California whenever youd like. #SpicerFactspic.twitter.com/hce2BSTjtH Brian (@briblu311) January 22, 2017 To prove that Sean Spicer is a star in his own right, he even has his very own @SeanSpicerFacts parody account. Theres at least four more years of this A Manitoba woman is continuing to raise money and awareness for girls living in a safe house in Ukraine. For Natalie Tataryn, 25, it's about providing hope to the young women in Lviv, Ukraine, who are in danger of being targeted by pimps and human traffickers. The Home of Hope houses about 22 girls, who come from orphanages, war-torn areas of Ukraine and from impoverished families. Tataryn, who now lives in Oakbank, is originally from Ukraine and was adopted by a Manitoba family when she was just one month old. "I could have very easily have wound up being one of these girls or in a situation much worse because a safe house like this wouldn't have been available to me back when I was their age," said Tataryn. In Ukraine, Tataryn said there are about 100,000 kids in state-run orphanages. 'Get them off the streets' The kids stay until they're 16 and then get the boot, which pimps prey on, she said adding they are "literally waiting sometimes outside of these facilities for these girls." "That's the main concern there is to get them off the streets and away from people like pimps." Tataryn, who spent time at the house last year, said meeting the young women was inspiring. "Being actually able to hug them, see them, and speak with them was pretty amazing." Tataryn knits and then sells tuques to raise money for the Home of Hope and next Saturday will help put on a breakfast to raise money for the home. The breakfast takes place at the St. Peter and Paul Parish Centre on Marion Street and costs $30. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet colleagues have arrived in Calgary for a three-day retreat to ready themselves for the realities of governing in the Donald Trump era, and to hear from experts who they've tapped to help guide them through a potentially tumultuous time with the new president. "Discussions throughout the retreat will span a range of issues including strengthening the economy and growing the middle class, security, and the strength of the Canada-U.S. partnership and maintaining a constructive working relationship with the new administration," Cameron Ahmad, a spokesperson for the prime minister, said of the meetings. The retreat comes hours after Trump told reporters in Washington that he will soon meet separately with both Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and addressing ongoing border issues with the Mexican leader. Nieto agreed in a phone call with Trudeau on Sunday to join forces to encourage economic integration in North America, according to a statement from Peno Nieto's office. David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the United States, who is in Calgary to brief ministers, told reporters Sunday that preliminary discussions with the Trump transition team have been positive, and Canada is not "at all" the target of Trump's trade rhetoric. "They're principally focused on countries that have large trade deficits with them [Mexico and China] ... they haven't said anything specific about real problems they have with us ... but, I mean, we are part of NAFTA so there are discussions that need to be had," he said, adding there is a "worry" that Canada could be "collateral damage" of the administration's push to rethink the country's trade deals. He said it was clear from early meetings with Trump's team that not all of them appreciated the "depth and breadth" of the economic, security and cultural relationship between the two countries. Story continues "Some of the rhetoric around protectionism is worrisome," he said, but added Canada has "a lot of leverage" because so many states sell goods and services to Canada. Ultimately, there is a way to create a "win-win" for both the president and for Canada, the ambassador said. "It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game." The White House website, updated since Trump's inauguration Friday, says that if Canada and Mexico refuse to accept a renegotiation of NAFTA that provides a "fair deal" for U.S. workers, then the U.S. will move to withdraw from it entirely. A spokesperson for the prime minister said a date has not yet been set for a meeting between Trump and Trudeau. Former president Barack Obama made his first foreign visit to Ottawa, in early February 2009. Former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush also visited Canada on their first international trips, although George W. Bush visited Mexico in February, 2001, before coming to Canada in April of that year for the Summit of the Americas. Top Trump lieutenant in Calgary One of the top billings at the cabinet retreat this week will be a meeting with Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of the Blackstone Group, a top U.S. hedge fund and investment group, who was appointed in December to head Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum. The group, a team of economic advisors who will help the president implement his ambitious agenda "to bring jobs back to America," includes some of the biggest names from Wall Street and Silicon Valley. Schwarzman will counsel cabinet on Trump's thinking and how his promised plan to recast trade deals "could play out," a Trudeau spokesperson said. The cabinet will reiterate to Schwarzman a message that has become familiar in Ottawa since Trump's election, namely that the economic relationship between the countries is too important to imperil as 35 U.S. states call Canada their top export destination, the spokesperson said. Cabinet meets with intelligence community First on the agenda Sunday evening is a previously unannounced meeting between cabinet and members of the defence and intelligence communities. Jonathan Vance, Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff, Michel Coulombe, the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and Greta Bossenmaier, the country's top digital spy at the Communications Security Establishment, flew in to Calgary Sunday afternoon to provide briefings on "a range of issues that relate to their files," a spokesperson said. The meeting, billed as a sort of "fireside chat," comes at a time when relations between Trump and those in the U.S. intelligence community are strained. Trump has criticized leaks about an unconfirmed Russian report, while comparing the actions of some agents to "Nazi Germany." The newly-minted president also earned a strong rebuke this weekend from John Brennan, Obama's outgoing CIA director, who said the billionaire businessman "should be ashamed of himself" for standing in front of a memorial for fallen agents while scolding the media for reports about the size of his inaugural crowds. Women's March Before his arrival in Calgary, Trudeau took to Twitter to send a message of support to the tens of thousands of protesters who turned out in cities across the country Saturday to assert women's rights in an era of uncertainty with the election of a right-leaning and populist president who is seen by some as a threat to the advances women have made in recent years. The marches were billed by organizers as a progressive response to Trump's inauguration a chance to show the president that, despite his victory, there is a formidable alternative. It is not clear what impact, if any, Trudeau's tweet will have on his relationship with Trump. The 45th president and his team are known to actively monitor the social media site. Clarification : This story has been updated to clarify the recent history of presidential visits to Canada.(Jan 23, 2017 2:47 PM) At a debate in London recently, a young woman related the experience of a friend who went off to a bedroom with a young man at a party. After a while, the young man cleared his throat and asked the friend if she was consenting to sexual activity. The friend reported that she was immediately weirded out. She got up and left. Two pieces of received wisdom dominate the modern academic discussion about sexual consent. First, consent must be positive and explicit. Second, consent must be taught. According to the champions of the doctrine of affirmative consentlately gaining traction on college campuses in America and Europesexual consent isnt something negotiated between two people or demonstrated by tacit gestures, glances, and movements. Rather, it must be stated explicitly, using specified terms. Consent occurs on terms only a lawyer would appreciate. In some cases, affirmative consent can be verbal: I consent, or Yes, we agree to have sex! Sometimes there are forms to sign. There is even a smartphone app into which you say the name of the person with whom you want to have sexual relations. Add a clear yes, and consent is confirmed. How romantic! Affirmative consent provokes a host of strange human behaviors, which is why it needs to be taught in school. In the real world, prospective lovers are capable of communicating consent with their eyes; in the weirded-out affirmative-consent world, an imaginary third party needs to hear it spoken out loud. We are living in a new sex bureaucracy, announce two married Harvard law professors in a recent edition of the California Law Review. Jacob and Jennie Suk Gersen lament the steady expansion of regulatory concepts of sex discrimination and sexual violence to the point that the regulated area comes also to encompass ordinary sex. Some American universities have moved on, they point out, from merely defining affirmative consent to actually scripting sexual acts, including the words that prospective partners should use and the way that they should say them. The University of Wyoming, for example, states that anything less than voluntary, sober, enthusiastic, verbal, noncoerced, continual, active, and honest consent is sexual assault. Rather than using body language, which can be misinterpreted, the university says that consent should come in the form of a verbal yes, or possibly, Yes, Yes, Oh! Yes! The school suggests some phrases that students could use during a sexual encounter. What would you like me to do for you? is among the tamer offerings. The move toward affirmative consent has transformed normal sexual relations into a kind of abuse. Merely talking to someone in an intimate way is potentially a blurry situation in which there could be problems with consent; stilted, scripted, and formalized relations are considered safe or sensitive. The consent bureaucracy implies that human relations are unnatural or potential violations of one party by another. The spontaneous, unmediated sex act is deconstructed into taker and taken, abuser and victim. A relationship is seen as a violation of the boundary to the self, the crossing of a line, which must be done only deliberately and in an artificial manner. The news is not all bad, however. Students at Englands University of York walked out of consent classes that they said were patronizing. One young man stood outside the classes distributing flyers, urging other students to follow suit. There is no correct way to negotiate getting someone into bed with you, he explained. In suggesting that there is, consent talks encourage women to interpret sexual experiences that have not been preceded by a lengthy, formal and sober contractual discussion as rape. Students at Clare College, Cambridge, also boycotted consent classes, and the colleges womens officer was left to post photos of the empty auditorium online. Sexual assault and rape are crimes that must be punished. They are crimes not because a person didnt say the right words but because someone was forced to do something against his or her will. But everyone, regardless of gender or sexuality, should oppose consent classes and consent forms. Human intimacy must be defended against bloodless but oppressive bureaucratic interventions. Photo by Voyagerix/iStock MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The number of women who die from cervical cancer in the United States may be higher than previously believed, and the risk is greatest among older and black women, a new study finds. "This is a preventable disease and women should not be getting it, let alone dying from it," study leader Anne Rositch, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in a Hopkins news release. Due to big advances in early detection, such as the Pap test, it's long been thought that cervical cancer had made a big retreat in the United States. But the researchers note that prior estimates of cervical cancer death had included women who'd already had a hysterectomy -- which can include removal of the uterus and cervix. One in five women in the United States has had a hysterectomy, according to the researchers. Preventive screening such as the Pap test looks for signs of malignancy or pre-malignancy in the cervix, so it is only useful in reducing deaths from cervical cancer in women who have not undergone a hysterectomy, the researchers explained. Their new calculation approach excludes women who'd had a hysterectomy. When those women were factored out, Rositch's team found that U.S. cervical cancer deaths are 77 percent higher among black women and 47 percent higher among white women than previously thought. The prior rate of cervical cancer death among black women older than 20 was 5.7 per 100,000 each year, while it was 3.2 per 100,000 each year among white women. But when women who'd had a hysterectomy were excluded from the analysis, the rate in black women rose to more than 10 per 100,000 per year and to 4.7 per 100,000 per year in white women. "These data tell us that as long as a woman retains her cervix, it is important that she continue to obtain recommended screening for cervical cancer since the risk of death from the disease remains significant well into older age," Rositch said. The research also found that many women who die from cervical cancer are older than 65, the recommended cut-off age for regular cervical cancer screening. Each year in the United States, there are 12,000 cases of cervical cancer and 4,000 deaths from the disease. But routine screening can prevent cervical cancer. The study findings emphasize the need to learn more about the risks associated with cervical cancer in older and black women, and to determine the best screening and treatment options for these women, according to the researchers. "Since the goal of a screening program is to ultimately reduce mortality from cervical cancer, then you must have accurate estimates within the population targeted by those programs -- adult women with a cervix," Rositch explained. "These findings motivate us to better understand why, despite the wide availability of screening and treatment, older and black women are still dying from cervical cancer at such high rates in the United States," she added. Two gynecologists who reviewed the findings agreed that better screening -- for all women -- is key to reducing the death toll from cervical cancer. "The disparity in cervical cancer rates between whites and blacks illustrates the difference in medical care received by different populations in the United States," said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "This is an ongoing problem with many socioeconomic factors," she said. "Better community outreach for preventative care and also special attention for high risk populations may help to decrease rates of cervical cancer." Dr. Mitchell Maiman is chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Staten Island University Hospital, also in New York City. He said that "every effort must be made to insure that modern concepts in cervical cancer screening are executed. We must monitor our HPV vaccine programs with the goal of universal participation, and make sure that there are no racial disparities in its implementation." The study appears in the Jan. 23 issue of the journal Cancer. More information The U.S. Office on Women's Health has more about cervical cancer. MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- There's no evidence that e-cigarettes are driving down teen smoking -- and, in fact, they may be drawing in kids who otherwise would never have smoked, a new study suggests. Researchers said the findings add to concerns about teenagers' use of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine -- along with flavoring and other chemicals -- through a vapor rather than tobacco smoke. They are often marketed as a "safer" alternative to smoking, and a bridge toward quitting. But little is actually known about their health effects, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. In recent years, the devices have been soaring in popularity among U.S kids. A federal report found that between 2013 and 2014, e-cigarette use tripled among high school and middle school students nationwide. Still, cigarette smoking has continued to decline. And some have argued that the rise in kids' e-cigarette use might actually be feeding the decrease in their smoking rate, said Lauren Dutra, the lead researcher on the new study. Based on her findings, however, she said that's not the case. "We found no evidence to support that idea," said Dutra, who was a fellow with the University of California, San Francisco's Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the time of the study. In fact, the study found, many kids who used e-cigarettes had never smoked -- and were actually "low risk" for starting. "These aren't the kids we would normally expect to take up smoking," said Dutra, who is now a social scientist with the non-profit research group RTI International. The study findings are based on an ongoing federal survey tracking tobacco use among U.S. kids in grades six through 12. Overall, students' smoking rates dropped between 2004 and 2014, from nearly 16 percent to just over 6 percent. The decline was steady, with no signs of speeding up after 2009 -- when e-cigarettes came onto the scene. If the devices really were driving kids away from cigarettes, Dutra said, you'd expect to see an acceleration in the smoking decline. Instead, the researchers said they found evidence that e-cigarettes are attracting kids who would be unlikely to use tobacco. The number of U.S. kids using e-cigarettes alone rose during the latter part of the survey period. By 2014, 6.5 percent of students said they'd ever used the devices, but had never smoked. And, the study found, most of those kids did not have the risk factors that are usually linked to cigarette smoking -- such as living with a smoker, or thinking that smoking makes a person "look cool." But if e-cigarettes contain no tobacco, what is the harm? "One is that kids who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking cigarettes," said Thomas Wills, a professor at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, in Honolulu. "It is clear that e-cigarettes act as a gateway to smoking," added Wills, who wrote an editorial published with the research. Plus, he said, some studies have linked e-cigarettes to asthma in teenagers. It's not clear why, but it's potentially related to "combustion products" from the devices' flavorings and propylene-glycol base, Wills said. And, of course, e-cigarettes contain nicotine -- a highly addictive drug, both Wills and Dutra pointed out. The report was published online Jan. 23 in the journal Pediatrics. A separate study in the same issue of the journal pointed to other concerns. The study by Zewditu Demissie, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues found that U.S. kids who used e-cigarettes alone showed elevated rates of "risky" behaviors -- such as having multiple sexual relationships or abusing marijuana or prescription painkillers. Among the teens in the study who "vaped," rates of those health risks were not as high as smokers' were. But they were higher compared with kids who used no tobacco-related products. However, the study doesn't prove that e-cigarettes cause teenagers to take health risks, the researchers wrote. Wills said, on one hand, e-cigarettes may attract kids who are somewhat drawn to "risky things." But, he added, studies do suggest that e-cigarettes can encourage at least one unhealthy habit: Smoking. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned e-cigarette sales to minors -- after many U.S states already had. But Dutra said that's unlikely to be enough. "Cigarettes have been restricted to people 18 and over for a long time," she noted, "but kids still get them." E-cigarettes appeal to kids, Dutra said, because they are flavored, with enticing tastes such as "birthday cake." "They don't taste like an ashtray," Dutra said. "They taste good." She noted that regulators have taken no steps to address the devices' "kid-friendly" flavors, TV ads or health claims. If e-cigarettes do encourage some kids to try cigarettes, then why are smoking rates still going down? According to Dutra, the most recent federal figures -- from 2015 -- suggest the decline is plateauing, and smoking rates may even be ticking up slightly among high school kids. More information The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more on e-cigarettes. The Iraqi government said last week that its forces and partners had retaken the eastern half of Mosul, ejecting ISIS fighters from a big chunk of their last stronghold in the country. Even as signs of everyday life return to parts of eastern Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, ISIS militants are still trying to dash across the Tigris River to western Mosul, which the terror group still controls. The five bridges connecting the two halves of the city have been destroyed, and Iraqi forces have retaken the eastern sides off all those former bridges. But ISIS is still using boats and watercraft to transit the river, and those vessels are in the crosshairs of US-led coalition aircraft, as shown below in footage provided by the US Defense Department. The strike shown above, carried out on January 18, destroyed an ISIS boat near Mosul, and it came amid three days of strikes that knocked out 90 watercraft and three barges between January 18 and 20. "Many of these watercraft were being used to ferry ISIL fighters and equipment across the Tigris River from east to west Mosul in an attempt to escape the Iraqi Security Forces as they continued to clear the remaining portions of East Mosul," Operation Inherent Resolve officials said in a statement. "We believe this was a desperate attempt to retrograde ISIL fighters now that the Iraqi Security Forces own the Eastern bank of every bridge in Mosul," Col. John L. "JD" Dorrian, the Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, said in the statement. Iraq Mosul ISIS Iraq's offensive against ISIS in Mosul started on October 17, and while it got bogged down at the end of December, January has seen quick progress, in part because of the way conditions in Mosul changed ISIS' tactics. Recapturing the western half of the city, however, will present greater complexity for Baghdad and its partners. That part of the city, with dense warrens of ancient buildings and markets, has many narrow streets and alleys that tanks and other armored vehicles cannot pass through. Weiterlesen Close-quarters fighting there is expected to yield more causalities, soldier and civilian alike, than fighting in eastern Mosul did. iraqi special forces mosul ISIS in western Mosul has already started taking preparations to deny government forces easy access to that half of the city. While ISIS appears to be on the ropes in its last Iraqi stronghold, it hasn't lost its ability to project violence to other parts of the country. In recent weeks, there have been car bombings in Baghdad, the capital, and attacks on police farther south. The terror group is also expected to pursue attacks in Europe with more intensity as its caliphate fades. US air forces have participated extensively in operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and in recent weeks US military personnel have stepped up their presence on the ground in Mosul, though they remain behind the front lines. President Donald Trump has said the US would make defeating ISIS and other terror groups its "highest priority." And elsewhere, others are looking to reckon with the period of history from which ISIS sprang. iraq isis smoke war Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi said he would like a "thorough investigation" of the decisions and events that led US forces from "liberating" Iraq in 2003 from "Saddam (Hussein's) terrorist regime" to "occupying" the country until 2011, saying the invasion destabilized Iraq and "led to chaos" and opened the country to "all terrorist groups from all over the world to enter." In what the Associated Press said may have been a comment meant for the Trump administration, Abadi said he hoped "Iraqis will be compensated for the tragedies and catastrophes they endured." A US judge has ordered the Department of Defense to release photos showing how US Army personnel treated detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and other facilities there and in Afghanistan. Reports of abuses against detainees at Abu Ghraib helped drive sentiment against the US during the war in Iraq. NOW WATCH: Footage reveals ISIS' secret underground tunnels near Mosul More From Business Insider - Kemi Olunloyo shows off baby daddy and many thinks he is her sugar daddy - The journalist says they have been friends since 1997 when they met and have kids - Olunloyo has three sons and his a single mother Kemi Olunloyo speaks as she unveils baby daddy On Sunday, January 22, 2017, controversial journalist took to Instagram to show off her baby daddy, Taiwo. This will be the first time the social media critic will be showing us her baby daddy. Olunloyo revealed that she met in 1997 at a wedding in America when she was 32 years. She claimed they have lovely kids together and have been friends since then. READ ALSO: Venita Akpofure blasts Kemi Olunloyo Kemi Olunloyo shows of baby daddy (photos) But when Nigerians took the story upside down, the social media savvy personality decided to explain further her relationship with Taiwo. She took to her Instagram on Monday, January 23 to correct peoples wrong notion that her baby daddy is not her sugar daddy. She wrote: hnnafrica#HNNKemi The talk of the blogs is about this picture with #TheKing... Mr.Taiwo is my #BabyDaddy NOT my #SugarDaddy. He's not young. I met him at a wedding in #America when I was 32yo and he was 39yo. He's 59yo and I'm 52yo. He's NOT on #socialmedia and a very private person. We have awesome lovely children, met in 1997 in the USA where he's lived 40yrs and me 32yrs. Been friends since. Friendship is a valuable phenomenon. Never rush into marriage. 90% of my male and female mates are divorced, abused, cheated on by their husbands and wives. Take your time. Out of wedlock sometimes means #outoffoolishness. We are HAPPY, we are FRIENDS. Thanks to u my fans. I love you all. #madamhnn READ ALSO: Jide Kosoko explains why he will never get married again Kemi Olunloyo's teenage son Olunloyo has three lovely sons but what is not yet clear is if Taiwo is the father of the three of them. Watch Kemi Olunloyo's interview below: Source: Legit.ng By Ahmad Ghaddar LONDON (Reuters) - Iraq has reduced its oil production by around 180,000 barrels per day and plans to cut a further 30,000 bpd before the end of the month, the OPEC member's oil minister said on Monday. The cut came from a 4.75 million bpd level, Jabar Ali al-Luaibi told reporters at an industry event at Chatham House in London. "We are abiding by OPEC policy and the OPEC agreement," Luaibi said. Iraq agreed to lower its production by 210,000 bpd under a deal struck in December between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers led by Russia. The Middle Eastern country, OPEC's second-largest producer, had originally sought to be exempt from any cuts, saying it needed the revenue to fight an Islamic State insurgency. "We are cutting from all Iraq," Luaibi said, although he added that cuts to production started at fields operated by national oil companies. He said the ministry had contacted international oil companies operating in the country about the cuts and so far received a "good response" from most of them. He said Russia's Lukoil, which operates the West Qurna-2 oilfield, told him recently that the company was prepared to lower output by 20,000 bpd without compensation. "BP as well and some other companies are responding," he added. "So far everything is moving smoothly as far as the oil companies are concerned." (Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar; Editing by Dale Hudson) VANCOUVER, British Columbia , Jan. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGX Minerals Inc. (MGX or the Company) (CSE:XMG) (FKT:1MG) (OTC:MGXMF) is pleased to announce formation of the PetroLithium Corporation of America, a 100% owned U.S. subsidiary (the PetroLithium Corporation) of the Company. MGX has mandated PetroLithium Corporation to acquire oil field assets, including brine-bearing lithium resources, oil wells and existing oil and gas (O&G) infrastructure. Staking and oil well acquisition activities in lithium brine-bearing areas of Utah have already commenced. Additionally, acquisition and exploration activities are expected to commence shortly in Colorado, Texas and Arkansas. All states are host to significant current and past producing oil production associated with areas of enriched minerals including sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, boron, bromine and lithium. Geological Overview PetroLithium Corporation is focusing activities on the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous) age aquifers of the Paradox Basin (UT, CO) and the Jurassic Period Smackover Formation (TX, AK). Enrichment is theorized in both formations to be a result of trapped ocean water in dolomite / limestone host rock previously concentrated under high temperature and pressured to many times ocean levels of mineralization. High temperature formation represents a common characteristic of lithium brine mineralization within the Paradox Basin and Smackover Formations. As a result, minerals are generally found in basins and directly associated with oil-bearing strata of similar geological periods. Smackover Formation The Smackover Formation has produced nearly two billion barrels of oil to date and is home to some of the Countrys largest past producing oilfields. Many wells are now stripper wells producing 10 barrels per day (United States Environmental Information Administration). Investigation is now underway to determine whether these areas of older oil production with very high brine to oil ratios may once again become viable due to the addition of value from extraction of minerals including lithium. Extraction of Lithium from Oil Field Brine MGX recently reported the extraction of lithium from oil wastewater using its patent pending process (U.S. Provisional Patent #62/419,011) for the extraction of lithium and other valuable minerals from oil brine (see press release dated January 3, 2017). It is the only patent of its kind providing for the rapid extraction of lithium and other valuable minerals from oilfield brine. 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% and a by-product of re-useable, non-toxic water. The treatment of oil wastewater offers significant revenue potential and environmental benefit in addition to mineral extraction as the processing removed all suspended solids, including 99.7% of hydrocarbons and 99.9% of silica and other scale-forming minerals. With its engineering partner PurLucid Treatment Solutions Inc., MGX expects deployment of pilot plant shortly. Commercial deployment is expected in the second half of 2017 and off-take negotiations are underway. The PetroLithium Corporation MGX has formed the PetroLithium Corporation to enter significant mineral, oil, and environmental markets in the United States. Appointment of management positions is underway. The oilfield technical and acquisition team will be headed by Dr. Larry Marks. Dr. Marks was with Royal Dutch Shell for 30 years and held Project Director positions at The Hague, which covered the Middle East and Africa. Dr. Marks, a Professional Geophysicist, completed his career as Vice President - Marketing and Transportation with Shell Canada, Calgary, Alberta where his responsibilities included sale and delivery of a diverse range of oil and gas products as well as merger and acquisition activities. Dr. Marks currently leads the oilfield technical and acquisitions team for the Companys Alberta Lithium Exploration. Dr. Marks will be primarily responsible for acquisition of lithium-bearing brine and oil wells for PetroLithium Corporation. Product development and sales will be overseen by Mr. Claudio Manissero. Mr. Manissero was formerly Director of Sales at FMC Lithium where he held multiple positions spanning over 20 years. The scientific team will be led by Dr. Preston McEachern, a leader in water management in the oil and gas industry, Dr. McEachern has 23 years experience in solving water challenges. He holds three faculty appointments with Canadian Universities and was previously Vice President of Research and Development at Tervita. Dr. McEachern is the CEO of PurLucid Treatment Solutions Inc., MGXs engineering partner. The Company has filed a trademark application with the United States Patent & Trademark Office for the name Petrolithium for future use in commerce, and if granted will give MGX exclusive right to its use in trade. Canadian 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 (1.2 million acres). 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 brine. Qualified Persons The technical portions of this press release 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. Contact Information Jared Lazerson Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1.604.681.7735 Email: jared@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. ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX), (the Company), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with SwissMarine Services S.A., Geneva, for one of its Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Los Angeles, for a period of about thirteen (13) months to maximum fifteen (15) months. The daily gross charter rate is 14% above the BCI_2014 average of the five pre-determined time charter routes as published by the Baltic Exchange minus a 5% commission paid to third parties. The charter commenced yesterday. The Los Angeles is a 206,104 dwt Newcastlemax dry bulk vessel built in 2012. The Company also announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with BG Shipping Co., Limited, Hong Kong, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Selina, for a period of minimum nine (9) months to about twelve (12) months. The gross charter rate is US$4,500 per day for the first thirty (30) days of the charter period and US$7,100 per day for the balance period of the time charter, in each case minus a 5% commission paid to third parties. The charter is expected to commence on January 24, 2017. The Selina is a 75,700 dwt Panamax dry bulk vessel built in 2010. The employment of Selina is anticipated to generate approximately US$1.84 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter. Diana Shipping Inc.s fleet currently consists of 48 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 14 Capesize, 3 Post-Panamax, 4 Kamsarmax and 23 Panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Companys fleet is approximately 5.7 million dwt with a weighted average age of 7.65 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Companys website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Companys website does not constitute a part of this press release. About the Company Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. The Companys vessels are employed primarily on medium to long-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, anticipate, intends, estimate, forecast, project, plan, potential, may, should, expect, pending and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan, Jan. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After nearly two months of applications, selection and panel interviews, Taiwans first seed accelerator Taiwan Accelerator, has finally selected 8 out of 153 startups to provide with seed money and follow-up mentorship. In a country that does not place importance in seed investments, this is an unprecedented number of startups being invested in a single batch. A diverse selection of startups were chosen, including those from e-commerce, big data, agricultural technology, and even a team from India. They will now go through an 8-week bootcamp that includes a Due Day, Demo Day and roadshow in the U.S., which will help these startups find the most suitable investors to realize their creativity and dreams. Last year there were only a handful of seed investments, but this Spring, Taiwan Accelerator brought extremely good news to the startup ecosystem in Taiwan. Applications began in mid-October of last year and, after nearly two months of a three-stage selection process, 8 out of 153 startups were eventually selected to receive seed money and follow-up mentorship. The 153 startups that applied came from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, India and Israel. The largest age group was 25-34 years old accounting for 41%, followed by 35-44 years old with 30%. In terms of industry, the five largest were: creative & culture (14%), sharing economy (12%), e-Commerce, social platform (7%), consumer goods, agricultural technology, and green energy (6%). In addition, teams that already had existing product prototypes accounted for 21%, while those who have officially released their product or service accounted for 22%. From these figures we can see that the ratio of those whose products or services were already connected to the market is not low at all. Beginning on February 2, Taiwan Accelerator will provide the 8 selected startups with comprehensive courses on professional entrepreneurial mentorship, finance, legal, media relations, integrated marketing, branding, investor relations, pitch deck, etc. Each company that is given investment will be appointed a public companys CFO or IRO, an industry expert and a Taiwan Accelerator partner as exclusive mentors to provide mentorship on both business and finance. This type of dual mentorship is also the first of its kind in Taiwan. The 8 startups chosen are all quite distinctive, ranging from O2O e-commerce, sharing economy and big data, to agricultural technology, tourism and hardware. For example, in light of the negative impact pesticides have on our health and the environment, ShenNong Taiwan has developed an integrated pest-trapping device that can detect pest density and uses a bio-induced pesticide substitute (BIPS) to lure pests and disrupt their mating activities. It can be used on rice, vegetable, fruit and tea crops to prevent plant diseases and insect pests, successfully moving away from environmentally destructive and unhealthy chemical fertilizers and pesticides to natural and non-toxic organic cultivation. One of our other selected startups is SistaCloset, "Asia's first model clothing rental platform." In order to "reduce the waste created by manufacturing clothes" and solve the problem of "always a missing piece of clothing," SistaCloset assembled clothing from models to lease out. It is a platform that collaborates with around one hundred models to create a model clothing rental service. Each item of clothing has only been worn once by a model, making it fashionable, environmentally friendly and non-wasteful. From April, in addition to holding a Demo Day, Taiwan Accelerator will also take the startups to the U.S. for a roadshow targeted at international investors. This will allow the outstanding startups of Taiwan to connect with the world and provide an opportunity for them to succeed globally through their creativity. - A young woman has been lauded after saving a bleeding child - The lady came to the rescue of the child as others ignored him in his condition A beautiful Kenyan lady has proved that good people still exist in this world after rescuing a sick child. Kenyan lady saving sick boy nose bleeding. Photo/Wanja. In a social media post by the Hummingbird and blogger Wanja, the young lady named Sharleen Wambui was walking with some of her friends when she noticed a little boy coming towards them. The child looked sick and was bleeding from the nose. PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ Gossip App In a social media post by the Hummingbird and blogger Wanja, the young lady named Sharleen Wambui was walking with some of her friends when she noticed a little boy coming towards them. Photo/Wanja. READ ALSO: A dog has saved the life of a three-year-old girl and the story will warm your heart Sharleen instead of ignoring the sick boy quickly used her first aid skills and tried to stop the bleeding. Sharleen instead of ignoring the sick boy quickly used her first aid skills and tried to stop the bleeding. Photo/Wanja. The young lady then asked for water from the guards working at the nearby Safaricom Headquarters. READ ALSO: US airmen save Nigerian lady, children from burning building Sharleen cleaning the boy's nose. Photo/Wanja. After stopping the bleeding, Sharleen gave the young boy fare to go home. Photo/Wanja. According to the boy, he was coming from a party before he became sick and started to nosebleed. This is what the Hummingbird posted on Facebook. "Shirlene put her first aid skills into action swiftly. He sat the boy down, quickly asked for water from the guards at Safaricom HQs and cleaned the boy's nose. She wiped him with a wet towel and also gave him some money to use as bus fare home. The boy said he was coming from a party in the Westlands and was going home." According to the boy, he was coming from a party before he became sick and started to bleed from his nose. Kenyans applauded Sharleen for her kind gesture towards the child. While they criticised people who had seen the boy bleeding and did nothing to help him. Some Kenyans said Sharleen showed that indeed, humanity still exists on earth. Watch a video of Mother Teresa below and her good work. Source: Legit.ng As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Firefighters, forestry service personnel and members of the military were battling 18 separate blazes in the center and south of the country that have been fueled by strong winds and a heat wave, according to VoA. The largest has consumed 24,000 hectares in and around Pumanque, a rural area 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital, Santiago, that is near some of Chiles vineyards. Ive instructed the Interior Ministry to declare a catastrophe zone and a state of emergency in the areas affected by the fires, President Michelle Bachelet said on Twitter. The smoke from the blazes cloaked Santiago in a thick haze. Television news images showed helicopters and planes trying to douse the out-of-control fires, apparently to little avail. The head of Chiles CONAF forestry service, Aaron Cavieres, said the fires were caused by humans, but that it could not be determined whether they were set intentionally. According to the BBC, President Michelle Bachelet said she had asked for help from countries with experience of forest fires. The firefighters are doing all that is humanly possible, she said. But Chile has practically exhausted its capacity to fight the blazes, Ms Bachelet added. She asked for help from her French counterpart, Francois Hollande, who is visiting Chile. The authorities also requested planes and helicopters from the United States, Canada and Mexico and neighbouring Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Peru, EFE news agency reported. There were more than 100 uncontrolled fires in central and southern Chile until a few days ago. In a study to be presented Friday, Jan. 27, in the oral concurrent session, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers with the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Houston, Texas partnered with the Maternal-Fetal Unit, CEDIFETAL, Centro de Diagnostico de Ultrasonido e Imagenes, CEDIUL, Barranquilla, Columbia and the Unidad De Fertildad Y Genetica De Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Columbia, to create the study, Characterization of brain malformations and volume assessment in fetuses with Zika Virus infection using MRI. Researchers assessed fetal brain findings and volumetric composition with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of confirmed Zika virus infected fetuses from the recent outbreak in Barranquilla, Columbia. The fetuses were screened throughout gestation, finding brian anomalies at 29 weeks gestation. "Up until our study, there have not been any reports focused on detailed brain imaging from the Zika outbreak in Colombia," stated Magdalena Sanz-Cortes, M.D., Ph.D. with Baylor College of Medicine's department of obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women and presenter of the study at the SMFM annual meeting. The researchers found a reduction in brain tissue and increased amount of fluid that was most pronounced in the upper brain. "Microcephaly does not happen in all Zika cases," Sanz-Cortes explained, referring to the small head size that has been characterized as a Zika symptom. The findings were similar to the findings of infected babies in Brazil. "This research has filled a gap of knowledge for us," Sanz-Cortes continued, "these results support the recent notion that we should not rely on microcephaly to determine if a fetus or newborn has contracted the Zika Virus." More information: Abstract 73: Characterization of brain malformations and volume assessment in fetuses with zika virus infection using MRI, The Pregnancy Meeting, 2017. Charalampos Tzoulis is closer to solve the Parkinsons riddle. Credit: University of Bergen More than 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson's disease. The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown and thus no effective treatments exist. A study from the University of Bergen (UiB) suggests that the secret of the disease may lie in the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. "We hope that our findings may be the key to a future treatment. There is generally very little knowledge about the mechanisms causing Parkinson's disease. Now, we are a step closer to understanding these mechanisms and we may have a target to strike at for therapy" says neurologist Dr Charalampos Tzoulis who directed the study at UiB's Department of Clinical Medicine and Haukeland University Hospital. The results were recently published in Nature Communications. Aging of the brain The problem, it seems, is that the microscopic powerhouses found in our brain cells are not able to adapt to the effects of aging in people who get Parkinson's disease. Mitochondria contain their own DNA, which tell them how to build their power generators. "It is known that the DNA of mitochondria is damaged during aging, causing failure in the power generators, lack of energy and disease," says Tzoulis. Comparing brain cells In their study, Tzoulis' team compared brain cells from healthy aged persons to those of individuals with Parkinson's disease. The researchers discovered that brain cells of healthy persons are able to compensate for the age-induced damage by producing more DNA in their mitochondria. This protective mechanism is weakened in individuals with Parkinson's disease leading to a loss of the mitochondria's healthy DNA population. "I believe we have discovered an essential biological mechanism that normally preserves and protects the brain from aging related damage. Intriguingly, this mechanism appears to fail in persons with Parkinson's disease rendering their brain more vulnerable to the effects of aging" Tzoulis explains. More information: Christian Dolle et al. Defective mitochondrial DNA homeostasis in the substantia nigra in Parkinson disease, Nature Communications (2016). Journal information: Nature Communications Christian Dolle et al. Defective mitochondrial DNA homeostasis in the substantia nigra in Parkinson disease,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13548 New Massey University research highlighted the importance of communication and technology, personal and agency support, orientation and mobility, health, rebuilding independence, rehabilitation and coping and resilience, for people with visual impairment following a disaster. Credit: Massey University Recent earthquakes in the lower North and upper South Islands have been a stark reminder of the challenges residents confronted during the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010/2011. Visually impaired residents faced further challenges that have now been documented by Massey University's Dr Gretchen Good and Dr Suzanne Phibbs of the College of Health in research which explores the experiences of 12 visually impaired residents who lived through more than 12,000 aftershocks. The study, "Disorientated and Immobile: The Experience of People with Visual Impairments During and After the Christchurch, New Zealand 2010 and 2011 Earthquakes," was recently published in the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. It involved 12 face-to-face interviews conducted after the September 2010 quake, but prior to the fatal 2011 February quake. Then, in February 2012, seven of the original participants were re-interviewed about how more than a year of earthquakes had affected their lives. Three staff members from the Blind Foundation were also interviewed in April 2011. The paper was co-authored by Dr Good and Dr Phibbs, along with Kerry Williamson, a research assistant from the Ministry of Justice. Dr Phibbs says the research, a first of its kind in the world, highlighted the importance of communication and technology, personal and agency support, orientation and mobility, health, rebuilding independence, rehabilitation, coping and resilience. "Participants demonstrated creative problem-solving abilities, resilience and community spirit. However our findings indicate that older visually impaired people are among the most vulnerable in disasters, and more work needs to be done to prepare them," she says. "I could hear crockery falling and breaking in the living room and in the kitchen and I thought 'I don't know what to do.' I've been told many, many times during an earthquake go and stand under a door jamb but I couldn't even get there." Anonymous research participant. "This is the first time visually impaired people's experiences of sequential earthquake activity has been tracked both before and after a catastrophic disaster anywhere in the world, and the results of our study provide a rare insight into the impact of disasters on those who are older and living with impaired vision," Dr Phibbs says. Dr Good, who spent nine years visually impaired before regaining her sight after 23 operations, says it is crucial people with impaired vision keep transistor radios handy, with a good supply of batteries. "However, participants told us the quality of the information they received from radio broadcasts was poor. Misinformation and the challenge of finding the best radio station that could be relied on to have the most up-to-date facts was difficult. "They felt accessing information that helped them, rather than frightened them was hard to come by in the aftermaths of the quakes. There was also a frustration at a lack of information about the conditions of local walkways and disruption to bus routes for many months following the quakes," Dr Good says. Dr Gretchen Good with her assistance dog Caz, and Dr Suzanne Phibbs. Credit: Massey University "Oh the dog, the poor dog he was shivering, he shook until about 10 o'clock the next morning, he just shook. I gave him his breakfast and he couldn't eat all his breakfast, what he did eat, he brought up, so he was really in a bad way." Bonnie, January 2011. Guide dog users discovered that their companions had to be comforted, re-trained and assessed for their abilities to cope as working dogs after the quakes. "Altered bus routes, the disappearance of familiar landmarks, liquefaction and detours all created a greater level of stress for the people and their guide dogs," Dr Good says. Seven people who were re-interviewed following the February 2011 quakes had learned about emergency preparedness through trial and error and they ultimately managed to cope and maintain their independence through four major earthquakes. "They spoke about their resilience and having to survive what felt to them like a war zone. It was a matter of doing the best they could at the time with the resources they had. They all spoke of the need to be with others the need to flee or escape their home to be in the company of friends and family was a regular theme," Dr Good says. All of the researchers concluded that more work needs to be done to prepare communities, agencies, families and individuals for potential disasters. "Every participant told us that personal contact with someone in the week following the quakes was essential, but little agency support was offered," Dr Phibbs says. "People with minimal social supports reported feeling isolated and panic-stricken, while those with larger social networks reported a quicker recovery from trauma. It really emphasises the importance of neighbourhood and community support," she says. Research participants offered 17 suggestions for disaster preparedness for people with impairments and for the agencies that provide services to people with disabilities, including: Keep your shoes under your bed, keep a flashlight on the doorknob and have spare white canes available Store food, medications and water to last 72 hours for you and your dog Learn to communicate via text message and keep your mobile phone charged Have at least two people organised to contact you following a disaster Establish good relationships with neighbours and be willing to be a contact for others More information: Disoriented and Immobile: The Experiences of People with Visual Impairments During and After the Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010 and 2011 Earthquakes. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. www.afb.org/jvib/jvibabstractN articleid=jvib100605 Disoriented and Immobile: The Experiences of People with Visual Impairments During and After the Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010 and 2011 Earthquakes. In a study to be presented Saturday, Jan. 28, in the oral concurrent session, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; IBEX, Logan, Utah; and Laser Tissue Welding Inc., Houston, Texas collaborated on a study titled, Evaluation of the effects of laser tissue welding on the spinal cord and skin in a 30 day study of simulated spina bifida repair in rabbits. Spina Bifia is a birth defect where there is incomplete closure of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord. It affects more than 4,000 children born each year in the U.S. and is associated with hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of fluid on the brain), developmental delay, lifelong disability and death. This preliminary study hoped to determine the effects of laser tissue welding on underlying skin and spinal cord tissue. The researchers were interested to see if applying laser energy to coagulate a special albumin compound would damage the underlying skin and/or spinal cord tissue. The researchers plan to use this substance for sealing incision lines in fetal surgical spina bifida repair procedures. One of the most crucial aspects of a fetal repair is a watertight seal once the repair is complete. "Laser tissue welding is a promising technology that may allow a temporary seal over healing wounds that allows enough time for the regeneration of the skin underneath the albumin layer," explained Michael Belfort, M.D., chairman and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine, obstetrician/gynecologist-in-chief of Texas Children's Pavilion for Women and one of the researchers for the presentation at the SMFM annual meeting. "By sealing off the incision line with a natural substance that disintegrates over time, we feel that the suture line may heal without developing any leaks which would compromise the repair." The first step in this experimental process examined whether the heat from the laser (required to activate the liquid albumin and turn it into a solid) would damage the skin or spinal tissue under the skin. Researchers chose a rabbit model because it is an accepted and cost efficient animal model and there was no need to test this in a fetal model until further research is conducted. "This is just the first step," added Belfort. "Now that we know that the laser energy is unlikely to damage spinal cord tissue we have planned a fetal sheep experiment. We are trying to get funding for this next step." More information: Abstract #83: Evaluation of the effects of laser tissue welding on the spinal cord and skin in a 30 day study of simulated spina bifida repair in rabbits, The Pregnancy Meeting, 2017. Provided by Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine In a study to be presented Thursday, Jan. 26, in the oral concurrent session, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers with the Universite de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada will present their findings in a study titled, Reduction of total labor length through the addition of parenteral dextrose solution in induction of labor in nulliparous: results of DEXTRONS prospective randomized controlled trial. The study investigated the use of glucose to shorten induced labor in nulliparous (first time giving birth). The primary outcome studied was the total length of active labor. Prolonged labor can be harmful to maternal and fetal health. Few medical interventions are known to shorten labor duration. Because muscle performance is known to be improved by glucose supplementation, the researchers tested whether adding glucose to the intravenous hydration solution women receive during labor could accelerate labor. Two hundred pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either a standard hydration solution containing salt and water or a solution containing glucose, salt and water. Josianne Pare, M.D., with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Sherbrooke and the presenter of the research at the SMFM annual meeting, explained, "We found that the median duration of labor was 76 minutes shorter in the group of women receiving glucose. There was no difference in the mode of delivery (cesarean section, forceps, etc.), or the neonatal well-being measures." Pare continued, "Glucose supplementation therefore significantly reduces the total length of labor without increasing the rate of complication. This is great news for women experiencing induced labor." The researchers concluded that, given the low-cost and safety of this intervention, glucose should be the solute of choice during labor. More information: Abstract #32 Reduction of total labor length through the addition of parenteral dextrose solution in induction of labor in nulliparous: Results of DEXTRONS propective randomized controlled trial , The Pregnancy Meeting, 2017. Cassidy Fiford, a native of Hayling Island and a PhD student at University College London, has celebrated after making a discovery showing that damage to blood vessels in the brain can drive shrinking of the hippocampus, an area of the brain critical for memory. Her findings are helping researchers shed more light on what drives damage in the brain in Alzheimer's and how it can be stopped. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a condition that affects 850,000 people in the UK and more than 19,000 people in Hampshire. It is caused by a build-up of two hallmark proteins in the brain, amyloid and tau. However, many people with Alzheimer's also have blood vessel damage in the brain and this too could contribute to the disease. Researchers are working hard to establish how each of these features plays a role in the development of dementia. As blood vessel damage is prominent in vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, determining why damage to blood vessels arises and how it affects the brain could help scientists develop new preventions or treatments. Cassidy is part of a team of researchers working to track changes in Alzheimer's disease over time. Using brain images from 697 people including healthy volunteers, people with early thinking and memory problems and those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she has been investigating new and improved brain scan techniques to recognise changes caused by blood vessel damage. These changes are called 'white matter hyperintensities' and are seen as white dots on brain scans. They identify an area of the brain that has been affected by blood vessel damage. Through her research, Cassidy a former pupil of Portsmouth High School has discovered that in healthy older people, blood vessel damage in the brain is linked to shrinkage of a specific area of the brain involved in memory called the hippocampus. Cassidy also found that the brain shrinkage related to blood vessel damage was not driven by age or the two hallmark Alzheimer's proteins amyloid and tau. The research highlights the importance of blood vessel damage on brain health. The scientists hope the research will help them to gain a better understanding of the contribution that healthy blood flow has in the brain in Alzheimer's, particularly how and to what degree damage to blood vessels drives the disease. In doing so, this new discovery may aid in the development of new prevention and treatment approaches for Alzheimer's. Cassy Fiford, now a PhD student at Dementia Research Centre, University College London said: "I am very excited about this latest finding and hope this new study will help to build a bigger picture of the progression of Alzheimer's, and importantly enable other researchers to gain insight into the initial stages of the disease. These results are key because they illustrate just how important our heart health is for our brain. There are many thousands of people in the UK today with poor heart health who may also have damaged blood vessels in the brain and for some of these people, it could contribute to memory and thinking problems over time. Research like ours could not only help to inform approaches to help people stay healthy as they reach older age, but shape future treatment approaches for those already in the early stages of a disease like Alzheimer's." Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Cassidy Fiford, working alongside a team of scientists at UCL, is helping to test a cutting-edge technique to detect blood vessel damage in the brain. Alongside other techniques, this has been vital in showing what happens as a result of damaged blood vessels in the brain, providing a detailed window into diseases like Alzheimer's. "Alzheimer's disease can begin to develop up to 20 years before any symptoms show and it is important for researchers to understand how blood vessel damage is involved in these initial stages. Cassidy's participation in this pioneering study is helping us to defeat dementia and identify aspects of Alzheimer's that could be targeted by future treatments. Alzheimer's Research UK is proud to be supporting the next generation of budding dementia scientists through our PhD programme and it's only through the generous donations of our supporters that we can make this possible." Credit: University of Hertfordshire A new research report has been published by the charity WellChild which explores parents' experiences of managing care for children with complex care needs throughout the 24-hour day. The study 'Caring for Children '24-7' was undertaken by Mark Whiting, WellChild Professor of Community Children's Nursing at the University of Hertfordshire. It provides significant new insights into this under-researched area of care and identifies the key drivers for parents when seeking out of hours support. It also makes a series of recommendations on the role that WellChild might play in influencing future provision of out of hours support for children with complex care needs. Children with complex needs Professor Whiting's study reported that data relating to the growing population of children with complex needs is not systematically collected across the NHS, and this presents significant challenges to the NHS in planning appropriate professional support to parents. The study shines a particular light on the difficulties which parents face out-of-hours when access to professional support can be a particular challenge. Professor Whiting said: 'I believe that this study adds significantly to what we know about how caring for a child with complex health needs impacts upon the lives of families in the community. Through the expertise and experience of the WellChild Nurses Programme, WellChild is uniquely placed to influence the commissioning and provision of care for families of children with the most complex of health needs in the community. Services need to be planned so these families know they can always access support at times and of a nature suitable for their child's specific needs.' Despite dramatic growth of Community Children's Nursing teams in the past 30 years, there is tremendous variability of service provision from one area of the UK to another. The study demonstrates how, since its introduction in 2006, the WellChild Nurse Programme has made a real difference for the families of children with complex care needs. Dramatic growth of community care WellChild Director of Programmes Linda Partridge said: 'Professor Whiting's study powerfully demonstrates the impact of someone like a WellChild Nurse in empowering parents to plan and be confident in their own instincts, so they can effectively manage their children's care, even when the child's condition shows signs of deteriorating. However we cannot underestimate the importance of having recourse to the appropriate professional support at all times, even if it is only to provide reassurance that the parent is taking the correct measures.' Red light cameras make intersections more dangerous, and our local residents oppose these devices, which tag unsuspecting motorists with traffic tickets that no police officer on scene would give, said Breen, a long-time opponent to the cameras. These cameras are a hidden tax on drivers, to boost government profits at the expense of hardworking Illinoisans. Its especially unfair that Oakbrook Terrace did this to the detriment of its neighbor, Oak Brook, but the placement of a camera outside Oak Brook Mall will keep shoppers out of the entire area, devastating commerce not just at the mall but at surrounding shopping centers. We dont need our merchants in DuPage County boycotted, just like happened several years ago in Schaumburg, when that village placed a camera outside Woodfield Mall. LOMBARD, IL - In response to a recent Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) decision to allow the Village of Oakbrook Terrace to place a red light camera at the entrance of Oak Brook Center Mall at 22nd Street and Route 83, State Representative Peter Breen (R-Lombard) filed legislation today that would reverse the decision and prohibit a red light camera at that intersection. House Bill 506 is chief co-sponsored by Representatives Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale), Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park), and David Olsen (R-Downers Grove). The intersection is surrounded on three sides by the Village of Oak Brook, which includes Oak Brook Mall within its village borders. Oak Brook has registered its strong disapproval to the move with both the Village of Oakbrook Terrace and IDOT. As approved, the red light camera would affect motorists traveling southbound on Route 83 and eastbound on 22nd Street. I applaud Representative Breen and his colleagues for filing legislation that would remedy what we perceive as an inappropriate use of power by IDOT and our neighbors in Oakbrook Terrace, said Oak Brook Village President Gopal Lalmalani. It is an issue of fairness, and I am pleased to see both Republicans and Democrats as leading sponsors of the bill. In March of 2016, IDOT sent a notice that the red light camera request had been denied, including because sufficient safety concerns had not been established at the intersection, but stated that additional data could be submitted to allow for additional consideration. In May, IDOT reversed the decision and approved the intersection for camera placement, after reviewing a November 2015 video of the intersection that detailed a single 24-hour period. The IDOT permit was issued on October 28, and states that installation must take place within 180 days. With the clock ticking, Breen said he will push for his legislation to move swiftly through the legislative process so the red light camera is not installed. Gov. Chris Christie has dedicated his final year in office to addressing the opioid epidemic, but the state's failure to spend on smoking cessation efforts when thousands of people still die annually from tobacco-related illnesses has drawn derision from advocates and public health officials. Instead of spending millions from a landmark 1998 settlement with the tobacco industry on smoking cessation efforts, New Jersey this year will begin repaying hundreds of millions of dollars to bondholders after converting the settlement money into $90 million to fill a budget hole in 2014. The Christie administration, in fact, slashed state funding for smoking cessation from around $7 million when he took office to zero dollars since 2013. Spending cuts on the programs after he took office led to the closure across the state of 17 centers dedicated to quitting. The 13 full-time positions at the Rutgers Tobacco Dependence Program that conduct outreach and education programs were eliminated, according to Dr. Michael Steinberg, Rutgers Department of Medicine vice chairman who now volunteers to run the program. "It is a disgrace," Steinberg said. "People have become numb to the death and morbidity related to tobacco. Imagine ... that three fully loaded 747 jets crashed today and then three more crashed tomorrow, and the next day. That is the magnitude of death from tobacco." The scaling back of programs to help smokers quit and steer young people away from tobacco has led to the American Lung Association giving the state an F in a review of how much states spend on tobacco control programs. The Christie administration argues that the state's smoking rates are declining, down to 15.1 percent in 2015 from 27.9 percent for adults in 1990, according to the state Department of Health. It's unclear whether the rate changed since state funding for tobacco control ended. The state uses around $2 million from the federal government on a hotline and website to help those seeking to quit smoking, and the Christie administration also points to a $2.70 per pack cigarette tax it says has been a deterrent, especially to teenagers. Data showing smoking rates since the tax rose to its current rate were not immediately available. Christie spokesman Brian Murray said the dangers of smoking have been "culturally recognized" over three generations, while the opioid crisis is "rising in scope." He questioned the notion of linking state money to results. "It is seriously disingenuous for anyone to point to any government budget lines to assess what is being done to address any social concern, particularly New Jersey's well-recognized interest and success in reducing the abuse of tobacco products," Murray said. But tobacco cessation advocates say that it's the wrong approach, and that the administration should consider addressing both problems. "One population shouldn't suffer because we're helping another," said Marc Kaplan, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 480,000 people nationwide die annually from tobacco-related illness. In New Jersey, the CDC estimates about 11,800 die from smoking-related diseases every year, based on a 2014 surgeon general's report . Tobacco control programs are effective, according to the CDC . In New Jersey, Rutgers' state-funded smoking cessation program had a long-term success rate of 35 percent, while national rates are around 25 percent, according to Steinberg. This year, the state begins handing over to bondholders cash that pours into New Jersey's coffers every year thanks to the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between 46 states and the tobacco industry. New Jersey is expected to pay out about $400 million through 2023 to bondholders to repay the $90 million infusion the Christie administration needed to close the 2014 budget hole. The 1998 agreement ensured that the tobacco industry would pay states billions of dollars in perpetuity, with the aim of directing cash to programs to stop smoking. New Jersey was a leader in the field in the early 2000's, but that began to change when the administrations of Democrats Jim McGreevey and Jon Corzine began trading settlement cash for money upfront. When the Republican Christie took office in 2010, he ended the state's $7 million spending on tobacco programs. At the time, he cited declining rates of tobacco use. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. (HealthDay)Young people in juvenile detention or jail may suffer health effects that last well into adulthood, a pair of new studies suggests. Together, they suggest incarcerated teens will face higher rates of depression, worse physical health, and a greater risk of sexually transmitted diseases, compared to other young Americans. Experts said the studies highlight a little-recognized fact: Youth incarceration is a public health problem. The United States has the highest rate of "youth confinement" of any developed country, according to the advocacy group Campaign for Youth Justice. In 2013, out of every 100,000 minors, 173 were in confinement nationwide. "Juvenile incarceration is its own hidden epidemic," said Ralph DiClemente of Emory University in Atlanta. DiClemente, a professor of public health, wrote an editorial accompanying the studies, published online Jan. 23 in the journal Pediatrics. But until now, DiClemente said, little had been known about the long-term health of young people who move through the justice system. The new findings, he said, "show us that these young people have myriad health problems and risk behaviors, and that continues into adulthood." In one study, researchers focused on more than 1,800 young people who had spent time in Chicago juvenile detention centers. Fourteen years later, those childrennow around age 30had much higher-than-average odds of risky sexual behavior, such as having multiple partners within a few months. In the other study, researchers used data from a government survey tracking the health of more than 14,000 Americansstarting in middle school or high school, and continuing up to age 34. During that time, 14 percent ended up in juvenile detention or jail by age 24. Overall, the study found, incarcerated young people showed more health problems between the ages of 24 and 34, versus other Americans their age. Close to one-quarter23 percenthad depression symptoms, compared with 15 percent of other study participants. More than 52 percent rated their general health as no better than "fair," compared with 41 percent. Of course, young people who end up in jail have many other things going on in their lives that could take a toll on their health, too. And it's difficult to weed out the effects of incarceration itself, said study leader Dr. Elizabeth Barnert. "It's a mess, and we can't say that this is causal," said Barnert, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles. But her team did account for a number of other factors, including race, income and parents' education levels. And incarcerated kids still showed higher long-term risksespecially if they'd been confined for more than one year. According to Barnert, young people may actually get certain benefits during their time in detentionnamely, access to health care. But, in the long run, she said, incarceration probably has negative consequences. "Is it a direct effect of incarceration? Is it because they can't get a job afterward? Is it the psychological effects and how you view yourself afterward?" Barnert said. "We don't know." What is clear, she and DiClemente said, is that kids and young adults in the justice system are "vulnerable." And they return to the community with largely unmet health care and social needs. DiClemente said there is a "window of opportunity" while young people are incarcerated, when they can be screened for health problems and risky behavior. To an extent, he said, that's happening: Kids may be screened and treated for a sexually transmitted disease, for example. "But what's not done very well is risk-behavior reduction," DiClemente said. "What happens when they go back to their communities?" There are no easy answers, he and Barnert said. Ultimately, "system-level reform" has to become a priorityas it has in Georgia, said DiClemente. The state is implementing the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, a project of the nonprofit Annie E. Casey Foundation. It promotes alternatives to locking kids upsuch as home confinement, day and evening reporting centers and shelter care. Around 300 U.S. counties have started the program, according to the Casey Foundation. And, the group says, those places have seen "dramatic" reductions in the number of kids in detention centerswith no signs of harming public safety. "We don't want to relegate these kids to a life where they're not going to be able to reach their full potential," DiClemente said. "This is a social issue. It's a public health issue." Barnert pointed to the well-documented racial disparities in Americans' health and involvement with the justice system. Black men are far more likely than whites to be incarcerated at some point. And that, Barnert said, may contribute to racial disparities in health as well. More information: The Annie E. Casey Foundation has more on Journal information: Pediatrics The Annie E. Casey Foundation has more on juvenile justice Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Six months after California's strict vaccine law took effect, a measles outbreak has infected 20 people, most of them in Los Angeles County, prompting a search for others who may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. Most of the patients live in western areas of the county, including L.A.'s Westside, the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Fernando Valley. Santa Barbara and Ventura counties each reported one case. At least 15 of the 18 L.A. County patients either knew one another or had clear social connections, said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, interim health officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. None of the 18 could provide proof of vaccination, he said. Gunzenhauser said the first person was diagnosed in early December, followed by 16 cases in the last three weeks of 2016, and then one more case last week. "I'm hopeful that we're getting to the end of this," he said. Hershy Z. Ten, a rabbi who runs Jewish health care foundation Bikur Cholim in L.A.'s Beverly Grove neighborhood, said county health officials told him a measles outbreak was affecting the county's Orthodox Jewish community. He convened a panel last week to discuss what Jewish day schools and synagogues could do to stem the outbreak and ensure that unvaccinated children are immunized. "Measles is very, very serious," he said. "Those children are at risk and they put other children at risk." A measles outbreak that began at Disneyland in 2014 infected 145 people across the United States and dozens in Canada and Mexico. It led to the passage of a law in California requiring all children to be vaccinated unless doctors provide medical exemptions. The law took effect in July. California is now one of three states that forbid children from opting out of vaccines because of religious or personal beliefs. Health experts say the outbreak reveals the degree to which immunity against the disease has eroded - a problem the new law will probably improve but not completely fix. "It really speaks to what we're so concerned about, which is parents making their decisions not to vaccinate their kids, and they can bring their kids into any setting and then contaminate everyone," said Dr. Robert Adler, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. If an infected person walks into a room, the virus can stay there for two hours after the person leaves. And it's dangerous - 15 people die every hour worldwide from measles, according to the World Health Organization. To try to stop the spread of the virus in Southern California, L.A. County health workers spent the last several weeks chasing down people who might have been exposed. Infected people develop a rash that can take weeks to show up, but they can transmit the virus to others before that. Gunzenhauser said county health workers interviewed each infected person to find out everywhere they went during the four days before and after they developed rashes. Then they tried to figure out who might have been at those locations. If someone went to an emergency room, for example, they asked the hospital for a list of patients there that day. The county ultimately identified more than 2,000 people who may have come into contact with measles patients, and found that about 10 percent of them hadn't been vaccinated against the disease. Half of those who weren't protected were given a vaccination or other treatment to prevent them from getting measles, he said. Gunzenhauser said the outbreak was contained to a group of people who shared a social circle, which made it easier to track down who might have come into contact with the virus. "It is a little bit unusual, but it's fortunate," he said. "If this is a Disneyland thing or if this happened at Staples Center ... that would be problematic for us." Though the state's new law makes vaccinations mandatory, schools are required only to check children's immunization statuses when they hit kindergarten or seventh grade. That means that a child who went unvaccinated upon entering kindergarten in fall 2015 because his parents opted out could have continued in first grade this past fall without vaccines. Children are supposed to receive two vaccines to protect against measles before they start kindergarten. 2017 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Providing medical assistance in dying to people in Canada will not increase health care costs, and could reduce spending by between $34.7 and $138.8 million, according to a new research paper in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). The savings exceed the $1.5M to $14.8M in direct costs associated with implementing medical assistance in dying. The authors caution that cost reduction should not be a factor in individual decision-making by patient and physicians. Canada's recent legalization of medical assistance in dying has meant that health systems have to adapt to provide this service. "We are not suggesting medical assistance in dying as a measure to cut costs," write Drs. Aaron Trachtenberg and Braden Manns from the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. "At an individual level, neither patients nor physicians should consider costs when making the very personal decision to request, or provide, this intervention." Health care costs increase as people near death and take a greater slice of health care. For example, in the province of Manitoba, data indicate that 20% of health care costs are allocated to patients in the last 6 months of life, although they make up only 1% of the population. The researchers combined data from the Netherlands and Belgium, where medically assisted dying is legal, with recent data on end-of-life costs in Canada to estimate the impact on health care spending. In their modelling, the researchers estimated between 1% and 4% of all deaths would be medically assisted, that 80% would be cancer patients of whom 50% would be aged 60 to 80 years. Of these patients, 60% would die one month earlier and 40% would die one week earlier than without medically assisted dying. To estimate costs of assisted dying, the researchers ran 4 different models based on 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% of deaths and created subgroups based on sex, age and average cost of health care use in the last month and last week of life for each subgroup. The authors note a limitation of using data from the Netherlands and Belgium as assisted dying is allowed for minors, people with dementia and people with non-terminal diseases in those countries. In Canada, medically assisted dying is only available to adults aged 18 years and over and whose death is fairly imminent. As well, the cost data were from the province of Ontario, and may not represent all end-of-life spending in Canada. "The true effect on health care costs will not be certain until we determine who the typical Canadian patient requesting the intervention is and how its practice is implemented across the country," the authors write. "Our analysis is only a cost analysis and it does not consider the clinical effects of medical assistance in dying on patients at the end of life," write the authors. "Patient-level research that explores the reasons why Canadians choose medical assistance in dying, the value they assign to their suffering versus death and other aspects of their experience will need to be done before true economic evaluation of medical assistance in dying in terms of cost-effectiveness and utility can be done." In a related commentary, Dr. Peter Tanuseputro, a physician at Bruyere Research Institute and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, writes that Canada should improve palliative care to improve end-of-life care. "These potential cost savings, which are not trivial, should be considered in the context of the largely inadequate and haphazard delivery of palliative care across Canada," he writes. "Despite some successful and exemplary palliative care programs, palliative care in Canada remains deficient; this is the reason that aggressive, institution-based and ultimately costly end-of-life care exists, and why such a large potential cost savings can be anticipated from medical aid in dying in Canada." Transforming palliative care will improve quality of life for dying patients by alleviating suffering. "What matters most is that we address society's failure to provide adequate care for the dying," he concludes. New research funded by Pharmacy Research UK published today, 20 January, reveals people with dementia may struggle with managing their medication exposing them to side-effects, medication errors and an increased risk of non-adherence to drug treatment. Researchers at Aston University, Hull University and the UEA interviewed family carers, people with dementia, nurses, GPs and community pharmacists for the project. Their year-long research found that as dementia develops the person struggles to manage their own medication and increasingly relies on support from family carers. This is often their partner, who may also be taking many medicines and finding the carer role stressful, thus increasing the risk of medication error. The study showed that for some carers this was a real burden of responsibility and that they hid their anxieties. Lead researcher Dr Ian Maidment, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy at Aston said: "Our study found incorrect dosing, forgetting to give the medication and taking medicines which should have been stopped." Professor Chris Fox, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist from UEA's Norwich Medical School said: "There can be severe health impact for both the patient and carer - too often in my clinical practice I come across patients and families overburdened and unclear about their medication regimes. This can result in more visits to their GP and hospital and is a cause of avoidable NHS admissions." Dr Andrea Hilton from Hull University added: "There is a substantial role for community pharmacists and their teams to assist carers; many pharmacists have day-to-day contact both with carers and people with dementia. Community pharmacy is in a unique position to support and embrace patient-centred care and this is currently under-utilised. This research highlights that community pharmacists should be working more with GP practices and have full access to patients' medical records. Furthermore, home visits should be conducted for medication reviews." Barbara Woodward-Carlton a former carer and a member of the Alzheimer's Society Research Network highlighted: "During the years I looked after my mother who had Alzheimer's disease I wish I had known what help I could have had from community pharmacists. "My mother was an extremely pleasant person who always wanted to co-operate but found it incomprehensible that she should be taking any medication at all. At one point when she was very ill, I continued the medication she had been given including 'water tablets' without realising that she was dehydrated. I live with the shame of not knowing that as she was barely drinking and eating I should have stopped that medication. I welcome that community pharmacists are increasingly seen as those who can advise, educate and help those of us who care for others." Dr Clare Walton, Research Manager at Alzheimer's Society said: "Seven in 10 people with dementia are also living with other health conditions and managing multiple medications which can be a tremendous challenge. Finding new and innovative ways to support people with dementia and their carers to safely and correctly age their medication is a focus for future research." Dr Maidment added: "People with dementia are amongst the most vulnerable members of society and need more support with medication management. We need to develop new ways of supporting people with dementia manage their management and then test how well these new ways work." More information: Ian D. Maidment et al. A qualitative study exploring medication management in people with dementia living in the community and the potential role of the community pharmacist, Health Expectations (2017). Ian D. Maidment et al. A qualitative study exploring medication management in people with dementia living in the community and the potential role of the community pharmacist,(2017). DOI: 10.1111/hex.12534 Credit: NIH In a new study, researchers at Uppsala University have found evidence of a new principle for how epigenetic changes can occur. The principle is based on an enzyme, tryptase, that has epigenetic effects that cause cells to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. "Cells that lack tryptase start to proliferate in an uncontrolled fashion and lose their identity. If tryptase is present, it will cleave the tails of histones, which will protect from certain epigenetic changes," says Gunnar Pejler, Professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology at Uppsala University. Many properties are determined by genetic factors, but we are starting to recognize that also epigenetic factors are of great importance. With epigenetics we mean such changes in genes that are not determined by changes in the actual DNA sequence, but effects that are superimposed on this, caused for example by environmental effects. Epigenetic effects include modification of DNA by incorporation of small chemical groups, methyl groups. Another important epigenetic mechanism is that the proteins that are packed together with DNA in the cell nucleus, called histones, can be chemically modified in their tails. Altogether, the different epigenetic mechanisms will lead to either activation or silencing of the respective genes. In a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers have now found a new principle for how epigenetic changes can occur. They have showed that one enzyme, tryptase, can be found in the nucleus of cells and that tryptase can cleave off the tails of histones. In this way, certain epigenetic modifications of the histone tails are removed. A very interesting finding was that this mechanism is important for maintaining the identity of the cells. Cells that lacked tryptase showed major changes, including a loss of their cellular identity and they also started to proliferate in an uncontrolled way. These effects were seen in mast cells which are central in allergic reactions. The researchers propose that this type of epigenetic effect could be of importance in dealing with allergic disease. However, it cannot be excluded that similar epigenetic effects are operative also in other cell types. More information: Fabio R. Melo et al. Tryptase-catalyzed core histone truncation: a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism in mast cells, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2017). Journal information: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Fabio R. Melo et al. Tryptase-catalyzed core histone truncation: a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism in mast cells,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.11.044 Fewer sex toys contain dangerous chemicals than children's toys, a Swedish inspection authority said in a report published on Monday. In its study conducted in 2016, two percent of the 44 surveyed sex toys that had been imported to Sweden contained banned chemicals, the Swedish Chemicals Agency said. In a separate study the year before, the agency tested 112 toys in Sweden and found that 15 percent contained banned chemical substances, including lead. "This was a bit surprising," Frida Ramstrom, an inspector for the agency, told AFP. "This was the first time we did such a study." Of the 44 sex products examined, only one plastic dildo was found to contain a banned substance: chlorinated paraffins which is suspected of causing cancer, the agency said. The agency said it was difficult to determine why more children's toys contained dangerous chemicals. One contributing factor however was that sex toys were often imported by larger companies, which could exert more pressure on manufacturers to avoid harmful chemicals, whereas children's toys were more often imported by smaller companies which had less power to make such demands, according to Bjorn Malmstrom, a spokesman for the chemical agency. Swedish law stipulates that chemicals in children's toys "must never pose a risk to human health". Three of the 44 examined sex toys, made of artificial leather and bondage tape, contained a type of phthalates used as a plasticiser at levels above a 0.1 percent threshold, the agency said. That specific type of phthalates is not banned in sex toys but is on the EU list of chemicals of "very high concern" as it can affect the body's hormonal balance and cause infertility. Companies are therefore required to inform consumers if a product contains more than 0.1 percent. The global market for sex products is estimated at about $20 billion (18.6 billion euros) a year, according to British marketing research group Technavio. It is expected to grow by nearly seven percent per year between 2016 and 2020. Americans and Chinese are among the biggest consumers of sex toys, according to Technavio. 2017 AFP In new research published in the peer-reviewed journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research (embargoed until January 23 at 14:00 GMT), researchers in Israel found that cigarette smoking increased by almost 40% during compulsory military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In a systematic sample of nearly 30,000 soldiers from 1987 to 2011, the prevalence of smoking grew from 26.2% at recruitment to 36.5% at discharge, a 39.4% increase. The researchers, from Tel Aviv University, the University of Haifa, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in cooperation with the IDF Medical Corps, say the increased smoking prevalence among military personnel, and the increase during military service, should act as a wake-up call to governments and health systems in countries lacking strong military tobacco control policies. The research was conducted by Dr. Laura Rosen of the School of Public Health at Tel Aviv University; Dr. Hagai Levine from the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public and Community Medicine; Dr. Salman Zarka from the University of Haifa; and Vladi Rozhavski, Tamar Sela, Dr. Yael Bar-Ze'ev, and Dr. Vered Molina-Hazan from the IDF Medical Corps. It was funded by the Israel National Institute for Health Policy Research. Former smoking and combat profiles are risk factors for smoking initiation Among nonsmokers at recruitment, 18% initiated smoking during service. Former smokers were at greatest risk: 56% began smoking during service. Men and women with combat profiles were also at an increased risk, after adjusting for personal, family, and military factors. Prevalence of smoking was greater among males at discharge (40.3%) than among females (32.4%), but the increase during service was similar. On the other hand, 12% of smokers at recruitment quit smoking during service. There were no clear trends over the decades regarding smoking prevalence at recruitment and discharge. There was a slight increase in smoking cessation during service among males. A tobacco control plan in the army is desperately needed Nearly a fifth of nonsmoking new recruits initiated smoking during service, and over half of former smokers relapsed to smoking. Because 50%- 65% of smokers die prematurely from smoking-related causes, the ongoing and future damage is enormous. The large increase in smoking during service, combined with high subsequent mortality of smokers, suggests that military tobacco control policy affects long-term survival of military personnel, and is an important contributor to population-wide mortality in countries such as Israel where a large percentage of individuals serve. Dr. Laura Rosen, Chair of the Department of Health Promotion in the School of Public Health at Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, said: "The use of tobacco harms IDF soldiers and security in general. The government and the Ministry of Health need to cooperate with the IDF, in order to reduce the number of soldiers who start smoking, to encourage soldiers to quit smoking, and to protect non-smokers from exposure to cigarette smoke. We should take an example from the United States, which conducted extensive changes to the smoking policy in its military, to protect its soldiers and to improve the readiness and performance of its combat units. " Dr. Hagai Levine, Head of the Environmental Health Track at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, said: "The increase we found in the rate of smoking during compulsory military service is of great concern in light of the serious consequences for public health. We must concentrate our efforts in the war against smoking in order to protect the health of young men and women, and to coordinate civilian and military efforts in order to fight smoking throughout the life course. I hope that the IDF will adopt similar measures to those implemented successfully in other armies." The investigators recommend the creation of a central tobacco control body with comprehensive tobacco control policy, similar to programs in the U.S. military. The following steps are recommended: enforcement of smoking bans in public areas; prevention of supply of free or reduced-cost cigarettes to soldiers; prevention and treatment of tobacco dependence tailored for the military environment; monitoring of personal and army-wide smoking status. The investigators also recommend that commanders disseminate health messages and no-smoking messages through personal example, particularly in combat units and during combat operations. A special program should target former smokers, given the high chance of returning to smoking. Special attention should be paid to those who score higher in their recruitment profiles, who often end up serving in combat units where the smoking rate is higher. The dramatic increase in smoking during military service presents a window of opportunity for changes in health behaviors, and suggests a need for a multi-year war on tobacco among soldiers, in order to protect their health and military fitness. The study also showed that smoking is already problem prior to recruitment, which adds urgency to the call for national efforts to prevent smoking initiation, which could be coordinated with the Ministries of Education and Defense. School start times and the sleep of adolescents in Canada Credit: G. Gariepy, McGill University Delaying school start times could help Canadian teenagers sleep better - giving them a better chance for success, according to McGill University researchers. In a study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, the researchers found that students from schools that started earlier slept less, were less likely to meet the national sleep recommendations for their age, and were more often tired in the morning. The findings help explain why, according to recent data, one in three Canadian teenagers don't get enough sleep. "It is time that we have a conversation about school start time in Canada," says lead author Genevieve Gariepy, a post-doctoral student in McGill's Institute of Health and Social Policy. Fighting biology "The problem is that early school start times conflict with the natural circadian clock of teenagers," Gariepy says. "As teenagers go through puberty, their circadian clock gets delayed by two to three hours. By the time they reach junior high, falling asleep before 11 p.m. becomes biologically difficult, and waking up before 8 a.m. is a struggle. Adolescents are fighting biology to get to school on time." Previous research internationally has shown that teenagers who are sleep-deprived do worse at school, have more health problems, and are more vulnerable to depression, anxiety and behavioural problems. The McGill researchers used Canadian data covering 30,000 students from 362 schools across Canada, from a cross-national survey conducted every four years in more than 40 countries in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Later start times, better sleep Start times in the Canadian schools ranged from around 8:00 to 9:30. "We found a strong association between later school start times and better sleep for teens," says Prof. Frank Elgar, co-author of the study. "Changing school start times involves consultations among various stakeholders, and logistical issues such as bus schedules," Gariepy notes. "But these challenges can be overcome. A later school start-time policy has the potential to benefit a lot of students." More information: Genevieve Gariepy et al. School start time and sleep in Canadian adolescents, Journal of Sleep Research (2016). Genevieve Gariepy et al. School start time and sleep in Canadian adolescents,(2016). DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12475 The Ebola virus, isolated in November 2014 from patient blood samples obtained in Mali. The virus was isolated on Vero cells in a BSL-4 suite at Rocky Mountain Laboratories. Credit: NIAID The world remains "grossly underprepared" for outbreaks of infectious disease, which are likely to become more frequent in the coming decades, warn a team of international experts in The BMJ today. They reviewed reports on the recent Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa and say better preparedness and a faster, more coordinated response could have prevented most of the 11,000 deaths directly attributed to Ebola and also the broader economic, social, and health crises that ensued. In August 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and the world scrambled to respond. In the aftermath, a number of reports were published reviewing what went wrong and how we should better manage infectious disease outbreaks. However, the main priorities emerging from these reports and the extent to which action has been taken on the proposed reforms is unclear. So a research team, led by Suerie Moon at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, synthesized seven major post-Ebola reports and laid out the key problems and recommendations they highlighted. They also assessed progress to date and identified the biggest gaps between recommendations and action in each area of reform. They found that, while the reports differed in scope and emphasis, their diagnosis of the key problems and recommendations for action converged in three critical areas: strengthening compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR); improving outbreak-related research and knowledge sharing; and reforming the World Health Organization (WHO) and broader humanitarian response system. They found significant efforts beginning to address these issues, but that progress has been mixed with many critical issues largely unaddressed. For example, they point out that investments in country capacity building have been inadequate and difficult to track, arrangements for fair and timely sharing of patient samples remain weak, and reform efforts at WHO have focused on operational issues but have neglected to address deeper institutional shortcomings. As the WHO Executive Board gathers this week to shortlist candidates in the running for the 2017 WHO Director-General election, the authors point out that "spearheading institutional reforms is likely to fall to the next director general." "We found remarkable consensus on what went wrong with the Ebola response and what we need to do to address the deficiencies. Yet not nearly enough has been done," write the authors. "Ebola, and more recently Zika and yellow fever, have demonstrated that we do not yet have a reliable or robust global system for preventing, detecting, and responding to disease outbreaks," they add. And they urge the global community "to mobilize greater resources and put in place monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure we are better prepared for the next pandemic." "We will not be ready for the next outbreak without deeper and more comprehensive change," they conclude. "He's a pro-life president; he wants to stand up for all Americans, including the unborn," Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters about the order. "The reinstatement of this policy is not something that just echoes that value, but respects taxpayer funding as well. WASHINGTON - In one of his very first acts as Americas commander-in-chief, President Trump issued an Executive Order to stop U.S. taxpayer funding of the abortion industry overseas. "This assures that we're not just standing up for life, for life of the unborn, but also for taxpayers funds that are being spent overseas to perform an action that is contrary to the values of this president. And to continue to illustrate not just to those here in this country but around the world what a value we place on life," Spicer said. Trump's executive action reinstates the pro-life Mexico City Policy to stop U.S. taxpayer funding of the international abortion industry. The policy does not reduce foreign assistance, but it acts to ensure U.S. international aid partners act consistently to save lives, rather than promoting and performing abortion. President Trump is continuing Ronald Reagans legacy by taking immediate action on day one to stop the promotion of abortion through our tax dollars overseas. said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. President Trumps immediate action to promote respect for all human life, including vulnerable unborn children abroad, as well as conscience rights, sends a strong signal about his Administrations pro-life priorities. President Trump has made four specific commitments to the pro-life movement, including reallocating Planned Parenthoods taxpayer funding to comprehensive, whole-woman health care centers. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study indicates that yoga and aerobic exercise interventions did not significantly reduce objectively measured sleep disturbances among midlife women who were experiencing hot flashes. Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial show that neither 12 weeks of yoga nor 12 weeks of aerobic exercise had a statistically significant effect on objective measures of sleep duration or sleep quality recorded by actigraphy. Although the women had no difficulty falling asleep, disturbed sleep was common at baseline and remained after each intervention, with women in all groups waking during the night for an average of more than 50 minutes. According to the authors, previously published analyses of the same trial had found that the yoga and aerobic exercise interventions were associated with small but statistically significant improvements in subjective, self-reported sleep quality and insomnia severity. "Our primary findings were that the two study interventions had no significant effects on objective sleep outcomes in midlife women with hot flashes. The main implication of this finding is that other behavior treatments with the potential for effectively improving sleep in this population should be examined," said lead author Diana Taibi Buchanan, associate professor of Bio-Behavioral Nursing and Health Informatics at the University of Washington in Seattle. Study results are published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. The authors analyzed data from the Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) network. The study involved 186 late transition and postmenopausal women with hot flashes who were between 40 and 62 years of age. Study subjects had an average of 7.3 to 8 hot flashes per day. Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of yoga, supervised aerobic exercise, or usual activity. Sleep measures were evaluated using wrist actigraphy, and bedtimes and rise times were determined primarily from the participants' sleep diaries. Mean sleep duration at baseline and after each intervention was less than the 7 or more hours of nightly sleep that is recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for optimal health in adults. According to the authors, future research should explore other approaches for improving sleep quality in midlife women, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. More information: "Effects of Yoga and Aerobic Exercise on Actigraphic Sleep Parameters in Menopausal Women with Hot Flashes," Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2017. Journal information: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine "Effects of Yoga and Aerobic Exercise on Actigraphic Sleep Parameters in Menopausal Women with Hot Flashes,", 2017. ATLANTA At least 18 people were killed and 43 more injured in Georgia and Mississippi after thunderstorms and tornadoes roared through the South this weekend, leaving some things standing and some things fallen, some lives whole and others blown to bits. Charles McDowell, pastor of Barney United Methodist Church in Barney, Ga., was safe at home in nearby Valdosta on Sunday. So was the modest church where he preaches to his flock of a few dozen. 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 STEPANAKERT. The adversary violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces more than 55 times, from late Sunday night to early Monday morning. During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired about 430 shots toward the Armenian position-holders, and primarily with different-caliber shooting weapons, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) Defense Army informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The adversary fired more intense shots from sniper rifles (92 shots), and used a mortar (2 shells), in an easterly direction of the line of contact. The NKR Defense Army vanguard units took actions in response, so as to quell the aggressive activeness by the adversary, and continued carrying out the military task set before them. As reported earlier, as a result of the ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani armed forces, NKR Defense Army serviceman Karen Ulubabyan (born in 1995) was mortally wounded on Sunday at around 11:25pm, at the protection area of an Artsakh defense army unit that is located in an easterly direction. An investigation is underway to find out the details of this incident. YEREVAN. A Dress Code event to help young Armenian women navigate the world of workplace fashion was held Sunday in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. The Dress Code event was organized within the framework of the year-long Womens Mentoring Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, in partnership with the School of Political Science and International Affairs of the American University of Armenia and the Women and Youth Support Development Center. The event was opened by Ms. Leigh Carter, wife of U.S. Ambassador Richard M. Mills, Jr., and attended by dozens of the 62 mentees benefitting from this years mentoring program. The main objective of the event was to highlight dress code basics to the young mentees, helping them differentiate between casual, business/smart casual, and cocktail attire, ensuring that as future professionals they will understand official or implied dress code rules and be able to make appropriate fashion choices based on the occasion. During the event, models presented sample outfits illustrating each of these styles of dress, including cocktail dresses by Armenian designers Lilit Margaryan, Aram Nikolyan, Liana Sargsyan, and Lilit Melikyan. Three mentors participating in this years Womens Mentoring Program spearheaded the Dress Code event: Gohar Baghdasaryan, director of the Havana Restaurant-Complex; Karina Dnoyan, designer and stylist, director of ATEX Fashion Center; and Hranush Restakayan, production director for Levrim and Vanilla Cake Bakery. Also in attendance were U.S. Deputy Chief of Missions wife Nermine Mansour, as well as image-maker, deputy director of ATEX Fashion Center Olga Lavrienko. The U.S. Embassy and AUA first established the Womens Mentoring Program in 2010. Mentors provide career advice, share their personal experiences, and serve as role models to promising young students. This year, 61 Armenian women from a variety of professional fields are mentoring 62 female students from different universities, as well as students from the Houso Aygi Young Women Charitable Foundation and the Mer Doon Organization. Not being satisfied with blocking the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) budget, Azerbaijan has now launched a direct demarche against the OSCE Minsk Group, which conducts efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The permanent mission of Azerbaijan to the OSCE issued a statement accusing and blackmailing the OSCE, in general, and the Minsk Group, in particular. Deviation by the OSCE Minsk Group and its co-chairmen from this framework defined by the UN Security Council undermines the mandate entrusted to it and could have a serious impact on conflict resolution process, the statement reads, specifically, according to Trend news agency of Azerbaijan. According to this document, The Minsk Group co-chairmen must return to implementation of the tasks given to them by the UN Security Council and, on this basis, engage both sides [to the conflict] in substantive result-oriented talks. Furthermore, this statement by the permanent mission of Azerbaijan to the OSCE openly blackmailed the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries (Russia, US, and France) claiming that, If they are unable to withdraw the Armenian troops from the occupied territories and address many other challenges to the peace process, Azerbaijan has every right to defend its territory and protect its people by all means. The Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia refutes its involvement in the sacking of the Lider TV channel journalist Anar Hasanov. The press-service of the Embassy stated that the question regarding the dismissal should be addressed not to them but Lider TV, minval.az reports. The Embassy deals with its work, which is diplomatic. Lider TV is an independent TV channel. That is their business who to fire and hire. It is better to inquire about the journalists dismissal from the TV channel administration, the statement reads. This Azerbaijani journalist had asked Lavrov: What will be Moscows position if antiterrorist operations were to be launched at the occupied territories, and the occupying forces were to be destroyed? Would Moscow overlook this? Or would it interfere in Azerbaijans internal affairs? And, in response, the Russian FM had stated as follows: From the viewpoint of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it is not exclusively an internal affair of Azerbaijan. According to the newspapers source, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, who thinks that the journalists question and Lavrovs response harmed the friendly relations between the countries, personally insisted on the journalists dismissal. During the plenary winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) launched in Strasbourg on Monday, head of the Armenian Delegation to the PACE, Hermine Naghdalyan, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, referred to the processes following the Constitutional reforms in Armenian and the upcoming parliamentary elections. In her speech, the Deputy Speaker briefed her European partners on the entire essence of the Constitutional reforms, considering them vital in terms establishing a more stable and democratic system in the country and improving the constitutional mechanisms, which ensure the balance and rule of law of relevant forces. She also stressed that the process of the Constitutional reforms was approved by the Venice Commission, almost all of its recommendations being accepted by the Armenian authorities. Apart from this, Naghdalyan noted that after the referendum the Armenian authorities have launched a large-scale process of reforms in the legal system and adjustment to new realities: new constitutional laws have been adopted, relevant amendments have been made to different laws and legal acts, including the Laws On Human rights defender, On local self-governance and the parliaments Charter. Moreover, Naghdalyan said a large package of legislative amendment is also planned to be made in 2017, again in cooperation with the Venice Commission and other international parties concerned. In the Deputy Speakers words, the process of drawing up the Electoral Code took place in the spirit of close cooperation with all the political parties concerned and with the equal involvement of the government, opposition and civil society sectors. The new Electoral Code establishes a fully-fledged reliable basis for the upcoming parliamentary elections, Naghdalyan stressed, assuring that holding free and fair elections is the key task of the authorities, their legitimacy and proper process being more important than the results. Our obligation is to hold democratic and transparent elections, primarily based on competitive ideas and programs. The Armenian people have chosen the path of democracy, and no foreign obstacle can draw us off that path, she noted. In this context, Naghdalyan recalled the aggression unleashed by the Azerbaijani side all along the Nagorno-Karabakh contact line last April, as well as the recent military encroachment on the border with Armenia, which was condemned by the international community. Despite this Armenia has not abandoned the path of democracy, remaining faithful to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, she added. Such actions, which jeopardize the security of Armenia, Karabakh and the region, do not disturb our decisiveness to carry out large-scale reforms in judicial, human rights and other important spheres in line with our international obligations, the Deputy Speaker concluded, stressing that Armenias devotion to the human rights, democracy and rule of law have never depended on any external factor regardless of their being geopolitical, economic, etc. STRASBOURG. - It is time for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to finally refer to such a shameful and disgraceful phenomenon as Azerbaijans black list, which currently includes 600 personae non grata, of which 180 are journalists who visited Nagorno-Karabakh for fulfilling their professional duties. Member of the Armenian delegation to PACE, Naira Zohrabyan, said the aforementioned at the plenary session of PACE on Monday, referring to the arrest of Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin in Belarus and his possible extradition to Azerbaijan. In her speech, Zohrabyan said the following. Dear colleagues, Before the approval of our agenda, I demand that we refer to an unprecedented phenomenon, especially considering that one of the key issues on the agenda of this session is the protection of journalists and freedom of speech. I mean the arrest of blogger Alexader Lapshin in Belarus. I would like to recall that Lapshin, who has a dual citizenship that of Russia and Israelwas arrested in Minsk upon the order of Azerbaijani President Aliyev for visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012 for the purpose of conducting a journalistic investigation. I think it is time for PACE to finally refer to such a shameful and disgraceful phenomenon as Azerbaijans black list, which currently includes 600 personae non grata, of which 180 are journalists and professionals, who visited Nagorno-Karabakh for carrying out their professional activities. Dear colleagues, I would like to ask you a simple question: How many thousand people must be added to Azerbaijan's black list for the Assembly to eventually refer to it? How many journalists and mass media representatives should be put on the wanted list by Interpol upon the demand of Azerbaijan for visiting the NKR for us to understand that our silence is reprehensible? It is time for our organization to finally wake up from its lethargic sleep and respond to this shameful policy of Azerbaijan aimed against the freedom of speech, conscience and press. And it is at least puzzling that unlike various international journalist organizations, the Platform for the Protection of Journalism of the Council of Europe in no way responded to Lapshins arrest and the demand for his extradition. The freedom of press, speech and conscience is an absolute value and no country has the right to hinder and ban journalists from fulfilling their professional duties. I urge our parliament, as well as the European Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently respond to Alexander Lapshins case and not allow extraditing him to Azerbaijan. Updated from Jan. 5 with revised stock prices. Private prison stocks have soared in light of recent American political developments, and they may be poised to climb even higher now that Donald Trump is in the White House. Trump's election and his subsequent announcement of plans to nominate Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General have sent investors rushing to private prison stocks in recent months. Since Election Day, shares of The GEO Group (GEO) have climbed more than 60%, and shares of CoreCivic (CXW) have surged over 95%. The cause of the rally is two-fold, said Michael Kodesch, analyst at research firm Canaccord Genuity -- Trump won, and Hillary Clinton lost. "It's not necessarily all about what Trump's policies are but also about what Clinton's policies would have been," he said. The Democratic nominee, who was widely expected to win the election, had called for an end to private prisons and the closure of family detention and private immigration detention centers. A single tweet from the former Secretary of State caused shares of Geo and CoreCivic to plunge in September. The Obama administration had also taken a critical stance on private prisons. Shares plummeted in August when the Department of Justice issued a memo to the Bureau of Prisons announcing plans to phase out their use. "Once Trump was elected, all of that went away," Kodesh said. Trump is likely to be more private prison-friendly. He expressed his support for such entities in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews in March, and his policies -- specifically those related to immigration -- bode well for the industry. At an October campaign speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Trump proposed a two-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for illegal immigrants reentering the U.S. after deportation and a mandatory five-year minimum for illegal criminal immigrants reentering. Such a measure would likely result in the detention of more illegal immigrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and from that perspective, private prisons are a massive player. About two-thirds of immigrant detainees are kept in private facilities (as opposed to about 15% of federal inmates). According to data from the Austin, Texas-based organization Grassroots Leadership, the private prison industry is expected to acquire 80% of any future immigrant detention beds. GEO CEO George Zoley said the private sector is the "really the only logical solution for organizations that can move quickly and meet the detention standards" ICE needs for residential centers in a November conference call. "That's probably the biggest opportunity from a Trump administration coming in," Kodesh said. For now, prison stocks have been set free The August DOJ memo to the BOP still stands, but if confirmed, Sessions is likely to reverse course. Regardless, facilities run by both GEO and CoreCivic have received contract renewals since then, albeit with smaller bed allotments. To be sure, not all is working in the private prison industry's favor. The U.S. prison population shrunk to its smallest in a decade in 2015, falling by 2% to 1.5 million prisoners at the end of that year. GEO recently ended a contract with the Vermont Department of Corrections for a prison that was at about 15% capacity. California voters in November voted in favor of Prop 57, a proposal for increasing parole and good behavior opportunities for felons convicted of nonviolent crimes. According to the Associated Press, the measure makes about 7,000 inmates immediately eligible. At the start of 2016, there were about 25,000 nonviolent California felons who could seek early release and parole under the measure. California voters approved similar measure, Prop 47, in 2014, which reduced nonviolent, non-serious crimes to misdemeanors and improved the chances of parole consideration for more inmates. The measure "picked a lot of the low-hanging fruit," Kosech said, and it took several months to make a notable impact on prison populations. Something similar could happen with Prop 57. "We're probably not going to see anything happen at first until these prisoners go through its process," he said. CoreCivic has more exposure to California sentencing reform than GEO. There are a number of political forces in play at well. In August, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson asked the Homeland Security Advisory Council to examine whether the agency should pull back from the use of private facilities. The resulting report sent mixed signals. The six-person subcommittee that prepared the report determined fiscal and capacity issues made it necessary for DHS to use private for-profit entities. However, one of the members, Marshall Fitz, dissented, and more than two-thirds of the council members objected to its conclusion and instead recommended Fitz's dissent to the DHS. It will ultimately be Johnson's successor who will decide what to do. Trump has tapped retired General John Kelly to head the department. Lobbying activity may have an effect as well. According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, GEO spent $580,000 on lobbying efforts in 2016 and CoreCivic, formerly Corrections Corp of America, $890,000. GEO also gave $125,000 to a pro-Trump super PAC during the presidential campaign. "We look forward to strengthening our partnership at the Federal level as we have for the last 30 years under both Republican and Democratic administrations and believe we are uniquely positioned to provide high quality services in safe, secure and humane residential environments while maximizing cost savings for taxpayers," said GEO spokesman Pablo Paez in a statement. CoreCivic representatives did not return request for comment. "Despite the recent run-up, we could see more upside on both stocks," wrote Kosech and fellow Canaccord Genuity analyst Ryan Meliker in a recent analyst note. In other words, it might not be too late for investors to hop on board. On his second full day in office, President Donald Trump reiterated his campaign promise to renegotiate NAFTA, a move which would have a large impact across sectors. "We will be starting negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said Sunday at a White House event. "We are going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on immigration and on security at the border." Secretary of Commerce nominee Wilbur Ross similarly said at his confirmation hearing that "NAFTA is logically the first thing we should deal with." Trump added that he plans to meet meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, both of whom face domestic political pressure to preserve NAFTA. The North American Free Trade Agreement is a trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico that came into effect in 1994. The purpose of the agreement was to establish the freest possible trade across the three countries, including the elimination of most tariffs. Trump argued during his campaign that NAFTA was a "disaster," a break with the traditional Republican orthodoxy's support for free trade. He's singled out companies from United Technologies (UTX) to Mondelez (MDLZ) for moving any part of the production process overseas, especially to Mexico. General Motors (GM) was the recipient of one such criticism. "General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border," he tweeted on Jan. 3. "Make in U.S.A.or [sic] pay big border tax!" Unlike several CEOs who have faced such remarks from Trump, GM CEO Mary Barra said the company would not change its production plans, which are made years in advance. Another car company, Ford (F) , is faced with a similar conundrum. RBC Capital Markets analyst Joseph Spak wrote in a Thursday note that Ford's management "believe[s] administration may accomplish trade goals via tax reform." If instead Trump opted to renegotiate NAFTA or impose tariffs, "new investment stalls" and Ford would "need to figure out what to do with existing footprint." Hours after Trump's tweet about GM, Ford canceled plans unveiled in April to build a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico, which Trump had attacked during the campaign. At the Reuters Breakingviews "Predictions 2017" breakfast on Jan. 10, Union Pacific (UNP) CEO Lance Fritz, who was largely optimistic about the forthcoming Trump administration, expressed some concerns about the possibility of decreased trade with Mexico. "70% of our revenue is originated or terminated outside the U.S. 12% of our business is with Mexico. But I'm optimistic they'll get trade right," he said, noting that regardless, it's hard to unwind trade policies in place. Calling NAFTA a "home run" for increasing trade with Canada and Mexico, he said attempts by the Trump administration "to destroy that and replace it with a tariff regime" would be untenable. Another rail company, Kansas City Southern (KSU) , sought to placate investors who were concerned about the company's southbound cross-border traffic, which accounts for 29% of its revenue. The president also mused about instituting a 35% tariff on goods made in Mexico, which Wells Fargo (WFC) analyst Bryan Hunt wrote would particularly impact B&G Foods (BGS) and Constellation Brands (STZ) , both food companies with "significant operations in Mexico that import production into the U.S." In a Jan. 5 earnings call, Constellation's management also played down the risk of Trump's proposed Mexico policies. CEO Rob Sands told analysts he was "working directly with our legislators to safeguard our ability to continue to cost effectively produce and sell" imported products. Imported Mexican beer accounted for 52.6% of Constellation's net sales and 63.5% of profits in its most recent fiscal year. Action Alerts PLUS, which Cramer co-manages as a charitable trust, is long WFC. Jaguar Land Rover Fined $1.1 Million After Worker's Injury HSE said its investigators determined the company had failed to ensure the driver of the Range Rover was familiar with procedures and also failed to properly separate the workers on the production line from the moving vehicles. The British car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has been fined $1.1 million after one of its production workers had a leg amputated following an accident in a company factory. The Health & Safety Executive investigated the incident, which occurred Feb. 8, 2015, at Jaguar's Lode Lane plant, according to HSE. The case wound up before a judge who assessed the fine. It involved a Range Rover Sport vehicle that was driven toward the start of a production line, an event that normally happens 48 times an hour at the plant. The driver lost control of the car and collided with the rear of another vehicle he had just delivered, pushing four cars together. A worker who was crossing the production line became trapped between the second and third cars and sustained injuries that resulted in the amputation of his right leg above the knee. Two other employees suffered minor injuries. HSE said its investigators determined the company had failed to ensure the driver of the Range Rover was familiar with procedures and also failed to properly separate the workers on the production line from the moving vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover was found guilty of breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and fined 900,000, equivalent to $1.1 million in U.S. dollars, and ordered to pay costs of 49,800. "A worker has been left with life changing injuries that were completely avoidable, it was only good fortune that prevented this from being a fatal accident. Jaguar Land Rover knew the risks of driving vehicles onto production lines and the possibility of shunt accidents, but failed to protect their workers," said HSE Inspector John Glynn. What Employers Need to Consider in the Era of Legalized Marijuana On Nov. 8, 2016, the world watched in awe as Donald Trump defied the odds to become president-elect of the United States. Since then, his victory has rightfully dominated the headlines and the public's attention as we all prepared for his upcoming presidency. In the meantime, however, another major story one that is also of particular relevance to American businesses has flown under the radar: Voters in eight states approved ballot measures related to marijuana. To be precise, four states approved recreational marijuana use and four gave the green light to medical applications. Now, a grand total of 28 states plus the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico allow some (or all) of their populations to legally ingest marijuana. On top of that, more than half of all U.S. citizens believe marijuana use should be legalized everywhere. Although the drug is still classified as Schedule I and remains illegal at the federal level, growing momentum in the legalization movement means one thing: For better or for worse, marijuana is becoming one of the country's fastest-growing industries, and it's becoming a substance more and more citizens choose to use. Because of its federal classification, most employers continue to have the right to keep their workplaces drug free, regardless of marijuana's status in the state. However, the new laws have certainly created a conundrum for employers and human resource departments. Do they maintain their drug testing and zero-tolerance policies? Or do they ease up on employees who ingest marijuana? Drug Testing in the Age of Legalization Most companies are opting to continue drug testing employees and prohibit marijuana use. However, they may soon be forced to reevaluate those policies in order to stay fully staffed. As states across the country relax their drug laws, employers find themselves struggling to find job candidates who can pass pre-employment drug tests. Businesses may feel compelled to revise their standards in order to access a wider pool of eligible workers. While such an approach would align with public sentiment, employers also must consider how loose drug policies would impact workplace safety. Drug testing is one of the most effective ways to protect workers, clients, and customers from harm. Currently, many employers have ill-defined strategies for mitigating drug use among their teams. One survey indicated that 42 percent of small businesses fail to create written policies against marijuana possession or use on the job, let alone arriving for work while under the influence. Further, nearly 75 percent of small businesses say they do not require employees to submit to drug tests at all. Businesses that do implement strict drug policies should seek legal advice before continuing to enforce them. Navigating the new regulations is a complicated endeavor, and employers would do well to involve their legal counsels as they proceed through this evolving climate. What employers can and cannot do varies according to the fine print of each state's particular laws. Answering Complex Legal Questions Companies in states where recreational use is legal such as California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Maine are allowed to preserve their drug-free workplace programs. But the issue isn't that cut-and-dried. Maine's law, for example, has some gray area when it comes to pre-employment screening: "A school, employer or landlord may not refuse to enroll or employ or lease to or otherwise penalize a person 21 years of age or older solely for that person's consuming marijuana outside of the school's, employer's or landlord's property." Business owners in Maine can prohibit drug use on the company's premises, but how far their power extends beyond that is relatively unclear. Can they discriminate against someone who smoked prior to a job interview but did so off site? The answer is uncertain without deeper legal investigation. When it comes to medicinal marijuana, the waters only become murkier. In Arkansas, for example, employers are not required to accommodate the ingestion of marijuana in the workplace or permit employees to work under the influence. North Dakota's medical marijuana legalization initiative, however, does not mention how state regulations apply to work environments. Even in places where the law is on the side of employers who choose to enforce zero-tolerance policies, companies are still exposed to lawsuits. For instance, California's Supreme Court affirms employers' rights to discriminate against job candidates who don't pass drug tests, even those who use physician-prescribed marijuana to treat disabilities. However, employers could face disability discrimination lawsuits if they exercise that right. Here's an example of why legal clarity is so critical. In 2015, a California judge ruled in favor of two employees who sued their employer over a random drug test. The company's leadership had sent out new employee guidelines but failed to highlight which areas had been updated. When the company's management initiated random drug tests, the two employees resisted. Management pursued the tests even though there was no evidence that these workers were using drugs. The plaintiffs said they were intimidated into complying, leading them to sue for "breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and intentional infliction of emotional distress." They ultimately received $15,000 each in damages. Had the company been more transparent and rigorous about its policies, it might have avoided the lawsuit. This illustrates why legal counselors are essential to protecting both workers and owners. Employers and human resources teams must understand what they can and cannot do within the parameters established by their states. Creating Better Policies Given the ongoing changes in state drug laws, it's a good time for companies everywhere to revisit their testing policies, specifically as they relate to marijuana use. Clarifying expectations around safety, impairment, usage, and termination standards will help business leaders avoid legal trouble. Updated drug testing policies should be comprehensive and include the following information: 1. Program goals: Defining goals and parameters for drug testing policies allows leaders to shape these programs to achieve the best results. Employers and HR managers should ask themselves what they are truly trying to accomplish. Do they aim to prioritize a safe work environment by continuing to prohibit marijuana use? Or do they want to support workers who rely on the drug as medicine? Whatever the goal, it should be documented and shared with all employees. When people understand the logic behind drug testing policies, theyre more likely to comply. 2. Specifics on how policies will be enforced: As new laws impact increasing numbers of businesses, leaders should revisit who they target with drug testing policies, why someone might qualify for testing, and how often tests occur. What rights do employees have? Will they be subject to random searches and tests? Who will administer these programs, and do these appointees need special qualifications? Answering these questions will bring focus and clarity to revised policies. ??Some companies might require that only employees operating heavy machinery be tested, while other organizations will take a blanket approach. Companies that employ or contract individuals in safety-sensitive jobs such as machine operation or patient care must be especially thoughtful about how they implement drug-testing policies. New Jersey Institute of Technology, for instance, prohibits drug use among safety-sensitive employees whether they're on or off duty, except when the drugs have been prescribed by doctors.?? Employees who handle money also might come under increased scrutiny. It's important that businesses define exactly how their policies will be applied and that they explain their expectations to current and prospective workers. 3. Consequences for violating company policies: Disciplinary action must be outlined in the drug testing regulations. Leaders must decide whether they will enforce zero-tolerance policies even for employees who use marijuana medicinally. They'll also need to consider how to approach workers who are repeat offenders in legal states. Will they offer rehabilitation for drug abuse or simply fire them outright? In light of changing regulations, companies may shift from strictly punitive policies to encouraging employees to disclose drug problems and seek treatment.?? Clearly defined consequences provide employees with important information about how their actions around marijuana will impact their relationships with employers. People will be more thoughtful about their marijuana use if they know it could compromise their unemployment benefits. Companies are less likely to face legal trouble if they have clearly spelled out their drug policies and made them known to all hires. It's more difficult to bring litigation against organizations that educate employees about the consequences before disciplining or firing them. Employers must keep a constant watch on the legal landscape as more states address the question of marijuana legalization. Businesses that update their drug testing policies protect themselves against lawsuits and gain access to a wider pool of eligible job candidates. The question of how companies should respond to marijuana legalization isn't going away, so it's best to be proactive. Originally from Turkey, Zeynep Ilgaz and her husband co-founded Confirm Biosciences and TestCountry, where Ilgaz serves as president and CEO. Confirm Biosciences is a national provider of diagnostic products for human wellness, animal health, and environmental testing. She received the Most Admired CEO Award in San Diego in 2016, and Confirm Biosciences was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in 2014 and 2015. Most recently, she has been honored as a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 in San Diego. I grew up drinking Miller products. Literally. As a kid, if I wasnt sipping my grandpas Schlitz, I was sipping my moms Lite or my dads Genuine Draft. With such a strong history in macro beer consumption, its not surprising that as an adult I continue to enjoy what I refer to as "yellow beers" or "beer waters." However, I wholeheartedly support the spirit of local breweries and will certainly chug down a Riverwest Stein or a Louies Demise without complaint, but the truth is, if I am going to consume multiple beers, Im going to stick with the (generally) thirst quenching, lower-in-alcohol, lower-in-calories brews. That said, I have occasionally received shade from bartenders over the years for my perceived poor taste in beer. Nothing malicious, but after asking for a Lite, I once got "or you could order a good beer," and sometimes I can actually feel the internal eye-rolling, especially when Im at a tavern with a beer list the length of Kinnickinnic Avenue. I playfully refer to these interactions as moments of "beer shaming," a concept that macro-beer drinker Melanie Schroeder is also familiar with. "Oh, beer shaming definitely happens and not just from bartenders," says Schroeder. "The worst beer shaming comes from my friends and my boyfriend, who is really into craft beer." Ben Hebl owns Pourmans, 1127 N. Water St., a Downtown bar with an extensive beer and spirits lists along with self-serve tapper tables. Hebl says beer shaming is absolutely real, and he "accidentally" beer shames people. "I dont mean to, because I drink Miller High Life, but in my opinion, drinking Miller Lite is a world of difference," he says. Hebl doesnt verbally respond to customers who order a Miller Lite or worse, a Bud Light but he doesnt let it go, either. "I might make a noise or chuckle or look at them like Im deep laughing on the inside," he says. "But thats not to say I dont have ice cold Miller Lite or Bud Light and people should come in and drink many of them." Hebl says his "beer shaming" does not come from a place of snobbery well, maybe a little rather mostly out of pride for his role in the service industry as well as the local beer industry. "When you take your job seriously, like a professional, you want to put forward the best of what the industry has to give," says Hebl. "If someone came in here and said they loved vodka, I wouldnt want to serve them a rail vodka. Instead, I would offer them Rehorst Vodka, made just down the street. Its the same with beer." Mike Brenner, the owner of Brenner Brewing Co., 706 S. 5th St., is an intentional beer shamer without any shame in being one. "The people who come to a brewery and order a Bud or Miller are just trying to be a**holes," says Brenner. "I always try to be nice and offer them our German pilsner, but if they push me, I'll say, Wait! I DO have a Miller Lite. Then I'll grab a glass and start to unzip my pants like I'm gonna p*ss in it." Brenner believes buying a local beer is a choice that impacts more than a persons taste buds. "If you drink Miller, Pabst or even Goose Island for that matter, youre pretty much just an ignorant piece of sh*t who doesnt care about your own community," he says. Adrienne Pierluissi owns Sugar Maple, 441 E. Lincoln Ave., a bar with 60 American craft beers on tap. She says the bar's approach to people ordering macro beers has changed since it first opened eight years ago. "In the past five years, if someone orders a Miller or a Bud or a Coors, we see this individual as an opportunity to educate and nab one more craft beer lover," says Pierluissi. "We're not born all-knowing, and exposure is a bit of a privilege, so kudos to anyone who doesnt think they like craft beer for even walking into a craft beer bar." Anna Sweet, a bartender at Sugar Maple, admits she occasionally internally eye-rolls a customer, but mostly she enjoys the challenge of helping a macro drinker find a craft beer that appeals to them. "I've served people who thought they werent beer drinkers and found out they actually love big, rich stouts," says Sweet. "It makes our bar a memorable place." Editors note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 15 finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). The Arts @ Large Fill the Gaps initiative is a finalist for the PNC Trailblazer Award, which recognizes an innovative approach to a community challenge. Deborah Jolitz, the fine arts manager for the Milwaukee Public Schools, had a problem. In fall 2015, more than 25 schools were in need of arts education services, and there were no certified teacher applicants for the available positions. Jolitz discussed the situation with Teri Sullivan, founder and CEO of Arts @ Large, who suggested using Milwaukee artists to fill the gaps in the identified schools. "This community is filled with artist educators that are not only amazing at their own craft, but are amazing at working with students," Sullivan said. "Theyre not licensed, but they can fill those gaps temporarily until we can build back the pool for licensed teachers." The Arts @ Large staff and MPS arts administrators worked together to plan the "Fill the Gaps" initiative. MPS created Arts @ Large in 2001 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. In 2005, Arts @ Large became a nonprofit with the goal of providing integrated arts learning experiences for MPS students through programs such as artist residencies. After MPS approved Fill the Gaps, Arts @ Large held an information session and speed teaching interviews for interested artists in Milwaukee. The organization also provided professional development workshops to train the artist educators for the classroom. Once artists and schools were matched, the first residencies started in February 2016 and ran through the end of the 2015-16 school year. Fill the Gaps has continued during the 2016-17 school year; more than 40 MPS schools were in need of arts educators. This school year, Arts @ Large has expanded professional development training and created mentorship opportunities for artist educators. During the 2015-16 school year, Arts @ Large contracted with 38 artist educators, spanning multiple art forms, to work in 13 MPS schools in need of arts education as a part of Fill the Gaps. Arts @ Large has placed 36 artist educators in 23 schools so far this year for Fill the Gaps and is continuing to put artist educators in schools. Arts @ Large expects to contract with more than 50 artist educators by the end of the school year. MPS also has worked with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to create an alternative certification program for visual artist educators who want to get a teaching degree. Arts @ Large, MPS and Cardinal Stritch University also collaborate through artsHUBmke, which is a program that trains college education students, classroom teachers, arts specialists and artist educators on how to integrate arts in their teaching. Arts @ Large is not able to fill all the gaps in MPS alone. Other arts groups in the city, such as the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee Childrens Choir, Black Arts MKE and Tessas Black Entertainment and Youth Center, are also providing artist educators. During the 2015-2016 school year, Mark Weinberg and Jenny Wanasek, co-founders of the Center for Applied Theatre, were part of Fill the Gaps at Lancaster School, 4931 N. 68th St., and LaFollette School, 3239 N. 9th St. This year, Weinberg and Wanasek, who have worked with Arts @ Large since the organization began, are at Westside Academy I, 1945 N. 31st St., and Westside Academy II, 1940 N. 36th St. During Weinberg and Wanaseks residency at Lancaster, they created videos with students, and at LaFollette, they led teamwork games and image theatre, which allows participants to move their bodies to demonstrate scenes of problems and transformations. "Its so satisfying to see their faces light up when they get a chance to be creative and to be affirmed for that creativity," Wanasek said about working with students through Fill the Gaps. Cousins Dwight and Marquis Gilbert of H2O Milwaukee Music, a music video creation program, are also artist educators for the initiative. H2O Milwaukee Music teaches students how to create a music video, including music theory, beat making and song writing. Dwight and Marquis, who have worked with Arts @ Large for 10 years, also were Fill the Gaps artist educators at Lancaster during the 2015-16 school year and this year they are working at Hi-Mount Community School, 4921 W. Garfield Ave. During their residency at Lancaster, Dwight and Marquis worked with students to create music videos about money and the schools mantra, known as the Knights Code. "I was very heavily arts-influenced as a youth, and it kept me disciplined and out of trouble," said Marquis, a former violinist and MPS graduate. "It means a lot to be able to give what I learned through all those years of studying and be able to make it culturally relevant for todays kids." For Dr. Marcus Arrington, principal at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary, 3275 N. 3rd St., the artist educators from Fill the Gaps have been "a breath of fresh air." Arrington looked to Arts @ Large for artist educators that fit the schools focus as an African- American immersion school. Along with visual art and dance, the school also had artist educators from African drumming group Jali Kunda. Arrington said without Fill the Gaps he would not be able to afford to bring groups such as Jali Kunda to the school. "They may have been willing to do a performance or a couple workshops, but to actually have them from February to May, it was beautiful," Arrington said. Fill the Gaps has helped Arrington create the meaningful school experiences he wants to provide his students. "I want children to love school, and if they love drumming and that can help with attendance and help them be engaged and have something to look forward to, bring it on," he said. Jolitz and Sullivans goal is to have certified teachers back in classrooms, but for now, they continue to work together to make sure MPS students have arts opportunities. "Its our duty as a nonprofit organization to collaborate effectively with the district to make certain that every child has an equitable education," Sullivan said. "Thats what our job is every day, and we feel as if were making a monumental difference in the lives of so many students that otherwise wouldnt have those opportunities." United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying SBIRS GEO Flight 3 early missile warning satellite for USAF lifts off at 7:42 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2017 from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com A vital missile reconnaissance satellite for the U.S. Force soared to space atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral at dinnertime Friday night, Jan. 20, 2017. The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the $1.2 Billion Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO Flight 3 infrared imaging satellite lifted off at 7:42 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. "GEO Flight 3 delivery and launch marks a significant milestone in fulfilling our commitment to the missile-warning community, missile defense and the intelligence community. It's an important asset for the warfighter and will be employed for years to come," says Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, SMC commander and Air Force program executive officer for space, in a statement. The Space Based Infrared System is designed to provide global, persistent, infrared surveillance capabilities to meet 21st century demands in four national security mission areas: missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness. "The hard work and dedication of the launch team has absolutely paid off," Col. Dennis Bythewood, director of the Remote Sensing Directorate said in a statement. Nighttime blastoff of ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the USAF SBIRS GEO 3 missile defense satellite to orbit on Jan. 20, 2017 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Credit: Julian Leek "Today's launch of GEO Flight 3 culminates years of preparation by a broad team of government and industry professionals." The SBIRS GEO Flight 3 missile defense observatory built for the USAF will detect and track the infrared signatures of incoming enemy missiles twice as fast as the prior generation of satellites and is vital to America's national security. SBIRS GEO Flight 3 was launched to geosynchronous transfer orbit to an altitude approx 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth. ULA Atlas V launch of USAF SBIRS GEO 3 missile defense satellite on Jan. 20, 2017 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Credit: Joe Sekora The Atlas V was launched southeast at an inclination of 23.29 degrees. SBIRS GEO Flight 3 separated from the 2nd stage as planned 43 minutes after liftoff. Following separation, the spacecraft began a series of orbital maneuvers to propel it to a geosynchronous earth orbit. Once in its final orbit, engineers will deploy the satellite's solar arrays and antennas. The engineers will then complete checkout and tests in preparation for operational use, USAF officials explained. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman as the payload integrator. The SBIRS team is led by the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system. United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying SBIRS GEO Flight 3 missile detection satellite for USAF lifts off at 7:42 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2017 from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the USAF SBIRS GEO 3 missile defense satellite streaks to orbit on Jan. 20, 2017 after nighttime blastoff at 7:42 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Credit: Julian Leek A shoal of the Red Sea marbled spinefoot on an overgrazed rocky reef off northern Israel. Credit: Z. Fayer. Non-indigenous species (NIS) are harming indigenous species and habitats in the Mediterranean Sea, impairing potentially exploitable marine resources and raising concern about human health issues, according to a new Tel Aviv University study. The 2015 expansion of the Suez Canal, one of the world's most important corridors of commerce, facilitated an influx of non-indigenous species into the Mediterranean Sea, according to Prof. Bella Galil of the Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies at TAU's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, the lead author of a study published last month in Management of Biological Invasions. "The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded marine basin in the world," says Prof. Galil. "The number of NIS greatly increased between 1970 and 2015. 750 multicellular non-indigenous species were recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, far more than in other European seas, because of the ever-increasing number of Red Sea species introduced through the Suez Canal. This raises concerns about the increasing introductions of additional NIS and associated degradation and loss of native populations, habitats and ecosystem services." A slow reaction The development and implementation of a management policy have been slow, despite a century of scientific documentation of marine bioinvasions in the Mediterranean Sea. The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Seas Programme, adopted an "Action Plan concerning species introductions and invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea" in 2003. But the UNEP has "shied away from discussing, let alone managing, the influx of tropical non-indigenous biota introduced through the Suez Canal. So far no prevention and management measures have been implemented," according to Prof. Galil and her associates. In their new study, the authors present data that marine-protected areas in the eastern Mediterranean, from Turkey to Libya, have been overwhelmed by non-indigenous species and serve as veritable "hot spots" of bioinvasion. Biotic communities are already fragile, suffering from manmade stressors such as pollution and overfishing. The colonization of these communities by NIS redistributes nutritional resources, removes important actors and renders them more susceptible to extinction. Eastern Mediterranean algae-dominated rocky habitats have been decimated by large populations of herbivorous fish introduced through the Suez Canal. The two voracious grazers, Siganus luridus and S. rivulatus, have transformed lush rocky reefs into "barrens," dramatically reducing habitat complexity and altering the community structure and food web. Within 30 years, a small Red Sea mussel has replaced the native mytilid along the entire Mediterranean coast of Israel, forming dense nearly mono-specific species "carpets." A hope for effective intervention The authors of the study led a discussion on effective management of non-indigenous species introductions into the Mediterranean Sea at a EuroMarine workshop that took place in Ischia, Italy, in 2016. The discussion resulted in the "Ischia Declaration" that laid down principles for an effective, science-based, transboundary management. The declaration was approved by the general assembly of EuroMarine, a network of 73 research institutions and universities, funded by the European Union. "We hope that this new research will be used to construct a science-based effective management of marine bioinvasions, and prevent, or at least minimize, the influx of additional non-indigenous species into the Mediterranean," says Prof. Galil. "Time will tell whether these aims are achieved or legislators and management continue to put off confronting this difficult issue and pass the environmental, economic and social burden to future generations." The researchers are currently investigating pollution and other NIS-related factors. Making every decision smarter: Dr Alessio Ishizaka. Credit: University of Portsmouth Expert decision analysts have turned one of the ABC's of business on its head and devised a brilliant new tool to help improve the bottom line. The tool takes a novel approach to problem-solving by switching the focus away from the conventional ranking of products according to an ABC ranking based only on turnover, and instead looking at products against multiple factors. The MACBETHSort tool cuts the time companies need to spend making major product decisions; helps ensure the decisions taken are better; makes decisions easy to communicate to staff; and, critically, improves the bottom line. Professor of Decision Analysis Alessio Ishizaka and Maynard Gordon, both of the University of Portsmouth, published their research in the Journal of Operational Research Society. Professor Ishizaka said: "Decisions in business are often of huge importance and the first step needs to be to define the problem. Traditional decision-making tools rely on giving products a grade, from A, B, or C. "You can understand why such a simple tool might be popular with busy managing directors, but it's too simplistic to be very useful in the end. "MACBETHSort supports decisions, rather than makes decisions, so the quality of the result will always depends on the quality of what you tell it. If a decision-maker has no idea about the business, then no tool can make miracles or give good advice. But if the decision-maker has a sound grasp of the business and a clear vision about its future, the MACBETHSort tool can make an enormous difference to the company's bottom line." The researchers tested their sorting tool on a medium-sized company which manufactures and sells worldwide a small range of doors. The company's products ranged from the simple turnstile to a high-end bespoke break-out door for panic rooms. In common with many SMEs, it had not used a decision-making tool before and had relied more on instinct and understanding of the market, than on science of classifying products according to their strategic importance. To test the new tool, the managing director was asked first to list their key criteria for a successful product and decided they were: Speed how quickly can it be manufactured; Flexibility how easily can it reconfigured to meet the needs and laws of different countries; Return on Investment profit margin; Market share how competitive is it; Dependency how dependent is it on specialist versus generic components; Production how complicated is it Skill how skilled does the workforce need to be Labour- how many people are needed to produce it. He was then asked a series of questions, including which criteria were most likely to move a product from good to excellent. By going through a relatively complex set of ratings, it emerged that staff skill and labour were of least importance because of the abundance of workforce at all skill levels; that the humble turnstile was a middle-league product for the company, not as predicted a lower league one; and that although the all-glass door was ranked in the middle league, it was lifted into the top league the products most worthy of the company's time and attention because it has a high market share and is the company's cash cow. The rating, sorting and adjusting took a few hours, with specialist decision-making analyst's help. The result, for the company, was excellent. Professor Ishizaka said: "We discussed the outcome with the company later and it was clear they were impressed. They'd noticed a significant reduction in time and effort in their decision process, they felt the quality of their decisions was improved, partly because they had a clear and consistent benchmark, and the decisions about production were clear and easy to communicate across the company." More information: Alessio Ishizaka et al. MACBETHSort: a multiple criteria decision aid procedure for sorting strategic products, Journal of the Operational Research Society (2016). DOI: 10.1057/s41274-016-0002-9 Credit: University of St Andrews A study by a global agrochemical company that concluded there was only a low risk to honey bees from a widely used agricultural pesticide has been described as "misleading" in new research published by statisticians at the University of St Andrews. Pesticides called neonicotinoids or neonics may be implicated in losses of honey bees and other pollinators. The economic value of honey bees and bumble bees on the pollination of commercially grown crops has been estimated at over 200 million a year in the UK alone. A major study conducted by Swiss agrochemical company Syngenta on the effects of the neonic thiamethoxam on honey bees in the field concluded that there was only a low risk to honey bees. New research conducted at the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) by Dr Robert Schick, Professor Jeremy Greenwood and Professor Steve Buckland shows even large and important effects could have been missed because the Syngenta study was statistically too small. Their findings are published today in the international journal Environmental Sciences Europe. The Syngenta study involved two experiments: an oilseed rape experiment conducted at two locations and a maize experiment at three locations. At each location the experiments used pairs of fields in one field the crop was treated with thiamethoxam at levels normally used by farmers, in the other field the crop was untreated. The Syngenta study concluded that because the experiments involved so little replication (two cases for oilseed rape and three for maize) a formal analysis of the data "would lack the power to detect anything other than very large treatment effects, and it is clear from a simple inspection of the results that no large treatment effects were present. Therefore a formal statistical analysis was not conducted because this would be potentially misleading". The St Andrews team believe this is fundamentally wrong because formal statistical analysis is only potentially misleading if the wrong method is used and because the mere inspection of the results is always potentially misleading because it is an entirely subjective procedure. Professor Greenwood said: "In order to reach valid conclusions about the results of an experiment such as this, one needs not just to estimate the effect of the treatment but also to measure the precision of the estimate. That is what we have done, using standard statistical techniques. "What we found was that the estimates of the treatment effects were so imprecise that one could not tell whether the effects were either too small to pose a problem or, in contrast, so large as to be of serious concern. "In effect, the experiments were on such a small scale that little useful could be concluded from them." More information: An experiment of the impact of a neonicotinoid pesticide on honey bees; the value of a formal analysis of the data. https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/an-experiment-of-the-impact-of-a-neonicotinoid-pesticide-on-honey-bees-the-value-of-a-formal-analysis-of-the-data(e8f778c3-f847-46f3-8a29-5e7bbdb2c219).html Credit: G. Marino As buildings evolve from energy consumers to energy producers, architecture is seeing a major paradigm shift, with building renovations becoming a real challenge. EPFL researchers explore this fundamental issue in a new book and course. Acoustics, heating and air conditioning are key factors in a building's design and a major conundrum for architects tasked with creating energy-efficient buildings. Similar challenges arise when renovating older structures built when energy consumption was not a worldwide concern. Comfort and comfort-related technologies are still neglected in the history of 20th-century architecture, but EPFL intends to remedy this through a new book and course. Two researchers from the Laboratory of Techniques and Preservation of Modern Architecture (TSAM) have created a new field of study: the "history of comfort." Giulia Marino, an EPFL scientist, was awarded the prize for best EPFL doctoral thesis in 2016 for her work in this area. Next semester, she will teach a master's course on this subject to architecture students. Associate Professor Franz Graf co-authored a book with Marino in 2016. We interviewed them to find out more. What does the term "comfort" involve in your work? Giulia Marino: In our thesis and book, we covered the many thermal, acoustic and light-related aspects of comfort in architecture. In addition to historical and cultural elements, we looked at comfort from the perspective of energy efficiency and heritage preservation. Twentieth century buildings make up 70% of our cities, but these buildings were designed according to energy projections that are now obsolete. They are often covered with glass and made with low-inertia materials, and they assumed an unlimited supply of energy. The question is how to bring these buildings up to today's standards without destroying their historical significance. Franz Graf: It's a major challenge because we are currently experiencing a paradigm shift with regard to comfort we now want new buildings to produce their own energy rather than consuming it. What is the aim of your book and the course that will be given next semester? Franz Graf: We want to make architects aware of this issue by presenting interesting examples of renovations aimed at increasing the comfort of emblematic buildings that form part of our 20th-century architectural heritage. We don't think these matters should simply be left to the engineers. They need to be integrated into the architect's work as well. For architects, this means going into unexplored territory. We hope to embolden architects so that they are not afraid to delve into an area they necessarily know little about. We also want to show them that renovating comfort-related systems can offer opportunities for innovation and creativity without going against the aesthetic choices that were made in the past. Giulia Marino: Through these case studies, the course will provide students with the tools they need to better understand the role of comfort in the history of architecture and its implications in a given project. Have any such renovations been made in Switzerland recently? Giulia Marino: They range from the Federal Office of Sport in Macolin to the Tscharnergut neighborhood in Bern. For our book, we chose a broad array of projects, all of which greatly respected the buildings' heritage. In the Macolin project, the original facade of the building was preserved, but its thermal performance was improved. In the Tscharnergut project, two rooms were added to each apartment through an energy-efficient renovation that involved work on the building's facade. This original approach breathed new life into this large, landmark complex from the 1960s and brought it up to modern standards. What sparked your interest in this field? Giulia Marino: Heating and air-conditioning systems often get in the way of an architectural project. But, paradoxically, these systems are seldom covered in the history of architecture. When analyzed, the approaches turn out to be inconsistent. We wanted to add another critical frame of reference to 20th-century architecture by showing that these systems sometimes dictated the choices made by architects. One such example is La Rinascente in Rome. The facade of this 1950s shopping center has often been compared to that of a classical palace. In fact, it is the air-conditioning system that gives it this allure. The technical constraints of integrating the system made it a decisive factor in the building's aesthetics. Franz Graf: Whether they're hidden or in full view like the imposing pipework on the Pompidou Center in Paris these systems attest to a certain ambivalence about 20th-century comfort. So this subject opens up various research possibilities. It warrants a cross-disciplinary approach; one that involves, for example, both the sociology of objects and here I'm thinking in particular about the showcasing of Le Corbusier's radiators and the history of medicine and of construction techniques. More information: Building Environment and Interior Comfort in 20th-Century Architecture : Understanding Issues and Developing Conservation Strategies: infoscience.epfl.ch/record/221281 Giulia Marino, "Some Like it Hot!", Le confort physiologique et ses dispositions dans l'architecture du XXeme siecle: histoire et devenir d'un enjeu majeur, EPFL thesis, Lausanne, 2014. A technician from the Optosmart company, a partner of the project, examines the field in the Bekaa valley, in Lebanon, where they will install the sensors for the new irrigation system being developed. Credit: Georges Abi Aad/UKLTH It might be hard to imagine what link there could be between a huge scientific machine underneath Geneva and a field of tomatoes in Lebanon but both need advanced technology to achieve their best results. Even if they seem light years apart, they face the same technical challenges. In light of this, CERN is now part of a research project to develop a system for optimised irrigation, based on technologies developed for high energy physics. The irrigation system will use fiber optic sensors designed to measure parameters such as temperature, humidity, concentration of pesticides, fertilisers and enzymes in the soil of cultivated fields. If the development succeeds, it will be the first fiber optic sensor system able to measure all of these parameters at the same time. The system has to be simple and affordable, allowing irrigation optimisation that will result in water saving and increase in crop yield. It will also help to lower the amount of fertilisers and pesticides used, helping build more sustainable agriculture. The research programme was launched last week by the UK Lebanon Tech hub (UKLTH) as part of its brand new International Research Centre Associate Research Unit (ARU). The UK Lebanon Tech hub is an initiative from the Central Bank of Lebanon and the UK Government to support the development of Lebanon's Knowledge Economy. CERN is part of this research project along with several institutes and companies such as the University of Sannio, the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) from Naples, the Optosmart and National Instruments companies, the Lebanese University and the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute. The partners signed the "Fiber Optic Sensor Systems for Irrigation" (FOSS4I) collaboration agreement on 11 January. Representatives of the institutes involved in the Fiber Optic Sensor Systems for Irrigation (FOSS4I) project met on 11 January in Beirut, Lebanon, to sign a collaboration agreement. Credit: Georges Abi Aad/UKLTH Unique fiber optic humidity sensors were also developed for the huge CMS experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. "We use specially developed sensors in order to monitor the environment in the CMS tracking system, at the centre of the detector," explains Martin Gastal, FOSS4I project leader and member of the CMS collaboration at CERN. "Such sensors have the potential to be further developed to match the challenges of other applications, like irrigation. This project is illustrating how research in high energy physics, can produce technologies that can be applied to societal problems while stimulating technology transfer and local economic development." The UK Lebanon Tech Hub is funding the project and coordinating between the different parties. CERN, through its commitment to knowledge transfer, will lead the project and provide continued knowledge transfer support after initiating the project. The Organization will also share its facilities, including a dedicated sensor calibration facility. While Optosmart, INFN Naples and University of Sannio will share their expertise and know-how regarding the design and operation of relative humidity and temperature measurement techniques, based on fiber optic sensors. They will be working closely with the Lebanese University on the development of new fibre optic sensors and data acquisition systems. The Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute will supervise the installation of the sensors in the region of Zahle, in Lebanon, and monitor the crops. Finally, National Instrument will provide their support on hardware research and development. A key aspect of this project is its open approach: all hardware will be released under CERN's Open Hardware License and the software will be released under an open source license within 2 years of the project termination. Provided by CERN A view of Jupiter's south pole (upper left and lower right) and lab results from a new model of Jupiter's winds (upper right and lower left). Credit: Jonathan Aurnou One mystery has been whether the jets exist only in the planet's upper atmospheremuch like the Earth's own jet streamsor whether they plunge into Jupiter's gaseous interior. If the latter is true, it could reveal clues about the planet's interior structure and internal dynamics. Now, UCLA geophysicist Jonathan Aurnou and collaborators in Marseille, France, have simulated Jupiter's jets in the laboratory for the first time. Their work demonstrates that the winds likely extend thousands of miles below Jupiter's visible atmosphere. This research is published online today in Nature Physics. "We can make these features in a computer, but we couldn't make them happen in a lab," said Aurnou, a UCLA professor of earth, planetary and space sciences, who has spent the past decade studying computer models of swirling winds. "If we have a theoretical understanding of a system, we should be able to create an analog model." The challenge to re-creating swirling winds in the lab was building a model of a planet with three key attributes believed to be necessary for jets to form: rapid rotation, turbulence and a "curvature effect" that mimics the spherical shape of a planet. Previous attempts to create jets in a lab often failed because researchers couldn't spin their models fast enough or create enough turbulence, Aurnou said. The breakthrough for Aurnou's team was a new piece of laboratory equipment. The researchers used a table built on air bearings that can spin at 120 revolutions per minute and support a load of up to 1,000 kilograms (about 2,200 pounds), meaning that it could spin a large tank of fluid at high speed in a way that mimics Jupiter's rapid rotation. The scientists filled an industrial-sized garbage with 400 liters (about 105 gallons) of water and placed it on the table. When the container spun, water was thrown against its sides, forming a parabola that approximated the curved surface of Jupiter. "The faster it went, the better we mimicked the massively strong effects of rotation and curvature that exists on planets," Aurnou said. But the team found that 75 revolutions per minute was a practical limit: fast enough to force the liquid into a strongly curved shape but slow enough to keep water from spilling out. While the can was spinning, scientists used a pump below its false floor to circulate water through a series of inlet and outlet holes, which created turbulenceone of the three critical conditions for the experiment. That turbulent energy was channeled into making jets, and within minutes the water flow had changed to six concentric flows moving in alternating directions. "This is the first time that anyone has demonstrated that strong jets that look like those on Jupiter can develop in a real fluid," Aurnou said. The researchers inferred that the jets were deep because they could see them on the surface of the water, even though they had injected turbulence at the bottom. The researchers are looking forward to testing their predictions with real data from Jupiter, and they won't have to wait long: NASA's Juno space probe is orbiting Jupiter right now, collecting data about its atmosphere, magnetic field and interior. Initial results from the Juno mission were presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in December in San Francisco, and Aurnou was there. "The Juno data from the very first flyby of Jupiter showed that structures of ammonia gas extended over 60 miles into Jupiter's interior, which was a big shock to the Juno science team," Aurnou said. "UCLA researchers will be playing an important role in explaining the data." This year, Aurnou and his team will use supercomputers at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois, to simulate the dynamics of Jupiter's interior and atmosphere. They'll also continue their work at the laboratory in Marseilles to make the spinning table simulation more complex and more realistic. One goal is to add a thin, stable layer of fluid on top of the spinning water, which would function like the thin outer layer of Jupiter's atmosphere that's responsible for the planet's weather. The researchers believe this will help them simulate features like Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot. More information: A laboratory model for deep-seated jets on the gas giants, Nature Physics, www.nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/nphys4001 Journal information: Nature Physics President Donald Trump has picked a fierce critic of the Obama-era "net neutrality" rules to be chief regulator of the nation's airwaves and internet connections. In a statement Monday, Ajit Pai said he was grateful to the president for his new role as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Pai had been one of the two Republican commissioners on a five-member panel that regulates the country's communications infrastructure, including TV, phone and internet service. There are currently just three members on the panel. The Republicans' new majority is expected to help them roll back pro-consumer policies that upset many phone and cable industry groups, including net neutrality rules that bar internet service providers from favoring some websites and apps over others. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Tall, charred but alive loblolly pines reflect the wildfire damage as recovery begins with oak resprouts and pine seedlings. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Caitlyn Cooper Without human help, the "Lost Pines" may lose some of what it is known for after wildfire ripped through that region almost six years ago, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife study. The "Lost Pines" ecoregion, located in Bastrop, Fayette and Caldwell counties, constitutes the western-most range of loblolly pine in the U.S. This patch of pine-dominated forest is isolated from the rest of the East Texas Piney Woods by over 100 miles. Due to the concern about this unique region and specifically Bastrop State Park, Caitlyn Cooper, an agronomy doctoral student at Texas A&M University, and her advisers conducted a two-year study to look at burn severity and soil type and the effect of the two on oak and pine growth and water use. Joining Cooper on the project are Dr. Georgianne Moore, Texas A&M department of ecosystem science and management associate professor; Dr. Cristine Morgan, Texas A&M department of soil and crop sciences professor; and Dr. James Muir, Texas A&M AgriLife Research forage scientist at Stephenville. Cooper said she found the pine trees were reestablishing themselves where the fire severity was light to moderate. However, where the fire was severe, there had been a shift to more post oak and blackjack oak growth. A mix of post-oak resprouts and pine seedlings are found in a moderately burned plot. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Caitlyn Cooper "Our concern was that resprouting oaks may alter resources and make conditions unfavorable for pine reestablishment," she said. "We designed an experiment to test the effects of fire severity and soil type on the growth and leaf-level functions of resprouting post oaks, blackjack oaks and loblolly pines, hoping to better understand the physiology of the three species and how their long-term recovery may be affected." In July 2015 and 2016, Cooper and two other students measured resprout heights and diameters and collected leaf samples for nitrogen, carbon and phenolic compounds that would provide an indication of plant stress response. "We took measurements in three soil types ranging from deep sands to shallower rocky soils and replicated those measurements in each soil type and burn severity combination three times for a total of 18 plots," she said. In 2016, the project expanded to include additional measurements to analyze foliar photosynthesis, water potential and hydraulic characteristics, which would increase understanding about water access and use by the three species, Cooper said. "We found that the degree of burn severity had more of an effect on growth than soil type," she said. "Pine seedling densities were much lower in severely burned areas than those that had experienced light burns. Oak resprout densities were similar across burn severity, but the trees were smaller in the moderately burned plots than those that were severely burned. Marco Minor and Ashley Cross, Texas A&M University students who help with the project, set up a plot in a severely burned patch to measure loblolly pine seedling and oak resprout heights and diameters. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Caitlyn Cooper "Reduced resprout growth in moderately burned plots may be due to increased competition with loblolly pine since we encountered a greater number of pine individuals in moderately burned areas than those that were severely burned." Although the pines tended to be shorter than the oaks in 2015, they had similar heights to the resprouts by 2016, she said. "Our leaf-level measurements suggested that the oak resprouts were better able to tolerate drought stress, while the pine seedlings were more conservative with water use and exhibited drought-avoidance characteristics," Cooper said. "Post oak was more tolerant of drought stress than blackjack oak." In addition to the plots for evaluating oak resprout and pine seedling competition, Cooper established three sites to compare sap flow, a way to measure water use. Two of these sites were established in Bastrop State Park in moderately and severely burned regions, and the third was established at an unburned site at the Griffith League Ranch north of Bastrop. "After the fire, we wanted to see if there was a difference in tree stand water use," Moore said. "Plant density affects competition, and that affects how much water is available to individual trees." Caitlyn Cooper, an agronomy doctoral student at Texas A&M University, installs sap flow sensors in a loblolly pine at the moderately burned sap flow site. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo Cooper said they found a few of the overstory oaks and pines were killed, but the majority lived at the moderately burned site. The entire overstory had been destroyed at the severely burned site. This site used much less water than the unburned and moderately burned sites due to the large reduction in tree density and size. "We also found that mature pine trees use more water than mature oaks," Cooper said. "So if the severely burned area returns with more oaks than pine in the future, it will likely continue to use less water than pine-dominated stands in other parts of the park. That, in turn, could mean more runoff." Initially, she said, that runoff is not a good thing because of the erosion it might cause, but as the land heals, it will leave more water for other plants. To determine individual tree water use and then scale to the stand level, Cooper used sap-flow sensors on the stems of the trees. These sensors continuously record data to provide daily water use measurements. These logs were kept for about six months. "At the end of our study, we have determined that some of the severely burned areas will likely become oak-dominated if pines are not reintroduced by planting and resprouts are not managed," she said. "And the move oak dominance could alter the water availability and runoff within those severely burned areas into the future." For 30 years, KU Leuven has been home to an impressive collection of bananas that already contains over 1,500 varieties and is the biggest in its kind. The collection is recognised as world heritage and will soon be expanded with another food crop: 8,000 potato varieties of the International Potato Centre in Peru are coming to Leuven. Credit: Bioversity International For 30 years, KU Leuven (University of Leuven, Belgium) has been home to an impressive collection of bananas that already contains over 1,500 varieties and is the biggest in its kind. The collection is recognised as world heritage and will soon be expanded with another food crop: 8,000 potato varieties of the International Potato Centre in Peru are coming to Leuven. "Here in Leuven, we have 1,536 of the estimated 2,000 banana varieties," says Professor Rony Swennen of the KU Leuven Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, which manages the banana collection. The collection now falls under the umbrella of the United Nations as the 'Bioversity Musa Germplasm International Transit Centre'. To preserve this many varieties, the bioengineers use a cold chamber - containing test tubes with small banana plantlets of 3 to 4 centimetresand cryotanks with plant stem cells in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius. "By using this method of cryopreservation, we can preserve the stem cells for hundreds of years and even regenerate them to a normal plantlet." The CIP, the International Potato Centre in Peru, manages a collection of potatoes, sweet potatoes and other tuber and root crops from the Andes, and is convinced of the success of the technology used in Leuven. "They also use cryopreservation to preserve potatoes and will soon send us a copy of their own collection of 8,000 potato varieties," Swennen continues. For 30 years, KU Leuven has been home to an impressive collection of bananas that already contains over 1,500 varieties and is the biggest in its kind. The collection is recognised as world heritage and will soon be expanded with another food crop: 8,000 potato varieties of the International Potato Centre in Peru are coming to Leuven. Credit: Bioversity International Cryopreservation can also be used for many other plants: "You can apply this technique to all plants that don't produce their own seeds, such as most bananas, or plants whose seeds are difficult to stock, such as coconuts. By doing so, you could build a counterpart to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world seed bank on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen." For 30 years, KU Leuven has been home to an impressive collection of bananas that already contains over 1,500 varieties and is the biggest in its kind. The collection is recognised as world heritage and will soon be expanded with another food crop: 8,000 potato varieties of the International Potato Centre in Peru are coming to Leuven. Credit: Bioversity International Credit: kwest/Shutterstock.com ManMohan Sodhi, Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management commented on climate change and how the rise of natural disasters could impact the US economy. "With President Trump now in office, there are fears that he may undo global efforts weak as they are to mitigate climate change. However, it will be in the interest of US multinationals, as well as of those living in the US (the specific stakeholders the incoming President seeks to represent), to support and indeed bolster climate-change cooperation. "This is not only because climate change is literally disastrous for the planet, but also because the total number of people affected, in addition to the total property damage due to climate-related disasters, has been rising exponentially over the past few decades. "Also, among the countries most affected by this is the USA and the continent most affected is Asia, where many US multinationals have manufacturing. This makes climate change a huge US issue, especially economically. "My analysis of the impact of disasters can be summarised as the following: Analysing the period 1965-2015, nearly all of the cumulative property damage and the most number of people affected by natural disasters were caused by floods, droughts, storms and earthquakes. Of these, the first three (and some other disaster types such as extreme heat) are climate-related. If we look at the cumulative property damage for more recent years, 2000-2015, the country with the highest damage is the USA. While China, India and Bangladesh lead in the cumulative total of people affected by natural disasters, the USA is close behind these 'leaders'. Furthermore, while Asia as a continent, is far ahead of other continents when it comes to the total number of people affected (2000-2015), North America is not far behind in property damage and will likely exceed other continents in the years to come based on trends. The trend of property damage (1965-2015) due to climate-related natural disasters, such as floods and storms, shows growth of about $25 billion per decade. In comparison, for non-climate-related disasters such as earthquakes, the figure is less than $10 billion per decade. The contrast is sharper for the total number of people affected globally: the growth is about 40 million more people per decade due to climate-related disasters compared to a negligible increase in the number of people affected by non-climate-related disasters. The trends are more pronounced for Asia and North America - the former for the number of people affected and the latter for property damage, so North America stands to be the 'leader' in property damage due to climate-related disasters in the coming years. Credit: City University London "This analysis only 'correlates' the impact of climate-related disasters as well as non-climate ones but in recently published research, I have provided empirical evidence that disasters and the economy are related in a vicious cycle. "So if disasters are primarily becoming climate-related, the incoming US administration should take heed that the economy, especially that of the US will suffer greatly if climate change is not reversed or at least slowed." Bobby Banerjee, Professor of Management commented on how US climate and energy policy look under Trump's administration. "Donald J. Trump has been sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. For climate change activists and environmentalists the future looks dire. 2016 was the hottest year on record and 16 of the 17 hottest years have been recorded since 2000. And from this Friday global leadership on climate change will be taken over by a man who claims climate change was a 'hoax'; that the 'concept of global warming was created for and by the Chinese' and who threatened to 'cancel' the 2015 Paris agreement to limit climate change. And if the optimists among us feel these were populist campaign promises and that there would be a difference in his climate policy as he moves from campaigning to governing, the early signs are grim. "Trump nominated former Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, as Energy Secretary, who once called climate change 'a contrived phony mess'. Other notable appointees include prominent climate sceptic Myron Ebell who heads the Environmental Protection Agency transition team and Oklahoma Attorney General, Scott Pruitt, a close ally of the fossil fuel industry to head the EPA. Credit: City University London "Mr Pruitt's nomination and ongoing Senate confirmation hearing has been described as 'surreal' by political commentators: he has sued the EPA 14 times over the last six years and describes himself as a 'leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda'. And he will working for a boss who promised to get rid of the EPA 'in almost every form'." "Will Trump actually have the power to carry out his promises? What would the climate agenda look like under a Trump administration? Let's take the landmark Paris agreement. President Obama unilaterally ratified the Paris accord without Senate approval and in theory Trump could sign an executive order withdrawing the US from the agreement on his first day in office. However, legal and policy experts claim it would take at least four years for the US to formally back out of the agreement. "What this mean is that the US pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28% below their 2005 level by 2025 would no longer be binding. This could have ripple effects on other countries who would be less likely to cut their emissions. China, already a world leader in renewable energy, would gain strategically from a US withdrawal and would gain credibility as they have pledged to continue to support the Paris accord. "A Trump administration would most definitely reverse the Obama administration's climate and energy policy. The US's course on energy policy would see a significant shift towards more fossil fuel extraction through opening up of federal lands for oil and gas drilling and coal mining. Trump's campaign promise to revive the coal industry will probably remain unfulfilled not for environmental reasons but more because low gas prices have made coal an uneconomical choice. "One thing is certain: with a compliant Republican congress the considerable power that the oil and gas lobby holds over US politics will increase substantially. And that is not good news for the planet." More information: ManMohan S. Sodhi. Natural disasters, the economy and population vulnerability as a vicious cycle with exogenous hazards, Journal of Operations Management (2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.jom.2016.05.010 Farms near forests tend to have more trees, which provide income and other benefits for local people, such as these farmers in the buffer zone of W National Park, Benin. Credit: Daniel Miller Trees may be easy to spot on the plains of Africa but they are often overlooked as a source of income for farmers. A University of Illinois study shows trees on farms may help reduce rural poverty and maintain biodiversity. "Trees on farms in Africa often fall through the cracksthey're not forests and they're not agriculture," says U of I's Daniel Miller, who studies environmental politics and policy. "In our study, we found about one third of all rural farmers across five study countries have and grow trees on their farms. Among those farmers, trees on farms contribute 17 percent to their annual household income, so they're very important for generating economic benefits for households." Miller's study used satellite images showing forest cover and nationally representative household-level data gathered from in-person interviews in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. One thing he learned is that there are more trees on agricultural lands than expectedabout a third to more than half of the rural households report having on-farm trees. Fruit trees and cash crop trees such as coffee trees were the two most popular types of trees. Tree for timber and fuel were only reported by 5 percent of the households. Ecologically, trees could act as biodiversity corridors, Miller says. "One of the findings is that trees on farms are more prevalent near forests. They can provide wildlife or bird habitat linking different forested or natural areas, while at the same time providing income potential to poor farmers. They promise a potential win-win for conservation and development. "Overall, the results suggest that trees on farms should be given more attention in agriculture, food security and poverty-related policy debates in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly as the need to tackle climate change becomes more urgent," Miller says. Trees can play an important role in both climate change adaptation and mitigation. "Climate smart agriculture is a new buzzword," Miller says. "The World Bank has committed to making their agricultural investments climate smart by 2019. Trees are climate smart because they aren't as fragile as agricultural crops are to extreme shifts in climate. Oftentimes, trees can continue to produce when you might have a crop failure due to a drought. So, trees may provide a food source like mangoes or other fruit in times of difficulty." Trees on farms can also help mitigate some of the negative effects of climate change. "Trees sequester carbon through photosynthesis, so by not clearing them, you're not releasing the carbon into the atmosphere," Miller says. Because Miller looks at data from several angles, including the political implications, he is particularly excited about the national scale of the study. For policy makers, information presented at this scaleas done in this studyis especially useful in showing how trees benefit the five countries. "One of the major findings from this work is that national-level differences explained a lot of the variation in whether people adopt or don't adopt trees on their farms," Miller says. "Particularly in Francophone countries, which I personally know better, central governments have historically claimed any tree as being the domain of forestry, which may shape farmer willingness to grow and use trees. For example, for a long time in Niger, farmers were wary of having trees on their farms because the central government had a legal right to come on their land and claim the trees as their own. It's a legacy of colonial law in those countries. "More recently, the law in Niger changed to allow greater farmer control of trees. This change is a big reason for the exceptional re-greening that has happened across a large band of Niger," Miller says. "That's an extreme case, but it illustrates how national-level policies can affect farmer decision-making. Tanzania, with its record of community forest management, provides a contrasting case." More information: Daniel C. Miller et al, Prevalence, economic contribution, and determinants of trees on farms across Sub-Saharan Africa, Forest Policy and Economics (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2016.12.005 Point of Sale Kiosk for Fresh Squeezed OJ Comes to the U.S. By Charlotte A. F. Farley By the spring of 2017, strategically selected markets in Southern California will have access to Vingoos Vitamin C Chargers systems. The Vitamin C chargers are digital, interactive vending machines that peel, squeeze, and juice whole oranges in less than 45 seconds. Vingoo premiered its digital citrus kiosk to the North American market at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in January, displaying an operation that marries together an inventive business model, integrated planning, supply chain management, and the latest digital payment solutions. The Shanghai, China-based company operates more than 2000 Vitamin-C-Chargers across 125 cities in China. Vingoo says it will procure premium oranges from local orchards in the U.S. as well as other international markets. Thirsty consumers wont have to worry about digging up change for a quick glass of o.j.; a simple swipe of a major credit card, a Vingoo giftcard, or ApplePay will work as payment for the cup of freshly-squeezed orange juice. While this is a new venture in North America, Vingoo sells about 2 million cups of freshly squeezed orange juice every month across all major metropolitan cities in China for a total of 67 million cups sold nationwide since the companys inception 2010, according to Vingoo founder and CEO Zhou Qi. Its technology platform enables operating partners to have full back-end database access to manage day-to-day operation. The technology received patents in China; currently, the patent is pending in the U.S. Vingoo has collaborated with GRDigital, a U.S. based digital consultancy, to expand business strategies, marketing efforts, and technology solutions customized for a North American marketplace. We have created a comprehensive digital ecosystem to address todays ever-changing consumer behaviors, said Gerard Sun, president of GRDigital. The company has been building digital technology platforms in both hardware and software for fully automated digital vending machines since 2010. For more information, visit www.vingoojuice.com or http://vingoo.geraldrobert.com/ Other point of sale articles of interest: DAVOS January 19, 2017 Mastercard and George Soros announced plans to explore creating a social enterprise to apply commercial strategies to deliver a positive impact on society. Called Humanity Ventures, the enterprise could catalyze and accelerate economic and social development for vulnerable communities around the world, especially refugees and migrants. Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga and George Soros met at the World Economic Forum announcing plans to explore creating a social enterprise to apply commercial strategies to deliver a positive impact on society. Pervasive joblessness, lack of access to healthcare, inadequate education, and financial exclusion afflict people in both developed and emerging economies. Despite billions of dollars of humanitarian and development assistance every year, millions of people remain marginalized. Mastercard and George Soros believe that private sector capabilities coupled with strategic, long-term investments can spur development and transform life for the underserved. Last September, George Soros announced that he is earmarking up to $500 million for private investments that will improve capacity to address the challenges that migrants, including refugees, and their host communities face around the world. Humanity Ventures would be part of that initiative. Mastercard delivers innovative payments, data, and identity solutions which empower the underserved all over the world. These tools improve the lives of refugees and migrants by forging better economic and social ties with local populations. Operating as a standalone entity, Humanity Ventures would initially combine solutions designed to expand access to healthcare and education, foster local economic development and entrepreneurship, and enhance the delivery of aid. One such solution is the Mastercard Aid Network, an award winning digital voucher platform designed in partnership with humanitarian organizations. With the creation of Humanity Ventures, Soros could invest up to $50 million to make these solutions even more scalable and sustainable. The social enterprise could also serve as an incubator and accelerator for smaller projects committed to mitigating the migration crisis. Designed to combine the need for business returns with social impact, Humanity Ventures would also act as a new model for how civil society, governments, and the private sector improve quality of life and drive economic growth. Over several years, weve applied our thinking and technology to help hundreds of millions connect to the formal economy and to help empower safer and more efficient aid distribution, said Ajay Banga, president and CEO of Mastercard. We can have transformational impact by scaling our business-driven organization to leverage innovation, on-the-ground experience and long-term capital investments. Migrants are often forced into lives of despair in their host communities because they cannot gain access to financial, healthcare and government services. Our potential investment in this social enterprise, coupled with Mastercards ability to create products that serve vulnerable communities, can show how private capital can play a constructive role in solving social problems, said George Soros. Humanity Ventures is intended to be profitable so as to stimulate involvement from other businesspeople. We also hope to establish standards of practice to ensure that investments are not exploitative of the vulnerable communities we intend to serve. About Mastercard Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the worlds fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. PointOS Appoints New CEO BOSTON PointOS, a leading point-of-sale software company, is delighted to announce new leadership. The new Chief Executive Officer, Dylan Penebre, is perfectly positioned to continue anchoring PointOS as a formidable force in the point-of-sale industry, leading an energetic team at the new Boston, MA headquarters. In 2004, Penebre started as a key member of one of the first integrated payment organizations in the USA. In 2011, Penebre was brought on board by PointOS due to his point-of-sale industry experience and strong payment processing background. He successfully revamped operations and increased annual revenue fivefold in a few short years, propelling company innovation forward. New leadership coincides with the upcoming 2017 launch of the new PointOS XE software. XE is designed for new and existing customers, attuned to meet the needs of restaurateurs in the hospitality industry today. Merchants desire big data thats digestible for local bars, but also intricate enough for large restaurant chains. The user-friendly interface should be appealing for both front & back house staff. 100% cloud-run systems have not proven reliable yet. However, PointOS XE cloud functions are supported by light & efficient local servers, to keep your business running smoothly. Dylan Penebre, January 2017. PointOS continues to meet industry demand for EMV technology, PCI-compliance, 24/7 support and subscription pricing options. Our goal is to give customers the option to flexibly upgrade software as their businesses grow, with PointOS support along the way. For direct questions or comments, directly email management@pointos.com, or visit www.PointOS.com. More point of sale articles of interest: - Governor Ayodele Fayose has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to fufill his electoral promises to Nigerians - Governor Fayose who is the chairman of PDP Governors' Forum said he can always speak my mind on issues without being a Chairman of PDP Governors Forum Ayodele Fayose Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to fufill his electoral promises to Nigerians Mr Fayose stated this when he appeared on Channels Tv on Sunday, January 22. I am not here to massage ego, the FG should begin to fulfil the previous promises, enough of these empty promises. READ ALSO: EFCC charges officials over 50,000 ghost workers He also spoke on various national issues including the kidnapped Chibok girls which he described as hoax. On Chibok girls, even Ekiti State, the Fountain of Knowledge does not have any school where 250 pupils will be writing Physics at the same time, Physics students that can't speak English language, he said. Fayose who is the chairman of PDP Governors' Forum said he can always speak my mind on issues without being the Chairman, being a Chairman of PDP Governors is an added advantage. On the recent arrest of Premium Times journalists, he noted that; I told you a dictator starts with someone, they started with the politicians, then the judiciary, now they are on Journalists. My predictions are already coming to pass, watch out. He said he doesnt follow multitudes to lie, I am a blunt person, you may not like me but you have to live with it, people are at liberty to choose what to believe. Fayose said the government does not have an economic plan that can last the test of time. He worried why the SSS submitted a damning report on Magu yet nothing was done noting that the same SSS report forced judges to step down. Its different laws for different people in this administration. The protest at EFCC of against my emergence as Chairman of PDP Governors' Forum is political, they are miscreants, if they have anything against me, they should keep their gun powder dry till I am through in 2018, he added. He urged President Buhari to use the carrot and stick approach to solve the Niger Delta problem. READ ALSO: Buhari begs Senate to confirm Magu Concerning salaries owed, Fayose said I am owing 4 months and I rank 2nd in terms of regular salary payment in the South-West. This month, I got #1.4b as allocation(Ekiti State wage bill is about #2.6b monthly). He ended his interview by asking the President to do something very quickly about the hunger ravaging Nigeria. Source: Legit.ng - Professor Jerry Gana, Jimi Agbaje met with former Oyo state governor and national leader of the Accord Party, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, behind closed doors - The meeting which lasted for 3 hours took place Ondo street, Bodija residence in Ibadan - One of the proposals reportedly put to Gana by Ladoja's camp was the need to change the name of the party The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs Committee, Professor Jerry Gana, on Sunday, January 22, met with former Oyo state governor and national leader of the Accord Party, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, behind closed doors. READ ALSO: APC woos PDP governors ahead of 2019 Gana who was in company of Jimi Agbaje, the 2015 governorship candidate of PDP in Lagos state, met Ladoja at his Bodija residence in Ibadan and engaged in a meeting that lasted for three hours. The duo of Gana and Agbaje were received by Ladoja and his political associates among whom were Senator Femi Lanlehin; Barrister Bayo Lawal; Chief Bayo Lawal; Professor Tunde Ayeleru; Fatai Adesina; Mr. Nureni Adisa; Alhaji Bashir Lawal and Dr Nureni Adeniran. Their visit is coming about two months after the governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, sent a delegation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), led by Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu and a former minister of information, Labaran Maku, to discuss third force arrangement with Ladoja in Ibadan. Gana speaking with journalists after the meeting, said his committee, having sat for close to two months, decided to implement one of the key recommendations which was to touch base with prime movers and genuine democrats who were solidly part of the PDP. He said: We are here to really convey our good wish to Senator Rashidi Ladoja who, though is a key leader in Accord, is one of the founding fathers of the PDP. We are touching base with genuine democrats, those who really wish democracy well in Nigeria. We have come with a very clear message that all democrats must unite. Gana said the crisis in the PDP was being blown out of proportion, saying that 95 per cent of the partys leaders were on the same page. Meanwhile it was learnt that one of the proposals put to Gana by Ladoja's camp was the need to change the name of the party to attract genuine democrats. In another development, PDP has warned Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to stop parading himself as chairman of the opposition party. The PDP said in a statement made available to Legit.ng on Tuesday, November 29 that Sheriffs claim that he is the party chairman is illegal because the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee had been confirmed by a court as authentic leadership of the party. Source: Legit.ng Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether Read more Singapores three-year decline in home prices could see relief from an unexpected quarter in 2017: Hong Kong. So says Cushman & Wakefield Inc., which expects the slide in the city-states home prices to end this year as foreign investors turned off by Hong Kongs move to increase the stamp duty for overseas buyers look to Singapore instead. Desmond Sim, head of research for Singapore and Southeast Asia at CBRE, said Singapore house prices are approaching their trough, with a forecast price move of flat to minus two percent. Savills forecasts Singapore prices will rise one percent on average this year. The fallout from the stamp duty could be beneficial for Singapore, said Sigrid Zialcita, managing director for Asia Pacific research at Cushman & Wakefield. Singapore is always seen as a place where you can preserve capital and we are expecting interest from foreign nationals to come back. chat 1 Hong Kongs November increase in stamp duty to 30 percent for foreigners makes Singapores 18 percent rate more attractive to overseas buyers, particularly mainland Chinese who are seeking investments abroad to help shield them from a further weakening of the yuan. That will help limit the decline in Singapore property values to about 1.5 percent this year, according to the average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Home prices have fallen 11 percent since 2013, when the island-states government implemented the strictest of its own cooling measures. The outlook for Hong Kong is more bearish, with prices in the secondary-housing market seen dropping eight percent, according to the average of seven analyst forecasts. While figures for new homes are not available for Hong Kong, early indications are that prices in this segment will be more resilient as developers offer incentives to offset higher stamp duties. chat 2 Office Space The markets for Grade-A office space in Asias two competing financial hubs are set to diverge further in 2017. Scarce supply in Hong Kongs Central district and strong demand from Chinese financial companies for premium office space could push rents up as much as five percent in what is already the worlds most expensive office market according to Knight Frank. That contrasts with a forecast of an average 6.2 percent drop in Singapore due to ample supply and an uncertain economic outlook. Story continues chat 3 Retail Rents Retail rents in both cities will also remain challenging this year. Singapore mall owners are bracing for another weak year as the sluggish economy weighs on retail activity and consumers shop online more. In Hong Kong, a two-and-a-half year slump in mall rents may continue as retail sales remain subdued. Marcos Chan, head of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southern China research at CBRE, sees prime mall rents falling as much as five percent amid declining tourist arrivals and softer domestic demand. We see no particular reason why the retail market or retail property will rebound anytime soon, said Chan, who still expects rents to stabilize by mid-year. We will have to wait for some other triggers for the retail market to pick up before retail rents go back to an upward trend. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Thousands of people marched through the Romanian capital and other cities Sunday to protest a government proposal to pardon thousands of prisoners which critics say could reverse the anti-corruption fight. More than 10,000 protesters massed in University Square, and later broke through police lines, before heading toward government headquarters. Thousands also protested in the cities of Cluj, Timisoara in western Romania, in Sibiu and Iasi, a city in the north. The protest in Bucharest ended after nearly four hours. In the capital, protesters yelled: "We want democracy, with thieves in prison." They cheered after President Klaus Iohannis, a government critic who supports the anti-corruption drive, turned up at the protest. "A gang of politicians who have problems with the law want to change the legislation and weaken the state of law," Iohannis said. "Romanians are rightly indignant." Liviu Dragnea, chairman of the governing Social Democratic Party, later accused Iohannis of "inciting social disorder and violence," suggesting his actions amounted to the start of "a coup d'etat." Some protesters were elderly, while others carried children on their shoulders or held them in their arms. Demonstrators called the ruling Social Democratic Party "the red plague," and marched several kilometers (miles) north to the party headquarters where they booed party leaders. Premier Sorin Grindeanu wants to pass an emergency ordinance to pardon prisoners which his government says would ease overcrowding in prisons. Critics say however it would help government allies convicted of corruption. They also say the proposal should be debated in Parliament. He hasn't reacted to the protests, which first erupted Wednesday. Donald Simionoiu, an art director, said that he believes that the proposal "hides other things," noting that it would benefit Dragnea, who has a two-year suspended prison sentence for voter rigging, and media mogul Dan Voiculescu, who is serving a 10-year sentence for money-laundering. Story continues The justice ministry published a draft of the plan Wednesday, which was criticized by Romania's top prosecutor, magistrates and opposition politicians. The proposal could primarily affect 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. Prison authorities say 3,700 prisoners could be freed. The government said around 2,500 would be freed. By Tim Cocks and Diadie Ba BANJUL/DAKAR (Reuters) - Gambians celebrated in the streets on Sunday after a West African regional military force entered the capital city of Banjul and took control of the presidential palace, the symbolic seat of ex-ruler Yahya Jammeh's 22-year authoritarian regime. Jammeh, who refused to accept defeat to opposition challenger Adama Barrow in a December election, flew out of Banjul late on Saturday en route to Equatorial Guinea as the regional force was poised to remove him. Hundreds of Banjul residents assembled outside State House as darkness fell after soldiers, who deployed on Sunday to secure the country, moved in to secure the compound. Cheering and singing, some revellers sought to capture the moment for posterity, posing for photos with the Senegalese troops. "We are free," said food seller Isatou Toure, 35. "Everyone is so happy that man is gone. We are happy to see (the soldiers). They protected us from Jammeh." Senegalese army officials said the force, which also includes troops from Nigeria, Ghana and Mali, met no resistance as they advanced on Sunday. But even amid the celebrations, troubling details of Jammeh's departure began to emerge. Speaking to radio station RFM in Senegal, where he is waiting to return to Gambia, Barrow said that, upon initial inspection, it appeared Jammeh had looted state resources. "According to information we received, there is no money in the coffers," he said. "It's what we have been told, but the day we actually take office, we will clarify all of it." In a news conference later in the day, Barrow advisor Mai Ahmad Fatty said 500 million dalasis ($11.45 million) had been withdrawn by Jammeh in the past two weeks. The regional military operation was first launched late on Thursday after Barrow was sworn in as president at Gambia's embassy in neighbouring Senegal, but it was halted hours later to give Jammeh one last chance to leave peacefully. His departure followed two days of negotiations led by Guinea President Alpha Conde and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, prompting speculation over what, if any, terms were agreed upon to convince him to step down. "He wanted to stay in Gambia," Barrow said. "We said we couldn't guarantee his security and said that he should leave." Barrow denied that Jammeh had been offered immunity from prosecution in exchange for leaving the country. "EVERYONE IS FREE" Earlier in the day, the African Union and United Nations published a document on behalf of these two organisations and regional bloc ECOWAS. In it, they pledged, among other things, to protect Jammeh's rights "as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State," to prevent the seizure of property belonging to him and his allies, and to ensure he can eventually return to Gambia. Barrow said the document had not been signed and did not constitute a binding agreement. He also said he planned to return to Gambia soon but did not say when. Jammeh's loss in the Dec. 1 poll and his initial acceptance of the result were celebrated across the tiny nation by Gambians grown weary of his increasingly authoritarian rule. He reversed his position a week later. In a video clip posted on social media that a United Nations official confirmed was filmed shortly before his departure from Gambia, Jammeh thanked Conde, seen standing beside him, as a "true friend." "Allah has decided that this is the end my time," he said. "When you are inflicted by something that you are not happy with, don't move away from Allah, but thank Allah because he is testing you." Rights groups accuse Jammeh of jailing, torturing and killing his political opponents while acquiring a vast fortune, including luxury cars and an estate in the United States, as most of his people remained impoverished. Thousands of Gambians sought asylum abroad over the years. An additional 45,000 people fled to Senegal amid growing fears of unrest in the wake of last month's election, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of Gambians carrying sacks, suitcases and cooking pots began returning by ferry from Senegal's Casamance region on Sunday. Hawa Jagne, 22, a cloth trader, hugged her sister Fama as she stepped off the boat. "I'm so relieved to see her," Jagne said. "Everyone is free. You can do whatever you want, because this is a democratic country. You can express yourself. No one can kill you." ($1 = 43.6600 Gambian dalasis) (Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Dakar; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Keith Weir, Jane Merriman and Lisa Von Ahn) 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 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 Samsung has concluded its investigation into the cause of its overheating (and sometimes even exploding or fire catching) Galaxy Note 7 devices. The company blamed its battery suppliers, saying that there were flaws in the designs for the original and replacement batteries. But Samsung didnt deflect all of the blame. It did admit that it expected too much of its battery suppliers, and thus apologized to consumers. The underlying issue for Samsung might just be its intense competition with Apple. Some critics have accused Samsung of rushing the Galaxy Note 7 to market in order to beat the release of the iPhone 7. And while the company has made no such admission, it would make sense. Beware the Downside of Cutting Corners Competition is normal and sometimes even beneficial for businesses. So working hard to get a new product to market so that it can be competitive with a similar product isnt a bad thing. But cutting corners to make that deadline is. Samsung learned that lesson the hard way. And now the company has lost billions of dollars through this process and has had to put a new inspection process in place to ensure that this type of thing doesnt happen again. My kids think like entrepreneurs. I do not. That difference was apparent on a recent trip we made to Colorado to ski. As is often the case when we fly on United Airlines, there was a problem. This trip, we landed on time, but there was no gate available. As we waited on the tarmac, with the pilot announcing, every so often, that he didnt understand why Denver operations would not give us a gate, virtually all of the passengers, myself included, became increasingly irritated. People began to complain loudly, tweet and otherwise express their frustration. I say almost all of the passengers because the two people seated to my right (my son) and left (my daughter) calmly took out some paper and pencils and began to sketch. After a while, I asked them what they were doing. My 12-year-old son explained that entrepreneurs do not sit around complaining when there they confront problems, they solve them. My children, it turns out, were sketching alternative designs for temporary gates at airports to solve the problem we were experiencing. They got the idea that entrepreneurs solve problems from me. I talk about this difference between entrepreneurs and the rest of the population when it comes to responses to problems. As an academic I have learned about these differences from conducting research and reading the findings of my colleagues. But I do not think in those terms. I think about situations like a professor and an investor. I accept problems, rather than think of ways to solve them. Thats the way most academics, investors, and big company managers respond to problems. It probably natural to react the way that entrepreneurs do. The rest of us have learned to respond differently. Most of society doesnt encourage people to dream up solutions to problems. Instead, it pushes people to accept problems as an unfortunate part of life. Thats why my kids think like entrepreneurs and I do not. They havent worked and they havent had enough schooling to lose this natural problem-solving approach. Not every adult has lost this skill. In my class recently I had a speaker who ran the family office of a great entrepreneur. When she described what it was like to work with him, she said that it was like dealing with a three-year old child. Every time she described something, whether it was about a product or a way of organizing a business or a customer need, he would answer why? And to every follow up answer to which she gave, he would follow up again with why? This is not the only great entrepreneur I have heard described this way. Many others I have met or studied in my research think this way too. They have not lost their natural desire to understand problems and figure out ways to solve them. The example of my kids and the story of the entrepreneur described in my class brings up an important set of questions for public policy makers, business leaders, educators and other people concerned with encouraging more people to think like entrepreneurs. How do we ensure that people do not lose their natural entrepreneurial thinking? How Can More Adults Retain Natural Entrepreneurial Thinking? From my viewpoint, there are two key parts of this that we have not yet answered adequately. The first is what exactly does the educational system and big company employment do that causes people to lose the entrepreneurial approach? The second is whether the loss of these things is necessary because the natural entrepreneurial approach is replaced by something more valuable to society. My hunch is that our educational system and big company employment teaches people to think efficiently. Most of the time, for most people, that efficient thinking is valuable because it is a better way for dealing with routine tasks than dreaming up creative new approaches that may or may not be better. The downside is that people who are trained to think efficiently lose the ability to think entrepreneurially, and occasionally thats a real negative. Employment discrimination is a battle some people face daily. You may know the more common types of employment discrimination such as discrimination based on race, but did you know there are lesser-known types people face as well? You may even have come up against one of the three types discussed below without realizing it was discrimination. Watch for These Types of Discrimination in the Workplace Part-Time Employee Discrimination Employees who dont work a full-time schedule of 40 hours a week or more are considered part-time employees. Part-time employees may be stereotyped to be less productive and even lazy when compared to their full-time counterparts. Your coworkers may think you arent serious about the work you do and treat you differently because they feel you arent committed to the job and arent serious. Your employer may pass over you for special projects or other opportunities because they see you as not dedicated. This type of discrimination may feel like its no big deal because it didnt prevent you from getting the job, right? While the employer likely hired you knowing you would be a part-time worker, that doesnt mean you dont face discrimination. Studies have found that full-time employees resent the flexibility part-timers have, which may lead to discrimination. Family Responsibility Discrimination It may sound strange that your family can be the basis of discrimination, but in many cases, it is, particularly in the case of the working mother. Most of the time, working parents prefer a more flexible schedule because family emergencies could come up at any time or one of their children could get sick and they suddenly need to stay home with no notice. Family discrimination lawsuits have been presented in courts for years and may include anything from mothers or fathers being denied family leave or being penalized because they took family leave. They also cover pregnant women being denied jobs because they are going to have a baby. A more recent complaint is caregivers of elderly parents, who may claim a hostile workplace when they feel they face discrimination for taking care of their parental duties. Gender Discrimination When people think of gender discrimination, they may think of women being discriminated against or sexualized in the work place. The truth is gender discrimination happens to both men and women, and can be a real problem. Some forms are more subtle, such as a male being expected to work long hours because he has a family to support and doesnt need to spend a lot of time at home because thats the mothers role. Or women may be held back from leadership positions because they are perceived as emotional and sensitive, two traits not fit for a leader in managements eyes. Other forms of discrimination are more blatant, such as expecting the females in the office to take care of housework type tasks such as: Answering the phones Planning office parties Taking notes during a meeting Ordering lunch for everyone On that same note, men could be less likely to get a secretarial-type job position they apply for because thats not seen as a job for a man. In some cases, women break through that maternal wall and get a position seen as traditionally male, but they still face discrimination. This is called prescriptive bias. A woman who can show strong leadership and acts forcefully may get labeled uncaring or cold. Furthermore, women are expected to be modest and not brag about their accomplishments or self-promote while men are generally expected to flaunt their achievements, even if they are uncomfortable doing so. What Does Discrimination Look Like? Employment discrimination can result in a number of different things, including: Missing out on promotions Earning less for the same work Losing your job Not getting the job even though youre very qualified Facing harsher discipline Dealing with harassment at work These are just some of the ways discrimination presents itself and causes problems for employees, but remember this isnt an exhaustive list and you could be dealing with other ways discrimination shows up in the workplace. Find Someone to Confide In Every case of employment discrimination varies in severity, so what each person should do may vary. First, you should talk about your situation with someone you trust. They can help you get perspective on the situation and determine if youre facing discrimination or not. A few pointers: Dont talk to a coworker or anyone at your workplace no matter what your level of friendship is. Present the facts and try not to cloud them with extreme emotion and venting. Let your friend tell you their opinion and try to look at the situation objectively so you can make a decision. How Should You Address Discrimination in the Workplace? What comes next will be up to you and likely vary based on your personal feelings. You can choose to document everything and talk with a lawyer. If you decide to take it to a lawyer, you should do so immediately because the statute of limitations can be short. Another option is to handle it personally. You may choose this in cases where the person is being thoughtless and their actions are illegal yet you think theyre simply unaware. A few pointers: Be non-confrontational but direct. Let them know that what is happening is offensive. Tell them the behavior must stop. The final option is to leave the job and put the discrimination behind you. You should still document everything that happens while you work on your escape. You dont want to just leave the job abruptly without a plan. If you decide to leave for a better environment, you may still want to talk with a lawyer. Explore Your Options If Youre Facing Discrimination These are just three of the types of employment discrimination that may not be as widely known. Its important to note that even a more common form of discrimination, such as gender, can take on different forms that arent widely recognized as discrimination. Either way, if you are facing discrimination at work, know you do have options and shouldnt feel like you have to deal with the unfair treatment for the rest of your career. Republished by permission. Original here. European aircraft maker AirBus has agreed to rapidly implement changes in its A400M military transport to produce a tactical version that is capable of dropping paratroopers, defending itself against heat-seeking missiles, has some lightweight armor for the cockpit and the capability to land on short airstrips. This comes after France complained that the first ones it received lacked all these features and that without these capabilities the A400M wasnt very useful for many current combat situations. AirBus assured France that it would receive six of these tactical A400Ms by the end of 2016. This deadline was missed, with three A400Ms arriving by the end of 2016 and another on January 9 th 2017. The last two are to arrive in 2017. Of these six three are new aircraft (which all arrived on time) and three would be upgraded A400Ms that France had already received. The upgrades took longer because AirBus was making a lot of modifications to existing aircraft and establishing procedures to be used on a lot more A400Ms. All these features have long been available on the American C-130, which the A400M was designed to compete with. France believed that AirBus understood the need to compete with the C-130. The engines are still a problem as they require so much maintenance that the A400Ms still suffers low readiness (for use) rates. France also wants the ability to have the A400M refuel helicopters in the air. All this comes in the wake of AirBus being forced in mid-2016 to go public with the reasons for the shrinking demand for its A400M. AirBus executives admitted that they screwed up and explained that the main problems were with the engines it selected for the A400M. These came from an inexperienced supplier and AirBus was late in realizing how bad the problems were. At the time AirBus said there were many lesser problems, mainly with not adding features users needed if they were to replace existing C-130s and similar transports with the A400M. Meanwhile France was forced to improvise to get the tactical transport capabilities its needs. In early 2016 France ordered American Harvest Hawk kits that can quickly turn American made C-130 transports into gunships. This came after France ordered four C-130J transports in late 2015, mainly because of delays and inadequacies of the A400Ms had ordered. France already operates 14 of the older C-130H aircraft and was not expected to order the latest model, the C-130J, because France was a major backer, and customer, for the A400M. But this aircraft was delayed repeatedly and France only began receiving it in 2013. Then it turned out that the A400M could not yet handle aerial refueling of helicopters or paratroopers jumping from the side doors. To deal with that two of the new French C-130Js are transports and two are tankers. These C-130Js will begin arriving in France by late 2017. France needs the 70 ton C-130Js to support its special forces and other overseas intervention forces. That is also the reason for a gunship conversion kit as these gunships are particularly useful for special operations troops. France received two A400Ms in 2013 and four in 2014. It took ten years of development to get the A400M into production, which was about four more years later than originally predicted. First flight took place in 2011, and production of prototypes began in 2007. Each one costs about $180 million. About 174 are on order and the delays have cost dozens of orders (and more may still follow). The 141 ton A400M has a cruising speed of 780 kilometers per hour, a range of 6,400 kilometers (with a 20 ton load), and normally carries about 30 tons (or 116 paratroopers or slightly more regular passengers). The nearest competitor is the American C-130 and the most common version in service is the C-130H. It has a range of 8,368 kilometers, a top speed of 601 kilometers per hour, and can carry up to 18 tons of cargo, 92 troops, or 64 paratroopers. The latest version, the C-130J, has a top speed of 644 kilometers, 40 percent more range than the C130H, and can carry 20 tons of cargo. The C-130 is used by more than 50 countries. The A400M had an opportunity to give the C-130 a lot of competition, but this opportunity was diluted because the A400M failed to arrive on time and on budget and lacked many essential features. Still, the C-130 does now have the most formidable competitor it has ever faced. During the Cold War air transports were very low priority in Europe because if there was a war the mighty Red Army of the Soviet Union was going to deliver it and be right next door to do so. But now all the action is far away, and the military needs air freight for emergencies and other urgent missions. The American C-17 can carry up to 84 tons over longer distance. The advantage of the two smaller airlifters (C-130 and A400M) is the ability to operate from shorter unpaved runways, which makes them less dependent on existing infrastructure. This is useful for disaster relief and peacekeeping as well. But first the A400M has to match the C-130 a features needed for these missions. Viewpoint What Can Third Graders Do With Technology? Note from Cathie Norris (CN) & Elliot Soloway (ES): In this weeks blog, a third grade teacher in a public school provides a clear example of what our blog, "Reinventing Curriculum" is all about. Gabriel DellaVecchia has used 1-to-1 in an imaginative, productive and effective manner. What the children in his class accomplished is absolutely inspiring! For the past three years, I was honored to teach third grade at Sabin World Elementary School in Denver, CO. Although it is a public school, Sabin follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy, a mindset that gave me the freedom to craft demanding tasks and to provide meaningful ways for my students both to learn and to communicate their learning. Technology was a key support for my students. Each student has his/her own Chromebook to use every day in class. So, what can be expected from third graders in a 1-to-1 classroom? What artifacts did the students produce? Our year was divided into six six-week interdisciplinary units, each planned around the creation of artifacts that reflect the world beyond school: To speak in character as a figure from history who changed the world in a positive way. To construct bee houses in collaboration with volunteers from the community, handmade objects which were then sold by a local nonprofit to raise funds. To write and illustrate a non-fiction book to add to our classroom library. To create a virtual fossil museum in which each student appeared as the guide. To debate students from other classes on the pros and cons of various energy sources. To create a display, physical or digital, to compare the lives of two types of organisms. To create an e-book incorporating the life cycle of a butterfly. To write a rap to help other students remember their multiplication facts. What instructional strategies did I use to help students create these types of artifacts? Provide realistic, relevant learning experiences: By providing my students with a clear end goal, like a book, a debate or a gallery display, they always knew what they were working for. They also wanted to create the artifacts, as making books, singing songs, building things, and even arguing a point are creative activities that 8-year-olds are already inclined to do. Allow ample time for practice and feedback: Teacher preparation programs often provide lesson plans that include the template: I Do, We Do, You Do. This "release of responsibility" pattern happens within the context of a single lesson or two. In my classroom, our pattern was We Research, We Try, We Share stretched over the length of the entire unit. We Research: For each six-week unit, we would spend about the first two weeks reading and discussing the context of our given problem. At this point, students might take notes, but the majority of the time was spent in conversations. We Try: With a foundation built, the students would spend the next two to three weeks trying to make sense of what they were learning and figuring out the best way to communicate it. This often took the forms of drafts of a speech or a story, but also involved rearranging graphical elements in a slideshow or coordinating roles within a speech or a song. We Share: From the earliest part of the unit, when students would still be reading and note-taking, the sharing would begin. Usually twice a day, students would share their works in progress. Examples of both above-average and below-average work were analyzed, not only helping the student under review, but providing living exemplars to the class as a whole for pieces to emulate and pitfalls to avoid. Use tools that allow for self-expression: While internet research and Google Docs were a constant, other uses of technology flowed from the needs of the project. Our biography unit was much improved during my second year when I shifted from cut-and-paste physical timelines to a Timeline Editor created by ReadWriteThink.org. Google Slides was indispensable for the creation of both the virtual fossil museum and the butterfly e-books. Using the website CreateRaps.com was a game-changer in allowing the students to record their own songs. In each case, technology was a tool, not the goal. Why is it important to ask students to communicate instead of demonstrate? Near the end of the year, my students sat down with their parents for student-led conferences. As we did a lot of digital work, their artifacts from their third-grade year were all stored within Google Drive. With the thumbnails neatly lined up, the evidence of what the student had accomplished over the course of the year was immediately apparent. What was also apparent was the pride the students took in their work: explaining how they were able to construct their virtual fossil museum using Google Slides, or their nerves when going up on stage to debate. Having spent multiple weeks crafting an artifact, the students had multiple stories to tell about each project, spoken about with pride. That is a level of personal investment that I have never witnessed from any standardized test. What? They produce plays byin modern-day Iran? It would seem so (even if the censors may have to delete a few lines here and there); at least, that is what we discover via the new film from Oscar-winner(ofand a flock of even better films). In his newest work,, our very attractive and hot young couple are performing the leading roles of Willy and Linda inMr. Farhardi, shown at right, is a continuing master at offering up present-day Iran via its bourgeoisie and making the lives shown and problems explored look, to our eyes, remarkably like our own. Except in certain important cultural ways. (I was going to include the word "religious," but what we see seems so deeply ingrained as to have gone well past religion into the country's culture.) The husband here is also a school-teacher, and we see him (and how his mind works) in the classroom with his students, who seem to like and respect him.One evening, post-performance, as the wife, home alone, is removing her stage make-up, the buzzer to the couple's apartment building rings. Expecting her husband, she buzzes him in, leaves their apartment door ajar and goes back to the bathroom. This will change their life.From this point on, the movie, which has begun almost as a kind of critique of life in Iran, opens up into so much more. In the opening scene, the couple's original apartment building must be evacuated, as it appears to be literally breaking apart. Much of the city, it seems, has been rather poorly constructed.Yet from the "event" onwards, the movie becomes a deeper, unsettling exploration of trust and betrayal, love, respect and, as seems true of all of Farhadi's films, a critique of his country's patriarchal/macho grounding, coupled to a look at slowly budding feminism.The two leads are, as always in Farhadi's films, first-rate, with(above, whom you might recognize as the nutcase hubby from) again doing a fine job as a man who slowly unravels in the course of events, and(below, who played the title character in) doing an equally fine job as the wife who is "done wrong" not only by the event in question but by what happens afterward.Farhadi's movie is part mystery, as solved by amateurs (who, for understandable cultural reasons, do not want to involve the police), and the filmmaker's handling of the sleuthing is expert: smart but not too smart, and very believable. Farhadi also, as is his wont, refuses to disclose all that has happened. But unlike some of what was withheld from us in, this adds to the situation's complexity, rather than seeming to be merely deliberate withholding on the filmmaker's part.The result of all this quietly explodes into something much larger and more difficult that we (or this couple) could have expected. There is plenty of guilt to go around, along with a try for redemption. But the thirst for compensation/revenge is present, too. How the filmmaker weaves all this together makes for a spectacularly dense and slowly revealing conclusion that will have you feeling and understanding the viewpoint of every character present.This is major filmmaking, and if Farhadi were to walk away with another Oscar, I would not be surprised. (His film is among the five nominees in the BFLF category).forces you to re-consider your priorities: what you would finally allow or not allow, and how much damage you might be willing to inflict on another in order to satisfy your own sense of justice and/or need for revenge.Fromand the, in Persian with English subtitles and running a long but never boring 125 minutes, the movie opens this Friday, January 27, in New York City at theand the, and in Los Angeles at. Here in South Florida, it opens February 10 at the, Miami; the, and at theandin Boca Raton. To see the many playdates all across the country, with cities and theaters listed, simply click here and scroll down. John Hickenlooper DAVOS, Switzerland As some of the world's most influential people wrestled with the implications of President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum this past week, a new face in US politics grabbed their attention. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper served as a representative of the Democratic Party's future here, just as outgoing Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry represented the past. If this gathering is any indication, Hickenlooper may be on the verge of building buzz as a 2020 hopeful. Several attendees pointed to him as someone who could rescue the party after its disastrous 2016 losses. One former Obama administration official suggested he could be a Democratic version of Trump both because of his quirky, off-the-cuff nature (as seen in a campaign ad during which he takes a shower) and a laser focus on middle-class jobs and economic growth. Hickenlooper has experience in both the private and the public sectors. He opened Colorado's first brewpub and served as a popular mayor of Denver, Colorado's largest city. As governor, he has overseen the state's challenge of federal law on the legalization of marijuana for recreational use (an initiative he was at first against but on which he has since changed his views) and spearheaded a push for significant gun reforms after the deadly 2012 mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora. Business Insider spoke with Hickenlooper at Davos. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Brett LoGiurato: What's the mood here at Davos this year, given the inauguration of Donald Trump? John Hickenlooper: It's definitely a different energy. It's a little more somber. LoGiurato: As a prominent Democratic governor, what are you looking for from the president? Do you see areas where you can work with him? Where are areas where you want your state legislature to try to insulate yourself from things he might try to do? trump pence Story continues Hickenlooper: Well, I may not have voted for the president, but I'm an American first. My entire administration is going to do everything we can to make him as successful as we can. We're going to try to be active, strong partners with the federal government. That being said, we went through a great deal of work to expand Medicaid to a large number of people in Colorado. We cut our percentage of people who had no insurance we cut it in half. We're going to work really hard to protect that as much as we can, make sure that we have the support from the federal government to continue making sure people have basic rights, basic elemental healthcare. Also, I look at some of the things that the president will do around cutting red tape, reducing bureaucracy, helping entrepreneurs, helping businesses grow more rapidly, more access to capital I'm all for it. That's all stuff that I've been trying to do in Colorado. LoGiurato One area in particular that seems ripe for a clash is on marijuana legalization. Have you spoken with Trump's pick for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions? Do you have a read on how he'll approach the issue, both with your state and moving forward more broadly? Hickenlooper: I have not talked to Sen. Sessions. I know that our two US senators, Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner we have a Republican [Gardner] and a Democrat are both very focused on this. We look at it as one of the ways in which states are laboratories of democracy. People don't realize that almost two-thirds of the population in the United States lives in a state where either medical or recreational marijuana are now legal. Two-thirds of the country. We're looking at it as kind of a 10th Amendment, states'-rights issue. Although marijuana might be the wrong example for that. Medicaid is a better example. It's one of the rare times where Democratic governors are saying, "Hey, states' rights." We don't want the federal government coming in and telling us how to do our environmental remediation or how we're going to do our healthcare. Jeff Sessions LoGiurato: Do you think marijuana will at least be decriminalized on a federal level? Hickenlooper: Well, we'll see. We've made a tremendous amount of progress in terms of creating a regulatory system from scratch [in Colorado]. If I had a magic wand when it first passed three years ago, I would've reversed it. You don't want to be in conflict with federal law. That being said, we've now gone three years, and our voters passed it by 55-45. We've made a lot of headway. And if I had that magic wand now, I'd wait a year or two. If we do this well enough, we should see a dramatic reduction in the number of drug dealers out there. You take away a big chunk of the product flow, you're going to need fewer salesmen. And there's been no spike in usage. There's been no spike in young people, of teenagers, using it. We now have again, in a $27 billion budget, $125 million of tax revenue isn't that significant, but it is money that we can use for people with drug addictions and for rehabilitating people that slipped off the tracks. Those are programs that are hard to find money for outside of the marijuana-tax revenue. LoGiurato: Marijuana prices are tumbling amid a growing legal supply. Do you have plans to address that on a taxation level? John Hickenlooper Hickenlooper: We'd like to get the tax level to the point we want the price to go down, because that's how you get rid of the black market. And we still have some of the laws in the state of Colorado, at least, people had the ability to grow up to 99 plants as caregivers. It's crazy. How do you tell the gray market from the black market? So we're tightening up a lot of those rules to make sure we can control and regulate the whole system much more tightly. LoGiurato: I want to talk about the future of the Democratic Party. I keep hearing your name come up as a savior in 2020. What's your read on what went wrong in 2016 and the early steps the party has taken to rectify its losses? And are you supporting anyone to be chair of the Democratic National Committee? Hickenlooper: [Laughs at 2020 mention.] We had a very strong relationship with the Department of Labor, so [Tom Perez] was a pretty easy choice for me [to be DNC chair]. We're doing an apprenticeship program that I think is one of the most exciting things we've ever worked on. I just came from a meeting with Microsoft and LinkedIn Allen Blue and Brad Smith and they're both going to help finance this. We're also using LinkedIn to partner with. How do you get people who've lost their professions into new professions? It's its own story someday! But I think the political reality for the Democratic Party is, you know, there are two sides. There's one side saying that we weren't liberal enough and another side saying we're too liberal. I think they're both right. The Democratic Party is always going to be the party of civil rights and fairness everybody gets an equal, fair shot at the American dream. And we're going to be the party that really fights to protect planet Earth enjoy whatever time we're going to get! But at the same time, there's nothing wrong with the Democratic Party that talks more about and more loudly about jobs, and cutting red tape, and bureaucracy, making it easier for entrepreneurs to start jobs, making it easier for businesses to grow and create more jobs. That has historically been the wheelhouse of the Democratic Party. Even as we continue to carry the banner of civil rights and environmental justice, we've also got to focus on many, many people for them, life starts with a good job. tom perez LoGiurato: I assume you want to continue to be a loud voice in the future of the Democratic Party. Do you have any plans as we head into the 2018 and 2020 cycles? Hickenlooper: Nope. I'm not starting a PAC. I'm not going out there and putting together a phantom campaign. In two years, I think the workforce stuff we're working on in Colorado really has the potential to be a national model, so I want to put a lot of energy into that. We're trying to make have for the last four or five years trying to make Colorado the healthiest state. So we're rolling out a lot we'll have an interactive map of every single hiking trail in the state of Colorado. Everything there is. You'll be able to go out and, while you're hiking, you can meet up with other people on the trail, you can see other people's photographs. You can come back 20 years later and click on the map and see all the pictures you took. It's a pretty exciting thing that hopefully will get people out walking. We're trying to put together kind of a governor's fitness council to get every single kid walking at least once a day. John Hickenlooper LoGiurato: On that note, you've been the mayor of a large city. A lot of the issues you talk about, and that the Democratic Party cares about, start at the local level. The party has suffered massive losses, however, on state and local levels recently. Do you think that is important start for the party's future leaders? Hickenlooper: Almost all government starts at a very local level at some point. And so I look at that experience as some of the hardest but some of the most exciting stuff I've done in public life. I think it's valuable. Now, does that mean everybody has to be a mayor? I don't know. You talk to Cory Booker I'll bet you anything that he'll go back and say that when he was mayor of Newark, [he had] some of the most challenging times, but also some of the most rewarding times. Mayors of big cities we cherish it, but it's a steep hill. We love it. NOW WATCH: 11 facts that show how different Russia is from the rest of the world More From Business Insider Theresa May has taken her Cabinet to the birthplace of the industrial revolution to launch a new strategy for British industry for the 21st century. The Prime Minister and her ministers met in the northwest of England as the Government pledged to boost economic growth that benefits the whole of the UK. As well as unveiling a new industrial strategy, the Government also announced 556m for the Northern Powerhouse to help create jobs, support businesses and encourage growth. :: Analysis: Industrial strategy is far from a finished product Projects that will benefit include a terminal linking rail, sea and road at Goole, a 21st century conference centre in Blackpool and a new innovation fund for Manchester and Cheshire businesses. The Cabinet meeting in the North West - where the industrial revolution began with cotton mills, canals and railways - was the first held outside London by Mrs May since she became Prime Minister. Mrs May and 30 ministers met at a science park and business incubator in Daresbury near Warrington in Cheshire. The PM opened the meeting with an address to her ministers on the new strategy. She (Munich: SOQ.MU - news) said: "This is a very important part of our plan for Britain. This is how we shape a stronger future for the UK and also ensure we are building a fairer Britain and a better Britain. "And I think it is absolutely right we are launching this strategy, here in the North West, because one of the themes that underpins what we are doing in the industrial strategy and underpins our plan for Britain, is ensuring we drive growth across the whole of the UK, that we ensure that we are building on the strengths of different parts of our economy and different parts of the UK, and that we see prosperity and opportunity spread across the country so everybody has those opportunities to get on in life." :: Analysis: Industry plan is a break with 'laissez-faire' At the heart of the new strategy are deals for individual sectors and investment in research and development to support industries of the future like electric vehicles and biotech and quantum technologies. Story continues Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark added: "This is an important step in building a modern, dynamic industrial strategy that will improve living standards and drive economic growth across the whole country. "A modern British industrial strategy must build on the UK's strengths and extend excellence into the future, close the gap between the UK's most productive companies, industries, places and people and the rest; and ensure we are one of the most competitive places in the world to start and grow a business. "We are inviting businesses and workers to contribute to this vision to help us create a high-skilled economy where every place can meet its potential." The Government announced at the weekend that the industrial strategy will include a training revolution for 16 to 24-year-olds, with 170m in investment in new technical colleges. In a green paper outlining the new strategy, the Government will also promise to improve living standards and economic growth by increasing productivity and driving growth across the whole country. Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis said: "This belated attempt to develop a proper industrial strategy is a step in the right direction, but once again what the Tories are offering looks like too little too late. "We await further detail, but what's been announced so far will fall far short of getting us back to where we were in 2010, let alone equip our economy for the challenges of the 21st century." But Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI director-general, said: "A modern industrial strategy will be a landmark opportunity to build a successful, modern economy as the foundation for a prosperous, fairer and more inclusive society." KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia on Monday warned organizations in the kingdom to be on the alert for the Shamoon virus, which cripples computers by wiping their disks, as the labor ministry said it had been attacked and a chemicals firm reported a network disruption. An alert from the telecoms authority seen by Reuters advised all parties to be vigilant for attacks from the Shamoon 2 variant of the virus that in 2012 crippled tens thousands of computers at oil giant Saudi Aramco. Shamoon disrupts computers by overwriting the master book record, making it impossible for them to start up. Former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the 2012 Shamoon attack on Saudi Aramco was probably the most destructive cyber attack on a private business. In the 2012 hacks, images of a burning U.S. flag were used to overwrite the drives of victims including Saudi Aramco and RasGas Co Ltd. In the recent attacks, an image of the body of 3-year-old drowned Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi was used in recent attacks, according to U.S. security researchers. The Shamoon hackers were likely working on behalf of the Iranian government in the 2012 campaign and the more-recent attacks, said Adam Meyers, vice president with cyber security firm CrowdStrike. "It's likely they will continue," he said. State-controlled Al Ekhbariya TV said on Twitter, using the hash tag #Shamoon, that several Saudi organizations had been targeted in recent cyber attacks. The state news agency, meanwhile, said the labor ministry had been hit by a cyber attack, but that it did not impact its data. Jubail-based Sadara Chemical Co, a joint venture firm owned by Saudi Aramco and U.S. company Dow Chemical, said it had experienced a network disruption on Monday morning and was working to resolve the issue. The company made the disclosure on its official Twitter account after the warning by Al Ekhbariya TV, which cited the telecoms authority. It did not say whether the disruption was due to a cyber attack but said as a precautionary measure it had stopped all services related to the network. Story continues Other companies in Jubail, the hub of the Saudi petrochemicals industry, also experienced network disruptions, according to sources who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. Those companies sought to protect themselves from the virus by shutting down their networks, said the sources, who declined to identify specific firms. (Reporting by Reem Shamseddine. Additional reporting by Jim Finkle.; Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Mark Potter and Andrew Hay) By Sophie Louet BERLIN (Reuters) - European Union sanctions on Russia are pointless, the frontrunner in France's presidential election Francois Fillon said on Monday in Berlin, warning Russia and the United States under Donald Trump could forge links that exclude the EU. Speaking after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the conservative candidate said the EU was "despised by major powers" because of its divisions and must better defend its economic interests. The relationship between France and Germany is essential to driving those changes but it must be a partnership of equals, Fillon said, flexing his muscles on the campaign trail to say the two countries must be open about their differences. "We have differences? Let's accept them instead of denying them. We have divergences on the issue of refugees or on economic policy? Let's face them to better overcome them," he told a conference. One of those differences is on Russia, where Germany has taken a hard line in favour of EU sanctions over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and its support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. "I am convinced that the economic sanctions are totally ineffective," Fillon told reporters earlier on Monday. "We must find another way to talk," he said, while adding that a gesture from Russia would be needed before sanctions could be lifted. "I do not want (U.S. President Donald) Trump to talk with Russia at our expense. It would be damaging for Europe if Trump went above our heads, which is not inconceivable," he said. Fillon, who last year was called an "upstanding person" by Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that in the longer term he would aim for a new economic partnership and a Europe-Russia security conference, once the conflict in Ukraine was resolved. Fillon is the frontrunner in opinion polls but his ratings have dropped slightly and surveys predict an increasingly tight race between him, far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen and independent centrist Emmanuel Macron. 'ON THE SAME PAGE' With a pro-business focus on cutting public spending, Fillon is generally seen as an ally by fellow conservative Merkel on economic issues. He sought to allay fears that, if elected, he may let the public budget deficit deteriorate while he reforms the economy by saying that he aimed to keep the deficit as close as possible to 3 percent of economic output next year. His programme had indicated that the deficit could be as wide as 4.5 percent in 2018. Fillon has also dropped calls to pool the debts of euro zone countries, another sign of goodwill towards Germany. He is in favour of harmonisation of tax policies in the euro zone, as is Berlin. The euro zone must be strengthened, Fillon said during his Berlin visit, saying heads of states should have the upper hand and meet every three months. Fillon said he and Merkel were "on the same page" on the need not to let the United States impose its laws that have cost European banks billions of euros in fines and other settlements over violations of U.S. sanctions against other countries. Fillon is the only candidate in the April-May presidential election to be received by the German chancellor so far, in a sign of support from Merkel. But she looks unlikely to give him explicit backing - there was no joint statement or comment from German officials afterwards. Merkel, up for re-election herself in September, publicly backed conservative Nicolas Sarkozy when he sought re-election in 2012. He lost. Asked if Merkel would be willing to meet the Socialist candidate, who is to be nominated on Sunday, her spokesman said: "If there is a wish from the French side, then yes". (Additonal reporting by Joseph Nasr, Ingrid Melander and Emmanuel Jarry; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Janet Lawrence) FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2017 file picture Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses the Lamfalussy Lectures Conference in Budapest. Hungarys prime minister says it is time to take U.S. President Donald Trump seriously and that there is an opportunity for reforms that will make Europe great again. Prime Minister Viktor said in Brussels Thursday Jan. 26, 2017 the European Union should abandon its federalist aims because only strong member states can guarantee its successful. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP) FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2017 file picture Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses the Lamfalussy Lectures Conference in Budapest. Hungarys prime minister says it is time to take U.S. President Donald Trump seriously and that there is an opportunity for reforms that will make Europe great again. Prime Minister Viktor said in Brussels Thursday Jan. 26, 2017 the European Union should abandon its federalist aims because only strong member states can guarantee its successful. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) President Donald Trump's position that all countries have the right to put their own interests first was the key phrase of his inaugural address, the prime minister of Hungary said Monday. Prime Minister Viktor Orban interpreted Trump's statement as "the end of multilateralism" and as permission for Hungary to also put itself in first place. Trump said in his inaugural address that Washington "will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world." "But we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first," Trump said Friday. "We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example." Orban, an early supporter of Trump who has praised his immigration policies, said that the West was undergoing a "change of character" and that Trump's phrase was essential to understand what was ahead for the world. "We have received permission from, if you like, the highest position in the world so we can now also put ourselves in first place," Orban said at an economic conference organized by the National Bank of Hungary. "This is a great thing, a great freedom and a great gift." Orban also implied that conservative Francois Fillon is his preferred candidate to become the next president of France and supported his desire for a new military alliance in Europe. Orban said this new alliance could give Europe greater self-confidence and the ability to negotiate with all parties, including Russia. Orban called it a "grave issue" whether Europe would be able to defend itself from external threats "without America." "The key to the solution is really simple and it is called the French-German military cooperation, a joint army, a joint security system," Orban said. "It sounds very simple but if you think about it, such a thing has never existed." Story continues Orban said he hoped Fillon's trip to Berlin would help clarify the issue. The Hungarian prime minister also said that if Europe wanted to increase trade with the East, specifically with China, "it won't work if every morning we lecture them about human rights." "This position will only result in a rhetorical opening toward the East, but not in reality," Orban said. "The essence of opening to the East is respect." Orban, who will try to win a fourth, four-year term in 2018 and has been often criticized for centralizing power and weakening democratic checks and balances, said the "Hungarian model" was comprised of political stability, a strict fiscal policy, a work-based society and the opening toward the East. By Linda Sieg TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is moving to adopt a law allowing its octogenarian Emperor Akihito to abdicate but many touchy topics, such as his title and duties, remain to be settled before the monarch can retire in a step unprecedented for two centuries. Japanese law does not currently allow an emperor to give up the throne, but Akihito, 83, who has had heart surgery and prostate cancer treatment, said in rare public remarks last August he feared age might make it hard to fulfil his duties. A panel of experts is expected on Monday to indicate a preference for a special law to allow Emperor Akihito to retire, most probably by the end of 2018. Officials are looking at ancient precedents, since the last time an emperor abdicated was in 1817. "Japan is in uncharted territory except for historians," said Colin Jones, a professor at Doshisha University Law School. Emperor Akihito may also look to examples of foreign monarchs of his generation, such as Dutch Queen Beatrix and Belgian King Albert II, or even Pope Benedict. All three retired in 2013. Beatrix resumed her former title of princess and remained active, while Albert retained his title, though mostly staying out of public view. Benedict, as "pope emeritus", moved to a monastery inside the Vatican walls. "The emperor himself was friends with Queen Beatrix and King Albert since his days as crown prince," said Naotaka Kimizuka, an expert in European monarchies at Kanto Gakuin University. "I think he will probably consider them as reference points." Besides the emperor's title, duties and residence after he retires, the government also has to fix the name and date for the commencement of the new "imperial era" that will be ushered in by his successor, under Japan's unique calendar. Once considered divine, Japan's emperor, or "tenno", is defined in the post-war constitution as a "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". He has no political power. Nonetheless, the title he is to be accorded after abdication is a touchy matter. History suggests Akihito should get the title "joko", meaning "retired emperor". But some experts say the term echoes ancient episodes when the former emperor retained power and clashed with his successor. They prefer terms such as "zen tenno" or "moto tenno", meaning former, or previous, emperor respectively. Emperor Akihito's duties include Shinto religious ceremonies and constitutionally-defined tasks, such as the opening of parliament. These will be taken on by his successor, Crown Prince Naruhito. The hallmark of the popular monarch's reign has been travels with Empress Michiko, such as visits to domestic disaster sites to cheer survivors, and overseas, to soothe the wounds of a war fought in the name of his father, Emperor Hirohito. Given Emperor Akihito's belief that his public activities are central to his symbolic role, he may well let Crown Prince Naruhito take centre stage. [http://tmsnrt.rs/2b7dWHn] "There is concern over splitting the message, splitting the symbol," if Emperor Akihito stays too active, Doshisha's Jones said. The emperor's younger son, Prince Akishino, has suggested his parents would enjoy activities such as music and the marine biology research in which Akihito specialises. A pay cut does seem in store for the imperial couple, who do not have a large personal fortune, unlike the British royals. If they retreat to the shadows, they will probably get an annual allowance roughly equivalent to the $400,000 received by Emperor Akihito's younger brother and his wife - or about a fifth what they get now, Kimizuka said. Residence options for the couple include the Togu Palace, now home to the crown prince, and the Fukiage Omiya Palace, where Emperor Hirohito once lived, both within the spacious palace grounds in Tokyo. The ancient imperial capital of Kyoto also cannot be ruled out, some experts said. Once Emperor Akihito steps down, a new "imperial era" will begin, replacing the current "Heisei", meaning "achieving peace", which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne. Although Japan uses the Western-style Gregorian calendar, it has also kept its ancient imperial-era system - "nengo" or "gengo" - in which a new emperor ushers in a new era. The government might break with precedent and announce the name of the new era months before Emperor Akihito retires, to allow time for the switch to be made in official forms, calendars and computer programs, media have said. (Editing by Clarence Fernandez) In this undated family photo, Sapae-ing Basor, the spiritual leader of many Muslims in insurgency-torn southern Thailand, poses for a photo. Sapae-ing Basor, died at 81 in self-imposed exile in Malaysia Jan. 10, 2017. A decade ago, he was among Thailand's most wanted, with a $300,000 reward for his capture. But after his death, the country's prime minister was among those expressing condolences. The government's careful treading indicates how large Sapae-ing looms in the imagination of southern Thailand, where a grinding insurgency has killed some 7,000 people since 2004. (Family of Sapae-ing Basor via AP) BANGKOK (AP) More than a decade ago, Sapae-ing Basor was one of Thailand's most wanted, his face plastered on posters around the south offering 10 million baht, more than $250,000, for his capture. But when the spiritual leader of many Muslims in insurgency-torn southern Thailand died at 81 in self-imposed exile in Malaysia Jan. 10, it wasn't just thousands of his followers mourning in mosques that noted his passing. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed his condolences. So did Thawee Sodsong, the officer who signed Sapae-ing's arrest warrant, meeting relatives in Pattani, the insurgency's epicenter. The government's careful treading indicates how large Sapae-ing loomed in the imagination of southern Thailand, where a grinding insurgency has killed some 7,000 people since 2004. Several separatist groups are active in the three provinces closest to the Malaysian border, and Sapae-ing was associated with the most powerful, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional or BRN. Malay Muslims who make up the majority in of the three provinces have resented what they see as an imposition of Buddhist culture for decades. After a nationalist military junta seized power in 1932, Thailand passed the "National Culture Act" to press a uniform culture on the country. Lessons taught in local Jawi script were switched to Thai, and Muslim courts were replaced by civil courts, sparking resistance. Sapae-ing was educated in local Islamic schools before departing for Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to study Islamic law in 1964. After his return, he swiftly established himself as a charismatic theologian with a potent authority. He became headmaster at Thamma Witthaya, a prominent Islamic school. He "was not only leader of his family, but was also the leader of a family of tens of thousands," the school said in a statement. "He was not just headmaster of the school, but the headmaster of society in general." Over the 1960s and 70s, the rebellion was sporadic and fractured among dozens of separatist groups. Violence waned in the 1990s, as Thailand allowed limited cultural rights. Story continues In the early 2000s, attacks escalated dramatically, led by the BRN. Sapae-ing was senior in the BRN but his official role in the organization is unclear. Don Pathan, a southern Thailand security analyst, said that although was little proof Sapae-ing was involved organizing day-to-day fighting, he served as a "one-man religious police." "It was enough to build a new generation of separatists," Don said. Sapae-ing urged southerners to hold fast to their Malay Muslim identity and values while decrying the Thai government as a corrupting influence. "He would go around the pubs and bars and look for his students, and if he'd see them he'd beat them," Don said. "They look at the rest of the country and see that 'This isn't what we want for our kids.'" Then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra launched a bloody crackdown on separatists in 2004. Lawyers disappeared. Imams were shot. An army roundup on a single October day left 85 protesters dead; seven were shot to death and the rest suffocated in overcrowded trucks taking them away to be detained. Police suspected Thamma Witthaya to be a "hotbed of recruitment for the militants." Accusing Sapae-ing of spearheading the insurgency, police issued a warrant for his arrest, and he fled to Malaysia in 2004. Don said that although Sapae-ing said little publicly after leaving Thailand, he remained an influential figure in the south. "He has moral authority, but he's not a politician," Don said. "He's like a pope without a church." After a decade of violence, the Thai government reached out to Sapae-ing. Jaded, he balked but eventually sent representatives calling for greater autonomy instead of outright independence, a reconciliatory step that took insurgents by surprise. But he refused to meet Thai officials and talks went nowhere. Sapae-ing died after suffering from stomach illnesses and complications from diabetes, said Srisompob Jitpiromsri, director of the independent monitoring group Deep South Watch, who has been in touch with Sapae-ing's relatives. His death comes as new rounds of peace talks are underway. But the BRN has opted out and few think things will change. "For now, they do not trust the military government," Srisompob said. "It depends on the progress of the peace dialogues. Just wait and see." Bashar Jaafari, Syrian Ambassador to the UN and head of the Syrian delegation, right, speaks to a member of Syrian delegation during the talks on Syrian peace in Astana, Kazakhstan, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Syria talks brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran aimed at bolstering a shaky cease-fire in place since last month opened on Monday in Kazakhstan, marking the first face-to-face meeting between the Damascus government representatives and rebel factions trying to overthrow it. The gathering is also the start of a new effort to end six years of carnage that has killed hundreds of thousands, displaced half of Syrias population and sent millions of refugees to neighboring countries and Europe. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) BEIRUT (AP) Syria talks in the Kazakh capital Astana come at a time of significant changes to the conflict in its sixth year. Although promising to focus on reinforcing a cease-fire, the conference has raised expectations of a path toward a political settlement of the civil war. The talks are sponsored by Russia and Iran, allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkey, which supports the opposition. They notably lack any U.S. role and come days after new President Donald Trump took office. Here's a look at what is at stake: WHO IS THERE? Iran and Turkey sent foreign ministry delegates. Russia's delegation is led by President Vladimir Putin's special adviser on Syria. Russia has invited the U.S., which is represented by its ambassador in Kazakhstan. Syria sent a military delegation, headed by the country's U.N. ambassador. The U.N. envoy is mediating. For the first time in internationally sponsored talks, Syrian armed groups not political are leading the opposition. Thirteen rebel factions, including from the western-backed Free Syrian Army, sent delegates. These groups are the original signatories of the Russia, Turkey-sponsored Dec. 30 cease-fire, approved by Iran and the Syrian government. Most have suffered major battlefield losses. Others have been forced to merge with larger groups. WHO IS NOT? Al-Qaida-linked Fatah al-Sham Front is excluded from the cease-fire and has criticized the talks as a "conspiracy" aimed at driving a wedge among rebel groups and putting out the rebellion's fire. Notably absent are the ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham and Nour el-Din el-Zinki groups, among the most powerful fighters on the ground in Syria who have also worked closely with Fatah al-Sham. Also absent is the main U.S.-backed Kurdish rebel group. The group, a lead U.S. partner on the ground in the fight against the Islamist State group, has been a source of tension between Washington and Turkey, which sees it as an extension of its own Kurdish rebel group it labels as terrorists. Story continues Saudi Arabia, a major backer of the opposition, has no representatives to the talks. Its participation was a sticky issue with Iran. WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME The U.S. has played no role in arranging these talks. They come days after Trump took office signaling that Putin aims to "start the post-Obama chapter in Syria on his terms, confronting the new American administration with the fait accompli of regime victory in Aleppo," said Fabrice Balanche, of the Washington Institute. The rebels lost the northern Syrian city last month in a Russian-backed government offensive. Rebels are also losing backing, as generous supporters such as Gulf countries and Turkey are going through their own economic crises. Trump has signaled that he will stop support for the rebels, saying they "could be worse" than Assad. The talks come at a time when Turkey's policy in Syria is changing. Turkey has sent troops into Syria to fight the Islamic State group, who turned their terror against the Turkish state, and thwart Kurdish aspirations for autonomous rule along Syria's border with Turkey. After years of supporting the opposition's call for Assad to step down, Ankara has signaled it accepts a role for him in the transition. Ankara is also pivoting toward Moscow as its relations with the U.S. become strained over Washington's support of Kurdish rebel fighters. WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA? Russia says the talks will help pave the way for U.N. talks expected in Geneva next month by ensuring field commanders participate in the peace process. Rebels say they are in Astana only to ensure a cease-fire is extended to all of Syria, while Washington is contemplating its new Syria policy. For Assad, the talks are another capitulation by the non-Jihadi rebel groups, who are reeling from battlefield losses. Before the talks, he said the conference offers armed groups a chance to join reconciliation initiatives through which the government has negotiated local surrender deals. Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, said Assad is unlikely to depart from this policy at Astana. "By now, it has become clear that Assad cannot offer major political reform without jeopardizing his regime security," he said. IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END? Possibly. The talks represent the best chance yet for a resolution of the conflict, simply because the three most influential sides Russia, Turkey and Iran are working together to find the contours of a settlement. If they make it past the first round of talks, it would represent a first step in a long journey toward a political solution. However, there are enormous challenges, including convincing rebels to distance themselves from the jihadist al-Qaida-linked groups, and accepting a political agreement that preserves the main pillars of the Assad regime. WHAT NEXT? The Astana talks will cement the Kremlin's role as the primary architect of a political solution, but a short-term breakthrough remains uncertain, said Ayham Kamel, director of the Middle East and North Africa at the Eurasia Group. In principle, Putin's effort is also set to eliminate any negotiating structure that would require Assad's removal. But Moscow will press hard for a power-sharing arrangement that includes non-Islamist opposition figures. Next fall, students at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center will have the use of 67,000 square feet of additional classroom, lecture and laboratory space, thanks to a new building for which the first phase of construction has been completed. University officials and other guests recently gathered for a topping-out ceremony in which a final steel beam was hoisted into place. About 50 people donned hard hats and orange reflective vests for the ceremony, which included a chance to sign the white-painted steel I-beam before it was placed atop the structure. The new building, the third phase of a complex that has been under development since the late 1990s, will cost about $27 million. The three-story structure will be joined by a sky bridge to adjacent buildings in the Domenici Center for Health Sciences Education. The health education complex replaced five decrepit Quonset huts at the corner of Stanford and Marble NE that dated back to the founding of the UNM School of Medicine in 1964. The project, which has created more than 320 construction jobs, is supported by a Bernalillo County general obligation bond, internal Health Sciences Center funding, state general fund money and revenue from state severance taxes. The energy-saving design includes windows with electrochromatic glazing that automatically darken or lighten based on sun exposure, reducing the energy needed to heat and cool the building. It will also include solar panels to further reduce energy use. Kids, youre on your own! According to the National Association of Realtors, millennials made up 35 percent of homebuyers in 2015, making them the largest generation of homebuyers. Of those, 67 percent were first-timers. Additional findings from the NAR found that first-time buyers relied less on gifts from relatives or friends in order to finance their down payments. Seventy-six percent of first-time buyers financed their down payments through savings, while the share relying on gifts fell from 27 percent to 24 percent between 2015 and 2016. In the field, Realtors see a variety of situations unfolding. Some buyers want to retain their independence and keep their parents at arms length but, in many cases, their parents simply arent in a financial position to offer help. Roughly 35 million baby boomers have no retirement savings whatsoever and 30 percent of baby boomers have ceased contributing to their retirement accounts, have had difficulty paying mortgages or rents, or have postponed their plans to retire, according to the NAR. New leader at AGC Patrick Thomas of Summit Construction is the new president of AGC New Mexico board of directors for 2017. Thomas will take over from current chapter President John Stroud of J.B. Henderson Construction. As we begin the new year, AGC New Mexico is looking forward to 2017 with optimism on a number of fronts. In the Albuquerque region, we see encouraging activity in the commercial construction market. Many of our members are busier and certain high-profile projects should generate more growth over the next several years, said Thomas. We also hope stronger trends in our states largest market create more opportunities in other communities and for companies across New Mexico. I remain honored and eager for the opportunity to lead our state chapter into a more promising market. AGC New Mexico members are active in the commercial construction realm, including general and specialty contractors, suppliers and professional service affiliates. Its membership represents more than 50 percent of the commercial construction industry in the state, according to a spokeswoman. Steve Sinovic is the real estate reporter for the Journal. He can be reached at ssinovic@abqjournal.com. Or call 505-823-3919. Alex Ellison, a senior at Bostons Emerson College, was thrilled by what she saw at the womens marches. She called her uncle, and Rep. Keith Ellison listened as the niece hed struggled to get involved in the 2016 campaign described how inspiring it was to be surrounded by women, fighting for a cause. I was like oh, now youre interested? Ellison, D-Minn., remembered with a laugh. The scale of Saturdays marches, in Washington and elsewhere, surprised even the most optimistic boosters. Democrats who had tried and failed to generate enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton saw crowds conquering cities, as well as small towns shed badly lost. But after a day of massive protest, the party, and liberals more generally, are left to wonder what comes next. Just as Republicans once adapted to the emergence of the tea party movement, Democrats are trying to figure out what a new and much larger mobilization will mean for the fights against Trump and congressional Republicans. Saturdays marches, which featured speeches from many leading Democrats, were not explicitly Democratic events. Ellison, like all but one leading candidate to run the Democratic National Committee, spent the hours around the march at a donor meeting in Florida. At that meeting, talk of the march and viral photos of the crowd sizes and witty signs brightened up what had been conceived as a Democrats-in-wilderness summit. People recognize the dangers Trump represents, and theyre energized to take back our country, said David Brock, who organized the Democracy Matters event in Florida. We must channel yesterdays energy into action and I have no doubt well be successful. What the world saw yesterday was only the beginning of our resistance. That resistance belongs to no one group. Womens March organizers created an intersectional event, its manifesto imagining a world where women are free and able to care for and nurture their families, however they are formed, in safe and healthy environments free from structural impediments, but saying nothing about electoral politics. Many Democrats agreed with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, who said that Trumps election had woken a sleeping giant. In 2014 and 2016, hed watched Democrats in Maryland, then the Rust Belt, lose seemingly gift-wrapped elections as their base stayed home and the Republicans made gains. On Saturday, after he spoke to marchers, he joined them in a crowd that was too big to march through the city. The enthusiasm gap seemed to be vanishing before his eyes. There were a lot of people saying, We wish we had this in November, Van Hollen said. We need to harness that energy in the weeks and months ahead. The Senates going to be the main battleground; we need people to sustain what we saw on Saturday and fight the battles. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., who attended the march with his wife and daughter and opened his Capitol Hill office for the day, said his last experience with a protest that big was the counter-inaugural to President Richard Nixons election. The next stop is organization, he said. We need to correct the cracks in the political structure that didnt work as well as it should have in the last election and that means organization in every town and every small place and big space in the country. I sensed a certain fervor and determination in that regard that was very heartening. Connolly urged the anti-Trump masses to set their sights on the 2018 midterms as a chance to put a real check on the administration and test the ability of those who have a different point of view to organize and deliver. If the past is any guide, he said, the contrast could be striking. In 2009, in the only gubernatorial races in the country, Virginia and New Jersey installed Republicans Robert McDonnell and Chris Christie. The year before, both states favored Barack Obama for president. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who hosted 1,500 at a pre-march breakfast in Silver Spring, Maryland, said the outpouring of support for progressive politics at the march could change the political dynamics in Congress. The political environment is going to be much more hospitable to Republicans who break ranks with Trump rather than those who tow the party line, he said. We know that the GOP places emphasis on party discipline. It will put a number of them in a tough spot. Raskin said if he were head of the Democratic National Committee a job he does not want, he noted he would launch a program to put the young people who attended their first big march Saturday to work. In terms of the Democratic Party, I think that our strategic pathway is clear, he said. We have got to go on a consultant and pollster fast for a while. And we should put that money into organizing. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who like Connolly and Raskin represents a heavily Democratic district, urged people to direct their discontent into good and noble causes, like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Meals on Wheels, and run for precinct-level offices. If we can channel all of that action into political action and specifically precinct action, he said Democrats could take back the GOP-controlled Virginia House as well as the U.S. House and win the governors race. Though Beyer said he wasnt predicting any outcomes, he said the steep drop-off in voter participation in a nonpresidential year presents the party with a clear challenge one that amounts to a 98,000-vote difference in his Northern Virginia district alone. I deeply believe the world works by invitation, he said. Something to be exploited from these rallies around the country is to turn them into political activists. Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress, who marched in Washington, predicted that many of those women are calling congressional offices and will go to town halls. And all of them will vote in 2018. The energy is growing, not diluting. Every day, Trump builds the opposition. Melissa Byrne, a candidate for DNC vice chairman, said that the larger-than-expected crowds showing up for protests will encourage even more people to become activists. But having organized for Obamas 2008 campaign and for the Occupy D.C. movement, she saw how the new activists would be tested even if the rallies grew in size. People are going to get frustrated, because you want your wins to come quickly, she said. For people who are new to this, it takes a while to get that. But the size of the rallies, and the speed with which they were put together, seemed like an early win to their participants. In the campaign, Trump had promised to blow up not just the Obama legacy but a long liberal consensus on issues such as immigration and consumer protection. It doesnt feel early to me, said Leigha LaFleur, 42, an Oregon delegate for Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., who came to the march in Washington and knitted 13 pink pussyhats for friends. I think people were wanting this on November 10. And even though hes been president since Friday, hes already been doing things that affect peoples lives. When an Albuquerque homeowner found two masked intruders inside his home late Saturday, he opened fire and killed one of them, according to police. Officers were called to a house in the 9500 block of Sunburst Road, near 98th and Sage, around 11:30 p.m. by a resident reporting that two people were breaking in. The homeowner challenged the subjects and fired his handgun at them when he observed them in a room of his home armed with blunt objects or edged weapons, Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Simon Drobik said in a news release. Police arrived to find a masked man dressed in all black dead in the front yard. By Sunday afternoon, there was no sign of what happened late Saturday and some residents described a relatively quiet neighborhood. But others said that the area had recently deteriorated and that nearby vacant homes had become hot spots for drug and gang activity. One said that drugs have always been an issue in the neighborhood, but that the problem has grown, and with it, property crime. Theyre running out of stuff on the outside (of the houses) to take, he said, adding that residents are forced to think about what they would do if they found someone inside. Im just scared for my family, he said. Neighbors said they heard the gunshots late Saturday and watched as around a dozen officers swarmed the home. Drobik said the case remains under investigation, but the homeowner is not facing charges at this time. He did explain to us that he was in fear for his life, Drobik said. Police on Sunday evening were looking for a second suspect who they believed fled the scene after the shooting. Also on Sunday evening, police swarmed a house on a neighboring street, placing multiple people in handcuffs after ordering them at gunpoint out of the house, which neighbors described as a trouble spot in the neighborhood. During Dr. Ben Carsons nominating hearing he mentioned his intention to do a listening tour once he assumed his responsibility as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development to help him determine the countrys housing needs. I would like New Mexico to join me in inviting Dr. Carson to make New Mexico his first stop. We are amidst a housing crisis not unlike much of America. I am currently working as a family navigator for Las Cumbres Community Services in Taos, where I connect families to community resources. There is no doubt the difficulty in finding affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges our families face every day. The majority of families we work with are low income. The local Housing Authority has nearly 1,000 people on their wait lists. There are several low income projects built with Tax Credit Housing funds but not nearly enough to address the magnitude of need. I expect this is the case across the state of New Mexico. We must look at housing as a health issue as it is a social determinant of health outcomes. According to the policy.mic website, in New Mexico one would need to work 64-plus hours a week to pay for a market rate one bedroom apartment if you earn minimum wage and your housing burden is one-third of your income. That does not leave much time for healthy family life, especially when many our families are single mothers with fathers who refuse to pay child support. If people cannot find stable housing, their children will suffer socially and emotionally. The many providers who work with the housing crisis in our state would like very much to meet with Dr. Carson during his listening tour. He said, I want to hear from the people with boots on the ground who are administering programs. Well, we should send the message to Dr. Carson that our boots are on the ground and we promise to talk and hope he will listen. DALLAS When Daryl Glenn Pawlak logged into a large child pornography website and downloaded images using his work computer, he was charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. The operator of the website that was exploiting children, however, was not arrested. Thats because it was the FBI. And federal prosecutors are defending the agencys decision to secretly hijack and peddle child porn for two weeks as part of a sting operation. During that time, tens of thousands of images of child pornography were uploaded to the site. Not only was the government the largest distributor of child pornography it was also the largest exploiter of children, Pawlaks attorney said in a court filing. This conduct is the essence of outrageousness, and a serious need for deterrence exists. The case has ignited debate among legal scholars and defense attorneys about internet privacy and the FBIs decision to keep such a website up and running while more children were harmed. Dozens of defense attorneys have filed motions to suppress evidence from the controversial child pornography sting, called Operation Pacifier. In some cases, federal judges have granted those motions. But most attempts to get charges thrown out have failed, legal experts say, even though some judges have ruled that the government violated the law and acted inappropriately. Joining legal challenges nationwide, Pawlaks attorneys are trying to get the charges dismissed, arguing that the government went too far by using a single warrant in Virginia to hack the computers of people all over the country, including his client. The American Civil Liberties Union compared it to Operation Fast and Furious, a failed sting operation run by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives beginning in 2009 that resulted in 2,000 firearms winding up in the hands of criminals. In that case, ATF allowed people to illegally buy the guns to traffic to Mexico in the hopes of tracking them to Mexican drug cartel leaders. But that didnt happen, and instead the agency lost track of the guns, including two that were found at the scene of the 2010 murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent. The FBI declined to comment about Operation Pacifier. The U.S. attorneys office in Dallas said in court filings that it acted within the law and that dismissing the case would give people like Pawlak a free pass for trolling the web for photos and videos of children being sexually abused. The FBIs process here should be encouraged, not deterred, a prosecutor in Dallas said in a court filing. Defense attorneys say the matter will eventually be resolved in the appellate courts, if not the U.S. Supreme Court. Historically, the government has taken down such websites immediately. Douglas Anderson, chair of the University of North Texas philosophy and religion department, said the government was conducting a cost-benefit analysis, weighing damage to children against catching people who download child porn. He said he was surprised children were used in such a calculation. Its a moral conundrum for anyone who takes the view that we are committed to protecting them in all ways, Anderson said. Theyre weighing it against these kids lives. World opinion says we have a basic duty to protect children, Anderson said. Youd have to have something pretty overwhelming to offset damaging more people, he said. It would have to be awfully extreme to allow even one child to be harmed. The FBI in early 2015 seized, controlled and monitored a child pornography website on the dark web called Playpen for about two weeks. Playpen began operating around August 2014 on the Tor Network, a group of volunteer-operated servers that allows users to browse the internet anonymously using free software. A username and password were required to view the images. A foreign law enforcement agencys tip led the FBI to Playpens server, authorities said. In February, the FBI obtained a search warrant from a federal judge in Virginia that allowed the agency to run Playpen for up to 30 days on a government-controlled server. Agents hacked into the computers of people who logged into Playpen and accessed its content. Agents were not authorized to rummage through a computers files or search other content, court records said. Pawlak, 39, created a Playpen account in September 2014 and accessed the website more than 300 times, prosecutors said. In less than a second, agents knew what computer the Burleson man was using. That led to the two child pornography charges against him. Pawlak was indicted on July 6 in Dallas and remains free on bond. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for later this month. Several men were charged with similar offenses in federal court in Houston under the same FBI operation, including a former pediatrician at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The FBI took quick action to locate otherwise anonymous child predators and received the blessing of two federal judges to conduct the short-term, monitored operation that was authorized by a warrant, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie L. Hoxie said in court records filed in Pawlaks case. During the operation, numerous users were identified, leading to child pornography charges against about 180 people nationwide, including those producing images, court records show. At least 49 children were rescued from abuse, authorities said. Pawlak works at North Texas fracking sites that drill for natural gas for his job in the energy industry, according to court documents. Prosecutors say he used his work-issued laptop computers to view and download child pornography. He accessed the images from August 2014 to May 2015, according to the indictment. Pawlak spoke to an FBI agent on the phone when agents searched his home in October 2015, court records show. He made clear that his interests in children and child pornography go far beyond the FBIs limited, monitored operation involving the Playpen website, Hoxie said in a court filing. Pawlak told agents he first viewed child pornography in 2012 when a work colleague sent it to his work email, records show. Thereafter, Pawlaks interest in child pornography continued due to a perceived element of danger or excitement, Hoxie said in a court filing. He preferred to view child pornography depicting girls that were between 7 and 11 years old. The FBI found hundreds of child pornography images from his current and former work computers, records said. Pawlak is charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. Pawlak sought out child pornography, including images depicting young girls the same age as his own daughter being raped and sexually humiliated by grown men, Hoxie wrote for the government. Hoxie said that while the technology the FBI used was somewhat novel, it was within the bounds of the law. The FBI received the rare opportunity to make a dent in the otherwise impervious community of child predators using Tor to victimize children, she wrote. Steven Jumes, Pawlaks attorney, wrote in a Dec. 28 motion to dismiss the indictment that the FBI hosted an estimated 22,000 images, videos and links of child pornography that more than 100,000 people accessed. The government has taken leaps and bounds over the line of acceptable investigative techniques when it exploited and re-victimized thousands of children without taking any precautions to minimize the harm to them, Jumes said in the motion. Congress has long recognized that each viewing of child pornography re-victimizes the child. The harm to victims is lifelong, he said, because its impossible to completely eradicate all copies of the images. The line of what constitutes going too far has been so offensively disregarded that such outrageous conduct can only be said to violate due process, Jumes wrote. Jumes also said in the motion that dismissing the case against his client admittedly puts the court in the position of rewarding an indicted wrongdoer. But he said hes asking for a dismissal not to reward Pawlak but to uphold the integrity of law enforcement action. The government denies its conduct was outrageous. The reality the FBI faced was that taking down the Playpen site, without catching its thousands of users, would not stop the child-pornography problem, Hoxie wrote in a court filing. But a federal judge in the state of Washington ruled in November in an Operation Pacifier case that the governments conduct was exactly that. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan wrote that the government improved the child porn websites technical functionality and that it re-victimized hundreds of children by keeping the website online. The government used the child victims as bait to apprehend viewers of child pornography without informing the victims and without the victims permission or that of their families, Bryan wrote in his ruling. However, the judge declined to dismiss the charges in the case, saying the government acted in good faith and did not violate search and seizure standards. Colin Fieman, a federal public defender in Tacoma, Wash., has coordinated with defense attorneys across the nation on Operation Pacifier cases. He said the difficulty is in showing that the defendant was permanently harmed by the government misconduct. Hopefully, someone in Washington cares about it from an ethical standpoint and maybe something good will come of it, Fieman said. Fieman said the FBI took no steps to block the more shocking parts of the website, like instructions on how to abuse children. The criminal cases are still relatively new, he said, and will be resolved in the appellate courts. There is still a long way to go, Fieman said. Andrew Crocker, staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco nonprofit group dealing with civil liberties in the digital world, said the government abused its power in these cases. They got a single warrant to hack into the computers of anyone visiting this website without any limitation, he said. Warrants have to say exactly who will be searched and where, he said. But this case gave the government authorization for vast hacking operations. Prosecutors should use a more targeted approach, seeking warrants on specific users, he said. Crocker called it unprecedented for a single warrant to give rise to this many prosecutions. It was as if they said, We can search anywhere,' Crocker said. The breadth of this operation is what we are objecting to hacking into a computer is very invasive. The government needs to meet a high standard. Jumes told The Dallas Morning News that the Pawlak case is a significant for all Americans because it challenges the governments authority to hack into and search computers. The repercussions of what happens in the Operation Pacifier cases will shape the future of privacy expectations and the limits on government action for years to come, he said. Others question how authorities could otherwise have caught as many child predators who gather on hidden websites to victimize children. We had a window of opportunity to get into one of the darkest places on Earth, and not a lot of other options except to not do it, Ron Hosko, a former senior FBI official told USA Today last year. There was no other way we could identify as many players. Colleges and universities should be havens for free speech and the exchange of ideas. Especially controversial ideas. They should be places for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the world beyond and grow in knowledge and maturity. It should be expected for clashing views to draw protest. As long as those disagreements are peaceful and orderly, that is as it should be. The University of New Mexico subscribes to this view, noting in its regents policy on free expression and advocacy that Freedom of academic inquiry and freedom of expression are indispensable elements of a university. And a statement from UNM spokeswoman Dianne Anderson on Wednesday observed, UNMs policies encourage the exchange of diverse viewpoints, emphasizing that freedom of expression is central to our mission. But some UNM students and groups want to completely shut down a speaker whose past expressions they disagree with, denying him and the campus group that wants to bring him in their 1st Amendment rights. On Thursday, protesters jammed the office of acting UNM President Chaouki Abdallah seeking an outright ban on a planned speech by Milo Yiannopoulos, a controversial tech writer for Breitbart News, a right-wing website. Yiannopoulos, who is gay, is scheduled to speak at the Student Union Building on Jan. 27 as part of a nationwide tour that he calls his Dangerous Faggot Tour. Earlier this week, College Republicans, a UNM student group that is sponsoring the event, complained of being singled out by the university because of threats by the student group Red Nation to disrupt the speech. UNM recently informed the Republican group it should be prepared to pay an estimated $3,400 to cover extra security for event. College Republicans, who say they would have trouble raising the money, are calling it a free speech fee and said it amounts to an attempt at censorship. According to university policy, a group hosting an 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. Anderson said both the College Republicans and an earlier sponsor of Yiannopoulos talk had been told they might have to pay a security fee. The campus police department determines the fee based on factors such as past history of attendee behavior, capacity of the venue, the number of entrances, whether bag checks are required and the level of security required. She says the university is treating the Yiannopoulos event the same way it treats all student-group sponsored events on campus. But the College Democrats/Hillary for President were charged just $649 for an outdoor Bernie Sanders speech that drew about 2,000 people. Yiannopoulos is sure to draw fire. Protesters managed to force cancellation of a recent speech at the University of California at Davis. Red Nation, a UNM group, has announced plans to deny Milo a platform at UNM by taking the room, the stage, and the mic. University law enforcement officials say safety and security of students, staff, faculty and UNM property are their primary concerns. The police department has an annual budget of just under $3 million and 40 sworn personnel including command staff to cover a 24/7 operation. But it still wants to charge $3,400 for security for this event? Perhaps it should consider staffing up when it determines extra measures are necessary in order to protect both safety and free speech rights. Its a delicate balance, but without some consideration for the 1st Amendment, all a censorship-minded group has to do to shut down an event is simply price opposing viewpoints out by announcing plans for a large or violent protest and there is no way to take over the room, the stage, and the mic without using intimidation, bullying or violence. So under this policy, the bigger the threat by protesters the higher the cost for the speaker. UNM needs to find that balance, because if you cant express ideas on a university campus, where can you? editorial 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. SANTA FE, N.M. A gun safety group ranks as the states top spender out of all the lobbyists in the state. Documents filed with the secretary of states office show New York-based Everytown for Gun Safety spent nearly $220,000 in 2016, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported (http://bit.ly/2k4Qjzw). The National Rifle Association spent $10,000 in New Mexico last year. New Mexico lobbyists shelled out a total $1.7 million. Everytown Regional director Pedro Morillas mostly focused the expenditures on political action committees. The group, which was founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also made $1,000 to $5,000 donations to certain lawmakers. House Minority Leader Rep. Nate Gentry was the lone Republican to receive an Everytown donation. Last year, Gentry helped pass a bill that requires courts to send any mental health records that may be relevant to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Everytown is focused on supporting legislative efforts to require background checks for most private firearm sales, group spokeswoman Stacey Radnor said in an email. Everytown for Gun Safety and the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America declared victory (in November) in electing a bipartisan background-check majority to the statehouse, Radnor said. Chevron spent the second-most on lobbying in the state last year at nearly $157,000. ___ Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com ALAMOGORDO A 41-year-old former foster care parent was arrested Tuesday after Alamogordo Police Department detectives learned the man allegedly sexually abused a 7-year-old girl in his care, an APD spokesman said. Deputy Police Chief Roger Schoolcraft said Jason Goodman is charged with one count of first-degree felony criminal sexual penetration of a minor under 13 years of age, three counts of second-degree felony sexual contact of a minor under 13 years of age and one count of fourth-degree felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Goodman was jailed at the Otero County Detention Center on a $25,000 no-10 percent bond pending his appearance in court. Schoolcraft said on Nov. 4, 2016 Alamogordo detectives received a New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department intake report regarding the suspected sexual abuse of the girl. He said after detectives received the report, they conducted a lengthy investigation into the suspected sexual abuse allegations. As a result of the investigation, detectives obtained a Magistrate Court warrant for Goodmans arrest, Schoolcraft said. According to Magistrate Court records, the girl had been placed in Goodmans care between March 29, 2016 and May 19, 2016. Goodman allegedly told investigators that he became a foster parent about a year and a half or two years ago, but he quit being a foster parent, according to court records obtained by the Daily News. According to records, investigators learned through two safe house interviews with the girl that Goodman allegedly had the girl massage his feet then he moved the girls hand up to his private area. During interviews with the girl, investigators learned the abuse occurred between March 2016 and May 2016, records show. The girl allegedly told investigators that Goodman also allegedly molested the girl while they were in his bedroom, according to records. According to court records, the girl told investigators Goodman did yucky things to her almost every night that she was staying at the home. During a safe house interview, the girl allegedly told investigators that she prayed Dear heavenly father please let me have this nightmare over while she was staying at the home, according to records. According to records, the girl was moved to another foster home then told her treatment foster mother about the alleged abuse in November 2016. Schoolcraft said he believes CYFD and APD detectives were very thorough in their investigation of the case. Based on what they learned from the victim, there was enough probable cause to draft an arrest warrant for Mr. Goodman, he said. 2017 the Alamogordo Daily News (Alamogordo, N.M.) Visit the Alamogordo Daily News (Alamogordo, N.M.) at www.alamogordonews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ TEMPE, Ariz. Arizona authorities say a man sought in the shooting death of a 26-year-old Phoenix-area high school math teacher has been arrested in northern California. Tempe police say the California Highway Patrol arrested 27-year-old Caleb Bartels Saturday after an off-duty CHP officer spotted Bartels vehicle parking along a highway near Doyle. Police say several officers then located Bartels and arrested him without incident. Arizona authorities had issued a warrant charging Bartels with homicide and other crimes in the January 15 killing of Ryne Zahner. The teacher a Mesa High School was shot in his Tempe homes backyard early that morning. Bartels was booked into the Lassen County Jail in Susanville. Tempe police had notified authorities in Oregon, Nevada and California that he might be headed to cities in those states. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. The telescope that first spotted Pluto nearly a century ago is undergoing a restoration that will take about a year to complete. About $155,000 in grants and donations will fund the work on Lowell Observatorys Pluto Discovery Telescope, the Arizona Daily Sun reported (http://bit.ly/2j7GRgz). Observatory spokesman Kevin Schindler said the decision to renovate was made in light of growing traffic, with a record 100,000 visitors in 2016. He said NASAs New Horizons spacecraft also spiked interest in Pluto after it flew by the dwarf planet in 2015. Mechanical engineer Ralph Nye, who is leading the renovation, said the telescope has been gathering dust since 1997 when it was last used for astronomical observation. We would like to make it knock peoples socks off, Nye said. Its a relic of the past that put us on the map because of the Pluto discovery and it should be taken care of properly and preserved. The leaky structure will be weatherproofed and telescope parts will be cleaned, among other improvements. When its raining you can hear it, drip drip drip, Nye said. Once its restored, Nye said he hopes the telescope can get back to taking color photos of the night sky. The telescope will be better taken care of if its actually used, he said. Youd be surprised what old lenses can do. The telescope will be removed while work is underway. Public tours will continue. ___ Information from: Arizona Daily Sun, http://www.azdailysun.com/ SALT LAKE CITY Four Texans have pleaded guilty in the theft of dinosaur bones from a desert site near a quarry in southern Utahs Wayne County during a 2015 educational trip. Authorities have said the defendants slipped away from a geology trip sanctioned by McLennan Community College in Waco and pried loose bones at a site about 230 miles south of Salt Lake City. The Utah Attorney Generals Office said Philip Bukowski of Crawford pleaded guilty to third-degree felony theft, Paige Bukowski of College Station pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and Travis York of Waco pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief They entered their pleas in state court Friday. A fourth defendant, Crystal Webster of Georgetown previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft. The Attorney Generals Office said the college cooperated in the investigation. BIG SPRING, Texas A 32-year-old West Texas man has been charged with murder for the death of his mother three months ago. Police in Big Spring say the Oct. 22 death of 52-year-old Gloria Martinez at a home initially was reported to them as a suicide but a homicide investigation began because of suspicious circumstances related to the death. Her son, Jason Luera, in jail since Dec. 9 as a parole violator, was charged with murder after police say he has acknowledged to his involvement in her death after additional evidence was presented to him. The nature of her death has not been disclosed. The Abilene Reporter-News reports (http://bit.ly/2jB5IYF ) Luera is held in the Howard County Jail on $300,000 bond. Big Spring is about 100 miles south of Lubbock. ___ Information from: Abilene Reporter-News, http://www.reporternews.com EL PASO, Texas The El Paso mayor and four city council members are being investigated over whether they held unlawful secret meetings to discuss the location of a proposed $180 million downtown arena. Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Elizabeth Carter says the Texas Rangers have been requested by the El Paso District Attorneys Office to look into whether the city officials violated the state Open Meetings Act by holding secret deliberations Dec. 16 and meeting with less than a quorum. Five council members are needed for a quorum, and their meetings must be posted and open to the public. Mayor Oscar Leeser tells the El Paso Times (http://bit.ly/2jWeCQ7 ) he welcomes an independent investigation and that investigators will find nothing inappropriate. ___ Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com HUNTSVILLE, Ala. The University of Alabama in Huntsville is aiming for the moon with a $237 million proposal to NASA. The university hopes to lead a satellite mission to the moon to study supernovae, Al.com reported (http://bit.ly/2k5Dx34 ). Astrophysicist Richard Miller is the lead author of the proposal that involves UAH and nine other institutions including Johns Hopkins University. If the mission is funded, the science operations center would be at UAH for the missions three-year life, Al.com reported. The mission is called the Lunar Occultation Explorer astrophysics mission. It would put a satellite with gamma-ray sensors in orbit around the moon to study supernovae. Scientific probes to the moon typically study the moon. This would be a new initiative using the moons lack of atmosphere, lack of magnetic field and actual physical presence to study the cosmos, Al.com reported. As the telescope, which doesnt look like a typical telescope, orbits the moon, the moon acts like a big rock, and that rock is blocking parts of the sky at different times, Miller said. If you have a bright cosmic source thats just glowing, it will be intermittently blocked and in view. It turns out the timing information when those eclipses happen is unique to every point in the sky. We cannot only detect that radiation, we can tell where its coming from. The type of radiation the mission seeks to study comes from binary star systems where one star is like the dead embers of the leftovers of a star, Miller said. These are called white dwarf stars. The project is also designed to study what makes these binary stars explode, Al.com reported. That actually is unknown and it can only be known by studying this radiation, Miller said. If we have a better understanding of what these objects are, how they explode, are they all the same beast or is there a diversity of objects we have more insights into how the universe is changing and how its evolving. The 10-university team includes astrophysicists, supernovae experts, simulation and modeling experts, planetary scientists and mission operations experts. UAHs primary partner is Johns Hopkins University. Also involved are the University of Arizona, Clemson University, Florida State University and Los Alamos National Laboratory. A decision on funding could come in the next six months. ASTANA, Kazakhstan Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions got off to a rocky start Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in Kazakhstan that marked a major shift in the wars dynamics and confirmed Russias role as regional heavyweight. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly 6-year-old civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syrias population. The talks are focused on shoring up a shaky cease-fire declared Dec. 30, not on reaching a larger political settlement. Syrias bitter divide was on vivid display as the delegates emerged from a closed, hour-long session marked by cold glances and sharp exchanges. Syrias U.N. envoy Bashar Jaafari said the opposition delegation represented terrorist armed groups, and denounced the opening address delivered by the chief rebel negotiator, calling it provocative and insolent. The head of the rebel delegation, Mohammad Alloush, had described Syrian President Bashar Assads government as a terrorist entity. He called for armed groups fighting alongside it, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, to be placed on a global list of terrorist organizations, according to a video leaked by opposition delegates. The presence of foreign militias invited by the regime, most notably the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Hezbollah contributes to the continuation of bloodshed and obstructs any opportunity for a cease-fire, Alloush said. Such outfits were no different, he added, than the Islamic State group, which is excluded from the cease-fire. After an opening ceremony, both sides split and did not meet face-to-face again. The meeting later concluded until Tuesday. Still, it was a significant departure from past meetings, given the fact that Syrias government delegation sat opposite representatives of more than a dozen armed factions it describes as terrorists. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura mediated the talks, which are to be followed by more negotiations in Geneva next month. A year ago, he was shuttling between government and opposition delegations in separate rooms in Geneva, in talks brokered by the U.S. and Russia that led nowhere. The talks in Astana, a former Soviet republic, reflected the shifting dynamics in Syria since then, with Russia emerging as the main power broker and the U.S. relegated to the role of observer. The Trump administration is not directly involved because of the immediate demands of the transition, the State Department said Saturday. The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, attended Mondays session at the luxury Rixos President Hotel, a Turkish-owned chain. Th?e United States remains committed to a political resolution to the Syrian crisis, which can bring about a more representative, peaceful, and united Syria, free of terrorism and extremism,? said State Department spokesman Mark Toner. The two sides were brought to the table by Russia and Iran, which have provided crucial support to Assad, and Turkey, a leading sponsor of the opposition. Turkey, whose president is embroiled in troubles at home, has recently improved ties with Moscow, raising hopes for a breakthrough. A political figure from the Army of Islam, a Saudi-backed group once singled out by Moscow as a terrorist group, leads the opposition delegation made up heavily of rebel factions, also a first. But the Syrian parties remain deeply divided on almost everything, including who is to blame for repeated cease-fire violations, and whether it should apply to the al-Qaida-linked Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside mainstream rebel factions. Jaafari accused the opposition of misinterpreting the idea of the cessation of hostilities, and defended a government offensive in the Barada Valley outside Damascus. The fighting there has cut off water to millions of the capitals residents for a month. The government, which has always portrayed the conflict as a war on terrorism, is hoping to win international support and potentially recruit rebel factions to help it battle extremist groups. Cabinet minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press in Damascus that the talks would test intentions on the cease-fire. The rebels are bitter over a string of territorial losses, including last months defeat in Aleppo, Syrias largest city and former commercial center. Russia, with its massive air power, and Iran, with thousands of Shiite militiamen in Syria, turned the war unequivocally in Assads favor. With little room to maneuver, rebel groups, particularly those beholden to Turkish assistance and those operating in northern Syria, agreed to send representatives to Astana. The opposition delegation accused the government of undermining the talks to pre-empt any discussion of a political transition. Issam al-Rais, a representative of a rebel faction in southern Syria, said there would be no need to go further (to discuss) a political transition if the cease-fire could not be strengthened. He said opposition factions were discussing mechanisms to verify cease-fire violations with Turkey and Russia. Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the rebel delegation, said the opposition had a productive meeting with Russian and Turkish representatives in Astana, in the presence of de Mistura. He said the talks would conclude Tuesday. Russias official news agency Tass said the final document for the talks is to call on Syrias rebels to distance themselves from Fatah al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria. Tass added the three countries would confirm their determination to jointly fight the Islamic State group and Fatah al-Sham. The group works closely with other rebels and has called the meeting a conspiracy designed to divide the insurgents. Syrias conflict began with an Arab Spring-inspired uprising against the Assad familys four-decade rule and escalated into a civil war after the government violently cracked down on dissent and the opposition took up arms. The fighting is estimated to have killed more than 400,000 people since March 2011. In past talks, the rebels have insisted Assad step down as part of any peace plan, but his fate is not up for negotiation in Astana. In another departure, the opposition delegation is mainly drawn from armed groups, not civilian organizations. Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman said preserving the cease-fire will be the most important issue on the agenda, and that Tehran hopes the talks can pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Bahram Ghasemi suggested that discussions of a larger political settlement would have to wait. Lets wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced Tuesday. As the Astana talks continued, Moscow and Washington engaged in a public dispute Monday over whether the U.S.-led coalition was now working with the Russian military in Syria. A Russian Defense Ministry statement said that its warplanes had flown a joint mission with coalition aircraft, attacking IS targets near the city of al-Bab. The statement said that Russian forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters. That claim was almost immediately denied by the U.S. military. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, labeled the Russian claim as propaganda. U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. does have routine deconfliction talks with Russia to avoid unintended aerial incidents in Syrias crowded skies. But Davis says there have been no changes to that arrangement, and the U.S. has insisted for months that it has no coordination or sharing of targets with Russia. Later in the day on Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said new U.S. President Donald Trump was willing to work with Russia or anybody else to defeat IS. ___ Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, Vitnija Saldava in Astana, Kazakhstan, Bassem Mroue in Damascus, Syria, Bradley Klapper in Washington and Zeina Karam and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report. BEIRUT The latest on Syria talks that are being held in Kazakhstan and developments on the ground in the war-torn country (all times local): 9:30 p.m. The Trump administration says it is willing to partner with Moscow to combat the Islamic State group. In his first daily White House press briefing, press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that President Donald Trump has been very clear that he will work with any country committed to defeating ISIS. He says the administration will work with Russia or anyone else to defeat the militant group, either militarily or economically. The president has vowed to defeat IS quickly when he takes office, though he has not provided specifics on his plans for U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Syria. On Monday the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had carried out a joint airstrike mission with U.S.-led coalition warplanes against IS in Syria. That claim was immediately denied by the Pentagon ___ 8:30 p.m. The U.S. says Russias claim that its warplanes flew a joint mission over Syria with the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group is rubbish. Russias Defense Ministry said Monday its forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, almost immediately labeled the Russian claim as propaganda. U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. does have routine deconfliction talks with Russia to avoid unintended aerial incidents in Syrias crowded skies. But Davis says there have been no changes to that arrangement, and the U.S. has insisted for months that it has no coordination or sharing of targets with Russia. ___ 8 p.m. The Russian military says its warplanes have flown a joint mission in Syria against the Islamic State group together with the U.S.-led coalition. If confirmed by Washington, the mission would represent the first coordinated action against IS by Russia and the U.S.-led coalition. Russia has pushed for such cooperation in the past, but Barack Obamas administration had refused. New U.S. President Donald Trump has called for joint efforts with Russia against IS. The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters. It said Monday that two Russian warplanes and two aircraft of the U.S.-led coalition then struck the targets, destroying several ammunition and fuel depots along with militants and weapons. The attack followed a joint raid in the same area flown by Russian and Turkish jets on Saturday. ___ 7 p.m. A Syrian opposition spokesman says the first day of talks has concluded, after rebel representatives met Russias presidential envoy to the talks to discuss ways to reinforce a shaky cease-fire. Yahya al-Aridi, the spokesman for the rebel delegation to the talks, says the opposition also met Monday with the Russian and Turkish delegations in the presence of the U.N. envoy to Syria to discuss a nationwide cease-fire. He says the talks are scheduled to conclude Tuesday. He says the talks with Russian president envoy Alexander Lavrentyev touched on political issues, but the focus was on the cease-fire. He didnt elaborate. Russia had previously asked that Jaysh al-Islam, the group to which the lead rebel negotiator belongs, be designated as a terrorist group. Russia, an ally of the Syrian government, and Turkey which backs the opposition, have sponsored the talks and a shaky cease-fire reached on Dec. 30. ___ 6:05 p.m. Russias official news agency says the final document for the talks held in the Kazakh capital is to call on Syrias rebels to distance themselves from an al-Qaida linked group in Syria. Tass news agency published the draft communique Monday, on the opening day of talks that brought for the first time government and rebel representatives in the same room. The face-to-face meeting was brief, and was followed by proximity talks mediated by the U.N. The talks are sponsored by Russia and Turkey. Iran, a major ally of the Syrian government, backs the talks. Tass said the three countries will confirm their determination to jointly fight the Islamic State group and Fatah al-Sham Front, an al-Qaida-affiliate in Syria. Fatah al-Sham works closely with a number of rebel groups in Syria, and has called the meeting a conspiracy designed to drive a wedge between the insurgents. ___ 3:20 p.m. The head of Syrias rebel delegation at the peace talks in Kazakhstan has called for placing foreign militias fighting alongside President Bashar Assads army on the list of terrorist organizations. In a speech at the opening session of talks in Astana Monday, Mohammad Alloush said such groups include Lebanons Hezbollah. He also said Syrian civilians were subject to two forms of terrorism: The terrorism of Bashar Assad or the terrorism of Daesh, in reference to the Islamic State group. A video of his speech was leaked by opposition delegates inside the meeting and obtained by The Associated Press. Alloush also reiterated the call for consolidating a Russian-backed ceasefire agreement announced late last month. Syrias government envoy later slammed the speech as provocative and insolent. ___ 2:50 p.m. A Syrian Cabinet minister in charge of national reconciliation says the peace conference that began Monday in Kazakhstan is a juncture to test intentions on the cessation of hostilities and the possibility that some rebel groups may join the Syrian army in fighting extremists. National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press on Monday that although Turkey is a sponsor of the talks, Ankara still has a long way to prove its intentions because it is still backing Syrian rebels. Haidar said that last months capture of rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo and achievements in other parts of Syria paved the way for more reconciliation. He was referring to areas where rebels decided to stop fighting in return for an amnesty or to move to other rebel-held areas. ___ 2:40 p.m. The United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura is calling on participants in talks between Syrias warring sides to agree on mechanisms to implement a nationwide truce. De Mistura says the talks in Kazakhstan, if successful in consolidating the current cease-fire, can pave the way for direct talks between the different Syrian parties in Geneva next month. Speaking on the first day of the talks Monday, De Mistura says finding ways to build confidence between the Syrian government and its armed opposition will also improve the fight against terrorist groups, who are excluded from a cease-fire reached on Dec. 30. ___ 2:30 p.m. Russias Defense Ministry says six Russian long-ranger bombers have struck Islamic State group positions in eastern Syria. The ministry said in a statement on Monday that the Tu-22m3 bombers took off from an air base in Russia and conducted air strikes around the city of Deir el-Zour, targeting the militants command posts and ammunition depots. The ministry said fighter jets from a Russian air base in the government-controlled part of Syria provided cover for the bombers. The raid came as Syrian government troops in Deir el-Zour find themselves in an increasingly difficult situation, cut in half in an ongoing IS offensive against the last remaining pockets of government control. The Islamic State group is excluded from the shaky cease-fire currently in place in Syria. ___ 1:15 p.m. The head of Syrias rebel delegation at the peace talks in Kazakhstan says the opposition is ready to go to the ends of the earth to end the bloodshed in Syria. Mohammad Alloush told reporters on Monday, after an hour of indirect talks with government representatives in Astana that the rebels are men of peace, and at the same time knights of war. Alloush is a political officer for the powerful Army of Islam faction fighting mostly around Damascus. He attacked President Bashar Assads rule, calling it a terror state and said only after the cease-fire becomes a reality on the ground can the two sides move on to political talks. He says the Syrian opposition will also insist at the talks in Astana on the resumption of aid deliveries and other humanitarian demands. ___ 1 p.m. Syrias government envoy at the peace talks in Astana has denounced as provocative and insolent a speech delivered by the head of the rebel factions attending the gathering in Kazakhstan. Bashar Jaafari, Syrias U.N. ambassador, says rebel leader Mohammad Alloushs speech in Astana did not rise to the level of the gathering of diplomats attending the conference. Jaafari in remarks to reporters in Astana repeatedly referred to the rebel delegation as representatives of terrorist armed groups. He also said that the agenda for the talks, which are sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran, is not ready yet. The harsh and uncompromising tone of Jaafaris remarks was a bad omen for the talks, which had barely started with an opening ceremony and speeches by various representatives. ___ 12:40 p.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the U.N. envoy for Syria is mediating between the representatives of the Damascus government and the rebel factions at the talks underway in Kazakhstan. Lavrov said at a news conference on Monday in Moscow that Russia is glad these talks started today, despite predictions and attempts to hamper them. He says the U.N. envoy, Staffan de Mistura, will have the support of the Iranian delegation in contacts with Syrian government representatives while the Turkish delegation will be helping de Mistura reach out to the rebels attending the talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana. After the opening ceremony in which the Syrian rebels and the government delegation sat across from one another at a round table, the talks went into a closed session. There was no indication if rebels and government officials would be talking face-to-face behind closed doors but Lavrovs remarks indicated that part of the gathering is more similar to proximity talks, with de Mistura shuttling between the two sides. ___ 11 a.m. Iran says that preserving a tenuous cease-fire in Syria will be the most important issue in talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Kazakhstan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi says Iran is hopeful that the talks held Monday and Tuesday can shore up the cease-fire and pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. He suggested that discussions over a larger political settlement would have to wait, saying: Lets wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced Tuesday. The talks, organized by Russia and Turkey, are the latest attempt to halt the nearly six-year conflict. Russia and Iran are the main backers of Syrian President Bashar Assads government, while Turkey supports the armed opposition trying to topple him. The two sides have traded blame for repeated violations of the Dec. 30 cease-fire, which was also brokered by Russia and Turkey. ___ 10:10 a.m. Russia- and Turkey-backed talks between Syrian rebel factions and government representatives have opened in Kazakhstan. The talks are the first between the two warring sides in a year and mark the first face-to-face meeting between government representatives and a delegation heavily made up of rebels. Representatives of Syrias rebel factions sat on one side of a room at the luxury Rixos Hotel in the capital, Astana, while government delegates sat on the other side. The talks are expected to focus on consolidating a shaky cease-fire that has been in place since Dec. 30. ___ 9:30 a.m. Talks between Syrian rebel factions and the government they are trying to overthrow are set to begin in Kazakhstan. Mondays meeting will be the first between Syrias warring sides in a year and is expected to focus on consolidating a shaky cease-fire that has been in place since Dec. 30. The talks are sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran whose representatives in the Kazakh capital of Astana have held meetings with delegates from both sides late into the evening Sunday and early on Monday. The opposition delegation, which arrived in Astana on Sunday, is made up of about a dozen rebel figures led by Mohammad Alloush of the powerful Army of Islam rebel group. The Syrian government has sent its U.N. ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, and military delegates. MEXICO CITY The Mexican government says President Enrique Pena Nieto has spoken by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump. A statement issued Saturday says the two leaders conversation happened in the morning. It said Pena Nieto congratulated Trump on his inauguration and expressed willingness to work for the benefit of both countries with a focus on respect for the sovereignty of both nations and shared responsibility. Pena Nieto also reiterated his interest in maintaining dialogue. A high-level Mexican delegation is scheduled to hold talks with Trump administration officials in Washington Jan. 25-26. Trump has promised to build a wall along the United States southern border and make Mexico pay for it. He has also threatened some companies with a border tariff on products manufactured in Mexico and exported to the United States. KOBLENZ, Germany European nationalist leaders came together Saturday in a show of strength at the start of a year of big election tests, celebrating Donald Trumps inauguration as U.S. president and declaring themselves a realistic alternative to the continents governments. Right-wing populist leaders from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and elsewhere strode confidently into the Koblenz congress hall on the banks of the Rhine River ahead of a flag-waving escort, setting the tone for a gathering whose mood was buoyed by Trumps swearing-in. The European parties hope for similar success in tapping anti-establishment and protectionist sentiment in elections this year. I believe we are witnessing historic times, Dutch anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders told reporters. The world is changing. America is changing. Europe is changing. And the people start getting in charge again. Wilders, speaking in English, declared that the genie will not go back into the bottle again, whether you like it or not. The Netherlands will provide the next major test for populist parties support. Wilders Party of Freedom could win the largest percentage of votes in the March 15 Dutch parliamentary election, even though it is shunned by other parties and unlikely to get a share of power. Marine Le Pen, leader of Frances far-right National Front, is among the top contenders in Frances April-May presidential vote. In September, Frauke Petrys four-year-old Alternative for Germany party hopes to enter the German parliament in a national election, riding sentiment against German Chancellor Angela Merkels welcoming policy toward refugees. Other German parties say they wont work with the anti-immigrant group. Those at the Koblenz conference Saturday are part of the Europe of Nations and Freedom group in the European Parliament, which was launched in 2015. The gathering also featured Matteo Salvini of Italys anti-migrant Northern League and Harald Vilimsky, the general secretary of Austrias right-wing Freedom Party, which last year narrowly failed to win the countrys presidency. Trump is a winner, we are winners: Frauke Petry, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders, all of us here are winners, Vilimsky told an audience of around 1,000. Speakers also denounced political Islam and Europes common currency, the euro, which Salvini labeled a failed, criminal experiment. Le Pen reveled in Trump taking power in the U.S., months after Britain voted to leave the 28-nation European Union in a referendum that she hopes to emulate. 2016 was the year when the Anglo-Saxon world woke up. And 2017, I am sure, will be the year of the awakening of the people of continental Europe, she said. She denounced the EU as a force of sterilization and assailed Merkel whose name was booed loudly for allowing in large numbers of asylum-seekers last year. Le Pen praised Trump for what she said was a clear position on Europe: He will not support a system of oppression of the people. We are experiencing the end of one world and the birth of another, she said. We are experiencing the return of nation states. Petry said just as Donald Trump in America shows the way out of a dead end, with new prospects including for (resolving) international conflicts we want to do that in the coming months and years for Europe. The leaders sought to portray their focus on nationalist priorities that dont necessarily converge as a virtue rather than a weakness. Le Pen lauded the coherence that we have, above and beyond our differences, which we like. By definition, each of us wants to be the master at home. We want our people to be masters at home, so we dont want to align ourselves on a single policy for everyone, she said. That is exactly what unites us that is why we are fighting against a European Union that wants to squash us, that wants to eat us all in the same sauce. Le Pen added that Trump was elected on the back of many of the ideas the European nationalists hold dear, pointing to common accents with what they have long said in his inauguration speech on Friday. We have fought, at first separately in each of our countries and now united, together, a whole series of great values: the nation, control of our borders, the defense of our people, patriotism, sovereignty, the defense of our national identities, she said. Despite the talk of unity, there is unease among some in the Alternative for Germany party about aligning with Le Pens National Front due to her protectionist economic policies, Joerg Meuthen, the AfDs co-leader, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland newspaper group. Some 5,000 demonstrators gathered outside the congress center in Koblenz, singing the European anthem Ode to Joy. Elsewhere in Koblenz, demonstrators from the global AVAAZ activist group placed statues of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Josef Stalin, among others, in front of a landmark statue of German Kaiser Wilhelm. AVAAZ organizer Pascal Vollenweider said the statues of the dictators were meant to send a strong message to the nationalist politicians meeting that global citizens are rejecting their old dangerous ideas. They are not fascists in jackboots, its a different type of fascism, of course. But if you look at the ideas its very dangerous, and we have to face it, he said. An abandoned egg processing plant near Las Cruces will be renovated and turned into hydroponic greenhouses and seed-drying rooms, resulting in 90 new jobs over the next five years, Gov. Susana Martinez announced Monday. Wholesome Valley Foods also will use the abandoned plant in Berino to mill cotton seeds. The company will get up to $620,000 in Local Economic Development Act funds, according to a news release. It also is applying for the state Environment Departments Voluntary Remediation and Brownfield loan to help remediate polluted groundwater. The program provides assistance in converting abandoned, blighted, or potentially contaminated property to usable sites that qualify for redevelopment, investment or re-sale. We are humbled by the support from the people of Berino and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the community, Jay Hill, farm manager for Wholesome Valley, said in the release. The company is investing $12 million over five years to make the renovations. With this announcement, we are experiencing the growth of new industry and opportunity rooted in the historical agricultural assets of the region, said Davin Lopez president and CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance. After over a year working closely with the company and community, we are proud to help bring this project to fruition. The governor also announced that New Mexico Greenhouse Holdings is expanding its operations in Mesilla Park, adding 13 jobs. That company will get up to $150,000 in LEDA money. The area in March will be hit with the loss of more than 400 jobs when Sitel closes its Las Cruces call center. The company announced the closure earlier this month. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed three executive orders on Monday morning that cancel an agreement for a sweeping trade deal with Asia, start a hiring freeze for many federal government positions and reinstitute an intermittent policy that prevents federal family-planning money from being sent to international organizations that discuss or perform abortion services. Trump first signed an executive order formally ending the United States participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, fulfilling one of his core campaign promises. The move was largely symbolic, as the deal was unlikely to make it through Congress. Weve been talking about it for a long time, Trump said, as he held up the executive order related to TPP. Great thing for the American worker. Trump had also promised to take steps on his first formal day in office to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, but that trade deal was not mentioned. He has said he will meet soon with the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss renegotiating NAFTA. Trump then signed an executive order that would implement a hiring freeze for many jobs in the federal government, another one of his campaign promises that he promised to fulfill on his first day in office. Except for the military, Trump said, as he signed the order. Except for the military. Trump then signed a third executive order that resurrects an abortion-related rule known as the Mexico City policy that tends to be embraced by Republican presidents and rescinded by Democratic presidents. The policy forbids foreign nongovernmental organizations that receive federal funding from performing or promoting abortion services through their work in other countries. The policy takes its name from the location of a conference at which President Ronald Reagan first instituted the restriction in 1984. Opponents of this policy often call it the global gag rule. The rule, or its absence, has toggled back and forth ever since each time a different party has assumed power in the White House. So it stayed in place under President George H.W. Bush and then was rescinded by President Bill Clinton on Jan. 22, 1993. When President George W. Bush came into office in 2001, he imposed the rule that Jan. 22, the twenty-third anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court Case that legalized abortion in the United States. President Barack Obama lifted the rule on Jan. 23, 2009. As reporters were leaving the Oval Office, one asked the president about the lawsuit filed by a liberal watchdog group that alleges Trump is in violation of a little-known constitutional provision that bars him from taking gifts or payments from foreign governments. Without merit, totally without merit, Trump said. The Washington Posts Amy Goldstein contributed to this report. WASHINGTON There were gasps in the room, heads shaking. This cannot be real, said a woman wearing an embroidered shalwar kameez the same shade of powder blue as the First Ladys inaugural outfit. I cant believe its actually happening, said another woman dressed in slacks and a turtleneck sweater. This group of American Muslims PTA moms, neighborhood doctors, a banker, a professor among them needed to be together the day it happened, the day Donald Trump became president. They gathered on Friday in a piece of their collective American dream, a remodeled 1951 suburban rancher in Northern Virginia, to watch the inauguration on television. This is for me the first time that I have not felt good here, said Nina Rana, 74, who left her native Pakistan 50 years ago. Even the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 did not make her feel uncomfortable. But Trump has. The Republican real estate mogul has not backed off his campaign promise to create a Muslim registry and to stop Muslims from terrorist-plagued countries like Pakistan from immigrating here. People like Rana, who have lived here for decades, who have given birth to American kids and raised them here, who have been active in community associations and know the names of their grocery clerks and bank tellers, never imagined a time like this. I get goose bumps when I hear [Trump] talk about Muslims, she said. It hurts me. And throughout the room, the Pakistani-Americans put their hands over their mouths when Trump described the country they love as a place of carnage. This doesnt sound like America at all, one man said. They sipped on their saltish Kashmiri pink tea a little longer instead of starting on the buffet their host had set out. It took a while to get the stomach to eat after that dark inaugural address. They mingled with Andleeb Abbas, one of the leaders of Pakistans opposition party and a political superstar in that country. She was there to see a childhood friend, who has been in the U.S. since 1997 and works as a real estate agent in Fairfax County, Va. It was a tough time for Abbas to be in Washington, where she was seeking help in Pakistans fight against radical Islamic terrorism. Her pitch starts with humanitarian funding and assistance. If there is no war against illiteracy, no war against poverty and no war against inequity, the war against terrorism will continue to be a battle unconquered, said Abbas, who is speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday and at Harvard later this week. Illiteracy is the breeding ground for terrorism. (Trump) needs to have an open mind. Pakistan and the U.S. need to be allies, she said. And here she was, in a Virginia living room, listening to Donald Trump say its all America first from now on. I dont like the way he talks and how he started so much prejudice here, said Sobia Akhtar, 54. All my life here, everybody has been so nice. When we lived in Alabama in 1984, women threw me three baby showers when I was pregnant there. They were nice. And now? Now I dont know. But Akhtar has lost her faith in the United States. Shes been a part of the American fabric for decades and believes there is too much goodwill, too solid a foundation, for basic freedoms to falter. A registry? I dont think that will happen, she said. I would like to believe America is too strong for that. Her husband, Mateen Akhtar, 63, leaned in to explain why he thinks theyll be OK. I heard Warren Buffett say it, he said. He said America has the secret sauce. Most of these Muslim women do not cover their heads. And some even wondered if that way of living hid them from Americans all these years. If their assimilation made everyone around them believe that Muslims were a total mystery. I wonder if I shouldnt start wearing hijab now, said Rana. I wonder what everyone who has known me for years would say. Would anyone try to tear it off? When the rise in Islamaphobia last year became palpable to Ambreem Rizvi, a 44-year-old bank executive, she decided it was time for American Muslims who have been living here for decades, who hate terrorism as much as anyone else. to step out of the shadows. We call it Muslims R Us, you know, like the store, Rizvi explained. This is a reaction to this election season, to explain that all Muslims arent terrorists. A year ago she founded the group, created a website with primers on Islam and Muslim culture and set out on a campaign to put American Muslims in the forefront. They go to community events and will speak with any group that wants to learn more about Muslims. They marched Saturday in the Womens March on Washington. We have to look forward, she said. After they had their tea and dug into their plates of haleem, a puree of meat and lentils, chicken tikka and vegetable palau, after the chocolate chip cookies, there were smiles. And hugs. And plans to volunteer at the mosques clinic and ways they would meet up at the march. And a cheery optimism in the face of such rejection that can only be described as American. Dvorak is a Washington Post columnist. WASHINGTON Senate Democrats are formally asking Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., to hold a second confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos, President Trumps education nominee, arguing that they need an opportunity to further scrutinize her potential conflicts of interests and preparedness to lead the Education Department. Education is too important an issue, and the Secretary of Education is too important a position for the country and for this Committee, to jam a nominee through without sufficient questioning and scrutiny, they wrote to Alexander in a letter Monday. This is not about politics, it should not be about partisanship it should be about doing the work we were elected by our states to do to ask questions of nominees on behalf of the people we represent. Those signing the letter included 10 Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats. They are all members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), which is overseeing DeVoss confirmation. Democrats complained when Alexander, chairman of the HELP committee, limited each member of the committee to one five-minute round of questioning during DeVoss first hearing, on Jan. 17. Alexander was resolute at the time, and he has shown no signs that he is willing to have another hearing. Saying there was not enough time to ask questions is absolute nonsense, Alexander said in a statement last week. Betsy DeVoss hearing on Tuesday was three and a half hours, about an hour and a half longer than either of the hearings for President Obamas two education secretaries. The Democrats are making up excuses because they cant find better reasons to oppose the nominees. A spokeswoman for Alexander could not immediately be reached for comment Monday morning. Alexander argued at the Jan. 17 hearing that he was hewing to a committee precedent, treating DeVos as Arne Duncan and John King, Obamas two education secretaries, had been treated during their confirmation hearings. But Democrats said that no committee chairman had ever before shut down a hearing before members had a chance to ask all their questions. Duncan and King were known quantities with long track records in public education, Democrats said; there simply wasnt as much to ask them. They have framed DeVos as a different nominee altogether: A Michigan billionaire who has no professional experience in public schools. DeVos fed that narrative when she stumbled over questions about basic education policy during the Jan. 17 hearing, at one point suggesting that states should be able to decide whether to enforce a federal civil rights law meant to protect children with disabilities. Her statement that guns should not be banned from schools because of potential grizzles at a rural Wyoming school became instant fodder for late-night comics. Her hearing and the optics of her nomination a wealthy political donor with no experience as an educator, who wouldnt promise Senators that she would swear off trying to privatize public schools have made her an object of criticism from many outside the usual Beltway education policy circles. Democrats also want to press DeVos on potential conflicts of interest arising from her vast wealth and financial holdings. DeVos disclosed in ethics paperwork filed with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) last week that she plans to divest from 102 companies that could present potential conflicts, but she also said she would retain interests in Neurocore, a company that purports to help students with ADHD perform better in school. She is maintaining her stake in a family trust that has a financial interest in a company connected to for-profit higher education institutions, as well as two other family trusts about which she disclosed nothing, according to the OGE forms. DeVoss supporters including advocates for vouchers and charter schools, along with many Senate Republicans have accused Democrats of mounting a politically motivated attack. The committee has received Betsy DeVoss paperwork from the Office of Government Ethics. She has completed the committees paperwork, answered questions for 3 hours at her confirmation hearing, met privately with the members of the committee, and she will now spend the coming days answering senators written questions for the record, a spokesperson for Alexander said last week. We know that Betsy DeVos is a passionate defender of improving opportunities for low-income children who has committed to implement the law fixing No Child Left Behind as Congress wrote it, support public schools, and work to protect all children and students from discrimination and ensure they are educated in a safe environment. Alexander had initially scheduled a committee vote on DeVoss confirmation for Jan. 24, but decided to delay the vote a week, until Jan. 31, to give Senators an opportunity to examine the ethics paperwork. But Democrats dont just want more time they want another chance to publicly question DeVos. We would like to ask Ms. DeVos additional questions we were prevented from asking this week given we did not know all of the financial and ethical information that has now been shared with us, as well as address additional questions that have arisen from the OGE paperwork, Democrats wrote in their letter to Alexander. In particular, we believe it is important to ask her questions around companies she will continue to own that are directly impacted by the Department of Education and this administrations education agenda. We believe the opportunity to ask such questions is consistent with the responsibilities and practices of this committee. Former first lady Barbara Bush was discharged Monday from a Houston hospital, and former president George H.W. Bush should be moved soon from the intensive care unit at the same facility after being treated for pneumonia-related respiratory problems, doctors said. The 92-year-old former president was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital on Jan. 14 with breathing difficulties and was temporarily fitted with a tube to help his respiration. Barbara Bush, 91, was suffering from bronchitis and entered the hospital last Wednesday. Amy Mynderse, one of the doctors treating the couple, said the former president has been sitting up and watching television. He is a really strong person. He is not your average 92 year old, she told reporters. Mynderse said the former first lady was released from the hospital earlier Monday and is back to her normal self. On Sunday, Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said the former presidents vital signs were normal and that doctors hoped he could be moved out of intensive care early this week. Doctors said the transfer from ICU could come as early as later Monday, and he could be released from the hospital later this week. FORT COLLINS, Colo. Police in northern Colorado say a man shot and wounded by officers had been carrying a pellet gun. According to the Fort Collins Police Services, 25-year-old Austin Snodgrass called 911 Saturday to say a stranger was stabbing his roommate. Police later determined the story was false. Police say two officers arrived on the scene and Snodgrass walked toward them with a gun. FCPS says officer Matthew Brede fired multiple shots and hit Snodgrass an unknown number of times. Brede has been with FCPS since 2011. He was placed on leave after the shooting. Snodgrass is in critical but stable condition at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. Online jail records didnt indicate whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Another voice has joined the chorus of those pleading with newly inaugurated President Donald Trump to exercise restraint when it comes to use of nuclear weapons by the United States this time from a Japanese city that has seen firsthand the devastating effects of an atomic bomb. Tadatoshi Akiba, the former mayor of Hiroshima, wrote a letter to the new president just before his inauguration, urging him to make wise and peaceable decisions when it came to nuclear weapons. If anything, some of Akibas former constituents would know. On Aug. 6, 1945, U.S. forces dropped an atomic bomb, code-named Little Boy, on Hiroshima, a large city on the southwestern coast of Japans Honshu island. Three days later, the United States dropped another atomic bomb, Fat Man, on Nagasaki, about 260 miles away. The combined blasts killed as many as 200,000 people and leveled both cities. The hibakusha, or survivors of the atomic bombings, would later describe witnessing white-hot fire consuming those who were not killed instantly. The intensity of the bomb caused some survivors skin to peel off and almost all to arrive at makeshift emergency clinics with an agonizing thirst. One survivor recalled the smell of grilled dried squid permeating a treatment room in reality that of burned human flesh. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, and World War II would end less than a month later. It remains the only time in history a nuclear weapon was unleashed in war. Since the nuclear issue is delicate and complicated, you may find the perspectives of those from one of the nuclear issues hot spots useful as you formulate the policy applicable to this area, wrote Akiba, who was mayor of Hiroshima from 1999 to 2011, and has long been an advocate for eliminating nuclear weapons. In his letter, dated Jan. 10, Akiba extended an invitation for Trump to visit Japan so that he could speak to hibakusha in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Acknowledging Trump is a busy person, Akiba also suggested inviting survivors living in the United States to meet him, because their struggles are worth listening to. They can tell you in English their heart-wrenching experiences and a message that would produce hope in the future, Akiba wrote. I would recommend that you take the initiative to meet with them because I believe that the encounter would most likely change your view about war and the meaning of survival. Trumps White House team did not respond Monday to an email request for comment or confirmation the president had received Akibas letter. It had been a recurring charge throughout the presidential campaign: that Trump could not be trusted with the nations nuclear weapons. In August, a group of 50 former national security officials, who served both Republican and Democratic presidents, signed an open letter saying Trump lacked the character, values and experience to be president. All of these are dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be President and Commander-in-Chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, the group wrote. Their worst-possible scenario was at times unspoken but clear: that Trumps lack of self control could spark nuclear war. A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons, his rival, Hillary Clinton, charged. While Trump has repeatedly dismissed those criticisms, he has done little to calm fears of impending nuclear war since winning the presidency. Last month, Trump tweeted that the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability. He did not elaborate on the message, which followed comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin about strengthening its own nuclear arsenal. The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes Trumps tweet and comments he reportedly made the following day to MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski sparked fears of a renewed arms race between the two countries. Though Trump later seemed to walk back his statements, suggesting nuclear weapons should be way down in an interview with two European publications, there are reasons to be concerned as he gained control of the United Statess nearly 1,400 active nuclear warheads on Friday, as reported by The Washington Post Officials in Japan have been paying attention. Two days after Trump was elected, the current mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki extended invitations to the president-elect to visit, the Japan Times reported. In a statement, Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue said he wanted Trump to see with his own eyes, listen with his own ears and feel with his heart what happened under the mushroom cloud, according to the newspaper. In recent decades, the Japanese government has recorded stories of the hibakusha and placed many of them online, translated into different languages, to educate those around the world about the consequences of nuclear weapons use. On the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, The Post published some of those survivors accounts: I felt the city of Hiroshima had disappeared all of a sudden, said Akihiro Takahashi, a 14-year-old at the time in line for school, whose testimony was recorded by researchers in the late 1980s. Then I looked at myself and found my clothes had turned into rags due to the heat. I was probably burned at the back of the head, on my back, on both arms and both legs. My skin was peeling and hanging like this. In May, President Barack Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima and acknowledge the suffering of those who were bombed. There, he greeted and hugged survivors of the blast and called for the pursuit of a world without nuclear weapons. The world was forever changed here, Obama said, as the Genbaku Dome, or A-bomb dome, loomed in the distance. But today, the children of this city will go through their day in peace. What a precious thing that is. It is worth protecting, and then extending to every child. That is the future we can choose, a future in which Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known not for the dawn of atomic warfare but as the start of our own moral awakening. ASTANA, Kazakhstan Russian-backed peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian war brought rebels and the Syrian government face to face for the first time Monday, marking the launch of a new role for Russian President Vladimir Putin as a Middle East power broker. There was no indication that any progress was made on the first day of what is expected to be a two-day event, taking place in a conference room in the Turkish-owned Rixos Hotel in Astana, the capital of the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan. There is cautious optimism, however, that the talks may go further than previous failed efforts because of the evolving role of Russia, a critical political and military backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In the past, Moscow frequently acted as a spoiler when the United States was driving the diplomacy on Syria, but it is now embracing a role as mediator between Assads government and moderate rebels once denounced by Russian officials as terrorists. Turkey and Iran are co-sponsors of the talks, but it is Moscow that has thrown its prestige behind the effort to bring the warring factions together, leaving little doubt that this is a Russian-led process, diplomats said. The United States, meanwhile, has been relegated to observer status and has not been a party to the intensive negotiations preceding the talks. Even the choice of location spoke to the emerging Russian role. Astana, a remote and snowbound city in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, lies close to the Russian border and nearly 6,000 miles from Washington. Were in uncharted territory, said Noah Bonsey, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, who was in Astana. Were here in Russias back yard, and the ball is in their court. Theres a new political and military dynamic, and it is happening on Russian political turf. In an early success for Moscows diplomacy, representatives of Assad and the Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow him sat together in the same room for the opening session of the talks the first time they have encountered one another directly since the bloodshed began in 2011. Participants said the mood was frosty as the warring factions took their places on opposite sides of the conference room. Between them were representatives of Russia, Turkey and Iran, and the United Nations top Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura. The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, attended as an observer. Hopes for a breakthrough immediately faded. The head of the Syrian government delegation, Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Jaafari, denounced the opposition as terrorists in his opening remarks. The opposition said it did not believe that the government was serious about seeking a settlement. There were no immediate plans for direct negotiations between the two sides, apart from their encounter at the opening session. For subsequent meetings, the rival delegations met in separate rooms, with the U.N. envoy shuttling between them. The sponsors have set the relatively modest goal of strengthening a shaky cease-fire that was introduced late last month but has been widely ignored in many locations. The Syrian opposition delegation is composed entirely of representatives from rebel groups, and the Syrian government delegation includes officers with the Syrian army. That the rebels and the government were even in the same room nonetheless was a small step forward. The Syrian government has in the past met face to face with members of the political opposition at peace talks in Geneva, but it has refused to meet with the armed opposition, which it has consistently labeled as terrorists. The biggest shift, however, has been in the position of the Russians, who until recently shared the Syrian governments view that there are no moderate Syrian rebels. That changed in December, after the military defeat of the rebels in their symbolically vital stronghold of east Aleppo. The rebels collapse was also a defeat for U.S. diplomacy, which had been focused on securing a cease-fire in Aleppo. Russia has since moved forcefully to the center of the international diplomacy, sidelining the United States and its European and Persian Gulf Arab allies while reaching out to Turkey and Iran, the two nations with the most influence on the ground in Syria. Turkey controls the border on which the rebels rely for their supplies and has troops fighting alongside rebels against the Islamic State in a pocket of territory in northern Syria. Iran sponsors and funds many of the militias fighting on the ground on behalf of Assad, including the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah militia. Moscow has also courted the rebel groups it previously rejected as potential negotiating partners when Washington was trying to promote talks. The opposition delegation was headed by Mohammed Alloush, a political officer with the Islamist Jaish al-Islam group, which Moscow previously sought to persuade the United States to designate as a terrorist organization. Its a big shift. Russia has realized that those people they were calling terrorists, they can talk to them, said Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the rebel delegation. And after their military defeats, the rebels realize they have no choice but to negotiate with Russia, he said. We are not falling in love with the Russians. We do not forget they targeted markets and hospitals with their planes, he said. But this change is something to welcome, and we are ready to help it, especially if it results in a situation where Syrian children are not being killed on a daily basis. In one sign that Russia appears to be serious about pressuring the Assad regime to make concessions, the Russian military issued a statement explicitly accusing the government of violating the cease-fire. Russian officials say they do not intend for this initiative to supplant the U.N.-backed Geneva peace process, which has sputtered on for the past four years without success but remains the only internationally recognized formula for ending the war. A new round of Geneva talks is due to begin Feb. 8. The hope is that any agreements on a cease-fire reached at Astana will help build confidence for the more challenging task of negotiating a wider political settlement. As a member of the U.N. Security Council along with Russia the United States will play a bigger role in those talks, but how remains in question because the new administration of President Trump has not yet articulated a position on Syria. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin and Trump could very soon have their first phone conversation since Trump took office. The fate of Assad, which is not on the agenda for the Astana talks, is the thorniest long-term obstacle to peace. The rebels will not accept any solution to the war that does not include the presidents eventual departure, Aridi said. Representatives of the government say Assads position is not up for discussion. Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Just weeks after a new president has taken up residence at the White House, the rest of the American presidents will be moving into new digs, too. The subjects of the National Portrait Gallerys Hall of Presidents are leaving their current home next month, when the Smithsonian museum begins updating its most popular attraction. The Hall of Presidents is closing Feb. 27, and a temporary version of the exhibition now including an image of former president Barack Obama will open in the museums West Gallery in March. Then, on Sept. 22, the museum will unveil the newly named and reconfigured Americas Presidents permanent installation in its refurbished space. The museum will update the gallery with new carpet, lighting and technology to broaden visitors access to the presidents and their eras, said David Ward, senior historian. Were telling a fairly complicated story about personality and social history, Ward said. Were trying to provide more about the historical period, Lincoln and the crisis of the republic, FDR and the New Deal, the history of the presidency in relation to the country, the growth and rise of executive power. The presidential portraits are a critical part of the museums mission to tell American history. Created by Congress in 1962, the National Portrait Gallery holds the only national collection of presidential portraits outside the White House. The museum works with each administration to commission official portraits of the president and first lady for its permanent collection. A presidents portrait is not included in the exhibition until after he leaves office. Initially, Obama will be represented by a Chuck Close woodburytype from 2013. His official portrait will be added to the gallery when it is completed. The current exhibition was installed in 2006, when the historic Patent Office building reopened after a six-year, $283 million renovation. The portrait gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum share the building. Ward said that works on paper and photographs are rotated in the exhibition but that it mostly has remained the same. The museum began discussing updating the presidents exhibition in 2014. History changes and triangulates constantly, Ward said, offering President Andrew Jackson as an example. Jackson in the 1950s was the democratic hero. He gave voice to the working man, the small farmer, he was the first frontier president. Now we look at Jackson and we think Indian killer. We want to provide a balanced point of view. We add dimensions to the presidents from the perspective of the present, but we want to be well-rounded. The $3 million project occurs during the conservation of Gilbert Stuarts Lansdowne portrait of George Washington. Stuarts full-length portrait of the first commander in chief, a prize of the gallerys 22,812-piece collection, was removed from the gallery last year and has been undergoing analysis and conservation funded by the Bank of America. The 1796 painting is expected to return to its central place when Americas Presidents opens. Among the planned changes to the exhibition are a new entrance with graphics and wall text. Touch screens will be added to allow visitors to search related items in the museums collection, especially photos and works on paper, which are too fragile to display long term. The biography is here, but a lot of the history is elsewhere in the museum, Ward said. Were trying to link it by providing material that will connect it both within this space and outside it. The exhibition will display portraits of every president while offering expanded displays of six leaders whose tenures were especially significant: Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. It was imperative to keep the presidents exhibition open during the gallery renovation because it draws big crowds, Ward said. The temporary show will be on view from March 24 through Sept. 4. The museum tries to avoid partisanship in its presentation of the presidents, but it is frequently criticized. Visitors complain about one section where a large Elaine de Kooning portrait of John F. Kennedy usually hangs directly across from a smaller portrait of Richard Nixon painted by Norman Rockwell. The de Kooning is now on loan to another institution. We get, You must hate Jack Kennedy because you have this horrible abstract painting. My 12-year-old could have done that, Ward said. Conversely, You must be a Democrat because you have a tiny Richard Nixon and this giant Kennedy. Visitors sometimes comment on the brief biographies with each portrait, Ward said. It is a difficult task to summarize careers and say something about the portrait itself in just 140 to 160 words, he said. Its like writing a pop song, you have to have a hook. You want to make someone stop and say, Oh, this is interesting. Sergio Escobedo, 38, of Albuquerque was sentenced Monday to two years of probation and ordered to repay nearly $5,000 in restitution for defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, more commonly known as the Food Stamp Program. He is one of six defendants charged with defrauding the Food Stamp Program in a 32-count indictment filed in Aug. 2014. Between Sept. 2009 to May 2010, Escobedo, conspired with Joseph Martin Padilla, 35, Wilfredo Lopez, 48, Joshua Moya, 35, Justin Quintana, 30, and Veronica Hernandez, 43, to defraud the United States through the unauthorized use of Food Stamp benefits, according to the indictment. Padilla, at the time, worked as a Family Assistance Analyst in the Human Services Department, where he was responsible for determining applicants eligibility and benefit level for SNAP benefits. Padilla used names and personal identifiers he obtained from his co-defendants to establish fraudulent SNAP accounts, sometimes in exchange for cash or other things of value, according to the indictment. Padilla also established and used a fraudulent SNAP account to fraudulently obtain approximately $1,468 in SNAP benefits for himself. Padilla established 25 separate fake SNAP accounts through which the United States was defrauded of approximately $45,263.00 in SNAP benefits. Escobedo pled guilty last April to one count of the indictment and admitted that he paid Padilla to process a SNAP benefit application in Escobedos name even though Escobedo was ineligible. Four of Escobedos co-defendants, including Padilla, have entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced. The fifth co-defendant, Veronica Hernandez, completed a pre-trial diversion program and charges were dropped. This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of Inspector General for New Mexico Human Services, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan. The first drone strikes under President Donald Trump were carried out in central Yemen over the weekend, the Pentagon said Monday. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, armed U.S. drones attacked al-Qaidas affiliate in Yemen at Al Bayda, a town about 175 miles southwest of Sanaa, the capital. The strikes killed five fighters, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, and they did not require approval by recently appointed Defense Secretary James Mattis or Trump. Davis did not say whether any civilians had been killed in the attacks. U.S. aircraft also carried out bombing missions in Iraq and Syria in recent days in support of local forces attacking Mosul and advancing on the Islamic States self-declared capital of Raqqa. The U.S. Central Command regularly discloses strikes in Yemen in reports that cover two or three weeks at a time. Nine strikes have been carried out in Yemen since October, according to recent releases. One strike earlier this month reportedly killed Abd al-Ghani al-Rasas, a senior leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. U.S. counterterrorism operations in Yemen have slowly increased since the collapse of the countrys government in 2014 when Houthi rebels forced then-Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee. Houthi rebels have since battled for control of the country in a bloody civil war that has also allowed al-Qaeda militants to seize territory in Yemens south. The United States maintains a small ground presence of Special Operations forces in Yemen that coordinates with troops from the United Arab Emirates who are fighting al-Qaeda, while another U.S. detachment provides limited intelligence to Saudi-led forces that are focused on defeating the Houthis. Since 2014, more than 10,000 people have died and 40,000 have been wounded in the civil conflict, according to a recent statement by the United Nations. Sierra Nevada, the nations third-largest craft brewery, is voluntarily recalling eight beers sold in 12-ounce bottles in 35 states plus Washington, D.C., because of a bottle flaw that could cause glass-related injuries. The recall includes several of the companys most popular brands, including Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Hop Hunter IPA and Torpedo Extra IPA, which were bottled and packaged at its brewery in Mills River, N.C., between early December and mid-January. The problem, according to a news release from the brewery, is a very limited number of bottles with a flaw that may cause a small piece of glass to break off and possibly fall into the bottle, creating a risk for injury. Mike Bennett, Sierra Nevadas chief supply chain officer, said in a news release that the company believes the condition exists in 1 in 10,000 bottles, though no consumers have reported injuries related to the flaw. Bottles included in the recall have a packaging code that includes an M, for Mills River, printed on the shoulder of the bottle, above the label, or on the outside of a 12-pack or 24-bottle case. Any bottles with a code that includes the letter C, designating the companys original plant in Chico, Calif., are safe, as are all cans and draft versions. Beers affected are Sierra Nevada Pale Ale bottled between Dec. 5 and Jan. 8, and bottles of Beer Camp Golden IPA, Hop Hunter IPA, Nooner pilsner, Otra Vez gose, Side Car Orange Pale Ale, Torpedo Extra IPA and Tropical Tornado packaged between Dec. 5 and Jan. 13. Customers who purchased recalled bottles should visit sierranevada.com/qualitymatters to find more information about deciphering the bottle codes and applying for a full refund. A major business group says its willing to consider tax increases as a way out of New Mexicos current budget crisis, though only as a last resort. The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerces annual Legislative agenda outlines a number of familiar positions, emphasizing measures it says will promote economic development, education and public safety. But the second page of the five-page document released late Friday acknowledges that it could be open to the prospect of raising taxes. NOTE: The Chamber will entertain a discussion regarding tax increases after all other options have been exhausted, including identifying greater efficiency in government, right-sizing government and closing tax loopholes, the agenda says. Such a statement is unprecedented, said Terri Cole, the chambers longtime president and CEO. She said the chamber has always opposed any tax increase. But the state is facing a projected $69 million deficit for the current fiscal year and more problems in the next. The budget is in dire shape both for (fiscal year) 17 and FY 18, Cole said. The conversations are going to be very difficult. But before any talk of raising taxes begins, the chamber would promote measures like reducing state agency spending and combining some departments. The chamber also opposes targeted or across-the-board compensation increases for state employees. While the budget looms large, the chamber supports maintaining $50 million for the Local Economic Development Act fund, an incentive program used to lure companies to New Mexico, and $2 million in base funding for the Job Training Incentive Program and $10 million in additional appropriations. I think the biggest risk to the business community in this session is that we leave it retreating from the progress that has been made, progress in our economic development strategies and progress in our education reform strategies and public safety strategies, Cole said. Some of the other measures the chamber supports are: Legislative intervention to address (Albuquerque Public Schools) perennial low graduation rates Suspending drivers licenses for habitually truant high school students Eliminating the lodgers tax exemption for those who rent through the likes of Airbnb Allowing juries to impose the death penalty in some cases, such as for people convicted of murdering children Measures the chamber would oppose: SANTA FE A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is pushing to open New Mexico primary elections to unaffiliated, independent voters. The goal is to force candidates to appeal to the broadest number of voters, not just their partys base of liberals or conservatives, supporters say. Right now, only Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary and only Republicans in the GOP primary. Supporters say the proposal would give unaffiliated voters those who arent registered with any political party a voice in choosing the candidates who make it onto the general election. Thats important, they say, because many races are decided in the primary. Reps. Stephanie Garcia Richards, D-Los Alamos, and Jim Dines, R-Albuquerque, are sponsoring House Bill 206, the proposal to open the primaries to unaffiliated voters. An increasing number of voters, especially young ones, are choosing to register without a party affiliation. This is telling us we need to readjust the sails, Dines said. About half the states in the nation have open primaries of some kind. The proposal would have to win approval of the state House, Senate and Gov. Susana Martinez to take effect. Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, has an even more ambitious proposal. It calls for amending the state constitution to create a top two candidate system. Every voter in the primary would get the same list of candidates, and theyd pick the one candidate they like best. Then the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election regardless of whether its two Democrats, two Republicans, one of each or some other combination involving Libertarians. Nebraska, California and Washington have a similar system. To take effect, his measure, House Joint Resolution 6, would have to pass the House and Senate, then win approval from voters. Theres also a proposal to make it easier for independent and minor-party candidates to make the ballot. Rep. James Smith, R-Sandia Park, is proposing a bill to bring the number of signature requirements for an independent or minor-party candidate in line with whats required of Democrats and Republicans. SANTA FE Attorney General Hector Balderas says he would have to lay off 20 percent to 30 percent of his staff under budget proposals by the Legislature and Gov. Susana Martinez. Itd be a public safety and constitutional crisis, Balderas said Monday in an interview. His 160-person office handles appeals of criminal convictions, prosecutes child porn and other Internet crimes against children, and major civil litigation on behalf of New Mexico all of which might be hampered by staff cuts, Balderas said. It isnt clear yet, of course, how the state budget for next year will shape up. State lawmakers are still trying to address a projected $69 million shortfall in this years $6 billion budget. The Legislative Finance Committee and governor have recommended about $17 million in funding next year for the attorney general, a substantial decrease from what the office has spent in past years, according to the attorney generals office. The attorney generals office is on track to spend about $21 million this year. It spent about $24 million in 2016 and about $23 million the year before. Further cuts would have devastating consequences both civilly and criminally throughout the state, Balderas said. WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of state marched closer Monday to winning confirmation, as a key Senate panel advanced his nomination and a major Republican holdout backed him. Rex Tillersons cautious embrace by Capitol Hill Republicans marks an unexpected marriage between Trump and traditional GOP hawks, who have long been at odds on foreign policy. Its an alliance that would have seemed unlikely during the presidential campaign, but as Trump has ascended to power, his party has increasingly acquiesced to his idea of what it means to be a Republican. Tillerson, the former chief executive of ExxonMobil, won the support of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in an 11-to-10 vote along party lines. His nomination to be the nations top diplomat now heads to the full Senate, where he is expected to win final confirmation next week with little drama. Tillersons approval comes even as congressional Republicans have promised to investigate charges by the intelligence community that Russia interfered in the November election in an attempt to benefit Trump. The Senate Intelligence Committee has started to look into the intelligence communitys probe of a potential relationship between Trump and Russia, which could complicate the fragile alliance Republicans have been forging with the president on overseas matters. Republicans had been concerned about Tillersons own ties to Russia and President Vladimir Putin, given the extensive amount of business he did in the country as the head of a large company. Several senators also questioned whether the businessman would be committed enough to maintaining sanctions against Russia as secretary of state, given how he has criticized the way those punitive measures were implemented. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who had expressed serious doubts about Tillerson largely because of his ties to Russia, was among those voting in favor of him. Rubio voiced his support in a lengthy written statement Monday morning, the day after Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., two other skeptics, announced they would vote for the businessman. While Tillersons confirmation was effectively guaranteed Sunday when McCain and Graham gave him their support, Rubios decision provided a further boost from a former presidential candidate andspared Rubio a potentially embarrassing show of defiance. Since late last year, the Florida Republican had voiced substantial concerns about Tillerson. After the vote, Rubio said his reservations were broader than Tillersons ties to the Russian government. My concern was that Tillerson would be an advocate for and pursue a foreign policy of deal-making at the expense of traditional alliances, the senator said. Rubio said one consideration in his final decision was his belief that presidents are entitled to some leeway on whom they want to put on their teams. Rubio was getting an onslaught of calls, texts and notes urging him to back Tillerson, those close to him said. Rubio donors and other supporters who served as Tillerson boosters including many from the nominees home state, Texas reached out early and often to try to nudge the senator to back Tillerson. Rubio heard from former Vice President Dick Cheney late last year. Last week, Rubio held a meeting with Tillerson, now-Vice President Mike Pence and now-White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, according to two people familiar with the meeting. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private gathering. The general acceptance of Trumps Cabinet nominees despite potential conflicts of interest from some of them who have backgrounds as businessman shows that most Republicans are allowing Trump a generous amount of room to pick the officials with whom he wants to work. While there are differences in some policy areas between some members of the Senate and some of these nominees, the tradition, and in this case the practice, is to allow the president to pick, said Michael Steel, who was an adviser to Jeb Bush in his presidential campaign. Democrats complained that Tillerson had not submitted his tax returns to the committee and urged a change in policy to require such paperwork in the future. And they expressed frustration that Tillerson had not given specific answers to many of the more than 1,000 questions to which he responded. Ive looked at those responses, and theyre not responses to the questions that are asked, Sen. Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., defended Tillerson and accused Democrats of asking silly, silly, ridiculous, elementary questions that have nothing to do with somebody serving as secretary of state. He added that he hopes the committee does not adopt a policy of asking for nominees tax returns in the future because most of those are used for gotcha questions. The vote on Tillerson was the first big test of how Rubio plans to deal with Trump, with whom he clashed in the campaign. By voting yes, Rubio spared himself what his allies anticipated would have been an angry backlash from the new administration in private. But at the end of his written statement, Rubio added a note of warning: Upcoming appointments to critical posts in the Department of State are not entitled to and will not receive from me the same level of deference I have given this nomination. Rubio, McCain and Graham all belong to the hawkish wing of the Republican Party, with views that have been mainstream in the GOP for many years. But Trump has upended that with his praise for Putin and far less hostile posture toward the Russian government. Rubio said that while he found some of Tillersons responses to his questions encouraging, he remained troubled by others, including his unwillingness to say Putin had committed war crimes. Senate Intelligence Committee leaders said this month that they would probe allegations of links between Russia and the 2016 campaign, including claims of ties between Trumps campaign and the Russian government. Cardin said at Mondays vote that he was not comfortable with some of Tillersons answers on Russia and other matters. I did not see that commitment to be an advocate globally for human rights and global governance that I would like to see in a secretary of state, he said. Mondays committee vote on Tillerson came amid a push by Republicans to swiftly confirm Trumps nominees. Speaking on the Senate floor, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called on his Democratic colleagues not to obstruct the confirmation of Trumps nominees. But Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., accused of Republicans of trying to ram though confirmations. The Senate planned to spend up to six hours Monday debating the nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., to head the CIA before voting on him Monday night. Some Democrats pushed for the time to discuss the nomination, while Republican leaders wanted to vote on him last Friday. The Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, R, Trumps nominee for ambassador to the United Nations. Haley is expected to win confirmation easily. Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th March ADFEST is pleased to announce that Victor Manggunio, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett China, based in Shanghai, is joining the festival as Jury President, Media Lotus & Effective Lotus.It's a great honor to accept this invitation and play a role in judging the Media Lotus and Effective Lotus winners two categories that require the right balance between creative and strategic thinking. Im really looking forward to seeing which brands and agencies win this year, says Manggunio, who has worked in the region for 22 years and joined Leo Burnett China as Chief Creative Officer in 2015.Manggunios experience is uniquely eclectic he has experience across retail advertising, digital and social; hes worked above and below the line; and he even ran his own production company for three years as a Director.Jimmy Lam, President of ADFEST says: Victor brings to the table a complete understanding of the creative process from strategy to ideation and production acumen. His knowledge will be invaluable in leading this years Media Lotus and Effective Lotus jury and were very pleased he has agreed to be part of ADFEST 2017.Prior to joining Leo Burnett China, which operates in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, Manggunio ran his own digital and film production company and directed commercials broadcast in both traditional and digital platforms across Asia. He then returned to the Leo Burnett network having previously worked at the agencys Hong Kong agency for 10 years.ADFEST 2017 will take place at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, Thailand from. For more information, visit www.ADFEST.com CNN International today unveiled details of its second Asia Business Forum, a special event to be held in Bengaluru, India, on Monday, February 13, 2017. This invitation-only event brings together key business leaders and thought influencers to assess Indias position in a tumultuous global economy. Delegates will explore new ideas, innovations, and technologies that will shape Indias economic future. Sessions include: India at 30,000 Feet Exploring the worlds fastest growing aviation industry Digitizing India How technology is transforming the worlds biggest democracy Richard Quest, CNNMoney Editor-at-Large and anchor of Quest Means Business and Kristie Lu Stout, CNN News Stream anchor will lead discussions with star speakers including EkStep Chairman and Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, Air Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh, Spicejet Chairman & Managing Director Ajay Singh, JetSetGo Co-Founder and CEO Kanika Tekriwal, and viral YouTube star 'Rickshawalli". The forum coincides with the start of the Indian governments Make in India Conference in Bengaluru. Ellana Lee, Senior Vice President and Managing Editor CNN International said: Were delighted to return to India for the second Asia Business Forum. It promises to be a stimulating evening of thought-provoking discussions around the Indian economy which shines as a bright spot in the global economic scenario. Sunita Rajan, Senior Vice President CNN International Advertising Sales Asia Pacific said: CNN has led the industry in the way we produce and deliver news on multiple platforms and how we combine content, data, audiences, events and creativity in our work with commercial partners. Building on the tremendous success in 2016, the CNN Asia Business Forum 2017 will once again provide an exclusive platform for leaders across the region to come together in the heart of Indias Silicon Valley in Bengaluru. A detailed breakdown of sessions and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. Progressing with the impetus towards supporting co-regulation in advertising, the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has signed an MoU partnering with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Addressing the cases of misleading advertisements with respect to Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy Medicines, treatment and related services, ASCI will comprehensively monitor these advertisements across print and electronic media. ASCI has been given a self-monitoring mandate by the Ministry of AYUSH to identify potentially misleading advertisement in the AYUSH sector and process complaints through its Consumer Complaints Council (CCC). The Ministry of AYUSH will also redirect complaints against misleading advertisements they receive to ASCI, which will be reviewed using ASCIs code and guidelines. The MoU also requires ASCI to report to the Ministry of AYUSH, advertisements in potential violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules thereunder as well as non-compliance of ASCIs CCC recommendations for the Ministry of AYUSH to take further action. This partnership will put in place, a much needed formal mechanism to monitor & curtail misleading advertisements in the AYUSH sector and will lead to effective implementation though strong support locally from the State Licencing Authorities as well as Centrally through the Ministry of AYUSH. Commenting on the partnership, Ajit M. Sharan, Secretary, the Ministry of AYUSH, said, We are happy to announce this partnership with the ASCI. It is yet another important step taken by the AYUSH ministry to ensure that Indian consumers have access to safe and effective medicine. The arrangement would also ensure that any advertisement making claims for diseases and disorders, in violation of the notification issued by our ministry for indications that have been prohibited from claiming, are immediately brought to our attention. We have entered into an MoU with ASCI to effectively weed out such advertisements so that consumers are protected from unscrupulous manufacturers selling products making false claims. This is vital for the propagation of AYUSH system of medicine within India and beyond. S.K. Swamy, ASCI Chairman, added here, At ASCI, we have been relentlessly working to encourage self -regulation in advertising content and ensuring the protection of the interests of the consumers. AYUSH is among top three sectors where we find a high incidence of misleading advertisements and some of the advertisements in the AYUSH sector claiming treatment of certain diseases in violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Regulations have been a cause of concern. ASCIs partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH will provide the necessary support to our efforts in effectively curtailing misleading advertisements in this sector. 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. Skechers U.S.A., Inc. designs, develops, markets, and distributes footwear for men, women, and children; and performance footwear for men and women worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Domestic Wholesale, International Wholesale, and Direct-to-Consumer. It offers casual, casual athletic, sport athletic, trail, sandals, boots, and retro fashion footwear for men and women under the Skechers USA, Skechers Sport, Skechers Active, Modern Comfort, Skechers Street, Mark Nason, and BOBS brands; sneakers, casuals, boots, and sandals for boys and girls under the Skechers Mega-Craft, S-Lights, SKECH-AIR, Foamies, Twinkle Toes, Z-Strap, Skechers Stretch Fit, and Skechers Street brands; and technical footwear under the Skechers GOrun, Skechers GOwalk, Skechers GOtrain, Skechers GOtrail, and Skechers GO Golf brands. The company also provides men's and women's slip-resistant and safety-toe casuals, boots, hikers, and athletic shoes; and lifestyle apparel for men, women, and kids. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 4,306 company and third party owned Skechers stores. The company sells its products through department and specialty stores, athletic and independent retailers, boutiques, and online retailers; and through its e-commerce sites, concept stores, and factory and warehouse outlet stores. It also licenses its Skechers brand. Skechers U.S.A., Inc. was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California. The following companies are subsidiares of Archer-Daniels-Midland: 3 Grain Elevators, ACT Exportacao Ltda., ADGENE LABORATOIRE, ADM (Dalian) Animal Health & Nutrition Co. Ltd., ADM (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., ADM (Thailand) Ltd., ADM AGRO S.R.L., ADM Ag Holding Limited, ADM Agri Services Greece MEPE, ADM Agri-Industries Company, ADM Agricultural Commodities Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Agriculture Limited, ADM Agro Iberica S.L.U., ADM Agro Industries India Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Kota & Akola Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Latur & Vizag Private Limited, ADM Agroinvestimentos Ltda., ADM Alliance Nutrition of Puerto Rico LLC, ADM Americas S. de R.L., ADM Andina Peru S.R.L., ADM Animal Health & Nutrition (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Cambodia) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Xiangtan) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Zhangzhou) Co. Ltd., ADM Antwerp NV, ADM Arkady Ireland Limited, ADM Armazens Gerais Ltda., ADM Asia-Pacific Trading Pte. Ltd., ADM Australia Holdings I PTY Limited, ADM Australia Pty. Limited, ADM Bazancourt SASU, ADM Besin ve Tarim Anonim Sirketi, ADM Bio-Productos S.A. de C.V., ADM Bio-Science & Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Bulgaria Trading EOOD, ADM CARIBBEAN INC., ADM Chile Comercial Limitada, ADM Clinton BioProcessing Inc., ADM Czernin S.A., ADM DO BRASIL LTDA., ADM Direct Polska Sp. z o.o., ADM Dominican Holdings Inc., ADM Dominicana S.A., ADM EMEA Corporate Services GmbH, ADM Edible Bean Specialties Inc., ADM Egypt LLC, ADM El Salvador Ltda. de C.V., ADM Europe Holdco S.L., ADM European Management Holding B.V. & Co. KG, ADM Expatriate Services Inc., ADM Export Co., ADM Food Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ADM Food Technology (Pinghu) Co. Ltd., ADM France, ADM Fuels Company, ADM German Holdings B.V., ADM Germany GmbH, ADM Grain Costa Rica S.R.L., ADM Grain River System Inc., ADM Grain de Venezuela C.A., ADM Guatemala Limitada, ADM Hamburg Aktiengesellschaft, ADM Holding (Thailand) Ltd., ADM Holdings LLC, ADM Honduras S.de R.L., ADM INGREDIENTS S.R.L., ADM Inca S.A.C., ADM Industries Centers Ltd, ADM International Holdings Inc., ADM International Sarl, ADM Investments Limited, ADM Investor Services Inc., ADM Investor Services International Limited, ADM Ireland Receivables Company Limited, ADM Israel, ADM Italia S.r.l., ADM Japan Ltd., ADM Latin America Inc., ADM Logistics Inc., ADM MANAGEMENT LTD., ADM MOROCCO S.A., ADM Mainz GMBH, ADM Malbork S.A., ADM Medsofts Sarl, ADM Mexico Inc., ADM Mexico S.A. de C.V., ADM Milling Co., ADM Milling Limited, ADM Myanmar Company Limited, ADM New Zealand Limited, ADM Nicaragua SA, ADM Nutrition Holding d.o.o. Beograd, ADM Olomouc S.R.O., ADM PORTUGAL SA, ADM Panama S. De R.L., ADM Paraguay S.R.L., ADM Participacoes Ltda., ADM Poland Sp. z o.o., ADM Protexin Inc., ADM Protexin Limited, ADM Pura Limited, ADM Razgrad EAD, ADM Receivables LLC, ADM Rice Inc., ADM Ringaskiddy Unlimited Company, ADM SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., ADM STF DMCC, ADM STF Pte. Ltd., ADM STF Switzerland Sarl, ADM Services B.V., ADM Slovakia s.r.o., ADM Specialty Ingredients (Europe) B.V., ADM Spyck GMBH, ADM Sweden AB, ADM Szamotuly Sp. z o.o., ADM Trading (UK) Limited, ADM Trading Australia Pty. Ltd., ADM Trading Company, ADM Trading Cote D'Ivoire, ADM Transportation Company, ADM Trucking Inc., ADM Unterstutzungskasse GmbH, ADM Uruguay SCA, ADM Ventures Investment Corp., ADM WILD Europe GmbH & Co. KG, ADM WILD Nauen GmbH, ADM WILD Netherlands B.V., ADM WILD SEE Kft, ADM WILD Valencia SAU, ADM Wild Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, ADM Wild UK Limited, ADM Worldwide Holdings L.P., ADMEcuador CIA. Ltda., ADMIS Holding Company Inc., ADMIS Hong Kong Limited, ADMIS SINGAPORE PTE. LIMITED, AGRANIX, AIC Seguros SRL, AMT West LLC, AOR, AT Holdings II Company, Agri Port Services Brasil Ltda., Agri Port Services Investments Ltd., Agri Port Services LLC, Agricolas Madagascar SARLU, Agrinational Insurance Company, Agriserve, Agrograin Ltd., Agrograin Ltd. Sucursal Uruguay, Alfrebro LLC, Alfred C. Toepfer International Exportacao e Importacao Ltda., Alfred C. Toepfer International Netherlands B.V., Alimenta USA, Alimentos Texo SA de CV, American River Transportation Co. LLC, Ameriseed, Anco Animal Nutrition Competence GmbH, Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Asia-Pacific Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Erith Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Europe B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Europoort B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Korea LLC, Archer Daniels Midland Nederland B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Singapore Pte. Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Vietnam Company Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Wild Nigeria Ltd., Archer Financial Services Inc., Archer-Daniels-Midland Philippines Inc., Arinos Unlimited, Aston Foods & Food Ingredients, BIOPOLIS S.L., BQ Railroad Company, BTECH Tecnologias Agropecuarias e Comercio Ltda., Balanceados Nova S.A. Balnova, Balto Holdco LLC, Barbados Mills Limited, Bela Vista Bio Etanol Participacoes Ltda., Belize Mills Limited, Belwood Company S.A., Benson-Quinn Commodities Inc., Bern Aqua, Bifodan Inc., Biopolis, CONTROLADORA ADM S.A. DE C.V., Campa Sued GmbH & Co KG, Caribbean Agro-Industries Limited, Casablancas sweetener plant, Cattleman's Choice Loomix LLC, Chamtor, Ci ADM Colombia Ltda., Columbia & Willamette Maritime Services Inc., Comhan, Compania ADM S.A. de C.V., Crosswind Petfoods Inc., DE Holdings LLC, DP Holdings LLC, Daavision B.V., Deerland Europe ApS, Deerland Holdings Inc., Deerland Ireland R&D Limited, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes A/S, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes Inc., Eaststarch, Eatem Corporation, Eatem Foods, Elstar Oils, Empresa de Transporte La Estrella S.R.L., English River Pellets Inc., Epicore BioNetworks Inc., Epicore Ecuador S.A., Epicore Networks (U.S.A.) Inc., Erich Ziegler GmbH, Evialis (Shandong) Co. Ltd., Evialis France, Evialis Galicia S.A., Evialis India Limited, FINANCIERE FRANCO MAGYAR POUR LA NUTRITION ANIMALE - FFMNA, FISA Andina S.A.S., FISA Aromas S.A.S., Fasco Mills Co., Federation Sahanala Vanille, Filozoo SRL, Flavor Infusion, Flavor Infusion International S.A., Florida Chemical, Florida Chemical Company LLC, Flotek Flavor & Fragrance LLC, GLOBAL COCOA HOLDINGS LTD., GP Blanching Inc., GPC Trucking Inc., GROUPE PILARDIERE, GUYOKRMA spol. s.r.o., Golden Farm Production & Commerce Company Limited, Golden Peanut Company, Golden Peanut Company LLC, Golden Peanut and Tree Nut Seed SA (Pty) Ltd., Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts S.A., Green Bison Soy Processing LLC, Group Lysac, Guyomarc'h - VCN Company Limited, Guyomarc'h Vietnam Co. Ltd., Guyovital PT, HFR Shipping Company Ltd., HI-NUTRIENTS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, HRA Shipping Company Ltd., HTI Shipping Company Ltd., Harvest Innovations, Hilltop Grain and Feed, Holding P & A Asia Company Limited, Hubei Meiweiyuan Biotechnology, Ilitchevskiy Maslo Extractionniy Zavod (IMEZ), Industries Centers EOD Trade 2005 Ltd., Invivo NSA Algerie, Invivo NSA Sanpo (Tianjin) Pet Products Co. Ltd, JDS Sarl, Jamaica Flour Mills Limited, Jamaica Rice Milling Company Limited, LANCENTER S.C.A., Liquid Feed Commodities, Logus Bar Ashdod Port Ltd., Malta Industries S.A. de C.V., Malta Texo De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Maniobras Y Servicios Del Interior S.A. de C.V., Master Mix of Trinidad Unlimited, Medsofts Company LLC, Medsofts for Import Co., Medsofts for Investment LLC, Medsofts for Trade LLC (Medsofts Trading), Mepla Comercio e Navegacao Ltda., Mezclas Biomix S.A.S., Monti Foods (Pty) Ltd., Mundo Logistics S.R.L., NEC Facilities LLC, National Enzyme Company LLC, Naviera Chaco S.R.L., Neovia, Neovia Algerie SPA, Neovia Nutricao e Saude Animal Ltda., Neovia Philippines Inc., North Star Shipping S.R.L., NutraDine, NutraDine LLC, NutriMix Feed Company Inc., Nutrilac, Olenex C.V., Olsen's Mill Inc. Four Grain Storage Elevators, P & A Marketing SA, PANCOSMA FRANCE S.A.S, PJSC ADM Illichivsk, PT ADM Indonesia Trading and Logistics, Pancosma & Associates Marketing (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Pancosma (Jiangsu) Feed Additive Co. Ltd., Pancosma (Shanghai) Feed Additives Co. Ltd., Pancosma Canada Inc., Pancosma Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pancosma North America Inc., Pancosma SA, Pedigree Ovens, Pedigree Ovens LLC, PetDine, PetDine LLC, Prairie Pride - Biodiesel Production Plant, Premiere Agri Technologies Asia Inc., Premiere Agri Technologies of Mexico Inc., Proservicios Potencial Humano S.A. de C.V., Provit Sp. z o.o., Pura Foods Limited, Rodelle Inc., SANICOOPA, SDJ Sarl, SORA Laboratories LLC, Sartco Ltda., Schokinag-Schokolade-Industrie Herrmann, Sermix, Servad S.R.L, Setna Nutricion S.A., Silo P. Kruse Betriebs-GmbH & Co. KG, Silo-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH, Societe Industrielle des Oleagineux-SIO, SojaProtein d.o.o. Becej, Sojaprotein, Southern Cellulose Products Inc., Soy Investors LLC, Specialty Commodities, Specialty Commodities LLC, Sul Mineira Alimentos Ltda., Syngenta - Dry Bean Business, Szabadegyhazai Szolgaltato es Vagyonkezeklo KFT, Terminal Stevedores Inc., Terminales De Cargas Especializadas S.A. De C.V., The Pound Bakery, The Pound Bakery LLC, Toepfer International, Toepfer International Trading (Shanghai) Co. LTD., UPSCIENCE ITALIA S.R.L., Upscience, VIA CHEM GROUP a.s. Oilseed Processing Plant, Vantage Corn Processors LLC, WILD Flavors, Wild Amazon Flavors Concentrados e Corantes para Bebidas Ltda., Wild Flavors (Canada) Inc., Wild Flavors Austria GmbH, Wild Flavors Inc., Wild Flavors International GmbH, Wild Flavors Kenya Limited, Wild Flavors Middle East FZE, Wild Flavors Polska Sp. z o.o., Wild Flavors S.A. de C.V., Wild Intermare GmbH, Wild Polska Sp. z o.o., Wild Russia LLC, Wild Tunesia Sarl, Wisium SA (Pty) Ltd., World's Finest Chocolate - New Cocoa Powder Line, and Yerbalatina Ltda.. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface. Read More In a credit union industry letter, NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger last week called on the incoming Trump administration to support regulatory relief for credit unions. In the letter, published in Morning Consult in advance of Fridays inauguration of President Donald Trump, Berger noted that credit unions fill a needed space in the nations economy. Based on NAFCUs 2015 Economic & CU Monitor, only 27.2 percent of bank loans to small businesses were under $1 million, compared with 85.4 percent of credit union loans to their member small businesses, Berger wrote. Credit unions would like to do more to support Americas entrepreneurs and promote our economic leadership. Unfortunately, credit unions are hindered from lending more to small business due to an arbitrary lending cap that effectively limits their total business loans to 1.75 times of their net worth. Eliminating this unnecessary regulatory burden would allow credit unions to make more capital available to small business to help create jobs and grow our economy, Berger continued. Dan Edmunds is a mechanical engineer by trade and spent 16 years developing new cars for two automakers before coming to the Edmunds testing department. Our 2013 Tesla Model S did not have Autopilot when our photographer, Kurt Niebuhr, and I drove it to New York City and back. If it had, the two of us might not have finished the trip in one piece. Perhaps I should explain. We were crossing South Dakota on an empty four-lane highway in broad daylight. I was behind the wheel in the left lane as we approached an unregulated T-intersection at 55 mph. A minivan was stopped on our right waiting to turn onto the highway while a semi truck coming from the opposite direction started to slow and ease its way into the left turn lane. It looked as though both were waiting for us to pass before they made their turns. Except the semi didn't wait. Without stopping, he turned left directly in front of me as the nose of the Tesla entered the intersection. It was that slow-motion moment I'd always read about but never experienced. I steered sharply to the right hoping to miss the truck with the nose of the car and instead take the impact in my left rear corner. Thankfully, that didn't happen. I managed to dodge the truck completely and then reflexively steered back to the left to complete what amounted to a textbook emergency lane change. The engineering community refers to my close call as a Left Turn Across Path (LTAP) scenario. It's very similar to the fatal Tesla crash in Florida that prompted a preliminary defect investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That investigation was closed last week after NHTSA concluded that "a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time." In that case, the accident was classified as a Straight Crossing Path (SCP) incident, the difference being the semi crossed in front of that Tesla at a 90-degree angle. Though slightly different, these two scenarios share one distinction: Both are considered to be beyond the scope of automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems because they appear too suddenly. NHTSA's review spends a good chunk of time talking about what an AEB system is and what it should be capable of doing, which essentially boils down to scanning the road ahead for cars going in the same direction and trying not to run into the back of them. Since the Straight Crossing Path scenario in the Florida crash "falls outside the expected performance capabilities of the system," the Tesla Model S was not found to be defective for failing to react to it. Tesla claimed it as a victory, but for me, this is still a very gray area. Our car and the Florida car both had AEB and Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC, more commonly known as adaptive cruise control), but our 2014 Model S differed in that it was not equipped with Autopilot, a Tesla marketing term that denotes the additional presence of Autosteer, a system that can steer the car using cameras to recognize lane markings. Because our Tesla did not have Autosteer, I had both hands on the wheel when the semi truck turned left in front of us. I was actively driving the car. Kurt and I weren't deep in conversation at that moment, and I wasn't glancing at the radio or even at the gauges. I was also aware of the intersection's existence since it offered an alternative route to a supercharger station. If any of those factors had differed even slightly, the outcome likely would have been much different. And that's why the Autopilot component of the Florida incident has given me chills ever since I first heard about it. Automated driving systems are classified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in five levels. NHTSA correctly describes the Tesla Autopilot system as "a Level 1 automated system when operated with TACC enabled and a Level 2 system when Autosteer is also activated." The SAE says a Level 2 system's human driver retains the task of "monitoring the driving environment," whatever that means. NHTSA's report applauds Tesla for being less ambiguous in the owner's manual, which includes such statements as "When using Autosteer, hold the steering wheel and be mindful of road conditions and surrounding traffic" and "Always be prepared to take immediate action." But the two-line warning the driver sees when engaging Autopilot is a little different, and slightly contradictory. It says: "Always keep your hands on the wheel," and "Be prepared to take over [emphasis added] at any time." The take over part of that line is important because Tesla calls the system Autopilot, as in automatic pilot. In the world of aviation, automatic pilot is a hands-free computer guidance system and one could argue that's also the public's perception of Tesla's system. Indeed, Autopilot lives up to that perception because it is good, really good. I drove our 2016 Model X to work and found that I could let go for two minutes at a time before any warnings appear. It only takes a momentary grasp to reset that clock, and when you do, the wheel exhibits an unnaturally firm rigidity that says "I've got this" in a way that might just make those who haven't read up on the technology actually believe it. And yet NHTSA's report points to accident data that shows the Autopilot-equipped Teslas are involved in 38 percent fewer accidents. I'm not here to dispute those figures. What I can say is that in my near-miss in South Dakota, there was no time to "take over" from Autopilot. It required every ounce of my attention and skill to avoid hitting the tractor-trailer, something Autopilot would not have been able to do. Yet, had our Tesla had the system, it would have been hard to resist using it in the middle of nowhere on a lightly traveled highway. So on the surface, Tesla's system may have been cleared of being recalled, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily safe in all situations, or safer than an attentive human driver. It's still very much a driver assist system. There's nothing "automatic" about it. Emirates destinations Flights to Dusseldorf Dusseldorf is a business and finance powerhouse, attracting as many blue-chip companies as it does trade fairs. But if that makes the city sound staid and boring and puts you off booking flights to Dusseldorf, think again. Its certainly an affluent city, exemplified by the boutiques and high-end hotels that line Konigsallee. Yet such economic prowess has resulted in a city that bankrolls its culture there are more than 100 art galleries and 26 museums, plus landscaped parks, concert halls and an opera house. Perhaps thats why pioneering musical acts such as Kraftwerk are synonymous with Dusseldorf there is certainly a feeling on those Old Town/harbour streets that creativity is to be celebrated and nurtured rather than stifled. Many cultural attractions can be found in the Old Town, or Altstadt, an area best explored on foot. In fact, you could easily spend a few hours either wandering around this fascinating neighbourhood or strolling along the Rheinuferpromenade, a walkway that connects it with the MedienHafen harbour area, creating a literal and figurative pathway between the old and new. All of which makes Dusseldorf something of a pleasant surprise for those who come for a trade fair and find themselves with a few hours to spare. With its Michelin-starred restaurants, fashionable cafes and lounges, quality hotels and impeccable transport links, most people who come to the city for business end up returning for fun. Objective sleep outcomes were unchanged in women experiencing hot flashes during the menopausal transition or after menopause DARIEN, IL - A new study indicates that yoga and aerobic exercise interventions did not significantly reduce objectively measured sleep disturbances among midlife women who were experiencing hot flashes. Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial show that neither 12 weeks of yoga nor 12 weeks of aerobic exercise had a statistically significant effect on objective measures of sleep duration or sleep quality recorded by actigraphy. Although the women had no difficulty falling asleep, disturbed sleep was common at baseline and remained after each intervention, with women in all groups waking during the night for an average of more than 50 minutes. According to the authors, previously published analyses of the same trial had found that the yoga and aerobic exercise interventions were associated with small but statistically significant improvements in subjective, self-reported sleep quality and insomnia severity. "Our primary findings were that the two study interventions had no significant effects on objective sleep outcomes in midlife women with hot flashes. The main implication of this finding is that other behavior treatments with the potential for effectively improving sleep in this population should be examined," said lead author Diana Taibi Buchanan, associate professor of Bio-Behavioral Nursing and Health Informatics at the University of Washington in Seattle. Study results are published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. The authors analyzed data from the Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) network. The study involved 186 late transition and postmenopausal women with hot flashes who were between 40 and 62 years of age. Study subjects had an average of 7.3 to 8 hot flashes per day. Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of yoga, supervised aerobic exercise, or usual activity. Sleep measures were evaluated using wrist actigraphy, and bedtimes and rise times were determined primarily from the participants' sleep diaries. Mean sleep duration at baseline and after each intervention was less than the 7 or more hours of nightly sleep that is recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for optimal health in adults. According to the authors, future research should explore other approaches for improving sleep quality in midlife women, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. ### The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health through grants from the National Institute on Aging and through a cooperative agreement issued by the NIA, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and Office of Research on Women's Health. Additional funding was provided by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, the National Center for Research Resources, and a Clinical and Translational Sciences Award. To request a copy of the study, "Effects of Yoga and Aerobic Exercise on Actigraphic Sleep Parameters in Menopausal Women with Hot Flashes," or to arrange an interview with the study author or an AASM spokesperson, please contact Senior Communications Coordinator Amy Pyle at 630-737-9700, ext. 9366, or apyle@aasmnet.org The monthly, peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is the official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a professional membership society that improves sleep health and promotes high quality, patient-centered care through advocacy, education, strategic research, and practice standards. The AASM encourages patients to talk to their doctor about sleep problems and visit http://www.sleepeducation.org for more information about sleep, including a searchable directory of AASM-accredited sleep centers. Non-indigenous species (NIS) are harming indigenous species and habitats in the Mediterranean Sea, impairing potentially exploitable marine resources and raising concern about human health issues, according to a new Tel Aviv University study. The 2015 expansion of the Suez Canal, one of the world's most important corridors of commerce, facilitated an influx of non-indigenous species into the Mediterranean Sea, according to Prof. Bella Galil of the Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies at TAU's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, the lead author of a study published last month in Management of Biological Invasions. "The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded marine basin in the world," says Prof. Galil. "The number of NIS greatly increased between 1970 and 2015. 750 multicellular non-indigenous species were recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, far more than in other European seas, because of the ever-increasing number of Red Sea species introduced through the Suez Canal. This raises concerns about the increasing introductions of additional NIS and associated degradation and loss of native populations, habitats and ecosystem services." A slow reaction The development and implementation of a management policy have been slow, despite a century of scientific documentation of marine bioinvasions in the Mediterranean Sea. The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Seas Programme, adopted an "Action Plan concerning species introductions and invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea" in 2003. But the UNEP has "shied away from discussing, let alone managing, the influx of tropical non-indigenous biota introduced through the Suez Canal. So far no prevention and management measures have been implemented," according to Prof. Galil and her associates. In their new study, the authors present data that marine-protected areas in the eastern Mediterranean, from Turkey to Libya, have been overwhelmed by non-indigenous species and serve as veritable "hot spots" of bioinvasion. Biotic communities are already fragile, suffering from manmade stressors such as pollution and overfishing. The colonization of these communities by NIS redistributes nutritional resources, removes important actors and renders them more susceptible to extinction. Eastern Mediterranean algae-dominated rocky habitats have been decimated by large populations of herbivorous fish introduced through the Suez Canal. The two voracious grazers, Siganus luridus and S. rivulatus, have transformed lush rocky reefs into "barrens," dramatically reducing habitat complexity and altering the community structure and food web. Within 30 years, a small Red Sea mussel has replaced the native mytilid along the entire Mediterranean coast of Israel, forming dense nearly mono-specific species "carpets." A hope for effective intervention The authors of the study led a discussion on effective management of non-indigenous species introductions into the Mediterranean Sea at a EuroMarine workshop that took place in Ischia, Italy, in 2016. The discussion resulted in the "Ischia Declaration" that laid down principles for an effective, science-based, transboundary management. The declaration was approved by the general assembly of EuroMarine, a network of 73 research institutions and universities, funded by the European Union. "We hope that this new research will be used to construct a science-based effective management of marine bioinvasions, and prevent, or at least minimize, the influx of additional non-indigenous species into the Mediterranean," says Prof. Galil. "Time will tell whether these aims are achieved or legislators and management continue to put off confronting this difficult issue and pass the environmental, economic and social burden to future generations." The researchers are currently investigating pollution and other NIS-related factors. ### Tel Aviv University (TAU) is inherently linked to the cultural, scientific and entrepreneurial mecca it represents. It is one of the world's most dynamic research centers and Israel's most distinguished learning environment. Its unique-in-Israel multidisciplinary environment is highly coveted by young researchers and scholars returning to Israel from post-docs and junior faculty positions in the US. American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) enthusiastically and industriously pursues the advancement of TAU in the US, raising money, awareness and influence through international alliances that are vital to the future of this already impressive institution. Imagine you are about to plan and construct a building that involves several complicated geometrical shapes, but you aren't allowed to write down any numbers or notes as you do it. For most of us, this would be impossible. Yet, new research from Arizona State University has revealed that the ancient Southwestern Pueblo people, who had no written language or written number system, were able to do just that - and used these skills to build sophisticated architectural complexes. Dr. Sherry Towers, a professor with the ASU Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center, uncovered these findings while spending several years studying the Sun Temple archaeological site in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, constructed around A.D. 1200. "The site is known to have been an important focus of ceremony in the region for the ancestral Pueblo peoples, including solstice observations," Towers says. "My original interest in the site involved looking at whether it was used for observing stars as well." However, as Towers delved deeper into the site's layout and architecture, interesting patterns began to emerge. "I noticed in my site survey that the same measurements kept popping up over and over again," she says. "When I saw that the layout of the site's key features also involved many geometrical shapes, I decided to take a closer look." The geometrical shapes used within this location would be familiar to any high school student: equilateral triangles, squares, 45-degree right triangles, Pythagorean triangles, and the "Golden rectangle," which was well known to architects in ancient Greece and Egypt and is often used in Western art due to its pleasing proportions. With some geometrical know-how, a straight-edge, a compass or cord, and a unit of measurement, all of the shapes are fairly easy to construct. But, unlike the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Maya, the ancestral Pueblo people had no written language or number system to aid them when they built the site. Incredibly, their measurements were still near-perfect, with a relative error of less than one percent. "This is what I find especially amazing," Towers says. "The genius of the site's architects cannot be underestimated. If you asked someone today to try to reconstruct this site and achieve the same precision that they had using just a stick and a piece of cord, it's highly unlikely they'd be able to do it, especially if they couldn't write anything down as they were working." During her research, Towers discovered that the site was laid out using a common unit of measurement just over 30 centimeters in length - equal to about one modern-day foot. She also found evidence that some of the same geometrical constructs from Sun Temple were used in at least one other ancestral Puebloan ceremonial site, Pueblo Bonito, located in New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Historic Park. "Further study is needed to see if that site also has the same common unit of measurement," she says. "It's a task that will keep us busy for some years to come." ### The study "Advanced geometrical constructs in a Pueblo ceremonial site, c. 1200 CE" will appear in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. Two Cleveland Clinic researchers have been awarded multi-year, multi-million dollar federal grants that support exceptional scientists with a track record of achievement. Bruce Trapp, Ph.D., a specialist in multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelin biology, and Jaroslaw Maciejewski, M.D., Ph.D., an expert in blood and bone diseases, have each received an Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The awards are designed to provide long-term support and flexibility to scientists whose work holds out promise for achieving medical breakthroughs, allowing them to focus on research instead of funding. Cleveland Clinic now has three researchers named outstanding investigators since the NIH introduced the new award strategy in 2015. Jeremy Rich, M.D., researcher in the Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine at the Lerner Research Institute, was the first Cleveland Clinic researcher to receive an Outstanding Investigator Award - $6.7 million in 2015. Trapp, chair of the Department of Neurosciences at the Lerner Research Institute, becomes the first Cleveland Clinic researcher to be named an Outstanding Investigator by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the NIH. He will receive nearly $7 million over the next eight years to examine the biology of MS and to seek treatments that could slow or reverse the disease. Dr. Maciejewski, chair of the Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research at Cleveland Clinic, will receive more than $5.5 million over the next seven years from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH. The award will support his work translating scientific advances in bone marrow failure syndromes into improved patient care. Serpil C. Erzurum, M.D., chair of the Lerner Research Institute, said the grants will help high-achieving researchers find better treatments for people with complex diseases. "These awards not only honor the remarkable work of these outstanding researchers, but will be a tremendous help in advancing discoveries that will ultimately benefit patients," she said. Trapp's lab produced seminal work in the understanding of MS, a disease of the central nervous system in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue. With MS, the immune system targets myelin, the protective fatty coating that wraps around nerve fibers. By destroying nerve connections, MS can lead to unpredictable fatigue, muscle weakness, difficulty with mobility and even paralysis in later stages. In 1998, Trapp's team revealed that the immune cells target not only the myelin sheath but also the nerve itself. That discovery caused a paradigm shift, alerting MS researchers to examine neurodegeneration -- the death of nerve cells--as the cause of permanent neurological disability. With this grant support, Trapp said he will further study how myelin loss leads to brain cell dysfunction, nerve fiber death and neurological disability, as well as how the disease process can be slowed and reversed. Trapp, who is also a professor of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University, said he was honored by the award and is excited by the opportunities it presents. "We've made great progress uncovering the neurodegeneration that occurs with MS. Now our challenge is to develop therapies to stop or delay the progression of the disease," he said. "It's a long road but this award gives us the flexibility to follow the results." Dr. Maciejewski, as a physician scientist and hematologist, examines the development of bone marrow failure syndromes (BMFS) and their molecular genetics. His research indicates BMFS will likely not be cured by a universal drug, owing to its molecular diversity. Rather, the disease demands multiple therapies personalized for each patient and guided by biomarkers. He hopes to use the award to address biologically important abnormalities found in a significant proportion of patients, while furthering the understanding of these abnormalities to enable the development of new classes of drugs, and new approaches to applying them and existing options. "The translation of scientific advances into improved patient care and cures has been the primary goal of my team's work," he said. "This award supports our belief that now is the time to advance translational findings to make progress in medical care, including diagnostics and therapeutics for BMFS." ### About Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. More than 3,000 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals, more than 75 Northern Ohio outpatient locations, including 16 full-service Family Health Centers, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2013, there were 5.5 million outpatient visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 157,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 130 countries. Visit us at http://www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. Editor's Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request. Smokers with depression who successfully quit smoking using stop smoking services may see an improvement in their mental health, according to new research,* funded by Cancer Research UK and published in Annals of Behavioural Medicine. Researchers at Kings College London and the Charles University in Prague who studied people attending a stop smoking clinic in the Czech Republic, found that successful quitters had a considerable improvement in their depression.** And two-thirds (66.3 per cent) of those who had moderate or severe depression when smoking described no or minimal symptoms during a one-year follow up. The researchers also found that all those who received the specialist behavioural support and medication provided by the clinic, were more likely to remain smoke free for a year if they went back for repeat visits. But they noted that people with depression were still less likely to quit successfully than those without. This highlights that different groups can benefit to different extents from the same support, and suggests that people with mental health problems need extra help. Smoking rates among people with mental health conditions are more than double those of the general population (approximately 40% vs. 20%). It's estimated that of the 9.6 million adult smokers in the UK, around three million have a mental health condition. Smoking is the single biggest factor contributing to a lower life expectancy associated with a mental health condition - a decrease of about 10-20 years compared to the general population***. Dr Leonie Brose, a Cancer Research UK fellow based at King's College London and senior author of the publication, said: "Our study shows that stop smoking services can be very effective at supporting people with depression, and that increased visits greatly improve the success of quit attempts. "The findings also suggest that giving up smoking may improve depressive symptoms, improving mental as well as physical health. "While there's been an overall fall in smoking rates in recent decades, there hasn't been the same decline among people with mental health problems. "We hope that this research will help boost mental health services and stop smoking services in the UK giving effective support and medication to those who need it most." This new study highlights just how vital stop smoking services are. In England, smokers who use similar services**** are around three times more likely to quit successfully than those using no support at all. The research is published as stop smoking services across England face continued budget cuts. Local councils run the services, but funding comes from Westminster. Year on year, cuts to the Public Health Grant from HM Treasury have placed considerable strain on local councils, and budgets for stop smoking services have been repeatedly slashed since 2013. Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK's director of cancer prevention, said: "This study draws attention to a vulnerable group who need more specialist support in their attempts to give up smoking. "When it comes to tobacco-related illness, reducing the dramatic difference in the health of social groups is a really important issue. "Because of this, it's vital to protect funding for specialist stop smoking services, which remain the most effective route to quitting." ### For media enquiries contact Kathryn Ingham in the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 3469 5475 or, out of hours, on 07050 264 059. Notes to editor: *Stepankova, L., Kralikova, E., Zvolska, K. et al. Ann. Behav. Med. (2016). doi:10.1007/s12160-016-9869-6 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12160-016-9869-6 **The direction of the association between smoking cessation and depression was not verified in this study. It is possible that people who experienced improvements in their depression were more likely to quit successfully, however the authors suggest that in line with previous research, this study adds to growing evidence that quitting smoking may lead to an improvement in depression. ***Statistics from ASH: 'The Stolen Years' (a CRUK endorsed paper) http://ash.org.uk/information-and-resources/reports-submissions/reports/the-stolen-years/ Action on Smoking and Health ("ASH") is a campaigning health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco. It was established in 1971 by the Royal College of Physicians. ASH receives funding for its full programme of work from the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK. It has also received project funding from the Department of Health to support tobacco control. ****Stop smoking services in both the UK and the Czech Republic offer a combination of behavioural support and medication. In the Czech Republic, the services are delivered by a nurse or clinician, participants cover the cost of their own medication, and quitting rates are higher. In the UK, treatment is usually restricted to a shorter period of time, but support is free and medication is offered at the cost of a prescription. Local authorities became responsible for Stop Smoking Services and tobacco control in 2013. These services were previously delivered by the NHS. For more information about Cancer Research UK's "Don't Quit on Us" campaign, go to https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/campaign-for-us/dont-quit-on-us-save-stop-smoking-services Cancer Research UK is a member of the Mental Health and Smoking Partnership which was established in 2016. Its aim is to reduce smoking prevalence among people with a mental health condition and by doing so address the leading cause of health inequalities and premature mortality in this population. About Cancer Research UK * Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. * Cancer Research UK's pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. * Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated. * Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last forty years. * Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK's ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years. * Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. * Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit http://www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook Scientists assumed leaves at the top of a plant would be the best at turning higher levels of light into carbohydrates--through the process of photosynthesis -- while the lower shaded leaves would be better at processing the low light levels that penetrate the plant's canopy of leaves. Turns out that in two of our most productive crops, these shaded leaves are less efficient than the top leaves, limiting yield. These findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, could help scientists further boost the yields of corn and Miscanthus, as well as other C4 crops that have evolved to photosynthesize more efficiently than C3 plants such as wheat and rice. "The wild ancestors of C4 crops are thought to have grown as individuals in open habitats where the number of leaves that they produced would have been limited by water and nitrogen and most leaves would be exposed to full sunlight" said principal investigator Steve Long, Gutgsell Endowed Professor of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois. "Today we grow these crops in ever denser stands, and provide them with nitrogen and water so that they can produce many more layers of leaves. But as a result, the proportion of leaves that are shaded has increased, and the production of grain will depend more and more on the contribution of this increasing proportion of shaded leaves. So how do the Maseratis of photosynthesis, C4 crops, do when they are on a meager meager fuel ration in the shade?" Not well, according to this paper: when top and bottom leaves are placed in the same low light, the lower canopy leaves showed lower rates of photosynthesis. Shaded corn leaves are 15 percent less efficient than top leaves--and worse, lower leaves are 30 percent less efficient than the top leaves of Miscanthus, a perennial bioenergy crop that is 60 percent more productive than corn in Illinois. Considering the crop as a whole, this loss of efficiency in lower leaves may costs farmers about 10 percent of potential yield--a cost that will increase as planting density increases. This 'Achilles' heel' likely applies to other C4 relatives, such as sugarcane and sorghum. "What's interesting is that we saw this loss in efficiency in the lower canopy was not due to the leaf senescing and dying off--we would have expected that," said first author Charles Pignon, a doctoral candidate in the crop sciences and at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. "The leaves were still perfectly healthy when we were looking at them; they were even darker. In the article, we show through experiments that this was not caused by age." "Next, it will be important to find out why this loss in efficiency occurs and if there's any way that we can fix it, since overcoming this and gaining a 10 percent increase in production would be very significant," Pignon said. ### The paper "Loss of photosynthetic efficiency in the shade. An Achilles heel for the dense modern stands of our most productive C4 crops" was published in Journal of Experimental Botany . Co-authors also include Deepak Jaiswal and Justin McGrath, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Illinois. This work was supported by the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI). The EBI is a public-private collaboration supported from BP in which bioscience and biological techniques are applied to help solve the global energy challenge. For more information, visit http://www.energybiosciencesinstitute.org/. It was when Xinglong Wang, PhD, received a call from a desperate father of a middle-aged son with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that he realized the extraordinary importance of his work. "Can you help save my son's life?" the parent asked. On that day, Wang, assistant professor of pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, felt the weight of human suffering on his shoulders. But this is a weight that Wang can bear. He may be in the process of entirely upending the current scientific view of ALS and other neuronal diseases. He may be a pioneer who forces scientists to discard years of medical dogma and leads clinicians to significantly improved treatments. Shortly before Wang received that call, he had published a paper in Nature Medicine (2016) in which he and his colleagues had shown that the symptoms of ALS in mice could be completely reversed by the infusion of a small-molecule peptide, PM1. Wang showed that PM1, an inhibitor of a mutated, dysfunctional protein, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), could alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal loss, and could significantly improve motor and cognitive function in previously impaired mice. Wang is troubled by the fact that PM1 is not a viable drug in humans and that he cannot yet lend a hand to the troubled father. However, he is confident that there are other safe and effective drugs that could mimic the actions of PM1. He just has to find one, in a hurry. Wang's team published a study in the January 2017 issue of Molecular Therapy that is seen as confirming the relevance of this neurotoxic pathway, according to an accompanying editorial by Eloise Hudry, PhD, of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit at Harvard Medical School. This paper also confirms TDP-43 inhibition as a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of neurologic disorders, including Alzheimer disease. Currently, most scientists do not see a link between ALS and Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), or other dementias. The medical community has for decades attributed symptoms of some of these disorders to the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain. In the Nature Medicine paper, Wang and his colleagues described the accumulation of TDP-43 in the neuronal mitochondria of mice with ALS and FTD. Mutations associated with both diseases were found to be linked to TDP-43 localization within the mitochondria. This crucial discovery points to a common cause of both neurological diseases such as dementia and motor neuron diseases such as ALS and Parkinson disease. Wang's team found that wild-type (WT) and mutant TDP-43 preferentially bind to the mitochondria-transcribed messenger RNAs which encode respiratory complex I subunits ND3 and ND6, impair their expression, and cause complex I disassembly. They then discovered that the suppression of TDP-43 mitochondrial localization abolishes WT and mutant TDP-43-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal loss, and improves phenotypes of transgenic mutant TDP-43 mice. Wang's studies link TDP-43 toxicity directly to mitochondrial bioenergetics and suggest that the targeting of TDP-43 may provide a promising therapeutic approach in the treatment of these apparently disparate diseases. "The result astonished everyone in my lab," said Wang. "Even mice with severe motor and cognitive impairment showed a rapid improvement in disease symptoms following the infusion of the peptide, PM1. Previously demented mice were able to learn mazes again and those with severe motor impairment were soon able to walk normally. It seemed to be miraculous. We were stunned." In order to quickly find a drug that can safely reproduce the effects of PM1, Wang and his colleagues are investigating the Food and Drug Administration's library of 700 approved orphan drugs. The team has developed an assay that rapidly reveals the effects of these drugs on TDP-43 accumulation. Once a candidate is identified, the path to the clinic will be greatly streamlined because the drugs are already FDA approved. "This will be much faster and less expensive than creating a new drug, testing it, getting FDA approval, and bringing it to market," Wang said. "We know that we could potentially help millions of people if we could find a drug that safely and effectively eradicates TDP-43. Our most cost-effective and efficient way to do that rapidly is to thoroughly investigate the FDA library." Wang's work has caught the attention of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). He recently received a large grant from the in support of a project the ADDF calls "Mitochondrial TDP-43 as a Novel Therapeutic Target for FTD." Wang and his colleagues are eager to turn their discoveries into therapies. Wang has begun to develop small proteins that prevent TDP-43 from reaching mitochondria in human nerve cells, and has a patent pending for the therapeutic molecule used in the study. There is no treatment currently available for ALS or FTD. The average life expectancy for people newly diagnosed with ALS is just three years, according to The ALS Association. ### This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (R03AG044680 and 1R01NS089604 to X.W.), Alzheimer's Association (2014-NIRG-301299 to X.W.) and University Hospitals of Cleveland, USA (2012 SPITZ Innovation Pilot Grant to X.W.). About Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine For more information about Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, please visit: http://case.edu/medicine. As occult practices are on the rise, contemporary theologians become increasingly interested in psychology, with many Christian authors wrestling with the question of how demons can influence mental disorders. It is only fair to say, people with psychological problems should receive psychological treatment: and indeed the majority of therapists will point blank refuse to link depression with virtually any form of witchcraft, magic or occult involvement. But an increasing number of theologians appear less inclined to accept occultism as an innocuous pastime. So, the question is: Can we screen episodes of mental illness from, literally, the devil's work? While many forms of depression result from a chemical imbalance, it is usually a combination of events and a variety of long-term or personal factors, rather than one immediate issue that breed anxiety and depression. And as any mental disorder goes, it will be medical practitioners and therapists who administer treatments upon tracing the root cause of the problem. But whereas it may be difficult to tell whether certain patterns of depressive behaviour are innate or inherited, the article published last week in Open Theology suggests, a contact with the satanic and occult rituals may trigger off psychopathological reactions. Psychopaths are generally less likely to suffer from typical depressive disorders, but drawing upon an extensive research, Dr. Zlatko Sram from Croatian Center for Applied Social Research argues, that people who practice black magic or have otherwise occult bondage in their history are particularly susceptible to comorbidity of depression and psychopathy. The author conducted a survey on over one thousand participants and found strong evidence that people suffering from depression and psychopathy simultaneously are attracted to satanic practices as a means of obtaining magical power and control over their destiny -- regardless of their sex or ethnic origin. The research categorized different esoteric practices that spanned from psychic seances, through black magic, to engaging with an occult society or reading books and magazines dealing with esoteric and occult issues. Psychopathy and depression were significantly predictive of "satanic syndrome" in individuals who had been subjected to the occult involvement, suffering bouts of depression and mental disorders nearly twice as often compared to the rest of society. Given the nature of the satanic syndrome, namely the fact that it is measured by specific occult practices, the author suggests to verify the scale of the problem in psychiatric hospitals and clinics. This key correlation yields new perspective on the early-onset depression. "This is an important study in that it takes ontological claims seriously and supports the real possibility that demonic forms of bondage may be linked to psychopathology as [...] evil forces can interfere in human behavior." comments Prof. Ralph W. Hood from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. ### The original article is available in Open Theology fully in open access to read, download and share on De Gruyter Online. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A Florida State University researcher is taking a deep dive into the carbon cycle and investigating how carbon moves from the ocean surface to greater depths and then remains there for hundreds of years. Those findings could be critical as scientists work to better understand climate change and how much carbon the Earth's atmosphere and oceans can store. In a paper published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, FSU Assistant Professor Michael Stukel explains how carbon is transported to deeper waters and why it is happening more rapidly in certain areas of the ocean. "Algae in the surface ocean contribute half of the Earth's photosynthesis, but most of the carbon dioxide they take up gets released back to the atmosphere when they die," Stukel said. "The only way for this carbon to stay out of the atmosphere for a long period of time is to get it into the deep ocean. If it's in the deep ocean, it can stay put for hundreds to 1,000 years. As the climate gets warmer, will the ocean take up more carbon dioxide or less? That's what we ultimately need to know. But first we have to figure out how this natural process of oceanic carbon storage works." Stukel, assistant professor of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, has long engaged in studying how the carbon cycle functions. Specifically, he wants to understand the processes that move carbon into the deep ocean where it will not re-enter the atmosphere. Understanding these processes will be critical as the Earth grows warmer and more carbon dioxide is present. Stukel, who is part of the California Current Ecosystem Long Term Ecological Research project, set out to find answers to some of these questions while on a research cruise off the California coast in 2012. Stukel and his colleagues suspected that certain areas of the sea were biological hotspots for carbon transport. Much like meteorological fronts converge to create a storm, there are fronts in bodies of water. These fronts typically form where there is a break in temperature or salinity. And in these areas, scientists typically find dense and varied aquatic life. Stukel and his colleagues examined one such front off the coast of Santa Barbara, California and set sediment traps to measure how much carbon was being transported to the deep ocean in these areas. Stukel and his colleagues found that double the amount of carbon was sinking to greater depths along this front than in other areas of the ocean, and the front itself acted as a giant conduit moving even non-sinking carbon to deeper depths. One of the reasons for the higher sinking rates may deal with algae health. Stukel observed that diatoms -- a type of algae that makes glass-like shells out of silicon -- found at this front were not healthy and were making much denser shells than normal. Diatoms typically also absorb high amounts of carbon dioxide. Krill and other small crustaceans feed on these diatoms, and their fecal pellets then sink, taking large amounts of carbon with them. Because they are absorbing higher rates of silicon at these fronts, they are heavier and sinking to greater depths in the ocean. "A lot of the carbon transport is mediated by these crustaceans," Stukel said. Stukel said the information his team uncovered can now be used by scientists who develop models that predict exactly how much carbon dioxide can be stored in the deep ocean. Stukel will also follow up on this work by examining other fronts to see if what he found off the coast of Santa Barbara is a widespread phenomenon. ### Other researchers who contributed to the research are Lihini Aluwihare, Katherine Barbeau, Ralf Goericke, Arthur J. Miller, Mark D. Ohman, Angel Ruacho, Brandon M. Stephens and Michael R. Landry from the University of California, San Diego; Alexander Chekalyuk from Columbia University; and Hajoon Song from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation. The Ultrafast Optical Processing Group at INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique) has redefined the limitations and constraints for ultra-fast pulsed lasers. As reported in Nature Photonics, researchers from the team of Prof. Roberto Morandotti have produced the first pulsed passively mode-locked nanosecond laser, with a record-low and transform-limited spectral width of 105 MHz--more than one hundred times lower than any mode-locked laser to date. With a compact architecture, modest power requirements, and the unique ability to resolve the full laser spectrum in the radio frequency (RF) domain, the laser paves the way towards full on-chip integration for novel sensing and spectroscopy implementations. Lasers emitting intense light-pulse trains have enabled the observation of numerous phenomena in many different research disciplines, and are the basis of state-of-the-art experiments in modern physics, chemistry, biology, and astronomy. However, high pulse intensities with low repetition rates come at the expense of mediocre noise properties. This is where passively mode-locked laser systems come in: They are the optimal choice for generating low-noise optical pulse trains. Such systems have, for example, made it possible to create stable optical frequency references for metrology (Nobel Prize, 2005) as well as intense ultra-short pulses (i.e., single-cycle pulses in the attosecond regime) for the study of high-intensity light-matter interactions. While many mode-locking techniques have been demonstrated, mainly aimed at creating increasingly shorter pulses with broader spectra, little progress has been achieved so far in tackling the opposite problem: the generation of stable nanosecond narrow-bandwidth pulsed sources. In their latest publication, the INRS research team presents a novel laser architecture that capitalizes on recent advances in nonlinear micro-cavity optics, pushing the boundaries further. Specifically, they exploit the narrowband filter characteristic of integrated microring resonators which, in addition to enabling high nonlinear phase shifts, make it possible to generate nanosecond pulses though mode-locking. "The pulsed laser output generated has a spectral bandwidth so narrow it is inaccessible with state-of-the-art optical spectrum analyzers," says Michael Kues, postdoctoral fellow and principal author of the study. To characterize the laser's bandwidth, the researchers instead used a coherent optical beating technique. The record-low laser bandwidth made it possible, for the first time, to measure the full spectral characteristics of a mode-locked laser in the RF domain using widely available RF electronics only and confirming, in turn, the laser's strong temporal coherence. Such stable narrow-bandwidth nanosecond pulsed sources are desirable for many sensing and microscopy applications, as well as for the efficient excitation of atoms and molecules (typically featuring narrow excitation bandwidths). From a fundamental perspective, the low and tractable number of optical laser modes, combined with the RF-accessibility of the associated spectrum, make the team's newly developed laser highly conducive to further study of both nonlinear mode coupling and complex mode-locking regimes. ### ABOUT THE PUBLICATION Published in Nature Photonics, the article "Passively mode-locked laser with an ultra-narrow spectral width" (DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2016.271) is the result of an international research partnership involving researchers from Quebec, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and Australia. The principal author is Michael Kues of the INRS Centre Energie Materiaux Telecommunications. The study was produced by the Ultra-Fast Optical Processing Group led by Professor Roberto Morandotti and was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the Steacie, Canada Chair, and Discovery Grants programs, by the MESI PSR-SIIRI Initiative in Quebec, and by the Australian Research Council Discovery Projects scheme. ABOUT INRS Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is a graduate-level research and training university and ranks first in Canada for research intensity (average funding per professor). INRS brings together some 150 professors and close to 700 students and postdoctoral fellows at its four centres in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, and Varennes. Its basic research is essential to the advancement of science in Quebec and internationally, and its research teams play a key role in the development of concrete solutions to the problems faced by our society. SOURCES: Corresponding authors: Michael Kues, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, INRS, michael.kues@emt.inrs.ca Professor Roberto Morandotti, INRS, morandotti@emt.inrs.ca Stephanie Thibault, Communications Advisor, INRS, stephanie.thibault@inrs.ca, +1 514-499-6612 BOSTON - (January 19, 2017) - Healthy brains need plenty of cholesterol for nerve cells to grow and work properly, but diabetes can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the brain, as a Joslin Diabetes Center team has demonstrated. Joslin researchers and their colleagues now have gone on to show that mice that are genetically modified to suppress cholesterol production in the brain show dramatic symptoms of neurological impairment. This finding may help to explain why the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases in diabetes, says Heather Ferris, M.D., Ph.D., a Joslin research associate and lead author on a paper about the work published in PNAS. Scientists have long studied the roles of brain cholesterol in Alzheimer's, one reason being that mutations in a cholesterol-carrying protein known as APOE are the strongest genetic risk factor for the disease, Ferris points out. Astrocytes, an important class of supporting cells in the brain, are thought to produce most of its cholesterol. In their latest study, the Joslin researchers created a mouse model in which a gene known as SREBP2, the master regulator of cholesterol synthesis, has been knocked out. The results were striking. "Compared to normal animals, these mice have very small brains, and multiple behavioral abnormalities," says Ferris. "Not only do these mice have trouble learning and remembering, they can't perform some other normal daily behaviors such as building a nest," adds C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., senior author on the paper, Joslin's chief academic officer and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Some of these effects were a little bit like Alzheimer's disease in the mouse, except that they were much more severe." Curiously enough, the mice also displayed changes in their whole-body metabolism, burning more carbohydrates and gaining less weight. "We're only at the beginning of this research on how diabetes and Alzheimer's disease could be related, but cholesterol could be a mediator," says Ferris. While investigators in other labs have suggested that raised rather than lower levels of cholesterol may be linked to brain disorders, "we think our model may be more clinically relevant," she says. Drugs that reduce cholesterol levels in the cardiovascular system can strongly benefit people with diabetes or related conditions, but cholesterol in the blood generally can't cross into the brain, and cholesterol metabolism is quite different in the brain, she points out. Going forward, the researchers are creating mouse models that will combine the lowered-brain-cholesterol model with models of Alzheimer's disease or type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. The scientists also will look at the effects of brain cholesterol deprivation in adult mice, in addition to mice born with the modification. "This work gives another example of how research in one field of biomedicine can affect knowledge in another field," Kahn comments. "We didn't start out thinking about Alzheimer's disease; we were trying to understand the effects of diabetes in the brain." ### The paper's other authors included Rachel Perry, Gabriela Moreira and Gerald Shulman from Yale University and Jay Horton from the University of Texas Southwestern. Lead funding was from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. About Joslin Diabetes Center Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives. We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. Joslin is an independent, non-profit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and one of only 11 NIH-designated Diabetes Research Centers in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.joslin.org/ Anders Ynnerman, professor of scientific visualisation at Linkoping University and director of Visualization Center C, together with colleagues from Linkoping University, Interspectral AB, the Interactive Institute Swedish ICT, and the British Museum, describes in the article the technology behind the visualisation. The Geberlein Man, who was mummified by natural processes, and the collaboration with the British Museum constitute the framework for the article, which focusses on the development of the technology used in the visualisation table, which has received a great deal of attention. "It was challenging to obtain sufficiently high performance of the visualisation such that visitors can interact with the table in real-time, without experiencing delays. Further, the interaction must be both intuitive and informative," says Anders Ynnerman. Several thousand images of the mummy taken by computer tomography (CT) are stored in the table. In this case, 10,000 virtual slices through the complete mummy have been imaged, each one as thin as 0.3 mm. Rapid graphics processors can then create volumetric images, 3D images, in real-time to display what the visitors want to look at. The degree of reflection and absorption of the X-rays by the mummy is recorded by the CT scanner and converted with the aid of a specially developed transfer function to different colours and degrees of transparency. Bone, for example, gives a signal that is converted to a light grey colour while soft tissue and metal objects give completely different signals that are represented by other colours or structures. "The table displays 60 images per second, which our brain interprets as continuous motion. Sixty times each second, virtual beams, one for each pixel on the screen, are projected through the dataset and a colour contribution for each is determined. We use the latest type of graphics processor, the type that is used in gaming computers," says Patric Ljung, senior lecturer in immersive visualisation at Linkoping University. This makes it possible for visitors to interact with the table. The desiccated skin of the mummy can be peeled away in the image and only the parts that consist of bone displayed. When this is done, it becomes clear that the Gebelein Man was killed by a stab through the shoulder. The principles that have determined the design of the table are also described in the article. The design arose in close collaboration between the personnel at the museum and Interactive Institute Swedish ICT, working within the framework of Visualization Center C in Norrkoping. The design is minimalist and intuitive. The display table must be rapid, and no delay in the image can be tolerated. It must be able to withstand use by the six million visitors to the museum each year, and much emphasis has been placed on creating brief narrative texts with the aid of information points. Simple and self-explanatory icons have been used, and several favourable viewpoints and parameters have been preprogrammed in order to increase the table's robustness. "Allowing a broader public to visualise scientific phenomena and results makes it possible for them to act as researchers themselves. We allow visitors to investigate the same data that the researchers have used. This creates incredible possibilities for new ways to communicate knowledge, to stimulate interest, and to engage others. It's an awesome experience - watching the next generation of young researchers be inspired by our technology," says Anders Ynnerman. ### Visualization Center C The technical development that has made this possible was carried out at Visualization Center C in Norrkoping. Visualization Center C is a consortium that comprises the Division for Media and Information Technology at Linkoping University and Interactive Institute in Norrkoping. The visualisation table is available to the general public in the viewing area at Visualization Center C, operated by Norrkoping municipality. The article: Interactive Visualization of 3D Scanned Mummies at Public Venues, Anders Ynnerman, Thomas Rydell, Daniel Antoine, David Hughes, Anders Persson and Patric Ljung, Communications of the ACM, December 2016. http://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2016/12/210363-interactive-visualization-of-3d-scanned-mummies-at-public-venues/fulltext DOI 10.1145/2950040 Contact: Professor Anders Ynnerman, anders.ynnerman@liu.se, +46 11 363309. Professor Anders Ynnerman is currently in the USA and can be reached during office hours (mountain time). Researchers have discovered minerals from 43 meteorites that landed on Earth 470 million years ago. More than half of the mineral grains are from meteorites completely unknown or very rare in today's meteorite flow. These findings mean that we will probably need to revise our current understanding of the history and development of the solar system. The discovery confirms the hypothesis presented this summer when geology professor Birger Schmitz at Lund University in Sweden revealed that he had found what he referred to as an "extinct meteorite" - a meteorite dinosaur. The meteorite was given the name Osterplana 065 and was discovered in a quarry outside Lidkoping in Sweden. The term 'extinct' was used because of its unusual composition, different from all known groups of meteorites, and because it originated from a celestial body that was destroyed in ancient times. The discovery led to the hypothesis that the flow of meteorites may have been completely different 470 million years ago compared to today, as meteorites with such a composition no longer fall on Earth. "The new results confirm the hypothesis. Based on 43 micrometeorites, which are as old as Osterplana 065, our new study shows that back then the flow was actually dramatically different. So far we have always assumed that the solar system is stable, and have therefore expected that the same type of meteorites have fallen on Earth throughout the history of the solar system, but we have now realised that this is not the case", says Birger Schmitz. Birger Schmitz conducted the study together with his colleagues at Lund University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The result was unexpected. Birger Schmitz is convinced that something so far unknown but of fundamental importance in the history of the solar system occurred nearly 500 million years ago. He also emphasises that the new study shows that it is possible to make highly detailed reconstructions of the changes that have occurred in the solar system. "We can now recreate late history of not only the Earth but of the entire solar system. The scientific value of this new report is greater than the one last summer", says Birger Schmitz. The method of reconstructing the meteorite flow was developed at the specially established Astrogeobiology Laboratory in Lund. In the search for the mineral grains (chromium oxides) that fell on Earth together with the meteorites, the researchers used different acids to dissolve several tons of sediment from the ancient seabed. The chromium oxides were subsequently analysed to identify their composition and oxygen isotopes. This made it possible to determine from which type of meteorites the grains originated. ### WATCH VIDEO STORY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6I_Xal1S8A Utilizing the most rigorous testing methods to date, researchers from North Carolina State University have isolated additional collagen peptides from an 80-million-year-old Brachylophosaurus. The work lends further support to the idea that organic molecules can persist in specimens tens of millions of years longer than originally believed and has implications for our ability to study the fossil record on the molecular level. Elena Schroeter, NC State postdoctoral researcher, and Mary Schweitzer, professor of biological sciences with a joint appointment at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, wanted to confirm earlier findings of original dinosaur collagen first reported in 2009 from Brachylophosaurus canadensis, a type of hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur, that roamed what is now Montana around 80 million years ago. "Mass spectrometry technology and protein databases have improved since the first findings were published, and we wanted to not only address questions concerning the original findings, but also demonstrate that it is possible to repeatedly obtain informative peptide sequences from ancient fossils," Schroeter says. Collagen is a protein and peptides are the building blocks of proteins. Recovering peptides allows researchers to determine evolutionary relationships between dinosaurs and modern animals, as well as investigate other questions, such as which characteristics of collagen protein allow it to preserve over geological time (or millions of years). "We collected B. canadensis with molecular investigation in mind," Schweitzer says. "We left a full meter of sediment around the fossil, used no glues or preservatives, and only exposed the bone in a clean, or aseptic, environment. The mass spectrometer that we used was cleared of contaminants prior to running the sample as well." The sample material came from the specimen's femur, or thigh bone. Using mass spectrometry, the team recovered eight peptide sequences of collagen I, including two that are identical to those recovered in 2009, and six that are new. The sequences show that the collagen I in B. canadensis has similarities with collagen I in both crocodylians and birds, a result we would expect for a hadrosaur, based on predictions made from previous skeletal studies. "We are confident that the results we obtained are not contamination and that this collagen is original to the specimen," Schroeter says. "Not only did we replicate part of the 2009 results, thanks to improved methods and technology we did it with a smaller sample and over a shorter period of time." "Our purpose here is to build a solid scientific foundation for other scientists to use to ask larger questions of the fossil record," Schweitzer adds. "We've shown that it is possible for these molecules to preserve. Now, we can ask questions that go beyond dinosaur characteristics. For example, other researchers in other disciplines may find that asking why they preserve is important." ### The research appears in the Journal of Proteome Research and was funded by a National Science Foundation INSPIRE grant. Schroeter is first author of the paper. Co-authors Wenxia Zheng from NC State; Tim Cleland from the University of Texas-Austin; Caroline DeHart, Paul Thomas, and Neil Kelleher from Northwestern University; and Marshall Bern of Protein Metrics, also contributed to the work. Note to editors: An abstract of the paper follows. "Expansion of the Brachylophosaurus canadensis collagen I sequence and additional evidence for the preservation of Cretaceous protein" Authors: Elena Schroeter, Mary Schweitzer and Wenxia Zheng, NC State University; Caroline DeHart, Paul Thomas, Neil Kelleher, Northwestern University; Timothy Cleland, University of Texas-Austin; Marshall Bern, Protein Metrics Published: Journal of Proteome Research DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00873 Abstract: Sequence data of biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, which provide critical information for evolutionary studies, have been assumed to be forever outside the reach of dinosaur paleontology. Proteins, which are predicted to have greater longevity than DNA, have been recovered from two non-avian dinosaurs, but these results remain controversial. For proteomic data derived from extinct Mesozoic organisms to reach their greatest potential for investigating questions of phylogeny and paleobiology, it must be shown that peptide sequences can be reliably and reproducibly obtained from ancient fossils, and that fragmentary sequences for ancient proteins can be increasingly expanded. To test the hypothesis that peptides can be repeatedly detected and validated from fossil tissues many millions of years old, we apply updated extraction methodology, high resolution mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics analyses on a Brachylophosaurus canadensis specimen (MOR 2598) from which collagen I peptides were recovered in 2009. We recovered eight peptide sequences of collagen I, two of which are identical to peptides recovered in 2009, and six of which are new. Phylogenetic analyses place the recovered sequences within basal archosauria and when only the new sequences are considered, B. canadensis is grouped more closely to crocodylians, but when all sequences (current and those reported in 2009) are analyzed, B. canadensis is placed more closely to basal birds. The data robustly support the hypothesis of an endogenous origin for these peptides, confirm the idea that peptides can survive in specimens tens of millions of years old, and bolster the validity of the 2009 study. Furthermore, the new data expand the coverage of B. canadensis collagen I (a 33.6% increase in collagen I alpha 1 and 116.7% in alpha 2). Finally, this study demonstrates the importance of reexamining previously studied specimens with updated methods and instrumentation, as we obtained roughly the same amount of sequence data as the previous study with substantially less sample material. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Children with autism may benefit from fecal transplants - a method of introducing donated healthy microbes into people with gastrointestinal disease to rebalance the gut, a new study has found. Behavioral symptoms of autism and gastrointestinal distress often go hand-in-hand, and both improved when a small group of children with the disorder underwent fecal transplant and subsequent treatment. In the study of 18 children with autism and moderate to severe gastrointestinal problems, parents and doctors said they saw positive changes that lasted at least eight weeks after the treatment. Children without autism were included for comparison of bacterial and viral gut composition prior to the study. "Transplants are working for people with other gastrointestinal problems. And, with autism, gastrointestinal symptoms are often severe, so we thought this could be potentially valuable," said Ann Gregory, one of the study's lead authors and a microbiology graduate student at The Ohio State University. "Following treatment, we found a positive change in GI symptoms and neurological symptoms overall," she said. The study, which appears in the journal Microbiome, was conducted while Gregory and her adviser and co-author, Matthew Sullivan, were at the University of Arizona. Other lead researchers on the project are from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. A growing body of research is drawing connections between the bacteria and viruses that inhabit the gut and problems in the brain, and it is possible the two are tied together in an important way in autism, she said. Previous research has established that children with autism typically have fewer types of some important bacteria in their guts and less bacterial diversity overall - a difference that held true in this study. That could be because many of them are prescribed a lot of antibiotics in the first three years of life, the research team wrote in the study. Parents of the children not only reported a decrease in gut woes including diarrhea and stomach pain in the eight weeks following the end of treatment: They also said they saw significant changes for the better when it came to behavioral autism symptoms in their sons and daughters, who ranged from 7 to 16 years old. The researchers collected this information from parents through established, standardized questionnaires to assess social skills, irritability, hyperactivity, communication and other measures. One of those tools showed the average developmental age increased by 1.4 years after treatment. The average score on a scale for ranking gastrointestinal symptoms dropped 82 percent from the beginning to the end of treatment. And when the researchers asked parents to give feedback on 17 autism-related symptoms, they saw overall improvement that was sustained two months after the final treatment. The researchers also asked the children's doctors to complete a diagnostic evaluation before the experimental treatment, at the end of treatment and eight weeks after that. Those results pointed to lasting benefits. Doctor-reported symptoms (from the Childhood Autism Rating Scale) decreased by 22 percent at the end of treatment and 24 percent eight weeks after treatment ended compared with ratings at the start of the study. Researchers also were able to document a rebalancing of the gut following treatment. At the end of the study, the bacterial diversity in the children with autism was indistinguishable from their healthy peers. The study also included a unique viral analysis by Ohio State scientists, made possible because of previous work in the world's oceans. Gregory, who is particularly interested in the interplay between viruses and bacteria, used genetic testing to examine the viral diversity in the guts of the treated children. It rebounded quickly, and became more similar to the donor's microbiome. "Those donor viruses seemed to help," she said. Fecal transplantation is done by processing donor feces and screening it for disease-causing viruses and bacteria before introducing it into another person's gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the researchers used a method called microbiota transfer therapy, which started with the children receiving a two-week course of antibiotics to wipe out much of their existing gut flora. Then, doctors gave them an initial high-dose fecal transplant in liquid form. In the seven to eight weeks that followed, the children drank smoothies blended with a lower-dose powder. There currently exists no approved pharmaceutical treatment for autism. James Adams, one of the study's lead authors and an Arizona State University professor who specializes in autism, called the results compelling, but cautioned that larger, more rigorous studies confirming benefits must be done before the approach could be used widely. Limitations of this study include its small size. The children and their parents also knew they were receiving the experimental treatment (neither the researchers nor the subjects were blinded to that) and the researchers relied heavily on parents' observations, both of which open the door for false perceived benefits. "We have to be mindful of the placebo effect and we have to take it with a grain of salt," said Sullivan, an associate professor of microbiology at Ohio State. "But it does give us hope." The research team is seeking additional funding for a larger clinical trial. Scientists are trying to work out the cellular-level details of why patients who undergo fecal transplants for various conditions, such as C. diff infection, see improvement, Gregory said. "Doctors know it works, just not how," she said. And they're interested in uncovering the precise types of bacteria and viruses that make a difference - those types of discoveries could lead to lab-engineered treatments tailored to specific diseases, Sullivan said. Sullivan said the team originally planned to study the use of probiotics in autism, but shifted gears when fecal transplantation began to show benefits for those with other conditions. The research team cautioned that families should not try to replicate the experimental treatment on their own, as it could harm children if done improperly. ### Other Ohio State researchers who worked on the study are Lauren Chittick and Simon Roux. Gregory's co-lead authors were Dae-Wook Kang, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown and James Adams of Arizona State University, and Greg Caporaso from Northern Arizona University. Support from the study came from the Arizona Board of Regents, the Autism Research Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. CONTACTS: Ann Gregory, Gregory.392@osu.edu Matthew Sullivan, 614-247-1616; Sullivan.948@osu.edu Written by Misti Crane, 614-292-5220; Crane.11@osu.edu Be it the Mima mounds of Washington state or the famous "fairy circles" of Namibia in southwestern Africa, people are captivated by the regular patterns of plant growth that blanket desert and grassland landscapes, often with mesmerizing consistency. Scientists have long debated how these phenomena originate and persist. Now, a new theory suggests that instead of a single overarching cause, large-scale vegetation patterns in arid ecosystems could occasionally stem from millions of local interactions among neighboring plants and animals, according to a Princeton University-led study published Jan. 19 in the journal Nature. Like Russian nesting dolls, small-scale patterns formed by plants in response to water scarcity lie within a larger polka-dot formation created by the nests of social insects such as termites and ants. The nests in turn appear as circular clusters of vegetation or as gaps of bare soil, depending on how the insects affect plant growth. Satellite images from four continents showed that insect nests are often remarkably evenly spaced, with each nest having an average of six neighbors. The researchers used mathematical models and computer simulations to show that territorial aggression between adjacent colonies can produce this arrangement, which leads to a large-scale hexagonal, or honeycomb, distribution of the nests. Individual colonies spread outward until they encounter and fight with their neighbors, occasionally killing off smaller colonies. Over time, this leads to a mosaic of six-sided territories. Each of the six sides represents the frontline between a colony and its enemies next door. Lead author Corina Tarnita, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton, explained that the pattern arises when termite colonies are roughly equal in size and the landscape is homogeneous. "Many social insects tend to be territorial and colonies often fight to death," Tarnita said. "When any incipient mound appears in an existing territory, the established termites eventually find it and destroy it. Over time, large colonies obliterate the smaller ones. But large colonies end up coexisting in a perpetual border war with neither gaining any ground." The honeycomb formations provide the optimal partitioning of space among the different colonies, Tarnita said. "Eventually you end up with colonies of very similar sizes that are as far from each other as possible, while at the same time not leaving any space unoccupied." Tarnita explained that many patterns throughout the world -- from fish territories to the spatial arrangement of bird nests -- likely result from territorial aggression. "Often these patterns are hard to see. What makes social insects and other burrowing animals unique is that their nests create a visible clue of where their territories are," Tarnita said. "One of our goals in this work was to understand how vegetation patterns can form from territorial competition for resources between social insect colonies, but the model could apply very broadly to characterize spatial patterns in other territorial animals," she said. 'Fairy circles' and another part of the pattern story Large-scale vegetation patterns, however, are not always the whole story. A different biological process predominates in the spaces between insect nests. There, plants organize themselves according to a principle known as "scale-dependent feedback." The researchers tested this framework on Namibian fairy circles -- round patches of desert sand, 2 to 35 meters (6.5 to 114 feet) in diameter, surrounded by rings of tall grass. Named for the folk belief in their supernatural origin, fairy circles have become the unlikely focus of scientific controversy after 2013 research suggested that termites create the bare patches by attacking plants. That paper unleashed a string of publications countering that the circles instead arose from the plants' self-organization. The Nature study shows that these two mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, and that both may be operating in Namibia's deserts. The researchers adapted their models to include the effect of termites removing plants to create the bare discs. This action increases the moisture content of the soil within the circles, enabling surrounding plants to thrive and producing the characteristic tall rings of grass. Meanwhile, the landscape-wide hexagonal layout of circles and grass rings emerges from the repulsive force of territorial warfare between neighboring termite colonies. In harsh environmental conditions, plants often benefit their immediate neighbors by providing a modicum of shade and concentrating soil moisture in the root zone, leading to the formation of small clumps of vegetation. When these clumps become too big, competition for water outweighs the benefits of neighborly association, which leads to patches of bare soil adjacent to each plant cluster. The net result of this process is a pattern of evenly spaced patches of plant growth within a matrix of bare soil. It's a mirror image of the insect-nest pattern, but at the scale of centimeters instead of meters and arising from a different biological mechanism. The researchers show that the combination of these two distinct processes --insect competition and plant scale-dependent feedbacks -- generates a more realistic description of desert vegetation than either process can achieve independently. Previous studies of the fairy circles, for instance, had not reported on the vegetation in between the circles. However, the researchers' new data from Namibia show, as their theoretical models predicted, that small regularly spaced clusters of plants do occur there. The mechanics of nature Co-author Robert Pringle, a Princeton assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, said that the study seeks to uncover the basic mechanics of natural interactions to help scientists understand "how nature works and how it puts itself together." Such mechanistic knowledge is important for attempts to rehabilitate natural systems damaged by climate change and habitat destruction, he said. Pringle and Tarnita explored the global prevalence of such spatial self-organization in another paper published in the Annual Review of Entomology in January. "The models in our paper are based on fundamental interactions that occur between neighboring organisms, and those are ubiquitous," Pringle said. "This kind of regular patterning is widespread, and although it's not always easy to see, it makes a huge difference in how ecosystems function and how they respond to environmental change. "Our goal throughout this work has been to contribute to a coherent understanding of regular patterns as a set of phenomena that crop up at many different levels in all kinds of systems, both biological and non-living," Pringle said. "Fairy circles beautifully exemplify the broader category of patterns that we're interested in." Max Rietkerk, a professor of environmental sciences at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, said that the authors' theory of spatial patterning is unique for combining behavioral and ecological factors. "To me, what is new is the alternative explanation of the fairy rings demonstrated by the termite model, plus the combined explanation of the multi-scale patterns by a coupled termite-vegetation model," he said. "This is significant not only for understanding the patterning of the Namib Desert, but potentially other systems and fields as well because of the combination of social-behavioral and physical-ecological aspects." Theoretical harmony The Nature paper unifies existing theories of natural pattern formation that had been regarded as competing rather than complementary, said co-lead author Juan Bonachela, a former Princeton postdoctoral researcher now an assistant professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. "There have long been two leading theories about how these regular patterns, and especially fairy circles, are formed, and those theories have traditionally been presented as mutually exclusive," Bonachela said. "Our findings harmonize both theories and add to the set of possible explanations for regular vegetation patterns observed around the globe," he said. Bonachela also noted that the new work provides insight into how environments respond to disturbances. "This behavior affects the whole ecosystem, allowing it to survive harsher conditions and recover from droughts much more quickly than if there were no termites." The same team of researchers reported in the journal Science in 2015 that termite mounds can stave off desertification in arid savannas and grasslands. The mounds store moisture and nutrients, and the termites' intricate tunnels allow water to better penetrate soil. Salvatore Torquato, a Princeton professor of chemistry and the Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, said that the vegetative patterns the researchers examined seem to have an "exotic" complexity known as "hyperuniformity" found in numerous systems. First identified in a 2003 paper by Torquato and colleagues, hyperuniformity refers to a large-scale structure that arises from the long-range interactions of its elements. "Remarkably, the vegetation patterns are reminiscent of some exotic structures that arise in atomic systems, jammed granular media, and the photoreceptor cells in the retina," said Torquato, who is familiar with the research but had no role in it." In this case, the long-range interactions would seem to arise from the competition and other interactions between different entities -- animals, plants, etc. -- in the ecosystem. "I think this work is very insightful and groundbreaking, and it opens the door to better understand the way that multiple mechanisms interact across scales to produce complex ecosystem structures," Torquato continued. "This paper presents many exciting and fascinating avenues for future research." ### Co-authors on the paper also included Efrat Sheffer, a former Princeton postdoctoral research associate who is now a senior investigator and lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jennifer Guyton and Tyler Coverdale, both Princeton doctoral students; and Ryan Long, a former Princeton postdoctoral associate who is now an assistant professor in the University of Idaho's Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences. Field data was collected at the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and the NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia. The paper, "A theoretical foundation for multi-scale regular vegetation patterns," was published Jan. 19 by Nature. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation (grant no. DEB-1355122), the Princeton Environmental Institute's Grand Challenges Program, the Scottish Funding Council's Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) (grant no. HR09011), and the DigitalGlobe Foundation. LAS VEGAS (Jan. 23, 2017) In a study to be presented Saturday, Jan. 28, in the oral concurrent session at 8:45 a.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicines annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; IBEX, Logan, Utah; and Laser Tissue Welding Inc., Houston, Texas collaborated on a study titled, Evaluation of the effects of laser tissue welding on the spinal cord and skin in a 30 day study of simulated spina bifida repair in rabbits. Spina Bifia is a birth defect where there is incomplete closure of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord. It affects more than 4,000 children born each year in the U.S. and is associated with hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of fluid on the brain), developmental delay, lifelong disability and death. This preliminary study hoped to determine the effects of laser tissue welding on underlying skin and spinal cord tissue. The researchers were interested to see if applying laser energy to coagulate a special albumin compound would damage the underlying skin and/or spinal cord tissue. The researchers plan to use this substance for sealing incision lines in fetal surgical spina bifida repair procedures. One of the most crucial aspects of a fetal repair is a watertight seal once the repair is complete. Laser tissue welding is a promising technology that may allow a temporary seal over healing wounds that allows enough time for the regeneration of the skin underneath the albumin layer, explained Michael Belfort, M.D., chairman and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine, obstetrician/gynecologist-in-chief of Texas Childrens Pavilion for Women and one of the researchers for the presentation at the SMFM annual meeting. By sealing off the incision line with a natural substance that disintegrates over time, we feel that the suture line may heal without developing any leaks which would compromise the repair. The first step in this experimental process examined whether the heat from the laser (required to activate the liquid albumin and turn it into a solid) would damage the skin or spinal tissue under the skin. Researchers chose a rabbit model because it is an accepted and cost efficient animal model and there was no need to test this in a fetal model until further research is conducted. This is just the first step, added Belfort. Now that we know that the laser energy is unlikely to damage spinal cord tissue we have planned a fetal sheep experiment. We are trying to get funding for this next step. ### A copy of the abstract is available at http://www.smfmnewsroom.org and below. For interviews please contact Vicki Bendure at Vicki@bendurepr.com 202-374-9259 (cell). About the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (est. 1977) is the premiere membership organization for obstetricians/gynecologists who have additional formal education and training in maternal-fetal medicine. The society is devoted to reducing high-risk pregnancy complications by sharing expertise through continuing education to its 2,000 members on the latest pregnancy assessment and treatment methods. It also serves as an advocate for improving public policy, and expanding research funding and opportunities for maternal-fetal medicine. The group hosts an annual meeting in which groundbreaking new ideas and research in the area of maternal-fetal medicine are shared and discussed. For more information visit www.smfm.org. Abstract 83 Evaluation of the effects of laser tissue welding on the spinal cord and skin in a 30 day study of simulated spina bifida repair in rabbits Michael Belfort , Zhoobin Bateni , Dana M. Haydel , Michael Larson , Yasmin Wadia , Alireza A. Shamshirsaz , William Whitehead Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, IBEX, Logan, UT, Laser Tissue Welding Inc, Houston, TX OBJECTIVE: Persistent CSF leak after fetal myelomeningocele repair prevents reversal of hindbrain herniation increasing risk for hydrocephalus. Small skin tears that occur during suturing are difficult to avoid or repair. A reliable, safe method of sealing the skin would be a welcome adjunct to sutures. Laser Tissue Welding (LTW) seals bleeding tissue and stops hemorrhage (Wadia et al 2001). It consists of indocyanine-green tagged human albumin, denatured by 810nm laser light to create a temporary, impermeable layer under which epithelialization can occur. We tested whether LTW causes damage when applied directly over exposed spinal cord and skin in a surgically created spina bifida model. STUDY DESIGN: 19 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned (9 controls and 10 LTW). Under general anesthesia, via a L2-L5 laminectomy, the dura mater was opened (1cm) to expose the spinal cord and confirm CSF leakage. Controls: para-spinal muscles approximated (interrupted vertical mattress sutures) and subcutaneous tissue/skin closed (interrupted horizontal mattress sutures). LTW group: a 3-4 mm layer LTW solder placed over exposed spinal cord and then activated with laser. The wound was then closed as with controls and 3-4 mm layer LTW solder activated over the skin suture line. All animals were observed for neurological function/CSF leaks postoperatively and then randomly euthanized at 2, 15 or 30 days. The spinal column with overlying skin was fixed in formalin and examined by a dermatopathologist blinded to treatment. RESULTS: There was no clinical CSF leak in either group. Histology showed thermal damage to epidermis in day 2 skin samples in the LTW group with preservation of the deeper regenerative layers. Epidermal regeneration/reepithelialization was seen at day 15 and more so at day 30. There was an accompanying fibroblast tissue reaction within the dermis progressing from granulation tissue (day 2) to scar (day 30). There was no thermal damage seen on/over the spinal cord and there was no cord tethering/distortion. (Figure) CONCLUSION: The LTW process created a second degree burn on the skin that healed well. LTW does not appear to damage spinal cord or neural tissue. Fetal sheep studies are planned to test whether LTW can be used to seal the suture line in fetoscopic fetal meningomyelocele repair. In a study to be presented Thursday, Jan. 26, in the oral concurrent session at 1:15 p.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers with the Universite de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada will present their findings in a study titled, Reduction of total labor length through the addition of parenteral dextrose solution in induction of labor in nulliparous: results of DEXTRONS prospective randomized controlled trial. The study investigated the use of glucose to shorten induced labor in nulliparous (first time giving birth). The primary outcome studied was the total length of active labor. Prolonged labor can be harmful to maternal and fetal health. Few medical interventions are known to shorten labor duration. Because muscle performance is known to be improved by glucose supplementation, the researchers tested whether adding glucose to the intravenous hydration solution women receive during labor could accelerate labor. Two hundred pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either a standard hydration solution containing salt and water or a solution containing glucose, salt and water. Josianne Pare, M.D., with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Sherbrooke and the presenter of the research at the SMFM annual meeting, explained, "We found that the median duration of labor was 76 minutes shorter in the group of women receiving glucose. There was no difference in the mode of delivery (cesarean section, forceps, etc.), or the neonatal well-being measures." Pare continued, "Glucose supplementation therefore significantly reduces the total length of labor without increasing the rate of complication. This is great news for women experiencing induced labor." The researchers concluded that, given the low-cost and safety of this intervention, glucose should be the solute of choice during labor. ### A copy of the abstract is available at http://www.smfmnewsroom.org and below. For interviews please contact Vicki Bendure at Vicki@bendurepr.com 202-374-9259 (cell). About the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (est. 1977) is the premiere membership organization for obstetricians/gynecologists who have additional formal education and training in maternal-fetal medicine. The society is devoted to reducing high-risk pregnancy complications by sharing expertise through continuing education to its 2,000 members on the latest pregnancy assessment and treatment methods. It also serves as an advocate for improving public policy, and expanding research funding and opportunities for maternal-fetal medicine. The group hosts an annual meeting in which groundbreaking new ideas and research in the area of maternal-fetal medicine are shared and discussed. For more information visit http://www.smfm.org. Abstract #32 Reduction of total labor length through the addition of parenteral dextrose solution in induction of labor in nulliparous: Results of DEXTRONS propective randomized controlled trial Josianne Pare, Jean-Charles Pasquier, Antoine Lewin, William Fraser, Yves-Andre Bureau Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada OBJECTIVE: Prolonged labour is a significant cause of maternal et foetal morbidity. Optimal uterine muscle function is critical to efficient active second stage of labour. The physiology of squelettal muscle suggests that glucose supplementation might improve muscle performance. The goal of our study was to provide reliable evidence as to whether IV glucose supplementation during labour induction in nulliparous women can reduce total duration of active labour. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective triple-blinded randomized-controlled trial investigating the use of parental IV of dextrose 5% with normal saline versus normal saline in 190 induced nulliparous women. Inclusion criteria were monofoetal pregnancy at term with cephalic presentation and favourable cervix. After informed consent, patients were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mL/hour of IV dextrose 5% with normal saline or 250 mL/hour of normal saline for the whole duration of induction, labour and delivery. The primary outcome studied was the total length of active labour. Secondary outcomes include duration of second active stage of labour, mode of delivery and newborn APGAR score. RESULTS: The duration of first and second stage of labour were significantly reduced in the dextrose group (441 versus 505 minutes, p 0.045). The proportion of patients delivered at 200 minutes was 19% in the dextrose group versus 8% in the normal saline group. The proportion of patients delivered at 450 minutes was 75% in the dextrose group versus 61% in the normal saline group. There were no difference in the rate of cesarean section and APGAR score. CONCLUSION: Glucose supplementation significantly reduces the length of the first and second stages of labour without increasing the rate of complication in induced, nulliparous women. Given the lowcost and the safety of this intervention, glucose should be used as the default solute during labour. 33 Randomized control trial of IV acetaminophen LAS VEGAS (Jan. 23, 2017)--In a study to be presented Friday, Jan. 27, in the oral concurrent session at 1:15 p.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers with the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Houston, Texas partnered with the Maternal-Fetal Unit, CEDIFETAL, Centro de Diagnostico de Ultrasonido e Imagenes, CEDIUL, Barranquilla, Columbia and the Unidad De Fertildad Y Genetica De Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Columbia, to create the study, Characterization of brain malformations and volume assessment in fetuses with Zika Virus infection using MRI. Researchers assessed fetal brain findings and volumetric composition with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of confirmed Zika virus infected fetuses from the recent outbreak in Barranquilla, Columbia. The fetuses were screened throughout gestation, finding brian anomalies at 29 weeks gestation. "Up until our study, there have not been any reports focused on detailed brain imaging from the Zika outbreak in Colombia," stated Magdalena Sanz-Cortes, M.D., Ph.D. with Baylor College of Medicine's department of obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women and presenter of the study at the SMFM annual meeting. The researchers found a reduction in brain tissue and increased amount of fluid that was most pronounced in the upper brain. "Microcephaly does not happen in all Zika cases," Sanz-Cortes explained, referring to the small head size that has been characterized as a Zika symptom. The findings were similar to the findings of infected babies in Brazil. "This research has filled a gap of knowledge for us," Sanz-Cortes continued, "these results support the recent notion that we should not rely on microcephaly to determine if a fetus or newborn has contracted the Zika Virus." ### A copy of the abstract is available at http://www.smfmnewsroom.org and below. For interviews please contact Vicki Bendure at Vicki@bendurepr.com 202-374-9259 (cell). About the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (est. 1977) is the premiere membership organization for obstetricians/gynecologists who have additional formal education and training in maternal-fetal medicine. The society is devoted to reducing high-risk pregnancy complications by sharing expertise through continuing education to its 2,000 members on the latest pregnancy assessment and treatment methods. It also serves as an advocate for improving public policy, and expanding research funding and opportunities for maternal-fetal medicine. The group hosts an annual meeting in which groundbreaking new ideas and research in the area of maternal-fetal medicine are shared and discussed. For more information visit http://www.smfm.org. Abstract 73 Characterization of brain malformations and volume assessment in fetuses with zika virus infection using MRI Magdalena Sanz-Cortes , Alexander J. Zarutskie , Mayel Yepez , Anna Maria Rivera , Isreal Diaz Yunes, Arun Mahadev , Anil Shetty , Wesley Lee , Michael Belfort , Kjersti Aagaard , Guido Parra , Miguel Parra Saavedra Baylor College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Houston, TX, Maternal-Fetal Unit, CEDIFETAL, Centro de Diagnostico de Ultrasonido e Imagenes, CEDIUL, Barranquilla, Colombia, Unidad De Fertilidad Y Genetica De Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia OBJECTIVE: To assess fetal brain findings and volumetric composition with MRI in a prospective cohort of confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) infected fetuses from the current outbreak in Barranquilla, Colombia. STUDY DESIGN: Between December 2015 and July 2016, 214 pregnant patients with suspected symptomatic ZIKV exposure (and their sexual partner/s) were included. Cases with fetal brain anomalies on ultrasound(US) and confirmed ZIKV (by qRT-PCR) underwent a fetal MRI (1.5 T Phillips Ingenia). In order to create a single 3D volume absent of artifact from inherent motion and intensity corruption, a super-resolution (SR) reconstruction was obtained by coregistering the 3 orthogonal T2 weighted image stacks and iteratively performing voxel-based intensity matching. SR images were postprocessed for volumetric analyses by performing manual segmentation. Total Brain Volume (TBV), supratentorial brain parenchyma (SBP), ventricular volume (VV), brainstem volume (BV), cerebellar volume (CV), and total intracranial volume (TICV) (TBV + volume of CSF in the subarachnoid space) were determined. RESULTS: A total of 13 cases presented with abnormal brain US findings (microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, callosal dysgenesis, calci- fications and cortical anomalies). Seven of those cases that were ZIKV positive underwent a fetal MRI (29.0+4.4 weeks), and were gestational age matched to 7 healthy controls (CTRLS) (29.87+4.61 weeks; p=0.72). ZIKV infected fetuses significantly differed from controls in TBV (ZIKV: 9422.42+2169.11 vs. CTRLS: 20529.7+7049.95; p<0.01) and TICV (16390.42+3690.41 vs. 35593.42+12281.71; p<0.01). No significant difference was seen in VV (2692.85+540.92 vs. 2967.14+759.74; p=0.45), BV (653.01+211.51 vs. 990.22+369.31; p=0.06) or CV (914.31+414.57 vs. 1416.14+565.85; p=0.08). The CSF/SBP ratio was higher (1.36+0.20 vs. 0.99+0.16; p<0.01) in Zika affected fetuses suggesting microencephaly. CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of ZIKV infected gravidae, we characterized brain findings using MRI. Microcephaly, callosal dysgenesis, ventriculomegaly and calcifications are common anomalies associated with fetal ZIKV. We observed a significant association between decreased brain volumes (predominantly evidenced by decreased SBP and increased CSF in the subarachnoid space) and ultrasound detected microcephaly. Based on inheritance patterns across women of different racial and ethnic populations, in order to further determine risk of preterm birth In a study to be presented Thursday, Jan. 26, in the oral concurrent session at 1:15 p.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers verified genetic results from one large study of women with spontaneous preterm birth, and highlighted 13 key genes in both mothers and babies which may be involved in preterm birth while also identifying 123 genes as top candidates for further study. Tracy Manuck, M.D., associate professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine and medical director of the University of North Carolina Prematurity Prevention Clinic at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, is the lead researcher and presenter of the study titled Use of evolutionary triangulation to refine genetic association studies of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). Manuck has been working to understand which genes influence why some women deliver preterm but others do not. Nearly half a million babies are born too soon each year in the U.S. Preterm birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), is the leading cause of newborn death and babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifetime health challenges such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and others. Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants. It is a serious health problem that costs the U.S. more than $26 billion annually. "Although many genetic studies of preterm birth have been conducted, results have been inconsistent across populations," said Manuck. She hopes to use a new method for filtering results from genetic studies, based on inheritance patterns across women of different ancestry, in order to fine-tune results from other genetic studies of preterm birth. This technique, termed "evolutionary triangulation," relies on the fact that the rates of preterm birth vary significantly by race. In the United States, black women are almost twice as likely to deliver preterm as white women. In addition to highlighting 13 key genes in mothers and babies which may be involved in preterm birth, Dr. Manuck and colleagues also examined 640 genes from an online preterm birth genetic database and, using the evolutionary triangulation technique, highlighted 123 additional genes as top candidates for further study. "These results have great potential implications for future studies to identify women at highest risk for spontaneous preterm birth," Manuck stated. "Evolutionary triangulation is an exciting new way of thinking about genetic data, and one day may be applied to other disorders of pregnancy disproportionately affecting different populations of women." ### A copy of the abstract is available at http://www.smfmnewsroom.org and below. For interviews please contact Vicki Bendure at Vicki@bendurepr.com 202-374-9259 (cell). About the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (est. 1977) is the premiere membership organization for obstetricians/gynecologists who have additional formal education and training in maternal-fetal medicine. The society is devoted to reducing high-risk pregnancy complications by sharing expertise through continuing education to its 2,000 members on the latest pregnancy assessment and treatment methods. It also serves as an advocate for improving public policy, and expanding research funding and opportunities for maternal-fetal medicine. The group hosts an annual meeting in which groundbreaking new ideas and research in the area of maternal-fetal medicine are shared and discussed. For more information visit http://www.smfm.org. Abstract #11 Use of evolutionary triangulation to refine genetic association studies of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) Tracy A. Manuck1, Minjun Huang2, Louis Muglia3, Scott M. Williams4 1University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 2Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 3Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 4Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH Objective: Genetic association studies of SPTB have generally yielded inconsistent results. SPTB rates in the US are lowest in European-Americans compared to other groups including Hispanics, American Indians, and African-Americans. We hypothesized that genes identified by Evolutionary Triangulation (ET), a novel analytic technique exploiting evolutionary differentiation by comparing population structure among 3 populations with variable patterns of disease prevalence, could refine results from previous SPTB gene association studies. Study Design: We tested 2 SPTB gene lists: (1) Top maternal and fetal genes corresponding to top 20 maternal and fetal SNPs from GWAS of 1,025 SPTB cases < 34 wks and 1,015 term controls (Zhang, et al., 2015) (2) 640 genes on online dbPTB site. To generate the ET gene list, SNP allele frequency data were first obtained from CEU (Utah residents with Western and Northern European ancestry from the CEPH collection), GIH (Gujarati Indians in Houston, TX)/MEX (Mexican ancestry in Los Angeles, CA), and YRI (Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria)/ASW (African ancestry in Southwest USA) populations from HapMap. Next, we calculated Wright's FST, a metric assessing population genetic differences by pairwise allele comparisons. ET SNPs were selected according to the overlaps of high and low FST with CEU as the outlier population across several degrees of differentiation. Genes 100 Kb of each ET SNP were considered ET genes and were compared to SPTB genes from List 1 and List 2. Results: ET identified 5/17 maternal and 8/16 fetal genes from Zhang (Table), several of which are expressed in the uterus (maternal) or placenta (fetal). Of 640 dbPTB genes, 79 were identified by CEU_GIH_YRI ET, and 57 were identified by the CEU_ASW_MEX ET gene list. In total, ET identified 123 unique genes of the 640 dbPTB genes (19.2%). Conclusion: Applying ET analysis to SPTB provided independent support for multiple genes previously associated in GWAS and candidate gene studies, and presents an alternative filtering metric for genetic analyses based on evolutionary history. Genes identified in prior SPTB association studies confirmed by ET should be prioritized for further genetic prematurity research. Table. Genes from List 1 identified by ET. *gene expressed in uterus #gene expressed in placenta. LAS VEGAS, JAN. 23, 2017 - A team of researchers that has confirmed the presence of bacteria in a woman's vagina and cervix may either increase the risk of premature birth or have a protective effect against it, has won the March of Dimes Award for Best Abstract on Prematurity at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting. The findings will be presented Thursday, January 26, at 1:15 p.m. PST at Caesars Palace Augustus Ballroom in Las Vegas. Michal Elovitz, M.D., and colleagues at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland studied 2,000 pregnant women, taking vaginal swabs at three distinct time points in pregnancy, and performed analyses on the specimens to determine the microbial colonies that were present. They found that the presence of many bacteria actually conferred a lower risk of spontaneous preterm birth while other bacteria were associated with a significant increased risk. The bacteria associated with spontaneous preterm birth, in conferring either protection or risk, were different between African-American and non-African-American women. Premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) is the #1 killer of babies in the United States and the leading cause of death in children under age 5 around the world. Babies who survive an early birth often face serious and lifelong health problems, including breathing problems, jaundice, vision loss, cerebral palsy and intellectual delays. In addition to the human toll, preterm birth accounts for more than $26 billion annually in avoidable medical and societal costs, according to the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Elovitz, who is professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania, vice chair of Translational Research and Director of the Maternal and Child Health Research Center at PENN, says doctors have been frustrated by the lack of treatments that reliably prevent premature birth. Furthermore, she says, clinicians currently have no good screening test to determine which women are at highest risk for preterm birth. In the quest for a new approach to the problem of prematurity, she began to engage with leading researchers in other fields such as bioengineering, immunology, pharmacology and microbiology. "Although conventional wisdom says premature birth begins in the uterus, we decided to take an entirely new look at the problem," she says. Dr. Elovitz and her colleagues decided to investigate whether the initiation of preterm birth might begin in the cervicovaginal space, specifically leading to early changes in the cervix. "We started with the hypothesis that there is some difference in the molecular, biological, biochemical and/or microbial events in cervicovaginal space in women who ultimately have a premature birth compared to women who ultimately have a full term baby," she says. Dr. Elovitz has been able to pursue this line of research as a co-investigator for the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania as well as through her National Institutes of Health funded studies. In a study titled "Motherhood and the Microbiome," funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, Dr. Elovitz and her team were able to target one part of this hypothesis by studying the cervicovaginal microbial communities in a large prospective cohort of pregnant women. "We are very excited to report that we did find significant differences in the microbial communities early in pregnancy in women who ultimately have a preterm birth compared to a term birth," she says. "Different bacterial species were associated with quite a dramatic increased risk of premature birth. If our study is confirmed, it could mean that targeting CV bacteria may be a new therapy to prevent premature birth in the immediate future, not decades from now." Edward R.B. McCabe, MD, PhD, senior vice president and chief medical officer of the March of Dimes, agreed. "From these data, we may learn how to prevent preterm birth either by eliminating the CV bacteria that are associated with an increased risk and/or by enhancing the presence of protective bacteria. This is a promising new area that should become a research priority," he says. The team receiving the March of Dimes award includes Michal Elovitz, Pawel Gajer, Katheryne Downes and Jacques Ravel. ### The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Abstract 10 Distinct microbiota in the cervicovaginal space are associated with spontaneous preterm birth: findings from a large cohort and validation study Michal Elovitz , Pawel Gajer , Katheryne Downes , Jacques Ravel University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD OBJECTIVE: Changes in microbial communities have been implicated in both health and disease. Investigations into the association between the cervicovaginal (CV) microbiota and spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) have been limited in scope and number. This study sought to assess if longitudinal cohort of pregnant women and then to perform validation in a 2nd prospective cohort. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort of singleton pregnancies were enrolled ("M&M", n=1500). Biospecimens were collected at 3 time points in pregnancy (16-20 (V1), 20-24 (V2), 24-28 (V3) weeks). All cases of PTB were adjudicated by the PI. From the larger cohort, a nested case-control was performed with 80 SPTB cases and 320 term controls that were frequency matched by race to the cases. 16S rRNA gene analyses were performed to characterize the composition and structure of the CV microbiota. The effect of bacteria was quantified as the log ratio between the mean relative abundance at SPTB samples vs. TERM delivery samples. The log ratios were estimated using zero-inflated negative binomial models. A second cohort of woman ("STOP") with specimens collected between 22-32 weeks was used as validation (N=616). RESULTS: When performing phylotype analyses, 127 phylotypes were detected in all samples from both cohorts. Significant associations were demonstrated between specific bacteria, in both a positive and negative manner, with SPTB. 37 bacteria were significantly associated with a decreased risk of SPTB while 13 were associated with an increased risk in the primary cohort. Racial differences in these associations were evident (figure 1). The validation cohort confirmed the highly significant associations between specific microbes and SPTB. Bifidobacterium species were noted to be significantly protective against SPTB at all gestational time points while BVAB2, BVAB3 and Mobiluncus were associated with a dramatic increase risk of SPTB (all q-values <0.0001). CONCLUSION: CV microbiota are significantly associated with SPTB. Targeting the bacteria that are associated with an increased risk of SPTB and/or enhancing the presence of the protective bacteria may serve as new therapies to reduce the rate of PTB. With this new evidence, these types of studies should become a research priority. PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Jan. 23, 2017 -- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has received a $175,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation to study how to prevent cancer patients from dying due to lost weight and muscle mass. Known as cachexia, or wasting syndrome, this condition is characterized not only by a loss of weight, but also by muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite. Cachexia (pronounced: kuh-kek'-see-uh) is responsible for more than 30 percent of deaths from cancer. "What can we do to reverse the cachexia seen in cancer patients?" asks Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, TGen Distinguished Professor and Physician-In-Chief, who is considered one of the world's leading authorities on development of new ways to treat cancer, and pancreatic cancer in particular, and the principal investigator of the study. Dr. Von Hoff -- who also is a Senior Consultant-Clinical Investigations for City of Hope, Chief Scientific Officer for the HonorHealth Research Institute and Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic -- proposes that cachexia is associated with a cancer-caused conversion of white fat (stored fat) into brown fat (energy-burning fat). "If we can stop the conversion of the white fat into brown fat, we should be able to reverse cachexia, and stop the weight loss, muscle weakness, anemia and loss of appetite, and hopefully help people feel more like living," said Dr. Von Hoff, who currently leads an international Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team, developing new treatments for this disease. More than 80 percent of patients with pancreatic cancer develop cachexia. "Cachexia eventually leads to a situation in which the patients just don't want to live anymore," said Dr. Haiyong Han, Associate Professor of TGen's Clinical Translational Research Division, and the co-investigator of the Hearst-funded study. "If we find a basic way to control cachexia, we have the ability to get it into a clinical trial and immediately begin to help patients." The TGen study proposes three potential methods of reversing cachexia, involving: febuxostat, an agent used to lower uric acid in patients with gout; nonselective beta-blockers, such as propranolol, used to treat high blood pressure; and the innovative transplantation of fat-related bacteria from the gut microbiome. If initial laboratory tests are positive for any of these investigations, the TGen team will move swiftly to recruit as many as 70 patients into clinical trials. Dr. Von Hoff's team at TGen and their collaborators have initiated three regimens of treatments in recent years that have improved the survival of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Most recently, these advances in therapies have resulted in improved 1, 2, 3 and 4-plus-year survival for patients with advanced late-stage pancreatic cancer. ### About TGen Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, and diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help our patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is allied with City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and cancer and diabetes treatment center. This precision medicine alliance enables both institutes to complement each other in research and patient care, with City of Hope providing a significant clinical setting to advance scientific discoveries made by TGen. For more information, visit: http://www.tgen.org. Follow TGen on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen. Media Contact: Steve Yozwiak TGen Senior Science Writer 602-343-8704 syozwiak@tgen.org About the Hearst Foundations The Hearst Foundations support nonprofit organizations working in culture, education, health, and social service in the United States. The charitable goals of the foundations reflect the philanthropic interests of William Randolph Hearst, with a focus on ensuring that people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives. Please visit the foundations' website http://www.hearstfdn.org for more information. The William Randolph Hearst Foundation and The Hearst Foundation Inc. are independent private philanthropies operating separately from the Hearst Corporation. A team of researchers, affiliated with UNIST has recently announced that they have successfully developed a new way to increase energy efficiency of metal-air batteries which are next-generation energy devices by using a conducting polymer. This breakthrough research, led by Professor Hyun-Kon Song and Professor Guntae Kim of Energy and Chemical Engineering is appeared in the January issue of Energy & Environmental Science (EES), a world renowned academic journal in the field of energy. In the cathode of metal-air batteries or fuel cells, oxygen is reduced to metal oxide or water. At this time, catalysts are required to accelerate the reaction. As the well known catalyst, platinum has remaining economical issue to commercialize the metal-air betteries or fuel cell due to its high price. In the study, they reported that catalytic activity of provskite which can be substitute to platinum was dramatically enhanced by simply adding a kind of conducting polymer, polypyrrole and its principle. When the perovskite or polypyrrole are used alone, their activities can not be reached to that of platinum. However, as a result of physically mixing perovksite with polypyrrole, the activity was dramatically enhanced and it was reached to that of platinum. This is first synergistic effect in oxygen electrocatalysis even though there was any chemical interaction between pervskite and polypyrrole. "The reaction which oxygen receive electron is oxygen reduction. The property of polypyrrole which is sensitive to oxygen contribute to accelerate this reaction," says Professor Song. "Because the oxide-polypyrrole complex is made by simple operation, the catalyst will be proper to apply next-generation energy devices," says Dong-Gyu Lee, the first author of the research. The results of this study has been supported by KEIT, KETEP, BK21Plus and MSIP. ### Journal Reference Dong-Gyu Lee, et al., "Polypyrrole-assisted oxygen electrocatalysis on perovskite oxides", EES, (2016). Using the largest set of radiocarbon dates ever obtained from a single Maya site, archaeologists have developed a high-precision chronology that sheds new light on patterns leading up to the two major collapses of the ancient civilization. Archaeologists have long puzzled over what caused what is known as the Classic Maya collapse in the ninth century A.D., when many of the ancient civilization's cities were abandoned. More recent investigations have revealed that the Maya also experienced an earlier collapse in the second century A.D. -- now called the Preclassic collapse -- that is even more poorly understood. University of Arizona archaeologist Takeshi Inomata and his colleagues suggest in a new paper, to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that both collapses followed similar trajectories, with multiple waves of social instability, warfare and political crises leading to the rapid fall of many city centers. The findings are based on a highly refined chronology developed by Inomata and his colleagues using an unprecedented 154 radiocarbon dates from the archaeological site of Ceibal in Guatemala, where the team has worked for over a decade. While more general chronologies might suggest that the Maya collapses occurred gradually, this new, more precise chronology indicates more complex patterns of political crises and recoveries leading up to each collapse. "What we found out is that those two cases of collapse (Classic and Preclassic) follow similar patterns," said Inomata, the paper's lead author and a professor in the School of Anthropology in the UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. "It's not just a simple collapse, but there are waves of collapse. First, there are smaller waves, tied to warfare and some political instability, then comes the major collapse, in which many centers got abandoned. Then there was some recovery in some places, then another collapse." Using radiocarbon dating and data from ceramics and highly controlled archaeological excavations, the researchers were able to establish the refined chronology of when population sizes and building construction increased and decreased at Ceibal. While the findings may not solve the mystery of why exactly the Maya collapses occurred, they are an important step toward better understanding how they unfolded. "It's really, really interesting that these collapses both look very similar, at very different time periods," said Melissa Burham, one of three UA anthropology graduate students who co-authored the paper. "We now have a good understanding of what the process looked like, that potentially can serve as a template for other people to try to see if they have a similar pattern at their (archaeological) sites in the same area." Inomata and his UA colleagues -- anthropology professor Daniela Triadan and students Burham, Jessica MacLellan and Juan Manuel Palomo -- worked with collaborators at Ibaraki University, Naruto University of Education and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in Japan, and with Guatemalan archaeologists and students. Radiocarbon dating was done at Paleo Laboratory Company in Japan and at the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory in the UA Department of Physics. "Radiocarbon dating has been used for a long time, but now we're getting to an interesting period because it's getting more and more precise," said Inomata, who also is an Agnese Nelms Haury Chair in Environment and Social Justice at the UA. "We're getting to the point where we can get to the interesting social patterns because the chronology is refined enough, and the dating is precise enough." ### Inomata's research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Geographic Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation and the UA's Agnes Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice. Where would we be without meiosis and recombination? For a start, none of us sexually reproducing organisms would be here, because that's how sperm and eggs are made. And when meiosis doesn't work properly, it can lead to infertility, miscarriage, birth defects and developmental disorders. Neil Hunter's laboratory at the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences is teasing out the complex details of how meiosis works. In a new paper published online Jan. 6 in the journal Science, Hunter's group describes new key players in meiosis, proteins called SUMO and ubiquitin and molecular machines called proteasomes. Ubiquitin is already well-known as a small protein that "tags" other proteins to be destroyed by proteasomes (wood chippers for proteins). SUMO is a close relative of ubiquitin. The Meiosis Tango During meiosis, the chromosomes engage in a complicated, but intricately controlled, dance so that each sperm or egg cell: Has half the number of chromosomes of a regular body cell, and Exactly one of each of the chromosomes (regular body cells have pairs of chromosomes, apart from the X and Y sex chromosomes) To achieve these goals, the meiotic cells go through two rounds of division and a number of preceding stages that you can find in any good biology text book. In preparation for the first division, chromosomes closely associate into matching pairs and then become connected by crossing-over - the breakage and rejoining of chromosome arms. The connections provided by crossovers are important for the accurate distribution of chromosomes. Without crossovers, the wrong number of chromosomes may end up in the sperm or egg cells. Crossing over also shuffles the deck of DNA, making new combinations of the differences between the chromosomes that we inherited from our parents. This is why children look a bit like their parents, but not exactly. Hunter's lab, and the lab of their colleague Valentine Borner (Cleveland State University) now reveal the central roles of SUMO, ubiquitin and proteasomes in meiosis. Altogether, chromosomes have hundreds of potential crossover sites, but only a few will become actual crossovers. Somehow, the cell has to narrow the large number of possibilities to a few sites, but in such a way that there's at least one crossover per chromosome. Hunter's team found that SUMO, ubiquitin and proteasomes play a critical role in this crossover site selection. "When you visualize these proteins under the microscope, they accumulate all along the chromosomes, specifically along the chromosome axes, where all the action is occurring," Hunter said. The chromosome axis is a protein scaffold that organizes DNA into a series of loops. Pairing and crossing over occur between the two axes of each pair of matching chromosomes. What Hunter's lab discovered is that when chromosomes are paired up, SUMO acts as a brake on the DNA interactions occurring at the hundreds of potential crossover sites. Without this brake, none of these sites form crossovers. "Without SUMO, there are no crossovers and meiosis fails," Hunter said. "We think that stalling the process provides time to select and mature the crossover sites." Ubiquitin and proteasomes acts on the other side of the process, releasing the brake and allowing DNA interactions to continue. The balance of SUMO and ubiquitin allows just enough crossovers to occur, to help ensure that sperm and eggs get one each chromosome. The team worked mostly with cells from mice, including mice genetically "knocked out" for genes associated with SUMO, ubiquitin and related proteins in the process. These genes and proteins of course have counterparts in humans, and variants in these genes may be associated with fertility. ### First author of the paper is postdoctoral researcher Prasada Rao. The other coauthors are Huanyu Qiao, and several UC Davis undergraduate researchers: Shubhang Bhatt, Logan Bailey, Hung Tran, Sarah Bourne, Wendy Qiu, Anusha Deshpande, Ajay Sharma and Connor Beebout, all working in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Hunter's collaborator, Roberto Pezza, works at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Hunter holds faculty appointments in the UC Davis Departments of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the College of Biological Sciences, and at the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy in the School of Medicine. He is affiliated with the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. Hunter's work is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He was named as a HHMI Early Career Scientist in 2009 and HHMI Investigator in 2013. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, also supported the study. In medicine, vaccinating against a virus involves exposing a body to a weakened version of the threat, enough to build a tolerance. Social psychologists believe that a similar logic can be applied to help "inoculate" the public against misinformation, including the damaging influence of 'fake news' websites propagating myths about climate change. A new study compared reactions to a well-known climate change fact with those to a popular misinformation campaign. When presented consecutively, the false material completely cancelled out the accurate statement in people's minds - opinions ended up back where they started. Researchers then added a small dose of misinformation to delivery of the climate change fact, by briefly introducing people to distortion tactics used by certain groups. This "inoculation" helped shift and hold opinions closer to the truth - despite the follow-up exposure to 'fake news'. The study on US attitudes found the inoculation technique shifted the climate change opinions of Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike. Published in the journal Global Challenges, the study was conducted by researchers from the universities of Cambridge, UK, Yale and George Mason, US. It is one of the first on 'inoculation theory' to try and replicate a 'real world' scenario of conflicting information on a highly politicised subject. "Misinformation can be sticky, spreading and replicating like a virus," says lead author Dr Sander van der Linden, a social psychologist from the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab. "We wanted to see if we could find a 'vaccine' by pre-emptively exposing people to a small amount of the type of misinformation they might experience. A warning that helps preserve the facts. "The idea is to provide a cognitive repertoire that helps build up resistance to misinformation, so the next time people come across it they are less susceptible." To find the most compelling climate change falsehood currently influencing public opinion, van der Linden and colleagues tested popular statements from corners of the internet on a nationally representative sample of US citizens, with each one rated for familiarity and persuasiveness. The winner: the assertion that there is no consensus among scientists, apparently supported by the Oregon Global Warming Petition Project. This website claims to hold a petition signed by "over 31,000 American scientists" stating there is no evidence that human CO2 release will cause climate change. The study also used the accurate statement that "97% of scientists agree on manmade climate change". Prior work by van der Linden has shown this fact about scientific consensus is an effective 'gateway' for public acceptance of climate change. In a disguised experiment, researchers tested the opposing statements on over 2,000 participants across the US spectrum of age, education, gender and politics using the online platform Amazon Mechanical Turk. In order to gauge shifts in opinion, each participant was asked to estimate current levels of scientific agreement on climate change throughout the study. Those shown only the fact about climate change consensus (in pie chart form) reported a large increase in perceived scientific agreement - an average of 20 percentage points. Those shown only misinformation (a screenshot of the Oregon petition website) dropped their belief in a scientific consensus by 9 percentage points. Some participants were shown the accurate pie chart followed by the erroneous Oregon petition. The researchers were surprised to find the two neutralised each other (a tiny difference of 0.5 percentage points). "It's uncomfortable to think that misinformation is so potent in our society," says van der Linden. "A lot of people's attitudes toward climate change aren't very firm. They are aware there is a debate going on, but aren't necessarily sure what to believe. Conflicting messages can leave them feeling back at square one." Alongside the consensus fact, two groups in the study were randomly given 'vaccines': A general inoculation, consisting of a warning that "some politically-motivated groups use misleading tactics to try and convince the public that there is a lot of disagreement among scientists". A detailed inoculation that picks apart the Oregon petition specifically. For example, by highlighting some of the signatories are fraudulent, such as Charles Darwin and members of the Spice Girls, and less than 1% of signatories have backgrounds in climate science. For those 'inoculated' with this extra data, the misinformation that followed did not cancel out the accurate message. The general inoculation saw an average opinion shift of 6.5 percentage points towards acceptance of the climate science consensus, despite exposure to fake news. When the detailed inoculation was added to the general, it was almost 13 percentage points - two-thirds of the effect seen when participants were just given the consensus fact. The research team point out that tobacco and fossil fuel companies have used psychological inoculation in the past to sow seeds of doubt, and to undermine scientific consensus in the public consciousness. They say the latest study demonstrates that such techniques can be partially "reversed" to promote scientific consensus, and work in favour of the public good. The researchers also analysed the results in terms of political parties. Before inoculation, the fake negated the factual for both Democrats and Independents. For Republicans, the fake actually overrode the facts by 9 percentage points. However, following inoculation, the positive effects of the accurate information were preserved across all parties to match the average findings (around a third with just general inoculation; two-thirds with detailed). "We found that inoculation messages were equally effective in shifting the opinions of Republicans, Independents and Democrats in a direction consistent with the conclusions of climate science," says van der Linden. "What's striking is that, on average, we found no backfire effect to inoculation messages among groups predisposed to reject climate science, they didn't seem to retreat into conspiracy theories. "There will always be people completely resistant to change, but we tend to find there is room for most people to change their minds, even just a little." ### A population study establishes that orphanages are important for Rwanda's orphans mainly because of lower stigma and marginalization they faced from the community. Children in orphanages are emotionally healthier, suffer less from mental distress and are less prone to high-risk behaviour than orphans living under other circumstances. A doctoral dissertation completed for the University of Helsinki evaluates the psychosocial wellness of Rwandan orphans by focusing on their living circumstances and the quality of the care they receive. The results show that the children's living environmentquality of care had a profound impact. For example, orphans who had three meals a day and access to schooling expressed a higher level of emotional wellbeing and lower levels of distress. The study was based on a survey conducted on more than 400 Rwandan orphans, and included children from four types of living circumstances: child-headed households, orphanages, children living on the street and those placed in foster families. Rwanda has had the worst orphan crisis in recent history due to the 1994 genocide and the AIDS epidemic. When doctoral student Tehetna Caserta began work on her dissertation research, Rwanda had nearly one million orphans, which is more than ten per cent of the population. Interaction between orphans and their community is key According to Caserta, the most important result was that the variation in psychosocial wellbeing due to living circumstances was significantly reduced when stigma, marginalisation and social support were considered. "The interaction between the orphans and the surrounding community is a key factor for the emotional and mental health of the children. Understanding this complex reality could lead to completely new insights into how the psychosocial wellbeing of the orphans could be improved," says Caserta. The satisfaction the orphans felt regarding their living environment varied greatly. This indicates that the participating orphans seek protection, safety and love by expressed their dissatisfaction by transferring from one living environment to another, and that they never feel fully content or loved as they searched for protection, stability, safety and love. Living environment strongly linked to stigma The psychological vulnerability of the orphans, such as their experiences of stigma, was compared with their living environment, status and the cause of death of their parents. In addition, these factors were studied in terms of their impact on emotional wellbeing and mental distress. The results show that only the living environment is strongly connected to the children's experience of stigma. High levels of stigma were linked to low emotional wellbeing and high levels of mental distress. "The results indicate that stigma and marginalisation account for more than 50% of the variation in the psychosocial wellbeing among Rwandan orphans," says Caserta. The study also showed that AIDS orphans experienced higher levels of distress than children orphaned by genocide or due to another reason in terms ofeven after considering the effects of stigma, marginalisation and lack of social support. Social support connected to mental wellbeing The dissertation examines the relative significance of social support for the orphans' ability to withstand the stress resulting from losing their parents and the effects on their emotional wellbeing and mental distress. Experiencing high levels of social support was linked to higher emotional wellbeing and lower levels of mental distress. "Support from adults is the only form of support which significantly reduced the children's experiences of distress." Help doesn't require money The mental health of orphans is dependent not only on concrete factors, such as a lack of food, clothing or shelter. Neglect, stigma and abuse from their communities also caused great suffering for the children. "The results may sound shocking, but they prove that society can alleviate the suffering of Rwanda's orphans without attending very much to their material provision spending any money. Any compassion, approval or signs of good will could help thousands of orphans heal from their trauma," says Caserta. The researcher believes stigma, abuse and marginalisation of orphans should not be tolerated and be made illegal. "Approval, inclusion, displays of affection and a little encouragement cost the community nothing, but can help these orphans survive their tragic circumstances." ### MA Tehetna Caserta defended her doctoral dissertation entitled The Psychosocial Wellbeing of Orphans and Youth in Rwanda - Analysis of Predictors, Vulnerability Factors and Buffers at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Social Sciences on 9 January 2017. The dissertation is also available in electronic form through the e-thesis service. Further information: Tehetna Caserta tehetna.alemu@helsinki.fi Mob. +358 4432 00 704 and Media contacts: pasi.komulainen@helsinki.fi MIAMI -- A group of oceanographers offers a new analysis of the potential crash site of flight Malaysian Airlines flight 370 in the southern Indian Ocean. The researchers, which included scientists from the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, used data from buoys that monitor ocean conditions. In their analysis the team considered the trajectories of drifting buoys, called drifters, from NOAA's Global Drifter Database and of an ocean numerical model. The researchers included only those data from drifters that were unanchored, or undrogued, to better simulate the buoyancy conditions of airplane debris. The team then produced a simulation model of drifter motion using known oceanographic conditions near the potential crash site. The analysis showed that it would take six months to one year for the drifters to reach western Australia and one-and-a half to two years to reach eastern Africa. Interestingly, two drifters traveled from the search region to the area of Reunion Island during the period between the crash of flight MH370 and when the airplane flaperon was found. These results are consistent with the time and location of the aircraft debris that was found off Reunion Island, almost 17 months after the plane disappeared, and with the recently confirmed finding in Mozambique almost two years later. The trajectories of the undrogued drifters and synthetic drifters revealed several areas of high probability in the southern Indian Ocean where debris from the missing flight could have passed, including vast areas of the South Indian Ocean, some of them in the relative neighborhood of the search area. This study "highlights the importance of sustained observations to monitor ocean conditions that may serve a suite of applications and studies," said the authors. The methods developed by the researchers for use in the study could also help scientists track oil spills, and other types of marine debris and pollutants in the ocean. ### The study, titled "Analysis of flight MH370 potential debris trajectories using ocean observations and numerical model results," was recently published online in the Journal of Operational Oceanography. The coauthors include: M. Josefina Olascoaga from the UM Rosenstiel School; Joaquin A. Trinanes and Gustavo J. Goni from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami; Nikolai A. Maximenko and Jan Hafner from the University of Hawaii's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology; and David A. Griffin from CSIRO in Australia. About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu. University of Oklahoma research scientist, Corey Potvin, is the recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of independent research careers. Potvin, a research scientist with OU's Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory, was the only PECASE recipient from Oklahoma. He was nominated by the U.S. Department of Commerce. "This award for Dr. Potvin could not be more well deserved. His high level of achievement is a source of great pride for the university," said OU President David L. Boren. Since joining CIMMS and NSSL as a research scientist, Potvin's work has been largely devoted to helping develop a prototype Warn-on-Forecast ensemble of analysis and forecasting systems. High-resolution probabilistic guidance from such systems will hopefully permit longer tornado warning lead time and fewer false alarms. His research has been divided almost equally between (1) adapting and testing techniques for application to convective-scale radar data assimilation, and (2) using numerical simulations to explore supercell predictability. "[Potvin] has made a tremendous imprint on our stormscale research enterprise in his relatively short time here as scientist and student. He joins a team of elite scientists at CIMMS and NSSL who have previously been given this prestigious award. We are privileged to have him at CIMMS and look forward to great things ahead," said Randy Peppler, CIMMS interim director. "I'm thrilled and honored to have my work recognized at such a high level. Having the opportunity to conduct meaningful, exciting research with the top-notch scientists at CIMMS, NSSL and OU is a great privilege, and I would not have received this award without their mentorship and collaboration," Potvin said. During Potvin's graduate studies at OU, he developed a multiple-Doppler technique for detecting and characterizing intense convective vortices and investigated the capabilities of vertical vorticity constraint and spatially variable advection correction to improve variational dual-Doppler retrievals of vertical velocity in convection. As a National Research Council postdoctoral associate at NSSL, Potvin examined and compared errors in close-range supercell wind retrievals from traditional and variational dual-Doppler analysis and ensemble Kalman data radar data assimilation. ### When spring comes to the Arctic, the breakup of the cold winter ice sheets starts at the surface with the formation of melt ponds. These pools of melted snow and ice darken the surface of the ice, increasing the amount of solar energy the ice sheet absorbs and accelerating melt. A team including University of Utah mathematician Kenneth Golden has determined how these melt ponds form, solving a paradoxical mystery of how a pool of water actually sits atop highly porous ice. Their results are published in Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans. "Here we're presented with this fundamental puzzle," Golden says. "How in the world do you form ponds? When they form, how deep they are, and their areal extent is absolutely critical for how the ice is going to melt." Golden studies the dynamics of sea ice, which is a composite system of solids and liquids of varying salinity and chemistry. Melt ponds are a focus of his research because they dramatically affect the albedo, or reflectiveness, of the sea ice, one of the most important parameters in climate modeling. They also may allow more light to penetrate through the ice, allowing algae to proliferate in the seawater beneath. In 2014, Golden, along with study first author Chris Polashenski of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory and colleagues traveled aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy to the Chukchi Sea, between Alaska and Siberia, to investigate massive algae blooms below the ice, which had been first observed in 2011. As part of their study they needed to measure the permeability of the ice. Permeability is a measure of how well interconnected voids and channels within a material allow fluid to flow through. Their first attempt involved drilling a hole in the ice down below the "freeboard level," or water table, to see how quickly the water filled the hole back in. "It filled up to the freeboard level in about a second and a half," Golden says, indicating the ice was too permeable to make a measurement. Next, the team tried to add water to the hole to see how quickly the water level re-equilibrated to the freeboard level. They planned several attempts, and noticed that in the second attempt, the water level fell much more slowly than in the first attempt. "And then the third time was the charm," Golden says. The team poured water into the hole and the level didn't go down at all. "We formed a melt pond!" he says. Intrigued, the team tested different levels of water salinity in boreholes and used dyes to trace the progress of the water through the ice. (The team used red and green food coloring from the Healy's kitchen, Golden says). All of their experimentation pointed to a clear mechanism for melt pond formation. "The freezing point of the fresh meltwater from snow is zero Celsius," Golden says. "But the ice itself is maybe -1 or -1.5. The freezing point of seawater is -1.8. So basically, you're getting this infusion of fresh water and there's enough cold there to clog up the pores. You're lowering the permeability of the ice by this process of freezing freshwater plugs into the porous microstructure." With lowered permeability, the meltwater can form a pool on top of the ice. Others, including Polashenski, had speculated that such a process might be behind melt pond formation, Golden says, but that his team was in the right place at the right time with the right equipment to put the story together in the field. Hopefully, he says, understanding the conditions that lead to melt pond formation can help scientists predict where and when ponds might form as Arctic temperatures continue to rise. ### Hear Golden and Polashenski on the Arctic ice in this 2014 radio story. Find this release and accompanying images here. Find the full paper here. In a new study, researchers at Uppsala University have found evidence of a new principle for how epigenetic changes can occur. The principle is based on an enzyme, tryptase, that has epigenetic effects that cause cells to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. " Cells that lack tryptase start to proliferate in an uncontrolled fashion and lose their identity. If tryptase is present, it will cleave the tails of histones, which will protect from certain epigenetic changes," says Gunnar Pejler, Professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology at Uppsala University. Many properties are determined by genetic factors, but we are starting to recognize that also epigenetic factors are of great importance. With epigenetics we mean such changes in genes that are not determined by changes in the actual DNA sequence, but effects that are superimposed on this, caused for example by environmental effects. Epigenetic effects include modification of DNA by incorporation of small chemical groups, methyl groups. Another important epigenetic mechanism is that the proteins that are packed together with DNA in the cell nucleus, called histones, can be chemically modified in their tails. Altogether, the different epigenetic mechanisms will lead to either activation or silencing of the respective genes. In a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers have now found a new principle for how epigenetic changes can occur. They have showed that one enzyme, tryptase, can be found in the nucleus of cells and that tryptase can cleave off the tails of histones. In this way, certain epigenetic modifications of the histone tails are removed. A very interesting finding was that this mechanism is important for maintaining the identity of the cells. Cells that lacked tryptase showed major changes, including a loss of their cellular identity and they also started to proliferate in an uncontrolled way. These effects were seen in mast cells which are central in allergic reactions. The researchers propose that this type of epigenetic effect could be of importance in dealing with allergic disease. However, it cannot be excluded that similar epigenetic effects are operative also in other cell types. ### Fabio R. Melo, et al; Tryptase-catalyzed core histone truncation: a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism in mast cells, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Open Access) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2016.11.044 Gunnar Pejler, Professor at Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Sweden, gunnar.pejler@imbim.uu.se, +46-18-4714571 A new analysis reveals that for most women, the risk of dying from cervical cancer is higher than previously thought. Unlike prior estimates that also included women who had undergone a hysterectomy and were therefore no longer at risk, this analysis only included women with a cervix. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also revealed significant racial differences in the risk of dying from cervical cancer. To re-examine cervical cancer mortality rates from 2002 to 2012 in the United States, Anne Rositch, PhD, MSPH, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and her colleagues obtained estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics and the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Mortality Database. Information on hysterectomy prevalence was gathered from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey to remove the large fraction of women who were not at risk of dying from cervical cancer. The researchers found that black women in the United States are dying from cervical cancer at a rate 77 percent higher than previously thought, while white women are dying at a rate 47 percent higher. Specifically, the corrected mortality rate in black women was 10.1 per 100,000 women, compared with 5.7 per 100,000 uncorrected. The corrected rate in white women was 4.7 per 100,000 compared with 3.2 per 100,000 uncorrected. Also, without the correction, the disparity in mortality between races was underestimated by 44 percent. In addition, an analysis of the corrected rates over the decade revealed that white women's rates of death from cervical cancer decreased by 0.8 percent per year, compared with an annual decrease of 3.6 percent in black women. "Although trends over time show that the racial disparity in cervical cancer mortality is closing, these data emphasize that it should remain a priority area," said Dr. Rositch. "In addition, many of those who are dying are over the age of 65, a cutoff point where guidelines generally no longer recommend women with cervices be regularly screened for cervical cancer," she added. An accompanying editorial by Heather Dalton, MD, of Arizona Oncology, and John Farley, MD, of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, highlights the effort that is needed going forward. "Racial disparities in cancer mortality in general and cervical cancer specifically continue to be a vexing problem in the United States," they write. "Access to adequate cervical cancer screening and preventative care remains critical to eliminating racial disparity." ### For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Dawn Peters (US) +1 781-388-8408 sciencenewsroom@wiley.com Follow us on Twitter @WileyNews Full Citation: "Hysterectomy-corrected cervical cancer mortality rates reveal a larger racial disparity in the United States." Anna Beavis, Patti Gravitt, and Anne Rositch. CANCER; Published Online: January 23, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30507). URL Upon Publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/cncr.30507 Editorial: "Racial Disparities in Cervical Cancer: Worse Than We Thought." Heather J. Dalton and John H. Farley. CANCER; Published Online: January 23, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30501). URL Upon Publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/cncr.30501 Author Contact: Stephanie Desmon, Director of Media and Public Relations at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, at sdesmon1@jhu.edu or +1 (410) 955-7619. NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. A free abstract of this article will be available via the CANCER News Room upon online publication. About the Journal CANCER is a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society integrating scientific information from worldwide sources for all oncologic specialties. The objective of CANCER is to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of information among oncologic disciplines concerned with the etiology, course, and treatment of human cancer. CANCER is published on behalf of the American Cancer Society by Wiley and can be accessed online at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cancer. Follow us on Twitter @JournalCancer and Facebook 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. Two new articles in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society address what the new leadership in the White House and continued Republican leadership of both houses of Congress can do to ensure that Americans continue to receive the care they need as they age. One article outlines some of the potential areas of change that are most salient to the care of older adults. These include possible changes in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Health Savings Accounts, Medicaid, and other programs. The authors stress that certain tenets should serve as guideposts for evaluating and responding to change. They note that care must be person-centered and reflect the preferences of those receiving care, that changes to health care payments and delivery should be evidence-based, and that the workforce of geriatric professionals must be expanded. In addition, the authors note that it will be critical to remember that the health of the population across all age groups has important implications for the health of older adults. "In the haste to tear down the ACA, the new administration may cast aside great gains that have been made in not only making care accessible to many, but beginning the process of reconceptualizing care," said lead author Robert Kane, MD, of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. "As geriatricians know all too well, effectively addressing chronic care, especially complex problems that involve both medical and social aspects, requires a more comprehensive approach to care that is incompatible for fee-for-service payment." Another paper highlights the American Geriatrics Society's (AGS's) core policy priorities and positions on federal programs that support older Americans, as articulated in a three recent letters sent to then President-Elect Trump and Senate and House leaders. The letters address everything from Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare reform to the Veterans Health Administration and commitments to the geriatrics workforce under Title VII and VIII. Supporting these and other components of high-quality care can ensure that more older Americans are able to make meaningful contributions to their communities, as the AGS priorities suggest. "We focused on programs that are critical to the clinical care of older Americans and their families, and on ensuring we have a workforce with the skills and competence to care for us all as we age. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress on solutions that will achieve our vision for a future when every older American receives high- quality, person- centered care," said Nancy Lundebjerg, MPA, lead author of the article and Chief Executive Officer of the AGS. ### Studies: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.14854/full http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.14849/full Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered 'hotspots' of mutations in breast cancer genomes, where mutations thought to be inactive 'passengers' in the genome have now been shown to possibly drive further cancerous changes. Reported in Nature Genetics today, the study found 33 mutation hotspots, which act like backseat drivers for cancer development. The study analysed 560 breast cancer genomes from patients from around the world, including the USA, Europe and Asia. It looked at very specific types of mutations - called tandem duplications. These occur when a piece of DNA is copied and then reinserted in the DNA next to the original piece, creating extra copies of that part of the DNA in the genome. The researchers found 33 places in the breast cancer genomes where these tandem duplications were found most often, recurrently in many different women. Cancer is triggered by a small handful of 'driver' DNA mutations that actively change cells from being normal cells into cancer cells. Cancer cells also contain many thousands of 'passenger' mutations such as tandem duplications, which were previously thought to be inactive, or simply collateral damage. This study found that tandem duplications in these hotspots were possibly not benign, but led to further cancerous changes, creating new drivers in a cascade of genetic damage. Dominik Glodzik, first author on the paper from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: "DNA in breast cancers is heavily restructured by many tandem duplications. We were curious whether this mutational signature influences how cancer develops. From our research, it now looks like some of these tandem duplications are not just unimportant passenger mutations, but actually create new driver mutations for cancer." Studying tumours with hotspot mutations will provide insights into how new backseat driver mutations shape cancer development, and whether they will respond to different treatments. The researchers found that many of the tandem duplication hotspots were in important parts of the genome. These included genes that are known to be associated with driving breast cancer and also in special, regulatory areas of the genome known as super-enhancers that switch on multiple genes -- damage in this area leads to uncontrolled activation of many genes. The study shows that there is probably a spectrum of drivers too - some can be very strong and some can be weaker -- but all likely add together to ultimately make cancers more aggressive. Prof Gerard Evan from the University of Cambridge, said: "Remarkably, we also found that these acquired hotspots for tandem duplications coincide with genome regions where we find not only inherited genetic changes that increase the risk of developing breast cancer, but also controllers of genes that specify the identity of breast epithelial tissue. This is a first report that demonstrates a link between the acquired and the inherited genetic changes that drive breast cancers." The study also looked at a small number of ovarian and pancreatic cancer genomes and found these also had hotspots of tandem duplications, but in different places than the breast cancers, due to different genes being activated in diverse tissues. Further samples will be needed to get more information on ovarian and pancreatic cancers. Dr Serena Nik Zainal, lead author from the Sanger Institute, said: "This research has shown a new genetic mechanism for generating drivers in cancer, which we have found not only in breast cancers, but also other cancers. It is really important to identify and study tumours with this mutational signature of tandem duplications, because if it can create many new drivers, then it has potentially devastating consequences making tumours more aggressive. "This is a mutational signature that should be a target for therapeutic intervention. Further study is needed to understand this mechanism, and for finding out whether tumours with tandem duplications at these hotspots could respond to certain treatments better than others." ### Notes to editors Selected websites University of Cambridge The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. To date, 96 affiliates of the University have won the Nobel Prize. Founded in 1209, the University comprises 31 autonomous Colleges, which admit undergraduates and provide small-group tuition, and 150 departments, faculties and institutions. Cambridge is a global university. Its 19,000 student body includes 3,700 international students from 120 countries. Cambridge researchers collaborate with colleagues worldwide, and the University has established larger-scale partnerships in Asia, Africa and America. The University sits at the heart of one of the world's largest technology clusters. The 'Cambridge Phenomenon' has created 1,500 hi-tech companies, 14 of them valued at over US$1 billion and two at over US$10 billion. Cambridge promotes the interface between academia and business, and has a global reputation for innovation. http://www.cam.ac.uk The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is one of the world's leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease. http://www.sanger.ac.uk Wellcome Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. We're a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent. We support scientists and researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk Monday, January 23, 2017 (NewsUSA) - Many people claim to be searching for peace and joy in their lives, especially as a new year begins after the intense and often stressful holiday season. However, many joy seekers may be looking in the wrong places, according to yogi and spiritual teacher Sadhguru. The founder of the Isha Foundation and social activist has published a new book on finding joy within oneself rather than expecting to find it in the outside world. His book, Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy (Spiegel & Grau Hardcover/Random House, September 20, 2016), emphasizes that self-awareness is one of the keys to unlocking a life of joy from the inside. In a recent interview with Yoga Journal, Sadhguru said that joy comes from creating an "inner chemistry of blissfulness where being joyful is not being subject to something outside of you." "[If] someone or something can make you happy or unhappy, [that] means what happens within you is determined by an aspect outside of you. This is the worst form of slavery," he emphasizes. The book features sadhanas, daily guidelines designed to help individuals lead a life of joy by looking inward, and other insights on joyful living. To begin, Sadhguru asks readers to consider what constitutes a state of well-being. He defines it as a sense of pleasantness. "When pleasantness is within, it is termed peace, joy, happiness," he writes. He encourages individuals to focus on happiness within to help them create pleasantness, and therefore joy, in the world at large. "When you are in a pleasant inner state, you are naturally pleasant to everyone and everything around you," he notes. "Inner pleasantness is a surefire insurance for the making of a peaceful society and a joyful world." The editors at Yoga Journal suggest the following meditation for finding inner joy by invoking a state of well-being: *Breathe deeply, relax, and think of a time of great joy and well-being. *Try to remember all the details of that joyful experience, including sights, sounds, and smells, and try to recall how your mind and body felt in that moment. *Practice recalling your joyful moment each day for a week, and ultimately you may be able to tune in to the general feeling of joy without recalling the specific occasion. For more information about Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy, visit the book site at http://isha.sadhguru.org/us-en/ie-book. Article Resources Link to this article: Copy and paste the following code Embed this article: Editors, click here for story elements. Let's block ads! (Why?) Monday, January 23, 2017 What is forgery? Forensic document examiners do not opine whether a handwritten document has been forged. Forensic document examiners opine whether a document contains handwriting not written by the person who purportedly wrote the document. Handwriting not written by the person who purportedly wrote it is called simulated writing. Blacks law dictionary, Tenth Edition, defines forgery as: 1. The act of fraudulently making false document or altering a real one to be used as if genuine, 2. A false or altered document made to look genuine by someone with the intent to deceive. Can a forensic document examiner opine to forgery? Document examiners can determine whether a document has been altered or is made to look genuine by another person. They cannot determine the intent of the person who made the alteration or made the false writing. I have seen situations where a document examiner will stay in the report that a signature is a forgery. Such statements are troublesome in that an attorney can ask on cross examination how the document examiner determined the intent of the writer. As an example, I could authorize my wife or another person to sign my name on a document. There would be no intent to deceive another on the authenticity of the signature. Famous people such as celebrities are known for authorizing assistance to sign photographs and other memorabilia for them. The reason is so many requests are made that the celebrity does not have time to write all the signatures. Often these signatures are made by mechanical devices that replicate the persons signature. Politicians often use these mechanical signing machines to place their signature on letters to constituents. And there is no intent of deception in the signature. What is a signature? Blacks law dictionary, Tenth Edition, defines a signature as, a persons name or mark written by that person or at the persons direction. Therefore, a signature written by another at a persons direction is a valid signature. Although the signature was not written by the person whose name appears in the signature, there is no intent to deceive. Therefore, the signature is not a forgery. Conclusion Be careful when your document examiner opines a signature examined is a forgery. This may come back as a problem at your trial or arbitration hearing. Let the trier of fact determine whether a document is a forgery. Liberty Media Corporation and Delta Topco, the parent company of Formula 1 announced today that Liberty Media has completed its previously announced acquisition of F1, the iconic global motorsports business, from a consortium of sellers. F1 has appointed Chase Carey as Chief Executive Officer of F1, in addition to his existing role as Chairman, and Bernie Ecclestone as Chairman Emeritus of F1. Bernie Ecclestone, who has given valuable service to F1 over many years, will be available as a source of advice for the board of F1. Greg Maffei, President and CEO of Liberty Media Corporation, commented: We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of F1 and that Chase will lead this business as CEO. There is an enormous opportunity to grow the sport, and we have every confidence that Chase, with his abilities and experience, is the right person to achieve this. Id like to thank Bernie Ecclestone, who becomes Chairman Emeritus, for his tremendous success in building this remarkable global sport. Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO of F1, said: I am excited to be taking on the additional role of CEO. F1 has huge potential with multiple untapped opportunities. I have enjoyed hearing from the fans, teams, FIA, promoters and sponsors on their ideas and hopes for the sport. We will work with all of these partners to enhance the racing experience and add new dimensions to the sport and we look forward to sharing these plans overtime. I would like to recognise and thank Bernie for his leadership over the decades. The sport is what it is today because of him and the talented team of executives he has led, and he will always be part of the F1 family. Bernies role as Chairman Emeritus befits his tremendous contribution to the sport and I am grateful for his continued insight and guidance as we build F1 for long-term success and the enjoyment of all those involved. Bernie Ecclestone, Chairman Emeritus of F1, added: Im proud of the business that I built over the last 40 years and all that I have achieved with Formula 1, and would like to thank all of the promoters, teams, sponsors and television companies that I have worked with. Im very pleased that the business has been acquired by Liberty and that it intends to invest in the future of F1. I am sure that Chase will execute his role in a way that will benefit the sport. The consideration for Liberty Medias acquisition of 100% of the shares of F1(1) was comprised of cash and newly issued Series C shares of the Liberty Media Group tracking stock (LMCK) and a debt instrument exchangeable into shares of LMCK. The transaction price represents an enterprise value for F1 of $8.0 billion and an equity value of $4.4 billion(2). With the completion of the acquisition, the Liberty Media Group will shortly be renamed the Formula One Group and the ticker symbols for the Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Media Group tracking stocks will be changed from LMC (A/B/K), respectively, to FWON (A/B/K), respectively, soon after the group name change has become effective. Liberty Media expects the group name change and the symbol change to occur later this week. F1 will remain based in London and Greg Maffei will be Deputy Chair of the board of F1. The Selling Shareholders received a mix of consideration comprising: $3.05 billion in cash, approximately 56 million newly issued shares of LMCK and a $351 million exchangeable debt instrument to be issued by F1 and exchangeable into shares of LMCK. The cash component of the acquisition was funded from cash on hand at the Liberty Media Group. The newly issued LMCK shares are subject to market co-ordination and lock-up agreements. F1, along with $4.1 billion of existing F1 debt (which is non-recourse to Liberty Media) and $0.7 billion in F1 cash(3), is attributed to the Liberty Media Group tracking stock. Concurrently with the consummation of the acquisition, certain third party investors subscribed for $1.55 billion of newly issued shares of LMCK at a price of $25.00 per share. The proceeds from this investment were used to increase the cash portion of the aggregate consideration payable to the Selling Shareholders. The third parties are Coatue Management, L.L.C., D. E. Shaw Group, JANA Partners LLC, Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc., Soroban Capital Partners LP, SPO Advisory Corp., and Viking Global Investors LP (collectively the Third Party Investors). Also concurrently with the completion of the acquisition, Liberty Media used the net proceeds of its previously announced cash convertible senior notes offering to increase the cash consideration payable to the Selling Shareholders by approximately $400 million for total cash consideration of $3.05 billion and retain in treasury the approximately 19 million shares that would otherwise have been issuable to the Selling Shareholders based on the per share purchase price of $21.26. These LMCK shares will be reserved by Liberty for possible sale to the F1 teams. To the extent such shares are not sold to F1 teams within six months following the closing of the F1 acquisition, the shares will be retired. The aggregate number of LMCK shares issued at the F1 closing was allocated as follows: approximately 56 million to the Selling Shareholders, 62 million to the third party investors and approximately 19 million into treasury. Following the completion of the acquisition, there are approximately 217 million shares of LMCK common stock outstanding (pro-forma for the dilutive impact of the $351 million LMCK exchangeable security and excluding the aforementioned approximate 19 million shares retained in treasury). Following the completion of the F1 acquisition and the issuance of shares to the Third Party Investors (excluding the potential issuance of those shares retained in treasury), the Third Party Investors in the aggregate own approximately 29%(4) of the Liberty Media Groups outstanding equity and the Selling Shareholders own approximately 33%(4) of the Liberty Media Group's outstanding equity and have board representation at F1 to support Liberty Media in continuing to develop the full potential of the sport. Liberty Media's President and CEO, Greg Maffei and Formula 1's Chairman and CEO, Chase Carey will be appearing on the CNBC television program Squawk Box from 7:00 am ET to 9:00 am ET on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 to discuss the completion of the acquisition in more detail. During their appearance, Mr. Maffei and Mr. Carey may make observations regarding Liberty Medias and Formula 1s financial performance and outlook and the impact of current economic trends. (1) Other than a nominal number of shares held by certain Formula 1 teams. (2) Calculated at time of transaction announcement. (3) Formula 1 cash and debt balances as of 7/31/2016. (4) Calculated based on the undiluted share count as of 12/31/2016 and inclusive of the dilutive impact of the $351 million Exchangeable Notes. St. Louis Foundation & Basement Repair Specialists Launch New Website Full-service foundation and basement repair specialist Foundation Chief announced the launch of its new website and services to the Greater St. Louis area. Headquartered in Creve Coeur, the company offers inspection, consulting, and repair services pertaining to residential and commercial building foundations. -- Foundation and basement repair specialists Foundation Chief announced the launch of their new website and specialized services in the St. Louis, Missouri area. The new website serves as an information resource platform, detailing the firm's approach, services, service locations, and contact information for customers. More information about Foundation Chief is available at the company's new website, http://foundationchief.com Foundation repair is a critical aspect of the structural integrity of any residential or commercial structure. Broadly, foundation defects may be classified as material defects, structural design anomalies, and defects of occurrence. These defects can hinder the safe distribution of the superstructure load and impair the stability of a building. In some cases, these defects are detected after the foundation is completed. As a company that provides foundation repair in St. Louis, MO, Foundation Chief covers the major causes of foundation damage such as inconsistent moisture levels, improper drainage, poor run-off management, movement failures, cracks and material defects, as well as structural problems such as cracks, fractures, and improper loading. Foundation Chief employs an industry-standard process of inspection, evaluation, and repair services for foundation defects. The company usually provides a free evaluation and an estimate of costs for the repairs required and recommends the hiring of contractors who are able to provide a warranty for their services. According to a spokesperson for Foundation Chief, "Undetected and neglected foundation damage is one of the leading causes of structural damage and consequently, high repair costs. Our new website enables customers to connect with us to ensure that their foundation defects are repaired in an efficient and cost-effective manner." Headquartered in Creve Coeur, a city in the Greater St. Louis area, Foundation Chief is a premier provider of foundation inspection and repair services. The company provides its services to the city of St. Louis, its suburbs, and the cities of St. Charles, O'Fallon, St. Peters, and Florissant, Missouri. Services offered include the thorough inspection and evaluation of damaged foundations and include ancillary services such as basement waterproofing, foundation underpinning, sump pump inspection, and repair solutions based on the type of foundation and the materials used in construction. Contact Info: Name: Christopher J. Gose Email: foundationchief@gmail.com Organization: Foundation Chief Address: 11628 Old Ballas Road, Creve Coeur, 63141 United States Phone: +1-314-254-9061 For more information, please visit http://foundationchief.com Source: MarketersMedia Release ID: 162973 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Brand Foundry Ventures Announces Venture Partner Jordan Eisenberg Brand Foundry Ventures announced Jordan Eisenberg of Denver, Colorado will be joining their team as a venture partner. Mr. Eisenberg will be responsible for assisting portfolio companies in the growth of their business. The partnership was announced in January of 2017. -- New York and Austin based Venture capital firm Brand Foundry Ventures welcomes Jordan Eisenberg to the firm as a Venture Partner. Full profile of Brand Foundry and Jordan Eisenberg can be viewed here: http://brandfoundryvc.com/ In this role, Jordan Eisenberg, based in Denver, will assist BFV portfolio companies with the benefit of leveraging an experienced consumer entrepreneur. Eisenberg and BFV want to help build great companies and enable great entrepreneurs to succeed. According to Eisenberg, "Connecting driven individuals with great ideas to investors who believe in them is what this is all about. The goal is to save entrepreneurs time and headache by leveraging the experience of those who have been there before. All growth businesses have their challenges - we want them to focus on the exciting parts." The collaboration ultimately aims to grow the value of portfolio companies. When asked about the partnership, Jordan Eisenberg said, "I could not be more excited to assist the BFV team and their tremendous portfolio companies. I have always had a passion for building amazing products that consumers love." Andrew Mitchell, founder of Brand Foundry Ventures, stated "Jordan is a great entrepreneur who provides domain expertise and relevant experience for our portfolio companies. We work hard to build the best leadership teams as we understand the importance of helping people with great ideas connect with those who can help make them happen." Learn more about the partnership by visiting the website at http://brandfoundryvc.com/. About Brand Foundry Ventures and Jordan Eisenberg Brand Foundry Ventures, founded in 2014, is a consumer only venture capital firm based in New York and Austin. The firm seeks to invest in e-commerce, mobile commerce, consumer products, and consumer devices. Jordan Eisenberg is an experienced entrepreneur based in Denver, Colorado who has built, sold and advised multiple successful consumer businesses. Contact Info: Name: Jordan Eisenberg Organization: Brand Foundry Ventures Address: 7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich Street, New York, 10006 United States For more information, please visit http://www.jordaneisenberg.com Source: MarketersMedia Release ID: 163487 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Minnetonka Minnesota Best Auto Insurance State Farm Agent Services Announced The best Minnesota State Farm auto insurance agent Jerry Stanke, providing free quotes and coverage assessments at 763 544 8444, has announced an expansion of his market leading State Farm insurance options for car and home owners in Minnetonka or the western suburbs of Minneapolis. -- The best State Farm auto insurance provider in Minnesota, Jerry Stanke, has announced an expansion of his renowned, affordable and market leading auto and home insurance policies, available for clients in Minnetonka and across the western suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. More information is available at https://statefarm.com/agent/US/MN/Minnetonka/Jerry-Stanke-162N72GW000. Jerry Stanke is a renowned State Farm insurance agent based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with extensive experience and strong commitment to helping his policyholders manage the risks of everyday life in the way that best suits their needs, interests and budget with a comprehensive and leading range of State Farm home, auto and life, health or renters insurance policies. The highly popular State Farm insurance agent, which has established a reputation as the best auto insurance provider in Minnesota, has now announced an expansion of his affordable and market leading auto and homeowners insurance policies available for clients in Minnetonka or Hopkins, Plymouth, Edina, Wayzata and other areas of the western suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The second generation State Farm insurance agent with over a decade of experience and a proven track record satisfying all of his policyholders' insurance needs with the type of service and success that has earned him the prestigious Chairman's Circle Agent honors awarded by State Farm, operates out of a welcoming and conveniently located office on 13100 Wayzata Blvd Ste. 110, Minnetonka, Minnesota. Free no obligation quotes and coverage assessments along with more information on Jerry Stanke's market leading home, auto, life, health and renters' insurance options can be requested at 763 544 8444 or consulted through the website link provided above along with details on his firm commitment to putting policyholders interests and needs first or his experienced team and directions to his conveniently located Minnetonka offices. The acclaimed Minnesota based State Farm insurance agent, Jerry Stanke, explains that "the mission of our office is to help our policyholders manage the risks of everyday life and to be the first choice for all their Minneapolis insurance needs. We focus and specialize on auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance, health insurance and renters insurance throughout the western suburbs of Minneapolis." Contact Info: Name: Jerry Stanke Organization: Jerry Stanke - State Farm Insurance Address: 13100 Wayzata Boulevard, Minnetonka, 55305 United States Phone: +1-763-544-8444 For more information, please visit https://www.statefarm.com/agent/US/MN/Minnetonka/Jerry-Stanke-162N72GW000 Source: MarketersMedia Release ID: 163595 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Haiti - FLASH : New wave of deaths at the national penitentiary Thursday, at the initiative of Government Commissioner Jean Danton Leger, the funeral of 20 inmates of the national penitentiary was celebrated at the Sainte-Anne church in Port-au-Prince, in the presence of families, relatives and friends the victims. Prison overcrowding (over 5,000 prisoners, less than 0.5 m2 per prisoner https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16234-haiti-social-hell-in-the-national-penitentiary.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1112-haiti-prisons-national-penitentiary-05-m2-per-inmate.html ), the lack of hygiene, food and health care, are the main causes of these deaths, deplores Port-au-Prince Government Commissioner Jean Danton Leger who criticizes the passivity of the prison authorities and that of Jocelerme Privert which seems to ignore the country's detainees. Father Jean Robert Louis, celebrant of funeral underlined this gesture of laudable respect of the Commissioner of the Government and reiterated the will of the Pastoral Commission of its parish, to support the Procuratorate of Port-au-Prince in this type of initiative. It should be remembered that formerly the deceased prisoners were thrown into the mass grave without very often the families is informed. It is not the first wave of detainees that Commissioner Leger has buried. On September 22, it was the burial at the Port-au-Prince cemetery of 6 prisoners who died among other things of contagious diseases due to the insalubrity of the cells, lack of food or sleep https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-18727-icihaiti-justice-the-national-penitentiary-of-death.html . From July to December 2016 18 prisoners died in the National Penitentiary because of poor conditions of detention. Moreover, these deaths of detainees do not seem to end, Jean Danton Leger said that a dozen other bodies were already waiting at the morgue to be buried next week. One can only deplore the laxity of the Government and the silence of the Human Rights Organizations, who seem more concerned with the respect of citizens' voting rights as their right to life... SL/ HaitiLibre Students lose half-day Friday for snow makeup The January snowstorm caused Henderson County public school students to miss class for two days, Jan. 9 and 10. Students made up one of the snow days on Jan. 17, attending class on what was originally scheduled as an Optional Teacher Workday. To make up additional lost instructional time, students will now attend school for a full day on Friday, Feb. 10, which was originally scheduled to be an Early Dismissal Day. Schools will operate on a regular schedule that day. Henderson County Public Schools adheres to the hours of instruction mandated by North Carolina School Calendar Law, which requires a "minimum of 185 days or 1,025 hours of instruction covering at least nine months. Therefore, HCPS has the opportunity to utilize Early Dismissal Days for lost instructional time due to inclement weather. Zimbabwe Hindus are planning extensive events to celebrate 25th anniversary of Shree Omkar Mandir in Ridgeview area of Harare on April 15-16 next. These celebrations, being organized by The Hindoo Society Harare (HSH), a registered welfare organization whose history goes back to 1916, include performance by renowned Indian musician Anup Jalota, Samastha Bhajan Samelan, ghazal evening, etc. Many non-Hindus are also expected to participate. This temple, completed in 1992, conducts daily aarti and is the centerpiece for various spiritual activities for the Hindu community. Motto of HSH, which runs this temple, is: To promote and preserve the Hindu religious and cultural heritage and to strive for inter-religious harmony, understanding, and universal brotherhood. HSH also runs Cameron Street Omkar Mandir (inauguration stone of which was laid in 1929), Westridge High School (character building is one of whose missions), Westridge Primary School, Gujarati School (foundation stone laid in1928), Mahila Mandal, Shishu Mandal and Yuvak Mandal. It conducts various bhajan events, twice-weekly yoga classes, Hindi lessons, cultural/social activities; organizes daily aarti at both the temples, Havan on Sundays; and offers funeral assistance for bereaved families; etc. Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada(USA) today, commended efforts of HSH and Zimbabwe Hindu community towards realizing, maintain and running this Hindu temple and conducting various activities around it. Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism. Gunvant Bhai Shah is HSHs President and Bharatbhai Pathak is the priest. Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents. Source : From Our Correspondent Intelligence sources have revealed to India Today that Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence agency was behind the killings of two Indians hired by a man named Brajkishore Giri to sabotage Indian Railways tracks. Giri allegedly killed the two men, Arun and Deepak Ram, at the behest of Shamshul Hoda, Giris ISI handler. Arun and Deepak were murdered in cold-blood in Nepal after they backed out of a plan to explosives on railway tracks near Ghorasahan in Bihars East Champaran district. The plan itself failed after police recovered the explosives planted by others in Arun and Deepaks team. This enraged Hoda, and the duo was then killed. An audio clip of the murder was recorded as proof and was sent to Hoda sources say. Plans to target Indian Railways The sources also revealed that the ISI had made plans to cause large-scale damage to railways infrastructure in India with the aim of killing hundreds. Central agencies are already ivestigating claims that the ISI was behind the derailment of the Indore-Patna Express in which over 150 people lost their lives. The Ghorasahan plot The ISI link to the drailment, which took place near Kanpur, in fact emerged during the murder investigation inrto Arun and Deepaks deaths. Three men arrested by Bihar police in connection with the murders, told police officers that the trio along with Deepak and Arun was supposed to have planted IED explosives alongside railways tracks in Ghorasahan, which near the Nepal border. The plan went into effect on October 1, but Arun and Deepak backed out at the last moment. Bihar police detected and defused the powerful explosives, averting a major accident. Following this, Arun and Deepak were taken to Nepal where they were allegedly brutally killed in a jungle. Source : MSN Kimpton to Open Three Hotels in California Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants today announced two new hotels opening in Los Angeles in spring 2017, doubling the brand's presence in the city. Los Angeles is home to two existing Kimpton properties Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills and Hotel Wilshire and will soon welcome The Everly, situated at the base of the Hollywood Hills with 360-degree views, and La Peer Hotel, the first hotel in West Hollywood's renowned Design District, which will reflect the neighborhood's incomparable harmony of art, architecture, and fashion. Kimpton's Southern California expansion will continue later in 2017 with the launch of a new property in Palm Springs. Ed Virtue, Kimpton Hotels Area Director of Operations, SoCal Los Angeles & Orange County, said: "This is as very exciting time for us as we expand our Southern California influence. LA is an important region for Kimpton, and we will be uniquely positioned with four different hotels and restaurants throughout town offering the same uncompromising service our guests know and love. As Kimpton continues to position itself as a key player in the Southern California marketplace, we're excited to offer guests a variety of great locations while introducing some extraordinary hotel and restaurant offerings that are unlike anything else out there." The Everly, slated to open late April 2017, will feature 216 rooms, relaxed communal spaces and effortlessly cool design. With its light-filled interiors, thoughtfully designed for comfort and ease, The Everly is a true celebration of its Beachwood Canyon neighborhood and the laidback California lifestyle. The hotel is steps away from the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Vine and the Capitol Records building with unbeatable panoramic views of the nearby Hollywood sign, downtown Los Angeles skyline and the Pacific Coast. The lobby, featuring 28-foot ceilings and a 12-seat bar, will serve as the social center and heartbeat of the hotel while the adjacent library room offers a quiet respite. The street-level cafe will attract guests and locals with its lively, radiant vibe and menu honoring the California Italian-based slow food movement with freshly sourced ingredients. Guests can relax on the fifth-floor pool deck and recharge with well-crafted cocktails and light bites from day to night. With expansive views from downtown to the coast, the pool deck offers an unparalleled respite from the bustling city below. The Everly will also offer creative meeting and event spaces, a fitness center, in-room spa treatments and more. With the May arrival of La Peer, Kimpton will take its portfolio to the next level and expand the brand's offering and signature ability to create one-of-a-kind hotels that are truly indigenous to its location. La Peer is an elegant and intimate enclave anchored between the famed streets of West Hollywood's Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. The design-forward hotel evokes a cool style that is quintessential West Hollywood. The locale will appeal to the aesthetics and sensibilities of the Design District while also being its own oasis amidst the City of Angels where locals and hotel guests alike can find their place. La Peer Hotel will feature 105 guest rooms and suites, a rooftop event space, poolside fitness center and more than 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining and lounge spaces. In addition, the property's pool while in the center of the bustling city is an escape in and of itself accented by lush landscaping and handcrafted lanterns hanging from above that set the tone for an urban retreat. Rounding out the project is a new restaurant concept created by Casey Lane, chef/owner of the Tasting Kitchen in Venice, Calif. and Casa Apicii in New York City. One of Ireland's most successful property developers, Owen O'Callaghan, has died, writes Eoin English of the Irish Examiner. Mr O'Callaghan passed away in Cork University Hospital last night following a short battle with illness. Lord Mayor Cllr Des Cahill led tributes this morning, describing Mr O'Callaghan as a "visionary" who contributed so much to the life of his native city, Cork. His Cork-based company, O'Callaghan Properties, has been one of the most successful property development companies for the last 40 years, building thousands of homes, shopping centres and retail parks. The company built the Mahon Point Shopping Centre, the Merchant's Quay shopping centre, and the Opera Lane shopping precinct in Cork city, the Liffey Valley shopping centre in Dublin and the Golden Island development in Athlone. The firm, which owns a large site on Albert Quay in Cork, lost out on a competitive tender for 20m of state aid to build an events centre on the former Beamish and Crawford site in Cork. Within months of losing the bid, the company announced plans to build what will be the largest office block in Cork city on the Albert Quay site. Mr O'Callaghan was also linked to the Mahon Tribunal which found that he made payments to lobbyist Frank Dunlop in a bid to gather the support of politicians for the rezoning of land at Quarryvale, the site on which Liffey Valley was eventually built. Mr O'Callaghan rejected the findings and sought a judicial review of the tribunal, but lost in the High Court. He subsequently lodged an appeal to the Supreme Court - an appeal which is still pending. He was also one of the few developers to survive the property crash, with just a small portion of his loans taken over by Nama. He threatened two years ago to move his business base out of Cork if proposals to merge the city and county councils were adopted. He was a staunch supporter of an extension to the city boundary. A powerful magnitude 8 earthquake hit the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, but no tsunami was reported hours after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued an alert for nearby islands. The quake struck on Sunday at a depth of 103 miles under Papua New Guinea's most eastern province of Bougainville. At Cork International Hotel in front of almost 250 guests on Saturday night, the winner of the Medium Business category, Chicken Inn of the English Market, and the winner of the Large Business category, Cork Airport, both insisted that Cork had more than enough going for it to compete with any comparable city in the world. A visibly moved Tim Mulcahy of the Chicken Inn paid tribute to his parents Jack and Mary Mulcahy for promoting and working tirelessly for the English Market when it was going through lean times. He said the family, which has been in business for almost 60 years, was hugely grateful to be recognised by fellow traders in Cork city centre. He added: The English Market is now celebrated around the world but there was a time when more lights were being turned off than turned on. It was the generation of his parents that meant the lights kept being turned on, he added. Cork city centre is a special place. We are small traders and we need your support, he said. Managing director of Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy, said that he was now 99% sure that Norwegian Air International would fly from Cork to the US for the first time in July. Barren times in 2014 had led to a remarkable recovery in 2016, he said, because of patience and everyone involved in Cork Airport putting their shoulder to the wheel. He appealed for the Cork public to support both NAI and Wow Air, which will fly from Cork to nine US destinations via the Icelandic capital Reykjavik this year. NAI will fly direct to the East Coast, with New Hampshire and Rhode Island, near Boston and New York respectively, the most likely airport destinations. Support your local airport because it is your facility, he said. He was supported by Cork Airport colleague Kevin Cullinane, who said that it was probably the most important square mile in the county. CBA president Pat OConnell said that the organisation had worked tirelessly to promote Cork since its inception in 1957. He said the billions that were currently being invested in the city centre on developments such as the Capital Cineplex site, Albert Quay, Pairc Ui Chaoimh and the Events Centre was a quantum of development never seen before in Cork. One Albert Quay was a beacon to the kind of ambition Cork had, he added. He called on the Government to progress vital infrastructure such as the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway, the Dunkettle Interchange, the Northern Ring Road and the bridge between Tivoli and the Centre Park Road in order for Cork to reach its incredible potential. Mr OConnell said that current parking arrangements in the city centre were not sustainable, and that a city like Cork needed space to grow and breathe. CBA, Corks oldest business organisation, aims to promote the profile of the winners and to encourage excellence in business activities. The awards recognise the value and achievement of Cork businesses, and the CBAs aim is to acknowledge an individual business that has contributed to or promoted the enhancement of the commercial, cultural or civic life of Cork. The event was sponsored by AIB Bank, OCallaghan Properties, and The Irish Examiner. Partners included ETC the Events, Tourism and Communications agency. Dairygolds success down to work, vision of all stakeholders There are not many more impressive Cork commercial success stories than the powerhouse that is Dairygold, the largest farmer-owned dairy business in the country. With 1,150 employees, a turnover of 800m and hundreds of millions invested into the local economy in recent years, Dairygold has positioned itself as an entity competing globally with distinction. Formed in 1990 when two of the most historic co-operatives in Cork, Ballyclough and Mitchelstown, merged to become one bohemoth, Dairygold is now Irelands largest farmer-owned dairy business and the countrys second largest dairy processor, producing a whopping 1.2bn litres of milk annually (around 20% of the Irish milk pool) from its 2,900 milk suppliers, with 95% of its dairy products now exported worldwide. Its dairy business, following its recent investment of around 200m, produces milk powders, whey proteins and cheeses. Its agri- business services the need of Dairygolds farming members, Irelands second largest agri-trader, combining grain-intake, milling, feed and fertilizer and a retail sales network. Dairygold could easily sit back and bask in its success of the past 27 years but continued investment and world-class facilities have always been in the DNA. A 33% milk supply growth since 2011 of 300m litres, with further increases of 300m litres projected by 2020, required Dairygold to invest significantly. The 200m investment sees 83m pumped into the regeneration of the Mallow Dairy Nutritional Complex and the 33m development of the Mitchelstown Castlefarm Campus, creating world-class dairy processing facilities on both sites. Multi-million euro partnerships with Ornua and Tine have also seen jobs and the economy in Cork and Munster boosted considerably. To be recognised by Cork Chamber is an honour, according to Dairygold chief executiveJim Woulfe. He said: Dairygold is pleased to be a finalist for this prestigious award and appreciates the recognition. It recognises the successful execution of the current phase of Dairygolds strategy through the completion of its capital investments programme, strategic partnerships agreed and the economic benefits being delivered to the wider Cork region, made possible by the commitment and work ethic of the organisations many stakeholders. Putting patient care and comfort first at Mater Private Cork Its Irelands newest private hospital and already the Mater Private Cork has gained a reputation for excellence and the highest quality of care of its patients. A hospital visit can be a stressful one at the best of times, but Mater Private Cork is rewriting the playbook for how it can be done and how it should be done. In its own words, it wants patients to get better, and get the best care when doing so. Located at City Gate, Mahon, the hospital is equipped with the very latest technology, private en-suite rooms, and free parking for patients and visitors. More importantly, the Mater Private Cork is staffed by consultants, doctors, and nurses of the highest standard. According to the hospital, the consultants and the rest of the staff are its greatest assets, each striving to make the Mater Private Cork the best place to receive care, practice medicine, and work. Formed in 2012, it is a purpose-built building meeting all regulatory and Hiqa requirements. In 2016 it opened a new Emergency Department, added a new spine service, new vascular surgery service, and an endocrinology service. The expansion plans are not over by a long shot. The next move is planned for this year at the next building in City Gate. The hospital has now got 270 full-time staff employed and with the continued expansion and more services, that means more hires in the future. As well as expansion of services and new hires, Mater Private Cork also takes corporate social responsibility seriously, supporting causes such as local GAA clubs like Blackrock hurling and charity long-distance cycles. Mater Private Cork is delighted to be recognised by Cork Chamber for the Company of the Year Awards, it said. CEO at Mater Private Cork, Donna Roche, said it was a privilege to be nominated as well as a privilege to serve the people of Cork. She said: Our mission is to improve the health and lives of the people we are privileged to serve. We are proud to be a finalist in the Cork Company of the Year Awards, the most prestigious business event in the region. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of all the team at Mater Private Cork. Our reputation is based on the excellence of our outcomes. Every member of our staff is a care giver who places an emphasis on access and exceeding expectations, and continually linking to excellence. Ronan Daly Jermyn growing and committed as ever to clients With the centuries of experience between more than 100 lawyers at renowned legal firm Ronan Daly Jermyn, it is hard to believe there is any legal quandary in any specific area beyond the scope of the experts who work there. Its not hyperbole Ronan Daly Jermyn is ranked as one of the top 10 Irish law firms and the only one of those 10 headquartered and managed in Cork. Its truly a firm with a global reach. A unique national footprint is bolstered by strategic alliances with UK and US law firms, allowing the firm to offer global services in 69 cities and 38 countries. More than 100 lawyers advise on a full range of transaction for local, national, international, private and public sector clients. The company mantra is: We place our clients first in the way we think and work, and consistently strive to deliver the best service. The rise of Ronan Daly Jermyn has been meteoric in the past couple of years. Headcount has increased from 140 to 235, it opened an office in London in 2013 and in Dublin in 2014, its Dublin operation has grown from just eight people in November 2014 to 35 people in 2016. In the past two years, it has recruited a head of finance, of marketing and of information, all from multinational enterprises. It moved to Mahon for its Cork operation in May 2013. No large law firm in Ireland had ever moved from the city centre before that. Being nominated at Cork Chambers Company of the Year Awards is recognition of what Ronan Daly Jermyn is trying to do, it says. Managing partner at Ronan Daly Jermyn, Richard Martin, said it was an honour to be selected. We are delighted to be selected as a finalist for Cork Company of the Year 2017. Ronan Daly Jermyn has achieved a number of exciting milestones over the past four years including the opening of a fourth office, in Dublin, an increase of more than 50% in the number of employees, and the establishment of strategic alliances with UK and US law firms. We are always focused on enhancing our ability to provide solutions for our clients, not just in Ireland, but across the world and we are proud to be doing this from Cork. Our growth has always been driven by a focus on better serving our clients. We look forward to bringing continued innovation, efficiencies and high-quality legal counsel to our clients. Delayed for a year, the inquiry can now proceed, with Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan saying the HSE can publish two internal reports into the scandal, clearing the way for the inquiry. At a meeting of the senior management in the Department of Health in the past few days, Health Minister Simon Harris demanded delivery of the terms of reference from his officials, following criticism of the delays. Mr Harris was called on to intervene after criticisms from within government about Disabilities Minister Finian McGraths handling of the matter. Mr McGrath, who was also at the meeting, became frustrated at the delays and insisted terms of reference must go to the Cabinet by the end of January. Both Mr Harris and Mr McGrath have said that, without the two HSE reports being published, any inquiry would face substantial additional burdens. The HSE has begun making the reports ready for publication, with redactions of sensitive material. It will draw up three versions of the reports: An accessible version for people with disabilities at the home; another for their families; and a third for general publication. The two internal reports will be available in February. Once approved by Cabinet, the terms of reference will be passed through both the Dail and Seanad, in February, to allow the inquiry to be up and running by March 1. There has been frustration within the Government at the lack of progress in delivering the inquiry into what is one of the most shocking abuse scandals in recent times. The HSE director general, Tony OBrien, has met with Ms OSullivan about the publication of the two reports. HSE bosses are also due to meet the local superintendent in Waterford, whose request not to publish had been the basis of the HSEs refusal to do so. The Grace scandal concerns the rape, physical abuse, and neglect of up to 47 children and young adults, at a foster home in Waterford over a 20-year period. In Graces case, she languished in the home for 14 years before she was removed. The HSE had long-refused to publish the two reports, saying that gardai had warned that doing so would jeopardise ongoing investigations. Ms OSullivan had been asked by Waterford TD,John Deasy to clarify her position over the reports publication. Mr Deasy had grown impatient at the delays. Mr Deasy, in his letters to the Garda Commissioner, said he feared the inquiry would be allowed to linger endlessly in limbo. EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Jan. 23, 2017) - Altiplano Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:APN) ("APN" or the "Company") and Joint Venture partner Comet Exploration Ltd. ("Comet") are pleased to announce that the Comet Joint Venture ("CJV") has commenced work on the 500 m long underground development at the CJV's Farellon Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) project. The Farellon IOCG project is located near the town of La Serena, Republic of Chile. The project area is located in the coastal IOCG belt which runs for hundreds of kilometres and is host to several large IOCG deposits namely: Mantos Blancos, Candelaria and Mantos Verde. These projects and the Farellon project are within or spatially associated with the Atacama Fault system which likely was the main conduit for IOCG ore forming fluids that transported and deposited metals along or in close proximity to the faults hosted in granitic and or volcanoclastic rocks. At Farellon, three separate and discreet iron-copper-gold (Fe-Cu-Au) veins named Farallon, Laura and Rosario strike northeast and have been traced in outcrop and underground workings for more than 1.2 km. The veins range from 1 to 10 m in width, averaging about 2 m, are sub vertical and well mineralized over much of their strike lengths. Initially the CJV will commence work at the Farellon Vein. At Farellon, a 500 m exploration decline will be constructed approximately 50 m below the existing workings, which is designed to drive through the high-grade Fe-Cu-Au vein to a point approximately 10 m north of the vein. This 500 m tunnel will be the main access and will used to facilitate underground cross cut sampling and drilling along the length of the high-grade Fe-Cu-Au vein. The CJV will drill approximately 150 core holes of between 10 and 30 m in length to evaluate and establish initial resources. Once the Farellon project is underway, the CJV will commence similar exploration activities at the Maria Luisa Project. Commencing in May an exploration drive will be developed approximately 50 m beneath existing workings and will be used to facilitate drilling the Marie Luisa high-grade Fe-Cu-Au vein system. Drilling will be conducted to evaluate and establish resources. Pursuant to the HOA, the Company may earn up to an initial 50% interest in the Comet Joint Venture "CJV" by funding an aggregate of US$2,000,000 on or before August 1, 2017. The HOA anticipated the two parties will have a CJV agreement in place by February 10, 2017 which will provide the framework on the governance of the venture. It is anticipated that a JV Committee will be comprised of two members from each company. The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the entering into of a formal joint venture agreement and approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The technical content of this News Release has been reviewed and verified by John Williamson, B.Sc., P.Geol., of Altiplano Minerals Ltd., the company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Altiplano Altiplano Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:APN) is a mineral exploration company focused on evaluating and acquiring projects with significant potential for advancement from discovery through to production, in Canada and abroad. Management has a substantial record of success in capitalizing opportunity, overcoming challenges and building shareholder value. Additional information concerning Altiplano can be found on its website at www.altiplanominerals.com. WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Jan. 23, 2017) - Winston Gold Mining Corp. ("Winston Gold" or the "Corporation") (CSE:WGC)(OTCQB:WGMCF) is pleased to announce that it has been able to outline a high-grade gold vein which could be amenable to underground mining. "New drill results, outlined below, combined with earlier reported assays from the Edna Trend released in December (press release Dec 13th 2016) indicate that we have outlined a potentially minable vein which we are calling the Edna-West Vein," stated Murray Nye, CEO and Director of Winston Gold Mining. "The steeply dipping Edna-West vein currently has a strike length of 407 ft. (124 metres) and a vertical extent of up to 150 feet (45.7 metres). Our next step will be to further define the vein with the goal of sighting an exploration adit to access it." The key drill intercepts that outline the vein include: W1633 intersected 2.3 ft. averaging 1.3 ounces per ton (opt) or (44.57 grams/tonne) gold. (Press Release Dec 13, 2016). W1635 cut 4.8 ft. averaging 0.303 opt (10.39 g/t) gold. (Press Release Dec 13, 2016). W1647 hit 4 ft. averaging 0.226 opt (7.75 g/t) gold. W1650 intersected 1 ft. averaging 0.427 opt (14.64 g/t) gold. The Historic Edna mine produced ore from North-East oriented flat veins (dipping minus 20 degrees to the Northwest) and steep veins (dipping minus 60 degrees to the Northwest). The new Edna-West Vein is oriented in an East-West direction and dips steeply to the North at an angle of about minus 75 degrees. "We believe the Edna-West vein may be a late-stage mineralized vein that is younger than the both the Edna and Custer vein systems. As a result, it may continue eastward past the point where it intersects the Custer vein," commented Mr. Nye. "The vein remains open for expansion at depth and along strike to the East and also to the West for a few hundred feet where it's most likely cut off by a significant regional fault." Holes W1646, W1647 and W1648 were drilled from Pad 8, located 300 feet (91.4 metres) west of the historic Edna Mine. Hole W1649 was drilled from Pad 7, a 100 ft. (30 metres) step-out to the west of Pad 8 and hole W1650 was drilled from Pad 6, another 100 ft. (30 metres) step-out west of Pad 7. The width of the Edna-West Vein appears to vary from 1 ft. to over 5 ft. over its currently known strike length. The phase-1 drill program has intersected many narrow veins within the Edna Trend and true width has been difficult to determine since many of these veins are associated with fault breccia and fault gouge and it is not possible to determine a proper core angle. Refer to chart below for details of the drill holes discussed in this release. Hole UTM North (m) UTM East (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth degrees Dip degrees From (ft.) To (ft.) Interval (ft.)/(m) Gold (OPT) Gold (g/t) W1646 448434 5143803 1506 184 -90 NSI NSI W1647 448434 5143803 1506 180 -72 86 88 2 0.61 0.155 5.31 306 308 2 0.61 0.278 9.53 356 360 4 1.22 0.226 7.75 W1648 448434 5143803 1506 180 -52 NSI NSI W1649 448404 5143795 1508 180 -60 NSI NSI W1650 448371 5143792 1510 180 -76 125 126 1 0.30 0.521 17.86 382 383 1 0.30 0.427 14.64 *NSI = No Significant Intercepts The company expects to receive final assay results from the remaining few holes of the Phase-1 drill program shortly. A total of 33 holes were drilled totaling 12,428 ft. (3,788 metres). A Phase-2 drill program is now underway. It is designed to further define the Edna-West vein and will ultimately aid in the placement of an exploration adit. The Winston Gold Project is central to a historic precious and base metal mining district in which most of the ore was mined from tightly structurally controlled high angle fissure veins and lode/replacement zones. Reports indicate that more than 100,000 ounces of gold was recovered from these underground mines in the late 19th to early 20th century from about 150,000 tons of ore. (Earle, 1964; Schell, 1963). Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance All sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists and the chain of custody from the drill to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. A blank or certified reference material was inserted approximately every tenth sample. The samples were delivered to Norris Labs Inc., in Norris Montana where they were crushed, pulverized and the sample pulps digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and a 50g gravimetric finish. Qualified Person The scientific and technical content and interpretations contained in this news release have been reviewed, verified and approved by Dr. Criss Capps PhD. P.Geol., an independent consultant to Winston Gold Corp. Dr. Capps is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Winston Gold Winston Gold is a junior mining company focused on advancing high-grade, low cost mining opportunities into production. Towards that end, the Corporation has acquired two under-explored and under-exploited gold/silver mining opportunities, being the Winston Gold project near Helena, Montana, and the Gold Ridge project, near Willcox, Arizona. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 23, 2017) - White Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:WGO) (the "Company") is pleased to provide results from its 2016 exploration program in the White Gold District of the Yukon Territory. The Company has successfully defined drill ready structurally controlled gold targets similar to Goldcorp Inc.'s Coffee deposit and Kinross Gold Corporation's Golden Saddle deposit also located in the White Gold District of the Yukon. Furthermore, the Company's 2016 exploration efforts have identified new prospects to add to its strong pipeline of projects for future exploration. The following news release is intended to orient readers on the scale and scope of the 2016 exploration program. More detailed information about each drill ready project and an outline of the planned 2017 exploration program will follow. Summary of Highlights 2016 results confirm drill ready targets at Nolan, Loonie, IND, Dime, and Bonanza Properties 110 g/t Gold from rock grab sample along Lira Trend, Loonie Property 11,620 soil samples taken on nine properties 2,456 quartz claims staked covering newly identified prospective areas The Company is the largest land holder in the district with 14,648 claims (297,000 hectares) Fully financed, recently completed a $18 million raise in December 2016, including $14.5 million from Agnico Eagle Mines Limited Approximately $30 million in historic exploration expenditures have been incurred on the properties Summary White Gold Corp. has recently acquired the largest land package in the prolific White Gold District of the Yukon and has also assembled a corporate team which has been directly involved with every major gold discovery in the White Gold district during this era. Preliminary exploration work on these properties has produced several highly prospective targets. Further to the historic work performed and the encouraging results of the 2016 work program as described below, the strategically located properties will undergo an extensive and fully funded exploration program over the following 3 years. The 2016 exploration program, completed in the late fall, was comprised of 11,620 soil samples taken on 9 of the Company's 23 properties. These samples consisted of ridge and spur reconnaissance soils as well as follow up grids on known anomalies. Soil sampling is an ideal tool for exploration in the White Gold District as the area has not been glaciated and there is a well-developed in place soil profile. In addition to the soil sampling, Drone and/or X-CAM aerial photographic Surveys, Resistivity Geophysical Surveys, detailed geologic mapping and prospecting, GT Probe bedrock sampling, and a compilation of historic work in the White Gold District was also completed. Further to the work performed on the existing projects, the 2016 exploration program also led to new encouraging gold-in-soil results and associated pathfinder elements. Consequently, the Company conducted a staking program to consolidate its land position around several of these key soil anomalies, as well as to add entirely new projects to the portfolio staking an additional 2,456 claims. The Company now owns a total of 14,648 claims (297,000 hectares), making it the largest land holder in the White Gold District. These claims cover 6 project areas: The Sixty Mile, Klondike, Money, White-Stewart, Coffee Trend and Beaver Creek, comprising 23 properties in total. With the December 2016 financing of $18 million completed, the Company sits in a unique position with its three year exploration plan fully funded. Shawn Ryan, Director and Chief Technical Advisor stated "Our soil sampling and prospecting program in 2016 significantly increased our understanding of the numerous gold targets across our property portfolio in the White Gold District. With this new information and the data from the approximately $30 million in past expenditures, the company looks forward to our 2017 program where we will begin to systematically drill test several of these gold trends. We also made significant progress in defining new areas not previously known in the District". The Company encourages individuals interested in the company to visit its website (www.whitegoldcorp.ca) to further understand the size and scope of the Company's projects in the White Gold District. 2016 Work Program Summary Money Claim Area Loonie Property The Loonie property is located 70 kilometers South West of Dawson City, Yukon Territory adjacent to the Yukon River. Historic exploration work conducted on the Lira was by a private 3rd party from 2011 - 2014 and was not previously publicly disclosed. The historic work included 6,913 soil samples; ground magnetic and IP-Resistivity surveys; drone aerial photography; trenching (1,925m over 17 trenches); and minor RAB drilling (612.65m over 8 holes). A bulk of the historic work was focused on the Lira target which consists of an E-NE trending 75m wide x 740m long gold in soil anomaly with values ranging from trace to 3,700 ppb Au. The soil anomaly is associated with a 5 - 15m wide E-NE trending shear zone with strongly quartz-sericite-clay altered and brecciated felsic orthogenesis with quartz veining, disseminated pyrite, and, locally, visible gold that was traced for 400m of strike length by subsequent trenching and RAB drilling. Highlights of the historic work include 10m of 13.3 g/t Au from trench LOOTR12-15 and 12.2m of 4.93 g/t Au, including 1.52m of 20.7 g/t Au, from drill hole LOORAB14-01. Table 1: Historic Loonie Property Trench Results* Trench ID Target From(m) To(m) Au (g/t) Length LOOTR12-07 Lira No significant results LOOTR12-08 Lira 20 30 1.13 10 LOOTR12-09 Lira 20 35 1.61 15 LOOTR12-10 Lira 30 35 3.34 5 LOOTR12-11 Lira No significant results LOOTR12-12 Lira No significant results LOOTR12-13 Lira 40 45 0.36 5 LOOTR12-14 Lira No significant results LOOTR12-15 Lira 5 15 13.3 10 Including 5 10 25.2 5 LOOTR12-16 Lira No significant results LOOTR12-17 Lira No significant results Table 2: Historic Loonie Property RAB Drill Results* Hole ID From(m) To(m) Au (g/t) Length LOORAB14-01 0 12.19 4.93 12.2 Including 7.62 9.14 20.7 1.52 LOORAB14-02 No significant results LOORAB14-03 1.52 10.67 0.323 9.10 LOORAB14-04 24.38 36.58 0.353 12.2 LOORAB14-05 No significant results LOORAB14-06 No significant results LOORAB14-07 12.19 16.76 0.515 4.57 LOORAB14-08 7.62 24.38 0.899 16.76 Including 19.81 24.38 2.11 4.57 *The Company advises that the reported trenching and RAB drilling results are historic in nature and have not been verified. The Companies 2016 exploration activities were focused on, and on trend to the south of, the Lira Zone with an emphasis on lithologic and structural mapping to help guide future drilling activities. A total of 10 rock grab & chip samples were collected with assays ranging from trace to 110 g/t Au. Two grab samples of strongly silicified and brecciated felsic gneiss with fine grained visible gold collected near trench LOOTR12-15 returned 99.2 g/t Au and 110.1 g/t Au and are associated with strongly elevated Ag (up to 36 ppm) and Te (up to 55 ppm). Based on the revised geologic interpretation for the Lira it appears that historic RAB drilling in the area was oriented subparallel to the mineralized zone, indicating that a significant number of the historic holes did not intercept, or just clipped, the mineralized structure. Additionally, there are indications in the geophysical data for additional, untested, parallel structures in the Lira area. Dime Property Activities in 2016 focused on the East Zone target area with an emphasis on lithologic and structural mapping to help guide RAB drilling activities planned for 2017. Historic exploration results for the Dime Property are summarized in the "43-101 Technical Report on the Dime Project" dated February 9, 2012. Yukon Assessment report YEIP 2013-027. Reba Property (New Property) 231 claims staked covering a new target area immediately to the Northwest of Kinross Gold Corporation's JP Ross property. For area maps and more information please visit: www.whitegoldcorp.ca/projects/money/snapshot/ Sixty Mile Claim Area Nolan Property The Nolan property is located approximately 50 km west of Dawson City, Yukon, along the Sixty Mile River, a road accessible area with considerable historic and on-going placer gold activity. The property covers multiple exploration targets that the Company consolidated into one large contiguous block of claims after a review of all known data in the area. Historic work on the property was completed by various 3rd party companies and individuals and consisted of soil sampling (9,302 samples), rock grab and chip sampling (289 samples), and minor trenching (206m over 2 trenches). A total of 1842 soil samples were collected in 2016 focusing on the Cali, Nine and Boucher target areas, plus additional ridge & spur reconnaissance samples. Assay values for the 2016 samples ranged from trace to 515.6 ppb Au. The most significant anomaly on the Nolan property defined to date is the Cali target which consists of a 2.5 km long by 250 m wide zone of anomalous gold in soils open in both directions along strike. Soil assay values from the Cali range from trace to 515.6 ppb gold and are associated with strongly anomalous As, Bi, Pb, Sb, Ag, Cu, and Zn. Historic exploration results for the Nolan area are summarized in the "Geological, Geochemical, and Trenching Assessment Report of the Fifty Mile Project, Sixty Mile area, Yukon Territory" dated March 3, 2015. For area maps and more information please visit: www.whitegoldcorp.ca/projects/sixty-mile/snapshot/ Klondike Claim Area IND property The IND property is located thirty kilometers south of Dawson City, Yukon territory and is road accessible. Historic work on the IND included 2,542 soil samples; airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys; 3,127m of trenching over 20 trenches, and 1316.73m of diamond drilling over 7 holes (see Aldrin Resource Corp. NR's dated July 6, 2009, Nov. 4, 2010, and Oct. 27, 2011 for summaries of historic exploration results). Work on the property in 2016 included the collection of 194 GT Probe bedrock interface samples over 11 lines; covering a 130 m by 260 m area. Assay values range from trace to 2.61 g/t Au and are associated with strongly elevated As. The samples were taken within the center of a 170m x 1km Au-As soil anomaly (from trace to 1273 ppb Au) and mineralization is associated with sheeted - stockwork quartz veining and up to 1% disseminated pyrite-arsenopyrite in strongly sericite altered granite. The GT Probe results confirm the presence of in situ mineralization beneath the soil anomaly and the observed geological, geophysical and geochemical results indicate the mineralization is occurring along an E-NE trending structural corridor that was untested by historic exploration on the property. For area maps and more information please visit: www.whitegoldcorp.ca/projects/klondike/snapshot/ White-Stewart Claim Area The Company has nine properties in this area covering an 80 km trend adjacent to Kinross Gold Corporation's Golden Saddle Deposit and JP Ross property. Hen Property A total of 660 soil samples were collected and consisted of reconnaissance lines with assay results ranging from trace up to 199.4 ppb gold. The strongest gold assay (199.4 ppb) occurs 50m north of a 195 ppb Au sample and both are associated with strongly anomalous Cu (up to 1191 ppm). There is no geologic information for this area and it will require follow up work in 2017 including grid soil sampling and prospecting. Historic exploration results on the Wolf Property are summarized in "Prospecting, soil geochemistry, airborne and radiometric surveying, and air photo-orthophoto surveying on the Hen project, White Gold district, Yukon Territory, Canada" dated January 29, 2013. Yukon Assessment Report #096305. Black Hills Property A total of 2,267 soil samples were collected and consisted dominantly of infill grid sample on the Glen Breton, Bushmills, Bowmore, Ben Nevis and CC target areas. The purpose of the sampling was to infill and confirm historic gold in soil anomalies in the target areas previously reported by Smash Minerals in 2011*. Assay results from the 2016 sampling ranged from trace up to 1594 ppb Au. The most significant results were returned from the Bowmore zone which consists of a 200m x 2.3km zone, NW trending zone of anomalous gold in soils (up to 1594 ppb Au). Based on previous geologic mapping in the area, the soil anomaly is coincident with a zone(s) of quartz veining and quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes within a meta-gabbro. Historic exploration results on the Black Hills Property are summarized in "43-101 Technical Report on the Whiskey Property, Yukon Territory, Canada for Smash Minerals Corp" dated Dec. 12, 2011. CLW Property A total of 306 soil samples were collected. Assay values range from trace up to 261.8 ppb Au. This property is contiguous to the North boundary of Kinross Gold Corporation's White Gold property. Barker Property A total of 2,509 soil samples were collected consisting of reconnaissance sampling and minor follow up sampling to existing gold + multi-element anomalies. Assay results ranged from trace to 26.4 ppb Au. Localized samples also contained elevated As (Cu (up to 618.5 ppm), Pb (up to 1720 ppm), & Zn (up to 1269 ppm). Historic exploration results on the Barker Property are summarized in "43-101 Technical Report on the Whiskey Property, Yukon Territory, Canada for Smash Minerals Corp" dated Dec. 12, 2011. Pedlar Property A total of 2,563 soil samples were collected consisting of reconnaissance samples and minor follow up sampling to existing gold + multi-element anomalies. Assay values ranged from trace to 288 ppb Au. Multiple anomalous gold in soil samples (>50 ppb) were identified in the area and require follow up work in 2017 including grid soil sampling and prospecting. Historic exploration results on the Pedlar Property are summarized in "Prospecting, soil geochemistry, airborne and radiometric surveying on the Bridget project, White Gold district, Yukon Territory, Canada" dated January 29, 2013. Yukon Assessment report #096304. For area maps and more information please visit: www.whitegoldcorp.ca/projects/white-stewart/snapshot/ Coffee Trend-West Claim Area Wolf Property The Wolf property is located 40 km west of Goldcorp's Coffee project. A total of 333 soil samples were collected in 2016 and consisted of infill soil sampling on a historic grid. Assays ranged from trace to 253.6 ppb Au and define a 200m x 1.3 km, NE trending zone of anomalous gold in soils associated with elevated As, Bi, Cu, Mo, & Pb. This includes a 70m x 250m zone of samples in the center of the anomaly >50ppb Au. The soil anomaly appears to be associated with a strongly altered felsic volcanic unit with, locally, strongly disseminated pyrite (up to 5%). Historic exploration results on the Wolf Property are summarized in "Prospecting, soil geochemistry, airborne and radiometric surveying, and air photo-orthophoto surveying on the Wolf project, White Gold district, Yukon Territory, Canada" dated December 24, 2012. Yukon Assessment Report #096157. Rice Property (New Property) 52 claims staked covering new target approx. 35 km north west of the companies Wolf property. For area maps and more information please visit: www.whitegoldcorp.ca/projects/coffee-trend-west/snapshot/ Beaver Creek Claim Area Pilot Property A total of 694 soil samples were collected and consist of reconnaissance samples and minor follow up sampling to existing gold + multi-element anomalies. Assay values ranged from trace up to 637.7 ppb gold and are associated with strong elevated As (+/-Sb). Combined with historic soils from the area they define a 500m x 1km anomaly that is open in all directions. Historic exploration results on the Pilot Property are summarized in "Geochemical Report - Pilot 1 - 12 Claims" dated August 9, 2010. Yukon Assessment report #095238 Wels Property A total of 503 soil samples were collected and consists of reconnaissance samples and minor follow up sampling to existing gold + multi-element anomalies. Assay values ranged from trace to 59.2 ppb Au. Historic exploration results on the Wels Property are summarized in "Geochemical Report - WELLS 1 - 301 Claims" dated January 19, 2014. Yukon Assessment report YEIP 2013-027. For area maps and more information please visit: http://whitegoldcorp.ca/projects/beaver-creek/snapshot/ The company had also contracted CGG Canada Services Ltd to conduct helicopter-borne Digem survey on several properties. A total of 510 line kms over the Bonanza, Nolan, and Black Hills properties were flown. A total of 4,700 line kms covering 15 different geochemical targets was originally planned, but the surveys could not be completed due to poor weather conditions Despite the limited production, the surveys produced high quality data that will significantly aid in geological interpretation and exploration planning. The Company plans to fly the remaining surveys in the Spring of 2017. Methodology and QA/QC The analytical work reported on herein was performed by Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd., an internationally recognized analytical services provider, at its Vancouver, British Columbia laboratory. Sample preparation was carried out at its Whitehorse, Yukon facility. All rock and GT Probe samples were prepared using procedure PRP70-250 (crush, split and pulverize 250 g to 200 mesh) and analyzed by method FA430 (30g fire assay with AAS finish) and AQ200 (0.5g, aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis). Samples containing <10g/t Au were reanalyzed using method FA530 (30g Fire Assay with gravimetric finish). All soil samples were prepared using procedure SS80 (dry at 60 C and sieve 100g at -80 mesh) and analyzed by method AQ201 (15g aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis). Ground Truth Exploration Inc., Dawson City, YT, designed and managed all work for the Company. The reported work was completed using industry standard procedures, including a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Standard, blank, and duplicate samples were inserted in the sample sequence for all soil, rock, and GT Probe samples sent in for analysis. The Qualified Person detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data. Jodie Gibson, PGeo, of GroundTruth Exploration Inc., has acted as the qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. About White Gold Corp. White Gold Corp. owns a portfolio of 14,648 quartz claims across 23 properties covering approximately 297,000 hectares representing approximately 30% of the Yukon's White Gold District. Preliminary exploration work has produced several highly prospective targets. The claim packages are bordered by sizable gold discoveries owned by majors including Kinross, Goldcorp and Western Copper & Gold. The Company has outlined an aggressive exploration plan to further explore its properties. For more information visit www.whitegoldcorp.ca. KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO--(Marketwired - Jan. 23, 2017) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN)(OTCQX:IVPAF) Executive Chairman Robert Friedland and Chief Executive Officer Lars-Eric Johansson today announced assay results from another 25 holes as part of the ongoing 2016-2017 drilling campaign at the Kakula Discovery on the company's Tier One Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project, near the mining centre of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kakula Discovery remains open along a northwesterly-southeasterly strike. Massive potential for resource expansion is considered to remain within the Kakula Discovery area. High-grade, chalcocite-rich copper mineralization has been outlined along a corridor that currently is approximately one kilometre wide and at least 5.5 kilometres long (see Figure 2). The latest drilling results further reinforce the exceptional continuity of high-grade copper mineralization and the relatively flat-lying geometry. Highlights include: DD1093, a step-out hole drilled 1.6 kilometres northwest of the current boundary of Kakula's current Inferred Resources, intersected typical Kakula-style mineralization similar to holes drilled in the centre of the high-grade Kakula Discovery. The hole intersected 11.10 metres (true width) of 5.82% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off, beginning at a downhole depth of 993.0 metres; 11.10 metres (true width) of 5.82% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 11.90 metres (true width) of 5.57% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 12.88 metres (true width) of 5.26% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. A photograph of the mineralized intersection in hole DD1093 is shown in Figure 10. DD1080, drilled 1.0 kilometre northwest of the boundary of Kakula's current Inferred Resources, intersected 4.49 metres (true width) of 8.51% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off, beginning at a downhole depth of 857.6 metres; 4.99 metres (true width) of 7.96% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 4.99 metres (true width) of 7.96% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 10.23 metres (true width) of 4.75% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. DD1065, drilled 300 metres northwest of the boundary of Kakula's current Inferred Resources, intersected 6.24 metres (true width) of 6.44% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off, beginning at a downhole depth of 638.0 metres; 7.24 metres (true width) of 5.96% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 8.39 metres (true width) of 5.43% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 8.39 metres (true width) of 5.43% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. "It is remarkable to drill a step-out hole more than 1.6 kilometres beyond the limits of the previous mineral resource boundary and intersect almost identical, high-grade, chalcocite-rich mineralization," said Mr. Friedland. "The open-ended nature of the extremely high-grade copper mineralization at the unfolding Kakula Discovery certainly has caught the attention of the mining industry. The ongoing results speak for themselves - and leave me speechless." In addition to the three step-out drill holes highlighted above that extend the Kakula Discovery to the northwest, hole DD1079, drilled 400 metres southeast of Kakula's current Inferred Resources and beyond a line of poorly mineralized drill holes, intersected significant Kakula-style chalcocite mineralization within a siltstone unit. The hole intersected 3.51 metres (true width) of 3.63% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off, beginning at a downhole depth of 851.0 metres; 3.51 metres (true width) of 3.63% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 3.51 metres (true width) of 3.63% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 3.51 metres (true width) of 3.63% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. "This hole provides profound encouragement for the potential continuity of Kakula-style mineralization along strike to the southeast," said David Edwards, Geology Manager for the Kamoa-Kakula Project. In response to the spectacular exploration success, Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining have accelerated the Kakula exploration program with the mobilization of additional contracted drill rigs. Nine rigs now are drilling at Kakula, focused in the northwest resource expansion area, where the aim is to initially infill an area of 2.6 square kilometres immediately northwest of Kakula's current Inferred Resource boundary. Infill drilling of Inferred Resources is ongoing in the central section of Kakula. To the southeast, step-out drilling is continuing to explore extensions of the Kakula high-grade zone along trend. The current Kakula drill plan is shown in Figure 2. Ongoing geological studies leading to new Kamoa-Kakula exploration targets In addition to exploring along the Kakula trend, significant overall potential exists both within the Kakula exploration area and on the Kamoa-Kakula mining licence as a whole. Approximately 200 square kilometres of the 400-square-kilometre Kamoa-Kakula project area remain untested. The Kamoa-Kakula geology team, with the assistance of its technical advisors, is intensively evaluating the structural and stratigraphic controls on mineralization of the broader Kamoa-Kakula basin. This project is intended to define and rank priority targets located in the untested parts of the licence. Initial work has highlighted a number of high-priority drill targets that are planned to be tested this year. Figure 3 highlights the expansive area of the mining licence that remains to be drill tested in relation to the currently defined Mineral Resources, as well as showing some of the exploration targets that are being investigated. Figure 1. Kamoa-Kakula Project map shows the initial development area for the Kansoko Mine and the adjacent Kakula resources area. Figure 2. Planned exploration drilling over the Kakula exploration area for Q1 2017 and Q2 to Q4 2017 showing current and future target areas and locations of recent significant intersections. Figure 3. Kamoa-Kakula mining licence showing copper grade of Indicated and Inferred Resources at a 2% copper cut-off, untested areas and current target areas. Figure 4. Drill-hole location plan for the Kakula discovery area shows holes completed and in progress, superimposed on 1% composite grade-thickness contours. Figure 5. Location Plan showing grade and thickness of recent results superimposed on 2.0% composite grade-thickness contours. Figure 6. Location Plan showing grade and thickness of recent results superimposed on 2.5% composite grade-thickness contours. Figure 7. Location Plan showing grade and thickness of recent results superimposed on 3.0% composite grade-thickness contours. Figure 8. Strip-logs of drill holes DD1021, DD1070 & DD1032 showing typical Kakula-style mineralization. Kakula exploration program has been accelerated, with nine rigs now drilling in a bid to further expand the discovery area. Figure 9. Section along the axis on the Kakula Deposit on the section A-A'-A" showing drilling completed to date and composites at a 3% copper cut-off. As shown in Figure 9, the Kakula Deposit is a gently-dipping blanket of thick, chalcocite-rich copper mineralization. Initial mine development is planned to begin in the flat, near-surface zone highlighted in the inset which, at a 3% cut-off, is between 7.1 metres and 11.7 metres thick and with copper grades between 8.11% and 10.35% along the deposit's axis. Figure 10. High-grade copper intersection in drillhole DD1093. New Kakula Mineral Resource estimate expected early in Q2 2017 Ivanhoe Mines expects to produce an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Kakula Deposit within 90 days. The initial Mineral Resource estimate for Kakula - the second major discovery on the Kamoa mining licence - was detailed in Ivanhoe Mines' October 12, 2016, news release. Based on approximately 24,000 metres of drilling in 65 holes, Kakula contained Indicated Mineral Resources estimated at 66 million tonnes at 6.59% copper, plus Inferred Resources of 27 million tonnes at 5.26% copper, at a 3% cut-off. At a lower, 1% cut-off, Kakula contained Indicated Mineral Resources estimated at 192 million tonnes at 3.45% copper plus Inferred Resources of 101 million tonnes at 2.74% copper. Kakula's addition boosted the combined Kamoa-Kakula Indicated Mineral Resources to 944 million tonnes at 2.83% copper, plus Inferred Resources of 286 million tonnes at 2.31% copper, at a 1% cut-off. The October 2016 Kakula Mineral Resource was defined by drilling covering a total area of 8.7 square kilometres within the larger 60-square-kilometre Kakula exploration area. The total areal extent of Indicated Resource is 4.6 square kilometres at a 1% cut-off and the areal extent of the Inferred Resource is 3.3 square kilometres at a 1% cut-off. The average dip of the mineralized zone in the Indicated Resource area is 13 degrees, while the average dip is 16 degrees in the Inferred Resource area. With the addition of Kakula's Mineral Resources, Wood Mackenzie - a prominent, international industry research and consulting group - demonstrated that the Kamoa-Kakula Project is the largest copper discovery in Zambia and the DRC, making it the largest copper discovery ever made on the African continent. Wood Mackenzie's research, independently prepared for Ivanhoe Mines in October 2016, also showed that Kamoa-Kakula already ranked among the 10 largest copper deposits in the world. Approximately 46,000 metres now have been drilled at the Kakula Discovery since the current drilling campaign was started in May 2016. New preliminary economic assessment will analyze expanded development scenarios of up to 16 million tonnes per annum. In addition to updating the Kakula Mineral Resource estimate, an expanded preliminary economic assessment (PEA) also is underway that will assess the potential of mining the combined Kamoa and Kakula discoveries at extraction rates of between eight and 16 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) - believed by Ivanhoe Mines' engineering team to better reflect the size, thickness and grade of the deposits and the associated economics. The December 2016 PEA estimated that the initial phase of production from Kakula, at a rate of 4 Mtpa, would have a projected average grade of 7.52% copper over the initial five years of operations. Given the potential to significantly expand Kakula's high-grade resources, the project engineering team is targeting a life-of-mine average annual copper production scenario for a mine of up to 8 Mtpa at Kakula, potentially producing in excess of 400,000 tonnes per annum. Ivanhoe Mines expects that the extension of the Kakula Discovery by approximately 40% will have a major, positive impact on the project's economics, offering the potential to significantly expand Kakula's mining rate and extend the deposit's mine life. "The December 2016 PEA assessed the economics of building an initial mine at Kamoa-Kakula with the primary focus of keeping the pre-production capital costs to a maximum of $1 billion," said Mr. Johansson. "Given that we already have a Tier One, high-grade resource base at Kamoa-Kakula, the engineering team is going to remove availability of capital as a constraint. The next version of the PEA will focus on determining the optimal initial development scenario, as well as the best steady-state mining rate, which balances capital efficiency with effective scale and long-term operating costs to maximize the project's net present value." In addition, data collection and testwork to support a subsequent pre-feasibility study also is underway to enhance the findings of the Kakula 2016 PEA. Mineralization at Kakula is substantively thicker and higher grade than elsewhere on the Kamoa mining licence; it also is consistently bottom-loaded and will support the construction of selective, mineralized zone (SMZ) composites at cut-offs up to at least 3% copper. The lateral consistency of mineralization at these higher cut-offs presents significant opportunities for mine planning, with large areas of the resource having chalcocite-rich mineralization with average grades in excess of 6% when using the 3% SMZ. Chalcocite (copper sulfide, Cu 2 S) is opaque and dark-grey to black, with a metallic lustre (see Figure 9 for an example of Kakula high-grade chalcocite drill core). Due to its very high percentage of contained copper by weight (the percentage of the mineral that is actual metal to be extracted is 80% copper by weight) and its capacity to produce an exceptionally clean, high-grade concentrate, chalcocite is considered to be the most valuable copper mineral. Based on initial metallurgical test work, the chalcocite-rich nature of the copper mineralization at the Kakula Deposit is expected to yield higher metallurgical recoveries and higher concentrate grades, which in turn are expected to reduce unit transportation costs and therefore improve financial returns. Bench-scale metallurgical flotation test work at XPS Consulting and Testwork Services laboratories in Falconbridge, Canada, achieved copper recoveries of 87.8% and produced a concentrate with an extremely high grade of 56% copper using the flowsheet developed during the Kamoa pre-feasibility study (PFS). The material tested was a composite of chalcocite-rich Kakula drill core, assaying 8.1% copper. Earlier metallurgical testwork indicated that the Kamoa concentrates contain arsenic levels of approximately 0.02%, which are extremely low by world standards. Given this critical competitive marketing advantage, Kamoa's concentrates are expected to attract a significant premium from copper-concentrate traders for use in blending with concentrates from other mines. The Kamoa concentrates will help to enable high-arsenic concentrates from mines in Chile and elsewhere to meet the limit of 0.5% arsenic imposed by Chinese smelters to meet China's new environmental restrictions. A metallurgical test-work program also is underway at Zijin's laboratories to evaluate the potential of bio-leaching material from the Kakula and Kamoa deposits. Advancing underground development at the Kamoa Deposit now more than half way toward reaching high-grade copper mineralization Underground mine development at the Kansoko Sud area of the Kamoa Deposit is progressing ahead of plan and within budgeted costs. The twin declines, incorporating service and conveyor tunnels, have advanced more than 550 metres since the first excavation blast was conducted in May 2016. The underground declines now are more than half-way toward the high-grade copper mineralization at the planned Kansoko Mine and are expected to intersect the orebody early in the second quarter this year. Ivanhoe Mines expects that the fleet of mining equipment will begin development work at the adjacent Kakula Deposit once the twin declines have intercepted the mineralized zones at the Kansoko Mine development and a bulk sample has been obtained for feasibility-level metallurgical test work. Excavated rock from the advancing, underground access tunnels is hauled to the surface through the box cut at the Kansoko Mine development on the Kamoa Deposit, adjacent to the Kakula Discovery. Ongoing construction of the twin declines that will provide underground mining access now has progressed more than 550 metres and is past the half-way point between the Kansoko Mine's surface box cut and targeted, high-grade copper mineralization at the Kamoa Deposit. Table 1. Recent Kakula drill results completed since the October 2016 Mineral Resource estimate. Table 2: Drill-Hole Collar Locations and Orientation Current partners in the Kamoa-Kakula Project The Kamoa-Kakula Project is a very large, stratiform copper deposit with adjacent prospective exploration areas within the Central African Copperbelt, located approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of Lubumbashi. The Kamoa Copper Deposit was discovered by Ivanhoe Mines (then named Ivanhoe Nickel & Platinum) in 2008, followed by the discovery of the Kakula Deposit in early 2016. In August 2012, the DRC government granted mining licences to Ivanhoe Mines for the Kamoa-Kakula Project that cover a total of 400 square kilometres. The licences are valid for 30 years and can be renewed at 15-year intervals. Mine development work at the project began in July 2014 with construction of a box cut for the decline ramps for the planned Kansoko Mine that will provide underground access to the high-grade mining areas in Kansoko Sud and Kansoko Centrale. Following the signing of a partnership agreement with the DRC government last November, Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining each hold an indirect 39.6% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project, Crystal River Global Limited holds an indirect 0.8% interest and the DRC government holds a direct 20% interest. In addition, Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining and Crystal River recently amended their Shareholder, Governance and Option Agreement that originally took effect December 8, 2015. The agreement governing their relationship in the Kamoa-Kakula Project codifies the operation of the project committee and the management of the DRC subsidiary, Kamoa Copper SA, so that the agreement is consistent with existing, on-the-ground practice. The amendments also clarify that if Ivanhoe Mines arranges project financing for 65% of the capital required to develop the first phase of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, Ivanhoe Mines then will be entitled to acquire the indirect 0.8% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project held by Crystal River for a price equal to the then current market value of that interest as determined by an independent expert valuator. The acquisition of Crystal River's indirect 0.8% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project would give Ivanhoe Mines majority control of Kamoa Holding Limited, the entity that presently owns 80% of the Kamoa-Kakula Project. Zijin Mining already had committed to use its best efforts to arrange or procure project financing for 65% of the capital required to develop the first phase of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, as set out in a feasibility study, without any recourse, and on terms acceptable to Ivanhoe Mines. If Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining cannot agree on project financing, the matter will be referred to binding arbitration in Hong Kong. At the request of Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining, and subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions, the DRC will provide its assistance in obtaining the advantages contemplated by the DRC's special law - No. 14/005, enacted to facilitate Sino-Congolese cooperation - relating to the tax, customs, parafiscal tax, non-tax revenues and currency exchange regime applicable to cooperation projects. Qualified Person and Quality Control and Assurance The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen Torr, P.Geo., Ivanhoe Mines' Vice President, Project Geology and Evaluation, and a Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Torr has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release. Ivanhoe Mines maintains a comprehensive chain of custody and QA-QC program on assays from its Kamoa Project. Half-sawn core is processed at Kamoa's on-site preparation laboratory and prepared samples then are shipped by secure courier to Bureau Veritas Minerals (BVM) Laboratories in Australia, an ISO17025-accredited facility. Copper assays are determined at BVM by mixed-acid digestion with ICP finish. Industry-standard certified reference materials and blanks are inserted into the sample stream prior to dispatch to BVM. For detailed information about assay methods and data verification measures used to support the scientific and technical information, please refer to the current technical report on the Kamoa Copper Project on the SEDAR profile of Ivanhoe Mines at www.sedar.com. About Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines is advancing its three principal projects in Sub-Saharan Africa: Mine development at the Platreef platinum-palladium-gold-nickel-copper discovery on the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; mine development and exploration at the Kamoa-Kakula copper project on the Central African Copperbelt in the DRC; and upgrading of the historic, high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine, also on the DRC's Copperbelt. For details, visit www.ivanhoemines.com. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 23, 2017) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:CDB)(OTCQX:CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") and its joint-venture partner, High Power Exploration Inc. ("HPX"), a private mineral exploration company indirectly controlled by mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland's Ivanhoe Industries, LLC, are pleased to announce that drilling at the San Matias Copper-Gold Project in Colombia has intersected bonanza gold veins at Alacran. The discovery of this new style of high grade gold mineralization represents a separate and significant exploration opportunity at Alacran. Alacran drilling highlights: ACD036: 0.90 meters (m) @ 4,440 g/t gold (Au) + 10.25% copper (Cu) + 24.70% zinc (Zn) + 347 g/t silver (Ag) Part of 5.00 m @ 800.90 g/t Au + 3.70% Cu + 8.60% Zn + 88.63 g/t Ag 136.00 m @ 1.00% Cu + 0.56 g/t Au (cut*) The 0.90 meter bonanza grade gold intersection in ACD036 is hosted in a late stage, chalcopyrite-sphalerite-carbonate-coarse gold vein that overprints earlier chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite copper-gold mineralization (Figure 1). The high-grade gold vein is similar to Carbonate Base Metal (CBM) vein systems found globally, including Barrick Gold's Porgera gold mine and also Continental Gold's Buritica deposit, located south of Cordoba's licenses along the Mid Cauca belt in Colombia. The discovery of these structurally controlled high-grade gold rich veins represents an important new target to add extremely high value material within the existing inferred copper-gold mineral resource shell and resource expansion. The CBM Vein in ACD036 was intersected at a depth of approximately 90 meters below surface. Copper-gold mineralization at Alacran has now been intersected over a strike length of 1.3 kilometres, to widths of up to 400 meters, and extends from surface to depths of more than 260 meters below surface. Mario Stifano, President and CEO of Cordoba, commented: "We are excited by the discovery of bonanza grade gold in CBM veins as this new style of mineralization adds another significant exploration front to potentially increase the size and scope of mineralization at Alacran. We are still in the very early stages of our aggressive exploration program at our district scale San Matias copper-gold project, but our best in class exploration team and HPX's proprietary Typhoon technology, reminds us that anywhere, anytime, there is potential for a significant discovery at San Matias." Drilling at Alacran will now focus on testing the up-dip eastern extensions of the deposit, the extent of the newly discovered CBM veins including structural controls and the potential source for the mineralization at Alacran. Alacran Copper-Gold System The Alacran copper-gold system is located within the San Matias Copper-Gold Project in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. The San Matias Copper-Gold Project comprises a 20,000-hectare land package on the inferred northern extension of the richly endowed Mid-Cauca Belt in Colombia. The project contains several known areas of porphyry copper-gold mineralization, copper-gold skarn mineralization and vein-hosted, gold-copper mineralization. The Alacran system is located on a topographic high in gently rolling topography, optimal for potential open-pit mining. Access and infrastructure are considered favourable. Initial inferred resources at Alacran are 53.5 million tonnes of 0.70% copper and 0.37 g/t gold. Alacran is approximately two kilometers southwest of the Company's Montiel porphyry copper-gold discovery, where drilling interested 101 metres of 1.0% copper and 0.65 g/t gold, and two kilometers northwest of the Costa Azul porphyry copper-gold discovery, where drilling interested 87 metres of 0.62% copper and 0.51 g/t gold (Figure 2). The copper-gold mineralization at Alacran is associated with stratabound replacement of a marine volcano-sedimentary sequence in the core of a faulted antiformal fold structure. The deposit comprises moderately to steeply-dipping stratigraphy that is mineralized as a series of sub-parallel replacement-style zones and associated disseminations. The copper-gold mineralization is composed of multiple overprinting hydrothermal events with the main ore phase comprised of chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pyrite that appears to overprint an early magnetite metasomatic event. Technical Information The technical information has been reviewed and verified by Christian J. Grainger, PhD, a Qualified Person for the purpose of NI 43-101. Dr. Grainger is a geologist with over 15 years in the minerals mining, consulting, exploration and research industries. Dr. Grainger is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Copper-equivalent values have been calculated using a US$1,300 per ounce gold price and US$2.50 per pound copper price. Cordoba utilizes a comprehensive industry-standard QAQC program. HQ and NQ diamond drill core is sawn in two halves, and one half is sampled and shipped to a sample preparation laboratory. The other half of the core is stored in a secure facility for future assay verification. All samples are prepared at ALS Minerals Laboratory in Medellin, Colombia, and assayed at ALS Minerals Laboratory in Lima, Peru. ALS Minerals operates in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025. Gold is determined by 50 g fire assay with an AAS finish. An initial multi-element suite comprising copper, molybdenum, silver and additional elements is analyzed by four-acid digest with an ICP-ES or ICP-MS finish. All samples with copper values over 2000 ppm are re-assayed by a method for higher grades, which also uses a four-acid digest with an ICP-ES finish. Selected samples of elevated gold grades are submitted to ALS Lima for metallic screen analysis to accurately represent grades given the presence of coarse gold. The exact location of ACD036 drill hole collar has not been disclosed for strategic business purposes. Joint Venture Agreement The San Matias Project is a joint venture between Cordoba and HPX. HPX has earned a 51% interest in the San Matias Project by spending a cumulative total of C$19 million on exploration expenditures on the project. Cordoba and HPX have entered Phase Three of their Joint Venture Agreement, whereby HPX can earn a 65% interest in the project by completing a Feasibility Study. About High Power Exploration (HPX) HPX is a privately owned, metals-focused exploration company deploying proprietary in-house geophysical technologies to rapidly evaluate buried geophysical targets. The HPX technology cluster comprises geological and geophysical systems for targeting, modelling, survey optimization, acquisition, processing and interpretation. HPX has a highly experienced board and management team led by Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Friedland, President Eric Finlayson, a former head of exploration at Rio Tinto, and co-chaired by Ian Cockerill, a former Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields Ltd. For further information, please visit www.hpxploration.com. Table 1: Diamond drillhole results at the Alacran Project* HoleID From To Interval %eCu capped* %Cu capped* Au (g/t) capped* Au (g/t) uncapped Ag (g/t) %Zn Cutoff ACD036 2 16 14 0.34 0.22 0.16 0.16 0.89 0.01 0.3% eCu ACD036 46 182 136 1.38 1.00 0.56 10.93 0.50 0.3% eCu ACD036 including 78 124 46 2.68 1.94 1.17 24.74 1.25 1.0% eCu ACD036 including 86 108 22 3.28 2.58 0.93 0.93 26.55 0.43 2.0% eCu ACD036 including 112 117 5 4.94 3.65 3.50 800.90 88.63 8.60 2.0% eCu ACD036 224 242 18 0.51 0.28 0.30 0.30 1.09 0.01 0.3% eCu *Intercepts calculated using a: Who better for the task of building up American infrastructure than a real-estate developer? In his inaugural speech on Friday, President Trump promised a great national effort to rebuild our country. To that end, he has already floated a plan to spend $550 billion over four years on infrastructure. And when it comes to spending on roads, transit and airports, nobody in Congress is in favor of small government. That was obvious during the confirmation hearing this month for Trumps nominee for transportation secretary, Elaine Chao. A parade of senators asked for everything from new highways through treacherous terrain in the southwest to commuter rail in New Hampshire. How are we going to pay for all these great ideas? Chao asked rhetorically, as senator after senator asked her to support each states pet project. (And no one was curious about cutting costs). But we can get a lot of good infrastructure for less than $550 billion. Even spending half that would give us a great start. And how to pay is easy: Washington borrows money for solid long-term investments, just like everyone does. The harder part is to make sure they are good investments. Here are eight good ideas for Americas infrastructure: Build a rail tunnel under the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey The existing tunnel is 107 years old. Its falling apart faster now because of damage from Hurricane Sandy nearly five years ago. But Amtrak cant shut it down without disrupting rides for 200,000 people daily, most of them New Jersey Transit commuters from New Jersey to New York. As New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said at Chaos hearing, more people use those tunnels than the entire population of South Dakota every day . . . If these tunnels would go down, they would cost about $100 million in lost productivity every single day. Already, commuters are suffering more unpredictability and lost productivity at work and at home as Amtrak scrambles to keep up with the deterioration to tracks, signals and electrical wires. A new tunnel would make life better for Jersey residents and their New York employers and colleagues. But its an even bigger interstate project than that. More capacity would mean that Amtrak could offer more service from Washington through New York to Boston, part of a plan eventually to cut travel times among the three cities. Crucially, too, the tunnel is a project that nobody objects to. For that reason, its a better prospect than New York and New Jerseys other mega-project: a new bus terminal for the commuters who take buses instead of trains. Yes, the Port Authority Bus Terminal is falling apart, too, with its upper floors unable to bear the weight of todays bigger buses. But the reality is New York and New Jersey politicians have no clue how and where to build a new bus terminal without hurting the people who live and work in Hells Kitchen and without disrupting existing commutes. The two states still need years to show they can take these problems seriously, not money now. Cost: $20 billion for the tunnel Have a competition, too, for better commuter rail From Silicon Valley to Massachusetts, highways are getting more crowded at rush hour yet almost nobody takes the train to work. As rookie New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan said at Chaos hearing, even her once-rural state could use commuter-rail investments into Boston as the immediate suburbs become more crowded and expensive. Lets have a national contest for new commuter-rail line cash for regions willing to build denser housing condos, apartments and single houses closer together around those lines. More commuter rail would take some pressure off of high-cost cities, too, as people would have more housing options outside of the metropolises. Cost: $50 billion Finish the Second Avenue Subway New York is finally enjoying the first three stops of the subway, with the first of what will eventually be 200,000 new riders experiencing a faster commute and more time with colleagues or with family (depending on whom you like better). But the subway is supposed to go up through Harlem and, in the other direction, downtown. The state and city havent started work, or found most of the money, for the next three stops. Cost: $8 billion Launch a competition for train-to-the-plane projects Only in America can you not take a train from urban centers to the plane or, at least, do it in under two hours. Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to build train connections to both JFK and La Guardia but hasnt said how hell pay for them. Boston, too, has a primitive bus system to get you to your plane, and Chicago has only a subway that makes local stops. Getting more businesspeople and tourists on high-quality trains from city centers to airports means less traffic on local roads and highways. Cost: $15 billion Build an interstate highway between Las Vegas and Phoenix Only in America can you not take a train from urban centers to the plane or, at least, do it in under two hours. Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to build train connections to both JFK and La Guardia but hasnt said how hell pay for them. Boston, too, has a primitive bus system to get you to your plane, and Chicago has only a subway that makes local stops. Getting more businesspeople and tourists on high-quality trains from city centers to airports means less traffic on local roads and highways. Cost: $15 billion Build an interstate highway between Las Vegas and Phoenix As new Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who ran partly on the issue, said at the hearing, these cities are two of the largest in the country just 300 miles apart that are not connected by an interstate. Fixing this would be good for tourism and business and good for public safety, too, as highway travel is much safer than travel on smaller roads. It would be a good idea, too, to study the idea of building rail along the new interstate, to give people a free-market choice of how to travel. That way, people going from outlying areas of each city could drive, but people going from Phoenixs increasingly popular downtown to visit Las Vegas wouldnt need a car for the trip, just like from New York to Boston. Cost: $10 billion, more with rail Fix the nations subway systems and commuter rails Its a good thing it doesnt snow anymore, because Bostons subways barely work in a blizzard. Even on a good day, the Red Line, which was once a dream compared to New Yorks packed trains, is a disaster of delays and breakdowns. San Francisco passengers, too, are suffering the effects of years worth of delayed maintenance. To ride the DC Metro is to take your life in your hands; nine commuters and nine workers have died in little more than a decade. New York is in better shape but could use more money for normal repair and replacement and for modern signal technology to run more trains closer together, as well. Commuter rails around the country, including in New York, could still benefit from converting rails to electric a rather proven technology by now from diesel. Money, though, should come only with much better accountability for exactly how it is spent and on the results. The feds should compare who does this work most efficiently and reward them over a period of time with more. Cost: $50 billion The Wall Relax, please, if you hate the Wall. And (if you dont like Trump) stop falling into the trap that helped Trump win. Many Trump voters were sophisticated enough to understand that border security is core national infrastructure. There is a reason why the US government makes you put your passport in the little slot at JFK when you come home from skiing, before they let you pass through what is, well, the immigration halls physical wall: It is generally thought to be a good idea to have some dim notion of who is coming and going. Border crossings from Mexico and points south are down from a decade ago, in part because of bipartisan efforts and more than $100 billion worth of spending to make it harder. In fact, we already have big chunks of a wall on the Mexican border (really I saw it!). But with nearly 200,000 people still making the trek each year, we still face both a security risk and a humanitarian risk. For all of Trumps bluster, his proposal is to keep doing what weve been doing and do it better: using physical barriers as well as technology to make it even harder (Trumps voters were also smart enough to realize that a wall can be partly metaphysical). A securer border is good for workers, too: People who have no right to work in this country are the easiest to exploit and endanger, and employers use their presence to push wages down for other low-wage workers. Cost: at least $20 billion. (And yes, Mexico can pay for at least part. The US government can tax the money that workers here send back home to Mexico. This idea may be good or bad, but it is not, and never was, absurd, as Trumps opponents often claimed.) Help states, cities and towns do basic maintenance and management As we know from Flint, Mich., some states and cities dont even have the financial resources or competence to guarantee the basic right of safe water. Closer to home, Syracuse, too, has long requested money for water investment. Poorer areas are in a vicious circle: If you cant deliver water, keep the streetlights on and fill in potholes, youll lose even more residents. The feds should offer grants and zero-interest loans for particularly distressed areas, coupled with outside management expertise to help them relearn the basics. For middle-class and wealthier areas, the feds could offer smaller grants and slightly higher interest-rate loans to do the basic work of filling in the cracks in the roads. Some of these boring but vital projects are expensive, too: New York will need close to $2 billion to keep the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway from falling down. Cost: $50 billion This piece originally appeared at the New York Post ______________________ Nicole Gelinas is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor at City Journal. Follow her on Twitter here. The International Marxist University 2022 was four days of online discussion dedicated to understanding the fundamental principles of Marxism, hosted by the International Marxist Tendency on 23-26 July. The event was a tremendous success, with over 7,000 registering. If you weren't able to attend, or want to relive your favourite moments, we've included videos of all the sessions below, the videos have been edited to remove the pauses for translation. Edited audio files are also provided. Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company offers peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, and additional dialysis therapies and services; intravenous therapies, infusion pumps, administration sets, and drug reconstitution devices; remixed and oncology drug platforms, inhaled anesthesia and critical care products and pharmacy compounding services; parenteral nutrition therapies and related products; biological products and medical devices used in surgical procedures for hemostasis, tissue sealing and adhesion prevention; and continuous renal replacement therapies and other organ support therapies focused in the intensive care unit. It also provides connected care solutions, including devices, software, communications, and integration technologies; integrated patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies to help diagnose, treat, and manage a various illness and diseases, including respiratory therapy, cardiology, vision screening, and physical assessment; surgical video technologies, tables, lights, pendants, precision positioning devices and other accessories. In addition, the company offers contracted services to various pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. Its products are used in hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors' offices, and patients at home under physician supervision. The company sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through independent distributors, drug wholesalers, and specialty pharmacy or other alternate site providers in approximately 100 countries. It has an agreement with Celerity Pharmaceutical, LLC to develop acute care generic injectable premix and oncolytic molecules. Baxter International Inc. was incorporated in 1931 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. Intertek Group plc provides quality assurance solutions to various industries in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Products, Trade, and Resources. The Products segment offers assurance, testing, inspection, and certification services (ATIC), including laboratory safety, quality and performance testing, second-party supplier auditing, sustainability analysis, products assurance, vendor compliance, process performance analysis, facility plant and equipment verification, and third party certification. This segment serves a range of industries, including textiles, footwear, toys, hardlines, home appliances, consumer electronics, information and communication technology, automotive, aerospace, lighting, building products, industrial and renewable energy products, food and hospitality, healthcare and beauty, and pharmaceuticals. The Trade segment provides cargo inspection, analytical assessment, calibration, and related research and technical services to the petroleum and biofuels industries; inspection services to governments and regulatory bodies to support trade activities; and analytical and testing services to agricultural trading companies and growers. The Resources segment offers technical inspection, asset integrity management, analytical testing, and ongoing training services for the oil, gas, nuclear, and power industries. This segment also provides a range of ATIC service solutions to the mining and minerals exploration industries covering the resource supply chain from exploration and resource development, through to production, shipping, and commercial settlement. The company also offers cyber security services. Intertek Group plc was founded in 1885 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Newell Brands Inc. designs, manufactures, sources, and distributes consumer and commercial products worldwide. It operates in five segments: Commercial Solutions, Home Appliances, Home Solutions, Learning and Development, and Outdoor and Recreation. The Commercial Solutions segment provides commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions; closet and garage organization products; hygiene systems and material handling solutions; and home and security, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms products under the BRK, First Alert, Mapa, Quickie, Rubbermaid, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, and Spontex brands. The Home Appliances segment offers kitchen appliances under the Crock-Pot, Mr. Coffee, Oster, and Sunbeam brands. The Home Solutions segment provides food and home storage; fresh preserving; vacuum sealing; and gourmet cookware, bakeware, cutlery, and home fragrance products under the Ball, Calphalon, Chesapeake Bay Candle, FoodSaver, Rubbermaid, Sistema, WoodWick, and Yankee Candle brands. The Learning and Development segment offers writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, pens, and pencils; art products; activity-based adhesive and cutting products; labeling solutions; and baby gear and infant care products under the Aprica, Baby Jogger, Graco, NUK, Tigex, Dymo, Elmer's, EXPO, Graco, Mr. Sketch, NUK, Paper Mate, Parker, Prismacolor, Sharpie, Waterman, and X-Acto brands. The Outdoor and Recreation segment provides outdoor and outdoor-related products under the Campingaz, Coleman, Contigo, ExOfficio, and Marmot brands. It serves warehouse clubs, department and drug/grocery stores, mass merchants, home centers, office superstores and supply stores, contract stationers, and distributors, e-commerce, sporting goods, specialty, and travel retailers. The company was formerly known as Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and changed its name to Newell Brands Inc. in April 2016. Newell Brands Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. The company offers pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology. It also provides consumer healthcare products in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health categories. The company offers its consumer healthcare products in the form of nasal sprays, tablets, syrups, lozenges, gum and trans-dermal patches, caplets, infant syrup drops, liquid filled suspension, wipes, gels, effervescents, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, denture adhesives and cleansers, topical creams and non-medicated patches, lip balm, gummies, and soft chews. It has collaboration agreements with 23andMe; Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.; Novartis; Sanofi SA; Surface Oncology; Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.; Alector, Inc.; and CureVac AG., as well as strategic partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. The company was formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline plc and changed its name to GSK plc in May 2022. GSK plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Brentford, the United Kingdom. Post Holdings, Inc. operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, Refrigerated Retail, and BellRing Brands. The Post Consumer Brands segment manufactures, markets, and sells branded and private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal and hot cereal products. It serves grocery stores, mass merchandise customers, supercenters, club stores, natural/specialty stores, and drug store customers, as well as sells its products in the military, ecommerce, and foodservice channels. The Weetabix segment primarily markets and distributes branded and private label RTE cereal, hot cereals and other cereal-based food products, breakfast drinks, and muesli. This segment sells its products to grocery stores, discounters, wholesalers, and convenience stores, as well as through ecommerce. The Foodservice segment produces and distributes egg and potato products in the foodservice and food ingredient channels. It serves foodservice distributors and national restaurant chains. The Refrigerated Retail segment produces and distributes side dishes, eggs and egg products, sausages, cheese, and other dairy and refrigerated products for grocery stores and mass merchandise customers. The BellRing Brands segment markets and distributes ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and supplements. It serves club stores, food, drug and mass customers, and online retailers, as well as specialty retailers, convenience stores, and distributors. Post Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri. State Street Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. The company offers investment servicing products and services, including custody; product accounting; daily pricing and administration; master trust and master custody; depotbank services; record-keeping; cash management; foreign exchange, brokerage and other trading services; securities finance and enhanced custody products; deposit and short-term investment facilities; loans and lease financing; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; performance, risk, and compliance analytics; and financial data management to support institutional investors. It also engages in the provision of portfolio management and risk analytics, as well as trading and post-trade settlement services with integrated compliance and managed data. In addition, the company offers investment management strategies and products, such as core and enhanced indexing, multi-asset strategies, active quantitative and fundamental active capabilities, and alternative investment strategies. Further, it provides services and solutions, including environmental, social, and governance investing; defined benefit and defined contribution; and global fiduciary solutions, as well as exchange-traded fund under the SPDR ETF brand. The company provides its products and services to mutual funds, collective investment funds and other investment pools, corporate and public retirement plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, and investment managers. State Street Corporation was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. OGE Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy and energy services provider that offers physical delivery and related services for electricity, natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. It provides retail electric service to approximately 879,000 customers, which covers a service area of approximately 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas; and owns and operates coal-fired, natural gas-fired, wind-powered, and solar-powered generating assets. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned and operated interconnected electric generation, transmission, and distribution systems, including 16 generating stations with an aggregate capability of 7,207 megawatts; and transmission systems comprising 54 substations and 5,122 structure miles of lines in Oklahoma, and 7 substations and 277 structure miles of lines in Arkansas. Its distribution systems included 350 substations; 29,494 structure miles of overhead lines; 3,365 miles of underground conduit; and 11,125 miles of underground conductors in Oklahoma, as well as 29 substations, 2,795 structure miles of overhead lines, 349 miles of underground conduit, and 662 miles of underground conductors in Arkansas. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Telecom Argentina S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Argentina and internationally. The company offers telephone services, including local, domestic, and international long-distance telephone services, as well as public telephone services; and other related supplementary services, such as call waiting, call forwarding, conference calls, caller ID, voice mail, itemized billing, and maintenance services. It also provides interconnection services, such as traffic and interconnection resource, dedicated Internet access, video signals transportation in standard and high definitions, audio and video streaming, dedicated links, backhaul links for mobile operators, data center hosting/housing services, dedicated links, layer 2 and layer 3 transport networks, video links, value-added services, and other services. In addition, the company offers mobile telecommunications services, including voice communications, high-speed mobile Internet content and applications download, online streaming, and other services; and sells mobile communication devices, such as handsets, Modems MiFi and wingles, and smart watches under the Personal brand. Further, it provides internet connectivity products, including virtual private network services, traditional Internet protocol links, and other products; data services; and programming and other cable television services. The company was formerly known as Cablevision S.A. and changed its name to Telecom Argentina S.A. in January 2018. Telecom Argentina S.A. was founded in 1979 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ghanaian-American fashion designer Mimi Plange says dressing Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States of America, for her appearance on a major talk show confirmed her belief that anything is possible. In 2012, Mrs Obama wore a Mimi Plange dress when she appeared on The View as a special guest. Mimi Plange, born in Ghana and raised in San Francisco, spoke to fashionista.com about what it meant to her to have dressed Mrs Obama. Dressing Michelle Obama gave us an immense sense of hope, and confirmed our belief that anything is possible. The honour meant that our clothes could touch great and powerful women and it gave us lasting inspiration that we still pull from today, Mimi remarked We dressed Michelle Obama in the first few years of establishing our brand. She gave us a chance, and it meant everything, she added. She also revealed dressing the U.S first lady drew more attention to the brand. It made people pay attention and gave us a new voice, almost a tool to be able to tell and share our story with people who automatically wanted to know more. Buyers and editors wanted to know who we were. As an up-and-coming designer, it made your brand credible, right away. People wanted to see what we had to offer, it was a huge honour that became a selling tool. As far as retail/sales is concerned, it definitely helped us open new national and international accounts and we definitely saw a change in editorial requests. It certainly gives global awareness that emerging brands like us need to compete and grow, she disclosed. Mimi Plange launched her own ready-to-wear label in 2010 after a decade working in the New York fashion industry. She is a graduate of the San Francisco Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and holds a degree in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley. She has received acclaim for her work in the fashion industry, winning such accolades as International Emerging Designer of The Year in 2011 at the Mercedes-Benz Africa Fashion Week held in South Africa. The year after, she was named designer of the year. She also won Mayor Bloomberg's Design Entrepreneurs Award in New York in 2012. Last year, she took part in the Celebration of Design Event hosted by Michelle Obama at the White House. Mimi Plange's designs have been worn by the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama, Vanessa Hudgens, Serena Williams, Rihanna, Paris Hilton, Michelle Trachtenberg and Janelle Monae, and many amazing women across the globe. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, T Magazine, Vogue.com, Ebony Magazine, Vogue UK, Vogue, India, WWD, Harpers Bazar, Marie Claire, Essence, Glamour Magazine, Cosmopolitan and Nylon Magazine. -livefmghana.com Preparations are ongoing to host this year's edition of the free Hepatitis B screening campaign for 10,000 people at Kasoa and Koforidua, hiplife artiste Okyeame Kwame has disclosed. This year's campaign which is under the theme 'Let's Kick Hepatitis Out' will take place on July 28-29 to mark the World Hepatitis Day celebration. According to Okyeame Kwame, this year's screening exercise is being organised by the Okyeame Kwame Foundation (OKF), with support from MDS-Lancet Laboratory, among other allied bodies. The screening exercise is an annual event which aims at helping kick hepatitis B out of the country. He mentioned that a number of artistes have been invited to perform after the screening exercise to entertain all those who will participate in the exercise. Speaking in an interview, OKF Project Coordinator Annica Nsiah Appau said the free Hepatitis B screening is targeting over 10,000 people, which would signify a marked improvement over the number of people the foundation screened last year. She said the primary focus of the foundation is to raise awareness and educate the public about Hepatitis B, a viral infection which infects the liver and causes an inflammation. Mrs Nsiah Appau mentioned that negotiations are currently ongoing with the mayor of Cincinnati to support the foundation to host the Hepatitis B free screening in one of the West African countries in September this year. She also appealed to all corporate bodies and other non-governmental organisations to help in the fight against Hepatitis B by sponsoring the free screening exercise. Last year, the Okyeame Kwame Foundation organised a free Hepatitis B campaign, including education and screenings in Ho in the Volta Region. By George Clifford Owusu United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council stepped up calls Monday for regional troops in South Sudan, to help a UN contingent already there stem ongoing violence and stave off a brewing humanitarian crisis. Olof Skoog, UN ambassador from Sweden, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency, said after a closed door meeting that the 15-member body was ramping up its earlier call for a speedy deployment of additional troops in the war-torn African nation. "The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern that fighting continues throughout South Sudan, and that there are continued denials of humanitarian access to many regions of the country where the South Sudanese people are suffering and in need," Skoog told reporters. The Council urged the Juba government "to work constructively with the UN on a swift deployment of the regional protection force and to end obstructions" to the deployment of additional peacekeepers. The Security Council decided six months ago to deploy the 4,000-strong protection force in Juba to bolster the UN peacekeeping mission that failed to protect civilians during heavy fighting in the capital in July. But a confidential report obtained by AFP last week concluded that efforts to put a regional UN force in place are bogged down in delays over visas, the allocation of land for bases and a dispute over protecting Juba airport. Rwanda and Ethiopia are ready to send their troops to be part of the new force, with the first elements from a Kigali battalion able to arrive in late February or early March. Kenya has also told the United Nations it was open to discussing its participation in the new force, even though it withdrew its peacekeepers from South Sudan to protest a UN decision to fire the Kenyan commander of the mission. After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 3.1 million people displaced. There is growing alarm over the humanitarian crisis in the country now at the start of its fourth year. More than six million people -- half of South Sudan's population -- are in need of urgent aid, and humanitarian organizations expect this number to rise by 20 to 30 percent next year. Abidjan (AFP) - Angry protests erupted in several Ivory Coast cities on Monday, including in the economic capital Abidjan where retired soldiers barricaded a major highway as a teachers' strike kept schools closed. The veterans threw up roadblocks on the main northbound highway in the morning, snarling traffic, as angry firemen blocked traffic to the east of the city. Most of the city's secondary schools remained closed as teachers remained at home as part of a two-week civil service strike to demand better pay and pensions. In the country's second city of Bouake hundreds of schoolchildren took to the streets, blocking traffic, in solidarity with the strikes. "We urge our government to settle the teachers' demands so our classes can restart," said a student spokesman, Amadou Soto. The strikes follow deadly protests across the country last week by security forces and troops that left four dead, shut down Abidjan port, one of Africa's biggest, and disrupted business in the world's top cocoa producer. The angry troops appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck with mutinous troops earlier this month that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments. Observers said Monday's protesters also appeared to be inspired by the mutineers. Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambian President Adama Barrow's team announced Monday his vice-president would be a woman who has vowed to prosecute former leader Yahya Jammeh and take back assets she says were stolen from the nation. The alleged plunder of some 11 million by Jammeh as he clung on to power in recent weeks has left the tiny African country in financial difficulty, a Barrow aide said. Barrow, who was sworn in as the new head of state on January 19 at his country's embassy in neighbouring Senegal, has put off his return over fears for his safety. As the nation waits, Barrow's second-in-command was named as Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, who became a controversial figure after telling The Guardian newspaper Jammeh would be prosecuted for crimes committed by his regime. Jammeh initially conceded defeat after the December 1 election, but the mercurial strongman announced he no longer recognised the result after Jallow-Tambajang's comments, and after the election commission issued revised results which made Barrow's win narrower, although still clear. The Gambia The timing of her appointment comes after an aide to Barrow has accused Jammeh of raiding state coffers during his final days in power. "Over two weeks, over 500 million dalasi ($11 million) were withdrawn" by Jammeh, Mai Fatty said on Sunday in Dakar. "As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress." Jammeh also took luxury cars he piled onto a Chadian cargo plane, Fatty said. A development expert who previously worked of the United Nations, Jallow-Tambajang is often described as the woman who persuaded The Gambia's divided opposition parties to club together and field a single candidate -- Barrow. She has also argued that a national commission for asset recovery should be established to take back land and goods Jammeh is accused of seizing for his own gain. Immunity debate Under the threat of a regional military intervention, Jammeh chose exile in Equatorial Guinea, which is not party to the International Criminal Court, and left The Gambia on Saturday. Former Gambian strongman Yahya Jammeh That means he cannot be extradited in the event he is charged with crimes against humanity or other serious offences. A truth and reconciliation committee is Barrow's "preferred method" of dealing with grievances against the regime, his spokesman has said, but many Gambians take the harder line of his new vice-president. Sections of the security services were under Jammeh's personal control and are responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary detention, rights groups say. Barrow has assured Jammeh he will have all the rights legally ensured to an ex-president, which under Gambian law includes immunity from prosecution, barring a vote by two-thirds of the national assembly. Former president Yaya Jammeh, who led Gambia for 22 years, looks through the plane window as he leaves the country on January 21, 2017 from Banjul airport However, the new president is keen to break with the repression of the past and his spokesman announced Monday that the right to due process would now be respected. "There shall be no detainee without trial under his administration," spokesman Halifa Sallah said. Critics have raised concerns over a statement issued by the United Nations, regional bloc ECOWAS and the African Union that seemed to offer Jammeh comfortable guarantees in return for his exit. The statement said "no legislative measures" would be taken that against Jammeh or his family, noting that he could return when he pleased and that property "lawfully" belonging to him would not be seized. Preparations for return Meanwhile on the streets of Banjul, troops from five west African nations were securing the capital and its surrounds to ensure Barrow's safe return. Senegalese ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) soldiers arrive in Banjul on January 22, 2017 The Senegalese general leading the operation, Francois Ndiaye, came to Banjul to meet Gambian top brass, a statement by his office said, and to "reassure" the country's population. Barrow hopes some of the 7,000 troops mobilised earlier this month by Senegal and four other nations would remain in place after his arrival. "I know that everyone is anxious that he comes," Barrow spokesman Sallah said, also on Monday. "Everybody recognises we do not need any vacuum." The Gambia's army chief said Monday the regional troops were welcomed with open arms. Chief of defence staff Ousman Badjie told AFP the Malian, Senegalese, Togolese, Nigerian and Ghanaian soldiers "are our brothers," adding "we are happy that they are here to complement our efforts." 23.01.2017 LISTEN Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - The Interior Minister Designate, Mr Ambrose Dery, has cautioned that he would use existing laws in handling all internal national security issues. He gave the assurance that issues ranging from hooliganism of post-election vandals, through extortion of monies from road users and harassment by some security agents were all stopped to ensure the general internal national security. 'I would be doing the work purely by the rule of law and as long as they are doing the wrong thing, those acts would be stopped," he said. Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting, the incoming Interior Minister demanded professionalism from the security agencies and cautioned those who put impediments in the way of businesses that the law would not spare any miscreant security official. The Minister Designate, described as a devout Catholic, and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nandom Constituency in the Upper West Region, was reacting to issues on vandalism of state properties after elections and reported cases of unacceptable behaviour by some security agents. Mr Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, and a member of the Committee, made reference to complaints by his constituents who import onion, yam, and livestock to Accra about frustrations they face on their journey as policemen extort money and mount road blocks. Mr Ayariga told the Committee of reports of experiences about how some of their products rot away as well as some livestock die because they refuse to pay the security agencies those monies. He said: 'They said I should ask the Interior Minister whether he would stop the practice of police officers erecting barriers indiscriminately from Bawku up to Accra, stopping haulage trucks and extorting monies from them.' Mr Dery gave the assurance that the Nana Akufo-Addo Administration would create the enabling environment for the private sector actors. He said vigilante groups must be delinked from partisan considerations and individuals must take responsibility for their actions. 'For me., I must be convinced that those groups are responsible for these activities. I have also said there is no vicarious liability for criminal offences. I am not aware that it is political party vigilantes that are doing so,' he said. Mr Dery insisted that the reported incidents of vigilante action must be handled on an individual basis as against an outright disbandment. 'All must be condemned and not be countenanced, however, handling of each complaint must be professionally pursued in that, if you are a suspect, investigations conducted, rights are respected and people who deserve to be prosecuted will be prosecuted,' he said. Mr Derry said: 'Article 41 of the Constitution gives citizens the obligation to co-operate with security agencies and it also gives citizens the duties to protect public property and what have you. Indeed, when it comes to the misuse of funds it even uses combat.' On the engagement of private security, Mr Dery said the Government would follow existing laws preserved in the 1992 Constitution. He said much as the nation would use private security when necessary, it would not abdicate the role to provide that cover to the police and other security agencies which also provide an opportunity to raise funds. He said: 'For example, we have the Formed Police Unit in South Sudan in the Police. Ghana has sent one team and the United Nations were impressed about it and they want two more teams. Should we get two more teams there, we will earn some hard currency that will not only support the economy but help finance the various institutions.' He assured the security agencies that improvement in accommodation for the services would be one of his priorities, adding that the introduction of the National Barracks Regeneration Programme would help in the housing programme of the agencies. 'We have stated in our manifesto that there will be a National Barracks Regeneration Programme and a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement is one of the options. 'The investment could come through the PPP arrangements but we will do that with the consciousness of value for money and ensure that the country gets the best deal when it comes to this,' he said. 'We have public-private agreements and engagements in the prisons for instance. There are engagements between the Prisons Service and some private sector actorsand so I believe that there will be some internally generated funds that will come in and I have confidence that this government will get the resources to make good the promises that we made to Ghanaians,' Mr Dery said. GNA By Benjamin Mensah, GNA Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minister Designate for National Security, has scolded hooligans who attacked supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and illegally and taking over state properties after the 2016 general election. He, however, indicated that the swift response from the police had brought the situation under control. Answering questions before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, the Minister designate, an Accountant, who would turn 64 on March 13 this year, condemned the taking over of national offices and premises allegedly by supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party. The hoodlums, among other things, besieged the Passport Office in Accra, seized toll booths, public toilets, and other public facilities. It became an issue of major public concern and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in a statement through its National Chairman, Mr Kofi Portuphy, called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to urgently call the perpetrators to order. The Minister Designate condemned the retaliatory stance of the miscreants, saying: 'When you ask people why they do that the only response that they give is 'they did it to us'. "But as you agree, two wrongs will never make one right, and I think as we go along we should find a way of stopping such behaviour. 'I think the creation of a Ministry of National Security will then enable the Ministry and the Secretariat to be more accountable to the people of Ghana because we have to report to Parliament on a regular basis this time. It will give us the chance or the opportunity to address some of these national issues.' The Minister Designate shared similar views with the President on the reason for creating the new portfolio to enhance internal security efforts and government accountability on security matters. 'I think the security agencies have been very firm and very strict as a result of which the problem is no longer existing. To a very large extent we have been able to stop that, but I can assure you that I do fully support the fact that we must make people respect the laws of Ghana,' he said. Members of the Committee asked questions on the curriculum vitae presented by the nominee and also referred to a Judgment Debt hearing by the MP for Adansi Asokwa, Mr K. T. Hammond, on a committee set up by the nominee to sell Ghana's drill ship. Mr Kan-Dapaah responded that the setting up of that committee was to enter into negotiations with Societe General which the Government owed. He, however, said the committee's purpose was defeated as the company obtained the judgment and was not willing to enter into any negotiations. The nominee also responded to a petition submitted by a member of the public against him in respect to information allegedly passed on to him, when he was Defence Minister in the Kufuor Administration, about a ship that was carrying cocaine. The petitioner, one John King in WikiLeaks, described the nominee's response as dismissive and irritable, but Mr Kan-Dapaah replied that he was not a Defence Minister but rather became a Minister of the Interior two days after the complaint was made. He said he issued a press statement which he read to answer the queries, and that the issue was brought to his attention on May 3 but he was appointed minister on May 5 of the year in question. He further said that the minister's role was more of an administrative one and did not have anything to do with the operations of the Narcotics Control Board. GNA By Benjamin Mensah, GNA Accra, Jan 21, GNA - Mr Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, Minister of Defence Designate, has said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, then opposition leader, last year did not want to invite trouble for Ghanaians on the matter involving the two Guantanamo Bay detainees. The NPP then in opposition, had raised issues about Government position to keep the two in Ghana, blasting the then Mahama Administration for allowing them into the country as they presence threatened the security of the state. 'Ghanaian people may well have been spared the disquieting anxiety, in this time of justifiably heightened fear of global terrorism, that we are being led by a President who, ostensibly in the name of compassion, prefers to ignore laws designed to defend the most sensitive area of all, our nation's security,' Nana Addo had said. However, the nominee, a management consultant, family man, believer in the Catholic faith, and Member of Parliament for Bimbila, who turns 40 next November 4, told the Appointments Committee of Parliament, before which he appeared for vetting, that Nana Akufo Addo took that position so as not to invite trouble for Ghana and put herself on the terrorist map in that particular period. 'If you have a very peaceful country, what many people would not want to do is to invite trouble to themselves and that's why I think that at the time his Excellency the President Nana Addo Akufo Addo made that statement, he made it in the light that there was no need to invite trouble for us to put ourselves on the terrorist map in that particular period when Ghana didn't need to do that. Mr Nitiwul said government would consider a number of factors, including intelligence on the ground before making a definite decision on the two. He said: 'We have done one year now, intelligence will change, the situation will change. As we sit today, the government at that time analysed intelligence and took a decision. It is the same way this government is going to analyse all the intelligence related to this particular people and take a decision. 'As I sit now, intelligence will lead us as to the best way the government will take the decision regarding this particular thing.' This was after he was asked by the Appointments Committee if he would advise President Akufo-Addo to return the two Yeminis as demanded prior to his election as the President of Ghana. The nominee indicated to committee that the matter was sub judice and was therefore constrained to answer, but however tried to give what he called a skeletal response as he explained he was not privy to the latest intelligence. Consequently, he indicated that would not be in a position to offer advice to the president regarding the best decision for the government to take on the matter. 'As I sit now, I'm not ceased with that intelligence to be able to tell you which way I will advise the president or not advice the president but intelligent will lead us as to the best way the government to take a decision regarding this thing,' he stated. On the situation in Gambia following its presidential election brouhaha, Mr Nitiwul announced that the Government of Ghana is ready to evacuate her citizens from in any worst-case scenario. He said the Ghana Armed Forces has put all the necessary measures in place to evacuate 50,000 Ghanaians most of whom are fisher folks, either by air or sea to their homeland. 'Government has put in place the necessary measures to evacuate Ghanaians,' the Minister of Defence Designate said. He added: 'I'm not able to tell you publicly the steps that are being taken to evacuate our civilians but I can say for a fact that enough preparations have been made to ensure that in the event that we need to evacuate any Ghanaian, we will do that.' Prior to committing 205 combat Ghanaian soldiers to the ECOWAS troops to help oust Jammeh from power and also ensure a peaceful environment in the Gambia, the Government of Ghana came under severe fire for not prioritizing evacuation of its citizens in the wake of the Gambian political crisis. Thousands of Gambians have fled their home country owing to Jammeh's refusal to cede political power. GNA By Benjamin Mensah, GNA Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - A governance expert has observed that America's Foreign Policy would not change much under the administration of President Donald John Trump. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, the Acting Executive Director of the Centre for Local Governance and Advocacy, said the Americans always had permanent interests but not permanent friends, therefore, Mr Trump's foreign policies would not be anything different from his predecessors. He, however, expressed delight over a statement Mr Trump made in his inaugural address that America would not impose her values on other countries. 'I believe that this comment is in the right direction if only America will comply with it because in the past, Americans have tried to impose their values on other countries, including Iraq, Libya, Syria and others, which often resulted in some form of resistance,' Dr Antwi-Danso said. He said Mr Trump's inaugural address was not reconciliatory considering the many protests that heralded his election, saying; 'I was expecting some form of appeasement from his speech in order to rally the entire nation behind him, but surprisingly, it was absent, which I believe it's not good enough'. Mr Donald John Trump was sworn-in on Friday, January 20, as the 45th President of the United States of America with high expectations regarding how he would handle immigration, taxes, health care and other pressing issues. He defeated former US Senator, Mrs Hillary Clinton, in the November polls last year in one of America's shocking election outcomes considering the fact that most opinion polls before the elections had predicted a landslide win for Mrs Clinton, the Democrat Presidential Candidate. GNA By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA COLLECTIVE MADNESS Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people." 23.01.2017 LISTEN Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Public Health Department, in collaboration with Inesfly Africa, a leading insecticides company, have intensified education to provide lasting solution to vector transmitted diseases in the Accra Metropolis. Three hundred toilet operators and their managers have been sensitised at a workshop on strategies to curb the spread of such diseases. Participants were sensitised on micro technology paints, a new product by Inesfly, that consists of active insecticide components including polymeric micro capsules and how to apply them for best results. The technology allows for a slow and gradual release of insecticide into micro capsules and making it safe for humans and pets. Mr David Afugani, the Sales Director of Inesfly, and a resource person, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the products are highly effective against all kinds of crawling arthropods, such as ants, termites, cockroaches, scorpions and house flies. He said public places of convenience were high risk areas regarding vector development and disease transmission such as cholera and malaria, hence, the need for schools and health centres, caretakers of toilet facilities, restaurants and the hospitality industry in general, to use the new product to prevent diseases. Inesfly looked at the weaknesses of paints in the market and came out with the effective active ingredients - Insect Growth Regulator - which can prevent the development of insect pests even after two years of its application. Mr Victor Acquaye, the Director of AMA Public Health Department, said sustainable awareness campaigns on vector transmission and the promotion of hygiene among the people were important. He said government was committed to changing the trend by stepping up hygiene in the Accra Metropolis by collaborating with Inesfly as part of the public private partnership programme to sustain hygiene education to ensure behavioural change. Mr Acquaye said it was time public toilet operators took up the responsibility of ensuring a clean environment and directed all sub-metros to step up hygiene in the communities. GNA Credit S.O. Dodoo, GNA 23.01.2017 LISTEN The Deputy Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the party is looking forward to the new government to bring massive development to Ghana. Fred Agbenyo said this is due to the promises made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo prior to the election when he was then the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he said, We were promised that income taxes will be reduced to about three per cent, VAT will be reduced, import duties will be reduced, a conducive environment will be created for businesses to thrive and other great ideas. We are also expecting that all our brothers and sisters from the nursing and teacher training colleges will have their allowances reinstated soon, electricity and water bills will be reduced, and everybody in the country will get a good job to do." Ghanaians are also looking forward to seeing that students in senior high schools (SHS) attend school free of charge, and buildings in our Zongo communities pulled down and replaced with high-rise buildings. I think we should, therefore, rally behind the government for the entire nation to be a beneficiary, he added. With the defeat of the December 2016 elections still fresh, Mr Agbenyo said a committee has been set up by the party to go around the country to find out what went in the party's abysmal showing at the polls. He said it was expected to submit its report in 90 days to enable the NDC to use it to re-organise the party. Mr Agbenyo expressed appreciation to Ghanaians for their support throughout the election period, adding that the NDC would surely come to power again in 2020. He said parties in opposition played key roles to ensure the development of the country and, therefore, the NDC would continue to contribute its quota to ensure that the nation progressed. On the request by the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, to the Supreme Court to re-arrest the Muntie Trio to complete their jail term, Mr Agbenyo said he was surprised because the Supreme Court had exercised its power and Ex-President Mahama also exercised his power under the Constitution in consultation with the Council of State, hence there was no need to reverse it. On the alleged attacks by the NPP Invisible Forces on members of the NDC, he said Ghanaians voted for a change of government and power was handed over peacefully, making the country an envy of other nations. Im, therefore, surprised when people still indulge in such barbaric activity of attacking state institutions and stopping people in traffic to take their cars from them. We as NDC members will not permit anybody, and I mean anybody, to trample upon our rights under the Constitution. We want to coexist as Ghanaians and see how best we can help develop this country. That is why we are calling on President Akufo-Addo to call his people to order, he said. Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambia's exiled strongman Yahya Jammeh plundered the state coffers and stole millions of dollars in his final weeks in power, an aide to new President Adama Barrow said Sunday. Jammeh flew out of The Gambia on Saturday, ending 22 years at the helm of the tiny west African nation, and headed for Equatorial Guinea where he is expected to settle with his family. A West African military force entered the country Sunday -- greeted by cheers from relieved residents -- to provide security to allow Barrow, who has been in neighbouring Senegal for more than a week, to return to Banjul and take power. But amid growing controversy over the assurances offered to Jammeh to guarantee his departure, aide Mai Fatty said the new administration had discovered that some $11 million had recently been stolen. "The coffers are largely empty," he said. "Over two weeks, over 500 million dalasi ($11 million) were withdrawn" by Jammeh, he said. "As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress." Following Barrow's win in the December 1 election, Jammeh refused to step down, triggering weeks of uncertainty that almost ended in a full military intervention. Jammeh slunk off in the dead of night from The Gambia's capital Banjul in the early hours of Sunday on an unmarked plane alongside Guinea-Conakry's President Alpha Conde. He left behind a small minority of diehard supporters, some of whom wept as his plane departed. Barrow is eager to return "as soon as possible", Mai Fatty said, warning however, that "the state of security in The Gambia is still fragile." On Sunday, "additional forces crossed into The Gambia to beef up the numbers already on the ground," Barrow said, according to a statement read out by Mai Fatty. Mai Fatty said that the new administration wanted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forces to stay in The Gambia because they were "absolutely required." "We want their mandate to be extended," he said, adding that Barrow was waiting for assurances of loyalty from the security forces, including the police and the army. Jammeh personally controlled certain sections of the security forces, and his long tenure was marked by systematic rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. Critics have raised concerns over the wording of a statement issued by the UN, ECOWAS and the African Union that seemed to offer Jammeh comfortable guarantees for his future, but experts told AFP the document was not legally binding. The first priority for the new government will be to ensure the safe return of tens of thousands of people who have fled in recent weeks fearing a bloody end to the crisis. The crisis had also sparked the exodus of thousands of foreign visitors, dealing a potentially devastating blow to a country which earns up to 20 percent of its income from tourism. Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambia's exiled strongman Yahya Jammeh plundered millions of dollars in his final weeks in power leaving state coffers "empty", an aide to new President Adama Barrow said as West African troops prepared to secure his arrival. Jammeh flew out of The Gambia on Saturday, ending 22 years at the helm of the small west African nation, and headed for Equatorial Guinea where he is expected to settle with his family. A West African military force entered The Gambia Sunday -- greeted by cheers from relieved residents -- to provide security and allow Barrow, who has been in neighbouring Senegal for more than a week, to return and take power. The Gambian political crisis But amid growing controversy over the assurances offered to Jammeh to guarantee his departure, Barrow aide Mai Fatty said the new administration had discovered that some $11 million had recently been stolen. "The coffers are largely empty," he told reporters in the Sengalese capital Dakar. "Over two weeks, over 500 million dalasi ($11 million) were withdrawn" by Jammeh, he said. "As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress." Following Barrow's win in the December 1 election, Jammeh refused to step down, triggering weeks of uncertainty that almost ended in a full military intervention. Jammeh slunk off in the early hours of Sunday on an unmarked plane. Barrow is eager to return "as soon as possible", Mai Fatty said, warning however, that "the state of security in The Gambia is still fragile." Senegalese soldiers, membrers of ECOWAS forces (Economic Community of West African States), arrive in Banjul to secure the arrival of new President Adama Barrow On Sunday, "additional forces crossed into The Gambia to beef up the numbers already on the ground," Barrow said, according to a statement read out by Mai Fatty. The new administration wants the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forces to stay on. "We want their mandate to be extended," Mai Fatty said, adding that Barrow was waiting for assurances of loyalty from the security forces, including the police and the army. Jammeh personally controlled certain sections of the security forces, and his long tenure was marked by systematic rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. The Senegalese general leading a joint force of troops from five African nations said soldiers would "control strategic points to ensure the safety of the population and facilitate... Barrow's assumption of his role". Gambian residents return to Banjul by ferry on January 22, 2017 after fleeing political instability Marcel Alain de Souza, a top ECOWAS official, said the country "could not be left open" for long, and that Barrow must be in place "as soon as possible". A senior Senegalese military source told AFP that his forces had met little resistance on Sunday, as army chief Ousman Badjie has already declared his loyalty to Barrow. Comfortable terms Critics have raised concerns over the wording of a statement issued by the UN, ECOWAS and the African Union that seemed to offer Jammeh comfortable guarantees for his future. "No legislative measures" would be taken that would infringe the "dignity, security, safety and rights" of Jammeh or his family, it said, noting that property "lawfully" belonging to him would not be seized. Senegalese ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) soldiers arrive in Banjul on January 22, 2017 However, experts told AFP the document was not legally binding. Equatorial Guinea is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court, meaning Jammeh would not be extradited in the event he was charged with crimes against humanity or other serious offences. His expected arrival in the country was met with ire as the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS) blasted President Teodoro Obiang Nguema for showing "contempt" towards Equatorial Guinea and "thinking only of his personal gain" by granting Jammeh "political exile". Obiang is a similar strongman to Jammeh and has been in power since ousting his uncle in 1979. Jammeh took power in a 1994 coup from the country's only other president since independence from Britain, Dawda Jawara, making this The Gambia's first democratic transition of power. The new administration's first priority will be to ensure the safe return of tens of thousands of people who have fled in recent weeks fearing a bloody end to the crisis. The crisis had also sparked the exodus of thousands of foreign visitors, dealing a potentially devastating blow to a country which earns up to 20 percent of its income from tourism. The Minister-designate for Attorney General and Justice, Gloria Akuffo, Saturday promised to retrieve the GH51.2 million fraudulently paid by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to the party's businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome. As I understand it, judgement has been entered for the refund of the money. Efforts to recover the money have been inundated with many applications. My understanding is that the execution process has been soiled with all these processes so when I get there I will study the file and see how quickly we can recover the money for the state, she said. The Supreme Court had ordered Woyome to refund the GH51.2 million to the state but he claims to have paid only GH4 million, spreading the full payment for about four years. Ms Akuffo, who appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting, told the committee that the President Akufo-Addo-led government had decided to set up a Special Prosecutors Office to deal with corruption in public offices. We want to make corruption a first degree felony and no more a misdemeanor, she posited. She said with the setting up of the Office, corruption cases in the public sector would be swiftly dealt with, which would help to reduce the incidence of corruption in the system. The proposed Independent Prosecutor's Office under the Akufo-Addo administration is intended to be one of the ways that will deal specifically with corruption in the public sector, the Attorney General-designate indicated. Ms Akuffo said, Corruption has become a worrisome problem and has become a developmental issue. There have been a lot of calls for a solution to be found to it. It is true that by the Constitution the Attorney General has the power to prosecute criminal matters, but it also has the power to delegate that authority; and it is under that that the office will be set up with a specific remit to deal with public sector corruption. She said parliament needs to support the proposal by approving the proposed independent prosecutor to be appointed by the president. That, she said, would engender impartiality and repose greater public confidence in the office. According to Ms Gloria Akuffo, the independent prosecutor would be nominated by the president and crafted in such a manner that it would not fall foul of the Constitution. She said it was not intended to be an avenue for government to hound its opponents. Ms Akuffo said the general public could attach some confidence to the office of the independent prosecutor based on how it was structured, the mode of appointment and its security of tenure. These are some of the things that will give the public confidence that this is a truly independent person, particularly because it will have to go to parliament, she averred. The private legal practitioner and arbitrator, who at one time under the erstwhile Kufuor administration, held the same portfolio and was the first female Deputy Minister of the Greater Accra Region, was named by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo earlier in the month to become his chief legal advisor. President Akufo-Addo had described Ms Gloria Akuffo as having strong ethical approach to issues of law and social responsibility, and expressed his conviction that she would make a fine Attorney General. Strike State attorneys on strike would return to work on Monday, January 23, Ms Akuffo told the committee. She said President Akufo-Addo had intervened in the impasse between the Association of State Attorneys and the government and had succeeded in persuading them to go back to work. I spoke with their national president and she assured me they will be reporting, God willing, on Monday, she disclosed. By Thomas Fosu Jnr After days of political drama, Yahaya Jammeh, the man who ruled the Gambia with an iron fist for two decades, succumbed to pressure to go into exile last Saturday. His journey into exile began when he finally boarded a small unmarked aircraft in Banjul. Some of his compatriots waved at him which he reciprocated while others shed tears. Many others rejoiced at the glaring impossibility of bloodshed, now that he's gone. Sharing the flight with him was the man who played a major role in the eventual brokering of a deal, President Alpha Conde. He first landed in Conakry, Guinea, from where he quickly embarked another aircraft en route to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, to the waiting hands of another of Africa's dictators. The drama, which started with his rescission of defeat in the polls, soon got the regional body Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on its toes, as it dreaded the possibility of a long drawn war which repercussions could impose further stress on the lean purses of member countries. The brewing trouble resonated at the United Nations' Security Council which did not waste time in endorsing the deployment of troops from member-countries. The man who said he was going to have the polls re-run did not get international support, the subject trending seriously in Ghana and other West African countries. Adama Barrow, the preference of the opposition alliance, had to tactfully leave The Gambia for neighbouring Senegal where he was sworn in as The Gambia's elected president at the country's mission. The death of his son through a dog bite has triggered varied thoughts in both The Gambia and elsewhere in West Africa. With no sign of dictator Jammeh letting go his hand on the country, the resolve of ECOWAS was strengthened, especially after the failure of junketing diplomacy to resolve the stalemate. Senegal led the charge, entering The Gambia with no resistance, but at a point the regional body's troops were asked to tarry a while as renewed efforts were put in by the visiting Mauritanian and Guinean presidents. It got to a point where people did no longer believe in the stories originating from The Gambia in as much as they were concerned about the dictator's departure arrangements: he was either pleading for more time or even engaging in further talks to the chagrin of the international community. Even when his luggage was ready and loaded on to the aircraft, Yahaya Jammeh still danced around, showing maximum reluctance to go into exile. According to Marcel Alain de Souza, ECOWAS President, the former Gambian strongman would remain in exile in his new home but could return to The Gambia in future; his lawfully acquired property not subject to seizure. According to Mai Ahmed Fatty, spokesman for President Adama Barrow, there was no deal signed with the former president. In a document making the rounds, he said it's only a draft jointly prepared by the Guinean and Mauritanian Presidents but which he said was rejected outright by his boss. He added that when it became clear that the dictator was not yielding, ECOWAS President ordered military action since according to him, Yahaya was not going to be allowed to pass a night in The Gambia. Within an hour, Jammeh agreed to depart. A few minutes after the departure, the president authorized the temporary closure of our air space to prevent the landing of a purported commercial cargo craft intended to airlift vehicles and other luxury belongings of Jammeh. There was NO deal, Mai Ahmed Fatty said. By A.R. Gomda With Additional Agency Reports KIGALI, Rwanda, 23 January 201,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- More than 300 global and African thought leaders and youth agripreneurs will come together for The MasterCard Foundation's second Young Africa Works Summit on February 16-17 in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will spark new thinking on how Africa's growing youth population can transform the agricultural sector. Fifty young people will also attend to share their perspectives on employment and self-employment in this sector. "Africa is home to the world's youngest population with enormous potential to improve agricultural productivity and make the sector a viable source of employment for youth across the continent," says Ann Miles, Director of Financial Inclusion and Youth Livelihoods, The MasterCard Foundation. "The 2017 Summit will highlight the contributions being made by young people to transform the agricultural sector from subsistence farming to a modern, competitive, sustainable, and equitable business." With 11 million young Africans entering the job market annually and the rapid expansion of the continent's agricultural sector, young people are driving the modernization of agriculture through the use of innovative technologies and production systems. The need for agricultural transformation on the continent, however, has never been more pressing. The increasing severity of climate change is already amplifying existing stress on water availability and food security in many African countries. And a growing youth population means this group will be particularly vulnerable. Despite economic growth over the last 10 years, the continent has yet to experience the levels of agricultural productivity that historically paved the way to modernization and industrialization of middle and high-income countries. The agricultural sector, already the largest sector for employment in Africa, is expected to create eight million stable jobs by 2020 and offers tremendous promise for catalyzing prosperity and creating sustainable livelihoods for young people. "Agricultural transformation is a clarion call for us, the youth of Africa," says Pilirani Khoza, Founder of Bunda Female Students Organisation at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "For decades, agriculture has continued to operate using the same static methods and technologies adopted by our forefathers. We must adopt the new technologies that are available to us. Youth are technological doers and thinkers, they are energetic and hungry for knowledge and they should be actively involved in transforming Africa." Highlights of the Summit include: * Keynote address by Her Excellency, Rhoda Peace Tumisiime , Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union. -more- * Appearances by Agnes Kalibata , President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA); Lindiwe Majele Sibanda , CEO and Head of Mission at the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN); Eric Kaduru , Founder an CEO of KadAfrica; Frank Altman , President and CEO of the Community Reinvestment Fund; and Dr. Simon Winter , Senior Vice President of Development at TechnoServe and Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. * Youth keynote addresses featuring Brian Bosire , founder of Ujuzikilimo ; Pilirani Khosa , founder of Bunda Female Students Organisation; Laetitia Mukungu , founder of the Africa Rabbit Centre; Rita Kimani , Co-founder and CEO, FarmDrive; and Jean Bosco Nzeyimana , founder of Habona Ltd. * A televised panel on "Setting the Stage for Agricultural Transformation" moderated by CNBC Africa anchor Nozipho Mbanjwa . * The release of The MasterCard Foundation's Invisible Lives: Understanding Youth Livelihoods in Africa report, detailing the results of a 12-month study of youth employment in Ghana and Uganda. The full Young Africa Works Summit agenda and list of speakers can be found here . Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of The MasterCard Foundation. About The MasterCard Foundation The MasterCard Foundation works with visionary organizations to provide greater access to education, skills training, and financial services for people living in poverty, primarily in Africa. As one of the largest private foundations, its work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. Based in Toronto, Canada, its independence was established by Mastercard when the Foundation was created in 2006. For more information and to sign up for the Foundation's newsletter, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org . Follow the Foundation at @MastercardFdn on Twitter. About The MasterCard Foundation's Youth Livelihoods Program The Youth Livelihoods Program seeks to improve the capacity of young men and women to transition to jobs or create businesses through a holistic approach which combines market-relevant skills training, mentorship, and appropriate financial services. Through our partnerships, our program is supporting innovative models that help young people transition out of poverty and into stable livelihoods. Since 2010, the Foundation has committed $US402 million to 37 multi-year projects across 19 countries in Africa. More than 1.8 million young people have been reached through the Youth Livelihoods program. 23.01.2017 LISTEN The disclosure by the Senior Minister designate, Yaw Osafo Maafo, that lack of accurate data on Ghanas debt has made it difficult for the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party government to make projections on the fiscal gap to influence planning is quite worrying. According to Mr Osafo Maafo, who appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament last Friday, the data of the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana were inundated with so much inconsistencies that it was going to affect governments decisions with respect to implementation of a comprehensive fiscal plan for the country. Undoubtedly, the eight-year administration of the National Democratic Congress was more of propaganda than telling Ghanaians the real state of the economy. We remember how the NPP had to always come up with The true State of the Economy anytime either the late President Mills or former President Mahama delivered the State of the Nation to Ghanaians. Vice President Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, on September 8, 2016, at the National Theatre, delivered a spectacular lecture on the topic, The State of the Economy: A Foundation of Concrete or Straw? And, among other things, he revealed that at the heart of Ghanas economic difficulties was the NDC governments reckless management of public finances, especially in the run up to the 2012 elections. According to Dr Bawumia, the economy ended in 2012 with a fiscal deficit (on commitment basis) of 12.2% of GDP, 11.7% of GDP in 2013 and 11.9% of GDP in 2014. Following the reckless increases in public expenditure during the 2012 election year, and subsequent years by the Mahama-led government, the nation recorded double fiscal deficits for three consecutive years, first time in our history. This poor state of public finances, weak policy implementation and lack of policy credibility resulted in Ghana requesting an IMF bailout in August 2014. We are all aware of how Dr Bawumia was called all sorts of names by elements in the previous NDC government for speaking to the glaring truth. But as the saying goes, Figures no lie. Now, we have the truth before us and how the NDC ruled the economy with lies, deception and propaganda just to paint to Ghanaians and the outside world that all was good when in actual fact they were not. Even though the NPP government, as part of its policy interventions, has announced plans to borrow to shore up governments revenue, citing the widening fiscal deficit, we agree with Mr Osafo-Maafo that the government cannot readily mention the amount because, At the moment we do not even have all accurate figures from the Bank of Ghana and Ministry of Finance; we are getting a lot of inconsistencies arriving out from what we call arrears in the pipeline from the Controller and Accountant Generals Department. Ghanas economy is in a very poor state of health. The realities are there for all to see and appreciate. But we consider it very reassuring to hear from Ken Ofori Atta, the Finance Minister designate, that even though the economy is broke, it is not broken. That simply means the harm done to the economy by the previous administration, through recklessness can be repaired with through the implantation of the right policies and fiscal disciple. And with the calibre of men and women assembled by President Nana Akufo-Addo to prosecute his agenda for the nation, we are of the firm belief that the right measures will be put in place to ensure that the country once again regains its footing, which will ultimately influence positively in the lives of Ghanaians. What needs to be done now is for all Ghanaians to offer the new government the support is needs to deliver for the collective good of the country. New banknotes in five-cedi denominations will be unveiled in March by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), according to the Second Deputy Governor, Dr. Johnson Asiama. The note will have new durable security features which can be easily identified by the public, as well as introduce other internationally acceptable security features which are sensitive to touch to aid the blind and visually challenged in identifying the banknotes, he said at the 4th edition of the AB & David Crystal Ball Africa 2017 in Accra. Dr. Asiama also stated that the new banknote will be legal tender as well as a collector's item. The decision to issue a new banknote, according to Dr. Asiama, is to climax Bank of Ghana's 60th anniversary in August 2017. You will recall that nearly a decade ago, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) celebrated its Golden Jubilee with currency exhibitions and road shows across the country. Once again, on the 4th of March 2017, we shall be celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Central Bank in Ghana. This is likely to be the first notes issued after Dr. Abdul Nashiru Issahaku became the Governor of Ghana's Central Bank. Dr. Issahaku has been under intense pressure to quit his post since he was appointed by former President Mahama. The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has appealed to government to immediately set in motion accelerated programmes to settle the debt of the utilities to create healthy institutions to manage the delivery of power. At a press conference in Accra recently, ACEP said: We hereby remind the government of its promise to develop and implement an energy sector financial restructuring and recovery plan with liquidity management mechanisms for the utility companies. Government should let the public know how much has accrued from the energy sector levy which was instituted by the past government and its utilization so far. Government should, in that process, let the public know for how long they have to pay the levy so that the relief from payment of the levy can be anticipated and tracked. Benjamin Boakye, Deputy Executive Director of ACEP, who addressed the media, also called on government to fulfill its manifesto promise to conduct a technical audit of power sector infrastructure, and develop and implement a 10-year master plan, adding that such audit is relevant to ascertain the efficiency and robustness of the power sector infrastructure to serve our need for a stable power supply. Scrap VAT We also urge government to fulfill its promise to reduce taxes on electricity tariffs to provide immediate relief to households and industry. The 17.5 percent VAT on industrial consumers should as a matter of urgency be removed to improve the cash flow of businesses and their productivity. Renegotiation ACEP also called on government to take steps to renegotiate the terms of the AMERI, Karpower and AKSA contracts to lessen the plight of consumers. We are convinced that value for money was not achieved in those contracts. We further urge government to fulfill its promise to institute competitive bidding processes for future generation addition to ensure value for money and abolish the current practice of single sourcing all power contracts. Diversification Noting that the Renewable Energy Act provided incentive for deployment of renewable technologies such as Solar, Biomass and Mini Hydro, it said government, in fulfillment of its promise to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the national energy mix, should clarify the incentives, simplify processes and encourage investment in these technologies to reduce reliance on importation of fuel for power generation. Upstream sector challenges Cumulatively, Ghana could be producing between 180,000bpd and 200,000bpd upon successful completion of repair works on the turret of the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah. The challenge going forward is that new commercial discoveries are not being made. The implication is that in the short to medium term, Ghana cannot add new producing fields beyond Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa, which will have negative implications on our revenue generation capacity. The Ghana-Ivory Coast boundary dispute and non-performing exploration agreements are the two key problems hampering discoveries. Some of the companies holding petroleum agreements are not complying with their minimum work obligations. This vindicates ACEP's position, when the contracts were being signed, that the profile of the companies showed that they did not demonstrate adequate capacity to exploit the blocks, and that there was no justification to rush those contracts through Parliament. [email protected] By Samuel Boadi It is yet another week and I can hear rhythmical political tunes blaring from the radio. And you know I cannot resist dancing to such tunes. The vetting of Ministers nominated by His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has started at the Appointments Committee of Parliament and it is a spectacle to behold. I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far. The Senior Minister designate was the first to appear before the Committee. His responses were as illuminating as they were biting. I've never doubted the competency of Yaw Osafo Marfo, and watching him literally lecture members of the Committee re-enforced that belief. I'm sure I would be speaking for many of my compatriots if I said cutting the sharp-teethed Ablakwa to size was the highlight of his vetting. The other nominees, who appeared before the Committee, have also proven beyond doubt that they could be trusted to deliver. Unlike many appointees of the erstwhile Ogwanfunu government who exhibited cluelessness in the ministries they were posted to, this batch of nominees have shown that they have full appreciation of their job requirements. The calmness with which they all answered the queries from members of the Committee was re-assuring, to say the least. I, however, cannot talk about cluelessness and not mention Sampson Ahi. It is more than obvious that his presence adds nothing of substance to the Committee. One could clearly see the discomfiture on the faces of his colleagues on the minority side anytime he opened his mouth to ask a question. With such characters being deputy ministers in the last administration, is it any wonder that the Ogwanfunu government drove the Yutong Bus into an abyss? On the international front, soldiers from our beloved country did join others from ECOWAS member states to prove to Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A. J.J. Jammeh (note the titles) that the regional body is not all about barking. Many of my compatriots are livid at the terms of the agreement that facilitated the exit of the power-drunk Gambian leader. Many others are even more livid at the way he was allowed to exit the political stage. Yahya Jammeh It was reported that he arrived at the airport with a large convoy with throng of supporters screaming and cheering. He stood on a small platform to hear a ceremonial music (perhaps for the last time) performed by the Gambian Military Band and then walked down a long red carpet surrounded by dignitaries. He majestically climbed the stairs of the aircraft, turned and kissed the Quran in his hand, and waved it at the cheering supporters before embarking the aircraft. Unlike many of my compatriots, I'm not angry at the terms of the agreement. Neither am I angry at the manner he was allowed to show his last krakye powers before exiting the political stage. On the contrary, I'm very happy and proud at the actions of the mediators. Their main concern was to save innocent lives, hence the desire to go to any length to make the peaceful exit of the dictator possible. They've achieved that, haven't they? Without a doubt, the blood-thirsty Jammeh deserves to be prosecuted for all the atrocious crimes he has committed during his 22-year reign. For sure, I would be elated to see him pay for those crimes. But life is not always fair and just. The bitter truth is that not all criminals pay for their crimes in this unfair world. There are times that we allow brutish criminals to walk free in order to avert a catastrophic consequence. The Gambian saga is one of those. Can you imagine the consequences of denying recalcitrant Jammeh the requests in the agreement? Obviously, that alternative would be deadly and more expensive than the agreement in force now. Come to think of it, I've read the 14-point declaration by ECOWAS, AU and the UN on the Gambian debacle and nowhere did I see the word amnesty. My thinking is that it was a smart move by the mediators to ensure Jammeh's dancing to the music still remains a possibility. Forgive my gullible deductions, for I do not have a legal mind. My main and only lamentation on the Gambian saga is how Yahya Jammeh has continuously dragged the name of Islam into disrepute. His persistent clutching of the Quran and continuous reference to the Almighty Allah tend to corroborate the erroneous belief that Islam is a religion that supports violence. As a Muslim, I'm appalled at the rhetoric and vanity. During such sad moments, I feel disappointed that he was not captured and made to face the music; or shot in the head to show to others that it does not pay to run a murderous regime. Alas, ours is only but an unfair world! See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente! One of the stories in this edition is about a security breach in the selection of police personnel for close protection duties for the new government. It is a disturbing story which highlights the danger that comes with the continuous holding of office of an Inspector General of Police, whose loyalty to the new political order we cannot vouched for. He was such a dyed-in-the-wool NDC, a cadre, that he was ready to do anything to prop the ruling party, including ensuring that Togolese could come and vote in Ghana and social media shut on Election Day. He was so overwhelmed though by the might of the Ghanaian people that his social media shut down was rendered hot air. Would he tell us why he did not take action against a senior police officer who aided EC officials to move a registration gadget into Togolese territory to register nationals of that country? The subject under review is about the security of the Commander-In-Chief of the Republic of Ghana. It is a subject about which no compromises would be tolerated because lapses in its management can prompt irreversible consequences. Mr. John Kudalor, who definitely sulked when the NDC lost the polls, is still in charge of managing or otherwise of the Police at the top. His subordinates in the Headquarters Management Board share his sentiments and wishes, little wonder the selection of personnel for close protection duties was compromised and therefore aborted. Somebody must be responsible for the gaffe. It is not surprising that children or bodyguards of some of these persons at the top of the Police Administration would be transferred to a unit that offers close protection to President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Nana Akufo-Addo, we have found out, can appoint an Acting IGP as the incumbent man, who is on contract anyway, proceeds on his terminal leave as we await the constitution of the Council of State. The constitution would not be breached by so doing because the continuous stay in office of a man who did not see anything wrong with destroying the eye of a demonstrator during a street protest does not inure to the interest of the security of the President. We call for a probe of the Depot debacle because someone was responsible for it and perhaps on purpose. The President should act fast, lest more inappropriate actions are taken by the IGP now that he knows he is on his way out of the Service. We take this opportunity to demand the reopening of investigations into the many murders committed by persons connected to the political establishment from Agbogbloshie to Chereponi. We are aware about how some top police officers were transferred to places best described as Siberia of the Police Service because they were too professional in the discharge of their duties and would not brook any ethical breaches. President Nana Akufo-Addo promised to do something about our ailing police system and this can only be done when the top is changed and presto. We are aware about how some officers have been tagged NPP, hence the withholding of their promotions. This is an infection which has spread throughout the fabric of the law enforcement system. The Police system requires a revolution now; otherwise those who have no godfathers but are due for promotion would remain in their present positions. There are many professionals in the Ghana Police Service with whose cooperation the President can alter things in this foremost internal security organization so that morale can be restored. Violent extremism today presents a chilling challenge to the worlds prison correction communities. Anis Amri, shot dead before Christmas by Italian police after killing 12 people in the Berlin terrorist attack, was allegedly radicalised in prison. His story follows a shocking trajectory that enables murderous terrorism due to the incitement and recruitment of vulnerable prisoners. Cases such as Amris show that, today, for the small minority, prisons have become the first step towards committing horrific acts of mayhem and destruction. How can we get this minority back on the rehabilitation path and defeat the violent extremists. While no quick remedy exists, there are approaches that can make prisoners less susceptible. Extremist recruiters are adept at spotting fragile inmates open to joining extremist causes and who can be convinced to commit terrorist acts upon release. Using the tedium of prison life, they exploit hatreds and frustrations and bend inmates towards a shared ideological commitment to using violence. Prisons may not help by exerting their own coercive pressures encouraging prisoners to join groups due to violence, threatening behaviour, overcrowding and poor management. Based on UNODCs assessments in a recent publication on managing violent extremist prisoners, there are three crucial areas requiring intervention: prison staff training, risk management, and rehabilitation efforts. Prison staff, including its management, must build constructive relations and to protect, maintain, and uphold the dignity of inmates. Every staff member should receive specialist training on working with violent extremist prisoners. Professionalism, ethics, as well as support for staff coping with stress are at the centre of this work. Sufficient staff need to be employed and trained to safeguard everyones security. Risk management is founded on implementing the appropriate security measures to ensure inmates are held in safe custody and on good, solid prison intelligence. It starts with a risk-based assessment on the prisoners arrival and should continue with dedicated prison intelligence systems. Such work can inform interventions and rehabilitation and help prison management make strategic decisions on a prisoners future. Professional judgement needs to be applied when making these assessments. Post-release assessments can assist prisoners to disengage from violence and to eventually return to their communities. Rehabilitation and disengagement are underpinned by the logic that those prisoners who become engaged can also be turned away from radical beliefs and attitudes. To be effective, attention needs to be given to gender, countries and cultures, as well as the prison environment. Our goal must be behavioural change allied to an acceptance that radical beliefs do not always threaten prisons or communities. Only a small number of radicals become violent extremists. Further research is needed on all aspects of disengagement interventions to appreciate the situation. One of our strongest instruments is the adoption and full implementation of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisonersknown as the Mandela Rules. The rules set out good practices on prisoner treatment and prison management. Violent extremism and radicalization in prisons and their relationship to terrorism are high on the international agenda. The world cannot have individuals entering prisons who may already feel angry and frustrated only to have them leave more embittered and determined to kill. No simple cure exists; but while the violent extremists seek to groom recruits, we also have time to promote dignity and humanity and to set prisoners on the path to their communities and to never looking back. This journey begins with the creation of fair and just prison systems. By Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime The President of the Association of State Attorneys, Francisca Tete-Mensah, has confirmed that they have called off their three months strike. She told Joy News that when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assumed office, he assured members of the association that being a former Attorney General and a lawyer, he would ensure that their concerns are addressed. The association was at the National Labour Commission for compulsory arbitration where its demands were awarded, but the former Attorney General, Ministry of Finance and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission failed to respect the agreement. The AG's office, led by Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, described the strike as illegal, and further directed the State Attorneys to return to work by Tuesday, January 3, 2017, or be considered as having vacated post. The association, however, insisted their strike is legal, noting that it was pursuant to a statutory notice under Section 159 (b) of Act 651. The attorneys also blamed the National Labour Commission for the impasse, explaining that the commission should have gone to the High Court to compel the government to improve their conditions of service. The incoming A-G revealed during her vetting by parliament on Saturday that the State Attorneys will resume work on Monday following a meeting with the president. Madam Tete-Mensah said, Based on that meeting with president, we asked him to put it (assurances) on paperand he directed his executive secretary to give us that paper. She added that we received the letter Friday so we called off the strike. Some of the demands of the striking members of the Association of State Attorney include payments of correct harmonised salaries, housing facilities, sustainable pension scheme, free official vehicles, and research allowance Asked by Joy News Beatrice Adu if all their demands have been met, Mrs Tete-Mensah said, The award would solve the problem of pension and conditions of service. We did not have the conditions of service at all. The award talks about harmonisation of salaries and benefits with those of the lower court bench, she explained. The agreement, she stated further, was dated September 28, 2015, and is supposed to take retrospective effect from 2012. However, Mrs Tete-Mensah explained that this agreement would respect the award and we would now have to sit down and look at how we would go about it for the enforcement to take place. The association had also spoken about the need to meet the incoming AG, Gloria Akuffo. That meeting has been slated for tomorrow. The incoming Attorney-General, an astute lawyer who served as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's deputy when he served as Attorney General in the Kufuor government, has also promised to work on the conditions of service for the Attorney Generals Department which has become an issue lately. Gloria Akuffo says she is concerned that a lot of professionals have either opted to work in the private sector or abandoned working at the department because of the poor working conditions. Ghanaians have been urged to lower and manage their high expectations for jobs as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is now forming his government. Mr Thomas Benarkuu, the Project Officer of MIHOSO International, a Non-Governmental Organisation, gave the advice on Monday and said no government would be able to address national challenges and satisfy the needs of the people within a short time. Mr Benarkuu was addressing dressmakers, hairdressers, artisans, commercial drivers, market women and transport unions at a forum on the Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (SPEFA) project in Sunyani. The NGO is implementing the three-year SPEFA project in the Sunyani and Berekum municipalities which is aimed at improving citizens' perception about financial management how the municipal and district assemblies manage and report on their resources. SPEFA project emanated from the local Government Capacity Support Project, which was initiated by the Government and the World Bank. Mr Benarkuu indicated that citizens would be disappointed if they over-relied on the new government for jobs hence the need for them to engage in skill and other artisanal trainings to be able to find jobs for themselves. He asked citizens to show interest and participate actively in decision-making processes at their municipal and district assemblies. Mr Benarkuu explained that the Local Government Act, Act 462 mandated municipal and district assemblies to organise town hall meetings at least twice a year to update the local people on the activities and operations of the assemblies. He said the local people were expected to impress on the assemblies to organise such meetings and contribute towards fee and rates fixing and especially the judicious use of the District Assemblies Common Fund and the internally generated fund. He said knowledge, money and wisdom were the three key indices of development, and underlined the need for the media to develop interest and track the use of funds at the local assemblies. Mr Benarkuu observed that media plays essential role in improving quality of governance and if done effectively, it would increase citizens' empowerment. He asserted that all the resources that duty bearers use in their daily operations in providing service are generated through taxes and grants hence citizens must develop interest and participate in local governance. GNA A total of 13 persons across the Upper East Region, have so far picked nomination forms from the Electoral Commission in Bolgatanga, to contest this year's Council of State elections to be held on February 9, 2017. Even though the Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Oscar Baah Ampemah insisted on not disclosing the names till the persons finally file their nomination by the close of work on January 26, he hinted that, of the 13 persons, the youngest is 34 years old and the oldest is 71 years old. It is not clear if the current elected representative of the region, Rt. Rev. Dr Jacob Kofi Ayeebo will be contesting again or not. In accordance with regulations set by the Electoral Commission, and with the backing of article 51 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Commission has marked February 9, 2017 as the day for the election of a Council of State member to represent the Upper East Region. For the purpose of education; article 89 under Chapter 9 of the 1992 Constitution, provides for the existence of the Council of State to advise the President of the Republic of Ghana in the performance of his or her functions. A total of 10 members of the Council of State shall be elected to represent each of the 10 regions of Ghana by an Electoral College made up of 2 persons from the various districts in region, nominated by the District Assembly. In the case of the Upper East Region, a total of 26 voters, made up of 2 people from the 13 districts, will participate in the process to select one person to represent the region on the Council of State for a 4 year term. Apart from this number, there is also a group of 11 persons appointed by the President to serve as members of the Council of State. Then there is another group also to be appointed by the President, but this time, in consultation with Parliament to serve on the Council of State. It is not clear if all the 13 persons who have picked up nomination forms will submit them to the Commission by the January 26 deadline. However, Daily Guide has gathered that, intensive arrangements were underway in the various districts to get persons who sympathise with the ruling government to select a Regional representative who also sympathises with the ruling government for the position. This seems to happen anytime there is a new government in power. From: Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bolgatanga A FORMER broadcast journalist of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has accused the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) of carelessly allowing his car to go missing at its car park at the Rawlings Park within the metropolis. According to the car owner, Amankwa Ampofo, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, the incident occurred in August 2016. Mr. Ampofo said he had parked his car, a wine color Toyota Corolla S with registration number GW 3919 X at the Rawlings Park and handed over its keys to an AMA official in charge of the park as he proceeded to undertake some private activities within the Central Business District. He indicated upon his returned after an hour, the AMA official who had collected his car keys and who was looking after the car could not an account of its whereabouts. The AMA staff was subsequently arrested, Mr. Ampofo narrated, and was granted bail the following day after an intervention by the Coordinating Director of the AMA, Ayeh Dartey and the Assembly's lawyer. Considering the negative image it would have created for the AMA, Mr. Ampofo said the Coordinating Director and the Lawyer for the Assembly pleaded with him not to take the matter to court but have it resolved amicably. According to him, the Assembly after series of discussions with him, agreed to pay for the car which he said cost GH 40,000, by paying him (Ampofo) GH 10,000 on a weekly basis. The Coordinating Director issued him the first cheque of GH 10,000 which was known to the immediate past Mayor of Accra, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije. But the cheque did not go through when he took it to the bank to cash it, so he returned it to the Coordinating Director. According to him, after nearly three months, he was given another cheque of GH 10,000 which he cashed successfully. However, he lamented that the AMA had since last year August failed to pay the remaining GH 30,000 as agreed, with the Coordinating Director giving him different excuses each time he goes to the Head Office of the Assembly to get the money. Meanwhile, all efforts to get Mr. Dartey to respond to the issue were unsuccessful, as calls placed on his phone were not answered. BY Melvin Tarlue 23.01.2017 LISTEN The ego of a kite or balloon knows no stop until its brought down by the same squall that gave him an elevation in the first place. So be reminded that a balloon cannot fly on its own until that rubber sac is inflated with air, then sealed at the neck and let loose. Once upon a time, a little boy had his kite unfastened. Moments later he noticed the object had wandered miles away from him. He cried for help, tried to catch it but the light frame object with thin material continued to soar. It had stretched its pace floating in the wind, meandering courses, diving in the clouds -from east to west, his eyes tailed the kite as he continued to sob. After a fruitless attempt the little boy stood still and watched his tiny kite flaunt its weight and ego as it flew high up in the skies. There was moment the boy thought the reunion with his toy was imminent. Indeed he wanted his kite back. But the object had faked its descent only to be seen going higher and higher and it ducked in the clouds. As hours morphed into days the boy forgot about the kite and minded his own business. But not long afterwards the kites glory faded. They say, whatever goes around comes around. The kite came down but not the same way it had been seen bouncing around --in midair. It had run out of power, no steam and no vim. Bottom line it had reached its endpoint. Did you know that five of the current Africa leaders combined have ruled their respective countries for nearly 200 years (168 years to be precise) since 1979? Here are the five Africas longest-serving leaders: Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea (36yrs), Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Angola (36yrs), Robert Mugabe (Grand Papa) of Zimbabwe 35years, Ugandas Yoweri Museveni 29 years and Paul Biya of Cameroon 32 years. The longest, Mr. Nguema born June 5, 1942 has been President of the central African nation since 1979. He ousted his own uncle Francisco Marcias Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup. Without a doubt it is this kind of egocentric attitude by some African heads of state that influenced the likes of Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh who took his people for a ride for 22 years. And also he thought he could make the Gambia throne his personal asset---and make it father to son one day. Thank goodness Gambians have had a new president. Thank goodness Jammeh had banished himself. Agyewodin, woagye wani so. What were you thinking? Did you think I was kidding? I told you the people had had enough of you. I told you, you wouldnt have it easy if you chose the Kabila path. But thank Allah that things didnt go the other way. So go in peace with your stolen booty but I can assure you Gambians will come after you soon. Dont sleep too much. On Friday 2 December 2016 Jammeh was defeated by Adam Barrow and conceded defeat. But a week later he challenged the election results at the Supreme Court. He also declared a state of emergency ahead of the deadline given to him to leave office on Thursday 19 January 2017. I dont really know if the action had been triggered by the resignation of some of his key cabinet ministersi.e. finance foreign affairs and environment in his government. And it appeared he wasnt going anywhere any longer. However, pressure had been mounted on him by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the Africa Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to cede power to his challenger in the December polls Mr. Barrow. Midnight Wednesday 18 January 2017, when ECOWAS realised that Jammeh wasnt ceding power it deployed its troops into the tiny West-african country. The regional group had spent weeks working to convince Jammeh to accept the election results. He still wouldnt budge. But what perhaps broke the camels back was when it became obvious that he had lost one of his final allies, Gambias military. I shall not involve my soldiers in a stupid fight, said Gambian army Chief General Ousman Badjie. At press briefing on Saturday morning General Badjie said he recognised Mr. Barrow as his commander-in-chief and not Jammeh. And courtesy of Guinean President Alpha Conde Jammeh had sought temporal exile in Guinea. O ye coward who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, I thought youd hard balls and would choose to stay on just as Muamar Gadhafi in Libya did. You though you could fool your people forever and ever. Well the same Allah who you claim gave you the power to rule had spoken through the Gambian people. And I dont know who you were addressing bragging as a Muslim and a patriot I believe it is not necessary that a single drop of blood is shed. Have you forgotten many had perished under your regime? Brace yourself to face the International Court of Justice tomorrow, for crime against humanity. I can assure that will also happen live. Its all a matter of time. In the early hours on Saturday Jammeh went on television telling Gambians how he served the nation and loved its people. I have decided to relinquish in good conscience, the mantle of leadership of this great nation. Who takes you serious again Jammeh? Wall Street Journal reports that: Until his plane left the tarmac at Banjul airport on Saturday evening many Gambians were still questioning whether his rule was over. Also, reports have it that the deal that was reached on Saturday shields Jammeh his family and supporters from prosecution and protects his assets from being seized. He also will be allowed to return to Gambia at any time of his choosing, according to a statement from ECOWAS the African Union and the United Nations. But incoming Barrows administration says it is not satisfied with the terms secured by Jammeh and even cast doubt on whether it intended to respect them. That is the perspective from that side, Hallifa Sallah, a spokesman for Mr. Barrows coalition. I Told You SoAgyewodin Yahya Jammeh By Gordon Offin-Amaniampong The ego of a kite or balloon knows no stop until its brought down by the same squall that gave him an elevation in the first place. So be reminded that a balloon cannot fly on its own until that rubber sac is inflated with air, then sealed at the neck and let loose. Once upon a time, a little boy had his kite unfastened. Moments later he noticed the object had wandered miles away from him. He cried for help, tried to catch it but the light frame object with thin material continued to soar. It had stretched its pace floating in the wind, meandering courses, diving in the clouds -from east to west, his eyes tailed the kite as he continued to sob. After a fruitless attempt the little boy stood still and watched his tiny kite flaunt its weight and ego as it flew high up in the skies. There were moments the boy thought the reunion with his toy were imminent. Indeed he wanted his kite back. But the object had faked its descent only to be seen going higher and higher and it ducked in the clouds. As hours morphed into days the boy forgot about the kite and minded his own business. But not long afterwards the kites glory faded. They say, whatever goes around comes around. The kite came down but not the same way it had been seen bouncing around --in midair. It had run out of power, no steam and no vim. Bottom line it had reached its endpoint. Did you know that five of the current Africa leaders combined have ruled their respective countries for nearly 200 years (168 years to be precise) since 1979? Here are the five Africas longest-serving leaders: Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea (36yrs), Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Angola (36yrs), Robert Mugabe (Grand Papa) of Zimbabwe 35years, Ugandas Yoweri Museveni 29 years and Paul Biya of Cameroon 32 years. The longest, Mr. Nguema born June 5, 1942 has been President of the central African nation since 1979. He ousted his own uncle Francisco Marcias Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup. Without a doubt it is this kind of egocentric attitude by some African heads of state that influenced the likes of Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh who took his people for a ride for 22 years. And also he thought he could make the Gambia throne his personal asset---and make it father to son one day. Thank goodness Gambians have had a new president. Thank goodness Jammeh had banished himself. Agyewodin, woagye wani so. What were you thinking? Did you think I was kidding? I told you the people had had enough of you. I told you, you wouldnt have it easy if you chose the Kabila path. But thank Allah that things didnt go the other way. So go in peace with your stolen booty but I can assure you Gambians will come after you soon. Dont sleep too much. On Friday 2 December 2016 Jammeh was defeated by Adam Barrow and conceded defeat. But a week later he challenged the election results at the Supreme Court. He also declared a state of emergency ahead of the deadline given to him to leave office on Thursday 19 January 2017. I dont really know if the action had been triggered by the resignation of some of his key cabinet ministersi.e. finance foreign affairs and environment in his government. And it appeared he wasnt going anywhere any longer. However, pressure had been mounted on him by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the Africa Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to cede power to his challenger in the December polls Mr. Barrow. Midnight Wednesday 18 January 2017, when ECOWAS realised that Jammeh wasnt ceding power it deployed its troops into the tiny West-african country. The regional group had spent weeks working to convince Jammeh to accept the election results. He still wouldnt budge. But what perhaps broke the camels back was when it became obvious that he had lost one of his final allies, Gambias military. I shall not involve my soldiers in a stupid fight, said Gambian army Chief General Ousman Badjie. At press briefing on Saturday morning General Badjie said he recognised Mr. Barrow as his commander-in-chief and not Jammeh. And courtesy of Guinean President Alpha Conde Jammeh had sought temporal exile in Guinea. O ye coward who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, I thought youd hard balls and would choose to stay on just as Muamar Gadhafi in Libya did. You though you could fool your people forever and ever. Well the same Allah who you claim gave you the power to rule had spoken through the Gambian people. And I dont know who you were addressing bragging as a Muslim and a patriot I believe it is not necessary that a single drop of blood is shed. Have you forgotten many had perished under your regime? Brace yourself to face the International Court of Justice tomorrow, for crime against humanity. I can assure that will also happen live. Its all a matter of time. In the early hours on Saturday Jammeh went on television telling Gambians how he served the nation and loved its people. I have decided to relinquish in good conscience, the mantle of leadership of this great nation. Who takes you serious again Jammeh? Wall Street Journal reports that: Until his plane left the tarmac at Banjul airport on Saturday evening many Gambians were still questioning whether his rule was over. Also, reports had it that the deal that was reached on Saturday shields Jammeh his family and supporters from prosecution and protects his assets from being seized. He also will be allowed to return to Gambia at any time of his choosing, according to a statement from ECOWAS the African Union and the United Nations. But incoming Barrows administration says it is not satisfied with the terms secured by Jammeh and even cast doubt on whether it intended to respect them. That is the perspective from that side, said Hallifa Sallah, a spokesman for Mr. Barrows coalition. Minister Nominee for Trade and Industry, Alan John Kyerematen has assured that government will facilitate access to medium and long term capital as a key way enhance the private sector. Speaking at the Appointments Committee of parliament, Mr. Kyerematen maintained that providing capital is key to realizing the One-District- One-Factory pledge made by the government during the electioneering campaign. He argued that providing capital for the private sector will remove difficulties SMEs face in raising credit through commercial banks. We all recognize that it is not as if the banks in this country do not provide credit and financing, but we know it is the tenure of the credit they provide which is a challenge for our companies. He pointed out that government will focus on the private sector as a way to lead industrial transformation in the country. Responding to how specifically the Ministry of Trade and Industry would ensure the competitiveness of local industries , Mr Kyerematen explained that government will do an assessment of the situation with member associations of the private sector . We would undertake a diagnostic study, let's say for instance we have a hundred companies that are potentially viable but are currently distressed. We us we are sitting now will not be able to determine the specific support that they need to improve their competitiveness so the starting point is for us to conduct an audit of these companies and identify exactly what they require to become competitive and then we will provide a comprehensive package of support in order to improve their competitiveness. He maintained that it will be practically difficult if an assessment is not first taken on the challenges making the private sector uncompetitive even though access to funds is a major contributor. Even at the risk of sounding competitive I'm suggesting that the only way we can come to a determination as to what they require to become competitive is to do a diagnostic study, he said. Some of the companies may only need marketing support, some may require an infusion of new technology, some may require additional investment capital so it is important that we do it on a case by case basis. So the important thing is for our private sector to appreciate and recognize that the government is committed to making sure that the private sector survives and leads the process of transformation and that is why we are starting with existing companies, he added. By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana 23.01.2017 LISTEN University of Education, Winneba, the institution that fate and privilege sent me to, is on recession and it is a period like this that student-hustlers like me get extremely busy. I get busy when school close down than when Ive to stay awake in the name of '6AM quizzes' . If I wouldnt miss registration deadline, if I would be able to fulfill the numerous financial obligations that has been wickedly hanged on the neck of university students, then Ive to spend every bit of my time towards maximizing profit in my casual business. This is the story of many students in Ghana. We go through a lot of stress besides the tedious academic work. The foregoing implies that when student leaders fail, its students like me who suffers the most. We suffer the brunt more than anyone else. The hidden cost of leadership fiasco is paid by the poor student. It is for this reason, among others that impelled me to allocate time out of my busy schedule to write this article. The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), is a notorious hegemonic force in this country. History eloquently testifies that NUGS was a brute force that once gave counter-hegemonic response to governments harsh educational policies, among other issues, which had implications on students. The enormity of the achievements of student activists from the days of nationalism to post Independent-Ghana cannot be disputed but that is beyond the scope of my article. The empirical segment of my article seeks to look at the current fractured state of NUGS, those liable, and possible remedies. The albatross and bone of disunity in the ranks of NUGS has often been attributed to political interference, sheer bigotry, lack of patriotism and corruption. The potentials of NUGS has been severely marred by the disunity in its leadership front. Currently, NUGS is in crisis, however the problem of dual presidents today is not new. Today its about Lukman led NUGS and Julian led NUGS, in the 2010/2011 academic year, it was about Mr Anthony Abotsi Afriyie and Hamza Suhuyini led NUGS, the former was elected as president during the 44th congress of NUGS at Wa and the latter was his runner up. Mr. Anthony was removed from office through a vote of no confidence, see (NUGS passes vote of no confidence on president- Ghana Business News: www.ghanabusinessnews.com ) and subsequently, Hamza Suhuyini was elected as president of NUGS by the same body that passed the vote of no confidence on Mr Anthony. Mr. Anthony and an alleged judicial committee declared the congress as illegal and still held himself as president of the Union. Its worth noting that the leadership front was engaged in this reckless power struggle amidst cornucopia of problems being faced by the students they represent. Mr. Anthony accused members of the then ruling party, NDC, of influencing the vote of no confidence against him and orchestrating divisiveness on the student front. See (Embattled NUGS President points accusing fingers at government officials- My Joy Online: www.myjoyonline.com ). Whether it was true or not remains a public question. The circumstances from which the current problem arises is different from that of the 2010, in that, unlike Mr Anthony who was elected by central committee members and later removed, Abubakar Lukman led NUGS, unquestionably has no constitutional authority. They are just a team with common interest who converged at Ideal college and nominated themselves as NUGS executives. That congress was unconstitutional and lacks legitimate authority. The 50th NUGS congress was organised under the supervision of the Electoral Commission at St. Francis college of Education in Hohoe, where all central committee members converged, elected, and sworn in the following as National Executives of NUGS for the 2016/2017 academic year: Julian M. Cobbinah President Akwasi Opoku Agyemang General Secretary Mabel S. Acheampong Treasurer Andrews Agyei Coordinating Secretary Elorm Hubert Adehokey Financial Controller Betty Adjoa Eshun Womens Commissioner Isaac Nyame International Relations Secretary Yeboah Nana E. Amankwatia Projects and Programs Secretary Kenneth Sarpong Press and Information Secretary Saliu A. Wahab Bawah Education and Democratisation Secretary Anthony K. Baah National Youth Authority Representative. Where then from Lukman and his executives? It is evident from unfolding events that Lukman led NUGS is only an appendage of the NPP. In October last year, Lukman was arrested after he clashed with the NUGS President, Mr. Julian when the latter was about to speak on News @ 10 by TV3. The deputy National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Mr Salaam Mustapha issued a statement after Lukmans arrest to condemn what he described as selective justice, because the NDC side of the issue was walking freely, whilst his side is languishing in Police cells. See (NPP condemns arrest of NUGS president Ghanaweb: www.ghanaweb.com ). This is an empirical confirmation of my position that Lukman and his executives are an appendage of the NPP camouflaged as a faction of NUGS. The various political parties have tertiary education networks which serves as avenues for mobilizing students support for their respective parties. The NDC has Tertiary Institution Network (TEIN), the NPP has Tertiary Education and Students Confederacy (TESCON), the CPP has Tertiary Students Charter (TESCHART) and the PPP has Progressive Youth Movement (PYM). What is astonishing is despite having a strong representation at the tertiary level, political parties are still entrenched to disunite the ranks of student activists, an indispensable component of our democracy so as to weakened them. They do this through appointments and other inducements. The student leaders then subsume students interest to prepare the grounds for their political ambitions. The case is no different at the local level, the local SRCs have been paralyzed by similar factors. Im increasingly compelled to see student leaders as the primary obstacle to student activism, their misdemeanor has barricaded students with untold hardships that are severely felt on daily basis. Among them are severe shortages of water, intermittent power supply, cripplingly high fees, delay of financial aid etc. The war at the local level is about power and resources not ideology, the SRC executives want to spend resources in any manner they desire, milking students in the name of dues and embezzling same with impunity, neglecting their core mandate of improving the welfare of the ordinary student and opposing the implementation of harsh policies. There has been a fundamental shift in political thinking, one that has a serious implication on student activism. The nature of opposition to policies in a mature democracy is more about dialogue than demonstrations. Successful dialogue requires thought and insight about issues, this demands critical thinking and pragmatism. Most of our student leaders today are yet to read about good governance, they have extremely little knowledge about leadership, perhaps what they are best at, is how to create a fertile ground for loot and share. To them, leadership is the fastest route to riches, money first, every other thing second. This is the default state of leadership at the local level. Its evident from the foregoing that, unless student leaders unite around the truth, our efforts would be in vain. An Ethiopian proverb rightly puts when spiders unite, they can tie down a lion. It implies that, though the challenges that have engulfed students are quite numerous, when students unite, the struggle, however laborious, victory would be achieved. In order to achieve unity, all the dissatisfactions, murmuring and grumblings must be addressed, narratives that divide us must not be pursued, people may disagree with each other vehemently, but a good leader can convince them that their differences are minor in comparison with their mission, he will help compromise differences and prepare a common ground for action. In furtherance, our leaders must be tolerant, tolerance has been declared to be a virtue of great merit, they need to embrace criticism, especially when done constructively. Criticism, far from being an impediment, is a catalyst and the surest way they can polish their leadership skills and lead their students to the promised land. I end by calling on discerning Ghanaians and authorities concerned to call Lukman and his self-acclaimed executives to order, they should stop the political chest-thumping and join their brothers in the TESCON family because the distinction between them is practically irrelevant. NUGS, Aluta continua! Victoria ascerta (The struggle continues, Victory is certain). The writer is a level 200 student at the University of Education, Winneba Kumasi Campus. Adams Ahmed Rufai, # 0544114114 [email protected] Preparations for the take-off of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government's 1-district 1-factory election campaign promise, was started under the erstwhile John Kufour administration, Minister-nominee for Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen has revealed. According to him, the erstwhile government had conducted all the relevant studies and identified feasible factory projects that could be embarked upon in all districts of the country. This is 1-district 1-factory initiative is actually an initiative that we started during our previous time of office in government, and I superintended this initiative. By 2007, there were about 110 districts at the time, and we had done consultations with the District Assemblies, identified 3 projects in each district, done diagnostic studies, prepared full business plans, and had consultations with a number of business partners and literally we were on the verge of taking off, Mr. Kyerematen said. Addressing the appointments committee of parliament at his vetting on Monday, Alan Kyerematen said the NPP's work with regards to the project under Kufour, has prepared the grounds for the new Akufo-Addo led government to execute the policy. We've done an extensive study of all the districts, the 110 [we developed earlier], still encompasses many of the districts that we have now. This was in consultation with the District Assemblies, he said. When will construction of factories start? The nominee said although the government has consulted widely and made the necessary arrangements for the project to commence, he cannot state exactly when the construction of factories will commence. He however noted that, speed in the commencement of the various factories will be dependent on the interest and commitment of private enterprises. '1-district 1-factory involves private sector' According to Alan Kyerematen, although the government will make some financial allocation for the factories, it will collaborate with the private sector to deliver them. He added that the government will set aside part of its $1 million commitment to all 275 constituencies for the construction of the district projects. By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @jnyabor Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - The Gambia on Monday awaited the arrival of President Adama Barrow as his team said former strongman Yahya Jammeh plundered the nation's coffers before going into exile. Barrow, who was sworn in as the new head of state on January 19 at his country's embassy in neighbouring Senegal, has put off his return over fears for his safety. His team refused to confirm to AFP on Monday exactly when he expected to return. The Gambia An aide to Barrow meanwhile accused Jammeh of emptying the state's coffers by plundering millions of dollars in his final days in power. "Over two weeks, over 500 million dalasi ($11 million) were withdrawn" by Jammeh, Mai Fatty said. "As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress." "The coffers are largely empty." After 22 years of iron-fisted rule, Jammeh refused to recognise the result of a December 1 election won by Barrow, triggering a weeks-long political crisis. Gambian President Adama Barrow was sworn in as the new head of state on January 19, 2017 at his country's embassy in neighbouring Senegal But under the threat of a regional military intervention, he chose exile in Equatorial Guinea, which is not party to the International Criminal Court. That means he cannot be extradited in the event he is charged with crimes against humanity or other serious offences. Barrow's spokesman Halifa Sallah told AFP on Sunday that Barrow aimed to set up a truth and reconciliation committee, his "preferred method" of dealing with grievances against the regime, though many Gambians want Jammeh and his entourage to be prosecuted. Sections of the security services were under Jammeh's personal control and are responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary detention, rights groups say. Former Gambian strongman Yahya Jammeh Sallah added that Barrow had written a letter that "indicated that (Jammeh) would be treated as an ex-president, with the same rights and privileges as Dawda Jawara," the country's only other president since independence. That includes immunity from prosecution, according to The Gambia's constitution, unless two thirds of the national assembly votes to assert that legal proceedings are in the public interest. 'Good riddance!' On Monday, staff were working to ensure the presidential palace was safe for Barrow to enter. Former president Yaya Jammeh, who led Gambia for 22 years, looks through the plane window as he leaves the country on January 21, 2017 from Banjul airport While he is eager to return "as soon as possible", according to Fatty, "the state of security in The Gambia is still fragile." He said that Barrow hoped some of the 7,000 troops mobilised earlier this month by Senegal and four other nations would remain in place after his arrival. A military aide to Barrow was due to be dispatched "to work with the security chiefs" of the army and police and finalise plans for his entry into the country, Sallah said. Gambians looked on in disbelief at the empty State House in Banjul on Sunday night, unable to believe it had finally been vacated, while cheering on and thanking the Senegalese troops. "I was born and raised in Banjul. Good riddance!" said Mohammed Jallow, a 54-year-old businessman. "Barrow has a lot of work to do. He's inheriting a very bad situation," he added. West African troops 'our brothers' The Gambia's army chief said Monday the regional troops were "brothers" welcomed with open arms. Senegalese ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) soldiers arrive in Banjul on January 22, 2017 Chief of defence staff Ousman Badjie told AFP the Malian, Senegalese, Togolese, Nigerian and Ghanaian soldiers "are our brothers," adding "we are happy that they are here to complement our efforts." But critics have raised concerns over a statement issued by the United Nations, regional bloc ECOWAS and the African Union that seemed to offer Jammeh comfortable guarantees. The statement said "no legislative measures" would be taken that would infringe the "dignity, security, safety and rights" of Jammeh or his family, noting that he could return when he pleased and that property "lawfully" belonging to him would not be seized. That clause will be especially contentious after Jammeh was accused of plundering The Gambia's coffers. But Reed Brody, a lawyer involved in the landmark conviction of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre, said Gambian law could not halt a prosecution if the evidence against Jammeh was serious enough. "International law prohibits amnesties for atrocities such as torture and crimes against humanity, and internal United Nations rules even prevent the UN from agreeing to any such amnesty," he told AFP by email. Dar es Salaam (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli to take action against the network of an exiled cleric he blames for last year's failed coup. The Hizmet movement run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, is linked to a network of schools across the world, including in Africa, and the Turkish president is rallying leaders on the continent to help him fight the influence of his longtime rival. "The party that wants to overthrow me isn't only in Turkey... I am convinced that Tanzania will from now on take measures against this terrorist organisation," Erdogan said after meeting Magufuli. It was not clear what action he had asked Tanzania to take against the schools, which are believed to be affiliated with Gulen's movement. They are extremely popular among the country's middle class and often among the best performing schools. Turkish officials accuse Gulen of using his vast private education network to build influence and of running a "parallel state" inside Turkey. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally, vehemently denies the allegations. A reclusive figure, he has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Hizmet describes itself as promoting Islam through charity efforts and educational work in countries stretching from Turkey to Africa and Central Asia to the United States. Rail loan Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) inspects an honor guard of Tanzania People's Defense Force soldiers during a welcoming ceremony at State House Grounds in Dar es Salaam on January 23, 2017 Erdogan, whose five-day tour will also take him to Mozambique and Madagascar, also discussed business and trade. Magufuli said he had asked Erdogan for a loan to help build a planned railway to link Dar es Salaam with neighbouring countries including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. A Turkish firm is set to win a tender to build the $7.6 billion (7.1-billion-euro) railway. The contract had initially been awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies, which had already built five kilometres of the railway. But it was cancelled due to irregularities in the tender process shortly after Magufuli was elected. The tender being awarded to a non-Chinese company has cast doubts over whether China's Exim bank, which finances external development projects, will still put up the money. Erdogan's visit also comes as Tanzania looks to new sources for budgetary support and concessional loans, after several donor countries in 2015 withdrew their support over a high-level corruption scandal. "The government is turning to Turkey as a possible source of concessional loans and investments," the government official said. The Tanzanian government said earlier this month it would have to turn to India and China to borrow $939-million. Lifes most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others? Dr Martin Luther King, Jr 1 was going through my folders the other day when I came across the image above. The picture was taken by the US Embassy Ghanas media team during one of my speeches at an opening ceremony of one of the Cohorts of YALI Regional Leadership Center (RLC), West Africa. As we are witnessing an end of one era and the beginning of another, this image brought back several fond memories about my experience at the RLC. In 2015 when the regional leadership program started, I applied for the first Cohort but didnt make it. Thankfully, I made it through to the second Cohort in November of the same year. My experience at the program was quite remarkable. I met incredible fellows who are doing phenomenal work in their communities young people who are turning noes into yeses and are doing things that some others might consider to be a miracle! Take, for example, Yahya Nancy Kandeh from The Gambia. Yahya was born in a very uncertain time. Even though his parents valued education, they like many others in the community never had the opportunity to go to school because they spent their days farming. No one in the family was literate, until Yahya. When Yahya was just four years old he approached his father about attending school. His father was sympathetic but feared that Yahya was too young to make the 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) trek to the nearest primary school on his own and told him to wait until he was a bit older. Yahya was determined to get an education, so when he was only six years old he joined classes designed for adult illiterates in his community, but at which other interested parties were welcome. Yahya took the classes very seriously. He performed so well that he caught the attention of his instructor who approached Yahyas father and convinced him to allow his son to attend primary school. Yahya impressed his head teacher at Sare Sophie Primary School so much with his knowledge of basic numbers and letters that he was advanced from the first to the second grade after just two weeks in 1991. After completing third grade, Yahya was advanced directly into fifth grade. He went on to excel at Brikama Junior Secondary School (1997 to 2000) and Armitage Senior Secondary School (2000 to 2003). He went on to pursue a higher National Diploma in Public and Environmental Health, and a Bachelors Degree program in Public and Environmental Health, worked with US Department of State under the Generation Change Initiative as well as United Nations World Food Programme (WFP); where he served as a Field Monitor Assistant, and has also gained admission into the University of Queensland in Australia to pursue a Masters Degree in Integrated Water Management. Read this story in full here Photo credit: Webster University, Ghana Like Yahya, Tobiloba Ajayi is a young Nigerian that will not let a disability stand in her way of chasing her dreams and making a difference in her community. Tobiloba was a premature newborn, the 4th child of the Ajayis 5 children. Initially, her parents didnt want to enroll her in school because although she could speak she could not sit, stand or walk; hence they thought she wouldnt do well in school. It took the intervention of the proprietor of her siblings school for her to be enrolled. He convinced Tobis parents that she couldnt sit, stand or walk, didnt mean she wouldnt be able to learn. Tobi recalls her dad saying that soon after she started school she began to make efforts to stand. Though she enrolled in Nursery at the age of 3, Tobi eventually started walking at the age of 12. She says that attending school with other students (without disabilities) challenged her to be better and encouraged her to overcome self-defeat. Tobiloba had her primary, secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria, and even partook in the National Youth Service Corps program. She later bagged a Masters degree in International Law from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. As a way of giving back, Tobiloba is now advocating for inclusive education for children living with disabilities as against the popular schools of children with special needs and has written several motivational books. She was accepted into the Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2016 and her story documented by the Presidential Precinct was a joy to watch. Read Tobis story in full here Youve probably heard about several lemon to lemonade stories but Abena Yeboah is a young Ghanaian that aptly personifies everything youve heard or imagined. Her fortitude and grit is as delightful as it is inspiring. As a young girl, Abena found herself on the streets. But she always knew that the street was never going to be her home for long. With that conviction, she fought her way through all the hurdles that formed life on the street; doing every menial job she could find including selling pure water, call cards and the likes to moving cars on the highway. Now, with self-realisation, a lot of help from rural chiefs and donors, Abena has set up an organization that is dedicated to helping young girls get a better chance to life. Learn more about her work here All around Africa, there are numerous young people like Yahya, Tobi, and Abena who have benefited (and continue to benefit) from the training programs at the Young African Leaders Initiative either through the online courses, YALI Face2Face, the Regional Leadership Center or the Mandela Washington Fellowship. These young people whose works hitherto were not recognized or celebrated are now serving as role models and inspirations in their communities. And through them, a lot more are getting involved in making their worlds better than they met it. This is the legacy of President Barack Obama. This is how Africa will remember him. My involvement in the RLC has given me a great privilege to interact with hundreds of young people across West Africa. One thing they all share is hope, hope in the future of this continent and the vital role they are playing in actualizing it. As Ben Okri wrote, it is our thoughts that make our world. President Obama has inspired a new generation of Africans who are no longer waiting on the government or the society to do something for them but are stepping across the lines to take their fates into their own hands; young people who believe that Africas future is up to Africans. And by believing, they are sparking the same fire in their communities, schools, cities and countries. Indeed, these young people brimming with talent, energy, and hope are claiming the future for Africa and I am one of them! Tom-Chris is the President and Founder of Stars From All Nations (SFAN), a social enterprise that bridges the gap between education and work. He is also the Regional Manager of Future of Ghana, and a MasterCard Foundation Scholars mentor. He is passionate about education, youth issues, social enterprise, technology and Africa. You can reach him at [email protected] By Julius K. Satsi, GNA Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - The Young Adult Fellowship (YAF) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has donated some items to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital valued at GH3,000.00 as part of activities marking its tenth anniversary celebration. The items included some bags of maize, gari, rice, gallons of oil, groceries, toiletries, detergents and diapers among others. Mr Christian Okonfo Addo, the National Secretary of YAF, said the attention of the group was drawn to some news items highlighting the Hospital's pressing needs, which necessitated the donation. Mr Addo said: 'We chose to come here as partial fulfillment of our obligations as Christians and to express love to the mentally challenged here'. The National General Secretary said: 'We have as part of our plans to adopt the Male Geriatric ward,' which is a ward dedicated to elderly men. Mr Henry Ntikora Yeboah, the National President of YAF expressed the belief that the donation would go a long way to solve part of the problems facing the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. Miss Priscilla Appiah-Dankwa, a Senior Staff Nurse at the Male Geriatric Ward, said hitherto the donation there were 15 inmates sharing three towels and sponges but with the YAF support, there were additional 16 towels with 16 sponges to augment the patients' needs. Receiving the items on behalf the Administration, Miss Beatrice Nyarko, the Deputy Director of Nursing, expressed gratitude to the YAF and called on other corporate bodies, churches and politicians to emulate YAF to avert the numerous challenges of the facility. Miss Nyarko said the Accra Psychiatric Hospital currently have 403 inmates with 337 being males and 56 females and 15 children comprising nine boys and six girls. The YAF is a fellowship of young adults within the Presbyterian Church of Ghana within the age bracket of 31 to 40 years. GNA Sunyani, Jan. 22, GNA - The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) is to hold a maiden science festival slated for Wednesday February 8 to Sunday February 12 this year at its campus in Sunyani. The main proposal of the five-day event is 'to combine three worlds -daily life, science and business to show the relations and areas of integration among them and the need to promote its study as a nation'. Mrs. Kamila Justina Kabo-bah, a lecturer, School of Geosciences at the University, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Sunyani. She said to achieve the programme's target, series of science-related shows, workshops, discussions, lectures and field trips, which is aimed at Junior/Senior High Schools (J/SHSs) and university students, has been lined up. Mrs. Kabo-bah, the Coordinator of the Festival, said besides the students, the general public in the Sunyani Municipality and the Brong-Ahafo Region at large could participate 'to meet face to face with real science'. The participants would visit available scientific laboratories and workplaces of scientists/researchers and representatives of science-related institutions, organisations and companies to enable them 'to know the scientific point of view on many issues and phenomena of daily life,' she stated. Explaining the rationale behind the event, Mrs. Kabo-bah indicated that 'people are hindered by the intimidation and the cultural willingness to stay away from science and if there is celebratory environment around science, one that gains a critical mass of great scientists, the general public and media attention can begin to influence that cultural perspective'. She continued that Act 230, section 201, sub-section one of 2011, identified science as one of the areas affecting energy and natural resources, saying that 'with the nation's energy challenges, it is important to develop a culture of seriousness with science and technology'. Mrs. Kabo-bah contended that a science festival would showcase science and technology with the same freshness and flair that would be expected from an arts or music festival. She reiterated that the event would afford knowledge on the scientific basis of various subjects and everyday occurrences in life and the objective of it therefore 'is to popularise science' among J/SHSs students and stimulate its study by most of them. Mrs. Kabo-bah expressed the hope that it would guarantee adequate number of scientists and technologists to identify solutions for the country's future scientific and technological needs for its holistic progress because 'credible models show that by the end of the century, essentially all of the fossil fuels - oil, natural gas and coal on earth will be consumed'. She announced that the University had planned to establish a permanent office by the end of the year for the Festival to be held annually. Mrs. Kabo-bah said the organisers had arranged for the United States of America National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to present the 'Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)' programme through tele-conference for the benefit of participants. The GLOBE Programme is 'an international science and education programme that provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment'. Mrs. Kabo-bah said the 'participation is free' as the organisers would provide snacks, transportation from the schools to UENR and travel to the Bui National Park. She therefore appealed to corporate and charitable organisations and philanthropists to assist the University financially to make the Festival successful. GNA By Nana Osei Kyeretwie, GNA Sunyani, Jan. 23, GNA - Mr. Kwasi Oppong-Ababio, the immediate past Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has passed on. The Ghana News Agency gathered that the late Oppong-Ababio died on arrival at the Sunyani Regional Hospital on Saturday night. His body has since been deposited at the Hospital's mortuary for autopsy. According to reports, the former MCE who contested the Sunyani East Constituency Parliamentary Seat on the ticket of NDC in the Election 2016 had earlier complained of stomach pains. He was then rushed from his private residence at Abesim, near Sunyani to the Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival. Until his sudden demise, the late Oppong-Ababio served as the MCE for Sunyani for eight years after he was appointed by the late President John Evans Atta Mills. GNA Minister nominee for Trade and Industry, Alan John Kyerematen has stated that government's promise of one district one factory will be partly financed by the one million dollars per constituency promise. The government during the December 2016 electioneering campaign promised to build one factory per district in the country while it gives one million dollars to every constituency in the country. Currently, Ghana has a total of 216 districts and 275 constituencies. According to Mr. Kyerematen, even though the private sector will largely lead the one district one factory project, the one million dollars fund for each constituency will be a major catalyst in bringing it into fruition. There is an agreement in principle for government to allocate certain percentage of the one million dollars that is intended now to go to every constituency, a percentage of that to support particular district, he said. Mr. Kyerematen made the assertion when he appeared before parliaments Appointment Committee. He stated that the decision to grow the private is key to the government and cannot be overlooked. We are talking about viable commercial enterprises so if government even has to borrow to be able to provide equity to support the private sector investor why not? I mean we are able to borrow on the capital markets to fund infrastructural projects which may not necessarily have commercial returns. he said. In any particular situation where government determines it is desirable to actually invest equity funds in a particular project after consultation with a private sector investor, he added. Mr. Kyerematen's answers follow numerous concerns raised by the opposition on how the new government intends to finance the one district one factory project. Apart from the commitment that we have been making through these funds going to the constituencies I am suggesting that we would make sure that both from the consolidated fund and from our own innovative ways of raising finance from the capital markets we will be able to support the financing requirements of any of these projects he said. By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana They said he will never be president, and they repeated this mantra with all the vehemence and consistency, to the point where their party foot-soldiers believed. Those who trumpeted this on roof-tops did so with so much vigorosity that, though deep down in their hearts, they knew they were being playing God and therefore being extremely foolish, they, at a point in time, began to believe it themselves. Suffering Ghanaians, who were seriously yearning for cogent policy alternatives from the ruling government in respect of reprieve from their state of socioeconomic hopelessness which ironically had been inflicted on them by the very government, were rather fed with heaving doses of verbal flatulence. Vilification agenda In weeks leading to the 2016 elections, assigns of the ruling ndc government held series of press-conferences during which the main opposition leader and flagbearer of the NPP,was the target of merciless insults. Juvenile-delinquent braggarts who, at the inception of the second coming of ndc in the year 2008,had never led a life of independence in any field of human-endeavour,were the ones at the fore-front of such acts of mindless verbal vituperations against the person of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Every reckless step taken by the ex-president Mahama, was defended with obscene vociferocity, while genuine concerns expressed by the masses were met with acerbic responses by juvenile-delinquent appointees who had fed so fat on the backs of the very suffering Ghanaian taxpayers. In addition to such display of reckless disregard for the peoples sensitivities, were the activities of lawless attacking-dogs on their numerous media outlets. Openly, Harry Zakour, a foreigner who has enjoyed the amazing warmth and legendary hospitality of Ghanaians, over many decades, made a declaration of war against perceived enemies of ndc government. Without a shred of shame, he openly said I set up Montie-Fm to provide commensurate response, by way of pure insults, to those who dare raise a finger against the ndc government. And to prosecute such malicious agenda, he recruited a bunch of characters with absolutely no credibility to protect, to champion the cause. The sole task of those nonentities was to denigrate the hard-won reputation of Nana Addo. Persistently, Nana Addo was mercilessly shredded, and all sorts of totally ridiculous accusations were levelled against his person. And as someone close to Nana Addo, I persistently received phone calls and prompts on other social media channels, as to why the party [NPP] was sitting aloof for his image to be so denigrated on Montie-FM. As a matter of fact, the calls often became so persistent that, I was forced to turn-off my phones when those riff-raffs were on air. In the end, those mindless character assassins broke the bounds of public decency and responsibility that goes with press freedom, by threatening to kill Supreme Court Judges. Clearly, that was a breaking-point of boundaries of rule of law, and they were charged, prosecuted and jailed, accordingly. But under the cloak of a facade of a petition cleverly orchestrated by the ex-president Mahama,those irresponsible trio [montie-3],were prematurely released from the claws of the law, and given the carte-blanche to, once again, cocoon themselves in the studios of Montie-FM to continue with their gaping acts of utter irresponsibility. Putrid verbal flatulence Frontline communicators of ndc, instead of trumpeting their so-called unprecedented achievements, rather engaged in persistent putrid verbal flatulence. Edward Omane-Boamah, Koku Anyidoho, Solomon Nkansah, Kofi Adams and Fred Agbenyo, communication minister, deputy general secretary, national communication officer, national organizer, and a deputy communication officer, respectively, always spoke on air, as if they were not brought up in homes. Their public pronouncements in matters of great interest to socioeconomic survival of ordinary Ghanaians, always bordered on precipice of utter indecency and sometimes outside the boundaries of sanity. Asiedu-Nketia, the partys General Secretary, became a symbol of cheap talk. He never was focused on matters of the day, but was so consumed by frivolous effusions which were motivated purely by utter disdain for the main opposition NPP. Nana Addo was always drawn into his pronouncements and deliberately ridiculed. His words were always heavily-laden with unrefined aspersions targeted at the person of Nana Addo. Presidential indecency Then President John Mahama, himself, threw caution to the wind and deliberately forgot the name of Nana Addo; and rather referred to him as OPANA. Someone who had led the country for close to 8years had absolutely no message for Ghanaians on his campaign tours. His main campaign arsenal was describing Nana Addo in all kinds of uncomplimentary ways and engaging in totally unproductive Usain Bolt theatricals. And while Nana Addo danced to the tune of vintage gospel tune of the century, ASEM PAPA BI A, MATSE, John Mahama was dancing to Shatta Wales CHOP KISS. Failed rigging- plan In the face of all the facts and figures clearly pointing to their obvious total electoral annihilation, these ndc people were convinced victory was already in the bag. And with my little experience in the politics of ndc and prosecution of kuluulu electoral agenda, I knew the party had, as usual, put in place a well-designed scheme to,characteristically,engage in their massive electoral fraud. I had the privilege to accompany Nana Addo on the campaign trail, and wherever we went, the people told us one thing: WE SHALL MASSIVELY VOTE FOR NPP AND WE DONT WANT YOU TO COME AND TELL US THAT WE HAVE BEEN CHEATED. In effect, the good people of Ghana are very much aware of the fact that, indeed, ndc never wins elections fairly. Bread and butter issues John Mahama always quoted Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah that "if I knew milk was what Ghanaians needed, I would have made it a tap water for them"; just to demonstrate how bread-and-butter issues are of much essence to ordinary Ghanaians. But inspite of his excessive quoting of this saying by the great Osagyefo, he turned round to put all his hopes in Circle and Kasoa interchanges, Ridge hospital, Community Day SHS blocks and nonexistent chip compounds. And when the people complained of high electricity bills, unemployment, hunger and generalized socioeconomic hopelessness, you boasted of unprecedented infrastructural revolution captured in a green-book. Now, after your 'yentie obiaaa' and 'dead-goat' belligerence have resulted in the most devastating electoral annihilation in our democratic history, and thrown you into wilderness of opposition, you have turned round to constitute a committee to tell you why you lost so badly. Indeed, there is this very famous Fante axiom which says "SE WOTU WO FO NA ANNTSE A, WODZIE WO KO ANNTSE-AZDE", TO WIT, A STUBORN FLY THAT REFUSES TO HEED TO GOOD COUNSEL, ALWAYS ENDS UP IN THE GRAVE WITH THE CORPSE". Fooling the fooled soldiers During a press-conference at their partys $20m asylum-down headquarters, to throw dust into the eyes of the public and hide their shame arising from their spectacular electoral annihilation, some angry FOOLED soldiers of their party actually stormed the premises and attempted to physically pummel Fred Agbenyo, for pocketing billions of campaign funds. Again, a meeting of ndc constituency executives in the Lower-Manya-Krobo constituency, was ambushed by a legion of extremely angry FOOLED soldiers who launched a surprise deadly attack which resulted in many of these party executives losing teeth, eye-balls, lips, noses, fingers and toes, while others were beaten to the point of total unconsciousness and actually had to be revived at the local polyclinic. Now, I was so busy, the whole of Monday, 16th January, 2017 and therefore did not have the luxury of time to either listen to radio or watch TV. I woke up this dawn, as usual, to scan the media space, and lo and behold, chanced upon a press-conference held by ndc hierarchy which I will fittingly describe as SHAMELESS DISPLAY OF REPUGNANT SCANDALOUS THEATRICALS BY A BUNCH OF OLD-INSIPID-CLOWNS WHO ARE TOTALLY CONSUMED BY IDIOPATHIC BELLIGERENCE. My observation From their posture and utterances, it is pretty evident that these ndc officials have embarked on this spectacle of objectionable diatribes for two main reasons: 1. Deliberate nonsensicals in order to save their skins from lynching by their angry FOOLED soldiers 2. Just to make themselves relevant in the media space for the purpose of opposing, just for opposing sake. My conclusion 1. This will not allow ndc to do detailed post-vanquished analysis to ascertain what they must do in order to restructure their party in readiness for election-2020. 2. The prospects of ndc being in opposition for not less than 2decades [20years] is very real, with such attitude. Justice Abeeku Newton-Offei E-mail: [email protected] Rome, 23 January 2017 The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Djibouti today signed a financial agreement to address the serious impact of water scarcity facing Djibouti's rural people. The problem of thirst continues to have a serious impact on Djiboutis rural people. Rural areas occupy most of the countrys territory and are home to 29 per cent of the population, 67 per cent of whom are nomadic herders. The IFAD Soil and Water Management Programme (PROGRES) will operate in the regions of Arta, Dikhil and Tadjourah and will cover a total of 13 rangelands benefiting about 66,000 people. "The project aims to contribute to sustainably improving living conditions and reducing poverty among rural communities and nomadic populations, said Naoufel Telahigue, IFADs Country Programme Manager for Djibouti. The beneficiaries will be all households having their base camps in localities within these rangelands and living under extremely precarious and climate-vulnerable conditions, he added. The total cost of the project over a seven-year period is US$17.05 million, including a $5.77 million IFAD loan and a $0.3 million grant. The project is being co-financed by the World Food Programme ($1.7 million), the Government of Djibouti ($2.52 million) and by the beneficiaries themselves ($0.7 million). There is still a financing gap of $6.1 million. The financial agreement was signed in Rome by IFAD President Kanayo F. Nwanze in and Djiboutis Ambassador to France, His Excellency Ayeid Mousseid Yahya. Djibouti is among the world's 10 most water-poor countries and among the 20 countries most affected by water shortages. Because of water and soil scarcity and the countrys semi-arid climate, the agriculture sector is poorly developed and crop production is minimal. Tackling the problem of water shortage is a high priority in the Governments strategy to reduce poverty and vulnerability. The programme will intensify, consolidate and complement interventions and investments from IFAD's previous programme for the Mobilization of Surface Water and Sustainable Land Management, by expanding existing rangelands or opening new ones. This approach aims to improve surface water collection structures and pasture restoration and regeneration. Since 1980, IFAD has financed 7 rural development programmes and projects in Djibouti for a total amount of $54.4 million with an IFAD investment of $30.1 million directly benefiting 41,850 rural households. IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided about US$18 billion in grants and low-interest loans to projects that have reached some 462 million people. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency based in Rome the UNs food and agriculture hub. The second 1,000 MW atomic power reactor at the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu has attained its maximum capacity for the first time. Unit 2 adds additional 1,000 MW of electricity to the southern grid, bringing the total amount of nuclear energy generated in the country to 6,780 MW. The Kudankulam units are the country's most powerful reactors. After obtaining the permission of the Indian regulatory authority, the reactor plant was brought to 100% nominal level of neutron power. We have reached the last stage of dynamic tests at nominal power. According to schedule, this stage is to be completed during the first decade of February. This stage will be followed by 72-hour tests with further transition to the stage of one-year warranty operation of the power unit, said Mr. Andrey Lebedev, ASE Group of Companies Vice-president for projects in South Asia. It is planned to perform comprehensive dynamic tests for 15 days, which will confirm the design parameters of the power unit main system and its dynamic stability in certain modes of disturbance of normal operation, he added. The unit started nuclear fission on July 10, 2016 and was connected to the southern grid on August 29. After operating it for some time, the unit was disconnected for testing the parameters. Thereafter, power generation was gradually increased at several stages. The Nuclear Power Corp of India (NPCIL), the operator of Kudankulam NPP, has confirmed that the second reactor was behaving exceptionally well as it reached maximum generation capacity. Construction work for Units 3 and 4 has started in October last year. The power plant in Indias southern state of Tamil Nadu was built together with Russia, becoming their first joint nuclear energy project. A total number of 12 power units are scheduled to be built in this country upon the Russian projects. This will allow to cover a deficit of energy capacities in India. Additional information: Construction of second unit was completed in July 2015 and was loaded with its first fuel in May 2016. Following the completion of safety tests, it was attained on 10 July. On 29 August 2016 Kudankulam NPP Unit 2, constructed with the technical assistance of ASE Group of Companies, was connected to the power grid of India. All the works were conducted jointly by Indian and Russian specialists in automatic mode in strict compliance with the schedule and safety regulations. The permit for loading of the fuel assemblies was issued by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Body of India (AERB) after a detailed review of all the Safety Reports prepared earlier. About RosatomState Atomic Energy Corporation: ROSATOM is the Russian state atomic energy corporation bringing together over 262 000 people in 360 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. Rosatom and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran signed a road map and pre-project contract On 19 January, Rosatom and Iranian Atomic Energy Organization have signed the documents relating to Iranian-Russian cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy. In particular, Behrouz Kamalvandi, Vice President at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and Nickolay Spasskiy, Deputy Director General at Rosatom signed the road map to implement the Memorandum on the development of cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy of 11 November, 2014. The Memorandum of 2014 envisages that Rosatom will build up to eight new nuclear power reactor units in Iran upon the agreement - four at Bushehr NPP and four at another, yet to be determined site. According to the protocol to the intergovernmental agreement, the construction of an additional four power units with VVER reactors will be implemented upon a turn-key basis at the site of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, as well as four similar power units on another site in Iran, to be determined by the Iranian party at a later date. The parties also agreed to ensure the maximum possible participation of local enterprises and organizations in all works related to the construction of new power units on the sites, their operation and decommissioning. The entire construction project of the nuclear power units in Iran, including equipment and nuclear fuel supplies, will be under the strict IAEA safeguards. Under the protocol, Rosatom will provide nuclear fuel "throughout the entire lifecycle" of the eight new power units. Used nuclear fuel will be returned to Russia for reprocessing and storage. Rosatom will arrange the training of Iranian specialists in the operation, servicing and corresponding engineering support for the new plants, as well as in the field of regulation of nuclear and radiation safety. About RosatomState Atomic Energy Corporation: ROSATOM is the Russian state atomic energy corporation bringing together over 262 000 people in 360 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. On 19 January, Rosatom and Iranian Atomic Energy Organization have signed the documents relating to Iranian-Russian cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy. In particular, Behrouz Kamalvandi, Vice President at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and Nickolay Spasskiy, Deputy Director General at Rosatom signed the road map to implement the Memorandum on the development of cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy of 11 November, 2014. The Memorandum of 2014 envisages that Rosatom will build up to eight new nuclear power reactor units in Iran upon the agreement - four at Bushehr NPP and four at another, yet to be determined site. According to the protocol to the intergovernmental agreement, the construction of an additional four power units with VVER reactors will be implemented upon a turn-key basis at the site of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, as well as four similar power units on another site in Iran, to be determined by the Iranian party at a later date. The parties also agreed to ensure the maximum possible participation of local enterprises and organizations in all works related to the construction of new power units on the sites, their operation and decommissioning. The entire construction project of the nuclear power units in Iran, including equipment and nuclear fuel supplies, will be under the strict IAEA safeguards. Under the protocol, Rosatom will provide nuclear fuel "throughout the entire lifecycle" of the eight new power units. Used nuclear fuel will be returned to Russia for reprocessing and storage. Rosatom will arrange the training of Iranian specialists in the operation, servicing and corresponding engineering support for the new plants, as well as in the field of regulation of nuclear and radiation safety. About Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation: ROSATOM is the Russian state atomic energy corporation bringing together over 262 000 people in 360 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. President Nana Akufo-Addo will never demand a state bungalow be given him as part of his retirement package after leaving office, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah has said. I dont believe that Nana Akufo-Addo as president will retire and tell Ghanaians to give him a house. Ive been with him and I know him very well, he has a lovely house and morally, I know him and he will stay there, Ive eaten kenkey and pepper with him [and so I know him very well]. I can vouch for his integrity, he wont do it, Brig Gen Nunoo-Mensah said. According to him, it is morally reprehensible and an immoral act for a small and relatively poor country like Ghana to be giving state properties to former state officials including presidents as part of their retirement package. Did Americans do that: give their presidents a place to live? Obama I am told was buying a house in Washington. But is America obliged to give him a place of residence? Why should we do it? I mean if America, which is ten times richer than us, is not giving their presidents [state houses, then why should we do it?] Brig Gen Nunoo-Mensah told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FMs Executive Breakfast Show on Monday, 23 January. His comments come in the wake of a recent controversy regarding former president John Mahamas request to keep the state property he occupied while in office, as part of his retirement package. Im sure that if President Mills had lived and finished the eight years, I know him very well, he wont go and get a state house, he will go and live in some small house at Spintex Road. So it depends on the integrity of the people we are talking about, Brig Gen Nunoo-Mensah said. He said instead of politicians grabbing state properties for themselves, they should rather empathise with the poor, ordinary taxpayer by being moderate. We should have sympathy for our suffering people; the elections we just had told us many things. Those who are coming shouldnt think that they can come and do whatever they like. Ghanaians have changed and they will change again if they don't meet their needs, which are plenty he urged. -Classfmonline Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump is committed to providing military assistance to Egypt, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday, after the new Republican leader spoke with counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Trump "underscored the United States remains committed to the bilateral relationship, which helped both countries overcome challenges in the region for decades," Spicer said. Washington's annual $1.3 billion in military aid was briefly suspended under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama in 2013, following the ouster of then president Mohamed Morsi, but was fully reinstated in 2015. Ties have nonetheless been fraught amid disagreements over a rights crackdown and Egypt's support for renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar. Spicer said "the two leaders discussed a visit to the United States in the future," and stressed counterterror cooperation. "The president committed to working continuing military assistance to Egypt and working with Egypt to ensure assistance effectively supports the military fight against terrorism," Spicer said. Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botcway, the Ministerial nominee for Foreign Affairs, said Monday there is the need to educate stranded Ghanaians abroad, who had no documentation, to return home rather than being maltreated in those countries. The Communications Consultant, who is the Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom in the Greater Accra Region, said the nation was ready to assist those who wished to return home to do so, so that they could reintegrate and make a living. 'You will find that our compatriots leave the shores of this country to go outside in search of greener pastures,' she said. 'They are lured by all kinds of agencies and then they take them to countries where they are maltreated and where whatever agreement that they may have signed with the so-called agents are not adhered to and as a result they are abused and in most cases, these are women. Madam Botcway, who was answering a question on the issue when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, said it was a worrying phenomenon and so people must be sensitised to be careful not to fall into the trap of unscrupulous agents who lure them to seek greener pastures. She said the Ministry would, therefore, work with the Ministry of the Interior to tighten immigration laws and also check on people who travelled in groups at the airports to avert such incidents. She said the Ministry of Employment would be consulted to crack down on unscrupulous agents. On what she would do to attract investment to the country when approved as a Sector Minister, Madam Botchway said she intended to focus on trade and, attracting foreign direct investment using economic diplomacy a lot. She emphasised that she would also focus on promoting trade within the ECOWAS region, which had a lot of potential. She said Ghanaian businessmen and women living in the diaspora would be encouraged to trade with their local counterparts. On what Ghana's Foreign policy was, Madam Botcway said it continued to be maintaining of good neighbourliness, promoting and protecting the interest of Ghana and looking for positive dividends for the country. The nominee for Foreign Minister said she would work for more than 50 per cent of the Ministry's Internally Generated Funds to be maintained to run the activities of the sector. She said at present most of its foreign mission buildings were in deplorable shape and the Ministry would support all the means for rehabilitating those buildings. On the acquisition of passport, Madam Botcway said the introduction of online application would really expedite the processes and reduce the delays, adding that, it was complementing the six more passport acquisition centres that were scattered in six regions. Four more offices were to be established in Upper East, Upper West, Eastern and Central Regions to make the services more accessible, she said. On appointing ambassadors to represent Ghana, there should be consideration of selecting more of the career diplomats on the ration of 60:40 basis, she opined, when asked her preference for the two. GNA By Lydia Asamoah, GNA People over 50 are more likely to fear failure than people in their 20s. At least, thats the takeaway from a recent study. The Statistic Brain Research Institute conducted a survey about New Years resolutions. It found 41% of people usually make resolutions, while 42% never make them. Of those who do make resolutions, 44% are related to self-improvement or education, while 42% are money-related. No surprises there. But heres where it gets interesting The survey found 38% of people in their 20s achieve their resolution each year. For those over 50, this number fell to just 16%. Does this mean over-50s are less motivated than 20-somethings? Not necessarily. According to Steve Patchin, Director of Career Services at Michigan Technological University, fear of failure may also be at play. On 7 January, Patchin told The Daily Mining Gazette: We live in a society that looks down on failure We shy away from taking risks, many seeking security in routines and the security they provide. Hmmm. Its an interesting thought. I have to admit I often shy away from risk-taking, or setting the bar too high for myself, out of fear of stuffing up. Let me give you an example. For years I avoided the weights area of the gym. I would practically cling to the cardio machines like they were life-rafts, afraid that, if I did venture into the weights area, I wouldnt use any of the equipment correctly. But this silly fear was putting me at a disadvantage. I could do all the cardio I wanted, but it wasnt going to give me the toned limbs I so desperately wanted. So I crossed the thresholdand it was fine. A little awkward at first, but I was much more aware of myself than anyone else was. I realise now that a lot of my fear was actually my ego talking. I was worried I would get it wrong and make a fool out of myself. I also think a lot of people (myself included) have an innate fear of success. After all, if we succeed at something once, we have to keep doing it again and again. At least, thats the narrative we often tell ourselves. Now Ill hand you over to Mark Ford, who has a strategy for dealing with fear of failure, along with a protocol you can follow to help you achieve your goals. A strategy for dealing with the fear of failure When business writers talk about why so few people become entrepreneurs, they cite fear of failure as the No. 1 challenge. When I feel trepidation about starting a venture, Im not worried about something as abstract as failure. I worry mainly about three things I sometimes worry I dont have the knowledge or skill to make the idea successful. I worry I might lose all the time and money Im about to invest in the idea. And I worry that, if word gets out that Ive had to close, businesspeople will think Im a fool. Especially those people who doubted my idea in the first place. My No. 1 rule of wealth-building is to invest only in what you know. If you think you might not know enough or have the right resources, then you probably dont. The solution to that fear is to put your plan on hold and acquire the experience to know what you need to know. If your fear is being shamed by a failure, you can overcome this kind of fear by imagining the worst possible outcome, and visualising being emotionally OK with that. Another thing you can do is to be a bit humble when you are announcing your venture. Rather than bragging about all the money you will be making, keep the claims small and try a little self-deprecating humour. This is probably a terrible idea, but Im going to try it. If your fear is losing your time and money, then you need to follow the protocol I outline in my book, The Reluctant Entrepreneur Keep your current job and all your current income. Start the business in your spare time at home. Spend the first few days creating a short business plan. Identify your product, and why you believe you can sell it. List the media where you can advertise. Do a quick and dirty cost/benefit analysis, etc. The entire plan should be no more than four pages. Spend the next few weeks or months spending as little money as you can, testing your optimal selling strategy your plan for selling your product. Find a corner of the overall marketplace where you can test your selling strategy cheaply. Create a cash-flow projection that will allow you to ramp up your marketing if the initial testing is positive. If possible, get someone to act as your mentor. When the business starts growing, read my book, Ready, Fire, Aim. Fear is a good and useful emotion. Successful entrepreneurs dont deny it. They overcome it sensibly and cautiously by taking baby steps, and proving the optimal selling strategy before going big. If you feel you have what it takes, dont let either the fear of embarrassment or the fear of losing time and money get in your way. Keep your risk low, and your dreams high. ***** Thanks Mark. I agree that fear can be useful to budding entrepreneurs. It can serve as motivation, but will also keep them humble as their business grows. As I keep reminding myself, its always better to try and fail than to never try at all. The greatest lessons are learned not from what you get right, but from what you get wrong. Regards, Michelle Hammond, Director, Wealth Builders Club Australia Editors Note: Overcoming fear of failure and building a profitable business is just one part of living a wealthier life. Mark has spent more than three decades dispensing wisdom like thisand now hes compiled it into the most comprehensive wealth-building program in existence Its called the Wealth Builders Club, and it provides the sort of mentorship that has made Marks proteges so successful over the years. It includes everything from extra income blueprints (which have the potential to generate thousands of dollars per month) to investment strategies outside the stock market, plus several of Marks bestselling books, including Ready, Fire, Aim. Click here to learn more. From the Port Phillip Publishing Library Special Report: The Lazarus Project Your best chance to double every dollar you invest this year [More] Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been at the fore of the fight for the actualization of Bifara. Amid protests and chanting of songs, Kanu was granted bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, April 25. The pro-Biafrans say there is progress and believe that Biafra Republic will be actualized very soon. Four reasons why Nnamdi Kanu may never be president of Biafra However that may be, there are fears as regards what the leadership of a sovereign state of Biafra would look like. From close observation and critical reasoning, there are pointers that the leaders of Biafra when and if actualized, will not be Nnamdi Kanu. Below are four reasons why the Radio Biafra director might not be handed the position. 1. Greed for power For now, it does seem that the Igbos are united in their quest for actualizing Biafra, however, if the orders are given and the secession is successful, it will baffle many as to the chaos that will erupt regarding the leadership of the Biafra Republic. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Fayose storms Abuja court for Nnamdi Kanu's trial Four reasons why Nnamdi Kanu will never be president of Biafra The Igbos are power drunk and they see themselves as equal and superior to their peers, hence, it will not just be a case of giving it to the man who was jailed, for the movement, especially because many others died in the process. READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu ready to drag Buhari, FG to ICC - Lawyer Bearing this in mind, everyone would feel entitled to the position when the time is right, and in that time a Kanu would have to fight for the position with others interested in the race. Politics is a game, anybody can win. 2. The main men are underground There is no movement with great magnitude that does not have the backing and support of some big-shots in the government or in business. There are those who silently monitoring and financing the Biafra movement in Nigeria, men who Kanu alone and other key leaders, know. These are the men who will rise after Biafra is actualized, they will raise their sleeping heads to take that which "rightly belongs to them". Four reasons why Nnamdi Kanu will never be president of Biafra It will be easy for such men to be crowned leaders of the Republic, while men like Kanu are honored as freedom fighters for the movement. Perhaps, men like Kanu will be given some great roles and financial benefits, but not the seat of power itself. 3. The MLK case It is not all those who have the dream or begin the fight for a course, that get to see the dream come to pass. Martin Luther had a dream, and so did many black Americans of his day, however, they did not get to see the dream come to pass in the person of Barack Obama - who became the first black president of the United Stats of America. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Fayose, Fani-Kayode defy DSS, enter court room to witness Nnamdi Kanus trial Four reasons why Nnamdi Kanu will never be president of Biafra General Ojukwu also had the dream for Biafra but is not alive this day and would never know of its actualization if it happens. Hence, Kanu like these believers before him, may not be around to see the dream coming to pass. 4. Biafra may come, but the time is not now The Nigeria government as of today, will do anything to ensure that the nation is not divided. It will take so much to achieve a Biafra Republic, even if an Igbo man becomes the president. It is a very daunting task, because so many signatures have to be appended for a referendum, and many more rigorous processes afterwards. One can be sure that if the processes are weighed, then it would be a very long time before Biafra can be achieved without bloodshed. No one can tell when and how the Biafra Republic will be achieved, but there is a chance that it well might not be in the time of Nnamdi Kanu. Source: Legit.ng - APC national leader Bola Tinubu helped to facilitate peace in Gambia over the weekend by allowing his private jet to fly out former president Yahya Jammeh and his family into exile - Tinubu was said to have allowed the use of his jet if only it would guarantee total restoration of peace and unity to Gambia - The jet, VP-CBT Falcon, had been in the care of Alpha Conde, Guinea president and close friend to Tinubu who flew out from Gambia with Jammeh aboard the plane Tinubu allowed use of his jet by Jammeh as his contribution to ensuring peace Gambia Ousted former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh departed his country late on Saturday, January 21 after agreeing to step down for the newly-inaugurated leader Adama Barrow who won the December 1, 2016 presidential polls. READ ALSO: Why Jammeh agreed to step down and go into exile What many people did not know however, is that the Gambian president flew out into exile in Guinea on the private jet of a Nigerian, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Nation reports that the jet Jammeh is seen boarding here as he departed Gambia into exile in Guinea belongs to APC national leader Bola Tinubu. The Nation reports that Tinubus VP-CBT Falcon Jet had been in the care of his close ally Guinea President Alpha Conde and he authorised it to be used to fly out the old regime in Gambia to pave way for a new one. READ ALSO: 8 things you need to know about the Gambia After agreeing to leave and save The Gambia from a major crisis, Jammeh was confronted by big challenge how to fly out. The leaders, The Nation learnt, reached out to All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who authorised his private aircraft to be used to fly Jammeh out of Banjul, The Nation reported. The report quoted sources as saying that after Tinubu was contacted to allow the use of his jet to fly Jammeh out of Banjul and he gave a condition that he would allow it only if it will facilitate the quick exit of Jammeh and lead to the restoration of peace and democracy in The Gambia. The plane eventually flew out with Jammeh, his wife, mother and President Conde aboard. Meanwhile, the new president of Gambia has assured the people of the country of adequate security, just as he also promised to leave behind an enviable legacy at the end of his tenure. Barrow, who was greatly supported by world powers and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), also said his government will create opportunity for the people to be involved in production so that the people will not be fully dependent on other countries for their means of livelihood. Source: Legit.ng Following reports of his alleged demise in the UK, President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed and provided evidence that he is alive and well. President Buhari has released a photo as proof of life that he is doing well. The president took to his personal Twitter to release a picture of himself lounging in the UK and watching political television show Sunday Politics on Channels. READ ALSO: Presidency attacks popular northerner for criticizing Buhari The perfectly-timed picture was released just about the time the live show was being aired in Nigeria. The presidents top critic Ekiti state governor Ayodele Fayose was on the show last night alleging that the abduction of the Chibok girls was a planned work. Recall that the presidency has denied a report by some media that President Buhari, who is holidaying abroad, is dead. The disturbing report has first been broken by an alleged fake Metro (UK) site that "quoted" the Nigerian mission in the country as confirming the presidents death. The report claimed that Buhari visited the UK for medical check over an unknown disease adding that details of his death were still sketchy. All of these have now been totally proved to be false. Source: Legit.ng - Chief Tony Anenih has reacted bitterly to the rumoured death of President Muhammadu Buhuri which filtered across some media platforms recently - He has also urged Nigerians to stop their attitude of wishing death on the President and their leaders no matter the situation - He noted that fabricating such negative and false reports of death about fellow human beings is wicked and ungodly Chief Tony Anenih has reacted angrily to the rumoured death of President Buhari Chief Tony Anenih, a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reacted bitterly to the rumoured death of President Muhammadu Buhuri which filtered across some media platform on Saturday evening. In view of the development, the elder statesman told Vanguard that the time has come for Nigerians to stop the attitude of wishing their leaders dead. READ ALSO: Governor Tambuwal urges Nigerians to pray for President Buhari He also warned Nigerians to stop praying for the presidents death no matter the situation and most especially, during this period of recession. He said: This attitude of doing false reports about the death of our leaders has become characteristic in the media and it is not good. I was a victim of this in May last year when I was reported to have died in a London hospital. Former President Ibrahim Babangida was also a victim of such sinister rumoured death last year. I wonder what those behind the false and mischievous reports intended to gain from them. Fabricating such negative and false reports of death about fellow human beings is wicked and ungodly. It is clearly against Biblical admonition that we should pray for leaders and people in authority. READ ALSO: Presidency attacks popular northerner for criticizing Buhari At this time of economic recession, rather than wish President Buhari dead, Nigerians should fervently pray for him to enjoy good health to be able to take the country out of the woods. The masterminds of these false reports should desist from such despicable act that only portrays them as inhuman. President Buhari who is rumoured to be dead has confirmed and provided evidence that he is alive and well. "They should fear God, ask for His mercy and forgiveness so that they do not invite the wrath of God upon their heads. The disturbing news which emanated from an alleged fake Metro (UK) site "quoted" the Nigerian mission in the country as confirming the presidents death. Meanwhile, following reports of his alleged demise in the UK, President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed and provided evidence that he is alive and well. The president took to his personal Twitter to release a picture of himself lounging in the UK and watching political television show Sunday Politics on Channels. Source: Legit.ng The participants of popular ponzi scheme MMM in Delta have protested over their unpaid monies which has been stuck in the scheme since December 2016. About 21 civil servants and director's N6.6M is allegedly trapped in the controversial scheme. LeadershipNG reports that the protesters, many of whom market women and local traders including some youths in Asaba, were seen having a meeting, strategizing on how to get their money back from the scheme. According to them, they were loosing patience on the MMM promises that were never fulfilled almost a month it claimed to have resumed fully. MMM Logo Felix Okafor who is the leader of the group lamented that a large number of them have not been paid and their patience is already wearing out. He said: We are running out of patience and our anger is on those brains behind the scheme for the frustration in accessing our funds." The protesters were said to have rained curses on MMM founder as they broke into tears, saying: we may be finished, we are yet to get our money paid, MMM had swindled us. It will not be well with the MMM Founder. Kate Okafor, who's one of the protesters, said: I really need help. I provided help of N50,000, now I made a request to get help. The request was processed, but I have not been matched with another participant who will pay me. They wont even pick my calls. So my money is lost, isnt it? Another one, Harrison Ita Etim, posted: I am still in the same poo, too, till today! On her part, Owhotemu Maryjane said: What is really going on with MMM? If its gone, you should let us the participants know. And why is that when someone wants to GH (get help), it will show or create error? You guys had a month to sort this out during the so-called break! So, what, then, is this so-called withdrawal limit that you are now talking about? PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ gossip App From Santos Maemi came this: To all Nigerians, please wake up. This is totally a scam. Dont be blind. Another participant, Christopher Chinedu, said: If I know that this would happen, I shouldnt have become a participant . Lets admit we have lost our money. That is business, I guess close or gain. Somebody has been matched with different people, four, to be precise and they have not paid him now, many days and months after. Hmmm! So, who is going to pay who? I think I have cried enough; its time for me to clean my eyes now and forget my N700,000." Sola Abiadakun, another participant, who provided help in November and asked for help on January 13, said he was matched with four persons but only two paid. I was only paid N4000 and N10,000, leaving two failed transactions waiting to be rematched, he said. However, top guider of the scheme, Bode Wilson, while explaining the reason for delayed payment, said that the number of people requesting for payment was higher than the number providing help. They have started matching people, but there will be delay in payment, especially for those that pledged huge amounts of money, Wilson said. Read more here. Source: Legit.ng - Prince Kanu, a brother to the leader of the Indigenous Poeple of Biafra has condemned the killing of some members of the group by security operatives - Prince said his prayers and his thoughts are with the family of the bereaved - He urged the federal government to desist from the continuous killing of IPOB members Nnamdi Kanus brother said the killing of IPOB members cannot stop the agitation of Biafra A brother to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu has commended the killing of Biafra supporters by security operatives in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. Prince Kanu in a statement said the death of the IPOB members killed during the Trumps rally in Port Harcourt on Friday, January 20 will remain an ultimate sacrifice and resurrection of Biafra. My heart bleeds for the lives wasted once again, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased, Prince said. READ ALSO: Strange! Nnamdi Kanu and Donald Trump wear exactly the same prayer shawl (photos) He said: Their deaths remain the ultimate sacrifice and the resurrection of Biafra. However, decrying the killings, Prince said the activities of security operative against IPOB members have become a norm. He said: It's so obvious the level of injustice being meted to us as Christians is from the north. The question I still ask Muhammadu Buhari is, how long will you continue to incarcerate us and how long will u continue to kill Biafrans? Prince added the Biafra is an ideology and that cannot be crushed. READ ALSO: We want the bodies of 200 IPOB members they abducted IPOB reveals what happened in Port Harcourt By killing unarmed, defenceless IPOB members, have you killed Biafra? The answer is NO Now, information getting to the IPOB structure looks as if this will metamorphose to arms struggles, for we can't continue to fold our arms and watch our family members being slain unjustly, he said. The IPOB had said that some members of the group were killed by security operatives in Port Harcourt on Friday, January 20. The group said its members were killed during the IPOB/Trump solidarity rally in the state. However, responding to the IPOBs claim, the Nigerian police have said it used minimal force in dispersing crowd during the protest. Source: Legit.ng - Southwest APC reconciliation moves have stalled until when President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country to settle things finally as national leader - Vice president Yemi Osinbajo cannot oversee the reconciliation because, according to sources, it is 'inappropriate' - Former Lagos governor Tinubu also did not depart the meeting in anger but had to leave urgently because of bad weather since he came on a chopper APC awaits President Buharis return to continue reconciliation moves in Southwest wing of the party. The absence of President Muhammadu Buhari has stalled the next rounds of reconciliation talks in the move to resolve the lingering crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC). READ ALSO: Governor Tambuwal urges Nigerians to pray for President Buhari Vanguard reports that efforts to end dispute in the southwest wing of the party has stalled because President Buhari is in the UK on vacation and the reconciliation process cannot be carried out without him as the partys national leader. The report quotes party sources as saying that after a successful round of talks on upper Thursday, January 12, the party now has to wait for the return of the president to continue its reconciliation process among aggrieved members. You know it would be inappropriate for Osinbajo as Acting President to be sitting in and presiding at such a regional meeting at this time, Vanguard quoted a source privy to the process as saying. The report noted that the reconciliation efforts in the Southwest APC were spearheaded by former governors Olusegun Osoba and Bisi Akande in late 2016 and quoted a source at the meeting as disclosing that the event was successful and it achieved all the aims for which it was meant. Akande and Osoba had before the yuletide passed on the message to the political leaders to set aside January 12 for the meeting, the source said. READ ALSO: REVEALED: How Tinubus private plane flew Gambias Jammeh into exile Vanguard also denied reports that former governor of Lagos state Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu walked out of the meeting but could not join the post-meeting buffet because he came on a chopper and had to leave because of approaching bad weather. Yes it is not as if we didnt speak to ourselves, we did, but it is not as some have alleged. It was a success in all rounds, and we are looking forward to the next phase of the talks when personal issues and the agenda for the region would be deliberated upon, the source said. Meanwhile, following reports of his alleged demise during vacation in the UK, President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed and provided evidence that he is alive and well. The president took to his personal Twitter to release a picture of himself lounging in the UK and watching political television show Sunday Politics on Channels. The APC now needs him back for the reconciliation moves to make the party stronger ahead 2019 election to continue. Source: Legit.ng - The Nigerian government has warned citizens of the country against embarking on a trip to troubled Libya henceforth - The warning came from the office of the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and diaspora Nigerians have been warned against going to Libya for now following the purported killing of black immigrants in the country. Some alleged black captives held in Libya The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the warning is coming from the office of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and diaspora. There have been recent reports of killing of black immigrants in the troubled country and Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said even though the stories have not been clearly verified, they call for Nigerians to avoid the country since Libya had been known for killing alleged illegal immigrants. READ ALSO: Lagos, Abuja make in the list of 27 worst cities in the world I hereby appeal again to Nigerian migrants to avoid Libya as penalty for illegal migration to Libya, when caught, is usually a death sentence. As the chairman committee on diaspora in the House of Representatives in the seventh Assembly, we intervened in the case of 24 Nigerians about to be killed in Libya. The committee, in collaboration with SERAP, an NGO, petitioned the UN, AU, ECOWAS, and Ghadaffi yielded to pressure and released them. As at two months ago, NEMA alongside, the Nigerian embassy in Libya evacuated over 2000 Nigerians from Libya. The Nigerian embassy in Libya, working with NEMA has relentlessly intervened in cases involving Nigerians in trouble in Libya and will continue to do so. READ ALSO: Recession Calamity: Nigerians seek to leave the country, SEE what has happened to them Libyans are dealing with their own struggles as there is no recognised government in place, the statement said. Source: Legit.ng - The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has denied claims that its members are perpetrators of ongoing crisis in Southern Kaduna - The association said its members have also been victims of the crisis rocking the state - The group said it has lost no fewer that 6,000 cows to the crisis in Southern Kaduna Cattle breeders have said they are also victims of Southern Kaduna crisis The cattle breeders have said that over 6,000 cows were lost in the Southern Kaduna crisis in the last few years. The cattle breeders under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) these cattle were lost by members of the association during the crisis. The Kaduna state secretary of the association Musa Gambo said that the herdsmen were also victims in the crisis that has been rocking the Southern part of the state. READ ALSO: Femi Fani-Kayode reveals some deadly monsters in Nigeria, HAILS Bishop Oyedepo Gambo also said the attacks in the area were ignited by some religious leaders whom he said are enemies of peace. How can we be involved in the killing of our brothers, whom our great grandparents have lived with and with whom we are living with our children and wives? Gambo asked. READ ALSO: Kaduna killings: Arrest CAN President, Senator Laah, Imams tell Buhari Unfortunately, we have been accused of being the perpetrators of the crisis, and even some are saying that Miyetti Allah will carry out reprisals. At no time did we issue any such irresponsible article to any media, he said. As a peace-loving association, which has contributed immensely to the peace and reconciliation efforts not only in southern Kaduna but also in the entire country, we will never descend so low as to advocate crisis. Meanwhile, a Nigerian priest, Apostle Johnson Suleiman has urged Christians especially those living in Kaduna to take up arms and kill herdsmen who try to invade their lands. He also said the killing of Christians by these herdsmen can no longer be tolerated. Source: Legit.ng - President Buharis administration has released N375 million to feed 700,000 primary school pupils for 10 school days - Five states have currently been paid to start the school feeding programme - Also, Presidency is claiming only 2 states in Nigeria are yet to begin the N30,000 monthly stipends for graduates The federal government of Nigeria has released over N375 million for the feeding about 700,000 primary school pupils in five states in 2017 under the Buhari administrations Social Investment Programmes (SIP) Giving a media update in Abuja on Sunday, January 22, the senior special assistant on Media and Publicity to the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande also disclosed that federal government last week released money for this year school feeding programme. The money has been given to Anambra state, Ogun state, Oyo state, Osun state and Ebonyi state to cover the feeding for 10 school days. Presidency releases N375m to feed 700,000 primary school pupils Akande said the SIP were proceeding at different stages of implementation. READ ALSO: Fayoses Aide calls for Magus prosecution According to Daily Post, Akande said the sum of about N375, 434, 870 has just been released and paid to 7,909 cooks in those states for the feeding of a total of 677, 476 primary school pupils. Below is the breakdown of the school feeding fund: 1. Ogun state got a total of N119, 648, 900 paid to 1.381 cooks to feed 170, 927 pupils. 2. Ebonyi state got N115, 218, 600 paid to 1.466 cooks to feed 164, 598 pupils. 3. Anambra state got N67.5m paid to 937 cooks to feed 96,489 pupils. 4. Oyo state got N72.2m paid to 1437 cooks to feed 103, 269 pupils. 5. Osun state got N867,370 paid to 2688 to feed 142, 193 pupils. The vice president's aide said: All monies are paid directly to the cooks and cover 10 days of school. He further disclosed that later this week, those figures would go up when Zamfara and Enugu states were expected to be paid N188.7 million and N67.2 million respectively. Speaking further, he said: In Zamfara, the sum would be paid to 2,738 cooks to feed 269, 665 pupils. And in Enugu, the sum would be paid to 1128 cooks to feed 96, 064 pupils. By then, he noted that over N631 million would have been released so far in 2017 for school feeding in 7 States, paid to 11,775 cooks and meant to feed over One million primary school pupils-exact number of pupils by then would be 1, 043, 205. On N-Power, Akande stated that the process of payments of verified graduates who were beneficiaries had advanced and were at different stages of progress in all but two states. He stressed that payment of the December Stipends which has commenced across the country would be completed in all states except two that did not meet the extended deadline for the verification process for December stipends. The vice presidents spokesperson assured some beneficiaries who had issues to remain patient, while observing that quite a number of the beneficiaries had banking information irregularities. Akande said the payment of the unemployed graduates which had created a huge buzz across the country especially on the Social Media was being done in batches. READ ALSO: APC lures Dakingari, Kebbi PDP chairman to join party Meanwhile, Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari appealed to the senate to confirm Mr Ibarhim Magu as the substantive chairman of the countrys anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Buhari reportedly conveyed this message in a letter sent to the Senate President Bukola Saraki on Sunday, January 22. President Buhari was reportedly silent on the the allegations leveled against Magu by the Department of State Services (DSS) which the senate said it relied upon to halt the confirmation in December. Source: Legit.ng A Cameroonian helicopter on a mission to fighting Boko Haran terrorists have crashed. The helicopter crashed during an inspection mission The military helicopter was said to have crashed on the countrys border with Nigeria killing the commander of the troops Jacob Kodji. A Cameroonian newspaper reports that Kodji died on Sunday, January 22, after the helicopter crashed near Bogo, a village in Cameroon. READ ALSO: IDP camp bombing: There is nothing strange about the mistake - Governor Shettima It was gathered that the aircraft was on an inspection mission with the top military official. See photos below: The commander of the troops Jacob Kodji Voice of America also said that Kodji was coordinating the fight against Boko Haram insurgency between Cameroonian and Nigerian border. Also three other military personnel and two crew members involved in the mission were said to have died the crash. READ ALSO: SEE 12 fallen heroes and heroine honoured by Nigerian Air Force (LIST) Meanwhile in Nigeria, a Nigerian air force fighter jet mistakenly dropped bombs on an internally displaced persons camp in Rann, a community in Borno state. Although the Nigerian military has raised a panel of investigation on the attack, international aid officials - who were also victim of the airstrike - and some community leaders have said that the death toll from the attack has continued to rise. Source: Legit.ng Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on national and other issues affecting the country. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has he has briefed President Buhari on many issues affecting the country. Osinbajo is standing in for Buhari who is currently on medical vacation in London. The vice president on his twitter handle said he had briefed the president on many issues such as the local and other developments including Gambias situation. READ ALSO: APC crisis: Buharis absence stalls reconciliation moves Recall that President Buhari left Abuja on Thursday, January 19, on a medical visit to the United Kingdom where he is expected to seek medical attention within the period of his 10-days annual leave. Buhari played a key role in the negotiations that saw former Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, step down from power. READ ALSO: Nothing to worry over health of President Buhari Presidency Meanwhile, the new president of Gambia, Adama Barrow has expressed appreciation to all governments, individuals, nations and all institutions that supported him to ensure the realization of his mandate. Barrow assured the people of the country of adequate security, just as he also promised to leave behind an enviable legacy at the end of his tenure. He said his government will create opportunity for the people to be involved in production so that the people will not be fully dependent on other countries for their means of livelihood. Source: Legit.ng - The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) is not happy with the General Overseer of Salvation Ministries David Ibiyeomie - The group alleged that the General Overseer had described the Ogoni people as being wicked and cruel and also saying that with only N500, an Ogoni man could make somebody go mad - Publicity Secretary of MOSOP Fegalo Nsuke claimed that the GO allegedly has deep rooted hatred for Ogoni people and called on him to apologise for his utterances The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has described some comments allegedly attributed to the General Overseer of Salvation Ministries David Ibiyeomie as an indication of deep rooted hatred for the Ogoni people in Rivers state. Ibiyeomie had allegedly on Monday, January 16, 2017, during his 5 nights of glory crusade, described the Ogoni people as the most wicked and cruel tribe in Nigeria. He said: "In the entire Ogoni land, human lives meant nothing as people can make each other mad at will, the wickedness in that part of the country is much compared to other regions in Nigeria, in Khana, you can make someone mad with N500." David Ibiyeomie, General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt has angered Ogoni people Reacting to Ibiyeomie's comments, MOSOP Publicity Secretary Fegalo Nsuke described Ibiyeomie as an ugly representation of the Nigerian Christian community. READ ALSO: Pastors against retirement age are money Launderers - Tunde Bakare The MOSOP spokesperson wondered if expressing his deep hate for the Ogoni was his essence for organizing the crusade. Nsuke said the Ogoni people were profoundly shocked by the allegedly comments of the pastor. He said: "We are profoundly shocked that a supposed Christian leader who should be filled with love for other people will express such hate against the Ogoni people. He further said it was regrettable that at a time when the country is making efforts to build national unity and integration, a Christian leader could express such alleged hatred against an innocent population. He said: Ibiyeomie needs to be informed that hate speeches do not build, they destroy and he needs to be very mindful of his public conduct in order not to jeopardize public peace. Pastor David Ibiyeomie, Fegalo Nsuke, MOSOP spokesman and a section of Ogoniland The MOSOP spokesperson noted that the only thing that makes Ogoni exceptional is that as a people, we have decided to halt oil production on our land following years of neglect, environmental devastation and abuses and insist that production will not resume until it is properly negotiated. There is nothing that is happening in Ogoni that is exclusive and not replicated in other social settings within and outside Nigeria." READ ALSO: Abuja pastor who gets paid by congregants for miracles (photo) He added: It is our wish that Ibiyeomie will help himself by respecting other citizens in the conduct of his church business and not engage in acts that could jeopardize public peace. MOSOP therefore demands an apology from David Ibiyeomie and will again urge him to be very mindful of his public conduct. Although the General Overseer could not be reached for comments, one of the leaders who spoke to Legit.ng but did not give his name, threatened our correspondent to be careful with his life, saying for the sake of his family and wife, he should not publish the story. He said: Be very very careful, for the sake of your wife and family. Dont let the Holy Spirit deal with you and your home. You will cry when it starts. You will not know what will happen to you. The church is not a circular organization but a spiritual one. You cant fight God and go free. Thereafter, he denied the statement saying the General Overseer did not make such statement at the crusade ground. Source: Legit.ng - 19 governors of the Northern Governors Forum met with Northern Emirs and chiefs on Jaunary 23 - The northern leaders meeting is focus on how to find a lasting solution to the continuous violence and incessant attacks by Fulanis herdsmen in the region - The governors are worried that the violence in the north has reduced the northern region to a laughing stock All governors of the 19 northern states under the umbrella of the Northern Governors Forum met Today, January 23, with emirs, chiefs and other political leaders over the continuous violence of Fulani herdsmen and religious crises in the region. The main purpose of the meeting, christened An extraordinary meeting by the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Borno State, Kassim Shettima, was to find a lasting solution to the security challenges and socio-economic problems confronting the northern region. Shettima said poverty, persistent insecurity, occasioned by the deadly Boko Haram attacks, kidnap and other crimes, have reduced the north to a laughing stock of the world. READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathan's visit to Obasanjo worries APC Shettima said it was imperative to have the northern emirs and chiefs in attendance because they are significant stakeholders in the affairs of the region. Shettima while declaring the meeting open, said the north, a once most thriving region, has been reduced to nothing, saying that there is no gainsaying the fact that the North is now a poor, pathetic shadow of its former self. He noted that the region today has been badly affected by the deadly insurgency, rural armed banditry, cattle rustling, ethnic and religious conflicts, the underlying causes of which are poverty, illiteracy, social exclusivity and severely limited economic opportunities. Shettima added: A well endowed, promising geographic space which accounts for 70 per cent of Nigerias land mass, up to at least 60 per cent of its population, with huge solid minerals resources, with potentials for hydrocarbon resources, a growing mining industry, rich arable lands, a blossoming agro-industrial economy, Nigerias wealthiest region by GDP and the region with the brightest prospects for accelerated economic growth. In short, arguably Nigerias most thriving region, (North) has literally conspired against itself to be reduced to the laughing stock of the world. According to Punch, Shetimma said the regional monarchs, governors and political leaders must close ranks to end the persistent challenges. The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jamaatu Nasri Islam, Saad Abubakar III, said traditional rulers in the region were disturbed with the use of places worship to preach hatred and violence. He explained that the reason why the killings in the region continued unabated was because nobody was ever punished for the act (killing). He said the traditional rulers were ready to support the governors on measures to be taken to end the continued killing in the region. The Sultan said: We at the Northern Traditional Rulers Council are very worried and sad with the situation of insecurity in the north, especially the happenings in Southern Kaduna, kidnapping, cattle rustling, the state of IDPs in the North East in particular and other parts of the country. We are more worried with the use of places of religious worship to preach hatred, violence and other issues that tend to divide us, rather than strengthen our unity as a people created by one God. We believe that one of the numerous reasons why violence continues to thrive in our midst is the impunity that is allowed to thrive in our midst. Nobody is punished for criminal doings they commit. He added: We are therefore strongly supporting more measures taken and to be taken by governors of the Northern states, especially the Governor of Kaduna state. We must all strive to achieve lasting peace in the north in particular and the whole country in particular. Governors in attendance are: Nasir el-Rufai; Borno, Kassim Shettima; Adamawa, Sen. Muhammad Umaru Jubrilla; Kebbi, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Jigawa, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar; Kano, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Niger, Abubakar Sani Bello; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal; and Taraba, Darius Ishaku. Emirs and chiefs who attended the meeting include, Sultan of Sokoto, Shehu of Borno, Emir of Gwandu, Emir of Kano, Emir of Bauchi, Emir of Katsina, Emir of Zazzau, Etsu-Nupe, Attah of Igala, Emir of Zamfara, Emir of Lafiya. READ ALSO: GEJ's aide slams Buhari, says he is Nigeria's most travelled President Meanwhile, Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in an meeting he had earlier with chiefs and Emirs of Kaduna communities stated three steps his government is taking to put a permanent stop to the ongoing violence in southern Kaduna. The first step mentioned by El-Rufai is the states intention to prosecute anyone found culpable in the killing of innocent people or causing violence that leads to death of innocent people. Source: Legit.ng The former minister of aviation Femi Fani-Kayode on Monday, January 23, showered praises on the general overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations Temitope Joshua popularly known as T.B. Joshua. Pastor T.B Joshua In a Facebook post on Monday, Fani-Kayode who put up the picture of the pastor and televangelist, said TB Joshua is a blessing to Nigeria and the body of Christ. READ ALSO: OPINION: The Fulani Republic of Nigeria (part 2) by Femi Fani-Kayode The former minister, referring to the preacher as a great man of God, said the good works of the SCOAN's leader will speak for him till eternity. A truly great man of God whose good works will speak for him into eternity. Prophet T.B. Joshua is not just a blessing to the Body of Christ but also to Nigeria, Fani-Kayode said. If we had more men of God with his vision, courage, compassion and tenacity of purpose in our country, Nigeria would be a much better place. READ ALSO: Just in: Former minister Femi Fani-Kayode visits Bishop Oyedepo "Posterity will be kind to him and I am very proud to be associated with him. He is undoubtedly one of God's end time general, he concluded. Last week, Fani-Kayode had visited the founder of the Living Faith Church of God also known as Winners Chapel David Oyedepo. After the meeting, Fani-Kaoyde in response to Legit.ngs inquiry said his visit to Oyedepo is that of a son visiting his father. It is like son going to see his father; I went to see my father. I am happy he is so strong and healthy; as strong as ever. He is a blessing to our generation, the body of Christ and the nation as a whole, he said. Source: Legit.ng The decadence in the society as regards youths, and the drop in the standard of education, is one that should call for great attention. Nigeria's academic crisis has gotten to such a height that we cannot boast anymore of the millions of graduates we churn out yearly from our tertiary institutions. The same can be said about the surrounding nations and Africa as a whole. Bearing that in mind, below are 6 tertiary institutions in Nigeria and neighboring nations, which Nigerians must refrain their children from attending. 1. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Situated in Abeokuta, Ogun state, MAPOLY has a reputation for unintelligence. There is a certain level of unseriousness that is associated with many who are currently students of this tertiary institution. 5 Notorious tertiary institutions in Africa, your Nigerian child must never attend From a recent survey, it was discovered that many of her female students get to leave school, and head back to trade their bodies in neighboring Lagos state. Cultism is on the rise at the institution, many fear that the development is getting out of hand. The standard of teaching and mentoring in the school is on the low, and because of this drop in standard, many feel it is the reason almost anyone can get admitted at MAPOLY. 2. Houdegbe North American University Benin Investigations, surveys about this institution gives one great cause to ensure that one's child or ward does not attend this school. 5 Notorious tertiary institutions in Africa, your Nigerian child must never attend At the inception, it was the get away school for Nigerian students who could not make it throiugh JAMB or post UTME, being a money thing, as many that could afford the pay were given admission. Investigative reports have revealed time and over that many of these students who leave the shores of Nigeria for Houdegbe, do not get to come back the same, especially in a moral sense. 5 Notorious tertiary institutions in Africa, your Nigerian child must never attend Some who responded to surveys taken, attest to the fact that there is a high level of moral decadence amongst the students. Well out of the reach of parents and custodians, these students get to over indulge - with banned substances, alcoholism and other vices. 3. Ambrose Ali University, EKPOMA The name stirs fear, and the reason is not far fetched. For quite an age, the Ekpoma has been synonymous with cultism. This trend has continued for too long and does not seem to be looking to change in the nearest future. Asides cultism, the case of of students sleeping with lecturers for marks is still on the rise, thereby casting aspersion as to the quality of students and graduates churned out. 4. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) The case against LAUTECH is simply the fact the strikes are incessant and the students continue to languish in their homes. 6 Notorious tertiary institutions in Africa, your Nigerian child must never attend One cannot trust when those who are already admitted will get to graduate, and when eventually they eventually graduate, what certificates will they have; how will they be able to defend that which they have not learnt? 5. Lagos State University (LASU) The Lagos State University is a "no no" if you really want your children or wards to excel. The cases of crime, cultist activities and strikes, makes it a tertiary institution to stay away from. 6 Notorious tertiary institutions in Africa, your Nigerian child must never attend From the survey taken, many say LASU is the school for those who would ordinarily not have had a chance at any other institution, considering the fact that many did not have to go through normal exam processes to make it into the school. 6 Notorious tertiary institutions in Africa, your Nigerian child must never attend 6. Auchi Polytechnic Sleeping with lecturers is the case against Auchi poly, the case at some point rose to an all time high that 12 lecturers were fired. The authorities are looking into the case which has eaten deep into the fibre of the institution. It has gotten to a point where male students even get to have their girlfriends sleep with students to get marks. N/B: These tertiary institutions may turn out to be the best in the near future, but as for now, they must be avoided. Source: Legit.ng - Former militant leader is calling on Nigerians to pray for President to recover rather than wishing him death on daily basis - He expressed surprise over the continuous death wishes to the president, insisting that Nigerians should let Buhari alone to govern Nigeria - Israel Akpodoro also lashed out at Ekiti state governor Ayodele Fayose over what he described as 'unwarranted attack' on President Buhari, calling him unfit to be chairman of PDP governors forum Former militant commander Israel Akpodoro has called on Nigerians to halt wishing President Muhammadu Buhari dead, rather it would pay Nigerians to pray for the president and let him recover to take care of the affairs of the nation. The former militant leader, who is taken aback with the torrent of death wishes, implored Nigerians to let the president be. He maintained that it would be of no good to Nigerians to see the president dead and plunge the nation into mourning. President Muhammdu Buhari He also commended the president for acting swiftly by deploying soldiers to The Gambia to oust the sit-tight former President Yahya Jammeh, who refused to handover to elected President Adama Barrow, a development which would have led to bloodshed in the West African state. Akpodoro, who is the national president of National Coalition of Ex- Niger Delta Agitators, also called on the Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop his continuous attack on the president, describing his action as unbecoming of a sitting executive in a Nigerian state. READ ALSO: Dont pray for Buhari to die in this time of recession, Anenih warns Nigerians He lampooned the governor, describing him as a scoundrel even as he said Fayose is not fit to be chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum. In an e-mail to Legit.ng, the former militant leader said it was unfortunate that an unbridled character like Fayose found his way into Ekiti government house, thereby using it as a platform to insult the sensibilities of well-meaning Nigerians. He said that Fayose has a hateful heart for the president and his immediate family as he called on the governor to thread softly and not to take the gentility of the retired army General - turned politician for weakness but rather a strength in character. Former militant says Nigerians should pray for Buhari He stated that rather than thinking of how to sack President Buhari from office, Fayose should think of how to deliver quality service to Ekiti people devoid of corruption and criminal looting of the state's treasury. READ ALSO: Governor Tambuwal urges Nigerians to pray for President Buhari The Urhobo-born ex-militant leader alleged that: "Fayose enjoys a stolen mandate acquired with the arms fund meant to wage war against insurgents in the north east. He has lost his conscience to electoral fraud being a consummate scoundrel with a shameless face." Akpodoro said Nigerians know the havoc the PDP perpetrated in office and that no sane mind would cast a single vote for the umbrella party especially when led by Fayose. The group held that as long as Nigerians were concerned, PDP is dead and will never rise again, wondering why now that the party no longer enjoys stolen money from the national treasury. He called on the governor to start preparing his handover note to the All Progressives Party (APC) candidate in 2018 as his tenure winds down by the day. Source: Legit.ng The famous University of Ilorin known with the slogan 'Better by far' has hit the rock bottom with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Unilorin is under heat from ASUU. If you are familiar with the educational system in Nigeria, then you would understand that Unilorin is considered to be a loner since the school management does not want anything to do with ASUU. Although the university is considered to be the people's choice considering their fast academic calendar, they have quite a reputation with ASUU for their arbitrariness,persecution of loyal members and violation of human and trade union rights. On this note, ASUU has decided to take a bold step in dealing with the university. ASUU has plans to deal with the university with the steps taken. Check out the verdict passed on the university: 1. No academic and non-academic activities at the university ASUU has banned Unilorin from carrying out any academic and non-academic activity. The members of the association has been asked to disrupt every activity in the university. The staff of this school are not allowed to carry out any work in the school premises. 2. Unilorin lecturers are not allowed to carry out academic activities in any Nigerian university The association is bent on dealing with the university as they have passed a law forbidding the lecturers of the school from participating in any academic activity in other Nigerian universities. This means that the lecturers are being alienated from academic activities in the country. READ ALSO: Buhari's administration gives out N375m to some states (list) 3. Imposition of sanctions ASUU NEC has decided to impose sanctions on the university administration; during the period which the sanctioning would last, the university would not enjoy the cooperation or participation of academics of other Nigerian universities. The private universities are not considered in this clause. 4. Withdrawal of cooperation of other Nigerian lecturers The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has instructed its members in other universities not to assist Unilorin with any academic activity. This means that research, teaching, assessment, moderation and setting of examination by other lecturers outside the university will not be possible for the time being. Part time lecturing, sabbatical, visiting and adjunct appointments will no longer be allowed. READ ALSO: Check out Nigerians' reactions to the new Alade Mall 5. Journal review is no longer acceptable The reviewing of academic papers and journals by other lecturers outside Unilorin is prohibited. Accreditation of institutions, courses, collaborative research, seminars, workshops will no longer be opened to the lecturers of this school. Newsletters and journals from Unilorin would no longer be accepted. The journals from academic staff of the university will not be published in other Nigerian universities. Source: Legit.ng By Press Trust of India: Mathura, Jan 23 (PTI) Nearly 100 quintal of wheat in sacks with government markings, allegedly to be black marketed, were seized from a tractor-trolley during a checking drive at Burja Road here, supplies officials said today. "The police stopped the vehicle during a checking drive on Saturday evening and seized wheat sacks with government markings," government sources said. advertisement On further investigation it was revealed that the wheat, which was meant for ration supply, was going to be delivered to a floor mill in Vrindavan, they said. "A case has been lodged against the tractor driver, Bhupinder and a ration vendor, Pramod Kumar, who has been accused of black marketing," DSO Sunil Kumar said. PTI CORR APA ANB --- ENDS --- MOGADISHU, Somalia At least 15 people were killed and 18 others were wounded at a popular cafe in Mogadishu on Sunday night when a car packed with explosives was detonated nearby, witnesses and officials said. Pools of blood and twisted bodies were littered along Maka Mukarama Road after a loud explosion and huge flames shot up, said Abdi Jimale, 35, a witness who was drinking coffee nearby. I saw several people burned by the flames of the explosion lying on the ground. Mr. Jimale said in an interview. President Hassan Sheik Mohamud of Somalia condemned the attack in a speech broadcast Sunday night by local media, and he accused the Shabab, a militant group with ties to Al Qaeda, of carrying out the bombing. Yemens president on Monday appointed a diplomat, Khaled Bahah, as prime minister after securing the backing of Islamists as well as Shiite rebels who control the capital, raising hopes that a political deadlock will ease. Mr. Bahah, Yemens ambassador to the United Nations, will have 30 days to form a government after his selection by President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, state media reported. In a statement, the Shiite Houthi rebels who have controlled the capital, Sana, for weeks said they welcomed the appointment of Mr. Bahah. Last week, the Houthis rejected Mr. Hanis previous choice for the post. The appointment is part of a peace deal brokered by the United Nations after Houthis swept through Sana and took over army barracks, ministries and vital state institutions last month. In his first two weeks in Liberia at a new clinic run by the charity International Medical Corps, Dr. Hatch has learned the ways of the Ebola ward. Much of West Africa is following a no-hands rule to avoid contagion from the deadly virus, but doctors and nurses here, protected by layers of plastic and rubber armor, routinely touch the sick. Without a drug that can cure the disease, they offer patients fluids and medications to treat symptoms, but also the simplest of comforts, like feeding them or cleaning them up. They follow their instincts Dr. Hatch turned out to be right that an elderly man suffered from a chronic illness, not Ebola, as a delayed blood test result finally proved but try to restrain their impulses, because old habits might not be safe. Dr. Hatchs journey to this remote center in a tropical forest began last month at a training course run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at a former Army base in Anniston, Ala. An infectious disease specialist in Worcester, Mass., Dr. Hatch, 45, joined about two dozen other medical workers heading to West Africa. Outside a battered warehouse at the base, with peeling walls that served as a mock Ebola treatment unit, mannequins were sprawled on the ground. Dr. Hatch and Bridget Anne Mulrooney, an American nurse who was volunteering with the same charity, spent nearly 20 minutes putting on gear: two to three pairs of gloves, aprons, head coverings, goggles, masks and chemical protection suits that were hot and crinkled when they walked. Dr. Hatch had trouble tying a knot with the double gloves. I was never good at surgery, he confessed. MIAMI Water scooter operators on Paradise Island in the Bahamas are reported to have sexually assaulted at least three American tourists since July, the United States Embassy announced in a security advisory this week that warned of increasingly brazen crimes sweeping the country. The embassy in Nassau, the capital, has issued four security alerts this year, warning tourists and American expatriates of an increase in crime in neighborhoods where American citizens live and visit. News of the sexual assault reports, posted on the embassys website on Monday, came as a surprise in Nassau; local news media reported that the reports had not been disclosed on the daily blotter of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. More than six million travelers visited the Bahamas last year, making tourism the countrys top industry and crime against visitors a delicate topic. The embassy said Americans were not being singled out but were being caught up in increasingly violent robberies and home invasions. An American living in Freeport was murdered in January. The next day, two American citizens were the victims of a carjacking at Jaws Beach on New Providence Island, the embassy said. By Press Trust of India: Beijing, Jan 23 (PTI) Police have arrested 22 suspects in connection with producing illegal drugs and seized 550 kilogrammes of ketamine in southwest Chinas Guizhou Province, authorities said today. In the largest haul of the drug in the province in recent years police have arrested 12 suspects in connection with producing illegal drugs, and seized 450 kilograms of ketamine in southwest Chinas Guizhou Province, authorities said. advertisement Police began investigating the case in December after a Guangdong native was reported to be purchasing raw materials and organising "technicians"to produce the drug in Guizhous Shiqian County, according to an official withGuizhou drug control office. Led by the Ministry of Public Security, police in Guizhou and Guangdong jointly carried out operations on January 11. The official said that two of the suspects were caught in Guangdong and the others in Guizhou. Police in central Chinas Hubei Province have seized 10 suspects involved in trafficking 100 kilogrammes of methamphetamine. Police in Hubeis Yicheng city said yesterday that they started to investigate the traffickers in March last year. They spent nine months tracking the ten-member gang, who had brought drugs from Guangdong Province to Hubei. The main suspect, identified as Ma, said that he had bought the drugs from a person in Hong Kong for 2.1 million yuan (USD 300,000). All the suspects are in criminal detention, and further investigation is underway. PTI KJV AJR --- ENDS --- President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland will open the ceremony, and Mr. Lauder will deliver a short speech. But most of the speakers at the memorial event will be survivors, telling their own stories. I was there from September of 1944 until the end, said Ryszard Horowitz, a photographer now living in New York who was 5 when Auschwitz was liberated. I remember several scenes from the end. I know we were, at one point, lined up to be killed, just before the liberation, when one of the SS people arrived screaming that the Russians were coming, so they just dropped everything and ran and left us. Mr. Horowitz said he would not attend this years ceremony. I went there twice after the war, he said. Once, when I was quite young, and then I went back during one of my return trips to Poland in the 1970s. That was enough for me. I do not want to go back. His sister, Niusia Karakulski, who also survived the camps, will represent the family at the event. This years anniversary also coincides with a shift in the way the sites administrators conceive of their mission. From now on, they said, the site will be organized to explain to generations who were not alive during the war what happened rather than to act as a memorial to those who suffered through it. A foundation has been raising money for a new wave of preservation. There will be new exhibition halls, and a visitors center will be built in the camps former meat processing and dairy site. A theater built for Polish troops before the war will become an educational center. Until now, the faces and stories of the Nazi commanders and soldiers were nowhere to be seen. The people who lived through it knew their faces, and did not want to see them, said Pawel Sawicki, chief spokesman for the museum. But new visitors, who grew up after the war, need to hear that side of the story, too, he said, and to see the faces of those responsible. Displays have focused on demonstrating the huge scale of the murders at the camps giant piles of eyeglasses and battered luggage and mountains of human hair. Those will remain, but they will be augmented by more individual stories, Mr. Sawicki said. But the spokesman, Thierry Werts, said the recruitment network targeted in the new raids was not directly connected to the Paris attacks. The majority of the persons arrested are suspected of having sent people to Syria, Mr. Werts said in a telephone interview. Some of them have gone to Syria themselves to fight under ISIS and have returned, he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIL. During the raids, cellphones, computers and other hardware were seized for examination, but no weapons or explosives were found, he said. Molenbeek has become the focus of intense scrutiny since the Belgian government, which had been faulted for failing to prevent terrorism, announced an ambitious antiterrorism plan this month and assigned hundreds of additional police officers to monitor neighborhoods with large immigrant populations and to crack down on radical activity and the illegal trafficking of arms, drugs and people. The investigation is being carried out by a judge from the city of Liege who specializes in terrorism. BRUSSELS As a dragnet aimed at Islamic State operatives spiraled across Brussels and into at least five European countries on Friday, the authorities were also focusing on a narrower but increasingly alarming threat: the vulnerability of Belgiums nuclear installations. The investigation into this weeks deadly attacks in Brussels has prompted worries that the Islamic State is seeking to attack, infiltrate or sabotage nuclear installations or obtain nuclear or radioactive material. This is especially worrying in a country with a history of security lapses at its nuclear facilities, a weak intelligence apparatus and a deeply rooted terrorist network. On Friday, the authorities stripped security badges from several workers at one of two plants where all nonessential employees had been sent home hours after the attacks at the Brussels airport and one of the citys busiest subway stations three days earlier. Video footage of a top official at another Belgian nuclear facility was discovered last year in the apartment of a suspected militant linked to the extremists who unleashed the horror in Paris in November. Asked on Thursday at a London think tank whether there was a danger of the Islamic States obtaining a nuclear weapon, the British defense secretary, Michael Fallon, said that was a new and emerging threat. PARIS On Monday, the Western world may well wake up to the news that, for the first time since the defeat of Nazism, a European country has democratically elected a far-right head of state. Norbert Hofer, of the Austrian Freedom Party, claimed 35 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential election on April 24. Now he is heading into the second round on Sunday with the two mainstream parties having been eliminated from the runoff and the Social Democratic chancellor, Werner Faymann, having resigned. One month later, Europeans may wake up to the news that British voters have decided, in their June 23 referendum, that their country should become the first member state to leave the European Union. Many observers fear that would be fatal to the European project itself. And on April 24, 2017, exactly a year after Mr. Hofers first-round victory, the French may well wake up to the news that Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, has come out on top in the first round of Frances presidential election. That is what polls say we could expect if the election were held today. In the meantime, it is not impossible that Donald J. Trump, however low his odds seem now, will have moved into the White House. SEOUL, South Korea After five consecutive failures, North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Wednesday, advancing its efforts to extend its striking range to target American military bases in the Pacific. The projectile, a Musudan missile, took off from Wonsan, a port city east of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and flew about 250 miles before crashing into the sea between North Korea and Japan, South Koreas Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Although the missile fell far short of its estimated full range of more than 2,000 miles, the test was the only one of the Musudan that the United States or South Korea did not immediately dismiss as a failure. South Korea said that the Norths previous five Musudan tests the fifth took place earlier Wednesday had all failed, with the projectiles crashing into the sea or exploding midair soon after liftoff. The holidays mean large extended family gatherings, hours of cooking and a group of people who dont typically interact in person, all confined to one location and trying to act festive. Its the reality show version of your family. When you return from your holiday visit, you may be exhausted for days afterward, finding it hard to focus and return to your regular routine. It feels as if you took the red-eye from Phoenix, but in reality it was a quick one-hour flight from Cleveland. This is family jet lag. As with traditional jet lag, the problem is the result of a disruption of your normal routine. Family jet lag works both ways, affecting both travelers and those who receive out-of-town relatives. Its not that you dont want to see your family, but the fact that you see them in person only once or twice a year means that you have a limited opportunity to discuss difficult issues best dealt with face-to-face. Its more than just the tryptophan, two kinds of potatoes and three kinds of pie that wear you out during family celebrations. According to Dr. Adam Fried, a clinical psychologist in Scottsdale, Ariz., the connection between emotional stress and physical exhaustion is not in your head. The novelist Nadine Gordimer, in an introduction to his memoir The Black Experience in the 20th Century: An Autobiography and Meditation (2001), wrote, Abrahams is an African writer, a writer of the world, who opened up in his natal country, South Africa, a path of exploration for us, the writers who have followed the trail he bravely blazed. Peter Henry Abrahams Deras was born on March 3, 1919, in Vrededorp, a colored and Asian slum near Johannesburg. His father, James Henry Abrahams Deras (sometimes spelled De Ras), was an Ethiopian who settled in Johannesburg to work in the gold mines. His mother, the former Angelina DuPlessis, was colored, the daughter of a black father and a white French mother. His father died when Peter was quite young, and the family struggled. Before entering school at 11, he sold firewood and worked for a tinsmith. After a white woman in the tinsmiths office read the story of Othello to him from Charles Lambs book Tales From Shakespeare, he became determined to attend school. He completed a three-year course at a colored school in Vrededorp in one year and won a scholarship to the Diocesan Training College in Grace Dieu, near Pietersburg, where he began contributing poems to the magazine Bantu World. While working at the Bantu Mens Social Center, he encountered the works of black American writers. I read every one of the books on the shelf marked American Negro literature, he wrote in Tell Freedom: Memories of Africa (1954). I became a nationalist, a color nationalist, through the writings of men and women who lived a world away from me. To them I owe a great debt for crystallizing my vague yearnings to write and for showing me the long dream was attainable. He later studied at St. Peters, an elite school for blacks in Rosettenville, outside Johannesburg, and became a Marxist. In 1939, while working as an editor at a socialist magazine in Durban, he found work as a stoker aboard a freighter and made his way to London. There he was hired as a dispatch clerk at a socialist bookstore and did editing for The Daily Worker, the newspaper of the British Communist Party. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary: This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe. Even the New York Times printed a photograph showing that a misrepresentation of the crowd in the original tweet in their paper which showed the full extent of the support, depth, and crowd and intensity that existed. These attempts to lessen the enthusiasm of the inauguration are shameful and wrong. The president was also at the, as you know, the president was at the Central Intelligence Agency today and greeted by a raucous, overflow crowd of some 400 plus CIA employees. There were over a thousand requests to attend, prompting the president to note that hell have to come back to greet the rest. The employees were ecstatic that hes the new commander in chief and he delivered them a powerful and important message. He told them he has their back and they were grateful for that. They gave him a five minute standing ovation at the end in a display of their patriotism and their enthusiasm for his presidency. Id also note that its a shame that the CIA didnt have a CIA director to be with him today when he visited, because the Democrats have chosen, the Senate Democrats are stalling the nomination of Mike Pompeo and playing politics with national security. Thats what you guys should be writing and covering, that this, instead of sewing division about tweets and false narratives. The president is committed to unifying our country and that was the focus of his inaugural address. This kind of dishonesty in the media, the challenging that bringing about our nation together is making it more difficult. Theres been a lot of talk in the media about the responsibility to hold Donald Trump accountable. And Im here to tell you that it goes two ways. Were going to hold the press accountable as well. The American people deserve better, and as long as he serves as the messenger of this incredible movement, he will take his message directly to the American people where his focus will always be. VIENNA A group of oil producers both in and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are ahead of schedule in reaching their target of taking 1.8 million barrels of crude a day off global markets, Russias energy minister said on Sunday. The comments by the minister, Alexander Novak, came at the end of the first meeting of a joint OPEC/non-OPEC committee set up to monitor compliance with an agreement meant to push up the price of crude. On Dec. 10, Russia and 10 other nations outside OPEC decided to join with the 13 OPEC members to reduce the daily amount of oil on sale by 1.8 million barrels in the first six months of this year. By Press Trust of India: daughter Nashik, Jan 23 (PTI)A 75-year-old man has been booked for allegedly outraging modesty of his three-and-half year old great grand-daughter between January 21 and 22, when the minor was alone in the house, police said. The family stays at Shingave Bahula village near Devlali. The members of the family had gone out and the girl and her great grand-father were alone in the house, said an official release here. advertisement A case has been registered against him under sections 354 (outraging modesty) of IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO) on Sunday night at Devlali police station, said the release. Mother of the victim noticed injuries on girls private part after which she lodged a complaint with police. PTI HVJRMT BAS --- ENDS --- HONG KONG Samsung, the South Korean conglomerate, blamed battery manufacturing problems and design flaws for the embarrassing and costly failure of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone and apologized to its customers and suppliers. In a news conference that took place on Monday morning in South Korea, Samsung and outside experts said batteries made by two suppliers contained flaws that allowed the phones to overheat and in several cases catch fire. But they also cited what they said were flaws in the design of the phone, including an unusually thin lining between the electrodes of the battery. Samsung said it would form an outside battery advisory group and add teams focused on the quality assurance of each core component of the device. We are taking responsibility for our failure to ultimately identify and verify the issues arising out of the battery design and manufacturing process prior to the launch of the Note 7, said Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsungs mobile communications business. GREENVILLE, Del. The state beverage of Delaware is milk, and as Angelina Squillace was stocking it in a grocery store here, she paused, in response to a question, to think about what else defined this state. Its like, tax free, said Ms. Squillace, 17, referring to her home states zero percent sales tax, and its Joe Biden. Thats really what it is. The handover of presidential power in Washington, 110 miles away, has brought joy to many in the country and thoroughly unsettled others. But here in Delaware, it foretold an especially bittersweet adjustment. The end of the vice presidency of Joseph R. Biden Jr. has dimmed an eight-year spotlight on a state that, even its own residents admit, can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Theres this big joke, people say, Dela-where? Karen Friday, 48, a home-school mother in Hockessin, Del., said as she waited recently at the Wilmington train station which is named after Mr. Biden for a friend to disembark. Hes contributed so much to letting people know who we are. For 18 months, Donald J. Trump the candidate described polling leads he did not always maintain and vote tallies he did not always receive and, especially, crowd sizes he did not always have. After his inauguration on Friday, President Trumps first appearances also involved talking about numbers: the collective IQs of his cabinet picks, how many military members voted for him and, again, the size of a crowd, this time the one that turned out to see him sworn in. Mr. Trump said of his inauguration crowd: It looked, honestly, like a million and a half people. Whatever it was, it was, but it went all the way back to the Washington Monument. In fact, the crowd was significantly smaller. A comparison of photographs from Friday to ones taken of Barack Obamas 2009 inauguration showed that the crowd on the National Mall for Mr. Trump was about a third the size of the crowd for Mr. Obama. But Mr. Trump, who has branded himself as everything from a world-class developer to a reality-television star to, later, a plausible presidential candidate, has long deployed what he described in his first book, The Art of the Deal, as truthful hyperbole, and others might call lies. But Mr. Trump and his inner circle, including David Friedman, the bankruptcy lawyer he has nominated to be his ambassador to Israel, have made it clear that they intend to make the move. It is part of an effort to telegraph a stark break with former President Barack Obamas policies, along with the nuclear deal with Iran and his opposition to Israeli settlement construction. They are very serious about this, said Aaron David Miller, a vice president at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, who has advised Republican and Democratic presidents on the Middle East. The question is not whether to, but how or when. Jerusalem is the seat of Israels government, but the American Embassy is situated in Tel Aviv, the countrys commercial center, on the theory that Jerusalems fate should be determined only as part of a broader peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. While United States policy holds that the embassy should be moved to Jerusalem in line with a 1995 law enacted to do so presidents in both parties have waived the measure on national security grounds, concluding that the move would prejudge the outcome of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United States has long supported a two-state solution to the conflict, but Mr. Friedman has questioned that approach, and Mr. Trump has said Israelis should be able to keep building settlements in the West Bank, in defiance of a United Nations resolution passed in December. In the call on Sunday, White House officials said Mr. Trump had told Mr. Netanyahu that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between the two parties, and that the United States will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Mr. Trump has said he wants his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who was sworn in on Sunday as his senior adviser, to lead that effort. WASHINGTON President Trump has no intention of releasing his tax returns, his senior counselor said on Sunday, ruling out a step he had said he would take once an Internal Revenue Service audit was completed. The White House response is that hes not going to release his tax returns, the counselor, Kellyanne Conway, said in an interview on the ABC program This Week. We litigated this all through the election, she added. Last year, Mr. Trump became the first major-party presidential nominee in more than 40 years not to release his tax returns, and he would be the first president since the early 1970s to decline to release tax information, either through a summary or a full or partial return. While Ms. Conway said that Mr. Trump had complied with all the ethical rules and done everything he needs to do to step away from his businesses, many ethics experts have taken the opposite view. They argue that Mr. Trump has not done enough to separate himself from his business empire and guarantee that he will not be subject to conflicts of interest while in office. They continue to call for the release of his tax returns as a way of evaluating potential areas of conflict. The advent of the Trump administration brings a designated head of the Environmental Protection Agency whose commitment to the E and P of E.P.A. is widely suspect. In Scott Pruitt, President Trump settled on a man who reflects his own skepticism about climate change, which has included assertions that global warming is a hoax. The fledgling administration seems intent on reining in an agency it believes has exceeded its mandate for too long. It is hardly the first time that the agency has found itself in someones cross hairs. Echoes of earlier assaults reverberate in a new offering from Retro Report, a series of video documentaries examining major news events of the past and their continued resonance. Several interwoven threads shape this installment: the global battle against malaria; the nationwide ban on almost all uses of DDT that the E.P.A. imposed in 1972; and the work of Rachel Carson, who became a guiding spirit of the modern environmental movement with her groundbreaking 1962 best seller Silent Spring. This video was produced in collaboration with the history series American Experience, whose study of Carsons life will be broadcast on PBS stations Tuesday night. DHAKA, Bangladesh Bangladeshs Education Ministry was preparing to print the 2017 editions of its standard Bengali textbooks when a group of conservative Islamic religious scholars demanded the removal of 17 poems and stories they deemed atheistic. By the time the books were distributed to schools on Jan. 1, the 17 poems and stories were gone, with no explanation from the government. Other changes had crept in, too: First graders studying the alphabet were taught that o stands for orna, a scarf worn by devout Muslim girls starting at puberty, not for ol, a type of yam; and a sixth-grade travelogue describing a visit to the Hindu-dominated north of India was replaced by one about the Nile in Egypt. The changes were barely noticeable to the general public, but they alarmed some Bangladesh intellectuals, who saw them as the governments accommodating a larger shift toward radical Islam. Bangladesh has struggled to contain extremist violence in recent years, as Islamist militants have targeted secular writers and intellectuals. But equally significant, over the long term, are changes taking place in the general population: The number of women wearing the hijab has gradually risen, as has the number of students enrolled in madrasas, or Islamic schools. JERUSALEM Just two days old, the presidency of Donald J. Trump is already reshaping the politics between Israelis and Palestinians, on issues from the location of the American Embassy to possible annexation of a major settlement bloc to whether Palestinians are on the edge of a renewed revolt. Sunday was a day of intense maneuvering on all sides, with an elation among many Israelis that the rancorous relations with the Obama administration were over but with questions about just how far or how quickly Mr. Trump would go on moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a quandary that has bedeviled American presidents for decades. Palestinian and Arab leaders girded for the changes that the new administration in Washington might bring. On Sunday, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, met in Jordan with King Abdullah II, and both leaders repeated their staunch opposition to the embassy move. The men did not release details of any plans for a coordinated reaction, but both have warned of renewed violence if the move happens. The Palestinian leadership has indicated it would revoke its recognition of Israel, considered the first condition by Israelis for negotiations on a two-state solution a possibility that seems remote at the moment in any case. In 1755 a New York City newspaper carried an account of the swearing-in of the governors of the newly founded Kings College, which later grew into Columbia University. At the bottom of the page ran an advertisement for a rather different occasion: the sale of TWO likely Negro Boys, and a Girl. The ad would have raised few eyebrows at Kings, where many of the colleges early presidents, trustees, donors and students owned slaves. But now its the opening example in a new report detailing Columbias historical ties to slavery. The report, to be released by the university on Tuesday as part of a new website, offers no dramatic revelations akin to that of the sale of 272 slaves in 1838 that helped keep Georgetown University afloat and that has raised a contentious debate about reparations today. But it illuminates the many ways that the institution of human bondage seeped into the financial, intellectual and social life of the university, and of the North as a whole. On arrival at Siachen Base camp, the Army Chief paid tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Siachen War Memorial and then interacted with troops posted at Siachen. By Manjeet Negi: Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General D Anbu visited Siachen, Leh and Srinagar on Monday. On arrival at Siachen Base camp, the Army Chief paid tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Siachen War Memorial and then interacted with troops posted at Siachen. Thereafter, the Army Chief moved to Leh where he was briefed on the overall security situation and operational preparedness by the Corps Commander. advertisement Rawat later interacted with officers and men at the Leh Garrison. During his interaction, he appreciated the commitment, dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of all officers and men posted to the region and called up on them to continue to uphold the core values of the Indian Army. The Army Chief later went to Srinagar for his first visit to the Valley after assuming the appointment as COAS where he was briefed about the prevailing security scenario in Kashmir and the measures instituted to integrate all government agencies for efficient intelligence generation and successful conduct of operations. He complimented the soldiers on ground for their high morale, outstanding vigilance and state of preparedness. Rawat, who has served in Kashmir in various capacities including commanding the Dagger Division in 2011-2012 and an RR Sector in Sopore - Bandipora in 2006-2007, also conveyed his greetings to the people of Kashmir and reassured them of the Army's commitment towards their well being. Also read: Army chief General Bipin Rawat holds first meeting with all commanders --- ENDS --- Judging by the reaction to a Saturday Night Live writers tweet, one norm of American politics remains unshakable: The children of presidents should be off limits. It is a rule that has been cited and sometimes broken through a succession of first daughters. Now, for the first time in more than half a century, the president has a young son. Shortly after President Trump took the oath of office on Friday, a comedy writer for S.N.L., Katie Rich, tweeted what was intended to be a joke about Barron Trump and school shootings, prompting a barrage of criticism. Within a few hours, Ms. Rich deleted the tweet and locked down her Twitter account, but it remained a topic on social media all weekend. Pity the news organization trying to do sober, reflective, comprehensive reporting on Donald J. Trump. While its gathering its information and conducting its interviews and preparing its graphics, Mr. Trump is galloping out ahead, rewriting the story daily. That was the obvious problem for PBSs Frontline, which concludes a series of Trump-related reports with Trumps Road to the White House on Tuesday night. An hour of How did this happen?, covering the 15 months from announcement speech to election, its intelligently and conscientiously made. Its also almost completely beside the point. Theres no new information in Trumps Road: Its an annotated ticktock of well-known events. (Perhaps hoping to add a semblance of immediacy, the producers drop into the narration a rhetorical, for now unanswerable question: Will he govern the way he campaigned?) The main reason to watch it is to relive those events and get them clear in your mind. For those opposed to, or appalled by, Mr. Trump, its a horror film. For his supporters, its The Sound of Music. The cast of commentators includes three Hillary Clinton surrogates but is weighted heavily toward the Trump camp a dozen staff members, including the successive campaign managers, Corey Lewandowski and Kellyanne Conway. Offering the view from inside the campaign, theyre more measured and less confrontational than their candidate. TRANSIT By Rachel Cusk 260 pp. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. $26. Transit is a novel that all but dispenses with plot. A recently divorced novelist buys a dilapidated house in London, and has conversations with builders, neighbors, a hairdresser, a friend. She appears at a literary festival where she brings something to read aloud (we learn no more), teaches, goes on a date and attends a disastrous dinner party. It is the second novel of a trilogy that began with Outline, in which Rachel Cusks project appears to be nothing less than the reinvention of the form itself. Once you have suffered sufficiently, she told an interviewer after the publication of Aftermath, her memoir about the demise of her marriage, the idea of making up John and Jane and having them do things together seems utterly ridiculous. What, then, is to be done? How is the novel to be written? Cusks answer is to eliminate John and Jane in favor of an altogether different narrative structure, in which a shadowy narrator, Faye named only once in each novel becomes a conduit for multiple stories. These stories are not, as it were, played out John-and-Jane style; they do not unfold before us, nor are they by and large composed through dialogue. Instead they are delivered by Faye, who sums up what often amounts to the story of a life. Thus a chance encounter with an ex-boyfriend, Gerard, produces a tale of marriage, fatherhood, and the way life can be simultaneously ever changing and stuck in a rut. Superficially, for him at least the facts of that life were unchanged since the days I had known him: he lived in the same flat, had kept the same friends, went to the same places. The difference, Faye notes, was that his wife and daughter were with him: They constituted a kind of audience. Pavel, a Polish builder, yields a story about the house he built for himself back home, and the hardships of his new life in London. He rented a bedsit near Wembley Stadium, in a building full of other bedsits occupied by people he didnt know. In the first week, someone had broken in and stolen all his tools. It is a risky business, this summing up. Show, dont tell, say the creative writing manuals. Cusk has torn up the rule book, and in the process created a work of stunning beauty, deep insight and great originality. Key to this originality is the novel approach to building a character. The narrator of Outline was described by critics as a cipher, self-effacing, numbly inert, or a faint image. In Transit, Faye is beginning to emerge from the numbness and passivity that followed the death of her marriage. As she tells the real estate agent, I would want what everyone else wanted, even if I couldnt attain it. Yet she is still, in many ways, an absence. While we learn about Pavels relationship with his father, and a friends relationship with her parents, Fayes biography remains a mystery. Her sons, staying with their father during the building work, feature only as brief interruptions when they call her in states of anxiety. Nor are we privy to Fayes private thoughts, her inner dialogue or stream of consciousness. There is, in the Kantian sense, no whole and centered inner self to which we are introduced. Nor do we find in Faye a divided, self-contradictory, unreliable self in keeping with the multiplicity and chaos of the subject described by post-Enlightenment philosophers such as Adorno and Horkheimer, and rendered in modernist literature by writers such as Woolf and Joyce. Instead we discover Faye perhaps as we largely discover ourselves in relationship to the people and events around her. Image Rachel Cusk Credit... Siemon Scammel-Katz This process is organic and dynamic. It evolves in the way she reacts to others, for instance the writing student who sipped her tea with an air of equanimity, as though in the confident belief that I would not be able to resist asking her to continue. Faye does, indeed, resist. It flows from the way her thoughts seem formed spontaneously, a challenge to interlocutors: To stay free, her hairdresser opines, you have to reject change. Faye demurs: I said I wasnt sure: When people freed themselves they usually forced change on everyone else. But it didnt necessarily follow that to stay free was to stay the same. Her identity also emerges from the stories that she elicits or pays heed, above those she chooses to ignore. While teaching a class, Faye finds it hard to attend to what the students are saying. However, when one relates a story about Arabian hunting dogs that suggests the ultimate fulfillment of a conscious being lay not in solitude but in a shared state so intricate and cooperative it might almost be said to represent the entwining of two selves, Faye draws him out. Inevitably, in suburban Sevenoaks where he lives, the potential of his own hunting dog like all two-become-one dreams has remained unfulfilled. Foxconns $7 billion bet on the United States goes beyond politics. Building a huge TV screen factory in America would fit neatly with President Trumps push to create domestic jobs. Grabbing a share of the American market could also help the Taiwanese iPhone maker revive Sharp, its recently acquired subsidiary. On Sunday, Foxconns founder, Terry Gou, sketched out a project to make display panels in America, building on details revealed accidentally last month by his friend Masayoshi Son, the chairman of SoftBank, the Japanese technology and telecommunications giant. This may not happen. Mr. Gou has a history of talking up investments that do not materialize. But on paper at least, this looks like a big deal. To compare, Samsung Electronics spent just over $9 billion in capital for its display business last year. Foxconns new plant could create up to 50,000 jobs. Foxconn stands to score political points. President Trump has lashed out against foreign and domestic companies alike for sacrificing American manufacturing jobs, and he has threatened to increase tariffs on imports from countries like China. Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry, looks particularly vulnerable to any potential disputes: The $46 billion group relies on huge, labor-intensive manufacturing operations in China. But even with the pared-back case, Mr. DiCarmine, 60, and Mr. Sanders, 58, could face up to four years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge a securities fraud count. Lawyers for both men, on the eve of jury selection, somewhat predictably argued with the prosecutions continued pursuit of criminal charges against their clients. Andrew J. Frisch, the lawyer for Mr. Sanders, said prosecutors had become fixated on holding someone to account for the collapse of Dewey and just wont let go. Rita Glavin, the lawyer for Mr. DiCarmine, expressed a similar frustration and said the decision to hold a second trial was a tragedy and injustice. The second trial is taking place with much less attention than the first, which was closely watched by the New York legal community. The prosecution of the former Dewey executives was one of the first watershed white-collar cases brought by Mr. Vance, whose office has a mixed record in high-profile trials. The criminal proceedings have put a hold on a parallel lawsuit that the Securities and Exchange Commission filed against Mr. DiCarmine and Mr. Sanders, which contends that the two men and others at Dewey misled investors in a bond offering that Dewey used to fund its operations. The new trial is likely to feature testimony again from several former employees of Deweys accounting department who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in the early stage of the investigation. And once again the star witness for the prosecution is expected to be Frank Canellas, the firms former finance director. Mr. Canellas testified about conversations he had with Mr. Sanders in late 2008, including a dinner at a Manhattan restaurant, about ways to jigger the firms financial books. But Mr. Canellas also testified that he had never directly told Mr. DiCarmine or Mr. Davis of any improper accounting maneuvers being used at the firm. Donald J. Trump and Melania Trump chose to have their first dance as president and first lady to My Way. Mr. Trump also opted to follow the spirit of the song on his first days on the job. There were angry Twitter messages, complaints about crowd sizes at his swearing in ceremony and attempts to rewrite the history of his dealings with American intelligence agencies. The lack of discipline was troubling enough to concern even senior members of his circle. A combative team added to his pugilistic stance. Mr. Trump declared himself to be in a running war with the media and his press secretary, Sean Spicer, used his first appearance on the White House podium to deliver a jeremiad against the news media. Kellyanne Conway, the presidents counselor, then described falsehoods from Mr. Spicer, as alternative facts, stoking even more debate. Ms. Conway also said over the weekend that Mr. Trump had no intention of releasing his tax returns. But her argument that Mr. Trump has done everything he needs to do to step away from his businesses is unlikely to hold much water with critics. The adage that timing in life is everything can be especially important when there is a claim of fraud, because the window to bring a case can close quickly and decisively under the applicable statute of limitations. This is the type of technical requirement that lawyers love to use to block a lawsuit. Failing to act on time means any chance at recovery is lost, letting a potential wrongdoer get off scot-free. The issue of how the statute of limitations applies to claims under the federal securities laws has come up recently in two areas. The Supreme Court announced on Jan. 13 that it would decide when the Securities and Exchange Commission must file a lawsuit seeking disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, a remedy the agency often pursues when a defendant obtains money improperly. But, in another case, the court declined to review a lower-court decision that lets the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation pursue claims against big Wall Street banks over their sale of mortgage securities in the run-up to the financial crisis. Those claims would have been blocked otherwise for being filed too late. Under the statute of limitations applicable to S.E.C. civil charges, 28 U.S.C. 2462, an action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any civil fine, penalty, or forfeiture, pecuniary or otherwise, shall not be entertained unless commenced within five years from the date when the claim first accrued. The justices have agreed to review a decision in August from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver in S.E.C. v. Kokesh involving misappropriation of investor funds from 1995 to 2006. The S.E.C. ordered that the defendant disgorge $34.9 million. The S.E.C. initiated its lawsuit in the case in October 2009, more than five years after much of the diversion took place. But the Tenth Circuit found that disgorgement requiring a defendant to repay stolen money was not a forfeiture because it is a different from a civil fine or penalty. The nonpunitive remedy of disgorgement does not fit in that company, the court said, and is not subject to the limitations period. Despite the troubled handset, the company said on Tuesday that profit more than doubled in the last three months of 2016, to about $7.93 billion. The increase was driven by chip sales, and gave Samsung the financial firepower to announce a nearly $8 billion share buyback program. Over the past decade Samsung and South Korea have been widely viewed as a model of forward-thinking, technological prowess. In Asia it was viewed as the exception to the sluggish economic growth of nearby Taiwan and Japan, whose once world-beating electronic makers have been in decline. So large and influential is Samsung that some worried South Koreans call their own country the Republic of Samsung. The company is responsible for 20 percent of South Korean exports, and any blow to its success often raises anxiety about the overall health of the countrys economic prospects. But as with the rest of the country, a shake-up has been slow to come. In recent years the company has run initiatives to push back against what is widely described as a rigid, top-down management system. Samsung engineers and midlevel managers are seldom allowed to second-guess management goals set by top bosses, former employees say. What we consider before using anonymous sources. Do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process. Pressures rose after Mr. Lees father, Lee Kun-hee, its chairman, suffered a stroke in 2014 and fell into a coma. One engineer in the United States who works with Samsung suppliers on projects, including the Note 7, said Samsungs no-questions-asked corporate culture had grown more inflexible in recent years. In the Samsung culture, managers constantly feel pressured to prove themselves with short-term achievements, said Kim Jin-baek, who worked at Samsung until 2010 before becoming a professor at the business school of Chung-Ang University in Seoul. Executives fret that they may not be able to meet the goals and lose their jobs, even when they know the goals are excessive. With the Note 7, Samsung pushed its business model, as well as its technology, to the limit, according to Samsung officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity while the Note 7 investigation was being completed. Driven by the desire to prove it was more than a fast follower of Apple, Samsung rushed the Note 7 to market ahead of Apples iPhone 7. To fend off Chinese competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi, it packed the phone with new features, like waterproof technology and iris-scanning for added security. Two years ago, Xiaomi was valued around $45 billion. Today, the company, which is privately held, is widely considered to be worth far less. In a note about his resignation on Facebook, Mr. Barra, who joined Xiaomi in 2013, called his time there spectacular and said that he was moving on for personal reasons. But what Ive realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health, he wrote, adding that he was moving back to Silicon Valley to be closer to friends and family. Bryan Ma, an analyst at IDC, said that Mr. Barras departure was a blow to the company and that it called into question the future of Xiaomis fledgling overseas business. The question is, Who will replace him? Will that person be as effective an ambassador? he said. Theyre doing fine in India, but what happens for everything else? Where does this all sit in the grand plan they had several years ago to expand to a bunch of markets? He documented Obama's rise from a Senator to POTUS, and all things beyond that. So now that President Trump is a real thing, what does former White House official photographer, Pete Souza plan to do? By Mini Dixit: Believe it or nor, the era of President Trump is officially a reality. While what lies ahead is full of anguish and uncertainty, the world is more than willing to cling on to the past. The past, where Barack Obama was POTUS. Over the course of his eight years as Commander-In-Chief, numerous pages from Obama's life have been exposed to the world. Pages humane, emotional, tense and humourous. And the man documenting them all? Pete Souza. One of the rare pictures of Souza and Obama. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Pete Souza advertisement Souza, who was, interestingly enough, also the official White House photographer during Ronald Reagan's tenure(1983-1989) as America's 40th President, is the man behind several defining moments from Obama's presidency. Also Read: Obama Out: 5 life lessons America's calm dad's farewell letter taught us Also Read: When Michelle Obama's Gucci dress made a hidden political statement He was in the Situation Room when the US Special Forces gunned down Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and during Obama's first Governors Ball in February, 2009 where he can be seen sharing a moment with former FLOTUS, Michelle Obama. The iconic image from the Situation Room in 2011. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Pete Souza Inseparable as a shadow, Souza accompanied America's 44th President, Obama, on foreign trips, in and around The White House and everywhere in the middle--up till his last day in Oval Office. "President Obama leaves the Oval Office this morning for the last time. What a great experience I've had the past eight years," wrote Souza alongside a picture he posted on Instagram, before mentioning his plans post vacating his post as the White House official photographer. The picture from Obama's last day in the Oval Office. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Pete Souza "I expect to be very active on Instagram although I may not post that much initially as I try to take a little break, sleep late, do whatever my wife wants me to do, go the gym every day, see some concerts, watch some movies, read some books, drink some wine..you get idea," he wrote. Also Read: The hidden meaning behind Melania and Michelle's outfits at the Inauguration Souza, who's believed to have captured over two million pictures during Obama's term as President (2009-2017), goes long back in regard to his tryst with one of America's most loved political figures. Also Read: Lead by example with hope, never fear: Michelle Obama delivers her last speech as the First Lady In fact, Souza's book, The Rise of Barack Obama is testimony to the journey of a Senator who went on to become the President of one of world's most powerful nations. advertisement "The core character of this man hasn't changed one iota," Souza told PBS during an interview. Souza's camera is responsible for painting the picture of Obama's presidency with numerous shades, and we couldn't thank him enough for it. So long, Obama and Souza. Farewell. A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Jan 20, 2017 at 12:06pm PST --- ENDS --- Interest in their plans has been intense, given that history and the Seagram Buildings architectural significance. The partners are best known for the lavish, sometimes over-the-top food and design at downtown restaurants like Carbone and Dirty French. This much they do know: The Grill, their grand, retro steakhouse in the former Grill Room, is scheduled to open in April, with Mr. Carbone as its executive chef. No firm opening date has been set for the Pool, the modern, Japanese-influenced seafood restaurant in the former Pool Room, where Mr. Torrisi will be the executive chef. Major Food will also renovate and reopen the more casual space downstairs, formerly called Brasserie, though the group has it on the back burner for now. The menus for the Grill and the Pool have been drafted, and the partners gather regularly with other members of their team to test dishes in a specially built kitchen on the ground floor of their first restaurant, Torrisi Italian Specialties, which they closed two years ago. They have tried several incarnations of the smoked goose and duck terrine. One was slightly leaner, the foie at its center shaped into a perfect cylinder. Is there booze in the figs now? Mr. Torrisi asked. Maybe, his tone suggested, there should be. It is known as the City of Light. But a shadow has been cast over Paris, where some of the wealthiest women in the world have arrived for the start of the January couture shows. Instead of swanning freely into the arching halls of the Grand Palais and other local landmarks where the lavish defiles are held, most will be forced to open their handbags, doff their furs and regularly submit to full body-wand checks at almost every event as part of stringent new security measures. Terrorist attacks and a spate of vicious high-profile robberies have tarnished the French capitals reputation as a playground for the very rich, and raised concerns that the clients usually wooed during such fashion events may start to avoid them. Starvation in northern Nigerias Borno State is so bad that a whole slice of the population children under 5 appears to have died, aid agencies say. As the Nigerian army has driven the terrorist group Boko Haram out of the area, about two million people have been displaced. Many are living in more than 100 refugee camps. Doctors Without Borders, which has been in Borno State since 2014, reported in November that it was seeing hardly any children under age 5 at its clinics, hospitals and feeding centers. There are almost always small children buzzing around the camps, Dr. Joanne Liu, the agencys president, and Dr. Natalie Roberts, an emergency operations manager, wrote then. This prohibition does not mean that pharmaceutical companies can set any price they want. Privately run prescription drug programs, which control the benefits for large groups of Medicare beneficiaries, negotiate on the governments behalf. These programs are run by the same companies including Express Scripts, CVS and UnitedHealth that manage the drug plans for large employers and insurers. What is the argument for removing this clause? Those who favor letting the federal government negotiate directly on drug prices argue that other countries, including Canada and Britain, already have that leverage with many multinational drug corporations. Their government-run health programs are the only game in town and hold significant power in setting drug prices. Supporters say that if the United States government were allowed to negotiate drug prices for all 41 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in drug coverage, it would lead to lower prices across the health care market. The pharmaceutical industry and Republicans have long opposed such a change, however, saying that significantly cutting payments to drug makers would stifle innovation and prevent them from investing in new lifesaving drugs. Would negotiating Medicares drug prices actually lower costs? Many health care experts are skeptical that a repeal of the negotiating ban would have much impact, and certainly not the billions of dollars in reductions that Mr. Trump recently promised. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has concluded more than once that a repeal would result in only modest savings, in part because private drug plans are already negotiating on the governments behalf, albeit for smaller pools of beneficiaries. And even if the ban were repealed, another provision would stand in the way. Under Medicare, the government must cover all drugs in six protected classes: broad and often expensive treatment areas for patients with conditions such as cancer, depression, epilepsy and H.I.V. The Veterans Health Administration and the Defense Department are able to negotiate lower prices in part by covering fewer drugs and pitting drug companies against one another. You get your largest negotiating power from your ability to walk away, said Dr. Aaron S. Kesselheim, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who has written frequently on drug prices. We also learned about murder simply by witnessing its aftermath, as in Ms. Torres-Gonzalezs hallway. Detectives and medical-waste-removal men tried to keep murder scenes from looking like murder scenes for long. But many of the killings occurred close to a victims home, and clean-up often fell to mourners. Just as young men in the South Bronx felt they were on their own when it came to protecting themselves, victims friends and families were on their own scrubbing down blood from public buildings. Many said city government neglected them in ways they thought would not have been tolerated in wealthier neighborhoods. Long after the police left one shooting scene, in March, near a pre-school in the 40th Precinct, a maroon smear of blood still stained the sidewalk, coagulating around fluffy bits of stuffing from Francisco Perezs winter coat. A group of day laborers stood around and toed bluish, thumbprint-size scuffs on the sidewalk, marks of the ricocheting bullets that eventually killed him. Two days after another murder at the foot of a public housing tower, in the late summer, the victims cousin and his first love shook off sleep to wash his blood from the concrete before his mother came home. How could no one be seeing this, we asked ourselves, over and over? The goal of the project, as our editors, Wendell Jamieson and Henri Cauvin, defined it, was to examine why murder persisted where it did, at a time when crime was falling to record lows and becoming more concentrated in certain corners of the city. Who kills, and who gets killed? In meetings late in the 2015, we scanned the citys 77 precincts, swaths of the urban landscape the Police Department had carved up decades ago, to zero in on homicide not only as a phenomenon of this moment in time, but also as a creature of place. We studied the demographics, economics, social stresses and crime levels in several precincts in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. We were interested in places that got scant news coverage. In the end, in an ode to Pete Hamills News is a Verb, events dictated our path. On the second Saturday of 2016, a 40th Precinct cop was wounded by friendly gunfire as he broke up a brawl, one of three officers shot and wounded there in the first five weeks of the year. Then Ms. Torres-Gonzalez was killed in one of the precincts 14 public housing projects. We decided to devote our attention there. In light of the womens marches that took place around the world on Saturday, today we ask you to reflect on the important women in your life. How do you feel your life and your values have been shaped by women you know? In Catching Up With the Matriarch Behind Beyonce and Solange, Alex Hawgood writes: For sisters in the public eye, Beyonce and Solange Knowles have managed to resist the siren call to overshare the minutiae of their personal lives. But there is one topic they are happy to gush about: their mother, Tina Knowles Lawson. In the January issue of Interview magazine, Solange is interviewed by Beyonce and waxes lyrical about how their mother always taught us to be in control of our voice and our bodies and our work. Last June, when accepting the fashion icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Beyonce dedicated it to her fabulous and beautiful mother. The journalist-averse Beyonce broke her silence to talk about her mothers creative influence (though on email, coordinated through a publicist). I think it was important to my mother to surround us with positive, powerful, strong images of African and African-American art so that we could reflect and see ourselves in them, Beyonce said. My mother has always been invested in making women feel beautiful, she added, whether it was through someone sitting in her hair chair or making a prom dress for one of the girls at church. And her art collection always told the stories of women wanting to do the same. Students: Read the entire article, then tell us: Is there anyone in your life you were reminded of as you read what Tina Knowles Lawsons daughters said about her? Explain. Who are your female role models? Who are your role models who arent female? What have you learned from each of them? He was arrested in January 2016 after two of the women complained to the authorities, and after that, two more women came forward. He was suspended by Mount Sinai after the allegations emerged, and he was later fired. Prosecutors noted three separate instances in 2015 in which he touched the breasts of women between the ages of 18 and their early 20s who had sought treatment in the pediatric area of the emergency room. One had complained of a headache after taking a pregnancy test, another had a cold and the other had a rash on her eyebrows. Then, last January, Ms. Newman, who was 29 at the time, went to the hospital for a shoulder injury and was seen by Dr. Newman. Even though she had already been given pain medication by a nurse, prosecutors said, Dr. Newman further sedated her, leaving her physically helpless. She could not open her eyes or speak. Dr. Newman masturbated at her bedside and ejaculated on her face, prosecutors said. Investigators were able to match DNA evidence from the womans eye and cheek to the doctor, officials said. After Dr. Newman was indicted in March, the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., called the allegations a nightmare scenario for any patient to endure. Ms. Newman, who agreed to be identified through her lawyer, Katherine E. Smith, was the first woman to come forward. Its her act of strength that brought us all here today, Eun-Ha Kim, a prosecutor, said in court on Monday. There were moments when Ms. Newmans voice quavered and her eyes welled up with tears as she stood behind a lectern in the courtroom. Im so nervous, your honor, she said. I remember thinking, Im going to die if I dont get out of here, she said. She said that the drugs effect was strong, but that she was still alert enough to have a sense of what was going on. Months later, she said, she struggled to come to grips with what had happened, making it difficult to trust medical professionals and other people. Ms. Newman filed a lawsuit last year against the doctor and the hospital. The proposed settlement filed on Monday was seen by lawyers for the plaintiffs as another repudiation of a city policing policy. It covers at least 900,000 summonses, issued from 2007 to 2015, that were dismissed on grounds of legal insufficiency, which a federal judge later found was tantamount to a decision that probable cause was presumptively lacking. The lawsuit, filed in 2010, alleged that under an unlawful pattern and practice enforced by city officials, police officers were told to issue summonses regardless of whether any crime or violation had occurred in order to meet a minimum quota requirement an allegation the city explicitly denied in the proposed deal. But under the settlement, the city agreed to send out departmentwide notifications to reiterate its policy that quotas and numerical performance goals were banned, that supervisors who put them in place could be subject to disciplinary action and that officers who believed they had been threatened or retaliated against for failing to comply with a quota should notify the departments Internal Affairs Bureau. Quotas for arrests, summonses or stops have never been used by the N.Y.P.D., J. Peter Donald, a police spokesman, said in a statement on Monday. The department measures success based on the prevention and reduction of crime. The settlement could be nearly double the $41 million that the city paid to five men in 2014 to resolve the so-called Central Park jogger lawsuit, concerning their overturned convictions in the 1989 beating and rape of a woman. But the amount is less than the $98 million settlement (not including legal fees) reached that same year in a discrimination case against the Fire Department. It cant be said enough that New Yorks homelessness crisis is complicated. In a city where people are squeezed beyond their means by rising rents, just one of any number of additional stresses a lost job, sickness, addiction, domestic violence can propel a family into the shelter system or the street. The problem wont be solved by flooding the city with shelter beds, though more are needed. It certainly wont be solved by blocking City Halls shelter plans, as New Yorkers in neighborhoods like Maspeth, Queens, have stridently done, demanding that these families go suffer someplace else. Protesters seem to think that poor people can be harangued into making the rent. The current crisis requires bigger, bolder solutions, and Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi is proposing one. Its a plan to create a statewide rental subsidy to help families on public assistance stay in their homes. The program, called Home Stability Support, would help bridge the gap between the shelter allowance for public assistance recipients and market rents. Families who face eviction or are forced to move because of domestic violence or hazardous living conditions need a sturdy bridge to permanent housing. But existing aid often isnt enough to help them avoid the shelter trap. Mr. Hevesis proposal would use state and federal funds to supplement a familys shelter allowance up to 85 percent of fair-market rent (localities could add their own funds to raise that to 100 percent) and would help pay for heat, if heat is not included in rent. To the Editor: Re Defiant Yet Jubilant Voices Flood U.S. Cities (front page, Jan. 22): As a liberal living in a liberal borough of a liberal city, I am well aware that I live in a bubble. So I was touched and inspired by the people from all over the country my friends and I met at Saturdays march in Washington: six family members of three generations from Colorado, folks from Idaho, carloads from Maine and Vermont, busloads from the South, a group from Louisiana, a bunch from Minnesota and a large contingent from Arizona. And, most important, many, many millennials. We are not alone in our repugnance and opposition to Donald Trump. We may not agree on every issue, but we are all concerned for our democracy and the future of the globe and linked in our opposition to the tone, dishonesty and spewing of hatred by Mr. Trump and his advisers. Perhaps Mr. Trump will manage to unite us in opposition to him. As the overflow crowd chanted, Fired up, ready to go! And as it sang This Land Is Your Land, I was filled with hope for the first time since Nov. 8. CINDY L. HARDEN Brooklyn To the Editor: I am a veteran of many marches in the late 1960s, a period of great political activism. I was a bit concerned by the seeming complacency of subsequent generations. The election of Donald Trump to the presidency was a rude awakening. On Saturday, at the Womens March in New York City, I marched proudly with people of all ages, races and nationalities. The cops sprung into action after they received a tip-off from gau rakshaks that cow meat consignment was being carried from Mewat to Delhi via Sohna in a white Hyundai Accent. By Shivan Chanana: Haryana police today arrested two people and recovered around 900 kg beef consignment from a vehicle near Gurugram. The cops sprung into action after they received a tip-off from gau rakshaks that cow meat consignment was being transported via Sohna into Delhi in a white Hyundai Accent. The smugglers were carrying the consignment of fresh cow meat stuffed in black poly bags in their vehicle from Mewat in Haryana to Delhi. As the cops spotted a white Hyundai Santro [DL 8CF 2080], they instructed it to stop for a routine check. They tried to flee however, one of the smugglers was arrested and the consignment seized. advertisement HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED The smugglers attempted to flee on being instructed to stop, however, their car broke down. Of the four smugglers, police arrested two while the remaining managed to flee. The arrested youth revealed his identity as Hasan Mohammad and told the cops that the Santro was actually a pilot car for Hyundai Accent [DL 9CC 0028], which was carrying the actual consignment. Hasan Mohammad revealed the identities of the other three men as Jumma, Mammu and Mustkim. Within minutes, the vehicle carrying the consignment reached the spot and the cops immediately stopped it and seized the meat. The 900 kg cow meat was stuffed in the front, back and boot of the car in black poly bags. Police later arrested Jumma and an FIR was registered in the Sohna police station vide FIR no 40/2017 under section 13(3) of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshak and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015 and section 120B of the IPC. According to police officials, habitual Mewati criminals are always heavily armed and dont hesistate in opening fire in order to flee. "From country-made pistols to advanced automatic weapons, these criminals have everything with them. Apart from these weapons, their vehicles are loaded with stones and bricks, which they hurl at anyone who attempts to nab them," said Kaushik, from the Gau Gyan Foundation, which actively works with the legal system to safeguard and rehabilitate trafficked animals. ALSO READ | India's holy cows end up in Bangladesh abattoirs Cow meat found in Meerut village ISIS using 'intolerance', beef row to radicalise youth in India --- ENDS --- Given the wide range of student experiences, I wasnt sure how the students would receive a course on women writers. In the United States, when Ive taught similar courses, discussions often veered into the territory of Im not a feminist, but Students were sure that there should be equity between the sexes but feminists, in their minds, were angry man-haters who did nothing but complain. So pervasive was this dismissal that Id chalked it up to a generational divide, and I assumed that my students in Abu Dhabi would also see feminism as old-fashioned and irrelevant. But I have come to reconsider that assumption. I need to be a feminist so I can do general world-saving, said one student, slightly joking about the world-saving but dead serious about the feminism. Over and over during the semester, I heard you, too? as students discovered points of connection that bridged their distinct cultural experiences. We all found common cause with Sor Juana, a 17th-century nun from what is now Mexico, who avoided marriage and motherhood by taking religious vows, thus freeing her to write and study. A student from Pakistan remarked wryly that Sor Juana had the right idea because once she became a nun, people probably stopped introducing her to eligible bachelors. If you dont get married, asked a student from the Philippines, wont you have to move home and take care of your parents? That comment elicited murmurs of recognition and a discussion about the difficulties of resisting something were told is natural, such as the assumption that women are always caregivers. None of these students come from a country known for progressive gender politics, which may be precisely why they see the value in a feminist perspective: It helps them think about what needs to be changed and how. Without ignoring the specifics of their experiences, they found the commonalities in being told to be the neck, or to find a boyfriend, or to forgo graduate school. Occasionally during class, I would comment that it took courage to have conversations about, for instance, the role that religion played in shaping expectations for appropriate female behavior. The students didnt think of themselves as brave, however; they just enjoyed the conversations. Maybe they didnt think of conversations as brave because for each of them, the decision to study at New York University Abu Dhabi was itself an individually brave, even radical, break with convention. Mr. Trump is not even in the ballpark. There are no nominees for three-quarters of the top 100 jobs. His White House staff, some 30 of whom were sworn in on Sunday, is light on governing experience. Yet many of those, like the former Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice contestant Omarosa Manigault, the assistant to the president and director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison, carry the titles that rank highest. Mr. Trump completed his cabinet roster of 21 people only on Thursday, and theres still a long road ahead for most. He named them without vetting them first, and an unusual number are wealthy individuals whose extensive holdings have taken the Office of Government Ethics longer to screen for potential conflicts of interest. Such conflicts or sheer unfitness may yet doom some of them. Mr. Trumps transition team said last week that it expected the Senate to confirm seven cabinet nominees on Friday, which would be the same number as George W. Bush and Barack Obama had on Inauguration Day. The Senate cleared only two: Gen. John Kelly for homeland security secretary and Gen. James Mattis as defense secretary. Sean Spicer, Donald Trumps new press secretary, says theres a lot of work going on beneath the surface to have a lot of these positions ready to go as soon as possible in the coming days. Meanwhile, Mr. Trumps team has had to ask some 50 essential officials to stay on, most of them national security and diplomatic professionals. So much for the old canard about a businessman knowing how to run government more efficiently than people with, you know, experience in government. Clearly, Mr. Trump could have spent more time on the transition and less on Twitter. But why, in a federal government of more than two million employees, many with deep experience, must the president appoint 4,000 people, and the Senate weigh in on 1,100? Moving a dozen cabinet nominees through the pipeline has thrown the Senate into near-chaos. Now, multiply that by 100. This huge number of presidential appointees are a vestige of the spoils system, no way to run a railroad and certainly no way to run our government, says Max Stier, head of the Partnership for Public Service, which advocates for government employee effectiveness, and assists transition teams of both parties. One way to lighten the load is to reduce the number of jobs requiring Senate confirmation. The Senate should weigh in on the presidents defense nominee, obviously, but why should scores of lesser Pentagon jobs, like the nine part-time members of the Board of Regents for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, endure that laborious process? The Partnership for Public Service identified nearly 700 of the most important Senate-confirmed jobs; confirmation could be dispensed with for the rest, which are board positions and the like. To the Editor: Re Slamming Media, Trump Advances Two Falsehoods (front page, Jan. 22): All new presidents are extended a honeymoon period during which Americans forgive many minor mistakes. However, when the new president and his press secretary both lie to the American people on their first full day, and these statements are easily provable to be false, is the honeymoon suddenly over? How can we trust members of the presidents staff when they are required to defend erroneous remarks continually delivered by their boss? This is not spin; it is more akin to Newspeak from Orwells 1984. Totalitarian governments manipulate the press and silence those who dare speak the truth. The truth often hurts, but a free press is part of our heritage and it should not be undermined. The president needs to accept this fact. EDWARD SCHAACK Los Angeles To the Editor: Ruchir Sharma (Why Trump Cant Make It 1981 Again, Sunday Review, Jan. 15) blames slow population growth for undermining the economy by delivering fewer young people into the work force. This narrow view implies that America and the world would be a wealthier and presumably healthier place if we returned to the breakneck rates of population growth that characterized earlier decades. Stoking the global economy by jacking up population is a recipe for environmental disaster and widespread human suffering. Even at the slower growth rates that were now experiencing, the worlds population is expected to reach 11.2 billion by 2100, up from 7.5 billion today. During the same period, our numbers here in America are predicted to rise to 450 million from 324 million. With the growth of a global middle class, or consuming class, humanitys carbon footprint is destined to expand well beyond what sheer population trends suggest. Asphyxiating air pollution already plagues megacities across Asia; water crises threaten security in already tempestuous parts of Africa and the Middle East. Adding billions of people to a warming world will only place solutions to these problems further beyond our reach. Our approach is grounded not only in the recognition that killing civilians is wrong but also in the understanding that indiscriminate violence encourages radicalization. We do everything we can to limit deaths in counterterrorism strikes, both to minimize the effects of those in the immediate area and to deprive those streaming propaganda videos on their computers thousands of miles away of fodder for outrage. Its often said that the United States practices counterterrorism with a scalpel while Russia uses a chain saw. That has been made clear in Syria, where Airwars, a London-based monitoring group, estimates that Russian airstrikes cause civilian deaths at a rate eight times that of United States-led coalition missions. While Mr. Trump was pilloried during the campaign for suggesting that the United States murder the families of terrorists, that has long been standard practice in Russia, along with disappearing and extrajudicially killing suspects. Consequently, the Muslim-majority Russian republics of Dagestan and Chechnya still smolder after decades of rebellion and oppression; other Russian Muslim communities seethe. The experience in the Caucasus and the rest of Russia underscores the dangers of Moscows approach. President Vladimir V. Putins tactics have led to jihadist violence at home and the export of thousands of terrorists to Syria, where they make up one of the largest cohorts of foreign extremists, alongside Tunisians and Saudis. Russian citizens have also been a major presence in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world. A Chechen-led cell is believed to be responsible for killing 45 people in an attack on Istanbuls airport in June. Numerous smaller attacks against Russians at home have been carried out and jihadist calls for violence against Russia have been escalating worldwide. Mr. Trump, it seems, is oblivious to these trends. Embracing Russia and its brutal tactics has the potential to stoke anti-American sentiment and encourage radicalization among Muslims around the world. The thought that we would run that risk, particularly when the United States Muslim community is one of the best-integrated, least radicalized in a predominantly non-Muslim country, is simply foolish. If you want to get some women mad, there are more ways than by electing Donald Trump. Try doing what The New York Times did: writing a story about a bunch of fathers in Montclair, N.J., who had to endure the hardship of watching their children for a day while their wives attended protest marches in Washington and New York. In their wake, the story said, they left behind a progressive bedroom community with suddenly skewed demographics. Routines were radically altered, and many fathers tried to meet weekend demands alone for a change. Poor daddies. Poor kids. The headline on the home page didnt help matters: When Mommy Has to March, Routines Shift. Ouch. The headline on the story was this: How Vital Are Women? This Town Found Out as They Left to March. Whether personally or professionally, Daniel Kronauer of Rockefeller University is the sort of biologist who leaves no stone unturned. Passionate about ants and other insects since kindergarten, Dr. Kronauer says he still loves flipping over rocks just to see whats crawling around underneath. In an amply windowed fourth-floor laboratory on the east side of Manhattan, he and his colleagues are assaying the biology, brain, genetics and behavior of a single species of ant in ambitious, uncompromising detail. The researchers have painstakingly hand-decorated thousands of clonal raider ants, Cerapachys biroi, with bright dots of pink, blue, red and lime-green paint, a color-coded system that allows computers to track the ants movements 24 hours a day and makes them look like walking jelly beans. The scientists have manipulated the DNA of these ants, creating what Dr. Kronauer says are the worlds first transgenic ants. Among the surprising results is a line of Greta Garbo types that defy the standard ant preference for hypersociality and instead just want to be left alone. The researchers also have identified the molecular and neural cues that spur ants to act like nurses and feed the young, or to act like queens and breed more young, or to serve as brutal police officers, capturing upstart nestmates, spread-eagling them on the ground and reducing them to so many chitinous splinters. Maria Sibylla Merian, like many European women of the 17th century, stayed busy managing a household and rearing children. But on top of that, Merian, a German-born woman who lived in the Netherlands, also managed a successful career as an artist, botanist, naturalist and entomologist. She was a scientist on the level with a lot of people we spend a lot of time talking about, said Kay Etheridge, a biologist at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania who has been studying the scientific history of Merians work. She didnt do as much to change biology as Darwin, but she was significant. At a time when natural history was a valuable tool for discovery, Merian discovered facts about plants and insects that were not previously known. Her observations helped dispel the popular belief that insects spontaneously emerged from mud. The knowledge she collected over decades didnt just satisfy those curious about nature, but also provided valuable insights into medicine and science. She was the first to bring together insects and their habitats, including food they ate, into a single ecological composition. After years of pleasing a captivated audience across Europe with books of detailed descriptions and life-size paintings of familiar insects, in 1699 she sailed with her daughter nearly 5,000 miles from the Netherlands to South America to study insects in the jungles of what is now known as Suriname. She was 52. The result was her magnum opus, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. Its quite complex to talk about my mother in detail, admits Beatrice Merz, the daughter of the Italian sculptor and painter Marisa Merz (who politely declines interviews and uses Beatrice as a surrogate). I could try to sum up the environment in which I grew up, and the way she, together with my father, Mario, raised me. Beatrices parents, both artists, engaged her in constant debate, she says, allowing me to experience every moment of their artistic path, taking me with them everywhere they went. They introduced me to many representatives of the art scene of their time, and this somehow implied that I had to soak in everything that happened around me. Looking back, I can describe those years as intense, but it was simply my life next to two parents who were vibrantly contributing to the events of the time. Half a century later, Beatrice, the founder and president of the Turin-based contemporary art center Fondazione Merz, has helped organize the first large-scale stateside retrospective of her mothers work. Marisa Merz: The Sky Is a Great Space, which opens tomorrow at the Met Breuer, unites her early experimental sculptures, her subsequent quirky and carefully constructed installations and her newer, ethereal portraits. I recently asked her how some of her works came about, what was the thought, inspiration or approach behind them, Beatrice says. She answered that she always and only did what she liked, and that every work originated from the pleasure of making it, from a spontaneous gesture or finding of a particular object or material. The new rules could also whet investors appetites for Snapchat if they help the company avoid the taints of fake news and online abuse that have dogged its rivals. In this environment, every technology company that touches media is concerned about being vulnerable to connections to fake news and disinformation, said Joshua Benton, director of the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University. Thats doubly true for a company planning for an I.P.O. Snapchat introduced Discover in January 2015 as a part of its mobile app, where it publishes content from established media brands like CNN and Cosmopolitan, as well as newer outlets like the political channel We the People. For Snapchat, Discover is a way to engage users more deeply. Publishers see Discover as an avenue to reach a new and younger audience. From the start, Snapchat approached news differently from other social networks. While Facebook has said it is not a media company and does not want to be an arbiter of truth in news on its website, Snapchat has long prohibited false or deceptive content and is thoroughly involved in editorial standards for content on Discover. In a blog post published when Discover began, Snapchat said: Social media companies tell us what to read based on whats most recent or most popular. We see it differently. We count on editors and artists, not clicks and shares, to determine whats important. As a result, Snapchat has always exercised a large degree of control over Discover. To secure a place on Discover, publishers have had to agree to fairly stringent guidelines around editing and video production, including having audio play at a consistent volume and a ban on images that are misleading or gimmicky. Snapchat also mandated that all images and headlines be appropriate for an audience as young as 13 years old. Discover has grown quickly. More than 100 million Snapchat users view content on Discover each month, according to the company. While some publishers said people were initially slow to embrace Discover, interest has increased over the past year. Tastemade, which publishes different editions for different areas around the world on Discover, said it had been pleased enough with the size of its Snapchat audience that it planned to grow with Snapchat as it rolled out worldwide. By Manogya Loiwal : "Freedom is not given, it is taken" - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose once said to motivate people to fight for their independence. Today even after 72 years of his demise, the entire nation continues to remember him as the true unsung hero of India. On his 120th birth anniversary, the nation paid homage and respect to the founder of the Indian National Army. And in this digital world, tweets poured in from all quarters to celebrate his birth anniversary. advertisement People took to twitter to salute the freedom fighter for being the courageous and inspirational leader he was. His vision truly guides the youth of the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi uploaded a series of tweets to express his adulation for the freedom fighter. His first tweet was "I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism." Modi also praised his own government for declassifying the files on Netaji. "Honoured that our Government got the opportunity to declassify files relating to Netaji Bose & fulfil a popular demand pending for decade," his another tweet said. Also read | 'Netaji' Subhas Chandra Bose: 9 things you didn't know about the inspirational figure Along with him the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian National Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav also wished the legend among others. West Bengall Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was on her tour to Darjeeling also paid her tribute to the Hero, Bengal has always lookes upto... She also took to twitter for the same. Banerjee twitted "Homage to Desh Nayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. Jai Hind". In Odisha, Netaji's birth pace and West Bengal, the day is celebrated with great fervour. Agartala, the capital city of Tripura also celebrates the birth of this revolutionary leader. The celebration usually starts with the hosting of the national flag at various government offices, colleges and schools followed by cultural programs on patriotic numbers. Also read | Centre declassifies fresh files on Netaji Last week, President Pranab Mukherjee unveiled the restored Wanderer Car of Netaji with which he had planned his "great escape". From Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi to Major General Sunil Yadav...almost every one expressed there feelings and respect for him. Mohammad Shiekh Nooruddin, Chief of Bengal and east chapter of Jamait e Ulema e Hind reiterated, "The ideology of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Chitranjan Bose and Sharad Chandra Bose should be put forward. The history is ruined by serving just half of the knowledge. Bose left India and travelled to Germany, Japan and other places to help out India achieve freedom. The role behind this entire plan is yet unknown to the nation. Maulana Alaiabdullah Sindhi was the man behind Netaji's success. the government has accepted this and I hope that this is included in the history syllabus to acknowledge people." advertisement Netaji's Elgin Road residence is visited by hundreds who come to celebrate and remember his contribution towards the freedom movement of India. Eminent personalities round the globe are invited by host Krishna Bose, Sugata Bose and many others from the Bose family... Also read | Stunning twist to Netaji mystery: Bose pictures found in Gumnami Baba's trunk --- ENDS --- No other living artist is more closely identified with an American theater company than James McMullan. For 30 years, his painterly posters for Lincoln Center Theater have been turned into collectibles that are more than advertising: Theyre synonymous with the shows themselves. Its hard to think of Carousel without recalling his artwork for the 1994 revival that depicts a brooding Billy Bigelow, vividly illuminated from below, atop wooden horses that rear beneath an angry sky. To commemorate Mr. McMullans artistic tenure with Lincoln Center, a permanent exhibition of some of his best-known works was recently installed in the lobby of the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. For playwrights, having Mr. McMullan, 82, spend so much time considering and visualizing their created world is like having Picasso paint their childs portrait. Often contemporary theater posters seem to be made by someone in the marketing department and resemble clip art from the 1980s, said the playwright Sarah Ruhl, who has had several Lincoln Center plays promoted with posters by Mr. McMullan, including her latest, How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, which starts performances on Feb. 23. I dont mean to point any fingers at any particular theater when I say this. But they often are not really held together by artistry. There is no one else like Jim. When its time for Lincoln Center Theater to approve a poster, Mr. McMullan doesnt turn in crude line drawings. Working mainly in watercolor, not with computers, he turns in a finished painting. If its rejected, he creates another one. American life spans are rising, and as they are, health care spending is, too. But longevity is not contributing to the spending increase as much as you might think. The median age in the United States will rise to about 40 by 2040, up from 37.7 today. Thats partly because the average American lives three years longer today reaching nearly 79 years old than in 1995. The Congressional Budget Office credits population aging for a substantial portion of its projected increase in health care spending from 5.5 percent of the economy today to almost 9 percent by 2046. But research suggests that living longer, by itself, isnt a big driver of rising health care spending. Because the baby boom generation is so large members of which are now in their 50s to late 60s the average age of Americans would rise even if life expectancy didnt. For every 100 working-age American today, there are about 25 Americans over 65. By 2040 there will be 37. Older people need more health care, and they spend more. Compared with the working-age population (people 19 to 64 years old), those 65 to 74 spend two times as much; those 75 to 84 spend four times as much; and those 85 and older spend six times as much. And the growth in health care spending is faster for retirees than for younger Americans. The position of the Trump administration on these schools is unclear; officials at the Interior Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. After visiting the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota while president in 2014, Mr. Obama pledged to break the cycle of poverty among indigenous children, in part by giving tribes a leading role in their education, which is something that many tribes have long asked for, as a matter of sovereignty. His administration spent hundreds of millions of dollars to address decades of poor choices at the departments Bureau of Indian Education, which funds and operates Havasupai Elementary and 182 other tribal schools in 23 states. Some schools have been connected to high-speed internet or undergone critical repairs, though there is still a lot to be done. A report by the departments inspector general, released in September, found mold and asbestos in common areas, faulty electrical systems, structural problems and other deficiencies in schools throughout the system. In its effort to transfer more authority over schools to the tribes, the administration started a program to train indigenous teachers to teach in indigenous schools. Ahniwake Rose, executive director of the National Indian Education Association, an advocacy group, said this was an important first step. Her hope, she said, is that the idea of choice, so fervently embraced by Betsy DeVos, who has been nominated as secretary of education by President Trump, ultimately translates into giving tribes the choice to run their own schools. Native American children have a large gap to bridge. In general, their schools are poor-performing. The high school graduation rate among those enrolled in bureau schools is 53 percent, nearly 30 points below the national average. He will also have a chance to discuss potential bipartisan initiatives, including his $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan. Mr. Trump has high hopes for his relationship with Capitol Hill. He declared on Friday, just minutes after being sworn in, that we all want the same thing, regardless of political party, and, were going to get along. Mondays late-afternoon gathering will be a first test. Mr. Schumer is slated to be at the Monday meeting with Senators Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, and John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican; Mr. Ryan; and Representatives Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority leader, Nancy Pelosi of California, the minority leader, and Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the minority whip. Notably, Mr. Trump is set to meet alone with Mr. Ryan afterward. Nominees are likely to be only one of the topics. Senators to introduce bill requiring congressional input if sanctions on Russia are lifted Mr. Tillerson appears likely to win Senate confirmation, close relationship with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and all. But senators are still wary of the Russia connections. Mr. Schumer and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, are introducing legislation that would require a congressional vote to lift the sanctions that were imposed on Russia after its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and proxy war in that former Soviet state. The two senators will emphasize that the legislation will also cover sanctions imposed just weeks ago by Mr. Obama after intelligence agencies concluded that Russia had interfered with the 2016 election in hopes of helping elect Mr. Trump. The measure, modeled after a law that required a congressional vote on the Iran nuclear deal, is expected to have bipartisan support, as that legislation did. WASHINGTON President Barack Obama won a series of major cases before the Supreme Court on health care, gay rights, affirmative action and abortion, helping to preserve significant parts of his legacy. But, over hundreds of cases in eight years, his reception at the court, on the whole, was chilly. Barack Obamas win rate before the Supreme Court is extremely low, lower than any president of this century, said Eric Posner, a law professor at the University of Chicago and an author of a new study on the subject. On average, presidents win in the Supreme Court about two-thirds of the time. The Obama administration won just 50.5 percent of its cases. That record, the study said, may be the worst since the Zachary Taylor administration, which began in 1849. Supporters of Mr. Obama point out that he faced a generally conservative court inclined to be hostile to his generally liberal policies. His critics say his losing streak was a judicial response to his expansive deployment of executive power. WASHINGTON Several Republican senators on Monday proposed a partial replacement for the Affordable Care Act that would allow states to continue operating under the law if they choose, a proposal meant to appeal to critics and supporters of former President Barack Obamas signature health law. But the plan was attacked by Democrats as a step back from the Affordable Care Acts protections, and it was unlikely to win acceptance from conservative Republicans who want to get rid of the law and its tax increases as soon as possible. If anything, the proposal by Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a medical doctor, and Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican may show how difficult it will be for Republicans to enact a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Legislation that can pass muster in the more conservative House may not win enough support in the Senate. A bill with broad appeal in the Senate may fail in the House. Under the proposal, states could stay with the Affordable Care Act, or they could receive a similar amount of federal money, which consumers could use to pay for medical care and health insurance. We are moving the locus of repeal to state government, Mr. Cassidy said. States should have the right to choose. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court rejected on Monday an appeal from Texas officials seeking to restore the states strict voter ID law. As is the courts custom, its brief order in the case, Abbott v. Veasey, No. 16-393, gave no reasons for turning down the appeal. But Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. issued an unusual statement explaining that the Supreme Court remains free to consider the case after further proceedings in the lower courts. The Texas law, enacted in 2011, requires voters seeking to cast their ballots at the polls to present photo identification, like a Texas drivers or gun license, a military ID or a passport. Federal courts have repeatedly ruled that the law is racially discriminatory. The Texas law was at first blocked under Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act, which required some states and localities with a history of discrimination to obtain federal permission before changing voting procedures. After the Supreme Court effectively struck down Section 5 in 2013 in Shelby County v. Holder, an Alabama case, Texas officials announced that they would start enforcing the ID law. A Texas high school teacher can use marijuana in Colorado, where it is legal, and should not get into trouble for it in her home state, where it is illegal, an administrative law judge ruled. The Texas judge made the recommendation in a case involving Maryam Roland, who had taught science at Parkland High School in El Paso, Tex., and who told school district officials that she had ingested an edible marijuana product during Christmas break in Colorado in 2014-15. The ruling was sought by the Texas Education Agency, which asked the State Office of Administrative Hearings to look into the case. The education agency had sought to suspend Ms. Rolands license for two years after she tested positive for marijuana two years ago. She resigned in February 2015, but a suspension would have affected any effort to return to teaching, the documents showed. But William G. Newchurch, the administrative law judge at the administrative hearings office, said that punishing Ms. Roland, 39, would be like taking action against someone who had gambled at a casino in Nevada and then returned to Texas, where gambling is illegal. DAKAR, Senegal On his last night in the country, Yahya Jammeh, Gambias former president, rolled toward his flight into exile in his trademark Rolls-Royce. Flanked by a motorcade, the vehicle cruised down the wide streets of Banjul, the capital, as Mr. Jammeh headed to the airport on Saturday after finally agreeing to give up the presidency. It turns out the Rolls-Royce went with him. The vehicle, with its custom headrests stitched with the honorific His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, was loaded onto a cargo plane accompanying the president. He also departed with a second Rolls-Royce, a Mercedes-Benz, and other cars and luxury items, according to an airport official and a diplomat familiar with activities in the country. Both declined to be identified because of the instability in Gambia, where Mr. Jammeh had refused to step down despite losing an election last month to Adama Barrow. Mr. Barrow was sworn into office on Thursday at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, but has yet to set foot in his country. Why does Parliament need to pass a law for the emperor to retire? The Constitution designates the emperor, who was once revered as a god, as a symbol of the unity of the Japanese people. Although the Constitution outlines the emperors mostly ceremonial responsibilities including officially appointing the prime minister, convening Parliament and receiving ambassadors it leaves matters of succession to an Imperial Household Law passed by Parliament. The Constitution makes no mention of abdication, and no emperor has stepped down since Emperor Kokaku in 1817. The current Imperial Household Law has been in place since 1947. Why does Emperor Akihito want to retire? He is old, and he is tired. At 83, he is having trouble keeping up with his rigorous schedule of travel across Japan and internationally. Just last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko, would visit Vietnam and Thailand next month. When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being as I have done until now, Emperor Akihito said in his video address to the nation in August. The current emperor also witnessed the slow deterioration of his own father, Emperor Hirohito, who died in 1989, and presumably wants to spare his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 56, that period of limbo. According to polls by the Japanese news media, public opinion is strongly on the emperors side. Why doesnt the government want to consider a more substantial, and permanent, revision to the law? Given the emperors age and health he has been treated for prostate cancer and underwent heart surgery five years ago the government is concerned that a permanent overhaul of the succession law would take too long and might not be completed in time for Emperor Akihito to abdicate before his death. Prime Minister Abe and his party are conservatives who are generally loath to change the Imperial Household Law, which retains elements that date from the Meiji era, in the 19th century. They worry that allowing future emperors to abdicate during their lifetimes might destabilize the monarchy or subject future emperors to political persuasion. By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss 10 contestant Gaurav Chopra, who was evicted on January 1, seems to be enjoying his time after eviction. Gaurav is currently holidaying in United States and has shared his pictures on social media sites like Instagram and Twitter. The charming actor shared an image of himself with a caption - #goodnight #wintertravel #actor #journey #usa. #goodnight #wintertravel #actor #journey #usa A photo posted by Gaurav Chopra (@mrgravitas) on Jan 22, 2017 at 12:38pm PST advertisement While on Bigg Boss 10, Gaurav shared a great rapport with Bani Judge. Their relationship saw many ups and down on the show, as they fought and argued but no matter what, Gaurav always stood by her side. When #G met #G #promises #uwereright #aurkuchh ?! @gauaharkhan A photo posted by Gaurav Chopra (@mrgravitas) on Jan 6, 2017 at 10:15am PST Two weeks back, Gaurav met Bani's best friend Gauahar Khan outside the house. Gauahar had also entered the house to meet Bani as she chose to meet Gauahar for ten minutes. Gauahar has been constantly tweeting in Bani's support and has criticised contestants like Lopamudra Raut. #wintertravels #newstarts #goodmorning #mylovedones A photo posted by Gaurav Chopra (@mrgravitas) on Jan 20, 2017 at 8:27pm PST --- ENDS --- Here is a selection of the responses. They have been edited and condensed. Ice cream three times a day Image Shirley Yan I cant go outside during the day because I feel like I am roasting the moment I step outside. Its like youre sitting behind a bus with the hot exhaust blowing on your face. Ive started eating ice cream three times a day. Also, I am putting on a ridiculous amount of sunscreen, which only makes me sweat even more when I go outside. I also carry a gallon of water with me everywhere I go. Shirley Yan, 24, a program manager in New Delhi. Image Sofia Lindstrom I go to the American Embassy School here, and due to the heat and pollution, children are restricted to go out on the playgrounds or sit out too long. Going to the park with my dog has become hard and tanning becomes a chore; its too hot. Even walking to the library from one building to another, I start sweating and feel hot. Sofia Lindstrom, 17, a high school senior in New Delhi. Image Kushagra Varshney Even the evenings and nights are so hot that you sweat like a pig. So you tend to stay as much indoors as you can. And ACs are turned to their minimum temperatures. But when you do have to go out to commute to office, to buy stuff and such you are assaulted with such a wall of heat that you just wrinkle up inside like a cactus. And this is the worst part the constant exposure to changing temperatures from AC closed environments to scorching heat. The body doesnt get accustomed to changes in temperatures this rapidly. Kushagra Varshney, 24, an M.B.A. student in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh State. He was living in Gurgaon, which is near New Delhi, during the heat wave. Image Surabhi Srivastava Power outages have been prolonged and become more common now, even in neighborhoods where we didnt really experience them earlier, and commuting in an auto-rickshaw in this heat is a nightmare (and the pollution doesnt help). Moreover, having an AC on for long durations of time at home is a strain not only on my finances but also on my carbon footprint, something that I am very conscious about and struggle with every summer. Surabhi Srivastava, 28, a program manager at a nonprofit organization in New Delhi. The summer in Mumbai has steadily eaten into the winter season, with the residents of the city barely even requiring a full-sleeve T to get though the year. Mumbai has always been dominated by summer season, but with the soaring temperature almost every conversation commences with complaints about the intolerable heat. Sonia Lulla, 27, a reporter in Mumbai. Not much you can do but hope for the monsoons Image Jvalant Sampat In Bombay, within a few minutes of stepping out of an air-conditioned room, I am drenched in sweat. The heat coupled with the humidity makes it a nightmare. You cant gym or play a sport outside without consuming a lot of water. Even the swimming pools in the city have been shut due to water scarcity. There is not much you can do but hope for the monsoons. Jvalant Sampat, 36, an author and movie script consultant in Mumbai. Image Sara Hylton I am a photographer and feel as though I cannot even work in the heat. I have been attached to my air-conditioner. Im also very active and I have not been able to walk or run due to nausea. Sara Hylton, 33, a photojournalist in New Delhi. Image Atal Dixit Yeah, its really hot in India. Especially in the month of May and June when exams are taking place and you gotta appear for the exam in this grilling summer. Atal Dixit, 22, a student in Paris. He was living in Kanpur, in Uttar Pradesh, last May. Try and stay cheerful Image Noopur Sen I travel a lot for work, and doing fieldwork in India this time of year is challenging. I spend all my leisure time firmly indoors, drink (and sweat) gallons of water, and time my showers to be early in the morning or late at night. I also try and drink water mixed with ORS, oral rehydration salts, once a day. Above all, I try and stay cheerful and not let the heat destroy my productivity. Noopur Sen, 23, a policy researcher in New Delhi. She was living in Patna, in Bihar State, during the heat wave. Image Hunny Hans This is the time when a simple decision to stay home to save yourself from unnaturally high heat outside can turn into you missing out on work and other sources that keep your livelihood going. Not just this, the heat turns people cranky, too. I dont think Ive ever heard people complain so much about things and life ever before. Hunny Hans, 24, a marketing manager in Chandigarh. Mr. Hocke has a reputation for provocative statements, particularly about the Nazi past. His speech drew condemnation from Frauke Petry, who is a leader of the Alternative for Germany nationally. She and her husband, Mr. Pretzell, reiterated at a weekend rally on Saturday in Koblenz that they were not happy with Mr. Hockes statements. Ms. Petry has called Mr. Hocke a burden on the party. But Mondays decision appeared to leave Mr. Hocke free to attract support from his sympathizers for the already far-right party, a relatively new threat to German politics. The Alternative for Germany now has seats in 10 of the countrys 16 state legislatures, and is expected to enter the national Parliament after fall elections. The party started life as an anti-euro party in 2013, when it almost cleared the 5 percent hurdle to enter Parliament in national elections. Since then, Chancellor Angela Merkel has allowed more than one million refugees, many of them Muslims fleeing war in the Middle East, to enter Germany. The Alternative for Germany has benefited from opposition to the influx to become perhaps the strongest right-wing force in the country since the Nazi defeat in 1945. LONDON Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain found herself in political hot water on Monday over reports that an unarmed Trident missile went astray during a test at sea in June, and that the government kept the incident a secret. Ms. May was initially unwilling to acknowledge that she was aware of the test when she urged Parliament in July to invest in new Trident-armed submarines. Here is a look at the weapon and concerns about a possible cover-up. Whats a Trident missile? It is a strategic nuclear weapon: a 44-foot long ballistic missile launched from a submarine that can deliver eight nuclear warheads to targets thousands of miles away. Tridents are built by Lockheed Martin, a major American defense contractor, and are used by the American and British navies. The current generation, the Trident II D5, was first deployed in 1990, and is expected to remain in front-line service at least into the 2020s, and potentially the 2030s. Have they had problems in the past? The Trident II D5 is called the most reliable large missile in the world, with more than 160 successful tests over the years, according to Lockheed Martin. Most have been conducted by the United States Navy (including two tests in November). The British Navy performs them only sparingly one every three to five years for cost reasons: each missile is said to cost 17 million ($21 million). Failures have been rare; one expert quoted in British news reports estimated that there had been fewer than 10 failures in the weapons history, and the British Navy is not known to have had any go awry before June 2016. Why do they run tests of a proven missile? It is done mostly to test the submarines that launch them. The Times of London reported that the June 2016 test was a required step in checking out a sub, H.M.S. Vengeance, that had just been refitted with upgraded computer systems and new launch equipment. NEW DELHI In the traditional bull-wrestling sport of jallikattu, men compete for prizes based on their ability to ride or hold on to a bull that is released into a crowd. But after years of complaints about cruelty to the animals, the Supreme Court issued a ban on the practice, leading to protests in the southern state of Tamil Nadu over the past week. On Monday, those protests turned violent when the police tried to evict demonstrators from Marina Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadus capital, and several other districts, The Hindu newspaper reported. When the Americans had participated in previous rounds of talks in Geneva, the meetings took place at the Palace of Nations, one of the stolid lakeside edifices built in the first half of the 20th century that have housed the United Nations since it was formed after World War II. Those buildings symbolized a postwar order that tried to institutionalize human rights and the laws of war, an order associated with American leadership or domination amid the tensions of the Cold War. Now, the role of the United States in Syria and across the Middle East is widely seen as having receded under former President Barack Obama, and its future remains uncertain. Mr. Obama, while backing some rebel groups, resisted deeper American involvement in the Syrian conflict, ceding the leading role to Russia. His successor, President Trump, has signaled broad approval of Russian leadership and policies and sent mixed messages on Syria. Officially, all sides in the Syrian conflict describe the goal of the talks in Astana as reaffirming a tenuous cease-fire in order to revive the Geneva talks. The cease-fire, started in December and known formally as a cessation of hostilities, is largely ignored in many parts of the country and excludes jihadist groups, including the Levant Conquest Front and the Islamic State. A strengthening of the cessation across Syria, the United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura said Monday, could pave the way for discussion of more substantive political issues at talks scheduled for February in Geneva. The United Nations initially resisted anything more than an observer role in the talks in Astana, but Mr. de Mistura at the last minute agreed to act as a mediator and was shuttling between the delegations who were in separate rooms. Western diplomats were also watching warily to see whether the talks in Astana could be a Russian effort to ultimately replace the Geneva discussions, which the Russian government has criticized. The Syrian government and the Russians have long argued that the Geneva framework, calling for a transitional body with full governing powers, does not require President Bashar al-Assad to step down, while the opposition has insisted that it does. But as a practical matter, an increasing number of Western countries, including the United States, and even some of the rebels backers in the Middle East, like Turkey, have moved toward the Russian position. With Turkey mainly concerned about checking Kurdish militants within its borders and in Syria, and the United States focused on battling Islamic State militants, they have stopped pushing loudly for Mr. Assad to step down ahead of a settlement, instead signaling that they could accept some role for him in a transitional political arrangement. UNITED NATIONS President Trump reinstated a policy on Monday that originated in the Reagan era, prohibiting the granting of American foreign aid to health providers abroad who discuss abortion as a family-planning option. United States law already prohibits the use of American taxpayer dollars for abortion services anywhere, including in countries where the procedure is legal. But Mr. Trumps order takes the prohibition further: It freezes funding to nongovernmental organizations in poor countries if they offer abortion counseling or if they advocate the right to seek abortion in their countries. The freeze applies even if the organizations use other sources of funding for these services. Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence stated their opposition to abortion during the presidential campaign. Mr. Trump had signaled his intent to make the order one of his first acts as president, which pleased anti-abortion activists at home. We applaud President Trump for putting an end to taxpayer funding of groups that promote the killing of unborn children in developing nations, Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, the nations largest anti-abortion organization, said in a statement. The literary debate over unmasking a best-selling, pseudonymous novelist. The exodus of black actors from the United Kingdom to find work in America. An exploration of the bizarre world of Hieronymous Bosch. Anti-globalization and its effect on art. At home with Bjork. Culture stories abound in Europe, and The New York Times is seeking an imaginative editor to expand our coverage as part of the organizations global push. Our readers want the latest news and analysis of the arts high and low, including pop music, the visual art scene, auction houses, opera, ballet, theater, movies and television. But they want more than a feature on the latest show at the Tate: our coverage should delve deeply into how the arts shape society and vice versa, using culture as another prism to understand the world. The ideal candidate is a first-rate idea generator with an instinct for what people want to read and the ability to think strategically about designing coverage with an eye toward building audience. He or she reads widely, and can spot new voices around the globe. Top-to-bottom editing skills are also a must, as the editor will be working with freelancers as well as staff correspondents. The editor should be adept at framing coverage for a digital audience, creatively ambitious about mastering and deploying a variety of story forms, and a collaborative partner who can work across the newsroom. Danielle Mattoon, Culture Editor Jim Yardley, Europe Editor Numbers for gatherings like this always vary and will be difficult to pinpointjust ask the CIA (I still cannot get over Donald Trump lecturing the C-I-freaking-A on quantifying crowd sizesits beyond parody). However, we can still get a good estimate, and by even the most pessimistic figures, the Womens Marches included well over three million people peacefully assembling across 60 countries. It was the largest protest in American history. Some people may want to pigeon-hole the protest, but in effect, it was a counter-inauguration to what happened the day before. When you interpret women's issues as equaling abortion, you get Donald Trump as the standard bearer of your movement. pic.twitter.com/mvFQvPMLyE Jacob Weindling (@Jakeweindling) January 21, 2017 Women are simply the largest group negatively affected by this agenda (and the groups negatively affected by this agenda include everyone who is not a rich, white, American man). You quite literally cannot reason with Trumpism, as it begins at a conclusion and traces its own facts backwardsalternative facts, if you will. Given how much science and technology have benefited those trapped underneath our modern caste system, any opposition to those facts is an affront to the general progress of society. This wasn't solely about women's issues. This was about responding to an ideology whichviewed only through the lens of our corporate mediaseems as if it has overtaken a majority of the country. However, according to the 2010 Census, 80.7% of us live in urban centers, yet we breathlessly have to hear about how if only those few of us in and around cities understood people out in Real America, we'd have less contentious politics, with very few angles coming from the opposite point of view. America is much more complex than that cartoon, and watering it down into a basic narrative hurts all of us. The far right has overtaken a gigantically disproportionate swath of America. They're not even a majority in their own party, yet the media depicts them as comprising half the country (and always living outside city centers), which in-effect, makes life more difficult for those who sympathize with that worldview, or those who do live in dilapidated areas left behind by modernity, as it is harder for humans to feel empathy for majority groups. They're not a majority, and they're not even bigger than what we witnessed over the weekend. This operation in false-equivalency naturally pits rural and urban Americans against each other by depicting each lifestyle in a carnival funhouse mirror. If we're going to assume that every Trump voter is a bigoted doofus living out in the sticks, then we can get 30 million people on the streets and it still won't heal the open wound oozing at the center of our politics. There are minorities being completely left behind by the digital age, and many of them endorsed something they truly don't understand in a moment of crisis. Remember, a lot of these Trump voters were Obama voters in 2008 AND 2012. Many of them want the same thing we do: to smash the Washington monopoly and reestablish the people as the true owners of our nation's capital. This weekend proved that there are millions of people who are completely horrified by Trump. So what is it? What's the plan? And that's where this weekend takes a somber turn. The left has been defined by fragmented groups all vying for similarly amorphous goalswithout any cohesive plan to execute them. The Tea Party elected members of Congress, while Occupy Wall Street's largest accomplishment (other than helping to change the media narrative) is getting thrown out of a park. 20th and 21st century progressivism has been defined by disorganizationa fact that became much starker as the far right has become more and more adept at influencing government at every level. It's an issue of priorities and vision, as this tweetstorm from Matt Stoller perfectly encapsulated. 12. School board matters b/c schools are where we shape what it means to be a citizen, not because it's a training ground for higher office. Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) January 23, 2017 We cant just think nationally about this. Thats the mindset that got us here. Again, whats the plan? I, along with seemingly most of Pastes readers, am certainly on board with opposing Trumps agenda, but thats a nebulous goal which effectively needs a city planner to visualize. So who is/are leading this movement? Where is it going? Are we simply going to counter-punch Trump or are we going to go on the offensive? Those are answers that didnt seem to have been answered this weekend. My father, one of the 1960s liberals who was part of a protest or two, bemoaned the lack of organizers or even simple pamphlets at the Denver Womens March. He and his friends feel a guilt for giving us this world that they now want to help change again, but they do not know where to go. The event itself hasnt given much long-term guidance, as they have announced a plan for 10 actions in Trumps first 100 days. They have revealed only the first. Write a postcard to your Senators about what matters most to you and how youre going to continue to fight for it in the days, weeks and months ahead. Were offering printable postcards for you to download. You can go it alone, or consider inviting some friends, neighbors and fellow Marchers over for a drink or dinner sometime in the next ten days to talk about your experience and fill out your postcards. Get the official card printed (see below), design your own, or be one of 10,000 people who can get a free Womens March Postcard using the Ink Cards App. If you have the equipment, you can print at home, or download the file and get cards printed locally. This is a good start, as this step seems like it exists predominantly to keep people engaged. If this movement is to win, it will need to bring the politically apathetic under its wingsas well as the inevitable disaffected Trump votersand letting people express themselves on a postcard which reflects the inclusive message of a larger movement is a good start. But lets not kid ourselves; a bunch of letters to Congress isnt going to move the needle much. Flooding them with phone calls is far more effective, as they are forced to confront the outrage, because they cannot dial out until they plug the leak. It took five hours for Congress to go from almost completely defanging the ethics committee to pretending that it never occurred, thanks to a bevy of phone calls. Remember this scene from The Dark Knight? In this case, our dynamite, gunpowder, and gasoline are phone calls to Congress. They are cheap, and when combined in large quantities, they can burn a whole damn building down. Tweeting at your Congressmen is a form of public masturbation, and actually pleasuring yourself in public has a better chance of getting their attention. Combating Trumpism will require a strong will, which was expressed over the weekend. But a will is nothing without a way, and right now, we are still searching for leaders in this budding campaign. Occupy Wall Street failed largely because of its commitment to a flat ruling structuremovements need leaders with an executable plan. We marched, but all that progress and goodwill can be betrayed by a lack of organization really quickly. Its time that the ~1% of America who cared enough to stand in the streets, exhorting a coordinated primal scream on a Saturday morning, took the time to channel that rage into real action. The movement has its members, and hoo-boy are there a ton. If we can figure out a way to point this energy in one measurable direction, silly fights over crowd sizes will be the least of Donald Trumps problems. Jacob Weindling is Pastes business and media editor, as well as a staff writer for politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling. Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224) January 22, 2017 Yori Epskamp Senior Content Manager Arron Fletcher has won the 2017 WSOP International Circuit Main Event in Casino de Marrakech! The British player outlasted 510 others to claim the coveted gold WSOP Circuit Ring. Fletcher took home an astonishing 1,400,000 MAD ($140,224) by winning this record-setting event. Runner-up was Spain's Pedro Rodero, who cashed 910,000 MAD ($91,146). Winner of the inaugural Main Event two years ago, Ricardo Manquant finished in ninth place. Position Player Country Prize in MAD Prize in Prize in $ 1 Arron Fletcher United Kingdom 1,400,000 MAD 130,755 $140,224 2 Pedro Rodero Spain 910,000 MAD 84,991 $91,146 3 Fernandez Spain 635,000 MAD 59,307 $63,602 4 Hamza NBaba Morocco 465,000 MAD 43,430 $46,574 5 Mika Kakkonen Finland 355,000 MAD 33,156 $35,557 6 Julio Sanchez Spain 275,000 MAD 25,684 $27,544 7 Mohamed El Bakkouri France 215,000 MAD 20,080 $21,534 8 Matthias Widmann Germany 176,500 MAD 16,485 $17,678 9 Ricardo Manquant France 153,000 MAD 14,290 $15,324 Twenty-three hopefuls returned at 1 p.m. for the final day and continue their quest for WSOP glory. In the first level of the day, action started off furiously. For [Removed:16], Cheng Li, Thibault Saillard, Thierry Gogniat, Roland Rozal and Thomas Cristobal, their hopes of capturing a WSOP ring got crushed in the early stages. In the second level of the day, one of the most crucial hands of the day took place. Romain Lewis, who started the day second in chips, suddenly went out after losing two hands in a row. In the first hand he lost pocket eights against ace-ten, then Lewis got it in with pocket aces against Fletcher's pocket tens. It was a pot big enough to give either winner the chip lead; a ten on the flop gave the pot and lead to Fletcher while Lewis headed for the exit. Needless to say, the monstrous pot was pivotal to Fletcher's eventual success. Selim Oulmekki, Hakim Hadj, Teresio Ciancanelli, Jaouad Berrada, Tsunamy and Vincent Mansour quickly followed Lewis to the exit. With 10 players left, it was Pedro Jimenez who became the final table bubble boy. Jimenez went out in style, as he ran against a true Royal Flush from Mika Kakkonen. Needless to say, the monstrous pot was pivotal in Fletcher's eventual success. At the final table, Ricardo Manquant would be the first to go after losing queen-ten against pocket jacks. Manquant, who won the first edition of this event back in 2015, saw his second attempt at a circuit ring come to an end in ninth place. He was soon followed by Matthias Widmann, who couldn't catch up with ace-trey against ace-queen and ended in eight. It took over two hours for the next player to bust. It was the last-standing Frenchman, Mohamed El Bakkouri, who fell by the wayside. Holding ace-king, El Bakkouri lost against Fletcher's ace-queen when a queen appeared in the window. After the dinner break, start-of-the-day chip leader Julio Sanchez went out in sixth. Sanchez lost the classic flip of pocket tens against ace-queen when an ace on the turn sent him packing. Mika Kakkonen soon followed him to the rail in fifth place after losing pocket fives against Rodero's ace-king. With four players left, the biggest hand of the final table took place. Chip leader Fletcher and runner-up Hamza NBaba clashed in a pot that contained more than half the chips in play. Fletcher held pocket aces and NBaba had the inferior ace-king. All the money went in pre-flop and NBaba was left drawing dead after the turn. The last hometown player in the tournament received 465,000 MAD for finishing fourth, but will probably not forget the biggest cooler of his poker career anytime soon. Fernandez was the lucky short stack that laddered up due to the big clash. Being short for hours, Fernandez eventually succumbed in third place, netting himself a nice 635,000 MAD payday. The heads-up started with Fletcher holding more than a 2:1 chip lead over his opponent Rodero. Although Rodero found himself at risk multiple times during the heads-up battle, he proved to be the proverbial cat with nine lives and doubled multiple times. Eventually, Rodero succumbed to relentless raising and reraising from Fletcher. Rodero called an all-in with queen-ten, but Fletcher had ace-jack and held up to win the tournament. That's all from Casino de Marrakech, located in the beautiful Es Saadi Resort. PokerNews will be back here in March to provide all the updates from the 2017 Marrakech Poker Open. Au revoir et a la prochaine! WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event Year Entries Buy-In Champion Country Prize 2017 511 1,350 Arron Fletcher United Kingdom 130,755 2016 446 1,350 Mathieu Selides France 95,479 2015 484 1,350 Ricardo Manquant France 122,330 Sharelines The British player outlasted 510 others to claim the coveted gold WSOP Circuit Ring. Mustapha Kanit Crushes Day 1b of the Aussie Millions Main Event January 23, 2017 Brad Kain Another day done and dusted in the Crown Poker Room as Aussie Millions $10,000 Main Event Day 1b is now on the books. PokerNews saw 184 players pull up seats throughout the seven levels of play today to take our running total up to 396 ahead of the 387 that were in contention at the same time last year. With the final Day 1 flight tomorrow, time will tell if the 732-player field from 2016 can be eclipsed. Today was host to another showcase of exciting poker action, and when all was said and done, it was birthday boy Mustapha Kanit who emerged on top with 215,000. When the clock ticked past midnight, Kanits birthday began and a mountain of chips seemed fitting as the perfect gift. Kanit dominated his table today, picking off attempted bluffs and finding value in all the right spots. The Italian superstar has over $8.5 million in live cashes to his name and finds himself in a great position to add to that impressive total here this week. Joining Kanit for Day 2 come Wednesday will be Rhys Jones who bagged up 159,800 by the conclusion of play. Fortune favored Jones straight out the gate as he delivered the first knockout blow in level 1. In an unequivocally sick hand, Jones sent a tablemate packing to establish himself as an early chip leader here on Day 1b. All of the chips went in on the turn with the board showing . Jones had flopped a full house with pocket eights but found himself behind on the turn to his opponents pocket jacks. Looking like all hope was lost, Jones found the miracle case eight on the river to secure himself the monster pot and rocket to the lead. Also still in the hunt from todays batch are Andrew Hinrichsen (105,600), Jeff Rossiter (94,000), Billy Argyros (85,700), Ryan DAngelo (68,400), Dario Sammartino (68,300), Alex Lynskey (62,200), Terrence Chan (58,900), Tyron Krost (48,500), Ryan Otto (45,000), Didier Guerin (44,700), [B]Michael Kane[/B] (39,000), Melanie Weisner (24,400), Jarred Graham (22,000), Darryll Fish (18,000), Michael Addamo (12,100) and Liam ORourke (8,300). While these lucky players secured themselves a seat on Day 2, many others fell by the wayside. Perhaps the most recognizable face in Australian poker, 2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem, was felted in level 5. He got his short stack in preflop with ace-king against the pocket jacks of Hinrichsen but failed to improve. Also sent hurtling to the rail was 2015 November Niner Federico Butteroni who was hit by a cold deck versus Kane. Holding Butteroni found the last of it in the middle with the board reading . That was no good against Kanes , however, and Butteroni couldnt find a five on the end to keep his tournament alive. For todays survivors though its a day of respite tomorrow as a new group of players try their luck in the final flight on Day 1c. As always, PokerNews will be back with all your live coverage needs so be sure to join us from 12:30 p.m. local time to catch all the action! Mona Lisa's first tweet after getting evicted is full of gratitude for her fans. By India Today Web Desk: Bhojpuri actress Mona Lisa, who got married on Bigg Boss 10, three days before getting evicted from the house, is happy and excited to start her new life post marriage with beau Vikrant Singh Rajpoot. Although she was content after getting eliminated, she couldn't sleep last night. Here's why. "Neend nahi aa rahi hai. Missing Bigg Boss and Salman sir. Thank you all for saving me 9 times," wrote Mona on her Twitter account. advertisement Mona got nominated nine times, but her strong fanbase saved her every time. This time, she was nominated along with Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor Rohan Mehra. While Manu, Manveer and Lopa have already reached the grand finale, either Rohan or Bani will join them in the Top 4. --- ENDS --- 'The Christ Slayer' Adds Dynamic Leads to the third film in their biblical trilogy. Christine Soloman and Carl Weyant Contact Collective Development Inc. ***@aol.com Collective Development Inc. End -- While the title, 'The Christ Slayer,' might seem provocative at first sight, even 'other-wordly,' as in where today's heavy CGI-VFX driven sci-fi and horror cinema landscape dwells, the film's header is the basis for a compelling, character-driven final chapter about the most well-known, worshipped, mysterious and questioned figure in history. And the many people, some well-known from scripture, others unknown, with whom Jesus came into contact in his short mission on earth.'The Christ Slayer' parable, which shoots in March in Yuma, AZ, with the great assistance of CDI's Yuma-based crew, is the final film in 'The Quest Trilogy.' The unique body of biblical/cinematic storytelling comes from filmmaker/writer/actor DJ Perry and the stable of artists, 'The Tribe,' as they're affectionately known, at Lansing, Mich., based production company, Collective Development Inc. (CDI)The first film in the trilogy, the uncompromising and critically acclaimed 'Forty Nights,' will be introduced to audiences during the Lenten and Easter season.Directed by Jesse Low, 'Forty Nights' follows Jesus (DJ Perry) from his baptism by John the Baptist (Terry Jernigan) into the scorching, barren wilderness, where he suffers thirst, starvation, sleep- deprivation, delirium and temptation by Satan, played by three actors (Rance Howard, Taymour Ghazi and Joe Cipriano) at three stages of life. Flashbacks come to Jesus, giving audiences insight into what his earlier life might have been like.The second film in the trilogy, 'Chasing the Star,' filmed in early 2016 in Yuma and directed by Bret Miller, tells the story of the Three Magi (Garry Nation, Randy Spence, Bello Pizzimenti) and the incredible danger (and insecurities)they faced following the Star of Bethlehem in search of the Messiah's birth. Including henchmen of King Herod (Ralph Lister) and the very questioning of their own faith, fearing that, perhaps, God had foresaken them because of a perceived arrogance.Release of 'Chasing the Star' will follow closely behind 'Forty Nights. This big screen parable in the trilogy will enjoy a limited theatrical run before a national release in September and the run up to the Christmas season.In March, once again in the Yuma area, where the thermometer will push 100 degrees daily, 'The Quest Trilogy' will come full circle as principal photography gets under way on 'The Christ Slayer.'Like Miller in 'Chasing the Star,' the helmsman for 'The Christ Slayer, will be young up-and-comer, and Michigan State University alum, Nathaniel Nose.Fittingly, the final parable returns to the moments before, during and after Christ's crucifixion.The story unfolds as we follow the barren, unsatisfying life of a Roman Centurion known as Longinus. While this soldier's faith in himself and others has been seriously eroded, the strength, compassion and love of one woman, 'Leah,' is all that stands between him and self-destruction.CDI announced today that Award-winning Canadian/internationally-known actress Christine Solomon has been cast to play 'Leah,' opposite the prolific, multi-faceted New York City artist and producer, Carl Weyant.Ms. Solomon's career has been one based on versatility. Stage-trained, she has performed in more than 20 plays, she is a voice-over artist and has appeared in many TV and film roles.Her resume includes, among others, roles in 'The Score' (2001) starring Academy-Award winning actors Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando; VH1's 'Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story' (2009); Sony Pictures' 'Head In the Clouds' (2004); HBO Canada's 'Fakers' (2009); and, award-winning foreign films, 'Basra' (2008, India) and 'Heliopolis' (2009, Egypt).Ms. Solomon has also hosted shows and events (such as Good Morning Canada's campaign with Josh Duhamel, 'Building for America's Bravest and #Enlistme) and has done TV commercials and endorsements.Mr. Weyant made his lead actor debut in 2008 in the psychological thriller, 'Karma: Crime, Passion, Reincarnation,' filmed in Ooty, India. Shortly after that breakout, he earned roles in 'The Memory Thief'; on the daytime drama, 'The Young and the Restless'; 'Dedd Brothers;' and 'Ashes of Eden,' filmed in Michigan.In 2008, Carl produced his first feature film, Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale, which went on to win numerous awards, including Best Picture at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California.This lead Carl to produce and Co-Star in 'Samuel Bleak' (2013) and 'The Actor' (2014). Brand brings affordable domain and hosting products to Southeast Asia's fastest growing online nation By: Z.com Contact Trish Elamparo ***@z.com Trish Elamparo End -- Z.com, the global brand of Japan's leading internet services company, GMO Internet Group, has now expanded to the Philippines. With the country positioned as one of the fastest-growing online populations in the world, the opening of Z.com brings affordable internet services to the market, such as domain registration, web hosting, VPS / cloud hosting, and SSL Certification.The brand is backed by the technological expertise of GMO Internet Group, Japan's undisputed market leader in internet services since 1991. In 2014, the group made headlines when it bought the domain "Z.com" for USD 6.8 Million, in its aim to create a simple and memorable name on the web. This also signaled the group's online expansion, as it is now present in Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and now, the Philippines.Through Z.com, the Philippines can now enjoy GMO Internet Group's leading products at some of the most competitive price points in the local market. It provides a one-stop shop for Filipinos to build their presence online. Services include: Z.com offers the most competitive domain name prices in the market, from popular ones (.com, .biz, .net, etc), to new generic top-level domains such as .shop, .xyz, .link, and more. All prices include free domain privacy protection, which is a paid add-on for other domain name providers.GMO Internet Group is one of the most trusted domain registrars in the world, being the first to be accredited by ICANN in Asia. Today, the group is managing over 14 million domain names.- Z.com provides a range of hosting services including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and WordPress optimized hosting. All these feature high-speed SSD Storage, which is known to be faster than HDD storage used by other affordable hosting providers. Plans start as low as Php 166/month (USD 3.32 / month), which gives users access to cPanel control panel and Cloudmark Authority spam filter.Z.com has servers located in the United States, Singapore, and Tokyo.- SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), are small data files that protect users' data on websites and enable https encryption. Websites with SSL certificates not only give customers more peace of mind, but can also improve trust and search ranking for websites - which is why it is becoming a top must-have, especially for eCommerce websites. (Google source)Z.com SSL Certification is available at Php 12,200 per year, but if subscribed to any of Z.com Hosting plans (web or WordPress), it can be added for only Php70 per month.All these services come with free local support, with a growing customer-support team based in Makati."Our mission is to bring 'Internet for Everyone,' and we do that through products that are accessible, affordable and easy to use," says Andy Koo, General Manager of GMO-Z.com Philippines. "True to our Japanese heritage, we adhere to the principle of simplicity. Z.com aims to bring simplicity to technology - so that anyone who wants to go online can easily do so with our products."For more information about Z.com, please visit https://z.com/ ph/-END- Amman, Jordan (January, 2017) Continuing its expansion program, Careem, the region's leading ride-hailing service By: TRACCS jordan End --Continuing its expansion program, Careem, the region's leading ride-hailing service, has now expanded to more than 50 cities across the broaded MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region, including Turkey and three new cities in Pakistan.Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and CEO of Careem, said, "Our main focus is to broaden and deepen our presence across the wider region, which comes on the back of Careem's phenomenal growth in the past four years. Testament to our continued expansion and ambitions for further growth is the recent USD 350 million tranche of investment in our company, making Careem one of the few tech unicorns in the Middle East and North Africa. Now operational in more than 50 cities within four years since launching, Careem will harness this milestone achievement as a springboard to further growth in 2017."Last month, Careem announced a landmark funding round of USD 500 million in the company with USD 350 million already secured from new and existing investors. Co-led is by Rakuten, Inc., a global leader in internet services and innovation headquartered in Japan, and Saudi Telecom Company ("STC"), the largest telecom operator in the Middle East, the fundraise, supported by Credit Suisse, is one of the largest for a technology company in the Middle East's history. The investment will scale up Careem's transport services in existing and new markets, accelerate innovation across its platform of high-frequency transactions, and help Careem achieve its goal of creating one million jobs in the region by 2018. New terminal of PSG, member of ACEX Alliance in Novorossiysk, is equipped with modern technical resources. By: ACEX Alliance Contact ACEX Alliance press center ***@acex.net ACEX Alliance press center End -- PSG, the member of ACEX Alliance in Kazan, is specialized in transportation of trucks, spare parts for vehicles and other industrial products produced in Russia. The company exports goods to Africa, Southeast Asia, Middle East, United Arab Emirates and other countries.Total area of the terminal put into operation is equal to 3000 sq.m., it is located on the border of the villages Gayduk and Kirillovka in fifteen minutes ride from the port of Novorossiysk."We transported a lot of cargo through the port of Novorossiysk in 2015, and used services of other forwarders operating in Novorossiysk." comments Airat Bilalov, the head of PSG. "In order to decrease costs and improve our services we decided to open our own representative office in the area."The new terminal is equipped with modern technical resources and renders import and export services through the port of Novorossiysk in the most popular directions of the Southeast Asia, Africa and Middle East. At present the PSG staff in the new representative office consists of 7 experts specialized in this business direction."In comparison with transportation through the Baltic ports the delivery through Novorossiysk enables to decrease time of delivery in some directions," comments Airat Bilalov. "This is a great advantage for our clients. The relative freight costs through Novorossiysk are higher than through the ports of Saint Petersburg, however due to smaller distance the total cost is lower."Currently, the worldwide logistics alliance ACEX has two representatives in the area and each of them has its own strong business directions and a unique service."NOVOTEC Plus", the member of ACEX, takes strong positions on the logistics market of Novorossiysk providing over 10 000 sq.m. of warehouse areas, as well as rendering the whole range of sea freight services.BSSS Ltd. is specialized in export of grains and thanks to own terminal the company offers exclusive conditions for transportations through the port of Novorossiysk and renders the whole complex of logistics services.Details at http://acexgroup.net/ en/partners/ news/1639/ Websitehttp://acexgroup.net/en/ Marketing teams in professional services business perform a multitude of tasks, but they are ultimately responsible for one thing: generating leads. In light of this urgent need, what are the most important marketing skills needed? Media Contact ***@molwenimedia.co.za 0636829875 0636829875 End -- At the highest level, digital marketing and Advertising gets top priority. High-growth service businesses in fact invest 13% more than their no-growth counterparts in digital marketing strategies and much less in traditional strategies.The tables below show some interesting differences in marketing and advertising strategies favoured by high-growth versus no-growth firms. A quick scan of the techniques favoured by high growth firms suggests three essential skill areas for marketing teams: SEO, Content Promotion (specifically blogs), and by implication Web Analytics to measure all of those efforts.Let's take a look at each of these in turn.Marketing Skill #1: SEO From an online search perspective, if your firm is ranking prominently in search results for important industry terms, then your opportunities for exposure are dramatically increased.The rules of search have evolved over the years, and the SEO techniques marketing professionals used a few years ago can end up hurting more than helping in today's environment.Marketing Skill #2: BloggingHigh-growth businesses understand that blogging is an effective lead generation tactic. Because blogging helps your business in so many different ways, it is considered one of the most efficient digital marketing strategies. In terms of a specific skill set, your digital marketing team doesn't necessarily need to actually write the blog posts. Rather, they need to know the ingredients of a successful blog post and how to promote them.Marketing Skill #3: Web Analytics It's tough to be a successful digital marketer without a mechanism to judge your success. Web analytics tools like Google Analytics allow free access to a lot of valuable data. To the uninitiated, it can seem like too much to handle. But firms that are just starting out need to monitor only a few basic metrics. Be sure you review them on at least a monthly basis. Here are four critical metrics: Traffic by Source Look to see where your web traffic is coming from. Is LinkedIn sending you visitors? Organic search? Other websites? What is the quality of those visits in terms of time spent on the site? Conversions by Source A "conversion"occurs when a visitor takes an action on your website that you decide is important. For example, if a web visitor fills out your contact form, your Google Analytics can be configured to register that action as a conversion. E-book downloads, webinar registrations, or newsletter subscriptions are other examples of conversions. Page Performance It's useful to know which of the pages on your site are performing well. Look to understand which pages are the most visited and how long visitors are remaining on those pages. Also take a look at the bounce rate for your top pages, which is the rate at which visitors leave the website after viewing a single page. Demographics Know your web visitors. What countries, states, and cities are your visitors from? Are they using mobile devices? Are they new visitors or returning? Demographic information will help you tailor your marketing approach through the process.The nice thing about these three marketing skills is that they have broad application across your entire digital marketing strategy. Whether you're looking to build your marketing engine internally or hire an outside team of experts, prioritising on these three essential skill areas will prepare your business to join the cadre of high-growth professional services firms.Molweni helps professional services businesses grow faster and become more profitable. Our research-based strategies are designed to be implemented. Our groundbreaking Purple Cow Program combines strategy, implementation, training, and more. Contact us by making a direct appointment at www.molwenimedia.co.za Wajabaty: All in one foodies app Contact Wajabaty ***@wajabaty.com Wajabaty End -- Entering into its 6th edition successfully, HORECA is a major platform for exhibitors to gain exposure of the trending food industry. This year, HORECA Kuwait 2017 was held from 16th January to 18th January 2017, at the Kuwait International Fairground in Kuwait City, Kuwait. The main aim of conducting this biggest hospitality exhibition was to increase the business relationship and to provide hoteliers and food service professionals with advanced solutions to build a business. This year, the exhibition witnessed the participation of over 80 companies specialized in hospitality, catering and hotel equipment.Using this as a golden opportunity, Wajabaty, a one-stop foodie solution providing service through mobile apps, web and food directory got itself launched. The stall D 17 saw a good number of crowd including restaurant owners and hospitality marketers, to get more detail about this new age #FoodiesApp.This Kuwait-based web and app food service offers some handy features through app and web based format including: Food wall, to let you like and recommend dishes and restaurants to your friends and everyone in Kuwait. An innovative hash tag search. Just with a tap at hashtags like #Latenights #happyhours, etc. get the food in your mind at your table. Acts as a Live Food Reporter, updating newly opened food joints as well as newly introduced dishes in the restaurants and their reviews. Updates on latest offers, discounts, combos and other offers by restaurants. Updates on upcoming events in Kuwait, including food fest and exhibition. Real Time Table reservation option at your favourite restaurant and choose the seating arrangement. Dish based restaurant search with just a tap. Learn more about the restaurant (valet parking, ambience and service) Access to drooling food articles at Food Directory with food recipes from popular chefs. Pre-Order Take Away option, letting you to order food while heading to restaurant and pick once its ready. Exclusive details about each restaurant in the city, interactive menus offered, and online table booking platform for foodies.Touted as the biggest hospitality exhibition till date, HORECA gives exposure to newly launched and established companies for conducting B2B. For Wajabaty, this was an excellent opportunity because 99% of the audience in the exhibition were Restaurant owners, restaurant managers and hospitality marketers. Once the B2B goal is set, the company would then get into B2C market.According to the founder of Wajabaty,HORECA Kuwait 2017 is organized by Leaders Group Company for Consulting & Development by Hospitality Services. Leader Group was launched with a vision to offer excellent service to its customer through specialized and innovative solutions. Speaking about the exhibition, Leaders Group's General Manager Nabila Al-Anjeri says,HORECA exhibition contains cooking contests, decorating dining tables and other events executed by players from Hospitality industry.For More Info, Vsit: http://wajabaty.com Google Play (Android): https://goo.gl/ KVWsRV Apple Store (iOS): https://goo.gl/DqF4fr McArthurGlen has entered into an agreement to purchase the Rosada Fashion Outlet in Roosendaal from Resolution Property. The purchase is expected to complete in March 2017, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. The new venture will see market leader McArthurGlen Group become the owner and manager of the popular 23,000m [] Yamaha India has been missing all the action from one of the fastest growing segment the 200-250 cc segment. Not only this segment is seeing good sales, but has also been reporting exponential increase in sales over the past few years. Finally, after a wait of many years, Yamaha India today announced the launch of FZ250. This new Yamaha FZ250 has been designed and developed for the Indian consumer. Entering the performance segment in India for the first time, Indian Yamaha Motors brings in the new Yamaha FZ250 street fighter at a sparkling event held at the Capital. Targeting the next generation Macho, this bike is bolder, bigger and faster while it is set to rival the likes of the Mahindra Mojo, Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and Honda CBR 250R along with the KTM Duke 200 and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Yamaha FZ250 Design Yamaha FZ250 is based on a 250cc motorcycle which is already on sale in Japan. But this is an all-new motorcycle which has been launched first in India. Design features inlcude LED headlamps, musculine fuel tank, split seats and a sculpted tail section with LED taillights. Light in weight at 148 kgs and agile in its stance, Yamaha FZ250 targets the young, urban rider, exuding macho styling, while it will be highly competent on the most challenging of road conditions. High in fuel efficiency and comfortable both for rider and passenger, the bike is quick and responsive. The Target Customer Catering to the comfort of the rider, Yamaha has introduced a wider handle bar which are lowered by 15mm and foot pegs set further to the rear while the bike is noted with disc brakes at the front and rear and telescopic forks in the front and mono shocks at the rear. On board equipment includes a digital LCD instrument cluster, LED pilot lamps besides automatic headlamp on. Yamaha FZ250 Engine Yamaha FZ250 sits on new 17 alloy wheels fitted with MRF Revz tyres and receives a BSIV compliant 249cc single cylinder, air cooled, 4 stroke, SOHC, fuel injected engine offering 20.9 bhp peak power at 8,000 rpm and peak torque of 20.4 Nm at 6,000 rpm mated to a 5 speed gearbox. Excellent startability is the highlight of this engine. Yamaha FZ250 Specs Yamaha FZ250 measures 2,015mm in length, 779mm in width and 1,075mm in height. Seat height is at 759mm while it sits on a wheelbase of 1,360mm and has ground clearance of 180mm along with a fuel tank capacity of 14 liters. Tyre sizes stand at 100/80-17M/C 52P tubeless in the front and 140/70-17M/C56S tubeless at the rear. Hydraulic single disc brakes in the front and rear and telescopic fork suspension in front along with swingarm suspension at the rear is also evident. Shock absorbers at the front and rear are of coil spring hydraulic damper. Sadly, ABS is not on offer even as an option. But, Yamaha India confirmed that ABS variant will be launched at a later date. Section Items Details Dimension & Weight Overall length 2015mm Overall width 770mm Overall height 1075mm Seat height 795mm Wheelbase 1360mm Minimum ground clearance 160mm Wet(with oil and a full fuel tank) 148kg Performance Minimum turning radius 2.5m Engine Performance Engine type Air cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve Cylinder arrangement Single cylinder Displacement 249cm3 Bore & stroke 74.058.0mm Compression ratio 9.8:1 Maximum horse power 15.4kW(20.9PS)/8000r/min Maximum torque 20.0N?m(2.0kgf?m)/6000r/min Starting system type Electric starter Lubrication system Wet sump Engine oil capacity 1.55L/1.63usqt/1.36Imp.qt Fuel Fuel tank capacity 14L/3.7usgal/3.1Imp.gal Carburetor Type/Fuel supply Fuel injection Electrical Ignition system type TCI (transistor controlled ignition) Spark plug model DR8EA Battery voltage/capacity 12V,6.0Ah(10HR) Battery Type ETZ-7 Transmission Final drive Chain Primary reduction ratio 3.083 (74/24) Secondary reduction ratio 3.067 (46/15) Clutch type Wet, multiple-disc Gear ratio Transmission type Constant mesh, 5-speed Shift type Return Gear ratio-1st gear 2.571 (36/14) Gear ratio-2nd gear 1.684 (32/19) Gear ratio-3rd gear 1.273 (28/22) Gear ratio-4th gear 1.040 (26/25) Gear ratio-5th gear 0.852 (23/27) Chassis Frame type Diamond Caster angle 2430? Trail 98mm Steering Angle Left:37, Right:37 Tire size(Front) 100/80-17M/C 52P Tubeless Tire size(Rear) 140/70-17M/C 66S Tubeless Rim size(Front) 17M/C MT2.50 Rim size(Rear) 17M/C MT4.00 Brake Brake type(Front) Hydraulic single disc brake Brake type(Rear) Hydraulic single disc brake Diameter of brake disk(Front) 282mm Diameter of brake disk(Rear) 220mm Inside diameter of drum / Effective radius of disc(Front) 257mm Inside diameter of drum / Effective radius of disc(Rear) 191mm Suspension Suspension type(Front) Telescopic fork Suspension type(Rear) Swingarm Shock absorber Shock absorber assembly type(Front) Coil spring/Hydraulic damper Shock absorber assembly type(Rear) Coil spring/Hydraulic damper Wheel travel(Front) 130mm Wheel travel(Rear) 120mm Inner tube diameter of front fork 41.0mm Bulbs(voltage/wattagex quantity) Headlight bulb type LED Headlight LED Auxiliary light 12V,5W1 Brake/tail light LED Turn signal light(Front) 12V,10W2 Turn signal light(Rear) 12V,10W2 Meter Speedometer Digital Tachometer Digital Odometer Liquid crystal Trip meter Liquid crystal Fuel gauge Digital Clock Digital Fuel consumption indicator Equipped Yamaha FZ250 Colours Yamaha FZ250 is offered in three color options of Ballistic Blue, Warrior White and Black Knight. The model will be on sales from February 2017. Yamaha FZ250 Exhaust Note News Release 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 objects -- such as their relative surface area -- in addition to their number? This month Cantlon, Ferrigno, and two additional coauthors -- Steven Piantadosi, an assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences at Rochester, and Julian Jara-Ettinger, a postdoctoral researcher in brain and cognitive sciences at MIT -- are 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. advertisement "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. advertisement 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." The incident came to light when two patrolmen came across two long stone slabs, measuring one meter each, on the UP line track. When they tried to remove the slabs they were set upon by the goons who had placed them on the railway track. By Rohit Kumar Singh: A major plan to sabotage a railway track in Bihar was averted late last night. The incident happened at 00:20 am on Monday while two patrolmen were carrying out patrolling of railway track between Dalsighsarai and Sathajagat in Samastipur district. It was during the patrolling that they found two long stone slabs, measuring one meter each, on the UP line track on minor bridge number 20 between the two stations. advertisement The patrolmen, Manzoor Alam and Ramesh Prajapati, were trying to remove the stone slabs when around 3 to 4 people, who were hiding in the nearby bushes, came out and started abusing them. When the goons started assaulting them, both the patrolmen fled from the spot and informed the nearby RPF post, GRP and local police. Soon they returned to the spot with engineering staffs, RPF, GRP and local police at 01:22 am and the stone slabs were removed by 01:44 am. During this time period, movement of 13420 Muzaffarpur-Bhagalpur Intercity was disrupted. The goons who were involved in the incident managed to escape. EARLIER INCIDENTS It may be noted that a similar sabotaging of railway track was averted in Ghorasahan railway station in Motihari in October last year when a bomb planted was timely detected and diffused by local police. In this case the police last week arrested three persons who disclosed before security agencies that they were asked to sabotage railway tracks by Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. The arrested persons have also confessed that two railway accidents that took place in Kanpur last year involving 19321 Indore-Patna Express at Pukrayan and 12987 Sealdah-Ajmer Express at Rura were handiwork of ISI. The derailment of Indore-Patna Express had claimed more than 150 lives. It is in the wake of the sabotaging incidents that East Central Railways (ECR) has launched extensive safety drive and are thoroughly inspecting railway tracks which includes night patrolling and footplate inspection. Also Read:Pakistan's link unearthed in Kanpur train accident that killed more than 140 passengers, 3 arrested --- ENDS --- Fighting off cancer requires the concerted efforts of immune molecules throughout the body, rather than just in the tumor itself, according to a new study of laboratory mice by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The finding helps settle an ongoing dispute among clinicians as to whether systemic, or whole-body responses, are as important as a robust response by immune cells in the tumor itself. The study may help clinicians understand why some people with cancer respond favorably to cancer immunotherapy, while others experience little or no benefit. It also suggests ways that the effectiveness of ongoing therapies could be quickly and easily monitored. "Immunotherapy can be remarkably effective against cancer, but we don't know why some patients respond and some don't," said Edgar Engleman, MD, professor of pathology and of medicine. "We don't understand the parameters that determine efficacy. In this study, we analyzed millions of living cells simultaneously for 40 parameters from multiple tissues throughout the body to show that you need a systemwide immune response to effectively attack and eradicate a tumor." Engleman is the senior author of the study, which will be published online Jan. 19 in Cell. The lead authors are Matthew Spitzer, PhD, a former Stanford graduate student who is now a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California-San Francisco; former Stanford postdoctoral scholar Yaron Carmi, PhD, who is now an assistant professor at Tel Aviv University; and Stanford postdoctoral scholar Nathan Reticker-Flynn, PhD. Two-pronged approach The researchers compared the immune responses of a special group of laboratory mice engineered to spontaneously develop triple-negative breast cancers. These cancers are resistant to a type of immunotherapy known as checkpoint blockade. Recently, however, Engleman and his colleagues showed that they could stimulate a successful immune response and eradicate tumors in the animals with a two-pronged approach that incorporated both a tumor-binding antibody and molecules that activated a type of immune cell called a dendritic cell. advertisement "This finding allowed us to directly compare the responses to two immunotherapies," said Engleman. "What's going on in an effective response that's not happening in the ineffective response? What we found was quite revealing and gratifying." Spitzer, Carmi and their colleagues collaborated with co-author Garry Nolan, PhD, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford who has developed a way to use a technique known as mass cytometry to monitor the physical attributes of individual cells in samples of millions or billions. This allows researchers to piece together a dynamic picture of how multiple cell populations respond in real time to changing conditions like disease or drug therapies. Spitzer and his colleagues used the technology to monitor the rise and fall of various populations of immune cells within the tumor as well as in other tissues -- including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and peripheral blood -- throughout the body immediately after immunotherapy and throughout tumor rejection. The researchers found that in animals treated with the effective, two-pronged approach, the prevalence of immune cells -- including macrophages, dendritic cells and T cells -- in the tumor itself increased dramatically within three days of treatment, during a period known as "priming." These cells also divided more rapidly. In contrast, the tumors of the animals receiving the ineffective therapy, checkpoint blockade, displayed no such increase in prevalence or proliferation. Increase in regulatory T cells Importantly, the researchers also observed an increase in a class of T cells called regulatory T cells in the effectively treated animals during priming. The presence of these cells during tumor rejection was surprising because they have in the past been correlated with a negative prognosis for many tumors. advertisement "Our observation of an increase in the prevalence of these cells in successfully treated tumors runs counter to conventional wisdom and points out the complex nature of immune responses that lead to successful immunotherapy," said Engleman. Tumor rejection in the effectively treated animals began by day eight. However, in contrast to the priming phase, the researchers observed no differences in the rate of immune cell proliferation in tumors between the two groups of animals during this time. In fact, immune cell proliferation in the tumor ceased altogether by the rejection phase. This finding suggests that, although the initial immune response occurred primarily in the tumor, immune responses in other parts of the body are likely responsible for sustaining the immune attack. Spitzer and his colleagues observed increases in the number and activity of immune cells in lymph nodes near the tumor during both the priming and rejection phases in the effectively treated animals. Surprisingly, the same types of immune cell increases were seen during the priming and rejection phases in the spleen as well as in lymph nodes that were located a great distance from the tumor. Moreover, the researchers were able to document similar stage-specific changes in the activity and prevalence of immune cells in the peripheral blood. In particular, a marked increase in a type of memory CD4 T cell was seen in the blood, as well as in peripheral lymphoid organs, during the rejection phase in mice that received effective therapy. This finding is important because the rise in these CD4 T cells may prove useful as an indicator of treatment efficacy in cancer patients who receive different forms of immunotherapy, thus allowing researchers and clinicians to develop a way to accurately monitor the effectiveness of ongoing immunotherapies with a simple, noninvasive blood test. This possibility was supported when the researchers analyzed immune cells in the blood of patients with melanoma who had received immunotherapy. The results showed that a similar subset of CD4 T cells was associated with a positive response. "The idea would be to use the rise of these CD4 T cells as a biomarker to tailor treatment to each individual," said Engleman. "Physicians could learn quickly whether a therapy is working, or if it should be abandoned in favor of a new approach." Beyond identifying a potential biomarker of effective therapy, the researchers showed that when the CD4 T cells in successfully treated mice were injected into the tumors of untreated animals, the cells stopped the tumors from growing. Validating importance of systemic response The importance of the systemic immune response was validated when the researchers gave the mice a compound that inhibited the ability of immune cells to migrate from secondary lymphoid organs, such as the lymph nodes and spleen, to the tumor site. This intervention allowed sustained tumor growth even in the face of a previously effective treatment. "In the past, researchers focused on understanding in very minute detail what is happening at the molecular level in immune cells inside the tumor," said Engleman. "But we took an approach that allowed us to zoom out and look at the immune system as a whole. This enabled us to unveil how immune cells work together throughout the body to reject a tumor, and the approach promises to be widely useful in many clinical situations." In addition to guiding cancer therapy, the researchers also believe the technique could be useful in tracking the changes that occur during an autoimmune disease flare, or to learn more about how the body marshals its forces to fight off an infection. 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. Obesity is one of the most significant threats to health in the U.S. and is responsible for the development of multiple serious medical problems such as diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer. Yet obesity is barely covered in medical training, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. The licensing exams for graduating medical students have a surprisingly limited number of test items about obesity prevention and treatment. "It's a trickle-down effect," said lead study author Dr. Robert Kushner. "If it's not being tested, it won't be taught as robustly as it should be." The inadequate testing means medical schools have less incentive to provide obesity education in their curriculum, and students have less incentive to learn about it. "Tackling this challenge will require major changes in medical education," said Kushner, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician. The study appeared Dec. 29 in the journal Teaching and Learning in Medicine. Nearly 40 percent of adults and nearly 20 percent of children and adolescents are obese in the U.S. Of the few exam items related to obesity, the majority pertained to assessment and management of obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes and obstructive sleep disorder rather than addressing the diagnosis and management of obesity itself. In addition, the study found the most important concepts of obesity prevention and treatment -- ranging from current basic science to assessment to clinical management -- were poorly represented. To conduct the study, the authors reviewed the obesity-related content of the three United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) that must be taken by all medical students and first-year residents. A panel of six obesity medicine specialists reviewed more than 800 test items that were pre-selected by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NMBE) staff. They used a content outline to categorize each item according to its content and relevance to obesity. (This was only the third time that the USMLE allowed an external panel to review the exam for specific test content.) At the request of the NBME, the panel identified multiple important obesity-related topics that were insufficiently addressed or entirely absent from the examinations. The panel also recommended obesity experts be appointed to development committees to begin the process of adding relevant obesity-related items to the examination. A new Norwegian study shows new mechanisms behind Parkinson's disease, which can be key mechanisms for future treatment. More than 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson's disease. The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown and thus no effective treatments exist. A study from the University of Bergen (UiB) suggests that the secret of the disease may lie in the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. "We hope that our findings may be the key to a future treatment. There is generally very little knowledge about the mechanisms causing Parkinson's disease. Now, we are a step closer to understanding these mechanisms and we may have a target to strike at for therapy" says neurologist Dr Charalampos Tzoulis who directed the study at UiB's Department of Clinical Medicine and Haukeland University Hospital. The results were recently published in Nature Communications. Aging of the brain The problem, it seems, is that the microscopic powerhouses found in our brain cells are not able to adapt to the effects of aging in people who get Parkinson's disease. Mitochondria contain their own DNA, which tell them how to build their power generators. advertisement "It is known that the DNA of mitochondria is damaged during aging, causing failure in the power generators, lack of energy and disease," says Tzoulis. Comparing brain cells In their study, Tzoulis' team compared brain cells from healthy aged persons to those of individuals with Parkinson's disease. The researchers discovered that brain cells of healthy persons are able to compensate for the age-induced damage by producing more DNA in their mitochondria. This protective mechanism is weakened in individuals with Parkinson's disease leading to a loss of the mitochondria's healthy DNA population. "I believe we have discovered an essential biological mechanism that normally preserves and protects the brain from aging related damage. Intriguingly, this mechanism appears to fail in persons with Parkinson's disease rendering their brain more vulnerable to the effects of aging" Tzoulis explains. advertisement Facts: Parkinson's disease * Chronic disease that attacks the nervous system. * Prevalence of the disease increase with age. Usually diagnosed from the age of 55. * Hits around 100 per 100,000 persons. * Symptoms often start with trembling or stiffness and slow movements in arms or legs. Using visualization technology developed at Linkoping University under the auspices of Visualization Center C, visitors to the British Museum can reveal the murder of the mummified Geberlein Man, 5,500 years ago. This world-leading technology has been described in a journal of computer science, Communications of the ACM. Anders Ynnerman, professor of scientific visualization at Linkoping University and director of Visualization Center C, together with colleagues from Linkoping University, Interspectral AB, the Interactive Institute Swedish ICT, and the British Museum, describes in the article the technology behind the visualization. The Geberlein Man, who was mummified by natural processes, and the collaboration with the British Museum constitute the framework for the article, which focusses on the development of the technology used in the visualization table, which has received a great deal of attention. "It was challenging to obtain sufficiently high performance of the visualization such that visitors can interact with the table in real-time, without experiencing delays. Further, the interaction must be both intuitive and informative," says Anders Ynnerman. Several thousand images of the mummy taken by computer tomography (CT) are stored in the table. In this case, 10,000 virtual slices through the complete mummy have been imaged, each one as thin as 0.3 mm. Rapid graphics processors can then create volumetric images, 3D images, in real-time to display what the visitors want to look at. The degree of reflection and absorption of the X-rays by the mummy is recorded by the CT scanner and converted with the aid of a specially developed transfer function to different colours and degrees of transparency. Bone, for example, gives a signal that is converted to a light grey colour while soft tissue and metal objects give completely different signals that are represented by other colours or structures "The table displays 60 images per second, which our brain interprets as continuous motion. Sixty times each second, virtual beams, one for each pixel on the screen, are projected through the dataset and a colour contribution for each is determined. We use the latest type of graphics processor, the type that is used in gaming computers," says Patric Ljung, senior lecturer in immersive visualization at Linkoping University. This makes it possible for visitors to interact with the table. The desiccated skin of the mummy can be peeled away in the image and only the parts that consist of bone displayed. When this is done, it becomes clear that the Gebelein Man was killed by a stab through the shoulder. The principles that have determined the design of the table are also described in the article. The design arose in close collaboration between the personnel at the museum and Interactive Institute Swedish ICT, working within the framework of Visualization Center C in Norrkoping. The design is minimalist and intuitive. The display table must be rapid, and no delay in the image can be tolerated. It must be able to withstand use by the six million visitors to the museum each year, and much emphasis has been placed on creating brief narrative texts with the aid of information points. Simple and self-explanatory icons have been used, and several favourable viewpoints and parameters have been preprogrammed in order to increase the table's robustness. "Allowing a broader public to visualize scientific phenomena and results makes it possible for them to act as researchers themselves. We allow visitors to investigate the same data that the researchers have used. This creates incredible possibilities for new ways to communicate knowledge, to stimulate interest, and to engage others. It's an awesome experience -- watching the next generation of young researchers be inspired by our technology," says Anders Ynnerman. One mystery has been whether the jets exist only in the planet's upper atmosphere -- much like Earth's own jet streams -- or whether they plunge into Jupiter's gaseous interior. If the latter is true, it could reveal clues about the planet's interior structure and internal dynamics. Now, UCLA geophysicist Jonathan Aurnou and collaborators in Marseille, France, have simulated Jupiter's jets in the laboratory for the first time. Their work demonstrates that the winds likely extend thousands of miles below Jupiter's visible atmosphere. This research is published online in Nature Physics. "We can make these features in a computer, but we couldn't make them happen in a lab," said Aurnou, a UCLA professor of earth, planetary and space sciences, who has spent the past decade studying computer models of swirling winds. "If we have a theoretical understanding of a system, we should be able to create an analog model." The challenge to re-creating swirling winds in the lab was building a model of a planet with three key attributes believed to be necessary for jets to form: rapid rotation, turbulence and a "curvature effect" that mimics the spherical shape of a planet. Previous attempts to create jets in a lab often failed because researchers couldn't spin their models fast enough or create enough turbulence, Aurnou said. The breakthrough for Aurnou's team was a new piece of laboratory equipment. The researchers used a table built on air bearings that can spin at 120 revolutions per minute and support a load of up to 1,000 kilograms (about 2,200 pounds), meaning that it could spin a large tank of fluid at high speed in a way that mimics Jupiter's rapid rotation. advertisement The scientists filled an industrial-sized garbage with 400 liters (about 105 gallons) of water and placed it on the table. When the container spun, water was thrown against its sides, forming a parabola that approximated the curved surface of Jupiter. "The faster it went, the better we mimicked the massively strong effects of rotation and curvature that exists on planets," Aurnou said. But the team found that 75 revolutions per minute was a practical limit: fast enough to force the liquid into a strongly curved shape but slow enough to keep water from spilling out. While the can was spinning, scientists used a pump below its false floor to circulate water through a series of inlet and outlet holes, which created turbulence -- one of the three critical conditions for the experiment. That turbulent energy was channeled into making jets, and within minutes the water flow had changed to six concentric flows moving in alternating directions. "This is the first time that anyone has demonstrated that strong jets that look like those on Jupiter can develop in a real fluid," Aurnou said. The researchers inferred that the jets were deep because they could see them on the surface of the water, even though they had injected turbulence at the bottom. The researchers are looking forward to testing their predictions with real data from Jupiter, and they won't have to wait long: NASA's Juno space probe is orbiting Jupiter right now, collecting data about its atmosphere, magnetic field and interior. Initial results from the Juno mission were presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in December in San Francisco, and Aurnou was there. "The Juno data from the very first flyby of Jupiter showed that structures of ammonia gas extended over 60 miles into Jupiter's interior, which was a big shock to the Juno science team," Aurnou said. "UCLA researchers will be playing an important role in explaining the data." This year, Aurnou and his team will use supercomputers at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois, to simulate the dynamics of Jupiter's interior and atmosphere. They'll also continue their work at the laboratory in Marseilles to make the spinning table simulation more complex and more realistic. One goal is to add a thin, stable layer of fluid on top of the spinning water, which would function like the thin outer layer of Jupiter's atmosphere that's responsible for the planet's weather. The researchers believe this will help them simulate features like Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot. A population study establishes that orphanages are important for Rwanda's orphans mainly because of lower stigma and marginalization they faced from the community. Children in orphanages are emotionally healthier, suffer less from mental distress and are less prone to high-risk behaviour than orphans living under other circumstances. A doctoral dissertation completed for the University of Helsinki evaluates the psychosocial wellness of Rwandan orphans by focusing on their living circumstances and the quality of the care they receive. The results show that the children's living environmentquality of care had a profound impact. For example, orphans who had three meals a day and access to schooling expressed a higher level of emotional wellbeing and lower levels of distress. The study was based on a survey conducted on more than 400 Rwandan orphans, and included children from four types of living circumstances: child-headed households, orphanages, children living on the street and those placed in foster families. Rwanda has had the worst orphan crisis in recent history due to the 1994 genocide and the AIDS epidemic. When doctoral student Tehetna Caserta began work on her dissertation research, Rwanda had nearly one million orphans, which is more than ten per cent of the population. Interaction between orphans and their community is key According to Caserta, the most important result was that the variation in psychosocial wellbeing due to living circumstances was significantly reduced when stigma, marginalisation and social support were considered. "The interaction between the orphans and the surrounding community is a key factor for the emotional and mental health of the children. Understanding this complex reality could lead to completely new insights into how the psychosocial wellbeing of the orphans could be improved," says Caserta. advertisement The satisfaction the orphans felt regarding their living environment varied greatly. This indicates that the participating orphans seek protection, safety and love by expressed their dissatisfaction by transferring from one living environment to another, and that they never feel fully content or loved as they searched for protection, stability, safety and love. Living environment strongly linked to stigma The psychological vulnerability of the orphans, such as their experiences of stigma, was compared with their living environment, status and the cause of death of their parents. In addition, these factors were studied in terms of their impact on emotional wellbeing and mental distress. The results show that only the living environment is strongly connected to the children's experience of stigma. High levels of stigma were linked to low emotional wellbeing and high levels of mental distress. "The results indicate that stigma and marginalisation account for more than 50% of the variation in the psychosocial wellbeing among Rwandan orphans," says Caserta. The study also showed that AIDS orphans experienced higher levels of distress than children orphaned by genocide or due to another reason in terms ofeven after considering the effects of stigma, marginalisation and lack of social support. advertisement Social support connected to mental wellbeing The dissertation examines the relative significance of social support for the orphans' ability to withstand the stress resulting from losing their parents and the effects on their emotional wellbeing and mental distress. Experiencing high levels of social support was linked to higher emotional wellbeing and lower levels of mental distress. "Support from adults is the only form of support which significantly reduced the children's experiences of distress." Help doesn't require money The mental health of orphans is dependent not only on concrete factors, such as a lack of food, clothing or shelter. Neglect, stigma and abuse from their communities also caused great suffering for the children. "The results may sound shocking, but they prove that society can alleviate the suffering of Rwanda's orphans without attending very much to their material provision spending any money. Any compassion, approval or signs of good will could help thousands of orphans heal from their trauma," says Caserta. The researcher believes stigma, abuse and marginalisation of orphans should not be tolerated and be made illegal. "Approval, inclusion, displays of affection and a little encouragement cost the community nothing, but can help these orphans survive their tragic circumstances." See more at: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-51-2578-1 Like a bank robber on the lam, Gpr182 had assumed a variety of identities over several decades: G10D, HrhAMR, Gamrh, 7TMR, ADMR. Unable to put a finger on what exactly the gene does, scientists largely left it alone. The protein it codes for was designated an "orphan" receptor -- a lock on the surface of cells without a known key. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, it seems scientists have caught up with Gpr182 at last. Although the key that unlocks the Gpr182 receptor remains unknown, the study reveals a great deal about what's behind the door. The findings suggest that if we can find a way to jimmy the lock, Gpr182 could prove a promising avenue for fighting cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. "What makes this so exciting is that it's completely new," said Kathleen Caron, PhD, professor and chair of the department of cell biology and physiology in the UNC School of Medicine, who oversaw the research. "There was absolutely nothing known about this protein. I think these findings will be picked up on quickly, and I imagine it's going to fuel a lot of research on this receptor now." The results are particularly tantalizing from a pharmaceutical perspective because they shed light on a new G-protein coupled receptor, a class of cell-membrane proteins well suited for drug development. About 40 percent of approved drugs target G-protein coupled receptors. The discovery of this new receptor could prove a promising lead for better understanding gastrointestinal biology and improving treatments for diseases such as colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The study also shows that science is as much about asking questions as finding answers. advertisement A fresh look at an old mystery Caron's lab studies the cellular functions involved in cardiovascular health. What piqued her interest in Gpr182 was the common conception -- a misconception, it turns out -- that it is a receptor for the hormone adrenomedullin, which is thought to be instrumental in cardiovascular function. Scientists had put forth this notion after they conducted a few rat studies, but it had never been definitively confirmed. "Of all the names it had over the years, the name that stuck was adrenomedullin receptor, or ADMR," said Caron, senior author of the paper and member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "It sort of hung that way in the databases for a while, even as science moved forward and scientists found another receptor that is considered to be the real adrenomedullin receptor. A few labs looked at this protein and sort of scratched their heads, because it wasn't really doing what an adrenomedullin receptor should be doing. And then everyone sort of dropped it for a good dozen years." In the scientific literature, Gpr182 was a virtual nobody. Even now, a search of the PubMed database yields just two papers involving the gene. Given recent advances in scientific tools, Caron decided to attempt to finally pin down the fugitive gene. Her team combined a commercially-available mouse model and a special "reporter" molecule to tag expression of Gpr182 in mice of different stages of development. The result was a precise map of where, and when, the Gpr182 receptor appears. advertisement Tales from the (intestinal) crypt The mapping experiment showed Gpr182 on cell surfaces in a handful of organs, including the kidney, lung and heart -- but also, notably, in stem cells within the tube-like depressions that line the intestine, known as the intestinal crypt. For a lab focused on the cardiovascular system, an intriguing lead in intestinal stem cells was somewhat off-target. But to Daniel Kechele, PhD, then a graduate student in Caron's lab, it looked like paydirt. "In my undergraduate experience I had been in a gastrointestinal lab, and seeing that position within the intestinal crypt really sparked my interest," recalled Kechele, who is now a postdoctoral fellow at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. "My gastrointestinal background and the strong intestinal stem cell group at UNC made it possible to follow that lead and see where it would take us." The stem cells of the intestinal crypt have been the focus of intense research because they represent an extreme version of the delicate balancing act between health and cancer. As food passes through the gastrointestinal tract, the cells lining the gut are constantly being sloughed off. To replenish them, the intestinal crypt stem cells must churn out, in humans, the equivalent of more than 100 square feet of cells to completely replace the gut lining about every seven days. But this rapid proliferation is risky business. Too little, and a weak intestinal lining invites infection. Too much, and tumors form. Understanding the levers that intestinal stem cells use to regulate cell proliferation could shed light on cancer formation and lead to new treatments. Kechele wondered: Could Gpr182 be one of those levers? Putting the brakes on proliferation To find out, the team needed help. Fortunately, experts in stem cells, gastroenterology and cancer were right on UNC's campus -- and eager to lend a hand. The researchers recruited an interdisciplinary team at UNC that included Scott Magness, PhD, Charles Perou, PhD, and Kay Lund, PhD, among others. Particularly serendipitous was the fact that Scott Magness's lab had, in recent years, pioneered the development of an experimental tool the team would need to trace the gene's activity in intestinal stem cells. "This tool opened up a whole new world," Magness said. "All of a sudden we can use it to figure out how various genes of interest, like Gpr182, are expressed in both active and reserve stem cells, and how the gene might be functioning." In their experiments with Magness's group, the researchers found that when Gpr182 was suppressed, cellular proliferation tended to increase, suggesting Gpr182 functions as a "brake" to keep proliferation in check. A mutation that suppresses Gpr182 could lead cells to proliferate a bit more freely, perhaps pointing to a link with cancer. "We don't necessarily think this gene is itself a driver of cancer, but it's possible that mutations in the gene could play a role in the severity of the cancer," said Kechele. On the flip side, suppressing Gpr182 could be beneficial in some situations. For example, when the researchers wiped out a mouse's active intestinal stem cell population with radiation (mimicking what happens during chemotherapy or radiation treatment), suppressing Gpr182 unleashed a marked increase in proliferation from the reserve stem cell population. "That suggests this gene could be a target for therapy to speed up the regeneration of the gut lining after cancer treatment," said Magness. "By decreasing the expression of the Gpr182 protein, you might be able to induce the stem cells to respond more robustly in the regenerative phase, thus allowing doctors to use a higher or more effective therapeutic dosage without harming the normal functioning of the gut." A promising drug target To complement their studies in mice, the team also probed the links between Gpr182 and cancer in people. They found that expression of Gpr182 was significantly lower in the colons of patients with colorectal cancer compared with healthy colon tissue. Further analysis showed reduced Gpr182 expression in breast, lung and several other types of cancer, as well. Together, the study findings suggest that manipulating Gpr182 expression or activation could offer a new avenue for cancer treatment, particularly for cancers or treatments that affect the gastrointestinal tract. One pharmaceutical company, Omeros, already purports to have developed a small molecule that interacts with Gpr182, a lead that could help speed drug development. For Caron, the findings represent both an enticing new opportunity for biomedicine and a case study in the nature of science. "I think it shows how passion and grit can really drive science in new and unexpected ways," said Caron. "It takes perseverance to keep asking questions and exploring things. If we had kept on assuming this was an adrenomedullin receptor, we would be missing the mark -- and might have missed this exciting breakthrough." Dwarf galaxies, nuggets of stars and gas 100 to 1,000 times smaller than the Milky Way, are thought to be the building blocks of massive galaxies. Evidence for groups of merging dwarf galaxies, however, has been lacking, until now. Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and various optical telescopes, a team of astronomers has discovered seven distinct groups of dwarf galaxies with just the right starting conditions to eventually merge and form larger galaxies, including spiral galaxies like the Milky Way. This discovery offers compelling evidence that the mature galaxies we see in the universe today were formed when smaller galaxies merged many billions of years ago. "We know that to make a large galaxy, the universe has to bring together many smaller galaxies," said Sabrina Stierwalt an astronomer with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and University of Virginia in Charlottesville. "For the first time, we have found examples of the first steps in this process -- entire populations of dwarf galaxies that are all bound together in the same general neighborhoods." Stierwalt and her team began their search by poring over SDSS data looking for pairs of interacting dwarf galaxies. The astronomers then examined the images to find specific pairs that appeared to be part of even larger assemblages of similar galaxies. The researchers then used the Magellan telescope in Chile, the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, and the Gemini telescope in Hawaii to confirm that the apparent clusters are not just on the same line of sight but are also approximately the same distance from Earth, indicating they are gravitationally bound together. This discovery of long-sought groups of tiny galaxies is reported online in the journal Nature Astronomy. "We hope this discovery will enable future studies of groups of dwarf galaxies and offer insights into the formation of galaxies like the Milky Way," concluded Stierwalt. Non-indigenous species (NIS) are harming indigenous species and habitats in the Mediterranean Sea, impairing potentially exploitable marine resources and raising concern about human health issues, according to a new Tel Aviv University study. The 2015 expansion of the Suez Canal, one of the world's most important corridors of commerce, facilitated an influx of non-indigenous species into the Mediterranean Sea, according to Prof. Bella Galil of the Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies at TAU's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, the lead author of a study published last month in Management of Biological Invasions. "The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded marine basin in the world," says Prof. Galil. "The number of NIS greatly increased between 1970 and 2015. 750 multicellular non-indigenous species were recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, far more than in other European seas, because of the ever-increasing number of Red Sea species introduced through the Suez Canal. This raises concerns about the increasing introductions of additional NIS and associated degradation and loss of native populations, habitats and ecosystem services." A slow reaction The development and implementation of a management policy have been slow, despite a century of scientific documentation of marine bioinvasions in the Mediterranean Sea. The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Seas Programme, adopted an "Action Plan concerning species introductions and invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea" in 2003. But the UNEP has "shied away from discussing, let alone managing, the influx of tropical non-indigenous biota introduced through the Suez Canal. So far no prevention and management measures have been implemented," according to Prof. Galil and her associates. In their new study, the authors present data that marine-protected areas in the eastern Mediterranean, from Turkey to Libya, have been overwhelmed by non-indigenous species and serve as veritable "hot spots" of bioinvasion. Biotic communities are already fragile, suffering from humanmade stressors such as pollution and overfishing. The colonization of these communities by NIS redistributes nutritional resources, removes important actors and renders them more susceptible to extinction. Eastern Mediterranean algae-dominated rocky habitats have been decimated by large populations of herbivorous fish introduced through the Suez Canal. The two voracious grazers, Siganus luridus and S. rivulatus, have transformed lush rocky reefs into "barrens," dramatically reducing habitat complexity and altering the community structure and food web. Within 30 years, a small Red Sea mussel has replaced the native mytilid along the entire Mediterranean coast of Israel, forming dense nearly mono-specific species "carpets." A hope for effective intervention The authors of the study led a discussion on effective management of non-indigenous species introductions into the Mediterranean Sea at a EuroMarine workshop that took place in Ischia, Italy, in 2016. The discussion resulted in the "Ischia Declaration" that laid down principles for an effective, science-based, transboundary management. The declaration was approved by the general assembly of EuroMarine, a network of 73 research institutions and universities, funded by the European Union. "We hope that this new research will be used to construct a science-based effective management of marine bioinvasions, and prevent, or at least minimize, the influx of additional non-indigenous species into the Mediterranean," says Prof. Galil. "Time will tell whether these aims are achieved or legislators and management continue to put off confronting this difficult issue and pass the environmental, economic and social burden to future generations." The researchers are currently investigating pollution and other NIS-related factors. Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today said a bill to replace the ordinance would be "placed" by the state government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly "immediately." By Press Trust of India: Observing that a "mass movement" and "spontaneous outpouring of emotion" paved the way for lifting of the ban on jallikattu, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today said a bill to replace the ordinance would be "placed" by the state government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly "immediately." "The unprecedented and spontaneous outpouring of emotion and sentiment in a completely orderly and peaceful manner by lakhs of youth, supported by common people across the state, has received the solidarity of Tamil people across the globe to conduct jallikatu and preserve Tamil cultural heritage," he said, even as the opposition DMK staged a walkout. advertisement In his maiden address to the Assembly in its first session this calendar year, Rao said, "This mass movement has paved the way for lifting the ban on jallikattu." ALSO READ | Jallikattu: Violence in Chennai after police clash with protesters, many injured The state government, after receiving Centre's assurance on its support for efforts to conduct the sport, had followed the constitutional route and issued an ordinance amending the relevant provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, he said. He expressed happiness over the sport being held yesterday in the state. Jallikattu held in several parts of Tamil Nadu The traditional sport, which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014, was organised in several parts of the state yesterday, following promulgation of the ordinance on Saturday for conducting the bull taming sport. "As a permanent measure to allow the conduct of jallikattu, a bill to replace the ordinance will be placed before this august House immediately," the governor said, as the DMK staged a walkout. Soon after Rao started his address, DMK members led by their leader MK Stalin rose and sought to raise some issue. With the Governor continuing to read out his address, they soon staged a walkout. The assembly is meeting for the first time after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death on December 5, 2016. --- ENDS --- The Pirate Bay is one of the most reliable torrent sites used by millions of users. It goes down, again and again. We cannot wait for it to come back every time. Therefore we need the best pirate bay alternatives for downloading torrents. This popular torrent site uses p2p file sharing technology and offers impressive download speeds and has an easy-to-navigate UI. In detail, lets see what these Pirate bay torrent alternatives have to provide us in terms of the user interface, features, and torrent downloads. Disclaimer: Please note that this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as it is illegal and prohibited in many countries. Techworm shall not be responsible for any consequences. The Pirate Bay Alternatives 2022: Below are the best pirate bay alternatives that you can use when TPB is down Overview Best Features Simple and clean UI; Dedicated section for different categories of torrents Types of Content anime, movies, music, TV shows, games, software Availability Targeted by individual ISPs. Mirror URL Link 1 KickassTorrents used to be a front-runner in the race of being the best torrent download website for The Pirate Bay fans. However, it was taken over by The pirate bay torrents in the last few years. Then Kat pipped TPB as the latter went through legal troubles. Today Kickass torrents are a leading pirates bay alternative that provides good quality torrents. The original KickassTorrents was shut down and its owner Artem Vaulin was arrested in Poland in 2016. The sites original team revived the website at a new web address katcr.co Overview Best Features Over a million torrents, IMDb ratings in search results Types of Content Ebooks, movies, music, TV shows, games, software Availability Targeted by individual ISPs. Mirror URL Link 1 Founded in 2008, RARBG is a pirate bay-like torrent website that provides torrent files and magnet links to enable peer-to-peer file sharing using the BitTorrent protocol. It also has one of the best-looking user interfaces, and most movies and TV shows come with thumbnails and preview that makes the site really easy to navigate. In recent months the torrent site gained so much popularity that it got blocked in the UK. Overview Best Features Availability of movies in high-def 720p, 1080p, and even 3D. Types of Content movies Availability banned in Ireland Mirror URL Link 1 YTS.mx is not the original YTS or YIFY website but a good clone. After the original YIFY/YTS demise, this website took its place, and since it has gained lots of popularity with its unique style website look. This torrent website holds HD movies and other stuff for free downloads. and if the pirate bay is down for you it might be the best alternative torrent site. Overview Best Features Simple and clean UI; Dedicated sections for different types of content Types of Content anime, movies, music, TV shows, games, software Availability Banned in Australia, Austria, Ireland, United Kingdom. Mirror URL Link 1 Fourth on our list is one of the best alternatives for the pirate bay torrent. Launched in 2007, 1337X has a dedicated group of users and contributors that keep this torrent site updated. It has index large torrent databsaes from sites like torrentz, torrentdb, amongst others. The quality offered here makes it one the most reliable pirate bay alternatives to have. Also Read 1337x Proxy Sites List Overview Best Features clean and well-developed UI; content on the website is very well segregated into different sections Types of Content photos, books, games, adult content, audio, video Availability blocked in certain countries and regions. Mirror URL Link 1 Torrentz2 is a substitute for the original Torrentz.eu site. The meta-search engine is open about the fact that its not related to the real Torrentz and places itself as a new and improved version, searching over 60 other torrent sites. While this torrent website is not very similar to the pirate bay torrent but it surely will help you with the purpose of torrent download. Overview Best Features Torlock only lists verified torrents Types of Content movies, TV shows, anime, software Availability blocked in Australia, India, United Kingdom Mirror URL Link 1 Torlock is one of the best pirate bay torrent alternatives to download free movies. This torrent site has a motto to provide all genuine torrents and challenges users to find fake torrents for which they will be rewarded $1 every time. It also has one of the best listings of fresh popular torrents, movies, music, tv, and game torrents. Overview Best Features One-click torrents downloads; LimeTorrents displays the size and the upload time of every torrent. Types of Content movies, games, software, ebooks Availability Banned in Australia, France, United Kingdom. Mirror URL Link 1 LimeTorrents has grown in popularity and has managed to gather a huge fan following after the departure of big bosses of torrenting sites like Kickass Torrents, Extratorrents, and Torrentz. LimeTorrent has a huge library of online content, which includes verified torrents downloads like movies, games, music, anime, TV shows, software absolutely for free which makes it one of the best torrent sites of 2020. Overview Best Features No popups and advertisements Types of Content movies, TV shows, games Availability Blocked in Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom. Mirror/ Proxy URL Link 1 Average Download Speed 110.4 Mbps EZTV was a TV-torrent distribution group founded in May 2005 and dissolved in April 2015, after a hostile takeover of their domains and brand by EZCLOUD LIMITED. This popular torrent site continues to operate under new ownership (EZTV.io) and releases its own torrents now. EZTV has been blocked in many countries. However, it has managed to hold to the list of best TPB alternatives. Apart form movies, and TV shows, the site houses a large library of console games. ALSO READ: Best EZTV Proxy and mirror sites Overview Best Feature Simple and well-developed UI Types of Content Movies, TV shows, games, music, software Availability Blocked in many countries like Saudi Arabia, India, Portugal, Denmark, United Kingdom, and Morroco. Mirror/ Proxy URL Link 1 Average Download Speed 26.7 Mbps Next on the list is Torrent 9. Torrent9 is one of a few reliable torrent sites that offer verified torrents and its a perfect alternative to pirate bay. Well, if you enjoy downloading movies and TV shows then Torrent9 will definitely impress you. The UI of the website is visually impressive and content is organized into different sections like movies, TV shows, games, music, software, etc. One downside here is the annoying ads that open in a new tab. Every action on the site opens up an ad, and then you have to click/tap again to perform a specific action. ALSO READ: Best Torrent9 Alternatives Overview Best Feature Sophisticated filtering options, Tor proxy address for access Types of Content Movies, TV shows, games, Anime, books music, software Availability Blocked in several countries Mirror/ Proxy URL Link 1 Average Download Speed 42 Mbps This alternative to Pirate Bay is rather underrated and not famous like those mentioned above. Search for your favorite movie, TV by its name or the IMDb ID. This comes in handy when there is a name similaritydownload torrents directly from the search results by clicking on the torrent file or the magnet links button. The majority of the torrents are verified by trusted contributors here. All the in-demand torrents offer good download speed. TorrentGalaxy hits a home run by not only helping to download movies but offering a way to stream them online. Head to the Now Streaming section and stream the movies online, which are trending these days. Overview Best Feature Sophisticated filtering options, Tor proxy address for access Types of Content Movies, TV shows, comics, games, Anime, books music, software Availability Blocked in several countries Mirror/ Proxy URL Link 1 Average Download Speed 63.8 Mbps The demise of the founder led to the sites departure. A couple of months later, it was brought back from the dead by its former staff. The original pirate bay alternative used to be a private site, requiring an invite. Thats not the case anymore, as anyone can access the torrents library now. Searching for torrents still requires an account here. We only see the trending ones for each section on the home page. Therefore, you will need to rely on Google search operators to find torrents here. For instance, when you want to search for an IBM presentation, you will head to Google and type site: Demonoid.is IBM presentation. It will display relevant results from the torrent site. Do note that the site domain may vary, as it might get replaced by another one. This Pirate bay alternative is soon going the Torrdroid way by switching to a smartphone app-only model. You can register there without any restrictions and download the latest torrents for free. Overview Best Feature Filter for hiding Anime remakes Types of Content Anime and Manga Availability Blocked in several countries Mirror/ Proxy URL Link 1 Average Download Speed 112 Mbps Moving to the pirate bay alternative for Anime and manga. You cannot go wrong with AnimeTosho, which houses over half a million anime torrents in its library. You will not find anything fancy in AnimeToshos interface, which is its strength. Keeping it basic helps load the torrent website on a different device without any hiccup. Having a torrent client is not mandatory either. The site offers direct download links from different sources, which makes it easy to download animes on various websites. Download torrents directly from the search results with various options such as a torrent file, magnet links, ZippyShare, ClickNUpload, GZ format files, and more. The search is standard sans any filters. You can use the Sphinx search operators to get more accurate results. Overview Best Feature High quality music torrents, exclusive verified torrents section Types of Content Music, Anime, Games, and Applications Availability Blocked in few regions Mirror/ Proxy URL Link 1 Average Download Speed 172 Mbps Downloading high-quality music on the Internet is better said than done. Most of the files are have a bit-rate in the lower average of 128 Kbps. Housing a library of a million and a half, you will not only find music but other kinds of torrents as well. TorrentFunk has a verified torrent section housing only the vetted content by VeriPlus. The homepage has a search bar at the top that does not honor typos and misspellings. Once you search for a term, the advanced search dialog will appear. It has a category, verified torrents, size, and ascending-descending filter. All the torrents can be downloaded using the torrent file here. There are no magnet links available. Make sure to click on the black download button in the middle, as the rest are ads. Overview Best Feature Verified torrent status, dark theme, and intuitive user-interface Types of Content TV Shows, Music, Anime, Movies, Games, and Applications Availability Blocked in few regions Mirror/ Proxy URL Link 1 Average Download Speed 178Mbps YourBittorent is an unknown name in torrent space. There are no shenanigans here, and torrenting cannot get any easier than this. The stripped-down website focuses solely on providing you with the latest torrents. Search for them using the search bar using category and verified filters. Minor mistypes do return relevant results. YourBitorrent offers a considerable number of verified torrents. Each of them contains a green tick next to their name. The verified ones are uploaded by trusted contributors. Just like TorrentFunk, all the torrents can be downloaded using a torrent file, as magnet links are not an option here. The only downside here is the infinite number of popups that open in another browser window for every second action you perform on the website. Is The Pirate Bay down or blocked for you? Finding a torrent site that stays online and doesnt get blocked by legal authorities is becoming tougher day by day so is it for thepiratebay torrent. The Pirate Bay keeps facing worldwide outages with a familiar Cloudflare Error 522 message, or due to blockage by ISPs. For eg; TPB is blocked by isps in India, UK, US, Canada, Australia, and several other countries. To avoid blockade the pirate bay has been switching domains in the past. A few years back it switched from thepiratebay.se to thepiratebay.org Most of the time its just that the normal web version of the pirate bay is unreachable with the tor version running well all the time. While at the time when it shows the Cloudflare error 522 The Pirate Bay actually remains down. There are several other reasons for which tpb might not be working for you, including ISP Level blockage following any court order from your government. This leaves you with two possibilities: The Pirate Bay is not accessible only for you, your ISP, or your country. -This can be sorted by using a VPN which will help bypass the restrictions set by your ISP. Tpb is actually down. As mentioned above, most of the time tor version of The Pirate Bay remains accessible while the main site is down or you can just try one of the torrent sites similar to the pirate bay, mentioned below. These are not the only reasons which make the pirate bay torrent users look for its alternatives. But in the past pirate bay has also been caught mining cryptocurrency( which increases the CPU load of your computer). While in the beginning the popular torrent site did not inform the users about its mining plans and did so without any notice. But later on, it decided to notify the users by adding a notice as follows: By entering TPB you agree to XMR being mined using your CPU. If you dont agree please leave now or install an adBlocker It is advised to the readers to use any good VPN to access any torrent website like pirate bay torrents, as ISPs keep tracking visitors and can share the browsing data of users to law enforcement agencies if asked to do so. Also Read: The torrent download requires torrent downloader clients. You can use clients like BitTorrent or Utorrent to download torrent files from TPB or any other torrent site. A Quick History Of The Pirate Bay The Pirate Bay (TPB) was founded in 2013 by Gottfrid Svartholm, Fredrik Neij, and Peter Sunde. Its been more than 15 years of service now. TPB holds the rank of the best torrent site in the world. Like any other torrent site, the pirate bay torrents also had difficulty facing legal issues in the past. the site has also suffered raids on its server in 2016 and 2013. Pirate Bay also had to switch several domains to stay alive. But nothing has stopped the site to come back again. However, due to legal pressure and DDoS attacks, TPB has been facing regular downtimes in the recent past. Is Torrenting Legal? While torrenting is completely legal. Downloading copyrighted material is not. So if you are downloading any torrent from TPB which is not open source or freeware it might be illegal. CONCLUSION So these were some of the best pirate bay alternatives if the site is blocked or down. You can use them to download free movies. Do share your personal recommendations for other good torrenting websites which you use to download free movies, music, videos, or games in the comments below. SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank that provides various financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Wholesale. The Consumer segment provides deposits and payments; home equity and personal credit lines; auto, student, and other lending products; credit cards; discount/online and full-service brokerage products; professional investment advisory products and services; and trust services, as well as family office solutions. This segment also offers residential mortgage products in the secondary market. The Wholesale segment provides capital markets solutions, including advisory, capital raising, and financial risk management; asset-based financing solutions, such as securitizations, asset-based lending, equipment financing, and structured real estate arrangements; cash management services and auto dealer financing solutions; investment banking solutions; and credit and deposit, fee-based product offering, multi-family agency lending, advisory, commercial mortgage brokerage, and tailored financing and equity investment solutions. This segment also offers treasury and payment solutions, such as operating various electronic and paper payment types, which comprise card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, check, and cash; and provides services clients to manage their accounts online. The company offers its products and services through a network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, mobile, and telephone banking channels. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 1,218 full-service banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. AmerisourceBergen Corporation sources and distributes pharmaceutical products in the United States and internationally. Its Pharmaceutical Distribution segment distributes brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to various healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. It also provides pharmacy management, staffing, and other consulting services; supply management software to retail and institutional healthcare providers; and packaging solutions to various institutional and retail healthcare providers. In addition, this segment distributes plasma and other blood products, injectable pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other specialty products; provides other services primarily to physicians who specialize in various disease states, primarily oncology, as well as to other healthcare providers, including hospitals and dialysis clinics; and offers data analytics, outcomes research, and additional services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company's Other segment provides integrated manufacturer services, such as clinical trial support, product post-approval, and commercialization support; specialty transportation and logistics services for the biopharmaceutical industry; and sells pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, and various other products to customers in the companion animal and production animal markets, as well as demand-creating sales force services to manufacturers. AmerisourceBergen Corporation was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Cyber & Intelligence, Platforms & Services (US), Air, and Maritime. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance systems, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems. The Cyber & Intelligence segment provides solutions to modernize, maintain, and test cyber-harden aircraft, radars, missile systems, and mission applications that detect and deter threats to national security; systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services for critical weapons systems, C5ISR, and cyber security; and solutions and services to intelligence and federal/civilian agencies. It also offers data intelligence solutions to defend against national-scale threats, protect their networks, and data against attacks; security and intelligence solutions to the United Kingdom government and allied international governments; anti-fraud and regulatory compliance solutions; and enterprise-level data and digital services. The Platforms & Services (US) segment manufactures combat vehicles, weapons, and munitions, as well as provides ship repair services and the management of government-owned munitions facilities. The Air segment develops, manufactures, upgrades, and supports combat and jet trainer aircraft. The Maritime segment designs, manufactures, and supports surface ships, submarines, torpedoes, radars, and command and combat systems; and supplies naval gun systems. It also supplies naval weapon systems, missile launchers, and precision munitions. The company was founded in 1970 and is based in Farnborough, the United Kingdom. Gildan Activewear Inc. manufactures and sells various apparel products in the United States, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. It provides various activewear products, including T-shirts, fleece tops and bottoms, and sports shirts under the Gildan, Gildan Performance, Gildan Hammer, Comfort Colors, American Apparel, Alstyle, and GoldToe brands. The company also offers hosiery products comprising athletic; dress; and casual, liner, therapeutic, and workwear socks, as well as sheer pantyhose, tights, and leggings under the Gildan, Under Armour, GoldToe, PowerSox, Signature Gold by Goldtoe, Peds, MediPeds, Therapy Plus, All Pro, Secret, Silks, Secret Silky, and American Apparel brands. In addition, it provides men's and boys' underwear products, and ladies panties under the Gildan and Gildan Platinum brands; and ladies' shapewear, intimates, and accessories under the Secret and Secret Silky brands. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors, screen printers, and embellishers, as well as to retailers and lifestyle brand companies. The company was formerly known as Textiles Gildan Inc. and changed its name to Gildan Activewear Inc. in March 1995. Gildan Activewear Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. By Press Trust of India: Shimla, Jan 22(PTI) Biting cold wave conditions continued in most parts of Himachal Pradesh with high altitude areas receiving fresh snowfall today, even as the weather department issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rain or snow on January 24 and 25. A fresh Western Disturbance as an upper air cyclonic circulation is seen over north-east Afghanistan and neighborhood and under its influence, an induced upper air cyclonic circulation is likely to affect western Himalayan region from January 23 to January 27, the MeT office said. advertisement It also warned that heavy to very heavy rain/snow is likely to occur over isolated places on January 24 and 25 and scattered heavy snowfall is expected on January 26. The high altitude tribal areas continued to reel under biting cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures staying 15 to 22 degrees below the freezing point. High altitude areas Khadrala and Kalpa recorded 6cm of fresh snow, while Rohru and Nahan recorded 4mm rain, followed by Dharampur 2mm. Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of minus 6.7 degrees and minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Manali and Solan 2.0, Shimla 4.0, Sundernagar 4.8, Bhuntar 5.0, Palampur and Nahan 7.5, Dharamsala 7.8 and Una 8.6 degrees Celsius. All natural sources of water like lakes, springs, rivulets and tributaries of major rivers were frozen, drastically reducing the discharge of water in snow-fed Sutlej, Ravi and Beas rivers, affecting hydropower generation. Maximum temperatures rose by a few notches in several places and Una in Shiwalik foothills adjoining Punjab was the hottest with a high of 23.2 degrees Celsius, while Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded day temperatures at 21.9 and 21.5, followed by Solan 19.5, Nahan 18.3, Shimla 15.6, Dharamsala 15.4, Manali 10.5 and Kalpa 5.4 degrees Celsius. The administration is making preparations to cope with heavy snowfall, and men and machinery are being put in place to immediately start restoration operation to minimise inconvenience to the people. PTI PCL SMN --- ENDS --- Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. The company offers general purpose servers for multi-workload computing and workload-optimized servers; HPE ProLiant rack and tower servers; HPE BladeSystem and HPE Synergy; and solutions for secondary workloads and traditional tape, storage networking, and disk products, such as HPE Modular Storage Arrays and HPE XP. It also offers HPE Apollo and Cray products; and HPE Superdome Flex, HPE Nonstop, HPE Integrity, and HPE Edgeline products. In addition, the company provides HPE Aruba product portfolio that includes wired and wireless local area network hardware products, such as Wi-Fi access points, switches, routers, and sensors; HPE Aruba software and services comprising cloud-based management, network management, network access control, analytics and assurance, and location; and professional and support services, as well as as-a-service and consumption models for the intelligent edge portfolio of products. Further, it offers various leasing, financing, IT consumption, and utility programs and asset management services for customers to facilitate technology deployment models and the acquisition of complete IT solutions, including hardware, software, and services from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and others. Additionally, the company invests in communications and media solutions. It has a partnership with Striim, Inc. to offer high performance and mission-critical solutions with real-time analytics. It serves commercial and large enterprise groups, such as business and public sector enterprises; and through various partners comprising resellers, distribution partners, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors, systems integrators, and advisory firms. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Foxconn Technology Group is considering building a U.S. display-making facility for upwards of $7 billion (U.S.), a major investment for Apple Inc.s main manufacturer that may create tens of thousands of American jobs during President Donald Trumps first year in office. The company is considering a joint investment with Sharp Corp., the Japanese display supplier it bought last year, but details have yet to be hammered out, Foxconn chairperson Terry Gou told reporters in Taipei. Foxconn confirmed the report Monday. An investment by Foxconn, whose main listed unit is Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., would mark a victory for Trump, whos repeatedly blasted China for stealing American jobs and devastating U.S. manufacturing. But Foxconn is one of the single largest private employers in China and the government there has conveyed its concern over the possibility that it will shift investment away from the country. China is pivotal to Foxconns massive electronics assembly operation, which cranks out more iPhones and iPads than any other in the world. Foxconn has said its in preliminary discussions to broaden its investment in the U.S., but did not elaborate. Trump has often articulated his vision of bringing manufacturing jobs back to America from China, which became the worlds factory floor thanks to cheap labour and central policy support. And hes singled out Apple in the past. A potential strategic shift by Foxconn unnerves Chinese authorities because the company employs roughly a million workers across the country. Major factory job cuts have been known to trigger protests in the past, even as maintaining social stability remains among the top priorities of the ruling Communist Party. For now, Foxconns prospective U.S. plans remain preliminary. The envisioned facility could cost more than $7 billion and may create 30,000 to 50,000 jobs, Gou said. It would also bring manufacturing closer to the largest market for iPhones and iPads, a potential boon for Apple, which yields about half Hon Hais revenue. The plant could be a joint investment with Apple, the Nikkei Asian Review reported Monday. Apple didnt respond to a request for comment. The idea took shape after Gou spoke with Masayoshi Son, chief executive of SoftBank Group Corp. and a close business partner. Son, whos announced his own plan to invest $50 billion in the U.S., asked Gou for his views. A document Son held up for reporters after a December meeting with Trump included the words Foxconn and $7 billion alongside SoftBanks numbers. I thought it was a private conversation, but then the next morning it was exposed, Gou told reporters. There is such a plan, but it is not a promise. It is a wish. On Sunday, Gou also told reporters he sees American protectionism as inevitable and warned about the subsequent threat to economic development. Read more about: SHARE: SUNNYVALE, CALIF.U.S. federal officials are investigating Yahoo over how promptly the beleaguered Internet company informed the public about its historic data breaches that together affected more than 1 billion consumers, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The probe will reportedly seek to determine why Yahoo waited weeks to disclose knowledge last year of a hack that had occurred in 2014, an incident that compromised 500 million user accounts. An even earlier breach, in 2013, left about a billion customers at risk, though it was not until last fall that Yahoo discovered evidence of that attack, as well. On Monday, Yahoo reported a fourth-quarter net income of $162 million (U.S.), having reported a loss in the same period the year before. On a per-share basis, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said it had net income of 17 cents. Earnings were 25 cents per share, surpassing Wall Street expectations of 22 cents per share. The federal investigation is being handled by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which in 2011 began requiring companies to disclose information about hacking risks or incidents that may affect investors in a material way. It could become a major test case that lays down clearer expectations about when businesses must reveal that information, analysts say. Opened in December, the investigation is in its early stages, according to the Journal, and while it could lead to an enforcement action by the agency, such steps are rare. The SEC declined to comment for this story. Shortly after Yahoo made its discovery of the 2014 hack public, critics called on the SEC for a deeper look at the companys conduct. In September, U.S. Senator Mark Warner said in a letter to the agency that Americans had the right to know what senior executives at Yahoo knew of the breach, and when they knew it. Yahoo declined to comment for this story, pointing to regulatory filings that say the company is cooperating with government officials including those from the SEC examining the hack. But the probes implications stretch far beyond Yahoos immediate business. It also raises fresh questions for the telecommunications giant Verizon, which is in the midst of a $4.8 billion (U.S.) deal to acquire the former Web titan. I think its going to get a lot uglier for Yahoo going forward over the next year, said Jeff Kagan, an independent technology and telecom analyst. Verizon declined to comment. But executives have voiced strong concerns about the hacks, signalling in October that they may have had a significant impact on Yahoos core business. Analysts say that a concrete finding of that sort by Verizon could allow it to renegotiate terms or even abandon the purchase altogether. Verizon aims to use Yahoos massive online audience which ranks near the likes of Google and Facebook to drive ad impressions and improve its data targeting. But the company must now balance those potential gains against the possibility that Yahoo may discover even more data breaches, analysts say posing new potential risks and liability to Verizon that could lead to reputational or even monetary losses. We are already seeing the short-term impact on the Verizon deal, but it will be many months and even years before we see the true extent of the damage caused by Yahoos 1-billion account breach, said George Avetisov, chief executive of the biometric security firm HYPR Corp. Verizon had expected the deal to close sometime in the first quarter. The fate of the Verizon deal remains in doubt as Marni Walden, Verizons president of product innovation and new businesses, said earlier this month she was unsure whether it would go through. I cant sit here today and say with confidence one way or another, because we still dont know, she told an investor conference. Yahoo posted revenue of $1.47 billion in the fourth quarter. After subtracting advertising commissions, revenue was $960.1 million, also exceeding forecasts. The companys shares have climbed almost 10 per cent since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Monday, shares hit $42.40, an increase of 45 per cent in the last 12 months. With files from The Associated Press SHARE: Irene Taylor Brodsky was getting frustrated while working on her latest HBO documentary, investigating how the Internet was impacting kids brains. Then she heard about Slender Man. She was in her studio when she received an email from HBO with a link to an article about Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, two 12-year-old girls in Waukesha, Wisconsin, charged with stabbing their 12-year-old friend Payton Leutner 19 times. (She lived.) Theyd allegedly been inspired by the Slender Man, a character born online, created by committee through fanfiction, forums and other web-born whispers. The police report said they believed that if they killed Leutner they would be appointed to serve Slender Man as proxies. I wrote back within 10 minutes and said, I guess this is our film, huh? Brodsky says over the phone. She spent the next two years exploring the Slenderverse, the term coined for the Slender Man universe of stories, YouTube videos, video games, fan art and creepypastas (the shiver-inducing branch of copypasta, so named because you copy and paste to share them online). The finished doc, Beware the Slenderman, uses police interviews, court video and interviews with the accused girls parents to get inside the heads of the incarcerated adolescents, who will be tried as adults later this year. It airs on HBO Canada Monday at 10 p.m. The more he went viral, the more (people) were able to put (their) own iteration of him out there, Brodsky says of the browser boogeyman. And you could argue that this film that includes the story of these girls is my iteration of him. Thats the way that I understand him. Slender Man, a tall, thin, faceless figure in a suit, sometimes depicted with eight black tentacles, was first developed by artist Victor Surge, the alias of an American named Eric Knudsen, for a Photoshop competition on millennial slack site SomethingAwful.com. He submitted two vintage black-and-white photos of a group of children outdoors, the figure rendered as a blur lurking in the background. The character has since become the inspiration for a world of creepy creations online. While many adults will give you a face as blank as Slender Mans when the meme is mentioned, Brodsky quickly learned how engaged its school-aged target audience is. The sheer volume and the number of likes that his fanfiction gets, that his images get, that the videos about him get, that validates him in kids minds, she says. The virality is what proves it worthy. The next big share will come from Hollywood. On Jan. 4, Deadline reported that Stomp the Yard director Sylvain White will direct a Slender Man film for Sonys Screen Gems, which will shoot this spring. Warner Bros. has announced Slender Man as one of the creepypasta legends it will focus on in an upcoming live-action YouTube series from Clive Barker. And while nothing has yet come from rumours that Ryan Murphy was writing Slender Man into American Horror Story, there remains plenty of opportunity now that FX has greenlit the horror anthology through seasons 7, 8 and 9. I think one of the reasons that it is being adapted to so many different arenas is because its an avatar that we can project our own fears onto, says Dave Alexander, editor-in-chief of Rue Morgue magazine. Slender Man has a blank white face. Human beings identify each other by visual cues in the face. When thats gone its mysterious and disturbing and upsetting. Adam Daniel, a PhD candidate in film studies at Western Sydney University whose work focuses on evolving horror mediums, says Slender Mans arrival is right on cue. A new development in technology is often bestowed with a spectral aura. We build mythologies around technology, he says. At the dawn of photography, he notes, spiritualists would pass off double exposed photos that featured the shadow of a second photo as proof of a spirit world. Foundational filmmakers Georges Melies and the Lumiere Brothers used the new medium to make sheet-shrouded ghosts appear and skeletons dance in short films from the 1890s. This is part of a long line of creating a supernatural aura around technology, Daniel says. And while Beware the Slenderman convincingly argues there were underlying psychological conditions for why Morgan and Anissa believed in Slender Man, Brodsky confesses that she herself has struggled to distinguish fact from fantasy online. Never mind fake news she finds herself reading paid content in her New Yorker newsletter as if it was a scurrilously fact-checked report. Im talking about bona fide publications and media outlets that arent making it so easy for us to tell the difference, she says. Is Slender Man all that different? Especially when you are 11? The tragedy has doubled as macabre publicity for Slender Mans entree into the mainstream. Its in the pop culture language, so half the work is done, Alexander says. They dont need to convince audiences of this new figure, this new boogeyman. Because he already exists. Correction January 24, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated Adam Daniels surname. SHARE: Pankaj (40), who is making his electoral debut, currently holds the post of the party's general secretary for UP and has been in-charge of BJP's youth conventions in the state. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Pankaj Singh, son of party veteran and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has been declared as BJP's candidate from Noida. The decision has also brought to the fore the dynastic politics which has engulfed the Uttar Pradesh (UP) elections. Pankaj (40), who is making his electoral debut, currently holds the post of the party's general secretary for UP and has been in-charge of BJP's youth conventions in the state. advertisement Soon after the announcement Singh spoke to the media at his father's residence at Akbar Road in the capital. Also read | Uttar Pradesh polls: BJP releases 2nd list, fields Pankaj Singh from Noida, Rita Bahuguna from Lucknow Cantt "I have been in BJP for three decades. It is the party which has taken a call and selected me to run for Assembly elections from Noida," said Pankaj. Speaking in a manner similar to his father he said, "I cannot comment on allegations, but I can say that BJP has entrusted me with a responsibility and I will work hard towards achieving results." In the past, Pankaj was denied ticket two times in previous elections. However, CEC decided to allow him to contest from Noida. Rajnath Singh had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Ghaziabad which also falls under Delhi NCR. After his name was announced, Pankaj said that he will hit the ground soon in order to cover the vast expanse of rural and urban areas of Noida to canvass voters. Also read | UP Assembly election: BJP releases list of star campaigners, LK Advani doesn't make the cut OTHER MAJOR PLAYERS Other important names that were included in the second list of candidates from BJP were Sidharth Nath Singh and Rita Bahuguna Joshi. Singh said "the party looked at the candidates' ability to win and not just their profile and popularity." When asked whether he would like to see his father as CM face of the party he chose to be diplomatic by saying that it was the party's call. He said that not just his father, there were many others who are probable for CM candidacy. Ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party on January 22, released a second list of candidates for 155 seats in the state. --- ENDS --- FREDERICTONA photo of a boy looking exasperated while sitting behind the prime minister has been making the rounds on social media, even giving Justin Trudeau a laugh, but the boys family wants to set the record straight about the circumstances. Abdel Kader Al Shaikh was photographed covering his hands over his eyes with his head tilted toward the ceiling as he sat in the front row of Trudeaus town hall in Fredericton last week. The Canadian Press photo struck a chord with social media users, with some interpreting the boys expression as frustration with the prime minister. Trudeau had a more lighthearted take on the scene, joking that as a former teacher, hes used to speaking in front of an audience of squirming children. I havent seen faces like these kids since I taught math class, Trudeau wrote in a tweet that generated thousands of likes. Thanks New Brunswick! While Trudeaus former students may have grimaced in math class, 10-year-old Abdel Kader was eager to hear what the prime minister had to say last Tuesday, his father said in an interview aided by an interpreter. Hassan Al Shaikh said he and his wife, Radia, along with four of their seven children waited for two hours to see Trudeau, even letting some of the kids skip school so they could see their hero in person. The family holds Trudeau in the highest esteem, Hassan Al Shaikh said, as the only leader in the world who welcomed Syrian refugees with open arms. (Im) so grateful for all of the Canadian people ... who received (our family) with amazing hospitality, he said. While other countries closed their borders ... Canada was the only country that opened the doors and opened the hearts for the Syrians. Abdel Kader watched intently as Trudeau took questions from the audience, but he kept being distracted by his two-year-old brother, Omar, who cried and made noise while the prime minister was speaking, according to the boys father. Abdel Kader tried to make his brother be quiet. He was saying to him, Please listen, listen, listen, Hassan Al Shaikh said. When he gave up, he put his hands on his head and said, Oh my god, I am here listen! Hassan Al Shaikh said that he and Radia were horrified to learn that a photo of the sibling squabble had somehow made its way to the prime minister. The parents feared their son had offended Trudeau and that his gesture could even invite punishment for the whole family, based on their bad memory of living under the Syrian government. Eventually, it was made clear that the prime minister was amused by the image, and Hassan Al Shaikh said he was heartened by Trudeaus democratic reaction. The Al Shaikhs just passed their one-year anniversary in New Brunswick, and theyre expecting an addition to their brood any day now. At their childrens request, they plan to name the boy Justin Trudeau Al Shaikh. Radia Al Shaikh said she hopes Trudeau will give them his blessing to welcome the baby into the familys new home with a fittingly Canadian name. Read more about: SHARE: On Nov. 8, when it became clear Donald Trump would be the next U.S. president, Justin Trudeau was watching with close advisers. Well, were Canadians, the prime minister said at last. We can get along with anybody. We will now see. Until now Trudeaus occasional offsite two-day cabinet retreats have been professional development exercises, a break from decision-making rather than a chance to make a bunch of decisions in a short amount of time. This weeks retreat, at Calgarys Fairmont Palliser Hotel, is different. There is one item on the agenda: Donald Trump. RELATED: Trump, meet Trudeau, king of the selfie: Hebert On Monday Stephen Schwarzman, the investor and adviser to the new U.S. president, met with Trudeau, then with all ministers, then with reporters, before hightailing it back to New York for a company dinner. The word all day was that on Tuesday, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner would drop by. But staffers from the Prime Ministers Office were reluctant to say so out loud, as if for fear of jinxing the whole thing. And indeed, at days end, word came that Kushner would not be making the trip. When not meeting high emissaries from Trumpland, Trudeau and his colleagues are meeting with David MacNaughton, Canadas ambassador to Washington, with Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of the defence staff, and with Dan Arnold, the PMOs resident polling expert. All are making presentations on Canada-U.S. relations. This follows a cabinet shuffle that was designed to prepare for Trump, a bunch of staffing changes designed to improve the governments range of manoeuvre when dealing with Trump and a series of meetings in New York between Trumps senior staff and Trudeaus. This government is taking very little for granted, when it comes to the White Houses new tenant. The beginnings of a payoff for all this quick effort appeared when Schwarzman was at a microphone in the Palliser lobby and offered reporters a summary of his remarks to the Liberals. One of the important things is the unusually positive view thats held of Canada, he said. Canadas been a great partner of the United States for as long as anybody can remember. And so, while Trumps arrival signals a changed climate, maybe some modifications, still, basically things should go well for Canada. Several questions followed, of the are-you-serious variety. Schwarzman appeared to be serious. I think trade between the U.S. and Canada is very much in balance and is a model for the way trade relations should be. Whats the risk of Canada being sideswiped as Trump pursues a new trade relationship with Mexico? I think thats very low. How worried should Trudeau be? I dont think he should be enormously worried. Why not? Here, Schwarzman betrayed just a hint of impatience, as one sometimes does when asked the same question six ways. Because Canadas held in very high regard. We have balanced trade between the U.S. and Canada. Thats not the kind of situation where you should be worried. Well, then, who should worry? There will be other countries with large trade imbalances and other types of markets, which arent as open as Canada, which would be more of an area of focus for the new administration. This was Schwarzmans long way of saying China. As for us, Canada finds itself, frankly, in a very special status. Canada is, at least for the moment, still in that cheery zone where, when one of Trumps blue-chip advisers sounds more reassuring than Trump, it is possible to hope the adviser is bringing the real information. The same holds for Canadas role in NATO. Trump has been all bark and bluster, warning he would not automatically defend a NATO partner if he does not feel it has paid its share of the alliances bills. But the Canadians are reassured by his appointment of James Mad Dog Mattis as his secretary of defence. Mattis is an alliance guy, one said. This source admits to no worries at all about the security of Canadas Latvia deployment. When will Trudeau meet Trump? Nobody here is saying. In Washington, Sean Spicer, Trumps spokesman, suggested it will happen in the next 30 days. Ill be surprised if it doesnt happen a lot earlier than that. But the example of Kushners on-again-off-again Calgary visit suggests Trudeaus entourage gains nothing by confirming something that might have to be un-confirmed a few hours later. The structural changes to Trudeaus government reflect the belief that dealing with Trump will require a government-wide response and a level of agility that doesnt come naturally. The changes have all been reported, but together their magnitude is remarkable. Chrystia Freeland replaces Stephane Dion (whose Hamlet act over what hell do next continues) as foreign affairs minister. Her former chief of staff, Brian Clow, moves to the Langevin Block to co-ordinate Canada-U.S. files across the government. Marc Garneau takes over the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations. Andrew Leslie, who knew a bunch of Trump advisers when they were all soldiers in Afghanistan, becomes a parliamentary secretary for Canada-U.S. relations. Trudeau called the provincial premiers last week to enlist their help in dealing with Trumps America. Rona Ambrose, the Opposition Conservative leader, was in Washington on the day of Trumps inauguration. She parked all criticism of Trudeau at home before she left, did media interviews while in Washington, will certainly do her best to make Trudeaus life hell once theyre both back in the Commons, but in the meantime her willingness to help was duly noted. Trudeaus goal will be to work as well with Trump as possible, while understanding that there will be days they disagree. Saturday appears to have been such a day. That was the day women marched around the world for equal rights and, who are we kidding, in many cases to protest Trumps election. On Saturday Trudeau said nothing about the marches. On Sunday, he tweeted his support for them: Congratulations to the women and men across Canada who came out yesterday to support womens rights. You keep your government inspired. On Monday, I was told that at more than 50,000 likes, this was the most popular thing Trudeau has written on Twitter. How to square that tweet with the Trudeau governments extraordinary full-court press to stay on Trumps good side? Not easily. Probably there is no point pretending the two governments will see eye to eye on everything. Better for Canada to make its case and be prepared for surprise. All of that is well underway. Paul Wells is a national affairs writer. His column appears Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Read more about: SHARE: Taking a page from the late Rob Fords playbook, budget chief Gary Crawford suggested Monday the city could be run more efficiently and cheaply with fewer managers. The management or middle management ranks could potentially be bloated. We want to look at how do we reduce that properly, Crawford said Monday a day before Tuesdays wrap-up budget meeting. He acknowledged the plan which still requires council approval does nothing to address the $91 million shortfall in the 2017 budget. The budget committee will finalize those options Tuesday and forward them to the executive committee and then council for final approval next month. But Crawford said its never too soon to look for future savings, which is why he supports doubling the auditor generals budget to $9.8 million by 2020, starting with an extra $1 million in 2017, so there can be more audits focusing on management layers. As of December, there were 2,686 directors, managers and supervisors in city agencies, boards or commissions overseeing 33,493 Toronto Public Service employees. Mayor John Tory, in California on a film and TV business mission, released a statement backing the plan. We need to look every day for opportunities to modernize city government so we can use available funds on the services and projects that really count. Councillor Gord Perks dismissed the announcement as spin and noise. We are weeks away from approving the third budget in this administration and all they can do is come out and say well were going to look for across-the-board savings, Perks said. This seems to be their answer to every single problem, its what they do to avoid setting priorities, its what they do to avoid solving the problems with housing . . . child care and transit. Adding another layer of scrutiny is pointless, added Perks, noting every city budget is already exhaustively reviewed. Heather Nicolson-Morrison, executive director of COTAPSA, the organization representing non-union city employees, told the budget committee earlier this month that there is a misguided belief that yet to be found service efficiencies will solve our long-term fiscal problems. She noted this years budget already proposes $10 million in service reductions and eliminating 400 positions. How can this strategy not affect the delivery of current services let alone meet future service demands, particularly from those people n the most need. Council should consider new revenue sources, she said. Three years ago this month, then-mayor Ford made city managers one of his targets as part of his campaign to end the gravy train at city hall. Yet a 2013 internal consultants study found Toronto had an exemplary ratio of one manger to 11.3 workers, compared to Chicagos ratio of one manager to 7.1 workers. The report said deleting manager positions would harm the citys ability to effectively deliver services to the public. In 2011, after an exhaustive review of city services, KPMG consultants produced a long list of service cuts, but identified few easy savings. Council ended up rejecting proposed cuts. But Councillor Justin Di Ciano, who sits on the budget committee, said several auditor general reports have identified savings. They include a report that found waste in cleaning services, abuse of drug claims by city workers and deficiencies in the citys tendering process and management of long-term disability costs. SHARE: The provincial government is failing to provide the public with up-to-date information on complaints filed against provincial court judges and justices of the peace. Its an issue that has been raised before, and goes against the governments promise of transparency, critics say. The price of judicial independence demands public knowledge of all complaints and how they are dealt with. Public confidence will grow and improvements can be made, said Criminal Lawyers Association president Anthony Moustacalis. Time is the enemy of informed debate. Ideally, quarterly reports should be the goal so people can see the system is working with dispatch, efficiency and fairness. Summaries of complaints are contained in annual reports from the Justices of the Peace Review Council (JPRC) and the Ontario Judicial Council, which handles complaints against provincial court judges. The slow pace at getting the reports out to the public was first reported by the Star in 2014, when the most recent report available online relating to justices of the peace was from 2010. As of now, the JPRC has not posted its annual reports from 2014 or 2015, while the judicial council has not posted its 2014-2015 or 2015-2016 annual reports. Marilyn King, who is the registrar for both bodies, told the Star that legislation requires the reports be tabled in the legislature by the attorney general before they can be distributed or uploaded to the councils websites. The councils do report on an annual basis to the attorney general, she said. An annual report is prepared each year after the reporting period concludes. Preparing an annual report includes writing, review for accuracy, translation, and the production and printing process. She said the JPRCs 2014 report was sent to the ministry on Nov. 19, 2015, while the 2015 report was sent on Sept. 30, 2016. She said the judicial councils 2014-2015 report was sent on Feb. 4, 2016. The 2015-2016 report was sent on Dec. 16, 2016, after the fall legislative session had already ended. A spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney General said the government is currently in the process of reviewing the reports. The reports will be tabled in the legislature once the house resumes for the next session, said spokesman Philip Klassen. The vast majority of complaints against provincial judges and justices of the peace are never forwarded to a discipline panel, which holds its hearings in public and has the power to suspend a judge or JP or recommend to the attorney general that they be removed from office. The annual reports are therefore the only way the public is able to determine how most complaints against these judicial officials are dealt with in secret. The summaries contain information about each complaint without naming the official as well as the disposition in each case, which can include providing advice on improvement to the judge or JP. The need to disclose the reports promptly should be addressed in the legislation, said University of Ottawa law professor Adam Dodek, who suggested that they be released within four months after the reporting year has ended. James Morton, former counsel to the Association of Justices of the Peace of Ontario, said it would appear its simply not a priority to release the reports more promptly. They just fall to the bottom of the pile and it gets done when it gets done, he told the Star. I cant see any reason, nefarious or otherwise, why they wouldnt be released . . . There are very few complaints, to be honest, and the vast majority of them are unfounded, so it shows the public that the bench is actually a pretty good solid bench and it also shows that where there are problems they are dealt with, Morton said, speaking specifically about the JPRC reports. SHARE: When medical malpractice lawyer Amani Oakley appeared in a Toronto courtroom last October to get a trial date for her client, who is suing her chiropractor, the response she got was like a blow to the stomach. March 11, 2019. Though we try our best to explain, I am absolutely certain that many clients will assume that the lawyers are not working hard enough, and not moving forward, she told the Star. Sometimes that is the case, but very often it's out of our control. Oakley is among a growing list of Ontario civil lawyers who handle lawsuits including personal injury and medical malpractice matters sounding the alarm regarding what they describe as excessive court delays. While there is a constitutional requirement to try a criminal case within a reasonable time, there is no such obligation for civil cases. Their clients may not be in jail or facing the possibility of jail while they await their trial, but civil lawyers point out they suffer from a range of predicaments while they wait years to get to court, including financial losses, difficulty working, family troubles, and physical and mental health issues. The current problem, lawyers say, is twofold. For one thing, they point to a failure by the federal government to quickly appoint more judges to the Superior Court of Justice, which rules on lawsuits and also handles the most serious criminal cases, such as murder. Second, they say a landmark 2016 Supreme Court of Canada ruling, R v. Jordan, which set specific timelines to try criminal cases, has meant that an understaffed Superior Court has had to redeploy judges to hear criminal matters at risk of being thrown out due to delay. It is not an overstatement to say that it is a disaster and it's only going to get worse, said Adam Wagman, president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, which represents lawyers acting for plaintiffs. Very significant delays that have occasionally been a problem in our system are now becoming chronic and entrenched. Resources are being allocated to the criminal system to deal with the repercussions of the Jordan decision, without question. There has been heightened public scrutiny on courts to deal with criminal cases at risk of being tossed since the Jordan ruling, and that pressure only increased last November when a Superior Court judge in Ottawa stayed a first-degree murder charge against ex-soldier Adam Picard, after it took four years to get his case to trial. The Ontario government has tried to respond to the strain on the system by appointing 13 new judges to the Ontario court of justice, which handles most family matters and less serious criminal cases, and 32 new Crown attorneys. But appointment to the Superior Court and Court of Appeal is a federal responsibility. A spokeswoman for the Superior Court said there has been no province-wide direction about diverting more resources to hear criminal cases in light of the Jordan ruling. Roslyn Levine, executive legal officer in the office of the chief justice, said even though the court schedule is set months in advance, it is revisited regularly as circumstances change. This would include whether a criminal case is at risk of being stayed due to delay, which she said was already being done under the legal framework for such matters that existed before the Jordan ruling. As has always been the operating principle of this court, if there is a particular case whether civil, family or criminal of an urgent nature that requires an early hearing date, the regional senior judge will seek to accommodate that case where possible, she said. Oakley, whose case involving the chiropractor is expected to last four to six weeks, said she has encountered fallout from the Jordan decision in courtrooms in the GTA. We were always the poor cousins (in the court system), but I had a case when I was in Brampton that wasnt worth much . . . and the judge said to me in closed quarters, Youre wasting my time, and were really backed up on criminal matters. Even if a lawyer can secure a court date, there is no guarantee that a judge will actually be available to hear the case. Thats what happened to Ottawa lawyer Andrea Girones, who is representing a family suing a doctor and hospital for negligence relating to their daughters birth. The girl, now 5, allegedly suffered a lack of oxygen and has severe neurological problems and disabilities, Girones said. The six- to eight-week trial the length is typical for a complex medical malpractice case was set in late 2015 for February of this year. But just before Christmas, Girones said she was notified there was no judge available. No new date has been set, but shes concerned it will take at least another year to get to trial. The really big issue is that trial dates are the end game, she told the Star. The single biggest motivator to settle a case is the threat of the trial. It makes people sit down and seriously consider whether they want to settle, particularly if its a very big claim. But why pay now when you can wait for the trial two years down the road? Legal groups have been urging the Liberals since they took office in 2015 to quickly fill judicial vacancies across the country. While the government did announce a slew of appointments last year, lawyers say it doesnt come close to filling the gap. There are currently 57 judicial vacancies in Canada, including 10 in Ontario Superior Court. The Chief Justice has been strongly urging the Minister of Justice to fill those vacancies right away and to fill new vacancies promptly when they arise, said Levine, the Superior Court spokeswoman. There are also four vacancies at the Ontario Court of Appeal, the provinces highest court. The 17 judicial advisory committees which screen applicants for federally-appointed judgeships had been left vacant for months, as the Liberals looked to revamp them to make the committees more diverse and transparent. Last week, Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announced appointments to seven of the committees, including two that cover Ontario. She said the committees will immediately begin reviewing judicial applications and create a short list of candidates. With no clear timeline for when more judges will be added in Ontario, personal injury and malpractice victims are left to languish with uncertainty, said Wagman at the trial lawyers association. Youre talking about people who dont have the financial resources to just wait another couple of years for a trial date, youre talking about people who cant pay their mortgage today, youre talking about people who cant pay their medical bills today, he said. The result is that for many of those people who cant wait, theyre forced by our system of so-called justice to accept a settlement that is far less than what their case is worth. Its a tragedy for those people, and whats worse is that its a preventable tragedy. SHARE: If you are ever lost, I tell my little ones, look for the police and go to them. For many fortunate Torontonians, the sight of a police officer fosters a sense of security and safety. If the police cause me some apprehension its while Im driving, when the sight of a cruiser sends my glance flying to the speedometer. I assume I will be stopped if Im driving too fast, or dont have the licence sticker updated basically, if Im in the wrong. I dont expect to be stopped otherwise, and I havent been. Im not white, but I have enough privilege that I dont experience police like a black person does. It bears repeating that it is common for black people to be stopped, questioned and documented while driving, walking or otherwise, even if they have done nothing wrong, and to be punished more harshly than whites if they have done wrong. The same is true for indigenous people, but the statistics on blacks are relevant here. Blacks made up 8.3 per cent of Torontos population, but accounted for 25 per cent of the cards police filled out after questioning them between 2008 and mid-2011, a Toronto Star analysis found. Harsher minimum-sentencing laws also target low-level crimes by people who are then criminalized and punished. Name any essentially similar offence and the case law always seems to find it more serious when a black man commits it, Toronto criminal lawyer Reid Rusonik told the Star in 2013. This has led to a breakdown of trust between Torontos law keepers and the citys black population, something that police know and acknowledge. Yet, when Black Lives Matter Toronto a grassroots movement reviled and admired in equal measure brought last years gay Pride Parade to a halt with a list of demands, including the banning of police floats from the parade, the conversation among opponents quickly spiraled into cries of discrimination. An open letter to Pride from a gay police officer went viral. I speak as an individual, one who saw his first Pride, only to be excluded from the next, Chuck Krangle wrote. Exclusion does not promote inclusion. One cant argue with Krangles positive experience with the police force. That said, BLMs opposition is not to individuals like Krangle, but to the institution he represents. He is not being excluded from next years Pride, he is being asked not to show up in uniform. One cant argue with black peoples negative experiences with police, either. BLMs stance belongs to the continuum of resistance that is at the root of Pride. The citys Pride Parade sprang up from protests against police raids that saw about 300 gays arrested in 1981. It took almost two decades after that for a uniformed police officer to walk in the parade. The first Toronto Police Service float appeared only in 2014. In that intervening period, was the lack of police presence called exclusion or discrimination? Obviously not the power dynamics between an armed, uniformed, institutionalized force and a grassroots grouping of pariahs would have made accusations of reverse discrimination laughable. One was formed out of protest to the other. The inherent tension did not warrant an inclusion of the perpetrator and executor of inequality. There are hierarchies in inequality. Just because the walls have crumbled between police and one kind of LGBTQ2 people does not mean they have fallen altogether. Krangle may not have been discriminated against by police, but the same cannot be said for his contemporaries of colour. Even prominent gays, like Ontarios premier Kathleen Wynne, dont seem to get this. Discomfort with BLMs demand to ban uniformed police participation suggests that now that white LGBTQ2 rights have been respected, the rights of queer black people dont matter. A sub-section of the group is being expected to march in solidarity with those who wield the tools of their oppression. Toronto Police, meanwhile, aware of the unexpected public sympathy on this score, are playing the role of underdog. Its extremely confusing, Toronto Police spokesperson Mark Pugash told the Star on Wednesday. Nobody from Pride had yet told them how a vote to endorse BLMs demands would affect their presence, he said. If the police are as serious about engagement and building bridges with black LGBTQ2 communities as they say they are, they shouldnt wait for Pride Toronto to weigh in when they meet in February. They need to swallow their pride and take a principled stand: excuse themselves from participating in uniform, but pledge to be present professionally to keep it safe, as they would with any mass public event. They may have worked hard to improve relationships with the gay community, but clearly, the work is not done. They should stay out until they are welcomed back in by all groups. Its only when they treat everyone equally can we truly say all lives do matter. Shree Paradkar tackles issues of race and gender. You can follow her @shreeparadkar SHARE: With the dawn of a new protectionist era stateside, Premier Kathleen Wynne is appealing to U.S. governors to keep the free trade of goods and services flowing with Ontario. Mindful of newly sworn-in President Donald Trumps America First rhetoric on tariffs and trade deals, Wynne underscored the importance of relations between many states and Canadas most populous province. Its really important that we understand on both sides of the border that 20 American states have Ontario as their number one export market, the premier said last week. Another seven have Ontario as their number two export market. Thats a strong, strong relationship and we need to continue to foster that, she said. One of those states is Indiana, whose governor until Jan. 9 was Trumps Vice-President Mike Pence. Indiana accounts for 3.21 per cent of all Ontario exports behind only Michigan, California, New York and Ohio. It also makes up 3.21 per cent of imports to the province, trailing Michigan, Ohio, New York and Illinois. Indeed, Ontario buys more goods from the state of Indiana than it does from the nations of Japan, Germany, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Wynne, who is closely allied to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, said thats why states and provinces working together is so crucial to both the Canadian and American economies. Jointly, Ontario and Michigan are responsible for 26 per cent of all North American automotive production and the Windsor-Detroit border sees more than $74 billion of two-way trade annually. It is very important to us, obviously, in Ontario how we relate to the United States, she said of the destination for 80.52 per cent of the provinces exports. Her plea comes as the new president is thundering against pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In his fiery inauguration speech Friday, Trump bemoaned that the U.S. has enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry and lamented the rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation. One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions and millions of American workers that were left behind. The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed all across the world, the billionaire developer said. But that is the past and now, we are looking only to the future. From this day forward, its going to be only America First, America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families, he said. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. On the White House website, the Trump administration touts withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership to which Canada is a party and warns changes are looming for NAFTA. President Trump is committed to renegotiating NAFTA. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the president will give notice of the United States intent to withdraw from NAFTA, the website says. Against that backdrop, Wynne wants businesses on both sides of the border to rally. We dont know exactly what the incoming U.S. administration is going to mean for Ontario, but heres what we do know. At the start of what could be a protectionist era, we need our businesses to be increasingly competitive, she said. And we need to make sure that our neighbours understand the mutual benefits of Canada-U.S. trade and specifically Ontario-U.S. trade. Wynne, who backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 9 president race against the Republican Trump, has long been warning of the perils of curbing free trade. In an interview with the Star at the Canadian embassy in Washington last June, she warned he was very dangerous for Canada and very dangerous for the world. SHARE: Flamed by Premier Kathleen Wynne for making erroneous claims about Ontarios auto sector, a former Dragons Den star is firing back. Federal Conservative leadership candidate Kevin OLeary, target of an unusual weekend attack from Wynne, lashed out at the premier Monday. Im getting involved in the Conservative leadership race because I cant stand watching incompetent politicians destroy my country. You and (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau are two of them. (Alberta Premier) Rachel Notley would be the third, OLeary wrote on Facebook. You and your policies have all but bankrupted a province that was once an economic powerhouse in Canada. If you were the CEO of one of my companies I would have fired you long ago, said the businessman and star of ABCs Shark Tank. Your complete disregard for the people of Ontario has caused hydro prices to become completely unaffordable for families, sometimes forcing them to choose between groceries and heat, he continued. OLearys response came the day after Wynne posted an open letter on Facebook to set the record straight on his incorrect assertion that Ontario attracts lower auto investment than neighbouring Michigan. I noticed that you told one media outlet that our province trails Michigan when it comes to auto sector investment, because, in your words, business there enjoys 30 per cent less in tax, no regulations and no carbon tax, the premier wrote. In fact, thats inaccurate on just about every count. As it turns out, Ontario has attracted roughly $2 billion worth of new auto sector investment in the last few months alone, far outpacing Michigan, she noted. Indeed, over the past five years, Ontario has accounted for 14.6 per cent of all the auto production in North America, surpassing the share enjoyed by any other jurisdiction on either side of the border including you guessed it Michigan. Wynne also pointed out that businesses in Ontario pay a combined federal and provincial rate of 28.5 per cent significantly below the 38.9 per cent they pay in Michigan. While OLeary, one of 14 candidates vying for the Conservative leadership on May 27, did not refute Wynnes statement, he warned the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump will lead to massive changes. Do you really think Ontario is going to be competitive with Michigan and other northern states after Trump eliminates regulations and lowers taxes? Youre dreaming, he wrote. Admit it! You did not see him coming and now you are totally caught off guard. Your answer to everything is to raise taxes, take money from businesses that employ Ontarians and then try and reinvest it yourself. OLeary said Wynne is clearly out of touch and dared her to face voters before the next election on June 7, 2018. If you really think you are doing a good job, then prove it, and call an election tomorrow! Unfortunately, we both know you wont do that, though, when you are sitting with a 16-per-cent approval rating in the polls. But, I promise, it would be a very popular decision if you did. Despite such bravado, the governing Liberals indicated they have no intention of letting up on the celebrity politician. Both Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid and Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault sent O'Leary open letters Monday afternoon calling him out for his accusations. Duguid reminded him Ontario remains the country's economic engine while Thibeault emphasized the province is working to lower hydro rates. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTON The day after the Womens March brought half a million people to Washington, 500 women from across the country spent Sunday learning how to run for office. The candidate training held by EMILYs List, the largest Democratic womens group in the country, focused on overcoming the intimidation factor when navigating political campaigning, especially for women of colour. It was the groups largest training event. We still have ceilings to break, even inside our Democratic Party, said Muthoni Wambu Kraal, senior director of state engagement and development at EMILYs List. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., told the women about breaking through as the first Indian-American woman in the House of Representatives. As a woman of colour in particular, barriers are high. Theyre very high, she said, encouraging women to pursue their point of view in elected office. Its important, not only because of the colour of our skin or anything like that, (but) because of the experience that we bring in from our different perspectives, she said. Dont think that because youre not connected to the wealthiest people in the world that you cant run for office. The Womens March drew millions of protesters in cities across the country and the world, rallying against President Donald Trumps agenda and for a range of progressive causes. After the training during which they chanted Fired up! Ready to run! one of former president Barack Obamas campaign slogans many women said Trumps election had energized them to pursue leadership positions. This election taught me that you really dont have to have a long resume to run and to win, said Whitney Logan of Kansas City. Itd be nice to have voices in Congress and in state legislatures and on school boards and on city councils that represent their constituents, and arent insecure because their resume isnt six law degrees from Georgetown. With a 2-year-old at home and a part-time job as a psychotherapist, she says she realizes it will be difficult. But the networking from the march and Sundays training gave her the push to pursue what she dreamed of doing when she was younger. Logan said after she recently ran into her third-grade teacher, who reminded her that as a 9-year-old, she wanted to run for president someday. I had completely forgotten about that, she said, laughing. We have lawmakers back home in Kansas and Kansas City who are vulnerable, and for good reason. Now I feel like I have the tools to do something. Unlike many of the women at the training, Blanca Rosales admitted that she had not always wanted to seek office. The election changed that. I had thought, Im only 22. Im not qualified for anything. But today reminded me that thats what women often do, said Rosales, who lives in Arlington, Va., but wants to go back home to San Antonio and become involved in local government. We always wait to feel more ready, more qualified. But men, they dont think twice. Michelle McLeod, 50, of Germantown, Md., said she spent much of her life working as an organizer, but now wants more. I mean Nancy Pelosi was 47 when she first ran for Congress, you can decide at any stage to run, she said. McLeod said she became an activist after she was discharged from the Navy because of her sexual orientation before the dont ask, dont tell policy. She wants to return to San Diego, where she served, and run for office. I want kids to hear from their government that its OK to be who you are, she said, adding that she was alarmed that Trumps White House website had been scrubbed of any mention of LGBT. While the term is absent, the website remains incomplete. EMILYs List President Stephanie Schriock said the next four years, under a Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress, must balance holding the line on womens issues like abortion and continuing to push for equal pay and paid family leave. We recognize that we have an administration and a Congress that absolutely intends to roll back everything that we have succeeded in getting in the last decades, she said. We want to push forward on these progressive policies in states where we can, in cities where we can. The Womens March was effective in bringing together women who otherwise might not ever engage with political organizing, Schriock said. The most important thing we saw yesterday, the big take-away, was the numbers of women in rural America, in the middle of America, who came together and realized, Im not alone, she said. Thats so empowering, and those are going to be our future candidates. __ 2017 McClatchy Washington Bureau Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at www.mcclatchydc.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Read more about: SHARE: In his final two months as president, Barack Obama restricted Arctic drilling, sanctioned Russia, named new national monuments and made one last dad joke. He also moved to imprint his seal on history in a quieter way: through academic writing. This month, Obama published a Harvard Law Review article that sums up his administrations efforts to improve the effectiveness and fairness of the criminal justice system. In Science, Obama argued that market forces will help drive a transition to clean energy. These articles share the positive outlook and tone of Obamas Journal of the American Medical Association article in August assessing the Affordable Care Act and suggesting future opportunities for health-care reform. This is not a normal political strategy. Obamas law review piece is credited as the first scholarly legal article authored by a sitting president. Few individuals worldwide much less presidents have had the distinction of publishing papers in law, science and medicine journals. Academic articles reach a comparatively small audience. They spend a lot of time sitting on library shelves or in online repositories. Some are never be read at all. (Scholars argue about what fraction of articles are essentially never looked at.) So why, with all thats going on in the world, would Obama take the time to pen academic papers? Hes writing for the future. In an era of fake news and post-truth politics, the premium on authentic, thoughtful ideas is higher than ever before. Academia is a stronghold of ideas. Academic books and journals are largely protected from both the partisanship and the faddishness that can dog other forms of media. And they endure. (You can look up a dusty old Pythagorean Theorem proof from 1876, if you want another rare example of scholarship authored by a man who also lived in the White House.) More importantly, academia heavily scrutinizes the articles that posit groundbreaking and innovative ideas. It can take a long time, but eventually the best ideas are promoted and built upon. Think of Albert Einsteins early 20th-century papers proposing the theories of relativity, which were criticized before they became foundational. By writing for journals, Obama can plant seeds that are hard to uproot. Even if his ideas are forced off the main political stage, they will still be evaluated and workshopped in scholarly discourse for years. If those ideas are right, then with enough time and development, they will grow to become consensus. As weve seen with issues like climate change, consensus isnt the same as complete acceptance. Nevertheless, scholarly debate can push ideas toward the centre of public conversation (as, again, weve seen with climate change). Moreover, through his writing, Obama can immortalize his optimism. Obamas academic articles arent dry. Theyre forward-looking, upbeat and packed with his trademark hope. We have awhile to go before we see which of the ideas Obama has planted will flourish. But with time, consideration and a bit of magic, some of them might grow into big, strong beanstalks. Maybe therell even be a Golden Goose or two at the top. Scott Duke Kominers is a junior fellow in economics at the Harvard University Society of Fellows. Previously, he was the inaugural research scholar at the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago. Read more about: SHARE: Uddhav Thackeray today announced a slew of schemes while releasing the party manifesto for the upcoming BMC election on the birth anniversary of party supremo Bal Thackeray. By Mayuresh Ganapatye: Even as talks over seat sharing are underway between Shiv Sena and BJP, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today released the party manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election on the birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray. Uddhav released the manifesto titled 'Vachan nama' (commitments) in presence of party leaders and workers. "July 23 is an auspicious day for all Shiv Sainiks. Few years back on the same day, we took oath by tying Shiv-Bandana on our hands to work for people and the betterment of state. Today, we have released our party's manifesto in which we have mentioned what we will do if wecome to power at BMC," said Uddhav. advertisement According to the manifesto, Senas are promising tax exemption to Mumbaikars who have houses under 500sqft area. The party feels this will help common man to fulfil their dreams of owning a house in Mumbai city. In the education sector, Sena has focused to set up e-reading rooms for students. ALSO READ | Uddhav follows kejriwal's footsteps, announces freebies ahead of BMC polls To empower girls, the party has planned to start self defence course in BCM-run schools. Sena also plans to make the city clean and green. "I have not mentioned anything about alliance in the manifesto. If our alliance gets form then we will consider the best point from our partner's manifesto. And once our alliance is finalised, we will make it public," Uddhav said on being asked about the alliance and the party releasing its manifesto. ALSO READ | I am always positive about alliance with BJP: Uddhav Thackeray Both Sena and BJP are negotiating with each other over seats but none is ready to take a step back. In fact, Shiv Sena is one step ahead of BJP now by releasing its manifesto. Shiv Sena can certainly get edge over it and will get another chance to criticise BJP if they include any scheme similar to those mentioned in Sena's manifesto. The competition has certainly become intense between the two old friends. Reacting to the current tussle between Sena & BJP, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said, "The offer of seats given by Shiv Sena is insulting, however, the final decision regarding the alliance will be taken by the chief minister and state president". ALSO READ | BMC polls: Fadnavis calls Uddhav Thackeray to discuss alliance, but party leaders continue to fight --- ENDS --- SAN ANTONIOA robbery inside a San Antonio shopping mall ended with shots fired on Sunday, leaving one person who tried to intervene dead, three others shot and another two people taken to hospital with non-shooting injuries, police and fire officials said. Police Chief William McManus said two suspects robbed a jewelry store at the Rolling Oaks Mall on Sunday. What we have here is a robbery gone really, really bad, McManus said. After the suspects fled the store, a man, described by McManus as a good Samaritan tried to stop the two men. One of the robbers then fatally shot the man, McManus said. A second individual, who was carrying a licensed concealed weapon, then shot and wounded the robber who had killed the person who intervened, McManus said. Police said the second robber, who initially fled the scene, was arrested Sunday night. Additional details about the arrest or suspect were not immediately available. McManus called the fatal shooting absolutely senseless. The victims name was not immediately released by authorities. The other robber who fled the mall fired his weapon, injuring a man and a woman. These two individuals, along with the injured robber, were taken to local hospital, said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood. Two other people a woman who complained of chest pains and a pregnant woman who had labour pains were also taken to local hospitals, Hood said. The condition of the people who were injured in the incident was not immediately available. SHARE: It began at 8:19 p.m. Tuesday, an onslaught in all caps -- FAKE NEWS A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT! -- that burned into the next morning. 7:13 a.m.: Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE. Very unfair! 7:31 a.m.: Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING! 7:44 a.m.: I win an election easily, a great movement is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with FAKE NEWS. A sorry state! 7:48 a.m.: 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? Days before being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump is as unpredictable and provocative as ever, and Twitter is his bully pulpit, 140-character bursts of shock and awe. Since winning the election, @realDonaldTrump has fired off more than 300 tweets, at all hours, that have enthralled supporters, alarmed CEOs and lawmakers, drawn rebukes from foreign governments and left just about everyone wondering whats next. He has suggested tectonic shifts in foreign policy, cast aspersions on the intelligence community, jolted the stock market, repeatedly revelled in his victory and trashed the media. When Saturday Night Live and actor Alec Baldwin lampooned the behaviour, which includes retweeting praise from random people, Trump hit back while the show was still going: unwatchable! Totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just cant get any worse. Sad. What Trump hasnt done is heed the advice of his wife and, a new poll shows, most Americans: STOP. The conventional wisdom has never been accurate when it comes to Donald Trump, said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. Well just have to see how it turns out. Trump, 70, is a grandfather who once said, I dont do the email thing. Yet no one in politics has harnessed the power of social media like Trump, with a Twitter following approaching 20 million. Outspent by rivals, he used Twitter to dominate the conversation. Like it or not, said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, you cant deny it works for him. You could teach an entire course about the Internet through Trump, said Nikki Usher, a George Washington University professor who has added to her social media syllabus a lesson on the Tweeter-in-chief. Trump, she said, is putting a modern spin on a long-running quest by politicians to communicate directly with voters, bypassing the media. Franklin D. Roosevelt had fireside chats. John F. Kennedy harnessed television. Barack Obama employed Facebook and video, and was the first president to assume an official Twitter handle. We need to remember that a majority of the American public is not active on Twitter, Usher said. But Trumps most fervent supporters and most fervent detractors and the media are all just sitting there waiting for him to say something. Its been incredible at developing a captive audience that will carry his message. Any expectation Trump would cool it after winning the election has been squelched, though his first tweet Nov. 9, at 6:36 a.m., carried a unifying tone. Such a beautiful and important evening! The forgotten man and woman will never be forgotten again. We will all come together as never before. A day later he tweeted about a fantastic meeting with his predecessor and seemed tolerant of protests that popped up in cities across the country. Finally, observers said, he had achieved presidential decorum. But as demonstrations grew, along with questions of Russian meddling in the election and concerns about Trumps readiness, the bellicose side re-emerged. The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize! a Nov. 19 tweet demanded after the vice president-elect was lectured at a Broadway performance. On Nov. 29, the president-elect said flag burners should face jail time or loss of citizenship, stepping on constitutionally protected free speech. His early-morning post, retweeted 74,000 times, came after he apparently saw a Fox News segment about a demonstration at Hampshire College in Massachusetts. 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! wrote @realDonaldTrump on Dec. 6. Immediately after that 8:52 a.m. tweet, Boeing stock tumbled. Similarly, Trump sent Lockheed Martin stocks downward with a tweet about the cost of F-35 fighter jets. He has taken on carmakers, warning that if they take manufacturing jobs out of the country they will face a border tax. Auto executives have struggled to push back against the rapid-fire claims. We need clarity. None of us have had a tweeting president before, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters. Still, Trump has prompted action. Days before Christmas, he summoned Boeing and Lockheed Martin executives to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach to discuss bringing down costs. He also took credit for an announcement by Carrier Corp. not to move a plant to Mexico. The morning after House Republicans voted to gut the independent Office of Congressional Ethics, Trump tweeted his disapproval, helping reverse the move. Other pronouncements, however, have sent shock waves, none more than Trumps Dec. 22 tweet, sent from his Samsung Galaxy while at Mar-a-Lago: The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes. Aside from upending decades of policy, the casual use of Twitter made it even more striking. You wonder what our allies and others think when they see tweets that address very important issues, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said in an interview. The Chinese, the object of numerous Trump broadsides, called on him to quit Twitter. An obsession with Twitter diplomacy is undesirable, read a commentary this month in Chinese state-run media. Using tweets is modern day communication, I fully understand that, said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. But the way he does it has major consequences. I dont believe Donald Trump is going to change dramatically. Hopefully, hell accept advice more readily before he speaks. Trumps advisers seem powerless to intervene. I do not get a memo, Sean Spicer, his incoming press sectary, said at a forum last week. He drives the train on this. Trump inherited the official @Potus handle, which Obama used sparingly to communicate with nearly 13.4 million followers, but its not clear @realDonaldTrump will go away. He has reportedly expressed reservations about giving up his personal phone, as Obama did out of security concerns. A Quinnipiac University poll last week showed 64 per cent of voters think he should not keep a personal account. I dont have an issue with him using Twitter. Its a modern way of communicating, said Bryan Donathan, 33, an independent voter from Lutz who supported Trump despite lingering reservations. But there needs to be someone there watching him, telling him, Hey, you shouldnt say this or you shouldnt say that. Its sad you have to say that about a president but, unfortunately, thats the world we live in now. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONRex Tillerson, the former Exxon Mobil executive with close business ties to Russia, saw his prospects of becoming U.S. secretary of state brighten Sunday after gaining the support of two influential Republican senators who had wavered on the nomination. Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests, Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham said in a statement. Many Democrats and Republicans McCain, Graham and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida have questioned whether Tillerson has too many conflicts of interests to champion U.S. policy abroad, especially in Russia. As CEO of Exxon Mobil, Tillerson spoke out against U.S. sanctions levied on Moscow following its annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. The penalties cost the energy giant hundreds of millions of dollars. Further roiling the debate is U.S. intelligences assessment that Russia meddled in the presidential election to help Donald Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the White House race. McCain and Graham announced their decision before a vote Monday on Tillerson by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While McCain and Graham aren't committee members McCain leads the committee that oversees military policy, while Graham oversees a subcommittee on military personnel their signal of support could make it tougher for Rubio to remain a holdout. Their support also would make it tough for Democrats to peel off enough Republican votes to oppose his nomination. The Senate is divided by 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats; Tillerson's confirmation needs a simple majority. Graham told CBS Face the Nation that he was persuaded to back Tillerson after a private meeting with the nominee. According to Graham, Tillerson told him "when America doesn't lead, other people will, and the vacuum is always filled by bad actors. He said that we have to have a foreign policy that engages the world. We need to lead from the front." McCain said on ABCs This Week that he talked to Tillerson about his views on Russia and his duty heading a major corporation. Listen, this wasn't an easy call, McCain said. But I also believe that, when theres doubt, the president, the incoming president, gets the benefit of the doubt. Rubio, who challenged Trump for the GOP nomination last year, clashed with Tillerson at a hearing his month. Rubio bridled at Tillersons refusal to label Putin a war criminal or condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. He chided Tillerson over the need for moral clarity. Hours after Trump was sworn in on Friday, Rubio was tight-lipped, saying he would make his decision certainly before the vote Monday and that Tillerson's responses to written questions had addressed some of his concerns. The committee is narrowly split between 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats so Republicans must all hold together to vote Tillerson out favourably, unless he gets some Democratic backing. Still, a no vote from Rubio would not doom Tillerson's confirmation, because the nomination could go directly to the Senate floor even without a positive committee recommendation. But it would be an embarrassing rebuke to Trump just as his presidency gets underway, with questions swirling about his ties to Russia. Read more about: SHARE: A father and son accused of raping a teenage girl over a three-year period and keeping her shackled in a basement have made it clear that they dont have faith in the law or in the people who practice it. When they face an Ohio jury as they defend themselves against criminal charges that carry long prison sentences, they will rely on one book: The Bible. Timothy Ciboro and his son, Esten Ciboro, both of Toledo, are each charged with multiple counts of rape. The trial is scheduled to start this week, months after the girl, who is Timothy Ciboros stepdaughter, managed to unshackle herself and escape while her alleged abusers were gone, authorities said. During a hearing Friday, the Ciboros made the unusual request of having access to the Bible, which they plan to cite as they defend themselves in front of a jury. The Bible, Esten Ciboro told a judge, is the only law book that truly matters, the Toledo Blade reported. Theres a great deal of strategy in Scripture and I use those strategies in everything I do, Esten Ciboro told the judge, according to the Toledo Blades coverage of the hearing. Its a vital part of everything I do. Timothy Ciboro said he and his son intend to use Gods holy word to ask questions, questions that we believe are absolutely vital to our case, the paper reported. Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings has decided to allow the two to bring their Bible during the trial, but she told them that they cant use the book to question witnesses. Its the courts opinion that while the Bible is very important, it is not a law book in a court of law, Jennings said, according to the Toledo Blade. The Ciboros are accused of sexually assaulting the girl over a period of three years, from 2012 to 2015. They are each charged with three counts of rape, endangering children and kidnapping. Timothy Ciboro, who faces two additional rape counts, is also accused of sexually assaulting the girls younger sibling during the same time period, the Toledo Blade reported. The two men were arrested in May after the then-13-year-old girl escaped from the basement, where she allegedly was held for more than a year, authorities said. She was spotted about a mile and a half away, carrying a backpack and two bags, WNWO reported. She told police that she was fed spoiled leftovers and was forced to urinate in a bucket with ammonia. The Ciboros were charged with kidnapping and endangering children shortly thereafter. They were indicted on rape charges in September. The childs mother, Stafonda Hawkins, also was arrested on an unrelated parole violation, WTOL reported. The girl told police that her mother had left and that she had not seen her since 2012. The father and son have been adamant about representing themselves despite repeated pleas from attorneys that having a lawyer is in their best interest. During a hearing in November, Esten Ciboro said he would rather rely on his faith than on a lawyer. Professionals built the Titanic. Amateurs built the ark, he told Jennings, the judge, according to the Toledo Blade. Earlier, Jennings told Timothy Ciboro that he could not represent himself because of his strange behaviour in court. For example, during an October hearing at which he pleaded not guilty to rape charges, he said he was charged with offences against [his] children, WTOL reported. What are the offences that youre charged with against your children? Jennings asked. Bad things I dont want to talk about, your honour, Timothy Ciboro responded, according to WTOL. Ultimately, though, the judge allowed both defendants to represent themselves, with appointed defence attorneys on standby. This is not the first time that religion has been used, in some way, in a criminal case. Last year, for instance, an Indiana mother argued that her decision to beat her son with a hanger was driven by her religious beliefs. Kin Park Thaing, through her attorney, asked a judge to dismiss charges against her, arguing that Indianas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence in 2015, protected her from prosecution. An Indianapolis judge later denied Thaings request. She pleaded guilty to battery and was sentenced to a year of probation. In November, an Indiana man accused of not paying more than $1,000 in state income taxes also invoked the states controversial religious freedom law to avoid prosecution. Rodney Tyms-Bey argued that paying taxes imposed a burden on his religious beliefs, although he declined to say what those beliefs were or how, specifically, they were affected by paying taxes. Its unclear how Timothy and Esten Ciboro plan to use the Bible to aid their defence, or what part of it they plan to cite. SHARE: There were four deaths on the highway. My inaction and my silence would make me an accomplice. I do not want to be an accomplice. Cedric Herrou at his trial this month PARISIt was a split-second decision that would land Pierre-Alain Mannoni in court facing charges normally associated with human trafficking. Returning home from an evening out in La Roya rugged, mountainous back country near his home in Nice, inland from the Mediterranean Sea his friends invited him to see an old building appropriated by activists and NGOs. They were using the space to shelter migrants, mainly from Sudan and Eritrea, who had crossed the nearby Italian border. With more than 50 people in the abandoned SNCF railway building, they were running out of space. Mannoni was asked if he could take some people back to Nice for medical care. I hesitated because I was working the next day, but when I saw them the answer was clear. Three Eritrean girls appeared. They were all badly injured, one wearing a cast, another could barely walk. They had come by foot. You could see they were cold, frightened and in pain. They needed help. They didnt make it far. Stopped at the highway toll booth, Mannoni was arrested under Article L622-1 of Frances immigration law. It says anyone who facilitates or attempts to facilitate the illegal entry, movement or residence of a foreigner in France shall be punished by imprisonment for five years and a fine of 30,000. Often referred to as the crime of solidarity, the law has been used to prosecute people who support migrants and asylum-seekers. Rights group Gisti says it has documented a rise in the number of such cases going to court. Earlier this month, more than 100 NGOs, charities and labour unions signed a manifesto calling for an end to the criminalization of what they say is humanitarian activity. What were seeing is that all of the cases have one purpose, says Claudia Charles, a legal expert at Gisti, and thats to discourage any kind of support for the foreign population, be they migrants, Roma or asylum-seekers. Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said that if no one profits from the activity, there is no crime of solidarity. So I can tell you that for all the cases being pursued, in court, theyre cases where we believe there is a violation of the law. The lack of profit was crucial for Mannoni. The 45-year-old engineer and geography professor was acquitted last week thanks to another legal clause stipulating that one must benefit from the transaction a clear reference to human trafficking. However, the prosecution has appealed and called for a six-month prison term. Rights organizations say they have also documented a number of cases in which people supporting migrants have been prosecuted under other laws, including assault, defamation and insulting public officials. Related stories: After The Jungle burns, what happens to its lost boys? Britain builds another brick in the wall of intolerance: DiManno Europe scrambles to help homeless, migrants as deep freeze grips continent Green party councillor Jean-Luc Munro was riding his bike in a Roma camp near Lille last April when he was told to stop by police manning a roadblock. Munro says he was thrown from his bike and later charged with using violence against a public official with a weapon his bicycle. Theres been a real hardening against activists for a year and a half now, Munro told a local newspaper. Having documented a handful of such cases between 2012 and 2015, Gisti lists more than a dozen in 2016 alone, with several more going to court in the coming months. First framed in 1945 to tackle human trafficking, the law on the entry and residence of foreigners and the right of asylum was sometimes used under former president Nicolas Sarkozys administration to prosecute those who helped immigrants. In 2012, the new Socialist government vowed to turn the page. Our law cannot punish those who, in good faith, want to give a helping hand, said then interior minister Manuel Valls. Human rights groups accuse the government of going back on its word. Migrants sleeping rough complain of routine harassment by police dismantling their makeshift camps. Blankets are frequently confiscated, prompting Medecins sans Frontieres to take the rare step earlier this month of publicly denouncing police violence. MSF says it has treated several cases of hypothermia among migrants sleeping in the streets, and fears worse outcomes as the weather gets colder. The government and the city of Paris have set up new reception centres, including one last week for women and children in Ivry-sur-Seine, just south of Paris. But theyre temporary. And where shelter shortages persist in the capital, the south of France and near Calais, where The Jungle was dismantled residents and activists are taking matters into their own hands. Cedric Herrou began picking up hitchhiking migrants on either side of the Italian border and hosting them at his farm in Breil-sur-Roya, near Nice. Seeing that the tents and wooden cabins he erected were not enough, he brought travellers to the old SNCF building where Mannoni would later help the three Eritrean girls. With border security reinforced following last Julys massacre in Nice, asylum-seekers many of them teenagers were having difficulty getting through. Those who did arrived hungry and exhausted. I picked up kids who tried to cross the border twelve times, Herrou said at his trial earlier this month. There were four deaths on the highway. My inaction and my silence would make me an accomplice. I do not want to be an accomplice. Already awaiting next months verdict, which carries a potential eight-month sentence, Herrou was arrested again on Wednesday for transporting undocumented foreigners. Herrous van has been confiscated and he says he has been under surveillance and followed. Police check the identity of people visiting his house. Not that its had any effect on the farmer, who happily stands in photos surrounded by kids from Sudan and Eritrea. Whatever happens, Ill continue, he said before he was arrested this week. Its astonishing that human smugglers continue to pass through the real smugglers who get rich on the backs of others, while humanitarians are harassed in this way, said Herrous lawyer, Me Zia Oloumi. The authorities cant control the borders so theyre putting pressure on people in the valley to discourage them from supporting migrants, by detaining people and putting them on trial. The humanitarian crisis on Europes doorstep, and the resulting influx of migrants, has divided the country. La Roya a mountainous crossroads by which they try to make their way north undetected has come to epitomize the fractious fight. In December, local rights group Roya Citoyenne filed a formal complaint, accusing authorities of failing to honour their obligation to look after migrating teens suffering intensely. The next day, Eric Ciotti, president of Alpes-Maritimes Department, counterattacked. He denounced a handful of activists ... blinded by a far-left ideology for organizing the clandestine entry of foreigners across the French-Italian border. Then he assailed Herrou, whose rescue efforts and indifference to prosecution have made him a local hero. Who can say with certainty that of the hundreds of migrants that Mr. Herrou has proudly brought across the border, Ciotti wrote, there isnt hidden among them, a future terrorist? Similar divisions are playing out in the national arena in the approach to the presidential elections in April and May. Conservative front-runner Francois Fillon says he would not accept any more asylum-seekers than are being taken in now a fraction of the numbers accepted in Germany. Its crazy that we have reached this stage, says Mannoni. That Ive gone to trial for helping someone who is hurt! The government is criminalizing human charity. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONOpening his first official week in office, President Donald Trump warned business leaders Monday that he would impose a substantial border tax on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States, while promising tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. All you have to do is stay, he said during a morning meeting in the White Houses Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. The president also planned to sign multiple executive orders in the Oval Office, and by noon he had signed three major orders: A notice starting the U.S. withdrawal from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration; an order implementing a federal government hiring freeze; and an order reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. Trump called the move to scuttle the TPP a great thing for the American workers. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, hes aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. Some people say thats not free trade, but we dont have free trade now, Trump said Monday. The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, anywhere from 15 to 25 per cent. He also called for cutting 75 per cent of regulations, though he insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Trumps outreach effort comes after a tumultuous first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead but declared he believed they were ready. But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done, he said. We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history. Trump said his staff was in the White House not to help ourselves but to devote ourselves to the national good. This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. Its about serving the American people, he said. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests, first sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending the right to demonstrate a short time later. Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didnt these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly, Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I dont always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views, the president tweeted, still using his personal account. Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a common vision with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that hes set up meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Were going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA, he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Later in the week, hell address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONDoes President Trump have a foreign policy doctrine? The entire diplomatic corps in Washington wants to find out. Every day I send back the same cable saying, We dont really know, one foreign ambassador told the New Yorker. After the first weekend of Trumps presidency, we have a few clues. Trump believes in peace through strength and wants to revitalize an American military he claims is depleted. In his inaugural address, he vowed to defeat Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, and eradicate radical Islamic terrorism a phrase he is not afraid to repeat ad nauseam completely from the face of the earth. How his administration intends to achieve any of that remains to be seen. But there is one clear message to be heard: Trumps mantra of America First. The slogan has an unsavory past originally invoked by fascist sympathizers before the Second World War but Trump intends to recycle it for our uncertain modern times. Based on his own rhetoric, heres an early breakdown of what we think America First will mean for the world: No need for a moral superpower: The world must know that we do not go abroad in search of enemies, that we are always happy when old enemies become friends, and when old friends become allies, Trump said at his inauguration. It was a clear dismissal of the neo-conservative project that animated the Republican Party under George W. Bush the belief that the United States should actively seek to spread democracy and American values, even when theyre delivered via tank and Humvee. But Trump is not an isolationist, as he has sometimes been described. Rather, by banging the drum of America First, Trump is declaring an end not to American engagement with the world but to the long-familiar patterns of that engagement. Trump believes in the importance of nation-to-nation deals over multilateral trade pacts or any other international arrangements. Positions that were once the cornerstones of American diplomacy such as the One China policy or support for human rights and the rule of law could become mere bargaining chips to be traded away in some future bilateral deal. When Trump mentions old enemies becoming friends, you can imagine the president is pointing to Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin has cast a huge, troublesome shadow over American politics in the past year. Over the weekend, in fact, news broke that U.S. counter-intelligence agents have investigated connections between Trumps national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, and Russian officials. And the only old friend poised to become an even closer ally is Israel: Trumps coddling of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his proposed relocation of the American embassy to Jerusalem, will put the United States increasingly at odds with the rest of the international community. The siren song of nationalism: Trump sent shock waves through Europe last week when he deemed NATO obsolete and seemed to support the further disintegration of the European Union after having celebrated Britains move toward Brexit. Rather than reaching out to the politicians and leaders who have worked so closely with previous administrations, Trump has courted and drawn inspiration from Europes once-fringe extremists. Trump was the name on everyones lips at a meeting in the German city of Koblenz this weekend of top European nationalist leaders, a gathering that included a party founded by former Nazis. 2016 was the year when the Anglo-Saxon world woke up. And 2017, I am sure, will be the year of the awakening of the people of continental Europe, declared Marine Le Pen, the head of Frances far-right National Front and a genuine contender in the French presidential election in May. We are experiencing the end of one world and the birth of another, she went on. We are experiencing the return of nation-states. The primacy of the nation-state is at the heart of Trumps world view. He has invoked it to justify building a wall on Mexicos border, banning Muslim arrivals to the United States and turning the countrys back on the desperate plight of Syrian refugees. Similar anti-immigrant sentiment fuels Europes far-right and threatens the whole future of the European project. Trump, rather than defending old alliances and the Western liberal order, may cheer their continued unravelling from the sidelines. Trumps nationalism is an obvious European import, a blood and soil ethnic politics that the Republican Partys corporate-minded elite had kept at bay ever since importing its adherents from the Democrats in the 1960s, wrote Buzzfeed editor Ben Smith, after interviewing Trumps chief ideologue, Steve Bannon. Rejection of cosmopolitanism: Both Trump and Bannon rage against the globalism of urban elites. The jet-setting corporate executive (minus Trump himself), the well-heeled attendees of conclaves like the World Economic Forum, the E.U. technocrats in Brussels, the sophisticated Washington insider, the multicultural pop star on everyones Twitter feed all are villains in the grand populist tableau painted by Trump and Europes nationalists. These cosmopolitans, the argument goes, have obscured or neglected the real, forgotten men and women of the nation. Trumps thinly disguised ethnic nationalism is a total reversal of his predecessors projection of American power and values. Obama placed an emphasis on the interdependence of nations and the complexity of a 21st century world where no single country can call the shots. Critics say his cosmopolitan world view fell apart in the face of the sectarian tensions of the Middle East and the meddling of illiberal, authoritarian leaders like Putin people Trump believes he can do business with. Real power, Obama said in an interview last year, means you can get what you want without having to exert violence. The new American president has no such idealism. But how will this all translate into policy? Already, questions loom over the array of former generals and officers tapped to counsel the president on foreign affairs and national security. Trump has appointed a strong-willed national security team, some of whose views have already clashed with campaign bedrock, including an obsolete NATO, a wall with Mexico and common ground with Russia, writes Washington Post senior national security correspondent Karen DeYoung. How they will relate to each other, and to a White House with its own cast of powerful characters and a still-undefined hierarchy, remains unknown. Long before four years are over, perhaps as soon as the end of 2017, some of them will probably be gone. DeYoung lays out the immediate, complex problems facing the new administration: Early challenges will likely come from North Korea, which has promised to test a new long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to U.S. shores, and Ukraine, where U.S. and European sanctions against Russian intervention will have to be renewed or dropped. In Syria, a promised new counterterrorism alliance with Russia will have to be weighed against Russias alliance with Iran, even as more military spending and a possible trade war with China will require balancing against Trumps promised 4 per cent U.S. growth rate. And, as George W. Bush and Barack Obama discovered, the best-laid strategic plans tend to be disrupted by the unexpected. Read more about: SHARE: ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions got off to a rocky start Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in Kazakhstan that marked a major shift in the war's dynamics and confirmed Russia's role as regional heavyweight. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly 6-year-old civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syria's population. The talks are focused on shoring up a shaky ceasefire declared Dec. 30, not on reaching a larger political settlement. Syria's bitter divide was on vivid display as the delegates emerged from a closed, hour-long session marked by cold glances and sharp exchanges. Read more:UN backs Russian-Turkish efforts to broker deal as ceasefire wavers Syria's U.N. envoy Bashar Ja'afari said the opposition delegation represented "terrorist armed groups," and denounced the opening address delivered by the chief rebel negotiator, calling it "provocative" and "insolent." The head of the rebel delegation, Mohammad Alloush, had described Syrian President Bashar Assad's government as a "terrorist" entity. He called for armed groups fighting alongside it, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, to be placed on a global list of terrorist organizations, according to a video leaked by opposition delegates. "The presence of foreign militias invited by the regime, most notably the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Hezbollah ... contributes to the continuation of bloodshed and obstructs any opportunity for a ceasefire," Alloush said. Such outfits were no different, he added, than Daesh (also known as ISIS), which is excluded from the ceasefire. After an opening ceremony, both sides split and did not meet face-to-face again. The meeting later concluded until Tuesday. Still, it was a significant departure from past meetings, given the fact that Syria's government delegation sat opposite representatives of more than a dozen armed factions it describes as terrorists. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura mediated the talks, which are to be followed by more negotiations in Geneva next month. A year ago, he was shuttling between government and opposition delegations in separate rooms in Geneva, in talks brokered by the U.S. and Russia that led nowhere. The talks in Astana, a former Soviet republic, reflected the shifting dynamics in Syria since then, with Russia emerging as the main power broker and the U.S. relegated to the role of observer. The Trump administration is not directly involved because of the "immediate demands of the transition," the State Department said Saturday. The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, attended Monday's session at the luxury Rixos President Hotel, a Turkish-owned chain. The two sides were brought to the table by Russia and Iran, which have provided crucial support to Assad, and Turkey, a leading sponsor of the opposition. Turkey, whose president is embroiled in troubles at home, has recently improved ties with Moscow, raising hopes for a breakthrough. A political figure from the Army of Islam, a Saudi-backed group once singled out by Moscow as a terrorist group, leads the opposition delegation made up heavily of rebel factions, also a first. But the Syrian parties remain deeply divided on almost everything, including who is to blame for repeated ceasefire violations, and whether it should apply to the al-Qaida-linked Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside mainstream rebel factions. Ja'afari accused the opposition of "misinterpreting the idea of the cessation of hostilities," and defended a government offensive in the Barada Valley outside Damascus. The fighting there has cut off water to millions of the capital's residents for a month. The government, which has always portrayed the conflict as a war on terrorism, is hoping to win international support and potentially recruit rebel factions to help it battle extremist groups. Cabinet minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press in Damascus that the talks would "test intentions" on the ceasefire. The rebels are bitter over a string of territorial losses, including last month's defeat in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and former commercial centre. Russia, with its massive air power, and Iran, with thousands of Shiite militiamen in Syria, turned the war unequivocally in Assad's favour. With little room to manoeuvr, rebel groups, particularly those beholden to Turkish assistance and those operating in northern Syria, agreed to send representatives to Astana. The opposition delegation accused the government of undermining the talks to pre-empt any discussion of a political transition. Issam al-Rais, a representative of a rebel faction in southern Syria, said there would be "no need to go further (to discuss) a political transition" if the ceasefire could not be strengthened. He said opposition factions were discussing mechanisms to verify ceasefire violations with Turkey and Russia. Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the rebel delegation, said the opposition had a "productive" meeting with Russian and Turkish representatives in Astana, in the presence of de Mistura. He said the talks would conclude Tuesday. Russia's official news agency Tass said the final document for the talks is to call on Syria's rebels to distance themselves from Fatah al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria. Tass added the three countries would confirm their determination to jointly fight Daesh and Fatah al-Sham. The group works closely with other rebels and has called the meeting a "conspiracy" designed to divide the insurgents. Syria's conflict began with an Arab Spring-inspired uprising against the Assad family's four-decade rule and escalated into a civil war after the government violently cracked down on dissent and the opposition took up arms. The fighting is estimated to have killed more than 400,000 people since March 2011. In past talks, the rebels have insisted Assad step down as part of any peace plan, but his fate is not up for negotiation in Astana. In another departure, the opposition delegation is mainly drawn from armed groups, not civilian organizations. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said preserving the ceasefire will be "the most important issue" on the agenda, and that Tehran hopes the talks can pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Bahram Ghasemi suggested that discussions of a larger political settlement would have to wait. "Let's wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced Tuesday." As the Astana talks continued, Moscow and Washington engaged in a public dispute Monday over whether the U.S.-led coalition was now working with the Russian military in Syria. A Russian Defence Ministry statement said that its warplanes had flown a joint mission with coalition aircraft, attacking IS targets near the city of al-Bab. The statement said that Russian forces in Syria had received co-ordinates of Daesh targets near al-Bab on Sunday "from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters." That claim was almost immediately denied by the U.S. military. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, labelled the Russian claim as propaganda. U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. does have routine "deconfliction" talks with Russia to avoid unintended aerial incidents in Syria's crowded skies. But Davis says there have been no changes to that arrangement, and the U.S. has insisted for months that it has no co-ordination or sharing of targets with Russia. Later in the day on Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said new U.S. President Donald Trump was willing to work "with Russia or anybody else" to defeat Daesh. Read more about: SHARE: President Donald Trump makes frequent false claims about matters big and small. The Star is trying to keep track of all of them. Please contact Daniel Dale at ddale@thestar.ca if Trump says anything you know is false or you think should be checked. 1. Jan. 20, 2017 Post-inauguration Liberty Ball The claim: I looked at the rain, which just never came. We finished the speech, went inside, it poured its like God was looking down on us. In fact: The rain began right at the beginning of Trumps speech. During the inauguration itself, the Rev. Franklin Graham told Trump, Mr. President, in the Bible, rain is a sign of Gods blessing. And it started to rain, Mr. President, when you came to the platform. 2. Jan. 20, 2017 Post-inauguration Salute To Our Armed Services Ball The claim: Even the media said the crowd was massive that was all the way back down to the Washington Monument. In fact: The major media reported that the crowd was much smaller than Barack Obamas two inauguration crowds, though in line with the inaugurations of other Republicans. The crowd did not come close to reaching the Washington Monument. 3. Jan. 21, 2017 Speech at Central Intelligence Agency headquarters The repeated claim: Honestly, it looked like a million and a half people. Whatever it was it was, but it went all the way back to the Washington Monument. Later: all the way back to the Washington Monument, was packed. In fact: The crowd, which may not have even been half a million people strong, did not come close to reaching the Washington Monument. 4. Jan. 21, 2017 Speech at Central Intelligence Agency headquarters The repeated claim: It was almost raining, the rain should have scared em away, but God looked down and He said, were not going to let it rain on your speech. In fact, when I first started, I said oh no. First line, I got hit by a couple of drops, and I said this is too bad but the truth is that, it stopped immediately, it was amazing, and then it became really sunny. In fact: Neither of these claims is true. The rain did not stop immediately, and the sky then remained cloudy. 5. Jan. 21, 2017 Speech at Central Intelligence Agency headquarters The claim: So a reporter for Time magazine and I have been on their cover, like, 14 or 15 times. I think we have the all-time record in the history of Time Magazine. Like, if Tom Brady is on the cover, its one time, because he won the Super Bowl or something, right? Ive been on for 15 times this year. I dont think thats a record, Mike, that can ever be broken. Do you agree with that? In fact: Trumps numbers are well off. He has been on the cover 11 times, Time told Politico, which is not even close to a record: Richard Nixon was on 55 covers. Even if we generously give Trump a pass here he said he was on covers like 14 or 15 times, and he wasnt sure if he had a record he his claim about this year is flat wrong. Trump was on eight covers in 2016 and another one on the 2017 week he was speaking here so either eight or nine total, depending on how you count, not 15. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWASetting itself apart from a never-say-die Japan, Canada resigned itself to the death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Monday after President Donald Trump made good on his promise to pull the United States out of the trade pact. Trump called getting out of the TPP a great thing for the American workers as he signed an executive order formally removing the U.S. from the controversial 12-country Pacific Rim deal. There was no immediate comment from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who are in Calgary for a two-day cabinet retreat where how best to deal with the Trump team is the main preoccupation. Canada had been taking a wait-and-see approach to the TPP, with the Liberal government launching a sweeping consultation that appeared designed to postpone a decision until the U.S. resolved the question of whether or not to take part. Read more: New trade relationship with U.S. may be outside NAFTA framework: Ambassador The 5 false things Donald Trump has already said as president Trump properties face global terror risk with presidency, experts warn New lawsuit alleges Trump businesses violate constitution Asked whether the government believes the deal can be salvaged, Freeland spokesman Alex Lawrence would only say, The agreement cannot enter into force without the United States. Japan, however, continued to cling to the hope that there was room to salvage the deal by changing Trumps mind. A TPP without the U.S. would be incredibly difficult, but we do have a window until 2018, when the treaty needs to be ratified, Yoshihide Suga, a top adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, told American broadcaster CNBC. We believe we still have an opportunity to convince the U.S. about the importance of free trade. Abe has personally met Trump to push the merits of the deal. Japan has also urged fellow TPP countries, including Canada, to push Trump to reconsider. Thats a message the Japanese reinforced earlier this month to the Liberal chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee during his visit to Japan. Japan called on Canada and other countries to ratify the TPP in their respective parliaments as soon as possible and have everybody on board, and through that have a form of pressure on the American administration, Liberal MP Bob Nault said in a recent interview. Canada has instead told Japan it would like to reopen talks on bilateral trade deal, Nault said. Japan isnt reopening any bilateral trade talks with TPP countries because that wouldnt help it press its case with the new Trump administration. Abe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull affirmed their support for the TPP during a Jan. 14 meeting, said Tony Negus, Australias high commissioner to Canada. Negus said Monday Australia was disappointed by Trumps decision. Our view has always been that the TPP is a high-quality modern trade agreement that has commercial and strategic value for all 12 countries that signed up to it. One Canadian trade expert said Trumps decision heralds more trouble on trade, including the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It reflects a disdain for open markets and liberalized trading arrangements and the manifestation of Mr. Trumps America First policy, Toronto trade lawyer Lawrence Herman said of the decision. It signals storm clouds ahead for the NAFTA. Canada needs to be prepared if the U.S. decides to pull the plug on that deal. It remains unclear if Trump would seek individual deals with the 11 other countries in the TPP, a group that includes Canada and represents roughly 13.5 per cent of the global economy, according to World Bank figures. Canadas trade department said in a study last year that the TPP would generate more than $4 billion in long-term GDP gains for the Canadian economy but would lead to the loss of $5 billion if it did not join the deal. Canadas participation in the TPP was cemented by the previous Conservative government two weeks before they lost power in the October 2015 federal election. The incoming Liberals affirmed they, too, were ardent free traders, but said they wanted to consult widely before the deal was implemented. The Liberals have also said the TPP would not survive the withdrawal of the U.S. With files from the Associated Press Read more about: SHARE: The meeting, called at 11.30 am on January 30, will be aimed at reaching a consensus at presenting the Budget, which has been challenged by the Opposition. By India Today Web Desk: Shortly after the Supreme Court said the Union Budget will be presented as planned on February 1, the government today said it has called an all-party meeting on January 30 to discuss the Parliament session starting the next day. The meeting, called at 11.30 am next Monday, will be aimed at reaching a consensus at presenting the Budget, which has been challenged by the Opposition since it falls three days before Punjab and Goa vote, and ten days before the crucial Uttar Pradesh polls begin. advertisement The Centre has already decided to convene the Budget Session of Parliament from January 31 to present the Budget for 2017-18 fiscal the very next day. ALSO READ | Budget to be presented on February 1, says Supreme Court in setback for Opposition ahead of Assembly elections The Opposition parties including Congress and TMC had approached the Election Commission against presentation of the Budget just hours before the first of the five states goes to poll on February 4. The government has assured the Election Commission that it will refrain from making any announcements pertaining to poll-bound states. ALSO READ | Opposition parties to meet President today, to raise Budget Session clash with poll dates The government has also defended its move to advance the 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. According to the schedule, the first part of the Budget Session of Parliament will start on January 31 with President Pranab Mukherjee's address and the tabling of the Economic Survey, which sets the scene for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's fourth annual budget to be presented the next day. ALSO READ | Supreme Court to hear plea to postpone Union Budget today: All you need to know WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBAAnd there we go. With those words eight years ago, then U.S. president Barack Obama capped the pen he had used to sign one of his first executive orders: close Guantanamo. One year. America would regain the moral high ground. The Oval Office erupted in cheers. Well, here we are now, same place, different story. The first Guantanamo hearings held under the Donald Trump administration are scheduled to start this week at the offshore prison the new president has vowed not only to keep open, but to load up with some bad dudes. Who exactly those dudes may be or the legal justification for bringing them here is unclear. But on Monday Guantanamo was open for business again as court staff, journalists, relatives of 9/11 victims and lawyers arrived on a flight from Marylands Andrews Air Force Base for pretrial hearings in the death penalty case against the alleged architects of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The historic war crimes prosecution has been called the trial of the century, although lawyers who are representing the five defendants often say it is more like a case that will take a century to try. Not on the flight was defence lawyer Cheryl Bormann, lead counsel for Walid bin Attash. She broke her arm over the weekend and requires surgery, but the military judge for the case, army Col. James Pohl, denied a request to delay the proceedings. Her absence may seem like just another minor stumbling block for a trial that gets pushed two steps back for every one forward. (Bormann was the lawyer who once delayed proceedings by claiming there were listening devices hidden in smoke alarms in Guantanamos meeting rooms undermining the sacrosanct principle of lawyer-client confidentiality. She was chided for peddling conspiracy theories until her claims were proven true.) But without Bormann in court this week, bin Attash no longer has learned counsel for a capital murder case, one of the rules of Guantanamos controversial military commissions. He could waive that right, but not without consultation, the other defence teams argue. Its like if youre sitting in the doctors office and the nurse walked in and says the doctors not here but I and the janitorial staff have been talking and we really dont think you need surgery, David Nevin, who represents alleged 9/11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, said in an interview Monday. Were in la-la land again in the largest criminal investigation and the most complex criminal investigation in the history of the country. The lead prosecutor on the 9/11 case, Brig.-Gen. Mark Martins, cautioned journalists in a Monday night briefing to stay tuned this weeks hearings are more complicated, and a Wednesday morning session will shed more light on why the judge is pushing forward. And yet in broad terms, la-la land has always been an apt description for this place of contradictions, Orwellian language and Kafka references; where the Geneva Conventions dont apply until they do, and there are $10,000 fines for harming an iguana, but a history of detainee torture; where interrogations are called reservations; and where being convicted of a war crime is often a faster way off the island than being held without charges. So much has defied logic here, and the fear for some is that in Trumps alternate fact world, logic may matter even less now. Since this prison opened 15 years ago, there have been more than 780 men and teenagers held here and only eight military commission cases concluded. Half of them have been partially or completely overturned in U.S. federal courts, and appeals for the others, including one by lawyers for Canadian Omar Khadr, are ongoing. Go back to January 2009 during Obamas inauguration, and the cast in Guantanamo was much the same; a planeload of court observers and journalists had come to observe the hearings for the 9/11 accused. But just after midnight on Jan. 21, 12 hours after Obama was sworn in, everything changed and the tent city surrounding the courthouse known as Camp Justice was buzzing with activity as news leaked that Guantanamo hearings were all on indefinite hold. The next day Obama signed that order to close the prison. And there we go as if it would be that easy. Saturday Night Live didnt wait long to spoof the camps closure. Hoods! Blindfolds! Shackles! Chains! Dog bowls for people! shouted the mock guard, holding up the prison paraphernalia. If its used to humanely detain or interrogate prisoners, weve got it! Were passing the savings on to you! There was some skepticism about Obamas ambitious timeline, but little doubt he would shutter the prison that had become a worldwide symbol of abuse. Like now, anything seemed possible then. But Obama failed due to his own early missteps, and then was overtaken by the politics of a Republican-led Congress that blocked any detainees from setting foot on U.S. soil. While the population today is only 41 at a cost annually of more than $10 million per detainee to keep them here Obama lamented his failure to close this prison right up to his final days in office. While he famously said, Its not who we are, he stopped short of exercising his executive power to unilaterally shut the prison and defy Congress. Now Guantanamo belongs to Trump and no one knows exactly what this era will bring. Theres a saying that the left takes Trump literally but not seriously and the right takes him seriously but not literally, says Nevin. So when he says were going to bring back waterboarding and a hell of a lot worse, most people hear, I intend to violate the Convention Against Torture. The other side hears, I plan to get tough on terrorism. So what the hell is going to happen next? Nevin says about the future of the Guantanamo or the 9/11 hearings. I have no idea. Follow Michelle Shephard on Twitter @shephardm Read more about: SHARE: In the current Western anti-Putin environment, its tough perhaps even hazardous to suggest he may have had grounds for his aggressive position with Ukraine. And even if there may be some rationale for his Ukraine intervention, what about the email hacking into the U.S. election and the numerous allegations of domestic fraud, oppressive treatment of opponents, even murder? None of these latter accusations, if proven, can be excused or defended. But what about Ukraine, where the Western sanctions appear to have escalated, rather than reduced, East-West tensions, and in the opinion of some knowledgeable internationalists, have increased the risk of revival of the Cold War? Its difficult to find in our media much non-partisan, evidence-based analysis of the reasons for the growing escalation of conflict with Russia over the last decade. However, Foreign Affairs, the highly-respected bimonthly international publication, has devoted considerable space to this matter. In its September/October 2014 issue, following the imposition of sanctions by the West, the distinguished political science professor at the University of Chicago, John Mearsheimer, wrote a scathing piece entitled Why the Ukraine Crisis is the Wests Fault. His supporting contentions include the following. In the mid-1990s President Clinton began advocating NATOs eastern expansion to contain Russia when Mearsheimer says there was no evidence there were expansionary risks. As proposed by the U.S., however, NATO did move east, in 1999, bringing in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland; in 2004, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia; and since then has continued to openly target both Ukraine and Georgia. This expansion was opposed by many Western international realists, perhaps most prominently and ironically by the architect of postwar Soviet containment, the diplomat George Kennan. Following NATOs first round of expansion, he is quoted as saying, I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely and it will affect their policies. I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatever. No one was threatening anyone else. The European Union, Mearsheimer also observes, has also been moving eastward under its Eastern Partnership Initiative, aimed at fostering greater prosperity in adjacent countries. In March of 2014, the President of the European Commission is quoted as saying, We have a debt, a duty of solidarity (to Ukraine) and will work to have them as close as possible and in June, the EU and Ukraine signed an economic agreement that the previously democratically elected and Putin-supported Ukrainian President Yanukovych had rejected. As well, the U.S. Government is said to have bankrolled by more than $5 billion the anti- Russian National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for more than 60 projects aimed at promoting civil society in Ukraine. NEDS president, Carl Gershman, is quoted: Ukraines choice to join Europe will accelerate the demise of the ideology of Russian imperialism that Putin represents. Those also actively promoting Ukraines membership in NATO included vice-president Joseph Biden, senator John McCain, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the then-current U.S. Ambassador in Kyiv. Foreign Affairs has devoted roughly equal space to other internationalists with views conflicting with those of Mearsheimer, who is described by one opponent, Michael McFaul, as one of the most consistent and persuasive theorists of the realist schools of international relations. McFaul of the Hoover Institute and Stanford University, Stephen Sestanovich, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union and other published authors advance the opposing democratic theory repetitively expressed by our media. This emphasizes Putins expansionary objectives, as well as the implication that to negotiate with Putin a territorial invader flouting national sovereignty, a fraudulent, anti-democratic, criminally irresponsible leader risks repeating the tragic folly of the Munich negotiations with Hitler. To be clear Mearsheimer does not support Russian interference in, much less control of, Ukraine. He concludes that the West should switch gears and work to create a prosperous but neutral Ukraine that serves as a buffer state and avoid the troublesome Russian justification for its actions, namely that it is motivated by precisely the same concerns that led the Kennedy administrations response to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 i.e., an unwillingness to having a nation associated with a powerful adverse military entity on its geographic doorstep. Despite his appalling public performances to date, is it conceivable that President Trump has a supportable notion about the preferred approach to this critical Russian issue? Tim Armstrong, a lawyer and former Ontario deputy minister of Industry and Trade, was agent general for the Asia-Pacific Region and now chairs the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada. Read more about: SHARE: As Donald Trump was presumably practising his presidential oath last week, scientists published new data that show once again that, despite what the newly inaugurated president has said, climate change is not a Chinese hoax. In 2016, the earth exceeded record temperatures, just as it had in 2015 and 2014 before that. The trend is consistent with scientists longstanding, gloomy warnings and its consequences are being felt the world over. The issue of climate change is every day becoming less and less abstract. In the Arctic, fall temperatures ran 10 to 15 degrees C above normal numbers one NASA analyst described as ridiculously off the chart causing unprecedented melting of sea ice and throwing communities into chaos. Africa has been beset by drought and famine. Rising oceans are threatening most of the worlds coastal communities. Extreme weather events are happening with increasing frequency, taking a great human toll and costing cities billions of dollars every year. A new study out of Princeton University suggests that, in Canada, the planets warming will give us a gift of a few extra nice days every year over the coming decades. Thats the good news. The bad news: the process is expected to ravage our fisheries, transform our forests into prairies, melt the Rocky Mountain glaciers, cause floods and fires, bring drought in some areas, wash away crops in others, and wreak sundry other havoc. Still, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus, the new president clearly isnt convinced. Trump has threatened to undo his predecessors admirable progress on heat-trapping emissions by backing out of the Paris Accord, defunding environmental science and putting a climate denier at the head of the countrys environmental agency. During his inaugural address, he did not mention climate. Immediately afterwards, his administration took down the White House climate change webpage and replaced it with a vow to deregulate the oil industry. All of that is reason for the world to worry. Even just four years of American backsliding would pose a threat to the Paris goal of keeping global warming to under 2 degrees C over the next century. Moreover, by lending official credence to climate denialism, Trump risks spreading skepticism and thus eroding the always fragile political will to act. Here in Canada we already have a very vocal community of deniers who will no doubt also be emboldened. They will make the case, as they always have, that we should take our lead from the U.S. on climate action, which in todays context means retreat. Trump has clearly given new energy to those who are looking for any excuse to undo whatever progress weve made and yet again delay the inevitable transition to a greener economy. We are already hearing voices calling on Ottawa to defer to Trumps expected environmental approach. For example, many have argued in recent months that, in the face of the U.S. presidents promised embrace of fossil fuels, Ottawa should kill its proposed floor price on carbon. Its complete insanity, said interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, that we would kneecap our own economy, and put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage with a carbon tax across this country when we know that the Americans would never do that. A country such as ours, with high heating costs and strong resource-based industries, may be particularly fertile breeding ground for climate procrastination. The temptation to retreat is great, but the costs of doing so even greater. As many have pointed out, its not clear we have much choice but to act. Besides our moral obligation as the worlds worst climate offender on a per-capita basis, besides the international standing we risk losing by failing to live up to our commitments, there is our medium-term economic self-interest to consider. Trump aside, a global consensus is emerging that the costs of inaction on climate change far outweigh those of the fight against it. This is changing the calculus of national interest. China, choked by air pollution, has aggressively invested in renewable energy, driving the price of wind and solar power precipitously down. Last year, renewables matched fossil fuels for the first time both in price and power capacity. As countries seek to meet and be seen to meet their climate targets, demand for the sort of energy on which Trump seems poised to bet big is bound, even if slowly, to decline. Justin Trudeau made few friends in Alberta when he said recently that the oilsands would eventually that is, probably, over the very long term have to be phased out. But his point was not just a moral one; it was also simply descriptive. We need to manage the transition off of our dependence on fossil fuels, he said in Peterborough, Ont. Thats in part because a countrys long-term competiveness, including but not only in the $5-trillion global energy business, depends on its ability to look beyond fossil fuels and foster clean-tech and alternative-energy innovations and industry. Clearly there are real and difficult debates to be had about the pace of change and how to manage the short-term costs, both economic and human, of the necessary transition. But the transition is necessary. And not just morally. If Trump doesnt get on board, it will be he, not Trudeau, who is ceding the competitive advantage. Read more about: SHARE: Parents in rural Ontario are struggling with the new reality that local schools are closing, forcing young children to spend two hours or longer on a daily bus commute. Thats no way to get an education. Its also not a healthy way to live. For a government that promotes daily exercise and school hubs as vibrant centres of community life, the threat of some 600 school closures is oddly counter-intuitive. As the Stars Kristin Rushowy reports, school boards across Ontario are struggling to deal with a declining student population. Many boards are targeting small rural schools for closure, even though their enrolment is often higher than schools in larger centres. Some young children trudge up the bus stairs at 7:15 a.m. and dont get back home until after 4 p.m. Andrea Elgar told Rushowy that her daughters commute will grow longer if plans to close Honey Harbours only two elementary schools come to fruition. Its not just the long hours that are detrimental, says Elgar, but the total disconnect from local life. If you take the kids and put them in a community they have no connection to, they wont have the opportunity to get to know the community, Elgar said. Its a key point that government officials seem to be missing. Education Minister Mitzie Hunter must show leadership on this issue and ensure that all Ontario children can access education without suffering hardship from rampant school closures. There are creative ways to achieve school equity. For example, some boards in northern Ontario cap bus commutes to 30 minutes each way for young students, 45 minutes for middle schools and one hour for high schools. Other boards leave small town schools alone and make cuts in larger centres that already have multiple schools. In an imperfect world, these practices make sense. The education ministry should enshrine methods like these in universal guidelines, instead of allowing the current ad hoc approach. When parents protested at Queens Park late last year, they cited problems with the ministrys new funding formula that focuses on enrolment numbers rather than student success or community life. Education Minister Hunter pointed out that the ministry now requires community consultation. But the closures keep coming. As NDP MPP France Gelinas said, Kids are longer on the bus than they are in school learning.... It makes it really hard to make kids like going to school. Its hard to argue with that. For many children, hours spent on a dreary bus ride are hours they cant be in extra-curricular sports, clubs or just playing shinny. Ontario must do better, for the sake its children. SHARE: Re: Two richest men as wealthy as poorest 30 per cent, Jan. 16 Two richest men as wealthy as poorest 30 per cent, Jan. 16 It is telling that this news report was not a front-page headline in the Star. As if the world needed any more data on the abject failure of capitalism and the neoliberal free market experiment, Oxfam has released yet another report once again documenting the egregious and unconscionable wealth of a minuscule number of individuals in Canada and around the world. Report after report has documented the skyrocketing expansion of inequality around the globe and the inexorable march of wealth to the top of the social ladder. If capitalism were a new drug being developed to cure cancer and it failed in all but a few cases out of billions it would be abandoned immediately but we continue to prescribe the economic thalidomide of capitalism to the worlds population without remorse. However, despite this overwhelming and incontrovertible evidence, the world media, economists and politicians seem blase regarding its dismal and destabilizing failures and the deep and comprehensive reforms that are needed to ensure that global wealth is shared equitably. There are no front-page hue-and-cry headlines calling this an economic crisis or extended coverage of this issue on the news channels. This gross status quo inequality seems to be accepted and normalized as an inherent part of capitalism that cannot be changed. In fact, with the election of Donald Trump in the United States, the American public has decided to firmly put on its rose-coloured glasses and double-down on the neoliberal nightmare of cancer capitalism. Despite this political St. Vitas Dance, there is a desperate need for a government regulated, moderated and managed economic system that is actively structured to serve the needs of all in society as the historian and economist Karl Polanyi asserted. Such a system places clear limits on wealth accumulation and claws back excess wealth and profits through progressive taxation. If we were smart enough to invent capitalism, we are smart enough to invent its replacement. It is time to radically change our global economic system to serve the needs of humanity, not a few humans. Robert Bahlieda, Newmarket Do you find it amusing that we the public anxiously follow the media to be aware of the daily interaction between nations, cultures, religions, terrorists, politics and, oh yes, economies? Such a multitude of players in mankinds unfolding history and future. But perhaps theres really only 16 based upon the knowledge (and fact) that eight men own half the worlds wealth. Perhaps there are 16 players served by millions who accommodate them for reward while billions of others live in war and death and poverty and the rest of us are relegated to being blocks of pieces on an endless series of game boards that lead to millions of winners and billions of losers just sayin, perhaps. But history says nations fade as empires rise. And our supposed representatives in governments are silenced by their parties who serve the players and their accommodators. Global democracy with globalization is sadly our paradise lost because globalization without global democracy is the globalization of poverty. Ask yourself this. When it comes to big banks, big business, big oil, big money (non-pursuit of offshore accounts) and big talk, is Justin Trudeau really that much different than Stephen Harper? Randy Gostlin, Oshawa Earls and barons shall be fined only by their equals, and in proportion to the gravity of their offence. The Magna Carta (21.1) The Star editorial stating that the one concrete way to start the fight against equality is to close offshore and in-shore tax loops was like a nauseating blast of hot platitude. Why so negative? Taxing the extremely selfish is toying with a symptom but not tacking the root cause. Its through no fault of their own that these men have become symbols of stark inequality. Sorry, but it is clearly the fault of these men who see no reason why they cannot hold the world in their tight grip. Having more money than you can spend is fundamentally wrong, having the means to insure that privilege through family foundations, removes any doubt about having no fault. The quotes from Oxfam international were pleasant to hear, however, stating the one cause of that will bring about equality would have been even better, give everyone the opportunity to achieve their own legacy. Yes simple, but it would mean accepting fundamentally that we are all made of the same material. John Oliver, Ennismore SHARE: Re: Not too fonda actor's antics, Letter Jan. 16 Not too fonda actor's antics, Letter Jan. 16 Celebrities like Neil Young, Leonardo Di Caprio and, lately, Jane Fonda are frequently insulted and maligned by oil sands supporters when these stars dare to mention the negative aspects of fossil fuel extraction and offer sustainable alternatives. Their luxurious lives and jetsetter travel are emphasized to reinforce accusations of hypocrisy. Further, the celebrities are dismissed as ignorant on the subject of climate change and indifferent to the welfare of oil workers and their families. Its safe to predict that these same oil sands boosters would heap uncritical praise on any wealthy movie star or musician willing to publicly support unlimited fossil fuel extraction. This leads me to conclude that the real sin of celebrity critics is not scientific ignorance or hypocrisy but merely daring to express a contrary opinion during difficult times. I might add that Albertas situation need not have been so strained. The province once considered using oil royalties to create a Norwegian-style public fund to draw upon in hard times. But advocates of short-term profit prevailed; Ralph Klein and later premiers drained the fund and working people are now encouraged to turn vocal celebrities into Hollywood Red Herrings. Morgan Duchesney, Ottawa SHARE: Samsung Electronics (SSNLF) shares rose firmly in Seoul Monday after the company confirmed that battery faults were the cause of fires and other problems that led to its Galaxy Note 7 recall. However, while the company said it had put procedures in place to avoid a similar fiasco with its planned Galaxy 8 smartphone launch, the head of its mobile division said the new phone won't be ready for launch at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona later next month. "The lessons of this incident are deeply reflected in our culture and process," said Koh Dong-jin during a press conference in Seoul Monday. "Samsung Electronics will be working hard to regain consumer trust." Samsung shares closed 2.31% higher at 1,903,000 won each Monday against a broader 0.02% gain for the benchmark KOSPI Composite index. As expected, Samsung said its internal probe into the recall discovered that odd-sized batteries were the cause of overheating and fires that ultimately killed the company's flagship smartphone and cost the company more than $6 billion. Samsung said the investigation also ruled out faults in either the software and the hardware of the Note 7, suggesting similar failures would not plague the Galaxy 8 launch. Both Reuters and The Wall Street Journal had reported that irregular-sized batteries were the cause of the fires, which began to gain media attention shortly after their August 2016 launch. A Samsung affiliate, Samsung SDI, and Amperex Technology of Hong Kong were the two main suppliers of Galaxy Note 7 batteries, The Wall Street Journal reported. Neither firm was mentioned by name in the Monday press conference, however. Samsung is also slated to finalize itsfourth-quarter profits Tuesday after indicating earlier this month that the bottom line will likely top analysts' forecasts as strong chip and display sales offset the Galaxy Note 7 mess. Samsung expects profits for the three months ending in December to rise around 50% from the same period last year to 9 trillion won ($7.8 billion). Revenue will likely fall 0.6% from the same period last year, Samsung said on Jan. 6 , to around 53 trillion won, but the strength of the U.S. dollar -- the currency in which global chip sales are typically transacted, and which rose 8.8% against the Korean currency during the quarterly period -- helped support profits. Travellers in the U.S. and Europe faced a series of disruptions late Sunday and into the start of the week after a software glitch halted United Airlines traffic and London's Heathrow Airport cancelled more than 100 flights amid intense fog in the British capital. Heathrow airport said Monday that it had cancelled around 100 of its 1,300 scheduled flights owing to limited visibility at the west London airport. Late Sunday in the United States, a computer error led to a so-called "ground halt" for United Airlines, resulting in the cancellation of domestic flights for United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL) subsidiary for over an hour. The ground stop was lifted by around 02:00 GMT, although the company's last communication on the disruption, a Tweet sent at around 03:00 GMT, cautioned that "additional delays" are expected. United Continental is the third-largest carrier in the U.S., operating more than 4,500 flights a day, with a fleet of more than 720 mainline aircraft. American Airlines, the country's largest, offers an average of 6,700 flights each day on its nearly 950 aircraft. Delta Air Lines has 830 aircraft. Continental shares closed at $75.24 each Friday in New York, up 1.65% on the session, extending their three-month gain to more than 35.2%. Qualcomm (QCOM) could face mounting risks to its planned $47 billion purchase of Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductor (NXPI) due to a wave of recent investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, according to Nomura analysts, who downgraded the chip giant's stock to "neutral" from "buy" this morning. Qualcomm expects the NXP deal to close at year's end, but fresh antitrust claims from the U.S. FTC may end up delaying the regulatory approval process, the firm noted. Nomura also reduced Qualcomm's stock price target to $70 from $80. The FTC said last week it was suing Qualcomm for allegedly violating antitrust laws and using anticompetitive tactics in its licensing practices. Apple (AAPL) has since filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Qualcomm, alleging it overcharged for licensing patents. Shares of Qualcomm were sliding 12.2% to $55.19 on Monday morning, while those of NXPI were down 1.2% to $96.61. "It seems inconvenient that, amid increased scrutiny into [licensing], Qualcomm requires regulatory approval for the NXPI acquisition from many of the same countries where it has outstanding regulatory complaints/litigations," Nomura contended. Jim Cramer and Jack Mohr, who own NXPI in the Action Alerts PLUS charitable trust portfolio, wrote in a recent post that the Qualcomm/NXP merger could face some regulatory hurdles and that if the deal falls apart, other buyers may be "ready to pay up" for NXP. Qualcomm would need approval from the U.S., China (the company in 2015 faced $975 million worth of fines to settle antitrust claims), Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the European Union, the firm added. Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission and the EU have both opened antitrust investigations into Qualcomm. "...We believe it is logical to assume that the regulatory agencies in the U.S., Europe and Asia might take longer to approve the NXPI deal that, among other things, will strengthen the company's position in wireless," Nomura explained. The company has a history of "favorably resolving" legal issues with manufacturers and regulators globally, the firm said, but they typically take a long time to settle. For example, Nokia (NOK) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Qualcomm in 2005, and that case wasn't resolved until 2008. As a result, Qualcomm could face a lengthy settlement road ahead, generating "increased uncertainty" around the timing of the accretion and diversification benefits from the NXPI acquisition, Nomura said. Many Wall Street analysts have looked favorably at the NXP deal as a way for Qualcomm to diversify its revenue stream, of which licensing comprises a significant share. NXP's semiconductors are widely used in automobiles, while Qualcomm has mostly been focused on smartphone chips. Qualcomm's technology licensing business contributes about 80% of the company's total corporate profit before taxes, according to Credit Suisse analysts. This Assamese hamlet has not been affected by 2016's note ban as the dealings here are totally cashless since 500 years now. By Press Trust of India: Cashless transactions may be the latest buzzword in the country's economic arena, but in a small hamlet about 32 km from Guwahati, members of Assam's Tiwa tribe meet every year to carry out an unique trade fair where the dealings are totally cashless. The system of barter trade has been kept alive for more than five centuries by the Tiwas, a tribe of Central Assam and neighbouring Meghalaya, who hold the three-day annual fair in the third week of January in Assam's Morigaon district. advertisement Popularly known as the Junbeel Mela, meaning moon (Jun) and wetland (beel), as the fair is held beside a large natural water body shaped like a crescent moon. Also read: Delhi: 48-year-old man beaten up for criticising Modi's demonetisation drive Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who attended the just concluded fair, said people have a lot to learn from these practices of the Tiwas which exemplify the cashless tenets of the modern day society. He also announced that a permanent plot of land for the fair would be allotted so that the historic event can continue to thrive in the future and tourism receives a boost to benefit the local people. "On the occasion of the mela, a big market is held here where these tribes exchange their products in barter system which is perhaps the only such instance in the country," secretary of Junbeel Mela Development Samiti, Jur Sing Bordoloi said. Also read: Demonetisation: Due to cash unavailability, East Delhi residents decide to worship ATM A few days before the fair, members of Tiwa, Karbi, Khasi and Jaintia tribes come down from the neighbouring hills with various products. The products usually traded during the fair include ginger, bamboo shoots, turmeric, pumpkin, medicinal herbs, dried fish and pithas (rice cakes). --- ENDS --- Guess?, Inc. designs, markets, distributes, and licenses lifestyle collections of apparel and accessories for men, women, and children. It operates through five segments: Americas Retail, Americas Wholesale, Europe, Asia, and Licensing. The company's clothing collection includes jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, shorts, blouses, shirts, jackets, activewear, knitwear, and intimate apparel. It also grants licenses to design, manufacture, and distribute various products that complement its apparel lines, such as eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids' and infants' apparel, outerwear, fragrance, jewelry, and other fashion accessories, as well as to wholesale partners to operate and sell products through licensed retail stores. The company markets its products under the GUESS, GUESS?, GUESS U.S.A., GUESS Jeans, GUESS? and Triangle Design, MARCIANO, Question Mark and Triangle Design, a stylized G and a stylized M, GUESS Kids, Baby GUESS, YES, G by GUESS, GUESS by MARCIANO, and Gc brand names. It sells its products through direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and licensing distribution channels. As of January 29, 2022, the company directly operated 1,068 retail stores in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its partner's distributors operated an additional 563 retail stores worldwide. The company also offers its products through its retail websites. Guess?, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Dunelm Group plc retails homewares in the United Kingdom. The company offers furniture and beds products, which include bedroom, living room, dining room, and other furniture, as well as bed and mattresses, and sofas and chairs; bedding products comprising bed linen, dorma, baby and kid's bedding, and duvets, pillows and protectors; curtains and rugs; and venetian, roller, roman, vertical, and made to measure blinds. It also offers range of home decor products, such as mirrors, clocks, ornaments, pictures and frames, candle and home fragrance, flower and plants, vases, kid accessories, cushions, bean bags, and letterbox flowers, as well as housewarming, engagement, anniversary, and wedding gifts; lighting products, including ceiling and wall lights, table and desk lamps, floor lamps, and pendants and lamp shades; and paint, wallpaper, DIY and upcycling, and haberdashery products. In addition, the company provides kitchen and utility products comprising cooking, dining, electrical, utility, and pet products; towel and bathmats, and bathroom accessories, as well as furniture and decor products; storage products, such as travel and luggage, home, clothes, and kitchen storage; kids bedroom, nursery, and accessories products; outdoor products, which include garden furniture and decoration, and entreating and dining products; and trends christmas products and winter essentials. It operates through a network of 177 stores and 2 distribution centers, as well as sells its products through an online store at dunelm.com. Dunelm Group plc was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Syston, the United Kingdom. KBR, Inc. provides scientific, technology, and engineering solutions to governments and commercial customers worldwide. The company operates through Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions segments. The Government Solutions segment offers life-cycle support solutions to defense, intelligence, space, aviation, and other programs and missions for military and other government agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Its services cover research and development, advanced prototyping, acquisition support, systems engineering, cyber analytics, space domain awareness, test and evaluation, systems integration and program management, global supply chain management, and operations readiness and support, as well as command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services. This segment also provides various professional advisory services to deliver high-end systems engineering, systems assurance, and technology to customers across the defense, energy, and critical infrastructure sectors. The Sustainable Technology Solutions segment holds a portfolio of approximately 70 proprietary process technologies for ammonia/syngas/fertilizers, chemical/petrochemicals, clean refining, and circular process/circular economy solutions. This segment also includes advisory and consulting practices that focuses on energy transition and net-zero carbon emission consulting; and provides engineering, design, and professional services, as well as industrial solutions through KBR INSITE, a proprietary, digital, and cloud-based operations and maintenance platform that identifies opportunities for clients to achieve sustainable improvements in production, reliability, environment impact, energy efficiency, and profitability. KBR, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The following companies are subsidiares of Quanta Services: (De) Lazy Q Ranch LLC, 1 Diamond LLC, 1Diamond AS, 618232 Alberta Ltd., 8246408 Canada Inc., Advanced Electric Systems, Advanced Electric Systems LLC, Advanced Utility Testing & Maintenance LLC, Alexander Publications LLC, Allteck GP Ltd., Allteck Limited Partnership, Apprenticeship Programs Inc., Arby Construction, Arcanum Chemicals LLC, Arnett & Burgess Oil Field Construction Limited, Arnett & Burgess Pipeliners (Rockies) LLC, Arnett & Burgess Pipeliners Ltd., B&N Clearing and Environmental LLC, Banister Pipelines Constructors Corp., Banister Pipelines Constructors GP Ltd., Banister Pipelines Limited Partnership, Brent Woodward Inc., Brink Constructors Inc., Brink Constructors Inc. A Corporation Of South Dakota, Brown Engineering and Testing, CAT SPEC Ltd., CAT-SPEC Limited Partnership, CAT-SPEC Limited Partnership (Regd Name) CAT SPEC Ltd., CAT-Spec Limited Partnership, Canadian Utility Construction Corp., Cat Spec Limited LP, Cat Spec Ltd, Cat Spec Ltd. L.P., Cat Spec Ltd. LP, Cat Spec. Ltd. LP, Cat-Spec Ltd (A Domestic limited Partnership), Cat-Spec Ltd LP, Cat-Spec Ltd., Cat-Spec Ltd. L.P., Cat-Spec Ltd. LP, Cat-Spec Ltd. Limited Partnership, Catalyst Changers Inc., Chatham Electric, Citadel Industrial Services L.P., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd. L.P., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Coe Drilling Pty Ltd., Computapole, Conam Construction Co., Consolidated Power Projects Australia Pty Ltd, Conti Communications Inc., Crux Subsurface Canada Ltd., Crux Subsurface Inc., Cutting Technology - 1 Diamond LLC, DB Utilities Inc., DE Lazy Q Ranch LLC, DNR Pressure Welding Ltd., Dacon Corporation, Dashiell (DE) Corporation (Dashiell Corporation), Dashiell Corporation, Dashiell Corporation DBA Dashiell (DE) Corporation, De Mears Group, De Mears Group Inc., Delaware Quanta Technology LLC, Delaware Underground Construction Co., Didado Utility Company Inc., Digco Utility Construction L.P. Digco Utility Construction Limited Partnership, Dorado Specialty Services L.P., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd. L.P., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Dorado Specialty Services. Ltd. L.P., Driftwood Electrical Contractors, EHV Power ULC, ELITE PIPING & CIVIL L.P., ELITE TURNAROUND SPECIALISTS LTD, Elite Fabrication Ltd. Elite Fabrication LP, Elite Piping & Civil Limited Partnership, Elite Piping & Civil Limited Partnership, Elite Piping & Civil Lp, Elite Piping & Civil Ltd L.P., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd. L.P., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd. Limited Partnership, Elite Piping and Civil L.P., Elite Turnaround Specialists L.p., Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Lp, Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Partnership, Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Partnership, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd Lp, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd., Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. L.P., Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. LP, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. Limited Partnership, Energy Consulting Group LLC, Enscope, Enscope Pty Ltd, FIC GP LLC, Field Personnel Services LLC, First Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC, First Infrastructure Capital GP L.P., Five Points Construction Co., G-Tek, G-Vac, GEM Engineering Co., Grand Electric Inc., Great Lakes Line Builders, Grid Creative Inc., Grid Manufacturing Corporation, Grid Training Corporation, H.L. Chapman Pipeline Construction Inc., Haverfield Aviation, Haverfield Aviation Inc., Haverfield International Incorporated, Heritage Midstream LLC, IM Electric Inc., IUC ILLINOIS LLC, IUC Nebraska LLC, InfraSource Construction LLC, InfraSource Field Services LLC, InfraSource Services LLC, InfraSources Construction LLC, Infraestructura ETP de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V, Infrasource Engineering Company PC, Infrasource Iowa Underground LLC, Infrasource Of Pa LLC, Integracion Tecnologica del Peru SAC, Intermountain Electric Inc., Intermountain Electric Inc. A Corporation of Colorado, IonEarth LLC, Irby Construction Company, Irby Construction Company Inc., Iron Mountain M.J. Electric LLC, Island Mechanical Corporation, J.C.R. Construction Co. Inc., J.C.R. Utility Construction Co., J.W. Didado Electric Inc., J.W. Didado Electric LLC, J.w. Didado Electric, JBT Electric LLC, Kingston Contracting Inc., Lazy Q Ranch LLC, Lazy Q Training Center LLC The Lazy Q Lineman School, Legend Foundation Services, Lex Engineering Ltd., Lindsey Electric L.P., Logical Link, Longfellow Drilling, M. G. Dyess Inc., M. J. ELECTRIC LLC IRON MOUNTAIN, M. J. Electric LLC, M. J. Electric LLC - Iron Mountain, M. J. Electric LLC DBA M. J. Electric Iron Mountain LLC, M.J. Electric LLC DBA M.J. Electric Iron Mountain, M.J. Electric LLC Iron Mountain, MTS Field Services, MTS Field Services (Richmond Co), MTS Quanta LLC, Manuel Bros. Inc., Marathon Construction Services, Mears Canada Corp., Mears Equipment Services LLC, Mears Group Inc., Mears Group Pty Ltd, Mears Installation LLC, Mearsmex S. de R.L. de C.V., Mejia Personnel Services LLC, Mercer Technical Services, Microline Technology Corporation, Mid America Energy Services Inc., NACAP Niugini Ltd., NC Northstar Energy Services Inc, NGI Construction, NGI Construction Inc., NGI Construction Inc. (FN), NLC CA. Inc., NLC FL. Inc. Northwest Lineman Center, NLC ID. Inc. Northwest Lineman College, NLC TX. Inc., NPC Energy Services LLC, Nacap Australia, Nacap PNG Limited, Network Communication Services, North Houston Pole Line L.P., North Houston Pole Line Limited Partnership, North Sky Communications, NorthStar Energy Services Inc., Northern Powerline Constructors Inc., Northstar Energy Solutions LLC, Northwest Lineman Center, Northwest Lineman College, Northwest Lineman Training Center, Northwest Lineman Training Center Inc., Nova Constructors LLC, Nova Constructors LTD, Nova Equipment Leasing LLC, Nova Group Inc, Nova Group Inc (CA), Nova Group Inc., Nova Group Inc. DBA NGI Construction, Nova NextGen Solutions LLC, O. J. Pipelines Canada Corporation, O. J. Pipelines Canada Limited Partnership, O.J. Industrial Maintenance, O.J. Pipelines Canada, One Call Locators Canada Ltd., P.D.G. Electric, PAR Electrical Contractors Inc., PDG Electric Co., Par Internacional S. de R.L. de C.V., Performance Energy Services Guyana Ltd., Performance Energy Services L.L.C., Phasor Engineering Inc., Phoenix North Constructors Inc., Phoenix Power Group Inc., Potelco Inc., Potelco Incorporated, Power Delivery Program Inc., Price Gregory International Inc., Price Gregory Services LLC, Probst Construction Inc., Probst Electric Inc., QEPC, QEPC Power Solutions LLC, QES GP LLC, QP Energy Services LLC, QPS Engineering LLC, QPS Engineering LTD., QPS Engineering PLLC, QPS Environmental, QPS Flint Construction, QPS Flint Tank Services, QPS Global, QPS Global Services, QPS Global Services (Richmond Ci), QPS Professional Services, QPSE, QS Mats, QSI Engineering Inc., QSI Finance (Australia) Pty Ltd., QSI Finance (Cayman) Pvt. Ltd., QSI Finance Canada ULC, QSI Finance GP (US) LLC, QSI Finance I (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., QSI Finance I (US) LP, QSI Finance II (Australia) Pty Ltd., QSI Finance II (Lux) S.a r.l, QSI Finance II (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., QSI Finance III (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance III (Lux) SARL, QSI Finance IV (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance IX (Canada) Limited Partnership, QSI Finance V (US) L.P., QSI Finance VI (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance VII (Canada) Limited Partnership, QSI Finance VIII (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance X (Canada) ULC, QSI Inc., QSN Lux Holdings I SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings II SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings III SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings IV SCSp, QTSL LLC, QUANTA FOUNDATION SERVICES, Quanta APL GP II Ltd., Quanta Asset Management LLC, Quanta Associates L.P., Quanta Aviation Services LLC, Quanta Canada GP ULC, Quanta Canada Holdings III Limited Partnership, Quanta Canada Holdings LP, Quanta Canada III GP Ltd., Quanta Capital GP LLC, Quanta Capital LP L.P., Quanta Capital Solutions Inc., Quanta Cares, Quanta EPC Services, Quanta Electric Power Construction LLC, Quanta Electric Power Construction Management Inc., Quanta Electric Power Services LLC, Quanta Electric Power Services West LLC, Quanta Energized Innovations Ltd., Quanta Energized Services U.S. LLC, Quanta Energized Services of Canada Ltd., Quanta Energy Services LLC, Quanta Environmental Solutions, Quanta Equipment Company LLC, Quanta Government Solutions Inc., Quanta Holdings I (Netherlands) B.V., Quanta Holdings II (Netherlands) B.V., Quanta Infraestructura de Chile SpA, Quanta Infrastructure Services LLC, Quanta Infrastructure Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Quanta Inline Devices LLC, Quanta Inspection Services, Quanta Insurance Company Inc., Quanta International Holdings (US) LLC, Quanta International Holdings II Ltd., Quanta International Holdings Ltd., Quanta International Limited, Quanta Kingsvale LP Ltd., Quanta Lines Pty Ltd., Quanta Maine Services LLC, Quanta Middle East LLC, Quanta Pipeline Services Inc., Quanta Power Australia Pty Ltd, Quanta Power Generation Inc., Quanta Power Inc., Quanta Power Solutions India Private Limited, Quanta Resource Development, Quanta Services Africa (PTY) Ltd., Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd., Quanta Services Chile SpA, Quanta Services Colombia S.A.S., Quanta Services Costa Rica Ltda., Quanta Services Guatemala Ltda., Quanta Services International Holdings II LP, Quanta Services International Holdings LP, Quanta Services Management Partnership L.P., Quanta Services Netherlands B.V., Quanta Services Panama S. de R.L., Quanta Services Peru S.A.C., Quanta Services Puerto Rico LLC, Quanta Services of Canada Ltd., Quanta Subsurface Canada Ltd., Quanta Subsurface LLC, Quanta Tank Services, Quanta Technology Canada ULC, Quanta Technology LLC, Quanta Technology UK Ltd., Quanta Tecnologia do Brasil Ltda., Quanta Telecom, Quanta Telecom Services, Quanta Telecommunication Services, Quanta Telecommunication Services LLC, Quanta Telecommunications Services LLC, Quanta Underground Services, Quanta Underground Services (Culpeper Co), Quanta Underground Services (Spotsylvania Co), Quanta Underground Services Inc., Quanta Utility Engineering Services Inc., Quanta Utility Installation Company Inc., Quanta Utility Operation LLC, Quanta West LLC, Quantecua Cia. Ltda., R. R. Cassidy Inc., RMS Holdings LLC, RMS Holdings LLC (Delaware), RMS Welding Systems, RMS Welding Systems LLC, Ranger Directional, Realtime Engineers Inc., Realtime Utility Engineers Inc., Redes Andinas de Comunicaciones S.R.L., Riggin & Diggin Line Construction, Rms Welding LLC, Rms Welding Systems LLC, Road Bore Corporation, Ryan Company Inc. The, Ryan Company Inc. of Massachusetts, Ryan Company Inc.(The), Seaward, Seaward Corp, Seaward Corporation, Service EC (DE) Inc., Service Electric Company (DE), Service Electric Company Inc., Service Electric Company of Delaware, Servicios Par Electric S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios de Infraestructura del Peru S.A.C., Southwest Trenching Company Inc., Specialty Tank Services L.P., Specialty Tank Services LP, Specialty Tank Services Limited Partnership, Specialty Tank Services Limited Partnership, Specialty Tank Services Ltd., Specialty Tank Services Ltd. (LP), Specialty Tank Services Ltd. L.P., Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, Specialty Tank Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold General LLC, Stronghold Holdings (BVI) Limited, Stronghold Inspection L.P., Stronghold Inspection Limited Partnership, Stronghold Inspection Limited Partnership, Stronghold Inspection Lp, Stronghold Inspection Ltd L.P., Stronghold Inspection Ltd., Stronghold Inspection Ltd. L.P., Stronghold Inspection Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Limited Partnership, Stronghold Ltd., Stronghold Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Management Holdings LP, Stronghold Specialty General LLC, Stronghold Specialty Ltd., Stronghold Specialty Ltd., Stronghold Specialty Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Tower Group LP, Stronghold Tower Group Ltd LP, Stronghold Tower Group Ltd., Stronghold Tower Group Ltd. LP, Stronghold VI LLC, Subterra Damage Prevention Specialists Ltd., Summit Line Construction, Sumter Utilities Inc., T. G. Mercer Consulting Services Inc., TA Construction, TC Infrastructure Services Ltd., Taylor Built, Texas Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, The Aspen Utility Company LLC, The ComTran Group Inc., The Hallen Construction Co. Inc., The Massachusetts Ryan Company Inc., The Ryan Company Inc Of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Inc., The Ryan Company Inc. (Massachusetts), The Ryan Company Inc. of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Incorporated of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Of Massachusetts Inc., The Ryan Company of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company of Massachusetts (FN), Tom Allen Construction Company Inc., Tom Allen Construction Company of Delaware, Trans Tech Electric, TurnKey Automation Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Ltd., TurnKey Automation Ltd. Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Ltd. Limited Partnership, TurnKey I&E Ltd., Turnkey Automation Ltd. L.P., Turnkey Automation Ltd. LP., UCC Underground Construction Co. Inc., Ucc - Underground Construction Co., Underground Construction Co. Inc., Underground Construction Co. Inc. (Delaware), Underground Electric Construction Company LLC, Utilco Inc., Utility Fleet Services, Utility Line Management Services Inc., Utility Testing & Maintenance LLC, Utility Training Services Corporation, VALARD Polska sp. Z o.o., Valard, Valard, Valard Construction (Ontario) Ltd., Valard Construction (Quebec) Inc., Valard Construction 2008 Ltd., Valard Construction Australia Pty Ltd, Valard Construction LLC, Valard Equipment (AB) Ltd., Valard Equipment GP Ltd., Valard Equipment Limited Partnership, Valard Geomatics (Ontario) Ltd., Valard Geomatics BC Ltd., Valard Geomatics Ltd., Valard Mechanical Ltd., Valard Norway AS, Valard Sweden AB, Valard Zagreb d. o. o., Wade D. Taylor Inc., West Coast Communications, Winco Helicopters, Winco Inc., Winco Inc. an Oregon Based Corporation, Winco Powerline Services, Winco Powerline Services Inc., Winco Powerline Services Inc., Winco Services Inc., World Fiber Inc., and mmit Line Construction Inc.. Read More Versum Materials, Inc. develops, manufactures, transports, and handles specialty materials for the semiconductor and display industries in the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Europe, and rest of Asia. The company operates through two segments, Materials, and Delivery Systems and Services (DS&S). The Materials segment provides specialty chemicals and materials used in semiconductors, as well as specialty gases used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, including high purity process materials for deposition, metallization, chamber cleaning, and etching; chemicals mechanical planarization slurries; organosilanes; organometallics and liquid dopants for thin film deposition; and formulated chemical products for post-etch cleaning primarily for the manufacture of silicon and compound semiconductors, and thin film transistor liquid crystal displays. The DS&S segment develops, designs, manufactures, and sells bulk gas, specialty gas, and specialty chemical cabinets and systems, which are used to manage the delivery of key materials into the semiconductor manufacturing process; and flow and temperature control systems and analytical systems to capture data. It is also involved in the project management for installation and startup of the gas and chemical delivery systems, and inventory management; and provision of spare parts, equipment upgrades, equipment maintenance, and training services. In addition, this segment offers on-site services to assist customers in managing the inventory of gases and chemicals comprising ordering, product changes and monitoring, quality assurance, operation of delivery systems, and managing the bulk gas and specialty gas operations. Versum Materials, Inc. was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. United Rentals, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental company. It operates in two segments, General Rentals and Specialty. The General Rentals segment rents general construction and industrial equipment includes backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, and material handling equipment; aerial work platforms, such as boom and scissor lifts; and general tools and light equipment comprising pressure washers, water pumps, and power tools for construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and government entities. The specialty segment rents specialty construction products, including trench safety equipment consists of trench shields, aluminum hydraulic shoring systems, slide rails, crossing plates, construction lasers, and line testing equipment for underground work; power and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment, such as portable diesel generators, electrical distribution equipment, and temperature control equipment; fluid solutions equipment for fluid containment, transfer, and treatment; and mobile storage equipment and modular office space. This segment serves construction companies involved in infrastructure projects, and municipalities and industrial companies. It also sells aerial lifts, reach forklifts, telehandlers, compressors, and generators; construction consumables, tools, small equipment, and safety supplies; and parts for equipment that is owned by its customers, as well as provides repair and maintenance services. The company sells used equipment through its sales force, brokers, website, directly to manufacturers, and at auctions. The company operates a network of 1,360 rental locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. United Rentals, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd.. Read More The United Breweries Group also confirmed raids by the CBI officials. By Indo-Asian News Service: The CBI on Monday arrested four former IDBI Bank officials, including a former Chairman, and four former executives of now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines in its ongoing probe into the Vijay Mallya loan default case, officials said. A senior Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official requesting anonymity told IANS: "The agency on Monday arrested former Chairman of IDBI Bank Yogesh Agarwal from Delhi and three other former employees -- S.K.V Srinivasan, O.V. Bundelkhand and Sridhar -- from other places." advertisement "The four former employees of the Kingfisher Airlines, who were also arrested included its former CFO A. Raghunath, Shailesh Borkar, Amit and A.C. Shah," the official said. Earlier in the day, the CBI raided at over 11 places in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Confirming the searches by the investigating agencies at its offices in Bengaluru, UB Group in a statement said: "A CBI team visited the UB Group offices in Bengaluru today (Monday) and we are fully cooperating with them." Also read | Mumbai court refuses to issue non-bailable warrant to Mallya, but asks him to be present on September 3 --- ENDS --- The Jat leaders blaming the respective governments for not fulfiling their demands have said they would vote against the BJP in the polls. By Ajay Kumar: As political temperature soars in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Assembly Polls, the Jat bodies in Haryana and western UP have decided to resume their agitation for reservation from January 29. The Jat leaders blaming the respective governments for not fulfiling their demands have said they would vote against the BJP in the polls. They have also blamed the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana for not fulfiling what it had promised during the agitation in February 2016. advertisement Several districts in western UP like Saharanpur, Shamli, Mujjafarnagar, Bullandshahar, Meerut, Bagpat etc, have a large population of Jats and polarisation of these votes will be crucial for the election results. Polling in these districts is scheduled in first and second phase. BJP is already feeling the heat over demonetisation and if Jat community would go against the party, it will badly hit political equations for BJP. Hindu Jats and Muslims have significant numbers in these districts and they have the capability to turn election results in favour of particular party. SP, BSP and especially Ajit Singh's RLD are keeping close watch over the development in Haryana. Ajit Singh is a strong Jat leader from the region. The Jats of Haryana have also been garnering support from 250 Jat dominant villages of Delhi. The community leaders of Delhi organised a meeting at Nangloi's Sir Chotu Ram Dharamshala in which representatives of all 250 villages unanimously decided support the agitation for getting Other Backward Class (OBC) status.Also read | Jat reservation: SC quashes Centre's review plea "The BJP government in Haryana cheated us last time. They made false promises and convinced us to end agitation. It has been nearly one year but the promises remain unfulfilled. Moreover, they also filed court cases against us and booked Jat youths for damaging private and government properties," said Yashpal Malik, a prominent Jat leader. He claimed that Jats of western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana are united this time and they will not come under political influence of the current government. Release of Jat youths and bringing the community under OBC category will be the issues of discussion during the meeting. The agitations will start on scheduled date in 19 districts having by and large rural background. They have decided to keep Gurugram, Panchkula and Mewat out of the agitation as the first two cities are cosmopolitan urban cities, while Mewat is dominated by Muslim community. Jat dominated districts in Haryana like Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad will be the centre of agitation and anticipating violence, adequate security arrangements are being put in place by the local police.Also read | Jats boiling over reservation issue, will protest if necessary --- ENDS --- advertisement No Ukrainian soldiers were killed but four were wounded in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine over the past day. Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said this at a press briefing on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. No Ukrainian soldiers were killed, but four were wounded over the last day, Motuzianyk said. iy Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman says that the Ukraine Investment Promotion Office will help monitor business environment in every region of Ukraine and if any problems or obstacles to business activities occur, Government will eliminate them. The Ukrainian premier stated this during todays meeting dedicated to the economic development of regions, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. Weve created some innovations that are introduced to monitor business, including a VAT refund register, an electronic office of tax payer, as well as a number of innovations that will enable business to operate more freely. With regard to monitoring, the monitoring is needed in the context of every region, Groysman said. iy Ukraine is interested in expanding bilateral trade with the Czech Republic and open for offers from Czech colleagues. Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Kutovyi has stated this during his meeting with Czech Agriculture Minister Marian Jurecka within the framework of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin, the press service of the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry reports. The systematic mutually beneficial development of trade and economic relations in the agro-industrial sector is important for Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Foreign trade turnover came to $40.2 million over eleven months of 2016. We should work to increase it, Kutovyi said. According to him, the promising areas of bilateral cooperation include crop farming (breeding and seed growing), veterinary medicine and phytosanitary science. In our phytosanitary operations, we strictly follow international requirements and international standards for phytosanitary measures, preventing the entry of pests into countries. Currently, there have been no outstanding issues related to plant and crop product trade between Ukraine and the Czech Republic. All issues are resolved on a routine basis at the level of national services, Kutovyi noted. At the end of the meeting, Kutovyi invited the Czech agriculture minister to take part in the 'Agro Animal Show 2017' international exhibition in Kyiv and the opening ceremony of the Ukrainian-Czech Agricultural Forum scheduled for February 15, 2017. mk The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has launched analytical checks of information about candidates who applied for the position of a judge of the Supreme Court, the NABU press service reports. The exchange of information takes place in line with the law and is intended to assist the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine to provide the Supreme Court with specialists who have no corruption past, reads a report. On September 30, 2016, the judicial reform was launched in Ukraine after amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine came into force with regard to the judicial power and the law "On Judicial System and the Status of Judges". According to the amendments, the Supreme Court is the highest court in Ukraine and its composition is to be formed of judges elected during an open competition. iy Ukraine appreciates the support of Estonia, including its position regarding the support for sovereignty and territorial integrity. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this at a joint briefing with President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid in Tallinn, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. As Poroshenko noted, the firm position of Estonia and the European Union on the support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine, the position of non-recognition of Russias annexation of Crimea, as well as strong condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine in the east further strengthen "our strategic alliance." ol Ukrainian MP Georgiy Logvinskiy has been elected as Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. PACE members unanimously supported the candidacy of the Ukrainian parliamentarian, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "It's a huge honor, pride, and responsibility for me. The post of the Vice President and the member of the PACE Bureau is the highest position at the international parliamentary arena in the history of Ukraine," Logvinskiy wrote on his Facebook page. He assured that he would now make every effort to further support Ukraine, restore its integrity, protect the human rights. ol President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid in Tallinn today during an official visit by the President of Ukraine to Estonia. This has been reported by the press service of the Head of State. "We discussed development of the economic cooperation between two countries and improvement of the investment climate in our state. We noted the need to accelerate holding of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Estonian Commission on trade, economic and scientific and technical cooperation," Poroshenko said after talks with the President of Estonia. President Poroshenko also noted the importance of Estonia's strong support for the position on granting visa-free regime to Ukrainians, as well as the position to accelerate the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and to provide Ukraine with macro-financial assistance. The presidents noted the intense cooperation between NATO and Ukraine in the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Commission. President Poroshenko thanked Estonia for its solid contribution in support for the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) for Ukraine. ish President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid have agreed that the sanctions against the Russian Federation may be canceled only after full Russias implementation of the Minsk agreements and adherence to the international law. This is said in the joint statement of the two presidents made following their meeting in Tallinn, the press service of the Ukrainian Head of State reports. "The two presidents agreed that restrictive measures towards Russia can be lifted only when Russia adheres to fundamental principles of international law and implements the Minsk agreements," the statement reads. Petro Poroshenko and Kersti Kaljulaid underlined the value of cooperating closely in international fora including the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. They emphasized the prospects for supporting each others candidatures and for implementing common priorities, such as supporting security and human rights in Europe. "President Kersti Kaljulaid has expressed continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and Estonia's commitment to the EU's overall policy response to Russian aggression," the statement reads. President Kaljulaid stressed that Estonia is a firm supporter of Ukraines further European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Estonia remains committed to advancing the Eastern Partnership, which will be a priority of Estonias upcoming Presidency to the Council of the EU in the second half of 2017. The Presidents called for a swift decision on granting visa-free travel to Ukrainian citizens, for which Ukraine has fulfilled all conditions. ol UNICEF/UN043206/Romenzi To access downloadable video and photo content from the series, visit: http://uni.cf/2jt2WHi BEIRUT, 23 January 2017 A new interactive documentary providing an intimate look into the lives of Syrian school-aged children living as refugees in Lebanon was launched by UNICEF today. #ImagineaSchool provides a first-hand account of the challenges Syrian refugees face in their struggle to access education. UNICEF released the stories of 19 children to coincide with the start of the Helsinki forum on the humanitarian situation in Syria (23 - 24 January), with the aim of bringing a human face to the challenges being discussed at the conference. Around half of Syrian school-aged children in Lebanon - 187,000 - are out of school. The country hosts the largest number of refugees per capita in the world. Instead of getting an education, thousands of Syrian children, some as young as six years old, are working in agriculture, factories, construction and on the streets. UNICEF and the Government of Lebanon have provided more than 150,000 Syrian refugee children with access to public schools. To get more children into quality learning, UNICEF is appealing for US$240 million for education programmes in Lebanon for 2017. Poverty, social exclusion, insecurity and language barriers are preventing Syrian children from getting an education, leaving an entire generation disadvantaged, impoverished and at risk of being pushed into early marriage and child labour, said UNICEF Lebanon Representative Tanya Chapuisat. Working with the government, donors and partners, we have managed to get nearly half of Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon into learning. Now its time to reach the other half so that every child gets a chance to get a quality education, said Chapuisat. The interactive documentary, which was filmed in 2016, was co-produced by UNICEF and an award-winning team of storytellers from Vignette Interactive. Photos were captured by World Press Photo winner, Alessio Romenzi. "Listening to children's stories and realizing the role that education plays in dealing with their plight, was heart-breaking. In the photos, I worked to capture how much going to school means to them hoping that my work could help them make a simple dream come true, Romenzi explains. The title, #ImagineaSchool, was created by 10-year-old Assia, and 13-year-old Dyana, who feature in the series, both of whom have never been to school. I imagine a school to be very beautiful. With paintings of girls and boys on the walls, said Dyana. Globally, education continues to be one of the least funded sectors in humanitarian appeals. In 2015, humanitarian agencies received only 31 per cent of their education funding needs, down from 66 per cent a decade ago. During the World Humanitarian Summit, held in May 2016, a new global funding platform, Education Cannot Wait, was launched to bridge the gap between humanitarian interventions during crises and long-term development afterwards, through predictable funding. ### Notes to Editors: To access downloadable video and photo content from the series, visit: http://uni.cf/2jt2WHi To watch the interactive series, visit: www.imagineaschool.com To watch the #ImagineaSchool making of video, visit: http://bit.ly/2iL2PWj For more information about UNICEF Lebanon and its work for children visit www.unicef.org/Lebanon/ Follow UNICEF Lebanon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) Children from the north-eastern states today dominated the National Bravery Awards which was presented by Prime Minister Modi to 25 children chosen from across the country for their outstanding acts of valour. The Bharat Award Winner, who is given a gold medal, was given posthumously to 8-year-old Tarh Peeju from Arunachal Pradesh. The youngest winner lost her life while rescuing two of her friends who were swept away by strong currents while crossing a river. advertisement 10- year-old Thanghilmang Lunkim from Nagaland was also awarded for rescuing his brother in similar circumstances. Another young and daring girl from Mizoram, H. Lalhriatpuii, too won another Bapu Gaidhani Award posthumously for coming to the aid of her cousin caught in a car rolling down a hill, disregarding her own safety. While she managed to save her cousin Lalhriatpui was run over by the car and succumbed to her injuries. Roluahpuii, a 13-year-old girl from Mizoram, was also honoured with Bapu Gaidhani award posthumously, for saving two school friends from drowning in a river. Moirangthem Sadananda Singh, a 14-year old from Manipur, was recognised for rescuing his mother from an electric shock. Five of the awardees are from the North-Eastern states. Among the 20 other winners was also a 12-year resident of Jammu and Kashmir who lost her life while trying to protect three students during flash floods last year. One of the most daring acts was perhaps committed by Anshika Pandey from UP who was able to escape an abduction bid through her sheer bravery and fearlessness. The National Bravery Award is given to children between the ages of six to eighteen years and are divided into four main categories- Bharat Award, Sanjay Chopra Award, Geeta Chopra Award, Bapu Gaidhani Award, and General National Bravery Awards. The Geeta Chopra Award this year went to two girls - Tejasweeta Pradhan and Shivani Gond- for exposing a trafficking racket and the Sanjay Chopra Award was given to Sumit Mamgain from Uttarakhand for rescuing his cousin from a leopard attack. PTI JC RG --- ENDS --- Chuck Closes portrait of Barack Obama, which will join the other former presidents in a temporary version of the presidents exhibition. (Copyright Two Palms and Chuck Close/National Portrait Gallery) Just weeks after a new president has taken up residence at the White House, the rest of the American presidents will be moving into new digs, too. The subjects of the National Portrait Gallerys Hall of Presidents are leaving their current home next month, when the Smithsonian museum begins updating its most popular attraction. The Hall of Presidents is closing Feb. 27, and a temporary version of the exhibition now including an image of former president Barack Obama will open in the museums West Gallery in March. Then, on Sept. 22, the museum will unveil the newly named and reconfigured Americas Presidents permanent installation in its refurbished space. The museum will update the gallery with new carpet, lighting and technology to broaden visitors access to the presidents and their eras, said David Ward, senior historian. Were telling a fairly complicated story about personality and social history, Ward said. Were trying to provide more about the historical period, Lincoln and the crisis of the republic, FDR and the New Deal, the history of the presidency in relation to the country, the growth and rise of executive power. [How presidents use their portraits to shape their legacy] The National Portrait Gallerys Hall of Presidents features this Abraham Lincoln portrait by George Peter Alexander Healy. (Matailong Du/National Portrait Gallery) The presidential portraits are a critical part of the museums mission to tell American history. Created by Congress in 1962, the National Portrait Gallery holds the only national collection of presidential portraits outside the White House. The museum works with each administration to commission official portraits of the president and first lady for its permanent collection. A portrait is not included in the exhibition until after a president leaves office. Initially, Obama will be represented by a Chuck Close woodburytype from 2013. His official portrait will be added to the gallery when it is completed. The current exhibition was installed in 2006, when the historic Old Patent Office Building reopened after a six-year, $283 million renovation. The portrait gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum share the building. Ward said that works on paper and photographs are rotated in the exhibition but that it mostly has remained the same. The museum began discussing updating the presidents exhibition in 2014. History changes and triangulates constantly, Ward said, offering President Andrew Jackson as an example. Jackson in the 1950s was the democratic hero. He gave voice to the working man, the small farmer. He was the first frontier president. Now we look at Jackson and we think Indian killer. We want to provide a balanced point of view. We add dimensions to the presidents from the perspective of the present, but we want to be well rounded. The $3 million project occurs during the conservation of Gilbert Stuarts Lansdowne portrait of George Washington. Stuarts full-length portrait of the first commander in chief, a prize of the gallerys 22,812-piece collection, was removed from the gallery last year and has been undergoing analysis and conservation funded by Bank of America. The 1796 painting is expected to return to its central place when Americas Presidents opens. [Iconic portrait of George Washington comes down for high-tech cleaning] Among the planned changes to the exhibition are a new entrance with graphics and wall text. Touch screens will be added to allow visitors to search related items in the museums collection, especially photos and works on paper, which are too fragile to display long-term. The biography is here, but a lot of the history is elsewhere in the museum, Ward said. Were trying to link it by providing material that will connect it both within this space and outside it. Douglas Granville Chandors painting of Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1945. (National Portrait Gallery) The exhibition will display portraits of every president while offering expanded displays of six leaders whose tenures were especially significant: Washington, Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. It was imperative to keep the presidents exhibition open during the gallery renovation because it draws big crowds, Ward said. The temporary show will be on view from March 24 through Sept. 4. The museum tries to avoid partisanship in its presentation of the presidents, but it is frequently criticized. Visitors complain about one section where a large Elaine de Kooning portrait of John F. Kennedy usually hangs directly across from a smaller portrait of Richard Nixon painted by Norman Rockwell. The de Kooning is now on loan to another institution. We get, You must hate Jack Kennedy because you have this horrible abstract painting. My 12-year-old could have done that, Ward said. Conversely, You must be a Democrat because you have a tiny Richard M. Nixon and this giant Kennedy. Visitors sometimes comment on the brief biographies with each portrait, Ward said. It is a difficult task to summarize careers and say something about the portrait itself in just 140 to 160 words, he said. Its like writing a pop song you have to have a hook. You want to make someone stop and say, Oh, this is interesting. "Independent Lens: The Witness" (WETA and MPT at 10) Bill Genovese investigates the 1964 murder of his sister, Kitty Genovese, and corrects long-standing misconceptions about the oft-sensationalized case. ((June Murley/The Witnesses Film, LLC.) (All times Eastern). The Bachelor (ABC at 8 p.m.) The contestants visit Nicks Wisconsin home town. Gotham (Fox at 8) The power struggle between Penguin and Nygma escalates. Supergirl (CW at 8) Despite Snapper Carrs orders to leave it alone, Kara looks into the case of a missing woman. The episode was directed by Kevin Smith. Shadowhunters (Freeform at 8) Jace awaits an unknown fate in the City of Bones. Vanderpump Rules (Bravo at 9) Sandoval plans a charitable birthday celebration, but the festivities are interrupted by a confrontation between Scheana and James. Jane the Virgin (CW at 9) Janes habit of meddling in other peoples relationships becomes an issue. 2 Broke Girls (CBS at 9) Caroline becomes infatuated with a contractor helping to renovate the dessert bar. The Young Pope (HBO at 9) Lenny counsels a nun with a gravely ill sister and sends an unlikely envoy to deal with a sex abuse case in New York. Quantico (ABC at 10) The recruits get a lesson in the art of seduction as the drama moves to Monday nights. Premiere Hate Thy Neighbor (Viceland at 10) Comedian Jamali Maddix travels the globe to confront extreme movements from white nationalists to black separatists that espouse racial discrimination. Documentary [Kitty Genoveses shocking murder became the stuff of legend. But everyone got the story wrong.] Beware the Slenderman (HBO at 10) This two-hour documentary recalls the shocking 2014 murder committed by two 12-year-old girls who said an Internet legend compelled them to stab their best friend to death. [The complete history of Slender Man, the meme that compelled two girls to stab a friend] Late Night Conan (TBS at 11) Howie Mandel, Daniel Sloss. Daily Show (Comedy Central at 11) Matt Taibbi. Fallon (NBC at 11:34) Cate Blanchett, Hugh Dancy, Cobi. Meyers (NBC at 12:37) Idina Menzel, Melissa Benoist, Kane Brown. At Mariana Chiltons EAT Cafe in Philadelphia, the amount on the check is just a suggestion. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post) PHILADELPHIA When the check hits the table after a three-course meal at the homey EAT Cafe, it looks a little unusual. The receipt slip reads: The total above is only a SUGGESTED price. Please write here the amount you wish to pay. The meal is valued at $15, plus $1.20 in tax. Some pay it. Some pay more. And many pay a few dollars, or nothing at all. Weve had some graduate students come that are so grateful to have real food, and maybe they leave a couple of dollars, said Mariana Chilton, a professor of public health at Drexel University and founder of the restaurant. Even those who are not paying are not looking at it as a free meal. Theres a dignity to this place. EAT, which stands for Everyone at the Table, opened in October as one of about 50 experimental restaurants across the country that are transforming the way people think about food assistance and charity. They feed the needy and the non-needy side by side, giving low-income people the chance to eat a nutritious sit-down meal somewhere other than a soup kitchen. I couldnt stand the idea that you have these gorgeous restaurants with nice food, and there are these families who are struggling who could never tap into that, said Chilton. I wanted to make a place where families could come experience some joy. No two pay-what-you-can cafes are alike. They might be run by Christian missionaries or secular volunteers; they might ask diners to help if they cant pay. But each one has an owner with a deep sense of duty and a high threshold for pain. Its hard enough to run a normal restaurant; one study pegs the first-year failure rate at 60 percent. Try running a restaurant where your guests dont even have to foot the bill. Denise Cerreta won a James Beard Award for her work on One World Everybody Eats, a nonprofit that helps people start pay-what-you-can cafes. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post) I felt my heart expand For Denise Cerreta, the idea came as a spiritual awakening. Fourteen years ago, she had just converted her Salt Lake City acupuncture clinic into a small cafe, which was a financial failure. One day, with my spiritual senses, I heard, Go to donation, let people price their own food, she said. The next person that walked through the door, I said, No more pricing; price your own. I was a little bit shell-shocked. And at the moment I did that, I felt my heart expand. Her One World Cafe served curries and lasagnas and salads, and earned mostly glowing publicity, except from Rush Limbaugh, who called it an embarrassment to American business. There were bumps along the way bounced paychecks, a staff walkout that Cerreta attributed to her own inexperience. But for a few years, the cafe turned a small profit. Other charitable folks around the country began asking Cerreta how to start their own cafes. She started the One World Everybody Eats foundation, offering business plans and mentoring to community restaurant owners, eventually closing her cafe to help others start their own. Weve always embraced that theres no one way or right way to do this, said Cerreta. We try to meet people where theyre at and help them increase food security in their community. EAT Cafe owner Mariana Chilton talks to a customer in the dining room. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post) The psychic rewards can be enormous. Cafe owners tell of the hundreds of thousands of meals theyve served, the people who cry after eating their first square meal in years. But getting to that point means toiling through years of bureaucracy, fundraising and doubt. First, you have to find the right location: If the neighborhood is too poor, a cafe wont get enough paying customers, and if its too rich, it will be inaccessible to the people its trying to help. And then there are the neighbors. Our neighbor businesses were concerned that we would be attracting shopping carts stacked up 10 deep, said Bob Pearson, a One World board member who operated the Common Table in Bend, Ore., for about two years. The restaurants tend to attract the food-insecure working poor who have trouble making ends meet but nearly every operator deals with residents who think it will be a soup kitchen. And sometimes, theyre hostile. When Libbie Combee opened Mosaics Cafe in Bartow, Fla., after a $200,000 renovation, she faced resistance from residents who were determined to shut us down, said Combee. It got nasty. Some jurisdictions arent sure how to regulate them. Because Combee started her cafe through her religious ministry, she said the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations division of hotels and restaurants told her she was exempt, even though she asked to be regulated like a normal restaurant. When neighbors got word that she was operating an unregulated restaurant, the bad PR forced its closure. She provided $24,000 worth of meals in the 10 months she was open. Now, she is $46,000 in debt. Volunteers, or not? For a cafe to be sustainable, Cerreta says, 80 percent of customers need to pay the suggested price to offset the 20 percent who pay little or nothing though some cafes make it work with other ratios, and the many cafes that are run as nonprofits supplement with grants. The tricky thing is to compel those who have the money to pay, and to pay extra, without scaring away those who truly need a free meal. Cerreta used to leave the price up to the customer. When it was so anonymous, I think it was maybe tempting for people that would take five friends to lunch, she said. Her cashiers began to tell people the suggested value of their meal. That worked, but poverty researchers discourage that approach. Requiring low-income people to state, face-to-face, that they cannot pay the suggested amount could potentially shame them out of using the cafe at all. For some participants, its still going to feel like a charitable feeding experience, particularly if theres something that makes them feel like they are different from the average diner, said Elaine Waxman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute. Chiltons is the first community cafe to be founded by a poverty research center. Thats why, at EAT, the check is simply placed on the table in a traditional black plastic sleeve. There is no volunteering for meal credits. Chicken potpie at the EAT Cafe. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post) The last thing anyone should do is require anyone whos super poor to volunteer. Give them a job! said Chilton. I dont want anyone to feel like they have to be worthy to come into our place. It also perpetuates a stereotype that people who arent working are just sitting around all day. Being poor is a full-time job in itself, said Waxman. But the One World board members say the volunteer-for-food model keeps the cafes functioning. Other say it provides job training and a chance for low-income people to work alongside middle-class volunteers. I think it gives them a sense of dignity and belonging, where they too have participated in their meal in some way, said Dorothea Bongiovi, who founded two JBJ Soul Kitchen cafes in New Jersey with her husband, Jon Bon Jovi. Diners can volunteer for one hour in exchange for a free meal for up to four family members. Staff members, some of whom are trained in social work, connect volunteers with other services. The food is a vehicle to get them into the Soul Kitchen to get them resources that they might not be aware of, she said. Instead of calling it pay-what-you-can, Bongiovi prefers pay it forward. You have to love on people Aside from profit, loss and the number of meals served, there is little data on these cafes. One study found that when consumers were asked to name the price they would pay for a product, they were less likely to buy it, because they felt bad they could not pay the appropriate price. But a broad, multi-restaurant study that examines a community restaurants impact on the poor has not yet been undertaken. Theres potential for something like this to have a bigger impact than can be mentioned in the profit margin, said Julia Weinert, assistant director of poverty solutions at the University of Michigan. Pearson says that for every 100 inquiries the organization receives, only about a dozen cafes actually open, and one-third of all community cafes have closed. Depending on location, he estimates it takes $30,000 to $100,000 to get a cafe off the ground, and then another $50,000 a year to operate it. Kevin and Mary Bode are aware of the bumpy road ahead as they prepare to open the Knead Cafe in New Kensington, Pa., outside Pittsburgh, next month. They bought and renovated a building near some of the poorest blocks in all of Pennsylvania, said Kevin Bode. Their challenge? Finding a chef with top skills who is also on board with our mission to help raise somebody up, said Mary Bode. The person that we get has to have a servants heart. As hard as the job is for owners, its also tough on chefs. When many of your ingredients come as donations ground turkey one week, couscous the next every weeks menu is a Chopped challenge. The chef has to be part teacher, part social worker, too. You have to love on people, and you dont have to do it from a distance, said EATs chef, Donnell Jones-Craven. At the EAT Cafe, executive chef Donnell Jones-Craven plates an order of mac and cheese. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post) Some cafes are seeking out high-profile restaurateurs as mentors. EAT Cafe has partnered with Vetri Community Partnership, a foundation run by famed Philadelphia chef Marc Vetri and restaurateur Jeff Benjamin, author of Front of the House, who trained the EAT staff. Aside from the Vetri involvement, two experimental pay-what-you-can locations of Panera Bread, and the occasional celebrity guest chef at JBJ Soul Kitchen, the concept has not had much crossover with the corporate and prestige restaurant world. Thats partly because, as the concept scales up, it loses its personal connection a key factor to its success in small communities. Still, the restaurant world has begun to take notice. The James Beard Foundation announced this month that Cerreta would be this years recipient of its humanitarian award. When a board member told her about the prize, I said, Oh, James Beard? I hadnt heard of it, said Cerreta. A customer who cares At the EAT Cafe on a recent Friday night, the vibrant green dining room was filling up with guests. A table of gray-haired baby boomers sat across from a table of 20-something students, and the piped-in jazz swirled around the room along with the smell of roasted vegetables. There was chicken potpie and meatloaf on the menu, and bread pudding with creme anglaise for dessert. When she first learned about the pay-what-you-can concept, I had never heard of such a thing, said 87-year-old Calla Cousar, a longtime resident of the neighborhood who joined an advisory panel that Chilton set up to solicit community input. Now, Cousar comes once a week. As a mentor to local teens, shes going to start bringing groups of them here for dinner, so they can eat something other than fast food, she said. She motioned to the tables, the silverware, the glasses of nicely garnished basil lemonade. I want to expose them to this. The new weather satellite GOES-16, which took the image of Earth on the left, produces images with four times the resolution of GOES-13, an older-generation satellite that took the image on the right. (NOAA) Almost one year ago, the Washington region took cover from the storm known as Snowzilla. Buried by three feet of snow in some places, roads and schools closed, and more than 6 million people hunkered down, waiting for the blizzard to pass. Most people were safely at home when it happened, with a stocked fridge and flashlights in case of a power outage. They knew about the storm days before because of forecasters such as Chris Strong, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service who alerts public officials and the media whenever a tornado, hurricane or other natural disaster seems about to strike. We try to get the notice out there as early as possible to give people time to prepare, Strong says. Soon, he adds, hell be able to alert people earlier than ever. GOES-16 captured this view of the moon in its first batch of images, taken January 15. The satellite is the first of four next-generation weather satellites that will help the National Weather Service make more accurate forecasts. (NOAA) On November 19, one of the most advanced weather satellites ever built rocketed into space, where it will allow Strong and other forecasters to monitor the weather with increased precision. By the time testing finishes hopefully later this year the satellite known as GOES-16 will be able to train its camera-like eyes on hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic Ocean or snowstorms bearing down on Washington. Already, the satellite has taken its first images of the Earths atmosphere. The images are far more detailed than those taken by the previous generation of weather satellites. Its like going from black-and-white to high-definition television, says Michael Stringer, who oversees the new, nearly $11 billion satellite program. GOES-16 is part of a constellation of satellites that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) uses to keep the Weather Service informed about the latest changes in Earths atmosphere. By 2025, it will be joined by three other new GOES satellites (their name stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite), providing forecasters with a comprehensive view of weather in the Western Hemisphere and especially the United States. An artists rendering of GOES-16, which was launched into space in November. (Lockheed Martin) Hovering at a single point some 22,200 miles above the Earths surface, GOES-16 will monitor lightning strikes and gather images that show volcanic ash, dust, clouds and water vapor in the atmosphere. The images will be gathered five times as fast as on the old satellites (GOES-16 will be able to take a new image of an individual storm every 30 seconds) and at four times the resolution. That will allow forecasters to calculate such details as wind speed and direction with greater accuracy than ever. The satellite will also follow activities on the surface of the sun, where high-energy particles are sometimes ejected into space and can cause power outages and affect radio transmissions on Earth. Stringer says the satellite, which is about 20 feet tall and weighed 11,400 pounds when it was launched, will be operational for the next decade. It uses radio waves to send its data to Earth sort of like a super-high-speed wireless broadcast where its received by 30-foot radio antennae on the roof of a NOAA facility in Suitland, Maryland. There, a team of five technicians from NOAA and NASA monitor the satellites every move. From Suitland, images are sent to forecasters such as Strong, who works at a Weather Service office in Sterling, Virginia. He remembers being a kid in 1979 when an unexpected blizzard dropped more than two feet of snow on the region, shocking weather watchers who expected only a few inches. There was a lot less advance notice back then, Strong says, and a lot more missed forecasts. We still cant prevent bad weather, he says, but we can prepare for it. The mood was one of optimism and steely determination, as a diverse group of townspeople, civic organizations and faith communities united Monday to take part in Leesburgs 25th annual march commemorating the life and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Town officials estimated that 1,200 people marched through downtown Leesburg from the courthouse to the Douglass Community Center, some pushing strollers and others carrying flags, banners and signs highlighting excerpts from Kings speeches. Many of the marchers stayed at the community center after the march for a program of speeches, readings and musical performances honoring the vision of the civil rights leader. It was the largest group ever to assemble for Leesburgs Martin Luther King Jr. Day march and program, said Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and others who have witnessed the annual event since it was launched 25 years ago. The Loudoun County branch of the NAACP, the Douglass High School alumni association, the Bluemont Concert Series and the Loudoun Bahai community were the founding partners. Its a great testament to what Leesburg and Loudoun County are all about, and thats unity, Umstattd said. I think theres a feeling that, after all the divisiveness that weve seen at the national level, we as a community need to come together and unite for the common good, she said. Thats why you see people of all backgrounds here. Members of African American fraternities, sororities, churches and civic organizations were among the largest groups participating in the march. They were joined by people from an array of faith groups, some of which were affiliated with Loudoun Interfaith BRIDGES, a sponsor of the event. They included Christians, Jews, Muslims, Bahais and Unitarian Universalists. Another sponsor, the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, played a prominent role in the march and program afterward. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from the ADAMS Center marched near the front of the procession, carrying flags of the United States and other nations. In this day and age, we need to come together under Dr. Kings vision of a beloved community, of a harmonious society that judges people by the content of their character, said Rizwan Jaka, chairman of the board of the ADAMS Center. We believe, as Muslims, that God created nations and tribes so that we may get to know one another, and that is a part of what Dr. King was talking about in that sense: Let us come together, let us get to know one another, let us walk together, Jaka said. We must work to counter bigotry; we must work to counter hate; we must work for upholding civil rights, he said. That is something that is so important as we are coming upon the inauguration that we come together and unite as Americans to continue to uphold religious freedom, womens rights, human rights, civil rights. Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said it was significant that the march ended at the building that originally housed Douglass High School, which was literally built by the African American community in Loudoun County because they did not have a school for high school kids. African American students were educated in the building from 1941 until schools were desegregated in 1968. Randall, the first African American woman to chair a county board of supervisors in Virginia, said in an interview that its possible to remain strong while striving to live up to Kings messages of peace and nonviolence. We have to be good and kind to one another, but still do what is right, she said. You have kindness and you have strength, and you set out and do the right thing. When Randall was asked whether she thought the high level of enthusiasm was connected to the upcoming presidential inauguration, she said, It is a very large crowd today, and thats a good thing. What I see and what I hear most is people saying to the [Trump] administration, Were going to continue to hold you accountable, she said. Were going to fight you when we think we should, and well support you when we think we should. But we will hold you accountable for the decisions that you make, and we will hold you accountable for the decisions that literally can hurt people. Where we think the Trump administration is incorrect, we will respectfully and continuously push back, Randall said. Admiral Hyman G. Rickover center, with Richard Nixon and Secretary of the Navy John Warner Jr. modernized the U.S. Navy. He didnt need his office modernized. (White House via CNP) Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy, was demanding and exacting. But demanding and exacting is probably what you want when youre stuffing a nuclear reactor inside a long metal tube, then sending it and more than a hundred men under the Arctic ice cap. But apparently there was another side to Rickover, too, one that John Galuardi of Potomac, Md., recently shared with me. On the past two Sundays, Answer Man has been writing about tempos, those monstrosities built during the two World Wars that blighted the Mall and other areas in our area. [Answer Man remembers the temporary office buildings that once blighted D.C.] The focus was on tearing the buildings down, but lets not forget what also had to happen: New buildings had to go up. John was involved in both aspects. He worked for the General Services Administration, and in 1969 he was charged with demolishing the Navy and Munitions buildings between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. He also had to find a place to stick the 10,000 government employees who would be displaced. One of them was Adm. Rickover. [The fleeting pleasures and pains of Washingtons temporary buildings] Rickover was a legend. He was an immigrant who had come from Czarist Russia as a boy, sailing in steerage with his family. He went to the Naval Academy, where he endured anti-Semitic hazing, and then set his own course through the Navy. Rickovers detractors were as vociferous as his boosters, but there was no denying that he got things done. He was not someone overly concerned with putting underlings at ease. He famously sawed a few inches off the front legs of the wooden chair that job seekers sat in. As they struggled to keep from slipping to the floor, he would badger them with questions. Rickover would be trading his office in Main Navy, as the temporary building was called, for one in Crystal City. John said that as they were preparing for the move, he heard from Rickovers staff that the admirals new office was not secure. I went over and looked at his office space and saw that it was on an upper floor of the building which was set back from the floor below, John wrote. You could walk on the roof right up to his office window. Who knew what military secrets might be visible through the window? John asked his staff to come up with a plan. Their recommendation: Construct a brick wall. It would ruin the view out of the window, but it would prevent people from looking in. The estimated cost of the wall was $50,000. John asked one of his colleagues, Jack Packard, to meet with Rickover and see if they should proceed with the wall. Rickover said not to bother, explaining: If I dont want anyone to look into my office, I will put the window blinds down. Er, good idea. I wondered what other near-catastrophes have been avoided through the application of good old common sense. Have you had a similar experience at work or at home? Share it with me. Send an email with Eminently reasonable in the subject line to me at john.kelly@washpost.com. Week in the knees Dont let the preceding anecdote convince you that Rickover was a pushover. I found a 1978 Federal Diary column in which The Posts Mike Causey described how the admiral was marking National Secretaries Week. It isnt as if the deputy commander of the nuclear power directorate is ignoring [National Secretaries Week], Mike wrote. Just that he is observing it in a different manner than are most other bosses. On the door leading to Rickovers Crystal City office was a sign that read: NATIONAL SECRETARY WEEK 1. We will be nice to our boss this week. 2. We will WORK and EARN our pay this week. Wrote Mike: While some of the distaff staffers acknowledge that it is something that Rickover has even acknowledged the NSW, some had wished for something a little more endearing. Mistaken identity My Lovely Wife and I both enjoyed Hidden Figures last week. I think my other wife enjoyed, it too. Let me explain. My Lovely Wife saved me a seat in Theater 3 at the AFI Silver while I got popcorn and a drink. When I entered, I scanned the room. Theres always that worrying moment when youre afraid you wont find the person who saved you a seat, and so it was with relief that I saw a woman with a distinctive crown of graying hair lustrous, attractive, graying hair, I should say. She had her head down as she gazed at her phone, but who else could it be? I walked up the steps, scooched down the aisle, ignored the empty seats, put my water bottle down in the cupholder right next to her, and started taking off my coat to sit down. Then she looked up, no doubt curious who had so casually invaded her personal space. It was not my wife. I thought you were my wife, I said. I scurried away, but what if Id sat down, the lights had dimmed and Id spent the whole movie there? Twitter: @johnkelly For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. BLOOD DONATIONS Blood drives Tuesday 8 a.m.-1 p.m., NALC Health Benefit Plan, 20547 Waverly Ct., Ashburn, 800-733-2767; Feb. 3, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, 801 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg, 800-733-2767; Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Loudoun County Rescue Company 13, 143 Catoctin Cir. SE, Leesburg, 800-733-2767; Feb. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Leesburg Public Safety Center, 65 Plaza St. Leesburg, 800-733-2767; Feb. 17, 1:30-6 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St., Leesburg, 800-733-2767. Inova Blood Donor Center Mondays noon-8 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fridays 6 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays noon-4 p.m. Dulles Town Center, 45745 Nokes Blvd., Sterling. 866-256-6372 or inova.org/donateblood. FIRST AID First aid/adult, infant and child CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Fauquier Hospital Medical Office Building, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588. Call for schedule. $85. Registration required. HEARING Disability Resource Center Technical assistance through the state Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and presentations to businesses, groups and schools. Third Tuesdays 2-5 p.m., Workplace, 205 Keith St., Warrenton. Call for an appointment, 800-648-6324; TDD, 540-373-5890. Free. Free hearing tests Age 18 and older. Mondays-Thursdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, 19465 Deerfield Ave., Suite 201, Lansdowne. 703-858-7620. Registration required. Hearing loss, tinnitus and Menieres syndrome support For all ages, including parents of children with hearing loss. First Fridays at 2 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 703-430-2906. Northern Virginia Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Age 18 and older. Second Tuesdays 10 a.m., Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400. Hearing loss outreach Free referrals. Fourth Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Loudoun County Workforce Center, 102 Heritage Way, Leesburg; third Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. Free appointments: 703-430-2906 or nvrcloudoun@aol.com . MENTAL HEALTH Counseling for sexual violence survivors Provided by Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice. 703-771-9020. Crisis Intervention Treatment and Assessment Center Provides emergency mental-health, substance-use and developmental services to Loudoun residents. Daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. 102 Heritage Way NE, Suite 102, Leesburg. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day at 703-777-0320. Crisislink Suicide and crisis intervention. Community education, a volunteer crisis response team and CareRing, a telephone outreach program for the elderly and disabled. 703-527-6016, volunteer@crisislink.org or crisislink.org. Piedmont Chapter, National Alliance on Mental Illness Serves Fauquier, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock counties. Support group, education classes and events for people living with mental illness and their family members. First Wednesdays 7-9 p.m. Fauquier Hospital, 500 Hospital Dr., Sycamore Room A, Warrenton. 571-426-8213. Mental health first-aid A public education program offered by the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services that can help communities understand mental illness, seek intervention and save lives. Go to loudoun.gov/mhfirstaid. Northern Virginia Chapter, National Alliance on Mental Illness A support group, classes and programs for people living with mental illness and their family members. naminorthernvirginia.org. PREGNANCY, PARENTING Adoptive family preservation Adoptive families discuss common experiences; registration required. Third Tuesdays 12:30-2 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Rd. Call 703-941-9008, Ext. 23, or email jmellario@umfs.org . Birthright of Loudoun County Free pregnancy tests, baby clothing, transportation and support throughout pregnancy, 823 S. King St., Leesburg. 703-777-7272. Bond Between Us A nonprofit organization that offers support to birth parents when children have been placed for adoption. Fourth Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. Call for location. 703-771-7844. Breastfeeding support Mondays 9:30-10:30 a.m., Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588. Dad support New and expectant fathers share ideas. First Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg. 703-858-6360. For the Childrens Sake A group for separating or divorcing parents to share advice. Four-hour session weekly. Information: 703-391-8599 or fitsfoundation.org. La Leche League Mother-to-mother support and breastfeeding information. 10 a.m. second Wednesdays in Warrenton, 540-351-6103. Third Fridays 10:15-11:45 a.m., call for location, 703-444-7386. Second Fridays 10:15 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Rd., 703-829-0349; Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Panera Bread, 43670 Greenway Corp. Dr., Ashburn, lllashburn@gmail.com. Third Fridays 10:15 a.m., Christ the Redeemer Church, 46833 Harry F. Byrd. Hwy., Sterling, 540-338-4637. Loudoun Fatherhood Program Fathers discuss the joys and challenges of being a parent. Meets every other Saturday for two hours for four months; sponsored by Northern Virginia Family Service. 571-748-2796. Free. Loudoun Nurturing Parenting Program Positive parenting techniques; children attend with parents. Registration required. Call 703-771-3973, Ext. 27, or email nurturingprogram@lcsj.org. Free. Mothernet/Healthy Families Loudoun Program links first-time parents with medical, social and educational resources to give children a socially and physically healthy start in life. Family support workers meet with participants in homes. English-Spanish translation provided. 703-444-4477, Ext. 217 , or inmed.org. New mother support Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m. Inova Loudoun Medical Pavilion, 224 Cornwall St., Leesburg. Babies welcome. 703-858-6360. Young parent services Support for teenage parents. Loudoun County Department of Family Social Services, 52 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg. Call for times. 703-771-5375. Online childbirth education program Inova Loudoun Hospitals Web-based program uses animation, videos and interactive activities to guide users through the basics of childbirth, breastfeeding and caring for newborns. 703-858-6360 or thebirthinginn.org/classes. Parenting Alone group For parents of school-age children who have lost a spouse or partner to cancer. Second Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call 703-698-2536 or email jennifer.eckert@inova.org. Pregnancy and childbirth support Childbirth Solutions Resource Center, 8393 W. Main St., Marshall. 571-344-0438. SENIORS Chair yoga For people 55 and older. Mondays 11 a.m.-noon, Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. Wear comfortable clothing. Bare feet or socks are encouraged. 571-258-3400. $2 drop-in. Exercise equipment Weights, treadmills, bikes and a cardio-glide. Instruction provided. Age 55 and older. Weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free. Fitness for people 55 and older Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1-1:45 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400. $36, 12-visit card. Eye care LensCrafters staff members will clean glasses and make minor repairs. Second Wednesdays 1-2 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 703-430-2397. Free. Inova Loudoun mobile van Blood pressure checks. Second and fourth Tuesdays 9:30 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling, 571-258-3280; first Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.-noon, Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Laughing yoga for seniors I mprove flexibility and balance. Thursdays 9:30-10 :30 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free. Loudoun Adult Day Centers For seniors with physical limitations or memory loss, a safe and social environment, therapeutic activities, individualized care and respite for caregivers. Limited transportation. Sliding-scale fees. Weekdays in Leesburg, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 703-771-5334; Purcellville, 571-258-3402; and Ashburn-Sterling, 571-258-3232. Senior Outreach Services Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging case manager. Call for an appointment or sign up at the Senior Center at Cascades. First and third Wednesdays 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 571-258-3280. Senior Outreach Services Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging Elder case manager. Sign up in the Leesburg Senior Center lobby. Second and fourth Thursdays 11 a.m.-noon and 12:30-4:30 p.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free. Senior Outreach Services Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging Elder case manager. Call for an appointment or sign up at the Carver Center. First and third Mondays, 12:30-5 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 703-737-8741. Free. Tai chi Stretching and strengthening movements. Mondays 11 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free. Zumba gold class Age 55 and older. Wear rubber-soled shoes and comfortable clothing; bring water and a towel. Tuesdays 11 a.m., Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. Senior Center of Leesburg, 102 North St. NW, Leesburg. 703-737-8039. $24 per month. Zumba For people 55 and older who are learning Zumba for the first time, or those who prefer a lower-impact version. The fitness program combines Latin and international music with dance.Thursdays 11 a.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 571-258-3280. $12. SUPPORT GROUPS Al-Anon Service Center of Northern Virginia A volunteer is available 24 hours with information for spouses, family members and friends of problem drinkers. 703-534-4357 or 877-339-8350. Mondays 8 p.m. Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 125 W. Washington St., Middleburg, 540-554-2747; Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg, 877-339-8350; Fridays 8:30 p.m. Grace Episcopal Church, 6507 Main St., The Plains, 800-344-2666; Tuesdays 12:15 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, Route 29 N., 540-347-7448; Tuesdays 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 p.m. Warrenton Presbyterian Church, 91 Main St., 800-344-2666. Alcoholics Anonymous Various meeting times and locations in Loudoun County. 800-208-8649 or 703-876-6166. nvintergroup.org. Alzheimers caregiver support For those who care for people with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Fourth Wednesdays 4-5:30 p.m. The Villa at Suffield Meadows, 6735 Suffield Lane, Warrenton. 540-316-3800. Alzheimers caregivers support For those caring for people with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Second Mondays 7-8:30 p.m. Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Rd., Sterling. 703-430-9229. galileeumc.org. Alzheimers caregivers support Emotional, educational and social support for family members and friends of people with the disease. Third Saturdays 10 a.m. Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, 20145 Ashbrook Pl., Ashburn. Call 703-771-5407 or email lesley.katz@loudoun.gov. Alzheimers caregiver support group Fourth Thursdays 3-4 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 540-903-6831 or alz.org. Alzheimers support First Tuesdays 10-11 a.m. Spring Arbor Assisted Living, 237 Fairview St. NW, Leesburg. 540-338-6520. Alzheimers support First Wednesdays 4 p.m. Leesburg Adult Day Center, 16501 Meadowview Ct., Leesburg. 703-771-5334. Alzheimers support Fourth Thursdays 3-4 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400. Talk About Curing Autism A nonprofit organization educating and supporting families affected by autism. tacanow.org. Autoimmune support Last Thursdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jackson Building, 209 Gibson St., Leesburg. autoimmunesupport@hotmail.com. Bereaved parent support One-on-one counseling is available. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814 or scsm.tv. Bereavement support For those experiencing loss because of the death of a loved one. Age 18 and older. Third Mondays 1 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. Sponsored by Capital Caring. 703-957-1800. Bereavement support Tuesdays through March 28, 7:30- 9 p.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. Free. Breast cancer support Fourth Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Tower, Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-349-0588. Breast cancer support For those with new diagnoses or starting treatment. Register if attending for the first time. Fourth Mondays 5-6:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8857. Breast cancer support For those who have finished treatment, have had a recurrence or metastatic breast cancer. Register if attending for the first time. Fourth Mondays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8857. Free. Breast Cancer Support Assistance Fund Loudoun County residents who have received a diagnosis or have undergone treatment in the past 12 months are eligible to apply for financial assistance. Areas included are wigs, bras, puffs and prostheses, mammograms and medical bills, food and help with utilities, rent or mortgage, and transportation costs. The Pink Assistance Fund has been established by the Loudoun Breast Health Network. lbhn.org. Cancer support Oncology nurses, social workers and spiritual-care providers offer education and support to patients, families and caregivers. Second Mondays 5:30-6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-2273. Cancer support Life with Cancer, for patients, family members and friends. Second Thursdays 7 p.m. Ashburn Presbyterian Church, Room 202, 20962 Ashburn Rd. 703-729-2012 or ashburnpresbyterian.org. Caregiver support Emotional, educational and social support. Encourages caregivers to maintain their physical and emotional health while caring for people with dementia or other chronic illness. Fourth Thursdays 3-4 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 540-903-6831. Caregiver support and resource group Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.-noon (no meeting first Wednesdays), Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. scsm.tv. Caring for Aging Parents Support group. Confidential. Fourth Wednesdays 7:30 p.m., Family Focus Counseling Service, 20-B John Marshall St., Warrenton. 540-349-4537. Chadd parents support For parents of children with ADD/ADHD. Fourth Sundays 3 p.m. KinderCare, 44051 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza. chadd.nova loudoun@gmail.com . Chronic illness support Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministries, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814 or scsm.tv. Coffee and Conversation Support for those discouraged because of illness, bereavement, caregiving or a loved one in the military. Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. Compassionate Friends For parents who have experienced the death of a child. First Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg. 540-882-9707. Creating and Connecting Two-hour art therapy and relaxation workshop for cancer patients. Every other month, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call for dates. 703-858-8850. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Western Loudoun Saturdays 3 p.m. Purcellville Library, 220 E. Main St., Carruthers Room. Call 703-431-7160 or email kathy@dbsanca.org. Drop-in grief support Second and fourth Wednesdays 1-2 p.m. St. Davids Episcopal Church, 43600 Russell Branch Pkwy., Ashburn. Sponsored by Capital Caring. 703-597-1781. Families Overcoming Drug Addiction Support group. First and third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. myfodafamily@gmail.com or 540-316-9221. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth and parent support A group in partnership with Metro DC PFLAG. Fourth Sundays 4-6 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church, 22135 Davis Dr., Sterling. 703-328-6518. Griefshare Nondenominational seminar and support group. Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m., and Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. Free. Grief support Sponsored by Hospice Support of Fauquier County. Individual counseling available. First and third Thursdays 3:30-5 p.m. Hospice Support Office, 42 N. Fifth St., Warrenton. Registration required. Email hospicesupport@verizon.net or call 540-347-5922. Grief support Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. Hospice support Free medical-equipment loan facility for Fauquier County residents. Especially needed are donations of wheelchairs, bedside commodes, rolling walkers, electric hospital beds, shower benches and chairs, adult diapers, lift chairs, Ensure and hospital bed mattresses. 540-347-5922. Look Good, Feel Better For women undergoing or emerging from cancer treatment. Every other month, 6:45 to 9 p.m. ,Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call for dates. 703-776-2820. Free. Loudoun CHADD support Led by Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Third Thursdays 7 p.m. Leesburg Town Hall, lower-level conference room, 25 W. Market St. 703-669-2445. Lyme disease support Fourth Sundays 2-4 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Conference Room A and B, Leesburg. Go to natcaplyme.org or email loudounlymeadvocates@gmail.com. Lyme disease support Third Thursdays at 7 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, 6398 Lee Hwy. Access Road, Warrenton. 540-347-7265 or email lymeinfauquier@gmail.com. Lyme disease support Third Thursdays at 7 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, 6398 Lee Hwy. Access Road, Warrenton. 540-347-7265 or email lymeinfauquier@gmail.com. Lyme disease support Age 18 and older. First Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. Email charphealy@yahoo.com. MADD Loudoun victim support For those who have been affected by drunken driving. Third Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. 210 Wirt St., Leesburg. 540-338-6491. Man-to-Man Cancer Support Sponsored by Loudoun Cancer Care Center, for prostate cancer patients and their families. Second Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. Call 703-858-8857 or email karen.archer@inova.org. Menopause support Third Thursdays 6:30-9 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg (second floor, Patient Education Room). 703-858-8060. Mens grief support Second Mondays at 7 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 703-568-3346. Free. Multiple sclerosis support Saturdays 10:30 a.m. Fauquier Hospital Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-349-2826. Multiple sclerosis support Last Sundays 2-4 p.m. Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Pl., Potomac Falls. 703-771-4256. Nar-anon family support For those affected by loved ones with addiction. Meaningful Mondays, 7-8 p.m., Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Rd., Sterling. 703-203-9792; Wisdom Wednesdays 7-8 p.m., St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 37730 St. Francis Ct., Purcellville, 703-606-7125; Serenity Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. Leesburg Presbyterian Church, 207 W. Market St., Leesburg, 703-606-7125. Overeaters Anonymous For fellowship and support. For locations and times, call oa.org. Parkinsons support Open to those with Parkinsons disease, their family members and caregivers. First Tuesdays 1:30-3 p.m. Call for Ashburn location. 571-442-8851. Post-partum support Second and fourth Wednesdays 1-2:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Cornwall Campus, 224 Cornwall St., Leesburg. Call 703-909-9877 or email lamckeough@gmail.com. Registration required. Reach to Recovery Home visit program for mastectomy and lumpectomy patients. Temporary prostheses, exercise instruction and encouragement. 703-938-5550. Sexual assault and incest survivors group counseling Services provided by Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice and the Loudoun Abused Womens Shelter are free and confidential. 703-771-9020. Sexual assault survivors empowerment support Sponsored by Sexual Assault Victims Volunteer Initiative. Child care available with 48 hours notice. Mondays; call for times and locations. 540-349-7720. Spiritual support group For cancer patients, family members and friends. Third Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8850. Spouse loss support Sundays Jan. 29 through April 2, 2:30-4 p.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. Facilitated by Liz Shaw. 540-349-5814. Free. Stroke survivors and caregivers support Second Wednesdays 11 a.m.-noon, Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg, second floor, Patient Education Room. 703-858-6199 or jill.lieb@inova.org. Suicide counseling Third Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Office, Conference Room 2, lower level, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. 703-587-1618 or survivorsofsuicidelossleesburg@gmail.com. Womens support Sponsored by Services to Abused Families. Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Confidential location. 540-825-8876. Widows and widowers support Third Mondays 11 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Womens cancer support Woman to Woman, first Wednesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Registration required. 703-858-8850. MISCELLANEOUS Ask the Expert lecture series Treatment Options for shoulder Pain and Arthritis, Tuesday 6-7:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, Conferene Rooms A and B, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg. Orthopedic surgeon Adam Lorenzetti will discuss surgical and nonsurgical approaches for treatment of an arthritic shoulder and other shoulder conditions. Seating is limited; register by calling 855-694-6682. Free. Brain trauma survivors brown bag lunch For survivors and caregivers. First Tuesdays, noon-1:30 p.m., Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg, second-floor Patient Education Room. Call 703-737-3150 or email jberg@braininjurysvcs.org. Free. Child developmental screenings For ages 2-5. Children may not be kindergarten-age-eligible. Sponsored by the Loudoun County public schools Child Find Center. 571-252- - 2180. Cholesterol screenings Weekdays from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Fauquier Health LIFE Center, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-2640. Registration required. $35. Emergency food supplies Loudoun County residents in need can receive a free three-day supply of groceries. Supplies are distributed Mondays through Saturdays by Loudoun Hunger Relief. Call 703-777-5911 or go to loudounhunger.org . Fauquier free walk-in medical clinic Patients must call Thursdays from 12:30 to 1 p.m. to register for the clinic, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Patients are also seen by appointment Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fauquier and Rappahannock residents only. Bring proof of address for the first visit. Patients cannot have Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. Information: 540-347-0394 Tuesdays or Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Bistro Senior Supper Club Nutritious meals and fellowship for people 55 and older. Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Bistro on the Hill, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588. $5.49. HEROES (Hometown Enabling Relationships, Opportunities and Empowerment through Support) is a program for military families. A trained volunteer provides support to military members and their families, from pre-deployment up to two years post-deployment. Assistance includes financial help, job placement, family care and mental-health services. caring@purbap.org or heroescare.org. Inova Loudoun Hospital Mobile Health Services Blood pressure screenings, Tuesday 9 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling; Wednesday 10 a.m.-noon, Lansdowne Woods, 19400 Leisure World Blvd., Leesburg; Thursday 10 a.m.-noon,Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. For information, call 703-858-8818 or go to inova.org/mobilehealth. Free. Loudoun Cares information and referral help line Call 703-669-4636 for help in finding resources for county residents who are dealing with rent eviction, utility cut-offs, needed health care and employment. Motor skill screenings Birth to 21 months. First Thursdays, Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, 19465 Deerfield Ave., Suite 201, Lansdowne. Call for an appointment. 703-858-7620. Free. Northern Virginia long-term care ombudsman Call 703-324-5861 for help in resolving complaints related to long-term-care facilities. Road to Recovery For cancer patients who need rides to appointments. Call 410-781-6909 or email jen.burdette@cancer.org. Free. Safe sitter classes For girls and boys ages 11-14. First Saturdays except for holiday weekends. 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg. To receive a Safe Sitter Certificate, students must pass practical and written tests on babysitting concepts and handling an emergency. Bring a lunch or buy lunch in the cafeteria. $70, includes handbook and snacks during the day. Registration required. 703-858-8818 or charlene.martin@inova.org. Seven Loaves Food Pantry Individuals and families can receive a three-day supply of food, distributed Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-noon. Go to sevenloavesmiddleburg.org or call 540-687-3489. Tree of Life Food Pantry Serving western Loudoun County. Food is delivered Wednesdays and Saturdays. 703-554-3595. Compiled by Sandy Mauck TO SUBMIT AN ITEM Email: ldliving@washpost.com Fax: 703-777-8437 Mail: Health Calendar, The Washington Post, 104 Dry Mill Rd. SW, Suite 101, Leesburg, Va. 20175 Loudoun County and Fauquier County health calendar Loudoun County and Fauquier County health calendar Balls Bluff site adds more than 3,000 acres Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell recently announced the expansion of Balls Bluff Battlefield National Historic Landmark from its current 76 acres near Leesburg to include more than 3,300 acres of riverfront land on both sides of the Potomac River, including Harrison Island in Maryland. The expanded landmark now includes: The land and earthworks along both sides of Edwards Ferry Road, an area used by cavalry units. An earthen fort from which Confederate officers observed and directed the battle. Federal artillery positions on the heights above the Maryland shore, from which Confederate positions were bombarded. Harrison Island, which served as a staging area for the federal troops trying to cross the storm-swollen Potomac River. For information, go to loudoun.gov/BallsBluff. Public is asked to help name new county centers The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services is seeking residents input into the naming of a new recreation center and senior center in the Dulles district. Phase I of the project, currently known as the Dulles South Multipurpose Center, has about 24,000 square feet of classrooms, meeting rooms, a multipurpose room, an activities room, an indoor recreation area, a senior activity center, a kitchen, restrooms and offices. A bond for the Phase II and Phase III expansion was approved by Loudoun voters in a 2013 referendum. The expansion will include a recreation center and full-service senior center for communities in the area. Phase II provides for an 81,000-square-foot addition, with recreation and fitness areas, an elevated running track, a competition and leisure pool, a climbing wall, and program facilities. A name is sought for the area that comprises both Phase I (the existing center) and Phase II (the new recreation center). A second name is sought for Phase III, which will provide an additional 17,000 square feet for a full-service senior center. Features will include office and program space, a small gymnasium, a large multipurpose room with an adjoining commercial kitchen, an exercise room, classrooms, a game room, and a computer lab. Construction of Phases II and III is expected to be completed in the summer. The facility is at 24950 Riding Center Dr., South Riding. Names can be submitted by email to prcs@loudoun.gov or by mail to Steve Torpy, Director, Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, 20145 Ashbrook Pl., Suite 170, Ashburn, Va. 20147. Include your full name, email and mailing address, and phone number. The submission deadline is Feb. 17 at 5 p.m.. For information, call 703-777-0343. 48 Fauquier students to compete in spelling bee The Fauquier County Public Schools Division Spelling Bee is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at Taylor Middle School, 350 E. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The snow date is Feb. 4. Forty-eight students, representing 11 elementary schools and five middle schools, will participate as winners of their school-level or grade-level spelling bees. The winner of Saturdays competition will advance to the 12th annual Free Lance-Star Regional Spelling Bee in Fredericksburg on March 11. The regional winner will be eligible to participate in the 90th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee at Gaylord National Resort at National Harbor, scheduled for May 28 to June 3. For information, call 540-422-7031 By Ananth Krishnan: China's nationalistic State media outlets usually turn to hawkish Chinese strategists when they want to deploy verbal missiles targeting India, but they have now found an unlikely source for blistering op-eds: an Indian national living in China. "India has very serious issues at home," wrote Gaurav Tyagi in his latest commentary, published on Sunday in no less than the English-website of the People's Daily, the official mouthpiece of China's Communist Party (CPC), saying that "violence, killings and rapes" were "common across the country". advertisement "It's highly regretful that inspite of 70 years of independence from the British colonial rule, India has the largest number of malnourished kids in the world, biggest number of people, who don't have access to toilets. Go on any train journey in India, open the window early in the morning and watch this spectacle of people defecating openly in 'Incredible India'." He didn't stop there, suggesting India should be renamed "Backwardistan". "If every community in India is so backward, why don't [they] rename the country as 'Backwardistaan'? (the land of the backwards) at least it would provide a lot of Western aid to India. This can be utilized for the forward march of India and its billions of communities. Vast number of which claim themselves as royal/martial race etc. in private conversations but have no shame/guilt in demanding reservations as backward communities." Also read | Natural for large countries like India, China to have differences, says PM Modi Tyagi added that "India is nowhere close to China inspite of both countries being neighbors. The majority of girls in India cannot marry a life-partner of their choice. They dare not venture out by themselves in many parts of the country. Women cant enjoy an evening with friends over a few drinks without being falsely labeled as whores and facing molestation/rape threats.?? As of Monday, the piece, titled "Letter to the Editor: Indian media should focus on synergy rather than confrontation with China", was still prominently displayed as the second lead on the website's home page. This isn't Tyagi's first piece: an op-ed he wrote in October stirred heated debate both online and among the Indian community in China, which slammed India's economic prospects and asked Chinese companies to invest not in India but in western China. Not much is known about Tyagi. Sunday's article described him as an Indian national settled in China, while last year's piece said he was "an Indian-born freelance writer living in Baiyin" in western Gansu province. The Indian Embassy and Consulates say they have no record or information about him, and he is not registered with the Indian mission as many Indian nationals are. advertisement Also read | India to China: Our rise not harmful to your ascent, sovereignty Efforts to reach Tyagi failed. In response to queries, the Global Times said Tyagi declined to speak with the Indian media because he was "concerned" about his family in India. In an October article, Tyagi said Chinese companies shouldn't invest in India but in Gansu, where he lives, while "Indian authorities bark about the trade deficit". On Sunday, Tyagi slammed the Indian media for "behaving in a highly provocative manner regarding China. The successful test-firing of India's long range ballistic missile, purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France and selling of weapons to Vietnam should have been reported objectively. There is no need for the media in India to be so subjective by coining phrases like they "cover entire China'' & "to counter the Chinese threat.'" Rather ironically, the Global Times, where Tyagi earlier published, is a hawkish tabloid published by the People's Daily, often in its columns has in the past often put down India's capabilities, boasted of China's military and economic superiority and warned of teaching India a lesson. advertisement Tyagi wrote that "Caste/communities unite and block roads, railway tracks for days on end, indulge inarson, violence, killings and rapes in the name of demanding govt job reservations. This phenomenon is common across the whole country." Perhaps without a sense of irony, he ended his diatribe lamenting the Indian media's "war-mongering and hawkish attitude" to China. Less surprising than the author's argument, which has expectedly found favour among China's State media outlets, was the prominence accorded to it by the People's Daily, which was, ultimately, perhaps more revealing than the articles themselves. Also read | 'Outlier' China blocked India's NSG membership: Obama administration --- ENDS --- Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett on Monday vetoed legislation that would have made the wealthy county the first jurisdiction in Maryland to require a $15 minimum wage. Leggett (D) said boosting the wage to the level embraced by national progressive activists, including former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), would harm Montgomerys economy and its ability to compete for jobs in the Washington region. The only locality that has adopted a $15 minimum is the District of Columbia, which will require employers to pay that wage by 2020. [D.C. gives final approval to $15 minimum wage] I remain concerned . . . about the competitive disadvantage [the bill] would put the County in compared to our neighboring jurisdictions, Leggett said in a letter to Council President Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda). Leggett left the door open to considering a revised bill, contingent on a study of the economic impact of a $15 minimum wage on the countys public, private, and nonprofit sectors. His other conditions for signing a revised bill include extending the wage hikes phase-in to 2022 two years after the District will begin requiring a minimum of $15 an hour and including an exemption for small business and youth workers. Virginia uses the federal minimum wage, currently $7.25 an hour. Maryland requires $8.75 an hour, which will rise to $9.25 in July and $10.10 in July 2018. In 2013, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties joined with the District in an unusual regional action to raise the wage to $11.50 by 2017. But Prince Georges officials indicated last year that they would not pursue a $15 minimum. Leggetts decision to nullify the bill sparked strong criticism from labor and progressive groups that pushed hard to enlist the county in the national Fight for $15 campaign. New York state and city, California and Seattle have all passed legislation putting their jurisdictions on the path to a $15 minimum. Working families who fear life under the Trump presidency need not wait for the White House to make their lives harder their own local leaders have already started, the MD/DC Fight for $15 Coalition said in a statement Monday evening. The group which includes Service Employees International, CASA, Jews United for Justice, Progressive Maryland and the Metro Washington Central Labor Council added that businesses will almost assuredly continue to thrive in the nations eighth-richest county. Leggett said that unlike Seattle, New York and other metropolises, Montgomery is not a destination city that draws great numbers of business travelers or tourists to support businesses that charge more in order to pay a higher wage. Instead, he said, our residents will essentially shoulder the bulk of the cost if a $15 minimum wage is put into place in the county but nowhere else in the state. Leggett, who had until Jan. 30 to decide whether to sign or veto the bill, had strongly signaled his opposition before the measure passed a divided County Council last week. The all-Democratic panel approved the bill, which mandated a $15-per-hour base pay by 2020, by a 5-to-4 margin one vote short of the majority needed to override a veto. The bills chief sponsor, council member Marc Elrich (D-At Large) tried to win Leggett over with an amendment to give businesses with fewer than 25 employees until 2022 to adapt to the higher wage. But Leggett wanted to extend the longer phase-in to all companies. I disagree with him fundamentally about [a deadline of ] 2022 for everybody, Elrich said. He questioned the validity of a study of the bills future impact, an idea that council members who voted against the legislation have said they support. You cant do an examination of whats going to happen in the private sector, Elrich said. You can study what has happened, but you cant tell what will happen going forward. Leggett is a stalwart liberal on most social issues. But he can be more moderate on fiscal matters, and the veto reflects his concern about the countys economic vibrancy. After his election to a third term in 2014, he led the effort to convert the countys department of economic development into a private, nonprofit corporation with a more aggressive approach to attracting and retaining employers. He also created a new ombudsmans position within his office to help real estate developers navigate the county bureaucracy. He has said he will not seek a fourth term in 2018. The legislative proposals of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan may siphon attention away from Democrats who are still reeling from Hogans surprise victory two years ago and who are searching for ways to compete in 2018 with Hogans $5 million war chest and sky-high approval ratings. (Patrick Semansky/AP) Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan remained on the sidelines last year when the majority-Democratic legislature haggled over a paid-sick-leave bill. The measure never made it to his desk. Now Hogan, a Republican, is taking the idea long championed by Democrats and trying to make it his own. It is part of a calculated move by the first-term governor as he reaches the midpoint of his four-year term, attempting to cast himself as a centrist in a state in which Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 and independents make up the fastest-growing voting bloc. In the past month, Hogan has introduced his most comprehensive legislative agenda since taking office, offering measures that would cap tuition increases for state universities at 2 percent, promote job growth in green industries and require companies with 50 or more employees to provide five days of paid sick leave. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said Hogans actions should not come as a surprise, given the governors desire for a second term and the moderate-to-liberal leanings of his constituents. Hes going to move to the center, Miller said. Thats where the people are. The proposals will probably siphon attention away from Democrats who are still reeling from Hogans surprise victory two years ago and who are searching for ways to compete in 2018 with Hogans $5 million war chest and sky-high approval ratings. The governors 2014 opponent, then-Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), tried to defeat him by saying Hogan would push a right-wing agenda on issues such as abortion and guns. But the governor has steered clear of those topics, presenting a moderate political persona. He has been strategic and good at identifying policies that are popular with Marylanders, said Mileah Kromer, a political scientist at Goucher College. Its part of being a successful Republican governor in a blue state. He has to find issues that work for a wide range of Marylanders. Hogan, widely popular across party lines, has repeatedly declared that it doesnt matter on which side of the aisle an idea originates. I pretty much go where I think [it] makes sense, Hogan said in a recent radio interview. Im taking things [Democrats] say they support and saying, This is how we can make it better. The strategy has infuriated many in the Democratic-majority legislature, who say Hogans initiatives lack substance, differ in key ways from their partys proposals or were unveiled without consultation with Democratic legislative leaders. State Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), for example, compared Hogans paid-sick-leave bill with the one passed by House Democrats last year, noting that the governors would exempt more small businesses and would cover only employees who work at least 30 hours a week. They sound good, Madaleno said of the governors proposals, but the details show little progress for people. Analysts said minor differences between Hogans proposals and bills that Democrats put forward could easily be lost on many voters, frustrating opponents of the governor who want to differentiate his agenda from theirs. Last year, Democrats in the House got into a heated exchange over how to draw such a contrast. Individuals dont pay attention to nuance as much as insiders and wonks, Kromer said. If people feel the direction of the state is good and economic conditions are improving, theyre going to give the governor a lot of leeway. As Hogans approval ratings have risen, the governor has stockpiled considerable campaign cash for his reelection campaign. He and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford (R) took in about $4.5 million in 2016, and Hogan now has more than $5 million available far more than potential Democratic challengers such as Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz ($1.6 million), Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III ($250,000) or Del. Maggie L. McIntosh of Baltimore ($125,000). House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), who recently told Democrats that they cant be wearing a jersey with both colors on it, struck a more bipartisan note this week, saying he welcomes Hogans input on necessary bills that are priorities for Democrats, particularly paid sick leave. I dont think it hurts or impacts our agenda at all, Busch said of Hogans latest moves. He has his own base of support and we have ours. Anytime you get the governor to work on a piece of legislation, its a benefit. Hogans centrist approach could damage his standing among conservative Republicans in the state, many of whom are still angry over the governors disavowal of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Del. Wendell R. Beitzel (R-Garrett) said the governors sick-leave and environmental proposals have caused a considerable amount of concern among conservative lawmakers. He said Hogan campaigned on a promise to make the state more business-friendly after years of strict new regulations under then-Gov. Martin OMalley (D). Beitzel, who was a delegate for Trump at the Republican National Convention, said he is worried that Hogans antipathy toward the new president could cause the state to miss out on a promised burst of new defense spending or lose out on the future FBI headquarters. Still, Beitzel said he and the vast majority of his colleagues strongly support the governors overall agenda and think he is moving the state in the right direction. Miller, the Senate president, said he doesnt think Hogans agenda goes far enough on key issues facing Marylanders. He pledged to work with the governor to expand it, including by doing more to address climate change and protect the Chesapeake Bay. My job is to get people to work together to solve the states problems, Miller said. I belong to a party but Im also elected by all 47 senators, including Republicans. . . . My job is to isolate the far left and isolate the far right and bring people of goodwill together. A thief stole a car from a parking lot in Alexandria, Va., on Monday afternoon, police said only to ditch the vehicle when he realized there was a child inside. A woman left her car running in the parking lot of the Bradlee Shopping Center in Alexandria while stopping at an ATM, police spokeswoman Crystal Nosal said. Her child was in the back seat. While the womans back was turned, a thief got into the car and drove away. But the car was left elsewhere in the parking lot, presumably when the thief realized there was a child inside. Nosal said police think the thief was picked up by an accomplice in another car and quickly left the scene. Firefighters put out a fire in limousine that was set afire during anti-Trump protesters on K Street in the District on Inauguration Day. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) The memories of the 2002 protests against the World Bank that resulted in the arrest of almost 400 protesters and bystanders at the Districts Pershing Park are still fresh in the minds of police, demonstrators and the citys pocketbook. It wasnt until last April that the District and federal authorities settled the final lawsuit filed by demonstrators, bringing to $13.25 million the total payout for the arrests of the hundreds of protesters caught in a trap and detain policy. [Inauguration protesters vandalize, set fires, try to disrupt Trumps oath, as police arrest more than 200] On Friday, during Inauguration Day protests, D.C. police arrested 230 demonstrators after corralling them at 12th and L streets NW. Defense attorneys and some of those arrested are likening the treatment to the problematic mass arrests at Pershing Park nearly 15 years ago, saying these protesters, too, were trapped and detained and then arrested without being given dispersal orders. But law enforcement authorities say there are key differences. D.C. police form a line across K Street NW at 13th Street as protesters react to the swearin- in of Donald Trump. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters) Unlike the Pershing Park demonstrators, police said, Fridays protesters went on a well-planned, four-square-block rampage through downtown with hammers and crowbars, breaking store and car windows, setting a vehicle on fire and causing destruction estimated to be in excess of $100,000. [Final lawsuit settled in Pershing Park protest case] Interim D.C. police chief Peter Newsham said that officers strategically maneuvered to get in front of the demonstrators with the goal of trapping them, but only after property had been destroyed. Sgt. Matthew Mahl, the chairman of the police union, said that once violence occurs, we dont need to issue dispersal orders. Mahl said that in Pershing Park, we blocked them in on four sides and told them they needed to leave. But we didnt give them a place to go. Those defendants were largely charged with failing to disperse. During Fridays demonstrations, Mahl said, officers corralled the protesters with the intent of arresting them. They were charged with rioting. [Interim D.C. police chief lauds forces handling of weekend demonstrations, crowds] Prosecutors justified the felony charge based on the estimated damage. In court papers, police noted that the group DisruptJ20 was well organized, had publicly threatened to shut down the presidential inauguration using violent means, and had preselected a core group of people willing to be arrested. Six officers were injured. Demonstrators had lawyers on call, private medics to treat injuries and a media spokesman. We had very, very large demonstrations on Friday throughout the city, and the largest majority of those demonstrations were very peaceful, Newsham said Sunday on WTOP radio (103.5 FM). However, near 13th and K streets, we had a small of group of folks that had an intention of coming to Washington, D.C., and breaking the law. . . . And all the police officers were outstanding in the judgment that they used. They used the least amount of force necessary to bring those folks safely and respectfully into custody. I couldnt be more proud of the way this department responded. On Friday afternoon, a lawyer who set up a legal hotline for demonstrators filed a lawsuit in federal court in the District against D.C. police and U.S. Park Police alleging that the arrests were improper. The lead plaintiff is a Colorado attorney who served as DisruptJ20s legal observer and was swept up in the arrests. Newsham also was named in the suit. [Protests on Trump Inauguration Day turn violent] The lawsuit alleges that police arrested demonstrators without warning and without any dispersal order, and it denies that any of those charged rioted or in any way would have appeared to the police to have been breaking the law. Jason Flores-Williams, an attorney for 17 demonstrators who were arrested, called the felony charge unprecedented. The government is trying to crack down on dissent, Flores-Williams said. They are trying to intimidate everyone. Right now theres been great solidarity with everybody. He accused prosecutors of trying to intimidate the arrestees into pleading guilty to lesser charges. But the government cant prove any of these cases, he said. So were going to take them all to trial. . . . Theres no evidence. I was there witnessing all of this. There is no way they can prove anything in particular. Protesters and other attorneys complained that the protesters responsible for the most serious damage eluded arrest. The people who got caught, they said, were bystanders, protesters not involved in violence and observers used by the groups to monitor police behavior and tactics. Jeffrey Light, the Washington attorney who filed the federal suit, said he is alleging unlawful arrest and excessive force. He said police were making mass arrests without individualized probable cause, unable to link individuals to specific acts of violence. Demonstrators and the lawsuit also complained about the use of police crowd-control devices, such as small explosives that make a loud noise and flash a bright light to disorient people. Initially, D.C. police officials denied using such devices. Later Friday, they said they were investigating reports from witnesses, including Washington Post reporters, who saw officers throwing them. The police chief said officers reported that protesters were also using similar devices. On Saturday, the union chairman, Mahl, said officers used sting grenades, also known as sting balls. They set off a loud noise and a flash, as well as plumes of smoke. Sting grenades also shoot out small rubber pellets that sting but arent supposed to embed in flesh. Mahl said sting grenades are most effective in crowd-control situations; flash-bangs, which dont project pellets but have a brighter, blinding flash, are more likely to be used by tactical officers making forced entries into homes. In the WTOP interview Sunday, Newsham did not acknowledge that his officers had hurled grenades or sting balls. He indicated that the issue was still under investigation as part of his departments after-action inquiry. Were going to look into every detail, he said on WTOP. Were going to do an after-action on everything we did, look into every instance where a use of force was made, look at the planning, look at the staging of our folks, see if that was the way to do it. The goal when you do an after-action is to make sure every single time we do something like this, that we learn. This story has been updated to reflect that the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, a Colorado attorney, served as DisruptJ20s legal observer. He did not serve as a legal advisor. Keith L. Alexander and Paul Duggan contributed to this report. Newcomers to Congress were still finding their seats this month when the opening barrage sounded in the battle over whether more than 30,000 workers should be cut from the federal payroll. President Trump, the new player on the block in an ongoing conflict between the House and the Senate, has promised to reduce the federal workforce but has been silent on an issue that would cut the Federal Aviation Administrations staff by about 65 percent. Thats why two senators pounced when his nominee to head the Transportation Department, Elaine Chao, showed up for her confirmation hearing Jan. 11. As Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) told Chao, There is a huge contention between the House and the Senate over this issue of privatization. On that, Chao was noncommittal. [Elaine Chao emphasizes private funds for Trumps promised transportation fixes] This is a huge issue. I am very much aware of those who are for it, those who are against privatization, she said. We need to have a national discussion about this. Two days later, the undercurrent was apparent in the reactions on the House side to an inspector generals report that criticized the FAA. [Report: FAA not prepared for major air traffic outages] This report adds to the sea of evidence supporting the need for real reform in modernizing and managing air traffic services and letting the FAA focus on its safety mission, said Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee and a leading proponent last year of severing 14,000 air traffic controllers and about 16,000 other FAA workers from the payroll. Two ranking Democrats on his committee Reps. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) responded in a statement that said, We remain unconvinced that privatizing the air traffic control system would lead to improvement. [Lawmakers want to move 38,000 federal jobs to private, nonprofit entity] The very use of the word privatize has become controversial; Shusters proposal would move the workers to a federally chartered nonprofit organization run by a board of directors. DeFazio and Larsen voiced concerns about putting almost 24,000 commercial flights a day under the control of an airline-dominated board. There are several reasons behind the push to cut up to 30,000 people from federal service, but none have been so worrisome for Congress as the perceived lack of progress in overhauling the countrys aviation system. About a dozen years ago, the FAA was looking for a catchy descriptor for its multifaceted program to modernize a system that had seen minimal enhancements since radars introduction during World War II and in which commercial jetliners still move around the country from one designated waypoint to the next, rather than fly in a straight line to their destination. The point was to sell Congress on funding several expensive projects, and the name they came up with to cover all of them was NextGen. Giving the programs one name has proved a double-edged sword. It gave the FAA a single name to use when it begged for modernization money from Congress. But it also gave Congress a single program to hold accountable when elements of NextGen moved slowly, or not at all. Congresss perception that NextGen was moving at a glacial pace was amply bolstered by critical reports from the Government Accountability Office and the inspector general, including one that came out on the day of Chaos hearing. Frustration with the progress on NextGen is just one reason, Shuster said last week. FAA has shown itself incapable of managing large projects efficiently. Its important to remember that NextGen is just the most recent in a line of abandoned modernization plans. That frustration led Shuster to a radical proposal a year ago: Move 14,000 air traffic controllers, and the NextGen modernization staff, to a nonprofit corporation. The FAA would retain its role as an oversight agency, much like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which issues auto regulations and recalls faulty vehicles. Shuster won surprising support from the controllers union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which argued that spinning off controllers into a private entity would protect them from the threat of government shutdowns and uncertain federal funding. Shuster says that final details of this years proposal arent set and that hes ready to speak with anyone who can improve on our proposal last Congress. This year, the union will go only so far as to say that it will evaluate any proposal based on whether they protect workforce rights and benefits [and] maintain safety. [Air traffic controllers ready to break away from FAA] Although Shusters plan emerged from his committee last year, it never got a vote on the House floor. In the Senate, reaction was lukewarm among some Republicans. Rather than wrestle over it, Congress passed a short-term authorization bill for the FAA that will expire Sept. 30, setting the stage for renewal of the battle this year. In a dear colleagues letter to House members Tuesday, Shuster said the FAAs handling of NextGen was bureaucratically sluggish and troubled, adding that the agency has spent $7 billion on NextGen, but the program has suffered from numerous cost overruns and delays. That Senate Republicans remain divided on the issue was evident at Chaos confirmation hearing, where Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said he opposed the privatization plan and pressed Chao to move forward with NextGen. I just would reiterate my belief that one of the ways we can diminish the demand for a [privatized] air traffic control system is to get the [NextGen] technology in place, Moran said. There were gasps in the room, heads shaking. This cannot be real, said a woman wearing an embroidered shalwar kameez the same shade of powder blue as the first ladys inaugural outfit. I cant believe its actually happening, said another woman dressed in slacks and a turtleneck sweater. This group of American Muslims PTA moms, neighborhood doctors, a banker, a professor among them needed to be together the day it happened, the day Donald Trump became president. They gathered Friday in a piece of their collective American Dream, a remodeled 1951 suburban rancher in Northern Virginia, to watch the inauguration on television. Nivvi Tareen, Bazigha Hassan and Abida Mufti, left to right facing the camera, gather with other Pakistani Americans to watch Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20. (Mark McDonald /Birkdale Media Group ) This is for me the first time that I have not felt good here, said Nina Rana, 74, who left her native Pakistan 50 years ago. Even the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, did not make her feel uncomfortable. But Trump has. The Republican real estate mogul has not backed off his campaign promise to create a Muslim registry and to stop Muslims from terrorist-plagued countries like Pakistan from immigrating here. People like Rana, who have lived here for decades, who have given birth to American kids and raised them here, who have been active in community associations and know the names of their grocery clerks and bank tellers, never imagined a time like this. I get goose bumps when I hear [Trump] talk about Muslims, she said. It hurts me. [Attacks on American Muslims are growing uglier by the day. It must stop.] And throughout the room, the Pakistani Americans put their hands over their mouths when Trump described the country they love as a place of carnage. This doesnt sound like America at all, one man said. They sipped on their saltish Kashmiri pink tea a little longer instead of starting on the buffet their host had set out. It took a while to get the stomach to eat after that dark inaugural address. They mingled with Andleeb Abbas, one of the leaders of Pakistans opposition party and a political superstar in that country. She was there to see a childhood friend who has been in the U.S. since 1997 and works as a real estate agent in Fairfax County. It was a tough time for Abbas to be in Washington, where she was seeking help in Pakistans fight against radical Islamist terrorism. Her pitch starts with humanitarian funding and assistance. If there is no war against illiteracy, no war against poverty and no war against inequity, the war against terrorism will continue to be a battle unconquered, said Abbas, who is speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday and at Harvard later this week. Illiteracy is the breeding ground for terrorism. Trump needs to have an open mind, she said. Pakistan and the U.S. need to be allies. And here she was, in a Virginia living room, listening to Donald Trump say its all America first from now on. I dont like the way he talks and how he started so much prejudice here, said Sobia Akhtar, 54. All my life here, everybody has been so nice. When we lived in Alabama in 1984, women threw me three baby showers when I was pregnant there. They were nice. And now? Now I dont know. But Akhtar hasnt lost her faith in the United States. Shes been a part of the American fabric for decades and believes there is too much goodwill, too solid a foundation, for basic freedoms to falter. A registry? I dont think that will happen, she said. I would like to believe America is too strong for that. [A smokescreen: Disguising anti-Muslim bias with land-use objections] Her husband, Mateen Akhtar, 63, leaned in to explain why he thinks theyll be okay. I heard Warren Buffett say it, he said. He said America has the secret sauce. Most of these Muslim women do not cover their heads. And some wondered whether that way of living has hidden them from Americans all these years. Whether their assimilation has made everyone around them believe that Muslims are a total mystery. I wonder if I shouldnt start wearing hijab now, Rana said. I wonder what everyone who has known me for years would say. Would anyone try to tear it off? When the rise in Islamophobia last year became palpable to Ambreem Rizvi, a 44-year-old bank executive, she decided it was time for American Muslims who have been living here for decades, who hate terrorism as much as anyone else, to step out of the shadows. We call it Muslims R Us you know, like the store, Rizvi explained. This is a reaction to this election season, to explain that all Muslims arent terrorists. A year ago she founded the group, created a website with primers on Islam and Muslim culture and set out on a campaign to put American Muslims in the forefront. They go to community events and will speak with any group that wants to learn more about Muslims. They marched Saturday in the Womens March on Washington. We have to look forward, Rizvi said. After they had their tea and dug into their plates of haleem (a puree of meat and lentils), chicken tikka and vegetable palau, after the chocolate-chip cookies, there were smiles. And hugs. And plans to volunteer at the mosques clinic and ways they would meet up at the march. And a cheery optimism in the face of such rejection that can be described only as American. Twitter: @petulad Texas 3 killed in suspected murder-suicide Authorities say three people have been fatally shot and two others are injured in Manvel, Tex., in what is being investigated as an apparent murder-suicide. The Brazoria County Sheriffs Office said its dispatch received a call early Sunday from an unidentified man saying he had shot his wife. Deputies went to the home where the call was made and found the bodies of a 28-year-old man, a 30-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman. A 36-year-old woman and a 43-year-old woman who also were shot were taken to Houston hospitals, where they are listed in critical condition. The names of those killed and injured were not immediately released. Manvel is about 24 miles south of Houston. A motive for the shooting has not been released. Associated Press Product recall Brewing company says some bottles pose risk Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced a recall Sunday of certain 12-ounce bottles of its pale ales, IPAs and other beers after detecting a packaging flaw that could cause a piece of glass to break off into the bottle. In a statement Sunday, it said the recall applies to eight types of its craft beers, including its popular Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, purchased in 36 states across the Midwest, the South and the East Coast. The California-based company issued the voluntary recall after quality inspections at its brewery in Mills River, N.C., detected a limited number of bottles made with a flaw that may cause a small piece of glass to break off and possibly fall into the bottle, creating a risk of injury, the statement said. The affected beer has a package date that falls between Dec. 5 and Jan. 13 and a brewery code of M on bottles and the packaging of cardboard cases. Associated Press By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) In fresh trouble for former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, the Supreme Court today constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the allegations of "abuse of authority" prima facie committed by him to scuttle investigation and enquiries in coal block allocation cases. A bench, comprising Justices Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and A K Sikri, observed that a prima facie case has "definitely" been made out for probe into the abuse of authority by Sinha. advertisement The apex court said the present CBI Director would head the special investigation team (SIT) which would look into the report of the apex court-appointed panel headed by M L Sharma, a former Special Director of the agency, that had prima facie indicted Sinha in the matter. "We have considered the issue whether an outside body of investigators should be appointed as the Special Investigating Team," the bench said in its four-page order. "However, in our considered opinion, since there has been a change of guard in the CBI, we would continue to repose our faith in the impartiality of the CBI to look into the report prepared by M L Sharma and other relevant documents and conduct an investigation (as an SIT) into the abuse of authority prima facie committed by Ranjit Sinha with a view to scuttle enquiries, investigations and prosecutions being carried out by CBI in coal block allocation cases," it said. However, the apex court made it clear that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of allegations levelled by the petitioner or on the contents of the report prepared by the Sharma panel. "We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations made by the petitioner or make any comment on the contents of the report prepared by M L Sharma and his team, except to say that a prima facie case has definitely been made out for investigation into the abuse of authority by Ranjit Sinha in terms of the report," it said. The apex court said the CBI Director may take assistance of two officers of the agency after duly intimating the court and also take the Chief Vigilance Commissioner into confidence in respect of the investigations. The bench said that the special public prosecutor for coal scam cases, senior advocate R S Cheema, would assist CBI Director and his team on legal issues related to the matter. "The SIT led by the Director, CBI may take the assistance of two officers of the CBI nominated by the Director with due intimation to this Court. The Director, CBI will also take the Chief Vigilance Commissioner into confidence in respect of the investigations," it said. (More) PTI ABA MNL SJK ARC --- ENDS --- advertisement For a medical resident, the first day on a new service is never smooth. Youre on a new floor with new nurses, other new residents, new supervisors and, of course, new patients sometimes two dozen of them, seriously ill, whom youre meeting for the first time and for whom youre expected to make important, sometimes life-altering decisions. Youve read about them, of course, and perhaps had a conversation with a departing colleague about their recent clinical course. But it always feels as though youre starting in the middle of a long movie after reading a plot summary of the first half. You have a general sense of whats going on who the characters are and what has happened to them but your understanding is long on overview and short on nuance. Sometimes a previous residents description of a patient is spot on. Other times, the patient isnt at all the person you imagined. (I thought shed look older, I muse. And wouldnt have a facial droop.) [Hospital discharge: Its one of the most dangerous periods for patients] It takes a few days before the new medical team is functioning smoothly. We need to learn each others quirks, strengths and shortcomings. As a senior resident, Im asking questions such as How much supervision does our medical student need? How strong is the interns understanding of heart failure? Is our attending a micromanager or a ghost? Care transitions when one doctor or medical team takes over for another have increasingly been recognized as a vital but challenging aspect of medical care. Typically, at the end of a two- or four-week block, a team of doctors interns, residents and attending physicians passes responsibility for a group of patients to a new team. As someone leading these transitions, I find the process varied and haphazard, a time when important details and intimate clinical understanding are lost in translation. Research has shown that handoffs between shifts can be dangerous, and efforts to standardize these transitions have led to measurable improvements in patient safety. But less attention has been paid to what happens when an entire team leaves and a new team comes on at teaching hospitals, which train new doctors and provide about half of all hospital care. Now a new study suggests that whatever happens, it isnt good. Researchers studied data on more than 230,000 patients at 10 university-affiliated Veterans Affairs hospitals to see how they fared when the residents caring for them transferred responsibility to a new team. These patients had a wide range of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart failure, cancer and liver disease, and were admitted to general medicine services as well as to subspecialty floors and intensive care units. [When a medical mistake happens, who pays the bill?] The data showed that patients who underwent transitions were twice as likely as others to die during their hospitalization: Four percent of transition-group patients died, compared with 2 percent of those who didnt experience a transition. And the ominous link persisted after patients left the hospital. Three months later, 23 percent of transition-group patients had died, compared with 14 percent of the others. I wasnt surprised we found an association, Joshua Denson, the studys lead author, told me. But I was surprised by the magnitude. These arent just a couple of mishaps. We may be doing something during transitions that changes the trajectory of patients health in the long run. There are many plausible explanations for these findings. The most obvious is that important clinical information is lost or overlooked when one medical team takes over for another. But more-subtle factors may also be contributing. For example, say Im told by departing residents that an older womans shortness of breath is caused by worsening heart failure. I continue the treatment they started, but she doesnt get better. Because Ive anchored on their diagnosis, it will almost certainly take me longer to recognize that pneumonia is actually causing her symptoms than it would have had I started fresh and reasoned through the diagnosis myself. Meanwhile, she isnt getting the antibiotics she needs. [A doctor discovers an important question patients should be asked] But its also not clear that care transitions are entirely to blame. Patients who remain hospitalized during transitions may simply be sicker. Before rotating out of a service, we doctors often try to finish workups and discharge patients to reduce the burden on the next team. This means that sicker patients and those with difficult social circumstances are more likely to experience transitions; the easy ones get discharged. So it may not be that the transition itself is responsible for higher death rates, but rather that patients with extended and complicated hospitalizations are more likely to die regardless. We all try to clean house before a service change, said Vineet Arora, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago and co-author of an editorial accompanying the study. We know handoffs are risky, especially when you have more patients. So theres a pressure to discharge, and the patients left are generally sicker. Indeed, after accounting for how old and sick patients were, researchers found that the odds that a person would die in the hospital after a transition dropped from nearly 100 percent greater than the odds of other patients to just 20 percent greater. Other intangible factors could be contributing as well. Are transition patients also more likely than others to be homeless? Are they less likely to have family members who can support them through a tough time? Still, few doctors would argue that transitions arent a precarious time for patients or that transitions wouldnt benefit from more-concerted attention. [Researchers: Medical errors now third leading cause of death in United States] One important step would be standardizing the handoff process, which has been shown to improve end-of-shift transitions but hasnt rigorously been tried for end-of-rotation transitions. Hospital protocols for transition and formal education on end-of-rotation handoffs vary widely. A resident might communicate important history and tasks verbally, in person, in writing or not at all. Hospitals should ensure that residents have dedicated time and standard templates for communicating about consultant recommendations, discharge planning and important patient conversations. Some programs are experimenting with doing handoffs at the bedside or even having a resident from the prior team participate in rounds with the new team on its first day. Another change might involve staggering when residents rotate off service so at least one team member has a longer perspective about the units patients. And greater patient and family involvement will also be important. Most patients arent even aware these transitions are happening, Denson said. We need to do a better job of letting them know and engaging family members who can ask questions during high-risk periods. Care transitions are an unfortunate but inevitable part of providing medical care. Experience and data suggest that patients are particularly vulnerable during these periods but also that theres much more we can do to minimize harm and maximize safety. Theres been major investment in end-of-shift handoffs, but much less in end-of-service transitions, Arora said. But these are permanent handoffs. Residents are leaving and not coming back. Its risky, and it deserves more attention. Khullar is a resident physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Follow him on Twitter: @DhruvKhullar. Read more: Doctors thought he just had jock itch. Then it spread. Five simple steps to avoid becoming a medical mystery Why is that salesman in the operating room? Police stand guard outside the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington on Jan. 19, the day before President Trump was sworn in. (John Minchillo/Associated Press) A liberal watchdog group filed a lawsuit against President Trump in federal court on Monday alleging that he is in violation of a little-known constitutional provision that bars him from taking gifts or payments from foreign governments. The group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that because Trump-owned buildings take in rent, room rentals and other payments from foreign governments, the president has breached the Emoluments Clause. That clause in the Constitution says that no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. It was written out of fear that the young republics leaders or ambassadors could be bought off by a richer European power. The meaning of those words has never truly been tested in court. The watchdog group says the text should be interpreted to mean that Trumps businesses should cease all business dealings with foreign states. The clause, the legal complaint says, is no relic of a bygone era, but rather an expression of insight into the nature of the human condition and the preconditions of self-governance. And applied to Donald J. Trumps diverse dealings, the text and purpose of the Foreign Emoluments Clause speak as one: this cannot be allowed. On Monday morning, Trump rejected the argument behind the lawsuit during a press appearance at the White House. Without merit, he said. Totally without merit (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) The groups proposed lawsuit was first reported Sunday afternoon by the New York Times. If the lawsuit were to succeed, it could put a major dent in the business of the Trump Organization whose businesses lease office space to state-owned companies, and whose Pennsylvania Avenue NW hotel rents its ballrooms for foreign embassy parties. The mere process of the suit could prove embarrassing for the president if it drags out details of those business dealings from the Trump Organizations private files. Norm Eisen, a lawyer working on the case, told the New York Times that he hoped the suit could also produce a copy of Trumps tax returns, which could detail the business he does with and the money he owes to foreign states such as China and Russia. [The Constitution may have something to say about how Trump runs his D.C. hotel] The law firm Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, which represents Trump, declined to comment. So did Trumps son Eric Trump, who is among the leaders of the Trump Organization while his father is president. Attempts to reach the White House press office Sunday evening were unsuccessful. Before the president took office, Sheri Dillon, Trumps lawyer, said he would transfer management of his businesses to his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., along with other executives. The president will not, however, give up his ownership stakes. Dillon said it is incorrect to say that Trump is violating the Emoluments Clause if his company merely does business with a foreign government taking its money and giving it something of value in return. This is not what the Constitution says. Paying for a hotel room is not a gift or a present, and it has nothing to do with an office. Its not an emolument, Dillon said then. In this particular case, the liberal watchdog groups suit appears likely to face difficult legal hurdles. One would be Dillons argument that paying a hotel bill is not a prohibited gift. 1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad See photos of White House senior staff being sworn-in at the White House View Photos President Donld Trump staff members, including advisor Kellyanne Conway and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, are sworn-in in the East Room. Caption The beginning of the presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. March 17, 2017 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, walk to Marine One at the White House en route to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Another problem is the question of the watchdog groups standing to sue. There is a general legal rule that to file suit against someone for wrongdoing, a plaintiff must have suffered some specific harm from that wrongdoing. Thats an issue that has hung over all the discussions of an Emoluments Clause lawsuit: If Trump does violate the Constitution, whom does he hurt? In this case, the watchdog says its own group was hurt by having to spend so much time monitoring this particular issue. CREW has been forced to divert essential and limited resources including time and money from other important matters that it ordinarily would have been handling to the Foreign Emoluments Clause issues involving Defendant, which have consumed the attention of the public and the media, the lawsuit complaint says. Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, was the chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007 and is now the vice chairman of CREWs board of directors. He argued that the group has standing because it has been distracted from its usual focus issues. CREWs whole purpose is about combating corruption in the federal government, he said. So up until this point, the two major causes of corruption in the government were the revolving door in Washington and campaign finance. The vast majority of resources were spent on that. It was a two-front war, and now this opens up a third front. He added: The injury to the organization is that its much more difficult to accomplish the organizations mission. Other legal scholars have said that claim may not be enough of an injury to let CREWs case continue. Another theory is that the best-positioned party to sue Trump may be a rival D.C. hotel, if one of them lost out on embassy business because the embassies used the Trump hotel instead. But that would require finding a large D.C. hotel with a willingness to sue the president of the United States at the outset of his term. Read more: The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun Trumps Washington hotel is hub of potential conflicts A scramble to assess the dangers of President-elect Donald Trumps global business empire Gerald Ford takes the oath of office as the 38th president of the United States in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 9, 1974. (--/Associated Press) Regarding the Jan. 20 news article Obama commutes sentences of 330 nonviolent offenders: While I applaud then-President Barack Obamas acceleration of his pardoning, his actions were eclipsed by President Fords pardoning of 1,731 civilians and 11,872 military personnel in the wake of the Vietnam War. Although we worked with the Pardon Attorneys Office during the year I served as the Presidential Clemency Boards deputy general counsel and staff director, Fords use of his pardoning power in these cases is not reflected on the Pardon Attorneys Offices website. The power to grant reprieves and pardons is given to the president by Article II, Section 2 of our Constitution, and Fords actions should be recorded on the offices website. Robert A. Knisely, Severna Park Those seeking to extract meaning from Donald Trumps foreign policy declarations usually land on the idea that hes planning to make himself dealmaker in chief. The tough tweets aimed at China, the sweet come-ons directed toward Vladimir Putin, the threats of sky-high tariffs to be imposed, along with the sky-high wall, on Mexico its all part of the setup for the quite sensible bargains Trump intends to drive. The capper will be the ultimate deal, as Trump put it in one interview: an Israeli-Palestinian peace. Its comforting to consider this theory, as it suggests that some of Trumps far-fetched rhetoric, which has appeared to presage war with North Korea, a rupture with Beijing over Taiwan and the dissolution of NATO, need not be taken seriously. There are just two problems: The deals Trump has been hinting at are wildly unrealistic; and attempting to make them happen could be dangerous as well as futile. Start with China. In his tweets since winning the election, Trump has lambasted the regime of Xi Jinping for devaluing its currency, heavily tax[ing] our products going into their country, building a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea and taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally one-sided trade while refusing to help with North Korea. He has, meanwhile, taken a phone call from the Taiwanese president and suggested he is not wedded to the one-China principle that has been the foundation of U.S. relations with Beijing since 1972. From this it might be intuited that Trump will eventually offer Beijing a back-down on Taiwan in exchange for concessions on trade, North Korea, the South China Sea or maybe all three. What a deal! Except that Xi has no intention of conceding on any of these issues, and the United States as well demonstrated by the Obama administration lacks the leverage to compel him to do so. Tariffs Trump imposes on China will be quickly answered; in fact, Beijing appears to have started imposing retaliatory duties preemptively. Xi has already shown himself unable to stop North Koreas nuclear buildup, short of measures that would bring down the regime. And perhaps most seriously, a change in the status quo of U.S. relations with Taiwan, or an attempt to prevent China from continuing its buildup on islets in the South China Sea, could quickly lead to a military confrontation that Trump would be poorly prepared to manage. (Jenny Starrs, David Filipov, Julie Vitkovskaya / The Washington Post) What about Russia? Curiously (or maybe not), Trumps approach to Moscow has been the opposite of that to Beijing. Rather than threats or accusations, he has repeatedly dangled concessions, starting with the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions. But in exchange for what? Until recently, Trump seemed to have nothing to suggest. Then, in an interview with the Times of London last week, he suddenly offered that the quo could be a reduction in nuclear weapons since I think nuclear weapons should be way down. Never mind that Trump said just a month ago that the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability, and that Putin flatly rejected a further cut in nukes in 2013. The real trouble is that Trump lacks the capacity to deliver what Putin really wants, which is not the lifting of sanctions but U.S. acceptance of a Russian sphere of influence in Eurasia, starting with Ukraine. Trump may well be open to such a deal but as Radio Free Europes Brian Whitmore recently pointed out, its a practical impossibility. Regardless of what Washington and Moscow agree, Ukrainians and Georgians, among other Russian neighbors, would strongly resist any reassertion of Russian dominion. Any Trump-Putin grand bargain, Whitmore says, would merely be a recipe for conflict and instability on Europes doorstep. Trumps other would-be bargains look even more far-fetched. Hes already tacitly acknowledged that Mexico wont be paying for a wall anytime soon. As for the idea that he and son-in-law Jared Kushner can broker the Middle East peace that eluded John Kerry, Condoleezza Rice, Bill Clinton, James Baker and dozens of others . . . enough said. If there is a positive model for Trumpian bargaining, it might be the faux deals he struck during the transition, in which several U.S. corporations reported they were adding U.S. jobs and Trump claimed dubious credit. Diplomats imagine scenarios in which European governments similarly re-announce the defense spending increases they have already planned, and Trump proclaims NATO renewed; or Mexico grandly accepts a cosmetic tweak to NAFTA. Trump already claimed one ersatz diplomatic triumph with China. After Beijing seized and then returned a U.S. Navy drone in December, his spokesman claimed a single Trump tweet [got] it done. Theres something to hope for: fake rather than real crises. Read more from Jackson Diehls archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. D.C. MAYOR Muriel E. Bowser (D), eager to show that she is prepared to stand up to the Trump administration, recently announced plans to award grant funding to advocates and defense lawyers who would represent the citys estimated 25,000 undocumented immigrants in legal proceedings, including those faced with deportation. Protecting a vulnerable community that faces an array of legal travails is an admirable goal, and immigrants with lawyers fare better in legal proceedings than those without. In drafting the programs fine print, however, D.C. officials should take care: Its not just most undocumented immigrants facing legal travails who merit protections. So do ordinary Washingtonians. Officials in Ms. Bowsers office insist, with reason, that the Districts undocumented immigrants are generally law-abiding. Unlike other localities, where most long-term prisoners would be incarcerated in the states prison system, those convicted of serious crimes in the District are sent to federal prisons. In the case of illegal immigrants, that means there is little or no chance they will be released back into the District upon completion of their sentence; they are far more likely to be deported. Nonetheless, it is worth bearing in mind the unhappy experience of some other so-called sanctuary cities, whose zeal to defy federal immigration authorities has at times defeated common sense. In the prime example, San Francisco officials in 2015 ignored a detainer, an official request from federal immigration officials seeking custody of an undocumented immigrant with a long record of drug offenses. The man should have been turned over to federal officials; instead, he was released. A few weeks later, he shot and killed a young woman strolling with her father on the waterfront. To its credit, the District gives federal officials a 48-hour heads up before the scheduled release from the D.C. Jail of any undocumented immigrant for whom Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a detainer. Officials say they recognize a legitimate middle ground between complete noncooperation and allowing local police to become an auxiliary deportation force. In the Districts case, that means police do not ask the immigration status of those it detains or arrests, although defendants are fingerprinted when charged with crimes, and those fingerprints are available to federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE. Thats a sensible stance, but it could be more sensible. Even if only a small percentage of the citys undocumented immigrants have serious or violent criminal records, perhaps from other states, that still constitutes hundreds of people who would be logical candidates for deportation. They should be exempted from whatever assistance the citys grant program might provide, once it is up and running later this year. Other cities, including New York, have taken steps to protect some ex-convict undocumented immigrants from deportation but not others, depending on the severity of their crimes. Thats a sound policy, and D.C. officials should take note. Well, President Trump blew his big opportunity to bring the American people together. His inauguration speech was insulting to many of those in attendance, especially former president Barack Obama and many of our legislators, and to many who were watching this historical event at home. We were all hoping for a sense of inclusion. Instead, it was filled with rudeness, bravado and fear-inducing, questionable claims followed by autocratic-like fist pumps. This is most unfortunate. If the United States is to be great again, as if it were ever not, this is not the way to do it. This approach is doomed to failure, as those who are cast aside feel even less like they are a part of our great nation. It may appeal to his base, but he must remember, the majority of American citizens (who did not vote for him) are not part of that. We expect better, and we are watching his every move. Catherine Reinhard, Burke LAST YEAR, a reform-minded lawmaker in Virginia introduced a bill to require that all legislation be subject to an on-the-record vote, up or down, that would record each legislators position. The bill died on an unrecorded voice vote. Thats a small but telling example of the contempt for accountability in Richmond, where a wave of ethics reforms following the disgrace and downfall of former governor Robert F. McDonnell did little to enhance legislative transparency. Having been in business since 1619, the General Assembly prides itself on being the oldest continuous lawmaking body in the New World. Youd think it had learned a thing or two over four centuries about what it owes to its constituents. Apparently not. In 2015, when a nonpartisan, volunteer group called Transparency Virginia surveyed how the sausage is made in Virginias legislature, it found that most legislation in the House of Delegates died on unrecorded voice votes. By killing legislation in that manner, lawmakers avoid awkward and embarrassing votes that might come back to haunt them. Better to leave no fingerprints, they reckon, and keep would-be rivals and constituents in the dark. In all, the group found, the Republican-led House squashed about three-quarters of all bills introduced without recording how individual legislators cast their votes. (The state Senate operates according to more transparent rules, generally requiring that individual votes be recorded.) Among the measures that died in the House in 2015 with no recorded votes, in committees and subcommittees, were ones to prohibit the personal use of campaign contributions; ban discrimination on the basis of gender; create a nonpartisan redistricting commission; tax e-cigarettes and use the proceeds for early-childhood education; allow seniors over the age of 75 to go to the head of voting lines; forbid health-care providers from attempting to change the sexual orientation of minors; and require that those professionally obligated to report child sexual abuse (such as psychologists) be trained in such reporting. Of some 825 bills that died in committee or subcommittee (out of 1,892 that were introduced that year), 513 died with no recorded vote, and an additional 117 were killed with no vote at all. In just a quarter of all instances did members of the House have their votes recorded when they defeated a piece of legislation. Often, the only officially recorded outcome was subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice vote. Last week, a House subcommittee, on an unrecorded voice vote, killed a so-called bathroom bill, modeled on North Carolinas, to bar transgender individuals from using restrooms in some public facilities that dont correspond to their sex at birth. The bill, which legitimizes bigotry, deserved to die; the public deserved to know how its elected representatives cast their votes on it. Its sponsor, Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), is among the most intolerant lawmakers in Richmond, but he was right to blast his colleagues for cowardice. You campaign one way and come down here and kill things silently, he said. They dont even want to defend their oath. Thats disgusting. The Supreme Court on Monday declined to review a lower-court ruling that a Texas voter-ID law discriminates against minorities at least for now. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in a statement attached to the order that there was still more work for lower courts to do in assessing the law and that the Texas case could return to the high court once that review is final. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, one of the most conservative appeals courts in the country, last summer upheld a district courts finding that 600,000 people, disproportionately minorities, lack the specific kind of identification required to cast a vote a drivers license, military ID, passport or weapons permit, among them and that it would be difficult for many to secure such IDs. [Appeals court says Texas law discriminates against minority voters] The appeals court said the law had to be modified for last Novembers elections. But the judges said a district judge needed to reconsider her earlier finding that the Texas legislature intentionally targeted minority voters when it passed the law in 2011. That process is underway. The Supreme Court in 2008 approved an Indiana law that required a photo ID for voters, and that set off a series of actions in Republican-led states to enact similar laws. But civil rights groups and the Obama administration have said the new laws are far more restrictive than Indianas and deliberately require identification that is more common for white voters to possess than for African Americans and Hispanics. A number of those laws have been struck or modified by courts, including in North Carolina. The Supreme Court short-handed since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last February has yet to accept any of those cases to provide a nationwide standard. If the Texas case returns, the high court is likely to have regained a majority of conservative justices, as President Trump has said he will nominate Scalias replacement within two weeks. Last summer, the appeals court ruled 9 to 6 that U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos was right to have stopped the Texas law because it disproportionately hurt minority voters. But the majority said Ramos had gone too far in finding that the state legislature had a discriminatory intent in passing the law. The majority said she should reconsider that question under more demanding standards. That trial was supposed to have started soon. But it was delayed to give the new Trump administration time to weigh in on the question. That raises the possibility that the Department of Justice, which has been a party challenging the law, would switch sides. The Campaign Legal Center, which represented challengers to the law, declared victory. I am extremely pleased that the justices recognize that this case does not merit review at this time, said Gerry Hebert, the organizations director of voting rights and redistricting. The full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and every other federal court that has heard this case has ruled Texass photo voter ID law is discriminatory. Now, Texas, which ranks poorly in voter participation, should work to ensure that every eligible voter in the state is able to cast a ballot going forward. But Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said the Supreme Courts decision was only a temporary pause. Chief Justice Roberts made it very clear that the case will be an even stronger posture for Supreme Court review after further proceedings in lower courts, Paxton said in a statement. Texas enacted a common sense voter ID law to safeguard the integrity of our elections, and we will continue to fight for the law in the district court, the Fifth Circuit, and if necessary, the Supreme Court again. The court also decided not to get involved in a challenge to Alabamas death penalty procedure. Several justices in the past have questioned the states death penalty regime, especially Justice Sonia Sotomayor. But there were no noted dissents from the courts decision not to review the system, which now is the only one in the country that lets judges overrule juries and impose death sentences. The Delhi High Court in its January 20, 2016 verdict had said that the schools built on land allotted by DDA cannot hike the fee before taking prior permission from Delhi government. Private schools must get prior approval of the Delhi government for increasing fee, the Supreme Court ruled. (FILE PHOTO: PTI) By Anusha Soni: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition from Delhi private schools against a high court verdict concerning fee hike. Upholding the Delhi High Court's January 2016 judgment, the apex court today ruled that private schools have to obtain approval from the Delhi government before going ahead with their decision to hike fee. "Once you have taken land from DDA (Delhi Development Authority) you have to abide by the Education Act," the Supreme Court while dismissing the petition of private schools. advertisement ALSO READ: Delhi: School demands details of parents' phone brand, rent for nursery admissions The decision will have an impact on the functioning of more than 400 private unaided schools in the city. WHAT IS THE CASE The Delhi High Court in its January 20, 2016 verdict had said that the schools built on land allotted by DDA cannot hike the fee before taking prior permission from Delhi government. "It is clear that schools cannot indulge in profiteering and commercialisation of school education.Quantum of fees to be charged by unaided schools is subject to regulation by DoE in terms of power conferred under Delhi Schools Education Act of 1973 and it is competent to interfere if hike in fee by a particular school is found to be excessive and perceived as indulging in profiteering," the court had said. The judgment came on a PIL filed by advocate Khagesh Jha for an NGO, Justice for all, which had sought that recognised private unaided schools on land allotted by DDA be directed to abide by the stipulation in letter of allotment to take prior sanction of DoE before hiking their fees. ALSO READ: Delhi Nursery Admissions 2017: Sell jalebis, instead of nursery seats, says Manish Sisodia Delhi Nursery admissions: HC slams government, saying: "Why do you bring out notification at the eleventh hour" --- ENDS --- Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey O. Graham said Sunday that they will back the nomination of Rex Tillerson, clearing the way for the oil executive to become secretary of state and leaving just one drama unresolved: What will Marco Rubio do? The Republican senator from Florida made clear during Tillersons confirmation hearing earlier this month that he had significant reservations, chastising the ExxonMobil chief executive for refusing to call Russias bombing campaign in Aleppo a war crime and declining to condemn Saudi Arabia and China as human rights violators. In order to have moral clarity, we need clarity. We cant achieve moral clarity with rhetorical ambiguity, Rubio told Tillerson. We need a secretary of state who will fight for these principles. Since then, Rubio has come under significant pressure from Republican party leaders to back Tillerson and avoid a split within the GOP on one of President Trumps most high-profile picks, according to those close to him. Rubio held an unannounced meeting with Tillerson last week, according to two people with knowledge of the get-together, although it was unclear whether Tillerson was able to alleviate Rubios concerns. Now-Vice President Pence and now-White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus were also in the meeting, according to a Rubio adviser familiar with the gathering. It lasted 90 minutes and was a blunt conversation not just about Tillersons answers at the hearing, but also about Rubios overall concerns about Russia and other matters, said the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private talk. The Rubio adviser said the senator had not planned to decide on his vote until he received written responses to the more than 100 questions he submitted to Tillerson, which he got back from the nominee on Thursday. The White House did not respond Sunday to a request for comment on the meeting. The Tillerson decision is a potentially pivotal one for the former presidential candidate, who during the campaign challenged President Trump on foreign-policy differences that have since been reflected in concerns Republicans have voiced about Tillerson. Many in the party are leery of Trumps friendly approach to Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, with whom Tillerson frequently interacted as the head of ExxonMobil. Putin awarded Tillerson the Kremlins Order of Friendship in 2013, and Tillerson has criticized sanctions the United States imposed on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. [Tillerson pledged to separate his business background from a role as secretary of state] 1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad See photos of White House senior staff being sworn-in at the White House View Photos President Donld Trump staff members, including advisor Kellyanne Conway and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, are sworn-in in the East Room. Caption The beginning of the presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. March 17, 2017 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, walk to Marine One at the White House en route to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Marco exposed a tension between kind of where a lot of Republicans are on Russia, said Lanhee Chen, who served as an adviser to Rubio during his 2016 campaign. Hes got a great opportunity to kind of lead this wing of the national security establishment that believes the long-standing orthodoxy on Russia. Politically, however, several people in Rubios circle said they see no upside to defying Trump, especially now that Tillerson is on the path to being confirmed. Rubio is aware that the backlash from the new White House would be intense, according to those close to him. George Seay, a Dallas-based investment manager who was a major Rubio donor during his presidential run, said that many people close to him have been texting, calling and writing Rubio to urge him to support Tillerson in very blunt fashion. I think this is the wrong fight. I think its the wrong position to make a stand, Seay said. Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos did not respond to multiple inquiries Sunday about Rubios thinking on Tillerson or his meetings. Seeming uncertainty is a familiar position for Rubio. During the 2013 debate over immigration reform, Rubio initially joined with Democrats to push for a comprehensive bill before backing away from the effort when conservative ire reached a boiling point. The fallout would follow him into his presidential campaign, where he took heat from the right for being part of the effort and criticism from the left for backing away from it. During his presidential campaign, Rubio had a pattern of articulating two positions on some politically sensitive topics: his personal view, and what he considered to be politically doable. This mirrored how he campaigned against Trump, as well. Early on, Rubio avoided attacking Trump, even when he clearly disagreed with him. When the primaries heated up, Rubio switched his strategy and launched a forceful at times awkward attack, calling Trump a con man and a fraud. After Trump won the nomination, Rubio switched again and supported his partys nominee. On Sunday morning, McCain (Ariz.) and Graham (S.C.) Tillersons two other most vocal GOP critics released a statement announcing they would support him for secretary of state when the full Senate votes on it. Citing additional conversations with Tillerson, the pair expressed confidence that Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests, despite continued concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government. Of all the Republican senators, only Rubio, McCain and Grahams support for Tillerson has ever been seriously in doubt. Of the three, Rubios complaints have been the most broad, centering on his fear that as secretary of state, Tillerson might not be a strong-enough defender of human rights. Rubio warned Tillerson that being too soft leads to people to conclude . . . America cares about democracy and freedom as long as it isnt being violated for something else. McCain and Grahams support all but guarantees that Tillerson will easily win the simple majority he needs to be confirmed as secretary of state by the full Senate. But if Rubio votes against Tillersons nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where Republicans outnumber Democrats by only one vote it could throw a wrench into plans to move Tillersons nomination to the floor smoothly. I recognize the partisan split on the committee and what it would all mean, Rubio told reporters after Tillersons hearing, asserting that he was prepared to do whats right. If Rubio opposes Tillerson, GOP leaders are prepared to use a variety of procedural options to get his nomination to the floor. I expect him to come out of the committee on Monday, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said following Trumps inauguration Friday, although he admitted the votes are still in flux. If committee members do not vote to report Tillersons nomination to the floor with a favorable recommendation, they can vote to send it to the floor with caveats, such as an unfavorable recommendation, or with no recommendation at all. If those efforts fail, a senator can file a discharge motion to circumvent the committees review authority entirely and send Tillersons nomination straight to the floor. Top committee Democrat Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) said Friday that while he believes our committees recommendations extremely important, he does recognize the fact that confirmations are by the Senate, not by committee. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee split along party lines Monday to endorse Rex Tillerson as the countrys next secretary of state, setting up a confirmation vote in the full Senate that is all but guaranteed to succeed. Republicans unanimously backed Tillerson in the 11-to-10 vote, after key Republicans who had voiced criticism of Tillerson opted to support his nomination. Chief among them was Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a committee member who announced Monday morning that he would support Tillerson despite concerns about how Tillerson would approach Russia and other countries Rubio counts as human rights violators, resolving the final major question surrounding Rex Tillersons bid to be confirmed as the nations top diplomat. My concern was that Mr. Tillerson would be an advocate for, and would pursue a foreign policy of dealmaking, at the expense of traditional alliances and at the expense of the defense of human rights and democracy, Rubio explained to the committee Monday. Several Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee expressed similar concerns, and elected not to support Tillersons nomination on those grounds. Democrats also complained that Tillerson had not answered many of their questions directly, and expressed alarm that the former ExxonMobil chief had advocated a military response to several conflicts, from the annexation of Crimea to the ongoing dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. In my view the secretary of state should be leading with more diplomacy, and I found it disturbing that that seemed to be not his first reaction, said committee ranking member Ben Cardin (D-Md.). But Tillersons confirmation was effectively sealed on Sunday, when Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), both of whom had criticized him strongly, announced they would support his bid in the full Senate. [Will Marco Rubio defy President Trump on his pick for secretary of state?] Rubio announced his decision just hours before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of which he is a member, planned to vote on Tillerson. The nominee is now expected to receive majority support in the committee albeit along party lines before winning confirmation during a full Senate vote. Rubios backing came after weeks of deliberation and an intense behind-the-scenes effort by Tillerson allies to win him over. Tillerson was the first big test of how Rubio plans to deal with Trump, with whom he clashed in the campaign. By voting yes, he will spare himself what his allies anticipated would have been an angry backlash from the new administration in private. [At the center of the pitch for Tillerson: Richard Cheney and Marco Rubio] In making my decision on his nomination, I must balance these concerns with his extensive experience and success in international commerce, and my belief that the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet, Rubio said in his statement. But he added a note of warning at the end: Upcoming appointments to critical posts in the Department of State are not entitled to and will not receive from me the same level of deference I have given this nomination. Rubio said that while he found some of Tillersons responses to his questions encouraging, he remained troubled by others, including his unwillingness to say Russian President Vladimir Putin had committed war crimes. Democrats complained that Tillerson had not submitted his tax returns to the committee, urging a change in policy to require such paperwork going forward -- and expressed frustration that Tillerson had not given specific answers to many of the more than 1,000 questions to which he responded. Ive looked at those responses, and theyre not responses to the questions that are asked, Cardin said. Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) defended Tillersons efforts, accusing Democrats of asking silly, silly, ridiculous, elementary questions that have nothing to do with somebody serving as secretary of state. He added that he hopes the committee does not adopt a policy of asking for nominees tax returns in the future because most of those are used for gotcha questions. Mondays committee vote on Tillerson came amid a push by Republicans to swiftly confirm Trumps nominees. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in an interview on Fox News Sunday that he believes well be able to confirm the presidents entire Cabinet. But Democrats have resisted, or at least sought to slow the progress of some nominees. The Senate plans to spend up to six hours Monday debating the nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) to head the CIA before voting on him. Some Democrats pushed for the time to discuss the nomination while Republican leaders wanted to vote on him last Friday. Tillersons fate was all but sealed Sunday when Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) announced their support for him. Like Rubio, McCain and Graham voiced worries about Tillersons ties to Russia. Rubio was getting an onslaught of calls, texts and notes urging him to back Tillerson, those close to him said. Rubio donors and other supporters who served as Tillerson boosters reached out early and often to try to nudge the senator to back Trumps nominee, including many from Texas, Tillersons home state. He heard from former vice president Richard B. Cheney late last year. Last week, Rubio held a meeting with Tillerson, now-Vice President Pence and now-White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, according to two people familiar with the meeting. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private gathering. Over the past eight years, Afghans have become increasingly disillusioned with the American role in their country. Many blamed President Barack Obamas policies for an increase in Afghan corruption, for air attacks that killed civilians, and for a foreign troop presence that failed to stop Taliban insurgents and was pulled out too quickly. So it is not surprising that, like American voters who supported Donald Trump out of a longing for change, many Afghans are looking to his presidency as a chance for a fresh start. Most know little about Trump except that he may do something bold and unexpected. For now, that sounds appealing. Obama was too predictable. Sometimes a small dose of madness can be good, said Davood Moradian, director of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies. He suggested that Trumps bluntness and masculine approach may be useful for deterring the insurgencies that are thwarting Afghanistans path to stability and development. We need to work against both state-sponsored terror and violent attacks by nonstate actors, Moradian said. He may put some discipline into them. A variety of Afghans interviewed in the capital also expressed the hope that Trump would bring decisive action and sharp attention to the regions problems. Many singled out Pakistan as a neighbor that has meddled destructively in their country, especially by supporting the Taliban, while reaping the benefits of U.S. military aid as a partner in the war on terrorism. We ask Trump to put immense pressure on Pakistan to close the training centers for terrorists on its soil, said Taj Mohammad Ahmadzada, 53, deputy director of the Afghan journalists union. Afghans, he added, expect Trump to interact honestly with Afghanistan after years of vague policies that he said have fostered suspicions that Washington has had a self-interested secret agenda in the region. Trump made little mention of Afghanistan in his campaign, and his few remarks have been contradictory. He has vowed to crack down on Islamist extremism and violence but has shown little appetite for nation-building. He has said he would reluctantly keep some U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but only because of potential threats from Pakistans nuclear arsenal. Trump on Friday spoke by teleconference from Washington with U.S. troops at Bagram air base in Afghanistan while he was onstage at an inaugural ball. He told them, Im with you all the way, and added, Keep fighting; were gonna win, but he made no specific comments about the Afghan conflict or the U.S. militarys role in it. Despite their eagerness for change, Afghans are ambivalent about whether they want American troops to remain. They have been outraged by incidents of civilian casualties, such as a mistaken airstrike on a combat zone hospital that killed 42 people in 2015, and offended by allegations of American troops insulting Islam. The troop presence has been both a lightning rod for Taliban attacks and a deterrent. We do not trust the American government. It has used our soil and people for its own goals, said Sahar Gul, a taxi driver in his 30s. I very much hope Mr. Trump pulls out all the troops from our country, because the invasion has brought us more misery, deaths, destruction and enriching of the warlords. On the other hand, many Afghans see the U.S. military presence as necessary to ward off insurgent aggression that their own forces cannot handle alone. They complain that Obama withdrew most forces too soon, at the end of 2014, and they are relieved that he later allowed about 10,000 to remain and has sent a contingent of Marines to bolster the fight in besieged Helmand province. The failure of Afghanistan is the failure of America, and it seems the war is heading for total failure, said Sayed Fatah, 25, a university student. Trump needs to review Obamas policy and find out where the fault lies. We do not want troops withdrawn because of the situation we are in, but at the same time, we do not want the status quo to go on for an indefinite period. Several analysts noted that for all their complaints, Afghans have long accepted the primacy of U.S. power and are far less trusting of other regional governments such as Russias, with its history of military intervention here. Many never forgave the United States for abandoning Afghanistan after the Soviets withdrew in 1989, and they worry that it could happen again. The United States remains the indispensable actor in Afghanistan, and most Afghans want them to remain despite their grievances. No one else can fill that vacuum, Moradian said. The U.S. presence is the lesser evil, he added. The greater evil is anarchy. Several Afghan observers of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and the region expressed alarm over Trumps tendency to react emotionally and his vow to take actions that contradict long-standing U.S. foreign policy stances, such as intervening in the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. On the other hand, they expressed hope that if the new president is tempted to take precipitous steps that could risk destabilizing the region, such as canceling Obamas nuclear deal with Iran or cutting off aid to Pakistan, he will be reined in by more cautious experts and institutional wisdom. We have no idea what Mr. Trump will do because he has no experience with these issues, said Adbul Hakim Mujahid, a member of the government peace council. But American democracy is more than one individual. It has stable institutions and a capable bureaucracy. We hope they will restrain his actions and not allow situations to deteriorate. Read more 9 foreign policy issues the Trump administration will have to face In Afghanistan, Trump will inherit a costly stalemate and few solutions Deadly insurgent attacks dim hopes for talks, spur regional worries Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Russian-backed peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian war brought rebels and the Syrian government face to face for the first time Monday, marking the launch of a new role for Russian President Vladimir Putin as a Middle East power broker. There was no indication that any progress was made on the first day of what is expected to be a two-day event, taking place in a conference room in the Turkish-owned Rixos Hotel in Astana, the capital of the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan. There is cautious optimism, however, that the talks may go further than previous failed efforts because of the evolving role of Russia, a critical political and military backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In the past, Moscow frequently acted as a spoiler when the United States was driving the diplomacy on Syria, but it is now embracing a role as mediator between Assads government and moderate rebels once denounced by Russian officials as terrorists. Turkey and Iran are co-sponsors of the talks, but it is Moscow that has thrown its prestige behind the effort to bring the warring factions together, leaving little doubt that this is a Russian-led process, diplomats said. The United States, meanwhile, has been relegated to observer status and has not been a party to the intensive negotiations preceding the talks. [Trump administration not sending a delegation to Syria peace talks] Even the choice of location spoke to the emerging Russian role. Astana, a remote and snowbound city in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, lies close to the Russian border and nearly 6,000 miles from Washington. Were in uncharted territory, said Noah Bonsey, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, who was in Astana. Were here in Russias back yard, and the ball is in their court. Theres a new political and military dynamic, and it is happening on Russian political turf. In an early success for Moscows diplomacy, representatives of Assad and the Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow him sat together in the same room for the opening session of the talks the first time they have encountered one another directly since the bloodshed began in 2011. Participants said the mood was frosty as the warring factions took their places on opposite sides of the conference room. Between them were representatives of Russia, Turkey and Iran, and the United Nations top Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura. The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, attended as an observer. Hopes for a breakthrough immediately faded. The head of the Syrian government delegation, Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Jaafari, denounced the opposition as terrorists in his opening remarks. The opposition said it did not believe that the government was serious about seeking a settlement. There were no immediate plans for direct negotiations between the two sides, apart from their encounter at the opening session. For subsequent meetings, the rival delegations met in separate rooms, with the U.N. envoy shuttling between them. The sponsors have set the relatively modest goal of strengthening a shaky cease-fire that was introduced late last month but has been widely ignored in many locations. The Syrian opposition delegation is composed entirely of representatives from rebel groups, and the Syrian government delegation includes officers with the Syrian army. That the rebels and the government were even in the same room nonetheless was a small step forward. The Syrian government has in the past met face to face with members of the political opposition at peace talks in Geneva, but it has refused to meet with the armed opposition, which it has consistently labeled as terrorists. The biggest shift, however, has been in the position of the Russians, who until recently shared the Syrian governments view that there are no moderate Syrian rebels. That changed in December, after the military defeat of the rebels in their symbolically vital stronghold of east Aleppo. The rebels collapse was also a defeat for U.S. diplomacy, which had been focused on securing a cease-fire in Aleppo. [Russias new influence may limit Trumps scope in Middle East] Russia has since moved forcefully to the center of the international diplomacy, sidelining the United States and its European and Persian Gulf Arab allies while reaching out to Turkey and Iran, the two nations with the most influence on the ground in Syria. Turkey controls the border on which the rebels rely for their supplies and has troops fighting alongside rebels against the Islamic State in a pocket of territory in northern Syria. Iran sponsors and funds many of the militias fighting on the ground on behalf of Assad, including the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah militia. Moscow has also courted the rebel groups it previously rejected as potential negotiating partners when Washington was trying to promote talks. The opposition delegation was headed by Mohammed Alloush, a political officer with the Islamist Jaish al-Islam group, which Moscow previously sought to persuade the United States to designate as a terrorist organization. Its a big shift. Russia has realized that those people they were calling terrorists, they can talk to them, said Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the rebel delegation. And after their military defeats, the rebels realize they have no choice but to negotiate with Russia, he said. We are not falling in love with the Russians. We do not forget they targeted markets and hospitals with their planes, he said. But this change is something to welcome, and we are ready to help it, especially if it results in a situation where Syrian children are not being killed on a daily basis. In one sign that Russia appears to be serious about pressuring the Assad regime to make concessions, the Russian military issued a statement explicitly accusing the government of violating the cease-fire. Russian officials say they do not intend for this initiative to supplant the U.N.-backed Geneva peace process, which has sputtered on for the past four years without success but remains the only internationally recognized formula for ending the war. A new round of Geneva talks is due to begin Feb. 8. The hope is that any agreements on a cease-fire reached at Astana will help build confidence for the more challenging task of negotiating a wider political settlement. As a member of the U.N. Security Council along with Russia the United States will play a bigger role in those talks, but how remains in question because the new administration of President Trump has not yet articulated a position on Syria. [Trumps America first view sets him at odds with the world] Trump has, however, suggested that better ties between Moscow and Washington could bring better coordination in the fight against the Islamic State, which is not covered by the cease-fire talks. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin and Trump could very soon have their first phone conversation since Trump took office. The fate of Assad, which is not on the agenda for the Astana talks, is the thorniest long-term obstacle to peace. The rebels will not accept any solution to the war that does not include the presidents eventual departure, Aridi said. Representatives of the government say Assads position is not up for discussion. Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: On the front lines of the fight for the Islamic States capital in Syria Trump releases foreign policy statement that echoes campaign but has few details Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news It will be interesting to see what emerges from this meeting, as it comes only a week before the Union Budget is presented. By Rohit Kumar Singh: After lending support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the scrapping of high-value currency 500 and 1000 rupee notes, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will today review the impact demonetisation has had on economy and on the lives of the common people. Nitish will hold a 'Karyakarta Durbar of Grand Alliance' with leaders from Congress and RJD to assess how this bold move by the Centre has affected commoners. Nitish will be joined by former JD-U national president Sharad Yadav and party general secretary KC Tyagi at the meet. advertisement It will be interesting to see what emerges from this meeting, as it comes only a week before the Union Budget is presented. NITISH BACKED DEMONETISATION Nitish, who was the first chief minister from a non-BJP ruled state to support PM Modi over demonetisation soon after the announcement was made on 8th November, had later said that his party would review the impact of demonetisation after the completion of 50 days, the time Modi had sought to normalise the situation on the ground as a result of this decision. Also read | Bihar attempts world record as Nitish leads longest human chain in support of prohibition It may be noted that the chief minister of Bihar, after supporting demonetisation, had demanded that as a next step the government crack down on corruption and black money and against benami property holders. Until there was a massive crackdown launched against benami property holders, Nitish said demonetisation alone could not remove black money or totally end corruption. The meeting to be held today was earlier scheduled to take after the completion of the 50-day deadline set by PM Modi. Two major events in the first half of January -- the Prakash Parab and the formation of the human chain in support of prohibition -- had led to the delay in Nitish Kumar's holding of this review meet. Also read | RJD supremo Lalu Yadav hosts chura dahi party, BJP leaders snub invite Congress and RJD, Nitish's Grand Alliance partners, are opposed to demonetisation. He will also discuss this issue with them in the meeting today. WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto plans to meet with President Trump in Washington at the end of the month. (Mario Guzman/EPA) Faced with new threats from the United States, President Enrique Pena Nieto and other top Mexican officials outlined Monday a set of foreign policy goals that prioritize defending the countrys national interests while also starting negotiations with President Trump. They described the policy as one that remains devoted to free trade within North America and beyond, as well as to the defense of the rights of Mexicans at home and in the United States. Its evident that the United States has a new vision for its foreign policy, Pena Nieto told an audience at the presidential palace Monday. Given this reality, Mexico is obligated to take actions to defend its national interests. Its clear that we have to initiate a negotiation. Mexico does not believe in walls, added Pena Nieto, who plans to visit Trump in Washington on Jan. 31 to talk about the North American Free Trade Agreement and other issues. Mexico believes in bridges. The speeches showed again how much Trump has rattled Mexican authorities and forced them to rethink their strategy toward their most important trading partner and largest neighbor. Many of Trumps proposals from taxing imports from Mexico to deporting millions of undocumented Mexicans to building a wall along the border run counter to Mexicos interests. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, center, argues that Mexican trade is important to the U.S. economy. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters) In his speech, Pena Nieto, whose approval ratings have fallen to close to single digits amid Trumps rise and a struggling economy, outlined priorities that include diversifying Mexicos economic and political ties with nations around the world, rather than relying so heavily on the United States. He also said that any deportation effort by Trump should be orderly and coordinated with Mexico and that remittances from Mexicans in the United States should not be disrupted. Pena Nieto has been criticized here for not taking a firmer stance against some of Trumps proposals. Beyond insisting that Mexico will not pay for the border wall, Pena Nieto has gone out of his way to be polite to Trump and to display optimism about future relations. He has stressed negotiations, rather than confronting Trump with an aggressive stance or rolling over in the face of his demands. Neither of these postures is a solution: not confrontation, nor submission, he said Thursday. The solution is dialogue and negotiation. Mexican officials are determined to make the case to Trump that Mexico performs a valuable service to the U.S. economy. Luis Videgaray, who recently took over as foreign minister to lead talks with the Trump administration, rattled off statistics intended to show how American states rely on Mexican investment. He said that trade with Mexico provides 566,000 jobs in California and 380,000 in Texas. In the states that were crucial to the political outcome in November 2016, exports from the United States to Mexico played a fundamental role, he said. Some political observers were not optimistic about Pena Nietos chances of swaying Trumps point of view toward Mexico. It will be a very difficult negotiation, said Raul Benitez Manaut, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Mexico right now has few favorable cards to play. We have a divided country, an economy in crisis. The Mexican government will have to deploy extraordinarily able negotiators. Alfredo Coutino, director for Latin America at Moodys Analytics, said Mexico should begin working on a backup plan in case respectful discussion does not work. Shifting trade to other countries is a process that takes years, he said, and Trump could forge ahead with his plans despite pleas from Mexico. So Mexico is voting for dialogue and negotiation, Coutino said. And if that doesn't work? What next? Gabriela Martinez in Mexico City contributed to this report. Read more Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Leaked video tapes have revealed the pervasive and corrupt relations between Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, his family, the media, and billionaire bosses at home and abroad. The tapes are the subject of police investigations. Notorious for his hobnobbing with the financial elite, it is now clear that gifts Netanyahu received from his wealthy friends were down payments for favours. This latest corruption scandal underscores the degree to which Israeli politicians are in the pocket of media networks and big business. Far from being the Middle Easts only democracy, Israels political system has more in common with mafia rule. Given the damning contents of the tapes, it will be difficult for Netanyahu to avoid a criminal prosecution, despite having appointed close associates to the positions of attorney general and police chief. Such a prosecution could precipitate his resignation and early elections this year. Like almost all of Israels prime ministers after the first, David Ben-Gurion, Netanyahu and his family have faced numerous allegations of corruption and even preliminary investigations. His immediate predecessor Ehud Olmert received a jail term for bribery offences when he was mayor of Jerusalem prior to becoming prime minister. But the legal authorities, who have come under continuous attack from successive Netanyahu-led governments, have been reluctant to prosecute himsupposedly due to a lack of evidence that the gifts were actually exchanged for political favours. Now, the police, who have revealed few details of the investigations, have questioned Netanyahu three times under caution in relation to two cases. According to the reports by Haaretz and TV Channel 2, the most damaging of the two cases involves tapes that establish that Netanyahu sought to make a deal with Arnon Noni Mozes, the boss of Israels daily Yediot Aharonot and its online site Ynet, to rescue its falling circulation and advertising revenues. The recordingsbelieved to date from between 2014 and early 2015were apparently found on a phone during a search of the belongings of Netanyahus former chief of staff during a separate fraud investigation. According to the proposed deal, Netanyahu would back a law that would have banned free newspapers, including Israel Hayom, which functions as Netanyahus mouthpiece. Israel Hayom was founded and published by US casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson in 2008 at a cost of $261 million, and is a rival of Yediot Aharonot. In return, Yediot Aharonot would tone down its hostile coverage of the prime ministerin part motivated by Netanyahus backing for the free newspaper that had hurt its bottom line. Netanyahu would even be free to nominate the journalists. The police have called in Mozes and his editor-in-chief, Ron Yaron, for questioning. Mozes, who has escaped prosecution in the past for illegal eavesdropping, could now face prosecution over his discussions with Netanyahu. As it turned out, the proposed deal came to nothing, and Netanyahu tried for months to block the bill on Israel Hayoms behalf. To no avail. The Knesset introduced the bill, despite opposition from Netanyahu and most of the Likud legislators. That left him with no alternative but to dissolve parliament and call another election just two years after the previous one in 2013. Netanyahu recently admitted on his Facebook page that he had dissolved the government and went to elections, among other things because of the subversion from within the government to pass the law. Everyone also knows that with the establishment of the new government after the election, I inserted an explicit clause into the governing coalition agreements to prevent the recurrence of such legislation. In other words, he called an early election in 2015, at a cost of $500 million, because of legislation that would have curbed the power of Israel Hayom, and made it a condition for joining his coalition that there would be no further attempts to enact a similar ban. The other case under investigation, apparently the lesser of the two, involves the receipt of substantial gifts and benefits from several wealthy businesspeople. There is plenty of evidence, including detailed testimony from Netanyahus well-known benefactor Arnon Milchan, together with receipts and invoices. Milchan, an Israeli billionaire and Hollywood producer, gave Netanyahu more than $100,000 worth of cigars and liquor. He reportedly asked Netanyahu to press his case with US Secretary of State John Kerry for a 10-year visa, which was ultimately successful. Netanyahu is also known to have received lavish gifts from Ronald Lauder, an American businessman whose family founded the cosmetics giant Estee Lauder and who has himself been questioned by the police. Another benefactor is the Australian billionaire James Packer, who is reported to have given the Netanyahu family lavish gifts. This included extended stays at luxury hotels in Tel Aviv, New York and Aspen, Colorado, for Netanyahus son, Yair, as well as the use of his private jet and dozens of tickets for concerts by Packers former fiancee, Mariah Carey. The police have now questioned Yair in connection with the affair. The purpose of Packers largesse is believed to be his desire to obtain Israeli citizenship or permanent-resident status for tax purposes. Netanyahus cousin and personal attorney represented a German company involved in a controversial $1.5 billion sale of submarines to Israel. Netanyahu has denied any impropriety and hit back against his opponents, saying they were mounting a witch-hunt against him. He claimed he had done nothing wrong and that nothing could come of the accusations because I repeat and say there will not be anything because there is nothing. Nevertheless, he is clearly coming under increasing pressure. Last week, he suddenly cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland, and did not attend President Donald Trumps inauguration, despite reports that he was invited. He is urging his supporters to introduce a bill making it impossible to investigate a sitting prime minister for fraud, bribery and breach of trust, although it would not be applied retrospectively. Leading members of his Likud party, while publicly remaining supportive, are quietly lining up to put themselves in contest for the leadership position. Netanyahus coalition partners have indicated that they will not allow him to continue as prime minister if he is indicted. Nor would they continue in the coalition, thereby precipitating an election. Likud currently holds 30 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Jewish Home, the right wing settler party led by Naftali Bennett currently has eight seats, but is expected to makes gains at Likuds expense. This would make Bennett the king-maker if not the king. Israels so-called left and centrist parties have done nothing to challenge Netanyahu. They have not even attempted to get 40 signaturesout of a possible 54 opposition legislatorsthat would force the prime minister to answer questions on the bribery allegations. The last time they used the 40 signature procedure was in March last year, contrasting sharply with their frequent use of the rule during the tenure of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, under investigation for corruption in 2007-8. Both Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid and Isaac Herzog of the Zionist Union (formerly the Labour party) are implicated. Lapid, a former journalist, worked for Milchan and Mozes at Yediot Ahronot. His wife still works there and they all remain friends. Herzog is the subject of alleged election offences, and he too is a personal friend of Milchan. Yediot Aharonot backed him in the 2015 elections. The mounting crisis surrounding Netanyahu makes it all the more likely that he will seek to distract public attention by escalating tensions with the Palestinians. He can count on strong support from the Trump administration. Photo credit: Mayte Torres / Getty From Redbook Using a controversial in vitro fertilization technique and the addition of a third person's genetic material, doctors in Kiev, Ukraine helped an infertile couple conceive and deliver a baby girl and there's already been backlash in the scientific community. According to the BBC, the team of medical professionals, headed by Valery Zukin, the director of a Ukrainian clinic of reproductive medicine, used a method called "pronuclear transfer" to create the viable embryo from which the infant was born, fertilizing the mother's egg with the father's sperm and then transferring those combined genes into a donor egg. The baby has DNA from all 3 parents, though relatively very little from the so-called "third parent." She was born on January 5th. Technically, this baby is not the first 3-parent baby another baby was born in Mexico last year, using a different method of in vitro fertilization. Not everyone is heralding the birth of this child as a scientifically-conceived "miracle." The 3-person IVF procedure was originally developed to prevent mothers with unhealthy mitochondria from passing along genetic disorder to their babies, by subbing in the healthy mitochondria from the donor female. The United Kingdom approved this technique back in 2015 only for those women suffering mitochondrial disease, and the 3-parent baby born in Mexico fell under this category. However, that wasn't the case for this particular baby girl, born to a 34-year-old Ukrainian woman who, according to Zukin, had "unexplained infertility" and for whom traditional IVF had failed. She did not have mitochondrial disease, so this is considered the first 3-parent baby where faulty mitochondria wasn't an issue. Some in the field believe that the procedure should have been restricted to male babies, since (biologically) males with donor mitochondria can't pass their own modified genetics on to their offspring (see also: Human Reproduction 101). In the Ukraine case, no viable male embryos had been produced during the procedure, so a female embryo was implanted. Story continues Regardless, the baby girl has been born, and Zukin told CNN that the doctors will monitor the child for at least five years for "all known diseases" or genetic problems. Though this all sounds, to my admittedly science-ignorant ears, a little bit like a plot line from Orphan Black, this ground-breaking science obviously represents a potentially tremendous leap forward for infertile couples hoping to conceive. A second patient of Zukin's, pregnant with a child conceived in a similar situation, is due in March, BBC News reports. (h/t BBC News) Follow Redbook on Facebook. You Might Also Like Women of the Boundless Across Borders organization got their hair braided during a binational protest called Braiding Borders on Jan. 20. (Photo: Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez) A small but powerful group of women opted to forgo pussy hats in favor of braiding their hair together in a unique display of solidarity at the U.S.-Mexico border on Inauguration Day. The vibe was power. The vibe was unity. The vibe was joy to be together and to say it all louder than words could ever say it, Xochitl R. Nicholson, a co-organizer of the Boundless Across Borders demonstration, Braiding Borders, tells Yahoo Beauty. The action, held on the border bridge connecting El Paso, Tex., and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, drew 52 women who stood back-to-back in pairs, having their hair interwoven into a single braid behind them (those with short hair tied scarves as connectors instead). The women faced each other and held hands. (Photo: Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez) We wanted something that referenced women directly, but that also sends a message about our common heritage and common backgrounds in a broader context, Nicholson told Fusion. Its a symbol of collective strength. And hair, of course, is symbolic of so much for women. Related: More Amazing Photos You Missed From the Womens March in Washington, D.C. Im born a white American and Im going to be braiding my hair with a Latina woman, participant Leah Gillespie added. It really marks this idea that, yes, we have our differences, but here are our similarities. And were binding those similarities in an act of solidarity. Another woman taking part, Marison Diaz, told Fusion, No act is too small. Change happens through small acts. The newly formed nonpartisan organizations action was just one of hundreds of women-focused protests and demonstrations happening in response to Donald Trumps inauguration over the weekend, the main event being the Womens March on Washington. (Photo: Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez) The border bridge event kicked off with a group of about seven artists, activists, and performers who were then joined by all participants. Once we launched the event on social media, we had women from all walks of life coming forward to participate, Nicholson says. With contacts in Juarez, and people from El Paso who live in both cities, our hope for 50 women to represent 50 states was realized easily. Story continues Related: Why I Took My 8-Year-Old Daughter to the Womens March on Washington She adds that the demonstration took much bravery on the part of those who stood on the bridge. There were tears and there were nerves, because we were in no mans land, where enforcement officials are within legal rights to take anyone into custody without probable cause, she says. Because we were standing to unify two worlds while there was another ceremony happening elsewhere that, in some ways, declared to the world that the United States doesnt believe in unity and the value of all its people. We wanted our ceremony to be a clear response: We are one and nothing can come between us. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Its been 23 years since Kevin Smith went to the Sundance Film Festival with a low-budget black-and-white comedy about two convenience store employees goofing off at work. Clerks launched Smiths career and defined the voice hed continue developing in numerous subsequent comedies. And in our video interview with the writer-director, he reminisces about his first trip to Park City, Utah, in 1994. In the above interview, Smith remembers how he received the phone call notifying him that Clerks had been accepted into Sundance while he was working behind the same counter that Dante (Brian OHalloran) mans in the movie. That momentous occasion was quickly followed by showings for potential studio buyers, including Miramax bigwig Harvey Weinstein, who walked out of an early screening for the movie. However, Weinstein was convinced by his VP of acquisitions, Mark Tusk, to give it another shot at the festival. The rest, as they say, is history recounted, as usual, with Smiths trademark pop-culture-referencing style. A festival like Sundance always has the potential to provide an opportunity for a unique creative voice like Smith to get a foot in the Hollywood door. With the 2017 edition of Sundance now in full swing, check out our sit-down with the man behind Clerks above. Related: Read our complete Sundance coverage Watch Smith tell a sweet story about his daughter: Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday: 1. 'WE WILL PROVE WORTHY OF THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY' After a combative start to his presidency, Donald Trump delivers a more unifying message, seeking to reassure Americans he's ready to govern a divided nation. 2. HOW ANTI-TRUMP PROTESTERS HOPE TO KEEP MOVEMENT ALIVE Organizers of the marches that drew hundreds of thousands of participants across the U.S. promise more actions soon but offer few details. 3. DEADLY STORMS RAKE SOUTHEAST FOR SECOND DAY Severe weather leaves at least 16 dead and dozens injured in Georgia and Mississippi. 4. WHO IS AMONG FIRST WORLD LEADERS TO GET WHITE HOUSE INVITE Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he's accepted an invitation to visit Washington next month in hopes of forging a "common vision" for the region with President Trump. 5. SAN ANTONIO MALL SHOOTING LEAVES 1 DEAD, OTHERS INJURED Police say a "good Samaritan" who tried to intervene during a robbery is dead, and three others were shot and injured. 6. WHAT CAUSED GALAXY NOTE 7 FIRES Samsung confirms problems with the design and manufacturing of batteries in its premium smartphones led them to overheat and catch fire. 7. TRUMP'S 'RUNNING WAR' ON MEDIA RAISES TRUST ISSUES The new president calls journalists "the most dishonest human beings on Earth," and his press secretary blames reporters for what he says were low attendance estimates at the inauguration. 8. CAR CRASHES IN DOMINICAN KILL CURRENT, FORMER MAJOR LEAGUERS Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former major leaguer Andy Marte die in separate traffic accidents in their native Dominican Republic. 9. COMPUTER PROBLEM GROUNDS UNITED US FLIGHTS A company official says an "IT issue" caused a ground stop on all domestic flights. 10. FALCONS, PATRIOTS HEAD TO SUPER BOWL Atlanta routs Green Bay 44-21 and New England rips the Steelers 36-17 to reach the NFL title game. One of the most important, but least discussed, constitutional amendments made government more responsive by greatly shorting the time outgoing elected officials have a role in passing laws. A lame-duck session happens when Congress meets after an election, when these outgoing members still have voting powers to approve laws, and in the case of the Senate, approve nominees from the Executive Branch. The Congressional Research Service traces the phrase lame duck to the British during the Colonial era, when it was used to describe businessmen who had financial troubles and who resembled wounded game birds. In the 1830s, lame duck started to be used to describe American politicians had lost an election, or decided not to run for re-election, but still held office for a brief period. Today, the session period usually lasts from mid-November to the Christmas period in election years, but it can extend to January 2nd of the following year. On the following day, January 3, a new session begins and every other year it contains new members of Congress. But the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified on January 23, 1933 and took effect in 1935, changed lame-duck sessions considerably from the way Congress originally met. Congressional elections were held in November, as they are today. But Congress resumed on the first Monday in December, and a new Congress began on March 4th of odd-numbered years. This guaranteed that the last session of a Congress would be a lame-duck session that lasted from December 1st until March 4th. The sessions length didnt allow Congress to conduct meaningful business on financial matters, but it left politicians in place that werent accountable to voters for a few extra months. The 20th Amendment shortened this period. Section 2 said that, the Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. The terms of newly elected Senators and Representatives started on the same day. Story continues This amendment also shortened the period between a Presidents election and inaugural, and it also fixed the problem of an outgoing, lame-duck House of Representatives choosing a President if an election went to the House due to a lack of a majority vote in the Electoral College. In the post-20th Amendment world, condensed lame-duck sessions havent lacked drama. In 1940, Congress met to decide how to address the threat of World War II. In 1950, Chinese troops entered the Korean War during a lame-duck session and Congress debated the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict. Four years later, the Senate met in a lame-duck session to consider censuring Senator Joseph McCarthy. In 1974, Congress approved the nomination of Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President during a lame-duck session. After Ronald Reagans victory in 1980, the lame-duck Congress found a way in a bipartisan manner to pass budget resolutions that were delayed during the election year. And in 1998, a Republican-controlled House approved articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton. Another important aspect of the 20th Amendment was shortening the lame-duck periods for Presidents-elect. For example, after his November 1860 election as President, Abraham Lincoln was powerless to act on the secession of southern states from the Union. Seven states left the Union as the lame-duck President, James Buchanan, did little to please the secessionist states and the rest of the Union. By the time Lincoln assumed office in March 1861, the secessionist states had formed their own government, and the course was set for the Civil War. Recent Historical Stories on Constitution Daily 10 famous people who received presidential pardons When presidential inaugurations go very, very wrong Ben Franklins best inventions and innovations Living well with less money Accumulating enough money to enjoy a satisfying retirement is a major concern. Fortunately, enjoying a happy and fulfilling retirement does not necessarily require spending a lot of money. Here are 25 steps you can take in your day-to-day life to reduce or eliminate expenses that won't impact your quality of life. Get rid of cable TV. You don't need hundreds of channels in retirement. Consider an internet streaming service such as Hulu, Netflix or Amazon Prime, which can cost as little as a few dollars per month. Cancel your landline phone service. Consider ditching your landline and using only your cellphone. These days, many landline calls are unwanted robocalls. In the current era of email, texting and Facebook messaging, people don't talk on the phone nearly as much as they used to. Select a lower cost cellphone plan. While modern cellphones offer many capabilities such as maps, internet access and texting, consider what you actually use and what you could do without. If you aren't using your data plan or the fancy features on your phone, consider switching to a simpler model. Forgo the gym membership. If you use the gym regularly, then your membership fee provides good value. But if your road to the gym is paved with good intentions yet you rarely go, cancel it. Some health insurance plans offer free or reduced gym memberships through the SilverSneakers program. Curb your cars. After you retire, you can probably get by with just one car -- or perhaps no car at all. The cost of Uber, Lyft, taxis or bus passes may seem like a lot of money trickling out of your pocket, but when you consider the amount you're not spending on gas, maintenance, license fees and insurance, it's probably much less expensive. You can always rent a car when you want to take a weekend trip or have a special need. Let your subscriptions lapse. If you find that you don't regularly read the magazines or newspapers you subscribe to, don't renew them next time they come due. Most of their content is likely available online. If you subscribe to anything else that arrives at a regular interval, such as books, music or wine, consider whether you would be better off buying these items only when you need them. Subscription deals always work in favor of the seller. Story continues Shop online. It's easier to compare prices online, which could help you snag better deals. While you can't see and touch the item in person, you gain the benefit of reading other customers' reviews and comparing prices and features from multiple sources side by side. If you see a box for a promotion code during the checkout process, search online for a coupon code. Use coupons. While it can be a hassle to cut out, collect and carry coupons, they really do help you save money. Be careful not to buy stuff just because it seems cheaper. Buy only those items you regularly use or have a current need for. You can also find coupons online and through many smartphone apps. Stock up during sales. When an item you use regularly goes on sale, try to buy enough to last until the next sale. But don't stockpile things that may expire before you get a chance to use them. A bulk purchase won't do you any good if a large portion of the food goes to waste. Own a stand-alone freezer. Purchasing an extra freezer allows you to take advantage of sales, and you can buy the larger quantities that are sold at wholesale clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club. You can also freeze meals for future use, which can help you avoid splurging on convenience food on days when you are too tired or busy to cook. Check out grocery store loyalty programs. Many stores offer special deals to customers who belong to their loyalty program. You can load coupons onto your account, eliminating the need for paper coupons. In some markets, stores offer discounts at local gas stations, or they will contribute money to a nonprofit of your choice based on the amount of your purchases. Utilize senior discounts. Don't be bashful or self-conscious about asking for discounts. In many markets, the major grocery chains offer a 10 percent discount to people over 55 on a certain day every month. Find out what's available in your area. Admitting your age can pay off. Check your receipt. Watch the monitor screen at the cashier station, and review your receipt before you leave the store. You might be surprised how often sale prices and loyalty card discounts are not applied properly. Visit dollar stores and discount outlets. Maybe it's not elegant, but dollar stores and discount outlets such as Big Lots, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods offer fantastic values. However, resist the temptation to buy things just because they are cheap. Look for the best value. The best value is often not the cheapest option. If the item wears out or breaks quickly, you haven't really saved money. Conversely, the most expensive options are usually loaded with features you don't need. The sweet spot is usually somewhere in the middle, where you will find the ideal combination of price and quality. Consumer Reports is an excellent resource for finding the best value for many items that you purchase. Avoid shopping malls. Mall stores rarely offer good prices. They thrive on price-insensitive shoppers who browse the stores for recreational shopping. If you have to go to the mall for something, use a list to avoid impulse purchases. Get insurance quotes at least every two years. Insurance companies know that once you sign on with them, you will probably automatically renew each year. While it's easy to get quotes online, it may help to speak to an agent and ask how you can lower your rates. Some internet research or a phone call might be enough to reduce your insurance bill. Buy e-books rather than physical books. E-books are cheaper, they don't take up space, they are easier to travel with and you save on shipping. If you don't have a Kindle device, Amazon offers a free Kindle reader app for most modern computers, tablets and smartphones. Go to the library. Use your local library for books, music and movies. Many libraries allow you to request the latest titles and offer a wide selection of old favorites. Some libraries also host free education or recreation events. Volunteer to be an usher at a theater or concert hall. Tickets to plays and concerts could be outside your retirement budget. But those who volunteer at the venue often enjoy special perks. After patrons are seated, you can enjoy the performance for free. Theaters may also offer discounted admissions to pre-opening night dress rehearsals or abbreviated lunchtime performances. Find free Wi-Fi. If you are a light internet user, you may be able to get by without internet service to your home unless you are using an internet streaming TV service. Starbucks and other coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi, and some restaurant chains are following suit. Your local library may also offer free Wi-Fi. Track down discounted or free tickets. Goldstar.com offers substantial discounts to local productions and some national touring acts in many major cities. Fillaseat.com offers free surplus seating, and check out VetTix.org if you're a veteran. Visit your local college. Local colleges offer many types of performances that are sometimes free to the public. They are usually of good quality, and the students will appreciate having an audience to perform for. Some colleges offer tuition discounts to older people or special classes just for retirees. Tour a museum. Many museums have free days or evenings on a weekly or monthly basis. Now that you don't have to work, you can visit on a weekday when the crowds are smaller. Many museums also provide senior discounts for retirees. Eat out less expensively. Avoid appetizers, alcohol and desserts. These are the higher markup items. You can enjoy these at home before or after you go. Eat out at lunch rather than at dinner because many restaurants have cheaper lunch menus. Look for coupons, senior discounts and deals through sites such as Groupon and Living Social. Sign up for the email list of the restaurants you dine in most often. The NRIs, OCIs and PIOs had gathered outside the RBI to get the old currency notes exchanged. By Atir Khan: Hundreds of non-resident Indians (NRI), Overseas Citizens of India cardholders (OCI) and Persons of Indian origin (PIO) protested outside the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday. The protestors had gathered to exchange old currency notes but were turned away by the RBI staff. 1. A sizeable number of NRIs, OCIs and PIOs, who had gathered outside the RBI at the Parliament Street were disappointed to know they would not be able to exchange their old currency notes. advertisement 2. According to the latest Ordinance promulgated by the government, only NRIs who have valid Indian passport and have been living abroad for the last six months are entitled to changing old currency notes. 3. The other two categories - OCIs and PIOs have not been covered in the Ordinance. There is no provision for consideration even on medical grounds for the NRIs. 4. Amit Sharma left India for a marketing job with an Australian company on March 11, 2016 and returned on January 2, 2017. On his return, the custom officials did not provide him any information about the government notification. 5. Sharma said when he reached the RBI with all relevant documents to exchange Rs 12,500 notes, he was turned away without any reason. He said he even tweeted to the RBI and the finance ministry handle but there was no response. 6. Himmat, who worked as a bodied seaman in Merchant Navy until he was relieved of his duty due to spine problem, was also turned away. During demonetisation, he went to Mumbai for treatment and was admitted in a hospital. 7. However, after recovering Himmat went to the RBI on Monday for exchanging notes with all his medical records, but he was told his case will not be considered. 8. As per the Ordinance, if an NRI was present in India between November 8 and December 31, he or she will not be entitled for exchanging of old notes in any circumstances. 9. Himmat said he had all the relevant medical records but they were not taken into consideration. He had to change Rs 15,000 notes. 10. People who had gathered outside the RBI said the larger issue was not the amount but the procedure itself. 11. Few hopeful elderly citizens, who had come from Punjab all the way to Delhi were also seen waiting outside the RBI. But their hopes were dashed when they were told nothing could be done. 12. RBI spokesperson, Alpana Kilawala said the RBI will abide by the provisions of the Ordinance. advertisement 13. "In order to avoid inconvenience, people should carefully read the provisions of the Ordinance before approaching the RBI," said the spokesperson. 14. When the agitating crowd swelled up, local police had to be called in to control the situation. Also read: Govt considering regulator for electronic payments Also read: Nitish Kumar to hold demonetisation review meet with Grand Alliance partners today --- ENDS --- 26 pictures of Womens Marches around the world that make it look like every human on earth took to the streets If we learned one thing yesterday, its this: As a planet, weve got each others backs. On January 21, 2017, we saw people come together in womens marches around the world. Some protesters faced blizzards, while others were surrounded by tropical weather and greenery. But all were united by a shared message and a lot of posters of Carrie Fisher. We really cant get over the crowd sizes of the womens marches around the world. Seeing so many people come together this way gives us hope for the next four years. The womens marches around the world tell us that were not alone in this fight. The world sees whats happening, and theyre not going to let us go it alone. (By the way, when we say womens marches around the world, we really do mean everywhere. Heres a map of all 673 official sister marches.) Day 1. Well played ENTIRE WORLD #womensmarch A photo posted by David Korins (@davidkorins) on Jan 21, 2017 at 8:16pm PST And to keep that warm and fuzzy feeling going, heres just a fraction of the people who showed up to womens marches around the world. (The current estimate is 4,797,500.) Australia Protesters filled the streets in Sydney, Australia. Women's March To Protest Trump's Inauguration TBC And this was the scene in Melbourne. New Zealand Thousands turned out for the march in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealanders Take Part In Women's March To Protest Trump Inauguration And the crowd in Wellington was equally as impressive. #womensmarchwellington #whyimarch #wmwelly #wmnewzealand A photo posted by Jennie Koerner (@jcauchi23) on Jan 20, 2017 at 2:20pm PST Macau There was a smaller rally in Macau. Protesters take part in the #WomensMarch rally on January 21, 2017 in Macau, Macau pic.twitter.com/Fypec52NNn GoldenCouple (@TRH_WandC) January 22, 2017 Thailand A rally for equal rights began at this restaurant in Bangkok - over in Washington DC, some 200,000 people are expected to turn out. pic.twitter.com/jS00zNQU6j (@rafiqueparwana) January 21, 2017 The turnout in Bangkok was also small, but meaningful. Story continues South Africa In South Africa, crowds marched through Durban. south africa women's march Netherlands In the Netherlands, where the memory of occupation during the Second World War remains strong, one protester held up a sign with the powerful message, We are not going back. Denmark Thousands of people gathered in Copenhagen. France In Paris, the crowds stretched all the way to the Eiffel Tower. Paris now #womensmarch Freedom of choice, Tolerance, Love. Come and join us! #womensmarchparis A photo posted by Caroline de Maigret (@carolinedemaigret) on Jan 21, 2017 at 5:04am PST UK In London, the march led to Trafalgar Square. Incredible turn-out as we march for equality! #womensmarchlondon A photo posted by Women's March LONDON (@womensmarchlondon) on Jan 21, 2017 at 4:57am PST This was the final scene. There was a hefty turnout in Edinburgh, too. Women as far as the eye can see here in sunny Edinburgh! #WomensMarch #womensmarchedinburgh pic.twitter.com/V1yiVSaneG Alys Mumford (@alysmumford) January 21, 2017 Spain Protesters marched through Barcelona Womens March Barcelona A photo posted by ModelHype (@modelhype) on Jan 22, 2017 at 6:02am PST and Madrid. You can take the girl out of DC, but you can't take DC out of the girl....So far away from my home, yet still feeling completely at home Sending every ounce of my love to every single one you in every corner of the globe. I am one proud citizen of this world today. #WomensMarchMadrid A photo posted by Meera Lynn (@meeraalynn) on Jan 21, 2017 at 1:53pm PST That wasnt nearly the end of the demonstrations Ghana There was a protest in Ghanas capital, Accra. Canada From coast to coast, Canadians came out to have their say. A blizzard in Newfoundland pushed the St. Johns Womens March online. Mostly. Snow wasn't stopping us! Two pink #pussyhats marching through the drifts in St. John's! #womensmarch #womensmarchstjohns A photo posted by Stephanie Dooley (@jadecat) on Jan 21, 2017 at 11:07am PST But there was an impressive turnout in Halifax. The crowds in Montreal and Toronto were huge. [hgtwitterurl=https://twitter.com/droalbert/status/822877744191205376] Toronto on the streets by the thousands #womensmarchtoronto #womensmarch #womensmarchonwashington A photo posted by jlb_nq (@jlb_nq) on Jan 21, 2017 at 10:30pm PST And Vancouver saw thousands of people come together. Happening now. Guided by a rainbow in the distance. Thanks for this capture, @colonelshrapnel. #womensmarch #womensmarchvancouver #womensmarchvan #vancouver A photo posted by District Local | Vancouver (@districtlocal) on Jan 21, 2017 at 11:14am PST Mexico And our neighbours in Mexico showed up, too. This was the crowd in Loreto. More people still gathered in Oaxaca de Juarez. While others marched in San Pancho. Awareness on a global scale...shout out to the men who are supporting today. En solidaridad amigas #milindonayarit #womensmarch #womensmarchmexico A photo posted by Risa Mara Machuca (@surfitoutmexico) on Jan 21, 2017 at 8:44am PST Argentina An official sister march gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. To everyone who came out for the womens marches around the world: We see you. We thank you. And weve got your backs. 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. The Nigerian police reportedly said Sunday 65 people were arrested at a demonstration supporting President Donald Trump. It was organized by a group that advocates for an independent country that will be formed from regions of southeast Nigeria. While massive demonstrations against Trump were held across the world on Friday, the day of his inauguration, the pro-independence activists from the Biafra region, who want Trump to support the creation of an independent Biafran state for the Igbo people, conducted a rally in the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt. "Some suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) staged an unlawful protest in the Port Harcourt metropolis," Ahmed Magaji, deputy police chief of Rivers State where the region is located reportedly said, adding that the police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd because the unauthorized march disrupted public order. The 65 people who were arrested were believed to be a part of IPOB and were seen carrying the movement's flags, he said. But the Nigerian separatist group reportedly said the rally in support of Trump led to clashes with the police, in which about 20 people died and some others went missing. A spokesman for Rivers State police, Nnamdi Omoni, said 65 people were arrested but no one had died. Ugochukwu Chinweuba, a member of IPOB, reportedly said Saturday their lawyers were working on the release of those arrested, as well as trying to locate those still missing, whose number he put at about 200. IPOB fought a civil war from 1967-70, in which about one million people died, to press for their demand to create an independent Biafran state. After the rally Friday, several pro-Biafra activists claimed on Twitter that police had attacked unarmed demonstrators, killing some in the process. None of the separatists' claims could be verified independently. Related Articles Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f34451%2f53423d18-0a0e-4761-bd62-0f3fec4a0be8 Saturday's Women's March saw women and men of all ages and colors united across the globe, fighting for their voices to be heard. 87-year-old hospice patient Mary Tanasse, the matriarch of her family, was not going to miss the opportunity to march with her children and grandchildren in Olympia, Washington, despite having terminal cancer. SEE ALSO: Across the globe, nasty women and men hit the streets one day after Trump's inauguration 87-year-old Mary asked her hospice: "Please let me live until this march." She explains why today is so important to her, via @ElisaHahnK5 pic.twitter.com/tmKxSCKLfy KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) January 22, 2017 She asked her doctors and nurses to help her cross this march off her bucket list. "I asked them 'Please let me live until this march' because it was so important for me to model what I feel is right for my family", Mary said to Seattle, Washington's, King 5 news. And they did. Mary proudly marched alongside friends and family on a day they won't soon forget. "I made it and it's a beautiful day", she said. "I praise God and hopefully the nation will make an impact so we'll all be heard." Girl power. [H/T: KING 5 News] A fearsome, wolf-size otter with a large head and a powerful jaw once swam around the shallow, swampy waters of ancient China, likely hunting for clams and other shellfish, a new study finds. The 6.2-million-year-old beast is among the largest otter species on record, the researchers in the new study said. At 110 lbs. (50 kilograms), the animal would have been about twice the size of the modern-day South American giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and about four times the size of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), the researchers said. "This extinct otter is larger than all living otters," said study lead researcher Xiaoming Wang, a curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in California. [See images of the fearsome wolf-size otter] Researchers discovered the otter's remains in 2010, after a Chinese and U.S. field team found a nearly complete skull in Shuitangba quarry, located in southwestern China. "The skull was unlike [that of] any other animals found so far, and that's when we realized that this is something unique and important," Wang told Live Science. The wolf-size otter lived in a shallow swamp surrounded by thick vegetation. Mauricio Anton However, piecing the skull together was a challenging feat. "Because the skull was preserved in soft brown coal, it has been badly crushed into a pancake-like shape during the compaction of soft sediments," Wang said. By using a computed tomography (CT) scanner, study co-author Stuart White, a professor emeritus of maxillofacial radiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, was able to digitally restore the skull's 3D shape. Wang compared the reconstruction to "playing a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, only to be done by computer mouse rather than by hands." Because the skull was flattened like a pancake, researchers did a computed tomography (CT) scan of the fossil. Each color in this digital scan represents an individual fragment. Stuart C. White Later, in 2015, the researchers found more fossils in the quarry belonging to the same species; these finds included lower jaws, teeth and several limb bones, Wang said. Obscure otter A cranial analysis showed that while the skull of the newly discovered creature is like that of an otter, it has badger-like teeth, Wang said. This inspired the researchers to name the newfound species Siamogale melilutra, because "meles" is Latin for badger and "lutra" is Latin for otter, Wang said. Story continues S. melilutra belongs to an "obscure group of extinct otter in East Asia [that] diverged early from the main otter lineage and formed a distinct group of its own," Wang said. Until now, researchers only knew about this lineage from fossilized teeth found in Thailand, the scientists said. The skull is like that of an otter, but the teeth are like those of a badger. Xiaoming Wang Moreover, the new findings suggest that S. melilutra belongs to one of the oldest and most primitive otter lineages, one that goes back at least 18 million years, to the European, badger-like animal Paralutra, the researchers said. It's unclear why S. melilutra was so big, the researchers said. Usually, when carnivores evolve to be large, it's so that they have the strength to subdue prey, Wang said. "But in our fossil otter, it is more likely a mollusk eater, and its powerful skull and jaws may be designed to crack tough shells of clams," he said. Wang noted that modern sea otters also crack mollusks. But in addition to using their powerful teeth, these modern species also use tools that is, rocks to smash open the shells. [10 Animals That Use Tools] "Perhaps our fossil otter had not learned to use rocks, and instead [would] apply brute strength to crush hard shells," Wang said. This question is just one of many that researchers have about S. melilutra, said study co-researcher Denise Su, a curator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. "We are working to answer questions regarding its paleobiology, like, 'How did it swim? How did it move on the ground? Why is it so large?'" The study was published online today (Jan. 23) in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Malaysia-based AirAsia on Monday denied any connection to the corruption scandal engulfing Rolls-Royce, which reportedly paid millions of dollars in bribes to win contracts. After its largest ever graft probe, Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) found Rolls-Royce paid massive bribes over three decades to win contracts in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Russia, Nigeria, China and Malaysia. The SFO alleges that Rolls-Royce bribed an AirAsia Group executive with credits worth $3.2 million to be used to pay for the maintenance of a private jet. The SFO added that "this financial advantage" was given to the executive "in return for his showing favour towards Rolls-Royce in the purchase of products and services". AirAsia, which is the region's biggest budget carrier by fleet size, said it had done nothing wrong in purchasing the Bombardier Global Express private jet and that it had "gone through the due process and obtained the necessary approval". "We wish to state that at all material times, AirAsia has had no dealings or transactions with Rolls-Royce..." AirAsia said in a statement. Earlier in January, Indonesia's anti-corruption agency named the former CEO of the country's flag carrier Garuda a suspect for allegedly receiving bribes from Rolls-Royce while he was head of the airline. In Thailand investigators found some $36 million in bribes and incentives were paid between 1991 and 2005 to intermediaries -- including "agents of the State of Thailand and employees of Thai Airways" -- to help the company win lucrative jet engine deals. Rolls-Royce last week agreed to pay a $808 million fine to authorities in Britain, the United States and Brazil to settle bribery and corruption claims. ALEPPO, Syria (AP) -- The Great Mosque of Aleppo, a centuries-old treasure at the heart of one of the world's oldest cities, is today a grim testament to the ravages of Syria's war. The doors have been blasted away, the walls have been shredded by gunfire and shrapnel, and the minaret where the Muslim call to prayer sounded for 900 years has been toppled and shattered. The wooden pulpit, along with ancient manuscripts from a nearby library, has been carted off by looters. Syrians are only now able to survey the damage wrought by more than four years of war. Rebels from the countryside poured into Aleppo in the summer of 2012, capturing eastern districts and transforming the Old City into the front lines of a war of attrition with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad. The rebels surrendered last month after a massive government offensive and were evacuated to other areas, allowing Assad to regain control of the country's largest city. The red carpets inside the mosque are covered in debris, while damaged copper chandeliers are still hanging from the ceiling. An extensive network of sandbags used by the rebels snakes throughout the compound. Also known as the Umayyad Mosque, the site was reopened in 2006 after a 20-year renovation project. Aleppo's Old City, a UNESCO world heritage site, also boasts a 13th century citadel, a sprawling bazaar and several other monuments, nearly all of which have been damaged or destroyed. Before the rebels stormed the city, the state built a cement wall to secure a tomb inside the mosque believed to hold the remains of the Prophet Zakariah. But an ornate wooden pulpit modeled on the one inside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque was pillaged. Sheikh Abdul-Qader Shehabi, a senior Muslim cleric who spent years studying and working in the Umayyad Mosque, said 70,000 books were stolen from a nearby library, including copy of the Quran transcribed in the Middle Ages, which he says was smuggled out and sold in Turkey for $250,000. Story continues Khaled al-Masri, director of museums and antiquities in Aleppo, downplayed the extent of the destruction, saying the mosque could be repaired within a year and the minaret could be rebuilt in three. "The damage is simple and we can return the Umayyad Mosque to how it was," he said. But the war is still raging elsewhere in the country, and even if the cash-strapped government prevails it will confront a massive reconstruction challenge , not only in Aleppo but in other cities and towns. "This mosque used to be a jewel," said Fateh Abdullah Nahhal, a grocer who brought his children to the site for the first time in five years. "All we can say is for God to help us punish those who did this." Modern Family star Ariel Winter has parted ways with boyfriend Levi Meaden over the weekend...at least for now. According to the Daily Mail, the actress left Meaden behind in Sydney when she traveled back to Los Angeles for work. But before taking her flight, the couple was seen kissing each other on the lips. The 18-year-old actress was dressed in comfortable travel clothing that included a hoodie, tights and Yeezy Boost sneakers, while Meaden was photographed wearing a white shirt and jeans. The publication posted another photo of the two of them hugging each other before Winter rode a black car to the airport. Winter and Meaden have been dating for a few months. They first stepped out publicly in November 2016. Winter has been having the time of her life recently. Prior to her trip to Australia, the actress was in Bora Bora with some of her best friends. While on her beach vacation, Winter posted a series of racy photos on her Instagram account. Some fans noted how sexy the actress is, while others still criticized her for being too curvy. While speaking with SELF, Winter reminded her fans that shes doing the same things people her age are doing. However, because she is an actress, everything gets hyped up in the news. They kind of glorify and objectify a lot of things that I do, and I wish people would just see me as the normal 18-year-old that I am. Im doing the same things that everybody my age is doing People are taking it and making it seem like Im doing stuff that is crazy when Im just being me. I wish people would see that, she said. Ariel Winter Photo: Reuters/Danny Moloshok Related Articles By Press Trust of India: company New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) The Supreme Court today granted eight weeks time to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for verifying the total cost of the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway project and the claim of Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd that it has not recovered the expenses. A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud allowed the plea of CAG seeking time to submit a report after verifying the claim of the company and listed the matter for final hearing after eight weeks. advertisement The apex court had on November 11, 2016 asked CAG to assist in the matter and verify the companys claim that the total cost of the project has not been recovered and submit a report within four weeks. It had also directed the firm to place before CAG the entire record pertaining to recovery of the total project cost for the DND flyover as per the agreement. The court had passed the order while disagreeing with the company that its refusal to stay the Allahabad High Courts verdict making DND flyway toll free for commuters would cause irreparable loss to the firm. It had said that while the company can be compensated later if it succeeds in its appeal, it will be impossible to provide restitution to the lakhs of commuters from whom the toll fee would be collected to repay them on dismissal of the special leave petition (SLP). While declining the firms plea to stay the high courts October 26 last year judgement restraining it from levying the cess, the bench had said, "We do not agree with the submission that the petitioner (firm) would suffer irreparable loss if the judgement of the high court is not stayed." The high court had brought cheers to millions of commuters by ruling that no toll will be collected henceforth from those using the 9.2 km-long, eight-lane DND flyway. The order was passed when the high court allowed a PIL by the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association. The PIL, filed in 2012, had challenged the "levy and collection of toll in the name of user fee" by NTBCL. (More) PTI ABA SKV MNL SJK SC --- ENDS --- LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Arkansas lawmakers approved Gov. Asa Hutchinson's $50 million low-income tax cut plan on Monday, setting the stage for a debate over deeper tax reductions the Republican has vowed to champion in two years. The proposal to cut taxes for more than 650,000 residents making less than $21,000 cleared the House on a 90-2 vote. The Senate earlier approved an identical version of the plan on a 33-0 vote. One of the bills needs a final vote in either chamber before it heads to the governor's desk. Hutchinson won the support of fellow Republicans who had wanted deeper cuts, proposing a 16-member legislative task force that would recommend comprehensive tax code changes by the fall of 2018. He also secured near-unanimous support from Democrats who had expressed concerns about cutting taxes while the state's revenue is coming in lower than expected. "Our governor wanted to get this tax cut out, but he wanted to show commitment to doing real tax reform in our state," Rep. Mathew Pitsch, the top Republican in the House, said before the vote. The tax cut, which would take effect in 2019, is less than half the size of the $102 million income tax cut Hutchinson championed and lawmakers approved when he took office two years ago. But it comes as Arkansas' net revenue is running $8.8 million below forecast so far this fiscal year. Hutchinson was elected in 2014 on a promise to cut income taxes across the board. In a statement, Hutchinson called the vote "yet another step to further decrease the tax burden on hard working Arkansans and make our state's income tax rates more competitive with surrounding states." The House postponed voting on a competing $40 million plan backed by Democrats that would grant a tax credit to low-income residents. The lawmaker behind the proposal said he planned to see if Hutchinson was open to a compromise, but the governor has indicated he's not open to changing his tax cut plan. Story continues "I do think there are probably parts of my proposal that would fit seamlessly with his," Democratic Rep. Warwick Sabin told reporters. Democratic Rep. John Walker and Republican Rep. Josh Miller were the only lawmakers to vote against the governor's tax cut plan, but for different reasons. Walker expressed concern that the tax cut would lead to cuts in services or benefits to low-income taxpayers. Miller said he wanted to see deeper tax cuts that he says the state could afford by reducing spending. "I support the governor with his desire to make some deep, significant cuts. I wish we could do it now. I think we could've done it now," Miller said after the vote. ___ Associated Press Writer Kelly P. Kissel contributed to this report ___ Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ademillo Washington (AFP) - Visibly tense, Sean Spicer took the podium in the White House briefing room Monday, made a joke about how unpopular he is, and then launched into the subjects of the day, from Syria to China to health care. It was Spicer's first official briefing as White House press secretary, and he clearly was trying to smooth things out with reporters -- two days after attacking them with a vengeance, calling their work "shameful." For about 90 minutes, Donald Trump's spokesman responded to questions on a wide range of topics, reinforcing the idea that the new administration's style is going to fluctuate, much like Trump's tweets -- from angry and vengeful to conciliatory and unifying. While the 49-seat briefing room in the West Wing is usually full to capacity when the president appears, it is often far less full for his spokesman's daily briefings. But with Trump's arrival in office on Friday, it was hard Monday to walk through the room -- made famous in films and television shows like "The West Wing" or "Veep." Spicer undoubtedly listened to the advice of one of his predecessors Ari Fleischer, George W. Bush's former spokesman, who suggested on CBS that he "cool the confrontation down a notch or three." Spicer told reporters: "I want to make sure we have a healthy relationship." "Is it your intention to always tell the truth from that podium?" asked one reporter. "Yes, I believe we have to be honest with the American people. I think sometimes we can disagree with the facts. There are certain things that we may not fully understand when we come out," Spicer replied. "Our intention is never to lie to you." - 'Alternative facts' - On Saturday, in a brief statement from the same podium, Spicer slammed the media, accusing reporters of knowingly minimizing the attendance at Friday's inauguration before offering a series of statements that were not true. Story continues "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration -- period -- both in person and around the globe," he said. Asked the following day about Spicer's statements, senior Trump aide Kellyanne Conway said her colleague had simply offered "alternative facts" -- a phrase that quickly went viral, and left a large number of Americans speechless. Spicer returned to the issue on Monday. "It's not just about a crowd size," he said. "There is this constant attempt to undermine his credibility and the movement he represents. It's frustrating... it's a little demoralizing." When pressed about whether tough criticism simply comes with the territory of being president, Spicer insisted Trump was not being treated as well as his predecessors. - 'Skype seats' - Spicer has said he wants to buck White House media traditions, and on Monday, he delivered on some of that. The Associated Press, one of the outlets with a coveted front-row seat, was not given the first question, as is customary. Instead, the first three reporters called on came from the New York Post, the Christian Broadcasting Network and Fox Business. The spokesman announced the creation of four "Skype seats" at the briefing, for those journalists living more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) outside Washington. As the briefing went on, Spicer looked more relaxed, smiled more and tried to build ties with his audience. "I am going to stay here as long as you want," he said. "I think you guys might want to leave before I do." In the coming days and months, Spicer's intentions about how he plans to handle the reporters covering Trump -- people described by the new president as "some of the most dishonest people on the planet" -- will become more clear. Photo credit: Stephane Corvaja/ESA / AP From Popular Mechanics The European Space Agency opened an investigation on Thursday into anomalies that have affected five of the first 18 Galileo satellites in orbit. The agency, which launched the navigation system last December, said however that the failures are not affecting the satellites' proper functioning. The Galileo system, named after the Italian engineer and astronomer, is designed to provide commercial and government customers with more precise location data than GPS. The European agency said in a statement that a total of nine onboard atomic clocks have failed, but insisted it "is confident that the clock issues will be resolved." Each Galileo carries four atomic clocks. The nonfunctioning ones are three rubidium devices and six passive hydrogen maser clocks, the agency said. "No individual Galileo satellite has experienced more than two clock failures, so the robust quadruple redundancy designed into the system means all 18 members of the constellation remain operational," the ESA said. The launch of the first satellites was hit by delays and several failures, with two satellites ending up in the wrong orbit. But the ESA managed to launch four satellites on a single rocket last November and expects to have a full complement of 24 satellites, plus spares, in orbit within four years. The ESA said it is confident "that the clock issues will be resolved and remains committed to launch the next four Galileo ... satellites before the end of this year." Galileo originally was meant to begin service in 2008 at a cost of 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion), but the development and operation is now expected to cost 13 billion euros by 2020, German news agency dpa reported. Galileo's free consumer signal will provide location data offering precision within about one meter (3 feet, 3 inches), compared with 5 meters (16 feet) or more for GPS. A premium service eventually will offer even greater precision to paying customers and police, fire departments and government agencies. Story continues Galileo is owned by the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, based in Brussels. You Might Also Like Womens March was held simultaneously in many parts of the country on Saturday. Both women and men paraded the streets voicing their demand for equality. Many female celebs like Demi Lovato, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus also echoed the same feminist sentiment on social media. However, controversial rapper Azealia Banks is digressing from this advocacy. On Sunday, Banks took to Instagram to express her own stand on feminism. For the Ice Princess rapper, the womens rights advocacy is generally dangerous due to the idea that it is mainly a comparison between women and men. Banks stated that the feminist conversation should be intra-feminine instead of including men in the equation. Banks also shared an unpopular opinion when she wrote: Man and woman are not equal and they never will be because were not supposed to!! She also poked fun at intersectionality when she asked: Intersectional Feminism Does it actually exist? Lol. Is it a real thing? The 212 hitmaker continued her rant by claiming that such a concept only exists in the mind. The controversial artist also insisted that feminism is a movement that only fights for white womens rights, leaving out women of color from the picture. To prove her point, Banks stated that the Womens March was attended by numerous white women. White women could save the entire world if they TRULY wanted to but they dont, she added. Banks continued to attack the white feminists by saying, We dont have true diversity and transparency amongst women as a cornerstone of mainstream feminism because white women dont want it. They like their power and want to keep it. She also pointed out that mainstream feminism is all about privileged and entitled white women who speak on behalf of all women, but the list of grievances they raise do not represent all women. In a separate Instagram post, Banks also aired out her disappointment over the things happening in the country because the election was already enough stress. She expressed that everyone should take time to chill. In an odd turn of things, Banks then teased her followers that shes releasing new music very soon. Story continues Ever since she posted her rant on the photo-sharing platform, many users took their time to slam, bash and diss Banks for being misguided. One wrote: Feminism isnt about man vs. woman. This is very misguided. Its about ensuring everyone has access to the same opportunities that men traditionally have had. Another commented: Your understanding of feminism is very limited. Meanwhile, there were also those who agreed with Banks sentiments and even praised her for speaking out her mind. One fan stated: Wow! Thank you for saying this, a very valid way of thinking. Another also echoed the same sentiment as Banks, saying: I think there was a rule at the womens march [that] only millionaire celebrity women are allowed to be keynote speakers. Do you agree or disagree with Banks thoughts on feminism? Tell us in the comments below. Azealia Banks Photo: Reuters/Leonhard Foeger Related Articles Three-week-old Kahleel Clark-Smith was born with a condition, dubbed the "worst disease youve never heard of," which has already caused him to lose 60 percent of his skin. Kahleel has been diagnosed with epidermolysis bullosa, an incurable genetic disorder that causes skin to be extremely fragile and often blisters, leaving raw sores that are susceptible to infection. Read: 7-Month-Old Baby Receives Donor Heart and Escapes Death with Moments to Spare "We found out the day he was born and didn't know anything about it. We had to do all the research at home. We were so heartbroken. Even a cuddle or a kiss can cause his skin to blister, Smith said. Kahleel's parents Kadyem, 22, and Kyera, 20, are raising money to have him flown to a specialist EB center in Cincinnati, Ohio, from Seattles Childrens Hospital because insurance wont cover the trip. We found out last Thursday that he has the worst type of EB, which devastated us yet again, Brandi Smith, Kahleel's aunt, told InsideEdition.com. Smith said that 87 percent of babies who have Junctional EB dont survive past the age of one. Smith said the Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington, where Kahleel was born, diagnosed Kahleel's case as mild and sent him home. "The hospital had never seen a case like it and there was a lack of understanding on what to do and it seems to have gotten worse, Smith said. Kahleel has since developed a staph infection, which hes recovering from, and has been fighting fevers on and off. Read: A Stitch in Time: Little Boy and Beloved Stuffed Animal Both Go Under the Knife Weve been trying to do whatever we can to get a medical flight and the insurance is standing in the way, Smith said. Smith has started a GoFundMe page to raise the $30,000 to cover the medical flight to get the newborn to the hospital. "Its their very sad story. We are hoping for a miracle. This is their first child and maybe their last because this is genetic," Smith said. Story continues Watch: Infant Smiles Seeing Snow for First Time After Defying Odds to Survive Related Articles: Dubai (AFP) - The prosecution in a Bahraini court on Monday presented what it said was evidence against prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab, accused of spreading "false information" about the kingdom, a judicial source said. They submitted an "expert report" that they said confirmed Rajab was in charge of his Twitter account where allegedly offensive tweets were posted, the source said. The defence, for its part, reiterated it case that Rajab was not in control of his account at the time the tweets were posted. The court had ordered the appointment of an expert from the interior ministry's cyber crimes unit to determine who was operating Rajab's Twitter account. The hearing was adjourned to February 21. Rajab is accused of "spreading false news and rumours and inciting propaganda during wartime which could undermine the war operations by the Bahraini armed forces and weaken the nation", according to state media. Sunni-ruled Bahrain is part of a Saudi-led coalition battling Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen. Shiite human rights activist Rajab, who had been pardoned for health reasons in 2015, was rearrested in June and is on trial on a list of charges, including insulting a state institution and Saudi Arabia in online postings. A Bahraini court had last month ordered Rajab freed pending the trial on charges of spreading false information. But the prosecution decided to keep Rajab in custody pending questioning in another cyber crime case on a similar charge of "spreading false news about the situation in the kingdom". Rajab has been repeatedly detained for organising protests and publishing tweets deemed insulting to Bahrain's Sunni authorities. He previously served two years in jail on charges of taking part in unauthorised protests in the Shiite-majority kingdom. Home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, Bahrain has been rocked by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests in 2011 demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister. DUBAI (Reuters) - The family of British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been sentenced to five years in jail in Iran on undisclosed charges, said she has been accused by a Revolutionary Court of acting against national security by cooperating with the BBC. Iran's judiciary spokesman said on Sunday that Iranian appeals court confirmed the five-year jail sentence for her. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in early April as she tried to leave Iran after a visit with her two-year-old daughter. Her family said in a statement that the appeal "was held in secret, in the presence of a large number of Revolutionary Guards". Neither Zaghari-Ratcliffe nor her lawyer had been allowed to tell the family what happened at her trial. However, the family said that at the appeal hearing two new accusations have been raised against her: being the head of recruitment for the BBC Persian service, and knowingly being married to a British spy. Iran's judiciary was not immediately available for comment when Reuters attempted to contact officials. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the new accusations. Speaking in response to Zaghari-Ratcliffe's jail sentence, Francesca Unsworth, director of the BBC World Service Group, said on Monday: "Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has never worked for BBC Persian. She worked briefly for BBC Media Action, our international development charity, in a junior administrative capacity." Unsworth called on Iranian authorities to urgently re-examine the case. Iranian authorities have accused the BBC Persian service of trying to overthrow the Islamic Republic, especially after its coverage of widespread protests in Iran over disputed election results in 2009. BBC has denied the allegations. Zaghari-Ratcliffe works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity that is independent of Thomson Reuters and operates independently of Reuters News. "The lack of justice in Nazanin's case continues to be a stain on Iran," Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Zaghari-Ratcliffe, said in a statement. "It is a needless waste of a mother and child's life for their own political bargains and economic interests." Several Iranian dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Canada and France have been detained in the past year and are being kept behind bars on charges including espionage and collaborating with hostile governments. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) "The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didn't make it." By India Today Web Desk: Love it or hate it, the Donald Trump versus Barack Obama comparisons aren't fizzling away any time soon. But Trump's latest stint proves how he's almost given up on the idea of outshining Obama--and has resorted to copying him instead. According to a recent tweet by Chef Duff Goldman, the cake at Trump's Armed Services Ball on January 20, 2017 was a rip-off of the one he'd prepared for former POTUS, Barack Obama's, Inauguration Day, four years ago. advertisement Also Read: What will the man behind Barack Obama's iconic photographs do now? "The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didn't make it," he wrote, alongside a picture collage of both the cakes. The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didn't make it. ?? pic.twitter.com/qJXpCfPhii Duff Goldman (@Duff_Goldman) January 21, 2017 Goldman's claim was confirmed when the bakers responsible for Trump's Inauguration Day cake put up an Instagram post saying, "Excited to share the cake we got to make for one of last night's inaugural balls. While we most love creating original designs, when we are asked to replicate someone else's work we are thrilled when it is a masterpiece like this one. @duff_goldman originally created this for Obama's inauguration 4 years ago and this year's committee commissioned us to re-create it." The cake in question that bears an uncanny resemblance to the one made by Goldman was recreated by Tiffany MacIsaac, owner of Washington-based Buttercream Bakeshop. Also Read: Ivanka, Tiffany and Hillary: 3 women of power who floored us in white "They came to us a couple of weeks ago, which is pretty last minute, and said 'We have a photo that we would like to replicate,'" The Washington Post quotes MacIsaac as saying. She then mentioned how her bakery tried to convince them to indulge in inspiration, not replication, but, "They said, 'Nope, they want this exact cake. It's perfect'." MacIsaac obliged, and didn't think it were that big a deal, considering "the Trump cake was intended to be more of a prop: All but a three-inch slice at the bottom was inedible." Also Read: The hidden meaning behind Melania and Michelle's outfits at the Inauguration But then, Goldman's tweet followed and before she knew, people began talking about the cake. However, after MacIsaac's bakery put up the long Instagram post, Goldman sent out a rather positive tweet saying,"Remembering a fantastic cake I made is awesome and the chef that re-created it for @POTUS Trump did a fantastic job. Group hug, y'all." Remembering a fantastic cake I made is awesome and the chef that re-created it for @POTUS Trump did a fantastic job. Group hug, y'all. ???? Duff Goldman (@Duff_Goldman) January 21, 2017 advertisement All's well that end's well then? Probably. Because apart from the bonhomie between Goldman and MacIsaac's bakery, the proceeds of the cake, according to Buttercream Bakeshop's Instagram post, "are being donated to @humanrightscampaign, one of our favorite charities who we have loved working with over the years. Because basic human rights are something every man, woman and child, straight, gay or the rainbow in between, deserve!" --- ENDS --- SYDNEY (Reuters) - American rock star Bruce Springsteen, who supported Hillary Clinton during the recent presidential election campaign, said on Sunday his band joins a global "new resistance" against U.S. President Donald Trump. "It feels a long ways away, but our hearts and our spirits are with all the millions of people that marched yesterday, and the E Street Band, we are part of the new resistance," Springsteen told reporters in Perth, at the beginning of his Australian tour. Trump's inauguration on Friday and his defiant pledge to end "American carnage" was followed by a weekend of mass protests across the United States and internationally. Hundreds of thousands of people filled the streets of Washington and other capitals around the world on Saturday for "sister marches," mocking and denouncing the new U.S. leader the day after his inauguration. Speaking before a 3.5 hour set at Perth Arena, Springsteen described Trump as a "demagogue", but added he hoped Trump's infrastructure program succeeds in bringing jobs to places where layoffs have hit hard. Since his inauguration, the Trump administration has reiterated plans to abandon an ambitious Asia-Pacific trade pact, the Trans Pacific Partnership, and renegotiate other trade deals. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Michael Perry) OTTAWA (Reuters) - The pace of Canadian wholesale trade cooled more than expected in November as declines in the motor vehicle and parts sector offset higher sales of agricultural supplies, data from Statistics Canada showed on Monday. The 0.2 percent gain missed economists' forecasts for an increase of 0.5 percent, while volumes were down 0.1 percent. The soft figures came after strong October growth, which was revised up to 1.3 percent from the previously reported 1.1 percent. Sales in November rose in four out of seven sectors. The "miscellaneous" category led the way up with a 7.2 percent increase, driven by sales in agricultural supplies. The sector also includes chemicals and paper products. Sales of building material and supplies rose 3.8 percent as exports of forestry products increased. But the motor vehicle sector was the biggest drag on wholesale trade, falling 5.8 percent in just its second decrease in eight months. The report will figure into economists' calculations for fourth-quarter economic growth and is likely to reinforce expectations that growth slowed after a strong third quarter. (Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Carrie Fisher was all over the Womens March, and Mark Hamills response has us in tears On Saturday, January 21st, millions of concerned citizens gathered in solidarity for the Womens March on Washington and New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, London, Oslo, Chicago, Mentone, Alabama, Antartica, and so on and so forth. At many of these marches, Carrie Fishers iconic Princess Leia was an unexpected symbol of resistance to Donald Trumps proposed policies, with her face adorning posters and t-shirts bearing messages like A Womans Place is in the Resistance. Thanks largely to these posters designed by artist Hayley Gilmore who is not profiting from this, because sometimes human beings are just really, really good Leia was all over the place in D.C. and beyond. It was a moving reminder that Fisher is gone, but her characters ideals as well as her own will live on in likeminded, politically motivated women across the globe. This was my favorite. #bostonwomensmarch #Rebellion #resistance #womensmarch #princessleia A photo posted by Christopher Cesario (@nupt1995) on Jan 22, 2017 at 6:32am PST Apparently, Fishers costar Mark Hamill was as moved by the tributes as we were, as he tweeted a message of gratitude on Saturday night that still has us in tears Sunday morning. I know where she stood, he wrote. You know where she stood. Such an honor to see her standing with you today. I know where she stood. You know where she stood. Such an honor to see her standing with you today. Bigly. #Resistance #WorldWideWomensMarch pic.twitter.com/cwsgoYVSU7 Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) January 21, 2017 Hamill, whose work reading Trumps tweets in the Jokers voice is a gift we do not deserve, has been very open about his love for his long time costar, as well as the grief hes feeling after her death on December 27th. Story continues Its never easy to lose such a vital, irreplaceable member of the family, but this is downright heartbreaking, he wrote in a public statement. Carrie was one-of-a-kind who belonged to us all- whether she liked it or not. She was OUR Princess, damn it, & the actress who played her blurred into one gorgeous, fiercely independent & ferociously funny, take-charge woman who took our collective breath away. Determined & tough, but with a vulnerability that made you root for her & want her to succeed & be happy. She played such a crucial role in my professional & personal life, & both would have been far emptier without her. I am grateful for the laughter, the wisdom, the kindness & even the bratty, self-indulgent crap my beloved space-twin gave me through the years. Thanks Carrie. I love you, mh We already miss Fisher so, so much, but were so glad to see that her spirit is living on through her bold, intelligent, insanely heroic character who, if you recall, stayed with the resistance decades after Luke Skywalker went into hiding and Han Solo ran away to steal stuff with Chewie again. Just saying. SANTIAGO, Chile -- Since she started living with her female partner nine years ago, Claudia Amigo says she has rarely faced prejudice. Her employer, a finance company, didn't discriminate against her, nor did her daughter's public school. And she's never had any problems within her community in downtown Santiago. "The only discrimination we face is that the state doesn't give our child the right to legally have two mothers and doesn't allow us to get married," says Amigo. But this could change. In September 2016, President Michelle Bachelet announced that her government would introduce a bill allowing same-sex marriage early this year. It's the most recent of several steps Bachelet has taken to adjust laws to Chile's new social demands and fast-paced cultural changes. Shes not alone: In early January, senator Alejandro Guillier, the first progressive candidate officially nominated for the presidential primaries of July 2017, made it clear in his nomination speech that making that law a reality was one of his priorities. Until recently, Chilean legislators governed in line with a conservative elite with a dominant hold on political power. But today, they no longer represent the opinion of most Chileans. The consolidation of democracy, economic growth, globalization, along with the decline of religion and the surge of politically active youth are key factors in the country's transition toward a more progressive society, experts say. Chile is commonly considered a culturally conservative nation, and in some ways it is: 58 percent of its population identifies as Catholic, only 48 percent of women are in the workforce, divorce was allowed only as recently as 2004, and the country is one of only six nations to forbid abortion in all circumstances. Yet, Chile also has the highest number of children born out of wedlock of countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It also is one of the few Latin American countries to have elected a woman -- a divorced atheist -- president. Twice. Story continues "Chile passed from being a mainly conservative country to being more liberal," says Roberto Izikson, a political scientist at Cadem, a well-known polling company. "That happened progressively and it hasn't stopped." Izikson uses statistics to make his point: Last August, Cadem polls showed 72 percent of Chileans support the bill, currently in the senate, that would allow abortion in three specific cases: a threat to the mother's life, an unviable fetus or rape. Likewise, 56 percent of Chileans said they were in favor of gay marriage. That's good news for people like Amigo, who says that civil unions, approved in 2015, are not the way she and her partner wanted "to express (their) love." Another indicator of Chileans' new open-mindedness, says Izikson, is that 61 percent of them agree with euthanasia. Christian Welzel, vice president of World Values Survey, a research project that has been exploring people's values internationally since 1981, has noted a similar trend. Although Latin America is not very liberal, Chile, along with Uruguay, is "the front-runner of very progressive cultural changes," he says. According to Welzel, Chile is ahead of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru in "accepting divorce" and among the three "most progressive South American countries in its tolerance of homosexuality and abortion." That cultural shift is due to several factors, experts say. Chile used to be more isolated, poorer and less educated. Today there is a broader middle class, with better access to information. Perhaps most importantly, the public's politics seem to be less influenced by the Catholic Church. The middle class "is a group educated in non-religious public schools, so they have a much more secular vision of society," says Ana Maria Stuven, a professor of history at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica. In Chile's history, "religion and power have been intrinsically tied," she says. And despite the separation of church and state in 1925, the Catholic hierarchy maintained a strong influence on politics. "The Catholic Church and conservative organizations had many economic and political resources at its disposal, such as universities, think tanks, media ownership, and used them to promote a very conservative family and sexuality agenda," says Merike Blofield, associate professor of political science at the University of Miami and author of "The Politics of Moral Sin: Abortion and Divorce in Spain, Argentina and Chile." The Catholic elite's power, however, took a strong blow the past decade, when several sex abuse cases by high profile priests came to light. This, added to the global transition toward more individualistic societies and the deep distrust Chileans have in their institutions, led to the rise of more liberal views, political scientists say. Polls show that 10 years ago, 44 percent of Chileans trusted the Catholic Church, whereas only 22 percent currently do, explains Francisca Alessandri, researcher at the Center of Public Policies of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica and coordinator of the " Encuesta Bicentenario" (Bicentennial Survey), which has been measuring cultural indicators yearly since 2010. "People don't want to act upon pre-established norms anymore," she says. "So they say, 'I don't go to church, I pray at home. I don't necessarily get married, I live with my partner.'" Others attribute the change to a rise in political activism that started with widespread student protests to request free education in 2011. That social movement, says Izikson from Cadem polling company, went far beyond showing students dissatisfaction. "That year is a symbol of the changes occurring now," he says. "That's when students, but also parents and grandparents, protested. And it was not only about education, it was about Chile showing its general discontent." At that moment, he says, support for same-sex marriage and abortion started rising in the polls. While Amigo believes there is still much to achieve in Chile, she feels like the country has come a long way already. "Ten years ago nobody even talked about LGTBI issues or there was disrespect," she says. "Chile has definitely opened up." Daniela Mohor is a freelance journalist based in Santiago, Chile. She is a contributor to "Capitalism, God and a Good Cigar: Cuba Enters the 21st Century." Follow her on Twitter. SYDNEY (Reuters) - There is a possibility missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is north of the area where investigators last week called an end to a three-year search, the head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said on Monday, according to media reports. The jet disappeared in March 2014 en route to Beijing from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, with 239 people on board, sparking one of the world's great aviation mysteries. A joint search mission by Australia, Malaysia and Australia was suspended indefinitely six days ago with little hard evidence of the aircraft's whereabouts. ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood told reporters in Perth that experts have a fair idea where the Boeing 777's wreckage might be located, despite ending the search. "It's highly likely that the area now defined by the experts contains the aircraft, but that's not absolutely for certain," Hood said, according to Australian Broadcasting Corp. Asked by reporters why authorities would not expand the search if experts thought they knew where the plane was located, Hood said, "That's a question for governments." Last month the ATSB reported the Boeing 777 could be within an area of 25,000 sq km (9,653 square miles) to the north of the 120,000-sq-km (46,332-square-mile) official underwater search zone in the southern Indian Ocean. Malaysia, Australia and China agreed in July to suspend the $145-million search if the plane was not found, or if new evidence that might offer a clue as to its whereabouts was not uncovered, once that area had been checked. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters "more credible evidence" was needed before moving to the next search area, Australian Associated Press said. Liow on Monday met a group representing families of the missing passengers in Perth, the West Australian state capital. Sheryl Keen, from Aircrash Support Group Australia, which represents Australian victims, handed about 100 letters to Liow at what she said was a "positive meeting," adding that he showed interest in continuing investigations. About 25 pieces of debris have been collected from Africa's east coast and more was expected to wash ashore, Liow said. Three pieces have been confirmed as definitely being from MH370, five are considered "most certainly" to be from the plane and the rest are still being evaluated, he added. (Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Santiago (AFP) - Vast woodland fires in the center and south of Chile have caused "the biggest forestry disaster in our history," President Michelle Bachelet said Monday, canceling a trip abroad to supervise the emergency. A total of 130 square kilometers (500 square miles) have been charred, mainly in sparsely populated rural areas, according to the National Emergency Office. Although most of 150 fires that broke out this summer season were under control or extinguished, 48 are still raging. Three firefighters have died and another three were wounded battling the flames. Soldiers and dozens of aircraft have been brought in to help. Bachelet scrapped a trip to the Dominican Republic for a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders in order to oversee the official response. Mexico and Argentina responded to an international call for assistance from Santiago by lending fire fighters. In the central regions of O'Higgins and El Maule, the fires were considered the worst in the past 50 years, and a "state of catastrophe" has been declared for them. Fires are common in Chile's parched woods during summer. Most are caused by human activity. But this year was considered worse because of a drought that has built up over the past eight years, attributed to climate change. A 10-day run of high temperatures also contributed. "What is obvious is that Chile is facing nature that is stressed, and that is why each time there are conditions for forest fires, and they are growing in a dangerous fashion," said Matias Asun, the country director of the environmental group Greenpeace. SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile will continue to pursue bilateral trade deals now that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is off the table after U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order, Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz told journalists on Monday. The South American country has proposed meetings with TPP members as well as China and South Korea and has had positive reactions at a high level, Munoz said at a press conference. (This story corrects minister's first name from to Heraldo from Herald) (Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Chris Reese) China will continue to carry out military exercises in the South China Sea region despite meddling and disruption by foreign countries, the state-run Peoples Daily newspaper said in a commentry. The countrys first and only aircraft carrier Liaoning conducted drills in December in the disputed region, triggering concerns over security among the Taiwanese and Japanese governments. These provocations, pressure, fantasies and over-exaggerations will not prevent the normal drills of the Chinese military. The meddling and disruption of countries from outside the region can only run counter to the consensus of common interests that accords with this region and the world, Peoples Daily said Sunday, according to Reuters. Henceforth, the Chinese militarys exercises far out at sea will become a kind of normal, extremely normal drills. Earlier this month, the Liaoning carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait, prompting Taiwan to scramble jets and navy ships. At the time, China said that it was "very normal" for the carrier to pass through an international waterway as part of its drills. The Chinese newspaper also said that no amount of word bombs would stop Beijings exercises. Rex Tillerson, U.S. President Donald Trumps pick for secretary of state, said Jan. 11 that China should be not allowed to access the contested islands in the South China Sea. He had also said that Chinas activity in the contentious region was extremely worrisome and would be a threat to the entire global economy if the country tried to dictate access to the waterway. China has been carrying out military drills in the South China Sea, where the country has also built a few islands. Most of the disputed waters, through which about $5 trillion worth of maritime trade passes every year, have been claimed by China. Beijing has maintained that it does not intend to start a conflict and that its operations will add to the safety of the region. Related Articles By Sijia Jiang HONG KONG (Reuters) - China is reinforcing its censorship of the internet with a campaign to crack down on unauthorized connections, including virtual private network (VPN) services, that allow users to bypass restrictions known as the Great Firewall. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a notice on its website on Sunday that it is launching a nationwide clean-up campaign aimed at internet service provider (ISP), internet data centrer (IDC), and content delivery network (CDN) companies. It ordered checks for companies operating without government licenses or beyond the scope of licenses. The ministry said it was forbidden to create or rent communication channels, including VPNs, without governmental approval, to run cross-border operations. VPNs can be used to gain access to blocked websites. China has the world's largest population of internet users - now at 731 million people - and is home to some of the biggest internet firms such as Tencent Holdings, Baidu Inc and Alibaba Group Holding. The government also aggressively censors the internet, blocking many sites it thinks could challenge the rule of the Communist Party or threaten stability, including sites such as Facebook and Google's main search engine and Gmail service. The ministry asked telecoms infrastructure providers to verify their clients' use of network resources. Authorities have launched numerous operations to combat illegal online behavior, from pornography to gambling. (Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Robert Birsel) "I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!", Trump wrote in a now-deleted tweet, according to a newspaper report. By Indo-Asian News Service: Shortly after assuming office as the 45th US President, Donald Trump tweeted saying that he was "honered" to have been sworn-in as the leader, evoking widespread response on Twitter. According to a report in an online newspaper on Sunday, Trump wrote in a now-deleted tweet: "I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!" advertisement Although the British and American spellings of the word 'honoured' are different, the way Trump spelled it was incorrect. Although the tweet was quickly removed, a number of people had already responded to the US President's spelling 'mishap'. The report quoted a Twitter user accusing Trump of being "the most illiterate president ever". Also read | Trump may be persuaded to back the Iran nuclear deal, says expert Recently, Trump had tweeted that China's seizure of a US Navy research drone was an "unpresidented" act, misspelling the word "unprecedented". DELETING OF TRUMP'S TWEET ILLEGAL? According to some commentators, the deleting of Trump's tweet, which was made from the account of the official President of the United States (POTUS), could have been illegal. "Under the terms of the Presidential Records Act, all records and documents relating to the US President must be preserved. Former presidents have interpreted this to include social media posts", the report noted. It is still to be known whether Trump's team has archived his deleted tweet. Also read | Trump's tryst with controversies continues even as he assumes presidency "We eventually set up auto-archiving for official platforms, so errors could be corrected while preserving the original", Ezra Mechaber, former aide to Barack Obama, was quoted as saying. --- ENDS --- Chinese state media used President Donald Trumps inauguration to make a case for communism while slamming Western democracy. However, no direct reference to the new commander-in-chief was made. The series of articles published Sunday in Chinas Communist Partys flagship paper Peoples Daily come at a time when President Xi Jinping is gearing up for a reshuffle in leadership posts that occurs once in five years. Western style democracy used to be a recognized power in history to drive social development. But now it has reached its limits, one of the articles reportedly said. Democracy is already kidnapped by the capitals and has become the weapon for capitalists to chase profits. The paper devoted an entire page in its Sunday edition to criticize democracy, quoting poetry by former Chairman Mao Zedong urging people to range far your eyes over long vistas, and claiming that with the end of capitalism, communism will rise as the victor. The emergence of capitalisms social crisis is the most updated evidence to show the superiority of socialism and Marxism, Bloomberg quoted one of the articles in the state-run newspaper as saying. Trump swearing-in Photo: REUTERS/LUCY NICHOLSON Another commentary published Saturday in the states official news agency Xinhua, also carried by Peoples Daily, urged the Trump administration to work with China and relax his protectionist policy. Among all his alternatives, the least desirable for Trump is to act on his previous threats to slap punitive tariffs on his countrys largest trading partner and label China a currency manipulator as protectionism only stirs up retaliation, the commentary said. It is highly hoped that the Trump administration could take the interests of its country and the world as a whole into account, and start aiming for win-win cooperation with China as soon as possible. Story continues An editorial published Saturday in its sister paper, the Global Times also published in Peoples Daily warned China to brace itself for dramatic changes with the Trump presidency, adding that the new administrations policy on Beijing is yet to take shape. On the world stage, Trump will likely align his foreign policy with U.S. corporate interests, blurring the lines of ideology or political values. Frictions between the U.S. and its allies, and trade tensions between the U.S. and China, seem inevitable within the four years ahead, the editorial said. His China policy will hinge on how well he understands the overlapping interests of the world's two largest economies, how their national interests intertwine, and whether he is motivated to change the existing structure with force, it continued. Undoubtedly, the Trump administration will be igniting many fires on its front door and around the world. Let's wait and see when it will be China's turn. Chinese officials warned state-run media to cover Trumps Friday inauguration carefully, adding that unauthorized criticism of Trumps words or actions is not allowed. Related Articles Photo credit: Chung Sung-Jun / Staff / Getty From Popular Mechanics The official White House website used to feature a lengthy information page related to climate change and energy policy. But as of noon today, that page, and all references to climate change or global warming, have been scrubbed from the White House website, Motherboard reports. In its place is a short statement on the incoming President's "America First Energy Plan." Obama's Climate Action Plan was a centerpiece of the President's climate change policy. Through actions like requiring auto manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency, mandating cleaner power plants, and investing in renewable energy initiatives, the plan sought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the effects of climate change. The White House website contained a lengthy page explaining the details and effects of the plan. Since the website has been handed over to the Trump Administration, that page has been completely removed, and is only accessible via the Internet Archives. [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="Trump%20May%20Gut%20NASA's%20Earth%20Science%20Budget" customimages="" content="article.24031"] In its place is a short description of the Trump Administration's "America First Energy Plan," which has the goal of "eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan." The page claims that the new energy plan would "[increase] wages by more than $30 billion over the next 7 years." The plan also states the goal of "[taking] advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own." This seems to suggest the incoming administration would turn over public lands, including national parks, to private companies for drilling. Trump has previously promised to cut funding for NASA to study climate change, and many researchers are worried that critical government data may disappear. If they're right, Obama's Climate Action Plan page may be the first in a long line of climate information to disappear from government websites. Story continues Source: Motherboard You Might Also Like DOUALA, Cameroon (Reuters) - A top general in charge of Cameroon's fight against Islamist militant group Boko Haram died in an accidental helicopter crash on a patrol mission, the government said on Monday. The crash happened on Sunday evening in the Bogo district of the Far North region, where Cameroonian troops and a regional task force have been fighting the Islamist group for two years. General Jacob Kodji was commander of the 4th joint military region and head of a counter-Boko Haram unit called Operation Emergence 4. Three other officers also died in the crash, the cause of which was unknown, the government said in a statement. Boko Haram is based in northern Nigeria and launches frequent cross-border raids in a bid to carve out an Islamic caliphate. Its eight-year insurgency has killed more than 15,000 and displaced two million people in the Lake Chad region. (Reporting by Josiane Kouagheu; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Mark Potter) New York (AFP) - Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre has made history for decades by putting on some of the world's largest concerts. He will soon break new ground -- by touring North America. Jarre on Monday announced his first-ever tour of the United States and Canada to begin on May 9 in Toronto. The nine dates will include New York's Radio City Music Hall. The 68-year-old French composer is a longtime visitor to North America where he is influential in music circles but remains far better known commercially in Europe. He has only played one full-fledged show in North America -- in 1986 in Houston, when Jarre brought fireworks and lights for a citywide concert over the skyline as Texas marked 150 years since independence from Mexico. The "Rendez-vous Houston" concert turned into a memorial for astronauts killed on the Challenger space shuttle -- one of whom, Ronald McNair, had planned to play his saxophone from space. The citywide festival drew 1-1.5 million people and for a time was considered the largest concert in history. Jarre has since topped it with a 1990 show in La Defense, a business district on the western outskirts of Paris, for Bastille Day, and a 1997 show in Moscow to celebrate the city's 850th anniversary. Jarre in 1981 was also the first Western musician to play China after the Cultural Revolution. The North America swing comes after an extensive tour in Europe that follows "Electronica," Jarre's two-part album in which he collaborates with some of the most influential names in electronic music. Last month, Jarre released "Oxygene 3," which he considered the last part in a trilogy. The release marked 40 years since the original "Oxygene," an electronic music classic. KINSHASA (Reuters) - A deal struck last month requiring Congo President Joseph Kabila to step down after elections this year risks unraveling if politicians do not quickly reach compromises on implementing the accord, Catholic bishops mediating the talks said on Monday. The Dec. 31 deal was greeted as a critical step toward averting a slide into anarchy and possibly civil war in Democratic Republic of Congo over Kabila's decision to remain in power when his mandate expired last month. The accord, signed by representatives of Kabila's ruling coalition and the main opposition bloc, bars Kabila from trying to change the constitution to stand for a third term in an election to be held by the end of this year. But talks this month on implementing components of the deal have stalled, Congo's Catholic Bishops Conference (CENCO) said in a statement. "The CENCO launches an appeal to the negotiators to ... not lose sight of the main objective of these negotiations, which is organizing the elections in less than a year," it said. "The CENCO is not prepared to mediate indefinitely without results." The main obstacles include a disagreement over the composition of a council to monitor progress toward elections and whether the main opposition bloc must allow Kabila to choose from multiple prime ministerial candidates. Kabila has ruled the giant central African country since his father's assassination in 2001 and the extension of his mandate saw violent protests in which security forces killed at least 40 people. Congo has never experienced a peaceful transition of power and millions have died in conflicts in the country's east since 1996, most from hunger and disease. Also on Monday, Congo's government spokesman Lambert Mende told Reuters Human Rights Watch's (HRW) Central Africa director Ida Sawyer was expelled from the country for falsifying her name on immigration documents. Sawyer, a vocal critic of rights abuses by authorities, returned to Congo last week after being forced to leave in August when the government refused to renew her visa. HRW said in a statement Sawyer had a valid visa and quoted executive director Kenneth Roth as saying the expulsion "throws into question the Congolese government's commitment to reversing the climate of repression that reigns in the country." (Reporting by Aaron Ross; Editing by Joe Bavier and Janet Lawrence) UPDATE: 6:35 p.m. EST WikiLeaks said it would be more than happy to post President Donald Trump's tax returns if someone would send them along. Original story Senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway Sunday made it official: President Donald Trump will not release his tax returns. "The White House response is that hes not going to release his tax returns," Conway, a key Trump adviser, said on ABC's "This Week." "We litigated this all through the election. People didnt care. They voted for him, and let me make this very clear: Most Americans are are very focused on what their tax returns will look like while President Trump is in office, not what his look like." Throughout the election campaign, Trump said he would not release his returns while they were under Internal Revenue Service audit and repeatedly said no one cares about them except the press, most recently at his Jan. 11 news conference. tax return Photo: Ken Teegardin/Flickr More than 216,000 people, however, have signed a whitehouse.gov petition put up Friday shortly after the inauguration, calling on Trump to release his returns immediately, well over the goal of 100,000 signatures needed by the Feb. 19 deadline for it to qualify for a White House response. Conway indicated her remarks were that response although the White House actually has 60 days. An ABC/Washington Post poll released last week indicated 74 percent of Americans say Trump should release his tax returns, up from 60 percent in a Pew Research Center poll released earlier in the month. Trump is the first president or presidential candidate to decline to release his returns in four decades. Experts say the returns could reveal conflicts of interest, show how much money he actually gives to charity and show his effective tax rate. Story continues Documents obtained by the New York Times in October indicated he may have avoided paying any federal taxes for 18 years as the result of a $916 million loss on his Atlantic City, New Jersey, casinos in the 1990s. He said during the campaign his canny use of tax loopholes make him smart. Trump has said he would put all of his assets into a trust and turn over operations of the Trump Organization to his sons. Ethics experts, however, have said thats woefully inadequate to assure against conflicts of interest, but without the tax returns, theres no way to judge exactly how serious the conflicts would be. Related Articles A victim of an Ohio divorce attorney convicted of using hypnosis to prey on female clients is speaking out, saying that she was victimized in a situation that "just makes me sick." Read: Man Shoots and Kills Wife Who He Reportedly Thought Was a Burglar Melissa, who requested that Inside Edition did not use her last name in the report, claimed that attorney Michael Fine sexually assaulted her during hypnosis sessions where she says she was helpless to fight back. Imagine sitting down, watching TV and then you stand up and why are your pants unzipped?" Melissa told Inside Edition. "Why is your shirt tucked out of your pants?" Fine, 59, told clients that he was using hypnosis as a relaxation technique, but appeared to escalate his commands to that of a sexual nature. "Look into my eyes," Fine can be heard saying in a secretly recorded video which was taken by another woman. "You're gonna feel such attraction and arousal. As I rock you gently, the deepness of that sleep gets even better, more relaxed. Every part of you goes limp. One, two, three." But as the video shows, once this unsuspecting woman came under his spell, he implanted lewd suggestions. In one video, he said: "Every time I touch you it's going to be an incredible sensation of incredible arousal and excitement and intense pleasure." Fine's creepy deeds were exposed when a client wondered why her clothing was disheveled after a visit to his office outside Cleveland. She went to cops, and agreed to take a hidden camera video the next time she consulted him. Fine puts her under and the inappropriate behavior begins, but this time, cops were listening in. His Svengali routine came to an abrupt halt as police raided his office during one of the secretly recorded sessions. Read: Officer Charged After 8-Year-Old Daughter Reportedly Shot Herself With Gun He Allegedly Left Loaded Fine later pleaded guilty in 2014 1o charges of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping involving six women. Story continues Melissa's lawyer, Laura Mills, told Inside Edition: "He took these women at their most vulnerable point in their lives and he abused their trust. He's a predator." Fine is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence. Fine was also disbarred and has been accused by more than two dozen women. He is also being sued civilly by at least one victim. Watch: Lawyer Claims Justice Clarence Thomas Groped Her in 1999 'While I Was Setting the Table' Related Articles: By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) - The picture that lit up social media and unsettled the White House began with a trek up 50 flights of stairs, nearly to the top of the Washington Monument, for a bird's eye view of Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday as the 45th U.S. president. Reuters had asked the U.S. National Park Service in an email on Jan. 13 whether a photographer could be posted on the observation level near the top of the monument, the highest vantage point overlooking the National Mall. The next business day, the park service agreed to grant Reuters access, on condition the news agency would make the picture available to other media that requested it. Because the elevator is under renovation, photographer Lucas Jackson had to climb 897 steps to reach the 500-foot (152-meter) elevation, carrying a backpack and shoulder bag full of photo gear, plus a step ladder. "It was definitely a strenuous climb," Jackson said. A CBS News camera operator and a Park Service photographer were the only others taking images from the observation level. Reuters published side-by-side pictures of two moments in history. One image was Trump's inauguration on Friday, taken by Jackson just as Trump took the oath of office, Jackson said. The other picture was taken by Reuters photographer Stelios Varias from the same spot during former President Barack Obama's first inauguration, at 1:27 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2009, around the time Obama finished his inaugural address. Reuters published a combination of the two pictures at 2:02 p.m. (1902 GMT). The caption read: "A combination of photos taken at the National Mall shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01 p.m. (L) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009, in Washington, DC." The caption did not state which crowd was larger. The side-by-side images soon went viral on social media sites such as Twitter, where people added commentary about the relative size of the crowds. The controversy dominated Trump's first weekend in office. From Trump's vantage point, the new president saw a sea of people that he estimated at 1 million to 1.5 million strong, according to his remarks on Saturday at CIA headquarters. Trump chided the "dishonest media" for showing pictures of empty spaces on the mall. Later that day, White House spokesman Sean Spicer accused some of the media of engaging in "deliberately false reporting." "This was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe," Spicer said. Spicer elaborated on Monday, saying he stood by the remark given the "tens of millions of people that watched it online" with devices that were unavailable in the past. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Frances Kerry) In the winter and spring of 2014, forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad imposed what became a total siege on rebel-held towns on the outskirts of Damascus. Parents substituted plastic bags for diapers. The hospitals ran short of essential medicines. Fuel to run the generators ran short, leaving people without electricity for all but a few hours a day. Simply, its living in the Middle Ages. No electricity, says Dr. Mohamad Katoub, a physician from the town of Douma in the area known as Eastern Ghouta, recalling the height of the siege. Residents of this opposition-controlled enclave, on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, fear Eastern Ghouta could soon face a return to these kinds of siege conditions, if the fresh round of peace talks due to start in Astana, Kazakhstan this week fail to bring an end to fighting. Hundreds of thousands of lives lie in the balance, in a war that has already claimed half a million. With the rebel bastion of eastern Aleppo now in the hands of the regime, Assad and his forces are ready to turn their attention to a series of rebel pockets around Damascus. Eastern Ghouta and other remaining holdouts of armed opposition near the capital are emerging as the next central battleground of the civil war. Home to well-armed rebel groups and situated on the doorstep of the capital, Eastern Ghouta is one of the last major obstacles to Assads consolidation of power in Syrias major cities. With a population as high as 450,000 people, Eastern Ghouta is larger than the rebel enclave in the eastern half of Aleppo, which fell to government forces and allied militias in December. Already encircled by pro-Assad forces, Eastern Ghouta is sustained by an elaborate network of smuggling tunnels that connect the area to the regime-held areas. The tunnels ease the effects of the blockade, providing vital goods to the people inside the enclave, and enriching smugglers, rebels, and government officials thought to be involved in smuggling. Assads regime is expected to seek a negotiated settlement with rebel groups inside Eastern Ghouta in hopes of convincing them to surrender, rather than launching another massive military campaign along the lines of the onslaught on eastern Aleppo last year. The suburb has already endured years of intense bombardment by Assads forces. It was also the site of the pivotal 2013 chemical weapon attack that killed more than a thousand people and prompted the Obama administration to threaten military action against the Assad regime. Still, experts believe Assad would prefer that the rebels in the region surrender through negotiations. I think thats their preference always. The less people they have to sacrifice to get a place, the better, in terms of their own soldiers, but also in terms of destruction in these communities. They want them functioning. They dont want deserts, says Aron Lund, an analyst and the author of an exhaustive report on the situation in Ghouta for The Century Foundation, a New York-based think tank. Theyve already started these negotiations, he tells TIME. Eastern Ghouta residents and humanitarian officials are concerned that the government could seal the tunnels in an attempt to gain even more leverage over the rebels. Mohamad Katoub, the doctor from Douma, says that Eastern Ghoutas past experience with siege-like conditions could influence the outcome of the negotiations. They might be able to face the siege more than other areas, because they used to use alternatives. The other thing is, they might be aware that facing the siege, in those conditions, might cost a lot. So they might be more flexible in the negotiations, says Katoub, who is now a Turkey-based spokesman for the Syrian American Medical Society, a relief organization. A deal is not impossible. Analysts say Assad and his government would prefer to negotiate a localized deal with Eastern Ghouta rebels because it would further divide and weaken the opposition in any future negotiations toward a broader, national peace deal. The leader of Eastern Ghoutas most powerful armed group, Mohamed Alloush, is one of the top rebel leaders expected to attend the Astana peace talks. Alloush is the leader of Jaish al-Islam (the army of Islam) a hardline insurgent organization that is regarded as one of the most important in the entire Syrian rebellion. The group is known to have drawn fighters from the local population of the Damascus suburbs, rather than relying on militants from elsewhere in the country or foreign jihadists. Past sieges imposed on other rebel-held towns and cities provide a template that the regime could deploy in Eastern Ghouta. First, Assads forces impose devastating blockades. Fighting follows, sometimes for years, until negotiators agree an end to the siege, in return for the safe exit of rebel fighters and residents. The most significant blueprint for such a deal was in Aleppo, which fell to the government in December. A similar scenario unfolded in Daraya, outside Damascus, which was forced to surrender last August after four years of siege and shelling, and a section of the city of Homs, which was evacuated in December 2015. Lina Khatib, head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House in London, says that Eastern Ghouta is a strategic target for the Assad regime. The attack on eastern Ghouta is a way for the government to widen the scope of its so-called local reconciliation agreements, between the regime and allies and different rebel groups, she tells TIME. These so-called reconciliation agreements are really surrender agreements. So I would read whats happening in Eastern Ghouta as an attempt by the government to force Jaish al-Islam to surrender. So as the key parties assemble in the Kazakh capital to reach consensus on how to bring the five-year conflict to an end, what happens to this Damascus suburb could either be a turning point in the war or the scene of Assads next major offensive. By Press Trust of India: Los Angeles, Jan 23 (PTI) E-cigarettes - thought to be responsible for a decline in youth cigarette smoking - are actually attracting a new population of adolescents who might not otherwise have smoked tobacco products, a new US study has warned. Researchers at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) did not find any evidence that e-cigarettes have caused youth smoking to decline in the US. advertisement In fact, combined e-cigarette and cigarette use among adolescents in 2014 was higher than total cigarette use in 2009, according to the study. The researchers concluded that the low-risk youth in the study, who went on to smoke regular cigarettes, may not have used nicotine at all if e-cigarettes did not exist. "We did not find any evidence that e-cigarettes are causing youth smoking to decline," said Lauren Dutra, a former postdoctoral fellow at the UCSF Centre for Tobacco Control Research and Education. "While some of the kids using e-cigarettes were also smoking cigarettes, we found that kids who were at low risk of starting nicotine with cigarettes were using e-cigarettes," Dutra said. "Recent declines in youth smoking are likely due to tobacco control efforts, not to e-cigarettes," said Dutra. The analysis builds on several previous studies that have reported that adolescents who start with e-cigarettes are more likely to subsequently smoke traditional cigarettes. In the new study, the researchers examined survey data from more than 140,000 middle and high school students who completed the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)s National Youth Tobacco Survey between 2004 and 2014. The researchers found that cigarette smoking among US adolescents declined during that decade, but did not decline faster after the advent of e-cigarettes in the US between 2007 and 2009. The researchers also performed an in-depth analysis of the psychosocial characteristics of e-cigarette users. Research has established that smokers tend to display certain characteristics that non-smokers are less likely to show, such as a tendency to live with a smoker or to wear clothing that displays a tobacco product logo. The smokers in the national youth survey displayed these characteristics, but the adolescents who were only using e-cigarettes displayed few of these qualities. "E-cigarettes are encouraging - not discouraging - youth to smoke and to consume nicotine, and are expanding the tobacco market," said Stanton A Glantz, professor of medicine at UCSF. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics. PTI SAR SAR --- ENDS --- advertisement Jerusalem (AFP) - A deal to evacuate a hardline Jewish outpost that has become a symbol of Israel's occupation of the West Bank was in jeopardy Monday ahead of a February 8 deadline to remove it. Settlers in the Amona outpost of some 40 families and which was built on Palestinian land accused the government of not living up to the terms of a deal reached in December that would see them moved nearby. Palestinian landowners also filed a petition to the Israeli high court on Monday with further objections to the government's relocation plans, said rights group Yesh Din, which is representing them. In response, the court issued an injunction preventing the land plots in question from being taken over while it studies the petition, Yesh Din said. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief of staff, Yoav Horowitz, reportedly told ministers from his Likud party that the deal could not be implemented because of legal complications. The lack of a clear solution has once again raised the possibility of a forced evacuation of the Amona settlers by the Israeli government and fears that violence could result. "Right now we're dealing with the fact that the government and officials lied," said Eli Greenberg, an Amona resident and spokesman for the outpost. "They promised all kinds of lies to us." The Israeli defence ministry unit that oversees civilian affairs in the West Bank did not respond to a request for comment. The long-running saga has centred on a 2014 high court ruling ordering the outpost northeast of the Palestinian political capital of Ramallah to be evacuated because it was built on private Palestinian land. An initial deadline of December 25, 2016 was given for the outpost to be removed. - Deadline extended - But with the deadline approaching, Israeli right-wing politicians rushed to Amona's defence while also promoting a bill to legalise thousands of other settler homes in the West Bank. Story continues Hundreds of hardline Jewish youths also flooded into the outpost in a bid to prevent the evacuation. Negotiations resulted in a deal on December 18 under which Amona residents agreed to relocate peacefully to nearby land considered abandoned. The court then granted an extension of the deadline to February 8 when the settlers promised to relocate peacefully. But Palestinian landowners objected to the plans, resulting in further legal manoeuvrings. Their court petition on Monday objected to a government plan to divide certain plots and called for the deal to be scrapped. "Ever since the notion of using abandoned property was suggested, we have claimed that one injustice cannot be corrected with another, and that additional land cannot be taken over just to appease Amona residents," Yesh Din executive director Neta Patrick said in a statement. Israeli settlements are seen as major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of a future state of their own. All are considered illegal under international law, but Israel differentiates between those it has approved and those it has not. Settlements such as Amona are called outposts -- those that Israel has not approved. Some 400,000 Israelis live in the West Bank among around 2.6 million Palestinians. Tokyo (AFP) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said Monday it would postpone delivery of its long-awaited regional jet by two years, and warned over soaring development costs for the problem-plagued plane. This is the fifth time that the company has pushed back the commercial rollout of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), Japan's first domestically produced passenger plane for over half a century. The decision to move back the first customer delivery to mid-2020 from mid-2018 comes after local media reports said the plane needed more design changes to ensure it was safe. The problem was linked to the location of certain electronic equipment, the Nikkei business daily and other Japanese media reported. The company said it was modifying the design of "electrical configurations" to meet the latest safety standards, which have become more and more strict given the threat of terrorism. "We now have to think of risks that are unthinkable in the normal course of things, such as a massive flood of water damaging electrical systems or a bomb explosion destroying those systems," Nobuo Kishi, vice president of the firm's aviation unit, told a press briefing in Tokyo. Development costs could come in as much as 40 percent higher than an original range of between 150-180 billion yen ($1.3-1.6 billion), the firm said, citing stricter safety standards. The development of the MRJ has suffered a series of delays, largely owing to software upgrades and other design changes. The original plan when the programme started in 2008 was for the first customer delivery to begin in 2013. The twin-engine MRJ marks a new chapter in the country's aviation sector, which last built a commercial airliner in 1962 -- the YS-11 turboprop that was discontinued about a decade later. After initially being barred from developing aircraft following World War II, Japan -- and its MRJ jet -- is competing with other passenger jet manufacturers such as Brazil's Embraer and Canada's Bombardier. Story continues Mitsubishi unveiled the jet -- which is about 35 metres (115 feet) long and seats about 80 passengers -- in October 2014 and has received more than 400 orders. The short-to-medium-haul plane was backed by the Japanese government and a consortium of major firms including Toyota. Last year, the new passenger jet completed a flight to the United States for testing, after aborting two earlier attempts. The company's Tokyo-listed shares slipped 1.59 percent to close at 524.1 yen ($4.60). By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic state officials took a step on Monday to try to defend the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a court battle that could defang it, worried that Republican President Donald Trump's administration will not safeguard the agency. Attorneys general from 16 states plus the District of Columbia filed papers with a federal appeals court seeking to intervene in the case. That court ruled last October that the structure of the agency, charged with guarding consumer finances, was unconstitutional. The agency immediately asked the court to reconsider its decision but the Trump administration could drop the appeal. The state officials, led by Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, said in the court filing they are concerned the Trump administration will fire the agency's independent director, Richard Cordray, who was appointed by Democratic former President Barack Obama. The agency was created during Obama's presidency in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law. "It's very much in our wheelhouse to be protecting consumers. The whole thrust of the creation of the CFPB is to protect consumers," Jepsen said in an interview. "We are concerned that this law is going to be gutted," Jepsen added. The new court filing was an early salvo in what could become a lengthy legal fight between the Trump administration and Democratic state officials. If the administration follows through on campaign promises on other issues such as climate policy and immigration, "that would put us on a course of conflict on a wide variety of areas," Jepsen said. The court filing said Trump "has expressed strong opposition to the Dodd-Frank reforms" and that "it is urgent that the state attorneys general intervene in order to protect the interests of their states." The state officials asked to be able to defend the agency in the lawsuit brought by mortgage lender PHH Corp and ensure the case is not declared moot if Trump's administration drops the appeal of the ruling. Under the 2010 law, the director can be fired only "for cause," limiting a president's ability to remove him. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that this restriction was an unlawful limitation on presidential power. Democratic state officials are expected to be joined by left-leaning advocacy groups in legal actions against the Trump administration. Republican-governed states and conservative groups filed numerous lawsuits against the Obama administration. The American Civil Liberties Union and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington already have filed legal actions involving Trump. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) President Trump took his first steps toward implementing his economic agenda Monday, signing an executive action removing the U.S. from a planned free trade deal and meeting with some of the countrys top business leaders. On Monday, Trump fulfilled a core campaign promise to end U.S. participation the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the accord negotiated by the Bush and Obama administrations that has been held up by bipartisan opposition in Congress amid renewed populist and protectionist fervor. The Obama Administration advocated for the 12-country regional free trade agreement, arguing it was a vital national security priority to compete with a rising China. But both Trump and campaign rival Hillary Clinton opposed it, arguing that it didnt sufficiently protect American workers. Trump, in particular, frequently railed against the TPP on the campaign trail and promised to seek one-on-one agreements with other countries instead. A great thing for the American worker we just did, he said in the Oval Office as he signed the memorandum. Trumps decision on TPP codifies his shift away from his partys traditional stance in promotion free trade. More conventional Republicans, including Sen. John McCain, condemned the withdrawal from TPP. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan issued a statement praising Trumps other actions, but didnt explicitly mention the trade deal, which he supported. President Trump is wasting no time acting on his promises, Ryan said. Trump announced Sunday that he will be meeting in the coming weeks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss overhauling the North American Free Trade Agreement, a trade deal between the three countries signed by President Clinton. Trump began his first weekday in the White House hosting a breakfast meeting with a dozen CEOs, including SpaceXs Elon Musk and Fords Mark Fields to discuss stimulating the nations manufacturing sector. Trump invited news cameras to cover his remarks on the subject for more than 10 minutes, as he pledged to support the American industrial base, another central campaign theme. Story continues Its what the people wanted, Trump said in the Roosevelt Room. Its one the reasons Im sitting here instead of someone else sitting here. I think its something Im good at. Trump reiterated his promise to cut personal and corporate tax rates, massively, saying, Were trying to get it down to anywhere from 15 to 20 percent. Trump added that he also intends to cut government regulations. We think we can cut regulations by 75 percent, he said. Maybe more. On both fronts, Trump was silent on the details, offering little guidance on how he intends to fill the budget shortfall the tax cuts would create or which regulations he intends to cut. On Friday, his chief of staff Reince Priebus ordered an immediate regulatory freeze to allow the new administration to study new orders. Trump also warned the CEOs against outsourcing jobs or manufacturing, repeating a campaign pledge that they would be subject to a border tax. If that happens, we are going to be imposing a very major border tax on the products when it comes in. Trump informed the CEOs that he intends to follow up with them frequently. Well have these meetings everywhenever you need them, Trump told the businessmen. Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris told reporters that they had asked to report back to the president within 30 days on their suggestions for stimulating the economy and manufacturing. Fields, from Ford, said Trumps rhetoric on investment and taxes encourages all of us as CEOs as we make decisions going forward. On Monday, Trump also signed a memo instituting a federal hiring freezeexcept for the military, the president clarifiedas well as another reinstating the so-called Mexico City policy, prohibiting non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. funding abroad from performing or promoting abortion services. (WASHINGTON) Opening his first official week in office, President Donald Trump warned business leaders Monday that he would impose a substantial border tax on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States, while promising unspecified advantages to companies that manufacture domestically. All you have to do is stay, he said during a morning meeting in the White Houses Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. The president also planned to sign multiple executive orders in the Oval Office. Trump had pledged to quickly use his executive authority to withdraw the U.S. from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration. Hes also expected to sign an order implementing a federal government hiring freeze. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, hes aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. Some people say thats not free trade, but we dont have free trade now, Trump said Monday. He also reiterated his campaign pledge to significant curb regulations, though he insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Trumps outreach effort comes after a tumultuous first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Story continues Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead but declared he believed they were ready. But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done, he said. We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history. Trump said his staff was in the White House not to help ourselves but to devote ourselves to the national good. This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. Its about serving the American people, he said. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests, first sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending the right to demonstrate a short time later. Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didnt these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly, Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I dont always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views, the president tweeted, still using his personal account. Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a common vision with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that hes set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Were going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA, he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Later in the week, hell address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. By Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The largest lobbying organization for pharmaceutical companies began running TV ads on Monday morning to improve the industry's image as criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump increases. The industry is touting developments in science by pharmaceutical companies and will spend "tens of millions" on television commercials, according to an announcement on Monday by officials of lobbying group PHRMA. A spokesman did not provide a specific amount. Pharmaceutical companies may be facing their most difficult time ahead as criticism about the price of drugs continues to increase. In a news conference this month, Trump said drug manufacturers were "getting away with murder" because of their pricing. Additionally, drug manufacturers were considered winners when the Affordable Care Act became law because more people had increased access to prescriptions. A repeal of the law often known as Obamacare could mean many people losing insurance could not afford to purchase drugs. PHRMA CEO Stephen Ubl cast the "Go Boldly" campaign as an effort to refocus the discussion about the strides in research. But he acknowledged the industry was at the center of criticism. "We take the concerns that have been raised by the president very seriously," Ubl said. "We think there are pragmatic policy solutions, and we look forward to working with the administration." While outspoken while the Affordable Care Act was being drafted, PHRMA has largely remained quiet during the early discussions about whether the law should be repealed and replaced. Planning for the group's campaign began six months ago, well before the November presidential election, according to spokesman Robert Zirkelbach. Like many organizations, the group signaled it expected Democrat Hillary Clinton was going to win and began planning to push back at her calls for capping drug prices. It continued with plans for the campaign, which Ubl said would have been the same had Clinton won, even after Trump was elected. The group also released a four-part regulatory and legislative agenda that it said would be part of an extensive lobbying campaign, including advocating for changes to the Food and Drug Administration and the ability for drugmakers to coordinate with insurance companies when developing new treatments. The campaign makes almost no mention of the repeal of Obamacare. "(This campaign) is not aimed at any one legislative issue," Ubl said. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) By Luke Dale-Harris LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Dutch government is expected to vote on whether to ban international child adoption amid concerns over the danger of trafficking and laundering children, raising the possibility that other countries could follow suit, experts say. The vote, being closely watched by the child adoption industry worldwide, is expected in March and follows a report published by the Ministry of Justice that found the adoption process can be used as a front for child trafficking. Published in November after a string of adoption scandals in recent years, the report was meant to provide advice for a change in policy on intercountry adoption to and from the Netherlands but offered near total condemnation of the process. Of thousands of adoptions in recent years, the report said "a significant proportion involved serious misconduct, such as child laundering or the sale of a child" with the desire of some Western families for a child at any cost creating an "adoption market". Yrrah Van Der Kruit, an advisor at the Council for the Administration of Criminal Justice and Protection of Juveniles and one of the report's authors, said the findings were likely to prompt other countries to reconsider their adoption policies. "If we really want to help the child, [intercountry] adoption has to stop," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "For as long as rich countries continue to drive a market of adoption from poorer countries, we will have this problem, and the poor countries will not put the necessary developments in place to support their own children." The report said adequate regulation of intercountry adoption was impossible and the Dutch government needed to shift its focus to protecting children by supporting a "youth protection system in the country of origin". Before the end of January, the state secretary for security and justice is expected to publish his reaction to the report, which will be followed by a public consultation and then a parliamentary debate in preparation for a vote. Lawmakers said the outcome of any vote was hard to predict with ministers deeply divided over the issue since 2015 when four leading political parties called for adoption regulation. A spokeswoman for the state secretary told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that whichever the way the vote goes it is likely to be highly controversial. "The report has caused a lot of emotion since its release, both among politicians and the public. The vote is likely to cause the same reaction," she said. Any decision by the Netherlands to regulate inter-country adoption could have significant international consequences. In recent years, a number of "origin" countries have put limitations on international adoptions, including Romania, Guatemala, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. DOMINO EFFECT The Netherlands is the home and a key funder of the Hague Convention the treaty which provides a legal framework for inter-country adoptions in the majority of Western countries. The Hague Adoption Convention encourages international adoption in cases where neither the return of the child to their family nor domestic adoption is an option. Critically, the convention does not recognizes domestic fostering or residential care as suitable long term options. If the Netherlands were to place a full or partial ban on inter-country adoption, this could necessitate a withdrawal from the convention, which experts believe could then have a domino effect as other countries launch their own inquiries. Speaking from her office in Leiden, Roelie Post, author of "The Perverse Effects of the Hague Convention", told the Thomson Reuters Foundation a Dutch ban on intercountry adoption would signal the end of the practice everywhere. "[The vote] would be a recognition that the Convention hasn't lived up to its goals of preventing child trafficking and has, in fact, done the opposite whitewashed the trafficking process all across the world," she said. Intercountry adoption has come under increasing scrutiny in a raft of countries in recent years. In Italy, the senate heard accusations in October last year against the country's largest adoption agency, Amici Dei Bambini. A month later, Italian police launched an investigation into conflicts of interest in relation to child trafficking and a Bulgarian pedophile ring, local media reported. In Belgium, an investigation last year into trafficking of Congolese adoptees prompted a police raid on the offices of adoption agencies and the youth minister. DEMAND FOR CHILDREN Across the world, the number of children being put up for adoption is falling dramatically, as "origin" countries increasingly look to provide support for children domestically. In the Netherlands, the number of children adopted from abroad fell to 324 in 2015 from 528 four years earlier. The fall in the number of children available for adoption had, according to the government report, put increasing pressure on institutions in the origin countries to provide young, healthy children. This can lead to children being taken from their mothers without consent or under fictitious charges and put up for adoption, the report stated. Some critics, however, said the report had overstated the negatives of intercountry adoption. In a joint response from the Foundation for Adoption Services, five Dutch adoption agencies said the report assumed an ideal world where all children grew up with their biological family. "The reality is not all biological parents want or may care for their children. [In cases where] necessary and desirable, intercountry adoption must remain an option," they said. (Editing by Belinda Goldsmith and Ros Russell; 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) By Press Trust of India: Panaji, Jan 23 (PTI) The Congress party today released its manifesto for the upcoming Goa polls in which it has assured banning all the casinos in the coastal state including the floating vessels mounted with gambling dens. "Floating casinos in Goas river will be closed permanently," reads the manifesto of Congress that was released today by Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia in Panaji. advertisement "Those on the shore too will be closed at a later stage," Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro told reporters here in the presence of Scindia. He said in the first phase, offshore casinos which are currently in river Mandovi would be shut and in the second phase, onshore casinos would be banned. Responding to a question, Faleiro ruled out that such an action would affect employment prospects in the state. "I don?t think that there are much Goans working at these casinos," he said. Goa has six offshore casino vessels besides around a dozen of onshore casinos operating in five star resorts. The party in its manifesto also opposed holding of Defence Expo in Goa. "Goa Pradesh Congress Committee strongly opposes holding defence expoin Goa or give permanent rights to the Defence Ministry to hold the land on lease or on ownership basis anywhere in the state," it reads. It has also assured investigations into all the permissions granted by Investment Promotion Board to set up industry here. "All permissions granted under Investment Promotion Act would be inquired as soon as the party comes to the power after elections," the manifesto reads. "We will declare an all out war on drugs and drug peddling in the state. The anti-narcoticcell will be upgraded and strengthened to take the fight to beaches and every corner of Goa," the Congress manifesto has said. In one of the prominent promise, Congress has assured free five litres of petrol per month for every college student having valid driving licence. The Congress party has also assured to restore mining immediately incorporating the entire recommendation of the Supreme Court. "The loan of one truck or tanker per family would be waived off," he said. PTI RPS RMT --- ENDS --- U.S. President Donald Trumps first week in office is shaping up to be as packed as his first presidential weekend, loaded as it was with a global protest against the new president, the revelation that his national security adviser is under investigation for ties to Russia, and the White Houses coinage of alternative facts. On Monday, per a New York Times report, a team of legal scholars and attorneys is set to file a lawsuit arguing Trump is violating the Constitution specifically, the Emoluments clause by permitting his businesses to accept payments made by foreign governments. They also mean to use the lawsuit to get a copy of Trumps tax returns, which the Trump team said on Sunday it would not release. Trump has said for months he would do so upon completion of an alleged audit, making Sundays statement his latest broken promise or, as White House adviser Kellyanne Conway might put it, alternative pledge. But this isnt the only campaign promise Trump needs to fulfill; he must now begin the arduous task of running the country and meeting with other countries heads of state. On Thursday, British Prime Minister Theresa May will fly to Washington, the first head of state to meet with Trump as president (Japans Shinzo Abe was the first to meet him after his election). The two are expected to discuss a U.S.-U.K. trade deal. The United Kingdom, however, has not yet left the European Union May has not even triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the mechanism by which it would begin negotiations to leave and EU foreign minister Federica Mogherini has said the United Kingdom may not make a separate trade deal with the United States until it has made its Brexit. Whats not up for discussion? Sexism. After tens of thousands of women turned out for the London Womens March on Saturday, May was asked if she would bring up sexism with Donald Trump. In response, she told Andrew Marr of BBC1 that her statement against sexism was being a woman, and that I will be talking to Donald Trump about the issues that we share, about how we can build on the special relationship. Its the special relationship that also enables us to say when we do find things unacceptable Whenever there is something that I find unacceptable, I will say that to Donald Trump. Story continues Then, on Sunday, Trump will Meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in Washington, D.C. Theirs will likely be a less special relationship, as Trump has accused Mexico of sending the United States rapists and killers and of taking advantage of its northern neighbor economically through the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump has vowed to start renegotiating. Trump is, of course, not the only member of the U.S. government who will need to get to work this week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says he expects the Senate to confirm the presidents entire cabinet quickly, beginning with Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) for CIA director on Monday. Whats been unfortunate, McConnell said, is that all I asked of my colleague Sen. Schumer was to treat President Trump the same we treated President Obama They even delayed the CIA [director] until Monday for some inexplicable reason. Pompeo, in his written responses to to the Senate intelligence committee, said he would consider a return to waterboarding. Also increasingly likely to be confirmed on Monday: ExxonMobil chief and Russian Order of Friendship recipient Rex Tillerson, Trumps nominee for secretary of state. In a statement issued on Sunday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that, after much deliberation, they would support Tillerson. Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, the statement read, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests. Photo credit: John Angelillo/Pool via Bloomberg Brussels (AFP) - The EU's top trade negotiator on Monday said a stalled free trade deal between Europe and Canada was more important than ever, given the rise of protectionism in the Donald Trump-led US. "We have an important friend and ally who seems to be at least partly disengaging from the international scene promoting less trade, more protectionism," EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem told MEPs, referring to new US President Trump, who has made a priority of tearing up international trade deals. Malmstroem made her remarks to members of the European Parliament's trade committee who will decide Tuesday on whether the highly ambitious EU-Canada trade deal goes to a full vote next month in Strasbourg. "We need to stick together with like-minded partners to show that these trade deals are actually functioning, and what better partner can we have than Canada," said Malmstroem, who is a Swedish former minister and MEP. The EU and Canada formally signed the landmark free trade deal seven years in the making in October, after overcoming last-minute resistance from a small Belgian region that nearly torpedoed the entire agreement. Wallonia, with a population of 3.6 million, had held up the deal until it won concessions for its farmers and guarantees that international investors would not be able to force governments to change laws. To take effect, the deal now needs the green light from the European Parliament, followed by ratification by the EU's 30-plus national and regional parliaments. Trump, who took office on Friday, on Monday delivered on his protectionist campaign promises and effectively ended US participation in a sweeping trans-Pacific free trade agreement. He is also widely expected to drop any attempt to seal a similar deal with the EU, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or TTIP. "The world is looking at us right now," Malmstroem said in the wake of the news from Washington. "Since the killing, or the postponement or the burying of TPP many countries are (looking) up too the European Union saying let us stick together now," she said. Brussels (AFP) - Brussels warned Britain Monday that it must must refrain from any formal negotiations for bilateral trade deals with third countries until after its divorce from the EU. The rebuke by the European Commission came ahead of a visit on Friday by British Prime Minister Theresa May to US President Donald Trump, with a possible trade pact on the agenda. "(Trade) is an exclusive matter of the European Union. You can of course discuss, debate, but you can only negotiate a trade agreement after you leave the European Union," European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters in Brussels. However, he added: "There is nothing in the (EU) treaties that prohibits you from discussing trade." The European Commission handles trade policy for the European Union's 28 member states and will also lead the exit talks with Britain. May, who is expected to launch the two-year divorce proceedings in March, has already tested the limits of Brussels rules by entering trade discussions with India, Australia and New Zealand. Britain has made the swift conclusion of bilateral trade deals with third countries, including the US and China, the central policy to secure the UK economy after the British exit from the EU. The visit by May to Trump will be the first White House visit of a foreign leader under the new US administration. "They're going to help renegotiate US and UK trade," Trump senior aide Kellyanne Conway told NBC News on Sunday. After a few weeks of reading online about Donald Trumps transition to the presidency, Marco Kopping, a 36-year-old apprentice at a car-parts supplier near Frankfurt, decided to get involved in German politics. He had never sympathized with a political party before, let alone joined one. But in December he received his glossy membership card from Alternative for Germany (AfD), one of the far-right movements now riding the updraft from Trumps ascent. What drove him, Kopping says, was the feeling of a revolution. He didnt want to be left behind. Across the European Union, politicians on the right-wing fringe have been invigorated by Trumps victory, which has given them a chance to attract new supporters, build coalitions and argue that, despite the often glaring differences between them, they are all part of a movement with seemingly unstoppable momentum. The most striking proof yet of that movement came on Saturday in the cross-section of far-right populists who met for the first time, at the AfDs invitation, at a convention in the German city of Koblenz. A day after Trumps inauguration, the stars of the European right drew a direct line between Trumps success at the ballot box and their own looming electoral battles. In 2016, the Anglo-Saxon world woke up, said Marine Le Pen, the National Front leader currently favorite to become Frances next President, referring to Trumps victory and the British vote to leave the European Union in June. In 2017, I am sure that it will be the year of the Continental peoples rising up, she said to raucous applause. The speech was the first Le Pen has ever delivered to an audience in Germany, whose right-wing leaders had previously avoided associating themselves with her more radical and xenophobic positions. But on Saturday she shared a stage with AfD leader Frauke Petry, signaling to the world they are now on the same team. Story continues Taking the podium by turns, leading political upstarts from France, Germany, Italy, Austria and other European nations stuck to a strikingly similar message for their audience of roughly a thousand delegates. They raged against the globalist elites, the European Union, the media and, in particular, the millions of Arab and African immigrants whom they accuse of threatening European culture. Just a few years ago, such rhetoric would have confined these voices to the margins of European politics, especially in Germany, whose history with fascism has long provided a level of resistance to the allure of nationalism and identity politics. But today, buoyed by Trumpism, their message has entered the mainstream. Two of the party leaders at Saturdays event Le Pen of the National Front and Geert Wilders of the Dutch Party for Freedom are leading in the polls ahead of elections scheduled for this spring. The Austrian Freedom Party, whose two top leaders skipped the event in Koblenz in order to attend Trumps Inauguration, narrowly lost a presidential race last month, even though the partys founders in the 1950s were former officers of the Nazi SS. We all stand for the same things, the partys representative at the event, Harald Vilimsky, said from the stage on Saturday. And if Trump is the winner, we are also winners. The new U.S. President has gone out of his way to encourage his admirers in Europe. The first foreign politician he met with after winning the election in November was Nigel Farage, the populist leader of the U.K. Independence Party, which drove the British vote to leave the European Union. In an interview last week with two European newspapers, Trump echoed the attacks that European nationalists have leveled against their favorite bugbear, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, calling her immigration policy catastrophic. He also predicted that other E.U. members would follow Britains lead in breaking away from the bloc. With at least 11% support in national polls, the German hosts of the event in Koblenz are not likely to achieve their own referendum on E.U. membership any time soon. But they are almost certain to enter the federal legislature after the September elections, becoming the first far-right movement to do so in Germany since the end of World War II. Though they have little chance of entering the government, the AfD has already succeeded in pulling the political center of gravity sharply to the right. In response to the partys growing popularity, Chancellor Merkel has been forced to back away from her openness toward Muslim immigrants, even calling for a partial ban on the face veil that some conservative Muslim women wear. Theyve managed to create a public discourse that I thought was impossible here, says Sylke Tempel, the editor of the Berlin Policy Journal, referring to the AfD. You feel it in the little things, the use of language, the way people have started to talk. One case in point took place about 10 minutes into the summit on Saturday, when the crowd turned on the attending journalists and began chanting Luegenpresse! lying press a term first popularized by the Nazis and, in the past couple of years, revived by European nationalists as a means of vilifying the media. Some of Trumps supporters also adopted the term during his campaign rallies. Petry, the AfD leader, has likewise called for Germans to start using the word volkisch again, a racist dog-whistle term for the uniqueness of the German folk that once graced the masthead of the Volkisch Observer, the official newspaper of the Nazi Party. We need to work on giving the concept a positive connotation again, Petry told the weekly Welt am Sonntag in September. Another leader of the AfD went further last week in the effort to expunge what the far-right likes to call Germanys guilt complex. During a speech in Dresden to members of the partys youth group, Bjorn Hocke suggested that the Holocaust memorial in the center of Berlin was a monument of shame that had no place in the heart of a proud European capital. This laughable policy of coming to terms with the past is crippling us, said Hocke, who leads the partys branch in the state of Thuringia. The remarks, which caused outrage across the political spectrum in Germany, did not sit well even with some of the AfDs other leaders, including Petry, who delicately tried to disavow them on Saturday. All phases of history should be viewed critically, she told reporters in Koblenz when asked about the matter. But ultimately we should still feel good about ourselves. It was another sign of the rifts that have plagued their movement. Not only on the German right but also among its fledgling alliance with Europes other populists, there are often quarrels over key issues of policy and ideology. On economic matters, for instance, the National Front in France leans hard toward socialism and protectionism, while the AfD has its roots in free-market capitalism. UKIP, the right-wing movement that drove the British vote to leave the E.U., has pointedly kept its distance from the more hard-line views of Le Pens National Front. It did not send a representative to the event in Koblenz, and Nigel Farage, the longtime leader of UKIP, has said he would not endorse Le Pen in the French presidential race. Ive never said anything negative or nasty about Marine, he told TIME in late November. But Ive never said anything nice about the Front National. Thats pretty much my position. Speaking to reporters during Saturdays gathering of European populists, Le Pen tried hard to play down the differences between the various groups. We want to make our own choices. We want to regain sovereignty. The rest doesnt matter, she said. What matters to them now is maintaining a sense of unity behind the idea that their time has come, and Trumps victory has made that a lot easier. Yesterday you got a new America, said Kopping, the AfD member, at Saturdays event. Now we want a new Europe. Operation Pandora has been a success, Europol announced today. The European Unions law enforcement group worked with police in 18 countries, including Bosnia and Switzerland, as well as Interpol, UNESCO and the World Customs Organization to find and seize cultural objects last October and November. Authorities searched almost 50,000 people for a variety of items, including over 400 coins, a marble Ottoman tombstone and a Byzantine depiction of St. George, according to BBC. And during those two months, authorities were able to recover 3,561 stolen or trafficked artifacts and pieces of art 19 of which were stolen from an archaeological museum in Spain, BBC reports. The operation culminated in a joint action week from Nov. 17 to 23 of last year, Europol said. Overall, the authorities arrested 75 people and opened 92 new investigations as part of the operations coordinated effort take out the criminal networks that sustain the black market for cultural objects. The efforts also focused on relevant spoliation obtaining cultural spoils by force especially in countries in conflict or war. Read More: Six Other Stolen Works of Art That Made a Comeback MADRID (AP) Spanish police say a pan-European crackdown on illegal arms trafficking has resulted in 664 guns being seized and 245 people arrested in 11 countries. A Civil Guard statement Monday said 46 people were arrested and 247 weapons confiscated in Spain as part of the operation, which took place over several months last year. Police said the racket leaders were four Spaniards who bought replica guns in Romania and Bulgaria and then turned them into real firearms in workshops in Spain before selling them on the black market. Police said some 34,000 gun cartridges, hand grenades and silencers were seized in raids across Europe. The operation was backed by Europol and arrests were also made in Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden. By Press Trust of India: Panaji, Jan 23 (PTI) The Congress party today released its manifesto for the upcoming Goa polls in which it has assured banning all the casinos in the coastal state including the floating vessels mounted with gambling dens. "Floating casinos in Goas river will be closed permanently," reads the manifesto of Congress that was released today by Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia in Panaji. advertisement "Those on the shore too will be closed at a later stage," Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro told reporters here in the presence of Scindia. He said in the first phase, offshore casinos which are currently in river Mandovi would be shut and in the second phase, onshore casinos would be banned. Responding to a question, Faleiro ruled out that such an action would affect employment prospects in the state. "I don?t think that there are much Goans working at these casinos," he said. Goa has six offshore casino vessels besides around a dozen of onshore casinos operating in five star resorts. The party in its manifesto also opposed holding of Defence Expo in Goa. "Goa Pradesh Congress Committee strongly opposes holding defence expoin Goa or give permanent rights to the Defence Ministry to hold the land on lease or on ownership basis anywhere in the state," it reads. It has also assured investigations into all the permissions granted by Investment Promotion Board to set up industry here. "All permissions granted under Investment Promotion Act would be inquired as soon as the party comes to the power after elections," the manifesto reads. "We will declare an all out war on drugs and drug peddling in the state. The anti-narcoticcell will be upgraded and strengthened to take the fight to beaches and every corner of Goa," the Congress manifesto has said. In one of the prominent promise, Congress has assured free five litres of petrol per month for every college student having valid driving licence. The Congress party has also assured to restore mining immediately incorporating the entire recommendation of the Supreme Court. "The loan of one truck or tanker per family would be waived off," he said. PTI RPS RMT BAS --- ENDS --- (FARINDOLA, Italy) Some of the lucky ones were sipping hot tea near the fireplace in their mountain resort hotel, waiting for snowplows to arrive so they could finally go home, after a winter holiday made nerve-wracking by a day of ground-shaking earthquakes and heavy snowfall. Suddenly, Vincenzo Forti and girlfriend Giorgia Galassi were knocked violently off a wicker sofa. A few other guests nearby tumbled off their chairs in the elegant yet rustic reception hall. An avalanche of snow and not a tremendously powerful earthquake as survivors first imagined had just barreled down the mountainside Wednesday evening, smashing into the Hotel Rigopiano and trapping more than 30 holiday-makers, including four children, and workers inside. On Sunday evening, rescuers spotted a mans body in the wreckage, raising to six the number of confirmed dead. Twenty-three others remained missing, with hopes dependent on whether anyone might have found survival in some air pocket searchers hadnt yet reached. While the nine people who were eventually rescued, including all the children, remained hospitalized Sunday, some details of their harrowing survival accounts began emerging, through family, friends and rescuers who spoke with them at their bedside or by telephone. Among the details: the seemingly endless isolation, since the snow absorbed any sound from the outside world. There were four of us, in front of the fireplace, drinking tea, Galassi recalled. Suddenly, everything collapsed on top of us, and I didnt understand anything anymore, Galassi, a 22-year-old university student, told Radio Giulianova, a radio station her hometown of the Adriatic coastal town of Giulianova, where Forti, 25, owns a seaside pizzeria. Cut off from the outside world, the couple heard no sound. But we were convinced that someone would come, because it was impossible they wouldnt be aware of us, Galassi said. We banged until I couldnt anymore, we yelled. Story continues It was like we were in a tin can, she said. There was no food, but there was ice, from the avalanche. We ate ice, that was our fortune, Galassi said. Fortis fishing buddy, Luigi Valiante, added more details, telling reporters after visiting him in a hospital Sunday that the young man realizes he is a miraculous survivor. Also considering where he was a square meter (3 foot by 3 foot) (space) in the cold, without lights, with a broken sofa, a girder splitting it up. Until their cellphone batteries ran out, the survivors had some light. Then it was just dark, Valiante said. Another survivor was near the couple. Francesca Bronzi was trying to find where her boyfriend, Stefano Feniello, ended up. Bronzis parents, Vanessa and Gaetano Bronzi, said that the chairs high backrest saved her, protecting her from a beam that could have crushed her. Bronzi continues to ask about her boyfriend, who remains among the missing. They have made life plans, said Gaetano Bronzi. Near the couples, Galassi told the radio station, was a Rome-area man, Giampaolo Matrone, whose arm was crushed by a beam. His wife, who Matrone said was nearby, remains unaccounted for. Galassi told the local radio that she risked losing hope by what she calculated was the second day in their claustrophobic pitch-black. But Forti was the strength of the whole group, his girlfriend remembered. Corriere della Sera reported that Forti would hum tunes when he sensed his comrades morale was sagging. Galassi said they heard the first sounds from rescuers around 40 hours after the avalanche, about 11 a.m. on Friday. But it would be 4 a.m. Saturday, before rescuers, who carved out a series of vertical and horizontal tunnels into the icy several-meter thick mantle of snow to reach survivors, carried Galassi outside to safety after first rescuing a mother and son, and then three other children. Surely it was a miracle, not luck, she told the radio interviewer. Her mother, Isa Toccotelli, told The Associated Press, that her daughter held a rosary in her hand and never lost hope throughout the ordeal. It is a miracle. There are miracles. They have experienced one, Galassis mother said. With air pockets detected in other areas of the wreckage, rescuers were holding out hope for more miracles even four days after the tragedy. Impassable mountain roads have left crews without equipment like cranes that could help them remove the piles of ice and snow more quickly. Around 60 people at a time have been using shovels and their hands to dig, passing out bucket-brigade style chunks of ice snow they dug out. The massiveness of the avalanche has become more apparent as experts studied the area. Lt. Col. Vincenzo Romeo, of the Carabinieri paramilitary polices mountain weather unit, said the equivalent of the weight of 3,500 big-rigged trucks, fully loaded had smashed into the hotel after days of heavy snowfall. The avalanche weighed an estimated 40,000-60,000 tons when it first crushed the hotel, Romeo said. In the days since, the snow has become heavier as it has gotten icier, and now weighs an estimated 120,000 tons, he said. The snow mass which broke off the mountainside barreled down a slope with a 35-degree angle and traveled about two kilometers (a mile) on its route straight into the resort, Romeo said. Several powerful earthquakes had rocked the central Apennines area only hours before the avalanche. But Romeo said experts say the snow slide was triggered not so much by earthquake, but by the accumulation of snow combined with strong winds, which created drifts. ___ Pietro DeCristofaro and Colleen Barry reported from Pescara. Frances DEmilio reported from Rome. Paris (AFP) - The final fight for the French Socialist presidential nomination got under way Monday, with ex-prime minister Manuel Valls lashing out at his leftist rival over a universal income plan he said would "ruin" the country. Former education minister Benoit Hamon will take on Valls in a run-off vote next Sunday after scoring a surprise win in the first round of a primary seen as a battle for the party's soul. Dismissed as a lightweight when the campaign began in December, Hamon -- who wants to tax robots and introduce a universal basic income -- surged from behind with a raft of innovative ideas. However the 49-year-old Hamon beat six Socialist rivals to win the first round with 35.9 percent of the vote, with Valls second on 31.2 percent, with ballots from almost all polling stations counted. Valls, PM under outgoing President Francois Hollande until resigning in December, on Sunday warned that picking a diehard leftist like Hamon would mean "certain defeat" in an election shaping up as a contest between the right, far-right and centre. He mounted a fresh assault on his rival on Monday, telling TF1 television that Hamon's universal income plan would be "the ruin of our budget" and accusing him of trying to deceive voters. The primary has exposed the deep divisions within the Socialists between what Valls once called "two irreconcilable lefts" -- a hard-left faction represented by Hamon -- and his own centre-left, pro-business camp. Liberation daily on Monday called it a contest between "a left that takes charge and a left that dreams." - 'Credible left' - Whoever wins the nomination faces long odds. Polls show the presidential race being led by conservative ex-premier Francois Fillon, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old centrist former economy minister. Communist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, who refused to take part in the primary, threatens to further split the leftwing vote. Story continues With Europe apparently lurching towards the right, Le Pen and Fillon are expected to be the two finalists. But the photogenic Macron is nipping at their heels. A senior aide to Macron said he was hoping to face Hamon rather than Valls, while Melenchon said the poor first-round result for the former PM would see him "haemorrhage" voters to Macron. Over 1.6 million people took part in the Socialist primary vote, the head of the organising committee, Christophe Borgel, told AFP -- less than half the four million who voted in the first round of autumn's rightwing primary. Maverick former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg was eliminated with 17 percent and immediately threw his support behind Hamon. The four other candidates, who took less than seven percent each, also leave the race. A defiant Valls, 54, told his supporters the Socialist primary runoff would be "a clear choice between unachievable promises and a credible left". But some Socialist supporters said Hamon was a breath of fresh air after five years of pragmatic rule by Hollande and Valls that failed to revive the economy. - Le Pen looms large - He performed strongly in three TV debates crammed into a short campaign, attracting attention with a proposal for a "universal living income" to be phased in over five years, rising from 600 euros to 750 euros ($640 to $800) a month. He also campaigned heavily on the environment, called for a tax on robots that replace workers, and urged the legalisation of marijuana. Spanish-born Valls appears to have been punished for his association with Hollande and his use of decrees as premier to push through unpopular labour reforms. Some Socialist heavyweights have hinted they could abandon their party's nominee and back Macron instead if he looks to have a better chance of reaching the second round of the presidential election against Le Pen. By Anna Mehler Paperny (Reuters) - As deaths from powerful painkillers continue to rise, Canada is pursuing unprecedented measures to curb their use, including requiring cigarette-style warning stickers on every prescription, Health Minister Jane Philpott told Reuters. Next month Health Canada plans to publish a detailed proposal for the stickers, which Philpott said would warn that opioid painkillers can cause addiction and overdose. In March, an advisory panel is set to consider a second measure, revising the official label definition of how opioids should and should not - be used, officials said. Any revision would affect marketing efforts by manufacturers, including privately held Purdue Pharma and Pharmascience, as well as publicly traded Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries, Mallinckrodt Plc, Novartis's Sandoz and Johnson & Johnsons Janssen Pharma. Warning stickers would be a first and could serve as an example. The measures would follow other strategies that failed to stem addiction and death involving prescription opioids, such as OxyContin and Hydromorph Contin, as well as illicit ones, including heroin and powerful fentanyl smuggled from China. Fatal overdoses have increased across Canada, mirroring the much larger epidemic in the United States. In Ontario, the most populous province, prescription opioid deaths rose 40 percent in six years; in the western province of Saskatchewan, they more than doubled since 2010. An influx of illicit variations of fentanyl fueled an 80 percent increase in deaths last year in British Columbia to a record 914. Philpott has called the opioid epidemic the nations greatest public health crisis and pledged to use every tool at her disposal to fix it. Were concerned when opioid prescriptions are on the increase, she told Reuters. We need to understand whats behind that and make wise recommendations. Drug companies have said they support measures to increase patient safety. Several companies and industry groups declined to comment until the government lays the new proposals. Some doctors and public health experts who have long clamored for safeguards said the new measures may be too little, too late. Stickers may have been helpful in 2006, 2007, said Edmonton, Alberta, addiction doctor Hakique Virani. But when weve created this huge demand for opioids that is now being met by powder from China, and you can traffic a million doses of that stuff in a 10-gram greeting card envelope, Im sorry, but stickers on pill bottles is not going to solve this problem. Philpott said she recognizes the challenge. You dont want to drive people to use even more harmful street drugs and illicit substances, Philpott said. So it needs to be done with a tremendous amount of wisdom and thoughtfulness, and we are certainly consulting widely to make sure we dont have any unintended consequences from our actions. RE-CENTERING THE PENDULUM Officials declined to provide a timetable. Health Canada plans to put the warning sticker proposal to focus groups and gather public comment before Philpott makes a decision. Philpott envisions stickers similar to those pharmacists put on pill bottles reminding patients to take a medication with food. In addition to warning of the risks, she said, they would advise patients where to get more information and help if needed. Rewriting label definitions of evidence-supported opioid use would change how drug companies sell opioids in Canada, an $881-million-a-year market. Doctors are allowed to prescribe off-label, tailoring prescriptions to patients individual needs. But pharmaceutical companies must follow the labels' language in all marketing, including advertisements and sales calls on physicians. In an email, spokesman Grant Perry said OxyContin and Hydromorph Contin maker Purdue "supports providing the most relevant and up to date information" to doctors and patients, as well as evidence-based updates. Representatives for Mallinckrodt, Teva and Sandoz did not respond to Reuters' queries. Pharmascience representatives did not return calls or emails. Spokeswoman Jennifer McCormack said in an email Janssen would "continue to work with Health Canada to help ensure the safe and appropriate use" of prescription opioids and it was "important to carefully balance anti-abuse efforts" with patient needs. In an effort to address Canada's drug problem, health officials made it more difficult to obtain OxyContin after Purdue introduced a tamper-resistant formulation of the drug in 2012. But physicians and addicts switched to different drugs. Illegal fentanyl flooded Canadas streets, and doctors began prescribing more Hydromorph Contin, which has eclipsed oxycodone and fentanyl as the most commonly prescribed opioid in Ontario, B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec. Canadian and U.S. public health advocates have campaigned unsuccessfully to restrict the long-term use of any opioid for non-cancer pain. The best available evidence does not support their use for treatment of chronic pain, said David Juurlink, an addiction specialist at Torontos Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released non-binding guidelines last year cautioning against the use of long-acting opioids as first-line treatment for chronic pain and urging low initial doses and discontinuation as soon as possible. Supriya Sharma, Chief Medical Advisor at Health Canada, said it's too soon to say whether the agency's changes would be that sweeping. They can be that specific, and they can be much broader, she said in an interview. With prescriptions and deaths rising, Sharma said, Were trying to re-center that pendulum. (Editing by Amran Abocar and Lisa Girion) Daphna Ziman Photo: Courtesy of Daphna Ziman In these times, there is something to be said about a woman who isn't afraid to make waves and take charge. Daphna Ziman is one of them. She is the co-founder, chief creative executive and president of Cinemoi, a 24-hour exquisitely innovative network dedicated to curated films, high couture and international lifestyle. In addition to being one of the only women in the world at the helm of a media company, she is also a dedicated philanthropist, author and outspoken activist. We caught up with Ziman to chat about Cinemoi, her impassioned charity work and what it's like to be a woman on top in these times. Check out the exclusive interview below. Daphna Ziman Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images For Cinemoi 1) Tell us about how Cinemoi started? Cinemoi was a very upscale, quality oriented French channel. When I saw it on my book tour in Europe, it struck me that America could benefit [from] such a well-curated approach. We bought it and expanded it to multigenre, vintage to modern films, fashion, lifestyle and green-curated channel. Daphna Ziman, Carmen Electra Photo: Amber Wheen 2) The Annual CineFashion Film Awards recently took place in Beverly Hills. What was the most exciting aspect of that event? The CineFashion Film Awards emphasizes that art, music, fashion and film are the universal language for peace and unity. The most exciting aspect of the show was to highlight the talents and contributors of artists from across the world, those that have already had an impact on our culture and those emerging artists [who] will impact our future. Story continues Daphna Ziman Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images 3) Recently, you went out to Washington to testify at the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights hearing on the merger of Time Warner Inc. and AT&T Inc. What compelled to you to stand up and speak out? I was not born in America. I was born in Israel, and I grew up influenced by the American communication media. It is what brought me here: the land of diversity, democracy of voices and innovation. The fact that six conglomerates own 90 percent of the content on our screens today is stifling diversity, gender diversity and innovation in the communication media. That is a blatant move towards oligopoly, which can only hurt the America that I love. Daphna Ziman Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images 4) A hot topic this past year was women's equality and empowerment. As a successful female business leader, what challenges have you faced in getting to where you are now? My challenge is our media today, which has been very neglectful in the way women are personified. The fact that only two women (Oprah and myself) are majority shareholders of a media company is a national disgrace. Women are the majority, yet still treated as a minority. Neither their needs nor interest can be severed well when there is no gender diversity in ownership of a television channel. We all know that an African-American understands better [in] what African-Americans are interested. It is the same for women. The face that the giant MVPDs [multichannel video programming distributors] are not making bandwidth available to women or other minority and independent channels is entirely a slap in the face of democracy. Considering that the major MVPDs are borrowing the bandwidth from the American people, it is a slap in the face of the American people. Controlling the media ultimately can result in eliminating freedom of choice as well as freedom of speech. We only have to look at Taiwan to see the result of six companies controlling the media and trading content between themselves while the public pays higher and higher prices. American media conglomerates must stop the habit of mining in the pockets of viewers while delivering more and more inferior programming in the name of the bottom line. Daphna Ziman, Nancy Pelosi Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for It Girl Public Relations 5) In addition to Cinemoi, your other passion is children. Tell us about your charity Children Uniting Nations and your philanthropic work? I believe that we are all gatekeepers to the future of our children. I have dedicated my life to the most vulnerable children in our world, children who are living out of home care. We find academic mentors and life skill mentors to help give our forgotten children a future that can help them find peace in our society. Daphna Ziman Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Israel Film Festival 6) What advice would you give to women looking to lead a company in the future? Women are the mothers, sisters and grandmothers in our society. By and large we are caretakers and problem solvers. We need to trust in our abilities and talents and push forward without being thrown off by those [who] are blind to our ability to lead and serve. Related Articles One of the first orders of business for President Donald Trump was signing an executive order to weaken Obamacare, while Republicans figure out how to replace it. So what powers do executive orders have? An executive order is a directive from the President that has much of the same power as a federal law. Several landmark moments in American history came about directly from the use of executive orders issued from the White Houses desk, including one Supreme Court decision that limited a presidential executive order issued by Harry Truman. In President Trumps case, his executive order on Obamacare allows federal agencies to take all actions consistent with law to minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens of the [Affordable Care] act, and prepare to afford the states more flexibility and control to create a more free and open health care market. The constitutional basis for the executive order is the Presidents broad power to issue executive directives. According to the Congressional Research Service, there is no direct definition of executive orders, presidential memoranda, and proclamations in the U.S. Constitution, there is, likewise, no specific provision authorizing their issuance. But Article II of the U.S. Constitution vests executive powers in the President, makes him the commander in chief, and requires that the President shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed. Laws can also give additional powers to the President. While an executive order can have the same effect as a federal law under certain circumstances, Congress can pass a new law to override an executive order, subject to a presidential veto. Every President since George Washington has used the executive order power in various ways. Washingtons first orders were for executive departments to prepare reports for his inspection, and a proclamation about the Thanksgiving holiday. After Washington, other Presidents made significant decisions via executive orders and presidential proclamations. Story continues President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War using executive orders in 1861. Lincoln cited his powers under the Constitutions Suspension Clause, which states, the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion and invasion the public safety may require it. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, in his role as a federal circuit judge, ruled that Lincolns executive order was unconstitutional in a decision called Ex Parte Merryman. Lincoln and the Union army ignored Taney, and Congress didnt contest Lincolns habeas corpus decisions. Two other executive orders comprised Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln was fearful that the Emancipation Proclamation would be overturned by Congress or the courts after the wars end, since he justified the proclamation under his wartime powers. The ratification of the 13th Amendment ended that potential controversy. President Franklin Roosevelt established internment camps during World War II using Executive Order 9066. Roosevelt also used an executive order to create the Works Progress Administration. And President Harry Truman mandated equal treatment of all members of the armed forces through executive orders. However, Truman also saw one of his key executive orders invalidated by the Supreme Court in 1952, in a watershed moment for the Court that saw it define presidential powers in relation to Congress. The Court ruled in Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer that an executive order putting steel mills during the Korean War under federal control during a strike was invalid. The Presidents power to see that the laws are faithfully executed refutes the idea that he is to be a lawmaker, Justice Hugo Black said in his majority opinion. It was Justice Robert Jacksons concurring opinion that stated a three-part test of presidential powers that has since been used in arguments involving the executives overreach of powers. Jackson said the Presidents powers were at their height when he had the direct or implied authorization from Congress to act; at their middle ground the Zone of Twilight, as he put it, when it was unsure which branch could act; and at their lowest ebb when a President acted against the expressed wishes of Congress. The use of executive orders also played a key role in the Civil Rights movement. In 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower used an executive order to put the Arkansas National Guard under federal control and to enforce desegregation in Little Rock. Affirmative action and equal employment opportunity actions were also taken by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson using executive orders. President Roosevelt issued the most executive orders, according to records at the National Archives. He issued 3,728 orders between 1933 and 1945, as the country dealt with the Great Depression and World War II. President Truman issued a robust 896 executive orders over almost eight years in office. President Barack Obama issued 277 orders during his presidency. His predecessor, President George W. Bush, issued 291 orders over eight years, while President Bill Clinton had 364 executive orders during his two terms in office. The most-active President in the post-World War II era, in terms of executive orders, was Jimmy Carter, who averaged 80 orders per year during his four-year term. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Big change coming in Texas voter ID case? President Trump stays on message with Inaugural Address New initiative allows Americans to share personal videos about Constitution Mosul (Iraq) (AFP) - Three quarters of a million civilians living in west Mosul are at "extreme risk", the United Nations warned Tuesday as Iraqi forces prepared for a push into the jihadist bastion. A hundred days into a massive offensive to retake the Islamic State group's last major stronghold in Iraq, federal forces and jihadists took up positions on either side of the Tigris River that divides Mosul. The three months it took to reconquer Mosul's east saw some tough fighting but even deadlier battles are expected on the city's west bank, which is home to the narrow streets of the Old City and some of IS's traditional redoubts. "We hope that everything is done to protect the hundreds of thousands of people who are across the river in the west," the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Iraq Lise Grande said in a statement. "We know that they are at extreme risk and we fear for their lives." Iraqi forces have retaken all central neighbourhoods in east Mosul and on Tuesday were clearing Rashidiyah, which lies on the northern edge of the city and is the east bank's last area still to be secured. Tens of thousands of other forces are deployed north, south and west of Mosul, meaning that the jihadists are trapped in the city where their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed his "caliphate" in 2014. Residents of west Mosul and civil activists told AFP on Monday that IS fighters had forced civilians along the river front to leave their shops and homes. "The group forced us to leave our homes... without allowing us to take our belongings," a resident of Al-Maidan said. "It deployed gun positions and posted snipers on roofs and at windows." Facing them across the river are some of Iraq's most seasoned elite forces, whose engineers some reports said were already working on assembling pontoon bridges for a cross-river assault. All bridges across the Tigris in Mosul were either bombed by IS or hit by airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition that has helped Iraq reclaim about two thirds of the territory it lost to IS in 2014. Story continues - Siege conditions - "The Iraqi forces have over the course of their battle against Daesh (IS) in this country developed the capability to do bridging, including bridging while under fire," coalition spokesman Colonel John Dorrian said. The UN had feared an exodus of unprecedented proportions before the Mosul offensive began on October 17 but while 180,000 people did flee their homes, the majority stayed. It now estimates that 750,000 people still live in Mosul's west bank, either because they did not want to leave their homes or were prevented from doing so by IS, which has routinely used civilians as human shields in this conflict. "We don't know what will happen in western Mosul but we cannot rule out the possibility of siege-like conditions or a mass exodus," Grande said in the statement. "To date, nearly half of all the casualties from Mosul are civilians. It's terrifying to think of the risks families are facing," she said. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which assists some of the displaced families, also said the lack of access to west Mosul was a source of great concern, given the humanitarian crisis that fighting in the east had already caused. "Those still trapped inside Mosul city are in even graver danger due to the fighting and shortages and, 100 days since the fighting started, we still have no way to reach them," it said in a statement. The recapture of Mosul by Iraqi forces would deal a death blow to the Iraqi part of IS's caliphate, with the next major target the group's stronghold of Raqa in neighbouring Syria. In retaken areas of eastern Mosul, efforts to resume a normal life picked up in recent days, with many shops reopening and children starting to go back to school. The UN's Children Fund said 30 schools had reopened this week. "After the nightmare of the past two years, this is a pivotal moment for the children of Mosul to reclaim their education and their hope for a better future," UNICEF's Iraq representative Peter Hawkins said. The UN said more than 20,000 people displaced since the Mosul offensive started 100 days ago have already returned to their homes in areas retaken from IS. By Michael Holden and William James (Reuters) - The UK Supreme Court will rule on Tuesday whether British Prime Minister Theresa May can trigger Britain's exit from the European Union without seeking prior approval from parliament. May has said she intends to invoke Article 50 of the EU's 2009 Lisbon Treaty by the end of March, beginning a two-year divorce process. However, London's High Court ruled in November that she could not start the formal exit process without parliament's assent, prompting ministers to appeal to the Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the United Kingdom. It will give its ruling at 0930 GMT on Tuesday. For news on Brexit, click on BRXT For a weekly round-up of Brexit news: http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Specialpackages/BREXIT_Weekly.pdf WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? The case is simply about who has the right to invoke Article 50, the process means by which Britain notifies the European Union of its intention to leave the bloc and begins two-years of negotiations. May says the government can take the action without lawmakers' approval, using a historical power known as "royal prerogative" where ministers act on behalf of the monarch. The claimants argued this would be unconstitutional and that only parliament can agree to leaving the EU because to do so would strip Britons of rights granted by parliament. They want the government to introduce legislation that lawmakers can debate and vote on. WHO'S INVOLVED? The lead claimant in the successful High Court challenge was investment fund manager Gina Miller, who has since received racist and sexist intimidation. Hairdresser Deir Tozetti Dos Santos is the second claimant. Other interested parties involved include "The People's Challenge", featuring an Englishman of Bangladeshi origin, an Irishman, two Scotsmen resident in France, a Welshman and a Gibraltarian, whose wife is Spanish; another group of British expatriates; and British children of EU nationals and non-EU carers of British children or the disabled. They were joined at the Supreme Court by lawyers representing the Scottish and Welsh governments and politicians and human rights groups from Northern Ireland. The UK government's case was being put on behalf of the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis. For the first time in the court's seven-year history, all 11 justices sat on the panel hearing the case. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON TUESDAY The President of the Supreme Court David Neuberger will deliver the ruling at 9:30 a.m. (0930 GMT) on Tuesday in a statement that will last for little more than five minutes. For news on Brexit, click on [BRXT] WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT? If the government loses its appeal, parliament will have to vote on whether Article 50 should be triggered. A clear majority of lawmakers backed staying in the EU ahead of June's referendum when Britons voted by 52-48 percent to leave. Some investors believe that the involvement of lawmakers will increase the chance of a "soft Brexit" where Britain prioritizes access to the European single market and close ties with the bloc over immigration controls. Markets rallied during a speech by May last week when she said Britain would quit the single market but parliament would be given a vote on the final deal. COULD PARLIAMENT BLOCK BREXIT? If the Supreme Court rules in the government's favor, May can continue with her planned timetable. If she loses, the government will have to secure some form of parliamentary approval to trigger Article 50. Ministers have said this would mean legislation which would have to be passed by both parliamentary chambers, the House of Commons and House of Lords. Sources from May's Conservative Party and the main opposition Labour Party say a bill could be rushed through to ensure it is passed before the end of March. Although a majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Commons supported staying in the EU, most would now vote to trigger Article 50, according to Reuters research. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said his MPs would be instructed to vote to invoke Article 50, although The Times newspaper has suggested some 60-80 might refuse. Even with the support of the pro-EU Scottish Nationalists and Liberal Democrats, that is unlikely to be anywhere enough to stop Brexit in the 650-seat Commons. The government may face trouble in the House of Lords, where the Conservatives do not have a majority. If the Lords were to block the bill the government could decide to overrule it using the Parliament Act, although it cannot re-table the bill - which it would need to do to get final approval in the Commons - until the next parliamentary session. The new parliamentary session usually starts in May or June, so that would delay the Brexit process significantly. However, unelected peers in the Lords are unlikely to vote against something backed by both the Commons and the public in a referendum. BREXIT AMENDED? In a speech on Jan. 17, May laid out her plans for Brexit, with clean break from the EU and a 12-point priority list which included leaving the single market and seeking global free trade deals. While lawmakers might not try to block Article 50 being invoked, they may well seek to amend the law that authorizes it being triggered, to put demands on May such as ensuring the greatest possible access to the single market and additional scrutiny of ongoing negotiations. Labour's Corbyn has said he would not block the bill but his aides say he would try to amend it to include a vote on May's negotiating plan. IS IT THE END OF THE LEGAL CHALLENGES? No, two other challenges are already being prepared. One case is being taken to London's High Court, arguing that even if Britain leaves the EU, it would not leave the European Economic Area, which includes EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein and provides access to the single market and its free movement of goods, capital, services and people. The second challenge is potentially more significant. This seeks to ascertain whether Article 50 can be reversed after it has been revoked. The British government says it cannot, some European leaders are not so sure. That case is due to be launched at the High Court in Dublin this month. If ultimately the European Court of Justice decided Article 50 could be reversed, it would allow the possibility of Britain staying in the EU if the two-year talks are inconclusive, or even allow for a second referendum. (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Robin Pomeroy) BANJUL, Gambia A reviled autocrat refused to leave office even as his democratically elected successor was sworn in as president. Foreign troops rolled across the border, threatening to install the new leader by force. And a hastily declared state of emergency prompted thousands of terrified civilians to flee the country. The tiny West African nation of Gambia looked poised to tear itself apart last week as longtime leader Yahya Jammeh, who conceded defeat and then later rejected the results of the Dec. 1 election, made a last-ditch effort to cling to power. But by Saturday evening, Jammeh was being whisked into exile aboard a private jet as cautious celebrations broke out in parts of the capital, Banjul. Eleventh-hour diplomacy, supported by the deployment of 7,000 troops by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had pulled this country of 1.9 million back from the brink, underscoring the power of a united regional coalition and hinting at a model for dealing with other recalcitrant dictators on the continent. He knew he was going down, internally and externally, Halifa Sallah, a spokesman for Gambias incoming administration, said of Jammeh. The use of force was very clear. ECOWAS was around the border. The fact that he would be alone, he would have fallen like a house of cards. Jammeh, who seized power in a coup in 1994 and has won a series of flawed elections since, shocked the world by conceding defeat to a little-known property developer named Adama Barrow. In a televised address, he called the vote transparent and rig-proof, pledging to work with Barrow to ensure a smooth transition. But two weeks later, he rejected the outcome, citing unspecified foreign interference. He vowed to remain in office until a second election could be held. The reversal was met with nearly universal condemnation. The United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS all made it clear that they would no longer recognize Jammeh after his mandate expired on Jan. 19. A series of high-profile delegations, including the presidents of Liberia, Guinea, and Mauritania, visited Banjul to attempt to mediate an end to the crisis. At the same time, ECOWAS indicated that it would remove Jammeh by force if necessary. It mobilized a standby force of 7,000 troops from Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, and Niger, among other nations, and moved air and naval assets into neighboring Senegal. Story continues But negotiations to ease Jammeh out of office dragged on for weeks. In the interim, the embattled Gambian president petitioned the Supreme Court which hadnt heard a case in 18 months, because hed sacked nearly all of the judges to enjoin Barrows inauguration. Then he declared a 90-day state of emergency that conveniently required him to remain in power. Fearing unrest, at least 45,000 people promptly fled to Senegal and Guinea, according to the U.N. refugee agency. But Jammehs regime was slowly crumbling around him. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, who is based in Nigeria, refused to hear the challenge to Barrows inauguration until May, when the court was next due to sit. And every day, it seemed, more members of the presidents cabinet deserted him, including the army chief, who eventually conceded that his soldiers would not fight invading ECOWAS troops. On Jan. 19, Barrow took the oath of office from the safety of the Gambian Embassy in Senegal; ECOWAS and the AU immediately recognized him as Gambias legitimate head of state. The next day, once it was clear that virtually all of his allies had abandoned him, Jammeh finally agreed to a deal that would take him into exile in an unnamed third country. At around 9 p.m. on Jan. 21, Jammeh departed Banjul for the Guinean capital of Conakry. From there, he reportedly continued on to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, which is not party to the International Criminal Court. Photos taken at the airport in Banjul showed him grinning sheepishly out the window as he waited to take off. Not long after Jammeh departed, the U.N., AU, and ECOWAS issued a joint statement saying that the former president should be free to return to Gambia in the future and that any nation showing him African hospitality should not be sanctioned or punished. The statement also committed all three organizations to working with the new Gambian government to prevent the seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to former President Jammeh or his family and those of his Cabinet members, government officials and Party supporters. The communique doesnt impose any legal obligations on the new Gambian administration, however, and Barrow has since referred to it as a resolution not an agreement. The swift resolution of the Gambian crisis stands in contrast to similar African mediation efforts where leaders have defied term limits or otherwise sought to remain in power indefinitely. In Burundi, for instance, the AU Commission failed to convince President Pierre Nkurunziza not to stand for a controversial third term. Later, the AU backed away from a proposed peacekeeping force to protect civilians when the country descended into chaos. Initial support for the mission dubbed MAPROBU and authorized by the AUs Peace and Security Council evaporated when it was tabled at the larger General Assembly, composed of African heads of state. But the Gambian crisis differed from the Burundian one in important ways. Gambia has one of the continents smallest militaries, whereas Burundi is a significant troop contributor to various AU and U.N. missions. Historically, ECOWAS has also proved more willing to support regional military operations than the East African Community (EAC), which played a leading role in mediating the Burundian crisis. But the most important difference may have been Jammehs poor relations with his neighbors. The erratic Gambian president has antagonized Senegal in particular by supporting separatist rebels in its southern Casamance region. His willingness to let illegal logging operations in Senegal export rare hardwoods through Gambia has also irked his neighbors. Senegal didnt waste time. As soon as Jammeh rejected the election results, President Macky Sall jumped ahead to call on the United Nations Security Council for its support in ensuring Jammeh stepped down at the end of his term, said Abdul Aziz Bensouda, the secretary-general of the Gambia Bar Association, who emphasized that he was speaking in a private capacity. Jammehs weakness was Senegals strength. Jammehs unpopularity no doubt factored into ECOWASs decision to unite behind Barrow. The region was long fed up with having an unhinged character on its doorstep, said Jeffrey Smith, the executive director of Vanguard Africa, a nonprofit that supports democratic transition and is advising Gambias new coalition government. If you look across the borders, other West African countries have made huge advancements while Gambia was going backwards. That view contrasts sharply with Nkurunzizas position within the EAC, where he still enjoyed considerable support at the beginning of the Burundian crisis. As a result, neither the EAC nor the AU passed judgment on his legitimacy after his disputed re-election in 2015. In Jammehs case, both ECOWAS and the AU said they would no longer recognize him, at which point it was game over, according to Paul D. Williams, an associate professor of international affairs at George Washington University who writes frequently on peacekeeping in Africa. From then on, it was all about the AU maintaining its line on unconstitutional changes of government. United political diplomacy plus enough threat of military force did the job. But if much of what made it possible to remove Jammeh peacefully was unique to the Gambian situation, the trend toward more aggressive democracy promotion among West African states was not. Countries in the region increasingly like to demonstrate their democratic credentials by pushing democracy in the region, said Nic Cheeseman, a professor of democracy and international development at the University of Birmingham. This is not an outlier but fits into a pattern in which Nigeria has consistently held other West African states to standards that it has not always lived up to itself. The fact that so many of the countries that played key mediation roles in Gambia are or at least see themselves as functioning democracies highlights another lesson with broader relevance in Africa: Where the interests and values of regional powers are aligned, enabling them to act in concert, they are much more likely to succeed. It is for this reason that easing Jammeh out of power may prove much easier than holding him accountable for his many crimes. The same communique that committed the AU to helping Jammeh and his cronies keep their assets strongly implies that none of them should be subject to prosecution. (Jammeh, after all, was not the only corrupt autocrat with a seat on the continental body.) Barrow, for his part, has sounded a conciliatory note toward his predecessors administration. We arent talking about prosecution here, the incoming president told The Associated Press. We are talking about getting a truth and reconciliation commission. Hunt reported from Banjul. McCormick reported from Nairobi, Kenya. Top image: ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images Paris (AFP) - If there were any doubters that Maria Grazia Chiuri was right for Dior there can be none now after a breathtaking debut haute couture collection blew away critics on Monday. This was a fairytale start in every sense for the Italian designer who took the reins of the fabled French label last year. One dreamlike ball gown after another trailed through the enchanted woodland maze she created for the show complete with a wish tree draped with charms and lights. Photographs can hardly show the full emotional effect of these clothes as they swish by you. Nor can you see the staggering detailing that built from sober, almost clerical, robes at the start of the show to heart-stoppers where a field full of poppies seemed to be trapped like butterflies in layers of tulle. New York Times critic Vanessa Friedman tweeted "sheer romance" as the show ended and described one pleated gold lame dress veiled in black as "Titania's gown" after the queen of the fairies in Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream". Her colleague Elizabeth Paton was also taken with it, tipping it for Oscars night. Others fawned over a "magical" series of gowns made from layered pleated tulle which Chiuri contrasted with Renaissance-style bustiers. The designer -- who broke up her three-decade-long partnership with Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino to move to Dior -- told AFP that she had dived into the archives of the label's famously superstitious founder Christian Dior for inspiration. - Dresses for dancing all night - She slipped tarot and talismanic symbols throughout the collection with one black and white gown embroidered with the all the signs of the Zodiac. "Couture has to be magic and at the same time it has to be wearable," Chiuri said. That's why she combined all her ball gowns with low heels so their lucky owners can dance all night. Haute couture is unique to Paris, with each piece handmade to measure for some of the richest women in the world. Story continues One much-admired sage green tulle dress in the show with a spray of Impressionist-style flowers made from feathers took 2,200 hours to make, the label said. The haute couture shows attract celebrities from all over the world to the French capital with Hollywood star Kirsten Dunst in the front row for the Ralph & Russo show Monday. - Future world Van Herpen - Earlier the Dutch designer Iris van Herpen proved yet again why she is regarded as one of fashion's great visionaries. Her shimmering hi-tech dresses seemed to appear from the future, transparent without being see-through, playing tricks with the eye so they looked like they could have been made from ice or even fish scales. Her models walked through a computer circuit board set and the optical illusions continued in the futuristic poetry of her clothes that evoked both deep space and a deep sea world. Some seemed to have been made from the chrysalis of an alien creature, or from swirling fossils or kombu seaweed. Two awesome "Digital Glitch" dresses made from silk and lasercut hooped mylar looked almost like they were holograms, beamed in from an episode of Star Trek. Van Herpen's genius is that she can make such way out forms wearable thanks to her mastery of cutting edge materials and collaborations with architect Philip Beesley and Berlin artist Ester Stocker. She said the show, called "Between the Lines", set out to trick the "eye's perspective and challenge it to see new patterns in between". Schiaparelli also embraced surrealism and lots of clever trompe l'oeil tricks for its colourful and elegant show which played on the revived couture house's close historical links with artists Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau and Jean Miro. A love-heart white mini suit with thigh-high red boots was mixed with dreamy feminine evening gowns, including one with a gorgeous bejewelled octopus clinging to its bodice. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) With digital transactions gaining traction, the government is mulling setting up of a separate regulator for enabling electronic payment system in the country as well as regulate transaction charges. While the Ratan Watal committee on digital payments suggested that the government makes regulation of payments independent from the function of central banking, sources said the RBI is not very keen on giving up the regulation on Payment systems. advertisement Official sources said that RBI, as a banking regulator, frames policies to benefit banks and not enforcement of competition and innovation objectives in conduct of firms in the payment industry. "So far, regulations are becoming bank focused. If there is a separate regulator, the focus would be on ease of transaction and rationalisation of cost. Hence, there is a case for setting up of an authority for enabling electronic payment system in India," an official source told PTI. The Reserve Bank, in its representation before the Watal Committee, has stated that regulation of payments should be with the central bank because regulating money supply is an integral function of a central bank and includes maintaining the confidence in money as a means of exchange. Explaining the need for a separate regulator, the source said that electronic payment does not entail exchange of physical cash and it does not involve deposit taking or credit offtake or servicing of loans/deposits. "Payments can happen without banking. Payment regulation is different from banking regulation. RBI is not agreeing to it," the source said, adding the proposed regulator should have majority of its membership from businesses having direct familiarity with the payment process, or allied businesses. The Watal Committee, which submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month, weighed two options on how best regulation of electronic payments can be made independent from the function of central banking. The committee considered creation of a new payments regulator, or making the current Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) within RBI more independent. Sources said that RBI, as a regulator, is focusing more on the interest of banks rather than creation of a financial ecosystem and even after coming up with consultation paper on fixing MDR charges in March 2016, it has not been able to fix the charges. MORE PTI JD JM --- ENDS --- ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on Thursday on whether or not to extradite eight Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece in a helicopter after a failed military coup in July, the Athens News Agency reported. Turkey alleges the men were involved in the July 15 coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan and has demanded their swift extradition. The men, who deny the accusations and have requested asylum in Greece, say their lives would be in danger at home where authorities are purging large numbers of people from the armed forces and other state institutions. They appeared in court on Monday but the ruling was postponed to Thursday. The case has exposed often tense relations between Athens and Ankara, NATO allies at odds over issues from Cyprus to islets and air rights over the Aegean. It was taken to Greece's top court after previous decisions - to extradite three and not extradite five - were contested. Should the Supreme Court rule the soldiers must be extradited, their asylum applications will be overridden. If it rules against extradition, the soldiers will await decisions on their asylum requests in Greece which are not expected for months. (Corrects rulings in paragraph six) (Reporting by Karolina Tagaris; editing by Ralph Boulton/Jeremy Gaunt) By Diane Bartz (Reuters) - A U.S. judge blocked on Monday health insurer Aetna Inc's proposed $34 billion acquisition of smaller peer Humana Inc, raising the stakes for rival Anthem Inc as it battles to close a $54 billion deal to buy Cigna Corp. The ruling is another victory for the U.S. Justice Department, whose antitrust enforcement became much more aggressive during former U.S. President Barack Obama's eight years in office, which ended last week. Obama's successor, Donald Trump, and a Republican-controlled legislature are seeking to undo much of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. The law reshaped the U.S. healthcare industry by mandating health insurance and creating online exchanges where consumers can shop for individual policies and get subsidies. Aetna, Humana, Anthem and Cigna had cited Obamacare as one of the main reasons their industry needed to consolidate to cope with the costs of expanding coverage. Their shares ended trading on Monday at levels that suggested that investors continued to see little chance that the two mergers would happen. The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit last July to block Aetna's acquisition of Humana and Anthem's acquisition of Cigna, arguing that the two deals would lead to higher prices. Anthem and Cigna are still waiting for a judge to rule on whether their merger can proceed. Investors have long been skeptical that this deal can be approved, and Leerink Research analyst Ana Gupte reiterated on Monday that she expected to also see this deal blocked. In his ruling, Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said the proposed deal would "substantially lessen competition" in the sale of Medicare Advantage plans in 364 counties in 21 states that the Justice Department had identified in its complaint, and on the Obamacare exchange in three Florida counties. "We're reviewing the opinion now and giving serious consideration to an appeal after putting forward a compelling case," Aetna spokesman T.J. Crawford said. Humana did not respond to a request for comment. Story continues Humana stands to receive a $1 billion breakup fee from Aetna should the deal be abandoned. Jeffrey Jacobovitz, a litigator at law firm Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, said that appeals at the D.C. Circuit succeed about one-third of the time and can take a year to resolve. He added that it would be difficult, though not impossible, for Aetna to wait for Trump's new antitrust enforcers to be named and then strike a settlement to save the merger, perhaps by offering to divest more assets. Bates dismissed Aetna's argument that there was plenty of choice for consumers because Medicare Advantage, which is managed by insurance companies, competes with traditional Medicare for the elderly and disabled, which is managed by the government. "In that (Medicare Advantage) market, which is the primary focus of this case, the merger is presumptively unlawful - a conclusion that is strongly supported by direct evidence of head-to-head competition as well. The companies rebuttal arguments are not persuasive," Bates wrote in a 158-page decision. Humana shares ended trading up 2.2 percent at $205.02, as investors brushed off the widely expected ruling. Shares of Cigna, the other health insurer to be acquired, were almost flat at $145.31 SEVERAL DEALS TORPEDOED Several big deals were torpedoed by antitrust regulators last year, including the $35 billion merger between oil-field service groups Halliburton Co and Baker Hughes Inc and the $6 billion combination of Staples Inc and Office Depot Inc . Bill Baer, the former head of the Justice Department's antitrust division who initiated the lawsuit to block the Aetna-Humana deal, called the decision "a strong affirmation of the role that competition plays in health insurance markets." Doctors and hospitals had urged the Justice Department to block the deal, fearing it would erode their pricing power. Some large employers also opposed the combination. "Today's ruling is a decisive victory for jobs, consumers, and healthcare. Mega mergers like the proposed consolidation of Aetna and Humana raise prices, lower health care quality and kill jobs," said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat. Aetna had offered to sell a portfolio of about 290,000 Medicare Advantage members in 21 states to smaller peer Molina Healthcare Inc for $117 million, but that deal failed to appease Judge Bates. "We are disappointed by the court's ruling today. However, whatever the ultimate outcome of that litigation, we remain committed to growing our Medicare Advantage product line," Molina spokeswoman Sunny Yu said. Humana is the second-largest Medicare Advantage insurer while Aetna is the fourth, and the two compete in more than 600 counties, the government said in its complaint. Despite the adverse regulatory environment, some analysts suggested that an acquisition of Humana by someone other than Aetna was possible. "We still suggest other potential M&A optionality exists for Humana, since nothing in the verdict seems to preclude it from possible buyers that expressed historic interest and that have less market overlap, namely Cigna and Anthem, JPMorgan Chase & Co analysts wrote in a note. (Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Additional reporting by Caroline Humer and Carl O'Donnell in New York; Editing by Andrew Hay and Lisa Shumaker) This is what it felt like walking in the Womens March in Los Angeles Someone started honking their car horn as my group of friends rounded the corner of Hope St. in Downtown Los Angeles. Usually when this happens, a lewd comment follows. This time, I turned to see a group of smiling faces excitedly point at our freshly painted protest signs. We made eye contact with one another. I nodded my head and lifted my sign up in the air. 9:00 AM 10:00 AM Im in the middle of a huge crowd. A woman next to me is holding the hand of her 8-year-old son wearing a Pokemon t-shirt. A man in front of me hoists his young daughter onto his shoulders. An elderly man and his wife share a fig newton my new friend Amy produced out of nowhere. A young man with green buzzcut to my left quickly pecks his boyfriend. I spoke with a woman named Alysha, who just moved from Massachusetts three months ago and found out what she thought of the Womens March. She said, I think this is just the first step. My sister is so knowledgable and I am looking forward to getting more involved. I start to feel a lot of different emotions swell up in my chest. I brought a pair of tinted shades with me, just in case I started to cry. For the last few months Ive been feeling lost, hopeless, powerless and forgotten. Yet standing in this crowd filled with people who were different made me feel safe. Out of nowhere, a piercing sound of a trumpet came from the roof of a parked van. A bearded man climbed up and started playing America The Beautiful. Everyone sang off key. After the song finished the trumpeter seamlessly transitioned into the Star Spangled Banner. By the time we got to the part about ramparts bursting in air I was full on sobbing. p1070848 p1070831 The tears came largely because for the first time in a long time I didnt feel scared. As an immigrant, I felt welcomed. As a woman, I felt supported. As an American, I felt proud. 11:00 AM The giant crowd started moving towards 7th Street because Town Hall was full. I stopped crying and started laughing at all of the amazing protest signs peaking through. My friends and I were laughing, joking, chanting and looking forward to the speakers coming up. Story continues p1070874 p1070922 A Few Hours Later We shouldered our way towards the main stage on 6th and Broadway. We werent even close but the speakers were carrying a familiar voice. No one could see who was speaking but suddenly someone in the group exclaimed I think thats Barbra Streisand! And it was. Barbs was speaking her mind and the crowd loved every word. I wondered if she was air lifted to and from the stage. That seems like the only proper way to welcome in this legend. Jane Fonda spoke next. They were just a few of the long list of incredibly inspiring speakers who showed up that day. When we got home and checked the news, we found out that nearly 750 thousand people showed up. Generally speaking, thats 750 thousand people who believe in the same values and principles we do. And thats just the people who were able to come out in Los Angeles. In essence, the people I spoke with throughout the day mirrored my own sentiments about feminism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia and elitism. Of course we must now be vigilant. We have to stay informed. We must not be scared but move forward with purpose. Thanks to this empowering experience, I wont be scared. Ill remember the signs and the laughter. By in large, it was a historic day in downtown Los Angeles and in America as a whole. Fake news has been a topic that has come up often in the last few months, with some saying it helped President Donald Trump win the election while the president himself called his Golden Shower Gate controversy another piece of fake news. Around the world too, there have been various instances recently involving fake news China, Germany and Sweden, among others, are mulling action against Facebook and other social media platforms for the propagation of misinformation; Pakistans defense minister threatened Israel with nuclear war based on a bogus news story; a fake news story about a blast in Thailand triggered the safety check feature on Facebook; and so on. One of the leading topics about which there is a plethora of misinformation is climate change, an issue whose effects are not limited to one country alone but have an impact on the entire planet and all life-forms on it. And in a paper published Monday, researchers suggest using a psychological vaccine to inoculate the public against the damaging effects of misleading myths about climate change. In a statement, the researchers from universities of Yale, George Mason, and Cambridge in the United Kingdom, said: A new study compared reactions to a well-known climate change fact with those to a popular misinformation campaign. When presented consecutively, the false material completely cancelled out the accurate statement in peoples minds opinions ended up back where they started. Researchers then added a small dose of misinformation to delivery of the climate change fact, by briefly introducing people to distortion tactics used by certain groups. This inoculation helped shift and hold opinions closer to the truth despite the follow-up exposure to fake news. climate change and national security Photo: CHRISTOPHER FURLONG/GETTY IMAGES Over 2,000 participants across the United States were tested for the study, in which they were presented with opposing statements on climate change from false assertions about there being no consensus about climate change among the scientific fraternity to accurate ones like 97 percent of scientists agreeing on human-induced climate change. Researchers found those who saw only the facts about climate change were quite likely, irrespective of political affiliation, to move toward believing in the scientific consensus. Those who were shown only the misinformation were inclined to move away from scientific beliefs. Participants who saw the accurate data followed by fake news had very little change in opinion, the two competing sets of data cancelling each other out. Two groups among the participants, chosen randomly, were given two separate doses of vaccines. One was a general warning that some groups tried to mislead the public by talking about disagreement among scientists on climate change. The other was a detailed breakdown of such claims by the Oregon Global Warming Petition Project, explaining how the signatories were fraudulent (Charles Darwin and members of the Spice Girls are among them) and how less than 1 percent actually had a background in climate science. It was seen that the groups so inoculated showed a marked shift in opinion toward believing in climate change, and its human cause. Sander van der Linden, a social psychologist from the University of Cambridge and director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab, and lead author of the study, said: We found that inoculation messages were equally effective in shifting the opinions of Republicans, Independents and Democrats in a direction consistent with the conclusions of climate science. Whats striking is that, on average, we found no backfire effect to inoculation messages among groups predisposed to reject climate science, they didn't seem to retreat into conspiracy theories. There will always be people completely resistant to change, but we tend to find there is room for most people to change their minds, even just a little. Titled Inoculating the Public against Misinformation about Climate Change, the open access study was published in the journal Global Challenges. Related Articles Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - A first day of indirect peace talks between Syrian rebels and the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Kazakhstan's capital Astana ended Monday without any apparent breakthrough, sources told AFP. "Our delegation's meetings are over for today," a source close to the regime told AFP, after rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told reporters the opposition's meetings were also done for the day. Monday's talks, organised by rebel backer Turkey and regime allies Russia and Iran, could have marked the first time armed rebel groups directly negotiate with Assad's regime since the conflict began in 2011. But the rebels backed out of direct talks because of the regime's ongoing bombardment and attacks near Damascus. The rebels, however, participated in indirect talks with the regime and held a three-way meeting with Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, an encounter Aridi described as "long and productive". Aridi told reporters the "two sides are working on issues relating to the confirmation of the ceasefire" brokered last month by Ankara and Moscow. He said that the rebel delegation had met with Russia -- which launched a bombing campaign in support of Assad in September 2015 -- and discussed "achieving a ceasefire in Syria". The talks are scheduled to continue on Tuesday, with Aridi saying he expected they would take place "through mediation." More than 310,000 people have been killed and more than half of Syria's population displaced since the start of the nearly six-year conflict. HOUSTON (Reuters) - The health of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, 92, has improved and on Monday he is moving out of the intensive care unit of a Houston hospital where he has been treated for more than a week for bacterial pneumonia, doctors said. Former first lady Barbara Bush, 91, has been discharged from the same hospital after being treated for bronchitis, doctors at Houston Methodist Hospital said at a news conference. "He is a really strong person. He is not your average 92 year old," Dr. Amy Mynderse said of the former president. Doctors added he is expected to spend a few more days in the hospital. Bush, who had a breathing tube removed from him last week, is now sitting up and watching television. Bush, the nation's oldest living ex-president, has been at Houston Methodist Hospital since Jan. 14 after experiencing shortness of breath. "He hasn't made any big political statements," Mynderse said when asked by a reporter if Bush has mentioned new President Donald Trump. Barbara Bush was admitted to the same hospital on Wednesday as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing, family spokesman Jim McGrath has said. "Mrs. Bush had a viral bronchitis and was really just running herself ragged trying to be up here with him," Mynderse said. The couple marked their 72nd wedding anniversary on Jan. 6. The former president was invited to attend Friday's inauguration of his fellow Republican Trump. Bush, the only living former president not in attendance, ended up watching the proceedings from his hospital room and sent Trump, whom he did not endorse as a candidate, a letter of support, McGrath said. His son George W. Bush, another former president, attended the ceremony. Another one of his sons, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, ran unsuccessfully against Trump last year for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. (Writing and reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Additional reporting by Lisa Maria Garza in Dallas and Ernest Scheyder in Houston; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Tom Brown) - Bernie Ecclestone's long reign as Formula One's ringmaster came to an end as Liberty Media completed its multi-billion-dollar takeover of motorsport's most prestigious brand. Colorado-based Liberty confirmed in a statement that American Chase Carey had been appointed chairman and chief executive of F1, with Ecclestone moving into an advisory role as "chairman emeritus". Ecclestone, 86, had already signalled the end of his near 40-year reign as head of Formula One in comments to German magazine Auto Motor und Sport earlier Monday. "I was dismissed today," Ecclestone told the magazine. "I no longer run the company. My position has been taken by Chase Carey," he said. He said his new chairman emeritus role was "a kind of honorary president" position, but added: "I have this title without knowing what it means." AFP Foxconn, the worlds largest electronics manufacturer that makes smartphones for the likes of Apple and Samsung, is considering setting up a $7 billion U.S.-based plant, company CEO and Chairman Terry Gou told reporters Sunday. The announcement follows President Donald Trumps America First pledge in his inauguration speech on Friday. Gou responded to the speech by warning about the rise of protectionism. Gou said that the move was being actively considered after his meeting with the head of Japans SoftBank Group, Masayoshi Son, who is also a partner for Foxconn. Son met Trump in December and pledged to invest $50 billion in the U.S. The U.S. currently has no smartphone panel making industry. An investment from Foxconn, if it comes to fruition, could possibly create 30,000-50,000 jobs, according to Gou. While Gou has spoken about setting up U.S. based manufacturing, he stopped short of providing a confirmation for the same. There is such a plan, but it is not a promise. It is a wish, he said. This is not the first time that the company has given indications of setting up a manufacturing unit in the U.S. It also did so in an official statement to International Business Times in December. "We can confirm that we are in preliminary discussions regarding a potential investment that would represent an expansion of our current US operations. While the scope of the potential investment has not been determined, we will announce the details of any plans following the completion of direct discussions between our leadership and the relevant US officials. Those plans would be made based on mutually-agreed terms," the company said in the statement. However, it remains to be seen how smartphone manufacturers cope with the Trump administration's America First vision. Manufacturers have so far been producing their goods outside the U.S. because of the high cost of manufacturing and regulatory issues within the country. Related Articles Riyadh (AFP) - France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to reaffirm the allies' "strategic partnership", as European concerns mount over US President Donald Trump's foreign policies. Ayrault, on his first ministerial visit to the kingdom, "will discuss the main regional issues, particularly the situations in Yemen, Iraq, Libya and Syria", the French foreign ministry said in a statement. The minister is to meet his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir as well as King Salman. France's ties with Saudi Arabia have grown under President Francois Hollande. At the same time, Riyadh has been building alliances beyond its traditional defence partner, the United States, to counter Iran, after concerns that former president Barack Obama had eased US policy towards Riyadh's regional rival. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shiite-dominated Iran support opposite sides of the wars in Syria and Yemen. Ayrault's visit coincides with Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan jointly organised by Iran, Turkey and Russia. The French minister "will reaffirm the strategic partnership uniting France and Saudi Arabia", the foreign ministry in Paris said. Trump, who took over from Obama on Friday, has prompted European fears of an isolationist Washington. Trump cast doubt on Europe's future, particularly after Britain's shock vote to leave the EU, prompting Ayrault to say last week that the best response is for Europeans to "come together as a bloc". However, Jubeir has said he expects Trump's administration "to be more engaged" in the Middle East, rebuilding ties with allies. Ayrault's Saudi visit, which ends on Tuesday, follows a trip to France last June by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the defence minister and driving force behind the kingdom's Vision 2030 plan to diversify its oil-dependent economy. The French minister on Tuesday morning is to visit construction work on the $22.5-billion Riyadh Metro rapid transit project, in which French company Alstom is part of a consortium building the system. He will also meet Saudi business leaders. France is the third-biggest foreign investor in Saudi Arabia and has been seeking to boost weapons sales to the Gulf region despite concerns raised by rights groups. Les Sables-d'Olonne (France) (AFP) - France's Jeremie Beyou snatched third position on Monday in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race, crossing the finish line four days after record-breaking winning compatriot Armel Le Cleach'h. The Maitre CoQ skipper finished the gruelling solo non-stop race at Les Sables d'Olonne at 1840GMT after 78 days 6 hours and 38 minutes at sea. Le Cleac'h had sealed his place in Vendee Globe folklore on Thursday, crossing the line after 74 days, three hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds. Britain's Alex Thomson of Hugo Boss reached the finish line on Friday with Beyou, 40, completing the podium after being forced to retire in 2008 and 2012. Beyou becomes the fourth skipper to complete the race in less than 80 days after Le Cleac'h, Thomson and France's Francois Gabart, winner in 2012/2013. Fifteen of the 29 boats who undertook the 'Everest of the Seas' on November 6 last at Sables d'Olonne have yet to finish. Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Roshan's public appearances are a testimony to a rock solid friendship between the ex-couple. By India Today Web Desk: Sussanne Khan and Hrithik Roshan are unlike any couple we have seen in Bollywood in a really long time. When most Bollywood couples grow cold and distant after a separation, Hrithik and Sussanne have stunned almost everyone with their friendship. Their every single public appearance is a proof of no bad blood between the two after the divorce. In fact, their get together(s) are a testimony to a rock solid friendship between the ex-couple. advertisement ALSO READ: Ex-wife Sussanne wishing Hrithik on his birthday is the cutest thing you'll see today ALSO READ: Hrithik and ex-wife Sussanne holiday with their sons in Dubai From parties to film screenings to vacations, Hrithik and Sussanne have been spotted together more than often in the last two years. And despite the divorce, the two share a special bond and have stuck together as a family all this while. The ex-couple once again gave everyone some friendship goals when Sussanne joined Hrithik for a screening of his upcoming film Kaabil. Sussanne did not just make it to the screening of Kaabil along with her two sons, but also praised Kaabil and Hrithik for his superb work. She took to Twitter to shower love and praise on her ex-hubby and wrote, "The most hearted performance in history of Indian cinema @iHrithik! Kaabil will melt you! (sic)." The most hearted performance in history of Indian cinema @iHrithik! ?Kaabil will melt u! ????????????????kudos 2 d team @yamigautam @_SanjayGupta pic.twitter.com/TICcjCm9QJ Sussanne Khan (@sussannekroshan) January 22, 2017 She did not stop here. Later, she posted a picture with Hrithik on Instagram from the screening and wrote, "So so so proud of you." Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind... so so so proud of you.. ????????? #kaabil #sacrecoeur A photo posted by Sussanne Khan (@suzkr) on Jan 21, 2017 at 12:20pm PST But this isn't a one-of-its-kind appearance. Sussanne and Hrithik have remained more than just cordial with each other following their divorce in 2014. And they are truly an example for any couple. Wishes for birthday boy, Hrithik When entire Bollywood wished Hrithik on his 43rd birthday, it was his ex-wife Sussanne's birthday wish which grabbed eyeballs. The interior designer shared an adorable picture with Duggu and wrote, "Happiest happy birthday to you. #happysoulsaretheprettiest (sic)." Happiest happy birthday to you ????????????????#sacrecoeur #happiestsoulsaretheprettiest #limitless A photo posted by Sussanne Khan (@suzkr) on Jan 9, 2017 at 9:32pm PST They might not stay together, but they definitely holiday together Hrithik and Sussanne have always maintained that they will remain good parents to their kids and keeping up with the promise, the two rang in the new year together in Dubai as a family along with their sons. advertisement A very beautiful day..??????? #happysoulsareprettiest #familiasagrada #dublife A photo posted by Sussanne Khan (@suzkr) on Dec 28, 2016 at 7:44am PST Friendly vibe between Hrithik and Sussanne Their camaraderie has caught the fancy of many and in a recent interview to Mumbai Mirror, Hrithik opened up about his equation with his ex-wife and said, "My relationship with Sussanne is peaceful. We are loving parents and friends to each other." They have each other's back They might not be together, but Hrithik and Sussanne have always stood by each other in testing times. And the same happened last year, when Sussanne supported her ex-husband during his ugly legal war with Kangana Ranaut. When a photo of Hrithik and Kangana getting cosy at a party started doing the rounds, Sussanne came to the rescue and clarified on Twitter that the picture was photoshopped, and that she herself was present at that party. pictures are photoshopped and untrue stories carry 2 much weight.another pic for d rec. I support @iHrithik in this. pic.twitter.com/TGKTc40h0J Sussanne Khan (@sussannekroshan) April 27, 2016 advertisement --- ENDS --- BOGOTA (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande said on Monday that he would seek to bolster trade and investment with the Pacific Alliance trade bloc in joint negotiations with the European Union. The Pacific Alliance, which includes Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, is a vehicle aimed at increasing regional exports and attract investment from Asia. "France and Europe want to have a commercial relationship with the Pacific Alliance," Hollande said in a statement after signing agreements on tourism, education and security with his Colombia counterpart Juan Manuel Santos. "Europe and France together with the Pacific Alliance will launch commercial negotiations to be able to develop trade," said Hollande, who also backed Santos' efforts to end a 52-year war that has left more than 220,000 people dead. Hollande made indirect mention of new U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that while some countries are seeking changes to trade agreements, Europe and France want to expand their ties. Protectionism is "the worst response" to the challenges facing the world, he said. Trump on Monday signed an executive order formally withdrawing the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, following through on a promise from his campaign last year. Trump also wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Pacific Alliance, which has said it is open to new partners, accounts for 39 percent the gross domestic product in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that mainly exports raw materials like minerals and food. Some 217 million people live in its member countries. Hollande on Tuesday will visit a mountainous area of southwestern Colombia, where ex-combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are gathering before handing in their weapons to form a political party. The rebel group signed a peace accord late last year. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Helen Murphy; Editing by Julia Symmes Cobb and Sandra Maler) BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) French President Francois Hollande is in Colombia's capital as part of a two-day tour and he's expressing his support for a peace deal to end the country's half-century conflict. It's the first visit to the South American nation by a French head of state in 28 years. Hollande was received with honors Monday by President Juan Manuel Santos. He is expected to travel Tuesday to a rural zone where guerrillas belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are preparing to turn over their weapons to United Nations-backed observers as part of a historic peace deal. France is a major supporter of the peace deal as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and through donations to rebuild war -orn communities being channeled through the European Union. Berlin (AFP) - France's conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon said Monday Europe needed a "jolt" to reform in light of new global threats to the old order, after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Speaking in Berlin days after US President Donald Trump's inauguration and British Prime Minister Theresa May's speech outlining her country's EU exit plans, Fillon said Europe could no longer be complacent about prosperity or stability. "For decades we have been living under the illusion of perpetual peace," said Fillon, who polls predict would win the French election if it were held today. "The reality is crueller," with an aggressive Russia, the threat of a trade war between the United States and China, and growing European divisions undermining confidence. "Here in Berlin, I am calling for a jolt to Europe. We cannot continue as before," he told an audience at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation think tank, which has close ties to Merkel's conservatives. Fillon said this would require "defining our priorities", including in economic and security policy, and reasserting shared values. "In the current situation, where our Europe is threatened with disappearance from the international stage, it is our responsibility to take decisions," he said. Delivering a passionate defence of the Franco-German partnership, Fillon said citizens must also live up to their duties to sustain European unity in turbulent times, even as Brexit threatens to undermine the cohesion of the EU. "Instead of asking what Europe can do for us, we should ask ourselves what we can do for it," borrowing a phrase from US President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural address. But he offered tough talk on two of the most highly charged issues of the campaign: Islamist extremism and immigration. "If borders are not protected by our European partners, and in the context of the war against Islamic totalitarianism, France will re-establish real checks at its borders," he pledged. Story continues Earlier, the former French prime minister held separate closed-doors talks with Merkel, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. Polls currently show far-right candidate Marine Le Pen qualifying for the second round of the French presidential election in May where she is forecast to face -- and lose to -- Fillon. Le Pen, who says children of illegal immigrants should be refused public schooling, is an outspoken critic of Merkel's liberal refugee policy that led 890,000 people from mostly war-torn countries to seek refuge in Germany in 2015 alone. Paris (AFP) - It wasn't exactly brassieres at dawn, but the French lingerie industry was not going to take a provocation from Victoria's Secret lying down. The brash US lingerie label flew a jet full of supermodels into Paris in November for its annual Las Vegas-style fashion show, seeking to build a bridgehead into the lucrative European market. Such a slight to the city that invented sexy underwear could not go unanswered. The French resistance snapped into action with a rival show called "Lingerie, Mon Amour" (Lingerie, My Love) late on Sunday as Paris haute couture week began. For the first time in history the country's 14 top brands united on the same runway to face down the US giant's steamroller hype with nothing more than some peek-a-boo lace and fine corsets. Billed as a clash of class against cash, it set Victoria's Secret's casino showgirl chic, and $3-million emerald-encrusted "fantasy bras" against the subtle age-old French art of seduction. While Victoria's Secret spent $20 million bringing Lady Gaga and electro star The Weeknd across the Atlantic, the French show settled for a 14-piece orchestra to summon up the spirit of Marie Antoinette, one of the first women, its organisers claimed, "to liberate herself from her corset". And rather than a procession of pneumatic models led by Gigi and Bella Hadid, the French show went for older, unknown models to show that glamour was "within every woman's reach". Karine Sfar, who heads the French lingerie federation, said that France was still the world's number one for high-end undies because of the unparalleled know-how of its bra makers. - Women buying it for themselves - "Each bra has 30 to 40 individual parts, and it takes an incredible amount of expertise" to really make the best of a woman's assets, she added. But most of all, she said with such "an intimate garment", it had to be comfortable and "make you more beautiful" while smoothing away all that you don't want on display. Story continues Rather than lingerie being something men bought for women -- the business model that drives Victoria's Secret $7-billion in sales -- women buy French underwear for themselves, said Alain De Rodellec of the Chantelle label. "It is not all about pleasing men. Women buy lingerie first of all for themselves to feel good and to feel beautiful. Although France is number four in the world behind China, Taiwan and Sri Lanka in terms of volume of lingerie it makes, Sfar argued that the country where Hermine Cadolle invented the modern bra in 1889, still has the edge on style and quality. "The French je ne sais quoi", she said. She said they had deliberately not hired big-name models for the packed show to take the limelight off the lacy creations themselves. The show played on three centuries of Gallic coquetterie, from the courtesans and ladies in waiting of the Palace of Versailles to the femmes fatales of Dior's "New Look", and Yves Saint Laurent's powerful women in black smoking jackets and suspenders. Despite its focus on giving women inner confidence, Sfar admitted that the big name historic French lingerie companies such as Aubade and Maison Lejaby, are far from feminist bastions. "We cannot say that when almost none of the heads of the big French companies are women," she said. De Rodellec said lingerie had long been regarded "accessories rather than real clothing. But it is a real fashion item and it deserves its place on the fashion runways. "It has long been our dream that lingerie shows become part of Paris fashion week, and we hope that will happen one day," he added. By Sophie Louet BERLIN (Reuters) - European Union sanctions on Russia are pointless, the frontrunner in France's presidential election Francois Fillon said on Monday in Berlin, warning Russia and the United States under Donald Trump could forge links that exclude the EU. Speaking after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the conservative candidate said the EU was "despised by major powers" because of its divisions and must better defend its economic interests. The relationship between France and Germany is essential to driving those changes but it must be a partnership of equals, Fillon said, flexing his muscles on the campaign trail to say the two countries must be open about their differences. "We have differences? Let's accept them instead of denying them. We have divergences on the issue of refugees or on economic policy? Let's face them to better overcome them," he told a conference. One of those differences is on Russia, where Germany has taken a hard line in favor of EU sanctions over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and its support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. "I am convinced that the economic sanctions are totally ineffective," Fillon told reporters earlier on Monday. "We must find another way to talk," he said, while adding that a gesture from Russia would be needed before sanctions could be lifted. "I do not want (U.S. President Donald) Trump to talk with Russia at our expense. It would be damaging for Europe if Trump went above our heads, which is not inconceivable," he said. Fillon, who last year was called an "upstanding person" by Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that in the longer term he would aim for a new economic partnership and a Europe-Russia security conference, once the conflict in Ukraine was resolved. [nR4N1DL001] Fillon is the frontrunner in opinion polls but his ratings have dropped slightly and surveys predict an increasingly tight race between him, far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen and independent centrist Emmanuel Macron. 'ON THE SAME PAGE' With a pro-business focus on cutting public spending, Fillon is generally seen as an ally by fellow conservative Merkel on economic issues. He sought to allay fears that, if elected, he may let the public budget deficit deteriorate while he reforms the economy by saying that he aimed to keep the deficit as close as possible to 3 percent of economic output next year. His program had indicated that the deficit could be as wide as 4.5 percent in 2018. Fillon has also dropped calls to pool the debts of euro zone countries, another sign of goodwill toward Germany. He is in favor of harmonization of tax policies in the euro zone, as is Berlin. The euro zone must be strengthened, Fillon said during his Berlin visit, saying heads of states should have the upper hand and meet every three months. Fillon said he and Merkel were "on the same page" on the need not to let the United States impose its laws that have cost European banks billions of euros in fines and other settlements over violations of U.S. sanctions against other countries. Fillon is the only candidate in the April-May presidential election to be received by the German chancellor so far, in a sign of support from Merkel. But she looks unlikely to give him explicit backing - there was no joint statement or comment from German officials afterwards. Merkel, up for re-election herself in September, publicly backed conservative Nicolas Sarkozy when he sought re-election in 2012. He lost. Asked if Merkel would be willing to meet the Socialist candidate, who is to be nominated on Sunday, her spokesman said: "If there is a wish from the French side, then yes". [nL5N1FD24D] (Additonal reporting by Joseph Nasr, Ingrid Melander and Emmanuel Jarry; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Janet Lawrence) (BANJUL, Gambia) Exiled Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh stole millions of dollars in his final weeks in power, plundering the state coffers and shipping out luxury vehicles by cargo plane, a special adviser for the new president said Sunday. Meanwhile, a regional military force rolled in, greeted by cheers, to secure this tiny West African nation so that democratically elected President Adama Barrow could return home. He remained in neighboring Senegal, where he took the oath of office Thursday because of concerns for his safety. At a press conference in the Senegalese capital, Barrows special adviser Mai Ahmad Fatty told journalists that the president will return home as soon as possible. Underscoring the challenges facing the new administration, Fatty confirmed that Jammeh made off with more than $11.4 million during a two-week period alone. That is only what they have discovered so far since Jammeh and his family took an offer of exile after more than 22 years in power and departed late Saturday. The Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are virtually empty. That is a state of fact, Fatty said. It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia. Fatty also confirmed that a Chadian cargo plane had transported luxury goods out of the country on Jammehs behalf in his final hours in power, including an unknown number of vehicles. Fatty said officials at the Gambia airport have been ordered not to allow any of Jammehs belongings to leave. Separately, it appeared that some of his goods remained in Guinea, where Jammeh and his closest allies stopped on their flight into exile. Fatty said officials regret the situation, but it appeared that the major damage had been done, leaving the new government with little recourse to recoup the funds. The unpredictable Jammeh, known for startling declarations like his claim that bananas and herbal rubs could cure AIDS, went into exile under mounting international pressure, with a wave to supporters as soldiers wept. He is now in Equatorial Guinea, home to Africas longest-serving ruler and not a state party to the International Criminal Court. Story continues Jammehs dramatic about-face on his December election loss to Barrow, at first conceding and then challenging the vote, appeared to be the final straw for the international community, which had been alarmed by his moves in recent years to declare an Islamic republic and leave the Commonwealth and the ICC. Barrows adviser disavowed a joint declaration issued after Jammehs departure by the United Nations, African Union and West African regional bloc ECOWAS that bestowed a number of protections upon Jammeh, his family and his associates including the assurance that their lawful assets would not be seized. As far as were concerned, it doesnt exist, Fatty said. The declaration also said Jammehs exile was temporary and that he reserved the right to return to Gambia at the time of his choosing. Although the declaration was written to provide Jammeh with maximum protection, it doesnt give him amnesty, according to international human rights lawyer Reed Brody. Under international law in fact you cant amnesty certain crimes like torture and massive or systematic political killings, he said in an email. Depending where Jammeh ends up, though, the real obstacles to holding him accountable will be political. Barrow will now begin forming a Cabinet and working with Gambias national assembly to reverse the state of emergency Jammeh declared in his final days in power, said Halifa Sallah, spokesman for the coalition backing the new leader. The presidents official residence, State House, needs to be cleared of any possible hazards before Barrow arrives, Sallah added. The regional military force that had been poised to force out Jammeh if diplomatic efforts failed rolled into Gambias capital, Banjul, on Sunday night to secure it for Barrows arrival. Hundreds greeted the forces approach to State House, cheering and dancing, while some people grabbed soldiers to take selfies. The force will remain in the country until such time the security general situation is comprehensively redressed, Barrow said in a statement. Marcel Alain de Souza, chairman of the regional bloc, said part of Gambias security forces needed to be immobilized, and he confirmed that Jammeh had had mercenaries by his side during the standoff. The former leader also had requested a sort of amnesty for him and his entourage and had wanted to remain in his home village, de Souza said. With Jammeh gone, a country that had waited in silence during the crisis sprang back to life. Shops and restaurants opened, music played and people danced in the streets. Defense chief Ousmane Badjie said the military welcomed the arrival of the regional force wholeheartedly. With proper orders, he said, he would open the doors to the notorious prisons where rights groups say many who have disappeared over the years may be kept. We are going to show Barrow we are really armed forces with a difference, I swear to God, Badjie said. I have the Quran with me. Some of the 45,000 people who had fled the tiny country during the crisis began to return. The nation of 1.9 million, which promotes itself to overseas tourists as the Smiling Coast of Africa, has been a major source of migrants heading toward Europe because of the situation at home. I think it will be safer now, said 20-year-old Kaddy Saidy, who was returning to Banjul with her three young children. Barrow, who has promised to reverse many of Jammehs actions, told The Associated Press on Saturday he will launch a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses of Jammehs regime. Rights groups say those include arbitrary detentions, torture and even killing of opponents. After 22 years of fear, Gambians now have a unique opportunity to become a model for human rights in West Africa, Amnesty Internationals deputy director for West and Central Africa, Steve Cockburn, said in a statement Sunday. ___ Larson reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writers Babacar Dione in Dakar, Senegal; Youssouf Bah in Conakry, Guinea; and Abdoulie John and photographer Jerome Delay in Banjul contributed. Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambian President Adama Barrow has chosen a former minister of longtime leader Yahya Jammeh as vice-president, a spokesman said Monday. Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang is often described as the woman who persuaded The Gambia's divided opposition parties to club together and field a single candidate in the December 1 election which Barrow eventually won. A former health minister in the early years of ex-leader Jammeh's 22-year rule, Jallow-Tambajang was specifically chosen to correct the gender balance in Barrow's administration, spokesman Halifa Sallah told journalists in announcing her appointment. "Consideration has been given in terms of balance of the constitution of the cabinet," he said. She has become a controversial figure in recent weeks after telling The Guardian newspaper that Jammeh would be prosecuted for crimes committed by his regime, an act almost immediately followed by the mercurial president announcing he no longer recognised the election result. A development expert who previously worked of the United Nations, Jallow-Tambajang has also argued that a national commission for asset recovery should be established. This would be particularly pertinent given claims by Barrow's team that Jammeh stole $11 million and several luxury vehicles before departing for Equatorial Guinea. Jammeh also had a female vice-president, Isatou Njie-Saidy, who stayed loyal to him for several years in an administration where defections and unexplained firings were common. Many teens may go to school with snow on the ground this time of year, but it's not too early for them to think about summer plans. Some high school programs for the upcoming summer have application deadlines that have already passed or are fast approaching. The application deadline for the Yale Young Global Scholars Program, for instance, is Jan. 31. Students need to apply to the Wharton School's Leadership in the Business World program at the University of Pennsylvania by Feb. 3. [Explore top business schools this summer while in high school.] Academic programs at prestigious colleges are one of many experiences teens can pursue this summer. Teens and their parents can start planning for summer now by completing the following tasks. 1. Research summer opportunities: Families can start by seeing what's out there, while narrowing down a teen's interests and keeping their budget in mind, says Sara Zessar, founder of Discovery College Consulting in Denver. There may be experiences available locally, such as camps, workshops, volunteer opportunities or internships, she says. Teens could also shadow a professional in a field they are interested in. The National Institutes of Health offers a biomedical summer internship program open to high schoolers. 2. Consider cost: Some academic summer programs cost thousands of dollars, Zessar says, but there are other low-cost and free opportunities. Teens could also get a job -- which could be a valuable experience where teens actually make money, she says. "That is underrated now," says Angela Um, chief consultant at Boston Academic Consulting Group and a former admissions officer at Harvard University and MIT. [Weigh the college applications pros and cons of high school jobs.] Many summer programs offer students financial aid, says Um. Teens should apply early -- much earlier than the deadline asks -- if they are looking for financial aid for a better shot at receiving some, says Joan Rosenberg, principal of Jericho High School in New York and a former school counselor. Story continues Several states, including Virginia, New Jersey and Georgia, offer low-cost and free governor's school summer programs for gifted teens. The Telluride Association offers free summer programs for intellectually curious teens who complete academic seminars. 3. Allow plenty of time to obtain admissions materials: Summer programs may require transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays and more for admission. Teens should allow at least a couple of weeks for educators to provide transcripts and letters of recommendation, Rosenberg says. Students applying to a performing arts summer program could ask their theater director or dance teacher for help in preparing an audition piece, if needed, says Zessar. The Interlochen summer arts camp in Michigan offers programs in motion picture arts, dance, creative writing and more. Some programs require auditions or portfolios for admission. 4. Remind teens they should spend summer doing what's best for them: Many competitive colleges do ask applicants how they spend their summers, says Um. But students shouldn't be quick to sign up for the popular summer program of the moment. She encourages students to pause and reflect on what it is they really love to do, then determine how they want to spend their summer. December and January is a good time for teens to think about this as most deadlines for summer programs occur in February, March and April. Teens should be consistent in spending their summers working on their passion -- that will show a track record of persistence and commitment, which colleges are looking for, Um says. Zessar tells families to remember they don't have to spend a ton of money for teens to do something meaningful with their summer. "Many students need that time off in the summer to kind of refresh themselves and to not necessarily be studying or be in school," says Rosenberg. "Many need that downtime, so make sure that the child is interested in doing this." Have something of interest to share? Send your news to us at highschoolnotes@usnews.com. Alexandra Pannoni is an education digital producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at apannoni@usnews.com. By Press Trust of India: 394 arrested Chandigarh, Jan 23 (PTI) Close to 400 people have been arrested and drugs, liquor and cash worth Rs 58 crore seized in Punjab after the model code of conduct came into force even as no link has been established so far between the recovery and any political party or person. "Total recovery in the state, which includes cash, liquor, drugs, gold and other items, goes about Rs 58 crore," Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) V K Bhawra said here today. advertisement He said among the seizure by the agencies - BSF, NCB and the police - include 5 kg heroin, 1,800 kg poppy husk, 127 kg opium in the state and 394 persons have been arrested under the NDPS Act. Bhawra, who is also the nodal officer for the state election, said a huge quantity of seizures of contraband was also made by neighbouring states in coordination with the Punjab police. The ADGP said Jammu and Kashmir police have seized 1,000 kg poppy husk near Lakhanpur and the supply was meant for Punjab. In addition, Rajasthan police also seized 475 kg of poppy husk. When asked whether law enforcement agencies have been able to link the seizure of drugs, liquor and cash with any political party or person, Bhawra said police was trying to find out the source of recovery. "The follow up at micro level has not been done...We will try to ascertain the source of the recovery be it liquor, drugs or cash. It is a long drawn process and it takes months," he said. Notably, in past, political parties had expressed concern over the misuse of drugs, liquor and cash to influence voters during the Punjab assembly polls. Bhawra said a meeting of inter-state police coordination took place today in which top cops and other senior police officials of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, UT Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir participated. In the meeting, it was decided that there would be an effective sealing of borders with other states by putting up check posts and maintaining round-the-clock vigil to check transportation of illegal items, including drugs. "The borders will be sealed effectively 72 hours before polls," he said. On the deposit of licensed weapons, Bhawra said 3.19 lakh weapons have been deposited which make up to 85 per cent of total licensed arms in the state. He further said that 409 unlicensed weapons, including pistols, have been seized during checking of vehicles at several places in the state. PTI CHS AQS RG AQS AQS --- ENDS --- advertisement George H.W. Bush has improved enough to be moved out of intensive care, doctors in Houston said Monday. The 41st president, who was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on January 14, has been suffering from pneumonia, but is showing signs of improvement. Read: George H.W. Bush Will Defy Party With Vote for Clinton, a Kennedy Claims "He is a really strong person. He is not your average 92-year-old," Dr. Amy Mynderse told reporters at a Monday news conference. Dr. Mynderse also made special note of how kind President Bush and his wife Barbara, who was also admitted to Houston Methodist with respiratory distress, have been during their stay. "They're so humble. They truly are the most humble people," she said. Barbara Bush, 91, was admitted to the same hospital Wednesday as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing. "Mrs. Bush had a viral bronchitis and was really just running herself ragged trying to be up here with him," Mynderse told reporters. Mrs. Bush has been released from the hospital. This isn't the first time President Bush has been hospitalized in recent memory. The father of George W. Bush has been treated for medical ailments on several 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 he was finally released at the start of 2013. Read: Wounded War Vet Proposes to Girlfriend in Front of Bush 41 and 43, Reveals It Was Their Idea Bush was hospitalized again in 2015 after he fractured his neck in a fall at the family's home in Maine. While the former president won't be released from Houston Methodist, he was expected to be released from the ICU Monday. Watch: Jimmy Carter Actually Filed a UFO Report with NASA Before Becoming President Related Articles: BERLIN (Reuters) - The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) will discipline one of its state leaders for criticizing Berlin's Holocaust Memorial but will not expel him over the episode, the party's co-leader said on Monday. Bjoern Hoecke, AfD head in the eastern state of Thuringia, stirred anger across Germany with a comment about the memorial when he told party members in a speech in Dresden last week: "Germans are the only people in the world who plant a monument of shame in the heart of the capital." AfD co-leader Frauke Petry told broadcaster MDR on Monday that its executive committee had concluded Hoecke's statements, which were cheered by some far-right supporters in the party, had harmed the AfD's reputation. As a result, she said, the party considered it necessary to take disciplinary action. She did not elaborate. Petry has distanced herself from Hoecke's remarks. Hoecke later said he welcomed the AfD's decision to drop plans to throw him out of the party, which is polling more than 10 percent in national polls and expected to win seats in parliament in the Sept. 24 election even though all other major parties have rejected it as a potential coalition partner. "I note with concern that the discussion about my speech... is being abused by some party allies for inner-party power struggles," Hoecke told a news conference. "I hope that the AfD won't get caught up in power struggles and will be able to maintain differing opinions that have helped make it so strong." The AfD's anti-immigrant rhetoric has won support among Germans worried about the influx of more than a million migrants in the past two years. With polls putting it on 12-15 percent, the AfD is tipped to win seats in the federal parliament for the first time in September's national election. Hoecke said his remarks about the memorial to the Jewish victims of Nazi Germany's Holocaust were misrepresented by the media and his speech was intended to reflect on how Germans looked at their history. The Holocaust Memorial, located near the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin, comprises 2,711 tombstone-like slabs of granite in varying heights, arranged in a grid pattern. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Angus MacSwan) MOSCOW (AP) Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is hosting Syria peace talks, is a relatively new name on the map. Founded in the early 19th century as a Russian empire outpost, Akmolinsk was a backwater in the wind-swept steppe. That changed in 1994 when Kazakhstan's first president decided to move the capital from the commercial center Almaty, and Akmolinsk was renamed Astana. Since then the city's population soared from about 200,000 to 880,000 last year. Primarily developed in post-war years with typical provincial two-story buildings, Astana received a radical makeover in the 1990s to be dominated by skyscrapers and steel-and-glass modern buildings which house government agencies and major companies. Locals joke about how fast Astana was developed. In one anecdote, a passenger asks the taxi driver about a skyscraper they pass. "I don't know. It wasn't there yesterday," the driver replies. Weather in Astana is so brutal that the area was chosen in the 1930s as a location for Stalin's prison camps. A special camp for the wives of "traitors of the people," a common charge that party officials and Red Army officers faced in the 1930s, was set up in the steppes in 1938. Before it was closed in 1950, thousands of female prisoners were sent to the camp, simply for their association with their husbands. Survivors of the wives' camp recall working in deadly winter with the freezing winds sweeping through the steppes and suffering from heat when dust storms rolled in. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Astana is -52 degrees Centigrade (-61 degrees Fahrenheit) and the highest is +43 degrees (109 degrees Fahrenheit). Snow can be seen on the streets in Astana in April and snowfalls are not unheard of in May. Google Doodle paid homage on Monday to what would have been the 78th birthday of pioneering disability campaigner Ed Roberts who fought throughout his lifetime for people with disabilities to have the right to fully participate in society with artwork featuring the activist giving a lecture from his wheelchair. The late American activist was paralyzed from the neck down after contracting polio at the age of 14. I watched Ed as he grew from a sports-loving kid, through bleak days of hopelessness, into self-acceptance of his physical limitations as he learned what was possible for him to accomplish, his mother Zona Roberts said, according to Google. His debilitating condition required him to use a wheelchair, and forced Roberts to sleep in a 800-pound iron lung at night. Roberts lifetime of activism began in high school, when he petitioned against being blocked from gaining his diploma because he had not completed drivers education and physical education. After receiving his diploma, Roberts went on to become the first student with severe disabilities to attend the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, Roberts activism took shape. There, he led other Berkeley students with severe disabilities in creating the Physically Disabled Students Program, the first of its kind, Google writes. Roberts went on to receive his bachelors and masters degrees in political science from the college, later returning to lead the Berkeley Center for Independent Living a project that became a model for disability rights around the globe. Roberts became director of the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in 1976 and co-founded the World Institute on Disability in 1983. He died in 1995. Donald Trumps caustic, ill-tempered, and divisive inaugural address sounded as if it came from a different world from the one I inhabit or, to be exact, from a different America than I have known for the 40 of my 47 years that I have been lucky enough to live in this wonderful country. Trumps America is full of rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation. It is home to an education system which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge. It is rife with crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. And who is responsible for this American carnage? Trump heaped blame on other countries and on disloyal American elites. For many decades, he complained, weve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; weve defended other nations borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while Americas infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. And, in a not-too-subtle suggestion that his predecessors did not have the countrys best interests at heart, Trump pledged, The bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America. Trump left it to the listeners imagination to speculate where previous presidents had owed their allegiance, but in the past he has railed against global special interests that are supposedly in cahoots with Americans, such as George Soros and Hillary Clinton, who dont have your good in mind. This is a very jarring vision of America paranoid, angry, xenophobic for someone like me who came here in 1976 from the Soviet Union as a wide-eyed, 7-year-old boy, along with my mother and grandmother. To us, and to countless other immigrants (including, ahem, Trumps own grandparents), America appeared to be not the hellhole he describes but a land of unimaginable wealth and opportunity. Story continues This country took us foreign-born Jews into its bosom and made us feel welcome in a way that would be hard to imagine occurring in too many other nations. I have never felt less than fully American, and I have never personally experienced anti-Semitism at least not until the past year, when pro-Trump trolls flooded Twitter with vile anti-Jewish rants. My family and I have been able to thrive here. Admittedly, we havent done nearly as well as Trump and most of his appointees. Were not billionaires or even millionaires; we dont travel in private aircraft or own skyscrapers. But my mother is a professor, Im a writer and historian, and we live comfortable lives that are the envy of much of the world. I recognize, of course, that not all Americans are so lucky, that life is particularly hard for some of Trumps core supporters working-class white men without college degrees. But even those who are in poverty in America live far better than most people around the world. The Pew Research Center found in 2015 that 72 percent of the worlds people were poor or low income, subsisting on less than $10 a day; 15 percent somehow survive on less than $2 a day. By contrast, 56 percent of Americans are considered high income, living on more than $50 a day. Pew concluded that almost nine-in-ten Americans had a standard of living that was above the global middle-income standard. Americans are also blessed with another gift of incalculable value: They are free to live, worship, and speak as they please, without fear of a visit from the secret police or from ethnic-cleansing squads. They are able, moreover, to determine who rules them, a freedom symbolized by last weeks peaceful transfer of authority. Few others around the world are so lucky: Freedom House estimates that 60 percent of the worlds population is trapped in countries that are either not free or only partially free. If I were still living in Russia and denounced Vladimir Putin as regularly as I denounce Donald Trump, I would likely wind up in prison, exile, or an early grave. I would not have enjoyed the freedom and prosperity of America were it not for the generous, even altruistic, foreign policy of America. For the emigration of Soviet Jews, including my family, was made possible by the 1974 Jackson-Vanik Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Henry Scoop Jackson of Washington and Rep. Charles Vanik of Ohio, both Democrats, which tied American trade relations with the Soviet Union to its willingness to allow freedom of emigration and other basic rights. The Jackson-Vanik Amendment was opposed by coldblooded realpolitikers like Richard Nixon, who thought that human rights had no place in American foreign policy, but passed by an overwhelming vote of Congress. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews were able to leave that Communist regime and seek better lives elsewhere, primarily in Israel and the United States. I and countless others will forever be grateful that the United States took us in. And, dare I say, America has benefited from our contribution just as it has benefited from previous waves of immigration. Consider just one Soviet Jewish immigrant: Sergey Brin, who has helped make Google one of the most successful companies in America and the world, creating far more wealth and employment than the Trump Organization ever has. The actions America took to press the Soviet Union on its human-rights record were done not simply to undermine an adversary, but to promote freedom in other words, they were done for a combination of self-interested and altruistic motives that have always characterized the best of American foreign policy. It was for the same reasons that after World War II the United States did not follow the policy extolled by Trump during his visit to the CIA on Saturday: to the victor belong the spoils. Instead of looting its defeated enemies, the United States helped them get back on their feet, making it possible for them to become our trading partners and allies. In retrospect, this is generally seen as one of the wisest moves made by any American administration. But if Trump had been a little older in those days one suspects he would have been denouncing Harry S. Truman, George Marshall, and Dean Acheson as suckers who were letting real Americans be taken advantage of. He would surely have had little respect for Truman, in particular, given that presidents unimpressive business record as a failed haberdasher. He might even have echoed Joe McCarthys foul charges that Marshall and Acheson were Communist dupes who were selling out America. Trump, who has almost no record of philanthropy or in fact of doing anything not calculated to benefit him personally, has crafted a perfect foreign policy for a solipsist: He thinks that America should look after its narrow self-interest and that the rest of the world can take a flying leap. The generation of Democrats and Republicans that created the postwar world, after having seen for themselves the disastrous consequences of pursuing an America First foreign policy, had a broader and wiser outlook. Their view was well summed up by Trumans speech to a joint session of session of Congress in 1947 in which he announced a program of aid to an embattled Greece and Turkey. The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want, he said. They spread and grow in the evil soil of poverty and strife. They reach their full growth when the hope of a people for a better life has died. We must keep that hope alive. The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world and we shall surely endanger the welfare of this nation. Those words have, for the most part, guided American foreign policy to the present day. But apparently no longer. Instead a mean, crabbed, selfish vision of Americas role in the world appears regnant one that will not, in the end, serve our interests nearly as well as the more generous and idealistic vision that drew me and so many others to this fair land. Photo credit: CHIP SOMODEVILLA/Getty Images ATHENS, Greece (AP) A group of Turkish servicemen who fled to Greece in a military helicopter after last year's failed coup have appeared at Greece's Supreme Court in a closely watched extradition hearing. Court officials said Monday that a decision would be announced on Thursday. The eight officers are fighting extradition, arguing that they face mistreatment in prison if returned. Lower courts issued mixed decisions on the return of the officers in a series of separate hearings. Supreme Court judges are considering recommendations from senior Greek prosecutors not to sanction the extradition. The six-month legal battle has further complicated ties between neighbors and NATO allies Greece and Turkey, which remain at odds over war-divided Cyprus and boundaries in the Aegean Sea. ATHENS, Greece (AP) The mayors of five eastern Greek islands used to limit the movement of refugees and migrants have called on the European Union to ease the restrictions amid continued problems created by winter weather and overcrowding. The mayors of Lesbos, Chios, Leros, Samos and Kos met in Athens Monday with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to make the request in person to move migrants to mainland Greece. Under a deal between Turkey and the European Union, migrants who reached the islands over the past 10 months are mostly not allowed to leave until their cases have been reviewed for potential deportation. There was no immediate response from the government to the mayors' request. LONDON (Reuters) - British spy chief Robert Hannigan said on Monday he was stepping down as head of Britain's intelligence eavesdropping service GCHQ for family reasons. Hannigan, GCHQ director since 2014, said the job had demanded "a great deal" from his family. "As you know, I have also initiated the greatest internal change within GCHQ for 30 years and I feel that we are now well on the way to being fit for the next generation of security challenges to the UK in the digital age," he wrote in a letter to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. "After a good deal of thought, I have decided that this is the right time to move on and to allow someone else to lead GCHQ through its next phase." Hannigan, who was a senior diplomat responsible for defence and intelligence issues before taking the GCHQ job, said he would stay in his role until a successor was found. GCHQ, based in a futuristic building named the doughnut because of its shape located in Cheltenham in western England, is one of three British spy agencies alongside MI5 which handles domestic matters and MI6 which deals with foreign affairs. Hannigan took over at a time when the agency had found itself facing unprecedented public scrutiny following leaks by ex-U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden which indicated GCHQ and the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) had carried out widespread surveillance of electronic communications. He initiated a more open approach to the notoriously secret agency, giving public speeches in which he was openly critical of U.S. tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook for unwittingly helping militant groups such as Islamic State, saying they should do more to help law enforcement agencies. "GCHQ and its sister agencies, MI5 and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), cannot tackle these challenges at scale without greater support from the private sector, including the largest U.S. technology companies which dominate the web," he wrote in a 2014 newspaper article. In his resignation letter, he said he was proud of building up greater understanding of the intelligence work carried out by GCHQ's 6,000 employees. "While this work must remain secret, you will know how many lives have been saved in this country and overseas by the work of GCHQ," he wrote. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Stephen Addison) LONDON (Reuters) - Heathrow Airport [FERHT.UL] said it had canceled approximately 100 out of about 1,300 scheduled flights on Monday as foggy weather reduced visibility at Europe's busiest hub. The airport, located to the west of London, operates at full capacity meaning it struggles to fit in its full schedule when weather conditions mean aircraft need to leave longer gaps on the runway. "Some passengers may experience disruption to their journeys today," Heathrow Airport said in a statement on Monday. "Passengers should check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport." The British government gave Heathrow Airport permission to add a third runway last October but it is not due to be built until 2025. Gatwick Airport, the country's second busiest airport to the south of London, said it had canceled one flight. (Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Michael Holden) By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) FMCG major HUL today reported 6.82 per cent increase in standalone net profit to Rs 1,037.93 crore for the third quarter of current fiscal on account of strong exceptional income. Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) had posted net profit of Rs 971.66 crore in the October-December quarter of last fiscal. advertisement Its exceptional income in the third quarter of 2016-17 was Rs 153.05 crore, as against exceptional expense of Rs 79.61 crore it had incurred in the same period of 2015-16. "The gradual recovery of the market was temporarily impacted by adverse liquidity conditions. However, our performance demonstrated resilience and agility in this challenging environment, HUL Chairman Harish Manwani said in a statement. "There are early signs of normalisation and our focus continues to remain on innovation led volume growth and improvement in margins. Our strategic agenda of delivering Consistent, Competitive, Profitable and Responsible growth remains unchanged," he added. Its total income from operations declined 0.79 per cent to Rs 8,317.94 crore in the quarter under review, compared with Rs 8,384.68 crore in the same period of last fiscal, the company said in a BSE filing. In a conference call, HUL Chief Financial Officer P B Balaji said due to impact of demonetisation consumers purchase basket size reduced and frequency in shop visits increased. "There was varied impact across market and we expect a gradual improvement in the market in line with the liquidity improvement. South and West regions of the country were least impact while North and Central were most," Balaji added. He said the company extended credit to its trade partners after demonetisation to help tide over liquidity crunch. It, however, did not hold back any planned investment or launches during the quarter. During the quarter under review, HULs revenue from home segment was up 1.02 per cent at Rs 2,689.06 crore, while its revenue from personal products declined by 2.69 per cent to Rs 3,980.17 crore. The refreshment segment revenue was up marginally by 0.46 per cent to Rs 278.5 crore and that from foods vertical grew by 8.14 per cent to Rs 1,164.12 crore. Revenues from other segments which include exports, water, infant care business declined by 27.33 per cent to Rs 195.4 crore in the third quarter. In a separate filing, HUL said it has appointed Dev Bajpai as Director on the Board of the company. advertisement Bajpai was appointed as the Executive Director ? Legal and Company Secretary and as a member of the Management Committee of the company in May 2010. HUL stock closed 0.25 per cent up at Rs 863.25 on BSE. PTI SVK SA --- ENDS --- A Washington police officer is being hailed as a hero after he saved a woman from her burning car last week in an incident that was captured on video. Officer Tim Schwering was the first on the scene in Spokane Friday morning after a woman trapped in her burning car called 911. Watch: Stray Pitbull Rescues Woman While Being Attacked by Knife-Wielding Man According to a statement from Spokane Police Department, Schwering managed to break a hole in the window with his baton but couldn't get the door unlocked. As dramatic body cam footage shows, Schwering was forced to reach in and pull the entire drivers side window out before helping the woman climb out the window. A neighbor from a nearby house also assisted in the rescue efforts, police said. Schwering and the woman he saved were treated and went their separate ways, though not for long. Just the next day, Schwering showed up at the home of Kim Novak, the woman whose life he saved, where she recalled the ordeal to KHQ. I've never been so terrified in my life, she said. "Between that and the smoke I didn't know what was going to get me first." Watch: Man Is Hailed a Hero for Rescuing Stranded Skier Caught Hanging off Chairlift Thankfully, Schwering got her first. "Right now I'm really blessed. It's humbling to think it can happen that fast without any warning, she said as the officer stood at her side. "He's going to get tired of me in this life because he's going to know me forever now." Watch: Fifth Grader 'Grateful' He Could Save Choking Friend with Heimlich Maneuver Related Articles: Pick N Roll One day after attending Donald Trumps inauguration, Hillary Clinton thanked the millions of women who participated in the Womens March in protest of his presidency. Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch, Clinton tweeted Saturday. Important as ever. I truly believe were always Stronger Together. Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch. Important as ever. I truly believe we're always Stronger Together. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 21, 2017 Clinton, who has kept a relatively low public profile since her stunning loss to Trump in the November election, tweeted several messages in support of the demonstrations over the weekend. 'Hope Not Fear' Indeed. And what a beautiful piece by Louisa Cannell. #womensmarch ???????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/7h3Bzx79nB Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 21, 2017 I stand w/ Nora Harren, a 17-year from Boise, ID, & every person marching for our values today. Onward! ???????? #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/02lOuXRHuz Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 21, 2017 Scrolling through images of the #womensmarch is awe-inspiring, she wrote. Hope it brought joy to others as it did to me. Scrolling through images of the #womensmarch is awe-inspiring. Hope it brought joy to others as it did to me.https://t.co/29oaMvk3hU Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 23, 2017 Clinton also retweeted a related message by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter that was a call to action: Story continues Marching, good. organizing, better. Speaking up, good. Running for office, better. Registering, good. Voting BEST!! #MakeAmericaSaneAgain! Michael A. Nutter (@Michael_Nutter) January 21, 2017 .@MichaelNutter got a lot of great points into 140 characters here. We have to keep the momentum. https://t.co/Bd66lBPMEs Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 23, 2017 @MichaelNutter got a lot of great points into 140 characters here, Clinton tweeted. We have to keep the momentum. Clinton herself is slowly plotting how to reclaim hers. According to Politico, the 2016 Democratic nominee who is still recovering from her defeat has told some associates shes looking at a spring timeline for mapping out some of her next political steps. More from Politicos report: There have been no conversations about starting her own political group but Clinton has spoken with leaders of emerging Democratic-leaning organizations about their work, and has discussed possible opportunities to work with Organizing For Action, former President Barack Obamas initiative. Among the potential political priorities she has mentioned to associates are building pipelines for young party leaders to rise and ensuring that a reconstructed Democratic National Committee functions as an effective hub that works seamlessly with other party campaign wings. Clinton has also been in contact with a range of ex-aides, studying presentations as she tries to better understand the forces behind her shocking November defeat. She understands that a forensic exam of the campaign is necessary, not only for her, but for the party and for the investors in the campaign, a close friend of Clintons told Politico. People want to know that their investment was treated with respect, but that their mistakes wouldnt be repeated. A sign with the number of how many more votes Hillary Clinton collected than Donald Trump is seen at the Womens March in Seattle on Saturday. (Photo: Jason Redmond/Reuters) More from Yahoo News: LONDON (AP) Hull midfielder Ryan Mason has been able to talk about the clash of heads that left him with a fractured skull during a Premier League match at Chelsea. The 25-year-old Englishman underwent surgery after the incident, but Hull said Monday that Mason was in stable condition. "Ryan has been speaking of the incident yesterday and will continue to be monitored at the hospital over the coming days where the club will remain in close contact with Ryan, his family and the staff at St. Mary's," Hull said. "Ryan and his family have also been extremely touched by the overwhelming support they have received and would very much like to thank all of those who have posted such positive comments both on social media and in the press over the last 24 hours." Mason was taken to the neurosurgery unit at a hospital close to Stamford Bridge on Sunday after the collision with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill as they went to head the ball. Mason received treatment for almost 10 minutes on the field before departing on a stretcher while receiving oxygen. Cahill, along with Chelsea captain John Terry, reportedly visited Mason in the hospital on Sunday evening. Budapest (AFP) - Hungarian strongman premier Viktor Orban on Monday hailed US President Donald Trump's "America First" pledge, saying it was a "gift" to other nations who could now follow suit. "We have received permission from the highest secular office in the world, in line with which we will also be allowed to place ourselves first," the right-wing leader said. "This is a great thing: a great freedom and a great gift," the eurosceptic head of government added in a speech in Budapest. Orban, one of the few national leaders to openly support Trump's White House campaign, said the billionnaire's aggressively nationalist vow signalled a welcome return to a "bilateral" era, notably in economic and military matters. Trump launched the "America First" slogan in a fiery inauguration speech when he succeeded Barack Obama as the 45th president of the United States last week. Orban, who was speaking at an economic conference, is fiercely eurosceptic and warned Europe to abandon "the illusion of federalism". But the controversial 53-year-old called for the revival of joint defence plans which would allow European Union (EU) nations to organise their own defence. Orban welcomed the fact that former French premier Francois Fillon, the main rightwing candidate to succeed President Francois Hollande in elections this year, backed the idea of a European defence alliance. He called Fillon "the next president of the French Republic, we hope. Fillon is widely expected to face far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the run-off second round of presidential elections in May. Orban, who will host Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks in Budapest on February 2, has called for the lifting of sanctions on Moscow, which US intelligence services claim was behind hacking during the US election campaign aimed at favouring a Trump victory. In the past he has also said that letting in too many Muslims, among migrants who flooded into Europe notably from the Syrian war over the last two years, risks undermining Europe's democratic values and its Christian traditions. From Popular Mechanics Yesterday in Kansas City, Missouri, a man was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to shining a laser at a passing helicopter, representing one case out of the nearly 28,000 laser incidents reported by the FAA between 2011 and 2015 reports Ars Technica. It's a serious sentence for a serious crime. The reasons why are obvious. Anything that needlessly obstructs a helicopter's view is not only an clear danger to the pilot, but also residents below. And while the business end of a laser pointer may seem small on the ground, its beam widens quite noticeably over the distance from the ground to the sky. By the time it reaches a pilot, it's so large as to be a serious blinding hazard. Considering that this particular infraction occurred over a residential neighborhood, the consequences, though thankfully avoided, could have been disastrous. [contentlinks align="left" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="More%20Idiots" customtitles="Morons%20Shine%20Laser%20at%20News%20Helicopter,%20Get%20Caught%7CWhy%20You%20Don't%20Shine%20Lasers%20at%20Police%20Helicopters" customimages="|" content="article.23786|article.16976"] Although serious sentences like these help dissuade would be morons from perpetuating a similar crime, the real problem is that of those 28,000 reported incidences, there have only been 80 convictions, according to Ars. That is not a terribly excellent batting average. Although the possibility of being reported is low, history shows that you'll face some serious prison time for your crime. At the very least, you don't want to join the infamous ranks of other laser idiots who endanger the lives on innocent people needlessly. Source: Ars Technica You Might Also Like Fifteen years after the release of well-received 2002 debut album "Turn On the Bright Lights," US rock band Interpol is to embark on a celebratory European tour. An eighteen date tour features two stops in England, the Netherlands, Italy, and France, and the band is planning to play "Turn On the Bright Lights" to completion each time. With a new record its way for 2018, fans may also be hoping for a taste of things to come. Interpol started out as a four-piece in 1997 and currently play as a trio with an expanded line-up for live performances. The tour begins on August 9, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic, and finishes at the DCode Festival in Madrid, Spain, one month later. Details are available from interpolnyc.com with a limited pre-sale from January 25 and general availability from the 27th. Indonesian police have detained 17 people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) group after Turkey deported them due to concerns they wanted to enter Syria, an official said Monday. Hundreds of people from Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, have flocked to join IS in the Middle East in recent years, stoking fears that radicals could launch attacks on home soil on their return. The group, which included several children, was arrested at the international airport serving Jakarta on Saturday after arriving on a flight from Istanbul, said national police spokesman Rikwanto. Turkish authorities became suspicious the group was planning to enter Syria, where IS controls territory, and decided to send them back to Indonesia, said the spokesman, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "There are indications they are involved with IS," Rikwanto told AFP, adding authorities were trying to find out who had recruited them and given them funding. Indonesian authorities have arrested groups of suspected radicals allegedly trying to head to Syria on several occasions in recent years. The emergence of IS has provided a potent new rallying cry for radicals in Indonesia, which has long struggled with Islamic militancy, and sparked fears of a revival of extremist networks. A gun and suicide attack in Jakarta last year, that left four civilians and four attackers dead, was the first attack claimed by IS in Southeast Asia, and the first major assault in Indonesia for seven years. There have been a series of other more minor attacks and plots linked to IS in recent times. Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images The Kalorama section of northwest Washington, D.C., has been in the news of late as the new digs for first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. Barack and Michelle Obama have also moved to a grand old home, very close to the Kushners, and, Jeff Bezos has reportedly just bought a two-building compound in the mansion-rich neighborhood. Boundaries Much of the Kalorama neighborhood is surrounded by Rock Creek Park at the north, with Connecticut Avenue NW as the eastern edge, Florida Avenue NW as the southern border, and Massachusetts Avenue NW, which is known as Embassy Row, as the western edge. The neighborhood is sometimes referred to as Sheridan-Kalorama. Price range As with any in-demand, picture-perfect neighborhood, youll pay top dollar in Kalorama. Most single-family homes sell for $4 million to $7 million, with occasional ones that go for $8 million to $15 million, said Michael Rankin, managing partner with TTR Sothebys International Realty. Townhouses start in the mid-$2 million range, up to about $3.5 million. There are some condos and co-ops in the neighborhood, mostly on Connecticut Avenue, he said. Prices for a one-bedroom apartment would be about $500,000, with three-bedroom units going for about $5 million. Housing stock Most of the housing stock dates to the first half of the 20th century, with row houses going up in the 1910s and most of the detached houses, in a range of architectural styles, in the 1920s and 30s, Mr. Rankin said. Popular styles, all done with expert craftsmanship, include Beaux Art, Georgian and Neocolonial American with a center hall. All were very well built by noted architects and builders of their time. All were put together with a great deal of thought, Mr. Rankin said. Lavish architectural details and building materials include plaster walls, elaborate woodwork, carved limestone, quarter-sawn oak floors, wrought-iron fences, and marble fireplaces. What makes it unique Its a very high-end, very prestigious neighborhood, said Terri Robinson, an associate broker in the Georgetown office of Long and Foster-Christies International who has been working in Washington real estate for 46 years. Its considered one of the nicest in the city. Its very close to the downtown area, which makes it extremely accessible. Story continues Mr. Rankin, who has worked in the neighborhood for more than 25 years and has lived in four different houses in Kalorama, agreed. These homes were for the elite of Washingtons elite. They are all very, very well detailed, well layered, and well constructed. There is not a bad house in Kalorama, he added. Some of these are historical masterpieceshistorical jewels really. Luxe amenities Interestingly, there is no commercial district in Kalorama, Mr. Rankin said, but its an easy walk to nearby commercial areas, including restaurants and shops in Georgetown, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. The neighborhood, which sits on a hill, has highly walkable sidewalks, old-growth trees and a lot of green space, with easy access to the surrounding Rock Creek Park, as well as Mitchell Park. While there are no private schools in the immediate area, the National Cathedral School an independent Episcopal day school for girls in grades 4 through 12 is very close. Its brother school, St. Albans, and Beauvoir, a co-ed elementary school are also nearby, on the 57-acre Cathedral Close in northwest Washington near the Washington National Cathedral. Who lives there Historically, the neighborhood was home to the congressional and diplomatic corps, Mr. Rankin said. A lot of U.S. ambassadors currently have residences in Kalorama, including those from France, Monaco, the Netherlands and Greece, he said. There are also a lot of families with kidsyou see them out on their scooters and bicycles. We have a lot of foreign diplomats living in, as well as working in, the neighborhood, Ms. Robinson said. You also have a lot of residents who have lived there for many years, which gives it a maturity, she added. Residents have always been very generous and welcoming. Notable residents Kalorama, which means beautiful view in Greek, has been home to several presidents, both before and after their White House residences, including Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding and Herbert Hoover. Obama is the first president to stay in D.C. immediately after leaving the White House since Wilson left office in 1921. The late Senator Ted Kennedy also called Kalorama home. Outlook Its just a great place to live, a great neighborhood to be in, Mr. Rankin said. Its so established and so successful that I cant imagine it not continuing to be so. Its also strongly protected by historic preservation (ie. there are height restrictions and you cant tear down a property unless its condemned), so dont expect any new tall, shiny condo buildings anytime soon. Land is tight and the area has been totally developed for years. There are no lots for sale, Ms. Robinson said. As for the new high-profile residents: It will increase security and further strengthen its desirability, which certainly increases value, Mr. Rankin said. This article was written by Bill Cary and originally appeared in Mansion Global. The post Inside the D.C. Neighborhood Thatll Be Home to Both Trumps and Obamas appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com. By Press Trust of India: green crematoria New Delhi, Jan 22 (PTI) Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain has urged the Centre to consider constituting a technical committee for drafting a model policy for creating a standardized design for green crematoria. In a letter written to Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave, Hussain said that there is an urgent need to convert existing wood based crematoria into green crematoria as burning of biomass such as woods, manure among others are the most significant contributors to air pollution in Delhi. advertisement "I therefore request the Central government to consider constituting a technical committee for drafting a model policy for creating a standardized design for the green crematoria," he said, adding that cremation alone accounts considerably to air pollution and across India, each year huge quantity of wood is used in cremations. He said the Delhi government has taken extensive steps to modify the design of traditional crematoria into green ones. "In an effort to address this issue Government of NCT of Delhi has recently undertaken extensive measures to modify the designs of the traditional crematoria into green ones with smoke tappers. "CSIR National Environmental Engeenring Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) is beng tasked with the work of creating engineering designs for creating such non-polluting crematoria," he said in the letter. He said that other cities can also benefit by creating green crematorium that preserve our age-old traditions and also control air pollution. "Establishment of green crematoria will help in substantially cutting down pollution emissions from burning of the biomass and in significantally improving air quality index," he said. Hussain said the Central government should direct the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)/ various state governments in India to implement and undertake these measures to control air pollution. Reacting to the letter, Delhi BJP said that before writting letters on pollution due to wood, the minister should first tell what help his government has extended to the civic bodies which are already working to reduce air pollution. (MORE) PTI SBR MNL IKA --- ENDS --- By Maher Chmaytelli and Saif Hameed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi officials said on Monday government forces had taken complete control of eastern Mosul, 100 days after the start of their U.S.-backed campaign to dislodge Islamic State militants from the city. The deputy parliament speaker announced the capture of the east of the city, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, after a meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. "We completed the total liberation of the left bank of Mosul and this is a gift to the Iraqi people," said Sheikh Humam Hamoudi in a statement. The army on Sunday entered Rashidiya, the last district under the control of the militants on the east bank of the Tigris, said military spokesman Brigadier-General Yahya Rasool. Mopping-up operations were still under way on Monday to flush out remaining militants in a pocket in this northeastern district, he said in a statement. A resident of Rashidiya said the army had stormed the area after air strikes destroyed a tank and car bomb the militants had been preparing to attack the advancing forces. A resident of Zanjali, a district on the west side of Mosul, said Islamic State fighters "have arrived from the left bank and are trying to find houses on the right bank", fleeing from the government forces' advance. The resident asked not to identified as the militants kill those caught speaking with the outside world. Iraqi forces launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul from the hardline Sunni group, which captured the city in 2014, declaring from its Grand Mosque a "caliphate" that also spanned parts of Syria, ruled by its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. MILITANTS CORNERED The defense ministry had earlier on Monday issued a statement announcing the complete takeover of eastern Mosul, adding that Abadi would be making a formal announcement later. The statement was later removed from the ministry's website. A U.S.-led coalition is providing air and ground support to the Iraqi forces. The west side of Mosul could prove more complicated to take than the east as it is crisscrossed by streets too narrow for armored vehicles. The militants are expected to put up a tough fight as they are cornered in a shrinking area of the northern Iraqi city. Mosul had a pre-war population of nearly 2 million, and about 750,000 people are estimated to live in western Mosul. More than 160,000 have been displaced since the start of the offensive, according to the United Nations. The battle for Mosul, involving 100,000 Iraqi troops, members of the Kurdish security forces and Shi'ite militiamen, is the biggest ground operation in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. Iraqi forces estimated the number of militants inside the city at 5,000 to 6,000 at the start of operations three months ago, and says 3,300 have been killed in the fighting since. The militants blew up a landmark hotel in western Mosul on Friday in an apparent attempt to prevent advancing Iraqi forces from using it as a base or a sniper position when fighting moves west of the Tigris. The Mosul Hotel, shaped as a stepped pyramid, stands close to the river. State TV said the army had set up temporary bridges across the Tigris south of Mosul to allow troops to cross in preparation for the offensive on the western bank. The city's five permanent bridges across the Tigris have been damaged by U.S.-led air strikes and Islamic State blew up two. (Editing by Andrew Roche) A month after retaking control of Palmyra, the Islamic State group (also called ISIS or Daesh) has allegedly committed new destruction and executions in the ancient Syrian city. Two of Palmyra's iconic monuments, the Tetrapylon and the Roman theater, have experienced "significant damage," according to the Cultural Heritage Initiatives (CHI) of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), which obtained new satellite images of the site from DigitalGlobe. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights alleges that ISIS is again using the archaeological site for mass executions, killing a group of 12 prisoners on Jan. 19. [See Photos of the Destruction to the Tetrapylon and Theater in Palmyra] "One might interpret these destructions and the recent executions of prisoners, including civilians, at Palmyra as designed by Daesh to develop propaganda," said Michael Danti, a Boston University archaeologist and academic director of ASOR CHI. "We are braced for a possible release of video footage by Daesh." The new reports are reminiscent of the Islamic State group's previous occupation of the site, from May 2015 to March 2016. During that period, ISIS militants executed prisoners in the Roman theater and hung the body of archaeologist Khaled al-Asaad, Palmyra's longtime head of antiquities, from a column at the site. The group also blew up Palmyra's Arch of Triumph and destroyed several other monuments, statues and funerary towers at the UNESCO World Heritage site. "This destruction is a new war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity," UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said in a statement. "This new blow against cultural heritage, just a few hours after UNESCO received reports about mass executions in the theater, shows that cultural cleansing led by violent extremists is seeking to destroy both human lives and historical monuments in order to deprive the Syrian people of its past and its future." Story continues Satellite images showed that this Roman monument called a tetrapylon in Palmyra has been badly damaged. nikidel / Shutterstock.com Danti told Live Science that ISIS has not been very active lately in staged or deliberate destructions of heritage sites as they battle to keep control of territory in Syria and Iraq. The group has, however, vandalized cultural sites and infrastructure as they withdraw or retreat from some areas, Danti said. "For example, as they pulled out of the campus of Mosul University, they burned campus buildings," Danti said. (In 2015, ISIS also released a video showing militants ransacking the Mosul Museum in northern Iraq.) "It all adds up to a massive cultural heritage and educational crisis for Syria and Iraq that will require large-scale, concerted action from the international community as one part of a massive humanitarian relief program," Danti added. The latest damage to monuments at Palmyra took place sometime between Dec. 26, 2016, and Jan. 10, 2017, according to ASOR CHI. (The Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums said that locals had informed them about the destruction at Palmyra at least a week ago.) The Tetrapylon was built to make Palmyra's main street look more harmonious, as it lies at a point where the route changes direction, according to ASOR CHI. This structure has four large platforms, each supporting four massive columns. The latest satellite images show that now just two columns remain standing, and debris is scattered around the structure. ASOR CHI says this monument seems to have been intentionally destroyed using explosives. The satellite images also show that the Roman theater, which dates back to the second century A.D., has sustained damage to its stage backdrop and new stone debris appears to be scattered across the center of the stage. Since war broke out in Syria in 2011, archaeologists have been turning to satellite data to monitor destruction and looting of the region's heritage sites, which include prehistoric mounds, Roman outposts and the ruins of Assyrian, Persian and Akkadian empires. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli nuclear whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu has been convicted of violating the terms of his release, more than a decade after completing an 18-year jail term, a court announced Monday. Upon his release in 2004, Vanunu was slapped with a series of restraining orders, which he was charged with violating on three counts. Vanunu was convicted of meeting with two US nationals in Jerusalem in 2013 without having permission to do so, and will be sentenced in two months, a court statement said. He was cleared of two other charges, one of which related to an interview he gave to Israel's Channel 2 television in 2015. Vanunu conviction's dates back to January 18 but it was not made public until Monday. A sentencing hearing has been set for March 14. The former nuclear technician was jailed in 1986 for disclosing the inner workings of Israel's Dimona nuclear plant to Britain's The Sunday Times newspaper. He spent more than 10 years of his sentence in solitary confinement. In the Channel 2 interview, Vanunu said he longer has any secrets to spill and just wanted to join his new bride in Norway, theology professor Kristin Joachimsen whom he married at a Lutheran church in Jerusalem in May that year. He has been barred from emigrating on the grounds that he still poses a threat to national security. Vanunu, 62, converted from Judaism to Christianity shortly before being snatched by Mossad agents in Rome and smuggled to Israel. He has twice before been jailed for breaking the terms of his parole. Israel is the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, refusing to confirm or deny that it has such weapons. It has refused to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or to allow international surveillance of its Dimona plant in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Japanese police said Monday they have arrested three people in a sex trafficking case involving Cambodian women and discovered 10 Thai women who may also be victims of the same prostitution ring. Two Japanese men and a Thai woman were taken into custody after allegedly forcing the seven Cambodians, aged from 20 to 36, into prostitution. The group was rescued from a restaurant in Gunma northwest of Tokyo last month after a victim made a desperate Facebook plea. Police raided the restaurant and suspects' homes, where they found another 10 women from Thailand aged from 21 to 34. Several of the women were detained for visa violations, a police spokesman said in the first announcement of the arrest of the trio. "But once they are determined to be victims of human trafficking, they'll be released," he told AFP. Japan has long been a destination for Southeast Asian women seeking higher wages who often find themselves forced into sex work or indentured labour. The Cambodian women were lured to work at the restaurant in November with the promise of high wages by a Japanese owner who arranged visas and airfares for them, according to the Cambodian foreign ministry. The victims told police they had been promised salaries of $3,000 a month but were instead forced into sex work. Several other suspects are on the run, according to local media. Last August the Philippines warned its citizens against illegally travelling to Japan in search of work, saying they 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 report says. Japanese police rescued 49 victims of human trafficking in 2015, according to latest figures from the National Police Agency. In 2008, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher became a symbol of everyday, working Americans and earned the moniker Joe the Plumber after pointedly asking then-presidential candidate Barack Obama about his tax policies. Wurzelbacher served as a surrogate for Republican John McCains failed 2008 presidential campaign, and he then entered electoral politics himself, unsuccessfully running for Congress in 2012. A favorite among many tea party activists, Wurzelbacher raised about $426,000 for his campaign and won the GOP nomination in Ohios 9th Congressional District, but he ultimately lost the general election to Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. These days, Wurzelbacher is a vocal supporter of Republican President Donald Trump. Wurzelbacher traveled to Washington, D.C., for Trumps inauguration, where the Center for Public Integrity caught up with the plumber-turned-conservative activist in a VIP section ahead of Trumps swearing-in ceremony. This interview has been edited for clarity. This story is part of Buying of the President. Tracking the candidates, political committees and nonprofits that are making this presidential election the most expensive in history. Click here to read more stories in this investigation. Don't miss another Politics investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Center for Public Integrity: What are your aspirations for a Trump presidency? Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher: A strong economy and a strong military and more security for the American people. One of the big promises that Trump has made is draining the swamp. What does that mean to you and how do you think hes going to do that? That means getting rid of some career politicians that sit on their butt. Essentially, theyre like the people who take advantage of welfare theyre not actually doing anything; theyre just filing a seat. Thats what a lot of politicians around here do, Republicans and Democrats alike. And I think Donald Trumps going to make people work, and when they dont work, hes going to call them out by name. Story continues Are there particular politicians that youd put on the top of that list? Theres a lot of them. Im not going to name names only because wed be sitting here for the next 20 minutes. As a former candidate yourself, what do you think about the amount of money it takes to run for office? Its gotten to be ridiculous. It makes it harder for a regular guy who probably has a better pulse of whats going on in America to run and actually represent his fellow Americans. When you have very rich people trying to tell me whats its like to be middle class, or trying to tell me what its like to pay my bills, I dont buy into it because they havent been there. They dont know the struggles of every day. They dont know the struggles of a small businessman who cant get around the regulations or lobby to get themselves around them. What do you think it means when politicians do spend so much time dialing for dollars to raise campaign contributions? Theyre not doing their job, and thats the problem. These guys are spending half the day dialing for dollars, not serving the American people. Theyd be fired in any other industry in the world. This story is part of Buying of the President. Tracking the candidates, political committees and nonprofits that are making this presidential election the most expensive in history. Click here to read more stories in this investigation. Related stories 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. Kendra Wilkinson did not make it to Womens March as she had been preoccupied with Sundance 2017 this weekend. The Kendra On Top star even updated her social media with snaps from her attendance at the Park City, Utah-based film festival. While many fans were glad that she was having a blast at the event, some called her out for sporting a fur coat in her photos. Over the weekend, Wilkinson was busy posting about Sundance 2017. The mother-of-two tweeted that she sat next to renowned James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan at the movie screening event. Instantly, Hank Basketts wife received positive comments from her fans, who were also big fans of Brosnan. Unfortunately for Wilkinson, things quickly turned sour when she posted photos straight from the event. Some fans started to post negative comments after seeing the television personality wearing a fur coat in the pics. One fan even commented: I cant [sic] follow u [sic] anymore due to the fur coat sorry. I loved u [sic] before that. Why? When Wilkinson saw some of the comments targeting her for donning a fur coat, she clarified that it was not a genuine fur coat. However, some fans still discouraged the reality TV actress from using faux fur. A fan called out Mrs. Baskett saying: I love that BUT faux fair [sic] still encourages real fur. I say this as someone who loves the look of fur! To this, Wilkinson responded that faux fur also sends the message that faux and genuine fur look the same, so there is no need to patronize the latter. On Sunday, Wilkinson decided to once again explain her side and apologize to her fans if they were taken aback due to her faux fur coat. This time, many expressed that she shouldnt have explained her side for she has every right to wear what she wants. One fan wrote: You dont have you explain yourself girl. Another chimed in: Why in the world should you have to justify/clarify your dang wardrobe? Story continues Meanwhile, when someone asked Wilkinson why she did not attend the Womens March on Saturday, she said that she couldnt make it to the event. Nonetheless, she pointed out that she attended Amber Roses Slut Walk last year, and the event also voiced out a strong stance for women. Kendra Wilkinson Photo: Reuters/Lucas Jackson Related Articles NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya is likely to produce 416 million kg of tea this year, 12 percent less than in 2016, due to an ongoing drought, the agriculture minister said in a speech read on his behalf on Monday. In the speech, Minister Willy Bett said production of the crop rose to a record high last year, at 473 million kg, due to good rainfall associated with the El Nino weather phenomenon in the first half of the year. The East African nation, which is the biggest exporter of black tea in the world, had harvested 399 mln kg in 2015. Export earnings for last year dropped to 120 billion shillings ($1.16 billion) after the average price per kg dropped to $2.36, from $2.98 the previous year, due to the increased supply, Bett said in the speech read by Raphael Lekolol, the chairman of the sector regulator, AFAA. ($1 = 103.7000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) In the past two years, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Teori Zavascki authorized the investigation of 47 politicians accused of corruption; he sanctioned the first arrest of a sitting congressman since Brazils dictatorship; and he suspended the mandate of house speaker Eduardo Cunha, accused of taking $40 million in bribes. So when the twin-engine aircraft spiriting him to a holiday weekend outside Rio de Janeiro crashed last week, killing all aboard, suspicions were rife about the possibility of foul play. The 68-year-old had been preparing to ratify an explosive body of testimony from 77 executives at construction firm Odebrecht, whose damning evidence in Operation Car Wash, Brazils $2 billion enquiry into bribes at state oil giant Petrobras, was expected to leave few politicians in Brasilia untainted including, perhaps, President Michael Temer. The death has proven to be fertile ground for conspiracy theorists in a country in which a former president was reportedly assassinated in car accident by the military dictatorship in 1976 and a leading presidential candidate died in a similar light aircraft accident in 2014. Prehn Zavascki, the son of the dead judge, noted that Zavascki and his family had received threats in recent months and said no possibility should be ruled out. It is necessary to investigate thoroughly and to know if it was an accident or not, he said in a radio interview. The truth will come to the surface whatever it is. He said his father had been very focused on the Odebrecht testimony nicknamed The End of the World due to its potential impact on the country and understood its importance. He was perfectly aware of the impact this could have on the country and that this really could make the country clean, he said. Others joined calls for a swift investigation. In virtue of the position of a Supreme Court justice in managing and deciding cases fundamental to national life, Roberto de Figueiredo Caldas, the president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, said in a statement. We expect an especially careful and rapid investigation into the circumstances of this disaster. Story continues The death of Zavascki is the latest twist in a tale of scandal that has traumatized Brazil. Operation Car Wash revealed institutionalized corruption on a vast scale, contributing to Brazils journey from a booming economy to record recession, and abetting the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in 2016. Zavascki, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2012, took off in a Beechcraft King Air C90GT from Sao Paulo at about 1pm on Thursday. Also on board was pilot Osmar Rodrigues, the planes owner, hotel entrepreneur Carlos Alberto Fernandes Filgueiras, plus a masseuse who worked for Filgueiras and her mother. All died when the plane crashed into the sea at 1.30pm just short of the airport in Paraty, a colonial town just outside Rio. There was rain, lightning and clouds over the town at the time. A boatman, Celio de Araujo, told local media that he saw smoke coming out of the left wing before the aircraft hit the water, but this could not be confirmed. Federal police and prosecutors are investigating alongside a military investigation team. A post-mortem examination found Zavascki had died of multiple head injuries. Since 2015, Zavascki had been the Supreme Court judge overseeing the Car Wash case. The investigation is being run by a federal judge and prosecutors in the south of Brazil, but Zavascki gained a central role as only the countrys highest court can prosecute federal politicians, dozens of whom are under investigation. No major politician has yet been convicted unlike Odebrecht chief executive Marcelo Odebrecht, who is currently serving a 19-year sentence. Since December he had been working to ratify the Odebrecht plea bargains, which had been expected to happen by March. This testimony was nicknamed the end of the world in Brasilia because Odebrecht allegedly had bribed many politicians of diverse parties who had yet to be involved in the Petrobras scandal, noted David Fleischer, a professor of politics at the University of Brasilia. The testimony of former Odebrecht executive Claudio Melo Filho was leaked to the media, who revealed it contained 43 mentions of Michel Temer, Brazils president who took power after Rousseffs impeachment. However, the reports did not elaborate on whether the testimony alleged wrongdoing. The role of overseeing the Car Wash probe would ordinarily now fall to Zavasckis replacement on the Supreme Court, who will be nominated by Temer. But it is possible the courts president Carmen Lucia will assign the case to other judges, if only to avoid further delays caused by a confirmation hearing in the senate. In March, two of Temers allies, Romero Juca and Sergio Machado were recorded discussing a pact to try and stymie Operation Car Wash, including collusion with Supreme Court judges. But on the recordings Juca said he had found that Zavascki was a closed guy and that he had not found a way to access or influence him. Federal judge Sergio Moro, who has gained prominence by leading Operation Car Wash, said in a statement: Teori Zavascki was a great judge and a Brazilian hero Without him, there would be no Operation Car Wash. I hope that his legacy, of calmness, seriousness and firmness in enforcing the law, irrespective of the interests of those involved, even the powerful, will not be forgotten. Instagram is going crazy over these flower gelatos that look way too beautiful to eat! By India Today Web Desk: If love is what roses are supposed to signify, imagine having your symbol of love carved out in the most delicious dessert! A perfect orgasmic food mash-up is what Australia is rejoicing over and these Instagram pictures will tell you why. Photo courtesy: Instagram/snmorley Photo courtesy: Instagram/Kristywho A gelato store in Sydney called i-Creamy has left visitors and tourists drooling over the most colourful rose-shaped ice-creams. "We are the first and the only gelateria that serves the flower-shaped gelato in Australia at the moment," was what store manager Pat told Mashable, via Messenger. advertisement Also Read:10 chocolate ice creams that you'll never regret eating Over 1500 flower gelatos have been served till now, reveals the i-Creamy's website, with 24 delicious flavours rotating daily. The website calls the flavours 'temptingly delicious', and undoubtedly so, given its sheer variety ranging from Caramel Choco Chip, Peanut Butter to Pop Corn, Thai Milk Tea and what not! "We sculpt each flower petal by petal. Each flower gelato contains about 20 petals," Pat was quoted saying by Mashable. Photo courtesy: Instagram/abytatha Photo courtesy: Instagram/abytatha Seems like a perfect, sumptuous, rosy Valentine treat, doesn't it? --- ENDS --- Photo credit: Brian Williams From Road & Track Kia's rear-wheel-drive Stinger was undoubtedly the surprise hit of this year's Detroit Auto Show. With great design and a Nurburgring-tuned chassis, it finally looks like Kia has made a car with the sort of people that read Road & Track in mind. Even legendary auto executive Bob Lutz is into it. The Stinger has the BMW 4-Series in its sights, but it wants to offer similar goodness at a much lower price. Kia is at least a few months away from announcing definitive pricing, but the automaker's American product planning VP Orth Hedrick told Road & Track the Stinger will undercut its competition by a significant margin. "We're probably going to be starting in the low-$30,000s," said Hedrick at the Detroit Auto Show. "We'll probably have a little bit more information closer to launch, but all in [for a six-cylinder Stinger GT], probably under $50,000." Photo credit: Brian Williams For reference, the four-cylinder BMW 430i Grand Coupe starts at nearly $42,000, whereas a six-cylinder 440i Grand Coupe has a base price closer to $50,000. That makes the Kia quite a bargain compared to the car its benchmarking, but don't expect to be shortchanged by the Stinger. With this car, you get the impression that Kia is truly onto something good. Kia of course, has great things to say about its newest product, but there's also a refreshing amount of modesty in the company line. "We wanted to make sure that the vehicle drives as good as it looksthat it can fulfill the promise," said Hedrick. "You could argue maybe some of our other cars didn't live up to that as much as we would have hoped, and because of Albert Biermann and our core engineering competency getting better, we've achieved that." Photo credit: Brian Williams You hear Albert Biermann's name come up a lot when anyone talks about the Stinger. Officially, Biermann's job title is Head of Vehicle Test & High Performance Development, but it might as well be Chassis Guru. Hyundaiwhich owns Kiapoached Biermann back in 2014 from BMW Motorsport, where he led the development of the most recent M3 and M5. Story continues He's responsible for making sure that Kia and Hyundai's latest products have dynamics to match their European rivals. For the Stinger, Biermann spent a lot of time developing the chassis on the Nurburgring, but don't think of it as a track car. It's a high-speed cruiser designed to eat up highway miles like the best European GT cars of the 1970s. "This is no high-performance car," Biermann told us. "You can drive it on the race track, of course, but you cannot drive it on the race track and push it like a high-performance car. The car is not developed for that." Photo credit: Brian Williams Instead, Biermann suggests that the Stinger is meant mainly for places like the German Autobahn, but it's also at home on a back road. "The magic of the Stinger is that it has this high-speed stability from the long wheelbase," said Biermann. "If you go around some tight corners on a tight, mountain road, you don't feel the Stinger being a big car. It's very nimble, very agile, and easy to control." This sort of talk isn't out of place at the reveal of a German luxury car, but hearing people from Kia speak this way is refreshing. Of course, we'll need to put their claims to the test, but there's good reason to be optimistic about the Stinger. It's taking aim at German luxury, but it's doing so from a new direction. Kia, you officially have our attention. You Might Also Like North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities are accelerating at an "unprecedented" pace, the South's acting president said Monday, urging the swift deployment of a US anti-missile system that has infuriated Beijing. Seoul and Washington agreed last year to install the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in the South after a string of North Korean nuclear and missile tests -- prompting strong objections from China, which fears it will undermine its own ballistic capabilities. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Acting President Hwang Kyo-Ahn said the North had conducted two nuclear tests and fired multiple ballistic missiles last year, averaging two per month. "Its nuclear and missile capabilities are developing at an unprecedented pace," Hwang said. "They are real and obvious threat." A "swift" deployment of the THAAD system "is necessary to protect the lives and safety of our people", he added. Within South Korea, voices opposing the installation have grown louder, with some opposition candidates pledging to scrap the agreement if they win a presidential election due this year. The plan has also angered Beijing, which has imposed a string of measures seen in the South as economic retaliation, including effectively barring K-pop stars from performing on the mainland and not authorising South Korean airlines to operate charter flights between the countries. "There are various concerns about economic retaliation from THAAD but the relationship between South Korea and China did not happen in just one or two years," Hwang said. He took over President Park Geun-Hye's sweeping executive powers after she was impeached in December, becoming the de facto leader of Asia's fourth largest economy. Park is accused of colluding with close friend Choi Soon-Sil to strong-arm companies into handing over tens of millions of dollars to dubious foundations which Choi controlled. The case is now being considered by the Constitutional Court -- which has up to six months to reach a ruling -- but hundreds of thousands of South Koreans have joined weekly protests calling for Park's immediate departure from office. If the court confirms the impeachment, a presidential election will have to be held within 60 days. WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on activities in Congress (all times EST): 6:10 p.m. The nation's governors are asking top House Republicans to retain "a meaningful federal role" in financing the Medicaid program for low-income people. In a letter Tuesday to GOP leaders, the bipartisan National Governors Association writes that Congress should not shift costs to the states as Republicans move toward annulling President Barack Obama's health care law and substituting a GOP plan. The governors also want protection from spiking Medicaid costs should the economy sour. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia expanded Medicaid under Obama's law. Republicans are considering changing the program, including possibly eliminating the expansion. The letter underscores the political challenges Republicans face as they try revamping the health care statute. The governors say Republicans should provide "a smooth transition" between Obama's law and any GOP replacement. ___ 6:05 p.m. The Senate has voted decisively to approve President Donald Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Senators easily confirmed South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for the post, 96-4, despite her lack of foreign policy experience. Sen. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, calls Haley a proven leader who will be a "fierce advocate" at the U.N. for American interests. The committee's top Democrat, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, says he's encouraged by Haley's commitment not to hastily cut back on the money the U.S. contributes to the U.N. The United States pays 22 percent of the body's regular operating budget. Sen. Chris Coons opposed Haley. The Delaware Democrat says she didn't convince him that she'll serve effectively in the job. ___ 6 p.m. The chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is predicting a smooth path to confirmation for David Shulkin, President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Story continues Sen. Johnny Isakson met with Shulkin on Tuesday. The Georgia Republican says he believes Shulkin will be a "passionate veterans' advocate" who will ensure they get the timely, quality care they need. The Senate panel set Shulkin's confirmation hearing for Feb. 1. He is the only Obama administration official named to Trump's Cabinet, having been unanimously approved by the Senate in 2015 to be undersecretary of health. Veterans groups and Democrats have generally praised Shulkin. Still, they say they want to hear more about his views on privatizing the VA and whether he intends to embrace broad changes pledged by Trump. ___ 5:15 p.m. Health insurers are telling Congress there's a workable alternative to getting Americans covered that does not require a federal mandate. The main industry lobbying group says in a statement to the House Ways and Means Committee that the coverage requirement in President Barack Obama's law is likely to be repealed. America's Health Insurance Plans is proposing an alternative to encourage healthy people to get covered and help control premiums. It would work like this: In 2018 there would be a one-time enrollment opportunity for everyone who's uninsured. After that, customers would have to show they had been were covered for 12 months in order to get a new policy on the same terms as everyone else. Otherwise they would face higher premiums or a six-month waiting period. ___ 4:50 p.m. The House has approved legislation that would permanently bar federal funds for any abortion coverage. The measure, which passed 238-183, would also block tax credits for some people and businesses buying abortion coverage under former President Barack Obama's health care law. Republicans passed a similar bill in 2015 under veto threat from Obama. The legislation would have a better chance under Republican President Donald Trump. But it would have to first get through the Senate, where it would need 60 votes and faces opposition from many Democrats. The vote was timed to come just after the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States, and ahead of Friday's march against abortion. Democrats say the legislation would unfairly target low-income women. ___ 4:40 p.m. A spokeswoman for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee says the panel postponed votes on two Cabinet nominations because of miscommunication between the Republican chairwoman and the committee's top Democrat. Nicole Daigle, a spokeswoman for Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the panel's chairwoman, says Murkowski "wants to start 2017 on a good footing with her ranking member" and hopes to reschedule the votes soon. On Monday Murkowski canceled scheduled votes on Ryan Zinke and Rick Perry to head the departments of Interior and Energy, respectively. Only three of President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees have been confirmed so far, although secretary of state-designate Rex Tillerson has been approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. ___ 4:30 p.m. Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning will give a motivational speech to Republican lawmakers at their annual policy retreat in Philadelphia. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., calls the two-time Super Bowl winner a longtime friend and is scheduled to introduce him to colleagues Thursday evening. That's the same day President Donald Trump will be meeting with Republicans to work out more details on moving a legislative agenda through Congress this year. Corker says passing meaningful legislation takes teamwork and that's a skill Manning mastered through his football career. Manning played his college football at the University of Tennessee. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., describes Manning as a leader and great example of what hard work and perseverance can achieve. ___ 3:30 p.m. Sen. John McCain is grilling President Donald Trump's pick to head the White House budget office over his votes in Congress to cut defense spending and to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan. South Carolina congressman Mick Mulvaney says he voted to withdraw the troops after meeting with a veteran whose son had been deployed overseas four times. He says America's troops were overtaxed. An incredulous McCain asked his fellow Republican, "What were you thinking?" and "Don't you know where 9/11 came from?" Mulvaney said he can't remember several votes to cut defense spending. McCain told him, "Maybe you don't take it with the seriousness it deserves." ___ 2:16 p.m. Republicans on the powerful House Appropriations Committee have blocked a move by Democrats to force President Donald Trump's Cabinet chiefs to certify that they are complying with their ethics agreements before appearing before the panel. The attempted move, by top panel Democrat Nita Lowey of New York, came as Trump's nominees many of whom are wealthy and could face potential conflicts of interest are going through their confirmations. Democrats warn that some nominees may be confirmed with unresolved ethics issues. Existing panel rules require witnesses to disclose whether they receive federal grants and other funds. Republicans swatted down Lowey's proposal on a party-line vote. They say the proposal is unnecessary and simply a political stunt. __ 1:20 p.m. Congressional Republicans are discovering that with Donald Trump in the White House, they may be spending a lot of time answering for false claims from their president. Eager to dive into a packed legislative agenda in a new era of GOP governance, Republicans instead found themselves confronting questions Tuesday about Trump's claim that he would have won the popular vote but for 3 to 5 million ballots cast by immigrants in the country illegally. No evidence supports that assertion, which Trump made in a private meeting with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders at the White House on Monday night. Trump has also made incorrect claims about crowds at his inauguration and his feud with the CIA in the four days since taking office. ___ 12:25 p.m. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has overwhelmingly approved South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. By voice vote, the panel recommended President Donald Trump's selection of Haley to the full Senate. She is expected to be confirmed easily. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the committee's top Democrat, backed Haley's nomination. Cardin says what Haley lacks in foreign policy experience, "she makes up for in capability, intelligence, and a track record of building coalitions in South Carolina." During her confirmation hearing, Haley declared her support for moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The shift may trigger increased violence in the Middle East. Haley also took a hard line against Russia. She says she doesn't think Moscow can be trusted right now. ___ 12:20 p.m. President Donald Trump's pick for health secretary is adamant that the new administration will protect people with pre-existing medical problems even as it moves to repeal the Obama-era law prohibiting insurance discrimination. Georgia Rep. Tom Price told the Senate Finance Committee that "we need to make sure nobody loses their insurance or is unable to gain insurance because of pre-existing conditions." Price was being questioned by Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. But the way Republicans would go about guaranteeing coverage could be very different. They are looking at special "high-risk" insurance pools as a last resort for people who can't get coverage otherwise. That hasn't worked well in the past, providing costly coverage to a limited number of people. Price said "nobody ought to be priced out of the market for having a bad diagnosis." ___ 12:15 p.m. Health care plan? What health care plan? Laughter erupted during a tense Senate confirmation hearing when Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, asked President Donald Trump's health nominee if it's true that the new administration is close to having a final health care plan as Trump himself has hinted. "It's true that he said that, yes," responded Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., who's been picked by Trump to run the Health and Human Services department. Trump and congressional Republicans have committed to repealing and replacing President Barack Obama's signature health care law, but they haven't provided details on how that can be done without harming millions who've gained coverage. Price said he has had conversations with Trump about health care policy. And Brown didn't press him for more details. ___ 11:52 a.m. Health secretary nominee Tom Price says science shows that vaccines do not cause autism. That's a position that goes against views espoused by President Donald Trump, who has voiced skepticism about vaccine safety. Price's comments Tuesday came in response to questions by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., at a Finance Committee hearing on his nomination. Price also disputed claims that abortion leads to breast cancer. He said the science is relatively clear that it does not. If confirmed to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Price pledged to make certain that factual information, validated by science, is provided to the public. Under the umbrella of HHS are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration. __ 11: 45 a.m. Donald Trump's pick to head the White House budget office says Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid need significant changes to be preserved for future generations. Rep. Mick Mulvaney's testimony before Congress stands in sharp contrast to Trump's campaign promises not to cut the programs. Mulvaney, a South Carolina Republican, said he wouldn't propose to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits for people already receiving them. But, he said, younger workers should expect to work longer than their parents. He also said Medicare should be means tested, which means benefits would be limited for wealthy retirees. They already pay higher premiums. __ 11:25 a.m. President Donald's Trump's pick for budget director says he failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a babysitter because he did not consider her a household employee. Rep. Mick Mulvaney said, "We made a mistake." The South Carolina Republican said his wife had triplets in 2000 and they hired a babysitter. She worked for the family for four years but, Mulvaney said, she did not live with them. Mulvaney said he didn't realize that he should have paid the taxes until he was preparing for the nominating process. He said he has since paid the taxes. ___ 11:20 a.m. Rep. Tom Price President Donald Trump's nominee for health secretary is defending his decision to invest in health care companies as a powerful member of Congress. Price's nomination hearing Tuesday before the Senate Finance Committee quickly turned testy. Top Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon questioned Price about his investment in Innate Immunotherapeutics, an Australian drug company trying to develop a treatment for multiple sclerosis. A fellow Republican congressman is a board member and a major stockholder. Finance committee staffers found that Price undervalued around 400,000 shares of Innate stock he purchased last August. He reported the shares were worth $50,000 to $100,000, but those shares were worth up to $250,000. Price blamed a "clerical error" and answered "no" when Wyden asked if he'd used poor judgment. ___ 11:10 a.m. The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee has unanimously approved President Donald Trump's nominee for housing secretary, Ben Carson. The former Republican presidential candidate and celebrated neurosurgeon would lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a sprawling agency with 8,300 employees and a budget of about $47 billion. His nomination now heads to the full Senate. Committee Chairman Michael Crapo of Idaho praised Carson and his impressive career, saying HUD "will benefit from having a secretary with a different perspective and a diverse background." Ranking Democrat Sherrod Brown said he had some reservations but welcomed Carson's promises to address lead hazards in public housing. ___ 11:10 a.m. Former wrestling entertainment executive Linda McMahon is emphasizing her experience in building a business from scratch as she seeks to become the next administrator of the Small Business Administration. McMahon says in a confirmation hearing Tuesday that she and her husband started out sharing a desk and went on to build a company with more than 800 employees. She also notes that she and her husband once declared bankruptcy and lost their home, saying "I know what it's like to take a hit." McMahon resigned from WWE in 2009 before running unsuccessfully on two occasions for the U.S. Senate. She spent about $100 million of her own money in those races and was a big contributor to political action committees seeking to help Donald Trump in November's election. __ 11:00 a.m. President Donald Trump has invited the Senate leadership to the White House to discuss the vacancy on the Supreme Court. That's the word from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky Republican said Tuesday that he, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the leaders of the Judiciary Committee would meet with Trump on Tuesday afternoon. The court has had one vacancy since last February when Justice Antonin Scalia died. McConnell and Republicans refused to consider former President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland. ___ 10:55 a.m. Sen. Bernie Sanders says President Donald Trump's nominee for budget director should be disqualified because he failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household worker more than a decade ago. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, is the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. The committee held a confirmation hearing Tuesday on Republican Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina. Sanders noted that Mulvaney voted for a bill in 2015 that would disqualify people with serious tax delinquencies from being federal employees. Mulvaney said he discovered the unpaid taxes while preparing for the nominating process. He has since paid the taxes. Unpaid taxes have derailed some previous Cabinet picks, but others were confirmed anyway. Mulvaney's tax problem is unlikely to derail his nomination if Republicans remain united behind him. ___ 10:50 a.m. A Senate panel has easily approved the nomination of Elaine Chao to lead the Transportation Department. Chao was labor secretary in President George W. Bush's administration and deputy transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush. She is also the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and was known to many senators before President Donald Trump tapped her for his Cabinet. Chao told senators during a hearing on her nomination this month that she hopes to "unleash the potential" of private investors to boost infrastructure spending. She is expected to play a major role in Trump's effort to fulfill his campaign promise to generate $1 trillion in infrastructure investment. The administration is expected to release its infrastructure plan this spring. ___ 10:45 a.m. A Senate panel has approved President Donald Trump's choice of conservative billionaire investor Wilbur Ross to lead the Commerce Department. Ross has specialized in buying distressed companies that still have a potential for delivering profits. He has known Trump for more than 20 years, was an early supporter of his presidential campaign and an economic policy adviser to Trump's team. The Senate commerce committee approved his nomination by a voice vote. The full Senate must still vote on the nomination. Ross has been a critic of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, which he blames for a loss of U.S. jobs. He has also accused China of protectionist policies. __ 10:35 a.m. The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has forced a one-week delay in the committee vote on attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein says one reason she asked for the delay until Jan. 31 is because of women who marched in Washington and other locations on Saturday. Feinstein said the women want equal rights and pay, rights for workers and protections for the environment. "It is these principles, these values that the attorney general must defend," Feinstein said at a committee meeting Tuesday. She said "we owe it to" those women to be careful in considering the nomination. Feinstein said the committee received 188 pages of new material Sunday that need to be reviewed. Committee rules allow any member of the committee to delay a vote. __ 10:20 a.m. Breaking with President Donald Trump, Speaker Paul Ryan says he has seen no evidence that 3 million to 5 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally voted last November and cost the Republican the popular vote. Ryan told reporters on Tuesday: "I've already commented on that I've seen no evidence to that effect." His comments came hours after Trump incorrectly claimed at a White House reception with congressional leaders, including Ryan, that he lost the popular vote to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton because of the vote by those here illegally. That's according to a Democratic aide familiar with the exchange who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. There is no evidence to support Trump's claim. Another Republican, Pennsylvania Rep. Charlie Dent, said Trump needs to move on. "The election is over," Dent said, and Trump "won fair and square." Trump needs to "get to the serious business of governing," Dent said. __ 10:05 a.m. House Speaker Paul Ryan says he has invited President Donald Trump to address a Joint Session of Congress on Feb. 28. Ryan announced the invitation on Tuesday, informing reporters after a meeting with House Republicans. Ryan had met with Trump Monday night at the White House. Trump also met with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders on Monday. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president on Friday. It would be his first speech to Congress. __ 10 a.m. Congressional analysts are projecting that President Donald Trump has inherited a stable economy and a government that is on track to run a $559 billion budget deficit for the ongoing budget year. The new estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office also say the economy will hold relatively steady. Economic growth is projected to rise slightly to 2.3 percent this year and unemployment to average less than 5 percent for the duration of Trump's term. The latest CBO figures are in line with previous projections. They come as Trump and Republicans controlling Congress are working to repeal much of former President Barack Obama's signature health care law, boost the Pentagon budget, and reform the loophole cluttered tax code. Balancing the budget would require cuts to domestic agencies and big health programs like Medicare SAN ANTONIO (AP) The Latest on the shooting at a shopping mall in San Antonio (all times local): 4:50 p.m. The man who was fatally shot after confronting two suspects following a jewelry store robbery at a San Antonio mall is being described by a friend as someone who wouldn't hesitate to protect his family or others who might be in danger. Family friend Chris Cercone says 42-year-old Jonathan Murphy had been at the jewelry store with his wife to get their wedding rings cleaned Sunday when the robbery took place. Police say Murphy tried to stop the robbers outside the jewelry store. Cercone said Monday that he believes Murphy was looking out for the safety of his wife and others at the store when he confronted the robbers. Murphy managed sales at a local car dealership and lived in Cibolo, northeast of San Antonio. ___ 2 p.m. Authorities say two men who tried to stop two suspects after a robbery at a San Antonio mall likely felt they needed to intervene in what they believed was a dangerous situation where others might get hurt. One of the men was killed. San Antonio police spokesman Officer Doug Greene said Monday that authorities advise people to use their best judgment in such situations. The robbery happened Sunday afternoon at a jewelry store inside Rolling Oaks Mall. Green said one man who was unarmed tried to intervene and was shot. He did not provide details on what the good Samaritan tried to do. Greene said another man then shot one of the robbers. Greene says that man was within his rights to use his licensed concealed handgun. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man who was killed as 42-year-old Jonathan Murphy. The suspects are in custody. ___ 1:50 a.m. San Antonio police say two suspects are in custody after a robbery inside a shopping mall ended in a shooting that left one man dead and several injured. In a statement early Monday, police say both suspects face preliminary charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Story continues The robbery happened Sunday afternoon at a jewelry store inside Rolling Oaks Mall. Police Chief William McManus said Sunday that one of the suspects fatally shot a "good Samaritan" who tried to stop them as they fled the store. Authorities say two other people were shot and two women suffered non-shooting injuries. One suspect was shot by an individual who had a licensed concealed handgun. Police say that suspect is hospitalized in critical condition. Officials say the second suspect was later arrested in nearby Converse. NEW YORK (AP) -- To fight what it called a "grave threat" to the country, a watchdog group on Monday filed a lawsuit alleging that President Donald Trump is violating the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments. The lawsuit claims that a constitutional clause prohibits Trump from receiving money from diplomats for stays at his hotels or foreign governments for leases of office space in his buildings. The language in the clause is disputed by legal experts, and some think the lawsuit will fail. But it signals the start of a legal assault on what Trump critics see as unprecedented conflicts between his business and the presidency. Trump called the lawsuit "without merit, totally without merit" after he signed some of his first executive actions Monday in the Oval Office. The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. The group is being represented in part by two former White House chief ethics lawyers: Norman Eisen, who advised Barack Obama, and Richard Painter, who worked under George W. Bush. The two have expressed frustration that Trump has refused to take their recommendation and divest from his business, and feel they had no choice but to take legal action. "As the Framers were aware, private financial interests can subtly sway even the most virtuous leaders," the lawsuit argues, "and entanglements between American officials and foreign powers could pose a creeping, insidious threat to the Republic." At a news conference earlier this month, Trump Organization lawyer Sheri Dillon the so-called emoluments clause of the Constitution isn't meant to ban fair-value exchanges. They didn't think "paying your hotel bill was an emolument," she said. Trump drew fresh attacks from critics almost the moment he took the oath of office on Friday. The group behind Monday's lawsuit also filed a complaint Friday addressed to the General Services Administration, an agency that oversees the lease of the government-owned building that houses Trump's new Washington hotel. The complaint argued the agency must cancel the lease because it expressly forbids any elected official from benefiting from it. Story continues GSA officials had said they needed to wait until Trump took office before weighing in on the issue. They have yet to issue an opinion, though, and have not responded to repeated requests for comment. Democrats in the House and Senate on Monday sent letters to Acting Administrator Timothy Horne seeking information about what the agency plans to do. In the new lawsuit, the group faces several legal hurdles, including making the case that it even has standing to bring the suit. "There are a lot of issues that have to be litigated for the first time," said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of CREW. He added, though, that "we have never had a president who has in a significant way accepted foreign payments." Bookbinder said his group will argue it has standing because the president has forced his organization to divert all it is resources to this fight rather than other issues, and therefore is harming it. That line drew criticism from some legal experts. Its argument for standing "barely passes the laugh test," said Robert Kelner, chairman of the election and political law group of the firm Covington & Burling and an experienced Republican attorney. Edwin Williamson, a former State Department legal adviser, said that the group will struggle to prove its case. He agreed with Dillon's assessment that the emoluments clause does not apply the payment of a "market price" for a stay at a hotel. Trump said at his news conference earlier this month that he would not sell his ownership in his company, but would hand over management control to his two adult sons. He pledged that his company would strike no more deals abroad and would donate any profits from foreign governments using his hotels to the U.S. Treasury. Trump's companies began publicly filing paperwork on Monday to show that they're now being run by others. For example, Trump International Hotels Management LLC, registered in Florida, updated its paperwork with the secretary of state to list Eric Trump as president. Although Dillon says Trump has taken "extraordinary" measures, many government ethics lawyers have panned them as insufficient. They note that no modern president has taken office with as much wealth and as sprawling and opaque a business. His company, the Trump Organization, has stakes in golf resorts, office buildings, residential towers and hotel licensing deals in about 20 countries. Those include ones with which the U.S. has sensitive relations, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey. With so many business ties, particularly abroad, government ethics experts worry U.S. interests could take a back seat to his personal financial concerns. And even if they don't, they argue, people will try to curry favor with the new president by buying apartments in his towers or memberships in his golf resorts, raising doubts fair or not that U.S. policy is for sale. The lawsuit on Monday says that Trump's company is receiving payments from foreign government-owned tenants at Trump Tower in New York, including The Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. It also argues Trump's "The Apprentice" could get him in trouble. It says government-owned stations in in the United Kingdom and Vietnam are paying for broadcast rights of versions of the reality TV hit. Eisen and Painter have urged Trump to sell his holdings and put the cash in a blind trust, following the example of recent presidents. Trump is bucking another presidential tradition by refusing to disclose his tax returns. He has said he would be happy to release them, but only after the completion of an Internal Revenue Service audit. A public petition to the White House on Friday demanding he go public with his tax returns gathered more than 250,000 signatures well over the 100,000 needed to trigger an official response. "The White House response is that he's not going to release his tax returns," senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said on ABC's This Week. "We litigated this all through the election. People didn't care." _______ Bykowicz reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Mae Anderson in New York and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed. Lily Collins has opened up about suffering from an eating disorder in the past. In an interview with IMDb, the actress, who stars in the Sundance Film Festival entry To the Bone, shared her experience, saying the role was something personal and more dramatic for her to portray. I wrote a book last year and I wrote my chapter on my experiences a week before I got Marti's script and it was like the universe putting these things in my sphere to help me face, kind of dead on, a fear that I used to have, she said. And a way to explain it as someone who's gone through it and to open up a topic that is considered quite taboo with young people nowadays, male, female, and to really start a conversation. Collins said that she had to lose weight for the role, which is a young woman who has anorexia, but she sought the help of a nutritionist for it. The actress also said that she had to go back to some of the feelings that she felt when she was in the same situation. It's refreshing to see that many celebrities are starting to speak out about their experience with an eating disorder. Pretty Little Liars star Troian Bellisario has been rather vocal about her battle. The actress even starred in a public service announcement to raise awareness for the illness. On why she decided to come out with the truth, the actress told The Cut: That was very important because the fans of my show are young women, so I knew that there would be a number of them who would definitely be dealing with disordered eating, whether in fact it was a mental illness or eating disorder. So I thought it was important that I speak out about my recovery process and seeking treatment. Bellisario first spoke about her battle with anorexia in an interview with Seventeen magazine in 2014. Lily Collins Photo: Reuters/Mike Blake Related Articles Trump claimed Iran had outmanoeuvred Washington into concessions and could still develop nuclear arms when the pact's restrictions expire in 15 years. By Indo-Asian News Service: US President Donald Trump, who has virulently called the nuclear agreement with Iran the "worst deal ever negotiated", may come around supporting it, says an American expert on the Middle East. "There may be some uncertainty... Trump, who had said it is a bad deal, may be persuaded not to junk it. He may be persuaded by the economic opportunities it may offer. After all, he is a businessman," Robert F. Worth, former Beirut bureau chief of a renowned daily, told IANS on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017. advertisement Also read | Pope Francis to 'wait and see' before forming opinion about Donald Trump During his presidential campaign, Trump while assailing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached by Iran and six world powers in 2015 placing significant restrictions on Iran's nuclear activity, had declared that his "number 1 priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal". IRAN OUTMANOEUVRED WASHINGTON: TRUMP He claimed Iran had outmanoeuvred Washington into concessions and could still develop nuclear arms when the pact's restrictions expire in 15 years. However, there has been strong support for the deal and over three dozen top American scientists, including Nobel laureates, veteran nuclear weapon scientists, former White House science advisers and head of the world's largest general society of scientists, wrote to the new president on Monday, urging him to "preserve this critical US strategic asset", which curbed any Iranian bid for nuclear weaponisation. Also read | Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani dies at 82 On the situation in Iran itself, Worth, the author of "A Rage for Order: The Middle East in Turmoil, from Tahrir Square to ISIS", said "there was little hope for reformers" in the country and further since the death earlier this month of former President Ayatollah Rafsanjani, who was seen as a moderate and pragmatic leader." GREAT SCEPTICISM IN IRAN OVER DEAL "It will also depend on how the nuclear deal plays out. Even in Iran, there has been great scepticism over it... that the Europe and the US have not come through, there has been little of the promised investment, and all," he said. Noting that though there is a presidential election coming up this year, Worth said that the future situation also depended on how long the Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei remained in power. --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: After Hollywood actor Vin Diesel, Kung Fu master Jackie Chan is in town to promote his multi-lingual action-adventure film Kung Fu Yoga. The 62-year-old actor got a grand welcome as he arrived in Mumbai to begin the promotions of his upcoming film. ALSO READ: I taught Jackie Chan Hindi abuses, he used them on Sonu Sood, says Amyra Dastur advertisement ALSO READ: Tiger Shroff's rumoured girlfriend Disha Patani in a cold war with Amyra Dastur? He was accompanied by his co-actor Sonu Sood who plays a pivotal role in the film. From tilak to garland, Chan got a taste of Indian culture as she stepped in India. Clad in a pink shirt and blue denims, Chan waved at the innumerable fans who were waiting to catch the glimpse of the actor. Not just he folded his hands in a namaste for the shutterbugs but also struck the Kung Fu pose for them. Shot in India and China, Kung Fu Yoga also stars Bollywood actors Disha Patani and Amyra Dastur. Kung Fu Yoga, an India-China co-production, is set to release in India on February 3. (Photos: Milind Shlete, Yogen Shah) --- ENDS --- The law now replaces the ordinance that was promulgated amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act on January 21. An ordinance has a life of 6 months and it would lapse unless a law is passed to replace that. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselavam tabled the bill in the state assembly on Monday, and was passed quickly. The law passed by the Assembly seeks to protect jallikattu from legal challenges. The passage of bill was welcomed by the Jallikattu activists. Speaking to reporters, P Rajasekhar, President of the Jallikattu Peravai, welcomed the law. While the Assembly took up the bill for discussion, former judge Hari Parandhaman explained the aspects in detail to the protesters at Marina Beach. He assured the protesters that the law is a permanent solution protecting jallikattu from legal hurdles. The law while legalising the sport also laid out various safety measures in favour of the bulls and the manner in which the sport should be held. Park City (United States) (AFP) - Casey Affleck's stock is at an all-time high after his acclaimed performance in Kenneth Lonergan's "Manchester by the Sea" made him one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces. Yet the enigmatic 41-year-old -- a best actor Golden Globe winner and a frontrunner for the Oscars in February -- can next be seen in an obscure indie role, shrouded in a bedsheet and largely silent. "He and I have been friends for so long at this point that it's just fun to watch him get all the acclaim," director David Lowery told AFP Sunday ahead of the world premiere of "A Ghost Story." "Working with him is just like hanging out with a good friend, and this is not a typical movie for an actor of his caliber to do." Affleck may have been given his air fare to Texas to shoot "A Ghost Story," but it's unlikely it would have been his biggest pay day. Filmed mostly in one house, it cost almost nothing to make and was shot secretly over two months last summer in Dallas, Texas. Lowery began working on the movie just days after wrapping the big budget Disney remake of "Pete's Dragon" and found what little cash was required himself. A languid, hypnotic meditation on time, legacy and belonging, "A Ghost Story" sees Affleck and Rooney Mara together for the first time since Lowery's last indie hit, the 2013 crime romance "Ain't Them Bodies Saints." - 'Low-charisma mumbler' - They play an unnamed couple who appear to be enjoying the trappings of domesticity in a secure relationship which is ripped apart when his character is killed in car crash near the start of the movie. He spends the rest of the film as a ghost, compelled to inhabit his rural Texan home, even after his grieving partner moves on and leaves. Draped playfully in the archetypal white bedsheet, Affleck is the kind of comic specter you might find in "Scooby Doo," his sorrowful but inscrutable expression defined by two black eyeholes. Story continues It is an odd role for a big star, but perhaps one uniquely suited to an actor whose sensibilities have always been somewhat left of the mainstream. Variety's chief film critic Peter Debruge, who describes Affleck as a "low-charisma mumbler who tends to keep his characters' emotions bottled up," points out that he is one of the few actors who can convey as much with a sheet over his head as without. "I know him so well at this point that I can just call him up and say 'can you come to Texas for two weeks and do something kind of crazy?' and he's totally down to do it," Lowery said. - Auteur - "He, like myself, has so many different interests as a filmmaker. It's exciting to see him not only be incredibly successful with 'Manchester' but to not rest on those laurels and to go off and... make a small art film like this." Affleck was not at Sunday's screening at the Sundance Film Festival as he is having another go at directing after making the unloved mockumentary "I'm Still Here." But his performance earned warm applause from the audience in Park City, Utah and critics have been generous in their early reviews for the movie. IndieWire described "A Ghost Story" as Lowery's best film to date, while the Hollywood Reporter predicted that it would find an admiring, if niche, audience. "A Ghost Story," also written and edited by 36-year-old Lowery, was inspired by an argument the director had with his wife, actress Augustine Frizzell, about where they should live. An indie auteur at heart, he has adopted the common indie kid strategy of paying for the labors of love with the big studio movies, and he is lined up for another Disney remake, "Peter Pan." "It's just me following my creative instincts. I have all sorts of interests as a filmmaker and it would be a shame to not indulge all of them," Lowery told AFP. "I do want to make giant blockbuster studio movies -- that's really fun -- but I also love making really small, for lack of a better term, art films." TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Abortion opponents expressed optimism Monday that President Donald Trump's early months in office would advance their cause as hundreds converged on the Kansas Statehouse to mark the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Trump, inaugurated Friday, has promised to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court with what he has called a "pro-life" justice and has said he would sign anti-abortion measures approved by the Republican-controlled Congress. Even as GOP governors and legislatures enacted a raft of new anti-abortion laws over the past decade, the movement faced a big obstacle from Democrat Barack Obama's eight years as president. "I have high expectations," said Karin Capron, a 69-year-old retired chemist from the Kansas City suburb of Mission who has been active in the anti-abortion movement for more than four decades. "The more hear about him (Trump), the more I think he can be very helpful to the pro-life movement." Longtime anti-abortion activists mixed with private school students and joined prominent state officials at the annual Rally for Life, one day after the 44th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade ruling. The rally, which is regularly the largest annual political event at the Capitol in Topeka, was accompanied by worship services and workshops a prelude to the movement's paramount event, the annual March for Life on Friday in Washington. The rally included prayers for Trump and seeking an end to abortion. Trump on Monday reinstated a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The policy has been instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. The anti-abortion rally has drawn several thousand people to the Statehouse in the past; the crowd Monday had as many as 1,000 people. But a women's march and rally Saturday drew more than 3,000 people many of them concerned about abortion rights. Story continues Marilyn Ault, of Topeka, now 78, became an abortion rights supporter in the early 1960s after watching a friend recover from an illegal abortion. Ault, who ran the local Battered Women's Task Force, said she recalls fellow abortion-rights activists thinking after the Roe decision, "That was it, and we wouldn't have to worry about it," she said. Capron, a lifelong Catholic, said she became active in the anti-abortion movement in 1973, following the decision, after seeing a slide show at a church that featured pictures of aborted fetuses. She'd just had a baby, and recalls, "I said, God, I've got to do something." She has protested and handed out literature outside abortion clinics and staffed anti-abortion booths at fairs. She has marched to raise money for crisis pregnancy centers and worked as a pregnancy counselor. Capron hopes Congress approves a measure to halt funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation's leading provider of abortions. Another congressional proposal would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. At the state level, tough new restrictions on abortion are being pushed in numerous Republican-controlled legislatures. For example, Ohio and Kentucky, within the past six weeks, have joined about 15 other states in banning abortions after 20 weeks. Newly released data shows that the number of abortions in the U.S. fell to about 926,000 in 2014, the lowest level since 1974 the year after the Roe v. Wade ruling. Reasons for the drop include the surge of abortion restrictions and the increased availability of effective contraceptives. At the Kansas rally, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, touted the 17 anti-abortion measures he'd signed into law in six years in office. "That doesn't just happen," he said. "It's years of toil. It's years of prayer." But Elise Higgins, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said the group was encouraged by the turnout at Saturday's rally and others across the nation. "We know that reproductive rights are on the line now, and they're not going anywhere without a huge fight," she said. ___ Also contributing was Associated Press writer David Crary in New York. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna WASHINGTON (AP) The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says he can't support President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland says in a statement that Rex Tillerson's business orientation and confirmation hearing answers could compromise his ability to forcefully promote U.S. values and ideals. Specifically, Cardin said he based his opposition on Tillerson's unwillingness to call Russia and Syria's atrocities "war crimes," or to describe Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's extrajudicial killings as gross human rights violations. Cardin also said the former Exxon Mobil CEO misled the committee about the company's lobbying against sanctions, such as penalties against Russia for its annexation of Crimea. The Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote on Tillerson's nomination on Monday afternoon. Thousands of people attended a vigil Monday in memory of the five victims mown down by a car at Melbourne's busiest mall last week as police charged the suspected driver with murder. The 26-year-old man, charged with five counts of murder, sustained gunshot wounds when police arrested him after the incident on Friday. Mourners gathered at Melbourne's Federation Square for a minute's silence to remember those killed in the tragedy. Henry Dow, who witnessed the carnage, made a stirring speech, recalling a taxi driver who went to the aid of those struck by the vehicle. "Many images and sounds will stay with me much longer than I might like, but I'm glad I've seen, and hope I never forget just how brave and loving strangers can be. I love this city," Dow said. Other witnesses had earlier described "bodies flying through the air" as the vehicle sped through the shopping strip, leaving a trail of injured and a pram upturned on the sidewalk. A man in his 30s, a man and woman both in their 20s, a ten-year-old girl, along with the baby thrown from the pram were all killed. Fifteen people remain in hospital, with two still in a critical condition. "It's been a tragic time... but the people of Melbourne have pulled together and the spirit of the city was very evident there just as it was on the day of that shocking attack," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Australian radio. The accused killer - who had been pursued by police earlier on Friday for allegedly stabbing his brother -- has a history of family violence, mental illness and drug abuse. He failed to appear in court on Monday because he was unwell, his lawyer told Fairfax media. A police statement said he was remanded to appear in court in August. Footage circulating on social media showed the man half-hanging out of the side of the vehicle and driving erratically at one of Melbourne's busiest intersections moments before the tragedy. Story continues "A very, very large percentage of the cases police deal with, on the streets, involve people who have that combination of mental illness exacerbated made worse by drugs and alcohol," Turnbull said, adding "this is a big and growing problem". Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews announced a review of the state's bail system, after police said the suspect had been bailed on unspecified but serious charges just days before the rampage. "Each of the families and those victims are owed nothing less than the hard work required and our singular focus to make the (bail) change necessary to make Victoria safer," Andrews told reporters. Additional magistrates will be made available after hours to determine bail conditions, rather than the lesser qualified bail justices often used today, he said. Brussels (AFP) - German Chancellor Angel Merkel will face an even broader Russian disinformation campaign ahead of elections this year, according to EU findings, a source close to the matter said Monday. The source, who asked not to be identified, told reporters that France and the Netherlands were also likely targets as they too go to the polls with populist, anti-EU figures strongly in the running after Donald Trump's upset US election victory. The source said the East StratCom Task Force set up in 2015 to combat a Russian disinformation campaign found Merkel had come under increasing attack last year, especially over her decision to let nearly a million migrants into Germany. EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini formed the group in the fallout from the Ukraine crisis when Moscow manipulated information in the press and over social networks to wrong-foot Kiev and the 28-nation bloc about its intentions. The team of about 10 experts and Russian-speakers monitors news stories, be it about Ukraine, the migrant crisis or terror attacks in Europe which show Western leaders in a poor light. It aims to demonstrate that apparently authoritative stories are fake and so counter their impact. According to a statement on the group's website, over the past 15 months it found "more than 2,500 examples in 18 languages of stories contradicting publicly available facts." "There is no doubt that the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign is an orchestrated strategy," the group says on its website in a report released on Thursday. "The disinformation campaign is a non-military measure for achieving political goals," it said. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Monday his government is prepared to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump if Mexico's national sovereignty is respected. Pena Nieto gave a speech detailing what Mexico's baseline negotiating points would be, including economic integration, respect for the rights of migrants and the money they send home. Those remittances amount to about $25 billion annually and have become a major source of foreign revenue for the country. Trump had originally suggested that the U.S. might retain some of that money to help pay for a wall between the countries, a project he says Mexico will pay for but which Mexico opposes. Pena Nieto sought to chart a middle course. "Neither confrontation nor submission. Dialogue is the solution," he said. Pena Nieto said over the weekend that he has talked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the North American Free Trade Agreement ahead of a planned Jan. 31 meeting with Trump. Trump has pledged to renegotiate the three-nation trade agreement and slap tariffs on imports. Pena Nieto's office said that during Sunday's conversation, Trudeau and the Mexican president "spoke about the importance of the United States for both countries, and agreed to join forces to continue promoting the economic integration of North America." Trump announced Monday that he's set up meetings with Trudeau and Pena Nieto, saying "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA." Mexico's manufacturing sector has benefited from NAFTA, but Trump claims it has displaced U.S. jobs. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump "has already spoken to both the president of Mexico and the prime minister of Canada about his desire to renegotiate, and as he meets with both of these individuals over the next 30 days or so, that is going to be a topic." "If they come in and express their willingness to do that, you could negotiate it in the current parameters and update it through the existing structure," Spicer said. "If they don't, and decide to pull out, we will have to go back to the drawing table in the future." MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico has become accustomed to accusations of wrongdoing by former state governors, but the most recent scandal has been especially shocking. The current governor of the Gulf coast state of Veracruz has accused a predecessor of buying fake medicines for state-run hospitals, claiming an inert substance was administered to children instead of a cancer drug. On Sunday, former Gov. Fidel Herrera resigned as Mexico's consul in Barcelona. He said in a Twitter post that, "I am going to confront this slander. It is completely false." Herrera was Veracruz governor from 2004 to 2010. Current Gov. Miguel Angel Yunes said purchases of falsified medications began under Herrera and continued under his successor, Javier Duarte. Duarte is a fugitive from charges faces charges of money laundering and organized crime. By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico will fight for free trade with NAFTA partners Canada and the United States in talks with the new U.S. government, as well as seek bilateral trade deals with other nations, President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Monday. In a keynote foreign policy speech aimed at reassuring the Mexican public about the impact of Donald Trump's presidency, Pena Nieto set out his priorities and underlined the importance of frank, open dialogue with the new U.S. administration. "Neither confrontation nor submission. The solution is dialogue and negotiation," Pena Nieto told business and political leaders at his official residence. "Trade between the three countries should be free of any tariff or quota." Trump wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada in order, he says, to bring back jobs, and has threatened to dump the accord if the talks do not yield a "fair" deal. Separately, on Monday, a businessman named by Trump to head a business advisory council, Stephen Schwarzman, said Canada has a "very special status" and is not a target of changes sought to the NAFTA accord. Trump, who took office on Friday, has threatened to slap hefty taxes on companies that produce in Mexico for the U.S. market, and to build a border wall to combat illegal immigrants that he says Mexico will pay for. "Mexico doesn't believe in walls. Our country believes in bridges," Pena Nieto said. Pena Nieto listed 10 objectives for talks with Trump, including getting U.S. pledges to guarantee Mexican migrants' rights, ensuring the free flow of remittances from the United States into Mexico, and adding sections on telecommunications and energy to NAFTA. During his election campaign, Trump had threatened to stop allowing wire transfers of money out of the United States from Mexican nationals unless Mexico agreed to fund a border wall. Mexico will also immediately seek bilateral deals with countries that signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal, Pena Nieto said. Trump formally withdrew the United States from the TPP on Monday. Pena Nieto said Mexico would work more closely with Brazil and Argentina and other Latin American countries, as well as strengthening its business ties with Asia. This week, senior U.S. and Mexico officials will meet in Washington to discuss trade, security and immigration. Pena Nieto and Trump will meet at the end of January. Mexico's peso was little changed by Pena Nieto's announcements. The currency was gaining ground for a second session in a row after Trump refrained from specifically mentioning Mexico in his inauguration speech last Friday or taking initial actions that would disrupt trade with Mexico. (Additional reporting by Mexico City Newsroom; Writing by Christine Murray; Editing by Simon Gardner and Leslie Adler) Traditionally, a new U.S. president makes one of his first foreign visits to Canada to signal the continued closeness U.S.-Canadian friendship. But President Donald Trump may have outsourced this trip to Jared Kushner, his son-in-law turned White House adviser. On Monday, Reuters reported Kushner is planning a trip to Calgary this week to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet. Trudeau and his cabinet are holding a mini-retreat in Calgary, presumably to discuss how to deal with Kushners father-in-law boss, who has threatened to tear up or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that dictates much of the Canada-U.S. trade relationship. On Monday morning, Trump issued an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement with its Asian allies. NAFTA, the trilateral free trade deal between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, could be next. Deploying Kushner may foreshadow Trumps reliance on his closest cadre of White House advisers to conduct foreign policy. It might also suggest that countries will be forced to speak the language of bilateral trade if they want to speak with Trumps America. For example: Canadian officials fear that their country may end up as collateral damage in Trumps toughened stance on Mexico. Trump, who will meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto next week, repeatedly accused Mexico of taking economic advantage of the United States. And so the Trudeau team may try to convince the Trump team that Americas issues are not with Canada, and that a close bilateral trade relationship benefits both Canadian and American piggy banks. Indeed, in 2015, Canada was the United States second largest trade partner in the world; bilateral trade that year totaled $662.7 billion. Mexico, in turn, may become collateral damage in Canadas attempts to preserve its trade relationship with the United States under Trump, who has vowed to renegotiate U.S. trade deals around the world bilaterally to benefit Americans more. If Trudeau and teams talks with Kushner go well, Canada may be first on that list; Canada has already hinted it would be willing to work around NAFTA for a bilateral deal. Story continues Trudeau has his own headaches at home without losing U.S.-Canada trade. He is under investigation for a vacation he took on the private island of billionaire Aga Khan, which may have violated Canadian conflict of interest laws. Perhaps Trudeau and Kushner can bond over conflicts of interest. Photo credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images The bill was tabled and passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today, almost a week after hundreds of protesters occupied Chennai's famous Marina Beach protesting against the ban. | WATCH LIVE By India Today Web Desk: Tamil Nadu has passed a new law legalising the hugely famous bull-taming sport jallikattu, which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014. The bill was tabled and passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today, almost a week after hundreds of protesters occupied Chennai's famous Marina Beach protesting against the ban. The protest, which has been peaceful so far, turned violent today after police tried to evict the agitators from the site. At about 6 in the morning police tried to evict the protesters from the site leading to clashes in which some people were injured. Vehicles outside a police station were set on fire by agitators who are demanding a permanent solution to the issue. advertisement HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES: DMK's MK Stalin meets Tamil Nadu Governor C.Vidyasagar Rao. Tamil Nadu Assembly passes bill on jallikattu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvem tables jallikattu bill in Assembly. Superstar Rajinikanth appeals for calm, says violence in Chennai disheartening. Actor Kamal Haasan slams police, says aggressive police action is wrong. Jallikattu protest financed by Pakistan's ISI, says Subramanian Swamy. Some political parties trying to take advantage of jallikattu protests and trying to create anti-Centre sentiments: Venkaiah Naidu. Some political parties are trying to take advantage of jallikattu protests and trying to create an anti-Centre sentiment: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu. Stone pelting reported from Royapettah area in Chennai. Police use teargas, water cannon to disperse protesters at Marina Beach. Special Assembly session to pass legislation to replace ordinance on jallikattu: AIADMK. Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal announces special session at 5:00 pm today. Police detain more than 100 protesting students near Meenakshi Hall in Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam was at the Assembly to present the jallikattu bill. DMK walks out from Tamil Nadu Assembly as Governor speaks. Tamil Nadu: Fire at Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach in Chennai, Police disperse protesters #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/i44VmV0MN2&; ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu Assembly session begins, jallikattu bill to be tabled today. Heavy police force deployment in Madurai's Alanganallur. Its highly condemnable for using force to disperse the crowd who were fighting democratically, says DMK working president MK Stalin. In a street in Triplicane area near Marina Beach, protesters in large numbers threw stones at police which later retaliated with a baton charge. Tamil Nadu: Food being distributed to protesters sitting in support of #jallikattu in Madurai's Thamukam pic.twitter.com/pEH4WfOtpE&; ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 The police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters who assembled at several roads leading to Marina and started throwing stones. All routes to Marina Beach have been cordoned off. #Jallikattu supporters form human chain at Chennai's Marina Beach pic.twitter.com/eKspf7sIgU&; ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 The eviction began after week-long protests across the state. The protesters demand a "permanent" solution by amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in the Assembly. Tamil Nadu: Clash between protesters and Police in Madurai's Alanganallur , an injured protester being taken to hospital #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/ipERq4jVPz&; ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 The police action came as the state assembly met on Monday for the first time in 2017 with Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao's address. The police physically pulled out the demonstrators sitting at the protest venue. In Coimbatore, the police pounced on a protester who stood up with a kerosene canister and threatened to self-immolate. They were successful in taking away the inflammable liquid. The protesters in Madurai remained adamant and the police were trying to convince them to disperse. The state government on Sunday organised jallikattu in several places following the promulgation of an ordinance enabling the same. But the protesters demand the central government take out bulls from the list of performing animals. The police has asked protesters in other parts of the state to disperse. Meanwhile, DMK's Working President and Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu assembly, MK Stalin, condemned the police action as authoritarian. While the protesters anger is severe against the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in most of the protest venues there were slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. Some of the placards held by few protesters were vulgar and indecent and there were also signs demanding separate Tamil land. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said the party was withdrawing its plans to hold jallikattu protest on January 26 as the state government has passed an ordinance that permits the sport. ALSO READ: Jallikattu: 2 bull vaulters die, 83 injured as Tamil Nadu celebrates the sport All you need to know about Jallikattu --- ENDS --- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he would soon renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Trump said during a swearing-in ceremony at the White House: "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA ." "Mexico has been terrific. The president has been really very amazing. I think we are going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, for everybody involved," he reportedly added. But what exactly is this trade treaty and why is it contentious? In 1994, NAFTA came into force between the U.S., Canada and Mexico when Bill Clinton was president. By eliminating most tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and investment between these three countries, the agreement created one of the worlds largest free trade zones. Small businesses were meant to gain from this pact as the costs of products would be lowered to increase buying and selling abroad, resulting in the reduction of bureaucracy of larger businesses. NAFTA - Chronology of Events June 10, 1990: U.S., Canada, and Mexico agree to have a free trade agreement Feb. 5, 1991: Negotiations on NAFTA begin Dec. 17, 1992: The U.S., Canadian and Mexican leaders sign NAFTA Aug. 1993: Labor- and environment-related additional side agreements are also negotiated Jan. 1, 1994: NAFTA comes into force The agreements provisions are looked after by a number of institutions that ensure its proper implementation: A Free Trade Commission consisting of ministerial representatives from NAFTA partners oversees the work of NAFTA committees, working groups and other subsidiary bodies, and also ensures proper implementation of the agreement and resolve disputes. NAFTA coordinators are designated by each country that ensures proper management and implementation on a daily basis. NAFTA Secretariat is made up of a national section from each member country and is responsible for resolving disputes regarding the agreement and also maintains a tri-national website containing up-to-date information on past and current disputes. The commissions for labor cooperation and environmental cooperation was created to promote cooperation on labor issues among members and the effective enforcement of domestic labor laws, and to deal with environmental issues, challenges and opportunities concerning the member countries. Story continues However, its efficacy is extensively debated in the U.S. Some critics have blamed NAFTA for decimating the manufacturing sector and leading to significant job losses in the country, factors that are seen as contributing to support for Trump when he first started slamming the deal. However, a report published by Michigan-based Center for Automotive Research earlier this month said: "Any move by the United States to withdraw from NAFTA or to otherwise restrict automotive vehicle, parts and components trade within North America will result in higher costs to producers, lower returns for investors, fewer choices for consumers and a less competitive U.S. automotive and supplier industry." The Congressional Research Service, which provides independent analysis, reportedly said in 2015: "In reality, NAFTA did not cause the huge job losses feared by the critics or the large economic gains predicted by supporters," adding: "The net overall effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy appears to have been relatively modest, primarily because trade with Canada and Mexico accounts for a small percentage of U.S. GDP [gross domestic product]." Related Articles Nearly half of American men have a genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but a much smaller percentage have received the HPV vaccine, according to a new study. The results show that about 45 percent of U.S. men under age 60 have a genital HPV infection, which translates to about 35 million men, the researchers said. What's more, 25 percent of men were infected with so-called "high-risk" types of HPV, which, compared with low-risk types of HPV, are more strongly linked with cancer. Only about 11 percent of U.S. men had received the HPV vaccine, according to the study, published today (Jan. 19) in the journal JAMA Oncology. And surprisingly, the researchers found a high rate of HPV infection in older men. In fact, the highest rate of HPV infection seen in the study was among those ages 58 to 59 (the oldest age group in the study). This higher rate of HPV infection in older men contrasts with what's been seen in women: The HPV infection rate is lower in older in woman than in younger ones. [Men vs. Women: Our Key Physical Differences Explained] The "consistent, high infection rate among all age groups in men was very striking, because this was not expected," said Dr. Jasmine Han, who led study and is the chief of gynecologic oncology at the Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The study is the first to estimate the percentage of U.S. men that have a genital HPV infection. The researchers hope the findings will increase public awareness of the current low HPV vaccination rate and the high HPV prevalence rate, Han told Live Science. HPV-associated cancers in men are increasing, she noted. There is a very effective "vaccine that could eradicate HPV-associated cancers in both women and men, but the prevalence remains high despite the availability" of these vaccines, she said. The current vaccination age cutoff for men, 26, should be re-evaluated in light of the new findings showing a widespread high HPV prevalence rate among all age groups, Han said. Story continues HPV in men Human papillomaviruses are a group of more than 150 related viruses that infect different parts of the body. HPVs that infect the genital area can spread as sexually transmitted infections. Most infections go away on their own, but some can linger and lead to health problems, including genital warts and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past, efforts to prevent HPV infection focused mainly on women, because HPV infections can lead to cervical cancer. But in 2009, health officials approved the HPV vaccine for males, and the vaccine is now recommended for both females and males ages 11 to 26 years old. However, few studies have looked at the prevalence of genital HPV infection in men, or how many men receive the HPV vaccine. In the new study, researchers analyzed information from 1,868 men ages 18 to 59, who took part in a national health survey from 2013 to 2014. In addition to answering questions, the men in the study underwent a physical exam. As part of that exam, the participants swabbed their penises. The samples were then tested for DNA from nearly 40 different types of HPV. Men in the youngest age group, ages 18 to 22, had the lowest rate of infection, with about 29 percent of men in this group having an HPV infection. But the rate of HPV infection was higher, 46.5 percent, among men ages 23 to 27, and it reached 51 percent among men ages 28 to 32. Among men in their late 30s and early 40s, the rate of HPV infection was slightly lower, but among men ages 58 and 59, the rate was nearly 60 percent, the study found. In contrast, a 2011 study of HPV infections in women found that the rate of HPV infection was nearly 54 percent among 20- to 24-year-olds, but only 39 percent among 50- to 59-year-olds. Vaccinate older men? The finding of a lower rate of HPV infection in younger men compared with older ones may, in part, reflect the current recommendation to give the HPV vaccine to younger men. Among men ages 18 to 22 in the study, 22 percent had received the HPV vaccine. In addition, some studies suggest that men's immune systems don't respond as strongly to fight off HPV infections as women's systems do. What's more, people's immune systems decline with age, which may be why the older men in the study had accumulated a higher rate of infections than the younger group, Han speculated. Finally, some studies have found that men tend to have a similar number of new and recent sexual partners, regardless of their age, which provides continued opportunity for HPV infection throughout their lives, the researchers said. Because the study was conducted at a single point in time, it cannot determine why older men had higher rates of HPV infection, the researchers noted. The study also cannot determine the effect of the HPV vaccine on the risk of infection among different age groups. [5 Dangerous Vaccination Myths] Still, the researchers estimated that more than 25 million American men are eligible for the HPV vaccine, but haven't received it. HPV vaccination "may have a profound effect on the prevention of HPV-related cancers" in both men and women, because men serve as reservoirs for HPV infections for women and because HPV can also cause genital and oral cancers in men, the researchers said. Additional reporting by Karen Rowan. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday Donald Trump's presidency in the United States represented "significant opportunities" for Israel, but called for restraint from fellow right-wing politicians. Referring to former US president Barack Obama, Netanyahu said "after eight years of withstanding huge pressures on a large array of topics, first and foremost Iran and the settlements, I definitely welcome the change of attitude". "We're (now) facing great and significant opportunities for the security and future of the state of Israel." Obama's administration grew frustrated with Israeli settlement building, warning it was eating away at prospects of a two-state solution. Netanyahu also strongly opposed the nuclear deal between Israel's arch-foe Iran and world powers, including the United States. But with right-wing politicians pushing hard for Israel to move immediately to build more settlements and even annex parts of the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu said restraint was needed. "This is not the time to shoot from the hip," Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history, told lawmakers from his Likud party. "This is the time for responsible and rational diplomacy with friends, diplomacy that will strengthen the cooperation between us and the trust between the Israeli government and the new administration in Washington." Trump has signalled strong support for Israel, and Israeli right-wing politicians have sought to take advantage, with hardliners calling for an end to the idea of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has said he still supports a two-state solution, but reportedly told ministers Sunday that all restrictions on building settlements in annexed east Jerusalem were being lifted. He also said he plans to expand construction in large settlement blocks in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reported, and that he foresees eventually bringing all settlements under Israeli sovereignty. Story continues Media said those comments helped convince Education Minister Naftali Bennett from the hardline Jewish Home party to postpone a push to immediately annex Maale Adumim, a large West Bank settlement near Jerusalem. Discussion on whether to do so is to be put off until after Netanyahu meets Trump in early February. The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday. Bennett, who opposes a Palestinian state and advocates Israel annexing most of the West Bank, has spoken repeatedly of what he sees as the rare possibilities under a Trump presidency. "We're calling on PM Netanyahu: Do not miss the opportunity of once in 50 years," he said Monday, according to his office. But on Monday Netanyahu said: "For the sake of Israel, Israel's security and for the benefit of the settlement movement, I suggest everyone leave aside any other consideration and let me lead the moves." "Mommy, will you marry my daddy?" Those were the words a Nebraska father printed on his newborn's onesie the day after his girlfriend gave birth. Read: Dad Enlists Help of Newborn Daughter to Propose to His Girlfriend in the Hospital "As soon as she holds him, she broke into tears," said Darick Mead, 26, of Hastings. He told InsideEdition.com that he and Susan Medina, 21, started dating a year and a half ago after meeting on social media. "When I found out Susan was pregnant, I didn't want to ask her to marry me just because we were having a kid," he explained. "I wanted it to feel good in my heart." But, their journey through pregnancy caused him to quickly realize he wanted to spend his life with her: "She's always there for me, she's always taken care of me, and just to see how she's carried the child, it really touched me." While Mead originally wanted to pop the question the day little Ryder was born, a 17-hour labor, three epidurals and an emergency C-section convinced him to wait until the following day. "That was too much on her right now, I didn't want to overwhelm her," he explained. But, as Medina regained her energy, Mead started putting his plan into action. He sent a friend out to purchase a plain white onesie and write the proposal using a marker. Then, he told Medina the nurses had to check on their baby boy, Ryder, and brought the baby to the nurses' station to dress him in the outfit, with the engagement ring pinned to his onesie. When Mead and little Ryder came back into the room, he told Medina she would be learning how to change his diaper for the first time before handing over little Ryder, revealing the words printed on his onesie: "Mommy, will you marry my daddy?" Read: Gender Reveal Goes Hilariously Wrong Twice After Mom Tries to Include Her 1-Year-Old Daughter "I wasn't at all expecting that to happen," Mead told InsideEdition.com. "I was super surprised. I still didn't get to change his diaper that time, but it was really awesome." Story continues While the couple is not quite ready to lock down a date, they said they're now looking forward to starting a new life with their 11-day-old baby. Watch: Woman Digs Up Time Capsule Buried 5 Years Ago to Find Boyfriend's Proposal: 'I Could Not Believe Him' Related Articles: Madonna at the Womens March in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. (Photo: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says Madonna ought to be arrested for saying she had thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House since Donald Trumps election. She is parallel to the young fascists who ran around town breaking windows, all of whom should be given the maximum sentence, Gingrich said in an interview on Fox & Friends on Monday. What you have is an emerging left-wing fascism, shes part of it and I think we have to be prepared to protect ourselves. .@newtgingrich: Madonna ought to be arrested for saying she thought about blowing up the White House pic.twitter.com/5LCz4y7o0O FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 23, 2017 During the Womens March in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Madonna gave a profanity-laden speech trashing Trump. The Material Girl then told the crowd about her explosive fantasy but added that she had thought better of it. Yes, Im angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House, she said. But I know that this wont change anything. We cannot fall into despair. The pop star, who also performed at the march, later sought to clarify her remarks. I do not promote violence, Madonna wrote on Instagram. And its important people hear and understand my speech in its [sic] entirety rather than one phrase taken wildly out of context. The Secret Service declined to comment. On Friday, more than 200 people were arrested in Washington, D.C., for protesting during Trumps inauguration, as some of the demonstrations turned violent. Most of those arrested were expected to be charged with felony rioting, federal prosecutors said Friday, and would be released on promises to return to court in February. The U.S. attorneys office told the Associated Press that the charges against the protesters are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Story continues More from Yahoo News: By Camillus Eboh and Paul Carsten ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria must not scare away MTN, its minister of communications said, as lawmakers investigate alleged illegal money transfers just three months after the government fined Africa's biggest telecoms firm over $1 billion. The comments by Adebayo Shittu are the government's first statement on the latest investigation into MTN, indicating the government does not want to see the South African company punished unduly in Nigeria, its biggest market, if the latest allegations prove to be true. "Nobody will say that MTN is not important to Nigeria - we must encourage them, we must not scare them away from Nigeria," Shittu told Reuters in an interview, conducted on Friday. MTN, the largest mobile phone firm in Nigeria, threatened to pull out of the country last year during a dispute over unregistered SIM cards before the government agreed to reduce a settlement on the issue by nearly 70 percent to $1 billion. The company now faces another potentially hefty penalty if an investigation by Nigeria's upper house of parliament finds evidence that MTN Group Ltd illegally transferred $13.9 billion out of the West African country between 2006 and 2016, as alleged. MTN has said it did not break Nigeria's currency transfer rules. "The presumption is that they are innocent and we pray they remain innocent," Shittu said, referring to the investigation. "They must stay." His comments are similar to comments he made when MTN was initially fined $5.2 billion in 2015 - equal to more than two years of its Nigerian profits - for failing to cut off unregistered SIM cards. The fine was reduced last June to 330 billion naira ($1.1 billion). Nigeria accounts for a third of MTN's revenue. The crux of the allegation into illegal money transfers is that MTN did not obtain certificates declaring it had invested foreign currency in Nigeria within a 24-hour deadline stipulated in a 1995 law, and so the repatriation of returns on those investments was illegal. "They have a right to repatriate their profits as long as it is legitimately done," said Shittu, adding that any time MTN is suspected of breaking the law it will be investigated, though the "facts against them must be established beyond reasonable doubt." "Everyone who is in business will have ups and downs. You don't throw away the baby with the bathwater." Shittu said the investigation was an issue for financial regulators and did not fall within his "constitutional responsibility." The government, however, can influence the size of the penalty, as in the case of the SIM card issue. Shittu also said Nigeria planned to build and launch two new satellites using a $550 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, which will cover 85 percent of the cost. Nigeria will finance the other 15 percent, with Shittu calling on domestic and foreign investors to take part in the funding. ($1 = 304.4800 naira) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh and Paul Carsten; Editing by Ulf Laessing and Susan Fenton) By Kieran Guilbert MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Nigerian musician Femi Kuti on Monday urged his fellow celebrities and their fans to take to social media and pressure the government to do more to help millions of people struggling to survive in Boko Haram-hit northeast Nigeria. The Lagos-based Afrobeat star said he wanted to raise awareness among young Nigerians and encourage them to demand a greater humanitarian response, having visited Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, on Monday. "People need to have a sense of the reality in the northeast - from people walking around hungry to mothers with malnourished children," Kuti said during his visit to Borno, the heart of Boko Haram's seven-year campaign to create an Islamic caliphate. "I hope more celebrities will visit and engage with their fans," Kuti told the Thomson Reuters Foundation after accompanying the International Rescue Committee (IRC) on visits to local communities hosting the displaced and a health clinic. "Then more people will see what is going on, share it on social media, and put pressure on the government to do more." Boko Haram's insurgency has killed about 15,000 people and forced more than two million to flee their homes since 2009. The Nigerian army, backed up by neighbors, has retaken most areas held by the Islamist militants. Yet the jihadist group has stepped up attacks and suicide bombings in the past few weeks as the end of the rainy season facilitates movements in the bush. While calling on more support and aid for people in the northeast, Kuti said he was struck by the generosity of local communities towards those who uprooted by the insurgency. "It is heartening to see so many displaced people welcomed into the homes of local families ... and community elders offering to give up land to displaced for farming," Kuti said. In Maiduguri, which has seen its population almost triple to five million in recent years, there are signs a sense of normality is gradually returning to the city. The curfew has been pushed back to 10 pm, from 6 pm, and clubs are packed and pulsating as DJs play the tunes of artists like Kuti and his late father Fela, the 1970s Afrobeat pioneer. Yet there is still much to be done, and many people to help, before Maiduguri can be considered back to normal, Kuti said. "There are still so many young people who are displaced, who have lost their parents, who cannot go home yet." he said." They cannot party, and it is them we must worry about the most." (Reporting By Kieran Guilbert, Editing by Ros Russell; 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) Professor K Gunapal Kadamba, a senior member of the Dakshina Kannada-Udupi Kambala organising committee said on the sidelines of a meeting held today in Moodabidri to chalk out plans for a protest on January 28. By Nolan Pinto: Taking a leaf out of the daring protests organised by the people of Tamil Nadu to fight for jallikattu, it seems citizens of Mangaluru are also gearing up for a showdown anytime soon. They gathered together in Moodabidri to decide on their protest plans and what's to be done to save Kambala, their age old tradition. Kambala is an annual buffalo race held under the auspices of local leaders in the coastal part of the state. It normally begins in November and ends in March. advertisement But in the month of November 2016, the Karnataka High Court passed an interim order banning all Kambala races until the disposal of the PIL filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India. While Kambala committees have filed an interim application to vacate the stay, the court will hear the case on January 30. The organizers have now planned to protest on January 28 along with about 250 pairs of buffaloes and with the participation of more than 50,000 people at the Swaraj Maidan in Moodabidri. The protest will begin at Swaraj Maidan and end at Kadalakere which is a Kambala racing site. Stating the difference between jallikattu and Kambala, Kadamba says, 'While there is cruelty in Jallikattu, in the history of Kambala there has never been any sort of cruelty.' There have been no deaths and no major injuries in Kambala he added. JALLIKATTU VS KAMBALA Former Minister K Abhayachandra Jain who was also present with the committee members said that the government has explained the differences between jallikattu and Kambala to the Karnataka High Court. "The Government of Karnataka has set up an 8 persons committee to look into the defects present in Kambala and rectify them," he told India Today adding that the affidavit has been submitted and they have now requested the HC to advance the hearing. Likewise pro-Kannada organizations have also decided to fight for this cause. They have threatened to lay siege to the Raj Bhavan on January 25 in support of this demand. They claim that the Centre is meting out a step-motherly treatment to Karnataka and that both the Centre and the State government must intervene to lift the ban on Kambala. Also read: Jallikattu protest turns violent, BJP's Subramanian Swamy says agitation funded by ISI Big developments on jallikattu stand-off: Timeline Jallikattu row: These Tamil films reflected the current situation earlier --- ENDS --- By Rina Chandran MUMBAI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - On the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, an Indian real estate company ran an advertisement with the slogan 'Homes that don't discriminate', calling for an end to prejudice in India's housing market based on gender, religion or caste. While the ad was unusual, the sentiment was familiar to millions of Indians who have tried to rent or buy city homes only to be denied because they were single, ate meat, were of a certain caste or from a certain region. Informal rules and discrimination by Indian landlords to keep out religious minorities and single people are eroding the multi-cultural nature of India's cities and dividing communities into ghettos, analysts say. "It's 2017 - and we're still encountering discrimination," said Rishi Dogra of NestAway Technologies that ran the ad. "People should be able to move freely and find a living space anywhere in the country," said Dogra, marketing head for the company founded by four young male graduates after they had trouble finding a home in Bengaluru. Such discrimination has forced many people to the suburbs, making Indian city centers less diverse and cosmopolitan, with high rents already making them unaffordable to poorer workers. Mumbai, India's financial hub and a magnet for migrants from across the country, has traditionally had enclaves for Catholics, Parsis, Bohri Muslims and others. They set up housing societies, or co-operatives, to help other community members. As the city grew and drew more migrants, powerful housing societies have often denied homes on the basis of religion, caste, food preferences and even professions. The divide grew after bloody Hindu-Muslim riots in 1992-93 and still persists, said Zakia Soman, a co-founder at Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, a non-profit organization for Muslim women. A Facebook group called 'Indians Against Discrimination' was set up in 2015 after a young Muslim woman was asked to leave her flat a week after she moved in, because of her religion. "When it comes to living spaces, we have become very insular," Soman said. "The city is getting increasingly ghettoized as a result, weakening our social fabric and polarizing us further. That doesn't bode well," she said. Local courts have ruled against discrimination by housing associations in several cases, but there have also been contradictory rulings. DISCRIMINATION In a 2005 case, India's top court ruled in favor of a Parsi housing society in Ahmedabad, saying it could limit its membership to Parsis and not admit others. "The constitution guarantees our right to equality, but housing societies can still frame their own guidelines which may be discriminatory," said Vinod Sampat, a real estate lawyer. A draft housing policy for Maharashtra state, where Mumbai is located, has dropped a clause that prevents discrimination in housing. This may leave those looking to rent or buy property with fewer protections, Sampat said. Government officials have said non-discrimination is already protected by the constitution, so there is no need for the clause. That has not reassured people like Shikha Makan, who made a film called 'Bachelor Girls' on housing bias against single women - including Bollywood actors - in Mumbai. "Not being able to find a home in a big city like Mumbai is a shame," she said. "It is marginalizing single women and other minorities." (Reporting by Rina Chandran @rinachandran, Editing by Ros Russell. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories.) Social media went into freak-out mode on Monday after reports surfaced that President Donald Trump had declared the day of his inauguration a National Day of Patriotic Devotion. Outraged reaction on Twitter and other platforms accused the new president of channeling North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and other leaders obsessed with their own personality cults. Related: The Best Signs from the Women's March on Washington The stilted language in the federal register notice, set to be published January 24, contributed to the impression that the release might have been crafted in some office in Pyongyang. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2017, as National Day of Patriotic Devotion, in order to strengthen our bonds to each other and to our country -- and to renew the duties of Government to the people. But before we declare the end of the republic, it should probably be noted that this is not the introduction of a new national holiday marking Dear Leader Trumps inauguration. Its also not new or even all that interesting. In fact, presidential proclamations giving symbolic weight to inauguration day are commonplace. And they all appear to share almost the exact same ponderous language. Note the following proclamation from then-President Barack Obama in January of 2008: Now, Therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2009, a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation, and call upon all of our citizens to serve one another and the common purpose of remaking this Nation for our new century. Or this one, from then-President George W. Bush in 2001: NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 21, 2001, a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving and call upon the citizens of our Nation to gather together in homes and places of worship to pray alone and together and offer thanksgiving to God for all the blessings of this great and good land. Story continues Related: Trump Escalates His War With Media On First Full Day in Office To be sure, the phrase National Day of Patriotic Devotion does arguably have echoes of authoritarian nationalism. But given the tenor of Trumps inaugural address, thats hardly a shock. What it wasnt was a declaration of a self-aggrandizing new national holiday. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina couple who lost their two sons in a wreck in 2015 has announced they are expecting twins. The Charlotte Observer reported (http://bit.ly/2kjFDwm ) that Hadley and Gentry Eddings announced on Facebook that their twins are expected this summer. Gentry Eddings is a campus pastor and Hadley Eddings teaches 4-year-olds at Charlotte's Forest Hill church. Their 2-year-old Dobbs Eddings died in the wreck, and Reed Eddings died two days later after being delivered at 38 weeks by emergency cesarean. Twenty-eight-year-old Matthew Deans of Wilmington has been sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the wreck. ___ Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com London (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Sinn Fein signalled a shift to a new, post-conflict generation in Northern Ireland on Monday when the Irish republican party named a 40-year-old woman to replace a former IRA commander as its leader in Belfast. Michelle O'Neill will be a candidate to replace Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister after elections on March 2, following his decision to quit politics for health reasons. At a press conference in Belfast, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams described O'Neill as the "new generation" who would "continue the good work Martin pioneered". O'Neill, a member of the Northern Ireland assembly for the past 10 years, developed her political career in the aftermath of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. The deal effectively ended the armed campaign by the paramilitary Irish Republican Army -- in which McGuinness served -- to unite Ireland by force. Yet O'Neill, a mother of two grown-up children originally from Clonoe in rural County Tyrone, also has a strong Irish nationalist background. Her father Basil served a prison sentence for IRA activities and her cousin Tony Doris, an IRA combatant, was killed by the British army in an ambush in 1991. In a video statement, O'Neil expressed her "immense pride" at her nomination and paid tribute to her father and cousin, citing the influence they had on her and on her wider community. She also offered an olive branch of sorts to the unionist community, which wants Northern Ireland to remain a British province. "The united Ireland we want and which we envisage has a place for everybody," she said. "I see it as my job as leader to make sure we are reaching out to all sections of the community.... Nobody has anything to fear." During the three-decade-long conflict known as "the Troubles", in which 3,500 people died, Sinn Fein was regarded as the political wing of the IRA. It has had an fractious relationship with unionists in the power-sharing assembly set up as part of the peace agreement. Story continues McGuinness played a key role in the peace process and served for a decade alongside first ministers from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). But he fell out with its latest leader, Arlene Foster, and resigned earlier this month, triggering new elections. The DUP responded to Sinn Fein's announcement by posting a tweet picturing Adams with O'Neill in his pocket, with the words: "New Deputy. Same Problem." White House press secretary Sean Spicer expressed exasperation with the media on Monday, repeating several times that President Trump and his team find critical coverage to be frustrating, demoralizing and disappointing. At his first official press briefing, Spicer faced questions about false statements that both he and the president made over the weekend about the size of the crowd at Trumps inauguration ceremony. When asked why so much time had been given to the attendance issue on the presidents first day in office, Spicer insisted, Its not just about crowd size, but rather overall frustration that he said Trump and members of his team feel with the media for what the press secretary described as a perceived constant theme to undercut the enormous support that [Trump] has. Spicer touted Trumps history of having gone out there and defied the odds over and over and over again. Accordingly, he said, it was unbelievably frustrating and demoralizing for his boss to face constant media criticism and doubt. White House spokesman Sean Spicer holds a press briefing at the White House Jan. 23. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Over and over again, theres this constant attempt to undermine his credibility and the movement that he represents, and its frustrating, he said. Its a little demoralizing to turn on the TV day after day and hear, Cant do this. Though he acknowledged that not every story about Trump will be positive, Spicer argued that the coverage of Trumps campaign and now his presidency is not part of what comes with being president of the U.S. and working at the White House, as CNNs Jim Acosta suggested during the briefing, Spicer seemed to suggest that the press should sit here and realize the sacrifices this guy has made because he really, really loves his country. It would be nice once in a while for someone to say, report it straight up: He appointed this person, heres their background, Spicer said. Not, Heres why theyre not going to get nominated. Although he repeatedly stressed that the debate about the inaugurations crowd size was part of a larger issue, Spicer appeared to indirectly offer an answer to Acostas question about how bothered Trump had been by widely shared images that compared the attendance at his inauguration to that of former President Barack Obama in 2009. Story continues Looking out, youre in awe of just how awesome that view is and how many people are there, he said, referring to Trumps view of the crowd from the podium where he delivered his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol on Friday. And you go back and you turn on the TV and you see shots comparing this and that, and hear it wasnt that big. Its a little demoralizing, he said. Hard numbers on the attendance at Trumps inauguration are not available, but a comparison of photographs taken from the same vantage point on Friday and at Obamas first inauguration in 2009 which was attended by an estimated 1.8 million people showed a significantly smaller turnout for Trump. According to the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, 193,000 rides had been taken on the D.C. Metro as of 11 a.m. Friday, compared with 513,000 by the same time on the day of Obamas inauguration in 2009. Metro Ridership: As of 11am, 193k trips taken so far today. (11am 1/20/13 = 317k, 11am 1/20/09 = 513k, 11am 1/20/05 = 197k) #wmata Metro (@wmata) January 20, 2017 During a Saturday visit to CIA headquarters on his first full day as president, Trump accused the media of lying about the size of the audience at his swearing-in ceremony, erroneously claiming that a million, a million and a half people had gathered on the National Mall for his inaugural speech the day before. At a press conference early Saturday evening, Spicer echoed the presidents unsubstantiated outrage, accusing the media of deliberately false reporting. The press secretary simultaneously claimed that attendance numbers were unavailable and that this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe. Spicer stood by this claim during Mondays press briefing, insisting that hed been referring to total viewers, including those who watched the inauguration on television and online, rather than just those who attended in person. Read more from Yahoo News: Japan could pass a one-off bill allowing its retirement-ready emperor to step down, a government panel said, in what would be the first abdication in over two centuries. The option was one of several presented by the group of experts charged with sorting out the thorny issue. They are reportedly expected to make a final recommendation in March. Last summer, Emperor Akihito, 83, expressed a desire to abdicate after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne, one of the world's oldest monarchies, citing his advancing age and weakening health. The news sent shockwaves across Japan and unleashed a flood of questions. Japan has had abdications in its long imperial history, but the last one was over 200 years ago and there is no mechanism for one under current laws. On Monday, the six-member panel, which was tapped to find the best way forward, said other options include revising the law to allow future emperors to resign if they choose or to install a regent to carry out official duties. "This is a very serious issue and we need to discuss it carefully," said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who attended the panel's meeting. Abdication is a sensitive issue in light of Japan's modern history of war waged in the name of Akihito's father Emperor Hirohito, who died in 1989. Some scholars and politicians worry the issue could open a can of worms and risk Japan's monarchs becoming subject to political manipulation. Under the constitution they play only a symbolic role. The leading opposition Democratic Party opposes a one-off change, arguing this would not ensure stable future successions. It has advocated a revision to the permanent law that governs the imperial family. Japanese media have previously reported that the government is planning for Akihito to retire and be replaced by his eldest son, Naruhito, on January 1, 2019. By Rania El Gamal and Vladimir Soldatkin VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC and non-OPEC countries have made a strong start to lowering their oil output under the first such pact in more than a decade, energy ministers said on Sunday as producers look to reduce oversupply and support prices. "The deal is a success ...All the countries are sticking to the deal ...(the) results are above expectations," Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after the first meeting of a committee set up to monitor the deal. Ministers said 1.5 million of almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) had been taken out of the market already. Countries involved in the deal could reduce their output by 1.7 million bpd by the end of the month, Interfax news agency quoted Novak as saying. Eleven of OPEC's 13 members along with 11 non-OPEC countries have agreed to make cuts for the first half of the year. OPEC members Nigeria and Libya, both suffering setbacks in production, were given exemptions. "The Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia] has taken the initiative and other countries took part in very significant actions," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters following the meeting. "Despite demand usually being lower in the first quarter in winter, the actions taken by the Kingdom and many other countries has impacted the market in a tangible way and we have seen the impact in spot prices," al-Falih said. Brent oil prices (LCOc1) that fell to $27.10 a barrel a year ago have held above $50 per barrel since OPEC producers agreed on Dec. 10 to lower output in the first half of 2017. The cuts are aimed at reducing a global glut in oil that has weighed on oil prices for more than two years. Falih said implementation of agreed cuts had been "fantastic" and he hoped for 100 percent compliance in February. "We will not accept anything less than 100 percent compliance," Kuwaiti oil minister Essam Al-Marzouq, who chairs the five-member ministerial compliance committee, told a news conference. Story continues The other members of the committee represent Algeria, Venezuela, Russia and Oman. Venezuela has achieved more than half of its planned 95,000 bpd cut, Oil Minister Nelson Martinez told reporters. SHRINKING INVENTORIES Full compliance could take global oil inventories back close to their five-year average by mid-2017, lowering oil in storage by around 300 million barrels, Falih said. "[There are] no surprises so far in terms of demand or supply from other sources so there is no reason for us to suddenly come in January and say we need a bigger reduction or a longer period," he said. Saudi Arabia is producing slightly below 10 million bpd and has informed buyers of substantial cuts scheduled for next month, he said. Russia has cut its oil output by around 100,000 bpd, Novak said, double what was originally planned. He said Russian oil production had averaged around 11.15 million bpd this month. He told reporters it was too early to talk about extending the current deal beyond the planned six months but that remained an option. "Everyone sees that the agreements on oil production cuts have already have a positive effect on oil markets. The market has become more stable and predictable," Novak said. NEXT MEETING On Sunday it was agreed that a technical joint committee (JTC) would be created comprising a representative for each of the five members of the monitoring committee and as well as the OPEC presidency, which is currently held by Saudi Arabia. The JTC will cooperate with the OPEC Secretariat in compiling production data which will be presented to the ministerial monitoring committee by the 17th of every month, OPEC said in a news release. The monitoring committee will communicate after the 17th of every month and plans two meetings ahead of the next ordinary OPEC meeting in Vienna on May 25. The next meeting in March is set for Kuwait. SHALE IMPACT Ministers were also keen to highlight that any increase in high-cost U.S. shale oil production as a result of rising oil prices would be absorbed by rising demand. "We are not worried that production in the U.S. is increasing as prices go up because I think this will be absorbed by an increase in demand," Al-Marzouq said. Qatari Energy Minister Mohammed Al-Sada said with increasing demand "shale oil will all be catered for". Russia's Novak also said he was not worried about higher oil output in the United States. (Writing by Ahmad Ghaddar in London; editing by Jason Neely) BJP MP Subramanian Swamy believes that the sudden violence in Chennai was actually triggered by Pakistan intelligence agency - Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). By India Today Web Desk: For the last six days, protest against a Supreme Court ban on hugely popular bull-taming sport-jallikattu at Chennai's Marina Beach has largely been peaceful. However, the agitation turned violent today with the police using force to evict the protesters. Police had to use teargas, water cannon after a mob resorted to stone pelting and torched several vehicles outside a police station in Chennai. advertisement LIVE UPDATES: Jallikattu protest turns violent BJP MP Subramanian Swamy believes that the sudden violence in Chennai was actually triggered by Pakistan intelligence agency - Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Swamy claimed that jallikattu protest has been hijacked by 'anti-national' elements. "Genuine agitators have dispersed. The main organiser said he is leaving Marina. Today there are people with Prabhakaran's and Hafiz Sayeed's posters. This is now an ISI financed agitation. O Panneeselvam has done just the right thing," Swamy said. The Rajya Sabha MP also slammed the Congress for "mischievously banning" jallikattu. "I have been fighting for jalikattu from the beginning. The Congress mischievously got it banned. We are the ones who are sympathetic to it. But these guys are saying we want permanent solution. What more permanent solution can there be?" Swamy said. POLICE ACTION AT MARINA BEACH At the Marina, the police action began early in the morning with roads to the beach being cordoned off and police personnel being deployed in large numbers. Some protesters lined up at the seashore forming a human chain and a group entered the water refusing to heed police requests to disperse. Some others staged a sit-in on the sands while others regrouped in nearby areas, shouting slogans and allegedly throwing stones on policemen. Police burst teargas shells and reportedly lathicharged to chase away a section of protesters who had regrouped at Triplicane near Marina beach and allegedly started throwing stones at police personnel. WATCH: Jallikattu protest turns violent in Chennai after police eviction ALSO READ: All you need to know about Jallikattu Jallikattu: 2 bull vaulters die, 83 injured as Tamil Nadu celebrates the sport --- ENDS --- BERLIN (Reuters) - Oxford University historian Timothy Garton Ash, an outspoken opponent of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, is to receive the 2017 Charlemagne Prize conferred annually by the German city of Aachen. Pope Francis was last year's winner of the prize, awarded annually to those who have contributed most to the ideals of post-war Europe. The prize organizers described Garton Ash as "an extraordinary British academic, who has commented on and accompanied the journey of the European Union with passion and precision, providing the community with thoughtful depth". It singled the historian out for his engagement and commitment to a unified Europe, and his call to press forward towards an EU with "practical construction that is strong enough to weather the storm".. Garton Ash published a column on Saturday in Britain's Guardian newspaper criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump for his "irascible, bullying, narcissistic character" and said his arrival in the White House heralded "a new era of nationalism" marked by such personalities as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Xi Jinping of China. The price is named for Charlemagne, the eighth to ninth century Frankish ruler who carved out a European empire. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) Archaeologists have discovered a German Jewish girl's pendant nearly identical to the one that belonged to Anne Frank in the ruins of a Nazi death camp in German-occupied Poland. The discovery has sent researchers looking for more information about the young girl who once owned the medallion and her possible links to the Frank family. The silver pendant was unearthed at the Sobibor extermination camp, where some 200,000 people were killed between 1942 and 1943. Archaeologists have been digging at the site since 2007 to salvage and study the remains of the camp before a memorial center and museum are built over parts of the site. [See Photos of the Nazi Camp Excavations and Pendant] The excavations are aimed at helping historians more accurately reconstruct the atrocities committed at Sobibor, as the Nazis covered up the evidence of their crimes, demolishing all the buildings at the site and burning all related documents. So far, archaeologists have revealed once-hidden gas chambers and crematoriums. They have also found thousands artifacts, including personal items such as eye glasses, jewelry, dentures, hairpins and even a Mickey Mouse ceramic cup. The Nazis tried to demolish all evidence of this extermination center in the woods of eastern Poland, but archaeologists have found the traces of gas chambers, crematoriums and barracks for the prisoners. Yoram Haimi, Israel Antiquities Authority In October 2016, the archaeologists were digging in an area that they believe was once the barracks where female prisoners were undressed and had their heads shaved before being sent to walk on the cynically named "Himmelfahrtsstrasse," or "road to heaven," a path that led to the gas chambers. One of the leaders of the project, Yoram Haimi, an archaeologist from the Israel Antiquities Authority, told Live Science that the remains of this building are in poor shape, with only the base of a few pillars surviving. But by sifting through the soil in this area, Haimi and his colleagues found a lot of jewelry earrings, watches, rings and pendants that were likely dropped by the women and girls forced to strip there 75 years ago. Story continues The silver pendant found among these personal items is inscribed with a birthday July 3, 1929 along with the words "Mazal Tov" in Hebrew, and the city "Frankfurt A.M." (A.M. stands for "am Main," referring to the Main River.) Using Yad Vashem's (The World Holocaust Remembrance Center) deportation database, researchers linked the pendant to a girl named Karoline Cohn, who was born on July 3, 1929, and deported from Frankfurt on Nov. 11, 1941, when she was 12 years old. The Cohn family was sent to the Minsk ghetto (in modern-day Belarus). Some records indicate that Karoline died in Minsk, Haimi said. The discovery of the pendant suggests she might have been among the 2,000 Jews who were sent to Sobibor to be killed after the Minsk ghetto was liquidated in October 1943. Or, if Karoline was already dead by that time, perhaps her mother or another relative brought the pendant to the extermination camp, the researchers suggested. Anne Frank, the Holocaust victim famous for the diary she wrote while in hiding, was also born in Frankfurt in June 1929 (on the 12th) and had the same type of pendant. "It's exactly the same, but only with a different birth date," Haimi told Live Science. "One of the possibilities is that maybe Cohn and Frank were relatives." Haimi said researchers are still investigating whether there is really any connection between the two girls. He said there is a Cohn branch on the Frank family tree, but it does not appear to be same Cohn family. Haimi also said he doesn't know of any other pendants like these two, but perhaps by publicizing the latest finding, more examples will surface in private collections. Yad Vashem and the Israel Antiquities Authority are now searching for living relatives who might have more information about Karoline Cohn; the team already has some leads in New York and Jerusalem, Haimi said. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations RideApart Reader Creates Petition Against Proposed Bike Tariff RideApart reader Sayyed Bashir has created a petition in opposition to the proposed 100-percent tariff on European bikes below 501cc. I have created the following petition on whitehouse.gov that needs to be signed by 100,000 motorcyclists in 30 days to be acted upon by the administration. The beef industry is currently limiting the engine size to 500cc to gauge the reaction of motorcyclists. If there is no reaction, they will up the limit to 1000cc or higher for more bargaining power. It is important that all motorcyclists take a stand on this issue." RideApart can't vouch for the veracity of Bashir's claim we've not seen any information that would support the belief that the tariff is simply a testing of the waters but we do support the American Motorcyclist Association's objections to the proposed 50cc-500cc tariff. "Publicizing this petition will help spread the word," Bashir said. "If Europe's exports to the United States are reduced, it will raise the price of motorcycles for all buyers. This is the text of the petition: "Do not impose a 100 percent tariff on motorcycles 50cc to 500cc as part of the beef trade dispute with Europe. Motorcycles have nothing to do with beef. There is no reason to include them in the list of 85 proposed items which consists entirely of food items. Small to medium motorcycles are the lifeblood of motorsports in the United States. Thousands of spectators enjoy Supercross, Motocross and Enduro competitions, not counting the millions who watch on broadcast television and cable, and thousands who enjoy the sport themselves including children. In addition to dirt bikes, this includes smaller street and race bikes, scooters and mopeds. Many new motorcyclists get started on smaller motorcycles. It is a healthy outlet for the energy of our younger generation. This will also put out of business many small dealerships in the United States who sell 50cc to 500cc motorcycles imported from Europe." An Oakland, Calif. woman was arrested in the Florida Keys on Friday after she slashed a President Donald Trump sign, telling authorities that she did it because the sign ruined her chill, according to a report. The woman, who was identified later as Elizabeth McSurdy, 30, also reportedly threatened the owner R&T Vinyl Signs in Big Pine Key, Fla. while she was holding a knife. She is now facing charges of criminal mischief and aggravated assault, ABC-affiliate station NEWS10 reports. One of the business owners took a picture of her car as she was leaving the scene, according to NEWS10, leading police to pull her over as she was traveling south on U.S. Highway 1. Though police found the knife in her vehicles glove compartment, McSurdy initially denied slashing the sign and the assault accusations, NEWS10 reports. However, she later admitted to slashing the sign and holding a knife, but denied threatening the men. The German city of Potsdam has a new private art museum, the Barberini, founded and funded by the German business mogul Hasso Plattner, number #113 on Forbes' Billionaire list. On January 20, 2017, Germany celebrated the inauguration of its new art museum the Barberini, located in a former Baroque palace built in 1771 by Frederick the Great. The museum's founder, Hasso Plattner, invested an estimated 60 million euros into the renovation of the palace, which was destroyed during a bombing raid in the Second World War. As well as its inaugural show, the museum also has a small exhibition "Barberini Palace: Stories of a Building" which narrates the building's history. "Impressionism: the Art of Landscape and Modern Art Classics" The museum's inaugural exhibition "The Art of Landscape and Modern Art Classics" features pieces from Plattner's own private collection, as well as other pieces on loan. Anticipated works include Edvard Munch's "Girls on a Bridge" as well as work by Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir and Wassily Kandinsky. A bumpy ride for the Barberini From the very start, Plattner's Barberini project has been fraught with difficulties and obstacles: from where the museum should be located, right up to the artwork in its debut show. In an interview with The Guardian, Plattner defended his project and emphasized the benefits it would bring to Potsdam, a city on the border of Berlin, about 30 km from the German capital: "I hope the doubters will soon see what it gives to the city by bringing art lovers here in their droves as well as putting the finishing touches to recreating the historic center of Potsdam." The completion of the palace's renovation and the installation of the Barberini on three of its floors marks the end of the reconstruction of Potsdam's Alter Markt, an urban project to rejuvenate the city center. The palace was redesigned by Berlin-based architect Thomas Albrecht, and was completed in just three years (2013-2016.) The exhibition "Impressionism: the Art of Landscape and Modern Art Classics" runs from January 23 - May 28, 2017. After searching in vain for enthusiasm throughout 2016, Democrats found it in the streets the day after Donald Trumps inauguration, as over 3 million attended the Womens Marches to protest the president. Among the masses, you could not only find overflowing energy Democrats could tap into in future campaigns, but an actual policy example to guide the way forward. Im talking about hats. Pink hats, to be precise, although they went by a more, er, colorful nickname, a reference to Trumps boasts about sexual assault on the infamous Access Hollywood tape. The hats became the primary iconography of the marches, with hundreds of thousands of women wearing them as a symbol of resistance to the Trump regime. What makes it more remarkable is how the hats were manufactured and distributed. Related: Obama Left Us Much Better Off. Can Trump Top That? As everyone knows, America makes few textiles anymore. The economics are supposed to be next to impossible, with cheap unskilled labor abroad and supply chains constructed to move clothing from Asia or Latin America to U.S. stores. The dominance of national retail chains, which have consolidated over the years and are in the throes of another disruption from Amazon, leaves little room for locally produced goods. None of those suppliers and retailers had anything to do with the pink hats. They began in the minds of friends at the Little Knittery in Atwater Village, California. The shop created a pattern a simple rectangle that would reveal cat ears when worn and posted it for free online. Knitting clubs around the country and around the world started making the hats, selling out local craft stores of their pink yarn. Activists taking on the project identified collection points nationwide for distribution. Knitters gifted hats to their communities; it became a way for those who couldnt attend the marches to get involved, an outlet for activism from an unlikely source. I dont have exact numbers, but Id estimate that hundreds of thousands of hats were manufactured, shipped and worn in a matter of a few weeks, without the involvement of any big-box store or multinational corporation. Local craft stores supplied the raw materials and local knitters supplied the labor, savoring the dignity that came with their contributions. Their talents were put to use and the money stayed within the community. Story continues Related: The Best Signs from the Women's March on Washington Im not suggesting the entire global textile supply chain could be thrown over in favor of people making hats for each other. But the strain of local self-reliance that permeated the Womens March could actually serve as a primary rallying point for progressive resurgence. As Barry Lynn writes in the Washington Monthly, the path back to respectability for Democrats runs directly through challenging ever-concentrating corporate power, which not only drives inequality and stunts wages but hollows out huge swathes of America and depresses entrepreneurship and innovation. The greatest threat to this corporate monopoly is a new individualism, a locally focused crusade that gives Americans the freedom to share their skills and control their own destiny. Lynn describes how this would return the Democratic Party to its roots, as an anti-monopoly movement safeguarding citizens from corporate dominance. Related: Trumps Brand of Nationalism Reinforces an Us v. Them Playbook That may sound like something Trump promised in his defiant inaugural address, which took aim at the nations elites. The establishment protected itself but not the citizens, Trump thundered. While they celebrated in our nations capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. There was some truth in that passage, visible in the faces of forgotten men and women who suffered while elites partied. Twenty-five years of Democratic disconnection from their self-image as the party of the people alienated many voters previously within the coalition. Elites protected their own interests and sold out voiceless workers, while assuring the public that it was for their own good. Despite hundred year-old laws to constrain monopolies, successive governments of both parties have failed to use them since the 1980s, producing a homogenized landscape of Walmarts and chain restaurants and despair in too much of our country, a regional inequality Trump capitalized on during the election. But Trumps version of anti-elite populism conveniently left out corporate elites, who nearly destroyed the economy in the financial crisis and have pursued even more domination in the aftermath. Indeed, plenty of those corporate elites are taking roost in Trumps cabinet, and his expected selections to police market power specialize more in turning away from enforcement. Hes considering naming Josh Wright, an avowed enthusiast of concentration (and its significant benefits for consumers) who has twice been on Googles payroll, as his head of the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department. Related: Why the Political Mainstream Keeps Failing Americas Workers This is the opening for Democrats, and the Womens March supplied proof of its power. Independent citizens created the signature icon of the protests, through their own labor and ingenuity. This return to localism creates dignity among citizens, and pride in their skills being valuable. Monopolies rob people of the liberty to display those talents. The struggle against monopoly is a struggle for equality, a struggle for the restoration and vibrancy of community, an affirmation of life over control. It encapsulates the struggle for democracy. The chroniclers of the establishment snicker that populism is too simple-minded to lead to a better world. But theres a smart populism that would allow for broader opportunity and prosperity. Some Democrats are beginning to understand that the concept of breaking corporate power provides a framework on which to hang every critique of American politics and economy. But by and large, they have forgotten to tell this story and after decades of hitting up capital to fund campaigns, too many of them no longer believe it. When you have coal lobbyists running to lead the national party and the board of the outgoing presidents foundation stocked with private equity barons and venture capitalists, rank-and-file progressives can be forgiven for becoming cynical. If Democrats want to return to power, theyll have to return to their roots. Just follow the pink hats. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Washington (AFP) - Powerful weekend storms roared through the southeastern United States, killing 18 people as violent weather left a trail of destruction, authorities said. Families in Dougherty County in the state of Georgia huddled on the side of a road Sunday, surveying the wrath of a storm that destroyed mobile homes and downed trees, according to video posted by county commission chairman Chris Cohilas. "This is absolutely devastating," Cohilas said in the video uploaded to Facebook. "It looks like a nuclear bomb went off." "I've never seen anything like it." The county's emergency management agency tweeted that shelters were being set up for displaced residents. At least 14 people had died in south-central Georgia over the weekend, according to the state's Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. And five were still missing according to Adel Mayor Buddy Duke, amid a scene of flattened houses and trees and cars thrown in a heap like toys. Four others died and 20 were injured on Saturday morning by a tornado that swept through southern Mississippi, according to that state's emergency services agency. President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday he had offered his condolences to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, calling the storms "vicious and powerful and strong." "On behalf of all of us, condolences," Trump said, noting that Florida and Alabama had also been impacted. Deal had declared a state of emergency in Georgia for seven south-central counties. He said in a statement that the state would request federal assistance in the storms's aftermath. "These storms have resulted in loss of life, numerous injuries and extensive property damage," Deal said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm's impact." "I urge all Georgians to exercise caution and vigilance in order to remain safe and prevent further loss of life or injuries," he said. Story continues The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it had issued "only the 3rd High Risk (tornado) threat issued since 2000 that includes FL. Be safe." FEMA said that it had sent liaison officers to Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida "to support response activities and additional teams are on alert." Tornado activity in the United States historically has been at lower levels in January and February. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported extensive damage in some parts of Georgia, with numerous felled trees and downed power lines in several counties. Authorities warned that more severe weather could threaten parts of the Carolinas, southern Georgia and much of Florida with strong damaging gusts, large hail and a risk of tornadoes. The agency noted that tornadoes at night were "particularly dangerous" because they are often fast-moving and difficult to see. In fall 2016, the College Board launched a new Advanced Placement course called AP Computer Science Principles, an introductory class about the quickly evolving and indispensable world of computer science. While you may have been eager to take advantage of this new course offering, you may be unsure now what to expect or how to prepare for the end-of-course exam. Fortunately, for this course, the end-of-course exam only accounts for 60 percent of your total score. You'll still receive a traditional AP score between 1-5, but 40 percent of that will be determined by the through-course assessment. [Discover the keys to success in advanced placement courses.] The through-course assessment consists of two performance tasks in which you must create a digital artifact, such as a video, and provide written explanations to several prompts. In total, these performance tasks take roughly 20 hours to complete. Your end-of-course exam, which is offered in May, is a written exam that is two hours long and consists of 74 multiple-choice questions that have either one or two correct answer choices. As a comprehensive assessment, the end-of-course exam will test you on computer science concepts presented throughout the duration of the class. The scarcity of practice tests for this exam can leave you feeling unable to properly prepare, especially since this course is different from AP Computer Science A course, which focuses heavily on Java programming. As such, AP Computer Science A study materials do not apply to this exam. [Weigh the benefits and stress of AP courses for your student.] So how can you strategize for success on the end-of-course exam? Here are two tips to help you best prepare. Understand Key Diagrams Diagrams play a vital role in the AP Computer Science Principles course and exam. They express complex concepts, such as circuits and program segments, in a way that is digestible for novice computer science students. Although you may be intimidated by these diagrams, bear in mind that their purpose is to make learning easier -- not more complicated. Story continues One common diagram type on the AP Computer Science Principles exam is a robot in a grid of squares. Consider this sample question and diagram on Page 87. When approaching a question like this, first study the code segment and then try to visually apply it to the existing diagram without looking at the answer options. This gives you the opportunity to try and find the answer on your own before actively comparing and guessing among the answer choices. You can also expect to see charts with items like ASCII characters and variables, such as this example on Page 85. While you may find some diagrams online, it is best to concentrate on material that comes directly from the College Board, your course textbook or your teacher. Official diagrams from these sources can accurately mirror what you might encounter on the end-of-course assessment. [Learn three ways parents can support teens ahead of AP exams.] Use Appropriate Study Aids To gauge the AP Computer Science Principles end-of-course exam, one of the best resources is the materials on the College Board's website, which include scoring guidelines, sample questions with explanations and more. Although no full-length practice exams are available, the official course description serves as an excellent starting point for your studies. Other valuable resources are available as well. For instance, Code.org offers brief video tutorials about concepts that are central to computer science; you may be surprised to see the famous names that explain them. And CS Principles offers several activities for learning about AP Computer Science Principles topics. Even though AP Computer Science Principles is a new class, you can still perform to your best on the end-of-course exam. Understand the grading system to know how and where to focus your efforts. Learn which diagrams are likely to appear on the exam, and make use of study aids that are specifically designed for this course. Tiffany Sorensen is a tutor and contributing writer with Varsity Tutors. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Spanish Language & Literature from Stony Brook University--SUNY and a Master of Science in translation from New York University. From organising peaceful jallikattu protests to social media campaigns, Tamil Nadu has witnessed it all. Here are five Tamil films that perfectly reflected the current situation in the state. By India Today Web Desk: Since the start of this year, jallikattu is one issue that has spawned several controversies and opinions. The issue caught the interests of national media after veteran actor Kamal Haasan's famous 'biryani' remark. Speaking at India Today Conclave South 2017, Kamal Haasan voiced in favour of the sport and said, "If you want a ban on jallikattu, let's also ban biryani." advertisement After Kamal Haasan's statement, several Kollywood celebrities including superstar Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya, Dhanush and Simbu have vehemently supported the traditional Tamil sport. ALSO READ: Khaidi No 150 box-office collection- Chiranjeevi's film emerges winner in US ALSO READ: SS Rajamouli's letter to Gautamiputra Satakarni director Krish: I am possessed by your film ALSO READ: Jallikattu row- Rajinikanth to Vijay, who said what Tamil Nadu witnessed a never-before-seen massive state-wide protests over the last few days. Several eminent personalities have appreciated the youngsters for conducting a peaceful, yet powerful protests at Marina Beach in Chennai. As pro-jallikattu supporters continue to show solidarity with the bull-taming sport, here are the Tamil films that perfectly reflected the current situation of Tamil Nadu. Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (1988): Directed by Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee K Balachander, Unnal Mudiyum Thambi, which was a remake of the Telugu film Rudraveena, tells the story of the ideological differences between Udhayamoorthy (Kamal Haasan), a socialist, and his father Bilahari Marthandam Pillai (Gemini), a Carnatic music maestro. Just like jallikattu protests, in the film, Udhayamoorthy and his followers transform their village by spearheading the Silent Revolution Society, which battles against social evils such as casteism and alcoholism. Ramanaa (2002): Touted as a vigilante thriller, the film received unanimous positive response from critics and fans. Ramanaa is probably the best film that reflects the current situation in Tamil Nadu, thanks to AR Murugadoss for writing a solid story. Apart from the poignant dialogues, Ramanaa will be remembered for the scene where its protagonist, played by Vijayakanth, explains the power of students. His heart-warming speech in the climax of the film left the audience with teary-eyed. Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004): Directed by Mani Ratnam, the film follows a series of three stories of different personalities that intertwine in the climax. Apart from its solid core, Aayutha Ezhuthu had a superb portion between a student leader Michael Vasanth (Suriya) and politician Selvanayagam (Bharathiraja). The film had a lot to do with students entering into politics. Notably, the climax scene, which had Selvanayagam welcoming Michael in the assembly meeting, was circulated on the internet. advertisement Kaththi (2014): Kaththi dealt with rampant issues like farmer suicides and the impact of globalisation. Despite emerging as the highest grossing Tamil film of 2014, Kaththi was highly appreciated for a scene in the second half, which had farmers and Vijay protesting against corporates. In jallikattu too, people have voiced against corporate organisations like PETA, PepsiCo and Unilever to name a few. VIP (2014): Since the start of the protest, number of people who thronged at Marina, swelled up to a mammoth proportion with every passing day. Of course, one of the main reasons for the success jallikattu protests is the effective use of social media. People circulated messages, memes and videos on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. In Velai Illa Pattathari, Raghuvaran (Dhanush) uses social media as a tool to gather hordes of unemployed engineers to lock horns with the business tycoon. --- ENDS --- President Trump is scheduled to meet with leaders of Canada and Mexico this week to discuss NAFTA and other trade issues. He will meet with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May later in the week to discuss new trade opportunities as they deal with 'Brexit'. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigation the data breaches at Yahoo! . Yahoo said in a November 2016 quarterly filing that is was cooperating with federal, state and foreign agencies that are seeking information about a security matter. The Wall Street Journal says the SEC is specifically looking to see if the data breach should have been reported earlier to customers and authorities. Samsung Electronics said a battery defect causes its premium Galaxy Note 7 phone to catch fire, not the device's software or hardware. Specifically, an unusually thin lining between the electrodes of the battery. Despite public commitments to move the U.S. embassy to Israel during the presidential campaign, President Donald Trump has not decided on the move, the White House said Monday. After reports suggesting the move of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem could come as soon as this week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that the Administration is only beginning to consider the relocation. The move has long been a priority of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and even the consideration of the shift has been condemned by Palestinian leaders, who also claim Jerusalem as the capital of a potential future state. We are at the early stages of this decisionmaking process, Spicer told reporters. When pressed if he could commit that at the end of Trumps first term that the embassy would be moved, Spicer replied, If it was already a decision, we wouldnt be going through a process. While a presidential candidate last March, Trump indicated, however, that he was already set on the idea, saying he would move the embassy to Jerusalem. Fairly quickly, he told CNN. I mean, its a process, but fairly quickly. I mean, the fact is, I would like to see it moved, and I would like to see it in Jerusalem. The announcement from Spicer comes barely 24 hours after Trump spoke with Netanyahu on Sunday for the first time as President. In separate statements to the media on the call, both sides described the call positively, but included no mention of the embassy issue. In December, counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway indicated that Trump still supported the move. He made that very clear during the campaign, Conway told radio host Hugh Hewitt last month. And as President-elect, Ive heard him repeat it several times, privately if not publicly. Trump follows both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in publicly expressing support for the embassy move during the campaign, before delaying it at the behest of national-security leaders and Middle East experts as detrimental to the peace process. Story continues During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Secretary of Defense James Mattis told Senators he believes Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel and deferred to the Secretary of State on whether it should be moved. The capital of Israel that I go to, sir, is Tel Aviv, sir, because thats where all their government people are, he testified. The issue did not come up during the confirmation hearings for Trumps nominee to head the State Department, Rex Tillerson. Trump faces a June 1 deadline to weigh in formally on the subject when the final six-month Obama waiver of the Jerusalem Embassy Act expires. On Monday, President Donald Trump fulfilled one of his big campaign promises, pulling the United States out of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a proposed 12-nation trade pact. Coupled with Trumps announced intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, the moves highlight the administrations intention to reshape long-standing U.S. trade policy away from multilateral deals and back to bilateral deals with individual countries. The formal U.S. departure from TPP which was already doomed in Congress will open the door for China to play a bigger role in shaping the future economic environment in Asia, and will likely dismay U.S. allies like Japan. China is championing a rival Asian trade grouping, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and will be better positioned to set the standards on issues like labor rights and environmental protections. Throwing NAFTA open to fresh talks also sows plenty of uncertainty over U.S. trade prospects with its first- and third-largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. Weve been talking about it for a long time, Trump said, as he held up the executive order formally withdrawing from the trade pact which was the centerpiece of Barack Obamas pivot to Asia. Great thing for the American worker. During the presidential campaign, both Trump and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders attacked the deal, whose popularity sank after its terms were made public in 2015. If President Trump is serious about a new policy to help American workers then I would be delighted to work with him, Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement. Big labor, which hated the TPP, welcomed Trumps move. AFL-CIO president RIchard Trumka called it an important first step toward a trade policy that works for working people. But some Republican lawmakers slammed the decision. Withdrawing from TPP, said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for Americas economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region. Story continues The White House website says that Trump is willing to negotiate tough and fair agreements, leaving the door open to another Asian trade deal down the line. But the president has made no public comments on his desire to revisit TPP, and his trade advisers including his pick for Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, and his nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, who is promising an American first trade policy prefer crafting bilateral trade pacts with individual countries, which they see as being more beneficial for the United States. That contrasts with Trumps stance on NAFTA, which he had likewise threatened to pull out of, but will instead try to renegotiate. We are going to start re-negotiating on NAFTA, on immigration and on security at the border, Trump said Sunday at a swearing-in ceremony for his top White House advisers. Pulling out of the TPP will allow Trump to chalk up a victory with his supporters. Many Rust Belt states turned out for Trump believing that free trade had helped hollow out U.S. manufacturing and sent jobs overseas. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said killing the free-trade pact will promote free and fair trade throughout the world. But simply pulling out of the trade pact wont bring back those lost jobs, experts say. Most of the jobs shed in the manufacturing sector since the turn of the century were replaced by automation, not by cheap foreign labor. Some experts suggest that pulling out of the pact could actually hurt U.S. workers, since it will make it a bit harder to export. Many U.S. companies were eager to see the TPPs tariff reductions on thousands of U.S. goods in order to open up inroads in big, growing markets. Even after his election, big business and agriculture groups were lobbying Trump to rethink his opposition to the pact. Ironically, given the Trump administrations hawkish stance toward China, abdication of the TPP will likely make life easier for Beijing. China was not a part of the TPP, which would have covered 40 percent of the global GDP. But it is the driving force behind RCEP, which gathers nearly 30 percent of the worlds economy. We must remember, TPP, at its core, was never about trade, Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest, said. What it did do was ensure America was tied to the Asia-Pacific region in an important way at a time when China was rapidly growing in power and influence throughout the region. Beijing is happy to take the opening its been offered, said Zhang Jun, a senior Chinese diplomat. If anyone were to say China is playing a leadership role in the world I would say its not China rushing to the front but rather the front runners have stepped back leaving the place to China, he said, according to Reuters. If China is required to play that leadership role then China will assume its responsibilities, he said. Photo credit: Getty Images URBANA, Ohio (AP) A 17-year-old boy charged in a school shooting that injured two students was ordered Monday to remain in custody at a juvenile detention center. A juvenile court judge granted the prosecutor's request to continue the teenager's detention. Authorities say the teen fired a 12-gauge shotgun in the Friday attack at a high school in West Liberty, 45 miles northwest of Columbus. Champaign County's prosecutor said the teenager is a danger to himself and the community. A message seeking comment was left Monday for the teenager's attorney. The boy initially was held on a charge of felonious assault. Prosecutor Kevin Talebi has said the teen will face additional charges, including attempted murder. Talebi also has said he will seek to have the case moved to adult court. Sixteen-year-old student Logan Cole was critically wounded in the shooting and was in stable condition Monday at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus. A 17-year-old student also was struck but doesn't have life-threatening injuries. Authorities have said heroic school staffers stopped the shooter and pinned him down until police arrived. The superintendent of the West Liberty-Salem Schools district said classes will resume Tuesday. The district will resume classes an hour later than usual, according to the district's website. School officials will meet with staff on Monday and Tuesday morning to prepare for the return of students. "It is our goal to make tomorrow a day of healing," Superintendent Kraig Hissong said Monday. Police officers and additional staff will be present in an effort to make students feel safe as they return to class, Hissong said. TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) Protesters took control of vehicle lanes at one of the busiest crossings on the U.S. border Sunday to oppose Mexican gasoline price hikes, waving through motorists into Mexico after Mexican authorities abandoned their posts. Motorists headed to Mexico zipped by about 50 demonstrators at the Otay Mesa port of entry connecting San Diego and Tijuana, many of them honking to show support. The demonstrators waved signs to protest gas hikes and air other grievances against the government of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Other protests closed southbound traffic for hours at the San Diego-Tijuana San Ysidro port of entry, the busiest crossing along the 2,000-mile border, and halted southbound traffic at one of two crossings in Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and California Highway Patrol officers closed southbound Interstate 5 to block access to the San Ysidro crossing, diverting traffic several miles east to the Otay Mesa port of entry. Inspections were normal for all travelers entering the U.S. from Mexico. A CBP statement said that Mexico-bound motorists were directed to the other crossing for 5 1/2 hours at the request of Mexican authorities. The demonstrations, which are unrelated to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, have disrupted Mexican border crossings for weeks. Earlier this month, police in the Mexican state of Sonora fought a pitched three-hour battle to free a border rail crossing at Nogales that had been blocked by people protesting the 20 percent nationwide hike in gasoline prices that took effect on New Year's Day. For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Only a small percentage of motorists entering Mexico from the U.S. are stopped for inspection under normal circumstances, but Sunday's demonstration gave them an open invitation. Guns and cash from drug sales in the U.S. are often introduced to Mexico by car. Protesters said Mexican customs officials retreated within minutes after they arrived at the Otay Mesa crossing. About two hours later, a Mexican soldier stood by, but there were few other signs of government presence. "We're exercising our right to free speech," said Brenda Cortez, a 22-year-old college student from Tijuana. "It's to make sure we are noticed." Christian Pulisic has signed a contract extension with Germany's Borussia Dortmund through June 2020. The 18-year-old midfielder from Hershey, Pennsylvania, signed with Dortmund in February 2015 and made his Bundesliga debut in January 2016. He scored twice in 12 games last season and has two goals in 19 matches this year. Pulisic also made his U.S. national team debut last year and scored against Bolivia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Dortmund announced the new deal Monday. Penne (Italy) (AFP) - Rescuers recovered three puppies from under the rubble of Italy's avalanche-hit hotel Monday sparking fresh hopes some of the 22 people still missing after five days could be found alive. Firefighter Fabio Jerman said the discovery of the three shaggy white Abruzzo sheepdog pups meant there were still air pockets in the collapsed luxury spa resort, "an important sign of life, which gives us hope". But as light began to fade, the body of a woman was recovered from the rubble, bringing the number of the dead to seven. A new route was being dug into the wreck in a last-ditch effort to find survivors, as questions mounted as to whether the disaster could have been avoided. "It's a race against time, we know we need to go fast, but it's not an easy working environment," fire service spokesman Luca Cari said as teams worked feverishly to reach the centre of the resort, where they believe many of the missing could be. An email sent by the hotel to local authorities pleading for help just hours before Wednesday's tragedy has gone viral. Although the email did not mention fears of an avalanche it described the mounting panic of guests trapped in the hotel by snow as earthquakes shook the region. Five days after the huge avalanche, which struck with the force of 4,000 trucks driving full speed, the small, fresh sign of life within the concrete tomb spurred rescuers on. The puppies were born in December in the ill-fated Hotel Rigopiano to Lupo and Nuvola (Wolf and Cloud), who escaped when the avalanche hit and were found the following day in a nearby hamlet. Nine people pulled out alive on Friday had described being trapped in tiny spaces, eating dirty snow in the pitch black to survive. Burrowing narrow holes in the snow and rubble, rescue workers have been painstakingly searching each room of the lodge. - Victims still underneath - Late Sunday rescuers began attempting to access the wreckage from the left-hand side -- a riskier enterprise which could trigger snowfalls but would ultimately get them more quickly to new search zones. Story continues With shovels, drills and their bare hands, they were also working to recover the trapped body of one of the victims, a task expected to take hours. The other bodies found so far have all been recovered and funerals for two of them -- both employees of the hotel -- were set to take place Tuesday. The Pescara hospital said it was looking after traumatised Edoardo Di Carlo, 8, one of four children to be pulled out alive, who was left an orphan after both his parents were recovered dead and was frightened to leave their care. Francesca Bronzi, who had been in the hotel with her boyfriend Stefano Feniello, told his father from her hospital bed that she had only been able to see his arm under the rubble and hear him moaning in pain, before silence fell. Though the avalanche risk was lowered from four to three on a five-point scale, a special radar was installed on the slopes to warn rescue teams of any fresh slides as snow and rain continued to fall on the mountainous area of central Italy. Investigators in the nearby city of Pescara on the coast stepped up a probe into the disaster, which could lead to manslaughter charges if prosecutors find the luxury spa should not have been built in that area, or should have been evacuated. The hotel opened in 1972 and was transformed 10 years ago into a four-star hotel with a heated external swimming pool and sauna frequented by celebrities including US actor George Clooney, according to Italian media reports. Investigators had launched a probe into the number of building permits awarded in the vast Gran Sasso national park amid suspicions of corruption, but the case was dropped in November. The former mayor of Farindola, whose brother was killed in the hotel disaster, said no one had considered the risk of an avalanche. - 'Scapegoat' - Francesco Peduto, head of the National Geologists Council, said it would have been difficult to predict the deadly combination of snowfall and earthquakes. The area was hit by four powerful quakes in the hours before the avalanche, potentially loosening the snow mantle. The email sent Wednesday to the authorities by the hotel manager said "the situation has become worrying" and called for help. With the electricity and phone signals down, guests spooked by the quakes were planning to sleep in their cars. But throughout the region the snow had blocked vulnerable people -- families with young children and the elderly -- in their homes, and local authorities were working with limited resources to clear roads and get people out of freezing cold and dark buildings. Nearly a week after the quake, some 10,000 homes were still without electricity on Monday. Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Sunday urged Italians not to hunt for a "scapegoat", but those still waiting to discover the fate of their loved ones have demanded the truth. Melbourne (AFP) - Rafael Nadal fought back to deny mercurial Frenchman Gael Monfils over four sets and reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2015 at the Australian Open on Monday. The 14-time Grand Slam champion defeated sixth-seeded Monfils 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena in almost three hours and will play Canada's world number three Milos Raonic in the quarters. It was a gutsy effort from the never-say-die Spaniard, who was down a service break with a fifth set looming before he broke sixth-seeded Monfils twice to clinch victory. The 2009 champion reached the last eight in Melbourne for the ninth time. He hasn't contested a Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2015 French Open. "I'm very happy being in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after a couple of years without being there," he said. "I start the season playing quarter-finals in a Grand Slam again, especially on hard court after a couple of years without being in this round which is great news." It was Nadal's first win over a top-10 player at a Grand Slam since he defeated number two Novak Djokovic to win the title at Roland Garros in 2014, his last major win. "Gael is a special player. He is able to play unbelievable shots. It is a pleasure to see him in the top rankings," Nadal said. "Sometimes it's tough to play against Gael when you don't know what he's going to do. He combines mistakes with great shots." Nadal will go into his Australian quarter-final with a 6-2 lead over Raonic in their previous meetings. "He's an opponent that makes you feel that you're playing with a lot of pressure all the time because his serve is huge and he's playing very aggressive from the baseline," Nadal said. Monfils was broken in his opening service game as Nadal went on to take the first set in 46 minutes. Nadal lost his service in the sixth game but broke the unpredictable Frenchman three times to open up a two-set lead and was closing in on a straight-sets victory. Story continues But Monfils fought back, breaking Nadal in the ninth game and saving three break points in serving it out to trail 2-1 in sets. Nadal began to struggle in the fourth set as Monfils fought off two break points and broke the Spaniard in the next game with a net cord on one of his three break points. But Nadal fought back, breaking the Frenchman with a marvellous backhand winner to level at 4-4 before holding serve to 5-4. Nadal then got to his first match point in Monfils' next service game, which was saved. On a second match point, the Frenchman's backhand was narrowly wide to send Nadal through. By Seemi Pasha: The bull fight over jallikattu took a violent turn on Monday morning as the police started forcing protesters, who had gathered at Chennai's Marina Beach to evict the sea shore. The police was forced to resort to tear gas shells and batons to disperse crowds as they retaliated with petrol bombs and stones. One police vehicle was also set ablaze outside a police station. As the drama unfolds, lets take a look at the big developments on the jallikattu stand-off. advertisement LATHI-CHARGE IN ILANGANALLUR, MADURAI On January 16, 2016, the police fortified Ilanganallur in Madurai, a town famous for its Jallikattu or bull taming festival - pre-empting a violation of the Supreme Court imposed ban. All business establishments were shut down, bus services to the village were cancelled and check posts were set up on all five routes leading to the village to prevent people from gathering for the bull fight. The police also cracked down on youngsters who were trying to release a bull on an arterial road. Nearly 50 people were arrested for attempting to release a bull and more than 20 were injured in the lathi-charge. The incident sparked an angry response from locals who accused the police of using unnecessary force. SOCIAL MEDIA MOBILISATION College students and young professionals started circulating messages on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp asking people to gather at Chennai's Marina Beach to protest against the police crackdown in Madurai. They also demanded a ban on PETA, a global animal rights organisation that has been actively campaigning against jallikattu. By afternoon, a few hundred people had gathered at the beach. Opposition party leader MK Stalin also visited the beach and extended support to the protest. MADRAS HIGH COURT REFUSES TO INTERVENE By Wednesday morning, the crowds had swelled up to more than 5000 at Marina Beach and people continued to pour in to protest against the 2014 ban on the bull taming festival. The protesters then started demanding an audience with the chief minister. Even though O Panneerselvam did not visit the beach, he promised to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass an emergency ordinance to allow the sport. The Madras High Court, meanwhile refused to intervene, saying the matter was sub-judice before the Supreme Court. The protest had by now spread to other parts of Tamil Nadu. Also read: Bill to replace ordinance on jallikattu to be placed in Tamil Nadu Assembly: Governor CM MEETS MODI, PM SAYS IT IS SUB-JUDICE On Thursday morning, Chief Minister Panneerselvam flew down to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Modi, seeking his intervention in the jallikattu stand-off. In a meeting that lasted up to an hour, the CM apprised Modi about the protests against the ban on jallikattu and requested that the Centre pass an emergency ordinance. The PM, while appreciating the cultural significance of the festival, said that the matter was sub-judice and it would be impertinent for the government to intervene. Back in Chennai, the crowds continued to swell despite repeated requests by the state government to call off the protest. advertisement CENTRE CLEARS JALLIKATTU ORDINANCE Protests over the ban further escalated on Friday with DMK workers staging a rail-roko agitation amidst calls for a state wide shutdown. The Centre too was forced to act in view of the growing voices against the ban. The environment, law and culture ministries cleared the ordinance on jallikattu and sent it to President Pranab Mukherjee for approval. The Supreme Court also agreed to the Centre's request to delay its final order on jallikattu given the unrest on the ground. Top Tamil actors also joined the protest. LEGAL HURDLES CLEARED By Saturday morning, the president had given his accent to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the governor of Tamil Nadu had cleared the ordinance. Tamil Nadu's education minister also said that the state was exploring legal options to impose a ban on PETA. JALLIKATTU CELEBRATED After a week of relentless protests, jallikattu was celebrated in various parts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday but protesters prevented Panneerselvam from inaugurating the iconic Alanganallur bull taming festival in Madurai, demanding a permanent solution to the stand-off. All eyes are now on the state government that will be looking at passing the ordinance as a bill in the Assembly. advertisement Also read: Jallikattu row: These Tamil films reflected the current situation earlier --- ENDS --- Imagine a scenario one week before U.S. President Donald Trumps first official visit to China, when it comes. The new spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is holding a press conference about the trip. But unlike todays typical Chinese diplomat, she was never trained as an interpreter at a language university. Instead, she graduated from an elite school like Peking University, where she majored in international relations, and studied abroad in Europe and the United States, then worked in the private sector for several years before moving to the United Nations. It shows; instead of speaking in Chinese, she addresses questions from foreign correspondents in colloquial English and greets them in different languages. Two of the foreign journalists are actually her old classmates, and she adds inside jokes as she answers their questions. The trip is already off to a good start. It should be like this already public image aside, Chinas population is bursting with young, internationalized talent and charm. But the countrys diplomatic corps continues to come across as silent, passive, isolated, and boring, except when they are coming across as aggressive (often without meaning to). I have sat in conference rooms observing Chinese diplomats at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where I previously worked as a consultant to the Office of the Under Secretary General, and I have seen how accurate that image is. At meetings with counterparties, Chinese diplomats often go directly to their seats, only talking to each other, with no interaction or greetings with delegates from other countries. They are usually silent, except on those occasions when they read Chinas position aloud from prepared scripts. When meetings are over, they usually make straight for the exits; rarely are they seen at networking events and receptions inside the UN compound. If they do attend, they often stand in the corners and talk to each other or to a handful of diplomat friends theyve know for a long time. Story continues With Chinese President Xi Jinping pushing an ambitious foreign policy agenda, and with an incoming U.S. president who defies all convention, Chinas old-style diplomats are less suited than ever to getting the job done. Its time for a reboot. Trumps ascent could provide both the opportunity and the impetus for this to happen. Above all, the Chinese MFA needs urgent reform in its personnel selection and training process. A large proportion of current Chinese diplomats have been educated as interpreters in one of Chinas universities dedicated to the study of foreign languages. By training and disposition, interpreters closely follow other peoples scripts, and are punished, not rewarded, for thinking beyond that. Too few top diplomats hail from foreign studies departments at Chinas top four universities, each eye-wateringly selective and offering a wide array of majors: Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University (all in Beijing), and Fudan University in Shanghai. This is a huge waste of Chinese talent. Graduates of these schools often have experience studying abroad, and have frequently interacted with foreign students from other countries, discussing politics and foreign policy. They are often outgoing, social, and have keen interpersonal and communication skills. They are also well networked; it is likely that their foreign friends will become the diplomats, journalists, opinion leaders, and business leaders of tomorrow. Were Chinese students like this to become diplomats, they would have a far more dynamic and relevant social network to enable them to better perform their diplomatic roles. Contrast this with Americas diplomatic corps. The U.S. Foreign Service welcomes an increasingly diverse group of applicants of different educational backgrounds, with an emphasis on international relations, politics, international law, security, public policy, and economics. The age limit is far higher, at 59 years. Foreign Service Officers often join mid-career, and those careers span academia, business, government, science, or NGO work. By comparison, the educational and working experience of Chinese diplomats is cookie-cutter: many of them have graduated from language universities and joined the MFA shortly after graduation. The age limit for new diplomats, at either 35 or 40 depending on qualifications, discourages those in mid-career. By definition, those joining the MFA have less life experience, not to mention small social networks, when they join. In China, diplomats advance for their loyalty, discipline, and language chops, not their strategic thinking, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Only Communist Party members or members of the Communist Youth League can apply to the MFA; that reduces the applicant pool by about 90 percent. Chinese diplomats often have to strictly follow rules and guidelines; where judgment is involved, they inevitably await instruction and confirmation from a higher authority. To be sure, it is essential to be serious in diplomatic endeavors; but stale, ineffective diplomacy is as likely to lead to misunderstanding and conflict as is recklessness. Making these changes will not be easy. Chinese political scientists and political leaders deeply believe that foreign policy is an extension of domestic politics. Theres good evidence for this conclusion, but the insight can be applied too dogmatically. At present, the target audience for Chinas diplomatic campaigns and soft-power activities abroad are usually Chinese domestic audiences and the Chinese diaspora. It never hurts to put on an event for Chinese New Year or the Mid-Autumn Festival; they look good in photos and reports send back to Beijing. But what else are they doing, and are they reaching anyone new? Chinas diplomats are too reluctant to do anything that smacks of novelty or departure from past protocol. Above all, they want to avoid mistakes that could scuttle their careers. This is one reason Chinese diplomats need to leave their embassies and consulates more frequently and actively engage with local people. A Chinese corps team with more balanced educational background could generate more creative and flexible solutions to diplomatic problems. Thats going to be vital when dealing with a Trump administration. For one thing, a significant amount of decision-making and lobbying processes are likely to be reallocated from Washington, DC to New York. China will need to dispatch more strategists, lobby groups, and scholars to the business community in the U.S. financial capital. Instead of attending countless DC think tank forums, more Chinese diplomats and business leaders should be shuttling from one business reception to another in midtown Manhattan, which could afford them access to Trumps children, close friends, and confidants. Imagine if Chinese business leaders worked as part-time diplomats to negotiate with Trump and his business cabinet. He is likely to respect their success; Trump looks set to run his country much like he ran his company, with a billionaire-dominated cabinet acting as a board of directors. Beijing could send some of its 594 billionaires to test the waters with a Trump administration, in parallel to or sometimes even ahead of diplomatic efforts. (Alibaba founder Jack Ma has already visited Trump Tower, although its hard to say what role Beijing had in orchestrating it.) China also needs to make better use of that fact that it is already investing heavily in the United States. According to Chinas Ministry of Commerce, Chinas outbound direct investment hit an estimated $161 billion in 2016, a new record. Outsourcing medium-to-low-end manufacturing jobs and building factories in the US will offer better returns on investment in some sectors. And these labor-intensive sectors will create a significant amount of manufacturing jobs, particularly in the Rust Belt. These are decisions made by Beijing and by Chinas business community, but diplomats can help play up the benefits. Imagine if Chinese diplomats persuaded Trump to attend a groundbreaking for a Chinese high-end manufacturers new factory in Wisconsin. After his trip to China, Trump could return to announce further Chinese investments, perhaps in U.S. infrastructure. The more ribbon-cuttings, signing ceremonies, and photo shoots China can arrange for Trump, the better for him, and for Beijing. China will also need to dispense with its obsession with protocol, already an occasional sticking point when it interacts with a more relaxed United States. For example, Trumps daughter, Ivanka, may come to play a role in her fathers policy-making. At some ceremonies, she might replace the role of First Lady Melania Trump, who will remain in New York at the start of the administration. The Chinese protocol office must prepare to deal with more family members when receiving the new U.S. president. Finally, Beijing needs to play to its strengths. As countless sporting events, military parades, and political rallies can attest, no one puts on a show better than the Chinese. Eventually, Trump will land in China on a state visit. (He would never consent, its clear, to walking out the back door to Air Force One, as President Obama did at the start of his final visit to China as U.S. President.) Trump could be greeted by a warm official reception with a red carpet, and ascend a proscenium bedecked in another auspicious Chinese color, royal yellow which looks a lot like gold. Massive crowds assembled by Beijing authorities can cheer him, soothing his ego. President Xi, who is likely to try to develop a strong rapport with Trump, can treat Trump to a lavish reception at a huge Beijing landmark featuring rare delicacies. During the meal, Trump can enjoy a magnificent performance given his focus on surface appearances, it would not hurt to toss in cameos from some of Chinas many attractive celebrities. When it comes to Trump, a bit of diplomatic creativity has already worked elsewhere. Take Japan, which before Election Day had appeared to express a preference for Hillary Clinton, or at least an expectation that she would win. Tokyo had been under heavy rhetorical attack by Trump during his campaign. Yet after Trump was elected, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe orchestrated a quick visit to Trump Tower, and he became the first world leader to meet in person with the then-President-Elect. Beijing is currently taking a wait-and-see attitude toward an impulsive Trump. But his and his subordinates assertions about the One China Policy, tariffs on Chinese goods, and Chinese access to the South China Sea, among other hot-button issues, already threaten to put China into a disadvantageous bargaining position. Trumps inauguration must be a wake-up call for Chinese diplomats to be more flexible and innovative, in order to effectively communicate with the President, the interest groups around him, and the American people. Doing this will require China to reform its talent recruitment and training process for diplomats, and adjust its rigid hierarchy to adapt to a brave new world. Getty Images LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Kentucky State Police violated the state's open-records law by refusing a mother's request for bodycam video from her son's death by municipal police officers who were responding to a restaurant drive-thru shooting, the state attorney general's office said Monday. The agency had denied Kathy Harris a copy of the police bodycam video because it said public disclosure of the "extremely graphic images" would be so traumatic that it could "irreparably harm" the Harris family and two victims who survived the shooting spree in Russellville, Kentucky. That argument was rejected by Assistant Attorney General Michelle D. Harrison. Her opinion sided with Harris, whose 34-year-old son Joseph Harris was fatally shot in the confrontation with officers in the southern Kentucky town last March. "Not only has no evidence been presented that she or any other surviving family members object to disclosure of the video in dispute, Ms. Harris has waived her privacy interests," the opinion said. "This fact certainly undermines the argument that the bodycam video capturing the officer-involved shooting which resulted in Mr. Harris' death should not be disclosed." The other victims were wounded prior to Harris' death and their injuries were not shown on the requested video, Harrison said. "In the absence of any other compelling facts that would justify the denial, this office finds that KSP violated the (Kentucky Open Records) Act in denying Ms. Harris' request," the opinion said. Harrison cautioned, however, that the opinion should not be construed as setting a "general rule of application" in such cases. Instead, the opinion was based on "particular facts" presented in this case, she said. AG's opinions are legally binding in disputes involving Kentucky's open-records law but can be appealed to circuit court. State police did not immediately respond to a call Monday seeking comment on the opinion and whether the agency will appeal. Story continues State police did provide Kathy Harris with a copy of the investigation into her son's death but withheld the video in its entirety, the opinion said. Joseph Harris was fatally shot during a confrontation with three Russellville police officers. When challenged by police, Harris brandished a weapon toward the officers, who then fired on him, state police said. Harris died at the scene. Harris and all three officers involved were white. Two of the officers were equipped with body cameras, Russellville police Chief Victor Shifflett said. A local grand jury reviewed the case and decided not to issue any indictments. All three officers were placed on administrative leave immediately after the shooting but are now back on duty. Harris, of Lewisburg, Kentucky, was suspected of shooting his former girlfriend while she waited in line at a McDonald's drive-thru at Russellville, according to state police. Harris drove to the restaurant, got out of his vehicle and opened fire, police said. He then fled on foot and encountered the three Russellville officers. During the confrontation, a bystander was struck by glass after a bullet crashed through the window of a nearby doughnut shop, state police said. By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Republican senators said on Monday that U.S. states should be allowed to stay in the Obamacare healthcare insurance program if they like, with one adding she felt confused by President Donald Trump's broad but unspecific executive order targeting the program. Trump and congressional Republicans campaigned on a promise to dismantle Obamacare, and they are working on carrying out that pledge as an early product of united Republican control of the White House and Congress. But the legislative proposal by Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana would let states choose to keep Obamacare or move to a replacement program, for which states would also receive some federal funding. Cassidy, himself a doctor, said such an approach could help attract Democratic votes that will be needed for the eventual replacement for Obamacare, former Democratic President Barack Obama's health insurance program approved in 2010. It did not, however, win over the Senate's leading Democrat, Chuck Schumer, who denounced the idea as an "empty facade." Collins, a moderate Republican, called Trump's executive order issued Friday against Obamacare "very confusing," adding that whatever actions the Trump administration takes, legislation will still be needed to replace the health insurance law. "We really don't know yet what the impact (of the order) will be," Collins told a news conference, adding that it will be difficult to assess the impact until there is a new Cabinet secretary in place in charge of health. Trump signed his executive order on Friday within hours of taking office. It directs U.S. agencies to "waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation" of provisions of Obamacare deemed to impose fiscal burdens on states, companies or individuals. But the order did not specify which parts of Obamacare would be affected or the timing. Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Georgia Representative Tom Price, has said there is no plan for "pulling the rug out" on millions of Americans' healthcare as a replacement is designed. Any changes are unlikely to affect the government-funded or subsidized insurance plans covering more than 20 million people in 2017. Schumer said in a statement that the Collins-Cassidy approach would be a "far cry" from a full replacement of Obamacare. "It is nearly impossible to keep the benefits of the Affordable Care Act," Schumer said, using the official name for Obamacare, "without keeping the whole thing." (Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Tom Brown and Cynthia Osterman) Washington (AFP) - The US Senate has confirmed Mike Pompeo as CIA director and advanced the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state, taking key steps toward filling President Donald Trump's cabinet. Pompeo, a Republican congressman on the House Intelligence Committee, becomes only the third member of Trump's cabinet to take his post, as the president's Republican Party has pushed hard to speed up confirmation of his nominees. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly were sworn in Friday, Inauguration Day. The Republican-led Senate confirmed Pompeo, a 53-year-old US Army veteran, by a vote of 66 to 32, with significant support from Democrats. "He will be an excellent CIA director," said House Speaker Paul Ryan, who tweeted his congratulations to his House colleague. While Pompeo faced some Democratic pushback, many in the opposition party acknowledged his keen understanding of intelligence issues, especially the cyber threat facing the nation. Pompeo "has committed to following the law regarding torture (and) promised to provide objective analysis of Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement," said veteran Senator Dianne Feinstein. Republicans had hoped to confirm Pompeo on Friday but Democrats balked, arguing that a CIA director has never been put in place on Inauguration Day. The delay drew criticism from Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer, who charged that Democrats, led by Senator Chuck Schumer, were "playing politics with national security." Schumer voted in favor of Pompeo on Monday. - 'Demonstrated business orientation' - Meanwhile, a Senate panel greenlighted Tillerson, the former ExxonMobil chief whose nomination has been a source of controversy in large part because of his lack of government or diplomatic experience. The move cleared the way for a confirmation vote by the full chamber. The vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was 11 to 10, along strict party lines, setting up a period of debate and subsequent vote on an as-yet-undetermined day in the Republican-controlled Senate. Story continues Tillerson received a major boost when Senator Marco Rubio, one of three Republicans who had expressed doubts about him, announced he will support Tillerson for the post despite serious reservations. Rubio said he still had concerns about Tillerson's positions on human rights. But he stressed that given the "uncertainty" about the direction of US foreign policy, "it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy." Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, the other Republicans who had expressed reservations about Tillerson's past dealings with Russia, gave their blessing on Sunday. Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate. A simple majority is required for confirmation of cabinet positions. The committee's Democrats voted in unison against Tillerson. "I believe Mr Tillerson's demonstrated business orientation... could compromise his ability as secretary of state to forcefully promote the values and ideals that have defined our country and our leading role in the world for more than 200 years," Senator Ben Cardin said in a statement. Democrats have also blocked nomination votes by arguing that ethics reviews and other vetting of key nominees had been insufficient. Former president Barack Obama had seven nominees approved on his first day as president in 2009. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News Sunday that despite the delays by Democrats, "we will be able to confirm the entire cabinet." Republicans were also hoping to get Trump's pick for US attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, installed swiftly. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Sessions on Tuesday, the same day that the Foreign Relations Committee votes on South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations. (Reuters Health) - The Affordable Care Act likely extended the lives of thousands of seniors who took advantage of free screening exams and were diagnosed with treatable, early-stage colorectal cancer, a new study suggests. I think the prevention-related provisions of the Affordable Care Act helped to detect cancer at earlier and more treatable stages and eventually will save lives, said senior author Nengliang Aaron Yao, a health-policy professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville. Before the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare, took effect, people ages 65 and older who were insured under Medicare had to pay $275 for colonoscopies, the report in Health Affairs says. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) directed that colonoscopies be offered for free. From 2011, when the law took effect, until 2013, an additional 8,400 seniors, or 8 percent more than before, were diagnosed with early-stage colorectal cancer, researchers estimated. The study does a very nice job of showing that when you remove financial barriers to healthcare, health improves, said Dr. Cary Gross, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Connecticut who was not involved in the study. When the Affordable Care Act granted more generous coverage, we were more likely to detect cancer at an earlier stage. This shows that when it comes to creating a new healthcare plan, the devils in the details, and policymakers need to look at things like how will the proposed changes affect cancer screening, Gross said in a phone interview. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of U.S. cancer-related deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. Nearly 52,000 Americans died from colorectal cancer in 2013. Though research shows that screening reduces the risk of dying from colorectal cancer, only 25 percent of uninsured people and 60 percent of insured people had been screened as recommended, a 2015 CDC study showed. Story continues Both Yao and Gross would like President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers, who have pledged to repeal the ACA, to consider the ramifications of the new study before ruling on future healthcare legislation. Im very concerned that policymakers who are trying to save money by not covering cancer-prevention services are being penny-wise and pound-foolish, Gross said. They may save money today, but we will be paying a lot more taking care of patients with metastatic cancer down the road. Im worried on behalf of our patients and our communities that these great strides weve made against cancer will evaporate if the important provisions of the Affordable Care Act, which ensure that patients can access cancer screening services without additional costs, are taken away, he said. In the new study, researchers examined data from 18 cancer registries across the U.S. They found no change in the number of Medicare early-stage cancer diagnoses for breast cancer between the period before Obamacare, from 2008 until 2010, until the period after, from 2011 until 2013. Mammography to screen for breast cancer became free for Medicare patients under the ACA, but before that, it cost just $9 a significantly smaller financial barrier than the $275 cost of a colonoscopy, Yao said in a phone interview. In addition, breast cancer screening had been marketed more successfully than colorectal screening before the ACA was enacted, he said. Gross noted that colonoscopies can actually prevent cancer, because doctors can remove polyps during the procedure, whereas mammograms only allow doctors to see growths in the breast. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force found convincing evidence that colorectal cancer screening substantially reduces deaths in adults between 50 and 75 years old, it said last year. The task force recommended screening with colonoscopy, stool analyses or flexible sigmoidoscopy combined with a fecal-occult blood test. The new study could not determine the impact of free colonoscopies on metastatic colorectal cancer rates or mortality from colorectal cancer. Gross urged follow-up studies examining those numbers after they become available. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2jhSW2H Health Affairs, online January 9, 2017. (WASHINGTON) Rex Tillersons bid to be secretary of state narrowly won approval Monday from the Republican-led Foreign Relations Committee, a move that all but assures Senate confirmation of President Donald Trumps choice to be the nations top diplomat. Members of the committee voted along party lines, 11-10, to back Tillerson following a contentious confirmation hearing nearly two weeks ago that stoked concerns he might not win the panels recommendation. But just hours before members cast their votes, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., declared his support for Tillerson, backing off from a challenge to the new president. Rubio said that despite serious reservations about Tillerson, particularly over his views on Russia, he believed a president was entitled to significant deference in assembling his Cabinet. None of the committees 10 Democrats voted for Tillerson. They cited concerns Tillerson would continue to view the world through the lens of a corporate executive and not the nations chief diplomat. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panels top Democrat, said Tillerson equivocated during his confirmation hearing on questions about human rights, civil society and press and religious freedoms, and repeatedly prioritized narrow business interests ahead of these core national security interests. Every nominee for the job going back at least four decades has been approved by overwhelming votes from both sides in the Foreign Relations Committee, as senators have traditionally wanted to deliver a bipartisan display of confidence to the nations top diplomat. No other nominee since 1977 has received more than two no votes from the committee. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the committees Republican chairman, said he has no doubt Tillerson is well-qualified, citing his leadership of the energy giant. Corker chided his colleagues who had demanded information about Tillersons personal taxes, saying the material had been used to ask silly, silly questions. Story continues Rubio announced he would vote for Tillerson in a statement posted on Facebook. Despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillersons nomination in committee and in the full Senate, said Rubio, whod come under strong pressure from fellow Republicans to back the nomination and avoid dealing Trump an embarrassing setback in the early days of his presidency. Rubio had clashed with Tillerson at a committee hearing earlier this month, bridling at his refusal to label Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and his failure to condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. He chided Tillerson over the need for moral clarity. But in the end, after unsuccessfully opposing Trump for the GOP nomination last year before coming around to support him, Rubio decided to fall in line this time, too. His statement came after the nomination got a boost on Sunday from two influential Republican senators, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who also offered tepid endorsements for Tillerson. Like Rubio, McCain and Graham had voiced concerns in light of Tillersons long history of personal dealings with Putin, his record of doing oil deals in Russia and his questioning of the U.S. sanctions on that country. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he was encouraged by several of Tillersons public stances, including his clear-eyed understanding of the threat posed by Putins Russia and his commitment to NATO. But Coons said the differences on key issues between himself and Tillerson two outweighed the similarities. I believe that climate change is a pressing national security threat, Coons said. I believe that advocating for human rights, a free press, and democracy around the world advances our own security and economic interests here at home. Further roiling the debate is U.S. intelligences assessment that Russia meddled in the presidential election to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. Even while announcing his support for Tillerson, Rubio laid out a series of concerns in his statement Monday. Despite his extensive experience in Russia and his personal relationship with many of its leaders, he claimed he did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists and political opponents, Rubio said of Tillerson. He indicated he would support sanctions on Putin for meddling in our elections only if they met the impossible condition that they not affect U.S. businesses operating in Russia. ___ Associated Press researcher Monika Mathur contributed to this report. Rossi and Vinales meet Indonesian Media After the 2017 Movistar Yamaha team launch in Madrid, Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales were off to Indonesia for the dealer meeting, one of the biggest assemblies in the world among Yamaha distributors. The event included multiple interviews, meeting competition winners, photoshoots and a presentation of the New Yamaha R15, with the riders joined on stage by Yamaha President Hiroyuki Yanagi. The unveiling of the R15 was an exclusive, the new model being first introduced in Indonesia before its global launch. The passion for motorsport, and especially MotoGP, was evident in the enthusiasm of the media present at the dealer meeting and made the riders feel very welcome. Always enjoying Southeast Asia, Rossi was eager to have a few days off after the event to further experience the region, while Vinales prolonged his tour in Indonesia. The Spaniard went on an excursion to the Sentul International Circuit where he got the chance to test the new race bike and the AEROX 155VVA. The team gets a short break before meeting again in the Philippines on Jan. 28 for media events, prior to the first pre-season testing in Sepang, Malaysia. The incident came to light after actor Kamal Haasan took to Twitter to slam the Chennai police for using force on protestors. In his tweet he condemned aggressive police action. Two wheelers suspected to be set on fire by protestors go up in flames in Chennai on Monday. Fans of Jallikattu, a traditional bull-taming ritual attacked a police station with stones and set some vehicles on fire Monday in anger at being forcibly evicted By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, India Today Web Desk: Hours after a video showing policemen vandalising and attacking vehicles went viral, Chennai police commissioner today said that the videos were morphed and that the police did not use force on the crowds gathered to protest. The police said that they worked towards a peaceful dispersion of the crowd which was intervened by anti-social elements. advertisement Chennai police commissioner TK Rajendran said that the video going viral on social media is a matter of investigation. Didn't use force on crowd,wanted peaceful dispersion;sm anti-social elements intervened: S. George, Chennai Police Commissioner #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/IA1VaJUDSR ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 The incident came to light after actor Kamal Haasan took to Twitter to slam the Chennai police for using force on protestors. In his tweet he condemned aggressive police action. In yet another tweet the actor shared a video of policemen setting ablaze an auto rickshaw. He sought an explanation from the police on the incident. What is this. Please explain some one pic.twitter.com/MMpFXHSOVk Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 23, 2017 Earlier today, Tamil Nadu passed a new law legalising the hugely famous bull-taming sport jallikattu, which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014. The bill was tabled and passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today, almost a week after hundreds of protesters occupied Chennai's famous Marina Beach protesting against the ban. The protest, which has been peaceful so far, turned violent today after police tried to evict the agitators from the site. At about 6 in the morning police tried to evict the protesters from the site leading to clashes in which some people were injured. Vehicles outside a police station were set on fire by agitators who are demanding a permanent solution to the issue. HOME MINISTRY KEEPING CLOSE WATCH Meanwhile, Union Home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi dialled DG Tamil Nadu over Jallikattu related violence. Sources said that after the initial spell of violence on Monday, the Home Secretary was informed that the crowds were later dispersed. The Centre was informed that state police would keep an overnight vigil to ensure law and order. DG told MHA that situation in the state is likely to improve Tuesday onwards. MHA has been keeping an eye on developments in the state. MHA on monday even mulled sending in Central Armed Police Forces ( CAPF) but said it would send forces only if the state requested for it. advertisement Also read: Jallikattu legalised in Tamil Nadu: Assembly bulldozes bill with no opposition Tamil Nadu Assembly bulldozes Jallikattu Bill, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan appeal for calm --- ENDS --- WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rex Tillerson's bid to be secretary of state narrowly won approval Monday from the Republican-led Foreign Relations Committee, a move that all but assures the full Senate will confirm President Donald Trump's pick for the key Cabinet post. Members of the panel voted along party lines, 11-10, to back Tillerson following a contentious confirmation hearing nearly two weeks ago that stoked concerns he might not win the panel's recommendation. But just hours before members cast their votes, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., declared his support for Tillerson, backing off from a challenge to the new president. Rubio said that despite serious reservations about Tillerson, particularly over his views on Russia, he believed a president was entitled to significant deference in assembling his Cabinet. None of the committee's 10 Democrats voted for Tillerson. They cited concerns Tillerson would continue to view the world through the lens of a corporate executive and not the nation's chief diplomat. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panel's top Democrat, said Tillerson "equivocated" during his confirmation hearing on questions about human rights, civil society and press and religious freedoms, and repeatedly prioritized "narrow business interests ahead of these core national security interests." Every nominee for the job going back at least four decades has been approved by overwhelming votes from both sides in the Foreign Relations Committee, as senators have traditionally wanted to deliver a bipartisan display of confidence to the nation's top diplomat. No other nominee since 1977 has received more than two "no" votes from the committee. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the committee's Republican chairman, said he has "no doubt" Tillerson is well-qualified, citing his leadership of the energy giant. Corker chided his colleagues who had demanded information about Tillerson's personal taxes, saying the material had been used to ask "silly, silly questions." Story continues Corker also criticized unnamed lawmakers who held Tillerson responsible for comments Trump made during the presidential campaign or during his inauguration speech. "To me, Mr. Tillerson is an adult who's been around," said Corker, adding that Tillerson can be a "very good anchor" on issues that Congress cares about. Rubio announced he would vote for Tillerson in a statement posted on Facebook. "Despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillerson's nomination in committee and in the full Senate," said Rubio, who'd come under strong pressure from fellow Republicans to back the nomination and avoid dealing Trump an embarrassing setback in the early days of his presidency. Rubio had clashed with Tillerson at a committee hearing earlier this month, bridling at his refusal to label Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" and his failure to condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. He chided Tillerson over the need for "moral clarity." But in the end, after unsuccessfully opposing Trump for the GOP nomination last year before coming around to support him, Rubio decided to fall in line this time, too. His statement came after the nomination got a boost Sunday from two influential Republican senators, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who also offered tepid endorsements for Tillerson. Like Rubio, McCain and Graham had voiced concerns in light of Tillerson's long history of personal dealings with Putin, his record of doing oil deals in Russia and his questioning of the U.S. sanctions on that country. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he was encouraged by several of Tillerson's public stances, including "his clear-eyed understanding of the threat posed by Putin's Russia" and his commitment to NATO. But Coons said the differences on key issues between himself and Tillerson outweighed the similarities. "I believe that climate change is a pressing national security threat," Coons said. "I believe that advocating for human rights, a free press, and democracy around the world advances our own security and economic interests here at home." Further roiling the debate is U.S. intelligence's assessment that Russia meddled in the presidential election to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. Even while announcing his support for Tillerson, Rubio laid out a series of concerns in his statement Monday. "Despite his extensive experience in Russia and his personal relationship with many of its leaders, he claimed he did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists and political opponents," Rubio said of Tillerson. "He indicated he would support sanctions on Putin for meddling in our elections only if they met the impossible condition that they not affect U.S. businesses operating in Russia." ___ Associated Press researcher Monika Mathur contributed to this report. ___ Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner Russia is seeking a leading role in shaping the United Nations global counterterrorism strategy, lobbying Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a Russian national to serve in a newly envisioned post as counterterrorism czar, according to several senior U.N. diplomats. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has stressed his desire to work in partnership with Russia to combat the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. But the development has raised concern among human rights advocates and other observers, who fear the former rival powers, now joined more closely together under a Trump administration, may move the U.N. further from its role as a defender of human rights and civil liberties. Washington and Moscow are likely to reinforce each others take-no-prisoners approach to terrorism, to the detriment of respect for human rights and due process, said Sebastian von Einsiedel, an expert on U.N. counterterrorism strategy who serves as director of the United Nations Universitys Centre for Policy Research in Tokyo. He fears the duo would have little sensitivity for the value of the nonmilitary approaches that are front and center in the U.N. counterterrorism strategy. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.N. has built a sprawling network of some 38 agencies and programs that deal with counterterrorism, including a Security Council sanctions committee, a Saudi-funded counterterrorism center, and a special anti-terrorism branch based in Vienna. In one of his first stabs at reform, Guterres wants to coordinate those myriad agencies under a single boss, several U.N. diplomats said. Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for Guterres, said no decision has been made on the appointment of an anti-terrorism czar, but the U.N. chief is considering various proposals to strengthen the U.N.s role in counterterrorism. Russia is emerging as an early favorite, according to several senior U.N. diplomats. For years, Moscow has protested that it has been unfairly denied a cabinet position in New York under previous U.N. leaders, as the most powerful positions overseeing peacekeeping, political affairs, and the budget are reserved for Western powers. Among the few cabinet positions held by Russians outside New York in recent years was running the Geneva headquarters and the Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna. Story continues In recent months, Russia has sought to consolidate its influence in the U.N. counterterrorism field. In December, it succeeded in persuading the United States, Britain, and France for the first time to relinquish Western chairmanship over a critical U.N. Security Council committee responsible for overseeing sanctions against al Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Islamic State. The post went to Kazakhstan, a close Russian ally. Among a few senior European diplomats, there is some sympathy for the idea that Russia is due a top post. It would also solve a taxing political problem for Guterres. By creating a new counterterrorism position, Guterres could avoid having to give Moscow one of the more important jobs for instance, the head of the Department of Political Affairs, which Russia covets but which has been held by an American for the past 10 years. But there has also been unease within the U.N. itself at its growing role in fighting terrorism. U.N. development and humanitarian agencies fear that it will taint their reputation for neutrality, dissuade states from working with them, and put their staff at risk. U.N. relief workers from Afghanistan to Somalia to Mali have been increasingly targeted by extremists. And giving the U.N. terrorism office Russian leadership, some fear, would move the world body more toward suppressing terrorism than seeking to address its root causes. The United States under former President Barack Obamas administration and its European partners promoted the need for a top U.N. counterterrorism official, but they saw the role differently from Russia. They wanted the new czar to make the prevention of extremist ideology a key priority and to promote international rules and norms. Russia favors a harder approach, as displayed in Chechnya and Syria. In June 2016, Russia, supported by Egypt, Pakistan, and other members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, repeatedly blocked a proposal backed by the United States and its European allies to endorse a plan of action by the U.N. secretary-general for preventing violent extremism. Instead, they agreed only after the provision was watered down to recommend that states consider implementing some provisions of the action plan. They quietly well, not so quietly put the kibosh on that, said Eric Rosand, a former State Department official and director of the Prevention Project. But Europe and the United States may now be moving closer to Russias position. European countries stung by terrorist attacks from Nice to Berlin are more inclined to take a tougher line on fighting terrorism. And senior officials in the Trump administration, including the president, have long advocated a much harsher counterterrorism policy, including loosening restrictions on how suspected terrorists are targeted, as well as partnership with Russia. When [Trump] says that his key foreign-policy priority will be the fight against terrorism, we are happy to welcome this intention. This is exactly what our American partners lacked before him, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a Jan. 17 press conference in Moscow. The Kremlin hopes that the new U.S. administration will view the challenge of terrorism through a Russian lens, particularly in Syria. The Obama administration saw Russia and Syria, with their brutal air campaign against anti-government forces and civilians, as the chief drivers of terrorism in Syria. But during his presidential campaign, Trump saw Syria and Russia as potential partners in the war against the Islamic State. What Donald Trump and his team are saying now shows that they have a different approach to this and that they will not apply double standards in the fight against terrorism in order to achieve unrelated goals, Lavrov said. Richard Gowan, a U.N. specialist with the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the world body has little choice but to deepen its role in counterterrorism, despite the risk of undercutting core goals like protecting human rights. The United Nations can do the right thing or the relevant thing, and the relevant thing is to appear to be doing more on counterterrorism, Gowan said. The United Nations has been grappling with terrorism since 1963, but its sprawling array of counterterrorism bureaus and agencies really mushroomed after the 9/11 attacks. The Security Council has focused on measures like sanctions on suspected terrorists, while the U.N. secretariat has sought to address radicalization and the root causes of terrorism, all while ensuring compliance with international law and human rights norms. But the U.N., whether through Security Council resolutions or other initiatives, has seldom been more than a bench player in fighting terrorism around the world, ceding the leading role to individual states. That hasnt stopped the counterterrorism bureaucracy from swelling, though. Its become a relatively obscure bureaucracy, said one European ambassador. You sometimes wonder what these people do all the time. I dont personally see what the need is for the counterterrorism czar. Thats why there is some skepticism that the new position, if handed to Moscow, would give Russia much influence. The U.N. Security Council, which has established numerous counterterrorism initiatives, is generally loath to yield authority over programs it establishes. And the U.N.s many bureaucratic fiefdoms, which often control their own budgets, will jealously guard their turf from a new agency. Gowan, for one, remains skeptical that the U.N. has the wherewithal to transform itself into a serious player on counterterrorism. In that light, he said, a decision by Guterres to create a new high-level post for Russia may prove shrewd, essentially giving Moscow an empty chalice. Its easy to imagine whichever lucky Russian official who gets the job being cut out of the loop, not least because Guterres is keen to make the most crucial decisions about crisis management himself, Gowan said. Photo credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images On Monday, Kremlin-sponsored peace talks meant to strengthen a fragile ceasefire between the Syrian government and rebels stumbled out of the gate in Astana, Kazakhstan. As a first test of Moscows ability to throw its diplomatic weight around in the region, its proving tough going for Russia. First, the rebel delegation refused to talk face to face with Syrian President Bashar al-Assads negotiators. Then, Assads negotiator traded barbs with opposition negotiator Mohammed Alloush after he accused Assad of violating the truce. We havent seen any signs of commitment to the ceasefire; there should be clarity and agreement on this first, opposition spokesperson Yahya al-Aridi told Al Jazeera. The head of Assads delegation, Bashar al-Jaafari, accused opposition negotiators of representing terrorist organizations. He also downplayed Turkeys role in the talks because of its support for rebel groups in northern Syria. Turkey is violating Syrian sovereignty, so there is no Syrian-Turkish dialogue, he said. Despite the diplomatic harangues, Russia pushed forward a new agreement with Iran and Turkey to jointly fight against the IS and al-Nusra and their separation from the armed opposition groups, according to a draft communique expected to be signed on Tuesday in Astana. The draft communique also said Russia, Iran, and Turkey would back a separate round of U.N.-brokered peace talks between the Syrian government and rebel forces in Geneva on Feb. 8. The U.N. framed the talks in Astana as a stepping stone to the upcoming talks in Geneva, though Western leaders expressed concern Russia could be trying to supplant the Geneva talks to chart Syrias future course on its own terms. The U.N. has repeatedly tried and failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed 300,000 and displaced 11 million since it began five years ago. Russia, which backed Assads regime with a military operation starting in 2015, hoped the Astana talks could yield more progress than the usual U.N.-brokered talks because of three big changes in the Syria conflict. Story continues First, Moscow forged a new and unlikely alliance with Turkey to fight ISIS despite the fact that Turkey repeatedly called for Assads ouster and backs rebel forces. Second, new U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he would refocus U.S. efforts to work with Russia on fighting ISIS over removing Assad. (Though Trump did not send a representative to the talks in Astana; the U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan is observing.) And third, Aleppo, Syrias second largest city and the rebels main stronghold, fell to government forces in December a signal the tide was turning in favor of Assads eventual victory. Everything has changed since Aleppo, a Western diplomat told BBC. Theres a new equation. But Russia may learn, if the first day of talks are any indication, that its an equation with no easy answers. Photo credit: Aliia Raimbekova/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images The world's biggest smartphone maker Samsung blamed faulty batteries on Monday for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under the humiliating recall. Samsung Electronics was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apple's iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire. The debacle cost the South Korean company billions in lost profit and reputational damage, during a torrid period when it has also been embroiled in a corruption scandal that has seen President Park Geun-Hye impeached. Internal and independent investigations "concluded that batteries were found to be the cause of the Note 7 incidents", Samsung said in a statement. "We sincerely apologise for the discomfort and concern we have caused to our customers," said Koh Dong-Jin, the head of its mobile business, bowing before hundreds of reporters and cameramen at a press conference. Samsung Electronics is the most prominent unit of the giant Samsung group, South Korea's largest conglomerate with a revenue equivalent to about a fifth of the country's GDP. It announced a recall of the oversized Galaxy Note 7 in September 2016 after several devices exploded or caught fire, with the company blaming batteries from a supplier. When replacement phones -- with batteries from another firm -- also started to combust, the company decided to kill off the Note 7 for good. In total 3.1 million devices were recalled as authorities in the US and elsewhere banned the device from use on planes and even from being placed in checked luggage. Samsung has since embarked on a campaign to restore its battered reputation, issuing repeating apologies and putting full-page advertisements in US newspapers, admitting it "fell short" on its promises. Analysts said Samsung was looking to move on through the announcement, which did not implicate other devices. Story continues "Consumers tend to be forgiving the first time," said Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Technology. "But if it happens again, it will leave a lasting mark on Samsung's quality and brand image." Samsung had concentrated on innovative design, thinness and battery capacity rather than safety, he said. The firm's next model, the Galaxy S8, had been expected to be unveiled at next month's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. But Samsung's Koh said it would be delayed to ensure it had no safety problems. - No legal action - Samsung said it deployed around 700 researchers and engineers on its investigation, testing more than 200,000 fully-assembled devices and more than 30,000 batteries. It did not identify the battery makers on Monday, but independent investigators UL and Exponent agreed with the findings. One of the defective batteries had a design flaw that pushed down its right corner, while the other had faulty internal welds, said Kevin White, principal scientist at Exponent. Around 1,000 different parts from some 450 suppliers were needed for each Galaxy Note 7. But Koh dismissed the possibility of suing the manufacturers. "Whatever parts we use, the overall responsibility falls to us for failing to verify its safety and quality," he said. Samsung acknowledged that it provided the battery specifications, adding in its statement: "We have taken several corrective actions to ensure this never happens again. The lessons of the past several months are now deeply reflected in our processes and in our culture." Sister company Samsung SDI confirmed it was one of the battery makers, saying in a statement it had mounted its own investigation into the units and now had "a more thorough verification process". Samsung Electronics is set to announce fourth-quarter and full-year results on Tuesday and has estimated the cost of the recall at $5.3 billion. But investors welcomed Monday's announcement, with Samsung Electronics shares closing up 2.3 percent at 1.90 million won. The firm has separately been caught up in a wide-ranging political corruption scandal, with prosecutors last week seeking the arrest of its vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury. 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. Samsung is the single biggest contributor to two non-profit foundations controlled by Choi, but a court rejected the arrest request due to insufficient evidence. Saturday Night Live suspended Katie Rich, one of the shows writers, after wrote a tweet mocking President Donald Trumps 10-year-old son Barron. Rich was suspended indefinitely immediately after the Friday tweet, which was intended to be a joke about Barron Trump and school shootings, both the New York Times and the Associated Press reported, citing an anonymous source familiar with SNLs plans. The show did not include Richs name on the closing credits of its Saturday episode. Following the widespread denouncement of her tweet, Rich deleted the post and deactivated her account. She reactivated it on Monday and issued an apology. I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & Im so sorry, she wrote. I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I'm so sorry. Katie Rich (@katiemaryrich) January 23, 2017 Richs suspension recalls the termination of the journalist Julia Ioffe from Politico in December. Ioffe came under fire for a tweet about Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump and later apologized. KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia warned organisations in the kingdom on Monday to be on the alert for cyber attacks including a version of the destructive Shamoon virus, as a chemicals firm reported a network disruption and the labour ministry said it had been attacked. An alert from the telecoms authority seen by Reuters advised all parties to be vigilant for attacks from the Shamoon 2 variant of the virus that in 2012 crippled of tens thousands of computers at oil giant Saudi Aramco. State-controlled Al Ekhbariya TV said on Twitter, using the hashtag #Shamoon, that several Saudi organisations had been targeted in recent cyber attacks. The state news agency, meanwhile, said the labour ministry had been hit by a cyber attack, but that it did not impact its data. Jubail-based Sadara Chemical Co, a joint venture firm owned by Saudi Aramco and U.S. company Dow Chemical, said it had experienced a network disruption on Monday morning and was working to resolve the issue. The company made the disclosure on its official Twitter account after the warning by Al Ekhbariya TV, which cited the telecoms authority. It did not say whether the disruption was due to a cyber attack but said as a precautionary measure it had stopped all services related to the network. Other companies in Jubail, the hub of the Saudi petrochemicals industry, also experienced network disruptions, according to sources who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. Those companies sought to protect themselves from the virus by shutting down their networks, said the sources, who declined to identify specific firms. (Reporting by Reem Shamseddine; Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Dominic Evans and Mark Potter) The art of determining when to purchase airfare has long puzzled price-sensitive fliers. And it's no wonder why: With fluctuating prices, it's hard to know when to buy or delay booking to secure the cheapest tickets. While some air-travel experts dismiss airfare predictors as an accurate measure of flight pricing trends, innovative apps and tools such as Hopper, Google Flights and Kayak that aim to take the guesswork out of predicting when prices will surge or plummet make it tempting to give this elusive farecasting technology a test run. [See: 10 Frequent Flier Secrets Every Traveler Should Know.] So, can these tech-savvy tools precisely predict future airfare pricing? That's a matter of debate. "No one has done an in-depth study as to whether airfare predictors work," cautions George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, who's been following airfare trends for over 20 years. "Remember Farecast?" Hobica asks, recalling the airfare-prediction technology Microsoft bought in 2008. "Microsoft bought [Farecast] for millions and rebranded it as Bing Travel, and promptly shut it down. It stands to reason that if one airfare search engine could accurately predict airfare trends, all the others would have been buried by now," Hobica explains. But while contemplating the tools' price prediction capabilities is one thing, utilizing the complex technology to track fares and smartly assess when to buy or wait to book your plane ticket is another task altogether. With that in mind, U.S. News sought guidance from industry pros and data experts to bring you a primer on using airfare prediction tools to net the best results. Decide Which Tool Fits Your Needs and Patterns All of the price prediction tools "work a little differently," explains Brian Sumers, an airline business reporter at Skift. Tools such as Google Flights and Hopper use historical pricing data along with other metrics to evaluate ticket prices based on the aggregate, he explains. And while flight-predicting apps like Hopper have gained popularity, Sumers says Google Flights is the resource to watch, as Google can utilize its extensive data collection to develop sophisticated algorithms. But remember these sites and apps won't get it right 100 percent of the time, he cautions. "If you see a price that you think is fair, you should buy it," Sumers says. Story continues What are the key differences with these tools? Hopper alerts travelers when they should fly and buy based on data-driven research, explains Patrick Surry, Hopper's chief data scientist. "We use our historical flight price data and our real-time feed of 5 to 8 billion daily flight prices to create trip-specific pricing forecasts up to a year in advance of departure, based on current and historical yield trends as well as pricing volatility," he explains. According to Surry, the price forecasts are estimated with 95 percent accuracy. And unlike its competitors, Hopper enables users to select the "Watch This Trip" option to track airfares and receive a push notification within a minute if a good deal pops up, Surry adds. "Overall, our users save an average of $150 per year on their air travel using the app," he says. The only snag: While Hopper analyzes flights from over 250 global airlines, a few airlines are not currently available, including Southwest and Delta. [See: 9 Tips for Navigating an Outrageously Long Flight Delay.] Google Flights, on the other hand, doesn't currently offer an app for snapping up deals on the fly. However, it does offer a few key benefits, including the chance to filter options based on your desired cabin class and number of stops and the ability to track a specific flight. When a ticket price is likely to rise, Google sends a mobile or email notification to its users. What's more, Google enables users to view the precise price fluctuation in real time, down to the hour, to snag a price that's likely to rise soon. Online booking site Kayak also tracks billions of price queries to analyze historical pricing and forecast future pricing. While the algorithm only allows users to see whether the price is likely to increase or fall in the next week, Kayak does offer guidance on when to book -- or wait -- to help travelers know when to purchase to score the best value. Hedge Your Bets Flyr, a newer tool in the price-prediction arena, offers guidance on when to book using a different approach. With its FareKeep insurance product (available for a small fee), which analyzes the volatility of ticket costs, you can track your flight and arm yourself against price fluctuations. "Our product not only offers protection against price changes, it allows travelers to use those changes to their advantage. If you end up booking the fare at a higher price during the protection period, we'll pay you back the difference -- up to $200 per protected passenger," explains Jean Tripier, co-founder and chief executive of Flyr. "If your fare goes down, we will notify you, and you get to book at the lower price," he adds. Aside from assessing and covering the financial risk associated with purchasing your ticket, Flyr also analyzes pricing on a specific flight, rather than simply analyzing the route. "With all this data, we created Foresight, our prediction engine that provides ultra-accurate fare forecasts, down to the detail of an individual flight," Tripier explains, noting the algorithms utilize "artificial intelligence to achieve the highest possible degree of accuracy." With the Foresight predictor, the tool offers a buy or wait recommendation with more than 90 percent accuracy, Tripier adds. "In addition, we have the capacity to predict where prices will land a week from today within about $6 on flights for common routes or destinations," he explains. Fine-Tune Your Ticket-Hunting Strategy According to Tripier, while prices tend to spike as the departure date approaches, fare trends are more nuanced: "What actually happens is that the volatility of the fares increases as the departure date nears. While this more often than not signals a fare going up, it can also go down. The bottom line is that travelers should watch fares as early as possible and use fare protection to improve the efficiency of that process for them." [See: 7 Secret Tricks to Scoring a Cheap Business-Class Seat.] Surry also recommends setting up trip-monitoring services months ahead of your trip to allow for ample time to turn up an enticing deal. "The mobile component is really important, too," he explains. "These deals can pop up at any time and sometimes don't last very long." Liz Weiss is the Travel editor for Consumer Advice at U.S. News, where she writes and edits consumer-focused travel content that offers trip-planning inspiration and helps consumers make smarter travel decisions. She has been covering the travel industry for nearly five years at U.S. News & World Report. She also manages the En Route blog, and has been interviewed on a variety of outlets, including MarketWatch and Fortune. Prior to joining the Consumer Advice team, Liz oversaw the development and content creation for U.S. News Travel's Best Cruises, Best Travel Rewards and Best Vacations franchises. A native of Washington, D.C., she received a bachelor's degree from George Washington University. You can follow Liz on Twitter or email her at eweiss@usnews.com. (WASHINGTON) Mike Pompeo was sworn in Monday night as director of the CIA at a crucial time for U.S. national security as intelligence traditionally a nonpartisan issue has been thrust into the political arena. You are stepping up to lead the finest intelligence-gathering operation the world has ever seen, Vice President Mike Pence said during the nighttime swearing-in ceremony. The men and women serving under your command give true meaning to the word courage. The Senate earlier Monday confirmed President Donald Trumps nominee to run the CIA despite some Democratic objections that the Kansas congressman has been less than transparent about his positions on torture, surveillance and Russias meddling in the U.S. election. The vote was 66-32. Trump has been critical of intelligence agencies since their assessment of Russian involvement to help him win the election, but the new president also has said he is fully behind them. Senate Republicans had hoped to vote on Pompeos nomination Friday, after Trumps inauguration. But Democrats succeeded in stalling action until they could debate. Democratic Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden on Monday said Pompeo was the wrong man for the job. He has endorsed extreme policies that would fundamentally erode liberties and freedoms of our people without making us safer, Wyden said. He said Pompeos answers to questions from some senators have been vague and contradictory, making it impossible to know what Pompeo believes. Read More: What to Know About Donald Trumps Choice for CIA Chief, Mike Pompeo I see no real commitment to transparency and his views on the most fundamental analysis of the day the involvement of Russia in our election seemed to shift with those of the president, Wyden said. In written responses to questions from the Senate, on Jan. 3, Pompeo said only that intelligence agency assessments in general should be taken seriously. After Trump conceded Russia was behind the campaign hacks, Pompeo on Jan. 12 told the Senate intelligence committee that particular assessment was solid. Story continues We need a CIA director who is direct about his beliefs and his assessments, Wyden said. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said Democrats were playing politics in its efforts to delay and derail Trumps choice to run the CIA. One of Trumps first stops as president was Saturday at the CIAs headquarters in Northern Virginia, where he made a speech that focused more on falsely accusing the media of lying about how many people attended his inauguration than on the role the CIA plays protecting the U.S. Standing in front of a memorial for fallen CIA agents Saturday, Trump assured intelligence officials, I am so behind you. He made no mention of his repeated criticism of the intelligence agencies following the election, including his public challenges of their high-confidence assessment that Russia meddled in the White House race to help him win. In its final days, President Barack Obamas administration announced intelligence findings that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election with the goal of getting Trump elected. Trump himself has denied most of the assessment, though eventually conceded Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic emails during the campaign. Pompeo, a conservative Republican from Kansas and a member of the House intelligence committee, faced a mostly friendly confirmation hearing Jan. 12. He enrolled as a teenager at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated first in his class in 1986. He served in the Army at a time when the Soviet Union was Americas No. 1 adversary. ___ Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio reluctantly backed President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, in a move that all but secures Senate confirmation of the former Exxon Mobil Corp chief executive as the nation's top diplomat later on Monday. Rubio said he was troubled by Tillerson's recent responses before lawmakers regarding Russia as well as other countries, but that he ultimately decided he would vote to approve the nominee in deference to Trump, as well as to fill a critical top job. "Despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillersons nomination in committee and in the full Senate," Rubio said in a statement ahead of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's vote on Tillerson. A vote in the Republican-controlled Senate was expected shortly after the committee vote. Tillerson was expected to win confirmation, despite opposition from Democrats. Rubio, a onetime rival to Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, said he would not be so deferential regarding Trump's other nominees for top State Department posts. At a confirmation hearing earlier this month, Tillerson's views appeared to be at odds with Trump's on key foreign policy issues such as nuclear proliferation, trade deals, climate change and relations with Mexico. The nominee also had a tense exchange with Rubio on whether he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was a war criminal, in reference to Russia's military actions in support of Syria's government. Tillerson said he would not use that term. Tillerson, 64, also sidestepped questions on human rights, declining to condemn countries like Saudi Arabia and the Philippines for rights abuses. Over the weekend, fellow Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said they would back Tillerson despite their concerns over his relationship with Putin as CEO of one of the world's largest corporations. Republican Senator Rob Portman on Monday also voiced his support and said he was reassured by Tillerson's commitment at the Jan. 11 hearing to support NATO, an organization that Trump has voiced differing opinions about. Earlier on Monday, the most senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ben Cardin, said he would not support Tillerson. "The power of the Secretary of State to call out wrong, to name and shame, and to fight each day on behalf of the American people and freedom-seeking people the world over is an enduring symbol," Cardin said in a prepared statement. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Peter Cooney and Jonathan Oatis) In a bid to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits who have returned to the Valley, the state and Centre have made provisions for about 6,000 jobs in various government departments. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Over 27 years after the exodus of about one lakh Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, the Centre along with Jammu and Kashmir Government recently discussed the progress on the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. According to high level sources in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had a detailed discussion on January 19. advertisement In a 20-minute long meeting, Mehbooba and Singh discussed about the unanimous resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking the return to the Valley of those who have migrated including Kashmiri Pandits. Sources have said that the state government informed Centre about their process to identify about 6,000 jobs in various government departments of the state for Kashmiri migrants. Sources further clarified that at least 1,700 out of 3,000 jobs have already been provided to suitable youths during the previous UPA regime, while the remaining were embroiled in a legal controversy. But with clearance from court and a nod from Centre have given a final push to the cause. Besides another 3,000 jobs are being planned to encourage return of the Pandits. TOWNSHIPS FOR RETURNEES Apart from townships locations in Qazigund, Anantnag and Budgam, the state government has been able to procure land for about eight more locations for composite townships for Kashmiri pundits in the valley. Earlier there were reports of differences between the coalition partners - the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - on how the return of the migrant community should take place. The issue was opposed not only by a section of the government but Hurriyat too opposed the creation of 'Ghettos'. However, the opposition was contested by Centre citing security concerns of Pandits. REHABILITATION EFFORTS Besides these arrangements, transit accommodations for Kashmiri Pandits have also been identified. An officer speaking to India Today said, "It is not just about the provision for jobs; but the process of identifying jobs, accommodation of these pandits, and the constructions are different components. Now that the land has been identified, the construction will begin soon." The Chief Minister also informed Singh about the steps that are being taken for various development initiatives, especially as part of the Prime Minister's economic package announced for the state, official sources said. Also read: J-K govt identifies 100 acres for resettling Kashmiri Pandits Mehbooba slams those opposing return of Kashmiri Pandits Separate homeland demand for Pandits gets right wing backing --- ENDS --- By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Torrential rain and strong winds threatened to snarl travel and cause more destruction on Monday as a major storm roared up the U.S. East Coast after killing at least 20 people in the South. The weather system, which formed deadly tornadoes in the deep South, is turning colder as it moves northeast, where residents face potential flooding, downed power lines and high tides overnight, said Tim Morrin, the National Weather Service's New York Observation Program Leader. "The best place to be is inside," Morrin said. Two train lines operated by NJ Transit, which serves about 100,000 commuters daily, were suspended during evening rush hour between New York City and parts of New Jersey due to downed power lines, the agency said on its website. About 665 flights were canceled, with Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey the hardest hit U.S. airport, according to the air traffic website FlightAware. New York City emergency management officials warned winds could reach 60 miles per hour (97 km per hour) through Monday night, with more than 3 inches (7.5 cm) of rain possible. Flood advisories and watches were issued for much of the region. Northern Pennsylvania and parts of New England were expected to get more than 6 inches (15 cm) of wet snow, producing dangerously slick roads. Winds topping 50 mph (80 kph) could whip the East Coast from Delaware to eastern Maine. The National Weather Service said the front would reach the Middle Atlantic coast by Monday evening. A flood warning was in place for part of southwestern Virginia, and a high wind advisory was issued for western North Carolina. The storm is expected to take a north-eastward path away from the U.S. coastline by Wednesday evening, the weather service said. The rain and snow will help ease a dry spell in the northeast United States, where much of the region is suffering from moderate to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Tornadoes and storms killed 15 people over the weekend in Georgia. In Dougherty County, four people were confirmed dead after a twister left a damage path at least a mile wide in spots on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Families were separated and many people left without homes, food or hope, officials said. A mobile home park was particularly hard hit. "It literally looks like God took half of the mobile home park and threw it across the street into the woods," Dougherty County Commission Chair Chris Cohilas said at a news conference. Mississippi reported four dead from a tornado on Saturday, and one death was reported in northern Florida's Columbia County. (Additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Tampa, Fla., Laila Kearney, Frank McGurty and Chris Michaud in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and James Dalgleish) Stockholm (AFP) - Fewer sex toys contain dangerous chemicals than children's toys, a Swedish inspection authority said in a report published on Monday. In its study conducted in 2016, two percent of the 44 surveyed sex toys that had been imported to Sweden contained banned chemicals, the Swedish Chemicals Agency said. In a separate study the year before, the agency tested 112 toys in Sweden and found that 15 percent contained banned chemical substances, including lead. "This was a bit surprising," Frida Ramstrom, an inspector for the agency, told AFP. "This was the first time we did such a study." Of the 44 sex products examined, only one plastic dildo was found to contain a banned substance: chlorinated paraffins which is suspected of causing cancer, the agency said. The agency said it was difficult to determine why more children's toys contained dangerous chemicals. One contributing factor however was that sex toys were often imported by larger companies, which could exert more pressure on manufacturers to avoid harmful chemicals, whereas children's toys were more often imported by smaller companies which had less power to make such demands, according to Bjorn Malmstrom, a spokesman for the chemical agency. Swedish law stipulates that chemicals in children's toys "must never pose a risk to human health". Three of the 44 examined sex toys, made of artificial leather and bondage tape, contained a type of phthalates used as a plasticiser at levels above a 0.1 percent threshold, the agency said. That specific type of phthalates is not banned in sex toys but is on the EU list of chemicals of "very high concern" as it can affect the body's hormonal balance and cause infertility. Companies are therefore required to inform consumers if a product contains more than 0.1 percent. The global market for sex products is estimated at about $20 billion (18.6 billion euros) a year, according to British marketing research group Technavio. It is expected to grow by nearly seven percent per year between 2016 and 2020. Americans and the Chinese are among the biggest consumers of sex toys, according to Technavio. HAMBURG (Reuters) - Shallow water after dry weather in the past month is again preventing cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded on the Rhine and Danube rivers in Germany, traders said on Monday. All of the Rhine and Danube in Germany are too shallow for normal sailings, with some barges in central Germany only able to sail 20 to 30 percent full, they said. Loads are being divided among several vessels instead of being carried by a single craft, increasing transport costs for cargo owners. Freight is also being transferred to road transport. Traders said that low water is a cost problem and that cargo is still being delivered. Mostly dry weather is forecast this week in river catchment areas in Germany and Switzerland means immediate improvements are unlikely, traders said. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products such as heating oil. The Danube is a major route for east European grain exports, especially maize, to western Europe. (Reporting by Michael Hogan, editing by Louise Heavens) 37 years after its founding, Sierra Nevada is still one of the beer industrys most respected craft brewers. But plenty has changed in that time as well: Sierra Nevada has grown to Americas seventh largest brewery, a billion dollar business with brewing facilities on both coasts meaning the company isnt immune to the kind of issues that can plague any large operation, such as a new massive beer recall affecting 35 states and the District of Columbia. According to an announcement made yesterday on Sierra Nevadas website, out of what appears to be an abundance of caution, the brewery is voluntarily recalling select 12-ounce bottles that may contain a small glass packaging flaw all of which came out of the brands Mills River, North Carolina brewery, which opened back in 2014. Beers produced at the companys original Chico, California, brewery are not affected in any way. The recall includes 12-ounce bottles of eight brands Pale Ale, Torpedo Extra IPA, Tropical Torpedo, Sidecar Orange Pale Ale, Beer Camp Golden IPA, Otra Vez, Nooner and Hop Hunter IPA produced from December 5, 2016, to January 8, 2017 for Pale Ale and December 5, 2016 to January 13, 2017 for all the other brands. The recall affects beer distributed to the following states: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI and WV. For more breaking food and drink news, follow People Food on Facebook. At issue is what the brewery describes as a very limited number of bottles with a flaw that may result in loss of carbonation and a small piece of glass to break off and possibly fall into the bottle, causing a risk for injury. While noting the flaw, Sierra Nevada still contends that they havent received any reports of anyone being injured; instead, the problem was found during quality inspections. While we believe this concern impacts roughly 1 in every 10,000 (0.01%) of our bottles packaged during this time, Sierra Nevada has set the standard for quality in the craft brewing industry since 1980 and we have decided to take this precaution to ensure the safety of our consumers, the company writes. WATCH THIS: Where You Can Buy Homer Simpsons Iconic Duff Beer Again, the recall only affects certain beers in certain packaging made on certain dates in one of the companys two breweries, so make sure you check Sierra Nevadas website to see if the bottles you have are included. Once there, you can also apply for a reimbursement on any recalled beers you may have purchased. For added peace of mind, Sierra Nevada says theres little reason to worry when purchasing beer moving forward. We have stopped distributing all impacted beer, the company states. We are actively working with our distributor and retail partners to remove this beer from retail shelves and hold any further shipments at the distributor warehouse. That said, if you are a Sierra Nevada lover who is also easily worried, you can always stick to their canned products, draft beers, variety packs or 24-ounce and 750-milliliter bottles: None of those were included in the recall. This article originally appeared on FWx. From Popular Mechanics After a two-year, $17 million dollar search involving 12 contestants, the U.S. Army has finally picked its first new handgun in 32 years. The Sig Sauer P320 Compact pistol is now the M17 handgun, replacing the M9 Beretta. In 2014, the Army announced a coming competition for a new handgun to replace the M9. Twelve companies entered the fray, including the Beretta APX, Ceska zbrojovka's CZ P-09, FN Herstal's Five-Seven Mk 2 handgun, the General Dynamics and Smith & Wesson M&P, the full-sized Glock 17 and compact Glock 19; and the Sig Sauer P320. Sig Sauer and Glock were selected as finalists last December. Yesterday, at the 2017 SHOT Show gun industry event in Las Vegas, Army officials notified Sig Sauer of their win. According to The Firearm Blog, the the Swiss-German P320 won the competition. Miiltary.com reports Army has reportedly chosen the 9-millimeter version of the handgun, which packs up to a 17-round magazine. The Army will buy both full-size and compact versions of the P320. The weapon is fully ambidextrous, with safety and slide catch levers on both sides, and has a bright orange loaded chamber indicator. It features a flap in the trigger well to prevent dirt and debris from entering the pistol. Unlike many of its contemporaries, the P320 doesn't require the trigger to be pulled in order to disassemble it. Beretta tried to enter an updated version of the M9, the M9A3, but the Army barred it from the competition. The M9 was a generally unpopular weapon. In a 2006 report on U.S. infantry weapons, troops who had used the M9 in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan ranked it dead last compared to the M4 carbine, M16 rifle, and M249 squad automatic weapon. Only fifty eight percent of soldiers who had used it in combat reported satisfaction with the weapon. Of the four firearms, soldiers characterized it as the least accurate and worst handling. Even worse, twenty six percent of those who had actually used it in combat reported the Beretta had jammed. Story continues The XM17 Modular Handgun System competition was crafted to take advantage of new handgun technologies invented since the M9 entered service in 1985. The gun was required to feature a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail under the barrel for attaching lasers and lights. It would have a threaded barrel for a suppressor, ambidextrous controls for lefties, and a loaded chamber indicator. The modularity was in a requirement for swappable grip panels of different sizes, to accommodate hands of different sizes. Even for something as simple as purchasing a handgun, the bureaucracy surrounding the M17 Modular Handgun System contract was oppressive. The Army's Final Solicitation document, which spelled out the terms of the competition, was whopping 351 pages long. The process was so convoluted even Smith and Wesson teamed up with defense giant General Dynamics to make sense of it. Government officials complained it was unnecessarily difficult: Senator John McCain of Arizona described the rules as "byzantine." Then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates complained, "This is absurdit's a handgun for God's sake." Even Army Chief of Staff Mark Miley expressed exasperation with the process, saying, "We're not figuring out the next lunar landing. This is a pistol...You give me $17 million on a credit card, and I'll call Cabela's tonight, and I'll outfit every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine with a pistol for $17 million." The M17 contract is worth $580 million. The Army will initially buy more than 280,000 handguns, and may purchase another 212,000. The date which the handgun enters service is unknown, but the contract calls for deliveries of up to 6,300 guns a month within a year. Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. You Might Also Like Out of the gate. It was quite a weekend in Washington D.C. Things kicked off with the pomp and circumstance of a presidential inauguration, and continued with half a million people loudly protesting said inauguration in the streets of the capital. The protests were met with a rambling performance by President-elect Donald Trump at CIA headquarters where he free associated about the size of his crowds and told the intel community he is at war with the media, while White House press secretary Sean Spicer spouted a list of falsehoods from the podium about the size of the inaugural crowd. The Islamic State? Homeland security? Iraq? Syria? Afghanistan? Libya? Russia? China? North Korea? Gitmo? Nuclear proliferation? NATO? Looming budget battles? Nowhere to be found in the reality TV-like first 48 hours. FPs Elias Groll rounds it up, adding that at the CIA, President Trump toyed with war crimes, and hinted at loosening restraints on U.S. forces fighting Islamist terror groups. In a statement, former CIA Director John Brennan said Trump should be ashamed of himself. Brennan said he was saddened and angered by what he described as Trumps despicable display of self-aggrandizement in front of CIAs Memorial Wall. Speaking of spies. We learned Sunday night that U.S. counterintelligence officials have investigated National Security Adviser Michael Flynns communications with Russian officials. The Wall Street Journal reports that its unclear when the investigation began or what it found, but it marked Flynn is the first person inside the Trump White House to have been connected to the U.S. intel communitys snooping into the communications of foreign officials. The multiagency investigation by the FBI, CIA, and National Security Agency has been looking into whether the Kremlin hacked the emails of Democratic operatives and leaked the material to Wikileaks. By the way In case you missed it, new Secretary of Defense James Mattis was welcomed to the Pentagon on Saturday by Chairman of the Joint Chief, Gen. Joseph Dunford, to kick off his term as head of the Defense Department. Story continues Base support. Lost amid the sturm und drang of the weekends domestic political activities was a little deal inked between Damascus and Moscow that gives Russian ships and planes access to Syrian bases there for the next 50 years. The deal underscores Russian President Vladimir Putins years-long effort to restore Russias once-powerful role in the Eastern Mediterranean. The pact calls for expanding and making permanent Russias temporary air base in Latakia, and expanding the Russian naval facility in Tartus that would allow it to permanently harbor 11 ships. FPs Paul McLeary writes that even before the basing agreements, a Defense Department official told FP that Moscow could sustain their current pace of operations for years in Syria due to its relatively light footprint, and advances the Russian military has recently made in supporting troops operating overseas. The timing of the deal is notable as Washington prepares for a possible transformation in its role in the Syrian civil war. In his inauguration speech on Friday, Trump returned to familiar themes of ending foreign wars and cutting spending on overseas military deployments. He said Washington has for too long spent trillions of dollars overseas while Americas infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. B roll. The Trump administration wont be making an appearance at the Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan. Russia and Turkey agreed to set up the talks between rebels and the Assad regime as part of a broader agreement that included a hotly-contested ceasefire. But the U.S. will be skipping the talks despite an invitation from Russia to national security adviser Michael Flynn in order to attend to the logistics of the transition, according to a statement from the State Department, leaving the talks without an American presence. Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley. Subtweets Americas European allies have grown wary of President Trumps anti-NATO, anti-EU talk and have begun to contemplate what a future without close relations with Washington would look like. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier published an op-ed on Sunday about Trumps new role as president, declaring that it means old world of the 20th century is over for good with the future totally open and with turbulent times ahead. What, precisely, this implies for U.S.-German relations is unclear but Germanys Foreign Office Twitter account made a point of accenting the point in a tweet. Iraq In the U.S., President Trumps comments about the press and crowd sizes at the CIAs Memorial Wall grabbed the headlines. But as Buzzfeed reports, in Iraq, Trumps lament that the U.S. didnt steal the countrys oil after the 2003 invasion is heating up tempers. Buzzfeeds Borzou Daragahi spoke to Iraqis fighting the Islamic State some of whom fought the U.S. during the occupation and finds them plenty steamed over Trumps comments about Iraqi oil. Of course I would fight the Americans if they came for the oil, one fighter told Daragahi. Sanctions Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) want to make sure President Trump cant remove sanctions against Russia without a say-so from Congress, Politico reports. The two have introduced legislation that would preempt Trumps ability to offer sanctions relief in exchange for a deal over nuclear weapons reductions, as Trump hinted at earlier on Twitter. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has yet to schedule a vote on the legislation but McCain has argued that the bill follows in the footsteps of similar laws about sanctions on Iran voted on during the Obama administration. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, however, is tamping down expectations that sanctions relief from Trump is coming soon. Reuters reports that the sanctions will last for a long time, and that the new leadership in Washington shouldnt lead Russia to get its hopes up. Tass writes that Medvedev took the sanctions policy and the Obama administration that put it in place to task in a Facebook post, writing that they were ridiculous and ill-considered. Yemen What appears to be the first drone strike of the Trump administration has taken place in Yemen. Anonymous Yemeni officials tell the AP that an airstrike from an American drone killed three al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula members. Abu Anis al-Abi, described by the wire service as an area field commander, was reportedly among those killed in the airstrike. Navy Military prosecutors might have a hard time prosecuting Navy Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lin on espionage charges, according to Navy Times. The paper took a deep dive on the evidence against Lin, accused of providing classified information about sensitive weapons technologies to Taiwanese officials and found it on the thin side. Prosecutors have since walked back early sensational claims that Lin traded information for visits with prostitutes and spied for China. The governments case thus far rests on emails Lin allegedly sent to lobbyists for Taiwan that the U.S. Pacific Command later classified as well as Lins failure to report contacts with Taiwanese officials and a trips abroad. Photo Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images Some people say that fascism is creeping here in Slovakia. Its not creeping here, its present here. So said Robert Fico, prime minister of Slovakia. He was speaking at the 72nd anniversary of the Nazi immolation of pair of central Slovak villages Klak and Ostry Grun in which 148 citizens were massacred by fire. In 2013, that region elected Marian Kotleba of the extreme far-right Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS) their regional governor. Last March, the party became the fifth-most popular in the country, and gained 14 seats in the Slovak parliament by decrying both the Roma minority and immigrants, appealing to those who felt left behind by an economy that has nearly doubled since Slovakia joined the European Union in 2004. Dont take it as a reproach, Fico said, before offering the reproach, I dont get it how the man and the party openly avowing fascism could have gained such support in the general elections in the villages where murders and atrocities committed by fascism were so evident. He then called on the Slovak people to beat back fascism in regional elections this autumn. A powerful anniversary speech, surely. But was it borne out of principle or politics? Fico is the leader of the center-left Direction-Social Democracy party (Smer-SD). Ficos party is the largest in parliament; still, it lost seats in the last parliamentary election, while the second, third, fourth, and fifth largest parties all made gains. Ficos speech could have been as much about trying to stop the bleeding ahead of regional elections, as about really fighting fascism. Fico, prime minister since 2012 (and for a term that ended in 2010), has never openly criticized these fascists he talks about now, said Stanislav Matejka of GLOBSEC, a Bratislava-based think tank, who believes Fico is indeed just gearing up for regional elections. This is the first time, and considering that SMER controls the Ministry of Interior and the Police, todays statement sounds absurd a bit, to say the least He is in no position to lament, he is in position of power. Story continues Whats more, Fico may have even contributed to an environment that fostered far-right sympathies. Last May, he gave an interview in which he said, Islam has no place in Slovakia The problem is not migrants coming in, rather in them changing the face of the country. Slovakia has repeatedly refused to take in refugees, which, Matejka argued, may have served to further fascism by undermining peoples trust in their institutions. He was unable to build up the trust of people in state institutions, and, instead of reassuring the public during the peak of migration crisis that our police and other state institution will keep us safe from those among migrants who are ill-willed, he instead went other way and said he will not allow a community of Muslims in Slovakia to be created, he explained. Indeed, as EU president in the second half of 2016, Slovakia presented a plan that to focus efforts on deportations instead of taking people in. Last November, Fico called journalists dirty, anti-Slovak prostitutes. Last December, Slovakia approved a law that effectively prohibited Islam from being a state religion, which seems unnecessary: There are roughly 2,000 Muslims in Slovakia, out of a population of over 5 million. Perhaps, though, Fico really is changing his tune ahead of the elections, worried now about the growing influence of anti-European parties from Britain to France to Italy and Austria. Earlier in January, he spoke out against referendum adventures in the European Union, which he said posed a threat to the union and its currency. And on Sunday, he urged Slovakia to unite and stand together against this big dam of fascism. Photo credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images By Sophie Hares TEPIC, Mexico (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As the world's giant cities fill up, the brunt of migration to urban areas will fall on smaller cities that are not ready to deal with big influxes of people, a specialist on Latin America's cities has warned. The cities that are set to grow are those that are not prepared to grow - the medium and small-sized ones, said Eugene Zapata Garesche, Latin America and Caribbean director for the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) initiative. The cities that got prepared to grow are not growing anymore as they are already big enough. That is where the whole challenge of urbanization is sitting today, Zapata told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview. As megacities such as Brazils Sao Paulo can no longer sustain more population growth, cities like Curitiba or Salvador, which still have room to expand, will be required to absorb rising numbers of people, said Zapata. You have cities like Mexico City that arent even growing any more population-wise, because the city has turned into a nightmare for commuting, and theres a lot of pollution, said Zapata, a native of the city which ranks among the worlds most congested. It's good news for Mexico City, but bad news for the cities around, he said, adding that smaller cities such as Queretaro to the north are now experiencing growth. The United Nations estimates the number of people living in medium-sized cities of up to 5 million inhabitants is expected to jump to 1.1 billion by 2030, up from 827 million in 2014. And it predicts an estimated 27 percent of the worlds population will be living in smaller cities of at least 1 million people by 2030. CREATIVE THINKING In Latin America, where 80 percent of people are urban dwellers, 17 cities - including Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro - have signed up to the 100RC initiative, which is backed by a commitment of $164 million from the Rockefeller Foundation. The funding pays for cities to appoint a chief resilience officer and develop a strategy to deal with challenges such as climate change. Cities - including Santiago, Quito, Cali in Colombia and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico - are expected to release strategies this year detailing plans for long-term urban resilience. Panama City, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Salvador and Mexicos Guadalajara are still in the earlier stages of the process. Resilience is not an easy thing to push forward. There has to be willingness and capacity... within the government, said Zapata, who will head up a regional office for 100RC opening in Mexico City later this year. Making sure resilience is institutionalized by cities and supported by legislation is essential to guarantee the long-term continuation of the strategy, irrespective of political handovers or ongoing support from 100RC, he said. The biggest resilience challenges for Latin America's cities are improving transport and waste management, and securing water supplies, along with social policy issues such as supporting migrants from different parts of the continent, he said. The 100RC initiative aims to give mind space and oxygen to the 17 cities signed up in the region so that they can prepare themselves for the future and think differently over a horizon of 20 to 30 years, he added. Finding ways to craft a model of metropolitan governance is crucial in the region, where national governments have been reluctant to hand over power to local authorities, he said. Tackling the violence and corruption that plague many cities in the region is another key building block for urban resilience, said Zapata, who referred to issues facing Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil and Santa Fe in northeast Argentina. While Mexicos Ciudad Juarez, once ranked as the worlds murder capital, has seen a dramatic fall in crime, Rio has experienced a spike in violence in its sprawling favela slums and Santa Fe is battling a rise in the drug trade as Argentina has become a major cocaine trafficking point. There are violence problems in all of our cities, said Zapata. But this is part of our resilience strategy - we take into account these problems and integrate them into our thinking." (Reporting by Sophie Hares; editing by Megan Rowling. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate) Point and diagnose. The discovery that all life is underpinned by a genetic code has changed our understanding of everything in biology. And, yet, given that DNA is thousands of times smaller than a human hair, most of the applications that involve its use have remained restricted to sophisticated labs. No longer. Over the past decade, miniaturization of computers and lab equipment has made high-tech tools portable. The latest such advancement is the stuff of science fiction: a group of scientists in the US and Sweden have developed a DNA-analyzing kit that can run on a smartphone. To understand how it works, consider the example of tuberculosis. When a patient in, say, rural India is diagnosed with the disease, a doctor without access to a sophisticated lab will typically give the patient drugs from the first line of treatment. However, one in four patients wont respond to this treatment, because the bug theyve caught is resistant to these drugs. Without a test to determine which strain the patient is suffering from in advance, the doctor has to wait for weeks till she finds out that the patient has the drug-resistant infection, and then prescribe a different medication. In that period, the patient would have already spread the infectious and hard-to-treat disease to many more people around him. A portable DNA analyzer could fix this problem. To create one, Mats Nilsson of Stockholm University and his colleagues took a sample of human tissue and analyzed it with a specially designed attachment connected to a Nokia Lumia 1020 smartphone. Nokia Lumia 1020 DNA is made up of four bases: A, T, G, and C, and a tuberculosis genome consists of typically 4.5 million base pairs. But Nilsson only needs to look at a tiny section of the whole genome. Inside the attachment, specialized chemicals are designed to seek that tiny sequence of DNA and snip it out. Story continues DNA is too small for simple smartphone cameras to capture. So an enzyme is used to multiply the small snippet 1,000 times. Next, a new set of chemicals, which become fluorescent when light is shone on them, attach themselves to it based on what the sequence is. Finally, the attachment shines two different colors of laser onto the mixture. With all those DNA snippets emitting light, a decent smartphone camera is now able to see DNA. If the tuberculosis strain is drug-resistant, the mixture shines in a different color than if the infection is not drug-resistant. All this can happen in a few hours, rather than the days or weeks that would be needed to send the sample to a specialized lab for the same result. I was so surprised, says Nilsson, the images from the smartphone and those from the lab were indistinguishable. The studys results were published in Nature Communications. Nilssons team is now looking to commercialize the technology. The researchers believe that the attachment could cost as little as $500, compared to the many thousands of dollars needed for lab equipment. There are still limitations. The lab has yet to develop a method that engineers the movement of various liquids that go in and out of the attachment. To show their system works, the researchers used lab equipment to do it. And at present, the system can only test for one type of disease at a time. So if you want to test for cancer after a tuberculosis test, youd have to wash the equipment and use a whole different set of chemicals to perform the analysis. Nilsson has yet to try it, but he thinks it should be possible to adapt the attachment for different smartphones, even those with lower-resolution cameras. The Nokia Lumia 1020 has a 41-megapixel camera, whereas typical smartphone cameras in the latest generation use just 12 megapixels. The project also faces competition. A UK-based company, Oxford Nanopore, has developed a technology that doesnt rely on cameras to achieve a similar analysis. It is in the process of creating a smartphone adapter for it. The system promises to be even more portable, because it wont require the use of specialized chemicals. Clive Brown, the companys chief technology officer, told the BBC that it would allow anybody to sequence anything, anywhere. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: "We need to stop unfair trade actions from spreading," said a Japanese industry ministry official, explaining a December 20 request for WTO dispute consultations with India over steel safeguard duties. By Reuters: Japan is threatening to take India to the WTO over restrictions that nearly halved its steel exports to the South Asian nation over the past year, a step that could trigger more trade spats as global tensions over steel and other commodities run high. Such action is rare for Japan. The world's second-biggest steel producer typically tries to smooth disputes quietly through bilateral talks, but with global trade friction increasing, Japan's defence of an industry that sells nearly half of its products overseas is getting more vigorous. advertisement Besides concern over India's protection of its domestic steel industry, Japan is also worried about the more rough and tumble climate for global trade being engendered by incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, and feels it must make a strong stand for open and fair international markets. Also read | India's trade deficit with China widens, fuelling new tensions "We need to stop unfair trade actions from spreading," said a Japanese industry ministry official, explaining a Dec. 20 request for WTO dispute consultations with India over steel safeguard duties and a minimum import price for iron and steel products. INDIA IMPOSED 20 PER CENT DUTIES ON STEEL GOODS IN 2015 India imposed duties of up to 20 percent on some hot-rolled flat steel products in September 2015, and set a floor price in February 2016 for steel product imports to deter countries such as China, Japan and South Korea from undercutting local mills. "If consultations fail to resolve the dispute, we may ask adjudication by a WTO panel," the industry ministry official said. Such action could come as soon as 60 days - in February - after its consultation request was filed in December. Tokyo says India's actions are inconsistent with WTO rules and contributed to the plunge in its steel exports to India, which dropped to 10th-largest on Japan's buyer list in 2016 through November, down from sixth-largest in 2015. Also read | India far better placed to deal with Brexit: Shaktikanta Das to India Today "We are following the WTO guidelines," said a top official at India's steel ministry, though adding that New Delhi is ready to sit across the table for trade talks. As of Friday, the date of a WTO-led consultation had not been set. GROWING GLOBAL TRADE DISPUTES There has been a series of trade disputes over the past few years amid massive exports of cheap steel products from China, the world's top producer, with Vietnam, Malaysia and South Africa taking or planning measures to block incoming shipments. China's steel exports dropped by 3.5 per cent in 2016 to 108 million tonnes, still about as much as Japan produces in a year. advertisement Japan is also monitoring its small volume of imports for signs of dumping, fearing that steel products with nowhere to turn because of import restrictions may head to it own market. Also read | Why a degree in international law will upgrade you "All trade need to be fair. If there are trades that violate the rules, we will take necessary actions while consulting with our government," Kosei Shindo, chairman of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, told a news conference on Friday. But in an environment where a new U.S. president is threatening to tear up trade treaties and impose import duties in the world's biggest economy, Tokyo may be at risk of helping to set off a trade war it is trying to avoid. "We may see a battle of trade litigations especially after Trump takes the helm in the U.S.," said Kazuhito Yamashita, research director at Canon Institute for Global Studies. --- ENDS --- Barcelona (AFP) - Spain voiced alarm Monday as the US White House's Spanish-language website vanished after Donald Trump came to power, saying removing it was "not a good idea" in a country with millions of Hispanics. But White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer later eased concerns, saying the website was merely being updated. "We are continuing to build out the website both in the issue areas and in that area," he told reporters in response to a question over when the Spanish version of the site would be running again. "We have got the IT folks working overtime right now to continue to get all of that up to speed and trust me, it's going to take a little more time but we are working piece by piece to get that done." Earlier, Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis had expressed concern over the sudden disappearance of the website. "We believe it is not a good idea to give up on such a communication tool, given that this is a country with 52 million Spanish speakers," he said. Spain's government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo added to his concern, saying that Spanish had "helped bring together the multicultural North American society for centuries." According to the US Census Bureau, the Hispanic population has now reached close to 57 million -- the largest minority living in the 320-million-strong country. Many are from Latin America, and around 13 million are thought to have voted in the November election -- a majority for Trump's Democratic Party rival Hillary Clinton. Trump has offended many Latinos with his harsh rhetoric and tough stance on immigration. Part of his electoral platform had proposals widely considered anti-Latino, including proposing to deport millions of undocumented migrants in the country, the bulk of whom are from Latin America, and building a wall on the US border with Mexico. And for the first time since 1989, the president's cabinet will include no Hispanics under Trump. President Maithripala Sirisena ordered an investigation Monday into alleged insider trading at Sri Lanka's central bank that has heightened tensions between him and his prime minister. Sirisena announced he was setting up a special panel to probe the February 2015 bond sales to a relative of the then governor, a hand-picked appointee of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. "I will appoint a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry this week to investigate the central bank bond issue and recommend actions," the president said in a brief statement on his website. The announcement came a day before parliament was due to debate a report by lawmakers who in October recommended the criminal prosecution of former central bank chief Arjuna Mahendran. While parliament has no powers to instigate prosecutions, the presidential commission could set the stage for criminal charges. When Mahendran's tenure ended in June last year, Sirisena denied him an extension and overlooked Wickremesinghe's alternative candidate, causing more friction within their troubled ruling alliance. A Singapore national of Sri Lankan origin, Mahendran was accused of leaking inside information to his son-in-law's firm, allegedly allowing it to make millions of dollars in profits from central bank bond auctions. Mahendran has consistently maintained his innocence. He has begun working as a senior advisor to Wickremesinghe since being removed from his top post at the central bank by the president. Sirisena came to power in January 2015 after he defected from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and secured the support of Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP). The UNP formed a coalition with a section of Sirisena loyalists within the SLFP as August 2015 parliamentary elections did not give an absolute majority to any single party. The two top men have had several clashes over economic policy, with Sirisena publicly accusing the government in October of using the police and anti-graft institutions to further the UNP's political agenda. There was no immediate reaction from the government to Sirisena's announcement. Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews is to fly home from South Africa after twisting his ankle during the second Twenty20 international and will be replaced as captain by Dinesh Chandimal, selectors said on Monday. The Sri Lankan board said in a statement that Mathews had been "granted permission to return home" after injuring himself during his team's victory on Sunday in Johannesburg, a match in which he played a starring role. "The next T-20 match will be captained by Dinesh Chandimal," the board added in its statement. Mathews hit two sixes in the last over to hand Sri Lanka a series-levelling three-wicket win in Sunday's match after suffering a 3-0 Test series whitewash to South Africa. Mathews, who scored an unbeaten 54 at the Wanderers stadium, told the post-match press conference that he expected to be out for a couple of weeks and could well miss the rest of the tour. The third and final T20 international will be played in Cape Town on Wednesday, followed by five one-day internationals, finishing on February 10. In its statement, the Sri Lankan board said that fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep and opener Dhanuskha Gunathilaka were also expected to return home as they needed rest to recover from their injuries. ALBANY, Ga. (AP) -- A tornado warning on television sent Anthony Mitchell, his pregnant wife and their three children scrambling for what little shelter their mobile home could provide. They crouched in a hallway as the twister started taking their home apart piece by piece. "The windows exploded, the doors flew off the hinges, the sheet rock started to rip off the walls and fly out the windows," Mitchell said. "The trailer started to lift up. And about that time a tree fell on the trailer, and I think that's what held the trailer in place from flying away." An unusual midwinter barrage of tornadoes and thunderstorms over the weekend was blamed for at least 20 deaths across the Deep South. Among them were three people killed at Big Pine Estates, the mobile home park in Albany where the Williams family lives. A twister slammed into the southwestern Georgia city of 76,000 people on Sunday afternoon, carving a path of destruction a half-mile wide in places and leaving the landscape strewn with broken trees and mangled sheet metal. Few of the roughly 200 homes at the trailer park escaped damage from the tornado, which was rated by forecasters as at least an EF-2, meaning it packed winds of 111 to 135 mph. In addition to the three dead at Big Pine Estates, a fourth body was discovered at a home just outside the trailer park. Mitchell lost his home and marveled that he didn't lose his life, too. "Something helped us walk out the front door of the house," he said. "There's some people who weren't fortunate enough to have a front door to walk out of." Georgia reported 15 deaths Sunday, and four people died Saturday in Mississippi. In northern Florida, a woman died after a tree crashed into her home in Lake City as a storm passed through. The National Weather Service said 39 possible tornadoes were reported over the weekend. The agency sent out teams to examine the damage and confirm how many of the storms were twisters, which can happen any time of year but are far more common in the spring and early summer. Story continues A day after the violent weather passed, search crews looked for people and pets in the Albany trailer park, stepping over tree limbs and ducking under splintered pine trunks as they went from home to home. One team discovered a terrified dog in a smashed-in trailer, where it had spent the night. Authorities said the pet owner's fate was unknown. In rural Cook County, about 60 miles southeast of Albany, Aretha Allen prayed aloud in front of the First Baptist Church, where a shelter was set up after a possible tornado destroyed about half the homes at the Sunshine Acres mobile home park. Allen said her niece, 41-year-old Lawansa Perry, and the niece's brother both lived there, and she drove out to try to help them after hearing the park had been hit. "We were looking, looking," Allen said, "but couldn't find them." The coroner later confirmed seven people were found dead at Sunshine Acres. Authorities said the victims included the niece and her brother. "They died in the storm trying to save her grandchildren," she said, adding the children survived. "I know they've gone on to Jesus." At Sunshine Acres on Monday, crews with cadaver dogs checked the wreckage a second day for anyone dead or alive. But the dogs found nothing, and authorities said owners would finally be allowed back Tuesday on those destroyed and damaged lots deemed safe. Devocheo Williams, 29, said his home was demolished the day after he moved in. "The whole trailer park was gone in 15 seconds," Williams said, describing a funnel cloud that appeared to loop back around and hit the neighborhood a second time. "It looked like a ball of fire was going 100 mph." Williams said he saw a little girl picked up by the winds and tossed into a ditch. Nearby, the girl's mother and a baby were trapped in rubble. He said he helped dig them out. Not everyone could be saved. "I was walking by dead bodies of little kids and grown people," Williams said Williams and others left homeless by the storm huddled Monday at the First Baptist Church in Adel, a rural community of about 5,300. Residents turned out in force to help the victims. The church quickly collected an abundance of donated clothing and toiletries. Volunteers cooked free meals for survivors and emergency workers. "We have turned away more people that just wanted to help because we just can't put them down here," said Brent Exum, chief investigator for the sheriff's department. Dennis VanBrackle, 75, and his wife, Sylvia, stopped by the church with a checkbook in hand. "Both of us physically can't do a lot," VanBrackle said. "We want to do what we can." ___ Farrington reported from Adel, Georgia. AP writer Russ Bynum contributed to this report from Savannah, Georgia. ___ This story has corrected the last name of Aretha Allen. Sarah Rafferty didnt forget to greet her Suits co-star and longtime friend Gabriel Macht on his 45th birthday. On Sunday, Jan. 22, Rafferty gave Macht a birthday shoutout on Instagram by posting a photo of him hugging a little girl, who appears to be her youngest daughter, Iris Friday. Macht plays Harvey Specter on Suits, while Rafferty portrays Harveys secretary and sometimes love interest, Donna Paulsen. The two actors had been friends for a long time prior to landing their roles on the USA Network legal drama. Just a week ago, Macht shared in an Instagram post that he has been friends with Donna for more than two decades. Macht and Rafferty met in 1993 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. We go back 20 years and our daughters are best friends, Macht told Blast Magazine back in 2012. We are really, really, really close friends. Weve been to each others weddings. As a matter of fact, Rafferty revealed to Icon Vs. Icon that Macht was one of the reasons why she got to audition for Suits. He was the one who gave me the script, Rafferty said. He had [already] been cast as Harvey [at the time]. [So] knowing that I would have the chance to work with him was a huge incentive. He is such a wonderful actor and someone I trust so much. Macht has been married to Bloodline actress Jacinda Barrett since 2004. The couple has two kids together: daughter Satine Anais Geraldine, 9, and son Luca, 2. Barrett also greeted her husband a happy birthday on Instagram. See her post below: Suits Season 6 returns to USA Network from its four-month hiatus on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 10 p.m. EST. Check out the synopsis and trailer for the winter premiere (Season 6, episode 11), titled Shes Gone, below: Harvey and Louis (Rick Hoffman) and Donna plan for a future without Jessica; Mike (Patrick J. Adams) adjusts to life as an ex-convict; Rachel (Meghan Markle) considers her options. Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty Photo: Getty Images/Joe Scarnici Related Articles The Delhi Police submitted that the nine accused refused to have received the notices sent to them. By Ilma Hasan: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the nine accused of assaulting missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, to decide whether they want to consent for the lie detector test. This came in light of submission by the Delhi Police that the nine accused refused to have received the notices sent to them. The accused were repeatedly asked to appear in front of the Delhi Police to record their consent for lie-detector test. Developments in the case: The court was hearing the matter of the Habeas Corpus petition filed by Fatima Nafees, Najeeb's mother. Advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing Sunil Pratap Singh, one of the nine accused, submitted to the court that it cannot compel the accused to undertake the lie detector test. The court responded that the notice was merely to ask them to either agree or disagree to take the lie detector test, so that the investigation can proceed. On the argument that Qasim, Najeeb's roommate, must also be subjected to a lie detector test, the court said that Qasim has "gone one step ahead" and agreed for a lie detector test, provided the 9 accused also do. On the other hand, Fatima Nafees' lawyer Colin Gonsalves argued that the police need to put rest the theory that Najeeb was mentally ill. The lawyer also raised the issue of the two former students, accused in assaulting Najeeb, not having their homes searched for want of local Delhi addresses. Following this, the court then asked the police to ensure that their homes were searched immediately with the help of sniffer dogs. Following the proceedings, JNU Students' Union President Mohit Pandey said, "If the nine accused from ABVP are innocent, why are they refusing consent for the lie-detector test? Why are they refusing to receive even the notices by the crime branch? Najeeb has been missing for over three months now and the ABVP by not cooperating is deliberately derailing the investigation." advertisement Also read: Rohith Vemula's death anniversary: Over 20 JNU students detained for staging Insaaf March --- ENDS --- Washington (AFP) - The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider an appeal by Texas to revive strict voter-identification requirements that a lower court had ruled were discriminatory. Enacted by the state's Republican authorities in 2011 and considered one of the strictest such laws in the United States, it required voters to show one of seven types of official ID. It allowed concealed handgun licenses and military ID cards, but not certain forms of federal identification and student ID cards. Critics say the law was aimed at discouraging African-American and Hispanic people from voting. They tend to vote for Democrats. A federal appeals court ruled in July that the Texas statute violated federal law, which bars racial discrimination in elections. Texas then sought to bring the case before the Supreme Court. But the country's top court declined to add the case to its calendar, letting stand the 2016 decision. However, the conservative Chief Justice John Roberts issued a note explaining why the court refused to hear the case, saying that litigation is continuing in lower courts and that the Supreme Court could still consider an appeal in the future. Other developments in the case are ongoing, including a federal court's pending decision about whether the Texas authorities aimed to discriminate by passing the law instead of doing so inadvertently. The Justice Department under former president Barack Obama originally challenged the 2011 law, together with civil rights groups and individual voters. However, President Donald Trump's new administration may choose to back the banned measure. Hours after his inauguration on Friday, the Justice Department requested the delay of a hearing on the ongoing part of the case. It was originally set for Tuesday. The United States has seen a number of minority voting restrictions despite the outlawing of racial discrimination under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The conservative-led Supreme Court struck down parts of the landmark civil rights law in 2013. The move prompted legislation in a number conservative states that critics say has been designed to marginalize African-American and Latino voters on the pretext of fighting electoral fraud, despite there being virtually no evidence of such violations. The Supreme Court on Monday morning cleared the way for the new Trump Administration to switch the governments position if it wishes to do so to allow states to enforce strict photo ID requirements for Americas voters. The Justices did so, without any noted dissents, in refusing for now to hear an appeal by Texas officials seeking to defend the strictest such law in the nation. The Courts action, which included a separate comment by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., will send the Texas case back to a federal trial judge in Texas who is making a new review of the constitutionality of the state law. There, the Trump legal team is due to file, by February 28, its own view on that question. If, as seems likely, it follows the lead of many Republican leaders, it could join Texas defense of the state power in dispute. That would be a direct switch of the federal governments view up to now. The Obama Administration has vigorously opposed the Texas law and other similar state laws that it believed violated the rights of black and Latino voters by making it harder for them to cast ballots. The case in Texas thus has become the highest profile case on that broader political and legal controversy The Supreme Courts brief order denying review of Texass current appeal offered no explanation, but clearly did not have the legal effect of upholding lower court rulings that the photo ID law violates the federal Voting Rights Act or that there is a serious question about its constitutionality under the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments. Chief Justice Roberts, in a separate two-page opinion that offered only his own views, suggested that the denial was based mainly on the premise that Texass appeal was premature. Roberts stressed that, after further proceedings in lower courts, state officials would be free to defend the photo ID requirement under both the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. The case thus seems highly likely to return to the Justices in the future. Story continues It is not a coincidence that the Trump legal team will have an early opportunity to put forth its own views on the Texas law. A hearing on the next phase in the case had been scheduled for tomorrow in a federal District Court in Corpus Christi. But, last Friday, within hours of President Trumps inauguration, lawyers for the federal Justice Department asked for and got a delay of that hearing until February 28, specifically to give the new Administration time to formulate its own legal position. The February 28 hearing will be held before the same federal trial judge who earlier had ruled that the Texas law violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and was unconstitutional on the premise that it intentionally discriminated on the basis of race against minority voters. The appeal by Texas officials that the Justices turned aside this morning sought to challenge both of those findings. The case will now move toward a new ruling by the Corpus Christi judge. Chief Justice Roberts commented on Monday that the issues will be better suited for Supreme Court review after there is a final decision in the lower courts. The Corpus Christi judge, Nelva Gonzales Ramos, has not yet issued a final decision on how Texas could comply with Section 2 of the 1965 law, and the constitutional issue is still open in her court because her finding on that point is being reconsidered on orders from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Section 2 of the 1965 federal law bars state and local governments from enforcing election laws that limit the right of minority voters to take part in elections. A violation can occur even if there is no proof that the impact was adopted with the specific aim of discrimination; the law is violated even if a reduced opportunity to vote is only a practical effect, regardless of the lawmakers intent. Judge Ramos ruled that the Texas law would have the effect of diminishing the right to vote of perhaps 600,000 Texas minority voters who do not have a photo ID of the limited kind that the law permitted. The judge put into effect, for the November election, a temporary measure for affected voters. Still pending before her is a final ruling on a remedy. In asking the Supreme Court to hear its protest about that part of Judge Ramoss decision, the state urged the Justices to rule that a law does not violate Section 2 unless there is specific proof that it actually had the effect of reducing minority voter registration or minority voter turnout at the polls. Both Judge Ramos and the Fifth Circuit Court had refused to adopt that restriction on the laws scope. If the case returns to the Supreme Court, Texas can again challenge that view of Section 2. Judge Ramos, in finding that the Texas law was unconstitutional, had relied on a lengthy history of racial bias in voting in the state. The Fifth Circuit Court, while declaring that there was significant evidence of such discrimination, concluded that the trial judge had relied on some findings that were either out of date or otherwise weak. That is why the Circuit Court returned the constitutional issue to her for a new look. Both sides have filed new legal briefs on that point. In its appeal to the Supreme Court on that point, the state of Texas had contended that the Fifth Circuit Court should have rejected that claim outright instead of returning it to Judge Ramos for a new analysis. After Judge Ramos finishes on that constitutional point, she is expected to issue a final remedy order, and the case could return to the Fifth Circuit Court before going to the Supreme Court again. Even if the Trump Administration were to switch positions on the case, civil rights groups and minority voters who had challenged the laws validity are almost sure to continue with their challenge as the case unfolds further. They had been closely allied with the Obama Administration in testing the laws validity. Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and he has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily When presidential inaugurations go very, very wrong Kushners appointment brings attention to anti-nepotism law 10 famous people who received presidential pardons (Reuters) - Eight people, including three children, were injured when an SUV crashed head-on into two Amish buggies traveling on a country road in northeast Ohio, authorities said. The sport-utility vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane and crashed into the Amish buggies on Sunday morning, the Ohio Highway Patrol said. The SUV drove off the road into a wooded area. The two drivers and five passengers were thrown from the buggies, according to the highway patrol. They were transported to local hospitals, as was the driver of the SUV. Those traveling in the buggies ranged in age from 55 to 2-years-old. One of the buggy horses was killed while another suffered minor injuries. The highway patrol was investigating the crash, but neither drugs or alcohol appeared to be factors. The descendants of 18th-Century German immigrants, the Amish are concentrated in rural Pennsylvania and Ohio. They eschew many modern technologies, including automobiles and most electronic devices. Tuscarawas County, around 60 miles (96 km) south of Akron, Ohio, bills itself as the gateway to Ohio's Amish country, on its website. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) ZURICH (Reuters) - Requests for asylum in Switzerland plunged by nearly a third to around 27,200 last year after authorities closed the Balkan land route used by thousands to flee hot spots in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, the SEM migration agency said on Monday. It forecast around 24,500 people would seek asylum this year but cautioned this could rise to 32,000 depending on the flow of refugees via the Mediterranean and whether a deal Europe struck with Turkey to hold back migrants held up. In December alone, requests for asylum fell 64 percent from a year earlier, bringing the full-year drop to 31 percent after the Balkan route was interrupted in March and Swiss authorities took a tough line on the border with Italy last summer. Neutral and landlocked Switzerland got just a fraction of the roughly 1.3 million requests for asylum across Europe last year as countries continued to process the wave of people that arrived in 2015, SEM said in a statement. People from Eritrea made the most Swiss asylum requests last year, followed by citizens of Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Iraq. Of the nearly 31,300 requests processed last year, almost 23 percent were granted asylum, SEM said. The ratio of people receiving protection was nearly 49 percent including those given provisional permission to stay in Switzerland temporarily. Switzerland took in 621 people last year under a U.N. refugee agency resettlement program launched in 2015, and 368 people under a European relocation scheme for refugees who had registered in Greece or Italy. (Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Toby Chopra) Representatives of the Syrian government and rebel groups were scheduled to come together in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday, in the latest attempt to broker a peace deal in Syria, where the six-year civil war has killed more than 300,000 people. The talks jointly hosted by Russia, Turkey and Iran feature a notable absence: the U.S., Bloomberg reports. The American ambassador to Kazakhstan is merely observing the negotiations. Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Kremlin-backed research group the Russian International Affairs Council, told Bloomberg, The center of gravity in the Syrian conflict is moving away from great powers to regional players. He reportedly cited the role of Turkey and Iran, along with rebel-backers Saudi Arabia and Qatar in resolving the conflict. Read More: The Damascus Suburb That Could Be the Next Key Front in Syrias War The talks follow a shaky cease-fire brokered in December by Russia and Turkey, in the wake of the rebels defeat in Aleppo, that has mostly remained intact. Earlier cease-fires brokered by the U.S. and Russia, by contrast, had quickly collapsed. Faysal Itani, an analyst with the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C., told Bloomberg that the sidelining of the U.S., which he described as marginal to the war, would not prevent the Turks and the Russians coming to and implementing an agreement. [Bloomberg] Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - Peace talks with Syrian rebels and the war-torn country's government got off to a rocky start Monday, while Washington said President Donald Trump was open to joint operations with Russia against Islamic State jihadists in Syria. The Syrian rebels' representatives vowed to keep fighting if peace negotiations with the government of President Bashar al-Assad fail, as the first day of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana ended with no apparent breakthrough. Monday's meetings, organised by key players Russia, Turkey and Iran, could have marked the first time armed rebel groups negotiated directly with the Assad regime since the conflict erupted in 2011. But the rebels backed out of direct talks because of the regime's continued bombardment and attacks on a flashpoint area near Damascus. However, they took part in indirect talks with the government and held a three-way meeting with Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, an encounter rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi described as "long and productive". "If the negotiations succeed, then we are with the negotiations," another rebel spokesman Osama Abu Zeid told AFP early on Monday. "If they don't succeed, unfortunately we'll have no choice but to continue fighting." - US-Russia coordination -- Meanwhile the Russian army announced on Monday that it had carried out joint attacks on Islamic State targets with the United States, a claim swiftly denied by the Pentagon. The commander of the Russian air force contingent in Syria on Sunday "received from the American side... the coordinates of IS targets in Al-Bab, in the province of Aleppo," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement. "Two Russian air force planes and two planes of the (US-led) international coalition carried out air strikes against terrorist sites," destroying arms and fuel dumps in the "joint operation", the ministry said. Story continues The US defense department denied the Russian claim but later Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters in Washington that the new US president is open to conducting joint operations with Russia to combat the Islamic State group in Syria. "If there's a way we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it's Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we'll take it," Spicer told reporters. The negotiations in Kazakhstan's capital come amid a rapprochement between regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey, who have come to fill the vacuum left by months of US disengagement from the conflict. Trump's administration was invited to participate in the talks but did not send a delegation. Washington is instead represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan, while France and Britain also sent envoys. A member of the rebel delegation told AFP that the group would agree to seeing Russia as a guarantor of the current ceasefire but not Iran, another Assad backer. Aridi told reporters the "two sides are working on issues relating to the confirmation of the ceasefire" brokered last month by Ankara and Moscow. "It's not been a bad day," a Western diplomat told AFP. "The delegations met, made presentations." - Diverging goals? - Several rounds of failed talks in Geneva saw political opposition figures take the lead in negotiating with the regime. But in Astana, the 14-member opposition delegation is composed solely of rebels leading the armed uprising, with members of the political opposition serving as advisors. The initiative has been widely welcomed, but the two sides arrived in Astana with apparently divergent ideas on their aim. Chief rebel negotiator Mohammad Alloush said in his opening statement that the opposition was focused on bolstering the nationwide truce, while Assad has insisted rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal. "We came here to reinforce the ceasefire as the first phase of this process," Alloush said in comments broadcast online. "We will not proceed to the next phases until this actually happens on the ground." Damascus has also called for a "comprehensive" political solution to a conflict that has killed more than 310,000 and displaced more than half of Syria's population. The head of the regime delegation, Syria's UN ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari, said in his opening comments carried by the country's SANA state news agency that he hoped the talks "will reinforce the cessation of hostilities". He added the government was keen to separate the rebels from IS and former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front. Previous pushes for a long-term ceasefire have faltered, with both sides trading accusations over violations. Although Russia and Turkey back opposing sides, they have worked hand-in-hand in recent weeks to try to secure an end to the brutal war and forged a partnership likely to be tested in Astana. Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - Syrian rebels have vowed to continue fighting if talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in the Kazakh capital Astana fail, a rebel spokesman said Monday. "If the negotiations succeed, then we are with the negotiations," rebel spokesman Osama Abu Zeid told AFP. "If they don't succeed, unfortunately we'll have no choice but to continue fighting." The comment comes after the rebels refused to take part in face-to-face negotiations in a first session of talks with the regime. It was unclear whether the rebels could take part in direct negotiations with the regime at a later session in Astana. The opening session of the Astana talks could have marked the first time the armed rebel groups engaged in direct negotiations with Assad's regime since the conflict erupted in 2011. Rebels have said that the talks -- organised by regime backers Iran and Russia and rebel ally Turkey -- are meant to bolster a frail truce brokered by Moscow and Ankara last month. The regime meanwhile has pushed for a "comprehensive" political solution to the conflict, with Assad insisting that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal. More than 310,000 people have been killed and more than half of Syria's population displaced since the start of the nearly six-year conflict. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian refugee children in Lebanon are struggling to get an education and many are being pushed into work or early marriage instead, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF said on Monday. Around 187,000 youngsters - roughly half the school-age Syrian children in the country - are not going to classes, the agency said, as it launched a documentary on their situation. "Poverty, social exclusion, insecurity and language barriers are preventing Syrian children from getting an education, leaving an entire generation disadvantaged, impoverished and at risk of being pushed into early marriage and child labor," said UNICEF Lebanon Representative Tanya Chapuisat. After nearly six years of war, more than half Syria's people have fled their homes, including more than a million to Lebanon. One boy in the documentary, 14-year-old Jomaa, told UNICEF he had forgotten how to read or write since dropping school and taking up $2-a-day job. Mohamad, aged 11, said he had not been to school since arriving in Lebanon four years ago, and his parents had sent him to work. Abeer, aged 13, said she left Syria six years ago and no longer went to classes because there was no safe transport to take her. To view the documentary, click here: http://imagineaschool.com/ (Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Tom Perry and Andrew Heavens) By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a "self-proclaimed Chief Justice of Indian politics", the BJP today said as it accused him of denigrating credibility of the Election Commission and the voting process by his bribery remarks. "Kejriwal wants to be Delhi Chief Minister on odd days, Punjab Chief Minister on even days and Goa Chief Minister on holidays. But, now when his desire to become Chief Ministers of three states at the same time has shattered, he is frustrated and saying all this," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said. advertisement The Aam Aadmi Party supremo had stirred up a hornets nest during an election rally in Goa earlier this month where he had asked people to accept money offered by the political parties, but vote for AAP only. By asking voters to accept bribe, Kejriwal is instigating the people towards corruption, against which his entire politics is based, Patra told reporters here. "Kejriwal, a self-proclaimed Chief Justice of Indian politics who also has a constitution bench of corrupt ministers, has again and again repeated his bribery remarks. By doing this he is not only denigrating the credibility of Election Commission but also the entire voting process," he said. The EC had later censured him for his reported remarks in poll-bound Goa, saying his statement amounted to abetting and promoting electoral offence of bribery. But despite the ECs notice, the Delhi Chief Minister had reportedly reiterated his bribery remarks. Meanwhile, earlier today, the AAP convener in a letter to EC claimed that his remarks were aimed at containing graft and sought a review of its order to allow him to repeat the comments. PTI JTR KIS --- ENDS --- By Suleiman Al-Khalidi ASTANA (Reuters) - A Syrian opposition delegation to peace talks set to open in the Kazakh capital on Monday said it would only discuss ways to salvage a fragile Russian-Turkish ceasefire it sees as having been violated chiefly by Iranian-backed militias in Syria. The Syrian government considers most of the rebel groups attending the conference to be foreign-backed "terrorists", but says it is ready to engage in talks with armed groups that surrender their arms and enter reconciliation deals. Mainstream rebel groups under the banner of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) have rejected these terms, saying their goal is to end President Bashar al Assad's rule through a U.N. backed political transition process. "We will not enter into any political discussions and everything revolves over abiding by the ceasefire and the humanitarian dimension of easing the suffering of Syrians under siege and release of detainees and delivery of aid," Yahya al Aridi, a spokesman for the opposition delegation, told Reuters. "The Syrian regime has an interest in diverting attention from these issues. If the Syrian regime thinks our presence in Astana is a surrender by us, this is a delusion," he added. The 14-member team has taken no decision on holding face-to-face talks with the government delegation after the start of the conference, he said, adding that it was likely to be via intermediaries like the previous U.N.-backed Geneva conferences. "There are complications when you are going to face those who entered your country and continue to kill you, and a regime that has not abided by a ceasefire and continues with its policy of destruction and killing its people," he said. The Syrian government has long denied using its aerial superiority to bomb civilians in rebel-held areas in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands. U.N. investigators have also accused both government and rebels of committing war crimes during the conflict. The delegation, which faced enormous pressure from regional backer Turkey to attend the talks branded a sellout by other rebel groups, was meeting round the clock to decide whether to attend the opening session, where it would be in the same room as Syrian government representatives. A senior opposition negotiator, Osama Abu Zaid, told Reuters the opposition hoped Russia would play a role in reining in Iranian-backed militias whom it blames for trying to help the Syrian army. "Either Russia succeeds in this task and becomes a real guarantor and curbs these militias, or else the ceasefire deal will collapse with the continued Iranian-backed attacks led by Hezbollah and Shiite militias on Syrian territory," he added. The opposition has been disappointed by what it calls Moscow's inability to fulfill its role as deal guarantor and put pressure on militias led by Lebanon's Hezbollah group, saying this threatens to wreck the ceasefire deal brokered in December. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi|; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban has called on President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the "quagmire" of Afghanistan, saying that nothing has been achieved in 15 years of war except bloodshed and destruction. In an open letter to the new U.S. president published on one of its official web pages, the insurgent movement said the United States had lost credibility after spending a trillion dollars on a fruitless entanglement. "So, the responsibility to bring to an end this war also rests on your shoulders," it said. So far, Trump has had little to say publicly about Afghanistan, where some 8,400 U.S. troops remain as part of the NATO-led coalition's training mission to support local forces as well as a separate U.S. counter-terrorism mission. Two of his top security appointments - retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as Secretary of Defense and former General Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser - both have extensive experience in Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, warned Trump against relying on the kind of "unrealistic" reports presented to former presidents by their generals, saying: "They would emphasize continuation of war and occupation of Afghanistan because they can have better positions and privileges in war." The United States would not accept foreign forces on its territory or even in a neighboring country, said the Taliban. It accused Washington of imposing a "surrogate administration" on Afghanistan in the face of popular Muslim resistance. "You have to realize that the Afghan Muslim nation has risen up against foreign occupation," it said. The Taliban has made steady inroads against the Western-backed government in Kabul since coalition forces ended their main combat mission in 2014, with government forces now in control of only two thirds of the country. It has repeatedly urged the United States and its allies to leave Afghanistan, ruling out peace talks with the Kabul government while foreign forces remain on Afghan soil. Trump has sharply criticized past U.S. administrations for their handling of conflicts in the Muslim world but he has also pledged to eradicate militant Islamists around the globe. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Gareth Jones) Despite a tense confirmation hearing, the Senate is poised to confirm former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to become the nations top diplomat a prospect that had agitated some GOP hawks due to his longstanding business ties to Russia. On Monday, hours before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee prepared to vote on Donald Trumps pick, Sen. Marco Rubio, announced his plans to support the Texas oilman, eliminating the last GOP holdout standing in Tillersons way. The Florida Republican voiced serious concerns about Tillerson during his confirmation hearing, repeatedly chastising him for refusing to use derogatory terms like war criminal or human rights violator to describe the leaders of Russia and Saudi Arabia. The comments raised the prospect that the man once belittled by Trump as Little Marco during the GOP primaries might seek revenge. But that wont be happening, Rubio said in a statement on Facebook. Given the uncertainty that exists both at home and abroad about the direction of our foreign policy, it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy, Rubio said. Therefore, despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillersons nomination in committee and in the full Senate. Because no Democrats have announced support for Tillerson and Republicans only outnumber Democrats by one on the Senate Panel Rubio had the power to tip the vote against Tillerson. But his decision, followed by a joint announcement by Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham on Sunday that they would also support Tillerson, virtually guarantees that he will clear votes in the committee and the Senate floor. In their joint statement, McCain and Graham said that remarks Tillerson expressed privately during the confirmation process demonstrated that he will be a champion for a strong and engaged role for America in the world. Tillerson also ruffled feathers in remarks he made about Chinas island-building in the South China Sea. The former Exxon chief pledged to block Beijing from some areas in the strategic waterway, which would mark a major change in the U.S. position on the issue and raised questions among policy experts as to whether he had made a gaffe. In Beijing, state media warned that any such measures would prompt a devastating confrontation and a military clash. The 64-year-old oil magnate was an outside-the-box pick for a secretary of state given his lack of government experience, but fit the mold for Trump who has been eager to place iconoclasts in his cabinet. Democrats seized on his business dealings in Russia and concerns that when he represented ExxonMobil, he was at times at odds with U.S. policy, such as when he argued against imposing sanctions on Russia for its incursion into Ukraine or cutting oil deals with the Iraqi Kurds while sidelining Baghdad. It didnt help that in 2012, the Kremlin gave Tillerson the Russian Order of Friendship. But while Democratic opposition to Tillerson appears strong, Republicans are clearly wary of challenging the president on one of the earliest appointments of his presidency. The Senate, in a bipartisan 66-32 vote, confirmed Mike Pompeo to be the next CIA director. More here President Trump signed an executive order Monday to withdraw the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). More here Were tracking the news stories of the day below. All updates are in Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5). Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) An elected town official in Rhode Island faces criticism for tweeting that the women's march was a man's idea because it's the "perfect way to get the wives outta the house." Sean Todd, a Republican, is vice president of East Greenwich's town council. He quickly deleted the tweet about Saturday's nationwide post-inauguration march and apologized. Some town residents say they plan to speak during the public comment portion of a council meeting Monday an "outtathehouse protest." One of the organizers, Hilary Levey Friedman, says Todd's apology is appreciated, but many people want to voice their displeasure over the tweet. She leads the town's Democratic committee. Todd says the tweet was meant as a joke but was in poor taste. Several thousand people attended the Providence rally. TORONTO (AP) -- A Wall Street tycoon who advises U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday "things should go well for Canada" if the new U.S. leader reopens the North American Free Trade Agreement, noting that Canada has a balanced trade relationship with the United States. Stephen Schwarzman, who leads Trump's economic advisory group, met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet in Calgary, Alberta, as Canada braces for a renegotiation. Canada is an export-driven economy and 78 percent of Canada's exports go to the U.S. The chief executive of the Blackstone Group investment firm said Canada has "special status" and is well positioned for talks. He said other countries have large trade unbalances and markets that aren't as open to American trade as Canada's. "I don't think he should be enormously worried," Schwarzman said of Trudeau. "Canada is held in very high regard. We have balanced trade between the U.S. and Canada and that's not the kinds of situation where you should be worrying." He said trade between U.S and Canada is a model for the way trade relations should be. He said there might be some modifications, but there is a low risk of collateral damage if Trump targets Mexico if a renegotiation of NAFTA. "The amount of commercial linkages, cultural linkages with Canada are such that some people are not aware that it's not a part of the United States," he said. "I know that's not appreciated here but there's a sense of enormous connection." David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the United States, has said he doesn't think Trump has Canada in his sights and that bilateral agreements outside of NAFTA are a possibility. He noted Canada is the largest trading partner for 35 states. By Jonathan Landay and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michael Flynn, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for national security adviser, held five phone calls with Russia's ambassador to Washington on the day the United States retaliated for Moscow's interference in the U.S. presidential election, three sources familiar with the matter said. The calls occurred between the time the Russian embassy was told about U.S. sanctions and the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he had decided against reprisals, said the sources. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing internal U.S. government deliberations about the issue. The calls raised fresh questions among some U.S. officials about contacts between Trump's advisers and Russian officials at a time when U.S. intelligence agencies contend that Moscow waged a multifaceted campaign of hacking and other actions to boost Republican Trump's election chances against Democrat Hillary Clinton. On Dec. 29, U.S. President Barack Obama announced he had ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats suspected of being spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups. The administration told Russian Ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, an hour before the decision was made public, one of the sources said. The phone calls between Flynn and Kislyak were first reported by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. A Trump official confirmed one phone conversation between the two men on Dec. 29, and said their understanding was they did not discuss the sanctions. The three sources stressed to Reuters that they did not know who initiated the five calls between Flynn, a former three-star Army general who headed the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama, and Kislyak. Nor did they know the contents of the conversations, and declined to say how they learned of them. One source said there was nothing intrinsically odd or wrong about a Russian diplomat speaking to a member of Trump's team following the U.S. announcement. Moscow, the source added, probably would want to have some sense of what Trump's team thought about the measures. Story continues That sentiment was echoed Friday by State Department spokesman Mark Toner. "This building doesnt see anything necessarily inappropriate about contact between members of the incoming administration and foreign officials," Toner said. TIMING The other two sources, however, said the timing of the calls raised a question about whether Flynn had given Kislyak any assurances to soothe Russian anger over the U.S. moves. If that were the case, it would have raised a possible entanglement with the Logan Act. The 1799 law bars unauthorized U.S. citizens from negotiating with foreign governments with which the United States has disputes. It is aimed at preventing the undermining of official U.S. government positions. Alexey Mosin, a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Washington, said: "The Embassy does not comment on multiple contacts, which are carried out on a daily basis with local interlocutors." Flynn raised eyebrows among some U.S. foreign policy veterans when he was pictured sitting at the head table with Putin at a banquet in Moscow in late 2015 celebrating Russia Today, an international broadcasting network funded by the Russian government. However, Flynn has also expressed skepticism about Moscow's intentions - a view that does not seem to fit Trump's vision of closer ties with Moscow. Classified documents that the heads of four U.S. intelligence agencies presented last week to Trump included unsubstantiated information compiled by a private security firm suggesting Moscow had compromising personal and financial details about Trump. Trump called a dossier that contains salacious claims about him in Russia "fake news" and "phony stuff." One of the sources said the U.S. actions "took the Russians by surprise." Russian officials threatened to shutter the Anglo-American School of Moscow, the source said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed tit-for-tat expulsions. But on Dec. 30, Putin announced that he would not retaliate. Trump praised Putin for the decision, writing in a Twitter post, "Great move on delay (by V.Putin). I always knew he was very smart!" Trump spokesman Sean Spicer earlier Friday said Flynn and Kislyak had spoken on Dec. 28, the day before Washington announced the expulsions and sanctions. But a Trump official acknowledged later in the day that they held one conversation on Dec. 29 about setting up a telephone call between Trump and Putin after Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was aware of only one phone call between the two that day and did not know if they spoke again since. After the Nov. 8 election, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency that the Russian government was in touch with members of Trump's political team during the U.S. election campaign and knew most of his entourage. At a news conference on Wednesday, Trump declined to answer whether anyone connected to him or the campaign had contact with Moscow during the campaign and said he had no loans or business deals with or in Russia. White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Friday said it remained unclear whether such a call between Flynn and the Russian ambassador would be objectionable . "It depends on what they discussed," Earnest told reporters. He said he could not weigh in without knowing the content. (Additional reporting by Warren Strobel, Emily Stephenson, Ayesha Rascoe and Susan Heavey; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Grant McCool) By Press Trust of India: By Meraj Bhat Jaipur, Jan 23 (PTI) A work of literature has something "special" to offer and conveys more meaning than other art forms such as a painting or a piece of music, according to renowned writer and politician Shashi Tharoor. Tharoor, who has authored 15 best selling books of fiction and non-fiction, said there was no department of life, public or private, which was not effectively influenced by literature. advertisement "Good literature is the attempt to capture the human condition in a way that can be shared with other people and understand it. I believe every policy, every public political issue is either reflected in people depicted in literature or is influenced by readers awareness," he told PTI in an interview. The Congress MP, who is attending the Jaipur Literature Festival here, feels that a painting cannot convey as much as a book. "It is difficult to imagine that a piece of music alone can convey as much as a passionate or polemical work of literature. I think a work of literature has something special to offer, more details to offer than any other single piece of art form," he said. The 60-year-old author, who is holding strong, both to his words and his charm, said an ideal writing situation was when nothing mattered more than the writing itself. "The ideal writing situation is when you are so completely immersed in what you are writing that other things like your dressing, your shaving, your eating become totally irrelevant. When I wrote An Era of Darkness, it was very much like that," Tharoor said. Admired for his great learning, Tharoor said he was an "indiscriminate" reader and reads at least a dozen books a year. "Im an indiscriminate reader but not a copious one. I still manage to read at least a dozen books a year, but that is nothing compared to what I would have have been able to. "Before my children were born, my wife and I were very easily reading four to five books a month," he said. (MORE) PTI MRJ TRS BK --- ENDS --- Ottawa (AFP) - A senior economic advisor for US President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet on Monday that Canada should not fear the trade intentions of the new American administration. Speaking at a retreat in Calgary to map out Ottawa's demands in a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Trump advisor Stephen Schwarzman said Canadians should not be "enormously worried" about the protectionist rhetoric coming out of the White House. Trump pledged on the campaign trail to secure a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico or, failing that, ripping up the 1994 trilateral trade pact. But Schwarzman, who is also head of the investment firm Blackstone, said this and other proposed measures, such as a "border tax" on imports, are not aimed at Canada. "Canada has been a great partner for the US for as long as anybody can remember," Schwarzman said. "There may be some modifications, but basically, things should go well for Canada... It's a model for how trade relations should be, it's a positive sum game. Canada is well-positioned." Trump has regularly assailed China and Mexico on trade and vowed to reclaim manufacturing jobs lost overseas. The US president's son-in-law and senior White House advisor Jared Kushner was reportedly expected to travel to Calgary on Tuesday to speak with Trudeau and his team. But a spokesman for Trudeau said the visit would not occur. "We can now confirm to you that no other officials from the US administration, beyond Mr. Schwarzman, will be present here at the retreat," Trudeau spokesman Cameron Ahmad said. "A high level of engagement between our government and the US administration certainly continues," he added. White House spokesman Sean Spicer, meanwhile, told reporters that Trump would meet with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts in the next month. "He's already spoken to both the president of Mexico and prime minister of Canada about his desire to renegotiate, and I think as he meets with both of these individuals over the next 30 days or so, that's going to be a topic," Spicer said. "Now, if they come in and express a willingness to do that, you could negotiate it within the current parameters and update it through the existing structure," he said. "If they don't, and he decides to pull out, we would have to go back to the drawing table in the future." Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump will sign a decree Monday that effectively ends US participation in a sweeping trans-Pacific free trade agreement negotiated under former president Barack Obama, CNN reported. The action would be the new president's first move to make good on a campaign vow to scrap the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which he denounced as a "job killer" and a "rape" of US interests. The agreement, seen as a counter to China's rising economic influence, was promoted by Washington and aimed to set trade rules for the 21st century. Although signed in 2015, it has not yet gone into effect. It was signed by 12 countries -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Brunei -- that together represent 40 percent of the world economy. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a big supporter of the accord, has said that TPP without the United States would not make sense. The extraordinarily nationalistic tone of President Donald Trumps inaugural address on Friday surprised many Americans who are used to hearing presidents use that particular moment to deliver hopeful remarks about a kind of national greatness that extends beyond simple self-interest. However, the bluntness of Trumps America First vision of the countrys relationship with the rest of the world and his call for total allegiance to the country -- presumably the country as he believes it should be -- probably didnt come as much of a shock to people who had been paying close attention to the stump speeches of candidate Trump, or even his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in July. Related: Trump Outlines an America First Agenda in a Dark Inaugural Address The inaugural address would also have sounded quite familiar to other listeners, particularly some on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Trumps vision of a United States turned inward is, in many ways, an echo of calls for more nationalism that can be heard right now from the anti-immigrant hard-right National Front in France. It was on display last year, as advocates of the United Kingdoms exit from the European Union, particularly the UK Independence Party, pressed their case. From the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been relentlessly pressing a renewed Russian nationalism. Indeed, appeals to the preservation of national identities have been heard across Europe for years now, particularly in countries that have seen large inflows of migrants, and they often come with a side order of racism and religious bigotry. So it was no real surprise when, on Saturday, the White House dispensed with the fiction that the president wrote Fridays speech himself, and admitted that the words had been heavily influenced, if not outright written, by a pair of his closest aides. One of them is Trumps chief strategist and senior White House counselor, Steve Bannon, a self-professed economic nationalist. Story continues Related: America First: Full Text of President Trumps Inaugural Address A former Goldman Sachs banker who went on to make a small fortune in movie and television production, Bannon took over the right-wing Breitbart News in 2012. The site became an unabashed supporter of Trumps campaign, which Bannon eventually joined himself last August. (Bannon rejects the accusations that Breitbart has become a forum for not just nationalists, but for white nationalists.) Bannons comments in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter late last year, in which he claimed the economic nationalist mantle, could have been the rough draft of part of Trumps inaugural address. The globalists gutted the American working class and created a middle class in Asia, he told reporter Michael Wolff. The issue now is about Americans looking to not get fed over. If we deliver, we'll get 60 percent of the white vote, and 40 percent of the black and Hispanic vote and we'll govern for 50 years. That's what the Democrats missed. They were talking to these people with companies with a $9 billion market cap employing nine people. It's not reality. They lost sight of what the world is about." Its a vision that Bannon has had consistently for some time. In a lengthy question and answer session delivered to a conference at the Vatican in 2014, Bannon laid out his vision of how the world is being realigned by a new political reality in which national identity plays a central role. Related: 8 Steps Trump Could Take on Day One to Remake the Country Look, we believe strongly that there is a global tea party movement, he said, according to the audio of the event obtained by Buzzfeed. Weve seen that. We were the first group to get in and start reporting on things like UKIP and Front National and other center-right. With all the baggage that those groups bring and trust me, a lot of them bring a lot of baggage, both ethnically and racially but we think that will all be worked through with time. Those remarks bear a striking similarity to Trumps inaugural address in their contempt for a globalist worldview and their call for a return to traditionalism and nationalism. They also help explain the deference that the Trump campaign has shown to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Bannon referred to as a kleptocrat, even as he acknowledged his success in rallying the Russian people behind him. I think that people, particularly in certain countries, want to see the sovereignty of their country, they want to see nationalism for their country. They dont believe in this kind of pan-European Union, or they dont believe in the centralized government in the United States. Theyd rather see more of a States-based entity that the founders originally set up where freedoms were controlled at the local level. However, we the Judeo-Christian West have to look at what [Putin is] talking about as far as traditionalism goes particularly the sense of where it supports the underpinnings of nationalism and I happen to think that the individual sovereignty of a country is a good thing and a strong thing. I think strong countries and strong nationalist movements in countries make strong neighbors, and that is really the building blocks that built Western Europe and the United States, and I think its what can see us forward. Related: Trumps Blunders on NATO and Russia Make Our European Allies Cringe The fact that the only specific issue of global concern that Trump mentioned in his inaugural address was the fight against the terror group ISIS can be chalked up to Bannon as well. Trump pledged to unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the earth. In Bannons worldview, the fight against militant Islam is the single biggest threat -- a war of immense proportions -- that takes precedence over things like Russian aggression. [A]t the end of the day, I think that Putin and his cronies are really a kleptocracy, that are really an imperialist power that wants to expand, he said to the audience in Rome. However, I really believe that in this current environment, where youre facing a potential new caliphate that is very aggressive that is really a situation Im not saying we can put it on a back burner but I think we have to deal with first things first. That tracks very closely with Trumps repeated insistence that the US should look away from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and evidence of massive war crimes in Syria, and focus instead on convincing Putin to assist the US in fighting ISIS. At the earliest stages of the Trump presidency, its impossible to know where the former reality television star who now sits in the Oval Office will take the country. But Fridays inaugural address made it pretty clear who will be giving him the directions. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump is committed to providing military assistance to Egypt, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday, after the new Republican leader spoke with counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Trump "underscored the United States remains committed to the bilateral relationship, which helped both countries overcome challenges in the region for decades," Spicer said. Washington's annual $1.3 billion in military aid was briefly suspended under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama in 2013, following the ouster of then president Mohamed Morsi, but was fully reinstated in 2015. Ties have nonetheless been fraught amid disagreements over a rights crackdown and Egypt's support for renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar. Spicer said "the two leaders discussed a visit to the United States in the future," and stressed counterterror cooperation. "The president committed to continuing military assistance to Egypt and working with Egypt to ensure that assistance most effectively supports the Egyptian military's fight against terrorism," Spicer said. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump gets down to work on Monday, signing a slew of executive orders to start rolling out his policy agenda after a tumultuous start put his administration on the back foot. Embarking on his first full week in office, the 45th US president will try to steady the ship, seeking support from lawmakers, business leaders and unions at the White House. Since he was sworn in on Friday Trump's White House has been pilloried for lying to the public about crowds at the inauguration, and the president himself for making a campaign-style speech before a memorial to fallen CIA officers. Some two million Americans poured into the streets for women-led demonstrations, the scale of which were unseen in a generation. "Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly," Trump tweeted angrily on Sunday morning. An hour later, adopting a more conciliatory tone, he noted "peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy." "Even if I don't always agree," he said, "I recognize the rights of people to express their views." Trump aides say the next week will see a steady if not daily drip of executive actions designed to get back to Trump's agenda. Already there have been moves to roll-back President Barack Obama's health care reforms and freeze some regulations in the pipeline. On Sunday Trump vowed to swiftly start renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. But reality has also bitten. A pledge to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has been put on the back burner for now. A Washington group of lawyers and researchers plans to file a federal lawsuit against Donald Trump Monday, alleging that the US president is violating a constitutional ban on accepting payments from foreign governments. In a statement released Sunday the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) said the newly sworn-in Trump was in violation of the Constitution because his business properties abroad operate partly based on goodwill from foreign governments and regulators. Story continues We did not want to get to this point. It was our hope that President Trump would take the necessary steps to avoid violating the Constitution before he took office, CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said. He did not. His constitutional violations are immediate and serious, so we were forced to take legal action. And a petition on Whitehouse.gov demanding that the billionaire president immediately release his tax returns passed 100,000 signatures, the threshold beyond which the White House is supposed to respond within 30 days. - Back on the bike - More quick legal tweaks -- in the form of executive orders -- are expected on immigration and limiting environmental legislation. But more substantive changes will need buy-in from the Republican controlled Congress. On Monday, Trump will host separate meetings with business leaders, unions and members of both houses of Congress. He will also meet the speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan. Tax reform is likely to be high on the agenda. Some in Congress want to lower the corporate tax rate to 20 percent and pay for it by ending tax breaks on imports. That is likely to come up against fierce opposition from big retailers who depend on cheap imports and could well run up against WTO rules. Reform of Obama's health care laws is also likely to be on the menu. Republicans are keen to repeal the law, but are less united on what should replace it. Trump has publicly promised that none of the tens of millions of Americans who obtained health insurance under Obama will lose it. That makes any meaningful changes difficult to pay for. Trump will also need to win support for some of his cabinet nominees who have yet to be confirmed. His picks for the CIA -- Mike Pompeo -- and the State Department -- Rex Tillerson -- now appear to have enough votes in Congress to pass, but others are less certain. But the more urgent task for Trump may be to keep always skeptical establishment Republicans on board the "Trump train." - Dissent in check - Trump's approval rating is around 40 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics average, low for a president just starting out. That could make legislators think twice about toeing the line with an unpopular leader. But Trump's bareknuckle style has also kept dissent in check, with some terrified they will become the object of a presidential tweet that sets off a world of political pain. So far the most willing to thumb their nose at Trump have been senators who have just been re-elected like Marco Rubio and John McCain. On Thursday, Trump will travel to a Republican Congressional retreat in Philadelphia to further build ties. The following day, he will host British Prime Minister Theresa May -- the first White House visit of a foreign leader under the new administration. By Ellen Wulfhorst NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday reinstated a global gag rule that bans U.S.-funded groups around the world from discussing abortion, a move that was widely expected but nonetheless dismayed women's rights advocates. The rule, which affects American non-governmental organizations working abroad, is one that incoming presidents have used to signal their positions on abortion rights. It was created under U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Trump, an abortion opponent, signed the reinstatement directive at a ceremony in the White House on his fourth day in office. Former President Barack Obama had lifted the gag rule in 2009 when he took office. "Women's health and rights are now one of the first casualties of the Trump administration," said Serra Sippel, president of the Center for Health and Gender Equity in Washington. "The global gag rule has been associated with an increase in unsafe abortions and we expect that Trump's global gag rule will cost women their lives," she said. Reinstatement of the gag rule, formally the Mexico City policy, comes just two days after crowds of people marched in cities around the world in a show of unity for women's rights, among them abortion access. While no official estimates were available, organizers said nearly five million people participated. The far-reaching gag rule affects groups getting funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, even if they use separate money for abortion services, counseling or referrals, advocates note. "It is appalling to dictate to civil society groups and health care providers how they can spend their own money and force them to withhold from women critical information about and access to the full range of reproductive health care," said Nancy Northup, president of the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights. The policy puts groups that provide women's health care in an "untenable position," said Brian Dixon of Population Connection Action Fund. Story continues They can either accept the restriction to keep their funding or they can reject the restriction and lose their funding, Dixon said. "Either choice hurts the women that rely on them." Following the rule's inception in 1984, former President Bill Clinton revoked it when he took office in 1993 and former President George W. Bush reinstated it in 2001. "Life-saving global health funding should not be a political football," said Ann Starrs, head of the Guttmacher Institute, a leading reproductive rights group. There is no evidence the rule reduces abortion, she said. "In fact, by targeting funding for overseas family planning programs, it may well have the opposite effect by making it harder for many women to avoid unintended pregnancy, which in turn would increase recourse to unsafe procedures by women who cannot access safe abortion care," she said. (eporting by Ellen Wulfhorst, additional reporting by Steve Holland. Editing by Ros Russell and Belinda Goldsmith; 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) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will discuss ways to expand trade with Britain when British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with him at the White House on Friday, although trade may not be the central focus of their conversation, the White House said. "I'm sure that there will be a discussion of trade ... the degree to which I don't know yet," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Monday. "He's going to have a great conversation about the potential for greater trade with the UK." Spicer added that he did not believe there were currently any plans for the two leaders to hold a joint news conference. Trump, asked in the Oval Office what his agenda was for the meeting, would not go into details, saying only, "I look forward to seeing her." (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Chris Reese and David Gregorio) Donald Trumps executive order ending Americas commitment to the Trans-Pacific Partnership has left U.S. allies like Japan and Australia aghast at the waste of time and effort on what was once a signature and effective policy in the region. His America First refrain in his inauguration speech, with all its suggestions of a widespread retrenchment of U.S resources from the Pacific, was equally disturbing. But they should be at least as alarmed by the contrary indications that Trump is intent on a newly assertive foreign policy in Asia, one more reliant on hard power. That latter vision, especially in combination with the former, is no less dangerous for Americas friends in the region. Consider the testimony offered by Trumps Secretary of State pick Rex Tillerson, former CEO of ExxonMobil, in his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 11, as he warned of a more confrontational South China Sea policy: 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. There are only so many ways the Trump team can go about sending such signals given its vow to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which Americas allies had been hoping the United States would complete. By preemptively eliminating tools like economic statecraft from its foreign-policy toolbox, the Trump administration will be leaving itself with only hard power to counteract Chinas ambitions. That would probably mean an attempted military blockade against the Chinese navy in the South China Sea. But that raises a host of other questions: Is the Trump administration prepared to risk major conflict with China? What costs would they be willing to suffer in a clash far from American shores in Beijings backyard? And would Americas allies welcome such a clash? Tillersons provocative remarks may be a rhetorical gesture, another tenuous red line, or they may signal the beginnings of a far more assertive American policy of containment aimed at curbing Chinas control of the South China Sea. Either interpretation invites peril. Story continues Or consider the peace through strength vision offered by Alexander Gray and Peter Navarro, two of Trumps Asia advisors, on Foreign Policy. They say the president will strengthen U.S. military might in the Pacific by expanding its presence of navy ships. The Asia hawks on Team Trump seem to think that a show of force is necessary to persuade Beijing to relent in its quest for regional domination. However, rather than stabilizing the region, such a strategy will increase the likelihood of a great power conflict between the United States and China. China is likely to believe the United States is trying to contain its rise, a position already popular among the leadership in Beijing. Bereft of trade incentives and heavy on military posturing, a Trump strategy of peace through strength will only empower Chinese hard-liners and increase the chances of a superpower conflict. Partners and allies in Asia look to Washington not just for security but for trade and investment. The two components complement each other as twin pillars of a comprehensive regional strategy. For decades, Washington has pursued a multifaceted approach encompassing both hard and soft power, advancing U.S. interests by diplomacy and the attractiveness of American investment, values, and culture. Hard and soft power are mutually reinforcing. American military strength has protected open sea lanes, guaranteeing freedom of commerce and navigation, while trade ties have justified U.S. military presence, which Asian countries view as necessary for stability and prosperity. Though the Obama administration downplayed the military component of its pivot to Asia, its signature foreign policy aiming to shift attention and resources to the region, it failed to convince Beijing it was anything but a containment strategy. Beyond new defense deals, the administration sought to invest the United States in the incredible growth opportunities of the Asian century. But the failure to pass TPP represents the collapse of the rebalances economic pillar. Trump risks exacerbating this dangerous imbalance. If his advisors are unable to craft a more rounded Asia strategy, including new trade initiatives, the administration would reinforce Beijings suspicions of U.S. intentions. It also would put our Asian partners in an uncomfortable position: Smaller countries dont want to be forced to choose between two competing superpowers. Nor is it clear whom they would select in such a circumstance. At times the inconsistency of various U.S. administrations has frustrated Asian partners. Moreover, each change in administration brings with it new personnel, many of whom are not known to local counterparts and spend years building trust and diplomatic capital. Beijing, on the other hand, presents a more or less consistent face due to glacial political change under a one-party system. Its far easier for America to pursue its interests in the region, and support its allies, when the military and economic components of its strategy go in tandem. Piggybacking on free-trade agreements (FTAs), the Obama administration was able to ink an array of deals on defense cooperation with Asian countries. For example, since Washington and Singapore signed an FTA in 2004, bilateral trade grew by 50 percent in a decade. The two sides signed a strategic partnership in 2012 and further elevated security ties by signing an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2015. Similarly, the Korea-U.S. FTA goes hand in hand with a deep security alliance. Not only the most expansive free-trade agreement yet envisioned, the TPP also represented an on-ramp to a U.S.-Japan FTA, connecting the worlds largest and third-largest economies and further strengthening the two countries strong treaty alliance. Trumps withdrawal of the United States from the TPP marks a huge letdown for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who invested a huge amount of political capital betting on the deals success. It is also a disappointment for American partners such as Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam, which view the United States as a counterweight to Chinas heft. American credibility rests on its ability to follow through on economic and security commitments. As Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, If at the end of it all you let [Abe] down, which next Japanese prime minister is going to count on you not just on trade but on security? Lee also noted the implicit connection between American trade and security commitments: If you are not prepared to deal when it comes to cars and services and agriculture, can we depend on you when it comes to security and military arrangements? Trump so far hasnt offered any new trade initiatives, but his team would do well to come up with some ideas. Without economic statecraft, the United States is a less attractive competitor for Asian countries, which will join alternative trade deals like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which does not include the United States. All too pleased, China is reaping large gains as the United States pulls back. Though not diametrically opposed to the TPP (both deals include Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and Vietnam), the RCEP is nearing completion with some nudging from Beijing. Although Americas friends in Asia might not be as enthusiastic about the comparatively modest RCEP, they support the developing trade architecture out of pragmatism. Lee Kuan Yew, the former prime minister of Singapore, warned of this outcome in 2013 when he told a journalist from the Atlantic, Without an FTA [with the United States], Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the ASEAN countries will be integrated into Chinas economy an outcome to be avoided. Yet Trumps advisors clearly dont see the consequences of being left out of regional trade networks, believing instead that American military can check Chinas growing power. For instance, Gray and Navarro propose a comprehensive arms deal with Taiwan, seeking to strengthen the U.S. security commitment in light of Beijings edge. Analysts in Taiwan warn that Trumps presidency could escalate tensions between Beijing and Taipei, which is already making other countries nervous. Indeed, Trumps demonstrated willingness to toss out the rulebook on the one-China policy, with his phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, has already ratcheted up tensions with Beijing to a level not seen since 1996, when President Bill Clinton sent two carrier battle groups through the Taiwan Strait. The passage of Chinas Liaoning aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait at the end of December was largely interpreted as a stern indictment directed at Taipei and the incoming Trump administration. The carrier group then transited past Okinawa, which hosts more than half of the 50,000 American troops in Japan, into the South China Sea. A simultaneous op-ed appearing in Chinas state-affiliate mouthpiece, the Global Times, warned, If the fleet is able to enter areas where the US has core interests, the situation when the US unilaterally imposes pressure on China will change. From Beijings perspective, a Trump presidency poses grave uncertainties. Military strategists in the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) view Taiwan as a paramount security threat to internal stability, so using the island state as a bargaining chip only empowers hard-liners in the Communist Party and PLA who advocate a more assertive military strategy. Moving more U.S. naval assets into the Pacific will add to Beijings perceptions of U.S. containment while increasing the odds that a minor accident or hostile encounter could trigger armed conflict. One could imagine China deploying underwater submarine detection defenses in the South or East China Sea to monitor U.S. Navy movements. If Washington were to seek to destroy these assets to preempt Chinese primacy or look to extend American military superiority in the region, Beijing would feel compelled to retaliate. Trumps team might then be tempted to think a shocking use of force could deter Beijing from escalating conflict. Its not clear at what point Trump would decide the costs of conflict outweigh the benefits of winning such a clash. Instead of seeking to further militarize the Pacific, Trump and his national security team should think hard about how to buttress security commitments in Asia through trade and enhanced bilateral cooperation. U.S. investment and alliances are the source of our strength in Asia and serve to justify continuing U.S. military presence in the region. But peace through strength is an illusion and an incomplete strategy. By relying only on sticks without any carrots in its confrontation with China, the Trump team is only inviting disaster. Photo Credit: Ron Sachs Pool/Getty Images Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump is open to conducting joint operations with Russia to combat the Islamic State group in Syria, his spokesman said Monday. "If there's a way we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it's Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we'll take it," press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters when asked about the prospect of joint military action in Syria. U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto are scheduled to meet with Trump soon. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said during a White House swearing-in ceremony. "Anybody ever hear of NAFTA? I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA. But we're going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on immigration, on security at the border." Trump has been sharply critical of all recent U.S. free trade agreements, saying they put the United States at a competitive disadvantage, and he applauded the decision of British voters to exit the European Union. Pulling out of NAFTA could be tricky. Republicans in Congress support free trade and could block any move by Trump to pull out of the agreement. NAFTA originally was negotiated by former President George H.W. Bush, and it was implemented by former President Bill Clinton. Former President Barack Obamas response to NAFTA was to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would have imposed labor and environmental rules on the 12 countries participating in the treaty, including Canada and Mexico, but Trump has rejected the TPP as well. Trump has threatened to impose hefty tariffs on any U.S. company that moves operations to Mexico and then imports products back across the border, but such action would violate NAFTA and would need congressional approval. nafta Photo: Daniel Becerril/Reuters Agence France-Presse reported Trump spoke with Trudeau Saturday, discussing bilateral trade. In a statement issued by Ottawa, Trudeau said the discussion centered on areas of mutual interest. The talk came a day after the White House posted a page on its website committing it to renegotiating NAFTA and withdrawing from TPP, which was not approved by the Senate. Story continues If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States intent to withdraw from NAFTA, the White House said. Trudeau said in November he would miss having Obama around because they shared a tremendous amount of values and outlook on the future. In talks with former Vice President Joe Biden last month, Trudeau pledged to work on expanding NAFTA, the White House said. Trump is scheduled to meet Jan. 31 with Pena Nieto, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Saturday, but a date has yet to be arranged for a face-to-face meeting with Trudeau. NAFTA went into effect in 1994. Since then opponents have complained about wage differentials in Mexico that sent U.S. jobs south. The Council on Foreign Relations estimates trade has more than tripled since NAFTAs implementation, going from $290 billion in 1993 to more than $1.1 trillion in 2016. Trump has said renegotiating trade deals will mean the return of factory jobs to the United States, but experts say most of the jobs have been lost due more to technical advances than competition from Mexico. The U.S. currently has free trade agreements with 20 countries. Related Articles Gaurav Tiwari, SP Chindwara, has issued a circular warning of strict action including suspension of SHOs, if anyone working under them is caught taking bribe. By Hemender Sharma: Superintendent of Police of Madhya Pradesh's Chindwara, Gaurav Tiwari has left the station house officers (SHOs) of all police stations across the district scared after he issued a circular warning officers against taking any bribe. Tiwari, who was recently in news after people in Katni took to streets protesting his unceremonious transfer from Katni to Chindwara, has issued a circular telling all the SHOs that they would be held guilty, if anyone subordinate to them is caught accepting bribe by the special police establishment of the Lokayukta. advertisement 1. Tiwari, in this circular, has warned of strict action including suspension, if anyone working under the SHOs is caught taking bribe. 2. Though many in the police force are calling it bizarre, the circular seems to have struck the right chord with the general public at large, who are openly coming out in support of Tiwari. 3. People believe that no junior cop can indulge in corruption without the approval from their seniors. 4. State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh also called it bizarre saying he will talk to the state DGP and get the order cancelled. 5. "What kind of order is this. Can action be taken against the SP for wrongs committed by SHOs? If not, how can he act against SHOs for wrongs committed by juniors," Singh said while talking to India today. 6. It's not just the SHOs, Tiwari also seems to have annoyed the district collector by acting against the liquor mafia in the district. 7. The Chindwara Police, last week seized unaccounted Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and sealed several godowns, thus spreading panic in the liquor lobby, which again is controlled by politicians. 8. The district administration has now written to Tiwari asking the police to hand over the case to the excise department, arguing that the case did not fall within the police jurisdiction. 9. Tiwari is living up to his clean image and has also acted against Hirai Nagar Panchayat president Madhvi Shah, who happens to be the wife of sitting Congress MLA Kamlesh Shah. Tiwari got a forgery case registered against Madhvi Shah and has also directed the concerned police station to arrest her. 10. The local police, on directions from Tiwari, acted on a complaint in which it was alleged that a cheque of Rs 7.15 lakh was tampered and Rs 27 lakhs withdrawn from the Nagar Parishad account. The cheque had the signatures of Madhvi Shah, who is an accused along with several others. 11. Tiwari was shifted out of Katni after he refused to succumb to political pressure in the Rs 500 crore hawala scam in which Small Scale Industries Minister Sanjay Pathak and some top BJP leaders are allegedly involved. advertisement 12. People of Katni had protested his transfer by organising a bandh while the Opposition Congress tried to ghaereo the chief minister's house in Bhopal on the issue. Also read: Madhya Pradesh: Protests in Katni after transfer of SP, social groups call for bandh on Wednesday --- ENDS --- Washington (AFP) - A top military counsel to President Donald Trump is under scrutiny by US counterintelligence agents who have probed the new national security adviser's communications with Russian officials, the Wall Street Journal said Sunday. The paper reported that Michael Flynn, a retired three-star general who was among senior White House staff sworn in Sunday, has come under investigation as part of a counterintelligence examination of communications between Russian government members and Trump's inner circle. Inquiry findings and whether it was still underway remained unclear, the WSJ said. Flynn has raised eyebrows for receiving payment from the Russian broadcaster RT to join a gala celebration in Moscow last year, where he sat at a banquet table with President Vladimir Putin. US reports have also said Flynn telephoned Moscow's ambassador to Washington, Sergey Kislyak, several times the day before Obama unveiled punitive measures over Russia's alleged cyberattacks to influence the US election. Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer has said Flynn had spoken with the envoy on Christmas Day, sending him a text to wish him a merry Christmas and happy New Year. The national security adviser is not formally part of the cabinet but is usually one of the president's most influential counsels. Flynn, a veteran of America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has courted controversy with extreme statements that critics say border on Islamophobia, but has taken a more flexible line on Russia and China. CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed ways to boost the fight against terrorism and extremism on Monday and the new American leader underscored his commitment to bilateral ties, the two countries said. Trump told Sisi in a telephone call he appreciated the difficulties faced by Egypt in its "war on terror" and affirmed his administration's commitment to supporting the country, Sisi's spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement. "The U.S. president also expressed during the call his looking forward to the president's awaited visit to Washington which is being prepared for through diplomatic channels," the statement said. White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing that Trump and Sisi "discussed ways to deepen the bilateral relationship and support Egypt's fight against terrorists." "President Trump underscored the United States remains strongly committed to the bilateral relationship, which has helped both countries overcome challenges in the region for decades," Spicer added. He said Trump indicated he was committed to ensuring that U.S. military assistance to Egypt effectively supports the Egyptian military's fight against terrorism. Trump also commended Sisi for his efforts to deal with Egypt's economic challenges and offered to discuss how the United States could support its economic reforms, Spicer said. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Cairo; additional reporting by Jeff Mason and David Alexander in Washington; Editing by Catherine Evans and Lisa Shumaker) White House press secretary Sean Spicer, holding his first formal briefing with reporters, promised Monday not to lie to the press but complained about demoralizing news coverage. Spicer also said President Trump would soon unveil a Supreme Court nominee and a new plan for battling ISIS, but hedged on a controversial pledge to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Two days after reading an angry statement attacking the media coverage of Trumps inauguration, Spicer spent 78 minutes in a packed White House briefing room taking roughly 60 questions about the new presidents plans and priorities and a few queries about his own role as the governments top spokesman. Our intention is never to lie to you, Spicer said when asked whether he would promise not to deliberately mislead the media. But he complained that the default [media] narrative is always negative, and its demoralizing. Spicer continued, When youre constantly getting told that cant be true, we doubt that you can do this, this wont happen, and thats the narrative when you turn on television every single day, its a little frustrating. Ive never seen it like this. White House press secretary Sean Spicer (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) That was the most detailed description of the mood among White House insiders since the inauguration, and how they and the president they work for process news coverage that they consider unfair. Top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway drew extensive online mockery this weekend after suggesting the White House had alternative facts to counter news reports on the size of the crowds at Trumps inauguration. Spicer himself, at a press briefing on Saturday, provided inaccurate numbers for Metro ridership on Inauguration Day. There are times when you guys tweet something out or write a story, and you publish a correction. That doesnt mean that you were trying to deceive readers and the American people, does it? the press secretary asked. And I think we should be afforded the same opportunity. Story continues By turns cautious and combative, Spicer provided news on several fronts: Trump will nominate a Supreme Court justice in a couple of weeks, the president is open to partnering with Moscow to battle the so-called Islamic State in Syria and he has plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The spokesman also suggested that Trump would make headway on a new strategy for combating the Islamic State during a Friday visit to the Pentagon. But Spicer seemed to hedge on whether Trump will proceed with his campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a pledge that previous commanders in chief have made on the stump, only to abandon once in office. Were at the very early stages of that decision-making process, said Spicer, who refused to predict whether the embassy would be in Jerusalem by 2020. Asked by Yahoo News if the process concerned just when and how to move it, or the fundamental question of whether to proceed, he replied, If it was already a decision, then we wouldnt be going through a process. Congress passed legislation 20 years ago to move the embassy to Jerusalem. But every president since has used his waiver power under the law to hold off, worried that the change would inflame the Arab world. The United States and most other countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv, and official U.S. policy has been that the status of Jerusalem must be decided in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Spicer also declined to rule out sending U.S. troops into Iraq to seize that countrys oil. Trump suggested the idea in a speech at CIA headquarters on Saturday, saying: We should have kept the oil. But OK. Maybe youll have another chance. But the fact is, should have kept the oil. Asked about those remarks, Spicer replied, If were going into a country for a cause, I think that he wants to make sure that Americas getting something out of it for the commitment and the sacrifice that were making. In a separate give-and-take about those comments, the spokesman declined to rule out using military force to take Iraqs oil. Im not going to talk about what we may or may not do. I think the presidents been very clear that he doesnt telegraph taking options off the table, he said. Thats not a good negotiation skill. Thats not how he works. Theres a reason hes been successful at negotiating, is because he does it in a way that doesnt telegraph to people what hes going to take on or off the table. Read more from Yahoo News: By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Monday tapped Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai to head the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which is expected to roll back many of the Obama Administration's telecommunications and internet policies. Pai, a former Justice Department, FCC and Capitol Hill staffer, in December predicted landmark "net neutrality" rules adopted in 2015 would not last. The son of Indian immigrants who grew up in Kansas, Pai said the commission should take a "weed whacker" to unneeded rules and was harshly critical of many FCC regulations imposed during the Obama administration. "During the Trump administration, we will shift from playing defense at the FCC to going on offense," he said in December. "We need to fire up the weed whacker and remove those rules that are holding back investment, innovation, and job creation." Pai will also have a key role in deciding whether to approve or reject or impose conditions on mergers involving cable and telephone companies. In May, Pai opposed FCC conditions imposed on Charter Communication's acquisition of Time Warner Cable. Last week, then FCC chairman Tom Wheeler urged Republicans against dismantling internet access protections that bar service providers from slowing consumer access to web content. Internet providers fear net neutrality rules make it harder to manage internet traffic and make investment in additional capacity less likely. The Republican-controlled Congress is also considering rewriting the net neutrality rules. Pai said in 2015 that consumers would be worse under net neutrality and should "expect their bills to go up, and they should expect that broadband will be slower going forward." Senator Maria Cantwell, a Washington state Democrat, criticized Pai in a letter to President Donald Trump Monday as "not a supporter of the FCCs strong rules to protect an open internet, putting at risk our robust net neutrality rules and the three million internet economy jobs it supports." Under Wheeler, the FCC and major telecom and cable companies have been at odds over a number of big issues in recent years, including tougher broadband privacy rules and a proposal to allow pay-TV consumers to ditch set top boxes. Comcast Corp, AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications Inc, Frontier Communications Corp, T-Mobile US Inc and Charter all praised Pai's appointment in separate statements. "Chairman Pai will work with his fellow commissioners to quickly and decisively put back in place the commonsense regulatory framework necessary to support the presidents agenda," AT&T said. However, advocacy group Free Press President Craig Aaron said Pai "has been on the wrong side of just about every major issue that has come before the FCC during his tenure. Hes never met a mega-merger he didnt like or a public safeguard he didnt try to undermine." U.S. Telecom, an industry trade group, said in a statement it shares Pai's vision for a "future based on a bold but pragmatic strategy to erase the many regulatory barriers impeding the expansion of our nation's communications infrastructure, and the jobs and economic opportunity that depend on it." Pai does not need Senate confirmation as chairman but his current term expires at year end and he will need to be reconfirmed to continue. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli, Bernard Orr) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Monday tapped Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai to head the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which is expected to roll back many of the Obama administration's telecommunications and internet policies. Pai, a former Justice Department, FCC and Capitol Hill staffer, in December said the administration's landmark net neutrality rules adopted in 2015 would not last. Pai, the son of Indian immigrants who grew up in Kansas, said last month the commission should take a "weed whacker" to unneeded rules and was harshly critical of many FCC regulations imposed during the Obama administration. "During the Trump Administration, we will shift from playing defence at the FCC to going on offence," he said last month. "We need to fire up the weed whacker and remove those rules that are holding back investment, innovation, and job creation." Pai will also have a key role in deciding whether to approve or reject or impose conditions on mergers involving cable and telephone companies. In May, Pai opposed conditions imposed by the FCC on Charter Communication's acquisition of Time Warner Cable. Last week, then FCC chairman Tom Wheeler urged Republicans against dismantling the Obama administration's landmark "net neutrality" protections that bar internet service providers from slowing consumer access to web content. Internet providers fear net neutrality rules make it harder to manage internet traffic and make investment in additional capacity less likely. The Republican-controlled Congress is also considering rewriting the net neutrality rules. Pai has vowed to boost transparency at the FCC. Pai does not need Senate confirmation as chairman but his current term expires at the end of the year and he will need to be reconfirmed to continue. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli, Bernard Orr) WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Monday he has selected former Republican congresswoman Heather Wilson of New Mexico to be secretary of the Air Force. Wilson, an Air Force Academy graduate, served as an Air Force officer in Europe during the 1980s and was on the National Security Council staff under President George H.W. Bush during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Now president of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Wilson would be the first Air Force Academy graduate to serve as Air Force secretary if confirmed by the Senate. Trump said in a statement that Wilson's military service and expertise in a range of fields "gives me great confidence that she will lead our nation's Air Force with the greatest competence and integrity." In a statement provided by the White House, Wilson said the United States and its vital national interests "continue to be threatened" and said she will do her best, "working with our men and women in the military, to strengthen American air and space power to keep the country safe." Wilson, 56, graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1982 and later earned masters and doctoral degrees as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England. She served five terms in Congress, where she was a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chaired the House Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence. She also served on the House Armed Services Committee. Wilson collected nearly half a million dollars in questionable payments from federally funded nuclear labs after she left Congress in 2009, the Energy Department's inspector general said in a 2013 report. Wilson failed to provide documentation for the consulting work she did to earn $20,000 a month from the Los Alamos and Sandia national labs in New Mexico from January 2009 to March 2011, the report said. Contractors including Lockheed Martin and Bechtel reimbursed the government for most of the $464,203 paid to Wilson, the report said. Story continues Wilson told The Associated Press in 2013 that the inspector general's report "confirms that the labs were satisfied with my work. The work was done in full compliance with the contracts we signed and under the direct supervision of lab sponsors." New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez called Wilson's selection good news for New Mexico and the country. Martinez, a Republican, said Wilson was instrumental in protecting the state's military bases while in Congress, "and I know she will continue fighting for them in her new position. She will be an incredible asset for the new administration." BERLIN (Reuters) - German industry would take advantage of any trade opportunities in Asia and South America left by a protectionist United States, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday, after President Donald Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). In an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper to appear on Tuesday, he said, "If Trump starts a trade war with Asia and South America, it will open opportunities for us." "Trump must simply recognize that the U.S. economy often isn't competitive, while the German (economy) is," he said, criticizing Trump's threat to impose a 35-percent tariff on German cars imported from Mexico. That, he said, would be counterproductive for the United States. Trump signed an executive order formally withdrawing the U.S. from the 12-nation TPP, following through on a promise from his campaign last year. He called the move a "great thing for the American worker". Gabriel - Economy Minister and leader of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who is expected to run against Chancellor Angela Merkel in September's election - said German industry should remain confident in the face of Trump's moves. Barely 10 percent of German exports go to the United States, Gabriel said, while 60 percent go to other countries in Europe. "You can see the weight of our economic interests," said Gabriel. "Germany should act with self-confidence and not be fearful or servile." "We are a highly successful, technologically advanced export nation with many hard-working people and smart companies." (Reporting by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Louise Ireland) SANAA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Two suspected members of al Qaeda's Yemen branch were killed on Sunday by what local officials believed was a U.S. drone strike. If confirmed, it would be the first such attack since U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office on Friday. The men were killed when a missile hit the vehicle in which they were travelling in southern al-Bayda province, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The United States has conducted dozens of drone strikes throughout President Barack Obama's presidency to combat al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded as one of the global militant group's most dangerous branches. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari, Writing by Katie Paul; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) CBI today arrested a former chairman and four other ex-officials of IDBI Bank along with four former executives of Kingfisher airlines in connection with the Vijay Mallya loan default case. CBI sources said the purported mastermind ex-Deputy Managing Director B K Batra was arrested late in the night and will be produced before designated court in Mumbai tomorrow. advertisement Those arrested include the then Chairman of IDBI Bank Yogesh Aggarwal, former CFO of now defunct Kingfisher Airlines A Raghunathan, they said. Sources said three more former executives of the airlines and three more former officials of IDBI Bank were also taken into custody. Other former IDBI executives arrested by CBI include O V Bundellu, S K V Srinivasan, R S Sridhar, they said. The sources said besides former CFO of Kingfisher Airlines, three more former executives Shailesh Borke, A C Shah and Amit Nadkarni were also arrested. The arrests were followed by searches at 11 places including Vijay Mallyas residence here, three floors of UB towers in Bengaluru, residences of Aggarwal and Raghunathan among others. The arrests have been made from multiple cities. While Raghunathan was arrested in Mumbai, Aggarwal was taken into custody from Gurgaon, the sources said. CBI had registered a case against Mallya, Director of defunct Kingfisher Airlines; the company; A Raghunathan, Chief Financial Officer of the Airlines; and unknown officials of IDBI Bank. The loan was allegedly sanctioned in violation of norms regarding credit limits. The sources said there was no need for the bank to take the exposure outside the consortium. "It was first exposure to the bank. There was no need for the bank to take the exposure outside the consortium when already other loans were getting stressed," a senior CBI official, probing the matter, had earlier said. PTI ABS SKL IKA --- ENDS --- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday denied that it had coordinated air strikes with Russia in Syria, after Russia's defense ministry said the United States had provided coordinates for Islamic State militants. The Russian defense ministry said the Russian military had received coordinates of Islamic State targets near al-Bab, Syria from the "American side" of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the militant group on Jan. 22. "As a result of this joint operation, a number of ammunition depots as well as an area where militants had gathered with equipment, were destroyed, the Russian defense ministry was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. The Pentagon denied that. "The Department of Defense is not coordinating air strikes with the Russian military in Syria," Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman, said. Pahon said the Defense Department had a channel of communication with the Russian military that was solely focused on avoiding collisions in the airspace over Syria. Russia and the United States back opposing sides in the Syrian conflict, with Moscow supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Washington providing backing to some Sunni Muslim rebels. Separately, the United States is also leading an international coalition carrying out air strikes against Islamic State. When asked whether the United States would be open to joint military action with Russia in Syria, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said during a news conference on Monday: "If there is a way that we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it is Russia or anyone else and we have a shared national interest in that, sure we'll take it." President Donald Trump frequently said during his campaign that he wants to work with Russia to fight Islamic State, which holds territory in Iraq and Syria, and other militant groups. (Reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington and Jack Stubbs in Moscow; Editing by Alistair Bell) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two senior Republican lawmakers said on Sunday they would vote to approve President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, despite their concerns over the former ExxonMobil chief's relationship with Russia's president. "After careful consideration, and much discussion with Mr. Tillerson, we have decided to support his nomination to be secretary of state," Senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said in a statement. "Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and (Russian) President Vladimir Putin, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests," said the two senators, veteran foreign policy experts. The Republican-controlled Senate has so far confirmed two of Trump's nominees for cabinet posts but Tillerson, former chief executive officer at Exxon Mobil Corp, has faced criticism from several prominent Republicans because of his close relationships with Russian officials, including Putin. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he was confident that all of Trump's cabinet nominees will be confirmed. Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," McConnell also said the Senate would confirm a Supreme Court justice nominee eventually picked by Trump. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to vote on Tillerson's nomination on Monday, with a full Senate vote coming shortly after. (Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Paul Simao and Jeffrey Benkoe) Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f357825%2f64e848d2-d3bf-4268-b132-c30f0e6e05c7 In their increasingly growing push to lure more drivers to their platforms in India, Uber and its local competitor Ola seem to have irked their existing driver base. SEE ALSO: Ola thinks it has the perfect trick to compete in Uber's fastest growing market Several drivers of both the ride-hailing service have gone on strike in Bangalore today to protest adding more cars to their fleets, claiming its hurting the livelihood of existing drivers. With more drivers coming on board, existing ones are getting fewer rides. On top of that, both Uber and Ola have decreased the quantum of incentives, further hurting the drivers' earnings. In a race to get more customers, both ride hailing services operate at loss-making tariffs and compensate drivers with incentives, which are either based on the number of trips they make during a particular time in a day or the distance they cover. The disruption in Ubers and Olas services today has naturally caused inconvenience to people in Bangalore. In some cases, drivers who werent aware of the protest dropped their passengers mid-way after learning about it. "The biggest pain point in Bangalore is the drive back from the airport," one driver who took part in the strike told Mashable India. "We lose money because of the flat fare," he added, requesting not to be identified. Last month Uber drivers had stopped picking customers from Bangalore airport to protest against the flat fare. Though the strike, the deadline of which remains to be seen, is only being observed in Bangalore, drivers in other cities have also expressed concerns about drop in their earnings and fewer customers. Two Uber drivers told Mashable India over the weekend that the ride hailing services are giving preference to drivers who have purchased cars through their leasing programs. Both Uber and Ola are offering drivers enticing offers including easier leasing from banks, and somewhat affordable deals to lure more drivers to join their fleets. Story continues We strive to be a mobility option for everyone in Bengaluru and we regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver community by a small group of individuals," an Uber spokesperson told Mashable India. "We remain committed to serving the city, ensuring driver partners can continue to access a stable income, while giving riders a convenient, reliable option to get around their city. KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda said on Monday it had returned dozens of former combatants of a Democratic Republic of Congo rebel group to a military camp after they tried to sneak back to their own country in disguise last week. The former fighters, who have been staying in Ugandan camps after years of fighting in chaotic eastern Congo, were picked up in western Uganda. Congo has welcomed Uganda's recapture of the former combatants. The M23 rebels, who once controlled swathes of territory in eastern Congo, fled to Uganda after a combined United Nations and Congolese force crushed their rebellion in 2013. Arthur Timbaganya, a Ugandan regional military spokesman, said about 30 of the 100 or so people detained had turned out to be civilian Congolese refugees who had been staying in various camps. They were handed over to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, while "all the ex-combatants were returned to Bihanga (military camp)," he said. The military has also increased its surveillance of the Bunagana area in southwestern Uganda, a border entry point with Congo, to try to prevent any more attempts by former M23 rebels to re-enter Congo, Timbaganya said. "We put up roadblocks and we're checking vehicles," he said. Any attempt by M23 to revive its rebellion would represent a new source of instability for Congo, where President Joseph Kabila faces mounting opposition after clinching a deal to stay in power beyond the expiry of his mandate last month. On Jan. 15, Congo's information minister, Lambert Mende, said two columns of armed former M23 rebels had entered the country from Uganda before being "dealt with" by the Congolese military. Timbaganya said he did not know why the former M23 combatants had tried to return to Congo, adding that the Congolese authorities probably had a clearer idea. At its peak, M23 controlled Goma, capital of North Kivu province before its defeat and the flight of its fighters to Uganda and Rwanda, where they have been awaiting amnesties. Many other armed groups remain active in eastern Congo. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by George Obulutsa and Gareth Jones) The British government has revealed that Prime Minister Theresa May did know that a test involving an unarmed missile that can carry nuclear weapons had gone spectacularly wrong just weeks before a vote on extending the system's use. The Trident program is Britain's submarine-based nuclear deterrent, which has been in operation since 1994. Construction of a replacement generation is now underway after a parliamentary vote in July 2016 approved an upgrade that is expected to cost the U.K. taxpayer 31 billion ($39 billion). Over the weekend, The Sunday Times revealed that a serious malfunction in the system took place off the Florida coast just weeks before the vote, but was not made public. In what the newspaper describes as the only test of a British missile in four years, the unarmed missile veered off in the direction of the U.S. mainland, the exact opposite of the Royal Navy's intent. In a BBC television interview Sunday, May declined to answer four times on whether she knew about the test firing. Instead, she said: "I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident." As media speculation intensified, a spokeswoman told reporters Monday that the prime minister did in fact know of the failure. "On taking office, the current prime minister was briefed on a range of nuclear issues, including this,"she said. The Ministry of Defense has not denied reports of a bungled test but issued a statement claiming that Trident's "capability and effectiveness . . . is unquestionable". Expanding, the ministry said: "In June the Royal Navy conducted a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew. Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent. We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons." Story continues The U.K has 4 Trident submarines, with one permanently armed and at sea. Correction: The headlines on this story were revised to clarify that the missile was not armed. More From CNBC By Magdalena Mis LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Workers in Britain making clothes for popular high street retailers like River Island and New Look are being paid less than half the minimum wage, an investigation by Britain's Channel 4 television has found. The investigation, due to be broadcast on Monday evening, found Leicester-based Fashion Square Ltd and United Creations Ltd, where the clothes were made, paid their employees between 3 pounds ($3.74) and 3.5 pounds ($4.36) per hour. The hourly rate for the national living wage in Britain is 7.20 pounds ($8.97) for workers 25 years and older. A Channel 4 reporter who was employed by Fashion Square to label clothes for River Island for 3 pounds per hour, recorded one of the bosses saying competition with Asian exporters was the reason the company wasn't paying the minimum wage. "We don't get paid much for our clothes, and we need to compete with China and Bangladesh," Channel 4's Dispatches program quoted the man as saying. "If we pay everyone 10 pounds or 6 pounds then we will make a loss." Fashion Square and United Creations denied to the program makers that anyone at their factories was paid below the legal minimum wage. River Island told Channel 4 it removed Fashion Square from their suppliers' list in February 2016 following two failed audits. The reporter also had a 3.50 pound per hour job at another Leicester-based factory which -- as a subcontractor -- was producing clothes for New Look, said Channel 4. A New Look spokesperson told the Thomson Reuters Foundation the company reduced the number of U.K. suppliers by 80 percent since 2011 in an effort to address potential weaknesses in the supply chain. The company said it terminated their relationship with the company that subcontracted the orders. Channel 4 said the reporter was paid 3.25 pounds ($4.05) per hour by United Creations, Ltd., a factory making clothes for Boohoo and Missguided. Boohoo told Channel 4 it was in talks with United Creations to make sure workers were paid at least the minimum wage, while Missguided said it launched an internal investigation into the allegations. Both Fashion Square and United Creations denied paying anyone below the minimum wage, Channel 4 said. River Island did not immediately respond to requests from the Thomson Reuters Foundation for comment. (Reporting by Magdalena Mis @magdalenamis1, editing by Ros Russell; 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) By Magdalena Mis LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Workers in Britain making clothes for popular high street retailers like River Island and New Look are being paid less than half the minimum wage, an investigation by Britain's Channel 4 television has found. The investigation, due to be broadcast on Monday evening, found Leicester-based Fashion Square Ltd and United Creations Ltd, where the clothes were made, paid their employees between 3 pounds and 3.5 pounds per hour. The hourly rate for the national living wage in Britain is 7.20 pounds for workers 25 years and older. A Channel 4 reporter who was employed by Fashion Square to label clothes for River Island for 3 pounds per hour, recorded one of the bosses saying competition with Asian exporters was the reason the company wasn't paying the minimum wage. "We don't get paid much for our clothes, and we need to compete with China and Bangladesh," Channel 4's Dispatches programme quoted the man as saying. "If we pay everyone 10 pounds or 6 pounds then we will make a loss." Fashion Square and United Creations denied to the programme makers that anyone at their factories was paid below the legal minimum wage. River Island told Channel 4 it removed Fashion Square from their suppliers' list in February 2016 following two failed audits. The reporter also had a 3.50 pound per hour job at another Leicester-based factory which -- as a subcontractor -- was producing clothes for New Look, said Channel 4. A New Look spokesperson told the Thomson Reuters Foundation the company reduced the number of U.K. suppliers by 80 percent since 2011 in an effort to address potential weaknesses in the supply chain. The company said it terminated their relationship with the company that subcontracted the orders. Channel 4 said the reporter was paid 3.25 pounds per hour by United Creations, Ltd., a factory making clothes for Boohoo and Missguided. Boohoo told Channel 4 it was in talks with United Creations to make sure workers were paid at least the minimum wage, while Missguided said it launched an internal investigation into the allegations. Both Fashion Square and United Creations denied paying anyone below the minimum wage, Channel 4 said. River Island did not immediately respond to requests from the Thomson Reuters Foundation for comment. (Reporting by Magdalena Mis @magdalenamis1, editing by Ros Russell; 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) By Edward McAllister BANJUL (Reuters) - He vowed to rule Gambia for "a billion years". But Yahya Jammeh, who ran the nation of 1.8 million for a generation after seizing power in 1994, was forced out by regional military forces this week after refusing to accept his defeat in a Dec. 1 election. True to his reputation as one of Africa's most unpredictable leaders, Jammeh defied deadlines to leave power but then said on Saturday he was stepping down as West African troops closed in. Jammeh denies allegations of torture and killing opponents while in power. But his rule and a flagging economy saw thousands flee across the Sahara and Mediterranean to Europe each year. Hours before Jammeh's announcement, new President Adama Barrow, who was sworn in in neighbouring Senegal last week, dared not believe that his opponent had finally given in. "We are skeptical because he is so unpredictable," Isatou Touray, a senior Barrow aide, told Reuters. The concerted way in which West African leaders rounded on Jammeh after his election defeat showed his isolation, which had worsened as his behaviour grew increasingly bizarre. He claimed to have a herbal cure for AIDS that only worked on Thursdays and advocated slitting the throats of homosexuals. In 2009, he arrested hundreds of people for witchcraft. CHARM AND TORTURE In his earlier years, Jammeh showed glimpses of charm and generosity. When celebrating his 48th birthday in Banjul in May 2013 he saw a street hawker selling peanuts with a child strapped to her back. Without hesitating, he sent an aide over with a gift: $1,000 in cash, double the average annual wage. "He could change a life in minutes," said his former press secretary, Fatou Camara, who witnessed the incident. "When you are close to him, it is impossible to believe the killings." Over time, such incidents became rarer as paranoia set in and Gambia morphed into a repressive police state. That showed itself as he reversed course over his election defeat. "I am not a coward. My right cannot be intimidated and violated. This is my position. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah," he said on Dec. 21 as the diplomatic offensive against him gathered steam. When Jammeh deposed the regime of Dawda Jawara, who had ruled since independence from Britain in 1965, he was welcomed as a fresh start, a quiet man with little education who grew tomatoes and lettuce on his farm. Friends and victims alike say he changed after a coup attempt by a vanguard of the military in 2006. "He could be very jovial and kind and then lose his temper like a mad dog," said Momodou Sowe, 36, an aide to Jammeh between 2003 to 2012. Musa Saidykhan, then editor-in-chief of The Independent newspaper, was arrested shortly after the coup. His paper had reported Jammeh understated the number of people rounded up. Saidykhan was taken to the National Intelligence Agency, next to one of Banjul's white sand beaches. There, in a room Gambians nicknamed the "Crocodile Hole", agents electrocuted his genitals, beat him with batons, suffocated him with a plastic bag and broke his right hand. "They said I write with my right hand and that is what is causing the trouble," he told Reuters. Saidykhan left Gambia after his 22-day ordeal and is now a social worker in the United States. As the economy struggled from lack of investment, Gambians became bolder, expressing dissent even after dozens were arrested for protesting in April and May last year. "The fear began to erode," said Jeffrey Smith, from campaign group Vanguard Africa. "People had had enough." (Additional reporting by Emma Farge and Ed Cropley; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Larry King) The matter of Jallikattu has been hovering over the Centre while animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi has decided to stay mum. By Mail Today Bureau: BJP leader Maneka Gandhi, who has been the most vociferous voice for animal rights in India, has fallen silent on Jallikattu. Many feel that this could be a result of pressure being exerted by the top Central leadership who have already decided to not ruffle feathers in Tamil Nadu anymore. Just five months ago, speaking to the media, Maneka had called Jallikattu a terrible sport. She also said that BJP doesn't need such a sport to win votes. advertisement "Jallikattu is a terrible festival, be consigned to history it is not good, and the BJP has many many more important things to do. They should not try and get votes just through this. It is a very important party, and we have a role to play in Tamil Nadu. We have very intelligent people here, so we should look for good things to promote," Maneka had told. Also read | Tamil Nadu government issues guidelines for holding jallikattu But, BJP was ready to pass an ordinance against the Supreme Court's rule and allow Tamil Nadu to organise Jallikattu, this Pongal. However, the Supreme Court had again in January clearly rejected Tamil Nadu's plea to review its ban on Jallikattu. The developments indicate that Maneka could have been asked to not air her opinions on Jallikattu, as it would contradict the party interest. Her statement in August which meant that BJP does not need jallikattu to make inroads into Tamil Nadu might not have gone down well with the party leaders. The Animal Welfare Board of India has been the main hurdle to the Centre in passing the ordinance pro-Jallikattu. Its Chairperson Major General (Retd.) Kharb was allegedly made to resign on his contradicting views. When Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar came up with a proposal allowing Jallikattu, the AWBI opposed it. Also read | Jallikattu: After streets, protest spills over to railway tracks, 8 trains cancelled --- ENDS --- Miami (AFP) - African-Americans are twice as likely as whites to lose two or more family members by age 30 -- often their mother, father or a sibling -- a factor that may contribute to poorer health over a lifetime, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is described as the first to show "the corrosive effects on black families and communities" of this repeated grief and bereavement. The report was based on 42,000 people whose information was recorded in nationally representative health surveys over the past several decades. It found that whites were 50 percent more likely than blacks to never experience a family member death at all by age 65. But blacks were 90 percent more likely than whites to experience four or more deaths in the family by age 65. Black Americans are known to die early at much higher rates than white Americans due to a host of reasons, including poverty, crime and lack of health care. But researchers said this toll has never before been explored as a factor in racial health disparities. Losing a parent, or other family member, so frequently "is a unique source of adversity for black Americans that contributes to lifelong racial inequality," said the study, led by researchers at the University of Texas (UT), Austin and Michigan State University. The loss of these important social connections can trigger health problems through stress, financial crises, and instability at home. The study pointed to "substantial literature on bereavement" that shows loss of family members "undermines physical health and increases mortality risk." "The potentially substantial damage to surviving family members is a largely overlooked area of racial disadvantage," said Debra Umberson, a sociology professor who is the director of the UT Population Research Center. "By calling attention to this heightened vulnerability of black Americans, our findings underscore the need to address the potential impact of more frequent and earlier exposure to family member deaths in the process of cumulative disadvantage." New York (AFP) - A US federal judge on Monday blocked Aetna's proposed $37 billion acquisition of rival health insurer Humana, ruling the combination would stifle competition in the health sector. US District Judge John Bates upheld the essential arguments of antitrust regulators who sued to block the deal, saying that combining two of the big five American health insurers would harm consumers. He highlighted consumers in the "Medicare Advantage" program for seniors, an alternative to the federal health-care program, and the three health exchanges in Florida set up under the Affordable Care Act. "The Court concludes that the proposed merger is likely to substantially lessen competition," Bates said in a 158-page decision. "The proposed merger of Aetna and Humana will be enjoined." Aetna, which would be forced to pay $1 billion to Humana if the deal falls through, said it is considering appealing the decision. But the decision to block the merger was applauded by US Justice Department antitrust chief Brent Snyder. "Aetna attempted to buy a formidable rival, Humana, instead of competing independently to win customers," Snyder said in a statement. "Millions of consumers have benefited from competition between Aetna and Humana, and will continue to benefit because of todays decision to block this merger." The decision could be a bad omen for the merger of two of the other big five American private insurers who sought to merge, Cigna and Anthem. A trial was held on the Cigna-Anthem merger with a different judge late last year, shortly before the start of the 13-day trial on Aetna-Humana. The decision comes as President Donald Trump takes initial steps to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Congressional Republicans have said undoing the signature legislation of former president Barack Obama is one of their top priorities. In afternoon trading, shares of Humana gained 1.8 percent to $204.15 and Aetna fell 2.8 percent to $119.08. Meanwhile, Anthem lost 0.5 percent to $149.89 while the Cigna added 0.4 percent to $145.38. Caracas (AFP) - Rivals and allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rallied in the streets Monday as the opposition demanded early elections to oust him over the country's economic and political crisis. It was the first coordinated street demonstration called by the opposition since Maduro launched a crackdown with the arrests of several of his opponents early this month. The protest came amid high tension in the South American oil-exporting country, where food and medicine shortages have sparked riots and looting over recent months. Security forces blocked around 2,000 opposition supporters from marching to the headquarters of the National Electoral Board in Caracas. The area was the scene of scuffles in demonstrations last year but no major incidents were reported on Monday. Similar marches were called across the country by the opposition MUD coalition. "I came because I want elections to be held," said Dora Valero, a 63-year-old retired nurse who marched in eastern Caracas. "It is the best way to get rid of this government that has gotten us into such a bad situation." Several thousand supporters of Maduro dressed in red gathered elsewhere in central Caracas. They defended Maduro and the socialist "revolution" launched by his predecessor Hugo Chavez. "The people are in the street supporting the president," said one demonstrator, Pedro Camargo. "We will not let them end our revolution." - Fears of unrest - The center right-dominated coalition has declared Maduro unfit for office due to his handling of the crisis, sparked by falling prices for Venezuela's crucial oil exports. But the socialist president has overruled all their efforts to hold a vote on removing him from office over the past year. He says the crisis is the result of a US-backed capitalist conspiracy. Monday's allies raised fears of unrest in Venezuela, where anti-government riots left 43 dead in 2014. Story continues "The government is afraid that there will be a chain reaction in the street due to the terrible economic situation, which could create a perfect storm that gets out of its control," said Venezuelan analyst Diego Moya-Ocampos, of research group IHS Markit Country Risk in London. - Elections demanded - Vatican-backed talks broke down last month and show no signs of restarting despite fresh efforts by mediators in recent days. The opposition insists elections are the only way forward. Municipal and regional elections are due this year, but no date has yet been set. The next scheduled general election is set for late 2018, with Maduro's current term expiring in early 2019. That is too long a wait for the opposition. "We want to be able to choose," said the opposition speaker of congress, Julio Borges. "It is up to us to achieve that." The opposition chose a symbolic date for its protest: January 23, 1958 saw the end of a military dictatorship in Venezuela. A Spanish journalist, Aitor Saez, said on Sunday that Venezuelan authorities had deported him when he tried to enter the country to cover the protests for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. He was the latest of several foreign reporters to have reported being turned away from the country in recent months. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Thousands of opponents of President Nicolas Maduro are marching in Venezuela's capital to demand authorities set a date for overdue regional elections. Monday's march coincides with the anniversary of the return of democracy following the 1958 overthrow of dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez. The opposition says Venezuela's democracy is once again at risk due to the government's refusal to allow a recall referendum against Maduro to go forward and the refusal to schedule gubernatorial elections that should've taken place last year. A Vatican-sponsored effort to mediate dialogue between the two sides and help Venezuela overcome a severe economic crisis appears have reached a standstill. In addition to elections, the opposition is demanding Maduro's government free some 100 jailed activists. Pro-government supporters are also marching Monday. White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Monday rejected reports that President Trumps visit to CIA headquarters during the weekend hurt his already troubled relationship with the U.S. intelligence community. On Saturday, Trump gave a freewheeling speech at the CIA while standing before a wall memorializing fallen officers. Among other comments, he ripped the media for downplaying the size of the crowd at his inauguration and boasted that most of the people in the room had voted for him. Former CIA Director John Brennan called the appearance shameful, and CBS reported that the visit was uncomfortable and not welcomed enthusiastically by CIA officials there. Government sources told the outlet that Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan. (the presidents nominee for CIA director), brought about 40 Trump supporters to sit in the first three rows and cheer on the president. But rather than showing excitement, the sources said, many of the CIA employees were shocked and offended that his speech meandered into campaign rhetoric, as the agency considers itself above partisan politics. At a press conference Monday afternoon, Spicer dismissed the report as not accurate at all and compelled people to listen to audio from Trumps visit to hear the excitement that exists there. He was pressed as to whether the people seated in the front rows were CIA employees. Honestly, I dont have a seating chart, he said. I think we had a very small footprint going over. I dont know exactly who went over. I dont know, maybe 10 people at most. He double-checked with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, deputy White House press secretary, who said 10 people traveled over with them. Im not really sure why this matters. Ten people did not yell that loud, he said. Earlier, a journalist asked Spicer if he thinks the media invented the feud between Trump and the intelligence community. Rather than answer the question directly, Spicer suggested that there was no feud. He claimed that CIA employees in Langley, Va., welcomed Trump with a five-minute standing ovation of hooting and hollering. Raw video released by the White House of the presidents speech contains no such footage. Story continues CNNs Jim Sciutto said no one who was there agreed with Spicers version of the event. No one who was there described a "five-minute standing ovation" for Trump as CIA as @PressSec just described Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 23, 2017 Nevertheless, Spicer was pressed again as to whether the feud was a media creation. Trump repeatedly criticized U.S. intelligence agencies in the weeks after the election after they concluded that Russia had meddled in it. Among other criticisms, Trump brought up the intelligence failures leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. After BuzzFeed published a salacious, unverified dossier on Jan. 10, Trump tweeted: 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? Brennan took exception to the remark, prompting Trump to suggest that the then-CIA director had leaked the dossier. But Spicer insisted Monday that Trump was criticizing only the intelligence brass, not rank-and-file officers. Theres a difference between having differences with intelligence leaders and leaders of that community who he has strong differences with than the people and the men and women who toil every single day in our intelligence community. And it was reflected at the CIA, Spicer said. He encouraged others to listen to the audio of Trumps appearance to get a sense of what CIA employees think of him. Spicer said that a thousand people applied to hear him speak in a theater with slightly more than 300 seats, and that about 400 people were accepted. White House press secretary Sean Spicer speaks at the daily briefing Jan. 23. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) That doesnt sound like a huge feud. They were excited. They were clapping. They were cheering when he walked in. And to see reports saying there was some kind of fence-mending that needed to happen it sure didnt look that way when you walked in, he said. Spicer tried to move past the controversy Im going to move on and fielded additional questions on other topics, but the White House press corps returned to it later in the press conference. The White House has been under fire in recent days for its sometimes tenuous relationship with the truth. On Saturday, Spicer held an official event to denounce the press for tweets that supposedly downplayed Trumps inauguration crowd size the day before. But in doing so, he made a number of false statements. Notably, he incorrectly claimed more people attended Trumps swearing-in ceremony in person than any other in history. The following day, Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway told NBCs Meet the Press that Spicer was using alternative facts. Related video: Read more from Yahoo News: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that national security adviser Michael Flynn held just two phone calls with Russia's ambassador to Washington, amid reports that Flynn's communications are being scrutinized by U.S. counterintelligence agents. Reuters reported earlier this month, citing three sources familiar with the matter, that Flynn had held five phone calls with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak on Dec. 29, the day then-President Barack Obama retaliated for Moscow's interference in the U.S. presidential election. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Flynn spoke once by telephone to the envoy - he did not give the date - and discussed four topics. Those included a conference on Syria, a plane crash that killed members of a famous Russian military choir, seasonal wishes and setting up a post-inauguration call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump, he said. On. Jan. 13, Spicer had said that Flynn and Kislyak had spoken on Dec. 28 and suggested the sole topic had been the logistics of setting up an eventual call between Trump and Putin. At the time, a Trump aide had said the one conversation actually had taken place on Dec. 29. On Monday, Spicer said a second call took place three days ago, apparently just before Trump's inauguration on Friday, and dealt with arranging a forthcoming phone call between Trump and Putin. Two of the sources told Reuters earlier this month that the timing of the December calls raised a question about whether Flynn had given Kislyak any assurances to soothe Russian anger over the U.S. sanctions and other moves. The differing accounts of the number of calls could not be immediately reconciled. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Flynn's calls with Kislyak on Dec. 29, as well as earlier calls he held with Russian figures, are under scrutiny as part of probes by the FBI, U.S. intelligence agencies and the Treasury Department into the extent of Russian government contacts with people close to Trump. It is unclear whether the inquiry produced any incriminating evidence or if it is continuing, the newspaper said. The Journal quoted White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders as saying: "We have absolutely no knowledge of any investigation or even a basis for such an investigation." Asked whether there were other calls between Flynn and "members of the Russian government," Spicer replied, "Not that I'm aware of. And when I say that, what I'm saying (is) during the transition I asked General Flynn whether or not there were any other conversations beyond the ambassador and he said 'no.'" Flynn is a retired Army general. A Jan. 6 assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies said that Putin ordered an effort to help Trump's electoral chances by discrediting Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential campaign. (Reporting by Warren Strobel, Jonathan Landay and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Sandra Maler) WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration on Monday opened the door to cooperating with Russia "or anyone else" to combat the Islamic State group in Syria, suggesting it could reverse a previous refusal to coordinate military action with Moscow as long as it backs the Syrian government. "I think if there's a way that we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it's Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we'll take it," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said. Asked if the openness extended to working with Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been condemned internationally for killing civilians, Spicer said, "We're not going to get together with people under the guise of defeating ISIS if that's not truly their guise." He added, "So let's not take that too far." Spicer also suggested that Trump already has told Defense Secretary James Mattis to review how he might change the U.S. approach to fighting the Islamic State. "I think he has ordered it," Spicer said, adding that Trump would discuss the matter with Mattis during a visit to the Pentagon Friday. "At that time, he will continue to have conversations about what he wants from them and the joint chiefs," he added, referring to the military service chiefs. During the more than two years that President Barack Obama directed U.S. military action against IS in Syria, he resisted Russian overtures to coordinate military action. Obama believed Moscow was acting counter to U.S. interests by propping up Assad, whose government Obama called illegitimate. The Pentagon has maintained a hotline with the Russian military to deal with the narrower issue of avoiding air accidents in Syria. With Trump in the White House, Moscow seems eager to draw the new administration into closer military cooperation, perhaps reflecting Trump's frequent statements during the presidential campaign that he welcomed opportunities to improve relations with Moscow. Story continues On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the U.S. had provided targeting information for a joint airstrike against Islamic State fighters in Syria. But Pentagon officials flatly denied the Russian assertion. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, chief spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad, called the Russian statement "rubbish." At the Pentagon, a spokesman, Maj. Adrian J. Rankine-Galloway, said the U.S. military is not providing targeting information to the Russians or coordinating air operations with them. Trump has not yet spelled out how he will change the U.S. approach in Syria or Iraq. During the campaign he said that as president he would ensure the Islamic State's quick defeat. At CIA headquarters over the weekend, he repeated his campaign assertion that the U.S. had erred in not taking control of Iraq's oil as compensation for having ousted President Saddam Hussein in 2003. "If we kept the oil you probably wouldn't have ISIS because that's where they made their money in the first place," Trump said. "So we should have kept the oil. But, OK, maybe you'll have another chance." Asked what Trump meant, Spicer said, "We want to be sure our interests are protected. We're going into a country for a cause. He wants to be sure America is getting something out of it for the commitment and sacrifice it is making." By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight called up Pravind Kumar Jugnauth to congratulate him on taking over as Prime Minister of Mauritius and both leaders expressed commitment to further strengthen the time-tested and unique relationship between the two countries. Jugnauth thanked the Prime Minister for the telephone call, the PMO said in a statement. advertisement Modi and Jugnauth affirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen the time-tested and unique relationship between India and Mauritius, the statement said. Modi also appreciated the leadership and contribution of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to strengthening the strong bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius. PTI AKK AKK --- ENDS --- President Trump may not immediately reverse the Obama Administration policy that protected young immigrants from being deported, his White House signaled on Monday. The focus is going to be on people who have done harm to our country, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday. During the first press briefing of the Trump Administration, Spicer said on the issue of immigration, the president would prioritize security and criminals in the country illegally when he was asked about the future of the recipients of President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Over 700,000 young immigrants have benefited from the policy. DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers, had been worried in the lead up to Trumps inauguration given his election promise to rescind all of President Obamas executive actions. On Monday, a group of immigration advocates and Democratic Senators called for protections for immigrants from Trump and Congress during an event on Capitol Hill. Under the Obama administration, criminals and those who threatened national security, border security, and public safety were the top priorities for immigration enforcement following a 2014 memorandum from then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. According to Johnsons Department of Homeland Security exit memo, in fiscal year 2016 98% of enforcement actions and 99% of removals aligned with the Obama administration enforcement priorities and some 90% of people who were deported from the interior of the U.S. had been convicted of serious crimes. President Obamas administration also deported more people than his predecessor President George W. Bush. At his first official press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer criticized the apology of a reporter who had apparently made a mistake reporting that the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office at the direction of President Trump. We had a tweet go out about Martin Luther King, Spicer said. Think about how racially charged that is. On Friday, Time magazines Zeke Miller initially reported the bust of King was missing from the Oval Office on Twitter but sent out a correction minutes later, explaining the bust had apparently been obscured by a Secret Service agent. Trump had added the bust of Winston Churchill to the room. Miller then apologized to both his colleagues and directly to Spicer, who wrote on Twitter that he had accepted it. Tweeting again: wh aide confirms the MLK bust is still there. I looked for it in the oval 2x & didn't see it. My apologies to my colleagues Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 21, 2017 But during Mondays press briefing, Spicer suggested that the apology wasnt enough. Where was the apology to the president of the United States? Spicer asked without referring to Miller by name. Where was the apology to millions of people who read that and thought how racially insensitive it was? Where was that apology? Miller, who was in the briefing at the time, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Spicer himself refused to apologize for falsely asserting on Saturday that Trump drew the biggest ever in-person audience for a presidential inauguration. Instead, he insisted that the boast had grouped together both the in-person and worldwide viewers. Story continues I dont see any numbers to dispute that, Spicer said. Id love to see any information that proves that otherwise. We have a right to go out and correct the record, he added. Trump also called out Miller publicly during a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters on Saturday. Spicer then raised the issue later in the day shortly before making the false claim about Trumps crowd size. The retraction was included in a White House pool report about Trumps first few hours in the Oval Office. More from Yahoo News: NEW YORK (AP) Colson Whitehead's latest honor is a thank-you from the country's libraries. Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad" has won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, a $5,000 prize presented by the American Library Association. His novel about a runaway slave and the very real railroad used as a path to freedom has already won the National Book Award and is a finalist for the $75,000 the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. On Sunday, the library association also told The Associated Press that the nonfiction medal was given to Matthew Desmond for "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City." Runners-up, each of whom receive $1,000, included Michael Chabon for "Moonglow" and Zadie Smith for "Swing Time" in fiction, and Patricia Bell-Scott for "The Firebrand and the First Lady" and Patrick Phillips for "Blood at the Root" in nonfiction. The medals were established in 2012 and are sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, along with the library association's Booklist publication and the Reference and User Services Association. Previous winners include Doris Kearns Goodwin, Donna Tartt and Anthony Doerr. Both Whitehead and Desmond have long and ongoing affection for libraries. In a statement emailed through his publisher, Doubleday, the 47-year-old Whitehead recalled being in seventh grade when he visited the Mid-Manhattan branch of the New York Public Library to work on his first-ever term paper, on John Steinbeck. "Libraries have propped me up ever since," he added, "whether it's going to the Schomburg uptown (in Harlem), or hitting up some far-off digital archive." Desmond remembered visiting his local library in Winslow, Arizona as a child and deepening his ties to libraries while a student at Arizona State University. During a recent telephone interview with the AP, Desmond said he had been startled to hear hard truths in the classrooms about economic mobility and racism and sought out the campus library to learn more. Story continues "I was trying to figure out what my country was like," said Desmond, who turns 37 next month and now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "I had come to college believing in a story that if you worked hard the American dream was reachable. And I was confronted with different kinds of stories." Desmond noted that libraries played an important role not just in researching "Evicted" but for some of the people in the book. He spoke of a Milwaukee family in a poor community that found refuge in a "clean and bright" public library. "Libraries are not just places where people go read a book, but places where an immigrant goes to take English lessons and where folks out of a job search for community," he said. "Libraries are on the front lines." Record waves over the weekend snapped a section of the famous World War I-era cement-ship, the S.S. Palo Alto, moored in Californias Monterey Bay. The stormy surf, which reached the record height of 34-ft according to the National Weather Service, broke the section nearest to the shore. It also caused the pier on Seacliff Beach, which was constructed to link the ship to the beach, to temporarily close, ABC7 News reports. The boat was part of an emergency fleet of 24 ships made out of ferroconcrete and commissioned by Emergency Fleet Corportation during World War I, the Washington Post reports. Ferroconcrete, which a mix of concrete and steel, was considered a low-cost material to produce than steel. But by the time shipbuilders completed the 420-ft S.S. Palo Alto, the war was over. Its first voyage was to the Seacliff beach in 1929, where it became an amusement ship, before becoming a fishing pier, then an artificial reef for marine animals. Its disintegration over the years was hastened during winter 2016 storms, that cracked the rear half of the ship open. Here in the Monterey Bay, weve seen very large surf, with very little break in-between, and its that repeated beating down by the ocean that seems to be having the biggest effect on the ship this year, State Parks public safety superintendent Bill Wolcott told ABC7 News. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f357663%2f3f1f1900-75c8-447f-9aca-ca65f8cfe697 On Jan. 21, the world was taken over by women's marches. Or so it seems. While America marched against President Trump, Indian women took to the streets to reclaim their right to public spaces. SEE ALSO: Bangalore's 'Night of Shame': Mass molestation in India's Silicon Valley on New Year's Eve What started as a Facebook thread following the Bangalore mass-molestation on New Year's Eve has now snowballed into a nationwide movement called 'I Will Go Out'. More than 20 Indian cities including the national capital of New Delhi, metros Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, and even smaller towns like Bhopal and Lucknow, witnessed hordes of women across age groups spilling out on the streets with placards and posters bearing strong messages against sexual harassment and gender inequality. Image: TWITTER SCREENGRAB Bengaluru women wont let molesters keep them at home, insist I Will Go Out https://t.co/RQW1vsXEQP pic.twitter.com/egM979piu9 Sabrang (@sabrangindia) January 12, 2017 The protest marches have been organized by a collective of womens rights groups known as I Will Go Out "in solidarity against sexual harassment and misogyny and to reclaim womens right to safe public spaces." The group has been actively using social media platforms to galvanize crowds across the country. The official national poster of #IWillGoOut is up! JOIN US on the streets in YOUR city on the 21st! #YesAllWomen #WomensMarch #India pic.twitter.com/AdhChHJgms I Will Go Out (@iwillgoout2017) January 16, 2017 As more and more women took to the streets, chants of "din bhi hamara, raat bhi hamari" (days and nights both belong to us), "goondagardi nahi sahenge" (we won't tolerate hooliganism) and many hard-hitting slogans echoed in the air. In some parts of the country, the men joined as well. There has been huge support for the movement that seems to have cut across demographic divides. And social media is inundated with live updates from the marches. Women in India say #IWillGoOut. Assert their right to reclaim public spaces. #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/GPAHnpR82L The Filmy Babe (@filmybabemag) January 22, 2017 Delhi women were loud and proud at the #WomensMarch yesterday. And I was proud to be a part of it #IWillGoOut #Delhi #India pic.twitter.com/pAEDGUnDoZ Sunny Mangat (@mangat_sunny) January 22, 2017 Women chant for freedom and demand safety in public spaces at a march in New Delhi on Saturday. #IWillGoOut #WomensMarchDelhi pic.twitter.com/L8qbAhZRRI Nita Bhalla (@nitabhalla) January 21, 2017 Joined the #WomensMarch in Hyderabad to reclaim public spaces and in solidarity with women everywhere. #IWillGoOut because it's my space. pic.twitter.com/AyLoN92dZ5 Natasha Ramarathnam (@nuts2406) January 21, 2017 #IWillGoOut because this is not only the call of the time, but also the call of my soul! @FoundationMf @PRIA_India @iwillgoout2017 pic.twitter.com/WUwiU3l5Qz Akhila Betsy George (@betsyakhila) January 23, 2017 Here's to revolution! BONUS: All over the world nasty women and men hit the streets one day after Trump's inauguration On Saturday, women from all over the globe gathered in cities and towns for the Women's March. While the numbers are still fuzzy, the latest count put the total number of marchers at more than 2 million worldwide. In Washington, D.C., where an estimated 470,000 protested, the mood was joyful and defiant. It was striking to see not only the overwhelming size of the crowd, but to take in just how many of the faces in it were female. While plenty of men did turn out in solidarity, I personally have never seen so many women--of all races and ages--gathered in one place. One early critique of the march was that it was unfocused, with no clear agenda. Then, when the organizers released their platform, it was criticized for being too exclusionary. Yet given the massive turnout, the need for the protest was apparently felt by many, many women. So, what was it that propelled them all out into the streets with witty signs and pink pussy hats? Subscribe to The Broadsheet, Fortune's daily newsletter on the world's most powerful women. I asked marchers in D.C. one question: Why are you here today? Here, in their own words, is some of what they told me: "I just really want to feel respected and safe. I don't want to grow up in a world where I'm not respected for my gender or race or sexual identity." --15-year-old Emma Rice of Richmond, Va. "I feel that women's rights are human rights. I'm here because I'm a woman and a mother and a daughter. I don't want the president to fail, but I want my voice to be heard." --Christina Wisboro, Brooklyn, NY "I'm here to remind people that we are watching and we are going to hold (President Trump) responsible." --Sarah White, Dallas, Penn. "I'm here today to support women, and especially to stop violence against women. It should be the president's job to be an example of uplifting women--other men will follow his example." --Queen Dioni, Silver Spring, Md. and originally from Cameroon Story continues "Feminism is really cool and I want to be paid the same and have the same rights as boys." --Thirteen-year-old Neko Conner, Seattle, Wash. "It's really important for me to take action and not just allow this new administration to do whatever it wants." --Alexis Marvel, Washington, D.C., who arrived at the March very pregnant; her baby is due in nine days. "It was my little boy's idea....I'm teaching my son that his vote matters." --Dalvanie Powell, New York City, NY See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f357556%2f07ad289f-5b47-4cc6-8e50-b9a882420ac1 The Women's Marches that took place all over the world Saturday were about solidarity and activism against the Trump presidency, but they were also a ripe moment for others to come and crash the party. In Sydney, Australia, for example, an unknown group paid to have "Trump" written in the skies, coinciding with demonstrations through the city centre around 12 p.m. SEE ALSO: Yes, Trump watched the Women's Marches, and yes, he tweeted about it The company, Skywriting Australia, told The Guardian it was paid A$4,000 for the job. It said the group were Australian Trump supporters who have so far chosen to remain anonymous. Of course, there were people who didn't appreciate the gesture on social media. Which idiot just wrote "TRUMP" across the sky in Sydney? #Trump pic.twitter.com/8ymIuj49j9 Terry Lynch (@TerryJLynch) January 21, 2017 TRUMP skywriting over Sydney CBD. Fuck this shit you are not our president you pussy grabbing racist idiot pic.twitter.com/7LjjJvde11 Alison (@tudorgrrrl) January 21, 2017 So some marchers decided to return the favour with a gesture of their own that is, a big middle finger right at the sky. Someone decided to write Trump in the sky during the #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/mywaYT2vLb Mary Kate (@_maryjordan) January 21, 2017 Between 8,000 to 10,000 people attended the march in Sydney, according to organisers. The march was one of 160 cities in 60 countries to hold a demonstration, ranging from Washington D.C. to Antarctica. It feels like everything I stand for is under threat, especially after Trump and Brexit. Its nice to gather with like-minded people and come together over the issues that are important. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] No sooner had Donald Trump assumed the mantle of the White House than millions of protesters took to the streets in women-led marches across the world. From Washington to Tokyo, Cape Town to Dublin, the collective turnout smashed initial predictions making it the largest inaugural protest in history. A global movement. Im 14-years-old. I came out today because I think its really important we show were against Trump and his ideas. We should stand up for ourselves. Even though hes not our president I think its important we send a message. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] The world is wary of Mr Trump, hes poised and ready to roll back the years on Womens reproductive rights, his handpicked cabinet of climate change deniers pose a real threat to the future of our planet, oh, and hes a well documented racist, homophobe and misogynist who thinks its okay to grab women by the pus*y. Saturdays protest figures (its thought over 1 million people marched) far exceeded Trumps supporters the previous day. His press secretary, Sean Spicer, lashed out accusing the media of deliberately false reporting, claiming Fridays crowd to be the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period. If Trump has a hard time dealing with the truth of a trivial matter such as crowd size how is he going to handle the big stuff like foreign policy, economy, yknow, that sort of thing. What message are we sending out to future generations if we stand by and allow this bewigged man and his team to insult us with their lies? Im out today to show solidarity for women across the world, particularly in America; theyre in a turbulent period of time with a horrible man leading the country. Theres issues with planned parenthood and female rights, its important we all come down and show our support. Theyre not alone, theyre never alone, I support them, we support them. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] So we marched, even before the alternative facts, because we knew they were coming anyway. We marched in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in America. We marched defensively for our human rights, to protect the progress weve made and ensure it for future generations. We marched for our brothers and sisters in the middle east; against the rise of Islamophobia and racial intolerance in the wake of Brexit. We marched for our NHS, disability rights and the legalisation of abortion in Ireland. We marched because meaningful change can only come from below from healthy, informed, optimistic individuals. We marched because were united and thats exactly what they dont want us to be. Story continues Im here with my fiancee and my son to support not just womens rights but the rights of ethnic minorities and also to make a stand against some of the statements from Donald Trump, because we believe that saying things like that when youre in that kind of position sets a precedent which shouldnt be allowed to stand. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] Over 100,000 people took to the streets in London, in solidarity with the Womens March on Washington. Over 600 sister rallies took place worldwide; our collective numbers too great to be ignored. Chants of love trumps hate and build bridges not walls filled the air. Unity, equality and the spirit of democracy the order of the day. Im scared of what Trump means not just for America but the world. The views that he and his cabal espouse, theyre dangerous for people like me and for women; Im trans, Im also gay and our rights are going to be eroded. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] The feeling on the ground was one of joyful defiance. People brought their children. We celebrated, we commiserated. There was a lot of love. Those feeling frustrated and without agency found solace beyond the blue light of computer screens and clicktivism. We warmed our hearts round the hearth of hope as activists, our message loud and clear: the world is watching Mr Trump, the politics of fear and division have no place in 2017 or beyond. Im here today because Im American. Trump does not stand as my president, I think hes a liar, a cheater and a misogynistic pig. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] So what next? The movement doesnt stop here. President Trump feels hes at war with the media, his chief of staff Reince Priebus, has vowed to fight back tooth and nail every day, and twice on Sunday. So we must keep the dialogue going to dispel future alternative facts, to remind each other were not alone, that united were powerful. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] To keep the good work going the Womens March team have set up 10 actions in 100 days, starting with a postcard to your Senators about what matters most to you. This can easily be interpreted and adjusted for use in any country. The principle is the same everywhere there is no true peace without justice and equity for all. [Photo: Jasmine Jones] Did you take part in a march? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK. Ivanka Trumps brother-in-law was spotted at the Womens March Pink pussy hats unite millions at womens marches around the world By Rajat Rai: Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav Sunday released the Samajwadi Paty's manifesto. However, SP mentor Mulayam Singh Yadav did not attended the event as - according to sources - he was quiet moved and saddened by his long-time colleague Ambika Chaudhary's decision of joining the BSP. Chaudhary, a close confidant of Mulayam and one of the founder member of SP, switched loyalties on Saturday after being denied ticket from his long time Phephna seat in Balia. The declaration was scheduled for 11 am but it started around 12.30 pm after all efforts to rope him to the dais failed. advertisement According to party insiders, senior SP leader Azam Khan went to Mulayam's house adjacent to the party office to convince him to join the mega event. "He was saddened by the treatment meted out to Ambika Chaudhary and other party leaders, who are his and Shivpal's favourite, and denied tickets. That is why he decided to skip the event," said a source close to Mulayam. However, later in the day, when the event got over, Mulayam reached the SP office and held a close-door meeting with Akhilesh. "Azam Khan was also present and the topic of discussion was mainly focused on the distribution of tickets and a probable coalition with the Congress," the source further added.Also read | Akhilesh plans joint Hindu, Muslim pilgrimage in UP Meanwhile, Akhilesh's manifesto mainly focused on carrying forward the promises he made in 2012. This included laptops, expressways and pension schemes. The additions to the fresh (2017) manifesto had some more eyecatching promises that included '1,000 pension to one crore poor people every month, free pressure cooker to rural women, smart phones to students and developing an industrial and tourism arc across the state. "We propose to give 50 per cent discount to women in the staterun buses. Besides, we will be constructing hostels for working women and old-age homes in every district. The Metro will further run in Agra, Kanpur, Banaras and Meerut," said Akhilesh. Besides development, democratic values have been considered as the main base of the manifesto, he added. Also read | Akhilesh Yadav govt plans to sell liquor in tetra packs "Over 1.4 crore people have registered for the Samajwadi Party smart phone?. Agar yehi log aur inke pariwaar ke log hume vote de dein, toh hum full majority ke saath sarkaar banaa lenge," he claimed. Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Akhilesh questioned the central government. "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas ka nara diya gaya tha 2.5 saal pehle? But besides taking a broom and performing yoga, they have done nothing else. It is possible that the Centre announces something in the budget to lure people of UP, but it will not work," said the CM. "At least, tell me (CM) where are your Achchhe Din. People of UP and the entire country are searching for Achchhe Din? At least, we have on our fingure tips the developmental work we have done in the state? can you count even a single one," questioned Akhilesh. advertisement "The PM is promoting phone banking? I have only one question: if it is possible through mobile then why cannot it be done through our Samajwadi Party laptops," he said. Also read | Akhilesh Yadav acts after molested girl sets self on fire --- ENDS --- A Facebook video of police officers high-fiving and greeting demonstrators during the Atlanta March for Social Justice and Women on Saturday has gone viral. The video, posted by the Atlanta Police Department, also shows marchers hugging officers, shaking hands and thanking them as they marched. Read: Creator of Pussyhat Seen at Women's March Says She Wanted Them 'to Be a Symbol for Everybody' For many decades, the City of Atlanta has had a history of peaceful protests and this video is evidence of how our police department has worked to develop a positive relationship with our citizens, the department told InsideEdition.com. Read: Six Police Officers Injured and 217 Arrested During Inauguration Day Protests, Women's March Begins The video has been viewed more than 1.3 million times. Its estimated that 60,000 people attended the peaceful march, police said. Watch: Photographer Snaps Incredible Wedding Photo Of Couple In Women's March Related Articles: A Southwest flight full of people on their way to Washington, D.C.many of which were heading to participate in Saturday's Women's March on Washingtonwere treated to a special in-flight lightshow on Thursday night. At some point along the trip, the regular cabin lights were turned off and the entire plane was basked in a neon pink glow. According to Twitter and Instagram users, the plane erupted into a cheer when the lights changed. The airline announced that this was not a company-wide initiative, but a decision made by the individual flight crew. While we're unaware of details surrounding a specific flight, our flight crews celebrate, commemorate, acknowledge and share in special moments with our customers all the time, a Southwest representative said in a statement. Some of our aircraft are equipped with mood lighting and while this was not a company-wide initiative, at times, our flight crews will adjust the lighting for a customer or group of customers traveling on their flight. For example, in October, one of our flight crews changed the lighting to honor a breast cancer survivor onboard their flight. Check out some of the photos from the pink flight to D.C. Related Articles Beijing (AFP) - Hugo Barra, who caused a sensation in 2013 by leaving Google to become a vice president of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, announced Monday he was returning to the United States for health reasons. Barra, under whom Xiaomi was for a time China's best-selling brand, described his experience as a "spectacular" journey but said it was time to return home for a "new adventure". He did not elaborate. "But what I've realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health," he said in a message on Facebook, without giving details. Beijing and other Chinese cities are notorious for dangerous air pollution. "My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family," he said. Barra said Xiaomi was now well placed to continue its international expansion. The firm, created in 2010, was little known outside China when it recruited Barra to run its international activities. The highly publicised recruitment marked the beginning of its dramatic transformation into an industrial giant. It briefly held the top slot for smartphone sales in China, far ahead of Apple and South Korea's Samsung. At Barra's instigation, Xiaomi also made some overseas breakthroughs, notably in Southeast Asia, Russia, and especially India -- where he achieved $1 billion in annual revenue. Despite his efforts, Xiaomi still depends on the Chinese market for the overwhelming majority of its sales. But it faces strong domestic competition -- including newcomers Oppo and Vivo -- in the low-cost smartphone niche, and its market share continues to decline. In the third quarter of 2016, Xiaomi was fourth with 8.7 of the Chinese market compared to 16 percent a year earlier. This was far behind Oppo and Vivo (about 17 percent each) and China's Huawei (15.7 percent), but just ahead of Apple and Samsung, according to IDC. - France's Jeremie Beyou snatched third position in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race, crossing the finish line four days after record-breaking winning compatriot Armel Le Cleach'h. The Maitre CoQ skipper finished the gruelling solo non-stop race at Les Sables d'Olonne at 1840GMT after 78 days 6 hours and 38 minutes at sea. Le Cleac'h had sealed his place in Vendee Globe folklore on Thursday, crossing the line after 74 days, three hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds. Britain's Alex Thomson of Hugo Boss reached the finish line on Friday with Beyou, 40, completing the podium after being forced to retire in 2008 and 2012. Beyou becomes the fourth skipper to complete the race in less than 80 days after Le Cleac'h, Thomson and France's Francois Gabart, winner in 2012/2013. AFP Washington (AFP) - The US Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into whether Yahoo should have informed investors sooner about two major data breaches, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter. The SEC in December requested documents from the tech company concerning the cyberattacks, the paper reported. US law requires companies that fall victim to such hacks disclose them as soon as they are deemed to affect stock prices. Yahoo announced in September that hackers in 2014 stole personal data from more than 500 million of its user accounts. It admitted another cyberattack in December, this one dating from 2013, affecting over a billion users. Yahoo is in the process of a buy-out by Verizon, which is investigating the cyberattacks' impact on the $4.8 billion deal. The telecom giant plans to acquire Yahoo's core business, namely its online advertising activities as well as websites including Yahoo Mail and Yahoo News. The SEC's investigation is focusing on why it took Yahoo several years to reveal the 2013 and 2014 attacks. However, the agency has not yet decided whether it will file suit against Yahoo, the Journal reported. Yahoo is expected to report its fourth-quarter earnings for 2016 after the market closes on Monday. The data breaches have been a major embarrassment for a former internet star that has failed to keep up with Google, Facebook and other rising stars. Mokha (Yemen) (AFP) - Yemeni government forces captured on Monday the port of Mokha as they pushed to oust Huthi rebels from the Red Sea coastline, an AFP journalist said. Government forces were combing the port, a journalist accompanying the troops said, almost three weeks after the loyalists launched an offensive against the Shiite insurgents and their allies on Yemen's southwestern coast. An official statement said government forces recaptured the whole city, but a military commander in the field told AFP that loyalists were still fighting the rebels on the southern outskirts of Mokha. Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi launched a vast offensive on January 7 to retake the Dhubab district overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait, a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Warplanes and Apache attack helicopters from a Saudi-led Arab coalition have been pounding the rebels in support of pro-Hadi forces, military sources said. The rebel's media arm claimed however that insurgent fighters repelled loyalist troops as they advanced on the village of Jadid, some 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) south of Mokha. More than 150 fighters from both sides have been killed in the battle for the coastline since the government offensive was launched on January 7. Huthis have controlled Mokha since they overran the capital Sanaa in September 2014 and advanced on other regions aided by troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. The coalition mounted a military campaign against the rebels in March 2015 as insurgents closed in on Hadi in his refuge in the southern city of Aden and forced him to seek exile in Riyadh. Loyalists have since drove rebels out of five southern provinces, including Aden. But despite its massively superior firepower, the rebels and their allies still control Sanaa and much of the central and northern highlands, as well most of the 450-kilometre (280-mile) Red Sea coast. United Nations peace envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed visited Sanaa on Sunday for talks and to push a peace plan that would restore a ceasefire and lead to a political transition in the country. Story continues The plan would lead to a political transition under which Hadi's powers would be significantly reduced. Seven ceasefires brokered by the United Nations have failed and UN-backed peace talks have repeatedly broken down. The World Health Organization says that more than 7,400 people have been killed since the coalition intervention began. A UN spokesman has said the civilian death toll alone could top 10,000. Photo credit: AP From Town & Country Update 1/25/17: Malia Obama is getting an early start on her entry into the film business. The former first daughter was spotted at the Sundance Film Festival yesterday, where she took in a screening of Beach Rats at the Yarrow Theater in Park City, according to the New York Post and the Wrap. The indie-film, set on Coney Island, has been described as a "gritty tale of young people adrift." Photo credit: AP Obama, 18, is going to intern with the Weinstein Company this year before she starts college at Harvard in the fall, but the Post reported that her Sundance attendance was not connected to that plan. Update 1/20/17: Malia Obama, the eldest First Daughter, has landed an internship with Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The 18-year-old Obama, who is currently taking a gap year between high school and college, will work out of the Weinstein Company's New York City office in February following her family's vacation in Palm Springs, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She's done previous work in the industry. Obama interned on the set of HBO's Girls in 2015, and also worked as a production assistant on the set of Halle Berry's CBS show, Extant. Democratic fundraiser Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob run the Weinstein Company, which has produced Oscar-winning films like The King's Speech and Shakespeare in Love. (Lion and The Founder are a couple of its current buzzy releases.) It was also reported earlier this week that Obama took a secret, five-day trip to Bolivia and Peru late last year. The educational trek, which Obama underwent with a group of teenagers, was organized by the tour company Where There Be Dragons. Because of America's strained political relationship with Bolivia, the trip reportedly involved a phone call from President Obama to Bolivia's President Evo Morales requesting "his government's cooperation in ensuring discretion and security for his daughter's trip." Story continues [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="What%20Obama%20Is%20Doing%20After%20He%20Leaves%20the%20Presidency" customimages="" content="article.9262"] Original 5/1/16: The presidential daughter is joining the Crimson. Malia Obama, the president's eldest daughter, will head to Harvard University after she finishes her senior year at Sidwell Friends School this spring and takes a gap year, the White House announced this morning. The announcement came after months of speculation over where the first daughter would complete her higher education. As of last October, Malia had toured six of the eight Ivy League colleges (Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale) along with Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley. She'd also visited Barnard, New York University, Tufts, and Wesleyan, according to the Times. She sported a Stanford t-shirt on a 2014 bike ride with her father on Martha's Vineyard (below), sending internet commenters into a frenzy of conjecture that she'd already chosen to attend the same school as former first daughter Chelsea Clinton. (Her dad has expressed his fondness for the university, telling a group at a Palo Alto cybersecurity summer in early 2015, "Let's face it, I like Stanford grads ... I've got to admit, like, I kind of want to go here.") Photo credit: Getty Last September, the president told a group of students in Des Moines, Iowa that he'd encouraged Malia "not to stress too much about having to get into one particular college." "There are a lot of good colleges and universities out there, and it's important, I think, for everybody here to understand you can find a college or university that gives you a great education," Obama said. "Just because it's not some name-brand, famous, fancy school doesn't mean that you're not going to get a great education there. So one is, lower the stress levels in terms of just having to get into one particular school." He also said he hoped she would "be open to new experiences" and not "make your decision based on, well, where are all my friends going so that I can do the exact same things with the exact same friends that I did in high school." It was sound advice for the students in the audience as well as his daughter herself. Earlier this year he talked about what it's been like to watch Malia get ready to depart for college. "It's hard," he said on Ellen. "As Michelle reminds me, our job is to prepare them not to need us and both of my daughters are wonderful people. And Malia is more than ready to leave, but I'm not ready for her to leave. I was asked if I would speak at her graduation and I said, absolutely not because I'm gonna be sitting there with dark glasses sobbing. Yeah she's one of my best friends. It's gonna be hard for me not to have her around all the time. But she's ready to go. You can tell. She's just a really smart, capable person. She's ready to make her own way." Earlier, the president said to a crowd in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that he couldn't talk about Malia's leaving home because just the thought of it made him cry. We can only imaging how emotional the former president might become when he moves Malia into Harvard yard in the fall of 2017. Follow Sam on Twitter. You Might Also Like Tiffany Trump and her older half-sister, Ivanka Trump, maintain a close bond, often spending time together and featuring each other on their Instagram channels. The older first daughter has spoken about her relationship with Tiffany, telling People, Shes my little sister! Ive been close to Tiffany her whole life, and I really love her. ???????? A photo posted by Tiffany Ariana Trump (@tiffanytrump) on Jan 22, 2017 at 1:32pm PST Like Ivanka, the 23-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate has a great sense of style and loves to post images of her looks on her Instagram account. In her latest post, in which she poses in front of the Washington Monument with her half-brother Eric Trump, she wears a sleek navy coat, a bright blue scarf, and patriotic footwear. The label of the $725 lace-up flats that feature the colors of the American flag? Aquazzura the same brand thats currently suing the Ivanka Trump label. The Aquazzura shoe Tiffany wore over the weekend. (Photo: Aquazzura) Luxury Italian footwear company Aquazzura filed a lawsuit back in June 2016 accusing the Ivanka Trump label of copying its designs for three particular shoe styles the Wild Thing shoe, the Forever Marilyn shoe, and the Belgravia shoe. Photos: Courtesy of Farfetch.com, left, and Pinterest, right. While the shoes named in the suit look quite similar, the price point varies dramatically. Aquazzuras Wild Thing shoe retails for $785, and Trumps high-heeled sandal the Hettie stiletto retails for $145. Aquazzura feels its designs are instantly recognizable, so they should be subject to common law protection regarding trade dress, or appearance. The high-end designer also named Marc Fisher, Trumps footwear licensing partner, in the trademark lawsuit, accusing the companies of repeated infringement and deceptive trade practices. The company posted an Instagram shot of its Wild Thing shoe style next to the Ivanka Trump label Hettie stiletto, captioning the image, One of the most disturbing things in the fashion industry is when someone blatantly steals your copyright designs and doesnt care. You should know better. Shame on you @ivankatrump! Imitation is NOT the most sincere form of flattery. #aquazzura #ivankatrump Proud of mine #madeinitaly #italiansdoitbetter. Story continues One of the most disturbing things in the fashion industry is when someone blatantly steals your copyright designs and doesn't care. You should know better. Shame on you @ivankatrump! Imitation is NOT the most sincere form of flattery. #aquazzura #ivankatrump Proud of mine #madeinitaly #italiansdoitbetter ???????????????????????? A photo posted by AQUAZZURA by Edgardo Osorio (@aquazzura) on Mar 4, 2016 at 5:30am PST At the time the lawsuit was filed, Edgardo Osorio, the founder of Aquazzura, insisted the action was not a personal attack. I have nothing against Ivanka Trump, he told Footwear News. Its not only her, and Im glad to [call others out on Instagram also]. I plan to do the same with Steve Madden and other people who have ripped us off. Sometimes I look at the buys in department stores, and I see copies of my shoes. We need to be harder with our retailers. They need to protect us. You cant cannibalize one business with another. Ivanka Trumps label and Marc Fisher have denied the copyright claims. Marc Fishers CFO, Matthew Burris, told Yahoo Style at the time of the filing in 2016: This is a baseless lawsuit aimed at generating publicity. The shoe in question is representative of a trending fashion style, is not subject to intellectual property law protection, and there are similar styles made by several major brands. The lawsuit is without merit, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against the claim. Ivanka Trump Womens Tropica Ballet Flat in navy blue. (Photo: Amazon) Aquazzura has since added a design patent infringement claim to its suit. According to documents obtained by the Fashion Law in November 2016, the companys design patent protection covers its Christy design, which is ironically the style Tiffany is wearing in her Instagram photo. The shoes closely resemble the Ivanka Trump Tropica Pointed Toe Lace Up Flats. It should be noted that lots of other brands, including Steve Madden, Chinese Laundry, and Zara, to name a few, produce similar copycat shoes. Tiffany Trump in her cap and gown after receiving her diploma while wearing Ivanka Trump shoes. (Photo: AP) Funnily enough, Tiffany actually wore the Ivanka Trump version of the shoe in suede to her college graduation in May. Although Ivanka has announced that she is stepping down from her position at her namesake label, the suit is still unresolved. Despite the details behind Tiffanys footwear choice, many people on Instagram commented on how much they loved the shoes. Great picture! Love your heels @tiffanytrump, Julie Sovero commented. Wow I need these flats asap ????????, added jessireds. Yahoo has reached out to Aquazzura for comment and will update when we receive a response. Related: Tiffany Trump Chooses Chinese Designer for Inauguration Related: Women Are Getting Plastic Surgery to Look Like Ivanka Trump Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele exits the Vera Wang show in on September 15, 2015, in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images) Hanne Gaby Odiele is intersex, the model revealed in an inspiring interview with USA Today published Monday. Intersex people are born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads, and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical ideas of male or female bodies, according to the United Nations. Odiele is part of the (up to) 1.7 percent of the population born with intersex traits. Thats about the same percentage of the population that has red hair. Known for her edgy street style and work with fashion houses like Versace, Marc Jacobs, Dior, and Alexander Wang, Odiele was born with an intersex trait known as androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) in which a woman has XY chromosomes more typically found in men, according to USA Today. She also had internal, undescended testes. The fierce runway walker is one of the first high-profile people to reveal their intersexuality. It is very important to me in my life right now to break the taboo, the 29-year-old supermodel from Kortrijk, Belgium, told USA Today. At this point, in this day and age, it should be perfectly all right to talk about this. Her main reason for sharing this, besides normalizing the biological variation, is to shed light on the unnecessary and detrimental procedures practiced frequently on intersex children to try to make their appearance conform to sex stereotypes, according to the UN. I am proud to be intersex, Odiele said, but very angry that these surgeries are still happening. Story continues She speaks from experience. When doctors discovered her undescended testes, they told her parents if she did not have her testicles removed, she might develop cancer and she would not develop as a normal, female girl. Dear #intersexyouth , doctors and parents, Whats up #intersex #StopIGM (Intersex Genital Mutilation) #intersexHanne #intersexy A video posted by Hanne Gaby Odiele (@hannegabysees) on Jan 23, 2017 at 2:07pm PST At 10, she had surgery to remove her testes, which she said she could barely process at the time. I knew at one point after the surgery I could not have kids, I was not having my period. I knew something was wrong with me, she revealed. Then, at 18, around the same time she was first discovered and signed as a model, Odiele underwent vaginal reconstructive surgery an equally distressing procedure. Odiele made a point to clarify that the trauma was caused by the two surgeries, not being intersex, which she said isnt that big of a deal. To help raise awareness and remove the stigma, Odiele will partner with interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth. It is an important part of my life to talk about this, Odiele said. The blond beauty has been more open about her status in the past year with close friends and confidantes, but this is her first public announcement. She isnt worried about the fashion industrys reaction. They will see me as they have before, she said. Nothing should change. And with the direction fashion is moving in, as gender-neutral clothing becomes more popular, she will fit right in a first for her. But thats kind of whats beautiful about the creative world that the fashion industry can be; I didnt have to fit into certain roles, she said. I was able to kind of have a sense of being more of an individual. She wants intersex youth to feel the same way, whether or not they are surrounded by creative people. Odiele will continue to tell her story next being an interview in the issue of Vogue that hits newsstands Wednesday. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Victoria Beckham spotted in a colorful outfit in Paris. (Photo: Getty Images) Just because its the middle of winter doesnt mean you have to keep it to shades of black. (Unless youre making a statement a la Huma Abedin, of course.) The always chic Victoria Beckham stunned in contrasting bright colors at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week this morning, heading to the shows in a vibrant ensemble from her own collection. Continuing her recent predilection towards sleek menswear, Beckham paired a bright baby blue blouse with wide leg tangerine trousers from her Spring/Summer 2017 line for a bold color clash that cant help but catch the eye. Rolling the sleeves and loosely unbuttoning the collar, she projects a nonchalant elegance in the slightly oversized yet tailored ensemble. A small brown clutch, messy up-do, natural makeup, and oversized sunglasses complete the bold look. Beckham, aptly enough, wore the fashion-forward look to sit on a panel of judges in Paris, France, awarding the annual International Woolmark Prize. While at the event, the former Spice Girl even posed for a photo in her ensemble showing off gold rings by throwing up a peace sign. Her caption read, 2 become 1 X Kisses VB #girlpower. 2 become 1 X Kisses VB #girlpower A photo posted by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) on Jan 23, 2017 at 9:49am PST The 42-year-old designer and mother-of-four ended 2016 on a high note, receiving an OBE (or being named Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II for her humanitarian efforts and fashion industry success. Even more recently, the former Spice Girl opened up about her youthful insecurities in a candid letter to her 18-year-old self for British Vogue. I know you are struggling right now. You are not the prettiest, or the thinnest, or the best at dancing at the Laine Theatre Arts college, she wrote. If only that unconfident adolescent could see her eminently stylish self now. Related: Rihanna and Natalie Portman Gave New Dior Feminist Collection Major Support This Weekend Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The customs authorities have recovered over 8 kg gold at Mumbai airport over the past two days. The value of the seized gold is estimated to be Rs 2.29 crore. By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: In last two days, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs at Airport has registered six cases of gold seizure. The customs authorities seized 8.26 kg gold worth Rs 2,29,31,838 from three passengers over the last two days. Seized gold was recovered from different passengers, who had hidden the yellow metal in car washing machine, grinder mixer and even in microwave oven. advertisement READ| Gold, tobacco products worth Rs 42.5 lakh seized at Mumbai airport GOLD SEIZURE AT MUMBAI AIRPORT: THINGS TO KNOW The series of seizure over past two days started with the arrest of a passenger identified as Irfanbhai Parvatsingh Rana yesterday morning. He came to Mumbai from from Dubai via Bahrain by Gulf Air flight number GF 064. Officials seized 1999 grams crude gold valued at Rs 54,14,731 from him. The passenger had concealed crude gold in the specially made hollow cylindrical iron shaft in a portable car washing machine. The authorities also recovered 1800 pouches of RMD gutkha (tobacco product) valued at Rs 45,000 from his checked-in-baggage. The collective value of 1999 grams of crude gold and 1800 pouches of RMD guthka seized from Irfanbhai Parvatsingh Rana was estimated to be Rs 54,59,731. He admitted that the seized items belonged to some other person and were supposed to be handed over to one Imran in Mumbai. Irfan told the interrogators that he carried the articles for a monetary consideration. In another case, a passenger identified as Rashid Manikoth was intercepted after he arrived from Sharjah by Air Arabia Airways flight number G9 401. Rashid was also travelling on Indian passport. Authorities recovered two pieces of crude gold weighing 1009 grams from Rashid. Worth of the seized gold was estimated to be Rs 27,33,098. Rashid had concealed gold in an electric mixture grinder. Rashid also told that customs officials that the gold belonged to one Karim in Sharjah and was supposed to be delivered to another person in Kerala's Kasardo. Rashid has been arrested. In the third case gold was hidden in microwave oven. The customs officials recovered 13 gold bars and two cut pieces of gold bars from an Indian passport holder identified as Abdussaleem Mohammed Pallickal, who arrived in Mumbai from Dubai via Air India flight number AI 984 early morning today. The gold bars were of 10 tolas (10 grams) each while the cut pieces weighed 1624 grams. The combine value of the gold was estimated by the officials at Rs 43,98,961. Interestingly, the passenger, who was arrested by the customs officials, said that gold bars and pieces belonged to one Zulfikar in Dubai and that he was only serving as a courier. The seized gold bars and pieces were supposed to be delivered to someone in Mumbai. --- ENDS --- Credit: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage In October 2015, when my brand had been in business for just two years, I was invited to attend the Celebration of Design hosted by Michelle Obama at the White House. Mrs. Obama had worn designs of mine a handful of times before (the first she bought straight off the rack) so I was aware that I was a blip on her very vast radar, but I never imagined I would be invited to the White House so early on in my career. I thought about how I wanted to look when I would meet Michelle Obama for the first time. I wanted to look feminine, polished, and confident. I immediately began sketching several looks and by the end of the day, I had six sketches for which I felt strongly. As a print and color-based designer, my first inclination was to wear print because it is what I feel most comfortable in. I then quickly realized that Mrs. Obama had several looks we had custom-designed for her in my favorite prints, and I was not going to risk attending an event in the same print as Mrs. Obama. After much toiling and indecision, I managed to narrow the options down to one; a black and white one-shouldered embroidered lace chintz dress with the pinwheel motif from my spring/summer 2015 collection. It checked all the boxes: feminine, polished, and confident. RELATED: The Earrings That Got Me into Bergdorf's When the dress arrived in the office the following week, my team and I fit it meticulously. It was in that moment, fitting the dress with my team of four, that I truly was able to comprehend the significance of being invited to the White House by the First Lady. I felt incredibly honored. To go with the dress, I designed a white, opaque top-handle box bag, which I worked with Canal Plastics to create, and selected a well-loved pair of black and white heels from Gianvito Rossi. My friends at PaintBox created a black and white tipped manicure for the occasion, giving the look a nod of whimsy. When the day came to travel to D.C., I took the Acela and felt a mix of nervous anticipation and sheer giddiness. If you had said to me five years ago that I would have the opportunity to go to the White House, and several times at that, I would not have believed you. Story continues After settling into my hotel room, Mrs. Obama's glam team arrived to do my hair and makeup. They straightened my hair and gave me a smoky-eye-something I wouldn't normally opt for-but I figured if was good enough for Mrs. Obama, it was good enough for me. They later gave me advice on how to keep my cool while meeting her and regaled me with stories of events past. After I finished getting dressed, I felt invincible. This look was a departure from what I generally wear - my day-to-day choices are more eclectic-but I felt extraordinary. When I pulled up to the White House's East entrance, it felt as though every single famous designer and industry member was already in line for security. In fact, I made my way through the X-ray machine behind Anna Wintour, which made me chuckle because I was in the throes of the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund. Once inside, Diane von Furstenberg complimented me on my look, and it was over mini-burgers at the buffet that I met Eva Chen for the first time. In true form, Mrs. Obama gave a powerful speech about her role as First Lady and how the fashion industry had overwhelmingly embraced her, an outsider, who came to Washington with a background in law and zero ties to fashion. She said she felt thankful and proud to be in a room full of the industry leaders. I remember thinking that every industry person in the room felt the same way about her. I know I certainly did, and I still do now. VIDEO: Michelle Obama Caps Off 8 Years of Holiday Dressing Looking back, the dress I wore to the White House is emblazoned in my memory along with the joy of the night. I have not worn it since, and instead have kept it in a treasured section of my closet and in my memory. Someday I hope to wear it again, but for now, it rests alongside all my favorite pieces from memories past. By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's government on Monday unveiled a new interventionist approach to rebalance its heavily services-based economy for the post-Brexit era, in a break with traditional Conservative laissez-faire economic policy. Prime Minister Theresa May's "Modern Industrial Strategy"demands closer collaboration in key industries in exchange for government support, aiming to increase productivity, reinvigorate industrial production and stimulate investment in technology and R&D. The focus on industry and the shift to a governmental hands-on approach challenges the laissez-faire ideology championed by former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. "Underpinning this strategy is a new approach to government, not just stepping back and leaving business to get on with the job, but stepping up to a new, active role that backs business," May wrote in a consultation document on the policy. May asked businesses to work together to tackle industry-specific challenges, citing examples of successful collaboration that have helped attract overseas investment from the likes of carmaker Nissan <7201.T>, and enabled aerospace firms such as BAE Systems to develop a competitive edge. In return she pledged to reciprocate with "Sector Deals" that address regulatory barriers, look at how trade and investment deals can be used to increase exports, and support the creation of new institutions to provide leadership, drive innovation or boost skills. The government said early work had been done on deals for a number of industries: life sciences, ultra-low emission vehicles, nuclear and creative industries. But it said it would work with any sector that could "organize behind strong leadership to address shared challenges and opportunities". PRODUCTIVITY PUZZLE The plan aspires to distribute wealth more evenly, following decades of industrial decay in parts of Britain. The economy's narrow base has been blamed for a mood of disenfranchisement that drove many voters to back Brexit. It aims to boost Britain's productivity, which has long lagged European rivals Germany and France. It cited the success of targeted government intervention in countries including the United States and South Korea. The outline of was set out in a "Green Paper" inviting views from industry on the government's objectives. The government listed 10 strategic pillars behind its strategy such as skills development and improved procurement. The publication drew positive responses from businesses looking to push their industries to the top of the government's agenda, ranging from waste management firms to builders of new nuclear plants. But not all sectors felt they would benefit. A consumer goods industry executive, who declined to be named, said consumer goods were very far down the priority list. "The high-skilled and high-paid, thats what drives economic spending and growth. Pharmaceuticals, heavy industry, IT all those sectors are always going to be the ones that are more favored," the executive said. BACK IN FASHION Since coming to office weeks after Britain's vote to leave the EU last year, May has pushed the once-unfashionable concept of industrial strategy to the top of her agenda, creating a new government department to lead the project, and chairing a top-level cabinet committee on the subject. Britain's impending exit from the EU threatens to undermine the financial services sector, with several banks planning to shift thousands of jobs abroad because they fear they will lose access to the EU market. May said last week that Britain would be withdrawing from the single market, and seeking a free trade agreement with the EU instead - a path critics have described as a "Hard Brexit" that would undermine the industrial strategy. "Its like the manager tying their teams bootlaces together while telling them they have a plan to win the match," said Don Foster, business spokesman for the rival and pro-EU Liberal Democrat party. May presented the full proposals, including plans to boost the teaching of technical skills and mathematics, and a 556-million pound boost for infrastructure projects, at a specially convened cabinet meeting in northwest England. (Additional reporting by Costas Pitas, Sarah Young, Martinne Geller, Lina Saigol and Karolin Schaps; Editing by Andrew Roche) China tightly controls the internet through a censorship system known as the "Great Firewall" and closely monitors social media networks for sensitive content (AFP Photo/Ed Jones) (AFP/File) Beijing (AFP) - China has announced a 14-month campaign to "clean up" internet service providers and crack down on devices such as virtual private networks (VPNs) used to evade strict censorship. The ruling Communist party oversees a vast apparatus designed to censor online content deemed politically sensitive, while blocking some Western websites and the services of internet giants including Facebook, Twitter and Google. It passed a controversial cybersecurity bill last November, tightening restrictions on online freedom of speech and imposing new rules on service providers. But companies and individuals often use VPNs to access the unfettered internet beyond China's "Great Firewall". Telecom and internet service providers will no longer be allowed to set up or rent special lines such as VPNs without official approval, the ministry of industry and information technology said Sunday. Its "clean up" campaign would last through March 2018, it said in a statement on its website. The announcement comes days after President Xi Jinping extolled globalisation and denounced protectionism in a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he insisted that China was committed to "opening up". China's internet access services market has grown rapidly, and the "first signs of disorderly development are also appearing, creating an urgent need for regulation", the statement said. The new rules were needed to "strengthen internet information security management", it added. IT expert Li Yi told the Global Times newspaper, which often takes a nationalistic tone, the new regulations were "extremely important". While some multinationals such as Microsoft needed VPNs to communicate with overseas headquarters, other companies and individuals "browse overseas internet pages out of illegal motivations", Li said. A 2015 report by US think tank Freedom House found that China had the most restrictive Internet policies of 65 countries it studied, ranking below Iran and Syria. China is home to the world's largest number of internet users, which totalled 731 million as of December, the government-linked China Internet Network Information Center said Sunday. New rules on VPNs fit into a wider trend of tightening space for free expression in China While calling for the maintenance of globalized free trade was high on Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent agenda in Davos, no evidence suggests that facilitating the free flow of information is high on Beijings to-do list. A notice from the countrys Ministry of Information and Technology says that all virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow Chinese Internet users to access blocked overseas websites, will have to be authorized by telecoms regulators. The move is likely to make most current providers of VPNs in China unlawful, reports the South China Morning Post. Currently, Chinese web users have to rely on bypass technologies like VPNs to visit popular sites like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Wikipedia, all of which are blocked from normal access by the countrys Great Firewall. Search terms and other content deemed unfavorable by the Chinese state, including references to the 1989 Tiananmen massacre and various Chinese officials, are also censored from the Chinese web. The ministry cited an urgent need to regulate disorderly development of the web industry in the notice explaining the move. Apart from VPNs, Beijings cleanup effort of the Internet connection business, which lasts till March 31, 2018, will also require all Internet-service providers (ISPs), data centers and content distribution networks (CDNs) in the country to be licensed by the government. Read More: See Chinas Internet Dilemma in One Screen Grab The move against unauthorized VPNs fits into a wider trend of tightening space for free expression in China. Last October, a report from the bipartisan U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China found signs of further encroachment on already limited basic liberties. The Chinese states sweeping deployment of the Great Firewall is notorious, placing it dead last worldwide on the Freedom Houses Internet-freedom rankings. It has also been widely reported that the country employs an army of human monitors to manually sweep Chinese cyberspace for what is deemed unlawful activity, even within the countrys burgeoning tech firms. A tech-support-scam outfit is calling people at home and telling them that their "version of Windows has been terminated" and asking them to call a toll-free number for assistance "from Microsoft." Credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock Credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock The phony phone number is (844) 308-6819, but don't call it. If you do, a man with a heavy accent will ask you to go to a website called Support88.com, then ask to you click one of three buttons on that site. Doing so will download software that gives the friendly foreign gentleman total control of your PC. Let's be clear: Microsoft will NEVER call you at home to tell you that your Windows software is out of date. Anyone who phones your house out of the blue and pretends to represent Microsoft is a scammer, and you should hang up on them right away. MORE: How to Protect Yourself from Tech-Support Scams In our own case, we got a call at home a few minutes ago. A pre-recorded female voice told us that our Microsoft services would be "terminated" and that we needed to call (844) 308-6819 straight away. Being up for a little adventure, we did. The aforementioned Indian chap was polite and helpful, and told us that we needed to upgrade our version of Windows. (We're using Windows 10.) He instructed us to go to the Start menu and type in "msconfig," then hit Enter. This brought up the Windows System Configuration interface. So far, all harmless. The tech scammer then had us open the Services tab in the System Configuration interface and tell us if we saw any services in a "Stopped" state. Of course, we did, as most Windows systems will have some stopped services. It's not clear why the scammer had us go through these steps, except maybe so that he could later claim that the stopped services were evidence of system malfunction. (They aren't.) The scammer's next step was to ask us to type "www.support88.com" into the search window in the Start menu. This opened up the Support88.com website in the default browser. (This website is registered to a proxy service in Scottsdale, Arizona, making it hard to find the real site owner.) Story continues At this point, we saw a nearly blank web page that read "SECURED SUPPORT CONNECTION" in block letters, underneath which were three green buttons reading "TECHLEVEL#1," "TECHLEVEL#2" and "TECHLEVEL#3." Don't click any of these buttons. Don't click any of these buttons. The phony technician, whom we assume was sitting in a call center surrounded by dozens of fellow co-workers performing the same scam, asked us to click "TECHLEVEL#2." We did, and our browser downloaded a Windows executable file an installer or application called ShowMyPC.exe. This was the point at which the scam went from harmless to harmful. ShowMyPC would have granted the phony technician access to our PC, which would have let him install anything. We told him he was a scammer and hung up. MORE: Best Antivirus - Top Software for PC, Mac and Android ShowMyPC appears to be legitimate desktop-sharing software made by a company in Campbell, California. The company may be aware its products are being used for criminal purposes, as the ShowMyPC site displays a warning: "Do not accept help from unknown callers." The other two buttons would have downloaded two other legitimate desktop-sharing applications, Supremo and Alpemix. Needless to say, you do not want a stranger half a world away poking around on your PC. To avoid similar tech-support scams, do not trust any phone calls, text messages or browser pop-ups that tell you that you need to upgrade your software, that your PC or Mac is infected or that your computer needs to be tuned up. Don't call any toll-free number, and don't go to any website, that these scammers suggest. To be able to laugh in their faces when they do contact you, make sure your computer is updated to the latest operating system (Windows 10 or macOS 10.12 Sierra) and that you're running robust antivirus software. See also : 33 Simple Ways to Prevent Hackers From Ruining Your Life By Taro Fuse TOKYO (Reuters) - Main Japanese lenders of Toshiba Corp have agreed to not call in some of their loans early for now even as recent downgrades of the troubled firm's credit ratings violate some provisions in debt agreements, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Toshiba on Jan. 10 requested the creditors, which included Japan's three mega banks, not to use provisions in the loan agreements to call in the loans early and to wait at least till the end of February for such a course of action. Most of the lenders, including main banks Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, Mizuho Bank Ltd and Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, have agreed to wait till at least end-February to call in the loans, the people said. Toshiba met the lenders after it made warnings for a massive writedown from its nuclear business. The lenders could have exercised their rights to call in the loans as Toshiba's credit ratings were downgraded to levels low enough for the lenders to do so, said the people. In December, credit rating agencies such as S&P Global Ratings cut Toshiba's ratings after the writedown warning. Toshiba had about 800 billion yen ($7.04 billion) in outstanding bank loans as of September, of which a chunk was syndicated loans that the group of main lenders agreed to not call in, the people said. Some regional banks are opposed to the deal, they said. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not permitted to speak to media. (Reporting by Taro Fuse, Writing by Junko Fujita; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) The first stage of Paris' driverless bus experiment involves two vehicles and will last three months (AFP Photo/Eric FEFERBERG) Paris (AFP) - Paris began its first experiment with driverless buses on Monday, with city officials saying they were eager to prepare for the coming "revolution" of autonomous vehicles. Two box-shaped electric vehicles capable of carrying around 10 people have been deployed -- within the safety of a special lane -- on a bridge connecting two railway stations to the east of the city centre. "Autonomous vehicles represent a revolution for every city on the planet... which will change our urban environment and public space in a spectacular fashion over the next 20 years," Paris deputy mayor Jean-Louis Missika told reporters. The test unveiled Monday, which will last three months, is the first stage of the city's embrace of self-driving vehicles which use a combination of lasers and cameras to detect other objects and people around them. The head of the Paris transport network, Elisabeth Borne, said she envisaged the buses being used one day to connect homes and railway stations in the suburbs, which are served by overland trains known as RERs. "We dream one day of having buses like these parked near RER stations which would come to collect passengers on demand," she told reporters at the launch. The advent of self-driving vehicles poses a series of regulatory, ethical and economic questions which policymakers will have to grapple with as the technology improves and grows more widespread. One of them is: What happens to the humble bus driver? "We need to start thinking from today about how to train drivers so they can shift into the new jobs created by autonomous vehicles," Missika, who is a transport expert in the mayor's office, told AFP. In October, delivery drivers got an uncomfortable glimpse of the future when a self-driving truck built by Uber's Otto unit successfully delivered a beer shipment. Cars with some autonomous functions are already on our roads, and more than a dozen automakers including BMW, Kia, Volkswagen and General Motors are racing to get fully self-driving cars to market by 2020. A data breach compromised 500 million Yahoo accounts and is one of the largest cyberattacks in history (AFP Photo/KAREN BLEIER) (AFP/File) San Francisco (AFP) - Yahoo says its $4.8 billion deal to sell its core internet assets to US telecom titan Verizon has been delayed several months. The closing originally set for this quarter has been pushed into next quarter due to "work required to meet closing conditions," the California online pioneer said in a statement, adding that it was "working expeditiously to close the transaction as soon as practicable." The news came in an earnings release showing Yahoo swung to a profit of $162 million in the final three months of last year. The deal with Verizon, which would end Yahoo's run of more than 20 years as an independent company, has been thrown into doubt following disclosures of two huge data breaches. Yahoo said it is ramping up security as it grapples with the aftermath of epic hacks. "Our top priority continues to be enhancing security for our users," Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer said. She added that "approximately 90 percent of our daily active users have already taken or do not need to take remedial action to protect their accounts, and we're aggressively continuing to drive this number up." Yahoo boasted having more than a billion users monthly in 2016, with more than 650 million of those people connecting from mobile devices. - Hack aftershocks - The US Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into whether Yahoo should have informed investors sooner about two major data breaches, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter. US law requires companies that fall victim to such hacks to disclose them as soon as they are deemed to affect stock prices. Yahoo announced in September that hackers in 2014 stole personal data from more than 500 million of its user accounts. It admitted another cyber attack in December, this one dating from 2013, affecting more than a billion users. The SEC's investigation is focusing on why it took Yahoo several years to reveal the 2013 and 2014 attacks. Story continues The data breaches have been a major embarrassment for a former internet leader that has failed to keep up with Google, Facebook and other rising stars. The cyber attacks, and how notifying users was handled, has also raised concerns by investors that Verizon may seek to pay a lower price for Yahoo or even back out of the deal. When companies are in the process of being acquired, earnings that hit or surpass targets typically don't knock matters off course. "The bigger things are the breaches; those have Verizon reconsidering the deal," analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group told AFP. "I think the merger is at risk; the delay would point to that as still a possibility." - Courting Mavens - The earnings report showed Yahoo swung to profit a year after a massive $4.4 billion loss in the same period a year earlier, resulting from a large writedown on the value of its holdings. Revenue in the fourth quarter rose to $1.47 billion from $1.27 billion a year earlier. Yahoo reported a loss of $214 million for the full year on revenue that inched up to $5.2 billion from $5 billion in 2015, according to the earnings report. Mayer has been driving a shift to mobile, video, social and native advertising offerings at Yahoo, and revenue in those areas -- which she dubbed "Mavens," continued to climb. Mavens revenue for last year slightly topped $2 billion as compared to $1.7 billion in 2015. "I'm very pleased with our Q4 results and incredibly proud of the team's execution on our 2016 strategic plan, particularly given the uniquely eventful past year for Yahoo," Mayer said. Yahoo shares were up a little more than one percent to $42.88 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings figures, which topped Wall Street expectations. Mayer will quit the company's board after its merger with Verizon, according to an SEC filing, though she is expected to remain with the core Yahoo business. Yahoo is selling its main operating business 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. Samsung Electronics was forced to discontinue its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone over faulty batteries (AFP Photo/JUNG YEON-JE) The world's biggest smartphone maker Samsung blamed faulty batteries on Monday for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under the humiliating recall. Samsung Electronics was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apple's iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire. The debacle cost the South Korean company billions in lost profit and reputational damage, during a torrid period when it has also been embroiled in a corruption scandal that has seen President Park Geun-Hye impeached. Internal and independent investigations "concluded that batteries were found to be the cause of the Note 7 incidents", Samsung said in a statement. "We sincerely apologise for the discomfort and concern we have caused to our customers," said Koh Dong-Jin, the head of its mobile business, bowing before hundreds of reporters and cameramen at a press conference. Samsung Electronics is the most prominent unit of the giant Samsung group, South Korea's largest conglomerate with a revenue equivalent to about a fifth of the country's GDP. It announced a recall of the oversized Galaxy Note 7 in September 2016 after several devices exploded or caught fire, with the company blaming batteries from a supplier. When replacement phones -- with batteries from another firm -- also started to combust, the company decided to kill off the Note 7 for good. In total 3.1 million devices were recalled as authorities in the US and elsewhere banned the device from use on planes and even from being placed in checked luggage. Samsung has since embarked on a campaign to restore its battered reputation, issuing repeating apologies and putting full-page advertisements in US newspapers, admitting it "fell short" on its promises. Analysts said Samsung was looking to move on through the announcement, which did not implicate other devices. Story continues "Consumers tend to be forgiving the first time," said Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Technology. "But if it happens again, it will leave a lasting mark on Samsung's quality and brand image." Samsung had concentrated on innovative design, thinness and battery capacity rather than safety, he said. The firm's next model, the Galaxy S8, had been expected to be unveiled at next month's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. But Samsung's Koh said it would be delayed to ensure it had no safety problems. - No legal action - Samsung said it deployed around 700 researchers and engineers on its investigation, testing more than 200,000 fully-assembled devices and more than 30,000 batteries. It did not identify the battery makers on Monday, but independent investigators UL and Exponent agreed with the findings. One of the defective batteries had a design flaw that pushed down its right corner, while the other had faulty internal welds, said Kevin White, principal scientist at Exponent. Around 1,000 different parts from some 450 suppliers were needed for each Galaxy Note 7. But Koh dismissed the possibility of suing the manufacturers. "Whatever parts we use, the overall responsibility falls to us for failing to verify its safety and quality," he said. Samsung acknowledged that it provided the battery specifications, adding in its statement: "We have taken several corrective actions to ensure this never happens again. The lessons of the past several months are now deeply reflected in our processes and in our culture." Sister company Samsung SDI confirmed it was one of the battery makers, saying in a statement it had mounted its own investigation into the units and now had "a more thorough verification process". Samsung Electronics is set to announce fourth-quarter and full-year results on Tuesday and has estimated the cost of the recall at $5.3 billion. But investors welcomed Monday's announcement, with Samsung Electronics shares closing up 2.3 percent at 1.90 million won. The firm has separately been caught up in a wide-ranging political corruption scandal, with prosecutors last week seeking the arrest of its vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury. 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. Samsung is the single biggest contributor to two non-profit foundations controlled by Choi, but a court rejected the arrest request due to insufficient evidence. Samsung's Galaxy S8 Delay/Tom's Guide on CNBC Samsung has officially thrown water on hopes that it would unveil its Galaxy S8 flagship handset next month at Mobile World Congress. Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jin told reporters in Korea on Monday that Samsung will not announce its Galaxy S8 at MWC and did not say when the handset, which is expected to come with several new features, might make its way to store shelves. Blue Coral Galaxy S7/Credit: Samsung Blue Coral Galaxy S7/Credit: Samsung According to Reuters, which reported on Koh's comments, Samsung wants to ensure the same troubles it experienced with last year's Galaxy Note 7 don't happen again with the Galaxy S8. MORE: How Big Is Galaxy S8 Launch? This Big Koh's comments came on the sidelines of a press event in Korea on Monday, during which Samsung announced the results of an investigation into the Galaxy Note 7's troubles. The company said that its investigation revealed battery defects and design flaws in the batteries it had used with its Galaxy Note 7 that caused the trouble. In a statement to reporters, Koh said his company "will be working hard to regain consumer trust." Based on the rumors for Samsung's Galaxy S8, the smartphone gives Samsung a great shot at redemption. It's expected to sport dual cameras, a true edge-to-edge design, a faster processor and a new AI assistant named Bixby that will go right up against Siri and Google Assistant. Historically, Samsung has used Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as its setting for new Galaxy S device releases. And in the last few weeks, some rumors have suggested the company would keep that schedule in 2017. However, those reports followed other reports that said Samsung was planning an April unveiling and launch for its handset. See also : Best Portable Chargers and Battery Packs A Muslim family was surprised after receiving a heart-warming letter from their neighbours offering support to live without discrimination post Trump's swearing in ceremony. By India Today Web Desk: Twitter user, Hend Amry, posted a photo of a letter that her uncle in Ohio received after Donald Trump sworn into office and it has gone viral. Amry's uncle who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio was surprised after getting a heartwarming letter from his neighbours, offering support to live without discrimination. Abubaker Amry has lived in the area for nearly four decades but he and his neighbours did not interact much. The letter, addressed to the Muslim family, came as a surprise. advertisement "Dear Neighbours, today begins a new stage for our country. No matter what happens, please know there are still a lot of people who will fight for your right to practice your religion, to continue your lives without discrimination. You are welcome in our neighborhood and if you need anything - please knock on our door," the letter read. After the Trump inauguration, some neighbors left this letter on my uncle's door in Cincinnati, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/jnlXewv7ej Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) January 21, 2017 During his presidential campaign, US President Donald Trump has been vocal about banning Muslim immigrants in the country which has made many unsure of what the future holds for them. In fact, while he was taking the oath, hundreds of thousands of women marched in the nation's capital and cities around the globe to send a message that they won't let his agenda go unchallenged over the next four years, reported AP. --- ENDS --- A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 lays on a counter in plastic bags after it was returned. Samsung is finally ready to announce the findings of its lengthy investigation into what caused the batteries in its flagship Galaxy Note 7 Android smartphone to overheat late last year. Following several months of comprehensive investigations, Samsung executives will announce the cause of the Galaxy Note7 incidents and quality enhancement plan during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Samsung said in an official press release posted to the South Korean-based companys website. Samsung Electronics, as well as independent expert organizations who conducted their own investigations into various aspects of the Galaxy Note7 incidents, will share their findings. In addition, Samsung will discuss the new measures the company has implemented in response to the incidents. As the Inquisitr previously reported, Samsung issued a global recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in early September of last year after numerous reports surfaced alleging that the devices had been smoking, catching fire, or even exploding due to faulty batteries. The electronics giant recalled all Galaxy Note 7 devices shipped to retailers in all markets around the world. Samsung is holding a press conference to announce its Note 7 findings on January 23 https://t.co/KUlQfEsbbh TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) January 20, 2017 Out of approximately 2.5 million Note 7s that had already been sold at the time, Samsung confirmed 35 instances of the devices catching fire or exploding. That led the company to estimate that roughly 24 out of 1 million units, or.0024 percent of the devices, may suffer from the faulty battery that could lead to explosions or fires. Click here to continue and read more... Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Cause Of Battery Fires To Be Explained At Scheduled Press Conference is an article from: The Inquisitr News Samsung Electronics's mobile president Koh Dong-jin speaks during a press conference at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday that problems with the design and manufacturing of batteries in its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones caused them to overheat and burst into fire. (Choi Jae-koo/Yonhap via AP) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Samsung says a thorough investigation into the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 phone has confirmed widely held suspicions that its batteries were to blame, marking a first but important step toward restoring consumer confidence. Samsung announced tighter quality controls and more rigorous testing and took responsibility for failing to ensure that design specifications given to its suppliers were failsafe. The South Korean company was also delaying its next Galaxy phone, the Galaxy S8, which is usually announced in February. The spontaneous fires, many chronicled in videos circulated on YouTube, prompted Samsung to recall millions of phones and take a $5.3 billion hit on its earnings and an unknown amount in reputation. While praising Samsung's frankness and apologies, analysts question whether the world's largest smartphone maker has really gotten to the bottom of the problem in blaming flaws in the design and production of batteries. "Samsung said the weaknesses could make the phone prone to catch fire. That I understand, but what did trigger fires in such conditions? Did they discuss if there is another cause? No," said Park Chul Wan, a former director of the next generation battery research center at the state-owned Korea Electronics Technology Institute. Forrester analyst Frank Gillett said the company's emphasis seems to be on detecting problems in manufacturing, not preventing design problems earlier. The company, he said, needs to find ways to prevent commercial pressures, such as getting a phone out quickly, from causing engineers to make bad decisions. Samsung's Note 7 was timed, in part, to beat Apple's iPhone 7 by weeks. Ramon Llamas, an analyst at research firm IDC, said he would like to see Samsung show more of a "human side" to solving its problem and say what it's doing to work with consumers affected by this. During a two-hour press conference livestreamed in English, Chinese and Korean, Samsung said tests involving more than 200,000 phones and 30,000 batteries showed different problems with both kinds of batteries used in the Note 7. Story continues Though some experts had speculated that the phones' ultra-thin design or water-resistant features could have made them prone to overheat, Samsung says the investigation found no such problems. Samsung also ruled out software or design with the rest of the phone's hardware, as well as the supply chain. The Note 7 has one of the biggest battery capacities for a smartphone, but Samsung said the company and outside inspectors found no evidence that the high energy density alone was to blame. Samsung introduced the Note 7 on Aug. 2 and weeks later recalled the first batch after reports emerged that the phones were overheating and in some cases exploding. After replacement phones also started catching fire, aviation authorities banned them on flights and the company dropped the product for good. Having received complaints for failing to fix the problem after the first recall, Samsung brought in three private inspectors to help. Inspectors found damage to the upper corners of batteries made by one manufacturer likely sister company Samsung SDI and used in the initial batches of Note 7s. That, combined with overly thin separators and high energy density, caused the phones to overheat, Samsung said. The cell-pouch design of the battery also did not have enough space to safely accommodate its electrodes another flaw. In other batches of batteries from a second manufacturer, presumably China-based ATL, used in replacements for the recalled smartphones, the researchers found welding defects and a lack of protective tape in some battery cells. Patrick Moorhead, president of Moor Insights & Strategy, said the odds of two different suppliers having issues with the same phone are extremely low. The case "may signal we may have reached an inflection point in smartphone battery technology," Moorhead said. Though Samsung faulted the batteries from its suppliers, it said it would bear all costs. It was unclear to what extent the battery makers were responsible, as Samsung said only that it had provided "targets," such as capacity and thickness. That may suggest a breakdown in communication between Samsung and its suppliers and in quality control and testing. The Note 7 isn't the only gadget to catch fire because of lithium battery problems. Manufacturers like the batteries because they weigh less and pack much more energy into the same space than other batteries. But they are also more susceptible to overheating if they are exposed to high temperatures, are damaged or have manufacturing flaws. Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile division, said Samsung would use what it learned from its investigations to improve lithium battery safety for the industry. To avoid further problems, Samsung said it was introducing an eight-point battery safety check with more intense durability tests; a new test on accelerated usage and a charge and discharge test. The tighter safety measures will be implemented in "every element of the company's devices," it said, including overall design and materials used. Samsung said it also will seek advice on battery safety and innovation from a group of battery experts. The company has recalled 3.06 million Note 7 phones. About 4 percent, or 120,000 units, of the recalled Galaxy Note 7s have not been returned. ___ Follow Youkyung Lee: www.twitter.com/YKLeeAP and https://apnews.com/search/youkyung%20lee ___ AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay contributed to this story from New York. Acclaimed rapper Jay-Z fueled rumors of dropping a new album before the annoucenemnt of a star-studded film exclusive to Tidal with Oscar winners Lupita Nyong'o and Mahershala Ali (AFP Photo/JUSTIN SULLIVAN) New York (AFP) - Telecom giant Sprint said Monday it would buy one-third of rap mogul Jay Z's Tidal streaming platform, breathing new life into a service whose star power has failed to translate into market dominance. Sprint, which is owned by Japan's Softbank Corp. and is the fourth-largest mobile service provider in the United States, plans to roll out Tidal content exclusives for the carrier's customers. A joint statement did not reveal the size of the deal but music industry magazine Billboard said Sprint would pay $200 million for the 33 percent stake. Jay Z and other top names in music -- including Madonna, Daft Punk and Coldplay's Chris Martin -- in March 2015 unveiled Tidal, promising to give artists greater control in the fast-growing industry of streaming, which allows unlimited, on-demand listening. Tidal has sought to win customers by providing original content and early releases from superstar artists including Jay Z's wife Beyonce and rapper Kanye West. It is the only streaming site to offer late pop icon Prince's catalog. But Spotify, based in Stockholm, remains by far the biggest force in streaming with more than 40 million paying subscribers. Industry watchers voiced surprise at the reported size of the deal but the market gave its approval, with Sprint Corp. share prices jumping 2.8 percent despite weakness on Wall Street. Music business analyst Mark Mulligan doubted the news marked a turning point for Tidal, which his MIDiA firm estimated had fewer than three percent of weekly streaming users in the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada. But he said Tidal would now enjoy the free marketing and customer base of Sprint, which in turn can offer a new product and might make up the cost simply through the rise in its share price. "Tidal is not about to suddenly become the global streaming leader but it can now, with a fair wind, become a serious player in the US," Mulligan wrote on his blog. Story continues - Two firms looking for growth - Under the deal, Jay Z and other artists will remain in charge of Tidal and Sprint's chief executive officer, veteran telecom entrepreneur Marcelo Claure, will sit on its board. "Sprint shares our view of revolutionizing the creative industry to allow artists to connect directly with their fans and reach their fullest, shared potential," Jay Z said in a statement. Since Tidal's launch, it has faced heated competition. Tech behemoth Apple within months began its own streaming service, which has become the world's number two but still has only around half the paid subscriptions of Spotify. Retail leader Amazon recently entered the streaming wars, launching a service that undercuts Spotify and Apple Music on price and targets a mainstream rather than hip clientele. Other rivals include France's Deezer which maintains a strong presence in continental Europe. Tidal has marketed itself as the choice for audiophiles through higher-quality files but its premier service -- at $19.99 a month in the United States -- is twice as expensive as Spotify and Apple Music. Jay Z bought Tidal in 2014 from Aspiro, a Norwegian company that is listed in Sweden, for $56 million -- meaning he likely came out well from the Sprint deal. Tidal said in early 2016 that it had three million paying subscribers, although Norwegian business newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv recently alleged that the figure was inflated. Softbank's flamboyant billionaire chief Masayoshi Son has invested aggressively around the world and bought 80 percent of Sprint for $22 billion in 2013. Sprint has languished in recent years but has recently seen an uptick in customers. As of September, Sprint had 60 million US connections through brands such as Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless. By India Today Web Desk: Karanvir Bohra seems to be beaming with happiness ever since he has become a father. The Naagin 2 actor and wife Teejay Sidhu were recently blessed with twin daughters. Earlier, the actor and his wife had shared images of them holding their children's hands. advertisement Karanvir wished wife Teejay on her birthday by posting a picture of his sweet family with a touching note - "Sweety @bombaysunshine what do I say....this is by far the best gift god has given you on your birthday (and me too). Whenever I look at them with you and see what a doting mother you are, it makes me love you even more. You have this inherent charm of spreading love, wether is your family, me, our babies or the world....you feel love for everyone. I wish you the world's happiness and success in your life.??" Just like Karanvir, even Teejay shared an image of one of her kids, where she is kissing her forehead. She shared a note with the pic, where she reminisced her last year's birthday celebration and how her life had changed with motherhood. advertisement The kids were born in October in Vancouver, Canada and Karan had taken a paternity leave from Naagin 2 to be with his wife during her delivery. Three months back, the handsome dad had shared the first image of his newborn where he was holding both the babies' hand and captioned it - "I got the whole world in my hands". --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Jaipur, Jan 23 (PTI) Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen today batted for a Uniform Civil Code as a tool for "empowerment" as her "suprise" session at the Jaipur Literature Festival saw protests by some Muslim organisations. The celebrated author, who has been living in exile since 1994 after she faced the ire of fundamentalists in her own country for her unorthodox views, said the Islamic society needed to be more tolerant towards criticism to make progress. advertisement "It is necessary for Islamic society to be tolerant and accept criticism without which they cannot progress. Uniform Civil Code is urgently required for empowering people with human rights," she said. The writer, who was in conversation with Salil Tripathi, a former board member of English PEN, an organisation engaged in promoting literature and its understanding and upholding freedom of writers around the world, slammed religious fanatics, saying she did not believe in terms like "nationalism" or "religious fundamentalism". "I dont believe in nationalism, religious fundamentalism. I believe in one world. I believe in rights, freedom, humanism and rationalism. Until Islam accepts criticism, no Islamic country can be considered secular. Whenever I criticise, people want to kill me," she said. Citing the treatment meted out to her by the West Bengal government after a fatwa was issued against her in 2007 by Muslim clerics, she questioned why secular writers were forced to leave the country or murdered. "Why are secular writers being forced to leave the country or murdered, while religious fanatics are sheltered. I was attacked in Kolkata. Fatwa was issued against me. "Secularism doesnt mean to save and shelter such people just to cash in on Muslim votes. Hindu and Muslim fanatics have equally attacked me, but they were never punished," she said. Nasreens session witnessed protests by organisations like Rajasthan Muslim Forum, All India Milli Council, Jamaat- e-Islami and Muslim Personal Law Board. The protesters later met the festival founder Sanjoy K Roy and claimed they were assured by him that Nasreen will not be invited to the literary event again. The fact that Nasreens session, titled Exile, did not mention the names of speakers on the programme schedule of the festival until this morning, was presumably an attempt to shield her from the sort of protests that rocked the pink city 10 years ago. The festivals co-organiser William Dalrymple appeared unwilling to disclose anything more. "I vaguely knew that she was coming," was the most he would offer when asked by PTI. An attempt to speak to Sanjoy did not yield results with sources saying that the organisers did not want to comment on the issue officially. advertisement However, Mehrunnisa Khan, state president of Women India Movement, who was among the protesters, said they recieved an assurance from the organisers that no invitation would be extended to Nasreen again. More PTI AG BSA TRS BK SK SK --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Jaipur, Jan 23 (PTI) Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen today batted for a Uniform Civil Code as a tool for "empowerment" as her "suprise" session at the Jaipur Literature Festival saw protests by some Muslim organisations. The celebrated author, who has been living in exile since 1994 after she faced the ire of fundamentalists in her own country for her unorthodox views, said the Islamic society needed to be more tolerant towards criticism to make progress. advertisement "It is necessary for Islamic society to be tolerant and accept criticism without which they cannot progress. Uniform Civil Code is urgently required for empowering people with human rights," she said. The writer, who was in conversation with Salil Tripathi, a former board member of English PEN, an organisation engaged in promoting literature and its understanding and upholding freedom of writers around the world, slammed religious fanatics, saying she did not believe in terms like "nationalism" or "religious fundamentalism". "I dont believe in nationalism, religious fundamentalism. I believe in one world. I believe in rights, freedom, humanism and rationalism. Until Islam accepts criticism, no Islamic country can be considered secular. Whenever I criticise, people want to kill me," she said. Citing the treatment meted out to her by the West Bengal government after a fatwa was issued against her in 2007 by Muslim clerics, she questioned why secular writers were forced to leave the country or murdered. "Why are secular writers being forced to leave the country or murdered, while religious fanatics are sheltered. I was attacked in Kolkata. Fatwa was issued against me. "Secularism doesnt mean to save and shelter such people just to cash in on Muslim votes. Hindu and Muslim fanatics have equally attacked me, but they were never punished," she said. Nasreens session witnessed protests by organisations like Rajasthan Muslim Forum, All India Milli Council, Jamaat- e-Islami and Muslim Personal Law Board. The protesters later met the festival founder Sanjoy K Roy and claimed they were assured by him that Nasreen will not be invited to the literary event again. The fact that Nasreens session, titled Exile, did not mention the names of speakers on the programme schedule of the festival until this morning, was presumably an attempt to shield her from the sort of protests that rocked the pink city 10 years ago. The festivals co-organiser William Dalrymple appeared unwilling to disclose anything more. "I vaguely knew that she was coming," was the most he would offer when asked by PTI. An attempt to speak to Sanjoy did not yield results with sources saying that the organisers did not want to comment on the issue officially. advertisement However, Mehrunnisa Khan, state president of Women India Movement, who was among the protesters, said they recieved an assurance from the organisers that no invitation would be extended to Nasreen again. More PTI AG BSA TRS BK SK KIS --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Jammu, Jan 23 (PTI) The members of opposition and a BJP MLA today staged a walkout from the state assembly over the alleged delay in Jammu lake project and the "false figures" given by the ruling dispensation regarding it after the government said 80 per cent of the work on execution of barrage has been completed. advertisement Replying to a question of BJP MLA Gagan Bhagat, Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi said work on the design and construction of barrage across Tawi river at Belicharana in Jammu, which is part of artificial lake, has been taken up for execution by Irrigation and Flood Control Department. She said the execution of the work is estimated to cost Rs 69.70 crore against which an amount of Rs 57.35 crore stands released and utilised by end of March 2016. Eighty per cent of the work has been completed, she said. Bhagat, however, objected to the reply and demanded setting up of a House committee to probe the claims. As the government did not respond to his demand, Bhagat tore the answer sheet, threw it in the House and staged a walkout. Then members of National Conference and Congress resorted to protests and sloganeering and alleged that the government had done little for Jammu region. They alleged that the government had failed to give fillip to tourism projects started by the previous government and later staged a walkout from the House. "Todays walkout is not only to protest Jammu Tourism but the discrimination with the region on different developmental projects. This walkout reflects the voice of Jammu people in the House," NC MLA Devender Singh Rana told reporters here. "It is not only the fate of one lake project, it is fate of all the tourism projects in Jammu region, be it Mansar- Surinsar Lake project or Patnitop project or Sanasar, all projects are in bad shape and work has been stopped," he said. Speaking to reporters, Independent MLA from Udhampur and former minister Pawan Gupta, who also walked out from the House, said "The reply was vague and incorrect and the figures were totally false (with regard to lake project). Are we blind. Cant we see the fate of the project? The government tries to fool us." More PTI AB DK AAR --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Jeddah, Jan 23 (PTI) In a pre-emptive operation, Saudi security forces killed two terrorists and arrested two others, including a Pakistani woman, in the coastal city of Jeddah, taking the number of Pakistanis detained on terror charges in the kingdom to 69. "Two terrorists in Al-Harazat District, in south east Jeddah, were killed after they blew themselves up after refusing to surrender to police calls on Saturday," Arab News reported, quoting the Interior Ministry spokesperson. advertisement He said the authorities arrested another two, a husband and his Pakistani wife, from an apartment after a tip-off. With the arrest of the Pakistani woman, identified as 19-year-old Fatima Ramadan Balochi Murad, the number of Pakistanis arrested on terror charges has gone up to 69. Citing security sources, the paper said the authorities got information on the presence of a group of terrorists at a house in Al-Harazat District. After an investigation, the residents of the house turned out to have a link to another terrorist living in Naseem District, who used to come to the house together with his wife. "The person also turned out to be a former terrorist who was imprisoned for eight years but released after less than two years. He was the one who rented the house in Al-Harazat at least two months ago, to be used as a hideout for the terrorist cell; he used his wife in an attempt to avoid the landlord and neighbours becoming suspicious," the paper said. The security forces cordoned off the two hideouts and arrested the first person, Saudi citizen Husam bin Salic bin Samran Al-Juhani with his Pakistani wife in their apartment in Naseem district. After searching the house, the security forces found a ready-to-use explosive belt, a locally-made bomb, together with a machine gun with live ammunition. The forces also cordoned off a house in Al-Harazat before dawn prayer on Saturday. The forces asked the terrorists to surrender but they started firing. When the security forces tried to storm the house, the terrorists detonated the explosive belts they were wearing, killing themselves and causing extensive damage to the house. Quoting the spokesman of the Interior Ministry Maj Gen Mansour Al-Turki, the paper said the hideout at Al-Harazat was used as a lab for making explosive belts and bombs. He said the man arrested at the second hideout, in Naseem district, was linked to those in the Al-Harazat property. Security authorities are still collecting evidence from the two locations and conducting investigations with the arrested persons. All details and identities of the terrorists will be announced later, Al-Turki said. Last July, Pakistani terrorist Abdullah Qalzar Khan blew himself up near Solaiman Fakeih Hospital in Jeddah. advertisement The security authorities arrested 49 Pakistani residents and put them under interrogation since the bombing in July, Saudi Gazette reported. A terror plot - involving two Pakistanis Solaiman Arab Deen and Farman Naqshaband Khan, was foiled last October here. In a recent statement, the Interior Ministry said that 5,085 terror suspects from 40 countries are in detention. PTI ZH AKJ ZH --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Muzaffarnagar, Jan 23 (PTI) Police today claimed to have arrested nine persons and seized 26 pistols, drugs and liquor, and stolen bikes in separate incidents in Shamli district in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Two men were arrested for running an arms manufacturing unit in Khampur village and 26 pistols were seized from them, SP Ajay Pal Sharma said. advertisement In the second incident, three men were arrested and 15,700 liters of liquor along with 55 kg of opium-based drugs was seized, Sharma said. The accused, Sanjay, Suraj and Jogender were booked under the Excise Act and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he added. Police also arrested Birju, Kalla, Kala and Kanhaiyya and recovered 23 stolen bikes from their possession. PTI CORR VAG AAR --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Jan 23 (PTI) US President Trump today invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House early next month, working quickly to establish close ties with a crucial ally in the Middle East who was often at odds with his predecessor. As the Trump administration took steps toward relocating the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, Trump, on his second full day in office, spoke over phone to Netanyahu and discussed ways to ensure security and stability in the Middle East. advertisement The President emphasised on the importance the US places on US-Israel close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between the two countries, it said. The two leaders discussed efforts to make peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Trump and Netanyahu agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran, the White House said. During the call, Trump invited Netanyahu "to an early February meeting at the White House". "The President affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israels security and stressed that countering ISIL and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be a priority for his Administration," it said. During the call, Trump emphasised that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between them and that the US will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, called the conversation "very warm". He said he had "expressed his desire to work closely" with the administration, "with no daylight between" the two countries. This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Trump was sworn in as the US President on Friday. A day earlier, he spoke over phone with the Mexican and Canadian leaders. Relations between Israel and the US were strained under former President Barack Obama and his administration abstained from a UN resolution in December that declared settlement construction in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank illegal. But the White House statement on the call did not mention Trumps suggestion to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump pledged during his campaign to move the US embassy, and his designated ambassador to Israel. No country in the world has its Israel embassy in Jerusalem, which is also claimed by the Palestinians as their capital. While Congress long ago passed a resolution ordering the move, both Republican and Democratic presidents have repeatedly waived the order on national security grounds. PTI LKJ UZM AKJ AKJ --- ENDS --- advertisement In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, Raees cinematograper KU Mohahan spoke about his experience of working with Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, among other things. By Devarsi Ghosh: KU Mohanan, the cinematographer of Raees, has worked with Shah Rukh Khan thrice; Don in 2007, Raees and Imtiaz Ali's upcoming film. Mohanan has also worked with Nawazuddin Siddiqui - who is playing ACP Majumdar in Raees - thrice; first in the 2012 films Miss Lovely and Talaash and now, Raees. Perhaps, no one who has seen the transformation of Raees and ACP Majumdar as actors quite as closely as Mohanan himself. advertisement ALSO READ: Raees is 'beimaan' film, Kaabil is for 'deshbhakts', says BJP National GS ALSO WATCH: Shah Rukh on playing Raees and acting in negative roles In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, the FTII (Film and Television Institute of Pune, '88 batch) graduate spoke about working with Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, his thoughts on shooting on celluloid and digital and the kind of films he would like to be associated with. Excerpts from the conversation: You have worked with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Miss Lovely, Talaash and now, Raees. What was working with him like? Nawazuddin is a very soft-spoken man. He sits somewhere in a corner before the shot but the moment the camera starts, he changes! Then after the shot, he goes back to his corner and lights a smoke. As an actor, he is one of India's most genuine inherent acting talents. He gives his roles a different dimension. KU Mohanan and Shah Rukh Khan (Photo: Ruchit Rajguru) And what was Shah Rukh Khan like? Shah Rukh is a pleasure to work with. He is a great actor. He is a big star but he is very simple, very helpful and very down to earth. He was so adaptable on Raees's sets. I'd say he has killed it in the film. You will see a new avatar of Shah Rukh in Raees where he is competing with everyone, be it Nawaz, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub or Atul Kulkarni. KU Mohanan, Rahul Dholakia and Shah Rukh Khan (Photo: Ruchit Rajguru) How are Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, different as actors? Well, that you should ask Rahul (Dholakia, the director of Raees). I can say this that Shah Rukh was totally unrecognisable as Raees. The Shah Rukh I saw while shooting Don in 2007 was completely different from the one I saw while shooting Raees. He has become Raees. Nawazuddin Siqqui has done similar roles before (he played a cop earlier in Kahaani and has acted in gangster films like Gangs of Wasseypur) and he takes his acting persona a little forward in Raees. ALSO WATCH: Shah Rukh looks fierce, Nawaz in Wasseypur mode in Raees How do you conceptualise the look of big, commercial films, which have the tendency to look similar? For instance, Talaash and Raees or Fukrey and Aaja Nachle look vastly different from one another. advertisement A lot of cinematographers, in both India and Hollywood, have a particular style that they like to impose on their films. I don't do that. My look comes from the screenplay and the discussions I have with my director, production designer, costume designer and so on. Script reading and scouting locations give an identity, a colour palette to the film. You have shot Ashim Ahluwalia's John and Jane and Miss Lovely on celluloid. What is the fundamental difference between shooting on celluloid and using digital, such as for Raees? It doesn't matter what medium I use because digital or celluloid are both tools. They serve the same purpose. Most cinematographers, such as myself, are used to celluloid. We are comfortable with film cameras. Digital gives you a different kind of picture quality with a lot of detail and not much grain. What I miss the most are nostalgic things, like the smell of film, processing laboratories, holding a reel in your hand, etc. With Raees's final look, I'd credit the DI (Digital Intermediate) team at Prime Focus, particularly our colourist Ashirwad Hadkar. I worked with him in Samay: When Time Strikes (2002) and his enthusiasm to get minute details right has not faded in fifteen years. My cinematography is not polished as I feel filmmaking should look a little rough unlike advertising. As such, colouring the final film's look needs an amazing eye which Ashirwad has. KU Mohanan (Photo: Ruchit Rajguru) advertisement With most filmmakers and production houses going digital with their shooting, how has it affected the kind of films we make? Jean Cocteau had said that film will become an art only when its materials become as inexpensive as pencil and paper but that has been proved wrong. When I graduated from FTII in 1988, making a short film was expensive. One 16mm roll cost no less than Rs 3,000. But still, people struggled and made good films. Now filmmaking (digital) and film exhibition (the internet, for example) has become much, much easier but still, the quality of cinema has not improved. In the '70s and '80s, we had a lot of serious filmmakers in our country, such as G Aravindan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Mani Kaul, who were experimenting with form. That's not happening these days. Ashim (Ahluwalia) tried to do it with Miss Lovely but attempts to challenge film form have become rare. advertisement ALSO WATCH: Shah Rukh opens up on box-office clash between Raees and Kaabil Have you seen the promos of Kaabil, which is releasing on the same day as Raees? Yes. Anything in particular that you liked in them? They are very polished, very well-lit and good-looking. Favourite cinematographers from the past and present? I love Christopher Doyle and his work with director Wong Kar-wai. I loved their work in In the Mood for Love. Its cinematography was very poetic and subtle, which I like. I hate cinematography which is in-your-face. I like Rodrigo Prieto and Roger Deakins. From India, of course, Subrata Mitra - the god of Indian cinematography. I like KK Mahajan and VK Murthy from those before us. From contemporaries, Ravi K Chandran, Sethu, Sudeep Chatterjee, Pankaj Kumar... I don't want to miss out anybody. Our cinematographers are really progressive, you know. But our filmmaking is not. You need good directors with new ideas to accommodate good cinematography. Do cinematographers have fanboys? In Kerala, they do. In Mumbai, not so much. In Kerala, they have even fan clubs for cinematographers (Mohanan was born in Payyanur, Kerala) and people are very interested in the art of it. In Mumbai, only a few film students or cinematographers are interested. Even film reviews don't really talk about cinematography unless the film is very conventionally good-looking. Last question. Given a choice, on any day, would you shoot a small, out-there, crazy, indie film like Miss Lovely or something big like Raees? I would do Miss Lovely. No second thought about that. I'd rather do films like that than anything basic. I get tremendous satisfaction experimenting with film form. When I was at FTII, I was inspired by Russian, Italian and Japanese cinema and I wanted to be a part of that kind of filmmaking. But it is not happening so much in Indian cinema today. Though youngsters are trying. Of course, given a choice between a small film with no imagination and something as big as Raees with room to experiment, I would go for the latter. (The writer tweets as @devarsighosh.) --- ENDS --- Congress leaders are attributing the success of sealing of the alliance with Samajwadi Party to party president Sonia Gandhi, her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and UP's in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad. By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: The mood in Congress circles is upbeat with the party managing to cobble up an alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh after several hiccups. Congress leaders are attributing this so-called success to party president Sonia Gandhi, her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and UP's in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad. There has been no mention of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha MP from Amethi who has been taking personal interest in the party's affairs of the country's most populous state. Going by the reaction of Congress leaders, the role of Rahul Gandhi has been relegated to the background, or so it seems. advertisement Also read | Congress-SPlit: Akhilesh not ready to give over 100 seats, Rahul wants 110 Initial reports last week suggested that talks between the SP and Congress stalwarts were on the brink of breaking down. Former Union minister Ajit Singh's RLD had already walked out of the negotiations for a three-party alliance. It appeared that the SP-Congress talks had also gone the RLD way. However, there was a breakthrough just in the nick of time and an SP-Congress alliance was sealed on January 22. The ruling SP has decided to contest on a lion's share of 298 seats while Congress, as a junior partner, has got the remaining 105 of the total 403 Assembly seats in the state. HIGHLIGHTING PRIYANKA GANDHI'S ROLE IN UP Responding to reports in this regard, AICC political secretary Ahmed Patel posted a tweet the day the alliance was declared. He said the negotiations were being held at the highest level that involved UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Congress general secretary in charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Ahmed Patel denied news reports which said he had spoken to SP leaders. He said no lightweights were dealing on Congress' behalf. Wrong to suggest lightweights were dealing on behalf of Congress party.Discussion was at highest level- b/w CM (UP),GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) January 22, 2017 There were reports also of Sonia Gandhi's intervention to help the alliance to salvage the situation and help this tie-up get materialised. But there was no mention of Rahul Gandhi's role on the matter. The Congress vice-president is seen to be paying considerable attention to his 'home state'. In September-October last year, he accomplished a month-long Kisan Yatra in which he conducted 26 road shows, 700 meetings including Khat Sabhas covering 141 assembly constituencies. Rahul's sister Priyanka has so far been active in just the Gandhis' pocket boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli. But suddenly there has been a general impression of Priyanka taking precedence over her brother. CONGRESS' DEFENCE OF RAHUL GANDHI Speaking to India Today, senior Congress leaders sought to dispel that notion. AICC Communication Department in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "It is a complete misconception. Who is leading the party? There should not be any speculation. Rahul Gandhi is leading the charge." advertisement Asked about Ahmed Patel's tweets, Surjewala said Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka "helped stitch the alliance" with SP. Talking specifically about Priyanka, he said, "She has always been in a supportive role for her mother and brother. She has been active as far as UP is concerned." Also read | Why Akhilesh took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi just after SP-Congress alliance Asked about Priyanka restraining herself to just Amethi and Rae Bareli, Surjewala said, "She has, by her own volition, confined her role to contributing in Amethi. We have respected her decision. But the day she decides to expand her responsibility, we would be very happy to share with you all. Till then, we should respect her privacy." Defending Rahul Gandhi's role in poll-bound UP, AICC senior spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad said, "The negotiations were being held on the basis of guidelines issued by Rahul Gandhi to his representatives, including Priyanka Gandhi. Ultimately, Rahul Gandhi is the final authority and nothing was possible without his approval. People who were negotiating with SP were doing so at the behest of Rahul Gandhi." Asked why Rahul Gandhi's name does not find mention in intervening to concretise the alliance, Ahmad said it was because he was not directly involved. --- ENDS --- advertisement Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan while tweeting about his meeting mixed up Kerala's CM Pinarayi Vijayan with Tamil Nadu CM O Paneerselvam. By India Today Web Desk: Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Consumer Affairs, tweeted about his meeting with Kerala CM Sh O Paneerselvam Sh Pinarayi Vijayan. Yes, that's what happened. Paswan while tweeting mixed up Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan with Tamil Nadu CM O Paneerselvam and got trolled for the same. The Union Minister while sharing pictures of his meeting with Kerala CM and his team of officers at Paswan's residence in New Delhi ended up making this goof up. Yes Minister Paswan, that's definitely Mr Panneerselvam. pic.twitter.com/a10Z37T3RD Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) January 23, 2017 advertisement Twitterati has come out with all the guns and is trolling the minister. Someone even asked what would he have discussed during the meeting if he does not know who he met. @irvpaswan LOL what an uninformed ministers Mr.Modi has chosen for his cabinet. Paneerselvam is CM of Tamil Nadu. Shaju (@SThalappally) January 23, 2017 @VivekAchar @irvpaswan Mr. Paswan doesn't even know who he is meeting. So incompetent, he must resign ?????? Murugan Frimanyan (@1astknight) January 23, 2017 @ShivAroor Out of curiosity, if paswan had no clue who he was talking to, what on earth did they talk about?? Supriya Unni Nair (@SupriyaUnniNair) January 23, 2017 Ram Vilas Paswan, later, deleted the tweet and posted the correct version. Kerala CM Sh Pinarayi Vijayan along with his team of officers met me at my residence 12,Janpath, New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/wiUd8wbG5V Ram Vilas Paswan (@irvpaswan) January 23, 2017 --- ENDS --- Ranveer Singh's latest look will remind you of his Bajirao Mastani stint. Is there anything this man doesn't look good in? Photo: Yogen Shah By India Today Web Desk: There aren't many things you don't expect from Ranveer Singh--especially in terms of fashion. The man pulls off the most unconventional of outfits with utmost ease and looks like the 'Peshwa' of style he is. His appearance at the recently-held Umang Festival was no different. Organised to honour the selfless service of Mumbai Police, the event was attended by several A-list stars including Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan among others, but Ranveer's outfit choice managed to grab quite a few eyeballs here too. advertisement Also Read: Ranveer Singh just stepped out wearing a blanket and nailed even that Dressed in a black draped kurta by Shantanu & Nikhil, Ranveer looked straight out of his blockbuster movie, Bajirao Mastani. Add to that a shawl held with a leather belt, and you get the wonder that the Befikre actor's latest look was. The belt works wonder for Ranveer's look. Photo: Yogen Shah Also Read: Ranveer Singh spent his whole day giving us quirkspiration Also Read: Looks like Ranveer Singh himself dressed up Vin Diesel during his India visit But that isn't where it ends. Completing his look by applying the blackest shade of kohl to his eyes, Ranveer's stylist Nitasha Gaurav, earns extra brownie points from our side! There aren't men who can pull off kohl like Ranveer did. Photo: Yogen Shah --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: The apex court, on August 1 last year, had issued notice to the Centre on a plea that had alleged that proper verification of mobile phone subscribers was necessary to avoid fake identities which caused grave risk to national security also. It had asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to also respond to the letter written to them by petitioner NGO giving suggestions on the mobile phone verification issue. advertisement The petitioner had written the letter to DoT and TRAI on August 7, 2014, saying there was a grave risk to national security because of lack of verification of mobile phone subscribers and had given suggestions for making systemic improvements to ensure the same. In its petition before the apex court, the NGO sought directions to DoT and TRAI to ensure 100 per cent verification of mobile phone subscribers with regard to their identity, addresses and that no fake or unverified identity is accepted for subscription of mobile phones. It also sought that Aadhaar Card or other biometric identification may be made compulsory for verification of the mobile phone users. It claimed that as of today, around 5.25 crore mobile phone subscribers (about 5 per cent of the total) are unverified, despite the directions given by apex court and instructions issued by DoT itself from time to time to ensure mobile phone subscriber verification. "Unverified SIM cards pose a serious threat to the countrys security as these are routinely used in criminal and terrorist activities," the petition said. The plea sought strict implementation of subscriber verification guidelines and that physical verification be made compulsory in future and physical re-verification of existing subscriber base be conducted in a transparent manner. PTI SJK ABA MNL ARC --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said the RSS must refrain from political violence in the state before campaigning against it at the national level. "If the RSS is campaigning against violent politics, they must also refrain from all sorts of violent politics. The government does not support any kind of violence. We are taking necessary steps to maintain peace in the state," he told a press meet here. advertisement Vijayan, who arrived here today on a two-day visit, also trashed the BJPs threat to impose Presidents Rule in Kerala and said a lot had changed in the country since the state government was dismissed in 1959 by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. "Threats to impose Presidents Rule will not affect us. The state government was once dismissed in 1959. Since then, a lot has changed in the country. They (BJP) need to understand that," he said. Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who was in Kerala last week, had warned the CPI(M)-led LDF government in the state of "serious consequences" if it continued to "unleash political violence" on its rivals. The BJP will stage a day-long sit-in at Kerala House here tomorrow to protest the "violence" in the state. Asked about a recent alleged political murder in Kannur district, Vijayan said the government was mulling convening an all-party meeting to resolve the issue. "We had called an all-party meet earlier to ensure peace. We are planning to convene one such meeting again," he added. Earlier in the day, Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed Keralas ration issue and other pending projects with him. PTI RRT RC --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Jan 22 (PTI) Top Republican Senator John McCain today called for a thorough investigation into alleged Russian hacking efforts during the presidential election and asserted that Moscow imperilled the foundation of a democracy. "What the Russians did was imperil the very fundamental of a democracy and that is to affect the election. I dont believe there is any evidence that they did. But the attempt was very sophisticated. The attempt was much more far-reaching than we had ever anticipated," McCain told ABC News. advertisement "And so there has to be a full and complete investigation. That should guide our relations to a large degree with Russia," he said and called for an Congressional investigations into the alleged Russian hacking attempts. Deeply concerned about US relationship with Russia, McCain said new US President Donald Trump has around him a national security team that is very concerned as well. All of them including the Defence Secretary, General (rtd) James Mattis or the Homeland Security Secretary General (rtd) John Kelly or the National Security Advisor General Flynn view Russia as major challenge. "They (Russians) have committed war crimes. They have," he alleged. "When you have airplanes with precision weapons, striking hospitals in Aleppo and slaughtering innocent men, women and children, youre committing a war crime. So we need more sanctions against Russia. We should not relax them," he said. "If we have peace through strength -- and, by the way, rebuilding our military is one thing that Im excited about this administration and General Mattis. But, if we dont keep those sanctions on and even increase them, it will encourage Vladimir Putin, who is a war criminal," McCain said. McCain said he favours nomination of Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State. "I will be voting in favour of his nomination. I have had numerous conversations with him. And, again, my concerns have been about our relations with Russia. And his past relations, I believe -- and Im very cautious about this -- but I believe that Mr. Tillerson understands the importance of a steadfast and strong relationship," he said. PTI LKJ ASK ASK --- ENDS --- While the Samajwadi Party and Congress have sealed the deal for pre-poll arrangement for the UP assembly elections, Gandhi pocket boroughs Rae Bareli and Amethi remain unfinished task of the tie-up. By India Today Web Desk: The Samajwadi Party and Congress announced their alliance for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls yesterday evening, but the political bastions of the Gandhi family remain an unfinished agenda of the pre-election arrangement. Rae Bareli and Amethi are symbolic to Congress for being associated with the Gandhi family members for decades. Rae Bareli is represented by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, while party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is an elected MP from Amethi. advertisement READ| Samajwadi Party seals deal with Congress; keeps 298 seats, concedes 105 GANDHI POCKET BOROUGHS In the past, former prime minister Indira Gandhi represented Rae Bareli in Parliament while Amethi sent first Sanjay Gandhi and later former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to the Lok Sabha. Both Rae Bareli and Amethi have five assembly seats each. Congress and Gandhi family have been very possessive of the two parliamentary constituencies. However, hours after the alliance with the Congress was announced, the Samajwadi Party released its list of 77 candidates including two from assembly segments falling under Rae Bareli leaving out three seats for Congress. WATCH: SAMAJWADIS EYE GANDHI BASTIONS The Samajwadi Party has also nominated two candidates from assembly seas falling under Amethi parliamentary constituency. The SP has projected controversial but heavy-weight Gayari Prajapati from Amethi seat, on which Congress leader Amita Singh has placed her claim. She had represented the seat in the past. READ| Akhilesh Yadav at SP manifesto release: Even opponents will vote for us if they ride on our expressway Amita Singh is the wife of Congress' UP poll campaign incharge Sanjay Singh, who claims to have had a word with Sonia Gandhi about Amethi assembly seat. He says that Sonia Gandhi has given a go ahead for Amita Singh to contest from Amethi. The tussle for Rae Bareli looks very obvious between the alliance partners even though Congress' UP incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad denies such reports saying, "There was no such talk. We wanted seats in every region, be it eastern UP, western or central UP, Bundelkhand." But, party workers on ground tell a different story. ALSO READ| Why Akhilesh took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi just after SP-Congress alliance ALSO WATCH| --- ENDS --- Poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar thinks it's the economic divide and social segregation that is causing so many rapes in India. By Indo-Asian News Service: Celebrated Indian poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar on Sunday rebuffed claims that Westernisation leads to rapes and other crimes against women. In response to a question from the audience at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Akhtar said Indian actors going to Hollywood or some popstar "performing in Bengaluru" does not lead to molestation and rape. Incidents of molestation were reported in Bengaluru on New Year's eve, following which a concert by French DJ David Guetta was cancelled, first in Bengaluru and then in Mumbai. advertisement "Westernisation in no way leads to such incidents," Akhtar said. "It is because of two basic reasons: social segregation and economic divide." The 72-year-old lyricist reminded the audience that a vast majority of young men living in towns do not even talk for more than five minutes with a girl until they reach the age of 25. "This is how we define our 'sabhyata' (culture). "How would somebody, who has never even spoken to a girl, appreciate her and understand that she is something more than her body? For him, it is only body and lust." This segregation of the society, according to Akhtar, results in an "unwanted temperament" among young men and that is the reason for such incidents. "The other reason is the economic divide. What happened to the girl in Delhi does not reflect lust or want for sex. It showed anger, frustration and how much of venom they had against the society. They did not just rape her, it was brutality." It is because there is an economic divide. "People come from small towns, live in shabby conditions and they see the rich and affluent leading luxurious life. Added to it is their previous experience--segregation. They have not talked properly to a girl ever." Akhtar contended that the "future definitely belongs to women, not to men". He also warned that blaming everything on Westernisation was not the solution to the problem. "If you do wrong diagnosis of the disease of your country, then you can never get rid of it. You have to accept the real reasons that lead to such incidents." The session, After the Angry Young Man, the Traditional Woman, What?, was one of the most awaited sessions at the 10th edition of JLF and drew a packed audience. Among other issues, he shared his perspective on the "adarsh bharatiya nari" (the ideal Indian woman) as depicted in Hindi cinema. "We have seen that there used to be two women in our films earlier: one, the 'adarsh bharatiya nari', who would do all things good, respect her husband and so on and so forth; and then, there would be the other one, who did everything that the audience wanted to see. advertisement "After a husband would come home drunk from a 'mujra', the 'adarsh bharatiya nari' was expected to remove his shoes and provide him comfort. But this definition is now changing. Women in our films are more progressive today." Praising movies like Piku, Pink and Dil Dhadakne Do, he said the roles of women in such films truly portray the changing social status-quo in India. "To establish that you are empowered, you do not need to smoke a cigarette onscreen or boast to sleep with a number of men from various nationalities. Empowerment doesn't mean this." "The role that Katrina played in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara truly represents an empowered woman. When she is in a swimsuit, you are not looking at her body or figure but at her as a teacher, and it is both played and portrayed brilliantly," he said. The celebrated lyricist expressed his disappointment over item songs, saying they simply mean, "they are not related to the movie". Among the most respected Indian poets, lyricists and script writers, Akhtar is a man of all seasons. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri (1999), Padma Bhushan (2007) and the Sahitya Akademi Award as well as 13 Filmfare Awards. advertisement --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, Jan 23 (PTI) Two small finance banks -- Suryoday and Utkarsh -- commenced operations today, the Reserve Bank said. With this, the number of small finance banks (SFBs) operating in India has risen to four. In September 2015, the RBI had issued in-principle approval to 10 SFB applicants. Suryoday Micro Finance Private Limited, Navi Mumbai and Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Limited, Varanasi were among the 10 applicants. advertisement Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFBL) and Capital Small Finance Bank had started operations last year. Small finance banks will offer basic banking services, accepting deposits and lending to unserved and under-served sections including small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries, and entities in the unorganised sector, RBI said when it released guidelines for such banks in November. PTI NKD ABM --- ENDS --- By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, who has been living in exile since 1994 after facing the ire of fundamentalists, said India urgently needed a uniform civil law. During a surprise session at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2017 in Diggi Palace, the controversial writer also said criticism of Islam is the only way to establish secularism in Islamic countries. advertisement Outside the JLF venue, Muslim organisations protested against the participation of Taslima Nasreen at the festival. "Taslima was thrown out of Bangladesh. She was allowed to stay in this country, but she has got too much freedom," said Qari Moinuddin, convenor, Rajasthan Muslim Forum. "The JLF organizers have assured us that they will never call these two people (Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen) to the Jaipur Literature Festival again without consulting us," said the convenor of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum. ALSO READ: Uniform Civil Code soon? Modi government writes to Law Commission Here is what Taslima Nasreen said at the Jaipur Literature Festival: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life," Taslima said at a session titled Exile. "They issue fatwas against you and they want to kill you. But why do they need to do so? If they disagree with me, they can write against me, share their views like we do. They can have conversations rather than fatwas," the 55-year-old writer said. Nasreen said Muslim women are "oppressed" and that uniform civil law is the need of the hour to protect their rights. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against a uniform civil law? Is not having a uniform civil law democratic," the author of 'Lajja' said. "A uniform civil law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why are they not ready to accept criticism," the Bangladeshi author said. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she maintained. "Why shouldn't Muslim women have the same rights? Is it democracy? Encouraging fundamentalists and misogynists from any side is neither democratic nor secular. I am against all kinds of fundamentalists. Without serious criticism of Islam, you will not be able to make Islamic countries secular. The women will continue to suffer and be oppressed," she said. (with inputs from IANS) ALSO READ: Self-censorship is worst form of censorship: Taslima Nasreen How Modi government set wheels of uniform civil code in motion ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- The much talked of Congress-SP union finally has happened for the upcoming Assembly polls in 2017. SP V-P Kiranmoy Nanda, state president Naresh Utam and UP PCC chief Raj Babbar in a joint press conference in Lucknow on Sunday. By Rajat Rai: After reaching to a seat-sharing formula with the ruling Samajwadi Party, the Congress envoy to the 'peace talks' was seen countering some other problems. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, who reached Lucknow to held talks with the SP, denied going to the SP office for talks. The past and present political affiliation of UP Congress chief on Sunday not only led to a political confusion, but also forced both the SP and the Congress to choose a neutral venue, with Babbar declaring the seat-sharing formula between the two allies at the Taj Hotel. advertisement Babbar hoped the SP-Congress alliance will reap a bumper electoral harvest in the state and fulfil aspriations of all sections of the society.Also read | UP polls: SP-Congress alliance official; Akhilesh to lead coalition "Our ideologies are not different. We share many common ideologies," he said, adding both the parties believed in social justice and development, peace and good atmosphere. However, the handshake between Babbar and UP SP chief Naresh Uttam only lasted for four to five seconds before both of them left in separate vehicles for their destinations. Both the leaders were visibly uncomfortable for sharing their party offices to declare the pact. Meanwhile, Akhilesh declared his third list of 77 candidates later on Sunday evening. However, the list spared the Amethi district and two of the five seat of the Rae Barelli district. Till date, Akhilesh has declared 286 candidates and according to the formula, the Congress will contest 105 seats and the SP will be contesting on the remaining 298. With 286 candidates declared by the SP, 12 seats are still to be declared by the SP. Also read | Why Akhilesh took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi just after SP-Congress alliance Babbar was a SP leader in his earlier political career but he switched to Congress after Amar Singh's CDs (containing revelations of many political, business houses and media) had surfaced. The formal announcement of SP-Congress alliance took place after hectic parleys and tough bargain by the two sides over last several days before they agreed to 298-105 formula with the grand old party as the junior partner in the pre-poll arrangement to thwart BJP's attempt to storm back into power after 15 years. The deal was sealed after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav agreed to give 105 seats to Congress, which was looking for an honourable escape from its earlier position of contesting alone on all seats in UP.Also read | UP Assembly polls: Akhilesh declares first list, baffles Congress' dreams of alliance The negotiation seemed to have hit a stalemate Saturday, when the Congress rejected the SP's offer to contest on around 100 seats. advertisement At one point, Akhilesh Yadav reportedly offered even less than 80 seats to the Congress, saying he had to accommodate the supporters of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, with whom the UP CM was engaged in a bitter fight for the control over the Samajwadi Party. However, timely intervention by Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi and some acute political acumen shown by party's UP incharge Gulam Nabi Azad saved the alliance. Finally, Akhilesh agreed to give five more seats to the Congress giving a respectable 105 assembly seats to contest. The Congress happily accepted the offer. With inputs from agencies Also read | Uttar Pradesh election: Congress releases list of 41 candidates for first, second phase --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Trump told the business leaders that they are welcome to Trump told the business leaders that they are welcome to compete within the US, but he would not like if they ship jobs out of the country. "A company that wants to fire all of its people in the US and build some factory someplace else and then thinks that that product is gonna just flow across the border into the US, thats not gonna happen. Theyre gonna have a tax to pay, a substantial border tax," said the new President. advertisement "Some people would say thats not free trade, but we dont have free trade now because were the only one that makes it easy to come into the country. If you look at China, if you look at many other countries...many other countries, they cant believe what we do. "So we take in things free, and yet, if you wanna take a plant or you wanna do something, you wanna sell something into China and other countries, its very, very hard," he said, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. "In some cases, its impossible. They wont even take your product. But when they do take your product, they charge a lot of tax. So I dont call that free trade. What we want is fair trade, fair trade. We are gonna treat countries fairly, but they have to treat us fairly," Trump said. "If theyre gonna charge tax to our countries -- if as an example, we sell a car into Japan and they do things to us that make it impossible to sell cars in Japan, and yet, they sell cars into us and they come in like by the hundreds of thousands on the biggest ships Ive ever seen, we have to all talk about that. Its not fair, its not fair," Trump said. Promising the business leaders that he will not impose any new tax, Trump said: "All you have to do is stay. Dont leave, dont fire your people in the US, we have the greatest people." The top business leaders attended the meeting were Michael S Dell (Dell Technologies), Jeff M Fettig (Whirlpool), Mark Fields (Ford Motor Company), Alex Gorsky (Johnson & Johnson), Marillyn A Hewson (Lockheed Martin), Klaus Kleinfeld (Arconic), Andrew N Liveris (Dow Chemical), Mario Longhi (US Steel), Elon R Musk (SpaceX), Kevin Plank (Under Armour), Mark S Sutton (International Paper) and Wendell P Weeks (Corning). The Vice President Mike Pence was also present at the meeting along with other senior officials. PTI LKJ PMS --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Kathmandu, Jan 23 (PTI) Two Indian nationals have been arrested by Nepal police here on charges of stealing NRs 600,000 from bank accounts of many people by forging debit cards and hacking their ATM pin. Iqtedar Khan, 23, from Chandigarh and Niranjan Mehta, 33, from Delhi were attested from the capitals tourist hub Thamel on January 12 after police examined CCTV footage from multiple ATM booths in the Kathmandu Valley. advertisement The Nepal Polices Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) had swung into action after receiving numerous complaints from the public that they lost balance from their bank accounts though they did not withdrawn any money, the Himalayan Times reported. According to the police, the duo had withdrawn around Nepali rupees 600,000 from around 20 ATMs in the past one month. Police also seized mobile phones, Rs 8,000 cash, a forged ATM card among other materials from their possession. If convicted, the suspects would face a jail sentence up to five years and a fine equal to the amount they defrauded, police informed. PTI SUA NSA --- ENDS --- The Finance Minister's Budget speech is usually peppered with business terms which one needs to be aware of to make sense of the budget. Here are 15 such words or terms which will help you decode the budget. By India Today Web Desk: The Union Budget is scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 1 instead of usual February 28. Preparing the Union Budget is a gigantic task involving months of data crunching by government officials. The Finance Minister's Budget speech is usually peppered with business terms which one needs to be aware of to make sense of the budget. Here are 15 such words or terms which will help you decode the budget. Income Tax: Tax imposed by the government on individuals income or other source of income from investments done. Indirect Taxes: Customs, excise and service taxes come under this category. Indirect taxes have nothing to do with one's income and equal impact on people with different payscales. Direct Taxes: This is levied on the income or profits of the person who pays it, rather than on goods or services. This includes tax on individuals and corporates. Excise Duties: Tax imposed on goods produced within the geographical boundary of the country. Customs Duties: Tax levied on imported goods. This is done to support country's domestic products to compete with foreign made goods. Corporate Tax: Tax imposed on corporate houses, firms. This is one of the top sources of yearly revenue. Fiscal Deficit: When the government's total expenditure is more than the revenue generated. Balance of Payment: Record of all economic transactions between the residents of a country and rest of the world in a said period of time. Balance Budget: When the total revenue and expenditure of a state is equal. Budgetary Deficit: This is an important indicator to measure the economical health of a state. When the total revenue of the government is less than the expenditure then it is known as deficit budget. Disinvestment: In common parlance, disinvestment means sale, partly or fully, of a government-owned entity. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): It stands for market value of all final goods and services produced in the country with a period. Financial Year: Financial year starts from April 1 and ends on March 31 of the succeeding year. Exemption: Any income which does not form part of the taxable income of the tax payer. Capital Asset: Capital asset means property of any kind held by any person whether or not the same is connected with his business or profession. advertisement ALSO READ: Budget to be presented on February 1, says Supreme Court in setback for Opposition ahead of Assembly elections Budget on February 1: Here is wishlist of Dabbawalas for Mumbai local trains --- ENDS --- Instead of the usual February 28, the 2017-18 Budget is scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 1, only a few days before Assembly elections kick off. By India Today Web Desk: In a big setback for the Opposition, the Supreme Court today rejected a petition seeking the advancement of the Union Budget from the proposed date of February 1 to the end of the Assembly elections in five states, beginning February 4. Dismissing the petition filed by Delhi-based advocate ML Sharma, the apex court said there is no proposition in the law to interfere in the matter. "There is no illustration to support that the presentation of the Union Budget would influence the voters' mind in state elections," the Supreme Court said. advertisement Instead of the usual February 28, the 2017-18 Budget is scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 1, only a few days before Assembly elections kick off in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur from February 4 and go on till March 8. ALSO READ | State elections announced: Should Union Budget be presented, 3 days before Punjab, Goa vote? The Opposition had alleged that the government may announce special sops for the five states going to the polls, and claimed it was a violation of the model code of conduct. BJP HAD OBJECTED IN 2012 Last week, the Election Commission had also asked the Centre about the procedure followed by the government of the day when presentation of the Union Budget in 2012 was delayed. In 2012, when the ruling BJP was in the Opposition, it and other Opposition parties had objected to the Union Budget presentation during the Assembly elections. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had then deferred the Union Budget presentation from February 28 to March 16. However, the present government, in its earlier response on January 10, is learnt to have described the Union Budget as an exercise covering the entire country and not just a few states. WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: New York, Jan 23 (PTI) In a gaffe, Donald Trump has misspelled honour in one of his first tweets as US President, evoking both amused and critical responses on the social media giant. Trump, an avid Twitter user, may have become the leader of the free world but moving to the White House does not seem to have helped his spelling. advertisement "I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!", he tweeted shortly after assuming his office. Instead of using the US spelling of honored or even the British spelling honoured, Trump decided to spell it in a completely different (and incorrect) way. The tweet was quickly deleted and re-posted with the correct spelling, but not before a number of people had replied querying the Presidents spelling. "Good grief. Four more years of this," wrote one on Twitter. Another accused the Republican of being "the most illiterate president ever". "Its kinda fitting that he doesnt know how to spell "honor" lol." The New York Times reported that the 70-year-old Trump swapped out his phone for a secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess. In December, Trump tweeted that China had ripped a research drone out of international waters in an unpresidented act. It was soon corrected to unprecedented. In February, he also boasted about his performance at CNNs Republican debate in Houston, tweeting, "Wow, every poll said I won the debate last night. Great honer!" PTI AMS NSA AMS --- ENDS --- The BJP sees this alliance as a bit of a setback as it feels that the tie-up has the potential to appeal to that segment of voters, who have been hitherto inimical to the Samajwadi party. By Brijesh Pandey: How powerful and game changing is the alliance between Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Rahul Gandhi's Congress is one question that is on everyone's mind in UP. And the parties keeping tab very closely are BJP and the BSP. The BJP sees this alliance as a bit of a setback as it feels that the tie-up has the potential to appeal to that segment of voters, who have been hitherto inimical to the Samajwadi party. advertisement Both the BJP and BSP are wary of the message that this alliance may send to the Muslim voters- that the SP-Congress alliance is a better alternative to vote en bloc. IS THE BJP OVERTLY WORRIED ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT? There is mixed feeling within the party to this development. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "To save his career, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has chosen to sit on the carrier of Akhilesh Yadav, but will it help them is a big question mark." He went on to add that if the Samajwadi Party was confident of its position and manifesto then it would not have gone ahead with this alliance. Both Akhilesh and Rahul have failed on this front, Patra said. A senior BJP leader in an off record conversation said that what they gathered from their informal interaction with the chatter in SP circles was that "the Congress doesn't stand a chance to get more than 60 seats in the alliance as they are a non entity in the state". "But for the SP to move from this position to agreeing to give 105 seats to the Congress makes it very clear that they are nervous," the BJP leader said. The senior BJP leader further gave example of BSP saying, "Win or loss, she (Mayawati) is clear that she won't have a pre poll alliance and it's an indicator of her level of confidence." "Those who are drawing a parallel between this alliance and the Mahagatbandhan in Bihar are erring majorly. That situation will emerge only if the BSP and SP enter into an alliance in UP. Then with this formidable caste combination even the Congress might end up getting some seats like in Bihar," the BJP leader said rejecting the suggestion that BJP would meet the same fate as Bihar assembly polls. He added, "Since Bihar model was victorious, it is repeated (in statements) so often. However, the SP-Congress alliance is very much on the model of disastrous coalition in West Bengal of left parties and Congress." Another BJP leader speaking on the issue said if the supposed Muslim polarisation happens then it can also lead to a counter polarization in favour of the BJP. He said that both SP and Congress are fighting a battle for survival and it is because of this they have entered into this alliance "but not much will change". advertisement "This coalition will only help the Congress to marginally improve its performance as on its own they would not have touched double digit," claimed the BJP leader. ALSO READ:Why BJP is spooked by a Bihar-style Grand Alliance in Uttar Pradesh BJP set to win Uttar Pradesh: India Today-Axis Opinion Poll shows demonetisation is good for Modi --- ENDS --- On his first day as president, Trump said he had a "running war" with the media and accused journalists of underestimating the number of people who turned out for his swearing-in. By Reuters: The White House vowed on Sunday to fight the news media "tooth and nail" over what it sees as unfair attacks, with a top adviser saying the Trump administration had presented "alternative facts" to counter low inauguration crowd estimates. On his first full day as president, Trump said he had a "running war" with the media and accused journalists of underestimating the number of people who turned out Friday for his swearing-in. advertisement White House officials made clear no truce was on the horizon on Sunday in television interviews that set a much harsher tone in the traditionally adversarial relationship between the White House and the press corps. "The point is not the crowd size. The point is the attacks and the attempt to delegitimise this president in one day. And we're not going to sit around and take it," Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said on "Fox News Sunday." ALSO READ | Donald Trump's 'war with media' raises questions of trust The sparring with the media has dominated Trump's first weekend in office, eclipsing debate over policy and Cabinet appointments. It was the main theme at the Republican president's first visit to the CIA, at the press secretary's first media briefing and in senior officials' first appearances on the Sunday talk shows. Together, they made clear the administration will continue to take an aggressive stance with news organizations covering Trump. "We're going to fight back tooth and nail every day and twice on Sunday," Priebus said. MEDIA MANIPULATED INAUGURATION DAY PHOTOS? He repeated White House press secretary Sean Spicer's assertions on Saturday that the media manipulated photographs of the National Mall to make the crowds on Friday look smaller than they really were. Aerial photographs showed the crowds were significantly smaller than when Barack Obama took over as president in 2009. The Washington subway system said it had 1,93,000 riders by 11AM (1600 GMT) on Friday, compared with 5,13,000 at that time during the 2009 inauguration. Spicer's categorical assertion that "this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - period" was widely challenged in media reports citing crowd count experts and was lampooned on social media as well. Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" why the press secretary was uttering provable falsehoods, White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway fired back. ALSO READ | 7 Modi-isms in US President Donald Trump's inaugural speech "If we are going to keep referring to our press secretary in those types of terms I think that we are going to rethink our relationship here," she said. advertisement Conway responded to criticism that the new administration was focusing on crowds rather than on significant domestic and foreign policy issues by saying: "We feel compelled to go out and clear the air and put alternative facts out there." Priebus and Conway focused on a press pool report that said the bust of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office after Trump took office. The report on Friday night was quickly corrected, but Trump called out the reporter by name during a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency on Saturday. Spicer also berated the reporter later in the day. RUSSIAN SHADOWS With the November 8 election results shadowed by US intelligence reports of Russian meddling on his behalf, Trump has bristled at reports suggesting his popular support is soft and that the election was not legitimate. Trump, who lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes, made no mention of Russia in his first visit to the CIA on Saturday. He praised his nominee to head the agency, Mike Pompeo, and ranted against the "dishonest" media, a favorite target during his presidential campaign. advertisement The president accused the media of fabricating his tensions with the US intelligence community, despite his frequent posts on Twitter that derided the agencies. Trump drew criticism from Democrats as well as former CIA Director John Brennan for his remarks at the agency, where he spoke before a memorial wall with stars representing personnel killed in action. "President Trump ought to realise he's not campaigning any more. He's president," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on ABC's "This Week." "Instead of talking about how many people showed up at his inauguration, he ought to be talking about how many people are going to stay in the middle class and move into the middle class." ALSO READ | Trump trade strategy starts with quitting Asia pact --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Yavatmal, Jan 22 (PTI) A woman died apparently due to botched tubectomy procedure at a family planning camp held at a public health centre in Belora village in district while two others are hospitalised, a senior medical officer said today. The relatives of the victims have demanded registration of an FIR against the concerned medical officer who performed the procedure. advertisement The incident occurred on Thursday at the camp organised by the Medical Officer of Belora PHC, where at least fifteen women from the village underwent tubectomy. However, after the procedure, health of at least three women deteriorated, following which their relatives rushed them to the government hospital in Pusad and then to GMC Hospital in Yavatmal on the advice of doctors. When contacted, the Dean of GMC Dr. Ashok Rathod has confirmed the incident and said one Sharada Kale (26) was brought dead to the hospital while two other women remain admitted, one of them in critical condition. Pusad taluka Medical Officer Dr. Chandrashekhar Bhongade has said an enquiry was ordered into the incident to find out if the concerned Medical Officer is guilty of dereliction of duty. The villagers alleged the PHC Medical Officer was callous and often delegates his duty to a nurse. No police case has been filed so far. PTI CORR NSK BAS --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: The Women's March that followed President Donald Trump's inauguration day, caused a huge furore in its remarkable attempt to herald an end to the beginning of a new era of dictatorship. When women all across the globe and their supporters took to the streets to stand in solidarity against Trump's fascist regime, they garnered empathy indeed but was not bereft of controversy. advertisement Some have been sceptical if the march would be an end in itself. Some wonder if this march would rightly pave way to address not just white woman's feminism but the over-all issue of equality and human rights. We cannot certify what this would lead to but, at least, one cannot deny that such a mass uprising is commendable in its very approach of flagging issues that might impact civilisation in general. Among those numerous posters and placards that made news, what caught one's eye are women wearing colourful hijabs. And it is not just any hijab. Take a closer look and you will find they are made out of the American flag. Also Read: Japan threatens India with WTO on steel as Donald Trump era heralds rising tensions Ever since his election campaign days, Trump has posed himself as the new manifest of bigotry, claiming to ban Muslims and other immigrants from the country altogether. The very juxtaposition of the national flag modified into the hijab underlines the message that has driven the march: The President is not America; it is the people in their diversity who constitute America. And the American salad bowl cannot deny religious freedom to any of its residents. The hijab has been fetishized ever since the world blindly started attributing all terrorist activities to a particular community. Earlier, the burkini ban in France and the ban on hijab in Germany had also resulted in a lot of protests. What one should not forget at this point is that the hijab has not only been identified as a religious symbol but has also instigated cultural sexism. For women wearing the hijab have long been subjected to verbal and physical abuse in every corner of the world. The flag hijabs thus seem to stand against marginalisation on two levels- as a Muslim, and also as a brown, Muslim woman. The world is now perhaps in greater need of inclusive uprisings that would extend beyond the white woman's umbrella to embrace a broader perspective of feminism. --- ENDS --- At least 52 fighters among Shiite Huthi rebels and troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh Ali Abdullah Saleh and 14 members of pro-government forces were killed in clashes. By Agencies: At least 66 people have been killed in the last 24 hours in violent clashes in Yemen, medics and security sources have said, as pro-government forces are pushing to oust rebels from a key stretch of the coastline. In air strikes launched by a Saudi-led coalition and fighting near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, at least 52 fighters among Shiite Huthi rebels and troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh Ali Abdullah Saleh were killed, according to sources. advertisement Also read | 60 feared drowned in Yemen after boat disappears 14 members of the pro-government forces also lost their lives. Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi launched a major offensive on January 7 to retake the Dhubab district overlooking the Bab al-Mandab, which is a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. REBELS BEING ATTACKED BY WARPLANES Coalition warplanes and Apache attack helicopters have been attacking rebels in support of pro-Hadi forces advancing towards the Red Sea city of Mokha, if military sources are to be believed. So far, loyalist forces are within 10 kilometres (six miles) of Mokha, they said, but the offensive has been slowed by mines laid by rebels. The rebels took those dead among them to a military hospital in Hodeida, a major western port city they control, a medical source said. The hospital received 14 dead on Saturday and 38 on Sunday, as well as 55 wounded rebels, the source added. Also read | Sushma Swaraj tweets to respond to ISIS-abducted Indian priest's video appeal Among those pro-government, 14 soldiers were killed and 22 others injured, according to medics in the southern port city of Aden where Hadi's government is based. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 in support of the beleaguered president. But despite its vastly superior firepower, rebels and their allies still control the capital Sanaa and much of the central and northern highlands, as well as the 450-kilometre (280-mile) Red Sea coast. UN ENVOY REACHES SANAA FOR TALKS United Nations peace envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed reached Sanaa on Sunday for talks and to push a peace plan that would restore a ceasefire and lead to a political transition in the country. Also read | Saudi led-air strike kills 82 in Yemen The plan would lead to a political transition that would significantly reduce Hadi's powers. The World Health Organization says that more than 7,400 people have been killed since the coalition intervention began. A UN spokesman has said the civilian death toll alone could go as high as 10,000. --- ENDS --- advertisement ________________________ Best in the State Washington Post's The Fix, 2011, 2009 Best in Pittsburgh Region PoliticsPA, 2011 "[W]idely cited as one of the oldest and most-read political blogs in the city" Pittsburgh City Paper, 2007 ________________________ Buyer Project at Inspiramais helps business expansion Brazil Positive balance for the 15th edition of Inspiramais, the Brazilian design and innovation exhibition aimed at the leather and textile value chains held on January 16-17 in Sao Paulo, with exhibitors reporting new projects and developments. According to Assintecal, the Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear and Manufactured Goods, around US$250,000 was generated in direct business during the two-day event, thanks to the business rounds organised by its Buyer Project, which welcomed ten importers from Latin American countries, such as footwear manufacturers from Ecuador and Colombia. Sustainability was the greatest highlight of this edition, with proposals across the entire value chain, from leathers and accessories to clothing and shoes. A variety of sustainable projects were presented, including Mix by Brasil, Sustainable Origin, EcoDesign, and Handcraft Knowledge, through which visitors had the opportunity to become familiar with new perspectives and proposals for the fashion industry. 18 tanneries participated at the 15th edition of Inspiramais, showcasing their collection at the Leather Preview space set up by the CICB, the Brazilian Centre for the Tanning iIndustry. Assintecal expects total business generated during the event to exceed US$ 2 million in the next few months. The Trump Administration Will Have to Clean Up a Mess with Iran... The nuclear accord has been successively violated by the Iranian regime. Tehran continues its executions, human rights violations and ongoing oppression of ordinary citizens inside the country. Tehran has continued exporting the Islamic Revolution by engulfing the entire Middle East, as we are witnessing so vividly today in Syria. Additionally, the regime has either stretched or actually violated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), by exceeding the heavy water-level limit. Reinstating the Iran Sanctions Act was a very important first step. This set an example of what is necessary, so that Iran understands there will be consequences for violations. Still, we need to go beyond and build upon this momentum. Alavi believes that its the time to counter Irans terrorism, calling it the leading state-sponsor of terrorism. He wrote, Iran is busy destabilizing Syria with an incredible human catastrophe, as in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, boasting about enjoying control over four Arab capitals of the region. The change we have seen in this regard is that Tehran is willing to dispatch tens of thousands of proxy militias to Syria and repeat a Srebrenica-style massacre, caring not an iota about how the international community might respond. Let us hope Aleppo has opened our eyes to the horrific potential in Irans support for extremism and its export of Islamic fundamentalism. Irans missile tests have continued to violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. These ballistic missile tests are not consistent with the constructive spirit of the JCPOA, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report. Reports also indicate the Iran-fostered and -nurtured Lebanese Hezbollah boasts of stocking over 120,000 missiles in its arsenal. This is the time to confront Iran over its violation of human rights on its own home turf. In 2009, the Iranian people revolted for their God-given rights, shaking the very pillars of the regimes foundations. And yet former U.S. President Barack Obama, then recently elected to the White House by the American people with high hopes of change, failed to respond to their cries for support. The oppression and repression of the mullahs regime that followed is something the world should never forget, wrote Alavi. The appeasement policy with Iran, did not change the regimes course, nor their designs. They have not changed their dominant focus. Alavi believes the this is the time for the United States to respond. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), in cooperation with Senator Robert Corker (R-TN), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Countering Iran Threat Act. This is an initiative that he recommends the next Congress build upon. He says that it can be the building blocks of the West, spearheaded by America, that will deter Iranian aggression, and can lead the world to a better day and a higher hopes that the Iranian people can achieve the freedom the democratic world enjoys today. America is entering a new era national security policy. A letter, hand-delivered to U.S. President Donald Trump, signed by nearly two dozen former senior U.S. government officials, in a rare bipartisan agreement, urged the new administration to work with the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran. Alavi believes this to be one focus of the Trump administrations foreign policy, and the agenda of the new Congress. The Iranian mullah administration looks upon the Gulf leaders with great suspicion, as it perceives both Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf States as proxies of United States interests in the Middle East, and has always wanted to see the downfall of the Gulf monarchies, with an Iranian-style Islamic republic installed to replace them. But besides this, the mullahs also lay claim to Bahrain, which the Iranian leadership still perceives as sovereign Iranian territory, he writes. Iran declared Bahrain to be its 14th province, not long after Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in 1979. Later, in February 2009,an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Ali Akbar Nuri, announced that until Bahrains independence, the kingdom was represented in the Iranian parliament as Irans 14th province, and in the eyes of the regimes clerical leadership, it still is. Mass anti-government riots took place in Tunisia, in December 2010, and countries like Algeria, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen began felt the fallout, as the insurrection spread across the region, and governments were being shaken or overthrown. The Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14, 2011. Following this, on February 11, Egypts President Hosni Mubarak resigned. The stirrings of dissent reached Syria that same month. Mass demonstrations took place in Bahrain, and on August 23, came the overthrow of Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. The Arab Spring was in full swing. Protests, demonstrations, and uprisings continued across the region, but it was the upheaval in Egypt and Bahrain that unsettled the Gulf nations especially, as Saudi Arabias near neighbor and ally Bahrain faced mass protests from the countrys Shia community, whipped up by a pro-Iranian political group. With Bahrains anti-monarchist Shia opposition Al Wefaq leading the protests, the Bahraini government picked up intelligence of a Hezbollah presence on the streets, stirring up rioters, and with broadcasts coming through Hezbollahs radio network, egging the protestors on, the situation became ever more sinister, writes Duheaume, adding, With Hezbollah being a known proxy of the Iranian regime, which would never make such moves without the blessing of its Iranian backers, it all pointed to Iran being the main instigator of these riots. The regimes operatives are experts in concealing their true identity and allegiance, they infiltrate various institutions, including Shia political organizations or Human rights groups, and through rigorous training, which they receive at Quds Force training camps in Iran or Lebanon, they have perfected the art of penetrating various groups, as well as the recruitment of volunteers to aid their cause. Duheaume says that Quds Force training camps are sophisticated facilities, who have potential recruits enter a host country through a third country to avoid detection. Recruits are carefully vetted, and are ideologically sound, and for infiltration, trainees are chosen from the targeted nation, so as not to stand out or cause suspicion. Most alarming are past statements made by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, promising to protect Shia communities across the globe. Additionally, Iran has continued to occupy the three United Arab Emirate islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb since 1971, proving that invasion by the regime could still be a possibility. The Khobar Towers attack in Saudi Arabia on June 25, 1996, in which a 19 US servicemen were killed, and injured 498 people of various nationalities, pointed towards Hezbollahs potential if it decided to strike inside the Kingdom. Duheaume writes, So with Hezbollah being an active proxy force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Quds Force, whose remit is planning and conducting attacks outside of Iran, the authorities in Bahrain knew that Iran had the means to strike, and would go to any lengths to use their terror puppet to undermine the political systems of the Gulf, which made the Bahrain riots a wakeup call for the Saudis. He continues, As the Arab Spring took hold, so did the violent turmoil, which many countries still reeling from it to this day. So not wanting to have an Iranian instigated uprising spread to its own kingdom, Saudi Arabia sent its army into Bahrain at the request of the Bahraini government to help quell the 2011 rioting, and restore order to the streets. At a time when Iranian influence seemed to be on the wane, the Arab Spring gave the Iranian leadership a confidence boost, Khamenei was convinced the uprisings were an Islamic awakening, inspired by Irans 1979 revolution. The was the point when Khamenei felt certain that the Gulf monarchies would be next. Convinced that American influence in the area severely weakened, he was sure Iran would be able step in to fill the power vacuum. Having already suffered 128 terrorist operations in the past 15 years, Saudi Arabias administration has become very vigilant as to any form of extremist activity in both Bahrain and on its own territory. A terror cell of Hezbollah activity in Bahrain was broken up recently, in 2016, when two brothers, who were said to have been members of the outlawed Al Wafa Islamic Movement, were liaising with leaders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.They were provided with $30,000 a month to aid them in setting up a new Iranian-backed terror group named Al Basta (The Gathering), meant to coordinate attacks to overthrow the Bahrain government. One of the brothers told how they had been in touch with members of the group that carried out a fatal bombing in the Shiite village of Sitra, in July 2015, killing two policemen and injured six others. He said that his other brother had travelled to Iran, stayed for two years, and became a go-between for Al Wafa in Bahrain and the Iranian regime, feeding intelligence to the IRGC about the current situation in Bahrain. Vladimir Putins backing of the Iranian regime in Syria, allowed Bashar al-Assad to regain ground, and Aleppo fell to the Syrian regime. With their military revitalised with various forms of hi-tech weaponry, Iran was becoming much bolder, which was highlighted by threats coming from senior IRGC commanders, as their rhetoric became more warlike. During a visit to Syria in June 2016, Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, threatened repercussions after Bahrains leading Shia cleric had been stripped of citizenship. The repercussions, As Soleimani saw it, repercussions would come in the form of armed resistance by the Shia community, and said Al Khalifa will definitely pay the price for that and their bloodthirsty regime will be toppled. According to Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the IRGC, the fall of Aleppo was the start of an ongoing military campaign in the region, eventually extending to the liberation of Bahrain, including an operation to secure a victory in Mosul, and taking control of the country from the government in Yemen, and giving control to Irans Houthi allies. All of this points to a very dangerous time to come. [January 23, 2017] A New World-Class Web and Mobile Apps Design and Development Agency Mentalstack, LLC has been Launched in Russia MOSCOW, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mentalstack, LLC, a web and mobile apps design and development agency, was founded in Russia and takes on projects from around the globe. The agency has more than a 90 percent satisfaction rating from their clients and often provide additional services and projects because clients are so happy with the work. The agency's clients tend to save 100 to 200 percent in comparison with the same services offered by other web and mobile app design and development companies. No matter the design or development needs, Mentalstack has the team of experts in place to handle the project. The team works in database architecture using MySQL, MS SQL Server, and MongoDB, and in backend frameworks such as Node.js, ASP.NET, PHP, and WordPress. Their expert designers and developers also work in JavaScript, Android, iOS, Hybrid mobile apps, Azure, AWS, and chatbots. "We are an agency founded with a team that truly loves the work that we do and that passion translates to our exceptional customer service and project expertise," says Kirill Karahainko, CEO of Mentalstack, LLC. "Our clients are also able to have considerable savings when using our agency, which is why we truly live by the motto - it's not required to pay much for a workable solution." Mentalstack stands behind the quality of their applications and ensures their work through multiple testing. In addition to all the upfront work the company does to gather clients' requirements, clients are able to see how things are progressing and are able to add new ideas, make changes, and add comments at any time. To ensure the highest level of customer service, each client is assigned a personal manager that guides them thrughout the project and engages them in planning and communicating with the project team. To view the company's portfolio of work as well as view their services and customer testimonials, visit Mentalstack.com. About Mentalstack, LLC Mentalstack, LLC is a web and mobile app design and development company founded in Russia that provides a full-cycle of software development from business analysis and design to implementation, testing, support and maintenance. The agency has a professional team of designers, developers and quality assurance engineers. For more information, visit Mentalstack.com. Contact Information Email: [email protected] Address: 347900, Taganrog, R. Luxemburg st, 49 Phone: +7 (499) 404-17-63 Related Files portfolio.pdf mentalstack_3_2_2.png Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg image4.jpg image5.jpg image6.jpg Related Links Portfolio Portfolio PDF 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/a-new-world-class-web-and-mobile-apps-design-and-development-agency-mentalstack-llc-has-been-launched-in-russia-300394489.html SOURCE Mentalstack LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 23, 2017] Dr. Eunseok Park Joins uSens as General Manager of Augmented and Virtual Reality Tracking Company SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- uSens, Inc., a pioneer in hand-and-head tracking technologies for Augmented and Virtual Reality, has appointed Dr. Eunseok Park to the new position of U.S. general manager. A collaborator on nearly 200 world patents, Dr. Park was most recently the U.S. regional director for Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), where he managed research and development in emerging technologies across all four U.S. sites. In his new role with uSens, Dr. Park will tap into the deep business relationships he has established with the world's leading academic and corporate research entities. "We are so proud to have a leader with the pedigree of Eunseok Park join the uSens team," said Anli He, CEO and co-founder of uSens. "He brings incomparable expertise in administration and management of engineering projects and in nurturing teams. uSens will benefit from his broad connections to attract the highest caliber of research and engineering talent and to build industry partnerships that will grow uSens' footprint in the ARVR industry." "I couldn't be more excited at the opportunity to join uSens at this stage of the company's growth. I look forward to experiencing the startup world from the inside and to apply my management and operational skills to take uSens to the next level of maturity," said Dr. Park. "During my tenure with SAIT, I established deep relationships with the top research sites across the U.S. and Europe. I'm excited to mine those connections to bring more world-class research talent into uSens, and to help uSens in the commercialization of its AR and VR tracking solutions." A Visionary Leader Dr. Eunseok Park has spent the last 11 years with the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), the main research and development center for Samsung Electronics and other businesses within the Samsung Group. Beginning his career at SAIT as a senior researcher, Dr. Park eventuallybecame regional director for Europe, where he identified and developed new areas of research in emerging technologies including mobile health. He also oversaw strategic IP for licensing or purchasing, and supported collaborations with leading European research institutes and business partners. As regional director for the U.S., Dr. Park managed R&D and operations across four sites and more than 100 employees, coordinated joint research projects with leading U.S. academic entities, and identified startups for angel and early-round investments. Dr. Park received his MS degree and PhD in electrical engineering from Syracuse University in New York, and an MBA from Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea. In addition to his extensive patent portfolio, Dr. Park is the author of many articles published for IEEE symposiums. Controller-Free Tracking in AR and VR uSens recently launched the uSens uDev network to help the developer community integrate the company's industry-leading, inside-out 26DOF (Degrees of Freedom) hand tracking and 6DOF head tracking technology in their ARVR projects. The uSens Fingo series of modules offer advanced 3D human-computer interaction capability on PC-based VR systems such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive as well as mobile platforms like Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, Google Cardboard and the new Epson Moverio BT-300 Developer Edition augmented reality (AR smart glasses. By attaching a Fingo module to the front of a head-mounted display (HMD) device holder, end users can experience their favorite apps controller-free. Fingo also enables 6DoF head position tracking through easy-to-set-up external markers. uSens is currently working with the 10 semifinalists in its uDev Challenge, which offers a total of $200,000 in cash prizes for app developers across two regional competitions in the U.S. and China. Connect with uSens: Visit the uSens uDev network portal to request a developer kit or to order a Fingo. Watch uSens technology in action: https://youtu.be/zMroCZ9uoOw. Meet live with uSens at the Game Developer Conference (GDC) Expo March 1-3 in San Francisco's Moscone Center (South Hall, booth 1942). About uSens, Inc. Founded in 2013, San Jose-based uSens, Inc. closes the gap between Virtual Reality and the real world. The pioneering ARVR company provides inside-out, 26DOF hand and 6DOF head position tracking technologies for Augmented and Virtual Reality experiences. With domain expertise in 3D HCI technology, computer vision, and artificial intelligence, uSens is leading the industry to achieve Super Reality, a truly immersive and natural ARVR experience. For more information, visit www.usens.com and follow @usensinc. 2017 uSens, Inc. uSens and Fingo are trademarks and/or registered trademark of uSens, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holder(s). PR Contact: Sarah Koniniec [email protected] (408) 884-5166 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-eunseok-park-joins-usens-as-general-manager-of-augmented-and-virtual-reality-tracking-company-300394035.html SOURCE uSens, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 23, 2017] New Board Members of the Anti-Phishing Working Group Join the Fight Against Attacks on US Democracy and $3B in Internet Crime Business Losses The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors. Brad Wardman, PhD. of PayPal, Dave Piscitello of ICANN, and Pat Cain of The Cooper Cain Group have joined the APWG Board of Directors. These board members join David Jevans and Peter Cassidy to expand the board to five members, all experts and practitioners in defending against Internet crime and identity theft. The expansion of the APWG board to include additional members, with specialist knowledge of and experience with investigating and fighting cybercrime, is recognition of the growing complexity and scale of Internet crime today and the challenges in responding to this global threat. Phishing Attacks Affected The 2016 US Presidential Election APWG Chairman David Jevans said "Internet crime and phishing has impacted democracy in the 2016 US Presidential elections with the DNC email hacking, and allegations of Russian hacking influencing the US elections. Phishing attacks were the way that these attacks originated." Mr. Jevans continued, "We are thrilled to have these three experts join the Board of Directors of APWG. Together, we will help over 2,000 member companies and government agencies worldwide to develop policy, best practices and data sharing to protect millions of people from these insidious attacks." Phishing Against Businesses Exploded in 2016, and Billions of Dollars Were Stolen The new board members could not have arrived at a more portentous moment. 2016 saw an unprecedented increase in the sophistication of email phishing targeting businesses and ransomware. Business Email Compromise (BEC) phishing, also know as CEO phishing or impostor email, is a new scheme costing companies around the world billions of dollars by targeting enterprises' operational authorities (e.g. comptroller, administrator) and executives (e.g. CEO, CFO). Ransomware attacks are equally pernicious attacks that target every Internet user: victims of ransomware phishing email unintentionally install encrypting malware on their computers and are then coerced into paying a ransom to criminals to recover (decrypt) their data. BEC phishing is estimated by the FBI to have cost businesses 3 Billion dollars by the end of 2016. Company executives and finance staff are tricked into making large payments to bank accounts controlled by attacking imposters. These attacks have ranged in size from $20,000 to more than $100 Million dollars per occurrence. Ransomware is estimated to have cost users nearly $1 Billion in 2016 alone! Expanding the Board of Directors of APWG Recognizing its responsibilities for expanding the operational capabilities of the APWG, the institution has expanded its board of directors with sector-leading directors of global repute, influence and authority who can help guide the organization in its next stage of growth. The new members of the Board of Directors of APWG are: Brad Wardman, Head of Threat Intelligence at PayPal, serves as chairman of the APWG Symposium on Electronic Crime Research. Brad is deeply versed in detecting, tracking, and fighting cybercrime, with a publication record that has pioneered ground-breaking discussions on cybercrime detection and mitigation. Brad is the inventor of 7 issued security patents and has filed an additional 10 patents with the US Patent Office. Dave Piscitello, Vice President Security and ICT Coordination at ICANN, is an Associate Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Mr. Piscitello has over 35 years of experience in information communications and technology, cyber security, and cybercrime investigations. At ICANN, he and his team coordinate global collaborative efforts by security, operations and law enforcement communities to mitigate Domain Name System abuse and malicious uses of Domain names for the Internet. Mr. Piscitello represents ICANN in global cybersecurity forums, including the Commonwealth Cybercrime Initiative and the OECD Security Experts Group. Pat Cain, CEO Cooper Cain Group, is a Resident Research Fellow of the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), and President of The Cooper-Cain Group, a Boston, Massachusetts, USA based Internet security consultancy. He has been involved in information security development and operations for over thirty years and drives APWG's data policy initiatives. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), a Certified Information System Manager (CISM) and an associate member of the American Bar Association. Mr. Cain led an effort in the IETF to standarize phishing and electronic crime reports (RFC 5901), participates in many data-sharing initiatives, has served on a United Nations identity-related crimes experts panel, and is an observer to the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) of the Council of Europe. APWG Information Sharing and Analysis The APWG eCrime Exchange (eCX) is a non-profit Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) that allows members to securely share attack information in real time. Today the APWG eCX is sharing 200 million records per month. These include phishing sites, malicious IP addresses and criminal Bitcoin addresses and transactions. APWG members can join the eCX to securely exchange threat information with other members. APWG Electronic Crime and Research Conferences In 2006, APWG established the peer-reviewed Symposium on Electronic Crime Research for original research in the field. In 2009, APWG proposed a global consumer messaging convention for a public cybersecurity awareness program, today curated by APWG and Washington, D.C.-based National Cyber Security Alliance as the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign, now active in fourteen countries with dozens more national deployments in development. With more than 2,000 institutional members worldwide, APWG is regarded by industry, governments worldwide and international treaty organizations as the leading NGO fighting cybercrime. APWG holds conferences around the globe, bringing cyber-crime and security experts together to focus on new solutions to cybercrime. APWG's directors, managers and research fellows consult with treaty organizations such as the European Commission, the G8 High Technology Crime Subgroup, Council of Europe, United Nations ODC, OSCE, Europol EC3, Commonwealth of Nations, governance bodies like the OECD, ITU and ICANN as well as national governments in all hemispheres. APWG Secretary General and co-founder Peter Cassidy said, "Cybercrime requires a new kind of technical diplomacy and vision to animate globally effective responses. To continue to develop the kind of response mechanisms that APWG deploys requires an expanded board, populated by persons with insight into the parts of the problem that are shared by all stakeholders. With Mssrs. Cain, Piscitello and Wardman, all of us are closer to imagining and establishing new universalized responses to cybercrime and establish conventions for the suppression of these now predictable risks." About the APWG The APWG, founded in 2003 as the Anti-Phishing Working Group, is a global industry, law enforcement, and government coalition of more than 2,000 institutions working to unify the global response to electronic crime. Membership is open to qualified financial institutions, online retailers, ISPs and Telcos, the law enforcement community, solutions providers, multi-lateral treaty organizations, research centers, trade associations and government agencies. The APWG's and websites offer the public, industry and government agencies practical information about phishing and electronically mediated fraud as well as pointers to pragmatic technical solutions that provide immediate protection. APWG is co-founder and co-manager of the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Messaging Convention, the global online safety public awareness collaborative and founder/curator of the Symposium on Electronic Crime Research, the world's first peer-reviewed conference dedicated specifically to electronic crime studies . Among APWG's corporate sponsors include: AhnLab, Area 1 Security, AT&T (T), Afilias Ltd., Avast!, AVG Technologies, Axur, Baidu Antivirus, Bangkok Bank, BBN Technologies, Barracuda Networks, BillMeLater, Bkav, Blue Coat, BrandMail, BrandProtect, Bsecure Technologies, CSC Digital Brand Services, Check Point Software Technologies, Claro (News - Alert), Cloudmark, Comcast, CSIRTBANELCO, Cyber Defender, CYREN, Cyveillance, DNS Belgium, DigiCert, Domain Tools, Donuts, Duo Security, Easy Solutions, PayPal, eCert, EC Cert, ESET, EST Soft, Facebook, FeelSafe Digital, FEBRABAN, Fortinet, FraudWatch International, F-Secure, GetResponse, GlobalSign, GoDaddy, Google, GroupIB, Hauri, Hitachi Systems, Ltd., Huawei, ICANN, Infoblox (News - Alert), IronPort (Cisco), ING Bank, Infoblox, Intel (INTC), Interac, Internet.bs, IT Matrix, iThreat Cyber Group, iZOOlogic, KnowBe4, LaCaixa, Lenos Software, LookingGlass, MX Tools, MailChannels, MailJet, MailChimp, MailShell, MarkMonitor, Melbourne IT, MessageLevel, Microsoft (News - Alert) (MSFT), MicroWorld, Mimecast, Mirapoint, NHN, NZRS, MyPW, nProtect Online Security, Netcraft, Network Solutions, NeuStar, Nominet, Nominum, NZRS Limited, Public Interest Registry, Panda Software, Phishlabs, PhishMe, Planty.net, Prevalent, Prevx, Proofpoint (News - Alert) (PFPT), RSA Security (EMC), Rakuten, Return Path, RiskIQ, RuleSpace, SalesForce, SecureBrain, SendGrid, S21sec, SIDN, SilverPop, SiteLock, SnoopWall, SoftForum, SoftLayer, SoftSecurity, SOPHOS, SunTrust, SurfControl, Symantec (News - Alert) (SYMC), Tagged, TDS Telecom, Telefonica (TEF), ThreatSTOP, TransCreditBank, Trend Micro (TMIC), Trustwave, Vasco (VDSI), VADE-RETRO, VeriSign, Wombat Security Technologies, Yahoo! (YHOO), and zvelo. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005735/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 23, 2017] Hyland Adds Two Data Centers in New Zealand to Support Growing Cloud Customers CLEVELAND, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyland announces the opening of two data centers in New Zealand to support the growing global demand for solutions hosted in the Hyland Cloud. The secure, privately managed, multi-instance cloud hosting platform supports in-region customers leveraging Hyland products such as OnBase, Hyland's enterprise information management platform. The collocated data centers located in Auckland and Wellington meet the rigorous standards for data sovereignty and encryption required by the New Zealand government, ensuring customer data is protected by the highest levels of digital and physical security protocols. The Hyland Cloud is flexible and responsive to unique customer security requirements providing tailored support necessary for organizations to conduct risk assessments and audits. The Hyland Cloud enables customers to adhere to strict compliance standards and keep data localized, with secondary locations, multiple copies and N+1 redundancy. Content is always secure and always available, with disaster recovery and business continuity commitments enforced in tandem. "We are expanding our footprint in the region, and with that we bring Hyland's 13 year of privately managed and secure cloud hosting expertise to both existing and new customers of all sizes and needs," said Patrick Mulcahy, vice president of global cloud services at Hyland. "By hosting information in the Hyland Cloud, organizations ensure business continuity and are able to eliminate hardware and staffing costs associated with on-premises solutions." The New Zealand data centers join Hyland's expanding list of strategic sites located across seven countries that support more than 700 hosted customers throughout the world. To learn why more and more companies are embracing the cloud philosophy, visit OnBase.com/Cloud. About Hyland Hyland is a leader in providing software solutions for managing content, processes and cases for organizations across the globe. For 25 years, Hyland has enabled more than 15,000 organizations to digitalize their workplaces and fundamentally transform their operations. Named one of Fortune's 2016 Best Companies to Work For, Hyland is widely known as both a great company to work for and a great company to do business with. For more information, please visit OnBase.com. About OnBase by Hyland OnBase is a single enterprise information platform for managing content, processes and cases deployed via mobile, on-premises or in the Hyland Cloud. Providing enterprise content management (ECM), case management, business process management (BPM), records management and capture all on a single platform, OnBase transforms organizations around the globe by empowering them to become more agile, efficient and effective. Enterprise cloud-based sharing capability for the OnBase platform is available with our complementary offering, ShareBase by Hyland. To learn more about how more than 15,000 organizations are digitizing their workplaces to transform their business operations, visit OnBase.com. Media contact: Laura Pegg +1.440.788.5632 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyland-adds-two-data-centers-in-new-zealand-to-support-growing-cloud-customers-300394855.html SOURCE Hyland Software, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This Account has been suspended. TOLEDO -- Topics regarding hunting, water quality, recreation, and logging are scheduled to be discussed during a forestry workshop Thursday. Forest landowners in Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, and Shelby counties are invited to attend this workshop at 10 a.m. in the Toledo Village Hall, 160 Court House Square. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. A free soup and sandwich lunch will be provided. During the workshop, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service representative Dan Osterman will discuss a new Cost-Share Program through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. U.S. Farm Service Agency representative Kathy Dickerson will give updates on the Conservation Reserve Program, Wade Conn will discuss practices that are eligible for the Cost-Share Program, Kurt Bobsin will talk about forest management plants, and Jay Hayek will discuss values of timberland. Thursday's outdoor session beginning at 1 p.m. will cover identification and control of common woodland invasives and timber stand improvement. Participants are advised to dress appropriately for the weather. The workshop sponsors are the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District, Lincoln Heritage Resource Conservation & Development, Cumberland County Farm Bureau, Tree Farm System, Illinois Forestry Association, andUniversity of Illinois Extension. Sheldon Peck Sheldon Peck (August 26, 1797 - March 19, 1869) was primarily known for his American folk art with his work having risen considerably over the years. His paintings can be viewed at museums throughout the United States including the Art Institute of Chicago and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. Because he never signed his work, new Peck portraits are constantly being discovered. While living in Illinois, Peck became known as a radical abolitionist who advocated for the immediate end of slavery as well as equal rights for African-Americans. With a home a few miles from Chicago, Peck actively worked to hide runaway salves on his property and then moved the freedom seekers via wagon to Chicago. From Chicago these individuals sought travel to Canada via rail or the Great Lakes. Escaping to Canada was necessary after the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 wherein escaped slaves could still be returned to bondage even if they reached free states in the North. During the 19th century the anti-slavery and temperance movements were closely linked. It was known that Peck advocated for both causes. Like many individuals at the time, Peck believed that liquor led to a variety of social and health problems. Peck also believed that free public education could be a means to protect democracy against ignorance. (Prior to the 1820s, free public education was not considered a responsibility of government.) The reform movements of the 19th century, however, changed that view. Taking action to back up his ideals of free public education he established a school in his home. He personally paid the salary for the schools teacher and invited all the children in the area to attend classes. Today, Sheldon Pecks 1839 home is owned by the Lombard Historical Society and operated as the Sheldon Peck Homestead. The home is open to the public where visitors may view both the artists paintings and read about his work as an active participant in assisting the runaway slaves reach freedom in Canada. The house is listed on the register of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom as a confirmed Underground Railroad site. In summary, Sheldon Peck is one individual who so believed in what he was doing as to place his beliefs into immediate action without thinking of what consequences might occur. MATTOON -- Trinity Episcopal Church plans to celebrate the centennial of its pipe organ by holding a special music series starting on Sunday. Both the pipe organ and its manufacturer, what is now the Reuter Organ Co., were created in 1917. The concert series at Trinity Episcopal, 2200 Western Ave., is scheduled to culminate on Nov. 19 with a recital by an executive from Reuter. Trinity Episcopal's music director and co-organist, the Rev. Allen Webner, said when church leaders realized last year that the centennial of the pipe organ was fast approaching, they decided to organize a year-long celebration to mark this milestone. "There are so few pipe organs that ever reach 100 years in this country," Webner said. He credited the longevity of the pipe organ to the congregation being able to remain in and maintain its church building for well more than 100 years now. Trinity Episcopal's church history records that the building at 2200 Western was constructed in 1872 by the Unitarian Church and that it served as the Mattoon High School building from 1885 to 1890. Trinity Episcopal, which organized in 1879, moved into this building in 1906. Webner said Trinity Episcopal ordered its pipe organ in 1917 from what was then the newly formed Reuter-Schwarz Organ Co. of Trenton. He said this pipe organ (Opus 1) was the first project for the company, but the organ was destroyed by a tornado while it was still in the factory. Reuter subsequently constructed a new pipe organ (Opus 2) and installed this instrument in early November 1917 at Trinity Episcopal. Webner said the organ was played for the first time on Nov. 18, 1917, by local businessman Thomas V. Wright, who helped with the church effort to obtain a pipe organ. The pipe organ has played a central role in Trinity Episcopal's services for a century now. Today, the organ is played by Webner and co-organist Jan Daily. "I like the organ because it is a part of history," Daily said. Webner said this instrument retains a "very pure organ sound" that is distinctive to the turn of the last century. Webner said those who gather in the sanctuary can hear the pipes "breathe" as the organ is played, adding that each pipe has its own voice. The series will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday with a concert featuring the St. Hildegard Von Bingen Schola, a choir of young women, under the direction of Barbara Konrad. This concert also will feature Miguel Ruiz, organist at St. John's Lutheran Church in Mattoon. Subsequent concerts will feature organist Michael Fisher of Emanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Champaign on March 12; and minister of music and liturgy David Perry Ouzts of the Church of the Holy Communion (Episcopal) in Memphis, Tenn., on June 11. Eastern Illinois University Director of Orchestral and Choral Activities Richard Ross will lead the concert on Sept. 10. This concert also will feature Sharilyn Spicknall, violin; Terry Coulton, violin; Elaine Fine, viola and recorder; and Martha Lhamon, cello. The series will conclude on Nov. 19 with a concert featuring Ronald Krebs, vice president of Reuter Organ Co. of Lawrence, Kan. All of the concerts will be at 3 p.m., unless otherwise noted, and will be followed by receptions at the church. More information is available by calling Trinity Episcopal, led by the Rev. Jeffrey Kozuszek, at 217-234-4514 or by visiting www.facebook.com/trinityepiscopalmattoon. CHARLESTON -- A man faces the possibility of up to six years in prison after admitting he stole merchandise from a Mattoon store. The theft charge to which Thomas E. Murdock pleaded guilty was a felony offense and he's eligible for twice the normal maximum prison term, both because of his prior convictions. Murdock, 25, for whom court records list an address of "homeless," entered the plea to a charge accusing him of stealing a tire from the Mattoon Wal-Mart on Nov. 1. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance for allegedly having amphetamine when police located and arrested him for the theft on Nov. 13. The drug possession charge was dismissed with the agreement in the case. However, Murdock will have a record of unsuccessfully completing the probation sentence he received in October for an earlier drug conviction. His guilty plea didn't come with an agreement on a sentence, however, and sentencing was scheduled for March 3. A probation term of up to 2 1/2 years is also possible for the conviction. Records show that Murdock's criminal records includes drug, burglary and theft convictions for which he served prison time. Coles County Circuit Judge Brien O'Brien accepted Murdock's guilty plea in the theft case. Assistant State's Attorney Tom Bucher is prosecuting and Public Defender Anthony Ortega represents Murdock. In other cases in court recently: Melanie R. Houts, 24, for whom records list addresses on DeWitt Avenue and Champaign Avenue in Mattoon, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation for her conviction for possession of a stolen vehicle. Terms of Houts' probation included participation in the Treatment Alternative for Safe Communities program, which focuses on the treatment needed to end a person's criminal behavior. She was also ordered to be evaluated to determine whether substance abuse treatment is needed. Jail time was stayed, meaning Houts won't have to serve it if she follows the sentence's other requirements. Circuit Judge Teresa Righter imposed the sentence based on a joint recommendation from State's Attorney Brian Bower and defense attorney Todd Reardon. There was no agreement on a sentence when Houts pleaded guilty in October, and she could have received a three- to seven-year prison sentence or up to four years of probation. Hollie N. Goodman, 36, whose address on record is 615 S. 35th St., Mattoon, pleaded guilty to theft charge alleging a role in stealing electronics and other items on Jan. 24. The charge was a felony because of the value of the stolen items. Goodman was sentenced to two years of what's called second chance probation, so she won't have a record of a conviction if she completes it successfully. A burglary charge accusing Goodman of entering a building on South 34th Street in Mattoon in order to steal the items was dismissed. Probation terms included payment of about $1,200 in restitution with credit for whatever a co-defendant pays if convicted. O'Brien accepted a plea agreement that Assistant State's Attorney Rob Scales and Ortega recommended. The case is pending against the co-defendant, Ted A. Morecraft, 45, for whom records list a rural Neoga address. Cody A. Carter, 19, whose address on record is 401 West Park Plaza, Mattoon, pleaded guilty to an aggravated battery charge alleging he pushed a 65-year-old woman during an argument at her Trilla residence on Dec. 11. Carter was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation with terms including substance abuse treatment and other counseling, payment of about $1,000 in fines and court fees and stayed jail time. O'Brien accepted a plea agreement that Scales and Ortega recommended. CHARLESTON (JG-TC) -- A Mattoon woman died from injuries she received after the car in which she was riding hit a bridge north of Charleston late Friday. Kayla Eggers, 23, was ejected from the car and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release from the Coles County Sheriff's Office. It also said the car's driver was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol. The release said the driver, Shelby Espe, 23, of Mattoon, failed to stop at the intersection of Illinois Route 130 and County Road 1500N, about six miles north of Charleston, just before 11:25 p.m. Friday. The car went off the road and traveled about 400 feet before hitting the bridge and going into a creek, the news release said. It said Espe and another passenger, Andrea Garcia, 23, of Effingham, were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Espe was listed in good condition on Monday, according to a Carle representative, but no information on Garcia's condition was available. The release also said Espe also received citations for disobeying a stop sign and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. CHARLESTON -- For years, Max the dog seemed perfectly content to live outside a Charleston restaurant, getting help from people who fed and looked after him. But a recent change in the dog's health convinced his caregivers to try to catch the little pooch who'd always been leery of people and never let them get too close. Max was losing weight, not eating and wasn't active, explained Betsy Miller, one of the people who looked after him. "We thought he needed help," Miller said. "We wanted to give him a chance if he would allow us." She said the caregivers first consulted with a veterinarian and the Coles County animal shelter about what to do. One day last week, she put a sedative in the food she gave him each morning at the restaurant, Smoky's House BBQ. That, along with his weakened condition, meant Max allowed them to put him in a pet carrier, Miller said. Max lived outside Smoky's House BBQ since at least the time the restaurant opened seven years ago, and he was mostly likely abandoned. He's had a steady group of people looking after him, but he never allowed anyone to get too close to him before. "He was OK where he was," Miller said. "We never would have attempted it unless he was ill. We knew something was going wrong." A veterinarian's examination determined that Max was in kidney failure. Miller said the outlook wasn't good at first but now there's a chance he could still be around awhile with medication. "We'll see how he responds," she said. "We'll never let him suffer." Max is now in foster care at a private residence that has pet shelter facilities along with the dog house and some of his other items from Smoky's House BBQ. "He'll at least have a few good months," Miller said. "It was his choice. If he didn't want to do this, he wouldn't." She said the caregivers and restaurant owner Joe Evans all agreed that returning him to that location wouldn't be best. "He is not healthy enough to be on his own," she said. The vet bills for Max's care at are $700 "and climbing," and his caregivers will continue to pay for his food and medicine, Miller said. She said anyone wanting to help with the expenses can make a donation to the "Max Memorial Fund" at any First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust facility. CHARLESTON (JG-TC) -- Police were notified when a potentially threatening message was found written in a bathroom at Charleston Middle School on Friday, according to school district officials. However, while the matter is still under investigation, it didn't appear the threat was substantiated, the officials said. That conclusion came about because the student who wrote the message likely "doesn't have the means to carry out any type of action," CMS Principal Chad Burgett said. Both Burgett and district Assistant Superintendent Todd Vilardo declined to give any details about what the message said. Vilardo said part of the message was illegible but it appeared to possibly include a comment about "harm to people in general." A student reported seeing the message on Friday afternoon and told CMS Assistant Principal Brad Oakley, Burgett said. After Oakley saw it, he notified Burgett and the decision was made to have Charleston police conduct an investigation. The student who wrote the message hasn't been identified, both officials said. The message was discovered while students were still at school Friday, Burgett said. Vilardo added that notices of the incident weren't sent to parents Friday because there was no actual threat identified. PARIS (JG-TC) -- One driver died Sunday afternoon on U.S. Route 150 near Paris after two vehicles collided just west of Edgar County Road 2100 E. According to Illinois State Police, one vehicle was westbound on Route 150, while the other was eastbound, and preliminary information is that it appears the first vehicle traveled into the eastbound lane for an unknown reason, striking the front of the second automobile head-on. The 39-year-old female driver, a Paris resident, of the first vehicle was transported by helicopter to an area hospital, state police reported. The female driver of the second vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Two children under age 16 in the second auto were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and airbags deployed in both autos, state police reported. Route 150 remained closed as of 5 p.m. Sunday and traffic was being re-routed onto county roads. The ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit and Illinois Department of Transportation officials were on scene. 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... Are you ready to USE your TALENTS to make the world a better place for Children? If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the worlds leading childrens rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote childrens survival, protection and development. The worlds largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. "Whitehead Oil Company, a locally-owned fuel supply business and parent company to U-Stop Convenience Shops, is pleased to announce the promotion of two long-time employees," said Mark Whitehead, president and CEO. Chad Wollan has been promoted to chief operating officer. In this newly created position, Wollan will work in collaboration with the CEO to implement strategies developed by the CEO, COO and management team. Wollan will also guide the day-to-day operations of the company. Wollan was hired in 2008 as the supervisor of five U-Stop operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa. When the company sold the convenience stores in 2013, Wollan then transferred to the Lincoln corporate headquarters as sales rep/dealer rep for Whitehead Oil's full-service dealer operations. Wollan has two children and lives in Underwood, Iowa. Joining U-Stop's supervisory team, is Theresa Lichtenberg, who was recently promoted to central district supervisor. Lichtenberg joins the team of Brian Makovicka, South District supervisor and Doug Larkins, North District supervisor. U-Stop supervisors direct marketing, sales administration and guide store managers in all aspects of store operations. Lichtenberg began at Whitehead Oil Company in 1998 and has been store manager of the 71st and Pioneer U-Stop since 2002. In her new position, she will oversee seven U-Stop locations in central Lincoln. She will also serve as the company instructor/developer of employee training. In other company news, Mark Whitehead was recently elected chairman of the Petroleum Marketing Association of America (PMAA). PMAA is a federation of 47 state and regional trade associations representing approximately 8.000 independent petroleum marketers nationwide. "I am humbled to be selected as PMAA chairman," he said. "I consider this a tremendous opportunity to represent the industry and implement its strategic plan during the next year." Whitehead has been involved in industry organizations throughout his career. He helped the Nebraska Petroleum Marketers Association (NPMA) pioneer the ethanol industry and introduced the use of debit cards to buy fuel in the 1980s. He lobbied state legislators in the 1990s regarding underground storage tanks. Even before joining the NPMA board, he attended PMAA's Washington conference. Whitehead Oil Company was founded in 1959 by M.E. "Bus" Whitehead. The company operates 21 U-Stop Convenience Shops as well as 11 full-service dealer stations. The recently re-built U-Stop in Hickman features a new "market" concept; significantly more grocery items than the typical convenience store, including fresh produce. At 8500 square feet, the new location is the largest U-Stop ever built and also features six gasoline dispensers, plus two fueling positions for diesel trucks, an automatic car wash and a Godfather's Pizza. Whitehead also has plans to open a grocery store in the Haymarket later this year. Union Bank & Trust recently promoted Donna Crownover to vice president of the 529 College Savings Group and Jennifer Ainsworth to health benefit solutions officer. Crownover joined Union Bank in 1998 as an internal auditor and entered the Leadership Development Program a year later. She has held several titles in the College Savings Plan Group and most recently held the position of assistant vice president in health benefit solutions. In her new role, Crownover will be responsible for providing client relationship management and development with our state clients, broker dealers, large financial advisers, and other partners in the College Savings Plan Group. She graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business-psychology, with an emphasis in management/human resources. Ainsworth joined Union Bank in 2004 as a field representative in the College Savings Plan Group. She has held several positions within the bank, including the manager of trust fund accounting and, most recently, as the education coordinator for health benefit solutions. In her expanded role as health benefit solutions officer, Ainsworth will be responsible for business development for the Health Benefit Solutions department, while continuing to provide relationship management services to existing corporate clients. She graduated from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, majoring in finance in 2004. Union Bank & Trust is a privately owned, Nebraska bank that offers complete banking, lending, investment and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan production offices in Nebraska and Kansas. In addition to Lincoln and Omaha, branches are located in 21 Nebraska communities. It is the third largest privately owned bank in Nebraska, with bank assets of $3.5 billion and trust assets of $15.5 billion as of June 30, 2016. Bill Kintner, who was fined last year for using his state-owned laptop for cybersex with a stranger, is now under fire for an offensive tweet aimed at Saturday's Women's March. Kintner, of Papillion, is a member of the state Legislature and eligible for re-election in 2018. Late Sunday, he retweeted a comment by a California radio host who mocked three women pictured with signs protesting Donald Trump's hot mic moment from 2005, in which the now-president of the United States joked about grabbing women "by the p---y." "Ladies, I think you're safe," the radio host, Larry Elder, commented. The women were among millions who took part in marches over the weekend to promote unity and equal rights for all regardless of gender, race or religion in the wake of Trump's Friday inauguration. Elder's tweet and Kintner's decision to share it with his Twitter followers drew quick reaction online and later in the legislative chamber. "(F)rom a victim in NE, sexual harassment and assault aren't a joke. I hope no women near you ever experiences either," one person responded to the tweet. Kintner replied, "I hope no women experiences harassment or assault either." By mid-morning Monday, he had shut down his Twitter account. Kintner blamed political opponents for the outrage the tweet inspired, replying to one critic before deleting his account: "Right out of the liberal playbook, take a joke & claim victimhood." Caught in a Capitol hallway by reporters, Kintner refused to respond to questions, repeatedly saying "Give me an hour," and "Go do research." An hour later he declined to comment. When a Journal Star reporter refused to talk to him about the situation off the record, he said, "Go look at who's doing it" a reference to those who criticized him for the tweet. Kintner later said the tweet was "misconstrued." "By retweeting a message, I was not implying support for putting women in fear of their personal safety," he said in an emailed statement from his office. Fellow senators who have opposed Kintner seized on the tweet during legislative debate on an unrelated bill, citing it as further reason he should be removed from office. "He has no integrity, no respect for women, including his family," said Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers. Chambers also lauded those who took part in the Women's March: "See that power that you had that was something unleashed like never before." Two other senators, Bob Krist of Omaha and Matt Hansen of Lincoln, joined in condemning Kintner. Krist, who led an effort to oust Kintner after the cybersex scandal erupted, said debate over his behavior has distracted the Legislature enough that an attempt to unseat Kintner should come within the next two weeks, if not sooner. Krist added that he would prefer to wait until lawmakers adopt permanent internal rules for debate. Kintner describes himself as a conservative Republican. However, Republican groups from his district joined Gov. Pete Ricketts and many Republican lawmakers in urging Kintner to resign from office in response to his cybersex scandal last year. Kintner, whose wife is Ricketts' chief policy adviser, was fined $1,000 last year by the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission for using his state-owned laptop to have cybersex with a stranger, who then tried to extort money from him. Ricketts said Monday that he hadn't seen the recent retweet, but that he still believes Kintner should resign. A Facebook group launched by supporters of former Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders encouraged people to rally outside the state Capitol to "end rape culture" in response to Kintner's "comments that he retweeted implying these women are too ugly to rape." As of midday, more than 1,000 people had expressed interest in the Feb. 2 rally on Facebook. For 44 years, Abendmusik has brought some of the worlds finest music to Lincoln, and for all 44 of those years, a familiar figure has graced the center of the back row. Jim Carr. When Carr moved to Lincoln in 1966 to begin teaching in the chemistry department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he looked for a choir to join. Its what he always did. Carr had been part of choirs since fourth grade when he sang in a church choir in his hometown of Ames, Iowa. When he moved for college, graduate school and even the army, he always found a singing group to be part of. In Lincoln, he joined the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra Chorale where he met Dick Morris, the organist at First-Plymouth Church. Morris invited Carr to join First Plymouths church choir. Fifty years later he is still singing bass, and when First-Plymouth started Abendmusik in 1972, Carr became one of the original members. He is now the longest-tenured member of the Abendmusik chorus. Hes been such a foundational presence, said Tom Trenney, artistic director of Abendmusik. Hes brought a layer of consistency that has bound generations of choir members together. Directors, musicians and hundreds of other vocalists have come and gone, but Carr has remained. In October 2016, he received a special award recognizing his tenure in the music programs of First-Plymouth. He certainly has been a big part of the past 50 years of First-Plymouth music, Trenney said. Hes been such a support to all the leaders who have come and gone during that time. Musical numbers The numbers have added up quickly over 50 years. Carr estimates he has sung in hundreds of concerts and thousands of Sunday morning performances. He has relished singing some of the worlds best music under the direction of dozens of acclaimed composers and conductors. Ive been privileged to sing some of the greatest choral music of the past 1,000 years, Carr said. And the guest conductors have been a highlight, particularly Randall Thompson. Just before Christmas 1975 he directed his piece 'The Nativity.' We also performed his music based on the poems of Robert Frost ('Frostiana: Seven Country Songs'). Carr has taken dozens of trips with Abendmusik from Iowa to the Czech Republic. His first major trip with the choir took him to Coventry, England, where Abendmusik was the featured choir at the International Choir Festival. The travel has afforded Carr the opportunity to sing in some pre-eminent music venues. The Concert Hall in St. Petersburg is memorable, he said. It was built by tsars in 1860s, and is comparable to Carnegie Hall in era, style and opulence. In an article by Foster Collins for First-Plymouth, Carr said the applause in the St. Petersburg hall was like nothing Id ever heard before. Carr takes music beyond the walls of First-Plymouth to the Lincoln Center Kiwanis Club. He has been part of the group for more than 20 years and leads singing the second Friday of every month. Processing numbers The career that brought Carr to Lincoln in 1966 was teaching chemistry. After completing his graduate degrees at Purdue University, Carr applied for a job in Lincoln, the city where both of his parents grew up and graduated from Lincoln High. Carr retired from active teaching in 2007, but the professor emeritus keeps an office in Hamilton Hall, and he continues to work on research regarding water contamination and oxidation. Everything Ive done has related to things that dissolve in water, Carr explained of his academic pursuits. Now Im working on the rate of corrosion of sunken ships. On Dec. 9, Carr traveled to Pearl Harbor to present research on how long the sunken battleships will remain intact. I believe it will be another 50 or 60 years before they (the ships) collapse in a heap of rust, Carr said. Carr estimates he has taught more than 10,000 chemistry students. He also advised 45 graduate students whose names and graduation dates are neatly recorded in a ledger. He was honored with the Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award in 1996. He also received the Doc Elliot award in 2015. The annual honor is presented to a retired faculty or staff member who has exhibited exemplary service and whose caring has a made a difference in the lives of students. When Carr started teaching at UNL, the chemistry department was in Avery Hall, and he used slide rules and equations written on chalk boards to teach. There was one central UNL computer in Nebraska Hall. When calculators and mini computers became widely available in the 1970s, it presented a challenge to the department. We had two years where we had trouble writing exams, Carr recalled Half the class had calculators and the other half had slide rules. You just cant expect the same level of accuracy. What really counts While music has provided the soundtrack for Carrs life, relationships have been its soul. Carr met his wife Rosalind on a blind date. The couple has been married for 48 years and have two children and two grandchildren. For 38 years, the Carrs lived a house on Professors Row near East Campus, and were active in the East Campus Community Neighborhood Organization. Though they moved a few years ago, they still go back for Christmas parties and the Fourth of July barbecues. In addition to the hours he spends rehearsing and performing at First Plymouth and volunteering with the Kiwanis, Carr has been a long-time volunteer at Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, where he says he specializes in dishwashing. As Carr reflects on the past 50 years, and particularly his time at First-Plymouth, its the people he remembers most fondly. I enjoy the singing very much, I always have, Carr said, But its more than music. The people are very congenial. We are really a community. A Lincoln judge has sentenced a 37-year-old man to 15 to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he knew from the church choir. Raymundo Perez-Cruz, who had been living in Dorchester at the time, turned down a chance to say something before Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen handed down the sentence. His attorney, Jim McGough, said Perez-Cruz had no prior criminal history before this and will be deported when he's done serving his sentence. Last May, the Nebraska Court of Appeals granted Perez-Cruz a new trial on a first-degree sexual assault of a child charge finding that he had been wrongly denied a jury trial. Jacobsen had found him guilty at a bench trial in 2014 and sentenced him to 25 to 40 years in prison. In November, he pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree sexual assault, with a 20-year max, in a deal with the state. Prosecutors said Perez-Cruz picked up the girl in Crete in July 2013, drove out to Bluestem Lake and forced himself on her. Two days later, the girl told her mother, and police were alerted after she went to the hospital. Investigators found Perez-Cruz's sperm cells and the girl's DNA on a T-shirt in the SUV. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is looking into allegations that some of its students harassed protesters during Saturday's Women's March on Lincoln. "The university is aware of the reports regarding actions of some students during Saturday's march and rally, and is fully investigating this matter," said UNL spokesman Steve Smith in a statement. "Civil, respectful discourse and actions are a core tenet of our institution and we are always working to ensure that tenet is a reality." According to hundreds of comments and posts on Facebook, marchers said members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity -- also known as FIJI and located across from the Nebraska Union -- shouted "no means yes" as 3,000 to 4,000 marchers made their way to the Capitol. Sources said close to a dozen men were on a balcony or leaning out of windows of the fraternity house and at least two were on the yard when the offensive remarks were heard. In a statement on its website Sunday, Phi Gamma Delta's national office said it also plans to investigate the allegations against its local chapter. "Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity takes seriously the allegations regarding behavior of some members of our chapter at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln," the organization said. "The behavior that has been alleged is contrary to the values of our organization. We will be working with the chapter leadership and alumni advisors to investigate." A Phi Gamma Delta member who came to the fraternity's front door Sunday night declined to comment to a Journal Star reporter on the allegations. Stacy Burkhalter-Sweeney, who marched with her wife Sarah, said she heard members of a nearby fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, chant "no means yes" in response to the marchers chanting "no means no; it doesn't mean maybe." "What they're advocating for in that rant -- 'no means yes' -- is rape," Burkhalter-Sweeney said. She said she believes the incident calls for a bigger discussion concerning rape culture and how the university is trying to combat it. Members of Alpha Tau Omega could not be reached for comment Sunday. Some of Phi Gamma Delta's members also vocalized their support for President Donald Trump, shouting phrases like "build that wall" and displaying Trump campaign flags, according to marchers. Lincoln resident Alexis Ball participated in the Women's March with her dog. She said the experience was positive, aside from walking past the Phi Gamma Delta house. "I heard them say, 'Grab them by the p---y,'" Ball said. Leslie Galloway of Lincoln marched with her best friend and 15-year-old daughter, holding a sign that said, Respect existence, or expect resistance. The Phi Gamma Delta house members were outside when she arrived an hour before the march began. They heckled the crowd, but it didnt bother Galloway right away. They have their rights, we have our rights, she said. It was when they asked marchers if their p-----s were blue, after seeing a sign about Democrats in Republican states, that Galloway got angry. A proud sorority alumna from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Galloway said she would never want to hurt members of Greek life, but they were inappropriate. "All in all, the march was a great experience. That was the only negative," Galloway said. Phalin Strong said the Sunday car ride heading home from Washington was much more relaxed. Strong, a 24-year-old who recently moved from Lincoln to Omaha, had just finished participating in the Womens March in Washington. As she was driving back to Omaha, the air between her and the other six women in the car felt different. For one, the posters were gone. They had spent the 18-hour trip to the capitol making signs to protest: one passenger had drawn a pair of underwear with the words GTFO on a sign, others decorated barf bags with President Donald Trumps face. Even while making jokes, the women were anxious. "I personally was somewhat worried about the presence of police and the presence of the white nationalists, Strong said. (I was) worrying about that and personal safety and the safety of the people around me." The car ride back though? Strong said it was a celebration. Coming back, I feel more hopeful, she said. Its quite a bit more light hearted. While there were Womens Marches taking place across the country -- including closer cities like Lincoln and Omaha -- Strong said she and the other women felt it was important to make the trip to D.C., especially as representatives from a red state. There have been a lot of points where I put work or other life situations over the activism in my life, and I have come to regret it in some ways, she said. So I felt like it was really important for me to go. Strong said the event was physically testing. The city was crowded, and the march had her stand and walk for over four hours. Still, she said she felt powerful being a part of the sea of pink. I think it's really powerful when people gather in general, but for people to gather in such mass quantities, it's like almost like a superpower," she said. "It took over everything." Erin Lukin, a 20-year-old student at Doane University, attended the D.C. march with her mom, aunt, uncle and cousin. "It was kind of like a rom-com girl-power movie, she said. Everywhere there were women, as young as infants all the way up to women in wheelchairs." While Lukin said she has been an online activist for some time, this was her first time protesting at a march. "It's one thing to click like or to share a story, it's another thing to be standing miles away from the White House, surrounded by a million women, she said. It was just an incredible feeling." Lukin said the crowd was more friendly than intimidating, with protesters sharing signs, taking pictures and exchanging hugs. "You feel really, really small, but also so connected at the same time, she said. It's kind of an awe-inspiring feeling when we would turn a corner and there would be thousands more (marchers)." Once she landed back in Omaha, though, Lukin said the mood changed. "We were surrounded by a lot more Trump fans, she said. We didn't talk about it as much and if we did, we kind of got open glares. Still, Lukin said, she was glad she made the trip to D.C. "We wanted to know our voices would be heard by the city where a lot of these issues become present, she said. (We felt) like we were going to make the strongest impact there." Kim Tedrow wasnt looking to organize a resistance, but the role fell into her lap. Tedrow said she was browsing Facebook one day when she saw that a friend was organizing an event in Florida with Writers Resist, a movement that gathers writers to defend the ideals of a just democracy. I said, Is there anybody in Lincoln organizing? And she goes, There is now, she said. After months of planning and a short setback from the ice storm, the event was held Sunday afternoon at the Cottonwood Cafe. There, a number of writers gathered to voice their support of First Amendment rights, the freedom of expression, diversity and social justice. A variety of speakers performed on stage, many of them with ties to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While some performed others work, much of the writing was original. Amanda Gailey, an associate professor at the UNL College of Business Administration, read a piece called Stop Being Nice, which warned listeners to stay away from being Nebraska Nice. I am here today to insist on a single point, she said during her speech. Being nice can be the enemy of doing good, and its converse, doing good can be the enemy of being nice ... but what does it mean to be civil with neo-Nazis? Leo Yankton, a Lakota man, performed a sundance song and talked about pipeline protests in North Dakota. While he said the nation has hit a rock bottom, he has hope. Were becoming united, he said. Were becoming aware. Tedrow said now is an important time to get a message across because of the recent election. (The message is) to protect our First Amendment rights and our civil rights, some of which we feel are under attack she said. We want people first of all to be inspired, to get involved, and we want to inform people about the issues and get peoples ideas on how to act. UNL student William Bruckner said he decided to come to the event after a professor mentioned it in class. He said he thought the overall message from the event was inspiring and powerful. "I think with the recent events of the election, it's good for us to come together as a community and know our rights and fight for them," he said. While there are no other Writers Resist events lined up in Lincoln yet, Tedrow expects more to come. We hope its a sustained effort, she said. WASHINGTON -- Dr. Tom Price, the orthopedic surgeon tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services, has found a miracle cure for ailing investment portfolios. Price, a Georgia Republican, did some creative investing while leading the House Budget Committee last year. He bought stock in a maker of joint replacements a week before he introduced legislation that would help the company -- which then made a campaign contribution to Price. Nothing to see here, says the Trump team: A broker bought the shares without Price's knowledge. Also last year, Price himself bought shares in an Australian immunotherapy company after hearing about it from fellow congressman Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), who is on the company's board and is a member of Trump's transition team. Price was included in a private placement of stock not available to the public, and Price's price was right: His investment is reportedly up 400 percent. Nothing to see here, either, Price told a Senate panel Wednesday: He paid the same price as all the others who were let in on the private deal (including Collins, his staff chief and a lobbyist). It all feels a bit, well, swampy. "These sound like sweetheart deals," observed Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.). "I think our job in this body and in Congress and in government is to avoid the appearance of a conflict, and, boy, you have not done this." Each day of the Trump transition seems to deliver a new blow to the embattled notion of honest government. The House Republican majority, in its first major action of the new session, attempted to defang and gag the Office of Congressional Ethics. That effort was postponed after Trump raised doubts about the timing, but House Republicans quietly slipped through two other changes rolling back ethics rules -- shielding lawmakers' spending records from investigators and giving the majority party power to name the chief of the ethics office without the minority's sign-off. At the same time, the director of the Office of Government Ethics condemned the rush to confirm Trump's nominees without complete vetting and Trump's refusal to eliminate his own conflicts of interest by divesting. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, responded -- by attacking the ethics agency and threatening to defund it. Chaffetz told my colleague Jennifer Rubin that his committee wasn't concerned about the potential for Trump's self-dealing. This, collectively, is a sudden and sharp departure from a long-term trend toward cleaner government. Ethics in government have generally improved since the Watergate-era reforms, with pieces of legislation further tightening restrictions after intermittent scandals. But now there's a concerted push to discredit ethics standards and their enforcers. To see how much of a change this is, consider that the Office of Government Ethics now under attack by congressional Republicans and the Trump transition was created under President George H.W. Bush as part of ethics reforms the Republican president championed in 1989. "The millions of Americans who meet their obligations honestly and teach their kids to do it the same way see nothing extraordinary about asking the same of their government," he said when unveiling his ethics proposals. "Should there not be an underlying standard of integrity for all?" Bush quoted Thomas Jefferson, from 1774: "The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest." Walter Shaub, director of the Office of Government Ethics, has been brutally honest in his assessment of the transition, criticizing Trump for his failure to divest and warning he would "not succumb to pressure to cut corners and ignore conflicts of interest" by rushing the vetting of Trump's Cabinet nominees. In response, incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus warned Shaub to "be careful," and Chaffetz, while threatening the agency's funding, told Shaub he should "not engage in public relations." Chaffetz demanded a private interview with Shaub but has refused Shaub's request for a public hearing on the matter. The reaction is revealing: The government's ethics watchdog howls about breaches of ethical standards -- and the response is to silence the watchdog. That's what ties together the recently attempted actions by the Trump transition team and congressional Republicans -- dismantling and silencing the Office of Congressional Ethics, defunding and muzzling the Office of Government Ethics, rushing appointees through without conflict-of-interest exams and ignoring Trump's own conflicts. They protect government officials' self-dealing from the public's prying eyes. Without ethics enforcers and requirements, we wouldn't have known about Price's questionable stock trades. And that, apparently, is how the new administration wants it -- without Jefferson's "art of being honest" interfering with Trump's art of the deal. Lets hope that state senators were tuned in when Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Mike Heavican spoke to them last week about the judicial branch of state government. In his State of the Judiciary address in the legislative chambers and at a committee hearing, Heavican said flatly and plainly that budget cuts proposed by Gov. Pete Ricketts threaten prison reform. And, it should be stressed, that means public safety is at risk. Heavican pointed out that in the recent past the three branches of state government had agreed to reforms described by the label justice reinvestment. The reform effort included expansion of the probation system as an alternative to imprisonment. We bought into justice reinvestment -- hook, line and sinker. And now, unless you live up to your end of the justice reinvestment bargain, we are left holding the bag," Heavican told state senators. Expansion of the probation system served two goals. It would help alleviate overcrowding by providing an alternative to imprisonment. It also would help prisoners from reoffending, and ending up back in the justice system. For example, cutting $8.2 million from the court system means there would not be money to pay for they wouldn't be able to pay for short-term residential treatment that is an integral part of drug courts and similar programs. Anyone who thinks that support for such reforms would be divided on the familiar liberal-conservative divide ought to check in on what the conservative Koch brothers have been saying. For example, in a column in the Journal Star (The overcriminalization of America, LJS Jan. 25, 2015) Charles Koch and Mark V. Holden, general counsel and senior vice president of Koch Industries, Inc. wrote, The United States represents about 5 percent of the worlds population, but houses about 25 percent of the worlds prisoners. We have paid a heavy price for mass incarceration and could benefit by reversing this trend. Incarceration leads to a 40 percent decrease in annual earnings, reduced job tenure and higher unemployment. Heavican reminded senators that the court system is the front door to the Department of Corrections because it is judges who decide whether to put a convict in prison or on probation. And its also the back door, because Probation Administration oversees prisoners who are released. Our judges arent stupid, Heavican said. If the probation system cant provide adequate supervision, judges will incarcerate them. Incarcerating prisoners costs about $35,000 a year. Supervising a probationer costs between $3,000 and $10,000. You do the math, Heavican told state senators. And they should, whether they are considering spending measures or tax reform. The story about Sania Banks writing to and getting a response from former President Barack Obama was reassuring to this old guy ("Fredstrom third-grader writes Obama, gets a response," Jan. 16). Sania seems to be more concerned about what is best for the citizens while our politicians are primarily focused on party loyalty and money. I am looking forward to campaigning and voting for her in a few years. She should already be an adviser to our governor and new president. This third-grader actually thinks and would be a great government official. Thank you to Zach Pluhacek for writing the Nebraska Walk for Life article published Jan. 15 ("Abortion opponents hopeful for change"). Great job also by Amber Baesler who took the thought-provoking photo that accompanied the article. As always, both sides of the abortion debate is presented. However, I'd like to dispute a comment made by Adrienne Tyrrell about "women who visit Planned Parenthood clinics receive frightening treatment by anti-abortion activists who approach them outside." I don't know what Planned Parenthood clinic she has visited or maybe she has just seen something on national news, but she's trying to create a scenario that does not exist here in Lincoln by stating: "They say they're non-violent, but it's pretty scary walking through a crowd of them." My husband Lee and I have been praying weekly in front of Planned Parenthood for almost 15 years and have never seen yelling confrontations between the prayerful and incoming clients. Furthermore, sidewalk counselors stand well away from the entrance to the building, as do people who come to pray. Clients park right in front and walk in without passing through any of us. It's heart-wrenching to see couples who are struggling to make a life-changing decision or, worse yet, the woman who is just dropped off alone and hesitates going in. A pro-life counselor may then offer help by making them aware of other options. We are there because we do not want to see women, babies and others hurt. Mary J. Volkmer, Lincoln In the wake of President Donald Trump's order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday he's confident that Trump will negotiate more advantageous trade deals. Trump believes trade is important, the governor said during a morning news conference, but "he has a different approach (and) he wants the best deal" for the United States. Later in the day, Ricketts issued a statement urging Trump to "take swift action in the first 100 days of his administration to substantially expand markets for ag exports." "TPP would have helped grow Nebraska," the governor said. "The trade deal would have expanded markets for Nebraska's commodities, increasing our state's ag cash receipts by a projected $378 million a year," Ricketts noted. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement negotiated over an eight-year period by the United States, contains provisions that are particularly beneficial for U.S. beef and pork exports. The pact, which has not yet been considered by Congress, would have expanded markets in Japan, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Malaysia along with other nations across the Pacific Rim. Former Nebraskan Clayton Yeutter, a U.S. trade representative and former U.S. secretary of agriculture in a previous Republican administration, has described the Trans-Pacific Partnership as "an absolute slam dunk" in terms of U.S. national interests. "In Nebraska terms, the agreement is particularly beneficial for beef and pork," he said during an interview in October. "Those probably are the biggest winners in TPP." Trump previously has expressed a preference for bilateral trade agreements rather than multilateral pacts. Yeutter predicted that failure of the Trans-Pacific Partnership would prompt other countries to turn to trade negotiations with China. In answer to other questions at a news conference, Ricketts said he is "hopeful that (Trump) alleviates the concerns" expressed by more than a million demonstrators during women's marches across the country and throughout the world on the day after his inauguration. "That's one of the best things about our country," the governor said. Later, during his monthly radio call-in show, Ricketts said "trade is a huge deal for Nebraska (and) we want to have more trade opportunities." The United States might "get better deals by bilateral agreements," he told a caller. The Nebraska Farm Bureau said late Monday it was disappointed with Trumps decision. President Steve Nelson said the group's economic analysis showed that virtually every county in Nebraska would have been positively impacted. The state was "projected to see increased agricultural cash receipts by more than $378 million annually," he said in a news release. Republican Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering expressed disappointment in a carefully worded statement. "TPP was not a perfect agreement, but it established a framework for U.S. exporters to pursue greater economic opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region," Smith said. "Our country should be a leader in writing the rules of the global economy rather than allowing other world powers to take our place," he said. Earlier in the day, Ricketts led the annual Governor's Walk for Wellness, striding the halls of the Capitol with state employees. First Lady Susanne Shore joined the governor for the event. More than 1,450 Nebraskans are already registered with the NE150 Challenge, a web-based wellness program that allows Nebraskans to track physical activity miles and minutes. Ricketts has accumulated 135.9 miles, mostly biking, since he enrolled in the program. Growing up, sisters Anabeth and MarySue Hormel always had music in their home. Today, their appreciation for live performances has led them to support Lincolns Symphony Orchestra with major financial gifts. Neither can remember a time without music; their family members sang together in harmony on road trips, they both played piano, and they loved to play records and dance in their living room to the joyful music of Schubert and Beethoven. In their hometown of McCook, they attended community concerts and learned to appreciate live performances. Their parents, Thalma Lowe Hormel and Benjamin Franklin Hormel Jr., played a major part in their love for music. Their father had always played the saxophone, and one day, when their mother was out of town, he purchased a piano. When he called to tell her, she said, By the time I get home, youd better know how to play it! So he taught himself, making a list of songs he wanted to learn, and then learning to play them by ear. If you ask Anabeth and MarySue, they will tell you this constant pursuit of knowledge and beauty was typical of their upbringing; their father taught them poems and citations, and encouraged them in their music studies. We were always learning something, said Anabeth, who is older by two years. We were raised with a great deal of love, and lots of communication, MarySue chimed in. Our parents were strict, but so loving. They were truly awesome. Its no surprise that music has remained central in their lives. Anabeth always has music playing in her home, she sings, and she attends many performances. MarySue touched hundreds of lives during the 49 years she taught piano lessons. Both sisters believe that absolutely everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy music. MarySue moved to Lincoln in 1967 with her husband Bill Harris, and Anabeth moved to Lincoln two years later with her then-husband Larry Frazier and their three daughters. Since moving here, both have worked to make Lincoln a better place by supporting organizations that provide opportunities for others to share their enjoyment of music. Father taught importance of charitable giving We always knew that Daddy was a philanthropist, MarySue said. He would say, It only costs a little bit more to go first class. And, of course, we all know thats not true if youre talking about flying on an airplane. But thats not what he was talking about! What he meant is that it doesnt cost that much more effort to give to others when you have it to give. And even when you dont have much to give, you should still give to people who are doing good things. Anabeth added, We learned a lot from him, and what it meant not only for his estate to pass it on to us, but to the community as a whole. If it meant something to him, he supported it. And if it meant something to the community, he supported it. He had a wide range of things he gave to. Always to church, and then to a variety of things in the community. Yes, said MarySue. We learned from Daddy how to share. And as I share, Ive focused on things I know, things that have been meaningful in my life, and so giving to music organizations is a no-brainer. Anabeth agreed. I cant imagine life without music, she said. I really do listen to recordings all day at home. But theres something special about the connection you make with the performers when you attend a live concert. She cites her late husband, Ted Cox, as a catalyst for her special appreciation for live performances. Lincolns Symphony Orchestra was so important to Ted, she said. He and I have watched that symphony grow from what it was years ago. Soon after he moved here, he was asked to be on the board, and things really began to move. He loved what LSO was doing, and he understood that it takes money to facilitate that kind of growth. She remembers that Ted was always concerned about getting bodies in seats. They always purchased extra tickets, and invited friends and neighbors to be their guests at LSO concerts. So when it came time for each of the sisters to think about making leadership financial gifts, they both chose to make generous, long-term gifts to LSO. MarySue speaks warmly of their love for LSO and its conductor, Edward Polochick, and executive director, Barbara Zach. Ed always has a hug for everyone, she said. And he has a big dream for how this orchestra can grow. We just know we want to support the music, but we dont have any preconceived idea of how exactly the money should be spent. Ed and Barbara know what this orchestra could look like with the help of more financial support, and they will make it happen if were willing to provide that support. Charitable Lead Trusts Both Anabeth and MarySue have made major 25-year gifts to LSO in the form of three separate Charitable Lead Trusts, or CLTs. A CLT is designed to provide income payments to a charitable organization for a fixed number of years, after which the trust assets are paid to a noncharitable beneficiary. The recent gift from MarySue enabled LSO to purchase its own timpani and percussion instruments, and to increase the size of its string sections by 10 players for classical concerts. The gift from Anabeth will be used to bring premiere artists to solo with the orchestra, as well as to help with infrastructure and provide seed money for special projects. Its impossible for me to adequately express my gratitude for this kind of generosity! said Polochick. It is something that our entire community will benefit from. LSO has been given the incredible gift of dreaming about our growth and our future in a completely new and exciting way. He emphasized that this gift is not meant to cover current operating costs, but to help the orchestra grow in tangible ways. Zach said she is also overwhelmed with gratitude. What an incredible time to be part of the arc of LSOs growth! she said. These past few years have been such an important time of foundation building, and now we are truly ready to take on new opportunities. The orchestras artistic quality is high, the boards leadership is focused on how LSO can better serve our community, the administrative team is competent and passionate, and we have focused on sustainable financial growth. With these gifts, next years operating budget will cross the $1 million threshold, which makes a really important statement about how much our community values our orchestra. Growth over past decade LSO has indeed experienced growth over the past decade. As the budget has doubled, the cash position has increased positively by more than $150,000, and the long-term note owed to the LSO Foundation has been paid down by more than one-third. Just in the past three years, the orchestra has added a third Young Peoples Concert, a second holiday concert and a sixth classical concert. This comes on the heels of a renewed pops concert and expanded family concert programming. In 2011, the orchestra made the commitment to become affordable for everyone in Lincoln (concert tickets are $15 and $30, and $10 for music teachers and young professionals). Since making this change and moving to the Lied Center, LSOs typical audience has more than doubled, and the orchestra now serves more than 12,000 diverse audience members each year. A typical classical concert holds audience members of all ages (20 percent are under 40 years old) and all walks of life (7 percent have a household income of less than $25,000). Zach emphasizes that LSO has worked to foster a culture of philanthropy among its patrons. This kind of growth is only made possible due to the generous support of annual fund donors with gifts of all sizes, she said. Those who have been longtime advocates of our art form have joyfully stepped forward to help us make it affordable for everyone in our community to be able to enjoy the experience of attending a live symphony concert. Increased gifts to LSOs annual fund have also allowed LSO to expand its educational programs in the community. Approximately 2,000 students attend LSOs classical concerts annually for only $5 each, thanks to the Lienemann Charitable Foundation Student Ticket Program. Last year, 13,500 students in more than 90 schools throughout Nebraska benefited from LSOs school residencies, artist visits, student tickets and Young Peoples Concerts. LSO also provides more than 1,000 complimentary tickets annually for underserved children and families through partnerships with schools and community organizations. One such organization is Family Literacy, which serves immigrant and refugee families in Lincoln Public Schools. LSO visits all nine sites throughout Lincoln and provides tickets and transportation for every participant to attend LSOs two family concerts each year. Need for annual support has also grown The need for annual support has only grown as the orchestra has expanded its regular offerings. LSO has also received several special philanthropic gifts, which have allowed the orchestra to do some unique projects in the community. For instance, an anonymous donor created a fund that allows LSO to provide live trumpeters to play Taps at the funerals of military veterans in partnership with the American Legion. Funding from the Nebraska Arts Council and the Beatrice Arts Council allowed LSO to perform in Beatrice in 2014 and 2015. LSO partnered with the Lied Center in September 2016 to present Welcome Home Hannah Huston. Funding from Ted and Anabeth Cox allowed a performance to be aired on American Public Medias Performance Today. Polochick does not take any of this growth for granted. I am constantly reminded of my commitment to two things, he said. First, I have a commitment to the composers and the music we perform. As musicians, we must never lose sight of our responsibility to do our very best to honor this art form and make it come alive for our listeners. Secondly, our commitment must be to enhance our community through the gifts weve been given. For me, that gift is music, and Im honored to be part of an organization that brings beauty and grace to Lincoln, the home of my heart. Im so grateful to the many people who also give gifts of time or treasure to this orchestra. Every little bit helps! May we all continue to work together to help our community and our orchestra thrive. For more information about how to become involved with LSO through attending concerts, volunteering or making a financial contribution, visit lincolnsymphony.org. While McGruff the Crime Dog may be known for his Take a Bite Out of Crime catch phrase, Take a Taste Out of Crime belongs to Racine Neighborhood Watch Inc. Take a Taste Out of Crime is Racine Neighborhood Watch Inc.s Sixth annual wine, beer and Wisconsin cheese tasting fundraiser. This much-anticipated event features samplings of dozens of varieties of wine and beer, delicate morsels of Wisconsin cheeses, hot hors doeuvres, and live jazz music. More than 125 items are displayed for raffles or silent auctions including a wide selection of sporting goods, event tickets, theme baskets, home decor pieces, and gift certificates from many area businesses. After five years, this wildly popular, cant miss happening outgrew its previous location. Take a Taste Out of Crime 2017 is taking place at a new, larger venue Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St., on Friday, March 31, 5 to 9 p.m. Take a Taste Out of Crime is a major fundraising event for Racine Neighborhood Watch, a 5013 organization. Unlike other neighborhood watch programs across the country, Racine Neighborhood Watch is not an extension of a specific law enforcement department. As a standalone nonprofit, we are in a unique position to partner with all community agencies: law enforcement, city and county departments, housing authority, emergency management, and many other resources. Like all nonprofit groups, Racine Neighborhood Watch depends on grants, donations and fundraisers to continue carrying out our mission. Racine Neighborhood Watchs mission is to assist residents in creating safe, friendly, and attractive neighborhoods throughout the Racine community. We empower residents to take responsibility for the neighborhoods in which they live by building positive and productive community-law enforcement relationships through our Neighborhood Watch meetings, programming, and events. Racine Neighborhood Watch educates residents to be proactive in crime prevention and teaches neighbors how to deal with quality of life concerns at neighborhood level through our block watch presentations and meetings. Block Watches are an organized way keeping neighbors connected about the goings-on of the neighborhood. Racine Neighborhood Watch facilitates monthly Neighborhood Watch COP (Community Oriented Policing) meetings at the six Racine and one Village of Mount Pleasant Police Departments COP Houses. These meetings target a larger geographic area than a single neighborhood. Racine Neighborhood Watch, the COP officer, and residents work together to problem-solve neighborhood issues and put those solutions into action. Racine Neighborhood Watch is a catalyst for long term stabilization of these areas by contributing to positive police-neighbor relationships, improving the quality of life, and reducing crime. Racine Neighborhood Watch has hosted Group Workcamps for the past 18 years. Hundreds of high school volunteers from around the country travel to our community to participate in this annual, week-long home repair experience. The youth are assigned specific home repair projects for qualified homeowners living in predetermined, designated areas. Since 1999, nearly 1,000 home owners have benefited from this home and neighborhood improvement program. Racine Neighborhood Watch coordinates community-wide events on National Night Out. Always held on the first Tuesday of August, Racine Neighborhood Watch invites the community to organize block parties and other events to celebrate Americas Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, Aug. 1, and to promote neighbor-to-neighbor communication and positive community-law enforcement relationships. We work with registered events to schedule visits from local dignitaries, law enforcement, safety agencies, and McGruff the Crime Dog. You can support Racine Neighborhood Watch in our efforts to educate residents, beautify neighborhoods, connect local community resources and contribute to the well-being of our community. Partner with Racine Neighborhood Watch and Take a Taste Out of Crime: donate an item for auction, be an event sponsor, and join neighbors and colleagues on Friday, March 31, at Roma Lodge. Advance tickets are $30 and available online www.racinenw.com/about_tatooc.html. Call 262-637-5711 for additional information about our fundraiser, programs and events. YORKVILLE Responding to complaints from residents and school officials from the Yorkville Elementary School District, County Executive Jonathan Delagrave has offered to help deal with a dangerous traffic issue outside the school. "We're happy to partner with the Yorkville district, and we feel student and parent safety is a priority in Racine County, especially in Yorkville," Delagrave said. Superintendent Dave Alexander said the problem is motorists have to stop in the lane on Highway 20 to be able to cross traffic into the school located at 18621 Washington Ave. And while there is an adjacent passing lane, sometimes it takes approaching drivers by surprise. "People are driving too fast and they're not paying attention to a car dead stopped in the lane in front of them, that's where we've had our accidents. They either slam into them or they veer off the road left or right," Alexander said. "It's not uncommon to see eight or nine cars lined up to wait for traffic to clear so they can turn in," Alexander said. Pickup and drop-off times are from 8 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. A third of the current enrollment of the school is comprised of families using open enrollment, whose children need to be driven and dropped off at the school. "I've been here for 22 years and I've personally seen the results of four accidents right there. One of them rolled over, causing significant injury to a parent," Alexander said. Sign sought The Wisconsin Department of Transportation conducted a traffic study and gave the school a permit to put increased signage up on Highway 20 but stopped short of funding the signs. The signs called radar detection speed feedback signs are essentially smaller, solar-powered versions of the speed enforcement carts police park on streets to track speeders. Vendors who sell them report that 80 percent of motorists who spot it slow down. "It's a tool to make people aware and conscious of their speed when they enter this traffic area," Alexander said. Alexander said with a school budget deficit of $170,000 this year they were not in a position to buy the special street signs that can cost as much as $6,500. When Delagrave heard the concerns from parents, he stepped in to help. "We think it's a step in the right direction to make sure this area of the school at pickup and drop-off times is more safe for teachers, parents and families," Delagrave said. Delagrave said that as soon as the county gets pricing, they plan to move ahead with the school district to get them installed. RACINE Growing up in Racine, Maria Jose Castillo Venegas saw Latina friends and classmates drop out of school. For some of them, there was family stress. For others, it was struggles with mental health. The common thread she saw was that they didnt feel they had any alternative and they gave up. As the new Miss Latina Racine, a title Castillo Venegas receieved Saturday at a program held in the lower level of Ascension All Saints Hospital, she hopes to bring awareness to issues Latina students are facing and to provide assistance. She also was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. There is a high rate of suicide attempts among Latino students nationally, Venegas said. She doesnt want Racine to be part of that statistic. The reasons for the suicide attempts are largely family stress, she said. Girls, for instance, feel they have to drop out of school to get a job to help their families. Others experience mental health problems, but dont feel they have anywhere to turn. One way she wants to help is by creating better support systems and becoming the voice of the voiceless, those who are afraid to share their stories. In addition, many people are unable to participate in extracurricular activities because of the time commitment involved. She would like to help create more extracurricular activities where students are not required to show up, but can go when they have time, such as painting. That would give them a source of stress relief, she said. Family support Castillo Venegas, 18, graduated from Case High School last year. She is enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and is pursuing a career in chemical engineering. She knows she is lucky because of her support system at home. Both of her parents, who came over from Mexico on work visas and later became citizens, have backgrounds in science. At home, Castillo Venegas said, she would hear them talking about science. It inspired her to want to learn more about how things work. Her father works at SC Johnson and her mother is a dual-language teacher at S.C. Johnson Elementary, 2420 Kentucky St. Because of their support, she said, she was able to graduate from high school and enroll in college. But for others, she knows its easier to drop out than to carry on. They dont have people to show them the value of continuing, Castillo Venegas said. That is why, she said, she established her platform of helping Latinos in education, a mission she plans to work on for the next year during her reign. Throughout the year, people will be able to see her at big events such as Fourth Fest and Party on the Pavement. She also plans to spend time in schools and the library, helping students. We are very proud of her, said her father, Jesus Castillo. She will represent well the future of Latinas. As of Thursday, it had been 1,000 days since the city of Flint, Mich., shut off the tap to the Lake Huron water they had been receiving from the Detroit Water and Sewage Department and began drawing and treating water from the Flint River. City residents are still unable to drink tap water without a filter due to the lead contamination that began when the water supply was switched that day in 2014, the Detroit Free Press reported. Access to clean water is something we take for granted right up until the moment we dont have it. While adults have the means and the ability to find water elsewhere, children must make use of whatever water their parents or guardians can provide. Its up to all of us to ensure the safety of the states water supply, especially for Wisconsins children. None of us wants our community to become the next Flint, but when it comes to children drinking lead-contaminated water, some state communities look uncomfortably like that Michigan city. A report by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, published Jan. 15, disclosed that in Milwaukee, 8.6 percent of children tested had blood lead levels at or above the level that indicates lead poisoning in 2014 significantly higher than the 4.9 percent of children tested in Flint in 2015. But the risk of lead in drinking water goes beyond Milwaukee and spans dozens of communities in the Badger State. Statewide, 4.5 percent of children tested were found to be lead poisoned in 2014. In Watertown, the number was 8.4 percent; in Buffalo County, it was 7.3 percent. The City of Racines number was 6.2 percent, just behind Sheboygan Countys 6.3 percent. Green Lake (5.6 percent), Pepin (5.6 percent) and Richland (5.1 percent) counties all ranked ahead of Flint in percentage of lead-poisoned children. In other words, what is happening to Flints children also is happening here. The WCIJ report disclosed that efforts to prevent lead poisoning in children have declined in Wisconsin since 2011. Funding for the states Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program has shrunk to below optimal staffing, according to a state Department of Health Services budget request that unsuccessfully sought additional funding in 2015-17. While Gov. Scott Walkers administration has increased state funding to partially make up for sharp drops in federal grants, the program remains 23 percent smaller than it was in 2011, and there are no plans to ask for more money in the upcoming 2017-19 state budget. State law does not mandate that drinking water be investigated as the source when a child is found to have lead poisoning. An investigation is triggered only after a childs blood lead level reaches at least three times the amount that indicates lead poisoning and even then, water is not required to be tested. A proposal to study lead-poisoned infants in Milwaukee to determine whether drinking water was the cause was scrapped by the DHS in 2016. Scientist and activist Yanna Lambrinidou told the WCIJ that public health officials nationwide have long ignored or underplayed the problem of lead in drinking water. My experience, sadly, is that when it comes to lead in water, the public health community is by and large keeping its head in the sand, deeply and doggedly, said Lambrinidou, an affiliate Virginia Tech University faculty member. Public health experts systematically downplay the risks of lead in water and succeed in convincing lawmakers, government officials and the public alike that this hazard deserves minimal, if any, attention. Lambrinidous Virginia Tech colleague, Marc Edwards, agreed. Public health agencies have continued to assert that the government-owned lead pipes, which contaminate potable water, pose an insignificant health risk, said Edwards, an engineering professor who worked with Lambrinidou on the Flint water crisis. The Flint water crisis has awakened concerned people around the nation as to the safety of their local water supplies. But children in Wisconsin communities are already being affected at or above the level of the children of Flint. As the Wisconsin Legislature goes through its biennial budget process, we urge legislators to restore funding for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to pre-2011 levels, and it should mandate that drinking water be investigated as the source when a child is found to have lead poisoning. Take action to protect Wisconsins children. Wisconsin Republicans riding their biggest Legislative majority in years could grow more ambitious this year in efforts to help businesses by remaking laws that protect natural resources. Legislative leaders and Gov. Scott Walker havent yet tipped their hands about all of their plans, but they have expressed interest in several proposals that are drawing strong opposition from conservationists. Lawmakers are working on measures to restrict the authority of regulatory agencies like the Department of Natural Resources, and to allow businesses easier access to the states water, land and minerals. Leaders have expressed interest in proposals to: Roll back the authority wielded by state agencies like the DNR to write administrative rules. Lawmakers have been gathering co-sponsors to revive a bill giving lawmakers more say on how some laws are implemented. Scatter DNR programs among five state agencies to make it more effective. Former DNR officials and a leading lawmaker on natural resources say the plan would be costly and inefficient, while DNR secretary Cathy Stepp said she hopes a recently announced department reorganization is given a chance. Make it easier for food processors and farmers to maintain high-volume extraction of ground water while conducting long-term studies of the connection to lakes and streams that are drying up. Lawmakers listed the contentious issue as a priority, but a legal opinion satisfying industry concerns may have left the majority less motivated to make major changes. Its less clear how much initial support exists for proposals to remove a legal obstacle for mining companies with less than perfect environmental records, or to respond to problems with drinking water. Lawmakers and lobbyists named a few other items from the wish lists of business groups that could find new life in the 2017 legislative session. Big changes already Last summer, a nonpartisan state audit exposed deficiencies in DNR water pollution enforcement, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stepped up an investigation into longstanding problems in state water quality programs. But its unclear how long Washington will continue to press the state if Republican President Donald Trump makes promised reductions in regulations. After the November elections left state Assembly members with 64 of 99 seats their biggest majority in five decades they pledged bigger and bolder measures. In the state Senate, Republicans came away with an increase that gave them control of 20 of 33 seats. The additional seat could make it harder for moderate GOP senators to block legislation or force compromise. But a lobbyist for the state League of Conservation Voters said the GOP gains wont automatically unleash a flood of laws weakening environmental regulations. A lot of things got held up in the last session because a lot of citizens and conservationists stood up and spoke out, said Jennifer Giegerich, a league lobbyist. Then they had to try to scramble and fix them and there wasnt time before the session ended. The more lawmakers work with knowledgeable conservationists, they can find out early if there may be problems with legislative proposals that will prevent them from doing what is intended, Giegerich said. DNR secretary Cathy Stepp has also offered department scientists to provide expert advice to lawmakers who have been trying for several years to write legislation to give guidance to the agency on its permitting of high-capacity wells. High-capacity wells There have been times when lawmakers brought in experts and interest groups from all sides, listened to their advice and wrote important legislation that was enacted, but a similar effort on high-capacity wells last session failed to defuse opposition. For several years there have been multiple administrative challenges and lawsuits over the rapid growth in permitting of wells that can pump more than 100,000 gallons daily. After the Assembly and Senate failed to agree on a scaled-back law, legislators asked Republican state Attorney General Brad Schimel for a formal opinion. As a result, last summer the DNR loosened regulations and a conservation group filed lawsuits over nine permits. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, have both said they want to consider bills similar to last years scaled-back proposals, which would make it easier to obtain permits for new wells replacing old ones while launching studies of water problems in the Central Sands. The Assembly version would also expand the right of property owners to sue pump operators. However, the new regulations are likely to reduce the urgency for legislative action that many GOP officials felt previously, said Larry Konopacki, principal attorney for natural resources issues at the Legislative Council, which advises the Legislature. In contrast, the two lawmakers who championed broader changes last year Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, and Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa were emphatic last week about the need to find a way to protect water while giving industry reasonable access. Cowles is calling for a law to restore the DNRs ability to consider the cumulative impact of all wells in an area when deciding on new permits. Schimels opinion prompted the DNR to stop considering that impact and to end requirements that pump operators report on how much water they extract. If you never look at cumulative impacts in those areas, inevitably youre going to do damage to those resources, Cowles said in an interview. Krug, who represents a district in the Central Sands, said he anticipates several bills this session. We have a duty to act and to act soon, Krug said. Meanwhile, a bill designed to control businesses regulatory costs that faltered last session has gathered 33 Assembly co-sponsors and nine in the Senate this year, said co-author Rep. Adam Neylon, R-Pewaukee. Modeled on an anti-regulatory bill proposed in Congress, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny bill would require legislative approval of state agency rules that are projected to cost industry more than $10 million. Last years more expansive version of the bill favored by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce passed the Assembly but failed in the Senate. Critics, including small businesses and environmental groups, said it could hinder state agencies in protecting the environment and public health. Neylon said this years version is more tightly focused, allows a legislative committee to seek industry estimates of costs instead of being reliant on agency projections, and creates the option for an additional public hearing on the scope of rules that agencies are about to write. State Journal reporter Mark Sommerhauser contributed to this article. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Army to open track of road linking China The government has decided to mobilise Nepal Army personnel to open track of 120km road linking China via Gorkhas Sama Gaun. Deadly storms strike southern US Severe weather has killed at least 18 people in the US South and injured many more, emergency officials say. Fighting terror in Afghanistan challenge for Trump Afghanistan remains one of the main challenges for the Trump administration with analysts suggesting that the new US President needs to review the strategy of the War on Terror in Afghanistan. Service charge issue reignites as workers demand entire amount Hotel Association Nepal (Han) and the Nepal Tourism and Hotel Labourers Association have again locked horns over sharing the 10 percent service charge which hotels and restaurants add to the bill. Syria conflict: War of words as peace talks open in Astana The Syrian government's lead negotiator has denounced what he called his rebel counterpart's "provocative" comments at the start of peace talks in Astana. Two gored to death in Indian bullfight Two men have been gored to death in a bull-wrestling festival, as protests to permanently lift a ban on the controversial sport continue. News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-11-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Several northeast Iowa communities have been announced as overnight stops on RAGBRAI XLV in July. The overnight stops for the 45th Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa were announced at the Iowa Events Center in a live-streamed broadcast by The Des Moines Register. This years ride will be July 23-29. Riders will gather in Orange City and take a trek across the northern two tiers of Iowa counties, with overnight stops in Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake and the Northeast Iowa towns of Charles City, Cresco, Waukon and Lansing on the Mississippi River. In Northeast Iowa, riders will go from Clear Lake to Charles City on Wednesday, July 26; Charles City to Cresco on Thursday, July 27; Cresco to Waukon on Friday, July 28, and Waukon to Lansing on Saturday, July 29. According to organizers, its the fourth time the ride passed through Cresco and the first since 2005. Waukon is a first-time overnight stop, and the ride hasnt passed through there since 1977. Although it hasnt yet been announced which towns RAGBRAI will pass through between its overnight stops, Decorah lies between Cresco and Waukon on Iowa Highway 9 and several other county routes between the communities. July 28 is the second day of Decorahs 51st annual Nordic Fest. ST. PAUL, Minn. Minnesota officials responded to months of unrest last year after the death of a black man shot by police officers with funding meant to reduce the states widespread racial disparities. This year, a new Republican-controlled Legislature is plotting a crackdown on protests, with tougher penalties for highway marchers and potentially putting some demonstrators on the hook for the enforcement costs at unruly protests. Its a marked shift in reaction to the protests that simmered for weeks after the death of 24-year-old Jamar Clark in November 2015 and again last summer after 32-year-old Philando Castile was shot and killed during a traffic stop near St. Paul. In both cases, protesters from Black Lives Matter and others set up encampments that police departments said cost more than $1 million in officer overtime and some damages. And in the days after each shooting, dozens of demonstrators were arrested after shutting down Interstate 94 with massive rallies, though charges were later dropped. Emboldened by taking full control of the Legislature this fall, Republican-backed bills would make it easier for prosecutors to charge for blocking highways with a gross misdemeanor and up to a year in jail, while also allowing local police departments to sue convicted protesters for the costs associated with demonstrations. At some point, the rule of law has to matter, said Rep. Nick Zerwas, an Elk River Republican pushing for both bills. I think its time to show there is accountability. Zerwas and other Republican lawmakers had proposed the harsher punishments for protesters before, but their expanded power at the Capitol makes it a potential reality this year. And with protests across the country motivated by officer-involved deaths, controversial pipelines and President Donald Trump, Minnesota Republicans arent alone in considering how to respond. Similar measures meant to curb protests that snarl traffic or disrupt business have cropped up in Iowa, Indiana and Washington. In North Dakota, where protesters have gathered to obstruct the Dakota Access Pipeline, a Republican lawmakers bill would protect drivers who inadvertently hit or kill demonstrators on roads. The response to demonstrations in Minnesota last year was far different. Fueled by decades of growing racial disparities and the outcry after Clarks killing, Minnesota lawmakers eventually approved $35 million in new programs in 2016 meant to close income and educational gaps between the states black and white residents. At the time, Democrats controlled the Senate. Rep. Rena Moran, a St. Paul Democrat and one of the Legislatures few black lawmakers, said thats where the focus should remain to truly address protesters issues. They have not had one conversation with those people, who are feeling the injustice. If they did, I dont think this would be their first priority, she said. This may be a wake-up call that elections matter, that your voice matters, that your voice is your vote. Minnesotas branch of the American Civil Liberties Union is on high alert. Legal director Teresa Nelson said both measures are ripe for constitutional challenges, saying they could have a chilling effect on free speech and assembly by dissuading people from getting involved in marches and rallies due to fear of getting stuck with a big bill or jail time. Zerwas said theres no constitutional right to blocking traffic. Hes working on another bill that would expand the increased criminal penalties to blocking airport entryways or traffic on light-rail train tracks both sites of protests since Clarks 2015 death. His bill allowing law enforcement to recoup enforcement costs is due for a first hearing on Tuesday. Moran stressed the need for safety but said the extraordinary tactics can be necessary to highlight the injustices that were happening in the dark. That was important: That they disrupt business as usual, that they move in to a place and bring awareness to an injustice, she said. (The bills backers) have not had one conversation with those people who are feeling the injustice. If they did, I dont think this would be their first priority. Rep. Rena Moran, D-St. Paul MADISON Advocates for Wisconsins public schools, heartened by higher tax collection forecasts and promises by Gov. Scott Walker, are hoping the Legislature bolsters funding in a way that allows the money to be spent in the classrooms rather than used to lower property taxes. Loosening revenue limits that restrict school spending is the highest priority for groups representing public schools this legislative session. Other education issues expected to be debated: allowing the statewide private school voucher program to grow more rapidly, addressing teacher shortages, improving mental health services, expanding summer school learning opportunities and permitting schools to open earlier than Sept. 1. Theres also growing talk of the need to revamp the complex state aid formula, but thats likely to wait as Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is putting together a task force to study it. Meanwhile, the race is on for state superintendent. Incumbent Tony Evers, a voucher school critic whose core support comes from teachers, Democrats and their allies, is challenged by former Dodgeville administrator John Humphries and former Beloit and Whitnall superintendent Lowell Holtz. Racine high school teacher Rick Melcher is running as a write-in. Humphries and Holtz both support school choice programs, including vouchers. Melcher argues he is the only true nonpartisan candidate representing the best interests of public schools. The candidates are trying to generate debate on other issues. Humphries has aggressively called for policy changes, including creating a statewide school board and creating a new school report card. There will be a flurry of activity in coming weeks. Walker is expected to release his budget plan on Feb. 8, outlining his proposals for school funding, vouchers, teacher shortages and rural schools. Two weeks later the Feb. 21 primary will narrow the field in the state superintendent race to two. Walker has promised his budget will include significantly more money for the states 424 public schools, and said he would increase revenue limits that allow districts to spend more without voter approval. State-imposed revenue limits were established in 1993. They cap the amount schools can collect from a combination of general state aid and property taxes. Without an increase in the revenue limits, extra state aid sent to schools goes toward keeping property taxes down. Revenue limits have been frozen the past two years and still havent fully recovered from a 5.5 percent cut in 2011. Thats forced more schools to ask voters to approve referendums to raise property taxes to help pay for operational expenses. The number of schools that have turned to voters to approve higher property taxes for school spending has doubled the past three years compared with between 2011 and 2013. In the past three years, 140 school referendums have been approved to exceed the revenue limit, based on data from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. That includes 58 in 2016. Rural schools with declining enrollments are feeling particularly pinched, which is why they are seeking a revenue limit increase by $300 per student, said Kim Kaukl, executive director of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, which represents about 144 schools. Evers, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance and the School Administrators Alliance are all asking for a $200 per-student increase. A $200 per-student increase would cost about $500 million over two years or roughly the entire amount of new revenue that the state is projected to bring in above an earlier forecast. Walker has said the school funding increase he proposes will be significant, but less than the $200 per student Evers and the school groups are pushing for. Im optimistic, said Dan Rossmiller, lobbyist for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. This would be a welcome departure, a good change of the governors stance. John Forester, director of the School Administrators Alliance that represents about 3,000 principals, superintendents and other administrators, said hes encouraged that the plea from schools especially in rural areas is being heard by Walker and lawmakers. Republican Sen. Luther Olsen, chairman of the Senates Education Committee, said he expected Walker to follow through on his promise. I would believe hes got the message he needs to put it in the classroom for the schools, Olsen said. I dont think you gain votes by cutting any more. WEST SALEM There are changes coming to the Neshonoc hydroelectric dam in West Salem. Scott Purlee of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy said that in the coming weeks, the dam will receive various computerized upgrades to automate the plant, which will allow remote control of the nearly 80-year-old dam. This is the first major upgrade to the facility since 2013, when the seals on the dams gates and the original oak timbers were replaced with rubber and steel. The improvements are part of a larger plan by Purlee to renovate and restore the dam. Lake District Chair Jim Leicht said he was excited to see the new owners investing in the facility. He said the Neshonoc Dam had been neglected in last few years. Purlee, manager for the companys southern district, said under North American Hydroelectric, which was obtained by Eagle Creek about four years ago, the Neshonoc plant was not made a priority. The company, based out of Morristown, N.J., purchases and operates hydroelectric dams throughout the company. Purlee said the company owns and operates more than 60 hydroelectric dams. It wasnt until last year that the dam came under Eagle Creek and Purlees management as part of a restructuring within the company. I dont think it got the attention it deserved, Purlee said of the Neshonoc plant. The Neshonoc Dam was considered a low-hazard plant. Because of that, Purlee said, more attention was given to the high-hazard Hatfield plant located on the Black River. He said this was one of the changes made when Cedar Creek took over management of the Neshonoc plant. Purlee said of the five plants he oversees in Wisconsin and Illinois, all are considered low-hazard plants, of which Neshonoc is the highest priority. He said during the next few weeks, the Neshonoc plant will have a computer system installed to automate the raising and lowering of the gates. Before that, a dam operator was required to look at the lake conditions each morning and adjust the gates accordingly. Backup operator and Village Administrator Teresa Schnitzler said the upgrades will be a great improvement over having to go out to manually adjust the gates. She said the upgrade will also allow operators see whether the power is on at the plant. There was no way to know if the power is off at the plant, she said. The new system is expected to be installed in the next few weeks, and a new roof is planned for this spring. My intent is to beautify it, Purlee said. If you saw the inside you would see a very different place than six months ago. In addition to maintaining and repairing the aging facility, he said, he hopes to preserve as much of the historical equipment as possible. Some of my other plants are like living museums, Purlee said. Leicht said his biggest concern, the dams damaged flashboards, has yet to be fully addressed. The flashboards artificially hold the lake level higher and allow the plant to produce more electricity. He said some time ago the flashboards became damaged but to his knowledge were never repaired. Leicht said if the flashboards were to fail, the lake level could fall 30-plus inches adversely affecting the lake district, fishery and the La Crosse River. Purlee said he wasnt aware of an issue with the flashboards before it was mentioned by Leicht but is now investigating. Repairing the flashboards would require temporarily lowering lake level for some time while they were being replaced. Purlee said he would need to coordinate with the lake district, fishery and other entities downriver before pursuing any repair if necessary. The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday, Jan. 19: It is remarkable that President Barack Obama achieved as much as he did, considering that his presidency began under threat from the opposition to shut him down at every opportunity and make him a one-term president. His opponents failed, but that doesnt necessarily mean Obama succeeded. Theres no telling how Obamas legacy might have fared had an atmosphere of bipartisan cooperation prevailed. In our grade book, the now former president gets an A for perseverance, a solid B-plus for economic management and another A for good conduct. But he leaves office with conspicuous incompletes on foreign affairs and overall leadership courage. Far too often, the presidents admirable self-restraint gave him the public image of someone who hunkered down in the face of blatant partisan bullying. He should have fought back harder instead of allowing his office to become a political punching bag. Some of Obamas most measurable successes came during his first two years in office, when Democrats, controlling both the House and Senate, pushed through a sweeping legislative agenda that included his $787 billion economic stimulus plan. America was at a low point when Obama took office in 2009, immersed in a banking crisis and teetering on economic collapse. Poverty and unemployment were rising, and home foreclosures skyrocketing. Auto manufacturing was at the brink of collapse, and a meager 13 percent of Americans thought the country was moving in the right direction. The outlook was similarly bleak abroad. U.S. forces were exiting Iraq exhausted and far from victorious. Afghanistan was a mess and remains one now. In a Pew poll spanning 19 countries, two-thirds of respondents had a negative view of America. The energetic president, then 47, promised an activist foreign policy that he believed would refurbish the nations image, especially in the Muslim world, and bring U.S. troops home. His ambitions included outreach to Iran, better relations with Russia, and winning Chinese cooperation on regional and global issues. He also planned to broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Bold and audacious, yes. Not all went according to plan. The GOP asserts otherwise, but the president has had remarkable success with his economic strategy. U.S. businesses added 15.6 million jobs, and the unemployment level dropped to 4.6 percent as of November down from a peak of 10 percent in 2009. The stock market is at record highs. Petroleum imports are down. Median household income is up. Corporate profits are way up. Yet a national malaise persists and played a big role in the election of his Republican successor, Donald Trump. Obama made things better, but apparently not good enough. In foreign affairs, he restored diplomatic ties to Cuba and negotiated a landmark nuclear deal with Iran. But Islamic State terrorists gained a solid foothold across Iraq and Syria. A point of notable failure was Obamas response to Syrias civil war. He declared a red line on the use of chemical weapons, yet when Bashar Assads government deployed them to fend off insurgent advances, Obama took no military action. Obama lost an opportunity to impose a no-fly zone over Syria. Russia seized the opening and backed a brutal government assault that, in December, crushed the Syrian resistance in its main holdout city, Aleppo. A humanitarian disaster persists. Terrorism spiked. A wave of humanity swarmed Europe, including hundreds of thousands of migrants from conflict zones. European governments struggled to maintain order. An anti-immigrant backlash followed, contributing heavily to Britains decision to leave the European Union. Much of what transpired was in the works well before Obama reached office, but it was on his watch that things fell apart. Back at home, Obamas signature health care policy, the Affordable Care Act of 2010, had a disastrous launch but emerged on the plus side of our ledger. Obama acknowledged recently on 60 Minutes that the online launch was clearly a management failure, causing the program to lose crucial momentum. Still, 20 million Americans gained health care coverage, including those with pre-existing medical conditions. Dependents gained the right to remain on their parents insurance plan to age 26. Republicans have assailed the program since its inception, but it drove the percentage of Americans without insurance to a record low 9.1 percent in 2015. The fact that Trump and the congressional GOP leadership are working hard to preserve Obamacares principal features is testament to the programs success. Obama also concedes that he has not come close to achieving one of his foremost goals reducing the strain of partisanship that is ripping the country apart. Some of the divisions no doubt are racial, but Obamas personality also played a role. He wasnt much of a salesman. His cool and calm demeanor often worked to his disadvantage. Hes a tremendous campaigner and an impassioned speaker whose soaring rhetoric inspires Americans. He and his family were dignified and graceful occupants of the White House. Their popularity remains high. At the same time, Obama has been aloof and cerebral. Hes been accused of talking down to people. He didnt appear at ease with congressional politics and failed to hammer home points about how his plans and policies were improving the lives of his fellow citizens. He was too kind to Republican obstructionists and failed to make Americans understand what his own party stands for. Americas white working class didnt see themselves fitting under Obamas big tent, which became apparent when the election results came in on Nov. 8. Instead of criticizing the president so heavily, Trump should be thanking Obama for helping put the White House within the controversial billionaires reach. Reporter Jourdan Vian wrote a great piece about the thousands of women who count on Planned Parenthood services in Wisconsin and around the country (Jan. 7 Tribune). If every woman who has received care from Planned Parenthood, and every woman who cares about the women who need Planned Parenthood because they don't have health insurance or other health care options, would call their U.S. representatives and their U.S. senators and tell them to vote against defunding Planned Parenthood, those thousands of Wisconsin voices, plus the hundreds of thousands of voices from the rest of the country, would have a profound effect. Women vote, and thousands upon thousands of votes are important to elected congresspeople. Airbus says it plans to test a prototype of a self-flying vehicle to transport people in the sky above busy city streets. Testing of the air taxi is expected to begin before the end of the year, according to Airbus chief executive Tom Enders. One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground, Enders recently told a technology conference in Germany. His comments were reported by Reuters. Enders said that while Airbus is just starting to experiment with flying vehicles, it is taking the developments very seriously. France-based Airbus is one of the largest airplane manufacturers in the world. It makes commercial aircraft, helicopters and space equipment. The flying transporter project is being led by the companys Urban Air Mobility division. The division was launched last year to explore the use of personal flying machines and helicopter-style vehicles in the future. The vehicles would be part of a taxi-style service allowing riders to book through an app, the same way as car-sharing companies. Enders said that in many ways, autonomous flying will be easier to manage than autonomous driving. But autonomous flying is still far behind self-driving technology, and therefore will take longer to become a reality, he added. He said his company is investing now in autonomous flying technology to prepare for the inevitable future of self-flying vehicles. If we ignore these developments, we will be pushed out of important segments of the business, Enders said. He added that flying vehicles can greatly reduce costs for city infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. Airbus is looking at using electric vehicles to avoid adding more pollution to crowded cities. Another Airbus official predicted that in as little as 10 years, flying vehicles will be on the worldwide market to revolutionize urban travel for millions of people. Last October, ride-sharing company Uber announced plans to use flying vehicles in the future to avoid ground traffic around cities. Ubers plan would use small, fully electric aircraft that could take off and land like a helicopter, without the need for long runways. The company said its flying vehicles would also be much quieter and less polluting than helicopters. Uber has said its planned flying service which would eventually use pilotless aircraft could launch within 10 years. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on a report from Reuters and information from Airbus and Uber. Hai Do was the editor. How do you feel about flying vehicles used to carry people? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story prototype n. original or first model of something from which others are developed or made wherewithal n. the means needed to do something autonomous adj. existing separately from other things inevitable adj. something that cannot be prevented segment n. a separate part of something Smog is a health concern in many areas, such as Chinas capital. Beijing started the New Year with heavy smog hanging over the city. The skies seemed darker than usual, resulting from the thick clouds mixing with smoke and air pollution. Beijing residents were forced to wear protection from the heavy smog when traveling. Many people wore a mask to cover their nose and mouth. Masks help keep them from breathing the small pieces of unhealthy particulates floating in the air. But Chinas capital is not alone. Bloomberg News reports that heavy smog has forced more than 60 cities, including Beijing, to declare health alerts so far this year. Last week, Chinese media announced the government is stopping local weather bureaus from making smog alert declarations. This raised suggestions that the government is trying to withhold information about air pollution. The smog has led to delays of airline flights, problems involving shipping and port operations, and school closings in the north and center of the country. In early January, more than 2,000 people were forced to stay on a cruise ship for two days because of smog. The thick clouds prevented the ship from reaching the port of Tianjin safely, the Beijing Evening News reported. The same week, three northern ports had to suspend loading of goods on ships for one day because air pollution made it difficult to see. The government and environmentalists say the smog is coming from coal-burning factories and power stations. Coal-burning power plants in both China and the United States are responsible for about 40 percent of the worlds carbon emissions. Studies have linked the emissions to rising temperatures in Earths atmosphere. The Paris Climate accords aim to slow the release of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. Nearly 200 governments signed the agreements in December 2015. In December 2016, the Chinese government released new, five-year targets for cutting its huge coal production.The plan is to reduce the coal production capacity by 800 million metric tons in 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission said. Chinese officials are trying to restrict the use of coal in the very cold, northern parts of the country. Across large areas of the countryside, people burn untreated coal in home stoves to stay warm. Between 1950 and 1980, coal was given to people for free. Today many Chinese still depend on it for heating. Yao Junhua lives in Qinan. Here Yao is heard through a translator as he sits by his home stove filled with coal. "I don't think burning coal for heating can cause terrible air pollution. I think it is unfair for them to blame us as the source of pollution. We burn very little coal in villages." Environmentalists say both the large industrial plants and small stoves are responsible for Chinas air pollution. Ma Jun is director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. His words are also translated here: "But for these surrounding areas, it is not necessarily the case that coal burning for household heating is the main source of pollution. The main source of pollution is steel factories and heavy industries, and our priority should be given to shutting down these major polluters." Recently, the government announced plans to establish a new police force. Its officers will deal with environmental crimes as part of efforts to clean up the air and punish repeat polluters. The government has invested billions in clean energy to cut back on the need for imported oil and gas, as well as coal. Not including large-scale hydroelectric dams, China invested $103 billion last year in wind, solar and other renewable sources, according to the United Nations Environment Program. The United States spent $44 billion. At the same time, China has promised to build a number of new coal plants. Some Beijing residents are angry about living in a polluted cloud. Zhan Yan, who lives in Beijing, is heard through a translator: "I believe we will eventually resolve the air pollution problem, but the thing is how long does it take for them to fix this? If they need a few decades, my child will live under the smog all his life and I will end my life in smog as well. If so, where is the hope? " Some people in China might be trying to escape from the pollution, at least for a short period. Bloomberg says people there are looking to take lung cleansing trips to Antarctica and Iceland. It says traveler online searches for terms like smog escape, lung cleansing and forests, had tripled during the thick air pollution time. That information comes from a report titled Smog Escape Travel Ranking by the Ctrip.com website. Warm islands like the Seychelles and the Maldives also made the list. As long as coal remains the cheapest way to stay warm, China will have to continue to work for cleaner air. Im Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with material from VOA News, Reuters, and Agence France Presse. George Grow 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 smog n. cloudy air caused by air pollution emission n. the act of producing or sending out something from a source capacity n. the ability to hold or contain people or things resident n. someone who lives in a particular place alert n. a public warning or notice translator n. a person who changes words in one language to another hydroelectric adj. of or relating to the production of electricity by using machines powered by moving water cheap adj. least costly President Donald Trump officially withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal on Monday. The move was expected. Even before he announced his candidacy for president 18 months ago, Trump said the trade deal was bad for American workers. The president signed an anti-TPP executive order at the White House, as reporters watched. "Weve been talking about this for a long time, Trump said. A great thing for the American worker, what we just did." During his campaign for the presidency, Trump said some trade deals with other countries cost America jobs. He said they lead employers to move operations outside the United States to save on labor costs. Obama administration negotiated TPP The United States negotiated the TPP during the administration of former President Barack Obama. But the U.S. Congress never approved the trade deal. The agreement would have lowered tariffs on trade involving the U.S. and 11 other countries, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile and Japan. The others are Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The TPP would have been the biggest trade deal in history, covering nearly 40 percent of the world economy. China did not take part in the negotiations. But it appears ready to sign its own trade deals with Southeast Asian countries that would have been part of the TPP. Former President Obama said the trade agreement would be good for the United States. Without a deal, he said, China would write the rules for the global economy. Last Friday, Trump was sworn-in as president. He was elected last November after defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both she and Obama are members of the Democratic Party. Trump was the Republican presidential candidate. After being sworn-in, Trump said his administration would work to put America First, signaling a move to more isolationist policies. TPP would have cut more than 18,000 tariffs, including taxes on all goods made in the U.S. and almost all American farm products. The deal sought to end child labor abuses and set better conditions for workers on pay, hours of work and safety and health. At the start of talks with business leaders on Monday, Trump said he would reduce government rules on businesses by 75 percent or more. And he said the U.S. government would be streamlined. By streamlined, he meant there would be fewer government workers. The regulations are going to be cut massively and the taxes way down," he said. But he also warned the business leaders not to move operations to other countries. He said businesses would pay a heavy price if they make products in other countries, and then try to sell them in the United States. The new president said he also wants to change the terms of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada. On Sunday, Trump announced he will discuss NAFTA, immigration and border security when he meets with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the end of January. The Trump administration said he also plans to meet soon with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "I think we're going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, and for everyone involved," Trump said. Japan approved TPP Friday Last week, Japans Parliament approved the TPP. But Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that without the United States, the trade deal would become meaningless. Japanese stock prices fell on Monday. Market watchers said it showed investors reaction to Trumps America First speech and the U.S. rejection of the TPP. South Korea is not part of the TPP, but has a free trade agreement with the United States. Some American companies noted that South Korea tries to get around the agreement by putting strong non-tariff rules on U.S. imports. On Monday, South Koreas Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said the South Korean government has been in contact with the Trump administration. He said the government told Trump officials that it has lived up to the trade agreement. Also on Monday, Trump signed executive orders suspending the employment of new federal workers, except for the military. His spokesman said the only exception would be workers in national or public security positions. Another order banned U.S. non-governmental organizations that receive federal money from providing abortions outside the United States. The organizations had received government funding during the Obama presidency. Ken Bredemeier and Brian Padden reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted the reports for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tariff - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country isolationist - adj. a policy of not working so much with other countries massively - adv. very large complain - v. to express unhappiness with something abortion - n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus Populist movements are making major gains across the world with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. Most political observers believe Trumps path to the presidency was fueled by populist policies. Populist movements attempt to appeal to common people by rejecting established political organizations often seen as elite. In his inauguration speech, Trump spoke of his strong desire to put the interests of Americans first, above all else. Trump said his administration will seek friendship and goodwill with other nations. But he added: We do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs, he said. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. In the past, Trump has questioned the relevance of the 67-year-old NATO military alliance. During his speech, he said the United States will aim to reinforce old alliances and form new ones. Trump has repeatedly promised to build a wall along the southern U.S. border to keep illegal immigrants out. He also called for severe immigration enforcement measures for people already in the U.S. Thomas Greven is a political science professor at Germanys Free University of Berlin. He says Trump won the presidency with a message of economic protectionism and tough immigration reforms. He said Trump could give a boost to other populist movements around the world, depending on how he handles his first months in office. Now right-wing populists everywhere who feel validated by Trump's victory will have to account - to a certain extent - for everything he does and says. But Greven said Trump could disappoint supporters both at home and abroad if his policies end up offending other nations. An international movement of nationalists is frail because they end up offending each other, he said. Similar policies have been used by political movements in other countries as a way to win votes. Brexit vote One of the biggest examples was last years Brexit referendum, in which British citizens voted to leave the European Union. The campaign for Britain leaving the E.U. also focused heavily on immigration issues. It said Britain was not able to effectively control the number of immigrants because of E.U. rules. The Brexit movement believed the E.U. imposed too many regulations in Britain. It also argued that its leaders were not accountable to the British government or its citizens. Trump has repeatedly praised Britains decision to leave the E.U. He recently said in an interview that Brexit would end up being a great thing. He predicted that more E.U. members would choose to leave, mainly because of immigration problems in Europe. If refugees keep pouring into different parts of Europe, I think it's going to be very hard to keep it together, because people are angry about it, Trump said. Immigration, an issue in Germanys election Trump has also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel for that countrys decision to open its borders in 2015 to about one million refugees. Most of the refugees were Muslims fleeing war in the Middle East. Trump called the action a catastrophic mistake. Merkel is seeking a fourth term as chancellor in elections to be held in September. Her popularity has dropped since the refugee crisis. Last month, a man drove a truck through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party (AfD) blamed Merkels immigration policies for allowing the attack to happen. Professor Greven said the AfD will win a presence in parliament and is likely to make bigger gains at the state level. Currently, Merkels CDU-led alliance is leading in polls against the AfD. But even if her party wins in September, she will likely have to form a coalition government with other parties. Rise of National Front in France In France, the leader of the far-right National Front (NF), Marine Le Pen, is a leading candidate for that countrys presidential election in April. She has said she believes Trumps win and the Brexit vote have helped her campaign. The National Front has heavily used anti-immigration policies to win voter support. It has specifically spoken out against Muslim immigration after several major terrorist attacks hit France. During a recent interview, Le Pen outlined some of her priorities if she won the presidency. She said she would hold a referendum on leaving the E.U., close French borders and push for an alliance with Russia and the United States to fight Islamist terrorism. Greven said Frances National Front has moved on from being the party of the lower middle class to more of a working class party. It is now appealing to a larger number of voters, including former communists and socialists, he added. Other politicians in Europe have also faced strong opposition from populist or nationalist candidates. Populist Movement in other EU nations In a close race in Austria last month, far-right candidate Norbert Hofer won 47 percent of the vote against Green Party candidate Alexander Van der Bellen. Even though Hofer lost, the close election reflected increasing gains of populist movements. In Italy, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned in December after losing to populist and national parties in a referendum over constitutional reforms. In the Netherlands, recent polls showed continued strong support for far-right politician Geert Wilders ahead of a general election in March. Wilders and his Freedom Party have repeatedly made statements against Islam and Muslim immigration. Wilders himself was found guilty of inciting discrimination and insulting a minority group. The charges came after he led a chant at a meeting calling for the Netherlands to accept fewer Moroccan immigrants. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, with information coming from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story elite n. the richest and most powerful group in society ravages n. damaging effects caused by bad things prosperity n. being successful, usually by making a lot of money validate v. make something official or legal manipulate v. to control someone or something into doing what you want them to do frail adj. weak in strength referendum n. a direct vote in which people cast ballots to decide on a specific issue or policy accountable adj. being responsible for something catastrophic adj. resulting of a terrible disaster incite v. to cause something to happen chant n. the repeated saying of a word, phrase or slogan by a crowd The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice. 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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 Hard Rock International makes waves today as it announces plans to bring the Hard Rock Hotels experience to Costa Rica with the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Papagayo, Costa Rica. Hard Rock, in collaboration with Sunwing Travel Group, is set to open Costa Rica's first Hard Rock Hotel by early 2019. The brand's strategic partnership with Sunwing Travel Group, the largest tour operator in North America, provides the perfect opportunity for future growth within the region. With Hard Rock and Sunwing Travel Group's shared vision of providing authentic experiences in word-class destinations, this new partnership paves the way for potential collaborations in both the Caribbean and Latin America. "Costa Rica has seen a steady rise in international arrivals and the country's worldwide appeal aligns with our development strategy deeply rooted in expanding into desirable locations," says Marco Roca, global head of hotel development at Hard Rock International. "We look forward to electrifying the destination with a musically-charged differentiated product never before seen in the area." The 294-room modern retreat will be centrally located just 30 minutes from Liberia International Airport, providing travelers with easy access to Papagayo's Gulf and Peninsula. Recognized as one of the country's most popular resort destinations, guests of this Hard Rock Hotel will be treated to secluded landscapes, natural wonders, eco-adventure excursions and an up close look at Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity. Additionally, the hotel will be managed by Blue Diamond Resorts a leading operator with a proven track record of delivering high quality resort experiences throughout the Caribbean's most discerning locations. "We're excited to bring such a world-class, award-winning brand to Papagayo that will raise the standard of cool and contemporary for Costa Rican all-inclusive resorts," says Jordi Pelfort Managing Director, Blue Diamond Resorts (Sunwing Travel Groups Hotel Division). "With a passionate fan base and proven track record of delivering memorable experiences through landmark hotels and resorts, we look forward to collaborating with Hard Rock International and welcoming visitors of all ages to Costa Rica's first Hard Rock Hotel." In true Hard Rock style, the resort will boast brand exclusive offerings, such as a full-service Rock Spa featuring relaxing and recharging treatments and The Sound of Your Stay music amenity program offering free in-room Fender guitar checkouts. Vacationers seeking the ultimate experience will have the opportunity to upgrade their room to the Rock Royalty Level and enjoy VIP services including preferred room locations, personal assistants, upgraded bath amenities and one-of-a-kind music perks. Hard Rock Hotel Papagayo, Costa Rica will cater to multigenerational leisure travelers with several family-friendly offerings, such as the brand's two signature hangouts exclusively for younger rockers, Teen Spirit and Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club. In addition, plans call for a vast array of dining options, ranging from an all-day buffet restaurant to four a la carte eateries, including a North American steak house, an Asian restaurant, an Italian trattoria and an internationally inspired eatery. Through music appreciation and an imaginative environment, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos delivers products for the varied aspects of life work, play and personal sanctuary. For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com. About Sunwing Travel Group One of the largest integrated travel businesses in North America, Sunwing Travel Group is comprised of Sunwing Vacations, the leading leisure tour operator in Canada; Sunwing Airlines, Canada's premier leisure airline; Signature Vacations, one of Canada's leading tour operators for all inclusive package vacations and Vacation Express, a growing tour operator in the United States together with the Group's own travel retail businesses SellOffVacations.com and Luxe Destination Weddings. Blue Diamond Resorts is the Sunwing Travel Group's own hotel management company, an innovative organization that operates popular resort brands like Royalton Luxury Resorts, Memories, CHIC All Exclusive, and Starfish, across the Caribbean, Cuba and Mexico; while NexusTours provides destination management services to individuals, agencies, tour groups, corporate businesses and tour operators. www.sunwingtravelgroup.com HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee The U.S. hotel industry reported mixed results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 8-14 January 2017, according to data from STR. In year-over-year comparisons, the industry's occupancy decreased 0.9% to 56.6%. However, average daily rate (ADR) rose 2.8% to US$122.29, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased 1.9% to US$69.24. Among the Top 25 Markets, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida, posted the largest year-over-year increases in ADR (+23.7% to US$152.13) and RevPAR (+28.2% to US$120.35). Occupancy in the market was up 3.6% to 79.1%. Two additional markets saw a double-digit lift in RevPAR for the week: Orlando, Florida (+17.0% to US$115.22), and Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia (+12.7% to US$32.63). After Tampa/St. Petersburg, two other markets recorded a double-digit increase in ADR: San Francisco/San Mateo, California (+15.3% to US$410.55), and Orlando, Florida (+10.1% to US$140.82). Norfolk/Virginia Beach experienced the largest year-over-year increase in occupancy (+9.5% to 42.8%). Three markets saw a double-digit decline in RevPAR: Phoenix, Arizona (-16.9% to US$98.42); Houston, Texas (-16.9% to US$57.75); and Miami/Hialeah, Florida (-16.2% to US$159.44). Phoenix reported the largest drop in ADR (-8.0% to US$139.62). Houston experienced the only double-digit decline in occupancy (-11.4% to 56.4%). About STR STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 15 countries with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, an international headquarters in London, and an Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore. STR was acquired in October 2019 by CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP), the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces. For more information, please visit str.com and costargroup.com. Jeff Higley (STR) VP, Digital Media & Communications +1 (615) 824-8664 ext. 3318 STR GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. The 14th session of the trial of the citys former top prosecutor, Ho Chio Meng, occurred Friday at the Court of Final Appeal. Several witnesses were called to provide testimonies, including one of Hos former drivers, and a computer technician working at the Prosecution Office (MP). Hos former driver, Mok Chi Seng was the first to be presented to the court. Hos lawyer, Leong Weng Pun, questioned Mok in regard to the day of Hos arrest. Mok recalled that on February 26 Ho contacted his secretary to book ferry tickets to Hong Kong departing from Macau at noon. Ho then instructed Mok to pick him up at his residence, One Grantai, at 11 a.m., one hour before his ferry departed from Macau. Mok revealed that when he visited Hos residence to fetch him, Ho was empty handed and carrying no luggage. On the way to the ferry, Ho told Mok that he would return to Macau at 9 p.m. on the same day, and directed Mok to pick him up around that time. The assistant prosecutor, Kuok Un Man, pointed out that on the day before Ho Chio Meng was arrested, Ho contacted Mok via mobile phone. However, the device used by Ho at the time has since disappeared. Mok responded that he was not in possession of the device. Kuok questioned whether Ho had discarded it on the way to the ferry terminal. Mok said he did not know. The second male witness was a computer technician from the MP. The prosecution questioned him mainly about the MPs computer maintenance outsourcing contract, specifically, whether he ever considered that the price charged for the maintenance was not commensurate with the service. The witness responded that he could not answer the question as pricing matters were not part of his job. When the mornings trial session was about to conclude, Ho had the opportunity to comment. He denied again that he was detained last year due to his intention to escape from Macau. Ho said that, through MP, he had in fact booked return ferry tickets. During the mornings session, the prosecution presented evidence from the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) which showed that Ho had left CCAC at 6.30 p.m. on February 5, 2015. Ho added that he did not leave CCAC right after the investigations were concluded. Instead, he visited the CCAC commissioner, Andre Cheong Weng Chon. Ho said that their conversation needed to remain confidential and thanked Cheong for his discretion. In the afternoon session, a female witness who is currently working at MP, attended court to testify. The prosecution asked questions concerning specific contract outsourcing, the MPs hosting of guests, the Hotline Center and the Cheoc Van villa. The witness explained she used to prepare contract proposals, and to receive the MPs guests. She remarked that despite the MP rarely accommodating groups of less than three people, the situation did indeed occur. She also claimed that she had doubts regarding some of MPs contracts. However, despite her reservations, she continued to process the contracts as instructed by her former superior, Chan Ka Fai. She also said that none of the guests welcomed by her had ever been taken to Cheoc Van villa or to the 16th floor of the Hotline Center. When the witness finished providing her testimony, prosecutor Kuok responded to Hos morning statement. Kuok informed the court that records showed Ho only booked a one-way ferry ticket to Hong Kong. Kuok added that the single ticket was not to be used, as Ho was ready to take a helicopter to leave Macau. Ho defended himself reaffirming that he had the return tickets with him at the time the CCAC apprehended him. According to Ho, he decided to travel by helicopter because a well-known Hong Kong figure, surnamed Lau, had booked it for him so that he could arrive in Hong Kong earlier for lunch, and so he could have time in the afternoon to take care of his affairs. In addition, Ho said that he was arrested even before he entered the Macau Ferry Terminal, which means that he did not take the helicopter. Ho said that Lau is not an average person, and that Lau told him he himself would book the helicopter for Ho. The issue he planned to discuss with Lau was related to a Macau lawmaker. I didnt pass [through] the immigration department, said Ho. Ho added that the prosecution had not replied to his statement regarding the time he left CCAC in 2015. Prosecutor Kuok affirmed that he had no tickets with him. Kuok restated that no return tickets were found on Ho. Ho also made an additional comment about a situation mentioned by the afternoons witness. Ho said that in the past 15 years, there must have been times when I welcomed groups of less than three people. The court resumes this morning. mp took measures to ensure legality and transparency THE PUBLIC Prosecutions Office (MP) said in a statement on Friday that since Ip Son Sang took office in December 2014, it has actively taken measures to improve the procedures for acquiring goods and services, increasing the legality and transparency of contracts. The reply follows the statements of former Public Prosecutor General, Ho Chio Meng, during the court session on Thursday. As reported in the Times , Ho claimed to have received at least one letter informing him of irregularities in the new contracts signed under Ips leadership, evidence which MP claims not to have found among Hos seized documents. In Fridays statement, the MP welcomes scrutiny of all existing expenditures as well as projected expenditures. Chinas top prosecutors office said yesterday it is conducting a bribery investigation into a high-ranking official who was the mayor of a port city at the time of a warehouse explosion that killed 173 people. The two-sentence announcement about Huang Xingguo by the national prosecutors office made no mention of the explosion in a warehouse in Tianjin, a city of 15 million people east of Beijing. But other officials have been punished on charges they took bribes to ignore safety violations that led to the blast, one of Chinas deadliest workplace accidents. Investigators found the warehouse held illegal stores of the combustible fertilizer ammonium nitrate, which caught fire and caused a series of blasts. At a public meeting last year, Huang, who was the citys interim Communist Party chief and mayor, expressed deep compunction about the explosion. State media reported in September that he had been removed from his positions. He was expelled from the ruling party this month. The countrys Central Committee for Discipline Inspection said Huang had severely violated political discipline, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. It said he took huge bribes of property and money and used his position to improperly benefit his son and others. Most of the people killed in the explosion were firefighters and police who werent told ammonium nitrate was in the building. The accident drew international attention to Chinas workplace safety problems and endemic corruption. Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched a signature national anti-corruption campaign snaring officials and party cadres at all levels. The head of a logistics company linked to the blast was given a suspended death sentence and lesser penalties were imposed on 48 other government officials and company employees. And the former head of Chinas national safety regulator, the State Administration of Work Safety, was charged last year with taking bribes and embezzlement. Nomaan Merchant, Beijing, AP Chinas economic growth ticked up in the final quarter of 2016 but its full-year performance was the weakest in three decades as it heads into a potential trade battle with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has promised to hike duties on Chinese goods, putting pressure on industries that employ millions of workers. Supported by government spending and a real estate boom, the worlds second-largest economy expanded by 6.8 percent over a year earlier in the three months ending in December, up from the previous quarters 6.7 percent, government data showed Friday. Full-year growth was 6.7 percent, down from 2015s 6.9 percent and the weakest since 1990s 3.9 percent. A touch faster growth than expected, but no real change in trend, Bill Adams of PNC Financial Services Group said in a report. Chinas economy has cooled steadily as communist leaders try to nurture domestic consumption and reduce reliance on trade and investment but trade still supports millions of jobs. Government spending and a surge in real estate sales last year helped offset a 7.7 percent plunge in exports, but analysts expect the economy to cool further. We do not expect this rebound to extend far into 2017, Tom Rafferty of the Economist Intelligence Group said in a report. Export industries could face more pressure, raising the threat of politically dangerous job losses, if Trump goes ahead with promises to raise tariffs on Chinese goods. Beijing has relied on repeated infusions of credit to prevent activity from slumping too fast, prompting warnings the run-up in debt could spark a financial crisis or drag on growth. Chinese leaders have cautioned the economic outlook is L-shaped, meaning once the downturn ends, growth is unlikely to rebound. Looking at quarter-on-quarter growth, the way other major economies report data, the economy cooled steadily over the course of the year despite the headline figure showing steady expansion. Growth fell to 1.7 percent in the last quarter, down from 1.8 percent in July-September and 1.9 percent in the previous quarter. Chinese leaders say they will make the economy more competitive and productive by opening more sectors to private companies but last years performance still relied heavily on spending by the government and state-owned industry. Investment by government companies in factories and other fixed assets rose 18.7 percent last year over 2015, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Investment by private companies was far weaker, growing 3.2 percent. Real estate sales are booming, which has pushed up economic growth figures. But regulators are taking steps to cool surging housing prices and bank lending, which forecasters expect to depress this years performance. Retail sales growth decelerated to 9.6 percent from 2015s 10.6 percent. E-commerce, one of the brightest spots in the struggling economy, soared 26.2 percent over 2015, but that was down from the previous years 33.3 percent expansion. Last week, the International Monetary Fund raised its China growth forecast for this year by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5 percent, citing a boost from government stimulus. But it warned rising debt increases the risk of a sharper slowdown. The ruling Communist Party is headed this year into a twice-a-decade change of senior officials. Private sector analysts expect the party to postpone any significant policy changes until that is completed. We assume that in 2017, policymakers will be focused on ensuring economic growth remains relatively elevated, said Rafferty. Determined steps to address excessive debt levels in the economy are unlikely. It will probably not be until 2018, when politics are more favorably aligned, that we begin to see a more radical approach in this area. Joe McDonald, AP The supply and price of Macau residential properties are impacted the most by Chinas monetary policy, a property expert said last week. In a joint business luncheon held yesterday by the American Chamber of Macau, British Business Association of Macau and the France Macau Business Association, Joe Zhou, regional director and head of Research for Jones Lang LaSalle Ltd (JLL) in China, said that residential properties would be impacted as a certain percentage of home-buyers in Macau are from mainland China. Yet Zhou is not expecting the Chinese manipulation of the yuan to continue in the long term, as the Chinese government is keen on internationalizing the RMB, to encourage Chinese inventors to capitalize abroad. In the short term, because of the RMB depreciation, [] they stopped capital outflow but in the long term we can expect Chinese buyers being active globally, Zhou told the press on the sidelines of the business talk. He noted that the policy is also affecting countries and territories such as Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States. When questioned whether such a policy would attract more investment to Hengqin instead of Macau, the real estate expert suggested that most of the Chinese capital is targeted at limited assets in tier one cities. Zhuhai or Hengqin as tier two cities, were seeing that investors are trying to get away because of the risks, explained Zhou. But in tier one [] because of relatively limited supply and because of the much bigger economy and much bigger market, lots of Chinese [] buyers now are still very interested, he answered. Zhou also considered property markets such as Zhuhais as a hot topic. Yet he noted that buyers are looking primarily at the economic fundamentals of the city, when questioned whether such restraints could affect local buyer sentiment on units in Zhuhai or Hengqin. If you look at the fundamentals in Hengqin at the moment, its not particularly good [] because theres no big company industries, no way to support such a big supply, he stressed. I think, over time, when GDP starts to come down and people are rationalizing investment, people would look again at the fundamentals, instead of speculation based on some news and policy. Meanwhile, the expert expressed his belief that if the local government would open up a real estate auction, it would attract a significant number of investors and developers from the Mainland. Although it would not benefit the local housing market, he suggested that China is keen to diversify its investment in Hong Kong, Macau and the overseas market. Given the size of the market, I think some amount of capital could really drive [local] rental prices, he said. Zhou also suggested that if the MSAR could establish a good social or public residential scheme, housing prices would not be a concern for the local residents. During the business luncheon, Zhou presented the effects of Chinese investment on the Macau property market. The expert recalled that the Chinese economy has been going through a structural slowdown, as the government seeks to orientate it away from dependence on investment and toward domestic consumption. Residential prices to hold stable Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Gregory Ku, managing director of JLL Macau said he is confident that residential prices in the territory would remain stable. He predicted that existing developers who have acquired land and stock in residential properties will hold their price. They will not sell cheap because they dont have other bets in Macau so I guess all the [property] launches regarding residential will hold stable in price, Ku noted. The managing director also added that new resort openings in the region would not affect residential prices in the territory. Rogue transactions using unregistered China UnionPay handheld terminals in the region have amounted to around MOP5 billion for 2016, marking a five-fold increase compared to last year. A gaming industry insider suggested that the actual amount was likely to be higher. That MOP5 billion is almost certainly the tip of a very big iceberg. At an educated guess, I would put the actual figure at 10 times that amount [] closer to MOP50 billion. Almost MOP1 billion a week for 2016, the insider said, as cited in a report by South China Morning Post. The detected amount was the result of 25 police investigations. Yet only 20 cases were handed over to the Public Prosecutors Office, as the other five cases were said to have gathered insufficient evidence from investigations. Although the Judiciary Police did not reveal how many illegally modified hand-held terminals were seized, authorities said they identified 53 suspects as part of their investigations, the majority of which are from the mainland. These Point of Sale (POS) devices can allegedly be tampered with so as to have UnionPay identify them as being registered and operated in the mainland, where transaction fees are much lower. Such operations are considered illegal as transactions are made in the territory through POS machines of Chinas Union Pay or others provided by third parties. In recent years, several pawnshops and jewelry shops here have used the [modified] mainland Chinese UnionPay POS units to offer clients access to cash withdrawal services with the aim of lowering their own operation costs and enhancing profits, the Judiciary Police told website GGRAsia. Authorities suggested that the money withdrawn was used for gambling purposes. As mainland tourists in Macau are only allowed a daily limit of RMB20,000 in cash when crossing the border, they allegedly dodged this restriction by purchasing high-priced items using their UnionPay cards. These items would immediately be returned in exchange for cash. Sao Tome and Principe and China began on Thursday in Sao Tome the process of defining the areas of cooperation with priority for agriculture, health, energy and infrastructure, announced the representative of the Chinese mission in the archipelago, Zhou Zhaoming. The Director General of the Department of West Asia and Africa of the Ministry of Commerce of China, Zhou Zhaoming, who heads a multi-ministerial delegation to the archipelago, made the announcement at the end of an audience granted to him by the Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe. We have already started to define the main areas for the framework program of cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe, to be started soon, said the head of the Chinese delegation, who cited agriculture, health, energy and infrastructure as priority areas. The delegation, which arrived in Sao Tome on Thursday morning, includes senior officials from various ministries of China as well as technical experts, who together with the authorities of Sao Tome and Principe will define the program and format for bilateral cooperation. This mission comes four days after the China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC) expressed interest in participating in projects aimed to build a deep water port at an estimated cost of USD800 million and the modernization of the Sao Tome international airport, which is expected to cost USD15 million. Sao Tome and Principe and the Peoples Republic of China re-established diplomatic relations on 26 December last year at the expense of Taiwanese diplomatic relations, which cooperated with the archipelago in the same areas with monetary support estimated at US$16 million dollars annually. MDT/Macauhub It takes around 35 years for a median- income household to buy a 90-square-meter (970 square foot) apartment in Hong Kong. So, by 2052 in other words. That makes the former British colony the worlds least affordable city, according to Oxford Economics. Now, with Chinese buyers forking out ever-higher amounts for land sold by the government and outbidding domestic stalwarts, prospective home buyers are going to have to wait a whole lot longer. A stamp-duty hike in November to 15 percent for all non-first-time home buyers and to as much as 30 percent for foreigners hasnt dulled the market. Secondary home prices surged almost 40 percent between July 2012 and the end of last year, Centaline Propertys Centa-City Leading Index shows, just 1.8 percent shy of their September 2015 record. Although the increased levies helped put a lid on sales volumes, theres still more end-user demand than supply, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Patrick Wong. First-home buyers, being exempt, remain a force while existing homeowners always seem to find ways to circumvent the rules in their hunt for yield. Hong Kongs relatively low unemployment rate also means lots of people are willing to take the real-estate plunge. Added pressure, meanwhile, is coming from China. Mainland purchasers, keen to buy property in the city as a hedge against a weaker yuan, have long been imaginative when it comes to evading foreign-exchange curbs. Now developers are getting more aggressive. At a time Beijing is clamping down on speculative buying, Hong Kong offers a chance to diversify. Although land is more expensive than on the mainland, funding costs are lower. The Hong Kong interbank offered rate has averaged 1.01435 percent this year while the Peoples Bank of China benchmark lending rate for individual housing loans of up to five years is 2.75 percent. Buyers from China accounted for almost half the value of all land sold by the Hong Kong government in 2016, up from 30 percent in 2015 and less than 5 percent in 2011, research from CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. show. That Chinasation of the market, as CIMB calls it, may increase prices 10 percent by 2019. Some impact is already being felt. China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. sold all 188 apartments at a project on the site of the citys former airport on day one last week. The units were offered to Hong Kong residents only. And while the citys Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying may bemoan the large amount of parks and green spaces that could be put to better use, mainland buyers did help the government chalk up record revenue from land sales in the first nine months of the 2016 fiscal year. With so many cash-rich companies across the border and even firms like HNA Group Co. joining the bidding party, the tensions pooling in Hong Kong real estate arent about to go away. All too soon, taking 35 years to buy a shoebox may seem pretty decent. Nisha Gopalan, Bloomberg Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in cities across the U.S. and around the world on Saturday for massive protests a day after President Donald Trumps inauguration, a signal of discontent with Americas new leader that threatened to upstage his first days in office. The Womens March on Washington, billed as a response to Trumps surprise election victory, eclipsed Trumps swearing-in as the most widely attended political event in the capital this weekend. It was mirrored by large rallies across the U.S. and in international capitals including Berlin, Paris and Ottawa. In Washington, women and men hailing from around the country choked subway trains and downtown streets from early morning through late afternoon. Chanting demonstrators could be seen and heard from Trumps motorcade as he arrived back at the White House from a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The revolution starts here, musician Madonna told the crowd as thousands of marchers began heading toward the White House. The fight for the right to be free, to be who we are, to be equal. Lets march together through this darkness. Large, coordinated protests also took place in Boston, San Francisco and St. Louis. Instead of the red Make America Great Again regalia popular at the inauguration, many marchers wore pink knitted caps with pointed corners and dubbed pussyhats, as a symbol of defiance to the new president. Crowds in Washington stretched almost the entire length of the planned march route, from near National Museum of the American Indian to the Washington Monument, a distance of almost a mile. Bloomberg AUSTRALIA The ship involved in the recently halted hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 returned to port in western Australia yesterday, where officials from the countries that funded the fruitless search gathered to thank them and to defend their decision to end the hunt despite recommendations from investigators that it continue. CHINA is beefing up a campaign to root out services that circumvent the governments internet censorship with a 14-month-long clean-up of the internet industry. THAILAND When Sapae-ing Basor, the spiritual leader of many Muslims in insurgency-torn southern Thailand, recently died in self-imposed exile in Malaysia, it wasnt just thousands of followers that noted his passing. Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed his condolences. JAPAN A govt panel studying a possible abdication of Emperor Akihito released an interim report in favor of enacting special legislation that would apply to him but not to future monarchs. The panel is looking at how to accommodate Akihitos apparent abdication wish. AUSTRALIA An actor was killed while filming a scene featuring several guns for an Australian bands music video, police said. The man died at a bar in the Queensland city of Brisbane while filming the video by hip hop group Bliss n Eso. Members of the band were not on the set at the time. MIDDLE EAST Negotiators for the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions traded accusations of terrorism after their first face-to-face meeting yesterday, as talks in Kazakhstan arranged by Russia and Turkey got off to a rocky start. The gathering in Astana is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly six-year-old Syrian war. AUSTRIA Police urged Vienna residents yesterday to be on heightened alert for suspicious objects and activities as they hunted for possible associates of a suspected Islamic radical who they say might have been planning a bomb attack. A 14-year old was among those questioned. GERMANY Berlin police say a man suspected of killing an elderly man and collecting his pension for a decade, before police found his body in a freezer, may have had a second victim: 92-year-old Irma Kurowski had not been seen since the end of 2000 and had lived in the same building in trendy Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood as the 55-year-old suspect. They say the suspect, whose name wasnt released, had access to her pension payments. MOUNT VERNON, Wash. With a hybrid crop called Salish Blue, scientists at Washington State University have combined wheat and wheatgrass in a new species with the potential to help Pacific Northwest farmers and the environment. Salish Blue is just one variety of a new perennial grain species, Tritipyrum aaseae. Its the first new species to be named by wheat breeders at WSU in 122 years of breeding. Colin Curwen-McAdams, a graduate research assistant at the WSU Bread Lab at Mount Vernon, and Stephen Jones, wheat breeder and director of the lab, describe development of the species in a recent issue of Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Unlike bread wheat, which is planted and dies in a single generation, perennial grains hold the promise of bearing seed for multiple harvests. At the same time, perennial hybrids can bring ecological benefits to grain production. Perennial grains add value in ways other than just being wheat, said Curwen-McAdams. What we need right now are crops that hold the soil, add organic matter and use moisture and nutrients more efficiently. Thats the goal of this breeding program. Breeding Salish Blue, which was developed as a potential food and dairy forage crop for the Pacific Northwest, gives farmers new options. Were working with farmers to determine what Salish Blue will do and how it will fit with their rotations, said Jones. For the past century, breeders around the world have been trying to develop a perennial grain crop from wheat and its wild relatives. Development of Salish Blue caps 21 years of work by WSU scientists to stabilize bread wheat-wheatgrass hybrids through classical plant breeding without using gene modification. Combining wheatgrass with bread wheat, which contains three separate genomes, posed a challenge. Its incredibly difficult to get what qualities you want, and hold on to them over generations, while not bringing along other things that arent desirable, said Jones. The new species is named after professor Hannah Aase, who explored wheat genetics as a botanist and cell biologist at Washington State College, now WSU, from 1914 to 1949. She died in 1980. The work Dr. Aase did was important but largely overlooked, said Curwen-McAdams. She was trying to answer the question of where wheat comes from. We wanted to honor her and bring her back to the forefront. In their paper, Curwen-McAdams and Jones call for breeders and geneticists to contribute to nomenclature how species are named to advance the science of grain hybrids. We wanted to lay out a strategy for naming these combinations, and then name one ourselves to show how its done, said Curwen-McAdams. Its no longer wheat or a wild species. Naming this as a new species lets us think about how it fits into our agriculture. Perennial grains add value in ways other than just being wheat. What we need right now are crops that hold the soil, add organic matter and use moisture and nutrients more efficiently. Thats the goal of this breeding program. Colin Curwen-McAdams, graduate research assistant at the Washington State University JEROME Southern Idaho Muzzleloaders Association has canceled its January shoot. The group will hold a meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Depot Grill to plan for the rendezvous in May at Malad Gorge. New officers for 2017 are president Ron Deer Slayer Corle, vice president Leon Double Load Reed, secretary/treasurer Virginia Flame Thrower Reed and range officer Frank Glauner. Awards were given Jan. 14 at the annual supper and meeting. The 2016 shooters of the year are young buckskinner Kody Reed, junior (12-15) Justice Coates, womens shooter Virginia Reed and mens shooter Ray Massey. Its also time for renewal of memberships. The fee is $40 for families plus $5 for newsletter or $25 for singles plus $5 for newsletter. Information: Leon Reed, 208-423-4788 or 208-329-4902 (leave a message). According to the Idaho State Police, Harpreet Dham, 26 of Calgary, Alberta, was driving southbound at about 7 a.m. on U.S. 93 in a Freightliner Cascadia with a commercial trailer about three miles south of Hollister when the truck went off the right shoulder of the road, came back on, went into a broad slide, rolled over onto his side, and came to rest blocking both the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway. 4 P.M. UPDATE: Minidoka County schools have canceled classes for Tuesday. St. Nicholas Catholic School in Rupert will also be closed. The Lincoln County Courthouse in Shoshone closed at 2 p.m. It will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday if weather conditions improve overnight, according to a statement from the Fifth Judicial District. 3 P.M. UPDATE: The Twin Falls School District plans to release students at the normal time. "This is quite a storm. Inasmuch as it would be unsafe, particularly for our younger students, to release school early and send some students home to empty or locked houses, we will release students at the usual time," according to a statement on the school district's website. School officials urge student drivers to be extra careful. School buses will most likely be late, according to the statement. Parents who have children riding buses will receive alerts about any delays. "Of course, parents may choose to pick up their students early (if) they would like to do so," according to the statement. "Thank you for helping everyone to be calm and safe." The Wendell School District closed schools at 1:30 p.m., with school buses leaving at that time. 2:30 P.M. UPDATE: All College of Southern Idaho campuses including Twin Falls, Jerome, Gooding, Burley and Hailey will close at 4 p.m. due to the weather. CSI administrators will decide by 6 a.m. tomorrow whether the closure will affect tomorrows classes and office hours, college spokesman Doug Maughan wrote in a statement. 1:55 P.M. UPDATE: Popplewell Elementary School in Buhl will close at 2:15 p.m. Buhl Middle School and Buhl High School will release students at 2:30 p.m. 1:45 P.M. UPDATE: Minidoka County schools are closing at 2 p.m. because of the weather. 1:30 P.M. UPDATE: Jerome and Shoshone School District campuses are closing early due to worsening weather conditions. Summit Elementary School and Jerome Middle School students will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m. All other schools will dismiss at 1:45 p.m. Shoshone schools will dismiss at 2 p.m. School buses will run at those times. 1 P.M. UPDATE: The Gooding School District will be releasing at 1:30 p.m. because of weather and worsening road conditions. "Students will be bused home on regular routes, or in accordance with emergency release information that was provided by parents to the school," a school statement said. The school asked parents to contact the school as soon as possible if a child needs to follow alternate plans. The Gooding girls basketball game at Kimberly on Monday night has been canceled and will be played Wednesday. NOON UPDATE: Filer schools will close at 1 p.m. due to worsening road conditions. Filer School District superintendent John Graham announced the early pick-up time just before noon. Idaho State Police also released a statement about noon reporting numerous slide-offs in the Magic Valley. "Drivers are advised to plan extra travel time, and ensure their vehicles are winter weather ready for travel," the statement said. JEROME Heritage Academy in Jerome is sending students home Monday morning due to worsening road conditions. The charter schools bus company checked roads at 5 a.m. and they were fine, school superintendent Christine Ivie said in an 8:40 a.m. voice message to the Times-News. But by 7:30 a.m., drifting snow was creating challenges for the buses, she said. The school is notifying parents and apologizing for the inconvenience, Ivie said. Richfield School District is closed Monday due to windy conditions that are leading to worsening roads. TWIN FALLS The City Council is scheduled to vote Monday night to buy some land to give the city more water storage space. The land in question is owned by St. Edwards Catholic Church and is near the existing water tank at Harrison Street and Falls Avenue. The city would pay $900,000 for the three-acre parcel, the plan being either to put it in the 2017-2018 budget or to pay for it earlier with reserves, according to a memorandum attached to the City Council agenda. The site would later be used for a 10 million-gallon storage tank, the agenda says. Among other agenda items, the Council will also hear a report from Chief Financial Officer Lorie Race on the status of the citys finances for the first quarter of the year. And the Council is set to vote on an agreement with the state for a traffic signal upgrade at the intersection of Washington Street North and Falls Avenue. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 305 Third Ave. East, followed by a public hearing on a zoning change that is scheduled to start no earlier than 6 p.m. The agenda and related materials are available online at the citys website, tfid.org. BOISE District 26s newest representative wants to make her mark on education policy while shes in the Legislature. Midway through her second week of a session where, so far, most of the headlines have been about infighting in the House Republican caucus rather than the issues the Legislature is expected to spend these three months on, Rep. Sally Toone said some aspects of her new job were what she expected, and some are less than expected. Ive watched the Legislature before, from the outside looking in, she said. The learning curve once youre inside is different but exciting. I consider myself adaptable and I can learn. Toone, a Democrat from Gooding who recently retired from her teaching career in the Wendell and Gooding school districts, declared in late 2015 that she planned to run for the seat that had been occupied for more than a decade by Donna Pence, also a Democrat and a retired teacher from Gooding. The district, which covers all of Blaine, Camas, Gooding and Lincoln counties, leans Democratic but is one of the few where both Democrats and Republicans win legislative seats regularly the district has also elected Republican Steve Miller three times by narrow margins, also sending him back to Boise while electing Toone at the same time. Toone is the only new lawmaker from the Magic or Wood River valleys this year the incumbents were re-elected for every other seat. Toone said she has so far enjoyed working on her committees she sits on House Education, Agriculture and Business and learning about the new topics she will be grappling with. I suppose that comes from (being) an educator, she said. Being a teacher, you always look for new experiences to learn, and thats how I look at it, from the eyes of an educator and a lifelong learner. As the session goes on, most committees will spend most of their time hearing and debating bills, but at this point in the session there arent many bills to work on. This is when the committees review and approve the administrative rules that state agencies prepared for them over the interim. Toone said she is looking forward to later, when actual legislation takes up most of the Legislatures time, and on Thursday she and Rep. Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer, two of just a few Democrats left in the Legislature who dont represent the Boise area, unveiled the Democrats first major bill of the session a proposal to pay some of the student loans of teachers who choose to work in struggling rural districts such as some of the ones Toone represents. Conversations need to start, Toone said. Well just keep going. It comes from my heart. Education and keeping educators in Idaho is just so valuable because we know ourselves and our rural communities are the heart of Idaho. Education policy is an area where Toone hopes to have an influence. She said she is interested in reviewing the new science content standards that lawmakers are going to review this year after having rejected them in 2016. Some of what happens, she said, could depend on what happens at the national level. President-elect Donald Trump nominee to run the federal Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, is a strong charter school supporter whose pick has sparked concern among advocates for public schools. I want to be an active voice in those conversations, Toone said. Toone also said she is looking forward to upcoming debates about health care, another issue whose outcome this session will depend largely on what happens in Washington, D.C., with the Republicans plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and what they replace it with. That will be an interesting conversation, she said. On the floor, Im excited to see the debates. Cant say Ill participate a whole lot, but Ill learn and listen and if the opportunity comes we need to speak up for our district. Gov. C.L. Butch Otter has said he wants to focus on education this year and has made a number of proposals to strengthen the states higher education system. Lawmakers are also expected to fund the third year of the career ladder plan to raise teacher pay. Teacher evaluations are another issue lawmakers will be grappling with. Last last year, news came out of an independent audit of 225 randomly sampled teacher evaluations from 53 school districts and charter schools from the 2014-15 school year that found 99 percent of them werent done correctly. The Department of Education received the report in July but didnt share it with lawmakers or the public. It was first reported by Idaho Education News last month. Toone said that while it is unfortunate the state sat on the data, she questions the validity of the finding that most of the evaluations were flawed. She thinks the problem was one of communication with the school districts. As a teacher, when all the class misses a question, you have to question whether you presented the material correctly, she said. Toone said the Danielson model of teacher evaluations the state uses is a complicated one, but she favors continuing to use it because the state has already spent money on it. She favors picking eight or 10 or the 22 components and using those. Districts can have some local control, and the state looks at specific observable pieces, she said. Twin Falls Senior Citizen Center 530 Shoshone St. W., Twin Falls. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors 60 and older; $6, non-seniors; $3, children 9 and younger. Other items: cinnamon roll, $2; coffee 50 cents; soup to go, $3; lunch to go, $5.50. For lunch take-out, 11 a.m. to noon daily: 208-734-5084. Today: Roasted chicken Tuesday: Teriyaki pork Wednesday: Meatloaf; liver and onions Thursday: Barbecue pork in a bun Friday: Stuffed bell peppers Today: Quilting, 9 a.m. Fit and Fall Proof exercise, 10:30 a.m., free Mega Monday game, 11:45 a.m. Syringa Place presentation on eating smart and moving more, 12:15 p.m. Bridge, 1 p.m. Art class, 1:30 p.m. TOPS meeting, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: Tai Chi exercise class, 9 a.m., free Foot clinic, 10:30 a.m. Ticket Tuesday, 11:45 a.m. Hand and foot canasta, 1 p.m. Art classes, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Pinochle, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: Cinnamon roll sales, 7:30 a.m. Quilting, 9 a.m. Music by Legacy Band, 11:30 a.m. Bridge, 1 p.m. Laughter Therapy, 5:30 p.m. Thursday: Tai Chi, 9 a.m., free Organ music by Pat Blessin, 11:30 a.m. Thunder Thursday game, 11:55 a.m. Visually Impaired Support Group meeting, 12:45 p.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Art classes, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Ladies AA, 6 p.m. Friday: Quilting, 9 a.m. Fit and Fall Proof, 10:30 a.m., free Bingo, 11:45 a.m. City of Twin Falls discussion with Senior Citizens Advisory Commission, 12:15 p.m. Art class, 1:30 p.m. West End Senior Citizens Inc. 1010 Main St., Buhl. Lunch at noon, suggested donation: $5, seniors, 60 and older; $7, non-seniors; $7 for take-out dinners; and $4, children 10 and younger. Sunday buffet at 1 p.m.: $5, seniors, 60 and older; $7, non-seniors; $4, children 10 and younger. Bus for lunch pickup: 208-543-4577 by 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Today: Meatloaf sandwich Tuesday: Baked fish with stuffing Wednesday: Breakfast, biscuits and gravy, ham, 8 to 10 a.m. Thursday: Turkey pot pie Sunday: Roast beef Today: SilverSneakers exercise program, 10:30 a.m. Pinochle, 7 p.m. Tuesday: Board meeting, 1 p.m. Wednesday: SilverSneakers, 10:30 a.m. Bingo, early bird starts at 6:45 p.m., doors open at 5:30 p.m. Filer Senior Haven 222 Main St., Filer. Lunch at noon Tuesday through Thursday. Suggested donation: $5. 208-326-4608. Tuesday: Chicken and noodles Wednesday: Taco salad Thursday: Fried chicken Today: Bingo, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: Puzzles, 11:30 a.m. Bingo, 12:45 p.m. Wednesday: Puzzles, 11:30 a.m. Bingo, 12:45 p.m., $2 Thursday: Puzzles, 11:30 a.m. Bingo, 12:45 p.m. Cards, 1:30 p.m. Friday: Pinochle, 7 p.m. Ageless Senior Center 310 Main St. N., Kimberly. Salad bar at 11:30 a.m., lunch served at noon; take-out; home delivery. Seniors 60 and older, suggested donation is $6, under 60, $7.50 (not donations); meals to go, $7.50. 208-423-4338. Wednesday: Braised beef over noodles Thursday: Cod, macaroni and cheese Friday: Pork roast Today: Exercise, 10 a.m. AA meeting, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: Snooker, 1 p.m. Branches Bible study, 1:30 p.m. Bingo, 7 p.m. Wednesday: Exercise, 10 a.m. Honey Bees, 11:30 a.m. Thursday: Crafts, 1 p.m. Snooker, 1 p.m. Friday: Exercise, 10 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Saturday: Southern Idaho Veterans AA, 9 a.m. Pinochle, 7 p.m. Gooding Senior Citizen Center 308 Senior Ave., Gooding. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $3.50 for seniors. 208-934-5504. Today: Chicken fettuccine Tuesday: Spanish rice compote Wednesday: Haystacks Thursday: Turkey Today: Pool, 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fit and Fall Proof exercise, 11 a.m. Pinochle, 12:30 p.m. Tuesday: Pool, 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Hand and foot, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday: Pool, 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fit and Fall Proof, 11 a.m. Shuffleboard, 3:30 p.m. Thursday: Morning out, 9 a.m. Pool, 9:30 a.m. Birthday party Pinochle, 1 p.m. Open pool Friday: Duplicate bridge, 1 p.m. Bingo, 6 p.m. Saturday: Pinochle, 1 p.m. Wendell Senior Center 380 First Ave. E. Lunch served at noon. Suggested donation: $4 for seniors; $6 for under 60. 208-536-9951. Today: Chicken casserole with tortilla Music by the Fiddlers Friday: Meatloaf with gravy Hagerman Valley Senior and Community Center 140 E. Lake, Hagerman. The center is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors 60 and older; $7, non-seniors. All take-outs, $6. 208-837-6120. Today: Salisbury steak Wednesday: Grilled ham and cheese sandwich Friday: Sloppy Joes Today: Blood draws (by doctors order), 8 to 10:30 a.m. 50/50 raffle and Bridge Club, 1 p.m. Wednesday: Tumbleweed Saloon, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday: Two bingo games Jerome Senior Center 520 N. Lincoln St., Jerome. 208-324-5642. Salad bar at 11:30 a.m.; lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors (age 60 and older); $5, non-seniors; $3, children under 12. Today: Polish sausage in a bun Tuesday: Pork chop with gravy Wednesday: Chicken sandwich Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs Friday: Birthdays, ham Today: Fitness classes with certified instructors, 10:30 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. Music by Ricki Lee, 11:30 a.m. Bridge, 12:30 p.m. Bunco, 12:45 p.m. Tuesday: Fitness class, 10:30 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Wednesday: Fitness class, 10:30 a.m. Country Boys Band, 11:30 a.m. Womens pool, 1 p.m. Pinochle, 6:30 p.m. Thursday: Yoga, 10:30 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Hand and foot, 1 p.m. Fitness class, 5:20 p.m. Freewill Baptist potluck, 6 p.m. Womens pool, 7 p.m. Friday: Fitness class, 10:30 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Bingo, 6 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday: Card tournament begins with lunch at noon followed by pinochle, cost is $8 (includes lunch and cards); pre-registration required: 208-324-5642, or Marilyn, 208-324-2174. Silver and Gold Senior Center 210 E. Wilson, Eden. Lunch at noon Tuesday and Thursday. Breakfast at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Suggested donation: $5, seniors (age 60 and older); $6.50, non-seniors. 208-825-5662. Today: Coffee, 7 a.m. Tuesday: Coffee, 7 a.m. Pork tacos Wednesday: Bible study, 7 a.m. Breakfast, ham, loaded eggs, 8 a.m. Thursday: Coffee, 7 a.m. Malibu chicken Friday: Coffee, 7 a.m. Richfield Senior Center 130 S. Main, Richfield. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors; $5.50, under 60. Today: Chicken breast Thursday: Egg salad sandwich Golden Years Senior Citizens Inc. 218 N. Rail St. W., Shoshone. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors 60 and older; $5.50, non-seniors. 208-886-2369. Tuesday: Liver and onions Wednesday: Taco soup Friday: Roast beef Today: Quilting, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday: Pinochle, 1 p.m. Friday: Pinochle, 1 p.m. Camas County Senior Center 129 Willow Ave. W., Fairfield. Breakfast, 7:30-11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors 60 and older; $5, non-seniors; $2.50, children 10 and younger. 208-764-2226. Today: Breakfast, 7:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday: Spaghetti Wednesday: Shepherds pie Friday: Fried chicken Monday: Exercise class, 9 a.m. Tuesday: Quilting, 10 a.m. Cards after lunch Wednesday: Fit and Fall exercise class, 9 a.m. Blood pressure clinic, 11:30 a.m. Cards after lunch Weight loss group, 4 p.m. Thursday: Art class, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday: Music by Old Time Fiddlers Exercise, 9 a.m. Quilting, 10 a.m. Cards after lunch Blaine County Senior Center 721 Third Ave. S., Hailey. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors; $7, non-seniors. 208-788-3468. Lunch is available Monday through Friday. Menu is not available. Today: Fit and Fall Proof exercise, 11 a.m. Connection Club, 11 a.m. Tuesday: Connection Club, 11 a.m. Bingo, 1 p.m. Wednesday: Fit and Fall exercise, 11 a.m. Kiwanis lunch, 11:30 a.m. Thursday: Connection Club, 11 a.m. Card games, 1 p.m. Friday: Connection Club, 11 a.m. Fit and Fall exercise, 11 a.m. Card games, 1 p.m. Minidoka County Senior Citizens Center 702 11th St., Rupert. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors; $6, non-seniors; $3, children 10 and younger; $4.50, home delivery. 208-436-9107. Today: Soup and salad Tuesday: Spaghetti Wednesday: Stuffed peppers Thursday: Chef salad Friday: Turkey dinner Thursday: Pinochle, 6 p.m. Friday: Bingo, 7 p.m. The Senior Junction 2421 Overland Ave., Burley. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors and children 12 and younger; $6, non-seniors.208-878-8646. Today: Ribs Tuesday: Grilled cheese sandwich Wednesday: Fried chicken Thursday: Senior appreciation lunch Friday: Enchiladas Today: Open billiards, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Chair yoga, 10:45 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Tuesday: Woodcarvers, 8:30 a.m. Wednesday: Open billiards, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Chair yoga, 10:45 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Thursday: Art with Shirley, 1 p.m. Bingo, 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m. Friday: Open billiards, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Dance, 7 p.m. Lorna Reed Senior Center 424 Market St., Albion. Open Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; lunch at noon. Suggested donation, $5 seniors, $5 non-seniors. Take-out available ($8.50), call by 11:30 a.m. 208-673-6210. Wednesday: Liver and onions, or hamburgers Seniors wellness The Twin Falls Senior Center will hold a presentation for senior citizens at 12:15 p.m. Monday at 530 Shoshone St. W. Connie Campbell of Syringe Place will talk about eating smart and moving more. Free; 208-734-5084. Yoga Morning Bliss Yoga, 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays at Magic Valley YMCA, 1751 Elizabeth Blvd., Twin Falls. This practice focuses on stretching and strengthening the muscles with a strong focus on breath, body alignment and relaxation. Free to the community. 208-733-4384. Dental sealants Delta Dental of Idaho will offer free dental sealants and fluoride varnish through its Grins on the Go program. Dental clinics will begin Tuesday for students in first and second grades at I.B. Perrine Elementary School in Twin Falls and will start Jan. 31 for students in seventh and eighth grades at Wendell Middle School. Dental sealants fill the deep grooves of a childs back teeth, and fluoride varnish helps protect the smooth surfaces of teeth. The clinics are on-site at schools serving low-income families as part of Delta Dental of Idahos community outreach efforts. A parent or guardian must sign a permission form and fill out a health history for a child to receive the free treatments. Permission forms are available at the schools. The Grins on the Go clinic doesnt bill Medicaid or private insurance. There is no cost associated with the program. Information: Delta Dental community outreach, 208-489-3541. CPR, infant safety Infant safety and cardiopulmonary resuscitation class, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Oak Rooms 2-4 on the lower level of St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. New parents, grandparents and caregivers learn CPR and what to do if an infant chokes. The class isnt a certification course. Free; no registration required. 208-814-0402. Alzheimers support Alzheimers Association, Greater Idaho Chapters Caregiver Support Group meeting, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at DeSano Place Village, 1015 E. Ave. K, Jerome. The group meets on the first and fourth Wednesdays every month. Information: Becci Bowler, 208-749-1621. Alzheimers support Alzheimers Association, Greater Idaho Chapters Caregiver Support Group meeting, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at DeSano Place Suites, 545 Nevada St., Gooding. The group meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays every month. Information: 208-934-4623. Mental health support Mental Health Support Group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at a new location at 826 Eastland Drive in Twin Falls. The free support group is open to Magic Valley residents. Information: 208-539-7492. Grief support Visions of Hope meeting, 5 p.m. every Thursday at Hospice Visions, 1770 Park View Drive, Twin Falls. This grief support group is open to everyone in the community. Information: 208-735-0121. Grief support Grief Share meetings, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, through Feb. 2, at Lighthouse Church, 960 Eastland Drive, Twin Falls. Anyone who has lost a loved one or friend is welcome to attend. A separate class for teens will be held at the same time. Participants can attend any session. Enter through the east doors at the rear of the main building. Information: 208-737-4667. Health fair A health fair will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Episcopal Parish Hall, 909 Maple St. in Buhl. Fasting for 12 hours is recommended. A basic cholesterol/triglyceride test is $9; a comprehensive metabolic profile of the blood, $8; PSA (prostate-specific antigen), $10; and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone test), $10. Interpath Laboratory of Twin Falls will provide technicians to draw blood and will mail analysis results within one or two weeks. Information: 208-543-4995. CPR, first aid St. Lukes Magic Valley Education Department is offering a Heartsaver Pediatric CPR, First Aid and AED class, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Learning Center, 840 Meadows Suite 2, Twin Falls. The course provides training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid and using an automated external defibrillator. Cost is $60. Pre-registration is required, 208-814-9050. C-sections Caesarean childbirth class, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, in the Oak Rooms 2-4 on the lower level of St. Lukes Magic Valley, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. Topics: Caesarean delivery procedures, pain management, and non-conforming labors. Free; pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402. Reiki Reiki Level One: Training and Attunement will be offered by the CSI Community Education Center, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in CSIs Shields Building, room 107. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement, says a statement. Learn the basics of energy, the history of Reiki, what Reiki is and isnt, along with hands-on practice. Level I Reiki certificates will be given upon completion of the class. Instructor Sandy March is a Reiki master and has been working in the alternative health field for more than 17 years. Cost is $199. Register: csi.edu/communityed, 208-732-6442, or at the Community Education Center. If you think youve had a tough winter, consider the plight of a Wyoming pack horse that was left for dead and survived on its own for six weeks in a wolf-rich national forest. The Jackson Hole News & Guide this week says Valentine, a 6-year-old pack horse, had fallen ill during the November hunting season and was basically left for dead as the outfitters had to get the loaded pack string out of the the Bridger-Teton National Forest. When the mare was detected by a snowmobile trail groomer in mid-December, the outfitter was dumbstruck. How did she recover from her illness? How did she find enough food in snow that piled up to five feet deep and temperatures to minus 30 degrees? And how did she elude the wolves? Its an equine Revenant movie in the making, since those questions may never be answered. She hung high up and I think thats what saved her from the wolves, said BJ Hill, owner of Swift Creek Outfitters. The rescue would be an equally remarkable 40-mile round trip in below-zero temperatures. The mare was about 6 miles down from the closest trail. I ride a brand-new 800 RMK snowmobile and it was challenging for the three of us to actually snowmobile down to where she was, said Dirk Chalfant, a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer who joined the rescue with the outfitter and his son. When the horse spotted them, she made it clear she did not want to be left behind again. She didnt want to spend another night back there alone, Chalfant told reporter Melissa Cassut. If we had to leave her and drive away, I think she would have been heartbroken. The men had brought hay for the gaunt horse and used their snowmobiles to pack a path out. A storm was making the effort even more difficult, dumping about 8 inches of new snow as they worked. The snowmobile groomer came in on a road below the rescue and assisted by packing a route out. The snowmobile rescuers would pack it more, and still the horse had to have a huge heart for survival to continue. That horse would walk in our tracks and break through into 5 feet of snow, Chalfant said. We just took the time it took. It basically took eight hours 1 mile an hour to lead it out. She never quit, he said. She never tied up. After what Chalfant estimated was 20 miles of travel, they finally reached the parking lot east of Togwotee Pass, where they loaded her up in a trailer to take her back to her winter home in Pavillion. To be honest with you, Chalfant said, when we went down there, we didnt think we could get her out. But all the stars aligned. To me, it was a Christmas miracle. This story has taken off on social media. Predictably, a lot of people are calling for the outfitters head. Some are calling it a case of animal cruelty while others are saying the outfitter was negligent. But Maury Jones, who knows the outfitter and says he takes good care of his stock, offered another point of view. The mare became ill and was lying on her side, groaning, breathing heavy and unable to move, he said. The unarmed wranglers had the option of trying to kill her with a knife or leaving her hoping the horse would get well and follow the trail out. That would be normal horse behavior, to follow the trail back, Jones said. BJ and his staff checked the trailhead frequently and talked to people using that trail and no one had seen her. So BJ surmised she had died and been picked to the bones by coyotes, wolves, bears, eagles and ravens. It wasnt worth a 20-mile ride back up there to see a pile of bones. He said Valentine was in the pasture beside the outfitters house this week, and doing just fine. The first 96 hours of President Donald Trumps tenure have been filled with claims, counter-claims, accusations of bias, outright falsehoods and lots of other things that make people hate politics, politicians and everything about Washington. Its enough even for mea political junkie through and throughto wonder what we are even doing out here. It all feels terrible, unwatchable, nauseating. But not all of politicsor all politiciansoperates like this. There are lots of politicians doing itby and largeright, working to represent their constituents and views with a modicum of humility and humor, not to mention a commitment to finding solutions, not just calling out problems. It does the heart good to read about these folks. So here are a few politicians who should make you believe, again, in public serviceeven in these tempestuous times. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.: Murray is, simply put, the most underrated Senator. And its not close. She has successfully led the organization aimed at increasing the number of Democratic senators. She has played a central policy role within the chamber. And, again and again, she demonstrates a willingness and an ability to get things done even amid the worsening partisan roar. Murray, along with Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis.he wasnt speaker yetcrafted the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which ended the financial brinksmanship of Congress. It also served as a sign that, yes, bipartisan compromise was possible if both sides were willing. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham, R-S.C.: Graham is the rare Republican politician who has successfully navigated the rise of the tea party over the past decade. Despite claims from tea party types that they would take him down for his alleged moderation, Graham has coasted to re-election. He continues to unapologetically represent the hawkish wing of the Republican Party and is one of the biggest skeptics about the motives of Russia and Vladimir Putin. Graham does all of this with a self-deprecating nature and a terrific sense of humor. Gov. Charlie Baker, R-Mass.: Massachusetts is one of the most Democratic states in the country. And yet Baker, a Republican, is one of the most popular governors in the country. How? Baker has cast himself as a relentlessly positive force for change, a businessman committed not to blowing up the government but simply to making it work better. He has also shownby necessitya willingness to work with the overwhelmingly Democratic state legislature in the Bay State. Gov. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.: I talked to lots of politicians in 2016 about the state of politics and where we need to go from here. None impressed me more than Hickenlooper. He has had his ups and downs as governor of Colorado but was in the final three to be Hillary Clintons vice president. Hickenlooper is refreshingly open and transparentabout his successes and failuresand brings a much-needed small-businessmans perspective (he founded a brewery before running for office) to the Democratic Party. They should be listening to him more. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.: Lots of political types remember him only for his two failed presidential candidacies, his trademark red and black flannel shirts and the exclamation point that was his campaign slogan (Lamar!). But since being elected to the Senate in 2002, Alexander has distinguished himself as someone committed to making actual policy and willing (and able) to fight the ideologues in his party. Of late, Alexander has been outspoken in favor of the GOP having a replacement plan in place before moving ahead with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Christopher A. Coons, D-Del.: Coons wasnt even supposed to be in the Senate. He ran in 2010 as a sacrificial lamb against uber-popular Republican Rep. Michael N. Castle. But then Castle lost the GOP primary to Christine (I am not a witch) ODonnell, and suddenly Coons was a member of the Senate. Since then, Coons has shown hes no fluke. He has emerged as a thoughtful senator, one governed more by his beliefs than by the power of party and partisanship. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.: Kinzinger, like many of his fellow House Republicans, was first elected in the national wave year of 2010. In the intervening years, he has shown that hes among the best of that group. Kinzinger beat longtime Republican Rep. Don Manzullo in a redistricting-forced race in 2012 and then, two years later, defeated an ideological primary challenge funded by the conservative Club for Growth. Kinzinger has also been willing to openly criticize Trump when he feels it necessary. He blasted Trump for a tweet praising Julian Assange and has been a vocal skeptic of Trumps openness to a new relationship with Russia. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Traditionally, devotees of the Black Nazarene flock to the Catholic church in Quiapo, Manila on the first week of January to venerate the image said to have been brought to the Philippines from Mexico during the times the Spaniards ruled the archipelago. This January at the ArtistSpace, the year starts with a commemoration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila through Panata (Vow), the solo exhibition of Cebu-based visual artist and portraitist Jun Impas. The exhibition gives tribute to the much-celebrated tradition where devotees of the life-size statue of the dark-skinned, cross-bearing Jesus Christ in Quiapo Church, would flock to catch its procession in Manila. Held annually, it is said the Black Nazarene procession is the largest gathering of fiesta devotees in the Philippines. LIFE-LIKE. Visual artist Jun Impas mounts his 90160 panoramic painting that depicts the thousands of barefoot men who follow the Black Nazarene in his solo exhibition Panata The focus of the exhibition is a single, sprawling and panoramic canvas that spans a breathtaking width and length of 90 x 160 inches. According to renowned art critic Cid Reyes, the paintings colossal size contained in a small gallery reflects the energy of the actual spectacular feast. Depicted in the painting are thousands of barefoot men that follow behind the Black Nazarene, some, in a frenzy to clamber up the carriage to physically touch the Nazarene. The work was created in a painterly fashion, and is seemingly influenced by the Chiaroscuro style. Panata serves as the climax of the body of work that the artist has created to document and celebrate as many of the countrys fiestas. This is because last year saw him showcase multiple canvasses depicting a particular town or a regions fiesta. Also, what makes this work worth seeing as much as his other works is the genuine creative process involved in creating the piece. It is said that for all of his works, the artist paints from personal, first-hand experience of a particular fiesta. ADVERTISEMENT Impas studied the arts at Surigao del Norte School of Arts & Trade and later became the youngest member of the Cebu Artists Inc. (CAI). He won Grand Prize in the prestigious Petron Art Competition (2004) and Excellent Award in the China ASEAN Youth Artwork Competition (2008), among his other local recognitions. A multiple awardee in several contests sponsored by the Portrait Society of America in 2013, 2014 and 2016, he is the former of (CAI) as well as the former President of the Portraits Artist Society of the Philippines. Exhibition runs until Feb. 2 at ArtistSpace, Ayala Museum in Makati City. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Powerful weekend storms roared through the southeastern United States, killing 16 people as violent weather left behind a trail of destruction, authorities said. Families in Dougherty County in the state of Georgia huddled on the side of a road Sunday, surveying the wrath of a storm that destroyed mobile homes and downed trees, according to video posted by county commission chairman Chris Cohilas. "This is absolutely devastating," Cohilas said in the video uploaded to Facebook. "It looks like a nuclear bomb went off." "I've never seen anything like it." Authorities had not said whether the storm caused any fatalities or injuries. The county's emergency management agency tweeted that shelters were being set up for displaced residents. ADVERTISEMENT At least 12 people had died in a rural part of south-central Georgia over the weekend, according to the state's Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. Four others died and 20 were injured on Saturday morning by a tornado that swept through southern Mississippi, according to the state's emergency services agency. In Georgia, eight of the fatalities were in southern Cook County, seven of them at a trailer park, county coroner Tim Purvis told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Four people died elsewhere in the state and three people were injured, according emergency management officials. President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday he had offered his condolences to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, calling the storms "vicious and powerful and strong." "On behalf of all of us, condolences," Trump said, noting that Florida and Alabama had also been impacted. Deal had declared a state of emergency in Georgia for seven south-central counties. He said in a statement that the state would request federal assistance in the storms's aftermath. "These storms have resulted in loss of life, numerous injuries and extensive property damage," Deal said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm's impact." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported extensive damage in some parts of Georgia, with numerous felled trees and downed power lines in several counties. Authorities warned that more severe weather could threaten parts of the Carolinas, southern Georgia and much of Florida with strong damaging gusts, large hail and a risk of tornadoes. The agency noted that tornadoes at night were "particularly dangerous" because they are often fast-moving and difficult to see. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Clashes in Yemen killed at least 66 people in 24 hours, medics and security sources said Sunday, as pro-government forces pushed to oust rebels from a key stretch of coastline. Air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition and fighting near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait killed at least 52 fighters among Shiite Huthi rebels and allied troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the sources said. Fourteen members of the pro-government forces were also killed. Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi launched a vast offensive on January 7 to retake the Dhubab district overlooking the Bab al-Mandab, a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Coalition warplanes and Apache attack helicopters have been pounding rebels in support of pro-Hadi forces advancing towards the Red Sea city of Mokha, military sources said. ADVERTISEMENT By Sunday, loyalist forces were within 10 kilometres (six miles) of Mokha, they said, but the offensive has been slowed by mines laid by rebels. The rebels took their dead to a military hospital in Hodeida, a major western port city they control, a medical source told AFP. The hospital received 14 dead on Saturday and 38 on Sunday, as well as 55 wounded rebels, the source said. On the pro-government side, 14 soldiers were killed and 22 wounded, according to medics in the southern port city of Aden where Hadi's government is based. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 in support of the beleaguered president. But despite its massively superior firepower, the rebels and their allies still control the capital Sanaa and much of the central and northern highlands, as well as the 450-kilometre (280-mile) Red Sea coast. United Nations peace envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed arrived in Sanaa on Sunday for talks and to push a peace plan that would restore a ceasefire and lead to a political transition in the country. The plan would lead to a political transition under which Hadi's powers would be significantly reduced. The World Health Organization says, more than 7,400 people have been killed since the coalition intervention began. A UN spokesman has said the civilian death toll alone could top 10,000. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. J., a loyal MR reader, asked me for a post on proliferation and separately nuclear exchange (war). Lets try the latter. Every now and then I ask myself what is the most likely use of nuclear weapons, putting aside dirty bombs from terrorists and the like. My first pick is a scenario where North Korea bombs a Japanese city, perhaps Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Imagine a North Korean regime in the throes of desperation, actually somewhat rational, and playing a mixed strategy with some probability of nuclear weapons use. Say the bluff is called and they feel a need to make a statement. I dont think they would bomb their brethren in South Korea, nor would they opt for China, which could crush them like a bug. Japan, still perceived as a historic enemy by the way, is the obvious target. Its close enough to reach, and they dont have nuclear weapons of their own. Tokyo however must be held in reserve as a target, so Hiroshima or Nagasaki it would be. Just big enough to send a message sound familiar? My second pick is a scenario where the United States and China are fighting a naval battle in the South China Sea, or perhaps further north, as part of a limited exchange, not a full war. The United States is about to win the battle, and the Chinese leadership fears a military or other Party-based coup in response. So they use nuclear weapons, perhaps tactical nukes, to turn the tide in the battle and save their skins. They figure the U.S. wont respond with a full-blown nuclear war. (America, if it lost a comparable naval battle, is more likely to just turn tail and run, at least in the short run.) Fortunately, the chances of either of these events are quite low. Unfortunately, the chances are also rising somewhat. There is more noise as of late coming from the India vs. Pakistan side (Pakistan threatening to use nukes to respond to a ground invasion, plus Pakistan having a nuclear submarine), but I dont see actual evidence that the chance of nuclear war there has gone up. It has to make the list, but its not one of my top two scenarios. My core model, by the way, is that political leaders are rational in the loose sense. So if you are looking for instances of possible nuclear weapons use, consider cases where politicians might be facing relatively dramatic career-ending events if they lose a smaller-level struggle. 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. @JeremySWallace The Republican many expect to run for governor started 2017 off with a bang financially. At the start of January, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam collected a $250,000 donation check from Florida Power and Light - the largest single donation Putnam has received yet for a political committee he runs called Florida Grown PC. That donation also helped Putnam top $7 million raised since he created Florida Grown in 2015. Hes spent just over $2 million out of that fund, but still holds nearly $5 million in the account. Florida Power and Light now has given a total of $587,000 to Putnams account since the start 2015. That makes the utility company the largest single donor to Florida Grown, narrowly edging out the Voice of Florida Business, a political committee run by Associated Industries of Florida, which gave $500,000. Another fund controlled by AIF gave $425,000 to Putnams committee. FPL is also a major donor to AIFs funds. FPL has given more than $2.6 million combined to the Voice of Florida Business and AIF since 2014. Putnam has not declared for governor, but speculation that he will was everywhere during the Republican Party of Floridas Annual Meetings last weekend. RPOF chairman Blaise Ingoglia went so far to tell GOP activists that if Putnam and Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran both run for governor in 2018, he would remain neutral even though he works with Corcoran in the Florida House. Here are Florida Grown PCs Top 10 Donors 1. $587,000 - Florida Power & Light 2. $500,000 - Voice of Florida Business 3. $425,000 - Associated Industries of Florida 4. $400,000 - Florida Jobs PAC 5. $235,398 - Disney Worldwide Services 6. $210,000 - U.S. Sugar Corporation 7. $160,000 - Publix Supermarkets 8. $160,000 - Florida Retail Federation 9. $125,000 - FCCI Services Inc 10. $110,000 - Duke Energy Florida's top environmental regulator abruptly resigned Friday, two days after House budget officials expressed disapproval of his management of a legal contract that had ballooned by more than $54.4 million in the last two years over a water fight with Georgia. Jon Steverson, who has led the Department of Environmental Protection under Gov. Rick Scott for the last two years, will step down effective Feb. 3 and go to work for Foley Lardner, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott told the Tampa Bay Times on Friday. Foley Lardner is one of the four outside law firms hired by the state to handle its 16-year lawsuit against Georgia over water rights to the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint River Basin. Florida sued Georgia in 2013 claiming the states excessive use of water from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers was endangering Floridas oyster industry and harming the economy of North Florida. Since 2001, the state has been billed $97.8 million on the water wars, according to an analysis by the House Appropriations Committee, and has spent $71.9 million to date. Nearly $40 million of it was spent in the last two years after Florida asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and the court appointed a special master to resolve the dispute. Story here. The premise of a mismatched newlywed couple moving into an un-ideal apartment and learning to live together remains an ageless source of humor in Neil Simons Barefoot in the Park. In its 50th anniversary touring production, the Montana Repertory Theatre pays loving homage to the witty, rapid-fire dialogue and levity in the script, now more than a half-century old itself. The romantic comedy, imbued with early 1960s optimism, is technically a period piece, but the productions warmth is a welcome throwback to a time when romantic comedies relied on cleverness over raunch. The three-act play is set in a fifth-floor walkup in New York City, where the impulsive and creative Corie (Whitney Miller) has just moved in with her husband Paul (Hunter Hash), a fledgling attorney and her polar opposite in demeanor. Simons contrasting odd couple are Victor Velasco, a cosmopolitan European neighbor, and Cories mother, Mrs. Banks (Laurie Dawn), whos timid and worry-prone to a fault. Since its 1963 premiere, some things have not changed, which works in the production's favor. The 20-something couple's first apartment is drafty, has malfunctioning heat, inadequate bedroom space and other quirks you must live with when renting on a budget. In their case, it's in the four figures with a decimal ($75 and change). Most anyone whos rented in the Rep's home base can attest that this is a timeless theme and perennial problem. The scenic design by Joey Sarno and the costumes by M. L. Hart expertly recreate the early 1960s, from the orange-and-beige heavy palette to the period clothing. For its annual tours, the Rep casts a mix of professional equity actors and UM students. This year, the Rep's artistic director, Greg Johnson, took a bit of a risk and cast two UM theater undergraduates in the lead roles. It's likely that they're as young or younger than their characters, and both rise to the challenge of leading a professional production. As Corie, Miller plays up her character's vivaciousness and her naivete without inflating her into a caricature. It's easy to see how the others fall for her vitality but often grow flabbergasted by its untempered pace. Hash adapts a bit of the now bygone mid-Atlantic accent to emphasize Paul's seriousness. Here is a man who knows what kind of tie Oliver Wendell Holmes wore and Hash renders him as a likeable but uptight man who, in the parlance of the times, takes himself seriously as a "college graduate." Mostly important, they deliver Simon's banter with verve. The speed and ingenuity of his often deadpan lines is a marvel: Characters unfurl zingers in the middle of sentences at a remarkable pace. A dingy building isn't just a dingy building, it's "a middle-income prison camp." Mrs. Bates disingenuously tells Corrie shes impressed with the apartment, given that it's a "nice, large room." Audiences may recognize Kuntz, one of the equity actors, from his lead role in the 2015 Rep production of The Great Gatsby. Where the wealthy Jay Gatsby drew people in through opaque mystery, Kuntz envisions Mr. Velasco as an eccentric who wins strangers over through sheer charisma and volume. Velasco's initial come-ons are by modern standards, should we say, somewhat aggressive. The past being the unchangeable past, the Rep seems to have adapted Corie and Mrs. Bates' responses in kind. After one particular comment from Velasco, Dawn pauses a beat and lets out a hilariously loud and panicked "Ha!" that drew laughs from the audience. It's played as cringe humor before its time. Dawn, an equity cast member from last years All My Sons, exudes anxiety to great effect. Colton Swibold, another Rep regular, provides intermittent comic relief as a telephone repair man bedeviled by those flights of stairs. In the latter half, when the optimistic tone shifts to conflict and those verbal darts take a darker turn, the cast fluidly shift moods as the mismatched pairs learn how to adapt for the sake of living together. Requisite conflict aside, the Reps Barefoot in the Park is a remarkably optimistic production, and an unexpected but fitting way to mark the 50th anniversary of a company best known for a more serious-minded signature play, To Kill a Mockingbird. BILLINGS When Big Timber students were looking for a local problem to address with a new phone app design, they turned north, where the Crazy Mountains gathered snow. A missing hunter's remains had been found in the mountains, which isn't an isolated incident in Montana. Local authorities struggled to gather information before organizing a search. A lot of time gets ate up before they ever get out to search for somebody because they have to dig up information, said librarian and teacher Cindy Glavin. Glavin stumbled across the Verizon App Challenge in August, a national contest for students to design their own app that addresses a local need. She rounded up a group of students who had taken an interest in coding exercises that Glavin uses at school. Technology is always kind of interesting to me, its something Ive been into, said eighth-grader Tristen McKenzie. With the Checkin for Hunters/Hikers Assurance Technology, or CHHAT, app, McKenzie and five other students found a way to integrate technology into another longstanding Montana interest outdoor recreation. The eighth-grade students, Leslie Edden, Dylan Cowell, Logan Countryman, Jared Larson, Ty Ferguson and McKenzie, hunt, hike and fish on land around Big Timber. The Crazy Mountains loom to the north, the Absaroka Range is less than an hour south and the Boulder and Yellowstone rivers meet just outside of town. The students know that things dont always go according to plan when recreating off the grid. Grizzly bears, said Larson succinctly. Even something as simple as a car breakdown leaving people stranded in wilderness areas can border on disaster; a University of Montana student spent two nights on a remote dirt road before being found in 2014. The CHHAT app would allow hikers and hunters to file a trip plan, with departure and arrival times and route details. Users could add information like medical conditions, prescription drug information and vehicle details. The information would be emailed to local authorities and is easily accessible if something goes wrong. Lt. Alan Ronneberg, who leads Sweet Grass Countys search and rescue operations, spoke to students about what kind of information would be most valuable in a search. In August, the remains of a hunter who had been missing since 2014 were found in the Crazy Mountains, and another hunter went missing in September. That search was scaled back after yielding few leads. Because students didn't begin work on the app project until August, they had only about two weeks before the contest deadline. They worked over lunch breaks to prepare an app plan, essay and 3-minute video. Once they were selected as a middle school state winner, they scrambled to put together a 30-second video in which Ferguson plays an overenthusiastic bird watcher to plug their app in voting. To vote for the Big Timber project, text CHHAT to 22333. To check out other projects, visit appchallenge.tsaweb.org/vote. Voting runs Jan. 16-Feb. 14, and there is a limit of one vote per phone number. Sentinel High School won the state high school contest. Big Timber wasnt selected in an in-house Verizon vote to move on to the regional competition. However, the team could still advance by winning a public "fan favorite" vote. The students, who all have coding experience and are interested in pursuing the subject further, hope they can make the app a reality regardless of how the contest ends. Even outside of Montana, itd be great for them as well, said Cowell. DARBY This wasnt supposed to be her year. At least thats how Sarai McCollaum viewed it last October when she decided to add her name at the last minute to the list of contestants vying for this years Miss Rodeo Montana crown. Shed been to a clinic a few days before and met some of the other competitors. Several had told her how important it was to take a year to learn the ropes before saddling up and hoping for the win. They all knew what to do and how it all worked, McCollaum said recently from her home in Darby. This was going to be my practice year, but then I started getting a little more competitive about it and decided I was going to do the best I possibly could. With a lot of prayers, I did just that, she said. With just two months to prepare, she and her family and friends went to work. It was intense, she said. We did lots of mock interviews with impromptu questions. We had mock fashion shows with me modeling around the house. And I worked on my horsemanship, too. That last bit was something that anybody who happened to be at the Ravalli County rodeo grounds last fall knows McCollaum can handle. Her wild ride across the arena on the horse she calls Tuffy became an internet sensation after a cameraman captured it from beginning to end. Horsemanship in the Miss Rodeo Montana contest is a little different than a bucking horse ride, she said. This years contest was held in conjunction with the recent Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls. It began with a day filled with events that ended in a get-acquainted dinner that included the dreaded impromptu questions. It was a little nerve-wracking that first day to have to get up in front of a bunch of people you have never seen before, she said. And, just as she suspected, her impromptu question had to do with politics: Following the most recent election, it seems that our country has become more polarized than ever. How can you as an individual work to be a unifying factor in this division? Every girl got some variation of a political question, McCollaum said. It seemed like the rest were all pretty easy compared to that one. Saturday night was set aside for the coronation. There were five contestants this year. They break the pageant into categories, she said. They started out by calling out Katie Kraus name. She won Miss Congeniality and the written test. I thought: Oh, my goodness. There went two of the categories. And then the judges awarded speech and projection to Lorna Job. I thought: Dang. She just got two more of them.' That left three categories. When the judges opened up the horsemanship envelope, McCollaum heard her name. That got me kind of excited, she said. It was the one category that I really wanted to win. I take a lot of pride in my horsemanship. And then she won appearance and wardrobe. I thought, Wow. Thats awesome. We only had two months to put my whole wardrobe together. We took a bunch of clothes and altered them to make it work. The last award was for personality and McCollaum heard her name again. By this time, Im getting really excited, she said. OK, I told myself, were going to have to see how this goes. When Job was named runner-up, McCollaum said she looked over at fellow contestant Cassidy Shay ONeil and whispered, Is this really happening? She told me, Yes it is, McCollaum remembered. She said, 'Take a deep breath,' and she kind of rubbed my arm. When they said my name, I covered my face for a second and took a couple of nice deep breaths. McCollaum is the daughter of Scott and Tara Boulanger of Darby. Shell never forget seeing her father with tears in his eyes. When they opened that envelope and announced her as the winner, well, it was pretty overwhelming, Scott Boulanger said. I think its a big deal when a small-town girl hits the big time like this. And now, McCollaum said the work really begins. Last years Miss Rodeo Montana put in over 30,000 miles representing the state. Im going to have to do some fundraising, she said. Its very, very expensive. But McCollaum is certain that it will be an experience that shell never forget. It really didnt sink in for me until the next morning, she said. When I woke up, I asked my mom if that was really the crown sitting over there on the table. She smiled back at me and said, Yes, it is. A grand opening of the new Missoula Aging Services (MAS) Seeley Lake branch office is scheduled 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday at the Bison & Bear Center, 3166 Highway 83 North in Seeley Lake. Older adults, their families and caregivers, and the general public are invited to stop by to meet MAS staff, enjoy a Swedish smorgasbord, and enter for hourly door prize drawings. At 1 p.m., Susan Kohler, MAS CEO; Carla Schade of the Seeley Lake Community Foundation; John Mercer of the Swan Valley Community Foundation; and Linda Howard, Seeley Lake resource specialist; are scheduled to address the gathering. In her role as resource specialist, Howard, who is certified by the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), offers information and assistance, referrals to services and consultation about Medicare and Medicaid. She is available at the office 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday (winter hours) to serve seniors, their families and caregivers in person or by phone. To make an appointment with her, call 406-541-7688. The Seeley Lake branch office is provided by the Seeley Lake Community Foundation. *** A poker tournament for players of all levels to benefit fatherless children at home and abroad on behalf of Love Has Come is scheduled at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. The event is on the second floor of the Hellgate Elks Club, 112 N. Pattee St. in Missoula. There's a $100 buy-in, and the tournament is limited to 110 players. Must sign up in advance at lovehascome.com. *** Weve all done it thrown a coin into a fountain and made a silent wish. Chances are you havent thought about that coin ever since. If youve tossed a coin in the Wish Fountain at Southgate Mall, you dont have to wonder what happened to it. Your penny, nickel, dime or quarter is working for some of the many remarkable nonprofit organizations that make the community a better place. Coins in the Wish Fountain at Southgate Mall are collected and saved throughout the year, and cash awards are presented to area nonprofit organizations. Selected organizations have often used the money to create new programs, supplement activities and further fundraising efforts. Last years recipients of funds were Tamarack Grief Resource Center, XSports 4 Vets, MOR4KIDS and Missoula Community School. All area nonprofit organizations are invited to submit a letter of request for funds, along with an introduction to the organization, its mission and goals. The Southgate Mall Merchants Association Board of Directors will select recipients of funds. Submissions should be sent to Southgate Mall Office, Attn: Fountain Funds, 2901 Brooks St., Missoula, MT 59801. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Feb. 28. *** Empower Montana and YWCA Missoula are returning in 2017 with the True Colors Training, a series of workshops created in an effort to address the unique challenges faced by people of color, as well as white allies taking action against racism. The True Colors training invites community members to rethink race, history and community. All training sessions are scheduled 6-8 p.m. on Wednesdays from Feb. 15-March 15 at the Payne Family Native American Center, UM. For more information or to register, call 406-543-6691. *** Habitat for Humanity of Missoula invites the public to an open house for its 50th and 51st homes in Missoula County from noon-5 p.m. Thursday. Located at 2215 and 2217 Burlington Avenue, staff and volunteers will be present at the event to answer questions and show off the craftsmanship and handiwork of more than 450 community volunteers including individuals, Missoula businesses, organizations, service groups and faith communities. These two homes are the first of what will be several homes Habitat for Humanity will be constructing in the Franklin to the Fort neighborhood throughout the next few years. The house at 2217 Burlington is a cozy two-bedroom that was designed by students of a Big Sky High School Architectural Design class, the first collaboration of this nature for Missoula Habitat. The house at 2215 is a split-level, three-bedroom home situated on the northern end of the lot. With each new home, Habitat for Humanity also incorporates as many sustainable, or green building practices as possible, with an emphasis on energy efficiency. The typical Habitat home built in Missoula uses 25 to 30 percent less energy than a current minimum code built home. A dedication ceremony for 2215 Burlington will take place for the Berry family at 5:30 p.m. following the open house. For more information, call 406-549-8210 or visit habitatmsla.org. The Office of Public Instructions social media accounts disappeared during the transition to a new administration, highlighting inconsistencies in how the state manages these public records. The OPI Facebook and Twitter accounts under former superintendent Denise Juneau were managed by Juneau and her communications director, Emilie Ritter Saunders. Once the term in office expires, the pages essentially expire, Ritter Saunders said in an email. She said social media is a vehicle linking constituents to public records rather than being public records themselves. Thats not how the state sees it. Montanas social media policy says "communication to or from state personnel through Social Media is likely presumed to be a public record. Montana law defines public records based on content, not format. If a newsletter, email or Facebook post contains information about government business, it is a public record. That makes the law flexible enough to cover new forms of public information created as technology and culture change and even accounts that mix personal and public use. That flexibility also can be a challenge for public officials who must actually manage the files. The state does not have a centralized method to manage digital content as public records, and each branch writes its own guidelines. The manual for the executive branch says digital records, like emails and social media posts, must be retained and destroyed according to schedules in state law, but does not provide specific steps on how to do so. That leaves each agency to decide for itself. For elected officials like legislators, the responsibility falls to them personally. *** Secretary of State Corey Stapleton has said that Montanas records retention policies likely are behind the times, although he questioned whether government could ever keep up with the pace of technology evolution today. Nonetheless, he said a lack of clear policy or consistency in following existing rules limits the publics ability to access records that show how their government is run. People are interested in policy, in political things going on, in communications between people who make decisions and (records that) provide oversight so we dont have waste, fraud or abuse, he said, noting that the publics right to know can interfere with the desire of leaders to sometimes communicate privately to craft unpopular, but necessary, deals or to talk out a thorny issue. We ought to have a discussion about meaningful retention of the right things, he said. But it might be an uphill battle. Thirty-one of the states 36 agencies have at least one social media account; many have accounts on multiple platforms. Many department heads also have their own social media, which they often use to discuss state business. Most legislators use Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch with constituents back home, take stands on proposed bills and track down free food offerings in the Capitol. Its kind of interesting. Were in a new age where social media becomes part of official work, said Dylan Klapmeier, communications director for Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. In this instance, the Twitter account and Facebook were operated under Denise Juneaus administration and privately held by her and her communications director. Arntzen, a Republican, took over as superintendent of public instruction this month, replacing Democrat Juneau, who termed out. We have never had access to them and OPIs IT department does not have any records of them, Klapmeier wrote in an email regarding the former OPI accounts. Going forward, Superintendent Arntzen will be creating a new Facebook and Twitter account for the Office of Public Instruction with transparency so that they become the official OPI accounts and can be transferred to future administrations. He said when OPIs new accounts are set up, that will be done using state email and state devices. Ritter Saunders said she did not know what email addresses were used to set up OPIs former Facebook and Twitter accounts. *** A similar story played out in the auditors office. Kyle Schmauch, media specialist for Auditor Matt Rosendale, said Facebook and Twitter accounts under former Auditor Monica Lindeen have also been taken down. Schmauch said he set up new accounts to function as Rosendales official social media as auditor to make sure theres a bright line, or as bright as we can make it on social media. We talked about that and Matt agreed it would be good policy to have two different accounts to make sure people know whats coming from the auditors office, and if anything campaign or other personal political activity comes from a different account, Schmauch said. Schmauch said he talked about social media with Lindeens communications staff before taking over, where he learned the previous Facebook and Twitter accounts would be taken down to minimize confusion. He received the log-in information for the offices YouTube account. Were still in the process of reviewing the policies and procedures manual from the past administration to see what changes we want to make there, Schmauch said. At the Secretary of States Office, Spokeswoman Morgan Williams said they did not have access to the social media accounts created and used by Linda McCulloch and her staff. She said they are still discussing how to manage accounts going forward. *** State governments have been slow to adopt transition and preservation strategies. Even though weve had electronic records for decades, its not been that long. We used to call it social media 2.0. Were even past that now, said Utah State Archivist Patricia Smith. Until the last five years, we still considered ourselves as working in a paper environment even though that wasnt really what was happening. Nonetheless, Utah state policy includes guidelines about the use and retention of social media as public records, just like an increasing number of states around the country. National experts repeatedly pointed to North Carolina as a leader in developing a plan to preserve social media posts. In 2012, the state became the first to capture the hundreds of thousands of posts made by more than 130 government social media accounts and, just as importantly, experts say, make them readily available on a public webpage. At least one state agency in Montana uses the same software tool as North Carolina, although the resulting archive is not publicly available. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation uses social media to promote projects, highlight the work of partners such as conservation districts, post job openings, educate the public on emerging issues and share updates about emergencies. The Facebook page includes a video of firefighters using a Blackhawk helicopter to combat the Holter Complex blaze, a news story about the Blackfeet Water Compact, and a photo of a golden field with the fun fact that Teton County was the number one producer of malting barley in Montana. All of those posts have been copied and stored using ArchiveSocial so future Montanans can see how this segment of their government interacted with the public and promoted its mission. Other state agencies have policies not to delete posts, but do not actively make copies of them. *** Helena attorney Mike Meloy, who volunteers for the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, said the law is quite clear about what is a public record even if state policies about how to store records are not. The form in which information is held is irrelevant to the question of access, he said. Although digital records often are easier to use in the moment, they can be more difficult to organize and store, especially because electronic formats enable more information to be created than ever was available in paper formats, said Tanya Marshall, spokeswoman for the National Association of Government Archives and Records Managers. If you look back 50 years, we had file clerks and secretaries who did records information management with paper. There was less of it but it was much better managed, she said. All these technologies are supposed to automate and make everything efficient, but we lost the management aspect of records information management. Computers and subsequent technologies changed the way people think or dont think about preserving digital documents. Scrolling down an endless page of Tweets or never clearing out an email inbox is not the same as actively organizing and managing paper records. In some ways, social media has increased the transparency of government in action, even if it remains unclear what is the best way to preserve those records. It helps us do our job, Rep. Ellie Hill Smith, D-Missoula, said. Particularly when were such a large geographic state, we can communicate in real time with constituents about whats going on in the Capitol, so it certainly makes the Legislature more accessible to the general public. They can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Although Smith was one of the first to use Twitter to broadly share her thoughts about proposed laws as they were being debated, many legislators, media members, lobbyists and others now make dozens of social media posts each day, providing people outside the Capitol a glimpse at bill debates, legislators' thoughts and party dynamics. Many others use Facebook, discussing ideas with supporters and urging them to testify at upcoming bill hearings. *** Conversations also happen outside the publics immediate view. Smith and other legislators said they text each other or send private messages on apps like Twitter. They coordinate questions for bills, make lunch plans and tell colleagues when caucuses will be meetings where legislators meet with fellow party members to strategize and that are open to the public, but not noticed in advance. Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, said some constituents and government employees who worry about being reprimanded prefer to send her private Facebook messages. They are generally viewed as outside public scrutiny, unlike emails that are routinely released under open government laws. Fielder said she did not feel as though legislators have clear guidance about which kinds of digital messages might be public records and what they should be doing to keep them to comply with state law. All of that is like the Wild West frontier, she said. Theres really no clarity. Adam Marshall, an attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, argued governments must work out how to manage new forms of digital records properly. People conduct their duties in different ways and that changes over time, right? Perhaps once we did everything with forms and notes and memos on paper. Increasingly, we do everything electronically because its faster and better, he said. Just because were changing to an electronic medium doesnt alter the legal issue of the fact the public has a right of access and a right to know how the government is working. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox likely will issue his legal opinion in the next week on a universal background check ordinance passed by the Missoula City Council, according to Eric Sell, his spokesman. Rep. Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, the speaker of the Montana House, announced the night the Missoula City Council passed the measure in September that he would ask for a legal opinion from Fox to see if it conflicts with state law. The Missoula ordinance mandates that a background check be performed on all gun sales between private parties in city limits, with a limited set of exceptions. Such checks previously were not required. Under state law, Fox had three months from Oct. 18, when he accepted the request for a legal opinion on the ordinance, to either issue the document or request additional time. Sell said the attorney general has informed Knudsen the opinion wasnt quite ready yet by the time the deadline came. He said Thursday he expects Fox will issue the opinion in the next week or so. Councilman Bryan von Lossberg said he introduced the ordinance in 2015 after receiving requests from residents of his ward who are members of the national advocacy group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. In fall 2015, while the ordinance was being debated at City Council, Fox issued a brief statement saying he believed it likely was a violation of state law. A formal legal opinion from the attorney general will have the force of law unless overturned by a state district court or the Montana Supreme Court. In his request, Knudsen, who also is an attorney, said he believed the ordinance runs against a state law that says local governments cannot "prohibit, register, tax, license, or regulate the purchase, sale or other transfer" of "any weapon." Missoula City Attorney Jim Nugent responded at the time saying the ordinance fell under an exemption to that law, which allows local government to prevent and suppress ... the possession of firearms by convicted felons, adjudicated mental incompetents, illegal aliens and minors. Over the past several months I have had the opportunity to travel across much of our beautiful state of Montana from my home in Malta to the Missoula area. On each occasion I noticed that when I pass through the quintessential American working-class village of Bonner, there is displayed on one residence a flag which formally represented a portion of the Confederate States of America. The flag on display is the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia; commonly but mistakenly thought to be the flag of "The Confederacy." While I wore the uniform of this country to defend the right of those persons to display such an emblem under the guise of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which addresses the granting of freedom of speech, I am also quite aware of what that particular emblem represents. It is not freedom. At the time that flag was created many, if not most Americans, including several of the lineage whose name I bear, searched their hearts and souls in the anguish of experiencing a nation literally tearing itself apart over the political and institutional concerns, conundrums and entanglements of that era; one of the most, if not the most significant issue being chattel slavery. The result was that some 620,000 to 700,000 Americans died to establish that we would indeed be one nation, one people, under one federal, democratic, constitutional government, and not a gaggle of states each pursuing its own special, specific, unique or regional interests. More than 600,000 dead Americans. Thats a lot of blood. But that blood purchased the concept that all people of America are free and equal. And we paid it. Jim Curtis, Malta The promise to make America great again starts with improving education. Betsy DeVos, the nominee to be the next Education secretary, has spent nearly 30 years fighting against special interests. Sen. Jon Tester must vote to confirm her so she can bring that experience to Washington to fight for all of the children in our country. As head of the American Federation for Children, DeVos embodies the organizations motto that an investment in their work is an investment in our childrens future. She has championed parental choice, charter schools and vouchers. In fact, she and her husband founded a charter school in Michigan that consistently performs among the top schools in that state. DeVos is absolutely qualified to be Education Secretary, and you need look no further to the hysterical fits special interest groups are pitching to know that she will be a force for reform in education. I strongly encourage Sen. Tester to vote in favor of her confirmation. Lori Hamm, East Helena A minority of Americans have managed to elect to the presidency an inarticulate and profane vulgarian. Puzzling as it seems, he was elected by the geographic center of the country, commonly held to be the conservative Bible Belt, which claims a proprietary hold on family values and Christianity. I was a month shy of voting age when Richard Nixon was elected in 1968, but ever since then, I've voted in every presidential election; and, Republicans have always insisted their candidate be a sworn Christian. Donald Trump is far from that. I've not even heard him say what belief system endears him to his ardent supporters. He's uneducated; a tax evader; a Vietnam era draft-dodger; unaccomplished without his father's millions; uninspiring as a speaker; a sexual predator and abuser of women; a racial bigot but, he appeals to a vast number of voters who require their president be a Christian? He's neglected to read scripture from Matthew 5, verses 33-47, and perhaps never heard of it. Christians are admonished to not swear at all. They are told to forego revenge and to turn the other cheek. That should Trump sue them for their coat, to also relinquish to him their cloak. When compelled to go a mile, to go two. To love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which use you and persecute you. And, if you do benefit for your brethren, would you do more for others? These are basic Christian tenets. Is Trump going to swear on the Bible to defend all Americans and to uphold the Constitution? I don't require religious beliefs from anyone. I'm merely curious what the appeal is that Trump holds for Christians. I'm not reassured his swearing on the Bible will mean much. Herbert Myers, Missoula HELENA A Missoula nurse slammed against the wall by a large male patient who later received only a citation testified Monday before a legislative committee in support of a bill that would make an assault on nurses and first responders a felony. Its upsetting to know that if that man had assaulted me at a park or a restaurant maybe something more could have been done, Caitlin Shipp, a registered nurse, told the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 268, carried by Rep. James O'Hara, R-Fort Benton, would make an assault on a health care provider or emergency responder a felony subject to up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. Though assaults now could reach the point of a felony, those testifying said greater protections are given to law enforcement and they would help prevent assaults on nurses and increase reporting of what already occurs. Two nurses who were assaulted said patients only received citations. Nursing has become the most dangerous profession in Montana, primarily because of violent assaults, OHara said. This behavior is completely unacceptable. We cannot let violent assaults on health care providers become the new normal. Nurses filled the first floor of the Capitol on Monday in support of the bill, which was scheduled for a hearing last week that was pushed back. A busload of nurses had to leave before the bill was heard by the committee, which had before it two other bills changing laws related to felony crimes. Vicky Byrd, a registered nurse and executive director of the Montana Nurses Association, said more than 100 nurses traveled from across the state to attend. Other who spoke in support of the bill included union representatives, hospitals, a representative of the state Department of Justice and legislators. Brenda Donaldson, a registered nurse and chair of the Your Nurse Wears Combat Boots lobbying group, told the committee police dogs on duty have more protection than nurses. Those who spoke in opposition to the bill said nurses are already protected by assault laws and that the bill would open the door to charge people who are mentally ill, have dementia or others who could act violently without the same intent. "The answer here is not creating another crime, its reporting when a crime has been committed against you," said SK Rossi, who represents ACLU of Montana. *** Nurses have the highest rate of workplace violence injuries of all health care occupations, according to a report from the Department of Labor. The department said it received 2,155 claims for workers' compensation between 2011 and 2015 that were assault claims. Peggy Verploegen, a registered nurse at the hospital in Havre, said she's been assaulted about twice a year. She started at the hospital in 1979. A fiscal note attached to the bill said affected agencies were not able to quantify the impact of the bill. The Board of Crime Control does not keep data on assaults on health care providers. However, the note did say it costs the state $42,647 a year to incarcerate a male inmate and $42,063 for females. The Office of the State Public Defender also estimate increased costs for any individuals it would have to represent. Similar bills were brought in the 2013 and 2015 legislative session but did not pass. More than 30 states have passed similar legislation. Four years have passed since a plan to revive Anacondas historic Montana Hotel fell through, but a group of Anaconda residents is breathing new life into the idea. Joan and Bob Morris, along with seven other Anaconda residents, formed the Montana Hotel Preservation Board in early January with a lofty goal in mind: to lease and eventually buy the historic hotel at Park and Main for $200,000. Board members met Thursday night to discuss a potential lease agreement with the buildings current owner, Jill Bolstad. Built by Marcus Daly in 1888, the Montana Hotel opened with 185 rooms and four floors, boasting a bar, restaurant, and chandeliered ballroom. Guests were greeted with modern amenities like telephones, steam heat, and an electric elevator. When the hotel opened, it was a modern, high-end facility, boasting French architecture and a mosaic inlay of Dalys favorite racing horse Tammany on the floor of the hotel bar. But by the 1970s, the hotel had fallen into disrepair. In 1976, the hotel was badly in debt, and more than 2,000 items were sold from a liquidation auction. In 1978 a new owner, Gene Higgins, removed the buildings top two floors and four iconic turrets to protect the structure from a leaking roof, said Jim Davison, head of the Anaconda Local Development Corp. Since then, there have been several attempts to purchase and restore the hotel by Anaconda residents, including one in 2012, when then-owner David Utt said he wanted to sell the two-story property for $55,000. According to a 2012 article in The Montana Standard, a group of about 12 residents, including the Morrises, started forming a nonprofit under the umbrella of the Anaconda Community Foundation to buy the hotel from Utt and eventually restore it. The group raised about $25,000 for the restoration effort, Joan Morris told the Standard Friday, but the project came to a halt when members learned Utt owed money on an $870,000 mortgage on the property. Not wanting to take on Utts debt, the group decided to put the project on hiatus. Morris said the money members raised in 2012 is overseen by the Anaconda Community Foundation. Some of the same people from 2012 are now part of the new nonprofit, Morris said. During Thursdays board meeting, members discussed their visions for the property, including possibly moving all or a portion of the Anaconda Railroad and Mining Museum to the hotel or housing Anacondas historic archives in the structure. Members also said they were interested in setting up business rental units and wanted to restore the hotel bar, among other restorations. A few members also spoke on the cultural significance of the property and what it would mean for the town to have the historic building restored. I think we have probably one of the greatest histories in the Northwest, said Bob Morris. And were losing it all because we arent able to move ahead. Board member Margie Smith agreed. We have a lot of neat old buildings in Anaconda, she said. But there is not one that can tell our story like the Montana Hotel. The group concluded by tentatively scheduling an open house and information session for early February. At that time they will assess public interest before making a final decision on whether or not they will sign the lease. As for Ray Haffey, a history teacher and resident who attended the meeting, he said success of the project hinges on the passion Anacondans have for their town. People come back to Anaconda, and they dream of having some of those things that they used to have whether its in memories or a place to go, said Haffey. Theyre willing to invest. The key is going to be to generate that enthusiasm. HELENA The U.S. Attorneys Office of Montana has hired a prosecutor to focus solely on civil rights cases, both civil and criminal. The new person tasked with that job is Brendan McCarthy, whose grandfather, George McCarthy, was the son of Irish immigrants, grew up in Depression-era Butte and studied engineering at the Montana School of Mines . The hire, one of several similar appointments around the country, was part of a last-ditch effort by outgoing Attorney General Loretta Lynch to protect the Justice Department's ability to prosecute civil rights cases in the Trump Administration. Decentralizing the civil-rights effort is seen by some as a way to keep boots on the ground even if the Washington office of the Civil Rights Division is greatly reduced. Weve always done them, but weve not had a dedicated position, so weve had to partner with (the) main Justice and the Civil Rights Division in Washington D.C., said U.S. Attorney Mike Cotter. With this particular position, well have a greater capacity to handle these cases. The Montana announcement is in stark contrast to initial media reports that President Donald Trump may be planning to scale back the Civil Rights Division. Critics have cast Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions as a potential barrier to civil rights prosecutions, which he has denied. American civil rights laws are far-reaching and broad, covering hate crimes; discrimination including for jobs, housing, or loans; and violations of rights such as voting or for members of the military. In some cases, federal law includes more protected groups than the state. For instance, Montana law does not cover discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, Montana Human Rights Network, tribal leaders, and others applauded the sharpened focus the new position will bring to civil rights issues in Montana. Montana might not be the most diverse state, but we have all of the same issues others face in threats to civil rights. Its good for people to know they have another place they can go to with complaints, ACLU of Montana Executive Director Caitlin Borgmann said. Some Republicans have for years questioned the mission and political leanings of the Civil Rights Division, which contributed to the departure of almost half of the staff from that division during George Bushs presidency. The federal offices profile grew under President Barack Obama and the departments first two black leaders, Eric Holder and Lynch. In recent years, Lynch and Principal Deputy Attorney General Vanita Gupta aggressively investigated and prosecuted cases of racial discrimination, excessive force, and racial profiling by police; housing discrimination; banks overcharging interest on loans held by military members during deployment; and the mishandling of sexual assaults on some college campuses as well as other civil rights matters. In 2012, the Civil Rights Division launched a first-of-its-kind investigation into three justice agencies in a single community Missoulas police department, the University of Montana police, and the Missoula County Attorneys Office following allegations theyd mishandled sexual assaults. Montana Human Rights Director Rachel Carroll Rivas said she remains hopeful for continued civil rights work under President Trump. It is very difficult to change institutions. Its a slow process, she said. But this position in Montana allows us to do important work here. Cotter declined to speculate how the new administration might affect the work of federal prosecutors. He did say the new civil rights position in his office was among the final moves made by top brass at the department. This was a decision made by the Attorney General Loretta Lynch in consultation with Vanita Gupta to enhance the ability of the U.S. attorney offices to do civil rights cases, he said, noting some other regions have had civil rights teams for years. In Montana, the new person tasked with that job is Brendan McCarthy. He has worked as an assistant U.S. attorney out of the Billings office for the last four years. McCarthy notes he is the fourth generation of his family to live in Montana, although I wasnt born here. One important figure in my life certainly was my grandfather, McCarthy said. The son of Irish immigrants, George McCarthy grew up in Depression-era Butte and studied engineering at the Montana School of Mines but became a confidant to leading Montana politicians and ultimately worked for three U.S. presidents. He served as assistant director of the Poverty Program, and his skills as a legislative strategist are credited by historians as critical to the passage of President Lyndon Johnsons landmark anti-poverty program. He worked in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations around the time the Civil Rights Act was passed, McCarthy said. I grew up learning about that time period. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame Law School, McCarthy worked in criminal prosecution and at Wilson Elser, a Top 50 private law firm, before joining the U.S. Attorney Office of Montana. He said civil rights cases will be a new challenge for him. To be able to represent Montanans in any position, especially a position where youre looking to make sure all Montanans are treated fairly, I just thought this would be a unique opportunity in my career to give back to the state that has done so much for me and my family, he said. McCarthy said he will kick-start the office by meeting with leaders from the states existing network of government organizations, law enforcement agencies, tribes, and nonprofits working on civil rights issues. Cotter noted there has been an uptick in hate crimes and hate rhetoric over the last couple of years that his staff, including McCarthy, have been monitoring with the assistance of federal agents and local law enforcement. FBI statistics show 30 Montana hate crimes in 2014 and 45 in 2015. The majority of those cases involved racial hate, but the largest growth was in crimes targeting someone because of their religion. Other crimes were committed against people because of their sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity. And just recently, Cotter said, events have occurred in Billings. A swastika was put on one of the rims across from the MSU-B campus." He also cited the recent circulation of anti-Semitic literature in Missoula, where hate speech was also reported in the schools, and "what is occurring up in Whitefish." Rivas said one advantage of Montanas federal prosecutor is that cases and investigations can more easily cross state lines. She noted that some of the recent hate messages sent to Jewish families in Whitefish likely originated out of state and were spurred by a post to a national white supremacist website. Cotter said: If there is a meritorious case presented to the office, it will be prosecuted. McCarthy said he will join Cotter and members of the offices Indian Country outreach team to meet with tribal leaders and learn more about the specific forms of discrimination Native Americans face in the state. In August, a hearing by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission in Billings focused on border town discrimination against Native Americans. For several hours, area tribal members shared stories about enduring hate speech at work, being denied housing or steered to certain neighborhoods by realtors, being victims of violent crimes at higher rates, being incarcerated at disproportionately higher rates, and trailed by clerks while shopping, among other stories. Those stories are all too familiar to John Robinson, a trial judge for the Northern Cheyenne Court, who has, at times, lived in Billings. It happens all the time, he said. Somebody mentioned it really quite succinctly that every town in Montana is a border town. Its reality. Robinson suggested McCarthy reach out to tribal leaders and organizations to identify recurring issues so they can be acted on in a systemic way rather than single, isolated cases. People are really tired of coming up and reiterating the same issues then seeing nothing done, he said, warning that the announcement of the new office could spark a flood of complaints that, if not addressed promptly, could only deepen the sense of distrust. Robinson said not all of the work would have to reach a courtroom to be effective. As an example, he said McCarthy could help organize fair housing training for landlords who might not realize how their policies are a racist instrument. Or, he said, McCarthy could build trust with law enforcement as a gateway to conversations about racial profiling or discrimination in policing. McCarthy said he sees his job being as much about legal solutions as it will be about seeking indictments. He hopes to establish a civil rights hotline for Montanans to call with complaints or questions. For now, he said the public should contact one of the existing nonprofit partners or the nearest U.S. Attorneys Office. Gov. Steve Bullock has named Luke Berger, the Lewis and Clark County deputy attorney, as the new judge for Montana's Fifth Judicial District, which covers Jefferson, Madison and Beaverhead counties. The current fifth district judge, Loren Tucker, announced his retirement in September, and his last day will be Jan. 27. Of the 13 candidates to apply for the judgeship, Berger is by far the youngest at 35, and he'll have to run for re-election next year. The successful candidate serves a six-year term. Berger is from Dillon, where he graduated from high school before attending Carroll College and receiving his law degree from the University of Montana in 2008. Between post-secondary degrees Berger served a year in AmeriCorps in a Baltimore soup kitchen. Berger has been deputy county attorney since 2012; before that spent two years as the sole prosecutor for the city of Helena, and a year before that as a law clerk with the Montana Supreme Court. According to Berger's application for the judgeship, his caseload in Lewis and Clark County consisted primarily of prosecuting felony cases of DUI, domestic violence, property crimes and crimes involving the potential of serious mental illness. The southwest corner of the state is the largest judicial district in western Montana, and Berger has plenty of driving and schedule juggling ahead of him. "With the Fifth Judicial District serving three county courthouses and numerous other independent communities, the judge needs to be able to devote adequate time to each area," Berger said in his application. The Judicial Nomination Commission interviewed applicants for the job, and submitted its top three selections to the governor for consideration for appointment. Other finalists for the job were: Jed Clayton Fitch, Dillon, Beaverhead County attorney Lori Ann Harshbarger, Whitehall, lawyer in private practice and city attorney for Twin Bridges When Chin Yee Fong came to Butte in 1905 to join his father at the Wah Chong Tai Company, he was about 16 years old. He attended Garfield School, and by 1910, he was the assistant bookkeeper of the most prestigious Chinese business in Butte. Discriminatory laws excluded most Chinese immigrants from America beginning in the early 1880s, but the emphasis was on laborers such as those who worked on the railroads and in Butte as cooks and laundrymen. Members of the merchant class were not subject to the exclusionary laws, but they still had to undergo intense questioning when they traveled. The Chins, like many of the Butte Chinese, were from southeastern China, in the Taishan District southwest of Guangzhou. Emigration in the late 1800s was driven by famines and civil war in China and by the lure of gold (and business) in western America. Chin Yee Fong returned to China in 1911 to marry his wife likely an arranged marriage, but we are not sure. He had to get testimony from his business associates as well as from unrelated members of the non-Chinese community who swore that he had never worked as a laborer together with pages of additional questions on departure as well as on return. Among other things, we know that Chin Yee Fong was a partner in the Wah Chong Tai Company in 1911, owning $2,000 worth of the $16,000 capital value of the company. The fact that Chin Yee Fong could return to the United States with his wife and daughter is remarkable, given the attitudes about Chinese immigration at the time. Through interpreters, his wife Liu and daughter Sue Kee were also subjected to seemingly irrelevant questions such as was your father in the grocery business or the fish business? After lengthy interrogation, the family was admitted to the United States at Seattle on March 26, 1912, nearly two weeks after their arrival at Port Townsend on the steamship Luceric. In Butte, the Chin family eventually Westernized their names to Albert and Lou Chinn, and their eldest daughter was called Kay. The Chinns had 11 children in Butte; three died young, but the others all attended Butte schools. Kay returned to China in the 1930s, where she worked as a secret agent for British intelligence before and during World War II. The other children dispersed across America after the war, except for William (Bill), who returned to Butte. He worked in the mines and as a TV repairman until he died in 1980. MONDAY, JAN. 23 CHORAL AUDITIONS Montana Tech's Choral Union will be holding auditions for the choir's 2017 spring season from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in the library auditorium. Immediately following will be the choir's 7-to-9 p.m. rehearsal. Details: Gary Funk, 406-529-1379 or sylvele@aol.com. TUESDAY, JAN. 24 AT THE LIBRARY Story time at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St., starts at 6:30 p.m. in the children's room. The subject is "Taste!," and kids will listen to some books, sing songs, and do an activity. All ages are welcome. Details: Cathy, 406-723-3361. LEARN TO SKATE The Montana Amateur Speedskating Association will hold Learn to Skate Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., throughout the winter at the U.S. High Altitude skating oval off Continental Drive. Details: 406-490-5764. Information is also posted on High Altitude's Facebook page, Butte High Altitude Skating Center. FILM SERIES The CINEMAtech film series begins its Spring 2017 season with a screening of Peter Watkin's "Punishment Park" (1971) at 7 p.m. in the Montana Tech library auditorium. The CINEMAtech film series seeks to bring a wide range of international art cinema to Butte. All screenings are free. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25 WINTER WORKSHOP A recurring winter workshop that will help beginning farmers and ranchers interested in starting a new business or adding a new enterprise is planned at Headwaters RC&D in the Thornton Building, 65 E. Broadway St., from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Details: Kellee Anderson at 406-723-0217 or kellee.anderson@montana.edu. BROWN BAG LUNCH The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, 17 W. Quartz St., will continue its Brown Bag Lunch series at noon with a presentation by Larry Smith titled "Glacial Lake Missoula and its Giant Floods." Guests are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Coffee and water will be provided. Details: 406-782-3280. WRITING LAB Educe Press publisher and novelist Matthew R.K. Haynes is holding free creative nonfiction laboratories starting at 7 p.m. at the Imagine Butte Resource Center, 68 W. Park St. Beginner writers are welcome. This week's lab will cover writing about the world at large. BUSINESS CARD SOCIAL Big Sky Senior Living will have a business card social from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 3701 Elizabeth Warren Ave. THURSDAY, JAN. 26 RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY Rocky Mountain Credit Union, 2101 Yale Ave., will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Details: 406-494-8866. CAT IN THE HAT The Bank of Commerce Performing Arts Series and University of Montana-Western fine arts department will present Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat" at 7:30 p.m. with additional performances at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Individual performance tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth at the door. UMW students are admitted free. LEARN TO SKATE The Montana Amateur Speedskating Association will hold Learn to Skate Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., throughout the winter at the U.S. High Altitude skating oval off Continental Drive. Details: 406-490-5764. Information is also posted on High Altitude's Facebook page, Butte High Altitude Skating Center. HOMEBUYERS CLASS Harrison Avenue Realty is hosting a free first-time homebuyers class at 6 p.m. at the Fairfield Inn conference room, 2340 Cornell Ave. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Details: 406-498-9382. FRIDAY, JAN. 27 'WHAT SEPARATES US' A screening of the award-winning Montana film "What Separates Us" runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Covellite Theater, 215 W. Broadway St. Directed by Bryan Ferriter, who also stars in the film, the romantic film was shot in and around Helena and is described as a raw depiction of how young men come of age in the mountains. Tickets are $10 and are available through Eventbrite.com. THINK TANK The Fountainhead Coworking and Montana Tech Business Guild Collaboration will continues its ongoing Think Tank Series to help business owners with their challenges. This month's session is on SEO (search engine optimization, or online presence). The event is at 6:30 p.m. at 66 W. Park St., suite 210, and is free. Refreshments and materials will be provided. To reserve your spot, contact Maria at 406-299-3256 or fountco@hotmail.com or Jessica at 406-593-7896 or jnyork@mtech.edu. COMPUTER CLASS The Butte Public Library will offer a free computer class at 11 a.m. at the south branch (Butte Plaza Mall). This week is Excel Basics. Registration is required; visit our website or call 406-723-3361. CAT IN THE HAT The Bank of Commerce Performing Arts Series and University of Montana-Western fine arts department will present Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat" at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Individual performance tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth at the door. UMW students are admitted free. TALENT SHOW East Middle School students are stepping up to help raise money for "No Greater Love," an original storied musical tribute to the 168 miners who perished on June 8, 1917, in the Granite Mountain/Speculator Mine tragedy. They will be holding a talent show at 6 p.m. in the East Middle School auditorium and are charging a small admission fee to raise additional money. SATURDAY, JAN. 28 CAT IN THE HAT The Bank of Commerce Performing Arts Series and University of Montana-Western fine arts department will present Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat" at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Individual performance tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth at the door. UMW students are admitted free. BINGO FUNDRAISER Mining City Dance Co. (formerly Miss K's) will hold its annual bingo fundraiser at 7 p.m. at the Butte Elks Lodge, Montana and Galena. Cost is $5 for 10 games. Cash prizes, door prizes, silent auction, penny auction, 50/50, and concessions will be available. Players must be 18 or older. Details: 406-491-8485. SUNDAY, JAN. 29 BINGO FUNDRAISER A bingo fundraiser for St. John the Evangelist Church and St. Joseph's Church will be at 2 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 224 W. Park St. The cost is $5 for three cards. There are cash prizes for 10 regular games and basket prizes for two special games. GO DANCING Highlites will play for a public dance from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Anaconda Elks Lodge. Music from big band, polka , swing, Latin, and waltzes are featured for dancing and listening. Admission: $10 for the general public. Everyone welcome. AUDITIONS WORKSHOP The Orphan Girl Children's Theatre in Butte will host an "Audition Prep Intensive Workshop." 2 to 3 p.m. Learn a song from "Duck Ugly" with Director Elizabeth Crase and how to shine in your vocal audition 3 to 4 p.m. Test your monologue acting skills with artistic director Jackie Freeman. Feel free to bring your own monologue, or use one that will be supplied 4 to 6 p.m. Work in groups on scenes from "Duck Ugly," "Charlotte's Web," and "The Miracle Worker" with both directors Elizabeth Crase and Jackie Freeman. CLUBS AND MEETINGS BUTTE Bingo will be played at 7 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday at the Elks Lodge, Montana and Galena. Players are urged to come early to get a good seat. Top O' The Mornin' Toastmasters will meet at 6:30 a.m. Monday at Perkins. Butte Exchange Club meets at noon Tuesdays at 16 E. Granite St. on the second floor. Details: Steve 406-782-4253. Uptown Toasters meet at noon Tuesday at the Butte Archives, 17 W. Quartz St. Details: 406-782-3280. Loosely Knit Club meets 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St. The group gathers to knit, crochet, or craft and share skills. Butte Sunrise Kiwanis Club meets at 7 a.m. Wednesday at Perkins. Guest speaker will be Jay Doyle, Interim CEO at St James Healthcare. Butte Garden Club meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway (third floor). This month's programs will include over 100 images of unusual garden elements for your home garden with emphasis on pathways, non-commercial containers, and vertical plantings and walls. A second program will be an 18-minute video explaining how trees communicate with each other. Details: Norm DeNeal, 406-723-6656 or denealnorman@gmail.com. Rotary Club of Butte meets at noon Thursdays at the Butte Country Club. Play ACC-sanctioned cribbage every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., nine games, Eastside Athletic Club. Sponsored by Big Butte Mile High Cribbers. Details: Phil at 406-494-2618. Suicide loss support group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on the third floor of the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St. Call before attending for the first time. Details: Beth at 406-490-1279 or Mary Alice at 406-533-9899. Al-Anon meetings: 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Congregational Church; 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Gold Hill Lutheran Church; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sharing and Caring, 1500 Cobban. Open AA meetings start at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the United Congregational Church, 2945 Bayard St. Details: 406-560-7330. Overeaters Anonymous meets at 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Gold Hill Lutheran Church, 934 Placer St. Details: 406-533-5454. Butte Public Library hosts Coloring for Adults from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday on the second floor at 226 W. Broadway. Coloring generates wellness and quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses, and creativity. Details: 406-723-3361. Chess Club meets from 2 to 4:45 p.m. Fridays at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St. It is free, and no experience is necessary. Details: 406-723-3361. An anxiety and depression support group meets at 1:30 p.m. every Saturday at 721 S. Utah St. Adult Children of Alcoholics meets at 10 a.m. Saturdays in the Atherton Apartments community center room, 4500 Continental Dr. Details: 406-396-4112. Bingo will be played at 7 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday at the Elks Lodge, Montana and Galena. Players are urged to come early to get a good seat. Top O' The Mornin' Toastmasters will meet at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Perkins. Butte Exchange Club meets at noon Tuesdays at 16 E. Granite St. on the second floor. Details: Steve 406-782-4253. Uptown Toasters meet at noon Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Butte Archives, 17 W. Quartz St. Details: 406-782-3280. Loosely Knit Club meets 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St. The group gathers to knit, crochet, or craft and share skills. Butte Sunrise Kiwanis Club meets at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Perkins. Guest speaker will be Jay Doyle, interim CEO at St. James Healthcare. Butte Garden Club meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway (third floor). This month's programs will include over 100 images of unusual garden elements for your home garden with emphasis on pathways, non-commercial containers and vertical plantings and walls. A second program will be an 18-minute video explaining how trees communicate with each other. Details: Norm DeNeal, 406-723-6656 or email at denealnorman@gmail.com. Rotary Club of Butte meets at noon Thursdays at the Butte Country Club. Play ACC-sanctioned cribbage every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., nine games, Eastside Athletic Club. Sponsored by Big Butte Mile High Cribbers. Details: Phil at 406-494-2618. Suicide loss support group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on the third floor of the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St. Call before attending for the first time. Details: Beth at 406-490-1279 or Mary Alice at 406-533-9899. Al-Anon meetings: 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Congregational Church; 7 p.m. first Tuesday, business meeting, Comfort Inn; 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Gold Hill Lutheran Church; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sharing and Caring, 1500 Cobban. Open AA meetings start at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the United Congregational Church, 2945 Bayard St. Details: 406-560-7330. Overeaters Anonymous meets at 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Gold Hill Lutheran Church, 934 Placer St. Details: 406-533-5454. Butte Public Library hosts Coloring for Adults from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday on the second floor at 226 W. Broadway. Coloring generates wellness and quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses, and creativity. Details: 406-723-3361. Mad Scrappers get together from 1 to 3 p.m. the first and third Fridays of every month at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway, in order to gather new ideas, share tools, or just work on their scrapbooking with fellow enthusiasts. Details: 406-723-3361 . Chess Club meets from 2 to 4:45 p.m. Fridays at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St. It is free, and no experience is necessary. Details: 406-723-3361. An anxiety and depression support group meets at 1:30 p.m. every Saturday at 721 S. Utah St. Adult Children of Alcoholics meets at 10 a.m. Saturdays in the Atherton Apartments community center room, 4500 Continental Dr. Details: 406-396-4112. With so much on its plate this session, the new Congress could do itself and future Congresses a favor by breaking its longstanding habit of kicking simple but important measures down the road with only partial funding and temporary authorization. Clearing its schedule of these items would allow it to devote more energy to resolving the more complex matters facing the nation. And of all the potential places to start, the Land and Water Conservation Fund may be the easiest. Wildly popular both in Congress and with voters, it uses no taxpayer dollars yet it has funded billions of dollars worth of outdoor projects, from building new neighborhood parks and fishing access sites to conserving wildlife refuges to enabling public access to public lands. Montana in particular has made great use of the LWCF. Consider that, according to the Montana Wildlife Federations calculation, nearly 70 percent of the fishing access sites and more than 800 recreational sites in the state were secured thanks to the LWCF. The fund has also helped Montana buy key public access in checkerboarded areas where public lands are surrounded by private property. In Missoula County alone, the LWCF program has played a fundamental role in dozens of significant acquisition and development projects. McCormick Park, Playfair Park, Kelly Island, Kiwanis Park, Caras Park, Frenchtown Pond, Seeley Lake Community Park think of a local park and chances are, it became what it is today thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The LWCF is funded through the diversion of a miniscule portion of money collected by the U.S. government from offshore oil and gas leases. In 2013, for example, these revenues topped $9 billion. That same year, Congress dedicated a mere sliver, just $305 million, to the LWCF. The fund was created in the first place out of recognition that the public should receive some direct outdoor conservation or recreational benefit from the lease of its public lands. LWCF projects are refreshingly community-driven; cities, counties, school districts, state agencies and tribal governments determine their own project priorities and then submit applications for LWCF grants. And since its creation in 1964, the LWCF has returned some $16 billion to our communities to help pay for these priorities, with more than $400 million of that going to projects in Montana. Given the lasting, tangible benefits made possible by the LWCF, its no surprise that nearly every senator and representative in Congress including Montanas entire congressional delegation has expressed support for it at one time or another. Unfortunately, as is all too common in the nations capital, that vocal support has not translated into meaningful action. Instead, Congress has been content to gradually bleed the program of funding, needlessly complicate it with proposed improvements, fail to agree on a funding levels or fixes, and then approve it only on a temporary basis, ensuring it must return to Congress yet again for reauthorization. A bipartisan bill introduced this month would finally put a stop to the LWCFs slow cycle down the drain by fully funding it and permanently reauthorizing it at last. Future Congresses could still propose changes on an as-needed basis, but no longer would they be forced to wrangle over the funds fate simply because a previous Congress had left the job unfinished. The bill was introduced in the House by Pennsylvania Republican Patrick Meehan and Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva, and while it seems like a no-brainer, its helpful to remember that a similar proposal was offered as recently as two years ago, and Congress didnt move it. Instead, it once again passed the LWCF on a severely limited, temporary basis and only by attaching it to a larger spending bill at the last possible minute. Before taking this emergency action, Congress briefly allowed the fund to lapse, which resulted in a torrent of letters from worried voters. And in the end, the reauthorization was only for $450 million and three years. Disappointingly, Montanas delegation did not stay above the fray of unnecessary maneuvering. Although the funding level was set at $900 million way back when the fund was established in 1964, the Senate Appropriations Committee lowered it to just $292 million. Republican Sen. Steve Daines then co-sponsored an amendment to restore it to the previous years level of $306 million. He also forwarded an amendment to give the fund priority status without requiring reauthorization. Democratic Sen. Jon Tester voted against the latter measure and co-sponsored legislation to permanently reauthorize the LWCF, which Daines voted against. Daines vote, in fact, was the deciding one in killing Testers legislation. Montanas senators both claim to support the LWCF. This year, they should resolve to get together and agree to a plan of action in the Senate. In the House, where a bipartisan solution already awaits action, it is particularly important that whoever wins election to replace Congressman Ryan Zinke, who appears headed for confirmation as President Trumps pick for secretary of the Interior, shares Zinkes unequivocal support for the LWCF. And that this person demonstrate that support by actually voting to fully fund and permanently authorize it. -- The Missoulian The Office of Public Instruction's social media accounts disappeared during the transition to a new administration, highlighting inconsistencies in how the state manages these public records. The OPI Facebook and Twitter accounts under former superintendent Denise Juneau were managed by Juneau and her communications director, Emilie Ritter Saunders. "Once the term in office expires, the pages essentially expire," Ritter Saunders said in an email. She said social media is a vehicle linking constituents to public records rather than being public records themselves. That's not how the state sees it. Montana's social media policy says "communication to or from state personnel through Social Media is likely presumed to be a public record." Montana law defines public records based on content, not format. If a newsletter, email, or Facebook post contains information about government business, it is a public record. That makes the law flexible enough to cover new forms of public information created as technology and culture change even accounts that mix personal and public use. That flexibility also can be a challenge for public officials who must actually manage the files. The state does not have a centralized method to manage digital content as public records, and each branch writes its own guidelines. The manual for the executive branch says digital records like emails and social media posts must be retained and destroyed according to schedules in state law but does not provide specific steps on how to do so. That leaves each agency to decide for itself. For elected officials like legislators, the responsibility falls to them personally. Secretary of State Corey Stapleton has said that Montana's records-retention policies likely are behind the times, although he questioned whether government could ever keep up with the pace of technology evolution today. Nonetheless, he said a lack of clear policy or consistency in following existing rules limits the public's ability to access records that show how their government is run. "People are interested in policy; in political things going on; in communications between people who make decisions; and (records that) provide oversight so we don't have waste, fraud, or abuse," he said, noting that the public's right to know can interfere with the desire of leaders to sometimes communicate privately to craft unpopular but necessary deals or to talk out a thorny issue. "We ought to have a discussion about meaningful retention of the right things," he said. " But it might be an uphill battle." Thirty-one of the state's 36 agencies have at least one social media account; many have accounts on multiple platforms. Many department heads also have their own social media, which they often use to discuss state business. Most legislators use Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch with constituents back home, take stands on proposed bills, and track down free food offerings in the Capitol. "It's kind of interesting. We're in a new age where social media becomes part of official work," said Dylan Klapmeier, communications director for Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. "In this instance, the Twitter account and Facebook were operated under Denise Juneau's administration and privately held by her and her communications director." Arntzen, a Republican, took over as superintendent of public instruction this month, replacing Democrat Juneau, who termed out. "We have never had access to them, and OPI's IT department does not have any records of them," Klapmeier wrote in an email regarding the former OPI accounts. "Going forward, Superintendent Arntzen will be creating a new Facebook and Twitter account for the Office of Public Instruction with transparency so that they become the official OPI accounts and can be transferred to future administrations." He said when OPI's new accounts are set up, that will be done using state email and state devices. Ritter Saunders said she did not know what email addresses were used to set up OPI's former Facebook and Twitter accounts. A similar story played out in the auditor's office. Kyle Schmauch, media specialist for Auditor Matt Rosendale, said Facebook and Twitter accounts under former auditor Monica Lindeen have also been taken down. Schmauch said he set up new accounts to function as Rosendale's official social media presence as auditor "to make sure there's a bright line, or as bright as we can make it on social media." "We talked about that, and Matt agreed it would be good policy to have two different accounts to make sure people know what's coming from the auditor's office and if anything campaign or other personal political activity comes from a different account," Schmauch said. Schmauch said he talked about social media with Lindeen's communications staff before taking over, where he learned the previous Facebook and Twitter accounts would be taken down "to minimize confusion." He received the login information for the office's YouTube account. "We're still in the process of reviewing the policies and procedures manual from the past administration to see what changes we want to make there," Schmauch said. At the Secretary of State's Office, Spokeswoman Morgan Williams said they did not have access to the social media accounts created and used by Linda McCulloch and her staff. She said they are still discussing how to manage accounts going forward. State governments have been slow to adopt transition and preservation strategies. "Even though we've had electronic records for decades, it's not been that long. We used to call it social media 2.0. We're even past that now," said Utah State Archivist Patricia Smith. "Until the last five years, we still considered ourselves as working in a paper environment even though that wasn't really what was happening." Nonetheless, Utah state policy includes guidelines about the use and retention of social media as public records, just like an increasing number of states around the country. National experts repeatedly pointed to North Carolina as a leader in developing a plan to preserve social media posts. In 2012, the state became the first to capture the hundreds of thousands of posts made by more than 130 government social media accounts and, just as importantly, experts say, make them readily available on a public webpage. At least one state agency in Montana uses the same software tool as North Carolina, although the resulting archive is not publicly available. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation uses social media to promote projects, highlight the work of partners such as conservation districts, post job openings, educate the public on emerging issues, and share updates about emergencies. The Facebook page includes a video of firefighters using a Blackhawk helicopter to combat the Holter Complex blaze, a news story about the Blackfeet Water Compact, and a photo of a golden field with the fun fact that Teton County was the number-one producer of malting barley in Montana. All of those posts have been copied and stored using ArchiveSocial so future Montanans can see how this segment of their government interacted with the public and promoted its mission. Other state agencies have policies not to delete posts but do not actively make copies of posts. Helena attorney Mike Meloy, who volunteers for the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, said the law is quite clear about what is a public record even if state policies about how to store records are not. "The form in which information is held is irrelevant to the question of access," he said. Although digital records often are easier to use in the moment, they can be more difficult to organize and store, especially because electronic formats enable more information to be created than ever was available in paper formats, said Tanya Marshall, spokeswoman for the National Association of Government Archives and Records Managers. "If you look back 50 years, we had file clerks and secretaries who did records information management with paper. There was less of it, but it was much better managed," she said. "All these technologies are supposed to automate and make everything efficient, but we lost the management aspect of records information management." Computers and subsequent technologies changed the way people think or don't think about preserving digital documents. Scrolling down an endless page of Tweets or never clearing out an email inbox is not the same as actively organizing and managing paper records. In some ways, social media has increased the transparency of government in action, even if it remains unclear what is the best way to preserve those records. "It helps us do our job," Rep. Ellie Hill Smith, D-Missoula, said. "Particularly when we're such a large geographic state, we can communicate in real time with constituents about what's going on in the Capitol, so it certainly makes the Legislature more accessible to the general public. They can follow us on Twitter and Facebook." Although Smith was one of the first to use Twitter to broadly share her thoughts about proposed laws as they were being debated, many legislators, media members, lobbyists, and others now make dozens of social media posts each day, providing people outside the Capitol a glimpse at bill debates, legislators' thoughts, and party dynamics. Many others use Facebook, discussing ideas with supporters and urging them to testify at upcoming bill hearings. Conversations also happen outside the public's immediate view. Smith and other legislators said they text each other or send private messages on apps like Twitter. They coordinate questions for bills, make lunch plans, and tell colleagues when caucuses will be meetings where legislators meet with fellow party members to strategize and that are open to the public but not noticed in advance. Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, said some constituents and government employees who worry about being reprimanded prefer to send her private Facebook messages. They are generally viewed as outside public scrutiny, unlike emails that are routinely released under open-government laws. Fielder said she did not feel as though legislators have clear guidance about which kinds of digital messages might be public records and what they should be doing to keep such messages to comply with state law. "All of that is like the Wild West frontier," she said. "There's really no clarity." Adam Marshall, an attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, argued governments must work out how to manage new forms of digital records properly. "People conduct their duties in different ways, and that changes over time, right? Perhaps once we did everything with forms and notes and memos on paper. Increasingly, we do everything electronically because it's faster and better," he said. "Just because we're changing to an electronic medium doesn't alter the legal issue of the fact the public has a right of access and a right to know how the government is working." Mayor Broderson called the City Council meeting for Thursday, January 12, 2017, to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present were Rehwaldt, Fitzgerald, Natvig, Saucedo, Bynum, Harvey, and Spread. The first item on the agenda was a request to adopt a resolution setting a public hearing on an Urban Renewal Plan Amendment to be held Thursday, February 9, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Resolution adopted. The next item on the agenda was a request to adopt a resolution setting a public hearing on a proposed development agreement with the HNI Corporation including annual appropriation of tax increment payments for Thursday, February 9, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Resolution adopted. The next item on the agenda was a request to authorize and instruct the city attorney to file written charges of removal pursuant to Iowa Code, Chapter 66 and Section 1-7-6 of the Muscatine City Code. Request approved. City Administrator Mandsager stated the Mayor and City Council had on their desks a copy of the full motion to be read. Councilmember Rehwaldt then read the full motion as follows: An elected City official may be removed from office for, among other reasons, misconduct or maladministration in office, and willful or habitual neglect or refusal to perform the duties of the office; and Willful misconduct or maladministration in office can include, but is not limited to, conduct such as repeated public criticism of the City or staff; repeatedly engaging in defamatory attacks against the City, staff or public; breach of fiduciary duties; or other conduct which tends to erode public confidence in the City or staff. Habitual neglect or refusal to perform the duties of office can include, but is not limited to, such conduct as repeated breaches of the public official's fiduciary duties and/or repeated failure to follow established city ordinances or policies; It appears the Mayor may have engaged in some of the foregoing conduct to the detriment of the City and in contravention of her established duties and, as such, written charges for removal should be filed to determine if the Mayor should be removed from office as a result of such conduct. Therefore, the City Council of the City of Muscatine, Iowa, hereby motions to instruct the City Attorney to draft and file written charges for the removal of the Mayor as provided for by Iowa Code Chapter 66 and City Code Section 1-7-6. Councilmember Harvey called for the vote. Mayor Broderson stated she was going to allow the public to speak. The following residents were present to support Mayor Broderson: Roger Roth, Clark House; Ann Brumback, 2235 Cobblestone; Roger Strong Sr., 2120 Bidwell Road; Judy Rivera, 909 E. 6th Street; Taylor Williams, 111 E. 6th Street; Nathan Baker, 508 Woodlawn Avenue; Diana Main, 220 Wallace Street; Robert McFadden, 2114 Pinefield; Clair Martin, 1574 Washington Street; Max Hoffman, 1609 Foster Street; and Osmand Malcolm, 516 W. 4th Street. Andy Foster of 612 Jackson Street stated he felt everyone needed to be patient because there is a process that must be followed in this type of situation. The final item on the agenda was an overview of the process for public projects. City Engineer Jim Edgmond, before beginning his power point presentation, asked if City Council was concerned about the length of time it takes to get from the concept to the project or how long the construction of a project takes. City Council indicated that both issues were a concern. Mr. Edgmond began his power point presentation with sidewalk poetry. He stated that adding the poetry changed the length of the time for sidewalk installation. He stated there are things that occur that change how long it takes to complete a particular project. Mr. Edgmond then talked about the differences between a public project and a private project. He stated that the process for public projects is much more stringent and risks cannot be taken. He stated there are no good methods to accelerate construction to a deadline. He stated that for private projects, the city can authorize overtime, extra workers if justified, cost, and time savings. Mr. Edgmond stated that the use of federal or state dollars for public projects is a long and complicated process and the average time for the completion of a project can be seven years. As an example, he stated that Mulberry Avenue took four years to complete while Diana Queen Drive, which was funded by city dollars, only took 1 years to complete. Speaking in reference to the Mulberry Avenue project, he stated there were several steps taken by the city that did save some time and money. He pointed out that the Mississippi Drive Corridor Project has been in the works for approximately eight years and is still not complete. Mr. Edgmond then gave an overview of deadlines/contract completion for public projects funded by state and federal funds and public projects with just city dollars. He stated the IDOT mandates working day contracts and once the working days have been passed, liquidated damages are assessed. Mr. Edgmond stated if the city assessed liquidated damages to a project funded by city dollars, it would be difficult to find bigger construction companies willing to submit a bid on larger projects. He stated he feels the city should work with the contractor to the fullest extent and always compromise. Mr. Edgmond stated the delay on Mulberry Avenue was due to an unanticipated utility issue. He stated things are always going to happen to delay a construction project. Mr. Edgmond stated the city must always keep in mind it cannot run afoul of a project being funded by state and federal funds. He once again pointed out that public projects funded from state and federal projects are very different from private projects funded by city dollars. Mr. Edgmond then talked about the efficiencies that have occurred on the city's various projects. He stated the waste/borrow site for the sewer separation project will save the city money over the next 12 years of the project. He stated that Fridley Theaters allowed the city to use part of their property as a waste/borrow site saving the city approximately $50,000 to $75,000 on the project. Mr. Edgmond stated the city has used recycled concrete and asphalt projects throughout the city. He stated the city saved approximately $60,000 on the Mulberry Avenue Project using recycled concrete. Mr. Edgmond stated his advice/warning is that if the IDOT is pressured, the city will almost always pay the price on the next project involving state or federal funds. There were questions and comments from City Council that were addressed by Mr. Edgmond. Councilmember Saucedo, speaking in reference to comments made earlier in the meeting, stated you cannot judge a book by reading one page. He stated that as the city moves through this process, the citizens will have a better understanding of what is happening. He stated that he will continue to vote on what he feels is best for the City of Muscatine. Councilmember Natvig stated that budget sessions are scheduled to being on January 28, 2017 and the public is welcome to attend. City Administrator Gregg Mandsager stated there will be a public meeting concerning the Mississippi Drive Corridor Project on Thursday, January 19, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Broderson reminded everyone of her Coffee with the Mayor scheduled for January 21, 2017 at Happy Joe's Pizza on Lake Park Boulevard beginning at 9:00 a.m. Mayor Broderson thanked everyone for supporting her tonight. She stated it was very heartwarming to her. Mayor Broderson then stated that the citizens of Muscatine would like an accounting of what has been paid to the city attorney for the year to date. Mayor Broderson ended by saying to City Council that she hopes they vote with their true conscience. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Gregg Mandsager, City Administrator Sealed bids will be accepted by the County Auditor of MUSCATINE County at their office in Muscatine, Iowa, until 9:00 AM, on Monday, February 13, 2017 for the various items of construction work listed below. A Certified check, made payable to the County, or a Cashier's check, made payable to either the County or to the contractor, drawn upon a solvent bank or a bid bond, shall be filed with each proposal in an amount as set forth in the proposal form. Cashier's check, made payable to the contractor, shall contain an unqualified endorsement to the County signed by the contractor or his authorized agent. Failure to execute a contract and file an acceptable bond and Certificate of Insurance within 30 days of the date of the approval for awarding of the contract, as herein provided, will be just and sufficient cause for the denial of the award and the forfeiture of the proposal guaranty. Plans, specifications, and proposal forms for the work may be seen and may be secured at the office of the County Engineer's Office at 3610 Park Avenue West Muscatine. All proposals must be filed on the forms furnished by the County, sealed and plainly marked. Proposals containing any reservations not provided for in the forms furnished may be rejected, and the County Board reserves the right to waive technicalities and to reject any or all bids. Attention of bidders is directed to the Special Provisions covering the qualifications of bidders and subletting or assigning of the contract. As a condition precedent to being furnished a proposal form, a prospective bidder must be on the current Iowa Department of Transportation or local county list of qualified bidders; except that this requirement will not apply when bids are received solely for materials, supplies, or equipment. MUSCATINE County shall issue sales tax exemption certificates through the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance to the successful bidder and all subcontractors to enable them to purchase qualifying materials for the project free of sales tax. This project shall be tied with City of Fruitland Project: North/Muscatine Street - PCC Iowa DOT Developmental Specification DS-15006 shall apply to this project. One proposal guaranty in the amount of $125,000 may be submitted to cover all tied projects. The late start date for all tied projects is June 5, 2017. Tied projects shall share a total of 110 working days. Failure to submit a fully completed Bidder Status Form with the bid may result in the bid being deemed nonresponsive and rejected. The County, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. Description of the Proposed Work: LFM-(61)--7X-70 A PCC whitetopping and reconstruction of existing seal coat pavement, with grading for foreslopes and shoulders, along Fruitland Road G38. ITEM UNIT QUANTITY CLEARING AND GRUBBING UNIT 89 EMBANKMENT-IN-PLACE, CONTRACTOR FURNISHED CY 16303.0 EXCAVATION, CLASS 10, ROADWAY AND BORROW CY 723.0 EXCAVATION, CLASS 13, ROADWAY AND BORROW CY 297.0 TOPSOIL, STRIP, SALVAGE AND SPREAD CY 5206.0 SUBGRADE STABILIZATION MATERIAL, POLYMER GRID SY 2845.2 MODIFIED SUBBASE CY 909.0 GRANULAR SHOULDERS, TYPE B TON 7649.30 SHOULDER FINISHING, EARTH STA 4.50 RELOCATION OF MAIL BOXES EACH 20 STANDARD OR SLIP FORM PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT, CLASS C, CLASS 3 DURABILITY, 8 IN. SY 2289.1 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT SAMPLES LS 1.00 PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT INCENTIVE/DISINCENTIVE FOR PCC PAVEMENT THICKNESS (BY SCHEDULE) EACH 1 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE OVERLAY, FURNISH ONLY CY 4832.7 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE OVERLAY, PLACEMENT ONLY (WHITE TOPPING) SY 19208.3 GRANULAR SURFACING ON ROAD, CLASS A CRUSHED STONE TON 30.0 SURFACING, DRIVEWAY, CLASS A CRUSHED STONE TON 390.0 PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT INCENTIVE/DISINCENTIVE FOR PCC PAVEMENT SMOOTHNESS (BY SCHEDULE) EACH 1 REMOVALS, AS PER PLAN LS 1.00 SLIPLINING EXISTING CULVERTS, LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 36 IN. DIA. OR HEIGHT LF 80.0 FLOWABLE MORTAR CY 1.0 REMOVAL OF PAVEMENT SY 2342.9 DRIVEWAY, P.C. CONCRETE, 6 IN. SY 723.7 REMOVAL OF PAVED DRIVEWAY SY 697.8 SAFETY CLOSURE EACH 10 CONSTRUCTION SURVEY LS 1.00 PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKINGS, DURABLE STA 205.10 TRAFFIC CONTROL LS 1.00 FLAGGERS EACH 10.0 MOBILIZATION LS 1.00 MULCHING ACRE 7.6 SEEDING AND FERTILIZING (RURAL) ACRE 6.5 SEEDING AND FERTILIZING (URBAN) ACRE 1.1 MAINTENANCE OF SILT FENCE OR SILT FENCE FOR DITCH CHECK LF 160.0 PERIMETER AND SLOPE SEDIMENT CONTROL DEVICE, 12 IN. DIA. LF 1580.0 REMOVAL OF PERIMETER AND SLOPE SEDIMENT CONTROL DEVICE LF 160.0 MOBILIZATIONS, EROSION CONTROL EACH 8 MOBILIZATIONS, EMERGENCY EROSION CONTROL EACH 1 Total Proposal Guaranty is $125,000.00; 110 Working Days; Late start date: Jun-05-2017; $1,500.00/Day Liquidated Damages. STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS OF THE IDOT, SERIES 2015, AND CURRENT SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS SHALL APPLY. Approved by: Keith L. White, P.E. Muscatine County Engineer Sealed bids will be accepted by the County Auditor of MUSCATINE County at their office in Muscatine, Iowa, until 9:00 AM, on Monday, February 13, 2017 for the various items of construction work listed below. A Certified check, made payable to the County, or a Cashier's check, made payable to either the County or to the contractor, drawn upon a solvent bank or a bid bond, shall be filed with each proposal in an amount as set forth in the proposal form. Cashier's check, made payable to the contractor, shall contain an unqualified endorsement to the County signed by the contractor or his authorized agent. Failure to execute a contract and file an acceptable bond and Certificate of Insurance within 30 days of the date of the approval for awarding of the contract, as herein provided, will be just and sufficient cause for the denial of the award and the forfeiture of the proposal guaranty. Plans, specifications, and proposal forms for the work may be seen and may be secured at the office of the County Engineer's Office at 3610 Park Avenue West Muscatine. All proposals must be filed on the forms furnished by the County, sealed and plainly marked. Proposals containing any reservations not provided for in the forms furnished may be rejected, and the County Board reserves the right to waive technicalities and to reject any or all bids. Attention of bidders is directed to the Special Provisions covering the qualifications of bidders and subletting or assigning of the contract. As a condition precedent to being furnished a proposal form, a prospective bidder must be on the current Iowa Department of Transportation or local county list of qualified bidders; except that this requirement will not apply when bids are received solely for materials, supplies, or equipment. MUSCATINE County shall issue sales tax exemption certificates through the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance to the successful bidder and an subcontractors to enable them to purchase qualifying materials for the project free of sales tax. This project shall be tied with Muscatine County Project: LFM-(61)--7X-70 This project is being let by Muscatine County on behalf of the City of Fruitland. The contract for this project shall be with and approved by the City of Fruitland. Muscatine County will provide contract administration and inspection and will submit all construction progress payments to the City of Fruitland for approval and payment. All questions regarding this plan set should be directed to the Muscatine County Engineer. Special Provisions for Work on Railroad Right of Way (Dakota, Minnesota, & Eastern Railroad D.B.A. Canadian Pacific), SP-MC1002, shall apply to this project. One proposal guaranty in the amount of $125,000 may be submitted to cover all tied projects. The late start date for all tied projects is June 5, 2017. Tied projects shall share a total of 110 working days. Failure to submit a fully completed Bidder Status Form with the bid may result in the bid being deemed nonresponsive and rejected. The County, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. Description of the Proposed Work: North/Muscatine Street - PCC PCC Reconstruction and whitetopping of existing seal coat pavement, with grading for foreslopes and shoulders, along Fruitland Road/North Street G38, Muscatine Street, and Fitzsimmons Street, all within the City of Fruitland. ITEM UNIT QUANTITY CLEARING AND GRUBBING UNIT 23 EXCAVATION, CLASS 10, ROADWAY AND BORROW CY 5357.0 EXCAVATION, CLASS 13, ROADWAY AND BORROW CY 766.0 TOPSOIL, STRIP, SALVAGE AND SPREAD CY 2749.0 SUBGRADE STABILIZATION MATERIAL, POLYMER GRID SY 19172.0 MODIFIED SUBBASE CY 6097.0 GRANULAR SHOULDERS, TYPE B TON 1236.00 SHOULDER FINISHING, EARTH STA 120.00 RELOCATION OF MAIL BOXES EACH 37 PAVEMENT SCARIFICATION SY 133.30 STANDARD OR SLIP FORM PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT, CLASS C, CLASS 3 DURABILITY, 8 IN. SY 16114.9 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT SAMPLES LS 1.00 PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT INCENTIVE/DISINCENTIVE FOR PCC PAVEMENT THICKNESS (BY SCHEDULE) EACH 1 HOT MIX ASPHALT MIXTURE, COMMERCIAL MIX (INCLUDES ASPHALT BINDER), AS PER PLAN TON 14.0 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE OVERLAY, FURNISH ONLY CY 640.0 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE OVERLAY, PLACEMENT ONLY (WHITE TOPPING) SY 2543.3 SURFACING, DRIVEWAY, CLASS A CRUSHED STONE TON 540.0 PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT INCENTIVE/DISINCENTIVE FOR PCC PAVEMENT SMOOTHNESS (BY SCHEDULE) EACH 1 REMOVAL OF EXISTING BRIDGE LS 1.00 REMOVALS, AS PER PLAN LS 1.00 REMOVE AND REINSTALL CORRUGATED PIPE CULVERT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 36 IN. LF 70 INTAKE, SW-512, 18 IN. EACH 1 STORM SEWER GRAVITY MAIN, TRENCHED, POLYVINYL CHLORIDE PIPE (PVC), 8 IN. LF 86 REMOVAL OF PAVEMENT SY 16384.1 REMOVAL OF RECREATIONAL TRAIL SY 1614.5 RECREATIONAL TRAIL, PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE, 6 IN. SY 2372.5 REMOVAL OF SIDEWALK SY 28.3 SIDEWALK, P.C. CONCRETE, 4 IN. SY 40.9 DETECTABLE WARNINGS SF 141 DRIVEWAY, P.C. CONCRETE, 6 IN. SY 888.1 REMOVAL OF PAVED DRIVEWAY SY 990.0 RAILROAD APPROACH SECTION, HMA SY 66.0 SAFETY CLOSURE EACH 42 CONSTRUCTION SURVEY LS 1.00 PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKINGS, DURABLE STA 239.80 PAINTED SYMBOLS AND LEGENDS, DURABLE EACH 2 TRAFFIC CONTROL LS 1.00 FLAGGERS EACH 36.0 MOBILIZATION LS 1.00 RAILROAD PROTECTIVE LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, AND EASTERN RAILROAD CORP. LS 1.00 MULCHING ACRE 6.1 SEEDING AND FERTILIZING (RURAL) ACRE 0.6 SEEDING AND FERTILIZING (URBAN) ACRE 5.5 MAINTENANCE OF SILT FENCE OR SILT FENCE FOR DITCH CHECK LF 375.0 PERIMETER AND SLOPE SEDIMENT CONTROL DEVICE, 12 IN. DIA. LF 3755.0 REMOVAL OF PERIMETER AND SLOPE SEDIMENT CONTROL DEVICE LF 375.0 MOBILIZATIONS, EROSION CONTROL EACH 14 MOBILIZATIONS, EMERGENCY EROSION CONTROL EACH 1 Total Proposal Guaranty is $125,000.00; 110 Working Days; Late start date: Jun-05-2017; $1,500.00/Day Liquidated Damages. STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS OF THE IDOT, SERIES 2015, AND CURRENT SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS SHALL APPLY. Approved by: Keith L. White, P.E. Muscatine County Engineer COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa A 12-year-old Columbus Junction juvenile will face felony charges after allegedly shooting the windows of a school bus and other vehicles. The juvenile has been charged with four counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony, one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, a serious misdemeanor, and three counts of fifth-degree criminal mischief, a simple misdemeanor, according to a press release from the Columbus Junction Police Department. The department responded to reports on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19 of windows in two passenger cars and two school buses that were allegedly shot at and damaged with a BB gun by the 12-year-old. The case has been turned over to Juvenile Court Services. The Columbus Junction Police Department was assisted by the Louisa County Attorney's Office. Emily Wenger of the Muscatine Journal MUSCATINE, Iowa The Muscatine Lions will host a community blood drive from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Muscatine Donor Center, 2604 Second Ave, Muscatine. This drive is open to the public. Both returning donors and new donors are invited to participate. DES MOINES, Iowa At least a dozen Muscatine residents participated in the Des Moines Women's March on Saturday, showing their support for civil rights and human rights. They and as many as 25,000 other marchers filled the front lawn and terrace of the Iowa State Capitol, marching around the building, carrying signs and periodically chanting, "This is what democracy looks like," "All lives matter" and "The people united will never be divided." The march coincided with 673 marches worldwide, including a large march in Washington DC, all taking place the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration to "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," according to the Women's March on Washington website. Linda Kelty, who organized a group of marchers from Muscatine, had attached a banner with approximately 150 names to her back. "There were so many people who wanted to go to the march and couldn't go to the march, and like so many of us, we watch things and wish we could be a part of it, so this is my way to carry people into the march. They're here virtually," she said, adding that the people on the list show their support for human rights even if they could not attend in person. Marching, she said, made her feel strong. "Instead of bemoaning the things that bother me that have happened within our society, I'm doing something about it," she said. "And there are people that say marching does nothing, signing a pledge does nothing but both of those things show commitment, and when you demonstrate your own commitment, then you're ready to act and action reduces fear." Cory Abernathy, also of Muscatine, carried a banner that read "respect diversity." He also wore rainbow ribbons to "support my LGBT brothers and sisters out there." He and his mom, Stacy Abernathy, marched to support women's rights, but also to show their support for LGBT rights. Cory also knitted seven pink hats for members of the Muscatine group. Each hat, he said, took about four hours to knit. "I've been working on it for the past two weeks," he said. The march and the rights it represents, Cory said, is "relevant to everyone because human rights aren't something that should be brushed aside, even in a small town, you have to have your voice heard." "Human rights have no zip code," Stacy added. Ryan Downing, pastor at Muscatine's Faith United Church of Christ, marched with his wife and children. "We came to show our support for everyone in our country," he said. "We believe that everyone has an inherent right to worth and dignity and carry the image of God and stand up for everyone." "I can't think of anything better to do with our time than to come out and love our neighbors and show our girls the value of speaking out for what they believe in and for meeting new and different people," Downing said. Capitol policemen fanned across the lawn and adjacent streets, and marchers periodically stopped to thank them. Captain Mark Logsdon, who oversees the Capitol Police, said the march was peaceful and no arrests were made. Though the police were prepared to respond should violent counter-protests arise, Logsdon said, there were none and he credited the orderly march to people's brand of "Iowa nice." "When I look at the rallies that took place around the country, I think all of them were underestimated," he said, adding that the Des Moines Capitol Police expected 4,500-10,000 people. "I gotta give the organizers credit, it was a tremendous turnout," he said, praising marchers for showing passion but maintaining the peace throughout the event. MUSCATINE, Iowa Muscatine County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) along with Jean Scott would like to let Muscatine County students be aware of the 2017 Diane Scott Memorial $1,000 Scholarship. The scholarship was established in memory of Diane Scott who had a love for nature and enjoyed the outdoors. The requirements are as follows: 1) Applicant must live in Muscatine County 2) Emphasis will be given to students who are pursuing natural resource or agriculture careers 3) To attend a public college in IOWA or adjoining states of IOWA 4) Applicant must be enrolled in College within 9 months of acceptance 5) Applicant should follow application instructions 6) Applicant will be expected to volunteer 30 hours at SWCD office to be eligible for receiving scholarship funding The applicants answer such questions as what career goal(s) did they have at this time and why have they chosen to pursue this career? What part-time and summer jobs have they held and how the jobs have helped in the choice of their career? They also have to describe what they feel are the major environmental problems that America is facing and the difference they hope to make in working to solve these problems. Please contact the SWCD for an application or if you have any questions. 3500 Oakview Dr. Ste. A Muscatine IA 563-263-7944X3. Applications are due to the SWCD office by March 17th, 2017. Muscatine SWCD encourages all to be active in the protection of our precious natural resources. MUSCATINE, Iowa Ragtime is a style of early jazz featuring the piano and a rhythm all its own. This lively, make you want to dance, music genre will return to Muscatine Jan. 27-29 as part of the Eagles and Ivories Ragtime Festival sponsored by the Muscatine County Arts Council. The event is paired with Muscatine Bald Eagle Watch sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project that will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Pearl City Station in Riverside Park, 100 Harbor Drive Muscatine. The 23rd annual Eagles and Ivories Ragtime Festival features world-class ragtime and slide, Dixieland jazz, boogie-woogie, spirituals, traditional jazz, and much more. And the fun begins early with a free kick off concert from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 27 at SunnyBrook of Muscatine, 3515 Diana Queen Drive, Muscatine. The festivities move closer to the Mississippi River with a soup supper from 5-7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 400 Iowa Ave., Muscatine. The Mad Creek Mudcats will provide music as patrons enjoy one of five different soups plus dessert. One of the most popular groups to perform during the festival is Ivory and Gold featuring Jeff and Anne Barnhart who will perform along with Scott Kirby and Benjamin Loeb starting at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. Saturday begins with the Bald Eagle Watch at Riverside Park which is free to the public. There will be live birds of prey programs at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. inside Pearl City Station presented by naturalists from Wildlife Prairie Park. Spotting scopes will be set up to view eagles at Pearl City Station and Lock and Dam #16, which is located 1.3 river miles upstream of the Muscatine Bridge, 33109 102nd Ave. W, Illinois City, Illinois. Staff from several local agencies and organizations will have booths inside Pearl City Station sharing information about conservation and the environment. There will be a craft area for kids and hot chocolate and coffee will be available to help folks warm up. Hearkening back to the golden age of cinema, a silent movie with piano accompaniment provided by Jeff Barnhart will be shown starting at noon, Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Ave. Music returns to center stage at 2 p.m., with Scott Kirby performing at the Muscatine Art Center. A Syncopation Supper featuring pork loin will be served from 5-7 p.m., at the Wesley United Methodist Church with music by the Locust Street Boys. The evening wraps up at 7 p.m., with another concert by Ivory and Gold in the Wesley United Methodist Church. The Barnharts, Kirby and Paul Asaro will perform during the concert. For those late night owls, or eagles, an after hours gathering will be held starting at 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday at Wine-Nutz, 208 West 2nd St., Muscatine. The weekend wraps up with two events on Sunday, Jan. 29. A ragtime/jazz gospel worship service will be held at two locations including the Wesley United Methodist Church and Faith United Church of Christ, 3307 Mulberry Ave., Muscatine, at 10 a.m. That will be followed by a 2 p.m. concert at the Muscatine Art Center featuring Ivory and Gold. Tickets for the evening concerts are $20.00 with the entire three-day concert package $50.00. Saturday afternoon silent movies are $5.00, and the afternoon concerts on Saturday and Sunday are $15.00 each. Children 16 and under are free to all events. The Eagle Watch is also free. The Artists Ivory and Gold features Jeff Barnhart on the piano and Anne Barnhart on the flute. The duo has been praised by the L.A. jazz scene as a musical duo that can, draw out the beauty in the rich melodies and play the music with taste, sensitivity, and a real affection for the idiom. More on Ivory and Gold can be found at www.ivoryandgold.net Scott Kirby was still a young musician when he recorded the complete rags of Scott Joplin and played at major ragtime festivals in the U.S. and around the world. He has served as director and musical director of several major festivals including the prestigious Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri. Time Magazine called him an ace pianist and he was termed one of the best interpreters of ragtime music on the scene today by Charles Osgood of CBS News. Benjamin Loeb is from Davenport, Iowa, where he serves as the executive director of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. He is also an accomplished soloist, accompanist, conductor, arranger, educator, and administrator. His piano performances have been heralded by the Boston Globe for (his) vigorous cogent playing (makes) this music live. Paul Asaro is internationally recognized as one of the leading exponents of the Stride piano style as well as ragtime and the classical jazz of Jelly Roll Morton. He tours and records with the legendary Leon Redbone and has recorded with Loudon Wainwright III. He has appeared on screen with Vince Giordanos band in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, and appears regularly with the Fat Babies at Chicagos Green Mill playing a variety of jazz from the 1920s through the 1940s. Mad Creek Mudcats are a Muscatine group playing music from the 1890-1930 time period including ragtime, traditional jazz, and novelty tunes. Locust Street Boys are a Dixieland jazz band from the Quad Cities formed in 1990 as a group from St. Ambrose University. For more details visit www.muscatineartcouncil.org or call 563-263-9978. Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] Blues and jazz evolved from the influence of multiple cultures to become a uniquely American art form. Filled with soul, (it) evokes emotions and is composed with skill. Jessica Sedlacek is talking about music, but she could also be describing American cuisine; and as executive chef at Blue Note Napa shes been spending considerable time thinking about both since the famed jazz club opened its Napa outpostthe first on the West Coastlast October. The exciting thing for me as a chef and a complete music junkie was the proposition to pair world-class music with equally worthy cuisine, she said. A creative culinary dream. How she became chef in charge at Blue Note has a certain theatrical quality to it. The first Blue Note in Greenwich Village gained its world-wide reputation by presenting the best of the best in jazz; and it also serves food and drinks, a solid menu with items like the Blue Note Burger and a Grilled Philly Steak Sandwich. But when the team of Ken Tessler and Jeroen Gerrese decided to partner to open Blue Note in Napa, Tessler said, Weve been told we have to kill it with food, so were going to. We are as serious about our food as we are about our music. They hired acclaimed chef Christophe Gerard, whose credits included top restaurants in France and the U.S.; but on opening night at Blue Note, when a sold-out crowd was on hand to hear jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, Gerard fell ill and Sedlacek, the sous chef, found herself much like an understudy called upon to step into a starring role. It was one of those times when you either run or buckle down and get the job done, Sedlacek said. It was exciting; and definitely a growing moment. It was also a moment for which she was prepared. The food was as bright as Bottis trumpet, and when Gerard moved on to take charge of the new restaurant at the CIA at Copia in Napa, Sedlacek became executive chef at Blue Note. An American heritage Sedlacek, whose heritage is Czech and Filipino, grew up in San Diego, but it was vacations at her grandparents South Dakota farm, cooking with her grandmother, that shaped her first culinary memories. It was a family farm, she said. My grandmother made pot roast, apple pie, everything was made from scratch. Southern California added its rich diversity of ethnic traditionMexican, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Koreanto her experiences. Still, Sedlacek didnt think about becoming a chef, she said, until her boyfriend told her he was heading to Hyde Park, N.Y., to study at the Culinary Institute of America. I said, all right, Ill go to culinary school, Sedlacek recalled. And then I remembered how much I liked cooking. After graduating, she came west to work at Bouchon restaurant in Yountville. She next helped open the Goose and Gander in St. Helena, whose menu she describes as comfort food but elevated. Her next stop was The French Laundry, where she worked her way up to become a chef de partie, a station chef in charge of one particular area of production in a restaurant. I learned so much, she said. It was fish elevated to an art form. Leaving The French Laundry, she took some time to travel in Europe, before taking a new job at Blue Note. Classics with a twist Blue Note was never intended to be just a music venue, Sedlacek said as she described the menu she and her staff created. It is a place to have a total sensory experience. Designing a menu for Blue Note presents a special challenge, she said, in that service is designed around two big rushes before the nightly shows by a changing roster of artists. I have the opportunity to create specials based on the music we are showcasing each evening, she said. The challenge, however, is that the food not only needs to reflect the artists style. Like any restaurant it must have a cohesive vision and consistent theme. The question became: How do we do that? So I decided to focus on fundamentals. The result is food that emulates the jazz Blue Note is famous for; she calls it classics with a twist like the shrimp cocktail, made in this case, with marinated Bay shrimp, avocado, compressed cucumber and micro-cilantro. Our barbecue pork belly sandwich pays homage to Southern cuisine, an American point of pride but I give it a twist based on cultural influences that are part of my history, she said like a touch soy sauce and a touch of fish sauce added to Kansas City style barbecue sauce. She creates the menu collaboratively with her staff by asking, What do you want to do? One person suggested pretzels, so we began making them in-house, she said. They were a hit. We are getting to the point where we are making almost everything in-house. Im really lucky in the people I work with here, she added. They are the best. I want to foster a creative environment where people enjoy coming to work. Arriving guests at Blue Note are greeted with a bowl of popcorn to share, but its her version of slightly sweet and savory kettle corn popped in duck fat. Music is woven through the offerings, beginning with Warm Ups like smoked almonds ($8) and rice chips with yogurt red curry dipping sauce ($6), and Opening Acts ($11-$20), including soups, oysters and a cheese board. Current Headliners include Seared Pork Belly with Cornbread Stuffing and Cranberry Jus ($29); Whole Roasted Acorn Squash with Faro Pilaf ($25); a Half Boneless Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Pecans ($27); Wild Salmon with Creamed Kale and Swiss Chard ($28) and a Braised Lamb Shank with Morrocan Spiced Lentils and Olive Oil Flatbread ($33). And there are Side Stage items including Fried Brussels Sprouts ($7), Marinated Beets with a Sherry Vinaigrette ($8) , French Fries with Thyme ($6) and a Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette ($7). This is my vision of jazz with food, she concluded, and, of course, it is ever fluid and evolving. As it revives Copia from an eight-year slumber, the Culinary Institute of America is seeking to reach out to new visitors one food class at a time and even one lunchbox at a time. Since opening the doors to the culinary center in Napa last fall, Copias new owner has filled the building not only with a gift shop and restaurant, but with demonstration kitchens where instructors can educate guests on the finer points of food and wine. For some of the classes at the renamed CIA at Copia, the lure for Napans and tourists alike can be as simple, as accessible, as a box lunch. But on Sunday morning, even a box lunch class became a way to introduce about 20 children to principles of healthy eating, and imagination. My name is Chef Hilary, and today Im taking you through some adventures for lunch, Hilary Sullivan Powers brightly greeted her mostly school-age audience, clad in a white apron and a matching toque atop her blonde hair. In front of her was a stovetop and bowls of chickpeas, peppers, tahini, curry powder and other ingredients. Her audience: children ages 5 to preteen, already nibbling the first dish of the morning. Youre actually eating health food right now! said Powers, a professional chef for 14 years who joined the CIA at Copia staff earlier this month. These brownies are actually made with black beans; how do they taste? (Awesome! one boy called out, just a few bites in.) The treats of beans, cocoa powder and zucchini flourless, gluten-free and suitable for vegans were simply the first of the programs many twists on everyday, often prepackaged lunch fare, each one tweaked to become lower in sodium and cholesterol, yet richer in taste and wholesomeness. On each small plate beside the brownie was a roll of fruit leather, but made with seasonal fresh fruit and without preservatives. During the next hour, Powers would roll rice noodles, vinegar and vegetables into a rice-paper wrapper to create spring rolls (fancier than a sandwich, she declared), then whip up a peanut-sesame-chili sauce to turn plain noodles into a bento-box main course. The finale was a combination of noodles, chicken, corn, carrots, spices and vegetable soup base, which the chef spooned into cups for kids to enjoy a savory and MSG-free version of instant noodle cups. The variety of fare almost too fancy for a brown bag impressed younger visitors like Joey Camat, 11, of San Ramon.I learned you can make any lunch and it doesnt even have to be a sandwich, (and) you dont have too use too much salt or sugar, she said. Classes and demonstrations at Copia from wine pairings to pasta making to home food preservation are meant to appeal to a variety of tastes among local visitors, including those who are not self-described wine buffs or foodies. But on Sunday, at least one family in the lunchbox class hoped to take its inspiration home all the way back to suburban San Diego, which they had left for a Bay Area vacation that included a stop in Napa. This was a lot of fun, and I know theyre going to make all these things, said Gidget Arabe of San Marcos, who attended with her 11-year-daughter Cassidy. But what the mother got out of the class, she added, was much more than just a spring-roll recipe to try out at home. Its of the utmost importance to eat well, said Arabe. It helps them to have a better day; they stay balanced so they dont go through ups and downs during the day. More wide-ranging kitchen sessions for young people may take place at Copia in the course of the year, according to Maryam Ahmed, assistant director of enthusiast programs for CIA California, which operates both Copia and the school's Greystone campus in St. Helena. One possible project may be a summertime class for older children and teens that would include a study of flavor interactions and basic kitchen techniques, she said. Such programs may go some way to lower the wine countrys barriers to those, residents or tourists, not yet old enough to enjoy the valleys most famous product. Locals here in Napa and visitors, many of them are looking for kids programs, said Ahmed after the Sunday class. A lot of what goes on in the Napa Valley is oriented to adults, and we want share what we know with families. A few days ago, a couple of dozen folks gathered for weekday morning mass. As usual, it took place in a small, quiet alcove of the otherwise cavernous church. The faces were familiar. Retirees, a few elderly couples, a young Hispanic mom with her two kids, a few students on their way to school, folks on their way to work, a shy homeless gent with a gigantic backpack who sits near the door. The short service includes meditation, scripture, Communion, some music, shared, smiled greetings, and prayers of intentions. Each mass usually has a stated intention, and that morning the intention sheet had one penciled-in: "For the wisdom of our elected leaders." The priest was a slight, reserved, pleasantly thoughtful, native of Kenya, with balding, "buzz-cut" hair. He picked up the sheet of intentions, regarded it a bit longer than usual, and smiling, stated the intention to the small gathered congregation. Morning mass, of course, is always short, rarely over 30 minutes or so. There is usually a short "homily" of shared thoughts by the priest; no more than a minute or two depending on the particular celebrant. Midway through mass, the priest, clearly taking a cue from the intention that he had just read for the first time a few minutes previously, spoke to the need for wisdom, both in our leaders, and in all of us; the Family of Man. He spoke to the disparity between the rich and poor in his native Kenya, as well as in most of the world, including his adopted country, the United States. He suggested that we pray for wisdom in all world leaders, given the task of finding the justice that must touch all people. Without the mention of specific persons or even the imminent inauguration per se, the intent of his message was not lost on the small congregation. In English accented by his native Swahili, he spoke of the basic, enduring and timeless message of the gospel. A message, in fact, at the spiritual core of virtually all of the worlds religions; the call to compassion. Pure and simple. Compassion. Truth is, it's a message that even those who profess agnosticism or even atheism seem to value, at least the ones that I know -- sometimes much better than the outwardly "religious." He concluded in a voice much louder than that of his usual quiet affect: "The voice of the people is the voice of God." Then, repeating in barely above a whisper: "The voice of the people is the voice of God." End of homily. For a long moment, you could hear the proverbial pin drop in that quiet place. I glanced around, noting the upturned, attentive faces of our small group, and a moist eye or two, including my own. In the light of the incipient inauguration and the, then, upcoming honoring of Dr. King, the priest's apt, eloquent words filled that still, early morning space. Any possible language barrier had disappeared, in the face of his timeless, yet timely, call to all of us for compassion, justice, equality, tolerance, and, yes, engagement. Mass ended with a short song, and we all filed out into the grey, cold, wet morning; to coffee, to work, to school, to the store, maybe to the shelter, or the Table for a meal, to home to care for an ill loved one, to daycare to drop the kids off. A few days later, on national television another speaker, coincidentally also of Kenyan extraction, gave his farewell address as the most recent leader of our nation. However I may differ with some of his past policies, and decisions, I must grant him credit for integrity, eloquence, civility of manner, and perseverance of purpose In the basically almost undoable job of governing our diverse republic, and showing a steadfast face to the daunting problems of the world. His message sounded familiar: Tolerance, compassion, justice, engagement. Seems like it should be easier, doesn't it? Still, not bad ideas, those, and well worth nurturing, by each one of us, wherever we fit into what appears to be, whether we realize it or not or whether we like it or not, the family of man. The Family of Man. Belief in "religion" or "prayer" or belief in God, for that matter, not even required. Joseph Pramuk Napa I am compelled to write remembering the contribution made by Ann Carpy and St. Vincent de Paul during the 1990s. I know others will write regarding Anns family, wine industry and civic involvement, all of which deserve equal discussion. In the early 1990s, our community was faced with serious challenges by the large number of Mexican immigrants who arrived in St. Helena without housing, income or means of support. As we recall, many of these folks went to the Catholic Church looking for help. Monsignor John Brenkle did what he could to provide needed help but spread the word to our community that additional help was needed. A committee was formed to organize and start to interview and make recommendations as to financial help and services needed. The members of this group included Ann Carpy, Cathy Collins, Dr. David Dugan, Dr. Hugh Brereton, Sr. Katie OShea, Sid Mench, Karl/Marilyn Mosher and Cuca Martin. When we were about in second gear, someone thought we needed a name. We were reminded of the great work done in many cities in the U.S. by St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP.) Thus we became the St Helena chapter of that wonderful organization. Ann Carpy became our first president. One of our first goals was to seek support from other Upvalley community service organizations. In short order we were working jointly with Red Cross, Salvation Army, Work Connection, Queen of the Valley Hospital, St. Helena Hospital, Clinic Ole, Napa County Health Department, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church. Under Anns leadership and with help from the above mentioned groups, we established a sizable working fund to finance this work. As I remember, we had an average of 35 men sleeping on the porch of our church community center each night. The churches took turns providing dinner each day, a mobile trailer with bathrooms and showers was moved onto church property and SVDP personnel worked to link men and women with other needed community services. SVDP had an office close by and for many months there was always a line of men and women waiting to be helped each day. You can imagine the organization and leadership needed to make all of this work. Ann Carpy, Father John and our dedicated team deserve great credit for a job that demonstrated that our community really cares about the needs of those less fortunate. Anns smiling face, hard work (punctuated with a good laugh at just the right time) and abundant generosity provided the role model for all to follow. I can remember her saying, What more can I do? and What more can we do? We often are asked Can one person make a difference? Yes! Yes! Tell them about Ann Carpy, our dear friend! Karl and Marilyn Mosher St. Helena Our Town St. Helena (OTSH) is hosting an informational meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31 at the St. Helena Catholic School gym, 1255 Oak Ave., for those interested in participating in the next phase of its Mutual Self-Help housing project. In conjunction with Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), Our Town plans to build a second phase of townhomes for low-income families within the next two years. The first phase, an eight-unit project on McCorkle Avenue, is scheduled to begin construction later this year. OTSH has a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to assist in building up to 11 more homes and is looking for land for this next project. A Mutual Self-Help Program provides homeownership opportunities to low-income working families who might otherwise be unable to qualify for financing. Interested families provide documentation on household size, income, expenses, debt, savings and other details to determine if they meet the criteria. After a rigorous qualification process, those chosen to participate must agree to do 65 percent of the labor until the completion of all homes in each phase. The program requires a significant commitment on the part of participants who must work evenings and weekends on the construction project in addition to their own jobs. Upon completion, each family gains equity in their home from their investment of labor sweat equity which decreases the amount of their mortgage. Anyone interested in learning more about this opportunity should come to the bilingual meeting on Jan. 31. Pre-applications will also be available at ourtownsthelena.org starting on Jan. 31. The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, Feb. 21, and instructions how to submit applications will be available at the meeting and on the website. I usually wait for a new trip to fall into my lap. When Dominic Foppoli, from Christopher Creek Winery in Healdsburg sent out an email invitation for a tantalizing Mediterranean trip to his home village of Tovo di SantAgata in Lombardy (about 75 miles northeast of Milan), I jumped on it. This trip would precede an Oceania cruise through Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, France and Spain, with a heavy emphasis on the local foods and wines. Landing in Milan, we began our adventures in Bellagio, Lake Como, in the wine region of Valtellina (where we all fell in love with the Italian varietals). We were all excited to discover Dominic Foppolis home where we were welcomed like family. For three days, we interacted with his extended family, boated on Lake Como, explored Dominics ancient family winery, where his uncle demonstrated the old ways of wine-making, as workers with baskets on their backs picked grapes on the steep hills of Valtellina. Our big surprise was a magical night at the newly-restored Tovo castle, where the entire village and family feted, entertained, danced and broke bread with our group. An emotional speech by the mayor, and the classic Italian accordionist, with family wines, foods, and good cheer, created a once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable night. On our final night, Dominics cousin, Simone Teo Foppoli, closed his excellent Rogorbello restaurant, Trattoria San Sebastian, to create a regional Valtellina feast that included specialties like thinly-sliced ham, specially-prepared cheese balls, buckwheat pasta, and a host of other dishes. The wine flowed all night. On to the cruise: On board the Oceania, we made our first stop in Venice, with excursions to the islands of Murano and its world-famous glassblowers, and Burano, known for the nimble fingers of the lace-making ladies. Next stop: Croatia, to visit Dubrovniks Old Town, with its the sparkling red roofs, protective stone walls, and pristine beaches. Unfortunately, crowds are also famous. I was ready to drive away to the village of Komaji and the Crvik Family Winery. Petar Crvik, owner and winemaker was so excited to learn that I lived in Napa Valley, just like the famous Croatian winemaker Mike Grgich. With his mother in tow, he presented me with his heaviest bottle of wine and implored me to personally deliver it to Mr. Grgich. I will never forget the smile on Mike Grgichs face when I delivered it to him back in Napa. It was worth dragging that bottle all over Europe. A day of excursions to Montenegro followed, and a visit to Greece, where, at a restaurant, we were surprised to discover other Napans dining at the same table. We shared a glass of ouzo. Next, we sailed through the Ionian Sea, to the slopes of Mt. Etna volcano. We disembarked at Taormina, Sicily, the resort for the ancient Greeks and Romans in 750 B.C. Its nicknamed Gods Kitchen. Fish ruled the day. Nearby was Pompeii, where on Aug. 24, AD 79, Mt. Vesuvius erupted. Sorrento was also covered in ash, but the inhabitants of some of the well-preserved villas escaped. Recent excavation sites have revealed homes of the Roman elite, with each boasting more than 110,000 square feet of space. At the Villa di Arianna, and Castellammare di Stabia villas, the intricate frescoes and Italian mosaic floors have largely survived. It was breathtaking to imagine the unobstructed view of Mt. Vesuvius they had, long before the extensive city houses were built below. On to Stabiae, where we visited the home of the Sorrentino family, who have made Lacryma Christi wine on this volcanic soil for more than a century. With untamed grape vines, as well as high arbors, and trellised varietals, comparisons between Italian and Napa/Sonoma grape-growing techniques were inevitable. The highly-rated wines were served with a multi-course lunch of pasta made with their extra virgin olive oil, prepared by the women of the Sorrentino family. The winding drive back to the ship, gazing at the cerulean waters of the Sicilian coast topped off an amazing day. Driving through the Umbria region of Italy brought us to Orvieto, a fortified medieval town, with distinctive wine, small, untouched villages, lots of pork, and the Duomo di Orvieto. As I stared at this enormous 13th century cathedral, built to celebrate the Miracle of Bolsena and adorned with intricate frescoes, I was actually speechless. An Umbrian lunch of local dishes and their dry white wine, made from Trebbiano grapes was perfect. A special food and wine day in the Tuscan town of Piombino, Italy, followed. We wended our way through the cobblestone streets, and finally stopped at a private, family-owned winery, where we were thrilled with a savory lunch and Tua Rita wines. (They were so palatable, that I shipped a case home!) Since it was also the height of the Italian grape harvest, we continued our Tuscany adventures with tastings, and spontaneous admiration for the different stages of Italian winemaking we were fortunate to experience. Not ready to end the day, two others and I did not return to the ship, but explored the heart of Piombino on foot. As we adventured around town, we noticed that we were the only tourists in sight. Giggling, we stopped at a bus stop to return to the ship. A group of Italian teens asked us in Italian, if this was the right bus stop. The exchange among all of us was hysterical, bonding, and warm. We werent sure that we were in the right place either. All of this happened in languages that neither of us spoke well. But it worked. Next, was a day in Saint Tropez. My friend, JoRene, and I were again on our own. We ended up at the huge outdoor market, shopping without a word of French, and no one we met spoke a word of English. We shared an outdoor table at a cafe with strangers, with very close quarters, again, with no common language, but we loved the experience. Our day ended with a winding drive on The Golden Corniche, a stunning coastal road with rough seas, and boats upended and washed ashore. Our cruise was nearing its end. We spent the last day in Bandol, Provences best-kept secret, located near the coast, east of Marseille and Cassis. The wines were made in a different style than the bold California reds I have grown to love. It was an education discovering Mourvedre, Grenache, and Cinsaut blends of Provence. We completed the afternoon at Domaine Tempier, in Bandol, at a 100-year-old family winery, where we were warmly hosted by one of the family members. I was enchanted when the daughter shared a book about Lulu Peyraud, the founding creative force behind the winery. The foreword, written by Alice Waters, of Chez Panisse, Berkeley, fame, was heart-warming and described how the Peyrauds adopted Alice when she was visiting France and just beginning her career. I will not forget Bandol. Memories are filled with associations of food, smells, and wine. It was time to say a bittersweet goodbye to the food and wine group. Our final port was Barcelona, Spain. Candler School of Theologys James T. and Berta R. Laney Legacy in Moral Leadership and the schools Social Concerns Network are spearheading a three-city tour to discuss the death penalty, featuring noted author and activist Shane Claiborne. Executing Grace in Georgia: A Faithful Discussion About the Death Penalty will explore how people of faith and conscience can change the conversation about justice, mercy and forgiveness in the state, which executed nine inmates in 2016, more than any other state in the nation. Claiborne will appear Feb. 3-4 in Atlanta, Athens and Macon. Claiborne will speak at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on Emorys campus at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. On Saturday, Feb. 4, he will present at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Athens at 10:30 a.m. and at Centenary Church in Macon at 6 p.m. Local guests, including former inmates, family members and legislative advocates, also will speak at each gathering. All three events are free and open to the public, but registration is required to ensure seating. Register here for any of the three events. The discussion is based on Claibornes latest book, Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why Its Killing Us (HarperOne, 2016). In it, he unpacks the issue of the death penalty through biblical analysis, church history and narrative storytelling, challenging Christians and non-Christians alike to abandon the death penalty once and for all, and adopt a plan of true justice. Robert M. Franklin Jr., James T. and Berta R. Laney Professor in Moral Leadership, says that the current political climate in the U.S. and around the world underscores the critical nature of the conversation and of Claibornes leadership. At a time when social trust and interdependence are waning and apparent demagogues are rising throughout the globe, says Franklin, we need moral leaders like Shane Claiborne who possess clear moral vision, passion for social justice, and the courage to act imaginatively in the public square. Third-year Master of Divinity student Sophie Callahan, who serves as co-president of Candlers Social Concerns Network, says that the organization chose to address the death penalty because Georgias execution rate is the highest in the nation, even though the state is part of the Bible Belt. So many of our religious communities struggle to speak out against the death penalty and fail to realize the contradictions between faith and mercy, and the system of death, Callahan says, noting that each event will offer tangible action steps to help Georgians move forward. Invite those in your communities, your churches, your schools, your workplaces, who might not have thought about how their faith interacts with the death penalty. Claiborne serves as co-director of Red Letter Christians, a movement of Christians committed to living out the lifestyle prescribed in the Gospels. Hes also the founder of The Simple Way, a faith community in inner-city Philadelphia that has helped to birth and connect faith communities around the world. His ministry experience varies from a 10-week stint working alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta to a year spent serving a wealthy mega-congregation at Willow Creek Community Church outside Chicago. The bestselling author of several books, including The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical and Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals, Claibornes work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, on CNN and National Public Radio, among other outlets. Executing Grace in Georgia: A Faithful Discussion About the Death Penalty Friday, Feb.3 7-9 p.m. Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church (on the Emory campus) 1660 North Decatur Road Atlanta, GA 30307 Saturday, Feb. 4 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Covenant Presbyterian Church 1065 Gaines School Road Athens, GA 30605 6-8 p.m. Centenary Church 1290 College Street Macon, GA 31201 Sales of Claibornes books and a book signing will follow each discussion. Executing Grace in Georgia is sponsored by Candlers Social Concerns Network, the Candler Coordinating Council (C3), Candlers James T. and Berta R. Laney Legacy in Moral Leadership, and Emory Universitys Center for the Study of Law and Religion, in cooperation with the McAfee School of Theology of Mercer University, Columbia Theological Seminary, Faith in Public Life, Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP) and the Southern Center for Human Rights. Posted by Mark Williams | January 23, 2017 By Mark Williams One of the most popular trim levels for any pickup truck nowadays is its four-wheel-drive off-road package. Every manufacturer has one (sometimes two) and they typically reflect how well the manufacturer's engineering teams understand how pickups are used and abused by buyers who want the extra traction. In that vein, we asked pickup manufacturers to send us their best full-size off-road factory package our only criterion for our 2017 Monster Factory Off-Road Challenge to find out which one has the most capable and most versatile off-road performance. That leaves out the mid-size players so no Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro or Chevrolet Colorado Midnight Edition, not to mention the coming Colorado ZR2 making this a contest of full-size pickups. GM decided not to send any contestants this time, so we did not have Chevy or GMC competitors. The competitors were: We conducted this test in Tucson, Ariz., which allowed us to take advantage of the desert sunsets, the Tucson Dragway and several extreme 4x4 off-road trails outside Catalina State Park in Oro Valley just north of the city. Because this particular test focused on off-road capability, we did not conduct our normal battery of trailer towing or maximum payload track and fuel-economy testing. In their place, we added several categories that are either quantifiable (such as ground clearance and crawl ratios) or qualitative (such as off-road prowess). We put the competitors through 17 different tests that totaled a possible 1,700 points. Four expert judges' scores accounted for 220 total points distributed across 11 subjective categories such as interior quality, braking, overall value, gearing, suspension and more. The total possible points that could be won by a pickup were 2,580. Given how competitive pickups are today, we expected the winner's total to be much lower than that. We have not weighted any of these categories; that allows readers the chance to total the scores for themselves, weighting any category as they wish: i.e., giving more emphasis to fuel economy, zero-to-60-mph acceleration or ground clearance. We performed our acceleration and brake testing (zero-to-60 mph, quarter-mile and 60-mph-to-zero) at the Tucson Dragway, gathered our fuel-economy numbers over a 170-mile loop through both urban and suburban areas of Tucson, put each truck on a dynamometer at the same location on the same day and had each judge drive each competitor over the same 40-mile loop to better understand exactly how each one performs in real-world settings. We also spent three days driving each full-size pickup over several extremely difficult, rock-strewn mountain trails above Oro Valley. Our four expert judges for this battle royal were: Joe Bruzek, Cars.com senior road test editor Greg Whale, freelance journalist and expert off-roader Mark Williams, PickupTrucks.com editor Brian Wong, Cars.com Los Angeles bureau chief Here are the details for each competitor: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor This is an all-new Raptor with several significant upgrades, not the least of which is its new all-aluminum body, a new high-output 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost (benefiting from bigger turbos, unique pistons and a stainless-steel exhaust), a new 10-speed automatic transmission, an upgraded Baja-style soft-ride suspension and a unique multiterrain, multiposition four-wheel-drive system. Our short-wheelbase SuperCab test truck had a base price of $49,520 (all base prices include destination) but came to us with quite a few options. To start, our Raptor had the pricey 802A Equipment Group ($9,345) that includes Ford's Sync 3 multimedia system, a power sliding rear window, a front Torsen differential, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, a blind spot information system with tow monitoring, LED box lighting, LED side lamps, remote start and voice-activated navigation. Our test truck also had the power moonroof ($995), a foldable bed extender ($250), a tailgate step ($375), 17-inch aluminum wheels ($1,165), a heated steering wheel ($155), the Raptor Technology Package with adaptive cruise control ($1,950), stowable loading ramps ($595) and a spray-in bedliner ($495). The total price for our Raptor was $64,845. For a larger version of the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Monroney, click on the picture above. 2017 Nissan Titan Pro-4X The 2017 Titan light-duty pickup is all new, with an all-new frame, suspension and powertrain setup. It's the long-awaited replacement for the oldest half-ton pickup in the segment; some of its competitors have been redesigned twice in the same time frame. Unlike the Titan XD, which debuted as a 2016 model, the new Titan half ton has better driving and handling dynamics, offers better fuel economy and will be a better fit for families. But the question is: How well will it compete with other more established half tons, especially those with strong four-wheel-drive packages? We've always liked the Pro-4X package in the mid-size Frontier, but how will it do in a bigger pickup? Our crew-cab Pro-4X Titan came to us with a 5.6-liter V-8, a seven-speed automatic transmission, a transfer case, Bilstein shocks at each corner, extra skid plating underneath including a huge skid plate under the front bumper, an electronic locking rear differential and two strong front tow hooks at a manufacturer's base price of $46,215. Add to that the Pro-4X Utility and Tow Package ($1,820), which offers front and rear sonar, Nissan's Utili-Track tie-down bed system, a power sliding rear window, a locking tailgate, a brake controller, extendable mirrors, a premium audio system, under-rail LED lights and a rear bed step. Our test truck also had the Pro-4X Convenience Package ($3,520), which added heated front and rear leather seats, a heated tilt/telescoping steering wheel, remote start, the NissanConnect multimedia system, auto-dimming mirrors inside and out, and Pro-4X embroidery on the seats and carpet, making the price climb quickly. The final options on our test truck were ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera system, part of the Pro-4X Luxury Package ($750). That brought the total price of our test truck to $52,305. For a larger version of the 2017 Nissan Titan Pro-4X Monroney, click on the picture above. 2017 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X We're told the most popular trim level ordered for new Titan XD models is the Pro-4X, and after spending a few weeks with the truck in off-road environments, we can understand why. Although not significantly changed from 2016, the Titan XD Pro-4X performs differently than its lighter-duty Titan brother. Yes, they look similar and the Pro-4X trim is essentially identical between the two Bilstein shocks, extra skid plating, locking rear differential and the same two-speed transfer case but the XD's heavier-duty frame, longer wheelbase and torque-loving turbo-diesel V-8 Cummins engine and heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission makes for a completely different weight category. The XD weighs almost 1,500 pounds more than the Titan. Regardless, we needed to see if it could stand up to some serious off-road punishment. Our base crew-cab Titan XD Pro-4X test truck starts at $53,425, but also had a few options. The Pro-4X Utility and Audio Package ($1,400) included the Utili-Track channel tie-down bed system, front and rear sonar, bed illumination, a 120-volt bed outlet, an electronic locking tailgate, a premium audio system and a rear bed step. It also had the Pro-4X Convenience ($3,520) and Luxury ($1,510) packages, which added heated and cooled front leather seats, heated rear leather seats, a power heated tilt/telescoping steering wheel, remote start, auto-dimming mirrors inside and out, the NissanConnect multimedia system, a 360-degree camera system and a HomeLink transceiver for opening garage doors, etc. Finally, the Solar Flare Yellow paint cost an extra $395, for a grand total of $60,250. For a larger version of the 2017 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X Monroney, click on the picture above. 2016 Ram 1500 Mopar Rebel The Mopar Rebel with the 5.7-liter Hemi and eight-speed transmission is probably the closest thing that Ram has to an off-road package. All Rebels have the larger and more aggressive Toyo Open Country E-load-rated tires and our test Rebel had the four-corner air suspension as well. That afforded us the ability to choose between three height settings, the tallest of which is "Off-Road," providing the maximum amount of ground clearance but a much stiffer and more punishing ride. Our base crew-cab 4x4 Rebel had a starting price of $46,395, but it did have quite a few options. Our test model had the Mopar moniker because it includes some select Mopar accessories packaged to give the Rebel a unique, more aggressive look. Our test truck had the Luxury ($695) and Protection ($195) groups, which added LED bed lighting, heated power mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors inside and out, a garage door opener and extra skid plating; it also had remote start and an alarm system ($395) and rear camera parking assist ($595). The biggest add-on was the Custom Shop Package ($2,800) that includes flat black rims, extended fender flares, unique graphics and a small power steering underbody skid plate. Other add-ons included the eight-speed automatic ($500), the rear limited-slip differential ($395), a tonneau with the Ram's head ($500), the V-8 Hemi ($1,150), a power sunroof ($995), keyless entry ($300), dual-zone climate control ($100), a reconfigurable gauge cluster ($195), tubular side steps ($425), a 32-gallon fuel tank ($145), the Uconnect multimedia system ($505), a 9-inch subwoofer ($345) and a spray-in bedliner ($495). That brought the total of our Mopar Rebel to $57,125. For a larger version of the 2016 Ram 1500 Mopar Rebel Monroney, click on the picture above. 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon The 2017 Power Wagon, although not much different mechanically, has a dramatic new look that brings it more in line with its Ram Rebel little brother. The new hood and graphics package combined with the new swooping front grille gives it a stronger and sportier front-end look. Add to that the new fender flares and vertical Power Wagon graphics behind the cab, as well as the new tailgate look and bold block lettering front and back, and the new Power Wagon should attract more attention than ever before. Underneath, the 2017 Power Wagon is still a 2500 HD pickup with softened front and rear coil springs, a pair of heavy-duty live axles with a locking differential in each and the only electronic sway-bar disconnect for any pickup. The base crew-cab Power Wagon with the 6.4-liter V-8 Hemi and six-speed automatic transmission costs $53,015, but our test unit came with the Leather and Luxury Group ($4,995), which gave us leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, the Uconnect multimedia system with the 8.4-inch touchscreen, front and rear parking assist, a backup camera, electric foldaway mirrors, a security alarm and more. It also had the lockable RamBox cargo management system ($1,295), a power sunroof ($1,095), a tonneau cover ($545), auto high beams and wipers ($395), navigation with XM Traffic and Travel Link ($500), a spray-in bedliner ($495), dual batteries ($395), a center high-mounted spotlight with a cargo-view camera ($345), a CD player ($295), remote start ($245), a rear window defroster ($195), power folding mirrors ($195), keyless entry ($195), power pedals ($195), a roadside safety kit ($195) and an engine block heater ($95). The total for our Power Wagon came to $64,685. For a larger version of the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Monroney, click on the picture above. 2016 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Although nothing has changed for the Tundra TRD Pro since its introduction two years ago, it is the most capable off-road trim Toyota offers in its half-ton configuration. Unfortunately, Toyota just began building 2017 models, so we were not able to get the newest version, which will be offered only in Red, Cement and White. Our 2016 model was Magnetic Grey. We like the simplicity and restraint Toyota engineers have employed here; slightly taller and softened coil and leaf springs, extra aluminum skid plating, deceptively grippy P-metric Michelin tires, multistage Bilstein shocks (the rears with a remote reservoir) and a dual TRD exhaust. Our CrewMax test truck came with just one option, a $595 spray-in bedliner. So the rather spartan TRD Pro trim comes standard with the stout 32-valve 5.7-liter V-8, six-speed transmission, 38-gallon fuel tank and 4.30:1 ring-and-pinion gears. The pickup also comes with a unique old-school front grille that spells out Toyota across it and a TRD Pro stamp in the side of the bed. The Tundra TRD Pro ringing up at $46,834 was the least expensive player of our group, with price differences ranging from around $5,000 to almost $20,000. For a larger version of the 2016 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Monroney, click on the picture above. Overview | Track Testing | Off-Road Performance | Daily Driving | Dynamometer Testing | Results To download a comparison of what these trucks come equipped with, click on our What You Get chart below. Cars.com photos by Evan Sears 09:11 The crackdown comes on a day when the state assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary governor's address. After the governor's address to the assembly today, the government is expected to move a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing the protesters, most of them clad in black, from the sands of the famous Marina beach, signalling the end of the week-long protests that had been backed by political parties including ruling AIADMK and DMK. A large posse of cops was deployed at the Marina beach. The protesters, mostly students and youth, had not bought the government decision to issue an ordinance for holding Jallikattu, which was done on Saturday, and the bull taming sport held in some parts of the state. They had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure the sport was held annually without any hindrance. The police action, however, came following an early morning 'advisory' asking the agitators to end their 'disciplined and peaceful' protest as their "purpose has been fully achieved." In Coimbatore also, students and other protesters were forcibly evicted from VOC Park ground where they have been protesting for the last six days. The police were bodily lifting and shifting them outside the ground but they were immediately returning and occupying the earlier place. As they were being carried away the students were chanting 'Vande Mataram' in chorus. In an early morning crackdown, the police in Chennai started removing scores of protesters who were demonstrating at the Marina beach for the past one week, demanding a permanent solution for holding Jallikattu. Travis Washington named Alexander Lane Intern CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Travis Washington of Chicago has been named the 2017 Alexander Lane Intern by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Washington will work with members of the Illinois General Assembly during the spring 2017 session. The internship provides selected students an opportunity to be an active participant in the states legislative process. Washington will be assigned to House Democratic legislative staff and acquire new skills and gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative and political processes. The experience and knowledge received during the General Assembly legislative session can be an enriching experience for students and lead to exciting future opportunities. Washington is a senior majoring in speech communication and Africana studies at SIU Carbondale. He was a recipient of the High Achievers honor in 2016 and is active in campus organizations, including serving as president of the universitys College Democrats and senator of the Black Affairs Council. Linda Baker, university professor at the institute and former secretary of the Department of Human Services and director of the Department of Employment Security, as well as the first African-American legislative liaison for an Illinois governor, mentors students working through the Alexander Lane Internship during their stay in Springfield. The Alexander Lane Internship is a wonderful way for the university to both honor Lanes achievements and honor his spirit, opening doors to deserving students and giving them an opportunity to get valuable hands-on experience. I think Travis will find this experience rewarding and an excellent beginning to his postgraduate career, Baker said. The institute established the Alexander Lane Internship program in 2011 to honor Lane, the first African-American male graduate at the institution that would become SIU Carbondale. The paid internship allows at least one student each spring to work with a minority member of the General Assembly toward the goal of carrying on Lanes legacy of high achievement and public service. Lane rose from meager beginnings in pre-Civil War Mississippi to become a school principal, physician, and an Illinois state legislator, serving in the General Assembly in 1906 and 1908. He died in 1911 in Chicago, and is buried in Carbondale. Lanes biographer, Pamela Smoot, coordinator of the Office of Recruitment, Retention & Outreach in the College of Liberal Arts, noted the value of Lanes example for todays students. Lanes perseverance in overcoming barriers and achieving his goals serves as an inspiration to todays students, she said. Private donations from individuals and corporations fund the Alexander Lane Internship program. Tax-deductible donations can be made online at http://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/contribute/index.php or sent to the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Mail Code 4429, 1231 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, Ill., 62901. What is the indigenous peoples lived experience like in a region where the history of petroleum extraction has left behind devastation that has been called an Amazonian Chernobyl? This question is the subject of environmental studies professor Flora Lus new book Oil, Revolution, and Indigenous Citizenship in Ecuadorian Amazonia (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017). Co-authors are UC Santa Cruz alumnus Nestor L. Silva (Merrill 13, Latin American and Latino studies), now a doctoral candidate in anthropology at Stanford University, and Gabriela Valdivia, an associate professor in geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more than 20 years, Lu has travelled deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon to study the Waorani, an indigenous population living in a region renowned for its ecological diversity. Waorani territory is also the last frontier of the Ecuadorian oil industry. The intersections of oil and the complex politics of contemporary indigenous people are important issues in Latin America and in todays U.S. Until the late 1950s, the Waorani subsisted from the Amazonian rain forest and experienced limited, often hostile, encounters with outsiders. As Lu shows, their lives changed dramatically when the oil industry expanded into their territory. Social and economic transformations The Waorani have been mythicized, criminalized, and as Lu argues, marginalized. The history of their sustained interaction with the remainder of Ecuadorian society, including the state, is characterized by a complex give and take between institutions and the Waorani people. Beginning in the late 1960s, oil companies began funding infrastructure projects in Waorani villages, including roads, residential complexes, schools, and health clinics. These efforts pushed some indigenous groups deeper into the rainforest and others into contact with the remainder of Ecuadorian society as ecological and economic changes made forest-based subsistence less viable. Today, current president Rafael Correa has sought to use oil wealth to implement a new type of nationalism that promotes his agenda of 21st Century Socialism. But with traditional subsistence practices altered, Waorani are left with little choice but to engage with the market economy. Since the mid 1990s, my collaborators and I have been tracing the trajectory of crude entanglements between the Waorani, the state, and oil companies, both multinational and state owned, says Lu of the complicated transformations shes witnessed in the region. By framing these changes as entanglements, we try to cultivate an understanding of the politics of oil and indigeneity that moves beyond the dualism of domination and resistance. Urbanization and economic growth have catalyzed widespread change in Waorani society. They now cope not only with environmental problems such as polluted air and loud noise, but social problems as well. Waorani women often face sexual harassment from oil workers and Waorani communities as a whole deal with alcoholism, domestic violence, and suicideissues that had never been present before in their culture. At odds with the state The Waorani are known for being fiercely protective of their homeland. When they need attention from oil companies, some Waorani build roadblocks they guard with six-foot spears. President Correa has gone as far as to brand the Waorani as terrorists for their politics and actions. The Waorani who are particularly precarious are those who refuse to assimilate into the dominant society, called people in voluntary isolation (PVI). Violence has ensued between PVI, settled Waorani, and members of extractive industries. Lu points out that such violence is entangled with the oil industry. The bloodshed reflects a long chain of omissions, injustices, and ineptitudes that have resulted in a glaring lack of recognition and defense of people in voluntary isolation, she writes. The state has dismissed and sometimes ignored these fatal encounters. The killings of indigenous people in isolation have gone largely unaddressed and unmitigated by the Ecuadorian state, exposing the failures of protecting arguably its most vulnerable populationone for whom the concept of citizenship is highly complicatedwhen said protection could mean foregoing exploitation in areas rich in natural resources. In addition, Lu argues that the fact that oil development has and continues to impinge on [their] territories suggests that in reality so-called PVIs in Ecuador do not live in isolated life. PVI are reduced to smaller and smaller patches of forest, rendering their efforts to live as their ancestors did increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, the settled Waorani who live in residential compounds located close to oil infrastructure often have limited access to potable water or toilets, electricity, and health care. More broadly, the book explores new state/society relations, new forms of citizenship, and the continuing contradictions in contemporary Ecuador between the discourse and realities of President Correas so-called Citizens Revolution. Renegotiating the pact, signed two decades ago, was one of Trump's primary campaign promises, EFE news reported. At a White House event to swear in several top officials he had named, the President confirmed his intention to renegotiate NAFTA with Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto, whom he will welcome in Washington on January 31, and with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he intends to meet soon. Trump blames NAFTA for killing US jobs and for the closing of companies in the United States and the shifting of their operations to Mexico to lower costs. The President said that he would discuss NAFTA with Pea Nieto along with "immigration" and "border security". On Saturday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that Pea Nieto, whom he mistakenly referred to as the Mexican "Prime Minister", will visit the White House on January 31. The Mexican President's Office, meanwhile, said in a statement that on Saturday Pea Nieto telephoned Trump to congratulate him on his inauguration and express the willingness to "work on an agenda that benefits both countries". One of Trump's key campaign promises was to build a wall along the US-Mexican border to halt illegal immigration to the United States, a wall that -- he said -- Mexico will pay for. Spicer said that Trump also spoke on Saturday by phone with Trudeau, with whom he held a "constructive" conversation. --IANS lok/ ( 266 Words) 2017-01-23-03:58:06 (IANS) Hugo Barra, Vice President, Global Operations at Xiaomi Inc., has quit the company citing 'a new adventure back in Silicon Valley'. The global executive on Monday announced his decision in a social media post. "What I've realised is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return," Barra wrote in a long Facebook post. He added, "We now have a team of some of the most remarkable and enthusiastic people I have ever worked with, and leaving them all behind is without doubt the most difficult part of stepping away. At the same time, I know I'll be leaving them in very good hands. Xiaomi now has a strong, globally-minded executive team who will continue to drive the momentum we began together." Barra also informed that he will soon be taking up a job in the Silicon Valley of the United States. "For me, as for many people in China, the Spring Festival brings new beginnings, and I will be transitioning out of my role at Xiaomi in February after Chinese New Year. I will take some much-needed time off before embarking on a new adventure back in Silicon Valley," he wrote. In his post, Barra also thanked the Xiaomi founders. He wrote, "I want to thank the Xiaomi founders, and particularly our CEO Lei Jun, who has been a mentor and a friend. It has been both humbling and uplifting to work with a man whose vision is redefining the role technology plays in all of our lives, and the role the China tech industry plays in the world. As a friend and shareholder of the company, I am honored that he has been very supportive of my transition and has asked me to remain an advisor to Xiaomi indefinitely, as we continue to extend our reach around the world." During Barra's tenure, Xiaomi made great strides in business outside China too. It first launched in countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia and then eventually in India. The sales, however, with the emergence of competitors like Huawei, Vivo and the likes, nosedived in India and China. It was also recently reported that Xiaomi failed to achieve its yearly targets and, therefore, it decided not to disclose any sales targets for the upcoming years. Apart from smart phones, Xiaomi has established itself in segments belonging to power banks, air purifiers, rice cookers and smart bikes among others. (ANI) India has opposed an informal proposal by the EU and Canada for a global investment pact with an investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism at the WTO by which corporates can take governments to international arbitration for resolution of disputes, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. "We rejected it completely. We want investments to be a bilateral thing...we do not believe in making investments a subject of multilateral disputes," Sitharaman told reporters here. The issue came up at an informal meeting of key World Trade Organisation (WTO) members on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. Sitharaman opined against the "contentious" ISDS mechanism, which is part of a bilateral agreement between the EU and Canada. EU nations and Canada want other WTO countries to agree to this multilateral mechanism to resolve investor disputes. "There is no way, we will have investment treaty in which companies can take the sovereign or even the regional governments to court. Anything with regard to investments, we wanted to be settled by the domestic laws and courts, and only after that appeal outside," she said. Noting other WTO members, including Argentina and Brazil, are also opposed to ISDS, the minister said: "So at this stage, to have this template for a multi-lateral approach to investment may be immature." In this connection, at a BRICS arbitration conference here last year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had urged the group of emerging economies to engage for exploring the setting up of arbitration centres for use by the grouping as well as by non-BRICS countries. Pointing to how some centres, particularly in the developed world, had monopolised the international arbitration process, he said: "Many countries felt that the awards in these arbitrations are loaded against the emerging economies. "It is, therefore, is important to develop arbitration capabilities, capacity building and our own jurisdiction centre." Sithraman on Monday said that India asked the members for detailed discussions on WTO issues among the groups before they meet in Paris in June. India wants a resolution on providing safeguards to poor farmers and a permanent solution to the public food stock holding issue, she added. --IANS bc/vm ( 371 Words) 2017-01-23-21:20:16 (IANS) Trump called the move "a great thing for the American workers", local media reported. "We've been talking about this for a long time," Xinhua news agency quoted Trump as saying as he signed the order. The TPP, a free trade pact between 12 Asia-Pacific countries, was formally signed by ministers from these 12 countries in last February after more than five-year-long negotiation. Trump's action on Monday was considered as a symbolic move, as the US Congress hasn't approved the deal yet. However, the move indicated that the new administration is actually shifting trade policies from previous US norms. According to the trade strategy put forward by the Trump administration, the strategy starts by withdrawing from the TPP and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The White House also said it will pursue trade deals which are in the interests of American workers and crack down on nations that violate trade agreements and harm American workers. During his election campaign, Trump promised to never sign massive trade agreements like the TPP, which he said would "destroy" US manufacturing. He also vowed to renegotiate NAFTA and threatened to levy hefty tariffs on Mexico. Trump said on Sunday that he would soon meet leaders of Mexico and Canada to discuss the renegotiation of NAFTA. At a meeting with business leaders on Monday, Trump also said that the administration will impose "a very major border tax" on companies that are shifting production overseas. International institutions, such as World Bank and International Monetary Fund, have warned that the inward-looking policy and protectionism could be a threat to global growth. --IANS lok/ ( 301 Words) 2017-01-24-00:58:07 (IANS) The State Election Commission (SEC) today decided to postpone panchayat poll process in two Zilla Parishad zones and 18 Gram panchayats in Maoist infested Chitrokonda block of Malkangiri district. The panchayat elections were scheduled to be held in five phases in the state beginning from February 13 to 21. SEC sources here said the postponement of elections to the two Zilla Parishads and 18 Gram Panchayats was taken on the basis of a joint report submitted by the Malkangiri District Collector and the Superintendent of Police. In their report to the SEC the District Collector and Superintendent of Police requested the SEC to postpone the elections in view of the security to the candidates,the voters and the poll officials. The Maoists in the area have called for a poll boycott and threatened the people to face the dire consequences if they participated in the election processes . The Red rebels also recently abducted five poll officials from the cut off ares under Chitrokonda block who were later released with a caution not to participate in the election process. Following the abduction ,the SEC had asked the district authority to provide protection to the poll officials for smooth conduct of the election and sought a report from the authority about the ground situation prevailing in the area in the wake of poll boycott call by the Maoists. SEC sources said in case of elections to panchayat samitee, Sarpanch and ward member where more than one candidate has filed nomination, the poll process has been suspended. The places where one candidate had filed nomination, the name will be declared later and the places where no nomination was filed for panchayat samiti the poll process is cancelled. The SEC will announce the new schedule for places where the poll process has been cancelled..UNI DP BM -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0214-1117618.Xml The full dress rehearsal parade will begin at 9.50 a.m. from Vijay Chowk and proceed to Red Fort. All the offices in the vicinity of Rajpath will remain closed till 1 p.m. today. The Delhi Traffic Police has made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the Parade along the route. Traffic from Vijay Chowk to India Gate on Rajpath has been closed from 6.30 p.m. yesterday evening and no traffic will be allowed till the parade is over today. Similarly, traffic will not be allowed at Rafi Marg, Janpath and Man Singh Road today till the parade is over. Metro rail services will remain available for the commuters at all metro stations during the full dress rehearsal parade. However, boarding and de-boarding at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan will not be permitted from 5 a.m. to 12 noon and Lok Kalyan Marg and Patel Chowk from 8.45 a.m. to 12 noon today. Seventeen states and six Ministries and Departments tableaux will participate in the Republic Day Parade this year. Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, a Defence Ministry official said, these tableaux will showcase varied themes starting from country''s rich cultural heritage and socio-economic development to nation''s progress in key areas like IT, Women, Empowerment and Environment Protection. Each State tableau depicts its own story to portray themes ranging from art form, folk culture, flora and fauna and achievements. Lakshadweep tableaux will participate in parade after 26 years and Delhi tableaux after 3 years. Tableaux on GST, Skill India, Housing for All, Khadi India and Green India - Clean India will also be the part of the celebration.(ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to fill up the vacancy of the Director General (DG) of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) within a week and other pending vacancies in one week as well. The apex court bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) J.S. Khehar passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by civil rights lawyer and social activist Radhakanta Tripathy. "What is your difficulty in appointing the member and the Director General (investigation)? The post of member has been lying vacant since March 2014 and the Director General since November 2014. This cannot be allowed," asked the Chief Justice from the Additional Solicitor General, Pinky Anand. Revering on the same, Anand said that the person whose name was finalised for the post declined to accept it, due to which the post was lying vacant and assured that the government is taking serious steps to fill the vacancies. "If this is the case for member, what is the reason for non-appointment of Director General (Investigation)? Whether there is no suitable IPS Officer?"questioned the petitioner of the case. "It requires certain process. The process will be started afresh" Anand stated. (ANI) The Union Government has not released Rs 1782 crore it had granted to Karnataka for drought reliefworks, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said. "Though the Union Government has announced sanction of Rs1782.44 crore as against the State's request of more than Rs.4000crore, funds are yet to reach the State'' he told newsmen here afteroffering garland to the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose infront of Vidhana Soudha, the State Secretariat, on his 121st Birth Anniversary. Taking strong exception to statements by BJP leaders including its State President and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, MrSiddaramaiah said that as per 14th Finance Commission rules theState is eligible for funds for fighting drought and floods as perrules. It is the duty of the Union Government to help the Statesand it is not donation or beggary. "Let the BJP leaders exert pressure on the Centre for immediaterelease of funds instead of making remarks which is far from truth,"he added. Referring to claims by the BJP leaders that the amountsanctioned was highest as compared to funds sanction duringprevious UPA regime, Mr Siddaramaiah said that in 2009 October thethen Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had sanctioned Rs 2000 croreon the spot when Mr Yeddyurappa was the Chief Minister. "Instead ofindulging in false statements, let them try to get funds for theState," he added.UNI MSP CNR ADB1422 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1119128.Xml More than 50,000 farmers from all over the state have assembled in support of their demand. This was announced here today by Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, Bhartiya Kishan Union BKU Ekta and Sukhdev Singh Kokary, General secretary ,while talking with reporters after holding meeting with the farmers and motivating them to attend March 31 Bathinda rally. Both the leaders were strongly critical of state government's anti farmers policies resulting in increase in number of farmers suicides. They also stated that farmers main demand was waiving of both government and private loans. They were also critical that BJP and Akali Dal united government was not favouring farmers demands. It is unfortunate that none of the political party has taken up the farmers demand in their election manifesto. Both also referred to their protest dharnas in front of Punjab Ministers in support of their demands. In reply to question, the farm leaders said that if state government failed to take up the issue by January 31, the farmer might take more stringent steps. UNI XC SB ADG 1353 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1118961.Xml Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of United Arab Emirates and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive here tomorrow on a three-day state visit to India to attend the Republic Day function at Rajapath as its Chief Guest. A marching contingent from the armed forces of UAE will also be participating in this year's parade. Sheikh Nahyan will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers, senior officials and captains of industry. During the visit, he would hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral, regional and global issues of common interest. He would also call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. This is the second visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to India following the landmark visit of Mr Modi to UAE in August 2015. The countries have agreed to elevate the mutually beneficial relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the first dialogue was held here last week. India and UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relations underpinned by cultural, religious and economic linkages. The two countries have been among each other's top trading partners with a well-balanced bilateral trade of about US$ 50 billion in 2015-16. UAE is among the top investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments. It contributes significantly to India's energy security and is the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to India in 2015-16. About 2.6 million strong and vibrant Indian community forms the largest expatriate group in UAE. Their positive and well-appreciated contribution in the development of their host country has been an important anchor of our excellent bilateral engagement. UNI MK SHK 1553 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-1119293.Xml Massive combing operations are being conducted by security forces near the site along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, ranging till the Myanmar border, where militants had ambushed an Assam Rifles convoy yesterday, killing two jawans and injuring three others. Special director general of Assam Police Kula Saikia, who is camping near the ambush site at Warabasti in Tinsukia district on the eastern fringe of the state, said today that the combing operations are being conducted in a coordinated manner by several security agencies, including Arunachal Pradesh counterparts. He said, "We have sealed all entry and exit points to the area. Sniffer dogs have been pressed into action to track the militants. As the area is densely forested and leads right up to the Myanmar border, we are working out strategy to reach to the remotest areas." Saikia further said the militant group that had ambushed the Assam Rifles party yesterday is suspected to be an 'opening party' for further militant movement in the area and the security agencies were working on inputs to foil any militant strike. Improvised Explosive Devices that were recovered near the ambush site yesterday were defused safely today by bomb-disposal experts, while measures were being taken to ensure that no other IEDs or mines were concealed in the area. A meeting of top security officials, including Saikia and the Tinsukia superintendent of police, was held at the 13 Assam Rifles base in the area today to finalise a counter-insurgency strategy.Two Assam Rifles jawans and as many militants were killed in an ambush on security forces by a joint group of militants of Corcom (a united forum of Manipuri rebels) and ULFA(I) and retaliatory firing by the personnel in Warabasti near Jagun in Tinsukia district of Assam yesterday.UNI SG KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-1119177.Xml To make compliance of labour laws easy forthe establishments across the businesses, city based Simpliance haslaunched a compliance ERP tool with free access to 40,000cataloged pages of the Indian Labour Laws. The patent-pending tool would help businesses learn and followlabour laws and comply with it with ease, a company top officialtoday said. Speaking to reporters here, Simpliance founder Anil D'Souza said labourcompliance industry in India was currently pegged at Rs 600 croreand was beset with complications unlike financial or other industryregulations, which already have players with designed system forgovernance and course correction and the new product by Simpliancesolves the problem in following labour laws. The SAAS-based, plug-and-play software will be deployed forlabour compliance management across shops, establishments, factoriesand enterprises in the country and abroad. Quess Corp, country's leading integrated business servicesprovide had recently bought a 45 per cent stake in Simpliance.Simpliance, had also inked deals with large Indian corporates forimplementing enterprise-wide compliance across their pan-Indiabranches. It is working towards the goal of 10,000 licenses thatwill bring in more companies in India under the compliance ambit by2016-17 and then expand into overseas markets including Sri Lanka,Malaysia and Singapore by 2018, he said. He said India's growing number of SMEs is becoming increasinglyvulnerable and finding compliance to labour laws highly expensive.For the first time Simpliance had automated labour compliance tohelp companies identify the regulatory requirements in an intuitive,user-friendly and hassle-free manner. ''We will slowly expand itsscope to cover all regulatory compliances and standards in thecoming years,'' Mr D'Souza added. The tool is also help students, HR and Legal Professionals tolearn labour laws in an interesting way than the traditional classroom training. The compliance fee for the tool ranges from Rs 2000 to Rs 15,000per annum depending on the employee size of the customers of the company.UNI RS MSP CS 1501 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1119196.Xml The Tamil Nadu Government today urgedthe Centre to take concreted efforts to bring to book, thoseinvolved in war crimes and genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Delivering his customary address to the State Assembly, the first after he was given the additional charge of Tamil Nadu, Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao said the Indian Government should take the initiative in this regard in the appropriate international fora. He said by carrying forward the legacy of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the State Government would continue to fight for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. He said democratic decentralization through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka should be the spring board for the process of securing the right to self determination for Sri Lankan Tamils. MORE UNI GV CS 1645 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1119397.Xml The Tamil Nadu government today urged theCentre to extend the Chennai-Visakhapatnam Industrial Corridor to southern Tamil Nadu and also include the Madurai-Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor for developing industrial clusters in the south. Delivering his customary address to the State Assembly, the first after he was given the additional charge of the state, Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao said the 2014 Industrial Policy lays emphasis on the industrial development of southern Tamil Nadu, by extending additional incentives to potential investors in the region. With the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the Madurai Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor Development Corporation, the stage was set for the development of industrial clusters in the southern districts with SIPCOT having identified lands for acquisition. MORE UNI GV CS 1716 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1119456.Xml Asserting that the state continues to bea haven of peace due to effective maintenance of law and order,Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao today said the state government was keeping a close vigil on the activities of the Maoists and tackling it pro-actively. Delivering his customary address to the State Assembly, the first after he was given the additional charge of the state, he said the state government gives utmost importance for the maintenance of law and order in the State, which was a prerequisite for socio-economic development. ''Tamil Nadu has been free of communal, extremist and religious fundamentalist violence'', he said. Mr Rao said the government was keeping a close vigil on the activities of the Maoists and tackling it pro-actively with preventive and security measures in close co-ordination with other States. ''The police force is being continuously upgraded and strengthened with modern facilities and sophisticated equipment to effectively deal with crime'', he added. He said impartial and timely action taken by the stateGovernment against anti-social elements has ensured public order and the State would continue to be a haven of peace and tranquility due to the effective maintenance of law and order. UNI GV CS 1722 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1119463.Xml Sporadic incidents of arson and violence were reported across the city, as police launcheda crack down on pro-Jalliakttu supporters by evicting themacross Tamil Nadu, including at Marina, even as the StateAssembly unanimously passed Bill seeking to replace theJallikattu Ordinance. leading to withdrawal of the Chennaiprotests. Protesters fought pitched battles with police at several pockets in Chennai, especially around the Marina Beach from where thousands were evicted, and blocked roads at various parts of the city. Protestors in various parts of the State, including thosein Marina, have 'called off' their week long agitation, butrefused to leave the venue, leading to their eviction. At Alanganallur in Madurai, the nerve centre, the villagecommittee decided to hold Jallkattu on February one withthe support of district administration and called off their nearly seven-day long agitation. While in some place the protestors called off the stir on their own, in some places police used force to dispersethem. Later in the day, a special sitting of the State Assemblyunanimously adopted the Bill seeking to replace the Ordinance, lifting the ban on Jallikattu. The Ordinance, issued on Saturday making amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Act, 1960, was promulgated due to mounting protests across the stateas Jallikattu could not be held for the third year in a row during the Pongal festival due to the Supreme Court ban. The government also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court on the issue. The Bill, introduced by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was adopted unanimously, with the support of all parties, including the Opposition DMK, its allies the Congress and others, and lifted all the ban on holding the bull taming sport. Soon after the House adopted the Bill, Director Gowthaman,and other pro-Jallikattu supporters, said the Chennai protesthas been withdrawn and the agitators started dispersing fromMarina. MORE UNI GV CS 1845 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1119771.Xml Amit Deshmukh, Maharashtra Congress MLA and eldest son of former state Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, earned a reprieve when the Supreme Court today dismissed an election petition filed against him. Upholding the Bombay High Court order, a division bench, headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi and also comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan, said, "We do not find any legal and valid ground for interference. The special leave petition is dismissed. Consequently, all the pending applications therein are also disposed of."The election petition, which was dismissed by the apex court earlier this month, was filed by Annarao Govindrao Patil, who lost the 2014 assembly poll to Amit Deshmukh of Congress from Latur constituency by a huge margin.Being aggrieved, he filed a petition in the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court alleging that Mr Deshmukh had exceeded the limit of expenditure fixed by the Election Commission.The high court on July 18, 2016, dismissed the petition for want of material facts in support of the allegations of corrupt practices.The defeated candidate then filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court. The apex court ruled that there was no ground to interfere with the high court order.UNI XC RP1810 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1119579.Xml Eight militant groups of the northeastern region have imposed total shut down on Republic Day celebrations on January 26. A joint statement issued today by four organisations viz, Coordination Committee (CorCom), Manipur, Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), ULFA(I) said the government is using various nefarious plots to perpetuate its forcible occupation of Western South East Asia (WESEA)." "One of them is the dirty old trick of pitting one ethnic group against another. By sowing seeds of communal hatred among the people of the region, especially in Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya, they (the government) are trying to shatter the age-old harmonious fabric of society, the militants group said. It will impose shut down from 2100 hrs of January 25 to 1800 hrs of January 26. They alleged that Delhi is trying with some armed and unarmed groups to sabotage the struggle. It further alleged that the government is trying to upset the peaceful co-existence of numerous ethnic groups of the region. The venom of communal hatred is so widespread in Manipur that there is the danger of igniting communal clashes any day if we are caught in the trap of the enemy, it added. Another oft-repeated dirty trick is the use of surrendered militants in many shady activities in order to derail the movement, it said. It also opposed demonetization of some denominations of Indian currency. The fraternal organisations have decided that the region should collectively boycott the Indian Republic Day this year, it added. In another statement, four other organisations that include KLO, NDFB and NLFT said, Now is the time to intensify the struggle on all fronts. To relax our efforts now would be a mistake which generations to come will not be able to forgive. It added the WeSEA is a land of gold dust, heaven of distinct cultures and customs and ocean of peace. The people of WeSEA have been living independently since time immemorial. It charged that the economy is drained and people are oppressed by assimilating their cultures and customs and suppressing these by imposing AFSPA . The shut down will be effective from 0001 hrs to 1159 hrs.UNI NS AD2004 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-1120056.Xml A NHRC release here said, it has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that potable water supplied to 1.5 lakh residents was unfit for consumption. The residents of the area have been contracting skin diseases and also finding it difficult to stand by the odour of the river water. The Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Tamil NaduGovernment, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks. The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report were a matter of concern and indicative of violation of Right to Life and Health of the residents of the region. Observing that potable water and sanitation were essential to realization of basic human rights, the NHRC contended that it was the duty of the State to provide necessary infrastructure so that the human rights of the people were not violated.MORE UNI GV CS 1935 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1119948.Xml Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Amit Shah today said that decision on whether senior party leader Manohar Parrikar will continue as Defence Minister or return to state politics in Goa will be taken after elections. Addressing an election rally at Vasco, around 26 km from here, Mr Shah said, "We will decide where Parrikar will work after elections." Manohar Parrikar is Defence Minster and Narendra bhai says, he is the jewel of my government. There is a lot of demand for Parrikar ji in Delhi and here too. Hundreds of people from here (Goa) too say, send Parrikar ji here. There, Narendra bhai needs him" Mr Shah added, "But I want to say one thing. Wherever Parrikar ji is, the government in Goa will be under the leadership of Parrikar ji. Goans should be assured of that." Mr Parrikar was chief minister of Goa before becoming a cabinet minister in 2014 when National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government came to power at the Centre. Recently, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in a press conference had hinted that even a central minister could become chief minister of Goa if MLAs agreed to. However, in a press conference at the party headquarters in the city, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar put up a brave face and said, It appears that you people (journalists) are too much concerned and worried about it than I myself, UNI AKM SDR RSA 2241 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1120219.Xml Due to the fire, the movement of suburban local trains onthe fast track of Central line came to a halt alongside thetracks at Masjid Bunder, civic authorities said. The sources in CR said the power supply to tracks 7 and 8used by fast trains going towards and from CST has been switchedoff, leading to the delay of all trains on the Main line. The Fire Brigade dispatched 12 fire engines, eight watertankers and ambulances to the spot to douse the blaze. Police were also deployed at the spot for crowd management.UNI NP SS RSA 2258 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1120224.Xml The British government rejected on Sunday a claim by Gerry Adams, President of the Sinn Fein political party, that taking Northern Ireland out of the EU will destroy the agreement that restored peace to the island. Adams made his remarks during a speech on Saturday in Dublin, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement was issued in London following Adams' comments, suggesting Britain leaving the European Union will destroy the Belfast Agreement. An official spokesman for the British government said Adams' comments are totally without any basis in fact. "None of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement ... are in any way undermined by the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU," said the spokesman. Britain is "fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors," he said. The Belfast Agreement, a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s, ended three decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland. In his speech earlier, Adams said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status after Brexit, claiming it would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of Britain. He told his audience at a conference on achieving a united Ireland: "The British government's intention to take the north out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action. Adams is regarded as one of the most important people to be part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Britain's departure from the 28-nation trading bloc will mean the Northern Ireland border with the Irish republic being the only EU border within Britain. In a treaty going back to the 1920s people from both sides of the border have had free passage between each other. Ireland joined the EU at the same time as Britain, meaning there was no change in the border arrangements. Earlier this week, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny reiterated his wish for "a preservation of the seamless border that is there now". --IANS lok/ ( 346 Words) 2017-01-23-07:22:06 (IANS) The White House has confirmed that Donald Trump's team is in the "beginning stages" of a plan to relocate US Israeli embassy to Jerusalem. An Israeli news outlet earlier reported an anonymous source as saying the announcement on America's embassy moving from Tel Aviv would be made by a member of Trump administration on Monday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak with Trump by telephone on Sunday regarding the move. The decision to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem would represent a major break with US policy. The Palestinians have said that an embassy move would kill any prospect for peace. Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, imam of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, has previously warned that relocating the embassy would be as good as a "declaration of war". Donald Trump has said repeatedly that he intends to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem, despite warnings the move would violate international law and destroy the peace process.(ANI) Addressing a large crowd of Pashtun supporters on the occasion of the death anniversaries of Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and his son Khan Abdul Wali Khan, and days after a bomb blast claimed the lives of 25 people in Parchinar, Awami National Party (ANP) president Asfandyar Wali Khan urged the Pakistan government to take political parties into confidence on revival of military courts in the country. He also called for a multiparty conference on the same, reports the Dawn. Khan talked about various national and regional issues affecting the region and its people. He called for constitutional amendments to provide special grants for tribal areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan warned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he would not be able to run away to Jeddah this time if he failed to fulfill his promise of giving the province its due share of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He sought for documentary proof of CPEC-related projects planned for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the ANP would not be satisfied if these documents were not signed by the Chinese authorities. The ANP president further said that his party would contest the next general election with a new manifesto. Khan pointed out that the provincial and federal governments adopted a discriminatory attitude towards the Bacha Khan University by failing to send their representatives to attend the recently observed first anniversary of a brutal terrorist attack on its students and staff. "Neither the chief minister nor the provincial senior minister hailing from Charsadda district attended the anniversary to acknowledge the sacrifice of the university's students and staff," he regretted. Khan said his party would accept the Supreme Court's verdict on the the Panama Papers case. He said ANP understands the pain felt by families of the victims of terrorism as the party had lost several workers to terrorism. "But their sacrifices have not gone to waste as military operations have hit the terrorists hard," he said. (ANI) Turkey has dismissed a deputy head of the state fund which runs seized companies and shut down two local television stations in the latest decrees issued today under emergency rule, imposed in the wake of last July's failed coup.The Official Gazette said Zulfukar Sukru Kanberoglu of the TMSF fund was one of 367 people dismissed from state institutions under the latest four decrees, which also reinstated 124 civil servants.It said the people were dismissed for being members of, or having links to, terror groups or groups which act against national security.Broadcaster Haberturk said on Saturday prosecutors had issued arrest warrants for more than 400 people, including soldiers and security officers, in 48 provinces across the country following July's failed coup.They were being sought on suspicion of using Bylock, an encrypted smartphone messaging app that the government says was used by the network of Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of orchestrating the attempted coup, Haberturk reported.Gulen, a US-based cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the charge and condemned the coup.In a post-coup crackdown, Turkey has jailed some 40,000 people pending trial and has suspended or dismissed more than 100,000 from the military, judiciary and public services.More than 240 people were killed in the July 15 attempted putsch, in which soldiers commandeered tanks and fighter jets in a bid to seize power. REUTERS AKC NS1342 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1119033.Xml The Chairman of the Hedayah board, Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi has asserted that if there is no extremism there will be no terrorism. "We felt earlier that threat of terrorism is not only to us as a nation, but also to the world, to all nations, to the international community and in the beginning, we developed a strategy that terrorism is a threat to all human beings and we as a nation, should be responsible towards this," Nuaimi told ANI. He said the UAE is willing to be a part of any international effort to counter terrorism. "From our experience and research, we found that you can't counter terrorism unless you go to the root of terrorism which is extremism," he added. Nuaimi said his country does not allow extremists to spread their ideas and counters such things immediately as the UAE wants to maintain peace, harmony and stability. He added that the administration does not hesitate to take action against extremists. "We have been fighting terrorism for last 15 years and we know that we were targeted as a country but we are fortunate to have a very strong security system," he said. Nuaimi said they have a unified community to counter and fight terrorism. He said terrorists have always failed whenever they have tried to target the UAE. He said it is important to understand the terror groups in order to counter them. Nuaimi believed that what had happened in Kandahar in Afghanistan would make them more committed to continue what they are doing. He said children who are being recruited by terror groups need to be convinced and brought to the right path. He added that the organisation was working in schools and madarsas as children might be radicalized there. Nuaimi said that there main role is to promote peace and encourage dialogue between different terror groups and the religious leaders. "We try to stay away from politics as politicians have their own agenda and it is different from our agenda," he said. Nuaimi said that it is very hard to protect a country unless they have a firm strategy, a leadership which is willing to take hard decisions and act immediately. He said that UAE was not not a democratic country according the western criteria but they feel that they enjoy a system that western people don't enjoy. He said that they trust their leader and cited an example that his highness Sheikh Mohammad never said something which he has not done for them. "There is believe and trust in this leadership that whatever he will say he will do," Nuaimi said. He said may be UAE is the only Arab country to sent its troops to fight Al- Qaeda in Afghanistan. "When ISIS evolve d we were the first to engage in countering and fighting them in Syria and other countries," he said. Nuaimi asserted that his country engages in action in fighting against terrorism. He said a symposium on role of education on countering the terrorism was organised by them which ended in having Abu Dhabi memorandum in education which is related to protection of education system from extremism and it was also the part recommendations adopted by the UN. On killing of five UAE diplomats in Afghanistan, he said that all of them were engaged in building hospitals, schools and social service center there. Nuaimi said Afghan people knew them very well for their humanitarian cause. He suggested for international community to come hand in hand and fight terrorist groups. He also emphasized on the need to get involve all religious leaders in countering the ideology which is creating such terror groups. (ANI) "For those in Pakistan who doubt the role of the prime minister's daughter Mariam Safdar in Panama Papers - some of the documents. Judge yourself," the newspaper tweeted. The newspaper tweeted the attachments purportedly shows her involvement with Minerva Financial Services. The tweet is accompanied by a document titled "Minerva Financial Services Limited Personal Information", which contains the personal details of Maryam Safdar. The "source of wealth" section on the form says "Family's wealth and businesses which spreads over 60 years.",' the Dawn reports. A copy of the Maryam's old passport also accompanied the tweet. Sddeutsche Zeitung was the first news outlet to receive the 11.5 million secret files from Panama-gate, which included the names of Pakistanis with off-shore holdings. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has so far during the hearings on Panamagate in the Supreme Court been trying to establish that Maryam is indeed the beneficial owner of Minerva. Minerva is the holding company for Nescoll Limited and Nielson Enterprises Limited, two off-shore enterprises at the centre of the scandal engulfing the Prime Minister's family. (ANI) The Taliban has called on President Donald Trump to withdraw US forces from the "quagmire" of Afghanistan, saying that nothing has been achieved in 15 years of war except bloodshed and destruction.In an open letter to the new US president published on one of its official web pages, the insurgent movement said the United States had lost credibility after spending a trillion dollars on a fruitless entanglement."So, the responsibility to bring to an end this war also rests on your shoulders," it said.So far, Trump has had little to say publicly about Afghanistan, where some 8,400 US troops remain as part of the NATO-led coalition's training mission to support local forces as well as a separate US counter-terrorism mission.Two of his top security appointments - retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as Secretary of Defense and former General Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser - both have extensive experience in Afghanistan.The Taliban, however, warned Trump against relying on the kind of "unrealistic" reports presented to former presidents by their generals, saying: "They would emphasize continuation of war and occupation of Afghanistan because they can have better positions and privileges in war."The United States would not accept foreign forces on its territory or even in a neighbouring country, said the Taliban. It accused Washington of imposing a "surrogate administration" on Afghanistan in the face of popular Muslim resistance."You have to realize that the Afghan Muslim nation has risen up against foreign occupation," it said.The Taliban has made steady inroads against the Western-backed government in Kabul since coalition forces ended their main combat mission in 2014, with government forces now in control of only two thirds of the country.It has repeatedly urged the United States and its allies to leave Afghanistan, ruling out peace talks with the Kabul government while foreign forces remain on Afghan soil.Trump has sharply criticised past US administrations for their handling of conflicts in the Muslim world but he has also pledged to eradicate militant Islamists around the globe. REUTERS SDR BL2126 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1120157.Xml MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices are likely to go higher as producing countries have been "successfully" implementing a production reduction deal, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Sunday. "Oil prices still have potential to increase. In my view, the price will reach about 50 to 60 U.S. dollars this year," Novak told Rossiya 24 TV channel. His anticipation came after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to cut oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day starting January 2017 and 11 non-OPEC countries vowed to cut oil output by 558,000 barrels per day. The production slash agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC countries is respected by all the participating parties, said Novak, adding that their total production cut may be higher than 1.7 million barrels per day in January. Russia, a non-OPEC member, has been reducing its oil production by about 100,000 barrels per day this month under the deal, according to the minister. Novak called it a "success" that OPEC and non-OPEC countries have stabilized the global oil market. The market can be rebalanced by this July, rather than the second half of the year as was previously expected, said Novak. Russia's government revenues rely heavily on oil and gas sales, and the persistently weak energy prices have dealt a big blow to the country. A woman looks at rubble of destroyed buildings in eastern Mosul, Iraq, on Jan. 22, 2017. Iraqi security forces continued fierce clashes to drive out the militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group from their last strongholds in the northern outskirts of the city of Mosul. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces recaptured on Sunday the last areas in the central part of the eastern side of Mosul, while the troops continued fighting the Islamic State (IS) group to drive them out from their last stronghold on the northern outskirts of the city, the Iraqi military said. The Iraqi forces retook control of the small neighborhood of Malayeen and al-Binaa al-Jahiz area in central Mosul and raised the Iraqi flag on some of their buildings, Lieutenant General Abdul-Amir Yarallah from the Joint Operations Command (JOC) said in a statement. "These are the last areas of the center part of Mosul's left bank to be freed," said Yarallah, referring to the eastern side of Mosul, which is locally known as the left bank of the Tigris River which bisects the city. The troops also took control of a main road linking Iraq's northern city of Mosul to Dohuk Province, which is part of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, he added. The latest progress makes the Iraqi forces completely in control of the eastern bank of Mosul, with only the northern outskirts of Rashidiyah left under control of IS militants. Experts say once the troops recapture the whole eastern side of Mosul, they will begin a new phase of the anti-IS major offensive on the western part of the city. Meanwhile, the JOC said in a separate statement that Colonel Sabhan Hassan al-Jubouri, commander of the army's 71st Brigade, was killed during the battles on the northern outskirts of Mosul. On Oct. 17, 2015, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city. The second phase of the offensive, to free the eastern bank of Mosul, began on Dec. 29. Battles in Mosul slowed down in December as extremist militants started using civilians as human shields, resorted to suicide car bombings and made mortar and sniper attacks. Mosul, 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. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Year of the Rooster gets a wake-up call from "Kung Fu Panda" when Po and Tigress make their first-ever appearance at the Universal Studio Hollywood's annual Lunar New Year celebration, from this Saturday to Feb.5. The celebration comes to life within Universal Plaza, at the heart of the theme park. Decorated with red Chinese lanterns and a stunning plum blossom arch, the Plaza has a dozen of lampposts featuring banners of 12 zodiac animals with introductions. Along with Po and Tigress, the 12-foot-fall Mandarin-speaking Megatron, the icon of Transformers, theme park characters Curious George and Woody Woodpecker in Chinese attire also greet and interact with visitors at the Plaza. "The Megatron is really funny, he speaks Chinese and makes jokes," Annie Zhang, a Chinese American visitor told Xinhua this Sunday, "I really enjoy the Lunar New Year atmosphere here." As more Chinese visitors are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, the theme park's signature Studio Tour is also offering Mandarin-speaking tour year-round. According to the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, the city welcomed 47.3 million visitors in 2016 and over 1 million of them came from China, which marked LA the first city in the U.S. hosted over a million Chinese visitors. Artists dance during "Happy Chinese New Year, Charming Beijing" event to celebrate upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the United States. (Xinhua/Zhang Chaoqun photo) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Year of the Rooster gets a wake-up call from "Kung Fu Panda" when Po and Tigress make their first-ever appearance at the Universal Studio Hollywood's annual Lunar New Year celebration, from this Saturday to Feb.5. The celebration comes to life within Universal Plaza, at the heart of the theme park. Decorated with red Chinese lanterns and a stunning plum blossom arch, the Plaza has a dozen of lampposts featuring banners of 12 zodiac animals with introductions. Along with Po and Tigress, the 12-foot-fall Mandarin-speaking Megatron, the icon of Transformers, theme park characters Curious George and Woody Woodpecker in Chinese attire also greet and interact with visitors at the Plaza. "The Megatron is really funny, he speaks Chinese and makes jokes," Annie Zhang, a Chinese American visitor told Xinhua this Sunday, "I really enjoy the Lunar New Year atmosphere here." Paper cutting artist shows her skills during the "Happy Chinese New Year, Charming Beijing" event to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the United States. (Xinhua/Zhang Chaoqun photo) As more Chinese visitors are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, the theme park's signature Studio Tour is also offering Mandarin-speaking tour year-round. According to the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, the city welcomed 47.3 million visitors in 2016 and over 1 million of them came from China, which marked LA the first city in the U.S. hosted over a million Chinese visitors. CANBERRA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government will attempt to apply "world-first" biometric technology which would allow international travelers to seamlessly exit an airport -- with no need to show a passport or incoming passenger card, local media reported on Monday. In a project set to kick off later this year, the government is hoping to source technology which would use biometric data and eliminate the need for human involvement in the immigration process. Currently, the technology allow Australian citizens -- and a limited number of those with international passports -- to avoid the queues at the immigration desk but still require the traveler to scan a passport to enter the country. John Coyne from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute told Fairfax Media the potential technology would allow international passengers to "literally just walk out like at a domestic airport", adding that it might be a "world first" if implemented in a timely manner. A spokesperson from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection has said while the government has a vision for the project, called Seamless Traveller, it has announced that it is taking tenders for the technology. "The department is asking tenderers to provide innovative solutions to allow arriving travelers to self-process," a department spokesperson told Fairfax Media. TOKYO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo shares opened lower Monday as concerns grew over U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration speech which did not specify economic stimulus plans. As of 9:15 a.m. local time, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 215.93 points, or 1.13 percent, from Friday to 18,921.98. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 18.13 points, or 1.18 percent, to 1,515.33. Decliners were led by metal product, electric appliance and machinery issues. YANGON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Small armed clashes have occurred between the government troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), leaving one dead in the border town of Muse, Myanmar's northern Shan state, Myanmar News Agency reported Monday. The KIA attacked the government troops from about six kilometers east of Mawtaung village in the township Sunday when the latter were conducting area clearance operation. The government troops returned fire to the armed group which withdrew to south-west direction. The government troops claimed one KIA body with the seizure of some guns, cartridges, bullets, mortar rounds and grenades. In late last December, Myanmar government troops seized an outpost, Point-768, of the KIA and surrounding minor camps. The outpost, called by KIA as Lai Hpawng, lies on communication route to KIA headquarters -- Liza. Earlier of the month, Myanmar government troops had also occupied Gidon Outpost, a KIA stronghold in Waingmaw, in its attack with artillery power. Military conflicts erupted in border area of northern Myanmar's Shan state on Nov. 20 last year after an alliance of three armed groups launched attacks on government's military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai towns as well as a border trade zone. Sporadic clashes between the government troops and the three armed groups -- Kachin Independence Army (KIA) , Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) , Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), continued up to date. By Ru Ge Two weeks after Jane and I arrived together at Copenhagen University as exchange students from China, we each experienced culture shock - albeit of in different kinds. Jane lost 4,000 kroners and her Danish ID card to a pickpocket, while I was taken aback by the frankness of the Copenhagen Metro which featured a warning on the subway information screen - "Be Aware of Pickpockets," written in both in English and Danish. Danish professors have warned us of pickpockets being on the rise but we didn't take notice until Jane's unpleasant walk in Stroget, one of the busiest shopping streets in central Copenhagen. Even though her purse was placed in the bottom of her backpack and she was sure that it was zipped up, she nevertheless discovered that her purse had been stolen after she left Stroget. Pickpockets must be on the rise in the subway, to such an extent that the metro company sees fit to warn the passengers in very blunt language. The atmosphere has become more tense in public areas, and I once heard a mother say to her daughter in English: "I'll keep an eye on your backpack. Don't worry my darling." Denmark might seem like a perfect kingdom for Chinese because many of us have been greatly influenced by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy-tales since we were very little. But it is clear to me now that no matter how rich a country is, there will always be social problems. Our Danish friends told us pickpockets strike not only on public transportation but also at frequent tourist attractions. I started to think about the police presence in Copenhagen and why they don' t do something to combat petty crime. "Police don't have the man power," I was told when I asked a Danish friend. To visitors and foreign students, my advice is: never let your guard down when you do sightseeing, shopping or commuting. Keep your guard up and your wits about you, as thieves could be lurking around any corner, ready to snatch your bags and purses. WELLINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand is working on a "Plan B" to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal and China's involvement is possible, Prime Minister Bill English said Monday. United States President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the still-unratified TPP would not necessarily stop the other 11 nations working on a modified version of the deal, English told Radio New Zealand. New Zealand passed legislation late last year allowing the government to ratify the agreement, which was signed in Auckland in February last year. English said the Trump administration's "America first" trade policy was "not in our interests and we would argue it's not in America's interests in the long run either, but they've made a pretty clear policy decision." "So we're working on Plan B. It was promising that last week the Prime Minister of Japan, when he was in Australia, made quite a positive statement about trying to proceed with a version of the TPP without the U.S. in it, if it comes to that," said English. "We don't believe it's dead, but Plan B could be a bit tricky." Asked if it was possible the TPP could be scrapped and replaced with something else, possibly involving China, English said, "That's possible." "There are other vehicles for China if they've got an interest in free trade in the Asia-Pacific, but the TPP's a fairly original, a fairly unique kind of trade agreement and there are real benefits in it for New Zealand if we can just get everybody organized," said English. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay would probably visit Washington "before too long" and begin talks with his counterparts in other TPP countries over the next couple of months about an alternative to the current agreement. (Xinhua file photo) SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Samsung Electronics said Monday that faulty battery caused its flagship Galaxy Note 7 to catch fire after discontinuing the fire-prone device more than three months ago. In a special press conference in its headquarters in Seoul, Samsung said the mix of thin battery design and other manufacturing issues caused the Note 7s to explode or set on fire, which led to property damages and injuries. The findings are based on two investigations by U.S.-based firms UL and Exponent, which examined batteries and one supply-chain analysis by a German company TUV Rheinland. The first group of the devices carried batteries with thin separators between the positive and negative layers that raise a possibility for internal short circuit, according to the UL's teardown examination. Aggressively thin battery had been estimated by experts as one of the main reasons the flagship Samsung phone was overheated. Insufficient physical room can induce the positive and negative electrodes to touch and spark. Sajeev Jesuda, one of the UL's executives, told reporters that higher energy density in batteries can exacerbate the severity of battery failure in "general" terms, falling short of the confirmation of one of reasons for explosions. Deformation was found especially from the upper right corners of the batteries, weakening a protection capability from internal short circuit, the UL president said. The second group of Note 7s was installed with batteries that have various manufacturing problems, including the missing insulation tape, irregular bumps and thin separators. Those factors led to internal short circuits. According to the Exponent's analysis, no hardware and software issues have been discovered from the fire-prone devices. The first group of phones showed deformation in upper corners of the defective batteries near a cathode tab. The second group had manufacturing issues, such as abnormally high bumps that can destroy an insulation tape and a separator. Kevin White, a principal scientist at Exponent, told reporters that the first group suffered unintended damages to the cathode windings in the corner closest to the negative tab, saying it was caused by the pouch design. The second group, he said, showed no deficiencies in the pouch, but welding defects in the positive electrode tab raised the short circuit possibility. Meanwhile, no factor was found in the logistics and assembly processes that damage battery safety, according to the TUV Rheindland's investigations into factories in South Korea, China and Vietnam. Holger Kunz, the German company's executive vice president, said its supply-chain analysis showed no specific defection of weakness, concern or obvious danger affecting battery safety integrity. Related: S.Korea's industrial output falls on Galaxy Note 7 discontinuation, labor strike SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's industrial output fell last month as Samsung Electronics discontinued its latest flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphones and railway workers went on strikes, a government report showed on Wednesday. Full story S.Korea's mobile phone exports tumble in Oct. on Galaxy Note 7 discontinuation SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's mobile phone exports posted a steep decline last month as Samsung Electronics discontinued its latest flagship smartphone Galaxy Note 7 on reports of catching fire and overheating, a government report showed on Thursday. Full story South African Airways bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7 By Matt Walsh CANBERRA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester has on Monday thanked the crew of the Fugro Equator -- the vessel which, for three years, was searching for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Following the suspension of the deep-sea ocean search for the aircraft last week, Chester and Malaysian counterpart, Minister Liow Tiong Lai met with the crew of the search vessel in Western Australia. Chester said although the aircraft was not found within the 120,000 square kilometer search zone, it was "very important" to thank the crew for their tireless efforts over the past three years. "This has been an extraordinary search effort in some of the most inhospitable seas on Earth," Chester told the press on Monday. The transport minister said it was easy to think of the search vessel as just scientific equipment and not as manpower. According to the government, crew members were often searching the Southern Indian Ocean for weeks at a time, often in treacherous conditions. "As I've said before, the search for MH370 has been at the cutting edge of technology and scientific expertise, but also a heroic human endeavor," Chester told the press from Western Australia. "Having not found the aircraft does not indicate failure. It indicates that the aircraft is not in that 120,000 square kilometer search area." Chester said while the ocean search had been suspended, work was ongoing in assessing satellite photos and debris which may have washed up on shore. "If any more debris comes forward, we will work with our Malaysian counterparts in assessing debris of interest. Work is also going on in terms of further analysis of satellite imagery," Chester said. Meanwhile Liow said while it was upsetting that the missing Boeing 777 aircraft was not in the search zone, the "commitment, professionalism and dedication" shown by the crew was admirable. He said the Malaysian government was extremely thankful for their hard work, as well as the efforts of both the Chinese and Australian governments in searching for the jetliner. "On behalf of Malaysia, I would like to once again say thank you to the crew members, the Australian government and the Chinese government for their support in the search for MH370," Liow told the press. "We are very sad that we couldn't locate the aircraft." "The crew told us the difficulty they faced in the deep sea waters. Sometimes they faced four straight days of waves, or strong winds of up to 140 km/h. They had to be there to face these challenges." Last week, a statement from the Chinese, Malaysian and Australian governments said the search would be suspended indefinitely as it had "not been able to locate the aircraft", however it also said if "credible new evidence" was found which could point to the location of the airplane, the search could resume. MH370 was a scheduled passenger flight bound for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. It disappeared on March 8, 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board. Syrian Culture Minister Muhammad Ahmad (L) speaks during a press conference held in Damascus, capital of Syria, Jan. 22, 2017. Muhammad Ahmad said Sunday that the bombing of the historic heritage in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra by the Islamic State (IS) group is a "war crime." Last Friday, the IS destroyed the facade of the ancient Roman theater as well as the Tetrapylon in Palmyra. The interface of the theater was completely demolished after being booby-trapped, so was the famous Tetrapylon, an ancient Roman monument of a cubic shape, in that millennia-old city. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) DAMASCUS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Culture Minister Muhammad Ahmad said Sunday that the bombing of the historic heritage in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra by the Islamic State (IS) group is a "war crime." In a press briefing, Ahmad said the recent bombing of the facade of the historic amphitheater in Palmyra northeast of Damascus as well as other relics and monuments in that millennia-old city targeted Syrian heritage and culture. "These monuments are not only the property of Syria, but the whole world," Ahmad said, urging the international community to shoulder its responsibility in protecting this world heritage. "Any inaction in this difficult time threatens Palmyra and will be a clear runaway from the humanitarian and ethical duty in protecting and preserving the World Heritage," he said. Last Friday, the IS destroyed the facade of the ancient Roman theater as well as the Tetrapylon in Palmyra. The interface of the theater was completely demolished after being booby-trapped, so was the famous Tetrapylon, an ancient Roman monument of a cubic shape, in that millennia-old city. One month ago, the group stormed the city for the second time after losing it nine months earlier to the Syrian army. In its first invasion of Palmyra in 2015, the IS destroyed key temples and monuments there. In his briefing, Ahmad said the presence of IS in Palmyra exposed the the city to further destruction and would push it into a "scary nightmare." Ahmad said that during the nearly six years' war in his country, the authorities have preserved 90 percent of the artifacts in museums around Syria from being looted by moving them into secret locations. He added that the theft rate of artifacts has not exceeded 1 percent. Regarding the ancient part of the city of Aleppo, which was under the rebels' control for four years before the army wrested back control of that area late last year, Ahmad said that 40 percent of old Aleppo was still in a good condition, 30 percent in a medium condition, and the rest in a "catastrophic status." SYDNEY, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- An Australian University in North Queensland was under fire Monday for promoting a man, Douglas David Steel, who pleaded guilty to the digital rape of a woman in her Townsville home. In September 2016, during court proceedings, James Cook University promoted the 33-year-old from project officer to an academic adviser at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre before he eventually resigned three months later. "There has been a failure of our internal processes," Vice Chancellor of James Cook University Chris Cocklin said. "Those who knew did not report the information to the appropriate staff." The university's student association's president Edward Harriage has made comments, saying "the university should have picked this up sooner, it'll cast concern on the campus that shouldn't be here." A wave of criticism on social media has also been aimed at the university with the site's Facebook page receiving hundreds of angry commenters. Steel received a two-year jail sentence which was suspended after four months. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday reiterated his pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in upcoming talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said while addressing senior White House staff on his second full day in office. Trump will receive his Mexican counterpart, Enrique Pena Nieto, on Jan. 31, and a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected "soon," according to a readout from a call between the two leaders on Saturday. Pena Nieto and Trudeau, in a phone conversation held Sunday, agreed to join forces to encourage economic integration in North America, according to a statement from the Mexican president's office. Trump pledged during his presidential campaign that if elected he would renegotiate the 22-year-old trade deal to provide more favorable terms to the United States. "President Trump is committed to renegotiating NAFTA. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the president will give notice of the United States' intent to withdraw from NAFTA," reads Trump's America First Foreign Policy published on the website of the White House. Since Trump's November victory, both Canada and Mexico have announced that they will sit down with the new U.S. administration to reexamine the free trade agreement. Canada has said it expects to keep its 1989 bilateral free trade agreement with the United States if Trump withdraws from NAFTA. Canadian Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton said Sunday that Canada was not the focus of U.S. efforts to renegotiate NAFTA, suggesting that the Trump administration was more concerned about trade deficits with Mexico. During a surprise trip to Mexico City to meet Pena Nieto in August, Trump said "I shared my strong view (with Pena Nieto) that NAFTA has been a far greater benefit to Mexico than it has been to the U.S., and that it must be improved to make sure that workers, so important, in both countries benefit from fair and reciprocal trade." Mexico shuddered at the comment. The trade pact has helped Mexico channel 80 percent of exports to its neighbor, and an improvement Trump wants might mean huge losses for Mexico. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, created one of the world's largest free trade zones by reducing or eliminating tariffs on most products. The pact was meant to benefit small businesses by lowering costs and reducing bureaucracy to facilitate buying and selling abroad. Whether it has ultimately helped or harmed Americans is hotly debated in the United States. "In reality, NAFTA did not cause the huge job losses feared by the critics or the large economic gains predicted by supporters," the U.S. Congressional Research Service, which provides independent analysis, said in 2015. "The net overall effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy appears to have been relatively modest, primarily because trade with Canada and Mexico accounts for a small percentage of U.S. GDP," the think tank said. Gustavo Vega, a professor at the Center for International Studies at the prestigious Colegio de Mexico, told Xinhua that he believes Trump's trade protectionism would harm U.S. economic interests that benefit from the integration of Mexican and U.S. businesses, especially in border states such as California. He added that 600,000 jobs in those states depend on NAFTA. "It's very worrying. He doesn't realize he could create a truly serious situation." BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Wang Guoqiang, former Party chief of Fengcheng city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for graft. The sentence was handed down by the Shenyang Intermediate People's Court in Liaoning Province. The court also imposed a fine of 900,000 yuan (around 131,000 U.S. dollars) on Wang and ordered all his illicit gains to be confiscated. Wang, who fled to the United States in April 2012, returned to China and turned himself in to the discipline authority in December 2014. According to the court, his confession, remorse and the fact that all his illegal gains were recovered were taken into consideration when deciding on a sentence. BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Li Huabo, a former local finance official in Jiangxi Province, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, according to a local court. The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Shangrao City in east China's Jiangxi Province. Li will also have all his personal property confiscated and his remaining illicit gains will be recovered, according to the court. Li, who fled the country in January 2011, remained in Singapore until he was repatriated in May 2015. The verdict took into consideration his confession and expression of remorse. SYDNEY, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is expanding a community-based support service and contributing 10 million Australian dollars (7.5 million U.S. dollars) to combat the trend of young indigenous Australians, who are five times more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population. The project was first carried out in Western Australia in 2016. Its success will see the Northern Territory and South Australia take part in 2017 with the rest of the nation to follow in 2018. "Every suicide is a tragedy and the effects on tight-knit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are often more profound, contributing to a cluster of suicide and self-harm that we see," Australian Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In the past, the minister has commented on the problems facing the indigenous population, as around 40 percent of aboriginal Australians live below the poverty line, with services and support often difficult to utilize. "A myriad of support services delivered by different agencies and not-for-profit organisation but with little coordination between them to make sure families are properly supported in the times of great distress, the effect is that people fall between the cracks," Scullion said. KABUL, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 42 drug-related ceases were exposed in Afghanistan during the 10th month of current Afghan calendar, as the war-hit country struggled to fight the narcotics, authorities said on Monday. "The Counter-Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) and other law enforcement agencies have cracked 42 drug cases and made 44 arrests during the month of Jaddi (Dec. 21 to Jan. 19) elsewhere in the country," Counter-Narcotics Criminal Justice Task Force of Afghanistan (CJTF) said in a statement. The CNPA and Afghan security forces also found and confiscated narcotics during the period, according to the statement. Among the drugs and materials, 201 kg heroine, 3,510 kg of morphine, over 6,260 kg of opium, 180 liters liquid chemical substance, 1,094 kg solid chemical substance, and more than 197,000 kg of hashish, were found, the statement said. After an 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. Meanwhile, 48 cases of illegal drug production and distribution were also exposed and 51 persons were captured during the ninth month of the current Afghan calendar, according to the statement. Some 4,800 tons of opium has been produced in Afghan provinces where government security forces had little presence in 2016, according to Afghan officials. SYDNEY, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- An unpredictable and out of control bushfire is raging in Western Australia late Monday, threatening the lives of people in the Great Southern Region. Authorities have issued an emergency warning for the northern section of Orana, in the city of Albany. "You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive." the Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned. "If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place." A separate emergency alert for a different fire near King River, has now been downgraded to a watch and alert. ANKARA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish General Staff stated on Monday 65 Islamic State (IS) terrorists were killed by Turkish army in Al-Bab of northern Syria in last 24 hours. According to the Turkish army, 194 targets belonging to the terrorists have been shelled, including hideouts, defense positions, command centers, weapons and vehicles. Coalition jets also hit IS targets in Tadif, Abu Jabbar and Uwayshiyah regions and destroyed a tank, an arms-laden vehicle, three other vehicles and a mortar. A total of 3113 improvised explosive devices and 55 mines have been destroyed since the beginning of the operation, the military added. The Turkish Armed Forces launched the Euphrates Shield Operation last August against both IS and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). Turkey regards the YPG and the PYD as terrorist organizations due to their links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). CARACAS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela has fulfilled 70 percent of its target goal to cut back crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day (BPD), Oil Minister Nelson Martinez said on Sunday. Martinez said the country was close to fully meeting its target and complying with an agreement reached in November with members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producers, according to news reaching here from Vienna. Martinez described Venezuela's compliance with the cutback agreement as "quite high," and announced it would reach "100 percent of the target by February." The minister make the remarks while speaking with Venezuelan media in Vienna, where he was attending an OPEC meeting on compliance with a measure designed to shore up oil prices. Martinez celebrated the success of the measure, saying "we have seen a nearly 20-percent increase, positively reflected in the average rise in prices to some 50 (U.S.) dollars a barrel." Producers are to meet again on March 17 to review the progress of the measure, said Martinez, while OPEC expects to hold its first conference in May. A special committee was set up to meet monthly to monitor compliance with the cutback by the 13 OPEC members and 11 non-members, includes Venezuela, Nigeria, Kuwait, Oman, Russia and Saudi Arabia, he said. Venezuela, whose economy was devastated by plummeting oil prices in the past two years, was one of the main proponents of the agreement to reduce the oil output. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Major tornadoes thrashed multiple states in southeast United States on Saturday and Sunday, killing at least 18 people and causing material damage. The states of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia are among those hit by extreme weather. 14 were killed in Georgia while four were killed in Mississippi. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal on Sunday announced a state of emergency for seven counties in south Georgia. Catherine Howden, a spokesperson for the state's Emergency Management Agency, said rescue dogs were dispatched to the region in search of survivors. U.S. National Weather Service issued a warning Sunday saying "a severe thunderstorm and tornado outbreak is expected today across north Florida and south Georgia." PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Three Taliban militants including a group commander were killed as their explosive device exploded prematurely in Dahna-e-Ghori district of the northern Baghlan province on Sunday, a security official Abdul Khalil said Monday. "Taliban local commander Qari Abid along with two of his men were busy in making a mine to plant on a road in Dahna-e-Ghori and target security forces but the device exploded prematurely killing all the trio on the spot," Khalil told Xinhua. Taliban militants who control parts of Dahna-e-Ghori district some 7 km outside provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri haven't commented on the report. BANJUL, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A West African regional military force entered Gambia's capital city of Banjul and took control of the presidential palace on Sunday, one day after the departure of former president Yahya Jammeh. Reports said that it seemed the international military force from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met some difficulties while trying to enter the palace, as the presidential guards put up a barricade. "Our commander is inside, they're discussing," said one of Senegalese soldiers at the premises of the palace. As the head of the presidential guard, Ansuman Tamba, was nowhere to be found, the head of the ECOWAS force had many hours of talks with the acting commander before the force troops were allowed in. "There's no problem here. We want peace. Peace is the best thing," a Gambian soldier at the gate of the State House said while talks were ongoing. Jammeh plunged his country, known as the Smiling Coast of West Africa, into a political crisis, after rejecting the presidential election result in December which declared Adama Barrow as president. Two ECOWAS mediation efforts had failed. The Senegal-led ECOWAS force troops were then deployed at the border with Gambia, waiting for an order to remove Jammeh by force had Friday's talks fail. But Jammeh left the capital city of Banjul Saturday night, giving way for Barrow to return from Senegal's Dakar and assume power as the West African country's third president since independence in 1965. Before leaving the country, Jammeh appeared on TV on Friday to announce that he was relinquishing power "in the supreme national interest of Gambia." A few hours after Jammeh left the city, the ECOWAS force troops started entering Gambia from multiple border points, combing the streets with armored vehicles. No incident of resistance was reported as the troops have seized key military barracks and installations. Halifa Sallah, the spokesman for Barrow, said earlier in the day that even though there was no threat of conflict in the country, it was important to ensure the security of Barrow. "Forces are in Gambia," he said, "I was told that it's not an invasion force. They're going to collaborate with the security forces in Gambia." Women attend the Jeddah International Book Fair on December 17, 2016 in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah. (AFP PHOTO) RIYADH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Terrorists have been exploiting the attitudes of Saudi society towards women in carrying out their terrorist acts, Al Hayat local newspaper reported on Monday. According to the latest security operations, a number of fugitives succeeded in moving freely while wearing women clothing, as many women in Saudi Arabia are fully covered, while others recruited women to coordinate terrorist operations. Some make sure to have female partners so they can rent accommodations easily in residential areas. In the conservative Saudi society, gender segregation is enforced in almost all walks of life, so many women can't be easily monitored by the police. In a suicide attempt in May 2015, the attacker targeted a mosque in Dammam in East Province while wearing woman clothing. According to the news report, the black Abaya that covers women from head to toes tops the list of confiscations during counterterrorism raids. This was confirmed by the earlier statement of the Interior Ministry, highlighting that woman clothing is the most prominent means of disguise by terrorists. In early months of 2016, the ministry announced the arrest of a Saudi woman who smuggled an explosive belt from Riyadh to Southern part of Saudi Arabia that was used in a mosque blast in Asir region that killed 15 policemen. Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a war against terrorism for years, especially the Islamic State (IS) militant group. Monks from China's Shaolin Temple perform Kungfu on the occasion of celebrating Chinese New Year with Palestinians in West Bank city of Ramallah, on Jan. 22, 2017. (Xinhua/Fadi Arouri) RAMALLAH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- World renowned Shaolin Kung Fu Monk Corps group performed Sunday night in West Bank city of Ramallah on the occasion of celebrating Chinese New Year with Palestinians. In 15 short performances, the group shed light on the traditional Chinese martial arts that reflect discipline, respect and harmony, values that are echoed in the Palestinian society. Deputy Director of the Chinese Office in Palestine Jin Ying said this performance celebrates the joint history between Palestine and China and the brotherly ties shared in the upcoming Spring Festival. "We are very happy to present the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu show from China to Palestine, because this group is one of the highest levels of Chinese Kung Fu, representing Chinese culture and philosophy, which is manifested in peace and harmony," Jin told Xinhua. The performance often triggered loud applause by the audience who were impressed by the abilities of the performers and the authentic Shaolin Kung Fu. Palestinians praised the harmony created in the performance and told Xinhua that they respect the Chinese culture. Haneen Abu Baker, who attended the performance, said that she personally is attracted to the Chinese culture and adopt parts of it in her daily life. "I visited China three years ago and I am one of the fans of the Chinese culture," she said. Shaolin Kung Fu is a complex art taught mainly by oral formulas handed down from generation to generation. In history, recognition of inheritors of Shaolin Kung Fu was based on a patriarchal clan system of Shaolin temple. by Abdul Haleem KABUL, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan remains one of the main challenges for the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump with local observers suggesting he will have to review the strategy of the war on terror in Afghanistan to conclude the longest U.S. war in its history successfully. President Trump, who was sworn-in as the 45th U.S. president in a ceremony on Friday, in his maiden yet short speech made after his inauguration, reportedly said, "We will unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism to eradicate it completely from the face of the earth." However, he didn't mention the name of Afghanistan where the U.S.-coalition forces have been fighting since October 2001 to eliminate the terrorist forces of al-Qaida, the Taliban and associated groups. "The war on terror, initiated by former U.S. President George W. Bush in Afghanistan, and continued by President Obama would also last during President Trump's tenure," renown analyst, General (Rtd) Atiqullah Omarkhil, told Xinhua. Backing his notion, the military expert and political observer argued that the "United States itself doesn't want to end the war in Afghanistan" saying "the U.S.-led coalition forces might have already won the war on terror when it had more than 150,000-strong multi-national troops in Afghanistan if she fought sincerely." "The U.S.-led coalition forces overthrew the al-Qaida backed Taliban regime within weeks in late 2001 but the 'cat and mouse' war has been continuing over the past 15 years," the analyst highlighted. The former army general and political expert expressed doubt over the U.S. resolve in fighting terrorism sincerely in Afghanistan amid Kabul's desires that the new administration in Washington like its predecessors would continue to support the Afghan government in the war against the Taliban and associated groups. Afghan Presidential Spokesman Haroon Chakhansori in talks with reporters at a press conference recently assumed that since relations between Kabul and Washington are strategic and based on common interests, it stands to reason that the new U.S. administration would continue to back Afghanistan. Similarly, Mujib Rahman Rahimi, the spokesman for the Afghan Chief Executive also in talks with media outlets last week accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban outfit and hoped the new U.S. administration would support the Afghan government in the war terror and put pressure on Islamabad to give up backing militants operating in Afghanistan. Afghan ex-President Hamid Karzai has also called upon President Trump to review Washington's strategy in the war on terror and pay attention to the terrorists' safe havens in Pakistan. Afghans mostly accuse Pakistan of backing the Taliban and like-minded groups in fighting in Afghanistan, a claim utterly rebuffed by Islamabad as baseless. Nevertheless, Omarkhil, as an eminent analyst, brushed aside the demand of Afghan officials from the new U.S. administration as wishful thinking and observed, "the U.S. is not serious in the war on terror, otherwise, the Taliban militants might already have been diminished." The war on terror launched by the U.S.-led coalition forces against the Taliban regime on charges of providing shelter to the then leader of the al-Qaida network Osama Bin Laden in October 2001, has claimed thousands of lives including Afghan civilians, security forces and the multi-national troops stationed in Afghanistan. "The U.S.-led war on terror in Afghanistan has yet to deliver," observed the analyst. "Failure in the war on terror has paved the way for the Islamic State terrorist group to emerge and kill Afghans. Afghans will continue to suffer at the hands of terrorists in the years ahead," Omarkhil predicted. Corroborating the notion, a former Afghan diplomat and prominent analyst, Ahmad Sayedi, said that President Trump in his speech clearly indicated that he wants everything for his country, the United States, and cautioned the government to be vigilant and do its best to stand on its own feet. "With a backdrop of failure in the war on terror over the past 15 years, Afghanistan will likely continue to remain a challenge for the U.S. administration in the years ahead," the political expert observed. Afghan newspapers in their editorials have also warned the Trump administration that leaving Afghanistan in the lurch would eventually pave the way for terrorist outfits to regroup and destabilize the region and the world at large. Hi, here's what you need to know about China. BEIJING -- China is to host a United Nations meeting on fighting desertification in September, an official said Sunday. About 1,400 delegates from 195 parties to a UN special convention on desertification will gather in Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, from early to mid-September, said Zhang Yongli, deputy head of the State Forestry Administration, at a press conference. xhne.ws/d56xZ ---- BEIJING -- China's central bank injected 1.19 trillion yuan (around 170 billion U.S. dollars) this week to maintain market liquidity before the Lunar New Year holiday when demand for funds surges. The weekly injection through regular open market operations of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) was the largest in record. xhne.ws/ZJQtE ---- WELLINGTON -- New Zealand is working on a "Plan B" to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal and China's involvement is possible, Prime Minister Bill English said Monday. United States President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the still-unratified TPP would not necessarily stop the other 11 nations working on a modified version of the deal, English told Radio New Zealand. xhne.ws/LZESK ---- SHANGHAI -- Shanghai police have detained 83 people, who illegally earned 6 million yuan (873,000 U.S. dollars), in connection with the fake auctioning and unlicensed authentication of antiques. A gang led by a man surnamed Xiao charged antique holders high commissions by faking auctions, with the clients later told their collections were unsold, a police officer with Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau said Sunday. xhne.ws/7fdlq ---- BRUSSELS -- Richard Fournaux, Belgium's mayor of Dinant, a city 90 km to the south of the capital Brussels, spoke highly of China's opening-up policy and congratulated China on its efforts made in dealing with environmental challenges. "It's so exceptional to see how such a large country with a large population has been managed with so many success, by not only keeping your own political characteristics but also by turning your country toward modernity and the opening to the world," Fournaux told Xinhua in an interview on Friday. xhne.ws/qGvj9 File photo shows Nigerian students preparing to perform at a gala at the Confucius Institute in University of Lagos, Nigeria.(Xinhua/Zhang Weiyi) ABUJA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari has extended his "warmest greetings" to China, the Chinese community in Nigeria and the world over on the annual Spring Festival or Chinese lunar new year. Buhari, who noted the Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese, said the celebration emphasizes the concept of family and the opportunity of reunion, one he considered a shared value between his country and China. "It is an occasion of family reunion. Families will be coming together, often traveling many miles to revive great family values, reflect on the blessings of the past year and look forward with hope to the New Year," Buhari wrote in a statement released by his office on Sunday, adding he hoped the celebrations will be "undoubtedly fantastic." The "Year of Rooster", the theme of 2017 Chinese lunar year, will commence on Jan. 28. File photo shows teachers and students at a gala at the Confucius Institute in University of Lagos, Nigeria.(Xinhua/Zhang Weiyi) Going down the memory lane, China has made noteworthy achievements in the social and economic circles, the Nigerian leader said, pointing out that the East Asian nation has made simultaneous progress also in political, cultural and bioenvironmental areas, and has achieved average yearly economic growth far above the world's average, as well as taking the second place in the world's GDP ranking. Buhari expressed optimism in the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China, noting the two countries had reached a consensus to give full play to corresponding development strategies, strong economic complementarity, and enormous cooperative potential. China and Nigeria established diplomatic relations 46 years ago. Artists from China and Benin sing during the eighth edition of Benin's celebration of the Chinese New Year in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 21, 2017. Chinese artists highlighted their performance with Chinese music, choreography and acrobatics as the west African country is organizing celebrations for the eighth time for the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Seraphin Zounyekpe) COTONOU, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- An art troupe from China's northwestern Gansu province elevated celebratory activities for the Rooster New Year in Benin's economic capital Cotonou. Chinese artists highlighted their performance with Chinese music, choreography and acrobatics as the west African country is organizing celebrations for the eighth time for the Chinese New Year. Hundreds of spectators, including the Chinese community, Beninese citizens and foreign diplomats, watched the show in the Palais des Congres of Cotonou. Wei Jun, cultural counselor to the China Embassy, said the performance of the Chinese art troupe is part of efforts to revitalize the cultural cooperation between China and Benin. He said it is an excellent example of cultural values being shared for mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the peoples of the two countries. An art troupe from China's northwestern Gansu Province performs during the eighth edition of Benin's celebration of the Chinese New Year in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 21, 2017. Chinese artists highlighted their performance with Chinese music, choreography and acrobatics as the west African country is organizing celebrations for the eighth time for the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Guo Mingtao) According to Ange N'koue, Benin's Minister of Culture and Tourism, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries has reinforced a win-win partnership. "In that momentum, Benin always learns from the very important artistic and cultural heritage of the great China that has a quite impressive experience in cultural heritage management," he said. Paul Dossa, Beninese cultural operator, said he appreciated the whole cultural evening with the Chinese art troupe. "We greatly appreciated this cultural show that enabled, during at least two hours, the immersion of Cotonou people in the Chinese culture," Dossa told Xinhua. "This cultural evening gave us an opportunity to discover part of the Chinese culture and to get closer to Chinese people," he added. HANOI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) planned to put into operation 63 projects worth over 21.2 trillion Vietnamese dong (934.43 million U.S. dollars) in 2017. The key power transmission projects include a 500kV line, two 220kV lines, a 500kV transformer station, and transmission lines connecting with the country's northern Thai Binh thermal power plant, the state-run news agency VNA quoted the corporation as saying on Monday. In addition, several major upgrade projects to ensure power supply for capital Hanoi, southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City, as well as key economic zones in the north and the south are also expected to be completed, said the EVNNPT. JINAN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Su Rong, former vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for taking bribes, by a court in east China's Shandong Province. He was deprived of his political rights for life, and all his personal property was confiscated, according to the verdict of Jinan Intermediate People's Court. Su took advantage of various official positions to offer business favors and promotions, accepting bribes worth over 116 million yuan (about 17 million U.S. dollars) either personally or through others from 2002 to 2014, the verdict said. His abuses resulted in great losses of public property, and damaged the interests of the state and the people. He also held a large amount of property from unidentified sources. Su's property and expenditure exceeded his legal income and he could not explain how he obtained assets worth more than 80 million yuan. Su said he will not appeal. SURKH ROD, Afghanistan, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The chairman of Afghan High Peace Council was buried after a funeral ceremony held here and attended by relatives and high-ranking officials on Monday. Pir Sayed Ahmad Gailani died from an illness at a hospital in Kabul on Saturday at the age of 85. Gailani was buried in his home town, Surkh Rod district of eastern Nangarhar province. Earlier on Monday, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani paid homage for the late Gailani during a service held in the country's Presidential Palace. Gailani was also the leader of Mahaz-i-Milli Islami Party, a mujahidin faction, which fought against the troops of former Soviet Union in 1980s. The Afghan government set up the 70-member High Peace Council and launched the peace and reconciliation process in 2010 to encourage Taliban to disarm and give up militancy against the government. Since mid-2010, more than 10,000 Taliban militants have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process, according to HPC officials, but the claim has been rejected by the armed outfit. Gailani's predecessor and former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani was killed in a suicide bomb attack in 2011 in Kabul. TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The inter-Syria meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan would help maintain truce and pave the way to find a political solution for Syria crisis, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Monday. Reinforcing truce is considered as the main topic to be discussed during the two-day meeting in Astana, Qasemi said in his weekly press briefing. The meeting would also serve as a means to facilitate the dispatch of humanitarian aid to the Arab country, he said. The talks are the result of a Russian-Turkish initiative which excluded terror-designated groups such as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State group. LUSAKA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Two people have died in western Zambia after consuming anthrax-infected meat while the number of people affected has increased to 67, state media reported on Monday. Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said two people have died while 67 were currently receiving treatment from the time the disease broke out in November 2016. The 67 people were receiving treatment as of January 17, 2017 after consuming he contaminated meat, according to state broadcaster the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. The official, who was speaking after touring the affected areas, added that efforts to contain the outbreak were being hampered by hunger. The government has since warned residents in the province to desist from consuming meat from cattle that died from suspected anthrax. Anthrax broke out in November last year in six districts in the province. So far 69 cattle are suspected to have died while 46,000 other animals are at risk. The official said his ministry has since partnered with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to tackle the anthrax outbreak. DHAKA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's apex court has ordered a government owned telecoms company to give 10,000 U.S. dollars in compensation to a Turkish firm. A three-member bench of the Appellate Division of Bangladesh's Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha Monday passed the order following a writ petition filed by the Turkish firm Netas Telekomunikasyon. Bangladesh's High Court earlier on Dec. 12 last year declared the contract between the government owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL) and another state-owned Telephone Shilpa Sangstha Ltd (TSS) illegal. BTCL on Apr. 27, 2016 floated an international tender when three companies including Netas Telekomunikasyon submitted proposals. The tender evaluation committee reportedly later found the Turkish firm fit for the work and recommended the company to the BTCL for issuing a work order in favor of the Turkish firm for installation of transmission systems for the country's second submarine cable. But the BTCL cancelled the tender and signed a deal with state-run TSS, which teamed up with an Indian firm to supply and install the equipment of 100 Gbps bandwidth transmission from capital Dhaka to Patuakhali district, some 204 km south of the capital city. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-five garment factory workers got injured after their truck flipped onto its side in western Cambodia's Kampong Speu province on Monday morning, said a Labor Ministry statement. The speedy truck carrying workers to their factory overturned when the driver attempted to overtake another car in a dangerous situation, the statement said. "Six workers were seriously injured and 19 others sustained minor injuries in the crash," it said. The statement added that the injured had been rushed to hospitals for treatment and the National Social Security Fund would cover for their medical expenses. Transporting factory workers in open trucks to and from factories is common in this Southeast Asian country. Late last month, one garment factory worker was killed and 13 others got wounded when their truck collided with a lorry in southwestern Preah Sihanouk province. The country's 6.9-billion-U.S.-dollar garment industry is comprised of approximately 1,000 factories, employing some 690,000 workers, mostly women. KIGALI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Rwandan Police said Monday they have intercepted 12 Burundian nationals on suspicion that they were being taken to Middle East countries in a human trafficking scheme. The Burundians were intercepted earlier this month at the Rwanda-Burundi border of Akanyaru on their way through Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, Police said. According to the Deputy Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Lynder Nkuranga, the Burundians including 11 women were destined to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Police said three suspects including one Burundian and two Kenyans were arrested in connection with the scheme. Speaking from Rwanda Police headquarters on Monday, the victims claimed the suspects had promised them good jobs. Police said arrangements were underway to repatriate the victims. Last August the Rwandan police sent 12 Burundian women back home after it was revealed that they were on their way to Arab countries as victims of human trafficking. The 2016 U.S. State Department's report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) said Rwanda was a source, and to a lesser degree, a transit and destination country for a limited number of women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. But the Rwandan government dismissed the report as a gross misrepresentation of the reality. Chief Superintendent Nkuranga Monday reaffirmed her country's commitment to fight human trafficking. JAKARTA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian police have been investigating the linkage of 17 Indonesian nationals, who were deported from Turkey for planning to go to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, police disclosed here on Monday. The 17 persons were deported to Indonesia by Turkish authorities after they were caught trying to enter Syria through that country's border with Turkey, said Inspector General Boy Rafly Amar, national police spokesman. "The police are investigating their activities there. We will find out (whether they have involved IS activities) within the next two or three days," Amar said at the national police headquarters. The 17 people, including a two-year old girl and a three year-old boy, were arrested when they arrived at Soekarno Hatta main airport in Jakarta on Saturday, and handed over to the police's anti-terror unit. Indonesian security authorities have been monitoring dozens of citizens returned home from Syria for joining the IS activities. The anti-terror squad has foiled scores of terrorist plots, including a major suicide bombing. On January, 24, 2016, eight people were killed and nearly 30 others injured after suicide bombings hit a police station and a western-style coffee shop Starbucks, at the hearth of Jakarta, the first attack claimed by the IS in the Southeast Asia. BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has published guidelines for industries that create new materials, such as graphene, seeking to improve innovation, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Monday. The guidelines said that China aimed for the stable supply of advanced basic materials by 2020, to provide 70 percent of critical and strategic new materials the country needs, while making technological breakthroughs in frontier materials, such as graphene and nanophase materials. "The new material industry is strategic and fundamental for the national economy. China should make great efforts to improve new materials to shore up industrial development in the critical period of becoming a world manufacturing power," said MIIT Minister Miao Wei. The output value of China's new material industry has more than tripled in five years to nearly 2 trillion yuan (292 billion U.S. dollars) as of 2015, official data shows. The guidelines were jointly composed by the MIIT, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance. YANGON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi held talks with the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) of armed groups in Nay Pyi Taw Monday with the two sides pledging to strive for achieving a firm result in the upcoming 21st Century Second Panglong Conference. The discussions also covered the current conflicts in northern Shan state, the impact on the peace process, domestic and international aid for the development of the ceasefired areas in the state and efforts in bringing in the non-ceasefired groups to the Nationwide Cease fire Agreement (NCA). The meeting took place at the National Reconciliation and Peace Center in the capital. On the same day, Commander-in Chief of the Defense Services Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing also met with the PPST as a follow-up. Myanmar government and eight armed groups initiated the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015. Meanwhile, Myanmar began holding the first national first region-oriented national political dialogues separately in three areas of Tanintharyi region, southernmost of the country, early this month. The race-oriented political dialogue also started last Wednesday between the government, armed groups and political parties in Hpa-An, the country's southeastern Kayin state. The dialogue involving Kayin National Union (KNU), KNU/KNLA (Peace Council) and Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA). The dialogue for the whole region will be finalized on Jan. 25. The subject-oriented political dialogue will follow in Nay Pyi Taw Council area. The outcome of all regional dialogues will be submitted to the Second Panglong Peace Conference in February in accordance with NCA. by Peter Mutai NAIROBI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya said Monday it is confident that its Foreign Affairs Minister Amina Mohamed will win the position of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson during next week's AU summit in Ethiopia. Fred Matiangi, chair of the team campaigning for Mohamed's AUC stewardship, said her nomination has been welcomed by 51 countries including members of the East African Community (EAC) and Common Market Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which formally endorsed the candidate. "Our special envoys are visiting Benin and Guinea Bissau, the only remaining countries this week to ensure that the whole 53 countries vote for Kenya's candidate," Matiangi told journalists in Nairobi. Matiangi termed Mohamed, who has served in various positions within Kenya and globally, a respected international leader, who has negotiated improved trade agreements and understands the good governance. He said that Mohamed will be instrumental in driving the implementation of AU's vision 2063 since she has strong credentials given her previous service to the country. "It is now time for Kenya to make a contribution in making Africa a better prosperous continent," he added. Mohamed is contesting to replace the outgoing AUC Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa, whose terms comes to an end next week. Dlamini-Zuma, who has been the AUC chairperson since 2012, did not apply for a second term during the earlier nomination process. Other aspiring candidates include Guinea's Foreign Minister Agapito Mba Mokuy, Chad's Moussa Faki Mahamat, Senegal's Professor Abdoulaye Bathily and Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi from Botswana. During the July 2016 Kigali summit in Kigali, Rwanda, elections were held with three contestants: Venson-Moitoi, Mokuy and Dr. Specioza Kazibwe, Uganda's frmer vice-President. None of them failed to garner two-thirds of the vote and 30 countries abstained from voting hence allowing the reopening for the process afresh. The window allowed the entry of Mahamat of Chad, Bathily, the UN Special Representative from Senegal and Kenya's Mohamed. Uganda's candidate bowed out from the race. According to the common practice, the key posts of the AU Chairperson, AUC Chairperson and the deputy and that of peace and Security Council cannot come from the same region. The elections are due to be held next Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the 28th Summit whose theme is "Harnessing the demographic dividend through investment in youth." BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Following the end of the one-child policy, allowing all couples to have two children, China is keen to encourage more parents to have two children. According to a document released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) Sunday, 18.46 million babies were born in Chinese hospitals last year, the highest since 2000 and 1.31 million more than 2015. In the first year since the end of the one-child policy, more than 45 percent of newborns were not the first child. This is a 10 percent increase from 2013, when an easing of the policy allowed couples to have a second child if either parent was an only child. However, as far as Huang Wenzheng, a demographer, is concerned, the rise in the newborns after China's shift to the two-child policy was not satisfactory. "People's interest in expanding their family has waned." According to a survey by the NHFPC, the majority of families expressed no desire to have a second child due to financial and childcare concerns. The survey showed that spending on children, accounts for nearly a half of the average total income of a Chinese household. Only four percent of babies under three in China were born in specialized institutions, compared with 50 percent in developed countries, the survey noted, adding that rising housing price and employment discrimination against women due to maternity leave were also influential. To increase the fertility rate in China, the government should rolled out supporting measures to ensure that people can afford to raise more children, said Lu Jiehua, a sociologist with Peking University. The central government has already made efforts to better allocate public resources to address Chinese couples' concerns. More than 40 departments are improving policies in fields including health care, education, social security and taxation, upgrading maternity and child medical services as well as child care services, and formulating polices securing jobs and maternity leave for women, according to Yang Wenzhuang from the NHFPC, "It will take five to 10 years before the results yielded by the policies show, and that's why we lost no time in making and implementing the policies," said Yang. Despite the fact that the number of women of childbearing age is expected to fall by five million every year from 2016 to 2020, the health authority estimates that the newborn population during the period will range between 17 million to 20 million. Facing an upcoming second-child boom, Yuan Xin, a professor on demography with Tianjin's Nankai University, called for operable measures to improve services, such as setting up breastfeeding rooms at public places. Other suggestions included more resources being allocated to regions with greater need. According to the NHFPC, Guangdong, Shandong, Henan and Hebei provinces with large populations, saw the most newborns. A total of 6.23 million new babies were born in the four provinces, accounting for nearly 34 percent of the country's whole newborn population. To support the two-child policy, China has promised to provide 89,000 more maternity beds as well as 140,000 more obstetricians and midwives by 2020. More emergency centers for maternal and pediatric treatment will be set up nationwide by the end of this year. STOCKHOLM, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) --- The computerized journal system used at all maternity wards in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, suffered severe disruptions over the weekend and was still affecting the wards on Monday. The disruptions put both mothers and infants at risk. Sodersjukhuset in Stockholm was among the affected hospitals. Its head of operations and chief physician, Sari Ponzar, told newspaper Aftonbladet: "This is really not good. Both the hospital and the IT department are working on resolving the issue... The operations at the hospital are reliant on a functioning journal system but for now we are using paper instead and there are routines in place for dealing with this kind of situation." It is through the digital journal system called Obstretrix that information about pregnant women and their babies is transferred from the maternity ward to the delivery unit. The disruptions to the system began late Saturday night and seemed to be resolved by Sunday. However, the system then crashed again on Sunday evening and the break-down was still affecting maternity wards on Monday. JAKARTA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian national police has been investigating the validity of information that personnel of peace keeping force from Indonesia have allegedly tried to smuggle weapon to Sudan, police spokesman said here on Monday. "We are deepening the case. We are checking the validity of the information," Brig. General Rikwanto, a spokesman of the national police said at the police headquarters. According to reports, personnel from Indonesia grouped in the United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) were detained on Jan. 20 in Al Fashir airport in Darfur for allegedly smuggling weapons. Arrmanatha Nasir, spokesman of Indonesian foreign ministry rebuffed the accusation, saying that the weapons to be smuggled were not owned by Indonesian police personnel. Legal assistance would be given to the Indonesian personnel, he said. ISLAMABAD, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB), signing an agreement with the Pakistani Economic Affairs Division, is to provide about 196.9 million U.S. dollars to the country for rehabilitation of roads, according to a local report on Monday. The agreement for Post-Flood National Highways Rehabilitation Project was signed by Tariq Bajwa, secretary of the Economic Affairs Division, and Werner Liepach, ADB country director, in Islamabad, said the Radio Pakistan. The project will contribute to the economic recovery of flood-affected areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh provinces, aiming at restoring critical physical infrastructure to sustain livelihoods and accessing to markets as well as building post-disaster traffic management capacity of the National Highway Authority (NHA). Under this project, the NHA will rehabilitate 212-km long roads and 33 bridges of the national highways network. The project will be completed in three years. The total cost of the project is around 218.8 million dollars, said the report. LUSAKA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Police officers in Zambia have been banned from marrying foreigners, a police spokesperson confirmed on Monday. The head of the Zambia Police Kakoma Kanganja has issued a memo advising officers against marrying foreigners "with immediate effect." According to the memo, the police chief has advised officers who are already married to foreigners to declare their foreign spouses to his office within one week. Failure to declare any foreigner spouse will attract disciplinary action. Esther Katongo, the police spokesperson, has since defended the decision which has already received a backlash as constitutional. According to Katongo, the Zambia Police Act 103 Section 3 and 5 covers the standing orders on marriages. "Issues of security are delicate. If not careful, spouses can be spies and can sell the security of the country," she said. She added that the law has always been there and that the police command has decided to enforce it because officers were ignoring it. SHENZHEN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The GDP in south China's Shenzhen hit 1.95 trillion yuan (284 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016, up 9 percent year on year, according to the municipal statistics bureau Monday. The volume, bigger than that of some provinces, such as Shaanxi in northwest China, continues to rank fourth, after Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, among mainland cities. "The 'new normal' for Shenzhen's economy has clearly featured innovation, quality and stable rates," said Yang Xinhong, director of the Shenzhen Municipal Statistics Bureau. Shenzhen, home to the headquarters of technology giants such as Huawei and Tencent, has developed from a small fishing village into a metropolis, thanks to China's reform and opening up over 30-plus years. It has a population of nearly 12 million. TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran welcomes Russia's participation in its gas pipeline project which is planned to transfer the country's natural gas to Europe, an Iranian deputy oil minister said on Monday, according to Press TV. "We are welcoming Russians' participation in the project to build Iran's IGAT-9 with 2.5 billion U.S. dollars of investment," Deputy Minister of Petroleum Hamid Reza Araqi said. "Russians can participate in the construction of this pipeline, but Iran's priority is to hold international tenders for the project," he said. IGAT-9 is an Iranian pipeline with 35-billion cubic meter capacity per year that Iran plans to send gas from its South Pars field to Europe via Turkey. Over the past year, Iran has raised gas production to about 700 million cubic meters per day, Araqi said, adding that this capacity is expected to exceed one billion cubic meters next year when new South Pars phases become operational. "In tandem with the rise in production capacity, the country's capacity for storage and transportation of gas must also increase," he said. The South Pars/North Dome field is a natural gas condensate field located in the Persian Gulf. It is the world's largest gas field, shared between Iran and Qatar. According to the International Energy Agency, the field holds an estimated 1,800 trillion cubic feet (51 trillion cubic meters) of in-situ natural gas and some 50 billion barrels of natural gas condensate. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said on Monday that 2016 was a "highly fruitful year" for China-Cambodia relations and cooperation thanks to the exchange of visits by the top leaders of the two countries. Xiong said at a reception celebrating the Chinese New Year here that the mutual visits of the top leaders had elevated the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new high. He said the relationship between the two countries was based on mutual respect and mutual support for each other's core interests. The ambassador added that the excellent relationship between China and Cambodia had also contributed to upholding peace and stability in the region. Looking forward to 2017, he was strongly confident that the Sino-Cambodian relations and cooperation would be further deepened in all fields for the greater interests of the peoples of the two countries. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (R, front) meets with a Philippine cabinet delegation led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez (L, front) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China and the Philippines have confirmed cooperation programs worth 3.7 billion U.S. dollars, during a meeting held in Beijing, a senior Chinese official said Monday. "The cooperation projects, which are the first batch, on improving people's living standards now only need a series of bank-related procedures," said Gao Hucheng, China's commerce minister, after a meeting between the Philippine cabinet delegation and Chinese officials. The meeting was held to implement the results and consensus agreed by the two countries' leaders in October 2016. The Philippine delegation are on a two-day visit to China, which started Monday. Gao said earlier Monday that the two sides had basically reached agreement about the implementing process and rules, and that he expected the two sides to sign the agreement before the delegation left Beijing. Gao said the document would help ensure smooth, efficient, fair and transparent cooperation between the two countries in the fields of infrastructure, transport, highways, telecommunications, railways, irrigation and living standards. He said that the six-year development plan for the two countries was nearly finalized, adding that he expected it to be signed next month in Manila. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang met with the delegation led by Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez on Monday. Wang said that China and the Philippines were friendly neighbors with great room and potential for economic and trade cooperation, urging the two sides to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders. The vice premier also called for accelerating the drafting of a bilateral economic and trade cooperation plan and earnest efforts to implement priority cooperation programs. TOKYO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said Monday delivery to its customers of Japan's first locally made passenger jet would be delayed for a fifth time by two years until at least the middle of 2020 owing to price hikes and safety issues. According to Mitsubishi Chief Executive Officer, Shunichi Miyanaga, development costs for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) would likely increase by around 100 billion yen (880 million U.S. dollars) from the current projection, to 400-500 billion yen (3.5 billion U.S. dollars to 4.4 billion U.S. dollars). The company's Chief Financial Officer Masanori Koguchi had previously said in June that the jet's development costs had already tripled to around 600 billion yen (5.2 billion U.S. dollars) from first estimates, but no fixed information as yet has emerged about the exact cause of the ever-increasing costs. The latest delay is "due to revisions of certain systems and electrical configurations on the aircraft to meet the latest requirements for certification," the Tokyo-based maker said in a statement. "Before we started, we should have studied the difficulties of development," Miyanaga told a press conference, admitting that his company had been overly-optimistic about its ability to become the first fully-domestic-made passenger jet in Japan. Three MRJ planes have been flown to the U.S. for testing since last year, however, and despite the setbacks the company still seems confident that with its innovative design, including the jet's narrow fuselage and fuel-efficient engines, it will still be able to compete in its niche market, despite the delays. It said that it has sold 447 of its jets, although half of these orders carry cancellation clauses that could come into play if there are further delays or cost hikes. The MRJ, developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., is the first domestically produced airliner since Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corp.'s YS-11 turboprop planes went out of operation here in 1974. The MRJ's are suppose to tap into the market for passenger jets with less than 100 seats, with the MRJ taking aim at the likes of Brazil's Embraer SA and Canada's Bombardier Inc. who both hold sway in their respective markets. ANA Holdings Inc., one of the MRJ's first customers, has been told it will receive its order for the jet two years later than expected in 2020. "We're explaining everything in detail to our stakeholders," Miyanaga said. "We're facing the risks and taking a forward-looking attitude." ANA, for its part, said that the MRJ's will support the carrier's fleet. "We remain confident of the benefits the MRJ will bring to the ANA fleet in terms of performance and passenger comfort," ANA said in a statement on the matter. BAGHDAD, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday ordered an investigation into allegations of violations of human rights reportedly committed by government troops and allied paramilitary units in the offensive to recapture Mosul from extremist militants of Islamic State (IS) group. A statement by Abadi's office said the prime minister "ordered to form a committee to investigate cases of kidnappings, mistreatment and violations in some areas in Nineveh province against civilians by groups exploiting the name of the security forces and Hashd Shaabi (Shiite and Sunni paramilitary units)." The statement also said that some people record the abuses and then posted on social media to "spoil the joy of victory and to defame the real image of the brave security forces and their sacrifices to liberate the land and to maintain security." Abadi's statement came two days after the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) called in a statement on the Iraqi government to investigate into a video circulated on social media purportedly showing brutal mistreatment and murder of at least three suspected IS militants captured by the security forces in the newly-freed area in eastern side of Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. UNAMI statement said the abuses were carried out "at the hands of what appears to be Iraqi security forces personnel." The investigation came as the Iraqi security forces backed by anti-IS coalition are carrying out a major offensive to drive out the IS militants from its last major stronghold in and around Mosul in northern Iraq. Mosul, 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their posts and fled, enabling IS militants to gain control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions. MOSCOW, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers of Russia have successfully destroyed Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria as intra-Syrian talks are underway in the Kazakh capital city of Astana, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday. The aircraft took off from Russia and flew over Iraq and Iran before dropping bombs on IS command posts and ammunition depots near the Deir Ezzor settlement. Covered by Su-30SM and Su-35S from the Hmeimim airfield in Syria, the six bombers have destroyed all the intended targets and returned to Russia, the ministry said. Last week, Russia and Turkey carried out their first-ever joint air operation against IS militants in Syria's northern Aleppo province, destroying 36 facilities. Russia and Turkey brokered a nationwide truce in war-torn Syria from Dec. 30 and they also serve, together with Iran, as guarantors for the two-day Astana peace talks that kicked off on Monday. The cease-fire excluded IS and other terrorist groups. Violations of the truce were recorded nearly every day. Conditions should be created to ensure a real dialogue between all responsible sides during the Astana talks, Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff, said last week following the Russia-Turkey joint air strike. DUBAI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) said on Monday in a statement it deposited 1.47 billion dirham (400.54 million U.S. dollars) into the Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) "to secure increased liquidity and stimulate economic growth in Sudan." Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, signed an agreement on the capital injection with Hazim Abdegadir Ahmed Babiker, Governor of the CBOS. Al-Suwaidi said the agreement will "enhance mutual collaboration and underpin the Sudanese government's efforts to overcome economic challenges." "Over the past few decades, the UAE has proactively supported the long-term socio-economic development efforts of the Sudanese government," he added. Hazim Babiker expressed his "deepest appreciation" for the UAE's leadership, commending the UAE government on its "invaluable assistance in overcoming Sudan's financial and economic challenges." In October 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Sudan's GDP growth fell last year to 3.1 percent, down from 4.9 percent in 2015, mainly due to the oil price slump and political turmoil in neighboring countries like Libya. The IMF expects the GDP growth to pick up slightly to 3.5 percent in 2017 in Sudan. The ADFD, owned by the Abu Dhabi government and established in 1971, has so far financed 488 projects in 83 countries. BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday said that it was sincere about improving relations with the Vatican and had made relentless efforts to do so. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily briefing, when commenting on Pope Francis' recent remarks concerning China in an interview with Spanish media. Hua said that the current contact channel between the two sides was effective. She added that China would like to work with the Vatican for constructive dialogue, meet each other half way, and strive for the continuous development of bilateral relations. BUJUMBURA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Burundi on Monday launched an operation to release 2,500 inmates, including political prisoners, following a presidential pardon. Burundian Justice Minister Aimee Laurentine Kanyana launched the operation at Mpimba prison in the East African country's capital Bujumbura. The operation followed the pardon announced by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza in his New Year message to the nation. "The presidential pardon targets 2,500 inmates detained in all prisons countrywide. But this pardon is special as it also targets political prisoners," Kanyana said. The minister said 58 people from the opposition Movement for Solidarity and Democracy (MSD) have been pardoned. The pardon also targets insurgents who participated in the protests against the candidature of Nkurunziza in April 2015, she said. According to her, over 300 inmates were released at Mpimba prison during the launch of the operation. The operation targets about 600 inmates at Mpimba prison alone. She indicated that the operation will continue at other prisons. The presidential pardon targets inmates whose jail sentences were less than five years or who have already spent three fourths of their jail terms or have behaved well behind bars. Enditem GUANGZHOU, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Internet supervisors in south China's Guangdong Province said Monday that more than 5,500 illegal apps had been taken offline. More than 1,600 mobile video apps disseminating pornographic and violent content were closed, according to the Guangdong provincial cyberspace administration. Over 1,200 social apps had pornographic content. Other apps were found to hack users' private information, infringe upon others' right and maliciously incur fees. The administration said the illegal apps had been available on app stores operated by Tencent, China Mobile and other smartphone producers such as Huawei, ZTE, Coolpad, Meizu, OPPO and VIVO. The apps violated cyber laws and regulations in China, the administration said. It promised to step up supervision and enforcement of laws and maintain a healthy online environment. GENEVA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Totally 27,207 people sought asylum in Switzerland in 2016, down from 39,523 two years ago, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) reported Monday. Representing a 31.2 percent drop from 2015, SEM explained that these numbers, which remain relatively high, are a result of protracted crises affecting Middle Eastern countries such as Syria and Iraq as well as a number of African states. Last year saw 5,178 Eritrean nationals seek asylum in the confederation, a decrease of 4,788 asylum requests from two years ago. Afghan asylum requests came in second with 3,229 applications registered by authorities, followed by Syrians (2,144), Somalians (1,581), Sri Lankans (1,373) and Iraqis (1,312). The secretariat indicated in a statement that the influx of people escaping wars and seeking refuge in the confederation was likely to continue this year. SEM estimated that a further 24,500 individuals are expected to seek asylum in Switzerland over the course of 2017. NAIROBI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The East African Community (EAC) is holding talks on expanding the one area mobile network to cover all member states, an official said Monday. Francis Wangusi, Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya, told a regional internet forum in Nairobi that currently only Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan are members of the single mobile area network. "We are currently in talks so that Tanzania and Burundi can also join the one area mobile network where all calls amongst countries will be treated as domestic calls," Wangusi said. Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan have formed a one-area network under the Northern Transport Corridor Network. When fully implemented, the network will reduce the cost of making calls across the trading bloc. "The direct result is that volume of inter-country calls will increase and this will help to promote EAC regional integration efforts," Wangusi said. He said that in order for the six-member EAC bloc to have a single network, some hurdles need to be overcome, including changing telecom legislations of Tanzania and Burundi. He however said Tanzania and Burundi were ready to amend their legislations in order to join the network due to the numerous benefits its citizens they will receive. "It will reduce the cost of mobile communication across the EAC which will in turn spur more cross-border trade," he added. Enditem JERUSALEM, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Supreme Court Monday froze a deal to relocate a hardline Jewish outpost in the West Bank after the Palestinian owners of the land asked the court to cancel the deal. The government and the settlers of Amona, an unauthorized outpost, reached a deal to remove some 40 families from Amona, which was built on private Palestinian land, to nearby plots. On Monday, the Palestinian landowners of the new plots petitioned to the Court, which later issued an interim injunction order, forbidding the government to use the plots. The relocation deal, reached in December, was aimed to achieve a peaceful evacuation of the outpost. The settlers first agreed to the relocation, but in the recent days, they said the government has not lived up to its promises. Both the petition and the settlers' discontent raised again fears of forced evacuation and clashes between the settlers and the police. Neta Patrick, executive director of the Israeli human rights group of Yesh Din, which petitioned the court on behalf of the Palestinian landowners, said that ever since the notion of using Palestinian property to solve the Amona crisis, "we have claimed that one injustice cannot be corrected with another." "We are determined to support the landowners in their struggle for their right to property by using all available legal means," she added in a statement. Amona, located east of the city of Ramallah, is the largest among the so-called "illegal outposts," communities built by far-right Israelis without permits from the government. There are about 100 unauthorized outposts and 120 settlements that Israel considered as legal. Both outposts and settlements are illegal under international law as they were built on lands occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War. ASTANA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The representatives of the Syrian opposition, who were gathering here for peace talks on Syria, can't be considered legitimate, the Syrian government delegation said on Monday. "The opposition, represented at the peace talks in Astana, acts in contrary to formerly achieved agreements," said Bashar al-Ja'afari, head of the Syrian government delegation. The Syrian opposition protected and supported terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra, which once seized the drinking water source for Damascus and cut off the drinking water supply for millions of people, al-Ja'afari told reporters at a break time of the talks. "The representatives of the opposition are discussing a military operation conducted by Syrian army against terrorists who seized drinking water source for Damascus. Meanwhile, we are discussing about 7 million people, who don't have access to drinking water for 42 days," he said. Jabhat al-Nusra hasn't joined the peace agreement, he emphasized, but the opposition didn't consider the group as a terrorist organization. "How can you defend those who are not part of the agreement? So, you defend terrorists, people who use water as a weapon. In addition, this group is included in the list of terrorist groups defined by the U.N. You can not protect terrorists and condemn the actions of the Syrian army," Ja'afari said. He also accused the opposition of misinterpreting the idea of cease-fire. Mohammed Alloush, chief of the opposition delegation, said that the presence of Iranian-sponsored groups fighting in Syria isn't acceptable and makes it difficult to achieve any cease-fire in the country, according to the website of moderate opposition Free Syrian Army. He stressed that the opposition is going to conduct peace talks only after a complete cease-fire. Peace talks on Syria kicked off on Monday in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. Delegations of the Syrian government and opposition, Russia, Turkey and Special Representative of the United Nations Staffan de Mistura were taking part in the talks. U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol was invited to the Astana peace talks as an observer as well. NEW DELHI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu Monday passed a new bill to revive controversial bullfighting sport - Jallikattu. The bill was unanimously passed by legislators in the state's lawmaking body, thereby replacing an ordinance passed last week to resume the sport. "Chief Minister O Panneerselvam tabled the bill Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017 after which opposition leaders spoke in its support before its passage unanimously this evening," an official in Chennai said. For become law, the bill passed by the legislators must be signed by Tamil Nadu governor and India's president. The state witnessed massive protests seeking lifting of ban on Jallikattu. The protests turned violent on Monday morning after police tried to remove the protesters who had gathered on Marina beach in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu for the past six days. The protesters demand an everlasting order for Jallikattu. Policemen resorted to baton charging and used teargas to chase the protesters. The infuriated protesters set several vehicles on fire and clashed with police at several places near a police station in Triplicane. On Sunday two people were gored to death and dozens injured after Jallikattu resumes in the state after local and India's federal government passed an executive order regarding its resumption. The ordinance passed last week invalidated the ban on Jallikattu by India's Supreme Court in 2014. Animal rights activists seeking prevention of cruelty to animals cited to India's top court that bulls in the sport were "severely harmed" after which the court imposed the ban. 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. The sport was traditionally practiced 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 to death during the sport. Even bulls suffer injures and sometimes get killed in such contests. RAMALLAH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians threatened on Monday to take counter steps if the United States moves its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. "If the embassy is moved to Jerusalem, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) won't be able to recognize Jerusalem, including the eastern part of the city as the capital of the state of Israel," said Saeb Erekat, secretary general of PLO's executive committee. "The signed deals will be reconsidered, including the economical, political and security ties with Israel," he added. The veteran Palestinian politician told reporters that the Palestinians would also seek to freeze Israel's membership in the United Nations and a judiciary decision from the International Criminal Court on the crimes Israel had committed in the Palestinian territories. The Palestinians would call for the Arab League and the non-aligned countries to hold emergency meetings for proper measures "against this hostile measure," according to Erekat. "A Palestinian state will be meaningless if east Jerusalem is not its capital," he stressed. Ahmad Majdalani, another senior PLO official, said that moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem "is a breach to the international laws and a violation to all commitments made before the international community." "The breach will be from a country that is a member in the UN Security Council," he added. Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership, including the PLO and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), is working hard with the international community to urge the U.S. not to move the embassy to Jerusalem "because such an act would ignite the entire region." Earlier Monday, Reyad al-Malki, the PNA minister of foreign affairs, told Voice of Palestine Radio that a series of meetings will be held in Europe with various countries, adding that "the whole discussion will focus on the U.S. intentions to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem." On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was in Jordan, stated that he agreed with King Abdulla of Jordan to take practical steps in response to the U.S. intentions. In Gaza and the West Bank, several Palestinian factions and political powers warned that moving the embassy of the United States to Jerusalem "would open the gates of hell in the region." The leaders of these factions stressed that they can't see an independent Palestinian state without Jerusalem as its capital. "We warn of the dangers of moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem," said Abdulatif al-Qanou, spokesman of Islamic Hamas movement, in an emailed press statement, adding that "Hamas considers Jerusalem an occupied city and Hamas will never give up struggling to gain it back." "The American administration is exceeding all the red lines by moving its embassy to occupied Jerusalem," the spokesman said. "Such an action will be a provocation to the Muslims' feelings all over the world and empower the Israeli occupation of the lands of Palestine." On Sunday night, the White House officially announced that it had started an initial discussion of moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, Israel Radio reported. Israeli media said following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation, in which Trump invited Netanyahu to visit Washington in February. Israel insists that Jerusalem is its eternal capital, while the Palestinians say the eastern part of the city, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, is the capital of an independent Palestinian state. Israel still refuses to recognize a Palestinian state built on the territories it occupied in 1967. MARALAL, Kenya, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday announced a raft of new measures enhancing relief efforts to mitigate drought in the country's arid and semi-arid counties. More than 1.5 million Kenyans are said to be in urgent need of food aid amid the persisting drought. Speaking in north Kenya's Maralal, which is among the hard-hit counties, Kenyatta announced a food-for-fees program, under which the government will supply food items to schools that will in turn deduct fees they charge students. "Streamline relief assistance being given by different ministries and let them be distributed through one channel," he said during a meeting with local and senior officials. Kenyatta also announced a new restocking scheme where the state will buy weak livestock from herders and slaughter the animals for the locals to consume. The president said the ongoing food and water relief will also be increased. The ongoing drought started in last February as many farms were preparing for the planting season. Some areas have not seen a single drop of rain for months. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in December warned that Kenya was highly likely to see another dry spell in early 2017 and with it a rise in food insecurity. "Those most at risk are small-scale herders in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), where livestock rearing can account for as much as 90 percent of employment and family income," the FAO said. Enditem TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The ground forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) started military exercises in western Iran on Monday, Tasnim news agency reported. The military drills, code-named Imam Ali, will last four days, with improvement of IRGC's military capabilities and development of new methods of warfare as the main objectives, said Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, the ground forces commander of IRGC. Enhancement of the intelligence and operational preparedness of the IRGC units is another goal of the war game, Pakpour was quoted as saying. The IRGC ground forces are developing the fleet of helicopters and boosting airborne bases across the country, he told Tasnim. Also on Monday, Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, urged the army's ground forces to boost preparedness constantly and keep pace with new military technologies. "The army ground forces need to be fully prepared, increase its defensive capabilities and power and get ready for battle and defending the Islamic country's borders by (matching itself with) new developments in the military sphere," Baqeri said. 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. 23 (Xinhua) -- Six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers of Russia have successfully destroyed Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria as intra-Syrian talks are underway in the Kazakh capital city of Astana, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday. The aircraft took off from Russia and flew over Iraq and Iran before dropping bombs on IS command posts and ammunition depots near the Deir Ezzor settlement. Covered by Su-30SM and Su-35S from the Hmeimim airfield in Syria, the six bombers have destroyed all the intended targets and returned to Russia, the ministry said. Last week, Russia and Turkey carried out their first-ever joint air operation against IS militants in Syria's northern Aleppo province, destroying 36 facilities. Russia and Turkey brokered a nationwide truce in war-torn Syria from Dec. 30 and they also serve, together with Iran, as guarantors for the two-day Astana peace talks that kicked off on Monday. The cease-fire excluded IS and other terrorist groups. Violations of the truce were recorded nearly every day. Conditions should be created to ensure a real dialogue between all responsible sides during the Astana talks, Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff, said last week following the Russia-Turkey joint air strike. LONDON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May has been grilled over an alleged cover-up of a reportedly failed missile test. On Monday, the prime minister confirmed that she had been informed of last year's Trident missile test when she came into office in July 2016. However, on Sunday, the prime minister refused to answer questions over what she knew about the test. Media reports claimed there had been a cover-up of the incident. The Sunday Times had reported that a Trident II D5 missile veered off course after being launched off the coast of the United States in June. The alleged failure happened weeks before the British Parliament voted in favor of the new 40-billion-pound (43 billion U.S. dollar) Trident submarines. Media reports said the vote occurred days after May was sworn in as the new prime minister, but she did not mention the test as she set out the case for renewing the Trident system in a Commons speech. Defense secretary Michael Fallon on Monday told the Commons he had "absolute confidence" in the system but refused to give more details about the failed mission. Members of Parliament of Labour and the Scottish National Party have urged the government to be more transparent on the issue. Shadow defense secretary Nia Griffith said that at the heart of this issue was a worrying lack of transparency and a prime minister who'd chosen to cover up a serious incident, rather than coming clean with the British public. "This House, and more importantly the British public, deserve better," she added. Other opposition members in Parliament urged the government to be frank about the incident. TRIPOLI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Central Bank of Libya has allocated 4.8 billion dinar (3.43 billion U.S. dollars) to face the current economic crisis in the country, said the government's spokesman on Monday. Ashraf Al-Thulthi, spokesman of Libya's UN-backed government of national accord, held a press conference here, saying the government has made efforts to solve the electricity shortage in the country, revealing that the gas supply has been resumed to the power plants. Libya is facing an economic and security crisis, amid political division with three rival governments. The country is also plagued with armed groups and militias. Al-Thulthi said that foreign companies have not returned to Libya to resume the suspended power projects, which further deepened the crisis of electricity. The spokesman called upon Libyans to reduce the consumption of power, which he said would help solve the electricity problem. He also condemned the car bomb explosion that hit central Tripoli on Saturday, which killed two people. TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the Islamic republic seeks to improve relations with Saudi Arabia, Tehran Times reported. Despite Saudi's hostile political approach toward Tehran, Iran does not favor "eternally" troubled relations with the Muslim country, said Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman of Iran's foreign ministry. "We don't intend to have any problem with our neighbors and Saudi Arabia. Nor do we intend to have no relations with them," said Qasemi in his weekly press briefing. "If Saudi Arabia makes serious changes to its behaviors toward Iran, and we perceive it, then it can open the way for other issues," he said. Iran and Saudi Arabia have been locked in bitter controversies over the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Monks from China's Shaolin Temple perform Kungfu on the occasion of celebrating Chinese New Year with Palestinians in West Bank city of Ramallah. (Xinhua/Fadi Arouri) RAMALLAH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- World renowned Shaolin Kung Fu Monk Corps group performed Sunday night in West Bank city of Ramallah on the occasion of celebrating Chinese New Year with Palestinians. In 15 short performances, the group shed light on the traditional Chinese martial arts that reflect discipline, respect and harmony, values that are echoed in the Palestinian society. Deputy Director of the Chinese Office in Palestine Jin Ying said this performance celebrates the joint history between Palestine and China and the brotherly ties shared in the upcoming Spring Festival. "We are very happy to present the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu show from China to Palestine, because this group is one of the highest levels of Chinese Kung Fu, representing Chinese culture and philosophy, which is manifested in peace and harmony," Jin told Xinhua. The performance often triggered loud applause by the audience who were impressed by the abilities of the performers and the authentic Shaolin Kung Fu. Palestinians praised the harmony created in the performance and told Xinhua that they respect the Chinese culture. Haneen Abu Baker, who attended the performance, said that she personally is attracted to the Chinese culture and adopt parts of it in her daily life. "I visited China three years ago and I am one of the fans of the Chinese culture," she said. Shaolin Kung Fu is a complex art taught mainly by oral formulas handed down from generation to generation. In history, recognition of inheritors of Shaolin Kung Fu was based on a patriarchal clan system of Shaolin temple. On Sunday night, the White House officially announced that it had started an initial discussion of moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. (Reuters photo) RAMALLAH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians threatened on Monday to take counter steps if the United States moves its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. "If the embassy is moved to Jerusalem, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) won't be able to recognize Jerusalem, including the eastern part of the city as the capital of the state of Israel," said Saeb Erekat, secretary general of PLO's executive committee. "The signed deals will be reconsidered, including the economical, political and security ties with Israel," he added. The veteran Palestinian politician told reporters that the Palestinians would also seek to freeze Israel's membership in the United Nations and a judiciary decision from the International Criminal Court on the crimes Israel had committed in the Palestinian territories. The Palestinians would call for the Arab League and the non-aligned countries to hold emergency meetings for proper measures "against this hostile measure," according to Erekat. "A Palestinian state will be meaningless if east Jerusalem is not its capital," he stressed. Ahmad Majdalani, another senior PLO official, said that moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem "is a breach to the international laws and a violation to all commitments made before the international community." "The breach will be from a country that is a member in the UN Security Council," he added. Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership, including the PLO and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), is working hard with the international community to urge the U.S. not to move the embassy to Jerusalem "because such an act would ignite the entire region." Earlier Monday, Reyad al-Malki, the PNA minister of foreign affairs, told Voice of Palestine Radio that a series of meetings will be held in Europe with various countries, adding that "the whole discussion will focus on the U.S. intentions to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem." On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was in Jordan, stated that he agreed with King Abdulla of Jordan to take practical steps in response to the U.S. intentions. In Gaza and the West Bank, several Palestinian factions and political powers warned that moving the embassy of the United States to Jerusalem "would open the gates of hell in the region." The leaders of these factions stressed that they can't see an independent Palestinian state without Jerusalem as its capital. "We warn of the dangers of moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem," said Abdulatif al-Qanou, spokesman of Islamic Hamas movement, in an emailed press statement, adding that "Hamas considers Jerusalem an occupied city and Hamas will never give up struggling to gain it back." "The American administration is exceeding all the red lines by moving its embassy to occupied Jerusalem," the spokesman said. "Such an action will be a provocation to the Muslims' feelings all over the world and empower the Israeli occupation of the lands of Palestine." On Sunday night, the White House officially announced that it had started an initial discussion of moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, Israel Radio reported. Israeli media said following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation, in which Trump invited Netanyahu to visit Washington in February. Israel insists that Jerusalem is its eternal capital, while the Palestinians say the eastern part of the city, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, is the capital of an independent Palestinian state. Israel still refuses to recognize a Palestinian state built on the territories it occupied in 1967. People visit the 12th Moscow International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky, Moscow, Russia, Aug. 25, 2015.(Xinhua/Jia Yuchen) MOSCOW, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Russian government will encourage national airlines to buy domestic aircraft instead of foreign planes, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday. "We will provide necessary incentives for those companies that will buy Russian aircraft," Rogozin told Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an official transcript of the meeting. According to him, the government will only allow companies using domestically made aircraft to operate routes to the Far East and countries most popular among Russian tourists. Currently almost 80 percent of all long-range aircraft in Russia are either Airbuses or Boeings, he said. The government intends to gradually substitute imported aircraft for new models made by Russian companies Irkut and Ilyushin. Rogozin also presented a report to Putin on the creation of an aviation panel to improve coordination between various government institutions and the industry with the aim of "developing, producing, operating and promoting Russian civil aircraft." by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Libya's neighboring states are expected to furnish a new settlement framework for the war-torn North African country as their influence and coordination have recently increased with Egypt and Algeria acting as key regional actors. Top diplomats from Libya, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Chad, Niger and Tunisia, as well as the Arab League (AL) chief and UN envoy met in Cairo on Saturday and a communique urged dialogue between conflicting Libyan factions and reiterated the rejection of any foreign military interference in Libya. Six years after the 2011 uprising ended the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi and his life, Libya is currently engaged in a civil war and run by two rival administrations. One administration is in the capital Tripoli and the other is in Tobruk city in the east, and Islamic State (IS) terrorist group militants found it a fitting environment for their activities. NEIGHBORS INFLUENCE Cairo's recent efforts to host the main Libyan rivals and its push for a regional active role of Libya's neighbors revived hope toward reaching a settlement under a new framework outlined by the group in coordination with the AL, the UN and other international bodies when necessary but without military interference. "Via their rising role, Libya's neighbors could help push forward the crisis resolution, yet the situation depends on Libyans themselves, who are regrettably severely divided," said veteran diplomat Ahmed Haggag, head of the Egyptian African Association. Haggag, who is also Egypt's former ambassador to several African states, emphasized that efforts exerted by Libya's neighboring countries are attempting to gather various Libyan factions for dialogue as the first significant step for a genuine settlement. "Efforts by Libya's neighbors should continue as they are able to bring conflicting parties together, whether in Tripoli, Benghazi or Tobruk, to the negotiation table," the ex-diplomat told Xinhua, lamenting that "the continuous armed conflict bred outlaws around the country's various borders as well as the expansion of IS." Political science professor Mohamed Kamal described Libya's neighboring states' ministerial meetings as "important and positive," noting they are keen to resolve the crisis as it directly affects them via its implications. "Libya's neighbors have relations with several key factions involved in the Libyan crisis, so constant meetings and coordination are necessary to reach an agreement between the rival parties in Libya," the professor told Xinhua. EGYPT, ALGERIA KEY PLAYERS The civil war in post-Gaddafi Libya escalated in 2014 and resulted in the splitting of power between two rival governments in Tripoli and Tobruk. Tobruk was internationally recognized before the Libyan Presidential Council (PC) was established in 2015 to run a unity government in Tripoli as per a UN-brokered peace deal between Libyan factions reached in Skhirat, Morocco. "The chaotic situation makes Libya's political forces unable to make political decisions alone. So, political decisions in eastern Libya are mostly made in coordination with Egypt and those in western Libya in coordination with Algeria," said Zeyad Aql, researcher at the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies and an expert on Libyan affairs. Aql said it's a farfetched goal to reach a settlement in Libya without coordination between Egypt and Algeria as key regional players in the Libyan case, noting that recent Egyptian efforts refreshed the stagnant Libyan situation. Egypt has hosted high-profile talks between Libyan parties including head of Libya's unity government Fayez Serraj and head of the Libyan parliament Aqila Saleh in an attempt to resolve the political deadlock in the conflict-stricken country. Aql explained that Egypt's communication with Libyan factions used to focus on eastern Libya's parliament and the national army led by Marshall Khalifa Haftar, but eventually they extended to involve western Libya including Tripoli's government and the military forces in Misrata. "I believe that before the end of 2017, there will be a new, structured framework for a Libyan settlement, with new actors including Haftar and Bonyan Marsous forces which cleared the last IS hideout in Sirte," Aql told Xinhua, expecting the new deal to be an amendment of the Skhirat Agreement in coordination with Egypt and Algeria. HAFTAR RECOGNITION Supported by the self-proclaimed Libyan national army led by Marshall Haftar, the parliament-backed government in Tobruk refuses to recognize the UN-backed, Tripoli-based unity government run by the PC. "Despite Western attempts to consider Tripoli's government as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people, the internationally-recognized and freely-elected Libyan parliament has not yet approved it, and this cannot be disregarded," veteran diplomat Haggag told Xinhua. Haftar is gaining ground in time, and now an agreement in Misrata exists to have him command the Libyan military, which is a favorable change of position for the military strongman. The Skhirat Agreement puts Haftar and his armed forces under the Tripoli-based PC administration. Therefore, to reach a settlement framework, Libya's neighbors' recent meeting expressed a compatible position abiding by the Skhirat deal yet stressed the need for its amendment. "Egypt exerted substantial efforts to support Marshal Haftar which led some Libyan factions who had previously ejected Haftar to currently accept the idea of his leadership of Libya's military," political researcher Aql told Xinhua. TALLINN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid met Monday with visiting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on bilateral relations, the situation in Eastern Ukraine, and relations between Ukraine and the European Union (EU). Bilateral relations between Estonia and Ukraine remain close and substantive, Kaljulaid said in a joint statement, adding she expected further developing economic cooperation. Commenting on the relations between Ukraine and the EU, Kaljulaid noted that Estonia hoped for deeper practical cooperation between the EU and Eastern Partnership countries, but that real steps needed to be taken for that to be achieved. She said Estonia remained committed to advancing the Eastern Partnership, which would be a priority of Estonia's upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2017. The need to continue with domestic reforms in Ukraine was also discussed at the bilateral talks, and the Estonian president expressed her country's continuing support to these efforts. Poroshenko thanked Estonia for the support it had offered Ukraine, including providing medical rehabilitation services to Ukrainian soldiers wounded during the conflict in Donbas in Eastern Ukraine. WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has told his Egyptian counterpart that he will continue providing military aid to Egypt, the White House said Monday. Trump made the pledge during a phone call Monday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, during which they discussed ways to deepen the bilateral relationship, support Egypt's fight against terrorists and bolster Egypt's economic reform, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said at his first official news briefing. Trump is committed to continuing military assistance to Egypt and working with Egypt to ensure that assistance most effectively supports the Egyptian military's fight against terrorism, Spicer said. The two leaders also discussed a visit to the U.S. by al-Sissi in the future, the spokesman added. Egypt, the second largest recipient of U.S. military aid, has been receiving 1.3 billion U.S. dollars annually in military assistance from the U.S., which in 1979 brokered a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the top U.S. ally in the Middle East. MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces fought fierce clashes on Monday to dislodge the Islamic State (IS) militants from their last stronghold on the northern outskirts of the eastern side of Mosul, the Iraqi military said. The army soldiers, backed by Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition aircraft, advanced to the neighborhood of Rashidiyah and took control of its northern part after heavy clashes, Lieutenant General Abdul-Amir Yarallah from the Joint Operations Command said in a statement. The troops will continue their advance in the neighborhood and the adjacent Baysan area until eliminating IS militants from Mosul's eastern side, locally known as the left bank of Tigris River which bisects the city, according to Yarallah. The latest progress made the Iraqi forces completely in control of the eastern bank of Mosul, with only part of the northern outskirts of Rashidiyah and Baysan left under control of the IS. Experts say once the troops recapture the whole eastern side of Mosul, they will begin a new phase of the anti-IS major offensive on the western part of the city. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a recent report that the military operations in Mosul have pushed up to 160,000 civilians to flee their homes in the city and its adjacent areas since the military offensive in Oct. 2016 to reclaim the IS largest stronghold in Iraq. On Oct. 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city. The second phase of the offensive to free the eastern bank of Mosul began on Dec. 29. Battles in Mosul slowed down in December when extremist militants started using civilians as human shields, resorted to suicide car bombings and made mortar and sniper attacks. Mosul, 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. DRMNO, Serbia, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China Engineering Machinery Corporation (CMEC) on Monday began assembling modern mining equipment at a mine here in order to increase its production for the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) in a project worth 123 million U.S. dollars. Serbian state officials and those from the Chinese embassy met at the Drmno mine, where representatives of EPS and CMEC signed a decision to begin works on installing equipment. Serbian energy and mining minister Aleksandar Antic said at the signing ceremony that the beginning of the installation of the ECS (Excavator-Conveyor-Spreader) system would provide an additional three million tonnes of coal per year for the functioning of the new block unit at the Kostolac power plant, also being constructed by CMEC. "By 2020, Serbia will get its first new block-unit energy facility that has the capacity of 350 megawatts, which will significantly influence our energetic security. The first precondition for us to use the new block unit is to have enough coal here in Drmno, and for this we need a modern ECS system that will increase the production of coal," Antic explained. He concluded that the works at Drmno were important for Serbia and its whole energy system together with the construction of the new block unit because "this is the only way EPS can continue producing energy for the accelerated development of Serbia." The project, to be completed in 47 months, foresees installation of an ECS system to the Drmno coal mine consisting of a rotary excavator, eight conveyors with 12 km-long conveyor system and a spreader with the capacity of 8,500 cubic meters per hour, as well as two new substations. Acting general director of EPS, Milorad Grcic, estimated that "this day presents a beginning of new era for the municipality of Kostolac and the city of Pozarevac, and it's a guarantee for a bright future of this region." He explained that ECS system was everything Drmno mine needed to increase production from nine to 12 million tonnes of coal, that it would pay off in five years while it would be in operation for the next 39 years, which would provide Serbia with necessary energy security. "This system complies with the highest EU standards and environmental protection, and will provide an additional three million tons of coal per year. Completion of works should coincide with the completion of the new block with the capacity of 350 megawatts. Without this coal, our energy sector could not function," Grcic said. Chinese ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang referred to the project as yet another achievement of the strategic partnership between Serbia and China. The works on installing the ECS system are a part of the second section of the Kostolac B Power Plant project that has a total value of 715.6 million U.S. dollars, 85 percent of which were provided by EXIM bank. According to a CMEC statement, the new excavator will be installed by the end of the month, works on the conveyor will begin in February and once that is completed the company will proceed installing substations, a conveyor system, and other elements. SKOPJE, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The snap parliamentary elections on Dec. 11 were an essential step in resolving Macedonia's two-year political crisis, local media said Monday, citing the election observation report by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). According to the head of the election observation mission, Stefan Schennach, despite the challenges and difficult situations in the country, Macedonian political parties agreed on the necessary legal framework that led to holding generally well-administered elections. Election day was generally well carried out and no major incidents were recorded, media here quoted Schennach as saying in the report. However, the election observation mission expressed concern that no government had yet been formed in Macedonia since the elections, while the head of this mission requested that the Council of Europe (CoE) should monitor developments to that effect, local media reported. The Parliamentary Assembly, the parliamentary arm of the CoE that upholds democracy and the rule of law, and the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the CoE that provides legal advice to states, will continue to work alongside the authorities of Macedonia in the field of elections and more generally on the reinforcement of democratic institutions through cooperation activities, the report concluded. Enditem UN Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres (L) speaks at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 19, 2017. The 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) kicked off in Davos on Jan. 17 and will last to Jan. 20. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made it a priority for the United Nations to have a whistleblower protection policy that meets the highest possible standards, a spokesman said here Monday. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said at the daily news briefing that Gurerress has just approved a policy to provide better protection for individuals who report possible misconduct or cooperate with duly authorized audits or investigations. Staff and management both agreed on the policy, contained in a bulletin that was just issued, said Dujarric. Major policy changes include that the Ethics Office and Office of Internal Oversight Services will now be able to take preventive action where a risk of retaliation has been identified, he said. The policy affords protection from retaliation to whistleblowers who report wrongdoing committed not only by staff but also by contractors, non-UN peacekeepers and others, he said, citing another change which says "complainants will be notified of disciplinary measures taken against staff members found to have retaliated against them." The Secretary General has also tasked an internal working group to examine whether the policy on protection against retaliation should be further expanded to also provide more protections for consultants and individual contractors. He has given the working group a deadline of June 30, 2017 to come back with their recommendations on this, according to Dujarric. On the first day at the helm of the United Nations, Guterres pledged to work for peace, development and a reformed United Nations. VIENNA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of terrorism-related criminal proceedings and convictions in Austria reached a record level in 2016, Austria Press Agency reported on Monday. Citing figures provided by the Ministry of Justice, the report said the number of convictions for terror offenses was 49 last year, up from 31 in 2015. Of this total, 36 people were convicted of participation in a terrorist organization, and seven of either calling for or endorsing terrorist offences. A total of 73 people were accused of terror-related offences, compared with 57 in 2015. In the years prior this total had not exceeded ten. The number of related cases worked on by public prosecutors also increased massively, from pre-2014 totals in the range of 60 to 70, increasingly steadily to reach 337 last year. While no figures relating to a radicalist background was made available by the ministry, it is believed this is the primary cause behind the spike in the numbers, in light of factors such as Islamic State activity following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. By Mohamed al-Azaki SANAA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- "Warring parties do not care about us." This is a popular chat usually heard in the capital Sanaa when ordinary people meet up in the street, social meetings or the coffee shops. Nearly two years since the civil war rocked this poorest Arab country in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Since then, tragedies have struck nearly every family in Yemen, with many lost their beloved ones and some lost their whole family members in a single airstrike. Peace efforts have repeatedly failed to end the devastating war that already caused large-scale famine, as ordinary people became in less trust and more anxiety over politicians' frequently polished peace-related statements. Yet again, the United Nations special envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed paid an official visit on Sunday to the capital Sanaa, which is under control of dominant Houthi group and its allied forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in a fresh effort to push for a negotiated settlement. But as every UN attempt kicked off to break the stalemate, the war suddenly escalated and the civilian casualties from both sides have continued to mount, with each warring side claiming advances against the other. Residents yearn to see the outcomes of the UN envoy's new round of efforts to end the war. "We are optimistic to see the new UN efforts to end the war and lift the all-out blockade," said Murshid al-Raymi, 55, who runs a small grocery. The Yemen civil war began on March 26, 2015, five months after Houthi group backed by Saleh forces advanced southward from their far northern stronghold province of Saada to eventually oust the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and seized control of the capital Sanaa. Houthis said they fought the government corruption and rejected the government's drafted constitution that splits Yemen into six regional self-governing federations and distribute the country's resources. Yemen has become a Syria-alike theater of regional war, as what the United Nations Security Council was quoted as that "a Saudi-led Arab coalition of nine countries intervened militarily in Yemen to put internationally-recognized President Hadi's government back to power." But what's actually happening is that a lot of poor Yemenis are being killed by airstrikes, internationally-prohibited cluster bombs and other munitions that targeted schools, hospitals, popular markets and residential quarters. Moreover, thousands of Yemeni children starved to death because of the air, sea and land blockade imposed by the coalition forces. The UN humanitarian agencies reported in their latest statistics that more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, were killed since the onset of the civil war, over 30,000 were wounded and around three million have been displaced. "We are suffering from daily killing, daily airstrikes and daily starvation," said Ali Motahar, 32, a factory worker lying at the hospital suffering from injuries sustained from an airstrike three months ago that hit near his home in the capital Sanaa. "I count day by day to get recovered and exit the hospital, but my injuries were still serious,"Motahar said in a sad voice. "I'm optimistic of a new Yemen full with peace in the near future." He shares the hospital room with two others, who also caught critical injuries from airstrikes in the Red Sea port city of Hodayda, and due to medicine shortage there, they were transported to this state-run hospital, which is crowded of war injured. Khaled Hasan al-Buraiee, 35, lay in the hospital bed near Ali Motahar. He said he was critically injured when an airstrike hit the residential area near his taxi car in Hodayda last month. He carries pictures about the incident in his phone mobile. "Simply, pictures tell my tragedy, and all I want is peace," al-Buraiee said. DAMASCUS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The first day of the two-day Syrian negotiations in Astana ended on Monday, with government delegation and rebels holding indirect meeting, with expected tension surfacing in that venue. The delegations of the rebels and the Syrian government were set to meet face to face for the first time in the country's nearly six-year-old conflict, but it wasn't completely that way. A brief face time actually took place during the opening session of the talks, with both parties sitting around a round table with their respective foreign backers. This short vis-a-vis is considered by observers as an important step, as it's the first time the rebels' representative and government delegation sit face to face in an international arena with the hope of hammering out the first step of a solution to the country's long-lasting conflict. Turkey, Iran and Russia were at the table, during the opening session, which was delayed for 40 minutes due to some differences, as the rebel delegation was against the presence of the Iranian delegation in the conference room. Later on, reports emerging from Astana indicated that Russians were the government mediator and the Turks were the mediators of the rebels in the indirect talks. Following the opening session, Bashar al-Jaafari, the head of the Syrian delegation to the conference, told reporters that the opening statement of Muhammad Alloush, the head of the rebel delegation, was "proactive and rude." He further charged that the rebel delegation was ill-educated in the principles of diplomacy, adding that they didn't even seem to know what they have signed on when they agreed to a Turkish-Russian sponsored ceasefire that went into force on Dec. 30. One of the sticky points between both delegations is the topic of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which later changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Arabic for the Front of Conquering the Levant. The group is designated as a terrorist group by the UN, and thus excluded from any ceasefire or settlement. However, the rebel delegation didn't seem to be ready to deem that group as an enemy. During the first session, the rebels' delegation brought up the subject of the ongoing military campaign in the water-rich Barada Valley northwest of Damascus. They said the government was breaching the truce through its attacks in Barada, where the rebels were accused by the government of cutting the main water source of Ain al-Fijeh spring from the capital. The government delegation was astonished by the remarks, pushing Jaafari to say that the rebels didn't seem to know what they have signed on when they agreed to the ceasefire. It's known now that the Nusra Front is the striking force in Barada, and it's the rebel group that has hindered several deals with the government, prompting the later to push with a military campaign to in that area to restore water to Damascus that has been struggling with the scarcity of water since a month ago. In a briefing to reporters, following the first session, two of the rebels delegates were asked by reporters whether they area ready to turn their guns on the Nusra Front. But the answer came rather vague, as they said that this topic was discussed with the Russians, and the rebels said all foreign groups fighting alongside the government forces should withdraw from Syria before such point can be discussed. They were referring to the Shiite fighters of Hezbollah and other Shiite fighters from Iraq and Afghanistan, who were of a great help to the Syrian army in the fight against the rebels. So it's the same old story, about the need to categorize the rebel groups, particularly the Nusra Front, which enjoys several key alliances with other rebel groups, unlike the Islamic State (IS), which has no alliances with key rebel groups in Syria. A media source in Astana told Xinhua over the phone that the Russians are trying their best to make the conference a success, particularly that the major aim of the meeting in Astana is to agree on a robust ceasefire and the rebel detachments from Nusra. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that pressure is being practiced by the supervising powers on their Syrian allies respectively to achieve the goals of the conference. He said that the rebels were the ones refusing to hold the face-to-face meeting with the government, adding that they reluctantly agreed to meet in the opening session only. Later on, both parties held a meeting separately from different rooms, with the Russians and the Turks mediating the talks. The source said the outcome of the conference is not yet clear, but the Russian and Turkish patrons are working toward reaching an understanding, whose feature will be clearer at the end of the talks. Mervyn King, former governor of the Bank of England, gives studio interview to Xinhuanet on Jan. 12, 2017. ( Xinhuanet/Peng Ying) by Zhang Dongmiao BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Major economies need to make big changes in economic structures to generate rapid economic growth, said Lord Mervyn King, former governor of the Bank of England during a recent studio interview with Xinhuanet. Scientists and people working in technology are producing wonderful new ideas in the world, which would boost productivity in the future, he said. But they wont be converted into products, and growth in our economy, unless we can change the structure of our economies to allow these to be absorbed. Different countries require different reforms but structural reforms to support a shift in the pattern of spending and production are necessary in each case, he added. Its not just for China to adjust, but also for the United States, United Kingdom, and particularly Europe , he noted, suggesting that the only way to a prosperous global economy is simply that "we all change". In the case of China, the shift should be from exports to domestic spending, while for the United States, it is the other way around, from domestic spending to export, he explained. One of challenges facing the world now is the strong U.S. Dollar is actually not very supportive of the need to shift spending in the United States from consumption to export, he added. To explain the importance of structural reform for major economies, Lord King took China as an example. Hailing Chinas economic performance in 2016 as a pleasant surprise for many, he said Chinas economic performance so far has been very reassuring, indicating that China is adjusting to the challenges posed by global financial crisis. However as China couldnt separate itself from the world, the sluggish global economy is still a big challenge for her. The financial crisis in 2008 means that the amount for export from China by the rest of the world, particularly in Europe, fell quite sharply, he said. So China has to to adjust to a new world in which it can not expect the rest of the world to support growth in China by buying export from China. Trade will still continue, but for the future, for the next ten to twenty years, the secret has got to be to rely more on domestic spending, he added. He said there are two challenges to stimulate domestic spending in China: the first is to reduce excess capacity, shifting resources from some sectors to others; the second is to incentivize people to spend more. I think the shift to the Two Child Policy rather than the One Child Policy is quite an important step in that direction. Putting in place a safety net for those people who might otherwise try to save too much would also be a stop forward, he suggested. Chinas Belt & Road Initiative is very important as part of the supply side reforms to promote trade and prosperity across the world, he held. China should play a leading role, to essentially encourage the major economies to learn to trust each other, and try (to) make these changes according to some common timetable, he said. To address the stagnation in world economy during the post-financial crisis era, he suggested that restoring public trust in the banking system is key. In his new book "The End of Alchemy: Money, Banking, and the Future of the Global Economy", he urged central banks to undertake bold reforms and to become pawnbrokers for all seasons to provide liquidity in times of crisis. 9 $1,5 - 2022 -- () $1 541 . Republic opens new branch at UWI At the official opening of the branch on Saturday evening, Campus Principal Brian Copeland noted that Republic Bank had been part of the campus for over 50 years. He said the bank was aware that education was for the preservation and growth of society. Their ethos is like ours: that education is meant to ensure survival, individually and collectively. No bank could have achieved as much as Republic has if it werent a learning institution that constantly seeks to reinvent itself in tune with changing times, he said. Copeland noted that the new branch was just the first part of a private sector-university partnership which started with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007. Other steps would include developing the existing campus quadrangle, a new building for the Creative and Festival Arts, and a revenue-generating Northern Plaza at the entrance of the campus. Copeland also noted that, for the past seven years, the bank partnered with UWI hosting the World of Work programme for final year students. As you see, our private sector/university partnership with Republic Bank goes way beyond merely mouthing the words, corporate social responsibility, he said. Nigel Baptiste, Republic Bank Managing Director, agreed, stating that, with the opening of the Campus branch, the bank recommitted itself to always be of service to the stakeholders of UWI, to keep the university community at the forefront in terms of banking solutions, and to the success of all stakeholders. We are recommitting to the values that we hold dear as an organisation. Our core values of integrity, results orientation, respect for the individual, professionalism, and customer focus. We are recommitting to partnering with the university to foster youth empowerment through education and exposure, he said. Baptiste stated that the construction and outfitting of the building was a $75 million investment and that he hoped the branch would be the flagship in digital banking and environmental responsibility. Young offender gets a chance On Friday Williams, described as a perfect individual, reappeared before San Fernando Magistrate Brahmanand Dubay who reprimanded and discharged him for the offence committed. Dubay noted that Williams, now 18, was deserving of a chance and advised that he not get into trouble again. Williams reappeared in the Sixth Court where he pleaded not guilty. Court prosecutor Sgt Parasan Ramsumair read that at about 9.15 am on May 28, 2014, Williams entered a business place on Mucurapo Street in San Fernando where the victim was conducting sales. Under the pretext of being a customer, Williams asked to have a look at a Samsung Galaxy and a Blackberry valued $1,200 and $800 respectively. The prosecutor told the court that while the sales clerk was showing him the phones, Williams grabbed the devices and ran off with them. An alarm was raised and Williams was arrested shortly after with the phones in his possession. PC Seetaram subsequently charged him with the offence of larceny. Attorney Steadson Jack represented Williams who has since obtained seven OLevel subjects and is also currently pursuing a degree. Jack told the court that since the incident, Williams has been conducting himself . He produced copies of the results slip as well as testimonials to the magistrate. Williamss mother was at the hearing and the magistrate enquired from her about his behaviour. The mother responded that Williams is perfect compared to back then. Murder accused to reappear in court The plumber of Lopinot Road, Arouca, appeared before Arima 2nd Court Magistrate, Debby Ann Bassaw, on January 17 charged Charles murder, but was remanded into custody. The body of Charles, 31, of Pine Ridge Heights, Lopinot, was discovered on the pavement of Royal Promenade Road, Arouca, by officers on patrol on September 4, 2016. He died from multiple gunshot wounds. Cpl Nigel Bennet of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations laid the charge after receiving instructions from Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard, SC. Credit unions given 14 days to respond to legislation Baptiste-Primus announced her timeline to Remy while addressing the 70th anniversary thanksgiving celebration of the Credit Union and Cooperative League, at Signature Hall, Montrose, on Saturday evening. She said, I have reviewed and commented on the draft policy one week ago and this revised document will be shared with you. And Mr president, I am giving you early warning. When the draft policy reaches you, you have 14 long whole days to comment on that draft and to forward your additional views before the final draft policy document is signed off and submitted to Cabinet. And my timeframe, Mr President, that draft policy must be submitted to Cabinet on or before the 28 of February in the year of our Lord, 2017. Remy expressed his concern to Newsday yesterday about the timeline given, saying, We were supposed to get this document since October last year and now that the document is supposedly completed, we are now seeing a tight timeline to have it completed. We believe if the document was completed by the ministry earlier, it would have allowed all parties to have ample time to review. We believe it is not adequate for the movement and we will take the necessary action to see how we could get an extension to move this thing forward. The Credit Union and Cooperative Bills of 2014, which is intended to replace the Co-operatives Society Act of 1971, sparked protest by credit unions in 2015 when it was first proposed by Government in February of 2015. The credit unions protested the Credit Union Bills intention to have credit unions supervised by the Central Bank instead of the Commissioner for Co-operative Development. They proposed that both credit unions and Cooperatives be supervised by the same Commissioner for Cooperative Development. In her address, Baptiste-Primus congratulated the League on its 70th anniversary, saying that it has grown from very humble beginnings to be a force to be reckoned with in the financial sector. East PoS families to benefit from parenting programme Launched at the Murchison Brown Auditorium, City Hall this past Tuesday, the 15-week programme will see Families In Action (FIA) teaching 50 parents a variety of skills. Chief Executive Officer of FIA, Dionne Guischard, told Newsday the skills training includes how to manage conflict, how to manage stress as a parent, financial management; which is actually one of the greatest stressers, to communication with and listening to your children; another big aspect of our programme. The PEP workshops will be held every Wednesday from 5 pm. Participating parents will be divided into two groups of 25 persons each. There are still spaces left in the programme, so Guischard is advising interested persons to call FIAs office at 622-6952 or 622-5365. You can also email FIA at fia@familiesinaction.net FIA was contracted by the Citizen Security Programme (CSP) of the National Security Ministry to conduct the PEP. Speaking with Newsday at the launch, CSP Community Action Officer, Natalie Gonsalves, said during a community meeting in late 2015, residents told us about the top three things that they would like to do within their community, and a parenting programme was one of them. Approval and funding for the PEP took some time; CSP received approval to start the programme around August/September 2016, hence the launch a little over one year after the initial survey. Free WiFi on maxi taxis soon Pretty soon, finding a free WiFi signal could be as easy as choosing to travel in a maxi taxi. Thats because the Association of Maxi Taxis of Trinidad and Tobago (AMTTT) and the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT) are in talks to provide WiFi to maxi taxi customers. This was announced by TSTTs Chief Commercial Officer, Miguel Garcia, at the launch of Huaweis Mate 9 smartphone, which took place during the CONNECT @ bmobile Tech Expo at Hyatt Regency, Portof- Spain on Wednesday last. Last week we started an initiative with the AMTTT, which represents all of the transport routes in the country. We are providing them with special 4G modems, at very special rates, that will enable them to offer their 300,000-plus commuters free WiFi. Speaking with Newsday after the launch, Garcia expressed hope that in the next couple of weeks, free WiFi will be available on all AMTTT maxis. Newsday asked if TSTT plans to sign similar deals with other transportation associations, to which Garcia replied, Yes we are. Were talking to a bunch of taxis and also some other organisations. I dont want to reveal (which ones) because its not been finalised yet but yes, we are in the process of doing that. The idea is that when anyone in TT gets on some sort of transportation, they can get WiFi too, Garcia explained. AMTTT Vice-President, Linus Phillip, told Newsday said some maxi taxis began offering the service this past Monday, having collected their 4G modems over the weekend. Asked about the special rates, Phillip said participating AMTTT members paid $200 plus VAT (Value-Added Tax), which is an excellent price. The normal price is about $350. Describing the arrangement as a good opportunity, Phillip said he expects most AMTTT members to sign up in the coming weeks. Lenovo PHAB 2 Pro Rolled Out in India as the First Tango Smartphone New Delhi, Mon, 23 Jan 2017 NI Wire Lenovo is all set to swoon away the smartphone users with its new launch of PHAB 2 Pro. The new handset by the Chinese manufacturer is bestowed with the reputation of being the first smartphone with enablement of Google Tango technology. The official release of the phone for the Indian markets was made on Thursday and as per the announcement Flipkart will be exclusive retail partner of this new model. The e-commerce giant will initiate the online sale of the phone with a price tag of INR 29,990, which is far lower than $499 (INR 34,020 approx.), at which it was sold in USA. It will be available in Champagne Gold colour. The first and foremost peculiarity of the Lenovo PHAB 2 Pro is its Google Tango capability. Tango is developed by Google for enhancement of Augmented Reality (AR) experience through utilities and games. The tango can be used for indoor mapping, for measuring objects and re-imagining them with your surroundings in 3D, for thrill of gaming and as a window to ones fantasies. Talking about the appearance of the phone, the first thing that catches the eye is its gigantism. The 259 gram device with dimensions of 179.8x88.5x10.7 mm, have a 6.4-inch Quad HD IPS display (1440x2560 pixels). It packs four cameras for the ultimate imaging. A 16 MP rear RGB shooter with PDAF and HDR, a 8 MP front-facing snapper with f/2.2 aperture and 1.4 micron pixel size, a motion-tracking camera and an infrared, depth-sensing camera with imager and emitter. It runs on Android OS v6.0 Marshmallow and houses a 4050 mAh battery, which promises 15-hour longevity. An octa-core 1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 SoC, built for Tango, paired with Adreno 510 GPU powers the device, while 4 GB RAM/ 64 GB in-built space (expandable up to 128 GB) provide very decent storage options. It has Dolby Audio Capture 5.1 for 3D Surround Sound along with Dolby Atmos Audio Enhancement and Active Noise Cancellation. Some other specs of the PHAB 2 Pro include - fingerprint sensor (rear mounted), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM Radio, microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm jack, dual-SIM slots (for nano SIMs), triple-array microphones and NFC, etc. Share Its been about a year since Intel first took the wraps off its plan to make a big move into 5G. That was at Mobile World Congress 2016. But apparently Intel didnt want to wait until the Barcelona event to announce its 5G product this year. The company did that earlier this month at the CES (News - Alert). A ChipChick article authored last week by Chance Kinney notes that with this product Intel aims to become a dominant force in the nascent 5G arena. That, Kinney adds, will pit Intel against Qualcomm (News - Alert) and Samsung in this space. For a lot of companies involved, the move to 5G can be seen as a partial reset, writes Kinney. When 4G was being established, Intel and Sprint invested heavily in WiMAX, a network standard that was beaten out by LTE something supported by AT&T, Verizon (News - Alert), T-Mobile, and Qualcomm. Its no coincidence that Intel has struggled in mobile while Sprint has fallen back into fourth among the major U.S. carriers. With a 5G rollout, Intel and Sprint (News - Alert) could be poised for a comeback if they play their cards right. The Intel modem includes a baseband chip that pairs with a new 5G transceiver to enable both sub-6 Ghz and mmWave capabilities. It also incorporates key 3GPP 5G NR (new radio) technology including low latency frame structures, advanced channel coding, and massive MIMO. The modem, which will work in different countries around the world, will be able to support speeds exceeding 5Gbps. It will allow for ultra-low latency performance, advanced channel coding, and massive MIMO and beam forming. And while the Intel 5G Modem is a 5G-only solution, it will be able to pair with LTE (News - Alert) modems like the Intel XMM 7360 LTE model to allow for 4G/5G interworking and to provide 4G fallback. Speaking of 4G and its relationship to 5G, word is that 5G is likely to coexist with 4G technology for years to come. Thats because 4G still has a lot of life left in it, as it continues to evolve and expand its bandwidth capabilities via new iterations. What 5G brings to the table, meanwhile, is the ability to provide parity with wireline speeds, and to allow for ultra reliable low latency communications. That ultra reliable low latency capability will be key for applications such as the connected car and remote healthcare, in which every millisecond counts. Edited by Alicia Young I used to be one of those parents who took a second look at their kids bags of candy theyd gotten Halloween night and think, Wait a minute. Is that a full-size Butterfingers bar? Why would a kid need that much candy in one serving? Id either then ask if they really wanted that item or I We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi plotted to kill late king Hassan II despite the kings good intention, CIA reveals in a haul of declassified documents dating from 1940 to 1990s. King Hassan II was at odds with the United States over a rapprochement between Rabat and Tripoli, the CIA notes in 13 million- haul declassified documents. In 1984, King Hassan II decided to thaw ties with Colonel Gaddafi despite friction between the two men over the Western Sahara. Gaddafi, already in 1976, date of the proclamation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) threw his support behind the Polisario front. Both men signed the Arab-African Union supposed to put an end to Libyas support for the separatist movement at the time the kingdom was isolated in the region, the CIA notes. Algeria was able to bring on its side Mauritania and Tunisia, leaving the kingdom with no ally. The rapprochement stirred waves in Washington, which was accusing the Libyan ruler of funding international terrorism. According to the American intelligence agency, Washington warned against the danger but the Moroccan monarch only saw good faith in the Libyan ruler. Gaddafi is not responsible for all the terrorism in the world, the king told Senator Kasten during an audience in Fez, in December 1984. Gaddafi is a mortal, he noted adding that the Libyan territory and opportunities are immortal. Senator Kasten repeatedly expressed US concerns regarding the deportation of Libyan dissidents in Morocco, and increasing establishment of thousands of Libyans in Morocco, which, he argued, could pose a threat to Moroccan and American interests. The American concerns won over King Hassan II and the treaty died in water. In 1987, as tension between the two countries resumed, the Libyan ruler plotted with former Palestinian fighter Sabri Al Banna, also known as Abou Nidal, to assassinate the Moroccan monarch. According to Atif Abu Bakr, former Head of the political department of Palestinian movement Fatah-Revolutionary Council, Tripoli channeled weapons as well as bombs in Morocco to be used in the assassination of the king. However the plot was aborted over fears for reprisals from Rabat, Bakr told Arab media Al Arabiya. Ottawas Ambassador to Rabat Nathalie Dube said that the North African kingdom offers a platform and a gateway to Canadian investments and exports towards the rest of Africa. In a letter sent to the Moroccan chamber of commerce in Canada, Dube praised diplomatic ties with Rabat and called on Canadian businessmen to grab the investment opportunities offered by Morocco in several fields, notably, agriculture, mines, infrastructure, defense, green technology and education. The Canadian diplomat added that the location of Morocco at the crossroads between Africa and Europe enables it to play the role of a platform for Canadas exports to Africa. Canada in turn offers Morocco a gateway to the larger north American market, she said. Dube also lauded the efforts led by Moroccos chamber of commerce in Canada to build bridges between investors and businessmen as well as between institutions of the two countries. The Moroccan chamber of commerce will organize a visit by Canadian businessmen to Morocco where they will meet with Moroccan counterparts to discuss partnership opportunities on March 11-19. The same delegation will take part in the international African development forum that will be held in Morocco on March 16-17. Morocco will set up a multi-disciplinary field hospital in South Sudans capital Juba, upon directives from King Mohammed VI who will visit the country soon, Moroccos foreign ministry said in a statement. This humanitarian gesture is reflective of the Kings care to bring a helping hand to the South Sudanese people, the statement added. In this respect, the same source noted that the field hospital along with the upcoming visit by the Moroccan Monarch to South Sudan were discussed in a meeting between Moroccos Ambassador to Juba and the South Sudanese Foreign minister Deng Alor. This field hospital to start working as of Monday has a capacity of 30 beds that can be extended to 60. The 20 specialist doctors, assisted by 18 nurses, will provide medical services in pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, traumatology, dentistry, ophthalmology and ENT medicine. The hospital will also have a medical laboratory and a pharmacy, the statement added. In keeping with a reinvigorated and ambitious Africa foreign policy based on south-south cooperation, co-development and solidarity, King Mohammed VI visited in 2016 several African countries including Rwanda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Senegal to mention but a few. These tours resulted in win-win partnership taking the form of large scale joint ventures such as the fertilizers factory in Ethiopia and the gas pipeline linking Nigeria to Morocco through west Africa. These tangible cooperation projects in favor of Africas economic and human development highlight why Moroccos political and diplomatic endeavor to regain its natural place within the African Union is welcome across the continent. Actually, Morocco will again be announced a fully-fledged member of the pan-African organization during the coming AU summit, as a prelude to repairing an injustice that the predecessor of the African Union, the Organization of African Unity, had made by sidelining with the Algerian-backed separatist front to the detriment of Moroccos territorial integrity. Leader of the Tunisian Islamist party Ennahdha has debunked claims that the new US President Donald Trump is anti-Islam. For Rached Ghanouchi only Jihadists will fear Trumps overt anti-Islam philosophy, huffpostmaghreb.com reports. Terrorists are those who feel threatened by Donald Trumps policy, Ghanouchi said Saturday during a ceremony in the governorate of Mahdia to present condolences to the families of some Tunisian fishermen who died in December after their boat capsized. Pure and peaceful Muslims need not to fear US President Donald Trumps policy, he added. Taking oath on Friday, President Donald Trump declared war against terrorism as he promised to wipe out terrorists from the earth surface. Ghanouchi went on noting that Islam is not under threat in the United States. Islam is recognized by the United States and leaders of all religions attended the inauguration of Trump, he said. The Islamist party, which now dominates the Tunisian Parliament, is accused by Tunisians of endorsing the return of the countrys citizens who went to fight in the ranks of terrorist groups in hotbed conflict zones. The party is also accused of having pushed thousands of Tunisians to leave the country and join terrorist groups. Around 5,000 Tunisians have been reported fighting for terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq and Libya. The Islamist leader rejected the claims adding that Tunisians must be united; brace up to face the returnees. For him all Tunisians reject terrorism. Tunisians must by no way be divided over this issue, he said. Terrorism did not hit tourism or the civilization of any particular party, but it affected the entire Tunisia. The U.S government continues to warn its citizens against travel to southern and eastern Algeria, as well as isolated parts of the Kabylie region, due to a high threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping. Terrorist groups remain active. While major cities are heavily policed, extremists have conducted attacks (often using bombs, ambushes, or false roadblocks) in the mountainous Kabylie region (provinces of Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, and Bejaia) and the southern and eastern border regions, including the Chaambi mountains area, south of Souk Ahras, near the Tunisian border, says the latest updated US travel warning. Although most attacks are directed towards Algerian military or police, in September 2014, an ISIL-affiliated group abducted and beheaded a French citizen in the Kabylie region. In January 2013, an Al-Qaeda-linked organization attacked a gas production facility near In Amenas, Algeria, near the Libyan border, holding foreign and Algerian workers hostage, with dozens killed, including three U.S. citizens. The North African has been rocked lately by protests over government-imposed austerity measures, imposing new taxes on a variety of consumable goods and cutting 14 pc of overall spending. Algeria, member of the OPEC cartel, was forced to made budget cuts following the fall in oil and natural gas prices, its chief sources of revenue. The security forces were unable to contain the austerity demonstrations which appeared to be more spontaneous, organized on social media by young Algerians. Algeria, hit by a high deficit and an imbalanced economy, has little room to satisfy protesters demands, raising concerns over the prospects of more violent unrests to be unfolding as social resentment is growing. If they intensify, they could destabilize the country and disrupt Algerian energy exports. Southern European countries, which rely on Algerian natural gas supplies, are making contingency plans as political crisis is deepening. They are apparently expecting the worse! Frustrated and demoralized. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer spent around 90 minutes Monday afternoon taking questions from reporters on immigration, China, and bilateral trade policy, among other pressing issues on President Trumps agenda. But it was the topic of crowd size at last Fridays inauguration that brought out the most animation in Spicer, who went on an extended and emotive explanation about how demoralizing and frustrating it is for Trump and his supporters to fend off constant criticism. The narrative and the default narrative is always negative, Spicer said in response to a question from CNNs Jim Acosta, the reporter Trump famously sparred with at his last press conference. Acosta asked why Spicer and Trump felt it necessary to address the subject of crowd size on Saturday. Spicer described how difficult it is to have doubters and critics trying to undercut the enormous support [Trump] has. Its unbelievably frustrating, he said. But its worth noting that this diatribe about negativity and complaints about undermining came from a man who works for Trump, who spent years trying to argue that President Obama was born in Kenya and thus not a legitimate president. And the desperate pleas for an attaboy when Trump succeeds brought to mind for some on social media the kind of person the presidents biggest fans would dub a snowflake: Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) January 23, 2017 The discussion of inaugural crowds also involved Spicer reasserting his claims that Trumps was the most-watched inauguration of all time. Its unquestionable, he said, referring to Nielsen ratings and livestreams. He also tried to recast a statement he made Saturday, when he said, This was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration period both in person and around the globe. While that sure sounds like hes saying it was the largest audience in person as well as the largest audience around the globe, Spicer suggested he was combining those two audiences to come up with the largest combined viewership. Asked if he always intends to tell the truth in the briefing room, Spicer said that he does, adding that the truth is not easy to agree on. I think sometimes we can disagree with the facts, he said. If we make a mistake, well correct them. Spicer was given an opportunity to do that when asked about Trumps speech at the CIA Saturday, where the president blamed the media for creating a rift between him and the intelligence community. Thats clearly false and evidence for it is right there on Trumps Twitter feed. But instead of walking that back, Spicer deflected and began talking about agents hooting and hollering during the presidents visit to CIA headquarters to prove that he had support in the agency. Asked about a CBS report that said the cheering came from about 40 people who came with Trump and sat in the first three rows, Spicer said it wasnt true. He said around ten people traveled with the president to Langley and none of them sat in the first three rows. On policy questions, Spicer moved quickly and told many reporters hed have to get back to them with answers. Among his notable statements, though, was that no decision has been made on plans to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Regarding Trumps remarks Saturday that the U.S. may get another chance at Iraqs oil, Spicer said Trump wont take options off the table. He also announced that the White House briefing room will soon be home to four new Skype terminals allowing reporters to participate remotely. Will be interesting to how Paul Ryan reacts to the reported hiring of Breitbart writer Julia Hahn at the White House. Shes basically accused him of treason. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images In another straw-in-the-wind about the ideological and rhetoric leanings of the Trump White House, it appears chief strategist Stephen Bannon is hiring one of his more ferocious proteges at Breitbart News, the sites immigration reporter Julia Hahn. Hahn is an interesting example of the kind of people whose careers have prospered by association with the more radical strain of populist conservatism Trump represents. Just a couple of years ago, she was a producer for Laura Ingraham, the talk-show gabber who played a big role in Dave Brats upset primary win over thenHouse Majority Leader (and Speaker-in-waiting) Eric Cantor. Hahn became Brats press secretary, and just seven months later left to work for Breitbart. There she became conspicuous for angry takes on the supposed indifference of the GOP Establishment (and particularly new House Speaker Paul Ryan) to current policies that allow Muslim refugees to enter the country. And by conspicuous, I mean she managed to draw a personal attack from prominent tea party congressman Raul Labrador after penning an article lashing the House Freedom Caucus for failing to force Ryan to delete refugee resettlement funds in the gigantic omnibus appropriations bill that kept the federal government open toward the end of 2015: The monthly panel Conversations with Conservatives turned from a pleasant pizza party discussion between lawmakers and the press into an awkward standoff Tuesday when Rep. Raul R. Labrador (R-Idaho) refused to answer a question from a Breitbart reporter. The reporter, Julia Hahn, asked the panel of lawmakers for a show of hands as to who would support a suspension of Muslim immigration into the United States. But before any lawmakers raised their hands, Labrador stepped in. I dont answer questions from you, because you are not a truthful reporter, he said. And I will not answer any of your questions. Labradors explosion at Hahn drew a rebuke from her boss: Congressman Labrador has spent too much time in Washington if he thinks its okay to try and intimidate a 24 year-old woman who asked a basic question, Bannon said. He called her a liar and tried to humiliate her in a public forum in the Capitol, when in fact HE is the liar! Breitbart News will not back down and we stand by Julias reporting 120 percent. 120 percent is a lot. But Bannon soon showed his solidarity with Hahn by co-writing with her an amazing attack on Paul Ryan which viewed that self-same gigantic appropriations bill strictly from the point of view of how it affected immigration and refugee policy and concluded Ryan was guilty of a total and complete sell-out of the American people masquerading as an appropriations bill. In case Breitbart readers were not sufficiently aware of their betrayal, Hahn followed up two days later with a piece again treating the massive appropriations measure as nothing more than a sinister plot to let in more Muslim refugees and expose an unsuspecting country to Sharia law and suggesting that Ryan was opening the floodgates to the wholesale conquest of America by Sharia law and female genital mutilation. (For what its worth, when yours truly wrote a column lightly mocking Hahns extraordinary tunnel-vision and floodgates logic, I was treated to a new and very, very lengthy Hahn piece accusing me of being, like Paul Ryan, an apologist for female genital mutiliation.) Hahn repeatedly returned to the theme of Paul Ryans perfidy during the campaign season, culminating in an October 21 article accusing Ryan of not-so-secretly working for Hillary Clintons election because of his slavish submission to the interests of big corporations and foreign nationalists. Heres a sample from that remarkable piece of invective: Ryan has said that he, too [like Clinton], sees his role as a U.S. lawmaker to be the representative of foreign nationalsand, in particular, foreign citizens of India. In 2013, Ryan said he believes that its the job of a U.S. lawmaker to put yourself in [the] shoes of foreign citizens such as the gentleman from India whos waiting for his green card. So you have to wonder what kind of message Hahns hiring might send with respect to the rather delicate and extremely important relationship between the 45th president of the United States and the Speaker of the House. Keep in mind that Ryans budget handiwork over the years (which, pace Hahn, touches on a few thousand issues other than immigration policy) is the foundation for everything congressional Republicans want to accomplish over the next few years. It seems likely that last shots have not been fired in the Bannon vs. Ryan feud. David Gelernter. Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Last week, Donald Trump met with Yales David Gelernter, a computer scientist who once called Barack Obama a third-rate tyrant, as he seeks to fill the position of White House science adviser. Gelernter is a computing genius whom the Washington Post dubbed an anti-intellectual. If by that they mean Gelernter believes universities now are mostly interested in advancing political agendas and enriching administrators, then theyre right. As Gelernter writes in The Wall Street Journal Monday, Over 90 percent of U.S. colleges will be gone within the next generation, as the higher-education world inevitably flips over and sinks. In Gelernters view, the future of higher education will involve a focus on STEM subjects while throwing out the arts and humanities. Online courses will become commonplace, but not without evolving, and students will need a digital guides or mentors to carry them through online education. Degrees themselves will become a thing of the past, Gelernter writes as theyre gradually be replaced by certified transcripts. Rather than a university conferring the degree, a transcript that is, coursework showing that a student has successfully learned a given set of material will be vouched for by a trusted institution like a think tank, newspaper, museum, or research lab. If these ideas sound wild, consider this: The other person rumored to be in the running for science adviser is Princeton physicist William Happer who recently told Nature, My views are that the whole climate hysteria is greatly overblown. I really do believe more CO2 will be good for the world. The illusion of resistance. Photo: Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty Images Republican Senator Marco Rubio, in keeping with tradition, is once again lending his support to Donald Trump despite clear reservations. Monday, after weeks of publicly voiced skepticism, the Florida senator pledged to back Rex Tillerson as secretary of State. Rubios announcement explained in a lengthy Facebook post essentially guarantees the former Exxon CEOs confirmation, as Rubio was the last Republican holdout in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who were also both on the fence, said over the weekend that they, too, would support the presidents nominee. Rubio criticized Tillerson for some of his positions, but he justified jumping on the party bandwagon by saying that he must balance concerns with his extensive experience and success in international commerce, and my belief that the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet, Rubio wrote. Given the uncertainty that exists both at home and abroad about the direction of our foreign policy, it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy. Heres the full post: I believe the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet. I also... Posted by Senator Marco Rubio on Monday, January 23, 2017 McCain and Graham also gave similar explanations for backing Tillerson. Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests, the two senators said in a joint statement. The views that Mr. Tillerson has expressed, both privately and publicly during the confirmation process, give us confidence that he will be a champion for a strong and engaged role for America in the world. The Trump team appears to have lobbied hard to win over the skeptical GOPers. Rubio reportedly talked with Tillerson in a private, 90-minute meeting last week, which Vice-President Mike Pence and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus joined, says the Washington Post. The Democratic National Committee responded to Rubios agonized decision to support Tillerson for the job as top diplomat by reviving one of Trumps favorite campaign talking points, though they got the spelling wrong. President Trump is excited! But soon he will be sleepy, then angry. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images If there was some lingering hope among Republican professionals that Donald Trump would somehow, as the old cliche has it, grow into the office, his first 48 hours as president dispelled it immediately. The White House is already jittery with fright at the unpredictability of a childlike figure who has been handed terrifying powers, like the famous Twilight Zone episode about a 6-year-old-boy with magical abilities. The evidence for Trumps unfitness for office comes from Republicans themselves, who discuss the president in the most patronizing terms. The managerial catastrophe begins with the fact that Trump knows extremely little about public policy. Because he knows so little about government, Trump gives incoherent or contradictory statements that leave even his allies confused about his beliefs. Senior Congressional Republicans have privately told several people that Trump seems to have no clarity on where he stands on many issues, reported Maggie Haberman recently. Many of them simply dismiss his statements as empty puffery. After Trump said he would cut regulation by 75 percent, one Republican member of Congress told John Harwood, [T]hats Trump just making a large number. There is little prospect this will change, because Trump lacks the attention span to read anything of substance. Something as long as a book is out of the question. Even memos strain his mental capacity. Trump is committed to reading as little as possible. This is not an insult. As little as possible is Trumps own account of his reading habits. 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, he tells Axios. Trumps inability to read anything of length has unfortunately freed him up for hours of channel surfing. But his addiction to television reinforces other character weaknesses: his wild mood swings and irritability. One person who frequently talks to Trump said aides have to push back privately against his worst impulses in the White House, like the news conference idea, and have to control information that may infuriate him, reports Josh Dawsey. He gets bored and likes to watch TV, this person said, so it is important to minimize that. Trump reportedly instructed his press secretary to read a comically dishonest boast about the size of the crowds at his Inaugural address after being irritated by photos showing a much more sparse crowd than he had predicted. Read this account from the New York Times and try to keep in mind that this is not a troubled teen but the president of the United States: Mr. Trump grew increasingly angry on Inauguration Day after reading a series of Twitter messages pointing out that the size of his inaugural crowd did not rival that of Mr. Obamas in 2009. But he spent his Friday night in a whirlwind of celebration and affirmation. When he awoke on Saturday morning, after his first night in the Executive Mansion, the glow was gone, several people close to him said, and the new president was filled anew with a sense of injury. That day, Saturday, Trump visited the Central Intelligence Agency. He began his remarks on the appropriate theme of thanking the staff there and vaguely promising to work together in a shared mission. Eventually, he rambled through a discursive series of themes, boasting of his own intelligence (Im like a smart person, a claim he supported with his favorite evidence, an uncle who taught at MIT.) Eventually Trump came round to the issue that was vexing him that morning, the medias alleged lies about his allegedly enormous crowd: And I was explaining about the numbers. We did a thing yesterday at the speech. Did everybody like the speech? (Applause.) Ive been given good reviews. But we had a massive field of people. You saw them. Packed. I get up this morning, I turn on one of the networks, and they show an empty field. I say, wait a minute, I made a speech. I looked out, the field was it looked like a million, million and a half people. They showed a field where there were practically nobody standing there. And they said, Donald Trump did not draw well. I said, it was almost raining, the rain should have scared them away, but God looked down and he said, were not going to let it rain on your speech. This, again, was not a political rally but a speech to CIA officers. He used the occasion to tell rambling fantasies about his crowds because he could not contain the massive wound to his ego. Oliver Wendell Holmes famously summed up Franklin Roosevelt as a second-class intellect but a first-class temperament. Trump has a third-class intellect and a third-class temperament. The frightening surreality of what has happened to the United States has only begun to sink in. The president is planning trade-focused executive action. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Great thing for the American worker, what we just did, Trump said as he showed the document to reporters cameras. During the campaign, Trump regularly railed against the TPP, which he called a disaster. The 12-country pact, which would have been one of President Obamas major second-term achievements, called for the unification of the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations in the worlds largest free-trade agreement. Proponents, including Obama, argued it would have strengthened the economies of the partner nations while checking the growing economic strength of China. But it would also have resulted in too many American jobs leaving the country, Trump said. In June, Trump said the TPP is another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our country just a continuing rape of our country. Its a harsh word, but its true. Trump, on Monday, will also reportedly begin the process of potentially ending NAFTA. He is planning to meet soon with Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. We will be starting negotiations having to do with NAFTA, he said Sunday. The new White House website provides some insight into those negotiations and what Trump will do if they dont go how he hopes. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States intent to withdraw from NAFTA, it says. In addition to the executive order regarding the TPP, Trump took action to freeze hiring of non-military federal workers and to ban U.S. government funding to NGOs that promote abortion. AYR. IRL Maggie Winter, CEO of online womenswear line AYR, opens her first store (199 Lafayette St.). Now that we have a real store, the biggest response has been to our textures: People talk about our midnight-blue velvet smoking jackets ($425) and say our camel-hair robes ($585) feel like cashmere. Bonobos was formerly our parent company, and like their store, well ship your purchase directly to your house, so you dont have to carry a bag, but here you can also take it with you right away. Our creative director comes by to fit you in our powdery-blue vintage-inspired 15-ounce jeans ($275) that are exclusive to the store. I literally dont buy jeans without her say-so, and now everyone else can too. Cluster Two new shops modern-design-focused Lucky Rubber Ducky and fair-trade Libra join East Park Slopes homewares sector. 1. Lucky Rubber Ducky: Daqi Concept JinGoo Bluetooth speakers in a birdcage (from $300) and glass pasta pots ($200). 196 Seventh Ave. 2. Tarzian West: Shun Pro blue-steel Menkiri knives ($250) and Stagg pour-over coffeepots that monitor water temperature ($99). 194 Seventh Ave. 3. Libra: Matr Boomie bone-wood picture frames ($38) and Roland Pine soy candles made in the Hudson Valley ($34). 1304 Eighth Ave. 4. Homebody: Glass baby head cups ($45) and jacquard woven cushions that feature a deer in a top hat ($85). 449 Seventh Ave. 2x2: Chip-and-Dip Bowls For your Oscars and Packers hate-viewing parties. Over $50 Floating: Nambe scoop server, $250 at neimanmarcus.com. Nested: Neon-orange bowl, $60 at etsy.com. Under $50 Floating: Prodyne Arch de Dip bowl, $20 at bedbathandbeyond.com. Nested: Four-piece party server, $26 at museumstore.sfmoma.org. Three in One Italian designer Monica Castiglionis Cobble Hill outpost (268 Court St.) has felt necklaces, bronze sculptures, and paper exhibits. Photo: topazi 5 peridoti 6 1. Gather: A gate lowers to separate bronze rings (from $120) from the front of the store, where Castiglioni will host exhibits by like-minded paper and ceramic artisans. 2. Wear: Long chain necklaces are available in bronze ($900), felt from Kyrgyzstan ($150), and Pyrex ($700), or are 3-D-printed ($110); silk scarves are accented with felt circles ($220). 3. Decorate: Felt trivets double as ring holders ($110), bronze candle snuffers ($570), bronze egg holders ($225), and bronze sculptures that are inspired by the male parts of flowers ($16,000). Moving In In February, London-based designer Simone Rocha will open her first Stateside boutique (71 Wooster St.). Im creating a space that shows my collections surrounded by my influences and inspirations. We have a piece by Rauschenberg thats all found objects from Asia encased in a type of plastic called Perspex. Im half-Chinese, so I connect to the Asian aspect, and we also do a lot of Perspex heels and earrings ($280). The store is all about the art and furniture echoing the fabrications from the collection but in sturdier forms. Thick clear-plastic racks and cabinets carry our anglaise skirts that are also made out of embroidered plastic fabric ($2,345). Well be opening with the spring-summer 17 collection that was originally shown in a London cathedral, so I made the windows look like a cathedral too. Top Five Brandon Quattrone, co-founder of the Tribeca furniture and decor shop Consort (155 Duane St.), pairs Jackson Pollock mugs with modern Italian chairs. We based this pink chair ($3,000) on one by Italian designer Marco Zanuso. Italian modernism is going to be the new mid-century modern. A set of these crazy Jackson Pollocklooking mugs ($46) would look so cool hanging on the wall under your kitchen cabinets. At first this bowl (from $58) just looks like it has texture and lines, but once you look closer, you realize its an eye repeating in a diagonal pattern. This was the first one-hitter ($35) we found that wasnt metal; its ceramic. People ask what to smoke out of it, and we go, Whatever you want. You see this Moroccan pompom blanket ($720) in black and white all the time, but I bet you havent seen it in blue. We love that. *This article appears in the January 23, 2017, issue of New York Magazine. I usually like to wear a nice shirt, nice pants these are the clothes Id wear at the ranch. Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine Oliver Brooks, Former Hillary Clinton Campaign Fellow in Wyoming So, how are you feeling? Frankly, I was disgusted with this country after the election. I feel like I did my small part in Wyoming, and next month Im going to Taiwan, where a lot of diplomatic tension is happening, but Im not going there because of that; Im just going to study Chinese. I grew up in Beijing and Shanghai and think I might want to work in Asia someday. How did you end up in Wyoming? My dads family is from Laramie, and we have a ranch there, though he and my mom live in Europe now. I was one of two operatives in the state, and since it hasnt gone to the Democrats since Lyndon B. Johnson, we didnt waste our time there but tried to rally people in Wyoming to help the campaign in Colorado. How was your Election Night? I had a feeling things werent going to go well just because of the Trump voters Id spoken to: people who seemed reasonable insofar as their lives were rather ordinary but believed there was a government conspiracy to poison us or that Hillary Clinton was a murderer. They kept saying how out of touch she was with the daily realities of their lives. And its true, Trump had those huge rallies, and even in my own experience, listening to conference calls where all the state leaders would get together, she never got on the phone to tell us what to do. It was very impersonal and very strange. Lightning Round Age: 23. Graduated: In 2015 from Bard. On clothes: I usually like to wear a nice shirt, nice pants these are the clothes Id wear at the ranch. Currently reading: Bomb, Book, and Compass, by Simon Winchester. Currently watching: The Crown. En route to: Amman, Jordan, where my friend is working on a sanitation project. *This article appears in the January 23, 2017, issue of New York Magazine. A lot of people predicted that women were going to change Americas political history in January of 2017. But pretty much no one anticipated that theyd be doing it as leaders of the resistance. On Saturday, millions of women and men organized largely by young women of color staged the largest one-day demonstration in political history, a show of international solidarity that let the world know that women will be heading up the opposition to Donald Trump and the white patriarchal order he represents. Women and again, especially women of color, always progressivisms most reliable and least recognized warriors, the women who did the most to stop the rise of Trump were the ones taking progressive politics into the future. The Womens March, dreamed up by a couple of women with no organizing experience in the feverish, grief-addled hours after Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton, and then organized by an expanded team in the span of about ten weeks, was an earth-shaking triumph. According to early reports, it drew somewhere north of 680,000 to Washington, D.C., 750,000 to Los Angeles, 400,000 to New York City, 250,000 to Chicago, 100,000 each to Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, the Twin Cities, and Portland Oregon; and crowds of thousands to smaller cities, including 11,000 to Ann Arbor, 5,000 to Lexington, Kentucky, 8,000 to Honolulu, and 20,000 to Houston. There were 2,000 protesters in Anchorage, Alaska, and 1,000 in Jackson, Mississippi. Demonstrations took place on all seven continents, including Antarctica. This mass turnout in support of liberty, sorority, and equality was conceived by women, led by women, and staged in the name of women. It also drew millions of men. It was a forceful pushback to the notion that because a woman just lost the American presidency, women should not be leading the politics of the left. Women, everyone saw on Saturday, are already leading the left, reframing what has historically been understood as the womens movement as the face and body and energy of what is now the Resistance. Plenty of factors made this effort so successful, but perhaps the biggest was the shock and horror that jolted portions of a long-complacent population awake after the election of Donald Trump. As it turns out, sometimes, It Takes a Villain. Weve got one now; he lives in the White House, has the nuclear codes, and spent Saturday defending the size of his, er, inauguration crowds. In his first weeks in office, he might very well nominate an anti-choice Supreme Court nominee, begin deportations, repeal health-care reform, start the process of withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, and defund Planned Parenthood. He has already reinstated the Global Gag Rule. Yes, Trump exposed himself as a villain long before the election, and for many on the day of the march, the question was: Where was this energy before November 8? Clearly, the vast majority of Saturdays crowd had been Hillary Clinton supporters, at the very least in the general election if not in the primary. But it is also true that some of the apathy, some of the complacency, that many critics took as a reflection of Clintons flawed candidacy stemmed instead from the sense that Americans didnt really need to panic or take to the streets on her behalf because she was going to win. She was going to win, the assumption went, because of course we are evolved enough that this guy could never get elected president and thus we were free to focus on the imperfections of the woman who was going to be the president. Through this lens, those who had been out there before the election, wearing T-shirts, holding signs, and talking passionately about the sexism Clinton was facing or racist backlash toward Obama or the high stakes of this election for women and people of color were silly bed-wetters, Hill-bots, embarrassing in their fixations on identity politics. Those yelling about sexism were playing some dated woman card; those trying to explain how gender and race and class intersect were jargon-happy hysterics. There was a confidence that the countrys problems with women had been largely redressed, or at least were no longer so entrenched that we would have to put in extra work on behalf of the first one to be running for the White House. But that confidence was baseless, ahistorical. The country has a yuge problem with women, and Donald Trump is the cartoonish embodiment of that problem. If a time traveler had been able to jump just 24 hours backward, from the night of November 8 to the night of November 7, to warn us what was about to happen, Election Day turnout would have looked a lot more like the march turnout, not just in numbers but in energy and purpose and passion. But since reverse time travel remains largely a right-wing goal, we got Donald Trump. Of course, we also got 4 million or more people to the streets on Saturday and a sense of the potential for the womens movement to be both much larger and much broader than its ever been before. National co-chairs of the march Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour, and Tamika D. Mallory at the Womens March in Washington, D.C. Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage It matters that the protests were organized and headlined by young women. When I covered the March for Womens Lives that took place in Washington almost 13 years ago, I wrote about the hundreds of thousands of young women who flocked to Washington but found almost no representation, no voice, no reflection of their own diverse identities and experiences reflected onstage. In 2004, I wrote about Gloria Steinems earnest attempt to reach out to the young women gathered, but worried that while Steinem had been there for my mother and to some extent for me, it was unlikely that my future daughters generation would know who she was. Its been 12 years since the last march, I wrote back then. Twelve years from now, Steinem will be 82 years old. Who will take her place onstage? On Saturday, Steinem, now 82, did take the stage, at the invitation of the young women who had created this extraordinary day. She was there alongside not just the organizing team of Carmen Perez, Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour, and Bob Bland, but the hundreds of other women black, indigenous, Latina, Asian, Muslim, Jewish, trans, and queer women who in making this event, have just remade the womens movement as more inclusive and powerful than it has perhaps ever been. Though initial worries that the demonstrators were going to be predominantly white had been exacerbated by social-media images of trains and planes full of white women arriving for the protest, the crowd in Washington was decidedly mixed. Signs and buttons and speeches and chants voiced support for Black Lives Matter, outrage at the water crisis in Flint, and opposition to the Dakota Pipeline, long-overdue recognition of the fact that these issues have direct and often disproportionate impact on women, and that the women who have been fighting these fights are the leaders here. If there was an over-representation of nice white ladies marching, its important to note that those white women were showing up for a march led by nonwhite women, in support of a radical and intersectional set of policy principles laid out by nonwhite women, carrying signs and marching in solidarity with plenty of womens issues that do not center on white women. No, we shouldnt give them too much credit for showing up where they should have been for years. And yes, the next steps must include white women (and men) showing up for women of color in other ways, at other demonstrations and with other actions (including not voting with an eye to their own privilege). But even if the necessary power realignment within feminism takes time, this historic event will have been a tremendous step toward the reimagining of a womens movement as a web of varied but interconnected interests and missions. In the past, strategic tensions over intersectional aims have stemmed from an anxiety that diffusing the focus on gender inequity to also tackle racial injustice, environmental injustice, minimum wage, and LGBTQ issues would just serve as an example of women subjugating their uniquely gendered concerns to other kinds of needs, as they have been conditioned to do. The fear and yes, it is often a fear of white feminists who do not experience as many additional biases or roadblocks to equality aside from their gender has been that overlapping identities and injustices could somehow work to pull women who might otherwise be united apart from each other. But there was a new metaphysical approach at work on Saturday, largely thanks to the organizing and leadership of nonwhite women: the revolutionary sense that the new womens movement will be about pulling in issues of criminal justice, environmental activism, immigration reform, and systemic racism. Women, with women of color at front and center, can be the engines of new progressive activism in all arenas. Its a rebuke to the theory floated by some on the left that there is a disjunction between identity politics and politics, a rebuke to those who suggested in the wake of Trumps electoral win that the future lies in moving away from divisive social issues and identity-framed movements and back to economic policies. What this event did, on the most massive scale we have seen in this country, is reaffirm what has always been true: The impact of identity bias has always been economic, and economic issues have always most powerfully disadvantaged those who experience identity bias. Or to put it another way: Womens rights are human rights. Perhaps most surprising of all, men showed up alongside the women to fight for those rights. Many reports had the New York march at about half men, though some of that could perhaps be explained by the number of New York women who went to Washington alone, leaving kids behind with male partners. But those men including my husband, including my male friends brought those kids, girls and boys, to the march for womens rights in New York. Men were at all the demonstrations in great numbers. They held signs like Im with her with arrows pointing every which way; they chanted her body, her choice; one image shows a white guy holding a sign reading, Screw it. Ill do it. Black Women *Thank You* a rare acknowledgment of black women as the most reliable progressives and left activists in this country. On the train returning to New York from D.C., I was wondering aloud to my editor whether people would continue to wear the pussy hats after the march. A bearded, gray-haired man piped up. I think theyll turn out to be a symbol of the new movement, he said. Ill wear mine. While its important not to pat guys on the head too appreciatively for showing up where they, too, should have been for years, its impossible to overstate how important it is to have men enthusiastically signing up for a movement led by women. Historically, men have offered support for womens causes here and there, but largely from the sidelines, as if womens concerns were a ghettoized subset within the larger progressive project. Saturday was different: They showed up, wore the pink hats, listened (if they could hear) to Angela Davis and Melissa Harris-Perry and to Janelle Monae, who reminded them that it was woman who gave you Martin Luther King Jr.; it was woman who gave you Malcolm X. Men paid tribute to the women leading them, and didnt try to take over. The day after the march a video circulated showing Ur-progressive white man Bruce Springsteen speaking at a concert in Perth on Saturday, saying that his bands hearts and spirits are with the hundreds of thousands of women and men protesting in support of tolerance and inclusion, reproductive rights, civil rights, racial justice, LGBT rights, the environment, wage inequality, gender equality, health care, and immigrant rights. There it was, a progressive agenda that could not possibly sideline womens concerns, because it was women who drew it up and laid it out and summoned millions to shout their message. Its a new world. Get a load of whos running it after all. New NERR! He'eia National Estuarine Research Reservethe 29th NERR in the national system and first new reserve in more than six yearsincludes unique and diverse upland, estuarine, and marine habitats within the He'eia estuary and a portion of Kaneohe Bay, protecting a stream, coral reefs, sand flats, and important cultural components. The cultural sites include traditional agricultural and heritage lands. On Jan. 19 , NOAA announced the establishment of the He'eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. Estuarine reserves protect a section of an estuary and provide a living laboratory to explore and understand the important areas where rivers meet the sea. The 1,385-acre He'eia National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses upland forests and grasslands, wetlands, reefs and seagrass beds, as well as the largest sheltered body of water in the Hawaiian Island chain. It is located within the Kaneohe Bay estuary on the windward side of Oahu and includes significant historic and cultural resources. Education and community involvement are an important part of each reserve, and the system as a whole is an integral part NOAA's efforts to improve the resilience of coastal communities and economies. Estuaries themselves provide many community benefits, including flood protection, water filtration, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities. The new reserve will be managed in partnership with the State of Hawaii through the University of Hawaii's Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. NOAA provides national programmatic leadership, guidance, and funding. The reserve's management plan, developed with state and local partners as part of the designation process, provides direction for research, education, stewardship, and cultural activities for the next five years. Funds are provided under the Coastal Zone Management Act and it is anticipated that the Hawai'i reserve will be eligible for fiscal year 2017 funding to begin operations. A public ceremony to commemorate the opening of the reserve is anticipated in the spring of 2017. my words get all fumbled up when i try to argue and i do it almost every single time it's so frustrating to try to prove my point Reply Thread Link I do the same exact thing:/ Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I do better with writing. Reply Parent Thread Link I do that or I start to cry. It depends on how angry I get, lol Reply Parent Thread Link same i get tongue-tied and cry Reply Parent Thread Link Same, especially if the other person starts yelling. Whenever someone raises their voice at me, my brain just goes into panic mode. Reply Parent Thread Link I've started scripting stuff because I get so tongue tied. Reply Parent Thread Link Same. Hell I don't even have to be arguing. Reply Parent Thread Link same Reply Parent Thread Link I LOATHE those assholes with the "THE END IS NEAR, PRAISE JESUS" signs who always use these events to get attention. They are always at music festivals too. Hate them. They were right by me at the DC march. I put my sign in front of his as much as I could but they always make their signs so huge. ugh, hate religious people tbh!! Reply Thread Link are there a lot of them? European here. like, I keep hearing that they exist, but how regular is it to run into these guys? Reply Parent Thread Link It depends on where you are. I'll see the odd person with one of those in my city every now and again but there tend to be a lot of them at things like pride parades etc. I feel like they mostly stick to touristy areas because that's where they can easily bother the most people. Thankfully I didn't see any at my local march. Reply Parent Thread Link don't waste your breath, ellen Reply Thread Link She's doing it for a coin sis Reply Parent Thread Link Gaycation is such a good show, I love Viceland Reply Thread Link i just discovered viceland yesterday. i really like it too. i watched the action bronson show, bong appetit, and hate thy neighbor so far. i gotta start gaycation soon but it looks so depressing :( Reply Parent Thread Link Weediquette is good too. I get sucked into it for hours. Reply Parent Thread Link It's the first channel in a long time that airs like 75% of content that I like very very much. My other faves are: Cyberwar, Noisey, Weediquette, States of Undress, Vice Does America. 2016 was the year of documentaries for me overall and Viceland helped to start it. I'm sad the ratings are so bad but I hope they are monetising the content via streaming and all the international distributions. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I like Desus and Mero whenever I remember to watch them. Reply Parent Thread Link you gotta watch desus and mero too! i also love abandoned. Edited at 2017-01-23 02:17 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I like Gaycation and States of Undress a lot; I hope they keep doing them. Reply Parent Thread Link i was kind of annoyed with her during the juno era but i've come to really love her <3 Reply Thread Link lol I was always annoyed with her (before Juno, during Inception, Hard Candy, etc.) but then she came out and Gaycation turned me into a stan. Reply Parent Thread Link i didn't like the movie Juno and for a while she was that character to me, but i like her now. Reply Parent Thread Link Good for her. Religious people are such brain dead fucking morons. Reply Thread Link I couldn't find the words quickly enough to not get flustered while talking to a protester like that one. Reply Thread Link She stayed much calmer than I could have. Reply Thread Link She probably doesn't even know where to start with his bullshit. Reply Parent Thread Link She had a great deal of patience. I would have lost it on this idiot. Reply Thread Link I can't even watch this, I know it'll upset me. Dealing with these people is too much for me because they don't even begin to care to learn. It's really a huge waste of time for her but I respect that she tried... Reply Thread Link People interrupting & shouting over ppl stresses me out so much. Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. Some of those news panel shows, like Chris Matthews, where everyone's talking over each other make me so anxious I have to just shut the TV off. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Mte Reply Parent Thread Link People in the LGBT community are so brave. I can't imagine what it's like to have to defend who you are like that to strangers. Reply Thread Link lol i gave up on arguing with straight christians a long time ago. now i just direct people to the library where they can read books about homosexuality and religion written by people paid to do that shit Reply Thread Link Me too. And if I don't cry I just tremble with rage and my ears get hot. Reply Parent Thread Link Yup and my words get mixed up. Reply Parent Thread Link I can't wait for RPO. Reply Thread Link Did she replace...idk the other main actress? I feel like they cast two black women under the radar, I was surprised to see she and another lady involved. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm excited for season 3 of Killjoys. All of the cast is just so good in it but Hannah really carries it. Reply Thread Link What is Killjoys about? Reply Thread Link she's stunning and I love how she's in everything. Did her character blow up in TFA or is there a chance she'll be back for more background work in VIII? Reply Thread Link I'm pretty sure she was the boss villager who pulled out a big blaster at the beginning of the film. So she's dead. Reply Parent Thread Link she's not, she worked for the first order so that's why I'm wondering if she blew up with the rest of the giant death star II Reply Parent Thread Link she's gorge Reply Thread Link I was thinking of her recently, with the news s3 is filming. I'm certain Killjoys is the first place I saw her but she looks so familiar to me beyond that and I don't know why. She seems way older than she is. I'm ready for Killjoys S3, but my wife Mayko better have lived. All casts have to say they like each other, but I believe them because of what a small group it is. Pawter is on a new show, but she's recurring and it's in Ontario too so maybe she'll be back. Reply Thread Link I do too just because of some cast tweets I saw (and my own will, I'm so sick of faves dying). A surprise bitch! is exactly what she'd do too. I'm about to get real pathetic, but I've been thinking about this. If she's alive, I could see Dutch doing some Dutch-thing to make Delle not press charges/send for Johnny's head/fire them, etc. in exchange for not going after her about Pawter. Although I suppose they couldn't really anyway. I'm very curious about where the show is going since Khylen and Level 6 have been the big plot since the beginning. I still can't believe that's it. Reply Parent Thread Link So happy that she's getting these high profile rows. She's so talented. Reply Thread Link I just finished s1 and I'm about to start s2. Such a fun show, and I love her. She actually has me excited for Ready Player One now haha Reply Thread Link Bless you coming up into other posts to find me sis! Reply Parent Thread Link PM me for a Killjoys link for season 1 + 2 Reply Thread Link What on earth is Ready Player One about? I tried reading synopses but they were so vague and gave me nothing on what to expect Reply Thread Link It's a sci-fi dystopia about a world where people mostly live on a Second Life-like platform bc the real world is shit. The guy who created the platform hides puzzles on the system and users compete against each other to find them and get the prize (fortune and power). The main character in the book is a poor male teenager. Reply Parent Thread Link i love her & can't wait for s3 of killjoys. i should read ready player one soon. Reply Thread Link yeah, i say soon, but i probably wont get around to it for awhile. lol i do hope hannah continues to be in more things! she's so great! Reply Parent Thread Link pretty Reply Thread Link YES RITA FUCK ME UP JUST BACK YOUR 2015 FORD FIESTA INTO MY ASS!!!!!!!!! Reply Thread Link They say fake it until you make it, the problem is this chick has spent so much time faking it that she forgot to make it. Reply Thread Link i swear ontd is singlehandedly keeping the good sis rita ~relevant~ Reply Thread Link i like her music tbh *shrug* Reply Thread Link Same lol Reply Parent Thread Link I just want this to be a so-bad-it's-good movie. We deserve one of those! Reply Thread Link Gosh, hopefully this one won't be like that. Though obv you can watch something lighter - like The Room! Reply Parent Thread Link The first one was like that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link this fucking wig always kills me Reply Thread Link what a Look Reply Thread Link Mte people can laugh but I admire her hustle Reply Parent Thread Link LOL Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lolol Reply Parent Thread Link PERIOD Reply Parent Thread Link Lmaoooo Reply Parent Thread Link That's a lie sis. Reply Parent Thread Link These alternative facts. Reply Parent Thread Link don't you love it when talent wins? Reply Parent Thread Link warren buffet who tbh Reply Parent Thread Link "Every single magazine you open up, you always see Rita Ora, and I always say, oh hey! But what else does she do, what else does she do?" Reply Thread Link Good for her Reply Thread Link I can't believe her or her "career". She is a lot of nothing. It's been 5 years since Oral was released and somehow she has managed to still exist. I wonder how long she'll be able to keep this lie. Reply Thread Link I am ready for my queen to slay me with new music! Reply Thread Link OP always hustling, promoting this d lister. I ain't mad at you OP Reply Thread Link U.S. President Donald Trump has plans to support domestic oil and gas industry, job creation and local manufacturing in his America First agenda. One proposed House Republican corporate tax reform, however, may lead to radical changes in U.S. crude oil and petroleum products flows and thus, in the global markets. The so-called border adjustment tax is part of the proposed legislation that has drawn the most attention, analyses, and contradictory opinions. If this legislation passes as-is, companies would not have to calculate revenue from exports in their tax base, but would be unable to deduct the cost of their imports. Although the border-adjustment tax is intended to boost American manufacturing, it would essentially tax imports, and U.S. refiners importing crude oil would certainly feel the pinch. The U.S. still imports lots of crude oil even if volumes are lower than 10 years ago and will continue to do so in the near future. Imports in October 2016 were 7.607 million bpd, the latest available data by the EIA show. Exports of crude oil were 491,000 bpd that same month, while exports of crude oil and petroleum products reached 4.942 million bpd. According to a recent report by PwC, the border adjustment proposal would have a notable impact on the energy industry. Companies that export crude oil as well as those that manufacture and export refined products, equipment and chemicals would benefit from the provision. But companies that import equipment and crude oil for refining and processing would not be able to deduct import expenditures, PwC says. Economists think that the proposed tax would further strengthen the U.S. dollar, thus leading to lower costs of imported goods and little or no net change in the after-tax cost of imports, PwC noted. Still, PwC said: Despite the benefits, the potential of the border adjustment for short-term economic disruptions is the subject of much debate. Related: Saudi Energy Minister Says 1.5M Bpd Of Oil Off The Market Now Controversies are many regarding this particular tax proposal, and even President Trump, in a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, criticized the House Republican plan, defining it as too complicated. The Koch brothers have warned that the border adjustment tax could lead to higher gasoline prices. In a report funded by Koch, energy economist Philip K. Verleger argues that No sector, though, will be more affected than petroleum by the border tax plan. Verleger says that consumers on the U.S. East Coast, the Upper Midwest, and the West Coast would continue to be supplied with imports of petroleum products. Refiners located in these regions will also rely on imports of crude oil from abroad, the economist notes. In his 2017 State of American Energy address, Jack Gerard, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API), said earlier this month: As the incoming administration and new Congress look to work together to reform the nations tax code, wed hope that any changes will make America more globally competitive, are evenly applied and mindful of the important role the oil and natural gas industry plays in job creation and economic growth. Related: Will Offshore Wind Continue To Grow Under Trump? While analysts say that the exact impact of the tax reform on the oil industry is very difficult to predict, they feel it unlikely that legislators would pass any regulation that would raise the price of gasoline for American consumers. Peter Cohn, an energy analyst with Washington-based investment company Height Securities, has recently told Reuters: I dont see this mix of leadership figures in the House, Senate and the White House, doing something that has the effect of raising gasoline prices. According to Gregory Jenner, a partner at Stoel Rives who helped draft a 1986 tax reform plan, as quoted by Platts: What this new tax provision would do would be to completely upend that arrangement. That could be for the good, it could be for the bad. We just dont know. With President Trump now in office, the new Administration and the House Republicans will need to be ever mindful of how this proposed legislation will impact the U.S. petroleum industry and crude oil and oil product flows. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Donald Trumps pick for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has won the approval of two key Republican senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, just before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes on Tillersons nomination on Monday. After careful consideration, and much discussion with Mr. Tillerson, we have decided to support his nomination to be secretary of state, Senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said in a joint statement on Sunday. Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests, the two senators said. Sen. Graham also tweeted I will vote to confirm Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. The support of the two key Senators comes as lawmakers of both parties have expressed worries over Tillersons close ties to Russia and Putin while he was chief executive at ExxonMobil. Rep. Senator Marco Rubio who was a rival of Trumps for the Republican presidential nomination is still undecided over Tillersons nomination, but according to the Associated Press, McCain and Grahams support could make it more difficult for Rubio to remain a holdout. Related: Saudi Energy Minister Says 1.5M Bpd Of Oil Off The Market Now At Tillersons Senate confirmation hearing earlier this month, Rubio urged the Secretary of State nominee to agree that Putin was a war criminal because of Russias involvement in Syria. Tillerson declined, saying these were serious charges to make, adding that he needed more information before reaching that determination. Rubio has said that he would make up his mind certainly before the vote, adding that Tillersons responses to written questions have helped to address some of the senators concerns, AP reports. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee members are narrowly split with a slight advantage for Republicans, so Republicans may need all of their party votes to pass the Tillerson nomination. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Amid speculation whether Iraq would really play along with the OPEC production cuts, the oil minister of the cartels no.2 producer said on Monday that the country had already cut 180,000 bpd off its production, and planned to reduce output by another 30,000 bpd by the end of January. Speaking at an industry event in London, Iraqs oil minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi said that Iraq had cut production from a level of 4.75 million bpd, Reuters reports, but this was not the reference basket that OPEC used to determine who should cut what under the production cut agreement signed last November. Under the November 30 OPEC deal, Iraq had promised to cut 210,000 bpd from a reference production level of 4.561 million bpdfor a production target of 4.351 bpd. Before signing the agreement, OPECs second-biggest producer had pleaded exemption on the grounds that it needs revenues to fight Islamic State. Iraq had also disputed the secondary sources data that OPEC used to calculate the baseline for the production cuts. According to OPECs latest Monthly Oil Market Report published last week, although secondary sources placed OPECs total crude oil output at 33.08 million bpd on average in December, down by 221,000 from November, crude oil output increased the most in Iraq, whose production reached 4.632 million bpd last month, up by 42,600 bpd from November. Iraqs self-reported production figure for December is 4.830 million bpd, up by 30,000 on the month. Related: OPEC + Russia Agree On Monitoring Mechanism Today, its oil minister said that production cuts started at fields operated by national oil companies. Iraq has contacted international oil companies and has so far received a good response from most of them, the minister said, according to Reuters. In addition, according to the minister, Russias Lukoil, operator of the West Qurna-2 oil field, had recently told al-Luaibi that it was ready to reduce production by 20,000 bpd without compensation. Unlike other OPEC members whose national oil companies control all or most of the production, Iraq has a number of international oil companies that operate fields in the south. Iraqs contracts with the IOCs include provisions that the country should compensate producers for having to cut back production. These contractual commitments, together with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that controls fields in the north and may not play along with the cuts, makes Iraqs task of complying with the OPEC deal even more difficult. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China expanded its global reach again this past week. With the first-ever rail shipment of Chinese goods arriving in London, as part of a new Silk Road train route. And news yesterday suggests China is taking big leaps in resource finance as well. That announcement came from China Molybdenum Company the worlds largest moly miner. With the company saying it has an unusual new financial partner for its latest mine acquisition. Chinese private equity. China Moly Co said Sunday it has signed an agreement with PE outfit BHR Partners for the Tenke copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With the miner supporting BHR to buy a 24% stake in the Tenke project, formerly held by Lundin Mining. That follows China Molys purchase of a 56% interest in Tenke last May from Freeport-McMoRan. A deal that initially looked rocky after objections from DRC state mining firm Gecamines but which has now reportedly been endorsed by the DRC government. The Chinese miner bringing in BHR is a very interesting move. Representing one of the first forays weve seen for China-based private equity into the mining space. BHR does have a Western flavor to it having U.S. advisors Thornton Group and Rosemont Seneca (run by the son of departing U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden) as minority partners. And the investment group is getting a lot of support from China Moly, including financial guarantees for BHRs $1.14 billion purchase price on the 24% Tenke interest. But this shows private investment appetite for mining is rising in China. An observation supported by recent data from private equity analysts Preqin who reported that Chinese backers are right now preparing the worlds largest mining private equity fund. Related: OPEC + Russia Agree On Monitoring Mechanism As the chart below from Preqins latest report shows, Chinese PE group Power Capital is currently marketing a $3 billion mining fund. Dwarfing other mining funds in market, and substantially larger than the reigning biggest PE mining fund, the $2 billion Resource Capital Fund VI. All of which suggests there may be a lot of money coming soon from China for mining deals. Watch for more private equity buys emerging from this part of the world, and for a completion announcement on funds like Power Capitals. Heres to deep pools. By Dave Forest More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, Of course. You would have to be be barking mad to want to bring this rabble to NZ. But then socialists are mad by definition. It's not as if we don't have... Actelion announces results of the MAESTRO study with macitentan in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to Eisenmenger Syndrome Details Category: Small Molecules Published on Monday, 23 January 2017 20:19 Hits: 1860 ALLSCHWIL/BASEL, Switzerland I January 23, 2017 I Actelion Ltd (SIX: ATLN) today announced that the MAESTRO study to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of macitentan in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to Eisenmenger Syndrome did not meet its primary objective. Professor Nazzareno Galie, Head of the Pulmonary Hypertension Center at the Institute of Cardiology, University of Bologna, and Steering Committee member for the MAESTRO study, commented: "The results of the MAESTRO study are very difficult to interpret. We have seen encouraging positive effects of macitentan in the response of N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide plasma levels and hemodynamic measures. Although the results point towards a benefit of treatment with macitentan, we do not see a significant treatment effect on the primary endpoint of exercise capacity as measured in the 6 minute walk test. I believe this has been influenced by an unexpected improvement in the placebo arm of the study, which is unusual in a predominantly untreated PAH population. In fact, we have not seen such a persistent placebo effect in the multiple studies published so far in PAH. We need to fully analyze the data to understand what could have caused this phenomenon." In MAESTRO, 226 patients, including 135 patients in Functional Class II, were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 10 mg macitentan or placebo once daily. After 16 weeks of treatment, the mean change in 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) from baseline was an increase of 18.3 meters (m) in the macitentan group and 19.7 m in the placebo group. The 6-MWD least-squares mean difference at Week 16 was -4.7 m between macitentan and placebo (95% CL: -22.8, 13.5 m; p=0.612, intention-to-treat (ITT)). There were 3 patients with missing 6-MWD values at Week 16 in the macitentan group, and imputation of zero meters at Week 16 was applied. In the per-protocol population (200 patients), the mean change in 6-MWD from baseline was an increase of 30.2 m in the macitentan group and 18.9 m in the placebo group. The 6-MWD least-squares mean difference at Week 16 was 6.4 m between macitentan and placebo (95% CL: -7.0, 19.8 m; p=0.347 per-protocol). A 20% reduction of the exploratory biomarker endpoint, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, an indicator of cardiac response, was observed after 16 weeks with macitentan compared to placebo (95% CL: -32%, -6%; p=0.006) in the overall patient population. In addition, a 13% reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRi) was observed after 16 weeks with macitentan compared to placebo (95% CL: -27%, 3%; p=0.102 ITT) in a hemodynamic sub-study of 39 patients (20 in the macitentan group and 19 in the placebo group). The mean change from baseline to Week 16 in PVRi was a decrease of -409.8 dyn.sec/cm5/m2 in the macitentan group and an increase of 79.4 dyn.sec/cm5/m2 in the placebo group. The PVRi least-squares mean difference at Week 16 was -434.8 dyn.sec/cm5/m2 between macitentan and placebo (95% CL: -791.5, -78.0 m; p=0.018, ITT). Patients in the sub-study also showed an improvement in exercise capacity: the mean change in 6-MWD from baseline was an increase of 34.1 m in the macitentan group and 3.5 m in the placebo group. The 6-MWD least-squares mean difference at Week 16 was 24.9 m between macitentan and placebo (95% CL: -9.1, 59.0 m; p=0.146 ITT). Guy Braunstein, Head of Global Clinical Development, commented: "We have seen encouraging results on multiple measures, particularly in the hemodynamic sub-study. Preliminary results from the open label extension of the study suggest that patients originally randomized to placebo and subsequently treated with macitentan showed an improvement in exercise capacity after 24 weeks. We must fully understand the results, in particular the reason for the large placebo effect, to know what might be changed so that we can deliver on our commitment to patients with Eisenmenger Syndrome." The MAESTRO safety set comprised 226 patients, 114 patients in the macitentan group and 112 patients in the placebo group. Macitentan was well tolerated in this patient population, and safety was, in general, consistent with the known safety profile for macitentan from previous clinical studies. The most frequently reported adverse events that occurred with higher frequency on macitentan vs. placebo were headache (11.4% vs. 4.5%) and upper respiratory tract infection (9.6% vs. 6.3%). Seven (6.1%) patients on macitentan experienced a serious adverse event compared with two (1.8%) patients on placebo. Two patients (1.8%) in each group discontinued the study treatment due to an adverse event. During the course of the study, there was one death reported (respiratory failure), in a patient receiving macitentan. The company will now fully analyze the data and make them available through a peer-reviewed publication. ABOUT EISENMENGER SYNDROME Eisenmenger Syndrome represents the most advanced form of pulmonary arterial hypertension in conjunction with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD). The congenital heart defect causes a shunt to develop between two chambers of the heart, so an increased blood flow returns to the lungs. The blood vessels in the lung arteries become stiff and narrow, resulting in pulmonary hypertension. Eisenmenger Syndrome occurs when the pressure in the pulmonary circulation becomes so great that the direction of blood flow through the shunt reverses. It is associated with the development of chronic cyanosis and limited exercise capacity. Patients with Down Syndrome represent between 25% and 50% of the Eisenmenger population, depending on cohort studied. To address the high unmet medical need for effective, targeted PAH therapies in this vulnerable population, Actelion extended the MAESTRO study with macitentan in Eisenmenger Syndrome patients to the Down Syndrome community. To ensure proper safeguards were established to protect the patients' rights and safety, the company worked with ethics committees, patient advocacy, support groups and patients' families. ABOUT THE MAESTRO STUDY MAESTRO (MAcitentan in Eisenmenger Syndrome To RestOre exercise capacity) was a Phase III multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the effects of macitentan on exercise capacity in patients with Eisenmenger Syndrome. The study was started in 2013 and global enrollment was completed in August 2016 with a total of 226 patients. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio, with 114 patients in the macitentan 10 mg group and 112 patients in the placebo group over a 16-week treatment period. The study was conducted in 71 centers in 26 countries. The regions included North and Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. A sub-study was conducted in 8 countries and 11 centers to evaluate the effects of macitentan on hemodynamic parameters assessed by cardiac catheterization in patients with Eisenmenger Syndrome. MAESTRO included 135 (59.7%) patients earlier in the course of the disease (Functional Class II) as well as 62 (27.4%) patients who received a PDE-5 inhibitor as background therapy. MAESTRO is one of the first randomized clinical trials in Eisenmenger to include patients with Down Syndrome. 20 (8.8%) patients with Down Syndrome were enrolled in the study, contributing to the broader advancement of knowledge and understanding of this disease. ABOUT OPSUMIT (MACITENTAN) Opsumit (macitentan), an orally available endothelin receptor antagonist, resulted from a tailored drug discovery process in Actelion's laboratories. In the US, Opsumit is indicated for the treatment of PAH, WHO Group I to delay disease progression. Disease progression included: death, initiation of intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous prostanoids, or clinical worsening of PAH (decreased 6-minute walk distance, worsened PAH symptoms and need for additional PAH treatment). Opsumit also reduced hospitalization for PAH. Effectiveness was established in a long-term study in PAH patients with predominantly WHO FC II-III symptoms treated for an average of 2 years. Patients were treated with Opsumit monotherapy or in combination with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors or inhaled prostanoids. Patients had idiopathic and heritable PAH (57%), PAH caused by connective tissue disorders (31%), and PAH caused by congenital heart disease with repaired shunts (8%). In Europe, Opsumit is indicated, as monotherapy or in combination, for the long-term treatment of PAH in adult patients of WHO Functional Class (FC) II to III. Efficacy has been shown in a PAH population including idiopathic and heritable PAH, PAH associated with connective tissue disorders, and PAH associated with corrected simple congenital heart disease. Opsumit is very likely to cause major birth defects. It is contraindicated for use in pregnancy. In the US, Opsumit is distributed under a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy. AVAILABLE CLINICAL DATA SERAPHIN, a global, pivotal Phase III study, was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of macitentan in patients with symptomatic PAH, through the primary endpoint of time to first morbidity and all-cause mortality event. A total of 742 patients were randomized to placebo (n=250), macitentan 3 mg (n=250), or macitentan 10 mg (n=242). The primary endpoint occurred in 46.4%, 38.0%, and 31.4% of the patients in these groups, respectively. The hazard ratio for macitentan 3 mg versus placebo was 0.70 (97.5% CI, 0.52 to 0.96; p=0.0108) and the hazard ratio for macitentan 10 mg versus placebo was 0.55 (97.5% CI, 0.39 to 0.76; p<0.0001). Worsening of pulmonary arterial hypertension was the most frequent primary endpoint event. Patients were allowed to receive PAH background therapy throughout the study, either PDE-5 inhibitors or oral/inhaled prostanoids. The effect of macitentan on the endpoint was observed irrespective of background therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. The most commonly reported adverse drug reactions with Opsumit were nasopharyngitis (14.0%), headache (13.6%) and anemia (13.2%). MERIT, a randomized controlled study, was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of macitentan in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). In MERIT, 80 inoperable patients were randomized to receive 10 mg of macitentan or placebo once daily over a 24 week treatment period. After 16 weeks the treatment effect was a significant 16% reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) with macitentan compared with placebo (95% CL: -30%, -1%; p=0.04 intention-to-treat (ITT)). The efficacy observed was consistent across all sub-groups, included patients receiving background PH specific therapy at baseline (61%), including PDE-5 inhibitors (59%). Mean PVR decreased from baseline in both macitentan and placebo groups (geometric mean percent ratios of Week 16/baseline 73.0% and 87.2%, respectively). The study also showed a significant positive effect of macitentan compared to placebo on exercise capacity. After 24 weeks of treatment, the mean change in 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) from baseline was an increase of 35 meters (m) in macitentan and 1 m in placebo. The 6-MWD least-squares mean difference at Week 24 was 34.0 meters between macitentan and placebo (95% CL: 2.9, 65.2 m; p=0.03). Macitentan was well tolerated in this patient population and safety was in general consistent with the known safety profile for macitentan from previous clinical studies. The most frequently reported adverse events that occurred with higher frequency on macitentan vs. placebo were peripheral edema (22.5% vs. 10.0%) and events related to anemia (17.5% vs. 2.5%). Hemoglobin decreases were observed in both macitentan and placebo groups and in only one subject in each group hemoglobin values decreased below 100 g/L during the study. Macitentan is currently being further evaluated in multiple studies to expanding the clinical utility of this important product in PAH and beyond. ABOUT PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (PAH) PAH is a chronic, life-threatening disorder characterized by abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries between the heart and lungs of an affected individual. The symptoms of PAH are non-specific and can range from mild breathlessness and fatigue during normal daily activity to symptoms of right heart failure and severe restrictions on exercise capacity and ultimately reduced life expectancy. PAH is one group within the classification of pulmonary hypertension (PH). This group includes idiopathic PAH, heritable PAH and PAH caused by factors which include connective tissue disease, HIV infection and congenital heart disease. The last decade has seen significant advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of PAH, which has been paralleled with developments of treatment guidelines and new therapies. Drugs targeting the three pathways that have been established in the pathogenesis of PAH are endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), prostacyclin receptor agonists, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. PAH treatments have transformed the prognosis for PAH patients from symptomatic improvements in exercise tolerance 10 years ago to delayed disease progression today. Improved disease awareness and evidence-based guidelines developed from randomized controlled clinical trial data have highlighted the need for early intervention, goal-oriented treatment and combination therapy. Learn more at http://www.pahuman.com/ Actelion Ltd. Actelion Ltd. is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative drugs for diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Actelion is a leader in the field of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Our portfolio of PAH treatments covers the spectrum of disease, from WHO Functional Class (FC) II through to FC IV, with oral, inhaled and intravenous medications. Although not available in all countries, Actelion has treatments approved by health authorities for a number of specialist diseases including Type 1 Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick type C disease, Digital Ulcers in patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, and mycosis fungoides type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Founded in late 1997, with now over 2,500 dedicated professionals covering all key markets around the world including Europe, the US, Japan, China, Russia and Mexico, Actelion has its corporate headquarters in Allschwil / Basel, Switzerland. Actelion shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: ATLN) as part of the Swiss blue-chip index SMI (Swiss Market Index SMI). All trademarks are legally protected. SOURCE: Actelion Sometimes a building aims to look as if it has always been there. Frequently, architects match the brick of the surrounding neighborhood and use slightly modernized versions of traditional details to make a structure appear that its been there longer than it has. This is not such a bad thing. Buildings end up being agreeable and uncontroversial. Sometimes, though, a design comes into being that calls on a different set of materials and details and a different kind of thinking than the architecture next door. At the Seton Hill Visual Art Center in Greensburg, Boston Architects DesignLab, in collaboration with BHSM of Youngstown, took an approach that departed from their immediate surroundings. The context is downtown Greensburg, and perhaps unexpectedly so. Seton Hill University sits on an elevated green campus at the edge of town, but the Visual Arts Center is part of an innovative campaign by the university and local government to revitalize downtown with an infusion of the arts. Greensburg has suffered with western Pennsylvanias de-industrialization of the 1970s and 80s, and the decline of the central business district was exacerbated by the rise of suburban shopping malls. But a Brookings Institution report [in the early 2000s] said that partnerships between universities and colleges and [small] cities could be mutually beneficial, could drive economic growth, explains Curt Sheib, chair of the division of visual and performing arts at Seton Hill. The universitys first downtown building was its Performing Arts Center, a brick-clad concert hall and theater with studios and classrooms completed in 2009. Its success led the university to consider further downtown expansion. The visual arts department had growing programs, and dance had not been completely accommodated in the first building, due to budget restrictions. Over the years, Seton Hill had contemplated other proposals for visual arts, including a 1990 design proposal produced by renowned architect Philip Johnson for the main campus that did not come to fruition. The right building seems to come at the right time, Sheib says. The current project moved forward definitively when the city made available the current site at West Otterman and College streets, just across from the beautifully neoclassical Otterbein United Methodist Church, and a block from the Performing Arts Center. The city had been considering commercial developers for the property, says Jennifer Reeger, Seton Hills director of media relations. Then we came along. The university looked beyond the region to invite architects with national visibility to participate in a design competition. A rigorous internal study resulted in a complex program for the building with specific requirements for gallery spaces, art therapy classrooms, and studios for a broad variety of art makingpainting, ceramics, sculpture, carpentry, metalwork and digital fabrication with the specific requirements for power, data, and ventilation which these require. Also folded in were dance studios, with the need for stiff structure under resilient surfaces. Among the seven architecture firms chosen to submit design proposals, most presented more conventional structures clad in brick or cast stone. DesignLab stood out with its factory-like proposal in corrugated metal. For principal Bob Miklos, whose father had been a foreman at Youngstown Sheet and Tube, the design recalled the functional buildings of the regions industrial heritage. The opportunity to draw on that was very exciting for me, he recalls. The building also would be much more economical than its competitors, and, Miklos says, the selection committee unanimously loved our approach and idea. The design also grew out of efforts to blend the different spaces in ways that would be functional while also encouraging students of different disciplines to intermingle. Many enter the building from the corner of College and West Otterman. The first floor opens with a cafe, which is flanked by two art galleries, one emphasizing faculty and visiting shows, and the other for student work, putting some of the most public functions front and center. Functions blend purposefully through the floors, with painting studios often placed on the third floor for light from clerestory windows, and offices along well-traveled corridors with classrooms to encourage chance meetings. As the site slopes downward on West Otterman, the buildings organizing long corridor on the first floor transforms to a balcony, overlooking sculpture and other studios. Here the buildings industrial character becomes especially definitive, as the circulation path opens to the Art Yard. High studio spaces seen from above take on architectural drama, as do the staircases that open around the multiuse space. The Art Court is multiply practical, as it opens to the street for deliveries, while serving as an important space for outdoor creative processes that might be a bit messy. Yet, it can also be the center of social activities and events. Miklos likes the close relationship the building has to the sloping site. It was a challenge to fit these spaces in on the sloping street, but we did it. The new facility has been a great success with students, and arts enrollment has increased. Similarly, participation in local community dance and visual arts programs has been climbing, as well. The Seton Hill Visual Arts Center doesnt quite look like the buildings next doorits a bit too shiny and new to be one of the regions older factoriesbut it does resonate with the citys architectural heritage. And, its popularity is unmistakablelocally and nationally. It has won accolades from the American Institute of Architects Education Committee, the Society of College and University Planners, and the Boston Society of Architects. Says Miklos, No building in my 35 year career has won this many awards. This building doesnt succeed by matching the surrounding context; it does so by bringing the surrounding area back to life. My father was a country doctor; my mom, a nurse. Their relationship was grounded in the values of service and compassion, and they included their childrenme, for surein that vision. So I made house calls with my dad and, among other things, got to practice parallel parking while delivering Meals on Wheels with my mother, just to make sure that, while I was learning to drive, I was also learning about life. I remember seeing some pretty bleak situations: people who were old and lonely, or ill but, nonetheless, grateful to have the food we brought. Growing up, we lived in Hanover, Pennsylvania; first in town and then in the country. It wasnt quite Mayberry, but it was classically idyllic, small-town America. There, my dad was a prominent physician, partly because there werent too many in the area. He was the pediatrician, the obstetrician, the cardiologist, etc., all in one. As a family, we also made medical trips to Central America, working in Nicaragua (before the revolution) and then, later, in Guatemala. Coming back, I remember talking about how most of the health issues faced by the people in those two countries were tied largely to political turmoiland poverty. And while we didnt feel that we helped them all that much, we received a great deal from the people there. It was normal in my family to care. And my parents didnt just talk about it; they put caring into action. Seeing that gave me a sense of purpose, and it was during those years that I decided to become a doctor. If your goal is to become a doctor, you start thinking about getting into a good university and keeping your grades up, which was never a problem for me. When the time came, I chose Haverford College, in Philadelphia. Looking back, it made perfect sense. Haverford was a fine school, in the top five of the small liberal arts colleges in America at the time. But what I really liked about it was its value system. The college was of Quaker origin: very progressive and activist. Haverfords president used to take time off periodically to work as a garbage collector. And the professors all lived on campus, so you could drop by their homes to discuss things. It was a place of true idealism, and that helped to reinforce the values that I brought from home. At Haverford, however, I realized that I was not likely going to be tops in my class anymore. I worked hard, but the students there were off-the-scale gifted, with perfect SAT scores and a strong competitive spirit. In my junior year, I decided to take a break and went to Wales, where I focused mostly on rock and mountain climbing. All my buddies said, If you do this, Jim, youll never get into med school. But when I returned as a senior, they all said, Boy, I wish I had done that. It was difficult, but I managed to be accepted at a number of good medical schools, and I chose the University of Pittsburgh because it was still within range of my parents. I liked the citys down-to-earth, blue-collar reputation, and the fact that Pittsburgh is really a big, small town, as they say. So I moved here, and fell in love with the people. I love their history and resiliency. I also love their diversity. Pittsburgh is one of the finest melting pots in the world. For me, medical school was a challenge. I found the culture of medical education more than off-putting. Its value system was a far cry from the one that my parents (and Haverford) instilled in me. Early on, I had some wonderful mentors, but there were also a lot of cynical people to whom I couldnt relate. They were pursuing things that, to me, were not of a higher ordernamely, reputationand money. To me, health care is and always has been a sacred trust, a profound part of human society, going back to the earliest of times. Sadly, the sacredness of the medical profession, I believe, has been tarnished. The very structure of the health-care system dehumanizes the people we have pledged to serve. It has put distance between the practitioner and the patient. People are processed through a complex mechanism and, as a result, care-givers often lose sight of the fact that we are there for the people, not the other way around. The structure itself has become central. Size is part of the problem, too. With size has come indifference. Over time, we have turned delivering health care from a traditional calling into a forprofit enterprise, and are no longer doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. During medical school and all through my subsequent training, I often felt like giving up, having witnessed an alarming number of spiritually jaundiced people pouring out their frustrations onto not only medical students, but patients as well. Looking down the road, I wasnt sure where to go in medicine, if anywhere. I wanted to keep my options open, so I chose to practice general medicine, and selected a residency program at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, which I believed maintained the kind of fertile soil in which my values would be honored and, perhaps, even grow. My decision to join Mercy turned out to be a good one. I no longer had to fight the battle of medical ethics. I could focus on learning medicine and delivering care. After all, I didnt want to be just a well-paid part of the problem; I wanted to be a compassionate part of the solution. When my residency concluded, I became a chief resident, which meant yet another year of training for those of us who were interested in teaching. Coincidentally, Mercy Hospital started its teaching faculty program the year I graduated, and I happily became a part of that. I didnt want to be just a well-paid part of the problem; I wanted to be a compassionate part of the solution. Jim Withers As a new teacher, I felt called to find a way to nurture those medical students who were genuinely caring and compassionate in hope that these values would spread to others. I was able to teach clinically rather than in a classroom, and got to work alongside young people who were learning, and I liked that environment. I was able to make house calls to some of my patients. I treated people with drug addictions and alcoholism, and remember slipping a couple of bucks to some of those who were so poor that they couldnt pay for their medicines. I felt like, at least, I wasnt running away from my fellow human beings; I wasnt abandoning my brothers and sisters. While a part of me wanted to be a country doctor like my dadand Im sure I would have been good at itI fell in love with the city and became interested in urban poverty, particularly in Pittsburghs Hill Districtwhich comprises Mercy Hospitals main patient base. For a time, I worked there in the clinic at Hill House, where grandmothers, mostly African-American, would come and tell me their personal stories. Soon, I realized that the women I was treating, for hypertension or diabetes, were holding together maybe a couple dozen other people each, because of their strength. If I make them well, I will be benefitting a lot people, I thought, and I was proud of that work. It wasnt a path to the highest financial reward, but it was very fulfilling in a way that my parents and my college professors would have understood. Weve all been to doctors who simply report to us the results of whatever medical tests weve taken, and then pronouce us either healthy or not. Seldom do they ask us questions about the full spectrum of our lives so as to learn more about who we are, how we live and how we cope with our cirumstancesthe reality of our existence. This style of doctoring just didnt work for me, so I knew that I had to find a way to move beyond the traditional medical system to begin again and reconnect with the concept of actually treating human beings, in all of their complexity. But how? Thats when I decided to undertake the greatest challenge of all: working with the most excluded people possible. Ideally, I wanted my patients to be wary and uncooperative so as to test me as a doctor, and as a human being. To succeed, I would have to make medical treatment work for these people on their terms, as opposed to insisting that they come to me on mine. One winter day, I encountered a homeless man and tried to convince him to remain in the hospital because he was very ill, but I was unsuccessful. Soon thereafter, he headed out into a snowstorm and froze to death. The sadness of this got me thinking about all of those people out there, and thats when I discovered my true calling: reaching out and providing health care services for even the most intractably homeless people in our community. My first thought was that the outreach work I had in mind was so outside-the-box that I best not tell anyone. My colleagues would think I was crazy. Moreover, maybe my malpractice insurance wouldnt cover it. And then there was this: I was a full-time employee of a hospital, and the time I would have to devote to make this outreach effort successfulwhile I would not charge for it and would conduct it during my off-hourssurely would require institutional approval of some kind. But I didnt want to go through any administrative rigamarole because I was so passionate about getting on with it. Long story short, I met a man, formerly homeless, who, for six years, had been venturing out to help homeless people on the streets of Pittsburgh. His name was Mike Sallows, and he was not a doctor, but maybe we could work together, I thought. After all, Mike knew the streets far better than I, having lived out there once himself. At first, he was skeptical about bringing a doctor along with him, but was also keenly aware of the medical problems that existed among the local homeless population. Finally, he told me that hed take me out with him on two conditions: (1) that I didnt dress like a doctor; and (2) that I didnt act like a jerk. So I dressed like a homeless person, and Mike and I began making our rounds at night: House calls for the homeless, I thought. But I must tell you that I didnt get into this work simply to improve the lives of homeless people. Hopefully, that would happen. What I was really interested in was changing how medicine is practiced. I wanted to change how doctors approached their work and their patients. But from where do you start? From within your comfort zone, your own reality? Or do you start from someone elses? To me, thats the whole deal, right there. Anyone can do things on their own terms. But the deep end of the pool is realityand reality is not for beginners. Its important to remember that every person has their own unique story, and that the best teachers in the history of medicine have always emphasized that the person and their story hold the keys to diagnosis and healing. My journey has been a classic adventure story. Its Joseph Campbells Heros Quest, where one leaves the village and, in his travels, encounters all types of strange lands and strange people, and his experiences with these lead to his growth as a person. He realizes that the world is bigger than his original perspective, and that what was said back in the village, from time immemorial, wasnt always true. In fact, the people who are the most feared and mistrusted often turned out to be amazing. I was experiencing this, and it was intoxicating. But there came a point at which I had to let Mercy Hospital in on my secret. As time wore on, my outreach work was really cutting into my rest time between shifts and, to be honest, got a bit out of control. I was out until the wee hours, two and sometimes three nights a week. I went through a rather obsessive period, I guess, driven by my fascination and compassion after getting to know some people on the streets who were literally dying: some in their 70s and 80s, runaway kids, people with frostbite or wounds that hadnt been treated. I thought that I knew the local cityscape, and yet there was a whole invisible world carrying on in between the buildings. Behold, reality. By the end of 1992, three or four nurses were venturing out at night with their own formerly homeless partners in a coordinated strategy. Homeless people were visiting Mercys clinic and asking for follow-up care. A secretary in the hospitals department of medicine was getting calls from homeless people and was beginning to triage them. With help from a friend, we devised an electronic medical record system for our patients. I even began to write a position paper about the program, outlining the potential medical, educational and even economic benefits of this kind of outreach. It made so much sense to be out there, getting to know the people, and helping to connect the dots for them. So I called my malpractice insurance carrier and they were fine with this. Then I went to the CEO of the hospital, a nun from the order of the Sisters of Mercy, naturally. She listened patiently to my story, then told me the history of the hospital. As the story goes, seven nuns came to America from Ireland in 1843 and walked the streets of Pittsburgh, taking care of the poor and downtrodden. Six of them died doing this during an epidemic. Anyway, those nuns founded the first Mercy Hospital, in Pittsburgh, which led to the establishment of many other Mercy hospitals around the world. I didnt know any of this! Then our sister CEO said, What youre doing, Dr. Withers, is totally in keeping with our mission as an institution. If anyone here gives you trouble, just have them speak with me. Soon thereafter, by way of a care for the poor grant, the hospital helped me to get this outreach program really moving. Operation Safety Net, as we called it, became official in January 1993. I suppose that, given the values that were inculcated in me by my parents, and nurtured by my professors at Haverford College, I could have become a missionary an Albert Schweitzer, if you will. Sure, it would be great to work outside the box and do great things. But I realized that it was more important for me to work inside the system. It wouldnt be easy, but it was a big part of my mission: to remain on the inside and fight for accountability and compassionate medical care. My work is really my life. Its what Ive chosen. Its what my heart and mind both drew me toward. Ive traded the big paycheck and promotions for more meaning in my work. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed "Adventure NY" program apparently would include "creation of a hut-to-hut trail system" linking communities in the Adirondack Park with state Forest Preserve land, said William Janeway, executive director the Adirondack Council, an environmental lobbying group. The Adventure NY program would "improve access to state lands, rehabilitate campgrounds, and upgrade state Department of Environmental Conservation recreational facilities," according to budget documents. According to Janeway, state DEC Commissioner Basil Segos has said the Laura DiBetta, formerly of Parks & Trails New York, a statewide advocacy organization, would direct the program, if the state Legislature approves the program and funding. "We've worked with Laura DiBetta at Parks & Trails New York for years. She does great work and has the skills to improve the state's recreational facilities for everyone," Janeway said. "We are confident that Laura understands how special the Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve are." U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, on Jan. 13, co-sponsored legislation Rep. Raul Grialva, D-Ariz., introduced a day earlier, to permanently reauthorize the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, according to the Library of Congress government information web site. The program, funded from federal oil and gas royalties, provides grants for state to use for open space and park projects, and has been instrumental in funding recreational conservation easements in the Adirondacks. Stefanik also co-sponsored similar legislation in the previous Congress, but the program was only reauthorized temporarily. The legislation had nine co-sponsors, as of Monday -- five Republicans and four Democrats. Stefanik is the only New York co-sponsor, so far. Click here to read more about the program. ARGYLE Elna Senecal Butterfield looked down at a book she authored and illustrated and read a piece of her childhood aloud. It was the winter of 1945, in the midst of the Second World War. She saw her mother standing at the kitchen sink in their rural Rutland, Vermont, home with a faraway look on her face. She had a brother who was over there, Butterfield said. He was in upper France, the Battle of the Bulge. Her mother had helped raise her younger brother, and was worried for his safety. To boost their morale, her mother took the kids on a sleigh ride and stopped at a nearby dam, where her mother sat looking at the water for some time. He nearly drowned here once, she recalled her mother telling her, but I saved him. Butterfields voice cracked and her eyes welled with tears behind her wire-rimmed glasses. Her memories, like this one, of growing up in rural Vermont are lovingly captured in six books she wrote and illustrated and are now available on Amazon.com. Butterfield started writing down her memories in 1988 when her mother died. She realized then that many family stories and memories died with her, and Butterfield was determined to preserve those stories for future generations. Her desire to write became even more prevalent when Butterfields first and only grandson arrived in 1998. That was when I realized if I was going to do something, she said, I needed to do it. Her first book, School Days, describes being educated in a one-room school house heated by a pot-belly stove the students had to feed daily. After I had gotten that book done, she said, I had gotten the bug. Once the manuscript was finished, her son, Paul Butterfield talked her into adding pictures to the book. And although she had never trained as an artist, she has now illustrated all six of the books. Writing was probably 20-25 percent of the time invested, her husband, Marty Butterfield joked. Drawing pictures was the rest. Her second book detailed life Up On the Mountain, just northeast of her home, where time was spent hunting, logging and maple sugaring. It was a tar paper shack, but we loved it, she said, adding that porcupines had chewed the backs of the chairs and she could hear mice scurrying around at night. She followed the first two books up with four more: Country Kids & Critters, Folks Around Home, Living Off the Land and Life Was Like That. When I started writing this, she said, so many things came back to my mind. Paul Butterfield, who used to read the books to his now teenage son, called the books a precious gift of our history. They describe, through the challenges and humor of local folk, the day-to-day life of an era gone by, preserving those experiences in pictures and prose, for all of us, he said in a statement. In her book Country Kids & Critters, Butterfield wrote about her uncle coming home from World War II. His old dog, Buzz, was so happy to see him, the dog actually cried. I remember seeing that, she said with a grin. In that same book, Butterfield placed a bookmark on the page dedicating the book to her grandson. The bookmark read, A good family and growin up country are special blessings that carry into future generations. Never forget your roots. LAKE GEORGE A Lake George man has been arrested for allegedly using fake coupons to purchase cigarettes. Randolph O. Bray, 53, was charged with counts of second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree scheme to defraud and petit larceny for a Dec. 15, 2016 incident at Exxon Mobil on Route 9 in Lake George. Warren County Sheriffs Department said it is believed Bray had been passing off forged American Spirit cigarette coupons dating back to the summer. The investigation into the case is ongoing. GLENS FALLS A Glens Falls woman was arrested Saturday for allegedly selling cocaine while a child was present, officials said. Kristin M. Lamb, 27, of Ridge Street, was charged with felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child, according to Glens Falls Police. She is accused of selling the drug in Glens Falls with a child in her vehicle, Glens Falls Police Detective Lt. Peter Casertino said. The sale happened late last year, Casertino said. Lamb was arraigned and sent to Warren County Jail for lack of bail. Glens Falls Police detective sergeants Kyle Diamond and Joe Boisclair made the arrest, assisted by State Police, Hudson Falls Police and the Washington County Sheriff's Office. ARGYLE Washington County sheriffs officers are looking into whether criminal charges are warranted against people who used a legal explosive to blow up an old vehicle off Sweet Road on Sunday. Police said the noise from the 3:06 p.m. blast was heard around Washington and Saratoga counties, as far away as Easton and South Glens Falls. Washington County dispatchers received several calls about it, and Argyle firefighters were put on standby as a sheriffs patrol located the blast site off Sweet Road, officials said. The noise and concussion was found to have been caused by tannerite, an explosive made by combining two chemical compounds. It is ignited by high velocity impact, and is used in explosive targets by target shooters. Some also buy it in bulk, and use it to produce large explosions when it is shot with a gun. We tracked it down and people admitted to doing it, said Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy, who could feel the boom at his home in Kingsbury. From what I was told, people reported hearing it from Easton to South Glens Falls. A power outage was reported in the area and National Grid said it was not related to the explosion. A tree fell on power lines in Middle Falls that affected about 1,200 customers, according to National Grid spokesman Nate Stone. Murphy is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment right to bear arms, but said he questions why tannerite is legal. Sheriffs investigators are going to find out if the group that used it Sunday broke any laws with it, he said. It is legal, crazy as it sounds, Murphy said of tannerite. We are looking into it further today. If people are suffering damage at their home, it could be reckless endangerment or criminal mischief. The investigation is continuing, but preliminarily there does not appear to have been any laws broken, Washington County sheriffs Senior Investigator Tony LeClaire said. LeClaire said the state Legislature has considered bills that would ban the explosive substance, but they have not passed. Police in Queensbury dealt with a suspected tannerite explosion one Sunday afternoon last February when a blast around West Mountain shook homes and could be heard as far away as South Glens Falls and Hudson Falls. It occurred as target shooting could be heard in the area for hours, but the site and source were not located. QUEENSBURY The former Glens Falls man accused of killing his friend while robbing him asked a judge Monday to move his trial out of Warren County. Robert M. Divine Henry, charged with last Julys murder of 58-year-old Kevin Jenks in Glens Falls, believes the amount of publicity his case has gotten will affect his ability to get a fair trial, his lawyer, Tucker Stanclift, told Warren County Judge John Hall. His sense is, in this community, he cant get a fair trial, Stanclift said. Hall disagreed, saying the publicity had not seemed unusually heavy, and he believed a fair jury could be picked. Stanclift made the request as pretrial hearings in Henrys case got underway. Trial in the case is scheduled to start Monday. Henry testified on his own behalf as he and Stanclift sought to suppress the 2 1/2-hour videotaped confession he gave police. Henry told Hall he didnt know he was being video-recorded, and he would have felt more at ease believing he wasnt being recorded. He said he will never forget police pointing guns at him to arrest him and that he was scared, but acknowledged that State Police read him his rights. Stanclift said his statement was not given to police voluntarily because of the psychological coercion used by police. This is a murder investigation. How do you suppose police go about finding their suspect? Warren County Assistant District Attorney Matt Burin asked. Hall disagreed with the defense claims and ruled the video will be admissible at trial. Stanclift also asked Hall to postpone the trial, saying he was just getting documents from the Warren County District Attorneys Office. Hall denied that request, too, saying that prosecutors were turning over items sooner than legally required. Henry, 45, of Ilion, faces second-degree murder, burglary, robbery and lesser counts for the July 6 strangulation death of Jenks in Jenks home and theft of his car, credit cards and other valuables. Henry and co-defendant Kevin Chapman allegedly went to the home to steal from Jenks, but a struggle ensued and one or both choked Jenks to death in his bedroom. They were arrested three days later, after Jenks car, credit cards and phone were traced to their hometowns in Herkimer County. Authorities said Henry blamed Chapman for Jenks death, but admitted he was involved in the plot to rip off Jenks. Chapman pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against Henry, saying Henry strangled Jenks. He faces up to 18 years to life in prison. Stanclift also questioned whether Henrys statement was voluntary because of custodial issues, pointing to a Glens Falls Police entry in a statewide computer system, indicating an arrest warrant was issued for Henry before he was located. Different rules apply for police when questioning a person who has been charged versus one who has not been charged. Glens Falls Police Detective Sgt. Joe Boisclair said the entry was meant to show that he was wanted for questioning, and notes added with the online entry reflected that. But the system only allowed it to show that a warrant had been issued at that point, when one hadnt. This is the only way we could put an attempt to locate at the time, Boisclair said. Before the hearings began, Hall warned Henry that a plea deal offer that capped his prison sentence at 23 years to life would be withdrawn once the hearing started. Henry faces a possible life sentence as a persistent felon if convicted of any felony, with possible consecutive sentences. Yes, I fully understand that, judge, he said. I know that option is gone. Hall will likely rule later this week on the admissibility of the statement. Henry, a four-time felon, is being held in Warren County Jail for lack of bail. The hearings are to resume Friday, with jury selection starting Monday. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East TE: Davos is very exciting, very cold but I love the opportunity to meet people from across the world, in one place. In three days, you're able to talk to almost everyone you'd like to see in a year. It's wonderful. Business Insider: Over the past year, we've seen a lot of change in the Nigerian economy. If we look at the price of oil, the recession and if you take these change into account, how does your time at Davos this year compare to one year ago? TE: I think Nigeria, like every other country, especially in Africa, is going through challenging times but we are quite forward-looking because the fundamentals remain very strong. So going through this is a cycle and the key thing to us is how we are grappling with the cycle and I'm happy that there is a concerted effort between government and the private sector to make a difference, and it has become a blessing in disguise in the sense that we are now focusing more than ever before on diversifying the Nigerian economy. We will become less dependent on commodity price and more resilient and robust. This is what as a country we have resolved to do and this is what we believe will transform the economy and that is why we say the glass is half-full; to some, they see challenges and problems; to some, they see opportunities. And we are here to talk to those who see opportunities out of Nigeria. Business Insider: What is your opinion on the current forex policies that the Federal government has implemented and how do you think they will affect foreign investments? TE: I would say that the source of foreign exchange for Nigeria remains oil sales. Not long ago, I spoke about the need to diversify our economy away from commodity shocks or commodity prices; so what we are going through in Nigeria is a result of the fact that we're quite reliant, heavily dependent on oil, and the price of oil is not controlled by Nigeria and that is how we earn foreign exchange. So, as it is with our elementary economics, demand and supply. The supply is influenced by external factors, and that is the oil price. The demand remains strong, because of the size of the Nigerian economy, so what is happening is there is so much demand pursuing contracted supply and the point at which demand and supply intersect is a price. And so, it will continue, government and the authorities are on a daily basis grappling to deal with it. The solution to this, in the long run, is to diversify our economy so that we have multiple sources of generated foreign exchange. Now, to foreign investors, how does this affect them? As I said before, the glass is half-full, some might see it as a challenge and this is not the time to invest in Nigeria. Some might see it as an opportunity that with little Dollars you bring into the economy, you get more Naira and you can use that to establish good things, take early positions and things will definitely turn around because of the seriousness that everyone is paying to it. And as things turn around, they can profit. So, for me and my group, what are we doing? We remain very strong and optimistic about Nigeria. We continue to invest in Nigeria, we are in the process of closing a transaction that is in excess of two billion Dollars. We would not be investing in Nigeria if we didn't have confidence. What I've been saying to partners here is these are challenging times but the fundamentals are strong and we know that challenging times don't last, so come invest long-term and when the market turns around, you'll enjoy from it. Business Insider: In terms of local businesses, especially SMEs, what do you see the short and long term effects are going to be in the Nigerian economy? TE: As you may know, I have a foundation; The Tony Elumelu Foundation. It was set up to assist African entrepreneurs. I set aside 100 million Dollars to support these entrepreneurs, a thousand of them every year over a period of 10 years, across Africa, in all 51 African countries. Small-scale entrepreneurs in Nigeria, in Kenya, in Ghana, they face the same thing. What these guys need is not necessarily foreign exchange, they need stability, they need the right operating environment. They need to make sure that there's policy stability, they want access to electricity. They want functional infrastructure that will enable their business to do well and enable them to compete. Provide this to these young ones, they will help us to solve our economic problems. Business Insider: What inspired you to start your own foundation? TE: I was born and bred in Africa. I've worked all my life in Africa. And I've earned some sort of livelihood from Africa. And at some point in life, you begin to think of basic realisations; one is that poverty anywhere is a threat to mankind, two is the fact that, at some level, at some point, it's not about the wealth you accumulate as a person or a family that's important if people all around you are in poverty. If you're afro-centric to a large extent and you think of the future of Africa, you realise that you can't do much, that is the ideology in us. You also realise that there is so much unemployment in Africa and that the government and large businesses to a large extent don't even generate enough jobs. What creates jobs is the SMEs. So if we are genuinely concerned about the future of Africa and our young ones then we must do something about it. I thought that the best way to make our people self-reliant and independent is to give in a manner that is sustainable, that's why I decided to support young entrepreneurs through my foundation. Business Insider: There's a lot happening in Nigeria lately when it comes to young entrepreneurs and the support. Mark Zuckerberg paid a visit in 2016, there's also initiatives such as N-Power, so clearly there is a lot of movement. What is your advice to a young entrepreneur in Nigeria? How can he or she prosper? TE: First is they should see opportunities and not challenges because even when I started we had more challenges in Nigeria than we have today. They should persevere and realise that tough times don't last. They should be disciplined. They should stay focused. They should lay sacrifices. They should have deferred consumption; deferred consumers will save and not eat everything one day. And above all, they should think long term, because in the short term, you have hiccups and if you are short-term in your orientation, you will get discouraged. But when you think long term, you have to be resilient. I know it is so easy to see people who have succeeded today and say look at Elumelu, look at Dangote. We too suffered to get to where we are today. So they should think long-term and look at the big picture at all times. Business Insider: The Vice President here in Davos says he thinks that the Federal government can not simply float the Naira because according to him, "due to market conditions, that will be hard". What do you think about this? TE: I would say that the Vice President is in a much more informed position and would be best suited to comment on this. He's in a better position to make an informed decision for the economy. Business Insider: What is your outlook for Nigeria for the year 2017? TE: I think things are bottoming out, the oil price is improving, Nigeria is taking diversification of its economy very seriously. Government has dealt with the security issues in the north-eastern part of Nigeria. I think things are set for the country to take off. The capital market so far; in the beginning of this year, some of the stocks that I track are beginning to do well, so I'm optimistic and hopeful that this will be a better year for Nigeria. Business Insider: Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. "Over the past year, North Korea has crossed technical thresholds that were previously thought to be beyond their reach for years," Victor Cha, senior adviser and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said during a panel discussion. "The normally aggressive regime has taken an unusually violent path, even by their own extraordinary standards," Cha added. In the last 14 years, Pyongyang was responsible for 16 missile tests and one nuclear test. By comparison, in 2016 alone, the Hermit Kingdom conducted 25 ballistic-missile tests and two nuclear tests. Which leaves the obvious question, what does North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ultimately want? "What does Kim Jong-un want?" Cha said repeating the question. "I think he wants to ... he wants a peace treaty with the United States as a nuclear weapons state. I think that's what he wants." "I would add to that, that the North Koreans clearly would like to loosen, if not fracture, US alliances with Seoul and Tokyo, beginning with Seoul, certainly," said Ambassador Robert Gallucci, the lead negotiator with North Korea in the 1990s in the Agreed Framework process. "And they will do a lot to achieve that, and including, perhaps, enter negotiations," Gallucci noted. "Similar to what Bob said, [Kim Jong Un] also wants China to continue to treat North Korea as a special relationship, not a normal state-to-state relationship," said Chris Johnson, senior adviser and Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "And I would add to it also that he wants to be able to maintain total control, a type of government that he has with him as the pure dictator," said retired US Army General Walter "Skip" Sharp, a former commander of US Forces-Korea. The panel of scholar-practitioners agreed that the new administration would have to deal with North Korea "almost immediately upon taking office." The Tokyo-listed shares dived 16 percent to end the day at 242.3 yen after Japanese media said the vast conglomerate could book losses of as much as 700 billion yen ($6.1 billion) in the US unit. The stock fell as much as 26 percent earlier in the day, its biggest intraday decline in more than four decades, according to Bloomberg. The eye-popping loss would force the company, which has been struggling to move past an embarrassing accounting scandal, to seek support from a government-backed lender, the Nikkei newspaper said. Toshiba, one of Japan's best-known firms, said exact figures were not finalised. "We are still discussing how to deal with this issue, and no concrete decisions have been made," it said in a statement Thursday. Toshiba has fallen more than 45 percent since the company, which makes everything from nuclear reactors to laptops, warned in late December of a possible one-time loss on its US nuclear business. It said costs linked to the acquisition last year by its US subsidiary Westinghouse of a nuclear services company could come to "several billion US dollars" and dent its earnings. Japan's public broadcaster NHK said Thursday Toshiba had drafted a plan to sell more assets and delay expensive plans such as layoffs to boost its coffers by about 300 billion yen. Toshiba might spin off its semiconductor operations into a separate firm, among other efforts, in a bid to shore up its finances, NHK and the Nikkei said. Toshiba said Wednesday that splitting its memory chip business was an option, but that no conclusion had been reached. "There is a bigger sense of crisis than you would have imagined even a week ago," said Damian Thong, an analyst at Macquarie Group. "It seems like they are scrambling for a solution, something to announce to shareholders on the day of their next financial update," Thong told Bloomberg News. Japan's earning seasons gets into full swing later this month but Toshiba has yet to announce when it will release its latest results. Toshiba's nuclear woes are the latest blow to the once-proud pillar of corporate Japan, most notably a profit-padding scandal in which bosses for years systematically pushed subordinates to cover up weak financial results. In the aftermath, the company has been shedding businesses and announced the sale of its medical devices unit to camera and office equipment maker Canon. Xu Xiang, manager of the Shanghai-based private equity fund Zexi Investment, and two other executives were found guilty of market manipulation and fined an unspecified amount, the Qingdao Intermediate People's Court announced on a verified social media account. Xu's was the first insider trading case to be brought to court in the country and involved more than 40 billion yuan ($5.8 billion), respected Chinese financial magazine Caixin reported. Xu received five and a half years, while associate Wang Wei received three years and Zhu Yong two years with a three-year suspension. Investigators targeted several investment executives on suspicion of insider trading after a 2015 stock rout that saw the Shanghai stock index tumble nearly 40 percent over a period of little more than two months after peaking in mid-June that year. Authorities helped inflate the bubble by encouraging investments. But when it burst, officials quickly sought to pin blame on market manipulators. A star investor, Xu's company managed four of the top performing Chinese hedge funds during the stock market meltdown, according to Bloomberg News. Mainland Chinese stock exchanges have an unusually high proportion of non-professional investors and have been compared to "casinos", with insider trading and dramatic swings in share prices seemingly unconnected to underlying business prospects. The memo said: "Be informed that the police high command has with immediate effect directed that no police officer should marry a foreigner. Therefore, those already married to foreigners must declare their foreigners spouses to the office of the Inspector General of Police." It said that creating awareness would help to reduce the prevalence of stigma associated with mental illness, especially in Nigerian women. Mr Olushola Olaniyan, the Project Lead of Wiki Loves Women said this on Monday in Lagos, during a programme tagged: Mental Illness in Nigeria: Taking Back the Narrative. The event was organised by Wiki Loves Women, in collaboration with She Writes Woman, a Non-Governmental Organisation. The Wikipedia is a multilingual free online encyclopaedia, written collaboratively by the people who use it. It is a special kind of website designed to make collaboration easy. A wiki is an editable platform which started in 2001 by Jimmy Wales. Olaniyan said that Wiki Loves Women was partnering with She Writes Woman, to put issues of mental illness on the limelight in the Wikipedia. According to him, when people read from the experiences of others on how they have been able to manage the situation, they will also be encouraged to manage theirs. We are running Wiki Loves Women project and adding quality information about women in Nigeria on Wikipedia; it is a way of reducing systematic bias and gender inequality. We are working to provide reliable and quality contents that can be added to the Wikipedia as a way of protecting women with mental illness. There are certain peculiarities of mental illness to Nigerian women and we think that some of the information are not available on Wikipedia. In the Wikipedia, there is what is called mental health, of which most of the contents are not really focused on the local content of our Nigerian women. So, through this partnership and talking to Nigerian women that have had or are having experiences, we will be able to get local content in that perspective, he said. In her remarks, Ms Hauwa Ojeifo, the founder of She Writes Woman, said that the NGO was a movement aimed at providing love and support for women living with mental disorders in Nigeria. Ojeifo said that many people, especially women were not aware that they had mental illnesses. According to her, people are also not bold enough to speak about it because of the stigma associated with it, thereby making it difficult for them to seek help. She said that by the time this information would be put on the Wikipedia, people would learn more about it and come forward to seek help. For example, according to World Health Organisation, depression, which is a kind of mental illness, is the fourth major cause of suicide and death. Some studies say that in women, it is the third leading cause of death. Yes we don't have light, and other crucial infrastructure. But yet MTN, AIRTEL and other networks manage the environment. If you are in business, or in employment in Nigeria today, you are managing the environment. Using our environment as an excuse is rather tardy. Maybe DSTV should relocate to South Africa if that's the excuse. But the won't because we have the population and the profits, he said. Read his full position here. "You claim you are a Nigerian company, so to confirm your commitment to Nigerian, it's economy and supporting local industry, you decide to film BIG BROTHER NIGERIA IN SOUTH AFRICA. You take the Nigerian contestants to South Africa, and you use South African crew, facilities, equipment and audience for a show focused on your Nigerian subscribers. Now tell me who's interest your supporting! Now what does the NBC and Minister of Information have to say about this? What's the response of the local industry?" "I put up a post yesterday about Big Brother Nigeria being filmed in South Africa. Opinions have been divided between those who see nothing wrong with it; who point out the poor infrastructure of Nigeria, and incessant power cuts, unprofessional crews and potential lack of quality production had the decision been made to film in Nigeria. Those that take this position say it's strictly a business decision, based on numbers crunching that makes a South African production an easy choice. That position is reaffirmed by the feelings that's it's only in South Africa that the house can be sourced, quality crew and technical facilities sourced. There is much to be appreciated in this position. Nigeria is a very hard place to produce anything. Those of us in the industry battle every day to make things work. Unfortunately, we don't have any other country to run to. Our investments are here and we die or live by our acumen, talent and ability to manage the local environment. I have been in the production business for 27 years in Nigeria. I have paid salaries for 27 years and fought hard for the local industry. It's not a choice for me. I have to make it work here, for my team and their families. Now here's the issue. Can government and regulators continue to stare at a situation where Nigerians are making investments, despite all the challenges we face in the industry, and not regulate, protect and provide trade opportunities for those investing in Nigeria, like their citizens? All of us in the industry need to understand the stakes. The media continues to represent one of the most potent forces for employment, taxation, setting an agenda for development, changing paradigms, and bringing a nation together. It's also an economic issue; it's a national issue; it's a issue that goes beyond Big Brother being filmed in South Africa. It's about who sets an agenda for the development of the media, broadcast and film industry in Nigeria? The fact that we are unable to see the Economic issue is galling and represents everything that kills our potential and why we need to keep at it no matter the challenges. Our industry needs guidance URGENTLY. Yes we don't have light, and other crucial infrastructure. But yet MTN, AIRTEL and other networks manage the environment. If you are in business, or in employment in Nigeria today, you are managing the environment. Using our environment as an excuse is rather tardy. Maybe DSTV should relocate to South Africa if that's the excuse. But that won't because we have the population and the profits. I have been on this issue for years. It's tiring and energy sapping. But eventually someone will get it in government. If they don't, all of us in the industry should just stop investing. Sell our assets and go back to the farm, that's if all the land hasn't been sold to the Indians and Chinese. Finally, it disingenuous to sell down Nigeria. The continued demystification of Nigeria, it's people and environment is cause for worry. When our brothers in South Africa continue to position Nigeria as a country where the people have no skills, where nothing works; no infrastructure and we eat it all up, and echo it, we are in trouble. Nigerians can make any situation work. Despite our challenges we make it work. When we make things work, we make it better for our people. If the Minister of Information and the NBC have the interests of Nigeria at heart, they need to get a move on, before we loose out completely." ALSO READ: Gory Accident Former Deputy Majority Leader escapes death According to Nitiwul, the new government led by President Akufo-Addo will take a decision on the issue after analyzing all intelligence related to the case. Exactly a year ago, Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih al- Dhub were brought to Ghana to continue their jail terms, having been held at the Guantanamo BayNaval Base for 14 years without trial. The NPP, then in opposition, criticized the Mahama government for accepting the two detainees into Ghana, insisting that the move could pose security concerns to the country. ALSO READ: False Information Mahama dismisses UN appointment Asked by Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhaji Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, about his take on the matter, the Defense minister designate said: In the same way, this government [NPP government] is going to analyse all the intelligence related to this particular case and take a decision. According to him, he was rather appointed in January 2016 to Co-Chair the SDG advocacy group. Read more: Mahama takes SDG advocacy to Paris In a tweet, he said, "Folks! I have no new UN appointment. The Co-chair of SDG advocacy group appointment was last year January when I was Prez. Thanks." News were rife that Mahama was appointed by the United Nations to co-chair a session on SDG with the Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway. But Mahama dismissed media reports over a new appointment with the UN He said, "What many are sharing are the UN statement from January 2016 announcing the appt & my statements at the 2016 Davos Forum." In 2015, countries including Ghana adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, interacting with the media said, the move will be a breach of Ghanas constitution. As part of Nana Addos presidential campaign was about uprooting corruption. Nana Addo said, "We have decided that as much as possible we want to take the politics out of it." He has indicated one of his priorities would be to establish the Office of a Special Prosecutor to deal with corruption. Haruna Iddrisu on his part said, "You cannot create this without tinkling with article 88 of the constitution. And article 88 belongs to the executive chapter of the constitution, and that is entrenched. Therefore you cannot be seeking to review that through an act of parliament; that will be to come through the window to seek to amend a constitutional provision. We will subject that proposition to strict legal test, if it includes examining it and considering a legal pronouncement at the highest level of the Supreme Court." Read also: Meanwhile, the 2016 presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom said the establishment of the Office of a Special Prosecutor as part of measures to deal with corruption is not important. According to him, Nana Addo's initial priority to deal with corruption is not necessary to fight corruption in the country. The Presidential Advisor on Governance and Corruption Daniel Batidam, has also kicked against plans by the incoming Nana Akufo-Addo led government to establish the office of an independent prosecutor to fight corruption. READ ALSO: State Attorneys strike The Attorney-Generals office described the strike as illegal, and further directed them to return to work by Tuesday, January 3, 2017, or be considered as having vacated post. The state attorneys, however, insisted that their strike was legal and hence will not return to work. READ ALSO: Minister begs for more time to resolve concerns of State Attorneys But appearing before the Appointments Committee of parliament on Saturday for vetting, the Attorney General-nominee revealed that the president, Nana Akufo-Addo had intervened in the matter and has succeeded in persuading the State Attorneys to return to work. Francisca Tete-Mensah, president of the Association of State Attorneys has said that "based on that [meeting with President], we asked him to put it [assurances] on paper...and he directed his executive secretary to give us that paper." "We received the letter Friday so we called off the strike," she said on Accra-based Joy FM. She said the agreement reached with the government was dated September 28, 2015, and is supposed to take retrospective effect from 2012. Mr Anamoo had been subject to a number of allegations relating to corruption and embezzlement from junior staff of GPHA, and his troubled tenure as Director General has finally come to an end. Reports gathered by Pulse.com.gh revealed that Mr. Anamoo was dismissed in accordance with a directive from government. The Junior Staff Union of GPHA have, on countless occasions, called for his removal as GPHA boss, labeling accusations of embezzlement against him. The Secretary to the Junior Staff Union, Kweku Amorquasi Amuzuah, has requested for the Director General to be investigated, with workers from the Takoradi and Tema ports also firmly backing the notion. READ ALSO: 37 Military Hospital to hold mass burial for 48 corpses The Union also accused Mr. Anamoo of misusing state funds, insisting he transferred his residence to his son, who has also used the place as a recording studio and a pub at the expense of the state. This is the type of misinformation bordering on the defamation of character that slowly destroys nations through the proliferation of liesmarring transitions. First and foremost, the Sixth Council which is made up of members from many political parties HAS NOT sold any lands to anyone because it is not within its mandate to do so. Setting the record straight, the matter in question has to do with a proposed relocation and development of modern prisons facilities and staff accommodation for Ministry for the Interior (MOI) and Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The agreement precedes the Sixth Prisons Council and covers GPS offices, facilities and residential accommodation in Mamobi, Airport Residential Area and Cantonments. The agreement is between the GPS, its parent ministry and CASILDA Ltdnot the prisons Council. The Prisons Council only reviews agreements brought to it by the GPS directorate. It does not get involved with sales of properties. History of the PPP This project was initiated during the tenure of the Fifth Prison Council. The GPS is faced with acute overcrowding challenges with convicted persons lumped with remandees. It is also saddled with many dilapidated structures that cannot be used to adequately reform inmates. The management of the GPS at the time of the Fifth Council decided there was aneed to expand existing facilities and to build modern facilities equipped with rehabilitation facilities that wouldalleviate the aforementioned challenges as well as positioning it to better perform its functions. But alas the Government of Ghana did not have funds available to replacethe poor prisons infrastructure,many of which date back to colonial and military junta eras. A solution proffered by the GPS management,independently of its Council,was to trade in their land to a private developer who would in turn secure land elsewhere and build modern prison facilities for them. The requirement was that the developer would swap some prison lands with another land elsewhere upon which it would provide said facilities. So that the prisons were not cheated, the swap was supposed to be of equal value on both sides. The swap would not be permanent but it would revert after some time, according to the conditions of a lease agreement. The following transpired before the Sixth Council was ever appointed. The parent ministry of the GPS advertised an open tender process. Multiple interested persons expressed their interest. The tender closed and an evaluation team/selection committee composed of the former Director-General of Prisons, Matilda Baffour-Awuah, the prisons desk officer at the Ministry for the Interior, Attorney General and Ministry of Finances representatives reviewed the tenders and they selected CASILDA Ltd as the winner. Following the selection of CASILDA Ltd, Cabinet then gave its first approval for project concept and structure. The Central Tender Review Board was notified of the developer who was selected and they approvedthe tender results. It was only after all the above that, the then Director-General of Prisons, Matilda Baffour-Awuah brought the winner of the tender to the Sixth Prisons Council to update the Council which had just taken office on what had already been done with respect to this Public Private Partnership Agreement. The developer shared his vision with the Council. The Council listened to the presentation and proceeded to ask questions to ascertain whether the PPP process outlined by the Government of Ghana had been followed. It also sought to ascertain whether what the developer was bringing on board was best value for proposed swap. When it was shown that the developer had met these requirements, the Sixth Prisons Council gave the project a nod and advised that the remaining segments of the PPP process be also completed. This included further cabinet approvals and other processes. The founder and presiding bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International, Dag Heward-Mills, caused controversy in South Africa with a sermon critical of homosexuality. READ ALSO: Women in Accra march against Donald Trump In a sermon at the Grace Bible Church in Soweto, the preacher described homosexuality as unnatural and in contravention of biblical teaching. The sermon had largely gone unchallenged until Somizi Mhlongo, a popular choreographer in South Africa, walked out of the service and took to Instagram to criticise the sermon. In a video posted on Instagram, Somizi Mhlongo, said he was disappointed in the service and at all the gay people in the church who sat down to listen. This is who I am. I am a gay man I am proud and I am gonna remain gay for the rest of my life. Let God kill me, he said. South African Twitter has been divided about the preaching and the actions of the choreographer. Below are a sample of tweets in support of Somizi and Dag Heward-Mills. Explainer The former deputy education minister asked Mr Osafo Marfo a question regarding the Chinese New Techniques Construction Investment Company (CNTCI), the International Finance Corporation loans and the McMillan Text Book printing saga. But Mr Osafo Marfo dismissed Mr Ablakwa as infantile adding that: I think you were too young at the time to read the matter. He, however, withdrew the statement and apologised after he was asked by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei Owusu to do so. But speaking Monday on Accra-based Radio Gold, the North Tongu lawmaker said Mr Osafo Marfoas attitude during the entire vetting was unfortunate. Honourable Osafo Marfo clearly if you look at how cheeky he was at times and how he sought to be just flippant, be abrasive and dismissiveclearly that kind of approach doesnt help, he said. ALSO READ: 24 year old joins race to become Council of State member Mr. Decker picked up nomination forms earlier this month to run for the position of Council of State member for the Greater Accra Region. The 24-year-old, who works as a journalist with Accra-based Class FM, will be the youngest man to be elected onto Ghanas council of State board if he manages to convince the electorates to vote in his favour. He has already made strides in his quest and has been backed publicly by seasoned personalities like Kojo Addae-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of Databank Ghana, and the 2012 Presidential aspirant of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Dr. Michael Abu Sakara. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pulse.com.gh, Mr. Decker said although there are people supporting him in his historic bid to become a Council of State member, he has also had to deal with detractors who are trying to discourage him. I should tell you, [you dont know] the number of people who have called to tell me that, maybe, I am being too ambitious, he said. They say maybe I should wait a little, and wait till my time comes. And I tell them that why not now? Why cant a 24-year-old young journalist vie for this position? And so Im hearing it and it surprises me that even people of my age are trying to discourage me from going for this position instead of going for this position, instead of encouraging me. And Ive spoken to people who advice me, people who are very close to me and I told them what I wanted to do. And so they are also supporting me, so Im not backing down. Mr. Decker will be contesting against 18 other people for a chance to represent the Greater Accra Region on the Council of State. 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! 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! With so-called co-ed shows with both male and female models almost becoming the rule for men's fashion weeks -- the reverse rarely applies -- Dior's Kris Van Assche cried halt. In a show that married rave culture and mosh pit punks with haute couture, the Belgian designer insisted that young men had the right to wear something better than mass-produced one-size-fits-all street and sportswear. "Rather than accepting that all people want to wear is sweatshirts and jeans, I want to claim back the idea of tailoring, a new tailoring, one that talks to young people," he told AFP. Called "Hardior", a play on the hardcore ravers that inspired him and the storied brand's handmade traditions, Van Assche's autumn-winter collection married classic super-tailored black Dior jackets with short, ankle length trousers. His highly-worked makeover of casual and street wear forms even extended to bomber jacket suits, with the collection's mostly black trousers, coats and shoes often matched with acid red, orange and greeny-blues. Men's fashion "is all over the place" right now, Van Assche admitted. "Some big labels are not putting on shows and others are mixing men and women." 'No to androgyny' And he questioned the androgynous look that has gone hand in hand with the trend for more unisex and oversized clothes. "There is nothing more lovely than a girl in a man's suit, it's an interesting contrast," he said. "But if men's clothes become feminine we lose the contrast, and that doesn't interest me," he added. "At a time when we are questioning ourselves I do not doubt. I know what a Dior man should be," Van Assche declared. With Yves Saint Laurent deciding not to hold a men's show this season, most of the other big Paris names -- and a legion of smaller ones -- have been slipping mini "capsule" female collections into their menswear line-ups. But some hugely influential designers like Dries Van Noten have held the line with a notably masculine Mod-tinged show, while Cerruti stayed all-male for its retro 1930s gangster collection. Classic template Hermes stuck to its classic template with some highly desirable waisted leather jackets and a Debrett's dozen of expensively casual looks that smoozed sauve elegance. Like Dior, Korean label Wooyoungmi also tried to give more old-school menswear something of the street without losing its class. And nothing says establishment more than the Prince of Wales overcheck that ran right through the collection. But designer Katie Chung said its romanticism was actually inspired by Irish poet and wit Oscar Wilde who spent his life sending up his betters. Titled 'Rape Nonsense' the video basically preaches that men should rape women who come to their houses if they turn down their sexual overtures. The comedian has gotten some backlash for this inappropriate sketch. A quick look at his Instagram profile shows he is feeling some of it. "#SayNoToRape" is on his profile like some badge of honour. Under his controversial video, Baba De Baba gave a flimsy excuse why he shot the skit. According to him, he knew a guy who was arrested for 'attempted rape' because a girl who stayed over at his place didn't want to have sex with him. "I think the law on rape should be reviewed that whatever happens when an adult goes to visit a guy who is not her family member is not rape and no girl should visit a guy she can't sleep with," wrote Baba De Baba. It's astonishing to think that a man in 2017 can sit down and type this. He is essentially promoting rape culture online. What happens to consent Baba De Baba? What if a lady doesn't want to have sex when she goes to a man's house? Doesn't a woman have a say on who she will sleep with? This video should be removed from YouTube because it promotes rape culture and tells young men and boys it is right to rape women. Baba De Baba should also receive more backlash than he is getting now. Rape is not a funny joke, I don't care about the punch line or humour. Baba De Baba needs to tender an apology for his horrible skit. Punch reports that Eke who claimed to be a graduate of Mass Communication from Enugu State University, had broken into a pool office after seeing the cashier going in with a huge amount but luck ran out on him when the clerk who saw him raised an alarm and in a short while, an angry mob had gathered. His saving grace came when someone alerted operatives of the Aba Central Police Station who went to his rescue and whisked him away to their station. Eke, a wheelbarrow pusher who was paraded by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeleye Oyabade, in Umuahia, said he was attracted by the huge sum of money he saw with the cashier attached to the pool office when he went to play pool. I was attracted by the huge amount of money the cashier was counting in the office that I could not resist because I have not seen that amount of money before. I was trapped after the operation because I suspected that people were aware that somebody was robbing the office. I thank God that the police were contacted and they came and rescued me. If not, I wouldnt have known what would have happened to me if I was caught by the mob. Esquivel Cabrera Roberto who is reputed to have the largest penis in the world told Barcroft TV based in the United Kingdom that his blessing has turned to be a source of sorrow for him. Roberto who gained worldwide fame in 2015 after he was filmed weighing his penis to prove its authenticity, says he is sex starved as no woman seems willing to sleep with him due to his mammoth penis which measures at 18.9 inches. According to the Worlds Guinness book, Robertos manhood is about half a meter, smashing the previous record set by American actor Jonah Falcon, whose penis was 9.5 inches flaccid, and 13.5 inches when erect. Speaking with the TV station, Roberto said: I am famous because I have the biggest penis in the world. I do not have an active sex life as my penis is just too big to have intercourse. Some people ask me if I put some condoms on it and the answer is: I cannot. I can never penetrate anyone because it is too thick. While living in the USA, I did attempt to have sex twice, but the first woman backed out as soon as she saw my penis and the other one had to stop because it was too painful. My penis is a disability and stops me from working and this forces me to rely on food banks to survive. I cannot wear a uniform like anybody in the companies and also, I cannot get on my knees. I cannot run fast and so the companies think badly of me. The government has recognized me as disabled after initially dismissing my claim. Every four months, they give me some economic assistance but it is not enough. I visit the food banks every day to take my meals at 12 o clock. I would like to be a porn star and I think I would make a lot of money and the people are not like over here, they are more liberal, they dont care about what I have in my pants. Though surgeons in his native Mexico have said Robertos manhood can be reduced through an operation, he has refused to allow them to tamper with his weapon. Dr. Jesus David Salazar-Gonzalez said: We have advised him: Mr. Roberto, the best thing for you is that the doctors give a normal shape to your penis so that it doesnt hurt you, in order to have sexual relationships, in order to have children. But he doesnt accept it, hed rather have a penis bigger than the rest of the people. In Latin culture, whoever has the bigger penis is more macho. Its something that makes him different to the rest of the people and makes him feels special. He was obsessed with the penis length when he was a teenager. Punch reports that the 33-year-old ex-convict who had spent some months in the Kirikiri Prison was re-arrested for allegedly vandalizing Toyota cars on Victoria Island with the aim of removing the brain boxes, batteries, head and rear lights as well as other expensive accessories. According to the RRS, Oladimeji was released from prison last November 2016, after serving a three-month term for removing Toyota parts from a garage in Apapa in July of last year. The suspect allegedly told the police that a spare parts dealer at the Ladipo International Market was the one who gave him the specifications of cars to steal from and that he had stolen from some cars in the Lekki area of the state before he was arrested. (auto parts dealer) gave me the type of vehicle parts that are in high demand in the market. I have been working for him now for eight years. I steal different vehicle parts, particularly Toyota products. I remove Toyota Corolla brain box, headlight, rear light, and buttons. Since I came back from prison in November, I have stolen brain boxes of 47 cars. My targets are Toyota products. Whenever I am going on an operation, he is the one that gives me transport money. Most times, he tells me the specifications of the car he wants me to operate on. I live in Marwa, Victoria Island. I had surveyed the company earlier in the day. And I knew those cars belonged to that company. At about 4 am after the operation, I had removed all I needed to remove. The security sighted me and raised the alarm. They were chasing me. Unfortunately for me, RRS officers were patrolling. They sighted me, pursued me with their vehicle and arrested me. I usually break one of the small side glasses at the back seat to gain entrance. After I might have gotten all those parts, I would call Oga Dona who would tell me where to meet any of his boys for the collection of the parts. At times, I take it to them in Boundary in Ajegunle and most times in Toyota Bus Stop, Oshodi. I sell Toyota Corolla brain box for N30,000; N25,000 or N20,000. The least of the parts is N2,000. The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Patricia Adetuyibi, ordered Akinola to be remanded in Agodi prison inspite of the plea of his counsel, Mr Eze Okeke, asking for his bail. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akinola pleaded not guilty to some counts in the charge bordering on assault, abduction, threat to life and dangerous driving. His plea was, however, not taken by the court on the charge of attempt to kill while armed with a knife. Adetuyibi adjourned the case till Feb. 27 for mention. NAN reports that Akinola, who is of unknown address, was arraigned on a seven count charge of assault and attempt to kill while armed with a dangerous weapon. Other counts are conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, threat to life, dangerous driving and damaging other peoples vehicle. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Bola Olokoba, told the court that Akinola with intent to resist lawful arrest assaulted Idowu . Olokoba said that Akinola attempted to kill Idowu on Dec. 26, 2016 at about 11:30 a.m. at Iwo road roundabout, Ibadan, while armed with an iron rod and cutlass. He was alleged to have armed himself with a knife, cutlass and iron rod, he also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by abducting Idowu. Idowu was taken from Iwo road to Oje area in Ibadan by Akinola, who with intent to intimidate, threatened his life with knife and cutlass, said Olokoba. She also alleged that Akinola, while driving a Mack Truck with Lagos registration number EKY 248 XY, drove on a public highway recklessly in a manner dangerous to the public. The prosecutor further alleged that Akinola damaged one Volkswagen Vento vehicle with Lagos registration number LND 721 XC. The foundation is one of many primary healthcare facilities around the nation, where the Foundation's MamaCare Midwives deliver weekly classes to pregnant and postnatal mothers to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day 2017. Mrs Saraki, who was welcomed to the 9th Brigade Centre by its Supervising Matron, Captain Onyeke, Wellbeing Foundation Africa's Mamacare Advocate Midwife, Eunice Akhigbe, and Garrison Commander Abubakar, paid tribute to Armed Forces families saying: I am honoured to stand here today before the very people who demonstrate the highest level of honour, courage, sacrifice and dedication to this great country. Nigeria is a country that has known great difficulty, and great conflict. But it is a country that always, always perseveres. Our triumphs are not only our own, but those of all the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces to protect our citizens. Despite the insurgency that our country has faced in the Northeast, the Nigerian Armed Forces, with the Federal Governments support, has remained steadfast in maintaining peace and safety in our country, commendably. We owe these service people a great debt: their valour is what defines them. The resilience they nurture in the community is what unites us. Mrs Saraki continued: We at the Wellbeing Foundation Africa are happy to be able to help the wives and families of uniformed men through their monthly journey from pregnancy to birth and beyond, and we continue to give them a continuum of care and counsel. Through our MamaCare Antenatal Education Classes, which were initiated at this centre since January 2016, we seek to empower these women by providing the highest standard of education to them about their bodies, and their babies. These classes, which are delivered in primary, secondary and tertiary medical facilities across the nation, have been able to deploy skilled midwives at no cost to military families in Lagos and Kwara States, to provide education, support, and confidence about health, from birth to age. At present, our MamaCare Midwives reach over 350 military spouses and 1500 citizens each and every week, but we are determined to scale this program across Nigeria for the benefit of civilians and service-members alike. Much like the Armed Forces protect and nurture us, it is my hope that the work of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa reassures them, in turn, that their families are safe and secure. To dedicate ourselves to the health needs of these women and children is a small token of our gratitude, but one that we are grateful to give. The event started with HE Toyin Saraki being welcomed by the entire 9th Brigade Centre. She was then introduced to the outgoing Brigade Commander General Sani Mohammed and his wife Mrs Fatima Sani Mohammed, the incoming Brigade Commander General Attu and his wife Mrs Attu, and members of Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association by its Supervising Matron, Captain Onyeke. Decorating Mrs Sani Mohammed and Mrs Attu as Mamacare Midwifery Champion Ambassadors, Mrs Saraki commended the Nigeria Army Medical Services for operating an excellent and accessible health system, to the benefit of the two million members of armed forces families it serves at the Ikeja Cantonment. The event was further boosted by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa's donation of Midwifery Essential Medical Equipment Kits to all 9th Brigade Medical Centre midwives, the Foundation's flagship personal health records, Mamakit Goodybags personal care items for mothers and newborns, essential pharmaceutical medicines, and bedding materials for the centre's in-patient maternity and paediatric wards. The Matron, Captain Onyeke thanked the WBFA Mamacare Midwifery-led Antenatal and Postnatal Education Program for extending its respectful maternity care services in providing such unique education experience for pregnant and postnatal mothers, a service she attested was the first of its kind in the 55 year history of the centre, which had dramatically increased antenatal and postnatal attendance, delivering excellent outcomes in making mothers informed health-seeking partners for their wellbeing. ALSO READ:Toyin Saraki is ageless in new photo The government had earlier announced that it would close the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport for six weeks in order to repair the runway. Amaechi made the comment on Monday, January 23, during the second presidential business forum in Abuja. We are not going back on closure of Abuja airport. I understand that Lufthansa landed and its gear got damaged and it has been here for three days, he said according to The Cable. The runaway was built to last for 20 years but it has been in use now for 34 years. We are not repairing but rebuilding. If anything happens, you will ask us to resign and we dont want to resign, he added. The same sentiment had earlier been expressed by Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika when he was summoned by the Senate to explain the planned closure. ALSO READ: FG assures Kaduna Airport users of adequate protection The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor signed the two bills after the state executive council meeting. Our own government is a law-abiding one, he said. NAN reports that the bills were presented for assent by Mr Musah Abdulwasi, the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, and Mr Seun Abimbola, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The Administration of Criminal Justice Law provides for speedy and efficient administration of criminal justice and other matters related to it. The Violence Against Women Law prohibits violence against women in public and private lives as well as harmful traditional practices against women and other related matters. Amaechi made this known on Monday, January 23, 2017 at the Presidential Business Forum in Abuja. He disclosed that the Federal Government has released the counterpart fund for the construction of the mordernisation railway project. While thanking the Minister for finance, Amaechi said the counterpart funding was released in full so as to avoid delay in the project implementation. In his words: The construction of Lagos-Ibadan Railway, the Minister of Finance has been kind enough to release the counterpart funding in full. ALSO READ: Amaechi says Buhari is eager to reflate economy In a statement in Abuja on Monday, January 23, 2017, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, decried BBOG's continued portrayal of the government as an adversary and the "needless firing of darts" at President Muhammadu Buhari. ''The Federal Government has bent over backwards to carry the BBOG along and to show transparency in the conduct of the search for the girls," Alhaji Mohammed said. The minister continued: "The recent invitation extended to the group to witness first-hand the search for the girls by the Nigerian Air Force is a clear indication of this. ''However, it came to us as a surprise that in spite of its initial positive report on the tour, the BBOG has too quickly reverted to its adversarial role. "BBOG should stick to its role as an advocacy group rather than pretending to be an opposition party. The synonyms of the word 'advocacy' do not include 'antagonism', 'opposition' or 'attack'. In fact, those words are the antonyms of 'advocacy','' he said. Alhaji Mohammed said it amounts to "needless grandstanding for the BBOG to say it would no longer tolerate delays and excuses from the President on the release of the girls." The minister noted that such "impudent language" should have been reserved for the Goodluck Jonathan administration which "did nothing in the first 500 days of the girls' abduction." He maintained that President Buhari has presided over the liberation of all captured territory, the opening of shuts schools and roads, the safe release of some of the abducted girls and the decimation of Boko Haram. He assured Nigerians that the efforts to bring the Chibok girls back safely are continuing, but sought BBOG's understanding not to jeopardize the intricate process. ''Let me say unequivocally that the people involved in the negotiations are working 24/7. The negotiations are complicated, tortuous and delicate. Any wrong signal is capable of derailing things. That's why the less we say about the talks the better it is for all. ''We need a huge amount of confidence-building, the kind of which led to the release of the 21 of the girls. This has been lacking for years, but right now we are confident that we are on the right track. We won't do anything to jeopardize these talks, irrespective of the pressure or provocation from any quarter,'' the Minister said. Criticisms have trailed the President's current trip to the United Kingdom, where he is seeking medical attention. Nigerians have continued to query why Buhari will fly overseas on medical grounds when huge amount has been allocated to the hospital in Aso Rock. Speaking on a Channels Television programme of Sunday, January 22, Adesina said he is not aware of any time Buhari fell sick, so he would not know if he uses the clinic. He said: "I cant say because when the president is at home, I have never seen him fall sick. "But he has a personal physician who attends to him. But I would not be able to say categorically whether he uses the Aso Rock facility or not." The Presidential spokesman also defended the President when asked why he does not address Nigerians after unfortunate incidents such as the recent Southern Kaduna massacre. On Thursday, January 19, 2017, President Buhari wrote to inform the National Assembly that he would be proceeding on a 10-day vacation to the United Kingdom beginning today, January 23, 2016. One of the major reason for President Buhari's trip to the U.K is his health. "During the vacation, the President will also undergo routine medical check-ups," said Adesina. Well, President Buhari is 74 years old; he needs "routine" medical checkups. But, why travel abroad for vacation and medical? The Presidency provides answers to this and other questions on Buhari's health and his U.K vacation. 1. President Buhari is not sick. The true state of the presidents health is that he is not ill," Adesina said while speaking on Channels TV. "I have been in touch with the president and the people around him today, just as I was yesterday. The president is fine, and dont forget, the statement we issued said he was going on holiday and during that holiday, he would do medical checkups. 2. President Buhari has a personal physician who attends to him. 3. President Buhari may not have been using the Aso Villa Clinic. Despite the N3.8 billion appropriated for the State House Clinic in the 2016 budget, sad truth is President Buhari may not have been using the facility. "I cant say because when the president is at home, I have never seen him fall sick. I would not be able to say categorically whether he uses the Aso Rock facility or not," Adesina revealed. 4. Buhari has been travelling abroad for medical checkup before he became president - Adesina You have what is called medical history where you consult people who are used to you, and your health. Before he became president, he was using those people, so it stands to reason that the same people continue to attend to him. 5. President Buhari is alive and well! Garba Shehu stated this while reacting to claims that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan was invited for President Donald Trump while President Buhari was reportedly snubbed. "He is alive and well," Shehu said. "President Buhari is not magical. He cannot be holidaying in the UK & be in Germany, dead or alive at the same time. "He is unlike a past President who was at Ota, with Chief & attending the Trump inauguration in D.C, being in two places at the same time! The group in a statement made available to by its country director, Professor Yemi Ola said despite the recent arrest of journalists over reports on Buratai, the COAS has a commendable relationship with the media. He, however, urged journalists to maintain high level of professionalism on issues that that relates to national security. His words: "Buratai's strong stance against every act of corruption and his numerous sacrifices for our country where he leads an army that is combating terrorism must have necessitated his legal action against the publication on account of some contents which the Army declared to be against national security and the well-being of troops in the theatre of war. "It is erroneous to promote the belief that being a member of the pen profession or bearing arms on behalf of the country confers infallibility on individuals to an extent that they are perceived as incapable of erring or that they do not owe the duty of apologizing owing to the long tradition of solidarity which holds their professions together." recalls that men of the Nigeria Police Force recently arrested Premium Times editor, Dapo Olorunyomi alongside a female journalist, Evelyn Okakwu over a report on The COAS. Fayose also said that the girls who were rescued from Boko Haramin October 2016 were trained to act. He made the comments on Sunday, January 23, while appearing on Channels TV. Chibok girls were trained to act the way they did, otherwise, why is it that for two months they are still held hostage at the hospital rather than living with their families? he asked. I stand to say that the Chibok girls (abduction) were orchestrated to frustrate the administration of the former President. The situation of the released girls is like a home theatre or movie" You can rehearse with a parent to act and even cry. Its all theater. Have you not seen people doing theater? Don't you see people you see about a minute ago crying? This is another theater. Do you recall when the Chibok organization wanted to take the President on and it became an issue, two or three week after, some of the girls were found, he added. Fayose also criticized President Muhammadu Buhari over his handling of the economy. The problem remains the body language of the President, otherwise a sincere government can revive the economy in two years. And that we have not seen. The president does not have any economic plan that can stand the test of time, he said. ALSO READ: Osinbajo receives rescued Chibok girls in Abuja More than 200 girls were abducted from Chibok on April 14, 2014, but 21 of them were released on October 13, 2016 and were received in Abuja by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. He described the incident as unfortunate and condemnable. He said this when the Council of Traditional Chiefs and Emirs, led by Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, paid him a solidarity visit. This is not something to talk about because I am not the first governor to receive this kind of treatment, every governor in the last 15 years in this state has been treated this way and it is part of the challenges and burden of leadership. So I am not disturbed. As you know, leaders especially in any political dispensation, must learn to tolerate a lot of things because you have those who like you and those who oppose you because of political differences. That is why I did not take this personal, but what we will do is to prosecute all those responsible for the killings. And we are working hard with security agencies to ensure our citizens are safe and secure, the governor said. He said the biggest assignment was for the citizens to unite and should do their best to see that they have peace and unity, which is prerequisite for progress and development. Besides security challenges, we are faced with poor infrastructure, poor social amenities, poor schools, bad roads, lack of power and potable water and that is what this government is working to provide for the people," he said. We have cut down the gains and monetary profits people get in government just to be able to provide democratic dividends to the people. In your domains, you can see on-going projects at various stages of completion. He said We are also committed to demonstrating fairness and equity in the way we execute projects all over the state. I and my deputy and all those who work under this administration, have taken oaths with either the Quran or the Bible that we will be fair and just in our affairs. I am giving you my promise that we will be guided by this oath in all our dealings. I have met the Chief of Army Staff and he has approved the establishment of two battalions in Sothern Kaduna; one in Kafanchan and the other one in Kachia. I thought the one in Kachia will be sited elsewhere because of the presence of both the Nigerian Army and Navy Schools but I know the military has a reason of putting it in Kachia. Kaduna state government is looking for a temporary place in Kafanchan to provide the army a temporary settlement before a barrack will be constructed for them," he added. He said, they are starting with Kafanchan, then that of Kachia will follow. We hope that this will douse the fear in the mind of people and that the military presence will build confidence and we hope that their presence will help in confronting the attackers, especially with the added surveillance aircraft. We also know that this is a harvest period for farmers so we are asking the traditional rulers and community leaders to arrange with security operatives to plan how soldiers and police drafted in these areas will provide cover for farmers to go and harvest their crops. The second measure is that those involved in attacking and killing people and those behind the violence are being tracked and we hope, with the arrests, they will be prosecuted. The third measure is that we have to go back to the dialogue and reconciliation efforts we have started in the past. We have a Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue that has been working in southern Kaduna in the past two years. They have done similar work in Jos in reconciling the conflicting communities in Plateau and when they completed that assignment we invited them to come to Southern Kaduna. They facilitated the signing of Kafanchan Declaration in April 2016. These are some of the measures we are taking but our doors remain opened for anyone that has a recommendation or any advice for us on how to tackle these challenges. Our royal highnesses, I want to let you know that drafting security men alone will not give us the desired peace we want, except people are ready to tolerate and embrace one another, as well as choosing the path of forgiveness and unity," he added. Earlier, Alhaji Shehu Idiris said the council condemned the cycle of killings and reprisals in parts of southern Kaduna describing them as senseless and inhuman. ALSO READ:BBOG says Buhari should visit Southern Kaduna The council appealed to security agencies and government at all levels to urgently tackle hate speech, divisive rhetoric and incitement. Obaseki disclosed this when the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Uche, and other clerics paid him a courtesy visit in Benin, on Monday. We want to work with relevant stakeholders to know the numbers of these street children in the state, especially in Benin, and proffer solution. We believe that the religious bodies can play a great role in this regard, he said. The governor, who appreciated the role of religious bodies toward ensuring peaceful coexistence in any society, emphasised the need for the state and religious bodies to work in harmony. He said that his administration would consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor and assured the prelate of his administrations support in its effort to build a Methodist Vocational Secondary School in the state. Earlier, the Prelate had congratulated the governor over his victory in the 2016 Edo governorship polls and advised him to give special attention to the welfare of staff and retirees. The Prelate also advised the governor to build on the achievement of his predecessor and see himself as a governor to every Edo citizen. He prayed for peaceful coexistence in the state and urged youths to shun vices. Tambuwal, who inspected some fuel stations in Sokoto town, alleged that some fuel dealers were hoarding the product to cause artificial scarcity. He said his government would commission a joint task force, to include officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), to fish out erring fuel dealers. According to him, the task force has become necessary to ascertain that markers comply with laid down rules and regulations guiding their operations. The governors threat followed the scarcity of petroleum products being witnessed in Sokoto town and environs in the last two weeks. The state government will not fold its arms and watch unscrupulous marketers hold the people to ransom. The supply of the commodity from the NNPC has not been altered. As such, no one should create artificial scarcity to burden the people, the governor said. Tambuwal, who was accompanied by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, urged all those hoarding the commodity to quickly open their stations. The committee will go round and any filling station found hoarding fuel will face the full wrath of the law, the governor said. ALSO READ: Gov Tambuwal says President Buhari has ability to fix Nigeria Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's spokesman, Laolu Akande disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, January 22. He explained that other states of the federation, except two, are now being processed for the payment of N30, 000 monthly stipends to 200,000 graduates, who are the N-Power beneficiaries. The Federal Government's Social Investment Programmes (SIP), according to him, are proceeding at different stages of implementation. He said the government disbursed money to Anambra, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ebonyi last week for the smooth implementation of the feeding programme He revealed that last week, the government released money for the "smooth" implementation of the feeding programme in Anambra, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ebonyi. "The sum of about N375, 434, 870 has just been released and paid to 7,909 cooks in those states for the feeding of a total of 677, 476 primary school pupils," he said. Breaking it down, Akande said Ogun got a total of N119,648,900 paid to 1,381 cooks to feed 170, 927 pupils, while Ebonyi got N115,218,600 paid to 1,466 cooks to feed 164,598 pupils. He said Anambra got N67.5 million paid to 937 cooks to feed 96,489 pupils; Oyo state got N72.2 million paid to 1,437 cooks to feed 103, 269 pupils, and Osun got N867,370 paid to 2,688 to feed 142, 193 pupils. Akande noted that all monies were paid directly to the cooks and covers 10 days of school. He also disclosed that Zamfara and Enugu states will soon be paid N188.7 million and N67.2 million, respectively, later in the week. He said: "In Zamfara, the sum would be paid to 2,738 cooks to feed 269,665 pupils, and in Enugu, the sum would be paid to 1,128 cooks to feed 96, 064 pupils. "By then, over N631 million would have been released so far in 2017 for school feeding in seven states, paid to 11,775 cooks and meant to feed over one million primary school pupils." On N-Power, Akande said the process of payment of verified graduates, who are beneficiaries, has reached different stages of progress in the affected states. "more and more of such beneficiaries are posting their glad experiences of receiving alerts on the social media," he said. On the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), he said payments has continued in the nine pilot states of Bauchi, Borno, Niger, Kogi, Cross Rivers, Osun, Oyo Ekiti, and Kwara. "While payment challenges are being experienced with the banks in some of the states, beneficiaries continue to receive their stipends, which are being paid for two months," he said. Akande said N10,000 is being paid for the CCT beneficiaries to cover the months of December, 2016 and January 2017. Odita told NAN that within the period under review, more than 194 victims were rescued. He added that those rescued were mainly teenagers in the age bracket of between 10 and 13 years. He said that most of the suspects were arrested in various car parks in Lagos and Ibadan, as well as in Benin based on petitions from the parents of the victims. The Zonal Commander said the agency has secured conviction for three suspected human traffickers in 2016., while it still had about 31 cases pending in various courts. He said that the three convicts were expected to serve jail terms of two, 10 and 14 years respectively. He explained that most of the victims were lured with promises that they would be taken to European countries to get jobs. Odita advised parents who were in the habit of encouraging their children to travel abroad to seek greener pasture to be stop giving such advice. Recession should not encourage slavery, he said. It was organised by a pro-Biafra group advocating an independent state in southeastern Nigeria and was held on the eve of massive demonstrations against Trump across the globe. "Some suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)... staged an unlawful protest in the Port Harcourt metropolis," said Rivers State's deputy police chief Ahmed Magaji. He said the march was not authorised and had disturbed the public order, with police using tear gas to disperse them. "About 65 of them were arrested" on suspicion of belonging to the IPOB, and were found to be carrying the movement's flag, he said. The IPOB is part of a wider secessionist movement that advocates an independent state of Biafra, a region in southeast Nigeria that unsuccessfully fought for independence in a brutal three-year civil war that ended in 1970. Posting on Twitter, several pro-Biafra activists claimed police had brutally attacked the unarmed demonstrators and even killed several of them but there was no way of independently verifying the reports. Early on in the US presidential race, IPOB threw its support behind Trump in the belief he would recognise their independence movement. Soon after Britain voted in a referendum in June to leave the European Union, the group pushed for its own version of "Brexit" from Nigeria that it dubbed "Biafrexit". The suspects were arrested on Thursday, January 19, after Lamido made a personal complaint, Vanguard reports. As I speak to you, we have five suspects in our custody and they have demonstrated a great deal of cooperation and we are living no stone unturned to recover the stolen money, a source told Vanguard. Police spokesman for the zone, DSP Sambo Sokoto however said that he could not confirm or deny the reports until he had gotten proper briefing. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on July 7, 2015, arrested Lamido and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu, over money laundering charges. The former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu, were arrested this morning by operatives of the commission, a source said at the time. They were actually arrested very early this morning, they were with us for hours before they were flown to Kano for possible arraignment on Wednesday (today). They left Abuja Airport around 2.30pm. It is most likely that they would be arraigned tomorrow (Wednesday), that I can tell you, the source added. ALSO READ: Sule Lamido mocks Buharis war on corruption Akpoyibo, a younger brother to retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, was reportedly kidnapped on Sunday, January 22, 2017. According to a report by Punch Newspaper, Akpoyibo, the ex-Chairman of transition committee of Ughelli North Local Government Area, and two other persons were abducted on their way to Abuja. The two other persons reported to have been kidnapped alongside Akpoyibo along Auchi-Abuja road were his brother and close ally. It was reported that they were waylaid by arms-wielding herdsmen who allegedly blocked the expressway with their cattle. ALSO READ: Gunmen reportedly abduct ex-minister in Kaduna Though, a female passenger who was said to have been traveling with the victims was left behind by the abductors, the police Commissioner, Zannah Ibrahim confirmed Akpoyibo's kidnap. AMAA had previously called on interested filmmakers to submit their films for over thirty categories for the upcoming awards ceremony. Nominees of the 2017 AMMA are to be revealed on April 15, 2017. The 13th edition of awards ceremony will hold on June 3, 2017. The city/venue of where it will be held is yet to be revealed. The 2016 edition held in the Rivers state capital, Port Harcourt while the 2015 edition held in South Africa. Winners at last years awards include Daniel K. Daniel, Thishiwe Ziqubu, "Meet the Parents," "Dry," "Soldier Story," "Tell Me Something New," among others. Founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe in 2005, the Africa Movies Academy Awards event was developed to recognize the hard work and excellence shown by people in the movie industry. The Jury President for the 2017 edition is Swiss producer and author Bernie Goldblat. Goldblat is a founding member of Cinomade with Daphne Serelle. As expected, every Sunday on the show is expected to see the eviction of a housemate, and Sunday, January 29, 2017, is not expected to be an exception. However, Big Brother has a surprise for the housemates. Though the Housemates are oblivious of the fact, two housemates will be joining the house next Sunday. ALSO READ: undefined Big Brother assigned the housemates with their first task, which involved playing for the 'likes.' Biggie told the Housemates that two housemates with the least amount of likes will be evicted from the Big Brother House. The theme of the week is Proudly Naija and housemates are expected to showcase their own unique brand as a Nigerian. What makes them Nigerian? "As you all know every week housemates will be evicted from Big Brothers House," biggie said. "This week over and above the tasks you will be given you will all be playing for 'likes' from your fellow housemates. The two Housemates with the least amount of likes will be going home". One more thing the housemates don't know is that no one will be evicted from the show next Sunday. According to Daily Post, the Ekiti APC spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun said Fayose does not understand international politics. The Ekiti APC spokesman also described the Governor as a reckless interloper and shameless busy-body. Olatunbosun said Because Fayose is not educated enough to understand the dynamics and perspectives of international politics and diplomacy, he has reduced the American international and diplomatic politics to the beer parlour politics of muscle-flexing he runs in Ekiti State where all issues are trivialised and individualised for personal benefits to the detriment of the greater good of the people. It is a pity that an uninformed upstart is the one calling the shots in the Land of Honour in Ekiti State where knowledge-based information and integrity are the fountains of our development. Fayose does not have this, hence he was uninformed about the information in public space that Heads of States and Governments across the globe had no need to attend Trumps inauguration in Washington but would be represented by their heads of missions in America. Apparently not aware of this information and unwilling to be educated on the new American policy thrust, Fayose rolled out the drums in ignorance to celebrate the absence of the President of his country on that important world stage. Nigerians should see Fayose as lacking in Ekiti finesse and, therefore, should be seen as an unblemished poster boy of what he is generally known for all over the world as can be explained in many alleged criminal cases hanging on his neck in courts and the agencies of government, which does not represent the image of Ekiti people in the context of national politics. Because of Fayoses moral nature and value that reeks of boisterous and violent essence of a street life, it has become practically impossible to purge him of always trivialising honourable and responsible political opposition platform that he has turned to the column of fools and plateau for jejune jesters. The Senator made the comments in Abuja during a lecture organized by the Nigerian Youths Parliament over the weekend. You must picture the future you want to feature in. You need to develop your capacity, Melaye said according to Vanguard. There is no way someone in his 70s can still be in a leadership position in the Nigerian polity if you the youths are effectively involved and in charge, he added. Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari is 74 years old. Melaye had earlier called on Buhari to sack Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma and the Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele in order to solve the current economic crisis. Shehu described Junaidu Mohammed, a former member of the House of Representatives and a fierce critic of the President, as someone suffering from "pathological cynicism." The presidential spokesman said this in a statement, in reaction to Mohammed's comment that Buhari does not acknowledge mistakes. On the contrary, Shehu said taking responsibility for mistakes is one of the "finest components" of integrity, which Buhari has demonstrated in words and action. He said: "It is obvious that Dr. Junaidu appears to be infected by pathological cynicism and these kinds of critics are toxic to national progress because they are only primarily interested in destroying every positive effort and achievements of the government. "We advise Nigerians to be wary of prejudiced and biased critics like Dr. Junaidu Mohammed who are more interested in personal publicity than respecting facts and figures about their claims. "If Junaidu Mohammed wants to be taken seriously, he should demonstrate the duty of speaking truthfully about those he frequently attacks in his interviews." According to him, Mohammed had attacked past presidents, but not Sani Abacha. "It must be noted that President Buhari was not the only target of Junaidus personal vituperations, as former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo,Umaru Yaradua and Goodluck Jonathan, had all been victims of his jaundiced and malicious attacks," Shehu said. "When it came to the late Sani Abacha, he tried it, but once he saw the prospect of elimination, he retreated. "A cursory library search will reveal that this man has nurtured the habit of insulting every leader this country has produced in his time. Like a narcissist, he is just interested in grabbing headlines. Without publicity, Dr. Junaidu would probably give up on life." ALSO READ: Presidency dismisses rumours on Buharis health condition According to The Nation, there was no plane to fly Jammeh out of Gambia after he finally agreed to leave office on Saturday night - this followed last-minute pressure from Guinean President Alpha Conde and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohammed Ould Abdel Azizthere. It was reported that the leaders then contacted Tinubu, who authorised his private plane - VP-CBT Falcon Jet - to be used to fly Jammeh out of Banjul, Gambia's capital. The All Progressives Congress leader was said to have given the condition that the plane should only be used "if it will facilitate the quick exit of Jammeh and lead to the restoration of peace and democracy in The Gambia." Consequently, the plane flew out Jammeh, his wife, mother and Conde to Equitorial Guinea. It was gathered that, before their departure, Senegal insisted on knowing those on board before allowing the plane to overfly its airspace - the demand was granted. Jammeh's exit marked the end of 22 years of dictatorship in the tiny West African country. He had rejected the results of the December 1 presidential election, which was won by Adama Barrow. For weeks, ECOWAS leaders had persuaded him to step down but he refused until an army was raised by the African Council, with troops drawn from Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana to remove him by force. Nwobodo left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC on Friday, January 8, 2016. He made the comment on Sunday, January 23, 2017, at his country home, Vanguard reports. The problem with Nigeria is that people did things with impunity. Though it may look difficult to be in APC in Igboland but I know what to tell my people because I have never disappointed them, Nwobodo said. I never got appointment from PDP even as a founder. Looters came and drove all of us away. I belonged to a party that brought about the death of Savanna Bank but things will change for good. I have no regret joining APC because all my progressive friends are there, he added. ALSO READ:Jim Nwobodo ordered to vacate residence Meanwhile, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani has also defected from the PDP to the APC. A total of 130 square kilometers (500 square miles) have been charred, mainly in sparsely populated rural areas, according to the National Emergency Office. Although most of 150 fires that broke out this summer season were under control or extinguished, 48 are still raging. Three firefighters have died and another three were wounded battling the flames. Soldiers and dozens of aircraft have been brought in to help. Bachelet scrapped a trip to the Dominican Republic for a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders in order to oversee the official response. Mexico and Argentina responded to an international call for assistance from Santiago by lending fire fighters. In the central regions of O'Higgins and El Maule, the fires were considered the worst in the past 50 years, and a "state of catastrophe" has been declared for them. Fires are common in Chile's parched woods during summer. Most are caused by human activity. But this year was considered worse because of a drought that has built up over the past eight years, attributed to climate change. A 10-day run of high temperatures also contributed. The Hizmet movement run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, is linked to a network of schools across the world, including in Africa, and the Turkish president is rallying leaders on the continent to help him fight the influence of his longtime rival. "The party that wants to overthrow me isn't only in Turkey... I am convinced that Tanzania will from now on take measures against this terrorist organisation," Erdogan said after meeting Magufuli. It was not clear what action he had asked Tanzania to take against the schools, which are believed to be affiliated with Gulen's movement. They are extremely popular among the country's middle class and often among the best performing schools. Turkish officials accuse Gulen of using his vast private education network to build influence and of running a "parallel state" inside Turkey. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally, vehemently denies the allegations. A reclusive figure, he has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Hizmet describes itself as promoting Islam through charity efforts and educational work in countries stretching from Turkey to Africa and Central Asia to the United States. Erdogan, whose five-day tour will also take him to Mozambique and Madagascar, also discussed business and trade. Magufuli said he had asked Erdogan for a loan to help build a planned railway to link Dar es Salaam with neighbouring countries including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. A Turkish firm is set to win a tender to build the $7.6 billion (7.1-billion-euro) railway. The contract had initially been awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies, which had already built five kilometres of the railway. But it was cancelled due to irregularities in the tender process shortly after Magufuli was elected. The tender being awarded to a non-Chinese company has cast doubts over whether China's Exim bank, which finances external development projects, will still put up the money. Erdogan's visit also comes as Tanzania looks to new sources for budgetary support and concessional loans, after several donor countries in 2015 withdrew their support over a high-level corruption scandal. "The government is turning to Turkey as a possible source of concessional loans and investments," the government official said. A spokesman for state police in North Rhine-Westphalia said the man, 21, was taken into custody on Saturday in the western city of Neuss on a warrant for "planning a serious crime targeting the state". A spokesman for the Austrian interior ministry, Karl-Heinz Grundboeck, confirmed that the arrest "is linked" to that of a 17-year-old man -- not 18 as previously indicated -- in Vienna on Friday evening. "Investigations are continuing," Grundboeck told AFP. Both German and Austrian authorities declined to comment further but media reports in both countries said that the two had experimented with making explosives in the flat in Neuss. German news magazine Focus had reported earlier, citing judicial sources, that the elite SEK command force had stormed the man's flat on suspicion he was planning a bombing targeting police and soldiers. German police confiscated computers and mobile phones from the home, and the suspect's wife was temporarily detained for questioning, according to the reports. They added that the Austrian suspect has told investigators that he had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group and revealed the link to the alleged accomplice in Germany. Austrian authorities said that the suspect, who turns 18 in the coming days, was transferred to the Justizanstalt Josefstadt prison in Vienna on Sunday afternoon. Press reports named him as Lorenz K., born in Austria to parents of Albanian origin and who grew up in the small town of Neunkirchen south of Vienna. The reports said that he possibly became radicalised while serving a year in prison from 2014-15 for assault. Germany has been on high alert since a Tunisian failed asylum seeker, Anis Amri, ploughed a lorry through a crowded Berlin Christmas market in December in an attack that killed 12 people. IS claimed the deadly assault. The U.S government also commended the leadership roles of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional partners in addressing the situation in the Gambia. Mr Mark Toner, U.S. Department of States Acting Spokesperson also said in a statement that his government appreciated the outgoing President Yahya Jammehs decision to leave peacefully. The United States welcomes the ongoing peaceful transition of power in The Gambia and congratulates President Adama Barrow on his inauguration. We commend the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional partners for their leadership in addressing the situation. We appreciate the decision by Yahya Jammeh to depart The Gambia peacefully, he said. The U.S. government said that it lent its voice to President Barrows call for Gambians to unite and work together as brothers and sisters for the future of The Gambia. Toner said that his government also applauded the commitment to democracy and the restraint shown by the Gambian people over the past weeks. The United States is proud of our close ties to the people of The Gambia. It was not immediately clear if the blast was accidental or an attack or whether the Italian embassy, which had reopened less than two weeks ago, was the target. The car exploded on a street located behind both the Italian and the Egyptian embassies, outside the Libyan ministry of planning and near a hotel, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. Police cordoned off the area. A security source said it was not clear if the blast was the result of an attack. Libya has fallen into chaos since the 2011 revolution that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Tripoli has been hit by many car bombs and violence since then. On September 8 last year, two car bombs went off in Tripoli, damaging vehicles but causing no casualties. They exploded behind the ministry of foreign affairs and near the entrance to a naval base that was the headquarters of Libya's unity government when it set up operations in the city in March 2016. The UN-backed Government of National Accord has failed to assert its authority over the country and is challenged by a rival administration based in Libya's remote east. The embassy of Italy, a former colonial power in Libya, was one of the last western missions to close in February 2015 after a coalition of militias seized the capital Tripoli. The social-democratic government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu published two emergency decrees on Wednesday that will set free inmates serving sentences of up to five years for non-violent crimes. If the decrees are adopted, about 2,500 people, including several elected officials and magistrates who are behind bars after being convicted of corruption, will be released. Grindeanu wants to implement the measures through emergency ordinances that would bypass parliament and would not require Iohannis' signature. "Several political officials who have judicial issues want to change the legislation and weaken the rule of law," Iohannis said, as he stood among protesters in Bucharest. "It is unacceptable to modify the law so that the cases of dozens, even hundreds, of politicians, are wiped out," he added. Justice Minister Florin Iordache defended the proposals, saying they would help unburden overcrowded jails. Iohannis was elected in November 2014 under an anti-graft platform and urged politicians to stamp out entrenched corruption in one of Europe's poorest countries. After his election, he said he wanted a graft-free country when his term ends in 2019. On Wednesday, Iohannis attended a government meeting in the hope of stopping the decrees from being adopted. Protesters gathered near University Square in downtown Bucharest before marching to the government building, chanting "Resign" and "Democracy, not amnesty". "Why do they want to pass these laws now if not to save political officials under investigation or already sentenced?" protester Liana Dumitrescu, 74, told AFP. "They have to be stopped." In the western city of Cluj, more than 5,000 people protested against the government's willingness to "pardon corrupt political officials". About 3,000 protesters also flooded the streets of Romanian cities Brasov, Timisoara, and Iasi. Dumitrescu referred to the case of Liviu Dragnea, the social-democratic leader, who was given a two-year suspended sentence for vote-rigging. He is currently on trial for abuse of power. The measures have been heavily criticised by numerous organisations and several Romanian officials and institutions, including the attorney general Augustin Lazar, anti-corruption chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, and High Court president Cristina Tarcea. Scheduled to begin at 0800 GMT, the planned face-to-face talks would be the first time armed rebel groups have negotiated with President Bashar al-Assad's regime since the conflict erupted in 2011. The talks have been welcomed by all parties in the war, but the two sides have arrived in Kazakhstan with apparently divergent ideas on their aim, and officials have cast doubt on whether they will in fact sit down at the same table. Just before the talks were set to begin, opposition spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told AFP that the opposition will "participate in the talks but the first negotiating session will likely be in separate rooms". Kazakh deputy foreign minister Roman Vasilenko told reporters Monday morning that the format was still under discussion. Rebel groups have said the meeting will focus on bolstering a frail nationwide ceasefire brokered last month by opposition ally Turkey and regime backer Russia. But Assad has insisted that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal, and called for a "comprehensive" political solution to a conflict that has killed more than 310,000 and displaced more than half of Syria's population. Organised by Turkey, Russia and Iran, the talks come a month after the regime recaptured rebel areas of Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory since the war began. Chief opposition negotiator Mohammad Alloush arrived in Astana on Sunday accompanied by around a dozen rebel figures, AFP correspondent said. "This is not a replacement for the Geneva process," rebel negotiator Fares Buyush told AFP, referring to the UN-hosted political negotiations set to resume in the Swiss city next month. Delegation spokesman Osama Abu Zeid said the rebels were concerned with "more than just a ceasefire". "The issue is putting monitoring, investigation, and accountability mechanisms in place," he told AFP. "We want these mechanisms so that this doesn't play out over and over." Previous efforts at securing a long-term ceasefire in Syria have faltered, with both sides trading accusations over violations. 'Common ground' The 10-member government delegation, headed by UN ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari, also arrived on Sunday, Syrian state television reported. Syrian state media reported that the regime had met the Iranian delegation, as well as the UN's Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura on Monday ahead of the talks to discuss their positions. Jaafari initially dismissed the possibility of any government-level meeting with rebel backer Turkey. But state television later quoted him as saying the regime "will participate in any meeting that serves Syrian national reconciliation". The regime's objectives include reaching "common ground" with other participants, Syrian state news agency SANA quoted Jaafari as saying. The regime will also seek to "consolidate the cessation of hostilities" and separate the rebels from the Islamic State group and former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, he said. As the sides headed to Astana on Sunday, three regime air strikes killed nine civilians in rebel-held areas in the central Syrian province of Homs, a monitoring group said. 'No shortcut' The talks will be held in Astana's luxury Rixos President Hotel, where staff members on Sunday set up a single large table in a conference room under blue banners bearing the hashtag #AstanaProcess. Although Russia and Turkey have backed opposing sides of Syria's nearly six-year conflict, they have worked hand-in-hand in recent weeks to try to secure an end to the brutal war. jpegMpeg4-1280x720The Astana talks will be a major test of this new partnership. The rapprochement, which saw Russia and Turkey conduct their first joint air strikes against IS targets in Syria last week, has come to fill the vacuum left by Washington's disengagement from the conflict in recent months. US President Donald Trump's administration was invited to participate in the talks but did not send a delegation. Washington will instead be represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan, the State Department said, while a European diplomatic source said France and Britain would also be represented at the ambassador level. Experts say a breakthrough could see some of the armed opposition join next month's Geneva talks. "Nearly six years of war demonstrates there is no shortcut to ending it," a Western diplomat told AFP. The veterans threw up roadblocks on the main northbound highway in the morning, snarling traffic, as angry firemen blocked traffic to the east of the city. Most of the city's secondary schools remained closed as teachers remained at home as part of a two-week civil service strike to demand better pay and pensions. In the country's second city of Bouake hundreds of schoolchildren took to the streets, blocking traffic, in solidarity with the strikes. "We urge our government to settle the teachers' demands so our classes can restart," said a student spokesman, Amadou Soto. The strikes follow deadly protests across the country last week by security forces and troops that left four dead, shut down Abidjan port, one of Africa's biggest, and disrupted business in the world's top cocoa producer. The angry troops appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck with mutinous troops earlier this month that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments. At issue is an international network of charities and schools affiliated with a movement run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan's nemesis, which has been routinely accused by Ankara of coordinating "terrorist activities". "We will raise the issue of FETO's activities in African countries like Tanzania, Mozambique and others," Erdogan told reporters, referring to Gulen's network which he dubs the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO). "We will raise with our counterparts what our expectations are in regards to the fight against FETO," he said before leaving on a five-day tour which will also take him to Mozambique and Madagascar. Following July's failed coup, Turkey launched a major crackdown. It detained more than 43,000 people over alleged links to Gulen, with Erdogan vowing to eradicate any social, charitable or commercial activity with ties to the preacher's Hizmet movement. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally, vehemently denies he was behind the attempted putsch. A reclusive figure, he has lived in self-imposed exile in the state of Pennsylvania since 1999. Hizmet describes itself as promoting Islam through charity efforts and educational work in countries stretching from Turkey to Africa and Central Asia to the United States. But Turkish officials accuse Gulen of using his vast private education network to build influence, and of running a "parallel state" inside Turkey. "We are continuing to build out the website both in the issue areas and in that area," he told reporters in response to a question over when the Spanish version of the site would be running again. "We have got the IT folks working overtime right now to continue to get all of that up to speed and trust me, it's going to take a little more time but we are working piece by piece to get that done." Earlier, Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis had expressed concern over the sudden disappearance of the website. "We believe it is not a good idea to give up on such a communication tool, given that this is a country with 52 million Spanish speakers," he said. Spain's government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo added to his concern, saying that Spanish had "helped bring together the multicultural North American society for centuries." According to the US Census Bureau, the Hispanic population has now reached close to 57 million -- the largest minority living in the 320-million-strong country. Many are from Latin America, and around 13 million are thought to have voted in the November election -- a majority for Trump's Democratic Party rival Hillary Clinton. Trump has offended many Latinos with his harsh rhetoric and tough stance on immigration. Part of his electoral platform had proposals widely considered anti-Latino, including proposing to deport millions of undocumented migrants in the country, the bulk of whom are from Latin America, and building a wall on the US border with Mexico. Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg UPDATE 8:08 AM EST ALLOUSH, LEADER OF JAYSH AL-ISLAM, IS AT THE MEETING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'S HAD FACE-TO-FACE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT. SEE RT REPORT AND THE VIDEO REPORT AT THE RT PAGE FOR DETAILS. After the opening ceremony in which the Syrian rebels and the government delegation sat across from one another at a round table, the talks went into a closed session. There was no indication if rebels and government officials would be talking face-to-face behind closed doors but Lavrov's remarks indicated that part of the gathering is more similar to proximity talks, with de Mistura shuttling between the two sides. So it looks like it's back to sprinting for de Mistura. Disappointing. END UPDATES That's one of the conference rooms in the fabulous five-star Rixos President Astana hotel, which I highlighted in an earlier post . [squinting] But where where are the platters of cheese danishes? I guess no dropping of crumbs on that rug. And no coffee cups, either; just water bottles. So this is a very serious discussion. Now notice that unlike the negotiations in Switzerland, where de Mistura had different groups sequestered in different rooms while he literally ran back and forth between rooms, everybody is seated in the same room -- albeit with plenty of space in case the discussions get terribly heated. That's a good start. The AP photo, taken by Sergei Grits, is from Sputnik's report today, All You Need to Know About Astana Talks Sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran . I think Sputnik already covered everything we need to know (see the reports at the above link). Let's see ...... a few new items in the report. Uh oh. The Saudi faction is supposed to be there. I thought they'd been excluded. Phooey! Well at least they can't say anyone's been shut out. All right; the report is also a good review so I'll publish it here. The talks, at least the formal part, may have ended for the day; Astana is 11 hours ahead of Washington, DC time (EST), so it's now 6:42 PM at the hotel. So there could be more reports on the meeting very soon from Sputnik. 11:24 - 23.01.2017 (updated 14:48 - 23.01.2017) Sputnik Representatives of President Bashar al-Assad and armed rebel groups fighting against him are scheduled to take part in talks, sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran, in a bid to reinforce the ceasefire and pave the way for a peace process aimed at putting an end to the six-year-long war which has claimed more than 300,000 lives. Here's what you need to know about the meeting. Astana vs Geneva On December 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Damascus and several key radical groups reached a ceasefire deal and agreed to hold a round of talks in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Until recently, the negotiations on Syria have mainly taken place in Switzerland, with the next round of Geneva talks expected to take place on February 8. There are several important differences between the two formats. Representatives of armed groups fighting in Syria will take part in the Astana talks, whereas Syrian politicians mostly living abroad have largely represented the opposition to the Syrian government in Geneva. As a result the Astana talks will focus primarily on military issues. The ways of enhancing the fragile ceasefire regime are expected to be the main issue on the agenda. These agreements, if reached, will pave the way for a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. In addition, representatives of Damascus and the armed opposition are rumored to be willing to meet face to face. In Geneva, the talks on resolving the Syrian conflict were primarily indirect, with the UN representative shuttling between the parties. The Astana talks "are a major step toward resolving the Syrian crisis," Russian analyst and former diplomat Vyacheslav Matuzov told RT. "The fact that armed groups have arrived [to take part in the negotiations] shows that the first step has been made. In Geneva, the armed opposition refused to come to the negotiating table and [interacted with the delegation from Damascus] through mediators." 24 Hours The talks in Astana are scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. GMT and will wrap up in 24 hours. Representatives of both sides have arrived in Kazakhstan last week and have already held preliminary talks with diplomats from Russia, Turkey and Iran. Moscow, Ankara and Tehran serve as guarantors of the latest ceasefire agreements. Participants Bashar Jaafari, Syria's envoy to the United Nations, heads the Damascus delegation. The diplomat has served as Bashar al-Assad's top negotiator at the Geneva talks. Jaafari will be accompanied by Syrian ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad and Ahmad Arnous, an advisor to the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. The exact list of armed opposition groups participating in the consultations in Astana has not been unveiled yet, with some militias backing out of the talks. Representative of up to 15 rebel groups, including Jaysh al-Islam, Faylak al-Sham and Jaish al-Mujahideen are expected to come to the negotiating table. Representatives of Free Syrian Army (FSA) and High Negotiation Committee [controlled by Saudi Arabia] will also participate in the talks. In addition, Russia, Turkey and Iran have sent their delegations to Kazakhstan. The Russian delegation will include officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, including special presidential envoy on the Syria settlement Alexander Lavrentiev, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Middle East and North Africa Department Sergey Vershinin and deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff Stanislav Gadzhimagomedov. The United Nations special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will also take part in the Astana talks. What are chances of success? "All parties understand that Astana is a milestone on the path to the Geneva peace process," Matuzov said, warning against calling the meeting a breakthrough. "However, the sheer fact that it is taking place is a positive development." Sergei Demidenko, a researcher at the School of Public Policy of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANERA), told RIA Novosti that Damascus and the armed opposition do not have much in common. In addition, Bashar Jaafari will have to negotiate with an array of groups, "some of which are more moderate and some are less so." The political analyst described the Astana talks as a "preliminary phase" of a more broad-scale event. "In order to hold massive talks one has to understand whether they should be held under current conditions," he explained. Demidenko further said that it is too early to hold talks in Geneva. "The situation is extremely complex. It has become more complicated with every passing day. It is not clear with whom [Damascus] should negotiate. It is likely that the talks in Geneva will yield nothing," he said. [END REPORT] SYTCH LEGAL UPDATE: NEW TRIAL CANCELED FOLLOWING GUILTY PLEA An update of court records show that during her arraignment on 1/12 in Northampton County Court in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tammy "Sunny" Sytch actually plead guilty to driving without a license, driving an unregistered vehicle, operating a vehicle without required financial responsibility (meaning no insurance), displaying plate card in improper vehicle (meaning license plates were placed on a car they didn't belong to), operating a vehicle without valid inspection, and driving without Evidence of an Emission Inspection (something that is required in State of PA). Charges of receiving stolen property and fraudulent use or removal of registered licensed plates were removed during the arraignment as part of an agreement in which Sytch plead guilty. The scheduled trial on 2/27 has been canceled. There is no word yet on what penalty has been imposed against her as of this writing. PWInsider.com is working to confirm. Sytch was arrested in Northampton County just 18 days into her five year probation in Carbon County, PA after she plead guilty to a trio of 2015 DUIs after completing a rehabilitation program. The presiding Judge in that case sentenced the WWE Hall of Famer to 97 days in jail, only to then give her credit for 95 days in rehab and 2 days in jail. Sytch was released without spending a day in prison, but was warned that if she got into trouble at any point in her probation, there would be consequences. Sytch was arrested several times in September 2016 as well and was taken into custody on 9/23/16 and is currently awaiting a hearing in Carbon County, PA on 2/17 regarding her probation/parole being revoked. If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! A Davenport sex offender was sentenced Monday to 20 years in federal prison for exchanging sexually explicit photos and videos with six girls ranging in age from 12 to 17. Jacob Scott Watters, 24, must serve 10 years of supervised release once he completes his prison term, Chief District Court Judge John Jarvey ordered. There is no parole in the federal system. Watters pleaded guilty in August in U.S. District Court, Davenport, to one count of receiving child pornography. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed an additional charge of possession of child pornography. According to the plea agreement: On Aug. 18, 2014, Davenport police were notified of an investigation in Merced County, California. They learned that police in that area were called several days earlier to the home of a 15-year-old girl whose mother found inappropriate chats and pictures on her iPod. The girl said she met Watters about a year earlier on Facebook and did not know where he lived. She also said he knew she was 15. A forensic examination of her iPod was conducted by California officials, who were able to obtain a picture of Watters and account names that included his date of birth. They ran his name nationwide and found Watters picture on the Iowa Sex Offender website and notified Davenport police. Davenport officers found Watters was living in Davenport and on Aug. 20, 2014, they executed a search warrant at his home. Twelve electronic devices were seized during the search. Watters initially denied that he used any of the electronic devices officers found. During a second interview, he admitted he does use many of the items seized and provided email addresses, passwords and other identifiers used for those electronics. He also admitted to meeting the girl from California in 2007 and that he developed a relationship with her and exchanged multiple sexually explicit photos. They also had video sex on three occasions. Two DVDs were forwarded to Davenport police that contained the forensic examination done on the iPod seized in California. The communication between the girl and Watters took place from July 2014 through August 2014, with indications that the relationship began in 2013. A forensic examination was done on the items found in Watters home, which revealed sexually explicit pictures and videos involving five other girls ranging in age from 12 to 17. During the examination, the examiner noted that Watters used the same method for each girl in that he contacted young Latina girls and showered them with praise and within minutes, asked them to be with him only and told them that he is fragile and will be faithful. The examiner also noted that Watters would talk to other girls on the side and also pretended to be a female relative and told the girls that he is a nice guy, according to the plea agreement. Watters was indicted on the federal charges in February. He was sentenced in August 2013 to a 10-year suspended prison sentence and placed on three years of probation after pleading guilty in Scott County District Court to lascivious acts with a child for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in 2012, according to court records. A Davenport couple could have been scammed by a phony sheriffs deputy if their daughter had not intervened. Chris Christopherson, of Long Grove, said her parents received a call involving a scam that also is circulating throughout Illinois. Heres what happened a few weeks ago, Christopherson said. To protect their privacy, she has asked that her parents not be identified. Christopherson arrived at her parents home in Davenport to discover her mother had received a call. The caller said he needed to speak to Christophers father: They wouldnt tell Mom what it was about. They had to talk to him. Christopher listened in as both parents spoke again with the caller, who had an accent. Mom finally spoke up and said, This is his wife and hes not understanding anything youre saying. Mom told him to slow down. He started telling me there was a warrant out for Dad, and that it had something to do with not reporting to jury duty. Additionally, the caller provided two different document numbers for two different citations. Finally, Christopherson herself got on the phone. The process the caller directed her through was really complicated, and that was my first red flag. He said the family needed to to go an address (it turned out to be a pharmacy in Davenport) and get 10 $100 vouchers from a Paypal My Cash account. Then they were supposed to take the money to a kiosk at the sheriffs office, along with a utility bill for proof of address and two forms of identification. Christopherson asked the man to call back on her private cell phone to continue to conversation. She asked how she could check to determine whether the call was a scam. This is just a pre-warning call, the man on the phone said, adding that he would meet her at the sheriffs office. He never raised his voice: Maam, Im just doing my job, he told her. This is a courtesy call. Christopherson called the Scott County Sheriffs Department, and provided the callers identity of Brian Hill, and his badge number of 4827. She learned there is no such deputy. Mom was in tears. Dad was just holding her, Christopherson said. I thank God I was there. Her parents know, from this point on, to contact their daughter if they think they have received a suspicious phone call, she said. My heart just breaks for anybody who would be vulnerable to something like that, said Christopherson, who is retired from careers in government and higher education. Illinois State Police dispatched a news release about a similar scam in Illinois about automated messages advising residents that they are under criminal investigation and requesting $600. The voice in the automated message appears to be a male with a foreign accent, according to Illinois State Police. The phone number associated with the calls are fraudulently created as to appear as a legitimate Illinois State Police telephone number in a practice known as caller ID spoofing. State police want residents to know that the calls are not coming from police. Citizens should be wary of calls soliciting money regardless of the phone number the call is made from, particularly if threats are made by the caller or they become pushy, according to Illinois State Police. Illinois State Police never calls to solicit money on behalf of the department or asks for anyone to send money for any reason. Illinois residents who believe they have been the victim of a phone scam should call Illinois State Police, 847-294-4400, to file a report. While there are legitimate telemarketers who call Iowans, there are criminals who use the phone to steal, according to the website of the Iowa Department of Justice, Office of Attorney General Tom Miller. They'll say anything to get your guard down, turn the pressure up or even scare you, and try (to) take your money. If someone you dont know calls and tries to sell something, pressures you to provide personal information, or claims you must pay a government agency or utility service immediately, its likely a scam, according to the website: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/phone-scams/ The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) operates the National Do Not Call Registry to stop unwanted telemarketing calls. Register your home or cell phone number at www.donotcall.gov, or call, toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 Martin O'Malley, the former Democratic presidential candidate, is getting plenty of post-election exposure to Iowa. O'Malley will be in the Quad-Cities on Saturday to campaign with Monica Kurth, the Democrat who is seeking the District 89 Iowa House seat in the Jan. 31 special election. Kurth confirmed Monday that O'Malley will campaign for her. An O'Malley spokesman said he will be canvassing with Kurth, then attending a fundraiser for her. It will be held in Cedar Rapids. This will be the second time in about a month that O'Malley will have taken to the campaign trail in the Quad-Cities. In December, he traveled to Davenport to campaign for Jim Lykam, who won a special election for the vacant Iowa Senate seat in District 45. Kurth is running against Republican Mike Gonzales to determine who will fill Lykam's vacated House seat, which encompasses a large part of western Davenport. So far, Kurth is running up a big absentee ballot advantage. The Scott County Auditor's Office said Monday that 1,024 ballots had been requested, but just 37 of those came from Republicans. A total of 872 Democrats had requested absentee ballots, while 133 independents have done so, the auditor's office said. The district, which leans to the Democrats, has roughly 21,000 active voters registered. Of those, about 7,500 are Democrats, 4,800 are Republicans, and 8,500 aren't affiliated with a party. O'Malley's trip to campaign for Kurth was first reported by the Iowa Starting Line blog. The former Maryland governor finished a distant third in the 2016 Iowa caucuses, but his trips to Iowa afterward, including stops during last year's general election campaign, have stoked speculation about his plans for 2020. MUSCATINE, Iowa A long-time community member was ordained as a priest last weekend and will serve families and children at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Martha Lang said she has felt a call to ministry for many years, and she has always felt drawn to helping people within her community. She first joined the Trinity Episcopal Church in Muscatine in 1988, and in 2011 she graduated from seminary with a Masters of Divinity. "It's been a long journey," she said. When she joined the church it was in the process of beginning two community projects: Loaves and Fishes and a plan to purchase and try to endow a domestic violence shelter in Muscatine. "I took joy in this congregation's history and spiritual practice of allowing people to come forth with ideas to meet need out in the world and to support them as they sought to do that," Lang said. At that time, Lang began to feel a call to ministry. As she prayed and spoke to people about how she felt, she became aware of the Order of the Diaconate and decided to become a deacon to work more directly with people. "My love of being out on the streets, my love of engaging people and the world around me in and through the love of Christ was what made my heart sing," she said. "And I had to listen to the song in my heart." Deacons, Lang said, are called to "represent the needs of the world to the body of Christ," and provide support to both priests and members of the church. "We say deacons have one foot in the world and one foot in the church, and stand strongly in both places," she said. Shortly after her family's jewelry store in downtown Muscatine closed, Lang was ministering to a family going through a health crisis when they and others suggested she investigate health care chaplaincy. After exploring the possibility, she was accepted in Iowa City for a residency in clinical pastoral education and was encouraged to attend seminary. At 53 she started studying at Wartburg Theological Seminary and took courses at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. After she graduated in May 2011, she began full-time work and ministry at the University of Iowa hospital. When her supervisor asked if she would be interested in ministering to children and families, Lang said she had to consider the decision. "After much praying and thought I finally decided well, I would go ahead and apply and see where that would go," she said. Lang continued to serve as a deacon, but because she was not a priest, she began to realize there were more things people needed from her like consecrating communion that she could not do. "Coming into it I thought no big deal, at my age why make this shift over?" she said. "I've been able to, as a deacon and my training, deal with this just fine but in the reality of day to day chaplaincy full time there are often times when one is called to do things a deacon could not do." Another example, Lang said, was when she was approached by parents whose children were ill and wanted to be married, but their weddings had been postponed because of the illness. As they learned the serious nature of their children's condition, two couples approached Lang and asked if she would marry them. "And yes as a deacon I could do that, but I could not pronounce the nuptial blessing, and if two families ever needed to have that blessing and the family have that blessing it was those two couples," she said. She performed the ceremony and gave the blessing even though as a deacon in the church she technically was not supposed to, and two weeks later one of the couple's children died. "That finally was the impetus for saying, 'OK, I'll continue on with this discernment process and enter into seeking the church's blessing for the priesthood,'" she said. Although she still has connections to working people on the streets, Lang said she feels she is still fulfilling that call, because "the streets come to the hospital." Thursday, Jan. 23, 1947: Seventy-one men, including seven old-age pensioners, today faced the possibility of being without a home in the middle of winter. Bert's rooming house at 425 1/2 West Second Street is scheduled to be closed Jan. 31 because city building officials and the state fire marshal's office have labeled the place a "fire hazard." Unless arrangements are made to meet the requirements of the building code, the city has served notice on the owners of the property that the building must be vacated Feb. 1. Notices already have been served on the roomers that they must be out by midnight Jan. 31. Thursday, Jan. 24, 1957: Rock Island needed a win in the last match on the card Thursday night to topple Bettendorf, 24-18, in a prep wrestling meet at Bettendorf. The Rocks' heavyweight Bunning entered his match with his team ahead by only 19-18, then slapped a pin on Bettendorf's Lehman to insure victory. Bettendor's Pete Rawlings, Bill Sones and Dale Kreiter remained unbeaten in dual competition. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 1967: Winds moved faster than words when tornadoes slashed across Scott and nine other eastern Iowa counties Tuesday, leaving death and destruction. As the tornado cleanup began Wednesday, several officials criticized the U.S. Weather Bureau for failure to issue advance warning of the big blow. Wednesday, Jan. 26, 1977: Think the President of the United States would ever ask you to break the law? Moline landlords who comply with President Carter's request to turn thermostats down to 65 degrees during the day and lower at night may be violating a city ordinance. Carter made the cool suggestion at a time utilities in some parts of the nation were declaring emergency conditions because of the drain on natural gas supplies caused by an extended severe cold spell. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1987: Deere & Co. and the United Auto Workers reached a tentative agreement Tuesday night on a master contract that would settle the 158-day strike and lockout for about 12,000 union workers. Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1997: The exclamations from a room full of Augustana College students helped define the racially divided reactions to O.J. Simpson's acquittal. This Quad-City Times photo of the students watching the verdict on television was used in publications around the world to illustrate how blacks and whites responded differently. Upon the close of O.J.'s second trial, we asked these students about their assessment of race relations, and the impact of the photograph on their lives. Monday, Jan. 29, 2007: His 1 p.m. appointment is late, and Sean Moeller is pacing the sidewalk in front of a discreet doorway in downtown Rock Island. Moeller is waiting for his recording session with Asobi Seksu, a Brooklyn, New York-based rock band, at the home of Daytrotter.com, his 11-month old web site that has garnered national attention from both mainstream and music publications. Last week, my fellow senators and I received a letter from Arthur Tate, Davenport Schools superintendent. He has received statewide attention by bringing the Iowa school finance formula to the forefront. I agree with Dr. Tate that the Legislature needs to revise the unfair funding formula even if it takes multiple years. Presently, Iowa law makes it illegal for a school board to vote to use its reserve funds to make up for the inequity between property rich and property poor school districts. That inequity comes from the amount districts are allowed to levy based upon the funding formula. Dr. Tate says his districtand perhaps 162 other districts like hisshould be able to use reserve funds to address that inequity. Dr. Tate did not mention transportation in his letter, but those costs also create inequity issues, as some districts across Iowa must spend more than others on busing students, but they do not receive any additional funds from the state to do so. Last week, the Iowa Association of School Boards presented a proposal to the Senate Education Committee that addresses both the district costs per pupil and the transportation equity issues. These proposals are a place to start the much-needed discussion to revamp the funding formula and make it fairer. That revision needs to happen, but its going to be very difficult to do it when overall education funding is inadequate. Funding changes are hard to achieve when the majority of school boards are struggling to make ends meet. If legislative Republicans shortchange our schools again this year, it will put Iowa students at a big disadvantage and our efforts to address inequities in the funding formula will continue to be unsuccessful. We must renew our commitment to education now, and let Iowans know were putting public schools first again. DES MOINES Legislation to defund Planned Parenthood is being pushed by lawmakers who never had a pap smear or used a tampon, a Democratic opponent of the legislation said Monday. The Republicans co-sponsoring the bill that would cut Planned Parenthood funding by $3 million want to make it easier to get a machine gun than a pap smear, Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, told about 70 people, including eight lawmakers, at a Moral Mondays gathering at the Capitol. She was referring to a proposal from Sen. Jason Schultz. R-Schleswig, to remove prohibitions on the ownership of a variety of weapons, including machine guns and short-barreled shotguns. Schultz and Petersen are both members of a Senate Judiciary subcommittee that will consider the defunding proposal at a hearing at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in Room 22 of the Capitol. Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, is the third member. The proposal calls for reducing funding for Planned Parenthood by $3 million. The services are required by the federal government, so Gov. Terry Branstads budget proposal calls for using federal block grant money that currently is used for children and family services. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said recently that wont mean a reduction in those services. Monday, Gov. Terry Branstad said his administration supports access to family planning services but doesnt want to be tied to one provider that doesnt serve rural Iowa. He wants to meet those needs in the most economical and efficient manner we can. But Erin Davison-Rippey of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said Branstads effort to accomplish this political move makes no sense on the fiscal side or the moral side. Planned Parenthood, she said, does more than any other organization to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. The organization is at the forefront of programs reducing the unintended pregnancy rate in Iowa to a 30-year low, Davison-Rippey said. PIERRE | The annual Newell High School excursion to the state capitol in Pierre happened on Tuesday, Jan. 17, as Mike Phelps U.S. History and Government students boarded the bus at 4:30 to make the trek. This opportunity, to see the legislators in action, is meant to help the students learn in a real-time environment. The NHS students, staff and chaperones were introduced in both the House and Senate sessions. They observed committee meetings and met with legislators, lobbyists and other state government staff. Part of the goal of the day is to give back to the legislature in the form of a meal, hosted by the Whatever It Takes Coalition. This is specifically for the NVN areas elected officials as well as others in state government. "WIT feels it is important for the students to meet, greet and hear from each of them as they share their background and how they became interested in government," said WIT Director Sabrina Harmon, one of the chaperones. "It also gives the students a better understanding about how important it is to be an educated voter and why they should pay attention to what is going on within their state." The luncheon time, held in the Visitor's Center on the capitol grounds, gave the students the opportunity to know a little bit more about each office held and what that job entails along with making that connection for the future. Those who attended the luncheon included former lobbyist Rick Vallery, who has roots in Butte County, state representatives Larry Rhoden, Tom Brunner, and Sam Marty, as well as State Attorney General Marty Jackley, PUC Commissioner Chris Nelson and Commissioner of School and Public Lands Ryan Brunner. Vallery gave the students a brief picture of how a lobbyist works and how a bill happens. Rhoden, Brunner and Marty shared a bit about their current concerns during this 2017 session. Rhoden has been tapped by President Donald Trump's administration to be part of the Ag Advisory Task Force. Jackley brought gifts of either a lip balm or USB car jack to the students and talked about his job as State Attorney General. He cited his roots in Vale and how he felt that everyone raised in western South Dakota had the opportunity to learn a good work ethic. Government student Joe Jackson asked Jackley about his possible run for Governor, given the fact that U.S. Representative Kristi Noem has declared her candidacy. "I feel that I already have a job to do," said Jackley, even though he said he had laid the groundwork for a potential campaign. Jackley said, in response to a question from Harmon, that the biggest issue right now for South Dakota was the increase in methamphetamine use. He shared his promotion of the "No Meth Ever Campaign" and that, although he is working with a very limited amount of funds, he feels that the information is vital to the people of the state. Chris Nelson shared a bit about what the PUC does and enlightened the students about the possible wind farm in Butte County as well as what is happening in the state with the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Ryan Brunner, a 2001 graduate of NHS, shared a bit about his position, how he got there and how funds available to schools had increased by around $3 million dollars since he had been in office. "We're trying to get as much funding to schools as possible," said Brunner. One of his main goals currently is to support state land sales to get them back on the tax rolls and help provide more school funds. The students were tired after the long trip but excited to line up on the capitol steps for a photo op with Governor Dennis Daugaard before heading back to Newell. The WIT Coalition will be holding a Crackerbarrel with our state representatives on February 11 at 10 a.m. at Newell City Hall. . An active-duty airman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base was found dead at his off-base residence Sunday, according to a release from the 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office. The name of the deceased is being withheld until the airman's family has been informed, the release said. There is no initial indication of foul play in the death, which is being investigated by the Meade County Sheriffs Office and Ellsworth's Office of Special Investigations, said 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Chief Miranda Simmons. If all goes as planned, the Black Hills Raptor Center will finally have a home of its own this year where volunteers will be able to rehabilitate birds for their return to the wild. It may be a misnomer to call anyplace the Raptor Center until now, because it has never really been an actual center. It currently operates out of the homes of its two main volunteers, John Halverson and Maggie Engler. They care only for birds that are unable to return to the wild. "We've had great people step up and help cover the costs of feed and great number of local people local businesses that support us to defray the cost of insurance and upkeep," Halverson said. But they have big plans with a purchase of about 13 acres outside Rapid City near Caputa to build their campus with a rehabilitation center, education center and office space. The land is about four miles east of Rapid City Regional Airport, and the plan is to have several buildings that serve a variety of purposes from allowing educational classes to take place to rehabilitating birds. The volunteers with the center currently care for six birds and have never had the chance to rehabilitate birds because they don't have the facilities to do so. The federal government applies strict rules to their operations, said volunteer and co-founder Maggie Engler. They will provide rehabilitation services to birds in a four state region: western South Dakota, northwestern Nebraska, eastern Wyoming and western North Dakota. The campus will consist of four main buildings. The Hub will house the office space, food preparation kitchen and spaces for veterinary services. This building provides for rescue, treatment, recovery, development and everyday life and learning for the birds. Connected to the Hub will be housing for the birds used for educational purposes. There will be separate housing for the birds that are to be rehabilitated, along with a large, oval-shaped building for rehabilitation flight. The Rehab Large Flight building allows for maximum strength training for birds approaching their release. The centers new digs will also allow them to be able to participate in ongoing studies in collaboration with other raptor centers, state and federal agencies and universities furthering the understanding of the birds, their needs, and their way of life in the wild. Engler said she is elated to have everything theyve worked so hard for since the centers creation in 2010 finally coming to fruition. It is all finally coming together, Engler said. Its very, very exciting. WADA informant Rodchenkovs property seized again MOSCOW, January 23 (RAPSI) Moscows Basmanny District Court has again ordered the seizure of a double-stored house owned by Moscow's anti-doping laboratorys ex-head Gregory Rodchenkov, who is involved in a criminal case over abuse of office, the courts spokesperson told RAPSI on Monday. During the hearing, investigators withdrew their motion to seize a land plot belonging to Rodchenkov. In December, the Moscow City Court overturned a lower courts ruling to arrest Rodchenkovs land plot and cottage. The issue was sent for reconsideration. In May 2016, The New York Times published an article citing Rodchenkov, who maintained that at least 15 Russian athletes winning gold medals in Sochi were involved in a Russian doping program aimed to dominate its home Olympics. Later a criminal case over alleged abuse of office was launched against Rodchenkov. However, charges have not been brought against him; Rodchenkov is still a suspect in the case. Earlier, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced that Rodchenkov, who had fled to the U.S., was unlawfully selling prohibited medicines and deliberately destroyed doping tests of Russian athletes. The Investigative Committee has launched a probe into mass media reports about violations of anti-doping rules by Russian athletes. The city of Hamilton will ask voters to pass a $1.35 million general obligation bond to buy the old National Guard Armory building and adjacent Claudia Driscoll Park. The city plans to turn the 8,000-square-foot armory building into a new justice center that will house the police department, city judge and city attorney. Hamilton Mayor Jerry Steele said the ballot will be mailed to city residents on March 21. Currently, Steele said the communitys police department and city judge chambers are housed in the basement of the Bedford Building. The city attorneys office is located in the city annex building. The police department is very cramped, Steele said. Chief Osters office is in an old closet. Were also running out of room for evidence storage. While the armory building will require some remodeling to meet the citys needs, Steele said there appears to be enough room there to accommodate the three offices and evidence storage requirements. The city has been debating ideas for a new justice center for some time. Located just across the street from the Bitterroot College, Steele said the armory building would be a good fit for the city. The 4.8-acre property includes the Claudia Driscoll Park and its bandshell. I think people have always thought the park was owned by the city, Steele said. It is one of the most popular parks in Hamilton. If the bond doesnt pass, Steele said the park land could end up being developed for housing or medical buildings. The cost of the armory and land is $1.2 million. The additional monies raised by the bond would be used to pay for remodeling and upgrading the parks bathroom facilities. The Montana National Guard closed the Hamilton armory in August after transferring the Guards Detachment 2,230th Engineering Company to Anaconda. If the bond is approved, taxpayers with a home with a taxable value of $200,000 would pay $35.78 a year for the next 15 years. A $25 million settlement this week will do nothing to eliminate the physical pain suffered by more than 100 people awarded the money from the state of Montana for its secrecy in not informing people in Lincoln County that they were being exposed to high levels of asbestos contaminating a vermiculite mine near the tiny town of Libby. The agreement reached on Wednesday is the second major payout the state has made because in the 1950s and 1960s, its mine and safety inspections failed to warn miners, their families and residents of the communities in the northwest corner of the state that they were all at risk from enormously high levels of asbestos-ladened dust spewing from the mine. Five years ago, in an identical suit, the state paid out $43 million to another 1,000 plaintiffs whose symptoms of asbestos-caused disease had surfaced by that time. Hundreds of pages of mine safety reports reviewed by Lee Newspapers detailed that workers in all areas of the sprawling pit mine were receiving enormous exposure to asbestos fibers contaminating the vermiculite ore being dug out of the terraced mine. Almost all the reports were clearly marked Confidential. Do not release, and were sent only to the mine owners and operators. Physicians in Libby who were paid in part or fully by the mine owners, said the results were never shared with them. One physician, who figured out something was seriously wrong at the mine, left town after mine operators who routinely contributed to the community hospital forced the facility to remove the concerned physicians privileges to treat patients. Its not as if the inspectors didnt do an adequate job in identifying the hazards. They had repeatedly called for protective masks, better ventilating and dust suppression systems, showers and changing rooms to be made available so contamination from the mine would not be brought into the workers homes, thus endangering the miners spouses and children. For the most part, these safety suggestions were ignored. And, subsequent medical records and death certificates documented the illness or death of scores of family members. Few miners, if any, learned of the warnings. Yet the dangers were clearly visible in the town where kids routinely wrote in the heavy coating of dust that covered the cars. The lung-destroying asbestos fiber contaminates the countrys largest supply of vermiculite, a sprawling open pit mine six-miles outside Libby, in the states northwest corner. From 1919 until the mine was closed by W.R. Grace in 1990, it was the source of at least 85-percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States. But closed or not, hundreds of deaths and thousands of asbestos-like diseases were diagnosed throughout the country. In 1999, after media reports of unexplained deaths and illnesses in the communities surrounding the mine, the Environmental Protection Agency flew a hotshot team of emergency responders into Libby to probe unreported hazard. Nearly two decades later, EPA has just announced that the cleanup with its almost $600 million price tag is weeks from being officially over. Today, after almost 17 years, the EPA and its contractors are still on the ground. Almost 8,000 homes and business in Libby and nearby Troy have been inspected for asbestos contamination. More than 2,500 structures, public parks and school grounds have been cleaned and paid for under Superfund. But finally, EPA is ready to pull the plug. The agency has tried to tell the owners of more than 700 properties still uninspected and thus uncleaned that they have less than 90 days to invite EPA teams on their properties or get stuck with paying for their own cleanup should it be necessary. After the cleanup, the EPA reported that asbestos levels in the air are about 100,000 times lower than when the mine was running and the agency declared the small town safe. There is more litigation on the horizon. A long-awaited trial between Libbys asbestos victims and BNSF Railway, which transported vermiculite from the mine to processing sites across the country, was scheduled to begin new week in Great Falls, but has been postponed until late spring or summer. Lives in the Balance... Which Will Win? Trumps First Days: The Heavy Hand of Fascism and the Spark of Resistance Updated with new introduction January 25, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us January 25: This article was written shortly after the Womens March on Saturday, January 21. Millions took to the streets across the country and around the world. What the article calls for and what needed to happen in the days following the March was not achieved. We are continuing to call the attention of our readers to the analysis in the article. It remains timely and relevant. On its first weekend in power, the Trump-Pence regime moved quickly to establish a fully fascist state. At the same time, millions of people around the world demonstrated against Trump and Pence in the Womens March, demonstrating the tremendous potential for resistance. The fate of billions now directly hangs on whether Trump-Pence will be able to fully consolidate this fascist state... or whether this massive opposition can be marshaled into a force to prevent its consolidation and move to oust it from power altogether. Two futures contend. There is still time to stop this, but we must act soon. Fascist Terms Are Set Through Trumps inaugural address and then his speech to the CIA, as well as through use of the White House website and handling of the press, the Trump-Pence regime made chillingly clear its determination to radically and quickly reorder the current form of political rule in the U.S. into fascism. Were going to walk through the key points of what this is, and in a separate appendix to this article we annotate each point with examples from Trumps two speeches. Trumps inaugural address privileged those who voted for him as the legitimate citizens, directly addressing them above all. He claimed his supporters as a movement of forgotten Americans, who will now be taken care of... by him. He recited a list of their grievancessome real, some imagined, and all of them distorted through the fascist, racist funhouse mirrors of Trumpworld. He stoked their resentment against the elitesby whom Trump clearly means intellectuals, artists, scientists, political people who opposed his election for whatever reason, as well as those who attempt to win some reforms on the more egregious abuses of this system, and not the finance-capitalist billionaires, the mad dog generals, the stone-cold racists, and lunatic religious fanatics with whom he has stocked his cabinetand he portrayed himself as the champion who will now vanquish those enemies. The racism and sexism, the systemic discrimination that permeates U.S. society is totally denied in Trumpworldwhile there may be some vague prejudice, that can be washed away in the blood shed by patriots. Trump goes so far as to say that at the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will discover loyalty to each other. Please note: bedrock and total allegiance (emphasis added). If you cant see how stunning this statement is, then substitute the word Germany or the volk for United States of America, and tell us why such a statement would not work for Adolf Hitler. Those who are not white, those who may have at one time or another dissented, may be allowed into this brave new world, but only on condition of their submission and total allegiance. This is a world in which the fascists, and white people in general, will have rights and privileges and legal standing, and those who are not fascistsor who are not white maleswill live as second-class citizens at best. In line with this, in a move that was as unusual as it was ominous, Trump said nothing in his speech about the Constitution and the primacy of the rule of law over the whim of individual rulers, but said that he owed his allegianceand presumably derived his authorityfrom you the people. Trump aggressively threatened the entire rest of the world with American power, reviving and popularizing the fascist slogan from the 1940s of America First, and calling it a new decree and a new vision that will govern our land. In every encounter, according to Trump, the U.S. will assert its interests and mess over whoever must be messed over to gain them. Trump promised to eradicate those he deemed to be enemies completely from the face of the earth. At the CIA, Trumpwho has falsely claimed that he opposed the Iraq war from the beginningnonetheless said that once there, the U.S. should have taken the oil, and went so far as to enunciate the principle of to the victor belong the spoils. The U.S. militaryalready larger and more powerfully armed than the next six militaries after it combinedwill now be further put on steroids. Trump said that he would support the CIA 1000 percentmeaning, given his campaign promises, that kidnapping, torture, assassination, unlimited drone strikes, and all-round brutality will no longer have even the pretense of checks. People should check out the American Crime series to get just a hint of the literally millions the CIA has had killed and tortured over the past 70 years, all over the planet, in the service of U.S. imperialism. Trump promises, in a world in which U.S. power faces new challenges, that he will take this exploitation and domination to a whole new level, enforcing it if need be with nuclear arms, and that he will let the CIA, the military, and the police totally off their leashes, supporting them like never before. Trump unleashed a war against the press. Trump whipped up the CIA against the press in his speech to the agency, a blatant threat to the right to free expression. Further: he violated what has been an accepted norm for centuries that the army and other forces of the state are to remain neutral or apolitical in the sense of not siding with one or another faction of the ruling class; instead, Trump bragged in his CIA speech about his great support in the military, the intelligence agencies, and the police. This whole speechgiven on an off-day of work, so that most of the people who attended were those who favored Trump and who gave him a chillingly enthusiastic welcomesmacked of forming a faction within the agency to directly serve his interests against other forces. This goes with Trumps unprecedented seeding of his cabinet with retired generals. To return, however, to the muzzling of the press, it is true that the big media in U.S. society generally train people in the outlook of capitalism-imperialism and the ruling class, and generally act as stenographers for government sources; but Trump has already begun to intimidate and suppress anything in the media that he deems to get in his way and in the way of the radical re-ordering of society that he is moving forward with. Trump made clear in his inaugural speech a genocidal thrust toward communities of color, painting stereotypes of subhuman communities and implying extreme repression to stop the carnage. It is not for nothing that Trump has expressed a certain kinship to Rodrigo Duterte, the ruler of the Philippines who has unleashed a reign of terror in the ghettos there, carrying out thousands of extra-judicial street killings in less than a year. You could say the same about Trumps call for nationwide stop-and-frisk (against Black and Latino people to stop crime), or his appointment of the most consistently racist senator in the entire U.S. Senate to be his attorney general. And it is extremely significantand extremely ominousthat one of the first things on the White House website was a call to take the supposed restraints off the police and to enforce law and order. Trump and Pence have made the theocratic Christian fascist movement a key part of their ruling alliance, with Trump now draping himself in the clothes of someone chosen by god. How else to explain his seemingly serious remarks to the CIA on how god interrupted the rain so that he could give his inaugural speech? Or the chilling medieval passage in his inaugural speech in which, after detailing the changes he would make, he said that god and the U.S. military and police would protect us? Indeed, the Trump-Pence regime is an anthill of Christian fascist fanatics, beginning with Pence himself, but also including Ben Carson, Betsy DeVos, and Steve Bannon. Find out more about the revolution Find out about BA, the leader of the revolution Trump attempted to impose an alternate reality of Trumpworld on public discourse, a world in which the facts are what Donald Trump says they are and those who disagree will be threatened and silenced. In this bizarro world, Trumps attacks on the CIA all through December and January for their finding that the Russians had conducted cyberwarfare intended to help his election never happened; it was all an attempt by the press to create a feud. In this bizarro world, Trumps inauguration attendance broke all records (when in fact it was rather pitiful by comparison with Obama's and other past inaugurations). In this bizarro world, the press secretary takes no questions but tells the press what is reality and insults and threatens them for reporting what actually did happenfor reporting the most simple and minimal facts which everyone can see. Yes, there is an egomaniac psychopathology to Trump, but that is not at the heart of this: Fascism always seeks to impose an absolutist and fantastical version of reality on society and to straitjacket any attempts to get at the objective truth of anything.1 Trump called out and attacked other sections of the ruling classfor the purpose of silencing them and bludgeoning their acquiescence in his fascist reordering of society. Trump directly blamed those who have ruled the U.S. for the past quarter century for the problems of the masses, claiming that they enriched themselves while plundering the people. And it is certainly true that sitting on the stage of the inauguration were big-time criminals and criminal accomplices who have indeed ordered and carried out terrible things. But Trump is essentially attacking and implicitly threatening them for not being criminal enough, in his eyes, and hes doing this to extract their cooperation, or at least silence, in his move to fascism. Forget the lurid tales about Russian prostitutesTrump figuratively pissed all over his rivals at his own inauguration. And then, at the banquet afterwards, like the pimp and con man that he is, he played the nice guy, the schmoozer. Resistance to the New Order Throughout the week leading up to the inauguration, resistance began to grow. By Friday, Trumps inauguration was forced to share the headlines with demonstrations in the streets that went all day and into the night, full of spirit and determination. Then, on Saturday, millions of people in the U.S. and around the world turned out at The Womens March, expressing serious but exuberant opposition to Trump. These marches swept up many, many people who do not normally demonstrate and are far from politically radical, but who cleared the day and in some cases came hundreds and even thousands of miles to make their statement. This in turn represents a broader layer of humanity and, potentially, billions. In short, this was something to take real heart from, and to welcome. At the same time, the ways must be foundnowto take this further. Haunting this march was a precedent: the weekend shortly before the launching of the war against Iraq by George W. Bush, in which perhaps eight million people around the world came out to voice their opposition. This, too, was a great thing; but Bush held in his hands the power of state, and he ignored the marchers and launched what has turned out to be an utter and truly horrific disaster not only for the people of Iraq, but for people all over the Middle East and, indeed, the world . The toll in deaths and trauma of that war is terrible to contemplate, it continues today, and it will continue for some time. The vows back then to punish them at the polls were worse than meaningless; they derailed people from building the fierce, unyielding opposition that was required. People around Bush crowed that they were creating reality on the ground that others would have to relate toan approach taken up by Trump, in spadesand they did in fact set new terms, effectively silencing most opposition for several years until the war they launched ended in such an utter disaster for U.S. imperialist interests in that region and around the world that they lost initiative. Such an approach with Trump and Pencethe idea that the road forward is for people to take over and revitalize the Democratic Partyis wrong on many, many counts, but in terms of the current moment it is most wrong because it disarms people in the face of an extremely dire threat. The Trump-Pence brand, to use the parlance of the day, is not conservatism, or populism, or even just reactionary and ugly racism, sexism, and xenophobia (though it is indeed all that)it is FASCISM. Fascism is greater than the sum of its partsit is, to again cite the definition weve used in these pages over the past months: ...the exercise of blatant dictatorship by the bourgeois (capitalist-imperialist) class, ruling through reliance on open terror and violence, trampling on what are supposed to be civil and legal rights, wielding the power of the state, and mobilizing organized groups of fanatical thugs, to commit atrocities against masses of people, particularly groups of people identified as enemies, undesirables, or dangers to society. At the same timeand this can be seen through studying the examples of Nazi Germany and Italy under Mussoliniwhile it will likely move quickly to enforce certain repressive measures in consolidating its rule, a fascist regime is also likely to implement its program overall through a series of stages and even attempt at different points to reassure the people, or certain groups among the people, that they will escape the horrorsif they quietly go along and do not protest or resist while others are being terrorized and targeted for repression, deportation, conversion, prison, or execution. The danger is this: while you are setting out to do the hard work of grassroots organizing for the long haul, Trump and Pence are gearing up the machinery of a fully fascist state, rousing their social base, and moving to crush the masses of people and any efforts at such grassroots organizing that they cannot neutralize in an extremely telescoped time frame. As for the Democrats, and all those antiwar people who were drawn back then into working so hard to remake the Democratic Party only to find themselves supporting the essentially pro-war candidate John Kerry, we must quote the bitter truth put forth by Bob Avakian: If you try to make the Democrats be what they are not and never will be, you will end up being more like what the Democrats actually are. (BAsics 3:12) Now, to be clear, there is in fact a path of hope, a way forward. But to find that way, we have break out of the channels and, indeed, constraints that set the terms for our thinking. What Is To Be Done? The logic of fascism is to stay on the attack, to move quickly and to threaten and bludgeon anything or anyone who gets in their way. The method of fascism is shock and intimidation, one outrage after another, until people are reduced to crouching and cringing in the face of repeated and unpredictable blows. We now face a situation in which Trump and Pence hold in their hands the power of state and in which they have begun to work that logic. But as yet, this power is not consolidated. There is not much time... but there is yet a window that still exists. If on Monday and Tuesday of this week, people answered the call of refusefascism.org in sufficient numbers to begin to stop business as usual, and to call forward others to do that... If as the week went on, others answered that call, in a snowballing effect, andas happened just last fall in South Korea when millions came into the streets and in the space of a few months drove the president from officethousands and then millions came into the streets, in many different forms of protest... If these men and women and young people refused to be divided and deterred, but stuck to the simple truth of the NO! to Trump-Pence fascism... If this reached into every corner of civil society and the culture at large... If this combined with over-reaching by Trump-Pence, or with yet another outrage that crosses a line, and if all this further opened peoples eyes to the true nature of this regime and what it would mean for humanity, and still more growing numbers of people, reaching into all of society including the government itself, found ways to resist... If those who knew and had access to the facts were inspired to find the ways to get out any of the real stories behind Trump-Pence and their means and methods and motives and histories, and this created even greater unease, scandal, and crisis... If the sheer numbers began to demoralize and even peel away or win over some Trump supporters (even as it would inevitably energize others), and the momentum began to shift further so as to make not just the lack of support but the fierce and growing opposition to this fascist regime clearer, and there were breaks in the opposition camp... If forces in the power structure itself, some of whom are for various reasons disquieted by the move to fascism or seriously concerned by and opposed to some of what Trump is aiming to do (which, after all, IS a radical and extremely risky restructuring of how the ruling class normally rules), and some of whom may feel directly threatened by it, but who will not act unless the actions of all society begin to make them feel that they have to act... if those forces began to come out in serious opposition in an effort to put the regime on the defensive (as was done, in fact, in the 1970s when ruling class forces came together to force Nixon out of office)... If, in short, a serious political crisis arose... then this regime could be stopped. To those who say this cant happen overnight, we are tempted to say it could best happen overnight; that comparable instances like South Korea last fall or Egypt in 2011, when the dictator of 30 years was driven from office in the space of less than a month, show the possibility of doing this; and that the terrible and grievous experience of Germanywhere Hitler used the time he had after his initial ascent to power to step-by-step wipe out his opposition and radically (though legally) alter the laws of Germanyshows the dangers of not acting with speed. But instead, well say only that this IS possible and that attempts to defeat and uproot this regime later on would be immeasurably harder than it would be right now. This is not to say that this path would not be difficult, nor to minimize the dangers. It IS to say that the path of waiting to see would be worse. The momentum from this weekend has created a rare opening; it will not last forever. Let history not judge that we squandered it. [Scroll down for annotations] In the winter of 2011, five years ago, the people of Egypt flooded into Tahir Square and rose up in rebellion against decades of brutally oppressive rule by the Mubarak regimea regime backed by and playing a key role in preserving the interests of the U.S. empire. They stayed in the Square in the tens and hundreds of thousands until on February 11 of that year, Mubarak was driven from office. (Photos: AP) In South Korea, for almost three months now, people have gone into the streets, week after week, demanding the immediate removal of President Park Geun-hye. In a country of 50 million people, there have been 2 million at some of the protests. Park and her family are hated: Her father, Park Chung-hee, brutally ruled South Korea from 1961 to 1979 after seizing power in a military coup. Park Geun-hye is accused of corruption, the government has been forced to impeach her, and a court is now deciding whether to uphold this decision. Protests are continuing, with the people demanding the immediate ouster, arrest, and imprisonment of the president. Annotations Trumps inaugural address privileged those who voted for him as the legitimate citizens... Trump began the inaugural speech by addressing the people in general. He said that now the people will become the rulers of this nation again. Directly after that paragraph, however, Trump performed a rhetorical sleight of hand and made clear that he was addressing only those who voted for him, saying that you came by the tens of millions to become part of an historic movement, the likes of which the world has never seen before. While he did take the oath of office, at no time in the speech did he mention the Constitution or the importance of the rule of law (there is no phrase to the effect that this is a government of laws, not of men and women). The entire thrust of the first part of his speech was to actually posit a new legitimacy of Trump voters. ~~~~~~~~~~ Trump aggressively threatened the entire rest of the world with American power... In his inauguration speech, Trump said, We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, its going to be only America first, America first. And later, America will start winning again, winning like never before. Trump then made clear what that means, and what extreme military measures he will take, when he said, We will reinforce old alliances and form new onesand unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth. In his speech to the CIA, Trump reiterated his threat: We have to get rid of ISIS. We have to get rid of ISIS. We have no choice. Radical Islamic terrorismand I said it yesterdayhas to be eradicated. Just off the face of the earth. Right in the beginning, Trump previewed a theme of his talk: Were going to do great things. Were going to do great things. Weve been fighting these wars for longer than any wars weve ever fought. We have not used the real abilities that we have. Weve been restrained. Then he said, There can be wars between countries. There can be wars. Trump talked about all the military people he is putting in his administration, saying, the generals are wonderful and the fighting is wonderful. And then he talked about the Iraq war in order to put forward his agenda for why the U.S. should utilize its military might ever more aggressively and more viciously in the world. He said, The old expression: to the victor belongs the spoilsyou remember? You always used to say keep the oil. Trump then lied: I didnt want to go into Iraq. But then he followed that up with, Maybe well have another chance. In this way Trump made it clear that he intends to use the full extent of U.S. military might, including nuclear arms, to wipe anyone considered an enemy of the U.S. off the face of the earth. And by telling the CIA, I am with you 1,000 percent, Trump made clear he will back any and all measures, including torture and other unconstitutional practices, in the service of U.S. imperialist interests. ~~~~~~~~~~ Trump unleashed a war against the press... Trump bragged about his support in the military, police, and CIA. He said in the speech at the CIA: You know, the military, and the law-enforcement generally speakingbut, all of itbut the military, gave us tremendous percentages of votes. We were unbelievably successful in the election with getting the vote of the military and probably almost everybody in this room voted for me, but I will not ask you to raise your hands if you did. But I would guarantee a big portion. Because were all on the same wavelength, folks. Were all on the same wavelength. A major part of his speech to the CIA was to continue his attack on the press. In the first minutes, he said, I always call them the dishonest media. He also said, They [media] are among the most dishonest human beings on earth. Trump filled his speech to the CIA with . lies about the turnout for his inauguration. These claimsor what were called alternative facts by those in the Trump camphave been proven to be lies by photos, historical facts, and other evidence by the press. Trump called the press liars for saying the turnout was 250,000: We had a massive field of people. You saw that. Packed... It looked like a million and a half people. Whatever it was... and I get this network and it showed an empty field. And it said we drew 250,000 people. Now thats not bad. But its a lie. And then Trump threatened: So we caught them. And we caught them in a beauty. And I think theyre going to pay a big price. So on day one of his presidency Trump has made it clear he is going to intimidate and suppress anything in the media that gets in the way of his fascist agenda. ~~~~~~~~~~ Trump made clear in his inaugural speech a genocidal thrust toward communities of color, painting stereotypes of subhuman communities and implying extreme repression to stop the carnage... At the end of the first part of his inauguration speech, Trump mentioned the conditions of mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities, and blasted the education system, ending with And the crime and gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. It is this last sentence that carries the weight of the paragraphclearly targeting Black and Latino youth caught up in the gang life as the source of the problem. And then he followed up with: This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. In the one mention of the conditions of Black and Latino people in the inner cities, Trump clearly blamed the conditions on a section of the victims themselves, left out any mention of institutional and systemic racism, including mass incarceration and police brutality and murder, and went so far as to purloin a major slogan of the movement against police murder (No More Stolen Lives!) for his own purposes. In this contextand with a page posted at the White House webpage that very day titled Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community saying that The Trump Administration will be a law and order administrationthis is a threat, not a promise. ~~~~~~~~~~ Trump and Pence have made the theocratic Christian fascist movement a key part of their ruling alliance... In the CIA speech, as part of his diatribe against the press for reporting the fact that there was low attendance for the inauguration, Trump said: And they said Donald Trump did not draw well. And I said, well it was almost raining. The rain should have scared them away. But God looked down and he said were not going to let it rain on your speech. This is, on one level, lunacybut it is deadly serious. Trump is claiming that he has the blessing of god, and he will use this claim to justify all sorts of horrific actions. In a similar vein, Trump declared in his inaugural speech, We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we will be protected by God. The close connection he makes here between the military/police and god is aimed at advancing the claim that whatever the military and police do is, again, blessed by god. ~~~~~~~~~~ Trump attempted to impose an alternate reality of Trumpworld on public discourse... In the CIA speech, once again as part of his attacks on the press, Trump said, And they sort of made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community. And I just want to let you know, the reason youre the number one stop is exactly the opposite. Exactly. Here Trump simply denies the factamply recorded in his many tweets and quotesthat he has been repeatedly attacking the CIA and other spy agencies in the last couple of months. ~~~~~~~~~~ Trump called out and attacked other sections of the ruling classfor the purpose of silencing them and bludgeoning their acquiescence in his fascist reordering of society... After some perfunctory acknowledgement of the presence of previous presidents at the inauguration and the help of the Obamas in the transition, Trump immediately launched into a verbal assault on the other sections of the ruling class: For too long, a small group in our nations capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourishedbut the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prosperedbut the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nations capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. Trump didnt name namesbut it was clear he was including in this attack many of those in his audience he sees as ruling class opponents of his fascist vision and program. For full coverage and the current issue of REVOLUTION click here KUWAIT CITY, Jan 23: Kuwait's national oil company has declared a state of emergency over an oil leak in one of its southwestern oil fields. Monday's statement by the Kuwait Oil Co. did not identify the onshore oil field affected by the leak, which began Sunday. The state-run Kuwait News Agency said the leak hit the al-Maqwa field. The company said there's no sign of a toxic gas leak. It offered no details about how many barrels of oil had been spilled. OPEC member Kuwait is a major oil producer. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says Kuwait produces some 2.7 million barrels of crude oil a day and holds the world's sixth-largest oil reserves. In August, Kuwait announced a spill at its Ahmadi field. A February fire struck another oil well after a spill. Kathmandu, Nepal: Going against the agreement among the major parties to hold the local level election as per the new setup, the lawmakers from various political parties have demanded to review the report of Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC). Speaking during the special hour of the Parliament on Monday, the Members of Parliament particularly from the Nepali Congress demanded to review the LBRC report. The lawmakers said that the LBRC did not respond the concerns of the people while perpetrating the report. As the people in various districts have staged protests demanding the review of the report, the government should pay the attention to the voice of the people, lawmakers have said. Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasado Yadav held discussions regarding the issue of local elections on Monday. During the meeting held at Prime Minister Dahals Baluwatar based official resident, the duo discussed on ranges of issues regarding the preparations of the elections. It is said that Prime Minister Dahal inquired about the position of the EC to hold local elections on coming May. Responding to the concerns of the Prime Minister Yadav, CEC Yadav said that about four month period require to make necessary preparations to hold the elections. 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This in itself is a strange proposition. Writers want to write -- need to write -- and the idea of retirement is usually only entertained by those who are suffering from an illness of some sort, or long-term writer's block. In a sense, though, Sandy Duffy (Conleth Hill) is suffering from a sickness of the soul. His one and only novel, A Patch of Fog, written when he was only 25, became immensely popular and has remained in print. A 20th-anniversary edition is on its way, and Sandy's publisher Freddie Clarke (Ian McElhinney) wants him to do a book tour. Yet Sandy protests that he is tired of all the hubbub about the book; he never wrote another and is now a professor at a local college, as well as the co-host of a weekly television show on the arts. He and his co-host Lucy (Lara Pulver) have begun a relationship and he wants that to work. He lives in a comfortable, luxurious home. What more could he want? Little things. Sandy is afflicted with kleptomania, prompting him to perform sleight of hand tricks to steal small items from time to time. One night, however, he is caught by a security guard named Robert (Stephen Graham), and ends up locked in an unlikely battle with him. Robert is a creepy fellow with a big, fake smile. His only friend is his pet snake. He holds recorded evidence of the crime at bay in order to blackmail Sandy into becoming his "friend." Recognizing that Robert is not exactly a balanced personality, Sandy tries to walk a thin line between appreciation and outrage. He is not entirely successful, and that leads to a series of tense confrontations between the two. Director Michael Lennox received an Academy Award nomination for his live-action short Boogaloo and Graham. In his feature film debut, he establishes a gloomy, moody atmosphere, beautifully captured by cinematographer Matthis Pilz. Dread and doom are palpable; we're always waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the worm to turn, and for other cliches to be played out. The original screenplay by John Cairns and Michael McCartney is also the first feature credit for both. It aims to go against conventions and to upend expectations, and it's partially successful on both scores. Neither Sandy nor Robert are typical leading characters. Unhappy with their lot in life, each man strives to be happy without knowing, exactly, what that is. As the story develops, Sandy must confront his past and Robert must acknowledge his future; neither is a pleasant prospect. Both Conleth Hill and Stephen Graham were unfamiliar to me, apart from their roles in Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, respectively. but their performances here certainly show their depth of experience. Admittedly, it's not easy to watch a movie that revolves around two resolutely unhappy characters. Their relationship illustrates the discomfort of strangers and is strangely compelling. The film will be released on VOD and iTunes on Tuesday, January 24 via XLrator Media. If there was a title belt for badass women in genre film each year Wyrmwood's Bianca Bradey would have cleared the ballots for her role as Brooke back in 2014. Badass did not begin to cover it. Phwar! Zip ahead three years later and the Australian actress is looking to add to her badass female repertoire with news from Down Under that Bradey has landed the lead role in the television adaptation of the comic book Nancy in Hell. Bradey will "play the titular character a trash-talking, wise-cracking, whisky-swilling badass who slaughters demons with her trademark chainsaw". A Kickstarter campaign was launched by producer Jennifer Van Gessel last spring to make a pitch film for an international studio and it looks like it worked. Were going to try to take the series in a different direction to the existing comics, Van Gessel told Cinema Australia . The comic book has recently been remade and is now published by a different publisher and thats the direction were looking to take it. The blood and guts are going to be there, but it wont be in-your-face violence. Its going to have some Grindhouse about it, but beyond the violence theres also going to be a really good story, Van Gessel said. Nancy in Hell comics, the character outline and the script I knew I could totally be this character, Bradey told Nancy in Hell fans. There are a lot of strong, vocal and loyal Nancy fans out there and she has a huge following. I honestly hope theyre happy with my casting and that I do it justice for them because when you have such a love and passion for something its got to be done right so it satisfies the fans. Thats why Im making it. When they sent me thecomics, the character outline and the script I knew I could totally be this character, Bradey told Cinema Australia . I think Nancy is amazing and ballsy and I jumped at the opportunity to play her. Every now and then you read something and it just clicks with you. It gets into your soul and you feel this connection with it. I just had to get this role. I think Nancy is so awesome and encompasses so much that I really want to do her justice, Bradey was quick to ensurefans. There are a lot of strong, vocal and loyal Nancy fans out there and she has a huge following. I honestly hope theyre happy with my casting and that I do it justice for them because when you have such a love and passion for something its got to be done right so it satisfies the fans. Thats why Im making it. For now, grab yourself a copy of El Torres' comic book so you are familiar with the source material. Then pray to your gods that Nancy in Hell will find some international networks willing to broadcast it on our shores. With the success of shows like Ash vs. Evil Dead and Stan vs. Evil selling a horror series should not be that hard and the World is due for a horror series lead by a lady this time around. And if that were not enough, if you were wondering what the Wyrmwood crew have been up to these days Bradey may have let slip what is going on with that group. Bradey is currently hard at work on the highly-anticipated followup to Wyrmwood. At the moment were shooting a teaser for a TV series which will hopefully be turned into a hardcore, ten-parter. Imagine True Detective meets The Walking Dead, First season True Detective? Fuck. And Yes. This well-established Blog is worth visiting on a regular basis for a wealth of information of interest to Armenian nationals and to the Armenian Diaspora world-wide. Although it has a particular role in promoting international recognition of the Genocide, the Blog encompasses much more and includes many articles of general appeal to all those concerned with Armenian affairs. Much of the content is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere and the long list of links provided gives easy access to a plethora of material on social, political, religious, educational and cultural matters, and many news items from around the world. A teenage male was shot to death in San Francisco Friday, in what appears to be San Francisco's fourth homicide for 2017. In a series of tweets, San Francisco Police Department Sergeant Mike Andraychak said that the shooting occurred at 4:35 p.m. Friday near the intersection of Broad and Plymouth Streets in the Oceanview neighborhood. An 18-year-old male was killed in the gunfire, Andraychak says, declining to provide additional details. Bay City news reports that the victim has been identified as SF resident Josiah Lightfoot. #SFPD is investigating a shooting homicide that occurred at Broad/Plymouth at approximately 4:35 pm. The victim is a male, age 18. SFPDSgtMike (@SFPDSgtMike) January 21, 2017 No further information is available. If you have info regarding this crime, call (415) 575-4444 you can remain anonymous. https://t.co/KNSvb1K5Ny SFPDSgtMike (@SFPDSgtMike) January 21, 2017 You can also Text A Tip to TIP411. Begin the text message with SFPD https://t.co/3KJKuFaS92 SFPDSgtMike (@SFPDSgtMike) January 21, 2017 That area, Plymouth and Broad Streets, has been the site of at least two other homicides in recent years: In October of 2015, a man was killed in a Sunday morning shooting that also shattered area storefronts, and in October of 2016 a man was killed in a double shooting near that same intersection. Lightfoot's shooting appears to be San Francisco's fourth homicide on 2017, following the fatal beating of Gabriel Ramirez in the Tenderloin. 41-year-old SF man Abdul Cole was arrested in that case, police say, and was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of murder. Related: One Dead, Another Injured In San Francisco Double Shooting After almost six years in business near Oakland's Uptown district, Hawker Fare is closing up shop in a few short weeks, on February 18. Owner James Syhabout, whose Laotian mother has been in the restaurant business in Oakland for decades and including in this same restaurant space on Webster Street which she handed over to him in 2011 tells Inside Scoop that the reason is simply that he has a month-to-month lease and his mom has probably wisely advised him to get out now before he ends up "working for free." Syhabout tells the site "We had a good run," and adds, "I cant be emotionally too attached. When you get emotionally too attached to something anything, youre bound to make dumb business decisions." A protege of chef David Kinch at Manresa, Syhabout made a name for himself following the 2009 opening of his Piedmont Avenue restaurant Commis. It would soon earn Oakland's first Michelin star, followed by becoming Oakland's first two-star Michelin establishment in 2016. And, in the meantime, Syhabout would get the coveted honor of being named a Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2010. In 2011 he would then open Hawker Fare, offering up Thai-style rice bowls in a casual environment with the help of a David Chang protege, Justin Yu, in the role of executive chef. Though Syhabout had purposely run from the kinds of Southeast Asian restaurants he grew up in, he had come around to embracing modern takes on the food. Two years ago Syhabout opened the much larger SF location of Hawker Fare, in the Valencia Street space that was built out for Amber Dhara, and the restaurant's Thai street-food style has been a hit as has the attached upstairs cocktail bar, Holy Mountain, run by barmen Troy Bayless and Christ Aivaliotis. A Hawker Fare cookbook and memoir is en route to publication, co-written by local food scribe John Birdsall, who describes Syhabout's culinary journey on Facebook thusly: "It's been an amazing three years, working with James to tell his story of growing up a poor Lao refugee kid in Oakland. How he got forearm burns as a boy from scrubbing woks hot off the line at his mom's Thai restaurant in Concord; how he rejected his cuture to become a fine dining chef under mentorship by David Kinch at Manresa; how he painstakingly re-assembled his past by learning to honor his ancestors' food and culture The SF location of Hawker Fare, which also does a brisk delivery business these days via Caviar and UberEats, will remain open, as will Commis, though I wouldn't be shocked to see another location of Hawker Fare arrive elsewhere in the East Bay down the road. Previously: Hawker Fare Opens On Valencia California's high-speed rail project continues forward with anything but high speed, finally breaking ground in January of 2015 in Fresno where the first phase of construction sought to connect that Central Valley town with Madera, another just 29 miles away. To make the trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours by rail will take a bit longer: 2029 was the projected year for that as of the 2015 groundbreaking. Though contention over the ambitious project is nothing new, given the particularly sharp shift in political winds, the $64 billion project faces new uncertainty, coming under fire from Republican lawmakers who seem intent on slowing the proceedings to a halt. This month, the LA Times revealed a confidential risk report from the Federal Railroad Administration that claimed an 118-mile segment of the high-speed rail project, from Merced to Shafter in Kern County, might cost $10 billion as opposed to the $7.5 billion it's allotted. Naturally, that fueled concerns over the project, serving as more fodder for its critics. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California in particular is leading the latest charge according to the Chronicle, calling the plan a "boondoggle." So far the rail authority has spent $2.7 billion in state and federal funding on the project, and under the Obama administration, $3.3 billion in federal funding was committed to it. Rail authority officials will seek $3 billion in added federal funding, but "With the new administration," a democratic representative from Concord, Mark DeSaulnier, told the Chronicle, "I dont think there is much hope for getting more federal funding." Even without federal funding, the project can survive, or so rail authority officials say, but that's provided the current cap-and-trade funding the project receives doesn't disappear. It might: The California climate-change policy of requiring companies to purchase permits for greenhouse gases emitted in excess of set limits creates revenue for the state that it invests in green solutions, a full quarter of which is reserved for the high-speed rail. But cap and trade, which in the past four years has yielded $1.2 billion to the rail authority, was approved by a simple majority of the state legislature. A case that's been ongoing for three years and is to be heard in Sacramento in the Third District Court of Appeals tomorrow contends that the cap and trade legislation in fact needs a two-thirds majority. Furthermore, it's set to expire in 2020, but could be extended with an urgency bill that Governor Brown has asked the Legislature to pass, with a two-thirds majority, this year. The first main phase of the high-speed rail project, the 250-mile line from the area of Bakersfield to San Jose, is still expected to be in operation by 2025. By then, Caltrain's tracks will be electrified, officials say, and that rail line will be ready to immediately connect high-speed trains to San Francisco. Yay for quick jaunts to Bakersfield! But how much farther the train will go, and by when, remains anyone's guess as the far more logistically difficult portion remains the connection between the Central Valley and the Los Angeles basin, which is going to require tunneling under mountains.. Related: CA Lawmakers Gripe About Change In High-Speed Rail Construction Plans Those warnings about breakers of up to 40 feet turned out to be real as a major swell crashed into the nearby coastline on Sunday, with record waves in Monterey Bay of over 34 feet. As the Chronicle reports, a previous record of 32.8 feet in 2008 for Monterey was broken, and up and down the coast the waves were bigger and rolling in fast than has been seen in many years. Violent waves claimed the lives of three people on Sunday, two of whom were Chinese nationals who had been on some rocks along 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach around 2 a.m. As CBS 5 explains, the Coast Guard performed a rescue after learning that one person had fallen off the rocks and two others went in to save them. One man was pulled out alive but the other two were not found. Later Sunday morning, a paraglider died and was pulled from the surf in Pacifica. A high surf advisory is in effect through 3 a.m. Tuesday with breakers of 25 to 30 feet possible. There was a brief hailstorm in San Francisco around 3 a.m. this morning, as KRON 4 and multiple people on Twitter reported. This followed on another rare hail pelting that happened amid thundershowers on Friday morning. @NWSBayArea hail at 24th and York in mission iced over street pic.twitter.com/74UxLiVjCz tnashw (@tnashw) January 23, 2017 Up along the Russian River they saw upwards of 4.5 new inches of rain in some places, and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat said that as of 3 p.m. Sunday there were ten roads closed around Sonoma County due to mudslides or fallen trees. Guerneville, which got some of its worst flooding in a decade last week, got another 2.3 inches of rain. As 20-year resident Mitzi Forbes told the Press Democrat, "Its the flip side of living on the beautiful Russian River. Three hundred and sixty days a year are perfect, and you have five days with no power and flooding." A fourth life was lost in the storm up in Mendocino County where a large oak tree toppled onto an apartment building in Ukiah. The Chronicle reports that one woman was crushed while lying in her bed. CBS 5 has photos of the tree and its damage to the building. An 18-year-old Tracy woman is also feared dead following a small collision in Niles Canyon Sunday morning. Her car veered into a rain-swollen Alameda Creek following the collision, and as CBS 5 reports, she remains missing. Another big tree, a eucalyptus next to the parking lot of La Finestra Ristorante in Lafayette, came crashing down on top of 10 cars during one woman's 70th birthday party there. Several of the cars were severely damaged, but no one was injured, per CBS 5. Rainfall totals were more modest in this last storm, and KRON 4 gives SF's total as 1.32 inches as of this morning. The highest unofficial total from the National Weather Service was recorded at Three Peaks in Monterey County, which got 6.62 inches. Highway 37 was closed due to flooding on Sunday, as it has been multiple times in recent weeks, and as the Chronicle reports a flood warning was in effect for low lying areas near streams and creeks in Sonoma County through Monday morning. The upside of all these storms is of course the tremendous amount of Sierra snowpack that they've created and which will hopefully not melt off too quickly so that our drought worries can be fully abated. CHP Officer James Giraudo tells KRON 4 it's the most snow he's seen in the Tahoe area in 20 years, since the El Nino year of 1997. And, with the massive dumpings of snow all this past weekend come avalanche warnings today, and the closing of I-80 at the Nevada state line in both directions. Here's a photo of a couple of guys trapped in a totally snowbound car along State Route 89 between Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley. The entire road down to Tahoe City is closed Monday due to an avalanche warning, and a snow slide about 200 feet wide and 12 feet deep buried the road early Monday around 3 a.m. and completely trapped two cars. No one was injured and everyone got out. Kirkwood Mountain Resort tells KRON 4 this is the most snow they've ever recorded for January, with 400 inches as of January 23 and by comparison the entire ski season saw 450 inches last year. As the Chronicle reports, a wind gust of 154 miles per hour was recorded at Squaw peak on Sunday, and most area ski resorts are closed due to avalanche warnings. The Squaw Valley Fire Department issued an especially dire warning today about the massive amount of wet and heavy snow that fell atop lighter layers from previous storms. Squaw Valley Fire Department strongly recommends avoiding any exposure to the potential avalanche hazard areas with the Valley. Residents who have the option to spend time somewhere else should consider doing so. Everyone should avoid traveling through the affected areas if at all possible Finally, via the Chron, here's a pretty drone video of the snow-covered area, taken over a week ago by YouTuber Steve Tietze. Now imagine 10 more feet of snow, and that's where it's at. Related: High Surf Claims Three Lives As Storm Floods Bay Area Roads They put a spoon under the bed because German folklore said it would help produce a girl. Turned the mattress so that it faced east-west instead of north-south, which the Talmud said encouraged sons. It all worked, but in a roundabout way. Nine months after the spoon and the directional switch, Rosie Walsh and her husband, Penn, became the proud parents of a boy named Claude who, when he was 3, declared that he wanted to be a girl. OK, Penn said. You can be anything you want when you grow up, baby, Rosie said. And so begins This Is How It Always Is, Seattle author Laurie Frankels new book about a family navigating the unexpected turns that come when a child states with unflinching certainty he (or she) belongs in a different body, and wants to transition. Frankel has taken the adage write what you know to heart: This Is How It Always Is was inspired by her experiences with her own daughter, now 8 and in the third grade. Last fall, Frankel wrote a New York Times Modern Love column titled From He to She in First Grade. It all started with a puppet theater and chest of dress-up clothes she and her husband bought for their theater-loving son. They included high heels, a straw hat and a sparkly green dress for his female playmates. The boy plucked the dress from the chest and put it on. In a sense, Frankel wrote, he never took it off. And while the column touched on what happened when their child decided to wear a dress and sandals to the first day of school, This Is How It Always Is goes far beyond, exploring how a gender transition affects and changes a family and how it relates to the world. At its very heart, the book delves into the many ways parents love their children for better, for worse, but always with the best intentions. The obvious conflict is between parents who want to be accepting of (gender dysphoria) in their children, and parents who want to get rid of this, Frankel said. Even when they are accepting, she said, they may have different approaches. Once we agree that we are going to love and accept this child, then how do we proceed? Frankel asked. Do we drug her? Do we operate? The impulse to protect the child is paramount, she said. And the issue of how to protect the child is much more complicated in a good way. These are real-world conversations that we are just starting to have, Frankel said, which left her room to explore in her writing. And yet, the issue of transitioning seems to be less complicated for the children going through it. Their minds are clear. This is the first generation of kids for whom this is happening, and its a wonderful thing, Frankel said. It doesnt have to come to being desperate, an I have to do this, or else I am going to die. Until this generation, its been a story of trauma and desperation. My daughter is very clear in a way that is muddled for me, Frankel said. I see everything that is scary about it and she doesnt see any of that. Frankel praised her daughters school for their help with and support of her transition. She didnt need much from them, and they have treated it like its not a giant deal, Frankel said. They felt that she was at an age old enough to make decisions for herself, whether it be which bathroom she uses, or how to tell her classmates. It was a transition that everybody grew along with, she said. Frankel, 43, is a native of Baltimore who studied English literature. For a while, she taught at a community college. Being an author was never the plan, she said. It was the fantasy, but never seemed like a realistic possibility for a lot of years. But you never know if you can write a novel until you write a novel. This Is How It Always Is is Frankels third. Her first book, The Atlas of Love, has been optioned for television. Her second, Goodbye for Now about a couple who create and market an algorithm that allows people to stay connected, via email, with loved ones who have died has been optioned for film. The filmmakers are in talks with actors and directors, but Frankel doesnt know much beyond that. Which is fine with her. For me, its very interesting to watch and its one part of the whole book process that I dont feel overly invested in, she said. I feel like this movie is not my problem. If it happens, Ill be thrilled. If it doesnt, Ill be fine. For now, she is eager to bring her new book to people involved in a loved ones transition, and those who come to the issue cold. I hope that everyone will read this book, that it will appeal to anyone, she said. That question of how you love and how you face challenges in your life and your family. How you protect by also nurturing. These questions are being asked by everyone, she said. And my book is a full fleshing out of ideas. I hope that people will read it and come to a fuller understanding. SIOUX CITY | A project that would modernize the look of one of Sioux City's former manufacturing hubs is set to take another step forward this week. The Sioux City Council on Monday will vote whether to adopt construction documents for the West Seventh Street Reconstruction Project. The estimated $8.5 million project will redevelop the seven blocks stretching from Hamilton Boulevard to Wesley Parkway, as well as three to four blocks of side streets and connections. The renovation aims to modernize the street's pavement and aging utilities while increasing its aesthetic appeal. Monday's vote is among the steps that will put the project into motion early this year. If approved, it will be followed by a bid letting in mid-February and the beginning of construction in early March. If all goes according to schedule, the project will conclude in August 2018, according to city documents. Monday's vote follows a public input meeting in mid-November, during which community members and area business owners gave feedback to city staff. SIOUX CITY | A winter storm Tuesday may dump up to a foot of snow in some areas of Siouxland. Kerry Hanko of the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls said heavy snow will start to fall Tuesday afternoon. She said 4 inches of snow could accumulate between noon and 6 p.m., with an additional 4 inches from 6 p.m. to midnight. Snow is also expected early Tuesday morning and after midnight Wednesday. Most of Siouxland can expect 6 to 10 inches of snow, while areas near the Minnesota border could see a foot of snow. "It's going to start as light snow late (Monday) and through the morning," Hanko said Monday afternoon. "The heaviest will kick in midday Tuesday through the afternoon and evening." Most of Siouxland has been placed in the winter storm warning, which was scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. Tuesday and expire at noon Wednesday. Hanko said gusts up to 30 miles per hour were possible Wednesday, which could lead to blowing snow. The City of Sioux City has issued a snow emergency beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Cars parked on the street are to be parked on the even side of the street during even days of the month. Cars are to be moved to the odd side of the street by 7 a.m. on odd days. This ensures plows can remove snow on the entire width of the street. ORANGE CITY, Iowa | A Hull, Iowa, man has been placed on probation for stabbing his roommate and using a fake identity to secure employment. Jose Estrada-Martinez, 42, pleaded guilty Thursday in Sioux County District Court to identity theft, obstruction and assault with intent to inflict serious injury, all aggravated misdemeanors. On Friday, District Judge Patrick Tott, following terms of a plea agreement, placed Estrada-Martinez on probation for two years and suspended two-year prison sentences on the identity theft and assault charges. Tott sentenced Estrada-Martinez to 30 days in jail on the obstruction charge, and he was given credit for the time he had already served while awaiting resolution of his case. On Dec. 4, Estrada-Martinez stabbed his roommate in the arm with a knife-sharpening rod after they got into an argument in their Hull residence. During the investigation, authorities discovered that Estrada-Martinez had provided a false name and Minnesota identification card and had been working at B&M Concrete in Hull under another identity. He also had used a false identity when he was previously arrested and prosecuted in Sioux County. SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 15 days in jail for damaging the home he shared with his girlfriend. Karl Lyons, 39, had earlier pleaded guilty in Woodbury County District Court to fourth-degree criminal mischief, a serious misdemeanor. On Friday, Associate Judge John Nelson sentenced Lyons to jail, suspending 165 days of a 180-day sentence. Lyons was given credit for six days spent in custody after his arrest. Nelson also placed Lyons on probation for one year, fined him $315 and ordered him to pay $451 in restitution. Lyons was arrested Sept. 21 after throwing items at his girlfriend inside their home in the 1400 block of West Third Street and lighting a bag on fire in the house and threatening to "burn them both up." Damage to the home was estimated at $200-$500. Felony charges of arson, domestic abuse and false imprisonment were later dismissed after the victim recanted her statements to police. SIOUX CITY | Orange City and Spencer officials are stoked after their towns were selected Saturday as a start and a stop for RAGBRAI. The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will begin in Orange City, the Sioux County seat, on July 23. The tens of thousands of cyclists and support personnel will spend the next night in Spencer. "We are very excited they chose Spencer for the first overnight stop," Mayor Reynold Peterson said Sunday. "It's been 10 years since we had the first overnight stop and we are ready to showcase our community to the riders and support groups of RAGBRAI." The eight overnight cities were announced at a RAGBRAI party in Des Moines Saturday night. Hotels in both Orange City and Spencer said Sunday that phones have been ringing nonstop with reservation requests since the towns were revealed. Other towns whose bids were chosen for the northern 411-mile route include Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Cresco, Waukon and Lansing. Organizers say the course should be the third-easiest one in the event's 45-year history after riders claimed last year's southern route was difficult. A famous RAGBRAI practice is when riders dunk their back tire into the Missouri River on Iowa's western border and then finish the weeklong ride by dipping the front tire into the Mississippi River. With the kickoff town being more than 20 miles inland, Orange City economic development director Mike Hofman said the town will provide accommodations for those who want to continue the ceremonial dipping. "We are planning to bring water from the Missouri... or even the Big Sioux to Orange City and we will have a place for riders who dont want to actually go to the border and dip their tires in the water," he said. This is the first time Orange City was picked as the starting place. It's begun in Sioux County nine previous times, most recently in Rock Valley in 2014. This will be the fifth time that Spencer will serve as an overnight stop. Orange City annually hosts a tulip festival in May that celebrates the city's Dutch heritage, while Spencer is home each September to the Clay County Fair, billed as the country's largest county fair. "We were all just very excited," added Hofman, who went down to the RAGBRAI party. "We are looking forward to showcasing our city to a different set of visitors that would normally come to our tulip festival." Peterson and Hofman both said planning for their town's host day will start on Monday. In 2015, the hordes of cyclists started from Sioux City. Last year, the ride began in Glenwood and followed a southern route. SIOUX CITY | Sioux City Public Library staff are launching a program to encourage parents and caregivers to read more to their infants, toddlers and preschoolers, while having some fun along the way. The program, called "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten," is adapted from a national program based on research that one of the most reliable predictors of school success is being read to during early childhood. The goal: to reach 1,000 before the child enters kindergarten. "Children who hear at least 1,000 books before kindergarten develop broader vocabularies and become stronger readers," Adrienne Jansen, the library's youth services manager, said in a press release. To participate, parents and caregivers can visit any Sioux City Library location to receive their first card and begin logging the number of books they read. Then, they can present each completed 200-book milestone to library staff, who will recognize the accomplishment. For more information on the project, contact the library at 712-255-2933 ext. 231, or visit siouxcitylibrary.org/1000-books/. OMAHA | A Winnebago, Nebraska, man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for domestic abuse. In October, a jury in U.S. District Court in Omaha found Michael Thomas, 28, guilty of one count each of domestic assault by a habitual offender and assault of a spouse, intimate partner or dating partner by strangling, suffocating or attempting to strangle or suffocate. On Monday, Thomas was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Thomas was found guilty of throwing his girlfriend onto a couch during a May 10 argument and putting his hand over her mouth and squeezing her nostrils after she began to yell for help. The woman told authorities she was beginning to lose consciousness when her cellphone rang and caused Thomas to stop and leave the house. Court documents show that Thomas had four previous convictions for assault and domestic violence. SOUTH SIOUX CITY | The new name for the Marina Inn Hotel and Conference Center will be unveiled later in 2017, when a substantial remodeling of the facility is completed and the property converts to be under the Marriott umbrella. Marriott International Inc. in 2016 approved the Marina's application for a franchise. Owner John Gleeson in mid-January said he can't yet share the new name, but said it wouldn't maintain the longstanding Marina moniker. "Like many people, we view Marriott International as the world premier hospitality company... It is a huge win for us to be part of that first-class organization," Gleeson said. Gleeson said he will continue to own the hotel, which has been in his family since the early 1970s. The Marina Inn, which sits on the banks of the Missouri River in South Sioux City, boasts 45,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and a premiere restaurant, Kahill's Steak, Fish and Chophouse. The facility is a destination for a host of business and other meetings, plus family celebrations. It draws travelers widely. "We have people from all over the country every year at the property, plus outside the country," Gleeson said. The hotel also will continue to be managed by the current team of 150 full-and part-time employees, since they have performed well. "Same people, same local ownership, same full team we've had -- no changes," Gleeson said. Gleeson said up to $4 million of improvements to the hotel will further enhance the guests' experience. There are 181 rooms and more than 60 are being extensively remodeled. A new fitness center will be added. The work began right after Jan. 1 and will run into summer. Additionally, some lobby remodeling was performed in 2016. "People like what they see. They are very complimentary of the improvements," Gleeson said. After the completion, the hotel name will change to one of Marriott's full-service brands. Marriott International operates 19 brands internationally, including luxury, upscale, extended stay, and limited service brands. Full-service brands in the U.S. include Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, J.W. Marriott, Autograph Collection, Renaissance and Delta. Ralph Bobian, general manager of the Marina Inn for six years, said the Marina is operated with high standards, so the facility will function well within the culture of Marriotts properties. "My previous experience in working at Marriott hotels in Denver has given me an opportunity to appreciate the high hospitality standards of the Marriott brands," Bobian said. "We look forward to being part of the Marriott rewards program, which is very important to many of our hotel guests." Marriott International, based in Bethesda, Maryland., was founded by John Willard Marriott in 1927. Today, the chain has nearly 4,500 properties in 87 countries, with revenues of more than $14 billion in fiscal year 2015. The wait in the line to exchange money at the Havana airport can stretch on for hours, reservations are a must at popular private Cuban restaurants and tangerine and hot-pink-colored vintage cars ferrying visitors crowd the streets around the most frequented tourist destinations. Tourism on the island is definitely booming. Cuba welcomed a record 4 million visitors last year, a 13 percent increase over the previous year that also was a record. And during the recent holidays the tourism stampede showed no signs of abating. This year, with new cruise and airline service coming on stream, could be another record-breaker. Cuba is expecting an additional 100,000 visitors to the island in 2017, according to the Ministry of Tourism. That is, unless President Donald Trump throws a monkey wrench into U.S. visits to this new hot market. He has warned that unless the United States gets a better deal in its developing relationship with Cuba and the Cuban government makes some political concessions, he might scrap the whole normalization process initiated by the United States and Cuba on Dec. 17, 2014. That could jeopardize both cruise service from the United States and regularly scheduled flights by U.S. airlines, which resumed last year, as well as limit the number of Americans allowed to visit the island. Under former President Barack Obama, Americans who fell into 12 approved categories, such as those making family visits or on educational or people-to-people trips, could travel to the island. Their travel was supposed to be purposeful, rather than a vacation toasting themselves on Cuban beaches. Those more liberal rules meant that by mid-year 2016, visits by Cubans living abroad most of them residing in the U.S. and by other U.S. travelers to Cuba had climbed to the second and third spots among all international visitors to the island, trailing only visitors from Canada. From January to June, non-family visits increased from 76,183 to 136,913, and that was before the first regularly scheduled flights from U.S. cities to Cuba in more than half a century began in August 2016. Full-year breakouts arent yet available for 2016, but Josefina Vidal, Cubas chief negotiator in talks with the United States, said recently that the combined total of visits by Cuban Americans and other U.S. travelers last year was 614,433, a 34 percent increase. From Miami International Airport alone, 588,433 passengers departed for Cuba in 2016, compared to 444,667 the previous year. Included in the count are Cubans returning to the island after making U.S. visits. Passengers arriving and departing for Cuba through MIA reached nearly 1.2 million last year, compared to 907,263 in 2015. Miami is the main hub for Cuba-bound travel from the United States, but other Florida cities, including Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando are also competing for Cuba-bound passengers. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services. This segment serves consumer and small business customers through a network of branches, ATMs, call centers, and online and mobile banking channels. Its Corporate & Institutional Banking segment provides secured and unsecured loans, letters of credit, and equipment leases; cash and investment management services, receivables and disbursement management services, funds transfer services, international payment services, and access to online/mobile information management and reporting; foreign exchange, derivatives, fixed income, securities underwriting, loan syndications, and mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets advisory related services; and commercial loan servicing and technology solutions. It serves mid-sized and large corporations, and government and not-for-profit entities. The company's Asset Management Group segment offers investment and retirement planning, customized investment management, credit and cash management solutions, and trust management and administration services for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, and their families; and multi-generational family planning services for ultra high net worth individuals and their families. It also provides outsourced chief investment officer, custody, private real estate, cash and fixed income client solutions, and fiduciary retirement advisory services for institutional clients. The company has 2,591 branches and 9,502 ATMs. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,061 branches and 3,381 automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada, and 1,148 stores and 2,701 ATMs in the United States, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. It has a strategic alliance with Canada Post Corporation. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Canadian Women Marching in Washington Feminism January 23, 2017 Joan Sangster Feminist Solidarity in Historical Perspective A friends daughter set out on January 19th from Montreal for Washington to join American protests timed to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump. She may not know that she is marching in a long Canadian tradition of cross-border feminist solidarity going back to a 1913 suffrage demonstration, also timed to coincide with a presidential inauguration. From the time of the suffrage movement to anti-Viet Nam war protests in the 1960s, Canadian women crossed the 49th parallel, both virtually and in person, to support American political causes which were also their own. Occasionally, Canadian soil provided a more accommodating meeting place: in 1971, American anti-war activists met with North Vietnamese women (who could not travel to the U.S.) in Vancouver to create an anti-war common front. Womens cross border political organizing speaks both to the cultivation of shared feminist aims and international solidarity, though it also reveals much about the contrasting political cultures and womens movements in different countries, and the fragile nature of feminist coalitions. Take the voyage of Canadian suffragists to Washington in March of 1913 to participate in a parade timed to coincide with President Woodrow Wilsons inauguration. The Washington parade really a demonstration in our parlance drew thousands of women to the streets of the capital to make a political point for the new President: womens suffrage had mass support. At the time, Wilson opposed votes for women: in his view, women had a place and that was tending the home fires, not voting for the House of Representatives. Wilson may appear on the surface to be diametrically different from Donald Trump. He was well educated, urbane, a former President of Princeton, later a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his international diplomacy. However, as recent protests at Princeton suggest, he was a reactionary on the question of racial equality and a supporter of segregation. Although he later acquiesced to womens suffrage, in 1913, he was opposed. Gender and Race Unfortunately, the Washington suffrage parade reflected something of Wilsons ideas. African-American women marched at the back, a reflection of the American suffrage movements increasingly racist stance over the 19th century and early 20th centuries. Any hopes that some abolitionists once entertained of votes for both women and African Americans was overwhelmed by white womens use of racist ideology to forward their own claims, though a few more radical suffragists on the socialist left supported rights for both women and African-Americans. Canadian suffragists did not have the same penchant as the Americans for organizing demonstrations, though they sometimes participated in civic or Labour Day parades. Demonstrations, some Canadians worried, were more confrontational, possibly unwomanly, and would expose women to hostile comments and actions the latter a very valid fear. A more popular public event designed to aid the cause in Canada was the Mock Parliament. Were Canadians, early on, attracted to irony and comedy as political statements? Mock parliaments were held across the country in various forms, as straight-up debates on suffrage and as role reversal mock-ups of all male parliaments; the latter, with their satirical spoofs of male legislators and their silly, irrational arguments against the vote, were particularly popular. When the 1913 Washington demonstration was planned, however, Toronto journalist and suffragist Flora MacDonald Denison organized a Canadian contingent as part of the international delegations attending. Denison, one of the most important, long-serving Ontario suffrage activists, veered toward the democratic, radical, non-conformist side of the movement, but she drew together a coalition of suffragists of very different political stripes to go to Washington. It was an effort of some integrity since the Toronto movement had recently split into two suffrage groups, one of which contained more affluent women who had treated Denison, a working mother of middling background, with decided class contempt. The Canadian Suffrage Association and the Equal Franchise League joined forces, and on March 2, eighteen Canadian suffrage marchers and two others accompanying them, met for a public send-off with well wishers at Union Station. Three male supporters, including Denisons ardently pro-suffrage son, Merrill, who was still in school, were part of the delegation. The Globe reporter covering the event thought the quiet group of handsome women might be taken for a holiday group: he was surprised suffragists looked so very normal. The Washington Parade The Canadian delegation already had an assigned place in the long march which was organized into sections by nation, state, suffrage organization, profession (doctors, lawyers), reform group (temperance and so on), gender (a mens contingent) and of course, race. The Canadian marchers would be placed close to those from Great Britain, a fitting juxtaposition since the Canadians were decked out in costumes that included the union jack, a reflection of the pro-Empire sentiment of the time in English, middle-class Canada. The Washington organizers allowed pride of place to countries where women had the vote (such as Finland, New Zealand and others), while Canada was situated with countries where there was partial suffrage, likely because some limited voting rights had been granted to women property owners in local elections for city councils and school boards. The Washington parade was also a stylized public performance of some splendor: women heralds on horseback led various sections of the march, and there were elaborate floats and tableau (still life pantomimes with women dressed as Justice, Liberty etc) adorning the steps of the Treasury Building along the route. Women were costumed, or wore all white dresses, decked out with suffrage colours, while bands accompanied the marchers with music. The Canadians, dressed in their imperialist garb with red maple leafs added, told reporters that they were generally greeted with positive cheers, Way to Go Canada, though some young men, one marcher later recounted, offered jeers, including we would never have the vote, and that it was too cold to vote up at the North Pole. Indeed, the jostling, jeers and violence directed toward some marchers became a post-parade scandal. An estimated hundred victims were taken to hospital after drunken men tried to climb aboard floats and grabbed the women marchers, shouting insults ( Toronto Star , 4 March 1913). Many suffragists blamed disinterested police for their failure to control the violence. Joining the U.S. demonstration was, on the one hand, an act of political solidarity, an emotional investment in international sisterhood that helped to sustain the spirits of suffragists. Canadian suffragists believed strongly in maintaining a connection to the international suffrage movement, although very few Canadians were active participants in international meetings abroad. Still, writing, propaganda, letters, films, and political reports criss-crossed borders, and Canadians often made their case for the vote by pointing to successes elsewhere, especially in the sister colonies of New Zealand and Australia. Denison and long-time Toronto leader Dr. Augusta Stowe-Gullen (daughter of early Toronto suffragist Dr. Emily Stowe) were known in the U.S. for their long-time activism; they spoke at a public meeting at a Washington library the night before the march, offering their insight into the progress of the Canadian movement. The Washington parade was also an educational lesson for the home audience, meant to show Canadians that wide support for suffrage existed in North America and beyond. At a follow up, public meeting held at the Toronto YWCA on March 27, some of the marchers spoke about their experience in Washington. Mrs. MacIvor said she felt embarrassed that the Americans were so far ahead of the Canadians and that we women must take hold of the men, lobbying our politicians as assiduously as the Americans lobbied their Congressmen. Harriet Prenter, an outspoken activist of Irish ancestry, added that there was no such thing as an ignorant voter as anti-suffragists claimed, save for one: anti-suffragist Ontario Premier James Whiteny, who, in claiming to vote on her behalf, clearly fit the ignorant category. Flora MacDonald Denison, Dr. Margaret Gordon, another Toronto stalwart, and Mrs. J.W. Bengough, wife of the satirical Grip editor and cartoonist, all offered their impressions of the Washington event. Those eighteen Canadian marchers came together as a coalition to voice their solidarity with American suffragists, but during the First World War that followed just over a year later, disagreement and disunity emerged. Mrs. MacIvor and Mrs. Hamilton, who both spoke at the YWCA event, were ardently pro-war imperialists who denounced suffragist pacifists; Harriet Prenter wrote for a socialist newspaper deeply critical of the war. Denison was deeply troubled by the jingoism and anti-democratic sentiments behind much wartime rhetoric, and quietly left Canada in 1917 to work for the New York suffrage campaign. Many Canadian socialist suffragists not only criticized the war, but also spoke out about class and economic inequality between women. Yet few Canadians were concerned with the discrimination of a suffrage march that relegated African-American women to the back of the bus. One of the slogans used at the Washington parade Women of the world unite (appropriated of course from Karl Marx) seemed a misnomer. As the Toronto women boarded the train in 1913, Flora MacDonald Denison was asked by a reporter if she thought the American women supported votes for negro women? She answered that the Canadian association barred no person, from joining, but she thought her Southern sisters might not care to have a colored person ruling them. Was she suggesting Canadians were more tolerant than suffragists to the south? It was a comforting thought, but one that many historians suggest was more wishful thinking than reality. 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. LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Jan. 20, 2017)The St. Mary's County Library announced the award of $1,091,000 from the Maryland Public Library Capital Project Grant Program. These funds will support the new Leonardtown Library project. The new Leonardtown Library will increase space for the public, including meeting rooms, from the current 9,500 to 24,000 square feet. The new library will also have separate space for staff and library administration to work. Dedicated areas for children and storytimes, a teen area, a makerspace and computer lab will all foster learning and community use. Large meeting spaces will be available for library programs as well as use by the public. St. Mary's County Government has been working with the architectural firm Grimm + Parker to create schematic plans for the approximately 48,000 square foot building to house the new Leonardtown Library and Garvey Senior Activity Center. Once the schematic design is accepted, final design is expected to be completed by July 2017 with bid and award during August 2017March 2018. The Public Library Capital Project Grant Program, according to Article 23-510 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, provides for the establishment of a grant program in the Division of Library Development and Services (DLDS) to assist in the funding of public library capital projects. This program mandates that $5M will be included in the State budget beginning in FY2008 and every year thereafter. Awards are given through a competitive application and review process. This award is contingent upon approval of the current proposed Maryland state budget. The funds will be awarded in July of 2017, in time to help start the bid process. WASHINGTON (Jan. 23, 2017)President Donald Trump's inaugural address did little to quell some Maryland Democrats' anxieties over what they see as a potentially divisive administration. But Republicans like Holly Malec, who recently moved with her family to Rockville, Maryland, from Texas, said she was heartened by Trump's promise to unite Americans and work for the people. "I think he can help Americans get along," she said. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Mechanicsville, was doubtful, issuing a statement denouncing the tone of Trump's remarks. "President Trump had an opportunity today to unite this country in his inaugural remarks. He chose not to do that," Hoyer said. "The president will have to set aside such divisive rhetoric. He must extend a hand to the plurality of Americans who did not choose him to be our next leader." In Maryland last November, 60 percent of voters backed Democrat Hillary Clinton for president. She was in attendance at Friday's inauguration. While Hoyer went to the inauguration, more than 60 other Democratic lawmakers boycotted, including Maryland Democratic Reps. Anthony Brown and Jamie Raskin. In his speech, Trump criticized what he described as elitist Washington politics that ignored the needs of regular citizens, and vowed to put power back into the hands of everyday people. But he offered little in the way of addressing what many see as his own brand of elitismand potentially conflicting relationshipswithin the private sector. Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump's expansive business ventures and potential conflicts of interest, released a statement on Twitter condemning Trump's complex web of multinational business ties. "Now @realDonaldTrump is president, he is bound by oath to uphold & defend the #Constitution. Mr. President, you must divest from businesses," Cardin tweeted. Citing a phrase from the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, he added, "This is not an esoteric argument about rules. Divestiture from business dealings protects @POTUS and the country from #conflictsofinterest. @POTUS remaining entangled w/ private businesses invites foreign entities to curry favor through leases, deals, gifts." Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is part of a group of Democratic legislators working on a bill that would force Trump to remove himself from any conflicts of interest regarding his domestic and international businesses. As Thomas Monje, 30, listened to Trump's inaugural address on his way home from Lanham to Rockville, he said he felt shocked. Trump assumed office with unprecedented unpopularity, and Monje, who voted for Clinton, said Trump's remarks did not show a willingness to heal a divided country. "The only silver lining I see from all of this is when the American people get pushed into a corner they are very resilient," said Monje. "I think in the next four years we'll be seeing a lot of activists and people who will rise up to the challenge." The first move of Baltimore's newly elected city council last month was to unanimously pass a resolution condemning Trump's "divisive and scapegoating rhetoric, rooted in hate and prejudice." In Trump's inaugural address, he referred to crime and "poverty in our inner cities," and said "this American carnage stops right here and stops right now." Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh said in a statement after the address that she looked forward to working with the incoming administration on "infrastructure improvements and putting Baltimore residents to work." Despite Maryland's deeply Democratic electorate and Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's refusal to vote for Trump, Hogan attended the inauguration, as well as other pro-Trump Marylanders. Malec, 46, said she'd been frustrated by the amount of negative discourse in politics recently and hoped Trump could help in mending the divisions she believed had grown up among various sectors of the population. Rick Villareal, 45, a Trump supporter from Severn, soaked in the moment. His greatest takeaway from the speech was optimism. "The energy level of trying to make America great again, that whole theme," Villareal said. "There is hope, and we just continue striving together." ANNAPOLIS (Jan. 23, 2017)Just over four years after the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, schools across the nation are continuing their efforts to promote safety and security for students, including in Maryland through the state's 2017 School Safety Initiative. The Maryland Center for School Safety and a group called Safe and Sound Schools held safety training this week for school administrators, mental health staff, security staff and resource officers from schools across the state to discuss topics such as mental health, awareness and preparation. In 2013, the General Assembly created The Maryland Center for School Safety after the fatal Sandy Hook shooting to prepare schools for emergencies and tragedies to help ensure that students, parents, and staff are in a safe, secure environment. The safety training included presentations from law enforcement expert Daniel Jewiss, who spoke about the shooting and the lessons learned at Sandy Hook; Michele Gay, a mother who lost a daughter, Josephine, during the Sandy Hook shooting; and Benjamin Fernandez, a school psychologist from Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, who spoke about recovery after a school tragedy. Safe and Sound Schools is an initiative to promote safety, prompted by the 2012 Connecticut shootings in which 20 students and 6 adults were fatally shot. Gay, along with Alissa Parker, who also lost a daughter, Emilie, at the Sandy Hook shooting, are founders of the program to influence communities to come together to find ways to make schools and their community a safe environment. Jewiss said that after the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, law enforcement officers began a strategy of "shaving seconds to save lives," by cutting down response times of first responders, communicating effectively with dispatchers, and getting to the scene quicker. Jewiss described the events that occurred the day of the shooting and emphasized the importance of the approach both law enforcement and school officials should take. Jewiss said that all individuals involved should be properly trained and learn how to respond to an emergency. Officials should be flexible in their roles and get to the scene as fast as possible, thereby hopefully decreasing the number of shots fired. Jewiss said that response times should also be sped up and every second counts. Dispatchers should ask questions such as the number of shooters, what the shooter is wearing and the location of the shooter and caller. "I think just making those adjustments in our scripts that we operate under, the way that we answer the calls, the way that school staff call it in and the way that our first responders get there," Jewiss said. "I think that alone is valuable seconds." "We're trying to save as many lives as possible," Jewiss said. "Shaving seconds by changing some of the things we talked about is a game changer." Gay, who has taught in Maryland and Virginia, gave the perspective of how to deal with school safety, being both a teacher and a mom who dealt with trauma. "I think it's a challenge for us all, for my family in particular because you know, we've got a trauma history and they don't love for me to walk out the door because I think in the back of their of minds they're afraid that I might not come back," Gay said. "Those are things we have to consider with families that have trauma histories." Fernandez spoke about schools handling students who suffer from trauma. He said he believes physical and psychological safety, crisis intervention, preparing for recovery and building resiliency are major factors to consider. Schools are large access points to mental health care for students and employ mental health professionals who are already in place, Fernandez said. Gay's late daughter Josephine and her two surviving daughters influenced her to start the Sandy Hook initiative and advocate for school safety training all over the country. "I wanted to do something very positive," Gay said. "My daughter was very positive and it keeps her close and it helps me feel like I'm building something that she would be proud of." Gay said she wanted to make sure that her two surviving children and other children were growing up in country where they could go to school safely. She also wanted to make sure teachers wouldn't be afraid to go to work and communities could maintain schools as a center of the community. Ed Clarke, the director of Maryland Center for School Safety, said he brought guests from Connecticut to learn lessons from Sandy Hook and that he wants school and law enforcement officials to work together. Clarke said he wants officials to learn how to respond to a low-level emergency or a catastrophic event that may impact one of the schools in the state, and more importantly, how to recover to get back to a sense of normalcy. Moving forward, Clarke said, he plans to continue a series of trainings, work with all 24 school districts and listen to the needs of law enforcement. The Maryland Center for School Safety also plans to embark on providing active shooter training for school districts and law enforcement throughout the state. Artists, this ones for you. ArtScape, an art show that takes place during the annual week-long Winter Party Festival in Miami, is being held in the first week of March. This years show will feature both renowned and emerging LGBTQ artists, according to a press release. In years past, LGBT artists from around the world have displayed their art alongside local artists, with mediums ranging from photography to sculpture. Curators for the event are currently looking for submissions by local artists to feature in the show. LGBTQ artists representing every art form will come together under one roof for an exhibition and auction to benefit the National LGBTQ Task Force and many local LGBTQ nonprofit organizations, reads a press release. The LGBT Task Force, the national organization benefitting from this years ArtScape, advances full freedom, justice, and equality for LGBTQ people, according to their website. Were building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives. For those interested in submitting art for the show, two high-quality digital images showing the full scope of the piece must be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by January 27, 2017. With it you should include your name, phone number and email, title of work as well as its media and size, and a brief biography about yourself. Selected artists will be notified by February 6, 2017. More information on the submission process can be found on the Winter Party website. We are really energized about this years ArtScape event as every year we get the opportunity to introduce our guests to amazing and talented artists who are willing to donate their artwork to support the LGBTQ community, Justin Bell, chair of the Winter Party Festival said. Winter Party is more than just great dance events, its an artistic and cultural celebration as well. Winter Party Festival will take place from March 1 to March 7, and ArtScape will be held on Friday, March 3 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. More information on Winter Party Festival can be found at http://www.winterparty.com. Dating apps are making us sex addicts, claims Sexual Health Campaigner Dr. Wendell Rosevear. Theres always been clubs and beats, but now the internet makes it quicker, more instant and more accessible to the broader population, Rosevear told Courier Mail. So, some people find themselves addicted to quick or anonymous sex and the internet fans that. The internet can be a diversion from addressing the needs satisfied by long-term relationships. Rosevear claims that the internet has driven people into deeper social isolation, and people are using fleeting sexual encounters to make up for a shortage of intimacy borne from their lack of social interactions. People are becoming more reliant on social media and app connection, Rosevear continued. They are desperately wanting short, anonymous connection to alleviate that need to have a sense of belonging. The increased amount of casual sex has led to a rise in STIs amongst both men and women according to Queerty, as more and more people are pursuing condom-free sex. As sexual encounters become more frequent and immediate, people are becoming less likely to disclose their STI and HIV status. According to Courier Mail, Gonorrhea rates in Florida increased 31 percent last year, chlamydia increased by 48 percent, and syphilis has seen a 70 percent climb over the course of the last four years. While the hookup rates for both LGBT and straight individuals have increased, Dr. Rosevear stated that gay people were especially vulnerable to hook-up culture. People can be quite lonely, a lot of gay people fear they will end up old and alone, but equally, the internet does not allow people to connect who may not otherwise meet, Rosevear said. I have patients who spend their whole lives through internet socialization but cant meet face-to-face with friends on the internet. the doctor continued. Some patients have only internet lives, they even have sex only over the internet. Interestingly, as users are becoming more attuned to hook-up culture, infamous hook-up app Grindr is choosing to move their platform from sexual to social facilitation serving as a social media optimized for the gay community. The next problem I want to solve with Grindr is: What do I do tonight? Thats what were optimizing Grindr for today, Grindr CEO Joel Simkhai told Broadly. I want you to get out of your house and do things. That could be hooking up, or not. According to Simkhai, Grindr could use its geolocation feature and collected data to point users toward tailored, local experiences. This could include a suggested new gay bar, a discount at local shops or group individuals with other users interested in a political rally. As we talk social networks the Snapchats, the Facebooks, the Instagrams theyre not really bringing people together, Simkhai said. Were one of the unique apps that actually brings you to meet someone. So far the app has gone unchanged, but Grindrs VP of marketing, Landis Smithers, hopes that the new technology will appear in the app within the next five years. In five years I want Grindr to be an immersive tool that can help people unlock things they didnt know they wanted, Smithers said. We can use data to help us figure out How can I connect you with your immediate surroundings? We know where our users are. We know what they like. With all of this innovation, Grindr still hasnt paid much attention to the rising hook-up rates, and users are still using the app daily to meet sexual partners. Grindr has already used ad campaigns to encourage HIV testing and safe-sex practices, and more sex-health advocacy may come with the apps updates. But for now, many users on Grindr and similar sites are having unsafe sex, and lots of it. People are pushed into seeking validation from as many sexual partners as they can, Dr. Rosevear said. The recipe of using attention as a substitute for acceptance means they get tunnel vision of only seeing the immediate gratification. Dr. Rosevear believes that society needs to have a conversation about ways in which people can re-engage with their peers both socially and emotionally. He doesnt see hook-ups as an inherently bad thing, but sees harm in the reasons why people are hooking up. The simple equation is people who feel valued take care and people who dont feel valuable take risk, he said. Our society needs to have this conversation to communicate and be with each other. Its very human. 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. Interior of Ceres SETI Institute The appearance of small bodies in the outer solar system could be deceiving. Asteroids and dwarf planets may be camouflaged with an outer layer of material that actually comes from somewhere else. Using data primarily gathered by SOFIA, NASAs Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, a team of astronomers has detected the presence of substantial amounts of material on the surface of Ceres that appears to be fragments of other asteroids. This is contrary to the currently accepted surface composition classification of Ceres, suggesting that the largest body in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is cloaked by material that has partially disguised its real makeup. We find that the outer few microns of the surface is partially coated with dry particles, says Franck Marchis, senior planetary astronomer at the SETI Institute. But they dont come from Ceres itself. Theyre debris from asteroid impacts that probably occurred tens of millions of years ago. Ceres is considered to be both an asteroid and a dwarf planet, the only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system. Astronomers have classified Ceres, as well as 75 percent of all asteroids, as belonging to composition class C based on their similar colors. But the mid-infrared spectra from SOFIA show that Ceres differs substantially from C-type asteroids in nearby orbits, challenging the conventional understanding of the relationship between Ceres and smaller asteroids. By analyzing the spectral properties of Ceres we have detected a layer of fine particles of a dry silicate called pyroxene. Models of Ceres based on data collected by NASAs Dawn as well as ground-based telescopes indicated substantial amounts of water-bearing minerals such as clays and carbonates, explains Pierre Vernazza, research scientist in the Laboratoire dAstrophysique de Marseille. Only the mid-infrared observations made using SOFIA were able to show that both types of material are present on the surface of Ceres. To identify where the pyroxene on the surface of Ceres came from, Vernazza and his collaborators, including researchers from the SETI Institute and NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, turned to interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) that are commonly seen as meteors when they streak through Earths atmosphere. The research team had previously shown that IDPs blasted into space by asteroid collisions are an important source of material accumulated on the surfaces of other asteroids. The implication is that a coating of IDPs has caused Ceres to mimic the coloration of some of its dry and rocky neighbors. Ceres and asteroids are not the only instance in which material transported from elsewhere has affected the surfaces of solar system bodies. Dramatic examples include the red material seen by New Horizons on Plutos moon Charon and Saturns two-faced moon Iapetus. Planetary scientists also hypothesize that material from comets and asteroids provided a final veneer to the then-forming Earth a coating that included substantial amounts of water plus the organic substances of the biosphere. This study resolves a long standing question about whether surface material accurately reflects the intrinsic composition of an asteroid. These results show that by extending observations to the mid-infrared, one can better identify the composition of an asteroid. According to Vernazza, the detection of some ammoniated clays mixed with the watery clays on Ceres raises the possibility that the dwarf planet might have formed in the outer reaches of the solar system and somehow migrated to its current location. SOFIA is the only observatory, currently operating or planned, that can make such observations, essential to understanding the true nature of these objects, says Marchis. The bottom line is that seeing is not believing when it comes to asteroids. We shouldnt judge these objects by their covers, as it were. This study will be published in the Astronomical Journal [http://aj.aas.org]. The SETI Institute (http://www.seti.org) is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary research organization whose mission is to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe. Our research encompasses the physical and biological sciences and leverages expertise in data analytics, machine learning and advanced signal detection technologies. We have a passion for discovery and for sharing knowledge as scientific ambassadors to the public, through education and outreach programs. The SETI Institute is a distinguished research partner for government agencies, including NASA and the National Science Foundation, as well as academic institutions, and corporations worldwide. SOFIA (http://www.nasa.gov/sofia, http://www.dlr.de/en/sofia) is a Boeing 747SP jetliner modified to carry a 100-inch diameter telescope. It is a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center, DLR. NASAs Ames Research Center in Californias Silicon Valley manages the SOFIA program, science and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) at the University of Stuttgart. The aircraft is based at NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Centers Building 703, in Palmdale, California. Pulsar Tails PSU Like cosmic lighthouses sweeping the universe with bursts of energy, pulsars have fascinated and baffled astronomers since they were first discovered 50 years ago. In two studies, international teams of astronomers suggest that recent images from NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory of two pulsars Geminga and B0355+54 may help shine a light on the distinctive emission signatures of pulsars, as well as their often perplexing geometry. Pulsars are a type of neutron star that are born in supernova explosions when massive stars collapse. Discovered initially by lighthouse-like beams of radio emission, more recent research has found that energetic pulsars also produce beams of high energy gamma rays. Interestingly, the beams rarely match up, said Bettina Posselt, senior research associate in astronomy and astrophysics, Penn State. The shapes of observed radio and gamma-ray pulses are often quite different and some of the objects show only one type of pulse or the other. These differences have generated debate about the pulsar model. Its not fully understood why there are variations between different pulsars, said Posselt. One of the main ideas here is that pulse differences have a lot to do with geometry and it also depends on how the pulsars spin and magnetic axes are oriented with respect to line of sight whether you see certain pulsars or not, as well as how you see them. Chandras images are giving the astronomers a closer than ever look at the distinctive geometry of the charged particle winds radiating in X-ray and other wavelengths from the objects, according to Posselt. Pulsars rhythmically rotate as they rocket through space at speeds reaching hundreds of kilometers a second. Pulsar wind nebulae (PWN) are produced when the energetic particles streaming from pulsars shoot along the stars magnetic fields, form tori donut-shaped rings around the pulsars equatorial plane, and jet along the spin axis, often sweeping back into long tails as the pulsars quickly cut through the interstellar medium. This is one of the nicest results of our larger study of pulsar wind nebulae, said Roger W. Romani, professor of physics at Stanford University and principal investigator of the Chandra PWN project. By making the 3-D structure of these winds visible, we have shown how one can trace back to the plasma injected by the pulsar at the center. Chandras fantastic X-ray acuity was essential for this study, so we are happy that it was possible to get the deep exposures that made these faint structures visible. A spectacular PWN is seen around the Geminga pulsar. Geminga one of the closest pulsars at only 800 light-years away from Earth has three unusual tails, said Posselt. The streams of particles spewing out of the alleged poles of Geminga or lateral tails stretch out for more than half a light-year, longer than 1,000 times the distance between the Sun and Pluto. Another shorter tail also emanates from the pulsar. The astronomers said that a much different PWN picture is seen in the X-ray image of another pulsar called B0355+54, which is about 3,300 light-years away from Earth. The tail of this pulsar has a cap of emission, followed by a narrow double tail that extends almost five light-years away from the star. While Geminga shows pulses in the gamma ray spectrum, but is radio quiet, B0355+54 is one of the brightest radio pulsars, but fails to show gamma rays. The tails seem to tell us why that is, said Posselt, adding that the pulsars spin axis and magnetic axis orientations influence what emissions are seen on Earth. According to Posselt, Geminga may have magnetic poles quite close to the top and bottom of the object, and nearly aligned spin poles, much like Earth. One of the magnetic poles of B0355+54 could directly face the Earth. Because the radio emission occurs near the site of the magnetic poles, the radio waves may point along the direction of the jets, she said. Gamma-ray emission, on the other hand, is produced at higher altitudes in a larger region, allowing the respective pulses to sweep larger areas of the sky. For Geminga, we view the bright gamma ray pulses and the edge of the pulsar wind nebula torus, but the radio beams near the jets point off to the sides and remain unseen, Posselt said. The strongly bent lateral tails offer the astronomers clues to the geometry of the pulsar, which could be compared to either jet contrails soaring into space, or to a bow shock similar to the shockwave created by a bullet as it is shot through the air. Oleg Kargaltsev, assistant professor of physics, George Washington University, who worked on the study on B0355+54, said that the orientation of B0355+54 plays a role in how astronomers see the pulsar, as well. The study is available online in arXiv. For B0355+54, a jet points nearly at us so we detect the bright radio pulses while most of the gamma-ray emission is directed in the plane of the sky and misses the Earth, said Kargaltsev. This implies that the pulsars spin axis direction is close to our line-of-sight direction and that the pulsar is moving nearly perpendicularly to its spin axis. Noel Klingler, a graduate research assistant in physics, George Washington University, and lead author of the B0355+54 paper, added that the angles between the three vectors the spin axis, the line-of-sight, and the velocity are different for different pulsars, thus affecting the appearances of their nebulae. In particular, it may be tricky to detect a PWN from a pulsar moving close to the line-of-sight and having a small angle between the spin axis and our line-of-sight, said Klingler. In the bow-shock interpretation of the Geminga X-ray data, Gemingas two long tails and their unusual spectrum may suggest that the particles are accelerated to nearly the speed of light through a process called Fermi acceleration. The Fermi acceleration takes place at the intersection of a pulsar wind and the interstellar material, according to the researchers, who report their findings on Geminga online and in the current issue of Astrophysical Journal. Although different interpretations remain on the table for Gemingas geometry, Posselt said that Chandras images of the pulsar are helping astrophysicists use pulsars as particle physics laboratories. Studying the objects gives astrophysicists a chance to investigate particle physics in conditions that would be impossible to replicate in a particle accelerator on earth. In both scenarios, Geminga provides exciting new constraints on the acceleration physics in pulsar wind nebulae and their interaction with the surrounding interstellar matter, she said. References: * Deep Chandra Observations of the Pulsar Wind Nebula Created by PSR B0355+54, Noel Klingler et al., 2016 Dec. 20, Astrophysical Journal [http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/253, preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.06167]. * Gemingas Puzzling Pulsar Wind Nebula, B. Posselt et al., 2017, to appear in Astrophysical Journal [http://apj.aas.org, preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/1611.03496]. Other team members include George C. Pavlov, senior scientist in astronomy and astrophysics, Penn State; Pat O. Slane, lecturer and senior astrophysicist, Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; Roger Romani, professor of physics, Stanford University; Niccolo Bucciantini, permanent researcher, INAF Osservatorio Astorfisico di Arcetri; Andrei M. Bykov, head of the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute; Martin C. Weisskopf, project scientist, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center; Stephen Chi-Yung Ng, assistant professor of physics, University of Hong Kong. Additional team members for the study on B0355+54 include Blagoy Rangelov, postdoctoral researcher, George Washington University; Tea Temim, JWST Support Scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute; Douglas A. Swartz, research scientist, Marshall Space Flight Center and Rolf Buehler, staff scientist, DESY Zeuthen. NASA and the Russian Science Foundation supported this work. Coffee: So delicious, and yet so mysterious. Is it a naturally occurring earth-bound substance? Or could it perhaps be the work of ancient aliens? Our feature series is less funny now that this is around half of ViceTVs schtick, but still we ask you to void your mind of all preconceived notions, as our Paranormal Theories columnist Bixby Klendathu delves deep into the mysteries that surround coffees origin. In a previous screed for Sprudge, we revealed genetic and anthropological evidence of the extraterrestrial origin of coffee, and its role in early proto-human history. These, however, are not the only lines of evidence that begin to unravel the mystery of coffees history, chemistry, and crypto-utility among the ancients. And important questions remain, includingmost criticallyis coffee still a tool of extraterrestrial control of the human species? My investigative team has been working on revealing new evidence, and were excited to share our conclusive findings. Since it is well-known and easily proven that the secret knowledge of human proto-history has been concealed and archived by the secret societies (Freemasons, Knights Templar, etc.), the examination of Masonic rituals, symbols, and teachings have led to huge and explosive findings. If coffee is an ancient substance developed by secret intelligence in ancient Sumer-Babylon-Egypt we would expect to see abundant Masonic symbology in the coffee trade. Our investigation incontrovertibly proves that this is so. Exhibit one: the logo of leading Third Wave coffee company Intelligentsia Coffee. An examination of their corporate logo reveals the all-seeing eye of Horusthe classic Masonic/Egyptian symbolembedded in what looks to be a cup levitated by wings. This eye looks up at a five-pointed star, another important Masonic symbol. Portland coffee company Stumptown Coffee Roasters also has secret, sacred Masonic symbology embedded in their logo: their horseshoe icon is familiar to initiates of the secret rite, and the term good luck along with an illustration of a handshake (perhaps symbolizing human-god/alien interaction?) feature strongly on their label. Finally, fast-expanding (fueled by intergalactic technologies??) San Franciscan coffee company Blue Bottle Coffee is an obvious reference to the arcane Masonic Blue Flask, embossed with imagery of Freemasonry. For what secret purpose is this bottle made? This evidence shows conclusively that iconic Third Wave coffee companies have close connections to secret Masonic ancient knowledge. Here is what we know: humans were engineered in ancient times by visitors from a planet known only to them as Nibiru, by the visitors who mixed alien DNA with ape-DNA from Earth. Coffee (KHWH) was developed as a performance enhancer/emotional control substance for the overseer aliens to administer to proto-humans while they worked in the ancient Ethiopian mines controlled by the Annunaki overlord-alien-God-angels. Just as we have descended from the genetically modified alien-apes, we have brought with us our ancient mind-control substance, we call it coffee. KAAL-D (Kaldi) is presumed to be the Annunaki scientist who performed this genetic graft, with assistance from the goat-faced aliens, and also the greys. QUESTION: ARE THE COFFEE COMPANIES IN ON THIS SECRET? You will notice that a very large number of enlightened coffee companies have bird or wing logos. Is this a reference to the airborne Annunaki/alien/angel visitors who created coffee in the first place? Is the eye of Horus/star/horseshoe/handshake a symbolic representation of the overlords/ dark star Nibiru/DNA/connection story? It seems so. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE? Our research has revealed a great deal of coded information on coffee bags, websites, coffee shop chalkboards, etc. This falls into two main categories: CATEGORY ONE: GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES Some coffee companies transmit map-clues in their very names (Equator Coffees & Teas, 49th Parallel Roasters). Many others use specific farm names, GPS information, and, most tantalizingly, FARM ALTITUDE on their coffee descriptions. For what possible purpose would farm altitude data be except to communicate geographic landing-site KHWH information to embedded alien agents? Or perhaps hasten the coming Extraction Operation (extraction being a term of variable usage) by forcing coffee cultivation further up our mountain chains (themselves crafted by the magnetic forces of the Dark Star)? CATEGORY TWO: DOSAGE/LOT INFORMATION Remembering that KHWH (coffee) is a genetically-engineered performance/mood enhancing substance, Annunaki overlords must monitor dosage and lot information. Special priest-scientists (Q Graders/cuppers) assign 1100 numbers to each coffee along with hidden codes taken from a special, colorful mandala, or flavor wheel. THIS IS ENCODED DATA. Several sources cite psychic mind-control properties in flavor descriptions that entice human subjects to consume KHWH (Example: 87 point lemon-jasmine-molasses). We ask concerned citizens to collect and share coffee-label data with us so we can continue to compile and translate the secret Annunaki codex we feel is being transmitted DAILY in specialty coffee shops around the world. The harvest is night, equatorial and otherwise, and only by gathering data points and unraveling the codex will we able to prepare and staff accordingly for the coming rush. Bixby Klendathu is a coffee enthusiast, Akkadian language scholar, and ardent UFO disclosure advocate. He contributes to a number of publications from his home in Pahrump, Nevada. Read more Bixby Klendathu on Sprudge. Breaking today via BusinessWire.com, the favored upload platform for Manhattan PR agencies, noted restaurateur and hospitality maven Danny Meyers Union Square Hospitality Group has announced an investment in Joe Coffee, the pioneering New York cafe & roasting brand with 15 locations and counting. The news was announced first to Joe staff at an all-staff meeting last week in Manhattan, during which time Meyer himself presented to the companys staff of 200+. The move is the first in a planned new wave of significant local investments to be made through the USHG to support hospitality businesses, and will allow for the expansion of five more Joe cafes planned for 2017, plus a high-profile wholesale partnership at USHGs soon-to-open Daily Provisions, a fast casual bakery/cafe/rotisserie chicken joint that will open next to Union Square Cafe in February 2017. To learn more about the project, Sprudge has an exclusive first interview with Joe Coffee co-founder and president Jonathan Rubinstein, which you can read here. More background information comes via the press release from Michelle Lehmann Communications: Joe Coffee, one of the early pioneers of the third wave coffee movement in New York and a leader in the industry, was a natural investment given the companys commitment to brewing the highest quality, responsibly-sourced beans, and its passion for serving coffee with warm and genuine hospitality. Joe has become the ultimate neighborhood coffee bara place for and of the communityfor guests to gather, work, ponder, and perk up. The company roasts all of its own coffees in Red Hook, Brooklyn for its 15 cafes, as well as for many of the countrys most esteemed restaurants. Historically weve had the privilege of investing in some incredibly special companies whose cultures, leaders, and innovative business models caught our eyes, and Joe is no different, said Danny Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group. USHG has had a meaningful relationship with Joe Coffee and founder Jonathan Rubinstein for many years, both as avid fans of their coffee bars and also having served their coffee at Union Square Events for years. We chose to make this investment with Joe Coffee because they are dedicated to the pursuit of making flawless coffee, are led by passionate and exceptional management, and share the same hospitality values as USHG. We are incredibly proud and humbled that USHG and its affiliates have chosen to invest in Joe, said Jonathan Rubinstein, Co-Founder and President of Joe Coffee. Danny Meyer is a leader I have admired my entire professional career and to have the opportunity to partner with him and his outstanding team at Union Square Hospitality Group is a dream come true. With this new funding, we will continue to do what we loveroast, brew, and serve the best quality coffee with genuine hospitalityand now we are excited to bring Joe to even more great communities across the country. Read our interview with Joe Coffee co-founder and president Jonathan Rubinstein. In Chinas Yunnan province, coffee farmers are right now making the transition from commodity-grade coffee to specialty coffee. Could China be becoming more than just tea? A middle-aged man wearing grey sweatpants and a conical hat is standing in front of a dozen half-built wooden drying beds. He is shouting in energetic rapid-fire bursts in Mandarin. He Wen Zhu is the head of the newly formed coffee co-op and a former coffee quality inspector at Nestle, and Zhu is speaking to a nodding, seemingly captivated crowd consisting mostly of Chinese coffee professionals. Cafe owners, roasters, baristas; the usual suspects. Only a few westerners ever make it to this remote mountain close to Puer City that is now the home of the Eden Coffee Cooperative. Today, Im here, too. When these drying beds are finished, Zhu explains, smallholder farmers in the area will be able to process coffee cherries themselves, instead of selling them to middlemen at prices as low as 15 cents per kilogram. That ought to result in better pay for the community of around 80 families living in the tiny mountain village. Looking across to the other side of the valley, the photogenic bush-covered terraces are a testament to tea being produced by the farmers here as well. Traditionally Puer is home to some of the most sought-after Chinese tea, a caked style of tea known as Pu-erh in the US. But tea isnt, or at least shouldnt be, a rival. The two caffeine crops have opposite harvest seasons, so on paper at least, it actually makes sense to grow both. It seems that Zhu has convinced them to give it a go. At least for now. Where Chinese Coffee Took Flight There have been minor attempts at coffee growing in China in the past 100 years, but it wasnt until Nestle introduced coffee to Yunnan, the subtropic Chinese province bordering Laos and Myanmar, back in the late 1980s and 1990s, that coffee really took off. Nestle had the size and scale to convince thousand of farmers that coffee would be a good cash crop. In return, Nestle would get an immense and malleable group of suppliers of commodity-grade coffee to their ever-increasing production of caffeinated drinks. A win-win as they like to say in the marketing department. Still, most people abroad have no clue that China is growing coffee, which isnt really that strange. Even though China produces around 138,000 metric tons a yearor as much as the production of Kenya and El Salvador combinedthe stuff thats exported is rarely specialty grade and nothing to write home about. But thats about to change if you ask Samuel Gurel, the CEO of Torch Coffee Roasters, a rather new coffee company based in Puer. Hes been a part of the Chinese coffee scene in various roles since 2008 and now also functions as the technical advisor to the Eden Coffee Cooperative. The Eden project is still very much in its infancy, Gurel says. But actually its part two of an experiment were running. The first part, he says, was conducted last year. A Chinese woman who owns a large piece of land got in touch with Gurel and Torch to seek advice. Gurel thought that helping the woman out might also prove some more general points about Chinese coffee. Together with Mario Fernandez from the Coffee Quality Institute and his team, he performed 40 different experiments to determine what kind of processing was the most fitting for her coffee. We found out that a natural process was the best for her beans, which was very much in accordance with Marios research. Roughly speaking, the research shows that lower-altitude farms are a good fit for dry processing, whereas medium altitude is good for honey, and higher altitude suits washed coffees. Of course its more of a guideline, but in this case it was true, Gurel points out, noting that cupping scores increased dramaticallyfrom around 80 originally, to as high as 86after instituting the processing experiments. 86 is significant, he says. That is extremely rare to see in Asia. We would take the coffee to cuppings and ask people to guess where it was from. And, in fact, they were really surprised to hear that it was from Asia because it had these really nice fruity flavors that you normally dont encounter in this region. In the end, we were able to triple the price of the best lots. According to him, the real struggle is just starting now. Its one thing to improve the quality at a single farm, another is to do it with a group of smaller shareholders, like at the Eden Co-op. The Catimor Question When Nestle set up shop in Yunnan back in the 90s, the company wasnt particularly interested in producing record-breaking coffee. After all, most of it was going towards instant blends. So they planted the hardy Catimor variety and no shade treeswhich increases yield, but diminishes taste. Catimor is popular all over Southeast Asia, but mainly for being disease-resistant. The variety is usually described as Arabica, but it owes its hardiness to some Robusta heritage. In the eyes of some coffee professionals, that makes it unsuitable as specialty coffee. The main ingredient in instant coffee is very inexpensive coffee, Gurel says. Now, area farmers must abandon a lot of what they have been taught if they want to transition into specialty coffee. Producing low-quality coffee isnt very sustainable because the margins are tiny, so if your expenses are just a bit too high you lose money. Before, some farmers in Yunnan would actually stop harvesting and just leave the coffee on the tree, because it wasnt worth picking, Gurel explains. Education is everything Back at the mountain, a sudden violent downpour puts a stop to the tour at the Eden Co-op. After all, it is the rainy season in Yunnan. The narrow gravel road is partially flooded, but after a short break the group decides to continue the trek up the mountain to inspect the coffee shrubs. As we climb the mountain, Zhu explains that the community consists of people mostly from the Lisu and Miao tribes, who were moved here voluntarily by the Chinese government back in 1997. Quite unusually for China, the majority of the villagers are Christians, which is also how Mr. Zhu got to know them. In his spare time, hes a preachersomething which probably explains his public speaking prowess. When I was working at Nestle, I found out that theres no such thing as fair trade in the Chinese coffee industry. The smallholders dont have any bargaining power. I told myself that I had to do something for the farmers, and thats why I started the Eden Coffee Cooperative. I want to teach them how to do selective picking and processing, so they can make more money, he says. Even though Zhu is determined to succeed, he says that its not always easy to get everybody else on board with his vision. The hardest part is to increase the villagers knowledge. Its difficult to convince them to keep doing it because the pay is low. But if they keep improving quality, they will also be able to get more than just the market price. The Eden Co-op could be at a turning point, however. When we arrived at the village that day, the farmers greeted us smilingnot with tea, but instead, drip coffee. Chinese Coffee In Real Life A few days after visiting the coffee co-op, we make it to Kunming, a city of around 5 million people and the capital of the Yunnan province, to get a first-hand impression of what Chinese coffee culture is like. Kunming, it turns out, is a lovely place. In spite of the ubiquitous and characteristically grey Chinese-style building projects, it offers lakes filled to the brim with waterlilies and plenty of parks. The area around the university has a particularly vibrant atmosphere with bars and small independent designer shops. But while there are plenty of cafes, its not an easy task to find one that serves Chinese-produced beans. Finally, the third coffee shop I visit is up for the task. Guang Zong cafe is a legit Third Wave coffee shop. There are flavor wheels and Specialty Coffee Association of America diplomas hanging on the walls, and theres even a Kono Meimon, a Japanese cult dripper that heavily inspired the Hario V60, prominently placed on the slow bar. Benjamin, the long-haired, tattooed barista, offers to brew a local beana washed Catimor from Puerin a V60 filter. Even though I try to flex my taste buds to maximum effort, it is a rather one-dimensional coffee. Theres a raw cocoa note, but not a whole lot more. While its not unpleasant at all, world class is still light years ahead. Letting the coffee cool down to room temperature helps quite a bit. Suddenly new notes and a welcome sweetness pops out. The signature notes of Yunnan coffee are black tea and brown sugar, says Benjamin. He goes on to explain that while there are more and more Chinese coffee drinkers between the ages of 18 and 35, they tend to prefer international beans and not the local variety. When they can get a Brazilian bean for the same price as the local coffee, they are gonna pick the exotic one most of the time. Chinese people like foreign things, and then of course, most of the foreign beans are still better, he says. Even though Chinese coffee culture is still young, it has gone a far way since Gurel first came to the country back in 2008. Back then there was no coffee culture to speak of. There were things called coffee shops, but usually they were dimly-lit places that served beer and hamburgers and steaks, he says. But around 2010, Korean business owners started opening real coffee shops in China, Gurel explains, and that started a coffee trend. Suddenly chains like Starbucks and independent places like Guang Zong all opened at the same time. (With 2,100 outlets, China now has the largest amount of Starbucks of any country outside the US.) According to Gurel, coffee is not going to replace tea anytime soon. Tea is still something that the culture is focused around. Still, if the Chinese just increase consumption from their three cups of coffee a year average, that will have a huge effect on the world market. After all, were talking billions of people. But as Asia increases demand, it will also blossom more as a coffee producing region, Gurel predicts. China, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar are all really promising. Theres a lot of land and labor, and those are the two most important things you need for producing coffee, he says. While there are for sure challenges to making China a great coffee nation, Gurel is sure that it will eventually become one. Just this year the Yunnan Coffee Exchange in Puer City opened its doors. The $9 million facility is already one of the biggest coffee markets in the world. Asked whether China is able to transition from quantity to quality, Gurel doesnt flinch. I could see a Chinese bean winning the Cup of Excellence. Maybe in 10 years time. It could happen. We might see an Indonesian bean winning it firstbut Im optimistic. Asser Bggild Christensen (@hipsterkaffe) is a Danish journalist based in Asia covering tech and the digital nomad movement for Information, F5, and more. Read more Asser Christensen on Sprudge. London, January 22, 2017 (SPS) - The British organization for human rights defence in Western Sahara, Adala UK, denounced the "arbitrary expulsion" by the Moroccan occupation authorities of international observers from Western Sahara. The non-governmental organization said that "at least 85 people, including foreign observers, human rights activists, journalists and other supporters of the Sahrawi cause," adding that those repressive actions aim at "silencing human rights activists in the occupied Sahrawi territories." On Saturday, "the Moroccan authorities expelled four young Norwegians from the occupied city of Smara, as they were about to meet activists of the Sahrawi civil society and NGOs," Adala UK said in a statement. The NGO said that "the young Norwegians have had their passports confiscated and were interrogated by the Moroccan police, and then driven to the city of Agadir in Morocco." Adala UK added that the decision to expel human rights activists from the Sahrawi occupied authorities show Morocco's intentions and attempts to prevent a legitimate investigation on human rights abuses and to impose a news blackout on the situation of Sahrawi people in the occupied territories."SPS 125/090/700 The Living Horse Hall of Fame nominating committee of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame has announced the results of recent voting to determine the 2017 inductees into the Harness Racing Living Horse Hall of Fame. Museum members in good standing voted for the two horses they felt best exemplified greatness. Their choices are racehorses Mr Muscleman and Rock N Roll Heaven. The other nominees were Andover Hall, Cantab Hall and Credit Winner. Broodmares Fox Valley Monika and Stienams Place will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame, having met the qualifications for broodmares. Mr Muscleman, Rock N Roll Heaven, Fox Valley Monika and Stienams Place will be inducted on Hall of Fame Day, Sunday, July 2, 2017. The ceremonies honouring these extraordinary Standardbred horses will take place during the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fames annual dinner. For information on the Hall of Fame weekend and other festivities surrounding this important occasion visit harnessmuseum.com from April 2017 onward or call or write the Museum at 240 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924. Phone: 845-294-6330. Currently, Standardbreds are only eligible for nomination to harness racings highest accolade if they comply with the following strict criteria: They must be retired from racing for five years and had a drug-free career. In addition, racehorses must have won 75 per cent of their lifetime starts, or gone undefeated in a single season campaign of 12 or more races, or been the winner of $3 million lifetime or named Harness Horse of the Year (US and/or Canada). Stallions must rank among the 10 all-time leading money-winning sires at their gait or have sired at least 100 $200,000 winners or been a leading money-winning sire at his gait in three or more seasons. Broodmares are automatically elected if they have produced a $1 million winner and two other winners of $500,000 or produced a Harness Horse of the Year (US and/or Canada) and another $500,000 winner. The 2017 LIVING HORSE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES MR MUSCLEMAN (Nominated as Racehorse) 5,1:51.1s ($3,582,823) Bay Gelding, 2000 (Muscles Yankee Meadowbranch Irene Meadow Road) Mr Muscleman raced from 2002-2007. At the time of his retirement, he was ranked ninth among the leading money-winning trotters of all time and is currently ranked fourth among North American trotters. Mr Muscleman recorded 37 wins out of 69 starts, finishing off the board only eight times in six seasons of racing. In 11 starts as a two-year-old in 2002, Mr Muscleman had five wins, including the Bluegrass and Harold Dancer Memorial. The following year, victories in the Breeders Crown, Canadian Trotting Classic and Kentucky Futurity contributed to Mr Muscleman being voted 2003 Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year. His earnings of $1,178,115 were the most ever by a three-year-old trotting gelding. In 2004, winning the Maple Leaf Trot and American-National helped earn Mr Muscleman the title of Older Trotter of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada. In 2005, five-year-old Mr Musclemans victories included the Breeders Crown, Maple Leaf Trot, Titan Cup and Classic Series, where he set his record 1:51.1s. His seasons earnings of $1,364,220 were the most ever by an older Standardbred gelding and made Mr Muscleman the only Standardbred to earn $1 million in two non-consecutive seasons of North American racing. He was voted 2005 Trotter of the Year and Older Trotter of the Year. In 2007, seven-year-old Mr Muscleman finished a close second in Swedens Elitlopp and won all four of his North American starts. Persistent soundness issues forced his retirement in 2008. Mr Muscleman has been a resident of the Kentucky Horse Parks Hall of Champions since October 2009. ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN (Nominated as Racehorse) p,3,1:47.3 ($2,748,818) Bay Horse, 2007 (Rocknroll Hanover Artistic Vision Artsplace) At the time of his retirement from racing, 2010 Horse of the Year and world champion Rock N Roll Heaven was the tenth-leading single-season money-winning Standardbred of all time, recording 20 wins out of 30 career starts. In 2009, two-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven finished on the board in all of his nine freshman starts, with four wins including the New Jersey Sire Stakes final and the Bluegrass. He earned $592,626 and set a world record 1:50.3 for two-year-old pacing colts on a five-eighths mile track. In 2010, three-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven won 16 of 21 starts, earning $2,156,192, and was that years leading money-winning Standardbred. Major victories included the Breeders Crown, Little Brown Jug, Tattersalls Pace, Battle of the Brandywine, Messenger Stakes, Bluegrass Stakes, Matron Stakes final, Berrys Creek final and the New Jersey Sire Stakes final. Rock N Roll Heaven was elected 2010 Dan Patch Horse of the Year, Dan Patch Pacer of the Year, and Dan Patch and OBrien Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year. In winning the Little Brown Jug in record time (1:49.2h), Rock N Roll Heaven became the first horse to pace two sub-1:50 miles on the same day, while setting the world record for pacing on a half-mile track in a two-heat race and the record for three-year-old pacers on the half-mile. In 2010 he paced a record eleven sub-1:50 race miles (seven consecutive), with victories in 1:49.2 or faster on half-mile, five-eighths mile, seven-eighths and mile tracks. FOX VALLEY MONIKA (Broodmare) p,3,1:53.3 ($64,049) Incredible Finale Lady Kin Cam Fella Bred by Fox Valley Standardbreds, broodmare Fox Valley Monika was foaled on April 29, 1998 in Sherman, Illinois. The progeny that qualified Fox Valley Monika for the Hall of Fame are Glass Pack p,4,1:49.4 ($1,002,820), Doubletrouble p,5,1:50 ($702,203) and Our Dragon King p,4,1:49.1 ($523,801). To date, Fox Valley Monika has produced three fillies and six colts, with seven starters and earnings of $2,937,769. STIENAMS PLACE (Broodmare) p,3,1:50.4 ($1,402,301) Artsplace Stienams Girl Nihilator Bred by James Leadbetter, Richard Stansley and John Powell Jr., broodmare Stienams Place was foaled on May 2, 1994 in Lexington, Kentucky. A world champion, Stienams Place raced for two years, winning the 1996 Sweetheart Pace and the 1997 Breeders Crown and Mistletoe Shalee. She earned over $1.4 million in her racing career and was voted 1997 Dan Patch Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year. The progeny that qualified Stienams Place for the Hall of Fame are Put On A Show p,5,1:47.3 ($2,406,628), Showherthemoney p,3,1:49 ($871,161) and Good Day Mate p,3,1:49.3f ($503,349). To date, Stienams Place has produced seven fillies and four colts, with nine starters and earnings of $4,551,107. (Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame) Barbara Brainard, 74, passed away on January 10, 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer. Barbara was a life partner with her husband of 55 years, Donald, and loving mother to her two children, Michele and Darry. Her involvement in harness racing as a breeder and owner stretched over five decades, as she witnessed her husband in becoming one of the nation's leading drivers during the 1970s. Known throughout the industry as a warm, loving, caring individual, in a interview several years ago, she said, "I get great satisfaction on seeing others achieve their potential. It does my heart so much good seeing others succeed, whether it be my Don, my children or someone else that may be enjoying a taste of success, especially when it's not taken for granted." Other survivors include her brother, Robert Laughlin, grandchildren S. Andrew Brainard and Lane Brainard, her sisters-in-law, Betty Jean Calice, Candy Brady and Samantha Laughlin, nephew Chad Calice and nieces Melissa Laughlin and Tracy Brainard. While Barbara requested no services in her memory, contributions would be appreciated in Barbara's memory to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Barbara Brainard. The Mohawk Racetrack race office would like to inform horsepeople that there will be no training available at Woodbine Racetrack this week. Training is not available on Tuesday morning or prior to the races this week at Woodbine. Due to mild January temperatures and rain, the decision was made to postpone training for a week and allow the track crew an opportunity to perform maintenance on the racing surface. Training will be available at Woodbine on Tuesday, January 31 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (WEG) Roy OHagan of Hanover, Ont. passed away at the London Health Sciences Centre on Sunday, January 22 at the age of 83. OHagan trained, raced, bought and sold horses for over 50 years. He spent many winters training yearlings in Florida. His proudest moment was seeing one of his trainees, Rock N Roll Heaven, go on to become 2010 Horse of the Year. He shared many special memories with his spouse, Marlene, and son, Mike, as they followed the stallions illustrious career. Roy is survived by his loving partner, Marlene Schmidt; his children, Michael (Sheila) of Chepstow, Colleen (Tony) Regier of Chepstow, Pat (Anne) of Berkley, Christine (Ted) Zettel of Chepstow; nine grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. At Roys request, there will be no funeral or visitation. Cremation has taken place. Condolences to the family can be posted through Mighton Funeral Home Hanover at mightonfuneralhome.ca. Memorial donations to the Hanover and District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Roy OHagan. ONE OK ROCK will begin their North American headline tour in support of new album "Ambitions" in just under two weeks. This marks the fourth US tour in two years but the first where they are the main draw. Previous efforts saw them play alongside bands like All Time Low, Sleeping with Sirens, and Crown the Empire for the Back to the Future Hearts tour and Monster Energy Outbreak tour respectively. Their most recent lives had the band tour as the support for 5 Seconds of Summer. This new tour will find the band show up in many major cities including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and ends in Seattle. The San Francisco show will be at The Warfield theater on Market Street on January 22 (Sunday). The band has announced that they will be accompanied by CRUISR, OUR LAST NIGHT, and ACCEPTANCE as support bands. CRUISR will handle New York, Toronto, and Chicago with OUR LAST NIGHT covering California shows and ACCEPTANCE the Seattle show. The band will then move onward to a huge Japan tour that goes all the way to May. ONE OK ROCK has had an ever-evolving sound in the dozen years they have been around and "Ambitions" follows this line. It's both familiar yet different from their previous efforts and shows a band that does not rest on their laurels and continues to gain traction around the world. The four-man unit led by Takahiro "Taka" Moriuchi has quickly found themself a place in America thanks to their albums "Zankyo Reference" and "JinseiBoku=" and work with franchises including Black Rock Shooter and Rurouni Kenshin. "Ambitions" will be officially released on January 13 by Fueled by Ramen, a sublabel of the Warner Music Group. There are both Japanese and English language versions. This marks the second album released as part of the Warner Music Group (the other being 2015's "35xxxv"). Full list of dates as follows: 1/15 New York, NY - Terminal 5 1/17 Toronto, ON (CA) - Revel 1/18 Chicago, IL - Vic Theater 1/21 Los Angeles, CA - The Palladium 1/22 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield 1/24 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo My crystal ball CB said that the war in Ukraine will end by March 2023. Why? - Ukraine does not want to continue fighting, as most of thei... It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here. tech2 News Staff By Varad Pande Aadhaar is the largest biometrics programme in the world. What started out in 2008 as an effort to create a national identification programme, soon became the worlds most powerful programme for driving inclusion. The vision of Nandan Nilekani and the Aadhaar team has helped successfully pull off the worlds largest attempt at providing a unique ID to all residents. Compared to national identification cards in several nations, the Aadhaar card has employed a chip-less, card-less approach, which makes it a ubiquitous portable system that can enable real-time authentication based just on a users biometrics. The Aadhaar platform Due to the way it was designed, Aadhaar opens up a range of applications for use on a large-scale. For instance, the Direct Benefits Transfer scheme where transfers of government programmes can be made directly into a beneficiarys bank account by authenticating a users identity through Aadhaar, is being scaled up across the country, which promising results in terms of better targeting and reduced leakages. Similarly, the eKYC service provided by Aadhaar, enables citizens to onboard themselves to various services, such as opening a bank account, instantly. Reliance Joi is today doing the KYC of its customers using Aadhaar, dispensing with complicated paperwork that was traditionally required to get a SIM card! Aadhaar-linked payment systems, such as the newly launched AadhaarPay and UPI, could transform the digital payments landscape in India. If you have an Aadhaar number, all you need is your 12-digit Aadhaar number, and a biometrics reader to do financial transactions. Thanks to Aadhaar, India could, in the next five years, leapfrog into a less-cash world, that no longer depends on debit and credit cards, expensive POS machines, ATMs and other such expensive hardware infrastructure. Building on Aadhaar, is India Stack a set of powerful, open and programmable application programming interfaces (APIs) comprising four layers presence-less, paperless, cashless, and consent. Each layer is supported by different technologies such as Aadhaar authentication, eKYC, eSign, and Digilocker. India Stack, which can be used by governments, businesses, startups, etc. provides a unique digital infrastructure that can be deployed to solve several pressing national problems that require authenticated real-time information or money flows. The initial, most promising use case of India Stack has been around digital lending, which is showing considerable promise, as our recent analysis showed. The journey for Aadhaar hasnt been an easy one. Despite its promise, issues such as privacy and security have stood as concerns in the minds of critics. On its part, Aadhaar operates through a highly secure architecture with multiple levels of security to ensure that sensitive private information is protected. The newly enacted Aadhaar Act, makes considerable headway in legislating strict protocols on data-sharing as a safeguard to maintain user privacy. With 1.08 billion citizens already enrolled, the mandatory vs. voluntary debate on Aadhaar is now mostly a thing of the past. The value proposition of Aadhaar has been strong enough that people have voluntarily enrolled into Aadhaar across the length and breadth of India. In the next couple of years, Aadhaar will aim for universal coverage. As told to Nash David Varad Pande, Partner and Co-Lead of Financial Inclusion at Dalberg, is part of the founding team of Aadhaar, and was Special Advisor to Indias Minister for Rural Development between 2009-14. hidden Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc has hired the man behind Google search to work closely with Chief Executive Travis Kalanick and help grow the company's self-driving car program. Amit Singhal announced on his personal blog on Friday that he will join Uber after 15 years at Alphabet Inc, where he led Google's search division. Singhal will take the post of senior vice president of engineering, an Uber spokesman said, a role which oversees the company's marketplace and mapping efforts - the core of Uber's business. He will also act as an adviser to both Kalanick and Anthony Levandowski, who heads Uber's self-driving program. In his blog post, Singhal said he was excited for the engineering challenges Uber is tackling, and called the company "a geek's candy store." "And don't even get me started on how interesting and exciting self-driving is for a computer scientist," he wrote. Uber debuted its self-driving car pilot in Pittsburgh, in September. It launched a second fleet in San Francisco last month, but a feud with California regulators over Uber's failure to obtain proper permitting compelled the company to take its autonomous testing cars off the streets. Uber then packed up its cars and brought them to Arizona, where there are no special regulations for autonomous testing. Singhal announced his departure from Google nearly a year ago, and said his next career move would involve philanthropy. He founded the Singhal Foundation, which aims to provide education to underprivileged children in India. Reuters hidden Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker, is considering setting up a display-making plant in the United States in an investment that would exceed $7 billion, company chairman and chief executive Terry Gou said on Sunday. The plans come after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to put "America First" in his inauguration speech on Friday, prompting Gou to warn about the rise of protectionism and a trend for politics to underpin economic development. Foxconn's proposal to build a display plant, which would be planned with its Sharp Corp unit, depend on many factors, such as investment conditions, that would have to be negotiated at the U.S. state and federal levels, Gou told reporters on the sidelines of a company event. Gou said that Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, had been considering such a move for years but the issue came up when Foxconn business partner Masayoshi Son, head of Japan's SoftBank Group Corp, talked to Gou before a December meeting Son had with Trump. As a result of the meeting, Son pledged a $50 billion of investment in the United States and inadvertently disclosed information showing Foxconn's logo and an unspecified additional $7 billion investment. At the time, Foxconn issued a brief statement saying it was in preliminary discussions to expand its U.S. operations, without elaborating. "Son is a good friend," Gou said, adding that Son had asked for his views about investing in the United States. Gou said he told Son that the United States has no panel-making industry but it is the second-largest market for televisions. An investment for a display plant would exceed $7 billion and could create about 30,000-50,000 jobs, Gou told Son. "I thought it was a private conversation, but then the next morning it was exposed," Gou said. "There is such a plan, but it is not a promise. It is a wish." Foxconn has existing cooperation and operations in Pennsylvania, which is a state Foxconn would prioritize, depending on land, water, power, infrastructure and other investment conditions, he said. Gou added that Foxconn would also remain active in China, dispelling talk that Beijing may be pressuring Foxconn about its investments. Taiwan's tech-dominated manufacturers have been nervous about potential U.S. trade policies because Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on imports from some countries, notably China. Foxconn is one of the biggest employers in China, where it operates factories that churn out most of Apple Inc's iPhones. Reuters tech2 News Staff US President Donald Trump has said in no uncertain terms that he will be following a 'Buy American, Hire American' policy going forward. This means that there could be curbs on hiring foreign nationals or outsourcing jobs. In the software sector, that could have an adverse impact on the US economy, according to the National Association of Software and Service Companies or Nasscom. According to Nasscom, which is scheduled to be taking a delegation to the US in February to reach out to the new US administration under Trump, the US lacks high-skilled workers needed for work in the software and services segment. Speaking to The Hindu, R Chandrasekhar, president of Nasscom, said that this industry requires high-skilled workers which are not available in the US. "If the agenda of creation of jobs needs to be pursued, we feel that current windows will need to be kept open to get the requisite skilled workers," said Chandrasekhar. Chandrasekhar further added that in the US, the only job creation engine is corporate America. To ensure that it stays globally competitive and improves productivity, software services are needed and for these services to function smoothly, high-skilled professionals are required. This is made more clearer by the fact that over 60 percent of Indian IT industry's $108bn export revenue comes from US companies. According to Chandrasekhar, the delegation visiting the US next month will highlight and share information with the new US administration on direct jobs created by Indian IT companies in the US, and contribution of Indian IT firms in making the US economy competitive. He said that according to data available, Indian IT companies have created 4.11 lakh jobs in the US of which 1.5 lakh are direct employment. Besides job creation, Indian IT industry has also contributed to the US economy in terms of tax payment, social security outgo and CSR activities. To make his point even clearer, Chandrasekhar quoted data from an Indian IT company which tried hiring in the US. Out of the 4,000 people interviewed only about 20 could be hired, facts which have been shared with the relevant authorities in the US. This is not to say that US does not have skilled workers, but they are not necessarily qualified with the skills that are needed. Nasscom further pointed to the fact that over 50 percent of the students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) courses in the US universities are foreigners. Nasscom also alleged that Indian IT companies have to pay higher visa fees if they hire foreign professionals, as compared to a US company doing the same. A little over 15 percent of the H1-B visas are issued by Indian companies. The matter is no longer limited to Nasscom, but even IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has weighed in on the matter. "..if certain issues come (up), the matter will be taken up at the Government-level where, the IT Ministry, Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of External Affairs..., all the three have to work in coordination," said Prasad. He also pointed out that between the 2011-15 period, Indian IT industry had paid over $20bn in taxes. The issue is certainly a tricky one to resolve, as both the countries need each other in this globalised world. It remains to be seen how receptive the new US administration will be with the Indian IT delegation which Nasscom is planning to take to the US next month. hidden The committee of Chief Ministers and experts on digital economy will submit its interim report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is heading the committee. He told reporters here on Monday that security aspect will be given top priority in the panel's recommendations. Naidu said he was preparing the report in consultation with other members. "After submitting interim report and examining all aspects, we will prepare the final report," he said. The central government in November last year constituted a 13-member committee of Chief Ministers and officials to examine and promote the use of digital payment systems across the country. The committee members include Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya and Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog. Naidu chaired three meetings of the committee last month and also held video conferences with the members. He claimed that Andhra Pradesh had emerged as a leader in digital transactions in the country with 41 per cent digital transactions within a short period. He was confident that next month this will improve to 50 per cent to go on par with London. Naidu, who returned home after a visit to Switzerland, said he discussed digital transactions with various companies in Davos. The Chief Minister said some companies have several patents in digital transactions. Pointing out that India is the only country to follow Adhaar-based transactions, he said the country could register a patent for fingerprint-based payments. Naidu said Visakhapatnam would be developed as fin-tech hub with focus on cyber security. IANS tech2 News Staff In what is indeed disappointing news, Samsung has announced that it would not be announcing the Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year. MWC has been held every year in Barcelona, Spain since 2009. The event is much older than that. It is by far the largest exhibition for mobile phones and related technology in the world and is the place where most smartphone makers (Apple doesnt attend the event) come to showcase their wares and outline their roadmap for the year ahead. Samsung has been in the habit of unveiling new flagships at MWC, as it did last year with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Speaking to Reuters, Samsung Mobile chief Koh Dong-Jin confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S8 would not be get a launch event at MWC. This news comes just hours after Samsung concluded its investigation into the Galaxy Note 7 fires. Koh has not revealed any details on when the phone will actually launch. Its possible that a revamping of the manufacturing and quality control processes at Samsungs production lines is to blame. But this is only speculation at this point. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to feature a new, almost bezel-free design with a larger display than previous S series smartphones. As far as the internals are concerned, were expecting to see a Snapdragon 835-powered variant as well as one powered by Samsungs in-house flagship Exynos chip. Various leaked images and renders of the device have surfaced online, including one that Samsung itself is appeared to have leaked. There is no concrete information on the device, however. With inputs from Reuters Read our complete coverage of the Mobile World Congress 2017 tech2 News Staff The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will set a new world record next month if its plan to launch 103 satellites from a single launch vehicle succeeds. This number far exceeds the previous record of 37 satellites set by a Russian launch vehicle. The launch is scheduled for February. Speaking to The Hindustan Times, Dr K. Sivan, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre explains that the satellites will be launched in a staggered manner at various separation angles, velocities and orientations. The satellites will apparently be launched at a relative velocity of 1 m/s to the launch vehicle. As Dr Sivan explains, even a one degree separation angle is enough to ensure that the satellites dont collide. The satellites are to be launched at an altitude of 500 km. For reference, the International Space Station orbits the Earth at a height of around 400 km. A geostationary orbit on the other hand, is located 35,786 km above the Earths equator. Dr Sivan goes on to explain that at 500 km, the rocket would only need 90 minutes to complete one orbit. This, he says, is ample time to launch all 103 satellites. Of those 103 satellites, only 3 are Indian. The satellites will be launched from Indias PSLV (C37) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The PSLV program is among the cheapest, yet most successful operational launch vehicle in the world today. If successful, the Isro mission will increase the total number of operational satellites by 10 percent. The current figure stands at 1,100 operational satellites. tech2 News Staff While 2016 had its fare share of acquisitions and takeovers, 2017 seems to have a similar pace. Global VP of all things Xiaomi, Hugo Barra today announced his departure from the Chinese smartphone maker. Barra put out a long and lengthy post via his official Facebook account, stating the reasons for his departure from startup company that has now grown into a super brand at a global level. Xiaomi Co-founder, President Lin Bin was quick to comment that Xiang Wang, Xiaomi Senior Vice President, would lead the company's entire global efforts moving forward. "This journey has been nothing short of spectacular in every way, and I can proudly say that Xiaomi Global is the first baby I helped bring into the world" and he indeed did so in more ways than one. In the peppy VP has been Xiaomi's face for all global endeavors apart from its home market, China. Barra cited health reasons for the same and that fact that he has been away from his family for too long. My 3.5 years at @xiaomi has been the greatest life adventure. Now its time to come home. Wrote a letter here: https://t.co/mLrF1kFUeM Hugo Barra (@hbarra) January 23, 2017 "But what I've realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return." He however praised the team at Xiaomi stating that the company is now turning into a global business in the coming year and that it's no longer a startup. As always Hugo Barra's connection with India was not left out. "We turned India from a dream into Xiaomis largest international market with $1 billion in annual revenues, faster than any company in India's history." The VP also helped push Xiaomi into other newer markets like Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and more recently 20 other markets including Russia, Mexico, and Poland. Barra was recently the face of Xiaomi at the CES 2017 where Xiaomi announced its newest smartphone the Mi Mix (in White ceramic) along with other products. Hugo Barra will be leaving Xiaomi in February after the Chinese New Year and will be heading straight to San Francisco. Indeed it pegs the question, will we soon see another Xiaomi-like brand popping out of the US? Well, with the new US president in the picture, we highly doubt that it would be a possibility. Google's Andy Rubin recently announced that he was building his own new series of smartphones. Is Barra heading out there? We'll surely know in a while. Here's complete post with all the details if you're interested. Xiaomi was quite successful with the Redmi Note 3 in India. It became their best-selling smartphone with over 3 million units sold in India last year. Offering a balance of great design, excellent performance and most importantly a long lasting battery, the smartphone is still considered to be the best budget smartphone to go for. However, smartphones have a short life span. The budget segment today has quite a few new offerings that give serious competition to Xiaomi. Companies like Lenovo, LeEco, Honor have intriguing products that could be a threat to the Xiaomi. Enter Redmi Note 4. While the smartphone had already made its debut in China last year, the company took its time and launched a more attractive Snapdragon version of the smartphone in India last week at a similar price bracket. The real question is, has the company managed to make the best budget smartphone even better? Read on for more. Build and Design: 7.5/10 At first, the Redmi Note 4 doesn't look very different from its predecessor, but looking closer, you start seeing minor changes. Instead of overhauling, Xiaomi has played safe and done some polishing over the existing design. You still get a metal back, only a bit more polished and more premium. The front is flat with a 2.5D curved glass finish and the back has slight curving closer to the edges, similar to the Mi 5. The gap for the antenna bands get some chrome treatment and the metal edges are now chamfered. There are some other prominent changes like the speaker grille from the back is now moved to the bottom edge. There are some symmetrical design changes as well like the headphone jack and infrared sensor on the top, the front camera and light sensor flanked on either sides of the earpiece and the microUSB port sitting in the middle. These may not be big leaps in design but they do lend the new Note 4, a more premium look that is a far cry from the rounded, and unfinished body of its predecessor. Features: 8/10 The company is known to set a benchmark when it comes to the specifications and it continues to do so with the Redmi Note 4. You get a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display on the front covered with curved protective glass. The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor which sounds like a step down from the Snapdragon 650, but is said to be more power efficient. There are three memory variants on offer which include 2GB RAM with 32GB of storage, 3GB RAM with 32GB storage and 4GB RAM with 64GB of storage. All the variants come with an option to expand the storage supporting microSD cards of upto 128GB. There is a new 13MP camera at the back with PDAF (phase detection auto focus) and a dual tone LED flash, while on the front there is a 5MP camera. Connectivity options include support for dual-SIM (hybrid SIM card slot), 4G with VoLTE, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS with GLONASS, infrared sensor and a microUSB port. Rounding it all off is a fingerprint scanner at the back and a 4,100mAh battery to provide the juice. Display: 7.5/10 The Redmi Note 4 comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS LCD display. While it sounds similar to last year's model, Xiaomi says that it has improved colour calibration. The curved glass on top really brings in a premium feel, although the bezels still look similar with some trimming done on the top and bottom. Coming to the quality of the display, it offers 401ppi which makes it sharp and colours look great with a hint of a blue tone. You can adjust the contrast and colour tone by going into the display settings. Viewing angles are great and sunlight readability is good, but not the best out there. You can also enable the reading mode which adds a blue light filter to reduce strain on your eyes. Overall, I didn't have any complaints with display, it looks and feels good and is quite responsive which is what one needs in a budget smartphone. Software: 7/10 The handset comes with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with MIUI 8 out of the box, which isn't new, but has its own set of features which are neat. If you have used or seen any Xiaomi product in the last few months, you wont see a lot of difference. Having said that, the MIUI 8 recently got an update which makes the experience very smooth. The UI is fast and is an improvement over the early builds of the OS which were a bit buggy. You still get apps like the Mi Remote app, Mi Store, a system manager to clean and manage your handset, a file manager, and more. For personalisation there is a theme store and also a dynamic lockscreen wallpapers feature. The drop down notification/quick setting toggle shade looks neat and can be used as traditional combined mode or separate paged mode. Xiaomi has confirmed that it has released the Android 7.0 Nougat program which is available in Beta. Performance: 7.5/10 Xiaomi claims that the new Snapdragon 625 (an update to the Snapdragon 617) is a lot more efficient, and it is trading that for the raw power of the Snapdragon 650. The new Qualcomm chip has an octa-core processor clocked at 2GHz with eight Cortex A53 cores built on the new 14nm FinFET architecture. The Snapdragon 650 however offered two more powerful Cortex A72 and considering the Redmi Note 3 offered excellent performance, I was a bit worried that the new chip is a step down. However, I realised that is not the case. In fact, I was impressed how snappy the performance was. Apps open quick, games are perfectly smooth and the UI is fast and responsive. For a daily driver, I think this is an excellent smartphone. Gaming is pretty good as my experience with high-end games like Asphalt 8 and Real Racing 3 was great, but with minor frame drops. An hour of Pokemon Go in the open sun led to a bit of heating, but even then the smartphone didn't struggle in terms of performance. As for the benchmarks, I was comparing them to the Redmi Note 3 and it is mostly neck to neck. Of course I reviewed the 4GB variant and comparing it to the 3GB version of the Redmi Note 3 isn't fair, but then it has been launched at a very similar price range. Benchmarks like AnTuTu and Quadrant were dominated by the new comer, while others were closer or lower to its predecessor. From what I have experienced, the Redmi Note 4 offers a similar raw performance package as the Redmi Note 3. Xiaomi said that they have heard the consumer feedback and have worked on improving the loudspeaker. While moving it to the bottom edge isn't the best idea, the company has significantly improved it. It is now louder a bit more refined although lows are a bit overpowering. Not the best loudspeaker, but definitely a good update. As for the call quality and network performance, everything is in order and works well. Camera: 7/10 Probably the only major concern on the Redmi Note 3 was the camera. For the Redmi Note 4, Xiaomi has loaded a new 13MP CMOS f/2.0 aperture camera made by Sony which has 5-piece, 77 degree wide-angle lens and the sensor is said to offer bigger pixel size. The new camera is better in terms of colour and contrast. I could see a clear a difference in the overall quality. The camera also comes with PDAF and a dual-tone LED flash. Shutter speeds are fairly good but fast moving objects are still difficult to capture and leave a blur. It still needs improvement in terms of calculating exposure, but it was nice to see that Xiaomi is looking at improving things. The app offers modes like slow-mo, manual controls, timelapse, straighten mode and more. The camera app is quick and responsive. I also liked the fact that Xiaomi has improved the HDR mode. Low light is still a bit of a concern, although it is better than what the 16MP unit offered on the predecessor. As for the front camera, I didn't see a lot of difference. The 5MP camera felt pretty much the same as it was on the Redmi Note 3. The front camera features a beauty mode where you can make your face slimmer and skin cleaner. The overall quality of the front camera was just average. Battery Life: 8.5/10 Now the Redmi Note 3 offered an excellent battery life. Xiaomi has gone ahead and put the same 4,100mAh battery which featured on the Redmi 3s/3S Prime. Add to that Qualcomm's new 14nm SoC architecture and what you get is even more battery life. Xiaomi claims that the the new handset sees a 25 percent improvement in the overall battery life and the claims are true. I didn't feel the need to charge the handset the whole day and I was still left with 39 percent of charge. The usage included Wi-Fi tethering, a bit of gaming, replying to instant messages, checking mails and watching a few TV episodes. Even the battery benchmark test on PC Mark shows that the Redmi Note 4 is the one to go for if you are looking for long battery life. In terms of charging, you get Quick Charge 2.0, which we know isn't the fastest. Charging from 0 to 100 takes about two hours. Verdict and Price in India Xiaomi has been always been spot on with the pricing and including the new variant was also a good decision. The 2GB+16GB variant is priced at Rs 9,999, 3GB+32GB for Rs 10,999 and 4GB+64GB for Rs 12,999. There are some good offerings in the market, but considering Xiaomi's reputation, the Redmi Note 4 will be a hot seller. In my opinion, the smartphone is a nice update. Agreed, it is difficult to bring massive upgrades in a short time and frankly you won't notice a massive change, but the company has put an effort to curb the issues that were seen on the Redmi Note 3. The performance is pretty much the same but the design is slightly refined, the camera sees improvement and the battery life has been further improved. If you recently invested in the Redmi Note 3, then I think you shouldn't upgrade to the new handset. If you are however planning to buy a new smartphone, this will keep you happy. While I would definitely recommend this handset, other options like the LeEco Le 2 and Lenovo P2 are worth considering as they offer hardware and performance capabilities that are as good as the Redmi Note 4. The LeEco offers a more powerful Snapdragon 652 chipset for Rs 11,999 while the Lenovo P2 has an even larger 5,100mAh battery for Rs 16,999. You should consider these handsets before blindly considering the Redmi Note 4. Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy UK govt accused of covering up `failed nuclear missile test` May braces for new Brexit battle over court ruling Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to trigger Article 50 of the EU\'s Lisbon treaty, beginning two years of divorce talks, by the end of March. AFP, London : The British government was accused on Sunday of covering up a failed test of its nuclear weapons deterrent last year, just weeks before lawmakers voted to renew the system. Prime Minister Theresa May refused to say whether she knew about the reported malfunction of an unarmed missile when she urged MPs to support updating the Trident nuclear system. The Sunday Times newspaper, citing a senior naval source, claimed that the Trident II D5 missile failed after being launched from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June. The cause of the failure is top secret but the source suggested the missile may have veered off in the wrong direction towards the United States. "There was a major panic at the highest level of government and the military after the first test of our nuclear deterrent in four years ended in disastrous failure," the source told the paper. "Ultimately Downing Street decided to cover up the failed test. If the information was made public, they knew how damaging it would be to the credibility of our nuclear deterrent." The malfunction came just weeks before the House of Commons was asked on July 18 to approve the replacement of the ageing submarines that carry Britain's nuclear arsenal. May was not prime minister at the time of the test, but she took office shortly before the vote and successfully appealed to lawmakers to approve the 41 billion pound (47 billion euro, $50.7 billion) project. In a BBC interview on Sunday, she sidestepped questions about whether she knew about the malfunction when she made her statement to MPs. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a landmark court ruling on Tuesday that could put a dent in her Brexit plans by handing control of the process to restive lawmakers. The Supreme Court will decide whether she can use her executive power to begin formal talks on leaving the EU, or whether she must seek prior approval from parliament. The 11 judges are widely expected to back an earlier High Court ruling that the magnitude of Brexit means the process to instigate it can only be introduced through formal legislation. Removing employment inequalities Baher Kamal : While just eight men are enjoying their huge wealth, equivalent to that of half the world, new forecasts project darker shadows by predicting rising unemployment rates, more precarious jobs and worsening social inequality. To start with, there will be more than 1.4 billion people employed in vulnerable working conditions. Throughout 2017, global unemployment is expected to rise by 3.4 million due to deteriorating labour market conditions in emerging countries -particularly those in Latin America and the Caribbean, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warns in a new report. Meantime, unemployment is expected to fall in developed countries - especially in Northern, Southern, and Western Europe, the United States, and Canada, ILO says in its World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2017. 1 in 2 Workers Employed in Vulnerable Conditions In addition, the figure of 1.4 billion people who are employed in vulnerable working conditions is not expected to decrease. That number represents 42 per cent of all employment for 2017, warns the report, which was released on January 12, 2017. "Almost one in two workers in emerging countries are in vulnerable forms of employment, rising to more than four in five workers in developing countries," said Steven Tobin, ILO Senior Economist and lead author of the report. On this, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, said "We are facing the twin challenge of repairing the damage caused by the global economic and social crisis and creating quality jobs for the tens of millions of new labour market entrants every year" According to the report, global gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached a six-year low last year, well below the rate that was projected in 2015. "Forecasters continue to revise their 2017 predictions downwards and uncertainty about the global economy persists, generating worry among experts that the economy will be unable to employ a sufficient number of people and that growth will not lead to inclusive and shared benefits." Since 2009, the percentage of the working-age population willing to migrate abroad for work has risen in almost every region in the world. That trend was most prominent in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Arab States, it notes. The report also points out a number of social inequalities that are creating barriers to growth and prosperity. Gender gaps in particular are affecting the labour market, ILO notes, and gives specific examples: in Northern Africa, women in the labour force are twice as likely as men to be unemployed. "That gap is wider still for women in Arab States. " Many young Albanian workers are returning home after losing their jobs abroad due to the economic crisis. For many of them, re-entering the local labour market is a daunting task. An ILO-UNDP project helped them address that challenge. Photo: United Nations. Many young Albanian workers are returning home after losing their jobs abroad due to the economic crisis. For many of them, re-entering the local labour market is a daunting task. An ILO-UNDP project helped them address that challenge. Photo: United Nations. Discontent, Unrest As a result of these and other social inequalities across a wide range of demographics, the ILO estimates that the risk of social unrest or discontent is growing in almost all regions. "Economic growth continues to disappoint and underperform - both in terms of levels and the degree of inclusion. This paints a worrisome picture for the global economy and its ability to generate enough jobs," said Ryder. "Persistent high levels of vulnerable forms of employment combined with clear lack of progress in job quality - even in countries where aggregate figures are improving - are alarming" ILO called for international cooperation and a coordinated effort to provide fiscal stimuli and public investments to provide an immediate jump-start to the global economy and eliminate an anticipated rise in unemployment for two million people. On Jan. 16, Oxfam International released a major report - 'An economy for the 99 per cent' - on the state of growingly deepening inequality worldwide. On the specific case of employment, it says: "Across the world, people are being left behind. Their wages are stagnating yet corporate bosses take home million dollar bonuses; their health and education services are cut while corporations and the super-rich dodge their taxes; their voices are ignored as governments sing to the tune of big business and a wealthy elite". Young women and men in Tunisia, motivated by issues such as lack of opportunities for employment and low standards of living, took to the streets in 2011 in hopes of securing better futures for themselves. Since then, Tunisia has undergone a number of political and social changes. The labour market however has only worsened, further deteriorating chances of formal employment for youth in particular. Photo: United Nations Young women and men in Tunisia, motivated by issues such as lack of opportunities for employment and low standards of living, took to the streets in 2011 in hopes of securing better futures for themselves. Since then, Tunisia has undergone a number of political and social changes. The labour market however has only worsened, further deteriorating chances of formal employment for youth in particular. Photo: United Nations What is behind the widening gap? Asked what is behind this increasingly worsening inequality, Anna Ratcliff, OXFAM's International's Media officer, Inequality and "Even It Up Campaign," said to IPS: "The benefits of economic growth are not shared equally across our societies. "The vast majority of income generated in the past thirty years has accrued to the owners of capital, and to those at the top of society. Workers have seen their wages stagnate in many countries across the globe, and in many other countries their wages have not risen anywhere near as fast as returns to the owners of capital." Ratcliff explained to IPS that in order to maximise returns to their wealthy shareholders, big corporations are dodging taxes, driving down wages for their workers and the prices paid to producers, investing less in their business, and spending billions lobbying government to write the rules in their favour. As a result, erosions in pensions, labour rights and secure work are common across the world, and hit women and the young hardest because tend to be the ones who are concentrated in precarious jobs, on very low pay, she warned. "If we don't tackle inequality, workers across the world will pay the price in terms of increasing insecurity and lower wages." The poor pay far more than the rich for a hot meal Should all the above not be enough, new United Nations data shows that a simple bowl of food in Malawi is much more expensive than that same meal in Davos, Switzerland, once adjustments have been made to take into account one's average daily income. That is what research by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) revealed. The analysis is part of a new initiative by the WFP called 'Hot Dinner Data' which was made public on Jan. 13, just before the Jan. 17 opening of the annual World Economic Forum, a summit of political and economic leaders that takes place in Davos. "The Hot Dinner Data analysis aims to hold a new mirror up to the world - one which illustrates the distortions in the purchasing power of the rich and the poor as they try to meet their basic food needs," announced Arif Husain, Chief Economist of WFP. 'Hot Dinner Data' reveals that people in the developing world pay as much as 100 times more for a basic plate of food than those who live in wealthier nations. In the most extreme circumstances - for example, in regions under conflict - the cost can be 300 times higher. For example, it says, a bowl of bean stew - a standard nutritious meal throughout regions and cultures - would cost a person in Switzerland 0.88 Swiss Francs (CHF), or an average 0.41 per cent of their daily income. "That cost would be 100 times more in Malawi, where a person would need to spend 41 per cent of their daily income to purchase the same meal. In India and Nicaragua, it would be roughly 10 to 15 times more expensive than in Switzerland." (Baher Kamal is Senior Advisor to IPS Director General on Africa & the Middle East. He is an Egyptian-born, Spanish-national, secular journalist, with over 43 years of experience). A Divine warning and Mr. Trump`s `Goebbels` AGAINST the backdrop of a most disbelieving sworn-in ceremony in the US, a series of controversial executive orders while millions taking to the streets, now it's Pope Francis who has warned against the rise of populist leaders in the likes of Adolf Hitler. Not to mention whom he meant. During an interview to a Spanish newspaper, the Pontiff condemned the use of walls and barbed wire to keep foreigners out, but then again it's still too early to comment on how the world would shape under Mr. Trump's administration. While talking on political leadership the leader of the Catholic Church expressed his gravest concerns over the rise of populism in America and Europe by saying -- people should not repeat the same mistakes as in the 1930s, when they turned to so-called "saviours" to resolve economic and political crises only to end up at war. However, with Mr. Trump at office the centuries old saying of wisdom is echoing again - If we do not learn from the mistakes of history, we are doomed to repeat them. Regrettably, following Brexit and Mr. Trump's unanticipated victory the world is quick heading to that gloomy direction. It has become day light clear with the new US administration of handling the press. Needs mentioning, that during the first weeks of 1933, the Nazi regime deployed the radio, press and newsreels to capitalise on popular anxieties to extreme political measures to eradicate civil liberties and democracy in the then Germany. Barely four days in office and Mr. Trump is alarmingly sending the same signals. He not only stopped by branding journalists as liars. For him, even if a journalist has ample photographic and video evidence to back up a story, he will still be called a liar. The Trump press secretary Sean Spicer has gone even further behaving in a clear authoritarian manner - Facing the press he seems to be audacious, vague at times and not answering any questions while leaving the press conferences impolitely. The new White House Press Chief used his first news conference to slam the inauguration reports as inaccurate. According to him, "Friday's was the largest audience to ever witness a presidential inauguration - both in person and around the globe." Attempts to recycle a blatant lie, so to establish it as truth has become evident. The truth is - 'Trumpisation' of the US media, in some capacity has begun. We have faith in the strength of democracy in America. The new President of the United States will have to learn that it is the accountability of the government that has made America a great leader of free world. President Trump deserves a chance. But the whole world is worried that with no experience in governance as the President of the most powerful country how soon he will be able to learn that there is no simple solution to international issues to be solved unilaterally. Grameen Bank in Narail looted UNB, Narail : Armed robbers looted money and other valuables from Majipara branch of Grameen Bank in Sadar upazila on Sunday afternoon. Manager of the branch M Riaz Uddin said a group of five youths, aged 18-20, entered the bank around 4 pm as customers. They held the staff hostage at gunpoint and took away the key of the vault, he said. However, they did not find any money at the vault as money had already been sent elsewhere. Later, the bandits looted Tk 22,000 from the moneybags of the staff and seven mobile phone sets. The gangsters fled in two motorcycles of the Grameen Bank field workers, the manager said. Officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Delwar Hossain said they launched a drive to arrest the robbers. MMCH closed sine die Staff Reporter : Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) was declared closed on Monday for an indefinite period following a tense situation after expulsion of three students for assaulting another student last week. The authorities of MMCH took the decision in an emergency meeting of the Academic Council in the afternoon. Principal of the medical college Professor Dr Anwar Hossain told The New Nation yesterday that they closed the MMCH to avert any untoward incident on the campus. Students of the undergraduate level have been asked to vacate dormitories by Monday evening. However, the authorities announced that examinations and other academic activities of the Medical College will continue as usual, he said. Last Wednesday, two groups of students of the Medical College locked into a scuffle over a love affair leaving Shahidul Islam, a fifth year student, injured. Shahidul is now undergoing treatment at the hospital. Later, both the groups went on carrying out attacks and counter attacks deteriorating law and order situation on the campus. On Monday, the administration suspended three students of MMCH for their involvement in a clash on the campus last week. The suspended students are second year students Anupam Datta, Himel and Niamat Hossain Siam. After the suspension the campus became situation turned tense. Business activities face collapse Truckers of 21 dists launch indefinite strike Staff Reporter : The indefinite strike called by Freight Transport Owners-Workers Union Council began in the country's 21 southwest districts on Monday seriously affecting the business activities. They enforced the strike to press home their 12 point demands that include an end to highway robbery, extortion and police harassment. The strike will continue until their demands are met, they warned. Members of the 21-district owners-workers council, including Khulna, Greater Faridpur and Barisal, are participating in the strike. As a result, business activities throughout the country are being badly affected as transportation of goods was halted after truck and covered-van owners began the indefinite strike in the morning. Meanwhile, the business community has expressed concern, saying that the strike will contribute to the price spiral of essentials. The 12 point demands also include stopping extortion at ferry ghats, lifting a ban on carrying side angles, bumpers and hooks on trucks and covered vans, said Abdul Gaffar Biswas, convener of the council said. 'We will continue our strike until our demands are met," he said. "We also want an end to extortion and law-breaking at ferry ports, stopping of harassment under the guise of checking documents and ending the culture of bribery," Gaffar Biswas said. He also demanded a reduction in bridge toll rates, the removal of unnecessary speed breakers, the issuing of driving licences by training programmes, a reduction in the price of fuel oil and an end to the violence against drivers at India's Petrapole land port. Abdur Rahim, member-secretary of the council, said that their demands also include ending providing driving license after giving necessary training and cutting down oil prices. Earlier, we had given an ultimatum to the government to fulfil their demands by Sunday (January 22). But the government didn't pay any heed to our demands. So we are now on an indefinite strike, he said. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.(MILLS RIVER, N.C.) -- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is recalling some of its 12-ounce bottles of beer over a packaging flaw that could result in a small piece of glass breaking off and falling into the bottle. "While we believe this concern impacts roughly 1 in every 10,000 (0.01%) of our bottles packaged during this time, Sierra Nevada has set the standard for quality in the craft brewing industry since 1980 and we have decided to take this precaution to ensure the safety of our consumers," Mike Bennett, the company's chief supply chain officer, said in a statement Sunday. "To date, we have not received any consumer reports of injuries resulting from the potentially affected bottles and we are working with our supplier to determine the root cause of the issue," Bennett added. Sierra Nevada says the flaw was detected in a "very limited number of bottles" following quality inspections at its brewery in Mills River, North Carolina. The recall affects eight brews that were packaged between Dec. 5 and Jan. 13, and purchased in 36 states across the Midwest, the South and East Coast. [ CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST OF AFFECTED BREWS ] Sierra Nevada says it has stopped distributing the affected beer and is working to have the bottles pulled from store shelves. Customers affected by the recall are being asked to dispose of the beer and are eligible for a full refund. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs. Paris, TX (75460) Today Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low 42F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low 42F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. 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. MARION During its 90th annual awards banquet on Friday, the Marion Chamber of Commerce recognized eight individuals and one local business for their contributions to the community. At the dinner sponsored by Southern Illinois Healthcare, the chamber recognized Hospice of Southern Illinois as recipient of the Business/Industry of the Year Award, Toni Perkins and Erica Pancoast as recipients of the Young Professional Leadership Award, Dave Clark as Citizen of the Year and Amber Ciochetto as Distinguished Chamber Member. Lifetime Achievement Awards were also given to Bill Nelson and Ray Altmix, and an the Award of Excellence and Mayor's Service Award went to Jesse Barge Jr. and Clerence "Penny" Bagby. Doug Kimmel, the immediate past chair for the Marion Chamber of Commerce, said the annual banquet and auction, which is also acts as a fundraiser for graduating seniors in the community, was a success. "It was well attended and I think it went very well," he said. "On one hand its an opportunity to have a nice dinner and raise funds for (graduating seniors) and give them structured things to do, so that's always a benefactor of the annual dinner, but really the intent is to honor people from the community that have gone above and beyond not only in the service of their professional work but the as part of the community as well." The Marion Chamber of Commerce annual dinner was also an introduction for Kenya Garner as their new chair, and Jared Garrison with The Pavilion and Megan Jones with Priority Staffing, as new board members. MARION A 29-year-old Freeman Spur man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the sexual assault of a child in 2015. According to a news release from the Williamson County State's Attorney's Office, Edward T. Urban was found guilty of the Class X felony at a trial in 2016. It also states that in addition to the 10-year sentence, Urban will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Williamson County State's Attorney Brandon Zanotti said the results of Urban's case were disappointing. "While a dangerous person who harmed a child is in prison and off the streets for now, and while we respect both our criminal justice system and the judge in the case, we are very disappointed with the judge's sentence in this matter," he said. He noted that Urban could have served up to 60 years in prison, but he appreciates the support and efforts of all involved. "Our office worked tirelessly at the trial to secure the conviction we received, and worked very hard at the sentencing hearing to get more time in prison for Urban. Urban could have been sentenced up to 60 years in DOC, and my office argued at the hearing that much more time in prison was needed for Urban due to the heinous crime he committed. "I do however want to thank the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, DCFS and the Franklin-Williamson Child Advocacy Center for their solid investigative work, and want the public to know that we will continue to aggressively pursue sex offenders to the fullest extent of the law," Zanotti said. WASHINGTON D.C. Jennifer Robertson and 54 others from Southern Illinois had a change of plans when they arrived for Saturdays Womens March on Washington in the nations capital. They had planned to stand in solidarity and march down Independence Avenue but due to such large crowds they did not get in as much marching as they had thought. The entire route that they had planned was packed with people, Robertson said. Robertson helped to organize the trip and said the entire experience was incredibly moving. I kind of got tears in my eyes because the unity that was happening was really amazing, Robertson said, adding that it was nice to be around so many like-minded people. She said when she heard about the success of the march in Carbondale she wished she could have seen it, too. I was sad to miss it. I wish I could have been in both places all at once, she said. Robertson, who is somewhat new to activism, said she made the long journey to try to make a better world for her son. I just feel like I can no longer sit by and not try to make the world a better place for him to live in, she said. She looks forward to getting home to harness the energy of her trip to Washington. There is a lot of work to be done, Robertson said. T&D Region farmers swept the top three awards in the Irrigated division of the 2016 National Corn Growers Associations Corn Yield Contest in South Carolina. Ray Jameson of Orangeburg won first place with Pioneer brand P1197YHR, which yielded 289.2879 bushels per acre. C. Backman of Norway won second place with Pioneer brand P1916YHR, which yielded 258.4150 bushels per acre. Sam Weathers of St. George won third place in the Irrigated division with Pioneer brand P1197YHR, which yielded 218.4422 bushels per Tate Jameson of Orangeburg won second place in the No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated division with Pioneer brand P1197YHR, which yielded 286.8451 bushels per acre. The local awards were among 199 state titles won by growers planting Pioneer products. Growers planting Pioneer 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. Orangeburg City Council has decided to keep the Department of Public Utilities' interim manager in place for the next six months while council seeks a new leader for the city-owned utility. Mayor Michael Butler said the city has seen positive change since Warren Harley began work on Thursday, Nov. 17, after the previous manager was terminated. He stepped into a situation and it was like it was a storm, Butler said. He was able to calm the storm. Butler added that employees are glad hes over there. Were seeing a better morale over there, Councilman Charlie Jernigan said. People seem to be more at ease. Since taking the interim position, Harley has started holding weekly meetings with directors of the different departments to keep up to date on what is happening in the organization. Jernigan said this open communication has made the employees more at ease. I think hes a good leader, he said. Hes doing an excellent job. Butler said council will start searching for a permanent manager soon, but still needs to put together the job description. We dont have it all together yet, he said. Well have a firm to search and use the criteria in the job description to make a determination. Jernigan said Harley is a good example of what they will look for. Wed be looking for the same type qualities that we have in Mr. Harley, Jernigan said. Ultimately wed like to have somebody who has a lot of utility experience. Jernigan noted that utility experience is not a major necessity as Harley has proven his ability to lead the department without much experience in utilities himself. He added that when the time comes, he hopes Mr. Harley would apply for the position. Also in the meeting: Council approved a resolution to support the South Carolina Municipal Associations 2017 legislative advocacy initiatives. Five advocacy initiatives were identified based on feedback from local officials, including encouraging business growth and development, providing quality services, increasing law enforcement training, repairing roads and reducing blight. The association is supporting reliable funding for the Criminal Justice Academy in order to make more training opportunities available to law enforcement officers and increasing funding for body cameras. Council approved third reading of an ordinance updating the citys purchasing procedures. The ordinance organizes a co-operative purchasing agreement and endorses equal opportunity and fair competition. Its something that we already have in practice but is something that we need to have in our ordinance, Assistant Administrator John Singh said. Boy Scout Troop #45 and Weblos of Cub Scout Pack 90 made an appearance at the meeting to fulfill their theme for the month, which requires them to attend a local government meeting. William Green presented ideas for events in Orangeburg such as a Christmas festival on the square or Centennial Park, an international festival in the downtown area to celebrate the different cultures of Orangeburg and a kick-off parade for the festival. Yow said after speaking with Green, if he gets the support of the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association, the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and other groups to work with him on a parade, the city would provide its normal support such as barricades and traffic control. Enthusiasm was proclaimed the character trait for the month of January. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Azernews By Amina Nazarli The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, the most-anticipated regional railway link, will be completed in the first half of 2017, said Ahmad Arslan, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of Turkey. Currently active work on construction of the railway is underway. If we take into account the complexity of the winter period, we plan to complete the construction work in March or April, APA quoted the minister as saying. Talking about the difficulties in the implementation of the project, the Turkish minister said that the lawsuits and discontent led to project delays. "Because of the discontent that emerged after the start of tendering procedures, the project is implemented with a delay of one year, but due to litigation -- three years, Arslan clarified. Being constructed on the basis of the Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement, BTK is expected to expand multi-modal transportation opportunities, ensure the growth of passenger and freight transportation and boost the transit potential of the regional countries. The project is of great significance for not only Azerbaijan and the region, but also for the entire Eurasia. The State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) finances the project in accordance with the Azerbaijani president's decree On the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project activities dated February 21, 2007. By Azernews By Amina Nazarli NATO and Azerbaijan cooperate on a number of areas within the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP); more specifically through two important tools: the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP) and the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). An official representative of NATO said in an exclusive interview with Trend. "Currently key areas of cooperation include security cooperation, defense and security sector cooperation, civil emergency planning, scientific cooperation, and public diplomacy," said the NATO official. "Azerbaijan continues to be a great contributor to NATOs efforts in Afghanistan, by providing troops to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan National Defense Forces and by contributing to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund," noted the official. The peacekeeping contingent of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has been serving there since November 20, 2002. The official stressed that Azerbaijan also consults on a regular basis with NATO allies on further improving defense planning, defense budgeting, and logistical support. "In cooperation with NATO and through participation in activities organized by NATOs Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), Azerbaijan is developing its national civil emergency and disaster-management capabilities. Azerbaijans special search-and-rescue platoon has participated in several exercises organized by the EADRCC, including the 2015 exercise in Ukraine and 2016 exercise "CRNA GORA 2016" in Montenegro," added the official. In addition, Azerbaijan is developing two units (search and rescue and CBRN) to be on high readiness and ready to be deployed on disaster relief operations and is awaiting INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Guidelines) certification, according to the official. Since 2009, an Azerbaijani officer from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) has been working in the EADRCC as a Voluntary National Contribution. "Azerbaijan is also actively involved in the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, a unique partnership programme that offers opportunities for practical cooperation on security-related civil science and technology development. Over the last 20 years, Azerbaijan has participated in more than 80 SPS activities. For instance, in 2016, a group of system and network administrators from Azerbaijan took place in a cyber-defense Advanced Training Course," said the NATO official. "Baku also hosted a SPS-funded training course for experts in the field of counter-terrorism last year. In the field of energy security, Azerbaijani scientists support a SPS multi-year project, led by Italy and Georgia, to enhance security for the Enguri energy infrastructure in Georgia. The SPS Programme remains open to applications by interested scientists and experts from Azerbaijan in 2017." "Azerbaijan has for many years worked with Allies to enhance infrastructure security and improve counter terrorism training. Azerbaijan also engages with NATO on the protection of energy-related critical infrastructure. NATO is providing support to Azerbaijans developing International CT Training Centre as it establishes its new courses," noted the official. "The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action and the NATO Support Agency will continue their work in 2017 on the Jeyranchel Trust Fund, which aims to clear unexploded ordnance and mines. Turkey will lead this Trust Fund," said the NATO official. "Going forward, we encourage Azerbaijan to work more with us in the field of good governance and democratic institution building, reflecting the objectives of the Partnership Action Plan for Defense Institution Building, which Azerbaijan endorsed in 2004. Opportunities offered by the Building Integrity Initiative could also be used," added the NATO official. Samsung Electronics has announced the cause of the Note 7 incidents and measures to prevent a recurrence during a press conference held in Seoul, Korea. DJ Koh, president of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, shared detailed results of the investigation and expressed his sincere apology and gratitude to Galaxy Note7 customers, mobile operators, retail and distribution partners and business partners for their patience and continued support. The overheating was caused by separate problems in batteries sourced from two different suppliers, the company said. Its findings are based on own investigation and independent scientific analysis of the issues by three consulting bodies. In the case of batteries sourced from Samsung SDI, there wasnt enough room between the heat-sealed protective pouch around the battery and its internals. Because the phone was so slim, tight quarters placed stress on the upper right corner of each battery. In the worst scenarios, that caused electrodes inside each battery to crimp and come into contact, leading to thermal runaway and short circuiting, said a report in Wired website. In the case of batteries sourced from Amperex Technology, some cells were missing insulation tape, and some batteries had sharp protrusions inside the cell that led to damage to the separator between the anode and cathode. The batteries also had thin separators in general, which increased the risks of separator damage and short circuiting, the company said. The findings were announced after testing 200,000 devices and 30,000 batteries in a giant charging and recharging test facility built for the task. Koh said a team of 700 company engineers conducted internal testing, and independent reviews of potential problems were carried out by UL, Exponent, and TUV Rheinland. Based on what the company learned from the investigation, Samsung implemented a broad range of internal quality and safety processes to further enhance product safety including additional protocols such as the multi-layer safety measures and eight-point battery safety check. Samsung also formed a battery advisory group of external advisers, academic and research experts to ensure it maintains a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation, the company said. For the last several months, together with independent industry expert organizations, we conducted thorough investigation to find cause to the Galaxy Note7 incidents. Koh said, Today, more than ever, we are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences. Meanwhile, Reuters quoted Koh as saying the company will not unveil its Galaxy S8 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show this year, suggesting the flagship model's launch may be later in the year than its 2016 version. Koh said the phone would not get a launch event at the MWC event in Barcelona, which begins on February 27, unlike the previous Galaxy S smartphones. - TradeArabia News Service Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has unveiled plans to launch flights to Georgia with direct flights to/from the capital city of Tbilisi commencing in June. Commenting on the upcoming addition of Georgia to the airlines network, Gulf Air chief executive officer Maher Salman Al Musallam said: We are pleased to respond to passenger demand by opening this newest destination. Launching in June 2017 our new route to Tbilisi, Georgia will cater to summer movement and leisure travellers from the GCC region. As part of our longstanding mission we are always looking for ways to introduce and strengthen business and tourism links between key global destinations and the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region. The addition of Georgia to our network map follows extensive discussions and negotiations with the Georgian aviation authorities and we thank them for their support to date and their contribution to our efforts going forward in ensuring the success of our newest route. I believe this is yet another positive development for Gulf Air in 2017 and one that will appeal to our passengers around the world. The airline will fly three times weekly to/from Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport in Tbilisi. Gulf Air operates one of the largest regional networks, with double daily flights or more to 10 regional cities, providing seamless connectivity for passengers travelling across its network via its efficient Bahrain International Airport hub. - 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 airlines fares available to travel agents globally who use Sabre. Emirates, the worlds largest international airline, operates more than 3,600 flights per week to over 150 destinations across six continents. Sabres 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. Sabres technology enables travel agents to meet a growing demand and expectation from consumers for more personalised products and services. Using Sabres 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, interim senior vice president EMEA at Sabre. The airlines 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. Sabres 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 worlds largest marketplaces, processing over $120 billion in estimated travel spend. - TradeArabia News Service Oman Air has announced that both of its daily Muscat to London flights will arrive at and depart from Terminal 4 at London Heathrow Airport from January 31, 2017. Currently the twice daily Oman Air flights operate from Terminals 3 and 4; the presence at just one terminal at one of the worlds busiest airports will further enhance the guest experience on one of Oman Airs flagship routes. Terminal 4 offers visitors a world class shopping experience with retail shops, book stores, electrical outlets, souvenir shops and much more. Oman Air passengers using Terminal 4 will continue to have usage of the designated lounge providing premium passengers state of the art facilities prior to their flight. Oman Airs first service between Muscat and London was launched in 2007. This service departs Muscat at 14.00 and will now arrive at Heathrow Terminal 4 at 18.20. Return flights will depart Heathrow Terminal 4 at 20.15 and arrive in Muscat the following morning at 07.35. The second service, launched earlier this year, flies through the night, departing Muscat at 01.25 and arriving in London Heathrow Terminal 4 at 06.30. Return flights depart Heathrow Terminal 4 at 08.25 and arrive in Muscat at 18.55. All timings quoted are local timings. The double daily flights between Muscat and London offer superb connectivity on the North Atlantic, with major cities in the US and Canada in reach with short connection times at London Heathrow. - TradeArabia News Service The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will soon roll out its RoboDoc initiative across all DHA hospitals and health centres after the completion of the pilot phase in March. The authority will also extend the Dubai RoboDoc initiative to home-care patients where a nurse will visit the patients and dial in for teleconsultations if needed. DHA is the first government health organization in the region to implement telehealth. As part of the pilot, RoboDocs have been placed at Hatta Hospitals emergency department and DHAs 24 hour primary healthcare centres- Al Barsha and Nad Al Hammar and they are linked to Rashid Hospitals Trauma Center. Dr Moin Fikree, medical director of Trauma Centre and lead for the DHAs Telemedicine initiative, said: Telemedicine is the way forward in many ways. It ensures immediate access to specialised consultation, which is particularly helpful in emergency situations. It also reduces the transfer of patients to Rashid Hospitals Trauma Centre and helps enhance the functioning of other DHA emergency departments and ICUs. Telehealth is a boon especially in emergency cases, where time plays a critical role in saving a patients life. Telehealth provides immediate access to consultation with specialists. In fact, through the robot, doctors can consult with two or more specialists in different health facilities at the same time to get immediate specialised consultation. For example, doctors from Hatta Hospital will be able to consult with a neurologist from Rashid hospital and a cardiologist from Dubai Hospital at the same time. Dr Fikree said: Through this technology we are cutting down in time lapses, reducing the need for patients to travel from Hatta or other areas to Rashid Hospital and providing them with specialised health services. Worldwide studies point out to the growth and benefits of telemedicine. A 2012 study of one health system in the US shows that the number of annual consultations will grow from 350,000 in 2012 to 7 million in 2018. Another study of a family practise clinic showed that telemedicine has reduced the cost of consultation from 95 dollars to 45 dollars which is approximately a reduction of 50 per cent in cost. DHA is using robots designed by InTouch Health Technologies, which is a company that pioneers in remote present robots systems to enable healthcare professionals to provide more effective and efficient healthcare by allowing them to be in two places at once. Yulun Wang, chairman and CEO of InTouch Health and Past Immediate vice- president American Telemedicine Association, earlier said: The challenge today for all healthcare organisations worldwide is how to deliver consistent high quality care at lower costs. Telehealth is the answer because it can leverage physicians such that physicians can be available anytime and anywhere and they can provide quality care to anyone at reduced costs. There have been many studies, which highlight that with the right technology telemedicine consultations are just as effective as in-person meetings. In fact, telemedicine consultations can be better than in-patient consultations as well because the computer helps the physician in real time. The computer analyses the images of the patient in real time and helps improve the diagnostic capabilities. For example: If telehealth is used in dermatology, while the dermatologist is looking at a patients lesion or rash, the computer can be looking at the rash at the same time and it can give the dermatologist suggestions on what the rash might be. A physician is limited by his eyesight but the computer can see and magnify the images. Therefore moving forward, telehealth will not only become a vital tool to provide medical care at any time and place but also a tool to improve diagnosis. In future phases, DHA also plans to extend the usage of RoboDocs to ICUs, NICUs and for further consultation purposes. - TradeArabia News Service Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village Have an event, trend or general energy happening youd like to see in the Energy Journal newsletter? Send it to Star-Tribune energy reporter Heather Richards at heather.richards@trib.com. Sign up for the newsletter at www.trib.com/energyjournal. This week in numbers Friday oil prices: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) $52.42, Brent (ICE) $55.51 Natural gas weekly averages: Henry Hub $3.28, Wyoming Pool $3.2, Opal $3.22 Self bonding debate revived The Western Organization of Resource Councils filed an objection in federal bankruptcy court to Peabody's lack of detail on self-bonds. The company has over $700 million in self-bonds in Wyoming. Peabody has promised to follow state and federal law on bonding requirement, but did not disclose details in its reorganization plan, submitted to the court in December. A unique practice The U.S. Government Accountability Office published a report recently on self-bonding. Their finding: only open surface coal mines are allowed to guarantee clean up on the strength of their company's balance sheet. Upper Green Ozone levels spike It's been years since the state has issued an Ozone Action Day in the Upper Green River Basin. But Friday and Saturday the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality initiated the safety protocol, which requires producers to scale back on emissions. Coal production last year close to 300 million tons Predicting coal production has been a loser's game in 2016, after a shocking start to the production year. Federal counts show 283 million tons were pulled from the Powder River Basin, and 293 million tons from the entire state. What's next for Pavillion Environmental advocates are calling for more public involvement as the state addresses contaminated water concerns in Pavillion. The state has made a number of promises for continued study in the small town and is currently planning for more residential well sampling. Those who have advocated for the clean-up of Pavillion's water, and requested further study of how oil and gas development may have impacted ground water, a clear timeline and public collaboration seems lacking. The state released a final report in November and held a public meeting soon after. It has yet to provide a timeline to address recommendations included in the report. One step closer The first 500 turbines are approved for the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind energy project near Rawlins. Federal agencies gave Power Company of Wyoming the nod of approval Wednesday. BLM flaring rule implemented, court case failed Two states and industry groups were hoping a Casper federal judge would stay the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management's new flaring rules. The judge did not grant the preliminary injunction, leaving the fate of the now active rule to further court cases. Bringing down the coal tax Its the question that wont die: Should Casperites be allowed to smoke in bars? After three years of back-and-forth between Casper City Council and anti-smoking activists, voters in 2015 barred smoking in bars. But city council will once revisit the question at their work session Tuesday afternoon at the request of councilman Chris Walsh. Walsh said that if the ban is overturned, he believed smoking would return only to the small number of bars that allowed it prior to the referendum. The impact isnt that great to the general public, Walsh said. Most of our businesses dont want to have a smoking environment, and thats fine it should be up to the business owners. In October, Kim Holloway, who was involved in the anti-smoking campaign, provided a letter to the Star-Tribune that she said she received anonymously. The letter claimed that bar owners had endorsed eight council candidates, four of whom were elected: Bob Hopkins, Jesse Morgan, Todd Murphy and Walsh. Morgan said he was personally opposed to the smoking ban in bars but was reluctant to revisit the issue. Its unfortunate that it is being brought up again, because it just keeps happening every time we get new council members in office, Morgan said. Morgan added that he would like any change to be made on a county-wide basis rather than a simple vote of a council that could change from year to year. He said that another special election would cost between $25,000 and $35,000 money he thought could be better spent elsewhere. Murphy said he was opposed to the smoking ban and would like to see the question placed on the ballot next time there was a general election. They own the building and its their property and being a property rights advocate its a legal product, Murphy said. I think we need to let the property rights of the owner stand. Hopkins did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday afternoon. Walsh said he had apprehensions about overturning a referendum passed by voters but would still move to remove the ban because bar owners say its had a negative effect on business. Im not completely comfortable with it, but I would vote to overturn it, Walsh said. Looking back at it, I think its a very real economic impact on these people; thats a whole other consideration. City attorney Bill Luben said that council could overturn the referendum with a five-vote majority. In 2012, city council passed an ordinance banning smoking in all public areas of Casper. The following year a new council amended the ban to permit smoking in bars. Following that change, a group of Casper residents petitioned for a public referendum to reinstate the full smoking ban, and voters approved the referendum with 54 percent of the vote. Voters approve full smoking ban in Casper Voters reinstated Casper's comprehensive smoking ban Tuesday in a special election, settling If council passes a new ordinance allowing smoking in bars, residents would have 20 days to gather the signatures of 10 percent of Casper voters to force a referendum on the change. The work session lists the smoking ban as an item for councils discussion at its Tuesday meeting. Work sessions are held at Casper City Hall and are open to the public. However, no official decisions are made at these meetings and there is no formal period for public comment. Council will meet at 4:30 p.m. If council moves forward with repealing the smoking ban, members would need to vote on the issue three times during official meetings where the public can weigh in on the issue. CHEYENNE Lawmakers defeated a bill Monday that would have quintupled the states wind production tax. Wyoming is the only state with a wind production tax currently $1 per megawatt hour of electricity. House File 127 would have increased it to $5 per megawatt hour. But the House Revenue Committee defeated the measure, 7 to 2. Rep. Mike Madden, a Buffalo Republican who was one of the bills sponsors, said the measure would have equalized taxes paid by fossil fuels and wind. The coal, oil and gas industry must pay taxes on production. Wind pays some taxes, but not enough, he said. Critics say that the taxes on fossil fuels are needed because once theyre removed from the ground, theyre gone for millions of years. Wind is renewable. But Madden isnt convinced by that argument. He said turbines alter the states landscape. Theres an equal number of people who think wind mills have a deleterious effect of the open space, ambiance of the state of Wyoming, he said. The bills defeat is good news for the Power Company of Wyoming, which is developing in Carbon County the largest wind project in the United States. The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project will have 1,000 turbines with a capacity to produce 3,000 megawatts of electricity. All federal permitting has been complete, and the company has started construction for roads in the area of the turbines. The company argues it will pay $800 million in property, sales and wind production taxes over the next 20 years. HB127 would have increased the companys tax burden to around $1.8 billion, said Roxane Perruso, the companys vice president. It absolutely would have impacted our ability to compete with projects in other states, she said. Any increase in the tax affects our ability to be competitive. We are always at a disadvantage in Wyoming with the $1 per megawatt hour. No other state has a tax on generating wind. HB127 is one of several bills sponsored by lawmakers to protect fossil fuels. Senate File 71 would charge utility companies $10 per megawatt hour on electricity generated in the state for use by Wyoming customers. That bill is awaiting its first discussion in a committee. CHEYENNE Almost three times as many Wyoming lawmakers farm and ranch than practice law. According to lawmakers biographies, at least 17 say they work part- or full-time in agriculture and six work in law, though not all 90 members of the 64th Wyoming Legislature listed their professions. The Cowboy State is bucking a trend seen in other state legislatures, where there are more attorneys than agricultural producers. Depending on the perspective, the dearth of lawyers in the Wyoming Legislature is either good or bad for the state. In House leadership, no Republicans are practicing attorneys. Only Charles Pelkey practices law among Democratic leaders. I love that, said Rep. David Miller of Riverton, the second-ranking Republican, who works as a geologist. Larry Wolfe, a retired Cheyenne attorney and lobbyist, said lawyers provide insight into the lawmaking process that people in other professions lack. My personal opinion is that lawyers are needed in the Legislature and we should have more of them, he said in an email. Our training and expertise in using the law translates directly into making the law, plus the training we have in persuasion and argument is useful in all aspects of Legislature. Wolfe suspects that fewer lawyers run for the Legislature these days because serving has become an almost full-time job, which can be difficult to juggle while trying to earn a living. The Legislature counts four members who have earned their juris doctor degrees but do not currently practice law, such as Rep. Cathy Connolly of Laramie, the leader of the Democrats in the House, who is a professor of gender studies at the University of Wyoming. The state has a rich agricultural heritage and has always maintained a large presence of farmers and ranchers, Wolfe said. This years Legislature has just as many retired people as it has agricultural producers. Wolfe said that retired members can better afford to serve. Since we dont pay legislators much and we dont provide any benefits, such as health care, unless you are independently wealthy and dont work, or have a job such as teaching that allows you to simply take an extended leave, you are unlikely to want to be in the Legislature. A 2015 study by the National Conference of State Legislatures and Pew Charitable Trusts found that just over 5 percent of state lawmakers across the country worked in farming. About 14 percent were attorneys. Compare that to Wyoming, where nearly 19 percent work in ag and just over 6 percent are practicing attorneys. When Pelkey, the Democratic leader, was sworn into the House in 2014, he assumed hed be one among many lawyers. He was assigned to the Joint Judiciary Committee, where there were few practicing attorneys at the time. Part of being an attorney is reading law. You have to spend a lot of time picking through the language to ensure it says what we intend it to say, said Pelkey, of Laramie. You see bills get amended like crazy in committee or on the floor, and youve got to deal with the ramifications of that. Thats where a lot of mistakes can be made. However, Pelkey said he sees the strengths in a lawmaking body with a diversity of backgrounds, as people from other professions can add insight when legislators are crafting policy. In addition to ag and law, lawmakers this year toil in education, own businesses, practice veterinary medicine and work in natural resources management. Two legislators have doctorate degrees in economics and consult: Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, and Rep. Mike Madden, R-Buffalo. Two other lawmakers are auctioneers Sen. Leland Christensen, R-Alta, and Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne. Rock Springs Democrat Sen. Liisa Anselmi-Dalton, a former corporate attorney with a law degree from Duke University, described herself as a self-employed hotelier. Rep. Nathan Winters, R-Thermopolis, is a Baptist pastor. JERUSALEM Israels prime minister on Sunday accepted an invitation to visit the White House next month in hopes of forging a common vision for the region with President Donald Trump that could include expanded settlement construction on occupied territories and a tougher policy toward Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his plans to head to Washington in early February hours after delaying a vote on an explosive proposal to annex one of the West Banks largest settlements, apparently to coordinate his policy toward the Palestinians with the new administration. The move put on hold legislation that threatens to unleash fresh violence and damage already faded hopes for Palestinian independence. It also may have marked Trumps first presidential foray into Middle East diplomacy. After eight years of frosty relations with President Obama, Netanyahu has welcomed Trumps election as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two allies. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was gearing up plans to expand settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem a policy that had been condemned by Obama. Late Sunday, the two men held what Netanyahus office described as a very warm conversation by phone. It said they discussed the international nuclear deal with Iran, which both men have harshly criticized, and the Palestinian issue. The prime minister expressed his desire to work closely with President Trump to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region, with no daylight between the United States and Israel, the statement said. It said a date for Netanyahus visit would be finalized in the coming days. The White House said Trump told Netanyahu that peace with the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between the two parties and that the U.S. will work closely with Israel on that goal. Trump also affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israels security and his administrations focus on countering terrorism, the White House added. With Trump signaling a more tolerant approach toward the much-maligned settlement movement, Israels nationalist right now believes it has an ally in the White House, and Israeli hard-line leaders make no secret they will push for aggressive action in the occupied West Bank. Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, has been pushing Netanyahu to abandon the internationally backed idea of a Palestinian state and to annex the Maaleh Adumim settlement near Jerusalem. But after convening his Security Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said his Cabinet ministers, including Bennett, had decided unanimously to delay action on the annexation plan until he goes to Washington to meet with Trump. In order to placate Bennett, Israeli media reports said Netanyahu had promised the ministers to clear the way for expanded settlement construction in east Jerusalem and in major West Bank settlement blocs that Israel hopes to keep under a future peace deal. DENVER Deb Szeman, a self-described homebody, had never participated in a demonstration before hopping on an overnight bus from her home in Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend the womens march on Washington. She returned on another bus that pulled in at 4 a.m. Sunday, full of people buzzing about what might come next and quipping that they would see each other at the next march. I wouldnt have spent 18 hours in Washington, D.C., and taken the bus for seven hours both ways if I didnt believe there was going to be a part two, and three and four and five, said Szeman, 25, who works at a nonprofit and joined the National Organization for Women after Trump won the White House. I feel like theres been an awakening, she said. More than a million people turned out Saturday to demonstrations opposing President Donald Trumps agenda, a forceful showing that raised liberals hopes after the election denied them control of all branches of federal government. Now, the question is whether that energy can be sustained and turned into political impact. From marches against the Iraq War in 2003 to Occupy Wall Street, several big demonstrations have not directly translated into real-world results. Trump also won the state in November as Republicans increased their hold on the statehouse. Organizers of Saturdays marches are promising 10 additional actions to take during the first 100 days of Trumps presidency. So far, the first and only is for supporters to write to their senators or representatives. Groups scrambled so fast to arrange the demonstrations in only a few weeks that they have had limited time to determine how to channel the energy into additional action. But, they promise, its coming. The left has really woken up and said, My gosh, weve been fighting the symbolic fight, but we havent been fighting the institutional fight, said Yong Jung-Cho of the activist group All of Us, which organized protests at the inauguration as well as the womens march. Theres still value in symbolism. Saturdays immense crowds ruffled the new president as his press secretary falsely contended that Trump had broken a record on inauguration attendance. Jamie Henn of the climate action group 350.org said that reaction is a hint on how to build the movement. Size matters to this guy, Henn said. Its like dealing with a schoolyard bully and some of us need to go back to middle school and revisit what thats like as they think up new tactics. WASHINGTON After a combative start to his presidency, Donald Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead, as he turned to the business of government. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of future challenges but declared he believed they were ready. But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done, the president said. We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history. Trumps reassurance came after a day marked by global protests against his presidency and his own complaints about media coverage of his inauguration. He said his staff was in the White House not to help ourselves but to devote ourselves to the national good. Trump held up the letter left to him by his predecessor, Barack Obama. It was really very nice of him to do that, Trump said. We will cherish that. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests a day earlier, sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending demonstrators rights a short time later. Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didnt these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly, Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I dont always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views, the president tweeted, still using his personal account. The dueling tweets marked his administrations first response to the more than 1 million people who rallied at womens marches in Washington and cities across the world. Hundreds of protesters lined the street as Trumps motorcade drove past on Saturday afternoon, with many screaming and chanting. On Sunday, Trump announced that hes set up meetings with the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Were going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA, he said of his meeting with Mexico, along with immigration and security at the border. Trump has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Trumps chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said on Fox News Sunday the president would spend his first full week in office undoing some of his predecessors agenda and planned to sign executive orders on immigration and trade. We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Jan. 23 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. Asteroid hunters with the Catalina Sky Survey were very excited on a recent Saturday when they discovered an orbiting object that would whiz by Earth two days later. The discovery generated headlines about a surprise asteroid coming very close to Earth at half the distance to the moon, but that was not the exciting part for observers at the sky survey. The asteroid itself was a fairly ordinary object making a fairly ordinary close approach, said Eric Christensen, principal investigator for the survey, which is run by the University of Arizonas Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. But it was the first asteroid discovered by a custom-made camera on the surveys 0.9-meter Schmidt telescope near Mount Bigelow in the Santa Catalina Mountains. A similar camera upgrade on the surveys 1.6-meter telescope atop Mount Lemmon, completed in September, had already tripled the rate at which the telescope finds potentially hazardous near-Earth objects. Catalina Sky Survey has now reclaimed its status as world leader in such discoveries after lagging slightly behind the University of Hawaiis Pan-STARRS Survey for two years. The new cameras, each with a 111-megapixel CCD chip, were designed by Steve Larson, co-investigator for the sky survey, and built in Tucson. The optics were designed by Richard Buchroeder and fabricated at the Tucson Optical Research Group. The cameras were made by Spectral Instruments of Tucson, and the other parts were fabricated in the machine shops of the UAs Steward Observatory and the Department of Physics. The digital cameras CCD chips were manufactured by Semiconductor Technology Associates of San Juan Capistrano, California. Biggest discovery year Larson said he knew the cameras would make a difference, but said he was surprised at how well everything worked when the first one was commissioned. It tripled our average rate of discoveries. It was startling to us that it worked so well. In addition to upgrading both cameras, the survey has refurbished a third 1-meter telescope on Mount Lemmon that can be operated remotely from a control room at the UAs Lunar and Planetary Lab. It is used for immediate followup of the most interesting objects found each night. It frees more time for the discovery telescopes. As a result of the upgrade, Catalina Sky Survey discovered 924 near-Earth objects in 2016, its biggest yearly total and the most ever discovered by any survey, said Lindley Johnson, head of NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office. Johnsons office is charged with fulfilling NASAs congressional mandate to find and plot the paths of potentially hazardous near-Earth objects. NASA has already found 93.5 percent of the estimated population of near-Earth asteroids larger than 1 kilometer in diameter, Johnson told the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group in Tucson recently. If an object that large slammed into Earth, it would have serious consequences on the global climate and the global ecosystem, said Christensen. It would cause millions if not billions of fatalities and would set the human race back centuries if not more. The one suspected of wiping out the dinosaurs and 75 percent of other species by generating clouds of dust that changed Earths climate is estimated to have been about 10 kilometers in diameter. Christensen said those collisions happen on the time scale of tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, of years. He views his work as insurance against the improbable. Finding large objects Johnsons NASA office is working on the updated congressional task of finding at least 90 percent of near-Earth objects 140 meters or larger. Those objects could cause significant regional damage, said Christensen, but not long-term global effects. Christensen said the Catalina Sky Survey will find a bunch of them. Pan-STARRS, meanwhile, is putting a second telescope into operation later this year. That means more work for folks like Bob McMillan of the Lunar and Planetary Lab, who runs the SpaceWatch program from two dedicated Steward Observatory telescopes atop Kitt Peak, southwest of Tucson. When McMillan and the late Tom Gehrels started the program in 1980, it, too, was an asteroid-discovery program, but over time it began to concentrate on the follow-up studies needed to plot the objects paths and predict if they might be a problem in the future. Its critical to follow up interesting objects immediately, McMillan said. Survey telescopes take four 30-second images, 10 minutes apart, allowing astronomers to plot a tiny arc of an objects orbit and determine how fast it is moving. It takes more observations than that to fully predict its orbit and to have any hope of finding it the next time it comes around years or decades later, he said. NASA pays McMillan and his crew of six astronomers to follow the high-priority stuff, such as potentially hazardous objects, asteroids that could be visited by spacecraft, any that have been identified as a target or already measured by radio telescopes and those that are being continuously studied for the effect of subtle forces on their orbits. SpaceWatch also has agreements with larger telescopes for target of opportunity observations of especially critical targets. With two fairly large telescopes capable of seeing faint objects, SpaceWatch finds itself in constant demand, McMillan said. There arent many who go as faint as we do as often as we do, he said. McMillan and his colleagues are astronomers who specialize in astrometry the measurement of the position and motion of objects in space. Knowing that the objects exist is one thing, he said. If you cant find this stuff again, nothing else matters. Finding them, and predicting where they are headed, has become a specialty at the Lunar and Planetary Lab. Scanning the night skies In the Catalinas, survey astronomers take turns watching the skies each night the clouds and the moon are not interfering with their seeing. The survey employs 11 people with a NASA budget of about $1.7 million per year, said Christensen. The observers watch a bank of computer screens, on which they choose their targets for the evening. Each piece of the night sky visible to the camera a field that just grew nearly fivefold with the new $500,000 cameras is imaged four times, 10 minutes apart, to look for things that move in the sky. The computer weeds out all the known objects stars, planets, satellites, previously discovered asteroids, the space station. Operators then have to figure out which of the moving objects are false positives and which are candidates for forwarding to the Minor Planet Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, which verifies the genuine targets and issues alerts for followups by professional and amateur astronomers. The Minor Planet Center also keeps a list of potentially hazardous asteroids and when they will make an approach to Earth that is too close for comfort. Johnsons Planetary Defense Coordination Office is responsible for identifying those threats and figuring out what to do about them. On its webpage, Johnson says no known NEO currently poses a risk of impact with Earth over the next 100 years. But plenty have yet to be found. At the Tucson meeting earlier this month, Johnson said the pace of discovery is accelerating, with Catalina Sky Survey and Pan-STARRS leading the way. He said 93.5 percent of the largest asteroids (1-kilometer and larger) have been found and half of the asteroids 140-meters in diameter and larger have also been discovered. Proposed space telescopes and larger ground-based surveys will also be enlisted in the hunt. NASA is also planning two missions, one with the European Space Agency, to test strategies for moving asteroids into different orbits, Johnson said. PHOENIX A Lake Havasu City Republican lawmaker wants to open his section of the state to electronic billboards. The proposal by Sen. Sonny Borrelli would create a 60-mile semicircle around the Tropicana Hotel in Laughlin, Nevada, where these signs could be erected by billboard companies. That area stretches from near the Hoover Dam on the north, out Interstate 40 past Kingman on the east, and south past Lake Havasu City. What Borrelli is offering on behalf of Lamar Advertising would amend a 2012 law which limits electronic billboards with changing messages to a swath of central and southwest Arizona. Those limits were crafted following negotiations between the sign industry and dark sky advocates, including astronomers who said they did not want a new source of light pollution. The 2012 deal followed an appellate court ruling that internally illuminated billboards with changing messages were illegal along state highways. A bid by lawmakers to simply override that ruling was vetoed by then-Gov. Jan Brewer, who was concerned about damaging the states dark skies reputation. That resulted in the deal Brewer did approve: Allowing the signs in a wedge from the Phoenix area along I-8 and I-10 west to the state line. The issue is one of fair opportunity, said Lamar Advertising lobbyist Nick Simonetta. He said theres no reason billboard firms in other areas of the state should be denied the opportunity to put up new electronic signs. Borrelli said he understands the concerns of the states astronomers on the issue of light pollution. The 2012 deal specifically made southern and southeastern Arizona, with its telescopes on sites including Kitt Peak and Mount Graham, off limits. The law also prohibits the signs north of the Phoenix area, from one end of the state to the other, in a special bid to protect Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. Borrelli said what hes offering should not affect Lowell. He said the observatory is at 7,500 feet elevation. Theres a couple of mountain ranges that are between there and Kingman, Borrelli said. Were not encroaching on their space. He conceded that argument did not work last year when he introduced similar legislation. But Borrelli pointed out that measure would have allowed electronic billboards throughout Mohave County, versus the 60-mile radius from Laughlin in his latest bid. And, like the law already in place for the balance of Arizona, the signs would have to go dark after 11 p.m. Simonetta said he doesnt believe new signs would make a big difference in existing light pollution from Laughlin, the big lit-up Roman candle on the Colorado River. A spokesman for Lowell Observatory said officials there were studying the proposal and at this point had not yet taken a position. The measure has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. It is not fondly that Charlene Robinson remembers taking a career test at Cholla High School in 1980. It said for me, that I couldnt be more than like a forest ranger, she recalled. Though she has no disrespect for that profession, she said that was the moment she committed herself to push and become an engineer. A senior research project that looked into just how few women go into engineering only girded her resolve. Now, nearly four decades later, Robinson works for the multinational engineering firm AECOM and is the project manager on a major 22nd Street bridge project, one that when completed will provide a clear view to the low-income Tucson neighborhood where she grew up. Anything I do, I see, she said of her professions rewards. I get to drive it. While things have improved since Robinson was told her chosen career was not in the cards, there is plenty of room for improvement when it comes to gender parity the equitable representation of men and women in a workforce in various transportation fields. Those are some of the conclusions of research and data recently surveyed by academics with the University of Arizonas Southwest Institute for Research on Women, according to Director Sally Stevens. The institute was awarded a $200,000 grant last year by the Arizona Department of Transportation to understand the factors that both promote and impede womens employment in the transportation industry. Across the country, women make up just shy of 23 percent of the transportation sectors workforce, which includes truck drivers, civil and mechanical engineers, heavy machinery operators, construction managers and many other occupations. Between 2008 and 2014, many of those subfields saw significant jumps for women. For example, the percentage of civil engineers Robinsons profession who are women rose over 6 percent to 16.5 percent. In other areas, however, the percentage of women stagnated or fell, as with transportation supervisors, where womens presence fell 2 percent to just over 18 percent of the overall workforce. In the next stage of the study, researchers will look at the state of the industry in Arizona, where Stevens anticipates the results will be more or less in line with national profiles. Its important to point out that at ADOT, which commissioned the study, women make up roughly 40 percent of the agencys nearly 4,000 employees, a figure that has remained level over the last five years. The agency, whose policies will be analyzed and employees surveyed over the course of the two-year UA study, has achieved gender parity in several job categories and is close to it in others, according to its 2016 federal affirmative-action plan. It falls well short of parity among service and maintenance workers, just 1.7 percent of whom are women, though it has set specific hiring goals for women and other underrepresented groups, among other policies to develop a diverse workforce reflective of the community in which ADOT serves. The UA study will also look into Arizona city and county transportation departments, as well as private firms, which do much of the design and construction work for transportation projects. Information provided by Stevens identifies a number of benefits that come with gender parity in the workforce, as well as other forms of workplace diversity. Those include improved profits, deeper commitments to corporate social responsibility, better workplace environments and improved job satisfaction. Beyond that, Stevens said having a more diverse workforce working on transportation planning and design means that more perspectives and experiences can be brought to the task. Many jobs in transportation are also well-paid and come with benefits that enhance womens ability to provide for their families, Stevens added. So, what are the obstacles? Jill Williams, who heads the institutes Women in Science and Engineering Program, said some of them start very early in womens lives. As young as between 8- to 10-years-old, girls start to identify or de-identify with the sciences or engineering, she said. So we know we need to start early. Once a sector is firmly male-dominated, Williams said, there is then a shortage of women mentors and role models to help attract younger women into the field. Implicit bias among university professors and employers can also make it difficult for women to break into traditionally male-dominated fields, she added. Priscilla Cornelio, the first woman to head Pima Countys Transportation Department, had no shortage of role models when she was growing up, which she said made her career path a little easier. Her grandfather was a contractor in Massachusetts, her father was a highway administrator in Washington, D.C., four of her five brothers are engineers and her sister, who is not an engineer, married one. Her father would sometimes take her to work, where Cornelio said shed pass the day in his office drawing bridges. I never knew there was anything different from being an engineer, she said, adding that one of her two daughters has carried on the tradition. Adorning her offices wall is a poster with some of the leading female figures in Arizona transportation history, and she said she takes pleasure helping other women make their way in the field. Ive succeeded, and its my duty to help others succeed, she added. While Stevens team will look into training and recruitment programs at transportation departments across the country, she said some of the potential solutions could be as simple as changing the sort of gendered language that is sometimes used in job postings, which she said can discourage some applicants from even applying. Others could involve accommodating child-care responsibilities and other elements of work-life balance. Even though it wasnt always easy, Robinson said she would still strongly advocate for young girls to follow in her footsteps. The job satisfaction that you can get as an engineer in transportation outweighs some of the trouble you may have to getting to achieve that, she said. I tell people, its so wonderful to drive around Tucson and say I was part of this particular project. I built this bridge. Now that Tucson is a designated World City of Gastronomy, a legion of journalists are coming from all over to try out our yummies. My job is to take these people around and feed them Sonoran hot dogs, delicately explaining that the Mission burrito they know is not in fact food, but a feeble reproduction of the real stuff. I take them to BK, I take them to El Guero Canelo. But some of the visitors want to dig deeper. They want to really understand what makes the food of the Sonoran desert different than, say, hipster tacos they can get in Brooklyn. For this article, I'm not touting Tucson's old-school margarita joints like Rosa's and Mi Nidito. (Although they are awesome, undeniably.) When I want to really show someone what Sonoran cuisine looks like, I go to a little taqueria on the south side with a simple salsa bar, flour tortillas and a carne asada grill. Here are some of my favorites: Tacos Apson 3501 S. 12th Ave. While recording a podcast for his show The Feed, Chicago journalist Steve Dolinsky was wowed by the smoky beef offerings at Tacos Apson. (I saw that light in his eye, when he ate them.) The ribs and carne asada come straight off the mesquite grill, with no seasonings but salt, and a distinctive char that varnishes the fatty meat. Apson's owner Francisco J. Durazo is from Agua Prieta, Sonora, and serves some "unique" specialties like the huevo becerro criadillas, or calf's testicles. Steve didn't try that one ... [UPDATE: Now you can listen to the The Feed's taco podcast, with co-host Rick Bayless, on Soundcloud. Tucson part starts at 41 minutes.] Anita Street Market 849 N. Anita Ave. I sincerely believe these are the best burritos in town. But the place is so charming, I might have been swayed. Anita Street Market is tucked into the quaint Barrio Anita neighborhood that straddles the I-10 freeway. They sell incredible flour tortillas that they make every day in the back. That's why their burritos are so good. They're small, so each bite has that perfect floury goodness you can only get right here in the Sonoran Desert. Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up Aqui con El Nene 4415 N. Flowing Wells Road and 65 W. Valencia Road This west-side food truck won Best Tacos in Tucson during the recent Mero Mero Taquero competition, and if you've ever had the green chile-strewn Taco Yaqui you can see why. Another menu highlight is the baked potato Papancha stuffed with melty cheese, mushrooms and carne asada. These Mexican baked potatoes are a big deal down in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, where owner Salvador Gastelum is from. WhataBurro 4860 S. 12th Ave and 522 N. Fourth Ave. These guys recently broke the Internet with their absurdly delicious bacon-wrapped burrito. But really, you can't go wrong when you're at this southside food truck WhataBurro. Sonoran dogs are great, with a bready bolillo bun ... The tacos, are outstanding. Try the Hermosillo specialty the Percheron, a massive carne asada taco with green chile and fresh avocado slices. It's named after the Mexican version of a Clydesdale, if that helps. Raspados Raspados really are from several parts of Mexico, but I was surprised when my pal Steve told me he'd never seen them before. (I mean, it makes sense. Who wants a shaved ice when they're walking around Chicago in January?) Everyone here has their favorite shop, so I'm not gonna preach to you. But I will say, I'm pretty addicted to the strawberry one at Michoacan Taqueria Raspados, 3235 N. Flowing Wells Road. They sell Tostilocos too, but Steve was well familiar with the bulging bags of sticky chips. In Chicago, they call them "Walking Tacos." Help India! By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles This is the biggest march I have seen, said an old timer who seemed to be someone who have participated in lots of marches in his life. Boston Common was packed with people and a massive crowd was in the streets around United States oldest public park. The crowd was packed so tightly that it will take a person good 10-15 minutes to cross the street. Womens March was organized last Saturday in cities across the United States and there were quite a few global solidarity march as well. The march was culmination of anger and frustration at seeing a hateful and bigoted figure become elected as President of the United States. Estimates for the historic Womens March in Boston was 175,000 people while the estimates from all across US range from over 3 million to 4.5 million people. These were not your typical professional marchers. People who have never been to marches before drove from their suburban homes to be part of the march. Bostons public transportation service MBTA was running extra trains to accommodate the crowd. And the crowd consisted of overwhelmingly women, mostly white but you can also see Blacks, Latinas, South Asians, and girls in Hijab. Men of different races alongside, families with their young kids, some young ones strapped to their parents body, a few in stroller and some on the shoulders of their parents. Many elders in wheelchairs somehow miraculously making their way through this body-pressed-against-body crowd. Signs at the march were indicative of different motives that have brought people together. While womens issues such as reproductive rights to sexual harassments to equal pay was at the forefront, people have signs that highlighted range of issues including democracy, climate justice, racial justice, immigrations, etc. Abolish the electoral college, read the sign by Bettina. Electoral College refers to the practice in US Presidential Election where in most US states winner takes all the votes of the votes that he or she carries. This is the reason that Hillary Clinton even after winning more popular votes than Donald Trump didnt win the presidency. Another flaw of the Electoral College is that few states gain more influence over the national election so much so that presidential campaigning gets restricted to only a few swing states. In many states candidates dont even visit as in the grand scheme of things their voters are pretty much disenfranchised. I overheard another marcher saying that no presidential candidate ever campaigns in Massachusetts. They come just for fundraising. Massachusetts being a predominantly Democratic states, for Republicans it is a waste of time and resources to campaign in a state where they know they are going to lose. For Democrats, they know they are going to win this state so why waste their resources here? But beyond electoral politics there is a larger politics. Community activist Somnath Mukherji marched with his daughter and wife. When asked why he marched, he replied, To stand up against racism, patriarchy and misogyny. To stand for minority rights, immigrant rights. I marched to show my daughter that the only way to change society is to show up and participate and engage. The crowd was immense but it was also overwhelmingly white, Boston area medical provider and survivor artist Dolly Arjun marched with other South Asians with a sign that read Dalit women against sexual violence. When asked why she marched, Arjun said she marched to show my resistance against the oppression of imperialist White supremacist capitalist patriarchy. I wanted to make sure there was visibility of people like myself expressing this resistance so that this moment in history doesnt become about White-washed Feminist resistance. I marched because I oppose the history of this country condoning sexual assaulters as presidents and leaders. Going a step further, the sign held by Boston-based actor Payal Sharma straight forward asked, What are you doing to end White supremacy? highlighting the point the issue is not just a man named Donald Trump but institutional racism and colonialism that is destroying the world. As if to challenge that White supremacy, artist Shepard Fairey designed three portraits for the Womens march with faces representing a Muslim woman in Hijab, a Latina, and a Black woman. Many marchers were seen holding these posters. The most popular poster was of the woman in hijab made out of the US flag. This was a direct response to the Trumps rhetoric about banning Muslims from entering the United States or talks of a Muslim registry where Muslim citizens and residents will be asked to register. Tahir Ali, spokesperson of The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester drove an hour to be in Boston. He walked with his wife Labiba- their other family members also participated. He hinted that it is time for action, we just cannot talk the walk but need to walk the walk. The least we can do is join those who are marching for us. Speaking of action, I met Nadeem Mazen, first Muslim City Councilor of the city of Cambridge holding a pad with a list of contact information. When I asked him how he felt about the march, he said, There is a huge crowd here today but I wonder how many of these people will be ready to do something about it come Monday. Sara will continue the resistance by donating to @PPact and scientific research. pic.twitter.com/m0uQNrS9Mr TwoCircles.net (@TCNLive) January 21, 2017 Sara was holding a big sign Females are strong as hell, line from the theme song of the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. When I asked her how she will continue the resistance, she said that she will donate to Planned Parenthood, a non-profit providing reproductive healthcare for women all across the United States. Donald Trump has promised to defund the organization as Republicans are generally opposed to abortion rights and Planned Parenthood is one of the organization that provides choice to abort unwanted pregnancy. The signs and sea of people were energetic and also overwhelming. I walked with the March but couldnt find the beginning or the end of this flood of humanity. Come Monday the struggle will be real, will people still throng the historical streets of Boston when the order and actions of the new administration impacts only a small group of people? Civil rights activist wrote a generation ago, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, the fight for justice is global and beyond our personal identities & struggles, will we rise above ourselves and show solidarity? Help India! By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net West Bengal: A day after a local court in West Bengal sentenced Muzaffar Ahmed Rather, a youth from Anantnag to death, the verdict has been severely criticised by the people in the valley. Support TwoCircles As per the police, Muzaffar along with two other persons from Pakistan was arrested by the BSF in 2007 along the Indo-Bangladesh border at Petrapole while trying to enter India. They were alleged of planning attacks on army camps in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bonga Fast Track Court Judge Binay Kumar Pathak in North 24 Pargana District sentenced two alleged Pakistani LET operatives, Mohammed Younus and Abdullah along with Kashmir-based Muzaffar Ahmed Rather to death. They were convicted under Sections 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government of India) and 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by Section 121). The case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)of the West Bengal. As the news of awarding death sentence to Kashmiri youth broke on the internet, people took to social networking websites to condemn the verdict, whereas, in south Kashmirs Kulgam district, people took to streets to protest against the death penalty. Hundreds of youths in Kulgam came out on streets where they clashed with the security forces leading to tear-gas shelling and stone pelting. Raja Sajid Khan, 24, from Boniyar, Baramulla while comparing the death sentence of Muzaffar to that of Afzal Guru told TwoCircles.net, We have seen how Afzal Guru was hanged to satisfy the collective conscience of the people and since then we have lost faith in the judiciary. Muzaffar is also paying the price for being a Kashmiri. Afzal Guru from Trehgam in Kashmir was hanged on February 9, 2013 inside Tihar Jail in Delhi. Before Guru, another Kashmiri, Maqbool Bhat, the founder of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front was hung in the same jail on February 11, 1984. Another youth studying, Business administration in Kashmir University, Umar Mukhtar while speaking to TCN raised apprehensions that these verdicts can increase the alienation of Kashmiri youths after a summer of unrest. Youths have a common perception here that Kashmiris are arbitrarily picked up in Indian states and pushed behind the bars in fake cases and handling stringent punishment to Muzaffar will severely act as a big blow to the confidence-building measures of government, he told TCN. According to a NDTV report, the defense team of the accused have planned on challenging the sentence in a higher court. A higher court will have to examine this to ensure that they get justice, the defence lawyer was quoted as saying by NDTV. Help India! By Amit Kumar, TwoCircles.net Sunil Jadav, a veteran Dalit journalist from Gujarat, has decided to return the award conferred upon him by the Gujarat government in 2011 as a mark of protest against anti-Dalit policies and actions of the state government. Support TwoCircles In a conversation with Twocircles.net, Jadav said he would be returning the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule award, along with Rs 25,000 that he received in 2011. After the way Dalits in Gujarat marched in support of the Una chalo movement and the way it caught the nations attention, we thought that the government would finally take some action towards ensuring that Dalits are never attacked again, said Jadav, who has been working in the Saurashtra region for over 15 years. But the Gujarat government failed to keep its word that the Una atrocity case would be moved to a special court. The case remained in the local court and recently, the four accused were released on bail. How can they get bail in a case where there are more than 350 witnesses and the video has been seen by the public? he asked. Jadav said the Gujarat government had learned nothing from the recent protests and instead was marching right on deceiving Dalits of the state. After Una, they promised setting up 20 courts to address only atrocity cases. But there is no action on the ground. On December 5, we submitted a petition to the state government with 30 demands. Fifty days later, no one from the government has yet responded to them. What message is the state government sending to the Dalits? We are still waiting for justice in the Thangadh case from 2012, and after all these protests, this is how you ensure justice? he asked. He added that when he heard the RSS publicity chief Manmohan Vaidyas controversial statements over Reservation two days ago, he had had enough. Instead of working towards removing untouchability, the RSS wants to remove the untouchables. It is my right to protest, and returning the award is part of the same, he said. "Tai-wiki-widbee" is an eclectic mix of trivialities, ephemera, curiosities, and exotica with a smattering of current events, social commentary, science, history, English language and literature, videos, and humor. We try to be the cyberequivalent of a Victorian cabinet of curiosities. The fall of the pound relative to other currencies in the aftermath of Brexit, was quickly politicised by many pro-EU commentators and analysts as the first taste of the economic damage which Brexit would wreak on the British economy. This is was of course, only after they had focussed earlier on the stock market which had fallen and then quickly bounced back and beyond, breaking market records in its ascent, proving that it was an unreliable economic bell-weather. However the falling pound need not be the omen of economic destruction that many have been predicted but instead a sign of better times to come. Falling pound a boost to British economy As the pound falls, imports become more expensive and exports become cheaper for overseas buyers. It has long be the mission of successive governments to energise the British economy through an export-led recovery and the falling pound is the perfect mechanism for achieving this aim. Already export sectors are reporting increased demand as their goods become relatively cheaper and as a result they are taking on more staff to cope. At the other end of the spectrum, those who had once imported their goods from abroad are now looking at British suppliers to fill the void, which once again directly benefits the UK economy. Whilst others have worried that Brexit would stain Britain in the eyes of the world as a racist, backward country, tourism has been increasing as Brexit opens more doors than its closes. Solving decade old problems The one clearly identifiable negative has been the rise in prices for goods which the British economy both cannot supply and cannot do with out, namely oil. Yet as with everything concerning the exchange rate, there are two sides to every story and environmental groups and renewable energy advocates support the relative rise in oil prices as it makes renewable energy a more attractive option to both consumers and governments, which will help Britain invest in the energy infrastructure of the future. For decades the British economy has been running a severe current account deficit with the rest of the world and despite several efforts from governments, it has failed to rectify the imbalance between imports and exports; the correction in the pound is having a discernable, positive effect on the current account deficit, the economy and on the living standards of the general, working population and ought to be celebrated rather than vilified for purely political purposes. opinion The vagaries of oil prices: from nearly $140 to below $100 A brief summary of fluctuating oil prices and growing fear of recession around the world Amna Tahir opinion Taliban takeover: the psychological impact their rulings will have on girls Clara Hickman opinion Khabib and McGregor's rivalry goes mobile: UFC war rages on With the release of both McGregors FAST fitness app and Khabibs OctaZone, the rivals continue their competition digitally Mary Kovalchuk opinion Double pandemic for young people: COVID-19 and loneliness Dr. Theo Gavrielides opinion The race that matters and the abuse of power Dr. Theo Gavrielides Health Mental Health: It is okay to not know how to cope, you are not alone in this Angelica Gianni Live Blasting News joins VaxFacts Campaign to fight against hoaxes about COVID-19 vaccines VaxFacts campaign makes the HealthGuard browser extension free for all families Bertille Duthoit NBA Celtics drops another game: Big man rotation, bench production in question Topher Pimienta Travel South Africa Lockdown: 21 days and still counting The initial 21 days of lockdown are over, there are two more to go and there may be more to follow. 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MG Singh Live Fires in the amazon rainforest are increasing annually at an alarming rate Every year, thousands of fires are wiping out the largest tropical rainforest reserve in the world. Moises Campos Donald Trump Kashmir: There is a perceptible shift in Trumps opinion after Modi's telephone call to him The president in a remark had offered to meditate on Kashmir but it appears he has dropped his offer after a telephone call from Narendra Modi. MG Singh Today's Deals Pray for Amazonia: Amazon rainforest burns Martina RL Military Pakistan: Three year extension to General Bajwa proves army calls the shots MG Singh Smartphone Modi creates history by abrogating article 370 on Kashmir MG Singh Donald Trump Gunman kills 20 in rampage at Walmart Store in Texas The latest mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso has lead to killings and its small consolation that the suspect has been arrested. 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Topher Pimienta Film Leggings Day-Clothes are not the issue, values are Miranieva Buen Motoring Car sharing and electric vehicles could be future of mobility in the UK Marco Cossu Premier League Cristiano Ronaldo: Good, but not good enough Oliver Dinsmore Gaming Boruto Chapter 33 Prediction: Delta might not beat Naruto as her technique eats her chakra Naruto might be going all out after his children were attacked by Delta. Darma Anggara Military Jaish attack in Kashmir points to Indian state being a lumbering elephant unable to react MG Singh Android Technology and art are a match made in heaven Gemma Davenport Rugby As good as he is, Ben Barba should not play Rugby League again Callum Walker Donald Trump Trump chastises his Intelligence chiefs for their assessment of North Korea and ISIS On Wednesday morning Donald Trump delivered a remarkable rebuke to his Intelligence chiefs on assessment of Iran, threats from ISIS and N Korea. 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Callum Walker Brexit A hard Brexit is not necessarily going to be the end of the UK economy Lee Pratt Rugby Castleford fans are worried about the season ahead Callum Walker Brexit London New Year's Eve fireworks display means unity to me Pippa Shaw Animals Facebook and the kindness of friends and strangers when your dog is lost My little dog was lost, but due to a post I made in a Facebook group, she was soon tracked down, but it was a long story getting her home. Anne Sewell Military Manchester Attack: UK government needs to confront Muslims who foment terror MG Singh Child Health The double burden placed on survivors of sexual violence Ilsa Janssen Rugby Introducing Golden Point for Super League is a bad move Callum Walker Film Samir Khan's Thugs of Hindostan movie fails to live up to expectations The film released on the eve of Diwali made a big splash on the opening day but within a week the interest of the fans has petered out. 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Lynsey Carratt Brexit Women, their role in violent extremism & rights agendas are not necessarily incompatible Dr. Theo Gavrielides Donald Trump Protests over economy in Iran spread to Shapour and Najaf Abad Nikoo Amini Military Zimbabwe elections: Difficult choices face voters, both main candidates promise new future Jane Flowers Premier League Luis Enrique takes charge as Spain manager Spain will play against England and Croatia in the UEFA Nations League. Juanjo Andres Donald Trump Trump met Putin in Helsinki: Rep Mike Turner says meeting was 'deeply damaging' MG Singh Royal Family People donate their hard-earned cash to make Kylie Jenner richer Jane Flowers It was certainly predictable. After such a prolonged period of disbelief and discontent, not only at being in the race itself but somehow winning it, that there would be a backlash. What I am talking about, of course, is the response to Donald Trump being elected president. But how was the world reacted to the situation? Let us investigate. Protests around the world In reaction to Donald Trump becoming the 45th President of the US, major protests were held around the world. In Washington, DC more than one million people marched on Saturday, in what was referred to as "the historic Women's March", the Guardian newspaper said. A sea of "peaceful protesters" wore pink pussyhats as crowds poured into the streets of downtown DC. There were also celebrity performers and speakers including Alicia Keys, Madonna and Janelle Monae. In Los Angeles there were an estimated 500,000 people who took to the streets to protest and in New York, around 200,000 people rallied in Manhattan. The Mirror newspaper stated that in London, thousands of people descended on Grosvenor Square to march up to Trafalgar Square and stand "united against Trump". Demonstrations were also held in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh. And why? The reason for the protests are mainly because of the President's comments about women. Trump's campaign was marked by a number of sexist comments that he made about women in the past, most notably to Howard Stern. In 2008 Trump "bragged" that his fame and wealth made him "irresistible to women", NBC News reported. In another interview Trump said that he was pretty sure Princess Diana would have slept with him. These comments were made only a few weeks after her death. Furthermore, Trump often "rated and ranked women" on Stern's show and picked out the female celebrities who he deemed unattractive. These included Rosie O'Donnell and Angelina Jolie. Trump made no secret of the fact that he often judged women based only on their looks. There is no doubt that Trump has offended a lot of people, but most of all his comments and actions towards women stand out. It is no surprise therefore that the world came together to protest against him as a leader and a person. Theresa May is set to visit Donald Trump this week, becoming the first European leader to secure a meeting with the new President of the United States (US). The Guardian even stated that it was a "major diplomatic coup". But as the visit looms, it gives us an opportunity to look back at the relationship between Britain and the US over the years and see how it will compare with that of Trump and May. Background information There is often talk of a 'special relationship' between the two countries, which dates back to the leadership of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). During the war, FDR sought "closer ties" with the British to "enhance and extend" the American military and economic power during the Second World War. This was done essentially to "maintain the security" of the US against attack, the Roosevelt Forward website notes. The special relationship over the years The question to ask is, how has this 'special relationship' been over the years? For the most part it has been very good as the following examples illustrate. In the 1980s the two respective leaders of Britain and the US were Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. As the Telegraph reported, they were described as "ideological soul mates" as they shared a commitment to the free market, low taxes and a strong defence. Reagan went as far to say that the two countries are "bound together by inseparable ties". After the "badly damaged" relationship between Bill Clinton and Britain Prime Minister John Major, it was seen that the 'special relationship' was rejuvenated between Clinton and Tony Blair. Both leaders were seen as "kindred spirits" both politically and personally. The relationship intensified further between Blair and George W Bush, so much so that Blair came to be known as the US President's "poodle". However, there have been times when the relationship has been somewhat strained. Relations were "chilled" between Barack Obama and Gordon Brown, especially as a result of the Scottish government's decision to release the Lockerbie bomber from jail in 2009. This 'coolness' seemed to continue between Obama and David Cameron, illustrated by the repeated use of the term 'special partnership' and not relationship. Relations were further strained over the BP oil crisis, with Obama publicly laying the blame on the British company. What about Trump and May? So how about the relationship between Trump and May? It seems that the relationship will be very strong. Already Donald Trump is planning a new deal for Britain this week. This includes a new 'passporting' system which would allow British and American companies to trade with each other with minimum regulatory hurdles. In addition Trump wants to help as much as he can in the post-Brexit world. What is also key is that Trump actively wants to strengthen the special relationship. The Daily Mail stated that this desire is based on a combination of "empathy and enlightened self-interest". This can already be seen in the relationship between Trump and May. A source close to the US President told The Telegraph that Trump has taken to calling May 'my Maggie'. The source went even further to say that the 'special relationship' is "back, front and centre on a scale not seen since Maggie". Whatever the future holds for the US or Britain, it is comforting to know that both nations want to return to a time when the special relationship was not questioned. This may well prove crucial as we face the challenges around the world in 2017. ABCNews.com(WASHINGTON) -- In his first remarks from the White House East Room, President Trump kicked off a swearing-in ceremony for his White House senior staff by holding up the copy of a letter President Obama left on the Resolute Desk for him before escorting him to the Capitol on Friday. "I just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama," Trump said. "It was really very nice of him to do that. And we will cherish that. We will keep that." He ended the moment with a tease of the media. "And we won't even tell the press what's in that letter," he said. The good-bye letter from president to president has turned into a staple of the transition of power. Traditionally, it's a page-long message that bridges partisanship and instead carries a personal and poignant message of well-wishing. Trump in the ceremony then went on to praise the members of his staff before Vice President Mike Pence administered an oath of office. This included top advisers such as Kellyanne Conway, Steve Bannon and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, whose appointment to a senior staff position has raised questions among ethics lawyers about a potential breach of nepotism law. In Trump's tribute to his staff he also offered a hint of early confidence at a successful run in 2020. "And speaking of important, you are very important because with you and all of the people in this room, we are going to do some great things over the next eight years," Trump said. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. All of the hoopla surrounding Donald Trump's inauguration has generated plenty of chatter, but things like Barron Trump's high five diss and other lighter moments are generating perhaps even more banter as many people search for comedic moments amid all of the drama. The 10-year-old was not seen all that much during the campaign itself, but Donald and Melania Trump's son is now garnering plenty of attention. Baron Trump leaves mom hanging Melania Trump tried to get a high five from Barron Trump during the presidential inauguration at one point, but as News.com.au details, the new first lady was left hanging. That wasn't the only moment that showcased mom and son not being quite on the same page, as she had also reached out to hold her son's hand while the family was walking in the inaugural parade and he quickly snatched his hand away then as well. Granted, many would point out that Barron was acting as many 10-year-old boys would in such a situation, wanting some distance from his mom and overall a bit bored with the lengthy formal proceedings. A lighter moment was caught later in the day, however. In this case, Barron was playing peek-a-boo with sister Ivanka Trump's baby Theo as the family stood behind Donald as he signed some of his first documents as president. The clip of Barron playing with Theo was shared by Us Weekly and it gave many throughout the country a glimpse at the fun and sweet side of Barron that hasn't had much opportunity to emerge over the course of the past few months. People may not see much of the first son in these early months of the new presidency Reports have indicated that Melania and Barron will stay based in New York City at least until the summer so that the young boy doesn't need to change schools mid-year. There have been some rumors swirling about Barron possibly being autistic and critics of the family have called out how bored he sometimes seems to be at the various presidential events. However, these more negative reports have been hit with plenty of backlash from people on both sides of the political aisle, noting that kids within the first families should be off-limits when it comes to criticism and speculation. While Melania and Barron may be able to stay out of the limelight to a large degree over the next few months as they focus on their everyday lives in New York, there is little doubt that they will be big topics of conversation as things progress with this controversial presidency. Moments like Barron Trump's high five diss with his mother or his light-hearted playing with his nephew are clearly a fun distraction from some of the more serious moments evolving in these early days of adjustment for President Donald Trump, his family, and his new administration, and people are enjoying seeing some more personal moments from the new first family. It looks like 2017 is going to see numerous Space probes attempt to land on the lunar surface. While private groups such as Moon Express and Israels SpaceIl will try to make it to the moon under the Google Lunar XPrize competition, china has announced that it will launch the Change 5, a lunar sample return mission, in November 2017. The Change 3 was the first object to land on the moon in decades a little more than three years ago. China also intends to land on the far side of the moon a year later in 2018. China has a long-term, ambitious space exploration program that involves a space station, missions to Mars and beyond, and an eventual human landing on the moon. China would like to exploit the moon for its natural resources, including helium 3, a substance that could be used to fuel future fusion power plants. Chinas space ambitions come against the backdrop of change at NASA presaged by the new Donald Trump administration. Former President Obama had canceled the Bush-era Constellation program that would have sent humans back to the moon by the end of the current decade. In its place, the former president established a vaguely defined and underfunded Journey to Mars that is said to envision astronaut boots on the Martian soil sometime in the 2030s. Trump has not named a new NASA administrator or has articulate a new space exploration policy in detail. But he has stated that he is interested in a new push for the space agency to explore space. Most analysts believe that the Trump policy will mandate a return to the moon in advance of the journey to Mars with commercial partnerships. The commercial angle will open up opportunities for companies like Moon Express and its rival Astrobotic, which recently dropped out of the Google Lunar XPrize race to the moon. Trump has also recently met with SpaceXs Elon Musk, which has sparked rumors that the new administration may up NASAs partnership with that companys Mars ambitions. SpaceX hardware, including the Falcon Heaven and perhaps a lunar version of the Red Dragon, could be part of a lunar effort as well. Unless the economy implodes or President Trump is caught up in a major scandal, the Democrats are going to have major problems keeping the Republicans from padding their majority in the Senate in 2018. The opposition is defending 25 Senate seats, including the two independents who caucus with the Democrats. So Hot Air is reporting that the Democrats have more reason to feel heart burn in that Sen. Elizabeth Warren from deep blue Massachusetts and the darling of the far left has underwater reelection numbers. Only 44 percent of her state believe that she deserved reelection. 46 percent would like her to be retired to the private sector that she so warmly despises. How is it that the darling of the far left, the woman whom millions of liberals dream will pick up the fallen banner that Hillary Clinton let slip from her fingers, to sweep away Donald Trump and all he represents, get those kinds of numbers? Perhaps the reason is that Senate Warren is just too annoying even for the good people of Massachusetts. The fact that a plurality do not want her to remain a senator, not to mention run for president, should be bone chilling for Democrats. Of course, that does not mean that Warren will lose in 2018. The Republicans have to put up a viable candidate against her, a tall order in a state where that party has not altogether prospered in recent years. On the other hand, does it take a Republican to take Warren out of the Senate? She could get primaried. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg has just returned home after having been ambassador to Japan for the past three years. The daughter of the sainted and martyred President John F. Kennedy is said to be searching for a new job, perhaps elected office. To be sure she lived most of her life in Manhattan, but it would be a simple matter for her to move to Boston and establish residency, just as Hillary Clinton did in Westchester to become a senator from New York. One suspects that the people of Massachusetts would welcome Caroline Schlossberg with the kind of ecstasy usually reserved for the arrival of a royal princess. In that state, where her father was born and which her uncle Teddy represented in the Senate for decades, that would not be far wrong. She is already being compared to Hillary Clinton, hut without the stench of corruption and law breaking. If Schlossberg doesnt blow it, she might be elected by acclimation. After that, who knows? A return of Camelot, but this time with a queen (all will worship me and despair!) Strangely, the Party that will be able to face the future politically after the November 8th election with some confidence is the Democratic Party. They already have the advantage of Hillary Clintons legacy of a majority of the popular vote to build on and the prospect of an incoming President Donald Trump that is losing consensus rather than building on his Electoral College victory in the presidential campaign. More elections on the horizon The Party also has the advantage of fighting a political opponent with an agenda that is high on rhetoric, but low n details and true targets for the future. Furthermore, the stated opposition of some Republicans such as John McCain and Mark Rubio to Donald Trumps Secretarial nominations opens the doors to being able to publicly divide the GOP in the two Houses. These circumstances mean that the Democrats will be able to peacefully prepare for the midterm elections against an opponent that has no firm hand on the tiller. Furthermore, the lack of a clear favourite for the next Presidential race will allow young, ambitious Democrats to stake a claim for the 2020 Primary Race, thus giving them even more incentive to perform strongly in the Houses during future debates. Agenda and not personality At the same time the Democrats must understand that their best weapons will be to fight President #Donald Trump and the Republicans on their lack of a detailed political agenda and the uncertainty of what the Oval Office truly intends to achieve over the next four years. Furthermore, the controversies over Trumps conflicts of interest and the allegations of Russian hacking of the recent presidential campaign will mean that the Democrats will be able to constantly keep the Republican Party on the defensive on a wide range of issues. For the Democratic Party the #Inauguration of Donald Trump was the beginning of the new next two electoral campaigns and will allow them a freedom of action that the GOP will certainly envy. Inauguration Day put the final seal on the 2016 presidential campaign and Donald Trump is officially the 45th President of the United States. The public can now begin to see what part of the election campaign was pure rhetoric and how much was made up of concrete proposals that will become part of American History. From salesman to President #Donald Trump used his past as a businessman to run an unorthodox campaign for office. While Hillary Clinton made her previous public offices as the hallmark of her own campaign and the differences between the two candidates were seen immediately. Donald Trump officially entered the White House without the confirmation of his major nominees such as Rex W. Tillerson for the Secretary of State. In addition, only 60 odd positions were named for the nearly 300 administration posts which meant that some of Obamas staff were asked to stay on to help with the transition. Other aspects of Trumps campaign also continued during the two months since the November 8th election. The first was his tendency to fire off tweets on any occasion. While this may endear him to some, this only highlighted the performance of the Secretarial nominees which contradicted the declarations made by the President during and after campaign and revealed that the new Administrations political agenda is not set in stone. The Oath of Office As a businessman Donald Trump was answerable only to himself, but from the moment he took the Oath of Office President Donald Trump emerged and like any elected official he is now answerable to the public. The businessman Trump, like all businessmen, tried to work around regulations, but President Donald Trump represents the regulations and therefore must act within the spirit and the word of the Constitution and American Law. It is a reality with which he must come to terms as soon as possible. The news that lawyers for 'Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics' in Washington will today present documentation to the Supreme Court about infringements of the Emolument Clauses of the Constitution will be the first of what seems likely to be a series of battles regarding his conflicts of interest. These queries were not addressed fully in his only Press Conference and also met the disapproval of former officials such as Walter Schaub Jr., the Outgoing Director of the Office of Government Ethics. Donald Trump can no longer simply say that the solutions will come in time. These questions must be addressed quickly as they will affect the perception of the President who did not win the popular vote. Worse still, beginning running battles with the Press as he did on the weekend over crowd numbers Friday afternoon does nothing to resolve these situations. Where to now Republican party? Standing at the sidelines will be the Republican Party which will now bear the brunt of any controversy surrounding the new President. The Party held majorities over recent years and used these to limit President Obamas political agenda. Now the GOP must decide whether it will remain faithful to its past activities, or back the new President in every controversy and decision. Some politicians such as #John McCain and Mark Rubio have publicly stated that they believe that the newly installed President is unsuitable for Office and this Republican Opposition may well become the major hurdle for the new Administration. As of last Friday afternoon the time for vague rhetoric and promises of solutions is officially over. The lack of a solid, political agenda will almost certainly mean that policies will continue to be made on the run with little or no consultation by Donald Trump with his advisors, or even his own Party. Inevitably this will clash with the requirements of Constitution and Law which govern the powers of the President. This will be a severe test of the checks and balances contained the Americas system of government and will without doubt provide an even more insidious test for the Republican Party. Professor X returns to reach out to The Wolverine, known only by another name. The new title of the second trailer about the mysterious mutant with the adamantium blades like steel, Logan. The two-minute movie reel released, January 19 by 20th Century Fox with another legacy to uphold to further its mutant tent pole. Logan reappears years later, future-tense and skulking along the border between Mexico and the United States. He is saddled with another worry other looking after an aging Professor Xavier, he has to mutant-sit another human with the mutant gene, and shes an angrier, wilder doppelganger of himself. A defiant teen who can slice the attitude off a gnat when shes crossed, and she has abilities that rival Logans that even she may be unable to control. Hugh Jackman's "The Wolverine" watch and tweet The trailer releases in partnership with Marvel and will screen in large format across theatres early spring and in IMAX. The story was conceived by scribes David James Kelly and James Mangold and produced by Simon Kinberg along with P.G.A. alums Lauren Shuler Donner and Hutch Parker. Fox Movies glimpsed comic story fans Tuesday with peeks of its one sheets for The Wolverine that it shared as a movie tie-in by the actor in the tile role, Hugh Jackman. The exact moment when I opened the link to the first draft of LOGAN. pic.twitter.com/E5samRE1em Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) January 16, 2017 Jackman tweeted across social media confirming the Studio was preparing a social onslaught with Jackman starting hashtag trends with a single moniker. Tomorrow. Logan will queue on movie screens after Fox Movies release of Assassins Creed with Alien Covenant franchises Michael Fassbender in the title role, May 19. Covenant is 20th Century Foxs skein in its pre-summer line up before its theatrical release of the highly anticipated War for the Planet of the Apes this July. Mangold took to Twitter to share on set photography showcasing the younger wolverine-like star, with single moniker, Dafne. Mangold also co-wrote the features screenplay with writers Scott Frank and Michael Green while spearheading as the films director. "Logan" watch and tweet The Studio is blending the movies exposure to also include Instagram. Its media sharing includes location and stills taken of dog tags tto a watermarked page script. Watch and tweet Logan as it prepares to take its bow in movie theaters following its second trailer version, March 3, 2017, a week after the 2017 Oscars. Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton have been friends for a long time. During the presidential election, they both said they would not let the outcome ruin their friendship. However, it has been reported that they have not been in contact with each other since the election. Chelsea told "Extra's" AJ Calloway that their friendship has nothing to do with politics. She said they were friends before the election, and they would be friends after the election. Ivanka said something similar when she was interviewed on "20/20" the night before her father's inauguration. She told Deborah Roberts that she hasn't spoken to Chelsea recently, but she intends to do so in order for them to talk about the next chapter of their lives. Parents used to be friends During the campaign, President Donald Trump said on more than one occasion that he wished the two young women were not such good friends. That's because of the tension that might exist because of their parents who were running against each other. Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump were going head-to-head during a bitter election. Before they began running against each other, the Clintons and the Trumps were friends. That's how Chelsea and Ivanka first met. The parents never were as close as Chelsea and Ivanka, but President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton attended Donald Trump's wedding. Two first daughters The former first daughter and the current first daughter have a lot more in common than their fathers being Presidents of the United States. The women are about the same age. Ivanka, 35, still calls Chelsea, 36, a very good friend, and they have great respect for each other. They both have Jewish husbands who know each other and get along well. Both women are young mothers. Ivanka has three children, and Chelsea has two children. Their last babies were born around the same time. Therefore, the friends were pregnant at the same time. Ivanka and Chelsea were New Yorkers until just a few days ago when Ivanka and her family moved to Washington, DC. Her husband, Jared Kushner has taken an unpaid position as senior advisor to his father-in-law and has an office in the White House. Now that the election is over and Ivanka has recently stepped down from her role as executive VP at the Trump Organization and as head of her fashion brand, perhaps she and Chelsea will have time to get together. An employee introduces a Samsung Electronics Galaxy Note 7 smartphone at a store in Seoul, South Korea. [Photo/Agencies] SEOUL - Samsung Electronics said Monday that faulty battery caused its flagship Galaxy Note 7 to catch fire after discontinuing the fire-prone device more than three months ago. In a special press conference in its headquarters in Seoul, Samsung said the mix of thin battery design and other manufacturing issues caused the Note 7s to explode or set on fire, which led to property damages and injuries. The findings are based on two investigations by US-based firms UL and Exponent, which examined batteries and one supply-chain analysis by a German company TUV Rheinland. The first group of the devices carried batteries with thin separators between the positive and negative layers that raise a possibility for internal short circuit, according to the UL's teardown examination. Aggressively thin battery had been estimated by experts as one of the main reasons the flagship Samsung phone was overheated. Insufficient physical room can induce the positive and negative electrodes to touch and spark. Sajeev Jesuda, one of the UL's executives, told reporters that higher energy density in batteries can exacerbate the severity of battery failure in "general" terms, falling short of the confirmation of one of reasons for explosions. Deformation was found especially from the upper right corners of the batteries, weakening a protection capability from internal short circuit, the UL president said. The second group of Note 7s was installed with batteries that have various manufacturing problems, including the missing insulation tape, irregular bumps and thin separators. Those factors led to internal short circuits. According to the Exponent's analysis, no hardware and software issues have been discovered from the fire-prone devices. The first group of phones showed deformation in upper corners of the defective batteries near a cathode tab. The second group had manufacturing issues, such as abnormally high bumps that can destroy an insulation tape and a separator. Kevin White, a principal scientist at Exponent, told reporters that the first group suffered unintended damages to the cathode windings in the corner closest to the negative tab, saying it was caused by the pouch design. The second group, he said, showed no deficiencies in the pouch, but welding defects in the positive electrode tab raised the short circuit possibility. Meanwhile, no factor was found in the logistics and assembly processes that damage battery safety, according to the TUV Rheindland's investigations into factories in South Korea, China and Vietnam. Holger Kunz, the German company's executive vice president, said its supply-chain analysis showed no specific defection of weakness, concern or obvious danger affecting battery safety integrity. What happened in this past weekend in Washington is a reminder that there are two United States, if not three or four. I was surprised early Friday morning on way to covering the inauguration of Donald Trump to be the 45th US president. The Metro Red Line was not only unusually crowded for a Friday morning, the cars were filled with people wearing red caps emblazoned with "Make America Great Again," Trump's campaign slogan. That surprise resulted from the fact that Washington, the nation's capital, is deep blue. Trump supporters are hard to find among the local population. In the District of Columbia, about 90 percent of the votes in 2016 presidential election went to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and only a tiny 4 percent went to Trump. When Americans went out to vote on Nov 8, I had a hard time trying to find Trump voters while interviewing people outside several local polling stations. On Friday morning, I chatted with those Trump supporters walking out the Metro Center station, they came from Ohio, Illinois and even California and they came specially to go to the National Mall for Trump's inauguration. They were elated judging from the expression on their faces. The National Mall in front of the Capitol Hill was packed Friday morning with these jubilant Trump supporters. They cheered loudly when former US president George W. Bush, a Republican, and his wife Laura appeared on the screen. Some shouted "Lock Her Up" when former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary were announced to arrive at the inauguration platform. They booed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also a Democrat, when he delivered his speech at the inauguration, with message directing at Trump's policy rhetoric. It was certainly a day of the impossible could become impossible in the US. The New York real estate billionaire was not taken seriously in May 2015 when he announced his campaign is now the US president leader of the most powerful nation on the planet. However, outside the checkpoints to the National Mall were angry anti-Trump protesters who wanted to disrupt the inauguration. Some organizations had a daily protest days since days ago. In one violent protest erupted just blocks from the inauguration parade, a limousine was set on fire and police had to use teargas to disburse the crowds. A total of 217 people were arrested. The scene the next morning came as a bigger surprise. I could not even get on the Red Line at the Woodley Park station after seeing three trains passing by. This time the cars were filled with people, many wearing the so-called Pussycat Hat and carrying demonstration signs in their hands. It was a day of Women's March on Washington. The crowd is so huge that I've never seen a larger demonstration like this since I moved here four years ago. An estimated half a million people took part in the demonstration, more than the people at Trump's inauguration on Friday. They are literally all anti-Trump people, and many supporters for Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, another Democratic candidate in the 2016 race. The enormous and enthusiastic crowd demanded women's rights, but also expressed deep concern over Trump's policy on immigration and environment. There is no doubt that Americans are deeply divided on some fundamental issues. The CNN/ORC poll from Jan 12-15 showed that 53 percent of Americans view Trump unfavorably while only 44 percent have a favorable opinion of the incoming president. A Fox News poll from Jan 15-18 also showed an unfavorable view of 55 percent compared with the favorable opinion of 42 percent. A Pew Center survey released on Thursday shows that most Americans expect the nation's political divide to persist. A total of 86 percent describe the country as more politically divided today than in the past, while just 12 percent say the country is no more divided. While some believe that the nation might become more united after the Republicans control the White House and both chambers of the Congress, the crowds on the inauguration day and the women's march clearly suggest otherwise. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 CARACAS - Venezuela on Sunday hopes that US President Donald Trump takes a different approach to bilateral ties than his predecessor Barack Obama. "We hope he doesn't go down the road of obsession and irrationality, and understands that the executive order, which he has the power to repeal, is in effect repealed," Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriguez said in a televised interview. Obama issued an executive order declaring the South American country to be an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the national security of the United States, sparking an outcry from the international community. Trump could simply choose not to renew the order when it comes up for annual revision, the minister said. Venezuela will continue to pursue dialogue with the US government as a means of resolving differences, she said. The controversial executive order was issued in March 2015, to justify a series of sanctions against Venezuela and several of its government officials. LONDON Britain's Supreme Court will rule Tuesday on whether the prime minister or Parliament has the right to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union. Justices of the Supreme Court leave the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in Parliament Square in London, in this file photograph dated October 1, 2009. [Photo/Agencies] The 11 justices will either uphold an earlier ruling giving Parliament a direct role in invoking Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty or reject that ruling in favor of the government's claim it can do so without a vote in Parliament.Article 50, which has never been used before, starts the formal process of taking Britain out of the 28-nation EU bloc, a move favored by 52 percent of voters in the June referendum that has upended British politics.The Supreme Court case is viewed as the most meaningful constitutional test in recent decades because it addresses a question central to British law: the dividing line between the powers of Parliament and the power of the executive.The government says it can use "prerogative powers" dating back to medieval times to start the EU divorce process, but the High Court ruled in November that it could not act without a parliamentary vote. iStock/Thinkstock(LONDON) -- Representatives of the Syrian government and rebel factions met Monday for the first time in a year for peace talks brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran. The talks are expected to focus on maintaining a cease-fire reached on Dec. 30 rather than a long-term political solution, analysts say. In a best-case scenario, you get increased humanitarian access to besieged areas accompanied by a beefed up cease-fire enhancement mechanism to be monitored by the three external actors [Russia, Turkey and Iran], Julien Barnes-Dacey, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told ABC News. If these first steps are agreed to, it could pave the way for continuing negotiations on a broader political solution when United Nations-led talks are expected to take place in Geneva in February, he said. In Monday's meeting, the Syrian opposition is represented by militants on the ground in Syria rather than a Syrian opposition based outside of the country. George Krol, the U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, attended Monday's session, but the U.S. and other Western countries are not directly involved in the negotiations. It reflects a lack of Western leverage on the ground, said Barnes-Dacey. This has been a conflict driven forward by regional actors. The U.S. and Europe have been very reluctant to get involved militarily. Haid Haid -- an associate fellow specializing in the Middle East at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a policy institute based in London -- said that the warring sides met ahead of Monday's official talks and werent able to agree on a deal. At the same time, Russia and Iran are divided, he said, which will make it more difficult to achieve an agreement. He said that the talks were planned to take place now to benefit from the administrative transition in the U.S. Russia and Turkey agree on any attempt to sideline the West because they believe that it will make it easier for them to reach a deal on Syria, he told ABC News. But a long-term solution needs Western involvement, he said, because Turkey doesnt have influence on all the rebel groups in Syria and cant impose a deal on all of them. Similarly, Russia doesnt have control of all the factions who are supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Thats why the U.N. has to be involved in order to ensure the stability of such a deal, he said. You need independent observers and actors who have influence over the rest of the actors in this. The U.N., the U.S., and the EU would take part in rebuilding Syria in the future. It is difficult to imagine how they would participate in rebuilding if they werent involved in the peace process. Kazakhstans Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov described Monday's meeting as a clear manifestation of the international communitys efforts directed to peaceful settlement of the situation in Syria. Kazakhstan believes that the only way to find a solution to the Syrian crisis is through negotiations, he said. Syrias six-year war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions of Syrians. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 'What is surprising is the scale and spontaneity of the mobilisation and the social profile of the mobilisation.' 'Not just the youth, but women, children and families are part of this now.' 'This is completely unprecedented.' IMAGE: The beach road on Chennai's Marina is a sea of youngsters and students participating in a protest to lift the ban on Jallikattu and impose a ban on PETA, January 19, 2017. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo The only word we hear in Chennai these days is porattam (protest)! As the public porattam enters the fourth day, Professor A R Venkatachalapathy, left, a historian at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier why the youth in Tamil Nadu have come out on the streets. Did the assembly of thousands of people to protest against the ban on Jallikattu come as a surprise to you? We knew there was resentment in the minds of people, but this was totally unexpected. It is unprecedented, and the level of spontaneity behind such a mobilisation has surpassed the 2013 movement against the Sri Lankan issue. By all accounts, it has also surpassed the mobilisation of people in the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation. In 1965, there was a campaign and the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) was involved, but today, it is completely apolitical. This is political in another sense because people have a sense of power and politics, but this is not affiliated to any political party. This is also an expression of the cynicism of the younger generation and the middle class against the political system. The resentment has been there for a very long time. You mean Jallikattu was just a trigger and there were other issues that disturbed the people of Tamil Nadu. Over the last couple of years, there has been considerable resentment in the minds of the Tamil people. There is a perception that they have been sidelined. Starting from 2009 during the last days of the civil war in Sri Lanka, when 27,000 non-combatants were bombed. Nobody protested about it and the war criminals were not brought to book. For the last 25 years the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case are in prison. In the case of Cauvery water, a state (government) wilfully and repeatedly defied the Supreme Court order, but nothing has been done. Then Mullaperiyar, where Kerala has taken a very antagonistic stand. Demonetisation also is a reason for the anger. The Pongal holidays were badly handled and though not deliberate, the people felt it was deliberate. There is resentment among people and they are unhappy with a whole range of issues and Jallikattu became a flashpoint. The biggest problem is the animal rights fundamentalism. There are even people who want to defend the rights of rabid dogs! Do the Tamil people feel alienated? See, alienation is a very strong word. But some letterhead NGOs take up issues of which they have no understanding and they are able to use the legal process to stop age-old practices. It is not just that they are age-old practices; they are embedded in our culture. When you stop such practices all of a sudden, it causes resentment. I must say what the English media has completely missed is, what you see is not a one-point programme. There are a whole range of issues behind this, which you may not see or hear now. The new generation feels threatened and worried about their identity by the steamrolling effect of globalisation. The protest that you see today should be seen as a symbol though many of them are not even participating in it. Their pride has been affected. Do you think the rest of India does not understand how the people of Tamil Nadu feel? The general feeling is that the people outside Tamil Nadu don't understand them. You can't sit in one corner of India and dictate what a small village in Tamil Nadu should do. This may not be acceptable to these people. Nothing happened to the Jats when they stopped water to Delhi, nothing happened when Karnataka defied the Supreme Court. Why ban a festival that happens in a small village where 100, 200 bulls run around? Can't you regulate it instead of stopping it? Those who own the bulls look at them as a part of the family and an enormous amount of money is spent in the upkeep of the bull. Do you think the owner of the bull will torture it? There are, of course, exceptions. It is often the people who fight the bulls who get injured, not otherwise. But what PETA is trying to project is, the mission of villagers is to wake up every morning and torture the bulls! My view is that it can be very easily regulated and there was no need to ban it. Remember, till 5 years ago, the Alanganallur Jallikattu was showcased by the Tamil Nadu tourism department as a spectacle. The state had invested in this cultural event. This is not like the Spanish bullfight. When you let simple things get out of control, this kind of fringe Tamil nationalist elements and ultra-leftist groups can exploit the situation and distort the movement. There are also strong environmental groups actively behind this as they are deeply worried about how multinational organisations are making a mess of the native rice, native bulls and a whole range of other products. They fear all these are going to be extinct soon. If so, will that happen in other states too because there fear is among the local people about native products going extinct and multinationals taking over? There has to be a trigger, and there has to be a strong mobilising rallying point. Here, Jallikattu became the rallying point. But did anyone expect Jallikattu to cause this kind of an eruption? Jalikattu has been part of the discourse. This has been reinforced not only in literature, but also in cinema and a whole range of media. It is not as if it's a bolt from the blue. But what is surprising is the scale and spontaneity of the mobilisation and the social profile of the mobilisation. Not just the youth, but women, children and families are part of this now. This is completely unprecedented. Do you blame the state government for not presenting the case properly in the court which has resulted in the ban? I feel Udayachandran, when he was the collector of Madurai, put forward a wonderful affidavit. But there was no consistency in the policy. Maybe a better legal counsel could have prevailed. Yes, it could have handled in a better way legally. But the biggest problem is the animal rights fundamentalism. There are even people who want to defend the rights of rabid dogs! The sight of some of the young men shouting for a separate Tamil Nadu has shocked many. What happens is, when you let simple things get out of control, this kind of fringe Tamil nationalist elements and ultra-leftist groups can exploit the situation and distort the movement. That is something people who value the unity of Indian nation, have to be careful about. They should ensure that there is no scope for this kind of sloganeering. What will happen to the movement after a few days? This will fizzle out, no doubt about it. I will not be surprised and that's how it should happen too. By the time this would have made an impact, and you would not be able to go back. Once the students' protests come to an end, the political parties will take over. There will be a political solution and the judiciary will have to accept it. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. HCM CITY Incorrect news broadcast by overseas media can hurt exports of tra fish this year, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Producers and Exporters (VASEP) has said. Three weeks ago, Spanish commercial television channel Cuatro broadcast incorrect and defamatory information on tra fish bred in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River, said VASEP General Secretary Truong inh Hoe. According to the Cuatro report, tra fish is being raised in unclean cages and fed with non-industrialised feed like dead fish and other food waste. The report went on to charge that this was the reason for low prices of Vietnamese tra fish. Five days later, the station continued to broadcast wrong information about the breeding of tra fish in the country, VASEP said. After receiving information about the Cuatro report, VASEP sent a letter to the local media, rejecting it in its entirety, stressing that Viet Nams tra fish production was hygienic and safe to consume. Hoe said that demand for Vietnamese tra fish had declined earlier following damaging media reports. In 2016, the price of tra fish in the European Union market kept falling and damaged Viet Nams tra fish export value, despite the countrys export volume almost matching that of the previous year. In some cases, a lot of European sellers mixed tra fish fillet with other products to increase their selling prices, Hoe said. Such factors would likely have a negative impact on Viet Nams tra fish exports in 2017 because we are living in the age of internet and social networks, which are powerful in spreading the news, he added. According to the VASEP, the tra fish industry in Viet Nam has improved its production process and quality management. It has also improved its management of environmental impacts as well as ensuring clear origins of seafood material, especially in the supply chain comprising breed suppliers, feed factories, fish farms and processing factories. The final products are stored in modern freezing warehouses before being exported to international markets. In addition, many fish farms have acquired international certification for good raising practices including Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and GlobalGap. In order to obtain these recognitions, the fish farms have to be built and operate strictly on criteria of quality, origin traceability and social responsibility. These facts are strong, reliable evidence of the safety and sustainability of Vietnamese tra fish production, Hoe said. Several enterprises have said that the Government and concerned agencies need to respond immediately to the spread of wrong information that is hurting the image of Vietnamese tra fish. Nguyen Ngo Vi Tam, Director General of Vinh Hoan Corporation, one of the largest tra fish exporters in Viet Nam, said Vietnamese tra fish had become popular in the world and was well received in many markets. However, the image of Vietnamese tra fish was not good in some places in terms of food safety and breeding methods. It is not just in Spain, the smearing of Vietnamese tra fish products had happened in about 10 countries, including Australia, Italy, Germany and France, he added. VNS EDINBURGH It was the shocking, surreal, drug-fuelled movie that defined a generation. Two decades later, the ageing Scottish lowlifes of Trainspotting are back with a new sequel which premiered Sunday in Edinburgh. T2: Trainspotting reunites Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner with now Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle. Renton, the character that launched the career of Star Wars actor McGregor, returns to Edinburgh after years away -- and his friends Begbie, Sick Boy and Spud are waiting, as dysfunctional as ever. While the first movie was shot mostly in Glasgow, despite being set in the once heroin-blighted Edinburgh suburb of Leith, T2 sees the Scottish capital take on a central role. "It was lovely to shoot here in Edinburgh, and you feel that Edinburgh is much more of a character in this film than it was in the first one, and its absolutely right that we are here for the premiere," said McGregor. Two decades on, Sick Boy (Miller) is a pimp exploiting the wave of gentrification that has swept the city, psycho Begbie (Carlyle) is an escaped convict and burglar, and Spud (Bremer) is still "on the skag". Heroin has been relegated to a bit-part behind cocaine and Viagra, Begbie is even more foul-mouthed and menacing than ever, and there are plenty more gut-wrenching gross out scenes to match Spuds breakfast table surprise in the first movie. But despite the tough scenes, Bremer said the film has "a lot of humour in it". "Its based on the real struggle of what it is to get by, you know, why people fill their lives with something... whether it is heroin or whatever they find to fill the void and heal the pain," said he. Betrayal and reconciliation There are references throughout to the first movie, including to its hugely successful soundtrack with a remix of Iggy Pops Lust for Life. Irvine Welsh, author of the Trainspotting novel, said the inclusion of Edinburgh group Young Fathers gave the new film a "distinctive Edinburgh feel". "Theyre fantastic artists, and Danny very much saw them as being the voice of Trainspotting 2," said he at the premiere. While new voices appear on the soundtrack, Boyle said bringing the earlier cast back for T2 saw them add their two decades of experience. "They stepped back into the roles... they factored in their own 20 years of experience into their characters and they were off and on their way," he told the Associated Press. Expectations are high after the first film, which was made for just US$3 million in 1996, won critical acclaim and grossed over $70 million worldwide. Reviews so far have been largely positive -- The Guardian said it was not as good as the first, but "has the same punchy energy, the same defiant pessimism, and theres nothing around like it". T2 is about betrayal and reconciliation, both in front and behind thecamera. In Trainspotting, Renton ditched his friends and ran off to Amsterdam with the takings of a big drug deal. Boyle and McGregor, who worked together on Shallow Grave and A Life Less Ordinary, also fell out after the director cast Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach. AFP class=apple-converted-space> Hidden Figures, Lion, Moonlight all set for major nominations, it seems like diversity will thankfully win the day for this years Oscar nominations," Beachum said. But the woman behind the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, April Reign, said although Hollywood has made progress, it was still too early to cancel the hashtag. "One year does not fix a problem that has been going on for over 80," she told National Public Radio in a recent interview. "There has been an increase in the number of films that reflect the black experience." "However with respect to people of color overall, with respect to marginalized communities -- which is what #OscarsSoWhite is all about -- its still been a relatively poor year." AFP The attitude of medical staff, lacking the spirit of service, is the main reasons behind public dissatisfaction with healthcare services, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien tells the Nong thon ngay nay (Countryside Today) newspaper. During a field trip to the Viet Nam National Cancer Hospital (K Hospital), you were told that in many cases, hospital staff had asked patients for money. What can be done so that such sums are not asked of patients? That patients have to share beds and pay hard-to-tell sums of money has always been a matter of great concern in the health sector. The Health Ministry has conducted unscheduled inspections at certain hospitals and directed the Health Strategy and Policy Institute to make independent assessments based on specific criteria. The assessment of patients satisfaction at the K Hospital showed that the hospitals first centre (in Hoan Kiem District) received highest rate of 87.5 per cent while the third one (in Thanh Tri District) ranked the lowest with 51.7 per cent. The figures reflect the reality, honestly and objectively. This is probably due to inadequate arrangement of wards and rooms. Of course, the situation of four patients sharing a hospital bed still exists. However, as far as Im concerned the key reason behind patients dissatisfaction is the serving spirit and attitude of medical practitioners. When they do not think that healthcare is a service, they ask patients for money and other favours. The Ministry will its intensify supervision and violations will surely be strictly dealt with. Are you satisfied with the current quality of service at hospitals? Initially, there have been some positive changes, especially in the attitude of medical staff. But there are still some staff members who are troublemakers and this has been publicised by the media and people. Personally speaking, I cannot be satisfied. There is a lot of work to be done, and this needs the entire medical sector and general population to work and act together. The change in attitude of healthcare staff has seen certain improvements, which can be seen from the higher number of positive appraisals from the public and lower number of complaints. Infrastructure, including a green and clean environment within hospital compounds, has also improved. Hospitals have also provided additional waiting chairs, free drinking water, newspapers and fans. Despite these improvements, it is undeniable that overcrowding is a huge, unresolved issue. As I said above, certain medical practitioners remain bureaucratic. The Health Ministry will continue taking measures to enhance the quality of services, satisfying patients demand. What breakthroughs can we expect from the health sector towards better care? I have travelled through 63 cities and provinces nationwide and identified certain issues that need to be addressed. First and foremost, efficiency or operational capacity of medical centres at grassroots levels has failed to meet real demand, causing locals to seek help from Central-level hospitals, which needs more time and money, and overburdens the latter facilities. Second, many people only go for health check when they fall sick. So, it is essential to raise the awareness of the whole society that prevention is better than cure. Additionally, the healthcare sector should attempt to make sure that every citizen has his or her health monitored and managed right at the local medical centre. More importantly, hospitals must be green and clean to provide better service to patients. I wish that all citizens will have medical insurance in the future. So there is a lot of work that needs to be done, but it cannot be completed overnight. So priority should be given to implementing solutions set forth by the Ministry of Health. VNS President Tran ai Quang hands over gifts to residents in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang HA NOI President Tran ai Quang visited the Mekong Delta province of An Giang and Can Tho City on Saturday ahead of the approaching Lunar New Year (Tet), the countrys biggest national holiday. While visiting poor households and welfare beneficiaries in Thoai Son District, President Quang extolled local efforts in various fields, such as investment, trade, agriculture and rural development, tourism, and defense-security. The President affirmed that the Party, State and people hope the underprivileged families will fare better in the future. He wished the ethnic groups in the area a warm and healthy Tet holiday and more accomplishments in 2017. The State leader later visited the commemorative site for late President Ton uc Thang, and the provincial police and border guards. While visiting Military Zone 9 in Can Tho, President Quang praised officers and soldiers for ensuring units in border, sea and island areas can celebrate Tet. He urged the armed forces to improve assessments and forecast of all possible complications, especially at sea and in border areas, to promptly detect and prevent all sabotage and activities of hostile forces, in addition to reinforcing the people-based national defence and tightening close relations between soldiers and the people. The forces must also improve defence relations with Cambodia according to the Party and States foreign policies, while enhancing friendship and solidarity with the army and people of Cambodia to build a shared border of peace and common development, he said. Rice for the poor As many as one million people suffering from poverty and disasters in 15 cities and provinces nationwide will receive rice by tomorrow at the latest to help them celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) on Saturday. This was confirmed by head of the General Department of State Reserves of Viet Nam, Dr Pham Phan Dung, who was tasked with the distribution by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc Localities eligible for the food supply include Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, ak Lak, ak Nong, Kon Tum, Ninh Thuan, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Cao Bang. People in many areas, particularly in remote and disaster-hit areas, often go hungry. In order to supply rice so people can enjoy the holiday, the PM decided to use over 12,415 tonnes of rice from the State reserves, said Dung. Though the rice is just enough to provide 15kg for each person per month, it is expected to help recipients stabilise their life and welcome the New Year, and to contribute to ensuring political security, social order and stability for socio-economic development, he told the baochinhphu.vn e-newspaper. Local authorities are being asked to strengthen inspections to make sure that the rice is provided to the right people and that those who are eligible are not overlooked, according to Dung. VNS Local residents are concerned about timber being smuggled on the ak Bla River in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum, after authorities failed to stop the illegal activity. Photo tintaynguyen.com KON TUM Local residents are concerned about timber being smuggled on the ak Bla River in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum, after authorities failed to stop the illegal activity. Last Tuesday, local media reported that smugglers are using tyres to float timber on the ak Bla River during the day. The timber is then stored at a location in ak Ro Wa Commune, just a kilometre from the office of the communes Peoples Committee. Reporters witnessed two trucks full of timber, and three other trucks and two cranes ready to transport additional lumber piled by the riverside. The reporters informed Kon Tum City forest rangers of the smuggling. On arrival at the scene, the rangers found that the five trucks loaded with timber had disappeared, and they were able to seize just 25 planks, measuring over eight cubic metres. Head of the Kon Tum City Forest Protection Division, Vu Hong Sinh, said that the timber had been illegally sourced, and no one had claimed ownership. Sinh said that the timber was allegedly from Chu Pak District in Gia Lai, a neighbouring province. Meanwhile, vice head of Chu Pak Forest Protection Division, Nguyen Ngoc Ni, told danviet.vn that it was too soon to say if the seized timber was from Chu Pak District, as Kon Tum City was also bordered by Kon Ray District of Kon Tum Province, and ak ao District of Gia Lai Province. Chairman of Kon Tum City Peoples Committee, Phan Van The, on Thursday told danviet.vn that as soon as he was informed of the timber smuggling on ak Bla River, the committee asked relevant agencies to clarify and report back on the situation. Responding to public concern over the possible involvement of State officials or forest rangers in the timber smuggling, The said: There will be no exception. Any one, any agency that is found to be involved in the ak Bla River timber smuggling will be punished. Police, forest rangers and ak Ro Wa Commune Peoples Committee were asked to work together to investigate and uncover the owner of the timber. The admitted shortcomings of relevant agencies that had not inspected the timber. Last week, Ngoc Hoi District forest rangers and Sa Loong border guards also detected and seized almost 12 cu.m of ilegally-logged timber in the districts Sa Loong Commune. Early this month, forest rangers also cracked down on three timber smuggling cases in ak Glei, ak To and ak Ha districts. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had ordered the closure of the natural forest, freezing the remaining 2.25 million hectares of natural forests in the Central Highlands in an effort to protect the area from deforestation. HCM City The Mekong Delta is looking for a new model to increase the efficiency of its agricultural production and distribution. Early last year the Government approved a pilot co-operative model for the delta for 2016 -20. It seeks to have 10 15 new co-operatives with a focus on developing infrastructure for cultivation, improving governance, mobilising capital for stronger connectivity and expanding markets. Members of the new co-operatives will contribute money and get quality service, savings and good, steady prices, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam was quoted as saying in Thoi bao Kinh doanh (Business Times) newspaper. According to the chairman of the Viet Nam Co-operatives Union, Vo Kim Cu, the most important task for the region is drafting a master plan for co-operatives based on the strengths of each province. Developing a new co-operative model is imperative but output and quality should be improved to compete in the domestic and international markets. High-quality human resources and high technology are two very important things to ensure the success of the new model. According to statistics from the Crop Production Department, the delta now has over 307,000 hectares of orchards, accounting for 37.5 per cent of the nations total area, which produce 3.5 million tonnes of fruits each year. The provinces of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Ben Tre account for the largest areas of high-value produce like banana, mango, orange, coconut, pomelo, and blue dragon fruit. Vietnamese fruit exports have been increasing. In 2015 the country exported US$1.8 billion worth to 60 nations and territories, eight times the 2005 figure. In the first seven months of last year exports surged to $1.4 billion, a 135.5 per cent increase year-on-year. However, the links between production and distribution remain loose, and farmers are ready to sell their produce to the highest bidder and to move to more lucrative fruits without any long-term strategy. Authorities have not been competent at market forecast and sale and seed and quality management. The biggest challenge for our farmers is selling, Nguyen Van Chien, director of Thanh Phuoc Co-operative in Chau Thanh District, Hau Giang Province, said. Our sales mostly depend on private dealers, and so prices are very volatile. We wish to have a strong intermediary organisation that links farmers and enterprises for transfer of green technologies based on VietGap standards to achieve steady sales, Thai Thuy Linh, owner of a dragon fruit farm in Luong Hoa Lac Commune in Tien Giangs Cho Gao District, said. -- VNS HCM CITY More than 1.92 million households or 100 per cent of the households in HCM City now have access to tap water, according to the citys Peoples Committee. The supply of clean water to all families helps improve the quality of life of local people as well protect underground water resources, said Le Van Khoa, deputy chairman of the citys Peoples Committee. The use of water from drilled wells poses a danger to human health, with 92 per cent of water samples taken from wells in the city contaminated with hazardous substances, Khoa said at a ceremony held last Friday. Sai Gon Water Supply Corporation (Sawaco) carried out various measures to supply tap water to all families, including the installation of tap water pipelines and water metres at houses as well as building water stations and water towers, said Nguyen Van Tam, deputy director of the citys Department of Transport. A total of 499,400 households or 26 per cent of total households in the city have accessed tap water since the citys Peoples Council issued a resolution in 2015 that targeted supplying tap water for all the citys households, Tam said. The citys Peoples Committee ordered Sawaco to complete the installation of water pipelines and water metres at all households by June 2018. The committee will encourage the participation of enterprises and investors to fuel the installation of water pipelines running directly to every house, he said. He asked the citys Preventive Medicine Centre to carry out regular checks on the quality of tap water. Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, chairwoman of the citys Peoples Council, asked local authorities to check the access to tap water among local residents to ensure that no household was left behind. Local people should be educated on the harmful effects of exploiting underground water resources, Tam said. This year, Sawaco will invest nearly VN5 trillion (US$221.23 million) to develop 1,126 kilometres of pipelines. The city planned to complete Kenh ong and Thu uc 4 water factories next year as well as expand an additional 1,000 kilometres of water pipelines by 2019. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese labourers, especially skilled labourers, are expected to get more opportunities to work abroad this year. The Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MoLISA) said apart from perennial markets such as Taiwan and Malaysia, this years potential labour markets include Japan, South Korea, Germany and Middle East countries, the Voice of Viet Nam (VoV) online newspaper reported on Monday morning. Thus, the important thing we have to do is prepare a source of skilled labourers to meet the demand, Pham Viet Huong, deputy head of the department, said. Improving foreign language and professional skills of each labourer who desired to work in high-requirement markets was essential, he said. The additional opportunities came after the ministry signed a range of agreements with its partners in these countries in 2016. Under the ministrys summary report issued recently, in 2016 Viet Nams MoLISA and South Koreas Ministry of Employment and Labour re-signed a standard Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue receiving Vietnamese labourers working in South Korea following four years of suspension due to the high rate of illegal Vietnamese workers in South Korea. Also in 2016, Viet Nam signed an agreement with Germany on Vietnamese nurses working in Germanys hospitals. It offered additional chances for Vietnamese labourers to work in Germany. Meanwhile, Japan recently approved a new law offering more opportunities to foreign labourers working in Japan, including Vietnamese labourers, the report said. This year, MoLISA has initially targeted sending 105,000 labourers to work abroad. It also plans to sign agreements with its partners in Laos, Thailand and Australia to send labourers to work in these countries in 2017, Huong said. He said the ministry is scheduled to submit to the government the project titled Sending skilled labourers to work abroad 2017-20 with vision towards 2025. Last year, Viet Nam initially planned to send 100,000 labourers to work abroad. However, the actual number achieved was 126,296, some eight per cent higher than in 2015. The report revealed that 2016 was the third consecutive year that Viet Nam sent more than 100,000 labourers to work abroad. VNS NGHE AN A ring involved in transnational drug trafficking was unearthed by the police of Vinh City. Nguyen Thi Thao, 46, living in Quang Trung Ward of Vinh City, central province of Nghe An, who was identified as the head of the ring, was arrested. The police discovered Thao had been earning a living from illegal high-interest money lending and drug trading since 2016. According to the police, the woman took several trips to HCM City and Laos during the year. The police said when visiting places for trading, Thao took along her two-year-old son as a screen to cover her illegal activities. Thao hired several people in Huong Son District and set up a ring to trade drugs across the border with Laos. The drug were sold to dealers in the southern provinces, the police said. On January 11, the police received information that Thao and her accomplice Tong Thi Trang would be making a large transaction. Thao and Trang were caught red-handed en route. The police seized 4.9kg of drugs, nine hand phones, VN11 million (US$490) and a passport, as well as an ID card and a precision balance. VNS HA NOI Unrealistic regulations and corruption emerging from the decentralisation of hiring and administration of civil servants in the education sector have led to uneven distribution of teachers nationwide, a senior education official says. Tran Kim Tu, Director of the Department of Teachers and Education Administrators, made this statement at a conference organised last week by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to review activities and achievements of the first school term. Discussions focused largely on the fact that while many localities enjoy a high concentration of teachers and educators, even to the point of oversaturation, others were seriously understaffed. A report tabled by the department said provinces and cities had performed several functions quite satisfactorily, including planning, recruiting, arranging, appointing and dismissing staff. Many localities had implemented proactive, flexible initiatives to hire teachers, staff and education managers to make best use of payroll policies, ensuring a decent living standard for teachers, it said. The report also identified several problems. It said a number of civil servants entrance examinations had failed to observe existing regulations, leaving the process exposed to bribery and corruption. Issues such as serial termination of contracts of hundreds of teachers, teachers/instructors contracted for a year not being paid, as well as scandal-ridden appointments and dismissal of teachers in provinces like Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ca Mau were highlighted in the report. These issues had been a source of public criticism and disgruntlement among teachers, the report said. It also said 26,750 teachers in public schools were redundant (3,194 in primary schools; 21,005 and 2,551 in secondary and high schools, respectively) in several localities, while 45,000 teachers were still needed (32,600 for kindergartens; 7,824 for primary schools; 2,800 and 1,800 for secondary and high schools) in other areas. Thai Binh and Quang Nam Provinces had more than 1,000 redundant teachers, while Nghe An and Thanh Hoa had a surplus of 1,742 and 2,188 secondary school teachers. Meanwhile, HCM City and the northern province of Son La were struggling with a deficiency of thousands of kindergarten teachers. In Bac Giang and Nghe An provinces, the shortage was even higher at 2,000 and 3,300 teachers, respectively. Primary schools throughout the nation are struggling to find teachers. For instance, Ha Noi needs nearly 3,000, while Son La and Gia Lai provinces could use another 1,100 teachers each. The mobilisation from or transfer of teachers between schools remains fraught with difficulties, due to the mismatch between the required posts and teachers qualifications, or wide socio-economic development gaps between one locality and the other, Tu said. Haphazard signing of contracts with teachers by local governments, going against regulations, have sparked public protests. Relegating redundant teachers from secondary and high schools to kindergarten and primary schools without giving them any professional training has proved problematic, most notably in Thanh Hoa Province, he said. Tu also noted that at present, foreign language was not a mandatory subject in primary schools, so foreign language teachers (mostly for English) were not on the state payroll, but on contracts. In addition, he said, documents that set out regulations on training for teachers and managers of educational institutions were not satisfactorily comprehensive. Training programmes and materials, delivery methods, organisation of activities, or even procedures for reviewing and assessing the training that teachers and managers receive, were still outdated, not matching actual demand. Arbitrary imposition Thanh Hoa is one of the provinces worst-hit by the shortage of teachers, said Pham Thi Hang, Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training. She said decisions on policies or transfer of teachers must be done based on localities inputs, not arbitrarily imposed from the top. She said that in the 2011-2016 period, the provinces payroll quota hit a freeze point and the provincial department of home affairs didnt adjust this quota; so, in order to meet with changing number of students, the education department aggressively pushed for transferring teachers from where there is a surplus to where there is a shortage. Hang said that at present, the education sector did not have enough say in hiring and using educators. "The Ministry of Home Affairs manages the recruitment and the Ministry of Finance controls the funds and monetary allocation while the education sector has to bear the ultimate responsibility for the quality of educators." This has posed many difficulties for the provincial education department, she said. Cant act in haste Minister of MoET, Phung Xuan Nha, stressed that teachers quality decides the quality of education. Since the State Budget is limited, part of the investment would have to be sourced from localities themselves as well from the private sector, he said. He said while plans were made after due consideration of all aspects, factors like unexpected fluctuations in the population, migration, the emergence of industrial parks and export-processing zones, among others, led to unforeseen changes in number of students in all grades, and the ministry was still trying to resolve this issue in the long-term with better forecasts and master plans. The Minister also cautioned the provinces over the practice of transferring teachers from grades where there is a surplus to where there is a shortage, for example, from high school down to kindergarten schools. It might be an effective temporary solution, but quality must come first, and transferred teachers must be trained and equipped with proper skills, he said. Yes, the shortage is serious, but its not something that has come up only recently. Actions taken in haste, without careful consideration and planning, will result in potentially damaging consequences down the road, he said. In order to ensure fairness in transferring redundant teachers, Hang said that localities in Thanh Hoa Province had been instructed to build a transparent set of standards and criteria against which teachers would be assessed by a qualified council. Regarding this years agenda, the education minister said that the ministry would place a stronger focus on training managerial-level officers first and foremost, directors and deputy directors of provincial and municipal departments of education and training. He believed that with knowledge, skills, and experience in education management gained through proper training, managers would become more efficient and effective. Minister Nha pledged to conceive and organise a unified professional training programme that would be implemented nationwide for transferred teachers, instead of having to build one each year. VNS PARIS Outsider Benoit Hamon will fight former prime minister Manuel Valls for the French Socialist presidential nomination after they progressed through the first round of the primary on Sunday, partial results showed. The staunchly leftwing Hamon was not considered a serious contender when the campaign began but he beat Valls to put himself in the driving seat for next Sundays runoff. With Europe shifting to the right and the deeply unpopular President Francois Hollande deciding not to run, the Socialist primary has been billed as a fight for the partys soul with a left-leaning faction battling Vallss centrist vision. Hamon, a former education minister, scored just over 35 per cent to 31 per cent for Valls as ex-economy minister Arnaud Montebourg was eliminated with 18 per cent, with results from one-third of polling stations counted. Whoever wins the Socialist nomination faces long odds as polls currently show the presidential election will be a three-way contest between conservative ex-premier Francois Fillon, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old former economy minister. A defiant Valls, 54, told his supporters the Socialist primary runoff would be a clear choice between unachievable promises and a credible left. Hamon portrayed himself as capable of bringing renewal to a Socialist party ailing after five years under Hollande beset by economic sluggishness and mass protests. Hamon said his supporters had voted through conviction and not out of resignation. He performed strongly in three TV debates packed into a short campaign, attracting attention with a proposal to pay the unemployed and low-paid a universal income rising from 600 euros to 750 euros (US$640 to $800) a month dismissed as ruinously expensive by other candidates. But the photogenic Macron has stolen the limelight from his former Socialist government colleagues in recent weeks, with his campaign events packed to overflowing. Most opinion polls currently show a Fillon-Le Pen presidential runoff as the most likely scenario, with Macron scoring better than the Socialist candidate in the first round but both being knocked out. A poll published on Thursday gave Macron between 17 per cent and 21 per cent of the first-round vote. Valls paying price? Valls, who was slapped by a protester during campaigning, appears to have paid the price for his association with the unpopular Hollande and has struggled at times in a campaign he had been expected to dominate. Following his elimination, Montebourg threw his weight behind his former cabinet colleague Hamon, both of whom represent the Socialists left flank. We left the government together, we fought together. Next Sunday Ill be voting Hamon, Montebourg said. I voted for Benoit Hamon because to me he is the one best placed to revive the Socialist party, said voter Jean-Claude, who cast his ballot in Millau, southwestern France. Dominique, a man in his 40s who voted in eastern Paris, said he had backed Valls. My main concern is that the left reaches the second round (of the presidential election). Valls is the most credible option against Macron, he said. Valls set out to modernize the Socialist party but has struggled to unite his camp, with his rivals accusing him of betraying leftist ideals by forcing through labor market reforms. Turnout in the Socialist primary was around half of that for the center-right Republicans primary in November. Between 1.7 million and 1.9 million voted, according to an estimate by the Elabe polling group, compared with four million who took part in the first round of the rightwing primary. Tactical moves? Some Socialist heavyweights have hinted they could abandon their partys nominee and back Macron instead if he looks to have a better chance of reaching the second round of the presidential election against Le Pen. Macron himself has ruled out a pact with the Socialists, vowing that his En Marche (On the Move) movement will field hundreds of candidates in June parliamentary elections. Communist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, who like Macron is polling in double digits in his campaign as an independent, also threatens to split the leftwing vote. The influence of Le Pen, who leads the anti-immigration National Front (FN), has overshadowed the presidential campaign so far. She told a meeting of rightwing populist parties in Germany on Saturday that Europe was about to wake up following the victory of Donald Trump in the US election and the British vote to leave the European Union. AFP YAOUNDE Four Cameroonian soldiers, including a general who was coordinating the fight against Nigerian Boko Haram Islamists, were killed Sunday in a helicopter crash, sources said. "We lost four men, including the general (Jacob Kodji)" and a colonel, a senior military official who is involved in the fight against Boko Haram said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The men were killed when the Cameroonian military helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Bogo region in the far north, said the official, without giving details of the cause of the accident. "They were on a mission in Waza Park as part of an operation to battle Boko Haram," he said. A local government official confirmed the deaths. General Jacob Kodji was the leader of Emergence 4, the name given to one of the operations launched by Cameroon against Boko Haram. As the fight against the Nigerian jihadists raged, Kodji was prompted in August 2015 to general by President Paul Biya. He is the first Cameroonian general to die in the battle against Boko Haram. Boko Harams brutal insurgency, launched in northern Nigeria in 2009, has spread across the border to Cameroon, Chad and Niger. At least 20,000 people have been killed and some 2.6 million displaced in the violence. Since Nigeria announced a key victory against Boko Haram jihadists in December, claiming the group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest bastion, its ally Cameroon had intensified operations along its northern border.AFP The Gibraltar Museum Attends VI SECEMU Bat Conservation and Research Conference in Portugal Scientists from the Gibraltar Museum recently attended the VI SECEMU bat conservation and research conference in Vairao, Portugal. The two day conference is held biannually by SECEMU, the Spanish Association for the Conservation and Study of Bats (Asociacion Espanola para la Conservacion y el Estudio de los Murcielagos) and was for the first time held outside of Spain at the CIBIO-InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources in Vairao. Stewart Finlayson and Tyson Lee Holmes joined over 90 researchers in Vairao with a common objective: Studying the unique characteristics of the Iberian bat populations. Researchers working with bats attended and participated in talks on projects which are being carried out at a European and Iberian level. The conference was the first of its kind to be set in an Iberian context and was an excellent opportunity to foster further links between scientific communities in Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar. The team also took the opportunity to meet with various colleagues from different collaborating institutions to discuss the Gib-Bats project, the teams results, and to plan the way forward in 2017. We are currently setting up an extremely promising and exciting project with our colleagues from Spain and institutions in North Africa, explained Stewart. We are planning to look into the key question of cross-Strait movement or migration of bats, something which to date has not been clearly proven. We are looking at the field of genetics to see if we can find any links between the North African populations and the Iberian populations. 2017 will see plenty of DNA sampling taking place on both sides of the Strait and plenty of analysis work going on in our laboratory here at the Gibraltar Museum as well as at our collaborating institutions. It was also an excellent opportunity for the team to discuss the use of new technologies which are coming through. Tyson explains; Microchips, similar to those used on household pets are starting to be used by our colleagues in the North of Spain, replacing traditional rings, and these are delivering amazing results. 2017 is going to be an interesting time with regards to understanding the complex nature of these amazing mammals. Stewart Finlayson and Tyson Lee Holmes are both founding members of Gib-Bats. Gib-Bats is a scientific study of bats in Gibraltar working towards their conservation and for the protection of their roosts and run as a collaboration between the Gibraltar Museum and the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society, with the support of the Department of the Environment and Climate Change. 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. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2017 Nate Silver has some interesting observations and questions this week.First, what happened with the polls? Having been impressed the accuracy of their predictions last time out I followed Silver and his FiveThirtyEight.com's coverage of this race rather closely, and strange as it may seem Silver's analysis now is consistent with what he was saying throughout the campaign. Over and over, FiveThirtyEight emphasized that even though the polls made Hillary Clinton's victory almost certain, there was a high volatility in the race and their prediction should be taken with a large grain of salt. Sure enough, large numbers of people who ordinarily don't vote did this time. These people by definition weren't among the people the polls included. And lots of people made up or changed their minds at the last minute. Bizarrely in my view, people who agreed with me that neither Clinton nor Trump were qualified to be president broke for by far thequalified candidate- Trump- by two to one!Although Silver's post-election analysis strikes me as being for the most part right on the money, I might register two notes of dissent. First, while this election did oddly seem to vindicate Trump's strange conviction that charisma rather than an effective "ground game" determines the outcome of elections, campaignsmatter. It's easy to over-interpret unexpected election results like this one. 2016 () was a fluke. The degree of anger and frustration among the American people was unusual. It's a tautology to say that it's unusual for people who usually don't vote to vote in large numbers, but that fact should be a warning not to generalize too much from this result. While Silver is probably right in his observation that campaigns matter less than events and the mood of the electorate in determining the outcome of elections, it's easy to overdo that point. Gerald Ford might well have beaten Jimmy Carter if he hadn't tripped over his tongue during the debate while trying to say that Poland didn'tSoviet domination, Michael Dukakis appeared to be headed toward a landslide victory over George H.W. Bush in 1988, but a savvy Bush campaign and an inept Dukakis one turned the tables, and who knows how many missteps by Al Gore in 2000 cost him his home state of Tennessee and the election?The second point is that George W. Bush had a far better claim to a mandate in 2000 than Trump has today. I continue to be amazed at how few analysts and historians remember one of the biggest stories of the 2000 election: how a new and (as it turned out) wholly unreliable model for using exit polls to generate projections caused the networks to continue to project Al Gore as winning Florida almost throughout the entire evening on Election Night. There can be no reasonable doubt that the consequences were profound.The projection came just as peak polling hours were beginning in the Western part of Florida, where the greatest Republican strength lay. We will never know by how much the Bush vote in Florida was suppressed by the news that it was now over and the bulk of the state's Republicans needn't bother wasting their time by voting, but it seems unlikely that the result in Florida would even have been close if the networks hadn't made their blunder. Further, we will never know by how much the Bush vote nationally was suppressed by the network's stubborn refusal to admit that they had called the state universally expected to decide the result of the election hours early. But however unwilling the media even now may be to admit it, t seems unlikely that Bush would have lost the popular vote in 2000 if voters in most of the country hadn't been told until relatively late in the evening that in effect Gore had already won.And then, there are the polls which even now consistently show Trump as the most unpopular incoming president in recent history and having made a bad impression with his handling of the transition. NEOTUS* responded characteristically to those polls via Twitter:Of course, they were not "rigged" before, and the paranoia inherent in the tweet illustrates anew just what a wild ride we have ahead of us with our first conspiracy theorist president. But self-serving as NEOTUS's* analysis might be, there is a legitimate question as to how seriously we can now trust the polls which underestimated the erratic new president's support in November.Silver, again, does a good job of breaking down what the polls actually said, and the story of the pollsters in 2016 does look less damning the more closely it's examined. But Donald Trump thrives on people not reading past the headlines, so his barb is apt to be effective especially with his tinfoil-hat wearing followers.Still, there's a lesson to be learned from 2016 that the pollsters are unlikely to willingly admit. Polls are only as good as the sample they get, and will always be vulnerable to people showing up at the polls who are not accustomed to doing so. Further, polls arein order to give what pollsters believe will give a more reliable picture of the likely outcome. Demographic groups who are seen as more likely to vote are generally polled in greater numbers than those who are seen as more likely to stay home.There is no doubt that the reputation of political polling took a hit- and a well-deserved one- from the outcome of the 2016 election. And we will undoubtedly be more aware than we have been of the possibility that people who ordinarily don't vote might be motivated in any given election to do so. But as Silver demonstrates, there is a great deal that can be said in defense of the pollsters and pundits if one reads past the headlines to what their analysis actuallyBut it strikes me that the most important thing to remember about the 2016 election is the degree to which it was driven by irrational anger. I suspect those numbers showing Trump as so decidedly unpopular are still influenced to some extent by the bias in favor of habitual voters which helped skew their prediction of the election results. But how long can that anger be sustained? What will happen when Trump has a record to defend? Will Trump's boast that he wouldn't lose any voters if he committed murder in broad daylight on Fifth Avenue in New York continue to hold? Or will his failure to achieve results cause his supporters to turn on him, or at least to descend back into apathy?Who knows? The Trump administration is likely to be largely a low comedy. But the real story will probably be how long Trump, in Lincoln's words, can fool some of the people all of the time.Preliminary indications are that he might be able to do it for quite a while, since his followers remain so very eager to be fooled.*NEOTUS- National Embarrassment Of The United States Waterloo Police Log Ameerah Roshana Ball, 31, of 218 Mulberry St., was arrested Dec. 30 at 218 Mulberry St. for aggravated domestic assault. She allegedly assaulted Delaney Seales, 40. Pricilla Rose Kayser, 23, of 2243 Fairway Lane, was arrested Dec. 30 at her home for second-offense operating while intoxicated and driving while revoked following an accident at Minnesota Street and Mitchell Avenue. Jared Joseph McGrath, 38, of 1544 Glenny Ave., was arrested Dec. 28 at 208 Linden Ave. for going armed, two counts of carrying weapons and third-offense public intoxication. He was allegedly found outside the Linden Avenue address with two knives threatening to kill a person inside the home. Nurissa Elaine Johnson, 38, of 2759 St. Francis Drive, was arrested Dec. 27 at 3350 University Ave. for assault. She allegedly assaulted Tonya Larsen. Heather Sue Leohr, 30, of 137 Wolgast Road, was arrested Dec. 27 at her home for serious domestic assault. She allegedly hit Kyle Cutsforth with a dinner plate. Anthony Mark Covington, 47, of Waterloo, was arrested Dec. 26 at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital for seven counts of obstruction of emergency communications and third-offense public intoxication. He allegedly called 911 several times Dec. 20 and made statements officers needed to die. Kurtis Drew Numed, 27, of 6125 Stardust Drive, No. 1, was arrested Dec. 4 on East Sixth Street for first-offense operating while intoxicated following a traffic stop. Thefts: Tools were reported stolen from a vehicle parked at 158 Letsch Road on Dec. 23. Chad Helm reported the theft of Bridgestone Ecopia 422 Plus tire and rim from his vehicle at 1432 West Ridgeway Ave. on Dec. 27. Cora Spooner reported the theft of car and house keys and white USB cables from her vehicle located at 3241 Bristol Road. Joe Kempf reported the theft of a navigator from a vehicle in the 1100 block of Lorraine Avenue on Dec. 23. Jonathon Kline reported the theft of sunglasses, prescription glasses and stereo accessories from a vehicle in the 1800 block of Pinehurst Court on Dec. 23. Darious Coleman, 22, of 1325 Black Hawk Road, was arrested Dec. 28 at 3421 W. Ninth St. (Covenant Medical Center) and charged with assault. Antonio Hill, 26, of Chicago, Ill., was arrested Dec. 28 at 111 W. Ridgeway Ave. (Walgreens) and charged with first-offense prohibited acts regarding a prescription drug and providing false identification. Terrence Martez Gordon, 27, of 551 Cutler St., was arrested Dec. 27 at 911 Ashland Ave. and charged with five counts of first-degree harassment. Burglary: Lucas King reported vandalism to his front entrance door during a burglary to his home at 924 Creston Ave. on Dec. 28. Cedar Falls Police Log Aaron Michael Thurm, 29, of Denver, was arrested Dec. 31 at University Avenue and Rownd Street for first-offense operating while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and methamphetamine and carrying weapons. Police found drugs, a knife, stun gun and nunchucks during a traffic stop. Wendell Mallett, 57, of 2215 Lincoln St., was arrested Dec. 26 at the police station for domestic assault. He allegedly assaulted Sheila Wilder. Jake Raymond Dale, 31, of Cedar Falls, was arrested Dec. 26 at 525 Brandilynn Blvd for third-degree theft and unlawful possession of prescription drugs. He allegedly took a $154 phone from Wal-Mart, and police found 40 Clonazepam pills. Jeremy Justus Evans, 36, of Reinbeck, was arrested Dec. 24 on Hudson Road for first-offense operating while intoxicated following a traffic stop. Jesse Andrew Hall, 18, of 4749 Loren Drive, was arrested Dec. 25 in the 1600 block of Viking Road for first-offense operating while intoxicated. CEDAR FALLS If you visit Fast Tracks Canine Activity Center you will more than likely be greeted by Jaxson, an older Labrador with a very sweet temperament. Hes here a lot, said Justin Franzen, Fast Tracks owner, as he gives Jaxson a good scratch behind the ears. Hes kind of like the house dog. Franzen, 30, originally from Waverly, has turned a lifelong love of dogs into a successful business. When I was growing up, I thought my grandpa could talk to animals, he said. He would have conversations with his dogs. Now thats kind of what I do. Franzen, who attended the Triple Crown Dog Academy (now Starmark Animal Behavior Center) in Texas and worked with animals for years, came up with a concept for a different kind of dog facility. We dont like to warehouse dogs here, he said. We also focus on high-intensity, high-energy dogs that other facilities might not take. And Franzen believes he found the perfect location for his business on East Lake Street in Cedar Falls. I purchased the property with the idea of putting a kennel on it, he said. We have railroad tracks on one side of us, a highway on the other and an airport. No one is going to be complaining about the noise the dogs make. The property also is situated near the bike trail, which Franzen and his employees utilize to take the dogs for walks or runs. Franzen lives in a duplex on the property with one half of the home designated to the business and the other his residence. Fast Tracks offers daycare, boarding and training services. Fees are $20 per day and $40 per night, although there are package prices the more days signed up for, the lower the price per day/night. The six-week, in-kennel obedience training is $250 per week. Franzen has grown the business to about 350 clients and currently employs two workers. He is looking to hire more, especially with a planned remodel to upgrade and expand the facility. Franzen is putting more than $200,000 into the property, including a remodeled office area with an enclosed hallway to a climate-controlled, 40-by-72-foot building that will feature two new play yards, a small dog lounge, a feed room, grooming tubs and new kennels. The kennels will be more like rooms for the dogs, he said. Well be using innovative, state-of-the-art products to make it dog-friendly and easy to keep clean. While Fast Tracks does not currently offer grooming services, Franzen hopes with the expansion to add nail clipping and bathing for his canine clientele. He also plans to hire additional workers, including another trainer who will offer classes. The foundation for the new building has already been poured and Franzen hopes to have the project completed by early summer. Weve been so busy, we have had to send some clients to (other kennels), Franzen said. We used to get one or two new dogs a week. Now were getting three or four calls a day. By the time we get this new building up, itll be full. WATERLOO, IA Its just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right at one point in Waterloo Community Playhouses Rocky Horror Show, most of the audience was either standing at their seats or in the aisles doing the Time Warp again. For many of us, this production brought back memories of 1970s midnight showings of the movie, sneaking props into the theater beneath ushers' noses a water bottle for spritzing rain and newspaper to protect your head from the sprinkles, rice for throwing at the wedding, toilet paper for tossing each time the name "Professor Scott" is mentioned, and yes, doing the "Time Warp." Rocky Horror Show just may be the most interactive film or stage show in history, with spectators shouting invectives at the actors, dancing on cue and having a rowdy good time. And dammit, Janet WCPs musical, directed by Greg Holt, did not disappoint. Friday nights opening captured the energy and campiness of the cult classic with some amazing performances from the lead actors. Rocky Horror Show is a musical spoof of movie horror classics from the 50s and 60s released in movie theaters 42 years ago. Its the story about a young couple stranded in the rain who seek help at a castle and find themselves ensnared in more ways than one in a mad scientist-alien-from-outer-spaces unveiling of his latest lab experiment. Frankly, the shows sexual innuendo, androgyny, suggestive lyrics and ribald back-and-forth between audience and playful narrator Crystal Waltz (in a stunning red gown), isnt as shocking as it was four decades ago. But its still entertaining, and this WCP cast owned it, infused it with freshness and brought it on home to a standing ovation. Maj Kadabra ala Kazam, as the sweet transvestite from Transylvania was quite simply, a revelation. From the instant he tossed off his shiny black cape to reveal corset, garter belt and fishnet stockings, Kazam as Dr. Frank n Furter kept the audience riveted. He strutted, swaggered and sang in an over-the-top performance that was perfect. Well, you got caught with a flat!/ Well, how 'bout that?/ Well, babies, don't you panic!/ By the light of the night,/ It'll all seem all right!/ I'll get you a satanic mechanic! Jordan Abbe as the hapless Brad and Cassidy Atchison, making her WCP debut as Janet, were wonderful in their duets and solos as the naive and rather silly couple whose libidos are awakened by Frank n Furter. Hunter Quint achieved just the right sardonic monotone Riff Raff required, and Shelby Davis should be registered as a scene stealer for her sweet and deftly daffy turn as groupie Columbia. Brian McDonald as Eddie let it rip wailing the 50s throwback tune, Hot Patootie, and Jestin Hoffman, who plays muscle-bound Rocky fresh from the slab, managed to keep from blushing as the audience oohed-and-ahhed at his pecs and six-pack along with Frank n Furter. "In just seven days, I can make you a man," Frank tells his clueless creation. Obviously, a rock musical needs a band to sell it, and Musical Director Bryan Houts put together a tight little combo to briskly pace the show. Annette Rubins costumes are well done, paying just the right amount of homage to the movie. Austin Stiers multi-level set design has a steampunk edge enhanced by William Barbours lighting design. Portraying randier scenes in silhouette behind scrims is inspired. To borrow one of Riff-Raffs lines Its astounding; time is fleeting because the show closes this weekend. Only the first four rows are provided with props, but dont be surprised if you get a little damp two or three rows further back. CEDAR FALLS Juan Rodriguez divides his time between south Texas and Northeast Iowa. He lives in Cedar Falls now but still considers himself a Texan rather than an Iowan and definitely not a snowbird or winter Texan, who purposely heads south for the cold months. But hes slowly starting to be won over to Iowa even after an ice storm last week thanks to the ease hes had here navigating services and benefits for veterans. Rodriguezs most recent success came in the form of finally securing the medals he rightfully earned for his U.S. Army service in the 1991 Persian Gulf War after five previous attempts in Texas. I tried in Texas so many times. And they did tell me they were going to deliver them to my house; I never got them, Rodriguez said. I was surprised that it worked so fast to get them here. I was amazed. Rodriguez was referred to the office of U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, R-1st District, to secure his medals. About a month later, he had the medals in his hand and displayed in a shadow box. He received a total of 14 ribbons and medals, including the Liberation of Kuwait Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and Sharpshooter Badge Rifle. Blum met with Rodriguez on Jan. 17 the 26th anniversary of the date Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm with a naval and aerial bombardment to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, followed by a Feb. 24 ground assault. Blum got a glimpse of the medals his office helped secure and gave Rodriguez a United States flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol. We appreciate your service, Blum said. You should be very proud and Im sure you are. Yes, sir, was all Rodriguez said in response. Blum said it was one of the better parts of his job as a member of Congress to be able to help people like Rodriguez secure their earned medals. Blum also spent time quizzing Rodriguez about his other experiences in Iowa as a veteran, which led Rodriguez to praise the services hed had here. He had nothing but good things to say about accessing medical care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs locally and in Iowa City. I find the attention and treatments better here than I had back in Texas, Rodriguez said. Its hard to say, because Ive been down there most of my life, all my life, but its true. He said hed experienced wait times of upwards of six months in Texas to see his doctor, and if hed had to cancel for any reason, hed have to schedule out another six months. Here, he said the wait times have been pretty minimal. Rodriguez also has been working well with the Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Commission. Rodriguez served in the U.S. Army for a total of about eight years, enlisting in 1983 just after graduating high school. He explained to Blum the surprise his family experienced when a recruiter showed up for him and his parents had no idea hed enlisted. He also talked about his time in the Gulf War, from 1990 to 1991, where he worked as a gunner on an M3 Bradley cavalry righting vehicle. It was awesome, scary but awesome, Rodriguez recalled of his time on the tank, where his vehicles crew had to navigate through minefields and avoid missiles while firing a variety of ammunition. 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. WATERLOO Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate stepped right into the middle of a heated debate over voting rights at a time when it is burning brightest. Former President Barack Obama called voter fraud a fake news story in his final press conference, while the term hacking gets thrown around with abandon after the 2016 election. The debate is happening as some states have ramped up efforts to limit the franchise after parts of the Voting Rights Act were struck down in 2013, and yet others have worked to expand participation. But Pate, a Republican, is hoping probably in vain, if the early indications are correct some of the political nonsense will die down once people get a good look at his Voter Integrity Act proposal. Once everybody has a chance to take a deep breath and kind of try to take some of the political stuff out of the debate, it is, I think, going to be a great place to start out and work this from, Pate said in an editorial board meeting with The Courier. Pate stressed repeatedly the legislation, which has yet to be introduced, will not be like the so-called voter ID bills in other states and is focused on technology upgrades that will secure integrity without limiting the franchise. Its about reassuring people that were giving them the best product, Pate said. I cant speak for every individual what they think is the number before we should have this major response based on fraud alone. I think perception is a bigger problem actually than the hard fraud numbers. While prosecutions of voter fraud are rare in the state and across the nation, Pate said there is a potential for problems he hopes to address through the legislation. He pointed to instances where auditors are ultimately unable to track down someone after the election who had registered and voted on the same day as one area of concern. An overview he provided to lawmakers last week notes the legislation has three priorities: voter verification; shoring up voter confidence related to absentee voting and voter registration; and improved transparency in election administration. The bill would require an ID. But Pate said his office has already identified the about 85,000 people in the state who are registered to vote but lack the necessary identification card. For those voters, his office plans to automatically send a voter ID, if the bill is enacted. Anyone else who has yet to register, Pate said, the process does not change. Every step of the way, we put the burden on us as the administrators. We really do, Pate said. The only responsibility the voter has is bring your card, and make sure you put your ID number down on your absentee ballot. Pates proposal is fairly consistent with what hes been suggesting since he was elected again to the position of secretary of state. He has expressed concern about the growing number of people who use absentee ballots and working to make them more secure. But Pate said he has no intention in his legislation to change the absentee ballot process, other than shortening up the period for requesting them to 120 days, or plans to change the registration process, including for same-day registration. There are other things Id like to see us do to keep moving participation, but if I dont have some of this other technology brought in, Im not comfortable doing that, Pate said. He acknowledged some cost burdens the counties may face in upgrading their equipment though the legislation would create a revolving loan fund to help but he said many are already investing in electronic pollbooks. The legislation has met with much criticism from auditors and election officials across the state and from college students, among others, but Pate said much of their critique is based on myths. He expects the full proposal to be unveiled in the next couple weeks. Thats my goal at least is to keep the Legislature from turning this into a Christmas tree bill of all the things they want to talk about in elections, Pate said. I want to keep this focused. WATERLOO Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. Cassandra Hart wants people to wake up. Hart, who was the keynote speaker Sunday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet in Waterloo, told a crowd of more than 300 people she saw Kings dream diminished as people wait passively for equality and justice for all. So, she made the case people unite and get to work on building a better world for future generations. It is faith that we need to flow like the waters in the Cedar River into the hearts and the minds of this community; if we want life, more than just a dream, its going to take you; its going to take me; its going to take all of us working together, Hart said. You are most effective when there is unity. Hart is lead teacher at Lowell Elementary School and the wife of Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart. Though admitting her bias, Hart said Waterloos first African-American mayor is a sign of Kings dream being fulfilled. She also credited the now-former President Barack Obama for his part in fulfilling the dream. Hart also stressed the role wives play standing aside their husbands, so she praised Kings wife Coretta Scott and Obamas wife Michelle for their efforts to help fulfill the dream. But Hart noted the work that is yet to be done. The modern lynch mob today is ignorance, injustice, hatred and intolerance, Hart said. She said she has been troubled by senseless violence that takes lives, particularly of young black men; by injustices seen in videos of brutality recorded for the world to see; by a presidential candidate comfortable with disrespecting women; and by adults who should know better using social media to spread negativity. It appears in these times we are losing sight of what matters, and its time that we regain sight of lifes virtues, Hart said. Its time to reach into the human spirit and learn how to pull out the greatness that lies within each and every human being. Its more than a dream. Its about fulfilling the vision. Hart spent most of her time focused on how the adults in the room need to lead and stressed how their work could benefit future generations. She said she could not be an effective educator nor can anyone if she does not love them and believe in their potential. We have to know that it will be through the womb of a woman that a child will be born and discover a cure for AIDS, cancer, the next disease, Hart said. We have to embrace the power, the God-given power that we have within our grasp. As a teacher, we could be teaching the next Dr. Martin Luther King, the next revolutionary scientist, the next president. Several students demonstrated through the night they are being loved and educators believe in their potential. Essay winners throughout Waterloo schools shared their words to talk about what more than a dream means to them. And 14 students from Irving Elementary School performed a spoken word poem they worked on with SaYes2Poetry, led by Cherie Kabba. Irving student Innocence Robertson kicked off their performance with, OK, SaYes2Poetry Poets, now lets get in formation that started a beat of applause. Their claps gave way to a poem that began and ended with the line Sometimes I get so mad I want to fight, but instead I pick up my pencil and I write. They noted all the people who write, including those with the last name Wright, as well as President Obama and musician Beyonce. Their performance came after an introduction and history lesson about Hawkeye Community Colleges Martin Luther King Jr. Center. Former Waterloo representative Deborah Berry expressed the potential for the future in quoting a former executive director of the center, Mary Berdell, in a 1978 article from The Courier. Integration wouldnt be near the hassle it has been, if we left it to the children to work things out. Isnt that the truth? Berry said. The 2006 Secure Fence Act prompted the U.S. to build barriers along a 653-mile stretch of border dividing California and Arizona with Mexico to deter immigrants and drug smugglers. Much of the fence is a slatted-metal barrier, 18 to 30 feet high. But because of budget concerns, it also consists of vehicles barriers and single-layer pedestrian fencing, not double-layer fencing cited in the law. Drug smugglers responded by building 148 tunnels including some multimillion-dollar lighted and well-ventilated supertunnels under the border. The Los Angeles Times reports U.S. and Mexican authorities systematically closed tunnels, only to have smugglers re-open them. The Department of Homeland Security spent $8.7 million to fill the tunnels on the U.S. side with concrete. Mexico just closed openings because of cost. The drug traffickers simply rerouted passageways. An estimated 20 tunnels are still in operation. Which creates concerns President-elect Donald Trumps proposed wall along the 1,989-mile border with Mexico will be the modern-day Maginot Line, the 943-mile barrier the French built in the 1930s along its borders with Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland to thwart a Nazi invasion. Instead, the Nazis breached its weakest link in the Ardennes Forest, a site the French deemed impenetrable, and circumvented it in Belgium. The current border fence cost $2.4 billion. U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimates expanding the fencing across the entire border would cost $11.3 billion. Trump originally said his wall only would cost $8 billion considered an extrapolation of Israels 420-mile West Bank wall (concrete and wire) but has revised it to $10 billion to $12 billion. Trump said it needs to be only 1,000 miles because of natural barriers. Supporters, according to one memo, want the entire 1,989 miles planned for rapid build. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates a 1,000-mile wall, 50-feet high (Trump has used 35-40 feet), would cost $38 billion. In addition, the consulting firm Alliance Bernstein cites huge topographical challenges ranging from barren desert to rugged mountains to river floodplains, and roads needed to access remote sites. Congress is expected to use the Secure Fence Act to seek budget appropriations. Trump, though, maintains Mexico will pay for it. It's an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5-10 billion to ensure that $24 billion (remittances home from Mexicans working in the U.S.) continues to flow into their country year after year, he wrote in a memo. We have the leverage, so Mexico will back down. He discounted stories to the contrary: Dishonest media says Mexico wont be paying for the wall if they pay a little later so the wall can be built more quickly. Media is fake! Barriers are making a comeback as nations try to deter immigrants as well as use them for defensive purposes. Hungary constructed a 108-mile fence to bar Syrian immigrants. Britain is constructing a barrier in the port of Calais, France, to prevent immigrants from slipping in through the channel tunnel. Kenya is planning a 440-mile wall along its border with Somalia to keep out Shabab militia terrorists. Globally, 45 walls exist between countries, according to a University of Quebec researcher. Despite anecdotes to the contrary, illegal immigration into the U.S. has slowed. According to a study in the Journal on Migration and Human Security, more immigrants overstay their visas than breach the border. Border Patrol officers apprehended 331,000 people crossing the border in fiscal 2015 less than one-fifth the total in 2000. The Obama administration deported a record two million, focusing its efforts on those who committed felonies, but looking the other way on misdemeanor violations. Trumps wall would, no doubt, would deter border breaches, although the more resourceful would enter by tunnels, sea and air. A residual benefit for Trump and his supporters as is happening in Europe is the effort to maintain national character. In 1970, the foreign-born U.S. population, according to Census Bureau figures, was 9.6 million (4.7 percent). By 2014, it soared to 42.4 million (13.3 percent) 28 percent from Mexico. Of the foreign-born immigrants, an estimated 11 million are in the country illegally. In 2014, the other immigrants were from, in order, India, China and the Philippines (5 percent each); El Salvador, Vietnam, Cuba, and Korea (3 percent each); and the Dominican Republic and Guatemala (2 percent each). Prior to the 1960s, most immigrants were European. Congress must decide whether a huge outlay for Trumps wall is warranted when known breaches of the border are declining and costs may far surpass any amount Mexico would pay, if anything. In addition, Trump is proposing a massive infrastructure plan to fix inner cities, and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals, plus a substantive tax cut. 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(1) Enough donations have been received to allow us to buy a 44. I want to thank everyone who has donated and this post is to than all who donated for a vehicle. Not a fancy one, but a workhorse that will allow us to get out of the Tiny Russian Village in emergencies and stuff. Stuff like getting food I have settled on getting a LuAZ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LuAZ Its first original design is the sturdy and simple LuAZ-967 off-road vehicle for the Red Army. It originated after the Korean War, when the Soviets saw a need for small off-road vehicles comparable to the American Jeep, to supplement the overly-large and heavy GAZ-69s then in service. Developed at NAMI (the National Automobile Institute), the prototype, known as NAMI 049, was completed in 1958 The three images below are what I am looking at and they run between 30,000 and 40,000 rubles as they sit. They have papers, they run and they are ugly. So ugly only a mother could love them. They are also known as the Queen of Russian snows And or simply The Snow Queen They are very basic and very very capable of traversing terrible terrain, rivers and snow. The price is right and the darn things are beasts as they were made for the Tiny Russian Villages and at the time the Tiny Soviet Villages. The vehicles are made in Ukraine Just like a Pug dog, you either love it or hate it. I love them both Cost in dollars: $500 to $675 and thanks to all the donations for a 44, we have the money sitting aside and waiting for us to get the ugly Pug, I mean LuAz 969M I am partial to the black one with the wench. It has a hard top instead of a soft top The only thing I want to do to them is to put the original tires on it. They where exactly like a heavy tractor tire, with deep biting lugs So cool * * * * * Boza and I got up at 2:30 a.m. and had ourselves a nice walk. We scared up some foxes and now are home sipping coffee and writing a post. Svetochka walked out on her own. She refused to let me walk with her and told me to stay with Boza. She knows how upset Boza gets when she has to leave. I tried to fight against it, but Sveta is stubborn and she was not to have her mind changed. Svetochka is one tough girl and she walked three kilometers out to the main road and got her taxi and took a train home to Moscow. I was a nervous wreck and when she finally got on the train, I was able to sleep a few hours Boza and I both miss her, but she will be back next month * * * * * This morning after writing this post, I will look at installing Windows Vista on the big laptop and I just finished burning it from my ISO I keep of it and will see how that does on the newer laptop. Vista was a great operating system after the two service packs get installed and was a very underrated system in its prime. I always loved it and love the look of it. I think it is what is needed to make a stable laptop I salvaged the big laptop after the drive died. I had an old external drive of 500 Gigs and took the laptop drive out and installed the external, after I tore it out of its sealed case. Works really good and now we are back in business with a good laptop again * * * * * Sveta sneaked a picture of me as I crossed the river after walking for hours to get to the Big Village. We walked to the main highway, grabbed the bus and shopped in the Big Village. Then back on the bus and walked home. It was about -10 degrees, windy and snowing. But it was fun I am carrying a backpack stuffed to the gills and a very heavy sack (total about 40 to 45 kilos.) Balance was an issue for me, but we made it. Made me appreciate having lost so much weight. For I weighed with backpack and sack as much as I have lost and it was hard to carry Weight loss if you are fat, is important Here is Svetochka in a selfie That is my sweetie in sub-zero weather, as she followed my trail across the country side. This is the trail that she walked out on last night Love that girl WtR IAEA completes SEED mission to Belarus 23 January 2017 Share The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded a five-day Site and External Events Design (SEED) mission to Belarus, which is building its first nuclear power reactors. The two Russian-designed 1170 MWe VVER units are scheduled to begin operations by 2020. SEED missions are designed to assist the Vienna-based agency's Member States at different stages in the development of a nuclear power program. Belarus has hosted other IAEA reviews, including an Integrated Regulatory Review Service last October and an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review in 2012. The IAEA said on 20 January the SEED team had reviewed the design parameters of the nuclear power plant Belarus is constructing against external hazards specific to the site at Ostrovets in northern Belarus. The team also reviewed the authorities' characterisation of site hazards and the process for screening them, and exchanged views with the host on challenges related to external events in light of lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi accident. "Nuclear safety is a national responsibility and, by inviting this mission, the Government of Belarus has shown a strong commitment to meet the intent of IAEA Safety Standards in the development of the country's nuclear power program," Greg Rzentkowski, director of the IAEA's Division of Nuclear Installation Safety, said in the statement. "This mission demonstrated that appropriate steps have been taken to establish the design parameters of the nuclear power plant to protect it against the worst credible external event." In its preliminary findings, the SEED team said the plant's design parameters accounted for site-specific external hazards, such as earthquakes, floods and extreme weather, as well as human-induced events. The team noted that hazard monitoring programs, which will be implemented throughout the life cycle of the plant, were adequate and properly documented. Additionally, measures have been taken to address challenges related to external events in light of lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi accident. The mission team comprised two experts, from France and Hungary, and four IAEA staff members. Their activities included a review of the operator's Preliminary Safety Analysis Report and supporting documents, in particular sections related to the design basis of the plant and site characterisation. The team held talks with Mikhail Mikhaduk, Belarus deputy minister of energy, as well as with experts from the Ministry of Energy, the nuclear regulatory authority, the plant designer, the operator and technical support organisations. The team also met with Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik. "Nuclear safety is a top priority for Belarus," Mikhaduk said, according to the IAEA statement. "The results of this mission will help us as we move forward with the development of our nuclear power program in a safe and confident manner. The team's suggestions will assist the operator in preparing for the next stage of licensing." SEED team leader Ovidiu Coman, an IAEA Senior Nuclear Safety Officer, said the Belarusian counterparts cooperated with the review team "in an open and transparent manner". The team identified the following good practices: a systematic and comprehensive screening of external site-specific hazards on the basis of well-documented criteria; and a comprehensive probabilistic safety assessment of both internal and external events, to be delivered by the operator to the regulator as part of licensing documentation in advance of the commercial operation of the plant. Suggestions for improvement were to further improve licensing documentation related to information on electromagnetic and lightning hazards, and information on site-specific seismic ground motion; and to consider future developments for safety improvements related to challenges highlighted in the IAEA Fukushima Daiichi Accident report. The final mission report will be delivered to the government of Belarus within three months. Belarusian authorities have told the IAEA that they intend to make the report public. An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Belarus specifically on cooperation in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus was signed in March 2011. Operation of the first unit of the Ostrovets plant is scheduled for November 2018 and the second unit for July 2020, to give 2340 MWe net capacity on line. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Staying out of debt is easier said than done, I know. However, its something you can do, and its something you should be practicing everyday. As Christians, we are in this world, but we are by Genese Sodikoff One does not normally think about infection, illness, and recovery in terms of a three-staged "rite of passage" as European ethnographer Arnold van Gennep defined it, although catching a disease certainly involves a period of physical transition and disruption of our sense of self. Of course, a "rite of passage" conventionally refers to a ceremony that marks a change in status, such as a wedding or commencement, where one social identity is shed and another assumed. Van Gennep's three stages include the separation from peers, a liminal or in-between period, and reassimilation into society with a new status. But if we loosely apply this concept to other life experiences, such as illness, we begin to see a structure to the stories that make up our lives. Say an individual goes from healthy person, to ill patient, and finally to some resolution. At this point the individual has either returned to the prior state of healthiness, dies, remains somehow marked by the period of suffering, or persists in a state of impaired health, neither here nor there. Certain diseases seem to occupy the liminal space, casting their victims into medical limbo as neither diagnosable nor well. Chronic Lyme disease is one of those. Since the source of prolonged suffering is contested by doctors, many sufferers must seek help at the edges of the medical mainstream. To turn back to the "rite of passage" schema for a moment, anthropologist Victor Turner was intrigued by Van Gennep's demarcation of a liminal period, the "betwixt and between" stage. In the late 1960s, Turner elaborated the concept, finding it rife with both social ambiguity and possibility. For Turner, liminality evoked an unstructured space, an opposition to the dominant structure at the edges of the cultural mainstream. It is here where people experience "communitas," a spirit of camaraderie and equality. Liminality is counter-cultural, a state of flux in which the dominant structure is recast in the image of the oppositional force until that new image becomes the structure from which to pull away. Liminal pathology comes to mind with chronic Lyme disease and other contested medical conditions that are difficult to cure and often deemed illusory or psychosomatic. Medical anthropologist, Dr. Abigail Dumes of the University of Michigan has carried out an ethnographic project on chronic Lyme disease in the American Northeast, on its believers and naysayers and the battle over what constitutes evidence. Her forthcoming book chronicles the perspectives of doctors, scientists, and patients who have divided perspectives of the disease. It is important to note that no one disputes the existence of Lyme disease, known to many by the bull's-eye rash that often (though not always) follows infection. Chronic Lyme disease refers to symptoms that linger, sometimes for years, after the regular course of antibiotics ends. The persistent presence of Lyme antibodies in the bloodstream can mean either past exposure or active infection. This is another source of contention between the camps: whether Lyme antibodies indicate the immune system has vanquished the disease (giving a "false positive") or is actually still at war. Dumes explains that diagnosis relies on an antibody test rather than isolating the bacteria from the body because Borrelia burgdorferi and its DNA are difficult to culture and isolate from patients' bodily fluids. Chronic Lyme disease is not recognized by mainstream doctors, so patients' symptoms are chalked up to other possible causes. In contrast, "Lyme-literate" doctors do recognize the disease, as do its sufferers. Lyme-literate proponents recommend an intensive and extended course of antibiotics to treat symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain, vertigo, neuropathy, and cognitive impairment, while mainstream doctors consider such treatment ineffective and potentially harmful. The occurrence of Lyme disease dates back thousands of years, and today it is the leading vector-borne disease in the United States. Small mammals, as well as deer, are reservoir hosts of the bacteria. Approximately 30,000 new cases per year are reported, but the actual number is probably closer to 300,000. Infection rates are increasing; in fact, they have doubled since the early 1990s. Lyme disease burdens the northern United States more than the South, though incidence of Lyme or Lyme-like symptoms in the South is climbing. The more moderate climate of the Northeast (less severe and later winters than in the Midwest and Canada) has been favorable to more dangerous strains of Borrelia for people. Late summer is the feeding period for larval deer ticks, and infected nymphs (juvenile ticks, the size of tiny specks) feed in spring. Scientists report that in the Northeast, persistent infections of Lyme disease, caused by the more virulent bacterial strains, are tied to the long gap between larval and nymphal tick feeding times. In contrast, the severe winters of the Midwest end up shortening the duration of tick feeding, as well as the gap between nymphal and larval feedings. As a result, fewer cases of Lyme disease in the Midwest have been reported. However, as the climate warms, Midwest winters are becoming more like Northeast winters have long been, foreshadowing an increase in Lyme infections in the Midwest. To make matters worse, a new species of Lyme-causing bacteria, Borrelia mayonii, was recently discovered in the Midwest. Meanwhile, the warmer atmosphere has enabled ticks to move steadily northward towards Canada, bringing Lyme with them. Another factor contributing to the rise of Lyme disease in the Northeast are housing developments in former wildlife habitats. Suburban sprawl and people's desire to live near nature have brought humans, woodland mammals, and ticks into close contact. Dumes reflects on the conflicting views of wilderness in the North American imagination: Nature is deemed both soul-soothing and dangerous. For well-to-do Northeasterners who value properties that abut woodlands, the proximity to nature enriches people's lives, even as Lyme disease has wreaked havoc on many people's health. You have to adapt to Lyme zones. Dumes recounts the bodily practices adopted by residents who have suffered Lyme disease. Family members often do the daily routine of intimately scouring each other's bodies for ticks, including all the nooks and crannies where ticks are prone to hide. People don knee-high socks outdoors, even in the heat of summer. They slather their skin with repellent, and toss their clothes in the dryer to roast off ticks before going indoors. Some deliberately choose white-furred pets so ticks will be more visible. Each household has its Lyme-inspired rituals, but tick checks are the common denominator. These folks dread re-infection and fret over their children playing outdoors, yet they are loath to give up the beauty and restorative effects of the forest. The disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, named after its scientist discoverer, Willy Burgdorfer. It is transmitted from from small mammals and birds to people via the saliva of blacklegged or deer ticks. (Adult ticks favor deer as hosts.) Lyme refers to the town in Connecticut where in the mid-1970s a cluster of patients in Lyme and nearby rural areas manifested unusual symptoms, including fever, chills, rashes, arthritic joints, severe fatigue, and headaches. The cause of these ailments was a mystery, one that compelled a pair of determined women from the patient pool to further investigate on their own, contacting scientists, self-advocating, and pushing the boundaries of medical science. I suppose their efforts turned these women into "edgemen," Victor Turner's word for the folks at the margins of the mainstream. It was not until 1981 that Burgdorfer and colleagues identified the spirochete that causes Lyme. For over eighteen months, Dumes interviewed and observed patients, doctors (both mainstream and Lyme-literate), Lyme scientists, public health workers, politicians, and patient advocates to understand the two sides of the debate about the existence of chronic Lyme diseasethat is, Borrelia-caused malaise that lingers beyond the 10 to 21 days regimen of antibiotics. Regarding the divided camps, Dumes remains firmly nonpartisan, as it is not the job of the anthropologist to determine the truth or falsity of a disease, but to analyze how social groups construct and experience their realities, whether inside or at the margins of the medical establishment. She investigates why the dominant paradigm of "evidence-based" medicine, built on randomized control trial design, has managed to intensify the disagreement around chronic Lyme disease rather than forge consensus. As Dumes points out, evidence-based medicine is what informs clinical guidelines, and these determine insurance coverage, treatment plans, and public health advisories. So the stakes are high for patients. Evidence-based medicine, she explains, shapes ideas about the "right ways to be sick" (the medically explainable ways), with familiar symptoms corresponding to objective "signs" in the body. It also fosters ideas about the "wrong ways" to be sick (the medically unexplainable ways) that involve a symptomatology that doesn't neatly correspond to microscopic signs and can only be described "subjectively" by the patient. Dumes says that in mainstream medical parlance, chronic Lyme disease is a "medically unexplainable illness," as opposed to "Lyme disease," which is understood to be diagnosable. If you suffer from Lyme-related "illness," your clinically ambiguous symptoms thrust you into the liminal space of medical alternatives. In the liminal zone, you are at odds with the mainstream medical authority yet determined to collect the kind of evidence that will legitimize your condition. The sense of community among chronic Lyme patients and Lyme-literate doctors is evident in patient support groups and shared views on the causes of chronic Lyme and its effective therapies. Through interviews with patients, Dumes learned that many attribute their condition to the profusion of toxins in the environment and in their bodies. These patients believe that highly toxic environments (both external and internal) enable pathogens such as Borrelia to thrive. For them, our modern-age bodies are seen as "toxic swamps," fertile for Lyme. The worry over toxicity derives in part from patients' concern about their reliance on pesticides to keep ticks at bay. To detox after performing the necessary evil of spraying and applying insecticide to the skin (and patients are well aware of the contradiction), many Lyme patients eat organic and use chemical-free products as much as possible. The preference for an organic lifestyle is often accompanied by the embrace of complementary and alternative therapies. These are usually alongside a regime of antibiotics (another acknowledged contradiction). For example, Dumes describes the Rife machine, an apparatus invented in the 1930s and tested by the medical establishment for a while. The Rife machine, no longer accepted by mainstream doctors, emits a range of electromagnetic frequencies. The theory is that bacteria and viruses can be rendered inactive if targeted with the correct frequency. Beyond Lyme, some patients, I have read elsewhere, believe that the Rife machine helps to cleanse their systems of neurotoxins, reduce co-infections, and strengthen their immune systems. Since it can run a couple thousand dollars, Dumes told me that some patients have developed a sharing economy so that more may benefit. Chronic Lyme patients may also seek out a range of other often pricey holistic health products and treatments, such as BioMats, infrared saunas, and hyperbaric oxygen chambers. To some, it's all snake oil; to others, the sources of real relief. Looking back on the patients from Lyme, Connecticut, who in the 1970s embarked on a quest to figure out what happened to them, it is easy to imagine them in a similar situation, occupying that liminal state of neither acutely ill nor healthy. They were laid low by a disease without a name or cure, and without much will by the establishment to demystify the symptoms. After time wore on and they never fully recovered, were they considered malingerers? The evidence of a microbe, Borrelia, and its vector, the tick, transformed not only the clinical approach to a constellation of symptoms, but also the perception of the "right way to be sick." The evidence also transformed northeastern semi-rural culture, the everyday habits, thoughts, and emotions of people living at the forest edge. by Maniza Naqvi A very decent, elegant, graceful and intelligent man, the kind who opens doors for his wife, and wins a Nobel prize for Peace just by being has for eight years occupied the White House, furthering and expanding the indecency of war. And Mr. Trump may slam doors on everyone and not win a prize but will do the same. Because in this system, it doesn't matter who is elected, they become part and parcel of, let me coin a term the: war industrial complex kitkaboodles endless dreadfulness (WICKED). Let me locate myself. If you draw a straight line from here, Karachi, to thereDC, both points are home. Most days of the year walking past it I stop and gaze at the White Houseat its glorywith appreciation as well as with many grievances in my heart for the policies unleashed across the globe. Grievances against the kind of endless war policies which have now brought us inevitably, shamefully, tragically, criminally up to year sixteen of relentless erosion of public space, privacy, discourse and the increase of war and the propaganda necessary for itbooks have disappearedwe rely on google and social media for all our information. In the vicinity of where I live in Washington DC and where I work there used to be many bookshops and now there are next to none. Yes, Politics and Prose and Kramers one or two keep chugging onbut more as coffee shops, bars and restaurants then bookstores. With the erosion and disappearance of books and with the rise of IPhones and social mediawe are getting more and more connected with nothingand informed about nothing. Perhaps the march across the USA on January 21, 2017 has finally woken up America, thanks to the over the top fascistic rhetoric of Donald J. Trump. Perhaps Trump has managed to build that wallafter allbut of people rising against injustice and fascism. Perhaps against war and the killing of people and genocide and not just for the sake of protection of our women's right to birth control. On January 20, 2009 I stood freezing on the Mall with beloved friends most from the Midwest and Spain and England watching with millions as Mr. Barack Hussain Obama took the oath and became President Barack H. Obama. A dear friend turned to me flag in hand, tears flowing down his cheeks, snot accumulating, sobbing with happiness and reliefhugging me. It was this incredible moment in American's historyit was not just a personal journey for Mr. Obama but for all Americans. But for this cynical bitchit was just a packaging change in an ongoing and still unfolding unjustifiable war in a whole huge half continent which was also beginning to pivot to Africaand due to the accusations of racism and crusadesthe country had with relief voted for the product put forward by its deep statean absolutely beautiful couple and a man who was the product of a white and black parentage. The product of slaveryand of Kenya and of a beautiful single mother a development specialist for God's sake was becoming President. It was so lovely so beautiful. And that dear close friend turned to mehis eyes saying it allthe pain and happiness he felt and I detected in them an insistence that I banish my cynicisms and my heart aches of grievances and rebukes and anger and rage and accept this as the dawning of a new dayand that I stop, that I stop insisting that there wasn't hope, or change and that I agree that yes there would be changethat I stop repeating like a broken record the fearful warnings that fascism was on its way. And here we are. This time none of us will be on the Mall on January 20th. None of uswill be treating the week before the inauguration like a new day cominglike a long Thanksgiving feast for which we were preparing. I will not go searching for the perfect ball gownI had worn a peacock blue with shots of browntaffetawith matching silk beaded shoes to an official ball in 2009..And had danced the night away at a lovely similar ball in 2012..Same friendssame joy..But by 2012 I had danced for the chance to simply dance and nothing more. This time I watched the inauguration in my town from far away from homeat home in KarachiLike geese from Siberia I too fly here every January or February in search of warmer climes. I'm doing my own marching heretrying my best to save a bookshop: The Pioneer Book HouseA Law Books Shop-the oldest Book Store in Karachi. Perhaps I will not succeedI'm rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic I feel. But I must keep trying, resist, resist, resist. I dust and wipe book after book on laws, and regulations and acts and amendments and poetry and some fiction. And even a book on General Zia-ul-Haq that awful fascist General supported fully and totally by the United States of America and Saudi Arabia in that then war that has gone on endlessly in Afghanistan since 1979. That endless war that has murdered millions and that became the epicenter of murder of so many in the world and in Afghanistan, Pakistan and in Karachi. My urge is to throw the book in the trash bagbut I resist that urge. All opinions are valid. And after all he has been the muse for most of my fiction. Telecommuting by night, moonlighting by day. Phoning, skyping, webexing with DC by nighttalking Safety Nets, Poverty, Fragility, and so on by nightand dusting off bookslaw books in the Pioneer Book House for Law books and hoping for more poetry and fiction by daysweeping floors. Hoping, hoping-hoping that somehow that this will make an iota of a difference. On the TV screen, my town and the Mall, at 2.30 a.m. in Karachi, appeared as though Spring had come to DC in JanuaryMarch in January, the entire Mall from the aerial view was an ocean of pink as if the blossoms that appear in Spring have already arrived. Pink hats and banners. An estimated 2.2 to 2.5 million women and men marched in DC. Another five hundred thousand in New York. And five million worldwide. Finally a protest against racism and war? This is a beautiful thing. The muse for this? I guess we have Mr. Trump to thank. iStock/Thinkstock(BANJUL, Gambia) -- More than $11 million is missing from the Gambia's state coffers after the country's longtime leader flew into exile, an adviser to the new president, Adama Barrow, said according to BBC. The Gambia's leader of 22 years, Yahya Jammeh, had refused to leave the country, but agreed to exit after talks with regional leaders, BBC reports. Jammeh cited "irregularities" in the vote after initially conceding the election to Barrow in a huge upset. Adviser Mai Ahmad Fatty said to reporters the Gambia's coffers were "virtually empty" ahead of Barrow's arrival to the country, adding that it was "confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia," according to BBC. Jammeh was criticized by human rights groups for reportedly restricting freedom of the press, calling for anti-gay violence, and for claiming he could cure HIV/AIDS and infertility. Barrow said he would investigate the allegations. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Northern football players, cheerleaders from beyond the U.S. Two Northern football players and two cheerleaders have common ground with hometowns outside the U.S. MLNG and VGS Sign HOA for Sales to KGLNGT Terminal in India Perth, Jan 23, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd ( ASX:LNG ) ( LNGLY:OTCMKTS ) (LNGL or the Company) is pleased to advise that its 100% owned subsidiary, Magnolia LNG, LLC (MLNG or Magnolia), has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Vessel Gasification Solutions, Inc. (VGS) in relation to the Magnolia LNG Project, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States (MLNG Project). The non-binding HOA provides for a 20-year Free-on-Board (FOB) Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) of up to 4 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa). The obligations of the parties are conditional upon MLNG's satisfaction with or waiver of conditions precedent including financial close of the KGLNGT terminal and satisfaction by VGS of defined credit requirements underpinning their LNG purchases within agreed timeframes. LNG Limited's Managing Director & CEO, Mr. Greg Vesey, said, "We look forward to supplying long term volumes to the Indian market to meet their growing needs for clean energy. Overall, this agreement represents another important step forward for the MLNG Project." "With the execution of this agreement, VGS is now in a prime position to execute on the first-mover advantage we have established on India's East Coast," said Gaurav Tiwari, President of VGS. "We are very excited to take this step forward in our relationship with Magnolia, and we look forward to working with the Magnolia team to bring a significant tranche of U.S.-produced LNG to a key new market on the East Coast of India." ABOUT VGS The VGS Group is developing a floating LNG import and regasification terminal situated offshore at Kakinada Deepwater Port in Andhra Pradesh, India. The Kakinada based Krishna Godavari LNG Import Terminal will be East Coast India's first LNG import project to become operational, and it will allow for the full utilization of close to 7,000 MW of near-idled power plants and lay the groundwork for an industrial renaissance in the industrial belt that girds the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. VGS has targeted being the 'First Mover on a Fast Track' in India's heavily industrialized, yet gas starved, Andhra Pradesh-Orissa coastal region. ABOUT MAGNOLIA LNG PROJECT Magnolia LNG proposes to construct and operate up to four liquefaction production trains, each with a capacity of 2 mtpa or greater using the Company's patented OSMR(R) LNG process technology. Construction and operation includes two 160,000m3 full containment storage tanks, ship, barge, and truck loading facilities, and supporting infrastructure. The LSTK EPC contract includes all elements of the project necessary to bring the facility into full guaranteed production operations. Magnolia LNG is fully permitted, having received its FERC Order and both FTA and non-FTA approval from the DOE. Final investment decision and initiation of construction is expected upon execution of sufficient offtake agreements to support financing. About Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG) ( OTCMKTS:LNGLY) (LNGL) is an ASX listed company whose portfolio consists of 100% ownership of the following companies: - Magnolia LNG, LLC (Magnolia LNG), a US-based subsidiary, which is developing an eight mtpa or greater LNG export terminal, in the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA; - Bear Head LNG Corporation Inc. (Bear Head LNG), a Canadian-based subsidiary, which is developing an 8 12 mtpa LNG export terminal in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada with potential for further expansion; - Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), which is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km gas pipeline lateral to connect gas supply to Bear Head LNG; and - LNG Technology Pty Ltd, a subsidiary which owns and develops the Company's OSMR LNG liquefaction process, a midscale LNG business model that plans to deliver lower capital and operating costs, faster construction, and improved efficiency, relative to larger traditional LNG projects. Section 1 Body Html "This paper presents the feedback of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (the Agency) and of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) on key elements of the European Commissions proposals. We shall continue to explore them in greater detail considering both the individual proposals themselves and their interrelationship with each other and, later, with the gas sector. Our joint conference of 23/24 January Towards a future proofed Energy Market design gives us the opportunity to hear the views of the Institutions and stakeholders and allow us to enrich those analyses. European Energy Regulators Overview Paper Initial Reactions to the European Commissions proposals on Clean Energy The European Council has extended the mandate for European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) - Operation ATALANTA - until 31 December 2018, which means Cohort company MASS will continue to provide the Classified Mission Network for the enduring Operation. Above: Boarding team from EU Naval Force combat support warship FGS BERLIN stops a suspicious skiff. Photo courtesy Operation Atalanta Operation ATALANTA was launched in December 2008 to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. The operation also protects vessels of the World Food Programme and other vulnerable shipping, monitors fishing activities off the coast of Somalia and supports other EU missions and programmes in the region. MASS provides the core operational mission network for the effective command and control of this multi-national Operation both ashore and afloat. This advanced capability enables secure transmission of classified information over the open internet helping all users to achieve optimum access and connectivity wherever they are operating. Jens Weber, Head of IT Systems for Op ATALANTA , commented Due to the huge Area of Operations and geographical spread of assets and personnel, the Operation depends on a communications system that is flexible, reliable and robust. MASS has provided such a system since 2014. Working with MASS has ensured Op ATALANTA personnel know their communications needs are met allowing them to concentrate on the operation to protect seafarers from Somali pirate attack. Ashley Lane, Managing Director of MASS, said: I am delighted that we continue to support the EU Naval Force in its fight against piracy. Our secure communication network, along with its 24-hour rapid-response support service, will allow those involved in the mission to maintain operational effectiveness through robust and secure connectivity, irrespective of their location." Hill AFB fighter wings bring first F-35A to Red Flag Pilots and maintainers from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings deployed the F-35A Lightning II to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 20, 2017 for exercise Red Flag. This is the first deployment to Red Flag for the F-35A and the first large movement since the Air Force declared the jet combat ready in August 2016. Red Flag is the Air Force's premier air-to-air combat training exercise. Participants include both U.S. and allied nations' combat air forces. The exercise provides aircrews the experience of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment. Our Airmen are excited to bring the F-35 to a full-spectrum combat exercise, said Col. David Lyons, the 388th FW commander. This battle space is going to be a great place to leverage our stealth and interoperability. Its a lethal platform and Im confident we will prove to be an invaluable asset to the commander. The jets will be at Red Flag through Feb. 10. While deployed, the F-35 will fly alongside fourth-and-fifth generation platforms and provide offensive and defensive counter air, suppression of enemy air defenses, and limited close air support. Red Flag is hands-down the best training in the world to ensure our Airmen are fully mission ready, said Col. David Smith, the 419th FW commander. Its as close to combat operations as you can get. Our Reserve pilots and maintainers are looking forward to putting the F-35A weapon system to the test alongside our active duty partners to bring an unprecedented combat capability. The F-35A is a fifth-generation, multi-role stealth fighter designed to gather, fuse and distribute more information than any other fighter in history. The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill AFB in October 2015. The base will eventually be home to three operational F-35 fighter squadrons with a total of 78 aircraft by the end of 2019. The active duty 388th FW and Air Force Reserve 419th FW will fly and maintain the Air Forces newest fighter aircraft in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components. From the creation of Eighth Air Force in 1942, to Operation Atlantic Resolve in 2017, U.S. Air Forces in Europe has answered the call to service for 75 years. USAFEs 75th anniversary is Jan. 19, but the command will celebrate the diamond anniversary of the U.S. Air Force presence in Europe on Jan. 23. Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany 1948, Vittels While the command, as it is named today, did not exist during World War II, the presence of U.S. Air Force assets under the Eighth Air Force designation was established in 1942, only two months after the U.S. declared war on Nazi Germany and Italy. Throughout the war, Eighth Air Force amassed nearly 17,000 aircraft and 500,000 Airmen throughout Europe. By 1945, Berlin fell to the Soviet Union and Adolf Hitler was dead.In August 1945, Allied-occupied Germany was divided into sectors for administrative purposes and the U.S. was responsible for the Southeast portion of the country. A month later, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe was re-designated as U.S. Air Forces in Europe and the headquarters was moved to Wiesbaden, Germany. Nearly 18 months after Victory in Europe Day, U.S. aircraft and personnel in Europe were reduced to only 2,000 aircraft and 75,000 personnel.While the command was born amidst tumultuous times, their vision for the future was that of peace and prosperity for Europe.The first major test of USAFEs capabilities came inwhen the Soviet Union blockaded all travel to and from the eastern zone. This left West Berlin with barely a months worth of food and coal to supply them for an unknown amount of time. U.S. European Command directed USAFE to airlift supplies to Berlin. At the height of The Berlin Airlift, or Operationas it was called by the U.S., 225 C-54s were in Germany supporting the airlift. By the time the Soviets lifted the blockade on May 12, 1949, the U.S. had flown nearly 196,000 missions transporting 1.5 million tons of cargo. This incredible feat highlighted the U.S. Air Forces ability to get cargo and people into places otherwise blocked by land or sea routes. 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1950s Netherlands Throughout the 1950s the U.S., under President Harry Truman, continued to prioritize airpower to Europe, despite the Korean War raging on. New bases and U.S. units were established in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, theand Turkey. Unbeknownst to the U.S. and Western Europe, the Cold War was only just beginning.Fast forward to the 1960s and tensions once again reached a boiling point over access to Berlin. In 1961, the Soviet Union ordered the Berlin walls construction to stop the flow of refugees from the East to the West. The U.S. responded to this new, divided, Berlin by mobilizing the largest contingent of aircraft since WWII.Operation Tack Hammer launched eight F-100D squadrons, totaling 144 fighters. This, however, was only a temporary move until the more permanent Air National Guard squadrons could be mobilized to take over. Operation Stair Step saw the deployment of nearly 250 fighters whose primary mission was to provide air superiority and tactical air support to defend West Germany should an air war break out over Berlin.By 1962, the Berlin Crisis had subsided and the mobilized aircraft returned home. In 1963, the total strength in Europe decreased as the U.S. shifted focus to the Vietnam War, which would remain their primary focus for the next 10 years. 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, RAF Alconbury, England, 1975 Throughout the 70s and 80s, USAFE continued to receive the latest and greatest air superiority aircraft, namely the F-15C Eagle. These were meant to replace the aging fighters currently providing air defense for West Germany, which were quickly becoming obsolete as the Soviet Union fielded their MiG and Sukhoi fighters. In 1989, the Berlin wall, a symbol of the divide between Western Europe and the Soviet Union, was torn down and one year later the Soviet Union collapsed. The Cold War was over and Germany was united again on Oct. 30, 1990. From 1947-1991 the U.S. and other NATO allies slowly built up defenses for a war they hoped never came. With the threat of the Soviet Union no longer looming, this force quickly decreased to a fraction of its previous size. The U.S. Air Force presence dropped from 850 aircraft and 72,000 Airmen over 27 bases, to just 240 aircraft and 33,000 Airmen at six flying wings by 1996. While the Cold War was beginning to thaw, USAFE was called upon to deploy 182 aircraft to Southwest Asia for Operation Desert Shield in response to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait. They also deployed another 85 aircraft to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Operation Desert Storm, the action taken by the U.S. and 33 other nations to expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait lasted less than two months from January through February. In that time, USAFE pilots assigned to U.S. Central Command shot down nine Iraqi aircraft, plus three more violating the southern no-fly zone in March 1991. F111F of the 48th Fighter Wing prepares for a combat mission during Operation Desert Storm, 1991. East Germany, fighter tanker Throughout the 90s, USAFE was involved in more than 80 operations in Europe, the Middleand Africa to include Operation Deny Flight and Operation Allied Force.The operations of the 90s proved the flexibility of airpower and how it could be leveraged in vastly different scenarios. This flexibility would be pushed to its limits following the events of Sept. 11, 2001.Operation Enduring Freedom was the first large-scale operation the U.S. was involved in since Desert Storm 10 years earlier. It would require an air bridge in Europe to help ferry troops, supplies and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan as the U.S. fought to remove Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban from power.In 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq with the aim of toppling the government of Saddam Hussein, a regime the U.S. believed was in possession of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.At the height of these two conflicts, the U.S. had over 100,000 forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as numerous others who supported these operations in Southwest Asia.USAFEs mobility hubs at Rhein Main AB and Ramstein AB inbecame crucial pieces in the transportation and aeromedical evacuation functions that supported both conflicts. As both operations came to an end, USAFE once again provided the air bridge and logistics to move the equipment and personnel back to the U.S from more than a decade in the Middle East.In 2012, USAFE merged with Air Forces Africa to become the only major command in the U.S. Air Force to support two separate combatant commanders: U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. Today, USAFE-AFAFRICA directs air operations in a theater spanning three continents, covering more than 15 million square miles, containing 104 independent states, and possessing more than one-fifth of the worlds population and more than a quarter of the worlds gross domestic product.Currently, USAFE-AFAFRICA has approximately 35,000 personnel and more than 200, rotary wing,and transport aircraft assigned. Nearly a week after watching on the sidelines the Jallikattu protest on the Marina Beach and in other places in the state, the Tamil Nadu Police on Monday morning started evicting the protesters. Jallikattu is a popular bull-taming sport of Tamil Nadu. The police action came on the day when the state assembly was set to meet. The police physically pulled out the protesters who were sitting at the protest venue. The scene reminded of a tug-of-war game but without ropes as protesters held back the colleagues who were being pulled out by the police. In Coimbatore, police-women and -men, pounced on a protestor who stood up with a kerosene canister and threatened to self-immolate. They were successful in taking away the inflammable liquid. The eviction comes a day after the state government organised Jallikattu in several places following the promulgation of an ordinance enabling the same. Not satisfied with that, the protesters demanded a permanent solution, that is, amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by the central government taking out bulls from the list of performing animals. The police arrived at the Marina Beach on Sunday night. On Monday morning they urged the protesters to vacate Marina which was not heeded to. Following that the police started their eviction process by physically lifting the protesters. The police also baton charged the crowd. However, women and children were spared and removed safely. The protesters ran towards the sea, stood there holding hands and shouted slogans. The routes to Marina Beach have now been cordoned off. The police has asked the protesters in other parts of the state to disperse. Agreeing to the request protesters in Tirunelveli district have decided to call off the protests. In Madurai, however, the protesters have decided to continue with their agitations. Although, talks are still on between them and the police. After the promulgation of the ordinance P. Rajasekhar, president of the Jallikattu Pathukaapu Peravai appealed to the protesters to call off their agitation. Hip-Hop Tamizha Adhi a rap musician whose song support of Jallikattu attracted the protesters also distanced himself from the protest as it was progressing in a different direction, he said. While the protesters anger is severe against the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) across the state, in most of the protest venues there were slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. Some of the placards held by few protesters were vulgar and indecent and there were also placards demanding separate Tamil land. Further, thousands of regular commuters have been facing inconvenience due to cancellation of trains and termination ahead of destination owing to protests on rail tracks. On Monday the Southern Railways announced full cancellation of 16 trains and partial cancellation of seven trains. Around 40,000 passengers are affected daily due to disruption in train services. Many passengers may be travelling to attend interviews, join duty or even for health reasons, a senior Southern Railway official preferring anonymity told IANS. Why is it I get told that I am asking for too much? asks SRKs leading lady Mahira Khan, who is unable to promote her upcoming flick Raees. Following the ban on Pakistani actors in India as a result of the devastating Uri attacks last year, the actress recently let out her frustrations while speaking to a Pakistan daily, the Dawn. I also want to promote the film. I also want to be in an interview with Shah Rukh Khan talking about it. Why not? Why is it I get told that thats asking for too much? It isnt! It is my right. This was also my film, she said. When asked if she feels disappointed about Raees not likely to release in Pakistan, Mahira said, I want my country to see this. I want everybody to see it, every person in the world. My friends keep saying you did it, its enough, you can just keep it in a box somewhere.I do that, but theres a part of me that says, no, I want everybody to see my blood sweat and tears for these two years, because its been tough and I want people to see it even if I fail at it. The Pakistani starlet further said, even if shes dying for it to come here, she has learnt there are some things that are out of your reach. The actress then described the magical experience of working with the Badshaah of Bollywood as she said, Shah Rukh Khan is magic really, honestly. He spoilt me for life. Theres nothing you cant talk to him about and weve had amazing conversations. Its so much fun to talk to someone whos intelligent. Its not just about films, he can talk about anything! He was watching [Netflix TV series] Narcos while we were shooting, he can talk about books and history. Of course Ive always been a fan. But if you watch his interviews, you can tell hes witty, smart. I think hes hilarious, sometimes at my expense. [laughs], she added. On publication the RFH took the exceptional step of holding a press conference to launch the paper in the hope of preventing the media and public from concluding that the MMR was unsafe and to avert a collapse in MMR take-up. When Dr Andrew Wakefield the lead writer was asked by the press if he would personally support the three-in-one MMR vaccine, he responded by advising parents to choose the single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines spaced out at intervals. Whilst his comments were seized on by the press as evidence that the MMR was unsafe and by the medical establishment as highly irresponsible, his answer accorded with official government policy. At the time the government vaccination schedule offered the choice between MMR and the three separate vaccines, in accord with the Department of Health's express policy when the MMR was launched in 1988. Few academic articles have been dogged by the controversy attending the now retracted Lancet Paper Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children since its publication in February 1998. (Another link to retracted paper here.) In seeking to avert controversy The Lancet published an editorial accompanying the paper to warn against drawing the wrong conclusions that the paper had established that the MMR caused autism and bowel disease. The paper, which went through several cautious redrafts, said it "did not prove an association between measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and the syndrome described, adding that Virological studies are underway that may help to resolve this issue. By Martin Hewitt In the wake of the High Court judgment on Professor John Walker-Smiths appeal against the decision of the General Medical Council (the UK regulatory body for doctors) to delicense him, what should now happen to the retracted paper he co-authored with Dr Andrew Wakefield? The decision lies with The Lancet editor, Dr Richard Horton. But what are the grounds for reinstating the paper as a properly conducted clinical investigation into 12 children with autism and bowel disease admitted to the paediatric gastroenterology department at the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) London in the mid-1990s? The paper was the focus of the GMCs trial of the three senior authors on charges of serious professional misconduct which led to the delicensing of Walker-Smith and Wakefield. In March 1998, the then UK Medical Officer of Health convened a conference of selected experts under the auspices of the Medical Research Council to discuss the paper with Wakefield. One question asked was how the case series of 12 children with autism and bowel disease was selected. Thus began a further controversy that challenged the papers statement that the children were consecutively referred to the department of paediatric gastroenterology and sought clarification of its statement that Intestinal and behavioural pathologies may have occurred together by chance, reflecting a selection bias in a self-referred group. To many medical researchers it appeared that the child patients had been selectively chosen as a result of parents contacting Dr Wakefield to produce a biased sample. The controversy reignited in February 2004 when the Sunday Times published the findings of a five-month investigation by freelance investigative journalist Brian Deer into the papers research and ethics. Deers articles continued up to January 2011 and were then followed by further articles in the British Medical Journal. When Deer first presented The Lancet with his findings four days before publishing his first Sunday Times article, the journal began its own investigation publishing a summary of Deers allegations and responses by the three lead authors Dr Wakefield, Professor John Walker-Smith and Dr (now Professor) Simon Murch and by the Royal Free and University College Medical School. The Lancet summarised Deers allegations: the investigations, some highly invasive, did not have ethical approval; the study was completed under cover of an entirely different approved study; the children were selected by invitation from Wakefield and Walker-Smith to the parents, constituting selection bias and contrary to the papers claim about consecutive referrals; and the Lancet children were part of a legal-aided and funded research project to investigate the feasibility of litigation for vaccine damages. Having considered the responses of the senior authors and the medical school The Lancet judged that the first three allegations were unfounded. However, on the last allegation concerning Dr Wakefields involvement with a separate LAB-funded study from The Lancet study, it concluded that the perception of a conflict of interest nevertheless remains. This funding source should, we judge, have been disclosed to the editors of the journal. Nonetheless the paper was not retracted. Henceforth The Lancet paper entered into a period of unprecedented controversy much deeper than before, driven by the Sunday Times investigation and the personal involvement of Brian Deer, who used his website to make claims far beyond those made in the Sunday Times at the same time. Three days after Deer had published his first article, he sent a 6-page email to the GMC outlining the above allegations with the additional claim that Wakefield had committed scientific fraud. In effect this not only instigated the 3 year GMC investigation that led to the fitness to practice hearing begun in 2007, but also outlined the trajectory Deer was to follow in his serious attacks on Wakefields reputation in the Sunday Times and on his website, and from 2011 onwards in the British Medical Journal. Currently both Deer and the BMJ appear to have adopted an expedient silence as they await the result of Wakefield's forthcoming libel action against them in Texas. The final stage of controversy began with the GMC fitness to practice hearing of the three doctors which culminated on January 2010 with findings of serious professional misconduct against them. In July the GMC recommended the sanction against Wakefield and Walker-Smith of erasure from the medical practice register, to be applied on appeal to the High Court. For Wakefield an appeal was not feasible as the Medical Protection Society, the insurance fund providing legal cover for doctors accused of offending medical regulations, withdrew its support and he was unable to finance the appeal himself. He was thereby struck off. However Walker-Smiths appeal was heard by Justice Mitting in the High Court in London in February 2012. On 2 February 2010 The Lancet fully retraction the paper "from the published record" on the grounds that several elements of the 1998 paper by Wakefield et al are incorrect, contrary to the findings of an earlier investigation [see above]. In particular, the claims in the original paper that children were 'consecutively referred' and that investigations were 'approved' by the local ethics committee have been proven to be false. The statement hints at other concerns. We know from The Lancets earlier investigation that the editor formed the view that Dr Wakefield should have declared a conflict of interest regarding his involvement in a separate legal-aided study. But, being a separate issue from Walker-Smiths appeal, this does not form part of Mitting's judgment. Wakefield himself has claimed throughout that the legal-aided study was for different scientific purposes than those pursued in the Lancet paper. The Mitting Judgment and the Lancet paper Having digested much of the hearing's 149 days of submissions and evidence and many other related papers, and heard Queens Counsels for Walker-Smith and the GMC, on 7 March J Mitting quashed all charges against the Professor. Inevitably the thorough and irrevocable negation of the charges against Walker-Smith and of the GMCs legal case, based on its deep misunderstanding of The Lancet paper, raises an important question of the status of the Wakefield et al paper, which is still listed as retracted, to which we now turn. There is no doubt that the Mitting judgment goes to the heart of the way the GMC exercised its regulatory powers in this case. He outrightly criticises the "universal inadequacies" and "inadequate and superficial reasoning" of the disciplinary panel's approach, and recognised the personal suffering the GMC had inflicted on Walker-Smith. "It would be a misfortune if this were to happen again" he concluded on delivering his judgment. More specifically, the Mitting judgment rejects the two fundamental grounds the GMC gave for finding the three doctors guilty of serious professional misconduct and so undermines The Lancets argument for retraction based on these grounds; out go the claims that the patients were not consecutively referred to the department of paediatric gastroenterology and that the investigations did not have ethics committee approval. On the issue of referral, J Mitting rejects the GMCs charge against Walker-Smith that a consecutive referral meant a routine referral to the gastroenterology department...in which the investigators had played no active part. Mitting says, "Thus construed, this paper does not bear the meaning put upon it by the panel. The phrase 'consecutively referred' means no more than that the children were referred successively, rather than as a single batch, to the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology. The words did not imply routine referral. Moreover, he notes that The general reader of that paragraph would note the authors [Dr Wakefield's] caution about the possibility of selection bias in the self-referred group. Taken together with the comments already cited made about the temporal coincidence of the onset of symptoms and MMR vaccination in the case of eight children, the author has made it clear that this was not a routine referral. It was a referral generated by the concerns of parents about a possible link (para 157 here). On the issue of whether the paper had ethical approval, Mittings findings are more complex. First he rejected the GMCs view that the paper was research. Summarising, he says, At the heart of the GMCs case against Professor Walker-Smith were two simple propositions: the investigations undertaken under his authority on eleven of the twelve Lancet children were done as part of a research project Project 172-96 which required, but did not have, Ethics Committee approval; and they were clinically inappropriate (9). However, contrary to the GMCs position, Mitting concludes that the investigation was clinically driven. Addressing the inadequate thinking of the GMCs fitness to practice panel, he concludes that What the panels stated reasons do not do, however, is to justify its conclusion that the investigations were for the purposes of [research] Project 172-96 and not for the purpose of a developing clinical project. On the panels findings on the individual Lancet children, he says, The detailed findings of the panel...did not fill the obvious gaps in its general conclusions.... In no case did it address the indications in the medical notes which supported the oral evidence of the clinicians that they were undertaking a programme of diagnostic and therapeutic investigations, not research; or give adequate reasons for rejecting that account in the case of each individual child (148). In relation to the individual children, Mitting found clear evidence that they were referred for clinical reasons and not for research. Secondly, on the question of papers approval, the GMC had found that the paper was governed by research approval 172-96, which set a start date for the investigation of 18 December 1996 and that children included in the study should have Disintegrative Disorder and be vaccinated by Measles Mumps vaccination conditions that the investigation had not followed. However, contrary to the GMC, Mitting found that the panel had given no grounds for saying the paper was approved by 172-96: On any view, that was an inadequate explanation of the finding" (20). Further Mitting notes that a letter of 11th November 1996 from Professor Walker-Smith to Dr Pegg, chair of the ethics committee, contained an unmistakeable implied statement: that investigations under Project 172-96 had not yet begun" (17). The investigation was undertaken for clinical reasons and not covered by approval 172-96. In conclusion the paper was a case series of 12 children and did not require research ethics approval. On the issue that the children did not have the approved condition Disintegrative Disorder and the Measles Mumps vaccination, Mitting concludes that The only ground upon which [the panel] found that the investigations lacked Ethics Committee approval was that child 7 did not meet the inclusion criteria because he had had MMR vaccination and had not been diagnosed with disintegrative disorder. Those findings were correct, but could not have justified a finding of serious professional misconduct. As far as I know the reason for including the first criterion has never been explained. The second was treated by gastroenterologists in the clinical team as shorthand for a disorder on the autistic spectrum" (138). The finding that the children were admitted for clinical reasons also puts paid to GMC allegations that the children were subject to inappropriate invasive procedures and that the study did not comply with 172-96s administrative requirements for start date, consent forms, etc.. (For a AoA discussion of these requirements go here.) The GMC prosecution trick was to claim that the paper was covered by approval 172-96, and thereby to introduce a set of conditions that would condemn the doctors were 172-96 accepted as the appropriate approval. In the light of Mittings judgment, this trickery is now out in the open and the GMC's attempt to shift the goal posts declared null and void. However, the current injustice is that these spurious charges still apply to Dr Wakefield and Professor Simon Murch unless the GMC recants and accepts that in the light of Walker-Smiths successful appeal they must now withdraw these charges on the grounds of consistent justice for all three doctors. On the paper's approval status, Mitting concludes that the statement in the paper that Ethical approval and consent: Investigations were approved by the Ethical Practices Committee of the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, and parents gave informed consent. was "untrue and should not have been included" (153). He notes that this was a change made to the previous draft which stated This clinical investigation has been approved by the Ethical Practices Committee of the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust itself inaccurate as a clinical paper would not need ethical committee approval. In focusing on Walker-Smith's case alone, as was his brief, J Mitting appears to ignore the fact that ethical approval 162-95 giving Walker-Smith generic approval to take two additional tissue samples for research from children undergoing clinical colonoscopy applied to the paper. The published statement of approval refers to 162-95. When examined by his QC on 49th day of the GMC hearing, Dr Wakefield clarified his reasoning for publishing the approval statement. He responds in the negative to the question, "Were you, from your standpoint, at any stage seeking ethical approval in respect of what you have described as 'the clinical elements'?" (page 19). In short ethical approval was not necessary for a clinical study. However, when asked about his research responsibilities for the paper, Wakefield explains, "In respect of what I was doing, which was research, then ethical approval would have been required. And, when asked "Did you have it?", says "Yes, I did...Under 162/95". Conclusion Mittings judgment should allay The Lancet editors concerns based on the GMC's now fallacious findings on the childrens referral and the papers ethical approval. However, Mitting raises a new, and we have argued mistaken, concern about the ethics approval statement printed in The Lancet. Mittings findings apply to Walker-Smith and not to Dr Wakefield who has not had the opportunity to appeal the GMC's findings and sanctions. Mitting accepts that the paper was for clinical purposes and we know from Wakefield's testimony that, although this is the case, generic approval 162-95 also applied. Even if this proved not to be correct, it would be unreasonable to make this a serious sticking point for continuing the paper's retraction after Mitting's judgment. Further clarification on the findings against Wakefield and Murch must await the GMCs publication of lessons learnt from the Mittings judgment. Further clarification of the papers now highly questionable retraction status awaits The Lancet editor's decision. A Facebook site is now available for the public to register their disquiet with The Lancet over the papers status [here]. If the ethical questions that have hung over the paper since publication are now resolved, then the paper should be restored to its original position as a peer reviewed paper reporting legitimate research. An entirely different matter concerns The Lancet's role as an archive of past scientific papers and its duty to maintain an intact history of advances in medical science, whether or not these publications were subsequently proved wrong and superseded by new scientific findings. Some Lancet readers may continue to argue that the paper's findings on bowel disease in autistic children and the temporal association between MMR and the onset of behavioural symptoms remain invalid and that this is sufficient reason for it to remain retracted. However, whatever the validity of these findings, it would clearly undermine The Lancet's scientific role if it allowed a paper to remain retracted which had played an important role in the development of medical knowledge of autism and bowel disease and which remains a significant point of focus and debate for subsequent studies. Not only would it introduce new grounds for retracting the paper initially retracted for ethical and not scientific reasons but it would detract from the Lancets longstanding status, since it was founded in 1823, as a guardian of scientific development and a record of the different turnings medical science has taken in advancing knowledge and treatment. Regarding the Wakefield episode the issue raised by a 12 case study is not one of statistical significance, it is one of causation. Of course, the paper never claimed to show causation - contrary to the deliberate misleading impression given by the New York Times - but what we are talking about here are doctors quite properly listening to patient histories. Nor was there ever a claim that these were randomly selected children. That is a red herring dismissed by Mr Justice Mitting with much in the United Kingdom High Court in 2012 when he completely exonerated the senior author of the study, Prof John Walker-Smith (Wakefield having been denied funding to appeal). Beyond the weasel bureaucratic language the issue is clear: vaccines cause encephalopathies and some encephalopathies result in autism. If there were no long term effects from the encephalopathy there would be no compensation. Most significantly the United States government has avoided wider liability by coming to confidentiality agreements with the litigants. But they had conceded privately that vaccines cause autism. The government has never compensated, nor has it ever been ordered to compensate, any case based on a determination that autism was actually caused by vaccines. We have compensated cases in which children exhibited an encephalopathy, or general brain disease. Encephalopathy may be accompanied by a medical progression of an array of symptoms including autistic behavior, autism, or seizures. Now, we all know that vaccines can occasionally cause fevers in kids. So if a child was immunized, got a fever, had other complications from the vaccines. And if youre predisposed with the mitochondrial disorder, it can certainly set off some damage. Some of the symptoms can be symptoms that have characteristics of autism. Elizabeth Hart has provided me with a transcript of newsreel footage by the New York Times full of lies and distortions, and using old footage Seth Mnookin and Andrew Wakefield (tinted to make him look scary). To be clear, despite the denials and heavy talk the mainstream media - which is completely dependent on advertising revenue from the pharmaceutical industry - is disguising the fact that the United States government has already conceded that vaccines cause autism, and it does not remotely hinge upon the reputation of Andrew Wakefield. Here is Centers for Disease Control director, Julie Gerberding, on CNN explaining the Hannah Poling settlement, before she took the revolving door to become head of Mercks vaccine division : As Mr Justice Mitting also showed the paper had nothing directly to do with the legal case. Nor did he find evidence of the data being tampered with. That Wakefield was being retained by lawyers on behalf of the court was known to the Lancet long before the publication of the paper although they pretended not when allegations were made against Wakefield in 2004. Everyone connected with the case must have known about Wakefields involvement for years in 2004 but they pretended it was some kind of revelation. Wakefield was paid at standard rate of 150 [er hour over a period of seven years so the fees accumulated. One of the experts for the other, for instance, received 225,000 ($360,000) for work over a much shorter period. Wakefields patent did not compete with MMR vaccine: it was to be a therapeutic product for bowel disease in the children which may tenuously have had an application as a measles vaccine, but what Wakefield advised at the time was splitting up MMR using spaced out single vaccines in which he had no financial interest. The British government then politicized the issue by withdrawing the option of single vaccines. The British Medical Journal had to back down on key claims even before the findings in the High Court. The BMJ claims were shown to be false, even before Mr Justice Mittings High Court ruling. It is completely inappropriate to cite this publication at this stage. Nor does it serve any honest purpose to label all vaccine critics as anti-vaccine but many people now with various shades of opinion are completely opposed to to a government-industry juggernaut trampling ordinary people and their children underfoot. New York Times Retro Report The Back Story on Trump and Vaccines and Conspiracy Theories https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000004865674/the-back-story-on-trump-and-vaccines.html Video transcript prepared by Elizabeth Hart Voiceover: Over the last few years, Donald Trump has suggested there is a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, even though there is no scientific evidence of a connection after numerous studies. Seth Mnookin, Author of The Panic Virus: There is data from millions and millions of children around the world and it all comes back showing the same thing, that there is zero association. It doesnt matter how many vaccines you get, it doesnt matter when you get them, there is just no correlation whatsoever. Video of Republican Presidential Debate Trump: Weve had so many instances, people that work for me, just the other day, two years old, two and a half years old, the child, a beautiful child, went to have the vaccine, and came back and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic. I only say, its not, Im in favour of vaccines, do em over a longer period of time, same amount but Convenor interruption: Thank you Trump: just in little sections. Voiceover: At a fundraiser during the campaign, Trump met with several anti-vaxxers, including the discredited researcher Andrew Wakefield. Why is this a big deal? Seth Mnookin: The current vaccine scares and controversies that were still dealing with today stem from the 1998 paper by Andrew Wakefield, that appeared in The Lancet, a very respected medical journal published out of the UK. Voiceover: Despite the fact that it was a preliminary study, the British media ran with it. Voiceover re Wakefield study: Doctors at the Royal Free Hospital believe they may have discovered a link between the combination vaccine and a bowel disease that can progress to autism. Andrew Wakefield: We would not have come to this, nor present this paper for publication in The Lancet, unless we had conducted extensive virological studies already. Voiceover: But actually there were some major problems with Wakefields study. First of all, it was comprised of only 12 children. Seth Mnookin: The notion that you would take a 12 person case study and make claims about a population as a whole is ridiculous. Voiceover: And thats not all. There was a major conflict of interest at play. Seth Mnookin: Right before this paper came out, Andrew Wakefield took out a patent for an alternative measles vaccine, of exactly the type that parents would want if his hypothesis was true. Voiceover: And then there was Wakefields financial interest in making the connection between the MMR vaccine and autism. Vision of BMJ article: How the case against the MMR vaccine was fixed In the first part of a special BMJ series, Brian Deer exposes the bogus data behind claims that launched a worldwide scare over the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and reveals how the appearance of a link with autism was manufactured at a London medical school. Seth Mnookin: Andrew Wakefield was receiving money from a lawyer who was working with parents intent on suing vaccine manufacturers. Info box: According to BMJ, Wakefield received more than 435,000 pounds ($674,000) from the lawyers. Godlee said the study shows that of the 12 cases Wakefield examined in his paper, five showed developmental problems before receiving the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine and three never had autism. Voiceover: Wakefield was paid approximately $674,000 for his work on the case. Seth Mnookin: Another thing, he claimed in the paper that the children that he looked at were just a random group of kids. It turns out that many of them were actually sent to him by this lawyer. Voiceover: And when Wakefield needed a control group of healthy children, he took blood samples from kids attending his sons birthday party. Seth Mnookin: When I first heard about it my immediate thought was, worse birthday party ever, and perhaps the most shocking revelation is that he faked some of the data. Voiceover: An investigation by the British Medical Journal, BMJ, found that Wakefield had altered or misrepresented all 12 of the cases he had cited, and ten of his original co-authors withdrew their names from the study. Seth Mnookin: Andrew Wakefield lost his licence a couple of years ago, close to the period in time when The Lancet paper was retracted. Voiceover: Despite losing his medical licence, and follow-up studies on hundreds of thousands of children that contradict his findings, Wakefield feels optimistic since Trumps election. He recently told Stat News that he found Trump genuinely interested and open-minded on this issue. John Stone is UK Editor for Age of Autism. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Apparently, the stranded Mideast peace process that has restarted in the New Year would bring enduring peace to the region. France, a UN veto member has come forward to mediate between an arrogant nuclear power Israel and the besieged Palestine nation. Thus an international peace conference aimed at bringing a resolution to the vexed Israeli-Palestinian conflict opened in Paris on Sunday the January 15. While it is being attended by some 70 countries, neither Israeli nor Palestinian officials were present, while the incoming Trump government of the White House was also absent. The Security Council approved the resolution with 14 votes with the US abstaining. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is not attending, called the conference "futile" at his Sunday cabinet meeting. Palestinian officials welcomed the meeting. The talks, hosted by France, are aimed at bringing both sides back to some level of negotiations with the last round of talks collapsing in 2014. The conference comes amid rising tensions between Israeli and Palestinian leaders following Decembers passing of a UN Security Council resolution that condemned Israeli settlement construction. In order not to let Israel ransack the peace effort as before, Israelis as well as Palestinians were not allowed to participate in the summit but have been invited to hear the conclusions of the meeting. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Great Britain -- as well as key European and Arab states, are attending the conference. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault opened the session, noting a two-state solution is the only way to achieve peace in the Middle East. He welcomed the delegates and remarked: there is no time to lose over a solution. It is not the time to stop, the emergency remains, he said. The parties remain very distanced in a relationship of defiance, which is particularly dangerous, and no one is immune to a new explosion of violence. Last twitches. "U.N. Resolution 2334 reaffirmed the need for the two-state solution. Now is not the time to stop," Ayrault said. Speaking at his cabinet meeting the same day, Netanyahu described the event in Paris as a useless conference because Israel, as before, would not agree for any peace agreement. It is being coordinated between the French and the Palestinians, he said. Netanyahus mention of tomorrows world could be in reference to President-elect Donald Trumps campaign pledge to relocate the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a proposal that has caused consternation within the international community. Israel and its Neocon agents and Zionist supporters expect Trump also to simply follow the footpath of his predecessors and support Israeli crimes and criticize the Palestinian victims of Zionist aggression. It is the second such meeting organised by the government of President Francois Hollande after a first in June, which was attended by more than 20 nations and groups. "Mobilization has constantly grown since the 3rd of June. This has already delivered some significant results," said Ayrault. "The two-state solution has been forcefully re-submitted. Now is definitely not the time to stop. The parties are very, very far apart, and the goal is to bring Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table." The peace conference was welcomed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to meet Pope Francis at the Holy See on Saturday the Jan 14, but it was dismissed as rigged by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu who wants no peace efforts from a third nation. Israel says the recommendations of the conference could turn into another Security Council resolution in the Obama administrations final days in office. PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas has written to Trump to say an embassy move to Jerusalem is in a bad taste of diplomacy and would have a dire effect on any chances of peace. He also warned in a recent speech that any statement or position that disrupts or changes the status of Jerusalem is a red line which we will not accept. Thus far, Israel and USA, cutting across the bipartisan politics, have jointly promoted all Zionist crimes against humanity. President Obama towards his final days supported the Palestine state formation efforts by abstaining from voting in UN, enabling the resolution to pass. So far, Israel dictated its terms to any conference and never been serious about solving the vexed problem because it enjoys occupational crimes and relished Palestinian blood. Its goal is to try and force terms on Israel that conflict with our national needs. Of course it pushes peace further away because it hardens the Palestinian positions and it also pushes them away from direct negotiations without preconditions. I must say that this conference is among the last twitches of yesterdays world. Tomorrows world will be different and it is very near. Israel occupies Palestine and will have to vacate the lands in order for any peace effort to succeed. Israel knows that and hence adamant. In order to disturb the process of Palestine state formation legally, Israel is raising the Iran issue which has long ago been settled with the nuclear deal. But Israel asks Trump to cancel the deal and promote Zionist criminal regime in Mideast as the only legitimate nation of West Asia. The meeting produced a two-page statement signed by all 70 countries calling for continued work toward the two-state solution -- Israel and a Palestinian state living side-by-side, and potentially sharing Jerusalem as a capital -- which is seen as the only possible solution to the endless conflict. The statement also calls on the Palestinians to halt acts of violence, from motivating stabbing attacks at border crossings to launching rockets into Israel, and on the Israelis to stop building Jewish settlements in disputed parts of the West Bank. The message issued by a significant portion of European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries was thought to be aimed at Trump, who has talked about moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and is expected to appoint ambassadors with more hardline views of seeking peace in the region. Outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry said after the meeting that clear progress had been made with Arab nations who, like the Palestinians, have refused to recognize Israel's right to exist. While not being said outright, Kerry said the Arab nations in the Middle East may start changing their minds about Israel if the Palestinian issue is finally taken care of. "It's a first when you have international organizations -- the Islamic Council and the Arab League and others -- willing to try to shift the paradigm here, to point out that they are prepared to make peace with Israel," Kerry said. Zionist bossism and military fascism Though Israel denounced this latest French initiative, to be sure it has only benefited politically and economically from the 20-year-long peace process known as the Oslo Accords - a fact that has been well covered. Israel's resistance to the French conference can surely be explained by the fact that its current government has all but outright rejected the notion of a Palestinian state and - in keeping in line with previous governments - resisted any efforts to involve the wider international community. It is for these same reasons that Israel has been so combative with regards to recent UN efforts - though merely symbolic - to recognize a Palestinian state and call for Israel to abide by international law and halt its settlement construction. For all these UN resolutions, International Court of Justice opinions, and peace conferences, not a single political actor in the diplomatic arena has chosen to address the most crucial question: Who will actively force Israel, the occupier, to abide by international law? Western governments can't claim ignorance to this question and to Palestinian demands. They have been actively fighting the largest nonviolent, grassroots effort to force Israel to abide by international law - namely, the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement but nothing has worked because the USA backs Israel and its veto shields it from punitive measure for crimes against humanity. Israel has opposed international involvement in the peace process and wants direct talks. Ayrault said that he and other senior French officials met with both sides in recent months, and said he is willing to travel to the region to present the conference's conclusions. "The goal is to put an end to this conflict so that this region can live in peace and prosperity," Ayrault said. Ayrault praised outgoing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for his peace process effort. U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the USA did not "want to see anything that attempts to impose a solution on Israel." Israel wants world to leave the Palestine issue to Israeli government so that it could arrange bogus talks with Palestinians on its own terms and also keep killing the Palestinians and take away their lands for illegal settlement constructions for Jews. Zionist Obama and Trump Western governments' allergy to the movement, along with their unwillingness to offer alternatives for frustrated Palestinians to force Israel's hand, has raised questions among many. Israel has been at odds with the outgoing government of President Obama, accusing the USA of directing the motion and enabling it to pass by abstaining and not using its veto power in the Security Council. The settlements are home to about 600,000 Israelis and are considered illegal under international law. While a rare and recent UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to Israeli settlement-building in the occupied territories has raised optimism, the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency in the United States has raised concerns about peace prospects. However, Trumps assertions in favor of Zionist criminal regime and his anti-Muslims rhetoric have given fresh hopes in Tel Aviv as it refused to read the real mind of Trump. Israel is damn sure it can easily fool incoming President Trump with his anti-Muslim and anti-Iran feelings so that it would continue to enjoy the military support of Pentagon that keeps adding more and more terror goods into Zionist arm depots to be used against Palestine and Mideastern Arab nations. Senior French officials met a few weeks ago in New York with Trump's advisers and presented the program for the conference. Trump's team reportedly objected to the conference, especially five days before Trump's inauguration. Under pressure from powerful Jewish lobbies in Washington, President-elect Donald Trump said he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and also opposed the UN resolution asking Israel to remove all settlements in Palatine. He has stopped talking about shifting US embassy to Jerusalem, however. Trump has nominated a pro-settlement American as his ambassador to Israel and suggested the US embassy could be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in what would be a highly contentious decision. Ayrault told France 3 TV he thought the move to shift US embassy would cause "extremely serious consequences." Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that such a move could "bury the hopes for a two-state solution." Playing mischief with both Palestinians and international community, Netanyahu's divided government has strongly opposed international interventions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, arguing preconditions put in place by world powers make bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians more difficult. Netanyahu jokes the conference was coordinated between the French and Palestinians. "These are the death throes of yesterday's world. Tomorrow will look different," Netanyahu said. But Israel's opposition leader Isaac Herzog of the Zionist Union, said that Netanyahu should have attended the Paris peace conference. Israel says peace is possible only according to its designs and at its own terms. Israeli leader Netanyahu had balked at attending the conference, saying it "pushes peace backwards". "It's a rigged conference, rigged by the Palestinians, under French auspices, to adopt additional anti-Israel stances," Netanyahu said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was also absent as France is not clear about his role for the conference. Ultimately, while recent efforts to call on Israel to abide by international law and halt its settlement activity may have renewed some observers' optimism, it remains to be seen what will tip the balance of power in the current conflict and force an actual settlement. Palestine and Vatican Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abbas formally opened an embassy of Palestine at the Vatican City on the eve of a peace conference meant to revive long-stalled talks with Israel. The embassy confers a new level of legitimacy on Palestinian President Abbas, who was granted an audience with Pope Francis on Saturday. While the Vatican has maintained close ties with Israel, Francis has increasingly spoken on behalf of the Palestinian people, encouraging both sides to reach a deal that creates a Palestinian state recognized by Israel. This embassy is a place of pride for us and we hope that all of the countries of the world recognize the state of Palestine, because this recognition will bring us closer to the peace process," Abbas said at the Vatican. Abbas is headed to Paris next to participate in a 70-member conference on Middle East peace hosted by the French government. The Israeli government appears unlikely to attend the conference, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it "futile." Without representatives of Israel or Palestine, leaders from 70 nations around the world gathered in Paris to discuss the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with particular attention paid to working toward a two-state solution and the need for both sides to hold back on unilateral action. Palestinians have long called for the creation of a state along the pre-1967 border with Israel that includes land on the West Bank, Gaza Strip and with sovereign control over east Jerusalem, the latter of which is a nonstarter for Israel, which views the whole of Jerusalem as its capital. This Pope shows great moral clarity by offering support against Israeli persecution of the indigenous Christian and Muslim population that have suffered under the daily horror of occupation for more than a generation. As more light is shined on Israel's action, the hope for relief increases, and the scourge of occupation, apartheid and ethnic cleansing through settlements becomes unequivocally condemned. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas raised the Palestinian flag over the Palestinian Embassy in the Vatican after meeting with Pope Francis. The two reportedly discussed the French peace conference scheduled for Paris on Sunday; and talked about events and how the situation has changed since the Pontiff extended full diplomatic recognition to the State of Palestine in 2015 a move that angered Israeli officials. Abbas used the opportunity to repeat his warning about repercussions if President Trump moves the US Embassy to Jerusalem and complained to Francis about moves by Israel he says are intended to Juda-ize the Holy City. Abbas also called on nations to follow the Vaticans lead and recognize Palestine. Israeli officials were angered by the Vatican recognition and by Pope Franciss characterization of President Abbas as the angel of peace. The post PA President Abbas Opens Vatican Embassy; Meets with Pope Francis US President-elect Donald Trump is also expected to enter the White House with a different approach that could change years of cautious, seemingly endless efforts for peace -- and Israeli Netanyahu called the talks "rigged" to make Israel look bad. French President Francois Hollande said while starting the afternoon session at the conference that the two-state solution, which the international community has agreed on for many years, appears threatened by Israeli arrogance refusals. "It is physically threatened on the ground by the acceleration of settlements, it is politically threatened by the progressive weakening of the peace camp, it is morally threatened by the distrust that has accumulated between the parties, and that has certainly been exploited by extremists." All eyes are on US Secretary of State John Kerry to see whether he will build upon his recent scathing indictment of Israeli policies in post-1967 areas or walk-back some of the intensity of his 70-minute diatribe in his last appearance as SecState on the foreign stage. Meanwhile Israeli PM Netanyahu is facing serious corruption charges that threaten his very stay in power too long. Undoubtedly spurred on by endless media coverage of two corruption cases against Netanyahu while the smell of political blood waxes increasingly pungent to his opposition foes, the next step played out in the streets of Tel Aviv when hundreds of members of left-leaning political parties marched in what was billed as a protest to the Netanyahu governments corruption and detachment from the people. What first became known to the populace as an investigation into Netanyahu and his family receiving unilateral gifts cigars and Champagne worth tens of thousands of dollars from a wealthy Israeli Hollywood producer for whom the prime minister asked US Secretary of State John Kerry for help in obtaining a 10-year work visa escalated sharply when it became known that prosecutors had a tape that documented Netanyahu negotiating with the owner of an opposition newspaper to exchange lenient coverage of the prime ministers re-election bid in return for the prime minister taking measures to level the competition against the leading competitor newspaper. Opposition leaders are fixed on the immediate goal of bringing the matter to the point where an indictment is issued against Netanyahu, at which point he will be required to step down from office. Observation Since October 2015, 2247 Palestinians, 40 Israelis, two Americans, a Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national have been killed in a wave of violence, according to an AFP news agency count. The views of Israel and the Palestinians are known to the key players. While President-elect Donald Trump is not the first presidential candidate to vow to move the embassy as one of his first acts in office, unlike Presidents Clinton and Bush, many believe Trump is brash enough and unmoved by diplomatic precedent to be the one to make the move. Though representatives from 70 countries and organisations arrived, hopes of a breakthrough in the stagnant peace process were low without any representatives from either the Palestinian Authority or Israeli government at the "Conference for Peace in the Middle East" held in France's capital, Paris. French sponsored Middle East peace initiative in Paris has reconvened, promoting renewed confidence in the ever-elusive two-state solution. Now it is for the international community to push forward the resolution and get Israel on its side in order to help establish a much delayed Palestine state not only as a full-fledged UN member but also a genuinely soverign to safeguards its territories and people, assets without the Zionist terror intimidation. Even as the representatives of 72 countries were meeting in Paris for a one day Peace Summit in the latest bid to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Palestinians walked through Zionist wire fences on a path that leads to a checkpoint in the Israeli separation wall that surrounds the Shurafat Refugee Camp northeast of Jerusalem. While the Palestinians welcome the multinational approach to brings the two sides to the negotiating table, Netanyahu says the Paris peace talks are 'useless' without Israeli approval and seal. The last round of direct peace talks collapsed in April 2014 because of Israeli arrogance. Last month, the UN passed a resolution denouncing Israel's settlement activity on occupied land. French conference addressed actions of the Palestinian Authority in a call for both parties to desist from taking unilateral actions that prejudge the outcome of final status negotiations. The French hosts of the conference are attempting to blunt Israeli criticism of the event by reiterating that the initiative does not seek to impose a solution or undermine the need for the parties themselves to arrive at an agreement. Also aimed at Israel, the French are seeking a renewal of each sides commitment to the two-state solution and for heads-of-governments to publicly renounce government officials who suggest solutions other than the two-state as promulgated by the Quartet the international entity brokering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process comprised of the US, United Nations, European Union and Russia. Crimes being committed by Israeli regime and military must be thoroughly investigated and guilty punished by ICJ and ICC. The Palestinian Authority campaigns for agency-by-agency recognition at the United Nations and the bringing of cases against Israel in the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told Le Figaro in Paris that if the Trump government supports Israeli regime and shift US embassy to Jerusalem, the PA might rescind its recognition of Israel. Abbas has written to the president-elect asking that the move the embassy to Jerusalem not happen and outlining the threatened repercussions if the embassy is moved. Nevertheless, Israelis are concerned by the mixed-messages they are hearing from Team Trump ranging from the pledges to move the embassy on one hand to the statement by defense secretary-designate Gen. Mattis telling his confirmation inquisitors that the capital of Israel is Tel Aviv. There is the belief among diplomats and statesmen that the new US government under Trump might offer a quid pro quo to the Palestinians such as a formal American diplomatic entity in Palestinian territory. Until now, contact with the Palestinians is severed from the US ambassador and embassy and instead rests with the Consul General in the Jerusalem Consulate. The French conference aiming to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians is expected to above all send a unified message from 70 participating countries to the American president-elect not to fulfill his promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The consensus behind the message is that the embassy move would sound a death knell to the two-state solution which the international conventional wisdom deems to be the only road to peace on the Israeli-Palestinian track. The one-day Paris conference focused on economic incentives, efforts by civil society groups, and "capacity building" for a future Palestinian state. The French-led effort to kick-start long-stalled discussions on a two-state solution between Palestinians and Israelis got under way with the two main players absent from the summit. But it was met with widespread skepticism. "The only interesting thing will be whether Hollande in his speech brings back the idea of recognising a Palestinian state, but I don't think he will," Alain Gresh, a journalist with Le Monde Diplomatique, told Al Jazeera While hopes for a revitalized peace process were low, the sheer number of participants at the conference on Sunday was noteworthy. "We are expecting at the end of the day for the 70 countries here to pledge their commitment to a two-state solution, and call on both sides to stop ongoing violence," Butler said. The Paris meeting is considered significant as the conflict has become contentious again, at least partially because Israel has restarted construction of settlements in land the Palestinians dispute amid continued acts of violence against Israel by Palestinians. Diplomats at a conference on peace in the Middle East said in a joint statement for Israel and Palestine to rededicate themselves to a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict and offering suggestions for how to get there. USA must without any further delay recognize Palestine state as its diplomatic duty. American recognition of Palestine would go a long way in streamlining and revising US policy for Mideast so that peace is guaranteed to Palestinian children about their right to live. Granting full UN membership to Palestine state and dignity to Palestinian community is absolutely necessary for creating a just and democratic world beyond Mideast and West Asia. President trump needs to take responsibility of making fascist Israel behave and become a normal nation. It has to declare to UNSC its nuke assets and if it continues to be irresponsible, UNSC must initiate punitive measures against this rogue state that target Palestinians and Arab world. WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 - President Donald Trump today officially pulled the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation trade pact that the Obama administration spent years orchestrating in order to give the U.S. a new leadership role among Pacific Rim countries. A great thing for the American worker, what we just did, Trump said as he signed the executive order that leaves the remaining 11 TPP countries facing an uncertain future. Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Malaysia could try to move forward with the trade pact without the U.S., but many will likely join a competing 16-member trade deal with China - the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - Michael Froman, then the U.S. Trade Representative, said shortly before Trump replaced Barack Obama in the White House. Trump campaigned heavily last year against multilateral trade deals like TPP and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), blaming them for the loss of manufacturing jobs by enticing companies to relocate factories in countries like Mexico. Trump has also pledged to renegotiate NAFTA or pull the U.S. out of that 22-year-old trade pact with Mexico and Canada. NAFTA and TPP were likely both subjects in recent telephone discussions Trump had with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said that the new U.S. president is scheduled to meet with Pena Nieto to discuss trade, immigration and security issues on Jan. 31. Withdrawal from TPP is being applauded by many on Capitol Hill, but much of the U.S. farming sector was counting on TPP to boost sales of beef, oilseeds, dairy, fruits, vegetables and other ag commodities. "Trade is something soybean farmers take very seriously, American Soybean Association President Ron Moore said today in a statement after Trump signed the executive order. We export more than half the soy we grow here in the United States, and still more in the form of meat and other products that are produced with our meal and oil. The TPP held great promise for us, and has been a key priority for several years now. We're very disappointed to see the withdrawal today." Trump's opposition to the TPP has put him in conflict with some of his supporters in rural America, but it's also drawn support for some of his biggest critics in Washington, including Democratic lawmakers like Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro who are celebrating the U.S. leaving TPP. Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also campaigned against TPP, a cornerstone of the Obama administration's trade agenda. I am glad the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead and gone, Sanders said today in a statement. For the last 30 years, we have had a series of trade deals - including the North American Free Trade Agreement, permanent normal trade relations with China and others - which have cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and caused a race to the bottom' which has lowered wages for American workers. Now is the time to develop a new trade policy that helps working families, not just multinational corporations. If President Trump is serious about a new policy to help American workers then I would be delighted to work with him. But Trump's action today was a blow for Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska. "It's clear that those of us who believe trade is good for American families have done a terrible job defending trade's historic successes and celebrating its future potential, Sassse said. We have to make the arguments and we have to start now." #30 Republican lawmakers head to Philadelphia on Wednesday for their two-day retreat, and Trump is expected to visit. Trump will receive his first foreign leader on Friday, British Prime Minister Theresa May, and he'll meet Mexican President Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Jan. 31. Trade is expected to be a major topic in both meetings. In one of the administration's first acts last Friday, the White House ordered delays in regulations that had not yet taken effect. That action delays a new Agriculture Department rule that sets standards of proof for livestock and poultry producers who believe they have been harmed by processors' business practices. Some industry groups will be pressuring Trump's nominee for agriculture secretary, former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, to scrap the rule. David Warner, a spokesman for the National Pork Producers Council, said the USDA's release of the marketing rule in December was a political decision that was shoved down our throats by the last administration, which ironically will result in more concentration. We are confident the incoming administration will kill it. That job would fall on Perdue, whose nomination was announced on Thursday, just ahead of Trump's inauguration. He attended the agricultural inaugural ball at the Grand Hyatt Friday night. Perdue spoke briefly from the stage and mingled in the crowd afterward. Also on Friday, the agricultural adviser for Trump's presidential campaign, Sam Clovis, took charge of hiring and policy implementation. The next major nomination at USDA is expected to be for deputy secretary, the department's No. 2 who is traditionally in charge of day-to-day operations. Several members of Trump's Agricultural Advisory Committee are believed to be under consideration for the job including Nebraska agribusinessman Charles W. Herbster; Indiana farmer Kip Tom; Indiana's agriculture director, Ted McKinney; and A.G. Kawamura, a former California agriculture secretary and a fruit and vegetable grower in Orange County. Trump appears to be wasting little time in pursuing his trade priorities. In his inaugural address, Trump made clear that he would focus on shifting U.S. trade policy to enforcing and renegotiating existing agreements. We've made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon, he said. Trump has said he wants to complete a bilateral trade deal with the United Kingdom after it leaves the European Union. And he spoke by phone on Saturday to the leaders of the other two members of the North American Free-Trade Agreement, which Trump has pledged to renegotiate: Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that Trump and Trudeau discussed setting up additional meetings, while Trump and Pena Nieto discussed a planned Jan. 31 meeting on trade, immigration and security issues. The Senate, meanwhile, has confirmed two Trump cabinet officials on Friday, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security secretary John Kelly. Next up is Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo, nominated to run the CIA. The Senate is scheduled to vote on him Monday evening. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday will consider the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be attorney general. Also this week, a bill that sponsors say would improve phone call quality in rural areas begins to move in the House and the Senate. The House will vote Monday on the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act, sponsored by Iowa Republican David Young, which would require the Federal Communications Commission to issue service quality standards for companies that carry long-distance calls in rural areas from providers such as Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The bill is intended to improve the quality of landline or wireless calls that rural residents receive on their landline phones. The intermedia, third-party providers are currently not required to register with the FCC or meet its standards. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will take up on Tuesday a similar version of the bill, cosponsored by Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and Democrats Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Jon Tester of Montana. During a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing last fall, the president of McClure Telephone Co. in Ohio, Lance Miller, said on behalf of the NTCA-Rural Broadband Association that more must be done to ensure that call quality and reliability improves and that no entity may unreasonably discriminate against consumers and businesses in rural America. Here's a list of agriculture- or rural-related events scheduled for this week in Washington and elsewhere: Monday, Jan. 23 Noon - American Enterprise Institute hosts a forum, Poverty, hunger, agricultural policy: Do farm programs affect the nutrition of poor Americans? 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tuesday, Jan. 24 All day - Heritage Foundation forum on antitrust policy, 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 10 a.m. - Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee marks up legislation, including the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act, 253 Russell. 10 a.m. - Senate Judiciary Committee considers nomination of Jeff Sessions to be attorney general, 226 Dirksen. 10:30 a.m. - Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing for Mick Mulvaney to be director of the Office of Management and Budget, 608 Dirksen. 11:30 a.m. - House Appropriations Committee holds an organizational meeting, 2359 Rayburn. 2:30 p.m. - Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing for Mulvaney to be director of the Office of Management and Budget, 342 Dirksen. Wednesday, Jan. 25 Congressional Republican retreat, Philadelphia, through Friday. Thursday, Jan. 26 GOP retreat. 9 a.m. - USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook. 2 p.m. - USDA Biotechnology Regulatory Services hosts conference call to explain its proposed rule to change Part 340 regulatory process for genetically engineered organisms. Friday, Jan. 27 GOP retreat. #30 Aiken, SC (29801) Today A few clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. January 23, 2017 CAIRO Egypt has been accused of violating the ban on the export of arms to Libya. US special envoy to Libya Jonathan Winer said in a BBC interview Jan. 10 that a UN expert committee report containing pictures confirms the existence of evidence that Egypt is sending arms to Libya, but he did not specify the type of arms that are being transferred. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid denied the accusations and said that Egypt is committed to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) and that there are no breaches in this regard. The UN imposed an embargo on exporting arms to Libya in 2011, when former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi launched a crackdown against pro-democracy protesters in the country. But that did not prevent the entry of illegal weapons to extremist and terrorist groups in violation of the ban amid the chaos plaguing the country. On Oct. 3, 2014, gunmen in the city of Derna announced in a video broadcast online the establishment of the Islamic State (IS) in Libya as part of what they called the Caliphate State. In November, the organization's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, accepted their allegiance in an audiotape posted on the internet. This led Libya to face an unprecedented security challenge. Despite the Egyptian officials statements confirming Egypts standing at an equal distance from all political parties in Libya, Cairo has publicly supported Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the commander of the armed forces of Libya, and it has repeatedly hosted him in Cairo, most recently on Jan. 19 in his capacity as the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), to discuss the political and security situation. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in April 2016, Egypt supports the LNA, represented by Hifter, because it believes that it is the best way to get rid of terrorism and help Libya recover. Cairo is deemed to be the biggest supporter of the lifting of the arms embargo on the LNA (not other groups), as Sisi officially called in his speech before the UN General Assembly in September 2016 for the lifting of the embargo imposed on Libya, and said that the country is suffering from a delicate status and a deep political crisis. For his part, Bashir Abdel-Fattah, a political researcher at the Egyptian Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies, criticized what he described as the international communitys insistence on imposing a ban on the export of weapons to Libya. Abdel-Fattah told Al-Monitor that Egypt is trying to stop the international community, especially the five countries that have the veto right in the Security Council, from exaggerating as far as Libya is concerned. He supported the Egyptian point of view on Libya and said that it is not fair for the Security Council to prevent Hifters LNA from getting weapons to counter the threat of terrorism, while terrorist organizations and armed militias continue to get illegal weapons. The UN submitted a report on July 18, 2016, to the Security Council on the threat that Libya poses to neighboring countries. According to the report, IS in Libya acts as a support hub for IS in North Africa. Mohammed Hijazi, a former spokesman for Hifters LNA general command, agreed with the report and said that the situation is deteriorating, especially in the border areas with Egypt as armed militias have taken control thereof and now pose a threat to Cairo. Three factors threaten the Egyptian national security through its western border with Libya: the financial and logistical support provided by IS to Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis in Egypt across the border; the infiltration and smuggling attempts to and from Libya; and the smuggling of arms and illegal immigration through Libya to Egypt. Egypt is coordinating with the LNA, represented by Hifter, and this was made clear when Egypt launched in February 2015 airstrikes against IS targets inside Libya, in response to IS execution of 21 Egyptians in Libya. At the time, Saqr Geroushi, the commander of the Libyan air force, said, These [Egyptian] strikes were carried out in coordination with us which does not rule out any military cooperation in this regard. Since the airstrikes in February 2015, the western part of Egypt has been on a security alert along the border with Libya. In this context, the Egyptian armed forces carried out a large military exercise with live ammunition in the western military region on the border with Libya in November 2016. Hijazi said in a phone interview with Al-Monitor from Tobruk that the international community does not have a real intention to lift the ban on armament, especially with the lack of political consensus among Libyan parties. For his part, Hassan Abu Haniya, an independent expert on terrorist groups, said that al-Qaedas control over the city of Derna, which is located near the border with Egypt in the northeast of the country, poses a threat to the security situation in the northern Sinai Peninsula. Al-Qaeda had expelled IS from Derna in June 2015. Haniya said in a telephone interview with Al-Monitor from Jordan that these armed groups operate in Derna from time to time and smuggle weapons into Egypt across the border to Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis and other dispersed terrorist groups. The July 2016 UN report stated that funds have been transferred from Libya to Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis in the northeastern part of Sinai. Since 2015, substantial and increasing monthly subsidies are being sent from IS in Libya to Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. The report added that Egyptians who had trained in Libya also joined the ranks of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, IS branch in Egypt, which pledged allegiance to Baghdadi in November 2014. Ansar al-Bayt al-Maqdis named itself Wilayat Sinai (Arabic for State of Sinai), and it has been waging attacks on the security forces in northern Sinai at an accelerated pace since former Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in 2013. The latest two attacks targeted security checkpoints in the town of el-Arish in Sinai, which it claimed responsibility for and which led to the killing of 25 people. Asked about Egypts role as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council as far as this issue is concerned, Abdel-Fattah said that Egypt is climbing an uphill battle to convince the member states to adopt the same vision. He pointed out that Cairo is constantly criticized by the international community because of its position on this issue and said, The Egyptian position on Hifters support is contrary to that of the international community. So I expect the clash to last and hamper any efforts to contain the situation in Libya. January 20, 2017 There is a real sense of satisfaction among the Palestinian leadership about the outcome of the Paris Middle East peace conference that took place Jan. 15. Nevertheless, in their usual manner, Palestinian representatives complained that the Obama administration prevented clearer resolutions on permanent status issues. That said, a senior PLO official close to President Mahmoud Abbas, who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, said outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry will be missed, given his honest ambition to advance Palestinian statehood. The senior official said that the Palestinian leadership sees the Paris conference as part of a chain of events meant to place Palestinian statehood high on the international agenda of 2017: The fact that there are very few conflict resolution issues in which more than 70 countries come to a consensus is very significant. Our national positions for a Palestinian state on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as a capital have been adopted by the international community. The Arab Peace Initiative is the bridge between the Arab consensus and the international one. He claimed that the call to both parties the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel to negotiate directly is not taken seriously in Ramallah; neither are the economic and political incentives proposed by the conference participants, or the calls for confidence-building measures. The reason for this negative reaction lies with the Israeli annexation policies, preventing any possibility of a dialogue. Abbas believes that he was successful in convincing the international community that the Israeli government is the culprit behind the dangerous diplomatic stalemate. The Palestinian leadership in the aftermath of the Paris conference has opted for a diplomatic follow-up strategy, for the weeks and months ahead. This strategy includes preventing at all costs the moving of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Ramallah has called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to warn Washington of severe consequences in case of such a move by the Trump administration, including the suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel by Egypt and Jordan. Another element of this strategy is working to transform the Paris conference into a permanent international effort. Following the two conferences in Paris, and given the French elections in May, the Palestinian leadership is turning to Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the next conference in Moscow later in 2017; PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat already met senior Russian officials in Moscow on Jan. 13. Such a conference in Moscow should continually deal with international permanent status positions and the role of various countries in contributing to it. Also, following up on the Paris conference conclusions, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Union headquarters will be encouraged to assist the PA in its nation-building process, both economically and on the civil society level. Finally, the Palestinians would advance the idea of another UN Security Council resolution on terms of reference for permanent status based on the Arab Peace Initiative. A senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity bluntly criticized the Paris conference as a Palestinian-French maneuver with the backing of the outgoing Obama administration designed to isolate Israel. He said, The result of the conference will only harden the Palestinian objections to unconditional direct negotiations. The outcome of the conference, like the French initiative or the speech of John Kerry, is a veiled attempt to predetermine permanent status in ways that the Israeli government will never accept. He added that Israels diplomatic efforts will focus now on developing a joint strategy with the incoming Trump administration leading up to a summit meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Our aim is to place the onus for the stalemate in the peace process on the Palestinian side, instead of the settlement policy that was the case with the Obama administration, he said. The senior diplomat said informal talks have already begun with officials in Trumps security and foreign affairs teams about a joint statement to be released right after the upcoming summit meeting in the Oval Office. Israel would like the new president and secretary of state to declare that any negotiations on a two-state solution should be bilateral, and that such talks could be launched only once the PA stops incitement to violence and recognizes in principle Israel as a Jewish state. Israel is therefore unimpressed and undeterred by the Paris conference outcome. And so, in the aftermath of the Paris conference, two parallel and contradictory processes are taking place: a follow-up on the Paris II conference by the Palestinians who seek inter-Arab and Russian support, and a strengthening new Israeli-American connection, which aims to sideline the forces that brought about the Paris conferences. As part of its follow-up strategy, the Palestinian leadership is also planning to hold a dialogue with the Trump administration, mainly on preventing a move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem. Yet the Palestinians' main focus is on convincing the Russian leadership to prevent such an American move, and for the Russians to take over from the French the efforts to create a platform for a two-state solution. One cannot exclude that in the near future, after the Paris conference and Trumps inauguration, Russian President Vladimir Putin will become an essential player on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. January 20, 2017 SAMARRA, Iraq Islamic State attacks continue on police stations and checkpoints in the Sunni-majority city of Samarra that is guarded by the non-local, volunteer Shiite armed group Saraya al-Salam. Two Jan. 2 attacks left several security officers dead and resulted in a shoot-out lasting into the next day. On Jan. 17, the directorate of military intelligence announced that they arrested the man who had coordinated the attack two weeks earlier with a variety of weapons and explosive materials intended for being used in future attacks in Samarra. The local media chief for the group told Al-Monitor in an interview some days later that it does not allow other Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) into the area without prior permission after an agreement with the government. Samarra, roughly 130 kilometers (81 miles) north of Baghdad and 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Tikrit, is widely known for a 2006 attack on the Al-Askari Shrine revered by Shiites that sparked sectarian bloodletting across the country. IS leader Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim al-Badri al-Samarrai, more commonly known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was born in 1971 in a village nearby. An offshoot of the Jaish al-Mahdi militia, which was highly active in fighting US forces following the 2003 invasion, Saraya al-Salams fighters originate mostly from areas in the Shiite-dominant south or the traditionally poor Sadr City named after the family of the armed groups founder, Muqtada al-Sadr in the eastern part of Baghdad. On Jan. 2, in addition to the two attacks on police stations in Samarra, a suicide bomber drove into a fruit and vegetable market in Sadr City. The Baghdad attack killed at least 36 people, many of them day laborers. Saraya al-Salams black Humvees with a logo featuring a dove (Saraya al-Salam translates to Peace Brigades) against a flag-adorned map of Iraq logo are ubiquitous in Samarra and frequently seen in cities nearby. Sadrs sternly rotund, bearded face below a hefty black turban sometimes shown with an angry forefinger midair adorns many billboards, flanked by other PMU posters heavy on army fatigues, beards and Qurans. Colorful posters commemorating the "martyrs" of the war against IS line the streets and decorate checkpoints. The group was formed by Sadr after IS took Mosul in June 2014; it has been key to the success in many battles alongside other PMUs. Though some of these units active in the area have been accused of abuses, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances and looting, Saraya al-Salam seems to come in for less criticism. "Saraya al-Salam is very selective," Emad Abu Moaml, one of the groups fighters deployed to the city, told Al-Monitor during an interview. He said he would soon be starting a job as a government employee. "We ask the people from their area what sort of person they are and reputation they have before accepting them." Abu Moaml, originally from Amarah, a city in southeastern Iraq some 50 kilometers from the border with Iran, said, "We received orders from Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr to protect civilians who are suffering and their property." The group claims to attach great importance to giving inhabitants back the money, gold and property they found when they entered the city. One Saraya al-Salam fighter told Al-Monitor that, prior to their taking responsibility for the security of the city, many inhabitants had buried their valuables and money to prevent theft. "We found millions of dinars and gold," another fighter, Karim al-Zeidi, said while showing Al-Monitor cellphone photos of stacks of money and gold jewelry. In regard to the dangers they are exposed to, he noted, "We lost 13 of our men in the explosion of one home here, when we entered a booby-trapped house to secure it. The family wanted to go in but we wouldnt let them until our men had made sure that it was safe." Keeping peoples property intact is "even more important than fighting IS," he said, stressing that they had sometimes made decisions during the fighting not to target homes, even if they knew an IS fighter was there, to prevent the loss of property. The Baghdad-born head of media for Saraya al-Salam in Salahuddin province, Mohannad al-Azawi, told Al-Monitor that the fighters in the city did not receive payment of any sort. He said he was able to afford to do this since he receives payments as part of a law that compensates those injured by "acts of terrorism and military mistakes." He said, "[I was injured] fighting the US occupation in 2008 in Baghdad," as part of Jaish al-Mahdi, Saraya al-Salams predecessor. Many others, he said, are government employees who are able to take off a few weeks at a time and use their holiday time to man the checkpoints. The PMUs, which Saraya al-Salam is part of, have taken on military security duties in other areas and were granted "full legal status" with pensions and salaries by the government in November. However, Azawi said, "Other PMUs are no longer allowed into the city. They need to get permission from us and we escort them around and out of the city again if they have a valid reason." According to him, this measure was taken after complaints from civilians about some of the other groups. Another key difference between the group and many other units, Azawi noted, was that their leader, Sadr, has "always been in support of populations rising up against brutal regimes," including across the border in Syria. In this, it diverges sharply from such groups as Harakat al-Nujaba, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, all of which have sent forces to support the Syrian regime in its fight against opposition groups. Sadr has gained greater prominence on the Iraqi political scene in recent years, leading protests against corruption, and his support has been a deciding factor in many Iraqi politicians success. He and fellow Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim are expected to play a key role in the provincial and federal elections slated for 2018. Among the civilians in Samarra whom Al-Monitor was able to speak with about Saraya al-Salam, complaints included that "the city continues to look like a military zone due to their presence, with too many checkpoints," and that they had "rounded up too many young men for questioning" after the recent attacks. But they had been let go since. Inhabitants of the Sunni-majority neighboring province of Anbar also told Al-Monitor that some people from their area had been kidnapped by other PMUs over a year ago and taken to Samarra, and that Saraya al-Salam and the Iraqi army had secured their release. In justifying the groups continued presence and security measures, Azawi said that the city continues to be a prime target for IS and criminal groups, and that "the police are weaker than we are. They need us." January 23, 2017 A package of constitutional amendments that would dramatically expand the powers of Turkeys president won the support of 339 deputies in the 550-member parliament Jan. 21, surpassing the 60% threshold (330 votes) required to submit the draft to a referendum. Backed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its de facto partner, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the bill is supposed to be put to a public vote within two months of the presidents approval, meaning Turkish voters will be going to the polls no later than the third week of April. The amendments basically involve a new system of governance, switching from a parliamentarian to a presidential regime. A closer look, however, leaves little doubt that the objective goes well beyond that. The draft contains all the elements that would move Turkey away from the core norms of a pluralist, democratic state of law separation of powers and a system of checks and balances and transform it into a majoritarian authoritarian system. Already, the drafts content as well as the way it came together flouted the norms of democracy. The AKP wrote the proposal under the supervision of presidential advisers, without political dialogue or public debate. The final touches were added at closed-door meetings with the MHP. The parliamentary stage was similarly devoid of meaningful debate, with the two parties using their combined majority to push the bill through amid brawls and violations of procedural rules. Drafted in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdogans wishes, the proposed new constitution concentrates power in the hands of a single individual and blurs the lines between the ruling party and the state. As such, it falls behind all of Turkeys previous constitutions, including the notorious 1982 constitution, the product of a military coup. The country and the 94-year-old republic are now approaching one of the sharpest turns in their democratic and constitutional history. Regardless of the referendum's outcome, Turkey is entering a new political era. If the executive presidency obtains popular approval, it will open the door not only to a model of an obedient society and authoritarian governance, but also lead to new institution-building processes in line with conservative values. For Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey as prime minister and president for 14 years, a yes vote will mean a chance to remain at the helm until 2029 under a provision that calls for simultaneous presidential and general elections in 2019, the year his current term ends, with a president eligible to serve two five-year terms. If this prospect materializes, Turkey will descend into a one-man regime. If the no voters prevail, Erdogan will suffer his first major defeat after having won every political battle since 2002. For Erdogans political career, this would mark the beginning of its descent, and in terms of political trends, it would represent the rise of dissent. The climate and balance within the AKP, and in the country in general, would be in for profound changes. Rejection of the referendum would inevitably broaden the oppositions space and strengthen its legitimacy. In this sense, the no campaign not only represents objection to an authoritarian presidential system, but also signifies an attempt to return to the path of democracy. So the first critical question is can Turkish voters stop the shift to an authoritarian order and fend off the onset of a fresh governance crises? The outcome will be determined in a neck-and-neck race, as evidenced by the recent findings of two respected polling companies. An A&G survey puts the yes vote ahead, at 52%, while Metropoll has the no vote slightly prevailing, at 51%. Another way to approach the estimates is based on the size of the major political parties' bases. Supporters of the social democratic, main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and the Kurdish-dominated Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) are expected to vote no. The combined vote of the two parties was 36% in the last general elections, in 2015. Regarding the MHP, things are complicated. The party, which mustered 12% of the vote in the 2015 elections, had long been a vocal critic of Erdogan and his executive presidency ambitions. The MHP leaderships sudden transformation into an AKP partner has alienated a significant segment of MHP voters. Opinion polls indicate that at least half of the MHP's electorate opposes the proposed presidential system. The no camp still falls short of a winning majority even if the 2.5% voter base of other, smaller parties is added. Thus, everything boils down to how AKP supporters 50% in the last elections will vote. Their decisions will clearly determine the outcome. Opinion polls indicate that 20% of the AKP electorate has reservations about the constitutional package. These stem from the governments oppressive practices since last year's failed coup and Erdogans arbitrary and self-centered political style, which has led to indignation among some conservatives and a sense that changing the constitution in this respect represents a red line. This situation raises the second critical question: How will reserved voters behave at the ballot box, or more precisely, what will conservative voters see themselves as approving or rejecting? Two major elements are likely to sway their behavior. The first relates to how conservatives perceive the changes the constitutional package would bring about. There is a clear division between those who believe the proposed presidential system and paternalistic order mesh with their ideals for Turkish society and those who reject them as a political leaders attempt to dominate and control the populace. If and how this division will be reflected at the ballot box remains unclear. The second element is the narrative that Turkey is waging an existential war against foreign forces who are plotting to carve up the country and are behind the recent wave of terrorist attacks. This line of argument, which is increasingly being embraced, including by secular neo-nationalists, highlights stability as the only priority and identifies stability with Erdogan. Given this context, it is likely to have a considerable impact on the referendum outcome. Which factor or what kind of sentiment will guide individual conservatives when they cast their votes is impossible to predict. The referendum campaigns, however, will certainly be based on these two elements. A powerful orator and mobilizer, Erdogan will focus on the danger and stability themes and have every public resource at his disposal to rally the masses and boost the yes vote. For the opposition, the campaign will not take place in a free environment. HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas, another charismatic orator capable of swaying political sentiments, remains behind bars, while most of the Turkish media are either obedient or fearful of the government. Many influential writers and journalists have been jailed, while others are sidelined or under pressure of being arrested on trivial grounds. As the referendum draws closer, any Turkish military operations in Kurdish areas in Syria and Iraq or terrorist attacks inside Turkey are likely to increase nationalist and statist sentiments and thus influence the outcome of the vote. One can hardly say conditions are simple and the weapons equal ahead of the referendum. Yet the ballot box in Turkey is a closed, mystical component that has often produced unexpected results at critical junctures in the countrys political history. January 23, 2017 Turkey warned that there are no quick solutions to Syrias six-year conflict as peace talks bringing together the warring sides and their regional backers kicked off Monday in the Kazakh capital Astana. A solution in one or two days should not be expected, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said, signaling concerns that the latest stab at peace may well fail. The immediate purpose of the talks sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran is to solidify the shaky cease-fire that has largely held despite occasional violations throughout Syria. The rebels led by Mohammad Alloush, a leading figure in the Jaish al Islam (Army of Islam) faction and Syrian government representatives led by the countrys envoy to the United Nations, Bashar al-Jafaari, did not hold face-to-face talks and relied on Turkey and Russia to relay their messages instead. The language used by the sides was hardly promising: Jafaari referred to the rebels as terrorists and Alloush said that the rebels preferred choice was a political solution but that it was not the only one. The United States, citing transition business, declined to take part at the last minute and Ahrar al Sham, one of the most powerful rebel groups with close ties to Turkey, said it wasnt coming either, citing regime violations of the cease-fire in the Wadi Barada area near Damascus. Still, it is the first time that armed opposition groups have parlayed with the government, albeit from separate rooms. The talks are also meant to lay the groundwork for a future round of United Nations-sponsored discussions that are due to be held in Geneva next month. And whatever the outcome, the Astana meeting showcases the realignment of key actors in the conflict, above all Turkey. Ankara has arguably paid a higher price than any for the carnage in its backyard, hosting three million Syrian refugees and facing the wrath of the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the New Years Eve attack on an Istanbul night club that claimed 39 lives. Kurtulmus recently acknowledged that Turkeys woes were in part self-inflicted, calling its policy of backing Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad wrong. In a bid to reverse course, Turkey has in recent months bowed to Russian demands to withdraw its support for the rebels in Aleppo, allowing the regime to regain control over Syrias second-largest city seen as key to any victory. The quid pro quo was that Russia would not stand in Turkeys way as it cleared IS from its borders and also pursued the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) around the IS-held town of al-Bab. Russia long advocated for the participation of the YPG-affiliated groups in the peace talks but it went along with Turkeys demands that they not come to Astana. Washington, which previously sided with Turkey on the matter, now says the YPGs political arm, the Democratic Union Party, must be represented. More critically, Turkeys hopes that the new US administration will heed its calls to scotch the US alliance with the Syrian Kurds and team up with Turkish troops and their rebel proxies in a planned offensive against the IS capital Raqqa instead will likely be ignored. Turkeys three-month-old offensive to capture al-Bab, part of an effort to keep the Syrian Kurds from linking up territories under their control, is hardly burnishing its credentials. Progress has been slow and Turkish casualties are mounting despite sustained Turkish airstrikes that have destroyed entire sections of al-Bab and killed at several hundred civilians, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian Kurdish officials speaking anonymously told Al-Monitor there is growing evidence that Turkey is willing to let Syrian regime forces to finish the job instead. The regime is getting closer to al-Bab by the minute and Russian airstrikes are clearing their path, one of them said. Its the only outcome acceptable to Iran. Photos by Wes Frazer This story appears in Birmingham magazine's January 2017 issue. Subscribe today! Warning: If you were born in the Year of the Rooster, the next dozen new moons could go badly. Avoid misfortune by wearing red, rearranging home and office furniture to face directly east, and by eating more spring rolls. Jan. 28 marks the Chinese New Year, the advent of spring in the zodiac-based lunar calendar. Also celebrated as Spring Festival, it generally occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Most know the lunar calendar runs in 12-year cycles, with each year named for an animal. But fewer are familiar with the lore that people born under an animal sign are prone to bad luck when the cycle repeats. This is the Year of the Rooster. But the lunar calendar does not match up with the western calendar, so affected Roosters this year have birthdays on Jan. 28 or after. The superstition is connected to an ancient belief in the God of Age, represented by an imaginary star that roughly corresponds with Jupiter's position in the sky. Also called Tai Sui, it is said to move like a star, making a complete circuit every dozen years. According to this belief, when the Year of the Rooster dawns in 2017, Tai Sui will be directly due west. That is why Roosters can avoid bad luck this year by orienting all furniture to the east, turned opposite to the God of Age. Wearing red is also believed to bring good luck. But the red clothing must be purchased by a loved one; buying your own won't help. Jade jewelry also is said to provide protection. The spring roll part is mostly for tasty fun. But spring rolls are a symbolic food at Chinese New Year celebrations throughout the world. In fact, the snack got its name from its association with Spring Festival. Long a favorite in China and other Asian countries, spring rolls are much different than the egg rolls commonly found in Chinese restaurants throughout the United States. Author Andrew Coe claims the egg roll was invented in the 1930s by immigrant chefs wanting to appeal to American tastes. Others say egg rolls have origins in China and were adapted here in the late 1800s by migrants using locally-available ingredients. Here's the difference between egg and spring rolls: Egg rolls have thick wrappers made from pastry. The best of these doughy deep-fried cylinders are filled with an assortment of meats with some vegetables for texture; the cheap ones mostly are filled with bland cabbage. Spring rolls, on the other hand, are made with thin wrappers of wheat or rice that get crisp and flaky when fried. One of the best examples is Cha Gio from Vietnam, where the lunar new year is celebrated as Tet. Cha Gio is filled with mostly meat and a little carrot for crunch. Spring rolls also adapt easily to savory vegetarian fillings. Another version is typically called a summer roll. Made from rice paper with noodles, herbs, lettuce, and meat or tofu, they are thicker than spring rolls. Popular in Thailand and Vietnam, summer rolls are served fresh, not fried, so the exterior is soft. (Menus at both Saigon Noodle House restaurants call these kinds of appetizers "spring rolls.") Ingredients for homemade spring rolls are easy to find. Wrappers are sold at most grocery stores, but a better selection is available in Asian markets like Hometown Supermarket, Super Oriental Market, and Chai's. The beauty of rolling at home is controlling the ratio of wrapper to filling. Make a batch, gather the family, and get the new-year party started. -- Vietnamese Style (Makes a dozen) 1/2 small onion, peeled and coarsely chopped 1 stalk lemongrass, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and sliced 2 teaspoons oil 1 pound ground pork 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 teaspoon sugar Fresh ground black pepper 1/2 carrot, peeled and finely julienned 1 tablespoon minced mint leaves Whole lettuce leaves (optional) Add onion, lemongrass, and ginger to a small food processor. Pulse into a paste and set aside. In a pan over medium heat, add oil and cook pork until the red is gone. Drain off fat. Return pan to heat. Add onion mixture, fish sauce, and sugar to meat; stir well. Season with black pepper and cook until fragrant. Remove from heat. Stir in carrots and mint leaves. Store filling in refrigerator until cool. TIP: The optional lettuce leaves are for wrapping around the fried spring roll before eating. -- Chinese Style (Makes a dozen) 2 teaspoons oil 1/2 pound ground pork 1/2-inch knob ginger, peeled and finely minced 1-2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced 5 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and chopped 2 cups cabbage, shredded 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1/2 pound (after peeling) shrimp, peeled, deveined, and minced 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped In a pan over medium heat, add oil and cook pork until the red is gone. Drain off fat. Return pan to heat. Add ginger and garlic, stirring until fragrant. Add mushrooms and cabbage, stirring until soft. Add soy sauce, shrimp, and cilantro. Cook 2 minutes, stirring until shrimp starts to turn pink. Remove pan from heat. Allow filling to cool. -- Preparation for Both 1 package spring roll wrappers (I use Spring Home brand Spring Roll Pastry, which come 25 to a pack) Filling (Vietnamese or Chinese) Small bowl of water or egg white Carefully peel off a spring roll wrapper and lay it on a dry board or flat surface with one corner facing you. Add a generous tablespoon of filling in the middle, spreading it about two-thirds across the wrapper. Fold the left and right flaps over the filling. Fold the bottom flap over the filling. Moisten the top corner with the water or egg white. Tightly roll into a cylinder toward the top flap, making sure the ends of the wrapper stay even with the filling. Press with a finger to seal the final flap against the roll. It should be about an inch in diameter. Place prepared spring roll on a plate or platter under plastic wrap and repeat until the filling is gone. Deep fry rolls until crisp, or pan fry in at least a half-inch of hot oil, flipping to crisp both sides. Drain and hold in a warm oven while frying the rest. TIP: You can fry spring rolls a few hours ahead of time and refry to crisp before serving. Spring rolls also can be baked at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. -- Dipping Sauce Variations Best Buy will close its Florence store late next month, affecting 60 full- and part-time jobs in northwest Alabama. Spokeswoman Danielle Schumann told AL.com the location on 398 Cox Creek Parkway will shut down Feb. 25. The store, which operates near Dick's Sporting Goods in the Cox Creek Shopping Center, has been open since June 2001. Schumann said the company, which has decided not to renew its lease in Florence, looks at a number of factors when closing a store, including retail mix, shopping patterns, lease cost, plant closures and more. "We do not take these decisions lightly," she said, thanking employees for their dedication to Best Buy. Florence employees may apply for open positions at other Best Buy stores. Workers who choose not to stay will receive a severance package from the company. The closest Best Buy store is in Huntsville. Schumann said Best Buy will not speculate about future store closures in Alabama. "Our presence in Alabama remains strong, with 14 Best Buy big box stores and four Best Buy mobile locations," she said. An Alabama eatery will give away free chicken salad this week to celebrate its ninth year in business. Chicken Salad Chick will host Customer Appreciation Day on Thursday by giving out free scoops of Classic Carol chicken salad to guests. The offer is limited to one per customer while supplies last. No purchase is necessary. Chicken Salad Chick, which offers a "custom-fit" chicken salad experience, launched in founder Stacy Brown's Auburn kitchen. After learning from the health department she could not make and sell her recipes from home, she opened a small takeout restaurant with her late husband, Kevin Brown. The company recently landed at No. 37 on the prestigious Inc. 500/5000 list, an annual ranking of America's fastest-growing businesses. Chicken Salad Chick, which entered an investment partnership with Atlanta-based Eagle Merchant Partners in 2015, raked in $9.8 million in revenue in 2015. The restaurant has more than 60 locations in the Southeast and has sold 146 franchises to be developed across the U.S. Last year, Chicken Salad Chick CEO Scott Deviney said the company will open 25-35 more eateries in 2017. President Donald Trump met with Talladega College President Billy C. Hawkins Sunday, according to the school. Talladega College President Billy Hawkins greets well wishers following a news conference at Talladega College Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Hawkins' invitation came less than 48 hours after Talladega College's Great Tornado Band performed in Trump's inaugural parade in Washington. In a news release, the school said Hawkins attended meetings and was also able to attend a reception at the White House. In a prepared statement, he called it "an overwhelming experience." "This was a great opportunity to see how the White House functions and operates," Hawkins said. The band returned to Talladega Sunday afternoon. The band raised more than $673,000 through a GoFundMe page for travel expenses to the inaugural, when its original goal was $75,000. The groundswell of money came after Hawkins appeared on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" in response to criticism of the band accepting an invitation to appear in Trump's inaugural parade. Some alumni and others criticized the move as endorsing Trump. Hawkins said he left the White House "very encouraged about a positive future for (historically black colleges and universities) all across the country." An Ohio man has been indicted for conspiring with a Shelby County wife and mother to kill her husband by poisoning him with castor beans. Eric William Lipscomb, 23, was indicted by a Shelby County grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The indictment was issued Jan. 11, and made public Friday. Kirsten Mae Vining, 32, and Eric William Lipscomb, 23, were arrested in August, both on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Vining was released in August on $50,000 bond, and Lipscomb was released on $50,000 bond in September. According to arrest warrants filed in the case, the pair planned to kill Gene Franklin Vining III with castor beans, which are used to make Ricin poison. Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans. If castor beans are chewed and swallowed, the released ricin can cause injury. Ricin can be made from the waste material left over from processing castor beans. It can be in the form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid. A dose of purified Ricin powder the size of a few grains of table salt can kill an adult. Records show the murder attempt took place on July 21, 2016 and said Kirsten Vining brought Lipscomb to Alabama with the plan to poison/ kill Frankie Vining. No other details have ever been released. The relationship between Kirsten Vining and Lipscomb isn't clear. Kirsten Vining lives in Bessemer, and most recently was a receptionist for a Birmingham-area surgeon, coordinating care and assistance with the transition before and after surgery. She and her husband have two daughters and a son. Pelham police investigated the case. A judge in September sent Lipscomb's case to a grand jury, which led to the indictment. His bond has been amended to allow him to travel and to return to live in Ohio, court records show. He is set for arraignment on the indictment March 13. Vining's preliminary hearing has been continued several times, and now is set for March 1. It doesn't appear her case has yet been presented to the grand jury. Falling tourist numbers, lack of facilities and neglect mean the archaeological site in Pakistan is taking a hit. WATCH: Moenjodaro 360 A walkthrough of the ancient civilisation Moenjodaro, Pakistan The walk through Moenjodaro is lonely. Apart from the three accompanying officials, and workers helping with preservation, there are no other people in sight. The wind picks up at intervals, blowing sand around. Stray dogs meander on to the path. It is hot, nearly 51 degrees Celsius on this early summer day. But locals say even the cooler months do not attract the crowds that once used to visit this archaeological site dating back to 2,500BCE in Pakistans Sind province. The word Moenjodaro means mound of the dead. But the remains tell the story of a bustling and civilised, planned-out city. Walls made of baked bricks are all that remain of double-storey houses. A well-planned drainage system is visible along the narrow streets as a witness to the skilled architects who once lived here. The great bath ruins in the centre of the city which, experts believe, people once visited for religious purification, speak to the complex social traditions of this ancient society. A tall Buddhist stupa overlooks the city as the highest structure on the site, the image of which can also be found on Pakistans Rs 20 banknote. The Indus river flows nearby. It is known to be the reason for the establishment of Moenjodaro at this location, as well as, some historians believe, the reason for its demise. But the vestiges of this ancient city are crumbling, and not just because the walls are 4,500 years old. Local officials are unable to provide an annual figure on visiting tourists, but everyone is affected by the trickle of visitors. They say an accumulation of factors has contributed to this deteriorating situation. Travelling to Moenjodaro is not easy. There is an airport within walking distance, almost adjacent to the site, where the national carrier once operated two flights a day, but the airline cut this schedule by half and incoming flights are often delayed. There is only one guest house on site for visitors, but problems with the electricity supply make it unattractive to tourists in the summer, daily power cuts limit electricity in the area and adjoining Larkana for up to 21 hours at a time, which is a common issue in Pakistan. But the situation is not solely natures fault. Nor is it only rooted in financial and infrastructural deficiency. Sharmila Faruqi, the provinces minister for culture and tourism, explained to Al Jazeera that the number of visitors has dropped due to external factors as well. A lot of foreigners dont come here due to the security situation in Pakistan. We need to get a hold of that. Accessibility is another issue. A lot of things are out of our control, she said. History neglected Preservation of the ancient ruins is another concern for those charged with caring for the site. Closer to sunset, a family and a few other tourists enter through the gates, children run along the excavated walls, adults pose for selfies with their feet propped against the historic ruins. A protective layer of liquid sprayed over the structures, which dries and hardens in order to preserve them, ensures that damage to the site is limited. Qasim Ali Qasim, Moenjodaros former project director, is concerned by the neglect and continued damage to the ruins and thinks visitors bear some responsibility for this. There are signs posted throughout the site, informing visitors of the rules of conduct and asking them to refrain from touching and damaging the artefacts, but there is not sufficient staff to impose the rules upon those who would break them. Qasim has been associated with the Moenjodaro archaeological site since 1988 and feels a strong emotional and professional connection with its legacy. Local visitors need to be educated about heritage sites. Pakistanis are very curious. Unless they touch something, they are not satisfied. The Sheesh Mahal [glass palace] in Lahore has a beautiful marble window and once a man kicked it to check how strong it was. Moenjodaro is even losing its place in the education curriculum, Qasim said. It used to be part of the school curriculum which is not the case any more. We are losing our history and its our fault. The site has a post office, a bank, an archaeological laboratory, a police station, a museum and a souvenir shop where Ilyas, the site attendant, lines up replicas that he and his wife make at home. Sales arent that amazing because we dont have a lot of people coming through, he says with a smile. But whoever comes through the gates, we are happy to give stuff, even if they dont want to buy, because it helps promote our history and culture. Ilyas lives 10 minutes away from the site. Inside their small house, he and his wife make not only the replicas, but also traditional clothes and other souvenirs that he proudly lays out on his charpai [string bed]. There are not many customers, he says, but sometimes they get large orders for exhibitions taking place in the cities, which helps them to survive and make ends meet. Preservation is key Back on the site, the temperature is unbearable in the summer heat. This is one of the hottest areas of the country and, in May, the temperatures can reach up to 54C, Qasim says. But there is no respite indoors either, because of the electricity shortage. Solar panels are used in Larkana and the rest of the province but provide limited relief as they are not sufficient to power large appliances like air conditioners for the duration of the power cuts. Petrol generators are another solution, but m ost residents cannot afford them. Even on the government funded Moenjodaro site, the budget is insufficient for the fuel necessary to run the generators at all times. If you have electricity for just three hours a day, it gets very difficult to live here. Theres no wind, so keeping the windows open doesnt make a difference, explains Qasim who thinks that the drop in tourist numbers has a lot to do with the electricity problems. What is visible today represents only 10 percent of the entire site. The rest remains buried. Officials are reluctant to unearth any more than the 225 hectares they already have. Limited manpower and funding, and lack of awareness among visitors, make it difficult to justify the unearthing of more of the ancient city, said Qasim, who retired from his role in June. If our estimates are proven correct, Moenjodaro was probably a cosmopolitan city of its times. I have said it time and again that, 5,000 years ago, when people in Europe and other places lived in caves and jungles, people in Moenjodaro lived in brick houses in a civilised and planned city, Qasim says. The downside This civilised city has witnessed its fair share of interest and controversies. The Sindh Festival, organised by the provincial government in 2014, reportedly resulted in some damage to the archaeological site, alarming UNESCO experts. But Qasim and Faruqi both said that no such damage occurred. In another major incident, in 2002, robbers stole a set of seals from the on-site museum. While the alleged culprits were caught, the seals were never recovered. The government is planning to build a new museum to house the vast collection of relics from the site, but in the meantime, after the robbery, archaeologists are no longer digging for new items. New material recovered randomly from the site is in the care of the federal treasury with no public access. Limited funding, falling numbers and electricity issues do little to motivate the staff who spend their days and nights in what once was a hustling and bustling city. In a country like ours, we dont talk about culture and tourism, unfortunately Its not easy to get funds for this, especially when your federal and provincial budgets are in deficit, and arts and culture are considered last, says Faruqi. Despite that, Im very hopeful for Moenjodaro. Residents of Syrias East Ghouta say they will refuse any government efforts to forge a truce deal or evacuation plans. As a new round of Syria talks, aimed at consolidating a nationwide shaky ceasefire, begin in Kazakhstans capital, residents of the besieged East Ghouta say they will refuse any deals that would eventually lead to their displacement and the transfer of Eastern Ghouta to government hands. There is no human being in Eastern Ghouta who would accept packing up, leaving this city, and handing it over to the government, even if that means being killed, Ward Mardini, a local journalist in Saqba, one of the 29 communities in Eastern Ghouta under opposition control for the past four years, told Al Jazeera. Over the past year, Damascus has reached a series of local truce agreements in which rebels, the government refers to them as terrorists, agree to lay down heavy weapons and evacuate areas after years of bombardment and siege. Despite talk of East Ghouta becoming the next east Aleppo, Daraya, Moadamiyat al-Sham or al-Waer, where government forces imposed airtight sieges until evacuation agreements were reached, residents say there is an internal effort to unify the opposition and civil society in hope of resisting any such deals. We are under pressure of being forcefully displaced. It is clear that the government may be using the same tactics it used in Aleppo, Abu Salem al-Shami, an activist in Eastern Ghouta, told Al Jazeera.The siege creates an internal psychological crisis being felt by everyone, and people want to get out of this crisis. Now, you suddenly have all these reconciliation projects that are coming up so that people will succumb and leave. Thats why we are trying to pressurise the factions and the people here to unify so that we could produce a clear political outlook of our demands, which, said al-Shami, was the downfall of the regime. If we want to get rid of tyranny, then we need to do this. Last Monday, Syrias state news agency that a reconciliation will be reached within the coming few days in one of the East Ghouta regions and probably in several towns and villages. Members of the reconciliation committees confirmed that most Eastern Ghouta residents are in favour of reconciliation, the statement said. READ MORE: Syrias Civil War Explained Though a Turkish and Russian brokered ceasefire came into effect earlier this month, fighting in the Damascus suburbs has not stopped. The truce was said to include all Syrian rebel groups except Jabhet Fateh al-Sham (previously al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) armed groups. We are under pressure of being forcefully displaced. It is clear that the government may be using the same tactics it used in Aleppo. by Abu Salem al-Shami, an activist in Eastern Ghouta, In Eastern Ghouta, the main groups leading the fight are Faylaq al-Rahman (al-Rahman Corps), Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya (Islamic Movement of the Free People of the Levant), which works closely with Jabhet Fateh al-Sham, who have some fighters on the ground, as well. The groups have often fought against one another, despite their joint aim of bringing down the Assad government, which has been in power for 17 years under Bashar al-Assad, and since 1971 under Hafez al-Assad, Bashars father. There used to be more than 150 rebel groups operating in Eastern Ghouta. Now there are four or five main ones, owing to our efforts to unify the groups. But they remain divided, said al-Shami. Despite the presence of hardline groups on the ground, residents say there is no place for the ideologies of groups such as Ahrar al-Sham or Jabhet Fateh al-Sham, which aim to create an Islamic state in Syria under Islamic law. We know that people on the outside are framing this as a war of ideology and wanting to build an Islamic state but this no place for this kind of talk here. There is no way that residents here will give Ghouta away to such groups. Theres no way, said al-Shami. READ MORE: After Aleppo, what happens to Syrias besieged towns? But in this fight, the civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict. With the government gaining the upper hand since Russia launched its campaign of air strikes in support of the regime in September 2015, civilians in areas under opposition control have been the prime victims. In 2013, approximately 1,500 people were killed when rockets with poisonous gas heads were dropped on Eastern Ghouta. And, today, medical centres and hospitals say at least 20 to 30 people are being treated on a daily basis for wounds from the constant bombardment. Most people that come in have shrapnel wounds, Abu Hussam, a doctor and head of media relations for the Unified Revolutionary Medical Bureau in East Ghouta, told Al Jazeera. Many of those who need complex surgeries have been finding ways to get out of the enclave to be treated in Damascus, which involves paying large sums of money. Mahmoud al-Sheikh, the administrative director of the bureau, which oversees all the medical facilities in East Ghouta, says there are about 55 medical centres remaining in the area. Around 60 percent of the centres that we had before have been targeted by the regime, said al-Sheikh. They are seen as points of strength and persistence that is why theyre being targeted, he said, adding that there is a huge deficiency in the needed medical supplies. The siege has also severely restricted access to electricity, water, food and fuel, and the suffering of residents has been exacerbated by the winter cold. Due to the high price of wood, people are forced to burn their old clothes and their furniture anything they can burn, they burn it, said Mardini. Every day, you see women and children collecting plastic or anything that is flammable to be able to keep themselves warm and to cook. East Ghouta, whose inhabitants number approximately 300,000, is only one of 39 besieged communities across Syria, according to a report by Siege Watch. The monitor, which is managed by the US-based Syria Institute research group and PAX, a Netherlands-based peace research team, says more than 1.3 million people remain trapped. An additional 1.4 million face siege-linked conditions, the group says. Despite the daily struggles, the areas residents remain steadfast. All were asking for is an end to this river of blood. We did not ask for this. We asked for freedom from a dictatorship, said al-Sheikh. We want a transition of power, an end to the siege, and freedom for our prisoners. At least 400,000 civilians have been killed since 2011, when the Syrian conflict began as a largely unarmed uprising against the government, according to the United Nations. More than 6 million Syrians, including 2.8 million children, have been internally displaced from their homes the biggest internally displaced population in the world. An additional 4.8 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. If I wanted to send a message, it would be this: Before the revolution, Syria used to accept many refugees from several countries Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and even tourists, said Mardini. We never treated anyone with a superior manner; we opened our homes and we were very good to them. But now, unfortunately, we have not found sympathy from anyone. The Batlos family fled Qaraqosh more than two years ago, when ISIL fighters captured the city. They recently returned home for the first time, only to discover their town in ruins. As the battle rages to retake Mosul, the last Iraqi stronghold of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, members of Iraqs Christian minority have started returning to the recently liberated town of Qaraqosh. The Batlos family, who are Assyrian Catholics, fled Qaraqosh on August 6, 2014, after Kurdish forces warned them that ISIL would soon seize the city. Leaving all of their belongings behind, the family travelled to nearby Erbil, the capital of Iraqs Kurdish region. In December 2016, less than two months after Iraqi forces retook Qaraqosh from ISIL, the Batlos family returned home to discover large areas of the town in ruins, with no power or water supply. The threat of hidden improvised explosive devices planted by ISIL fighters continues to loom large. We are still scared here, Haitham Zeia Batlos told Al Jazeera. but one that does not silence discussions on justice for Palestine. Taher Herzallah is the Associate Director of Outreach and Grassroots Organizing for the American Muslims for Palestine. Since the election of Donald Trump, there has been a renewed interest across the country in Muslim-Jewish partnership. Trumps ascension to power on a platform of racism and xenophobia has caused many to fear what lies ahead. From potential policy measures, such as a Muslim registry and the intensification of the Countering Violent Extremism Initiative, to the emboldening of white supremacist groups bent on causing physical harm to both Muslims and Jews, there is an urgent sense that we all need to come together to weather this fascist storm. This renewed sense of solidarity is welcomed, and after Trumps inauguration, our communities are ready to take to the streets in unity and strength. But for us to build meaningful and accountable relationships between our communities, we need to also share some principles. Without doing so, we run grave risks of subverting the dignity and freedom of expression for which our communities strive. Today, many of the groups eager to rush to the frontlines of Muslim-Jewish partnership after Trumps election groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) have for decades been complicit in helping create the climate of Islamophobia they claim to abhor. The ADL was applauded when, after Trumps election, its executive director publicly pledged that, he would register as a Muslim if a Muslim registry was created, and the AJC recently announced a partnership with the Islamic Society of North America called the Muslim Jewish Advisory Council. But how do these actions stand up to their track record? Living up to reputation Since 9/11, the ADL has demonised mainstream Muslim community groups as terrorist sympathisers, praised far-right Islamophobes for securing federal appointments, opposed the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero, and more. The AJC lobbied for bills that would drastically expand the state surveillance of American Muslim communities, supported our nations first Muslim registry in 2002, and backed anti-Muslim congressional hearings. These are just a few ways these groups, in the last decade alone, have betrayed the principles they claim to uphold. Far too often, interfaith partnerships with groups like the ADL and AJC create pressure on Muslim organisations to remain silent on Israel/Palestine, or to attack the movement for Palestinian rights, out of fear of being accused of anti-Semitism. In too many interfaith partnerships, Muslims are required to put relationships before politics and the local over international, effectively stifling their political agency. In these and other ways, these relationships tend to be transactional in nature. The Jewish community gains a Muslim friend that wont mention Zionism, Israel or its politics, and the Muslim gains some perceived level of acceptance in the mainstream United States of America, which touts itself as a land of Judeo-Christian values but increasingly sees Islam and Muslims as the enemy other. READ MORE: Dear Donald Trump A letter from Palestine As campus organisers with American Muslims for Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, weve worked for years to build accountable partnerships between Muslims and Jews, founded on principles of justice, solidarity and love. These principles animate our vision of a just and democratic peace in Israel/Palestine, where refugees can return to their ancestral homes and equal rights are guaranteed for Palestinians and all other peoples living in the region. Guided by these principles, the Muslim and Jewish students we work with on campuses across the country stand united, alongside others of all faiths and ethnicities, in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for freedom, justice and equality in Israel/Palestine. Atmosphere of fear For decades, vocal supporters of Palestinian rights in the US have faced false charges of anti-Semitism from pro-Israel organisations. To name two recent examples, in late 2016, the ADL joined attacks against the first Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison, in his bid for Democratic National Committee chair, because of comments critical of Israel. And in a move that hits close to home for us, the ADL recently tried, unsuccessfully, to pressure Congress to pass the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, a bill that, by labelling campus criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism, would have empowered the Department of Education under the Trump administration to suppress student activism. On and off campus, this backlash inevitably hits Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities the hardest, crystallising the cloud of fear that has far too long limited freedom of speech for the Arab and Muslim community. We urge American Muslim groups not to partner with organisations like the ADL and the AJC, so long as they continue to limit discourse on Israel/Palestine, and to oppose the demands of Palestinians for justice and freedom. by When pro-Israel groups such as the ADL suppress freedom of speech with false anti-Semitism charges, they are furthering USs climate of Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism. For decades, pro-Israel advocacy has worked to create a climate where Israel is seen as a faithful ally and frontline defender in the Wests war on terror, and Palestinians and, by extension, all Arabs and Muslims are seen as antisemitic terrorists. The end result, today, is a Trump administration that blends unflinching support for Israels apartheid policies with white nationalism and rabid Islamophobia, and an extremist Israeli government that enjoys an international green light for its deepening violations of international law. A Muslim-Jewish alliance is needed Let us not be mistaken: in the age of Trump, it is more important than ever for Muslims and Jews to come together to combat Islamophobia and real anti-Semitism. Today in the US, we are both targets of the white supremacist alt-right movement, which, with the appointment of Breitbart executive Steve Bannon to a powerful position in the Trump White House and the growth of white nationalists in local communities, is emerging as a dangerous force. A Muslim-Jewish alliance makes historical sense; Jews and Muslims lived together in relative harmony across the Middle East and parts of Europe for millennia, while white Christian Europe subjected our communities, in different ways, to vicious persecution. We are confident that principled, accountable partnerships between Muslims and Jews can and must be built as we forge a path forward in this frightening time. But now is not the time to compromise our values out of fear. Support for Palestinian rights is moving mainstream, and the Israel advocacy movement is losing its ability to police discourse in the US. As the movement for Palestinian human rights is gaining traction, Israels defenders, from the incoming Trump administration to the ADL, are anxiously doubling down on their decades-long campaign of policing, silencing and repression of critical discourse. READ MORE: Palestinians decry Trumps choice for Israel ambassador Our shared vision of justice and collective liberation teaches us that Zionism the project to maintain an exclusionary state with an enforced demographic Jewish majority on dispossessed Palestinian land is incompatible with the values of dignity and freedom which any Muslim-Jewish partnership must hold dear. We urge American Muslim groups not to partner with organisations like the ADL and the AJC, so long as they continue to limit discourse on Israel/Palestine and to oppose the demands of Palestinians for justice and freedom. We call on these ,and many other American Jewish groups, to end work to suppress the movement for Palestinian rights in the US, renounce their anti-Muslim history and join the movement for a truly just peace in Israel/Palestine. OPINION: Israels never-ending crimes Its not just settlements Then, and only then, can relationships of mutual respect and cooperation come to fruition and have the capacity, structure and commitment to work towards transformative change here in the US and globally. Now is not the time to cosy up to the powerful elites of this country, as leaders of our communities have done for too long. Now is the time for all our communities to build our power from the ground up. Only solidarity and joint struggle against all forms of oppression can protect Muslims, Jews and all people from the forces of hatred in this world. Taher Herzallah is the Associate Director of Outreach and Grassroots Organizing for the American Muslims for Palestine. Ben Lorber is Campus Coordinator at Jewish Voice for Peace. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Hemera/Thinkstock(FARINDOLA, Italy) Emergency rescuers were able to experience some joy in their search and recovery efforts after the avalanche that struck last week near a hotel in central Italy. The rescuers broke down a wall to retrieve three puppies buried alive for at least five days in an avalanche in central Italy. The Abruzzo shepherd puppies, all born in December, were found buried alive in the hotels boiler room. The puppies are in good health. The search for avalanche survivors, now in its sixth day, continues as emergency personnel work to locate 23 people still trapped in the hotel. Eleven people so far have been rescued, with five deceased recovered. ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Not that long ago, Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon was the most exciting social democrat in European politics. She took charge of the SNP and with it an absolute majority at Holyrood, Scotlands devolved national legislature in the aftermath of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The SNP lost that referendum, but left-leaning Scots, many of them former Labour voters, flocked to her side. At the 2015 UK general election, she won 56 of Scotlands 59 Westminster seats on the basis of what was, by modern British standards, a radical pitch: higher taxes on the rich, an end to austerity, and the abolition of Trident, the UKs Clyde-based nuclear deterrent. As she celebrated her first anniversary as Scotlands first minister, in November 2015, she was in total control of the Scottish political landscape. Her approval ratings were sky-high. Her party, whose membership had more than quadrupled under her watch, maintained a remarkable hermetic discipline. Even sections of the UK press traditionally hostile to Scottish nationalism gushingly acknowledged the strength of her appeal. But in the months since then, Sturgeon has shed her insurgent image and recast herself as a defender of the liberal status-quo; as a rock of establishment stability in a world churned by the tides of right-wing populism. Sturgeonism and Blairism The last 12 months have seen a narrative develop that the established political and social order is under threat, she wrote recently. Let us all hope that, in time, 2017 will be seen to have been a turning point one in which the values of liberal democracy were able to show that they can and will prevail. The shift was substantive as well as rhetorical. In advance of last Mays Holyrood elections, Sturgeon moved decisively to the centre, ditching her commitments to an increased top rate of income tax, a far-reaching programme of land reform (Scotland has the most unequal distribution of land ownership anywhere in Europe), and the overhaul of the Council Tax, a deeply regressive system of local government levies. OPINION: The difference between right and left-wing populism Worse still, she began to shear the radical edges off the independence project. After the June Brexit vote, some economists raised the possibility of English banks relocating to Scotland in order to secure their European financial passporting rights (Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay part of the EU and Sturgeon is determined to maintain Scotlands access to the European single market). Despite the fact that a massive increase in the size of the Scottish financial sector would be disastrous for Scotlands long-term economic prospects heavily weighting the countrys output in favour of the kind of speculative, laissez-faire activity that led to the 2008 crash Sturgeon did nothing to stop a slew of nationalist politicians from publicly endorsing the idea. Indeed, she went one step further, appointing, in September, Andrew Wilson a corporate lobbyist and former PR man for the Edinburgh financial industry to head up a new SNP commission on economic growth. Sturgeons revamp was accelerated first by Brexit and then by the election of Donald Trump. She aims to position the SNP which is routinely attacked by supporters of the UK as insular and separatist within what she believes is the moderate, tolerant European mainstream. That means free trade, open borders, and a competitive, dynamic economy cushioned by, at best, a modest welfare state. Problematically, that vision is indistinguishable from the one advanced by the previous generation of failed social democratic leaders. If you remove independence from the equation, Sturgeonism with its emphasis on European integration, liberal identity politics, and finance-led growth has a lot in common with Blairism. Failure of liberal politics Its not difficult to see why a strategic realignment of this sort, at this time, is a political dead-end. Across Europe and the United States, politics is polarising and the centre-ground is giving way. As the crisis deepens, it makes no sense to embrace the same package of discredited Third Way policies that created the conditions for the crisis in the first place. Central to Sturgeons thinking is the assumption that Scots will back independence in a second referendum if it looks like the least disruptive of the available constitutional options: independence in Europe with minimal social and economic change; sovereignty at all costs, but without the struggle. This, too, is doomed logic. Scots may have voted by a large margin to remain within the EU, but they dont share the SNPs obsessive loyalty to Europe. If forced to choose between the EU and the British one, there is no guarantee that they will vote the way Sturgeon wants them to. In fact, in the seven months since Brexit threatened to strip Scots of their European citizenship, polls have actually registered a decline in support for independence. There are two powerful ironies at work here. The first is that Sturgeons decision to reinvent herself as a champion of European liberalism, at the expense of her initial reputation as the saviour of Scottish social democracy, was completely unnecessary. No external factors forced her hand. Her status in 2015 was unassailable. She had a working majority at Holyrood and, within the limits of devolution, could have passed any piece of legislation she liked. (Now, she is two seats short of a majority and relies on the support of other parties to pass her reforms.) The second is that she has chosen exactly the wrong moment to become a standard-bearer for the status-quo. Liberalism is the source of, not the solution to, Brexit and Trump. More of it, however vigorously articulated, wont make them go away. Sturgeon still commands huge authority in Scottish politics. Although a sense of inertia is beginning to shroud her administration and its lacklustre legislative agenda, she benefits from terminally weak opposition. The next Scottish election is in 2021. It would be a pointless, and potentially costly, mistake to fight it in defence of an ideology so clearly in decline. Jamie Maxwell is an Edinburgh-based writer. He has contributed widely to the Scottish and British press. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Experience tells us it matters little whether a liberal democrat or an autocratic republican sits in the White House. Stanley L Cohen is an attorney and human rights activist who has done extensive work in the Middle East and Africa. Well, its over and good riddance. What began with a purchased Nobel Peace Prize and a lecture to the Middle East, under the then omnipotent eyes of Hosni Mubarak, has ended with a parting bang yet another round of massive US air strikes in Libya and Syria. Forgive my cynicism, but if history is, in fact, a fair guidepost of what comes to be, Barack Obamas parting shots at so-called jihadi camps most likely did little more than slaughter civilians thereby enticing 10 times as many others to pick up a gun or a bomb and strike back, however possible, wherever feasible. Eight years ago the world held its collective breath for what would prove to be an all-too-brief moment with the election of a self-professed anti-war liberal to the most powerful and deadly office in the world. In October 2002, then Senator Obama, an orator of rare talent with keen mind and extraordinary youthful vigour and promise, announced he was opposed to dumb wars. He was going to be different. He said so. He lied. Wartime president Well not quite. He was different. After all, hes the only two-term president in US history who has waged war every single day of his eight years in office. Indeed, not to be outdone by the hawkish George W Bush, Obama conducted air strikes on seven countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Libya and Syria. Thats three more than Bush bombed. During his two terms, our peace president ordered a total of 563 special air strikes, largely carried out by drones, that targeted Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen, in particular, compared to but 57 such strikes under Bush. While impossible to know for sure, the total number of those killed by these attacks during attempts to target three dozen or so terrorists including US citizens afforded no due process apparently resulted in the deaths of almost 1,200 civilians . As a parting peace gesture, Obama left behind Special Operation Forces deployed to more than 130 nations; thats 70 percent of the worlds countries. On the other hand, lets give some credit where credit is due. Obama did slap around Benjamin Netanyahu to the tune of $38bn, largely for weapons, before refusing to veto the toothless settlement resolution in the United Nations. War means profit, and that's something that brings a huge smile to the face of the new president. The US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan alone have earned the American weapons industry trillions of dollars and counting. by Saudi Arabia, which has obtained more than $100bn worth of weapons during the Obama administration, heard its concerns about how US-made weapons were being used in Yemen before proceeding to purchase another 153 tanks, and hundreds of machine guns in a deal worth $1.15bn. Egypt also felt the pinch of Obamas pacifist hand when he required that it make credible progress towards democracy before releasing billions in military aid frozen since Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power after the military coup that toppled the elected government of President Mohamed Morsi. We all know how well Egypt has been progressing in its steady slither towards democracy. Perpetual warfare? Perhaps, in a strange sort of way, the election of Donald Trump, consumed by the chase of money and women in that order, may at days end be the best thing in years that has happened for the prospects of peace in the Middle East. Unlike Obama who has spent his lifetime wanting to be loved and who figured the best way to earn it was by proving just how tough he could be Trump has spent his life proudly ensuring theres just nothing there to love and, seemingly, could not care less about it. Maybe, when it comes to war, the shrinks are right: those who need to prove just how tough they can be are far more dangerous than those who just dont give a damn. Hope surely springs eternal. But wait a minute; these guys in the Trump cabinet seem awfully familiar, dont they? Isnt that retired General James Mad Dog Mattis wearing an Armani suit? Wasnt he the general who lost his tour of duty because Obama found him too hawkish on Iran as he pushed the military to punish it and its allies through more covert actions to capture and kill Iranian operatives and interdict its warships? Didnt he only recently oversee combat operations throughout the Middle East? OPINION: Trouble for Trump Iran, North Korea, Palestine, China And that other guy in the corner the one looking awfully nervous sitting there without his chest full of medals can that be retired Marine General John Kelly? Wasnt he in charge of Guantanamo; you, know, the guy that challenged Obama any time the president had the temerity to bring up the subject of closing it? Didnt he lose a son to combat in Afghanistan against the Taliban? How about that third guy? He looks an awful lot like retired Army Lieutenant-General Michael Flynn, whom Obama forced out of the Defense Intelligence Agency (the Pentagons version of the CIA) because of his description of Islam as a cancer and saying fear of Muslims is rational. Whats the worry with him as National Security Adviser? No problem. Does anyone really think that Trump can or cares to reign in a collection of misanthrope generals with likely a century or more of battle scars those warriors that see peace as very much a pastime of the meek who see moderation as soft, quiet as weak, and talk but prelude to attack ? Of course not. Profits and more What of Trump himself? Though hes gone on record as being opposed to regime change and committed to allies assuming more of their own military costs, hes often expressed a hawkish stand on the Middle East, specifically with regard to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and sees other threats, real and imagined, against the US almost everywhere. That translates to money big money. Indeed, Trump has called for tens of thousands of additional troops; a Navy of 350 ships; a significantly larger Air Force; an anti-missile, space-based Star Wars-style programme; and an acceleration of the Pentagons $1 trillion modernisation programme for its nuclear arsenal. War means profit, and thats something that brings a huge smile to the face of the new president. The US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan alone have earned the American weapons industry trillions of dollars and counting. Its not by accident that in the days following Trumps election, stock values for military contractors soared: Lockheed Martin up 4.8 percent; Northrop Grumman up 5.1 percent; Raytheon up 6.2 percent; General Dynamics up 4.1 percent; L-3 Communications up 5.4 percent; Textron up 2.2 percent; Boeing up 0.76 percent; Huntington Ingalls up 6.5 percent. OPINION: Five thoughts to sober up the morning after Trump While hope may spring eternal, reality flows from bitter experience. Here, that experience should tell us that it matters little whether a liberal democrat or an autocratic republican sits in the White House. In the history of the US, colonialism has always found a welcome host in the Middle East, with or without its age old network of surrogates. It knows of no such restraint as political party or allegiance. Profit and military madness make for a bad combination indeed. That marriage will continue as eight years of unabated war will surely grow to 12. Stanley L Cohen is a lawyer and human rights activist who has done extensive work in the Middle East and Africa. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Government and rebel delegations trade barbs over details of shaky nationwide truce during first day of talks in Astana. Astana, Kazakhstan The first day of Syria talks in Kazakhstan hit a snag as direct negotiations between rebels and the government looked unlikely, and as delegates sparred over details of a nationwide truce. Representatives of the Syrian government and opposition on Monday traded barbs over interpretations of a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey in late December, as their respective regional backers met behind closed doors to keep the meeting on track. The meeting in Astana, organised by Russia and Turkey, is aimed at strengthening a nationwide ceasefire that has largely held despite pockets of violence across the country, and paving the way towards UN-led political negotiations in Geneva on February 8. The talks mark the first time the Syrian opposition is represented solely by representatives of armed groups. READ MORE: Rebels focused on ceasefire at Astana peace talks Bashar al-Jaafari, head of the Syrian government delegation, accused the opposition of misinterpreting the tenets of the ceasefire, saying the provocative tone and lack of seriousness in the opposition delegation chiefs speech had irritated the attendees diplomatic senses and experience. Referring to the rebel delegation as terrorists, Jaafari said opposition groups who signed the truce deal were trying to undermine and sabotage the Astana meetings. Opposition leader Yahya al-Aridi complained that the Syrian government had not demonstrated serious commitment to the ceasefire, which came into effect on December 30, arguing there should be clarity before direct negotiations. If there is seriousness in making these talks lead to something substantial, formality wont be that important, Aridi told Al Jazeera. But as delegates exited closed-door talks to trade jabs via duelling press conferences, the crux of the meeting may have been happening elsewhere. Noah Bonsey, a Syria analyst with the International Crisis Group, said any potential impact from the Astana talks is more likely to come as a result of the trilateral talks between Iran, Turkey and Russia than it is from any direct exchanges between the Syrian delegations. READ MORE: Syrias civil war explained Were sitting on the sidelines of talks meant to be between the Syrian government and the opposition, but the main event is what is happening in the trilateral talks, he told Al Jazeera. Between Turkey, Russia and Iran you have tremendous leverage and military weight on the ground in Syria. If they make progress in adjusting the ceasefire that has already been agreed that could have major military ramifications. Russia, whose 2015 military intervention was crucial in turning the tide in favour of the government, and Turkey, a prominent backer of the opposition, were key forces in establishing the ceasefire and bringing the opposing sides to Astana. But diplomatic sources close to the opposition told Al Jazeera that the role of Iran, a key ally of the government in Damascus and backer of thousands of allied militia forces on the ground, has been problematic for the rebels within the talks. The rebel delegation was reportedly hesitant to be seen sitting at the same table as the Iranian delegation and was angry that Iran could be named as the third guarantor in addition to Russia and Turkey in strengthening the ceasefire. In separate press statements, officials from both sides made contrasting claims over whether Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, a group previously linked to al-Qaeda, is present in Wadi Barada. The strategic area in rural Damascus is home to the capitals main water source. Recent violence there has threatened the fragile truce. The ceasefire agreement stipulated that a truce would be implemented across all of Syria, excluding the parts of the country where Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) are operating. After the first round of talks on Monday, Jaafari said that the governments recent advances in Wadi Barada were aimed at driving out Jabhat Fateh al-Sham from the area, blaming the group for cutting water supplies to 5.5 million Syrians in Damascus since late December. Not present Rebel representatives in Astana refuted those claims, saying that government bombardment in the area was responsible for disrupting the water supply to the capital. Jabhat Fateh al-Sham are not present in Wadi Barada. We asked the Russians to go and see for themselves, Fares Bayoush, a Free Syrian Army commander, told a group of reporters. WATCH: Are the Astana talks a turning point to end Syrias war? We have evidence of the rockets which are still there These were Syrian rockets, he said. But rebel leaders also said they refused to look into the issue of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham until Syria had been emptied of all foreign fighters, referring to Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan groups fighting on behalf of the government a demand not previously publicly mentioned as being within the provisions of the truce deal. Ahmad Hilayel delivered a sermon in which he chastised Gulf leaders, demanding more financial assistance. Jordans chief Islamic justice has resigned abruptly two days after delivering a sermon in which he chastised Gulf leaders for not doing enough to support his country financially. Ahmad Hilayel in his Friday sermon demanded that the leaders of Gulf states share their wealth with Jordan, a statement described by some commentators as hugely embarrassing. Things have reached a boiling point with us, Hilayel said, addressing the Gulf leaders. Your brothers in Jordan are facing danger all around them, where is your help; where is your money and where are your riches? Hilayels sermon drew sharp public criticism for its unusual tone, that, according to Abdel Karim al-Dughmi, a member of parliament, was tantamount to straight-up begging. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Jordans capital, Amman, Dughmi said: I dont accept what Hilayel said because we should not turn into beggars from the pulpit. If we have the right to money from the Gulf as per our mutual agreements, it should be demanded through different channels. Not like that. It is not clear whether Hilayel was under pressure from the royal court to resign over his sermon. Inappropriate statement Retired army general and writer Musa al-Odwan also called Hilayels sermon inappropriate, and hugely embarrassing to Jordan. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Amman, Odwan added that Hilayel, as a religious judge had no business talking politics, or talking about our brothers in the Gulf like that. Hilayel should instead try to advise those who mismanaged the states resources, rather than begging, especially since our brothers in the Gulf have always helped and supported Jordan with billions of aid money. Salameh al-Darawi, a prominent journalist specialised in economics, said that Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, have always supported the Jordanian economy with declared and undeclared economic assistance. Gulf states pledged $5bn to Jordan in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. In addition, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE have supplied Jordan with free oil shipments of 200,000 barrels a year to make up for oil that it was receiving from Iraq and that was no longer available, Darawi said. READ MORE: Jordan cracks down on activists over social media posts Instability and war in neighbouring Syria and Iraq, Jordans main trading partners, have added to the countrys economic woes and contributed to a budget deficit that currently stands at $1.5bn. During the same sermon, Hilayel also warned Jordanian activists who criticise the government not to take to the streets because it would be disloyal to do so. The activists have been demanding more government accountability and transparency to combat public corruption. On Thursday, security forces rounded up about 19 activists and charged them with crimes including posting statements critical of the government on Facebook. Hilayel was the highest Islamic law judge in Jordan and was appointed by the king. He was also the Imam of the Royal Hashemite Court, an honorific, but paid, position that requires him to lead public prayer alongside the king and recite verses whenever the king or the royal family visit gravesites of family members. President Donald Trump pledges help as state of emergency is declared in some areas due to severe weather. A severe storm system, which spun off tornadoes and left scattered destruction, has killed at least 18 people on a two-day sweep across the southern region of the United States. At least 14 people were killed on Sunday in Georgia, according to officials, as the fast-moving storms tore across the state throughout the day, with at least one deadly tornado reported before dawn and violent storms still rumbling after nightfall. Four other people were killed on Saturday in the state of Mississippi, reports said. READ MORE: 2016 declared Earths hottest year on record The enormous system put millions of people in the southern US on edge during a weekend of violent weather that left crumpled trailer homes, downed trees and other damage in the hardest-hit communities from Mississippi to Georgia. On Sunday, President Donald Trump pledged federal assistance to the ravaged areas. The tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong and they suffered greatly, he said during an event in the White House. So, well be helping out. The severe weather threat was still continuing on Sunday night in some parts, extending into North and South Carolina, as well as north Florida, according to reports. The days deadliest toll came before daybreak on Sunday when an apparent tornado blew through a mobile home park in south Georgia, shearing away siding, upending homes and killing seven people. There are houses just demolished, Norma Ford, a resident of Albany, Georgias largest city with some 76,000 people, told The Associated Press news agency. Nathan Deal, Georgias governor declared a state of emergency in seven southern Georgia counties, freeing up state resources to assist with recovery efforts. January tornado outbreaks are rare, but not unprecedented, in the US, particularly in southern states. Data from the Storm Prediction Center shows that, over the past decade, the nation has seen an average 38 tornadoes in January, ranging from a high of 84 in 2008 to just four in 2014. The last time the prediction centre issued a high-risk weather outlook when forecasters are very confident of a tornado outbreak was in 2014. At least five soldiers have been killed by unknown gunmen in Egypts Sinai Peninsula, according to military officials, in the latest attack to hit the troubled area. The armed forces mourn with great sadness and sorrow the five martyrs who were martyred in Sinai at the hands of disloyal fundamentalist elements, enemies of the nation and religion, the military said in a statement on Monday. The statement did not give any further details about the location or the circumstances surrounding the incident, but online media reports said the attack happened late on Sunday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the deadly incident. OPINION: Sinai insurgency An enduring risk An armed movement in the rugged and thinly populated Sinai Peninsula has gained pace since the military toppled President Mohamed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, in mid-2013. Since then, hundreds of police officers and soldiers have been killed in attacks. Earlier in January, a truck-bomb attack on a checkpoint killed at least seven police officers in the city of El-Arish in northern Sinai. In November, a car-bomb attack on a checkpoint in Sinai killed eight soldiers. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) groups Egyptian branch in the Sinai Peninsula has also carried out several such attacks over the past two years. The Sinai Peninsula borders Israel and Palestines Gaza Strip. Exiled former leader accused of stealing state funds as regional troops prepare to secure arrival of President Barrow. The Gambias ex-ruler, Yahya Jammeh, plundered the state coffers in his final weeks in power, stealing millions of dollars and shipping out luxury vehicles by cargo plane, according to an aide to new president Adama Barrow. Jammeh, who ruled the small West African country for 22 years, flew into exile late on Saturday to Equatorial Guinea. He had refused to concede defeat in a December 1 election but eventually relinquished power after a delegation of West African leaders convinced him to step down, even as troops from neighbouring countries entered The Gambia. OPINION: The Gambia A lesson for African dictators On Sunday, hundreds of Banjul residents cheered a military force by ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc, as it entered the capital to provide security and allow Barrow, who has been in neighbouring Senegal for more than a week, to return and take power. But amid growing controversy over the assurances offered to Jammeh to guarantee his departure, Barrow adviser Mai Fatty said the new administration had discovered that millions of dollars had recently been stolen. The coffers are largely empty, he told reporters in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Over two weeks, over 500m dalasi ($11 million) were withdrawn by Jammeh, he said. As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress. Fatty also said that a Chadian cargo plane had transported luxury goods out of the country on Jammehs behalf, in his final hours in power, including an unknown number of vehicles. Barrows aide said officials at the Banjul airport have been ordered not to allow any of Jammehs belongings to leave. Fatty also said the president is eager to return to The Gambia as soon as possible, warning, however, that the state of security in The Gambia is still fragile. No legislative measures The regional military operation was first launched late on Thursday after Barrow was sworn in as president at Gambias embassy in Senegal, but it was halted hours later to give Jammeh one last chance to leave peacefully. His departure followed two days of negotiations led by Guinea President Alpha Conde and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, prompting speculation over what, if any, terms were agreed upon to convince him to step down. He wanted to stay in Gambia, Barrow told radio station RFM in Senegal. We said we couldnt guarantee his security and said that he should leave. Barrow, who says he plans to establish a commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses by Jammehs regime, denied that the former ruler had been offered immunity from prosecution in exchange for leaving the country. Critics have raised concerns over the wording of a statement issued by the United Nations, ECOWAS and the African Union that seemed to offer Jammeh comfortable guarantees for his future. No legislative measures would be taken that would infringe the dignity, security, safety and rights of Jammeh or his family, it said, noting that property lawfully belonging to him would not be seized. Equatorial Guinea is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court, meaning Jammeh would not be extradited in the event he was charged with crimes against humanity or other serious offences. The declaration also said Jammehs exile was temporary and that he reserved the right to return to the Gambia at the time of his choosing. The agreement essentially says there can be no prosecution against Jammeh, his family or his entourage; there will be no seizure of his assets, no witch-hunts, and he can be back to the country at any time, Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque, reporting from Dakar, said. It might sound like a good deal for Jammeh, but we have to bear in mind that this is a political document, not a legally binding one, so it still brings hopes for those wanting to prosecute Jammeh or those in the security services over alleged human rights violations. In Banjul, hundreds of residents assembled outside the State House on Sunday, as ECOWAS soldiers moved in to secure the compound. Cheering and singing, some sought to capture the moment for posterity, posing for photos with the Senegalese troops. We are free, food seller Isatou Toure, 35, told Reuters news agency. Everyone is so happy that man is gone. We are happy to see (the soldiers). They protected us from Jammeh. READ MORE: Exiled Gambians ponder return to troubled homeland Senegalese army officials said the force, which also includes troops from Nigeria, Ghana and Mali, met no resistance as they advanced on Sunday. Defence chief Ousmane Badjie said the military welcomed the arrival of the regional force wholeheartedly. With proper orders, he said, he would open the doors to the notorious prisons where rights groups say many who have disappeared over the years may be kept. We are going to show Barrow, we are really armed forces with a difference, I swear to God, Badjie said. Some of the 45,000 people who had fled the tiny country during the crisis began to return. The nation of 1.9 million has been a major source of migrants heading towards Europe because of the situation at home. Ex-foreign minister cancels Brussels visit after prosecutors said they would question her over war crimes allegations. Israels former foreign minister cancelled a trip to Brussels after Belgian prosecutors confirmed they wanted to question her over war crimes allegations. Tzipi Livni was expected to meet Jewish leaders in the city on Monday, but cancelled ahead of time. A spokesman for the event said Livni cancelled for personal reasons but local newspaper Le Soir said prosecutors had been hoping to question her over allegations of war crimes in the 2008-9 Israeli war in Gaza, when she was foreign minister. We wanted to take advantage of her visit to try to advance the investigation, a spokesman for Belgiums federal prosecutor Thierry Werts told the AFP news agency. Livni is named along with other political and military leaders in a complaint filed in June 2010 over alleged crimes committed during the Gaza war. More than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, died during the Israeli offensive between December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, also died. Role in war Belgian authorities have the right to detain a suspect in its territory on crimes related to international law, as one of the victims had Belgian citizenship. The Belgian federal prosecutors office believes Livni, now a member of parliament and opposition leader, is not protected by immunity. INTERACTIVE: Mapping Israels strikes on Gaza The Belgian-Palestinian Association supporting the complaint said in a statement it wanted to hold Livni responsible for her role in the war, as well as Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, then prime minister and minister of defence. In December 2009, Livni cancelled a visit to London after being informed that she was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by a UK court over her role in the same war. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said the planned interrogation was a cheap publicity stunt with no legal basis. The incident took place a day after a ban on the controversial sport, known as Jallikattu, was overturned. Two men have been gored to death in a bull-taming festival event in southern India, a day after authorities temporarily lifted a ban on the traditional event. Up to 90 people were also injured on Sunday as rampaging bulls sprinted through Rapoosal, a village in the state of Tamil Nadu. The sport, known as Jallikattu, was banned by Indias top court banned it in 2014 on grounds of animal cruelty. Yet, the government on Saturday passed an executive order to temporarily overturn the ban following week-long protests, and Jallikattu events were subsequently held in towns and villages across Tamil Nadu. But thousands have continued to protest and refused to celebrate the festival, saying they want a permanent lifting of the court ban and not just a temporary order. Police on Monday morning tried to evict proponents of the sport who were protesting on Marina Beach in the state capital, Chennai. The protesters said they will not disperse until the ban was permanently lifted. Clashes were reported at the site and protesters set a police vehicle on fire, broadcaster NDTV reported. Protests also took place in other parts of the state, including the city Madurai. Jallikattu involves releasing a bull into a crowd of people who attempt to grab it and ride it. Animal rights activists have long opposed the activity, pointing to the injuries it causes to bulls, as well as human deaths. Supporters say the sport is part of local tradition and heritage and deny it is cruel to animals. Company says efforts to increase phones battery life caused device to catch fire prompting an estimated $5.3bn recall. Smartphone giant Samsung has blamed faulty batteries for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under a damaging scandal. The South Korean company was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apples iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire. The debacle cost the company billions in lost profit and reputation. COUNTING THE COST: Samsung Going up in flames (25:54) Internal and independent investigations concluded that batteries were found to be the cause of the Note 7 incidents, Samsung said in a statement on Monday. We sincerely apologise for the discomfort and concern we have caused to our customers, said Koh Dong-jin, the head of its mobile business, bowing before hundreds of reporters and cameramen at a press conference. We wanted to increase the battery capacity as much as possible. Our battery suppliers, in order to meet our needs, applied new designs and manufacturing technologies. Conclusively speaking, the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 burning incident was in the batteries. In September 2016, Samsung announced a recall of the oversized Galaxy Note 7 after several devices exploded or caught fire, with the company blaming batteries from a supplier. When replacement phones with batteries from another firm also started to combust, the company decided to kill off the Note 7 for good. In total, 3.1 million devices were recalled, as authorities around the world banned the device from use on planes and even from being placed in checked luggage. The cost of the recall is estimated at $5.3bn. Samsung has since embarked on a campaign to restore its battered reputation, issuing repeated apologies and putting full-page advertisements in US newspapers, admitting it fell short on its promises. Analysts said Samsung was looking to move on through the announcement, which did not implicate other devices. Consumers tend to be forgiving the first time, Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Technology, told AFP news agency. But if it happens again, it will leave a lasting mark on Samsungs quality and brand image. Samsung had concentrated on innovative design, thinness and battery capacity rather than safety, he said. Al Jazeeras Harry Fawcett, reporting from South Koreas capital, Seoul, said the key test of consumer confidence will come with this years launch of its next flagship handset: Galaxy S8. The expected unveiling of the new phone at next months Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, has reportedly been delayed to ensure it had no safety problems. Syria talks in Kazakh capital off to rocky start as no face-to-face discussions take place between rival delegations. A delegation of Syrian rebels attending a new round of talks in Kazakhstans capital will not hold direct talks with representatives of the government, according to opposition sources. The meetings in Astana, organised by Russia and Turkey, are aimed at strengthening a shaky ceasefire that has largely held despite incidents of violence across Syria. Opposition spokesman Yahya al-Aridi said the rebels had backed out of the first session of face-to-face negotiations on Monday, accusing the government of Bashar al-Assad of violating the December 30 truce deal brokered by Russia and Turkey. If there is seriousness in making these talks lead to something substantial, formality wont be that important, Aridi told Al Jazeera. READ MORE: Rebels focused on ceasefire at Astana peace talks We havent seen any signs of commitment to the ceasefire; there should be clarity and agreement on this first. But Bashar al-Jaafari, the head of the Syrian government delegation, also accused rebels of not keeping their end in the ceasefire deal particularly in Wadi Barada, a strategic area in the Damascus suburbs and home to a major water facility. Speaking to reporters in Astana, Jaafari repeatedly referred to the rebel delegation as representatives of terrorist armed groups and said the agenda for the talks is not ready yet. Al Jazeeras Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Astana, described the start of the talks as rocky, saying the lack of direct negotiations raised concerns about the effectiveness of the meeting. It is making diplomatic sources wonder how effective these talks will be, because these meetings really hinged on the idea that the rebels and government representatives will meet face-to-face, Jamjoom said. At this stage, there is a lot of concern behind scenes about how these talks will go. Organisers have played down expectations of a breakthrough, with Numan Kurtulmus, Turkeys deputy prime minister, saying the prospect of an immediate solution was still distant. There are parties that have been at war with each other for six years around the table at Astana, he told journalists on Monday. A solution in one or two days should not be expected. The negotiations in Kazakhstan, which are expected be over by midday on Tuesday, are likely to be followed by United Nations-mediated diplomatic talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 8. The talks in Astana are not an alternative to the Geneva talks next month, but are an additional step, Roman Vassilenko, the Kazakh deputy foreign minister, said. Ceasefire, aid The December 30 truce has largely been holding, despite pockets of violence, specifically in the suburbs of the capital Damascus, where Syrian government forces have been advancing to retake strategic areas. Before the talks, Jaafari had played down Turkeys role as a party to the talks and said the agenda would focus on strengthening last months truce. Turkey is violating Syrian sovereignty, so there is no Syrian-Turkish dialogue, he said, a reference to Turkish support for anti-Assad armed groups in the north of Syria. READ MORE: In Astana, Russia is in full charge Syrian opposition officials also said they were focused on securing the current ceasefire, as well as getting humanitarian aid to people living under siege. The besieged areas should be relieved from the torture, Aridi told Al Jazeera on Monday. Aid should reach these besieged areas and the principle of kneel or starve to death should also be humanely removed. When asked whether the rebels would sign an agreement to continue negotiations in Februarys meeting in Geneva, Aridi replied: It depends on the productivity and fruitfulness of these [Astana] talks. If they are quite successful, there could come a product, a political one, that could be used in the Geneva talks. Although Ankara and Moscow have backed opposing sides of Syrias nearly six-year conflict, they have worked hand-in-hand in recent weeks to try to secure an end to the war. The US Trump administration was invited to participate in the talks, but did not send a delegation. Washington will instead be represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan, according to the US state department. Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, will also be attending the talks to play a supportive role. UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on Sunday hailed the talks as a good initiative, in comments carried by Russian news agencies. France and Britain will also be represented at the ambassador level, according to a European diplomatic source. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been killed during the war, which initially started when largely unarmed anti-government uprisings against Assad erupted in 2011. More than 12 million people, approximately half of the countrys prewar population, have also been displaced over the course of the war. Additional reporting by Zena Tahhan and Dylan Collins in Astana. Army forces enter southwestern port city of al-Makha, as dozens of families flee ongoing clashes and bombardments. The Yemeni army said it has taken full control of al-Makha (Mocha), a port city southwest of the capital Sanaa which had been taken by Houthi rebels in November 2014. Brigade General Ahmed Seif al-Yafai said in press remarks on Monday that his forces entered al-Makha, where dozens of families were seen fleeing days of clashes and bombardment. Government forces were combing the port, an AFP news agency journalist accompanying the troops said. A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemens civil war nearly two years ago to back President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after he was overthrown from the capital Sanaa by Houthi forces. READ MORE: Yemens orphans face catastrophe as fighting rages The latest development came almost three weeks after the Hadi loyalists launched an offensive against the rebels and their allies on Yemens southwestern coast. Warplanes and Apache attack helicopters from a Saudi-led Arab coalition have been pounding the rebels in support of pro-Hadi forces, military sources told AFP. Weapons smuggling Government forces said the rebels were using the port in al-Makha to smuggle weapons into Yemen. At least 10,000 people have died in the mostly stalemated Yemeni conflict, which has unleashed a humanitarian crisis in the already poor Arabian Peninsula country. While government forces in the south and east nominally hold most of Yemens territory, Hadi has struggled to enforce state authority among various armed groups and tribes. The Houthi rebels control most of Yemens population centres in the northwest, including Sanaa. Gulf Arab countries say the Houthi rebels are a proxy for their archrival Iran a charge Tehran denies. They and Hadis government say their campaign aims to protect the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the strategic waterway at the foot of the Red Sea through which nearly four million barrels of oil are shipped daily to Europe, the US and Asia. In February, the white flowers of a newly planted magnolia tree will stand tall, a permanent mark on Gainesville for a fallen UF student. Below the flowers and branches, a plaque nestled in the ground, bordered with hearts, will read: In loving memory, Abigail Abby Dougherty, City Beautification Board. Dougherty, a UF applied physiology and kinesiology senior, died in a bicycle accident across from campus in late October, according to Alligator archives. She was six days away from her 21st birthday. Along with being involved on campus by volunteering with the Field and Fork Pantry and working as a RecSports yoga instructor, Dougherty volunteered for about a year as a member of the City Beautification Board, which works to improve Gainesvilles environment, said Earline Luhrman, the board liaison. When board members found out about Doughertys death, they wanted to turn their heartbreak into action, and they began planning to honor her with the tree. It was a very sad, sad thing for all of us, Luhrman said. To see such beauty, and for it to be removed so quickly, was very sad. Ill never forget her, because she was just so wonderful. The tree, donated by Florida Green Keepers, will be planted outside the Matheson History Museums Library & Archives in February, with a small ceremony to be held Feb. 16, said Anita Spring, another board member. The ceremony will coincide with the unveiling of the new archive section of the museum. The board hasnt contacted Doughertys family or friends yet but hopes to let them know about the plaque, Spring said. Spring said unlike other UF students, Dougherty was consistently involved in the boards beautification work. She didnt want to just pad her resume. She really liked it, she thought it was a good thing for the city, Spring said. She was very enthusiastic about being a member. Thats why we liked her so much. Luhrman said the tree will create a legacy for Dougherty. The magnolia will live on, a spot of beauty for those who knew her to visit for years to come. I think itll be here for hopefully hundreds of years, Luhrman said. @rellenbogen Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now rellenbogen@alligator.org UFs chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority will teach students survival skills and about social justice this week during the sororitys 40th-annual Spring Week. Students will learn how to cook a meal for under $15 and discuss issues, including financial literacy and social injustice. The theme of the sororitys Spring Week is a Virus X break out at UF. Events, to be held from today until Saturday around UFs campus and Gainesville, will also highlight social-justice issues and incite students to take action in the midst of a changing political climate across the country, said Taylor Thomas, the sororitys vice president. We want to be the campus first responders to any feelings (students) might be going through, Thomas said. Thomas, a 21-year-old UF telecommunication senior, said activities will include a cooking demonstration Thursday, a stomp performance on Turlington Plaza on Friday and a volunteer opportunity Saturday at the North Florida Rehabilitation and Specialty Care center. Every event has a call to action, Thomas said. We make sure that attendees walk away with something. Zandra Walker, a 22-year-old first-year UF law student and alumna of the sorority, said she looks forward to learning from the weeks events. I am hoping to learn more about the Student Body how to unify the Student Body, she said. Its going to hit home for a lot of students. Location and times of events: Most times begin 13 minutes into the hour because the sorority was founded in 1913. Monday: OUTBREAK: America Divided movie screening in the Reitz Union Arredondo Cafe at 6:13 p.m. Tuesday: PANIC: Mens escape obstacle course at The Woodlands of Gainesville Clubhouse at 5:13 p.m. Wednesday: QUARANTINE: The HeART of Gainesville in Norman Hall, Room 250 at 7:13 p.m. Thursday: ANTIDOTE: Serum to Smart Savings, location to be announced, at 7:13 p.m. Friday: CODE RED: Set Stomp performance on Turlington Plaza at 12:13 p.m. Saturday: CURED: Volunteering at the North Florida Rehabilitation and Specialty Care center, located at 6700 NW 10th Place, at 2 p.m. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now People are splitting hairs over whether protesting Donald Trump is protesting the office of the presidency or protesting his views. But you HAVE to respect the office, they say, as if those who oppose Trump have ruined the peaceful transition of power. I dont think anyone is disputing the fact that Trump won the presidency. He won the electoral college, which is how the president is selected. The issue is that being president doesnt mean that one is worthy of respect. Its funny that the Republican Party wants Trump to be respected when they spent so long casting doubt on President Barack Obamas belief system and place of birth. Despite the Affordable Care Act being a fundamentally Republican idea, they still ripped it to shreds. For someone who so vehemently claimed that an election was rigged and disrespected the electoral process, Trump seems awfully sensitive to protests. Respect does not mean support or endorsement. I respect Trump in the way I respected my high-school principal: I respected that she had the power to potentially make my life a living hell. That doesnt mean, however, that I thought she had anything valuable to contribute to the field of education. My respect for Trump is more like a simple acceptance that he won the election. Just because someone wins an election, doesnt mean their power should go unchecked by the people. Winning a majority of the Electoral College cannot overrule the need to advocate for the rights of marginalized groups. Yes, Trump is president, but thats just a job. There are bad presidents just as there are bad journalists and bad real estate agents. In any other field, if someone promised to do a bad job wed take their word for it. Why is this case any different? Trump said many shocking things on the campaign trail that he believes women should be punished for abortions, Muslims should have to register and a wall should be built along our border to Mexico. Many people who voted for him said they did so because they felt like he told the truth and would do what he promised. Many commentators insisted that the American people should wait for Trump to be inaugurated before judging his abilities as president, but what can they say now that Trump made his priorities clear just hours after the inauguration? Obamas White House website was archived, and the new White House website does not have sections on climate change, LGBTQ+ rights and civil rights. However, the new administration did have time to add a section promoting Melania Trumps jewelry line. What could be more disrespectful than a president promoting his own wifes business interests before taking the time to add pages to his site on the issues that most impact the American people? The fact that Trump was inaugurated already cannot be an excuse for complacency. Being elected does not mean that all citizens owe Trump unquestioned and unchecked allegiance. Holding the title of president of the U.S. does not mean everything you touch turns to gold. There is still so much to be done ahead of the 2018 elections that can help us reverse the course of this administration. Its clear our current president does not respect the people he was elected to represent. So why should we respect him? Nicole Dan is a UF political science and journalism junior. Her column appears on Mondays. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now On Friday, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of our nation, and the winds of change have begun to blow across the country we felt them quite literally Sunday. But perhaps this storm isnt just for us. In Europe, stirrings of nationalist parties and the far-right have been felt. Leaders of these movements say it is only natural Europe wakes up to follow Americas lead. Its a bit disconcerting to hear legitimate fascist parties saying they want to follow in our lead. Arent Nazis our enemies? Have they not been the bad guys in literally every retelling of history, from Captain America to Indiana Jones? When did a country of freedom slowly turn into an inspiration for xenophobic nationalists? We dont know what President Trump will actually carry out now that he is in office. Perhaps all the xenophobic and misogynistic comments were just locker room talk. Perhaps he will mend our economy and carry out all the unproblematic parts of his promises. Perhaps he will be the change his supporters have called for, the change our country apparently needs. Perhaps. We dont know for sure what the next four years hold, and we will make no claims about that right now. What we do know is that right now, our country has swung to the bad side of history. At this current moment in time, most of the world is baffled by us. We do have some support: The European far-right who believe we are leading the world into a great new era. Ever since the end of World War II, weve held ourselves up as a shining example of democracy we defeated fascists for crying out loud; that was our rallying cry when we claimed ourselves as a model. And now, groups following the ideals of the very same people we prided ourselves on beating are suddenly using us as their inspiration. The other part of our international support at the moment is Russia. Were not going to get into they-did-we-did with the whole hacking business or the dossiers or whether President Trump is actually best friends with Putin or whatever the latest media frenzy is about. We will say that for a nation that for decades prided itself on two big things defeating fascists and not being the USSR weve certainly done a complete 180 in the past few months. Is this really our fate, though? Are we doomed to be the bad guys as fascists and communists alike take inspiration from us? On Saturday, more than one million people marched in womens marches, protesting this new administration and its implications. These marches happened not only all over our country the main one in Washington, D.C., of course, with other large cities hosting them, as well as protests in our very own Gainesville and just around the corner in Tallahassee but also around the world, on all seven continents. Yes, that includes Antarctica. Maybe the winds are changing, but that doesnt mean we have to change course. We adjust the sails, we prepare for the storm. We dont let the winds veer us away from the direction were set on. We do the fundamental American thing and protest just as our Founding Fathers did, just as our nation has done since its inception. We will rally together, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, cultural background or political affiliation, keeping in mind what we stand for and doing our best to make sure we dont become the bad guys in the history books, and that the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness still hold for all of us. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now I recently received this shocking letter from a man who has served as a contractor in Afghanistan. It reveals the appalling extent of sharia compliance in the United States military. My name is John Craig. I have been a contractor in Afghanistan for over five years as a mechanical engineer. Recently I have been dismissed by the command of Bagram Air Field and lost my job. I am in Kuwait and in route to go home and find another job. The reason I was expelled from the base is because I had two copies of the Koran. One was a hardback study book and the other a paperback Koran; it is my interest to study the religion in and of itself and take notes. Well, what happened was that I wrote notes and highlighted throughout the books and came to the conclusion that the doctrine itself is that of murder, rape, and extortion. That is my personal view of the religion. Well, dumb me, I wrote on the paperback Koran in black marker right on the front RELIGION OF MURDER. That is what I think of it. The Command M.P. (military police) did an inspection in our rooms and were searching for General Order 1 violations; it's normal procedure finding drugs, alcohol, and pornographic material. Well, in this search, they found my study Korans (under my bed) out of sight and out of view of others, and called me in to investigate why I had marked on the Koran RELIGION OF MURDER. I went to the police station and wrote an essay on my reasons for having the books and why I wrote that. I explained to them that this was all for personal study and not meant for sharing with others, especially with Muslims. I do not preach, evangelize or try to talk to Muslims about their religious beliefs. I am simply there trying to make a living for my family and have no intention of ever sharing my beliefs. The Command did not see it that way. The following day, the leadership of my company called me in and read a letter from the Air Force Colonial Command, stating that I was permanently barred from the military base there in Afghanistan and that I was to leave immediately. The charge was that I was "in possession of prohibited material." So it did not define my marking on the book; it just said I had something that was in violation of their General Order 1. The colonel said that my presence there was a security threat and a disruption of the good conduct of personnel on the base and that I had to leave. In addition, I will not be able to work anywhere with the military, either there or in Kuwait or Iraq, or with any other branch in the military service. Apparently, he has even gone as far as put me on a watch list, which is called "red flagging." Even though I have a security clearance, I am being watched as if I were a terrorist in case I might cause some kind of violence or something. When I left the following night, I had a Military Police escort to the airport. Two men followed me right up to the airplane to see for themselves that I was in the airplane and seated. I never thought I would be treated like the Taliban. They were ordered to keep an eye on me and not to let me out of their sight. I do not know how far this is going to escalate. It appears to me that this is the Obama administration: they have made federal regulations to punish anyone who insults or criticizes the Islamic faith and are making an example of said individuals. I have done nothing wrong. Those books were mine. I purchased them, and I can do what I want with what is mine. I was not going around voicing my opinions about Islam. I even have a good friend there in the company who is a Muslim, and I do not insult him or tell him he is wrong. It's all just a hobby to me, to study region and political science. The federal government might push this farther and try to get some kind of criminal charges against me. I have been advised not to talk much or say much by people in the company, because they are hearing things but will not tell me. My manager told me that he called corporate, and they told him this was an extremely serious charge against me, that I am being fired on this insult to Islam charge, and that I will lose my clearance and be punished for my graffiti on these books. A few days before Inauguration Day, my 89-year-old black preacher dad said God is responsible for Trump becoming president. I thought about the scripture in which God says, "My ways are not your ways." Frustrated with Obama declaring America no longer a Christian nation while cramming the left's anti-God and anti-America agenda down our throats, millions have been intensely praying for our country. If I were God, I would have answered Americans' prayers by making Ted Cruz president. But God is smarter than me. Trump is exactly what America needs at this point in time. No traditional politician could get away with confronting anti-American leftist operatives in the media, calling out Washington establishment corruption, and boldly vowing to put America first. Few Republicans would have the cojones to even try. As usual, despicable leftist media distorted Trump's awesome inaugural address, saying Trump's speech was reminiscent of Hitler. Meanwhile, Americans were crying tears of joy. They have not heard such commonsense patriotism in a very, very long time. Leftists still do not understand whom they are dealing with in Trump and why We the People chose him over Hillary. Standard leftist tactics for silencing, destroying, intimidating, and blocking Republicans (calling them racist, sexist, and homophobic) have failed miserably on Trump. Unlike most pro politicians, Trump has not been neutered in the politically correct school of politicking. Our 45th president is simply a patriotic, brilliant businessman following his instincts to make America great again. Here are a few vows Trump made in his inaugural address that are as repulsive to the left the Cross is to Dracula. "...we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People." "This American carnage stops right here and stops right now." "From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it's going to be America first." Them's fightin' words to the left (Democrats, Hollywood and mainstream media). "We will get our people off of welfare and back to work[.]" The Democrats' insidious scheme is always to hand out more welfare checks, getting as many Americans as possible addicted, enslaved, and dependent upon government. "I will fight for you with every breath in my body and I will never, ever let you down." "For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military. We've defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay." Leftists barfed. "America will start winning again winning like never before." Leftist heads exploded. Trump vowing to govern according to the best interest of our country is basic common sense. And yet it sounded extraordinary and like cause for celebration, because Obama's governing has been the complete opposite. I strongly encourage President Trump to stay who he is. Keep fearlessly pushing back when attacked by deplorable racially divisive Democrat hacks like John Lewis and Maxine Waters. Keep tweeting, Mr. President. It is a highly effective way to speak directly to the American people, bypassing Democrat operatives disguised as mainstream media. By the way, I loved it when Trump exposed CNN as a propaganda outlet, calling them fake news during his press conference. CNN sank to a new low, incredibly sowing seeds to inspire the assassination of Trump. This is why it blows my mind that some on our side are offended that Trump does not play by the left's dictates for Republican behavior. Trump realizes that it is absurd to respect, try to reason with, or work with unreasonable, evil people obsessed with plotting your demise. Extreme times require extreme measures. It is not the case that the left loves America but simply disagrees about how to make her great. The left hates America and is repulsed by Trump's desire to make her great. Therefore, the left must be defeated. Mr. President, please to do not succumb to the left's mantra that you should dial back your behavior, becoming "more presidential." This is their trap to control you, to trick you into abandoning your instincts, which won you the presidency with a majority of Americans in your corner, watching your back. Bottom line: Mr. President, We the People are with you. Please, please, please stay who you are. God bless you and your family. And may God continue blessing America! The filibuster may seem a weapon of obstruction in the hands of Senator Schumer, but the Minority Leader may find himself in a trap of his own making when he uses it. During the Obama years, Republicans campaigned on the promise that "If we control the Senate and the House, we will pass conservative laws to rein in a lawless Obama administration." But after each election Senate Majority Leader McConnell said that that it was almost impossible to get anything done because the Democrats blocked every meaningful action in the Senate. Does that really mean that we have to elect the very rare filibuster-proof majority to slay the governmental leviathan that has been built over the last century? Even now, with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and Donald Trump moving into the White House, they throw out this same excuse: "You can't pass anything in the Senate without sixty votes." Are our political leaders lying? Were their pleas simply a way to convince us that we should vote for them, even though we may find them doing nothing again? Put another way, "Is the fix in, and we are permanent patsies?" When Senator Scott Brown was elected in 2010, he was thought to be the final filibusterer to prevent ObamaCare from being voted on in the Senate. It was the classic position of the minority: Let's prevent the majority from running roughshod over "the will of the people." But the Democrats got around the filibuster and the rest is history. And it seems that the new Republican Congress will use basically the same tactic to eliminate ObamaCare. But what about other legislation? With slightly different details, the filibuster has existed for centuries in various legislative bodies. It wasn't until 1917 that Senate rules for ending debate were even adopted. Because the required supermajority was large, cloture almost always required votes from both parties. This seems generally sane. If an action is sufficiently objectionable that none of the minority can be persuaded to join in it, then perhaps it is not sufficiently salutary to be adopted. Then a hyperpolarized Democratic Party intervened. In 2010, Republicans took the House, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to allow votes on many bills the House passed, blocking most Republican initiatives. This changed in 2014, when Republicans captured the Senate. The promise was that bills passed by the House could also be passed in the Senate, sending them to the President. Only a Presidential veto would block Republican goals. Again, Minority Leader Reid intervened. At almost every turn, Harry Reid declared that the Democrats would filibuster Republican proposals. There wouldn't be a vote against the Iran nuclear deal. Planned Parenthood would get its money. Keystone Pipeline wouldn't be voted on so President Obama wouldn't have to veto it. We could go on and on. "The World's Greatest Deliberative Body" ceased to deliberate. And we didn't hear a word of it in the mainstream media. Instead, we were told that the Republicans were "obstructionists." The trick that allowed these "filibusters" to succeed "behind the curtain" was created by Senators Mike Mansfield and Robert Bird after filibusters of civil rights legislation in the early 1960s. In essence, when the Minority Leader tells the Majority Leader that a filibuster is intended, the Majority Leader places the "filibustered" action on a second calendar where it never sees the light of day. Under this custom, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has allowed the Senate to be "filibustered," blocking action on bills the Democrats don't like, simply allowing Democrats to have their way. In theory, this two-calendar "filibuster" is designed to allow the Senate to operative efficiently to tackle the supposed "immense legislative load" it faces. But the proper term for this is "pre-emptive surrender." Senator Mitch McConnell has declared that he will not fight. But he does not need to fight. All he needs to do is to require the Democrats to fight. Consider this spectacle: Republicans propose an appropriations bill that does not include a tax increase the Democrats want. Senator Schumer declares a filibuster. But instead of going back to the drawing board to come up with something the Democrats will like, Senator McConnell simply hands the microphone to Senator Schumer and says, "Enjoy yourself." Now, instead of the Republicans looking bad, it has become time for the Democrats to put up or shut up. While the Democrats are busy trying to talk an important bill to death, Republicans are happily explaining to the TV cameras that it's all about Democrats trying to raise taxes on hard-working Americans while the Republicans refuse to go along with robbing the taxpayer one more time. Even President Trumps Twitter account can join in the fun. The Democrats are wearing the obstructionist hat while the Republicans are trying to do something for the American people. As Justice Brandeis said, "Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman." Multiply this by hundreds of Democrat pork-barrel projects. All of a sudden the cameras catch a view of Democrats shutting down the government while demanding money to study the effect of marijuana on sexual arousal in rats or digitize the New York Historical Society's photo collection or remove tattoos in California. These and thousands of other projects have no proper place in the Federal Government. After the first six-dozen stories of how the Democrats are preventing the Senate from doing its proper business in order to promote bad ideas, Senator Schumer may start to back down. But until then, there are no consequences for his actions. The current mainstream media meme is that the Republican Party is the "Party of No." If Mitch McConnell would simply hand the microphone to Chuck Schumer, America would see that the Democrats are the "Party of Nothing but Massive Government." And that would completely change the political dynamics. Ocean carrier Yang Ming said it anticipates the Taiwanese governments share in the carrier will increase well beyond the current 33.3 percent held by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Taiwan. Source: Oliver Hoffmann / Shutterstock Yang Ming expects the recapitalization plan will result in immediate benefits to its balance sheets Yang Ming has elaborated on a statement it made last week aimed at updating its customers about efforts to maintain competitiveness. In a customer advisory posted on its website Monday, the Taiwanese ocean carrier said it has instituted a recapitalization plan aimed to provide immediate benefits to its balance sheets and improve on its liquidity. Yang Ming said, In a December 22, 2016 shareholders meeting, the shareholders voted to approve a stock consolidation plan. This move was designed to pare down accumulated loss. Additionally, it was announced at the meeting that Yang Ming would receive injection of fresh capital from new investors. The first stage of this injection of capital will be from various government and private entities, including banks and financial institutions. Yang Ming will issue new stock to these investors, and with the new capital, Yang Ming expects immediate benefits to its balance sheets. With this strong showing of government support, it is also expected to help enhance additional private sector investment in Yang Ming. Yang Ming anticipates the Taiwanese governments share in the carrier will increase well beyond the current 33.3 percent held by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Taiwan. While the predictions for 2017 appear to show some improvements for carriers, Yang Ming remains prepared to take any measure necessary to maintain its competitiveness, without sacrificing its dedication to its customers, the company said, noting it has the option to draw on a $1.9 billion fund the Taiwan government has set up for shipping companies. Yang Ming issued the statement last week in response to queries related to a report that Drewry released last week, which expressed concern over Yang Mings debt. Customers and vendors can rest assured that Yang Ming is not in default of any obligations and any suggestions otherwise are patently false, the carrier said. As it has been repeated in early advisories, Yang Ming has never approached its creditors with any demands to restructure any part of its debt, and Yang Ming does not have any intentions to do so going forward. Yang Ming has never failed to deliver in difficult times, even in the wake of the largest carrier bankruptcy. Rahul Kapoor, director of Drewry Financial Research Services, updated his comments on Monday, saying, We believe the company has been forthcoming and transparent and are appreciative of the companys quick and clear response. This should likely soothe both the customers and investors nerves. However, we await further actions to review our stock recommendation on YMM, expecting a highly dilutive and large equity injection. We argue that Trump's wall and enforcement of the immigration laws already on the books would actually be more compassionate than our current immigration policy the virtually open border, lax enforcement of the immigration laws, and sanctuary cities. It is true that many Hispanics illegally crossing our southern border have found a better life here. But they are the winners of a Devil's Lottery. The losers include not only the thousands who have died in the desert, but the countless thousands more who find only hardship and misery, including slavery, after they reach the U.S. Surely, this humanitarian catastrophe outweighs the benefits. And the dark side of illegal immigration would discredit the whole if the readily available facts were widely reported. The U.S. Border Patrol reports that from Fiscal Year 2000 through FY 2016, 6,403 illegal immigrants died crossing the Southwestern border. (Four thousand four hundred seventy-five U.S. military died in the Iraq War.) In an interview with the pro-migrant Truthout Buzzflash, Northern Arizona University professor Robert Neustadt recounts that "over 7,000 human remains have been found in the [desert] borderlands." He emphasizes that "this number only represents the number of bodies found. The actual number of border crosser deaths is almost certainly significantly higher, though the bodies were never found." The first cost of our Devil's Lottery immigration policy is thus the thousands of men, women, and children who have died and continue to die of hunger, thirst, and exposure in the desert. For them, the better life in the U.S. proved to be a mirage a mirage created by the illusion of an open border, easily crossed, and the promise of sanctuary in an American city. But those who die may be the lucky ones. An issue brief by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) reports that "17,000 to 19,000 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year" trafficking being defined as "the recruitment and possible transport of persons within or across boundaries by force, fraud or deception for the purpose of exploiting them economically." Trafficking often takes place as "labor exploitation, including domestic servitude, sweatshop factories, and agricultural work." Trafficking victims are also exploited for commercial sex, "including prostitution, pornography, and live sex shows." Illegal immigrants are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, says FAIR. Trafficking victims find no sanctuary in the sanctuary cities. After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today. And, FAIR reports, it is the fastest growing. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) takes human trafficking seriously, maintaining a "10 most wanted" list of human traffickers. Last year, one of the top ten, Paulino Rameriz-Granados, was captured and charged with sex trafficking, alien smuggling, and money laundering. One of his victims testified that she had been smuggled into the U.S. and forced into prostitution. "She provided a detailed account of the physical and sexual assaults she suffered by a member of the Granados organization and threats made to the safety of her children when she said she no longer wanted to work as a prostitute," according to ICE. ICE also rescued an additional 25 victims all Mexican nationals and arrested 19 additional traffickers or smugglers, all members or associates of the Granados family. In another case reported by ICE, a former Mexican fugitive illegally residing in Houston, Noe Arando-Soto, aka Diablo, was sentenced to three life terms in federal prison for alien smuggling, conspiracy, and kidnapping resulting in three deaths. Fourteen victims addressed the court, most of whom had sustained some type of permanent injuries as a result of Arando-Soto's crimes. These stories are typical of the price illegal immigrants pay for the Devil's Lottery. The allure of the unsecured border has made alien smuggling a big business for organized crime. Breitbart reported a study prepared by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) regarding the surge of illegal immigrants across the border in 2014. According to DPS, "[n]early all illegal aliens made use of alien smuggling organizations (ASO's), nearly all of which are associated with Mexican cartels." According to DPS, the Gulf Cartel alone made $38 million in a few months in 2014. "As of July 2014, the Gulf Cartel was receiving so many immigrants that the organization did not know what to do with them. In some cases, groups of illegal aliens have been kidnapped or hijacked by criminals from smugglers, subjecting them to further exploitation," the report revealed. "Sometimes smuggled women and girls were delivered to sex traffickers." For the living conditions of smuggled migrants, do a web search for "migrant stash houses," and you will find a long list of stories like this one from the New York Daily News: "Human traffickers have been busted holding 108 suspected illegal immigrants inside a filth-infested Houston stash house, police said." According to the report, "[h]uman waste coated the floors, dozens of trash bags filled with old clothing filled the hallways and the thirsty and hungry victims were confined to tiny spaces. The conditions were so cramped that some were forced to sit on top of one another, while many were only dressed in their underwear." If abuse and misery are the lot of many thousands of illegal immigrants who do not die entering the U.S., what is the situation for illegals as a whole? Apparently not good. According to a report by Heritage Foundation scholar Robert Rector, granting amnesty to an estimated 11 million unlawful immigrants would cost taxpayers at least $6.3 trillion. According to Roberts, "[o]ver the course of their lives, former unlawful immigrants together would receive $9.4 trillion in government benefits and services and pay $3.1 trillion in taxes, for a lifetime "fiscal deficit" at minimum of $6.3 trillion (total benefits minus total taxes)." This means that average illegal immigrants, after surviving the horrors of the desert and/or the abuses of traffickers, can still be expected to live in relative poverty throughout their lives in the U. S. The above facts explain why an election eve poll showed a majority of Hispanics supporting stronger enforcement of immigration laws and why exit polls showed Trump drawing a larger share of the Hispanic vote (29% ) than Romney in 2012 (27%), exploding a pre-election Huffington Post report that "Trump anxiety" would drive Trump's share of the Hispanic vote down to 18%. Liberal rhetoric on immigration may make liberals feel good about themselves. But in the real world, Trump's Wall, enforcement of the immigration laws, and penalizing sanctuary cities are much more compassionate than luring Mexicans and Central Americans to death and misery by the illusion of an easy path across the border and a better life in a sanctuary city in America. D B Louis is the pen name of a 20-year veteran of the swamp. DBLouis.yolasite.com In my travels I come across those who think the tweeting by Donald Trump, first in the GOP primaries, then as the Republican candidate for president, then as president-elect, and then presumably as president is ... well ... unpresidential, undignified. Granted, such voices typically come from the older end on the age spectrum, which isn't quite as familiar or comfortable with the new social media technology as the younger set. But still, there are still many in the hipper generation, especially those in the political world and the media, who don't like Trump's tweeting, either. Although not openly admitted, the actual reason for this group's complaint is that Trump's tweets have been highly effective in advancing his points and prohibiting the liberal media from controlling the agenda and distorting his message. Thus by tweeting, Trump has further diminished the liberal media's already faltering monopoly on the news. Some say the mass media is biased against Republicans, especially conservatives ones. No it isn't. That train left the station long ago. Here's the history. Back when Huntley & Brinkley and Tom Brokaw (NBC), Walter Cronkite (CBS), and Peter Jennings and Harry Reasoner (ABC) were serving Americans their TV news and the print media took its lead from the liberal New York Times and Washington Post, this aggregate of media gave a definite progressive slant to the news. It was a seemingly mild bias back then. That's because the mainstream media had a monopoly on the news. But things started to change to undermine the liberal control of the news. First was the rise of conservative talk radio. This came about in 1987 with the abandonment of the Fairness Doctrine under President Ronald Reagan. Meaningful talk radio programs started with early pioneers like Bob Grant, Barry Farber, and Joe Pine. This has now exploded to where conservatives dominate the talk radio format with too many personalities to name but they include Mark Levin, Bill Bennett, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Laura Ingraham, Tammy Bruce, Michael Savage, and of course, the King of Talk Radio, Rush. This development seriously undermined the control of the news that liberals have grown accustomed to. In an attempt to maintain its influence on the minds of the people, the media grew more strident and its bias more obvious. Aside from the media's day-in, day-out increased liberal slant on the news, there also were egregious examples of outright lying like Dan Rather's forged documents on George Bush's National Guard service in 2004. Here, Rather tried to sway the presidential election. For this crude fabrication, Rather and three CBS executive producers were fired by the network. Their crime was not that they tried to defeat Bush with 'fake news' but they went about it in such an amateurish way that a blogger was able to blow the whistle on them. As time went on, Fox News came on the scene and the Internet developed. As for the Internet, not only did it facilitate communication among conservatives, but more significantly it gave rise to conservative websites. Call this the conservative blogosphere. The power of alternative news websites was first demonstrated by Matt Drudge who literally blew the media cover-up of the Clinton-Lewinsky sex scandal out of the water. Talk radio ruffled the feathers of the liberal media. But Fox News and the rise of the conservative blogosphere, of which the American Thinker is part, made the mass media apoplectic as it sank the trustworthiness of the media to an all time low. With the breaking of the liberals' monopoly over the news Americans received, the media jettisoned all pretense of objectivity. Dropping its facade, the mass media emerged as an active participant on the side of the Democrats. For example, we saw supposed neutral debate moderators in the McCain-Obama (2008) and Romney-Obama (2012) races acting not as impartial referees but helpers for Barack Obama against his deer-in-the-headlights hapless Republican opponents. The media tried to use the same tactic against Donald Trump but to much less effect. This was because Trump did not accept the false premise that the media was fair or that he had to respect it. He also had the moxie to tweet. The media partisanship reached its apex in Trump-Obama race -- all to little effect. The media flopped because of the cumulative effect of talk radio, the conservative blogosphere, and Fox News to which the new element of Trump's tweets had been added. As Trump himself put it, he doesn't especially like tweeting but it is his best way around 'a lying media.' Who can argue that point? Donald Trump is an intelligent man. He knows the media, although temporarily chastised by the 2016 election, has not undergone an epiphany that will suddenly turn it into an honest purveyor of the news. So the hope in this quarter is that, as president, Trump will tweet as the need arises. A further hope brings to mind the story of Christopher Columbus and the egg. The story told by Girolamo Benzoni in his Historia del Mondo Nuovo of 1565 was that at a meal several of Columbus's detractors began to comment that any number of other people could have found their way to the New World and that Columbus's feat was unremarkable because of its simplicity. Columbus replied that it was only easy now that he had demonstrated how it was done, and by way of an example, he challenged anyone present to stand an egg on its end. After all those attempting the feat had admitted defeat Columbus demonstrated the simplicity of the challenge by crushing one end of the egg against the table which allowed it to remain upright. The moral of the story is now that Donald Trump has demonstrated how to address the American people directly without the clutter of media bias, more conservatives will follow his example. After all, tweeting is available to one and all. The worlds largest contract manufacturer of electronics, the principal supplier of iPhones and iPads, has let it be known that Pennsylvania may be the home of a massive investment in U.S. manufacturing. Bloomberg reports: Foxconn Technology Group is considering building a U.S. display-making facility for upwards of $7 billion, a major investment for Apple Inc.s main manufacturer that may create tens of thousands of American jobs during President Donald Trumps first year in office. The company is considering a joint investment with Sharp Corp.[1], the Japanese display supplier it bought last year, but details have yet to be hammered out, Reuters cited Chairman Terry Gou as telling reporters in Taipei on the sidelines of a company event. Foxconn confirmed the report Monday. Foxconn is a massive company that walks a political tightrope. It is based in Taiwan yet does much of its manufacturing in Mainland China. It received massive amounts of bad publicity from suicides among its workers and for alleged child labor exploitation. Political considerations are part of its daily operations. A potential strategic shift by Foxconn unnerves Chinese authorities because the company employs roughly a million workers across the country. Major factory job cuts have been known to trigger protests in the past, even as maintaining social stability remains among the top priorities of the ruling Communist Party. China has plenty of worries over its economy right now. Cheaper labor markets are encroaching on its industries from below, and automated manufacturing technologies are poaching jobs from above. And the new POTUS is openly promising to change our trade relationship and ending the Two-China policy. Chinas bargaining position has a lot of considerations to watch and a lot to lose. The possible investment was telegraphed early after Trumps victory: The idea took shape after Gou spoke with Masayoshi Son, chairman of SoftBank Group Corp. and a close business partner. Son, whos announced his own plan to invest $50 billion in the U.S., asked Gou for his views. A document Son held up for reporters after a December meeting with Trump included the words Foxconn and $7 billion alongside SoftBanks numbers. I thought it was a private conversation, but then the next morning it was exposed, Gou told reporters according to Reuters. There is such a plan, but it is not a promise. It is a wish. On Sunday, Gou also told reporters he sees American protectionism as inevitable and warned about the subsequent threat to economic development. Chairman Gou no doubt will be having further discussions with the Chinese leadership as they figure out how to approach the vital relationship with the U.S. Keep in mind that the Chinese government primarily is seeking to preserve what it has. That defensive posture opens the door for gains for the man who wrote The Art of the Deal. It is too soon for Pennsylvania to start looking for factory sites for Foxconn, but just the idea of bringing manufacturing jobs in the thousands to a state that has been losing jobs for decades is a tonic, and a reinforcement of the idea that under Trump that things are going to be different and better. Hat tip: Ed Lasky After a five-year search, the U.S. Army announced that it will replace the 9mm M9 Beretta pistol, used as the standard-issue sidearm for 32 years, with a variation of the Sig Sauer P320. The change reflects the evolution of the U.S. Army as it gets smaller and more mobile, with more diverse missions. Washington Post: The Army officially began its search for the new pistol in 2011 and, in the last year, slowly whittled a field of 12 competitors to three companies, including Glock and Sig Sauer. Beretta, an Italian weapons company, had offered an upgraded version of the current M9 pistol once the Army announced it was looking to upgrade, but the proposal was rejected. The Sig was lauded as an early favorite in the final competition by firearms experts because it was the only truly modular pistol in the running. Bob Owens, from the weapons blog Bearing Arms, wrote in June that only the Sig Sauer P320, with a serialized core frame and the ability to swap different grip lengths and slide-barrel combinations, seems to meet the requirementsamong the named designs. That means that while the other pistols in the running could swap some parts and take attachments such flashlights and lasers, the Sig was the only in the mix that could, say, easily switch from a 9mm to a .45 caliber pistol with a few part changes. The ability to switch calibers has been a growing feature in U.S. military weapons programs. Those systems, however, such as the SCAR series of rifles and the Precision Sniper Rifle program, are relegated to Special Operations forces. [FBI returns to 9mm rounds, once shunned as ineffective] Since the M9 was first fielded in the 1980s, pistol design and ergonomics have changed. Polymer pistols, such as the Austrian-made Glock line, have become increasingly popular among military units and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Even though the M9 is considered accurate and sturdy, it has been decried by some combat troops in recent years because of its size, weight and tendency to require frequent cleaning in desert environments. While the M9 is being phased out by the Army, it is still in use in the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. The Air Force, however, is in the midst of its own search for a new modular handgun. Special Operations forces use a variety of pistols. Navy SEALs have used the Sig Sauer P226 for years but could soon be changing to a Glock, while Marine Special Operations Command is changing from its specially designed .45 caliber pistol to a Glock as well. Advances in ammunition design have made arguments over which caliber is better suited for combat increasingly difficult. The FBI, however, long considered the arbiter on the pistol caliber debate, recently decided to go back from the larger .40 caliber to the 9mm. The evolution of the Army begun during the Bush administration will require weapons that are adaptable to numerous battlefield missions. The Sig's modular design will grant flexibility to small or large units in all battlefield environments. The P320 will be phased in over a number of years. I would be interested in hearing from our readers what they think of this change. Did the Army get it right? Or were there better alternatives? Please leave you thoughts in the comments. Among the least reported changes during a presidential transition is the elevation of Republican members of various agencies and commissions who will look to roll back eght years of over-regulation and government meddling. One of the most important changes will occur at the Federal Communications Commission, where ultra-liberal Tom Wheeler will be replaced as chairman by Commissioner Ajit Pai, a proponent of the free market who is known for his fierce opposition to net neutrality and efforts by Democrats at the FCC to stifle the free speech of the conservative internet. The Hill: Pai is currently a commissioner on the FCC board and an outspoken critic of many of the regulations pushed by former Chairman Tom Wheeler, who stepped down Friday. Most notably, he has been a fierce opponent of the net neutrality rules enshrined in the FCC's Open Internet Order, and all signs point to Republicans gearing up to roll back elements of the regulation. Pai has had good relations with congressional Republicans and he will be closely watched as he works with House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and his Senate counterpart, Chairman John Thune, (R-S.D.) to undo the many tech and telecom regulations passed under the Obama administration. But some believe that Pai could also be at odds with the Trump administration on some issues. Pai is generally lauded by the industry for his anti-regulatory stance, leading many to believe that he will look favorably at the proposed AT&T-Time Warner merger if it comes under FCC scrutiny. But Trump himself came out hard against the $85 billion deal during the campaign. Though, in recent days he's suggested he is still deciding his stance, telling Axios in an interview that "I haven't seen any of the facts." That remark came just one day after he met with Pai at Trump Tower and less than a week after AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson paid Trump a visit. A report from Multichannel News last week also said the new president's team is eyeing a massive overhaul of the FCC. The changes could shift many of their efforts on consumer protection handed off to the Federal Trade Commission. The ATT-Time Warner merger has even free-market proponents worried that it will mean less competition in the cable and wireless industries. But many analysts point to increased efficiency in the delivery of consumer services as a reason to allow the deal to go through. Whether that increased efficiency leads to lower costs for users is unknown, however, and the Trump Justice Department will look carefully at the anti-competitive aspects of the merger before giving the go-ahead. Pai has spent most of the last decade in the FCC, serving for several years in the office of general counsel, where a lot of proposed regulations originate. Under the Democrats, the general counsel issued opinions that enabled net neutrality to go forward. That process will now be reversed, although it is likely that some of the regulations dealing with consumer protections will remain. Trump could not have done better to turn the FCC around than naming Pai as chairman. The conventional quantitative measure of the fall of the Democrats over a thousand elective officials defeated by the GOP in the eight Obama years doesnt fully capture the seriousness of the problems the party faces. The party is in the hands of ancient leaders: Nancy Pelosi is 76 years old, Chuck Schumer is 66, and Hillary Clinton is 69. Bernie Sanders, the only Democrat to ignite genuine enthusiasm in the grassroots, is 75. Add four years to each, and you get the ages these leaders will be the next time the country inaugurates a new president. So what are the Dems to do? One option, the one I suspect they will take, is to find an African-American candidate who can ignite the black turnout the way Barack Obama did. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, both now in the Senate, are obviously positioning themselves for a run. Both are of a younger generation. Nobody wants to talk about it, but the Democrats are in serious danger of becoming quietly identified in the minds of many voters as the Black Political Party. All of the identity politics pandering, and the leftward drift of rhetoric play into the hands of racialism igniting angry anti-white rhetoric: we don't need white people leading the Democratic Party While such sentiments may juice black turnout, they also send a message to whites, who still remain the overwhelming majority of voters, and whose support the party has been losing for years, in the hope that nonwhites will soon outnumber Caucasians. This is not a winning strategy. But the Democrats, despite their pretensions of being the party of the people, love dynasties. And when it comes to Democrat dynasties, nothing comes close to the Kennedys, the family that combines glamour, money, and the heartbreak of assassination. But as the old saying goes, the blood thins over the generations. What are the Democrats left with? This (via Jerry Oppenheimer of the New York Post): After three years as US ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy is coming home to New York and has big plans: a political run and penning a memoir, Kennedy insiders tell The Post. Caroline had a successful ambassadorial run in Japan and feels really very confident about putting her hat in the ring for a New York congressional or Senate seat, with even possibly bigger political objectives down the road, said a source familiar with Kennedys plans. And another close source revealed, Caroline is seen in some quarters as the next Hillary Clinton. She has the Kennedy name but no Clinton baggage. The sources maintain that Kennedys dream is to become a US senator from New York, following in the footsteps of her late uncle, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. While the sources declined to reveal Kennedys precise political plans when and which race she might enter 2018 is the earliest she could do it. She could target the seat of New Yorks junior Democratic senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, or Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the liberal Democrat representing Kennedys 12th District. While I relish the thought of Caroline Kennedy engaging in an ugly intra-party struggle with either female solon, I am afraid she is not presidential material despite her last name. She dropped her previous bid for the Senate when her inability to string together words without ya know liberally sprinkled throughout became painfully self-evident. Have her years in Tokyo enhanced her speaking ability? How will she hype her track record in Japan, her only government experience? Our trade deficit did not reverse itself, and in the age of Trump, that is going to be where the spotlight shines. I also wonder if the power of the Kennedy brand, anchored as it is in events more than 60 years in the past, is still powerful outside Democrat loyalist circles. I dont wish Caroline Kennedy ill. She suffered the loss of her father at a very young age and has lived in the public spotlight her entire conscious existence. She should instead find other ways to use her ample inherited resources, which include a net worth estimated to be between $80 million and $500 million, according to Bloomberg and CNN. The Post has reported that she receives $12 million to $30 million a year from Kennedy trust funds. Linda Sarsour, the radical Muslim activist who helped organize the national Woman's March this past Saturday, is a "nasty" interloper hoping to spread the oppression of sharia law to American women. In her speech, she told the crowd that Muslims have been victimized and are suffering under American government oppression. How mind-bendingly ludicrous. Logically, Sarsour should be there to criticize Islam, which treats girls and women as non-human slaves with absolutely no rights. Instead, her speech was anti-American, anti-Trump, and anti-Israel, which, I suspect, was the whole agenda behind the well organized, well funded marches across the country. Sarsour, the executive director of the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), set up shop selling the myth of Islamophobia soon after 9/11. She is a hijab-wearing pro-Hamas Islamic supremacist with an in-your-face attitude. In 2004, she admitted in a Columbia University publication that her brother-in-law was serving a 12-year sentence in Israel after being accused of Hamas-related activities. Sarsour also stated that she herself had been questioned by authorities in the U.S. and that her Palestinian husband, who had been here for seven years, faced deportation hearings. No wonder she was honored by the Obama White House as a "champion of change." In a 2008 interview with Tyra Banks about people's reaction to traditional Muslim clothing, Sarsour responded : I'm so sick and tired of the ignorance in this country, the fear[.] If youre afraid some Muslim guy's going to bomb the plane, take the damn bus. ( video ) Like her infidel sisters at the D.C. March, Sarsour likes using the F-word. In her 2011 YouTube performance of the "Hijabi Monologues," Sarsour takes a page out of Al Sharpton's playbook. She claims she suffered all kinds of anti-Muslim abuse growing up in Brooklyn. It makes her "angry and tired" when people ask her where she's from. Do you not see me? ... I'm tired ... My name is Linda[.] F--- you, what the f--- is your problem, a------, where the f--- are you from? At 17, Sarsour wed in an arranged marriage, but this kind of anti-feminist Muslim patriarchal oppression of women hearkening back to the 7th century doesn't seem to present any problem for the marchers. Men marrying little girls, genital mutilation, stoning, and denial of human rights are simply "cultural differences." For the dimwitted Madonnas and Judds out there, Sarsour represents diversity, not subversive assimilation into a feminist movement for the express purpose of enslaving them under sharia as well. Sarsour's ties to far-left groups and individuals, in addition to terrorist organizations, helps her attract all sorts of radicals to her cause. She hangs out with communist Harry Belafonte, referring to him as Mr. B; Black Lives Matter activists; Mustafa Abdullah, an organizer with the St. Louis chapter of the ACLU; and others. Sarsour's connections enabled her to be effective in helping to halt the NYPD's surveillance of mosques. Her latest act: getting hundreds of thousands of stupid American females to show up with vagina hats to protest a new president who promises to crack down on Islamic radicals like herself. At the same time, she was working the crowd, tying repressive hijabs on their heads. It was quite a victory for the America-hating Sarsour. Braunau am Inn, on the south bank of the Inn river, close to the border with Germany, is a charming little town in Austria. But it carries a dark legacy. Not far from the main square is the street Salzburger Vorstadt, where stands a nondescript three-story, beige-colored brick building, bearing house number 15. Its the house where Adolf Hitler was born. The leader of the Nazi party was born here on 20 April 1889. At that time, the building was a modest guest house where Hitlers father, Alois Hitler Sr., was staying with his wife and Adolfs mother, Klara Polzl, during the years when Hitler senior was posted as minor customs official at the nearby AustrianGerman border. The Hitlers lived in the building only for a few weeks, before the family moved to another address in Braunau. When Adolf was three years old, the family left the town for good. Hitler returned only briefly to Braunau in 1938, on his way to Vienna, after he annexed Austria to Nazi Germany. Photo credit: Michael Kranewitter/Wikimedia This 17th century building has been an inn as far back as anybody can remember. All it did was changed owners. After Adolf Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, the propertys value quadrupled. The building was acquired by the Nazis, it was renovated and turned into a cultural center with a gallery and a public library. After the end of the Second World War, the house was returned to the former owners, and until 1965, it was used as public library. Throughout the years, this odd attraction has been a site of pilgrimage for Nazi sympathizers and the extreme right. The Austrian interior ministry became so concerned about the possibility of neo-Nazis using the building that in 1972 it rented the building from the owners to prevent Hitler enthusiasts from getting hold of it. Until about five years ago, the Austrian ministry operated a day-care center and workshop for people with disabilities in the building. But the lease ended in 2011, and since then the building has been lying vacant. The house itself is unmarked, but there is a large granite near the sidewalk, which was placed on the corner in 1989 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Hitler's birth. The English translation of the words on the stone are: For Peace, Freedom and Democracy. Never Again Fascism. Millions of Dead Remind [us] The stone for the memorial comes from the famous quarry at the Mauthausen concentration camp. The future of Adolf Hitlers birthplace is uncertain, but there was an announcement some months ago that the building is going to be demolished. Some of Braunaus residents should be happy with the news. "The people are fed up," told Braunau's second deputy mayor Christian Schilcher, to BBC. "This theme is a problem for the image of Braunau. We want to be a beautiful little town, with tourism and visitors. We are not the children of Hitler." Photo credit: Anton-kurt/Wikimedia Adolf Hitler's birth house in Braunau am Inn (Austria) in about 1934, the roof blows a swastika flag. Adolf Hitler as a child, circa 1889/1890 Photo credit: Michael Kranewitter/Wikimedia Sources: The Independent / BBC / Wikipedia Every summer, as the air warms up and the sunlight beats down on the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, pools of brilliantly blue melt water are formed across the pristine white landscape. While summer time melting is normal, over the past several decades, the rate of melting has been alarming high and these deep blue lakes are appearing in increasing numbers, higher and higher up on the ice cap. These pictures, by photographer Timo Lieber, document the phenomenon. Ive always had a passion for the ice, Leiber told The Guardian. Id been to Iceland seven or eight times, to Arctic Norway and to Greenland. Greenlands contribution to global sea-level rise is about three times that of Antarctica. I saw how fast the landscape was changing and wanted to put it into a body of work. Photo credit: Timo Lieber Timo Lieber flew over Greenlands vast icescape in a twin-engine plane. The pilot would bank the plane sharply allowing Lieber to shoot through a tiny hole in the window. The images are deliberately abstract, Lieber said. I didnt want them to be documentary photographs. You have to get close to find the small, hidden details that help you to understand what youre seeing. Theyre beautiful, but what youre looking at is climate change at its worst. My favourite is the one that looks like an eye. Its a half-circle of concentric blues at the top of the image its almost as if global warming is looking right back at you. The melt ponds play an important role in iceberg calving. Many of these melt ponds are connected by threadlike streams that drain water from pool to pool, or into a crevasse, a moulin or a crack in the ice. As Robert Simmon explains on NASA's Earth Observatory Image of the Day: The crevasses take the water deep into the ice sheet, sometimes even to the underlying rock, where it lubricates the lowest layers of the ice. The lubricated ice flows more quickly toward the ocean, which in turn accelerates the rate at which icebergs break into the sea. The overall result is a greater loss in ice mass than would happen without the influence of melt water streams. Timo Liebers collection of photographs, titled Thaw will be available for viewing at Bonhams, in London from 20 February through 24 February. Related Reading: Photos Taken 100 Years Apart Show How Glaciers Are Disappearing Photo credit: Timo Lieber Photo credit: Timo Lieber Photo credit: Timo Lieber Photo credit: Timo Lieber Photo credit: Timo Lieber Photo credit: Timo Lieber Photo credit: Timo Lieber The Scott Polar Research Institute from Cambridge working on the ice cap. Photo credit: Timo Lieber Photo credit: Timo Lieber Google has just confirmed that all Chromebooks which launch this year and onward will offer support for Android apps. As you probably already know, Google had announced that Android app support is coming to Chromebook a while back, in May 2016, to be more precise. Since then, a couple of Chromebooks received support for Android apps, though not many of them, but it seems like all new Chromebook will ship with support for Android apps, and that seems like a huge step forward for the Chrome OS platform. Now, as some of you might know, the ASUS Chromebook Flip, the Acer Chromebook R11 and the Google Chromebook Pixel 2 currently have support for Android apps, and more Chromebooks will get such support in the near future, a lot more of them, as Googles support page states, you can find a full list by following the source link down below. Now, on that very same page, Google states that All Chromebooks launching in 2017 and after as well as the Chromebooks listed below will work with Android apps in the coming future. Now, this probably does not come as a surprise, as the company has been looking to bring Android apps to the Chrome OS platform in general for quite some time now. Chrome OS is a cloud-based operating system, as many of you already know, but it doesnt really have access to that many apps, as you have to rely on Chrome extensions, which is where Android apps (will) come to play. The Google Play Store is home to tons of applications, and such apps can make Chromebooks far more usable in certain scenarios, as they will become far more productive. We did not really see that many Chromebooks released in the last couple of months, but two really compelling offerings were announced during CES 2017 earlier this month. Samsung had introduced the Samsung Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro devices, while ASUS released the Chromebook Flip C302. Both Samsungs and ASUS offerings come with support for Android apps, in case you didnt know. New Chromebooks will likely be introduced during MWC 2017 which kicks off in Barcelona at the end of February, so stay tuned for that. I was born in 1956 in Madison, Tennessee, while my parents were attending Madison College. I grew up along the Front Range in Colorado, attending schools in Longmont, Brighton, Boulder and Loveland, Colorado. Two years after graduating from Campion Academy, I married my sweetheart, Regina. We lived in Loveland, Colorado for six years before moving to Mena in western Arkansas. I love the people of Mena and the friendly easy going way of life here. I have owned and operated my own business since moving to Mena. I enjoy the natural beauty of western Arkansas and being out of doors. Android Instant Apps are now starting to become available for Android device owners. Although, at the moment they are only becoming available in a limited capacity, as the current rolling out forms the basis of a limited testing phase. As such, Instant Apps are only available right now for BuzzFeed, Wish, Periscope, and Viki. Although, it is expected that following the testing phrase and providing no major issues are noted, the plan is to expand the experience to more apps and more users. In the latest blog post from Google on todays availability, Google does note that Android Instant Apps are an important part of the companys goal to help Android device owners discover and run apps with minimal friction. Google notes that they have been working recently with a number of developers to fine-tune the experience and the apps already mentioned above, form the fruits of that early development process. For app developers who would like to offer Instant Apps support to their app(s), Google notes that they can now start preparing to take advantage of the Instant Apps support. Firstly, developers will need to modify (and modularize) their existing app(s) so that the essential part of the app can be downloaded and is able to run independently without the need for a full download. The developers blog posting also does confirm that the full SDK with Android Instant Apps support will become available to the community in the coming months. Android Instant Apps was first previewed by Google during last years Google I/O event and they mark an interesting change in the way in which users interact with apps on their Android devices. Offering benefits to both the end user and the app owner. From the end user perspective, Android Instant Apps are able to run without requiring a full app download, which if nothing else, should mean the app content is able to be engaged with significantly quicker. While from the app owner point of view, such a level of app integration, will likely lead to greater levels of app usage, or at the very least, heightened levels of app content consumption. A new Snapchat update that the company started experimenting with earlier this month is now rolling out globally. In addition to a design overhaul and a new search bar, the update also ships with a revised set of Discover guidelines aimed to prevent dissemination of fake news and explicit content. Publishers looking to create content for Snapchats Discover section are now obliged to only upload images that provide some degree of information and arent explicit in nature. Additionally, publishers are now expected to make sure all of their external links are leading to content that has already been verified as being factually accurate. Publishers themselves are able to conduct the verification process but could face sanctions if they happen to promote sources that have been confirmed as fake. Rachel Racusen, a spokeswoman for Snap, told The New York Times that the Venice-based social media giant is looking to turn Snapchat into a service thats both safe and informative. Snaps decision to give publishers more responsibility for curating content is somewhat different to the approach adopted by some other social media services like Facebook that are trying to avoid being seen as media companies. Snaps new guidelines are also in line with the firms previous publishing standards that debuted with Discover back in 2015 and allowed the firm a lot of editorial freedom with the content published by people and companies using its service. In addition to a new set of Discover guidelines and an overhauled search bar, the latest Snapchat update also introduces a number of new animations and a slightly redesigned user interface. The new version of the popular social media app also puts a larger focus on Bitmoji which are now featured on all profile screens. In overall, this is the largest Snapchat update that was released in 2017 so far and one that continues Snaps policy of running its service as both a social platform and a solution for distributing topical stories. The companys focus on curating content published on Snapchat is now more important than ever seeing how Snap is reportedly planning an IPO in March and would likely want to avoid any scandals involving fake news being spread on its platform. Nokia and SK Telecom have successfully demonstrated a new emergency VoLTE system which they refer to as the Mission Critical Push to Talk solution, or MCPTT for short. The MCPTT system is built using a Voice-over-LTE infrastructure and was demonstrated at Nokias Research Center in Krakow, Poland, towards the end of last week. The MCPTT system will be deployed in South Korea by SK Telecom using the countrys Public Safety LTE network (PS-LTE) and the LTE-R network designed to be used by railway organizations and companies dealing with network systems. SK Telecom will also be offering MCPTT technology to other countries, including the United States of America and the United Kingdom which are planning to establish their own safety networks. South Koreas PS-LTE network was envisioned after the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster when over three hundred people died, and investigators discovered how the emergency services were hindered by a lack of an effective common communications system standard between different state agencies. Different emergency services used different systems for communications, meaning agencies were often unable to effectively communicate with each other. The PS-LTE network encompasses 20MHz of dedicated spectrum in the 700MHz frequency band and is meant to be accessible by approximately 200,000 users from over 300 agencies. The PS-LTE network is always functional and was rolled out to rural areas first, as these parts of South Korea lacked adequate coverage from existing technology. The network is still being rolled out but is due to be fully available later this year. Meanwhile, Nokia is also involved with the South Korean LTE-R network, which represents a substantial upgrade on the railways existing GSM network. The LTE-R is meant to provide mission-critical coverage for the railway industry. Both the PS-LTE and LTE-R services are operated as private networks. The fact that the South Korean government is switching to LTE networking from existing technologies demonstrates the technological advantages of these solutions over their predecessors. Compared with the earlier radio standards of 2G and 3G, LTE offers considerably higher capacity, but because the technology does not support voice calls in the same way, it requires an additional software layer to support voice communications. Both the PS-LTE and LTE-R networks are used for data and voice services. Hugo Barra has just announced that he is about to leave Xiaomi. The companys Global Vice President, Hugo Barra, shared this news of Facebook in a lengthy post. He added that hell be leaving Xiaomi in February after the Chinese New Year. Hugo Barra also confirmed that he is going back to Silicon Valley, but he did not reveal what company is he moving to. In his post, Hugo Barra thanked Xiaomi, and he had plenty more to say overall, read on. Hugo Barra was employed by Xiaomi for 3.5 years, he was a member of Xiaomis team since 2013 when he left Google and moved to China in order to help Xiaomi rise. Xiaomi did manage to grow quite a bit before and during Hugo Barras reign, but it seems like the time has come for that partnership to end. Mr. Barra said that his journey at Xiaomi was nothing short of spectacular in every way. He did say that living so far away from home started affecting his health and life in general, as his friends / family are back in California, so he has decided its time to end his Journey in China and move back home. Mr. Barra also added that Xiaomi is on the right path as far as global expansion goes, at least in his own personal opinion, so this seems to be the right time for him to move back home. Hugo Barra talked about various aspects of the company in his post as well, he praised the companys expansion to India, and a number of other Asian countries, while he also talked about various partnerships the company managed to come up with, including the one with Google. Mr. Barra also added the following: I want to thank the Xiaomi founders, and particularly our CEO Lei Jun, who has been a mentor and a friend. It has been both humbling and uplifting to work with a man whose vision is redefining the role technology plays in all of our lives, and the role the China tech industry plays in the world. At the end of his post, Xiaomi Global Vice President also thanked his colleagues over at Xiaomi and Xiaomis fans, while he said that hes looking forward to his next adventure by making it clear hell continue being a Mi Fan and rooting for Xiaomi. Samsung is expected to launch its Galaxy Tab S3 in the coming months, and according to a post on Chinese microblogging site Weibo earlier today, the device will be powered by the Exynos 7420 SoC and will ship with 4GB of RAM. The tipster, who goes by the username Kenneth_Lai on the Chinese social networking site, also mentions that the upcoming slate will be offered in two different variants a Wi-Fi-only model (SM-T820) and one with LTE connectivity (SM-T825). Both versions will also apparently support UFS2.0 storage and USB Type-C ports. Theyll also reportedly have a fingerprint scanner integrated into the physical Home button. Theres no further info on the hardware right now, but earlier rumors had suggested that it may be launched in the current quarter. The Galaxy Tab S3 has been rumored fairly often in the past few weeks. The device recently received its Wi-Fi certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance and its Bluetooth certification from the Bluetooth SIG. However, as is usually the case, neither listing revealed anything related to the hardware specs of the upcoming tablet. The device was also apparently imported into India for testing purposes, as was revealed by a listing on Indias import and export tracking website, Zauba, last November. The Galaxy Tab S3 is expected to replace Samsungs aging Galaxy Tab S2, which was launched as far back as in September 2015. The new device was originally expected to be launched late last year, but that never really happened, with all the well-documented problems the company has had to go through over the past few months. Either way, now that the Galaxy Tab S3 looks set to finally get a commercial launch, it will be interesting to see when exactly Samsung takes the wraps off of the device officially. Now that the South Korean firm has finally released the results of its investigation into the Galaxy Note 7 fires, it does have some time on its hand before the launch of the Galaxy S8. So it wont be surprising if the rumored timeframe for the Tab S3 launch does turn out to be accurate. However, its worth noting that theres no official ETA for the launch, nor is there any word on how much it will cost. Ever since the worldwide recall was issued for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the company behind the device, Samsung, has decided to re-assess the manufacturing process of its products and has developed an 8-point Battery Safety Check, to ensure the reliability and safety of its future products. This new process announced by Samsung at its recent press conference is essentially a way to test the safety of its batteries in its products, and it involves a number of rigid tests and inspections. In order to ensure the safety of its batteries, Samsung will first carry out a durability test, where it starts with enhanced battery testing. This includes overcharging the battery, puncturing it with a nail, and also placing the battery in an environment with extreme temperatures. The South Korean firm will also visually inspect the batteries, according to its guideline of standardized and objective criteria. After that, the batteries will be put under an X-Ray, so that Samsung engineers may check the batteries for any internal abnormalities. The batteries will also be charged and discharged multiple times, on a large-scale. A TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compound) test will also be carried out. This test is done to ensure the batteries will not leak any of the volatile organic compound contained within it. For the next test, Samsung engineers will disassemble the batteries, to assess their quality. During the said test, the insulation tape and battery tab welding will also be assessed, which are key components of a safe battery. To test accelerated usage by consumers, Samsung will also perform such a test whereby an intensive test will be done to simulate such usage scenarios. As for the last test, a OCV (Delta Open Circuit Voltage) test is performed on the batteries. This is done to check for any change in the voltage of the batteries throughout the manufacturing process, from the moment the components are placed on the assembly line, till the finished product is manufactured. Just a few hours back, Samsung held a press conference to release all of the information regarding the failure of thousands of Galaxy Note 7 units, uncovered by Samsung themselves and from independent investigators. It was revealed that the main cause for the fires were the batteries in the devices, and you will be able to read more about Samsungs findings here. Samsung will still produce a Galaxy Note 8 despite the issues with the Galaxy Note 7, the companys mobile chief D.J. Koh said on Sunday. Samsungs executive said theres a number of reasons why the firm is not giving up on the Galaxy Note series, confirming some previous findings and rumors about the Galaxy Note 8. Besides the money the Galaxy Note lineup brings to Samsungs mobile sales, Koh said how there are too many loyal Galaxy Note users to dismiss. He also referred to the Galaxy Note series as a great response to the iPhone as Apple still doesnt have an answer to a stylus-equipped phablet. The combination of a large display and an S-Pen has garnered a large following and no other device can come close to the features that the Galaxy Note series can offer, Koh believes. Samsung took notice of many users who were unwilling to return the Galaxy Note 7 during its recall. The phone maker and wireless carriers had to take additional measures to get thousands of users to return their devices. Samsung does not want to lose customers exhibiting that kind of loyalty which is why the company decided to make the Galaxy Note 8, Koh explained. As Samsung continues to battle Apple for smartphone supremacy, the Galaxy Note series had always been one of the primary weapons in its arsenal. Often chided for being a follower of Apples innovations, Samsung successfully brought consumers the first large smartphone and the first large device with a writing instrument tucked inside its body. The S-Pen is the signature feature of the Galaxy Note lineup and Koh does not want to lose that market, especially since many customers seem to be demanding the Galaxy Note 8. Samsung does not seem worried that users will shy away from the Galaxy Note 8 even after all of the bad press the Galaxy Note 7 received for bursting into flames. While it was determined that defective batteries were causing the issue, even in the replacement devices, Samsung continued to sell its other flagship devices like the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge with no problems. The company believes that users are smart enough to know that Samsung can build a safe smartphone and given its newfound scrutiny, the Galaxy Note 8 might be one of the most reliable Android devices Samsung ever made. Google co-founder Sergey Brin expressed surprise at just how far artificial intelligence has developed in recent years. While speaking at the annual Davos retreat in Switzerland, Brin said how despite the fact that he was right in there and could throw paperclips at the engineers making it all happen, he is taken aback by the sheer amount of progress and integration the AI field has seen in the few short years that it has been a mainstream focus of wide research. He called the progression of AI a revolution and laid out a few very good talking points for people watching AI grow. During the talk, Brin echoed his partner Eric Schmidts stance on AI and jobs by saying that society will have to plan around AI advancements, but that technological unemployment will not necessarily be a bad thing. According to Brin, as AI begins to automate an increasing number of monotonous, semi-skilled tasks that normally require a human touch, people who would normally work in these professions will end up finding more creative things to do. While Brin did not outright state that AI would eventually eliminate enough jobs to leave most humans out of work and spur a worldwide socioeconomic revolution, his assertion that people would have time to pursue creative and intellectual things seemed to imply it. The march of AI reportedly even threatens to eliminate some jobs that are highly complex but rely on fixed rules like the practice of law does. Brin did throw a note of caution by saying that its currently impossible to predict exactly how far AI could go or how fast it could get there. However, the industry is already producing AI bots that can come dangerously close to passing a Turing Test and the rise of machine learning and neural networks is paving the way for AI solutions that are close to being just as skilled and emotive as their human counterparts. On the other hand, while the march of robotics alongside AI could theoretically make an automated takeover of most job markets possible in the future, most experts agree that such technology is still not close to materializing. The South Korean High Prosecutors Office is planning to expand its corruption probe beyond Samsung, authorities said on Monday. Lee Kyu-chul, a spokesman for the special prosecutors office, said that investigators will look into other conglomerates in the country and their potentially suspicious dealings with state agencies after they wrap up their case against Samsung Group. Lee didnt provide any more details on these efforts and his statement didnt include an update on the ongoing investigation against Samsung. The Seoul-based conglomerate found itself in the middle of a corruption scandal in late 2016 after it came to light that some of its officials allegedly bribed certain power brokers in the country to facilitate a controversial merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2015. Choi Soon-sil, a close associate of President Park, allegedly accepted approximately $37 million in bribes from Samsung Groups Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee in exchange for convincing the National Pension Fund (NPS) a major shareholder of Cheil Industries to approve the merger with Samsung C&T. The bribes were said to be paid as donations to two nonprofits connected to Choi who denied all accusations and is currently in custody facing numerous charges. While Samsung Groups heir Lee is also facing charges of bribery, perjury, and embezzlement, a Korean court recently allowed him to defend himself as a free man after it refused to issue an arrest warrant which the prosecutors requested for him. President Park still hasnt been officially charged with anything, but she has already been impeached by the parliament in December and is currently waiting for the Constitutional Court to confirm or dismiss that decision. Seeing how Parks associates allegedly brokered numerous shady deals involving state agencies over the years, the fact that the High Prosecutors Office is now looking to investigate more conglomerates after Samsung comes as no surprise. Other Korean companies which are big enough to potentially be involved in this developing scandal include LG and Hyundai, though nothing is confirmed at this point. While Samsung would probably prefer to get this case over with as soon as possible, authorities are unlikely to rush the proceedings given the high-profile nature of the scandal. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating Yahoo over the way the company handled two major hacking attacks it suffered in 2014 and 2013, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources with knowledge of the situation. The SEC reportedly started investigating Yahoo last year and requested numerous documents from the firm back in December. The investigation into Yahoo is said to be focused on the manner in which the Sunnyvale-based Internet firm disclosed two data breaches it suffered, as the SEC is trying to determine whether the company violated certain civil securities laws and guidelines by not revealing the breaches sooner. Yahoo could have potentially violated a number of regulations seeing how the company didnt disclose the aforementioned hacking attacks as soon as possible despite the breaches affecting its investors. The SECs investigation is expected to focus on the hacking attack from 2014 which Yahoo only disclosed last September despite allegedly being aware of the incident for two years, sources said. While Yahoo did attempt to explain the breach last year, the company has yet to elaborate on the significant delay in disclosure. The data breach Yahoo suffered in 2013 is also said to be a part of the SECs investigation but likely wont be its main focus seeing how the company only learned of that attack last December and could have hardly acted sooner than it did. The probe into Yahoos handling of these incidents has only just begun and it will likely be a while before the Commission is ready to go public with its findings. Insiders say that the SEC is currently focused on identifying Yahoos potential breaches of its 2011 guidance which mandates disclosure of information pertaining to cyber-attacks and related risks. The Commission has yet to recommend litigation based on its guidance despite conducting numerous similar investigations in recent years, meaning Yahoos case could be used to set a precedent for any future potential violations. None of this will help the companys efforts to sell its core business to Verizon who was initially looking to consolidate it with its AOL division. However, the Big Red is now reportedly reluctant to acquire Yahoos Internet division following all the negative publicity the firm received in recent months. The Vivo V5 Plus has officially been launched in India today, after much speculation and leaks. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo teased a few weeks back that the V5 Plus will be heading to the Indian market, and true to the teaser, the company has brought the device to the country, less than a week after its global launch. While Vivo has officially launched the V5 Plus in India, the smartphone has been available for pre-order for some time now from retail stores across the country. The V5 Plus will be available for purchase from retailers in India beginning February 1st, and it is only available in Golden color, which is priced at Rs. 27,980 ($410) When it comes to specs, the V5 Plus being sold in India, is identical to the one launched last week. This includes a 5.5-inch Full HD In-Cell display with 2.5D glass, giving it a slight curve. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, the latest from Corning. Under the hood, it is powered by an Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, clocked at 2.5GHz, coupled with an Adreno 506 GPU to handle graphics. Memory wise, the V5 Plus comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage with no room for expansion via a micro SD card. In terms of optics, a 16-megapixel camera can be found on the rear with LED flash, f/2.0 aperture and Phase Detection Auto Focus. The main selling point of the V5 Plus happens to be dual front-facing cameras, one being a 20-megapixel camera, equipped with Moonlight Flash, a Sony IMX376 1/2.78 sensor with an aperture of f/2.0 and 5p lens. The secondary camera comes in the form of an 8-megapixel sensor which is designed to capture depth-of-field information, similar to that found on the rear of the HTC One M8, which was released a few years back. The V5 Plus also supports fast charging to quickly juice up the 3,160mAh battery found within the device. This device also happens to be a dual SIM device with support for two nano SIMs. When it comes to software, the V5 Plus comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, along with Vivos Funtouch 3.0 skin on top. Connectivity options on this device includes 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 4.2 and support for GPS. A fingerprint scanner can be found on the front of the device, which is embedded in the home button of the device. As'ad's Bio As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants. Answers Africa is one of a kind platform created for Africans both locally and in the diaspora and those seeking for more in-depth information about Africa. We have always focused on creating the highest quality informational contents right from the beginning. 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He is also an actor a Greece, central Macedonia eyes 'Thessalonikon valley' Governore Tzitzikostas, high tech hub for development (by Patrizio Nissirio) (ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 23 - A district for research and technology in the area of Thessaloniki that can promote development and employment across the entire Greek region o Central Macedonia: that's a goal for Apostolos Tzitzikostas, regional governor. Speaking on the sidelines of a presentation on what the region has to offer to tourists at the Greek embassy in Rome, he told ANSAmed that he does not want it to be called the 'new Silicon Valley' but ''rather, a Thessalonikon Valley'', ''We have three pillars for our economy and development - he explained - the first is tourism, the second agricultural production and the third new technologies. We want to create a district that develops this sector. We have many important universities and research centers, as well as high tech companies, some of which also produce parts for Nasa. We thus ask the Athens government for incentives for this project; if there will be, we will have important results for the economy of central Macedonia. There must be cooperation between regions and the central government, regardless of who is in government. If instead the cabinet will put up obastacles, we will increase pressure''. Tzitzikostas recalled that Central Macedonia ''is the largest region of Greece, with many projects for development and much potential. The main problem is unemployment, especially among youths. The crisis didn't start over the past few years here but in the 1990s, when many companies moved north of our borders (especially in Bulgaria, editor's note). There is also the issue of immigration: we host some 50% of migrants and refugees currently in Greece, in all seven provinces of our region''. The governor recalled that Central Macedonia is virtuous in attracting European development funds - two billion euros over the last five years and five billion over the next five. Talking about tourism, the governor stressed that the region ''has ancient ties and in all sectors with Italy'' and is open ''12 months a year with tourism for everybody: religious, cultural, for the young and for families, with the sea and mountains'', a tourism for which it is key to open ''a new page'', he stressed, with the airport of Thessaloniki that should be widened under the new management of Germany's Fraport (since 2016). He also discussed the controversial name of the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. ''The position of Greece is known and consolidated. It is up to Skopje to find a solution on a name that satisfies everybody. Because in the absence of a solution they will not be able to become part of the EU or Nato, Greece won't allow it''. (ANSAmed). Exhibits: 'The Night Illuminates the Night' at Macro Museum By Israeli artist Herman, runs till March 26 (ANSAmed) - ROME - From January 25 to March 26 MACRO - the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome - hosts a solo show by Rafael Y. Herman entitled 'The Night Illuminates the Night'. The exhibition at MACRO Testaccio takes the form of a large environmental installation in which the works emerge from the darkness of the space like revelations. The poetics of Rafael Y. Herman develops in this dialectic between darkness and light. The artist's gaze reveals a new approach to reality born and structured in darkness. The event is curated by Giorgia Calo and Stefano Rabolli Pansera, and supported by Roma Capitale, Department of Cultural Growth - Superintendent Capitolina of Cultural Heritage and supported by the Israeli Embassy in Italy, Department of Culture; IIFCA, the Italy-Israel Foundation for Culture and the Arts; AMATA: Friends of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art; Cite Internationale des Arts de Paris. (ANSAmed). (ANSAmed) - GAZA, JANUARY 23 - Two volunteer medics from Italy have gone to the European Hospital of Gaza in Khan Younis to perform operations on adults and children who would have otherwise had no other chance of getting treated. It is not the first time that Dr. Andrea Carrobi and Dr. Pietro Massei have come from Pisa to Gaza for a few days to both help patients and to show their local counterparts medical innovations that they may not be aware of due to the lack of opportunity to travel outside of the Gaza Strip. In three days in Gaza, Dr Massei operated on 17 children ''including ones with cranial-facial malformations,'' he told ANSA in a brief pause and while Dr. Carrobi was performing other operations, ''such as harelips, hand malformations and burns''. The latter, he said, seem to be a direct consequence of the poverty in which the local population lives. Many are often forced to heat water in the kitchen using makeshift methods, exposing children to risk. Other operations include the removal of shrapnel. ''None of them would have been able to solve these problems if surgeons had not arrived from abroad,'' Dr Massei said. He added that good surgeons are working in Gaza, such as at the Shifa hospital, but they are not able to help the entire population. ''The European Hospital of Gaza does not have a team of plastic surgeons. Lacking volunteers from abroad,'' he said, '''these patients would not have been treated.'' Following a few days of an intense work schedule, the two doctors will continue on to Nablus in the West Bank. (ANSAmed). 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It isnt common you hear of an African billionaire let alone one who is a Nigerian, considering all the hurdles and hills one has to overcome to attain such a laudable height. In a country where most Nigerians at 30 years of age are still flocking the streets hopelessly searching for a job, one cant help but wonder if the future will ever be bright for them. Nevertheless, a group of Africans including Nigerians are doing so great that they have entered into the billion ranking, breaking the jink and stereotype of either poverty or ill-gotten wealth. The success of Ladi Delano is a motivational one that is poised to keep aspiring entrepreneurs going the long haul. Delano has managed against all odds to earn the billionaire tag just like other Nigerian billionaires before him such as; Dangote, Femi Otedola, Folorunsho Alakija, Abdul Samad Rabiu just to name a few. I just love Nigeria I want to provide jobs and help the youths develop themselves. Its an honor to be able to contribute to the economy in this way. At 24, Ladi Delano started up Solid XS, a Chinese Premium vodka. He grossed in about $20 million in annual revenue. In due time he sold the enterprise for over $15 million. Next, the hopelessly optimistic go-getter launched his business presence in Chinese real estate investments with his Delano Reid Group. He subsequently flipped his vodka company for millions of dollars. Today, he is a co-founder and CEO of Bakrie Delano Africa, a $1 billion investment vehicle committed to making acquisitions in Nigerias mining, energy and agriculture sectors. Forbes Ladi Delano was born and raised in the UK but still respects the Nigerian cultural values, thanks to parental grounding which is something that held the young man together and kept him on the path to success. It is interesting to note that this serial entrepreneur did suffer mild dyslexia and deafness in one of his ears. This affected his learning from an early age, making school a difficult task to pull through with. With sheer persistence and support from his parents, he was able to make it to the University level. Eventually, he abandoned school during his second year as a political scientist to pursue other interests. It became quite clear that I didnt have a passion for my course. I think that led to me being easily distracted and that, ultimately, culminated in me thinking that rather than flogging a dead horse, it would make more sense to do something I was more comfortable with. There are two types of education and each form of education is equally as valuable. The academic approach to education is vital, no business can operate and be successful without those who have spent the time to understand the academic side of anything. However, that approach to education is not necessarily for everybody. And in my case it wasnt. So, I decided to withdraw from university. In 3 years, he had 200 staff working in 6 provincial offices in Hongkong. His Vodka, which reportedly controlled 70% of the Chinese Market, was sold in 33 cities a great feat indeed. See Also: Mabel Suglo: The Entrepreneur Who Gives Purpose To Persons With Disabilities It is quite arguable that his environment was more business friendly compared to most sub-Saharan countries including his home country Nigeria. However while the Africa of today inspires millions to take the entrepreneurial road, Ladi naturally blended into the industry as a matter of an early self-discovery, a phenomenal business strategist. A Nigerian ex-governor and politician had bluntly insinuated that the worlds richest people would not have made it that far if they were in the Nigerian environment. Thanks to oil, every other policy that could favour other forms of businesses have been greatly stifled or abandoned for a long time. Hopefully, with the drop in oil prices and the gradual movement of the world towards a more sustainable source of energy, the Nigeria government can do well to develop other sectors which are equally viable. Delanis Indonesian Conglomerate has provided over $900 million worth of funding for investment in Nigeria. In 2012, he was Nigerias youngest billionaire and was also named as one of Forbes youngest millionaires to watch in Africa. His story is definitely one which can motivate young Nigerians as well as Africans to strive for the very best because the ability and the potential to be great and succeed, truly lies in everyone; and all it takes is an adept focus, persistence, as well as hard work and the sky will be the stepping stone. Morocco opens trial on 2010 officers' deaths in Gdeim Izik Killed while clearing protest camp. Trial in civilian court (ANSAmed) - RABAT, JANUARY 23 - The opening of a trial for the first time before a civilian court and not a military one on the 2010 clearing of the Gdeim Izik camp near Laayoune is meant to mark a turning point. Saharawi protestors and police had clashed during the clearing of the camp, leading to the death of 11 Morocco policeman. The trial began on Monday before the Rabat Appeals Court with sky-high tension. The trial - which comes after a law was approved that prohibits military courts from ruling on civilians - will seek to shed light on what happened during the evacuation of the camp. Saharawis are against what they consider to be the occupation of the Western Sahara by Morocco. The Court of Cassation had annulled the verdict handed down against 25 defendants in a 2013 military trial, who were sentenced to between 20 years and life in jail. Numerous associations have taken the side of the victims of what is considered a massacre in Morocco. The Moroccan human rights association AMDH has instead taken the side of the defendants. The public prosecutor asked that Arabic be used, which may make it difficult for the numerous international observers present to follow the proceedings. Brahim Rachidi, one of the lawyers defending the victims' families, praised the opening of the trial as ''a new beginning in legality in Morocco''. (ANSAmed). (ANSAmed) - RABAT - An appeals court in Rabat is starting to examine the case of Gdeim Izik, a bloody event connected to the disputed Western Sahara. For the first time, a case so far examined by military tribunals will be tried by an ordinary court. The case is highly controversial in Morocco's political scenario with its indigenous Saharawi people pushing for self-determination and a call for controlled autonomy from the Palace. A former Spanish colony, the area was annexed by Morocco in 1975. Since then it has been at the center of a long-running territorial dispute between Morocco and the Saharawi, led by the Polisario Front. The case dates back to 2010, when 11 Moroccan officers were killed during operations to clear a camp in Gdeim Izik, set up in protest a few kilometers from Laayoune, in the disputed Sahara. In 2013, 25 defendants were sentenced to jail terms ranging between 20 years and life. Two defendants were set free, one was released from prison due to poor health while another was tried in absentia. Twenty one are currently in prison. The case will be handled by an appeals court after a law was approved, banning military tribunals from dealing with cases that concern civilians. The legislation will also enable the families of victims to be plaintiffs in the case and rid the trial of any ambiguity that can be part of military sentences. As of Monday, Morocco will be able to shed light on the case by hearing witnesses testifying and the defendants' version of events with both State attorneys and the defense contributing to define the responsibilities of the two sides. (ANSAmed) ROME - In speaking at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Parliamentary Assembly in Barcelona, Italian Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso on Monday urged more attention to the Mediterranean area. Grasso noted that the area was ''going through a very difficult period. Political institutions are crumbling in some states, leaving the ground open to criminal and terrorist groups. International and supra-national political alliances are losing strength an legitimacy.' ''In our part of the world,'' he continued, '' geopolitical, economic and religious fault lines are opening that generate conflict, poverty, terrorism and migration. This historic period calls for responsibility to be taken without further delay, and I think that the Union for the Mediterranean and its Parliamentary Assembly are one of those occasions that should not be missed.'' Syrian govt lashes out at rebel 'terrorists' in Astana talks Opposition wants Assad out and 'may return to fighting' (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, JANUARY 23 - The head of the Syrian government delegation to the Astana talks on Monday denounced what he called his rebel counterpart's ''provocative'' opening comments. The talks in the Kazakh capital are the first at which the opposition delegation is formed exclusively of representatives of armed groups. Previous attempts at talks to bring in peace for the country at war since 2011 have all ended in failure. Bashar Jaafari, the regime's lead negotiator, added that the opposition groups ''support terrorists'', according to the state-run news agency SANA. He went on to claim that armed groups taking part in the meeting interpret the ceasefire wrongly and violate the agreement and that they support the ''terrorist group Jabhat Al-Nusra'', a local Al-Qaeda affiliate that changed its name to Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham and some of its positions in 2016. The Moscow-based news agency Interfax reports that Jaafari called the entire opposition delegation ''illegitimate'', claiming that the Syrian government hadn't realized this until they came to the talks and heard their positions. The opposition delegation called once again for the removal of Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad, one of the key demands since the uprising started in 2011. Muhammad Alloush, lead negotiator, said that the opposition aims to stabilize the ceasefire and move forward with a political transition that would begin with the removal of Assad and his regime. He also implied that the rebels were open to either peace or more fighting if necessary. The Syrian regime's lead negotiator accused Turkey of ''violating Syrian sovereignty, providing assistance to terrorist groups and preventing a peaceful solution to the crisis''. The Astana talks are being held on the basis of an agreement between Russia, Iran and Turkey. The Syrian government delegation met with representatives from Russia and Iran on Monday but not those from Turkey. (ANSAmed). If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both I don't know how many young women come to this blog or how many are parents of teenage or young adult women, but here are some safety tips from Kelsey's Army: T I P S 1. Trust your instincts - If something feels wrong then something probably is wrong.2. Know your surroundings - know who and what is around you.3. Always have a plan for where you would go and what you would do if a situation arises.4. 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Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Nabi Avc, participated in a commemorative event devoted to the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, founder and chief editor of Agos Armenian bilingual weekly of Istanbul. January 23, 2017, 14:03 Turkey minister attends Hrant Dink commemoration event STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: At the event, Avc expressed condolences to Dinks family and friends as well as the Armenian community and the Agos staff, in connection with the Dink murder, according to Demokrathaber website of Turkey. And in response to a question posed by a journalist participating in the event, the minister noted that even though this murder trial had a dark history, now it will proceed in accordance with law. Hrant Dink was gunned down on January 19, 2007 in front of then office of Agos. In 2011, the perpetrator, Ogun Samast, was sentenced by a juvenile court to 22 years and ten months for the murder. After long court proceedings and appeals, however, a new probe was ultimately launched in this murder case, and regarding numerous former and serving senior Turkish officials complicity in this assassination. Not being satisfied with blocking the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) budget, Azerbaijan has now launched a direct demarche against the OSCE Minsk Group, which conducts efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. January 23, 2017, 14:15 Azerbaijan launches direct demarche against OSCE Minsk Group STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: The permanent mission of Azerbaijan to the OSCE issued a statement accusing and blackmailing the OSCE, in general, and the Minsk Group, in particular. Deviation by the OSCE Minsk Group and its co-chairmen from this framework defined by the UN Security Council undermines the mandate entrusted to it and could have a serious impact on conflict resolution process, the statement reads, specifically, according to Trend news agency of Azerbaijan. According to this document, The Minsk Group co-chairmen must return to implementation of the tasks given to them by the UN Security Council and, on this basis, engage both sides [to the conflict] in substantive result-oriented talks. Furthermore, this statement by the permanent mission of Azerbaijan to the OSCE openly blackmailed the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries (Russia, US, and France) claiming that, If they are unable to withdraw the Armenian troops from the occupied territories and address many other challenges to the peace process, Azerbaijan has every right to defend its territory and protect its people by all means." YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations says as of 09:00, January 23 all highways throughout Armenia are passable. The ministry told ARMENPRESS clear ice has formed in some parts of various highways, including the Vardenyats Pass, Spitak-Gyumri highway and Vanadzor-Dilijan highway. Mild foggy conditions are present in the Ararat province. According to Georgian authorities the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles with the use of snow chains. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The man who had attacked the HQ of Turkeys ruling party in Istanbul - Bilgehan Karpat, member of Turkeys Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), has been killed by law enforcement agencies during his arrest, Anadolu reported. When police attempted to arrest the assailant, a firefight broke out and Karpat was shot dead. The man attacked Istanbuls AK party HQ on January 20. No one was hurt during the attack. STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh told Armenpress, on January 22 and overnight January 23 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime more than 55 times by firing over 430 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. In the eastern direction of the line of contact, the Azerbaijani forces fired more intensive shots from sniper rifles (92 shots), as well as fired 82 mm mortar (2 shells). As a result of the ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side, on January 22, as of 23:25, the NKR Defense Army soldier Karen M. Ulubabyan, born in 1995, was fatally wounded at one of the military units located in the eastern direction of the Defense Army. Investigation is underway to clarify the details of the case. The NKR Defense Ministry shares the grief of the loss and expresses its support to the family members, relatives and co-servicemen of the killed soldier. The Defense Army forces took countermeasures to suppress the Azerbaijani activeness and continued fulfilling their military duties. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Australias Prime Minister, Chairman of Liberal party, Malcolm Turnbull congratulated Gladys Berejiklian on being elected as the 45th Premier of Australias New South Wales, reports Armenpress. Congratulations @GladysB, our first Liberal female Premier! Look forward to continuing to work with you to deliver for the people of NSW, Turnbull writes on Twitter. Congratulations @GladysB, our first Liberal female Premier! Look forward to continuing to work with you to deliver for the people of NSW. pic.twitter.com/wUi4UTjOr6 Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) January 23, 2017 Earlier Radio Australia reported Gladys Berejiklian became the 45th Premier of Australias New South Wales after being unanimously voted for on January 23. The 46-year-old was sworn in as 45th Premier of NSW after being elected unopposed as Liberal leader in an early morning meeting, replacing Mike Baird. The meeting lasted 10 minutes and also saw Finance Minister Dominic Perrottet voted in as deputy party leader. "Gladys Berejiklian, [who] is the daughter of migrants who came to Australia with limited English and survivors of the Armenian genocide, today has reached the highest office in our state of NSW and this is a monumental and proud achievement for our community and also a proud day for NSW as well, Radio Australia reported. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. 44 year old Tigran Kalmukhyan, owner of Yerevans Panorama hotel, has been found dead in the morning of January 22, the Police HQ told ARMENPRESS. The coroners report is currently in process and the Yerevan Police Department is investigating the cause of death and circumstances of the incident. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The talks over the Syrian conflict settlement launched in Astana, Kazakhstan on January 23, reports TASS. The meeting is being held in Rixos hotel. The major issues, that must be settled by the delegations, in particular, the delegations of the Syrian government and the armed opposition, are the strengthening of the ceasefire regime and advancing the political negotiation process in order to organize consultations in Geneva on February 8. The sides are also working on the adoption of a final document, however, its prospects are not clear yet. Overall, 7 delegations, including the delegations of the Syrian government and opposition, Russia, Turkey, Iran, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Misturas team and US Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol, acting as an observer, are taking part in the talks. Russias delegation is headed by Special Presidential Envoy for the Syrian Settlement Alexander Lavrentyev. Irans delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari and Turkeys delegation is led by Deputy Undersecretary for the Middle East and Africa at the Foreign Ministry Sedat Onal. Syrias Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari leads the Damascus delegation. The Syrian opposition is represented by armed groups that operate in the countrys north and central parts, in particular, in the south. One of the major negotiators is Jaish al-Islam member Mohammed Alloush. It is expected the talks will end on January 24. A final press conference is scheduled. The organizers of the Astana meeting and its participants dont rule out the works can be prolonged if necessary. Photo by Reuters YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Londons Heathrow airport cancelled over 100 flights due to low visibility and dense fog, Sky News reports. Foggy weather is expected to cause some disruption to flights at Heathrow today. Please check with your airline prior to travelling, Heathrow airport posted a statement on Twitter. The Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning for fog in London, the South West, South East, and some eastern parts. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenias General Department of Civil Aviation has not received an application by other airlines on carrying out flights from Gyumris Shirak airport, Satenik Hovhannisyan - Spokeswoman of the General Department of Civil Aviation, told Armenpress. She informed that talks are underway aimed at attracting new airlines to the Shirak airport. The Russian low-cost Pobeda airlines started operating round flights to/from Gyumris Shirak airport since December 15. Tickets for the flight start from 999 Rubles. It carries out flights 3 times a week Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Energy Week-2017 events and exhibition is scheduled to take place January 25-27 in Yerevan, Armenia. The events aim at presenting the latest developments in Armenia in energy efficiency and renewable energy, existing problems, investment opportunities and perspective projects. Tamara Babayan, director of the Armenian renewable energy and energy efficiency foundation told a press conference in ARMENPRESS that the Energy Week is a traditional event. We will present the progress in energy efficiency and renewable energy. On the other hand, we will raise the issues in order to find solutions by joint efforts. We organize this event when we have something to say, and this time we have lots to say, Babayan said. According to her, there is interest among companies engaged in the energy sector. Babayan says if 4 years ago it was difficult to find participating companies, now several companies have been refused because there were so many willing to take part and there was a limitation in terms of number. Hayk Harutyunyan, deputy minister of energy infrastructures and natural resources said a key event of the Energy Week is the investment forum on solar energy. An investment package regarding solar energy will be presented at the forum. As you know, the development of this field is a priority for us. Armenia is an exceptionally good country in terms of solar technologies. Several factors allow us to assume, that it is possible to seriously develop solar battery technologies, Harutyunyan said. Harutyunyan mentioned they have separated the solar energy development into three levels. First, the micro-station level, when citizens can install solar panels, produce energy and sell the surplus to the electricity networks. Taxes and license permits have been lifted off this process. The next level is solar stations of 1MW power, and the third 50 MW. Investors will be presented with the construction opportunities of the first solar energy station in the Masrik-1 area in Gegharkunik province. The stations power is planned to be 55 MW. Foreign investors from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, USA and the UAE are taking part in the forum. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. During the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) launched on January 23, Pedro Agramunt was re-elected as PACE President for one-year term, reports Armenpress. There were no other candidates running for the Presidents post. After being re-elected Agramunt thanked the parliamentarians for the trust and cooperation. The political group of the European Peoples Party (EPP) at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Monday is debating the Milan public prosecutors office charges against former Chairman of the EPP Group, Italian politician Luca Volonte, with respect to receiving bribe from Azerbaijan. January 23, 2017, 16:09 Armenia MP: PACE debates on Italian politician getting bribe from Azerbaijan STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: Samvel Farmanyan, a member of the National Assembly of Armenia delegation to the PACE, wrote about the abovementioned on his Facebook account, News.am reports. Passions are boiling over at the EPP. The Azerbaijani lobby has thrown to the battle all of its clients that are exposed and are being exposed. Our contention is: PACE must appoint a special rapporteur-investigator on this matter, who in short order will report to the PACE about the corruption scandal that has questioned the EPPs standing across Europe, Farmanyan also wrote. As reported earlier, the European Stability Initiative had issued a report, entitled The European Swamp (Caviar Diplomacy Part 2), which presents the revelations of corruption schemes organized by the Azerbaijani authorities, and which include dozens of high-ranking European politicians, such as Volonte as well as PACE President Pedro Agramunt. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan sent a congratulatory message to Gladys Berejiklian on assuming the premiership of Australias New South Wales. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Government, the message particularly reads, Honorable Mrs. Berejiklian, On behalf of the Government of Armenia and personally me I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of assuming the premiership of Australias New South Wales. We are happy that the Armenian community in Australia, being actively engaged in the countrys social-political life, has its significant contribution to Australias development in various aspects, where your productive activities can be assessed as exemplary. I hope during your tenure new impetus will be given to the development of Armenian-Australian relations and the decentralized cooperation between our cities and provinces. Taking the opportunity, I wish you all the success and new achievements for the benefit of the welfare of the friendly people of Australia and the reinforcement of Armenian-Australian friendship. [contextly_auto_sidebar] LIKE a lot of Americans, Im sorry to see President Obama go. But in at least two areas, he was a real disappointment. One was his gutless response or lack of response to the housing crisis, which involved mostly looking the other way and proposing toothless acronyms while banks crushed homeowners struggling with the Great Recession. His second great failure was his cultural policy, which remained mostly a missed opportunity. Obama and Michelle did make a highly publicized visit to Broadway to see a show, and the playlists he released were smart and wide-ranging. But he was hardly a JFK or even (yikes) a Nixon on this count. This story gets at what I mean. FREDDY MOU | Loop PNG | Edited The PNG government has given the green light to investors in Paga Hill Tourism City to start implementing the project. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tobias Kulang said the PNG cabinet has approved an incentive framework for the Paga Hill Estate. This bold move is demonstrative of the governments strategy to pursue foreign investment, create jobs and stimulate economy, Mr Kulang said. He said that the Paga Hill Estate is attracting foreign investment with a memorandum of understanding already agreed with the Shenzhen Construction and Development Group partnering with the China Harbour Engineering Company and Covec to fund and construct a five-star hotel. 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According to sources, the Centre is likely to bring down the tax collected at source limit so as to discourage cash transactions. (Representational Image) New Delhi: The forthcoming Union Budget is likely to announce measures to promote cashless economy in the country to maintain surge in digital transactions post-demonetisation. Sources said that on the anvil may be steps to bring down limit for imposing tax collected at source (TCS), quoting PAN, and putting an upper limit on holding of cash by individuals. Currently, one per cent tax collected at source (TCS) is imposed for using cash to buy goods and services over Rs 2 lakh. According to sources, the government is likely to bring down this limit so as to discourage cash transactions. If the limit for imposing TCS is brought significantly to around Rs 1 lakh or even below, it will discourage people to use cash for large transactions, said sources. The government may also bring down the limit for providing PAN for cash transactions in the Union Budget and more items may be brought where quoting of PAN will be mandatory of the transaction is done through cash. Currently, a cash payment of over Rs 50,000 in connection with foreign travel (including fare, payment to travel agent and purchase of forex) requires PAN. PAN is mandatory for cash payments of more than Rs 50,000 for cash cards or prepaid instruments. PAN is also required for making a cash deposit of more than Rs 50,000 or purchase of bank draft/pay orders/bankers cheque of the equal denomination on a single day, payment of life insurance premium of Rs 50,000 in a year. To discourage cash holdings, the government may announce upper limit for using cash for making transactions. Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money has recommended a total ban on cash transactions above Rs 3 lakh and an act be framed to declare such transactions as illegal and punishable by law. It had also asked for restricting maximum cash holding with individuals between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh to curb illegal wealth in the economy. A close watch has been kept on the persons making cash deposits in the last 10 days of the demonetisation scheme. The focus is also on non-cash deposits in various bank accounts by way of RTGS and other means. New Delhi: Expanding scrutiny of suspicious transactions post demonetisation, the government has begun analysing deposits in new accounts and loan repayments as well as transfers to e-wallets and advance remittance for imports during the last 10 days of deadline to turn in junked notes. After analysing cash deposits made in bank and post office accounts during the 50-day window provided to get rid of the junked Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, authorities are now examining term deposit and loan accounts that were opened after November 8 demonetisation decision. I-T department is already taking actions in cases where cash deposits above Rs 50,000 have been made without quoting of PAN. The Income-Tax department is using tools and its sources to identify each of these persons and is confident that there would be a big expansion in the tax base and a quantum jump in direct tax collection, a senior government official said. A close watch has been kept on the persons making cash deposits in the last 10 days of the demonetisation scheme, e-wallets, advance remittance for imports etc, and continues to work on collecting and analysing more data regarding cash deposits, he said. The focus is also on non-cash deposits in various bank accounts by way of RTGS and other means, and would continue to share its findings with the concerned law enforcement agencies. Analysis of the deposits made, by way of cash and non-cash, in various kinds of new accounts including term deposit accounts and loan accounts that have been opened during the period of demonetisation is being done, he said. I-T department and other agencies like enforcement directorate are taking action based on the analysis. Besides, regular reporting by the banks through Suspicious Transaction Reports has seen more than four-fold increase in this period and the same are being analysed for dissemination. On analysis, details of more than 60 lakh accounts which have cash deposits of Rs 2 lakh and above have been disseminated and the total amount deposited in these accounts is more than Rs 7.34 lakh crore. Also, details of cash deposits totalling more than Rs 10,700 crore in different accounts in the North-Eastern states have also been disseminated. Investors fear that his protectionist promises if fulfilled could erode the benefits to emerging markets. Mumbai: Donald Trumps assertion of buy American and hire American policy in his inaugural speech after taking charge as the 45th US President is expected to create risk aversion in emerging market equities including India as it signals a major policy shift towards protectionism. While the markets would still wait for more clarity on the proposed policies, Mr Trumps latest speech highlighting the broader policy direction that his government would follow according to market experts is likely to trigger profit booking in companies exposed to US markets. It is an unambiguous signal of the start of a new era of fierce protectionism for American jobs and trade as well as isolationism. Trade wars, retaliatory tariffs and barriers to free movement of people and trade can cause turbulence in global markets, said Ajay Bodke, CEO and chief portfolio manager, PMS at Prabhudas Lilladher. One needs to closely watch the detailed fleshing out of Mr Trumps policies over the next few days to gauge the exact impact. Outsourcing industry and exporters to the US would need to be especially worried about this assertive call to protectionism, he added. According to Vijay Singhania, founder-director of Trade Smart Online, the sentiments across the Asian markets have turned cautious with Mr Trump taking charge. Investors fear that his protectionist promises if fulfilled could erode the benefits to emerging markets. Mr Trump has threatened a 45 per cent tariff on imports from China and a 35 percent border tax on imports by US companies shipping jobs overseas. He has also pledged a one-off tax rate cut for US firms bringing money held overseas back home to 10 per cent from 35 per cent. The US firms have $2.6 trillion stashed abroad and any rapid repatriation could wreck havoc in Asian markets, noted Mr Singhania. Jackie will be arriving in Mumbai on Monday to promote his upcoming film, Kung Fu Yoga. Fans of both Jackie Chan and Salman Khan would to keen to see the two of them together. Mumbai: Salman Khan had thanked Jackie Chan for casting his 'Dabangg' co-star Sonu Sood in 'Kung Fu Yoga' previously and the Hollywood star recently responded by promising to meet him in Mumbai. Jackie Chan is all set to fulfill his promise and it won't be just a short interaction as the two stars are set to hang out together. Jackie will be arriving in Mumbai on Monday to promote his upcoming film, Kung Fu Yoga. According to DNA, the actor is also planning to meet Bollywood star, Salman Khan during his one day trip in Mumbai. A source close to the development said, Jackies co-star Sonu Sood is close to Salman (they worked together in Dabangg) and it was he who arranged for this meeting between the two stars. Jackie will have a press conference in the afternoon and host a small, intimate dinner for some select people." The source further added, "He wont have time to meet many people, but he is keen on meeting Salman during his stay here. Sonu has spoken a lot about Salmans superstar status in India and his charity work and the action star expressed a desire to meet him. Though Salman is shooting for Kabir Khans Tubelight, he plans to meet Jackie at an Asian bar and restaurant at JW Marriott, where the star is staying." Kung Fu Yoga also stars Aarif Rahman, Sonu Sood and Disha Patani. The movie will be releasing on January 26. However, not only has her star husband taken over the role, but he will also not be playing the role of a Tamilian any longer. From toilet hygiene to sanitary napkins, Akshay Kumar seems destined to embrace the world of sanitation in 2017. If sources are to believed, Twinkle Khannas first production Padman about the Tamilian economical sanitary-napkin manufacturer Arunachalam Muruganantham was to be played by a Tamil actor. However, not only has her star husband taken over the role, but he will also not be playing the role of a Tamilian any longer. Says a source close to development, The director R Balki is Tamil himself. He wanted to cast Dhanush with whom he has worked in Shamitabh. But Mr & Mrs Akshay Kumar wanted the resident superstar to play the sanitary-napkin man. So now the characters cultural profile has been changed. He will no longer be Tamil but will address himself to a pan-India audience. When quizzed if Akshay Kumar will turn Muruganantham into a Punjabi the source quickly explained, No no, nothing like that. He will now not be culture-specific. Who kahin ka bhi ho sakta haiv (he can belong anywhere). This was the first time these men had ridden in a lift. In Tok Pisin Id explained lifts to the group very carefully before we left for this meeting on the 26th floor. I had to trust that my explanation of a lift had been understood. With my heart in my mouth I ushered in the others, stepped in, pushed button 26, and hoped everyone would stay calm. Two doors open. We walk into a small room. There are no windows. The doors close by themselves. The small room is called a lift. Its at the bottom of a long, high tube. There are very strong ropes, like the wire ropes on the Yaviufa bridge. They are fixed to the lift. I will press a button of where we want to go. Strong machinery high above pulls the ropes. The lift rises up the tube. We are in the lift, so we rise up too. It is smooth and quiet. It feels like we are not moving. The machinery knows what floor we want to go to. It stops there. The doors open. We walk out of the lift onto the floor we want to go to. We are now very high up inside the building. They all chattered to each other about the marvels of this great city. The lift started with a jerk. There was instant silence except for two Malaysian passengers who continued their discussion. Thats good I thought. They look so normal and casual and my people will see that. The lift slowed to a smooth stop and some of my people gasped. Was it fear showing? The others were silent and expressionless. The doors opened and the two Malaysians got out. The doors closed and with another unsettling jerk we ascended further. We got to floor 26 and I said, Em tasol. Mipela go aut nau. We got out and all eight of them went directly to the huge picture windows of the lift lobby, ooh-ing and aah-ing as they went. The ones in front looked down and recoiled dizzily, clutching their bellies. I let them discover all this for themselves, which they did mostly with remarkable equanimity. Wed been travelling for four days and they were quickly coming to terms with the new sights and experiences we were having. It was 1974 and I was escorting eight Papua New Guinean Eastern Highlanders on a tour of Malaysia. They were all members of the Area Authority, an elected body which was the precursor to todays Provincial Government. The Authority members had decided to allocate funds for this educational tour. As executive officer of the Authority, I was to facilitate and escort the group. It was the first time in pre-independent PNG that such a trip had been proposed. The PNG government approved it as did the Australian government, whose contribution was to approve a diplomatic passport for me. We flew from Port Moresby to Singapore, then took the train to Kuala Lumpur (commonly referred to as KL) I was amazed how much the diplomatic passport eased our travel. Even so, I still had to fill out nine embarking/disembarking passenger cards, nine customs declarations, nine hotel registrations, nine .. I proposed the itinerary and the Australian Embassy organised the trip: transport, accommodation, local experts, every aspect arranged in fine detail. We visited a variety of small urban businesses in and around KL, enjoyed a restful two days in the Cameron Highlands, so similar to the homes of these PNG highlanders, travelled to the east coast to look at oil palm and other rural industries, then back to KL to catch the flight home to PNG. But first we had to get down from our 26th floor which my companions reacted to calmly,. Just like in an aeroplane, was the reaction. Okay, well go down in the lift now. One of them strolled casually to the lift door and pressed the down button. I was astonished by the quick uptake of these new experiences. There were several stops on the way down to load or unload passengers. All my team were fascinated by the floor indicator counting back as we descended. At about floor 2, someone said, Klostu nau. The indicator flicked to G and the lift stopped with a severe jolt, made some small up and down jerks and settled to silence. The doors didnt open. Two Malaysian girls made whimpering noises. Others made panicky comments in Malaysian. My group and I too felt the contagion of incipient panic. I had to stay cool. Id been stuck in lifts before, but never in a foreign country. Not knowing the language invoked an ugly feeling of helplessness. I took a deep breath and I tried to keep the group calm in Tok Pisin. There was relief when a Malaysian man used the emergency phone then spoke to me in English. This elevator often does this. Dont worry, they will get us out soon. I immediately translated these reassuring words. There were voices outside and fingers poked through a two-inch gap prised between the doors. Then followed a crowbar - creak, creak, snap. Four feet of freedom was exposed. The lift had stopped three feet short of the ground floor. One by one we were helped out. We chattered excitedly with the release of pent-up tension. My remarkable co-travellers thought it one of the best experiences of the trip. We left the building laughing with delight. The police acted on a tip-off from Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, who got information that the accused were travelling towards Delhi with beef. The Dal members informed the police that while a Hyundai Accent car was carrying the beef, a white Santro car was escorting it. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Gurgaon: Gurgaon police on Saturday arrested two persons carrying 900 kilograms of meat in a car, and claimed the meat was beef. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the police acted on a tip-off from Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, who got information that the accused were travelling from Mewat towards Delhi via Sohna Road carrying beef. The Dal members informed the police that while a Hyundai Accent car was carrying the beef, a white Santro car was escorting it. The police installed barricades at Sohna Road and signalled the Santro to stop when it arrived. However, the driver tried to reverse the car and flee, said the report. While two occupants of the car managed to flee, one Hasan Mohammad, a resident of Nagina in Mewat, was nabbed. Hasan confessed to the police that the Accent car, which was following the Santro, was carrying beef. A little while later, a white Accent car reached the spot and was stopped. The police arrested the Accents driver. He was identified as Jumma, a resident of Nagina in Mewat and meat stuffed in the trunk, near the rear seat, and front passenger seat was recovered. A veterinarian was called for examination of the meat, and on his observation that it was likely to be beef, a sample was sent to a laboratory in Hisar. The lab reports are now awaited, said the report. Cow vigilantism has emerged as a problem in recent times, with Gau Rakshak groups indulging in violence against those accused of carrying or eating beef. On June 10, two men nabbed for smuggling beef in a car were beaten by cow vigilantes and forced to eat cow dung near Badarpur border on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway. Later last year, Dalit men in Una of Gujarat were stripped and thrashed in public for carrying beef. In view of the violence, TN Guv has said a bill to replace the ordinance would be placed by AIADMK govt in the Assembly in 'immediately'. Chennai: The week-long pro-Jallikattu protest at Chennais Marina Beach turned violent on Monday when agitators set a police station on fire after police used force to remove pro-jallkattu protesters from Marina Beach. Supporters of Jallikattu set fire at Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach in Chennai. Vehicles were also set on fire, Chennai Police had to finally step in and disperse the protesters. Injured protestors have been rushed to hospital for treatment Police restored to baton-charge and fired tear gas to forcefully disperse demonstrators. The police action at Marina Beach led to clashes and violent protesters pelted stones at ICE House police station and set several vehicles on fire. Following an advisory, the crackdown comes on a day when the state Assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary Governor's address. DMK staged a walkout as soon as the Tamil Nadu Governor began his address in the state Assembly on Monday. DMK Working President MK Stalin criticised the police action on protesters at Marina beach demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu and a permanent solution for holding it. "It is condemnable that instead of holding talks with peaceful protesters, it has been attempted to end protests using police with an authoritarian mindset," Stalin, opposition leader in the state assembly, said in a statement. He also dubbed the action as "anti-democratic." TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing the protesters, most of them clad in black, from the sands of the famous beach here, signalling the end of the week-long protests that had been backed by political parties including ruling AIADMK and DMK. A large posse of cops was deployed at Marina. The protesters, mostly students and youth, had not bought the government decision to issue an ordinance for holding Jallikattu, which was done on Saturday, and the bull taming sport held in some parts of the state. They had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure the sport was held annually without any hindrance. Senior police officials could not be reached. The protesters criticised the police crackdown at the beach. The police action, however, came following an early morning 'advisory' asking the agitators to end their 'disciplined and peaceful' protest as their "purpose has been fully achieve." The advisory, released to the media, said that tens of thousands of youth, students and general public had been protesting in Marina since January 17 urging to lift the ban on the conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and that it had been "staged in a disciplined and peaceful manner without causing inconvenience to the general public and hindrance to the traffic." "In fact the participants have been assisting the police throughout and have cooperated well in the maintenance of Law and Order and regulation of traffic. "The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken every initiative and has conducted Jallikattu yesterday at various places all over Tamil Nadu to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu," it said. "Through an exemplary display of unity and discipline, the purpose of the protest has been fully achieved. Hence the participants are requested to leave the Marina in the same peaceful and disciplined manner and co-operate with the Chennai City Police," it said. Several protestors were also seen threatening the police, saying they will commit suicide at the beach if forcefully removed from the site. Yesterday, protesters in Alanganallur did not allow Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to inaugurate the Alanganallur Jallikattu, which was later cancelled. Talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said that even though Jallikattu was not held at Alanganallur, it was organised smoothly in many other places across the state. After the Governor's address to the Assembly today, the government is expected to move a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Observing that a mass movement and "spontaneous outpouring of emotion" paved the way for lifting of the ban on Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today said a bill to replace the ordinance would be "placed" by the state government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly "immediately." "The unprecedented and spontaneous outpouring of emotion and sentiment in a completely orderly and peaceful manner by lakhs of youth, supported by common people across the state, has received the solidarity of Tamil people across the globe to conduct Jallikatu and preserve Tamil cultural heritage," he said, even as the opposition DMK staged a walkout. In his maiden address to the Assembly in its first session this calendar year, Rao said, "This mass movement has paved the way for lifting the ban on Jallikattu." "Considering the situation, the bill will be moved when the House meets at 5 pm today," Assembly Speaker P Dhanpal told reporters in Chennai. The Niti Aayog has suggested in the vision document that the Centre should focus more on the railway and highway sectors. The Niti Aayogs vision document is the blueprint of the proposed 15 Year Plan period and consists of short, medium and long-term suggestions till 2030. New Delhi: Despite the Centre having rolled out the red carpet for private investors under its much-touted Make In India campaign, there seems to be lack of enthusiasm among private players to put their money in big ticket infrastructure projects. This concern has been flagged by Niti Aayog in its vision document which the think-tank is preparing for the 15 Year Plan period that will replace the Five Year Plan system from April 1, 2017 onwards. As an immediate short term measure, it has asked the government to improve human infrastructure by investing more in education and health. By investing in health and education sectors, sources in the know of things explained, more skilled manpower can be created for the future, which will translate into better quality infrastructure and result in improved funding from private investors. This, they said, is the crux of Niti Aayogs anecdote to the Centres main concern of poor private sector investment in infrastructure projects. The Niti Aayogs vision document is the blueprint of the proposed 15 Year Plan period and consists of short, medium and long-term suggestions till 2030. It is supposed to be finalised by March this year before the current financial year as well as the 12th Plan period comes to an end. Flagship schemes launched by the Centre to promote skill development notwithstanding, the Niti Aayog has noted in the vision document that owing to massive dearth of skilled manpower, the quality of infrastructure projects has suffered significantly. Due to poor quality projects, sources close to the development informed this newspaper, the think-tank has further indicated there is hardly any growth in private sector investment in the infrastructure segment. In this light, the Niti Aayog has called for rationalisation of subsidies, and also advised the government to spend more on human infrastructure, by focusing more on health and education. The Niti Aayog has suggested in the vision document that the Centre should focus more on the railway and highway sectors. While the investment in the aviation sector is almost 1.1 per cent of the entire GDP, it is hardly 0.8 per cent in the railway sector. This, the think tank has said, should be brought at par with the investment in the aviation sector. While the railways ambitious dedicated freight corridor project is already under construction (the project envisions creation of a separate rail route for freight trains), the vision document has specified that investment should be spurred on the other three corridors, namely west, south and north. The think-tank, as another short term measure, has also suggested setting up of a national road safety board, which will help regulate road safety and traffic management system. Interestingly, the previous UPA regime had in May 2010 introduced in Lok Sabha the National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board Bill, 2010. It was almost immediately referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. Though the committee had given its report in July that year itself, the bill subsequently got lapsed. Five Army soldiers were also injured in ambush and shifted to base hospital at Tinsukia for treatment. Indian army operation close to the ambush site where 2 Assam Rifles troopers were killed three other injured in a militant attack near Jagun in Tinsukia district, Assam. (Photo: AP) Guwahati: Two suspected Naga rebels were killed in an encounter with the Assam Rifle, which also lost two of its soldiers in an ambush by heavily armed rebels in Upper Assams Tinsukia district on Sunday. The incident took place at Barabasti 12th Mile on NH-53 near Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Five Army soldiers were also injured in ambush and shifted to base hospital at Tinsukia for treatment. Though security sources claimed it to be a joint operation of anti-talk faction of the Ulfa (I) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang faction), the Ulfa (I) rebels called up local newspapers claiming the responsibility for the ambush. The defence spokesperson Colonel Suneet Newton told this newspaper that soldiers were on routine area domination duty when ambush took place. We have also killed two militants in retaliatory fire on militants, he said, adding that militants were targeting to disturb a religious congregation, an annual event at Parshuram Kund. Pointing out that Army was dominating the area to keep hundreds of domestic as well as foreign tourists coming from Nepal protected, he said that military has launched massive combing operations in the area. Security sources said that they had prior alert about the movement of militants in the area. Pointing out that Assam Police was also alerted about the militants plan to target security forces in the run up to the Republic Day, security sources said that Ulfa (I) has been trying hard to escalate the offensive against the security forces to make their presence felt. Meanwhile, hundreds of tourists were struck on the national highways-53 in between Nampong in Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Jagun in Assam following the encounter between army and militants. Most of them were returning from Parshuram Kund Mela. The Ulfa (I) and NSCN-K in a similar joint operations had ambushed an army convoy in Tinsukia district in November 2016 also and killed three army soldiers. (EOM). Congress is facing a grave situation with 30 candidates going independent; while AAP is facing a tough battle from within. In a big blow to AAP, exactly two weeks ahead of the crucial polls, around 400 office bearers quit the party. New Delhi: With less than two weeks left for the high-octane Punjab Assembly polls, fear of turncoats playing spoilsport is giving trouble to all major political parties. On one side, Congress is facing a grave situation with 30 candidates going independent; on the other side, the rookie party, AAP is facing a tough battle from within - with three major splinter groups and hundreds of party workers waging a revolt. Congress is facing a 2012 like situation with its own candidates brewing trouble for the 'grand old party'. On the last day of withdrawing the nomination papers, the Congress efforts to douse fire failed to draw any success. 30 Congress rebel leaders are still in fray with half of them being the potential spoilers. From Ludhiana East, Punjab Congress, General Secretary, Gurmail Pehalwan is having a tug of war with party nominee from there, Sanjeev Talwar. Congress finally fielded Navjot Singh Sidhu from Amritsar East; something, which didn't go down well by senior party leader Manjit Singh Manna, who is now leaving no stone unturned to pull Sidhu down. Three time party MLA from Baba Bakala, Ranjeet Singh Vajjalvaddi, current party MLA from Banga, Tarlochan Singh Sondh and former MLA from Nakodar, Gurbinder Atwal are some of the prominent Congress leaders who have become rebellious. New entrant in the Punjab's political scenario, AAP is finding itself on a tricky ground, failing to keep its flock together. In general elections 2014, when the rookie party faced a drubbing across the country, Punjab was the only saving grace for being the only state giving four parliamentary berths. Ever since then, AAP has been harbouring the dream of ruling the border state. After making the initial headway, AAP seems to losing track. Political observers believe that more than the opposition, blows from within led to AAP's debacle. The trouble began immediately after the 2014 general elections with two of the party MPs locking horns with party high command. As the D-day approaches nearer, trouble is spiraling up for the party. In a big blow to the party, exactly two weeks ahead of crucial polls, around 400 office bearers quit the party. Levelling charges of 'dictatorship' style functioning, the disgruntled former office-bearers released a 15- page document, 'Poll-Khol'. They further alleged that sincere and dedicated leaders and party workers from state, who had been toiling hard, were sidelined by the 'outsiders'. Most of the prominent faces from 2014 elections have been either chucked out or pushed to the fringe. Sacking former state convener, Sucha Singh Chottepur was a decisive turn, which changed the future course of the party ahead of crucial polls. Narrative of 'outsiders' taking the shot, took the centre stage within the party. Allegations of corruption in ticket allocation and stings by party activists further dented the party image. With stakes running high in the forthcoming elections, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is also not devoid of groupism. The incumbent party is facing the heat due to difference of opinion on some of the seats with some leaders switching loyalties to rival parties. The turncoats include Pargat Singh and Sarwan Singh Phillaur. It will be interesting to see what will be the impact of such party-hoppers. The ban on Jallikattu had led to a week of massive protests, which on Monday intensified with protesters burning vehicles. Youngstres and Students during the protest to Lift ban on jallikattu and impose ban on PETA, at Kamarajar Salai, Marina Beach in Chennai on Saturday. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: Amid continuing protests over Jallikattu across the state, Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously passed an amendment bill for conducting the bull taming sport without any hindrance. Replacing an ordinance promulgated two days ago to allow jallikattu, the Bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 was unanimously adopted by the House after members of all parties spoke welcoming the legislative initiative. The "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017" was piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and adopted by voice vote. It was deemed to have come into effect on the day the ordinance was issued, January 21, 2017. The government had promulgated the ordinance in a bid to defuse the raging protests across the state, especially at the Marina Beach, by students and others, demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu. The Bill defines Jallikattu as an event involving bulls conducted with a view to following tradition and culture from January to May and it includes similar events like 'manjuviratu', 'vadamadu' and 'erudhuvidum' festivals. Read: Jallikattu crackdown: Protesters attack police station, burn vehicles It noted that the Supreme Court had held jallikattu as violative of the PCA Act (sections 3, 11, and 22). The Bill further said, considering the vital role of jallikattu in preserving and promoting tradition and culture among people and also in view of ensuring the survival and continuance of native breeds of bulls, the "Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt jallikattu from the provisions of the PCA Act". Paneerselvam explained the legal and factual background that necessitated the amendment bill. Leader of Opposition in Assembly M K Stalin was among those who spoke welcoming the Bill. The pacts are part of the 16 agreements to be signed between the two countries. New Delhi: The UAE on Sunday pledged total support to India in combating terrorism, as it looked towards elevating bilateral defence and security ties and inking a Strategic Cooperation Agreement during the visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi from Tuesday. The pacts are part of the 16 agreements to be signed between the two countries after the talks on January 25 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Al Nahyan, who will be the chief guest at this years Republic Day parade, UAE ambassador Ahmed Al Banna told PTI. We cooperate with India to combat and fight extremists and terrorists all over the world and we support Indian authority and government in their endeavour in protecting itself from any terrorist or extremist group, he said. When asked about the decisions taken by the two sides during Mr Modis visit to UAE in 2015 on working together to control, regulate and share information on flow of funds that could have a bearing on radicalisation activities, the envoy refused to comment. I dont know was his cryptic reply when asked about reports of the UAE government seizing properties of Dawood Ibrahim worth Rs 15,000 crore. Asserting that his country among the first to condemn the terror strike in Pathankot, Mr Banna said the UAE had also supported the surgical strikes by India. The Delhi High court had given death sentence to the four convicts after keeping in view the fact that it was a rarest of the rare case. The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the appeal of convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape case. (Photo: PTI/File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the plea filed by December 16 gangrape convicts Mukesh, Akshay, Pawan and Vinay, challenging the Delhi High court order that had sentenced the four convicts to the gallows after keeping in view the fact that it was a rarest of the rare case. The appeal, which is being heard by the Apex Court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, is at the fag end in the case. Earlier, the apex court had declined the request by two amici curiae - senior counsel Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay R Hegde to withdraw from assisting the court in hearing of appeals by the convicts in the gangrape case. Asking both to continue assisting the court in hearing of the appeals by the four accused convicted and sentenced to death, the three judge-bench comprising of justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan said: "We can appreciate the anguish expressed by the learned amici curiae". Six people violently raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus and thrashed her and her male friend on Dec 16. They then threw both of them from the moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. The incident led to large scale protests across the country, forcing the government of the day to make strict and punitive laws related to harassment of women. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another man, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home. Meanwhile, on December 3, amicus curiae Sanjay Hegde questioned the evidence produced by the prosecution in the gangrape case, and came out with certain points putting a question on the merit of evidence. According to Hegde, one of the convicts, Mukesh, was not with the prime culprit Ram Singh when the offence was committed, since their mobile locations were found to be different on that night. Priyanka Gandhi had until now limited herself to Amethi and Rae Bareli Parliamentary seats. New Delhi: The Congress party, which had lauded Priyanka Gandhis role in cobbling together an alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, was on Monday evasive about the part she could play in the party in future. Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said Priyanka, who had hitherto limited herself to Amethi and Rae Bareli Parliamentary seats represented by her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia respectively, played an "active role" along with senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in putting together an alliance with Samajwadi Party. Kumar said Priyanka was following "instructions" from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, "who can assign a role to any party worker". "Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been active in the two Parliamentary seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli purely out of her choice and we respect that. As far as UP elections are concerned, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi requested Ghulam Nabi Azad ji and Priyanka ji for sewing the alliance of progressive, like- minded parties," he said when asked about the role she played in bringing about the tie-up in UP. When asked about the role she could play in the state in future, the Congress leader said, "The workers of the Congress party and everybody else are desirous of Priyanka Gandhi playing a larger role. And when that happens you will be duly informed." Party insiders said she was instrumental in bringing Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other leaders into the party fold ahead of the elections to five state assemblies. Facing a barrage of questions as to how she assumed such an important role despite not being an official of the party, the Congress spokesperson said, "The Congress vice president can ask any party worker to take an active role. Why should there be an issue of propriety?" "The Congress vice president can instruct, request anybody in the party for any work he deems fit. So he made a request to Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka ji for helping in sewing the entire alliance and that is what has happened." He said now a "wonderful" alliance was in place despite many not wanting so. There has been widespread speculation about Priyanka assuming a larger role in the party, particularly after her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi started not keeping well. The Samajwadi Party and Congress on Sunday firmed up an alliance for next month's high-voltage UP Assembly polls at a joint press briefing. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and newly appointed party president Akhilesh Yadav with Mulayam Singh Yadav, Dimple Yadav at party office in Lucknow on Sunday. (Photo: PTI) Noida/Patna: Taking a jibe at the newly forged alliance between Samajwadi Party and the Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said the tie-up had been made to drag the attention of the people away from the hooliganism, corruption and violence going on in the state. "Just to cover up the hooliganism, corruption and violence, Samajwadi Party made up their family drama and now again they are aligning with Congress to drag the attention of people. But the people of Uttar Pradesh are very smart. The people know that development is only possible in BJP regime," said BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain. Hussain further stated that the people of Uttar Pradesh will never forget the failure of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's government and expressed confidence over winning the upcoming elections. Echoing similar sentiments, another BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said that, "The Samajwadi Party have ruled the state on the basis of sheer hooliganism and now they and the Congress party have united to contest the polls. They have been forced to do that because thing are in favour of BJP government." The Samajwadi Party and Congress on Sunday firmed up an alliance for next month's high-voltage Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls at a joint press briefing. They vowed to make Akhilesh Yadav the chief minister of the politically crucial state yet again while promising to free the state from communal and divisive forces. The formal announcement of SP- Congress alliance has come after discussions by the two sides over few days before they agreed to 298-105 formula. Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav yesterday released the election manifesto for the assembly polls. They vowed to make Akhilesh Yadav the chief minister of the politically crucial state yet again while promising to free the state from communal and divisive forces. The electioneering process in Uttar Pradesh has started gaining momentum with every passing day, as for the first phase of election, for which polling is scheduled on 11th February, a total of 168 candidates filed nominations till 21st January. In this phase 73 seats are at stake for which nominations can be filed till tomorrow. Whereas for the 67 seats of second phase, the last date of nomination filing is January 27 and only 16 candidates filed their nomination so far. The poll process in Uttar Pradesh begins on February 11. 73 constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh will go polls in this phase. The filing of nominations for these constituencies will end on January 24. Uttar Pradesh is set to have a seven-phase polling between February 11 and March 8. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership a move that was praised by several members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. John Katko. The order signed by Trump will remove the United States from any negotiations related to the trade agreement, which was initially signed by former President Barack Obama. Other countries that signed the deal include Australia, Canada, Japan and Vietnam. It's largely a symbolic action since Congress never ratified the agreement. A slew of Republicans and even some Democrats opposed the measure. Katko, R-Camillus, is among those who have spoken out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He criticized the trade deal during his first term in Congress and praised Trump's executive order that withdraws the U.S. from TPP negotiations. In a statement released Monday, Katko said he opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership because it didn't address unfair trade practices or prevent currency manipulation. "Significantly, the TPP ignored the mistakes of past trade deals which have harmed central New York's manufacturing workforce and economy consideration," he said. "I applaud President Trump for today's action and look forward to building upon this momentum in Congress to reform our tax code, rein in regulation and help grow our economy." Trump's executive order also received praise from labor unions organizations that have traditionally supported Democrats in the past. Many labor groups have voiced concerns about TPP and other trade agreements because of the impact on jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, told labor leaders in November that the TPP was "dead." Schumer, D-N.Y., issued a short statement Monday saying the Trans-Pacific Partnership was "dead long before President Trump took office." He added, "We await real action on trade." Not everyone agrees with Trump's decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. U.S. Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, called withdrawing from the TPP "a serious mistake." "This decision will forfeit the opportunity to promote American exports, reduce trade barriers, open new markets and protect American invention and innovation," McCain said. "It will create an opening for China to rewrite the economic rules of the road at the expense of American workers. And it will send a troubling signal of American disengagement in the Asia-Pacific region at a time we can least afford it." Trump railed against TPP during the presidential campaign. He's also criticized other trade agreements, most notably the North American Free Trade Agreement a trade deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It was reported Monday by several national media outlets that Trump will sign an executive order to renegotiate NAFTA. That position would likely be welcomed by Katko, who said last fall that he would support a review of NAFTA's impact. "Here's a fact: In central New York, we've lost 30,000 manufacturing jobs since NAFTA," he said in October. "Now, it could be just a coincidence that after NAFTA was passed we started bleeding all those jobs to overseas markets, but I don't think so. Let's take a look at that." Sisodia said private schools should focus on teaching students rather than making education a business. New Delhi: Terming the Supreme Court's order on private schools as "historic", Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday warned that Delhi government will take strict action against those schools which don't comply with the apex court's judgement. Sisodia, who also holds charge of the Education department, said private schools should focus on teaching students rather than making education a business. Addressing a press conference, he said that there are several discrepancies in fee and admission of private schools and said that Delhi government wants them to get transparent in their admission processes and fee hikes. The Deputy Chief Minister's remarks came hours after the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal of committee of private unaided schools, located on land alloted here by DDA, challenging a Delhi High Court order asking them to take government's prior nod before hiking fees. Hailing the court's order, the Deputy CM said, "We don't have personal enmity with private schools and are also not against them. Government just wants to keep their (schools) free and admission process in a transparent manner." He said that private schools cannot harass parents in the name of fee and asserted that despite the SC's order, if schools don't follow rules, government has several tools to take strict action against them. Sisodia said that government will support fee hikes if the processes are transparent and has proper rationale behind the move. He also said that in 2004, SC had also ordered private schools to comply with terms and conditions in their land allotment letters, but it was never implemented by the previous government. "If they have some issues with the terms and conditions in their land allotment letters, they can return this land to government and we can run a good school," he said. Sisodia said that in a recently-conducted audit by government-appointed CAs, it was revealed that most private schools had surplus funds of up to Rs 5 crore. "If they have surplus funds, why there is a need to pile up money and harass parents. If they don't have enough expenditures, why they are demanding to increase fees. "We are not talking about closing private schools. We are not creating disturbance in the functioning of private schools, but if you (schools) have a pile up of Rs 5 crore, why they are charging exorbitant fees from the parents," the Deputy CM told reporters. He also warned that if privates schools think that they can take land worth crores of rupees from government and then don't follow terms and condition in allotment letters, we will not allow you to charge exorbitant fees, adding that this will not happen in this government. The accused told police that he had been raping his 17-year-old sister and also molested his 13-year-old sister from last April. New Delhi: A 22-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly raping his younger sister for almost a year and molesting another sibling in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar area, police said. The accused told police that he had been raping his 17-year-old sister and also molested his 13-year-old sister from last April, a senior police officer said. Their father had died. Their mother was bedridden and the brother took advantage of this, he said. The girls told about the incident to their friend who informed her father, who works with an NGO. They then reported about the incident to police this afternoon, said the officer. The accused has been booked under POCSO, section 376 (rape) and other relevant sections of the IPC, the police officer said. By asking voters to accept bribe, Kejriwal is instigating the people towards corruption, BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a "self-proclaimed Chief Justice of Indian politics", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today said as it accused him of denigrating credibility of the Election Commission and the voting process by his bribery remarks. "Kejriwal wants to be Delhi Chief Minister on odd days, Punjab Chief Minister on even days and Goa Chief Minister on holidays. But, now when his desire to become Chief Ministers of three states at the same time has shattered, he is frustrated and saying all this," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said. The Aam Aadmi Party supremo had stirred up a hornet's nest during an election rally in Goa earlier this month where he had asked people to accept money offered by the political parties, but vote for AAP only. By asking voters to accept bribe, Kejriwal is instigating the people towards corruption, against which his entire politics is based, Patra told reporters in Delhi. "Kejriwal, a self-proclaimed Chief Justice of Indian politics who also has a constitution bench of corrupt ministers, has again and again repeated his bribery remarks. By doing this he is not only denigrating the credibility of Election Commission but also the entire voting process," he said. The EC had later censured him for his reported remarks in poll-bound Goa, saying his statement amounted to abetting and promoting electoral offence of bribery. But despite the EC's notice, the Delhi Chief Minister had reportedly reiterated his bribery remarks. Meanwhile, earlier today, the AAP convener in a letter to EC claimed that his remarks were aimed at containing graft and sought a review of its order to allow him to repeat the comments. A delegation from Canada, which had attended Bengal Global Business Summit, has suggested a financial model for New Town households. Consumers get a substantial discount, typically between 20 per cent and 30 per cent on their grid power cost. (Representational image) Kolkata: The West Bengal Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) will seek Canadian assistance for boosting renewable energy as part of its efforts to develop New Town as an Intelligent City. A delegation from Canada, which had attended the two-day Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), has suggested a new financial model of solar power for the households in New Town where all financial, technical and operational requirements for the rooftop solar system are fulfilled by specialist companies. However, the consumers get a substantial discount, typically between 20 per cent and 30 per cent on their grid power cost. We had a detailed discussion with a delegation from Canada about their new financial model titled Opex where a third party photo voltaic (PV) project developer finances and installs the system on rooftop of owner/consumers premises and sells all solar power output under a long-term agreement. This model is extremely popular in the US where almost half of the rooftop solar PV installations are owned by specialist Opex developers such as SolarCity, Vivint, Sunrun etc, a top Hidco official said. According to India Solar Rooftop Map released by Bridge to India consulting firm a few months ago, India has added 513 MW of rooftop solar capacity over the past 12 months reaching total installed capacity of 1,020 MW, 22 per cent of which has been built under Opex model. Consumers do not want to incur up front capital costs but still want to benefit from falling costs of solar power. We are hopeful the model will work for New Town, Hidco chairman Debashis Sen said. Hidco had signed an MoU with Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce for Intelligent cities at BGBS. The ACSU had registered 1,954 cases in its first year and detected 717 cases out of them. Mumbai: While there has been a drastic fall in the number of registered cases of chain snatching in Mumbai as compared to the cases registered in the past three years, the percentage of detection of the registered cases has been less than 50 per cent ever since the Anti-Chain Snatching Unit (ACSU) was set up in 2012. The ACSU, which was set up as a special Cell of the Crime Branch, has deployed about 40 officers to tackle chain-snatching cases. The ACSU had registered 1,954 cases in its first year and detected 717 cases out of them. Five years after the ACSU cell was first launched, the number of cases registered for chain snatching has dropped to 445 and the number of cases detected is 245. Even though the number of cases registered has been drastically decreased, the statistics of cases detected have remained static, at around 50 per cent. Speaking to The Asian Age, DCP (law & order) Deven Bharti said, We have identified the police stations that register the most cases of chain snatching in the city. There are women who wear gold jewellery, but feel insecure walking on the streets wearing them. To curb this, we have strengthened our network of informers, and are detecting as many cases as we can. According to a police source, the reason for the static percentage of detection is that the police force deployed for this job is lacking in number. The sleuths in the special cell have no transport vehicles of their own and have to depend on the cars of the 94 police stations in the city. When The Asian Age spoke to the spokesperson of Mumbai Police, DCP (operations) Ashok Dudhe, he said, Areas like Kalachowky, Mahim, Bandra and Sion, among others, have been identified as the most vulnerable when it comes to chain snatching. But the number of registered cases has reduced since the ACSU cell was initiated. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray refused to divulge details on the parleys being held by the two parties. Mumbai: Amid uncertainties over a pre-poll pact with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Monday released his party's manifesto for the BMC elections, even as he maintained that seat-sharing talks with the ally are still on. Thackeray, flanked by a number of party MPs and MLAs, said the manifesto was being released independently by the party as Monday was the birth anniversary of Sena founder Bal Thackeray. "January 23 is a very important day for Shiv Sainiks and we continue to be committed to the people of Mumbai on this day. Hence, (we) decided to release our manifesto today," he said. "People are surprised and their eyes are left wide open when they see the budget of the Mumbai civic body and they ask where does all this money go. But if they study the subject in detail, they will find that BMC can only spend Rs 29,000 per person in Mumbai," Thackeray said addressing reporters in Mumbai. The Sena chief said if at all an alliance with BJP for the BMC (Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation) polls materialises, "good suggestions" by the ally will also be incorporated in the manifesto. He, however, refused to divulge details on the parleys being held by the two parties. "Talks are still on. As and when we come to a conclusion, I will have to announce it anyway," he said. Among sops in the manifesto, Sena has promised to open e-learning centres for students and broaden the scope of teaching to meet demands in the current age. The party also offered to give preference in jobs in the BMC to those educated in civic-run schools. The manifesto, read out by Arvind Sawant,MP, also revealed the party's plans in sectors like tourism, health, environment, 24X7 water supply, free travel in BEST buses to students in school uniforms, besides promises in areas like sanitation and treatment of waste water. BMC goes to polls on February 21. Protracted negotiations between the two parties have failed to clinch a deal with both sides claiming larger number of seats than each is willing to concede. While BJP has staked claim for over 100 seats in the 227-member council, the Sena appears to be in no mood to yield to the ally's demands in its prime political space. A senior BJP leader had virtually ruled out yesterday the possibility of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis resuming seat-sharing talks with Thackeray. The passenger has confessed that the goods belonged to another person and was supposed to hand over to an Imran in Mumbai. Mumbai: Three different people in respective cases have been arrested by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers in past two days for smuggling more than Rs 2 crore worth of gold. Each case has different modus operandi. According to officials, investigation is going on to get further details. AIU officers intercepted a passenger, Rashid Manikoth, on January 22 who was holding an Indian passport on his arrival from Sharjah on Air Arabia Airways flight G9 401. Officials said, Upon searching him and his check-in baggage, we confiscated two pieces of crude gold weighing 1.009 kg worth Rs 27,33,098. The passenger had hidden the gold pieces in the armature core of the electric mixture grinders motor. The gold was being smuggled into India without payment of Customs duty and in contravention of provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The passenger in his statement has admitted that the above said gold belonged to a Mr. Karim in Sharjah, and he was supposed to hand it over to another person in Kasargod, Kerala. In another case on the same day AIU officers arrested Irfanbhai Parvatsingh Rana, a passenger holding Indian passport on his arrival from Dubai via Bahrain by Gulf Air flight GF 064. Officials recovered cylindrical shape crude gold, broken into three pieces weighing 1.999 kg valued at Rs 54,14,731. Officials also recovered pouches of Gutka (a type of tobacco) worth Rs 5459731. The passenger has confessed that the goods belonged to another person and was supposed to hand over to an Imran in Mumbai. Early on January 23 morning, Air Intelligence Unit officers arrested Abdussaleem Mohammed Pallickal, on his arrival from Dubai by Air India flight AI 984. Air Intelligence Unit officials recovered 13 gold bars of ten tolas each and two cut pieces of gold bars weighing 1.624 worth Rs 4398961. An officer said, Further investigations are in progress. All passenger arrested under ?the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The one thing that strikes about the event is the sense of fellowship that extends beyond readings. Jaipur: Independent voices speaking on multifarious subjects on numerous panels are a welcome relief at a time when free speech seems to be muffled. And events like the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) serve as an ideal platform for Indian writers to attack the right wing interference into common mans life. The only regret is: it all comes in a piecemeal as these voices tread softly and cautiously. The one thing that strikes about the event is the sense of fellowship that extends beyond readings. The chilly morning session on the fourth day started with discussions. However, there is not much to take away from writers if they fail to sort out the tangled thoughts in your mind. Thats why its important to have chatty moderators. The discussion on The Art of the Novel: On Writing Fiction moderated by journalist writer Manu Joseph wasnt bookish or scholarly: it was lifeless. Writers Adam Thirlwell, Alan Hollinghurst, Neil Jordan, Paul Beatty and Richard Flanagan were the panelists. Mr Joseph had a straight set of questions such as What tip would you offer to aspiring novelists? or What makes a novel boring? To which, none could come up with an explanation. Even his next question (How do you write on sex?) that might have flummoxed an Indian writer did not manage to amuse the panelists. Irish film-maker and novelist Neil Jordon shied away from answering it with, I dont write on sex since sex stops the development of my stories. But when Mr Joseph complimented English novelist Alan Hollinghurst about writing good gay sex, the visibly embarrassed writer said meekly, That is the nicest compliment I have ever received. MP and writer Shashi Tharoors inclusion as a panelist on Nanhi Kali: Nutrition and the Girl Child surprised many. He looked reluctant but went on to narrate how he faced embarrassment when he once misheard breastfeeding for press freedom and gave his nod to the discussion he was invited to. Sharing the stage with actress Nandana Sen and activist Ruchira Gupta, he confessed to not being too familiar with the subject, but found it an ideal platform to lash out at the current government. He said his tenure as a minister during the erstwhile government gave him access to some undeniable facts about policies, which he finds missing today. Ms Gupta also criticised curtailing budget allocations to midday meal and child health. It was left to moderator Keshav Desiraju, former secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to balance out session. Another session on Rewriting History: The Art of Historical Fiction had panelists British novelist Adam Thirlwell, Alan Hollinghurst, Indian American writer Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Bangladeshi novelist Shazia Omar in conversation with moderator Sunil Sethi. The panelists tried to construct how they took out characters from history, but Ms Omar had a pretty sorted view. She said, I wrote Dark Diamond to take a look at Shayista Khan, the Moghul viceroy of Bengal during Aurangzebs reign, and I discovered a poet, warrior, Sufi and visionary in him. Though Bengal flourished under his rule, he occupies only a few dry lines in history. But do books alone act as the uniting factor among readers here? Nah...its also the sumptuous food that can make the world go round! Manufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory, the 155-mm gun is comparable to the latest weapon systems used by different countries. Indias first indigenous, long-range artillery gun Dhanush, aka Desi Bofors, will be showcased for the first time at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: YouTube screengrab) New Delhi: Indias first indigenous, long-range artillery gun Dhanush, aka Desi Bofors, will be showcased for the first time at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Manufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory (GCF), the 155-mm gun cost about Rs 14.50 crore a piece. Dhanush will be displayed to showcase defence power at the Republic Day function in New Delhi, GCFs Joint General Manager and PRO Sanjay Shrivastava told PTI. Dhanush is comparable to the latest weapon systems used by different countries, another official said. Besides features like electronic gun-laying and sighting systems, the indigenous gun has a strike range of 38 km, which is 11 km more than the imported Bofors guns. The Dhanush project has received support and active cooperation from other ordinance factories and PSUs such as SAIL, BEL, and many private sector companies. Their support has made the project a huge success, the official said. The gun, a towed howitzer, has been developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kolkata, after going through the design and documents running into over 12,000 pages which were given to India under the first phase of Transfer of Technology (ToT) as part of the Bofors gun deal in the late 1980s. The Swedish Bofors company (now owned by Britains BAE System) could not complete the ToT for the 155-mm howitzer with 39 calibre to India as the deal got embroiled in a major political row over alleged kickbacks. Subsequently, OFB struggled for long to produce the howitzer indigenously despite the fact that it has manufactured and supplied several components or spare parts to keep the Bofors howitzers operational in India, especially during the Kargil War. The army had been desperately looking for 155-mm howitzers for more than a decade now. It had roped in an Israeli company, Soltam, to upgrade the imported, Russian-made 130-mm gun to 155-mm at GCF. But the project, after the upgraded guns trial, ran into hot water, the official claimed. Five years ago, the Defence Acquisition Council had decided to look for artillery guns within the country and asked OFB to start manufacturing howitzers. Towards that end, former Defence Minister A K Antony flagged off a 155-mm gun manufacturing facility at GCF on September 22, 2012. The over a century-old GCF has already delivered six Dhanush guns to the Army which has been extensively trying these in snowy, desert and hostile areas in the country, he said. The army had been looking for a total of 114 Dhanush guns from GCF to augment its firepower. According to the official, the army needs a huge number of howitzers of different types, and Indian firms, some with the help of foreign manufacturers, are in the race to fulfil the demand with the guns variants. The EC has not gifted the name of the party and its symbol to Akhilesh Yadav, but has only adjudicated in his favour. After nearly two weeks dramatic developments over the split in the Samajwadi Party and the claims of the two factions, the Election Commission delivered its verdict in favour of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. One newspaper headline screamed: Election Commission gifts Samajwadi Party & cycle symbol to Akhilesh Yadav. Some eyebrows were raised about ECs disposal of the case in a record time of less than two weeks. Some even tried to look for motives. All that is a great deal of distortion of facts and a lot of interpretation. We need to understand the law, its processes and the practice followed by the commission in the past. The split in a political party is a subject under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, which gives the EC exclusive power to decide on the split. As per para 15, the EC can decide in favour of any faction or freeze the symbol. The EC has not gifted the name of the party and its symbol to Akhilesh Yadav, but has only adjudicated in his favour. The procedure that the EC followed was exactly as it has always done. Before 1968, the commission issued notifications and executive orders under the Conduct of Election Rules 1961. The best-known split before the order was in 1964 when the Communist Party split and one faction approached the EC not to recognise it is the real party, but with a new name the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The EC did not have to wait long after the 1968 order. Within a year, there was a split in the Congress when the old guard, known as the Syndicate, expelled then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for not supporting the official candidate for President of India. Indira Gandhi did not claim the ownership of the parent body but got her group recognised as the new Congress (I), while the other group was named Congress (O). Indira was given the symbol of cow and calf, while the latter was allowed to retain the pair of bullocks (Sadiq Ali vs Election Commission of India, 1972). The most significant aspect of this judgment is that the Supreme Court upheld para 15 of the Symbols Order, deriving its authority from Article 324, which gives a reservoir of powers for all matters relating to superintendence, direction and control of all elections. After 1971, Indira faction was recognised as the real Congress and allowed to retain the cow and calf symbol. The Congress split again in 1978. On this occasion, the cow and calf was frozen and Indira chose the hand as the party symbol, the other faction opting for charkha. After M.G. Ramachandrans death, two factions of the AIADMK emerged one under his wife Janaki and the other under Jayalalithaa. The EC refused to recognise either of the two factions and froze the partys two leaves symbol. Later, the two factions merged under Jayalalithaa and she got back two leaves. In 1994, N. Chandrababu Naidu was allowed to retain the cycle symbol. Thus there are precedents when the original symbol was frozen or alotted to one faction, depending on the support they enjoyed. In all these cases, the EC has applied the test of majority, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court as early as 1972. In the current case, the EC found a clear majority with the Akhilesh faction, which had produced evidence of almost 90 per cent support both in the organisation and in the legislatures. Was the ECs decision taken in haste, that too for some inexplicable reason? Not at all. The EC is an efficient organisation known for its impartiality and quick decision-making. What facilitated the quick decision was a virtual no-show by the parent group, which provided absolutely no evidence, despite repeated reminders and after being given a lot of opportunities. What helped the Akhilesh group was the prompt generation of evidence and its presentation, thanks to Ram Gopal Yadavs enormous experience of election laws. The anti-climax of Mulayam Singh Yadav extending support to Akhilesh after all the battle is also not unprecedented, as clear from the above analysis. Parties have split and then remerged in the past too. Therefore, far from being frowned upon, the EC deserves kudos for its smart and timely decision. Kurt Angle is going to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame March 31. Kurt Angle is still an active wrestler. So Kurt Angle will all but definitely wrestle for WWE again. (The only apparent hurdle is Angle's health: His years of neck and other injuries may prevent him from passing WWE's medical testing.) The Olympic gold medalist and six-time WWE World Champion returning to the company's ring after a decade away may seem like it promises a lot of interesting new match-ups. It really doesn't, though. Angle has already wrestled, and wrestled again, not only the company's part-timers (Triple H, The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar and The Rock) and most established veterans (John Cena, Randy Orton, The Big Show, Chris Jericho) but also, through his time in TNA, many of WWE's fresher faces (AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe and even, through TNA's relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling, NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura). This drought reflects WWE's struggle to build new stars in the time since Angle defected to TNA just as much as it reflects the future hall of famer's prolific, traveled career. Nonetheless, if Angle does indeed don the singlet (then yank down the straps) for WWE again, there are few stars I'd like to see him wrestle for the first time: (If slideshow doesn't display, click here.) Indias 5,000-year engagement with the people of the Gulf has shaped a shared cultural ethos. The visit of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, to India as the chief guest at our Republic Day marks the culmination of an extraordinary engagement that India has had with the countries of the Gulf at the level of our Prime Minister. Since June 2015, he has visited the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar, and hosted the Abu Dhabi crown prince in February last year. Perhaps, no other geographical space has received this kind of concentrated attention from India. This interaction with the Gulf is a tribute to Indias historic links with the region that go back to the days of our Indus Valley civilisation, and recognises the substantial energy and economic ties we have at present, the presence of our eight million-strong community in the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the logistical connectivities we are pursuing through Chabahar port in Iran with Afghanistan, the Central Asian Republics and, via Russia, with west Europe. India and the UAE are natural business partners: While India is a global economic powerhouse, the UAE has a diversified economy and is a global centre for trade, logistical connections, tourism and finance. It is also the major supplier of oil to India, is an important trade partner and the premier destination for Indias exports a large part of which is re-exported across South and West Asia, and east and southern Africa. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the UAE in 2015 has prepared the ground for the shaping of new economic ties that would be relevant to contemporary times, such as cooperation in the frontier areas of technology, including telecommunications, renewable energy, space, desert ecology, advanced healthcare, food security and sustainable development. The UAE has also set up a fund of $75 billion to invest in the development of Indias infrastructure. The centrepiece of the visit of the crown prince of Abu Dhabi will be the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that will take bilateral ties to a new level of mutual trust and confidence and facilitate the shaping of a new Indian role in the Gulf region. The UAE is again the appropriate partner for India in this endeavour. Indias 5,000-year engagement with the people of the Gulf has shaped a shared cultural ethos and has provided a high level of cultural comfort to the people linked by the waters of the Indian Ocean. In an environment marked by intolerance, both countries are bastions of moderation and accommodation, and have nurtured societies that are open and free, where diversity is celebrated and peaceful co-existence is extolled as a national virtue. These values have resulted from their cultural traditions, spiritual values and shared heritage, as was noted in the India-UAE joint statement issued after Mr Modis visit to the UAE in 2015. The common threat to these values from the forces of extremism and violence has encouraged India and the UAE to set up a powerful front against terrorism through enhanced security cooperation covering intelligence-sharing, joint counter-terrorism operations, and adoption of best practices and technologies by the agencies of the two countries. Linked with this is heightened defence cooperation consisting of dialogue at strategic and tactical levels, joint exercises and training, and cooperation between the navies of the two countries to maintain the security of the Indian Ocean. But, beyond these traditional areas, the two countries are also pursuing joint development of the defence industry to reduce dependence on other countries, an indication of the high level of confidence that has already been achieved. The concerns of the two countries embrace the security scenarios in West Asia and South Asia. Thus, the joint statement concluded at the end of Mr Modis visit to the UAE in 2015 had spoken of the need for the two countries to establish a close strategic partnership for these uncertain times, and called upon them to work together to promote peace, reconciliation, stability in the wider South Asia, Gulf and West Asia region. This cooperation has become extremely urgent today. West Asia is experiencing three conflicts, in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, which have acquired the shape of a sectarian confrontation. The region also faces a threat from Daesh, the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), that has perpetrated extraordinary atrocities on the diverse peoples of West Asia and on Western hostages captured by it. While the ISIS is presently under attack in both Iraq and Syria, it is likely to inspire lone-wolf attacks in the region and beyond, in Europe and the US. In these ongoing wars, thousands of people have been killed, millions have been displaced, millions more face humanitarian crises of extraordinary proportions, and the worlds ancient cities and shrines have been devastated. Major regional powers have lost all sense of mutual confidence: they see their rivalry in existential terms, so that this divide could easily deteriorate into a direct conflict, by design or accident. It is in this background that India and the UAE have not only condemned the misuse of religion to justify acts of violence, they have also, in the joint statement of 2015, condemned efforts by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries. They went further: they also found unacceptable the attempt of regional powers to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and disputes, including in West and South Asia, and use terrorism to pursue their aims. India and the UAE have the shared interest and the capacity to work together to defuse ongoing tensions and promote confidence between the estranged Islamic neighbours so that a common front is created against the twin scourges of sectarianism and jihad that threaten the region. This joint effort will give meaning and substance to the comprehensive strategic partnership agreed to by the leaders of the two countries on Indias Republic Day. Global Vice President Hugo Barra announces Xiaomi exit, to head back to Silicon Valley. Global Vice President for Chinese tech giant Hugo Barra has announced his exit from the company this morning. Hugo took to Facebook to announce his exit where he shared his experience of 3.5 years with the Chinese tech giant. Xiaomi came to the Indian market in July 2014 and has been seeing a constant rise, beyond expectations. Hugo Barra was the star for Xiaomi where he gathered a huge fan following that helped the Chinese giant take a huge stand on the global stage. Hugo said on his Facebook post that he will be transitioning out of his role in February and will continue to be an advisory to the company. He will be parting the Chinese company to take a much-needed time off before heading on for a new adventure in Silicon Valley. Bin Lin, the co-founder and president of Xiaomi replied in Barras post that Hugo will now be an advisor to the company and Xiaomi senior vice president Xiang Wang will now lead the entire global efforts in future. Hugo gives out his explanation for leaving China as staying miles away from his comfort zone and working with in China (at Xiaomi) has taken a huge toll on his health and personal life because of the singular environment he lived in. He said his life is in Silicon Valley, where he will start a new team with a bigger startup. Hugo was the face of Xiaomi outside the home country. The brand grew big with Hugo taking the Chinese giant to the global launch platforms such as the MWC and CES. Hugo has a lot of fan following, both personally and professionally. He drew a huge attention and was a star performer both on stage and off. Here is the open letter to his fans Hugo posted on Facebook. THANKS FOR A GREAT 3.5 YEARS, MI FANS When Lei Jun and Bin Lin came to me nearly four years ago with the opportunity to help turn a young rockstar startup into a global player, I embarked on what has been the greatest and most challenging adventure of my life. I moved to Beijing, 6,500 miles out of my comfort zone in Silicon Valley, to build from scratch a startup team within a bigger startup. This journey has been nothing short of spectacular in every way, and I can proudly say that Xiaomi Global is the first baby I helped bring into the world :) But what I've realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return. As I thought about this late last year, I concluded that Xiaomi is in a very good place on its global expansion path, and if there was ever going to be a good time for me to come back home, that time is now when I can confidently say our global business is no longer just an in-house startup. We turned India from a dream into Xiaomis largest international market with $1 billion in annual revenues, faster than any company in India's history. We expanded into Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and more recently 20 other markets including Russia, Mexico, and Poland. We teamed up with Google to launch our first official product in the US, and with our successful debut at CES 2017 where we won 3 prestigious awards the world now sees that Xiaomi is a global player changing the tech industry through our simple promise of bringing innovation to everyone. More importantly, we now have a team of some of the most remarkable and enthusiastic people I have ever worked with, and leaving them all behind is without doubt the most difficult part of stepping away. At the same time, I know Ill be leaving them in very good hands. Xiaomi now has a strong, globally-minded executive team who will continue to drive the momentum we began together. I want to thank the Xiaomi founders, and particularly our CEO Lei Jun, who has been a mentor and a friend. It has been both humbling and uplifting to work with a man whose vision is redefining the role technology plays in all of our lives, and the role the China tech industry plays in the world. As a friend and shareholder of the company, I am honored that he has been very supportive of my transition and has asked me to remain an advisor to Xiaomi indefinitely, as we continue to extend our reach around the world. For me, as for many people in China, the Spring Festival brings new beginnings, and I will be transitioning out of my role at Xiaomi in February after Chinese New Year. I will take some much-needed time off before embarking on a new adventure back in Silicon Valley. To my Xiaomi colleagues in China and India: as I leave our home in Beijing and Bangalore, please be assured that I will remain your loyal and grateful Mi fan . I will be watching diligently from the sidelines and rooting for you guys all the way! And, of course, a very special shout-out to all our Mi fans around the world, who have won my heart for life! Stay in touch guys :) I'll be seeing you, Hugo Melania Trump grew up in Sevnica while Slovenia was part of the Communist-ruled former Yugoslavia. The inauguration of Donald Trump is a big thing for a small town in Slovenia where the future U.S. first lady traces her roots.From Friday, the industrial town of Sevnica has planned three days of events to mark the inauguration and welcome all guests wishing to see where Melania Trump grew up. Mayor Srecko Ocvirk says Sevnica has organised free guided tours, a display of locally produced goods and brands in the 12th century castle above the old town, and a festival of grape vine pruning. Born Melanija Knavs in nearby Novo Mesto, Mrs. Trump grew up in Sevnica while Slovenia was part of the Communist-ruled former Yugoslavia. She left in her 20s to pursue a modeling career. Sevnica residents have invited the presidential couple to visit. She is second-ever first lady of the United States to be born outside of the United States. London-born Louisa Adams, wife of sixth U.S. president John Quincy Adams, was the first. In November last, Mr Trump had told reporters that he will live in the White House after he takes the oath of office, but that his wife Melania and 10-year-old son Barron will be living in New York temporarily to allow their son to finish out the year at the same school. Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump earlier stepped down from her post at the Trump Organisation, the Christian Science Monitor reports, because she will have a quasi-first lady role in her fathers administration. She and her family have moved to DCs Kalorama district, the same neighborhood that hosts the Obamas and Jeff Bezos. Ms Ivanka will fulfill traditional duties of presidential wives, while first lady Melania Trump continues to live in New York city. by Christopher Sharma About 100 high school and university students spent their winter holidays bringing aid to the 14 most affected districts, fixing tents and providing hot meals. The government pledged funding in three installments, but not even the first has been provided. Kathmandu (AsiaNews) As government authorities continue to delay in getting help to earthquake victims, young Christian volunteers have decided to organise themselves on their own. During their month-long winter holidays, about a hundred high school and university students have brought relief to people still living in tents since the 25 April 2015 earthquake, to the delight of Mgr Paul Simick, apostolic vicar of Nepal. "I visited several people suffering from the cold who asked for help, the prelate said. We are at the forefront through the work of our missionaries, Church groups and Jesuits who are building homes and schools for the poor. As our work goes on, we hear stories of people disappointed by the government." Volunteers come from various districts and are led by various coordinators. Narendra Tamang, who is working with 20 students in Sindupalchowk district, told AsiaNews that "young people have been deployed in the 14 districts most affected by the earthquake, where residents are suffering the most." The money for this mission, he noted "was offered by the students themselves, who saved up for a year, giving up some leisure activities like going to the movies." As for what they do, "young people are engaged in manual work, such as repairing damaged tents. Moreover, As many elderly people live alone, they cannot cook because they have no firewood. Winter is very cold here, so we brought wood and guarantee them at least two hot meals a day." Philip Shrestha, a young leader who coordinates volunteers in the Gorkha District, noted that "the idea of voluntary work comes from the teachings of the Gospel." Sadly, "after 20 months since the quake, many people are still living in tents and beg for help. The government announces programmes but then does not implement them." According to the young man, "the authorities should properly channel foreign funds, but new leaders are alternating in power." "They first allocate funds to their own parties and some places have received a first installment of aid due to political ties whilst other people in need wait in tents. Those who have their own money or a place elsewhere have found some solution, whilst others are camped under trees." The government had told survivors that families could get 300,000 rupees (US$ 2,750) in loans per household to repair destroyed or damaged houses in three installments. Many are still waiting for the first one. I have just been appointed and I'm trying to better coordinate all the forces in the field," said National Reconstruction Authority chief Govindaraj Pokhrel as an explanation for the slow aid process. "We know that we have not been able to comply with the government's announcements, and meet the expectations of the population, he admits, but we hope to release soon the promised funding." As of yesterday, private connections will need government approval to be able to access the internet. To date, the country has more than 730 million users. Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Chinese government has launched an inspection campaign on unauthorized Internet connections, including virtual private networks (VPN). They allow users to bypass the system of " online censorship and surveillance" called "Golden Shied" (or "Great Firewall") by which the government controls the content available on the internet. Yesterday, a notification of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that all the cables and the VPN services in the homeland must obtain government approval before being allowed to access network traffic. This decision basically outlaws most VPN service providers. Today, China over 730 million internet users. The "cleansing" of illegal connections will last until 31 March 2018. So far, access to 135 of the 1,000 most visited websites in the world, among them Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are blocked. "The Chinese market of internet connections - says the minister of industry and information technology - has signs of disordered development that requires urgent regulation". According to the notification, the control (and censorship) of private Internet networks do not comply intends to "strengthen the management of information security in cyberspace". by Mathias Hariyadi The traditional event held in the city by the Chinese community was renamed "Imlek Festival", the local nickname for the Lunar New Year. The agreement is the result of a meeting between the Islamic forum, which originally wanted to cancel the event, and its coordinator. Jakarta (AsiaNews) Organisers of the Pork festival have decided to change the events name to placate radical and non-radical Muslim groups who had lodged a complaint with police demanding its cancellation. The famous festival, which is held every year in Semarang (Central Java), will no longer use the name of the animal, which is considered unclean in Islam, but will be called Imlek Festival, the popular local nickname for the Chinese New Year. This year's Lunar New Year falls on 28 January. The festival dedicated to the pig, a quaint and traditional event in Semarang, home to an important Chinese community, opened today and will end on 29 January. Recently, members of Muslim student groups and moderate Islamic organisations protested calling for the events cancellation. Although the festival is about food, protesters see it as "promoting" intolerance between people and as offensive to Muslims who consider pigs as haram, prohibited. In reality, the pork festival has been taking place in Semarang for quite some time in conjunction with the Chinese New Year in the citys shopping malls. Local sources add that it "has never caused an incident or protest." Festival coordinator Firdaus Adinegoro confirmed the change of name following pressures from FUIS, a forum of Semarang Islamic groups. In an official statement, he said that the event had a new name, thus avoiding its cancellation. "During the meeting with FUIS, pressure was exerted to cancel the event, he said. After some discussion, we agreed to change the name." by Santosh Digal Balasore (AsiaNews) - Today the Indian Church remembers the murder of the Australian missionary Graham Staines, killed by Hindu radicals in 1999 along with his two youngest children. John Dayal, a Catholic activist and journalist, says: "We commemorate the death of the missionary who worked for leprosy patients in Orissa. That was the time when Western countries discovered for the first time the suffering inflicted on Christians in India by extremist groups that support the Hindutva, gathered under the Sangh Parivar [the umbrella organization that gathers many Hindu paramilitary associations ed] ". On the night between 22 and 23 January 1999, Hindu extremists burned the pastor Staines and his sons Philip and Timothy (9 and 7 years of age) alive, while they were asleep in their station wagon in Manoharpur village (district of Keonjhar, Orissa). In 2006 his widow Gladys returned to live in the Indian state, along with their surviving daughter Esther, to continue her husband's commitment to those suffering from leprosy. The brutal murder of the Australian missionary was the prelude of the violence against Christians in Orissa triggered in 2008 by Hindu fundamentalists. John Dayal says that in that period "the Sangh targeted Christians once again, especially in Kandhamal district". The violence lasted for four months and the toll was dramatic: nearly 100 dead, killed for refusing to recant and for whom the process of canonization has been opened; 6,500 homes destroyed; about 395 churches and places of worship damaged or demolished; more than 56 thousand people forced to flee. The Catholic activist laments "the courts have not fully understood the murderous ideology of the Sangh. The Supreme Court of India, which eventually sentenced Dara Singh [the main culprit, while other 11 accomplices released, ed], to life imprisonment. He said that he had wanted to teach a lesson' to the missionary. Following the strong protests of Christians the Supreme Court was forced to review the ruling and to erase those deeply offensive words ". It's a tragedy, he says, that "the Sangh continues to intimidate, and in fact to terrorize the Christian community, the clergy and missionaries working in the forest and tribal areas, including Dalits and marginalized communities outside of urban centers ". "The police instead he denounces - still fails to act and often participates as an accomplice in this state of lawlessness." According to Jugal Kishore Ranjit, another activist, "the State is responsible for the murder of Rev. Staines, because it did not protect his life. His death and that of his two innocent children is a heinous act of barbarism perpetrated by Hindu fundamentalists who do not believe in human life and in the Indian Constitution. Guided by the teachings of Jesus, Graham Staines dedicated his whole life to oppressed tribal communities ". "Christianity he adds - is misrepresented by these fundamentalist forces, who do not believe in equality and freedom. They only say that it is religious proselytism ". Father Ajaya Kumar Singh, Director Odisha Forum for Social Action, reports that the highest state leaders of that era, George Fernandes, MM Joshi and the current chief minister of Orissa, "have described the murder as an international conspiracy , carried out by groups that support the Hindutva ideology, affiliated to the current central Union government ". The activist priest also recalled that Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, "talked about an international plot, instead of condemning the elements associated with his own party. At this point the work of the committee of inquiry to discover the truth has become an exercise in futility. " The Taiwanese president sent a letter to the pope in response to his Message for World Day of Peace centred on non-violence. She heeds the Holy Sees appeal on behalf of women, children, and migrants, and for aid to refugees and earthquake victims. Taiwan is "a beacon for democracy in Asia." With mainland China, she calls for setting "aside the baggage of history and engage in positive dialogue. Taipei (AsiaNews) Pope Franciss message for the World Day of Peace on Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace is "sublime and profound, says Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in a letter to the pontiff dated 5 January but made public three days ago. This is a "noble ideal" also found "in Confucian and Buddhist concepts deeply entrenched in our traditional culture." With respect to Taiwan-China relations, the president calls for maintaining the "status quo" and the "hard-won stability after the "tension" and "anxiety" of the past. Ms Tsai said that she deeply appreciated the papal message, which calls for disarmament and the abolition of nuclear weapons, as well as solutions to regional conflict, terrorism, migration issues, and environmental destruction. Speaking about relations between Taiwan and China, Tsai writes that today people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait enjoy stable lives and normal exchanges under peaceful separate governance. [. . .] the ROC* government is staunchly committed to maintaining Taiwan's democracy and the status quo of peace in the Taiwan Strait. Convinced that military action cannot resolve problems, she urges the governing party across the strait, together with the governing party in Taiwan, to set aside the baggage of history and engage in positive dialogue. In the wake of the pontiff's proposal of "active non-violence", the Taiwanese leader insists that the ROC wants to serve as a beacon for democracy in Asia. We hope that the freedoms guaranteed by the ROC Constitution, including the freedom of residence and change of residence, as well as religious and personal freedoms, shall also be enjoyed by people in other parts of the world, so that they too may be free of fear from political and religious repression. Responding to Pope Francis appeal on behalf of women, children, migrants, and the socially and economically disadvantaged, Tsai notes that Taiwan has put forward five major social safety plans covering community care, social order, housing, food safety, and a sustainable pension system. The Holy Sees appeal for humanitarian assistance has seen Taiwan respond to the problems of refugees in Jordan and northern Iraq, the victims of Ebola in West Africa, as well as the victims of earthquakes in Italy, Nepal, Japan and Ecuador. With respect to the pontiffs appreciation of the role of women in peace making, the Taiwanese leader says that As the first female president in the ethnic Chinese world, I aspire to live up to your words as I devote myself to enhancing the wellbeing of the Taiwanese people and creating a new era for cross-strait peace. In closing, she says I sincerely hope that Your Holiness's Message will inspire people worldwide to reflect on the damage violence does to peace. It is my deep belief that your selfless commitment and magnanimous love will lead the way in ending violence and moving humanity toward peace and justice. * Republic of China, i.e. Taiwan Births rose by 11.5 per cent in 2016 over 2015. However, child-rearing costs against low family incomes are not likely to stop the rapid aging of the population. Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) The number of Chinas newborns last year shows that the two-child policy in effect since 1st January 2016 is working, this according to the governments Health and Family Planning Commission (HFPC). More than 18.46 million babies were born in mainland hospitals in 2016 11.5 per cent more than 2015, the highest since the record of 2000, said Yang Wenzhuang, a HFPC division director. Although these numbers are still below previous estimates, Chinas family planning agency believes that allowing every Chinese couple to have two babies could push annual new births up to 20 million. In 1979 China adopted a one-child policy in order to focus on the nation's economic development. Implementation has often been violent, with huge fines on violators and even forced sterilisation and near-term abortions. In 2013 the government decided to ease restrictions to allow some couples (those with at least one spouse who is an only child) to have a second baby. Thanks to the adjustment and improvement of the birth policy, the birth rate is growing steadily, Yang said, adding that last year, because of the two-child policy, the number of second children born on the mainland accounted for more than 45 per cent of total births. Demographer Yuan Xin, of Nankai University, expects the number of annual births to peak in 2017 and 2018 at about 20 million, as women born in the late 1970s and early 1980s rush to have a second child before they are too old. Faced with an aging society and a shrinking workforce, Chinese authorities in 2013 decided to relax population controls by allowing couples to have a second child if one of the spouses was an only child. [Before] there were about 11 million couples with one partner who was an only child, but the universal two-child policy means 90 million couples are now eligible to have two children. As a result of this, the population is expected to rise to 1.45 billion by 2030, from 1.37 billion last year. Yet, experts warn that this will not be enough to reverse the rapid ageing of the population. Over 60s will make up 39 per cent of the population by 2050, compared with 15 per cent now. Socio-economic reasons will dissuade many couples from having more than one child, demographers said. In fact, China's new policy makes little difference to people like Peng Yajun, a Guangdong office worker. The soon-to-be-married 36-year-old woman only wants one child for economic reasons. "I'm an only child, I cannot afford school fees for two children and the cost of taking care of my ageing parents," she said. On some estimates, raising a child on the mainland costs about 20,000 yuan (US$ 2,900) a year - more than 40 per cent of the average household income. Books by and about celebrities have a built-in audience. People are curious to read more about their favorite stars, how they got to be where they are, who influenced them and, yes, even good old gossip. Three recent books by and about celebrities are all interesting in their own way. Leslie Bennetts' Last Girl Before Freeway: The Life, Loves, Losses, and Liberation of Joan Rivers is the lone biography here. Bennett covers Rivers entire life, from when she was Joan Molinsky to her rise as a stand-up comedian, her successes and failures, and her eventual death in September of 2014 during what was supposed to be a simple surgical procedure. The book is comprehensive, and with a subject such as Rivers, who accomplished so much in her life, it flies by quickly. Joan Molinsky grew up in a household where her doctor father, a kind and hard-working man, never made enough money for his wife, who feared poverty and always tried to keep up with the Joneses. Joan was one of the first successful women stand-up comedians, and the book is filled with anecdotes from younger women stand-ups who sing the praises of Joans genius, even though Rivers often resented being called a mentor. She wanted to be hip and relevant, and her fearless stand-up routines, which she continued weekly even up to her death, reflected that. The early sections of the book rely on material from Rivers own writings (she wrote several books, including two memoirs), but once Bennetts interviews people who worked with Rivers, who knew her well, the book gives the reader a better overall picture of this complicated woman. Rivers was driven, and her many self-reinventions rising from the ashes of her failed Fox talk show after her very public falling out with Johnny Carson to become not only a popular stand-up comic but also a hugely successful businesswoman designing and selling jewelry on the fledgling QVC network are an inspiration to anyone who has been knocked down in life. Actor Bryan Cranstons A Life in Parts tells his story of a journeyman actor, where he began as a soap opera actor on Loving and became famous as the goofy dad on Malcolm in the Middle, then hit the stratosphere playing high school science teacher-turned-drug kingpin Walter White on Breaking Bad. A Life in Parts recounts his childhood with a father who wanted to be a successful actor but failed, and then takes you through the life of an actor trying to make it. Cranston is successful because he treats acting as a craft, something to be finely honed. He shares stories from his early days on Loving, including how he found out he was fired, and there is a little good gossip here. He speaks fondly of his days on Malcolm in the Middle and there are a few chapters on Breaking Bad, with some interesting inside information for fans. For anyone who loves the art of acting, A Life in Parts is wonderful book. Cranston has such a reverence for the work of acting, and reading about his process, how much he cares about doing good work, is fascinating. Trevor Noah is best known as the new host of The Daily Show, but his book Born a Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood is about his life growing up as the son of a black African woman and a white Swiss man in South Africa. Noah is a terrific writer, and he grabs your attention right from the beginning. He grew up when apartheid was ending, after Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, but things didnt get easier for South Africans right away. There was a strict caste system, and black Africans were pitted against colored Africans, and since Noah was half-white, he didnt fit in anywhere. Born a Crime gets its title from the fact that it was illegal for blacks and whites to marry, so his parents had to hide their relationship, and Trevor was never allowed to walk next to both of his parents. The book is a really a love letter to his mom, who pretty much raised Trevor alone, although Trevor spent a lot of time with his grandmother. His stories of childhood are touching, funny and sad. Born a Crime is one of the best memoirs I have read. It gives the reader a look at a place many of us are unfamiliar with, yet his story of a mother who worked hard to give her son a better life is universal. Cheese spread and cucumber sandwiches, carrot sticks Banana custard Dinner Find us on Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Bloglovin' And don't forget to enter our competitions! Life in Zambia is tough. 600,000 children are orphans due to the Aids virus. Many live in poverty, many are at risk, many lack education, food and hope. And yet it costs only 2 to feed and educate a child in Zambia every day.Many of us are cutting back after Christmas and as the bills thunk onto the doormat this January, but could you manage to feed each member of your family for just 2 a day, forever? For a family of four that would be a 56 weekly shopping bill, whereas the 2016 average was 83.60. How much do you spend?This January, Voucherbox have teemed up with UK-based charity Zamcog to present The 2 Challenge: Can you feed each person in your family for 2 per head per day?At first, with five of us making the total weekly spend 70, it didn't seem too much of a challenge to be honest. A lot of our meals are vegan, based on cheaper products like lentils, beans etc, and only come in at 2-3 per meal for all of us. For cheap, healthy meal inspiration, try our chickpea tagine recipe or this hotpot recipe which puts canned foods to good use (yep, I was dubious too!)But when we really thought about it, living on just 2 a day would mean an end to our daily berries fruit and salad quota, costing at least 40 a week; definitely no monthly take away; and no more treats like coffee shop trips, ice creams out, even bought cakes or biscuits at home.Hardly necessities any of them, but I truly believe that the vast quantity of fruit, raw vegetables and other healthy foods the girls eat is the reason they are so rarely ill. We average 8-10 portions of fruit and veg each per day, and that can be pricey if you want to go beyond carrots, broccoli, apples and bananas! Would I want to reduce that to save money? No.So how did we get on with our 2 daily challenge?We did manage it:Toast with butter or value marmaladeApple, chocolate & banana bread By visiting the supermarket at price reduction time, I picked up a bag of browning bananas which were OK for banana custard (value range custard not good though!) and baking. The cucumber and apples were also reduced, and everything else I bought was the cheapest value stuff. Very hit and miss in terms of quality, but a reasonable menu for the cost: 9.83.Could I do it every day? No way!And of course, we are talking very first world problems here. I had little idea what a Zambian child might eat, but a quick Google search revealsto be the staple food, a thick starchy porridge made from maize. This tends to be eat for both lunch an dinner with a vegetable, beans, eggs, fish or meat dish alongside, if a family can afford this 'luxury'. Yet even this simple food may be beyond those living in extreme poverty.Charity Zamcog works with the poorest and most at-risk children in Zambia. They have established Shitima School, above, which has 446 day students, 96 residential students and sponsors 15 external students. All are provided with an education, fresh clean water and food, for just 2 per day. I expect many of us will throw away that much money in unwanted or out of date food today! Shocking.And you can help. Head over to Zamcog to find out how you can make a donation, or even sponsor a child. And if you are a blogger, write about the 2 Challenge and Voucherbox.co.uk will make a 50 donation on your behalf! You can find more details here , and you have until the end of February to take part. Government accused of failure in TPP alternatives The Australian Federal Government has been accused of failing to do its research into the pros and cons of any Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which does not include America. Australian Trade Minister, Steve Ciobo, said that the international trade agreement needs to be revised to go ahead without Americas involvement. Labor party trade spokesperson, Jason Clare, has however criticised the decision to still try and ratify the TPP without America. Speaking to the media late last week, Clare said the Australian government needs to look into TPP alternatives. He said without Americas support the TPP does not come into effect and that Trump has killed it. The future of the TPP has been in question since Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States. Throughout his election campaign Trump repeatedly said America would not enter into the TPP under his leadership. The TPP is an international trade agreement planned to be between 12 countries, including Australia and the USA. It was finalised in October 2015 after negotiations began in 2010 but is yet to be ratified. Wine industry supports push ahead with TPP The Wine Federation of Australia has meanwhile welcomed Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobos announcement that the Federal Government will proceed with trying to ratify the TPP without Americas involvement. Chief Executive Officer of the Wine Federation of Australia, Tony Battaglene, said the TPP provides such great opportunities for the Australian wine sector that everything in our power needs to be done to ensure it comes into force. This is the first agreement to specifically address significant nontariff trade barriers restricting our export growth as well as promoting significant opportunities within the region. It also provides a template for future agreements, Battaglene said. Alongside Australias wine industry, Australias sugar industry was relying on the TPP to enter Americas large sugar market. One of the sticking points TPP negotiations was Australias ability to import sugar into America. After significant negotiation, it was decided that under the TPP, Australia would be allowed to export an extra 65, 000 tonnes of sugar into the US annually. Trump has however previously said he would be looking to negotiate fair and bilateral trade deals which bring jobs and industry back to America rather than ratifying the TPP, an agreement he described as a potential disaster for the US. Related articles McCain Australia invests in latest state-of-the-art robotic cold storage facility Artwork of the new McCain's cold storage facility McCain Australia will be moving into a new state-of-the-art robotic cold storage facility in the Melbourne suburb of Truganina. The facility will be run in conjunction with Dutch cold storage provider, NewCold, and will include new automated pallet handling systems. McCain is expected to move into the facility in July 2017. The announcement into McCains is another example of food manufacturers further investing into Australia. Taso Kourou, Supply Chain Director with McCain Foods ANZ, said the facility upgrade would drastically improve logistics capabilities. The storage and handling of McCains frozen products in the new automated facility will give us a more stable temperature regime and highly accurate stock control, Kourou said. McCains Regional President, Louis Wolthers, said the McCain team is keen to see the outcomes of the new agreement take effect. From a sustainability perspective, through the use of the warehouses highly controlled in-and-outflows combined with efficient cooling equipment, energy usage per pallet stored is up to 50 per cent lower compared to a conventional storage option, Wolthers said. The facility is described as a first of its kind in Australia with McCain saying it will have an unparalleled mix of efficiency, speed, sustainability and automation, which in turn will create better outcomes for FMCG customers. Related articles Nestles launches special KITKAT at chocolatory for Chinese New Year Inside Melbourne's Kit Kat Chocolatory Nestle Australia will be selling a range of special edition KITKATs to help celebrate the Lunar New Year. Only 500 of the KITKATs will be sold through the KITKAT Chocolatory store located in Melbourne city. The two flavours available are: Red Bean and Toasted Coconut Citrus Creme Brulee The KITKATS come as gift boxes, with eight individually wrapped single pieces inside a bamboo box for AUD $68. The boxes are available now until 4 February 2017. The Lunar New Year commences 28 January 2017. Those who follow Lunar New Year celebrations traditionally exchange gifts to wish others food fortune, prosperity, wealth and success for the year ahead, with the number eight carrying great significance in Chinese culture, symbolising luck. Related articles Vegemite is just the beginning for Bega The big news that Bega has purchased Vegemite off Mondelez International does not reveal the full story about the acquisition. The acquisition means a lot more than Vegemite now being owned by an Australian company again. Alongside acquiring Vegemite, Bega has purchased many other supermarket brands that can be considered pantry staples for most Australians. Apart from Vegemite, Bega acquired ZoOSH salad dressing, Bonox beef extract and many other products using the KRAFT brand such as peanut butter nut spreads, processed cheese slices, cheese spread, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, Kraft Easy Mac and Kraft Mac & Cheese. Bega also acquired Krafts huge Port Melbourne manufacturing facility and freehold spread across 6.5 hectares. The fact that this is prime real estate is likely to facilitate a potential sale and leaseback as part of the funding for the business brands acquisition. The transaction potentially transforms Bega into a major new player that could dominate Australian food manufacturing. The Kraft manufacturing operation at Port Melbourne, for many decades, was a hub for food processing innovation in Australia. However in the past 10 years, its overseas owners appeared to lose its Australian focus and failed to innovate in Australia or stop this failure of understanding from American management, inadvertently destroying the value of the Kraft and Mondelez brands in Australia. However conversely, the opportunity has been seized by Bega, which will now be in a very strong position to gain considerably by diversification beyond the dairy segment and strengthen its balance sheet with stronger brand identification and huge opportunities to potentially become Australias most innovative food manufacturer. The brands cost Bega a hefty AUD $460 million but it was a move seen worthwhile by many investors. When news of the brand purchases were announced last Thursday 19 January 2017, Begas shares surged to AUD$5.29. By the end of the week its shares had jumped by 21 per cent. Although Bega has not detailed exactly how it will pay for its new brands, the company says it has near-term corporate opportunities to pay down debt. More than 300, 000 jars of Vegemite are produced every day which is a phenomenal source of revenue. The purchase by Bega comes off the back of a tough year for many dairy processors due to there being too much milk powder worldwide, leading to very low prices for producers. Companies relying on Chinas demand for infant formula have had to look at solutions. Bega has chosen diversification and strong consumer brands as a formula for future success and expansion. Bega has projected that it expects the brands to generate pro-forma net revenues of approximately AUD $310 million and EBITDA of between AUD $40 to AUD $45 million in its first full year of operation. Given this will be just the first years results and a fairly conservative projection at that, the purchase of Vegemite and its friends on supermarket shelves is certainly likely to provide a very good pay-off. The fact that Bega becomes a partner for overseas partner Kraft will potentially give Bega the inside running on future revenue opportunities from other brands. Begas position in the Australian dairy market will also be strengthened by its strong cash flows from its consumer goods brands. This augurs well for Bega to become more competitive in attracting steady and loyal milk suppliers who are looking for reliability and consistency in buying patterns. This may put pressure on one of its big rivals, Murray Goulburn. Related articles Jan. 23, 1937 Local radio amateurs played an important part last night in receiving and transmitting appeals for help from several of the mid-western flood centers. One appeal for aid was received during a radio roll call over units all over the state and came from Station W-8MRU in Portsmouth, Ohio, which was endeavoring to contact any station to get an emergency message through to army officials. Ensign Charles J. Heiser of 55 Frances Street, commander of the NYS Naval Radio Reserve, was calling the roll. Some 70 New York State stations were ordered to standby and Robert Grant of 54 Park Avenue, Auburn, who operates Station N-8LDA succeeded in relaying the message. Local radio operators are Heiser, Grant, William E. Thompson, John Wildner, Joseph Peckham, Fred Merry, A. Cimildora, P. Teckman and L. Caninone. Jan. 23, 1962 The year 1961 saw 1,663 babies born and 600 persons die in the City of Auburn. Births to residents, 686, almost doubled the number of deceased Auburnians, 388, but births to non-residents, 977, more than quadrupled the deaths of non-residents in Auburn, 212. Jan. 23, 2007 Roy Brown's murder conviction has been overturned and he is no longer a state prisoner. At a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Cayuga County Surrogate Judge Mark Fandrich agreed with Brown's defense attorneys and Cayuga County District Attorney James Vargason that Brown's 1992 conviction for the murder of Sabina Kulakowski should be vacated. New DNA evidence, along with allegations that the prosecutor who handled the investigation prior to Vargason taking office may have ignored exonerating evidence, led to Tuesday's decision. Though the conviction has been thrown out, an indictment against Brown still stands. A hearing on his motion to have the indictment dismissed is scheduled for March 5. Jan. 23, 2012 A unique opportunity for students arose in the Port Byron Central School District as the districts capital project, approved by voters in March of 2011, began developing. A technology teacher, John Mulcahey, was asked to draw up some plans for modifications to his shop and classroom for the capital project. Some of his students showed interest in the drawings. Junior Colton Dennis already cultivated an interest in construction due to his fathers line of work. Senior Zach Warren, whose father is in construction management and engineering, said the project plans hes studying in class are the same kind his father gets to pore over in his line of work. Josh Malenick, a senior, expressed his thanks to Mulcahey for offering the class. Malenick said he feels fortunate that he has a career plan this early in his life. Senior Zach Glimpse said hes interested in the field of civil engineering. Senior Wesley Bajanen and the other students in the class agreed that the class is a laid-back class that helps them unwind after a tough day at school. The management of King & Wood Mallesons Chinese partnership blames weak leadership and division among European partners for the downfall of legacy SJ Berwin. KWM China posted last week a statement in Chinese on the WeChat app, discussing reasons it saw for the collapse of the Europe, UK and Middle East partnership and what the firm plans for its presence in the region, The American Lawyer reported.Unfortunately, due to a lack of core leadership and a common ground among partners, the recapitalization plan failed and created a financial crisis at the firm, the statement said.It is understood EUME managing partner Tim Bednall and former senior partner Michael Cziesla had discussed with the Chinese partnership a rescue package for the legacy SJ Berwin business, with previous reports also saying the duo also approached the Australian partnership for possible help.A 14mn ($22.9mn) package is said to have been offered by KWM China to help pay down debt which reached 35mn ($57.3mn), but few European partners agreed to conditions such as matching the capital and agreeing to a lock-in with the firm. KWM China said in its statement that it did offer a bailout for the EUME arm.KWM China, during the most difficult time, offered a bailout plan. Unfortunately, that plan was also unsuccessful due to the lack of consensus among European partners, the firm noted, before going on to tout its pivot in the region with a newly-established business.Although what happened at SJ Berwin is now irreversible, KWM China was able to pivot to a new U.K., Europe and Middle East strategy, it said. Based on the trust we were able to build over the past three years, a number of the legacy SJ Berwin partners and their team have decided to join KWM China and continue their work for clients.A day after the EUME arm appointed administrators, KWM China announced it had established a new business for the region with partners based out of offices in London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Riyadh and New York.It later confirmed 33 partners are staying with the firm, 17 of whom have been identified by the firm to Australasian Lawyer. The firm has also confirmed to this publication that Bednall, who it said remains an Australian partner, will be returning to Sydney. The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) had a banner year in 2016, buoyed by record numbers of arbitration cases filed in Asia, Latin America and Africa.Preliminary data from the ICC show that a record total of 966 new cases were administered by the court last year, a 21% jump from 2015s 801 new cases. The 966 new cases involved 3,099 parties from 137 countries.There was a 15% increase in the number of involved parties from Latin America, the court said, with Brazil (123 parties) taking the third place in global party rankings and Mexico (105 parties) debuting on the top five countries worldwide. Meanwhile, South and East Asia recorded a 22% increase, boosted by the record 82 parties from South Korea. North and Sub-Saharan Africa each recorded an increase of approximately 50% in number of involved parties, the court also noted.The numbers, the highest the court has seen since being established 94 years ago, is due to the courts push to make its arbitration process more accessible worldwide, it said.These efforts will continue in 2017 with plans to build further on our global presence in the year ahead, Alexis Mourre, ICC Court president, said.The court is also expecting 2017 to be busy, with arbitration statistics showing a record 1,592 pending cases, 61 more than at the close of business the previous year. Free newsletter Subscribe to our FREE newsletter service and well keep you up-to-date with the latest breaking news, cutting edge opinion, and expert analysis affecting both your business and the industry as whole. Please enter your email address below and click on Sign Up for daily newsletters from Australasian Lawyer. By David Glance, Director of UWA Centre for Software Practice, University of Western Australia The Guardian has drawn the ire of a large number of cryptography and security experts by publishing a story claiming that WhatsApp has a security backdoor that would allow it, or governments, to snoop on encrypted messages. The group of experts, led by Associate Professor Zeynep Tufekci have written an open letter demanding that the article is retracted and for The Guardian to issue an apology for the misleading claims. The article, written by freelance journalist Manisha Ganguly reported claims originally made by a UC Berkeley PhD student Tobias Boelter last year. He showed that under certain conditions a government could, with the cooperation of WhatsApp, gain access to the content of a small number of messages. The consensus of 40 of the most respected people from the security and cryptographic community however was that the behaviour described by PhD student Tobias Boelter, and sensationalised in The Guardian article, was simply a design decision taken by WhatsApp developers and represented a very small risk, if any, to the vast majority of users. The Guardian has so far refused the demands of Professor Tufekci and her colleagues and simply updated the article changing the word backdoor for vulnerability and including a statement from WhatsApp stating categorically that WhatsApp does not give governments a backdoor into its systems and would fight any government request to create a backdoor. Tufekci made the point that The Guardians article had endangered people because they would switch to less secure forms of communication over concerns that governments could be potentially listening into conversations. The suggestion that people should use the potentially more secure app Signal was not going to work for most people because it was less user-friendly and simply by using an app like Signal could actually alert government agencies that they had something to hide. The Guardian article took the claims of a PhD student and failed to get input into the issue from a single recognised security or cryptography expert. The opinions quoted in the article came from three people who, although involved with privacy at the policy and user level, were by no means subject matter experts and couldnt possibly have claimed to understand what had been implemented. In fact, Moxie Marlinspike, the developer behind Signal, the protocol that gives WhatsApp its end-to-end encryption also came out emphatically supporting WhatsApps implementation of the Signal Protocol. The Guardian has since published several other articles about WhatsApp including one by Tobias Boelter attempting to justify the claims of there being a vulnerability in WhatsApp. It is important to note that this story was not picked up and reported independently by other reputable mainstream media sites; a sure indication that other journalists werent buying into the claims. Even the tech media didnt report on it other than some sites simply reporting what The Guardian had claimed. The Guardian however claimed it as an exclusive and used an incendiary headline that had real world consequences. At least one group protesting on the Womens March in Washington DC last weekend was reported to have warned protesters about using WhatsApp because of a privacy hole. The concerns expressed by Tufekci however go beyond the anti-Trump protesters to dissidents in Turkey who she claimed were at much graver risk if they were not to use secure communication because of concerns spread by The Guardian and picked up by local media. Professor Tufekci called The Guardian article irresponsible and misleading, however in many respects it qualifies as fake news. Taking a real observation but then misrepresenting it as having dire consequences was an essential element of the types of stories circulated during the US election. The WhatsApp story is no different in essence from claims by that Hillary Clinton was dying from an incurable neurological disease because she coughed a great deal during a speech. If The Guardian had simply got expert commentary on the WhatsApp protocol it could have still presented the story as a potential concern but putting the risk in proportion. Just using the basic principle of presenting both sides of the argument would have gone a long way to making up for the fact that it was clear that the editorial staff didnt understand what the article was actually claiming. For those readers interested in reading the details of the issues raised in the article, start with Zeynep Tufekcis letter, Moxie Marlinspikes explanation and the EFFs opinion. Disclosure David Glance owns shares in Facebook Originally published in The Conversation. Hello everyone. I am looking for good school in Brisbane for international commercial cookery. I wanted to go to the TAFE but cert. IV is 25,500$ so I'm looking for something a bit cheaper. I started my research on google, but as it turns out there are like 100 of colleges/universities etc. I just donno wich one are good. I tried to look for something like ranking but couldnt find. Please I need your advise. Is the Tafe really the best? Or are there in Brisbane simillar schools for a bit less of money? Also do you guys know if it's worth doing cert IV or III is enought? Thank you very much, Adam. The immi visa website is driving me crazy again. I've uploaded all my documents for my partner visa, went back to check the list on my application and for loads of them there is a green tick and the type of document I selected is listed, but it doesn't say received and no document is actually there. It's not for all documents, some have uploaded fine and it seems entirely random. Is it because they have duplicate categories on the screen and in the scroll down options? I'm so confused! About 60 percent of total bookings made for automatic variants; increase in waiting period expected. Tata has left no stone unturned on its second foray into the premium segment. The Tata Hexa, which was launched on January 18, 2017, packs in a lot of equipment, a choice of engines, gearboxes and drivetrains, and even a choice of seating configuration. The Tata Hexa is available in three basic trims XE, XM and XT with the mid and top available with a choice of running gear, thus taking the total option to six variants, including a range-topping 4x4 model. The base XE is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine developing 150hp and 320Nm of torque paired with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard. The XM and XT trims use a more powerful iteration developing 156hp and 400Nm of torque; these units are available with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic (XMA, XTA) gearbox. As mentioned before, the top trim manual also gets a 4X4 variant. As per information we have gathered from dealers, the two automatic trims the XMA and XTA are in high demand. At the launch, Tata also announced a minimum waiting period of eight weeks or around two months for the Hexa. However, booking trends suggest that buyers looking for the automatic variant may have to wait longer than those opting for the manual. In terms of pricing, Tata announced an introductory price for the Hexa starting at as low as Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and going up to Rs 17.49 lakh for the top XTA 4x4. The pricing places the Hexa below Mahindras XUV500 across the board, but also places it within the price bracket of the Toyota Innova Crysta. NVH Be it the CX-5 with 175 PS and the 6-speed automatic box or the CX-5 with 150 PS on tap and a manual transmission, I cant get my head around how the Japanese automaker is able to keeplevels low inside the cabin. The Mazda6 with the 2.2 SkyActiv-D engine also happens to boast very little engine noise seeping into the passenger compartment.There are quite a few reasons why the 2.2-liter turbo diesel is a world-class example of how its done. First things first, the super-low compression ratio of 14.0:1 is an astounding achievement, as is the all-aluminum cylinder block and low-friction internals. The two-stage turbocharger also helps in this regard. Vector in the ultra-capacitor boost from the i-Eloop system and you get the recipe for a real neat motor.I have to hear it for myself, you might think to yourself. In an automotive world shook from its base by Volkswagens Dieselgate mess-up, the skepticism is duly understandable. Watching the following video of a Japan-spec 2017 Mazda CX-5 2.2 SkyActiv-D should leave no room for doubt. From it, you can also notice that the second-generation CX-5 also features better interior design than its venerable forerunner.The big news regarding Mazdas diesel-powered ambitions is that the U.S. market will also get to experience the 2.2-liter engine in the second half of 2017, most likely for the 2018 model year. Were confident this engine offers a smart new option for North American drivers who want both performance and fuel economy, explained Akira Marumoto, the automakers executive vice president and representative director. The Bavarian automaker has discovered that a company called Mazz Auto Group used BMWs trademarked name and logos on counterfeit products. The merchandise includes wheels, along with other parts that have been counterfeit.BMW has asked for a jury trial, and the representatives of the German company have requested $2 million per counterfeit mark, along with damages, profits, attorneys fees, and further relief that may bee deemed justifiable by the court.BMWs filing for the lawsuit informs the court that the defendants own and operate an online website where they sell and promote counterfeit car rims, center caps, and badges, WIPR notes.A physical store also existed, and "Mazz Autosport" even sold products on Craigslist. The products that the plaintiff is referring bears BMW trademarks and design patents, which means that the defendants sold replica wheels .We have spoken on the topic of replica wheels before, and we think it is time to explain the concept once again. Every time someone buys a set of those replica rims, he or she is putting themselves and others at risk.Furthermore, no performance improvements will come after the fitment of the new wheels, because they are not made using the best solutions developed by the original manufacturer.Instead, they are "cast alloy" wheels of unverified quality, which may crack or break under pressure. From there, the vehicle is just one small step away from an accident that may lead to the injury of its occupants or other road users, and death should not be ruled out as one of the potential outcomes of this kind of incident.A replica wheel is nothing more than a plagiarized design, which is made by cutting corners and skimping out on essential parts of the manufacturing process.Avoid fake wheels at all costs, as it is better to ride safely on steelies than to risk the safety of your vehicle for a cheap pair of rims that are just as good as the real ones, bro. No, they are not, because fake wheels will never be as strong and as light as the original model. Set to be played during the second quarter of the Super Bowl LI on Sunday, February 5, 2017, Lexus s clip showcases the all-new LC . Today, the company unveiled an extended version of the commercial, but it will only air a 30-second spot that will also feature the all-new LS500 In other words, enjoy this commercial as much as you can, because Super Bowl viewers will see something slightly different. However, the LC and LS will be there for sure, and so will the movement artist known as Lil Buck.In the clip that is called Man and Machine, Lil Buck expresses his joy for driving a Lexus LC on the beats of Sias latest single, which is named Move Your Body, and comes from the This is Acting album.If you are curious about the dance style you can see Lil Buck performing masterfully, it is named jookin, and it is a style of street dance. Charles Riley, the performer that is known as Lil Buck, has been experimenting with the style for 16 years. He became popular about six years ago, when a video of him went viral on YouTube.The entire Super Bowl spot was directed by Jonas Akerlund, a renowned film and music video director from Sweden. His wife, B. Akerlund, has helped elevate the styling of the entire spot.At the same time, Minnie Driver debuts as the new voice of Lexus, so you will hear more about the Japanese premium brand from the actress. If her name does not instantly ring a bell, she played the voice of Brooke Shields in South Park, along with numerous characters and appearances in other productions, including Good Will Hunting, Speechless, and many TV series. We are sure that you will remember her voice as soon as you listen to Lexus new commercial. AUBURN Food, and how it can be prepared, is one way to show the diverse cultures that exist in the upstate and western New York area, said Hannah Davis. To encapsulate that notion, the New York Folklore Society hosted a panel discussion Sunday called "You Are What You Eat: Ethnic Food Traditions in the Finger Lakes" at Auburn Public Theater featuring three individuals from the region with varying ethnicities and backgrounds in food. Sunday's panel featured Rafael Diaz, owner of El Morro in Geneva; Carolynn Elice, a member of the Cultural Italian-American Organization of Cayuga County; and Jennifer Morrisey, who runs the blog Home in the Finger Lakes. Auburn Public Theater is a partner agency with the Folklore Society. Davis, the upstate regional representative for the Folklore Society, wrapped Sunday's discussions with a presentation on cultures in the nine-county area she represents. "There are so many interesting different communities here and interesting immigrant populations that have complicated kind of histories," Davis said while introducing the panelists. "I thought foodways would be an interesting way to broach some of those topics." For the discussion, each panelist described their cooking styles and how their familial upbringings affected impacted their lives with food. Diaz, who hails from Puerto Rico and advertises authentic Puerto Rican cuisine at El Murro, said he sharpened his craft from watching and helping his mother while learning to use traditional cookware. Morrisey, meanwhile, said she does not actually remember learning to make golumpki and other Polish dishes from her mother. She feels, she said, like the process is something she has always known. Elice said she also learned to make traditional Italian dishes by watching family members. These would often include limited instructions with phrases, like a "pinch" of this and a "dash" of that, commonplace, Elice described through recipes that have never been written down. That oral tradition was a similarity among all of the panelists. "Some recipes are to be treasured, is what it is. It's a treasure and it's something that should never be forgotten," Elice said. "There's always one of every generation that will pass that on." Christine Zinni, a folklorist and a professor at SUNY Brockport, spoke in between Sunday's panel discussion and Davis' concluding presentation. She said the talks reminded her of her food and culture courses at Brockport and how students are brought together through hands-on learning with food. "Through teaching the class and trying to talk about it with others, I realized through the lens of food, you can see the whole world through what's on your plate," she said. "And that's what we did today." EV Unfortunately for those wishing for a Panamera Coupe in showrooms, you will have to wait at least until Porsches first electric car is launched. Theproject is a priority for Porsche, and it appears that the company will not focus too much in other directions until the production version of the Mission E reaches the market.The Brits at Car Magazine started the discussion regarding the Coupe body style of the Panamera, and they spoke with two Porsche officials about it. The Panameras director of sales and marketing confirmed the launch of the shooting brake body style of this model, which will be inspired by the Sport Turismo Concept.From there, the future of the Panamera was discussed, but officials of the brand did not want to discuss if the model could get a Coupe version. However, they explained that the brand does not rule out such vehicles, but that the current focus is on the following range of electric cars that are being developed.According to a source close to the German brand, discussions about a spiritual successor of the 928 have raised a knowing smile from unnamed executives. Porsches modern 928 could arrive in 2020, and it would be based on the third generation of the Panamera.Currently, Porsche sells the second-generation with a mild facelift for the 2017 model year . We do not believe it would be likely for Porsche to develop a new body style on the platform of the current model and wait for the launch of the Mission E production version to offer it in showrooms.Instead, Porsche is expected to use the platform of the third-generation Panamera for such derivatives, which would be designed from day one to enable a coupe model that would become the spiritual successor of the 928. At the end of the day, it may come down to the electric vehicle ranges success for Porsche to decide the direction it will follow afterward. We first started watching Rebecca when she was with Carbuyer, after which she moved to Telegraph Cars back in December 2014 . What Car? is hoping Miss Jackson's popularity will lead to a huge boost in the 80,000 subscribers and 42 million views that they currently have.Car buyers are doing more and more of their research online, long before ever stepping foot in a dealership. We also know that potential buyers value seeing a video of the car they are interested in purchasing. We believe Rebecca will perfectly complement the team with her extensive industry experience and we are looking forward to working with her in 2017," said Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?.In the two-and-a-bit years that she's been with Telegraph, Rebecca help boost subscriptions from around 15,000 to 80,000. However, that's still nowhere near the notoriety Carbuyer enjoys. Born in in 1982 in Horndean, Hampshire, Rebecca is the daughter of an engineer who restored classic cars. She passed her license at age 17, her first ride being the Peugeot 205 with a 1.4-liter engine.Her racing began with an old 924, followed by a Boxster moving all the way up to the 911 GT3 Cup in 2015. We can't tell you why she made a choice to go to What Car?, but we can point out that she's already presenting some reviews.She'd done a quick take of the SEAT Ateca, which she says threatens the Qashqai's domination of the crossover market. She's also done one of the first reviews of the new BMW 5 Series in Britain.What Car? is an interesting channel, particularly because it does those reader reviews. However, the have been doing a lot of sponsored posts lately. We are referring to the full name of the company we only call Rolls-Royce because it has been confused with Rolls-Royce plc, which is an aircraft engine manufacturer that shares the Rolls-Royce name, but has no link with the automaker.In other words, these two companies may have the Rolls-Royce name in their designation, but they are different entities, and the automaker had to clarify this aspect through a press release. So, if you are an editor of another publication, regard these words: " Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has nothing to do with "Rolls-Royce plc."Rolls-Royce plc builds power systems for aircraft, land applications, and ships. The companys full name is "Rolls-Royce Holdings plc," and it has its headquarters in City of Westminster, London. This January, Rolls-Royce Holdings has agreed to pay 671 million to avoid prosecution in the UK U.S. , and Brazil.The aircraft engine supplier has signed a charge agreement that also included a penalty of $170 million to American authorities, and an extra $25 million to Brazilian authorities.According to reports, a bribery scandal was exposed when an employee of Brazils state-controlled oil company was offered a payoff to help the supplier win a $100 million contract for gas turbines destined for oil platforms. Other accusations of bribery followed, and this confusion temporarily stained the Rolls-Royce name.It is important to note that these two companies share the first part of their name because there were once a single business, but were separated in 1973. Five years later, the aircraft engine division renamed itself as "Rolls-Royce plc." It eventually became "Rolls-Royce Holdings plc," after it was privatized in 1987 by the Margaret Thatcher government.We wish that this article illuminates the circumstances for future stories. As you may have observed, we used the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars products to illustrate this story, because we are making this clarification following a release that was written by this company. Spike Aerospace, a startup company based in Boston, Massachusetts, that aims to develop a quiet supersonic 18-passenger jet, said this week it will be ready to fly a technology demonstrator by late this summer. The subsonic test vehicle will be flown to verify the designs low-speed aerodynamic stall recovery characteristics, the company said. We made a lot of progress in 2016 in engineering, and [added] a number of engineers and partners, said CEO Via Kachoria, in a news release. AVweb reached out to the company for more details about the planned test vehicle how big will it be? piloted or autonomous? Kachoria responded that more details will be forthcoming in mid-February. The company also said a series of larger, supersonic demonstrators are expected to fly by the end of next year. The Spike S-512 will be the first supersonic jet designed with Quiet Supersonic Flight technology, the company says. The proprietary technology, developed by Spike, aims to minimize the sonic boom by optimizing the aerodynamic design, making it possible that the jet could fly over lands where booms are forbidden. Flying at supersonic cruising speed, the S-512 will cut flight time by half between many city pairs, at a cost equivalent to a business-class seat, according to the company. For example, Spike says its jet will fly from New York to Dubai in six hours. The aircraft is expected to reach the market by 2023. 23 January 2017 14:34 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenian is losing its attractiveness for foreign economic partners, thus being obliged to cease international projects that it agreed before. The government had to refuse another major project, which it had harbored for several years. The construction of Meghri hydropower plant (HPP) is no longer in the economic plans of Armenia. For the second year the government does not submit to the agenda anything related to the construction of the plant, Armenian media wrote. It means that the HPP is now completely left forgotten, although the start for its construction in November 2012 was given in the presence of Serzh Sargsyan. The construction was scheduled for completion this year. The necessary investments, about $325 million, were assumed by the Iranian side. The HPP would produce about 800 million kW/h of electricity, which is more than 10 percent of Armenias annual production. After the completion, the plant would supply energy to Iran for 15 years; after that, the NPP would be donated to Armenia. However, the construction of the HPP was not even discussed during the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Armenia in December 2016. There is not a single mention of the program of construction the Meghri NPP in the program of activities for 2017, which was recently approved by the Armenian government. In addition, Yerevan had to abandon the construction of the railway between Armenia and Iran in early January. Armenian media stated that a resolution on the closure of the Directorate on constructing the railway under Armenian Ministry of Transport was adopted at the meeting of the government. Thus, by abandoning the construction of the Meghri HPP, Armenia has completely lose any chance to revive its economy through major projects. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 11:00 (UTC+04:00) Armenias Armed Forces have 36 times violated the ceasefire in different directions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops by using grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns over the past 24 hours, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on January 23. The Azerbaijani army positions located in Qaymaqli and Gizilhajili villages of the Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in Barekamavan village of Armenias Noyemberyan region and Berkaber village of the Ijevan region. The Azerbaijani army positions located in Aghdam and Aghbulag villages of the Tovuz district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in Mosesqekh, Chinari villages of Armenias Berd region. Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt village of the Tartar district, Sarijali, Bash Garvand, Shuraabad villages of the Aghdam district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of the Fuzuli district, Mehdili village of Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on the nameless heights of the Goranboy, Tartar, Khojavand, Fuzuli and Jabrayil regions. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 15:28 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The Armenian Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is becoming increasingly dangerous for the entire region. The Metsamor NPP, which is most debated topic among experts and environmentalists for security issues, interrupted its work on January 21 due to an accident at its high-voltage power line. After that, the substation and the first power unit of the plant were completely de-energized. The accident brought the issue of Metsamors danger to the forefront of discussions. This accident at the Armenian NPP is a harbinger of even greater problems the plant and its equipment are outdated, and the country does not have enough money to ensure full service of such a big facility, Russian expert Yevgeny Mikhailov told Day.az while commenting on the accident. He said that technological disasters in the modern world are not very uncommon. One of the most known examples is the accident at the Japanese Fukushima NPP. However, Japan unlike Armenia has a high-level technology for the NPP protection the same cannot be said about Armenia, he said. If the Metsamor NPP explodes, it will be a catastrophe for all countries of the region - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia, said Mikhailov. Metsamor NPP began to operate in 1976. The license for the exploitation of the station will expire on September 1, 2016. Nevertheless, the Armenian government has made the decision to prolong the date of exploitation of the plant for 10 more years. Environmentalists have long been concerned that the Armenian authorities refuse to close the outdated Metsamor NPP, any catastrophe at which could kill thousands in Armenia itself, and the whole region. All South Caucasus nations would suffer from a possible catastrophe. Azerbaijan and Georgia are located 120 km away, Iran 60 km, Turkey 16 km, the capital of Armenia itself 30-35 km away from Metsamor NPP. Furthermore, Armenia is located in the Kura-Araz basin, any waste thrown there goes into the Azerbaijani rivers and then into the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijans political analyst Ilgar Velizadeh is also sure that the NPP threatens the security of neighboring countries, and for this reason, the station must be closed immediately. The recent accident one again showed that the workability of the object is not provided at the proper level, he said. By solving its energy problems, Armenia creates serious risks for the ecological security of the region, which leads to increased anxiety of its neighbors, and it is getting harder to ignore them when a new emergency on the station appears, said the expert. Moreover, the Metsamor NPP lies close to earthquake-prone locality, the seismic stability of which is 8-9 magnitude on the Richter scale. This makes the operation of the nuclear power station in Metsamor extremely dangerous . --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 11:30 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova The European Commission is ready to finance a large-scale e-trade project in the country. Tofig Babayev, director of the Regional Information Technologies Academy (RITA), told Trend that the Commission is ready to finance Azerbaijans projects prepared as part of the "Harmonizing Digital Markets of EU and Eastern Partnership Countries HDM Initiative" in 2018-2019. In 2015, the country developed six projects under the initiative and submitted them to the EC for financing. The projects covered six areas of HDM Initiative, including e-customs, e-commerce, e-business, and e-security. The HDM Initiative is aimed at addressing important issues on formation of the legal basis, improving customs procedures and implementation of software for trading. It envisages the creation of a single digital zone, which provides entrepreneurs with a single field in order to conduct trade operations and mutual settlements. The initiative consists of 14 important aspects, including the creation of legislation, customs, and software for trading. Babayev recalled that in December 2016, Lithuania hosted a two-day conference of the EC dedicated to the Initiative in the e-trade, the concept of which combined such areas as e-commerce, e-customs and e-logistic. "In accordance with the decision made, starting from the first half of 2017, the Eastern Partnership countries will begin studies regarding the implementation of projects that combine all these directions in the e-trade. The selection of experts from six participating countries of the Eastern Partnership is currently underway. The contract with experts will be signed in mid-February 2017. The work in this direction is planned to be completed by May 2017. It is also planned to resolve issues related to the mutual recognition of e-signatures within the e-trade sphere, which is a part of the cross-border trade transactions," he said. Babayev noted that for several reasons, it is not possible to name the exact amount that may be required for implementation of the projects. The HDM Initiative includes countries of the Eastern Partnership that is Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. The EU aspires to be a key foreign investor in Azerbaijan, while the support of the union amounts to around 30 million each year. The EU also supports closer economic integration with Azerbaijan through the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Eastern Partnership initiative. The share of European countries in Azerbaijans foreign trade stood at 37.12 percent in January to September of 2016. European countries account for nearly 27.89 and 45.87 percent of Azerbaijani import and export respectively. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 13:02 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The government of Azerbaijan eyes possibility of localizing the assembly of computer equipment from leading world manufacturers, a source in the IT-market of Azerbaijan told Trend on January 22. The source noted that this issue is still under discussion with several global vendors. But the source did not name the companies. The H-Tech company, which is a resident of the Mingachevir branch of High Tech Park Ltd, has experience in implementation of similar projects in Azerbaijan, and participates in the negotiation process from the Azerbaijani side. Previously, the company deployed the project on assemblage of computers under the brand of Taiwanese company Acer. The local company assembled the first batch of laptops - some 800 units. A loan of 1.2 million manats ($640,000) was attracted from the State Fund for Development of Information Technologies for the implementation of the assembly. The State Fund is preparing to allocate additional one million manats for the support of this project in order to achieve growing sales of products and increasing profitability of business of the local company. ICT is considered to be one of the crucial spheres for the further development of the economy and an integral part of the economic and political reforms which are currently implemented in Azerbaijan. Overall, the ICT sector has intensively developed in Azerbaijan over the past years. Creation and developing of the e-Government system, expanding the broadband internet services, launch of the telecommunication and low-orbit satellites, and many other are the evidence of Azerbaijans success in this sphere. The income obtained in the sector in Azerbaijan is projected to hit $9 billion by 2020. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 14:13 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, the most-anticipated regional railway link, will be completed in the first half of 2017, said Ahmad Arslan, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of Turkey. Currently active work on construction of the railway is underway. If we take into account the complexity of the winter period, we plan to complete the construction work in March or April, APA quoted the minister as saying. Talking about the difficulties in the implementation of the project, the Turkish minister said that the lawsuits and discontent led to project delays. "Because of the discontent that emerged after the start of tendering procedures, the project is implemented with a delay of one year, but due to litigation -- three years, Arslan clarified. Being constructed on the basis of the Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement, BTK is expected to expand multi-modal transportation opportunities, ensure the growth of passenger and freight transportation and boost the transit potential of the regional countries. The project is of great significance for not only Azerbaijan and the region, but also for the entire Eurasia. The State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) finances the project in accordance with the Azerbaijani president's decree On the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project activities dated February 21, 2007. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 15:58 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The State Property Issues Committee of Azerbaijan will hold next auction on state property privatization on February 21. The auction will take place in the Auctions Center of the Committee. Seventy-nine state properties including 22 joint stock companies, 19 small enterprises and facilities, 35 unused non-residential areas and three vehicles will be put up for the auction. The activity of the joint stock companies to be put up for privatization cover the areas of construction, industry, agriculture, transport and others. The small enterprises to be put up for the auction are located in Samukh, Beylagan, Goranboy and Barda regions, Siyazan city, as well as Sabunchu and Garadagh regions of Baku. The main part of unused non-residential areas is located in Baku. The non-residential area located in the Yasamal district of Baku is the most expensive among them. This areas starting price is 520,000 manats ($27,760). The privatization process is designed to attract both foreign and local investors, as well as improve the business environment of Azerbaijan. The third stage of privatization in Azerbaijan started in the framework of the presidential decree dated May 19, 2016. Under the decree, the acceleration of the state property privatization process has been defined as an important direction of the economic policy. The portal for privatization privatization.az, launched in July 2016, reflects all necessary information about the facilities, their addresses, location, and even initial cost and aims at facilitation of the process. The website is available in two languages - Azerbaijani and English. Why Azerbaijan is special section available on the website explains the reasons and advantages of investing in the country. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 17:16 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Work on implementation of the second phase of the Petlim container terminal, the largest port in the Aegean Sea basin is expected to be completed in the short run. SOCAR Turkey Energy Director General Zaur Gahramanov told Dunya newspaper that the second stage of the construction of the container terminal, which belongs to Turkeys Petkim petrochemical complex is planned to be finished in June 2017. The completion of the second stage will allow the terminal to increase its capacity up to 13,000 containers, as well as economize some $200-250 on each container, he said. The first stage of construction was completed in December 2016. The ports transshipment capacity hit 800,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) within the first phase of the project. The first phase of the $380 million Petlim container port project is already in use. This is the largest capacity port in Aegean Sea. The first phase serves 5 days of the week, he said. Azerbaijans SOCAR owns a 70 percent share in the port, while Goldman Sachs has the rest 30 percent stake. Turkish petrochemical complex Petkim and the Dutch APM Terminals inked an agreement for the construction of the Petlim port in March 2013. Currently, 10 large container ports operate in Turkey. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 17:49 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Baku will host a forum devoted to the strategic and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The forum scheduled for the first half of 2017 will allow to develop the mutually beneficial cooperation in economy, trade, investment, energy, tourism, agriculture, food security, transport, culture, as well to create and promote joint projects in these spheres, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. High-ranking officials of various ministries of the Gulf countries, representatives of private companies, financial institutions and funds are expected to participate in the Baku forum. The Gulf Cooperation Council was formed in 1981, and mainly aimed at cooperation and integration in economy, culture, as well as in the social sphere. The trade turnover of Azerbaijan with the Persian Gulf counties amounted to almost $192 million in January-August 2016, compared to $250.3 million during the same period of last year, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee. Huge oil and gas reserves, among other things, make the Arabian Gulf region including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates one of the most strategically important places in the world. Being part of the Islamic world and sharing the progressive heritage and spiritual values of Islamic civilization, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to developing relations with the Islamic countries, and the Gulf states in particular. Alongside very strong political ties, numerous opportunities for expanding economic cooperation exist between these countries. Overall, in the first half of 2016, Azerbaijan was visited by 25,000 tourists from Arab countries, while the figure approximately 22,000 people or eight times more than in the same period of last year. The main reason for the rising number of Arab tourists is the introduction of a simplified visa regime from this year for citizens of Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and other countries. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 10:28 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Baku will host a festival of Japanese films on January 27-29. The festival will feature several films, including "You're a good kid", "Letter", "Around Us", "The meeting with the mother of Pekoros", "Tales of the city Kaytan", Azertac reported. Entrance is free. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Japan were established in 1992. Relations between the two countries have continued to develop steadily. Japan was one of the first countries to support Azerbaijan's forward-looking oil strategy. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz While traveling in November might seem like an odd choice given how busy the season is, many popular destinations actually see a decline in fo 23 January 2017 15:07 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The MusicExpo in London will host a world premiere of Piano Collection by Azerbaijani composer Jevdet Hajiyev on February 9. The event will celebrate the centenary of the Azerbaijani composer, Azertac reported. Jevdet Hajiyev was a student of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and Azerbaijans world-famous composer Uzeyir Hajibayli. Hajiyev is remembered for his monumental orchestral works, having been the first Azerbaijani to compose a symphony (1936). Hajiyev composed eight symphonic works and the heroic patriotic opera Vatan (Motherland), which he wrote together with Gara Garayev. In May 1945, Hajiyev and Garayev were awarded the prestigious State Prize. Hajiyev won a second State Prize in 1952, for his symphonic poem For Peace. Hajiyevs last symphonic work, entitled January 20th, was composed in 1991, and dedicated to the victims of Black January (1990) tragedy. In 1997, Hajiyev was awarded the countrys highest accolade, the Order of Glory, on the occasion of his 80th Jubilee, commemorating 60 long years of fruitful work which is highly appreciated by the nation and the State. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 13:43 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Istanbul hosted an exhibition of famous Turkish photographer Mustafa Seven, who presented his photos taken in Baku, Istanbul and Tbilisi. Speaking about his works and visits to these cities, Seven pointed to many similarities that exist between them, Daily Sabah reported. "During these trips, I realized that these cities share more similarities than I have ever known. For instance, Istanbul and Baku are quite similar not in terms of urban structure but culturally; we have the same cultural texture. On the other hand, Tbilisi is like a prototype of Istanbul as a city both architecturally and socially. As if when you look at Tbilisi, you see the Istanbul of 30 years ago which we miss and dream of dearly," Seven said. Meanwhile, Baku surprised the artists with its design as a Western capital despite its Caucasian surroundings. "I can say this about Baku, its architectural texture is very like a Central European city. That was a surprising thing for me. A lot of my friends have said the same thing, and you constantly ask yourself, 'Is this really Baku?' This shows that a lot of people don't know Baku, and this exhibition is going to present them what it really is", he said. Entitled "City Stories", the exhibition in "42 Maslak Art! Space" gallery will run until January 31. Mustafa Seven has been awarded at many national and international photography contests; he took part in numerous exhibitions and festivals, holding a personal exhibition called Tek in 2013. Seven, who has presented his work through various mediums throughout his career, has been using Intagram as an active channel in the recent years. He sees this medium as a personal portfolio space and he is one of the Turkish photographers who has reached the top number of followers. Mustafa Seven also makes time for educational activities; he holds workshops on street photography and works on projects together with universities and other educational institutions. Mustafa Seven continues to work as a freelance photojournalist and to produce photographs that communicate the street and document the era he lives in with private national and international projects. Photos: theguideistanbul.com --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 17:06 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The organ donation and organ transplantation from corpse will be possible in Azerbaijan as the relevant legislation will be put in place to provide the safest system for this area of healthcare. Deputy Chairman of the Health Committee of the Parliament, MP Musa Guliyev informed that the introduction of organ transplantation from corpse in the country can be launched either this year or next year. Noting that the relevant work is underway, he said that application of an electronic health will simplify the realization of organ transplantation. If the deceased person made a last will and testament for organ donation, then we will not have to look for his/her relatives. The organ removal must be implemented as soon as possible within 2-3 hours after the death. And the e-health system will allow checking of a donor notarial agreement in a short time. In addition, we will be able to get information about blood group, immune properties and etc. of the dead person, he told Trend. The MP explained that transplantation will be implemented based on two rules. Under the law On human organs and tissue transplantation, the organ transplantation can be implemented if a person during his lifetime gave a written consent about donation of organs after his /her death. If the dead person did not do this, then doctors ask his/her family's permission for donation. But if the person refused to donate his organs in a written consent during lifetime, then removal of organs or tissue is forbidden. Guliyev said that initially it is necessary to define the clinical criteria of brain death. Then the Health Ministry should choose relevant hospitals for organ transplantation, as this surgery cannot be implemented in every hospital. Transplantation must be performed within six hours after the death. A commission will be created in this regard and alongside doctors, lawyers, clergymen, representatives of NGOs and others will also be involved, he said. Transplantation practices are a major issue, which requires special work to be done, including creation of certain grounds to allow donation of organs. The Azerbaijani legislation allows only a person over 18 years old with a health certificate on full medical examination to become a donor.Due to a ban on children's donating organs in the country, transplantation from a brain-dead child can be carried out only after his parents' approval. Sale of transplantation organs and tissue is also banned in Azerbaijan. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 10:54 (UTC+04:00) The OSCE mission will hold a monitoring on the contact line of troops of Azerbaijan`s Tartar region on January 24 in accordance with the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. According to the press service of Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry, the monitoring will be held on the Azerbaijani side by field assistants of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Hristo Hristov, Peter Svedberg and Simon Tiller. On the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenian troops, the monitoring will be conducted by field assistants of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ghenadie Petrica and Jiri Aberle. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 14:00 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Non-implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions by Armenia remains an open challenge to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict settlement process and a serious threat to international and regional peace and security, reads a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the OSCE. The mission further stressed that those who talk about non-use of force in the context of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, first of all must eliminate the factor of military occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan. 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. In its resolutions, the UNSC condemned the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, reaffirmed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, with the Nagorno-Karabakh region as part of it. The Council specifically reaffirmed the principle of inviolability of international borders and demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying Armenian forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The mission reminded that the primary aim of Azerbaijans participation in the peace process is to ensure the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Deviation by the OSCE Minsk Group and its co-chairmen from the framework defined by the UNSC undermines the mandate entrusted to it and could have a serious impact on conflict resolution process. Armenia has been flagrantly violating the principle of the non-use of force by consolidating the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, denying the rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons to return to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, undertaking consistent efforts to alter the demographic, cultural and physical character of the occupied territories, removing any signs of their Azerbaijani cultural and historical roots and engaging in exploitation and pillaging of the resources and other wealth in those territories for its own gain, the mission stressed. "The Minsk Group co-chairmen must return to implementation of the tasks given to them by the UN Security Council and, on this basis, engage both sides in substantive result-oriented talks," the statement reads. "If they are unable to withdraw the Armenian troops from the occupied territories and address many other challenges to the peace process, Azerbaijan has every right to defend its territory and protect its people by all means." --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 15:43 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) may meet on January 23 with two Azerbaijanis, Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev , who were taken hostage by Armenian militaries in the occupied Azerbaijani territory. As I know, the representatives of the International Red Cross Committee will visit the hostages today, and hand our message to them, Sahib Musayev, the brother of Dilgam Asgarov, told Azvision. Spokesperson for the ICRC Baku mission Ilaha Huseynova said that if the meeting takes place, the public will be provided with the information. The two citizens of Azerbaijan were detained by the Armenian armed forces in July 2014 while visiting their native places and graves of loved ones in the occupied Azerbaijani Kalbajar region. Moreover, Armenian forces killed the third Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov. Later, Guliyev and Asgarov were judged illegally by the unrecognized courts of a separatist regime in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. Following an expedited judicial process in December 2015, Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years. Attempts of Azerbaijan to provide justice and to free its citizens are still unsuccessful. Azerbaijans State Committee on Affairs of Refugees and IDPs, the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons and other agencies have repeatedly urged international organizations, including the ICRC, to assist in release of Guliyev and Asgarov, whilst the problem remains topical yet. Azerbaijan, whose over 4,000 citizens were taken captive, hostage, or went missing as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh war, has repeatedly declared its readiness to begin negotiations with Armenia to free the captives and resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, the Armenian side keeps ignoring all attempts of Azerbaijan and international organizations, thereby disrespecting the international law and hindering the settlement of the conflict. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 16:33 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly scheduled for February in Vienna will focus on recent intensified provocations committed by the Armenian servicemen at Azerbaijan's state border. Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE PA Bahar Muradova announced about this while talking to Azertac. Muradova underlined Armenia's enhancing provocative acts at Azerbaijan's state border since late 2016. "The Armenian reconnaissance-raiding group attempted to commit subversions at Azerbaijan's state border for several times, she added. The MP said that the Armenian side's provocations will be discussed on the sidelines of the OSCE PA winter session and representatives of the PA will be requested to express their views on the issue. "As the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austria calls for the resolution of the conflicts must be highly valued. If these calls turn into real impacts and decisions, then it will significantly contribute to the settlement of the conflicts," Bahar Muradova said. One of Austrias main priorities in the OSCE will be the collective work in the security field, aimed to avoid escalation of conflicts in the OSCE countries territories, said Austrias Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz during his inaugural address to the OSCE Permanent Council as the new OSCE chairperson-in-office 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 17:36 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenia is still holding the body of Azerbaijani Armed Forces soldier Chingiz Gurbanov , who was killed during the prevention of the Armenian sabotage in late December 2016. The issue of returning the soldiers body was also raised by the Azerbaijani Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, which appealed to international organizations over Armenias refusal to return the body of the soldier, APA reported. Armenia, which has been keeping twenty percent of Azerbaijani territory under occupation for more than 25 years, continues to violate the international law. Armenias refusal to return the body of Azerbaijani soldier Chingiz Gurbanov, who was killed while fighting to prevent an Armenian diversion group from violating Azerbaijans state border on December 29 last year, is a clear example of it, reads the appeal. The Azerbaijani side has appealed to international organizations on the matter. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland made statements urging Armenia to return the soldiers body immediately. They emphasized the necessity to respect international law and expressed their support for the just stance of the Azerbaijani side based on the agreements reached at the Astrakhan summit of the OSCE Minsk Group. Nevertheless, Armenia is still committed to its practice from the Karabakh war revenging the dead bodies and trading over them, blatantly breaching the Geneva conventions and making baseless claims. The Parliamentary Committee is sure that the international community must react to the inhumane acts of Armenia. We call on concerned international organizations to take immediate actions and increase pressure on Armenia to return the dead body of the Azerbaijani soldier, reads the appeal. 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, 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 Gurbanovs body, the Armenian government still keeps the dead body. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 12:32 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of a newly built military camp of a military unit of the Defense Ministry in Pirekeshkul settlement of Absheron on January 23, Azertac reported. Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov reported to Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev. The head of state first laid flowers at a bust of national leader Heydar Aliyev who made exceptional contributions to the development of the Azerbaijani Army. President Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the military camp. Then , the president reviewed the conditions created here. Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev also met with military servicemen. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 12:20 (UTC+04:00) By Trend The annual activity reports of Azerbaijans energy major SOCAR are being prepared. Rovnag Abdullayev, president of the Azerbaijani State Oil Company (SOCAR), announced about this while talking to Trend. He stressed that the oil prices on the world market increased twofold in 2016 compared to 2015 and that factor along with others also had a positive impact on SOCARs economic situation. He added that along with that, the companys financial condition became more stable and sound as a result of certain changes and actions taken by both the country and the company. Abdullayev said that the release of SOCARs bonds is very important for the company. He added that financial part aside, the partnership between the country's citizens and SOCAR was established. We made the first interest payment on SOCARs bonds, he added. Some $1.25 million was transferred to the bondholders accounts. This is a very important step for the Azerbaijani financial market. Abdullayev said that the investors are pleased with the conditions and the profitability level of SOCARs bonds, otherwise, there would not have been twice as much demand for the companys bonds. Demand for the bonds released in the amount of $100 million exceeded $200 million, he said. The bonds were issued on very favorable terms, in US dollars, for 5 years and 5-percent-yield per annum, he said. The bond interest is paid 4 times a year, every 3 months," he said. First of all, the funds acquired through the sale of bonds are used to buy back the Eurobonds issued by SOCAR abroad, Abdullayev said. By issuing bonds, at first, we prevent payment of annual interest worth millions of US dollars abroad, so the interest is paid by Azerbaijani citizens, and the currency remains in the country. Second, the interest costs of SOCAR are reduced. Third, as we know, Azerbaijani citizens currently keep 80 percent, and perhaps even more of their savings, in US dollars, he added. These are passive savings because they are kept by citizens at home and in vaults. These savings dont bring any profit either to economy or their owners. Issuance of SOCAR bonds creates conditions for this money, which doesnt bring any benefit, to get involved in active economy, he noted. Abdullayev said that SOCAR issued these bonds in the first place for Azerbaijani citizens, so that they can receive income. Therefore, only local natural and legal persons can tentatively subscribe to get these bonds, he noted. Both local and foreign individuals, as well as companies can buy these bonds on the secondary market, he said. Also, given the situation on the capital markets of Europe and the countries of the region, I would say that SOCAR bonds can become a source of income at a high level for foreign investors as well, the president of SOCAR said. Many European banks operate with negative interest, that is, people who have invested funds in these banks get no interest, and even pay them money, Abdullayev added. In this regard, SOCAR bonds with a yield of five percent per year may become big source of income for these people. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 13:05 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijans state energy major SOCAR, which has earlier reached an agreement on the purchase of one of the assets belonging to Austrian oil group OMV in Turkey, may consider alternative options, should the deal is not successful. SOCAR Turkey Energy Director General Zaur Gahramanov told Sabah newspaper that the company will consider two options creation of a new network of fueling stations or acquisition of a company engaged in the sphere. The acquisition of OMV Petrol Ofisi [a leading company in the Turkish oil products retail and wholesale market] is the most suitable option for SOCAR, but we have alternatives. We can launch talks on the acquisition of another company or create a new network in Turkey he said. In early 2016 Austrian company announced its intention to sell the whole packet of shares of OMV Petrol Ofisi A.S. to optimize its own costs. The company operates 1,785 refueling station throughout Turkey and owns the countrys largest fuel storage and logistics business. Participants of the tender on the acquisition of OMV assets are SOCAR, Aramco and Petromium-C consortium and Vitol. Within the scope of its strategy, the company is intended to be focused on the extractive enterprises as well as on the oil processing activities. Head of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev earlier said that the interest of the company in the assets is pegged to the Star Petroleum refinery in Izmir. STAR Rafineri A.S., majority owned by Azerbaijans state energy company SOCAR, will be capable of refining Azeri Light, Kirkuk, and Urals oil grades. Once completed, the Star refinery will be the first refinery to start operations in Turkey since 1972. The annual naphtha production volume, used by Petkim as the main raw material, will hit 1.66 million tons at the Star refinery. Along with naphtha, the new oil refinery will produce diesel fuel with ultra-low sulfur to the amount of 5.95 million tons, aviation kerosene - 500,000 tons, reformate - 500,000 tons, petroleum coke - 630,000 tons, liquefied gas - 240,000 tons, mixed xylene - 415,000 tons, olefin LPG - 75,000 tons and 145,000 tons of sulfur. The refinery will not produce petrol and fuel oil. Gahramanov further spoke about SOCAR investments in Turkey, noting that the company occupies a lions share in the total volume of investments made by Azerbaijan in Turkey. He said that the company has already invested some $9.5 billion out of planned $18 billion of investments. Every year, SOCAR invests some $150 million in Petkim. Without these investments our participation in the market will drop from 17 to 10 percent. One of the obstacles for Petkim is free trade deals of Turkey with Iran and South Korea. Petrochemical production imported from these countries reduces competitiveness of Petkim production. We hope that Turkey will set taxes on such goods. Otherwise, activity of Petkim will not be steady enough, he mentioned. The company produces plastic packages, fabrics, detergents, and is the sole Turkish manufacturer of such products, a quarter of which is exported. Petkim shareholders are: SOCAR Turkey Petrokimya A.S. 51 percent, SOCAR Turkey Energy 1.32 percent and 47.68 percent in free float. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2017 16:14 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijan, one of the most reliable suppliers of gas to Turkey increased the volume of supplied blue fuel in January-October 2016. The country delivered some 5.31 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in the reported period, as compared to 5 bcm in the same period of 2015. Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority reported that in tote the country imported 40.78 bcm of gas, with 34.45 bcm falling to a share of gas imported through pipelines and 6.33 bcm to the import of compressed natural gas (CNG). The share of Azerbaijan in the total volume of Turkish gas import stood at 14.43 percent in the reported period. Turkey imports gas from Azerbaijan via the South Caucasus Pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum). The country has a contract for purchasing 6.6 bcm of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field annually. Azerbaijan and Turkey also cooperate closely in the implementation of the ambitious Southern Gas Corridor Project, which comprises such energy projects as TANAP and TAP. Turkey aims to contribute to its energy supply security and that of Europe through the project, which envisages transportation of 10 bcm of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe via Georgia and Turkey. Turkey does not possess indigenous resources and imports more than 98 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Being a dominant fuel in the total energy mix, natural gas is deemed to be the most important component of the Turkish energy sector. The resource is used in power generation, residential and industrial sectors. Besides it accounted for 37.8 percent of total electricity generation in 2015. Over the last two decades, Turkey has been the second country in terms of natural gas demand growth. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Salt Lake Tribune reports: The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear arguments from the husband and four wives who star in the television show Sister Wives, essentially affirming that polygamy remains a crime in Utah. The appeal by Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn Brown sought remove the penalties for a practice that has caused consternation in Utah since the first Mormon settlers arrived. But their case had been hampered by one problem the Browns have never been prosecuted for bigamy. They contended the law on the books and a 2010 investigation by Lehi police was enough to constitute discrimination. The bigamy statute, when read broadly, could be used to prosecute unmarried couples who live together. Yet the statute, which makes polygamy a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, has only ever been used to prosecute polygamists. In December 2013, federal Judge Clark Waddoups sided with the Browns and struck down the portion of Utahs bigamy statute focused on polygamy. (A portion dealing with having, active multiple marriage licenses remains.) In April 2015, the appeals court in Denver overturned that ruling. In finding the Browns lacked standing to file a legal challenge, a three-judge panel considered a policy by the Utah County Attorneys Office limiting polygamy prosecutions to cases which also include offenses like sexual abuse, fraud or underage marriage. Other county prosecutors and the Utah Attorney Generals Office have similar policies. The Browns argued that they believe the law unfairly targets them because of their religious views, which allows Kody to be married to all four women. In their legal brief the Browns go as far as citing Obergefell v. Hodges, where the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the rights of same-sex couples to marry, the documents state, From the rejection of morality legislation in Lawrence to the expansion of the protections of liberty interests in Obergefell, it is clear that states can no longer use criminal codes to coerce or punish those who choose to live in consensual but unpopular unions. This case is about criminalization of consensual relations and there are 21st century cases rather than 19th century cases that control Homosexuality was a crime for centuries in this and other countries. Adultery and fornication were long considered crimes. Does anyone else remember when TLC was The Learning Channel and you actually learned things? Ahhhh. Those were the good days.. Share this: Tweet More Email Print PRAIRIE MINING LIMITED NEWS RELEASE | 23 January 2017 PREMIUM QUALITY HARD COKING COAL CONFIRMED AT DEBIENSKO HIGHLIGHTS: Following the acquisition of the fully permitted Debiensko Hard Coking Coal Project in October 2016, Prairie has recently received results from a fully cored borehole drilled at the Project The results confirm historical data for the Project which indicate that Debienkso hosts a range of premium quality hard coking coals comparable to internationally traded benchmark coking coals Given favourable regional supply and demand dynamics, coal of this quality will be in significant demand by steelmakers across Europe and attract premium pricing Coking coal is classified by the European Commission as a Critical Raw Material and of the 80Mt of coking coal consumed in Europe per year, 80% is imported A maiden JORC Resource Estimate for Debiensko will be announced in the coming weeks to support the Scoping Study mine plan which remains on track for completion during Q1 2017 Prairie Mining Limited (Prairie or Company) is pleased to announce the results of preliminary coal quality analysis from a borehole drilled at the Companys Debiensko Hard Coking Coal Project (Debiensko or the Project) during 2015/2016 by the previous owners. Prairies preliminary review of the Debiensko deposit indicates that a range of premium hard coking coals can be produced from the Project that will be in high demand from European steelmakers. Two premium hard coking coal specifications have been delineated at Debiensko, namely Medium volatile matter hard coking coal (Mid-vol HCC) and Low volatile matter hard coking coal (Low-vol HCC). The borehole was fully cored to 30 m below seam 407/4. All core was subject to detailed logging and core photography. Seam thicknesses and depths have been confirmed by a suite of geophysical logs while coal seams were analysed by accredited laboratories in Poland. Prairies CEO Mr. Ben Stoikovich said The excellent coking coal quality results from Debiensko further reinforce Prairies potential to become a key premium hard coking coal supplier to European steelmakers. These initial results confirm that the Debiensko deposit hosts premium coking coals of comparable quality to internationally traded benchmark hard coking coals, and will achieve premium pricing in the market. As we continue to rapidly advance our assessment of Debiensko, we look forward to announcing the Projects maiden JORC Resource Estimate and subsequent Scoping Study results in the coming weeks. Debiensko Premium Hard Coking Coal Benchmarking Both Debienskos Mid-vol and Low-vol HCC lie within the range of premium hard coking coals produced globally. Indications are that the Mid-vol HCC at Debiensko is present between 850 m to 1,000 m from surface and the Low-vol HCC is present 1,000 m to 1,300 m below surface i.e. at depths similar to adjacent operating mines owned by Jastrzebska Spoka Weglowa S.A. (JSW) - the largest coking coal producer in Europe. Medium Volatile Matter Hard Coking Coal The quality of Mid-vol HCC from Debienkso compares favourably with the Australian Goonyella hard coking coal brand, and with medium volatile coals produced in Poland today by JSW. This coal features good rheological properties and coke yield, with reasonably low sulphur levels. Prairies assessment is that Mid-vol HCC from the Debiensko project would receive premium pricing in European and international markets. Table 1: Debiensko Medium Volatile Matter Hard Coking Coal Comparison to International Benchmarks Quality Debiensko* (Poland) Goonyella (Australia) Oaky Creek (Australia) Elkview (Canada) Tuhup (Indonesia) Pittston (USA) Borynia-JSW (Poland) Pniowek-JSW (Poland) Ash (%) 3.2 8.9 9.5 9.5 7.0 8.0 8.5 8.5 Volatile Matter (%) 25.0 23.8 24.5 23.5 26.5 26.0 24.8 27.0 Sulphur (%) 0.56 0.56 0.60 0.50 0.70 0.85 0.65 0.60 Phosphorous (P) in Coal (%) 0.025 0.025 0.070 0.07 0.02 0.019 0.059 0.050 Free Swelling Index (FSI) 8 8 8 7 9 8 7 8 CSR (%) 63 66 67 70 60 - - - Fluidity (ddpm) 1200 1100 5000 150 450 - up to 2300 up to 3000 C daf (%) 86 88.4 86.8 81.2 - 88.0 - - Rv Max 1.23 1.17 1.10 1.22 1.18 1.10 1.20 1.10 Vitrinite (%) 78 58 75 55 96 76 - - * Indicative quality Debiensko Mid-vol HCC from washed sample from 401/1 seam at floats <1.40kg/m3 Low Volatile Matter Hard Coking Coal Debienskos Low-vol HCC is similar to other internationally traded low volatile matter hard coking coals, including brands such as Peak Downs (BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance BMA) and Hail Creek (Rio Tinto) produced in Australia. Whilst the Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) is anticipated to be slightly lower than these Australian coals, the quality of Debiensko Low-vol HCC is anticipated to be in-line with coal produced at JSWs Jas-Mos mine in Poland, which is used as a stabilizing and leaning component of nearly every coal blend for production of blast furnace coke in the region. Table 2: Debiensko Low Volatile Matter Hard Coking Coal Comparison to International Benchmarks Quality Debiensko* (Poland) Peak Downs (Australia) German Creek (Australia) Hail Creek (Australia) Blue Creek - No.7 (USA) Buchanan (USA) Neryungri (Russia) Jas-Mos (Poland) Ash (%) 9.5 10.0 9.5 8.9 9.0 5.3 10.0 7.8 Volatile Matter (%) 20.5 20.5 19.0 20.5 19.9 18.7 19.3 21.4 Sulphur (%) 0.30 0.60 0.54 0.4 0.71 0.73 0.21 0.56 Free Swelling Index 7 8 8 7 8 8 8 7 Fluidity (ddpm) 128 275 400 300l 1113 100 18 200 C daf (%) 80 89.1 88.6 88.2 91 - 80.8 - Rv Max 1.5 1.40 1.45 1.26 1.48 1.63 1.50 1.40 Vitrinite (%) 59 68 73 54 70 76 81 - *Indicative quality Debiensko Low-vol HCC from unwashed sample from 404/9 seam EUROPEAN HARD COKING COAL MARKET European industry relies on imports for approximately 80% of its coking coal needs - the highest quality of which, hard coking coal, is the type of coal found at Debiensko. In 2010 and 2014, the European Commission (EC) carried out an assessment at the European Union (EU) level to identify Critical Raw Materials based on: Economic importance the proportion of each material associated with industrial megasectors, such as construction, combined with its gross value added to EU GDP to define the overall economic importance of a material. Supply risk based on accountability, political stability, regulatory quality etc. The EC concluded that coking coal is a critical raw material for Europe with its economic importance to the continent only surpassed by tungsten and vanadium. In 2015 Europe consumed a total of 80 Mt of coking coal, of which 50 Mt was hard coking coal. Europe relies heavily on imports of coking coal primarily from the USA, Australia and Russia. Poland and the Czech Republic are the only European producers, however their domestic production is in rapid decline. In 2015, 64 Mt (i.e. 80%) of total European coking coal consumption was imported, including 40 Mt of hard coking coal and 10Mt of semi-soft coking coal. Central Europe which encompasses Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Germany accounts for approximately 50% of European coking coal consumption. In 2015, these countries consumed over 25 Mt of hard coking coal of which over 15 Mt was imported. Regional Market Debienskos strategically competitive location means that about half of Central Europes coking plants and steelmaking capacity is within 250 km of the Project and connected by existing road and rail infrastructure. With a well-established rail network providing ease of transport to end users based in close proximity to Debiensko, Prairie will benefit from a significant pricing netback advantage over USA and Australian imported hard coking coal. Poland the main steel plants producing coke are Huta Czestochowa owned by ISD and situated in Czestochowa, producing ~0.6 Mtpa coke and Tadeusza Sendzimira, situated in Cracow, with a capacity of ~1.4 Mtpa coke. ArcelorMittal owns the Zdziesowice coke plant, the largest in Europe with a total coke capacity of 4.2 Mtpa. JSW owns the coking plants Debiensko, Radlin and Jadwiga and the Przyjazn merchant coke plant with a total capacity of some 4 Mtpa coke. Czech Republic the largest exporter of coking coal in the region is NWRs Czech subsidiary, OKD a.s. (OKD), which is now subject to insolvency proceedings and where coking coal production is estimated to cease by 2023. Slovakia hosts US Steels Kosice works which has a coke capacity of 1.7 Mtpa i.e. coking coal requirement of 2.4 Mtpa. Hungary hosts one integrated steelmaker, Dunaferr, situated at Dunaujvavos which requires 1.4 Mtpa coking coal to meet its coke output capacity of ~1.0 Mtpa. The plant is currently supplied by Poland, the Czech Republic and Russia. Austria has one major integrated steelmaker, Voestalpine, which operates one coke oven plant located at Linz and has an annual output capacity of 2.1 Mtpa coke implying a coking coal consumption rate of production is 3 Mtpa. The plant secures rail-delivered supply from Poland, the Czech Republic and Russia. Germany is the largest market for coking coal in Europe with current consumption of coking coal amounting to ~15 Mtpa. For further information, contact: Ben Stoikovich Chief Executive Officer +44 207 478 3900 Artur Kluczny Group Executive Poland +48 22 351 73 80 Sapan Ghai Corporate Development +44 207 478 3900 info@pdz.com.au ABOUT THE DEBIENSKO HARD COKING COAL PROJECT Debiensko is a world class, fully permitted, hard coking coal project located in the Upper Silesian region of Poland in the heartland of the European steelmaking industry. More than 80% of coking coal usage of the European steel making industry is currently imported and the commodity is classified by the European Commission as a Critical Raw Material. A large scale Coal Exploration Target has been estimated based on historical drilling and resource work completed to Polish standards, as well as data from adjacent operating mines. Table 3: Exploration Target Range Depth* Exploration Target Tonnage Range (Mt) All seams to depth approx. 1,100 m 120 Mt 150 Mt Depth 1,100 1,250 m 90 Mt 110 Mt Total 210 Mt 260 Mt** Quality*** Moisture Ash Volatile Matter Sulphur FSI Weighted Average Whole Exploration Target Range (+/-20%) 0.7 1.1% 6.3 9.5% 18.1 27.1% 0.6 0.8% 5 8 *Depths are from surface c250 m above datum **Figures are reported to the nearest 10 Mt which is deemed appropriate for this level of estimation ***Figures are reported to one decimal place which is deemed appropriate for this level of estimation The potential quantity and grade of the exploration targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource. Debiensko is fully permitted with a 50-year mining concession, established on-site facilities including rail, road and power infrastructure, comprehensive historical drilling data and all environmental consents. As a brownfield development project with significant historical capital investment Debiensko is positioned to become a meaningful, regional hard coking coal producer in the near-term. Revised Development Approach Following detailed technical due diligence conducted by Prairie, the Company is confident that a revised development approach would allow for the early mining of profitable coal seams, whilst minimising upfront capital costs. This is likely to include focusing on a limited area of Debiensko to target coal seams that are the most readily accessible. Prairie has proven expertise in defining commercially robust projects and applying international standards in Poland. Prairie has reported an Exploration Target for this target area in accordance with the JORC Code (2012). Infrastructure As part of the transaction, Prairie has acquired approximately 15Ha of land and all related facilities critical to the development of the Project. Significant historical capital investment positions Debiensko to become a meaningful regional hard coking coal producer in the near term. With existing site facilities and necessary infrastructure including power, water, rail and road in addition to the mining concession, environmental consent and local planning all being in place, the Project is considered development-ready. The Debiensko mine was previously connected to the main Polish rail network and a currently inactive railway siding is still in place and in sound condition. Poland is served by ~23,420 kilometres (14,550 mi) of railway tracks using standard international gauge, and provides rail connections to major regional end users of coking coal and for export. Further, asphalt roads surround and connect the Debiensko mine site to the major road network. Appendix Coal Quality & Exploration Target Additional Information Sources of Information Seam thicknesses and depths are derived from the historical borehole cards (strip logs), overlying and adjacent mine workings and the New World Resources Karbonia (NWRK) database. Information on seam quality is taken from the official Polish Government approved Geological Documentation, which was approved by the State in 2009. There are 9 deep boreholes within the concession. In addition data from 15 boreholes and mine workings in the surrounding area have been used in the model. Co-ordinates are in Poland 2000, zone 6 system. Site Visits The site was visited by the Competent Person and other members of the Prairie Team on 6 September 2016. Topography, Elevation, Vegetation and Climate The Upper Silesian Coal Basin is located in the south-western part of Poland and towards the border with the Czech Republic. The concessions are located in a relatively flat-lying area at elevations of between 230 320 mASL (metres above sea level). The Bierawka River flows northwards through the area eventually joining the Odra River. The dominant land use comprises of arable land and partly forested areas with mature and immature trees making up some 80% of the area. The remaining area is largely rural housing with small villages and industrial/post-industrial (mining) development. The climate in Poland is influenced by both European maritime and Eastern Europe continental air masses. The region in the south west of Poland can be categorised as having a cool continental climate. The warmest months are from May to September, with temperatures ranging 100C to 250C. The coldest months are usually from November to March with temperatures in the range 70C to -70C. History of Exploration The Upper Silesian Coal Basin has a long history of exploration and exploitation with work starting in the 18th Century culminating with the drilling of nine deep boreholes between 1982 and 1989. Within the Debiensko Licence area the upper coals in the Upper 300 Series have been extensively worked providing good structural control. Historical Tonnage Estimates The area was assessed in the Geological Documentation carried out in 2009 under the official Polish system for seams 401 to 410 to a depth of 1,400 m. More recently in 2014 and 2015, the previous owner also delineated resource and reserve estimates for the Debiensko deposit based on the historical Polish Government approved Geological Documentation. However, Prairie has opted to estimate tonnages for a smaller area of the Debiensko Project that has the potential to be more readily accessible for early mining. Geological Setting and Coal Seams The Debiensko Licence area is situated in The Upper Silesian Coal Basin which contains a thick, up to 8,500 m, sequence of Upper Carboniferous sediments. These have been subject to folding and faulting during the Variscan Orogeny. The upper surface of the Carboniferous sediments now forms an angular unconformity overlain by strata with ages varying from Permian to Quaternary. Igneous intrusions occur in some parts of the Basin but are not known in the area of Debiensko. The sediments of the 400 Series are mudstone/claystone/siltstone dominated with occasional fine to medium grained sandstones from a few to several 10s of metres in thickness. Seam roofs and floors are generally mudstone/claystone. There are over 30 seams within the series varying from a few centimetres to several metres in thickness. This Estimation has focussed on 16 of the thicker and more laterally consistent seams. Structural Geology The structure of the Coal Measures within the Debiensko licence is generally well known from overworking, the seams dip south east at 2 to 15 degrees. Assessment of Coal Seams Geological modelling GEOVIA MINEX modelling software was used to undertake modelling as it is particularly adept at modelling stratiform deposits such as coal. The model was based on the NWRK database which contains all necessary borehole data (collar location, seam depth and thickness, coal quality data). Prairie has conducted spot checks on the data base to ensure data veracity. 3D modelling procedure was conducted in following stages: 1. Raw data loading and validation; 2.Interpolation of borehole data; 3. Seam structure and coal quality modelling; 4. Fault modelling (3D faulting with various throws); 5. Final model validation; 6. Target estimation. For basic modelling fault location and throw was adopted from latest deposit documentation. The basic Minex model provides information relating to coal extent, quality and quantity and allows a Resource to be reliably estimated. Constraints/Cut Offs For the estimation of the Exploration Target the following constraints have been used a minimum clean coal seam thickness of 1 m depth cut off at c 1,250 m exclusion pillar under Czerwlonka-Leszczyny coal to the south of the Belski Fault (200 m downthrow south) has been excluded Seams designated Polish Type 36 (meta coking coal) have been excluded Future Exploration Prairie Mining has programmed to drill up to five additional boreholes (including a shaft centreline borehole) to improve confidence in seam continuity and confirm quality. Prairie Mining will also conduct a full review and verification of the data and seam correlations. Borehole Co-ordinates X=5558104, Y 6547885, Z = +249.5 m Forward Looking Statements This release may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Prairies expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Prairie, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Prairie makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release. Competent Person Statements The information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results and Exploration Targets is based on, and fairly represents information compiled or reviewed by Mr Jonathan ODell, a Competent Person who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr ODell is a full time consultant of the Company. Mr ODell has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr ODell consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. To view the announcement in full, including all figures and diagrams please refer to Company's website at www.pdz.com.au JORC Code, 2012 Edition Table 1 report template SECTION 1 SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AND DATA (Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.) Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. There are 25 boreholes within the licence and surrounding area. Twenty of these were drilled in the period from 1954 to 1988 with the remaining four dating from a much earlier period. Of these 18 boreholes penetrate all, or part of the 400 Series Coals subject to this assessment. A shaft geotechnical borehole, Debiensko 12 (D 12) was drilled in 2015/2016 and fully cored to 1,303 m depth, approximately 29 m below seam 407/4. Seam thicknesses have been verified from geophysical logs (Gamma, Density) with the exception of Boreholes Szyb Jan III and Szczyglowice III. Data from these boreholes has not been used in the estimation. Coal cores were taken from continuous cores in the Carboniferous sections of the boreholes. Assessment of coal quality and type is based on the results of laboratory tests of the coal samples taken from the borehole cores. All seams equal to, or thicker than 0.40 m were analysed. Dirt (rock) partings in-seam less than 0.05 m were included in the coal sample and analysed with the coal. Dirt partings equal to, or thicker than 0.05 m were not analysed. Average core yield in the historical set used for estimation was variable but deemed fit for purpose in the context of the adjacent workings and efforts have been made to remove anomalous data based on low recoveries. All chemical analyses of coal samples were performed by the Analytical Tests Department of Katowice Geological Enterprise. Coal cores from Debiensko 12 were tested at The Glowny Instytut Gornictwa (GIG) and at The Centralne Laboratorium Pomiarowo Badawcze (CLPB) during 2016. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). The boreholes comprised a combination of open hole and rotary core drilling with continuous coring in the in the coal measure strata. The drilling was carried out by companies from Katowice and Kielce using OP-1200 and ZIF-1200 drilling rigs. Core diameters were mostly 85 mm(PQ) or larger and rarely down to 47.4 mm. Borehole D 12 was drilled PQ using a double wall core barrel. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. During the drilling of the boreholes coal samples were collected from the drill core using methods that were standard for the coal industry in Poland. Core recovery was determined for the coal samples by measuring the lengths of recovered core and weighing broken/fragmentary core and calculating length to provide an overall recovery length and percentage as compared to the drilling depths. Final checks are provided by comparison with thicknesses determined from the suite of geophysical logs. Core recoveries were recorded for each core run and for individual seams. There is no known relationship between recovery and quality. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. The cores have been logged and analysed in sufficient detail to support the Resource Assessment. Cores were analysed by laboratories certified to Polish National Standards and the results are considered fit for purpose. Detailed borehole records are presented in the Borehole Documentation which contains the written description, graphic log (borehole card) and details of analyses and interpretations, including the final accepted seam thicknesses. For borehole D12 additional data of photographs of all core and 3 D scans of intact core are available. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Due to the historic nature of the drilling sampling techniques are not known in detail. However, the available documentation indicates that these will have followed industry standards which are generally considered to be fit for purpose. Cores were not split but sampled as whole core. As noted above, in-seam partings thicker than 0.05 m were not sampled and analysed. Detailed core recovery measurements were made allowing assessment of the representative nature of the core analysed. Quality control procedures relating to other aspects of the analysis are unknown due to the historic nature of the data. Borehole D12 coal cores were cleaned, measured, described and photographed before being sealed in plastic and sent to the laboratories for analysis. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. Laboratory procedures were to the standard industry practices of the time. These are generally considered to be rigorous and uniform. Geophysical logs used in the boreholes include natural gamma, neutron gamma, density (gamma gamma), resistivity and caliper logs. These are of sufficient quality to be used for quantitative (i.e. seam thickness) determinations. Boreholes Szyb Jan III and Szczyglowice III have no geophysical logs and the results have been excluded from the database used for modeling. Due to the historical nature of the drilling and sampling, no information is available on whether QA/QC procedures were employed during sampling and testing. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. Geological supervision over all historic drilling works was performed by employees of the Geological Survey Company from Kielce. The Geological Survey Company also performed detailed core logging and sampling for macro-flora and macro-fauna examination. Twinned boreholes were not used. Primary data is held as hard copy (laboratory certificates etc.) and this has been transferred to electronic spreadsheets by NWRKs Polish consultants KPG and subsequently verified by Prairie Mining. No adjustments have been made to assay data. Borehole D 12 drilling was carried out by PPI Chrobok S. A. and geological supervision and logging by Graft Sp. z.o.o. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Original data was believed to have been on mixture of local grid data and Poland CS92 grid system however collar positions have been converted to Poland CS2000, zone 6 grid system. Detailed topographic maps are available. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied. The spacing of boreholes is shown on the attached drawings (eg, in the order of 1.2 to 2.7 km), which is considered sufficient to support the Resource Assessment due to the structural control and seam continuity demonstrated by overworking and current workings in adjacent collieries. Almost complete structural information is available for Zone A, projected from workings in multiple seams of the 300 Series coals above. In seams where analysis was made for more than one ply the samples have been composited using weighted averages. In cases were seams contain dirt partings that have not been analysed, dummy values for that parting have been used in the current estimation to compile a weighted average quality for that seam. No other adjustments have been made to the data Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. The boreholes are nominally vertical and the coal seams have low to moderate dip and relatively simple structure and so there is no structural or orientation bias to the sampling. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. No sample security information exists in the documentation available to review sample security measures which may have taken place during drilling. However, sampling protocols existing at the time are considered to be rigorous and fit for purpose. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. Historical sampling and data handling techniques were prescriptive and are considered fit for purpose. SECTION 2 REPORTING OF EXPLORATION RESULTS (Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.) Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. Prairie Mining entered into transaction in October 2016 and is now the beneficial owner of 100% of the shares of NWR Karbonia SA (NWRK). NWRK was incorporated on 28 February 2011 in the form of Joint Stock Company (spoka akcyjna), as a legal successor of NWR Karbonia Sp. z o.o. and earlier Karbonia PL Sp. z .o. NWRKs Mining License was issued on 24 June 2008 by the vice Minister of Environment for a period of 50 years and enables conducting mining operations in seams 401/1 to 410. With regard to the mining, Debiensko falls within the control of the Regional Mining Authority in Rybnik. The approved co-ordinates for the area are given in the main body of the report Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. With the exception of the shaft borehole D 12, drilled by NWRK in.2015 the exploration is historical in nature and is described in Section 1 above. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. The deposit is a Carboniferous hard coal consisting of coal seams separated by units of mudstone and sandstone. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: o easting and northing of the drill hole collar o elevation or RL (Reduced Level elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar o dip and azimuth of the hole o down hole length and interception depth o hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Borehole details are tabulated in the main body of the report. Additional data includes paper copies of workings from adjacent mines, Szczyglowice and Knurow for Seams 401/1, 404/9 and 405. Basic coal analyses for workings in Seam 401/1 at Debiensko Detailed mine plans for the overworkings in the 300 Series coals (digitised) Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Coal seams have normally been sampled as one continuous sample. Where the seam has been sampled as two or more plies the sample results have been combined as simple weighted averages. Dirt partings of 5 cm in thickness or less have been sampled with the coal. Partings thicker than 5 cm were not analysed No cut off qualities have been used in this assessment. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg down hole length, true width not known). The boreholes are nominally vertical and the coal seams form part of a stratiform deposit dipping at 2 15 degrees. Intercept lengths used in the model are drill intercept lengths which have been modelled in 3D removing the need to calculate the true thickness. (Note that thicknesses shown on the Polish documentation have been corrected for dip) Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Included in main body of report Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Not applicable. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Not applicable. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Prairie Mining intends to perform additional drilling to decrease the separation of points of observation and upgrade areas of the deposit to Measured status The Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida relies on five commercial banking centers to support 52 branch locations, all of which need access to analytics applications. Like a lot of organizations, the bank wrestles with data integration spanning multiple applications. To make that process more efficient, according to Mark Blanchette, Seacoasts vice president and director of business technology and data management, the bank decided to move away from isolated physical data warehouses. In their place, it built a single logical warehouse using a Denodo Platform that enables end users to self-service their own business intelligence needs. Its about the unification of our assets into one logical platform, he explains. Being able to run analytics on one logical layer provides more flexibility. Banchette admits that it took some effort to educate his colleagues on the value of data virtualization, as they were in the habit of using extract, transform and load (ETL) tools to move data into a data warehouse before being able to analyze it. Thanks to data virtualization, the bank has reduced the amount of time required to create a new reporting application from what used to take between eight months and a year using ETL tools down to four or five months. Just as significantly, the amount of time needed to respond to a new type of reporting request using analytics and reporting tools from SAS Institute and Tableau Software has been reduced from two days to less than two hours. At the moment, Seacoast Bank is supporting 32 virtual data marts, which access both internal and external data sources that generate reports needed for credit administration, risk mitigation, internal operations, and even complying with the Bank Secrecy Act in near real time. Interacting With Data in Real Time Data virtualization is being more widely adopted these days as IT organizations respond to demands for more agility from business executives. Instead of waiting for IT departments to get them reports that could take a week or longer to create and generate, business leaders now want to interact with data in real time to make better business decisions. That requires reacting to rapidly changing business conditions and being able to model what-if scenarios based on actual business data. Armed with that data, business leaders can better assess the risks associated with any decision they might make. In general, Rick Van Der Lans, managing director for R20/Consultancy, says that while data virtualization as a technology has been on a long journey to mainstream adoption, business leaders are starting to realize theres more data than ever that is potentially readily available to them. Rather than making business decisions based on historical data, its now possible to make decisions based on the latest data available from multiple sources. The business wants to be able to gain access to data much more quickly, says Van Der Lans. Most existing data warehouse applications take too long to meet todays business needs. Of course, not having to physically move data into a data warehouse provides all kinds of benefits to the IT organization, starting with not having to manage and reconcile multiple copies of the same data. That not only eliminates master data management issues, it also eliminates most of the headaches IT organizations struggle with when trying to prove the chain of custody that exists around any particular set of data. Add in benefits derived from not having to secure that data and deploy additional IT infrastructure to manage it, and it becomes clear that data virtualization provides a potential return on investment that borders on the incalculable. The primary reason most IT organizations have overlooked data virtualization, Van Der Lans says, is that there are few data virtualization platforms that can be independently deployed across multiple application environments. Without that capability, it becomes difficult to justify a data virtualization initiative that can only be applied to a limited number of applications, he adds. For technology leaders, the ability to more easily apply data virtualization across multiple applications will accelerate a fundamental shift in the role IT organizations play in the management of analytics applications. The goal now is to find a way for IT organizations to provide access to those analytics applications with the least amount of intervention on their part. The search is on for a new leader at NASA. As President Donald Trump took office on Friday, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden stepped down Search is on for new NASA administrator Oklahoma Republican Congressman Jim Bridenstine is rumored to take over NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden resigned on Friday, just as President Donald Trump took office. Bolden has not publicly revealed why he resigned from NASA. Theres naturally concern and curiosity about whats next for the thousands of employees that work at Kennedy Space Center. Bolden was picked by former President Barack Obama to oversee the end of the shuttle program and the rise of commercial space. Its now up to Trump to pick a successor. I would imagine by the summer time well have a new leader who will start putting his or her fingerprints on the agency, said Space Floridas Dale Ketcham. Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot is now the acting administrator until Trump appoints a new leader. The president mentioned space in his inaugural address on Friday. We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, he said. The big decision for Trump is whether he will choose a new administrator that prefers NASA leading missions on its Orion/SLS vehicles or contracting commercial companies like SpaceX and Boeing to handle its missions. Another consideration is if Trump will direct NASA to go back to the moon instead of Mars. There are a lot of questions, but Ketcham said the Space Coast is prepared no matter what. Florida is in a pretty good position to deal with any significant changes in NASA profile, said Ketcham, but theres that uncertainty out there that I think were going to have to deal with. Trump has not released any names for the role of NASA Administrator, but one name that has been floated around Washington is Oklahoma Republican Congressman Jim Bridenstine. Bridenstine is a former executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium and a lieutenant commander with the U.S. Navy. In addition, he introduced the American Space Renaissance Act, which "includes separate sections covering military, civil and commercial policy topics, from changes to responsibilities for space situational awareness to giving the NASA administrator a fixed five-year term," reported Space News. Internally displaced Syrian children who fled Raqqa city stand near their tent in Ras al-Ain province, Syria January 22, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] DAMASCUS -- A face time between the rebels and the Syrian government will take place for the first time in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday to lay the foundation stone of the solution to the long-standing conflict in Syria. The unprecedented vis-a-vis is the result of a fresh Turkish-Russian understanding, as Turkey negotiated on behalf of the rebels it's backing, while Russia for the Syrian government. The deal between both powers was positively received by the conflicting parties, due to the confidence they have in their backers. REBELS ONBOARD AS MAIN STEPS The first step for bringing the crisis to an end is to achieve and consolidate a ceasefire, which will be the cornerstone to any later solution, and categorizing the rebel groups, meaning that the terrorists must be detached from the moderate ones who seek a solution, is also as important. With Turkey and Russia in play, it's highly likely that such a ceasefire will be more serious and real than previous failed attempts, as both powers have the means to make sure their allies on ground abide by the plan. The main goal of the Astana talks which will start on Monday is to reinforce the ceasefire, which has been in place since Dec 30. Bashar Jaafari, the permanent representative of Syria in the UN, and the current head of the government delegation to Astana, said the agenda of the meeting revolves fixating the cessation of hostilities in Syria, and categorizing the rebel groups, by separating rebels who agree to the talks from the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) group, both designated as terrorist organizations that should be eradicated. Also, Syria's Prime Minister Imad Khamis said Sunday that his government is serious about the imminent Syrian talks in Astana, noting that Damascus welcomes any initiative to restore peace. The prime minister said the priority of the meeting is to kick the foreign terrorists out of Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that establishing a ceasefire in Syria is the priority of the negotiations in Astana. He said the conference will be in the shape of negotiations between the government and the rebel groups to reach a ceasefire and allow the rebels to join the reconciliation deals with the government. Analysts believe that the Russian-Turkish agreement will have more viable results, contrary to the previous Russian-American one, which failed as the United States failed to separate the rebels from the terrorist groups. "I think now that Russia and Turkey are on the same page, a message that has been sent to the concerned rebel groups on ground that either you are involved in the solution, or accept a doomed fate," Maher Ihsan, a Syrian journalist and political analyst, told Xinhua. It's now or never, as the conflict has been dragging on for nearly six years, and no winner has emerged, owing to the fact that only a political solution is the answer, he added. 2 p.m. Due to hazardous weather and driving conditions, both Flagstaff Public Library locations closed at 2 p.m. today. 1:15 p.m. All schools in the Flagstaff Unified School District will be closed tomorrow due to severe weather and road conditions, marking their third snow day in a week. However, Tuesday will be a workday for all 10, 11 and 12-month employees. Northern Arizona University will be closing the campus at 3 p.m. with only employees performing essential duties required to stay. A text alert was sent out to students at 11 a.m. announcing the cancellation of classes starting at or after noon. 12:15 p.m. The City of Flagstaff is closing early due to the snow. City Manager Josh Copley authorized the early closure of all non-emergency city operations and services beginning at 2 p.m. City of Flagstaff snow removal crews are working to keep city streets clear for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, but be prepared for snow packed and icy conditions. The city's trash service is also on hold for the rest of the day. Service will remain on the regular schedule for the week. Any areas where trash was not picked up will have their trash picked up tomorrow or as soon as they are accessible. To report missed containers, email Debra Shafer at dshafer@flagstaffaz.gov, or call the office at (928) 213-2110. Call (928) 213-2005 (Public Information Line) to check on any weather related changes with the City schedule. Refer to the City of Flagstaff Website for more snow news information at http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/snownews. 10 a.m. The National Weather Service says the brunt of this third storm will be felt in Flagstaff Monday afternoon and evening, with up to a foot of new snow and strong, gusty winds that will send wind chills plummeting. Areas north and east of Flagstaff will see even stronger winds, with gusts to 50 mph creating blowing snow and dangerous driving conditions in low visibility. FUSD and most Flagstaff-area charters have canceled classes, along with schools in Williams and Grand Canyon. CCC has canceled classes beginning at 10 a.m. NAU and the city of Flagstaff are on a regular schedule. ADOT is reporting no closures of major roads this morning, although most in northern Arizona are covered in snow and ice. Skies will begin to clear Tuesday, but daytime highs will not reach the freezing mark and overnight lows will be in the single digits in Flagstaff. The Weather Service recorded 1.7 inches of snow at Pulliam Airport Sunday, putting Flagstaff over the two-foot mark for this snow event, which began Thursday. 6 p.m. Sunday: FUSD cancels school as Flagstaff due 10-16 inches of snow The Flagstaff Unified School District has canceled school Monday amid a forecast that calls for between 10 and 16 inches of snow to fall in Flagstaff through Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm for the region through Tuesday at 5 a.m. Light snow began falling late Sunday morning and will pick up tonight, with strong winds throughout the storm causing dangerous wind chills. Gusts of up to 50 mph are expected Sunday night and Monday along the Highway 89 corridor in Doney Park north to Cameron and Jacob Lake. Between 2 and 4 inches are expected Sunday night in Flagstaff, 5 to 9 inches Monday, and 2 to 4 inches Monday night. Following are predicted snowfall totals through Tuesday morning: DONEY PARK 6 TO 10 INCHES FLAGSTAFF 10 TO 16 INCHES GRAND CANYON 9 TO 13 INCHES JACOB LAKE 10 TO 16 INCHES NORTH RIM 16 TO 22 INCHES VALLE 4 TO 8 INCHES WILLIAMS 7 TO 11 INCHES Following is the detailed forecast for Flagstaff through the week: Tonight Snow. Areas of blowing snow after 11pm. Low around 28. Breezy, with a southwest wind 14 to 19 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible. Monday Snow. Areas of blowing snow. Temperature falling to around 26 by 5pm. Breezy, with a southwest wind 23 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible. Monday Night Snow. Low around 12. West wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as -1. West wind 9 to 13 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 3. West wind 6 to 9 mph. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 2. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 6. Friday Sunny, with a high near 28. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 13. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 31. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 34. 11:15 a.m. Sunday update: Winter storm warning issued through Tuesday morning The National Weather has upgraded its winter storm watch to an immediate warning for Coconino County as the first flakes begin to fall earlier than expected. The warning runs through Tuesday at 5 a.m. and up to a foot of new snow is expected in the Flagstaff region on top of the 22 inches already officially on the ground. The heaviest snowfall will occur Sunday night through Monday night. Winds will gust above 20 mph in Flagstaff throughout the storm and could top 40 mph at lower elevations to the east. Sunshine will return Tuesday through Thursday but the weather will be unseasonably cold, with daytime highs below freezing and overnight lows in the single digits. Saturday 6 p.m.: Flagstaff snowfall tops 22 inches; foot more on the way Monday Flagstaff snowfall topped out Saturday at 22.8 inches after two rounds of storms, with a third due to dump up to a foot more Monday. The National Weather Service said Forest Lakes recorded 33 inches over the three-day event, with 23 inches falling near Williams, 13 inches at Grand Canyon Village and 11 inches in Doney Park. Strong winds and heavy snow in the White Mountains caused power outages near Pine and Payson, where the Red Cross set up temporary shelters until power could be restored. Despite the heavy snow, ADOT reported no closures of major highways, although a crash on I-17 near Munds Park Saturday afternoon temporarily shut down one northbound lane. The Weather Service says skies will again start to cloud up Sunday night as the third and final storm front arrives from the west. Snow is expected to start falling heavily in Flagstaff Monday morning and into the evening, with 8 to 12 inches possible. The North Rim, including Jacob Lake, could receive 18 to 24 inches. The weather will continue cold through the week, with lows in the single digits Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and highs not getting above freezing through Friday. Near-hurricane-force wind burst across Southeast Texas on Friday, pelting the area with hailstones from powerful thunderstorms that dropped up to five inches of rain in some areas of northern Beaumont, the National Weather Service reported. Strong thunderstorm cells with upper-air disturbances focused the mayhem in a 50-mile swath between Beaumont and Jasper on Friday evening, said Roger Erickson, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Lake Charles, Louisiana, office. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A week before the All Saints Episcopal School's seventh grade robotics team was set to compete in the Texas Computer Education Association's regional competition, the team's members ran into some bad luck. As the team was wrapping up months of preparation to go to the competition, where the students' Lego robot would face off against robots made by students at 11 other schools, the sixth grade robotics team accidently saved over the seventh grade team's programming. The effect was irreversible, said Matt Beard, the English and robotics teacher at the school. Beard said the two team members - Parker Manriquez, 13, and Anna Kodvawala, 13 - jumped into full gear, coming in early, staying late and working during lunch and on breaks to re-program the robot. On Saturday afternoon, Manriquez and Kodvawala's hard work paid off. The All Saints' seventh grade team won second place in the intermediate age division at the competition, which took place inside the Lumberton Performing Arts Center. That means they'll be heading to the state competition in Austin along with the school's eighth grade team, which took first place. "I'm immensely proud," said Beard. Manriquez said he felt "incredibly lucky" about the win. The team was only able to re-program the robot to perform several of the required tasks, he said. Lucky for the team, he said those were the tasks the team drew at random to perform for judges. The event attracted teams from about 15 local elementary, middle and high schools. The annual competition is broken into two different competitions: an invention contest and an arena contest, said Susie Brooks, the TCEA Area 5 director. For both, students construct robots out of Legos and then use computers to code them. Teams are limited to four participants. The competition is broken down into two age categories: the intermediate competition is for grades 4-8 and the advanced competition is for grades 9-12. All Saints' won the arena contest, which consists of three rounds. During which, the robots are scored on their ability to do small tasks like move a ball or unravel fabric. During the competitions, students are allowed to modify their robots between rounds without the help of any adults. The TCEA sends out the possible tasks to be judged at the beginning of the school year so students and teachers can prepare, said Brooks. For the invention contest, students must design a robot with a certain function, and research a business plan for that invention, like how much it will cost to build and how it will compete with other similar products on the market. Edwards-Johnson Memorial Silsbee Middle School won first place in the intermediate division for the inventions competition over five other schools. Team members Allyssa Arlan, 12, Braxton Stegall, 12, and Reese Rodgers, 11, created a robot that would go to landfills and sort out things to recycle. Stegall said they calculated that it would cost $10 a day to rent the robot and would cost $300 to create and repair. He said the team initially wanted to build a light switch, but then decided to tackle a world problem. "It's a better way to get to state, but we're really proud of it," he said. NKrebs@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/natalie_krebs This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UPDATE: San Antonio Police Spokesman Douglas Greene said late Sunday that Converse Police had arrested a 34-year-old man believed to be the suspect who had escaped after a fatal attempted robbery of Kay Jewelers at Rolling Oaks Mall earlier in the day. The man, Jason Matthew Prieto, faces a charge of capital murder and two counts of aggravated robbery. He is being held on a $1.7 million bond. In a news conference just after midnight, Greene said Converse police were called to the intersection of Loop 1604 and Coppergate at about 3:45 p.m. to check out a report of a wreck. When officers arrived, they found a stolen silver vehicle had crashed. There was no one with the vehicle. RELATED: Panicked shoppers, employees take to social media during fatal Rolling Oaks Mall shooting In searching the area nearby, Greene said, Converse officers found the 35-year-old man they believe was driving the vehicle, later identified as Prieto. He was arrested without incident; police said he had two guns on his person. Converse police had been assisting SAPD in searching for the escaped robber, and Prieto was turned over to San Antonio police. Greene said he was interviewed by homicide and robbery detectives, who determined he was the suspect that had escaped. The second suspected robber, who was in critical condition late Sunday at San Antonio Military Medical Center, is believed to have fired the fatal shot that killed a bystander at the jewelry store, Greene said, but added that both men were believed to have fired their weapons at the mall. He said investigators are checking the two guns that the 35-year-old suspect had in his possession to determine whether those were the guns used in the robbery. RELATED: 'Good Samaritan' killed during mall shooting went to get wedding rings cleaned with wife Kay Jewelers has released a statement in response to the robbery. "We are shocked and saddened by the tragic events at the Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio, TX. We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and Team Members and their ability to shop and work in a safe environment." "We are taking all necessary steps in cooperating with local law enforcement. We will continue to do everything possible to support those impacted by this tragic situation." Original story continues: One person is dead and three others injured from gunshot wounds following an attempted jewelry store robbery Sunday afternoon at Rolling Oaks Mall. One other people was also transported to an area hospital with non-gun related injuries, and another treated at the scene, police say. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus called it "a robbery gone really, really bad." McManus said two men attempted to rob Kay Jewelers at the mall and at some point they encountered two citizens who tried to intervene. "There was a fatality," McManus said. "One of the citizens who tried to intervene and stop the robbery, the robbers from escaping, was shot by one of the suspects." RELATED: Area teen recounts tale of fear during fatal shooting at Northeast Side mall "We don't know the order, but there was an exchange of gunfire," police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Salame said. McManus and Salame confirmed that one of the suspects was shot by one of the citizens who had a concealed carry license. McManus said he did not know if the two citizens who intervened were there together, or if they just happened to be there at the same time. He later called those two individuals "good Samaritans." The man killed by the suspects has been identified as Jonathan Murphy, 42, who was with his wife Aimee Murphy at the store having their wedding rings cleaned. Police have not released the identity of the other citizen who intervened. Aimee Murphy said on Monday that her husband Jonathan was not the one in possession of the firearm. After the exchange of gunfire the second suspect then ran away through the mall, shooting as he went, McManus said. Salame said two other people were shot as the suspect fled. Police initially reported that six other people in addition to the suspect and the citizens who intervened had been shot during the incident. RELATED: SAPD: 3 armed men dressed in black rob diamond store at South Park Mall The San Antonio Fire Department said it transported four total people who had been shot to area hospitals. A fifth person who was having chest pains because of the incident was also taken to a hospital, spokesman Woody Woodward said. The sixth was a pregnant woman treated at the scene. Police reported that all those shot were taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center. Of those shot, one was dead on arrival and another had serious injuries, Woodward said. Two others wounded in the shooting had less serious injuries, he said. The suspected robber was in critical condition, police said. The mall was locked down just after the attempted robbery but by 6:40 p.m., police started releasing groups of people from the mall. As of late Sunday, several store managers had been allowed back in the mall to check their stores, Greene said. The mall was expected to be open at its usual hour Monday although some individual stores might open later. "We are looking at the possibility that these are the same suspects in a smash-and-grab robbery that occurred Friday at South Park Mall," Salame said. "They are very similar incidents, the way the store was targeted, and two Hispanic males with the same clothing description." Earlier in the day, Greene had noted that the robbery at Rolling Oaks had been unsuccessful. "He didn't get away with anything," Greene said of the escaped suspect."It was an unsuccessful, attempted robbery." The San Antonio Fire Department active incidents page reported at least 28 units responded to the mall's address at 3:30 p.m. "We were in the mall, we heard the shots and just started running. It was chaos," said Benjamin Arsate, who was near the food court when he heard the shots. "I mean where do you go to have fun now? This is insane. It's like nowhere's safe anymore," he said. Maggie Hernandez was with her daughter Tera, 18, at the mall when they heard of the shooting. "It was scary," said Tera, who had been crying as they escaped the mall. "We started running out, too. You don't want to be caught inside," said Maggie Hernandez. They the huddled with a group of Dillard's employees behind a car outside, terrified. "It's a learning experience right?" said Maggie. "If you have this experience, then either hide or find a nearest exit." Mayor Ivy Taylor later arrived at the scene, along with District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher, and lauded the quick and efficient coordination between law enforcement units. But also lamented violent nature of big cities. "I know here in San Antonio we often feel insulated because we have such a great community, but we've seen an uptick in crime in big cities across the country and unfortunately we're not immune to that," she said. Gallagher said this incident shouldn't be grouped with the active shooting incidences in public places that have made headlines across the country in recent years. "I just urge everyone to remain calm and continue their routines as usual, and to have confidence that law enforcement officials are certainly working diligently to ensure their safety," Taylor said. This report will be updated as more information becomes available. Staff writers Jeremy Gerlach, Jim Kiest, Alia Malik and Tyler White contributed to this report Columbia-based University of Missouri Health Care named Jonathan Curtright interim CEO, effective Feb. 25, 2017. Here are four notes: 1. Mr. Curtright currently serves as the organization's COO. He will continue in this role in addition to serving as interim CEO. 2. He replaces Mitch Wasden, who is leaving to take on the executive vice president and CEO positions at Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University. 3. Prior to joining University of Missouri Health Care in February 2016, Mr. Curtright was COO at Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health. 4. He has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, and was previously COO at University of Kentucky HealthCare in Lexington. Velinda Stevens, president of Kalispell (Mont.) Regional Healthcare, died early Sunday morning after a prolonged battle with cancer, KRH Board Chairman Curtis Lund announced. "We've lost a visionary leader, and the people of Montana have lost one of their most passionate healthcare advocates," said Mr. Lund. "Those of us who had the good fortune of knowing and working with Velinda will miss our treasured friend and inspiring mentor. She leaves behind an incredible legacy that will impact this community and this organization for years to come." Mr. Lund said KRH is confident the transition of leadership will have minimal disturbance to the operations of the organization and not disrupt patient care. As part of the hospital board's policy for transitioning leadership in the case of an immediate vacancy of the president's position, Mr. Lund will assume many of Ms. Stevens' responsibilities as interim CEO while the board conducts a formal search for her successor. Ms. Stevens' family has established The Velinda Stevens Endowment for Women and Children through the Kalispell Regional Healthcare Foundation to support her vision for the expansion of these healthcare services. "We are grateful for the outpouring of support from the Kalispell Regional Healthcare family and from those across the State of Montana," said a family representative, according to a hospital news release. "Velinda loved this community, and it's humbling to know how much this community loved her in return. Thank you for respecting our privacy at this time as we cope with her loss." Bioelectronic medicine uses device technology to control cell behavior by analyzing and reproducing electrical signals sent out by the nervous system to the rest of the body. The technology, still in experimental stages, will not only transform treatment options for disease and injury, it could also cause significant disruptions to the drug industry, according to Kevin Tracey, MD, president and CEO of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y. Dr. Tracey laid the groundwork for bioelectronic medicine in the late 90s through an accidental finding in his lab. Since then, he's led the study on the molecular basis for inflammation and with colleagues developed implantable devices capable of sending electrical signals to the body that limit inflammation. Along with his role as president of the Feinstein Institute the research hub of Great Neck, N.Y.based Northwell Health Dr. Tracey serves as director of the Institute's Laboratory of Biomedical Science and as a professor of molecular medicine and neurosurgery at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in Hempstead, N.Y. Dr. Tracey spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about the development of bioelectronic medicine and its potential to revolutionize healthcare. Responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity. Question: When did bioelectronic medicine get its start? Dr. Kevin Tracey: The real discovery that launched this field came from an accidental experiment in my lab in 1998. We were working on a molecule to block inflammation, which is a very important issue. Drugs that block inflammation are a $50 billion market. We put the anti-inflammatory molecule into the brains of mice and rats and found it blocked inflammation, as expected. The accident, or surprise of the study, was that the same drug in the brain also blocked inflammation in the body of the animal. We deduced the brain was turning off inflammation in the spleen and liver by sending anti-inflammatory signals in the nerves. This unexpected discovery was the beginning of bioelectronic medicine. Q: Some of drugmakers' most profitable drugs are used to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and Chrohn's disease. With the cost of prescription drugs steadily rising, how do you think bioelectronic medicine will affect the cost of healthcare? KT: I think that's an open question. It will be a disruptive phase of the business and new paths will need to be charted on the pricing of bioelectronic devices. All of this will come after we ensure the efficacy and safety of these devices. While it is too early to give a number, big bets are placed on bioelectronic devices' disruption of healthcare. I applaud the effort of GlaxoSmithKline and Verily Life Sciences a subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet for investing $715 million into this idea with its new biotech. It places a very high evaluation on the current field and shows at least one company thinks it will influence the finances of the drug world. Q: To what extent do you see bioelectronic treatments replacing drug treatments in the future? KT: There is already a huge demand for modulating devices like cardiac stents or pacemakers. I think patients will demand bioelectronic treatments once they are proven effective because people hate the side effects of drugs. I get emails everyday from people inquiring about bioelectronic treatment because they hate side effects. Historically, devices become available in Europe first. We might see them come to Europe in the next few years and to the U.S. soon after that. The future potential of bioelectronic medicine is based on understanding molecular mechanisms. That's the key making the devices doesn't drive the field. In the next 20 years, we'll see basic science unravel new basic mechanisms. That's what the drug industry does. It always begins with a basic mechanism. Historically, the device industry hasn't done that. Instead, it's begun with the device. With bioelectronic medicine, we're beginning to take a basic mechanism, just like the drug industry, and drive toward a molecular target not just a mechanism. Q: What excites you the most about the field of bioelectronic medicine? KT: Meeting the patients that have already benefited from it. I've worked on inflammation and neuroscience for 30 years, written hundreds of papers and started several companies. Thats all been wonderful, but none of it replaces the feeling you get from meeting a patient who couldn't get dressed on his own, go to work or play with his kids before being treated with bioelectronic medicine. Seeing how the field has benefited patients and knowing it's just the tip of the iceberg is most exciting. It's just the beginning. The potential for this field to benefit millions of people is palpable. To access an interview with Chad Bouton, managing director of the Feinstein Institute's Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, click here. More articles on supply chain: Competing EpiPen device offered at no cost for patients, but $4,500 for payers Pharma CEOs respond to Trump's attack on the industry: 9 quotes Mallinckrodt Pharma agrees to pay $100M to settle price hike suit: 4 takeaways President Donald Trump spoke with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) at an inaugural luncheon Friday and requested the two meet to discuss the high price of prescription drugs, reports The Hill. Rep. Cummings is an outspoken advocate of government action to combat high drug costs. He has partnered with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to introduce legislation against high drug costs. President Trump's apparent willingness to collaborate with Rep. Cummings upends the GOP's typical position against government regulation of drug prices. At a Jan. 11 press conference, President Trump called for Medicare to negotiate drug prices a stance most Republican lawmakers oppose, reports The Hill. If President Trump and Rep. Cummings do create legislation on drug prices, it's unclear what could actually pass in a Republican-controlled Congress, according to the report. More articles on supply chain: Competing EpiPen device offered at no cost for patients, but $4,500 for payers Pharma CEOs respond to Trump's attack on the industry: 9 quotes Mallinckrodt Pharma agrees to pay $100M to settle price hike suit: 4 takeaways Bosses at JP Morgan, HSBC and UBS all confirmed the UK's decision to scrap single market access will have major implications for their operations here Northern Ireland businesses are set to face a stark crisis in securing finance as major global lenders begin moving operations outside the UK due to Brexit, it's been claimed. Kieran McGarrigle, who heads up the law firm Arthur Cox's finance team in Belfast, was speaking after two major global lenders, HSBC and UBS, announced they would each move 1,000 staff from the UK following the exit from the EU. He warned it could return the property market "to 2008 levels" amid concerns that major banks won't provide the liquidity to keep Northern Ireland growing. Bosses at JP Morgan, HSBC and UBS all confirmed the UK's decision to scrap single market access will have major implications for their operations here. Mr McGarrigle said Brexit could create a liquidity challenge: "The issue is particularly pertinent to Northern Ireland because of the way financial institutions are regulated. "The financial services sector is, quite rightly, a heavily regulated sector in the UK. However, much of the regulation originates from the EU, which we are about to leave. "Currently, if a lender is regulated in the UK, they can operate across Europe, but will these businesses really stay in the UK after we leave the EU? This seems unlikely. "Northern Ireland is in a unique position in that, although it is based in the UK, some of its major lenders operate from the Republic or other jurisdictions outside the UK. This could have serious implications for Northern Ireland going forward." Greggs said there will be less jobs in manufacturing but new roles created in more shops and a bigger distribution network About 100 jobs could be lost at a Scottish bakery under restructuring plans by Greggs, a union has warned. Usdaw said it has been told the company " propose to restructure their manufacturing operations by concentrating production into centres of excellence", with a potential loss of jobs at the Clydesmill bakery in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire. Greggs said there will be less jobs in manufacturing but new roles created in more shops and a bigger distribution network. A consultation period has started with people affected. The union said staff are "very concerned" and talks are to be held with management. Dave Gill, Usdaw national officer, said: "Greggs bakery staff are now very concerned about the future after this announcement. "Usdaw will now enter into consultation talks with the company, where we will interrogate the business case for their proposals. "Our priorities are to save as many jobs as possible, maximise employment in the business and seek the best possible deal for our members. "In the meantime, we are providing our members with the representation, support and advice they need at this difficult and uncertain time." A spokeswoman for Greggs said: "Following the announcement in March 2016 regarding our planned 100 million investment in our supply chain over the next five years, we are now planning the next phase of this investment. "This will increase and reshape our manufacturing and distribution capabilities, and enable us to support shop expansion in substantially more than 2,000 shops as we continue to compete effectively in the growing food-on-the-go market. "Our proposal is that Clydesmill becomes a combined distribution and production centre of excellence with increased shop distribution capacity for Scotland and production focused on certain products. "These proposals will create new jobs in shops, logistics and distribution as we grow shop numbers, however there will be fewer jobs in manufacturing. "We have entered into a period of consultation with our people regarding the proposals." Labour faced accusations that it was being "cannibalised" by Ukip and the Liberal Democrats, as Jeremy Corbyn again refused to say whether he will force his MPs to back Brexit. Amid threats of a rebellion, Mr Corbyn said he would "ask" Labour MPs to respect the result of the EU referendum and back the triggering of Article 50 to begin the formal Brexit process. Prime Minister Theresa May could be forced to seek parliamentary approval for the formal step needed to start Brexit negotiations if the Government loses its Supreme Court appeal next week. The Labour leader is facing a revolt, with suggestions that dozens of MPs in Remain-voting seats as well as peers could vote against triggering Article 50. Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg criticised the "absolute lack of clarity" from Labour. But asked if he would impose a full three-line whip on his MPs, compelling them to back it, Mr Corbyn told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "I will ask all Labour MPs to respect the result of the referendum and allow Article 50 to be opened so we start that two-year, probably longer, period of negotiation." Mr Corbyn highlighted the difficulties Labour has with MPs representing both metropolitan Remain-voting constituencies and working class Brexit-backing areas. He said the party will put down amendments to any legislation to pave the way for invoking Article 50 in an effort to get guarantees on issues like workers' rights, environmental protection and access to the single market. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer backed Mr Corbyn's assessment of the situation. Asked on ITV's Peston on Sunday whether the leader would impose a three-line whip, he said: "That's not yet been determined. "We're talking to colleagues, we don't know the outcome of the case. "But I'm not going to pretend that this isn't difficult for the Labour Party. There are colleagues in the PLP (parliamentary Labour Party) who are very concerned, as I am, about the outcome of the referendum." Sir Keir said Labour also wants a vote on the final deal of Britain's future relationship with the European Union. He added: "I do not accept the proposition that on the second vote, which is the one that really counts, the new relationship, that we should have a vote that is a rock and a hard place. "I don't accept that, and we'll be fighting that." Mr Clegg said he would also bring forward amendments, including one to secure a referendum on the final deal. But he warned Labour could be finished as an electoral force by the Brexit issue. "I think there's a very real prospect now of the fate that occurred to the Labour Party north of the border, in one shape or form, will now happen south of the border," the former Lib Dem leader told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show. "I think the Labour Party is in danger of being cannibalised by Ukip at one end and the Liberal Democrats at the other. "I think this ambivalence and this absolute lack of clarity from Labour about the biggest issue of our time, sort of dithering rather helplessly in the middle of the road, is only going to make their fate even worse." Tory MP Maria Caulfield said: " Labour are hopelessly divided and confused over how to respond to the referendum result. "They can't agree over whether we should leave the single market, can't say whether they will have an agreed position in Parliament - and have said this morning they will also find new ways of frustrating the process of leaving. "The Prime Minister has set out a plan to build a global Britain after exit and has been clear that Parliament will be properly engaged in the process and will vote on the final deal. "Labour are flailing about, irrelevant, incompetent and completely out of touch with ordinary working people." Hikes in rates for rural businesses risk triggering an "uprising", a Tory MP has warned. Glyn Davies said communities risk being "destroyed" if increases under the latest revaluation put countryside firms out of business. Rural enterprises with large footprints such as horse riding schools, vineyards or stud farms are facing unfair increases in the amount of tax they pay under a revaluation "calculated at a desk", according to campaigners. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) sets the values of properties based on their rental value on the open market every five years. However pressure on rural businesses has led to calls for the current "bricks and mortar" valuation method to be overhauled. Mr Davies, the MP for Montgomeryshire, called for greater transparency on how the rates are calculated. "I can see this becoming a very, very big issue. There is going to be a bit of an uprising. If we see businesses closing ... it will destroy local communities," he told The Times. "Just what are the instructions to the district value assessors? They have got to go on actual rental value, not some notional rental value based on space." The Tory backbencher's warning comes after the Government was urged to carry out a "root-and-branch re-appraisal" of the valuations in the House of Lords. Sarah Phillips, director of participation at the British Horse Society, told The Times: "A riding school is not the same as, say, a spanner factory. You can't simply just squeeze more horses and riders into the space (to cover higher bills). "There is a safety issue. How can they justify these increases? We want an explanation from the Valuation Office Agency of how they arrived at the unit valuations they have." The VOA says it approaches all classes of property fairly and equally, and always uses recognised methods to set rateable values. Certain properties are exempt from business rates, including agricultural land and buildings, buildings used for training or welfare of disabled people or buildings used for religious worship. The Department of Communities and Local Government said no small business will see an increase of more than 5% this year, while 3.6 billion is being spent on relief. A spokesman said: "This revaluation improves the fairness of rate bills by making sure they more closely reflect the property market. "Nearly three-quarters of business in England will see no change, or even a fall - including 600,000 who from April will have their bills cut altogether." Simon Hart, chairman of the Countryside Alliance, told The Times: "Some of these rates decisions are mathematical exercises calculated at a desk that don't take into account the individual business. "It strikes me as peculiar to push some people into giving up their business or having to downscale. "That cannot be in the interest of the collecting authority as it will mean less tax going to the Treasury and that is surely not the intention." Alex Hynes, the current managing director of Northern, will take over from Phil Verster as head of the ScotRail Alliance The head of northern England's leading trains operator is to take over at the helm of ScotRail. Alex Hynes, the current managing director of Northern, will take over from Phil Verster as head of the ScotRail Alliance. Mr Verster stood down as managing director on Friday to take up the same role at the East West rail project, a new line linking Oxford and Cambridge. He had been in the post for less than two years during a turbulent period for the company, which has faced calls to be stripped of its 7 billion 10-year franchise to run Scotland's railways after being ordered to put an improvement plan in place when performance slipped below contracted standards last year. Mr Hynes has nearly 20 years' experience in the industry and has been managing director of the Northern franchise for the past three and half years, during which he is said to have "delivered their best-ever customer satisfaction scores as well as record levels of positive employee engagement". He said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to lead the ScotRail Alliance, this cutting-edge arrangement, which brings together the management of ScotRail and Network Rail to deliver the very best for customers. "The ScotRail Alliance is delivering one of the largest programmes of investment, change and modernisation since the railway was built. "To be part of that, and the plans to vastly improve services and capacity for customers, is hugely exciting for me." Dominic Booth, managing director of Abellio UK, said: "Alex has a proven track record delivering rail improvement and investment programmes, and is the ideal replacement. "We are currently investing in a fleet of 70 new faster, longer and greener trains, which will transform the rail travel experience of our customers and we are delighted to have Alex in place to lead this work." Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, added: "We are very pleased that Alex is joining Network Rail to lead the ScotRail Alliance. "This is one of the most pressurised, high-profile roles in the whole railway industry and we look forward to helping him succeed." Last week, Mr Verster, 53, appeared before a Holyrood committee and revealed Scottish Government plans to give a week's free train travel to ScotRail yearly and monthly season ticket holders could collapse as it relies on 1.8 million from a fund controlled by his firm which was earmarked for other initiatives. Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby MSP said: "T he relationship between ScotRail and the SNP appears to be at breaking point, so Mr Hynes will have a lot of work to do repairing that in the interests of Scotland's passengers. "Passengers are fed-up with delayed, overcrowded and cancelled trains. ScotRail's performance simply isn't good enough. "Last week it was revealed that ScotRail don't even know how to pay for the SNP's fare plan, which looks like it was drawn up on the back of a fag packet." Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Mike Rumbles MSP said: "Passengers want to see improvement and would have been angered to hear that the SNP had not even agreed on the spend of 1.8 million to pay for a week's free travel when those funds had already been earmarked for rail improvement services such as disabled access at railway stations such as at Insch in my North East region. "The transport minister and the new managing director need to act quickly to fix the recent poor performance of ScotRail which has brought misery to thousands of passengers." A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "As stated on Friday, we are grateful to Phil Verster for his contribution and we wish him well in his new role. "Alex Hynes is very experienced and highly regarded in the industry, and we look forward to working with him. "We will arrange an early meeting with Mr Hynes upon his arrival to discuss how we can assist Abellio ScotRail as they strive to further improve performance and the overall passenger experience. "We will shortly confirm more details of a week's free travel in 2017 for season ticket holders and have a series of further positive announcements and initiatives in the pipeline that we will deliver in partnership with the industry." The Manor Formula 1 team is facing a race against the clock to secure its survival as the cash available to pay its 200 staff is set to run out within days. The group, which collapsed into administration earlier this month, requires new owners to inject money into the team so it can pay for the completion of testing before the start of the Formula 1 season in March. It is understood that while several bidders have expressed an interest in the group, none have submitted formal offers with money to pay staff quickly evaporating. A spokesman for the group's administrator FRP Advisory said in a statement: "Administrators informed staff earlier this month that they were comfortable that finances were in place to pay salaries until the end of January. "This has allowed ongoing talks with interested parties to continue into this week. "While there is still nothing further to announce, we can confirm that talks continue with all parties in an attempt to secure the necessary funding to allow work on testing for entry into the 2017 season to continue." If Manor fails to find a rescuer by January 31, then a number of the 200 staff could face the axe. The spokesman added: "Everyone involved in the talks is focused on the team being in the best possible position for the first race of the 2017 season. "However, the administrators have to keep a continuous review of the financial position of the business." Manor had previously been backed by energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick, the founder of OVO. FRP has said that the team's participation in the 2017 Formula 1 season, which begins on March 26 in Melbourne, Australia, will "depend on the outcome of the administration process and any related negotiations with interested parties in what is a very limited window of opportunity". Administrators pointed out that Manor Grand Prix Racing Ltd, which has the rights for Manor's participation in F1, is not in administration. Kings Of Leon said they 'can't wait' for the show Kings Of Leon and Little Mix will perform at this year's Radio 1's Big Weekend festival in Hull. Grime artist Stormzy will join the US rockers and girl band at the event, which will be held on May 27 and 28. The festival moves location each year and will take place at Hull's Burton Constable Hall in 2017 as the city celebrates its title as the UK's City of Culture. Kings Of Leon said: "Looking forward to seeing you in Hull for Radio 1's Big Weekend at the end of May. "Huge thanks to Radio 1 for leading the charge in helping us get our music to our fans, it's going to be a great show, can't wait." Martin Green, director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, said he was "thrilled". He added: "Bringing this major national event with some of the biggest names in the music industry is a massive coup for the city and confirms its growing international profile as the place to be." The details of the event were revealed by DJ Nick Grimshaw on his BBC breakfast show. Grimshaw said: "I'm super excited for Big Weekend as it kicks off festival season and always has a mega line-up of the best live music. "Roll on May - I can't wait to party in Hull alongside Kings Of Leon, Little Mix, Stormzy and loads more." Now in its 14th year, Radio 1's Big Weekend has previously hosted acts such as Snoop Dogg, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. Dropping children off at the school gates is as much contact as some parents get with their child's education. But parental participation in education has a direct impact on how well children do at school, whether that be primary or secondary. And that's why PTA UK, the charity which supports parent teacher associations (PTA) nationwide, is urging more parents to get involved with their child's school, for both the good of the school and their child. Michelle Doyle Wildman, policy and communications director at PTA UK, explains that the positive impact of parental involvement in their child's education can range from volunteering to reading in the classroom, telling the class about their career, accompanying children on school trips, helping to raise funds, or contributing to discussions about school policy. She says: "Evidence tells us how much parents matter, and we know that parental participation in education has a direct impact on how well children do at school. "So, knowing how much mums and dads get out of it too, we want to encourage everyone to take the plunge into a PTA in 2017." A recent survey of PTA UK members found PTAs raise an average of 7,000 a year, with a quarter raising more than 10,000. The money has been spent on resources including books, playground equipment, tablets and school trips. "Some people only associate PTAs with fundraising, but there are many, many other activities involved," says Doyle Wildman. "Yes, showpiece events like school fairs help resource important extras for the school that otherwise it wouldn't be able to afford. But what's driving the parents in the PTAs is that they want their child's school to be brilliant, not that they want be a fundraiser." Doyle Wildman says really successful schools have parents, teachers and children collaborating with a PTA. "PTAs are a force for good in all our schools," she says. "Sometimes it's money, but sometimes it's effort - it's about parents physically supporting the school in many different ways, and PTAs are the main coordinator of parent volunteers in any school." Parent volunteering can be anything from welcoming new parents into the school, to selling second-hand uniforms and organising reading in class for younger children. "PTAs do all these things," says Doyle Wildman, "and it's a bit unfortunate that their reputation seems to be mainly about fundraising, when they do so much more." Mothers tend to be much more involved with PTAs than fathers, but Doyle Wildman points out: "Dads would love to be more involved and they sometimes struggle, but if they have IT skills, for example, they could use them to help the PTA, rather than manning the tombola at the school fair. "They can support the school less in the playground and school and more at home in the evenings." PTA UK has found its volunteers spend around three million hours a year helping in schools nationwide - roughly equivalent to 20m worth of time invested in children's education that wouldn't be provided in any other way. But as well as helping to improve their child's school, the research found that parents engage with schools because they enjoy spending time with other families at school-organised events such as fairs, quiz nights and parties. "If you want to volunteer, but fear you're going to be roped in forever and it's going to take up too much time, it doesn't have to be that way," promises Doyle Wildman. "You can help for one hour a year if you like, or an hour a week. Getting involved in whatever way you can makes a massive difference to how kids do at school. "As much as you feel you've got a lot on your plate, there's a lot to be won by getting actively involved. It sends a great signal to kids that their parents value their education." Reading: As well as reading with your own child, spread the joy by offering to read with other children at school. Research shows you can achieve similar benefits by talking to older children about social and political matters. Ask for information and contacts for the PTA at your school office. Join your school PTA, parent forum or board of governors: If you're enthusiastic about your school, your child is also likely to be - that's role-modelling at its best. Be a virtual supporter: If you can't help in person at school, there may be plenty you can do to help on your laptop, like setting up the class or PTA Facebook page, or responding to e-consultations or surveys. For more information, visit www.pta.org.uk File Photo Last night Martin McGuinness retired from politics for health reasons. End. 16/9/2016. Day 2 Sinn Fein Think-In. Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, with Michelle O'Neill MLA and chair of the Stormond Health Committee on his left, leads the partys TD's, Senators, MLA's, MEP's and MP's into mornings Sinn Fein Think-In, in the City North Hotel, Gormanstown, County Meath. Photo: RollingNews.ie FILE PICTURE Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th May 2011 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes/ Press Eye. Northern Ireland's main parties have announced the names of the ministers in the new NI Assembly. Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Monday 17th June 2013 - Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye. Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet President Barack Obama as he arrives in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit in Enniskillen. Also pictured are Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie; Minister of State Mike Penning and Michelle Obama. FILE PICTURE Press Eye 30-07-2015 The Stormont agriculture and rural development committee is holding a special meeting at Stormont to discuss the dairy farming crisis in Northern Ireland. Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill has called for intervention at European level to tackle the problem. Dairy farmers have warned they will go out of business if they do not receive higher prices for their milk. Picture Colm O'Reilly 30-07-2015 Press Eye FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Monday 17th June 2013 - Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye. Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet President Barack Obama as he arrives in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit in Enniskillen. Also pictured are Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie; Minister of State Mike Penning and Michelle Obama FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd December 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Michelle O'Neill with other Sinn Fein leaders during a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont after todays Northern Ireland talks concluded. FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 24th May 2016 - Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont with his new Minister Michelle O'Neill. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. FILE PICTURE 4rd September 2015 Fatmers and producers from all sections of the food producing industry hold protest at Stormont regarding the ongoing crisis concerning the price of food. Northern Ireland's Department of Rural Development Michelle O'Neill addresses the protest. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Video grab taken from the Northern Ireland Assembly of Michelle O'Neill speaking during an Assembly Plenary Session at Stormont in Belfast. : PA Wire G8 Summit ...Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Sunday 16th June 2013 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Belfast International Airport this evening as G8 leaders from around the world begin to arrive in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit. Also pictured are Minister of State Mike Penning, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato and Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom. Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Michelle pictured with Martin McGuinness, and Gerry Adams Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Outgoing leader in the North Martin McGuinness Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Photograph by Presseye/ Stephen Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north.Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Outgoing leader in the North Martin McGuinness Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Long before Martin McGuinness became ill, the front-runners to take over when he eventually retired were household names. Conor Murphy was the odds-on shot with John O'Dowd the clear second favourite. Now, it appears to the public as if Michelle O'Neill has nudged ahead in the final furlong and snatched victory from her two male colleagues. But Ms O'Neill was never an outsider. Anyone who has followed her form recently would have tipped her for the top spot in Sinn Fein here. It was so obvious. She is a grassroots activist who has served her time assiduously, coming through the ranks of local government to the Assembly. She is personally free of IRA baggage, yet her republican pedigree is impeccable. Her family were prominent in the civil rights' movement in Tyrone. Her late father Basil was a republican prisoner. Her cousin, Tony Doris, was one of three IRA men shot dead by the SAS in Coagh in 1991. He is immortalised in an Irish Brigade song, 'Ambush at the Bridge'. O'Neill has worked ferociously in two unglamorous ministries - agriculture and health. She took on the latter with gusto, never once complaining of being landed with a poisoned chalice. Look back over her six years in ministerial office and you're hit by how much she's done. Her smiling, friendly visage stands out among a sea of suits in photographs taken in every nook and cranny of Northern Ireland. When Fermanagh was hit by floods last January, Ms O'Neill sprung swiftly into action. She was out in her wellies, touring the area, meeting farmers and residents. She's a country woman herself - from the village of Clonoe, just outside Coalisland. So she won't alienate the more old-fashioned rural Sinn Fein voter who distrust the party's city slickers. Yet she's clearly on Sinn Fein's liberal wing and can appeal to young voters who may be considering People Before Profit. She wasn't even Health Minister a month when she announced that she was lifting the gay blood ban which the three previous DUP incumbents had retained. She received a ringing endorsement from Rainbow Project director, John O'Doherty, for that. But it is her ordinariness which appealed most to her party. People relate to her. To the average nationalist voter, she isn't a remote political figure. She's "one of us". Like Arlene Foster just a year ago, she is taking over her party at the most opportune moment. Mrs Foster brought the DUP to their most successful ever Assembly election last May when they romped home with an unprecedented 38 seats. As things stand, Sinn Fein seems set for a great election. The party has reinvented itself with its new hard line on the DUP. Its grassroots are reinvigorated and previously disillusioned voters seem to be buying into the changed direction without even asking if that makes the Shinners' stance for the past 10 years a total failure. Sinn Fein erected 'Stand Against Corruption' election posters at the weekend. While the DUP deserves to be in the dock over the 'cash for ash' scandal, Sinn Fein is hardly in any position to challenge corruption. South Armagh Provisionals brutally beat to death Paul Quinn, during peace-time, and are still covering up his murder. And Gerry Adams withheld vital information from police in a child abuse case for nine years. That remains the reality despite how attractive the party will appear under Ms O'Neill. In terms of her career path, she shares many similarities with Mrs Foster. Both women entered politics at a young age. The DUP leader joined the Young Unionists at Queen's University. As a teenager, Ms O'Neill assisted her father with constituency work in his role as a Dungannon councillor. And both women, while clearly talented in their own right, had the benefit of powerful political mentors. Mrs Foster was the anointed successor of Peter Robinson who believed she shared his vision for the DUP. The bond between Martin McGuinness and Ms O'Neill is unbelievably strong. She has been his right-hand woman at Stormont for several years. They aren't just political allies but have an almost father and daughter-type relationship. Ms O'Neill is also staunchly loyal to Gerry Adams. Her uncle Paul Doris, a former Noraid national president, has criticised media negativity towards Mr Adams who, he insists, will "go down in history as one of the great ones". But behind-the-scenes what is Ms O'Neill herself like? We know far more about that other Michelle in Sinn Fein - Michelle Gildernew, also from Tyrone and with a very similar background. Ms Gildernew once seemed set for a leadership role but has been sidelined by the top brass. "I've always rated Michelle O'Neill," says an SDLP MLA. "She can think on her feet in the chamber. She's not lost if she has to depart from the script, she can ad lib. She's pleasant, although she'd never reveal too much about herself. "She wouldn't be anyway near as chatty as Michelle Gildernew. But I couldn't say anything bad about her. In a different world, I'd be heading for a drink with her after work." A civil service source says: "Michelle O'Neill is a hard-working minister, a real grafter on top of both her briefs. She is friendly but she's no pushover. She can at times be sharp in her manner. "She is popular but she won't be frightened to throw her weight around with her own MLAs if she has to. She will be no pushover." Stormont insiders are looking forward to observing her relationship with Mrs Foster. "To put it diplomatically, she won't replicate Martin McGuinness's easy-going approach," a source says. "Arlene won't get away with a single thing." A republican source describes Ms O'Neill as "totally on message with the leadership". He says: "Michelle isn't an independent thinker or strategist. That's not to detract from her abilities because she is capable. But she's very much a front of house woman." O'Neill's big test within the party came last October when she launched her 10-year plan for the NHS following the Bengoa report. She did wall-to-wall media interviews on a difficult subject and never fluffed a line. Even with the BBC's Stephen Nolan, who has previously caught out her colleagues Conor Murphy and Chris Hazzard, she didn't trip up. Still, Ms O'Neill is by no means a proven political performer on an intensive daily basis. And the fate of Mrs Foster, who has fallen so spectacularly in public opinion in such a short time, won't be lost on republicans. Sinn Fein's new leader in Northern Ireland will have mentally filed away all the mistakes under the heading, 'Do not repeat'. The widow of murdered Bangor teacher Gary Ferguson has pleaded with the chief suspect Harris Binotti to hand himself into the authorities. In an emotional plea, grieving Supatchaya Sichompor urged Mr Binotti to "give yourself up". Her husband was found with chest and head injuries at the apartment of fellow English teacher Mr Binotti in Yangon back in November. The 47-year-old was living in Myanmar (formerly Burma) with his wife and four-year-old son Jeremy at the time of his murder. Local police said Mr Binotti (25) - originally from Dumfries - took a flight to Thailand the day before Mr Ferguson's body was found. Gary's brother, Martin Ferguson said last week that his family won't properly grieve until his killer is behind bars. He said: We're still in a lot of pain and shock. For us, we want to get to a place where we can start mourning the loss." The victim's widow has made an emotional plea for Mr Binotti to give himself up. Speaking to the The Irish Sun on Sunday, Ms Sichompor said: "Please give yourself up. You can run but you cannot hide forever. Please." She added: "Our lives have changed dramatically and we will have no closure until justice has been done. "I want justice to take place, for the Myanmar and British governments to do more to catch the suspect, Harris Binotti." Mr Binotti, also known as Harris Stockbridge, was born in France but raised in Dumfries, Scotland. He studied engineering at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen but dropped out after 18 months. Police in Myanmar have said he is their chief suspect in the case, while detectives in Scotland said they were continuing to engage with the authorities in the south east Asian country. "We are are not in a position to discuss the status or confirm publicly the whereabouts of a specific individual who may be the subject of a police investigation in another country," Scottish police commented. "We are continuing to engage with Myanmar authorities via recognised channels through Interpol. "No formal or legal request has been received by Police Scotland from the Myanmar authorities. "Should any request be received we will take the appropriate steps and we continue to monitor the full circumstances of this matter." Before he was murdered Mr Ferguson and his wife had been out for the evening with Mr Binotti and his Belgian girlfriend Elsie Devolder. When Ms Sichompor went home her husband went back to Mr Binotti's flat. Neighbours are reported to have said they heard a row and the police report recorded that Ms Devolder had phoned Ms Sichompor to say that the pair were fighting. When Ms Sichompor phoned her husband the following morning, Mr Binotti answered and said that Mr Ferguson was asleep. Mr Binotti left for Thailand that day at 4.30pm. Both men were teachers at the Horizon International School in Yangon, located in the south of Myanmar. Mr Ferguson had been working in the country for a year and Mr Binotti for three months. A Catholic bishop has said the recommendations of Northern Ireland's child abuse inquiry should be implemented with goodwill. Noel Treanor hopes the report will help others who have been abused to find the strength and courage to come forward and report it to the authorities. The independent probe recommended compensation payments of up to 100,000 to the victims, to be funded by the state and voluntary institutions responsible for the residential homes where the harm occurred, with payments beginning later this year. Those who suffered in State, church and charity-run homes should also be offered an official apology from government and the organisations involved, the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry led by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart found. Bishop Treanor said: "Let us pray that in response to the HIA inquiry and report, our local church in this diocese and all involved in the statutory and voluntary sectors will have the grace and strength to respond with honesty, integrity and goodwill to the report's recommendations and their implementation, so that the light of justice, truth and peace may shine upon us and facilitate in our society the cultivation of a civilisation of love, courtesy and care for all." Bishop Treanor represents Down and Connor, a diocese covering the greater Belfast area. He told the congregation at St Peter's Cathedral in west Belfast the report raised many important safeguarding issues, and the diocese should carefully examine its findings and co-operate in implementing the recommendations. He apologised to the survivors and paid tribute to those who came forward to the inquiry. "We can barely imagine the pain and suffering involved in their efforts to revisit and describe in words a dark, disappointing, lonely and infernal time in their lives in order to give their evidence." The report found evidence of systemic failings in most of the 22 institutions and homes it investigated, and said sex crimes against children were ignored to protect the good name of the Catholic Church. One child who complained was effectively silenced. With Assembly elections to be held on March 2, followed by talks to try to establish a new power-sharing administration at Stormont, there is, however, uncertainty over when the document's findings will be implemented. Meanwhile, the Executive's response to the official report on the historical institutional abuse of hundreds of children has been called into question by opposition parties. The Ulster Unionists and Alliance are asking who had the authority to issue a statement, given that both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister posts lie vacant. UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, who chairs the Assembly committee which monitors the Executive Office, said: "It would be entirely wrong if anyone in the Executive Office issued a statement trying to create an impression other than the reality, which is that the report belongs to an Executive Department that is, to the intents and purposes of the victims, closed until further notice." The Executive Office statement said it intended to put the report to ministers "at the earliest opportunity". And it added that the Office "remains sensitive to the needs of all those who have suffered abuse and is mindful of the destructive impact it has had on many people". "The response raises a very serious question," Mr Nesbitt told the Belfast Telegraph. "Who has the authority to make such a statement?" Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said he intended to raise how the statement was issued with senior officials in the week ahead. The Assembly will today debate the fall-out from the report. Meanwhile, Mr Nesbitt's committee backed him in writing to the Head of the Civil Service, Dr Malcolm McKibben, asking him to explore if it would be possible to pass on the authority of the Executive Office to either the Justice Minister Claire Sugden or Communities Minister Paul Givan, who are among those who remain in post. "At least they could start to action the report's recommendations," he said. Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable George Hamilton during a briefing to media following the attempted murder of a police officer on Crumlin Road in North Belfast last night. The Chief Constable George Hamilton has branded the attack on a police officer in north Belfast last night as attempted murder. Speaking at a press conference at Tennent Street police station Mr Hamilton said: Its very fortunate that were not standing here today making an appeal around a murder investigation, albeit its clearly the attempted murder of police officers and others. Ive been to visit the officer who was wounded in the attack last night. The officer appears to have been struck three times on the right arm, causing fairly significant damage. He was in theatre for over three hours and will have further surgery in the days ahead. He is in good spirits. I never cease to be amazed by the bravery and professionalism of police officers like him that I come across on a daily basis. Once again I would just simply condemn this despicable attack, an act of complete recklessness. The Crumlin Road filling station was riddled with high velocity gunfire at half past seven when people were going about their normal business, going to fill their car with fuel, buying lunches for children and all of that. We, as police officers, are citizens in uniform. This officer was a member of the community. He was attacked but actually, other members of the community were put at massive risk as well. The people who did this did not care who they murdered last night - albeit its clear this attack was aimed at the police officer on duty. I would simply appeal to anyone out there who has information, help us bring those responsible to justice. In the interests of protecting your own community and making it a safer place, bring that information forward so we can flush these people out and bring them to book for this attempt to murder members of the community. We want police officers to be public servants, out there serving the community. We need to balance that with a policing style that allows them to protect themselves . We want to police with the community, we want to be engaged with the community, we want to be visible and accessible to communities and we will continue to do that. This is where we need community cooperation and community help to assist us, to help us help them protect these communities. Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) The scene at a petrol station on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast where an on duty PSNI officer was shot in the arm from a passing car on Sunday evening. Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) ACC Mark Hamilton holds a press conference after an officer is shot in North Belfast on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) the scene at a petrol station on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast where an on duty PSNI officer was shot in the arm from a passing car on Sunday evening. The silver Audi believed to be used by the gunmen as a getaway car on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) A north Belfast gun attack that injured a PSNI officer was a planned operation with automatic gunfire sprayed across a garage forecourt, the chief constable has said. The attack took place on the Crumlin Road in Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press The gun attack on a PSNI officer last night was widely condemned as "the work of cowards" by DUP leader Arlene Foster. The former first minister said the shooting in north Belfast "is a reminder to us all of the dangers that still exist in Northern Ireland". "Within our society there still remain those who will use terrorism, threats and violence to advance their warped aims," she said. "It is a reminder of the threat which still exists in our society and a reminder too of the need to maintain and secure the progress that we have made. It should serve as a focus for us all to stand united against those who would drag Northern Ireland back towards violence. "A terrorist attack such as this brings back many painful memories to those who have lost loved ones at the hands of terrorists in the past. It raises questions too, with continued activity such as this, how those suspected of such serious terrorist offences can be granted bail." Mrs Foster said that being a police officer is much more than just a job - "it is a way of life," she said. "Those who serve in the PSNI, to uphold law and order without fear or favour, are a world away from the cowards who hide in the shadows and target them." The Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, said he was "shocked and appalled" by the shooting. "To attack officers who are going about their daily duty protecting the entire community is sickening," he said. Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file officers, branded it "an appalling act" "This attack on the life of an officer is a stark reminder of the determination on the part of terrorists to murder and maim police officers," he said. "They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan. The wider community will be outraged by this attack on one of their police officers." Justice Minister Claire Sugden described the attack as "mindless". She added: "The people who carried out this shooting did so with the sole intention of dragging Northern Ireland back to darker days. This is a sickening act which could easily have led to a loss of life." North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds described it as a "despicable act of terrorism". "This is a deeply disturbing incident which echoes back to the kind of terrorism we used to face on a daily basis," he said. "We must be mindful how a threat to the future of the political institutions can create a vacuum, which terrorists such as these will seek to fill." Live from Musgrave St as a police officer is shot in north Belfast https://t.co/MZaXBICPqV Kevin Scott (@Kscott_94) January 22, 2017 His DUP colleague and Belfast Lord Mayor Brian Kingston said he was "appalled to hear of a shooting incident". Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said his "thoughts are with officer for full recovery and with family and friends". "We must find a way to end this," he added. Alliance leader Naomi Long said: "Those involved in the drive-by attempted murder of a police officer are dispicable cowards determined to destroy the peace we all enjoy. "They represent no-one and offer nothing but misery." Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said those responsible for the attack "are the same people who are attacking the local community". "They have absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately," he added. SDLP North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon said those responsible were calculating criminals, intent on destabilising society. She said: "This community has rejected the men of violence before and it will do so again. There will be no cover given to those who seek to destabilise our progress and bring mayhem back to our streets." TUV leader Jim Allister said the attack "is a reminder of the wickedness and criminality of all terrorism, no matter who it is committed by or when". "Whether it was the Provos vile campaign of decades, or their successors campaign of today, terrorism is never justified," he added. Policing Board chair Anne Connolly said: "This wasn't just a shocking and utterly senseless attack on an officer but on the whole of the PSNI who are working hard to keep our community safe, and on the wider community." The Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor said his prayers were with the injured police officer, his family and the PSNI. He added: "This attack upon a member of the police force which serves the entire community is alien to the widespread desire, hope and prayer for stability and peace in a shared society." Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan condemned the attack in a tweet: "No excuse for such criminality. I wish the officer a full recovery." PUP Councillor Julie-Ann Corr-Johnston said: "This was not just an attack on the police - it was an attack on everyone who wants to see Northern Ireland move forward into a peaceful and stable future." Man has died in a collision close to Ballyrobert, Co Down, in Northern Ireland Police in Northern Ireland have confirmed that a man has died following a single vehicle road traffic collision on the A2 dual carriageway between Belfast and Bangor. The collision, which took place close to Ballyrobert, was reported to police shortly before 2.15am on Sunday. Police are appealing for anyone who was travelling on the A2 during the early hours of Sunday morning and who witnessed the collision to contact local police or the Collision Investigation Unit on 101 quoting reference number 56 of 23/01/17. North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne said: 'I am shocked and saddened that yet another life has been lost following an accident along the A2 Belfast to Bangor Dual Carriageway. This is a very busy section of Road and tragically two lives were also lost along the A2 Dual Carriageway during 2016, which also brought a real sense of grief to the local community. "My thoughts and prayers go out to the man's family and friends at this tragic time. This accident again highlights the very real need for investment along the A2, which is a very busy route with over 45,000 vehicle movements per day. I have consistently raised the need for investment to improve road safety with the Roads Minister for many years and I believe we now need to see action." The A2 Belfast Road has been reopened in both directions. Marcin and Martyna Obuchowicz and their young son whose home was destroyed in a fire The people of Coleraine have been praised for going to the aid of a young Polish family left homeless following a house fire. The family-of-three, including a pregnant mother who is due to give birth next month, were taken to hospital to receive treatment for smoke inhalation after the blaze in the early hours of yesterday morning. Police received a report at around 4am that an oil tank was on fire at the premises at Ballycastle Road. The flames then spread to the house, causing substantial damage and forcing the family and those in adjoining properties to flee. Five fire appliances rushed to the scene, aided by a fire and emergency support unit. Family friend Angelika Cholewinska has set up a fundraising page for the couple and their young son, who lost many of their belongings in the fire, including clothes and passports, while local residents have been donating bags of clothes. Ulster Unionist councillor William McCandless praised the community in the Co Londonderry town for reaching out to the Polish family. "I am delighted to see local residents come together and support this family. I am hoping to speak to some other people in the coming days who can help out," he said. Mr McCandless continued: "I think it is wonderful to see the community rally around their neighbours. The Polish community contributes so much to our society, so I hope there is nothing sinister behind the fire. "Sadly, this family is still without a home after this incident, but we will work hard to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible. "They are expecting another baby next month, so this is an awful thing to happen to them. But we will help them as much as we can. I would also like to praise the PSNI and NIFRS for their swift actions in ensuring that there were no serious injuries, or deaths. The fire spread to other properties so we are very fortunate that we are not mourning the loss of life here today." The couple, Marcin and Martyna Obuchowicz, expressed their thanks to the people who donated clothes yesterday. They told the Causeway Coast Community: "We are really thankful for all the help we have received from the local community. We have received numerous bags of clothes and now need to check the sizes. The clothes that will not be used will be donated to Community Rescue Service Shop in Coleraine. "We don't have a house at the minute to keep all the stuff we have been offered so we will be in touch with the people ASAP. "Thank you so much for all the help we have got from the local people. You really have good hearts. Really appreciate it." A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police in Coleraine are appealing for information following a fire at a property in the Ballycastle Road area in the early hours of Sunday, January 22. A report was received by police at around 4am that an oil tank at a house was on fire. "The fire then spread to the house causing substantial damage, requiring the occupants and near neighbours to be evacuated. "The Ballycastle Road was closed for some time whilst emergency services dealt with the incident, but has since re-opened. A man, woman and a small child were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation." Chief Inspector Mark McClarence added: "The cause of the fire has yet to be established, however, I would appeal to anyone who was in the Ballycastle Road area at around 4am that morning, and who may have information which could assist with police enquiries, to contact officers in Coleraine on 101." Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) The scene at a petrol station on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast where an on duty PSNI officer was shot in the arm from a passing car on Sunday evening. Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) ACC Mark Hamilton holds a press conference after an officer is shot in North Belfast on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) the scene at a petrol station on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast where an on duty PSNI officer was shot in the arm from a passing car on Sunday evening. The silver Audi believed to be used by the gunmen as a getaway car on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) A north Belfast gun attack that injured a PSNI officer was a planned operation with automatic gunfire sprayed across a garage forecourt, the chief constable has said. The attack took place on the Crumlin Road in Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press Northern Ireland's police chief has said gunmen who injured a PSNI officer at a busy petrol station in north Belfast were likely hiding behind fencing across the road when shots were fired. The shooting happened at Edenderry filling station on the Crumlin Road at around 7.30pm on Sunday. The community officer was hit three times in the right arm after up to 10 shots were fired in a suspected dissident republican murder bid. His body armour may have saved him from further harm. He was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he is in a stable condition. The gunshot wounds caused significant damage to his arm. He was in theatre for over three hours overnight and will have further surgery in the days ahead. Read More PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said the petrol station was sprayed with automatic gunfire during the attack, putting "other members of the community at massive risk". "The people who did this did not care who they murdered last night, albeit it was clear the attack was aimed at the police officers on duty." Mr Hamilton spoke to the media after visiting the wounded officer in hospital. He said he believed a high velocity rifle was used in the attack. No weapon has been recovered. He said it was a "completely reckless" attack and described "multiple strike marks on the forecourt" of the filling station. Expand Close The silver Audi believed to be used by the gunmen as a getaway car on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The silver Audi believed to be used by the gunmen as a getaway car on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Mr Hamilton said it was unlikely that shots were fired from the Audi vehicle recovered by police after the attack. He said it was more likely shots were fired from "behind fencing across from the garage" as two officers emerged from the shop. The Crumlin Road remains closed while officers investigate. A 36-year-old man, who was arrested on Sunday night, is in custody. Praising his officer, Mr Hamilton said he never ceases to be amazed by their "bravery and professionalism". He said the officer was "in good spirits". Mr Hamilton said the current political crisis and instability "does not legitimise" the attack. "The use of violence for any sort of political objectives hasn't worked in the past and it is certainly not going to work in the future. We will not be deterred from our public service. "We are also relentless in pursuing them to lock them up and take them before the courts." Speaking earlier he told the BBC: "This is an attack on the entire community, people walking from the forecourt to their cars with bullets whizzing round them and striking the garage forecourt." "Incidents of this nature don't happen ad hoc or in an opportunistic way," he said. "We'd be pretty convinced this is a planned operation to attack a police officer. "But it was actually an attack on the whole community - there were people filling their cars on that garage forecourt. Speaking on Sunday night, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said their main line of enquiry is violent dissident republicans . He said: "It is totally unnecessary, appalling and needs to be condemned by all sides of this community." Mr Hamilton appealed for anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area to come forward to police immediately. "Particularly if you saw an Audi type vehicle at the filling station around 7.30pm. Did you see anyone suspicious? Did you hear the shots? Did you see anyone running away? "This wasn't just an attack upon the police, it was very clearly an attack upon the community, other lives could easily have been lost tonight. "We assure everyone that every resource we have will be turned to face this now." A Northern Ireland businessman fears "persecution" over Stormont plans to name those who availed of the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI). The man - who asked not to be named in print for fear his customers mistakenly believe he has made millions from the scheme - said it was sold to him on the basis he would have free heating for the next 20 years. He said he paid out 60,000 of his own money to install a boiler to heat his petrol station, small supermarket and workshop. Based on the figures over the past year, he believed he would recoup 68,000 over the 20 year period of the scheme. "But I would doubt it would last that long," he told the Belfast Telegraph. The businessman said he has been dogged by trouble with his boiler since it was installed, and he has little faith it will last as long as the scheme intended. He claimed it was sold to him on the basis that he could make a huge profit by using the system on a constant basis. "But that to me was immoral," he said. "No one has broken the law here. I applied for the scheme and use it legitimately, as have the majority of people, I believe. "It is a very expensive way to heat a business. But they wanted you to take up a sustainable system and made it very attractive. "Those that used and abused the system deserve to be hauled over the coals. But my fear is that we will all be tarred with the same brush and persecuted for using the scheme the way it was intended. I could be financially crucified," he added. Running a family business, that's existed for almost six decades, he said he has never taken "a shilling" from the government. The business owner said he has received a letter from the Department of Economy asking if he would object to his name being published as an RHI claimant for transparency reasons. He said he objected to the request for fear of a backlash from his customers. "The last thing I want is my name published. No matter what I say, or if I publish all my invoices, the public will just think me a crook and I was getting a million out of it, when I have done nothing of the sort." Meanwhile, the father-in-law of a DUP special advisor has said his son-in-law had no involvement in his decision to install two RHI boilers at his poultry farm. Hugh Rutledge told Sunday Life he opted for the wood pellet boilers because they were "new technology" and that his son-in-law John Robinson "wouldn't have known what RHI boilers were". Mr Rutledge owns Highgate Poultry Ltd, based near Newtownbutler, Fermanagh. The firm, which has assets worth over 1m, uses two RHI-funded boilers to heat three chicken sheds. He applied for the boilers in 2015. Mr Robinson was a long-time director of communications for the DUP before he was made a special advisor to Economy Minister Simon Hamilton in June last year. Last week, Mr Robinson said his father-in-law bought the boilers before he was married in October 2015 and that he never discussed the sche me with his now father-in-law. File Photo Last night Martin McGuinness retired from politics for health reasons. End. 16/9/2016. Day 2 Sinn Fein Think-In. Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, with Michelle O'Neill MLA and chair of the Stormond Health Committee on his left, leads the partys TD's, Senators, MLA's, MEP's and MP's into mornings Sinn Fein Think-In, in the City North Hotel, Gormanstown, County Meath. Photo: RollingNews.ie FILE PICTURE Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th May 2011 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes/ Press Eye. Northern Ireland's main parties have announced the names of the ministers in the new NI Assembly. Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Monday 17th June 2013 - Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye. Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet President Barack Obama as he arrives in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit in Enniskillen. Also pictured are Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie; Minister of State Mike Penning and Michelle Obama. FILE PICTURE Press Eye 30-07-2015 The Stormont agriculture and rural development committee is holding a special meeting at Stormont to discuss the dairy farming crisis in Northern Ireland. Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill has called for intervention at European level to tackle the problem. Dairy farmers have warned they will go out of business if they do not receive higher prices for their milk. Picture Colm O'Reilly 30-07-2015 Press Eye FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Monday 17th June 2013 - Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye. Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet President Barack Obama as he arrives in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit in Enniskillen. Also pictured are Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie; Minister of State Mike Penning and Michelle Obama FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd December 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Michelle O'Neill with other Sinn Fein leaders during a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont after todays Northern Ireland talks concluded. FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 24th May 2016 - Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont with his new Minister Michelle O'Neill. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. FILE PICTURE 4rd September 2015 Fatmers and producers from all sections of the food producing industry hold protest at Stormont regarding the ongoing crisis concerning the price of food. Northern Ireland's Department of Rural Development Michelle O'Neill addresses the protest. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 24th May 2016 - Michelle O'NeilL is pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Michelle O'Neill talking to patients in her role as Health Minister Video grab taken from the Northern Ireland Assembly of Michelle O'Neill speaking during an Assembly Plenary Session at Stormont in Belfast. : PA Wire Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Adams at a SF conference on Irish Unity at Dublin's Mansion House. Sinn Fein/PA Wire G8 Summit ...Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Sunday 16th June 2013 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Belfast International Airport this evening as G8 leaders from around the world begin to arrive in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit. Also pictured are Minister of State Mike Penning, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato and Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom. Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Michelle pictured with Martin McGuinness, and Gerry Adams Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Outgoing leader in the North Martin McGuinness Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Photograph by Presseye/ Stephen Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north.Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Outgoing leader in the North Martin McGuinness Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Newly announced Sinn Fein party leader in the north Michelle O'Neill has said Sinn Fein are committed to equality, respect and integrity. "When I was growing up in Tyrone as a teenager, if anyone had ever had said that I would be leading our party in the north at some stage in the future I wouldnt have believed them. Being a republican is a way of life, each and everyone of you standing here today know that. You are all committed republican activists and work every day to deliver on the ideals of the proclamation for all the people who share this island. For me to be selected to lead our party in the north is truly the biggest honour and privilege of my life. I feel an enormous responsibility on my shoulders and while I don't underestimate my task in a changing political world locally, nationally and internationally I will not let you down. I have learnt only from the best my late father and former Sinn Fein Councillor, Brendan Doris, MP Francie Molloy and of course Martin McGuinness. I have worked with Martin throughout my adult life, as an activist, as a councillor, an MLA and as a Minister. I have no doubt that I am following in the footsteps of a political giant. And it's not just republicans that think that, as we have witnessed over the course of the last few weeks. It's been my privilege to work so closely with Martin over the last 10 years, to always learn from him and be inspired by him. How he conducts himself in all situations is a lesson to us all. How he reached out and broke down barriers is a testament to the genuine nature of the man that he is. We want to sincerely thank Martin for the selfless service you have given to the people of Ireland. And I know youre not finished yet. No one can replace Martin. But what I can do is continue his good work to unite our people and to unite our country. We will continue to reach out, to promote equality and reconciliation and to show positive leadership. These are challenging times and we have set ourselves big objectives but republicans have never been afraid of challenge. I've never been afraid of challenge and never been afraid to act. As the Sinn Fein Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, I decentralised an entire government department lock stock and barrel when the system told me it couldn't be done. As the Sinn Fein Minister for Health, I ended the DUP's discrimination against gay men donating blood. Because it was the right thing to do. Over the course of the last number of weeks, while others shouted from the sidelines it was Sinn Fein that stood up and confronted corruption. It was Sinn Fein that called a halt to the arrogance and the intolerance of the DUP. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal was created by the former First Minister when she was in the Economy Department. Her refusal to step aside shows a total disregard for the concerns and outrage of the public. Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy First Minister not as a first choice, but as a last resort. Again, it was the right thing to do. Arrogance and disrespect has no place in society. Financial scandal, incompetence or waste of public money cannot be tolerated. In the aftermath of the election, there can and will be no return to the status quo. And what does that mean. It means Sinn Fein are only interested in participating in the power sharing institutions if they deliver for all of our citizens and operate on the basis of equality and respect. Agreements made must be honoured. Commitments given must be delivered. Partnership government must mean exactly that. It means that regardless of where you come from, what language you speak, what your sexuality is, what gender you are that you are treated with respect. I am very proud to be leading Sinn Fein into this election on March 2nd an election which is about citizens making a stand. We are standing up for ourselves, for our neighbours and for our communities. The principles and values of the Good Friday Agreement, which is the foundation stone of the peace process must be honoured. Nineteen years ago the vast majority of people North and South endorsed the historic Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent political agreements must now be fully implemented not renegotiated. Commitments must be delivered and it is the duty of both the Irish and British Governments to fulfil their part. We cannot allow the British Governments withdrawal from the European Union to undermine the Good Friday Agreement, the protections and safeguards within it, or the principle of consent either. The North being forced to leave the EU against the expressed wishes of our people who voted to remain represents a major set-back. The British Government is on a collision course with the EU in which our economy and peace agreements are regarded as collateral damage. We must defend the democratic mandate of the people to remain within the EU, through designated special status, which can secure the position of the entire island of Ireland within the European Union together. There is an onus on the Irish Government who will be at negotiating table to act in the national interests. Therefore, Sinn Fein is seeking in this election a stronger mandate to enter forthcoming political negotiations come March to defend your interests and put firmly the peoples social, economic and political interests first. This a time for active citizenship, for democratically and peacefully asserting our rights. There is no more important time for republican politics and core republican values, which promote Equality, Liberty, Fraternity. What we are seeking is reasonable. What we are seeking is not just for republicans and nationalists. What we win in this election and achieve in coming negotiations, we will win for all. What we are seeking is respect and equality for all of the people. And what we are seeking is integrity in the political institutions. That is what Martin McGuinness stands for. That is what Sinn Fein stands for. That is what I stand for." File Photo Last night Martin McGuinness retired from politics for health reasons. End. 16/9/2016. Day 2 Sinn Fein Think-In. Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, with Michelle O'Neill MLA and chair of the Stormond Health Committee on his left, leads the partys TD's, Senators, MLA's, MEP's and MP's into mornings Sinn Fein Think-In, in the City North Hotel, Gormanstown, County Meath. Photo: RollingNews.ie FILE PICTURE Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th May 2011 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes/ Press Eye. Northern Ireland's main parties have announced the names of the ministers in the new NI Assembly. Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Monday 17th June 2013 - Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye. Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet President Barack Obama as he arrives in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit in Enniskillen. Also pictured are Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie; Minister of State Mike Penning and Michelle Obama. FILE PICTURE Press Eye 30-07-2015 The Stormont agriculture and rural development committee is holding a special meeting at Stormont to discuss the dairy farming crisis in Northern Ireland. Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill has called for intervention at European level to tackle the problem. Dairy farmers have warned they will go out of business if they do not receive higher prices for their milk. Picture Colm O'Reilly 30-07-2015 Press Eye FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Monday 17th June 2013 - Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye. Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet President Barack Obama as he arrives in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit in Enniskillen. Also pictured are Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie; Minister of State Mike Penning and Michelle Obama FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd December 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Michelle O'Neill with other Sinn Fein leaders during a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont after todays Northern Ireland talks concluded. FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 24th May 2016 - Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont with his new Minister Michelle O'Neill. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. FILE PICTURE 4rd September 2015 Fatmers and producers from all sections of the food producing industry hold protest at Stormont regarding the ongoing crisis concerning the price of food. Northern Ireland's Department of Rural Development Michelle O'Neill addresses the protest. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye FILE PICTURE Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 24th May 2016 - Michelle O'NeilL is pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Michelle O'Neill talking to patients in her role as Health Minister Video grab taken from the Northern Ireland Assembly of Michelle O'Neill speaking during an Assembly Plenary Session at Stormont in Belfast. : PA Wire Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Adams at a SF conference on Irish Unity at Dublin's Mansion House. Sinn Fein/PA Wire G8 Summit ...Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Sunday 16th June 2013 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Executive Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill greet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Belfast International Airport this evening as G8 leaders from around the world begin to arrive in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit. Also pictured are Minister of State Mike Penning, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato and Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom. Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Michelle pictured with Martin McGuinness, and Gerry Adams Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Outgoing leader in the North Martin McGuinness Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Photograph by Presseye/ Stephen Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north.Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Sinn Fein MLA Michelle ONeill pictured at Stormont as she is announced as the new leader of the party in the north. Outgoing leader in the North Martin McGuinness Photograph by Presseye/Cameron Hamilton Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Michelle O'Neill is announced as Sinn Fein's e new leader in the north by Senior Members Martin McGuinness , Gerry Adams and Mary McDonald at Stormont on Monday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker The new Sinn Fein leader at Stormont, Michelle O'Neill, has been hailed as representing the new generation of republicanism. The changing of the guard has seen her focus on mental health rather than the battles of yesteryear. She said: "For me, when I was growing up in Tyrone as a teenager, if anyone had ever said to me that at some stage in the future you will be leading Sinn Fein in the north I probably would not have believed them." She sought to raise awareness as minister for rural development by funding a suicide prevention officer in her Mid Ulster constituency. She said: "I have no doubt that Niamh Louise Foundation's project will mean that for those who may suffer in silence, they will now have the opportunity to break that silence and find the help and support they need." Friends say her rise to power aged just 40 has been marked by a passion for helping people. She faces a challenge to rebuild political relations at Stormont and piece together the shattered powersharing coalition when she could become deputy first minister. In the Assembly she announced - in characteristically quickfire fashion - that her party would not be renominating Martin McGuinness for the position. "If we are to return to this chamber there must be real, meaningful change. There must be respect and equality for all sections of society." The former agriculture minister, from Clonoe in Co Tyrone, has been a prominent voice articulating the party's position in recent weeks since Mr McGuinness became ill. She has been involved in republican politics from her teens, has held various senior positions within Sinn Fein and has a background in social welfare issues. She is a member of Sinn Fein's ruling Ard Chomhairle. Mid Ulster MP and party colleague Francie Molloy watched her progress through local politics and said she had a thoughtful approach to dealing with people. Expand Close Michelle O'Neill flanked by Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michelle O'Neill flanked by Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams "She is not one of these people who rushes into commentary on things, she would be a good listener and sit back and observe and take account of things, so she would not be a reactionary sort of person. "She would certainly be more on the lines of consideration and looking at all the effects of it and looking at the good points of people as well as the issues." Mrs O'Neill was elected to the devolved Assembly in 2007 following the restoration of powersharing after years of back-room work for Mr Molloy. The mother-of-two was the first woman to hold the position of mayor on Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council and also one of the youngest. While agriculture minister she decentralised government services from Belfast and won praise for efforts to boost rural development - although a DUP ministerial colleague won a court challenge against her bid to divert funds towards that area. One of her first actions as health minister was to lift the lifetime ban on gay men donating blood. She has also supported a cross-border cardiology service credited with saving the lives of 27 patients from Co Donegal in its first nine months. Her father, Brendan "Basil" Doris, was a former IRA prisoner who became a Sinn Fein councillor in Dungannon. Her uncle, Paul Doris, is president of Noraid, a republican fundraising group. However, unlike Mr McGuinness or Gerry Kelly, she had no direct IRA involvement. A public inquiry into Northern Ireland's botched green energy scheme will leave no hiding places, Stormont's finance minister has vowed. Mairtin O Muilleoir will meet members of political parties today to discuss the investigation, and will make a statement to MLAs tomorrow. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is predicted to cost taxpayers up to 490m over the next 20 years. It precipitated the collapse of Stormont powersharing. Mr O Muilleoir said: "This inquiry will be impartial and objective and it will be tasked with getting to the truth of this scandal. "These meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the terms of reference and hear the views of other parties. "My objective remains to deliver a no-hiding-place inquiry that serves the public interest." The scheme was designed to encourage businesses to use green energy instead of fossil fuels but ended up paying out around 1.60 for every 1 spent on wood pellets to fuel biomass boilers. There has been a series of allegations of empty sheds being heated in a "cash for ash" scandal. In recent weeks Sinn Fein had insisted a public inquiry would have been too time consuming. The DUP welcomed the party's U-turn and the Assembly recently voted in favour of a public inquiry. However, DUP leader Arlene Foster had only publicly agreed to such an inquiry the day before Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy First Minister. Mr O Muilleoir gave a commitment that he or any Sinn Fein minister will release the public inquiry's report in full on receipt. He called on all parties to sign up to unrestricted, unedited publication. The minister said the RHI issue went beyond financial matters to questions of governance and probity. Voters here are set to go to the polls on March 2 after Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over the flawed scheme. The test saw an unarmed Trident missile reportedly malfunction off the coast of Florida in June The SDLP has demanded that the MOD explains why it allegedly hid a Trident missile malfunction only weeks before a Westminster vote on renewing 40 billion nuclear deterrent last summer. Theresa May was informed about the Trident missile test at the centre of cover-up allegations before she addressed MP, Downing Street has confirmed. But the Prime Minister's official spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny reports that a missile malfunctioned during the test, stating only that Mrs May was told the operation was completed successfully. SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said: "If there is evidence of a malfunction in Britains Trident nuclear missile system, it cannot be covered up or dissembled. The Ministry of Defence needs to come forward with information about this incident and come clean about why it attempted to suppress it ahead of a major Westminster vote on renewing Trident. "How can any MP have confidence in the Trident system or in the valueless word of the MOD after this? Be under no illusion, the attempt to conceal this malfunction was a deliberate tactic to shore up a Commons vote. Read more Read More "The SDLP will continue to oppose the British Governments fixation with investing in a stockpile of weapons of mass destruction while they continue to rain down cuts on health, education and social security spending. This government cannot continue parading like an imperial power while the public suffers devastating austerity." Mrs May has said she has "absolute faith" in Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent, following reports a missile went off course in a test launch. The reports have led to claims of a "cover-up", as MPs were not told about the June 2016 test when they voted on the 40 billion renewal of the Trident system the following month. Mrs May confirmed she was informed about the test before addressing MPs ahead of the vote, which came just days after she entered office. Expand Close The Government said the Royal Navy conducted a routine Trident missile test from HMS Vengeance / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Government said the Royal Navy conducted a routine Trident missile test from HMS Vengeance Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon was summoned to the Commons to update MPs on the incident, but repeatedly refused to discuss details of the launch. He restated the Government's confidence in the "capability and effectiveness" of the Trident system and cautioned MPs against believing every element of the Sunday Times report. But as he was speaking, CNN reported an unnamed US defence official with direct knowledge of the incident had confirmed the unarmed Trident II D5 missile veered off course after being launched from a Royal Navy submarine off the coast of Florida. The US official was reported to have said the altered trajectory was part of an automatic self-destruct sequence triggered when missile electronics detect an anomaly. Speaking after a Cabinet awayday in Cheshire, Mrs May said: "I'm regularly briefed on national security issues, I was briefed on successful certification of HMS Vengeance and her crew. "We don't comment on operational details for national security reasons." She added: "The key issue about the debate we had in the House of Commons on the future of Trident, is whether we should renew Trident for the future. "Should we continue to have an independent nuclear deterrent? "I have absolute faith in our independent nuclear deterrent. "I believe we should continue to have that for the future, the House of Commons voted for that. "Sadly the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, doesn't want to defend our country in that way. "I believe defending our country is absolutely crucial." The Prime Minister has come under pressure to reveal further details of the test, after four times dodging the question of when she learnt about it during a TV interview on Sunday. Her official spokeswoman confirmed on Monday morning that the PM had been informed when she came into office last July about the previous month's "demonstration and shakedown operation" - which resulted in HMS Vengeance and its crew being certified to return to active service after a lengthy refit. The chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, Julian Lewis, said Mrs May "should probably have spoken up" about any malfunction during last July's debate, but put the blame for any cover-up on her predecessor David Cameron and his team. "This test went wrong in June when it was a question for David Cameron and his team at No 10. "They evidently decided to cover this matter up," Dr Lewis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons, Sir Michael repeatedly refused to discuss details of the launch, but cautioned MPs against believing every element of press reports. "The Government has absolute confidence in our deterrent and in the Royal Navy crews who protect us," he told MPs. Ministers "would not have asked this House to endorse the principle of the deterrent and our plans to build four new submarines if there had been any question about the capability and effectiveness of our deterrent". Sir Michael told MPs that a demonstration and shakedown "concludes each time with an unarmed missile firing", adding: "HMS Vengeance successfully concluded that shakedown operation." Labour's former defence minister Kevan Jones, whose urgent question forced the Defence Secretary to come to the Commons, challenged Sir Michael to confirm that the missile veered off course and explain who ordered a "news blackout" on the test. Sir Michael responded: "There are very few things that we cannot discuss openly in Parliament, but the security of our nuclear deterrent is certainly one of them. "It has never been the practice of governments to give Parliament details of the demonstration and shakedown operations." He added: "It may well be that earlier governments in different situations, indeed in more benevolent times, might have take different decisions about how much information they were prepared to reveal about these particular demonstration and shake-down operations. But these are not, of course, as benevolent times." Despite Sir Michael's comments, the Ministry of Defence has in fact repeatedly publicised successful launches of Trident missiles in recent years. In October 2012, the MoD released a press statement stating that then defence secretary Philip Hammond was announcing extra funding following "the successful firing of an unarmed Trident ballistic missile by HMS Vigilant during a test launch in the Atlantic Ocean last week". The test, undertaken during the Vigilant's own demonstration and shakedown operation, was mentioned by senior MoD official Bernard Gray later that year in a Government magazine, which carried pictures of the launch. And in a speech in June 2014, then defence procurement minister Philip Dunne said: "Last week I was off the coast of Florida embarked on USS West Virginia to witness a test-firing of 2 Trident 2 D5 missiles. This successful test demonstrated once again that the Trident remains a credible and reliable deterrent." Sir Michael told MPs that decisions on publicity were made "on a case by case basis". Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith told the House of Commons: "The British public deserve the facts on a matter as important as Britain's nuclear deterrent and they deserve to hear those facts from their Prime Minister, not in allegations sprawled across a Sunday paper." She added: "At the heart of this issue is a worrying lack of transparency and a Prime Minister who has chosen to cover up a serious incident rather than coming clean with the British public." Scottish National Party defence spokesman Brendan O'Hara said it was an "insult to our intelligence" to claim that Trident's capability was "unquestionable". Aer Lingus said two of its employees have been arrested. Two Aer Lingus employees were among three men arrested as part of an investigation into an international illegal immigrant smuggling network. The network is understood to have been run through Dublin Airport. Gardai confirmed the arrested of the three men, aged 61, 56 and 28, in relation to the immigration offences. The Garda Immigration Bureau were assisted by the Garda Special Detective Unit in the investigation. The three men were arrested last night at Dublin Airport and are currently detained at Ballymun and Coolock Garda Stations. Officers at the Garda National Immigration Bureau believe the scam has been running for years, according to RTE. RTE also reported that up to 100 illegal immigrants may have been smuggled through Dublin Airport each year. "Aer Lingus can confirm that two of its employees have been arrested by an Garda Siochana at Dublin Airport," a spokesperson told Independent.ie. "Aer Lingus is co-operating fully with an Garda Siochana in their investigation. As this is an on-going criminal investigation we have no further comment to make." Gardai also said the investigation is ongoing and no further information is available. Equatorial Guinea's opposition has denounced the government's decision to welcome exiled Gambian president Yahya Jammeh, who flew to the Central African nation over the weekend after 22 years in power. President Teodoro Obiang will be held responsible "for what might occur" as a result of Mr Jammeh's presence on the country's soil, according to Andres Esono Ondo, secretary general of the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy. In a separate statement, the Democratic Opposition Front said Mr Jammeh should not qualify for political asylum because he triggered Gambia's crisis by refusing to step down for weeks after he lost the December vote to Adama Barrow. "We are not against Pan-Africanism, but we are in favour of a more objective Pan-Africanism that does not consist in just bringing over the waste of Africa," the group said. Mr Obiang's government has not yet commented on Mr Jammeh's presence in Equatorial Guinea. Equatorial Guinea reportedly emerged as a destination for Mr Jammeh during the frantic mediation effort to get him out of Gambia so that Mr Barrow could take office. Mr Barrow was inaugurated at Gambia's embassy in neighbouring Senegal last week and is currently planning his return to the country. A special adviser to Mr Barrow has accused Mr Jammeh of plundering state coffers and shipping out luxury vehicles by cargo plane prior to his departure. Mr Obiang, Africa's longest-serving ruler, assumed power in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea in 1979 and won re-election last year with 93% of the vote in a poll criticised as not being free and fair. Human rights groups accuse Mr Obiang of stifling dissent and torturing opponents. His son is currently on trial for corruption in France, charged with spending millions in state funds to feed an opulent lifestyle of fast cars, designer clothes, works of art and high-end real estate. AP President Donald Trump speaks during a reception for law enforcement officers in the Blue Room of the White House (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The US embassy in Israel is to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Relocating the US embassy to Jerusalem represents a major break with US policy. Donald Trump has said repeatedly that he intends to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem, despite warnings the move would violate international law and destroy the peace process. Earlier in January, US officials and Israeli Foreign Ministry sources said the incoming US ambassador to Israel could be based in Jerusalem, while the official embassy building remains in Tel Aviv. Relocating the embassy to Jerusalem would be seen as a provocative move by Mr Trump's critics as the city is claimed by both the Israelis and Palestinians as their capital. Read more Read More Israel annexed east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War. The move has not been recognised by the international community. Mr Trump has also appointed a new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, who is considered a supporter of settlements. Meanwhile, Israel has approved building permits for hundreds of homes in three East Jerusalem settlements. Israel expects Mr Trump to end the US governments criticism of building projects on disputed land. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Donald Trump (L) is sworn in as the 45th US president by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in front of the Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People stand on the National Mall to listen to the 58th Presidential Inauguration for President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump embraces his family after taking the oath of office during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., January 20, 2017. (Photo by Jim Bourg - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump kisses his daughter Tiffany Trump after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images President Donald Trump talks with former President Barack Obama on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after Trump took the presidential oath. (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (C) congratulates U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (L) after he took the oath of office as his wife Karen Pence looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images Former President Barack Obama waves as he boards a Marine helicopter during a departure ceremony on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP US President Donald Trump (L) and former US President Barack Obama clap after the national anthem was sung on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Tape closes off broken windows at businesses in Northwest Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after a confrontation with protestors blocks from Donald Trump's inauguration. (AP Photo/Michael Biesecker) AP US President Donald Trump speaks during the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: US President Donald Trump supporters react on the National Mall to the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire world have watched the transfer of the United States presidency from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, the 45th president. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: US President Donald Trump supporters react on the National Mall to the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire world have watched the transfer of the United States presidency from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, the 45th president. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: US President Donald Trump supporters pray on the National Mall during the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire world have watched the transfer of the United States presidency from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, the 45th president. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (From L to R) First Lady Melania Trump, Karen Pence, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, former president Barack Obama, former vice president Joe Biden, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images Cuban-American supporters raise their right hands as they watch on television President Donald Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in the Little Havana area in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) AP President Donald Trump points at Former President Barack Obama after his speech during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence wave goodbye to Barack and Michelle Obama on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence wave goodbye to Barack and Michelle Obama on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump wave after he took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump applauds after Vice President Mike Pence (C rear) was sworn in during the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President Barack Obama shake hands with President-elect Donald Trump during the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President Elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images US President elect Donald Trump (C) arrives for the swearing-in ceremony on in front of the Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man is washed with water after being sprayed by police pepper spray during an anti-Trump demonstration on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Protesters attempted to block an entrance to the inauguration ceremony. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th U.S. President later today. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images US Vice President-elect Mike Pence arrives for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President Barack Obama(R) and First Lady Michelle Obama(L) welcome Preisdent-elect Donald Trump(2nd-R) and his wife Melania to the White House in Washington, DC January 20, 2017. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton whispers to former President George W. Bush on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (R) talks to former President George W. Bush arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images A poster-size image of a woman in a headscarf in the colors of the American flag is viewed as it appeared in a full-page ad in several US newspapers on January 20, 2017, part of a protest launched on the day of Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump adjusts Barron Trump's tie before the 58th Presidential Inauguration for President-elect Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP Melania Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images Demonstrators protest the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (L-R) Ivanka Trump, Vanessa Trump, Jared Kushner and first lady Michelle Obama arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Demonstrators protest the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People watch from the National Mall the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People gather on the National Mall for the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People watch from the National Mall the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: A man rests on the National Mall during the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump's motorcade drives down Pennsylvania Avenue for the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) AP US Chief Justice John Roberts(BottomR), Justice Anthony Kennedy(L) and Justice Clarence Thomas(2nd-L) arrive on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Paul J. RichardsPAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Vanessa Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) (L) talks with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump to the White House prior to the inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2017. Later today Donald Trump will be sworn-in as the 45th President. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Hillary Clinton arrives at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images Hillary Clinton waves as she arrives at the US Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump took the first ceremonial steps before being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- ushering in a new political era that has been cheered and feared in equal measure. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Rob CarrROB CARR/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney arrives on the platform of the US Capitol at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President-elect Donald J. Trump and first lady-elect Melania Trump depart St. John's Church on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President-elect Donald J. Trump and first lady-elect Melania Trump depart St. John's Church on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive near the east front steps of the Capitol Building before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in at the 58th Presidential Inauguration on Capitol Hill in Washington, D. on January 20, 2017. Donald Trump took the first ceremonial steps before being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- ushering in a new political era that has been cheered and feared in equal measure. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / John ANGELILLOJOHN ANGELILLO/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Singer Jackie Evancho arrives for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: The Marine band plays on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Laura Bush waves as she arrives at fthe U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People wait in line to enter the National Mall prior to the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump is being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Getty Images The President's place setting is displayed in Statuary Hall in the Capitol for the Inaugural Lunch following Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MOLLY RILEYMOLLY RILEY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Protesters and supporters gather on the National Mall for the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Today Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images) Getty Images The ceremonial gifts for the President and Vice President are set in Statuary Hall in the Capitol for the Inaugural Lunch following Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MOLLY RILEYMOLLY RILEY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: New York City's Naked Cowboy joins protesters and supporters on the National Mall for the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Today Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Guests arrive for the inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Barak Obama leaves the White House for the final time as President as the nation prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images US President Barack Obama(R) and First Lady Michelle Obama(2nd-L) welcome Preisdent-elect Donald Trump(L) and his wife Melania(2nd-R) to the White House in Washington, DC January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSONJIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President Barack Obama kisses first lady Michelle Obama as they await for the arrival of President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP People gather to watch the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images First lady Michelle Obama, flanked by President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, greets Melania Trump at the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Barak Obama leaves the White House for the final time as President as the nation prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump watch a TV screen at the National Mall, as he arrives at the White House to greet US President Barack Obama in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- winning vindication for his bare-knuckle White House bid and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDSANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect and his wife Melania leave St. John's Episcopal Church on January 20, 2017, before Trump's inauguration. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas KammNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania speak with Reverend Luis Leon as they leave St. John's Episcopal Church on January 20, 2017, before Trump's inauguration. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas KammNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir wait for the swearing in of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the Untied States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Anthony Messina of Brooklyn, New York poses for a portrait as people gather on the National Mall prior to Donald Trump's Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump is being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President-elect Donald J. Trump departs Blair House to attend a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir wait below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Chairs are set up on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: The Marine band sits on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sit on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images People and reporters prepare for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Workers set the stage at the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Daniel Acker - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images People and reporters prepare for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Young members of the National Cathedral Choir wait below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Workers set the stage at the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Ricky Carioti - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Young members of the National Cathedral Choir wait below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Spectaors begin to fiill the National Mall l on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Mandel NganMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A choir od singers rehearse below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - A military helicopter lands at the US Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Rob CarrROB CARR/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: The American flag flies on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: American flags adorn on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on inauguration day January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem. / AFP PHOTO / ABBAS MOMANIABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Israeli police detain a Palestinian protester during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem. / AFP PHOTO / ABBAS MOMANIABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A Kenyan reads a local newspaper pullout depicting American President Barack Obama and the President-elect, on January 20, 2017 in the streets of Nairobi. Donald J. Trump was elected as the President of the United States on November 8, 2016, and will take the oath of office on January 20, 2017, to formally become the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SIMON MAINASIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images BATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A groip of protestors gather beneath a banner reading "Build bridges not walls" dropped from a window on Pulteney Bridge on January 20, 2017 in Bath, England. The banner drop in Bath is part of a series of events across the world aimed at expressing disproval at today's inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th U.S. president. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Getty Images BATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A man stops to look at a banner reading "Build bridges not walls" that has been displayed on a bridge on North Parade on January 20, 2017 in Bath, England. The banner drop in Bath is part of a series of events across the world aimed at expressing disproval at today's inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th U.S. president. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Getty Images Sri Lankan rights activists demonstrate outside the US Embassy in Colombo on January 20, 2017, ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Ishara S. KODIKARAISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Activists burn a mock US flag with President-elect Donald Trump's portrait during a rally in front of the US embassy in Manila on January 20, 2017, ahead of Trump's presidential inauguration. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump arrive at a pre-Inaugural "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive to attend an inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive to attend an inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Entertainer Willi Tokarev, center, an 82-year-old Russian emigre to the U.S. appears during a nightclub party entitled "Trumplissimo America!" in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before Donald Trump is to be sworn in as president of the United States, people gathered at a Moscow nightclub to celebrate his inauguration. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) AP US President-elect Donald Trump and wife Melania arrive for a welcome celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Actor Jon Voight speaks during a pre-Inaugural "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) AP Baracades are installed ahead of the inaugural parade of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrived in Washington , determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The motorcade of US President-elect Donald Trump is parked in front of the Trump International Hotel as he attends a leadership luncheon in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrived in Washington , determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump, accompanied by Vice President-elect Mike Pence pauses after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., ahead of Friday's presidential inauguration. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) US President-elect Donald J. Trump and US Vice President-elect Mike Pence participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on January 19, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, January 19, 2017 in Washington. DC. Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th U.S. President on Friday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) US President-elect Donald J. Trump and US Vice President-elect Mike Pence participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on January 19, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Family member watch as US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on January 19, 2017 / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,Virginia, on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and wife Melania Trump step off a plane upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a bomb disposal team investigate a package downtown on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Security is tight in the nation's capital on the eve of the presidential inauguration. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a bomb disposal team investigate a package downtown on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Security is tight in the nation's capital on the eve of the presidential inauguration. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Lt Col Jason Fettig of the Marine band rehearses on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Donald Trump supporters drive through downtown on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Trump is sworn in as the 45th president January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images The podium where Donald Trump will take the Oath of Office and be sworn in as the 45th US president is covered up in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The United States Marine Corps Band practices in front of the podium where US President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office and be sworn in as the 45th US president in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump helps his wife Melania Trump off stage at a leadership luncheon at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump introduces First Lady-elect Melania Trump to Republican leadership the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump stands with his wife Melania at the Leadership Luncheon at Trump International in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: The West Front of the U.S. Capitol is prepared for inauguration day on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Chairs are set out on the National Mall by the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: A view down Pennsylvania Ave is seen from the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a military band rehearses on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a military band rehearses on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images Onlookers are seen in front of the Trump International Hotel as US President-elect Donald Trump arrives for a leadership luncheon in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) takes a photo on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: A vendor sells Donald Trump merchandise near the National Mall on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Trump is sworn is as the 45th president on January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (R) and his wife Melania Trump arrive for a leadership luncheon at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - US President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, her son Theo, her husband Jared Kushner and daughter Arabella, step off a plane upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (R) and his wife Melania Trump arrive for a leadership luncheon at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Ivanka Trump carries her son Theodore Kushner, as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, for her father's inauguration. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP President-elect Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, speaks at the Leadership Luncheon, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP US President-elect Donald Trump merchandise on sale outside the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017, as final preparations are underway a day ahead of the inauguration of the 45th US president. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump merchandise on sale outside the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017, as final preparations are underway a day ahead of the inauguration of the 45th US president. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Susan Reneau wears a hat with Donald Trump buttons near Constitution Avenue on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. US President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in January 20 as the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - A view of the US Capitol building before tomorrow's Inauguration on Capitol Hill January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Susan Reneau poses for a portrait as she shows off her patriotic outfit near Constitution Avenue on January 19, 2017, in Washington, DC. US Presidential-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in on january 20 as the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Members of US Secret Service guard a fenced out area near the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017, where final preparations are underway a day ahead the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the US. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak with Mr Trump by telephone on Sunday. "We strongly condemn the Israeli decision to approve the construction," Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Reuters. The talks are the first between the two warring sides in a year (Sergei Grits/AP) A Syrian government envoy has denounced a speech by a rebel leader as "provocative" and "insolent" at peace talks in Kazakhstan. Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's UN ambassador, said rebel leader Mohammad Alloush's speech in Astana did not rise to the level of the gathering of diplomats attending the conference. Mr Ja'afari repeatedly referred to the rebel delegation as representatives of "terrorist armed groups". He also said that the agenda for the talks, which are sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran, is "not ready yet". The harsh and uncompromising tone of Mr Ja'afari's remarks do not augur well for the summit, which had barely started following an opening ceremony and speeches by various representatives. In his speech, Mr Alloush described Syrian president Bashar Assad's government as "terrorist" and called for armed groups fighting alongside the Syrian army, including Lebanon's Hezbollah group, to be placed on a global list of terror organisations. Mr Alloush said: "The presence of foreign militias invited by the regime, most notably the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Hezbollah ... contributes to the continuation of bloodshed and obstructs any opportunity for a ceasefire." He added that Mr Assad's forces and their allies are no different to Islamic State, and should be designated "terrorist groups". The UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is participating in the talks in the Kazakh capital, which, if successful, are expected to be followed by another summit in Geneva next month. The new US government is not directly involved, because of the "immediate demands of the transition", but Washington is represented by the US ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, who attended Monday's opening session at the luxury Rixos President Hotel in Astana. Earlier, Osama Abo Zayd, a rebel media representative, said the scope of the negotiations is limited to strengthening the current ceasefire arrangement. He said: "There's no significance to negotiations if the people on whose behalf we are negotiating are being killed", adding that there has been absolutely no discussion about elections or Mr Assad's future. The Syrian civil war is estimated to have killed about 400,000 people since March 2011. The conflict, which started as an uprising against Mr Assad's rule against the backdrop of Arab Spring movements, quickly descended into all-out civil war. The war has displaced half of Syria's population and sent millions of refugees to neighbouring countries and Europe. After a short opening ceremony during which Kazakh foreign minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov spoke, the meeting went into closed session. It was not immediately clear if there would be any direct talks between the rebels and Damascus representatives behind closed doors. At the top of the agenda is an effort to consolidate last month's ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia. The truce, which excludes extremist groups such as Islamic State and the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, has reduced overall violence although fighting and violations continue on multiple fronts. In Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said preserving the tenuous ceasefire will be "the most important issue" on the Astana agenda and that Iran is hopeful the talks can also pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Mr Ghasemi suggested discussions over a larger political settlement would have to wait, saying: "Let's wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced on Tuesday." The talks, organised by Russia and Turkey, are the latest attempt to halt the near six-year conflict. Russia and Iran are the main backers of Mr Assad's government, while Turkey supports the armed opposition trying to topple him. The two sides have traded blame for repeated violations of the December 30 ceasefire, which was also brokered by Russia and Turkey. The Astana gathering is the first time Syrian government representatives have sat down with an opposition delegation made up mainly of rebel factions. Previous face-to-face talks in Geneva included an opposition delegation made up mostly of political figures. During the last round of talks in Geneva in early 2016, Mr de Mistura was shuffling between the delegations sitting in separate rooms. Tzipi Livni faced possible detainment over her role in the 2008-2009 Gaza War, which a UN fact finding mission claimed amounted to 'collective punishment' of Palestinians Israeli politician Tzipi Livni has cancelled a visit to Belgium over fears she may be arrested on her arrival in Brussels over war crime allegations. Ms Livni, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2006 - 2009 under former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was due to arrive in the Belgian capital on Monday to unofficially attend a conference on tackling anti-Semitism in Europe and advancing the continents relations with the Jewish state. However, her trip was cancelled after the Brussels prosecutors office said last week that Ms Livni is the subject of a 2010 complaint to the federal prosecutor, and the authorities could detain or question her on arrival to try and advance the investigation. An arrest was a possible option, spokesperson Thierry Werts said. Ms Livni is named in a suit filed by a local pro-Palestinian group in relation to her role in the Israeli military's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 - January 2009. The suit names several Israeli civilian and military officials in connection to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the operation against Hamas, in which almost 1,400 Palestinians died. Thirteen Israelis, ten of them soldiers, also died. Both sides were accused of war crimes by the international community during the three-week conflict. Read more Read More A United Nations Fact Finding Mission into the war found that Israel had "at least in part" targeted the people of Gaza as a whole as collective punishment. Israel maintains that Hamas used civilians as human shields during the 2008-2009 offensive, placing them near buildings which were being targeted by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) missiles. Ms Livni, who is still a Zionist Union party member of the Knesset, told Israel Radio that she had pulled out of the trip for personal reasons. Since leaving a position in the Justice Ministry in 2014 Ms Livni is no longer entitled to diplomatic immunity, Le Monde reported. Under Belgian law, the authorities have the right to detain a suspect in its territory on crimes related to international law as one of the victims had Belgian citizenship. In a statement, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon criticised the prospect of Ms Livnis arrest overseas as a cynical abuse of the Belgian legal system. Ms Livni was previously forced to cancel a 2009 trip to London after a British court issued a warrant for her arrest following an application by UK lawyers acting for Palestinian victims of Cast Lead. European pro-Palestinian groups commonly file charges against Israeli officials, the Jerusalem Post says. In some cases, executive orders are issued to avert arrest warrants, or the subjects are warned ahead of their arrival not to visit. Ive been thinking about Arlene Foster, and about what went wrong. We met first, I think, when I was covering an Orange parade in Fermanagh in the late 1990s in which she was participating as a member of the Rosslea Accordion Band. I was sorry when in 2004 she jumped ship from the UUP to the DUP, not least because I was a friend and admirer of David Trimble and saw the Reverend Ian Paisley as a self-serving egomaniac who in a lifetime of stoking sectarian fires had acted as a recruiting sergeant for the IRA. I respected her reasons, though, and was pleased to see her climbing up the party ladder. Apart from anything else, I thought unionism badly needed articulate women who might de-escalate tensions rather than ramping them up for macho reasons. Hmmm! The last time I saw her in person was again in Fermanagh, at the Irvinestown Twelfth in 2014, to which although I was known to be an atheist from a Dublin Catholic background Id been invited as a guest. I was happy to accept, as the Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge have been a fine example to their brethren elsewhere in their positive and imaginative outreach to their nationalist neighbours. This time I was a participant and Arlene was an onlooker, but from the reviewing platform at a quiet time, I spotted her across the road and went over for a chat. What struck me then apart from her warmth and openness, was how unchanged she remained despite years of ministerial office. She was among her own people, she seemed to know everyone and she was completely at ease. So Ive watched with sadness and frustration as over the last few weeks she turned a mess into a disaster because she appeared to be suffering from a serious attack of the no-surrenders. Like so many other people, I thought her blaming misogyny was absurd. But then, as I brooded, I thought about the career of her heroine, Margaret Thatcher, and the permanent effect on her of all the misogyny she experienced. It took Mrs Thatcher the best part of a decade to be selected for a winnable seat, and then, from 1959, she would have another 16 years of being patronised and underestimated before she replaced Ted Heath as Leader of the Conservative Party and, in 1979, become Prime Minister. In 1970, asked if she had ambitions to lead the country, she had said emphatically, There will not be a woman prime minister in my lifetime the male population is too prejudiced. It would be the next century before women began to make any real headway in politics in either part of Ireland. Mrs Foster leads a party that has had just one female MP (Iris Robinson) and one MEP (Diane Dodds), both helped by the seniority of their husbands. When Mrs Thatcher achieved power, she knew women were often dismissed as being indecisive and weak, so she ensured from day one that she would impose her authority and no one would ever see her as a push-over. She was famously thought, even by her friends to have been too domineering. Mrs Foster had a similar problem and, despite years of fighting misogyny in her own culture and in the assembly, she is still in a macho world. Out of 38 DUP MLAs, she is one of only eight women; and though Sinn Fein, which has 10 out of 28, presents a more female appearance, its a party ruled by authoritarian men, some of whom used to direct a terrorist campaign and now speak fluently the language of peace while conducting a culture war. All this was exacerbated by having as her Deputy First Minister a man who gave the graveside eulogy to the assassin who tried to murder her father and who, though he can be charming, is a very hard man indeed. So maybe it wasnt surprising that Mrs Foster should have overdone it in her determination to show in Mrs Thatchers words that the lady was not for turning. The difference is that Mrs Thatcher had shrewd advisers who persuaded her to compromise when necessary. Sadly for her, its clear that Mrs Foster didnt. The announcement that Michelle O'Neill is the new leader of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, while Gerry Adams still remains president of the party, will focus minds on the growing role of women in politics. Mrs O'Neill's appointment, foreshadowed by her even higher profile recently, means that for the first time in Northern Ireland three women are at the helm in local politics. Arlene Foster is leader of the DUP, Naomi Long leads Alliance, and now Michelle O'Neill leads Sinn Fein. These are notable individual achievements, given the fact that - for many reasons - Northern Ireland historically has not been a place with a strong female representation in politics. Nevertheless, Margaret Ritchie was leader of the SDLP in the recent past. Now, with female leaders in Scotland and Wales, and Theresa May as Prime Minister of the UK, the appointment of Michelle O'Neill makes Northern Ireland more modern and inclusive in this respect. There is no doubt that Mrs O'Neill has earned her place as leader. As the former Agriculture and now Health Minister, she is regarded as a hard worker who has travelled extensively in Northern Ireland in both roles. She appears to be a people person, engaging well with those she meets. She is also a working mum who knows the realities of finding a balance between her challenging public career and her personal life. Mrs O'Neill is a modern, young woman of ability who has made her way upwards through the ranks of Sinn Fein as a councillor, then as an MLA and eventually gaining ministerial portfolios. She appears confident and self-assured, and she has no baggage from the republican militarism of the past. Crucially, it will be interesting to see what relationship she will develop with Arlene Foster. We wish her well. The current Assembly includes 30 women, and hopefully we will stop focusing on such matters when the electorate returns at least 50 per cent of the MLAs to Stormont, and no-one bats an eyelid. At present, some 28 per cent of our elected representatives are women, compared to 22 per cent in the Dail. At the last election, women topped, or came close to topping, the poll regularly, and this alone points to changing times. Such developments should be welcomed by everyone. Following the unnecessary collapse of the Executive, the DUP and other parties need to open their eyes and see what is really there. On October 20, 2015 it was clearly assessed by MI5 and the PSNI that Sinn Fein was still being directed by the army council of the Provisional IRA. It follows, therefore, that Sinn Fein will never be allowed to do anything to maintain, or improve, the state of Northern Ireland, as this would delay the ultimate aim of the IRA to obtain a united Ireland by any means. The RHI saga and Brexit provided the excuse for the IRA, through Sinn Fein, to act upon uncertainties and doubt and spin stories to promote their core cause and objective. The election being called is certainly not in the best interests of Northern Ireland. At the time, it sounded good that the Belfast Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland; but that was all show and spin when the people of Northern Ireland needed and craved peace. The sad truth is that nothing can ever be stable with a group at the heart of government, whose primary objective is to destroy the very state of Northern Ireland. To vote for Sinn Fein is to prolong misgovernment and uncertainty. SAM ROBERTS MBE By email Indian activists in Kolkata protest following a terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Bangladesh that killed an Indian student, July 5, 2016. Decoded messages of a terror suspect in custody with alleged links to Islamic State and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) indicate there could be more than 10,000 IS members in India, a senior counter-terrorism official told BenarNews. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the involvement of Indian citizen Mohammad Mosihuddin (alias Abu Musa), 25, in connection with a terrorist siege that killed 20 hostages at a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 1 and 2, 2016. Mosihuddin, a native of West Bengal state, was arrested on July 4. On a regular basis, Musa used to send messages on an instant messaging application called Telegram to two of his handlers Abu Suleiman, who is believed to have masterminded the Holey Artisan Bakery attack, and Shafi Armar, ISs chief recruiter for India. In a couple of such messages, Musa informs Suleiman and Armar that the number of IS members in India would be more than10,000, a top NIA official revealed on condition of anonymity. The veracity of this claim was being verified, he added. Mosihuddins alleged revelations that IS, along with JMB, was plotting attacks on U.S. citizens in India prompted the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to send a seven-member team to Kolkata to interrogate him in early December. The NIA has also sought help from the FBI to decode messages from 34 mobile phones recovered from Mosihuddin, the official said. He has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for waging war against India. Mosihuddin had made recreational trips to several locations frequented by foreign tourists to plan stabbing attacks similar to the Dhaka cafe assault, the NIA said. BenarNews views charge sheet Mosihuddin discusses the plan of action and selects the [Mother Teresa] Missionaries of Charity as the target for a terrorist attack in Kolkata since foreigners are easily found there, according to NIAs charge-sheet. The document, which has been seen by BenarNews, alleges that Mosihuddin was radicalized online by his Syria-based IS handler, identified as Armar. Musa got in touch with Armar through Facebook and subsequently, through Skype, who radicalized him by sending the links of jihadi sites like Jihadology.net, Al-Shabab media and Just-Paste-it links, etc., and by sending videos released by the Ansar Ut Tawid (AuT), consisting of footage of war between the cadres of IS and the Iraqi forces, and videos and speeches of Anwar ul Awlaki about the ideology of Jihad, the document states. Mosihuddin, who worked at a grocery store in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, came under the scrutiny of Indian security agencies soon after the Dhaka attack when his calls and emails were traced to Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Syria. Acting on a tip from the NIA and Indias Intelligence Bureau that Mosihuddin was heading to his birthplace in West Bengals Birbhum district, state officials picked him up from Burdwan railway station on July 4. He had an improvised gun, a 13-inch dagger and fake currency notes from Afghanistan and Syria, police said. While government officials consistently deny that IS has made any significant inroads in India, intelligence agencies claim that about 50 Indian Muslims have left for the Middle East to fight alongside the terror outfit. Among them, at least seven have died in battle. Nearly 70 people are in police custody for showing leanings toward the group. Security analysts question number Security analysts, too, refused to believe that thousands of IS operatives could remain undetected in India. So many members of a terror outfit like IS cannot remain in hiding. Members of such outfits make these exaggerated claims to boost the morale of their sleeper cells and provide motivation to new recruits, analyst G.M. Srivastava told BenarNews. But there were others who advised caution as many Indians, including some in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir state, wish to separate from India. Alienation exists in many regions of India in many forms. The tragic happenings in Jammu and Kashmir should be an eye-opener, where people are revolting against state coercion, M.K. Bhadrakumar, a former Indian diplomat, wrote on his blog. If the Indian government is able to address the issue of separatism and alienation, we have no reason to get sleepless nights over IS modules and sleeper cells and the authorities can firmly and transparently deal with its traces in India whenever or wherever they show up, if at all, as a freak phenomenon, he wrote. Rohingya children are pictured at the Kutupalong camp for unregistered refugees in southeastern Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, Jan. 18, 2017. Updated at 5 p.m. ET on 2017-01-23 Rohingya boys and girls as young as 11 and 12 spoke of atrocities they had witnessed that forced them to flee Myanmars Rakhine state in recent weeks, with some telling BenarNews they saw Burmese security personnel burn their siblings alive. A BenarNews correspondent interviewed at least 19 children during visits to refugee camps in Coxs Bazar, a district in southeastern Bangladesh where some 65,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine state since early October, according to U.N. estimates. The military whisked away my brother and killed him, set fire to our house, and tortured the women, said Tasmin Khatun, 11, using a term that refers to the rape of women. We hid in the nearby jungle. I still shudder in fear when I think about it. I cannot sleep at night, the Rohingya girl told BenarNews at the Kutupalong camp for unregistered refugees in Ukhiya sub-district. Myanmar security forces have been accused of committing atrocities against the Rohingya population, such as targeted killings, rapes and the burning of homes, while mounting a crackdown after the killings of nine Burmese border guards by suspected militants in October. Myanmars government has defended itself from widespread international criticism, denying that its forces committed such abuses against members of the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority. Last week, BenarNews reported that 17 of 54 Rohingya women interviewed at refugee camps in Coxs Bazar said members of the Myanmar security forces had raped them. Thrown into flames Rohingya youngster Abdul Malek, at the Leda refugee camp in Teknaf sub-district, said he witnessed Myanmar security personnel throw his brother into the familys burning home. Military threw my twin into the fire. They have been killing everybody by setting fires, Abdul told BenarNews. He and the rest of his family members were able to escape by jumping into a river as security forces shot at them, Abdul alleged. Zohur Ali, 12, a refugee at the Kutupalong camp, recounted a similar incident, saying that security personnel snatched his two small siblings from his mothers lap and threw them into the flames of their home that had been set alight. Zohurs mother Rahima Khatun, 35, told BenarNews: Zohur cries even while sleeping. I do not know when he will recover from this. Nazim Uddin, 12, whose mother died during childbirth several months ago, said he saw his father beaten and arrested by Myanmar security personnel some days ago, before he, four siblings and an uncle fled across the border. Two of his siblings, 2-year-old Md Yeasin and 4-year-old Umme Salma, whom he cradled, remain traumatized, Nazim told BenarNews. Count under way An official with the Dhaka office of the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said it is working to verify the estimate that 65,000 Rohingya have arrived in southeastern Bangladesh since October. This number does not include at least 300,000 Rohingya refugees who live in camps in Coxs Bazar but who fled violence in Rakhine state years ago. To determine the number of the newly arrived Rohingya, we have been conducting a survey. So far, we have registered 12,000 new arrivals including 5,000 children, the UNHCR official told BenarNews on condition of anonymity. Ali Hossain, the deputy commissioner of Coxs Bazar district, told BenarNews the government had yet to count the number of Rohingya who entered Bangladesh afresh. The government, however, has been immunizing children age 5 and younger at the camps and giving them doses of Vitamin A, he said. Md Alam, a leader of Block B at the Leda camps, said officials were finding it difficult to feed all the children in the camp. Where is the time to look after the mental trouble? he told BenarNews. These children are mentally devastated as they came across a horrible reality; counseling is a must for their mental recovery. But where is the opportunity? Many of them are not getting food for survival, C.R. Abrar, an expert on refugee issues and professor at the University of Dhaka, told BenarNews. A Rohingya baby is vaccinated at the Kutupalong camp, Jan. 18, 2017. [Jesmin Papri/BenarNews] An earlier version incorrectly quoted Abdul Malek as saying that his twin brothers were thrown into a fire. Indonesian police were questioning 17 citizens who were detained at Jakartas international airport after being deported from Turkey over potential ties to Islamic State (IS), officials said Monday. The group of Indonesians included eight women and six children, the Indonesian polices counter-terror wing Directorate General of Immigration spokesman Agung Sampurno told BenarNews. The 17 were detained following their arrival aboard a Turkish Airlines flight on Saturday night. The Immigration Office has handed them over to investigators of Densus 88. As of last night, they were still being interrogated. They are allegedly involved with the Islamic State international terror group, national police chief spokesman Inspector Gen. Boy Rafli Amar told reporters on Monday without being more specific, according to the Jakarta Globe. Boy said his office was investigating possible links with several groups involved in conflicts in Syria, and was being aided by the Turkish government. This is based on a report by the Turkish authorities, he told reporters, adding that in the next day or two, investigators should know if there is a link to IS. The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) said 237 adults and 46 children from Indonesia were in Syria, while 283 others were deported from several countries including Turkey as of August 2016. Analysts debate possible links Harits Abu Ulya, a terrorism analyst with the Community of Ideological Islamic Analysts (CIIA), said the 17 could have planned to go to Syria to join IS. Faith encourages them to make a choice to migrate. Besides, that is the consequence of the faith, to move there, Harits told BenarNews. Some of them who are qualified would join the fight, too. Ridlwan Habib, a terrorism analyst at the University of Indonesia, disagreed. He said Indonesians going to Syria would join groups opposed to President Bashar Al Assad. They feel Aleppo is oppressed, so they go there, he said, adding such acts are not associated with terrorism. They are anti-IS. These people want to fight in Syria, for what they consider a land at war, and not in Indonesia. It is very different from IS, which considers all governments in the world as its enemy, he said. He said the Indonesian government should form a clearing house at airports to evaluate if someone is linked to IS or other terror groups. This could be staffed by representatives from the Immigration Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BNPT, and experts who understand the situation in Middle East, especially Syria, he said. The weakness is with the government. No one element or agency is authorized to handle people like these, Ridlwan said. So people who return from Syria wouldnt directly have a bad label by society because they may not necessarily be terrorists. Rupiah connection Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities are trying to determine how Indonesian bank notes were discovered at an apartment raided by Turkish police in connection with a terror attack at an Istanbul nightclub on New Years Day, according to a BNPT official. Thirty-nine people were killed during the Islamic State-claimed shooting at the Reina nightclub on Jan. 1. It is not yet clear and we are in coordination (with other investigators), BNPT Second Deputy Inspector General of Police Arif Darmawan told BenarNews in a text message. Malaysian ringgit and Indonesian rupiah banknotes were found in an apartment where police arrested Abdulkadir Masharipov and four other men, according to Malaysian news reports that cited photographs published in an article published by Britains Daily Mail newspaper on Jan. 19. Turkish security forces identified Masharipov, the suspected gunman who carried out the attack, as being from Uzbekistan and trained by IS in Afghanistan. The discovery of the rupiah notes does not mean that Masharipov had been to Indonesia, Ridlwan said. I think they interact with Indonesian combatants in Syria and they exchanged money. It is common among the combatants to do that as a sign of friendship, he said. Malaysian police said Monday they exposed a new Islamic State (IS) extremist cell that planned to use the eastern state of Sabah as a transit point for sending IS members to the Philippines. The nations police chief, Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said officers from his department discovered the cell after arresting four people a Filipino man, two Bangladeshi men and a Malaysian woman during counter-terror raids in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 13 and 19. All of the suspects are being held under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012. The cell received orders from a former lecturer at Malaya University who allegedly became a militant in the southern Philippines, Mahmud Ahmad, and Isnilon Hapilon, a former leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group who leads IS Philippines, the Islamic States affiliate in that country, Khalid said in a statement. With these arrests, the special branch crippled a new Daesh terror cell that planned to make Sabah a transit point for terrorists from Southeast Asia and South Asia to infiltrate into Philippines to join a terrorist group under the leadership of Mahmud and Isnilon, he said, using another term for IS. Aside from Mahmud, two more Malaysians, Darul Islam Sabah member Amin Bacho and Joraimee Awang joined the cell which has a base in Marawi City, Mindanao, Khalid said in a press statement that did not include the names of the four suspects arrested since Jan. 13. Isnilon leads al Harakat ul Islamiyah Basilan, one of three southern Philippine militant groups that have pledged allegiance to IS and make up IS Philippines, according to Rohan Gunaratna, a BenarNews contributor who directs the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Mahmud, a former lecturer in the universitys Islamic Studies faculty, joined IS militants in Southern Philippines in January 2014, The Malay Mail Online reported. Details released While not naming those captured since Jan. 13, Khalid described the first suspect, the cells chief recruiter, as a 31-year-old Filipino watch seller who was arrested in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The suspect who has pledged allegiance to Mahmud was instructed to recruit and organize new Daesh members from Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and ethnic Rohingya to enter Southern Philippines to join the terror group in Marawi City, Mindanao, he said. The second suspect, Khalid said, is a 27-year-old Malaysian woman from Selangor who was recruited by the first suspect through social media in early January. Khalid said she was arrested along with the first suspect in Kota Kinabalu after taking a flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Jan. 13. They were planning to fly to Sandakan before traveling to Southern Philippines, he said, adding that the woman said she was planning to marry her recruiter. The two remaining suspects are Bangladeshi men, age 27 and 28. The salesmen were arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 19, Khalid said. Both men have been recruited by the first suspect and planned to join the group led by Mahmud in Southern Philippines, he said. They have connections to IS cells in Bangladesh as well. Since 2013, Malaysian authorities have arrested more than 260 IS suspects, of those 66 have since been freed, according to recent government figures. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Mostly cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. Nicht personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung werden u. a. von Inhalten, die Sie sich gerade ansehen, und Ihrem Standort beeinflusst (welche Werbung Sie sehen, basiert auf Ihrem ungefahren Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung konnen auch Videoempfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und individuelle Werbung enthalten, die auf fruheren Aktivitaten wie auf YouTube angesehenen Videos und Suchanfragen auf YouTube beruhen. Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. By Amber Stark 99 The National Guard motto is Always Ready, Always There. Bowling Green State University student Keylin Freeman said the same could be said about the Universitys Office of Nontraditional and Military Student Services. As a student employee in the office, Freeman, who is also a member of the National Guard, stands ready to help other veterans navigate college. It is fulfilling, giving other veterans guidance so they dont struggle [with the transition] like I did, the Columbus native said. Our office is here and we want to help you. Freeman started at BGSU in the fall of 2012, but took the 2013-14 academic year off to join the National Guard, a decision he made because of the financial support the Guard offered. Its also good to give back to the community, he said. And it opens up other opportunities. I didnt think it was for me, but my parents were adamant; they knew I could do it. I took a leap of faith and Im glad I did. Freeman returned to BGSU for the 2014-15 academic year. He said he had a little trouble re-adjusting to college due to the strict routine he experienced in the Guard. It was also at this time he changed his major from computer science to electronics and computer engineering technology. Because of having gone through grade issues and finance issues, I can see similar patterns in other veteran students, he said. Now I am a resource. I can help other veterans with their schedules, finances and keeping up with school work. Freeman is a medic in the Guard. He drills one weekend a month and attends annual training for two weeks in the summer. His six-year commitment is up in June 2019. He hasnt decided if he will re-enlist because he may want to move somewhere warmer. Freeman is slated to graduate in the fall of 2018 and is interested in finding a position as an electronics engineer in a manufacturing setting. I love BGSU, he said. I had the traditional first-year experience as a freshman in Centennial Hall and now have experience as a nontraditional military student. I feel like theres a place for everyone. A member of Sigma Nu, Freeman also served as a tour guide and was a member of the Falcon Marching Band. I wanted to come back here because I like Bowling Green so much, he said. My experience has been nothing but thrilling so far. by John D. Barry, CEO of Jesus' Economy This has been an odd week in the history of America: Martin Luther King, Jr.s legacy was celebrated on Monday. Friday was the inauguration of an unexpected President, surrounded by protests. And Saturday women across the country marched together. For many, there are a series of open questions: What does all this mean? Where is America going? What will or wont happen next? All of should be asking one question: What type of person will I be? Each of us must define for ourselves and others what type of person we will be, no matter what may come next. In this regard, Dr. King sets a great example. Dr. King once said: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. At the core of this statement, you can hear the prophetic voice. Let us remember that Dr. King also had another titleReverend. He was a preacher. In his time, as in ours, many people looked at the injustices and simply ignored them or demeaned them. But for a person living in a country that treats them unjustly, these issues are not something that can be ignored. Its only convenient to ignore injustices until those same injustices inconvenience you. The prophets echo Dr. Kings words, with lines like: Wash! Make yourselves clean! Remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes! Cease to do evil! Learn to do good! Seek justice! Rescue the oppressed! Defend the orphan! Plead for the widow! (>Isaiah 1:16 LEB). Thus says Yahweh, Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been seized from the hand of the oppressor. And you must not oppress or treat violently the immigrant, the orphan, and the widow. And you must not shed innocent blood in this place (>Jeremiah 22:3 LEB). Remove from me the noise of your songs, and I do not want to hear the melody of your harps! But let justice roll on like the water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (>Amos 5:2324 LEB). The Bibles cry is justice, mercy, and love. There is no other way that aligns with Gods desire. Fear cannot dominate our worldview. If any of us are to call ourselves Christians, we must believe in justice for all. We must love without bounds. We must lead out of mercy. This is the Christian cry. Jesus once said: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets (>Matthew 22:3740 LEB). Love means placing others before ourselvesto love God is to love others. The book of James puts it this way: If anyone thinks he is religious, although he does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this persons religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (>James 1:2627 LEB). Love is only truly practiced by those who can manage their own wordswe must all work at this. Love also requires us to prioritize the needs of the widow, the orphan, the refugee, and the outsider. We must believe that is what is good for the entire world is also good for us, because it is. But love does not mean simply loving those who are hurtingalthough that is certainly a major part of it. Jesus also once remarked: You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and Hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust (>Matthew 5:4344 LEB). There is no us and them; were all simply humanity. God does not look on the world and smile upon one country over another. He loves the entire world equally. And we must do the same. Love those you dont understand. Love those on the other side of the aisle. Love those who protest. Love those who protest against you. Love in a way that forces you to self-examine. Love in a way that moves you out isolation and insulation. Love in a way that demands justice. Love with mercy. Simply put, truly love. Von: NIKOLAUS BLOME Donald Trump (70) is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. A promise is a promise. This applies especially to the man who publicly says of himself: I will be the greatest job producer that God ever created. He turned his first speech which many people expected to be an attempt at reconciliation into a challenge to the world. Against anyone who would get in his way.He wants America to be great again. On that path, there can only be him and the people. Everything else is interference. Never before has the political system of the most powerful democracy in the world been this unforgivingly challenged at such a ceremonious moment. Or rather: never before has someone slung mud at it like this. Donald Trump will be and this is something both pessimists and optimists can agree on a big, radical experiment, maybe even an experiment of historic proportions. And he wants it that way. Donald Trump wants to prove what one man alone is capable of achieving. Of course, he has appointed a cabinet of ministers, including many independent and sensible people. And of course, the control mechanisms of American democracy are still in place. The rendezvous with the people and history, however, Trump wants for himself alone. The other politicians in Washington had a good time while the factories in the country were closing down, he said yesterday. Now they need to shut up and let him do his work. Trump mostly relied on himself in establishing his candidacy and running his campaign. He also approaches his office in this battle-mode. No sign of the moderation we all hoped for, or an attempt to build bridges to those who did not vote for him. He alone against all obstacles. This fits with Trumps self-perception as a deal maker who seeks to enforce his interests in confrontation after confrontation. What all these confrontations have in common is: Donald Trump fights for the people. Donald Trump fights against globalization. Donald Trump fights against the familiar course of global economy. Auch interessant In the end, the slogan America first of his speech yesterday means: anything that economically benefits the Americans is good. Anything that could harm them is supressed with presidential power. And anything that does not seem to be directly relevant is pushed back: NATO, for instance; the ties to a united European Union; the role of the US as the indispensable world police. So if the free trade in cars or medicine seems to cost jobs in the US, then this free trade is immediately subject to renegotiation from day one of Trumps Presidency. If a US company intends to build a new factory in Mexico instead of Michigan, Donald Trump will intervene with holy wrath, because it is the will of the people. In the name of the very nation that has created and promoted globalization, Trump challenges this globalization, because in the short run it does not turn all working Americans into winners. Europes far-right politicians, such as Le Pen and Orban, are applauding. Far-left politicians, such as Wagenknecht and Tsipras, do the same. Its not surprising. The tone and, partly, the choice of words are the same. But is it possible at all? Can one individual even the most powerful individual in the world stop globalization? The global, vibrant dynamics that drive billions of people in their decisions; that send trillions of dollars around the world every day; that have elevated hundreds of millions of people from the poorest conditions to the middle class in China, India, and other places; and that have developed into a world-wide basic arithmetic operation (maybe except for North Korea)? Is this aim naive and presumptuous? Or is it bold? Trumps voters want him to try. They have the right to, and so does he. However, at least one thing has to be clear from the beginning: if Donald Trump were to fail in his politics, he alone would fail not the American democracy, not the American economy, and not globalization. It is unlikely that one could just remove the basis of an otherwise open economy directed at global market leadership like the American economy without causing any harm. It is unlikely that global problems can be divided into numerous individual face-to-face negotiations similar to those between two CEOs. More than ever, everything is connected to everything: Russias economic problems are related to Vladimir Putins military intervention in Syria; the struggling Middle East is related to the European refugee crisis; the division of the European Union is related to Chinas new aspiration of becoming the worlds stabilizing power. To sum up: it is unlikely that one man can stop the way the world operates. Even the centre. PS: Sind Sie bei Facebook? Werden Sie Fan von BILD.de-Politik For Immediate Release, January 23, 2017 Contact: Jonathan Evans, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 844-7118, jevans@biologicaldiversity.org Van Collinsworth, Preserve Wild Santee, (619) 258-7929, vancollinsworth@gmail.com Jesse Marquez, Coalition for a Safe Environment, (310) 590-0177, jnm4ej@yahoo.com Rick Halsey, California Chaparral Institute, (760) 822-0029, rwh@californiachaparral.org Agreement Protects San Diego's Vanishing Burrowing Owls, Increases Solar Energy SAN DIEGO An agreement announced today between conservation and environmental-justice groups and private developers will protect imperiled burrowing owls, increase renewable solar energy and conserve wildlife habitat to offset impacts from the redevelopment of San Diego's Brown Field Municipal Airport. The airport located near the Mexico border in Otay Mesa will be redeveloped with new commercial and aviation facilities and include on-site solar energy to reduce energy consumption. This agreement provides an innovative strategy reestablishing burrowing owls throughout San Diego County and creates an effective tool to allow off-site mitigation of greenhouse gases with rooftop solar in communities most harmed by air pollution from fossil fuels, said Jonathan Evans, environmental health legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. The agreement enlists the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research in a multi-year program to help rebuild the struggling burrowing owl population on Otay Mesa and to establish a pilot program for implementing successful repopulation of burrowing owls in other areas throughout San Diego County. The agreement also sets aside habitat off the airport for burrowing owls and protects vanishing vernal pool habitat. Avoiding climate impacts and gaining protections for species being driven toward extinction are essential, said Van Collinsworth, director of Preserve Wild Santee. We are pleased that the partnership with the San Diego Zoo will implement owl protection strategies while clean distributed energy will be boosted to reduce climate impacts." The agreement would also establish a revolving trust fund to be managed by the San Diego Foundation to install off-site solar energy on facilities operated by nonprofit organizations serving low-income or disadvantaged communities. The redeveloped airport also commits to 12 megawatts of photovoltaic energy as part of the project, which is enough solar energy to power more than 3,000 homes. Burrowing owls and vernal pools have almost been wiped off the map in most of Southern California, said Jesse Marquez, executive director of Coalition for a Safe Environment. We must take stronger wildlife habitat conservation actions to protect these amazing owls as part of our natural heritage from going extinct. Burrowing owls have nearly been eliminated from San Diego County and require greater efforts to help rebuild their population. Vernal pools are small, seasonal wetlands that support plants and animals, like the endangered San Diego fairy shrimp, uniquely adapted to an environment that may dry up for months or years at a time. San Diego has lost about 98 percent of its vernal pools. Opportunities need to be provided to citizens to help us reduce our impacts on the Earth's climate, said Richard Halsey, director of the California Chaparral Institute. The solar trust fund offers one such opportunity by facilitating the production of solar energy in neighborhoods where assistance is needed most. The settlement agreement was agreed to by conservation and environmental-justice groups the Center for Biological Diversity, Preserve Wild Santee, California Chaparral Institute, Coalition for a Safe Environment, Community Dreams and California Kids IAQ. The groups were represented by the Center for Biological Diversity and Coast Law Group. For Immediate Release, January 23, 2017 Contact: Courtney Sexton, (202) 547-9359, pr@centerforfoodsafety.org Paul Achitoff, (808( 599-2436, achitoff@earthjustice.org Paul Towers, (916) 216-1082, ptowers@panna.org Nathan Donley, (971) 717-6406, ndonley@biologicaldiversity.org Public Interest Groups, Farmers File Lawsuit Challenging Monsanto's Toxic Pesticides Illegal Approval of Dicamba Use on Engineered Crops Will Harm Farmers, Environment WASHINGTON Farmers and conservation groups filed a federal lawsuit Friday challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's approval of Monsanto's new XtendiMax pesticide. The approval of the pesticide company's latest version of the older weed-killer known as dicamba, permits it to be sprayed directly on Monsanto's genetically engineered dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton. The decision greenlights a more than tenfold increase in use of the toxic pesticide, increasing risks to farmers, community health and the environment. Because these same crops are also engineered to withstand applications of Monsanto's Roundup, the overuse of that pesticide (containing the active ingredient glyphosate) will continue at current high levels. Federal regulators have abandoned the interests of farmers, the environment and public health, said George Kimbrell, of the Center for Food Safety and counsel in the case. We won't allow our food to be dragged backward into a pesticide-soaked nightmare not without a hell of a fight. Dicamba is linked to increased rates of cancer in farmers as well as birth defects, while glyphosate was recently classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Farmers are extremely alarmed by dicamba's propensity to drift and damage neighboring crops, while conservationists are concerned about its impacts on biodiversity. Dicamba drift threatens plants that provide nectar for pollinators and habitat for animals, and is frequently detected in surface waters. Monsanto's Roundup Ready crops created an environmental disaster by causing infestation of tens of millions of acres of farmland with herbicide-resistant weeds and spurring an enormous increase in pesticide use, said Earthjustice attorney Paul Achitoff. Planting more GE crops and dousing them with more noxious chemicals isn't the answer. The Environmental Protection Agency should be protecting health and the environment, not Monsanto's profits. Farmers in 10 states have already reported that much more limited dicamba spraying associated with Monsanto's new dicamba-resistant crops has caused widespread damage to thousands of acres of their crops. And last fall a dicamba drift dispute between an Arkansas farmer and a Missouri farmer even resulted in one farmer being shot to death. Monsanto's dicamba-resistant crop system will drive up sales of this outdated pesticide, spur more superweeds and damage vulnerable crops. Monsanto's solution is expensive, inadequate and reckless. If Trump's administration wants to serve farmers, it will invest in healthy, long-lasting solutions to farmers' needs, not pander to corporate greed, said Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, a Pesticide Action Network senior scientist. The huge increase in dicamba spraying will trigger an outbreak of dicamba resistance in weeds, just as massive use of Roundup on first generation GE crops created an epidemic of weeds immune to glyphosate. While Monsanto spins its new dicamba crops as a fix to the current weed resistance problems its own Roundup Ready crop system caused, many scientists, and even the U.S. Department of Agriculture, predict the opposite: the rapid emergence of more superweeds, resistant to both herbicides. The evidence on the ground already indicates EPA's weak weed-resistance management plan will make the problem even worse, both because it lacks limits on dicamba use and primarily relies on Monsanto for its implementation and enforcement. Said Margot McMillen, an NFFC board representative and Missouri organic farmer: The whole system of genetic engineering threatens plant and animal health. Because of cross-pollination, the original non-GMO and wild weed genomes are fast disappearing, while the fight against weeds requires more and more potent chemicals. These new crops and their unintended consequences were predictable and avoidable, but the safe and healthy alternative offered by sustainable and organic agriculture has been ignored. Despite admitting significant risks to dozens of endangered species, the EPA still refused to consult with the expert federal agency in charge of endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Once again the EPA is allowing staggering increases in pesticide use that will undoubtedly hurt our nation's most imperiled plants and animals, said Nathan Donley, a scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity. Iconic species like endangered whooping cranes are known to visit soybean fields, and now they'd be exposed to this toxic herbicide at levels they've never seen before. The plaintiff organizations bringing the lawsuit are National Family Farm Coalition, Pesticide Action Network, Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity, represented jointly by legal counsel from Earthjustice and Center for Food Safety. Center for Food Safety's mission is to empower people, support farmers, and protect the earth from the harmful impacts of industrial agriculture. Through groundbreaking legal, scientific, and grassroots action, we protect and promote your right to safe food and the environment. Please join our more than 750,000 consumer and farmer advocates across the country at www.centerforfoodsafety.org. Twitter: @CFSTrueFood, @CFS_Press Earthjustice, the nation's premier nonprofit environmental law organization, wields the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. Because the earth needs a good lawyer. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. www.biologicaldiversity.og For Immediate Release, January 23, 2017 Contact: Rachel Silverstein, (619) 787-3161, rachel@miamiwaterkeeper.org Brettny Hardy, (415) 217-2142, bhardy@earthjustice.org Jaclyn Lopez, (727) 490-9190, jlopez@biologicaldiversity.org Manley Fuller, (850) 656-7113, wildfed@gmail.com Tom Ingram, (858) 616-6408, tingram@dema.org U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commits to Conduct New Environmental Studies Before Port Everglades Expansion Dredging Begins Dredging Delayed Until 2019 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to go back to square one and conduct new environmental studies before starting its planned dredging project to expand Port Everglades. The Corps' dredging project at Port Everglades aims to make way for larger, post-Panamax shipping vessels. While the Corps conducts new studies, plaintiffs, including environmental organizations and America's largest trade organization for recreational divers, have agreed to put a temporary hold on their federal Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act lawsuit over the planned dredging. The Corps' dredging plan failed to account for damage to nearby, fragile coral reefs. The Corps has agreed to reassess its Port Everglades environmental analysis because of new environmental information available about the widespread and unanticipated damage incurred during a similar dredging project at nearby PortMiami and new, local coral species recently added to the federal Endangered Species Act list. In Miami the dredging proved disastrous for the coral reefs in the area. For the PortMiami project, the Corps had assumed there would be minimal impacts to coral, but instead fine-grained sediment from the project harmed tens of thousands of coral colonies and over 250 acres of reef designated as critical habitat for the Endangered Species Act-listed staghorn corals. The National Marine Fisheries Service assessed the area and determined that 95 percent of the surveyed reef is no longer suitable habitat for corals, and some of the damaged reef will never recover naturally. The devastating coral damage discovered after the PortMiami dredging gives us all pause. It is a good reason for the Corps to go back to the drawing board and to learn from its mistakes in Miami, said Brettny Hardy, an attorney at Earthjustice, lawyers for plaintiffs in the case. Under the law, a proper analysis must be done before further taxpayer dollars are spent on this potentially devastating project. The Port Everglades dredging, which was planned to begin in 2017, is now expected to be on hold until at least 2019 while the new environmental analyses are conducted. The Corps' and NMFS' prior environmental analyses simply ignored evidence from PortMiami that showed estimated impacts from dredging near corals are significantly more harmful and widespread than expected. said Rachel Silverstein, executive director and waterkeeper of Miami Waterkeeper. The current environmental statements do not reflect best available science,' which is the legal standard for agency decision-making, and therefore, they must be redone. Coral and coastal Floridians will benefit from the Corps pumping the brakes on this massive project, said Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity. We have to learn from our mistakes and do what's right for our irreplaceable coastal resources. We will remain vigilant as this process moves forward to ensure full compliance with the law and protection of our irreplaceable coral reefs, said Manley Fuller, president of the Florida Wildlife Federation. Each year snorkeling and scuba diving in Florida account for almost 9 million visitor-days, create almost 30,000 full-time equivalent tourism-related jobs, and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars directly to the Florida economy. The reefs provide huge environmental and economic benefits to South Florida. This is a positive step for the entire recreational diving community, especially in Fort Lauderdale, which depends upon a healthy reef environment said Tom Ingram, president and CEO of the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA). DEMA is determined to help protect the natural reef from destruction so that many generations to come can continue to enjoy the opportunity to see, firsthand, this unique and precious natural resource. Earthjustice is representing Miami Waterkeeper, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Florida Wildlife Federation, and the Diving Equipment and Manufacturing Association (DEMA). Jim Porter of James M. Porter, P.A. is also representing Miami Waterkeeper. Bob Harris of Messer Caparello, P.A is also representing DEMA in the lawsuit. The Corps will hold two public meetings to explore the scope of the project. The meetings are at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Feb. 22 at Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, 33316. Public presentations are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with a Q&A period to follow. Anyone with questions about the meetings should contact Terri Jordan-Sellers at (904) 232-1817 or at Terri.Jordan-Sellers@usace.army.mil. Miami Waterkeeper is a South Florida-based nonprofit. Our mission is to protect South Florida's watershed through citizen engagement and community action, ensuring swimmable, drinkable, fishable, water for all. Through our work, we hope to ensure clean and vibrant South Florida waters and coastal culture for generations to come. 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. Florida Wildlife Federation is a statewide nonprofit conservation organization advocating for abundant wildlife and fisheries, habitats and clean water, and supporting outdoor recreation. DEMA is the trade association for the recreational diving industry. Our mission is to bring businesses together to grow the recreational diving industry worldwide, and our goals include helping divers everywhere have continuing access to a clean, healthy diving environment. Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of the law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a The Red & Yellow School has released a further limited number of bursary opportunities for all full-time programmes at their Cape Town campus for 2017. Red & Yellow's New Cape Town Campus These award-winning programmes include a BA in Visual Communications, a Diploma in Copywriting, and a Diploma in Marketing & Advertising Communications. School-leavers and university graduates looking for qualifications to start creative careers in marketing, design, advertising and branding must submit their application via the website here. There are limited spots and due to the popularity of these courses, candidates are encouraged to apply immediately to avoid disappointment. For the past 23 years Red & Yellow has shaped the creative and advertising industries by training remarkable talent, driven to make a difference in the world, says Rob Stokes, Chairman. Part of the school's mission therefore, is to provide free, premium education to as many students as they can in order to make a real impact on society and further transformation in the industry. The recent expansion of the school's Cape Town campus means that students can anticipate an unrivalled educational experience. The new premises boast a wide open studio-like learning space that emulates the real working world with breakaway areas and lecture rooms. Real brand projects, rubbing shoulders with industry experts, and a rooftop chill zone overlooking the city, are just some of the highlights students can look forward to. Applications for 2017 bursaries are now open, and will close on 25 January 2017. Submit your application online via the website to apply or email Dominic Pestana at az.oc.wolleydnader@seirasrub. As part of its 2017 Media Awards, Warc has announced the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in the Effective Channel Integration category. Launched in May 2016, this global case study competition recognises communications planning that has made a positive impact on business results. The Effective Channel Integration category demonstrates how sophisticated communications architecture can help boost campaign effectiveness. A 10-strong international panel chaired by Sarah Mansfield, VP Global Media of Unilever, Europe, Latam and Global Media Operations judged it. Gold winners The three gold winners, in the judges opinion, more than fulfilled this criterion. Legos Make Lego the Star of Christmas campaign, through UM Australia, saw the toy company connect with families by encouraging them to build a Lego star for the top of their Christmas trees. Jury member Richard Shotton, deputy head of evidence, Manning Gottlieb OMD, said, There was a wonderful order in its approach, focusing on fans, then the stunt with the star, then celebration, then user-generated content - that was excellent integration. In Unilever-owned Knorrs Love At First Taste campaign through PHD, the food brand engaged with millennial foodies by creating an online tool that matched people based on their flavour personality. Judge Paul Frampton, CEO Havas Media Group UK & Ireland described it as, An incredible campaign that had an amazing number of people interact with it. Considering it could have just stuck money in TV ads, what it did encouraged people to go and buy the product. This was a good example of content, then owned platform and earned media and then paid media to go after millennials. Churchills Lollipoppers campaign, through MediaCom UK, saw the brand champion safer road crossing for children on their way to and from school. I fell in love with the whole thing, said judge Dominique Touchaud, global brand strategist, associate brand director, Procter & Gamble. It solved a real issue and when the company realised something did not work, it did something else. Silvers, Bronzes The three Silvers were awarded to UM Romania for its Pay With Blood campaign for the National Institute of Blood Transfusion and Untold Music Festival; to Starcoms Never A Stranger campaign for Airbnb; and to FP7/DXBs Project Alphabet for NGO Smartlife. The judges also awarded two bronzes: one to Almap BBDOs Worlds Best Social Network for beer brand Antarctica, and one to Arena Media UKs Journey to Greatness work for fast food brand Dominos. The winners of the Effective Use of Tech, Effective Use of Partnership & Sponsorship and Best Use of Data categories will be announced shortly. The Grand Prix and Special Awards winners across all four categories will be announced at an event in London on 9 February 2017, when guests will hear insights and learnings from winning case studies presented by Warc Media Awards judges. Twin girls joined at the lower abdomen were separated in a six-hour operation at the Netcare Unitas Hospital in Centurion on Saturday, 21 January. Speaking ahead of the procedure, paediatric surgeons Dr Mariza de Villiers and Dr Paul Stevens agreed that the twins had a good prognosis. This type of conjoined twins is known as omphalopagus twins, which means do not share a heart, they noted. Pre-operative assessments indicated that the babies also did not share any other vital organs. This considerably improved their chances of surviving the surgical separation and will also contribute greatly to them leading healthy lives going forward, said De Villiers. Uwenzile and Uyihlelile Shilongonyane with their mom, Bongekile Simelane, minutes before they underwent their separation surgery . She added the operation was made easier because they were only joined by a bridge of skin. There is sufficient skin to close the resultant surgical wound on each baby without the need for plastic surgery. There are always considerable risks when separating conjoined twins, but we have been cautiously optimistic all along that the operation would have a good outcome for both twins, she observed. The girls, Uwenzile and Uyihlelile Shilongonyane, were born on 2 January, weighing a total of 4,21kgs, to Bongekile Simelane and her husband Mbongeni Sihlongonyane from Big Bend, Swaziland. Anaesthesia posed a challenge According to Stevens one of the main challenges the surgical team anticipated ahead of the procedure, related to the anaesthesia. The twins were conjoined in such a way that they are facing each other. Intubation for such tiny babies is delicate enough, but as their faces are so close to one another and they are not able to be placed on their backs to be intubated for anaesthesia, this was a great deal more complicated than usual. As a result, four anaesthetists participated in the procedure, with each twin being cared for by two anaesthetists for the duration of the surgery. The doctors worked in two distinct teams, identified by their pink and purple surgical scrub caps. The all-female team of anaesthetists consisted of Dr Henrika Rossouw, Dr Sandra Spijkerman, Dr Marleen Odendaal and Dr Jeanri Smith. The little patients were matched to their team by wearing corresponding colours and were connected to their own, colour-coded anaesthetic machine. The initial stage of the procedure, dedicated to getting the anaesthetic just right for the surgery, took more than three hours, which meant that it took almost half of the total theatre time. A group of influential public and private sector leaders who aim to ensure malaria eradication remains a top global priority announced the launch of the End Malaria Council at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland last week. Among them is Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who said: The next chapter of the fight against malaria starts now." He co-authored a report with Ray Chambers, the UN secretary-generals special envoy for health in agenda 2030 and for malaria in 2015 called Aspiration to Action: What will it take to end malaria? For the first time in history, we have a roadmap to a world without malaria where no one has to die from a mosquito bite ever again. With renewed focus, innovation and new commitments of leadership and funding, we can be the generation to end malaria once and for all," Gates said. The launch of the End Malaria Council comes just a month after the release of the World Health Organisations 2016 World Malaria Report, which showed remarkable progress in reducing cases and deaths from malaria since 2000, but also underscored the urgent need for global leadership, new funding and innovation to stay on track to meet targets. Members of the End Malaria Council will work in collaboration with the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and other key partners to help countries and regions achieve their malaria control and elimination goals. Members of this unique group will use their voices and networks to support the work already underway by malaria field workers, scientists and experts by focusing on three areas: building political will, mobilising resources and supporting the development of new tools to find, prevent and treat malaria. Besides Gates and Chambers, the other inaugural members of the council are: Peter Chernin, founder, Chernin Entertainment and The Chernin Group Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive, Dangote Group Idriss Deby, president, Republic of Chad (representing the African Leaders Malaria Alliance) Jakaya Kikwete, former president, United Republic of Tanzania Graca Machel, founder, Foundation for Community Development, Mozambique Luis Alberto Moreno, president, Inter-American Development Bank Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president, Republic of Liberia Thanks to strong leadership, smart investments and the hard work of the public and private sectors, the world has cut malaria deaths in half since 2000, saving more than 6m lives from the disease. Malaria-related deaths are at an all-time low, especially among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. This can be largely attributed to the unprecedented delivery of more than 500m insecticide-treated bed nets over the last three years, along with significant expansion of diagnosis and treatment. But malaria preys on the rural poor and the young, still killing a child every two minutes. It stunts productivity, burdens families with health care costs, limits educational achievement and slows overall economic growth. We have reached a critical juncture in the malaria fight, said Chambers. To end this disease we need a creative approach to financing one that combines continued support from donor countries with new approaches to expand commitments, particularly from countries affected by malaria. Ending malaria is within reach, but the next few years are critical. Success requires maintaining the progress to date, achieving control in endemic countries and accelerating to elimination where possible. Leaders in Africa and Asia have adopted ambitious elimination agendas for their regions, and countries are working hard to achieve the reductions in cases and deaths to meet the bold goals. Thriving Chinese smartphone manufacturers have developed aggressive strategies to expand into the rest of the world, and SA is high on their priority list. Source: Meizu Browsing through catalogues of cellphone network operators and retailers shows a growing number of previously unheard-of brands that are beginning to compete with Apple and Samsung in the high-end market, even among SA's brand-conscious consumers. The more familiar brands are Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, Xiaomi, Hisense and TCL Mobile, which is behind the revival of Alcatel. TCL also has its own branded handsets. The latest entrant a new brand for SA is Meizu, which introduced its smartphones to SA last year. Chinese-made devices have highly attractive features and most offer value for money. Their main target is medium- to low-end buyers and entry-level handsets are priced around R2,000. Low prices have accelerated smartphone adoption in SA. Cellphone network operators have recorded a double-digit increase in smartphone usage, resulting in growth in data revenue. According to the International Data Corp (IDC), low-priced smartphones (costing less than $100) account for more than two-thirds of SA's Android phone sales. "This space has evolved after top-end sales became well-established in the market courtesy of the country's substantial postpaid segment, a rare feature of the operator environment in Africa," it said in a report released in September 2016. World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says the main factor driving the uptake of Chinese handset brands is value for money, rather than low cost in itself. The high-end features available on mid-range phones make them viable alternatives to the big brands, for which the cost is often two to three times that of the economy brands. MTN SA's GM for pricing, research and intelligence, Jay Chetty, says the popularity of these devices is growing largely because of their costs as they enable more South Africans to get into the smartphone environment. "The Huawei brand is gaining credibility," says Chetty. "It is starting to tap into the high and medium value segment." Between 11% and 15% of smartphones running on MTN's network are from Chinese brands. Goldstuck believes South Africans are very brand conscious, mainly when they are paying a premium, but when they simply want an affordable option the brand becomes less important than what you get for your money. He says Huawei is the big challenger to Samsung's market dominance. It displays many of the same characteristics, strategies and attitudes Samsung did when it was still an up-and-coming smartphone player. Alcatel has the potential to dominate the low end, where it has been successful, but has not yet broken into the high end. Not all Chinese brands are succeeding here. Goldstuck says Xiaomi has made a huge impact in some markets, but its online marketing model has required substantial adaptation for the African market. He says it may not be able to achieve the same scale as Huawei. "ZTE seems to have little interest in deepening its role in the local handset market. Other Chinese players like Meizu and Oppo remain unproven in this market." The IDC says the share of Chinese brands in the smartphone market has exceeded 20% of total units by the end of 2016. Besides the product mix, currency challenges and macroeconomics factors in SA are favouring economically priced phones from China. These brands are no longer seen as "cheap and low quality" but rather as better and preferable to the overpriced ones. The SA smartphone market is driven by contracts. Apple's iPhones are big players only at the top end of the market, as the handsets are unaffordable for the mass market. However, great efforts are made to match its design and technology for the aspirational value it brings, says Goldstuck. Vodacom's own branded handsets are gaining traction. Vodacom's Davide Tacchino says launching a new device is not easy. "We look at the price and quality . and there are plenty of new brands in the market, but some of them are not able to match our requirements." Source: Financial Mail PARIS - With Paris men's fashion week coming to an end Sunday night, we pick out five of the big trends in the autumn-winter collections: Model present creations by Balmain during men's Fashion Week for the Fall/Winter 2017/2018 collection in Paris on 21 January 2017 ( AFP Photo/Francois Guillot Youth may be wasted on the young, as Oscar Wilde once quipped, but style isn't, insisted the Paris shows, which went all-out to capture the hearts of millennials. Rarely have the catwalks been so focused on teens and twenty-somethings. The hoodie conquered all and skate kid chic was everywhere, with Japanese brand Facetasm going so far as to send its models out with what appeared to be fake acne. The slogans that ran through The Etudes, Lanvin and Chinese brand Sankuanz shows were pure teen spirit, "Never mind", "Nothing" and "Destroy". Dior's Kris Van Assche, whose show was a rallying call for a "new tailoring" aimed at the young, summed up the adolescent fascination. "I have always been drawn to the moment when boys become men and they are still clinging onto to dreams, desires and freedoms and haven't yet slipped into the straitjacket," he said. Not since the 1980s heydey of bling branding has fashion had such a fascination with logos. Dior, Loewe, Balenciaga, Andrea Crews, Louis Vuitton, Icosae and even tastemaker in chief Dries Van Noten went logo a go-go. Like much else these days you can blame/credit Georgian trendsetter Demna Gvasalia and his Vetements collective, who name-checked no less than 54 big brands in its last show. Gvasalia was up to his old logo banditry tricks in his show for Balenciaga, appropriating Bernie Sander's campaign logo, much to the US Democratic Party senator's amusement. There was less to smile about at Vuitton, where its collaboration with the super hip US street label Supreme had decidedly mixed reviews, with the New York Times calling it "the fashion version of a murder-suicide". This was supposed to be men's fashion week, but with so many women also on the catwalk you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Mixed and gender-fluid shows have been a thing for a while, but now it has almost become the rule to have a few women models in men's shows, much to the chagrin of some like Dior's Van Assche who claims men's clothes are losing definition. Once he builds that wall, maybe President Donald Trump could come over and help restore some male pride. He does after all have his own Trump men's clothing line. The establishment may be a dirty word politically right now yet fashion can't get enough of its stuffy symbolism. The colours of burnt gold, rust brown and red are nothing if not upper class, and aristocratic Prince of Wales overcheck tartan turned up in all sorts of unlikely places. You would think you were at a grouse shoot looking at some of the fabric Paul Smith, Agnes b, Officine Generale, Alexandre Mattiussi, Kolor, Loewe, Berluti and Haider Ackermann put out. Upper crust dandies abounded, most memorably at Ann Demeulemeester, with pinstripes also figuring strongly even among such cutting edge labels as Christian Dada and Henrik Vibskov. Overall, however, informality was king -- Paris being far too cool to be casual about anything. There was almost no formal wear at all apart from a handful of red-carpet two pieces at Agnes b and the odd outfit that might do at a stretch at Berluti, Ann Demeulemeester and Wooyoungmi. Dress suits and evening wear appear to be over, trodden into the ground by the onward march of trainers, which were matched with everything from the couture heights of Dior to Balenciaga's Frankenstein office suits to Vuitton, no longer a synonym for well-heeled where footwear is concerned anyway. It is passion that drives the country's best salespeople says Ernest Du Toit, chairman of the Direct Selling Association (DSA), who has seen thousands of entrepreneurs go from poverty to success. Each of them has one thing in common: a deeply passionate drive that is motivated by something bigger than money. Rising from poverty to wealth Take Jessica Grib, who was born blind, and with only 30 percent hearing but who has earned her place in direct sales as one of the countrys most motivated (and motivating) wellness and cosmetic salespeople. I wanted to prove something. All those people who imagined I was incapable of doing anything because I could not see. I would show them. I have a strong entrepreneurial spirit and it was going to come out. I was determined to be independent, make my own way in the world and rely on nobody for anything. Today, she runs a health studio from her home in Roodepoort; sells a range of skincare products to hundreds of people in her community; and has recruited more than a dozen agents into her direct selling business. 123RF Pukie Hlatshwayo, a former schoolteacher, wanted to be her own boss and write her own paycheque. She was recruited into direct selling 23 years ago. She knew her teachers salary was insufficient to allow her three children to follow their dreams and obtain the university degrees they wanted to study. I wanted them to be who they wanted to be. I did not want a lack of money to get in the way. Her rise through industry ranks was meteoric. She was the first black woman to join the company she sells for. She was quickly appointed group manager; then area manager and today she is a regional manager. As important, to her, her children have all graduated and are building careers that fulfil them and make them happy. Happy, fulfilled children is the most a mother can ask for. Now I look forward to helping other people build their careers in direct sales. People think I am in the selling industry. Actually, I am a builder. I work to build careers, futures, hopes and dreams. Theres still much to do. Thulebona Mbhele was born into a family that struggled to make ends meet. His dad raised chickens and supplemented the familys income by street-selling fruit and vegetables. Ten years ago, Thulebona was living in a shack that doubled during the day as a barbershop. Today, he is one of the top three financial services direct sales people in South Africa. He lives in a suburban home worth millions and takes his family (three boys and their mom) overseas every year. You have to put your dream first. I do not do this for me; I do it for my children and for others in my community who need the motivation and an example to follow. You have a heart for people and understand what they are feeling. This makes you a great salesperson. Theres no other way. Taking charge of the future The direct selling business model puts entrepreneurs completely in charge of their future, giving them the tools, the means and the support to create their own success. The key to the success of the direct selling business model is that it provides entrepreneurial business opportunities to anyone, with hardly any risk. The individual companies over time have demonstrated the efficacy, reliability and desirability of their products, marketing, distribution and rewards. All that remains is for the individual who joins a direct selling company to be trained in all aspects of management and leadership and then to introduce the opportunity to their networks. It is a multi-billion Rand industry that has created business opportunities for more than 1.1 million South Africans. Last year, direct sales shot up 13.1% to R10.93bn. It is one of only a handful of industries that is adding entrepreneurial business opportunities (and adding them apace) where most others are culling jobs. The opportunities are tangible, rewarding and limitless both for individuals and for the larger national economy, concludes du Toit. Sibanye Gold, which has designs on becoming a major platinum group metals player, has met a major antitrust condition in the US as part of its $2,2bn takeover of Stillwater Mining, the largest platinum group metal producer outside SA and Russia. Sibanye, which will hold a rights issue of between $750m and $1bn to fund the deal, expects to close the transaction in the second quarter of this year, giving it an important offshore business, diversifying its geographical and political risk away from SA and Zimbabwe. Sibanye's Mimosa platinum mine Sibanye said on Thursday it had received "early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act". The act stipulates that companies must submit detailed documents to the US Federal Trade Commission and the department of justice, which will then decide whether the merger or acquisition could negatively affect US commerce. "The effect of the early termination is that the antitrust condition required for the transaction has now been satisfied," Sibanye said of the deal it announced last December and which it expects to close before the end of June. "Satisfying the antitrust condition in a timely manner is an important first step towards concluding the acquisition of Stillwater," said Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman. "We have made very positive progress since the announcement of the transaction and continue to work towards satisfying the outstanding conditions as soon as possible." Sibanye will fund the $2,2bn purchase price with a loan organised by HSBC and Citi through a $2,7bn debt and equity package, with the need to raise between $750m and $1bn in a rights issue. Stillwater and Sibanye shareholders must approve the deal. The market has not reacted positively to the transaction, with Sibanye's shares losing 15% of their value on the day the deal was announced. On Thursday, the shares were trading nearly 6% lower at R27,20. Striped crimson curtains and a rug with quotes attributed to former presidents installed by former President Obama, have been replaced with patterned gold drapes and a sunburst rug (reportedly designed by Laura Bush during her husbands presidency). Framing himself with gold and sunbursts, Americas new president appears to be unperturbed by those who have compared his ostentatious style with that of The Sun King. The media and popular bloggers have been quick to draw a link between the famous glittering decor of Trumps Manhattan penthouse and Louis XIVs Palace of Versailles. Kate Wagner creator of the popular satirical blog McMansion Hell, asked Whose Style is That? Louis XIV or Donald Trump? The comparison holds at a cursory glance: the acres of marble, gilt capitals on columns, fountains and painted ceilings in the Trump triplex nod in the direction of the Sun Kings palace. But a confusion of references to interiors and furniture made over more than 130 years in the two long reigns of Louis XIV (16431715) and his great-grandson Louis XV (17151774) makes it impossible to classify this style in relation to a specific period. Trumps apartment might, then, best be described as neo-French grand manner. It is easy for a historian of French decorative arts to point out the errors of reference in Trumps apartment to the designs that inspire it. The proportions are all wrong: the columns are wide and squat, the entablature above the gilt capitals too narrow, and the cornice below the painted ceiling far too wide. Not to mention the heavily gilt Louis XV inspired armchairs (or fauteuils to use the proper term) that have none of the sinuous appeal of their 18th-century forbears. Proportion governs elegance in the palaces of the Bourbon kings, and such errors would have been considered extremely poor taste then, as they are now. Trump is far from the first to emulate the decorative style developed for Louis XIV and his heirs. Some of the most extraordinary examples of neo-French grand manner design are found in the palaces of the reclusive Bavarian king Ludwig II (r. 186486). Obsessed with old-regime France and all that it entailed, Ludwig built a replica of Versailles on an island in the Chiemsee lake, 60 kilometres south of Munich. Among his many follies, the Bavarian king employed an army of artisans to recreate the Versailles Hall of Mirrors at Schloss Herrenchiemsee. A copy of the Hall of Mirrors built for Ludwig II at Schloss Herrenchiemsee, Bavaria. Author provided click to enlarge Robber barons of late-19th-century America had a penchant for the decorative arts of Bourbon France too. Alva Vanderbilt, one of the most flamboyant patrons of the Gilded Age, is said to have started the fashion at William K. Vanderbilt House on Fifth Avenue, New York (called the Petit Chateau), with rooms lavishly decorated in period styles. Alva and her peers wanted the real thing when they could get it, and imported 18th-century boiseries (carved wooden panelling) looted from crumbling French chateaux to install in their mansions and set off their superlative collections of art and furniture. Vanderbilts homage to the old regime was, perhaps, more successful than chez Trump, but the nod to a stately French style to show off new money serves the same purpose in both cases. Gavin Ashworth Putting questions of taste and period style aside, it is worth considering the comparisons made between Trump and Louis XIV. Trumps opponents are keen to point to his taste as evidence of an unscrupulous and self-serving man with despotic tendencies. Popular wisdom holds that there is a direct link between the grandiose decoration of French Royal palaces and the 1789 French Revolution; Versailles has come to represent a gilded style of tyrannical opulence for the privileged few at the cost of the many. Scholars of Louis XIV France tell another story. Louis XIVs enterprising minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert sought to boost the French economy by supporting luxury industries, creating new manufactories for all the things that wealthy people wanted to buy: mirrors, tapestries and furniture; silks and lace for fashionable clothes. Heavy embargoes were placed on imports, and the French elite were forced to buy local. Versailles became a showcase for these magnificent luxury products, and it worked! Wikimedia commons That Paris is still considered the capital of fashion, and French decorative arts still copied by Trump, and many others besides, attests to the enduring success of Colberts plan. Trumps call for a protectionist economy in America in his election campaign and inauguration speech is perhaps the closest comparison we could make between him and Louis XIV. If he is inspired by the Sun King (and he has made no public admission to this) he would do well to look to leading contemporary artists and designers for inspiration on how to become a world leader in matters of style. This article is drawn from a forthcoming book on Louis XIV style from the 18th to 21st centuries, and will be presented at The National Gallery of Australia conference: Enchanted Isles, Fatal Shores: Living Versailles this March. The NWU School of Business and Governance (NWU SBG) has been granted accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) for a period of five years. The next full re-assessment of the MBA provision at the school will be undertaken in October 2021. This intensive process to obtain accreditation was indeed a team effort that required hard work and perseverance. According to the director, Prof Tommy du Plessis, the fact that the NWU SBG introduced a new MBA at the beginning of 2016, as well as the fact that the two business schools at the NWU merged, made this task exceptionally challenging. According to him, the achievement of this five-year accreditation is a bonus for the school. The Association of MBAs (AMBA), located in London in the UK, visited the School on 18 and 19 October last year for the assessment process. The former Potchefstroom Business School was assessed by this accreditation body for the first time on 3 and 4 October 2013 and was accredited for a period of three years. This year, the brand-new NWU School of Business and Governance boasts international accreditation for a period of five years the longest period for which the AMBA accredits MBA degrees. Other accreditation periods are one and three years. According to AMBA, the following were noteworthy: As part of the second phase of a nationwide rebranding across all properties that took place in 2016, Premier Hotels & Resorts has changed Premier Hotel Cape Manor to Premier Hotel Cape Town. Samuel Nassimov {{image}]Following some significant changes to the groups properties, we are continuing the roll-out of our overall rebrand - starting with our Cape Town property. Apart from the changes made to the logo, signage and online presence of Premier Hotel Cape Town, we will be commencing refurbishments in April, notes managing director, Samuel Nassimov. Founded in 2003, Premier Hotel Cape Town can look forward to a new appearance that will be in line with Premier Hotels & Resorts goal to consistently provide world-class Africa. The changes will include upgrades to the reception area, rooms and interior. Reflecting true African hospitality will be a key goal for the new design. With the hotels east wing - the former Wingate building next door that Premier acquired having a modern, contemporary look, we will update the rest of the hotels classic tone to match this style, says Nassimov. Located at the base of Signal Hill and Table Mountain in the much-frequented suburb of Sea Point, Premier Hotel Cape Town is closely situated to many of the Mother Citys top attractions, from the V&A Waterfront and Robben Island Museum, to Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and various popular eateries. This convenience, together with our loyal team that ensures that outstanding service is delivered without compromise to guests, attributes to the success the property has enjoyed over the years, adds Nassimov. He concludes: We have a loyal group of overseas visitors interested in Cape Town, and with local support also growing, we are looking forward to bringing our guests an even better hospitality experience in 2017. With 40 days to go, Meetings Africa launched at the Living Room, in the Moboneng Precinct Johannesburg, with a clear message: tourism must be sustainable and inclusive if it is to be meaningful. From L to R: City of Johannesburg Acting Deputy Director: Convention Bureau, Rendani Khorommbi; SA Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona; Gauteng Tourisms' Head of Conventions & Events, Nonnie Kubeka, and Chief Convention Bureau Officer of South Africa National Convention Bureau, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo With South Africa being one of the most unequal societies in the world, the government has been punting inclusive growth. How we conduct our business going forward, to create a stable environment that promotes growth that is inclusive will determine our success. It is not enough if only a few benefit. That is not success, says SA Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona. Tourism is more than just leisure However, he says tourism is often misunderstood and viewed as the domain of the rich and elitist. If everyone in this country is a tourism ambassador then we will give tourism the space it deserves, not only in the big cities but throughout the whole country and so everyone will benefit. It is also important to understand the importance of the business events side and its contribution to tourism. Tourism is more than just leisure, and the business side is very important. For example, South Africa has a high convergence from business to leisure, that is visitors who come for business and then return with their families, says Ntshjona. SA Tourism has recognised this, and are putting in resources and energy to drive the sector to bring in events and be an attractive venue for business events, says Ntshona. Sustainability is not just about the environment The sustainability theme is not only about the environment, it is about the three Ps - people, planet, and profit. This is not only about the environment, it is about leaving the world in a better place than we found it in. Our target audience is asking if we are leaving behind a positive footprint after our conventions, which includes a financial footprint that we leave behind as a catalyst to propel our economies. Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer (CCBO) of South Africa National Convention Bureau, Meetings Africa has been active in the greening space for some time, boasting several initiatives such as stands made from sustainable material that can be packed up and used again next year and produce, from food to gifts and materials, sourced locally. The event promotes people sustainability through its development zone that provides new players with exposure. Taking the sustainability of the event further are the community tours into the countrys various regions, such as Limpopo. The events collaboration and working together with local communities also ensure that its benefits are not just for the big players, she says. Tourism a lever we must pull Currently the country is in a zero percent growth. Tourism is the lever we must pull to change this. When we host an event, we touch on so many sectors; the ripple effect is immense, and this true not only for South Africa but for all of Africa, says Ntshona. He adds that Meetings Africa is striving to create the dance floor to bring onboard all the African countries. We need to collaborate as a continent if we are to win as one or we will all lose to Asia or other world regions. We need to profile this country and continent as a desirable destination for the world. Meetings Africa will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 27 February to 1 March 2017. Imperial Logistics has partnered with Ghanaian conglomerate LMI Holdings to form Imperial LMI Logistics with the aim to deliver world-class logistics services in Ghana and West Africa. Imperial Managed Solutions chief executive officer Johan Truter says, "the vision of Imperial LMI is to be the leading integrated, end-to-end supply chain partner of choice in Ghana, with sufficient capacity and scale to catalyse economic growth and position Ghana as a trading hub for West Africa. Johan Truter The launch of Imperial LMI Logistics will enable this vision by merging LMIs infrastructure with Imperials operational capabilities while leveraging the relationships that both groups have established with end users, service providers and decision making bodies in Ghana, he states. Imperial Logistics is one of Africas largest supply chain solutions provider and a subsidiary of Imperial Holdings. Imperial Logistics has over 1,100 operational sites globally spread across five continents. LMI Holdings is a highly diversified Ghanaian group with interests in the construction, property development, logistics, utilities and ICT sectors in Ghana. Established in 1992 as John Murphy Construction, a firm focused on roads, industrial developments, and commercial real estate, LMI Holdings has grown consistently over the last 24 years to become the multi-faceted conglomerate it is today. A new era for logistics in Ghana Our partnership with Imperial represents an exciting new era for the group, enabling us to use Imperials systems, technology, and skills to unlock the potential of LMIs logistics assets, comments Kojo Aduhene, chairman and CEO of LMI Holdings. It will enable LMI to realise its vision of being a world-class Ghanaian industrial business, contributing to the creation of an environment that attracts foreign investment into Ghanaian industry, he adds. Among the LMI Holdings assets that the new business will exploit is a new 93,000m Mega Warehouse in Tema, which will enable Imperial LMI Logistics to offer clients state-of-the-art storage with easy access to the Port of Tema; an important gateway to West Africa. Imperial Logistics has been operating in Ghana for the past seven years through its group company Imperial Health Sciences and has a longstanding relationship with LMI as its preferred local infrastructure partner in Ghana. The Imperial LMI partnership deepens the relationship between Imperial and LMI allows the new company to offer end-to-end managed logistics solutions to a wider range of industries in Ghana. Imperial LMI Logistics forms part of Imperial Managed Solutions, and, like this division, is based on an asset-light business model, he explains. The business will not acquire any assets of its own. Strategic business partners will be identified to provide the required assets, including warehouses and vehicles. A detailed vetting process will be employed to ensure that service providers comply with the required service levels, including adherence to industry legislation. Skills transfer and the development of local enterprises are important elements of the new business. We are proud to have joined forces with a Ghanaian corporation that has a long and proud history of contributing to the growth of industry in Ghana and Africa, Truter stresses. Imperial LMI Logistics is committed to employing and upskilling local people wherever possible. Through this venture, we will bring international best practice to Ghana and we aim to ensure its sustainability by building and growing local talent. Ghanaians will be developed to take on senior positions within the business, and this will include training at Imperials Johannesburg-based in-house training centre, the Imperial Logistics Academy, he states. Kojo Aduhene Services from port to destination The services that Imperial LMI Logistics will roll out initially include freight and warehousing services, as well as associated value added offerings. Truter elaborates: Container transport from port to destination will be offered, together with outbound primary, secondary, national and cross-border logistics. On the warehousing side, we will offer dedicated and multi-principal facilities, ambient, and temperature controlled, as well as bulk and bonded storage. The value added services that the company will provide include co-packing, light manufacturing, container de-stuffing, and stuffing. Imperials reporting processes, business intelligence systems and tools like vehicle scheduling and tracking will ensure that clients reap the benefits of full visibility, seamless integration and international standards throughout the supply chain, he adds. Looking ahead, Imperial LMI Logistics will expand its integrated solutions with the addition of new service capabilities as these are enabled by the completion of various LMI capital projects. Upon the completion of LMI Holdings container terminal in the Tema enclave (adjacent to the new warehouse), Imperial LMI Logistics will be able to offer an integrated solution for multiple users of the terminal and the warehouse, Aduhene explains. This container terminal is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2018. The construction by LMI of a rail infrastructure from the Tema Port to the Tema enclave, and from Tema enclave to the new Dawa business park, will enable us to offer freight rail solutions. In addition, a barge operation on Lake Volta is being investigated, to offer an alternative mode of transport to complement the road infrastructure to the north of the country. Celebrating wanderlust and the thrill of travel, the 2017 Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo Cape Town has been themed the #ClicquotJourney. The popular polo and social event takes place at the Val de Vie Estate on Saturday, 4 March, with international polo players arriving to compete for the coveted cup. With this years #ClicquotJourney theme, guests can expect to taste food inspired by some of the iconic cities that the brand travels to such as Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, London, New York and Cape Town paired with Veuve Clicquot champagne. Val de Vie estate will also be transformed in line with the theme to ensure guests experience a journey (of the senses) around the world, without leaving the picturesque Paarl/Franschhoek valley. Making new discoveries Since its founding in 1772, Veuve Clicquot has exported its champagne, first throughout Europe, then to the US, to finally extend into Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, at a time when travelling was an adventure and shipping champagne around the world was a challenge. It was a necessity for Madame Clicquot (Dame of Champagne) to grow her business, but it was also an occasion for sharing, the chance to build bridges and make new discoveries. As Madame Clicquot wrote to one of her grandchildren, 'The world is in perpetual motion, and we must invent the things of tomorrow.' The same maxim holds true today. Passion is at the root of all inspiration and adventure. Its what propels you to get out of the familiar and to discover - to let life surprise you. We are thrilled to take guests on a journey where the world meets Cape Town during Veuve Clicquots most highly anticipated event in South Africa, adds Moet Hennessy market manager, Patrick Madendjian. Tickets will be available directly from Computicket. For more information about the event and the various ticket options, go to www.vcmasterspolo.co.za. Shocked Ford owners are being told that their Kugas are worthless, as the global motoring giant scrambles to calm the storm over burning cars that has plunged it into a public relations disaster. Image via MyBroadband Kuga owners said they were turned away when they tried to trade in their cars for other Ford models, with dealers either refusing or reluctant to give owners trade-in values. Since December 2015, when Reshall Jimmy burnt to death in his 1.6-litre EcoBoost Ford Kuga in Wilderness in the Western Cape, 51 Kugas have caught alight across South Africa. Two more have caught fire in Swaziland and Botswana. Ford is now facing a flood of criticism, questioning why it was so slow to act after having ordered a recall in the US after just 11 cars had ignited. East London Kuga owner Praneet Khandoo told the Sunday Times this week he was shocked when he attempted to trade in his 1.6-litre EcoBoost Kuga, whose cooling system was replaced in October, only to be told by Eastern Cape Motors that he would get nothing for it. "It's clear they have no faith in their own fix for the problem. The salesman said he was told they could offer me nothing for the car. He doubted there was another dealer who could give me a quote either." Khandoo, who has complained to the National Consumer Commission, said he was paying insurance on a vehicle worth "zilch". "What happens if I am in an accident? Will the insurance pay out for something that's not worth anything?" On Friday, a sales representative at Ford Eagle in Johannesburg said while they would do a trade-in, their advice was not to bring a Kuga in until the "media storm" had passed. "It's just not worth it. The Kuga has been killed. Every day its price continues to drop through the floor," said the agent, who asked not to be named. Three other dealerships would not give quotes over the phone and asked that the vehicle be brought in for a "special" evaluation. "This car is not something we can take a chance on," said a sales assistant from Ford Silver Lakes in Pretoria. He said AutoBid had said a good price to offer for the bottom-of-the-range 1.6-litre EcoBoost was R70,000. Nissan Melrose general manager Donovan Lotter said they would not accept a Kuga as a trade-in. "It doesn't matter what Kuga and whether the parts have been replaced. The risk is just too great." Hatfield VW Braamfontein usedcar manager Kobus Brill, who evaluated a Kuga on Thursday, said vehicle auctioneers AutoBid valued a 2014 1.6-litre EcoBoost Kuga Titanium all-wheel-drive automatic at R129,000 - "that is R167,000 less than what an essentially good car is actually worth". An AutoBid pricing agent, who spoke on agreement of anonymity, said they had priced all Kugas at 50% of what they were worth "even the top-of-the-range Kugas. People are terrified of these cars". Ford's safety recall of 4,556 1.6-litre EcoBoost Kugas, announced last Monday, has extended beyond South Africa. Two more have caught fire in Swaziland and Botswana, and reports said 100 Kugas were being recalled in Namibia and 30 in Botswana. The carmaker failed to respond to questions on the Kuga's loss of value or recalls in the rest of Africa. Ford spokesman Rella Bernardes said: "We will listen carefully to our 1.6-litre Kuga customers' concerns and reassure them that the affected vehicles are safe to drive. With this safety action and proper maintenance of the engine coolant system, including using the approved coolant at the required concentration level, the vehicles are safe to drive. However, every Ford customer has our assurance that each individual case will be dealt with on its merits, and customers will be treated fairly at all times". Tinashe Mhizha, service manager of Carson Auto, which sells Fords in Swaziland, said they were recalling all 10 Kugas they had sold and other models not affected by the recall. "We have to. We can't risk people's lives." Ford dealerships, auctioneers and other dealers, asked by the Sunday Times what they would offer for a trade-in on a 1.6-litre EcoBoost Kuga, either refused to accept a trade-in or offered nearly R100,000 less than values given in dealer guides. The safety recall came after the National Consumer Commission attacked Ford's delayed response to a "critical safety issue". Ford says a faulty cooling system is to blame for the spate of engine fires, and will replace components under the recall. In the fire which killed Jimmy, his family, police and private forensic investigators believe an electrical fault is to blame. Several other Kuga owners say their fires were also caused by same fault. The manufacturer insists the fires affect only the 1.6-litre EcoBoost Kuga but this week The Times newspaper revealed other models were affected, including the 1.5-litre EcoBoost, which replaced the 1.6-litre model. Consumer commission spokesman Trevor Hattingh said: "We have been told by Ford only the 1.6-litre EcoBoost is affected, but from the complaints we have received, other models seem to be affected. What would be concerning is if Ford has been told about these models but have not told us. We would want to know why they have not spoken about these other fires." Consumer protection lawyer Janusz Luterek said in general contempt shown to consumers usually came not so much from retailers, but from manufacturers, among whom he singled out cellphone companies. "Retailers in general are far more compliant with the Consumer Protection Act and often react quickly." He said Ford's behaviour and responses to the Kuga matter were horrendous, "and definitely would not have been accepted in the US". "This is the first time that such inappropriate behaviour on an official company-policy type level has really emerged in South Africa and it's worrying. The disdain that we have seen usually comes from manufacturers who produce large volumes of products, as in the electronic and cellphone company sectors." "They simply have no systems in place to deal with the high volume of complaints, especially the cellphone companies, who treat customers as the problem. If you are a customer with cellphone companies in South Africa and have a problem you are on your own." Asked why Ford South Africa only ordered a recall after 39 cars had combusted when there was a recall in the US after 11 cars had caught alight, Ford South Africa CEO Jeff Nemeth said: "We can only act on the data that we have." On whether Ford should have responded more quickly, Nemeth said: "In hindsight, yes, it seems like we should have acted quicker." Swaziland fire victim Bongani Dlamini said he and his family had barely escaped their Kuga. "I was travelling up a hill when the car lost power. As I stopped there were flames everywhere. I got my children and wife out just in time. What makes me angry is that Ford South Africa refused to help me," he said. "They asked for photographs of the damage and said, 'Sorry, the damage is too bad.' They were not prepared to send a fire inspector. Their response was 'Don't bother us, go to your insurance.'" BEIJING: China's largest chip maker has announced it will invest $30 billion to build a new semiconductor factory, as the world's second largest economy seeks to reduce its dependence on foreign technology. The state-owned Tsinghua Unigroup will open the facility in the city of Nanjing in eastern Jiangsu province, where it will mainly produce chips used in consumer electronics such as cellphones, cameras and computers, according to a statement posted Thursday on the company's official website. The project "is of great significance to the independent innovation, large-scale production, and marketisation of China's integrated circuit industry," the statement said. The announcement comes after attempts by the company to take-over US chip makers Micron Technology and Sandisk were curbed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) over national security concerns. Its ambitions to acquire American technology thwarted, Tsinghua Unigroup has shifted its focus to building plants in China, launching a $24 billion memory chip factory in Wuhan city last month, according to online news site Sohu. China was the largest market for semiconductors in the world in 2015. Its excessive dependence on imported chips has raised concern in Beijing over the country's national security, according to a report by the US Department of Commerce. In 2014, Chinese authorities pledged 100 billion yuan ($14.6 billion) to support the industry, with the aim of building a "globally competitive semiconductor sector by 2030", according to two statements by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2014 and 2015. In a speech on cyber security last April, Chinese president Xi Jinping warned that China must gain control of "core" technology, saying that leaving it in the hands of foreigners is "our greatest hidden danger." The drive by China to expand its role in the market, long dominated by US firms like Intel and Qualcomm, has raised concerns in Washington. A report to President Barack Obama by a presidential science panel last month warned that China is set to challenge American dominance in the industry. Source: AFP According to Claire Harris, sales agent for the Rawson Property Group's Green Point franchise, demographics in Cape Town's Mouille Point are taking a decided shift towards out-of-town investment purchasers and short-term letting. There are a few reasons behind Mouille Points growing popularity as a vacation-rental and investment suburb, she says. The first is obviously the wonderful holiday spirit that permeates the whole area. Harris describes the seagull cries and calls of Mouille Points famous red- and white-striped Moaning Minnie lighthouse as the backdrop to a much-loved beachfront with plenty of attractions for visitors of all ages. Children adore the putt-putt course, the activity park with its new outdoor ice-rink and, of course, the Mini Blue Train rides, she says, while adults enjoy the scenic walkways, great restaurants and chic cafes. It all adds up to a permanent holiday, tourist-destination feel, which is very unusual so close to the inner city. Type of property The second reason behind Mouille Points popularity, particularly with out-of-town investors, lies in the type of property found in the suburb. 99% of Mouille Point properties are in sea-facing sectional title apartment blocks, says Harris, which makes them ideal for lock-up-and-go lifestyles and vacation rentals. Theres currently a blend of new developments and older blocks, but widespread remodelling is ensuring dated properties are few and far between. With a median price of R3.45m and average sales sitting at over R5.3m, a little renovation can go a long way and buy-to-flip purchases are not unusual. Capital growth in the area, however, can generate returns of as much as 19% over the course of a seven year holding period, so a longer-term investment can be more profitable at the end of the day. Demand is high, prices are increasing, and were not expecting that to change, says Harris. Thats another reason were seeing investors lining up to get into the area. According to Harris, the majority of buyers in Mouille Point at present are over 50 and based in Johannesburg, and many let their purchases on Airbnb or similar when theyre not in residence themselves. Best of both worlds The flexibility of platforms like Airbnb make it easy for landlords to get the best of both worlds the financial rewards of a profitable investment and the lifestyle benefits of a great holiday home, she says. As South Africa becomes more and more of a top international tourism destination, demand for holiday accommodation in Cape Town is only going to grow. Were the gateway to Africa, and if you can capitalise on that with a property somewhere as spectacular as Mouille Point, youre bound to see excellent and ongoing returns. Renaissance Hotels, a brand known for helping business travellers discover unexpected experiences, has announced the opening of its first hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa - the Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel located in Nigeria's commercial centre. Mark Satterfield, chief operating officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International said: We are delighted to mark the debut of Renaissance Hotels in Nigeria with the opening of Renaissance Lagos Ikeja. This is not just a landmark signing for Renaissance Hotels but also for Marriott International as it marks our fourth debut in an African nation, following the opening of Marriott International properties across a number of its brands in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Morocco. Renaissance Hotels contemporary and locally inspired style and focus on business and leisure travellers alike makes it an ideal addition to this major financial and commercial hub. Centrally located in Ikeja GRA and only 5km from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel is home to 155 guest rooms including 17 contemporary loft suites with first-class conveniences to ensure a comfortable and productive stay. Stylishly designed with elegant African touches and lots of natural light, the rooms feature expansive seating areas with large LED TVs with 70 plus channels. The hotels outdoor pool with city views and 24-hour fitness centre provide guests with picturesque facilities in which to work out and unwind. In addition, the hotels public spaces infuse bold and vibrant elements to captivate locals and guests and create moments of discovery. The hotels business amenities include eight meeting rooms that can be adapted to cater to the needs of a six-person board meeting or a banquet-style event with up to 280 attendees. A dedicated bar and flexible breakout areas complement the versatile meeting areas, offering a well-rounded proposition that is ideal for small meetings as well as large-scale corporate events. Dining options at Renaissance Lagos Ikeja include Cut, a specialty steakhouse, which will appeal to gourmands and food connoisseurs whilst all-day dining restaurant, Iyeru Okin, offers an inviting buffet lunch featuring traditional and continental dishes for those with an appetite. Sweet treats, aperitifs, and lattes can be enjoyed in the hotels stylish coffeehouse, Choco-Latte. And open 24-hours, RBar will also offer visitors a stylish setting with handcrafted cocktails and lite bites. Located next to key attractions such as the National Railway Corporation Museum, Afrika Shrine and Kalakuta Museum, the Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel offers a distinctive, comfortable stay and an opportunity to discover something wonderfully new for travellers from across the leisure-business spectrum. The number of community radio stations has risen significantly in recent years, with some already having a bigger audience than larger commercial stations. However, industry experts say it will take a while before they make significant inroads and draw advertising revenue and audiences away from commercial and public radio stations. 123RF There are more than 200 community radio stations in SA from about 150 four years ago. The biggest is Jozi FM with more than 500,000 listeners. The MediaShop group MD, Chris Botha, says individual community radio stations are "for now still too small to have a detrimental impact on the big radio stations." Community radio stations focus on a variety of issues affecting a particular community they are targeting. Botha believes that as a result they "carry massive credibility". They also service unique communities that advertisers might want to reach. For example, a service provider targeting a particular area might be better served using a smaller community radio station that only broadcasts in that area, instead of using a bigger station that covers the whole province. But overall advertising revenue still remains focused on the bigger stations. "Community radio stations we believe in the past were also underrepresented in the Radio Audience research," says Botha. But this has changed since 2016 when the Broadcast Research Council (brC) provided new research showing a more accurate picture. "Now some community radio stations have audiences that are bigger than some commercial radio stations. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the advertising revenue that these stations attract," says Botha. brC research director Setshwano Setshogo says on average people spent four hours and six minutes every day listening to a radio station. Moreover, 64% of the people listen to one radio station. Like the print media industry, radio is also going through changes thanks to the adoption of digital services and products. But for radio stations, this means that they are able to attract new listeners through different platforms such as cellphones as many of them have pre-installed radio applications. Even if a phone does not have pre-installed apps, the user can download mobile apps featuring thousands of radio stations across the world. Setshogo said 37% of radio listeners listen to radio through their cellphones. "Radio is now on the move," she said. According to the report, 26% of respondents tune in using their vehicle radio while 8% rely on TV and 2% on computers, which are connected to the internet, to access radio stations. A radio set is still the preferred method of accessing radio stations. The National Community Radio Forum's Johannes Dire says that while the industry is growing, there was lack of financial support for some stations. He claims that the stateowned Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), tasked with funding community media, has withdrawn its funding for a number of radio stations "because they were dissatisfied with the impact of community media." "There is no direct financial support from the government. Today is survival of the fittest, community radio is dependent mostly on airtime sales." The MDDA denies that it has withdrawn funding, saying that it has instead increased its financial and nonfinancial support to the industry. In its 2015-16 financial year R38m was allocated for community broadcasters as a grant and seed funding. In its 2016-17 financial year, it had approved R57m funding for 28 community broadcasters' projects. A further 13 projects worth R19m will be submitted to the board for approval. Source: Business Day As an English girl living in South Africa for the last year, I have noticed stark differences in the ways brands and their audiences behave online. Not only are the content themes noticeably different to the European way of thinking, but the ways in which the audience communicates with a brand online shows patterns of behaviour that are much more dominant than in other countries around the world. From experiencing social media from both sides of the globe, I have realised how naive I was and how much I had to learn as a foreigner coming into a sensitive yet passionate environment. That is why I have put together the following tips for global brands looking to break into the South African market in the near future. Sensitivity Whilst its okay to agenda surf and explore relevant issues in the current economy, it should be handled sensitively. Not all brands can get away with being witty and controversial if your brand already has a tone and brand CI in place, try not to deter from that just because you are entering a new market. Within an unpredictable political and economic environment coupled with poor quality leadership, South Africans can react sensitively to brands that push unnecessary boundaries and rightly so. This doesnt mean you cant have fun with your content tone brands like Nandos South Africa have found their place in the market from understanding South African humour, so do your homework! Passion South Africans are extremely passionate both about their country and everything it stands for. The online community is unafraid to speak its mind so make sure to have a strong community management team in place to allow for this. Dont be afraid of their desire to engage, it can create a much more trusting relationship with the brand if you get to know your audience and it stands for. Culture South Africa has 11 official languages and many different cultural differences that are equally respected and practiced. Try and appeal to all rather than segregation but do not attempt to explore alternatives to English without thorough research into spellings, grammar, meanings and best practice. Dont be the brand that tries to fit in. If you want to use other languages in your copy, speak to an expert, find out if the messaging you are trying to portray is suited to your chosen phrase and do so only where necessary. Respect cultural differences by getting to know them, not by partaking in guess-work. Climate With a temperamental financial market and leadership, its important that your product or service is presented as a welcome solution and not a financial burden. When creating a content plan, take into account where country sits on service needs as well as appealing to the wider market and not a narrow selection. This may sound obvious but it is also vital to make sure your images portray diversity as well as taking into account the climate at the time of your campaigns. Global brands dont always get this right. Northern hemisphere weather differs drastically to the climate in SA, and it is important that any visuals show a South African perspective on your brand. Politics South Africans are extremely politically savvy and not easily manipulated. This therefore means they do not easily trust or invest into a brand if they cannot see benefit. You have to sell your service as experience. Look into what your service or product can do to enhance your customers lives, not just plying them with a buzz-word filled sales pitch. How will your product help and why should they pick yours over a global brand? Individualisation The main message is to do your research! What works for one country may not work for the next. South Africa has worked extremely hard to develop its independence and individualisation which gives it a distinct identity to the rest of the world. So from the English girl emerged in the South African way of life, I say embrace their passion and zest for life, be attentive to their social media needs and answer all their questions, because the South African online market has the perfect balance of cynicism, knowledge and inquisitiveness that makes digital content strategy exciting again. Mobile and cloud may be global technologies, but African startups have explored their functionalities, shaped their applications and used them to build differentiated business models suited to their markets. Image by 123RF They have created new and uniquely African technologies that speak to their lifestyles and complexities, using the infrastructure as a base to deliver key services in ways the rest of the world would never have thought to. To us, this is what it means for technology to be innately African. Innovation ecosystem No one has ever doubted that Africa has a thriving entrepreneurial spirit. Despite Sub-Saharan Africa being one of the most challenging regions to launch a business in, the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Index ranks it highest in Opportunity Perception. What this means is that a large percentage of the population can (and are) identifying and starting good businesses, despite regulatory, environment and infrastructural burdens. This is what makes innovation in Africa so unique and so thrilling. Challenges, such as limited internet connectivity or access to a reliable power supply, only add fuel to Africas innovative energy and creativity. Startups continue to develop clever solutions around these obstacles, bringing essential services to their markets. And technology is playing a vital role. Think of mobile payments as a solution to Africas largely unbanked population. Africa now has one of the largest mobile money markets in the world, where 34% of African adults have mobile money accounts compared to only two percent worldwide. Financial technology has thrived in markets such as Kenya and Uganda where the formal banking sector has yet to reach every corner of these countries. Or think of startups, such as M-KOPA Solar, which have combined the power of mobile payments with the need for electricity. According to a recent World Bank study, only one in three Africans has access to electricity. M-KOPA is the first company in Africa to launch a SIM-enabled pay-as-you-go solar system, allowing people to access affordable solar power in their homes. They currently facilitate over 10 million mobile payments every year and hope to connect one million homes by the end of 2017. Importance of the mobile phone The mobile phone has played a significant role in shaping African technology. Because it is so accessible, it gives start-ups an appropriate tool to create and deliver locally relevant solutions. Solutions like mHealth, where mobile applications can run remote diagnoses in last-mile areas, helping to detect malaria, sickle cell disease or pregnancy complications early. On a continent where an estimated 17 million out of 128 million school-age children will never attend school, mobile technology is also facilitating eLearning. The recent winners of Seedstars in Ghana, Chalkboard Education, developed a form of plug-and-play mobile learning that doesnt even require an internet connection to work. As long as you have a mobile device even a feature phone with SMS and USSD you can earn a certified degree from a real university. The solution is ideal for the Ghanaian market, where internet penetration is only 12.3%, but mobile phone penetration sits at 128%. Africa118 is another startup, who used the mobile platform to develop a mobile directory. Over 100,000 users in East Africa can now, for the first time, access an accurate database of over 250,000 services either online or, for those with connectivity issues, via a cheap call and SMS service. Rise of the cloud The cloud is also proving to be another relevant tool in shaping African technology, with its ability to enhance the power of mobility and allow mobile solutions to shine. Using the cloud, startups like access.mobile have been able to digitise health records, share outbreak alerts and improve the way patients and doctors engage on a large scale, enhancing the quality of healthcare in emerging markets. Mustard Seed has been able to capture school, teacher and student information, providing high-level analysis dashboards to key policy and decision makers. AGIN helps smallholder farmers capture important information, establish credit profiles and access loans without ever visiting a bank. All of these are solving prominent local challenges around healthcare, education and agriculture. Accelerating innovation We are seeing first-hand how mobile and cloud technology is accelerating growth for Africa. At the same time, we are seeing how our local innovators are using these platforms to accelerate technology for the world. As the ICT sector, we need to continue supporting these innovators and the locally relevant technologies that change peoples lives, embrace underserved markets and trigger market growth. If we hope to support them in a meaningful way, it is up to us to really listen, engage and collaborate with our developers and entrepreneurs on the ground. At Microsoft, this is something we are personally committed to, through initiatives like 4Afrika and NexTech Africa. We need to hear the challenges of innovators, their ideas and their insights. And we need to work together, so that we can better create the tools and infrastructure that, in turn, help them better serve their markets and grow sustainable businesses. New drought across swathes of southern Ethiopia may jeopardise 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, FAO warned. Image by 123RF 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. Safeguarding recent gains requires responding to the livelihood-sustaining needs of fragile households that lost or sold livestock and other assets, often adding to family debt burdens to cope with the worst El Nino in modern history. Effective and timely action has reduced the number of people who will need food aid in 2017 to 5.6 million, down from almost twice as much last August, according to the newly released Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD). However, food security in 120 woredas (districts) has worsened since July, while 86 woredas are entering their third year (since December 2015) of top-priority emergency status. The just-approved HRD, jointly developed by the Government of Ethiopia along with UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and other development partners, covers a range of subjects including education, access to water and nutrition. It advises that the bulk of the agriculture sector needs are related to assistance to pastoralists and agropastoralists livestock assistance - a total of $42 million is required by the sector to reach 1.9 million households, mainly in drought-affected southern and southeastern pastoral regions, this year. Drought strikes again While northern and western Ethiopia bore the brunt of El Nino, a new drought is emerging in southern and southeastern pastoral areas including Oromia, Somali and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNP) after poor, delayed and erratic rains curbed pasture and water availability. Some 80% of Ethiopians depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods and an even higher share of the country's arable land relies on seasonal rainfall. Below-average precipitation has also affected neighbourring Somalia and Kenya. The impact is expected to be most dire in early 2017 among livestock, with unusually early migrations, excess mortality rates and extreme emaciation. FAO calls for an immediate response to support the food security and nutrition of households reliant on animals. Along with the provision of supplementary animal feed, especially along migratory routes, targeted destocking interventions will be implemented to make protein-rich meat available for vulnerable pastoral communities and support livestock prices in local markets. Poorly-fed animals reproduce less frequently, lengthening the prospective time required to rebuild herds. For Ethiopian households, restocking after the loss of half of one's cattle, typically takes four years without adverse conditions. Addressing fragility Even though FAO's support will focus on communities depending on livestock, some areas along the Rift Valley, however, especially in the northern and eastern highlands, are facing below-average crop production and therefore receive prioritised agricultural support as recovery will take longer than anticipated. South Sudan refugees and their hosting communities in Gambella Region, are facing significant food availability and access challenges, and enabling households to produce more of their own food is essential. 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. Maybe Im not one of the cool kids, but were not much of entertainers at our house for Valentines. And Leslie Knopp has me epically beat on throwing Galentines Day parties. (You know that reference, right?) Instead, were the low-key V-Day entertainers, the lets-just-wear-pajamas-all-day-drinking-coffee kind of people. And I wouldnt have it any other way. So today, Im joining in with some of my best blogger Galentines along with Lory from Designthusiasm for another Styled + Set Holiday Entertaining Blog Tour! If youre visiting from Sarahs house at Life on Virginia Street, welcome! At first, to get all fancy with some entertaining ideas, I started to create this huge, awesomely shabby chic Valentines/Galentines Day tablescape, but then I realized thats not me. At least, not usually this time of year. THIS kind of stuff is me Ya know the usually overlooked junky things from the thrift store. That usual song and dance. Because a perfect Valentines Day to me is having breakfast in bed, stuffing my face with pancakes with Robert by my side. Carbs + a hottie hubby = true love, right? So this dusty old tray I found at the thrift store was the perfect piece to turn into a pretty, shabby chic lovey dovey breakfast tray. The color and pattern of it wasnt really my style, but the metal work detail on the edges gave me ALL the heart eyes. (Affiliate links are provided below for convenience.) All it took was a little Vaseline to add some distressing (you can read all about how to do that process here) and two coats of spray paint in gloss white to give it an antique enamel look. Ta-da! Cheap but pretty breakfast tray! Further proof that paint can fix just about anything. Just for something different, I came up with these antique style post cards for a fun Valentines Date Q&A too, because one of my favorite things to do on any date with Robert is just to have a long talk. Hes my absolute best friend, and one of the many things I love about him is we have so much fun together just talking, remembering great times during our past, reflecting on all of the tough times in our lives that ended up being great blessings, thinking out loud about our dreams for the future, and appreciating so much of what we have now. I fall in love with him more every time we have one of those deep heart-to-hearts, which were so thankful to have after putting Olivia to bed most nights or on lazy Saturday mornings. Being married to your best friend is the absolute greatest in the world. If you love having those deep heart-to-hearts with your main squeeze, you can download these Q&A postcards for yourself here: If youre already a subscriber, its been sent to your email inbox or you can download it in the Printable Library. If you want to know about any of the other sources I used with our breakfast tray (since yall sometimes ask), heres the full list: The next stop on the tour is Kellys romantic tablescape at My Soulful Home! You can check out all of the other printables, tablescapes, and entertaining ideas for Valentines from the full tour below too: Maison de Pax Cedar Hill Farmhouse Decor Gold Designs Life on Virginia Street Blesser House (Thats me!) My Soulful Home Mondays posts: Maison de Pax | Cedar Hill Farmhouse | Decor Gold Designs Life on Virginia Street | My Soulful Home Tuesdays posts: Shabbyfufu | Ella Claire | Zevy Joy Town and Country Living | Kelley Nan | Driven by Decor Wednesdays posts: Maison de Cinq | So Much Better With Age | Sand and Sisal Design, Dining and Diapers | Randi Garrett Design | The Wood Grain Cottage Thursdays posts: Designthusiasm | StoneGable | CitrineLiving Setting for Four | On Sutton Place Fridays Posts: ZDesign at Home | French Garden House | Finding Home Farms Becky Cunningham Home | Eleven Gables | Fashionable Hostess Got any fun V-Day plans with your gals or main squeeze this year? I think after all of the big changes thats happening with our house right now, well just be ready for peace and quiet and a good, long nap. If you want to save this post for later, you can pin it here: The handover ceremony was held at the meeting hall of the Arakan State government in Sittwe at 1 PM. We are grateful to the Union Burmese Government and the Arakan State government for allowing us to deliver the humanitarian aid to the residents in the Arakan State. This aid is for all the societies living in the Arakan State. The Indonesian government will join hands in developing the education, health, and infrastructure of the Arakan State, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L P Marsudi. According to the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Indonesia has donated six schools to enable all societies to have access to education in the Arakan State. She added that the Indonesian Government will face the challenges for the development of the Arakan State and assist in the peace and stability of the state. The Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye signed the agreement for the aid on behalf of the Union Burmese Government. We are very grateful to the Indonesian Government for giving such kind of assistance for the society residing in the Arakan State. Currently, the Arakan State is the second poorest state in Burma. There are conflicts between the two societies at the moment. Led by the State Counsellor, the Committee for the Implementation of Peace and Development in the Arakan State has been established in May 2016, said Dr Win Mya Aye. He explained that the Burmese Government has been giving special consideration to the development of the Arakan State and has provided items worth 300 billon kyats as humanitarian assistance. He added that the aids that have been handed over from Indonesia will be delivered quickly to the people in need from both societies without any discrimination. The Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pyu said: We are very glad to receive such kind of assistance from the Indonesian Foreign Minister and delegation. The Arakan State government has been giving priority to education, health, and social sectors for the development of the Arakan State. We thank the UN, INGOs, and donors for their assistance in the development of the Arakan State. We hope the Asean countries will enjoy friendly relations with Burma. A convoy of vehicles loaded with humanitarian aids from Indonesia arrived in Sittwe in the evening on 20 January and they were officially handed over to the Burmese government by the Indonesian Foreign Minister and delegation on the next day. Around ten trucks carrying dried noodles and clothes have been seen. Translated by Thida Linn Fortify Rights, a South East Asia based human rights organisation, said that the evidence pointed towards State-sponsored attacks of the Rohingya and that, therefore, international investiagtion was needed. This initiative is important for the entire country, Matthew Smith, chief executive officer at Fortify Rights, said. Its time for the government to get on board and support the establishment of an impartial and independent inquiry. The statement called specifically for: [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. The statement was made the day before the Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) representing 57 member states met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to discuss the plight of the Rohingya. Clashes in Rakhine State have escalated after militants attacked three police stations late last year nine police were killed in the attacks. Following the attacks, the Burmese Government has established a commission of inquiry led by the countrys Vice President, ex-general Myint Swe. Fortify Rights has said that since this commission was established, tens of thousands of civilians have fled attacks by the Burmese military in Maungdaw Township. Fortify Rights said it had documented instances of the Burmese military razing villages in the area, the killing of civilians and the rape of Rohingya women and that cases of such attacks went as far back as October 2016. In three months weve seen the formation of an advisory commission, a whitewash commission, and a discriminatory commission, Smith said. None of these bodies are conducting a serious, impartial investigation into ongoing human rights violations. The international community needs to wake up to the fact that domestic remedies have been exhausted and the situation of the Rohingya is worsening by the day. Verifying reports has been difficult with the Burmese military blocking access to journalists and NGOs. If there were ever a situation in which an independent investigation is needed, its now in Rakhine State, said Matthew Smith. The international community has an opportunity to take up the call of Myanmar civil society, and it should act without delay, Smith added. Burma Campaign UK said that the two Kachin teachers, Maran Lu Ra and Tangbau Hkawn Nan Tsin from the Kachin Baptist Convention, were brutally raped and killed by the Burmese Army overnight on 19th/20th January 2015. Burma Campaign UK noted that since the crime happened two years ago that there is still no justice for them and their family. The attack took place in Kaunghka village, Northern Shan State. This area has faced conflict since 2011, when the Burmese Army broke a 17-year-old ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Army. Burma Campaign noted that since Burmas government had been pushed by the UK, to sign the Declaration to Combat Sexual Violence in Conflict in June 2014, it has done nothing to implemented it in any way. The new NLD-led government has taken no steps to end impunity for rape and sexual violence committed by the Burmese Army against ethnic women and children. Burma Campaign UK explained that as the use of systematic sexual violence against women ethnic by the Burma Army, the British government needs to speak out more. Burma Campaign UK said that the British government avoids directly naming and criticising the Burmese Army for its use of rape and sexual violence. Ms Zoya Phan, the campaigns manager for Burma Campaign UK said that since the two years that the two Kachin teachers were brutally raped and killed by the Burmese military there is still no justice. Ms Phan demanded that the international should do more. Given the fact that the NLD-led government has taken no steps to end impunity for sexual violence in conflict, it is time the international community to act on this. More support needs to be given to civil society, especially local womens organisations, which have been documenting sexual violence by the Burmese Army and assisting survivors. The British government should also stop training the Burmese Army until they take concrete action to end impunity for rape, and take other steps to prevent rape. The following is the full text of Lee's speech: End of Mission Statement by Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yangon, 20 January 2017 Thank you for the opportunity to address you this evening. As you know I have just completed a 12-day visit to Myanmar and have visited parts of Kachin, Rakhine and Mon States as well as Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw. In Kachin, I stayed one night in Myitkyina as I was not allowed to go to Laiza and Hpakant. In Rakhine, I went to Koe Tan Kauk in Rathedaung; Buthidaung prison; and four villages in Maungdaw north. I met with IDPs in Myitkyina , and in Koe Tan Kauk, and Maungdaw, I also visited Sittwe prison. During this trip, I visited for the first time a hard labour camp, in Mon State. In Nay Pyi Taw, I met with the State Counsellor as well as Government ministers of all the ministries I had asked to meet except for two. One was away and another ministry declined to see me as did the Commander-in-Chief. I also met with the Attorney General, as well as Governmental and Parliamentary Committees. I will elaborate further on the issues I touch upon in this statement in my report to the Human Rights Council in March. For now, let me share with you my immediate impressions and observations. There is one word that has hung heavily on my mind during this visit reprisals. In every one of my visits and in every one of my meetings, I ask the Government of Myanmar to ensure that the people I speak to and even work with, do not suffer reprisals for speaking out on rights issues or expressing their opinions. Yet, distressingly several people I met during this visit would say to me, I dont know what will happen to me after our meeting. In one case, an individual directly told me they thought they would be arrested following our conversation. In another village, where there were more than two communities living separately but side by side, I asked if that person was comfortable talking to me. The response: I am afraid I will not give the right answer. I recall during my preparations before arriving, the news broke of a man having been beheaded his only crime was apparently to have an opinion and to voice that opinion out loud. In fact, we still do not know the full circumstances leading to that man being beheaded. But the message is clear. Do not express yourself. Do not speak your mind if your opinion or position does not fit or support the narrative and agenda of those who have no qualms in how you live or die. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Reportedly, there are at least four more cases of beheadings. Knowing that by talking to directly affected community members, I could in fact place them and their familys lives at risk. Yet even more distressing is that many of those I speak to tell me they are willing to take the risk they see speaking out as their only hope for change and want desperately for the rest of the world to be aware of the situation that they are in. As such I feel a greater responsibility to listen and give a voice to potential victims of human rights violations. It is also a stark indicator that, whilst there have been positive developments in Myanmar, there is still a long way to go to achieve a society where individuals are free to share what has happened to them, to speak their mind, and to live peacefully without fear. I know many of you here want to hear from me about the situation in Rakhine state, and several of these examples are from this state. I will of course get to Rakhine in more detail. However, I want to start, as I started my visit this time, with the extremely worrying situation in Kachin State, as well as in the north of Shan State. The plight of people in this area is too often overlooked, but sadly, here too, people are suffering and the hope generated by the outcome of the 2015 elections is starting to wane. As you know, for the last three visits I have asked to go to Rakhine, Kachin and northern Shan without fail. Due to time constraints imposed, I made the decision to limit my visit to Kachin and Rakhine. I pushed hard to go to Laiza and Hpakant. In the past, I had always asked to go to Laiza but access was never granted. My predecessor in his last country visit had gone to Laiza area as had a high-ranking UN official more recently. Yet I was denied access for the fifth time due to security reasons. I also pushed hard to go to Hpakant. This is a Government-controlled area, but like Laiza, the Government did not confirm or deny access until the last minute. The reasons given for the refusal by the State government did not match those given by the Union Government. Furthermore, later that day, I met local interlocutors who had travelled all the way from Hpakant a 5-6 hour journey to Myitkyina to share with me their concerns and fears. The explanation I was given by the Government was that, as a special guest, the Government was concerned about my security; and as a special guest, I would be apparently particularly targeted. It is evident that the situation in Kachin and at the northern borders is deteriorating. Those in Kachin State tell me that the conditions have deteriorated that the situation is now worse than at any point in the past few years. Whilst I was not able to travel to the areas most severely affected, the situation is now such that even in Myitkyina, the capital of the state and home to over 300,000 people, residents are afraid and now stay home after dark. I have heard that in active conflict areas the situation is far worse. I met a family who was displaced from Zai Awng IDP camp after shells fell nearby they had fled in terror and resorted to digging a hole in the forest to stay in at night for six days whilst they tried to gather the funds needed to escape the area six days in a hole with four children, the youngest a few months old and another only two. I heard after my visit, that some of those from the Zai Awng camp were displaced for a third time. These people have done nothing wrong, yet they suffer, merely because they live in an area, where others fight. When I raised this case with the State Government, and by state government meaning the military side, the response was again denial I was told the IDP camp did not exist, as I was told before that in Kutkai there were no IDPs either. Like I always do during my visits to Myanmar, I made a point of going to several places of detention during this trip; and when I was not allowed access to Laiza and Hpakant, I asked to make a day trip from Yangon to a hard labour camp [officially called a production camp] in Zin Gyaik, Mon State. And as I always do in places of detention, I asked to meet those who are being held there in addition to making a site visit and observing the conditions of detention. Some whom I met at the hard labour camp said they were afraid of what would happen to them after speaking to me. And a few described how they had the previous three days off from their usual hard labour work to clean their living and sleeping quarters as a VIP was coming. While some of the facilities appeared better than other prisons I have visited, major concerns from that visit to the hard labour camp are the use of shackles as a form of additional punishment (including while working in the quarry) as well as the lack of transparency and information shared with the prisoners regarding their selection and transfer from another prison to the hard labour camp. I also have a concern about the lack of an independent complaint system for the prisoners at this hard labour camp but unfortunately this is the case in all prison camps in Myanmar. Besides the hard labour camp, I also visited Insein prison in Yangon, and Buthidaung and Sittwe prisons in Rakhine State. In these prisons, I met prisoners and detainees who were charged (and convicted) for criticising high-level Government or military officials, for raising human rights issues, for filing court cases against the Government and for not meeting the rules for peaceful assembly in attempts to express their concerns for the Governments attention. I have received reports that over 40 people are now facing prosecution for defamation under section 66 (d) of the Telecommunications law many of them merely for speaking their minds. In other meetings, lawyers taking on sensitive cases, reported harassment and even prosecution. I visited a Chin community in Sittwe. This community had raised an issue about limited drainage with their local authority, and in response an adjacent community built a road block at the entrance of the 11 Chin households. For nine months, the main access road for these 11 households was blocked despite complaints brought by the Chin community to the relevant authorities. In Rakhine State, I asked to meet with some of those who had been arrested and detained for allegedly playing a role, active or supporting, in the armed attacks against the security forces in early October and mid-November. Except for one suspect whose family knew that the detainee had rights and sought a lawyer for him, the other prisoners did not have legal representation. They did not seem informed of the charges, if any, against them apart from being aware that they could be suspected of being associated with the attackers against the Border Guard posts on 9 October. Some had not been in communication with their family for the 2-3 months since they had been arrested. I further noted that their families were not informed of their arrest or the location of where they were detained causing untold distress for families members. One suspect was certain that his family would think that he was dead and during my visit to villages in Maungdaw, I met women whose husbands were in their words taken away whom they believed would never come back. The prison officials told me that there are more than 450 individuals detained in Buthidaung in relation to the attack meaning many families unaware and uninformed of this detention fearing that they will never see their loved ones again. What has been said to me over and over by Government representatives regarding the 9 October attacks is that this was not an inter-communal violence or crisis; that this was a calculated attack against the sovereignty of Myanmar and that the Government rightly launched a security response. The Government described to me how the attacks occurred and I saw the three Border Guard posts concerned. I deplore these attacks carried out in a brutal manner and I convey my deepest condolences to the families of those killed. Whilst authorities are required to respond to such attacks the response must be carried out within the parameters of the rule of law and in full compliance with human rights. I saw with my own eyes the structures that were burnt down in Wa Peik, and it is hard for me to believe that these are consequent to actions taken in a hurry or haphazardly. I was told by Government officials as had been reported that it was the villagers who had burnt down their own houses. And the reason they would burn down their own houses was because these houses were of poor quality; and by burning down their own houses, they can expect to get international actors to come in and help build them better houses. The authorities offered no evidence for this, and I find this argument quite incredible. Considering the policy of systematic and institutionalised discrimination against the Rohingya with limited access to education and healthcare services basic services that the international actors have been ready to supply but blocked from providing, it would be quite far-fetched for them to suddenly think that the authorities would allow international actors to help build them better houses. The alternative argument given by the authorities were that this was part of the Rohingya villagers propaganda campaign to put the security services in a bad light. Again, I find it quite incredible that these desperate people are willing to burn down their own houses (where they may have lived for generations) to be without a home, potentially displaced, for five years or more like those in Sittwe, just to give the Government a bad name. I must remind again that these attacks took place within the context of decades of systematic and institutionalised discrimination against the Rohingya population. Desperate individuals take desperate actions. And while such desperate actions in this case are not justified in any way, I do believe if the affected population had felt that the new Government would start addressing their situation and grievances, then extreme elements would not have easily been able to hijack their cause. When the allegations of human rights violations consequent to the security operations started surfacing, the Governments immediate response was to deny them. Even when a scientifically-based analysis of the burning and destruction of houses was presented, the immediate response was dismissal. Perhaps some of the portrayal of the situation may have been sensationalised. In fact at least one media outlet had reported that my access was blocked in Rakhine when this was not entirely true. But for the Government to continue being defensive when allegations of serious human rights violations are persistently reported, that is when the Government appears less and less credible. This perception is then reinforced when a video clip of the Myanmar Police personnel beating men and children who were rounded up during the security operations went viral. While the authorities may have swiftly responded in this case by arresting some of those captured in the video it highlights the possibility that such treatment of the local population by the security personnel may not be an isolated incident but rather a more common practice. Over and over it has been said that trust needs to be built between the two communities in Rakhine State; that they need to learn to live together, as they had done for decades before. But I believe another important relationship that requires trust building is the relationship between the people and the Government, particularly with the security forces in this instance. By conducting a security operations with seemingly little regard for the rights and dignity of the majority population residing in the affected areas, the security forces have further weakened the trust the Muslim population had cautiously put into the new Government. It should not be a surprise, in this context, that many from among the Rohingya population have not welcomed the announcement of the resumption of the citizenship verification exercise and resumption of the issuance of the Identity Card for National Verification subsequent to the expiry of the TRC. The timing of this announcement while security operations are still on-going is concerning. Furthermore there has been no progress on the fundamental issues which have plagued previous attempts at conducting a citizenship verification exercise under the 1982 Citizenship law. It is evident that clear, timely and accessible information needs to be provided and further consultation undertaken. A fundamental problem still remains however when individuals who received citizenship in the last verification exercise are still not able to enjoy their rights as citizens. The situation in Myebon, where those granted citizenship remain subject to limitations, is a case in point. Data and evidence is important here, and in order to assess, evaluate and respond to those needs, we need technical experts to help provide the most feasible response. We cannot make a broad assumption for example that there is no malnutrition in an area as the government-appointed investigation commission did simply because the conditions for fishing or farming are favourable there. When there are available relevant data which had been obtained through a rigorous method by experts in their field, then the government should consult such data. We cannot simply dismiss data that it does not accept or fully understand. Humanitarian actors are mandated to use their expertise to help suffering individuals but are currently being prevented from doing so by the Government. In Kachin and Shan States as well as in the north of Rakhine, humanitarian access is worse now than it was when I last visited, with access shrinking month on month and is allowed is subject to ever increasing bureaucratic hurdles. Access is slowly starting to improve in the North of Rakhine state, but it remains mostly limited to national staff, with international staff stuck in towns unable to do their jobs. The governments response to all of these problems seems to currently be to defend, dismiss and deny. And this response is not only counterproductive but is draining away the hope that had been sweeping the country. But I do believe it is not too late to reverse this trend, and during my visit, I also met many people who are doing their best in very difficult situations. I met groups working tirelessly to bring communities together. I was pleased to see many new public servants growing into their roles despite the constraints of an institutional structure that is far from perfect. Several ministry and local officials were keen to discuss the problems they face and were open to considering new ideas. This sense of openness and adaptability needs to be nurtured and spread. It pains me to see when talking to the ordinary people of Myanmar during this visit their feelings of optimism and hope slowly fading just after one year when the whole country was elated with the outcome of the last general elections. From my meetings and conversations with the State Counsellor and the various officials, I can see their genuine commitment and dedication in improving the lives of all in Myanmar. Somehow this commitment has yet to translate into real actions that are felt on the ground. I encourage the Government to appeal to all communities in the country to be more open and understanding of each other, to respect each other instead of scapegoating others for the sake of advancing their own self-interests. It would be particularly important for the security forces to always act within the parameters of the rule of law and in compliance with human rights. It would be crucial for the Government to combat the apparent climate of impunity that seem to have emboldened certain extreme elements by taking the law into their own hands and meting out their own justice. There must be accountability and justice must be done and seen to be done to reassure the ordinary people that no one is above the law. I would like for the Government, the military side including, to be open and accepting of the offer of assistance from other international actors, particularly the UN that always stand ready to support the successful democratic transition of Myanmar. I take this opportunity to thank the Government for its invitation and for maintaining cooperation with my mandate. I particularly would like to note with appreciation the efforts made to ensure my safety and that of my team. I would also like to thank the United Nations Country Team for their support and assistance. As I have repeatedly said in the past, I stand ready to assist in the journey towards a more free and democratic Myanmar. Four journalists were killed in Myanmar since last years military coup, and five others were killed before the putsch dating back to 1999, with the... Woman's Blood Pressure Before Pregnancy Can Predict Baby's Gender! Basics oi-Chandana Rao If you are a pregnant woman, you and your family members would obviously be curious to know whether you are going to have a boy or a girl, right? Well, did you know that a woman's blood pressure before pregnancy may actually be able to predict the gender of your baby? Also Read : Signs To Show You Are Pregnant With Boy Baby Yes, as strange as it sounds, this theory has actually been backed by a recent research study. Now, as many of us might already be aware, in many countries, including India, revealing the gender of a baby by the doctors, while the woman is pregnant, is against the law. Also Read : Foetal Movements Can Predict Baby's Gender Because of certain negative incidents that still occur, like female foeticide, gender detection has been prohibited in the country. However, there are many of us who would want to know the gender of our babies, for positive reasons, such as selecting a name, buying gender-specific clothes before the baby is born, etc. Also Read : Here's How You Could Guess Your Baby's Gender So, let us see how the blood pressure of the mother before pregnancy can predict the baby's gender. Here are a few facts. Fact #1 Recently, a research study was conducted by Dr. Ravi Retnakaran, an endocrinologist at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital to assess if the blood pressure of women before pregnancy can predict the baby's gender. Fact #2 Dr. Ravi Retnakaran and his research team, conducted a study on about 1400 married women, who were trying to have a child. Fact #3 The research team checked the blood pressure of these women, about 26 weeks before conception. Fact #4 It was found that women with higher systolic blood pressure were more likely to conceive a male child, whereas women with a lower blood pressure index were more likely to conceive a girl child. Fact #5 Dr. Retnakaran said that, the blood pressure of a woman is indicative of her internal physiology and also lets us know if she will be able to carry a baby of a specific gender of 9 months. The internal physiology of a woman, plays an important role in the gender of the baby. Fact #6 This research study, which was also published in the American Journal of Hypertension, has said that if a woman manipulates her blood pressure to conceive a baby of a specific gender, it will not work. Fact #7 Dr. Ravi Retnakaran also said that the link between the woman's blood pressure and the baby's gender must be researched further for a better understanding. 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Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION Canada NewsWire CALGARY, Jan. 22, 2017 CALGARY, Jan. 22, 2017 /CNW/ - The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers have sent the following letter to Prime Minister Trudeau expressing their concerns about Public Interest recommendations by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal for anti-dumping duty relief on Gypsum Board from the United States. The Boilermakers consider that should the Cabinet accept these recommendations, the jobs of 120 of their members at Winnipeg and Calgary are at risk. Reaction to the Tribunal's recommendations has already resulted in a downshifting at Calgary, which could affect 25% of Boilermakers members employed there. January 22, 2016 The Right Honourable Justin TrudeauPrime Minister of Canada80 Wellington StreetOttawa, ON K1A 0A2 Dear Mr. Prime Minister: I am writing to you on behalf of 120 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers members who work in gypsum board plants in Calgary and Winnipeg. We are very concerned that acceptance by your Government of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal's (the Tribunal) recommendations to reduce the discipline of dumping duties on imports of gypsum board from the United States will put our jobs at risk. Indeed, I am just advised that on January 29, 2016, CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. will reduce the number of shifts at its Calgary plant from four to three. U.S. gypsum board producers led by Koch Industries, owners of Georgia Pacific (GP), were selling gypsum board into Western Canada at less than half of the U.S. price. This is a classic case of dumping by unusually large margins. The Tribunal found this to be injurious. The Tribunal has recommended relief for U.S. dumpers and Canadian contractors who did not protect their ability to pass on duty increases. These recommendations will extend for at least six months the injurious situation the Tribunal found existed before the duties were imposed. The Tribunal's recommendations for the ongoing discipline of injurious dumping are underwhelming. I am advised the remedy can be negated through the jiggery-pokery transfer pricing systems of multinational corporations. When CBSA introduced preliminary duties, our members were rehired for a full shift at Calgary and an additional shift was introduced at Winnipeg. While your Government has not accepted the Tribunal's recommendations, the pessimism and expectation of continued unabated dumping have generated has already had an adverse impact on our members. The Governor in Council ordered a special inquiry into short supply in Western Canada. CertainTeed's storage facilities at Calgary are full. Why? Because the market is flooded with dumped imports, which the Tribunal apparently does not see a need to discipline. Georgia Pacific has idled plants at Surrey, B.C. and Edmonton, Alberta. Local drywall supply could be increased if these were re-opened. Georgia Pacific cannot refuse to re-open its idled plants on one hand and claim short supply on the other. If there was a shortage, it was driven by corporate decisions of those who have chosen to leave Canada and dump from U.S. plants to serve Canadian markets. Please understand our position no Canadian worker should lose his or her livelihood to unfairly traded imports. This is a principle established on June 7, 1904 by Sir James Fielding, Minister of Finance in the Government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, when Canada introduced disciplines on dumping to the world. The implications of the Tribunal recommendations for our brothers and sisters are serious: There are no other good Canadian middle class jobs available for our members. Unemployment in Alberta is at record levels. Only one of the 100 Boilermakers members who lost their jobs and livelihoods when Georgia Pacific idled its Canadian operations at Surrey, B.C. and Edmonton, Alberta, has found a good union job. The Tribunal's report requires a full analysis. It extrapolates alleged duty costs to six contractors to 800. There was not a scintilla of evidence of the experience of the other 794 contractors or however many there really are. This does not seem to us to be sound economic analysis; certainly it is not a representative sample. The Governor in Council asked the Tribunal for advice on the implications for Canada's trade and commercial policies of reduced duties. Is it sound policy to have those prepared to invest in Canada left twisting in the wind to benefit those who have left, and dump to keep their Canadian market? What impression does this convey to foreign investors? Boilermakers operate the tug boats which move logs around the B.C. coast. They are not very busy these days because of chilling effects of U.S. investigations of softwood lumber. Frankly, they would be shocked and appalled if your Government were to condone this illegal dumping by the U.S. firms like Georgia Pacific who have idled their Canadian plants. The Governor in Council's reference to the Tribunal preceded the U.S. election, but President Trump has a very different trade agenda. Is it sound or reasonable policy to forgive injurious U.S. dumpers when the U.S. cannot and will not reciprocate to Canada? Parties opposed to the tariffs told the Tribunal that Canadian home buyers have also been affected by mortgage eligibility changes and changes in building codes. These other charges added much more to building costs than selling gypsum board at fair market prices. The Tribunal simply notes the existence of these other charges but offers no analysis of quantification. Reducing or denying protection against illegal dumping will not lessen the impact of these other factors. Standard Canadian construction contracts enable contractors and subcontractors to pass on increased taxes and duties. Unfortunately, this information only came into our hands after the Tribunal record had closed. But your record is not closed, nor is the interest of the Auditor General ever extinguished. I am certain that your Government would wish to ensure that neither the undeserving nor those simply unwilling to exercise contractual rights are permitted to dive from the high board into the public trough. Prime Minister, the Tribunal's recommendations are not binding on your Government. The Cabinet can accept, reject or modify the Tribunal's recommendations. The Tribunal did what it was asked to do, in a very short timeframe and out of sequence. We do not blame the Tribunal for not achieving perfection. There was not enough time and inadequate information to do that. Indeed, the Tribunal itself has recognized and acknowledged the inadequacy of the data. You need to provide the political assessment and judgement in determining what to accept and reject which the Tribunal is not equipped or empowered to provide. I am talking about middle class tradespersons. They have families, homes, mortgages and children who need to be educated for the cold realities of the new economy. We are electricians, welders and mill wrights. Our jobs are not being lost to automation or robots. We support duty relief for Fort McMurray where Boilermakers worked 2.5 million hours in 2015. We make plants run so that others can work. We support the Tribunal's recommendations for duties collected during the provisional period. This is over, and these imports are in the market. If there are real cases of hardship among contractors with fixed contracts which do not permit them to pass on increased duties then some form of relief should be provided. If your Government is really serious about creating good middle class jobs for Canadians, you will instruct your officials to devise a duty mechanism which will increase market prices to levels which will persuade Georgia Pacific to re-open its plants at Edmonton, Alberta and Surrey, B.C. Your Government should not ignore any opportunity to create more good middle class jobs. Prime Minister, we understand you are busy. We are pleased that your Cabinet retreat will be in Alberta. Alberta and its fractured economy badly need your attention and help. I urge you and your Cabinet to consider this matter and its human implications carefully. Please make haste slowly on this important issue and make a balanced and fair decision which does not destroy any Canadian manufacturing jobs. We must circulate this open letter to the media and are doing so. Yours truly, Rob LauzonAssistant DirectorIndustrial Sector Operations The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers cc Gerald Butts, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister c/o [email protected] Katie Telford, Chief of Staff c/o [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Boilermakers The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Nigeria joins acceptance of TFA to World Trade Organisation Director-General in Davos Nigeria has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), making it the 107th World Trade Organisation (WTO) member to do so. Only three more ratifications from members are needed to achieve the two-third threshold that will bring the TFA into force. Nigeria's instrument of acceptance was submitted to the WTO today by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah. Enelamah met with WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to mark the deposit. Nigeria's ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement is a reflection of our commitment to the WTO and a rules-based economy. It is evidence of President Muhammadu Buhari's commitment to rapidly implement his presidential initiative on the creation of an enabling environment for business, Enelamah said. Nigeria would like to see a strengthened WTO that reflects the development principles of developing countries like Nigeria and we praise the effectiveness of DG Azevedo in this regard, he added. On November 10, 2014, Nigeria submitted its Category A notification to the WTO outlining which substantive provisions of the TFA it intends to implement upon entry into force of the Agreement. The TFA will enter into force once two-thirds of the WTO membership has formally accepted the Agreement and ratification is a means of expression for a country to be legally bound by a treaty. Concluded at the WTOs 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference, the TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area. According to a 2015 study carried out by WTO economists, full implementation of the TFA would reduce members trade costs by an average of 14.3 per cent, with developing countries having the most to gain. The TFA also has the ability to reduce the time to import goods by over a day and a half while also reducing time to export by almost two days, representing a reduction of 47 per cent and 91 per cent respectively over the current average. The TFA also has the potential to increase global merchandise exports by up to $1 trillion. In addition to Nigeria, some other African countries that have ratified are Botswana, Niger, Togo, Cote dIvoire, Kenya, Zambia, Lesotho, Mali, Senegal, Swaziland, Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique. The TFA broke new ground for developing and least-developed countries in the way it will be implemented. For the first time in WTO history, the requirement to implement the Agreement was directly linked to the capacity of the country to do so. In addition, the Agreement states that assistance and support should be provided to help them achieve that capacity. A Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) was also created at the request of developing and least-developed country members to help ensure that they receive the assistance needed to reap the full benefits of the TFA and to support the ultimate goal of full implementation of the new agreement by all members. www.FMITI.gov.ng NEW DELHI (PTI): India and the UAE held their first strategic dialogue during which they finalised the Strategic Cooperation Agreement aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation to new key areas including energy, defence and security that will be signed during the visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi next week. During the dialogue on Friday, co-chaired by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs M J Akbar and his UAE counterpart Anwar Gargash, the two sides "agreed on a number of new initiatives to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation and on signing of fresh instruments of cooperation", External Affairs Ministry said. Noting that the first dialogue took place pursuant to the decision to elevate the relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the exchange of the visits at the highest level between India and the UAE in August 2015 and February 2016, MEA in a release said the two sides were represented by strong delegations drawn from a number of relevant ministries and departments. "During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of issues ranging from cooperation in the areas of trade and investments to expanding the bilateral cooperation to new areas under the strategic partnership, inter alia in the areas of energy security and renewable energy, defence and security, electronics & information technology and space. "The meeting provided a timely opportunity to prepare for the forthcoming State visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations, 2017," the Ministry said. This is the second visit of the Crown Prince to India who travelled here in February 2016. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and captains of industry. During the visit, the two sides will also explore ways to strengthen trade ties. The two countries have been among each other's top trading partners with a well-balanced bilateral trade of about USD 50 billion in 2015-16. "UAE is among the top investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments. It contributes significantly to India's energy security and is the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to India in 2015-16," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said. Noting that there was about 2.6 million strong and vibrant Indian community forms the largest expatriate group in UAE, he had also said, "Their positive and well-appreciated contribution in the development of their host country has been an important anchor of our excellent bilateral engagement." An unrelated file photo. BEIJING (PTI): China has appointed Vice-Admiral Shen Jinlong as the new naval chief as Asia's largest navy rapidly expands its fleet amid tensions over its assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea. Vice-Admiral Shen, 60, who had led China's South Sea fleet, has been appointed as the new commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), state-run China Daily reported. Shen in the capacity of the PLA Navy commander had a video chat on Friday morning with officers and sailors of the 25th escort fleet in the Gulf of Aden, a navy news release said on Saturday. He has replaced Admiral Wu Shengli, 71, to take charge of the largest navy in Asia, the daily said. Although the navy did not disclose when the transition took place, observers believe it was this week. Shen, a Shanghai native, had been commander of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla under the North Sea Fleet and then commander of the Navy's Lyushun Logistic Support Base. In 2010, he was appointed president of the Dalian Naval Academy and promoted to the rank of rear admiral. The next year, he became president of the Naval Command College in Nanjing. In 2014, Shen led three warships to take part in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise in Hawaii. After the exercise finished, the ships paid a 5-day visit to San Diego, California. He was named deputy commander of the South Sea Fleet as soon as he returned to China in August that year. In December 2014, he replaced Lieutenant Admiral Jiang Weilie, who was named deputy chief of the PLA Navy, to become the fleet's commander. Shen was chosen because he has rich experience gained through posts in front-line combat units, institutes and a major fleet's commanding body, it quoted a senior researcher with PLAN as saying. "He has theoretical and practical knowledge and front-line commanding experience, and he is just 60. This makes him a suitable choice," the senior researcher said. The change of command came as China is rapidly expanding its naval fleet to back its growing assertiveness over territorial claims in the South China Sea. New US President Donald Trump is also sharply critical of China reinforcing the artificial islands in the SCS with heavy weapons. In the past 10 years, PLAN expanded rapidly taking delivery of about 100 advanced ships and submarines as well as a large number of new aircraft. It commissioned around 20 new ships in 2015 as well as last year and is believed to have deployed several new-generation nuclear submarines during this period, the Daily reported. The navy now has a carrier battle group headed by its first aircraft carrier Liaoning, which just completed a long-distance, live-fire drill in the Western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. A second aircraft carrier is being built with plans for third. The Navy's aviation force has carried out several long-range, combat-ready drills. Moreover, the navy has gained extensive experience of large, sophisticated operations through its active participation in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and multinational naval exercises in the past several years, the report said. China's claims over almost all of the SCS is contested by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. A representational photo. BEIJING (PTI): Rapidly expanding its naval fleet, China has commissioned its 31st stealth warship as it got its battle group under its first aircraft carrier ready amid tensions with the US and other nations over its assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea. The People's Liberation Army Navy has commissioned its 31st Type-056 class corvette, marking a new addition to the world's largest fleet of modern corvettes, official media reported on Sunday. With a maximum speed of 52 km/h, the ship features good manoeuvrability, a high-level of automation and stealth capability, and is capable of hitting aircraft, ships and submarines, the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military said. The CNS Ezhou with a hull number of 513 was delivered to the East Sea Fleet in a naval base in East China's Fujian province. The ship will perform coastal patrol, fishery escort, anti-submarine and anti-ship operations. It is the second ship that has been commissioned to the PLA Navy since the start of 2017, following the CNS Kaiyangxing, a Type-815A class electronic reconnaissance ship, which now belongs to the North Sea Fleet. Russia has the world's largest corvette group that consists of about 80 vessels, but most of them were built in the 1980s and 1990s and cannot compete with the Type-056 in terms of technology and equipment, the report quoted defence observers as saying, adding that China's fleet is now the biggest force of modern corvettes of all navies. PLAN has expanded its fleet rapidly in the past ten years taking delivery of about 100 advanced ships and submarines as well as a large number of new aircraft. It commissioned around 20 new ships in 2015 as well as last year and is believed to have deployed several new-generation nuclear submarines during this period, state-run China Daily reported. The Navy now has a carrier battle group headed by its first aircraft carrier Liaoning, which just completed a long-distance, live-fire drill in the Western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. A second aircraft carrier is being built with plans for the third. The Navy's aviation force has carried out several long-range, combat-ready drills as China appears bracing itself for renewed tensions in the South China Sea under Donald Trump Presidency. Trump's Secretary of State nominee, Rex Tillerson in his testimony before the US Senate had said that America should block China from accessing islands in the disputed SCS. He likened China's island-building in the SCS to "Russia's taking of Crimea". He warned that the new US government will send a "clear signal" to China that it must abandon its artificial islands in the South China Sea. His remarks were denounced by official Chinese media which said the US has to wage a war with China if America blocks it from accessing the artificial islands it has built in the contested South China Sea. China's claims over almost all of the SCS is contested by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. India's indigenous, long-range artillery gun 'Dhanush'. Photo: twitter.com/Spokesperson MoD BHOPAL (PTI): India's first indigenous, long-range artillery gun 'Dhanush', aka 'Desi Bofors', will be showcased for the first time at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Manufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory (GCF), the 155-mm gun cost about Rs 14.50 crore a piece. " 'Dhanush' will be displayed to showcase defence power at the Republic Day function in New Delhi," GCF's Joint General Manager and PRO Sanjay Shrivastava told PTI on Sunday. 'Dhanush' is comparable to the latest weapon systems used by different countries, another official said. Besides features like electronic gun-laying and sighting systems, the indigenous gun has a strike range of 38 km, which is 11 km more than the imported Bofors guns. "The 'Dhanush' project has received support and active cooperation from other ordinance factories and PSUs such as SAIL, BEL, and many private sector companies. Their support has made the project a huge success," the official said. The gun, a towed howitzer, has been developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kolkata, after going through the design and documents running into over 12,000 pages which were given to India under the first phase of 'Transfer of Technology' (ToT) as part of the Bofors gun deal in the late 1980s. The Swedish Bofors company (now owned by Britain's BAE System) could not complete the ToT for the 155-mm howitzer with 39 calibre to India as the deal got embroiled in a major political row over alleged kickbacks. Subsequently, OFB struggled for long to produce the howitzer indigenously despite the fact that it has manufactured and supplied several components or spare parts to keep the Bofors howitzers operational in India, especially during the Kargil War. The army had been desperately looking for 155-mm howitzers for more than a decade now. It had roped in an Israeli company, Soltam, to upgrade the imported, Russian-made 130-mm gun to 155-mm at GCF. But the project, after the upgraded gun's trial, ran into hot water, the official claimed. Five years ago, the Defence Acquisition Council had decided to look for artillery guns within the country and asked OFB to start manufacturing howitzers. Towards that end, former Defence Minister A K Antony flagged off a 155-mm gun manufacturing facility at GCF on September 22, 2012. The over a century-old GCF has already delivered six 'Dhanush' guns to the Army which has been extensively trying these in snowy, desert and hostile areas in the country, he said. The army had been looking for a total of 114 'Dhanush' guns from GCF to augment its firepower. According to the official, the army needs a huge number of howitzers of different types, and Indian firms, some with the help of foreign manufacturers, are in the race to fulfill the demand with the gun's variants. INS Kalvari. An Indian Navy photo. NEW DELHI (PTI): With the Defence Ministry scrapping Finmeccanica's contract for 'Black Shark' torpedoes, the Indian Navy may consider German SUT torpedoes from its existing platform for its Kalvari class submarines as an interim solution. However, lack of clarity on the black-listing policy by the Ministry could end up having Finmeccanica emerging as one of the contenders. Finmeccanica's subsidiary AgustaWestland is alleged to have paid kickbacks for the 2010 purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters for Rs 3,760 crore. Senior Navy officials said that the new heavy weight torpedo will take some time to get finalised. "There will be some alternate torpedoes as an interim solution. The heavy weight torpedoes will take some time. Those which are already in use in other platform will be used in these (Kalvari class) submarines," said a senior Navy official. Torpedoes are self-propelled weapons with explosives packed in their nose. They are a submarine's primary weapon to destroy their targets. The SUT torpedo is currently used in HDW Shishumar-class vessels are diesel-electric submarines. The Black Hawk torpedoes were to be used in the Kalvari Class submarine. All six Kalvari class submarines are expected to be commissioned by 2020. INS Kalvari, the first of the lot is likely to be commissioned before monsoon while the second submarine INS Khanderi could be commissioned by December this year or early next year. Meanwhile, another submarine INS Sindhuraj will go to Russia for Medium Refit with Life Certification (MRLC) in mid- 2017, which will enhance its life for the next few year. The submarine was inducted in the Indian navy in 1992. Another submarine INS Sindhukesri, which was commissioned in 1986, is undergoing a similar refit process. The MRLC usually takes 27-30 months and this enhances submarine's life to 35-40 years. DEHRADUN (PTI): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed top military commanders here during which he is understood to have outlined his vision on security challenges before the country. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were also present at the Combined Commanders Conference which was held at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) here as part of Modi's wish to hold the annual conference outside the national capital. Unlike previous years, no statements were issued by the government due to directions from the Election Commission which has effected a model code of conduct ahead of assembly elections in five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur which will be held between February 4 and March 8. This was the first conference for all the three Service chiefs who took over last year. Though this conference was supposed to be held late last year in the North East, close to the China border, it did not take place due to various reasons. The conference began with a presentation by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee. His presentation was followed by those of the IAF and Army chief. The Election Commission in an order on Friday had said that Modi's official visit shall not be combined with any public meeting, media briefing, media interaction, press release or announcement in connection with serving soldiers or ex servicemen which may effect the voters in five poll going states, including Uttarakhand. The Congress had complained to the Commission that BJP may use the event to influence former and serving defence personnel to gain an upper hand in the five poll-bound states. The issues that are likely to have come up for discussion was the surgical strike, situation on the LoC, rise of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the internal security situation in the North East and China. WASHINGTON (PTI): Donald Trump, the 45th President of the US, has announced to end cut in military budget implemented by the previous Obama administration and said it would develop a state-of-the-art missile system, rebuild the military, and develop offensive cyber capabilities. "President Trump will end the defence sequester and submit a new budget to Congress outlining a plan to rebuild our military. We will provide our military leaders with the means to plan for our future defence needs," the White House said moments after Trump was sworn in as the new President of the United States. "We will also develop a state-of-the-art missile defence system to protect against missile-based attacks from states like Iran and North Korea," it said. Observing that cyberwarfare is an emerging battlefield, the White House said the US must take every measure to safeguard its national security secrets and systems. "We will make it a priority to develop defensive and offensive cyber capabilities at our US Cyber Command, and recruit the best and brightest Americans to serve in this crucial area," it said. Declaring that energy is an essential part of American life and a staple of the world economy, the White House said the Trump Administration is committed to energy policies that lower costs for hardworking Americans and maximise the use of American resources, freeing US from dependence on foreign oil. "President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the US rule. Lifting these restrictions will greatly help American workers, increasing wages by more than USD30 billion over the next seven years," it said. The White House said the Trump administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. "We must take advantage of the estimated USD 50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own," it said. Souding a warning to NAFTA, the White House said if partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States' intent to withdraw from NAFTA. According to the White House, to get the economy back on track, Trump has outlined a bold plan to create 25 million new American jobs in the next decade and return to four percent annual economic growth. The plan starts with pro-growth tax reform to help American workers and businesses keep more of their hard-earned dollars, it said. Trump's plan will lower rates for Americans in every tax bracket, simplify the tax code, and reduce the US corporate tax rate, which is one of the highest in the world, it said. "Fixing a tax code that is outdated, overly complex, and too onerous will unleash America's economy, creating millions of new jobs and boosting economic growth," it said. Trump has proposed a moratorium on new federal regulations and is ordering the heads of federal agencies and departments to identify job-killing regulations that should be repealed, the White House said. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Turning heads along one of Brandons busiest roadways is a green electronic billboard featuring a cannabis leaf advertising the Canada-wide delivery of related products. The company behind the billboard at 18th Street and Park Avenue, which recently began running 24 such billboard ads throughout Western Canada, is Vancouver-based Erbachay Health Centres. Erbachay Health Centres operate in a legal grey area, owner Darcy Delainey described over the phone recently, noting that the Vancouver Police Department havent taken aim at them, perhaps in light of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus pledge to legalize cannabis during his current mandate. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun A billboard on 18th Street south of Park Avenue advertises Erbachay, a Canada-wide marijuana delivery business. However, the federal government remains clear about cannabis legality. Erbachay Health Centres is not one of 38 organizations Health Canada has issued an authorized licence to cultivate and/or sell cannabis for medicinal purposes, and is therefore not legal. Additionally, Delainey clarified that while they request their clients offer evidence of a medical condition that requires medicinal cannabis treatment, they do not require a doctor-issued prescription. With such a long list of ailments that cannabis can help treat, Delainey asserted, you dont need a doctor to tell you (that) you need cannabis. Further to that, he said that with the stigma unduly placed on cannabis, most doctors are unwilling to write a prescription for the product anyway. All legal channels in Canada require a doctor-issued prescription in order to procure medical cannabis. Westman is no stranger to cannabis, with the Brandon marketplace carrying a number of cannabis-centred business, such as The Healing Pot; a retail outlet that specializes in cannabis ingestion paraphernalia. While owner Darren Stewart commends Erbachay Health Centres with increasing public visibly of cannabis in Brandon during our nations shift toward its legality, he will not be pointing his customers in their direction. The sale of cannabis by anyone outside of those holding Health Canada licences is really an illegal act, he explained, adding: We really dont want to be part of it. When The Healing Pot first opened, members of the Brandon Police Service were frequent visitors to check things out, which Stewart said he was perfectly fine with. With his business 100 per cent above board, Steward didnt have any concerns then, and he doesnt want any concerns now. Still, Stewart supports Erbachay Health Centres cause, pointing to cannabis healing properties as something that should be shared with anyone who might benefit. He credits eating the raw plant with keeping him alive after being told he had terminal cancer with six months to live, more than 12 years ago. The classic stereotype of the stoner does not apply to much of Stewarts client base, of whom most are 55 years of age and older and are treating medical ailments as per their doctors prescription. Stewart carries a list of trusted Health Canada-certified, and therefore legal, producers he regularly points people toward to ensure they play it safe when it comes to the products legal status. Legal or otherwise, Erbachay Health Centres is currently operating online at erbachay.com, offering Canada-wide delivery of cannabis to anyone 19 years of age and older with evidence of a medical condition. If someone in Vancouver can get it, why cant someone in Newfoundland get it? Delainey asked, adding; Why cant someone in Brandon, Manitoba, get it? Contacted on Sunday, the Brandon Police Service noted that they were not aware of Brandons electronic cannabis billboard, but that theyd look into it. A similar electronic billboard popped up in Regina, where the CBC quoted Regina police Insp. Darcy Koch as calling Erbachay Health Centres 100 per cent illegal. A Pattison logo on Brandons Erbachay Health Centres electronic billboards indicates its owner is Pattison Outdoor Advertising. Their Manitoba office, which their national office referred us to, did not return a request for comment by press time on Sunday. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Already have an account? Log in here It was a busy day for loss prevention officers at a store located in the 900 block of Victoria Avenue, with two incidents reported on Friday. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CARBERRY Tackling the winter doldrums, last weekend marked the inaugural Carberry Winterfestival a brainchild of the communitys new recreational director, Andrew Smith. A scattering of community events filled the Westman town on Saturday, including one of the more popular attractions; a horse-drawn sleigh that circled a nearby field. Watching youths pile onto his sleigh, Alex Christison let out the occasional chuckle on hearing kids squeals of excitement over his two 11-year-old Belgian quarter horse crosses, Cotton and Candy. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Sarah Graham and her five-year-old girls Sabrina and Tegan, visit with the horses after a sleigh ride during the Carberry Winterfestival on Saturday. The two-day festival included an Ice King and Queen Competition, sleigh rides, a supper, entertainment, games and other events. They liked the kids and they dont bother them, he shrugged as a young mother lifted her child to pat Cottons receptive nose. Christison lives about 23 kilometres north of Carberry and commended Smith for starting up what he hopes will become an annual event. Its something different that Carberrys never done, so its nice to see someone take initiative and help out, he said, later concluding; Its just nice to have something nice in Carberry. Its not only Christison who volunteered his time toward the days winter activities, with a team of community stewards offering their time to help make the event a success. Among the proudest volunteers was 17-year-old Jesse Gingras, who spent the day shepherding participants between the community arena and the field where sleigh rides were held. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Festival-goers enjoy a sleigh ride during the Carberry Winterfestival on Saturday. Celebrating the areas strong agricultural roots, particularly as it relates to potato farming, Gingras said that volunteering for the inaugural winter festival was a no-brainer, in that he wanted to play his part in making it an annual event. He said that he wants others to see the community as he does, and that with greater promotion, the annual event might grow into something even greater next winter. Sharing in this sense of community pride was Rachel and Jeremy McPhee, a married couple who toted their toddler Mark and infant Emily around Carberry on Saturday. Originally from Winnipeg, the Carberry residents said that they were pleasantly surprised to see how close-knit the community of about 1,669 people is. We can really feel the strong sense of community and have made a lot of friends in town, Rachel said, offering that its community events such as the winter festival that make towns communities. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Children play on a large pile of snow during the Carberry Winterfestival on Saturday. A mix of cultures joined the days festivities at the Carberry Memorial Hall, where various performers took to the stage in celebration of their heritage. Originally from Scotland, Portage la Prairies Alistair McGloan pulled out his camera phone to record video of his six-year-old granddaughter Natalias Highland dance routine. Where some communities find segregated pockets of people from different cultural backgrounds glom together, McGloan said that he has been relieved to find Westman celebrate all cultures side by side. After watching his five-year-old daughter, Abbey, perform a dance on stage, Carberrys Jamie Snowden commended those behind the festival with adding some light to the winter to help chase away the winter blues. Smith said that this years winter festival was a learning experience, and that with greater advertising, funding applications and overall preparation, next years should be even better. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Young dancers with McHarg School of Highland Dance perform for a crowd during the Carberry Winterfestival on Saturday. I think its great for community building, he said. My goal in my position right now is to have more community events instead of just straight programming. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Already have an account? Log in here Military bomber training at CFB Shilo over the next two weeks will result in loud noises in the vicinity of the base. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/01/2017 (2113 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. His race war comment drew headlines, but theres more from Premier Brian Pallisters Monday speech in Virden that merits criticism, Fort Rouge NDP MLA Wab Kinew said. Thursdays Brandon Sun outlined Pallisters divisive speech, which Virden-based CJ-97 radio reporter Heather Reimer captured on audio. Pallister was talking about the issue of night hunting at the time a dumb practice he blamed on young indigenous guys going out and shooting a bunch of moose because they can. The premier should be focusing on that common ground and working toward a solution instead of making these kinds of comments, Kinew said on Friday. The only way were going to have a solution is to bring all sides together and really see whats possible This is something people are talking about, particularly in rural southwest Manitoba, the Interlake and a few other areas throughout of the province. Pallisters assertion that this issue is dissolving into a race war was a poor description that inflamed the situation instead of taking the temperature down and finding a common ground, he said, citing other areas of Pallisters speech that merit contention. Blaming the issue of night hunting on only indigenous hunters is an overgeneralization that is not helpful, Kinew said, noting that Pallisters dismissal of rights-based hunting was similarly unhelpful. Pallister mixing up Mohawk people with Ojibway was also troublesome, Kinew said, noting that his limited understanding of indigenous cultures is an area that merits attention. I think theres enough in these comments here that tell me the premier needs to humble himself and learn a bit more about the indigenous reality, and he also needs to commit back to working with the people of Manitoba, Kinew said. I think the premier should apologize, clear the air and get things back to a productive footing. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs issued a press release on Friday, in which they share in the Manitoba NDPs condemnation of Pallisters comments. The comments are unnecessarily inflammatory and only add to the difficulty in addressing longstanding challenges that indigenous hunters have faced in accessing our traditional hunting territories, Grand Chief Derek Nepinak is quoted as saying in the release. Indigenous hunters have been on the land harvesting a variety of foods for their families for thousands of years before we made accommodations for agriculture settlement in treaty areas made with the crown, Nepinak added. There are many people in rural Manitoba who support indigenous hunting and it is now time for that segment of the Manitoba community to work with us to identify solutions to ensure access to our hunting lands as a necessity to save indigenous languages and culture. On his way to Costa Rica when his divisive comments came to light on Thursday, Pallister has yet to comment, although the provinces director of communications, Olivia Baldwin-Valainis, offered a written statement. She explained his comments as highlighting an escalating tension between rural land owners and night hunters and that the premier would rephrase given the opportunity. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The new president of the United States inaugural speech sounded much like one of his campaign speeches. Those thinking Donald Trump was going to suddenly become presidential havent been paying close attention. There was no poetry, no oratory, no call to the greater good. It was, in short, a Trump speech. Like it or not, this is the new era in the United States, led by a man many viewed as a joke, a buffoon and a braggart and those are the kind descriptors. The inaugural speech contained much of the rhetoric Mr. Trump used to his benefit in the months leading up to the Republican nomination and then in the race for the White House. He promised to make America great again. He blamed the elites in Washington who for too long have reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Of course, Mr. Trump is now one of those in Washington, he is now the establishment, he is now a politician. There is little doubt that the America Mr. Trump inherits is a divided one. Former president Barack Obama, despite his popularity and his progressive viewpoints, left office with a country still reeling with racial division, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and an economy that is fighting to regain ground following the 2008 economic crash. For those in Fridays crowd in Washington, D.C., who cheered when Mr. Trump took his oath of office, the promise of an end to unemployment with a focus on jobs made in America for Americans is a welcome message. The belief that this billionaire businessman, along with the three billionaires named to his cabinet will somehow speak on their behalf is perhaps the greatest statement of just how far out of touch career politicians must appear to those who feel left behind. Obamas presidential inaugural address in 2009 relied on the word we, to suggest the collective: Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met. Perhaps after a while, Americans no longer felt that the political parties were part of the we that was going to meet the serious challenges and were tired of doing it on their own. In his Friday speech, Mr. Trump repeatedly used the word you to signify the American people. He said Jan. 20. 2017 was significant because This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country. The transfer of power from the elites to the public is complete. But looking at the numbers, its clear the elites are still in control. There are only three women in cabinet, one African American, no Latinos and a cabinet with wealth that is estimated to be worth more than the gross domestic product of 39 countries. These are the elites, yet Mr. Trump will have to convince the public they are not. How long this will last remains to be seen. The age-old recipe of populism, isolationism, a return to one country guided by a God and Americans who are American worked to invigorate the United States following the Great Depression, but can it work for Mr. Trump? Winnipeg Free Press It is being reported today that the Central Bank will 'fast-track' applications from businesses to move to Ireland as Brexit preparations continue. According to the The Irish Independent, paperwork will be 'reprioritised' if necessary to meet demand, in a bid to ensure Ireland is an attractive destination for companies leaving the UK. President Donald Trump warned business leaders today he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States, while promising tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a morning meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with politicians from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. The president also planned to sign multiple executive orders in the Oval Office. Mr Trump had pledged to quickly use his executive authority to withdraw the US from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration. He is also expected to sign an order implementing a federal government hiring freeze. Conservatives are also eager for Mr Trump to sign an order reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the Mexico City Policy or, by critics, the "global gag rule", has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Mr Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul US trade policy, arguing massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he has aggressively criticised companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the US. "Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," Mr Trump said on Monday. The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25%". He also called for cutting 75% of regulations, though he insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Mr Trump's outreach effort comes after a tumultuous first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organisations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Mr Trump delivered a more unifying message on Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead but declared he believed they were ready. "But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done," he said. "We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history." Mr Trump said his staff were in the White House not to "help ourselves" but to "devote ourselves to the national good". - AP An Irish-owned telecoms provider, Pure Telecom, has announced a 1.8m investment that will results in 32 new jobs. The company hopes that this expansion will help it to meet its target of attracting 100,000 customers by the end of 2019. Pure Telecom had 42,500 customers at the end of 2016 - that was a 25% increase on 2015. The firm has been providing fixed line, broadband and cloud telecoms services since 2002 to Irish businesses and consumers. Today's announcement includes jobs in sales, employee training, customer service and technical support - the hiring process has already started for some vacancies. This is due to bring Pure Telecom's total workforce to 112 people. Paul Connell, director and co-founder at Pure Telecom, said: "Our customer numbers are growing rapidly and thats not only down to offering very competitive prices, but also great customer service. Were very focused on consistently delivering what our customers want and as our numbers grow, we want to make sure that customer service remains central to our business and that means ensuring we always have the right ratio of team members to customers. "People are essential to making Pure Telecom a success. Our customers know that when they phone us, their call will be answered quickly and professionally. Our new team members will ensure that we continue to be known as a reliable, customer-first business." Update 6.30pm: Human trafficking has a big impact on Ireland and other EU countries, according to the Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald. She was speaking after three men were arrested at Dublin Airport in connection with the suspected smuggling of illegal immigrants. Two of the men are Aer Lingus staff and remain in custody, along with a foreign national. Mrs Fitzgerald said it was necessaary to establish whether human smuggling is a regular occurrence at the airport, and the investigation would examine that. Update 1.05pm: Last night a foreign national from outside the EU arrived at Dublin Airport and Gardai followed up on indications that two Aer Lingus staff were going to help get that man past immigration controls. The three men are in Garda custody after the operation that also involved searches of property and vehicles. Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll from the Special Crime Operations Unit (pictured) said the offers of big money from illegal immigrants can be attractive. Asst Commissioner O'Driscoll said: "There is always a temptation there for people to succumb to the offering of corrupt payments." Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan says the investigation is part of the effort to strengthen Ireland's borders. The Garda Commissioner said: "Well our focus is on working with our colleagues in the immigration service, and our colleagues at our ports and borders to ensure that we strengthen our border controls. And this is part of that." The three men remain in custody under the suspected offence of smuggling illegal immigrants. Earlier: Gardai investigating an international illegal immigrant smuggling network have made three arrests at Dublin Airport. Two of the people arrested are said to be Aer Lingus employees at the airport. The three men arrested at Dublin Airport last night are aged 61, 56 and 28, and are being held at Ballymun and Coolock Garda Stations under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Aer Lingus have issued a statement confirming that two of their workers have been arrested in the investigation. The airline said: "Aer Lingus can confirm that two of its employees have been arrested by an Garda Siochana at Dublin Airport. "Aer Lingus is co-operating fully with an Garda Siochana in their investigation. As this is an on-going criminal investigation we have no further comment to make." The Garda National Immigration Bureau have said that the scam has been running for years. They believe that the network may have smuggled up to 100 illegal immigrants through Dublin Airport every year. Speaking earlier this morning, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said authorities need to be vigilant at Ireland's airports. She said: "We have a huge amount of contact with Interpol and Europol. "I'm very confident that with the new arrangements now in place, that database information is being shared more effectively than ever." A busy petrol station was sprayed with automatic gunfire during a drive-by shooting that injured a policeman, the North's police chief has said. Motorists were filling up their vehicles on the forecourt of the North Belfast garage when it was riddled with high-velocity rounds, George Hamilton said. Dissident republicans opposed to the peace process have been blamed for shooting the police officer as he walked to the shop to buy food. A 36-year-old man arrested in the wake of Sunday night's attack on the Crumlin Road remained in custody on Monday morning. The community officer, who was shot twice in the arm and wrist, is in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing emergency surgery overnight. Mr Hamilton said he faced further surgery. The PSNI Chief Constable said he believed the shooting was pre-planned. "Incidents of this nature don't happen ad hoc or in an opportunistic way," he said. "We'd be pretty convinced this is a planned operation to attack a police office. "But it was actually an attack on the whole community - there were people filling their cars on that garage forecourt. "People walking from the forecourt to their cars with bullets whizzing around them and striking the garage forecourt - completely reckless. Whatever people's motivation is for doing this, it is absolutely crazy - just reckless." Mr Hamilton told BBC Radio Ulster that detectives were investigating whether the officer was actually struck more than twice and if his body armour prevented further more serious injury. Officers have appealed for anyone who saw an Audi vehicle at the scene to contact detectives. Dissident republicans have attempted to kill several members of the security forces in Northern Ireland in recent years. Police, soldiers and prison officers have all died at their hands. The attack comes amid warnings that a political vacuum has been created by the collapse of Stormont power-sharing. Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland, said: "This attack on the life of an officer is a stark reminder of the determination on the part of terrorists to murder and maim police officers. "They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan." He said it underlined the fragility of the peace. The threat against police is classed as severe and Mr Lindsay warned officers to be vigilant. The attack comes as Northern Ireland prepares for fresh elections after the collapse of power-sharing. Former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over a botched green energy scheme which is predicted to leave taxpayers millions of pounds out of pocket. Gardai investigating a robbery in Balrothery, Co Dublin, on Saturday have charged a 44-year-old man. A man entered a commercial premises in Balrothery at around 9.20pm on Saturday night, demanded cash and threatened a female member of staff. He was wearing a balaclava pulled down over his face. He left on foot with a sum of cash, and the female employee was assaulted, but she did not require any medical attention. Gardai searched a house in Balbriggan and a man was arrested. He will appear before Swords District Court this morning. The Government has unveiled a 60m programme to help rejuvenate rural Ireland. The 273-point Action Plan for Rural Development includes a promise to revitalise 600 towns and villages, and support 135,000 new jobs within four years. It is also promising to set up a new oversight group to make sure high-speed broadband is rolled out to every home in Ireland, and contains a plan to help families and first-time buyers convert derelict commercial premises and shops into homes without needing planning permission. The Taoiseach said the plan would help to rebuild community spirit in isolated parts of rural Ireland. The plan, launched today in Ballymahon, Co Longford, contains 276 actions in five sectors, which are: Supporting Sustainable Communities Supporting Enterprise and Employment Maximising our Rural Tourism and Recreation Potential Fostering Culture and Creativity in Rural Communities Improving Rural Infrastructure and Connectivity The initiative will include assisting more than 4,000 projects in rural communities to boost economic development, tackle social exclusion and provide services to people living in remote areas. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross indicated his Department had worked closely with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on the development of the plan and would work to implement the actions in the transport, tourism and sport spheres within the timeframes identified. Minister Ross said: "The plan recognises that the provision of a high quality, interconnected system of transport in rural Ireland is key to these areas. Arising from the Programme for Government, the plan commits to conducting a full review of public transport policy, including the rural transport dimension, to ensure that it meets the needs of rural communities." Meanwhile, Indepetent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle called the initiative "insincere" and said post offices and other services in rural Ireland "continued to be undermined by the Government". He added: "The 60m allocated to the Rural Plan will be spread very thinly, leaving under 2m per county. That kind of money will do nothing to address the persistent problems arising from chronic under-investment in Donegal. Im talking about the lack of broadband, access to transport or development of our road infrastructure and an under-funded third level education sector. "These are the social provisions required to maintain a town life and many have already left to set up new lives as a result." he also said the "strong focus" on IDA companies was a concern, adding: "These companies tend to settle in urban hubs which further encourage internal migration away from rural towns. Its a falsehood to claim that increasing IDA visits will revitalise rural Ireland. While proposals to lure people back to town centres by converting shop fronts into homes are welcome, it must be introduced alongside proposals to keep services for the people already living there or moving in. For a start we could get serious about preserving the post office network. 500 post offices have been deemed unviable across the State yet proposals to revitalise this network have been slow." Update 8.56pm: Taoiseach Enda Kenny has congratulated MLA Michelle O'Neill following the announcement that she is to lead Sinn Fein in the Northern Ireland Assembly. "I wish to congratulate Michelle O'Neill on her appointment as the new leader of Sinn Fein in the Northern Ireland Assembly," he said. "Her appointment comes at a critical time when it is ever more vital for us to work together North and South, to keep the peace process firmly on track. "I wish Michelle every success in her new role and look forward to working with her and her colleagues, and all of the parties in Northern Ireland, to ensure the stability of the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions into the future." Update 2.40pm: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan has congratulated Michelle O' Neill on her appointment as the new leader of Sinn Fein in the Northern Ireland Assembly. He said: "This is a statement of the very high regard in which Michelle is held by her party colleagues and I am sure this is a very proud and special day for her and her family. "I, and my Government colleagues, have worked closely and constructively with Michelle in the North South Ministerial Council both during her time as Minister for Agriculture and more recently as Minister for Health. Her hard work and dedication was evident in both of these portfolios. "I know that we share a sense of urgency in our determination to see the power-sharing institutions effectively functioning at Stormont once the election has taken place." Speaking at Stormont this afternoon, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said her appointment is a generational change within the party. He said: "This is a handover of a primary leadership position from my generation, from Martin's generation, to another generation." Earlier: Michelle O'Neill has been announced as the new leader of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland. Ms O'Neill, 40, will probably become deputy first minister if March's election follows the recent pattern and power-sharing is restored. However she will have to spearhead talks aimed at forming a ministerial Executive; with the DUP and Sinn Fein at odds over a host of issues including the Irish language. Mr McGuinness stepped away from the political stage, citing his health problems, shortly after a bitter rift between the major parties triggered the collapse of the powersharing executive in Belfast. While a green energy scheme financial scandal precipitated the meltdown, Mr McGuinness has also accused former first minister Arlene Foster and other DUP members of showing disrespect to Irish culture and failing to reciprocate republican gestures of reconciliation. He announced last week he is not running in the forthcoming assembly poll due to his serious illness. Announcing the appointment, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Ms O'Neill represented a "new generation" for the party. "As a united all-Ireland team, we will give her the space and support to find her own voice and continue the good work Martin pioneered," he said. Mr McGuinness invoked a familiar republican phrase, which Mr Adams once used in reference to the IRA, to insist he would still be involved in political activism. "I haven't gone away, you know," he said. Ms O'Neill said being a republican was her "way of life". She told the party faithful at Parliament Buildings, Stormont: "I won't let you down", and added: "This is the biggest honour and privilege of my life." Ms O'Neill said she would continue Mr McGuinness's "good work". "I have never been afraid of a challenge and I have never been afraid to act," she said. A police officer has been shot and wounded in north Belfast, police said. The attack happened at a petrol station on the Crumlin Road. At the scene of a shooting on Crumlin Road. Reports a policeman been shot in the arm. pic.twitter.com/nRCcg5SBii Lisa Smyth (@Lisa_J_Smyth) January 22, 2017 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) tweeted: "Officer shot and wounded at petrol station around 7.30pm." The road has been closed while police investigate. Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, confirmed the officer was shot in the arm during a gun attack. He said: "This is an appalling act, and I wish to condemn it in the strongest possible terms. "This attack on the life of an officer is a stark reminder of the determination on the part of terrorists to murder and maim police officers. "They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan. The wider community will be outraged by this attack on one of their police officers. "The police serve the entire community and wounding one individual is an attack on the entire community." He said the attack underlined the fragility of the peace. "Its one reason why the threat level here remains classed severe which means a terrorist attack is highly likely. "Officers already exercise great vigilance and I would appeal to them to remain at high alert." The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said it was a terrorist shooting and added that their thoughts were with the officer and his family. Dissident republicans have attempted to kill members of the security forces in Northern Ireland in recent years. Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds said it was a despicable act. Mr Dodds said: "This is a deeply disturbing incident which echoes back to the kind of terrorism we used to face on a daily basis. "My thoughts are with the officer who has been injured and I pray that the injuries sustained are not life-threatening and they can make a full recovery. "These are scenes that we should all want to move away from in Northern Ireland. We must be mindful how a threat to the future of the political institutions can create a vacuum, which terrorists such as these will seek to fill. "We must all stand against those who wish to use threats, intimidation and violence to further their political ends. "It is vital we all stand against such activity and work to move Northern Ireland forward." SDLP assembly member Nichola Mallon said those responsible were calculating criminals, intent on destabilising a community which continues to make strides toward reconciliation, who will be rejected by local people. She said: "Those responsible for this attack, not only on the individual involved, but on the progress that north Belfast has made must be brought to justice. "This community has rejected the men of violence before and it will do so again. There will be no cover given to those who seek to destabilise our progress and bring mayhem back to our streets." Senior Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly said it was a drive-by shooting and the officers injuries were not life-threatening. "I hope that the injured officer will make a full and speedy recovery," he said. "Those responsible for this attack are the same people who are attacking the local community. "They have absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately. "I would call on anyone with information on this incident to bring it forward to the PSNI." The attack comes as Northern Ireland prepares for fresh elections after the collapse of powersharing. Former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over a botched green energy scheme which is predicted to leave taxpayers millions out of pocket. Dissident republicans opposed to peace have killed police, prison officers and soldiers in the past. Exiled Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh has been accused of stealing millions of euro in his final weeks in power, and shipping out luxury vehicles by cargo plane. Mai Ahmad Fatty, a special adviser for the new president, said Mr Jammeh made off with 10.6m during a two-week period alone. Meanwhile, a regional military force rolled in, greeted by cheers, to secure the West African nation so that democratically elected President Adama Barrow could return home. He remained in neighbouring Senegal, where he took the oath of office on Thursday because of concerns for his safety. At a press conference in the Senegalese capital, Barrow's special adviser Mai Ahmad Fatty told journalists that the president "will return home as soon as possible". Senegalese troops take position outside the state house in the Gambian capital Banjul yesterday. Pic: AP Underscoring the challenges facing the new administration, Mr Fatty revealed the disappearance of the 10.6m. He said that is only what they have discovered so far since Mr Jammeh and his family took an offer of exile after more than 22 years in power and departed late on Saturday. "The Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are virtually empty. That is a state of fact," Mr Fatty said. "It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia." Mr Fatty also confirmed a Chadian cargo plane had transported luxury goods out of the country on Mr Jammeh's behalf in his final hours in power, including an unknown number of vehicles. He said officials at the Gambia airport have been ordered not to allow any of Mr Jammeh's belongings to leave. Separately, it appeared that some of his goods remained in Guinea, where Mr Jammeh and his closest allies stopped on their flight into exile. Mr Fatty said officials "regret the situation," but it appeared that the major damage had been done, leaving the new government with little recourse to recoup the funds. The unpredictable Mr Jammeh was known for startling declarations like his claim that bananas and herbal rubs could cure Aids. He went into exile under mounting international pressure, with a wave to supporters as soldiers wept. He is now in Equatorial Guinea, home to Africa's longest-serving ruler and not a state party to the International Criminal Court. Mr Jammeh lost an election in December to Barrow, and at first conceded defeat, before challenging the vote. That appeared to be the final straw for the international community, which had been alarmed by his moves in recent years to declare an Islamic republic and leave the Commonwealth and the ICC. Mr Barrow will now begin forming a Cabinet and working with Gambia's national assembly to reverse the state of emergency Mr Jammeh declared in his final days in power. He will also launch a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses by Mr Jammeh's regime. Rights groups say those include arbitrary detentions, torture and even killing of opponents. "After 22 years of fear, Gambians now have a unique opportunity to become a model for human rights in West Africa," said Amnesty International's deputy director for West and Central Africa, Steve Cockburn. The regional military force that had been poised to force out Mr Jammeh if diplomatic efforts failed rolled into Gambia's capital, Banjul, on Sunday night to secure it for Mr Barrow's arrival. Hundreds greeted the force's approach to State House, cheering and dancing, while some people grabbed soldiers to take selfies. With Mr Jammeh gone, a country that had waited in silence during the crisis sprang back to life. Shops and restaurants opened, music played and people danced in the streets. AP French presidential hopeful Manuel Valls has pledged to tax US imports if Donald Trump pulls America out of the global climate deal reached in Paris in 2015 and declares "economic war on Europe". Mr Valls, who seeks the Socialist nomination, proposed a carbon tax on US goods while speaking on RTL radio. The government has only just managed to reach an agreement that could see resumption in supply of paracetamol... FIFA have written to World Cup teams urging them to focus on the soccer in Qatar and not let the sport be dragged... TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday accused the United States of seeking to gain concessions in nuclear talks aimed at... A man who pointed a fake gun at a woman as his co-offender told him to "shoot her" in a failed robbery attempt at a north Canberra petrol station has been jailed. Jack Colin Ford, 20, pleaded guilty to offences including aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, fraud and stealing a motor vehicle stemming from random attacks in December 2015. CCTV footage released by ACT Policing from the Melba incident in December 2015. Credit:ACT Policing Ford was with a co-offender, Kaine Lock, 20, when the pair, clad in dark clothes and balaclavas, ran towards the woman as she walked back to her car at 7-Eleven in Melba on December 30. Ford aimed the replica pistol at her as Lock pressed a knife into her shoulder and demanded she hand over her wallet. Loalwa Braz, who has been found dead aged 63, sang the vocals on Lambada, the Latin dance tune that was a worldwide hit in 1989. It was performed by Kaoma, a French-Brazilian group that played reggae and salsa and which recruited the Rio-born Loalwa Braz when she was singing jazz in Paris nightclubs. Singer Loalwa Braz Vieira performs in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2013. Credit:Getty The song's summery feel, and a video which promised somewhat surprisingly that music could overcome parental disapproval of interracial romance, made it a global smash. It reached No. 4 in Britain, with the band appearing on Top of the Pops, but it got to No. 1 in 11 other countries, selling more than 4 million copies in Europe alone (a record for its label CBS). In France, it was No. 1 for three months and the bestselling track of the year. Soon after, however, it emerged that the group had not sought permission from the original writers of the song. This was a little-known Bolivian band, Los Kjarkas, who in 1982 had based their much slower tune Llorando se fue on a traditional Andean melody. They successfully sued Kaoma and were subsequently credited. Although a one-hit wonder, the Lambada is still firmly embedded in popular culture. In 1998, the Spice Girls name-checked it in their hit Spice Up Your Life and in 2011 it was sampled by Jennifer Lopez for what proved to be her biggest single, On the Floor. It has also recently been cited as an inspiration by Clean Bandit, the British group that was at No. 1 at Christmas with Rockabye. Loalwa Braz was born in Jacarepagua, a middle-class district of Rio de Janeiro, on June 3, 1953. Music was in her blood her father was a dance band leader and her mother a classical pianist and she began to learn the piano at four. By the time she was 13, she was performing and in her 20s she worked with some of the biggest names in Brazilian music, including Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and his sister Maria Bethania. In 1985, she moved to Paris, where she married and had two children. Kaoma released an LP, Worldbeat, in 1990 and had several minor hits thereafter without replicating the success of Lambada. Braz toured with the group for a decade before embarking on a solo career that included several albums of her own which showcased her knowledge of four languages. She was said by friends to be a warm but fragile person who had been taken advantage of by others and who had got herself into financial difficulty despite the money she had made. Latterly she had lived in Geneva but she had recently returned to Brazil, where she owned a small hotel near Rio, to be treated for cancer. Kristen Stewart has spoken about Donald Trump, recalling when he took an interest in her with a series of tweets in which he voiced his opinion about the actress' personal life. "He was mad at me a couple years ago, really obsessed with me a couple years ago, which is f---ing crazy," Stewart said at the Variety studio in Park City, Utah, referencing tweets that attacked her personal relationships in October 2012. "I can't even understand it. I literally cannot even understand it. It's such far-out concept that I don't want to believe that actually is happening. It's insane." In a series of tweets sent over four years ago, Trump, then best known for his role on The Apprentice, had voiced that Stewart's boyfriend at the time, Robert Pattinson, should end his relationship with her. On January 21, more than 2.5 million people across all seven continents marched in protest for equality, in response to a Donald Trump presidency. But, while protesters filled the streets, listening to speeches on stages from San Francisco to Strasbourg, one cannot help but wonder: what did the protests on the earth's seventh continent look like? Luckily, the Women's March on Antarctica was well documented on Twitter by Linda Zunas, a data analytics professional from California, who organised the event. Zunas told the Independent a group of 30 "eco-minded" visitors to the continent travelling on the same boat would be taking part in the march. A Sydney massage therapist who allegedly sexually assaulted a female client during a session will claim he thought he had her consent, a court has heard. Anthony Theodosiou, 31, is on trial in the Downing Centre District Court charged with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and five counts of indecent assault. In her opening address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Linda McSpedden said the woman had won a voucher at a charity event to receive a free massage at the Shire PTC personal training studio in Kirrawee in Sydney's south. The woman frequently suffered from head and neck strain from her work as a veterinarian, the court heard. Ms McSpedden said the woman was expected to give evidence that it was on her third visit to the studio in August 2015 that she was repeatedly assaulted as she received a massage. A Sydney man accused of fatally stabbing a dog spooked by New Year's Eve fireworks says the animal bit him on his private parts. George Ranatora Tuicina, 26, is charged with torture, beating and causing the death of a five-year old Staffordshire male dog named Bear at Airds in Sydney's south-west just after midnight on January 1. He appeared briefly in Campbelltown Local Court on Monday. Outside court, he told reporters the dog bit him twice on his private parts. Police say that a man and woman were drinking outside a home in Airds on New Year's Eve when the woman's dog became frightened by the fireworks. The dog ran to a nearby house and bit Mr Tuicina. What's next for Mike Baird? He posted a congratulatory message to incoming Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Facebook, moments after she was elected as his replacement unopposed by the Liberal party room. There was no accompanying tweet, however. Mr Baird deleted his Twitter account on Monday after saying his resignation would be a chance for more time with his family and less on social media, with which he has had an ambivalent relationship. But after he walked a couple of hundred metres down Macquarie Street on Monday afternoon to hand in his resignation as premier, Mr Baird is free to focus on life after politics. A man and a woman will front court on Monday over a chase that saw two police officers attacked at Ipswich, west of Brisbane. Police tried to stop a stolen car at Goodna about 10pm on Sunday but it sped off. A man has been charged after allegedly attacking police south-west of Brisbane. Credit:Glenn Hunt The police chopper tracked the vehicle onto the Centenary Motorway at Springfield, where it crossed onto the wrong side of the road. Officers followed it to a KFC restaurant at Springfield Lakes, where a man and a woman who'd been in the vehicle allegedly tried to steal a second car and assaulted its owner. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she can sleep at night over the government's measures to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence. Cabinet is set to consider the 1am lockout at cabinet meetings on Monday, after a report into the first six months of the government's strategy was received. Annastacia Palaszczuk says the reduction of trading hours is the most important part of the state's liquor laws. Credit:Andrew Quilty Drinking hours in Queensland venues were wound back in July 2016 and shots banned after midnight in a move to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence. The 1am lockout was due to come into effect in less than a fortnight. Tasmania has leapfrogged Queensland in the latest national economic report card despite improvement in the sunshine state. Population growth was a major bright spot for Queensland as it recorded its highest annual figure in almost two years, according to the latest CommSec State of the States report. Home construction is again a bright spot for Queensland. Credit:Louie Douvis But even that 1.35 per cent increase was 30 per cent down on the 10-year average, which the report used to analyse performance. The state was also buoyed by continuously strong levels of housing construction, with dwelling starts 36.5 per cent above the decade average. Bail justices say they have been hung out to dry after being blamed for releasing alleged killer Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas six days before the Bourke Street rampage. Mr Gargasoulas had been released on bail to attend the Magistrates Court last Friday, the day he allegedly mowed down pedestrians in the CBD. On Monday morning, Premier Daniel Andrews announced his government would set up new 'night courts' where magistrates can hear bail applications that are opposed by police. A review of all bail laws, including the role of bail justices, has been ordered. Visitors to WA's south-west can now take a seaplane from Perth to Margaret River after the state government announced a new tourism venture on Monday. The day trip tours which can take up to 12 guests at a time - will cost $795 per person and include a wine tour and lunch. Swan River Seaplanes flights will take around an hour each way and will be at low-altitude to allow for passengers to experience "amazing views and coastal scenery". Premier Colin Barnett said the attraction was a welcome addition to Perth's rapidly growing tourism attractions. Atlanta: At least 16 people were killed and dozens were injured in Georgia and Mississippi after severe weather on Saturday unleashed a swarm of tornadoes in the US south-east. Catherine Howden, a spokeswoman for Georgia's emergency management agency, confirmed that there had been 11 storm-related deaths, and 23 people injured, in central and southern parts of the state. She said there had been up to 20 reports of tornadoes. Howden said the severe weather in Georgia continued to take a toll and it was not expected to stop until late Sunday. Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency on Sunday for seven south-central Georgia counties: Atkinson, Berrien, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Lowndes and Thomas. "These storms have devastated communities and homes in South Central Georgia, and the state is making all resources available to the impacted areas," Mr Deal said. He said he was prepared to expand or extend the emergency declaration, and that the state was likely to seek help from the federal government. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Shes got a killer motive for writing. A Crown Heights author hopes that her new young adult novel will help provoke a new generation of activism. Allegedly, launching at Powerhouse in Dumbo on Jan. 25, tells the story of Mary, a pregnant teenage girl accused of murdering a toddler and thrown into an uncaring justice system and despite the books heavy subject, the author thinks it will resonate with young readers. I would hope that I could spark some type of outrage as far as the judicial system goes, and what goes on in juvenile facilities to get young adults more active to help girls in Marys situation, said Tiffany D. Jackson. If youre outraged as a 16-year-old, at 25 youll still be outraged, and hopefully be more interested in getting involved. Allegedly is loosely based on the true story of a 10-year-old Maine girl convicted of manslaughter in the death of an infant. In her book, Jackson made the character a black girl from Brooklyn so that she could explore the racial disparities in both the justice system and in the court of public opinion. I really wanted to touch upon racial discrimination, because if Mary was a white girl, a lot of the things she went through wouldnt have happened, said Jackson. I touch upon it lightly and people can pick it up as they go along. But I wanted to show how unfair it can be. The book is also an expose of the media cycle that followed the real case, said Jackson. In a way, Im calling the media out and showing what happens when they take a story and blow it into something that is unrecognizable, she said. Because that elicits the crazy. There is no other way I can eloquently put it when the story is already out there, then there comes a reaction on Twitter and so much public involvement, but people dont know the real story. While researching the book, Jackson spoke to correction officers, psychologists, and social workers who deal with troubled teenage girls. And her background as a television producer gave her first-hand experience of the type of media firestorm portrayed in the book. And no spoilers but the story ends with a surprising twist that Jackson hopes will awaken the activism in her readers. It ends on a more shocking note for the main character for sure, she said. I did it that way because I want the book to stay with you longer I want people to remember the story. I want readers to always remember what happens to girls like Mary and inspire them to be more involved. January 19, 2017 CAIRO Syria is witnessing a fierce civil war and massacres that have claimed the lives of so many of its people, such as the Aleppo massacre. The Syrian crisis is not unrelated to civil society in Egypt, as a group of psychotherapists launched on Dec. 14 an initiative to provide free psychotherapy and support sessions online for Syrians affected in war zones. The second phase of the initiative, which entails a new set of sessions, was launched Jan. 10. Despite the geographic borders, the siege imposed by the Syrian regime and the difficulty of communicating over the internet, more and more Syrians across their country are joining the initiative surprising even the organizers. Therefore, this initiative sheds light on a new dimension of humanitarian aid for those affected by wars and revolutions. Ahmed Haroun, a consultant psychiatrist and member of the American Psychology Association, launched the initiative with a number of volunteer psychotherapists to provide psychiatric support to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. After the Aleppo massacre, Haroun believed it was important to move for solidarity and support of Syrians. A large number of psychotherapy support teams volunteered in the initiative where Syrians who would like to enjoy the free sessions can register on the initiatives website, and a volunteer psychotherapist would provide support, Haroun told Al-Monitor. Haroun explained that psychotherapy is a cognitive therapy that attempts to change how those who seek help think about reality in a set of sessions that reach up to 20 minutes a session with a psychiatry specialist. The doctor works on training the patient on mechanisms of overcoming crises and enhancing the patients relationships with others, Haroun said. Haroun noted the initiative is currently restricted to Syrians inside Syria. However, in time, the initiative might extend to include Iraqis, Yemenis and Libyans. Haroun stressed the importance of therapy to war victims as he said, The most dangerous mental disturbances are those that occur after a catastrophe or the loss of someone. The exposed person needs a similar shock to reorder their thoughts and continue their life without suffering. Concerning Syrians living in Egypt, Haroun said the session membership fees are reduced for those in need and that psychotherapy can be provided for free for those with deteriorating economic conditions. Sessions are free for Syrians inside Syria. When asked about the biggest challenges the initiative faces, Haroun mentioned the difficulties of communication over the internet due to weak services in Egypt and Syria. Tayseer al-Naggar, the head of the General Union for Syrian Refugees and Development in Egypt, praised the initiative. However, he stated that psychotherapeutic support is only important in the post-war stages. It makes no sense to treat Syrians and provide them with psychotherapy at the same time the bombing and shelling are still ongoing, Naggar told Al-Monitor. He said that a number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Syria are doing the same thing, though he did not mention which ones. Nevertheless, Naggar said that such NGOs are unable to reach those who are in need of mental support due to the siege imposed on Syria. According to Naggar, the priority right now should be to help Syrians in Egypt, especially children who watched their parents and relatives die before their eyes. There are children who lost the ability to talk due to the cruelty of what they saw. It is better to build hospitals to treat Syrians currently in Egypt and provide them with physical and psychiatric treatment, rather than go to them inside Syria, Naggar said. About 6.3 million people have been displaced and approximately 400,000 people have died since the beginning of the war in 2011. The impact of war includes psychological shocks, a topic of interest to international think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, which indicated that half of the Syrian refugees in Germany suffer from mental illnesses, as 70% of them witnessed incidents of violence. In this context, Ziad Akl, a psychology researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, talked to Al-Monitor about the consequences of post-revolutionary trauma, which affects those who participated in political and military operations. Akl believes that revolutions change the way people perceive society, such as Syrians perceiving that the state is no longer an umbrella of safety or protection, but rather a threat to their very existence. Akl referred to how the Syrian revolution caused mental illnesses, such as chronic depression and not being able to adapt to reality, for a number of Syrians. Akl also praised the Egyptian initiative that provides online treatment, and he stressed how important it is to spread such ideas. We are still dealing with the Arab Spring focusing excessively on the state, while totally ignoring the individual who is a key player in political and social transformations. Therefore, it is important to focus on the citizen who lives the reality of the Arab Spring, he noted. The initiatives main goal is to offer mental support at a time when Syrian citizens need to vent their frustrations, especially amid the absence of mental health clinics in Syria. It is not surprising that the International Medical Corps proposed that mental/psychological treatment is part of health care. In other words, international and regional efforts in the near future may focus on providing psychological treatment to Syrians who were damaged by the war. However, the Egyptian initiative is going to face more challenges, including the continuous need for financial support, the ability to respond to the many complex problems and the ability to reach children and the elderly, who need more psychological support. HS Football: North Penn upsets Pennsbury in instant playoff classic With the game on the line, Dick Beck opted to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt. Timbmet, a supplier and processor of timber and panel product ranges, has been acquired by Hadleigh Timber Group. Timbmet, based in Shellingford, Oxfordshire, was founded in 1942 and now offers a wide range of products, in-house manufacturing capabilities and its own milling facility based in Glasgow. The company will now join Meyer, Panelco and Premium within the Hadleigh Group. In a statement, Hadleigh Timber chairman Martyn Meade said: "Hadleigh considers this acquisition to be a strategic step forward to compliment its existing operations. The main focus of the combined businesses will be to provide customer service at the highest level. "While there will undoubtedly be a period of change I am sure with everyone's cooperation and enthusiasm, we can continue and strengthen the reputation of Timbmet and the Hadleigh Group as a whole." Chris Rudd, the chief executive officer of the Hadleigh Group, will immediately assume management responsibility for Timbmet and its subsidiaries. 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. Healthcare over the last few years is considered as one of the largest sectors in terms of both revenue and employment. While, Indian healthcare sector is predicted to grow $ 280 billion in size by 2020, the country still lags behind due to major problems in accessing medical treatments, high mortality rates, lack of awareness and malnutrition, amongst other. This is mostly due to the patchiness in health care system. The healthcare sector in India is overcrowded with private and public players. Indian healthcare features cluttered hospitals and clinics on one hand and unaffordable hospitals on the other. This difference has created a vacuum in the industry which has further created an evident divide. India's renewable energy sector gains a lot more precedence in this years Union post India ratifying the Paris Climate agreement. Sustainable low carbon electricity generation through renewables will not just help India reduce her emissions intensity by 33 percent - 35 percent from its 2005 levels by 2030, but will enable the country to generate 40 percent electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by then. Outbound acquisitions by Indian have seen a surge in the first month of 2017 after a lull for the past three years. There were only $5.3-billion worth outbound deals, against $30.8-billion inbound last year. In the previous two years, the numbers were worse. Outbound deals stood at $5 billion in 2015 and $1.7 billion in 2104. In keeping with the ongoing trend for hybrids, Bridor plans to bring its Bun n Roll, a croissant/burger-bun hybrid, to the UK market before the end of this year. The Bun n Roll won the much-coveted innovation award at the Sirha 2017 food event in Lyon, France this week. The judges said: Made from a delicious croissant dough, this pastry bun will seduce your guests with its different aspect, its incredible texture and its flavour of butter. It is ideal to create beautiful burgers. Bun n Rolls are anticipated to be available un-baked and oven-ready in packs of 50, and will launch into the UK market before the end of 2017. Erwan Inizan, Bridor sales director UK, Ireland, Nordic and Baltic, told British Baker: Were really excited about the Bun n Roll and are delighted its won this award we anticipate this being the next big thing and cant wait to bring it to the UK. Last week Bridor launched a new line of filled croissants, and has a raft of NPDs planned for the near future. BBC Worldwide and e-commerce major have entered a licensing deal that gives the latters content streaming service in India, Amazon Prime Video access to more than 600 hours of factual and pre-school content from the BBC. Amazon Prime launched in India in July 2016, and launched its Prime Video streaming service in December 2016. Hehigher, a leading Chinese equipment manufacturer, is seeking investment opportunities in India. Chinese look to Vietnam for such tie-ups due to ease of doing business, however, Hehigher is looking for partnerships, joint ventures and even a processing facility in India. Indias natural plantations have attracted other Chinese companies, apart from Hehigher. At least four other Chinese equipment manufacturers that were part of a 70-member delegation at the India Rubber Expo 2017 are looking at India. Indian paper manufacturers are expecting a positive outlook this year, after four years of a challenging business environment because of various measures adopted for improving their efficiencies. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested a former chairman and three former officials of IDBI Bank, along with four former executives of Kingfisher Airlines, in connection with a loan default case. The December quarter results, declared by key consumer goods companies, so far show the Rs 3.2-lakh-crore domestic fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market has borne the brunt of the high-value note ban announced by the government two months ago. Demonetisation has hit consumption demand in rural markets much worse than the urban markets. That is the key reading from the countrys largest consumer staples company Hindustan Unilevers (HUL) results for the December 2016 quarter (Q3). This weakness could also be reflected in other rural-focused consumer companies quarterly results, believe analysts. An employee speaks over his phone as he sits at the front desk inside the office of Ola cab service in Gurugram (Photo: Reuters) Transportation app on Monday said it has appointed former PepsiCo executive Vishal Kaul as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). He succeeds Pranay Jivrajka, Ola's first employee. Jivrajka has now been appointed as Founding Partner and will continue to work closely with Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder and CEO. As COO, Kaul will head Ola's operations, strengthen market leadership, widen the base of its customers and driver-partner fraternity, the cab aggregator said in a statement. Kaul, who has been with PepsiCo since the start of his career in 1999, most recently served as the General Manager of PepsiCo Foods for Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. "I am thrilled about Vishal joining to lead our operations. Vishal's energy is palpable and I have really enjoyed my interactions with him since we began interacting a few months ago. He is a passionate and experienced business leader with a demonstrated ability to drive business towards growth and profitability," Aggarwal said. On Jivrajkas new role, he said: "Pranay has been a partner with Ankit and me in every single brick that has been laid since inception, from 1 booking a day to over a million bookings a day now." "Over the past 6-8 months Pranay has been working with me closely on many key strategic initiatives...This organisational change will enable him to focus on these initiatives much more sharply," he added. Ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry has said the group's profits grew 35 per cent, compounded annually, during his tenure as chief even as the valuation of Tata Sons' portfolio companies beat the BSE index by five per cent. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. Many drivers attached to India's two largest cab aggregators and Ola went off the roads on Monday to protest falling earnings as the two companies dropped fares to compete for customers that led to reduced incentives. Greggs has revealed further shake-ups in its manufacturing structure following news it is to convert its bakery in Birmingham into a distribution centre. Hundreds of jobs are said to be at risk after the business announced it is changing operations at its bakeries at Treforest, Wales and in Cambuslang, near Glasgow. Production of confectionery items including doughnuts are to be transferred from the Treforest site to other regional bakeries over the next two years, with Treforest to focus on sandwich bread production. Workers have been told 90 to 120 jobs are to go over the next 12 months to two years. "We have entered a period of consultation regarding these proposals with our team in Treforest," said a spokesperson for Greggs. Union Usdaw said restructuring at the Clydesmill Bakery, Cambuslang, has put a further 100 jobs at risk as Greggs concentrates production on centres of excellence. Greggs bakery staff are now very concerned about the future after this announcement, said Usdaw national officer Dave Gill, adding the union is entering consultation talks with the company We will interrogate the business case for their proposals, he said. Our priorities are to save as many jobs as possible, maximise employment in the business and seek the best possible deal for our members. Greggs told British Baker is has proposed that Clydesmill becomes a "Combined Distribution and Production Centre of Excellence with increased shop distribution capacity for Scotland and production focused on certain products". News of the Scottish and Welsh plans follows Greggs announcing it will turn its Birmingham bakery into a logistics centre of excellence. Greggs described the move as the next phase of a five-year, 100m investment in its supply chain that was announced in March last year. The business closed its bakery in Twickenham in November and opened a new distribution centre in Enfield, which it said was operating well. Greggs last week announced a 7% increase in group sales in the year to 31 December 2016, which included its 13th consecutive quarter of like-for-like growth. In a trading statement, Greggs said it plans to continue to invest in developing its supply chain in the coming year. The police early Monday morning forcefully evacuated the students who had been protesting at Chennais Marina beach, demanding that the ban imposed on bull-taming sport be permanently lifted. The Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly on Monday passed the (a bull-taming sport) Bill, which upholds the traditions of the state, in the midst of the worst violence and dislocation in Chennai in 30 years. The on Monday asked the Centre to clarify whether the appointment of 1984-batch IPS officer Karnal Singh as full-time Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was according to statuatory requirement. A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to also clarify whether Singh's appointment gave him a two-year tenure according to the provisions of Central Vigilance Commission Act of 2003. The apex court said the apppointment letter issued to Singh on October 27, 2016, says he will cease to hold office the day he superannuates in August 2017. "This does not comply with section 25(d) of CVC Act which fixes the tenure of director of Enforcement Directorate not less than two years. You clarify whether a new appointment letter can be issued to him or not as the appointment till the date of his superannuation is violative of statutory provisions," the bench said. Singh, who was holding the additional charge of the director's post after being granted extension, was appointed a full time director of Enforcement Directorate on October 27, 2016 till August 31, 2017, the date of his superannuation. "A Director of Enforcement shall continue to hold office for a period of not less than two years from the date on which he assumes office," reads section 25 (d) of the CVC Act. Rohatgi sought short time from the court to seek instruction, after which the bench posted the matter for Monday. The apex court had on September 30 last year asked the Centre to give a time frame for appointing a full-time director of the agency which probes money laundering cases. The apex court's direction came on a PIL filed last year by Mumbai-based former IRS officer Uday Babu Khalwadekar, who has sought quashing of ad-hoc appointment and subsequent extensions granted by the Centre to Karnal Singh as head of premier investigation agency, Enforcement Directorate, in "violation" of the law. He had alleged that Singh had been given "ad-hoc extensions from August 2015 till November 2016" in complete contravention of Section 25 (d) of the Central Vigilance Act. Khalwadekar, in his PIL, referred to other provisions of the CVC Act which provides that the Centre shall appoint ED Director on the recommendations of the Committee, which has the CVC as Chairperson and Vigilance Commissioners as members. Referring to the appointment made to the post during the UPA-II regime, Khalwadekar's petition said Rajan Katoch was the last full-time Director appointed in March 2012 and he held office for a term of 3 years till January 30, 2015 and was later given a three-months extension till April 30. Katoch was given ad-hoc extensions till October 31, 2015, it said, adding that on August 19, the ED Director was replaced by another ad-hoc appointee Karnal Singh who is still continuing as a result of several extensions. The ad-hoc extensions and the act of not appointing a permanent Director in ED with a secure minimum tenure is severely compromising functioning of the entire agency itself, the petition said. The Madhya Pradesh government's ambitious ultra mega solar park at Rewa has attracted 20 companies for 10 times the required capacity of 750 MW. ReNew Power and SoftBank promoted SBG Cleantech have bid for all the three units of 250 MW each. India's software sector body, Nasscom, will try to persuade entities such as Google, Facebook and IBM to lobby with the Donald Trump administration to look at a more liberal visa regime. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, whose tenure was to end on January 28, today got a one-year extension. The nod for the extension of his tenure till January 28, 2018 was given by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, official sources said. A 1977-IFS batch officer, Jaishankar was appointed Foreign Secretary on January 29, 2015 just few days before his retirement replacing Sujata Singh, whose term was abruptly curtailed by the government. With Jaishankar getting the extension, many senior diplomats including India's ambassador to Italy Anil Wadhwa (1979-batch) and Secretary (West) Sujata Mehta (1980-batch) will retire without getting a shot at the top position. India's ambassador to China, Vijay Gokhale, seen as one of the main contenders to replace Jaishankar, is retiring in the end of January 2019. And with Jaishankar getting a one-year term, it leaves Gokhale in the race for the top diplomatic position in the External Affairs Ministry. The coming month will also see a number of key appointments in the External Affairs Ministry with Vikas Swarup, Additional Secretary and Spokesperson in the Ministry, on his way to Canada as High Commissioner. He is waiting for his official agreement to come from Ottawa which is likely by the month end. The post is lying vacant after Vishnu Prakash retired in October. Swarup is expected to be replaced by Gopal Baglay, currently looking after (Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan) in the ministry. Baglay has earlier also had a stint in the XP division of the MEA as Director from 2008 to 2010. In first half of 2017, ambassadorial positions will also open up in several key countries including Germany and Nepal. The Tamil Nadu government on Monday said 62 out of the 98 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed with industries during Global Investors Meet (GIM) are in various stages of implementation. Govt lays down specific 'timeline' for completing enquiry against officers and members of All India Services Government has laid down specific timeline for completing enquiry against officers and members of All India Services (AIS) within a given deadline, in a time-bound manner. Giving details about the DoPT (Department of Personnel & Training) decision, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the AIS (D&A) Rules, 1969 have been amended to provide specific timelines at different stages of the enquiry, with a view to complete the disciplinary proceedings against the members of All India Services in a time-bound manner. As per the amended rules, a time limit of six months has been fixed for completion of departmental enquiry and submission of report. In case it is not possible to complete the enquiry within six months for justifiable reasons to be recorded in writing, additional time limit not exceeding six months at one time can be granted by the Disciplinary Authority, thereby ensuring accountability for completion of enquiry. Further, 30 days timeline has been fixed for the delinquent officers to give his representation to the charge-sheet which can be extended to not more than 30 days by the Disciplinary Authority and, in any case, no extension will be provided beyond 90 days. Similarly, a period of 15 days has been provided to send a representation on the advice of UPSC regarding the penalty to be imposed on the delinquent officer and for such representation also, no extension will be provided beyond 45 days. Dr Jitendra Singh said, this amendment in the All India Service Rules has been brought, in keeping with the spirit of the Union Government led by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to bring in more accountability and time-bound completion of every exercise in the course of governance. The new amendment in the Rules, he said, will certainly strengthen the culture of working within deadlines and timelines without showing any slackness. Meanwhile, Chairperson, Uttar Pradesh State Social Welfare Board (UPSSWB), Dr (Ms) Rupal Agarwal today called on Dr Jitendra Singh and provided her assessment about the performance of the various functionaries in the Board. She also brought to the notice of the Minister acts of omission or commission by certain officials. Dr Jitendra Singh took a note of the different issues raised by Dr Rupal Agarwal. He said, the Central Government accords high priority to programmes relating to upliftment of women, children and poor sections of the society. He also assured her that the issues raised by her will be brought to the notice of the concerned quarters. Beatrice police arrested a man accused of strangling a woman he believed had called the police. Shortly before midnight on Thursday, Beatrice Police were called to a residence in the 1400 block of Prairie Avenue for a report that a male was attempting to choke a female. When officers arrived, Dustin P. Dorn, 26, was outside with no shirt on, holding his hands in the air. Officers temporarily detained Dorn while contacting the female inside. Gage County Court documents state the victim had significant and fresh marks along her neck, indicating a significant force was placed around her neck. A Gage County Sheriffs deputy was on the scene, and said he dropped the two off at the residence around 10 minutes earlier after they were contacted along Highway 77 in danger of being hit by cars due to weather conditions. They were offered a ride home, and the deputy said he did not see the marks on the victim, court records state. The victim said Dorn allegedly became suddenly angry with the her, thinking she had called the police on him when they were picked up. He allegedly grabbed her throat to the point where she could not breathe. The female fought away, locked herself in the bathroom and called police. Dorn allegedly ripped the door from the frame and dragged her to the kitchen, where he punched her twice in the head. Dorn was transported to the Lincoln Bridge Detox Center for observation due to high levels of intoxication. He appeared in Gage County Court Monday where bond was set at $7,500 with a 10 percent deposit. His next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7. National Girl Child Day to be celebrated at a special function organized by WCD Ministry in New Delhi tomorrow The National Girl Child Day will be celebrated tomorrow at a special function organized by the Ministry of Women & Child Development in New Delhi in the light of exemplary achievements by nations daughters during 2016. With a commendable performance at the Olympics and Paralympics and a historic induction of the first female fighter pilots into the Indian Air Force, it has truly been a proud year for India. Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister of Women & Child Development and Smt. Krishna Raj, Minister of State for Women & Child Development will be addressing the audience. The occasion shall be marked by release of The National Plan of Action for Children 2016. Special addresses shall be given by eminent speakers including Women Secretaries in the Government of India, Ms Avani Chaturvedi (Women Fighter Pilot), Ms Arunima Sinha (First women amputee to climb Mount Everest), Ms. Deepa Malik (Silver medalist at Rio Paralympics 2016) and Ms Shanno (Editor, Badhte Kadam). The event will also witness a speech by Ms Shanno who is a former street girl and advisor of Balaknama newspaper for and by street children. The occasion will be marked by felicitating 10 districts under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme for their exemplary performance. The winners of regional level quiz competition organized for girl students across various Kendriya Vidyalaya schools in Delhi on the theme of Empowerment of Girl Child shall also be awarded tomorrow. The event will also see regional performance by professional troupes of Song and Drama Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. PM Congratulates Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on taking over as Prime Minister of Mauritius . The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on the telephone with Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth a short while ago to congratulate him on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Mauritius. . . Prime Minister Jugnauth thanked the Prime Minister for the telephone call. . . The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Jugnauth affirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen the time-tested and unique relationship between India and Mauritius. . . The Prime Minister also appreciated the leadership and contribution of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to strengthening the strong bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius. . . More than a million people who turned out on Saturday for womens marches in all 50 states have put down their placards, taken off their pink hats and ended their chants after what was an extraordinary display of dissent against the Trump presidency. US President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning. A former army intelligence operative, Manning was sentenced by court martial in 2013 to 35 years imprisonment for espionage crimes relating to the mass leaking of military and diplomatic material. President Donald Trump abruptly ended the decades-old US tilt toward free trade by signing an executive order to withdraw from an Asia-Pacific accord that was never ratified and promising to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). Great thing for the American worker, what we just did, Trump said on Monday after signing an order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) accord with 11 other nations. He didnt sign any actions to direct a renegotiation of the Nafta accord with Mexico and Canada, yet he said on Sunday he ... With a stroke of a pen, President on Monday unravelled the Trans-Pacific Partnership, withdrawing the US from the controversial free-trade pact. Without Washingtons participation, the TPP would have to be renegotiated or scrapped altogether. The largest global trade agreement in 20 years, the TPP would have included the US, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. It was championed by former President Barack Obama as a way to open Asian markets for American goods and create a trade bloc to counter China. Opposition to the TPP was one of the key planks of Trump's presidential campaign, with the billionaire businessman calling the trade pact a "potential disaster" for the US. He said he would prefer bilateral trade deals with individual TPP countries instead. Monday's executive order signaled the new administration's determination to address its priorities quickly. Trump has also targeted the North American Free Trade Association, which eliminated commercial barriers between the US, Canada and Mexico during the Clinton administration. If Wilbur Ross gets the Senate confirmation to head the Department of Commerce, he will be charged with renegotiating the trade deals, alongside US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and chief of the newly established White House Trade Council, Peter Navarro. "We are going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on immigration and on security at the border," Trump said on Sunday, after the swearing-in ceremony for senior White House staff. Trump's animosity for the TPP was shared by some of the Democrats, led by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. His rival in the November 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, initially supported the trade pact. On Monday, Trump assembled chief executives of major US corporations at the White House and promised to lower the tax and regulatory burden on doing business within the country. His administration will be scrapping free trade in favour of fair trade, he said. "The regulations are going to be cut massively, and the taxes will be cut with them," Trump said, warning that those who relocate factories will face a "substantial border tax. Donald Trumps inauguration speech had one simple message: America first. His was an inward-looking vision of the future in which America would set about regaining all that has been stolen from it. The anxiety began well before the Cleveland convention, where the candidate of the Forgotten Men, the one who declared Americans the greatest Race on the face of this old Earth, seemed likely to clinch his partys presidential nomination. Doremus Jessup, the protagonist of Sinclair Lewiss 1935 novel It Cant Happen Here, sees something dark and terrible brewing in American politics the potential for a real fascist dictatorship led by the up-and-coming populist candidate Berzelius Windrip. Friends scoff at this extravagant concern. That couldnt happen here in America, not possibly! they assure him. But Jessup, a small-town Vermont newspaper editor and a mild, rather indolent and somewhat sentimental liberal, worries about the devastation ahead. What can I do? he agonises night after night. Oh write another editorial viewing-with-alarm, I suppose! Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he believed U S President understood the value of free trade and that he would keep pitching a multinational trade pact that Trump's administration has vowed to exit. "I believe President Trump understands the importance of free and fair trade, so I'd like to pursue his understanding on the strategic and economic importance of the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) trade pact," Abe told a session of Parliament's lower house. Abe also said he wanted to strengthen the U S-Japan security alliance, based on mutual trust with Trump. "When we met last time, I believed him to be trustworthy, this belief has not changed today," Abe added, referring to his November meeting with then-president-elect Trump. Abe also said Tokyo wanted to explain how its companies have contributed to the U S economy, a stance the Japanese government has adopted to try to fend off threats of a "border tax" on imports into the United States. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said separately that Tokyo would closely monitor any impact of the new U S administration's policies on its companies and that he wanted to deepen economic ties between the two countries. Trump took office as the 45th president of the U S on Friday and pledged to end what he called an "American carnage" of rusted factories and crime in an inaugural address that was a populist and nationalist rallying cry. The new Trump administration said on Friday its trade strategy to protect American jobs would start with withdrawal from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact. The trade deal, which the United States signed but has not ratified, was a pillar of former president Barack Obama's pivot to Asia, and Abe has touted it as an engine of economic reform, as well as a counterweight to a rising China. NORFOLK - Northeast Community College in Norfolk has released the Presidents Honor List and Deans Honor List for both full and part-time students for the Fall 2016 Semester. To be named to the Presidents Honor List, students must earn a perfect grade point average of 4.0 and be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Some 157 students made the Presidents Full-time Honor List this fall semester. Students named to the Deans Honor List must have earned a grade point average of 3.75 or above and be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Two hundred-fifteen students were named to the Deans Honor List. Another 145 students named to the Presidents Part-Time list attained a 4.0 grade point average while taking at least six credit hours, and 67 students named to the Deans Part-Time list earned a grade point average of 3.75 or above while taking at least six credit hours. Northeast serves residents in 20 counties in Northeast Nebraska. PRESIDENTS HONOR LIST - Full-Time, Fall 2016 Following is a list of students, and their respective hometowns, named to the Presidents Honor List for full-time students for the Fall 2016 Semester at Northeast Community College. These students earned a 4.0 grade point for at least 12 hours. Nebraska Beatrice - Lindsey Durman Crete - Rachel Betke Dawson - Emily Gonnella DEANS HONOR LIST-Full-time, Fall 2016 The following is a list of students, and their respective hometowns, named to the Deans Honor List for full-time students for the Fall 2016 Semester at Northeast Community College. These students attained a grade point average of 3.75 for the semester while being enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Nebraska Beatrice - Jadrien Long, Connor Lusk PRESIDENTS HONOR LISTPart-time, Fall 2016 The following is a list of students, and their respective hometowns, named to the Presidents Honor List for part-time students for the Fall 2016 Semester at Northeast Community College. These students attained a perfect grade point average of 4.0 for the semester while being enrolled for at least six credit hours. Nebraska Hickman - Kendra Hagberg DEANS HONOR LIST-Part-time, Fall 2016 No one from our area listed. The initial public offer of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Limited, or BSE Limited, opens today for subscription. The exchange aims to raise up to Rs 1,243 crore from the IPO, which is priced at Rs 805 806 apiece. The shareholders will sell 15.43 million shares, estimated to be around Rs 1,243.44 crore at the higher end of the price band. Also Read: BSE: A Journey in Time The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is likely to issue an order against Anglo-Dutch liquor maker Diageo and United Spirits for violation of the takeover code. The arrest of a Pakistani woman in Jeddah's Al-Naseem district during a security operation on Saturday has raised the number of Pakistanis detained for involvement in terror activities to 69. Fatima Ramadan Balochi Murad was arrested along with her Saudi husband from an apartment in Al-Naseem district by security agencies following a tip-off, according to a Saudi Gazette report. Last July, a Pakistani terrorist named Abdullah Qalzar Khan blew himself up near the Solaiman Fakeih Hospital in Jeddah. Security authorities arrested 49 Pakistani residents and have been interrogating them since July. A terrorism operation attempt was also foiled last October in Jeddah. It involved two Pakistanis - Solaiman Arab Deen and Farman Naqshaband Khan. They had planned to carry out blasts in the Al-Jowhara Stadium. A recent Interior Ministry statement issued through its Tawasul (communications) portal said that 5,085 terror suspects from 40 countries are under detention in five intelligence prisons in the kingdom. "There are 4,254 Saudis detained in intelligence prisons constituting the largest number of suspects. The Saudis are followed by 282 Yemenis and 218 Syrians. There are three suspects from the US and one each from France, Belgium and Canada," the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will be on a three-day official visit to India tomorrow during which he will attend the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. The Crown Prince will be accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on January 25 following which he will lay wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at the Raj Ghat. The Crown Prince will in the afternoon meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House here following there will be exchange of agreements between both sides. Later in the evening, he will meet Vice President Hamid Ansari at hotel Leela Palace here and then call on President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will emplane for Abu Dabhi after witnessing the Republic Day parade on January 26. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the massive protests, across parts of Tamil Nadu, for a permanent resolution for conduction of Jallikattu, several actors, activists and politicians have taken to the streets to raise their voices for Jallikattu. Among them is actor Kamal Hassan. In a series of tweets, Hassan encouraged peaceful protests and asked Tamilians to keep at it. Kamal tweeted, "Remember each party has a TV channel in TN to bias news. Glean your wisdom from each other and the web. Keep nonviolence intact. You'll win". In another tweet he said, "The people who have been protesting so far must maintain dignity of their movement as a slight distraction from the movement might harm those who have been protesting in support of Jallikattu". Also, condemning the Allanganallur incident, Hassan tweeted, "The recent violence in Allanganallur is a black mark in the history of non-violence". Boasting of Tamil Nadu's history of stirring revolutions, he posted, "The manifesto for civil disobedience movement was drafted in Madras 1930. Again it is successfully enacted in TamilNadu 2017". When jallikattu saw violence and death of two bull vaulters in Tamil Nadu, filmstar Kamal Hassan took on the PETA activists for opposing the traditional sport and getting it banned. In a tweet, Kamal Haasan said, "PETA go ban bull riding rodeos in Mr. Trump's U.S. You're not qualified to tackle our bulls. Empires have been made to quit India." Earlier in the day, violence broke out in Chennai and a few other places in Tamil Nadu after police started evicting pro-Jallikattu protesters on Monday morning. A group of about 50 protesters set Ice House police station on fire. Around 15 bikes parked in front of the police station also went up in flames. The protesters hurled stones at the police station, and at least 22 policemen were injured in the violence. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam tweeted and informed that Jallikattu is now permanent as an Act and the bill has been passed unanimously in Tamil Nadu Assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Addressing a large crowd of Pashtun supporters on the occasion of the death anniversaries of Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and his son Khan Abdul Wali Khan, and days after a bomb blast claimed the lives of 25 people in Parchinar, Awami National Party (ANP) president Asfandyar Wali Khan urged the Pakistan government to take political parties into confidence on revival of military courts in the country. He also called for a multiparty conference on the same, reports the Dawn. Khan talked about various national and regional issues affecting the region and its people. He called for constitutional amendments to provide special grants for tribal areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan warned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he would not be able to run away to Jeddah this time if he failed to fulfill his promise of giving the province its due share of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He sought for documentary proof of CPEC-related projects planned for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the ANP would not be satisfied if these documents were not signed by the Chinese authorities. The ANP president further said that his party would contest the next general election with a new manifesto. Khan pointed out that the provincial and federal governments adopted a discriminatory attitude towards the Bacha Khan University by failing to send their representatives to attend the recently observed first anniversary of a brutal terrorist attack on its students and staff. "Neither the chief minister nor the provincial senior minister hailing from Charsadda district attended the anniversary to acknowledge the sacrifice of the university's students and staff," he regretted. Khan said his party would accept the Supreme Court's verdict on the the Panama Papers case. He said ANP understands the pain felt by families of the victims of terrorism as the party had lost several workers to terrorism. "But their sacrifices have not gone to waste as military operations have hit the terrorists hard," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday expressed confidence about the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress alliance for the Uttar Pradesh elections. "The Bicycle will speed away, as the Hand keeps it steady. No Lotus will bloom as the Elephant steps on it. 1917: a year of cheer and hope," he tweeted. Later, he corrected the tweet, "Sorry. Should be 2017." On Sunday, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said his party has rolled out a balanced manifesto and will fulfil all promises mentioned. "I am very sure that this alliance will strengthen our position in the Uttar Pradesh elections. We will win 300 plus seats and form a government here. We will fulfil all the promises we have mentioned in our manifesto," said Agarwal. Putting all speculations to rest, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party has finally forged an alliance for the high-voltage Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. The Congress, which wanted to contest as many as 121 seats, has reportedly now settled for 105 seats. Uttar Pradesh will vote in seven phases beginning February 11 and results will be announced on March 11. Launching a frontal attack on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his unwarranted criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday reached out to the voters in Goa while highlighting his party's development agenda. "Recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked PM Modi what he has given to the country in the last two-and-a-half years. I would like to answer him in place of Modi ji. Firstly, we have given the nation a Prime Minister who can speak and you had given a leader whose voice could be heard nowhere except in front of you and your mother," he added. Addressing a rally in the poll-bound state, Shah alleged that the Congress is synonymous with corruption and the people must vote for stability and development. Shah said, "The elections are touted as a contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. If the BJP comes to power, there would be stability and development in the state. If the Congress wins again, there will again be corruption all around." "The people of Goa have to choose between development and corruption. And I have faith the people won't falter," he added. Praising the incumbent Chief Minister Laxmikant Parserkar, Shah blamed the Congress rule for the stunted growth of the mining industry in the state. He said, "Parserkar ji has given so much to the state. And when the Congress was the ruling party, it gave so many scandals to Goa that the development of the state had almost stopped. The development of the state depends on its mining industry. It's because of the Congress government that the mining industry of the state was in shatters." Shah also lauded Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. He said, "The department which has worked the most in Modi ji's rule is Parrikar's. Surgical strikes are the true introduction to the BJP government. When a strong political will, leadership and military prowess come together, then only can the borders of the nation remain terror-free." "For the last 40 years, people had been complaining about One Rank One Pension (OROP) and nobody paid heed. But when the BJP came into power in 2014, they gave a nod to OROP. Till now, Rs. 8,000 crore have been disbursed to their account," Shah added. Highlighting the development works done by the BJP government in the last five years in the state, Shah said he was amazed by the Laadli Laxmi Yojana and has seen no other scheme which compares to it. He also said if people want more reasons to vote for the BJP, they should compare the Goa of the present with that of the Goa that existed five years ago. Shah also remarked that demonetisaton of the high-end currency notes was an excellent move to curb black money in the nation and alleged other parties like the Congress of insecurity. "The BJP government has waged a war against the black money in the nation. Earlier, everybody wanted something to be done to curb black money, but when finally demonetisation was brought, these people started whining," he said. Ahead of the assembly polls in Goa, the BJP is bringing its senior leaders to the forefront to hit the election campaign with the slogan 'Once Again BJP'. Other senior leaders including Chief Minister Parserkar, BJP Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar and Parrikar are also expected to address rallies in different cities of the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leader Venkaiah Naidu are also scheduled to address public meetings. The BJP has fielded candidates in 36 constituencies and has extended support to Independents on four seats. Goa goes to polls on February 4. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US researchers have identified a molecule required for immune cells to enter the joints that could lead to new treatment approaches for inflammatory arthritis. Researchers of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found that that tracking immune cells can assist in identification of inflammatory arthritis. The findings indicate that specific molecule - complement C5a - is required to cause the immune cells called neutrophils to adhere to joint surfaces and migrate into the joint, a process known to set off the inflammatory cascade. The study, published in the journal of Science Immunology, has identified the initial steps leading to joint inflammation in a model of inflammatory arthritis. "Inflammatory arthritis is caused when immune cells are recruited from the blood into the joint in a highly regulated process controlled by chemoattractants and adhesion receptors," said senior author Andrew Luster. "But when the disease has become symptomatic, it is difficult to determine the initial steps that set off the recruitment of immune cells into the joint and the specific roles of the different chemoattractants," Luster added. To better determine the role of specific chemoattractants in type III hypersensitivity, lead author Yoshishige Miyabe, used multiphoton intravital microscopy - an imaging technology for studying immune cell movements in living animals. The results revealed that the presence of ICs within the joint space induces the generation of complement C5a, a component of the innate immune system, which is then displayed on the inner walls of adjacent blood vessels. C5a directly initiates the adherence of neutrophils to the vessel walls through interaction with the C5a receptor on neutrophils, which then pass into the joint space and set off the inflammation. "The control of immune cell entry into the joint represents a major point at which new therapies could be developed to reduce the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis," Luster stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The awards season has kick-started and so is the excitement of 'Slumdog Millionaire' fame Dev Patel. Even after getting nominated for 'Best Supporting Actor' at Golden Globes and the upcoming BAFTA for his movie 'Lion,' Dev feels that he still hasn't given himself the tag of a hero, reports the Independent. "I wrote a piece in my diary about the word hero, because you know the Bollywood stars when they are in public in India people call them hero, so they would call out hero to me, and I'm like, I wrote this thing in my diary about feeling less like a hero than ever before," he said in a recent interview. The 26-year-old actor feels that he is not the real hero of the movie and considers himself as a supporting actor, because large portion the movie shows how his character, Saroo, gets separated from his family at the age of five. He feels, the actor, playing the role of young Saroo, is the real hero of the movie. "Most of the screen time is Sunny," he said, adding, "He leads for over an hour. When my part comes in, you're also flashing back to him. I guess for marketing purposes I'm on the posters. But that's no detriment to him, because he is amazing. An impossible act to follow actually." Dev even felt Sunny was "mesmerizing" in his role. He even shared that he was excited to work with Nicole Kidman, who plays his mother in the flick. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 2017 Beatrice Public Library Book Discussion will be co-sponsored with Homestead National Monument of America featuring books from the Nebraska 150 Books project. Committee members from the Board of the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors recommended a list of 150 titles selected as a way to celebrate Nebraskas 150th birthday. A shorter list of 42 titles is the focus of a reading program that will end on March 1, 2017, Statehood Day. More information about Nebraska 150 Books can be found at www.Nebraska150Books.org . The first selection will be Hams, Eggs and Corn Cake; A Nebraska Territory Diary by Erastus f. Beadle. It will be discussed on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Sargent Conference Room at the Beatrice Public Library. This book was originally published in 1923 with the title To Nebraska In 57 which helps explain its selection as the initial title in the series. It predates Nebraskas Statehood by ten years and also parallels the founding of both Beatrice and Blue Springs. Participants can read about activities in an area north of Omaha City and at the book discussion, they will be able to hear about events that happened at the same time in Gage County Mr. Beadle created a remarkable record of his impressions of Nebraska Territory. It is recognized as both an informative and entertaining account of early days in this state. The discussion will be lead by Laureen Riedesel, a member of the Nebraska 150 Book Committee. Copies of the book can be borrowed from the Beatrice Public Library. Actor Rajinikanth on Monday asked protestors, who are protesting the ban of bull-taming sport, Jallikattu to end their protest as some 'miscreants' are trying to hijack the protest and bring a bad name to them. Taking to social media, the superstar wrote a page in Tamil, calling on protesters to end their protest. The actor came out in favour of the bull-taming sport along with music composer A R Rahman and other top Tamil actors four days ago. Amid protest over the bull-taming sport, the Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Jallikattu Bill. The Bill was earlier was tabled in the assembly for approval. Protests in support of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu turned violent today as the police physically removed thousands of protesters at Chennai's Marina Beach, in Madurai and in Coimbatore. Clashes through the day blocked the Old Mahabalipuram Road that is called Chennai's IT corridor, home to IT offices and engineering colleges. Protesters alleged that the police used force and women were injured. Cars were set on fire outside a police station near the beach. The police blamed the violence on 'anti-social elements' insinuating themselves in the crowd. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two chunks of land, measuring 175 acres each have been provided to a Chinese company by the Government of Pakistan for the USD1.57 billion Matiari-Lahore 660kV High Voltage Direct Current transmission line power project. The China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company Ltd (CET), a company owned by the State Grid Corporation of China, has been given possession of these land after the National Transmission Dispatch Company Limited (NTDCL) acquired it from landowners, reports the Dawn. Of these lands, one is located about 50kilometres from Lahore near Balloki, Bhaipheru, and the second one is situated within the jurisdiction of Matiari, a small town in country's Hyderabad district. The Matiari-Lahore transmission line will have the capacity to transmit about 4,000MW of power and is the country's first mega the direct current (DC) project. The power project is a part of the USD 51 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project's civil work is expected to be inaugurated in March this year as preparatory work on the part of the contractor is still underway. Ministry of Water and Power official said, "We have completed the land acquisition for two mega converter stations of the project that will be built near Balloki (Bhaipheru, Lahore). And, we have also handed over control of the Lahore land to the Chinese firm. The possession of land in Hyderabad is likely to be completed soon." The alternate current (AC), received from the plants in AC mode, will be converted into DC (direct current) by the convertor station to be built in Hyderabad for the onward transmission in the same mode through the line. Electricity would be received in DC by the Lahore convertor station and then it will convert it into AC for its onward supply to consumers through other AC lines of 500kV and 220kV. The official added that the land acquisition for passing of the transmission line through various areas on the way such as Hyderabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Hasilpur, Vehari, Sahiwal, Kasur and Lahore is likely to start soon as agreements between Pakistan and China had almost finalised in the wake of respective memorandums of understandings. "This project will be completed on a fast track basis. And initiation of civil work of the two convertor stations in the days to come hints that the project will be completed in October, 2019, as per deadline," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan will host the 13th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in March this year. The ECO held its last summit in 2012 and now it is Pakistan's turn to host the meeting, reports the Daily Times. The member states of the organisation are Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The official website says Pakistan will host summit on March 1. Iran is the leading member of the group. ECO is a Eurasian political and economic intergovernmental organization which was founded in 1985 in Tehran by the leaders of Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade and investment opportunities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who distributed Bravery Awards to twenty five children here on Monday, urged them to be familiar with every corner of the country to realise the dream of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'. Addressing the awardees, Prime Minister Modi said that they should consider their achievements as a beginning and not the end. He also asked the children to adopt the habit of reading. The coveted Bharat award has been conferred on eight-year-old Late Kumari Tarh Peju of Arunachal Pradesh who sacrificed her life while saving two of her friends from drowning. The prestigious 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 by helping the police and NGO in uncovering an international sex racket leading to the arrest of the mastermind in Delhi. The Sanjay Chopra award has been given to 15-year-old Sumit Mamgain of Uttarakhand who displayed outstanding bravery in fighting a leopard to save his cousin. The awardees receive a medal, certificate and cash. The Indian Council for Child Welfare has given awards to 945 brave children which include 669 boys and 276 girls, since the inception of the Bravery Award Scheme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan's 'Raees' promotion by train turned fatal on Tuesday as one of his fans died in Gujarat's Vadodara. Another person who is injured has been rushed to a hospital for immediate treatment. While the actor did not step down from the train, choosing to wave at the crowds and urged them to watch the film on a loudspeaker, fans in Vadodara swarmed the railway platforms since several hours before the scheduled arrival of the train. The two fans were injured in the crowd which had gathered to get a glimpse of the 'Dilwale' actor at the Vadodara Railway Station. The police baton-charged the fans who had assembled to see their favourite hero. On arriving in Surat, Shah Rukh had tweeted, "Thank u Gujarat. This is so beautiful. Thanks for waiting for Raees Surat." Shah Rukh had last boarded a train to Mumbai from Delhi as a young budding artiste with starry dreams, and yesterday got onto a train to Delhi once again -- this time as a star to promote his film. Ditching the usual air travel to go to a city for film promotion, Shah Rukh -- who is known for his marketing ideas -- took a train to Delhi to promote 'Raees' -- which will hit the screens on January 25. Scotland bowler Mark Watt has received an official reprimand for breaching Level one of the ICC Code of Conduct during their 98-run defeat in the semi-finals of the Desert T20 Challenge against Ireland in Dubai on Friday. Watt was found to have breached Article 2.1.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match". In addition to the sanction imposed for his breach of Article 2.1.5, one demerit point has been added to Watt's disciplinary record. "Pursuant to Article 7.6 of the Code, if Watt reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, his demerit points will be converted into, at least, two suspension points which will equate to a ban from his next match or matches. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player,"the ICC said in a statement. The incident happened in the 16th over of the Scotland innings, when Watt, after being adjudged lbw, showed his bat to the umpire to indicate that he had hit the ball first. Following the match, Watt admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by ICC Regional Referee David Jukes. As such, there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Ahmed Shah Pakteen and Buddhi Pradhan and third official Tabarak Dar. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a warning, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday released its third list of 37 candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will contest from Mubarakpur constituency while his sister-in-law Aparna Yadav will contest from Lucknow Cantonment. Ravidas Mehrotra will be fighting from Lucknow Central and Abhishek Mishra will lock horns from Lucknow . The fresh list comes a day after the Samajwadi Party finally sealed deal with the Congress for the high-voltage electoral battle. The Samajwadi Party had earlier released two lists, containing 268 names. The nomination for the first phase of polling ends on January 21. Uttar Pradesh goes to polls on February 11. The 121st birth anniversary of the revolutionary leader of India's War of Independence, Subhas Chandra Bose, was celebrated in Agartala and in other parts of the country. The main programme was organised by students of the Netaji Subash Vidya Niketan School. A colouful rally was brought out to depict mainly Subhash Chandra Bose's ideology and his involvement with the freedom struggle, the cosmopolitan society of India and the prevailing evils which are a curse to mankind. Hundreds of school students, different organisations and clubs participated in the rally that went through the streets of Agartala. Spectators lined both sides of the road during the event. Subhas Bose, more popularly known as 'Netaji' (beloved leader), was born in a refined Bengali family of Cuttack, Orissa. He was the catalyst in sowing the seeds of independent India and revolutionary ideals. Inspired by the call of Mahatma Gandhi's Khadi Movement, Netaji, however, was not fully convinced that civil disobedience alone would be enough to gain India freedom. He believed that the armed revolution was the answer and was the Commander-in-Chief of the Volunteer Corps that declared an open war against the British rulers of India. In 1943, he organised the Indian Army (I.N.A) and fought shoulder to shoulder against the allied forces in Burma and on the eastern front of India and also fought alongside Japanese forces in the Malayan peninsula in World War II. The rally depicted India's freedom movement with emphasis on Subash Bose's role, India's unity in the diverse, demonetisation, surgical attack, disasters, militancy, existing taboos in the society, and other socio-cultural subjects. Anupam Sarma, a student of standard nine, who dressed up like Subash Bose, said, "Today is the 121st birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and I dressed like him. Students of my class are depicting the attack on the British by Netaji during the procession." Meantime, another student Debolina Mazumder, who has dressed like a Muslim woman, said: "Hindus, Muslims and all humans are realizing that we should get differentiated on the basis of religion and which leads to communal fight, so here it is a small initiative by us against this." While her friend Debolina Roy added, "We are all aware of the fact that today is Netaji's birdhay and our school has been established on the ideology of his. Like earlier years on this occation we are taking out a rally and we are depicting here our diverse culture the unity and spreading this message." Hundred of proud Indians also paid tribute to their hero Netaji who founded the Indian Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to drive the British rulers out of India. The Azad Hind flag fluttered along with the national tricolour on this day to remember the hero. The programme was inaugurated by Tripura's Education Minister Tapan Chakraboty in presence of other dignitaries. The procession to celebrate the birthday of Subash Bose in Agartala started back in the year 1950 and got government recognition in 1980. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has asserted its commitment to countering the threat of extremism and foreign terrorist violence and finding solutions for it. Maqsoud Kruse, the Executive Director of Hedayah, the Abu Dhabi-based International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), has said that the issue of countering the phenomenon of foreign terrorist violence will take more than two years to work on. He said the administration is working at the moment to develop Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) national strategy. "When we talk about CVE, we talk about prevention, we talk about community engagement, and when we talk about community actors whether it is women, families, parents. When we talk about community policing, we talk about community leaders, religious leaders cultural leaders all forms of engaging the society because at the end of the day where all are part of the solution," Kruse told ANI. Citing the bizarre situation of young men and women being recruited and attracted to join terrorist group, he said that unfortunately they go through the process of radicalization and end up in killing people or killing their own selves. He further said that they need to understand this phenomenon as to how these people go through this process and what actually it means. Kruse said that these fighters become a solution on returning back to their homes as they have seen the atrocities and they have seen the contradiction with the ideas of these groups as there idea is nothing but words which don't have any meaning or reality. He emphasized on the need to deradicalize the fighters who have succeeded in returning back to their homes and the way to integrate them back into the societies. "When they become the solution and want to go back to the home and when they actually succeed in going back, we have to know what to do with them, can we deradicalize them or integrate them into societies," Kruse said. He said that it need to be thought that what administration has do with the children who are being recruited by terrorists groups like Daesh and Boko Haram, whether to go with a normal juvenile rehabilitation center or to create something different for them. On the role of education, Kruse said that wrong system of education will lead to wrong results. He said extremism starts with an idea and that idea needs to be tackled. Kruse said these ideas trigger emotional response and that emotional response lead to certain behavior which is called as terrorism and act of fine extresim as well. Highlighting the role of community engagement as extremely important, he said the organisation recently produced couple of publications for the role of women in countering extremism. He also talked about the role which religious leaders can play in contributing towards different things that the administration was doing. Kruse pointed out the power of the families in the protection and prevention of youth from fine extremism and how to utilize this. He said communication and counter narratives are extremely important to understand the propaganda, the unfortunate powerful machinery behind certain group like Daesh, who use online media platforms to their advantage. The adminstration has taken multiple initiatives and steps in this regards and we are working closely with Facebook on bring some young innovators who can help in generating innovative ideas," he said. Kruse said that they have produced several guides and manuals on countering extremism in south East Asia that was sponsored by office of attorney general of Australia and also in collaboration with Indonesia. "We have created counter narrative library to connect the experts, the practitioners and people who want to join are movement on the virtual platform that we have created where we use specific products and videos to deal with the issue in long term," he said. He said recently a FTF catalogue was launched, a work place portal that allows to see the activities, efforts and initiatives of the country which have contributed to dealing with foreign terrorist fighters. Kruse praised the European Union for providing 5 million Euros to support 40 programs over the next three years. "We are working directly with different NGOs in part of central Asia through strive global initiative who identify the challenges in their respective countries and they require our support to specifically deal with their challenges," he said. Kruse said that they are dealing with multidimensional type of threats and challenges which requires a different type of approach. He said videos of former fighters and extremists can be used to convey their message to the youths that they had committed a mistake in joining these terrorist groups. Kruse also suggested of providing an alternative to the fighters who are returning back to their homes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mother of two Blake Lively, one amongst many Hollywood celebs, who took to streets and attended the "sister marches" and Women's March on D.C., recently took to social media to pen down her experience. In a heartfelt message, Lively expressed that her march wasn't driven by hate. "I marched for my daughters, for my friends, for strangers, for myself, for Phoebe here in this picture who I met as she motivated everyone she came across. My march wasn't driven by hate," posted 'The Shallow' star along with a snap. She added, "It was rooted in a very simple fact-- we are all equal. I believe everyone can agree on that. Thank you to everyone who marched all over the world. I felt so hopeful and deeply grateful. #whyimarch. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Peru Military Friendly, a division of Victory Media, has again named Peru State College as a Military Friendly School. This is Peru States sixth year to earn this recognition. Military Friendly is a nationally recognized hallmark for success in education for veterans and active duty military. Military Friendly surveys veteran and active military students to measure their on-the-ground experience at participating schools. Only 1273 of the 4000 or more colleges and universities nationwide met or surpassed the surveys criteria to earn the Military Friendly distinction for 2017. Peru State President Dan Hanson said, I encourage members of the military and their families to experience first-hand the hallmarks of a Peru State education personalized attention, relevant coursework and flexible programming. MilitaryFriendly.com adds about Peru State College, With one of the most comprehensive credit transfer programs in the state and the opportunity to earn life experience credit, military members may be closer than they think to achieving a college degree at either the bachelors or masters level. Online and hybrid course work make it easy for military members to complete a degree anywhere in the world at their own pace; thus utilizing the financial benefits provided for service men and women by our country. Deann Bayne, Director of Student Records at Peru State College said, Peru State College has a proud tradition of offering a convenient path to higher education for veterans, members of the military, their spouses and dependents. Reasonable transfer of credit policies, credit for military training, life experience credit and affordable tuition make earning a degree at Peru State College a reality. We are honored to serve those who have served! Potential students are urged to visit peru.edu or call (800) 742-4412 to learn more about what Peru State College can do to help them reach their potential. On a frightful night in November 2007, controversial writer Taslima Nasrin was juggling with authorities in the Pink City, unsure of what lay ahead and very concerned about her security. Multiple fatwas saw the Bangladeshi writer being moved from Kolkata to Jaipur but one sinister night, etched forever in her memoir, also saw the city of Jaipur refusing to accept her. A decade on, the clock has turned full circle. Monday must have been an extraordinary day as the Pink City embraced Nasrin with open arms when she arrived here at the Jaipur Literature Festival for a surprise session on her book, "Exile". As the magnificent Diggi Palace turned into a fortress with security staff on their toes, a battalion of police and firefighters stationed at the entrance, most visitors could sense that something was brewing. In the end, Nasrin not only attended her session but also won the love of the city which once refused to accept her. In conversation with Salil Tripathi, the chair of the Writers-in-Prison Committee of PEN International, Nasrin said: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life. Nasrin said that Muslim women are "oppressed" and that uniform civil law is the need of the hour to protect their rights. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against a uniform civil law? Is not having a uniform civil law democratic," she asked. "A uniform civil law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why are they not ready to accept criticism. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she maintained. "Why shouldn't Muslim women have the same rights? Is it democracy? Encouraging fundamentalists and misogynists from any side is neither democratic nor secular. I am against all kinds of fundamentalists. "Without serious criticism of Islam, you will not be able to make Islamic countries secular. The women will continue to suffer and be oppressed," she said. More than many, Nasrin should know what suffering and oppression is all about. On November 21, 2007 violence had erupted in Kolkata after a protest against the writer turned into large-scale rioting, prompting the army to be called out to restore order. The city came to a rude, screeching halt as a virulent mob of religious fanatics took to the streets. Armed with a fatwa from their ideologues, the mob demanded that Nasrin leave the city immediately. Nasrin was then asked by the authorities to leave the city. "There is nothing to think of. You have to leave (Kolkata) as soon as possible," Nasrin was told, according to her memoir, by the then Kolkata Police Commissioner after an almost two-hour conversation. It was then decided by the authorities that she should move to Jaipur. Several states in India had already refused to allow Nasrin in . Much against her will, she decided to move to Jaipur as the authorities assured her of both safety as well as good hospitality in the Pink City. Barely hours after she had arrived in Jaipur, the police officers informed her that she was not safe and that she had to move to a safer place. What followed was the sinister night when Nasrin felt as if she was being kidnapped. The verification of police officers were not confirmed. The drivers changed on the mid-way and even the vehicle was changed. She was then informed that she was being shifted to New Delhi, which actually happened. A part of the memoir also deals with her struggles in Jaipur on that sinister night. Nasrin mentions that she was a "victim of vote bank politics" and that the then Rajasthan government, also led by the current Chief M Vasundhara Raje, did not want to trouble its Muslim vote bank in Rajasthan and other Indian states. Cut to the preset. The Jaipur Literature Festival organisers did not reveal her presence before her session. She came, she saw, she conquered and she disappeared in no time. Picture perfect! (Saket Suman is in Jaipur at the invitation of Teamwork arts. He can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in) --IANS ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Ali Fazal has enrolled his nieces and cousins in self-defence classes. It all started when Ali's cousin in London took up martial arts. He was then driven to enrol his relatives in Lucknow and Allahabad to learn martial arts and other self-defence techniques. Ali said in a statement: "I have done this in the midst of what's happening in our country. I won't lose hope and fly away to another destination." "I wish I could fund moral education in all schools at once but the need of the hour, especially for women, is to kick some a** when required. So, I have tried something. And I will fight it till we all as one community decide we must." --IANS nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a show of unity by Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance, its top leaders, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, senior JD-U leader Sharad Yadav and state Congress President Ashok Choudhary, on Monday attended a 'Lok Samvad' here. Seeking to lay at rest speculations of differences within, they claimed that the alliance stands united. This is the first-ever show of unity since the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress came together to form the Grand Alliance and the government led by Nitish Kumar came to power in November 2015. The Lok Samvad participants included MLAs of the three parties, district presidents and block-level leaders and workers. "Nitish Kumar has stressed the need for smooth coordination among leaders and workers of the three parties right from block to the district level to monitor governance and implementation of development works," a JD-U leader said. Nitish Kumar has informed the leaders and workers of the Grand Alliance that committees at district and block levels will be formed soon for the implementation of 20-point programme. "Leaders of the Grand Alliance from district to block level will get place in the committee," he said. Lalu Prasad has praised the functioning of Nitish-led government and announced that a "Darbar" will be held for workers of the alliance on fourth Monday of every month here to listen to their grievances. "Laluji has assured the leaders and workers of the Grand Alliance that officers cannot ignore them and the government will look into it," a RJD leader said. Ashok Choudhary, who is the Bihar Education Minister, said there is no rift in the Grand Alliance government and everything is well. --IANS ik/nir/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday hit out at opposition parties for planning Jallikattu style protests to demand special category status for the state and said they were planning to create disturbances. Naidu took strong exception to the opposition parties comparing the issue of Special Category Status (SCS) promised to Andhra Pradesh to the the Jallikattu campaign in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. "Some parties are trying to provoke people and create disturbances but we will not allow this. We will be very firm," he told reporters. Popular actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has announced his party will support the youths if they plan a silent protest in Visakhapatnam on January 26. "If youth of Andhra Pradesh are planning to do a silent protest at R.K. Beach, Jana Sena will support them," he tweeted. Opposition leader and YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday said he would welcome any such protest. "Any programme or event demanding special status is welcome. I request all supporters especially youths to come forward, support and make these events a big success," he tweeted. In a series of tweets, the actor said youths should raise their voice peacefully. He said this was the only way to achieve the promised SCS in Andhra Pradesh. The opposition parties and other groups have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of betraying the state by backtracking from its poll promise of according SCS. They also targeted the ruling Telugu Desam Party for "compromising" on the issue. Pawan Kalyan, who had been targeting the BJP and TDP for months, continued his attacks. "The muscle called courage and the qualities -- self respect, integrity and accountability are lacking in the political class of Andhra Pradesh," he tweeted. "We love Gandhi, we adore Ambedkar, we salute Sardar Patel, we respect our Constitution but not the snobbish leadership of north India. If they go on humiliating people of south India and hurting their self-respect... we know how to bring down their snobbishness. "Does the north Indian political elites know how many languages are there in the South? For them we are all Madrasis," Pawan added. The Congress has said it was ready to join hands with any party to achieve SCS. The Prathekya Hoda Sadhana Samithi, which is fighting for SCS, has asked the Telugu actor to learn a lesson from the Jallikattu protest and take a lead in achieving SCS. --IANS ms/sm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pravind Jugnauth, son of Indian-origin Anerood Jugnauth, took over as Mauritius Prime Minister on Monday after the 86-year-old former premier resigned in favour of his son. Anerood Jugnauth, who has been in his post since 2014, announced in a televised address on Saturday that he was resigning in favour of a "younger and more dynamic leader", reported news channel Africanews. The move prompted accusations of nepotism and calls for refrendum from opponents, according to reports. Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is the leader of the main political party Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), and had already formed his ministerial cabinet after receiving an appointment letter from President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The main opposition Labour Party protested against the appointment which it termed as a "Father-Son Deal". The police rejected a request from the Labour Party to hold a sit-in protest. Labour leaders urged their supporters to wear black to denounce the move. "This is a black day for Mauritius. The Jugnauth family is turning the Island into a 'Banana Republic'. This is great treason in history as the population never voted for this dynastic arrangement," former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Navin Ramgoolam said. Pravind Jugnauth also holds the post of Finance Minister and his party has the majority of seats in the National Assembly since December 2014. The younger Jugnauth has studied Law at University of Buckingham and later joined the Lincoln's Inn in central London and became a Barrister. He then joined Aix-Marseille University in France where he graduated with an LLM, according to the government of Mauritius portal. Pravind is married and has three daughters. His father, Anerood, had served as both the President and Prime Minister of Mauritius and held various ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Rodrigues, Defence, Home Affairs and National Development Unit. His mother, Sarojini Ballah, is a primary school teacher by profession. She had actively participated in several political and social activities and was also the patron of various charitable organisations. A central figure of Mauritian in the 1980s and 1990s, the older Jugnauth continuously (except for the periods 1995-2000 and 2012-2014) held a constitutional office since 1976. Pravind Jugnauth had visited India in September last year as Finance Minister and held talks with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Sushma had appreciated Pravind Jugnauth for visiting India on his first tour abroad which was said to be in keeping with the "very special blood relationship" between India and Mauritius. Both sides had decided to extend their collaboration to areas of defence and security, and also restarted talks on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement (CECPA). Anerood Jugnauth had visited India in November last year as Prime Minister and had expressed support for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to demonetise higher value currency. Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is a middle-income country of some 1.3 million people, with a per capita GDP of just over $9,000. People of Indian origin comprise around 68 percent of Mauritius's total population of over 1.3 million. Most of them are descendants of Indian labourers who were brought in the 19th century and early 20th century to work in the sugarcane plantations. --IANS soni/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition groups, which include Jaysh al-Islam, a major armed group, kicked off on Monday in the Kazakh capital here as part of an initiative led by Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev opened the talks, stressing that the Syrian conflict could only be solved "via negotiations". "The current difficult situation in Syria has drawn the attention of the entire world. I have to admit that the bloody conflict, which has continued for about six years, has brought nothing but misery and sorrow to the holy land where different civilizations and cultures lived," Nazarbayev was quoted by RT online. According to Nazarbayev , Kazakhstan has allocated "more than $700,000 to alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees," with Astana recently sending 500 tons of humanitarian aid to the war-stricken country. The live broadcast from the opening remarks showed the presence of Abdullah Mohammed Alloush, the leader of Jaysh al-Islam, which is a coalition of Islamist and Salafist units operating in Damascus. The head of the Russian delegation in Astana and the Russian President's special envoy to Syria, Aleksandr Lavrentiev, confirmed on Sunday that the negotiations would be attended by delegations of the host nations -- Russia, Iran, and Turkey -- as well a UN delegation headed by the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and the US ambassador to Kazakhstan, who has been granted observer status in Astana. The Syrian government side will be presented by Bashar Jaafari, the current Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the UN. In his opening remarks Jaafari said that terrorists should not be included into the ceasefire agreement. The two-day event is being held at the Rixos hotel in Astana, with the hosting Kazakh government providing additional security. Some 300 journalists from around the world were covering the high-profile gathering, which hopes to cement a lasting ceasefire in Syria. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov thanked Kazakhstan for accepting to host the event, saying Astana's assistance was highly appreciated. "Kazakhstan has been supporting the Syrian reconciliation process from the very beginning. Everyone, the [Syrian] government and the opposition groups, would find this place perfect," Lavrov said on Sunday after meeting his Kazakh counterpart Kairat Abdrakhmanov. The negotiations came to fruition after the three nations -- Russia, Turkey and Iran -- brokered a partial ceasefire between the Syrian government and some opposition groups last month. The deal managed to significantly restrain the intensity of hostilities in Syria, but both the government and the rebels regularly complain of violations. The truce however, does not include such terrorist groups as Al Nusra Front or Islamic State, with IS currently engaged in a massive offensive against government forces in the Deir ez-Zor province. --IANS ahm/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An unstable Bangladeshi woman who was found in Indian territory in 2015 was repatriated to her home country on Monday by the West Bengal government, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) said. Solma Begum, 38, was found wandering by the state police in April 2015 in Sarati Village, Arambag town. Begum was, at that time, diagnosed as mentally unstable and housed in a shelter home. "After receiving counselling, Solma Begum began to recover and was able to recall her family. As a result, the head counsellor of the shelter home managed to contact her family and procure all the requisite documents," CHRI, which helped Begum return home with the help of Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST), said in a statement. It took the human rights group over one year of advocacy with the state home department and the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata before Begum's identity could be confirmed and she repatriated. However, what Begum did and where all she had been before being found by the police is not known, though she says that a woman brought her into India. "She was mentally unstable when she was found. As she got better, she could only tell us that she was brought here by a woman on the pretext of a job, or treatment, or something else, who then stranded her," an official from CHRI told IANS. According to CHRI's analysis of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, there were 6,185 foreign prisoners in India as on December 31, 2015. Of this figure, West Bengal's prisons house more than half the total foreign prisoners in the country. Bangladeshis constitute 98 per cent of this half, it said. --IANS vn/qd/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Monday said it was "highly" sensitive about Taiwan and the US must understand that. Beijing also said "One China Policy" was the basis of Sino-US ties, urging the new American administration under the President Donald Trump to honour the pact. "We urge the new administration to fully understand the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and to continue pursuing the one China policy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here. "The One-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. Any US administration has the responsibility to honour the bipartisan commitment of successive US governments to continue to uphold the one-China principle," she added. After his election as US President, Trump took phone call by Taiwan President Tsai Ing- Wen, angering China. This was the first time any US President spoke to Tawain's head of state since 1979. Trump, in media interviews, said Beijing's "One China Policy" was negotiable. This riled up Beijing further. This has led to strain between the the two-largest economies of the world with China' state-controlled media threatening war if Washington meddled with Taiwan. China considers Taiwan as a breakaway island, which it has threatened to take back forcibly if necessary. --IANS gsh/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The bombing of the historic heritage in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra by the Islamic State (IS) militant group is a "war crime", the Syrian Culture Minister has said. The recent bombing of the facade of the historic amphitheatre as well as other relics and monuments in Palmyra targeted Syrian heritage and culture, Xinhua news agency quoted Muhammad Ahmad as saying on Sunday. "These monuments are not only the property of Syria, but the whole world," Ahmad said, urging the international community to shoulder its responsibility in protecting the world heritage. "Any inaction in this difficult time threatens Palmyra and will be a clear runaway from the humanitarian and ethical duty in protecting and preserving the world heritage," he said. The IS last Friday destroyed the facade of the ancient Roman theatre and the Tetrapylon in Palmyra. The interface of the theatre was completely demolished after being booby-trapped, so was the famous Tetrapylon, an ancient Roman monument of a cubic shape, in that millennia-old city. One month ago, the group stormed the city for the second time after losing it to the Syrian Army nine months earlier. In its first invasion of Palmyra in 2015, the IS destroyed key temples and monuments. Ahmad said the presence of the IS in Palmyra exposed the city to further destruction and would push it into a "scary nightmare". Regarding the ancient part of the city of Aleppo, which was under the rebels' control for four years before the army wrested back control of that area late last year, Ahmad said 40 per cent of old Aleppo was still in a good condition, 30 per cent in a medium condition and the rest in a "catastrophic status". --IANS py/ (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 was moved out of the intensive care unit at a Houston hospital on Monday and his wife Barbara, who had been admitted to the same hospital, will be released in the coming hours. The former President, who governed from 1989-1993 after serving eight years as Vice President under Ronald Reagan, is responding "very well" to the treatment he has been receiving and hopes to be able to return home this weekend, EFE news quoted Dr. Clint Doerr, a pulmonary specialist at Houston's Methodist Hospital, as saying. Bush, 92, had been admitted to the hospital on January 14 with breathing problems and was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU but doctors removed it on Friday and, although Doerr said he is still coughing "a fair amount" and pneumonia in the elderly is always a serious matter, he added that the ex-President is responding well to medication. At the same press conference, Dr. Amy Mynderse said the former President was "sitting up, watching TV and is waiting anxiously for his favourite oyster stew for lunch". "He's on minimal oxygen, joking and laughing with the nurses and doctors," EFE news quoted her as saying. Mynderse said that Barbara Bush, 91, had been admitted for "viral bronchitis" but had recovered well and had been told she could leave the hospital on Sunday. However, the former First Lady opted to remain in the hospital for another day to continue her recovery and be closer to her husband. Mynderse said that she had been surprised how devoted the couple are to each other and -- although they have had separate rooms during their simultaneous hospital stays -- Barbara Bush has visited her husband frequently. "They truly do have just such an amazing love for each other and that really came across here," Mynderse said. Doerr said, "They're essentially therapy for each other. They help and are compliant in terms of when one of them doesn't want to take a breathing treatment, the other says, 'Get on that.' It helps our cause." The Bushes have been married for 72 years, the longest of any presidential couple in US history. Former President George W. Bush took to the social networks to thank the medical team for their work in caring for his parents. Although he made a parachute jump to celebrate his 90th birthday to prove his vitality, Bush Sr. has been hospitalised on several occasions for different reasons over the past few years. In 2012, he spent a month-and-a-half around the Christmas holidays at the Houston hospital suffering from bronchitis and a viral infection, and in July 2015, he broke a bone in his neck in a fall. --IANS lok/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday appealed to Jallikattu protesters in Tamil Nadu to call off their agitation. The appeal came after the protests turned violent in Chennai and some parts of Tamil Nadu. The minister said now that the Tamil Nadu government has issued an ordinance to permit the bull taming sport, the protesters should call off the agitation. He told reporters here that the central government was sensitive to the sentiments and cultural ethos of the people. The Information and Broadcasting Minister accused the Congress and the DMK of converting the protest into a political battle. "Some parties are trying to create anti-Centre feeling. What is the mistake the Modi government done? The Congress and DMK are supporting this." "I have no problem with the youths and other people who have genuine feelings that the native sport should be allowed," he said. --IANS ms/in/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Returning striker Diego Costa scored as Chelsea thumped Hull City 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League (EPL) to eight points at the Stamford Bridge here. The Spanish international, who was dropped from Chelsea's squad last week against Leicester City owing to a back injury, on Sunday fired home a cross from Victor Moses in the seventh minute of added time of the first half. Gary Cahill's header off a free-kick from substitute Cesc Fabregas in the 81st minute gave a 2-0 victory for Antonio Conte's side which now has 55 points from 55 -- eight points more than second-placed Arsenal, who won over Burnley. In a weekend where five of the title contenders, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United lost, it was a crucial win for Chelsea. "A lot of our opponents dropped points. It's not easy to play the last game of the weekend and know the results of the other teams. In different aspects there was pressure on us. We had to exploit this weekend and it's not easy," Conte told his club's website. He also praised goal-scorer Costa, who reportedly had an disagreement with him during training before Leicester game. "You must tell me if I did well to put Diego in the starting 11. I told you in the press conference (on Friday) I have to make the best decision for the team, and if he wasn't ready to play, or my choice was bad, it's my fault, not the player's fault," Conte said. "He played a very good game with a good attitude. Now it's important to rest because he used a lot of physical and mental energy." --IANS pur/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 2,000 school students and tableaux depicting prevailing issues were part of a huge colourful procession here in Tripura on Monday to mark the 121th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. As many as 26 groups of students from the 68-year-old Netaji Subhash Vidyaniketan highlighted terror strikes across the world, September 29, 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian troops, demonetisation of high value currency notes, bad effect of fast food, consumption of nutritious foods, traditional culture of tribal people, drug menace, crimes against women, earthquakes and incidents related to India's freedom struggle. The groups also depicted the terror attacks in India, sacrifice of life of revolutionary Bhagat Singh and Indian soldiers, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, national integration and Tripura's achievements in different fields. Thousands of spectators gathered by the roadside to watch the procession that was flagged off by state Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty. Government departments and NGOs also took out tableaux illustrating various national and regional issues. "We have been organising the procession on the occasion of Netaji's birthday for the past 66 years to highlight the role, sacrifice and dedication of this great freedom fighter," said school teacher Monimoy Roy. --IANS sc/py/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top congressional leaders will head to the White House on Monday to meet newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump, according to sources. It will be the first official meeting between Capitol Hill leaders and the new president who was sworn-in on January 20, Politico reported. The invite list includes the top two officials from each party in each chamber: Republican party's House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, and Democratic party's Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. Republicans have sketched out an ambitious agenda that includes dismantling the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacting tax reform and swiftly confirming Trump's Cabinet nominees and, ultimately, his Supreme Court pick. But they are facing fierce resistance from the Democrats who are mounting remarkable levels of opposition to the new President - exemplified by the massive Women's March in Washington on Saturday and the dozens of House Democrats who skipped Trump's inauguration ceremony. --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Patient care services in all government hospitals and dispensaries in Himachal Pradesh were affected badly as doctors went on a day-long strike on Monday. Only casualty services and emergency surgeries were working. The strike came following the Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA) call for an agitation over its demands, including safety of doctors and pay parity. Most patients who turned up at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla and Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda town in Kangra district were caught unawares. Official sources said doctors in over 700 government hospitals and dispensaries were on strike. HMOA president Jiwanand Chauhan said the failure of the government to ensure safety of doctors in the hospitals has forced them to go on strike. "For the past four years we have been demanding safety of doctors on duty but the government is silent on the issue," he said. The association has claimed that a doctor after facing humiliation from politically connected people in a hospital in Una suffered a heart attack. Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh said the government is concerned over the safety of the doctors. He said the government is bringing a bill in the ensuing budget session for the safety of the doctors. --IANS vg/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A farmers body on Monday urged the Centre to reduce tax on the cigarette industry to enable tobacco growers to get the right prices for their crop. The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) said the measure was required as the tobacco farmers' agricultural output was currently in less demand by the cigarette companies. The association-- representing millions of farmers of commercial crops in India -- said tobacco provides livelihood to 4.6 crore farmers, farm labour, retailers and bidi workers. It claimed that it was witnessing a continued onslaught in terms of punitive and sustained increase in taxation and impractical regulation over the past few years. "We are very disturbed because of the declining off-take from the domestic manufacturers. The Indian tobacco exports are also sluggish and this has resulted in 22 per cent decline in the farmers' returns," said Murali Babu, General Secretary, FAIFA. A Regulatory overreach has created panic and strain for the flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco farmers in the country, he added. For the first time in independent India, 22 FCV farmers have committed suicide in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, Babu said. According to the FAIFA general secretary, the suicides of tobacco farmers were a result of the excessive increase in the excise duties levied on tobacco products. There was a cumulative increase of 118 per cent since 2012-13, leading to 22 per cent shrinkage in the legal cigarette volumes, Babu said. "The steep increase in the excise duty has led to smuggling of cigarettes in the country due to the high tax arbitrage," he said. India is the world's second largest producer and third largest exporter of tobacco, earning the country foreign exchange of more than Rs 6,000 crore. "Any further tax increase on the already over-taxed legal tobacco industry will only accelerate the process of diversion of tobacco consumption into the illicit and the unorganized tobacco sector," Babu added. "This would lead to adverse consequences on revenue collection and the tobacco control objectives of the government and serious implications on the farmers livelihood," he said. --IANS rup/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police have arrested a 27-year-old gangster in connection with the daylight murder of a rival gang member here, police said on Monday. Deepak, a member of Gaurav Jharera gang, along with his nine associates had on July 17, 2016 killed 22-year-old Akash, a member of a rival group, after beating him with iron rods. "On the day of the crime, one of the accused Gaurav, along with three other juvenile gang members, was apprehended by local police, while their associates Laxman, Vishal, Vijay, Bunty and Deepak managed to escape," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said. Police teams arrested Deepak on Friday night when he came to meet one of his associates at Kargil Chowk in Dwarka, Yadav said. On questioning, Deepak told police that he belongs to a middle-class family and resided in government quarters in Delhi Cantonment area. After passing Class 12 from a government school, he got a job in an event management company. Later, he came in contact with gangster Gaurav Jharera through his cousin. "Deepak joined Gaurav's gang in order to get fame in the locality and started committing crimes. Gaurav is previously involved in 45 cases of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and others and is lodged in jail for the murder of Kalu Jharera during a gang war in Delhi Cantonment area," the officer said. Deepak told interrogators he hid in different areas of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand and Jammu for six months after murdering Akash and had came back to Delhi as he was in need of money from other gang members, he added. --IANS sp/vgu/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Administering glucose supplements to women during childbirth, especially for the first birth, may shorten the labour time, researchers say. A prolonged labour, or a failure to progress, is a labour that takes more than 20 hours for first-time mothers and more than 14 hours for mothers who have given birth before. A prolonged labour is not only defined by the duration, it is regarded as prolonged but, when cervical dilation takes place at less than 1 centimetre per hour. Prolonged labour can be harmful to maternal and foetal health. According to the study, because glucose supplementation is known to improve muscle performance, adding glucose to the intravenous hydration solution women receive during childbirth could accelerate labour. "Glucose supplementation significantly reduces the total length of labour without increasing the rate of complication. This is great news for women experiencing induced labour," said Josianne Pare from the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada. For the study, 200 pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either a standard hydration solution containing salt and water or a solution containing glucose, salt and water. The results showed that the median duration of labour was 76 minutes shorter in the group of women receiving glucose. However, "there was no difference in the mode of delivery -- caesarean section, forceps, etc. -- or the neonatal well-being measures," Pare said. Thus, being a low-cost and safe intervention, glucose should be the solute of choice during labour, the researchers recommended. The findings will be presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, in Quebec. --IANS rt/ksk/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Education Minister Benoit Hamon and former Prime Minister Manuel Valls topped the list after the first round of the French Socialist Party primaries held on Sunday. Hamon, with the left wing of the Socialist Party, so far has obtained 35 per cent of the votes doing especially well among young, urban voters, EFE news reported. The more centrist Valls -- well-known because of his stint as Prime Minister from 2014-2016 -- obtained about 32 per cent votes, falling to second place against all predictions, with about 18 per cent going to former Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg, who was also one of the three favourites. More than 7,500 polling stations collected votes in continental France and its overseas territories. With none of the candidates exceeding 50 per cent of the votes in the first primary round, French voting rules mandate that the two top vote-getters face off in a run-off on January 29. "By placing me in the lead, you sent a clear message of hope and renewal. You have expressed your desire to open a new page for the Left," Xinhua news agency quoted Hamon as saying. "We must finish with the old recipes, the old . I will continue to defend the priority given to the social issue, ecological conversion and democratic renewal," he told his supporters. Long trailing his rivals in opinion polls, the 49-year-old left-winger has seen his ratings unexpectedly start surging a few days ahead of the contest after three televised debates gave him impetus. Hamon is likely to pass the Left primary runoff with a strong lead thanks to the backing of defeated candidates including Montebourg. "Primary voters have spoken ... They massively and seriously condemned the mandate (of the Socialist President Francois Hollande)," Xinhua news agency quoted Montebourg as saying after the release of the partial results. "Next Sunday, I will vote Benot Hamon and I invite you to do the same," Montebourg said. Losing momentum, Valls said that for the second round, "nothing is written." "A new campaign begins this evening. A very clear choice is now for you and for us," he said. Dominating France's political landscape for decades, the Socialists and the broader Left are weakened by internal upheavals that it has been hard for them to build momentum to take on the right-wing and the far right party. No left-wing candidate is likely to pass to presidential runoff on May 7 after Hollande's policies had alienated left voters, the country's pollsters predicted. The primary is the second such competition held by the Socialist Party and allies. In 2011, the Socialist Party had opened a two-round contest to all registered voters regardless of their political views as long as they share the left-wing values and donate 1 euro (1.069 U.S. dollar). --IANS lok/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iconic actor and filmmaker Jackie Chan, who arrived here on Monday for promoting his upcoming Sino-Indian film "Kung Fu Yoga", says he would like to act in Bollywood films and loves Indian culture, food and people. "I want to do a Bollywood film, is there any director to hire me," quipped Jackie Chan at the press conference here. "I do not want to do any action-comedy films. I am interested in doing romantic Indian films! You know 11 years ago, I tried to do a Bollywood film but that was so melodramatic and I could not fit into that. But now I think I can," he added. The film also features actor Sonu Sood, who said: "I think during the shooting of the film, Jackie used to get excited whenever we shot for the dance sequences, he would get ready wearing Indian clothes and would start dancing even before the camera rolled." Directed by Stanley Tong, the film "Kung Fu Yoga" also features Bollywood actors Amyra Dastur, Disha Patani along with Sonu, who is also the distributor of the film. The cast of the film was present at the JW Marriot along with the director Stanley Tong. Actor Shilpa Shetty introduced Jackie on stage. As it was a very emotional moment for Shilpa when Jackie entered the stage with his arms folded in 'Namaste' the actress touched his feet saying, "Being an actress I never had this kind of a fan-girl moment. I am feeling blessed to share the stage with Jackie sir." Asked if he watched Bollywood cinema before this collaboration, Jackie said: "I started watching Sonu Sood's movie after meeting him as I wanted to know him." "Honestly, as a kid though I used to watch Bollywood movies, neither I understood the language nor those dance music scenes that never interest me. But I think in last 15 years, things have changed a lot. There is good technology, great fight sequences, actions and lot more. I think it is probably one of the best in the world," Jackie answered on being asked if he likes Bollywood films. Jackie Chan is playing the character of a renowned professor of archaeology at the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xi'an, China, who teams up with young Indian professor Ashmita (played by Amyra Dastur) and assistant Kyra (played by Disha Patani) to locate the lost Magadha treasure of India in Tibet. The film "Kung Fu Yoga" is scheduled for release in China on January 28 and in India on February 3. --IANS aru/vgu/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) January 19, 2017 CAIRO Mahmoud Ramadan is a young novelist who left the Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City in 2008. Looking for a place to publish his writings, he wound up in Egypt. He settled there and has so far published three novels about the situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Al-Monitor met with Ramadan in his bookstore, which he opened in early 2016, in the Egyptian 6th of October City. He said he found it best to leave Gaza in 2008 after being imprisoned twice by Hamas because of his views and writings that go against the Hamas movement and its rule. Ramadan said, I was studying journalism at the University of Palestine in Gaza and I could not complete my studies to get a degree before leaving. I also worked in online marketing and design. I started writing on my own about my experience and how people lived in the Gaza Strip. I used an alias Yami Ahmed and I never mentioned my real name because I wrote about politics and how the ruling party [Hamas] oppressed Gazans. Speaking about the books he has published, Ramadan said, I printed my first novel at my own expense in 2013. It was titled The Remnants of Mary. It spoke about the beginning of conflicts and divisions that had emerged in the Palestinian community as a result of the parties [Fatah and Hamas] behavior, and how all of this reflected on the Palestinians personality who became labeled by their political affiliations. He added, My second novel was published by an Egyptian publishing house called Oktob Publishing House in 2014 under the title I Relate to Your Words. It spoke about a man who traveled from Gaza to Egypt and tried to integrate in his new community, but faced culture shock in the Egyptian society. The third novel was the second part of my first; it was published by a publishing house [in Gaza] called Samir Mansour Library for Publishing and Distribution in June 2016 and it spoke about the Palestinian differences and the deepening division as well as detailed incidents of the Israeli war on Gaza in 2009. Ramadan noted that Egyptian publishing houses do not agree to deal with Palestinian authors from Gaza so easily. This is why after publishing his latest novel and opening his bookstore in 2016, he partnered up with Egyptian author Adham Abboud and founded a small publishing house in 6th of October City, which they called Bardi Publishing House, to help Palestinian and Arab authors publish their novels and poetry. Poet Joseph al-Qadra, from the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, arrived in Egypt in 2011. Sitting in a cafe in central Cairo, he told Al-Monitor that Hamas actions and the restrictions it imposes on all levels, including cultural works, pushed him to leave Gaza and look for a more welcoming environment to express his opinion through poetry. This is why he came to Egypt to complete his studies and is now preparing for his doctoral thesis in literary criticism at the Research Institute of Arab Studies in Cairo. He explained, I could not stand living in Gaza anymore. I had to get out of there and escape the devastating situation. I decided to travel to Egypt to study and start over. Although my writings were only limited to poetry, I started to write my novel, titled Beautiful Black Book, after my experience matured in this unfamiliar place and community. Qadra believes that two main reasons often push authors and poets out of Gaza and into the Arab world, particularly Egypt. The first is that the world sympathizes with the cause [represented in the text] rather than the poetry or the novel itself, and people have now lost interest in Gazan authors because their attention has shifted toward Syrian authors who have a more urgent cause. The second reason is that many Gazan authors used to write at the mercy of ruling authorities in Gaza. He said, A good text is always worthwhile. However, recently the mere presence in Gaza entailed humanitarian sympathy with the authors cause and not the text itself. People became less interested in poets and authors in Gaza as their attention shifted toward Syrian poets in light of the Syrians urgent cause. In addition, some authors were forced to leave the Gaza Strip because they were writing at the mercy of [Hamas] weapons, so all that was left for them to do is travel to find publishing opportunities with a wider margin of freedom. Author Alaa al-Nahhal came from the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to Egypt at the beginning of 2016 to achieve her childhood dream of making her novels reach the largest readership base. She told Al-Monitor, I did not find an opportunity to publish my work in the Gaza Strip under the siege. People prefer to buy their basic needs instead of spending money on books to read. However, this never stopped me from practicing my hobby and sharing it with people. I first used Facebook to post my work, and then I participated in poetry competitions in Gaza and in Egypt. Nahhals work was first published in 2014 in a book that combined stories written by several Arab female authors titled Girl Talk. Her work was also published in the second and third parts of the same book. She participated in the 2016 International Book Exhibition in Cairo. Palestinian poet and literary critic Raed Kodeih, who has been living in Cairo since 2012 and serves as vice president of the Egypt Arab Salon Union, told Al-Monitor that Egypt is home for every intellectual Arab author, noting that he, much like many Arab authors, chose to move to Egypt because it is the beacon of science and culture in the Arab world. Kodeih, who also works as director of public relations and media in Dar el-Nokhba for Publishing and Distribution in Egypt, stressed that through his union, he tries to adopt and take in Arab poets and authors, including Palestinian authors who travel to Egypt to publish their creations. Egypt remains the No. 1 destination for Arab authors in general, and Gazan authors in particular, due to its cultural and scientific stature, which help artists achieve their ambitions in the world of poetry and literature. Federal judge bars any Medicaid action for remainder of Obama administration; Trump's HHS pick wants to repeal law "JUST IN: a federal court just granted the temporary restraining order NC Speaker Tim Moore and I requested to stop Roy Cooper's illegal attempt to expand Obamacare in North Carolina. Please LIKE and SHARE with your friends who agree North Carolina families can't afford more of Barack Obama's failed policies." Gov. Roy Cooper's attempt to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act before President Obama leaves office may have run aground as the result of an order issued Saturday night by a federal judge.U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan issued a 14-day restraining order barring federal officials from approving Cooper's $6 billion plan expanding Medicaid coverage to between 500,000 and 650,000 mostly able-bodied, working-age, single males.The order will remain in effect after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office Friday. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Trump's choice to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, could be confirmed the same day. Price supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and presumably would not pursue Cooper's proposal even after the judge's order expires.Flangan's order granted a motion filed late Friday afternoon by Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland.of applicable sections of the Social Security Act,the order said.The order further blocked state or federal officials "from submitting the proposed State Plan Amendment or any similar State Plan Amendment" that does not comply with that same section of the Social Security Act.Named as defendants were Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Andrew Slavitt, acting administrator at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Renard Murray, the Atlanta-based regional administrator for CMS; and Dempsey Benton, interim secretary at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.Berger announced the restraining order late Saturday in a post on his Facebook page Within two hours the post garnered 2,300 likes, 1,100 shares, and 173 comments, with the numbers continuing to grow. Some comments chastised Republicans for not expanding Medicaid. Others blasted Cooper for trying unilaterally to grow Medicaid enrollment under Obamacare.Republican leaders in the General Assembly consistently have maintained that Cooper's move was unlawful and unwise state Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, said upon learning of Cooper's plan to circumvent the General Assembly and unilaterally expand Medicaid.Among other blunders was Cooper's failure to notify the Cherokee tribe, which by law must be informed 90 days before any amendments to the Medicaid program are sought, Hise told Carolina Journal last week.Hise chairs the joint legislative committee that oversees Medicaid. Hise suggested after Cooper's Medicaid announcement that the only way the federal government would approve a plan so quickly would be if Cooper had been working behind the scenes with the Obama administration.A few days later Burwell said efforts would be made to expedite Cooper's request. Berger said it was apparent Cooper had been pursuing the deal for months.Berger and Moore argued Friday that Cooper's selection that day of Dr. Mandy Cohen - chief operating officer of CMS - to run the state Department of Health and Human Services while Washington was considering the Medicaid expansion plan posed a conflict of interest.In an email to the News & Observer , Cooper spokeswoman Noelle Talley said Republicans were trying to deny health coverage and jobs to North Carolina.the email stated.Donald Bryson, North Carolina director for Americans for Prosperity, in a news release called Flanagan's temporary restraining order "a breath of fresh air to taxpayers."Bryson said.Bryson said Americans for Prosperity staff and volunteers will be holding phone banks statewide next week to encourage residents to sign a petition opposing the expansion. India has opposed an informal proposal by the EU and Canada for a global investment pact with an investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism at the WTO by which corporates can take governments to international arbitration for resolution of disputes, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. "We rejected it completely. We want investments to be a bilateral thing...we do not believe in making investments a subject of multilateral disputes," Sitharaman told reporters here. The issue came up at an informal meeting of key World Trade Organisation (WTO) members on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. Sitharaman opined against the "contentious" ISDS mechanism, which is part of a bilateral agreement between the EU and Canada. EU nations and Canada want other WTO countries to agree to this multilateral mechanism to resolve investor disputes. "There is no way, we will have investment treaty in which companies can take the sovereign or even the regional governments to court. Anything with regard to investments, we wanted to be settled by the domestic laws and courts, and only after that appeal outside," she said. Noting other WTO members, including Argentina and Brazil, are also opposed to ISDS, the minister said: "So at this stage, to have this template for a multi-lateral approach to investment may be immature." In this connection, at a BRICS arbitration conference here last year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had urged the group of emerging economies to engage for exploring the setting up of arbitration centres for use by the grouping as well as by non-BRICS countries. Pointing to how some centres, particularly in the developed world, had monopolised the international arbitration process, he said: "Many countries felt that the awards in these arbitrations are loaded against the emerging economies. "It is, therefore, is important to develop arbitration capabilities, capacity building and our own jurisdiction centre." Sithraman on Monday said that India asked the members for detailed discussions on WTO issues among the groups before they meet in Paris in June. India wants a resolution on providing safeguards to poor farmers and a permanent solution to the public food stock holding issue, she added.--IANS bc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arriving here on Tuesday on a three-day visit to India, India's ties with the UAE are expected to get a further boost. Sheikh Mohamed, who will attend this year's Republic Day celebrations as chief guest, will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and captains of industry. This will be his second visit to India since his visit in February last year. The bilateral relationship between the two countries got a huge boost with the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August 2015. It was the first prime ministerial visit from India to the UAE in 34 years after the visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in May 1981. Following Modi's visit, the two countries decided to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In the course of Modi's visit and the return visit by Sheikh Mohamed last year, both sides agreed to cooperate across a wide range of issues. The UAE committed $75 billion to support investment in India's plans for rapid expansion of next-generation infrastructure, especially in railways, ports, roads, airports and industrial corridors and parks. The UAE being a significant contributor to India's energy security -- it was the fifth largest supplier of crude oil in 2015-16 -- both sides have agreed to promote strategic partnership in the energy sector, including through the UAE's participation in India in the development of strategic petroleum reserves, upstream and downstream petroleum sectors, and collaboration in third countries. In the area of defence cooperation, both sides have renewed their commitment to strengthening the existing cooperation in training, joint exercises, and participation in defence exhibitions, as well as in identifying opportunities to cooperate on the production of defence equipment in India under the Make in India campaign. Given the rise of the quasi-state terror organisation Islamic State and also terrorism within India's border's and in South Asia, both sides agreed to coordinate efforts to counter radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries by facilitating regular exchanges of religious scholars and intellectuals and organising conferences and seminars to promote the values of peace, tolerance, inclusiveness and welfare that is inherent in all religions. Both sides have also agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and capacity building and to promote cooperation in cyber security. With the UAE being India's third largest trading partner, both sides have also agreed to increase bilateral trade by at least 60 per cent within the next five years. Trade between the two countries stood at $50 billion in 2015-16. At 2.6 million, Indians form the largest expatriate population in the UAE and hence cultural ties and people-to-people contacts form an important element to the bilateral relationship. The image of Indians in the UAE have been generally positive and their contributions to the development of the host country have been well appreciated. India's relationaship with the UAE is crucial to New Delhi's renewed thrust in reaching out to the extended neighbourhood in the west. Hence, Sheikh Mohamed's upcoming visit assumes very high significance, say observers. --IANS ab/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladeshi author and freedom of expression advocate Taslima Nasrin, who has been living in exile since 1994 after facing the ire of fundamentalists, said on Monday India urgently needed a uniform civil law. During a surprise session at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the controversial writer also said that criticism of Islam is the only way to establish secularism in Islamic countries. In conversation with Salil Tripathi, the chair of the Writers-in-Prison Committee of PEN International, Nasrin said: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life. "They issue fatwas against you and they want to kill you. But why do they need to do so? If they disagree with me, they can write against me, share their views like we do. They can have conversations rather than fatwas," the 55-year-old writer contended. Nasrin said that Muslim women are "oppressed" and that uniform civil law is the need of the hour to protect their rights. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against a uniform civil law? Is not having a uniform civil law democratic," she asked. From a poet in the late 1980s, Nasrin rose to global attention by the end of the 20th century owing to her essays and novels from the feminist viewpoint and severe criticism of Islam. Her 1993 novel "Lajja" garnered severe criticism in Bangladesh, forcing her to leave the country. "A uniform civil law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why are they not ready to accept criticism. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she maintained. After multiple threats and attacks against her in the backdrop of "Lajja", Nasrin escaped to Sweden in 1994 and spent the next 10 years in exile in Europe and America. Coming to India in 2004, she settled in Kolkata, where she lived untill November 2007 and then moved to New Delhi. she again moved to Sweden in 2008 and later worked as a research scholar at New York University. "Why shouldn't Muslim women have the same rights? Is it democracy? Encouraging fundamentalists and misogynists from any side is neither democratic nor secular. I am against all kinds of fundamentalists. "Without serious criticism of Islam, you will not be able to make Islamic countries secular. The women will continue to suffer and be oppressed," she said. Nasrin also said that without freedom of expression, secularism is meaningless. Nasrin is now a Swedish citizen. She has been continuously getting Indian visas since 2004 and currently lives in New Delhi. The session was themed around her latest memoir "Exile" a" a cumulative chronicle of her days in Kolkata and the circumstances under which she was, in her own words, "hurriedly shifted, first to Jaipur and then to Delhi, confined to an obscure safe houses, and faced incessant pressure from senior officials and politicians to leave India" and is replete with dark imageries and repeated provocations. Indonesian authorities have detained 17 nationals upon their arrival from Turkey over the weekend for their suspected links with the Islamic State terror group, local media reported on Monday. The detainees, including eight women, were intercepted and taken into custody on Saturday at Jakarta airport by immigration agents and counter- unit Densus 88, Efe news reported. "They're still undergoing interrogation at (the police's Mobile Brigade detention centre) in Kelapa Dua by Densus 88," police spokesman Awi Setiyono said. Director General of Immigration Agung Sampurno said the detentions were a standard procedure for people arriving from conflict areas. However, a report in a local newspaper noted that other Indonesian passengers on the same flight were not detained. In recent months, Indonesian police have strengthened surveillance at border checkpoints on people returning from the Middle East and have busted various terror plots. Last week, eight Indonesians were deported from Malaysia after being arrested while attempting to enter Singapore with photos linked to IS. With more than a dozen people arrested, the counter- unit dismantled in December two groups that planned to bomb the presidential palace of Jakarta during the Christmas season. According to police, the mastermind of those plans was Indonesian national Bahrun Naim, one of the chiefs of Katibah Nusantara, an IS brigade consisting of Malay-speaking militants from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesia's intelligence service believes that around 500 of its citizens have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join IS, 100 of whom have already returned to the country. IS plans to establish a caliphate in Southeast Asia. --IANS in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Students leading the Jallikattu protests here torched several vehicles and fought pitched battles with police after they were forcibly evicted from the Marina beach here. Furious that they had been ousted from the beach, the pro-Jallikattu protesters set fire to the vehicles parked at the Ice House police station and attacked police personnel with bricks and stones. Fire tenders battled the flames. A large posse of police personnel swooped on the huge crowd which had massed at the sprawling beach since January 17 and began to drag away the young protesters. There was bedlam as others tried to pull back those being taken away. The police then used batons to disperse the mobs. As people ran from the beach and collected on nearby streets, there was more violence. The trouble was intense in Triplicane area near the beach. The police also fired tear gas to disperse the crowds who assembled on several roads leading to the beach and hurled stones at security personnel. All routes leading to the Marina have been cordoned off. In Madurai too, youths who have been staging protests demanding the lifting of the 2014 Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu, the traditional bull taming sport, fought with police on the streets. The eviction in Chennai began after week-long protests across Tamil Nadu. The demonstrators want an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act so that Jallikattu can be held without legal hurdles. The police action came as the Tamil Nadu assembly met here on Monday for the first time this year with Governor C.H. Vidyasagar Rao's address. In Coimbatore, the police pounced on a protester who stood up with a kerosene canister and threatened to self-immolate. They were successful in taking away the inflammable liquid. The government on Sunday organised Jallikattu in several places following the promulgation of an ordinance. The demonstrators want the central government to take out bulls from the list of performing animals. P. Rajasekhar, President of the Jallikattu Pathukaapu Peravai, has urged people to call off their agitation. 'Hip-Hop Tamizha' Adhi, a rap musician whose song in support of Jallikattu attracted the protesters, distanced himself from the crowds as they were moving in a different direction, he said. While many are upset with the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for opposing Jallikattu, in most protest venues slogans were raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. Some placards held by a few protesters were vulgar and there were random calls demanding a separate Tamil land. Further, thousands of regular commuters have been facing inconvenience due to cancellation of trains after the demonstrators squatted on rail tracks. The Southern Railway on Monday announced cancellation of 16 trains. "Around 40,000 passengers are affected daily due to disruption in train services," a railway official told IANS. Meanwhile, DMK leader M.K. Stalin condemned the police action as authoritarian. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said the party was withdrawing its plans to hold Jallikattu protests on January 26 as the government had passed an ordinance permitting the sport. --IANS vj/mr/py (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jallikattu protest in Tamil Nadu has inspired the opposition in Andhra Pradesh to create disturbances to seek special status to the state, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Monday. Popular actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has announced his party will support the youths if they plan a silent protest in Visakhapatnam on January 26. "If youths of Andhra Pradesh are planning to do a silent protest at R.K. Beach, Vizag Jana Sena will support them," he tweeted. Opposition leader and YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday said he would welcome any such protest. "Any programme or event demanding special status is welcome. I request all supporters especially youths to come forward, support and make these events a big success," Jaganmohan Reddy tweeted. In a series of tweets, the actor said youths should raise their voice peacefully. He said this was the only way to achieve the promised Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh. The opposition parties and other groups have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of betraying the state by backtracking from its poll promise of according SCS. They also targeted the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for "compromising" on the issue. Pawan Kalyan, who had been targeting both BJP and TDP for months, continued his attacks. "The muscle called courage and the qualities -- self respect, integrity and accountability are lacking in the political class of Andhra Pradesh," he tweeted. "We love Gandhi, we adore Ambedkar, we salute Sardar Patel, we respect our Constitution but not the snobbish leadership of north India. If they go on humiliating people of south India and hurting their self-respect... we know how to bring down their snobbishness. "Does the north Indian political elites know how many languages are there in the South? For them we are all Madrasis," Pawan added. The Congress has said it was ready to join hands with any party to achieve SCS. The Prathekya Hoda Sadhana Samithi, which is fighting for SCS, has asked Telugu film actor to learn a lesson from the Jallikattu protest and take a lead in achieving SCS. Naidu took strong exception to the opposition parties comparing SCS to Jallikattu. "Some parties are trying to provoke people and create disturbances but we will not allow this. We will be very firm," he said on Monday. --IANS ms/py/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US legal watchdog says it will file a lawsuit on Monday against President Donald Trump, alleging he is violating a constitutional ban on accepting payments from foreign governments. The group of lawyers and researchers said Trump was receiving payments from foreign governments via guests at his hotels and leases on his buildings, the BBC reported. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) argued that a clause in the constitution bans such payments. Trump's son Eric, however, has described the move as "harassment for political gain". Eric Trump, who is an executive vice-president of the Trump Organization, said the company had taken greater steps than the law required to avoid legal exposure, the New York Times reported. He said the organisation had agreed to donate any hotel profits that came from foreign government guests to the US treasury. The Crew said it would file the lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court on Monday morning. "We did not want to get to this point," Crew's Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said in a statement. "It was our hope that President Trump would take the necessary steps to avoid violating the Constitution before he took office. We were forced to take legal action," Bookbinder said. The US constitution says no federal official should receive a gift or "emolument" - a fee - from a foreign government. "President Trump has made his slogan America First so you would think he would want to strictly follow the constitution's foreign emoluments clause, since it was written to ensure our government officials are thinking of Americans first, and not foreign governments," Bookbinder said. Trump's lawyers, however, argued that the clause was intended only to stop federal officials from accepting a special consideration or gift from a foreign power and did not apply to payments such as a bill for a hotel room. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi on Monday announced that his maiden Indian movie is titled "Beyond The Clouds". He has roped in actor Ishaan Khatter and Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman for the project. Ishaan, the brother of popular actor Shahid Kapoor, has been chosen as he is a "wonderful boy" who is "extremely talented", Majidi said here, adding that he foresees a "bright future" for the young actor. "Beyond The Clouds", which is going on the floors on Monday, is being produced by Zee Studios and Eyecandy Films. The film dwells on nuanced human relationships, an area Majidi specialises in. Talking about the film, Majidi said: "Filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, whose work I adore, have represented India's culture, rich heritage and the lives of common people to a global audience. "These visions and images have stayed in my mind for years and cajoled me to make a film in India. Finally , I'm in Mumbai with a lovely team to narrate a story woven around the lives of common people." The leading lady of the film is yet to be finalised, even as there were rumours that Deepika Padukone was being considered for a pivotal role in the movie. Rahman will be working on the score of the project, and this film will mark the Mozart of Madras' second association with the director after "Muhammad: The Messenger of God". Majidi has been doing a location recce for the film in India since the past few months. It will be shot at numerous locations in India. The details of the project were announced at a small gathering here, in the presence of Majidi, Ishaan, Rahman, Akash Chawla, Business Head - Zee Studios, along with Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishore Arora from EyeCandy Films. Also present were Ishaan's parents Neelima Azim and Rajesh Khatter along with brother Shahid. Chawla said: "It's our pleasure to associate with a global icon like Majid Majidi. Over the years, he has narrated stories with authenticity and honesty, the vision with which Zee serves content to its audience globally. "This film, his first venture in the country, celebrates an India unseen by the world with a heartwarming story." Eyecandy Films representatives praised Majidi's "unparalleled vision and artistry". --IANS rb/ks/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Malaysian government has withdrawn its offer of a reward to find the Malaysia Airlines flight after the search for the missing aircraft officially ended on Monday. The three-year underwater search for the Boeing 777 that disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people on board ended with the search vessel Fugro Equator docking in Fremantle, Western Australia, earlier in the day. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the offer of a reward was not a government proposal, rather a personal decision by the country's Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported. "The government has not made any decision ... it was the Deputy Minister's personal view, not the government's," said Lai. Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester and Liow went aboard the Fugro Equator to thank the crew. "This has been an extraordinary search effort, it's been in some of the most inhospitable oceans in the world," Chester said. "The search for has been at the very cutting edge of technology and scientific expertise, but also has been quite a heroic human endeavour." The search covered an area of 120,000 sq.km. and while some experts believe the plane is likely to be just outside the searched area, the investigation will now take a different turn, the ABC said. "Work will continue in relation to further analysis of data and if any more debris comes forward, we'll work with our Malaysian counterparts in assessing debris of interest and work is also going on in terms of further analysis of satellite imagery," Chester said. He thanked the crew, the Australian and Chinese governments for the help in the $200 million search effort, of which Australia contributed about $60 million. Liow and Chester are expected to later meet the families of the victims, who began a campaign Sunday to urge Malaysian and Australian authorities to resume search operations. The Australian state of Victoria has announced changes to its bail laws after five persons were killed when a man drove a car into pedestrians in Melbourne, a media report said on Monday. The allegedly deliberate attack, which police said was not terror-related, happened after lunchtime on Friday. Suspect Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 26, was released by a bail justice against the wishes of police five days earlier, the BBC reported. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said a new Night Court will be set up for magistrates to hear bail requests. Thalia Hakin, 10, Matthew Si, 33, and Jess Mudie, 22, were killed in the attack. A three-month-old boy and a 25-year-old man, who have not been named, were also among the victims. Two others remain in a critical condition, Andrews said on Monday. "All of us feel it. How could this have happened? How could such a tragedy have come to our city? How could so many lives end and so many lives change forever?" he added. The magistrates will rule on after-hours bail applications for people charged with violent crimes, Andrews said. Until now, Victoria has been the only jurisdiction in Australia to use volunteer bail justices rather than on-call magistrates for after-hours hearings. Andrews also said the entire bail system would be reviewed by former Supreme Court of Victoria Judge Paul Coghlan. "We need to have a really close look at each and every element of our bail system, and we need to make profound change for the future to keep Victoria safe," Andrews said. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has expressed frustration about the handling of bail cases. "I think everyone that works in the system has issues with it from time to time," he told the Herald Sun newspaper at the weekend. Ashton said Gargasoulas would face "multiple" murder charges once detectives were able to interview him. The suspect was recovering from surgery after being shot in the arm by police before his arrest. Police said Gargasoulas had been involved in an attack on his brother in a Melbourne suburb earlier on Friday. Hospitals across Melbourne treated 37 persons injured in the Bourke Street mall incident. On Monday, 15 were still to be discharged. As Australians mourned the tragedy, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joined Andrews in attending a makeshift memorial set up at the scene. The victims will also be honoured with a public vigil in central Melbourne on Monday night. Victoria's justice system has faced criticism in recent years following several high-profile cases, including the killings of Irish woman Jill Meagher and young boy Luke Batty. A maroon coloured sedan was being pursued by the police in Melbourne's central business district (CBD) when the vehicle entered a pedestrian-only section of the famous Bourke Street shopping mall, driving erratically along the popular strip. The incident occurred as thousands of tourists were in Melbourne for the Australian Open. --IANS sm/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lawmakers say truly needy, along with the mentally ill and disabled, should be considered for coverage first Even though Gov. Roy Cooper's request to expand North Carolina's Medicaid program unilaterally has been halted in federal court , some GOP lawmakers say they are open to considering a limited enrollment increase.said state Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union, chairman of the Joint Legislative Oversight Program Evaluation Committee.Cooper's proposed expansion was blocked Saturday by temporary restraining order from U.S. District Court Judge Louise Flanagan. The plan would have expanded Medicaid rolls by between 500,000 and 650,000 people, a majority of them single, able-bodied, working-age males instead of the traditional mix of the poor, children, pregnant and single mothers, the elderly, and disabled.Horn said "there was some concern" among policymakers and Medicaid advocates whether the current structure allowsHorn said he was willing to consider Cooper's plan, but that he saw little desire in the General Assembly to undertake a broad expansion of the program.said state Rep. Greg Murphy, R-Pitt, a urologic surgeon.Murphy said. "But as a legislator, I know we have bills to be paid, and we have a fiduciary responsibility to our state." The state allocated $3.6 billion for Medicaid in 2016.Murphy supports some provisions in Obamacare, including the one letting children stay on their parents' health insurance policies until they are 26.from getting coverage, he added.But he said Cooper showed bad judgment by trying to force expansion immediately after assuming office without consulting the General Assembly, and at a time Congress is voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as Obamacare is formally known.Obamacare, which is the vehicle for Medicaid expansion,Murphy said.The state already has a shortage of physicians, Murphy said, and many don't accept Medicaid patients, so expanding coverage to more people does not guarantee they will be able to receive care.From a provider standpoint,Murphy said.While there is a place for Medicaid in providing a temporary safety net, Murphy said,who have never had private health insurance.While Democrats and left-leaning advocacy groups disparage Republicans for not expanding Medicaid under Obamacare, the rolls have been growing.At an April meeting of the legislature's joint Medicaid oversight committee, Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, co-chairman of the committee, said there was a year-over-year enrollment growth of 2.5 percent, or 44,000 additional recipients.In October 2014, state Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, said the state struggled that year to add 120,000 people to Medicaid, and there's no way the state could add 600,000 new enrollees in a single year financially or administratively.Dr. C.L. Gray of Hickory, president and founder of Physicians for Reform, which supports patient-centered, free-market changes to health care delivery, has researched Medicaid in depth, and said governors should not expand it.Gray said at an October town hall at High Point University on health care reform.Part of the reason is cultural,Gray said.In April, former Gov. Pat McCrory called for limited Medicaid expansion for mental health patients, people with developmental disabilities, and substance abuse patients, among others. McCrory requested a waiver in June from the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to allow that expansion and begin shifting to a managed-care model for Medicaid, but the waiver has not been granted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated new Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth who assumed office on Monday after his father Anerood Jugnauth, 86, stepped down from the post. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the telephone with Pravind Kumar Jugnauth a short while ago to congratulate him on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Mauritius," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Monday. It said Modi and Pravind Jugnauth, a person of Indian origin, affirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen the time-tested and unique relationship between India and Mauritius. "The Prime Minister also appreciated the leadership and contribution of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to strengthening the strong bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius," the statement said. Pravind Jugnauth thanked Modi for the telephone call. Anerood Jugnauth, who has been in his post since 2014, announced in a televised address on Saturday that he was resigning in favour of a "younger and more dynamic leader", reported news channel Africanews. The move prompted accusations of nepotism and calls for referendum from opponents, according to reports. Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is the leader of the main political party Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), and had already formed his ministerial cabinet after receiving an appointment letter from President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The main opposition Labour Party protested against the appointment which it termed as a "father-son deal". Pravind Jugnauth also holds the post of Finance Minister and his party has the majority of seats in the National Assembly since December 2014. The younger Jugnauth has studied Law at University of Buckingham and later joined the Lincoln's Inn in central London and became a Barrister. He then joined Aix-Marseille University in France where he graduated with an LLM, according to the government of Mauritius portal. Pravind is married and has three daughters. His father, Anerood, had served as both the President and Prime Minister of Mauritius and held various ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Rodrigues, Defence, Home Affairs and National Development Unit. His mother, Sarojini Ballah, is a primary school teacher by profession. She had actively participated in several political and social activities and was also the patron of various charitable organisations. A central figure of Mauritian in the 1980s and 1990s, the older Jugnauth continuously (except for the periods 1995-2000 and 2012-2014) held a constitutional office since 1976. Pravind Jugnauth had visited India in September last year as Finance Minister and held talks with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Sushma had appreciated Pravind Jugnauth for visiting India on his first tour abroad which was said to be in keeping with the "very special blood relationship" between India and Mauritius. Both sides had decided to extend their collaboration to areas of defence and security, and also restarted talks on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement (CECPA). Anerood Jugnauth had visited India in November last year as Prime Minister and had expressed support for Modi's move to demonetise higher value currency. Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is a middle-income country of some 1.3 million people, with a per capita GDP of just over $9,000. People of Indian origin comprise around 68 per cent of Mauritius's total population of over 1.3 million. Most of them are descendants of Indian labourers who were brought in the 19th century and early 20th century to work in the sugarcane plantations. --IANS ab/pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korean President Park Geun-hye's lawyers on Monday requested that 39 more witnesses appear at her impeachment trial. The request came during the eighth hearing at the Constitutional Court where a trial has been on to determine whether to uphold Park's impeachment over an alleged corruption scandal involving her friend and long-time confidant Choi Soon-sil, Yonhap News Agency reported. Both Park and Choi have refuted all charges and are demanding a fair trial to determine what is really behind the supposed wrongdoing. Lawyer Lee Joong-hwan asked the court to summon Park's former Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon, former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Woo Byung-woo and a host of other figures implicated in the scandal. "Former Chief of Staff Kim is linked to all the grounds for impeachment while former Senior Secretary Woo is linked to the investigation into Lotte," he said. Lotte is one of several conglomerates suspected of providing funds to Choi under pressure from the presidential office. The parliamentary impeachment panel serving as the prosecution suggested that the lawyers seek written statements but Lee insisted questioning the 39 in court, Yonhap reported. Chief Justice Park Han-chul said they would decide whether to accept the request at the next hearing scheduled for Wednesday. Park is immune from prosecution while in office and a delay in the court's deliberations could protect her from a special prosecutor investigating the scandal under a deadline. It could also help her buy time to recover some of her lost public support that can influence the verdict by the Constitutional Court. After almost universal condemnation, there has been growing suspicions by conservatives loyal to Park that the investigation carried out by state prosecutors and the media may have been incomplete. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kingdom of Morocco on Friday announced to establish a multi-specialty field hospital in Juba, the capital of the conflict-ridden east-central African nation, South Sudan. Moroccan King Mohammed VI, who will be visiting the Republic of South Sudan, gave his instruction as part of a humanitarian mission for the people, an official statement said. "This field hospital has a capacity of 30 beds that can be extended to 60. It comprises 20 specialist doctors, 18 nurses and will provide medical services in various specialties including pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, traumatology, dentistry, ophthalmology and ENT medicine," said an official statement. According to a United Nations report, South Sudan is facing Africa's largest displacement crisis as conflict between government and opposition forces entered fourth year in 2017. The report adds that South Sudan is one of the most logistically challenging countries in the world. Morocco's Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan held a meeting in Juba with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Alor, in this regard. The Moroccan ministry statement added that the hospital will also have a medical laboratory and a pharmacy. "This action is part of the pan-African humanitarian tradition of the Kingdom. It is also part of the active solidarity of Morocco with the brotherly people of the Republic of South Sudan," a statement said. The UN refugee agency has said that over 6.1 million South Sudanese need urgent humanitarian assistance as disease and escalation of violence among other reasons have triggered food insecurity. --IANS kd/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A doctor from Thane resuscitated, gave first-aid and helped save the life of a passenger at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here early on Monday. Anaesthesiologist Gayatri Patankar had arrived from Dubai and just cleared customs when she saw an obese man in his mid-50s slumped on a wheelchair with a crowd gathered around him, around 11.30 p.m. "The onlookers informed that he suddenly fell and lost consciousness, I checked and he was cyanosed, limp and pulseless," Patankar told IANS. As the Mumbai International Airport Ltd. medical emergency team was summoned, she wasted no time and placed him on the floor and gave him a cardiac massage. A medical team arrived with an emergency kit and they continued CPR on the patient, giving shocks with a defibrillator. After the third shock, the patient started breathing and the airport medical team also reached by then at the spot. The patient, said to be from Mumbai, who arrived by an international flight, was administered certain injections and medicines. As he showed gradual signs of improvement, he was shifted to the Seven Hills Hospital at Marol, early Monday. Patankar said the hospital authorities informed her this evening that the patient was fine and recovering well. "It was the most fulfilling experience of my life as all the passengers around watched me. Later people clapped and saluted, one little girl even touched my feet. This is my greatest reward," Patankar said. A Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) official said another person who suffered a cardiac arrest had been similarly resuscitated at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on January 19 by the airport medical team. --IANS qn/vgu/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Are you a space enthusiast? Then there is a golden opportunity for you to decide where NASA's Juno spacecraft should aim its camera during its next close flyby of Jupiter on February 2. NASA has, for the first time, offered space enthusiasts an opportunity to vote on the site of images that the JunoCam will capture as the spacecraft approaches Jupiter's north pole on February 2, the space agency said in a statement. "We are looking forward to people visiting our website and becoming part of the JunoCam imaging team," said Candy Hansen, investigator in the Juno probe from the Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona. "It's up to the public to determine the best locations in Jupiter's atmosphere for JunoCam to capture during this flyby," Hansen added. JunoCam is a colour, visible-light camera designed to capture remarkable pictures of Jupiter's poles and cloud tops. Juno will make its closest approach to Jupiter when the spacecraft is about 4,300 kms above the planet's swirling clouds. Two hours later, the imaging will conclude as the spacecraft completes its close flyby, departing from below the gas giant's south pole. Juno is currently on its fourth orbit around Jupiter. It takes 53 days for Juno to complete one orbit. "The pictures JunoCam can take depict a narrow swath of territory the spacecraft flies over, so the points of interest imaged can provide a great amount of detail," Hansen said. The pictures will play a vital role in helping the Juno science team establish what is going on in Jupiter's atmosphere at any moment. Each participant will get a limited number of votes per orbit to devote to the points of interest he or she wants imaged. After the flyby is complete, the raw images will be posted to the JunoCam website, where the public can perform its own processing, NASA said. --IANS rt/na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stanley Tong, the director of the much awaited Indo-China film "Kung Fu Yoga" featuring Jackie Chan, said it is very difficult to work with the iconic film star. "It is not easy to work with Jackie Chan as he always wants to do something different in each of his films. At times, you go run out of ideas," Tong told media here during the press conference. "In last 25 years, every time I had to come with a new action sequence and that quite tough. Since there are many car chasing scenes had happen in past, we wanted to try something new and different; there came the idea of shooting with a lion inside the car," he said. The director was present along with the legendary Jackie Chan, Sonu Sood, Amyra Dastur, Disha Patani among others as a part of a promotional event of the film "Kung Fu Yoga". The story of the film is based on the lost Magadha treasure of India in Tibet. There is a reference of history that Tong enjoyed exploring while scripting and shooting the film, which widely took place in India and Beijing and some parts in Dubai and Iceland. Sharing his shooting experience, Tong said: "I love India, I came to India for the first time in 1993. That time, I was shooting in Hampi (Karnataka) and this time during the shoot of "Kung Fu Yoga" I explored various parts of Rajasthan." "I loved the culture and its beautiful architectures and history. In fact, the film is based on a historical story so I had to do some research work on that," he added. The film is scheduled for release in China on January 28 and in India on February 3. --IANS aru/pgh (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly after a week watching on the sidelines the Jallikattu protest on the Marina Beach, the Tamil Nadu Police on Monday morning started evicting the protesters. Jallikattu is a popular bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu. The police action comes a day after the state government organised Jallikattu in several places following the promulgation of an ordinance enabling the same. Not satisfied with that, the protesters demanded a "permanent" solution, that is, amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by the central government taking out bulls from the list of performing animals. The police arrived at Marina Beach on Sunday night. On Monday morning they urged the protesters to vacate Marina which was not heeded to. Following that the police started their eviction process by physically lifting the protesters. The police also baton charged the crowd. However, women and children were removed safely. The protesters ran towards the sea, stood there holding hands and shouted slogans. The police has cordoned off the routes to Marina Beach. The police has asked the protesters in other parts of the state to disperse. Agreeing to the request protesters in Tirunelveli district have decided to stop the protests. In Madurai, the protesters have decided to continue with the protests. However, talks are still on between them and the police. --IANS vj/lok (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a protest by a Muslim group here against the participation of controversial writer Taslima Nasreen at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the organisers on Monday said they will consider their request not to invite her again. Festival producer Sanjoy Roy said in a statement: "They expressed their anger... I heard them out. Explained we supported minorities in every way. Underscored that we are a platform for all points of view." Around 25-30 persons staged a protest outside Diggi Palace, saying that the writings of Taslima Nasrin denigrates Islam and that the organisers should not have invited her. Taslima's presence at the festival was not revealed earlier. The session was themed around her latest memoir "Exile" -- a cumulative chronicle of her days in Kolkata and the circumstances under which she was, in her own words, "hurriedly shifted, first to Jaipur and then to Delhi, confined to an obscure safe house, and facing incessant pressure from senior officials and politicians to leave India" and is replete with dark imageries and repeated provocations. In conversation with Salil Tripathi, the chair of the writers-in-prison committee of PEN International, the controversial writer said: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life." "They issue fatwas against you and they want to kill you. But why do they need to do so? If they disagree with me, they can write against me, share their views like we do. They can have conversations rather than fatwas." Nasreen said Muslim women are "oppressed" and that Uniform Civil Law is the need of the hour to protect the rights of women. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against Uniform Civil Law. Is not having Uniform Civil Law democratic?" she asked. From a poet in the late 1980s, Nasrin rose to global attention by the end of the 20th century owing to her essays and novels with feminist views and severe criticism of Islam. Her 1993 novel "Lajja" garnered severe criticism in Bangladesh. "Uniform Civil Law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why are they not ready to accept criticism. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she said. After multiple threats and attacks against her in the backdrop of her novel Lajja, Taslima escaped to Sweden in 1994 and spent the next 10 years in exile in Europe and America. Coming to India in 2004, she settled in Kolkata, where she lived till November 2007, followed by a move to New Delhi. she again moved to Sweden in 2008 and later worked as a research scholar at New York University. "Why shouldn't the Muslim women have the same rights? Is it democracy? Encouraging fundamentalists and misogynists from any side is neither democratic nor secular. I am against all kinds of fundamentalists. "Without serious criticism of Islam, you will not be able to make Islamic countries secular. The women will continue to suffer and be oppressed," said the 55-year-old writer. Nasreen also said that without freedom of expression, secularism has no meaning. Taslima is now a citizen of Sweden. She has been continuously getting Indian visas since 2004 and currently lives in New Delhi. --IANS ss/pgh/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A human rights group has called on various international organisations, including the UN, to ensure that the US immigration authorities comply with standard protocol, an official statement said. The Iberoamerican Federation of Ombudsman (FIO) called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure that human rights were complied with. The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) of Mexico on Sunday said that the FIO had sent letters to the International Organisation for Migration and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights as well, Efe News reported. The letters, signed by FIO President and Portuguese Ombudsman Jose de Faria Costa, appealed to the organisations to work "in favour of the fundamental rights of people in the context of migration that lay in the American Union," said CNDH in a bulletin. They also presented a statement reached by the General Assembly and the FIO Council on the measures by the US government that may affect the human rights of Ibero-Americans living there. The statement called for the development and implementation of a plan of action aimed at defending the rights of migrants and protecting their families, according to the letters signed by Faria Costa. Founded in 1995, the FIO is made up of 104 national, governmental, regional and local institutions from 20 countries that are dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights, including the CNDH. --IANS in/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday pledged to make constant efforts to address the issue of families separated after the 1950-53 Korean War. During a meeting on Monday for some of the families with long lost loved ones in North Korea, Hwang also urged Pyongyang to respond to Seoul's demands such as verifying whether the members of their divided families in the North are still alive or dead, Yonhap News Agency reported. "The (South Korean) government is well aware of the historical gravity of the issue of separated families, and will make every effort to help resolve it," Hwang said, deeming the issue as an "urgent" humanitarian one. The acting President underscored that the North has yet to respond to Seoul's proposals to hold the reunions of separated families on a regular basis, and allow the families living south and north of the heavily fortified border to exchange letters. "Without responding (to our demands), the North has repeatedly engaged in reckless provocations such as nuclear tests and missile launches," he said. According to government data, 131,143 people have been registered as having relatives living in North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported. A considerable number of them have already passed away, due in large part to old age. --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) House appropriations chairman says even if Obama's HHS approves plan at last minute, Trump has 90 days to scrap it House Appropriations Committee Chairman Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, during a December special session of the General Assembly. Dollar says it's unlikely Gov. Roy Cooper's Medicaid expansion proposal will survive the change of administrations in Washington. (CJ photo by Don Carrington) Gov. Roy Cooper's plan to expand Medicaid is likely to die soon after Donald Trump takes office, a key state lawmaker says.State House Appropriations Committee Chairman Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, said President Trump will place "a new group in charge" unlikely to support Medicaid expansion in the way the outgoing Obama administration has.Cooper's office did not respond to several requests for comment. Nor did representatives of the state Department of Health and Human Services.Dollar said.Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Trump's pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, believes Obamacare and its Medicaid expansion provisions have failed to lower costs, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes as promised.Price chairs the House Budget Committee and sits on the Congressional Health Care Caucus. During his confirmation hearing Wednesday, he was question by Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., about a replacement bill for Obamacare that he wrote. The budget bill eliminates funding for Medicaid expansion.Even if Obama administration holdoversDollar said, the Trump administration has a 90-day "look-back" periodCooper's proposal was blocked by a 14-day restraining order that runs through Jan. 28. U.S. District Court Judge Louise Flanagan issued the ruling on Saturday. It bars federal approval of Cooper's $6 billion plan to expand Medicaid for 500,000 to 650,000 mostly single, able-bodied, working-age males.Dollar said. Normally CMS does not consider a state plan amendment unless the executive and legislative branches agree on it.Moreover, the General Assembly in 2013 enacted a state law granting the legislative branch sole authority to make Medicaid changes and expansion. Cooper's request isDollar said.Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, filed the motion in federal court to block Cooper's plan. They maintain it is illegal and unconstitutional. Dollar says it would be unprecedented for the Obama administration to approve Cooper's plan days after it was filed when the normal approval period ranges from six months to several years. The state and outgoing U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell on Monday filed separate motions asking Flanagan to lift her order. The court has not responded.Carolina Journal attempted to learn from federal officials how laws and regulations would treat Cooper's plan after President Obama leaves office, but had little success.Replying to a list of questions, CMS, the agency that administers Medicaid, issued a brief statement saying "CMS continues to work with the state, and cannot comment on pending legislation or speculate on timetables" on the fate of the governor's Medicaid amendment.said a spokesman for U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, who co-chairs the House's State Medicaid Expansion Caucus and sits on the House subcommittee on health.after Trump assumes office, the spokesman said.Neither the state's two Republican U.S. senators, Thom Tillis, and Richard Burr, who sits on the committee that held Wednesday's confirmation hearings for Price, nor U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-8th District, who sits on the House subcommittee on health, responded to requests for comment. West Bengal Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkaystha on Monday warned of "strict action" against those spreading rumours to cause unrest in the state. "Some people are spreading rumours about instances of robbery, molestation and child abduction by a group of armed and masked men in different districts and bordering areas of West Bengal. We are very much aware of this. Police will take strictest action against these mischief mongers who are spreading these rumours," Purkaystha said in a press conference. "The rumours are being spread just to create a sense of restlessness in the state. We have already arrested 25 people for spreading rumours and assaulting people," he said. Rumours were spread in villages across West Bengal's Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Burdwan districts that a large group of masked men are roaming around in the area and resorting to violence, robbery, child abduction and molestation. Some social media posts also accused the police of inactivity and asked the villagers to take action against the miscreants. Amid mass intimidation, several instances of mass beatings have taken place in the last one week. A mob in Burdwan district's Kalna lynched a man and severely injured four others suspecting them of child trafficking. A woman and his mother from Nadia district's Kalyani were also beaten up by a crowd in Ranaghat based on those rumours on Saturday. Both women had to be hospitalised. "We do not want any innocent people to be unnecessarily targeted. They should not be victimised because of such rumours," the State Police Chief said. --IANS mgr/ssp/vgu/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday said it had extended support to the Congress during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The RSS took out its 'Path Sanchalan' (procession) here in the capital of Christian-majority state Meghalaya with a mission to unite India. The Sangh also appealed to the people in the state not to believe media reports or allegations made by "divisive forces" about the organization. "The RSS is a nationalist organisation. We had also supported then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 in the interest of India," RSS pracharak Sunil Mohanty in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh told journalists here in Meghalaya. "Any political party or any social organisation which is contributing towards the nationalistic cause, definitely the RSS will help. But for instance, if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does anything which harms the national integration, how can we support?" he said. Recently, a Meghalaya Congress minister Zenith M. Sangma had alleged that the RSS is helping the BJP in Meghalaya keeping in mind the 2018 Assembly polls. Nearly 800 RSS cadres -- mostly from the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities from 41 villages in 10 districts across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills areas -- donning its new uniform - brownish trousers and white shirts and armed with sticks marched from Madan Iewrynghep to Gorkha Pathshala Higher Secondary School playground. For the second consecutive year, the RSS cadres took out a march in Shillong to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 120th birth anniversary "People should not judge the RSS without understanding its work. You should not develop any 'fear' about the 'socio-cultural' body," Mohanty told the gathering. Exhorting the tribesmen in northeastern states not to judge the RSS without understanding its work, Mohanty said, "There are a lot of misgivings about the RSS. But the RSS aims to unite the country. You may belong to any group or any religion, but we are all brothers and sisters of India." He said the RSS works for character building of the individual, and through these, to build up a strong organisation in order to take the country to the pinnacle of development. "Development should be all-round. A developed India will bring peace in the world, and India has tremendous quality to lead the world," Mohanty said. --IANS rrk/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu on Monday passed a law legalising the conduct of Jallikattu - the popular bull taming sport - in the state which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014. The law now replaces the ordinance that was promulgated amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act on January 21. An ordinance has a life of six months and it would lapse unless a law is passed to replace that. The bill was moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselavam in the state assembly, and was passed quickly. The law seeks to protect Jallikattu from legal challenges. Earlier in the day, Governor C.H. Vidyasagar Rao told the assembly that the bill to replace the ordinance issued to enable holding of Jallikattu will be placed in the assembly immediately. The passage of bill was welcomed by the Jallikattu activists. Speaking to reporters, P. Rajasekhar, President of the Jallikattu Peravai, welcomed the law. While the assembly took up the bill for discussion, former judge Hari Parandhaman explained the aspects in detail to the protesters for Jallikattu at Marina. He assured the protesters that the law is a permanent solution protecting Jallikattu. The law while legalising the sport also laid out various safety measures in favour of the bulls and the manner in which the sport should be held. Meanwhile, the protesters have demanded a permanent solution -- amendment of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by the central government removing bull from the list of performing animals. --IANS vj/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A taxi driver was killed when an over-speeding BMW car rammed into his vehicle here, Delhi Police said on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday around 11.30 p.m. near Indian Institute of Technology hostel bus stop in south Delhi, police said, adding that 24-year-old Shoaib Kohli has been arrested in the case from Panchsheel area of south Delhi. "Nazrul, 32, a native of West Bengal, was driving his Wagon-R taxi when a speeding BMW having a registration number of Chandigarh collided with his car after he took a turn near IIT hostel road," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ishwar Singh told IANS. The driver of the BMW had at that time managed to flee from the spot, while Nazrul was rushed to AIIMS trauma centre in critical condition where he later succumbed to his injuries, Singh added. --IANS sp/vn/sm/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After popular actor Pawan Kalyan, several other Telugu stars have come forward to declare their support for proposed protest in Visakhapatnam on January 26 over special category status to Andhra Pradesh. The stars tweeted on Monday that they will support the protest to bring pressure on the Centre to fulfil its promise to Special Category Status (SCS). Inspired by the mass protest over Jallikattu in Chennai, which was supported by Tamil actors, several youth in Andhra Pradesh through social media mooted the idea of a silent protest at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam. Leading actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan was first to declare his support. "If youth of Andhra Pradesh are planning to do a silent protest at R.K. Beach, Jana Sena will support them," he tweeted. Leader of opposition and YSR Congress chief Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy announced on Monday that he will back any programme to achieve SCS. Following in their footsteps, young actors including Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Sundeep Kishan, Tanish, Sampoornesh Babu and Siva Balaji , threw their weight behind the protest plan. "Will be supporting anything that is for the welfare of the people of our states! I Support the Special Status of AP! #APDemandsSpecialStatus," declared Varun Tej. "Its time for us to be united and fight for what we were promised and deserve #ApDemandsSpecialStatus #SilentProtest," tweeted Sai Dharam Tej. "Will be taking part in the Silent Protest in Vizag on the 26th,to do my bit as a responsible citizen..pls join us..," announced Sundeep Kishan. "My Ticket is confirmed to Vizag. See you there. Hum Jeetne tak ladenge... special status leke hi rahenge, AP DEMANDS SPECIAL STATUS," tweeted Sampoornesh Babu --IANS ms/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted theatre and film personality M.K. Raina on Monday said a university is a safety valve for a democratic system "where there is a space for youngsters to create ideas and work on innovations". He added that folk music, theatre and other cultural activities are symbolic of a composite society and these arts need to be researched. Raina was speaking at the inaugural function of the three-day international conference of Indian Society for Theatre Research (ISTR) on "travelling performance and theatre cultures: Assessing Praxis, Paradigms and Perspectives" at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Raina also delivered a plenary address on "Theatre in Conflict: A Case of Kashmir". He urged the AMU administration to start a separate department for theatre studies. Presiding over the function, AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah (retd) said it is imperative for theatre professionals and researchers to accept necessary changes, which are taking place in today's world. He added that the existing cinema world in India and other countries has a huge contribution from theatre personalities. Shah further said that there is, however, a need for theatre to become more versatile. Ravi Chaturvedi, Founder President, ISTR addressed the gathering by providing insights on travelling performances and its evolution in India. David Whitton of Lancaster University in Britain said theatre performances and plays have always been a part of mainstream education and humans have the tendency to these cultural activities in their daily lives. Boris Dausa Pastor of Intitut Del Teater at Barcelona in Spain said Indian folk cultural activities including the street plays and theatre has a huge impact on him and he is particularly interested in exploring more from the folk theatre. Delivering the key-note address, Dattatreya Dutt of Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkata talked about the history of theatre culture and the obstacles faced. Vibha Sharma, Organising Secretary of the Conference, talked about the focus areas of the Conference, which included deliberations on Jatra, Nautanki, Chaon and Sufi folk, among other topics. --IANS bk/pgh/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Emerging designer Gaurav Khanijo says menswear fashion week should take place in the country as there is great potential in the market for men, when it comes to fashion. Asked if he feels there should be more of menswear fashion week, Khanijo told IANS in an e-mail interaction: "Yes, definitely! Fashion is serious business and we need to promote the same on a larger scale for it to grow because there is a great potential in the menswear market." The designer, who is all set to showcase his collection at the forthcoming Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017 under his label Khanijo, says there is need to revive fashion week for men to promote menswear more. Does he feel that Indian men are willing to experiment when it comes to fashion? Khanijo said: "Yes, thanks to the internet, social media, fashion magazines, celebrity stylists, online fashion retailers... Stylists have to be given credit for the same. When they don't play it safe, the men also feel it safe to play out-of-the-box. The exposure is there now because of which more and more men are willing to experiment," he said. The designer is all set to showcase 16 looks at the fashion gala, which commences on February 1. He would be showcasing ensembles in dirty powder pastels, neutral oatmeal, browns and ivory. Talking about the fabrics, the designer says: "The fabrics are mostly linens (Indian, Irish and Italian), cottons and handloom silk blends. Working with natural fabrics is a signature of the label." Khanijo, who is known for his minimal designs for the collection he designs for men, says there is not much to experiment with the menswear silhouettes. "But there is enough room for us to experiment in terms of cuts, textures, fabrics, and finishes. We try as much as we can to play around with fabrics and colours," he added. The five-day fashion gala concludes on February 5, when celebrated designer Anita Dongre will be bringing the curtains down with her 'Liquid Gold' collection. --IANS dc/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shortly after assuming office as the 45th US President, Donald Trump tweeted saying he was "honered" to have been sworn in as the leader, evoking wide-spread response on the Twitter. According to a report in the Independent on Sunday, Trump wrote in a now deleted tweet: "I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!" Though the British and US spellings of the word 'honoured' are different, the way Trump spelled it was incorrect. Although, the tweet was quickly removed, a number of people had already responded to the US President's spelling 'mishap'. The report quoted a Twitter user accusing Trump of being "the most illiterate president ever". According to some commentators, the deleting of Trump's tweet, which was made from the official President of the United States (POTUS) account, could have been illegal. "Under the terms of the Presidential Records Act, all records and documents relating to the US President must be preserved. Former presidents have interpreted this to include social media posts," the report noted. It is still to be known if Trump's team has archived his deleted tweet. "We eventually set up auto-archiving for official platforms, so errors could be corrected while preserving the original," Ezra Mechaber, a former aide to Barack Obama, was quoted as saying. Recently, Trump tweeted that China's seizure of a US Navy research drone was an "unpresidented" act, misspelling the word "unprecedented". --IANS qd/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the "threats" posed by Iran. The new leader on Sunday told Netanyahu over phone that peace between Israel and Palestine can only be "directly" negotiated by the two parties, Efe news cited a White House statement as saying. Trump invited the Israeli leader to visit Washington early next month, Netanyahu's office said. The President also reiterated his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security", the White House statement said. Meanwhile, the Israeli premier's office said "the two leaders discussed the nuclear deal with Iran, the peace process with the Palestinians and other issues". A statement from Netanyahu's office said the Israeli Prime Minister "expressed his desire to work closely with Trump to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region". The two leaders agreed to keep in close consultation about a series of regional matters, and Trump told Netanyahu that the fight against the Islamic State militant group and other "radical Islamist" groups will be a priority of his government, the White House said. --IANS py/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newly-inaugurated US President Donald Trump thanked his predecessor Barack Obama for a letter for him in the Oval Office but said he will not be divulging its contents to the media. "I just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama," Trump said on Sunday, addressing senior staff members before they were sworn-in. "It was really very nice of him to do that and we will cherish that. We will keep that and we won't even tell the press what's in that letter." In the letter President George W. Bush left for Obama, Bush said there would be "trying moments" during his presidency and warned Obama that "critics will rage" and said your "'friends' will disappoint you", The Hill magazine reported. "But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me," Bush wrote. In the letter President Bill Clinton wrote to Bush in 2001, Clinton saluted and wished him "success and much happiness". "The burdens you now shoulder are great but often exaggerated. The sheer joy of doing what you believe is right is inexpressible," Clinton wrote. --IANS ksk/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I want to thank my colleagues for their assistance in the committee assignment process and wish each chair a successful session presiding over deliberations and making decisions to improve the lives of North Carolinians. The House is fortunate to return experienced chairs to many committees and add new leaders with fresh vision to other key roles." "I have the highest confidence that each chair will work successfully with their committee members to fix complex policy problems, pass historic reforms and find solutions for the most important issues in our state." Contact: Skye David Skye David Chris.malone@ncleg.net Raleigh, NC, January 19, 2017: 3rd Term House Member Representative Chris Malone (HD-35, Wake County) issued the following statement on being selected as Deputy Majority Whip:- Rep MaloneMajority Leader John Bell said:House Committee Chairs were also announced this week for the upcoming legislative session, and Representative Malone was appointed as returning Chair of both the Wildlife Resources Committee and the Appropriations Committee for Health and Human Services.Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) announced standing committee chairs on Tuesday for the 2017 legislative session of the North Carolina House of Representatives:Representative Malone's House district 35 encompasses a large swath of northern and eastern Wake County, including, Wendell, Zebulon, Knightdale, Rolesville, Raleigh, and his hometown of Wake Forest. His office has recently moved from the Legislative Office Building to the Legislative Building at 16 W. Jones St. You may find his office in Room 1229. US President Donald Trump has reiterated he will soon renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and discuss immigration when he meets the leaders of Canada and Mexico. "Anybody ever hear of NAFTA," Fox news quoted Trump as saying during a White House swearing-in of several top administration officials, including senior adviser Kellyanne Conway. "I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA, on immigration and security at the border. And Mexico has been terrific." Trump in his campaign last year promised to renegotiate the 22-year-old trade deal and provide more favourable terms to the US. The new President will meet his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on January 31. A meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected soon, according to the White House. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said. Pena Nieto and Trudeau in a phone conversation on Sunday agreed to join forces to encourage economic integration in North America, according to a statement from the Mexican President's office. "Trump is committed to renegotiating NAFTA. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, he will give notice of the US intent to withdraw from NAFTA," reads Trump's America First Foreign Policy published on the website of the White House. Since the New York mogul's victory in last year's election, both Canada and Mexico have said they will reexamine the free trade agreement with the new US administration. Canada has said it expects to keep its 1989 bilateral free trade agreement with the US if Trump withdraws from NAFTA. Canadian Ambassador to the US David MacNaughton on Sunday said the country was not the focus of US efforts to renegotiate NAFTA, suggesting the Trump administration was more concerned about trade deficits with Mexico. During a surprise trip to Mexico City to meet Pena Nieto in August, Trump said: "I shared my strong view (with Pena Nieto) that NAFTA has been a far greater benefit to Mexico than it has been to the US and that it must be improved to make sure that workers, so important, in both countries benefit from fair and reciprocal trade." Mexico shuddered at the comment. The trade pact has helped Mexico channel 80 per cent of exports to its neighbour and an improvement Trump wants might mean huge losses for Mexico, Xinhua news agency reported. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, created one of the world's largest free trade zones by reducing or eliminating tariffs on most products. --IANS py/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Turkish government on Monday issued a decree closing down two television channels and dismissed 367 officials for endangering national security. The decree also announced the creation of a commission of investigation as part of the state of emergency in force since July 2016, to deal with cases of officials dismissed by this measure, Efe news reported. In addition, 124 other public employees, expelled in previous decrees, were re-admitted in the new decree. The majority of the dismissed employees come mainly from the ministry of the interior, municipal governments and the department of religious affairs. Kanal 12 and On4 TV, two local television channels, were closed for "working against the national security" and their ownership was transferred to the state treasury. --IANS ksk/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With reference to RBI independence: The middle ground (January 23), the author has summed up the issue of Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) autonomy succinctly when he says that all humans are the same everywhere, and all humans desire arbitrary power. Keeping in mind the influence of NRIs on Punjab voters, the Congress has deployed around 400 of them from countries such as the UK, the US, Canada, Denmark and Germany to swing the polls in its favour. Around 50 such NRIs headed by Daljit Singh Sahota met former PM Manmohan Singh and were flagged off in a bus from the All India Congress Committee headquarters by veteran Janardan Dwivedi and Asha Kumari, who is in charge of Punjab affairs. The remaining bunch of NRIs are camping in Chandigarh and will visit their native villages to canvass for Congress candidates. Priyanka Vadra, who played a key role in stitching the Congress-Samajwadi Party pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh, is unlikely to step out of the Nehru-Gandhi family bastions Rae Bareli and Amethi to seek votes for the party's nominees in the assembly elections. On a day the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress announced an alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its second list of 155 candidates. In what could be seen as an announcement of Priyanka Gandhi's arrival, several senior Congress leaders on Sunday acknowledged the role of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in striking an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh. A senior Congress leader told IANS that Priyanka Gandhi played a key role in sealing the deal with the SP. Senior Congress functionaries Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is also the in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, separately acknowledged Priyanka's role in giving the final shape to the alliance with the SP, which at one point had hit a roadblock. Another low came in the talks when the Congress reportedly sent "political lightweights" like Prashant Kishor to negotiate with the SP leadership. However, the Congress on Sunday said there were no "political lightweights" and Priyanka Gandhi herself was involved in the talks. "(It's) wrong to suggest that lightweights were dealing on behalf of the Congress party. Discussion was at highest level between the UP Chief Minister, Congress' General Secretary in-charge of UP and Priyanka Gandhi," Patel, who is political advisor to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, tweeted. "I have not spoken to any leader from the Samajwadi Party. News reports mentioning this are incorrect," he said. Separately, Azad said that Priyanka Gandhi played a crucial role in forging the alliance with the SP, according to which the Congress would contest 105 seats while the SP will fight on 298 seats. The SP was initially offering Congress around 90 seats, while the latter was not ready to accept anything less than 120. The talks hit a roadblock, but the two parties finally pulled off a deal and formally announced an alliance at a joint presser in Lucknow. Priyanka, Congress sources said, will campaign extensively in the polls, with Rahul Gandhi as well as separately. She may also campaign along with Dimple Yadav, the wife of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The acknowledgement of her proactive role by the Congress party -- for the first time perhaps -- is significant as it portends the change of guard and a generational shift at the Congress. A first day of indirect peace talks between Syrian rebels and the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Kazakhstan's capital Astana ended today without any apparent breakthrough. "Our delegation's meetings are over for today," a source close to the regime told AFP, after rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told reporters the opposition's meetings were also done for the day. Today's talks, organised by rebel backer Turkey and regime allies Russia and Iran, could have marked the first time armed rebel groups directly negotiate with Assad's regime since the conflict began in 2011. But the rebels backed out of direct talks because of the regime's ongoing bombardment and attacks near Damascus. The rebels, however, participated in indirect talks with the regime and held a three-way meeting with Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, an encounter Aridi described as "long and productive". Aridi told reporters the "two sides are working on issues relating to the confirmation of the ceasefire" brokered last month by Ankara and Moscow. He said that the rebel delegation had met with Russia -- which launched a bombing campaign in support of Assad in September 2015 -- and discussed "achieving a ceasefire in Syria". The talks are scheduled to continue on Tuesday, with Aridi saying he expected they would take place "through mediation." More than 310,000 people have been killed and more than half of Syria's population displaced since the start of the nearly six-year conflict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a jolt to the ruling Congress in Manipur ahead of assembly elections in March, its state Vice- president and two MLAs today resigned from the party's primary membership. Legislators Nemcha Kipgen and Vungzagin Valte submitted their resignation letters to party President TN Haokip as well as to Speaker Th Lokeshwor, they said. With the resignation, the strength of Congress has gone down to 45 seats in the 60-member House. Kipgen had been elected in the last assembly polls from Kangpokpi constituency which had recently been upgraded into Kangpokpi district. Valte was elected from Thanlon assembly constituency. Vice-president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) S Achouba also resigned from the primary membership of the party. Incidentally, the state's move to carve out seven new districts has triggered protests by Manipur's apex Naga organisation United Naga Council (UNC). Last year, three veteran Congress heavyweights N Biren, Y Erabot and Francis Ngajokpa had resigned and joined the BJP. Elections for the 60-member Manipur Assembly will be held in two phases, on March 4 and March 8. BJP, which is in direct fight with the Congress in the state, is unlikely to project any chief ministerial candidate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I confess, as a Beaufort County Commissioner, I sometimes wonder what is really going on. I got that feeling as I was preparing for the January Commissioners meeting. An item was on the agenda that seemed to have no purpose. Even more puzzling was the cast of characters. Five of the 16 dubbed with the title of " Leader" are county employees ranking as department heads or better. Even more suspicious, they were not asking for money.My curiosity is always aroused when these conditions are present at a Commissioners meeting.The group is a new corporation called "Beaufort County 360". According to he Secretary of State Beaufort County 360 was incorporated on August 1 of 2016 as a non profit whose purpose is to make charitable and educational distributions to other non profits in order to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Beaufort County. All of this sounds good but does not tell us what they do.Turns out this is the same group created by a Federal grant program generally called "Race to the Top Transformation Zone". The funding ended around July of 2016. The original group consisted of four counties, Beaufort, Hyde, Bertie and Chowan. A part of their focus was early childhood education "through a process of improved cross-sector system collaboration to positively impact children and their families" (their words not mine). Translation, social engineering. One of their services was to pre school children. Study after study has shown that one cannot distinguish between children who have been through the "More at Four" and other social engineering programs after the third grade from those who did not go through the programs. For example, the group is also interested in healthy eating.Beaufort County 360 is presently funded by Vidant. Here is what they get out of it. All of the health care services such as healthy eating, and diabetic services ,etc go to helping Vidant improve their problems with patients returning in less than 30 days after being discharged. This is a big deal with Medicare and Medicaid. Vidant has already been disciplined for too many patients returning for re admission within 30 days of leaving the hospital.The mantra of all these groups is basically the same. That is some fancy language that is non specific and all encompassing that can mean whatever is needed on any given day. To give you an example. I quote from their presentation: "The development of a county-wide strategic plan that: increased collaboration among cross-sector community leaders and invested residents, considering the voices of the community members to drive plan creation" What does that mean? It is deliberately not understandable. They further state their collective vision is for our residents to be healthy, our children to be ready for school and our residents to be economically secure. There are several pages in their presentation about promoting healthy eating habits and strengthening families. More Obama social engineering.Consider that the Health Director, the Social Services Director, the County Planning Director, and the County Manager are members of Beaufort County 360. The remaining eleven members are either funded by grants, reciepients of grant benefits or consultants or are otherwise indirectly paid from Beaufort County, State of Federal tax funds.This is a group of left over Obama social engineering experimenters whose purpose is to bridge the gap between the wild social experiments carried out by the Obama White House and the incoming conservative Trump administration. Their purpose is to keep the failed social experiments of the Obama administration alive by collaborating to use County funds and grants to continue what Obama started. This is another grant mill.Looking at this through my eyes as a county commissioner we already have a Social ServicesDepartment, a Health Department, a Planning Department and a County Manager. All of these people are supposed to be aware of the things described above. Why do we need these employees to lobby the commissioners and the public for more handouts. From and ethics and conflict of interest viewpoint, can any one of these people honestly do the bidding of the Board of Commissioners and represent the tax paying citizens of this County while being a member of a group whose purpose is to expand the size and expense of government. It is a certainty that this commissioner does not support more government, social engineering. more grants and expense.None of these "Leaders" has asked the Board of Commissioners for permission to join this group. Because there is such a conflict between their employment duties and the goals of Beaufort County 360, permission is required in my opinion.More social engineering means more expense which means increased taxes, whether county, state or federal.These groups all operate the same way. They innocently show up, talking good deeds. They come back later during the budget process reminding us that we have some how approved their existence and purpose for being, and ask for a hand out. They usually have several liberal (both Democrat and Republican) commissioners who support their cause.There is no doubt that they do have some legitimate causes. However, I have a duty to protect the tax payers from the misuse of their money whether it is used for social engineering or vote buying. The present board of commissioners does donate taxpayer money to individual commissioners favorite charities. In return they get a few votes, bought with tax money.I challenged the Beaufort County 360 group because of serious ethical conflicts when county employees, lobby for county funds for social experiments. Or when department heads are lobbying for any programs other than those approved by the Commissioners.The Beaufort County budget preparation begins in January of each year. We will probably see several similar groups make presentations at Commissioner meeting between now and June. The more innocent these presentations sound the more guilty they are. Here is how it works. Those who want money from the taxpayers will lobby 3 or 4 commissioners who promise support. These are almost always the Democrats and RINOs who are afraid to say "NO" because they may loose a vote. The group then makes an innocent appearance before the commissioners telling us how their project will benefit mankind. The manager slips their request into the budget. Notice that there is no cost benefit analysis. Commissioners do not require reports on how the money is used. The money is co-mingled with the groups other funds, if any.This process will continue until we stop doing continuation budgets by electing conservative commissioners. Conservative commissioners believe in smaller government, less regulation and more personal responsibility. Police have arrested 22 suspects in connection with producing illegal drugs and seized 550 kilogrammes of ketamine in southwest China's Guizhou Province, authorities said today. In the largest haul of the drug in the province in recent years police have arrested 12 suspects in connection with producing illegal drugs, and seized 450 kilograms of ketamine in southwest China's Guizhou Province, authorities said. Police began investigating the case in December after a Guangdong native was reported to be purchasing raw materials and organising "technicians"to produce the drug in Guizhou's Shiqian County, according to an official withGuizhou drug control office. Led by the Ministry of Public Security, police in Guizhou and Guangdong jointly carried out operations on January 11. The official said that two of the suspects were caught in Guangdong and the others in Guizhou. Police in central China's Hubei Province have seized 10 suspects involved in trafficking 100 kilogrammes of methamphetamine. Police in Hubei's Yicheng city said yesterday that they started to investigate the traffickers in March last year. They spent nine months tracking the ten-member gang, who had brought drugs from Guangdong Province to Hubei. The main suspect, identified as Ma, said that he had bought the drugs from a person in Hong Kong for 2.1 million yuan (USD 300,000). All the suspects are in criminal detention, and further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 22-year-old woman from Karnataka was found dead under suspicious circumstances on the "up ramp" of PVNR Expressway near pillar number 76, here today, police said. The deceased has been identified as Kavya Sree M, working as a security guard at Gachibowli, they said, adding she was residing at Attapur here. "We are suspecting it to be a hit-and-run case and registered offence under section 304A (causing death by negligence) of IPC," Langer House Police Station Inspector Md Javeed told PTI. "We are verifying how she went there (up ramp)...She was not on a two-wheeler," the Inspector said. PVNR Expressway connects the city towards International Airport at Shamshabad area and two-wheelers are not allowed to ply on it. Further probe is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Sikhs have been granted approval to serve in the US Army with their religious insignia intact, days after the army issued a new regulation under which servicemen who wear turbans, hijabs or beards can be enrolled in the military. This is the largest induction of Sikhs into the US armed forces after the Department of Defense banned visible articles of faith in 1981. The new rules made public on January 4, eliminate bureaucratic hurdles that had previously discriminated against Sikhs. The new set of rules, issued by Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, allows religious accommodations to be approved at the brigade-level. Previously it was at the level of Secretary. "After a 35-year presumptive ban on observant Sikhs, our nation's largest employer has taken a vital step in embracing policies that reflect the rich diversity of our nation," said Sikh Coalition Legal Director, Harsimran Kaur. "We look forward to permanent policy change across all branches of the military so that all religious minorities can freely serve without exception," she said. Private Shabaddeep Singh Jammu, an Infantry Recruit who was born and raised in Elk Grove, California, vowed to follow a path of service after tragically losing his brother in 2013. "The ability to serve my country and faith has been a lifelong goal. I'm now honoring my brother while pursuing a career that serves our nation without compromising my beliefs," he said. According to Sikh Coalition, the religious accommodations bring the new total to at least 14 Sikh American soldiers now serving with their religious articles of faith in the US Army. Under the previous policy, these accommodations involved a burdensome case-by-case process, were brought up the chain of command to the secretary-level, and were subject to annual review and revocation. Now, they can be granted at the brigade-level and can only be revoked if the Army identifies a specific, concrete hazard. This policy does not apply to the other branches of the US military. The Sikh Coalition and McDermott Will & Emery have led advocacy efforts to end religious discrimination in the US military since 2009. In 2014, Becket Law joined these efforts and served as co-counsel. In the last year, the Truman National Security Project has also been an instrumental partner on this campaign, adding critical government connections and policy expertise, a media release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least six security personnel were today injured in an IED blast targeting their vehicle in northwest Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The blast happened in Tank district when the Frontier Corps personnel were on a routine patrol in the vehicle. The improvised explosive device (IED) planted by a roadside in Molazai Mor area went off and injured six security personnel, officials said. The injured were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital in Tank. No group has claimed the blast. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aviation regulator DGCA, which is probing the incident of an IndiGo flight aborting take off from Mumbai Airport due to an engine "failure" last week, may handover the inquiry to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), sources said. AAIB, the apex probe body under the Civil Aviation Ministry, has a mandate to investigate accidents/serious incidents involving Indian aircraft. "We have started our probe into the incident. However, if the preliminary findings suggest some serious issue, we may ask the AAI to take over the investigation," DGCA sources said. The Commander of the flight 6E-248, which had 165 passengers and six crew members onboard, had to reject the take off at the last minute from Mumbai's Chhtrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai for New Delhi on Saturday night after one of its engine failed with a loud noise and sparks. "After opening take off power, the captain observed a technical snag. Hence rejected take-off and came back to bay due to precautionary reasons," IndiGo had said in the statement adding a loud noise was heard by crew and passengers, some passengers seemed to have observed a flash of light. Significantly, this was the third time in last one week that an IndiGo plane suffered a technical glitch either midair or on the ground. On January 17 IndiGo flight 6E-5263 operating on Delhi -Bagdogra route was diverted to Varanasi and made an emergency landing there after one of its engine's failed midway. A day later, another IndiGo aircraft which had flown from Delhi for Dibrugarh made an emergency landing at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport after being diverted to Kolkata for a technical snag. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cocking a snook at the Election Commission after it censured him for asking voters in Goa to accept bribe from other parties but vote for AAP, a defiant Arvind Kejriwal today demanded that the poll panel allow him to repeat his comments as those were aimed at checking graft. The Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor also suggested that he be made the EC's "brand ambassador" for his efforts to check bribery in polls. "By stopping me to say what I am saying, the Election Commission is not stopping corruption, but encouraging it. I hope you (the EC) will re-examine this. "Through this comment, I am trying to stop bribery. In fact, the Election Commission should make me its brand ambassador," Kejriwal said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi. "I hope you (the EC) will review the issue and will allow me repeat my comments," he said, two days after he was censured by the Commission, which warned of strong action, including derecognition of AAP, if the Delhi chief minister repeated his comments. BJP reacted strongly to Kejriwal's letter to the EC, saying it "denigrated" the poll watchdog and the entire election process. "Kejriwal, a self-proclaimed Chief Justice of Indian politics who also has a constitution bench of corrupt ministers, has again and again repeated his bribery remarks. By doing this he is not only denigrating the credibility of Election Commission but also the entire voting process," BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said. By asking voters to accept bribe, Kejriwal is instigating the people to engage in corruption, against which his entire politics is based, Patra told reporters here. The EC, while censuring Kejriwal had said his statement amounted to "abetting and promoting electoral offence of bribery". "Kejriwal wants to be Delhi Chief Minister on odd days, Punjab Chief Minister on even days and Goa Chief Minister on holidays. But, now when his desire to become chief minister of three states at the same time has shattered, he is frustrated and saying all this," Patra said, using Delhi government's road rationing scheme to target him over AAP's ambitious electoral campaign in Punjab and Goa. The EC's censure, however, failed to rein in Kejriwal, who claimed he was trying to end corruption through his remarks and that the EC can publicise his statement to deal with bribery and corruption during elections. "We have shown this in Delhi election. People took money from BJP and Congress, but voted for us. If the Election Commission uses my statement and propagates it, then in two years, the political parties will stop distributing notes," Kejriwal said. He also said the EC has not been able to stop corruption in the last 70 years and if his remarks were used for anti- bribery propaganda during polls, the menace can be ended in two years. "A court in Delhi had ruled that a similar statement I made earlier does not amount to bribery," he said in the letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Airlines accounted for over 65 per cent of the complaints received by the Civil Aviation ministry in the last two months through its recently launched digital grievance redressal platform, AirSewa. The portal received a total of 933 complaints since its launch in November last year and 613 of them pertained to the airlines, according to an analysis. Of these, 749 grievances, which constitute 80.2 per cent of the total complaints, have already been closed, according to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha. "#AirSewa at work to solve grievance of air travellers with complete closures of 80% cases," Sinha said in a tweet. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had on November 25 last year rolled out AirSewa portal and a mobile app for enabling the fliers to register their grievances relating to all segment of the sector --airlines, airports, regulator, nodal aviation safety agency BCAS, among others -- as well as immigration. The portal offers passengers options to upload their voice or video along with an elaborate description of their issues. Between November 25, 2016 and January 19 this year, 33 complaints were received over security matters, 15 complaints were related to immigration issues. The number of complaints received by the portal during the period on issues relating to Directorate General of Civil Aviation was 17, the analysis showed. They also disclosed that 9.2 per cent of the total grievances were pending for resolution within the timeline while only 10.6 per cent complaints were pending for redressal beyond the stipulated timeline. The fliers availing the portal services are given a unique reference number for each of their reported grievances which is also communicated to them through an email as well as an SMS. The users can track the status and response to these grievances through the mobile application as well as the web application based on the reference number provided. Once the grievance is closed, the user has an option to provide his feedback and rate the overall experience and satisfaction. For this purpose, nodal officers have been selected for all stakeholder agencies to address the grievance in a time bound manner. Each grievance shared is directed to the responsible nodal agency for resolution based on the grievance category chosen by the complainant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amazon India has partnered with the Nagaland government and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to enable women entrepreneurs in the state to sell their products online. Under the partnership, Amazon.In will conduct extensive training and skill development workshops to help women entrepreneurs in Nagaland understand nuances related to online selling, Amazon India said in a statement today. It will also help them to develop skills and capabilities necessary to nurture successful online enterprises, it added. The programme also aims to encourage cottage industries in Nagaland by helping them grow through online commerce. As part of the initiative, a one-stop centre will be created. Amazon India aims to promote the flourishing cottage industries in the region and unlock unique selection of products such as hand-woven items, intricate metalwork, woodwork, stonework, pottery and basketry, it said. "Through this partnership, we look forward to fostering entrepreneurship and empowerment among women in Nagaland by giving them the opportunity to experience India's digital economy firsthand," Amazon India Director and GM (Seller Services) Gopal Pillai said. With specialised training, skill development workshops, technology support and market access at zero initial cost, the initiative will not only boost the cottage industry run by women in Nagaland, but also lead to the overall advancement of women e-entrepreneurs from the state, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Chennai Police today said anti-social elements had "crept" into the pro-Jallikattu protests here, which turned violent and also asserted that it will not allow such persons to exploit the situation. Police Commissioner S George said even in the morning most protesters had said they were satisfied with the Jallikattu ordinance and also a bill to replace it. Only "certain groups were resisting," he told reporters here tonight. "There were anti-social elements and miscreants who crept into the protesting crowd and diverted the demands, which we got to know from our intelligence wing. Based on it, we decided to disperse the crowd." he added. Police used force only after stones were pelted at them, he claimed, adding, the police personnel had no intention to attack or harm people. As many as 94 cops sustained injuries while 51 police vehicles were damaged in today's violence, he said. "There are sporadic incidents taking place in different parts even now. We are controlling them. We are dealing with it. We will deal with it firmly and more police personnel are coming and they will be deployed. Wherever anti-social elements are trying to exploit the situation, the city police will not allow (it), the Tamil Nadu police will not allow (it)," he asserted. George said, even a police station was attacked, women cops not spared, and 'disruptions' had happened at over 90 locations in the city, he said. The police have detained about 40 persons for interrogation in connection with today's violence, he said, adding, the situation was now under control. On a video showing a police personnel purportedly setting a vehicle on fire, the city police commissioner said the matter would be probed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader A K Antony today came down heavily on Kerala's aided and self-financing education sectors, saying such institutions have become centres of corruption in the state. The former Kerala Chief Minister also urged the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau to start its anti-corruption campaign from the campuses of such educational institutions. "Education sector...Whether it is aided or self-financing...These sectors have become centres of big corruption... Vigilance should start its anti-corruption drive from campuses of such institutions," Antony said. He was delivering the A C Jose memorial lecture, organised by Ernakulam District Congress Committee here. He alleged that managements of some educational institutions are engaged in "snatching" (money from students). "Educational institutions have become centre of business activities," he said. Antony, who began his political career as a leader of Kerala Students Union, said lack of students politics in the campuses is one of the major reasons for corrupt practices in the campuses. He urged KSU and Youth Congress activists to launch strong protests against "existing corrupt practices" in state's aided and self-financing education sectors. Antony's criticism against self financing/aided education sectors comes days after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out against Christian managements, saying Church run institutions, which had once strived for social service, have become part of the education business lobby in the state. Inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of St. Joseph's College in Kozhikode, Vijayan had complained that most self-financing colleges had turned educational institutions into hubs for commercial activities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You love the blog, so subscribe to the Beervana Podcast on iTunes or Soundcloud today! Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today claimed that Andhra Pradesh did what India as a country could not do by establishing itself as a brand. "What India as a country could not do, Andhra Pradesh did. Now it has come to a stage where people world over think India means Andhra Pradesh," Chandrababu said, talking about his trip to Davos for the World Economic Forum conference. Naidu claimed the government delegation successfully promoted "Brand AP" at Davos. "I have conducted at least 50 bilateral meetings with international agencies. Many big international companies evinced interest in setting up the shop in AP and sharing know-how," he said, without specifying any project proposal. When pointed out that oil giant Saudi Aramco's proposed oil refinery project along with a consortium did not actually take shape since 2010, the Chief Minister replied there was no one to coordinate with such companies at that time. "But now we have the right mechanism to coordinate," he said, referring to his meeting with Aramco's CEO. Asked about a Japanese firm's promise to bring investment of USD 15-20 billion for the development of the temple town of Tirupati, the Chief Minister said a new township would also be developed between Tirupati and Sri City Special Economic Zone. "It's a big project," he said without giving any details. The opposition has criticised Chandrababu's Davos trip as a publicity stunt, while "official" videos of CM's discussions with heads of various companies inside the AP Lounge -- unrelated to WEF -- have found their way to the social media and faced ridicule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 26-year-old army jawan was stabbed to death while another personnel and the latter's sibling were seriously injured when a group of men attacked them in Banganga area here, police said today. "The jawan, identified as Varun Chouhan, died on way to hospital after being injured by sharp edged weapons in the attack by around 10 men late last night," Banganga Police Station in-charge Vinod Dixit said. "Chouhan, an army man posted in Pathankot, was on leave and had come to Indore to meet his family," he said. Another 25-year-old jawan and his younger brother were also injured in the attack, Dixit said. The three personnel were returning home after watching a wrestling completion when they were attacked. The injured jawan and his younger brother have been admitted to a private hospital. An old enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the attack, the police officer said adding that some of the accused have been identified. Further probe into the incident is on, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today condemned the killing two security personnel and asserted that no tolerance would be shown to militants. Touring Sonitpur and Biswanath districts, Sonowal said, "Extremism will not be tolerated and extremists will be controlled any how." The security forces had prepared a strategy to arrest the culprits, he said. In the run-up to Republic Day, four persons, including two Assam Rifles personnel and two militants, were killed and three injured in an ambush and subsequent encounter in Assam's Tinsukia district bordering Arunachal Pardesh yesterday. The banned ULFA(I), in a statement, claimed that they had carried out the attack along with four other organisations and had killed three security personnel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wriddhiman Saha struck timely form with an attacking century and also put on a fighting, 203-run unbroken partnership with captain Cheteshwar Pujara to push Rest of India firmly towards the winning target on day four of the Irani Cup game against Gujarat today. Coming to the crease at no. 6 when Rest were staggering at 63 for 4, chasing 379 for victory, 32-year-old Saha counter-attacked brilliantly to remain unconquered on 123 off 214 balls, with 3 sixes and 16 fours, in a close of play score of 266 for four in 84 overs at the Brabourne Stadium. Pujara, who had top-scored with 86 in Rest's first innings total of 226 in reply to the Ranji champions' 358, was at the other end on 83 in 181 balls, by batting in his customary calm and collected fashion. Rest, who conceded a lead of 132 runs in the first innings, were 113 runs short of the target with six wickets in hand going into the final day of the match tomorrow. The fifth wicket duo's unfinished stand of 203 runs in 59.4 overs rescued Rest after they had lost the wickets of openers Akhil Herwadkar (20) and Abhinav Mukund (19), both before lunch, and also those of Karun Nair (7) and Manoj Tiwary (7) before the first hour after lunch. Saha, who got injured and lost his Test place to Gujarat captain and stumper Parthiv Patel in the last three Tests against England, could not have chosen a better platform to impress the watching selectors of his worth with the bat. He took the Gujarat attack by its scruff with splendid shots, quite a few of them lofted ones, down the ground to race past Pujara and was on 68 to his captain's 46 in a tea-time score of 169 for four. He later completed his 11th first class hundred, including one in the St Lucia Test last year against the West Indies, by lofting Gujarat medium pacer Chintan Gaja for a four to long off in 183 minutes and off 157 balls, laced with 14 fours and 2 sixes. In the morning, Gujarat lost their remaining two second innings wickets while adding 19 runs to overnight 227 for 8 in 50 minutes to leave Rest with one hour and five sessions to go for a win. Scores: Gujarat 358 and 246 ( P Panchal 73, Chirag Gandhi 70; S Kaul 3 for 70, S Nadeem 4 for 64). Rest of India 226 and 266 for 4 (C Pujara 83 not out, W Saha 123 not out; Hardik Patel 2 for 59). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chairman of State Minorities Commission (SMC) that serves Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Abid Rasool Khan, today alleged that attempts are being made to weaken the panel. Without naming any officials, Khan said the panel, which was functioning from the Raghava Sadan here, was shifted by the authorities last week. He requested Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to order a high-level inquiry into the matter. "State Minorities Commission is a statutory body. I am struggling to build it up since 2013 after my appointment. In the last three years our office was shifted three times - from Secretariat to Raghava Sadan and now the authorities themselves got shifted the office to an apartment," Khan told reporters here. The Commission, he said, has been doing good work for the benefit of minorities and addressed thousands of grievances and took up enquiries to enable justice to people. At this stage, it was the responsibility of both the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments to build it up strongly, he said. Alleging that efforts are being made to weaken the commission, Khan said, "We have only three people staff when it should be 20 as sanctioned. It has been an attempt by the authorities to see that the Minorities Commission does not get strength." "A clear attempt is being made to see that the Commission does not function or if it functions also, it functions in such a way that it is not accessible to people," he alleged. Khan said, "We have done a thorough inquiry into the Wakf affairs and found out in about 60 cases that huge properties have been encroached and brought it to the notice of the government." "We have also recommended to the Centre for a CBI inquiry in Wakf affairs and Central government has said it is ready to conduct inquiry if the state government gives an NOC. The CM has endorsed the file but officials are holding it back," he said "...Because the Commission is questioning the officers and the authorities, it (shifting of Commission office) has been planned in such a way that it should be done without the (CM's) knowledge and without their consent. Somebody somewhere is playing a mischief. Through media I am requesting Telangana Chief Minister to order a high-level inquiry and punish such officials," he said. Khan said he has already filed a petition in Hyderabad High Court to issue guidelines on how the Commission should work and it should be allowed to function till it is bifurcated. The matter is posted to January 25, he said. He further demanded that the panel should be strengthened and government should give it equal stature as any other Commission or any other statutory body, by providing proper office, staff and budget. The State Minorities Commission serves both the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and is a Schedule X entity which is yet to be bifurcated. A lawmaker of Bangladesh's ruling Awami League party was today accused of committing war crimes during the country's 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan. "The Cognizance Court No-2 of senior judicial magistrate Mahbubul Haque received the case against lawmaker Muslem Uddin and referred it to the ICT-BD (International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh) for subsequent legal procedures," a court official told reporters. According to the complaint, Uddin, who is in his early 60s, was elected as a member of then Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 1970 elections on an Awami League ticket but sided with the Pakistani troops as the Liberation War broke out. 70-year old war veteran Jalaluddin has alleged that the lawmaker also worked as an informer of the Pakistani Army and led anti-liberation elements in torching many houses in the neighbourhood at Phulbaria area of Mymensingh. Officials of the ICT-BD's prosecution cell said they would now launch an investigation into the complaint and would put the lawmaker on trial if the allegations were found valid. Uddin is the third from the ruling Awami League to be accused of committing war crimes. One of them was handed down death penalty and the case is now pending with the Supreme Court for an appeal hearing. The second person awaits the start of trial. But among the three, Uddin is the only high profile Awami League leader to be accused of war crimes charges. Bangladesh so far has witnessed the execution of six 1971 war crimes convicts since the process began in 2010. Five of them were stalwarts of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to the country's independence. Three convicts were sentenced to "imprisonment until death" and two of them died in jail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The prosecution in a Bahraini court today presented what it said was evidence against prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab, accused of spreading "false information" about the kingdom, a judicial source said. They submitted an "expert report" that they said confirmed Rajab was in charge of his Twitter account where allegedly offensive tweets were posted, the source said. The defence, for its part, reiterated it case that Rajab was not in control of his account at the time the tweets were posted. The court had ordered the appointment of an expert from the interior ministry's cyber crimes unit to determine who was operating Rajab's Twitter account. The hearing was adjourned to February 21. Rajab is accused of "spreading false and rumours and inciting propaganda during wartime which could undermine the war operations by the Bahraini armed forces and weaken the nation", according to state media. Sunni-ruled Bahrain is part of a Saudi-led coalition battling Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen. Shiite human rights activist Rajab, who had been pardoned for health reasons in 2015, was rearrested in June and is on trial on a list of charges, including insulting a state institution and Saudi Arabia in online postings. A Bahraini court had last month ordered Rajab freed pending the trial on charges of spreading false information. But the prosecution decided to keep Rajab in custody pending questioning in another cyber crime case on a similar charge of "spreading false about the situation in the kingdom". Rajab has been repeatedly detained for organising protests and publishing tweets deemed insulting to Bahrain's Sunni authorities. He previously served two years in jail on charges of taking part in unauthorised protests in the Shiite-majority kingdom. Home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, Bahrain has been rocked by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests in 2011 demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing the two countries as "Siamese twins," Bangladesh today said it is trying its best to establish a co-operative visa regime, while expressing its keenness to eventually have a system of "visa-free movement" of people from both sides of the border. "More and more people from India are travelling to Bangladesh and we are getting requests (for visas). We certainly are trying our best to establish a co-operative visa regime besides working on our missions," Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said. The senior diplomat while addressing a gathering at the opening of the 'International Conference on Indo-Bangladesh Multi Sectoral Cooperation' here, also said, his country was working on granting five-year long-term visa to senior citizens. "At our initiative recently, we have taken some concrete measures ... When we said, people aged 65 and above would be given five-year long-term visas ... To visit Bangladesh for meeting families. "But, we would like to establish a regime, slowly where people from India and Bangladesh could travel to each other's country, on the basis of nationality cards," he said. Ali said if Europe could do it after thousands of years of war, countries in South Asia can also do it. He also pitched for furthering the collaboration between the two countries, while asserting that dialogue is the "best way" to resolve our outstanding issues. "We (India and Bangladesh) have to take note of each other's sensitivities and vulnerabilities and sustain dialogues with an open mind. We have already resolved the land boundary issue 68 years after the partition and now new areas of cooperation can be sought in sectors like trade, connectivity and in people-to-people ties," Ali said. India and Bangladesh trade exchange stands at USD 6.5 bn and the Bangladeshi diplomat said with boasting of road, rail, water and air connectivity links, the volume would only increase. Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar said, "Our relationship is a foundational cornerstone of regional stability and prosperity." "We are at fortunate phase of our history and we hope there will be no obstacles to future solution," he said. Akbar making a reference to the terror attack in Dhaka last year, said, "Everything depends on shared security and principal threat to that shared security is terrorism and terrorists, who distort faith to further chaos." The two-day conference organised by Kolkata-based Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) and supported by different ministries of the Centre was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts (IGNCA). "We are marking 45 years of the Bangladesh Liberation War here. And, Bangladesh has achieved growth in the last few decades through gender empowerment, which I believe should be a lesson for others to absorb," Akbar said. (REOPENS DES54) Bangladesh High Commissioner Ali also said, efforts are on to open its new mission in Chennai. "We already have three missions in Agartala, Kolkata and Dhaka. In the last three years, we have added Mumbai and one will be in Guwahati. And, our next project is to include Chennai as the fifth consulate," he said. "I only say that a stable, strong Bangladesh is a best security guarantee for India and a friendly, emerging global power India is the best economic cooperation for Bangladesh," he said. Minister of Liberation War Affairs, government of Bangladesh, Mozammel Haque said, "This year of 2016-2017 has a special importance as it is the 45th year of Bangladesh's independence. "India's bilateral engagement with Bangladesh has reached a new height under the leadership of current Prime Ministers of the both the countries and the societies of both the countries are committed for continuous improvement and strengthening of bilateral relationship." Keynote Speaker Sripriya Ranganathan, Joint Secretary (Bangladesh and Myanmar) in the MEA said, "9.6 lakh visas were issued last year compared to 7.5 lakh in 2015. West Bengal Police today warned of severe action against those who indulge in rumour mongering over social media after an elderly man was killed on January 21 on suspicion of being a child-lifter in Burdwan district. West Bengal Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purakayastha said the police had information that some people were spreading rumours on social media that people wearing black masks had sneaked from across the border "with the intention of staging robbery". "These rumours are absolutely false. We have already arrested 25 persons for spreading such rumours. These are being spread with the intention of creating tension in rural and bordering ares. We appeal to the people not to pay heed to such rumours," he said. The 60-year-old man was killed and four others were injured when a group of people thrashed them at Baruipara in Kalna town of Burdwan district suspecting them to be child-lifters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A portion of the ramp of the Bhikaji Cama flyover on the busy Ring Road has "sunken" a bit allegedly due to construction of a metro subway beneath it, even as the DMRC today claimed that the flyover posed no threat to vehicular movement. The flyover was built by the PWD and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation monitors it till the end of the completion of project. "Some 'settlement' is expected in such activities," a senior DMRC official said. Settlement is a technical term used in the civil engineering field, and it means, level of soil going down, due to construction activities underneath it. "There is no crack in the flyover and it is absolutely safe for passage of vehicular traffic," he said. A senior Delhi government official, when contacted, however said, "The structure (flyover) had shown a crack one-and-a-half month ago which was fixed by the DMRC. The current sinking of ramp portion will be fixed by the Delhi Metro as it undertook subway construction underneath it." "The subway under the flyover was made using the box-pushing technique, and will connect an entry structure with the under-construction Bhikaji Cama Metro Station of phase-III of the metro project. The work on the subway was finished on January 19," the DMRC said. "Some settlement is expected in such activities and DMRC is in close coordination with PWD's consultant, who had designed the flyover. It is completely safe for the traffic movement. The final method statement for repair work of the flyover is under finalisation. Thereafter, the rehabilitation work will be started," the DMRC added. Falling on the Pink Line (Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar), the Bhikaji Cama Metro Station will have "four entry/exit points, two each on two of its sides (north and south)". "Out of these four entry/exit points, three will be constructed new and one will be built by connecting to the existing subway under the Ring Road. After construction of this station, there will be two subways available for the public for crossing the Ring Road," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Bozeman man cited for trespass on a contested Forest Service trail along the eastern base of the Crazy Mountains has pleaded not guilty in order to challenge the landowners claim in court. Rob Gregoire used the route, marked as Trail 115/136 on Forest Service maps, to access public land while hunting elk on Nov. 23. After the day of hunting he hiked out on the same trail and found a Sweet Grass County Sheriffs deputy waiting for him. He was very polite and gave me a ticket, said Gregoire, a Montana native who has been hunting since 1981. The $585 criminal trespass citation was issued to Gregoire for crossing the Hailstone Ranch, owned by Lee and Barbara Langhus. Gregoire pleaded not guilty in December and an omnibus hearing is scheduled for February in Sweet Grass municipal court. We need to stand up for whats ours, Gregoire said. Challenging the citation has earned him moral support from some individuals as well as a few public access and hunting groups, he said. Although a different issue, in October a federal judge in Butte ruled in the Forest Services favor in its access lawsuit along the Indian Creek Trail where it crosses a private ranch in the Madison Mountains, south of Ennis. The Crazy Mountains are an anomaly in Montana. Most mountain ranges in the state are federally owned, but the Crazies are a patchwork of private and Custer Gallatin National Forest lands intermixed. More than 8,000 acres of forest land in the Crazy Mountains is only accessible by crossing at the corners of where the parcels meet, the legality of which has yet to be tested in court. The private inholdings are remnants of the 50,000 acres in the Crazies given to the Northern Pacific Railroad by the U.S. government in the 1860s as payment for building the transcontinental rail line. In the 1890s the railroad began selling the lands to individuals, among them were the Langhuses ancestors. Because of the lack of public access on the eastern side of the Crazy Mountains, as of 2015 the elk herd in Hunting District 580 was more than 2,000 elk over the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recommended levels, one of the worst areas in the state. Gregoire said he attempted to gain access to the hunting district by requesting permission in another area, but was told hed have to pay an access fee. So he talked to the Forest Service about using Trail 115/136 to make sure he didnt trespass. Blocking and posting no trespassing signs at the head of Trail 115/136 prompted Yellowstone District ranger Alex Sienkiewicz to organize a trail clearing and marking trip this past summer. Prior to that the agency traded letters with the Langhuses Livingston attorney, Joe Swindlehurst, who has denied there is an old forest trail at that location. In one letter Swindlehurst countered Sienkiewiczs claim that a prescriptive easement exists saying it must be proved by clear and convincing evidence. It is not up to my clients to prove that no prescriptive easement exists across their land. If the Forest Service or the public thinks there is a prescriptive easement across the land, then it is up to them to prove it. I guess Im the test case, Gregoire said. The much-expected bill to replace the Tamil Nadu government's Jallikattu ordinance will be tabled in the state assembly this evening, Speaker P Dhanapal said. "Considering the situation, the bill will be moved when the House meets at 5 PM today," he told reporters here. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Business Advisory Council which decides on the agenda and duration of a particular session of the state assembly. Dhanapal said the bill was expected to be passed today itself. The Speaker's announcement comes in the backdrop of state-wide police crackdown on pro-Jallikattu protesters who have been agitating for the past one week, demanding lifting of the ban on the bull-taming sport. Despite promulgation of an ordinance on Saturday for conducting the sport, they had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure that the sport is held annually without any hindrance. (REOPEN MDS5) The House will discuss an obituary resolution for the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa tomorrow, where representatives from various political parties will be allowed to speak, after which it will be adjourned for the day. There will be obituary references to former Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, veteran journalist Cho S Ramaswamy, carnatic musician M Balamuralikrishna and former Cuban President Fidel Castro, the Speaker said. The debate on the motion to thank the Governor for his address to the Assembly will be taken up on January 27, and continue on January 30 and 31, Dhanapal said. Chief Minister O Panneeerselvam will reply to the debate on February 1, the concluding day of this session, he added. Rafael Nadal struggled into his first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2015 at the Australian Open today, as Serena Williams accelerated towards a record title and the number one ranking. Nadal, searching for a revival after injuries wrecked last season, was tested by France's Gael Monfils before winning 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to book a last-eight clash with Milos Raonic. Nadal, 30, was also pushed to five sets by Alexander Zverev, 19, in round three, but he has survived to reach his first major quarter-final since the 2015 French Open. The Spanish world number nine now has an excellent chance to add to his 14 Grand Slam titles after world number one Andy Murray and title-holder Novak Djokovic were both knocked out. "I'm very happy being in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after a couple of years without being there," he said. "It's very special for me, especially here in Australia where I feel (it's) a little bit like home." A day after defending women's champion and top seed Angelique Kerber also fell by the wayside, Williams beat Barbora Strycova 7-5, 6-4 to set up a last-eight meeting with Johanna Konta. The American great would gain much from winning in Melbourne, as she would overtake Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles and end Kerber's short reign as world number one. In hot afternoon conditions, she fought off the Czech Republic's Strycova in two tight sets, following her sister Venus into the quarter-finals without dropping a set. "I have absolutely nothing to lose in this tournament," said Williams, 35. "Everything here is a bonus for me. Obviously I'm here to win. Hopefully I can play better, I can only go better." Britain's Konta, the ninth seed, also reached the last eight with a perfect record in sets after a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory over Russia's Ekaterina Makarova. - 'Tough little cookie' - ========================= Despite the task facing her, Konta was delighted to be playing Williams, a childhood idol, for what would be her second straight Australian Open semi-final. "I'm really looking forward to the challenge and I'm looking forward to being on court, out on court with her and competing against her," said the 25-year-old. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 30-year-old cab driver was killed after a speeding car rammed into his vehicle near IIT flyover in south Delhi, police said today. The driver of the speeding car, 24-year-old Shoaib Khan has been arrested, they said. The incident happened last evening, around 11 PM, when Khan rammed his vehicle into cab driver Nazrul's car. Injured Nazrul, who is resident of West Bengal and was presently living in Gurgaon, was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre where he was declared brought dead, a senior police official said. The accused had fled from the spot leaving behind his car, that bore a Chandigarh registration number, police said, adding but he was later arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CBI has taken over an investigation in three cases of alleged murder and extortion, purportedly masterminded by gangster . The gangster, who is in custody here following his deportation from Indonesia in 2015, is being booked by CBI on the request of Maharashtra government and further notification from the Centre. The CBI had taken over a case of alleged murder and other two cases of extortion against Rajan, who is a former key aide of dreaded don and Bombay blasts main accused Dawood Ibrahim. Giving details of the case, CBI Spokesperson R K Gaur said, the first case (of extortion) was earlier registered at Nirmal Nagar in Mumbai (Maharashtra) against unknown persons in April 1999. "It was alleged in the complaint that during the period from March 2, 1999 to April 8, 1999, the unknown accused persons identifying themselves as Rohit, John, Ashok, etc of gang made telephonic calls to the complainant and threatened him with dire consequences to extort money to the tune of Rs 25 lakh (approx)," he said. Gaur said, in this case, provisions of MCOC Act, 1999 were subsequently applied by the local police. In the second case registered at Police Station Tilak Nagar in Mumbai against two unknown persons, it was alleged that on October 7, 1998, when deceased Bala Kotiyan along with his friend was sitting at Navgrah Hotel, two unknown persons holding revolver and pistol entered the hotel shot him dead, he said. In the third case, Gaur said, it was alleged that on July 31, 2004 accused persons with common intention forcibly entered in the office of complainant at Mulund posing themselves as the gang members of Chota Rajan and assaulted complainant and his servant and demanded money at gun point. "The accused also damaged mobile phone/remote of the complainant. In this case, provisions of MCOC Act, 1999 were subsequently applied by state police," he said. Rajan was detained by Indonesian Police in Bali on his arrival from Australia following a Red Corner Notice by the Interpol. He was later deported to India on November 6, 2015. The Centre has dispatched 35 tonne of petroleum products to Manipur to tackle the crisis arising out of the 82-day economic blockade on a national highway which has crippled normal life in the state. While 35 tonne petroleum and diesel were sent through an Indian Airforce C-17 Globemaster plane, 70 tonne more petroleum products will be sent soon, official sources said. The move came two days after an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reviewed the stock of food grains and petroleum products in Manipur and how to replenish the supply. Pradhan today met Singh and briefed him about the supply position. The Central government has informed the Election Commission about the move as assembly election is due in Manipur on March 4 and 8. Prices of all commodities, especially food grains, have skyrocketed while petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders are being sold at high prices in black markets, raising serious concerns in the Central government, they said. Since November 1, the United Naga Council has imposed the economic blockade on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) that serve as lifelines for the landlocked Manipur. While NH-37 was partially reopened, there is no traffic movement on NH-2. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been making repeated efforts to find a way to have the NH-2 opened. On November 15, 2016, tripartite talks with government of Manipur and United Naga Council were called at New Delhi to discuss the economic blockade, which were not attended by Government of Manipur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Children from the north-eastern states today dominated the National Bravery Awards which was presented by Prime Minister Modi to 25 children chosen from across the country for their outstanding acts of valour. The Bharat Award Winner, who is given a gold medal, was given posthumously to 8-year-old Tarh Peeju from Arunachal Pradesh. The youngest winner lost her life while rescuing two of her friends who were swept away by strong currents while crossing a river. 10- year-old Thanghilmang Lunkim from Nagaland was also awarded for rescuing his brother in similar circumstances. Another young and daring girl from Mizoram, H. Lalhriatpuii, too won another Bapu Gaidhani Award posthumously for coming to the aid of her cousin caught in a car rolling down a hill, disregarding her own safety. While she managed to save her cousin Lalhriatpui was run over by the car and succumbed to her injuries. Roluahpuii, a 13-year-old girl from Mizoram, was also honoured with Bapu Gaidhani award posthumously, for saving two school friends from drowning in a river. Moirangthem Sadananda Singh, a 14-year old from Manipur, was recognised for rescuing his mother from an electric shock. Five of the awardees are from the North-Eastern states. Among the 20 other winners was also a 12-year resident of Jammu and Kashmir who lost her life while trying to protect three students during flash floods last year. One of the most daring acts was perhaps committed by Anshika Pandey from UP who was able to escape an abduction bid through her sheer bravery and fearlessness. The National Bravery Award is given to children between the ages of six to eighteen years and are divided into four main categories- Bharat Award, Sanjay Chopra Award, Geeta Chopra Award, Bapu Gaidhani Award, and General National Bravery Awards. The Geeta Chopra Award this year went to two girls - Tejasweeta Pradhan and Shivani Gond- for exposing a trafficking racket and the Sanjay Chopra Award was given to Sumit Mamgain from Uttarakhand for rescuing his cousin from a leopard attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China today played down fears of any trade war with America under Donald Trump's presidency but said the new administration has a "responsibility" to honour the promise of previous US governments to abide by 'one-China' policy on Taiwan. "The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. Any US administration has the responsibility to honour the bipartisan commitment of successive US governments to continue to uphold the one-China principle," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told media here, outlining China's "expectations" of Trump. The US ties with Taiwan should be handled properly and prudently, she said, refraining from commenting on Trump's inaugural address. However, she asserted that there won't be any winner in any trade war between the two countries as US-China trade has created 2.6 million jobs in US. "On Trump's inauguration speech emphasising about making US first, he talked mainly about the domestic policies of the US. For evaluation of the speech better ask Americans," Hua said, declining to join issue on the point of 'America first'. "We believe in building community of shared future for the mankind. In the era of globalisation, countries interests are closely integrated and interdependent. No one can stand aloof. China will work with all parties to jointly shoulder responsibilities and will continue pursue domestic and foreign policies in keeping national realities," she said. However, she outlined that following one-China policy is Beijing's major expectation from Trump. "We urge the new US administration to fully recognise the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and continue to uphold one-China policy and uphold the political foundation of the China-US relations," she said, commenting for the first time after Trump took over office on January 20. Her comments followed emphatic assertions by Trump after his election that one-China policy on Taiwan is up for negotiation and that he is not fully committed to it. "Everything is under negotiation including one-China," Trump had said on January 15, questioning the decades old policy followed by Washington. China had hit back saying one-China policy which stipulates that Taiwan is part of Chinese mainland is "non-negotiable". China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and insist all countries having bilateral ties with it to abide by the one-China policy. "Our overall expectations for China-US ties under Trump administration is thathistory and practice has shown that stable and consistent development of bilateral ties severed the interests of both the people and two countries and good for the peace and stability of the Asia Pacific and world," she said. "China and US have extensive and common interests, while we also have differences. The two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns and take a constructive approach to resolve our differences and do not let them to disturb over all interests of the bilateral relations," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China will launch the Chang'e-5 lunar probe later this year, its first return mission, as part of the Communist giant's ambitious efforts to conduct a record number of 30 space launch missions. The probe will be launched in November from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan Province, aboard the heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-5. The mission will be China's first automated moon surface sampling, first moon take-off, first unmanned docking in a lunar orbit about 3.80 lakh km from earth, and first return flight in a speed close to second cosmic velocity, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said. "With a weight of 8.2 tonnes, the lunar probe is comprised of four parts: an orbiter, a returner, an ascender and a lander," Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the programme said. The lander will put moon samples in a vessel in the ascender after the moon landing. Then the ascender will take off from the moon to dock with the orbiter and the returner orbiting the moon, and transfer the samples to the returner. The orbiter and returner then head back to the earth, separating from each other when they are several thousands kms from earth. Finally, the returner will re-enter the earth, state-run Xinhua agency reported. The development of Chang'e-5 has entered the end of its flight model phase and relevant work is proceeding smoothly, CASC said. China plans to fulfill three strategic steps with the launch of Chang'e-5, "orbiting, landing and returning." It also plans to launch the Chang'e-4 lunar probe around 2018 to achieve mankind's first soft landing on the far side of the moon, and to conduct an in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point, according to the China National Space Administration. "The country plans to send robots to explore both lunar poles," said the administration's vice director Wu Yanhua late last year, adding that plans to send astronauts to the moon were also being discussed. CASC earlier announced that China plans to conduct a "record" number of30 space launch missions this year as part of its efforts to expand its ambitious space programme. The record-breaking number space launches will be launched byLong March-5 and Long March-7 rockets, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ten persons have been arrested for possesing 100 kg of drugs worth over 2 million yuan in China's central Hubei Province. Police yesterday said that they started investigating the traffickers in March last year. Ten persons were taken into custody for possessing 100 kg of methamphetamine. They spent nine months tracking the ten-member gang, who had brought drugs from Guangdong Province to Hubei. The main suspect, identified as Ma, said that he had bought the drugs from a person in Hong Kong for 2.1 million yuan, state-run Xinhua agency reported. All the suspects are in criminal detention, and further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minority community in Goa has shed its inhibitions towards the BJP and is no more averse to support the saffron party in elections, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said today. He also said a "false perception" is being deliberately created during every election that Church has opposed BJP. "During every election, an impression is created that Church is against us. Church is a religious institution and I would not like to comment on it. But one thing is sure that a few years back, minority brethren were suspicious about BJP and were staying away," Parsekar told reporters here. Interestingly, the Goa Church yesterday expressed its concern over the government's push for cashless transactions, saying the Centre has "shifted" from its social policy of uplift of the poor by insisting on the digital transition. The CM, contesting the February 4 elections from his pocket borough Mandrem, said the minorities have started having a "positive outlook" towards BJP. "In the past, I had a personal experience in my own constituency. Initially, I failed to even open an account in the booths in minority-dominated wards. But it has changed. The situation was different in 2007...I got majority on those booths," he said, adding the minorities have started trusting the saffron party. For total 40 seats going to polls on February 4, the BJP has fielded its candidates on 36 seats and is supporting Independent nominees in two constituencies. Parsekar said incumbent deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza was the first candidate from minority community to accept our candidature and became part of the government. "After that several leaders from minority accepted our candidature. They were even with us in the government for five years," he said. On the BJP refraining from projecting him as the Chief Ministerial face for the polls, Parsekar said he was never projected as the probable candidate even during the past. Parsekar replaced Manohar Parrikar as CM after the latter was made Defence Minister. "I became CM and ran the government for more than two years. I don't want to answer someone's criticism. The election for the post of CM would be held democratically. Let us get the majority after that the elected representatives will decide on the CM candidate," he said. Union minister and BJP's election in-charge in Goa, Nitin Gadkari recently caused a flutter when he said the next chief minister of Goa would be either from elected representatives or would be sent from the Centre, triggering speculations that he was pointing at Parrikar, a Goan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cortney Boice, an Idaho native and businessman, won the 2016 International Fly Fishing Film Festival for his film that gives a perspective into fly fishing. The film, Arctic Unicorns, follows Boice, and three other fishermen and filmmakers Phil Tuttle, Spencer Higa and Derek Olthuis as they travel through Alaska, British Columbia and the Arctic Circle. The fishermen set out to find brook trout, arctic char and sea-run Dolly Varden, described by Boice as extremely rare fish in the Salvelinus genus, or as they call them, unicorns. We typically do our films on trout, and we feel that people can generally relate to trout because theyre all over the world, Boice said. We try to make it exciting and put a little adventure and humor into our films. Boice said he and the other fishermen try to catch the biggest fish they possibly can, as that usually gets the audience excited. Western Waters Media, the teams film company, has produced a total of three films for the International Fly Fishing Film Festival, Distracted in 2015, Arctic Unicorns in 2016 and The Hidden, which is currently on tour. Western Waters Media won first place at the festival for the first time in 2016 with Arctic Unicorns. Its an honor to be selected, period, Boice said. The festival accepts video submissions in the form of short or feature length fly-fishing films from all over the world. A panel of judges then selects eight films to be featured in the festival, which tours for a year before a winner is selected by audience members. The winner this year will take home the title of winner along with a cash prize of up to $1,000, according to the film festivals website. The world premiere for the 2017 film festival took place in Denver where about 90 percent of the audience voted for Boices film, The Hidden. We dont necessarily do the films to try to win, Boice said. We do them for fun and for exposure for our companies. Arctic Unicorns is now available for purchase on Vimeo for $3. Boice said some other films entered in the festival had budgets of $500,000 or more, while Western Waters Media had a budget of around $10,000 to make Arctic Unicorns. We just do everything ourselves, he said. We make stuff thats really enjoyable to watch. Boice said he and his crew use their own digital cameras as well as GoPros to capture underwater footage. He said films about fly-fishing are enjoyable to watch because the audience can live vicariously through those who are in the film. A lot of people are very busy in their lives, he said. Sometimes people dont have the time to get out, and when they see other people doing it, they just want to live that moment through the eyes of somebody else. Boice has lived in Utah for 13 years, but most of his family still lives in Rexburg, Idaho, where he grew up and went to college. Besides being an award-winning filmmaker, Boice is also the president of a fly-fishing company he started with his friend and fellow Idaho native, Bo Harding. The company, Blue Halo, developed its own brand of fiberglass fly rods, which Boice said is an old school approach to fly fishing. When Blue Halo launched, its take on fiberglass rods was an unconventional one, as most fly-fishing companies had switched to graphite rods, Boice said. The company has produced rods with different colors and designs that stand out and have shaped the industry standard, Boice said. A new rod combining both fiberglass and graphite, which Boice calls the best of both worlds, will launch soon. Boice said his life has not taken the path he thought it would, but he is happy to do something he is passionate about. Boice said he thinks people like watching their films because it shows a personal, casual and fun side to the art of fly fishing. (People) can see us having fun, goofing off and being successful all at the same time, Boice said. The Committee of Chief Ministers on demonetisation, headed by Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu, constituted to prepare a roadmap for transition to digital economy will submit its interim report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday. "This is an interim report, and after studying it and based on the suggestions, we will later submit a final report," Chandrababu told reporters here this afternoon. He said cyber security was an important aspect in the switch to a digital economy. "I have discussed this with some companies during my visit to Davos last week. Master Card alone has 23 patents. We will now patent the fingerprint-based Aadhar-enabled Payment System. Nowhere in the world is such a system being used," Chandrababu pointed out. He said Andhra Pradesh now topped other states in the country in digital transactions. "AP now has 41 per cent digital transactions and we are at the top in India. We now want to increase it to 50 per cent by next month," he added. The Centre had recently constituted a 13-member Committee of Chief Ministers headed by Chandrababu to promote digital payment systems to promote transparency, financial inclusion and also prepare a roadmap in this regard. Apart from Naidu, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Kumar Chamling from Sikkim, V Narayanasamy from Puducherry, Devendra Fadnavis from Maharashtra are also members of the committee along with NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya and Amitabh Kant CEO, NITI Aayog. UIDAI former Chairman Nandan Nilekani, Boston Consulting Group Chairman Janmejaya Sinha, netCORE Managing Director Rajesh Jain, iSPIRIT Co-founder Sharad Sharma and IIM (Ahmedabad) Professor (Finance) Jayant Varma are special invitees. Four sea-going fishermen from Mahakalpada area of Odisha's Kendrapara district, who were stranded mid-sea for over 96 hours, were today rescued and brought to safety by coast guard personnel. The distressed fishermen and their fishing vessel were caught in rough sea. Later it developed technical snag and drifted along the deep sea. A coast guard Dornier aircraft sighted them about 90 nautical miles off Paradip coast close to Andhra Pradesh coastline, a coast guard official said. The coast guard ship Amogh on patrol duty was diverted for the search and rescue operation, CG Deputy Inspector General, Sanjeev Dewan said, adding the entire operation was monitored by CG Paradip headquarters. The fishing vessel was drifting on the seawaters without direction. As the seawater was unsteady and wavering, the fishing vessel had failed to negotiate the rough sea condition. The windy weather had also made the things worse for the vessel's crews. It was quite difficult to locate the vessel which was very small in size, the CG official said. After the rescue act, the vessel and its crew members were towed back safely to Paradip. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Human Rights Watch says Congo expelled one of its researchers for the second time in less than six months. The group said today that immigration authorities on Friday escorted Ida Sawyer, its Central Africa director, across the border into Rwanda after annulling her visa. Sawyer, based in Congo since 2008, had her work permit revoked last August and was in Brussels before returning in January after receiving a visa from the embassy there. Congo spokesman Lambert Mende said Sawyer made "false declarations" and "changed the order of names in her passport." He said officials who allowed Sawyer to enter in the city of Goma had been sanctioned. Tensions are high in Congo amid uncertainty over the timing of the next election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A couple, who had fled from Dwarka area of southwest Delhi after allegedly duping almost 15 people of over Rs 1 crore in 2013, has been arrested, police said today. The accused, Rajendra and Poonam, had allegedly duped people on the pretext of doubling their money and then fled to Dehradun after amassing the money, said a senior police officer. They had "duped" 15 persons in 2013 but police kept a track and through technical surveillance, it was found that they are in Dehradun, he said. Yesterday, their location was found to be in Najafgarh area of south west Delhi and they were arrested, he added. DCP Southwest Surender Kumar tweeted, "A couple Rajndra&Poonam,both proclaimd offendrs arstd by Dwk(N)police 4duping 15persons thru chit funds worth1Cr @DelhiPolice @LtGovDelhi (sic)". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special court today granted time to CBI for filing the final report in a coal block allocation scam case against Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal, ex-Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao and others, in a proper format. Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar allowed the investigating officer's plea seeking time on the ground that he has finalised the report, forwarded it to senior authorities and awaiting approval. The court directed the CBI officer to file the final report on February 6, the next date of hearing. The court had earlier rapped the CBI for not filing the final report in a proper format. Later, the court had accepted the final report noting that sufficient time has already lapsed in the matter and asked the agency to file the documents in a "proper format" by today. While filing the report, which contains CFSL report, list of documents, list of witnesses and their statements, the agency had told the court that the probe was complete in the case. The court had earlier pulled up the CBI for delay in filing the report, saying it was affecting the progress of trial. CBI had alleged that former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, also accused in the case, had favoured Jindal group firms -- Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Private Ltd (GSIPL) -- in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand. Opposing CBI's contention, all the accused had said there was no evidence to show that there was any conspiracy during the coal block allocation process. They had also denied the allegations levelled against them by CBI in its charge sheet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unidentified persons hurled crude bombs at the under-construction house of an employee of Eastern Coalfields Ltd at Niyamatpur in Asansol sub-division early today. A police officer said the glass panes of the window and wall plaster peeled off following the incident but no one was injured as the house was vacant. He said police were inquiring into reports that the employee Arvind Sharma had an altercation with some local youths yesterday afternoon over Saraswati Puja subscription. No police complaint was lodged but a force visited the area on hearing about the incident and started an inquiry. The officer added there was possibility the miscreants threw powerful chocolate bombs and not crude bombs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai Customs today detected three cases of smuggling of tobacco and gold at international airport here and arrested one person. In the first case, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs intercepted two passengers, identified as Vijay Rupapara and Manish Khambani, who were to fly to Lubumbashi via Addis Ababa. "The passengers were attempting to export 5869 pouches and 900 tins of tobacco products, 185.5 kgs of cut betel nuts, 11 pieces of mobile phones and 2 pieces of phone tablets collectively valued at Rs 5.12 lakh," an official said, adding the articles were stuffed in 17 checked-in bags and 4 hand bags of the passengers. In another case, a flyer who landed here from Abu Dhabi was arrested. "Faisal Chalil was attempting surreptitious removal of gold collectively weighing 1379 grams valued at Rs 37.35 lakh," the official said, adding the gold was concealed in the copper winding of mixer/ grinder, which was recovered and seized. Chalil told the officials gold belonged to a resident of Deira in Dubai. In third incident, Abdussaleem Pallickal, who arrived from Dubai, was intercepted and 13 gold bars weighing 10 tolas each and 2 cut pieces if gold bars, collectively weighing 1624 gms were recovered from him and his checked-in baggage. They are collectively valued at Rs. 43.98 lakh. "The passenger had ingeniously concealed the said gold bars in a space between coils of transformer of electric microwave oven," the official said. He said Pallickal has given a statement saying the oven containing gold bars was given to him by one Zulfikar in Dubai and that he was supposed to hand it over to another person in Mumbai. During last 2 days, the Mumbai AIU has seized 8.260 kg gold valued at Rs 2.29 crore, in separate instances and registered six cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Targeting Virbhadra Singh for declaring Dharamsala as the second capital of Himachal Pradesh, BJP today termed the decision as "politically motivated" and alleged the Chief Minister was "misleading" the people for electoral gains. "It is unfortunate to see that Chief Minister misleading the people for his personal political gains," BJP leader Anurag Thakur said in a statement issued here. He said at a time when state Assembly election is approaching, the sudden concern and love for the people clearly depicts the Chief Minister's intentions. "His agenda is only to make announcements and steal the limelight, while the fulfillment of the tall claims never see the light of the day," Thakur claimed. The MP from Hamirpur alleged that Shimla has already been "destroyed" by Singh and now he wants to do same to the people of Kangra. Thakur said even the senior ministers from Congress have expressed concern for having a second capital as it would not benefit the state and rather would add to its financial burden. He said the people of Shimla were stranded in the city due to heavy snowfall with no electricity and water. "During such an adverse conditions, a special six-km track was prepared for the Chief Minister and his family to reach the helicopter from where they were taken to Delhi to defend their disproportionate assets case," Thakur claimed. "The vision of Singh can be gauged from the fact that the government is applying for fresh loans to repay huge debts amounting to Rs 36,000 crore. At such a time, adding another capital will only add to the economic woes of the state," the BJP leader said. He said the unemployment allowance for the youth was also announced during 2012 election by Congress in the state, however, it remained a mere announcement till date. Last week, Singh had announced Dharamsala as the second capital of the tiny hill state. "Dharamsala nestling in the lap of majestic snow-clad Dhauladhar ranges has a significance and history of its own and fully deserved to be the second capital of the state," he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Green Tribunal today directed a panel of scientists and officials from National Institute of Hydrology, Central Water Commission and other agencies to fix pillars and demarcate the Yamuna floodplains in Agra within three weeks. A bench, headed by NGT chief Justice Swatanter Kumar, asked the committee to demarcate the floodplain with respect to 2010, which happens to be the year in which the flood level was the maximum and was recorded at 152.52 metres. "We direct the members of the committee and the officers to complete the demarcation and delineation of the floodplain line within three weeks... All the pillars would be physically examined and the committee shall physically measure the area occupied by builders that falls within the floodplains," the bench said and posted the matter for hearing on February 21. The green panel's direction came in the wake of objections raised by Agra residents Umashankar Patwa and Shabi Haider Jafri, through their advocate Rahul Choudhary, alleging that many buildings have been built right on the floodplain and even on the river itself. The NGT had constituted the committee and directed the scientists from the two agencies to help Agra authorities re- fix the pillars at specific distances of the ongoing projects on the floodplains. Besides the scientists, the members the committee also include officials from Irrigation Department, UP government, state pollution control board, UP Jal Nigam, Agra Nagar Nigam, Agra Development Authority. The NGT had earlier hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government and Agra authorities for "improper" demarcation of Yamuna floodplains and fixation of pillars, saying that 85 per cent of the buildings on the riverbed were liable to be demolished. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Denied ticket from his traditional Gyanpur seat, sitting Samajwadi Party MLA Vijay Misra today resigned from the party and said he will contest as a rebel and threatened to queer the pitch of other SP candidates in adjoining areas. "I will contest from the same seat but whether it would be as Independent or from any other party will be decided in a day or two," he told newsperson here. The MLA, in whose place SP has reposed faith in former MP Ram Rati Bind, also vowed that he will work against SP nominees on Bhadohi, Sonebhadra, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Kaushambi, Jaunpur and Allahabad and "ensure their defeat". Misra, a heavyweight who has also contested from jail in the past, claimed that he faced a threat to his life from SP leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav as he knew "many secrets" of Ram Gopal and feared that he could be "eliminated". He said his wife, Ramlali Misra, who is MLC from Mirzapur-Sonebhadra has informed the President, the Prime Minister and the Election Commission about the threat to his life. He said his wife has not yet resigned from the party. Several other SP leaders and workers also announced their resignation from the party along with Vijay Misra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Yellowstone County-led bill to make permanent the absentee voter roster has been referred to a state House committee. Bret Rutherford, the countys election administrator, said on Monday that the proposed legislation, House Bill 287, was referred to the Houses State Administration Committee last Friday. A hearing date has not been set. Rutherford, who wrote the proposed legislation, said he intends to testify for the bill. Enough is enough. Lets get this thing done, he said. The draft bill would make the absentee voter list permanent. Montana law now requires that the absentee voter list be deleted on Feb. 1 in even-numbered years. To continue receiving absentee ballots, voters must ask their elections office to get on the list. About 90 percent of Yellowstone County voters cast ballots by mail. And about 20 percent of absentee voters fail to return the renewal request because they think they are already on it and they end up getting dropped. The process causes an uproar and angers voters when they dont get their ballots, Rutherford said. Sending reminder notices and putting voters back on the absentee list costs the county about $40,000, Rutherford said. The Supreme Court today granted eight weeks time to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for verifying the total cost of the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway project and the claim of Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd that it has not recovered the expenses. A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud allowed the plea of CAG seeking time to submit a report after verifying the claim of the company and listed the matter for final hearing after eight weeks. The apex court had on November 11, 2016 asked CAG to assist in the matter and verify the company's claim that the total cost of the project has not been recovered and submit a report within four weeks. It had also directed the firm to place before CAG the entire record pertaining to recovery of the total project cost for the DND flyover as per the agreement. The court had passed the order while disagreeing with the company that its refusal to stay the Allahabad High Court's verdict making DND flyway toll free for commuters would cause irreparable loss to the firm. It had said that while the company can be compensated later if it succeeds in its appeal, it will be impossible to provide restitution to the lakhs of commuters from whom the toll fee would be collected to repay them on dismissal of the special leave petition (SLP). While declining the firm's plea to stay the high court's October 26 last year judgement restraining it from levying the cess, the bench had said, "We do not agree with the submission that the petitioner (firm) would suffer irreparable loss if the judgement of the high court is not stayed." The high court had brought cheers to millions of commuters by ruling that no toll will be collected henceforth from those using the 9.2 km-long, eight-lane DND flyway. The order was passed when the high court allowed a PIL by the Federation of Noida Residents' Welfare Association. The PIL, filed in 2012, had challenged the "levy and collection of toll in the name of user fee" by NTBCL. The firm had challenged the high court verdict saying it did not take into account all aspects and submitted that factors like interest on construction cost, depreciation and maintenance expenses, which come to around Rs 12.5 lakh per day, have not been duly considered. To this, the apex court had said prima facie the issue that arose in the appeal required a detailed scrutiny as conflicting claims have been made regarding recovery of the total cost of the project by the concessionaire. "To resolve the dispute, it is appropriate that an independent agency is requested to examine the relevant records of the DND flyway. The said agency should examine the reports of the independent auditors appointed by the petitioner and submit a report regarding the correctness of the petitioner's claim that the total cost of the project has not been recovered," it had said while asking CAG to verify the firm's claims. In an over 100-page judgement, the high court had held "the user fee which is being levied/realised is not supported by the legal provisions relied upon by the concessionaire (Noida Toll Bridge Company), Infrastructure Leaning and Financial Services (promoter and developer of the project) and Noida Authority." The court had said that the "right to levy and collect user fee from the commuters as conferred upon the concessionaire under the concession agreement suffers from excessive delegation and is contrary to the provisions UP Industrial Development Act". It had noted that "the concessionaire, according to their own financial statements, has recovered Rs 810.18 crore (approx) from toll income from the date of commencement of the project till March 31, 2014 and after deduction of operation and maintenance expenses and corporate income tax, the surplus was Rs 578.80 crore (computed before interest, depreciation, and lease rental received by the concessionaire)". "They have further realised user fee/toll for two-and-a half-year thereafter between April 1, 2014 and September 30, 2016 which, as per the collection of user fee in the year 2013-14 would work out to an additional sum of Rs 300 crore (approx). "We are, therefore, more than satisfied that the concessionaire cannot now recover the user fees from the users/ commuters of the Noida Toll Bridge the DND Flyover," the high court had said. A doctor from the powerloom town of Bhiwandi here was today arrested for allegedly molesting a teenager in his clinic, police said. The incident took place yesterday when the victim went to the clinic of Dr Shamshad Samar Khan along with her five-year-old brother, who was unwell. The doctor allegedly touched the 12-year-old girl inappropriately, they said. Upon returning home, the girl narrated the incident to her parents after which an offence was registered with Bhiwandi city police station. The doctor has been booked under section 354 of the IPC and also section 7 and 8 of the POCSO ACt of 2012. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The health services were badly hit and OPDs virtually remained non-functional across Himachal Pradesh as doctors of government hospitals went on a mass casual leave today to protest against "inadequate security" and demanding that "misbehaviour with doctors be made a non-bailable offence". The resident doctors also expressed solidarity with the agitating doctors and only emergency services were functioning. Hundreds of patients, who reached the hospitals, were a harassed lot as only skeletal staff was present. Doctors had given an ultimatum to the government following alleged misbehaviour with a doctor at a government hospital in Bilaspur. Later, the talks with Health Minister Kaul Singh failed on the issue of making the misbehaviour with doctors a non-bailable offence as the matter pertained to the Law department. Himachal Pradesh BJP held the government responsible for doctor's strike which caused great hardship to patients. Had the government been sensitive and addressed the grievances of the doctors, this situation would have been avoided, it said. "The state government failed to provide healthy working environment and address the security concerns of the doctors and there was spurt in incidents of misbehaviour with doctors and they took the extreme step," chief spokesman of state BJP Rajiv Bindal said. "The demand of the doctors to make misbehaviour with doctors on duty a non-bailable offence was not considered seriously and the chief minister did not ordered any enquiry in the incident which lowered the morale off the doctors," he added. The state committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also extended support to the doctors and said, "It supports the mode of struggle adopted by them." "The doctors are working under difficult conditions but the insensitive government did not recognise this fact and doctors community was being humiliated and physically attacked but the chief minister refused even to express sympathy with the victim doctor at Bilaspur," a party release issued here said. "This is nothing but Mafia rule which is being justified by the highest political authority in the state and there cannot be a more shameful situation than this," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte today urged people to vote for stability in coming elections and called on immigrants "to adapt," seeking to drain support for the far right. Bidding for a third term in government, Rutte's conservative liberal VVD party launched its campaign slogan "Act. Normally" in an open letter to "All Dutch people." At a time of political turbulence in Europe and the United States, Rutte positioned himself firmly as a candidate of the status quo. But in an effort to woo supporters of anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, whose Freedom Party is currently topping opinion polls, Rutte warned that "those people who refuse to adapt, and criticise our values" must "act normally or leave." He took issue with those who "harass gay people, or whistle at women in short skirts." He said he understood why some "people think that 'if you so fundamentally reject this country then I'd prefer it if you leave'." "Sometimes it seems that no one acts normally any more," he wrote in the letter, published in a full-page advertisement in two Dutch newspapers. "Anti-social people who always believe they should have priority. Who dump rubbish on the streets, who spit on the conductors on the trains and trams. "But the solution is not to lump everyone in the same bag, to insult or expel whole groups from our country." During his time at the head of two coalition governments, Rutte has won a reputation as a pragmatist in a country noted for its stability. But as general elections loom on March 15, Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) have gained traction with a heavily anti-immigration, anti-EU and anti-Islam message which has struck home among parts of the electorate worried by Europe's migrant influx. In December, Wilders was found guilty of discrimination for comments he made about Moroccans living in the country. Rutte has said he would refuse to work with him in a coalition government. Rutte argued in the letter that voters must defend Dutch values, and announced he would be holding a live Facebook chat later today. The elections will kick off a closely watched "super election" year in Europe, with far-right and populist parties seeking to upend the political landscape in countries such as France and Germany. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) E-cigarettes - thought to be responsible for a decline in youth cigarette smoking - are actually attracting a new population of adolescents who might not otherwise have smoked tobacco products, a new US study has warned. Researchers at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) did not find any evidence that e-cigarettes have caused youth smoking to decline in the US. In fact, combined e-cigarette and cigarette use among adolescents in 2014 was higher than total cigarette use in 2009, according to the study. The researchers concluded that the low-risk youth in the study, who went on to smoke regular cigarettes, may not have used nicotine at all if e-cigarettes did not exist. "We did not find any evidence that e-cigarettes are causing youth smoking to decline," said Lauren Dutra, a former postdoctoral fellow at the UCSF Centre for Tobacco Control Research and Education. "While some of the kids using e-cigarettes were also smoking cigarettes, we found that kids who were at low risk of starting nicotine with cigarettes were using e-cigarettes," Dutra said. "Recent declines in youth smoking are likely due to tobacco control efforts, not to e-cigarettes," said Dutra. The analysis builds on several previous studies that have reported that adolescents who start with e-cigarettes are more likely to subsequently smoke traditional cigarettes. In the new study, the researchers examined survey data from more than 140,000 middle and high school students who completed the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s National Youth Tobacco Survey between 2004 and 2014. The researchers found that cigarette smoking among US adolescents declined during that decade, but did not decline faster after the advent of e-cigarettes in the US between 2007 and 2009. The researchers also performed an in-depth analysis of the psychosocial characteristics of e-cigarette users. Research has established that smokers tend to display certain characteristics that non-smokers are less likely to show, such as a tendency to live with a smoker or to wear clothing that displays a tobacco product logo. The smokers in the national youth survey displayed these characteristics, but the adolescents who were only using e-cigarettes displayed few of these qualities. "E-cigarettes are encouraging - not discouraging - youth to smoke and to consume nicotine, and are expanding the tobacco market," said Stanton A Glantz, professor of medicine at UCSF. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today directed Tamil Nadu DGP to ensure safety of the public and pro- jallikattu protesters holding their stir peacefully even as the state government claimed that anti-social elements have infiltrated the students protests in the last few days. Till January 19, it was protest by students, but after that anti-social elements had infiltrated them, state Advocate General R Muthukumarasamy said, quoting intelligence reports. He also told the court that 25 vehicles in the Ice House police station in the city vicinity were burnt and as many as 24 police personnel injured in stone pelting and hospitalised. Two sub-inspectors and four constables were severely injured, he said. The submissions were made by the AG when petitions by two of the protesters seeking a direction to the police not to harass them came up before the court. In his oral orders, Justice R Mahadevan directed the state DGP to ensure safety of public and pro-jallikattu protesters conducting their stir 'peacefully'. However, he said police can take action if the protesters violated the law or in the event of any untoward incident. The petitions came up for hearing hours after the police crackdown at Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation. Posing questions such as why police resorted to baton charge, the judge directed the AG to instruct the DGP to ensure safety of public and protesters. The judge also directed senior advocate R Sankarasubbu, who appeared for the petitioners, to get instructions from the protesters as to how long they will continue their agitation in the wake of the government passing an ordinance for conduct of jallikattu. In their petitions, G Pavendhan and Senthil Kumar sought a direction to the police not to harass the protesters. Sankarasubbu claimed that police overnight unleashed force on the protesters who were peacefully protesting since January 15 last. He alleged some of the protesters 'collapsed' in the baton charge and this was not an isolated incident. "We are only students. We may have concluded (the protest) after discussing with the legal fraternity about the ordinance passed. But the government did not have patience," he said. Countering the charges, the AG, who traced the sequence of events leading to the promulgation of the ordinance, submitted that a number of protesting students had withdrawn their stir in view of the promulgation of the ordinance. He also said the petitions had been filed under Section 482 of CrPC and not PILs. The government was also supporting the cause of the protesters. At 5.30 am today, police made a request to the remaining agitators to leave the place and also showed them a copy of the ordinance. However, they refused to disperse and some 'unruly' among them started pelting stones, the AG said. At this, the judge asked the petitioner's counsel how long they would continue the protest. "Who is the regulator? Get instructions, public safety is first." He also said the general public should be given safety. "The public safety comes first. If the protesters violate law it is for the police to take action." Later, the judge adjourned the matter to tomorrow. Some time later, senior counsel R Gandhi and advocate V Suresh made a mention before first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar that the police have baton charged the protesters and the whole city was paralysed. However, the judges said the single judge was seized of the matter. "We will see tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today asked his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli to take action against the network of an exiled cleric he blames for last year's failed coup. The Hizmet movement run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, is linked to a network of schools across the world, including in Africa, and the Turkish president is rallying leaders on the continent to help him fight the influence of his longtime rival. "The party that wants to overthrow me isn't only in Turkey... I am convinced that Tanzania will from now on take measures against this terrorist organisation," Erdogan said after meeting Magufuli. It was not clear what action he had asked Tanzania to take against the schools, which are believed to be affiliated with Gulen's movement. They are extremely popular among the country's middle class and often among the best performing schools. Turkish officials accuse Gulen of using his vast private education network to build influence and of running a "parallel state" inside Turkey. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally, vehemently denies the allegations. A reclusive figure, he has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Hizmet describes itself as promoting Islam through charity efforts and educational work in countries stretching from Turkey to Africa and Central Asia to the United States. Erdogan, whose five-day tour will also take him to Mozambique and Madagascar, also discussed business and trade. Magufuli said he had asked Erdogan for a loan to help build a planned railway to link Dar es Salaam with neighbouring countries including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. A Turkish firm is set to win a tender to build the USD 7.6 billion (7.1-billion-euro) railway. The contract had initially been awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies, which had already built five kilometres of the railway. But it was cancelled due to irregularities in the tender process shortly after Magufuli was elected. The tender being awarded to a non-Chinese company has cast doubts over whether China's Exim bank, which finances external development projects, will still put up the money. Erdogan's visit also comes as Tanzania looks to new sources for budgetary support and concessional loans, after several donor countries in 2015 withdrew their support over a high-level corruption scandal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Congress MLA Krishna Hegde and Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil joined BJP ahead of BMC elections slated for February 21. The duo joined BJP in presence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and State BJP unit chief Raosaheb Danve at the CM's official residence Varsha in South Mumbai late last night. Asked about reason for his leaving Congress, Hegde said the 'autocratic behaviour' of Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam was responsible for his decision. "I tried to point out to party leadership about how Nirupam was damaging the party. However, no cognisance was taken of my plea," Hegde, who represented Vile Parle Assembly constituency said. "I am a second generation Congressman. Nirupam has ruined the party," he said. Congress won't get more than 25 of the total 227 seats in the BMC polls, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of Punjab polls in which the AAP is fancying its chances to clinch power, Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today asked the youths to launch a campaign on social media to expose the "total failure" of the party-led Delhi government. Flagging off a motorcycle rally comprising 250 Bharatiya Yuva Janata Morcha (BJYM) activists for poll-bound Punjab from here, he said, they will campaign against AAP in that state and tell the people how Delhi has been "neglected and deceived" by the party and Kejriwal. The BJYM team will reach Punjab on motorcycles and campaign against AAP and tell people how Delhi has been "neglected and deceived" by the party and Kejriwal. These youths will tell people of Punjab how Kejriwal has failed to fulfil his promises and "deceived" Delhi, Rathore said, adding a special responsibility lies on the shoulders of Delhi youth to share their experience of two years of deceiving by Kejriwal government with the youth of other states. "Youth of Delhi need to launch a strong campaign on social media to expose Kejriwal government's total failure," he said. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, who also joined Rathore in flagging off the rally, said the activists were going to Punjab to "find out" Kejriwal who has been campaigning there "neglecting" Delhi and its people facing various problems. "I have been touring unauthorised colonies and villages in Delhi and found that Kejriwal government has not been able to fulfil even one of its poll promises. They claim to provide free water but in unauthorised colonies there is no water at all," he said. The Delhi BJYM activists will campaign in Punjab focusing on 23 constituencies where BJP candidates are contesting. Yuva Morcha is going on a 'Pol Khol' Mission to Punjab to "expose" Arvind Kejriwal and his party, said Sunil Yadav, Delhi BJYM president leading the activists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filing of nominations for the third phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will start tomorrow with the issuance of notification the February-19 poll. In the third phase, 69 Assembly seats spread over 12 districts will go to polls. The process of filing papers will continue till January 31 and the last date of withdrawal is February 4. The polling in the state will be done in seven phases between February 11 and March 8 and counting of ballots will be on March 11. The districts going to polls in the third phase are Farukhabad, Hardoi, Kannauj, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki and Sitapur. In the 2012 Assembly polls, out of these 69 seats SP had won 55, while BSP and BJP secured 6 and 5 respectively while Congress had two. One seat went to an Independent. Prominent among those whose prestige will be at stake is Nitin Agarwal, son of SP leader Naresh Agarwal. Also, BJP will have the challenge to fare well in Home Minister Rajnath Singh's parliamentary constituency Lucknow. This phase includes Etawah, the native place of SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav and districts like Mainpuri, where Tej Pratap Yadav is an SP MP. From Kannauj Dimple Yadav, wife of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, is MP. At 10 seats of Kanpur and Kanpur Dehat, over 33.5 lkah voters will exercise their franchise at more than 1,400 polling centres. SP, BSP and BJP have announced their candidates for the 10 seats. Samajwadi Party has also fielded its candidate from Kidwainagar, which is currently with Congress. SP and Congress have forged a pre-poll alliance for the state polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor James McAvoy, who plays Kevin, a man with multiple personalities, in "Split", said he had to prepare himself to play nine roles for the movie. The 37-year-old star opened up about his experience while filming the psychological horror thriller, reported Contactmusic. "I got the role quite late in the day, so I had to do nine times the amount of preparation in really less than half the time that I would usually get to prepare one character. "The other thing that was interesting is that, apart from Kevin, all the other personalities that lived within the same body, they had a different kind of genesis than you or I. You know, you or I are born because our parents did the do, but they're born out of a necessity to perform a pretty specific function within the larger group. That's because they each personify a certain quality or qualities that Kevin has," McAvoy said. The "X-Men: Apocalypse" star revealed that the script's opening pages, in which his character Kevin kidnaps and mentally taunts three teen girls, initially made him pause. "That worried me but then as soon as Kevin came in the room as Patricia, I was like, 'Ah, right! I'm gonna have fun with this.' "It's not just sensational, but something that could be hopefully intriguing and compelling in a way that isn't just edge-of-your-seat nerves. And as an actor there was also the opportunity to flex many muscles and employ all the dexterity you can muster," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 100 flights from Heathrow airport was cancelled today with Jet Airways announcing the reschedule of its Heathrow-New Delhi flight by nearly three hours, as thick fog engulfed much of southern England. "Foggy weather across London is expected on Monday, January 23, 2017 and some passengers may experience disruption to their journey," according to the Heathrow airport website. However, there is no other flight cancellations to India including the flag-carrier Air India. Jet Airways said its Heathrow-New Delhi flight (9W 121) will leave at 22:00 hours tonight instead of 19:25 hours. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for London, South East England and parts of South West England over dense, freezing fog. In England, a low of minus 6.2 C was recorded at Northolt, about 15 km from Heathrow. Visibility on the tarmac at Heathrow was down to 100 metres. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The All India Forward Bloc, a political party formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose himself, today celebrated his birth anniversary as 'Desh Prem Divas' across West Bengal. "For the last few years we are celebrating Netaji's birthday on January 23 as Desh Prem Diwas across the state. Today also we had a programme at our party headquarters and then several rallies were organised at various parts of state to mark his birth anniversary," senior Forward Bloc leader Naren Chatterjee said. Meanwhile, apart from the AIFB programmes, West Bengal today observed Netaji's birth anniversary at functions across the state, by paying glowing tributes to his memory. Holding portraits of Netaji and singing patriotic songs, people in large numbers took part in morning processions in different parts of the state. Floral tributes were paid to the freedom fighter during a function at his ancestral residence in Kodalia in South 24-Parganas district. People from all walks of life visited Netaji Bhawan in the city since early morning to pay homage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) France's conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon said today Europe needed a "jolt" to reform in light of new global threats to the old order, after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Speaking in Berlin days after US President Donald Trump's inauguration and British Prime Minister Theresa May's speech outlining her country's EU exit plans, Fillon said Europe could no longer be complacent about prosperity or stability. "For decades we have been living under the illusion of perpetual peace," said Fillon, who polls predict would win the French election if it were held today. "The reality is crueller," with an aggressive Russia, the threat of a trade war between the United States and China, and growing European divisions undermining confidence. "Here in Berlin, I am calling for a jolt to Europe. We cannot continue as before," he told an audience at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation think tank, which has close ties to Merkel's conservatives. Fillon said this would require "defining our priorities", including in economic and security policy, and reasserting shared values. "In the current situation, where our Europe is threatened with disappearance from the international stage, it is our responsibility to take decisions," he said. Delivering a passionate defence of the Franco-German partnership, Fillon said citizens must also live up to their duties to sustain European unity in turbulent times, even as Brexit threatens to undermine the cohesion of the EU. "Instead of asking what Europe can do for us, we should ask ourselves what we can do for it," borrowing a phrase from US President John F Kennedy's 1961 inaugural address. But he offered tough talk on two of the most highly charged issues of the campaign: Islamist extremism and immigration. "If borders are not protected by our European partners, and in the context of the war against Islamic totalitarianism, France will re-establish real checks at its borders," he pledged. Earlier, the former French prime minister held separate closed-doors talks with Merkel, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. Polls currently show far-right candidate Marine Le Pen qualifying for the second round of the French presidential election in May where she is forecast to face -- and lose to -- Fillon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gambia's new vice president will be a female leader of the opposition coalition that helped bring new President Adama Barrow to power, a presidential spokesman announced today, as regional troops continued security sweeps to prepare for Barrow's return to the country he now rules. The appointment of Aja Fatoumata Tambajang as vice president was announced at a press conference by coalition spokesman Halifa Sallah. He said the rest of Barrow's cabinet would be revealed Tuesday. A former UN Development Program staffer, Tambajang was instrumental in helping Gambia's opposition parties overcome their differences and unite against ousted President Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a coup and ruled for 22 years. Barrow remained in Senegal today, where he traveled more than a week ago when it was uncertain whether Jammeh would acknowledge defeat in the December election and step down. After days of frantic mediation, and as a regional intervention force deployed to apply pressure, Jammeh finally agreed to leave, flying out late Saturday night. Mediators said his destination was Equatorial Guinea, though that notoriously secretive country has yet to confirm Jammeh's arrival. Barrow's return date has not been fixed. The armed forces have pledged loyalty to him, though regional forces today continued to push Gambian soldiers out of the official residence, State House, in Banjul in advance of Barrow's arrival. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea's opposition denounced the government's decision to welcome Jammeh. President Teodoro Obiang will be held responsible "for what might occur" as a result of Jammeh's presence on the country's soil, according to a statement emailed Monday by Andres Esono Ondo, secretary general of the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy. Jammeh should not qualify for political asylum because he triggered Gambia's crisis by refusing to step down for weeks after he lost the December vote to Adama Barrow, said the Democratic Opposition Front, in a separate statement Sunday. "We are not against Pan-Africanism, but we are in favor of a more objective Pan-Africanism that does not consist in just bringing over the waste of Africa," the group said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress party today released it's manifesto for the upcoming Goa polls in which it has assured banning all the casinos in the coastal state including the floating vessels mounted with gambling dens. "Floating casinos in Goa's river will be closed permanently," reads the manifesto of Congress that was released today by Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia in Panaji. "Those on the shore too will be closed at a later stage," Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro told reporters here in the presence of Scindia. He said in the first phase, offshore casinos which are currently in river Mandovi would be shut and in the second phase, onshore casinos would be banned. Responding to a question, Faleiro ruled out that such an action would affect employment prospects in the state. "I don't think that there are much Goans working at these casinos," he said. Goa has six offshore casino vessels besides around a dozen of onshore casinos operating in five star resorts. The party in its manifesto also opposed holding of Defence Expo in Goa. "Goa Pradesh Congress Committee strongly opposes holding defence expoin Goa or give permanent rights to the Defence Ministry to hold the land on lease or on ownership basis anywhere in the state," it reads. It has also assured investigations into all the permissions granted by Investment Promotion Board to set up industry here. "All permissions granted under Investment Promotion Act would be inquired as soon as the party comes to the power after elections," the manifesto reads. "We will declare an all out war on drugs and drug peddling in the state. The anti-narcoticcell will be upgraded and strengthened to take the fight to beaches and every corner of Goa," the Congress manifesto has said. In one of the prominent promise, Congress has assured free five litres of petrol per month for every college student having valid driving licence. The Congress party has also assured to restore mining immediately incorporating the entire recommendation of the Supreme Court. "The loan of one truck or tanker per family would be waived off," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With gaining traction, the government is mulling setting up of a separate regulator for enabling electronic payment system in the country as well as regulate transaction charges. While the Ratan Watal committee on digital payments suggested that the government makes regulation of payments independent from the function of central banking, sources said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is not very keen on giving up the regulation on Payment systems. Official sources said that RBI, as a banking regulator, frames policies to benefit banks and not enforcement of competition and innovation objectives in the conduct of firms in the payment industry. "So far, regulations are becoming bank focused. If there is a separate regulator, the focus would be on ease of transaction and rationalisation of cost. Hence, there is a case for setting up of an authority for enabling electronic payment system in India," an official source told Press Trust of India . The Central bank, in its representation before the Watal Committee, has stated that regulation of payments should be with the apex bank because regulating money supply is an integral function of a central bank and includes maintaining the confidence in money as a means of exchange. Explaining the need for a separate regulator, the source said that electronic payment does not entail the exchange of physical cash and it does not involve deposit taking or credit offtake or servicing of loans/deposits. "Payments can happen without banking. Payment regulation is different from banking regulation. RBI is not agreeing to it," the source said, adding the proposed regulator should have a majority of its membership from businesses having direct familiarity with the payment process, or allied businesses. The Watal Committee, which submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month, weighed two options on how best regulation of electronic payments can be made independent from the function of central banking. The committee considered the creation of a new payments regulator or making the current Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) within RBI more independent. Sources said that RBI, as a regulator, is focusing more on the interest of banks rather than a creation of a financial ecosystem and even after coming up with consultation paper on fixing MDR charges in March 2016, it has not been able to fix the charges. In December, post-demonetisation, the RBI had said that Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) charges on payments made through debit cards will be capped at 0.25% for transactions up to Rs 1,000 and 0.5% between Rs 1,000 and 2,000 for the period January 1-March 31. The RBI also did away with levies on small transactions through mobile phones till March-end. Since September 2012, the MDR for debit card purchases had been capped at 0.75% for transactions up to Rs 2,000 and 1% for above Rs 2,000. However, there is no RBI cap on MDR on credit card payments. MDR, or Merchant Service Fee (MSF), is the fee charged to the merchant by the financial institution/ bank which has set up the PoS or card acceptance machine at the merchant location for use of this infrastructure. "RBI could not rationalise the MDR charges since last year despite floating a consultation paper. RBI has not been able to regulate it and it should be separated," the source said, adding that even while UPI or United Payment Interface, just entails payment transfer, the banks are charging money. "They are taking it more as a revenue model rather than an integral part of banking. If there is a separate regulator, then the regulations will not be bank-focused," the source said. Though the regulatory policy on MDR (issued in September 2012) had indicated a cap on it, it is generally treated as a floor, with the benefit of lower MDR not really accruing to smaller merchants. "In certain segments like mutual funds, insurance, etc., a flat fee structure of charges has also been established by the industry," the RBI had said in the concept paper. Therefore, cash continues to be the predominant mode of payment as it appears to be 'costless' in comparison to the visible costs associated with card/ electronic payments. Haryana is bracing for a fresh round of quota agitation by Jats from January 29 for which the government has sought 55 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre besides deployment of 7,000 Home Guards in the state which saw 30 deaths and widespread destruction of property during a similar stir one year back. Last year's agitation had largely affected Delhi as the protesters cut water supply to the national capital and caused massive damage to public property in Haryana. Jat community outfits, while accusing the Manohar Lal Khattar government of not fulfilling their demands for reservation, have threatened to launch the next round of agitation in 19 districts of the state. The 19 districts where the agitation is planned include Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad. "We have been holding panchayats from the last 11 months in many villages on individual level to achieve the eventual goal of getting Other Backward Class (OBC) status," Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti chief Yashpal Malik told PTI. "The BJP government in Haryana and Centre cheated us last time and assured us by giving fake promises to end our protest. They also targeted youths in fake cases for damaging private and government properties," Malik charged. He said the community is prepared to face any challenge to seek reservation. Jat leaders claim support of people from as many as 250 villages in Haryana and Delhi. In view of the agitation plans, the Haryana government has sent a requisition for 55 companies (about 5500 personnel) of Central paramilitary forces and has also issued call out notice to depute 7,000 Home Guards in the state. "Although the leaders of various agitating organisations have promised to hold dharnas in a peaceful manner, yet the administration is fully geared up to maintain law and order," Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Ram Niwas said here today. He said all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been directed to ensure that highways and railway tracks are not obstructed and no damage is caused to property. All the proposed dharnas would be videographed, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) said, adding he has urged the agitating leaders to protest in a peaceful manner as the government is always prepared for talks. "Every citizen has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, but it should be in a peaceful manner," Niwas dded. In view of the agitation plans, the police has stepped up efforts to avoid any untoward incident and damage to public property as in the last agitation. Last year, the state saw Jat agitation in the month of February that resulted in the killing of 30 people and massive damage to property, particularly in worst-affected districts of Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonipat. "I have directed every districts top police officials to prepare to deal with any kind of situation and make sure that road and rail routes would not get blocked. Keeping law and order intact in the state is our prime objective and we will deploy adequate police force in vulnerable districts to deal with eventualities," Haryana Police ADGP (law and order) Mohammad Akil told The Bombay High Court today directed the additional director general of Maharashtra's Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to supervise an inquiry into corruption charges levelled by a head constable against the traffic police across the city and outside. A division bench headed by Justice R V More was hearing a petition filed by head constable Sunil Toke which alleged rampant corruption in the police's traffic department, and sought an FIR be lodged and departmental inquiry be initiated against the corrupt officials. Additional Public Prosecutor Jayesh Yagnik informed the court that the ACB has begun its inquiry into the allegations under the supervision of the additional commissioner of police, Mumbai. The court, however, noted that since the allegations are of serious nature and are not restricted just to Mumbai, it would be better if the additional director general, ACB, would supervise the inquiry. "We direct the additional DG to submit a progress report within six weeks. We want a high-ranking officer to look into the allegations as the petition has set out cognisable offences against specific traffic police officials," Justice More said. Toke, who is at present attached with the Armed Police Force, Worli division, joined the service in 1985 and was posted with the Goregaon traffic police and then Wadala traffic police during the period of 2013 to 2016. The petition states that during his tenure at the traffic department, he was shocked and surprised to see that there was rampant corruption there. The petitioner listed a few examples where the traffic police had taken money from the people. "The traffic police take money from trucks which ply sand illegally, trucks which evade octroi, trucks which carry construction material, in cases of illegal parking, drunken driving and so on," the petition alleged. It alleged that the traffic police department collects Rs 40,000-50,000 from four-star and five-star hotels for allowing illegal parking outside their premises. "There are thousands of illegal taxis and autorickshaws plying in the city without requisite permission. The traffic police collect Rs 1,000-2,000 from each such vehicle every month and allow them to ply," the petition claimed. It claimed that when 'nakabandi' is done for drunken driving, out of 50 cases only 5 to 10 are shown officially and the offenders are prosecuted. "In the other cases, an amount of Rs 10,000-50,000 is taken by the traffic police depending on who the offender is," the petition said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Central Information Commission order directing Delhi University to allow the inspection of records of all students who had passed BA examination in 1978, the year when Prime Minister had also cleared it, was stayed by the Delhi High Court on Monday. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, while extending the relief sought by Delhi University, which had challenged the CIC's December 21, 2016 decision, also issued notice to RTI activist Neeraj seeking his response. The court has now fixed the matter for further hearing on April 27, by when the activist has to reply to the petition filed by DU, claiming the CIC order is "arbitrary" and "untenable in law" as the information sought to be disclosed is "third party personal information". Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and central government standing counsel Arun Bhardwaj submitted before the court that CIC order has "far-reaching adverse consequences for the petitioner and all universities in the country which hold degrees of crores of students in a fiduciary capacity". The DU plea said "it was completely illegal for the CIC to direct the petitioner (DU) to disclose an information which is available to it in its fiduciary capacity, that too without rendering any finding pertaining to any pressing necessity or overwhelming public interest warranting disclosure of such information on account of overwhelming/larger public interest sought to be achieved through such disclosure." The CIC, in its order, had asked DU to allow inspection while rejecting contention of its Central Public Information Officer that it was third party personal information, saying there was "neither merit, nor legality" in it. It had directed the university "to facilitate inspection of relevant register where complete information about result of all the students who passed in Bachelor of Arts in year 1978 along with roll number, names of the students, fathers' name and marks obtained as available with the University and provide certified copy of the extract of relevant pages from the register, free of cost...." The CIC order had said "With regard to question whether disclosure of such identification related information causes invasion of privacy, or is that unwarranted invasion of privacy, the PIO has not put forward any evidence or explained possibility to show that disclosure of degree-related information infringes the privacy or causes unwarranted invasion of privacy". PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) While Montanas jails and prisons continue to overflow with adult inmates, remarkable progress has been made with youthful offenders. Youth Courts have been sending fewer juveniles to the Department of Corrections. As a result, the Riverside facility for girls has closed and a portion of Pine Hills school for boys is being used to house young adult male offenders. Statistics from the Montana Supreme Court Administrators Office show that the number of youth referred to courts has dropped over the past decade. The number of youth sent to DOC by courts dropped by half between 2005 and 2015. In the 2001 biennium, the Legislature appropriated $16.3 million for juvenile placements; in the 2017 biennium, it appropriated $9.4 million, with the flexibility to support not only placements but services and programming to reduce delinquency and help youth and families, Chief Justice Mike McGrath noted in his State of the Judiciary address. Nowhere else had funding decreased by 43 percent with an accompanying increase in outcomes. Pine Hills in Miles City was expanded to house 120 boys in 1997. Recently, it held fewer than 45, McGrath said. McGrath credits all three branches of state government for contributing to youth justice reform. Changes allowed youth probation officers to pay for community-based services if they reduced expensive placements. Probation officers have been partnering with DOC, schools and communities to hold young offenders accountable. Restitution collection has increased as has community service hours worked. The Youth Courts now address mental health, chemical dependency and education issues that affect the youth and family. The success in Youth Court demonstrates that when all three branches work together on a problem, there is a greater likelihood of a creative solution, McGrath wrote. All three branches are seeing chaos caused by drug use, untreated mental illness and the increase in criminal behavior. The child abuse system, the corrections system, county detention facilities and the public defender system are under significant stress. He pledged that the Judicial Branch will work with the other branches to find creative solutions that work in the community and within the families. We agree with McGrath. Legislation to improve access to community-based treatment is being proposed. This Gazette opinion quotes what McGrath wrote not what he spoke because he didnt actually give the speech. State Senate President Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, notified McGrath and the three members of Montanas congressional delegation that the Senate wouldnt attend their scheduled addresses to the Legislature. Sales said the Senate needed to save time in the event we need to return to Helena during the interim. House Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, had a different view: I think its good for the Legislators to hear from statewide elected officials to know whats going on. McGrath canceled his address. Legislators missed hearing an important update from the chief justice, but Gazette readers can see it. McGraths State of the Judiciary is online with this Gazette opinion at billingsgazette.com. Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said he would not campaign for Congress in Punjab for the assembly polls unless the Sutlej- Yamuna Link canal was constructed and the state's share of water was released. He said "interests of Haryana were supreme to me". "How can I campaign for Congress in Punjab unless Sutlej- Yamuna Link (SYL) canal is constructed and Haryana's share of water is released," Hooda said while addressing a Congress rally here to protest against inconvenience caused to people due to demonetisation. He said the SYL agreement was broken by former Punjab chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh. "Unless Punjab assures that the agreement would be honoured and SYL would be constructed, how can I campaign in favour of Congress," Hooda said. Terming the demonetisation a "most erroneous decision after independence", he said the people would give a befitting reply to "notebandi of government by votebandi in elections". "The people would pronounce their verdict on demonetisation in assembly elections of five states and later in Himachal. The impact of demonetisation on the economy would be visible soon and financial position would deteriorate," the former chief minister said. Claiming that farmers, small traders, labourers and poor people who were made to stand in queues are the most affected by demonetisation, Hooda said the decision was purportedly taken to weed out fake currency, choke the funding of terror outfits and unearth black money, but the government is shying away from telling that how much black money has been detected and how much fake currency destroyed. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for talking about cashless economy, he said this experiment has failed even in advanced countries and how it would be successfully implemented in India with 6.50 lakh villages. Hooda claimed that the GDP would be reduced by two to three per cent due to demonetisation, which would be ruinous "for our growing economy". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Residential property sales in India are expected to witness at least 20-30 per cent dip in 2017 due to impact, Fitch Ratings said today. In its report "2017 Outlook: Asia-Pacific Corporates", Fitch changed its outlook on Indian housing sector to negative from stable. "We changed our sector outlook on Indian homebuilders to negative, from stable, after the authorities took steps in November 2016 to demonetise large-denomination banknotes," the report said. One goal of is to curtail undeclared wealth, which will take its toll on home demand, said the agency. "Fitch expects residential property sales of most Indian homebuilders to weaken by at least 20-30 per cent this year," according to the report. It said Chinese homebuilders had the only positive sector outlook in APAC in 2016. "We have revised it to neutral in 2017 to reflect policy intervention to clamp down on speculative and investment demand for residential properties," it added. For China, Fitch expects housing sales to decline 15 per cent in 2017. Overall, Fitch Ratings has assigned a negative outlook to almost one-third of Asia-Pacific (APAC) corporate sectors for 2017. Growth across Asia remains high by global standards, but has slowed in recent years, particularly in China, it said, adding, external factors, such as the strong US dollar, weak global trade, and political uncertainty in the US and Europe, are presenting challenges, it said. Besides, unfavourable policy changes, overcapacity and rising competition are among other difficulties posing challenges the countries in APAC, Fitch Ratings said. As per the report, Chinese steel exports are likely to stay strong in 2017 and will contribute to global over-supply. "India's government eased import pressure on Indian steelmakers by imposing minimum import prices last year, but capacity utilisation remains low and rising production costs are adding to strains." Overcapacity in APAC's thermal-coal market suggests the recent coal-price rally is likely to prove unsustainable, it said further. As per the outlook, some sectors face increased competition in an already-difficult growth environment. Chinese retailers, for example, are losing customers to new shopping formats, particularly e-commerce, at a time when weakening consumer sentiment is affecting sales in a number of consumer categories, said the ratings firm. "New entrants into telecoms markets in India, Malaysia, and Singapore will put added pressure on incumbents that are already grappling with rising capex needs," it added. Close to 400 people have been arrested and drugs, liquor and cash worth Rs 58 crore seized in Punjab after the model code of conduct came into force even as no link has been established so far between the recovery and any political party or person. "Total recovery in the state, which includes cash, liquor, drugs, gold and other items, goes about Rs 58 crore," Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) V K Bhawra said here today. He said among the seizure by the agencies - BSF, NCB and the police - include 5 kg heroin, 1,800 kg poppy husk, 127 kg opium in the state and 394 persons have been arrested under the NDPS Act. Bhawra, who is also the nodal officer for the state election, said a huge quantity of seizures of contraband was also made by neighbouring states in coordination with the Punjab police. The ADGP said Jammu and Kashmir police have seized 1,000 kg poppy husk near Lakhanpur and the supply was meant for Punjab. In addition, Rajasthan police also seized 475 kg of poppy husk. When asked whether law enforcement agencies have been able to link the seizure of drugs, liquor and cash with any political party or person, Bhawra said police was trying to find out the source of recovery. "The follow up at micro level has not been done...We will try to ascertain the source of the recovery be it liquor, drugs or cash. It is a long drawn process and it takes months," he said. Notably, in past, political parties had expressed concern over the misuse of drugs, liquor and cash to influence voters during the Punjab assembly polls. Bhawra said a meeting of inter-state police coordination took place today in which top cops and other senior police officials of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, UT Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir participated. In the meeting, it was decided that there would be an effective sealing of borders with other states by putting up check posts and maintaining round-the-clock vigil to check transportation of illegal items, including drugs. "The borders will be sealed effectively 72 hours before polls," he said. On the deposit of licensed weapons, Bhawra said 3.19 lakh weapons have been deposited which make up to 85 per cent of total licensed arms in the state. He further said that 409 unlicensed weapons, including pistols, have been seized during checking of vehicles at several places in the state. (REOPENS DEL 33) Meanwhile, Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) V K Bhawra said that 332 FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act. Major recoveries include 1.47 quintals of gold worth Rs 21 crore at Mohali, 2.13 gold worth Rs 61.80 lakh by Hoshiarpur police and 14 kg gold valued at Rs 4.20 crore by Ludhiana Commissionerate, he said. Bhawra said flying squads seized illicit liquor and licit liquor of 246 and 1,421 litres respectively, while static surveillance teams seized illicit and licit liquor of 476 and 2,963 litres respectively in Punjab. He said two FIRs were registered out of 55 complaints received in connection with drugs on the helpline number and four FIRs were lodged out of 36 complaints received with regard to liquor. Four FIRs were registered out of 41 complaints received on WhatsApp, he added. Amidst uncertainty over a pre-poll pact between saffron allies, Maharashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve today said they are in favour of an alliance with Shiv Sena and awaiting "positive proposal" from the ally as far as a tie-up for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls is concerned. "We (BJP) have already given clear indications about the alliance. In fact, we are of the opinion that alliance should be formed," Danve told reporters here. "As far as seat sharing in BMC polls is concerned, we have already sent a proposal of 114 seats to Sena and we are awaiting positive proposal from them. However, till date, we have not received any official proposal from them and when it comes, we will think over it," the Maharashtra BJP chief said. Danve and state Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis were in the city today. "We are in favour of an alliance with Shiv Sena and awaiting positive proposal from them as far as a tie-up for the BMC polls is concerned," Danve added. Polling for the 10 Municipal Corporations in Maharashtra including that of Mumbai, Thane will be held on February 21. Danve also said discussions on alliance with Shiv Sena are going on at district-level. "We have already given rights in the BJP local units to hold discussions with Shiv Sena and wherever alliance is possible, elections will be fought together," he said, to a query on alliance possibility for elections to Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies. The state BJP chief also said his party has kept all their options open and there is no deadline from BJP. "We had given deadline till January 21...We have started our preparations to go into the polls and they too have started their own preparations as no one waits for each other in politics," Danve quipped. Talking about the issue of giving entry to persons with criminal antecedents in the party, he said, "people with criminal antecedents will not given any place in the party". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian firms in December 2016 raised USD 2.8 billion in overseas borrowings, including that from rupee denominated bonds (RDB), according to RBI data. In the same month a year ago (December 2015), the foreign borrowings by Indian firms were at USD 3.03 billion. However, the data can not be compared year-on-year basis, as the Indian companies were allowed to raise money through newly introduced RDB instruments in 2016. The Reserve Bank started publishing data on these rupee denominated bonds from September last year. Of the total fund raised during the month, money through external commercial borrowings (ECB), both from automatic and approval route, were at USD 2.49 billion. The rest of USD 315.50 million were generated by floating rupee denominated bonds in December by a total of seven companies. Those raising money via RDB included: Sembcorp Gayatri Power USD 116.26 million for power project, while Ikea India Pvt Ltd and Zuari Cement Ltd raised USD 73.64 million each for general corporate purpose and refinancing of earlier rupee loans, respectively. Using ECB channel, the companies who borrowed funds from overseas by approval route included Reliance Industries USD 1.75 billion for refinancing of earlier ECB and TSMT Technology India Ltd USD 14 million for starting new project. From automatic route: Intas Pharmaceuticals borrowed USD 274.16 million for overseas acquisition, IL&FS Transportation Networks USD 50 million for on lending, Novozymes South Asia Ltd USD 47.13 million for rupee expenditure and Lulu Convention and Exhibition Centre USD 48.03 million for new project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Music, art and crafts workshops, along with royal hospitality and gastronomic delights will be a part of an upcoming multi-format cultural festival. Taalbelia, the four-day long ethnic extravaganza, seeks to reinvent destination for music festivals while experimenting with different music genres. The festival, which will begin in a quaint Shekhawati town Mandawa on January 26, promises more than 30 acts with an ideal combination of art and crafts and royal hospitality. The cultural affair will host contemporary, classical and folk music to enthrall the residents between two majestic venues-- Castle Mandawa and Desert Resort. "The roots of Rajasthan have travelled musically across the globe, transforming cultures and traditions with its nomadic vibe. Taalbelia serves as a platform for multi-genre artists to come together and create magic," a spokesperson of the organisers, Event Crafter said. The workshops will be incorporating interactive sessions with disc jockeys to understand console jamming. The visitors will also get a chance to learn wind percussion instrument, 'Morchang' and understand the rhythm of the 'khartaal'. They will also get a chance to polish their shooting skills or learn pottery around the potter's wheel and get familiar with the beautiful horses at the royal stables. The festival is also offering a crash course on signature Rajasthani Lac bangles along with sand surfing and dirt biking. Taalbelia's Gourmet Fiesta will include cuisine and authentic Shekhawati delicacies with an array of fine culinary delights. The festival, which will be organised in a joint collaboration with the Royal Family of Mandawa, will serve seasonal specials made from gram flour, dry vegetables, bajra and corn, Hot Raab (local soup) along with traditional Rajasthani favourites such as 'Kaachri Ki Lunji', 'pyaazki sabzi', 'gatta' will be followed with 'Mangolian' and 'Mexican' specialties. "The glory of the land is frozen in time, its art; its music and its culinary finesse still mesmerize our senses. But, owing to the lack of conviction led initiatives; the city of Mandawa yearns to regain its erstwhile charm and magic, which Taalbelia seeks to change," the spokesperson said. The festival comes to an end on January 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Industry body Assocham today advised all political parties in poll-bound Uttarakhand to give priority to infrastructure development in their manifestos and said the sector has potential to create an additional 5 lakh jobs in the next five years. In an agenda submitted to all political parties and seeking its inclusion in their poll manifestos, the business chamber said, "...Infrastructure development in Uttarakhand if gainfully tapped shall generate additional 5 lakh jobs in next five years in food processing, tourism, herbal medicines, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector." Workforce dependability on industrial sector indicates that the state's industrial sector employability has also witnessed a significant increase from the level of 2001, it said in a report. According to 2011 census, workforce dependent on industry is 3.0 per cent of the total workforce in the state which was just 2.3 per cent in 2001. The industrial sector growth performance has been credible in the recent years as industrial performance has recorded highest growth amongst the states and much better than all India average growth. The state grew at a CAGR of 16.5 per cent during 2004-05 to 2014-15 (base price is 2004-05), noted the Assocham pre-election agenda. All the political parties should focus on SMEs promotion based on the locally available raw materials. "If we look GVA (Gross Value Added) at the new base 2011-12, the compound annual growth of industries sector suggests that the state's industrial sector growth rate is much better than all India average growth rate. The state has recorded 5.2 per cent growth during 2011-12 to 2015-16 while 4.4 per cent recorded at all India level during the same period," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said. The service sector plays an important role in Uttarakhand's economy but it is amongst one of the few states of India which has a lower share of services sector when compared with the national average of services sector contribution to Indian GDP. Currently, service sector contribution to the state economy is 51.0 per cent of GSDP in 2014-15 which was 49.5 per cent of GSDP in 2004-05, noted the report. The service sector has recorded a compound annual growth rate of 12.3 per cent during 2004-05 to 2014-15 which is highest amongst major states in India. If we look GVA (Gross Value Added) at the new base 2011-12, the compound annual growth of services sector suggests that the state's services sector growth rate is better than all India average growth rate. The state has recorded 7.5 per cent growth during 2011-12 to 2015-16 while 7.0 per cent at all India level during the same period. The service sector growth rate has declined from its peak level of 20.4 per cent in 2007-08 to reach its lowest level of 5.8 per cent in 2012-13 thereafter it has recorded upswing. The last four years performance indicates that the state service sector growth has improved from lowest growth of 5.8 per cent in 2012-13 to 7.6 per cent in 2013-14 and 7.9 per cent in 2014-15. In 2015-16, services sector gross value added was 11.8 per cent. The growth performance of service sector is encouraging as the state has ample potential for growth and expansion of services sector. The policy makers should aim to expand the sector so that it generates additional economic activity and employment for the state, said Rawat. Uttarakhand's robust economic growth has encouraged investors to invest in the state. The state's outstanding investment trend is suggesting robust growth performance especially after 2012-13. As on 2015-16, the state has recorded Rs 1.45 lakh crore live investment projects with a positive growth rate of 23.7 per cent but in the past, it has recorded sharp deceleration in its investment growth from its peak level of 44.6 per cent 2008-09 to negative growth rate of 3.9 per cent in 2012-13. The state's live investment growth rate is much better than India's live investment growth rate since in 2013-14. Uttarakhand has recorded negative growth rate of 3.9 per cent in 2012-13 thereafter positive growth of 1.9 per cent in 2013-14, 13.7 per cent in 2014-15 and 23.7 per cent in 2015-16. At the same time in India, live investment has administered positive growth rate of 1.9 per cent in 2013-14, about 7.7 per cent in 2014-15 and 6.6 per cent in 2015-16, adds the paper. The under implementation rate has declined from its peak level of 63.5 per cent in 2004-05 to 38.6 per cent in 2015-16. Under implementation projects have been a major concern for policy makers in India as well as for most of the states in India. All states government as well as Central Government has been trying to curb down the under implementation rate and many initiatives have been taken by both. However, analysis suggests that Uttarakhand has recorded faster implementation of projects that has resulted in a significant fall in the under implementation rate of the projects. The state has been witnessing a strong demand for employment with large portion of population coming into the working age group of population. As per Assocham estimate, about 32.1 per cent of population falls in the age group of 15 to 30 years. About 4.5 million people from this group are already a part of the workforce. The current level of workforce participation rate stands at 38.6 per cent, therefore in order for the working age group of 15-30 years also to achieve a similar rate an additional 5 lakh jobs will need to be created in the next five years. If the state has to meet the potential demand of employment, the state needs to grow at a double digit rate. The newly government must look at this on priority basis which will accelerate investment activities in the state as well as it will encourage private sector to invest in the state. Assocham Special Task Force on Uttarakhand, after generating debate on several critical issues on the eve of the elections in the state, has formulated a "Sustainable Action Plan" to achieve double digit growth. Assocham believes state achieving double digit growth on a sustainable basis will help the state to become one of the front ranking states in the country. Israeli nuclear whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu has been convicted of violating the terms of his release, more than a decade after completing an 18-year jail term, a court announced today. Upon his release in 2004, Vanunu was slapped with a series of restraining orders, which he was charged with violating on three counts. Vanunu was convicted of meeting with two US nationals in Jerusalem in 2013 without having permission to do so, and will be sentenced in two months, a court statement said. He was cleared of two other charges, one of which related to an interview he gave to Israel's Channel 2 television in 2015. Vanunu conviction's dates back to January 18 but it was not made public until today. A sentencing hearing has been set for March 14. The former nuclear technician was jailed in 1986 for disclosing the inner workings of Israel's Dimona nuclear plant to Britain's The Sunday Times newspaper. He spent more than 10 years of his sentence in solitary confinement. In the Channel 2 interview, Vanunu said he longer has any secrets to spill and just wanted to join his new bride in Norway, theology professor Kristin Joachimsen whom he married at a Lutheran church in Jerusalem in May that year. He has been barred from emigrating on the grounds that he still poses a threat to national security. Vanunu, 62, converted from Judaism to Christianity shortly before being snatched by Mossad agents in Rome and smuggled to Israel. He has twice before been jailed for breaking the terms of his parole. Israel is the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, refusing to confirm or deny that it has such weapons. It has refused to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or to allow international surveillance of its Dimona plant in the Negev desert of southern Israel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) International action superstar Jackie Chan arrived in Mumbai today to promote his upcoming film "Kung Fu Yoga", which also stars Bollywood actor Sonu Sood. Jackie landed in the city around 11 AM and was welcomed by Sonu at the airport here. According to sources, Jackie is scheduled to shoot for "The Kapil Sharma" show. Sonu will be driving Jackie to Kapil's show also showing him the area enroute. The duo will then dash off to JW Marriott in suburban Mumbai where Jackie will stay for the day. Sources said a traditional grand welcome has been planned for Jackie in a Punjabi and Maharashtrian dhol group style following which choreographer Farah Khan has put together a performance for Jackie on a song from "Kung Fu Yoga" that they had shot together in Rajasthan. Co-stars Disha Patni, Amyra Dastur and Sonu will join the dance that will take place in the hotel lobby, sources added. The "Kung Fu Yoga" team will then address a press meet. Thereafter Sonu will be hosting a party for the action star where superstar Salman Khan and Kangana Ranaut among others will be in attendance. Earlier this month, Hollywood actor Vin Diesel visited India for the promotion of Deepika Padukone-starrer "xXx: Return of Xander Cage". The upcoming action adventure "Kung Fu Yoga", directed by Stanely Tong, is set to release on February 3 in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The pink city witnessed 18 per cent increase in rape cases last year with 25 per cent of them lodged by couples living in live-in relationships or had relationship in lieu of a job or marriage, a senior police official said today. 330 rape case were registered in 2016 as compared to 279 such cases in 2015, Jaipur Police Commissioner Sanjay Agarwal, while revealing statistics of annual crime report, said. He, however, said 50 per cent of the 276 cases disposed of till December 2016 were false. Overall crime rate, registered under various IPC sections, has reduced by 12 per cent last year as compared to 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Omg, this is hasbara 101, essentially the Hebrew word for propaganda pusher. Always the victim is a central theme to hasbara creativity, which boils down to: You can never do enough America, cant you see We are Gods Chosen People? Oy Vey, Nancy May. Transference of guilt to patriotism is applied as a con game, evidenced by Mays letter jaw-dropping death sentence Yiiikes. How could you be so cruel America/U.N.? Well, Nancy, there you go again: America gives Israel $3.5 million dollars a day. The yearly sum deposited every January, free, and its not enough. And a few weeks ago, you, the American taxpayer gave Israel $38 billion over 10 years in arms and its accoutrements. Only Gods Chosen can receive these staggering amounts of free money you heartless Americans, how could you house the U.N.? And talk about election influencing, no country tries harder to influence all elections in America than do the Israelis, as evidenced by Prime Minister Netanyahu, exhorting a joint Congress in March 2015. Extorting our representatives through junk patriotism, crying in his beer, delivering the hawk squawk about how America must give more to a nuclear bomb possessing /threat that ranks 16th out of 126 militaries in the world. Its never enough, America. This poor, tiny theocracy freely indulges in genocide, culture eradication, water shut-downs/poisoning the wells, demolishing crops and orchards of rightful residents. Since 1948 the narrative is: Israel is the victim because the Palestinians made them be monsters. A good solution would be for Israel to be booted from the U.N. for innumerable failures to comply. William Crain Billings The six-day-old stir over jallikattu turned violent today after an early morning crackdown on the protesters here, leaving over 20 police personnel injured even as the Tamil Nadu assembly moved swiftly and passed a bill replacing an ordinance for conducting the bull taming sport. A senior police official told PTI that 90 per cent of the protesters at Marina beach, the epicentre of the agitation, predominantly by students and youth, had vacated the area by late evening and that normalcy was being restored. Reports said most protestors in other parts of the state like Madurai, Erode and Coimbatore were either evicted or had left on their own, heeding the appeal of police. However, the crackdown had a ripple effect in the city and elsewhere, where normal life was affected, with protesters staging road blocks and state transport buses being withdrawn at many places. The government moved quickly to get the amendment bill to replace the jallikattu ordinance promulgated two days ago, passed in the assembly in the evening session. The "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017", piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was passed by voice vote with the support of opposition DMK and other parties. It said the "Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt jallikattu from the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act." On an eventful day, police set on an early morning crackdown at Marina after issuing an advisory asking students to leave. They said students' protests had been successful as jallikattu had been held yesterday following the state issuing the ordinance. Former Madras High Court Judge Hari Paranthaman also spoke to the protesting youngsters, explaining to them the technical specifications of the state government's amendment to the PCA Act. According to a senior police official, "90 per cent of the protesters at Marina Beach have left." Earlier in the day, protesters fought pitched battles with police at several areas, especially around Marina Beach from where thousands were evicted. They blocked roads at various parts of the city with the week-long agitation taking a violent turn. Traffic was thrown out of gear as the agitators took to the streets, with some attacking policemen and their vehicles. Police fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge at some places as sections of protesters, removed from Marina in the early morning crackdown, pelted stones. They went on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire at a few places, including in front of Ice House Police Station near the beach. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a crackdown, police on Monday started evicting scores of pro- demonstrators from protest venues across the state, especially from the Marina Beach, the epicenter of the stir for the past one week, amid reports of stone-pelting and lathi charge at a few places. At the Marina, the police action began early in the morning with roads to the beach being cordoned off and police personnel being deployed in large numbers. Some protesters lined up at the seashore forming a human chain and a group entered the water refusing to heed police requests to disperse. Some others staged a sit-in on the sands while others regrouped in nearby areas, shouting slogans and allegedly throwing stones on policemen. Police burst teargas shells and reportedly lathi charged to chase away a section of protesters who had regrouped at Triplicane near Marina beach and allegedly started throwing stones at police personnel. The protesters had been demonstrating for the past one week demanding the lifting of the ban on . Despite the promulgation of an ordinance on Saturday for conducting the bull-taming sport, they had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure that the sport is held annually without any hindrance. TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing protesters from the beach. At Coimbatore, police forcibly evicted the protesters from VOC Park Grounds in Coimbatore where they were agitating for the last six days. As the appeal made by senior officials to clear the grounds failed, police in large numbers started to bodily lift the protestors and shift them out of the venue. Women police personnel were seen taking women agitators, some elderly and some with babies in their arms, out of the grounds, despite them appealing with folded hands not to disturb the peaceful agitation. Even as some protesters were seen leaving the venue voluntarily, police removed nearly 300 protesters from there, police said. Protesting against the police action, some youths formed a human chain on the main Avanashi chain and police made a 'mild' cane charge to disperse them, an official said. A section of protesters were raising slogans in support of their demand for a permanent act for conducting Jallikkatu and against PETA and police, near the Central Jail, some 200 meters from the venue, prompting the police to take into custody nearly 300 people, they said. Police said they had cleared the ground, venue for the Republic Day function, and it is under control of the district administration and police. Protests are reportedly continuing in Madurai with demonstrators allegedly throwing stones at police in Alanganallur even as officials are trying to persuade the agitators to disperse. Violence broke out today 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, clsoe 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 February 2. Yesterday, 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. Protesters fought pitched battles with police at several pockets here, especially around Marina Beach from where thousands were evicted, and blocked roads at various parts of the city with the week-long agitation taking a violent turn today. 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 vehicles on fire 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 cars, were set on fire by unidentified persons near Nadukuppam. Protesting the police action at Marina, hundreds of people blocked roads and staged sit-ins in several areas, including Triplicane, Teynampet, Kilpauk and T Nagar, causing severe hardship to morning office goers. Vehicular traffic came to a grinding halt on several arterial roads and junctions such as Anna Salai and Gemini Flyover in the heart of the city besides the IT corridor. Several schools chose to shut early in view of the sudden turn of events while city buses were halted as a preventive measure. However, suburban electric train services were operated on most routes. While most protesters were removed from Marina beach, a section of them refused to go and rushed too close to the shore. When police tried to evict them, they threatened to jump into the sea. With agitators remaining close to the shores, the entire stretch from Rajaji Salai, where the State Secretariat is located, till Fore Shore Estate through Kamarajar Salai wore a deserted look resembling a curfew like situation. A PTI correspondent, who went around the affected areas, saw telltale signs of the violence as several nook and corners of Triplicane, which abuts the beach, were strewn with stones, bricks and broken tree branches. Police did not allow vehicles or pedestrians to enter the beach area through the approach roads. Hundreds of students suddenly descended on Anna Salai near Periyar statue, seeking to go to Marina Bach and protest, but police baton charged them after appeals to them failed. Trouble erupted earlier in the day at Marina as protesters refused to disperse after police asked them to vacate. Police distributed copies of the Jallikattu ordinance and explained it would soon be made into a law by the Assembly. While a section of agitators agreed to disperse, the rest of them said they would consider moving out only after seeing further developments. As the police personnel began to physically remove the agitators, they protested. Police said protesters threw sand and water packets at them at the beach area and as a result they had to use "mild force". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japanese police said today they have arrested three people in a sex trafficking case involving Cambodian women and discovered 10 Thai women who may also be victims of the same prostitution ring. Two Japanese men and a Thai woman were taken into custody after allegedly forcing the seven Cambodians, aged from 20 to 36, into prostitution. The group was rescued from a restaurant in Gunma northwest of Tokyo last month after a victim made a desperate Facebook plea. Police raided the restaurant and suspects' homes, where they found another 10 women from Thailand aged from 21 to 34. Several of the women were detained for visa violations, a police spokesman said in the first announcement of the arrest of the trio. "But once they are determined to be victims of human trafficking, they'll be released," he told AFP. Japan has long been a destination for Southeast Asian women seeking higher wages who often find themselves forced into sex work or indentured labour. The Cambodian women were lured to work at the restaurant in November with the promise of high wages by a Japanese owner who arranged visas and airfares for them, according to the Cambodian foreign ministry. The victims told police they had been promised salaries of USD 3,000 a month but were instead forced into sex work. Several other suspects are on the run, according to local media. Last August the Philippines warned its citizens against illegally travelling to Japan in search of work, saying they 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 report says. Japanese police rescued 49 victims of human trafficking in 2015, according to latest figures from the National Police Agency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Jats threatening to launch a fresh quota agitation from January 29, the Haryana Government has sent a requisition for 55 Companies of Central paramilitary forces and has also issued call out notice to depute 7,000 Home Guards in the State. "Although the leaders of various agitating organisations have assured to hold dharnas in a peaceful manner, yet the administration is fully geared up to maintain law and order," Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Ram Niwas said here today. He said all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been directed to ensure that highways and railway tracks are not obstructed and no damage is caused to property. All the proposed dharnas would be videographed, Niwas said, adding that he has urged these agitating leaders to protest in a peaceful manner as the government is always prepared for talks. "Every citizen has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, but it should be in a peaceful manner," he added. Accusing the Manohar Lal Khattar government of not "fulfilling" their demands for reservation, Jat outfits in Haryana have threatened to launch a fresh agitation in the State that witnessed massive protests over the issue in February last year. Thirty people were killed and massive damage was caused to property, particularly in worst-affected districts of Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonipat. Jat leaders claim support of people from as many as 250 villages in Haryana and Delhi. In view of the protest threat by the community leaders, the police have stepped up efforts to avoid any untoward incident and damage to public property as in the last agitation. Meanwhile, in view of the assembly elections in neighbouring Punjab, the Crisis Coordination Committee, which met under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, (Revenue and Disaster Management), Haryana, Keshni Anand Arora here, has stressed the need for following the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India and carrying out coordination exercise by the district administration with their counterpart districts in the neighbouring States, an official release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing the Manohar Lal Khattar government of not fulfilling their demands for reservation, Jat outfits in Haryana have threatened to launch a fresh agitation in 19 districts of the state that witnessed massive protests over the issue last year. Police have braced up for the protests and also conducted a mock drill for this purpose yesterday, Gurgaon Police PRO Manish Sehgal said. The agitation is planned to begin from next week with the Jat leaders claiming support of people from as many as 250 villages in Haryana and Delhi. The leaders have blamed Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for not fulfilling their quota demands for which they launched a massive stir last year. "We have been holding panchayats from the last 11 months in many villages on individual level to achieve the eventual goal of getting Other Backward Class (OBC) status," Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti chief Yashpal Malik told PTI. He said the community is prepared to face any challenge to seek reservation, accusing the BJP government in Haryana of having cheated them last time. "The BJP government in Haryana and Centre cheated us last time and assured us by giving fake promises to end our protest. They also targeted youths in fake cases for damaging private and government properties," Malik charged. He further claimed that the Jats in UP's Muzaffarnagar, Baraut and Baghpat districts have decided not to vote for BJP in the state Assembly polls next month. In view if the threat of protests by the community leaders, the police have stepped up efforts to avoid any untoward incident and damage to public property as in the last agitation. "I have directed every districts top police officials to prepare to deal with any kind of situation and make sure that road and rail routes would not get blocked. Keeping law and order intact in the state is our prime objective and we will deploy adequate police force in vulnerable districts to deal with eventualities," Haryana Police ADGP (law and order) Mohammad Akil told PTI. Gurgaon Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar has also directed senior police officers to be prepared for the Jat agitation. The agitation is planned in 19 districts which by and large have a rural background. These include Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad. Last year's agitation had largely affected Delhi as the protesters cut down water supply to the national capital and caused massive damage to public property in Haryana. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suspended student Dileep Yadav who has been on hunger strike since three days was rushed to hospital by police on Monday even as students alleged that he has been abducted. Yadav is among the nine students who were suspended by the university last month for allegedly disrupting an academic council meeting. He has been on hunger strike since three days demanding that the suspension of these students be revoked. Students alleged that Kumar was on Monday "abducted" by police and administration, a charge denied by both. "A student who has been on a hunger strike for the last three days has been literally abducted from campus by the police and admin," the JNU student union said, adding, "Repression is real. Where a fellow student, Najeeb disappears after being beaten up by ABVP activists, teachers are threatened, student activists punished and even democratic means of protest like hunger strikes are trampled upon." According to a senior police official, "The student was not taken forcefully. Seeing his critical health conditions, he was shifted to hospital in the university's ambulance for emergency medical attention with local police assistance". Actress Scarlett Johansson took the podium during the Women's March in Washington DC, to speak about females health issues. Declaring that it was time for even a private person like herself to get personal, the 32-year-old star delivered a passionate speech about the role Planned Parenthood has played in her life from her first visit at the age of 15, reported Los Angeles Times. "'Have you been to the gynecologist yet?' That was the question my mom asked me at 15 when I informed her about a change that I noticed in my body. I'm not the type to divulge facts about my personal life, but I feel that in the face of this current political climate, it is vital that we all make it our mission to get really personal. "So, yes, at 15, I had been to a gynecologist. I was living in New York City and had visited a Planned Parenthood there. It provided a safe place where I could be treated with gentle guidance," the "Lucy" star said. Johannson then made a public plea to the new US President Donald Trump, saying she would support him if he would support her, her daughter, her family and all American women. "President Trump, I did not vote for you. That said, I respect that you are our President-elect and I want to be able to support you. "First, I ask that you support me, support my sister, support my mother, support my best friend and all of our girlfriends, support the men and women here today that are anxiously awaiting to see how your next moves may drastically affect their lives," she said. The actress went on saying, "Support my daughter who may actually - as a result of the appointments you have made - grow up in a country that is moving backwards, not forwards, and who potentially may not have the right to make choices for her body and her future that your daughter Ivanka has been privileged to have. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after the Election Commission censured him for exhorting voters in poll-bound Goa to accept bribes, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday told the poll panel that his remarks were aimed at containing graft and sought a review of its order to allow him to repeat the comments. Holding that the EC misinterpreted his comments, he also asked the poll panel to make him the brand ambassador to put an end to bribery in elections, alleging its order against him was encouraging corruption. "By stopping me to say what I am saying, the Election Commission is not stopping corruption, but encouraging it. I hope you (the EC) will re-examine this. "Through this comment, I am trying to stop bribery. In fact, the Election Commission should make me its brand ambassador," Kejriwal said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi. On Saturday, Kejriwal was censured by the EC for his comment asking voters in Goa to take money from political parties, but vote only for Aam Aadmi Party. The commission had also warned of strong action, including derecognition of AAP, if the Delhi Chief Minister repeated his comments. He claimed that he was trying to end corruption through his remarks and that the EC can publicise his statement to deal with bribery and corruption during elections. "We have shown this in Delhi election. People took money from BJP and Congress, but voted for us. If the Election Commission uses my statement and propagates it then in two years, the political parties will stop distributing notes," Kejriwal said. He also said the EC has not been able to stop corruption in the last 70 years and if his remarks were used, then bribery during polls can be ended in two years. "A court in Delhi had ruled that a similar statement I made earlier does not amount to bribery," he said in the letter. CASPER, Wyo. No miners died in Wyoming in 2016. The country also recorded its lowest-ever rate of deaths that year. The Department of Labor reported that 26 miners died on the job in 2016 compared with 29 the previous year. Those are the only two years mining deaths have been below 30. It's been two years since a coal miner died in Wyoming. Four died on the job between 2013 and 2014. Since then, coal employment numbers have dropped across the country as the coal sector faced competition with other cheap fuels. More than 500 miners lost their jobs in Wyoming's coal-rich Powder River Basin in early 2016. Those positions have not all come back, though production steadily increased toward the end of the year. Historically, downturns can make safety efforts more of a challenge, but that wasn't the case in Wyoming this time, said Terry Adcock, state mine inspector. "That is very tough from a safety perspective, because people are nervous about their job; theyre not focusing like they should," he said. "To me it was really amazing and speaks so highly of our miners in the state." Adcock said the state and its coal companies have a strong culture of safety. "I think our miners are better trained. They know and recognize hazards more," he said. "I think they take the lead on correcting unsafe conditions and reminding their fellow workers to be safe. To me, its a combination of things. We just have a lot of great miners in this state." According to the federal agency, 330,000 miners worked in 13,000 mines across the country in 2016. Most of the fatal mining incidents last year occurred in Appalachian mines, including West Virginia, where four miners died. Nine of the year's fatalities were in coal mines, down from 12 in 2015. Seventeen deaths were from metal and nonmetal mines. While we have reached a new era in mine safety, these deaths show that more needs to be done to protect our nation's miners, wrote Joseph Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. Worker safety has been an contentious issue in Wyoming. Despite large coal mines operating in the Powder River Basin, and oil and gas work across the state, transportation-related incidents take the most worker lives. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today called on Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and demanded higher allocation of foodgrains for the state under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The state also sought more allocation of subsidised sugar as well as foodgrains for distribution to migrant workers and welfare institutions, while also asked the central government to extend the rice procurement period for three months. Kerala had rolled out the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in November 2016, under which foodgrains are sold to the poor at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 1-3/kg via public distribution system (PDS), also called ration shops. "Kerala CM has placed many demands before us. One is increasing foodgrains allocation under NFSA," Paswan told reporters after the meeting. In the meeting, sources said that the Kerala Chief Minister demanded that state should get foodgrains for PDS supply that it used to get before implementing the NFSA. Under the NFSA, the state is getting 14.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrains annually, lower than 16.25 lakh tonnes earlier. To this, the the Food Minister said that an uniform formula has been applied to all states while allocating foodgrains to each state under the food security law. "Allocation under the NFSA is being made taking into account last three years average foodgrains lifting of the state. And the average was 10 lakh tonnes per annum for Kerala. But more is being given to protect poor people," a senior Food Ministry official said. Kerala is asking for more allocation under the NFSA as it wants to cover the entire population. Among other demands, the Kerala government has asked more subsidy support as the state wants to sell subsidised sugar to entire population under the PDS. At present, sugar is supplied to only families of below poverty line (BPL). It has also asked for paraboiled rice and additional foodgrains allocation of about 50,000 tonnes per month to meet the demand of 10-15 lakh migrant workers in the state. The state has also demanded up foodgrains allocatin to 550 tonnes per month for welfare institutions from existing monthly allocation of 212 tonnes , while it has also sought central support to make extra payment to state-run FCI labourers. That apart, the Kerala government has asked the Centre to extend rice procurement period for three months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kirtan Kriya, a simple meditation practice, and listening to music may help significantly improve memory and cognitive performance - conditions that could represent early stage of Alzheimer's disease, a new study has claimed. Researchers at West Virginia University in the US studied 60 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The participants were assigned to either a beginner meditation (Kirtan Kriya) or music listening programme and asked to practice 12 minutes per day for 12 weeks. Both the meditation and music groups showed marked and significant improvements in subjective memory function and objective cognitive performance at three months. These included domains of cognitive functioning most likely to be affected in preclinical and early stages of dementia (like attention, executive function, processing speed, and subjective memory function). The substantial gains observed in memory and cognition were maintained or further increased at six months (three months post-intervention). Researchers have found earlier that both intervention groups also showed improvements in sleep, mood, stress, well-being and quality of life, with gains that were that were particularly pronounced in the meditation group; again, all benefits were sustained or further enhanced at three months post-intervention. The findings of this trial suggest that two simple mind-body practices, Kirtan Kriya meditation and music listening, may not only improve mood, sleep, and quality of life, but also boost cognition and help reverse perceived memory loss in older adults with SCD. The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed a special commission to probe into the alleged insider trading scam at the country's central bank, a move which could heighten tension between him and the prime minister. "I will appoint a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry this week to investigate the Central Bank bond issue and recommend actions," President Sirisena tweeted. The gazette notice is to be issued this week with the panel being given three months to conclude the report and specify legal action if any. The three-member Presidential commission of Inquiry will have a judge from the Supreme Court, High Court and an auditor, the statement said. The said bond was declared on February 27, 2015 by Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Soon accusations of insider trading surfaced related to the bids of Perpetual Treasuries, a firm connected to Arjun Aloysius, the son-in-law of Governor Arjuna Mahendran, the then Governor of the bank. When Mahendran's tenure ended in June last year, Sirisena denied him an extension and overlooked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe alternative candidate. The firm was accused of benefitting from insider information in the two bond issues in February 2015 and March 2016. It was alleged that auctions were rigged where larger than announced volumes were sold, at low prices. The state has suffered large losses from the 30 year Bonds. Later on opposition demand, parliament's Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) issued a report which highlighted wrong doing in the issues. Parliament is scheduled to debate the report by the COPE on the alleged bond scam this week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Emergence of new political outfits and failure of the main parties to forge alliance has resulted in decrease in the number of Independent candidates in fray for the upcoming Goa assembly election. However, the total number of candidates contesting the election has gone up by 16 per cent from 215 in 2012 to 250 this time, according to the data from State Electoral Office here. The number of Independents has plunged by 22 per cent compared to 2012 polls. This time there are 58 Independents who are contesting without any party symbol in different constituencies as compared to 72 during the 2012 polls, shows the data. South Goa has maximum number of Independent candidates -- 33 and North Goa has 25, it said. "Newer political parties entering Goa's political scene coupled with failed alliances seems to be the reason for Independents getting the political platform," political observers in Goa said. "Amongst the first timers there isAam Aadmi Party (AAP), Goa Forward, Goa Suraksha Manch which has given ticket to many candidates who otherwise might have opted to go Independent," said the observers. "The alliance between BJP and MGP has broken paving way for more candidates to contest on their tickets, while NCP and Congress too have parted ways providing platform for many of its workers," they said. After the scrutiny and withdrawal process, a total 250 candidates are in the fray for 40 assembly constituencies which will go to polls on February 4. While AAP has fielded maximum 39 candidates, Congress is contesting on 37, BJP on 36 and MGP-Goa Suraksha Manch-Shiv Sena combine on 26 followed by NCP on 16 while other political parties together contribute for 38 candidates. The 2012 Goa polls saw five independents making their way to the State assembly which included Naresh Sawal, Vijai Sardesai, Benajamin Silva, Avertano Furtado and Rohan Khaunte. All are recontesting this time, while Sardesai is contesting on Goa Forward ticket Sawal is in fray on MGP ticket. Interestingly, of the 72 Independents 57 had lost their deposits due to poor performance in the polls. All Independents together had polled 1,41,517 votes which was 16.67 per cent of the total votes polled during 2012 polls that witnessed 83 per cent polling. The other parties like Goa Vikas Party, Goa Su-Raj Party, Bahujan Mukti Morcha, Communist Part of India are also in the fray. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A work of literature has something "special" to offer and conveys more meaning than other art forms such as a painting or a piece of music, according to renowned writer and politician Shashi Tharoor. Tharoor, who has authored 15 best selling books of fiction and non-fiction, said there was no department of life, public or private, which was not effectively influenced by literature. "Good literature is the attempt to capture the human condition in a way that can be shared with other people and understand it. I believe every policy, every public political issue is either reflected in people depicted in literature or is influenced by reader's awareness," he told PTI in an interview. The Congress MP, who is attending the Jaipur Literature Festival here, feels that a painting cannot convey as much as a book. "It is difficult to imagine that a piece of music alone can convey as much as a passionate or polemical work of literature. I think a work of literature has something special to offer, more details to offer than any other single piece of art form," he said. The 60-year-old author, who is holding strong, both to his words and his charm, said an ideal writing situation was when nothing mattered more than the writing itself. "The ideal writing situation is when you are so completely immersed in what you are writing that other things like your dressing, your shaving, your eating become totally irrelevant. When I wrote 'An Era of Darkness', it was very much like that," Tharoor said. Admired for his great learning, Tharoor said he was an "indiscriminate" reader and reads at least a dozen books a year. "I'm an indiscriminate reader but not a copious one. I still manage to read at least a dozen books a year, but that is nothing compared to what I would have have been able to. "Before my children were born, my wife and I were very easily reading four to five books a month," he said. Responding to his scathing criticism of writer R K Narayan whom he has described in his book titled "Bookless in Baghdad" as an "impoverished" author whose writing was 'pedestrian' and compared his prose with a "bullock cart", a vehicle which moves only in one gear, Tharoor said his language was "unnecessarily harsh". "My language was unnecessarily harsh. When I wrote that (essay) I was trying to be a little provocative. He had been hailed as a great writer, whereas his greatness lay in being a pioneering writer. But the actual quality of his writing did not match up to that exalted stature," Tharoor said. "People should see Narayan's contribution as a whole. I think, stylistically and linguistically he is a very limited writer, but his humanity, his empathy with his characters, his broader evocations of life are special, you cannot take that away from him," he said. About his castigation of Nirad C Chaudhuri in many of his books, Tharoor said the Bengali writer had offended him by praising Britishers. "I felt offended that someone could praise the Britishers. Some of what he did was offensive and insulting to Indians," he said. Tharoor, who in his boyhood days set himself a challenge of finishing 365 books in a year and accomplished it before Christmas, said it was a "silly challenge" and a "bit of a crazy" which he would never recommend to anyone, not even to his children. "The bad thing about it was you were no longer reading to savour the pleasure of the book. Finishing the book became more important," he said. Commenting on the contemporary literary trend in India, Tharoor agreed that while the readership had gone up, there was more demand for steamy potboilers and bestsellers rather than growing appetite for serious literature. "It is true of every country. In Britain and America also it is not only about high literature. There are also bestsellers, potboilers, detective novels, thrillers, rom-coms, chick-lits all of that stuff. So, I think we are also reaching the same kind of pattern which is not unusual or wrong," he said. CBI today arrested a former chairman and four other ex-officials of IDBI Bank along with four former executives of Kingfisher airlines in connection with the Vijay Mallya loan default case. CBI sources said the purported mastermind ex-Deputy Managing Director B K Batra was arrested late in the night and will be produced before designated court in Mumbai tomorrow. Those arrested include the then Chairman of IDBI Bank Yogesh Aggarwal, former CFO of now defunct Kingfisher Airlines A Raghunathan, they said. Sources said three more former executives of the airlines and three more former officials of IDBI Bank were also taken into custody. Other former IDBI executives arrested by CBI include O V Bundellu, S K V Srinivasan, R S Sridhar, they said. The sources said besides former CFO of Kingfisher Airlines, three more former executives Shailesh Borke, A C Shah and Amit Nadkarni were also arrested. The arrests were followed by searches at 11 places including Vijay Mallya's residence here, three floors of UB towers in Bengaluru, residences of Aggarwal and Raghunathan among others. The arrests have been made from multiple cities. While Raghunathan was arrested in Mumbai, Aggarwal was taken into custody from Gurgaon, the sources said. CBI had registered a case against Mallya, Director of defunct Kingfisher Airlines; the company; A Raghunathan, Chief Financial Officer of the Airlines; and unknown officials of IDBI Bank. The loan was allegedly sanctioned in violation of norms regarding credit limits. The sources said there was no need for the bank to take the exposure outside the consortium. "It was first exposure to the bank. There was no need for the bank to take the exposure outside the consortium when already other loans were getting stressed," a senior CBI official, probing the matter, had earlier said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police has detained a 37- year-old man over allegations of impersonating an AIIMS doctor and duping patients in Safdarjung hospital. Avinash Anand, however, told police that he is a Ph.D in Yoga and was at the hospital to meet a patient from his village who is undergoing treatment there. "We are verifying the allegations of the hospital and the man is being questioned. No case has been registered as of now," said a senior police officer. Dr Balvinder Singh, assistant professor at orthopaedic department of Safdarjung Hospital, said Anand claimed to be an associate professor at AIIMS Trauma Centre and even carried an identity card with the institute's logo. "Last Saturday, he brought a patient in my OPD and requested us to admit him. He introduced himself as an associate professor in the Orthopaedic department at AIIMS Trauma Centre and said the patient was from his village. "When we conversed about the patient's course of treatment, he started floundering, leading to suspicion over authenticity of him being a doctor," Dr Singh said. Singh said they admitted the patient and meanwhile tried to verify if there was a doctor by this name at AIIMS Trauma Centre. "There was no doctor by that name in the department at AIIMS. So we asked the patient to call Anand today. When Anand came, we handed him over to the police," Singh said, adding that many bank deposit slips have been recovered from Anand. The Medcial Superitendent of Safdarjung hospital has already given a complaint to Safadarjung Encalve police station in this regard. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 25-year-old man has been arrested for posting objectionable remarks against a community on his social media in Miranpur area here, police said today. Pankaj, working at a private company, was arrested yesterday for circulating the messages on a social media platform, a police official said. The arrest took place after members of the community protested against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A member of a notorious gang has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a class XIIth student over gang rivalry in Delhi Cantonment area last year, police said today. Deepak, 27, a member of the 'Gaurav Jharera' gang of southwest Delhi, landed in the police net on January 20 from Kargil Chowk in Dwarka following a tip-off, said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police (Crime). In july last year, victim Aakash, 22, was brutally thrashed to death with iron rods for gaining supremacy in the area by Deepak along with his aides Vijay alias Dhoni, Laxman, Vishal, Gaurav, Bunty and some juveniles -- all members of the 'Gaurav Jharera' gang -- near Thimayya Park, Kirbi Place in Delhi Cantonment, he said. The daylight murder had created an atmosphere of fear in the locality and agitations were staged by the people for arrest of the accused, said the officer. Deepak, who worked in event-management sector in Karol Bagh and also as a supervisor in Blue Dart Courier company, hid himself in Ranikhet and Jammu's Katra among other areas for about six months, but came back to Delhi in need of money, Yadav said. Deepak's father is a government employee in Central Ordinance Depot, Kirbi Place. "Deepak came in contact with gangster Gaurav Jharera through his cousins Vijay and Vishal who were active gang members. He joined it to earn fame in the locality and started participating in its activities. Gang leader Gaurav Jharera is lodged in jail in connection with a murder case," Yadav said. One of the accused, Gaurav Dancer, along with three juveniles, was apprehended with the help of some traffic police personnel, while the main accused Deepak, Laxman, Vishal, Vijay and Bunty absconded, the officer said. Last year in October, Laxman was arrested by Crime Branch. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 35-year-old man was arrested on charges of trespassing into the airport here after he tried to board a Chennai-bound flight without a ticket, police said today. Rangarajan of Perumbalur district, who possesses an Australian citizenship, was found roaming near the aircraft around 5.30 PM yesterday but failed to produce the air ticket, following which he was taken into custody, they said. However, he was released on bail last night, police said adding further investigations are on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The head of United Tribes Technical College has been selected by former President Barack Obama to serve on a new federal commission to address the challenges facing Native American children. Russ McDonald, who has been president of the nearly 500-student college since 2014, is former tribal chairman of the Spirit Lake Nation and previously served as vice president of academic affairs at Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten. Im honored even being considered," McDonald said from his college office on Friday. The commission is charged with studying current programs, grants and supports available for Native American children. After three years, the group will submit a report to Congress. McDonald said he believes he was chosen based on the work he did at the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. "The short time I was in office, child protection was a priority for us," said McDonald, who served as tribal chairman for about a year. In 2012, Spirit Lake attracted national attention because of mismanagement of the reservation's social services programs and the deaths of some children there due to abuse and neglect. In 2014, Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., called for a congressional hearing, held by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, to address child protection issues at Spirit Lake. McDonald gave testimony about what he believed could help. "I didnt want to just cry about stuff, but I wanted to bring some answers, and those answers were derived from our community in regard to what was needed in order to make things better for our child protection services," he said. McDonald said he identified several needs for the tribe, including more resources for child protection services and a more concerted joint effort among the tribe, law enforcement and the judicial system. The goal of the new commission is to identify issues in tribal communities and find solutions, he said. Thats what, I think, the importance of the commission is is whats the answers for this? he said. How do we make things better?" In October, Obama signed new legislation introduced by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., to establish this commission on Native American children. I think that it is a critical piece of strategy for improving the lives of Native American children and Native people across the country," Heitkamp said. In his final appointments last week, Obama selected McDonald, along with Anita Fineday, managing director of the Indian Child Welfare Program for the Casey Family Programs. She previously served for 14 years as chief judge for the White Earth Nation in Minnesota. President Donald Trump will appoint a third member to the 11-person commission. Congressional leaders will select the remaining eight. We have been pushing the administration, and we will continue to push all of the appointing authorities to get a commission up and running," Heitkamp said. Heitkamp said she had wanted a commission made up of "subject-matter experts" who bring "real life experiences" working with Native American children. I think there couldnt be anyone better than Russ McDonald to get that accomplished," she said. McDonald said he hopes to work on coordination of child protection services among all jurisdictions state, federal and tribal as well as the availability of databases to do background checks to use in placing a child in a foster home. Heitkamp said the commission will focus on current programs offered and give advice that "we can apply to the work we do here in Washington." We continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. I want to know what we can do that will actually make a difference," she said. People for Animals, an NGO of which Union Minister Maneka Gandhi is the Chairperson, today said it had not challenged in court the jallikattu ordinance promulgated by the Tamil Nadu government and termed as "false and mischievous" reports to the contrary. "It is noticed that some channels in Tamil Nadu have reported that the Ordinance regarding jallikattu issued by the state government has been challenged before the Supreme Court by the People for Animals. It is hereby clarified this is not only false but also mischievous," People for Animals said in a release. "It is being spread by some channels to mislead and misguide the people of Tamil Nadu," it said. Asserting that no such petition had been filed by it in the Supreme Court, The NGO said, "All concerned are requested not to follow any rumours on this issue." The Tamil Nadu government has promulgated the ordinance for the conduct of jallikattu after a three-year ban on the bull taming sport. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexico today vowed "no confrontation and no submission" in renegotiating relations with the United States under its President Donald Trump but admitted it planned to seek alternative trade partners. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said he was willing to discuss trade, illegal migration and other aspects of bilateral ties with Trump but insisted he would defend Mexico's national interests. "Neither confrontation nor submission: the solution is dialogue and negotiation," Pena Nieto said in a speech outlining his strategy for relations with Trump. The new US president has threatened to scrap international trade accords to protect US jobs. Today, he signed a memo on withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a major trade pact championed by his predecessor Barack Obama. The TPP included Mexico, the United States and 10 other countries spanning the Pacific. In one of the first reactions to Trump's move, Pena Nieto said he would "immediately" seek to negotiate new bilateral deals with other TPP member countries to "diversify" Mexico's trade relations. Mexico is expected to be among the countries most affected by Trump's trade policies. It relies on the United States to buy most of its exports. Trump also pledged on Sunday to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada. He said in an address to White House staff that "we're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA" in upcoming meetings with Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Pena Nieto's office said earlier that he spoke with Trudeau by phone on Sunday to coordinate efforts to protect an economically integrated North America. Trump is scheduled to receive Pena Nieto on January 31. Trump praised the Mexican leader, saying: "The president has been really very amazing and I think we are going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, for everybody involved. It's very important." Pena Nieto today also challenged Trump's vow to build a border wall to stop migrants from entering the United States illegally via Mexico -- one of the most sensitive themes in Trump's election campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ship involved in the recently halted hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 returned to port in western Australia today, where officials from the countries that funded the fruitless search gathered to thank them and to defend their decision to end the hunt despite recommendations from investigators that it continue. Transport officials from Australia, Malaysia and China met in the Western Australia state capital of Perth to greet the crew of Fugro Equator, who were ordered to return last week after the countries officially suspended the nearly three-year search for the plane in the Indian Ocean. The $160 million deep-sea sonar search off Australia's west coast failed to find any trace of the plane, which vanished March 8, 2014, on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. But Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester denied that the effort had been a failure, saying crews had managed to eliminate the 120,000-square kilometer search zone as a possible crash site. Several relatives of the 239 people on board the plane have fiercely criticized the decision to end the search before finding their loved ones, and called on officials to scour a new 25,000-square kilometer area immediately to the north of the old search zone that a group of international investigators recently identified as the likeliest resting place of the wreckage. The investigators calculated the possible new crash site by reanalyzing satellite data that tracked the plane's movements and looking at a new drift analysis of debris that has washed ashore on coastlines throughout the Indian Ocean. The experts recommended in a report released last month by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau that the new area be searched. On Monday, the bureau's chief commissioner expressed confidence that the plane probably lies in that new zone. "It's highly likely that the area now defined by the experts contains the aircraft but that's not absolutely for certain," Greg Hood told reporters. But the three countries agreed months ago that the hunt would be suspended after crews finished combing the official search zone unless credible new evidence emerged that pinpointed the specific location of the aircraft. The investigators' recommendation, they said, wasn't precise enough to justify an extension of the search. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said he was meeting later Monday with a representative of the families to hear their concerns, but said Malaysia had no plans to fund a new search based on the investigators' recent recommendation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Philippine defence chief said today that 25 hostages are still being held by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines but urged that no ransom be paid for their release. Delfin Lorenzana also told a security forum in Singapore that President Rodrigo Duterte has been under pressure to declare martial law in at least three southern islands where jihadists operate, but he did not think there was a need. The defence secretary (minister) said the companies which employed two recently freed Indonesians had paid a ransom of 20 million pesos (USD 400,000). He did not identify the captives but the Philippine military said two Indonesian hostages were freed last month by militants from Abu Sayyaf, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. The two were among seven crew seized from a tugboat off the southern Philippines in June. Security analysts had said ransom was paid for the release by the Abu Sayyaf last year of a Norwegian hostage, although the Philippine and Norwegian governments denied it. Lorenzana told the Fullerton Forum organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies that 25 kidnap victims are still being kept in the southern island of Jolo. Jolo is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, which is known to behead its victims if ransoms are not paid. The group decapitated a Malaysian in 2015 year and two Canadians last year. Lorenzana said the army's chief difficult in hunting militants was the presence of civilians in communities where they operate, who also benefit from the ransom money. "It seems that the whole of the community are into it, not everybody but a major part of the community are benefitting from the ransom," he said. The government is trying to "convince the companies and the families not to pay ransom because everytime they pay ransom they make the kidnappers stronger," he said. "They have more money to distribute to the communities and they have more money to procure all the gadgets that they need -- cellphones, firearms and even materials to manufacture improvised explosive devices." Lorenzana said the government's strategy against militants was a "holistic approach" -- introducing development projects and providing "incentives for the people to go fishing rather than go kidnapping". He said many Filipinos wanted the president to declare martial law over South Tawi Tawi, Jolo and Basilan islands. But this would be "very controversial" and Duterte was not considering the idea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal court's verdict awarding death sentence to a Kashmiri youth after being in jail for 14 years is "against the internationally accepted norms of justice", Moderate Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said today. "The verdict of a trial court of West Bengal, awarding death sentence to Muzaffar Ahmad Rather of Jogipora, Kulgam (in south Kashmir) after being in jail for 14 continuous years is against the internationally accepted norms of justice and fair play," he said in a statement here. His reaction came after three Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, including two Pakistani nationals arrested by BSF in 2007 from the Indo-Bangladesh border at Petrapole, were on January 21 sentenced to death by the court in Bongaon in West Bengal's North 24-Parganas district in a case of waging war against the government. They were arrested by BSF while trying to enter India through its international border with Bangladesh at Petrapole on April 4, 2007. The separatist leader claimed that Rather had been "targeted for being a Kashmiri". "Indian judiciary had displayed miscarriage of justice in cases of Kashmiris earlier and this was yet another addition to this long list," Mirwaiz said. He also called Rather's parents over phone and expressed solidarity with them, asking them not to feel alone in this hour of difficulty, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mizoram government today decided to go ahead with the physical repatriation of Brus from six relief camps in neighbouring North Tripura district scheduled to commence from the second week of February, a senior state Home Department official said. In a meeting of the Home Department and police officials, it was decided to meet the deadline of repatriation set in a meeting of top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Mizoram government during the first week of January in Delhi, Additional Secretary for Home, Lalbiakzama told PTI. The state government officials who conducted the identification in the Tripura relief camps during November two to November 23, 2016, had identified 32,857 people belonging to 5,413 families for physical repatriation. The proposed physical repatriation scheduled to commence from November 30 could, however, not take off due to different reasons including increase in the number of bona fide residents of Mizoram from 21,000 to 32,857, necessitating revision of the expenditure estimate. Meanwhile, a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on January 9 by the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) made a series of demands including new ones, a state Home Department official said. The new demand included provision of Rs 15 lakh to each repatriated Bru family, as against the earlier demand of Rs 10 lakh and payment of Rs 5,000 per family for two years after being repatriated and resettled. The MBPDF also demanded that all the repatriated able-bodied youths should be given government jobs. The Brus, lodged in the six relief camps since the later part of 1997 following exodus from Mizoram due to communal tension triggered by the murder of a forest official by Bru militants on October 21, 1997 would not return to Mizoram unless their demands were met, the MBDPF memorandum to Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Muslim family in the US was pleasantly surprised to receive a heartwarming letter from their neighbours, offering support to them to live without discrimination. Abubaker Amry, who has lived in Cincinnati, Ohio for nearly four decades, said he and his neighbours do not interact much beyond a cordial "Hello," so the note someone left him, came as a surprise. So the day 70-year-old Trump was sworn into office, one of his neighbours in Westwood left this in his mailbox, "Dear Neighbours, today begins a new stage for our country. No matter what happens, please know there are still a lot of people who will fight for your right to practice your religion, to continue your lives without discrimination. You are welcome in our neighborhood and if you need anything - please knock on our door," a CNN affiliate WCPO reported. "My daughter, she doesn't know any other place" and like many Muslim Americans, says he grew worried by President Trump's rhetoric during the heat of a campaign. We don't know if he's just saying that ... Or if it'll be true," Amry said. "It's a lot," Amry said. "I mean, there's no way I could express my feelings when I got that note." Amry said the act of kindness has changed his mind a lot. "Even when I was driving the next day to my work, I looked at the people on the street totally different," he added. Amry's niece, tweeted a photo of the note, which quickly went viral. "This is the other side of America," Amry said. "This is the best, best, best experience." Following Trump's inauguration, plenty of American citizens are unsure what the future holds, especially those that are Muslim. Myanmar's deputy defence chief today urged the world to give his government "time and space" to solve a crisis involving the Rohingya Muslim minority amid concerns jihadists could exploit the situation. Rear Admiral Myint Nwe told a security forum in Singapore his government is "fully aware of the growing concern about the widespread reports on (the) situation in Rakhine state" where the Rohingya live, and was committed to address the issue and punish wrongdoers. Since October Myanmar's army has carried out "clearance operations" in the north of the western state to root out insurgents accused of deadly raids on police border posts. At least 66,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, alleging rape, murder and torture at the hands of security forces. Myanmar has long faced international criticism over its treatment of the Rohingya. Most people in the majority Buddhist community consider them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. "The government does not condone rights abuses against innocent civilians. Legal action will be taken in response to any substantiated claim," Myint Nwe said. The admiral was responding to a keynote address by Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at th Fullerton Forum organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Hishammuddin warned that the situation in Rakhine -- if not addressed properly -- could be exploited by the Islamic State group as it seeks a base in Southeast Asia. "This horrific possibility has the potential to cause death and destruction well beyond the borders of ASEAN," he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Answering a delegate's question, Hishammuddin said the Rohingya issue "is going to test ASEAN solidarity... It needs to be resolved, we cannot sweep it under the carpet, it affects a lot of Muslims and it's very emotional". Myint Nwe said both Yangon and the international community should focus on finding a "lasting solution" to the problem. "Allowing time and space is essential for the government's efforts to bear fruit in finding a sustainable solution of this complex issue." Hishammuddin said ASEAN -- the regional bloc to which both Malaysia and Myanmar belong -- should play a key role in working out a solution with Myanmar's leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rafael Nadal fought back to deny mercurial Frenchman Gael Monfils over four sets and reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2015 at the Australian Open on Monday. Ninth seed Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, defeated the sixth-seeded Monfils 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena in almost three hours and will play Canada's world number three Milos Raonic in the quarters. It was a gutsy effort from the never-say-die Spaniard, who was down a service break with a fifth set looming before he broke Monfils twice to clinch victory. The 2009 champion reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the ninth time and it was his first since the 2015 French Open. "I'm very happy being in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after a couple of years without being there," he said. "It's very special for me, especially here in Australia where I feel (it's) a little bit like home." He added: "Gael is a special player. He is able to play unbelievable shots. It is a pleasure to see him in the top rankings." It was Nadal's first win over a top-10 player at a Grand Slam since he defeated number two Novak Djokovic to win the title at Roland Garros in 2014, his last Grand Slam win. He will go into his Australian quarter-final with a 6-2 lead over Raonic in their previous meetings. Monfils was broken in his opening service game as Nadal went on to take the first set in 46 minutes. Nadal lost his service in the sixth game but broke the unpredictable Frenchman three times to open up a two-set lead and was closing in on a straight-sets victory. But Monfils fought back, breaking Nadal in the ninth game and saving three break points in serving it out to trail 2-1 in sets. Nadal began to struggle in the fourth set as Monfils fought off two break points and broke the Spaniard in the next game with a net cord on one of his three break points. But Nadal fought back, breaking the Frenchman with a marvellous backhand winner to level at 4-4 before holding serve to 5-4. Nadal then got to his first match point in Monfils' next service game, which was saved. On a second match point, the Frenchman's backhand was narrowly wide to send Nadal through. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen today batted for a Uniform Civil Code as a tool for "empowerment" as her "suprise" session at the Jaipur Literature Festival saw protests by some Muslim organisations. The celebrated author, who has been living in exile since 1994 after she faced the ire of fundamentalists in her own country for her unorthodox views, said the Islamic society needed to be more tolerant towards criticism to make progress. "It is necessary for Islamic society to be tolerant and accept criticism without which they cannot progress. Uniform Civil Code is urgently required for empowering people with human rights," she said. The writer, who was in conversation with Salil Tripathi, a former board member of English PEN, an organisation engaged in promoting literature and its understanding and upholding freedom of writers around the world, slammed religious fanatics, saying she did not believe in terms like "nationalism" or "religious fundamentalism". "I don't believe in nationalism, religious fundamentalism. I believe in one world. I believe in rights, freedom, humanism and rationalism. Until Islam accepts criticism, no Islamic country can be considered secular. Whenever I criticise, people want to kill me," she said. Citing the treatment meted out to her by the West Bengal government after a fatwa was issued against her in 2007 by Muslim clerics, she questioned why secular writers were forced to leave the country or murdered. "Why are secular writers being forced to leave the country or murdered, while religious fanatics are sheltered. I was attacked in Kolkata. Fatwa was issued against me. "Secularism doesn't mean to save and shelter such people just to cash in on Muslim votes. Hindu and Muslim fanatics have equally attacked me, but they were never punished," she said. Nasreen's session witnessed protests by organisations like Rajasthan Muslim Forum, All India Milli Council, Jamaat- e-Islami and Muslim Personal Law Board. The protesters later met the festival founder Sanjoy K Roy and claimed they were assured by him that Nasreen will not be invited to the literary event again. The fact that Nasreen's session, titled 'Exile', did not mention the names of speakers on the programme schedule of the festival until this morning, was presumably an attempt to shield her from the sort of protests that rocked the pink city 10 years ago. The festival's co-organiser William Dalrymple appeared unwilling to disclose anything more. "I vaguely knew that she was coming," was the most he would offer when asked by PTI. An attempt to speak to Sanjoy did not yield results with sources saying that the organisers did not want to comment on the issue officially. However, Mehrunnisa Khan, state president of Women India Movement, who was among the protesters, said they recieved an assurance from the organisers that no invitation would be extended to Nasreen again. "Nasreen is a disputed personality. JLF organisers did not name her in the schedule in JLF booklet. Organisers played hide and seek game and police administration too supported her and allowed her in a session. So we had gone to protest. "We had a meeting with organisers where producer Sanjoy Roy promised that they will not provide platform to Salman Rushdie and Nasreen from next year," Mehrunnisa said. Nasreen was also spotted the previous night at a dinner in a hotel where journalists and delegates usually mingle, but somehow flew under the radar. In 2007, when the writer, then living in Kolkata, was shown the door by the West Bengal government, she turned to Jaipur for refuge only to be turned away. Her stay in the city was opposed by the then state vice president of All India Milli Council, Engineer Mohd Saleem who, slamming Nasreen, had said freedom did not mean that one could abuse any religion, and threatened to hold demonstrations in the city if the writer was kept in the state for long. Nasreena, who was putting up at the Shikha hotel here with 30 policemen guarding her, was then shifted to the national capital where she continues to live at an undisclosed location. A Grafton lawmaker aims to require drug testing before residents can qualify for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families benefits. Meanwhile, social services and human services officials countered the proposal, pointing out that such a process would be expensive and not solve problems with drug abuse. We have a serious drug problem in North Dakota, Republican Sen. Tom Campbell said Monday. Its time we send a message to all that we will no longer put up with drug users who receive TANF benefits. Under Senate Bill 2279, the North Dakota Department of Human Services would be tasked with developing a procedure for testing people suspected of illegal drug activity. A referral process would be set up for those who test positive. An applicant who refuses to take a drug test, refuses a drug assessment or doesnt participate in a treatment plan would be ineligible for benefits for one year. In SB2279 if a parent is deemed ineligible, it doesnt impact a dependent childs benefits and it would allow for an appropriate adult to be designated to receive benefits on behalf of the child, according to Campbell. SB2279 would require DHS to develop rules for the program, including the use of federal testing procedures, standards for what is deemed a positive test and retention of records. Campbell said those in the workforce are subject to drug testing, so why not subject TANF applicants to the same standards. I went through the test that took about 10 minutes with immediate results, said Campbell, adding that his test came back negative. Campbell spoke of his years working in prison ministry among other areas of outreach and being told a high number of people are abusing the system. Its a form of tough love, Campbell said. Senate Human Services Committee Chairwoman Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, said additional data would be helpful. We need to have supporting data, Lee said on how many people may be on drugs and getting benefits. Similar legislation has failed in past sessions, most recently in 2013. Traill County Social Services Director Kim Jacobson said there were numerous concerns about SB2279, including having the burden of proof placed on the counties. Eligible workers are not social workers nor do they have experience, education, training in working with individuals impacted by substance abuse nor to identify signs of substance abuse, Jacobson said. She said training and certification is required for administering the tests and would be expensive, costs she assumed would fall on the individual counties. This bill may create new issues, including liabilities, which would likely result in not being the best use of public dollars, Jacobson said. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 15 states have laws requiring drug testing and screening for public assistance programs. The issue has been debated on the state level since federal welfare program reform passed Congress in 1996. Pamela Sagness, Behavioral Health Division Director for the state Department of Human Services, said SB2279 would further stigmatize people with addiction. In states that drug test people for TANF benefits, the instances of those found using drugs is very small, according to Sagness. The House Human Services Committee heard a similar bill, House Bill 1308, Monday afternoon. The same individuals testified in that hearing making identical arguments as well. The NCP is attempting to make a comeback in Goa politics through the upcoming Assembly polls, after not having a good run in the last state elections. The Sharad Pawar-led party has fielded 16 candidates after its attempt for pre-poll ties was rejected by Congress. NCPGoa unit president and former state Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'Souza is among the candidates, who are in the fray for the February 4 Assembly polls. "We expected to contest this election by forming alliance of like-minded parties. We had even submitted the proposal to Congress for that. But Congress was not in a mood to join forces with us," said D'Souza, who is contesting from Vasco constituency.. Former Congress minister Churchill Alemao, who was defeated in the 2012 polls, is contesting on NCP ticket from Benaulim constituency. D'Souza claimed that Congress' refusal to align with them has got NCP the voters' sympathy which will help them to win on at least five seats. "People say...I don't say...People say that Congress has back-stabbed NCP. They have seen the progress the state has made under our rule and wanted Congress, NCP to combine forces," he said. The Congress-NCP alliance had ruled the coastal state in 2007-2012 when D'Souza was the revenue minister. But, the party faired badly in 2012 Goa polls during which it could not win even on a single seat. NCP had alliance with Congress during 2012 polls and had contested on seven seats. Later, some leaders deserted the party in last five years. Senior state NCP leaders Nilkant Halarnkar and Trajano D'Mello recently joined the Congress. Halarnkar is now contesting from Thivim constituency on Congress ticket. D'Souza said the NCP and Congress together along with like-minded parties like Goa Forward would have been able to form government by defeating BJP, if there was a tie-up, but now fears that in the present situation, there will be division of votes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today said Donald Trump's presidency in the United States represented "significant opportunities" for Israel, but called for restraint from fellow right-wing politicians. Referring to former US president Barack Obama, Netanyahu said "after eight years of withstanding huge pressures on a large array of topics, first and foremost Iran and the settlements, I definitely welcome the change of attitude". "We're (now) facing great and significant opportunities for the security and future of the state of Israel." Obama's administration grew frustrated with Israeli settlement building, warning it was eating away at prospects of a two-state solution. Netanyahu also strongly opposed the nuclear deal between Israel's arch-foe Iran and world powers, including the United States. But with right-wing politicians pushing hard for Israel to move immediately to build more settlements and even annex parts of the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu said restraint was needed. "This is not the time to shoot from the hip," Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history, told lawmakers from his Likud party. "This is the time for responsible and rational diplomacy with friends, diplomacy that will strengthen the cooperation between us and the trust between the Israeli government and the new administration in Washington." Trump has signalled strong support for Israel, and Israeli right-wing politicians have sought to take advantage, with hardliners calling for an end to the idea of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has said he still supports a two-state solution, but reportedly told ministers Sunday that all restrictions on building settlements in annexed east Jerusalem were being lifted. He also said he plans to expand construction in large settlement blocks in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reported, and that he foresees eventually bringing all settlements under Israeli sovereignty. Media said those comments helped convince Education Minister Naftali Bennett from the hardline Jewish Home party to postpone a push to immediately annex Maale Adumim, a large West Bank settlement near Jerusalem. Discussion on whether to do so is to be put off until after Netanyahu meets Trump in early February. The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday. Bennett, who opposes a Palestinian state and advocates Israel annexing most of the West Bank, has spoken repeatedly of what he sees as the rare possibilities under a Trump presidency. "We're calling on PM Netanyahu: Do not miss the opportunity of once in 50 years," he said Monday, according to his office. But today Netanyahu said: "For the sake of Israel, Israel's security and for the benefit of the settlement movement, I suggest everyone leave aside any other consideration and let me lead the moves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to Delhi government and the AAI over reports of 59 Dalit families not being rehabilitated even after nine years of their "forced eviction" from a village here for expansion of the city airport. The NHRC has issued notices to Delhi Chief Secretary and the chairman of the Airports Authority of India, and sought reports within six weeks on the steps taken or proposed to be taken for relief and rehabilitation of these families. The Commission in a statement today said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the media report that these Dalits families "remain without rehabilitation even after nine years following forced eviction from their houses at Nangal Dewat village in Delhi due to the expansion of the Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal-3". Reportedly, there were 122 Dalit families residing in the area, out of which 63 got alternate accommodation but 59 families were still awaiting rehabilitation. The Commission has observed that the contents of the report are "painful and indicative of grave violation of human rights of the aggrieved families." The NHRC has also observed that it is the duty of the state to provide basic amenities to its citizens, including shelter. "The authorities, who reportedly forced these families of Dalits, are liable to provide them with alternate accommodation, in lieu of their land and houses which have been taken over by the state," the NHRC said. According to the report, carried on January 14, the families, evicted from their village due to the expansion of the airport, have knocked the doors of almost every concerned authority in the Centre and Delhi government, but "to no avail". "They have been facing discrimination due to their caste. One such family, who relocated into another locality, was not allowed to cremate their dead as he was a Dalit from a different village. Expenditure on rented accommodation has put them on lot of financial burden in addition to other expenses related to the school fee of children," it alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu today attacked filmstar and Jana Sena Party President Pawan Kalyan over the latter's call for a "Jallikattu-style" agitation for securing special category status to the state. Without taking Kalyan's name at a press conference here this afternoon, the Chief Minister asked "why should we take up a Jallikattu-style agitation? What is the link between Jallikattu and SCS (securing special category)? Jallikattu is just a rural game. "I am tactfully and strategically going ahead. Have I compromised on anything? We have got special economic package akin to SCS, then why this fight now," Chandrababu questioned. "I will myself strongly fight if any injustice is done to the state," the Chief Minister asserted. "Will Andhras ever learn? If the political class of AP had shown this kind of solidarity, AP would have got its promised special category status long back. "But politicians, who are high on business interests and low on political commitment, have denied AP its promised special category status. But I strongly believe that it's only politicians who have compromised and not the general public. Jana Sena is with them (people)," Kalyan said in a series of tweets two days ago, adding the "Jallikattu agitation" should be taken as an inspiration. Other opposition parties, too, echoed similar views. Congress member of Rajya Sabha K V P Ramachandra Rao wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, asking the latter to lead a movement for SCS. "If a movement is launched under your leadership, all political parties, media, industry, film industry and other sectors and intellectuals besides students and youth will follow you," he said. Following Kalyan's tweets, some youths announced they would take up a protest programme on the Visakhapatnam beach on Republic Day and the actor promptly extended his support. Referring to this, the Chief Minister appealed to youths to stay away from such programmes and asked them to behave responsibly. "Some people are trying to use you," he warned the youths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a dig at Shiv Sena's manifesto for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Chavan today said it has highlighted old issues in a new packet. Talking to reporters here after inducting workers from various political parties from Palghar district in the Congress, Chavan said Shiv Sena had repeated almost all assurances made in its manifesto five years ago. "In five years the civic body under Shiv Sena has not been able to give the city pothole free roads," Chavan, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister, charged. He said induction of workers from different parties in the party fold will strengthen the Congress to tackle the malnutrition in Palghar district and protect forest rights of tribals. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had today released his party's manifesto. Among sops in the manifesto, Sena has promised to open e-learning centres for students and broaden the scope of teaching to meet demands in the current age. The party also offered to give preference in jobs in the BMC to those educated in civic run schools. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting-out at Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh for terming them "outsiders", founders of a pro-AAP NRI body today said they were not bothered about the rival leader's statement and were ready to go to jail for their party. The body 'Chalo Punjab' also opposed Amarinder's complaint to the Election Commission against them for campaigning for AAP in the poll-bound state. "We are not bothered what Amarinder says, even if we are jailed for supporting AAP," founders Joban Randhawa, Surinder Mavi and Jaskirat Mann said here. They claimed they had the constitutional right to campaign in the state. AAP's Toronto youth convener Randhawa claimed more than 35,000 NRIs would be campaigning in Punjab to liberate the it from the "clutches of Congress and Badals". The second batch of NRIs from UK would be arriving at Amritsar on January 24 and they would take out a road show the same day, Randhawa said. "Amarinder is frustrated as NRIs have refused to support the Congress. He had visited USA and Canada to garner support but was not allowed enter the latter's cities, Toronto and Vancouver," he said. He told Amarinder that they own land in Punjab and he has no right to brand them "outsiders". "NRIs were good as long as they funded Congress and SAD but pronounced terrorists if supporting AAP," Randhawa alleged. AAP's Canada convener Mavi said Amarinder was "scared" of NRIs and he lodged the complaint after NRIs didn't support him. "The Congress leader has made a false claims in the media that 400 NRIs were coming to campaign for his party. If he can invite NRIs then what is the problem if we are supporting AAP," he said. (REOPENS DES 57) Meanwhile, AAP campaign committee chairman Bhagwant Mann, who reached here to join the NRIs from Canada, warned Amarinder against "threatening" and using "absurd" language against them. "Amarinder is facing stiff opposition from senior party leaders and rebels have been playing spoilsport for him," he said. "He is issuing statements against NRIs out of utter frustration," Mann said, adding they (NRIs) are our own brothers and sisters. Talking to reporters he said NRIs have played a major role in development of Punjab and in the past both Amarinder and (Punjab Deputy Chief Minister) Sukhbir Singh Badal had asked them to contribute to the state's development. NRIs have found that their investment are not safe due to a corrupt system and "the land mafia run by the Badals had grabbed their properties", Mann alleged. "Amarinder never raised his voice against the Badals when their cabinet ministers and henchmen grabbed properties of NRIs," he said, accusing Agriculture Minister Tota Singh of grabbing land of a NRI in Moga. Mann claimed NRIs were going door-to-door and getting tremendous response. Electric two-wheeler maker Okinawa Autotech plans to invest around USD 40 million (over Rs 270 crore) over the next three years in the country to expand operations and introduce new products. The company, which today launched its first electric scooter 'Ridge' priced at Rs 43,702 (ex-showroom Delhi), has already invested around Rs 35 crore to set up operations including a manufacturing facility at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. "We plan to invest USD 40 million over the next three years to set up R&D capabilities, expand sales network and establish another manufacturing plant," Okinawa Scooters Managing Director Jeetender Sharma told PTI. Currently the company has 24 dealerships in states like Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and going ahead it plans to expand in smaller towns as well. "Over the next three years our target is to have 450 dealerships across the country. In the first phase we are focusing on cities, followed by rural markets in the future," Sharma said. The company also plans to come up with a new plant and roll out other models. The present manufacturing plant has an annual production capacity of 90,000 units. "We plan to launch other models as well. The next product which we plan to launch in the next quarter would have a range of 200 kms," Sharma said. Commenting on the Ridge, he said the e-scooter has a range of around 90 kms and comes with two charging setups. The fast charging unit charges the battery in 1-2 hours while the normal one takes 4-6 hours to charge the battery fully. The scooter comes with alloy wheels, tubeless tyres and telescopic suspension. The e-scooter is also compliant with regulatory standards. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The members of opposition and a BJP MLA today staged a walkout from the state assembly over the alleged delay in Jammu lake project and the "false figures" given by the ruling dispensation regarding it after the government said 80 per cent of the work on execution of barrage has been completed. Replying to a question of BJP MLA Gagan Bhagat, Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi said work on the design and construction of barrage across Tawi river at Belicharana in Jammu, which is part of artificial lake, has been taken up for execution by Irrigation and Flood Control Department. She said the execution of the work is estimated to cost Rs 69.70 crore against which an amount of Rs 57.35 crore stands released and utilised by end of March 2016. Eighty per cent of the work has been completed, she said. Bhagat, however, objected to the reply and demanded setting up of a House committee to probe the claims. As the government did not respond to his demand, Bhagat tore the answer sheet, threw it in the House and staged a walkout. Then members of National Conference and Congress resorted to protests and sloganeering and alleged that the government had done little for Jammu region. They alleged that the government had failed to give fillip to tourism projects started by the previous government and later staged a walkout from the House. "Today's walkout is not only to protest Jammu Tourism but the discrimination with the region on different developmental projects. This walkout reflects the voice of Jammu people in the House," NC MLA Devender Singh Rana told reporters here. "It is not only the fate of one lake project, it is fate of all the tourism projects in Jammu region, be it Mansar- Surinsar Lake project or Patnitop project or Sanasar, all projects are in bad shape and work has been stopped," he said. Speaking to reporters, Independent MLA from Udhampur and former minister Pawan Gupta, who also walked out from the House, said "The reply was vague and incorrect and the figures were totally false (with regard to lake project). Are we blind. Can't we see the fate of the project? The government tries to fool us. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : South Indian actor Raghava Lawrence today alleged that various outfits mingled with the student protesters and resorted to violence diverting attention from finding a permanent solutio to the jallikattu issue. The actor, who has been supporting the cause led by the students since last week, said the protests had been held in a peaceful manner and turned 'sour' as a section of people started to raise slogans for "some other issues". "Everyone's wish in Tamil Nadu, including mine, is to conduct the sport (jallikattu). The students have been putting forth this demand and have been staging protests since last week as one single cause", he told reporters. Stating that the student community were raising slogans seeking a permanent solution for the issue, he said "suddenly some other outfits who were along with the crowd began raising slogans to issues that were unconnected." "Those people were imposing such issues along with our demand. The violence staged are not by students. That is for sure. It (violence) is done by some other outfits". The students were planning to end the stir after they received a copy of the Ordinance signed by the Governor, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a pre-emptive operation, Saudi security forces killed two terrorists and arrested two others, including a Pakistani woman, in the coastal city of Jeddah, taking the number of Pakistanis detained on terror charges in the kingdom to 69. "Two terrorists in Al-Harazat District, in south east Jeddah, were killed after they blew themselves up after refusing to surrender to police calls on Saturday," Arab reported, quoting the Interior Ministry spokesperson. He said the authorities arrested another two, a husband and his Pakistani wife, from an apartment after a tip-off. With the arrest of the Pakistani woman, identified as 19-year-old Fatima Ramadan Balochi Murad, the number of Pakistanis arrested on terror charges has gone up to 69. Citing security sources, the paper said the authorities got information on the presence of a group of terrorists at a house in Al-Harazat District. After an investigation, the residents of the house turned out to have a link to another terrorist living in Naseem District, who used to come to the house together with his wife. "The person also turned out to be a former terrorist who was imprisoned for eight years but released after less than two years. He was the one who rented the house in Al-Harazat at least two months ago, to be used as a hideout for the terrorist cell; he used his wife in an attempt to avoid the landlord and neighbours becoming suspicious," the paper said. The security forces cordoned off the two hideouts and arrested the first person, Saudi citizen Husam bin Salic bin Samran Al-Juhani with his Pakistani wife in their apartment in Naseem district. After searching the house, the security forces found a ready-to-use explosive belt, a locally-made bomb, together with a machine gun with live ammunition. The forces also cordoned off a house in Al-Harazat before dawn prayer on Saturday. The forces asked the terrorists to surrender but they started firing. When the security forces tried to storm the house, the terrorists detonated the explosive belts they were wearing, killing themselves and causing extensive damage to the house. Quoting the spokesman of the Interior Ministry Maj Gen Mansour Al-Turki, the paper said the hideout at Al-Harazat was used as a lab for making explosive belts and bombs. He said the man arrested at the second hideout, in Naseem district, was linked to those in the Al-Harazat property. Security authorities are still collecting evidence from the two locations and conducting investigations with the arrested persons. All details and identities of the terrorists will be announced later, Al-Turki said. Last July, Pakistani terrorist Abdullah Qalzar Khan blew himself up near Solaiman Fakeih Hospital in Jeddah. The security authorities arrested 49 Pakistani residents and put them under interrogation since the bombing in July, Saudi Gazette reported. A terror plot - involving two Pakistanis Solaiman Arab Deen and Farman Naqshaband Khan, was foiled last October here. In a recent statement, the Interior Ministry said that 5,085 terror suspects from 40 countries are in detention. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The confirmation hearings of Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, provided plenty of drama that can help explain why racial tensions never seem to go away in America. This was particularly evident in the concluding panel of the hearings, which consisted of six black men, three opposing Sessions' nomination and three supporting him. The three in opposition were all members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The three in support were all black legal professionals with long personal histories working with Sessions. Testifying in support were a former assistant U.S. attorney who worked with Sessions when he was U.S. attorney in Alabama, a former U.S. marshall who worked with Sessions in the attorney general's office of Alabama and the first black general counsel of the senate judiciary committee, on which Sessions serves. Striking about the testimony of these three black professionals was that all of them knew and worked with Sessions for 20-plus years. Each had personal stories about his professional and personal integrity. Clearly all three of these men testified because of their gratitude and affection for this man. Judiciary committee general counsel William Smith captured the views of all three saying, "After 20 years of working with Jeff Sessions, I have not seen the slightest indication of racism because it does not exist..." In contrast, the three Black Caucus members, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Cedric Richmond, went on about their opposition to Sessions because of his alleged weakness on civil rights a polite way of suggesting he is a racist while bringing virtually no evidence to support their allegations. As Smith noted in his testimony, "We have seen people who have never met Senator Sessions claim to know him and know his heart." Unfortunately, politics has come to be conflated with racism. That is, those on the black left who have dominated black politics for so many years now brand anyone who does not share their political views as racist. This could not have been more evident than in the haughty and pretentious observation by Richmond, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, that "....if he (Sessions) were, in fact, a champion of civil rights, wouldn't the civil rights community support his nomination, rather than speaking with one voice in near unanimous opposition?" I have been fighting for civil rights for over 30 years. But for a black leftist like Richmond, the many black conservatives who share my views don't exist. According to the black left, a black who believes that abortion should not be legal, who believes that black parents should have the right to decide where to send their children to school and who believes that marriage is the sacred bond between a man and woman is not part of the "civil rights community." Similarly, based on these beliefs, because he is a conservative, Sessions must be racist. Let's think for a minute why racism is so horrible. Racism is about denying a person's unique humanity and thinking you know who they are based a few external characteristics. It is sadly ironic that this is exactly what those on the black left, who claim to bear the standard for civil rights, do. The three black men who testified to support Sessions' nomination are evidence of the diversity of black opinion nationwide. We're not going to get out of our racial rut until everyone starts seeing and respecting people as individuals. Philosopher longshoreman Eric Hoffer once wrote, "Every great cause starts out as a movement, then becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket." The problem the Black Caucus has with Sessions is not that he is a racist but that he is a conservative, and that is not good for their racket. Paralympic swimmer Binod Singh was today found dead in a village in Bihar's Bhagalpur district, with police suspecting that he was strangulated to death. District SSP Manoj Kumar said the body of the Paralympian was found in an orchard in Lacho village. Preliminary investigation indicate that Singh was killed around five days back and his body was smelling. It appears that he was strangulated to death, the officer said, adding the body has been sent for post mortem. In Patna, a FIR was lodged following the swimmer's father at Sachivalaya Police Station on January 6 about Singh's suspected kidnapping, Officer In-charge of Sachivalaya Police Station Pratap Singh said. Binod's father had alleged his 30-year-old son had an affair with a girl, who is also a sportsperson. The relationship was opposed by the girl's family and they were targeting his son, the officer said, adding, probe is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today dismissed allegations that ruling party was using state government schemes to lure voters. "Those people who don't have anything to project about their past government, are the ones who have been complaining against our schemes to the Election Commission. We have not violated... We are not luring anyone with the schemes. If someone is luring then action should be taken against them," Parsekar told reporters today. The CM's comments come in the backdrop of Election Commission confirming yesterday that it had received complaints that BJP was using state government schemes to lure voters. "You can say that we are luring the voters if we are distributing money or liquor. The Election Commission should remain firm and take action against those who are violating the code of conduct," he said. "But no one can claim that (luring voters) if ruling party refers about its flagship projects to voters, amounted to luring them," said the CM. "The State government has performed so we are showcasing it to our voters," Parsekar added. Chief Election Commissioner Syed Nasim Zaidi had told reporters in Goa yesterday that there were complaints of misuse of social welfare schemes, which are being investigated. "It is our right to project the schemes, which we had formulated, before the people. This does not violate any kind of election code of conduct. We are asking positive mandate. We are not talking against anyone. You can say it as a violation if we sanction any scheme to anyone after poll code is in force," Parsekar said. The Chief Minister said BJP is confident of getting back to power based on the performance. "People are happy with the developmental works and schemes introduced by the government. I have been getting very positive feedback from people during campaigning. The state government is also getting all possible support from Modi-led government in the Centre," he said. "We have given stable government during the last five years. We have done justice to the mandate given to us by the people in the year 2012. We have given quality infrastructure and robust social welfare schemes," he said. Countering another allegation on the front of employment creation, Parsekar said in last five years, we had said that we will create 50,000 jobs but the Investment Promotion Board could not function for first three years and in last two years, we created 25,000 jobs through 151 projects. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Trump today invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House early next month, working quickly to establish close ties with a crucial ally in the Middle East who was often at odds with his predecessor. As the Trump administration took steps toward relocating the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, Trump, on his second full day in office, spoke over phone to Netanyahu and discussed ways to ensure security and stability in the Middle East. The President emphasised on the importance the US places on US-Israel close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between the two countries, it said. The two leaders discussed efforts to make peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Trump and Netanyahu agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran, the White House said. During the call, Trump invited Netanyahu "to an early February meeting at the White House". "The President affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israel's security and stressed that countering ISIL and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be a priority for his Administration," it said. During the call, Trump emphasised that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between them and that the US will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, called the conversation "very warm". He said he had "expressed his desire to work closely" with the administration, "with no daylight between" the two countries. This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Trump was sworn in as the US President on Friday. A day earlier, he spoke over phone with the Mexican and Canadian leaders. Relations between Israel and the US were strained under former President Barack Obama and his administration abstained from a UN resolution in December that declared settlement construction in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank illegal. But the White House statement on the call did not mention Trump's suggestion to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump pledged during his campaign to move the US embassy, and his designated ambassador to Israel. No country in the world has its Israel embassy in Jerusalem, which is also claimed by the Palestinians as their capital. While Congress long ago passed a resolution ordering the move, both Republican and Democratic presidents have repeatedly waived the order on national security grounds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 50-year-old woman, who is a prime accused in the murder of former Puducherry Agriculture Minister VMC Sivakumar surrenderedbefore a local court, today, police said. Ezhilarasi, wife of an arrack dealer Ramu in Karaikal, surrendered before the First Judicial Magistrate court here today. The Magistrate Dhanalakshmi remanded the woman to judicial custody for the day and she was then lodged in the Puducherry Central prison, they said. Already four persons hailing from Tiruchirapalli had surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate-I here on January 11 and they were later produced before the court in Karaikal as per the order of the court. Sivakumar, a four time legislator of Puducherry, was hacked to death by a gang during his visit to his marriage hall, under construction, in Neravy near Karaikal on January 3. Sivakumar was the DMK Agriculture Minister of Puducherry in 1980 and was Speaker of Puducherry Assembly in 1985. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress party, which had lauded Priyanka Gandhi's role in cobbling together an alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, was today evasive about the part she could play in the party in future. Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said Priyanka, who had hitherto limited herself to Amethi and Rae Bareli Parliamentary seats represented by her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia respectively, played an "active role" along with senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in putting together an alliance with Samajwadi Party. Kumar said Priyanka was following "instructions" from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, "who can assign a role to any party worker". "Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been active in the two Parliamentary seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli purely out of her choice and we respect that. "As far as UP elections are concerned, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi requested Ghulam Nabi Azad ji and Priyanka ji for sewing the alliance of progressive, like- minded parties," he said when asked about the role she played in bringing about the tie-up in UP. When asked about the role she could play in the state in future, the Congress leader said, "The workers of the Congress party and everybody else are desirous of Priyanka Gandhi playing a larger role. As and when that happens you will be duly informed." Party insiders said she was instrumental in bringing Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other leaders into the party fold ahead of the elections to five state assemblies. Facing a barrage of questions as to how she assumed such an important role despite not being an official of the party, the Congress spokesperson said, "The Congress vice president can ask any party worker to take an active role. Why should there be an issue of propriety?" "The Congress vice president can instruct, request anybody in the party for any work he deems fit. So he made a request to Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka ji for helping in sewing the entire alliance and that is what has happened." He said now a "wonderful" alliance was in place despite many not wanting so. There has been widespread speculation about Priyanka assuming a larger role in the party, particularly after her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi started not keeping well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry Dr V Candavelou has been selected by the Election Commission of India for being presented with the best state award for SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation). A release from the Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry L Kumar said today that President Pranab Mukherjee will present the award to the CEO on celebration of 'National Voters Day' on January 25 at New Delhi. It said the President would also present the award for 'Best Electoral Practicesfor security management' to A K Gawas, Senior Superintendent of Police Puducherry and 'Special Category award for Information Technology initiatives' to V Gopi Swaminathan, Technical Director of National Informatics Centre (NIC) Puducherry, that day. The EC presents the national awards each year to Election Management Officers recognising their best electoral practices, during celebration of NVD in New Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today congratulated star shuttler Saina Nehwal on winning the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold final. The Chief Minister hoped that Saina would win several other prestigious tournaments in future, a release from his office said. Saina dispelled doubts cast over her ability to win trophies after she clinched her first Masters within five months since suffering a career-threatening knee injury. She defeated Thailand player Pornpawee Chochuwong 22-20, 22-20 in a thrilling Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold final in Sarawak yesterday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man accused of raping a 26-year -old woman on the pretext of marriage has been granted bail by a Delhi court, which said the complainant had consented for physicalrelationsand knewtheconsequences of her act. Additional Sessions Judge R K Tripathi released the accused on bail noting that the complaint was lodged as the accused, a Delhi resident, was neither agreeing to marry the woman nor was he attending her calls. "Thecomplainantisreportedtobe26-year-oldand a graduate.Accusedisallegedtohavemadephysicalrelations with her on the pretext of marriage. The complainant consented for physicalrelationshipwithhimbefore solemnisationof marriage.She knewtheconsequencesofheractthataccused mayormaynotmarryher," the judge said. The judge further noted that as per the complainant, the accused was "neither agreeing for marriage nor he is attending her calls. On the aforesaid allegations of complainant, FIR under section 376 (rape) of the IPC was registered." The court, while granting him bail, said, "Accused is not required for his custodial interrogation.Noincriminating materialistoberecoveredattheinstanceof accused. Heis permanentresidentofDelhi.Thereisnopossibilityofhis abscondingorfleeingfromjustice." The court also directed that the accused shall not contact the complainant and will not threaten or intimidate her. "He shall also not try to influence the prosecution witnesses. Accused shall not leave the country without prior permission of the court," it said. An FIR was lodged this month on the basis of written complaint given by complainant, alleging that the accused, whom she met on April 2, 2014 at Nizamuddin Dargah in south east Delhi here, lured her into a physical relations on the pretext of marriage. It alleged that he sexually assaulted her on two occasions and then stopped taking her calls and refused to marry her. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala government today asked the Centre to reinstate the allocation of food grains to the state alleging that implementation of the Food Security Act has reduced the state's share of grains by around 2 lakh metric tonnes. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in Delhi on a two-day visit, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the state's issues regarding the Public Distribution System. "We used to get 16.02 lakh metric tonnes of food grains. But ever since the Food Security Act has been implemented, the state's share has been reduced to 14.25 lakh metric tonnes. Centre is blaming it on the norms of Food Security Act," the chief minister said. "The Kerala government has asked the Centre to reinstate the allocation of food grains to the state," he said. "We produce only 15 per cent of our required demand for food grains. This is because we produce cash crops which actually will fetch more foreign revenue to the country. Centre used to allot additional food grains to the state considering this fact," Vijayan said. He blamed the former UPA government at the Centre and the earlier UDF government in the state for cancellation of extra food grains allotted to the state and said "when the Food Security Act was implemented, this peculiar situation of Kerala was not considered." The Chief Minister also claimed that the state was now burdened with an additional responsibility of providing ration to around 35 lakh migrant labourers. Vijayan requested the Centre to consider Kerala while allotting All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the Union Budget. He said that the Prime Minister's response to the state's issues was reassuring. He also met Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan and discussed the state's issues related to ration. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Congress today demanded that the TRS Government release input subsidy for farmers without delay. In an open letter to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, State Congress President N Uttam Kumar Reddy saidRao himself had assuredon December 21 in the Legislative Assembly that the input subsidy of Rs 711 crore, given by the Central Government, would be released "in a day or two". Alleging that the assurance was yet to be honoured, he asked the TRS Government to release the input subsidy immediately. "The State Government is yet to release Rs 711 crore of input subsidy given by the Central Government to compensate for the damage suffered by farmers due to natural calamities in 2015. This release is far below the request made by the Government of Telangana, Reddy said. "We feel Government of Telangana has not done a complete assessment. Thus, this input subsidy is most probably well below 70 per cent of the damage suffered by the farmers, in the related period." Subsequently, Telangana farmers have suffered other damage due to unnatural rains, bad quality seeds and demonetisation, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up and thumbs down on the issues from the past week. Up North Dakotans are usually quick to help those in need. That was the case with the Jeana and Joe Lockwood family. The Lockwoods wrecked their car in an accident recently on the way to the hospital for the delivery of their fifth child. After the accident, the baby was delivered in the back of the ambulance. The accident left the family of seven short a vehicle. That problem didnt last long, as Roland and Lorraine Ketterling donated a 2000 Dodge Caravan to the Lockwoods. The Ketterlings said they werent using the van and they thought the Lockwoods needed it more than they did. Later last week, the Lockwoods said Dvorak Motors provided a down payment on a 2009 Chevy Suburban and Gate City Bank arranged a reasonable financing package for them. The Ketterling-donated van will be a backup vehicle. Down Legislators are considering a proposal to allow nursing homes to charge a fee to cover state budget cuts. The fee is considered a last resort in case nursing homes dont get needed funding. Its a bad idea. Many families already find it difficult to afford nursing home care. Adding a fee would be an additional burden on many people. Legislators promise no new taxes and they should take the same approach toward new fees. Up Fridays inauguration of President Donald Trump was a celebration of democracy. Even the protests connected to the event demonstrate the power of our form of government. Trumps successful campaign surprised many people and still disappoints some. Our nation can celebrate and protest at the same time and remain strong. With Trumps presidency underway, Americans can look forward to an interesting four years. Down Everyone knows law enforcement work can be dangerous. Few officers are killed in the line of duty in North Dakota. Sadly, the exception to the rule happened last week near Belcourt. Rolette County Deputy Colt Allery died in a shootout with a suspect in a stolen pickup case. Allery, 29, had worked in law enforcement for several years before joining the Rolette force about three months ago. His death is a grim reminder of the sacrifices of law enforcement members. Up The North Dakota Supreme Court was correct last week when they made it easier for out-of-state lawyers to represent pipeline protesters in criminal cases. There are more than 600 cases pending and theres concern about whether there are enough North Dakota lawyers to handle the cases. The courts action should help guarantee the cases are heard in a timely fashion. North Dakota has received criticism for the arrests, so resolving them as quickly as possible will benefit everyone. Down Animal rights activists cheered the news that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus would close in May. After 146 years in business the famous circus won't come to town anymore. It's another sign of changing times and it's sad in many ways. The circus world isn't perfect, but it did bring a lot of joy to communities. Senior IPS officer Rina Mitra was today appointed Secretary of Home Ministry's crucial internal security division. Mitra is presently working as Special Director General, Border Security Force. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved appointment of Mitra to the post, an order issued by Personnel Ministry said. She is a 1983-batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre. Mitra has been appointed in place of M K Singla, who superannuates this month end. The internal security division deals with police, law and order, besides analysing threats emerging from terrorists, Maoists and other anti-nationalgroups. Another IPS officer Rupak Kumar Dutta is also working as Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry. Dutta has tenure till October 31, 2017 i.E the date of his superannuation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said the RSS must refrain from political violence in the state before campaigning against it at the national level. "If the RSS is campaigning against violent politics, they must also refrain from all sorts of violent politics. The government does not support any kind of violence. We are taking necessary steps to maintain peace in the state," he told a press meet here. Vijayan, who arrived here today on a two-day visit, also trashed the BJP's threat to impose President's Rule in Kerala and said a lot had changed in the country since the state government was dismissed in 1959 by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. "Threats to impose President's Rule will not affect us. The state government was once dismissed in 1959. Since then, a lot has changed in the country. They (BJP) need to understand that," he said. Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who was in Kerala last week, had warned the CPI(M)-led LDF government in the state of "serious consequences" if it continued to "unleash political violence" on its rivals. The BJP will stage a day-long sit-in at Kerala House here tomorrow to protest the "violence" in the state. Asked about a recent alleged political murder in Kannur district, Vijayan said the government was mulling convening an all-party meeting to resolve the issue. "We had called an all-party meet earlier to ensure peace. We are planning to convene one such meeting again," he added. Earlier in the day, Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed Kerala's ration issue and other pending projects with him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 55-year old 'sadhu' was today found murdered at Geetadham Ashram at Gwarighat area here, police said. The identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained. The 'sadhu' had arrived here last evening with his disciple, Gwarighat police station in-charge G R Chandrawanshi said. The officer said injury marks were found on sadhu's head while his disciple, aged around 35, was absconding. According to Chandrawanshi, the priest of Geetadham Ashram informed that the sadhu and his disciple had dinner at 8 PM and went to sleep in a room situated on the temple premises. This morning, the priest found his body in a pool of blood inside the room and informed police, said the officer. "A case of murder has been registered in this regard and his body was sent for post-mortem," Chandrawanshi added. The police have launched a hunt for the disciple, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A French appeals court today toughened a prison term for a close aide of former president Nicolas Sarkozy over misuse of public funds. Judges sentenced Claude Gueant, once one of France's most influential figures, to two years in prison with one suspended, toughening an earlier sentence of two years suspended. However under French law pertaining to sentences of less than two years, the 72-year-old is unlikely to have to go to prison. Gueant was Sarkozy's right-hand man for a decade and served as interior minister in 2011 and 2012. The court also upheld a 75,000-euro (USD 80,400) fine and confirmed a ban on him holding public office for five years. Michel Gaudin, a former national director general of the police, also had his suspended jail sentence increased over the affair, from 10 months to 18 months. The case relates to payments made by Gaudin to Gueant between 2002 and 2004, when Gueant was Sarkozy's chief of staff in the interior ministry. Gaudin handed over 10,000 euros a month to Gueant from an expense account for police investigations that was secretly used to top up salaries of interior ministry staff. A total of 210,000 euros was handed out, with Gueant pocketing around half. Using discretionary accounts to pay undeclared bonuses to officials was a common practice in France but was banned in 2001. Sarkozy was president from 2007 to 2012 but his attempt at making a comeback last year was cut short when he was eliminated in the first round of the rightwing presidential primary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Longtime US ally Saudi Arabia today said it hopes for strengthened relations under President Donald Trump. At its weekly meeting chaired by King Salman, the cabinet cited "the strength of ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States and the wish to develop and reinforce them", the official Saudi Press Agency said. The cabinet also conveyed its congratulations to Trump following his investiture last Friday. The United States and Saudi Arabia have a decades-old relationship based on the exchange of American security for Saudi oil. But ties between Riyadh and Washington became increasingly frayed during the eight-year administration of former president Barack Obama. Saudi leaders felt Obama was reluctant to get involved in the civil war in Syria and other regional conflicts. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said last week that he expects the Trump administration to be more engaged in the Middle East, and the world in general, while "rebuilding" relationships with allies. Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's holiest sites and the kingdom sees itself as the guardian of the faith. Trump has threatened to ban Muslims from the United States, while his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has argued that Islam is not a religion but a "political ideology. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today sought the government's response on a plea seeking appointment of president and vice presidents in different benches of Income Tax Appellate Tribunals (ITAT) across the country claiming that proceedings at the quasi-judicial bodies have come to "grinding halt". A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud issued notice to the central government and sought its response in four weeks. The PIL filed by one Akshay Pundir said that "ad hocism has become order of the day as many of the posts of senior vice presidents and vice presidents have not been filled up". The petition filed through advocate Sanjeeb Panigrahi said, "the timely appointment of Presidents, Vice-Presidents and members will go a long way in tackling the burgeoning tax litigations in the country." "The government is not taking steps to appoint the president, nor is it clearing the names of vice presidents. Therefore a chaos will arise in business circles if no person would be appointed as President before the vacancy arises," the petition said. It said "the incumbent President is going to retire on Feburary 17, 2017. Thereafter there is nobody in the vision of government for this post except two vice presidents working in Delhi and Hyderabad. The administrative work is also suffering because members have to wait for small things as the final decisions of vice presidents would not reach on time which also indirectly affects the litigants". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Markets regulator Sebi today allowed Delhi Stock Exchange (DSE) to exit the stock bourse business following a request from the exchange. DSE made a request to Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in May 2014 for exiting the stock exchange business. The regulator in November 2014 withdrew the recognition granted to DSE citing "serious irregularities" in the functioning of the bourse. DSE moved the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) against Sebi's order. The Tribunal, in June last year, directed DSE to furnish the requisite information to Sebi within three months for the voluntary de-recognition sought by the bourse. Also, it had directed Sebi to complete the voluntary de-recognition process within five months by determining the quantum of amount payable. Subsequently, Sebi determined the amount payable by DSE and communicated the same. In view of the operational difficulty, the regulator had sought an extension of two months to pass the exit order. The Tribunal had granted the same in November 2016. In an order passed today, Sebi said DSE has substantially complied with the conditions for its exit as per the regulator's framework and therefore "is a fit case to allow exit". Sebi said DSE complied with the regulator's exit norms and made payment of necessary dues to the regulator, including 10 per cent of the listing fee and the annual regulatory fee. Among other things, Sebi said, the exchange has complied with the guidelines wherein it has stated that there are no arbitration disputes /investor complaints pending against it. "From the valuation report and undertaking of DSE, it is observed that all the known liabilities have been brought out and that there is no other future liability that is known as on date," Sebi said. The regulator has asked the DSE to change its name and not to use the expression "stock exchange" or any variant of this expression in its name, among other things. DSE, formerly known as Delhi Stock Exchange Association Ltd, was incorporated in 1947. It was later granted permanent recognition on March 1, 1982, as a stock exchange. Sebi, in May 2012, had issued the guidelines for exit of stock exchanges. Last week, Sebi chairman U K Sinha said 13 regional stock exchanges have closed in the last three years under the exit policy of Sebi, including Bangalore, Hyderabad and Madras Stock Exchanges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security has been ramped up in the Naxal-affected areas of the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh ahead of the Republic Day. Rebels have distributed pamphlets saying that they would be observing a 'black day' on January 26. "We are maintaining tight vigil in the Naxal-affected areas in the run-up to the Republic Day. Night patrolling too has been enhanced in view of rebels' pamphlets," Balaghat Inspector General of Police G Janardhan told PTI. Forested areas were being combed and movements along the border were being watched carefully, he said. Malajkhand Area Committee of the Naxals recently dropped handbills in south Baihar, which said they would observe January 26 as a black day and appealed the local people to hoist black flags. Balaghat borders on Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh and Gondia in Maharashtra. Both these areas have Naxal presence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid uncertainties over a pre-poll pact with the BJP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today released his party's manifesto for the BMC elections, even as he maintained that seat-sharing talks with the ally are still on. Thackeray, flanked by a number of party MPs and MLAs, said the manifesto was being released independently by the party as today was the birth anniversary of Sena founder Bal Thackeray. "January 23 is a very important day for Shiv Sainiks and we continue to be committed to the people of Mumbai on this day. Hence, (we) decided to release our manifesto today," he said. "People are surprised and their eyes are left wide open when they see the budget of the Mumbai civic body and they ask where does all this money go. But if they study the subject in detail, they will find that BMC can only spend Rs 29,000 per person in Mumbai," Thackeray said addressing reporters here. The Sena chief said if at all an alliance with BJP for the BMC (Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation) polls materialises, "good suggestions" by the ally will also be incorporated in the manifesto. He, however, refused to divulge details on the parleys being held by the two parties. "Talks are still on. As and when we come to a conclusion, I will have to announce it anyway," he said. Among sops in the manifesto, Sena has promised to open e-learning centres for students and broaden the scope of teaching to meet demands in the current age. The party also offered to give preference in jobs in the BMC to those educated in civic-run schools. The manifesto, read out by Arvind Sawant,MP, also revealed the party's plans in sectors like tourism, health, environment, 24X7 water supply, free travel in BEST buses to students in school uniforms, besides promises in areas like sanitation and treatment of waste water. BMC goes to polls on February 21. Protracted negotiations between the two parties have failed to clinch a deal with both sides claiming larger number of seats than each is willing to concede. While BJP has staked claim for over 100 seats in the 227-member council, the Sena appears to be in no mood to yield to the ally's demands in its prime political space. A senior BJP leader had virtually ruled out yesterday the possibility of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis resuming seat-sharing talks with Thackeray. (REOPENS BOM14) Meanwhile, the manifesto promises that property tax for existing homes having a carpet area of upto 500 sq ft, will be completely waived off and there will be concessions in the tax for homes upto 700 sq ft. It also assures that city's green cover in Aarey Colony in suburban Goregaon, where the state government has planned to set up a car shed for Metro III project, will be reserved as a 'Green Zone'. The Sena promised beautification and restructure of all gardens, setting up recreation centres for senior citizens, creating creches and construction of four new swimming pools in the city. The Sena assured to develop tourist spots on the eastern coast on 900 acre MbPT plot. "BMC can develop a new tourist spot if Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) hands over 900 acres plot, which is lying vacant since years. It will help boost city's economy," Thackeray said. The manifesto also promises to obtain all permissions for the proposed Nariman Point-Dahisar coastal road, in the next five years. "Though the Middle Vaitarna project has been completed in three-and-half years, it took almost 9 years to obtain permissions," said Thackeray. In a bid to woo the dabbawala community, Thackeray promised to construct a 'Dabbawala Bhavan' in south Mumbai and also promised motor cycle stands outside railway stations for two-wheelers. The birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray today was used by Shiv Sena to hurl a taunt at Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the key BJP ally saying the late leader never boasted of a "56-inch chest" but the nation's enemies were scared by his very name. The Sena also said that Thackeray had stood by Modi when BJP had plans to remove him as the Gujarat chief minister after the 2002 post-Godhra riots, in comments that came at a time when the possibility of a tie-up with BJP for the Mumbai city polls hit a virtual dead end. The comments came even as Modi paid tributes to the Sena founder on his 91st birth anniversary, saying he "personified courage" and had emerged as a voice for the aspirations of many people. "Balasaheb Thackeray personified courage & emerged as a voice for the aspirations of many people. Tributes to him on his birth anniversary," Modi tweeted. Thackeray passed away on November 17, 2012. An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said that after the 2002 riots the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was about to oust Modi from the post of Gujarat chief minister but it was Balasaheb who staunchly backed him then. "It was very courageous of Balasaheb to support Modi at the time." "The (late) Sena supremo never revealed the size of his chest but Pakistan and enemies of the nation got jittery by the mention of his mere name. He was an invisible force that kept extremist forces at bay," Sena said. In the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, Modi had famously claimed at a poll rally in Uttar Pradesh that a "56 inch chest" can solve problems faced by the country. The Sena also said the country is in a "pitiable state" now with the ruling dispensation refusing to speak about the problems being faced by people and only keeps making new announcements. "The (late) Sena supremo was firm on his ideals. He did not believe in duping people in the name of democracy," it said. Sena, despite being partner of BJP in Maharashtra and at the Centre, has been highly critical of the demonetisation decision, repeatedly attacking the government over the issue through its mouthpiece. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Republican boys club we call the North Dakota Legislature has a contest: Who can introduce the silliest law. The best entries so far are prohibiting wearing a mask while protesting, increasing the speed limit to 80 and making it legal to run over a protester. Of course it is still legal to wear a mask while robbing a bank. Usually our legislators confine themselves to harassing women attempting to have an abortion or imitating some silly law Mississippi or Alabama invented. Now North Dakota seeks to take the lead in the goofy law contest held nationwide by Republicans. Of course gun laws are always a favorite, so we now have a Republican pushing the idea that everybody gets to carry a concealed weapon, no questions asked. Guns will soon be sold in vending machines. To summarize, you will be able to hit a masked protester at 80 mph, and have him arrested for wearing a mask. If you have a problem, you will have your concealed weapon to settle the issue. North Dakota is leading the way toward making America great again. Mike Quinn, Hazen Acclaimed Iranian director Majid Majidi has roped in Shahid Kapoor's younger brother Ishaan Khatter for his India-set movie "Beyond The Clouds", which also has A R Rahman on board for music. The movie, which went on floors today, dwells on relationships and life and is produced by Zee Studios and Eyecandy Films. Majidi is best known for world cinema classics like "The Song of Sparrows", "Baran", "The Color of Paradise" and "Children of Heaven". The director, who first teamed up with Rahman for "Muhammad: The Messenger of God", said he always wanted to make a film in India. "Filmmakers like Satyajit Ray , whose work I adore, have represented India's culture, rich heritage and the lives of common people to a global audience. These visions and images have stayed in my mind for years and cajoled me to make a film in India. "Finally, I'm in Mumbai with a lovely team to narrate a story woven around the lives of common people," Majidi said in a statement. Speaking further about casting Ishaan, Majidi says, "Ishaan is a wonderful boy. He is extremely talented and I feel, he will have a bright future in the film industry." Going on floors today in Mumbai, the film will be shot at numerous locations in India. Apart from the director and Ishaan, others present and marking the occasion of the first day of shoot were music maestro A R Rahman, producers of the film, Akash Chawla, Business Head - Zee Studios along with Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishore Arora from EyeCandy Films. Also present were Ishaan's parents Neelima Azim and Rajesh Khatter along with brother Shahid Kapoor. "This film, his first venture in the country, celebrates an India unseen by the world with a heartwarming story," said Akash Chawla, Business Head, Zee Studios. "It's an honor to bring him to India. Working with him and developing this project over the last few years has been an enriching experience," said Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishor Arora from Eyecandy Films. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the clamour growing for organising 'Kambala', a traditional annual buffalo race, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said his government was in favour of holding it and asked the Centre to take a favourable stand as it did for jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. "We are in favour of Kambala, we are for Kambala. We pressurise the Union government to take a stand in favour of this (Kambala), similar to the way in which it favoured jallikattu in Tamil Nadu," he told reporters here. To a question on large-scale protests planned by Kambala committees, he said "....They are protesting for Kambala, we are also in favour of Kambala." Spurred by the jallikattu stir in Tamil Nadu, Kambala Committees had met in Mangaluru yesterday to strategise their agitation, where it was decided to hold a massive protest on January 28 in Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district. Symbolic Kambala, a traditional annual buffalo race in the marshy fields in coastal districts of the state, is also likely to be held as a mark of protest. Karnataka High Court's division bench, headed by Chief Justice S K Mukherjee, in an interim order in November 2016 had stayed holding of Kambala on a petition by PETA challenging it in view of orders passed by the Supreme Court on jallikattu. Kambala Committees have filed an interim application, seeking vacation of the stay. The matter came up on Friday before the division bench of the High Court, which adjourned the case to January 30. Calling Kambala a folk festival with over a thousand-year history, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said it has an emotional connect with the people. "Ban on Kambala is an after effect, on the basis of the ban on Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu. The matter is coming before the High Court on January 30, I'm hopeful that we will get justice and there will be no need for any agitation..." he said. Hoping that the Centre would take a favourable stand for getting approval for Kampala, he said, "The state government should also approach the Centre, and for no reason should Kambala be stopped..." Support for the folk sport has gained momentum in the social media also. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming the Supreme Court's order on private schools as "historic", Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today warned that Delhi government will take strict action against those schools which don't comply with the apex court's judgement. Sisodia, who also holds charge of the Education department, said private schools should focus on teaching students rather than making education a business. Addressing a press conference, he said that there are several discrepancies in fee and admission of private schools and said that Delhi government wants them to get transparent in their admission processes and fee hikes The Deputy Chief Minister's remarks came hours after the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal of committee of private unaided schools, located on land alloted here by DDA, challenging a Delhi High Court order asking them to take government's prior nod before hiking fees. Hailing the court's order, the Deputy CM said, "We don't have personal enmity with private schools and are also not against them. Government just wants to keep their (schools) free and admission process in a transparent manner." He said that private schools cannot harass parents in the name of fee and asserted that despite the SC's order, if schools don't follow rules, government has several tools to take strict action against them. Sisodia said that government will support fee hikes if the processes are transparent and has proper rationale behind the move. He also said that in 2004, SC had also ordered private schools to comply with terms and conditions in their land allotment letters, but it was never implemented by the previous government. "If they have some issues with the terms and conditions in their land allotment letters, they can return this land to government and we can run a good school," he said. Sisodia said that in a recently-conducted audit by government-appointed CAs, it was revealed that most private schools had surplus funds of up to Rs 5 crore. "If they have surplus funds, why there is a need to pile up money and harass parents. If they don't have enough expenditures, why they are demanding to increase fees. "We are not talking about closing private schools. We are not creating disturbance in the functioning of private schools, but if you (schools) have a pile up of Rs 5 crore, why they are charging exorbitant fees from the parents," the Deputy CM told reporters. He also warned that if privates schools think that they can take land worth crores of rupees from government and then don't follow terms and condition in allotment letters, we will not allow you to charge exorbitant fees, adding that this will not happen in this government. (REOPENS DES 28) "This is a historic decision for those parents whose children are studying in private schools...I want to give them (schools) suggestions that government can cooperate with you, but you will have to completely transparent in fee process," he said. Sisodia also said that government is not asking private schools how much fee they should charge from parents and instead, we are just asking them to take fee in lieu of what they have spent money on their expenditures. "In audit, we have got to know that many of the schools have diverted their funds. We have not allowed them to increase fees. 140 schools have surplus funds. They have diverted their funds to their mother trusts and parallel trust. They have done irregularities. "They should stop this. They should have some responsibilities towards parents and their children. Instead of focusing on earning money, they should focus on teaching students.," the Deputy CM added. He said the government did not give these private schools land to earn money. "If you (schools) support us, government will also support you, but if you continue to do irregularities, government will not support," he added. Sisodia further said that if schools think that they have more expenditure and want to increase fee then they should apply for increasing fee with government which will cross-check with their expenditure through its chartered accountants. While dismissing the plea of the committee of private unaided schools, located on land alloted here by DDA, the Supreme Court said, "You (schools) are on their (government) land. Why won't you seek their permission before hiking fees." The apex court was hearing a petition filed by the Action Committee Unaided Recognised Private Schools which had challenged the January 19 last year order of the high court. The Delhi High Court, in its order, had said that private unaided schools on land alloted by the DDA have to take prior government sanction before hiking fees and "schools cannot indulge in profiteering and commercialisation" of education. Six persons -- five women and a man -- were killed as the car in which they were travelling collided head-on with a truck near village Hiwri, 20 km from Yavatmal in Maharashtra, today. Two others -- identified as Arun Vanjari and Devidas Fulkar -- were injured seriously and rushed to the Government Medical College hospital here. The deceased were yet to be identified, police said. The victims were travelling in an SUV from village Randale of Kamptee to Nanded while the truck was heading towards West Bengal via Nagpur from village Sangola of Satara district. Impact of the collision was such that the SUV was flung into a canal over 50 feet away. Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar who visited the site said police were trying to identify the deceased. The bodies were shifted to the mortuary of GMC Hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Outlining the need for smart and efficient electrical appliances, Power Minister Piyush Goyal today said smart meters can be a game changer in long-term planning for the power sector. "Smart meter can be a game changer when it comes to planning for the electricity sector in the long run," Goyal said at an event organised by the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA). IEEMA today launched the 'Intelect 2017' and 'DistribuELEC', a three-day exhibition-cum-conference at the India Expo Center, Greater Noida. The exhibition was inaugurated by Goyal. Heavy Industries Secretary Girish Shankar was also present on the occasion. "India is the world's largest market for this sector and we have a billion people aspiring for better quality of life and have a nascent and latent energy demand which will expand this sector by almost four times in next 15-17 years," Goyal said. "Different estimates have been made but very clear this is one sector where any amount of investment made has the fastest payback both in economic terms and terms of quality of life of our people," he added. The conference and exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Power, National Smart Grid Mission, with Madhya Pradesh as partner state and CESC as partner utility. With over 100 exhibitors, the show has brought together senior officials from Ministry of Power, state utilities, discoms, IESA, India IOT Panel and TERI under one common platform to discuss global best practices and seek solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the field of 'intelligent electricity'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sohrabuddin Shaikh's brother Rubabuddin has approached the Bombay High Court challenging the discharge of IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian from the case. Justice A M Badar is likely to hear Shaikh's review petition tomorrow. Sohrabuddin was killed in an alleged fake encounter in November 2005 by Gujarat Police who claimed he had links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The case was handed over to CBI which held the encounter to be a staged one, and a case was lodged against police officers concerned. However, in August 2016, a CBI court in Mumbai discharged Pandian from the case on the technical ground that CBI "did not have sanction" to prosecute him. Rubabuddin has challenged CBI court's order. The petition claimed that there was "sufficient evidence on record to establish that Sohrabuddin and his wife Kausar Bi were abducted, kept in wrongful confinement", and the two, along with Tulsi Prajapati (Sohrabuddin's aide), were killed in a fake encounter. The CBI court discharged Pandian at a time when the case was at a "nascent stage" and "the evidence collected and the witness statements collated by the prosecution clearly envisaged the role of Pandian in the murders", the petition claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi today termed a "bunch of contradictions" the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, and said the two parties got together in a bid to cover up their weaknesses. In the alliance 20 candidates belong to Samajwadi Party out of the 105 who would contest on Congress symbol, Owaisi claimed. The SP would contest 298 seats and the Congress 105, as per the seat-sharing formula clinched between the two parties yesterday for the UP polls. "Basically, it's bunch of contradictions," Owaisi, whose All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is also in the fray for the crucial assembly polls, told PTI in an interview. If the objective of the alliance was to consolidate the Muslim vote, why could not a single Muslim win in the 2014 Lok Sabha election (in Uttar Pradesh), he asked. "What happened to your (SP and Congress) vote? So, the Congress and the SP are both trying to cover up their own weaknesses," he said, adding, "(chief minister) Akhilesh Yadav is trying to cover up his mis-governance and he has failed to fulfil his promises." "So the people of UP would remember the 2012 election manifesto (of SP) and the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and unfulfilled promises. Where is the promise of reservation to Muslims? Akhilesh did not form a single committee to take this forward. These are relevant questions people will ask," the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad said. Referring to SP's promise of giving pressure cooker to the poor women in the election manifesto released yesterday, Owaisi said, "He (Akhilesh) himself is in a pressure-cooker situation." "Instead of distributing pressure cooker, SP itself is in a pressure cooker situation," he said, referring to the people questioning the achievements of the Akhilesh government. He alleged that during the Gujarat riots of 2002, the then Narendra Modi government in the state "failed to protect life (of people) which is a constitutional duty of a government, and people will not forget the Gujarat riots." "So, how can one forget Muzaffarnagar riots which happened under the Akhilesh government? So, this is the problem of all these so-called secular parties (Congress) that they want us to forget Muzaffarnagar because they have allied with the Samajwadi Party. "So, people of Uttar Pradesh will never forget Muzaffarnagar," the AIMIM leader said. On SP's election manifesto talking about religious freedom for minorities, Owaisi asked why the state government is yet to give consent to file charge sheet against all the accused irrespective of their religion, even three years after the Muzaffarnagar riots. "He (Akhilesh) talks about development but where is the development? Development has become a very clever device to deceive the poorer sections of society, whether it is the minorities or the Dalits. "For example, not a single Urdu medium school has been opened in Uttar Pradesh. The 2012 election manifesto said that they will open primary and upper primary schools in minority areas, nothing has been done," he claimed. Asked if demonetisation is going to be an election issue, Owaisi said "it will have a role to play" as he noted that local industries in places like Moradabad, Firozabad and Saharanpur are in turmoil and also the farmers were not "getting their prices" for their produce. On whether UP election is some kind of a referendum on the performance of the Modi government in last two-and-half years, Owaisi said people would look at the performance of both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. "There is not much difference between Akhilesh and Modi because both have cleverly used this slogan of development but development has not happened. Modi has not been able to deliver jobs. Akhilesh claimed that he has given 4.52 lakh jobs in five years. People don't believe that," he said. "Both Modi's performance and Akhilesh's five year's performance... They will be asked important and pointed questions and people will judge them," the AIMIM supremo said. Aparna Yadav, wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav's second son Prateek, was today fielded by Samajwadi Party from Lucknow Cantt constituency, making it a high profile contest as she will take on BJP's Rita Bahuguna, who had won the seat in the last Assembly polls. 26-year-old Aparna, the latest entrant from the Yadav clan, figured in Samajwadi Party's fourth list of 37 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. The wife of the step-brother of SP president and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will cross swords with 67-year-old Rita, former state Congress chief who had won the seat in the 2012 Assembly polls. Daughter of Congress stalwart and former state Chief Minister H.N. Bahuguna, Rita quit Congress in October last year to join BJP, after which she resigned as the legislator. Aparna, a political greenhorn who has the backing of the ruling SP, has been nurturing the constituency under the banner of an NGO. Although Aparna's candidature was announced much earlier, the internecine tussle in Samajwadi Party and emergence of Akhilesh Yadav as the new party president had made her ticket unsure till it was announced today. BSP has fielded Yogesh Dixit making the fight triangular in the constituency which will go to polls in the third phase on February 19. In the last polls, Rita, contesting on Congress ticket, had defeated BJP's Suresh Chandra Tewari by a margin of over 21,000 votes. She remained active in the constituency all along. Aparna, whose husband is a businessman with big real estate interests, feels that since she is the joint candidate of SP-Congress coalition, it will give her added strength. "People of the constituency know what work has been done there by their representative till now...They have seen how I have been working ever since I was given the responsibility of the seat by my party," Aparna said. She said her contribution has also been lauded even by her adversaries. "Ritaji herself wrote a letter of appreciation to me for raising voice in Nirbhaya case. Her tone changed when my party directed me to contest from here. I am sure to win as people have seen me working without being an MLA," Aparna said. On the other hand, Rita said people understand the difference between personal contribution and what it meant to be just a member of a particular family. "In fact, I want her to contest, people should realise being just member of the ruling family does not mean you have an electoral presence and you can succeed," she said. "I have struck a personal relationship with the constituency and with the people of the area over these years and they know as to how I have been with them all through," she said, hoping that her personal rapport with the voters would see her through. This time round, she has the additional advantage of BJP's organisational network which will help in pipping her opponent to the post. "Lucknow as a whole has been loyal to BJP all along, electing its nominee for last five terms. I think it should not be difficult for me to win," she stressed. In its fourth list released by SP state president Naresh Uttam, candidates were also declared for Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Ballia, Kannauj, Lucknow, Fatehpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur and Azamgarh. The party gave ticket to Rajesh Kushwaha from Ghazipur in place of sitting MLA and minister Vijay Mishra. Former minister Shadab Fatima, close to SP leader Shivpal Yadav who was sacked by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was also denied ticket from Jahurabad seat (Ghazipur) and Mahendra Chauhan replaced her from the seat. The party also changed its candidate from Gopalpur seat (Azamgarh) and gave ticket to Nafis Ahmad in place of sitting MLA and state minister Wasim Ahmad. Capping days of feverish parleys, Congress and Samajwadi Party forged an alliance to contest the UP Assembly polls together, with the ruling party leaving 105 of the 403 seats for its alliance partner. Though SP has so far given tickets to 324 candidates, it will ask its nominees to withdraw from those constituencies it has offered to Congress as part of seat-sharing agreement. SP will contest 298 seats under the arrangement. Ahead of the Budget session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar have convened separate all-party meetings on January 30 to ensure smooth conduct of proceedings and to know the various issues the political parties seek to raise during the session. Sources said while the government's meeting has been convened in the morning, the Speaker's dinner meet is in the evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to raise the issue of transparency in poll fundings during the meeting convened by the government with leaders of various political parties. The meetings come a day before President Pranab Mukherjee addresses a joint sitting of the two Houses in the Central Hall of Parliament. The Union Budget is slated to be presented on February 1 and the Economic Survey may also be tabled the same day. The first half of the session will be a short affair and will end on February 9 as it is being held in the middle of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. A shorter first part will help parties focus on electioneering. The second half of the session will begin on March 9 and will conclude on April 12. Sixteen Opposition parties had this month moved the Election Commission urging it to ask the government to present the Union Budget after the elections are over on March 8 so that it is not used as a tool by the NDA to influence voters in the five states. While the Supreme Court today refused to give any directions to the government in this regard, the Commission's decision is long awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In yet another hit-and run-case, a 30-year-old Uber cab driver was killed after a speeding BMW luxury car with an MNC employee at the wheel rammed into his vehicle in South Delhi's Munirka late last night. The deceased has been identified as Nazrul Islam, a resident of Murshidabad in West Bengal, who was the only earning member of a family of five -- his two children, wife and his grandmother. 24-year-old Shoaib Kohli, who was driving the speeding BMW X5 bearing a Chandigarh registration number, works at an MNC in Gurgaon. He had managed to flee after the incident which took place at 11:30 last night but was arrested today. Police said the owner of the BMW is Kohli's mother Shehnaz Kohli, who is a member of the Delhi Gymkhana Club, and the family resides at the posh Panchsheel Enclave in South Delhi. During, interrogation, Kohli denied driving in an intoxicated state. Nazrul was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre where he was declared brought dead, police said. He was living in Gurgaon and it was his first day at Uber yesterday, said police. Kohli was on his way to Vasant Vihar when he lost control of the car and rammed it into the WagonR cab, police said. Scores of cab drivers protested outside the Vasant Vihar police station, demanding harsh punishment for the BMW driver and compensation for the victim's family. During questioning, Kohli told police that Nazrul had suddenly applied brakes due to which his BMW rammed into the WagonR. He had ran away fearing that he may be lynched by the mob, the police said. A case under sections 279( Rash driving or riding on a public way) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Vasant Vihar police station. Police said both the cars were moving from Kalkaji to Vasant Vihar. The police have accessed CCTV footage near the accident site. The impact of the collision was such that the rear portion of the WagonR was completely destroyed. The Wagon R was dragged for a few metres and was completely mangled. An eyewitness said he heard a sound "like a bomb blast" and made a call to police. Nazrul was working as a driver for a private company but when he had gone to his village, he lost that job, said his distant relative Minazul. After Nazrul returned, he joined Uber and it was his first day in the job, his relative said. One of his children is studying in class II in a government school while the other is in playschool. Nazrul's wife works as a domestic help. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Dakotas ratepayers are in for quite a shock if Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. gets its way. MDU has requested the Public Service Commission raise residential electric rates by 9.4 percent. This increase far exceeds the average increase for all customer classes of 6.6 percent. MDU also wants to raise your monthly customer charge to $19.76 per month doubling the monthly fixed charge. That means you will owe MDU almost $20 before even turning on a light and giving you less control over your electric bill. MDU also seeks an overly generous profit of 10 percent. Given current low interest, 10 percent is too high. AARP is especially concerned about how these proposed rate and fee increases will impact the budgets of retirees and near-retirees on a fixed income and on caregivers who are already stretched thin covering expenses for an elderly parent or relative. Heres the good news. You can help stop it. Before the PSC conducts formal hearings with MDU on this proposal, commissioners want to hear what the people think. The PSC will host public comment hearings today at 7:30 p.m. CST (6:30 p.m. MST) and again on Wednesday at noon CST (11 a.m. MST). Meetings will be held in the PSC Hearing Room on the 12th floor of the state Capitol in Bismarck, Klinefelter Beck Auditorium at Dickinson State University and at the NDSU Research Center in Williston. Or, you can participate and express your opinion online via webcast. More information is available at aarp.org/nd. If you want to see a more reasonable approach to how you get charged on your electric bill, attend these public input sessions and speak out. Otherwise, the PSC could assume there is no concern and approve this proposal. Josh Askvig, Bismarck A star Chinese stock trader who was arrested after a market collapse in 2015 was sentenced today to five-and-a-half years in prison on charges of manipulating prices and insider trading. Xu Xiang was one of a series of brokers and others in the securities industry who were detained after share prices plunged. That prompted suggestions the ruling Communist Party was trying to deflect blame for the rout that wiped out some USD 5 trillion in stock value. Xu and two co-defendants were sentenced by a court in the eastern city of Qingdao after pleading guilty at the start of their trial in December. A court statement at that time indicated the charges were based on activity that began before the 2015 market boom. Co-defendant Wang Wei was sentenced to three years and Zhu Yong received a two-year term with a three-year reprieve. The court said on its microblog account the three also were fined but gave no amounts. The three were accused of conspiring with executives of 13 companies from 2010 to 2015 to inflate share prices through large purchases and favorable public statements, the court said. It said the executives' cases were being handled separately. They faced a maximum of up to 10 years in prison. Xu's sentence of five years was unusually light by the standards of a Chinese system in which some defendants have been sentenced to death for financial offenses. Xu, the founder and general manager of Zexi Investment in Shanghai, was a celebrity in the Chinese business press, which dubbed him "Brother No. 1 of Private Placement." Zexi's value increased 218 per cent during the first three quarters of 2015, far ahead of the second-place competitor, which rose 94 per cent, according to Caixin, a business magazine. The Qingdao court said today that the defendants "severely undermined" the stock market's healthy functioning. Earlier reports said Xu and his co-conspirators were accused of making several billion yuan (several hundred million dollars) in profit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lashing out at the Punjab and Delhi governments for the "stepmotherly treatment" to government and other employees, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today promised all possible steps to resolve their long-pending demands in the state if elected to power. He appealed to the employees of Punjab to join hands with his party to bring back the lost glory of the state, assuring them that the next Congress government would address their problems without delay, and added that regularisation of contractual employees was on top of the party's agenda. Addressing a rally here, Amarinder alleged that while the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government in Punjab had completely ignored the interests of the government employees, especially the contractual ones, Arvind Kejriwal's government in Delhi had pushed the employees into "a state of despair". Employees in both the states were victimised and subjected to severe harassment by these two governments, he added. The Congress, he said, was committed to addressing the problems of the government employees. Citing the plight of teachers in Punjab, Amarinder promised early redressal of their grievances and said their long-pending demands would be addressed on priority. He also referred to the "pathetic" working conditions of the police personnel in the state and said sweeping police reforms, as promised in his party's poll manifesto, would be carried out once the next Congress government was formed. Fixed duty hours with regular off-days, free medical insurance, time-bound promotion and shifting from VVIP duty to law-and-order were some of the reforms the party had in mind, he added. Referring to the plight of the government employees in Delhi, Amarinder alleged that the AAP government there was totally oblivious to these problems of non-payment of salaries and other dues. MCD workers in Delhi were forced to strike work as a result of non-payment of salaries, he pointed out, adding that even the teaching staff of private schools was reduced to a pitiable state with the Delhi Legislative Assembly amending the law to make it easier for the schools to cut their wages. Given the condition of the employees in Delhi, Kejriwal and AAP could not be trusted with the interests of those in Punjab, Amarinder said, adding that it was in their interest to ensure that the Congress was voted to power. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the first time, a team of students in the US is planning to brew beer on the by sending a canister aboard an Indian lunar lander that is set to launch this year. Engineering students at the University of California, San Diego are finalists in the Lab2Moon competition being held by TeamIndus, which will send a spacecraft to the on December 28. The experiment will test the viability of yeast on the - and result in a freshly brewed batch of beer, researchers said. Understanding how yeast behaves on the Moon is not just important for brewing beer in space, researchers said. It is also important for the development of pharmaceuticals and yeast-containing foods, like bread. The group, which call itself "Team Original Gravity", is one of just 25 teams selected from a pool of 3,000 to compete for a spot aboard TeamIndus spacecraft. "The idea started out with a few laughs among a group of friends. We all appreciate the craft of beer, and some of us own our own home-brewing kits," said Neeki Ashari, a student at UC San Diego. "When we heard that there was an opportunity to design an experiment that would go up on India's Moon lander, we thought we could combine our hobby with the competition by focusing on the viability of yeast in outer space," said Ashari. The team designed a unique system to accomplish this task. All of the prep work required before yeast is added will be done on Earth. Proposed experiments for the competition from all over the globe ranged from photosynthesis to electricity. They will be evaluated by an international jury in March when teams fly to Bangalore to showcase their final prototype. The spacecraft is owned by the Indian startup TeamIndus. The aerospace startup was one of four teams in the world to win a $1 million Milestone Prize for successfully simulating the landing technology concept of its spacecraft. TeamIndus hopes to accelerate a human transition into a sustainable multi-planetary species. To that end, TeamIndus came up with a global challenge issued to students under age 25 to imagine, design and build a project to help accomplish that mission. "The yeast study is among the coolest experiments to be performed on the lunar surface, and I am sure they are one of the top contenders to win the Lab2Moon competition," said Siddhesh Naik, TeamIndus Ninja and mentor to Original Gravity. "Our canister is designed based on actual fermenters," said Srivaths Kaylan, mechanical lead for the team. "It contains three compartments - the top will be filled with the unfermented beer, and the second will contain the yeast," said Kaylan. "When the rover lands on the Moon with our experiment, a valve will open between the two compartments, allowing the two to mix," he said. "When the yeast has done its job, a second valve opens and the yeast sink to the bottom and separate from the now fermented beer," he added. Syria talks brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran and seeking to bolster a shaky cease-fire in place since last month opened today in Kazakhstan, marking the first face-to-face meeting between the Damascus government and rebel factions fighting to overthrow it. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is also the start of a new effort to end six years of carnage that has killed hundreds of thousands, displaced half of Syria's population and sent millions of refugees to neighboring countries and Europe. The UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is participating in the talks, which if successful, are expected to be followed by more political talks in February in Geneva. The new US administration is not directly involved, because of the "immediate demands of the transition," the State Department said on Saturday, but Washington is represented by the US ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, who attended today's opening session held at the luxury Rixos President Hotel in Astana. Osama Abo Zayd, a rebel media representative to the talks, told The Associated Press before the start that the scope of the negotiations is limited to strengthening the cease-fire. "There's no significance to negotiations if the people on whose behalf we are negotiating are being killed," he said, adding that there has been absolutely no discussion about elections or Assad's future. Syria's war is estimated to have killed about 400,000 people since March 2011. The conflict, which started as an uprising against President Bashar Assad's rule against the backdrop of Arab Spring movements, quickly descended into all-out civil war. Ahead of the talks, delegates passed through the hotel's soaring atrium, where songbirds are kept to chirp in cages, on their way to the conference room. Reflecting persisting tensions, Arab TV stations said the rebel delegates stalled, entering the room a few minutes late to register their displeasure at being seated at the same oval-shaped table as the Iranian delegation. The hotel was closed off to all but a handful of representatives of the media. Russia, Turkish and Iranian delegates were all seated around the same table, along with de Mistura and the US ambassador. After a short opening ceremony during which Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov spoke, the meeting went into closed session. It wasn't immediately clear if there would be any direct talks between the rebels and Damascus representatives behind the closed doors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several hundred Tamil-Americans have gathered at the Gandhi status here to hold a rally in support of the ongoing Jallikattu movement demanding lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport which is an integral part of Tamilian culture. Several dozens of them also held a protest demonstration outside the PETA headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Laced with posters and banners, Tamil-Americans including a large number of children and women raised slogans in support of Jallikattu and vented out their anger against animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which is leading in supporting the ban on the grounds that it is a torture to animal. "We love our animals. We know how to treat our animal. This is part of our tradition and culture," said Babu Vinayagam, one of the anti-PETA protestors at the Gandhi Statue in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington. "Today's rally is to show our solidarity with our people back home fighting against ban on Jallikattu," he said. Majority of the slogans were in Tamil, but at times they shouted "Down Down PETA," venting their anger at the animal rights group. They also shouted "We want Jallikattu." Vinod Kumar, an IT professional from Tamil Nadu, said adding, expatriate Tamilians want a permanent solution and an ordinance route to lift the ban on Jallikattu. "We want legislative measures, so that this age-old tradition could be continued," he said. This was one of the largest protest rally and demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy in recent years. "We may be away from home, but home is always with us. We are Tamil people and we are proud of our heritage, it is our pride that is being taken away from us," said Nalini Britto speaking on behalf of the Greater Washington Tamil Diaspora, which had organised the anti-PETA, pro-Jallikattu rally in Washington. Meanwhile, an ABC-affiliate local channel in Virginia reported a protest outside PETA headquarters here in Norfolk. "Dozens of people travelled to Hampton Roads from all across the world to protest outside of the PETA headquarters," the channel said. "Protesters stood outside of PETA headquartersin Norfolk, telling 13News Now they are protesting the organisations influence on the court decisions," it said. "What PETA has done is that there is a prevention of cruelity act in India, which was backdoor amended, through the lobbying that PETA did," Karthik Rangarajan, a protest organiser said. In a statement, PETA alleged that these protesters "are anxious" to overturn the court ruling and "preserve a culture as heinous" as fox hunting was in the UK and bullfighting is in Spain, one now outlawed the other being banned, city by city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao today requested the management of Muji, a Japanese retail giant to explore possibility of setting up shop in the state. According to an official release, KTR who is currently touring the island nation met the senior officials of Muji and explained them the friendly policies of the Telangana government. "The Minister also explained them the friendly policies of the government. After the meeting, KT Rama Rao presented them 'Pochampally Stole'," said the release. KTR also met with met with the officials of JICA and sought funding for priority sectors like urban infrastructure, forestry, water and sanitation, and industrial development. JICA has invited Telangana to submit its proposals on these sectors for consideration for funding, it added. He met the officials of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Malian soldiers died and a fourth was seriously injured when their vehicle hit a landmine in the troubled north, the army said. The incident happened near Gossi, the army said yesterday, adding that the soldiers were escorting troops headed for Gao, the main city in the sprawling desert north. 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. There have been regular attacks in the north. On January 18, a suicide attack targeting a camp housing former rebels and pro-government militia who were signatories to a 2015 peace accord with the government claimed 77 lives and injured 120 people. The attack, Mali's worst in years, was claimed by the group of Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar, allied to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A major tragedy under Sonepur Railway division was averted in the wee hours today when two stone slabs, "deliberately" put on tracks, were removed in time, the East Central Railway (ECR) said. The incident comes close on the heels of the derailment of the Hirakhand Express that left 39 persons dead. General Manager of the ECR, D K Gayen, told reporters that in course of heightened patrolling of tracks, two patrolmen found two stone slabs "deliberately" placed on track to cause mishap in between Sathajagat and Dalsinghsarai under Sonepur division. When the patrolmen went near the slabs around 00.20 hours today, around four persons hiding there lurked from darkness and tried to shoo them away, he said. The official said 13420 Muzaffarpur-Bhagalpur Intercity was to pass through the venue where the slabs were found. Unable to take on the four persons, the alert patrolmen rushed to Dalsinghsarai station and came back with RPF, GRP and Engineering personnel to remove the slabs around 1:22 hours, Gayen said. After the slabs were removed, the track was made fit for running at 1:44 hours, Gayen said, adding during this period 13420 Intercity was detained at Dalsinghsarai. The patrolmen, Manzoor Alam and Ramesh Prajapati, would be honoured by me tomorrow, the Railway official said. The GM said that as part of intense safety drive launched across the country in the wake of recent train mishaps, including those near Kanpur, the ECR had intensified patrolling on 3,008 km of track in the zone. Chief Track Engineer J L N Das said two patrolmen equipped with high power torch and crackers are assigned the duty to patrol 3-4.5 km of track, particularly in the night. "The patrolmen have been directed to look for gaps on track, common during winter time, and also items intended to cause sabotage to trigger train mishaps," he said. Three criminals were arrested in East Champaran district of Bihar last week with ISI link. One of them identified as Moti Paswan confessed about his involvement in the Indore-Patna Express tragedy on November 20, 2016 in which 150 passengers had died. (Reopens CAl 4) Gayen said the slabs lying on the track measured around one metre. The ECR GM said he spoke to Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and state police chief P K Thakur to apprise them of the incident and sought their cooperation in safety of tracks, particularly from saboteurs. Gayen said they have placed RPF personnel for safety purposes near major bridges under the zone, but lamented that it was "not possible to continuously patrol such a vast stretch of tracks of about 3,008 km and 100 odd small bridges of saboteurs." He said routine safety exercises like running a dummy engine before running a train in Maoist areas were followed. Asked about the arrest of three in East Champaran district last week and their alleged ISI links to target trains, the ECR GM said Intelligence and other Central agencies were questioning the accused. Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested in connection with 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. The bomb was removed and defused on October 1, 2016 near Ghorasahan with the help of locals. During course of interrogation, the trio who had received Rs 3 lakhs for causing sabotage at Ghorasahan revealed that the Nepali contact, identified as Brajesh Giri, was in touch with an ISI man Shamsul Hoda based in Dubai. The Trump administration will "rethink" its ties with the media if the "obsessed" press tries to "delegetimise" Donald Trump's presidency by false reporting, his top aides warned, saying they will fight such coverage "tooth and nail every day". "There's an obsession by the media to delegitimise this President, and we are not going to sit around and let it happen. We're going to fight back tooth and nail every day," the White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said, triggering a fresh round of war of words with the media mainly sparked by the number of people attending Trump's inauguration. "The point is not the crowd size, the point is that the attacks and the attempts to delegitimise this President in one day -- and we're not going to sit around and take it," Priebus told Fox News today. Earlier, unhappy over media reports on the crowd size at presidential inauguration on Friday, Trump has described journalists as the most "dishonest human beings on Earth". Priebus said that President Trump was trying to unify the country from day one in office, but the media was resorting to false reporting to "delegitimise" him. "The media, from day one, has been talking about delegitimising the election, talking about the Russians, talking about everything you can imagine, except the fact that we need to move this country forward," Priebus said. He said Trump's presidency would fight such coverage "tooth and nail every day". Meanwhile, another top aide, Kellylanne Conway, Counselor to the President, told ABC News that the Trump administration can "rethink" its relationship with the media if false reporting continues. Conway said that it is completely irresponsible for the media to be calling the White House press secretary a "liar" on Twitter and Facebook and elsewhere in articles. "That is not the way to start relationships," she said. "We have not been treated very well. This man (Trump) is the President of the United States. If people would just go back, and listen to and watch his inaugural address again, that goes for everybody, calling for unification, being aspirational, talking about giving power back to the people. "We can't invite a press pool on the first day of the Oval Office with the President of the United States signing executive orders and then a big lie told about the bust of Martin Luther King Jr, days after our President Trump met with Martin Luther King III in New York and had an incredibly powerful and constructive conversation with Martin Luther King Jr.'s son saying that he wants to support this President, that he believes he must unify and heal the nation," Conway said. "Then you have a bunch of people from the press writing these snarky articles that were also false. It has to go both ways and it has to start right now," the top Trump aide told the news network. She was responding to questions on the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer accusing the media a day earlier for indulging in inaccurate reporting and asserting that he would hold the media accountable. "The press pooler gave a false report, that the bust of Martin Luther King Jr had been removed from the Oval Office. That is just false. It is dangerous and destructive on day one for the press to be reporting false information like that," Conway added. Trump yesterday tweeted about television ratings of the inauguration, saying that 31 million people had watched, 11 million more than four years ago. US ratings firm Nielsen said nearly 31 million had watched the inauguration on television - higher than the 20.5 million that watched Obama's second inauguration in 2013. However, that was far fewer than the 38 million that watched Obama's first inauguration in 2009 and the 42 million that watched Ronald Reagan's first swearing-in in 1981, casting further doubts about Spicer's claims of the "largest audience ever". In his tweets, Trump also referred to Saturday's day of protests, when millions in the US and hundreds of thousands around the globe took to the streets in some 600 demonstrations against his presidency. His initial tweet said he was "under the impression that we just had an election", asking: "Why didn't these people vote?" A later tweet said that "peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy". US President Donald Trump today signed a decree barring US federal funding for foreign NGOs that support abortion, relaunching a battle that has long divided Americans. It comes just two days after women led a massive protest march in Washington to defend their rights, including to abortion. The decision to ban foreign aid to groups that lobby in support of abortion rights is certain to deepen concern among already apprehensive US family planning and women's rights organisations. Stenny Hoyer, a Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, sharply criticized Trump for using his first week in office "to attack women's health." "It should be no surprise to the millions of women and men who gathered in protest this weekend across the country -- and around the world -- that Republicans are focused more on making it harder for women to access health care than on the serious economic and security challenges we face." The restrictions imposed today prohibit foreign nongovernmental organizations that receive US family planning assistance from using non-US funding to provide abortion services, information, counseling or referrals and from engaging in advocacy to promote abortion. They were first put in place in 1984 by Republican president Ronald Reagan. Later eliminated by Democratic president Bill Clinton, they were reinstalled by his Republican successor George W. Bush, and annulled again after Barack Obama took office. Galvanised by Trump's November 8 election, abortion opponents in states where Republicans hold power moved swiftly last month to adopt draconian anti-abortion measures that in some cases pose challenges to constitutional liberties. The new president, meanwhile, has pledged to nominate an anti-abortion justice to the Supreme Court, which could lead to overturning Roe v. Wade, the emblematic ruling that legalised abortion in the United States in 1973. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WEST FARGO Patricia Muldoon spent years taking care of her disabled husband. As his condition deteriorated with age, she quit her job to be a round-the-clock caregiver so he could stay at home. She devoted the last 15 years of her husbands life he died in July at age 77 to caring for the man who asked her four times to be his wife before she gave a heartfelt yes. All my life, I loved him to the moon and back, she said. He was a lovely man. But with little outside support, Muldoon sacrificed to care for her husband. She injured her back multiple times, and ultimately could no longer take care of him, requiring him to spend his last days in a nursing home. Muldoon remains frustrated that the state didnt do more to help, since years of care in a nursing home which typically costs $6,000 to $7,000 monthly would have cost far more. The state seemed not to understand, said Muldoon, a former nurses aide. Ten hours of respite care a week would have made a big difference, she said, at modest cost. They still dont get the picture. North Dakota ranks low in comparison to other states in the proportion of funding that is devoted to helping elderly residents remain at home. For every dollar, 85 cents went to nursing homes and 15 cents going to home- or community-based services, according to an analysis by AARP of 2011 figures. We know that older adults in North Dakota want to stay safe and independent at home as long as they can, said Josh Askvig, state director of AARP North Dakota. The advocacy group estimates that the money spent to support one person in a nursing home could pay for three in a home- or community-based setting. Legislative fix? The North Dakota Legislature is considering several bills that would help provide support for caregivers, the result of an interim study on the gaps in services and recommended solutions. Proposals under House Bill 1038 include a $197,580 pilot project for caregiver training, $200,000 in federal funds for a respite care program, an increase of $1.5 million in support for service for the elderly and disabled, and a report on levels of state spending for nursing home care as well as home- and community-based support. These are, I think, some important steps, Askvig said of the proposals under consideration in the Legislature. North Dakota has made progress, he added. He estimated the proportion of funding for at-home care of the elderly probably now is closer to 20 percent than 15 percent from a few years ago. But the challenges for taking care of the states elderly will grow as the population ages, a study for lawmakers completed by North Dakota State University Extension pointed out. Between 2010 and 2040, the number of adults 85 and older in North Dakota is expected to grow by 43 percent, an increase of about 7,200 people. By 2025, 18 percent of the states population is estimated to be 65 or older. The 62,100 caregivers in North Dakota provide an estimated $860 million in uncompensated care, according to a study by AARP. The authors of the NDSU Extension study said those figures underscore the importance of supporting caregivers. The study identified challenges facing caregivers, including: 80 percent provide nursing care, yet half reported receiving no training. 50 percent of caregivers surveyed reported insufficient respite care, adding to their stress and burden. Many reported experiencing a financial burden from their caregiving, including having to quit working or work fewer hours. Theres always a challenge of finding enough money to pay for the institutional caregiving, which we need, said Jane Strommen, a gerontology specialist with the Extension Service and one of the reports authors. The challenge is being able to find enough money for the entire continuum. Although financial support for caregivers lags, Thats actually the most cost-effective way to care for the elderly, Strommen said. Especially in rural areas, providing home-based services is very challenging for a number of reasons, including workforce shortages and long distances, Strommen said. Even in urban areas, however, the availability of services does not always mean that adequate services are available, she said. My biggest hope is the study brings attention to the needs of caregivers, said Heather Fuller, an assistant professor of human development and family science at NDSU and another author of the legislative study. The struggles are often pretty silent and pretty hidden. Another bill before the Legislature, Senate Bill 2215, would establish discharge protocols for hospitals to ensure that caregivers have opportunities for instruction and training in providing aftercare. Mike and Marilyn Worner, a retired couple in Mayville, are among the supporters for specifying discharge plans. Last year, after Mike Worner came home from major shoulder surgery, Marilyn had conflicting instructions from the physician and nurses, and was confused about how to properly change her husbands bandages. I had no idea what to do, Marilyn Worner said. Luckily, a neighbor who was a retired nurse was able to help. We have no grievance against hospitals, Mike Worner said, adding his surgery turned out well. In my opinion, we have a void in the laws. Patricia Muldoon, who is 70 and relies on Social Security, uses a walker because of her back injuries. She once had a home aide who came in to clean her apartment and do her laundry, but that service was eliminated in budget cuts several years ago. Her husband had suffered from polio as a child, which left his right side largely paralyzed. He worked despite his disability; first in a factory, then at a highway weigh station and finally as a greeter at a bingo hall. But in his later years, he was stricken with post-polio and his health deteriorated. He fell frequently and developed dementia, increasing the burden of care and the toll on Muldoons body, especially her bad back. I hope they pass this caregiver act, she said, referring to pending legislation. I want other people to get that help that I didnt get. I hope something gets done, because people need help. US President Donald Trump is committed to providing military assistance to Egypt, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said today, after the new Republican leader spoke with counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Trump "underscored the United States remain committed to the bilateral relationship which helped both countries overcome challenges in the region for decades," he said. Washington's annual USD 1.3 billion in military aid was briefly suspended under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama in 2013, following the ouster of then president Mohamed Morsi, but was fully reinstated in 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump moved today to pull the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, making good on a pledge to scrap a deal he denounced as a "job killer" and a "rape" of US interests. Embarking on his first full week in office, the 45th US president began rolling out his policy agenda after a tumultuous first weekend for his administration by signing a series of executive orders. Among the first was a memo on withdrawing from the vast TPP trade pact, which aimed to set trade rules for the 21st century and bind US allies against growing Chinese economic clout. "We've been talking about this for a long time," Trump said as he signed the executive order in the Oval Office. "Great thing for the American worker what we just did." Promoted by Washington and signed by 12 countries in 2015, the TPP had yet to go into effect and US withdrawal is likely to sound its death knell. Its signatories -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Brunei -- together represent 40 per cent of the world economy. The real estate mogul's White House bid was fuelled in part by a pledge to overturn trade deals -- such as TPP and the North American Free Trade Agreement -- that he says have drained US jobs and destroyed its industrial heartlands. Trump also signed two other orders, on freezing the hiring of federal workers and hitting foreign NGOs that help with abortion. The Republican leader is looking to shift attention firmly back onto his policy agenda after a first few days that put his incoming administration on the back foot. "Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security," he tweeted today. Since he was sworn in on Friday, Trump's White House has been pilloried for lying to the public about inaugural crowds and over a campaign-style speech by the president before a memorial to fallen CIA officers. On Saturday several million Americans poured onto the streets for women-led demonstrations against Trump, the scale of which were unseen in a generation, in a potent rebuke to the president. Trump has upbraided top aides over unfavorable media coverage on everything from crowd sizes to suggestions he has ruled out releasing his taxes. He is the first presidential candidate in recent memory not to do so. On Sunday the president vowed to swiftly start renegotiating NAFTA in upcoming talks with the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Trump has already moved to curb Obama's health care reforms and more quick legal tweaks -- in the form of executive orders -- are expected on immigration and limiting environmental legislation. But more substantive changes will need buy-in from the Republican controlled Congress. On Monday, Trump was hosting separate meetings with business leaders, unions and members of both houses of Congress. He will also meet the speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan. Tax reform is likely to be high on the agenda. "What we're doing is we are going to be cutting taxes massively for both the middle class and for companies, and that's massively," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has spoken to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and has expressed full commitment to support the latter's fight against terrorism, besides ways to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries. "They discussed ways to deepen the bilateral relationship and support Egypt's fight against terrorists and bolster Egypt's home-grown historic economic reform program," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his first official conference yesterday. El-Sisi is the fourth foreign leader with whom Trump has communicated after those from his two neighbouring countries-- Mexico and Canada, and recently with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "President Trump underscored the United States remains strongly committed to the bilateral relationship, which has helped both countries overcome challenges in the region for decades," he said. Trump is committed to continue military aid to Egypt and work towards ensuring that the assistance most effectively supports the Egyptian military's fight against terrorism, he added. Spicer said Trump also commended el-Sisi for his courageous steps to address Egypt's economic challenges and offered to discuss ways the US could support Egypt's economic reform program. "Finally, the two leaders discussed a visit to the United States in the future," Spicer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seeking to forge close ties with a crucial ally, US President Donald Trump today invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House as they spoke over phone and discussed ways to ensure security and stability in the Middle East. The President emphasised on the importance the US places on US-Israel close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between the two countries, it said. Trump and Netanyahu agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran, the White House said. During the call, Trump invited Netanyahu "to an early February meeting at the White House". "The President affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israel's security and stressed that countering ISIL and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be a priority for his Administration," it said. During the call, Trump emphasised that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between them and that the US will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Trump invited Netanyahu to an early February meeting at the White House. Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, called the conversation "very warm". He said he had "expressed his desire to work closely" with the administration, "with no daylight between" the two countries. This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Trump was sworn in as the US President on Friday. A day earlier, he spoke over phone with the Mexican and Canadian leaders. Relations between Israel and the US were strained under former President Barack Obama and his administration abstained from a UN resolution in December that declared settlement construction in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank illegal. But the White House statement on the call did not mention Trump's suggestion to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump pledged during his campaign to move the US embassy, and his designated ambassador to Israel. No country in the world has its Israel embassy in Jerusalem, which is also claimed by the Palestinians as their capital. While Congress long ago passed a resolution ordering the move, both Republican and Democratic presidents have repeatedly waived the order on national security grounds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President has said he will not tell the press what Barack Obama wrote in the "beautiful" letter the outgoing president left for him in the Oval Office. "I just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama," Trump said, addressing senior staff members before they were sworn-in. "It was really very nice of him to do that and we will cherish that. We will keep that and we won't even tell the press what's in that letter," he was quoted as saying by The Hill. In the letter President George W Bush left for Obama, Bush said there would be "trying moments" during his presidency and warned Obama that "critics will rage" and said your "'friends' will disappoint you." "But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me," Bush wrote. "No matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead," Bush had written. In the letter President Bill Clinton wrote to Bush in 2001, Clinton saluted the new president and wished him "success and much happiness." "The burdens you now shoulder are great but often exaggerated. The sheer joy of doing what you believe is right is inexpressible," Clinton wrote. US President Donald Trump has pledged to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement in upcoming talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. "We're meeting with the prime minister of Canada and we will be meeting with the president of Mexico, who I know, and we're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said while addressing White House staff on his second full day in office. Trump will receive his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on January 31. No date has been given for a meeting with Canada's Justin Trudeau, but it is expected "soon," according to a readout from a call between the two leaders on Saturday. Trump praised the Mexican leader, saying: "The president has been really very amazing and I think we are going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, for everybody involved. It's very important." As a candidate Trump made a surprise visit to Mexico in a bid to portray himself as a capable statesman on the international stage. The meeting turned controversial after Pena Nieto and Trump contradicted each other's accounts of the encounter. Trump told reporters that the pair did not discuss who would pay for the hotly contested border wall he has promised to build, while Pena Nieto said he "made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall". The real estate magnate vowed throughout his campaign to construct a massive wall along the US-Mexican border to stem illegal immigration, promising that Mexico would foot the bill. Concerning NAFTA, the White House website was updated immediately after Trump's swearing-in to reflect his campaign commitment to renegotiate the free trade agreement that has linked Canada, the United States and Mexico since 1994. On the campaign trail, Trump called NAFTA the worst trade deal the United States has ever signed and vowed to renegotiate or rip it up. The rules governing the free trade agreement allow any country to withdraw simply by notifying other parties. This would start a 180-day clock to allow for new negotiations. If no new deal is reached by then, the accord would be dissolved. Since Trump's November victory, both Canada and Mexico have announced that they are willing to sit down with the new US administration to reexamine the free trade agreement. Canada has said it expects to keep its 1989 bilateral free trade agreement with the US even if Trump withdraws from NAFTA. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump today warned business leaders that a "substantial border tax" will be imposed on companies that set up manufacturing units abroad as he promised to "massively" cut down regulations and taxes to encourage firms to produce products domestically. During a meeting with 12 top business leaders of the country at the White House, Trump said a "wave" of manufacturing is now headed back to the US and warned them of consequences if they shift jobs abroad. "There will be advantages to companies that do indeed make their products here. So we've seen it. It's gonna be wave. You watch, it's gonna be a wave. I've always said, by the time you put them in these massive ships or airplanes and fly them I think it's gonna be cheaper," Trump said at his breakfast meeting with the top CEOs. He promised that he would cut taxes "massively" and slash regulations by 75 per cent or more. "What we're doing is we are going to be cutting taxes massively for both the middle class and for companies, and that's massively. We're trying to get it down to anywhere from 15 to 20 per cent, and it's now 35 per cent but it's probably more 38 per cent than it is 35, wouldn't you say? That's a big thing," he said. "A bigger thing, and that surprised me, is the fact that we're gonna be cutting regulation massively. Now, we're gonna have regulation and it'll be just as strong and just as good and just as protective of the people as the regulation we have right now," he added. Trump said the problem with the regulation is that it puts a lot of hurdles for companies and businesses. "When somebody wants to put up a factory, it's gonna be expedited," Trump said. "You have to go through the process, but it's gonna be expedited and we're gonna take care of the environment, we're gonna take care of safety and all of the other things we have to take care of, but you're gonna get such great service," he said. "There will be no country that's going to be faster, better, more fair and at the same time protecting the people of the country, whether it's safety or so many other...," he said. Trump told the business leaders that they are welcome to compete within the US, but he would not like if they ship jobs out of the country. "A company that wants to fire all of its people in the US and build some factory someplace else and then thinks that that product is gonna just flow across the border into the US, that's not gonna happen. They're gonna have a tax to pay, a substantial border tax," said the new President. "Some people would say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now because we're the only one that makes it easy to come into the country. If you look at China, if you look at many other countries...Many other countries, they can't believe what we do. "So we take in things free, and yet, if you wanna take a plant or you wanna do something, you wanna sell something into China and other countries, it's very, very hard," he said, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. "In some cases, it's impossible. They won't even take your product. But when they do take your product, they charge a lot of tax. So I don't call that free trade. What we want is fair trade, fair trade. We are gonna treat countries fairly, but they have to treat us fairly," Trump said. "If they're gonna charge tax to our countries -- if as an example, we sell a car into Japan and they do things to us that make it impossible to sell cars in Japan, and yet, they sell cars into us and they come in like by the hundreds of thousands on the biggest ships I've ever seen, we have to all talk about that. It's not fair, it's not fair," Trump said. Promising the business leaders that he will not impose any new tax, Trump said: "All you have to do is stay. Don't leave, don't fire your people in the US, we have the greatest people." The top business leaders attended the meeting were Michael S Dell (Dell Technologies), Jeff M Fettig (Whirlpool), Mark Fields (Ford Motor Company), Alex Gorsky (Johnson & Johnson), Marillyn A Hewson (Lockheed Martin), Klaus Kleinfeld (Arconic), Andrew N Liveris (Dow Chemical), Mario Longhi (US Steel), Elon R Musk (SpaceX), Kevin Plank (Under Armour), Mark S Sutton (International Paper) and Wendell P Weeks (Corning). The Vice President Mike Pence was also present at the meeting along with other senior officials. President Donald Trump today formally pulled the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership as he signed an executive action to withdraw from the negotiating process of the 12-nation trade deal, one of the major international trade initiatives of his predecessor Barack Obama. "We've been talking about this for a long time...It is a great thing for the American worker," Trump said as he signed the decree to withdraw the US from the TPP, which aimed to set trade rules for the 21st century and bind US allies against growing Chinese economic clout. Trump had vowed during the campaign to withdraw the US from the Pacific trade deal which he argued was harmful to American workers and manufacturing. Trump had said the free trade agreements were lopsided against the US and vowed to implement more protectionist trade policies as president, rallying voters to the polls with his "America First" slogan. The TPP was negotiated under former President Barack Obama, but never ratified by Congress, so withdrawing from it will not have an immediate, real effect on US economic policies, although it does signal a new and very different US outlook on trade under Trump. Its signatories -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Brunei -- together represent 40 per cent of the world economy. Fast tracking implementation of his campaign promises, Trump also signed two other orders including freezing the hiring of federal workers and hitting foreign organisations that provide abortions. The Wall Street Journal said the move was largely symbolic, because congressional leaders and the Obama administration had signaled in November that no near-term vote would be held on theTPP. Top Republican Senator John McCain described Trump's decision as a "mistake". "President Trump's decision to formally withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for America's economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region," he said. "This decision will forfeit the opportunity to promote American exports, reduce trade barriers, open new markets, and protect American invention and innovation," he argued. "It will create an opening for China to rewrite the economic rules of the road at the expense of American workers. And it will send a troubling signal of American disengagement in the Asia-Pacific region at a time we can least afford it," he noted. "Abandoning TPP is the wrong decision. Moving forward, it is imperative that America advances a positive trade agenda in the Asia-Pacific that will keep American workers and companies competitive in one of the most economically vibrant and fastest-growing regions in the world," McCain said. However, Democratic Senator from Ohio Sherrod Brown described this move as one that would reboot the manufacturing sector. "Throwing out TPP is the first necessary step in overhauling our trade policy to put American workers first," said Brown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian and British experts are joining hands on a project to help tackle health problems associated with air pollution in Delhi, which affect some 46 million people in and around the country's capital city. With air pollution levels at times up to 30 times greater than those found in the UK, was rated the most polluted city in the world for ambient air pollution by (WHO) in 2014. Involving leading researchers from universities in and the UK, the team put together by Birmingham air pollution experts will investigate the causes of pollution in the Indian capital city, which is home to some 18 million people, a release by the Birmingham University said on Monday. 'ASAP-Delhi: An Integrated Study of Air Pollutant Sources in the National Capital Region' is supported by a 1.4 million pound grant from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Air Pollution and Human Health programme. Led by the University of Birmingham, the team involves experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, the Indian National Physical Laboratory and the University of Surrey. "This project will allow us to definitively quantify the contributions of different sources to fine particles in Delhi's air - a key step to solving this problem," Professor Mukesh Khare, from IIT Delhi, said. Experts will measure airborne particulate matter and analyse how the pollution is being generated. Results from this work will feed into other research projects in a wider NERC programme and be used to help efficiently reduce pollution levels and improve population health. "Some 46 million people live in and around and extremely high particulate matter levels are responsible for damaging citizens' health and the environment, leaving many people unable to work, which has significant economic implications for the region," said Professor William Bloss, Head of the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. "As a global 'civic' university, the University of Birmingham looks to enrich the life of both our home city and others globally. This partnership in Delhi chimes with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Smart Cities Mission to make India's cities citizen-friendly and sustainable." Bloss added that many Asian countries, including India, were undergoing rapid industrial development and urbanisation, leading to sharp increases in population exposure to poor air quality in cities - mainly fine and ultrafine particles. "We've designed the project to better understand the sources of the most dangerous air pollutants in Delhi," Bloss said. "It partners leading researchers from and the and will allow us to assess the likely effectiveness of changes in behaviour - for example odd/even number plate traffic bans - to improve air quality. The project runs for four years and will involve a series of field studies and follow-on analyses to determine the sources and processes responsible for airborne particulate matter in Delhi, linking with other projects funded in parallel to develop mitigation options. Work at Birmingham has already discovered a sharp reduction in visibility caused by fireworks events. Scientists found that visibility was further decreased when the relative humidity was high. The research showed that events such as Diwali celebrations and Guy Fawkes' Night affected short-term air quality and lead to significant reductions in visibility. Francis Pope's research used data taken over 13 years between 2000 and 2012 from 34 meteorological stations throughout the the scientists noted an average 25 per cent reduction in visibility caused by atmospheric particulate matter from fireworks and bonfires. In a gaffe, Donald Trump has misspelled 'honour' in one of his first tweets as US President, evoking both amused and critical responses on the social media giant. Trump, an avid Twitter user, may have become the leader of the free world but moving to the White House does not seem to have helped his spelling. "I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!", he tweeted shortly after assuming his office. Instead of using the US spelling of 'honored' or even the British spelling 'honoured', Trump decided to spell it in a completely different (and incorrect) way. The tweet was quickly deleted and re-posted with the correct spelling, but not before a number of people had replied querying the President's spelling. "Good grief. Four more years of this," wrote one on Twitter. Another accused the Republican of being "the most illiterate president ever". "Its kinda fitting that he doesn't know how to spell "honor" lol." The New York Times reported that the 70-year-old Trump swapped out his phone for a 'secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess.' In December, Trump tweeted that China had ripped a research drone out of international waters in an 'unpresidented' act. It was soon corrected to 'unprecedented.' In February, he also boasted about his performance at CNN's Republican debate in Houston, tweeting, "Wow, every poll said I won the debate last night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FARGO An officer pursuit of a stolen vehicle in western North Dakota reached speeds of up to 140 miles per hour before it ended with the suspect vehicle getting stuck in deep snow. The driver arrested has a long history of criminal offenses in North Dakota and Minnesota dating back to 2004, including felony convictions for drugs, weapons, theft and escape charges. The Highway Patrol said Dante Schwarting of New Salem was arrested on active warrants and several charges related to the chase. An unnamed passenger was also detained. According to the Patrol, Stark County Sheriffs deputies spotted a stolen vehicle near Richardton around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Troopers tried to stop Schwarting, but he fled on U.S. Highway 10 and Interstate 94, where officers lost sight of him. The Patrol and Morton County Sheriffs Department later located the vehicle in Glen Ullin. Officers tried another stop, but Schwarting fled eastbound on N.D. Highway 49. A road block with spike strips was set up, but he was able to avoid it. The pursuit that followed on Highway 49 reached speeds up to 140 mph. Schwarting avoided another road block and spike strips near Elgin by turning onto a section line gravel road; then became stuck in deep snow about a mile and a half later. Officers arrested the passenger immediately but Schwarting, the driver, fled on foot. They tracked him to a nearby abandoned farmstead, which officers surrounded. After some time, Schwarting surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. In May 2014, Schwarting was arrested on felony drug and weapons charges after crashing his vehicle in southeast Minnesota. A state trooper found a plastic bag containing methamphetamine and a fully loaded pistol in the vehicle. In March 2015, Schwarting and a woman were arrested when they tried to flee from a state trooper in the Bismarck area after they were stopped in a stolen vehicle. Deputies had to deploy tire spikes in that case. Agencies involved in capturing Schwarting in this most recent case include the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Stark County Sheriffs Department, Morton County Sheriffs Department, Hettinger County Sheriffs Department and the Dickinson Police Department. Villagers in the district today averted a possible rail mishap as they waved a piece of red cloth to stop the Alipurduar-Bamanhat passenger train near Ghughumari station after spotting a crack on the tracks. The incident comes close on the heels of the derailment of the Hirakhand Express that left 39 persons dead. Locals said, "We saw there was a crack on one of the railway tracks. We stood on one side and immediately drew the attention of the driver of the train which we knew would pass the area shortly." West Bengal Minister Rabindranath Ghosh, who is in-charge of North Bengal Development department, congratulated the villagers before assembled media persons for waving cloth following which the driver halted the train. "Their timely act saved so many lives," Ghosh said. An NFR spokesperson said the 55465 Alipurduar-Bamanhat train was stopped as the villagers informed the driver about cracks on track at 7:30 AM near Ghughumari station. The train, which was halted shortly after leaving Alipurduar station, resumed its journey for Bamanhat station at 8:40 AM after railway maintenance staff repaired the cracks, the spokesman said in Guwahati. Station Manager, New Coochbehar, said the train made a brief halt before resuming its journey. Railway sources in Alipurduar Junction went to the spot from New Cooch Behar and fixed the problem. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He may be a superstar today but Shah Rukh Khan got his first salary of Rs 50 as he was an usher in a Pankaj Udhas concert. The actor said he got his salary of Rs 50 and boarded a train to Agra. "I have travelled some long distances when I was younger. I did one, when I got my first earning from Pankaj Udhas concert, I was an usher. We got Rs 50, so we went to Taj Mahal, saved money," the 51-year-old actor said. The "Fan" star said that on his way back, he had pink lassi in a huge glass which messed up with his stomach. "There they used to give this Pink lassi. We were so hungry, we had nothing to eat, but the lassi was big. But I think there was a bumble bee in it. I remember the whole way back from Agra to Delhi I was throwing up." Shah Rukh Khan, who is currently travelling to Delhi in a train to promote his latest film "Raees", said that he has plans to play some board games and wished his youngest son AbRam was with him tonight. The Rahul Dholakia-directed crime saga is set to release on January 25. Shah Rukh said his train journeys "have not been as romantic and beautiful as they have been in films" but said his iconic track, 'Chhaiyaa Chhaiyaa' was difficult to shoot. "Except me everybody was tied to the train that is exactly why I could do the jumps. The dancers were all tied down that is why it was very difficult. "The train was running slow. But many times those overhead bridges use to come and there was no communication like how you have those speakers now," he added. The actor said choreographer Farah Khan and the free carries had a white cloth so that every time they "put it up it meant stop the song and I would just bend down." "It was very scary. Because even when you lie down it was like you could literally hear the bridge pass over you. That song was shot guerrilla style. A couple of people inside the train fell. You know the train would stop and suddenly start. It was very difficult or shoot the song. It was fun but difficult," the actor said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing the Modi government of "abject failure" on railway safety, Congress today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell the people, who is responsible for the deaths in railway accidents and cited his own speeches on accountability. "Modi ji has made many speeches about Accountability. Who is accountable for the increase in Railway Deaths, Modi ji? We demand that for all these accidents, we want to ask the Prime Minister, who is responsible & what action will be taken?," Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said. "The Indian National Congress would like to ask the Modi Government as to who is accountable for this continuous loss of innocent lives. Is there a deliberate neglect of duties which is resulting in these mishaps? It is high time someone took responsibility for the present mess," he said. The Congress spokesperson said the rail accident due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express is the third major train accident in the past two months, resulting in the death of 40 innocent lives and it is the fifth such accident in the past six months. He said even as the probe report of previous Patna-bound Indore-Rajendranagar Express derailment that took place two months back in which at least 146 people lost their lives is awaited, the Government has been again caught unaware to deal with a similar accident in Andhra Pradesh. Congress also put out an article on its website entitled, "BJP has compromised Railways security, to meet its own PR goals" that said, "An image obsessed BJP Government has cultivated a host of Ministers who are more concerned with looking good rather than actually serving people." The article also said, "The question to be asked is what compromises on safety are being made so that Shri Prabhu can meet his financial targets, and help in building the image of the Modi Government." Kumar alleged that the Narendra Modi Government has "failed" on all fronts and the abject Railway Safety record is a good barometer of this Government's record. "While changing the colours of the bedsheets, surge pricing and Wifi at stations could be cosmetic ideas, the Modi Government has miserably failed on the core issue of ensuring the safety and security of the crores of passengers who travel by train in the length and breadth of this country," he said. "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is quick to advertise the so called 'Bullet Train' which he is supposedly bringing to India since the last 32 months, but remains a mute spectator and maintains a stoic silence on the loss of lives due to abject negligence on the part of his Government. "The irony of this entire debate is that instead of concentrating on the safety and security of crores of railway passengers, the Government is occupied in cosmetic surgeries," he said. Kumar claimed derailments have increased since the advent of the Modi government. While in UPA's final year the number stood at 53, the derailments now have increased to 68 in 2016-17, he claimed. He claimed in 2015-16, the number of people who died due to Railway accidents stood at 36, while the number of deaths for 2016-17 has crossed 180. Modi government has been increasing all rates in Indian Railways, including death rate, he alleged, adding that the government is not "focusing on safety" in railways as a large number of jobs for ensuring safety are lying vacant. Kumar said in 2011 a Committee on Railway Security presented a Report with 106 recommendations, of which the Modi government accepted only 68 and out of them too only 20 have been implemented. He said Rs 1 lakh crore was demanded by Railway Ministry from the Finance Minister for safety, but was given only 25 per cent and asked to raise the rest by increasing cess. The Congress leader also claimed that around 1.42 lakh safety staff have not been filled by Indian Railways under NDA. "What happened to Modi ji's promise on creating jobs? He is not able to fill all the vacancies in the Railways "Modi government said there is a 12 pc in Railway Income. It forgets in 2012-13, under UPA. Railway Income rose by 19 pc Mr Modi will make people believe that only his Government is doing well. The numbers tell a different story," he said. Kumar said the CAG had also indicted the Railway Ministry for the delay in sanctioning and completing repair works of tracks and old bridges, thus castigating style the functioning of the Ministry. The Railways was recently rapped by a Parliamentary panel for failing to establish the causes behind rising derailment cases in 2016, he said. Congress leader Ahmed Patel also sought to target the Railways, who accused the government of ignoring suggestions for not cutting the allocation for Railway depreciation fund m meant for track and rolling stock. "Was it advisable for govt to cut down allocation to Railway Depreciation Fund by 60 pc? DRF is for for maintaining track and rolling stock. "For reasons best known to them, govt ignored our suggestion in last budget discussion that cut in DRF could jeopardise rail safety," he tweeted. A day after her party sealed an alliance with Samajwadi Party for Uttar Pradesh polls, Sheila Dikshit today said she has withdrawn herself as Congress' chief ministerial candidate but would continue to campaign in the politically-crucial state if the party leadership wants. "I am no longer the chief ministerial candidate of Congress in UP. I had said it before that I will be happy to withdraw myself as the CM nominee in case of an alliance with SP," she said. The three-time Delhi chief minister, however, said she was ready to campaign hard for Congress if the party high-command wants her to continue her involvement in Uttar Pradesh. "I am happy that both SP and Congress finally came together. I think the poll outcome for Congress will be better than what we would have done while contesting the polls alone. Though things are not very clear now, I think SP-Congress alliance will get majority," Dikshit told PTI. In July last year, Congress had named 79-year-old Dikshit as the party's chief ministerial face and she had campaigned across the state in the last few months. Ending days of suspense, Congress and SP yesterday finalised the alliance under which SP will contest 298 of 403 seats while Congress will fight in the remaining 105 constituencies. Congress had made Dikshit the party's CM face, thinking that her Brahmin background will help the party woo the community. Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of Congress veteran from UP late Uma Shankar Dikshit, a tall Brahmin leader who had served as a Union minister and governor for a long time. The Brahmin community, a traditional vote bank of Congress, had shifted allegiance to BJP in the aftermath of the Mandir-Mandal politics. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the posturing between the two bickering alliance partners in Maharashtra continued ahead of the Mumbai municipal polls, BJP today said there would be a joint manifesto with Shiv Sena in case of a tie-up. "Our stance is that there should be an alliance. That is why, we won't comment on their (Sena) manifesto (released by Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today)," Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said. "The BJP manifesto is also ready and will be released soon. However, if the tie-up happens by then, we will release a joint manifesto with our friend party. "The alliance should happen on the basis of transparent administration and that is more important than figures of who gets to contest how many seats," he said. "We had sought 114 seats (out of total 227) to contest on the basis of certain facts and logic. However, when the Sena responded with offer of just 60 seats for us, our leaders felt there was no point discussing that figure. The final decision on alliance will be taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," the BJP leader said. "The so-called 'generous offer of 60 seats' is an insult of BJP and our increased strength. BJP leaders have expressed their extreme displeasure over such offer," Shelar had said yesterday. In the 2012 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, Sena had contested 158 seats and won 75, whereas BJP won 32 out of 69 seats it had fought. (REOPENS BOM 24) Danve visited 'Matoshri', the residence of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, to invite the Sena leader for his son's wedding. The wedding is scheduled early next month. "Nothing much should be read into the visit, which comes hours before the results of the BMC polls," BJP sources said. The Tamil Nadu government today informed the Madras High Court that they will find out and inform it whether the names of two life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case have been included in the list of 180 people proposed to be prematurely released on the eve of Republic Day. The submission was made by the additional public prosecutor (APP) when a habaes corpus Petition filed by the two convicts -- Robert Payas and Jayakumar -- came up for hearing. The two, whose death sentence was commuted to life by the Supreme Court on May 11, 1999, had filed the petition in 2012. The apex court had upheld the death sentence for Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan and Nalini, commuted the sentence to life for Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran and freed 19 others. The prosecutor told a division bench comprising Justices M Jayachendran and T Madivanany that around 180 people are proposed to be prematurely released and it has to be ascertained whether the names of Payas and Jayakumar are in the list. The bench then directed the APP to verify it and inform the court by January 30 and adjourned the matter to that day. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Congress chief Su Thirunavukkarasar today said he will seek support of all state MPs including Congress MPs from other states for amendment of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, if the Bill is tabled in the upcoming session of Parliament. Speaking to reporters after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee, he said, "If the amendment bill is tabled in the upcoming session of Parliament, TNCC will hold consultations with MPs of all political parties in Tamil Nadu and our MPs from other states and seek their support for amendment to remove 'Bulls' from list of performing animals in the Act." Thirunavukkarasar met the President seeking his intervention in finding a permanent solution to Jallikattu issue through an amendment in Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. "We apprised the President about the developments in the state because of the protests demanding permanent solution, besides focussing on Cauvery and drought issue," he said. Commenting about the law and order situation in the state, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President said the State government should inquire into the issue and find out who all were behind the break out of violence. On BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's remarks on protesters, Thirunavukkarasar said the BJP leader makes both "sensible and such careless statements". "However, regarding his recent remarks on protesters, on behalf of TNCC I strongly condemn it," he said. In the memorandum submitted to the President, the Congress leader also demanded immediate intervention for the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats from Sri Lankan Navy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) :A world-class metro system to enhance the quality of life for people living in Greater Kochi area is expected to be operational by the end of this March. According to officials, E Sreedharan, principal advisor, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today inspected stations between Aluva and Palarivattom section of the Kochi Metro Rail Project. Sreedharan, who undertook a motor trolley inspection in the viaduct between Aluva and Palarivattom, had detailed inspections at various stations and instructed the officials to speed up various works connected with civil electrical and signal and telecommunication, a DMRC release said here. "Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and KMRL are working together to complete the work between Aluva and Palarivattom and to commission the section by the end of March 2017. He expressed satisfaction about the progress of work," the release said. Signal testing trial will continue between Aluva and Palarivattom for the next one month, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Xiaomi Global Vice-President Hugo Barra today announced his exit from the Chinese handset maker to return to the Silicon Valley. The former Google executive, who has been working with Xiaomi for nearly four years, will continue as an advisor with the Chinese firm. In a Facebook post, Barra said nearly four years ago he embarked on the "most challenging adventure". "But what I've realised is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return," he added. Talking about Xiaomi's international business, Barra said, "We turned India from a dream into Xiaomi's largest international market with USD 1 billion in annual revenues, faster than any company in India's history." The company also expanded into Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and more recently 20 other markets, including Russia, Mexico, and Poland, he added. "As a friend and shareholder of the company, I am honored that he (CEO Lei Jun) has been very supportive of my transition and has asked me to remain an advisor to Xiaomi indefinitely, as we continue to extend our reach around the world," Barra said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yemeni government forces today captured the port of Mokha as they pushed to oust Huthi rebels from the Red Sea coastline. Government forces were combing the port, a journalist accompanying the troops said, almost three weeks after the loyalists launched an offensive against the Shiite insurgents and their allies on Yemen's southwestern coast. An official statement said government forces recaptured the whole city, but a military commander in the field told AFP that loyalists were still fighting the rebels on the southern outskirts of Mokha. Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi launched a vast offensive on January 7 to retake the Dhubab district overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait, a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Warplanes and Apache attack helicopters from a Saudi-led Arab coalition have been pounding the rebels in support of pro-Hadi forces, military sources said. Huthis have controlled Mokha since they overran the capital in September 2014 and advanced on other regions aided by troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. The coalition mounted a military campaign against the rebels in March 2015 as insurgents closed in on Hadi in his refuge in the southern city of Aden and forced him to seek exile in Riyadh. Loyalists have since drove rebels out of five southern provinces, including Aden. The World Health Organization says that more than 7,400 people have been killed since the coalition intervention began. A UN spokesman has said the civilian death toll alone could top 10,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kris Ringwall has a secret for people buying bulls: You dont always have to buy the top seller at the sale to get the genetics you want in your commercial herd. Ringwall, the director of the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center and an animal scientist, told a small workshop Jan. 13 in Bismarck the secret to buying a bull that will further a herds genetics in the desired direction lies in the numbers in almost every bull sale catalog: expected progeny differences. Its the best benchmark youve got to buy more bulls, he said. EPDs have been around for about 30 years and have been very accurate for at least the past two decades, Ringwall said. But still, many commercial cattle ranchers avoid using or thinking about the numbers. The average person doesnt like math, he said. Don Schmeling ranches near South Heart. Hes a full-time Realtor but has been in and out of the cattle business most of his life. He bought artificially inseminated Angus heifers four years ago and wants to see his herd improve. So, he thought Ringwalls workshop might help. I thought I understood EPDs, but I wanted to learn more, he said. It cant hurt. Ringwall will give the workshop again Feb. 3 at the Dickinson Research Extension Center and Feb. 10 at the Beef Commission in Bismarck. EPDs dont have to be intimidating, Ringwall said. Seeking out bulls with numbers in the ballpark of a breeds average and honing in on desired characteristics is easy and doesnt take much time. But the effort will show up in the success of the herd over the long term. While the number of EPDs and indexes offered by breeds continues to grow, Ringwall suggests focusing on just a few, at least to start. He likes to use birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, ribeye area, marbling and milk. Ringwall explained that the Dickinson Research Extension Center keeps track of the EPDs of the bulls it uses. They compare the average of the numbers to breed averages, which can give them a good look at what traits they are lacking. A few years ago, they decided their herd was lacking in ribeye size, Ringwall said. So, they began selecting bulls with large ribeye area scores. It has worked, he said. EPDs, unlike live weights, take the environment and management decisions on the part of the breeder out of the equation, Ringwall said. If two bulls have identical genetics but one grows up on grass and the other is pushed with grain, naturally the second one is going to weigh more. But that doesnt change the genetic potential of either bull. If you buy only on actual weight, you have no way of deciphering that, Ringwall said. The best way to approach bull sale season is to set benchmarks for what kind of EPDs you are seeking, Ringwall said. A rancher who sells calves at weaning and is interested in increasing calving ease should focus on lowering the herd birth weight EPDs and increasing the weaning weight EPDs. Set thresholds, such as only considering bulls with negative birth weight EPDs and above average weaning weight EPDs. Then, only look at the bulls that meet the criteria. Dont look at the bulls first, he warned. Youre buying genes, not looks. Given the current low prices in the cattle market, ranchers who are looking to save some money should be especially interested in using EPDs to find the right animal for the right price, Ringwall said. If a $10,000 bull and a $4,000 bull have the same EPDs, there is no reason for a commercial operator to buy the more expensive animal. That has nothing to do with what you need, he said. Dont pay what you cant afford. And dont be surprised if you dont see results the first year. The focus should be on improving the herd down the road. Genetics is always gradual, Ringwall said. A court in nearby Tirupur today awarded a double life sentence, besides 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, to a 23-year-old man in a rape-and-murder case of a 17-year-old girl at Udumalpet in 2013. Mahila Court judge Mohammed Jiyauddin sentenced Arunkumar to two life terms and 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently, the judge ordered. The judge also imposed a penalty of Rs 15,000 on the convict and recommended to the Tamil Nadu government to provide an adequate compensation to the family of the victim. According to the prosecution, Arunkumar had sexually assaulted and murdered the minor girl, a 12th-standard student, when she was alone at her residence in Velliyampalayam in 2013. Arunkumar, a distant relative of the victim, was subsequently arrested by the police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Workers of Zoram Nationalist Party today locked the office of Mizoram Youth Commission Chairman T Sangkunga and demanded his resignation, alleging that he sent 32 students to a hotel management college in Kolkata which was declared a 'fake' institution by the West Bengal government. Demanding the immediate resignation of Sangkunga, Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) locked his office for sending the Mizo students to Nalanda Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) in Kolkata to study Bachelor of Hotel Management, ZNP president Lalmuanpuia Punte told reporters. A few days after the students reached Kolkata, all 32 of them returned to Mizoram after learning that NIAS was declared a fake institution by the West Bengal government, Punte said. Accusing Sangkunga of trying to shy away from his responsibility, he said Mizoram Youth Commission (MYC) and Mizoram Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (MBOCWWB) signed an MoU with NIAS in 2014, and MBOCWWB paid Rs 128.20 lakh to NIAS. The youth front of the main opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) too adopted a resolution today, demanding the resignation of Labour, Employment and Industrial Training Minister Lalrinmawia Ralte and Sangkunga over the issue. Meanwhile, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or Mizo Students Federation and Mizo Students Union (MSU) on Saturday formed a search committee to investigate the issue. Earlier, Aizawl-based anti corruption watchdog PRISM had demanded a CBI probe into the "scandal". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (In January 20 story, corrects 7th paragraph to show India dropped to 10th-largest on Japan's buyer list in 2016, not 11th-largest) By Yuka Obayashi TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is threatening to take India to the WTO over restrictions that nearly halved its steel exports to the South Asian nation over the past year, a step that could trigger more trade spats as global tensions over steel and other commodities run high. Such action is rare for Japan. The world's second-biggest steel producer typically tries to smooth disputes quietly through bilateral talks, but with global trade friction increasing, Japan's defence of an industry that sells nearly half of its products overseas is getting more vigorous. Besides concern over India's protection of its domestic steel industry, Japan is also worried about the more rough and tumble climate for global trade being engendered by incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, and feels it must make a strong stand for open and fair international markets. "We need to stop unfair trade actions from spreading," said a Japanese industry ministry official, explaining a Dec. 20 request for WTO dispute consultations with India over steel safeguard duties and a minimum import price for iron and steel products. India imposed duties of up to 20 percent on some hot-rolled flat steel products in September 2015, and set a floor price in February 2016 for steel product imports to deter countries such as China, Japan and South Korea from undercutting local mills. "If consultations fail to resolve the dispute, we may ask adjudication by a WTO panel," the industry ministry official said. Such action could come as soon as 60 days - in February - after its consultation request was filed in December. Tokyo says India's actions are inconsistent with WTO rules and contributed to the plunge in its steel exports to India, which dropped to 10th-largest on Japan's buyer list in 2016 through November, down from sixth-largest in 2015. "We are following the WTO guidelines," said a top official at India's steel ministry, though adding that New Delhi is ready to sit across the table for trade talks. As of Friday, the date of a WTO-led consultation had not been set. GROWING GLOBAL TRADE DISPUTES There has been a series of trade disputes over the past few years amid massive exports of cheap steel products from China, the world's top producer, with Vietnam, Malaysia and South Africa taking or planning measures to block incoming shipments. China's steel exports dropped by 3.5 percent in 2016 to 108 million tonnes, still about as much as Japan produces in a year. Japan is also monitoring its small volume of imports for signs of dumping, fearing that steel products with nowhere to turn because of import restrictions may head to it own market. "All trade need to be fair. If there are trades that violate the rules, we will take necessary actions while consulting with our government," Kosei Shindo, chairman of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, told a conference on Friday. But in an environment where a new U.S. president is threatening to tear up trade treaties and impose import duties in the world's biggest economy, Tokyo may be at risk of helping to set off a trade war it is trying to avoid. "We may see a battle of trade litigations especially after Trump takes the helm in the U.S.," said Kazuhito Yamashita, research director at Canon Institute for Global Studies. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Additional reporting by Neha Dasgupta in NEW DELHI; Editing by Tom Hogue) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Karolin Schaps LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell more than 1 percent on Monday as signs of a strong recovery in U.S. drilling activity outweighed that OPEC and non-OPEC producers were on track to meet output reduction goals set in December. Global benchmark Brent crude prices were down 49 cents at $55 a barrel by 1441 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures traded at $52.58 a barrel, down 1.2 percent from Friday's close. Ministers representing members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC producers said at a meeting in Vienna on Sunday that of almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) they had agreed to be taken out of the market, 1.5 million bpd had already gone. "A lot of this is already priced in and the U.S. rig count keeps rising and gathering pace," said Carsten Fritsch, commodities analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. U.S. drillers added the most rigs in nearly four years last week, data from energy services company Baker Hughes showed on Friday. This extends an eight-month drilling recovery, suggesting that U.S. production will continue to rise strongly just as other producers are cutting output. "Baker Hughes said that 35 new rigs were activated last week, fuelling fears of a significant rise in U.S. production, which would offset the reduction by OPEC - and making a mockery of the Saudis' claim that they had managed to break the U.S. shale drillers," said Ashley Kelty, research analyst at Cenkos Securities. U.S. oil production has risen by more than 6 percent since mid-2016, though it remains 7 percent below the 2015 peak. It is back to levels of late 2014, when strong U.S. crude output contributed to a crash in oil prices. Yet there was bullish from Libya, where an electrical fault at the Sarir oil field has resulted in a 60,000 bpd cut in production, the head of the National Oil Corp said in London. Oil market speculators added to bullish bets last week, showing increased optimism about higher prices. Equatorial Guinea, a signatory of the production cut deal, said on Monday that it had made an application to become OPEC's 14th member. (Additional reporting by Naveen Thukral and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by David Evans and David Goodman) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the Union Budget, the oil and gas sector which is largely dependent on imports, expects the government to introduce incentives to attract investments for domestic production, Deepak Mahurkar, partner & leader (oil & gas), PwC said. Japan is threatening to take India to the WTO over restrictions that nearly halved its steel exports to the South Asian nation over the past year, a step that could trigger more trade spats as global tensions over steel and other commodities run high. Such action is rare for Japan. The world's second-biggest steel producer typically tries to smooth disputes quietly through bilateral talks, but with global trade friction increasing, Japan's defence of an industry that sells nearly half of its products overseas is getting more vigorous. Besides concern over India's protection of its domestic steel industry, Japan is also worried about the more rough and tumble climate for global trade being engendered by incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, and feels it must make a strong stand for open and fair international markets. "We need to stop unfair trade actions from spreading," said a Japanese industry ministry official, explaining a Dec. 20 request for WTO dispute consultations with India over steel safeguard duties and a minimum import price for iron and steel products. INDIA IMPOSED 20 PER CENT DUTIES ON STEEL GOODS IN 2015 India imposed duties of up to 20 percent on some hot-rolled flat steel products in September 2015, and set a floor price in February 2016 for steel product imports to deter countries such as China, Japan and South Korea from undercutting local mills. "If consultations fail to resolve the dispute, we may ask adjudication by a WTO panel," the industry ministry official said. Such action could come as soon as 60 days - in February - after its consultation request was filed in December. ALSO READ: BSE IPO opens today for subscription Tokyo says India's actions are inconsistent with WTO rules and contributed to the plunge in its steel exports to India, which dropped to 10th-largest on Japan's buyer list in 2016 through November, down from sixth-largest in 2015. "We are following the WTO guidelines," said a top official at India's steel ministry, though adding that New Delhi is ready to sit across the table for trade talks. As of Friday, the date of a WTO-led consultation had not been set. GROWING GLOBAL TRADE DISPUTES There has been a series of trade disputes over the past few years amid massive exports of cheap steel products from China, the world's top producer, with Vietnam, Malaysia and South Africa taking or planning measures to block incoming shipments. China's steel exports dropped by 3.5 per cent in 2016 to 108 million tonnes, still about as much as Japan produces in a year. Japan is also monitoring its small volume of imports for signs of dumping, fearing that steel products with nowhere to turn because of import restrictions may head to it own market. "All trade need to be fair. If there are trades that violate the rules, we will take necessary actions while consulting with our government," Kosei Shindo, chairman of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, told a news conference on Friday. But in an environment where a new U.S. president is threatening to tear up trade treaties and impose import duties in the world's biggest economy, Tokyo may be at risk of helping to set off a trade war it is trying to avoid. "We may see a battle of trade litigations especially after Trump takes the helm in the U.S.," said Kazuhito Yamashita, research director at Canon Institute for Global Studies. In a shocking move, Xiaomi's global VP Hugo Barra has resigned from the position. Barra said that he would go back to Silicon Valley to start something of his own. Barra announced his resignation through an emotional Facebook post. He thanked the founders of the Chinese tech giant and expressed gratitude towards his fans. "As I thought about this late last year, I concluded that Xiaomi is in a very good place on its global expansion path, and if there was ever going to be a good time for me to come back home, that time is now - when I can confidently say our global business is no longer just an in-house startup", he wrote in his post. Under his stint, Barra launched many flagship products including a series of Mi and Redmi smartphones, which became huge success. Google has announced in an official blog stating that theywill be shutting down old versions of its G Suite or Google Drive apps. Thecompany put out an official notice providing all the older versions that willstop being operational from April 3 this year. Come March, the company will start noifying users who arestill using the older versions and force them to update to the latestapplication. Here's a list of versions that will be shut later this year.To avoid trouble, the user is advised to update to a newer version. Android Google Drive for Android (prior to version 2.4.311) Google Docs for Android (prior to version 1.6.292) Google Sheets for Android (prior to version 1.6.292) Google Slides for Android (prior to version 1.6.292) iOS Google Drive for iOS (prior to version 4.16) Google Docs for iOS (prior to version 1.2016.12204) Google Sheets for iOS (prior to version 1.2016.12208) Google Slides for iOS (prior to version 1.2016.12203) "If you are using any of these unsupported versions, weencourage you to download and install the latest version of that mobileapplication. They further clarified in the post that "corresponding Web anddesktop applications will not be affected by this change." USU Quinney Scholar and Honors student Rylee Jensen (far right) is a wildlife science major studying orcas. She will present her research on Utah's Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Utah State University Scholars Rylee Johnson and Gabriela Judd are among approximately 30 USU students chosen to present projects during 2017 Undergraduate Research Day on Tuesday, January 24, at Utahs State Capitol in Salt Lake City. The student researchers, both from the Quinney College of Natural Resources, will discuss their research posters, set up in the Capitol Rotunda, with state legislators and guests. The annual event, initiated by USU, coincides with the opening week of the 2017 Utah Legislative Session. The gathering is designed to highlight the benefits of undergraduate research to state lawmakers. Utah Highway Patrol trooper Ben Jensen talking to a motorist after UDOT officials ordered the canyon closed Monday morning because of an avalanche in the upper canyon. LOGAN Logan Canyon, US-89, remains closed from the Cache County side after an avalanche occurred early Monday morning. Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cade Brenchley said troopers were ordered to close the road by officials with the Utah Department of Transportation. There are some avalanche experts that are assessing the situation, where the avalanche danger is at and where the avalanche occurred, said Brenchley. Troopers were allowed to open the road from the Rich County side, for skiers and snow boarders to drive to Beaver Mountain Ski Resort. Troopers are not allowing motorists though to travel beyond the ski resort. Brenchley said with local schools being closed they are asking everyone to stay off the roads unless they absolutely have to travel. Leave with plenty of time, take it slow and be very careful. Thats all that we ask. But, once again, if you dont have to leave its not worth going out and driving around. Please dont go wait at the mouth of the canyon and wait for the canyon to be opened. It could be hours. We have no idea. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory through Monday night as snow is forecast to continue through Tuesday.

will@cvradio.com A Minot neurosurgeon is still scheduled to go on trial on federal sexual abuse charges Feb. 7 in U.S. District Court in Bismarck. Dr. Marc Edward Eichler was indicted June 1, 2016, on two counts of production of materials depicting the sexual exploitation of minors; two counts of attempted production of materials depicting the sexual exploitation of minors; one count of receipt of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors; one count of attempted receipt of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors and one count of transfer of obscene materials to minors. Eichler has pleaded not guilty to all charges. According to court documents, a status conference hearing was held on Jan. 17. Lawyers for the two sides have agreed to remove a hearing on Eichler's motion to suppress evidence from the court calendar. Eichler's attorney had filed a motion to suppress evidence and testimony obtained after Eichler told police he wanted a lawyer during his initial interview with investigating officers on Oct. 28, 2015. However, lawyers for the government argued that Eichler then asked the police what he had been accused of doing and agreed to keep talking with the police after he had first said he wanted an attorney. Court documents indicate that the two sides have been talking in an effort to reach a settlement, but agreed to leave the Feb. 7 trial date on the calendar. Eichler is accused of exchanging sexually explicit texts and photos with two area girls in 2015 when they were 12 and 13. Eichler also allegedly provided the first girl with alcohol and tobacco and a smart phone and other gifts and also paid for hotel rooms in different locations for her and her friends as an incentive for her not to talk about the alleged sex abuse. According to a probable cause affidavit filed in state court, Eichler was originally charged with Class AA gross sexual imposition for allegedly sexually assaulting one of the girls when she was babysitting at his residence and two counts of Class B felony luring a minor by computer for allegedly texting lewd messages and photos to the girls. The state charges against him there were dismissed once the federal charges were filed. Eichler formerly worked as a neurosurgeon at Trinity Hospital in Minot. Foreign investment in Georgia is strengthening the countrys importance in connecting East Asia with Europe, which has positive implications for the broader region. The rise in FDI in commercial and transportation infrastructure in combination with the signing of international free trade agreements will reduce Georgias vulnerability in terms of economic and, ultimately, hard security. The growing importance of the South Caucasus as node for EU-China trade will weaken Russias incentives to undermine its southern neighbors by military, political, and economic means as it has done in the past. Accordingly, Tbilisis ability to conduct an independent foreign policy is set to improve despite the absence of Western security guarantees. BACKGROUND: The Georgian economy has drawn investors interest owing to its unique position to facilitate the export of goods from China to the European Union in terms of both geography and trade treaties. The countrys location on the Black Sea is well-positioned for projects as part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, previously OBOR) to encourage Chinese firms to go abroad and export goods by sea and by rail. BRI is backed by a USD 50 billion Silk Road Fund for investment in infrastructure, with additional funding available from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which has over USD 100 billion in authorized capital and in which Georgia is a founding member. The Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB), the overland part of the BRI initiative, aims to facilitate the transport of cargo from Chinas westernmost Xinjiang region via Central Asia to Europe. Multiple nations are vying to become end nodes for the Silk Road transportation corridor in order to attract both Chinese and Western FDI. Georgia is well-positioned against the competition with proven ability to receive cargo trains from Xinjiang, China to Tbilisi in just 9 days. Compared to cheaper, but significantly slower freight by sea which takes an average of 30 days from Chinese to European ports, rail freight to Georgia and the Black Sea is the more expeditious option. The EU-Georgia Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) was finalized in 2013. It introduced a preferential trade regime thus integrating Georgia into the European single market and removing import tariffs. In addition, Georgia entered an agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in June 2016, adding access to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. The DCFTA and EFTA in combination with Georgias existing bilateral free trade agreements with Turkey and members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) give it access to markets that serve over 800 million people. Beijing is increasingly eager to diversify its export channels and avoid risks in view of both geo-economic and geopolitical dynamics. It faces increasingly protectionist trade policies around the world and pushback against its own mercantilist ambitions. It also faces uncertainty in the South China Sea, where any escalation of tensions has the potential to disrupt seaborne international shipping and trade. In view of these trends, the opening up of new emerging markets in the Eurasian heartland the Belt and Road Initiative countries is a long-term stratagem to mitigate risk. It follows that Georgias unique position as the only country in the South Caucasus and Central Asia with unrivalled access to both European and Eurasian markets has made it the logical partner for a free trade agreement with China. This is good news for bilateral trade: a 2015 joint feasibility study found that a China-Georgia FTA would increase Georgias annual exports to China by 9% and Chinas exports to Georgia by 1.7%. In February 2016, China and Georgia officially launched the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). Both countries pledged to conclude the deal within 2016. In an accompanying statement, Genadi Arveladze, Georgias chief negotiator, emphasized that China has become both the countrys fourth largest trading partner and one of its fastest growing export destinations. Substantive negotiations were finalized in October 2016 after three rounds of talks. IMPLICATIONS: Georgia has seen a surge in both investment from and trade with China in the past five years. Chinese FDI in Georgia reached USD 218 million in 2014, while Georgias exports to China more than quadrupled in 2014-2016 doubling in value in Q115 through Q116 to USD 49.6 million. Whats more, and despite growing FDI in Georgias infrastructure and the agricultural sector, its trade balance vis-a-vis China has begun to improve year-on-year imports from China declined by 29.3% to USD 119 million. Georgia must finalize four major infrastructure projects to develop into a transshipment hub for EU-China trade. These were outlined by PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili in his opening speech at the 2016 CAMCA Regional Forum, held on June 17-19 in Tbilisi. They are the Anaklia Port project; two rail tunnels in eastern and western Georgia; the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway; and the East-West highway. The Anaklia Deep Sea Port project in western Georgia, worth USD 2.5 billion, should see the start of construction of a high-capacity cargo port on the Black Sea coast by fall 2017. It will receive cargo by rail from Xinjiang, China via Kazakhstans Aktau & Kuryk ports, over the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijans Baku & Alyat ports, and by rail to Georgia. When at capacity, it should handle 100 million tons of cargo per year. The U.S.-Georgian consortium behind the construction is also planning for a Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) adjacent to the port, which should add value with local light manufacturing. The European Commission has calculated that the Anaklia project could save up to EUR 10 billion in shipping costs for the EUs economy by 2030. In addition to facilitating the export of goods from East Asia to Europe, the port should also enable the export of European goods directly to the landlocked states in the Caucasus and Central Asia with a total of 163 million consumers on a hitherto unprecedented scale. The soon to be completed Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will connect Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey, making Georgia a doubly vital link in the new Silk Road. It will effectively make it possible to ship cargo by rail from China to Europe without passing through Russia, an increasingly unreliable trade partner for the first time. The East-West highway is a major artery for road traffic connecting Azerbaijan and Armenia to Georgia's Black Sea ports and Turkey. It is also part of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) program which aims to link the European Union with Central Asia and the Caucasus. The highway has been constructed and upgraded since 2006 with funding from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and will provide additional flexibility to overland trade. In all, Georgias favorable geographic location, its unrivalled access to European, Central Asian and East Asian markets and its inclusion in both the EUs and Chinas infrastructural projects will transform it into an important link for China-EU trade. Correspondingly, its and its neighbor states bargaining power vis-a-vis Russia should increase. NATO has stopped short of expanding its security guarantees to Georgia in fear of provoking Moscow in the wake of Russias invasion of eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea. Moreover, the incoming Trump administration in the United States is expected to seek to return to a spheres of influence order as opposed to the rules-based international order. NATO will not extend its reach to the South Caucasus in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the countries in the region must seek to seize every available opportunity to integrate into global links and value chains to break their geopolitical isolation. In the past, Georgia has reeled from Russian sabotage of its energy infrastructure, its trade and its political course towards Euro-Atlantic integration. It was also forced to watch the creation of frozen conflicts in its occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. Nevertheless, as Georgia becomes more vital to the EUs and Chinas joint economic interests, it will conceivably grow to be less prone to Russian aggression because the two are global players that are also irreplaceable trade partners for Moscow. To that end, Russias Foreign Ministry was quick to issue threats over the EU-Georgia DCFTA in 2013, but made no such comments over the signing of the China-Georgia FTA in 2016. Signs already point to tacit Russian acceptance of Chinese military and economic efforts in Central Asia; it is not inconceivable that the same dynamics may come into play in the South Caucasus, where Moscows staying power has been even weaker. Azerbaijan, against which Russia leverages the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and could potentially leverage the Lezgin and Talysh minorities in the country, should also find its security situation improved as the South Caucasus becomes a conduit for EU-China trade. Additionally, Russias own enduring inability to develop the economy of the North Caucasus will make it hard-pressed to accept more daring foreign policy maneuvering by both Tbilisi and Baku, especially as Moscow seeks to attract investment from the latter. Kazakhstan, whose foreign policy options remain constrained by Putins Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) project and fears that the ethnic Russian minority in the countrys north might be instrumentalized against it as it has been in Ukraine, should also find much-needed breathing room. Finally, the importance of the Caspian Sea for the shipment of goods through Central Asia will predictably entail stronger Chinese, EU, and U.S. pushback against the seas militarization by Russia and Iran. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese and European Union investment in Georgia will help realize the New Silk Road and interconnect the Eurasian continent with overland trade and transportation infrastructure on a scale never before seen. In the mid- to long-term, this should provide countries spanning from the South Caucasus to Central Asia with tangible economic benefits and revitalize the once vibrant economies on the path of the historical Silk Road again. Most significantly, the influx of international trade stakeholders from far and wide to the region should afford the states in the South Caucasus and Central Asia a historic opportunity to craft truly independent foreign policies for the first time in a century. In view of these spillover effects for the entire region, Georgias neighbors in the post-Soviet space should continue to vehemently support the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. AUTHORS BIO: Boris Ajeganov is a Junior Research Fellow with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center, based in Stockholm and London. He is also Assistant Editor of the CACI Analyst. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and on Twitter, @ajeganov. Image source: The European External Action Service on Flickr, accessed on January 20, 2017 (Beijing) China sentenced a former billionaire hedge fund manager to five and a half years in prison for stock-price manipulation, in one of the countrys most high-profile cases following the 2015 market rout. Xu Xiang, founder of Shanghai-based asset management firm Zexi Investment, and two associates were convicted of driving up share prices, the Qingdao Intermediate People's Court in Shandong province said on Monday. Xu was also fined 11 billion yuan ($1.6 billion), sources who attended the court hearing said. It is the highest-ever fine for an individual committing a financial crime in China. Wang Wei, owner of three asset-management companies, received a three-year prison term and was slapped with a 1 billion yuan fine. And Zhu Yong, the third defendant, was sentenced to two years behind bars with a three-year reprieve. He was told to pay 50 million yuan in penalties. The three men shared insider tips and connections to high-ranking executives, people with knowledge of the matter told Caixin. Xu and the two investment firm managers were accused of colluding with senior executives of 13 listed companies from 2010 to 2015 to issue positive news about companies and even purchasing stocks in large quantities all in a bid to boost prices and lure retail investors. The fund managers and executives then dumped their stock at the higher prices. The Chinese government has stepped up its crackdown on market irregularities after the stock market meltdown in the summer of 2015, in which the Shanghai index plunged more than 40% from mid-June to September. Prior to his downfall, Xu was sometimes referred to as Chinas Carl Icahn, a reference to the American business magnate and Trump-administration adviser on regulatory reform. Xu, known for his penchant for stock investment, was arrested for alleged insider trading and stock price manipulation in late 2015. Even when the countrys stock prices plummeted in 2015, Zexis investments earned an average 218%, far more than the second-most profitable player, Shen Zhou Mu Fund, which reported a 94% yield, according to market analysis website Licai.com. Sources told Caixin that the three defendants poured 40 billion yuan raised through their wealth management operations to prop up stock prices. Considering the huge amount of money involved in the illicit trading, the sentence was lenient, said a criminal defense lawyer who spoke on the condition of anonymity. According to the countrys Criminal Law, a conviction for stock manipulation could result in a prison term of up to 10 years and a fine up to five times as much as the illegal proceeds. Contact reporter Chen Na (nachen@caixin.com) (Beijing) More industries are likely to be included in Chinas drive to cut excess capacity, which so far has focused on steel and coal, a report said Monday, as President Xi Jinping vowed to reduce low-end and inefficient supply. The government may broaden targeted groups to include autos, new energy and graphene used in making of electric circuits, solar batteries and display screens said the Economic Information Daily, citing unnamed sources. The newspaper, owned by the official Xinhua News Agency, did not elaborate. During Sundays meeting of the Communist Partys Politburo, Xi called for supply-side reforms to be deepened this year, urging the structure of supplies to be improved to better adapt to changes in demand, according to Xinhua. The government will reduce low-end and inefficient supply while expanding effective and medium- and high-end supply, Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. Chinas car market, the worlds largest, appears to be saturated, with sales posting single-digit growth in four of the past six years. The annual increase in auto sales recovered to 13.65% in 2016 from 4.68% in the previous year, mainly due to government stimuli introduced in October 2015 to halve the sales tax on cars with small engines. But the sales gains were still far slower than an expansion of 32.37% in 2010 and 46.15% in 2009, according to data from the industry group China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The National Development and Reform Commission, Chinas top economic-planning body, said in May that structural overcapacity in the auto industry has emerged. It added that investment in commercial car production should not be increased blindly and low-level, repetitive investment in power-battery manufacturing must be prevented. Concerns about a renewable energy glut are also growing as China has been promoting the industry as part of efforts to achieve its goal to increase the consumption of nonfossil fuels to 15% of the overall energy mix by 2020, up from 8.6% in 2010. Much of the electricity generated from wind and solar power did not get distributed through the countrys grid for a variety of reasons, including mismatches of locations of wind farms. Many of the farms are in western and northern China, while demand centers are concentrated in the east along the coast. The country has been the largest market of wind power since 2009, with installed capacity topping 145 gigawatts at the end of 2015, or a third of the worlds total, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. In 2015 China wasted about 34 billion kilowatt-hours of wind-power-generated electricity, 2.7 times that recorded a year earlier, according to data from the National Energy Administration (NEA). NEA Chief Engineer Han Shui said in November that the scale and pace of development in areas where wind and solar power were being wasted should be appropriately brought down. The Economic Information Daily also reported that many local governments have recently announced their excess-capacity cut plans for this year. For example, Hebei province, whose billowing steel mills have been partly blamed for choking smog in Beijing and other areas, aims to trim the capacity of steel by 15.6 million tons, iron by 16.2 million tons, coal by 7.4 million tons, cement by 1.1 million tons, and flat glass by 5 million weight cases, it said. It also promised to close down all steel plants in Langfang and Baoding, which border Beijing, and Zhangjiakou, which will co-host the Winter Olympics with the national capital in 2022, the report said. In February 2016, China set a goal to get rid of up to 150 million tons of steel capacity by 2020 and reduce 500 million tons in coal capacity within the next three to five years in an effort to close down zombie companies and improve the efficiency of state-owned enterprises. Officials have said that 2016s target of eliminating 45 million tons in steel capacity and 250 million tons in coal capacity were achieved ahead of schedule. Contact reporter Fran Wang (fangwang@caixin.com) In honor of the seventh annual National School Choice Week, here are some facts you should know about school choice in America. What does school choice mean? The term school choice refers to programs that give parents the power and opportunity to choose the schools their children attend, whether public, private, parochial, or homeschool. Why is school choice necessary? While there are some excellent public schools in America, many students are trapped in schools with inadequate facilities, substandard curriculum, and incompetent teachers. Most parents, however, cannot afford to pay for education twiceonce in taxes and again in private school tuition. School choice programs empower parents by letting them use public funds set aside for education on programs that will best serve their children. What types of school choice programs exist for students and families? From School Choice Explained: Open enrollment refers to educational policies which allow residents of a state to enroll their children in any public school, provided the school has not reached its maximum capacity number for students, regardless of the school district in which a family resides. Vouchers a certificate issued by the government, which parents can apply toward tuition at a private school (or, by extension, to reimburse home schooling expenses), rather than at the state school to which their child is assigned. Tuition tax credits and deductions Parents can receive a tax credit or tax deduction from state income taxes for approved educational expenses. This usually includes private school tuition as well as books, supplies, computers, tutors, and transportation. Tax-credit scholarships Individuals and/or corporations receive a tax credit from state taxes for making donations to nonprofit organizations, which use the donated money to fund private school scholarships for students. Education Savings Accounts Parents are allowed to withdraw their child from a public district or charter school, and receive a payment into a government-authorized savings account with restricted, but multiple uses. Parents then can use these funds to pay for private school tuition, virtual education programs, private tutoring, or save for future college expenses. Charter schools Charter schools are independent public schools that are exempt from many state and local rules and regulations in exchange for increased financial and academic accountability. Online schools Online schools can be run publicly or privately, allowing students to work with their curriculum and teachers over the internetin combination with, or in place of, traditional classroom learning. Homeschooling An alternative form of education for children outside of public or private schools, typically within their own homes. Which states allow homeschooling? In the U.S., homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. Which states have school choice programs? The states that currently offer some form of school choice are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Washington, D.C. also has a school choice program. Are charter schools constitutional? While interpretations may vary, courts have consistently ruled that wherever a state legislature is tasked with the authority to establish and fund public education, it may create systems for the establishment of other public schools without violating the Constitution. Charter schools constitutionality has been upheld by courts in more than a dozen states, including California, Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio. How does school choice affect educational outcomes? In a review of all the gold standard evaluations of school choice programs in the U.S., researchers found that nine of the 10 studies revealed positive, albeit generally modest, academic improvement for school choice students. The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is hosting ChargerCon 2017 on Saturday, Feb. 18, from noon to midnight in the UAH Conference Training Center. A free gaming and technology expo, ChargerCon features video game and tabletop tournaments, contests, workshops, demos, a retro arcade, and free play areas for PC, console, tabletop, and handheld games. "ChargerCon offers a great opportunity for UAH students and gaming enthusiasts from the community at large to come together and network, collaborate, and compete," says Vinny Argentina, an assistant professor of art, animation, and game design. "And there really is something for everyone, whether you're into Mario Kart or Magic: The Gathering!" Several tournaments will be held throughout the day, including Melee, Mario Kart, Smash 4, Magic The Gathering, Overwatch (PC), and Pokemon Sun/Moon. "Some will have a buy-in, which will go toward prizes for the champions," says Argentina. "We will also have a cosplay contest and a t-shirt printing station, and we will present several workshops: Introduction to Game Maker Storytelling and Comics, Character Design, Cosplay Costume Making, and Introduction to Game Development." ChargerCon is made possible by the support of both UAH and community partners. Among the former are the Art Club, Charger Magic: The Gathering Team, Charger Studios, ChargerSmash, the Graphic Design Club, Pokemon League, Society for Strategy Games, Student-Run eSports, and UAH Intramural Sports; among the latter are 501st Legion, After Hours Game Dev, Mastermind Models and Miniatures, Pints & Pixels, The Deep, Pixel Perfect, and Women Who Code Huntsville. The event is free and open to the public. More information is available at www.chargercon.com and www.facebook.com/chargercon. The Biodiversity Heritage Library is pleased to welcome the University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) as a new Member. UTL is the first Canadian library to join the Biodiversity Heritage Library as a Member. The University of Toronto Libraries system is the largest academic library in Canada. Ranked fourth among North American peer institutions by the Association of Research Libraries, the UTL system is particularly strong in the sciences and includes 10 dedicated science libraries. Among these is the Gerstein Science Information Centre, Canadas largest standalone science and health library. Additionally, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library holds rich collections on the history of science and medicine, including an exhaustive collection of original works by Charles Darwin. The University of Toronto Libraries is thrilled to become a Member of the Biodiversity Heritage Library, asserts Neil Romanosky, UTLs Associate Chief Librarian for Science Research and Information and Director of the Gerstein Science Information Centre. Given the rapid rate of extinction of species across the globe, we see membership in BHL as an important opportunity to support the search for knowledge by preserving our wealth of historic biodiversity materials and sharing them more widely. Martyn, Thomas. Thirty-eight plates, with explanations; intended to illustrate Linnaeuss System of vegetables, and particularly adapted to the Letters on the elements of botany [by J.J. Rousseau] By Thomas Martyn. (1799). Art by Frederick Polydore Nodder. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32193301. Digitized by University of Toronto Libraries from the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. As a BHL Member, the University of Toronto Libraries will enhance BHLs collection by contributing rare and unique material from its holdings of over 12 million print volumes. As the host of an Internet Archive (IA) scanning center, the Libraries has already digitized a large portion of its collection. Over 3.3 million pages of natural history literature from UTL are currently available in BHL. The University of Toronto Libraries and BHL share a commitment to open access and the promotion of digital scholarship through global partnerships and the development of innovative tools and technology, affirms BHL Program Director Martin R. Kalfatovic. We look forward to the expertise and leadership that UTL will bring to the BHL consortium as we work together to build our online collection, enhance our services, and empower researchers around the world through free access to biodiversity knowledge. The BHL consortium now consists of 18 Members and 15 Affiliates. UKMW Prompts Correction to SKY News Claim on US View of Settlements | Main | CAMERA Featured Letter-Writer January 23, 2017 Wheres the Coverage of Irans Military Buildup? In a widely underreported event, Iranian lawmakers voted on Jan. 9, 2017 to expand military spending. Citing Iranian Tasnim news, Reuters noted that the Islamic Consultative Assmbly, also known as the Majils, voted to increase military spending to five percent of the total budget. Iran had previously allocated slightly less than two percent of its 2015-16 budget for military expenditures. In its report, Reuters described the vote as a boost to Irans military establishment (Iran to expand military spending, develop missiles,? Jan. 9, 2017).? The increase is part of a growth plan for 2016-2021 that was announced Irans Supreme Ruler, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in July 2015. That plan calls for developing long range missiles, armed drones and cyber-war potential. One hundred seventy-three Majils members voted in favor of the increase. Only ten cast votes against the buildup. Many U.S. news outlets failed to report the vote, despite Iran being a frequent news topic. A Lexis-Nexis search of major print media, including The Washington Post, USA Today and The Baltimore Sun, among others, turned up not a single mention of the vote. The lack of coverage is puzzling. The day before the vote, four Iranian vessels aggressively approached an American navy ship in the Strait of Hormuzprompting the US Navy to fire warning shots. That event, reported by The Washington Post and others, received only a few sentence brief in USA Today and The Sun. As CAMERA has noted, Iran has previously threatened U.S. ships and personnel, although the media has often failed to cover such occurrences. Reuters also highlighted that in a recent U.N. Security Council report, the organizations departing Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, expressed concern that Iran may have violated? a U.N. arms embargo by supplying weapons and missiles to Hezbollah." Hezbollah is a Lebanese-based, Iranian-backed Shiite terrorist group that calls for Israels destruction. Iran itself has frequently pledged to destroy the Jewish state. As it arms itself and its proxies, its worth asking: Wheres the coverage? Posted by SD at January 23, 2017 12:35 PM Media did not report Irans military budget increase because A) Hysteria of Trump taking office and B) Iran increasing its military (confrontation) budget does NOT fit the democratic narrative that supported the Obama's administration's action with Iran. Providing 1,7 billion in brides and the defective nuclear deal. The media & former administration has fooled no-one, Posted by: G M Clk at January 27, 2017 11:01 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 | BY Ricki Green | Victor Manggunio, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett China, based in Shanghai, is joining AdFest as Jury President, Media Lotus & Effective Lotus. Its a great honor to accept this invitation and play a role in judging the Media Lotus and Effective Lotus winners two categories that require the right balance between creative and strategic thinking. Im really looking forward to seeing which brands and agencies win this year, says Manggunio (pictured), who has worked in the region for 22 years and joined Leo Burnett China as Chief Creative Officer in 2015. Manggunios experience is uniquely eclectic he has experience across retail advertising, digital and social; hes worked above and below the line; and he even ran his own production company for three years as a Director. Jimmy Lam, President of AdFest said, Victor brings to the table a complete understanding of the creative process from strategy to ideation and production acumen. His knowledge will be invaluable in leading this years Media Lotus and Effective Lotus jury and were very pleased he has agreed to be part of AdFest 2017. Prior to joining Leo Burnett China, which operates in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, Manggunio ran his own digital and film production company and directed commercials broadcast in both traditional and digital platforms across Asia. He then returned to the Leo Burnett network having previously worked at the agencys Hong Kong agency for 10 years. | BY Ricki Green | Hootsuite, the most widely used social media management platform, and We Are Social, the global social media agency, today release Digital in 2017, a report of social media and digital trends around the world. Examining data from 238 countries, the sixth annual report finds 50% of the world is now connected to the internet and examines the opportunities that increasing connectivity has for organisations worldwide. The 2017 key findings include: Internet penetration increased by 10% in the last 12 months to hit 3.77 billion, or 50% of the worlds population. Global social media use has increased by 21% in the last 12 months, reaching 2.8 billion users globally Mobile social media use has increased by 30% year-over-year to surpass 2.5 billion users globally, with 91% of social media users accessing social from mobile. In Australia, social penetration saw double-digit growth at 14%. A total of 16 million Australians are now on social media, 57% of whom access social via mobile devices. Australias mobile social usage further cements its 68% lead over the global average. As a result, organisations should plan to transform their communications strategy to increase customer engagement and real-time interaction across the customer journey. Says Roger Graham, senior director, growth and marketing, APAC, Hootsuite: One of the greatest opportunities of a digitally connected world is the ability to have immediate conversations, wherever and whenever customers want. Social media not only enables organisations to amplify its brand, but also build trust, credibility and human relationships at scale. It is now as much the responsibility of the top executive as the social media manager. Says Simon Kemp, We Are Social: Half of the worlds population is now online, which is a testament to the speed with which digital connectivity is helping to improve peoples lives. The increase in internet users in developing economies is particularly encouraging. Given this latest data, its probably time for us to stop referring to social as new media, and integrate it more seamlessly into our day-to-day activities. The report compiles data from the worlds largest studies of online behaviour, conducted by organisations including GlobalWebIndex, GSMA Intelligence, Statista, and Akamai in a comprehensive state of social media reference. The 2016 report has seen nearly 70,000 downloads and 2.5 million reads on SlideShare to date. Digital In 2017 is the lead document in a suite of reports produced by We Are Social and Hootsuite. | BY Lynchy | Ogilvy & Mather Singapore has appointed Jason Hill as Chief Strategy Officer, effective immediately. Building on his 10 years with Ogilvy across two markets, Hills new role will see him leading Singapores strategy group across a broad range of capabilities including brand planning, customer engagement, channel, data analytics and social strategy. Previously as O&M Singapores Head of Consulting & Data Analytics, Hill (pictured left) led teams of strategy and data specialists to combine customer insights and data analytics with creative interpretation to develop strategic solutions for some of the agencys largest local and international clients. Chris Riley, Group Chairman, Ogilvy & Mather Singapore, said, Jason has been a tremendous asset to our team in Singapore, having made significant contributions across many clients since joining us in mid-2015. As our strategic offering continues to evolve, he will be instrumental in relentlessly applying different combinations of strategic skills from within the group to enhance our creative solutions and help clients to unlock value from their customers and brands. Jason is a natural leader with a knack for award-winning strategy and execution, and he will continue to push the boundaries in his new role. Prior to his 2015 move to Singapore, Hill spent eight years in Australia as Head of Strategy at OgilvyOne Sydney, leading the strategic development of creative campaigns, CRM programs and strategic consulting projects. With over two decades of strategic marketing experience in senior agency, client and consulting roles, Hill brings substantial expertise in areas such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Value Proposition Development, Strategic Business Planning, and Data-led Communications Strategies. | BY Lynchy | Vinasoy, Vietnams leading soy milk brand, has recently launched its Tet or Lunar New Year campaign in partnership with The Purpose Group. The campaign is spearheaded by an online short film titled Sowing Kindness. The film tells the story of an old man who makes clay dolls, and these clay dolls play a central role in recognizng acts of kindness performed by strangers. Following the film, the audience is called on to join a social act of sowing kindness using the #gieoanlanh. The film has garnered a sizable following since its inception. In just over 10 days, Sowing Kindness had over 5.9 million total views across Facebook and YouTube. It enjoyed completed views of over 1.9 million across channels. Its virality rate is 11% compared to the industry benchmark of 3% to 4%. The film has been mentioned over 7,000 times on social media. Sowing Kindness is supported by a PR and social media campaign. Ngo Anh Tinh, Business Director, Vinasoy, said, Vinasoy believes in the goodness our products bring to our consumers, and the goodness that is inherent in all of us. The world is a much more peaceful and better place when we treat each other with kindness. And with the Sowing Kindness campaign, we wanted our fellow Vietnamese to welcome Tet spreading love and joy among family and friends. | BY Lynchy | For the first time, the Ministry of Communications and Information is launching a Lunar New Year Kungfu series, Kungfu Fighter, Hidden Sugar, that reminds us to eat in moderation this festive season. In support of the Lets Beat Diabetes campaign, the action-packed series takes an innovative multi-platform approach to reach the masses. The series is going viral. Released on 21 January 2017 on Facebook, the star of the series the 90-second TV commercial has reached 2.2 million people, and gathered 873,000 views and 54,000 reactions (including 3,000 comments and 15,000 shares). The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with people sharing the important message of eating in moderation this Lunar New Year. More than just a festive greeting, the series highlights the dangers of diabetes. The TV commercial spells out clearly how much sugar there is in common Lunar New Year goodies. Did you know that one serving of Yu Sheng has the equivalent of four teaspoons of sugar in it? Or that one pineapple tart has as much as one teaspoon of sugar? Of course the commercial is not all dry facts and figures. An exciting plot directs attention to these facts. The commercial is set in an olden-day Chinese restaurant, where a family is having their reunion dinner with their bodyguard standing watch. The bodyguard soon realises that the family is under attack from sugar villains sneaking copious amounts of sugar into their meal. A classic Kungfu fight ensues, interspersed with comedic villain-bashing moments. The bodyguard literally beats diabetes with powerful Kungfu moves like Sugar Defeating Darts and the Destroyer of Salt, Oil and Sugar, and saves the day. We were inspired by Kungfu classics, a staple during this festive period, and hope to deliver an action-comedy that will resonate with young people as well as the elderly. We are heartened that people can enjoy this short Kungfu flick while learning some useful facts about fighting diabetes, added Karen Tan, Senior Director of the Public Communications Division at MCI. We hope the classic story of good versus evil will resonate and remind people to take action to fight diabetes, said Jeff Cheong, President of Tribal Worldwide Asia. Aside from this 90-second TV commercial, two five-second clips, a Facebook gif and a mobile message greeting will be released over the next week and during the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year. "If it's not something that's being used for statistical purposes then it's not something I'd be too worried about. It's important to get that kind of feedback, as long as they're doing it sensitively," Professor Tanton said. "It took us only a couple of minutes to get in the water and by the time we got there we could see two people in the water so we picked them up," he said. Ms Ward said the government's suggestion that recklessness could not be proven was open to debate. If the shooters came from NSW, they could be expected to be aware of the need for a permit. If there was no reference to silencers on the gun licences, that "arguably could have alerted a responsible shooter to the need to inquire whether a permit to use the silencers was required". ACT Ambulance Service duty officer Chris Barry said: "The community should keep in mind that snakes are very active in the ACT at this time of year and you should exercise caution when outdoors." The telecoms firm filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy last week, facing a $600 million interest payment on debts of around $6.3 billion, according to reports. The company filed for bankruptcy after it failed in a bid to sell off its call centre business, and was unable to reach a deal with creditors. The loan was extended by an affiliate of Citigroup earlier this year. According to Avaya lawyers, a significant portion of the $725 million was funded by existing lenders. "The company has taken a decisive step to rightsize its balance sheet," Pat Nash, one of the company's attorneys, told Judge Stuart Bernstein at the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. In a statement on 20 January, Avaya CEO Kevin Kennedy said the firm was looking to restructure after an in-depth review of ways to address its capital structure. Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code allows companies time to restructure their balance sheet and try to survive. "Reducing the companys current debt through the chapter 11 process will best position all of Avayas businesses for future success," said Kennedy. Avaya was created in 1995 from the office equipment business of Lucent Technologies which went on to become Alcatel-Lucent and is now owned by Nokia. In 2009, after the private equity takeover, the company bought the enterprise solutions business of bankrupt Nortel for $900 million. 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 ... 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. Muthoot Finance Ltd, a gold loan company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wing Muthoot M George Foundation inaugurated it's educational initiative 'Muthoot M George Excellence Awards distribution 2016' for 400 government schools in Karnataka recently. The educational initiative is a part of one of the CSR activity undertaken by the company. The Excellence award for 2016 was inaugurated and distributed by Mr. Srinivas Murthy A, MLA along with Mr. George M Alexander, Director, The Muthoot Group. The other officials present during this occasion include Mr Babu John Malayil, DGM Corporate Communications Muthoot Finance Ltd, Mr. Sobhit Bhaskaran, Zonal Head, Muthoot Finance Ltd, Bangalore along with PTA members, Students and Parents. This scholarship will benefit students of 400 Government schools and consists of a cash prize of Rs.3000/- with a certificate duly signed by Educational Officer and Chairman of Muthoot M George Foundation. The scholarship award was launched in the year 2010 to the toppers of govt schools in Kerala, later in 2013 it got extended to state of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The selection of the scholarships is based on the list of rank holders prepared of various govt. schools in consultation with District Educational Offices. Speaking on this occasion Mr. George M Alexander said, "This year we are planning to distribute scholarships to 400 govt. school students in Karnataka as we felt that we should encourage the children from the deprived class, who constitute the main student population of Government schools and support. We will remain duly committed towards our commitment to the community through coming up with various corporate social responsibility in the near future." About The Muthoot Group: The Muthoot Group's business origins can be traced back to 1887 when it started as a small trading business enterprise in Kozhencherry, a remote village in the state of Kerala. Since its formation, the company, under the leadership of its key management - Shri M.G. George Muthoot (Chairman), Shri George Alexander Muthoot (Managing Director), Shri George Thomas Muthoot (Jt. Managing Director) and George Jacob Muthoot (Jt. Managing Director) has broadened its scale and widened its geographic scope of retail operations. About Muthoot M George Foundation Muthoot M George Foundation is, named after Late M George Muthoot, the Founder chairman, of the Muthoot Group, and started functioning in the year 1993. The Foundation's activities include support to the poor for their medical treatment, marriage of girls & education of children. Also it has projects to encourage Medical Research, and environment friendly life. Teach For India Invites Applications For 2017-19 Fellowship Program Dollar General St. Martin 003.jpg This Dollar General store on north Washington Avenue in the St. Martin community was robbed at gunpoint Saturday night. One employee was shot and injured during the incident. (Warren Kulo/Gulflive.com) ST. MARTIN, Mississippi -- A Dollar General store on north Washington Avenue in the St. Martin community was robbed at gunpoint Saturday night and investigators believe it may be related to a similar crime at a Dollar General in D'Iberville in December, according to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell. In Saturday night's incident, the suspect -- described as a tall, black male, about 20-23 years of age, with a slender build and dressed entirely in black -- entered the store, brandishing a weapon and demanding money. During the course of the robbery, he fired shots, striking one employee. Investigators believe the suspect left the scene in a waiting vehicle. A store employee said Monday her female co-worker had been struck in the arm and she was "doing good." The store is located just outside the entrance to The Reserve at Gulf Hills apartment complex and adjacent to a Family Dollar store. Anyone with information on either crime is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff's Department at 228-769-3063 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. Although the Financial Stability Oversight Council created by DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act could serve an incredibly useful purpose, FSOCs activities so far have been misguided, an insurance regulator said last week. Ted Nickel, president of the National Association Insurance Commissioners, took FSOC members to task for all the effort they have put into designating financial firms, including insurers, as systemically important financial institutions, or SIFIs. He spoke during a panel discussion at the Property/Casualty Insurance Joint Industry Forum on Jan. 17 in New York City. Nickel, who is also Wisconsins Commissioner of Insurance, was one of a group of regulatory experts who discussed changes in insurance regulation on the horizon at the Forum, speaking three days prior to the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president. Nickel, together with Ian Adams, senior fellow with the R Street Institute and Wall Street Journal Editor Leslie Scism also made predictions about the fate of the Federal Insurance Office of the Treasury department and discussed a recently negotiated international agreement on reinsurance and insurance regulation between the EU and the U.S. Push for FSOC Refocus Were going to be advocating for a repeal of the FSOC designation process, Nickel told Panel Moderator Chuck Chamness. If FSOC members would spend more of their time on gathering information on trends in the economy or trends globally that could wash up on our shores and result in financial peril, I think it would be beneficial to everybody. If FSOC members would spend more of their time on gathering information on trends in the economy or trends globally that could wash up on our shores and result in financial peril, I think it would be beneficial to everybody. Ted Nickel, NAIC President Photo by Don Pollard Chamness, president and CEO of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, had asked the panelists to handicap President Trumps top priorities as the new Commander-in-Chief seeks to reduce and roll back federal regulations enforced during the last eight years. Nickel, reporting on the wish list of NAIC members instead, also said that the NAIC would like to see the insurance commissioner member of FSOC have a vote on that board, particularly when theyre voting on matters of financial significance to insurers. (Editors Note: The state insurance commissioner representative of FSOC is a non-voting FSOC participant. NAIC announced that Peter L. Hartt, Director of New Jerseys Insurance Division, would became the state insurance commissioner representative in last August, replacing former North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm, whose term expired in September.) I think monitoring solvency of insurance companies is best done at the state level, Nickel said. I dont think the federal labeling of insurance companies [as systematically important] through the FSOC process has been particularly helpful given the fact that theres no off ramp, he added. But Nickel asserted that the FSOC body, can serve a very important purpose. Its best purpose would really be to gather on a regular basis and talk about and identify areas of systemic importance to the financial system of the U.S. Having those conversations on a regular basis can be ridiculously helpful, he said. I think thats one of the two jobs that they have thatmy understanding isthey dont spend a lot of time doing. My understanding is they spend a lot of time on the designation process. And if they would spend more of their time on gathering information on trends in the economy or trends globally that could wash up on our shores and result in financial peril, I think it would be beneficial to everybody. If they refocus their efforts, that would provide a lot of value. Scism said editors in WSJs Washington bureau believe that President Trump and the Congressional Republicans will be able to roll back parts of Dodd-Frank, suggesting three potential routes to gutting the parts related to SIFI designations. One way is to do this legislatively. Another might be through the FSOC process as Trumps appointeespopulate the FSOC, possibly voting not to redesignate Prudential Financial or American International Group when those matters come up before the FSOC again over the coming years. Offering a final possibility, she said, theres some speculation that the Trump administration would withdraw or pull out an existing lawsuit that FSOC filed to overturn a ruling by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, who rescinded MetLifes SIFI designation in March. (Related Bloomberg/Insurance Journal articles: Judge Calls FSOC Review of MetLife Fatally Flawed; Government Vows Appeal; U.S. Says Judge Nixing MetLife Too-Big-to-Fail Tag Profoundly Mistaken) From what my colleagues in Washington have picked up, theres a lot less enthusiasmmaybe theres no enthusiasm to have insurers designated as systemically important, Scism said. The case hasnt been made that Dodd-Frank will prevent a collapse. There just arent the signs that these insurers are putting the financial system at risk. That hasnt been presented in materials made public. Theres a lot less enthusiasmmaybe theres no enthusiasm to have insurers designated as systemically important. The case hasnt been made that Dodd-Frank will prevent a collapse. Theres a lot less enthusiasmmaybe theres no enthusiasm to have insurers designated as systemically important. The case hasnt been made that Dodd-Frank will prevent a collapse. Leslie Scism, WSJ Editor Photo by Don Pollard Nickel added: If an insurance regulator start[s] doing an analysis of a very large company, we dont have to have a special designation. We just, we get in there and we take care it. We take care of the financial issues as they arise at varying levels of increasing oversight. Hancocks Take Last November, when AIG CEO Peter Hancock was asked whether the prospect that the election results could be a gamechanger for non-bank SIFI regulation and for the giant insurer, he had this to say: To date, designation as a SIFI has not hindered us in pursuing our true north of maximizing intrinsic value, returning capital and optimizing our business in a way that makes sense. Theres a modest cost for complying with SIFI regulation over and above what we are already investing in controls, he said, adding that his company had probably done more than any of the bank or nonbank SIFIs to derisk. Hancock added: If theres a change in the composition of FSOC, that may change the way the relative importance of SIFI designation is in the eyes of those policymakers. Still, the change would be of little consequence, he suggested. For us, it just simply isnt a binding constraint on our capital returns and our objectives .Were focused very much on managing our capital prudently, being compliant with whatever regime exists. And even if FSOCs SIFI designation authority were to change, AIG would still have FSB [Financial Stability Board] and G-SIFI to worry about, he said, referring to the international designationand 200 other regulators. At the Forum, Scism noted that AIG has divested of businesses in the wake of the SIFI designation. It was about $1 trillion in assets before the financial crisis .Its now about 500 million in assets. So, its now in third place behind MetLife and Pru, she said. Recalling that the Forum took place almost a year to the day that MetLife announced that it was going to divest about one-fifth of itself to spin off most of its retail life insurance operations, she said the remaining company will be a very different company than the one that was designated a SIFImainly a group life insurer mostly with 40 percent of its business now outside the U.S. The report of the changing structures of the insurers prompted a question from Chamness about the SIFI designation process: Is this a sign that its working? Nickel isnt buying it. I dont have any problem with a gazillion-dollar company, the state insurance regulator said. If theyre handling themselves, if theyre working [through] problems. If theyre collecting premiums, paying claims, doing their investments. I dont care how big [the insurers] are. It shouldnt be the size of the company that just automatically puts them in the crosshairs of a third party, in this case, FSOC, and in many cases on the European front [with] some of the designations that FSB makes. The role of the regulator shouldnt be to strong arm and threaten companies to get smaller or else. Thats just not a good way to regulate. I regulate, and my folks regulate on the basis of risk. Too big is not a risk to me. A risk is doing dumb things and not having yourself positioned accordingly, not thinking about future areas that might be of concern and addressing those upfront is worrisome, he said. Also troubling is the very idea that SIFIs are selling pieces of themselves in the hope that someday somebody looks at them and says youre not here anymore Never mind. Thats not an off ramp. Thats just guessing until somebody doesnt think youre as important as they thought you were, Nickel said. I struggle with the premise of too-big-to-fail. I think theres an element of too-risky-too-fail, or too-big and too-risky to fail. But just too big isnt not something I subscribe too, he concluded. What Happens to FIO? I would be surprised if there was a serious reevaluation of FIOs existence for the simple reason that its an appointment. Its a place for someone else to land in a town that trades on favors. I would be surprised if there was a serious reevaluation of FIOs existence for the simple reason that its an appointment. Its a place for someone else to land in a town that trades on favors. Ian Adams, R Street Institute Photo by Don Pollard Another outgrowth of Dodd-Frank was the creation of the Federal Insurance Office, something that Chamness said NAMIC brought some level of skepticism to initially, adding that the office remains troublesome in terms of its data collection authority and the covered agreement authority that has just been used. But Scism said theres at least one area where FIO serves a lot of good, it seems like by unanimous agreement. After the financial crisis of 2008, it became really evident that there was really poor understanding of how the insurance industry operates. It seemed like a lot of people in Washington really didnt understand the difference between banks and insurers and how they financed their operations, she said. FIO does bring some insurance expertise to Washington, she said, suggesting a reason for the office to continue. Adams of the R Street Institute, a free market think tank, had a simpler reason: I would be surprised if there was a serious reevaluation of the offices existence for the simple reason that its an appointment. Its a place for someone else to land in a town that trades on favors, he said. Covered Agreements: Too Early Turning to the negotiations that saw FIO and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative hammer out an agreement with EU negotiators, the panelists said it was too early to evaluate the specifics of the covered agreement, long envisioned as a means of allowing non-EU countries to be determined to be equivalent to Europes Solvency II regime in terms of group supervision and reinsurance. Our office staffs and NAIC staff are reviewing what was finally decided. Im not prepared to make a resounding endorsement of what occurred, said Nickel, referring to the accord that was announced less than a week before the Forum. (Related article: U.S., EU Reach Insurance Regulation Agreement) Nickel did say that part of the agreement that gives some authority back to the U.S. with regard to group supervision are providing comfort so far. On the other hand, our concerns thus far have been trying to completely understand the reinsurance piece, he said, referring to provisions calling for an end to local presence and collateral requirements for U.S. and EU reinsurers. Having no collateralor eventual collateral elimination is just a bit of an anathema to us. We have always build a regulatory framework around making sure there was collateral so we had the ability to enforce judgments. So, as a regulator, when you lose that authority, you get a little bit nervous, Nickel said, indicating that state regulators will probably have some more to say about that going forward. Turning to the overriding promise of the covered agreement negotiations, Chamness asked, Did we get equivalence? If you do a word search on the terms equivalence and mutual recognition, neither of them show up, Nickel said. Noting that a full-fledged review is yet to take place, there are some areas that were comfortable with where the agreement landed, he added. It did give us more flexibility, more authority over our companies; it took away some the authority that some of the Europeans had over U.S. companies with European entities .So, I think there are some areas where it made some process, he concluded. Global banks, already accelerating plans to pull back from London as Brexit looms, are increasingly concerned that Prime Minister Theresa May is underestimating the time theyll need to adjust to the upcoming changes in trade and regulations. Despite the prime ministers promise to seek a transitional phase, financial professionals expressed disappointment after Brexit Secretary David Davis estimated that the period would amount to one to two years. Lenders are saying the government needs to ensure that they have time to adapt amid signs that the process will move quickly. Although the premier used terms like a phased process of implementation to avoid a cliff edge, Brexit Secretary David Davis estimated that the period would amount to one to two years. On top of the two years the government will use to negotiate its break from the EU, the industry will need at least three more years of access to the EU in its current form to adapt to what comes next, one bank executive said. An industry lobbyist suggested it might need as long as five years. Worst Case The U.K. leader indicated this week that shell pull Britain out of the European Unions single market, prompting banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and HSBC Holdings Plc to begin detailing their strategies to shift thousands of jobs out of the country to ensure continued access to the bloc. Talking about transitions and phase-ins will be important, Barclays Plc Chief Executive Officer Jes Staley told Bloomberg Television on Thursday from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. A lack of clarity on the governments part could force banks to assume the worst and begin enacting their contingency plans early and perhaps switch over more activities than they might do with more insight. Bankers are also concerned that discussions between the U.K. and EU on a transitional phase will come late in the divorce process. The finance industry needs time to make adjustments including finding offices abroad, shifting capital, moving or hiring staff, seeking regulator approvals in new locations and ensuring existing financial contracts remain legal. By talking of an implementation period, the government may just be aiming for enough time for firms to make technical legal changes rather than overhaul their businesses, Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Robert Wood told clients in a report this week. Politics is also in play. A lengthy adjustment period could be seen as foot-dragging by those who campaigned for Brexit and could hurt May if she ends up fighting for re-election in 2020 with deep ties to the EU still intact. Davis told the BBC on Wednesday that any interim arrangement wont be a long time and will be determined by the terms of the final deal. Before 2020 Markets seem to interpret transition as effectively maintaining the U.K. in the EU perhaps until the mid-2020s, Wood said. That is, in our view, unlikely. If the U.K. leaves the single market it would take away banks ability to sell wares across the EU from bases in London, forcing them to open operations on the continent. Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin and Paris are among the cities in their sights. Lloyds of London, the insurance market, is pushing ahead with plans to open European headquarters outside of Britain and will decide where to go in the first quarter, Chief Executive Officer Inga Beale said in an interview on Friday. Morgan Stanley may move as many as 1,000 jobs in sales and trading, risk management, legal and compliance, as well as back-office positions, Reuters reported Friday, citing an unidentified source. Citigroup Inc. could move about 100 positions, according to the report. We continue to evaluate what changes we may need to make to our business, and no decisions have yet been made in this regard, Mark Lake, a Morgan Stanley spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement. Citigroups Danielle Romero-Apsilos declined to comment. Piecemeal Access May said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Thursday in Davos that she wanted to ensure that we can keep financial services in the City of London. I believe that we will do just that. While bankers hope May can match her words with action, previous EU trade accords with countries outside of the block have tended to allow only piecemeal access to the continents markets for finance. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond argues Britain should be a special case, saying companies and consumers throughout the EU benefit from the U.K. financial industrys might and therefore have an interest in safeguarding it. Any diminution of Londons financial system would be bad for the EU and U.K., he said in Davos. EU leaders may not be persuaded, as cities on the continent look for ways to lure jobs from London. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned in Davos that any negotiations for banks to be able to penetrate the EU from the U.K. will be very difficult and would take a lot of time. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Kaufman 009.jpg Former Ocean Springs Public Works Director Andre Kaufman (right) and his attorney, Dustin Thomas, sit at a conference table in Thomas' Pascagoula office. Kaufman has been the subject of a more than three-year investigation by the State Auditor's Office centered on the sale of scrap metal from the public works complex. (Warren Kulo/The Mississippi Press) OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi - For more three years Andre Kaufman has waited. Waited for his turn, waited for state auditor's investigators to call him or his attorney, waited for the district attorney's office to call. Waited for his chance to tell his side of the story, to show the voluminous evidence he has which he believes will exonerate him. And still he waits. In March 2015, The Mississippi Press learned of what at that time was an 18-month investigation by the State Auditor's Office which centered on the sale of scrap metal by the Ocean Springs Public Works department, of which Kaufman was then the director. Investigators were told that scrap metal was being sorted into two categories - scrap metal which came from public buildings or property, and scrap which was dropped off by residents at dumpsters in the public works compound on Pine Drive. They were loaded separately and taken to local scrap yards to be sold. Monies from the sale of city scrap was returned to the city, while monies from the sale of public scrap was "unaccounted for." About the same time as the investigation first became public, auditor's investigators traveled to Ocean Springs to interview several city officials, including Mayor Connie Moran, most of the board of aldermen, and other city employees. Yet, more than three years after the investigation began, investigators have never once spoken or communicated with Andre Kaufman. "If there is a report and they've never spoken with guy in charge of it, they're making a conclusion without giving him due process," said alderman Greg Denyer. "I don't think they've followed due process - at least that's the way I see it." His attorney, Dustin Thomas, says he has contacted the auditor's office on several occasions, with little response. At one point, he was able to track down an attorney in the auditor's office who at least wrote back. From there, Thomas was able to speak with an attorney in the Attorney General's office who confirmed the investigation was "ongoing." Since the investigation became public in March 2015, Thomas has advised Kaufman to remain silent - despite Kaufman's fervent desire to defend himself. But now, after three years of waiting, Thomas gave Kaufman the go-ahead to speak publicly and he granted The Mississippi Press an exclusive two-hour interview earlier this month. But to understand how the investigation and all that surrounds it reached this point, one must go back to the beginning. A "toxic relationship" Almost from the day Connie Moran was sworn-in as Ocean Springs mayor in July 2005, she and Kaufman butted heads. Kaufman was widely recognized for running what was considered one of the best public works departments in the state and he often ran the department with an iron fist. But his methods got results - particularly in the wake of Hurricane Katrina roughly six weeks after Moran took office. Kaufman was known to be outspoken and not afraid to take issue with the mayor - or the aldermen - when he felt it necessary. Aldermen say that may have been the root issue between Kaufman and Moran. "I think some of that contentious relationship stemmed from the fact Andre was a strong department head," said alderman Matt McDonnell, "in the sense that he questioned things that didn't appear to be right, or weren't right. He made no bones about it. He wasn't afraid to challenge not only the mayor, but each of the aldermen from time to time, as to whether our requests (of public works) were valid or if they were even legal. "When things were not being done correctly and he questioned that, that created some of the issues (between Kaufman and Moran)." "Those two never got along," said alderman Jerry Dalgo. "They were always at a loggerhead. It was a toxic relationship. Does it surprise me that at the end of the day it led to something like this - losing such a valuable employee? No, that part doesn't surprise me." At the same time the investigation went public, Moran suspended Kaufman for three days and roughly a week later, after a 5-hour executive session, Kaufman announced he was stepping down as public works director and would stay on as a project manager until he retired in June 2015 after 20 years with the city. "It was a terrible deal," alderman Bobby Cox said. "We never even had a vote on (Andre's status), as I recall. Andre did some very good things for this city and you can tell the difference since he's been gone - although we lost our inmate labor, too, and that hasn't helped. Andre had a way of getting things done that other people have trouble doing." For his part, Kaufman isn't hesitant to place blame for his abrupt exit from his job. "She was after me constantly," Kaufman said of Moran. "She made the statement in front of a group of people - two of whom came to me and repeated it - saying 'Andre is a cancer on this city.' You can print that. That was before all of this (investigation) started." He also says Moran attempted to fire him four other times. Kaufman also said the night he agreed to step down as director, he and Thomas were sitting in a conference room along with Kaufman's daughter, April, while Thomas wrote out a statement for the press. Moran suddenly jerked the door open, looked at Kaufman's daughter and said "We got him - and you're next." "That's exactly what she said," Thomas confirmed. "I was stunned," Kaufman said, adding his daughter had been outspoken in her criticism of Moran for what she perceived to be Moran's witch hunt against her father. Kaufman is also certain it was Moran who initiated the auditor's investigation. "If you put the blame (for the investigation) where it belongs, if falls squarely on her," Kaufman said. The Mississippi Press contacted Moran by voice mail seeking comment on this story. She responded, asking questions be posed via email, and the newspaper complied, sending several questions. Late Friday afternoon, Moran issued the following statement: "I was alerted by Public Works staff of possible irregularities. I turned this information over to the Chief of Police, whose department conducted their own investigation and in turn contacted the District Attorney. The District Attorney then took the information to the State Auditor. I did not contact the Auditor's Office and did not meet with them until after their investigation had begun. Upon request of the investigators I did not share information with anyone. We have no further comment as to Mr. Kaufman's employment status or the circumstances of his leaving the employment of the City of Ocean Springs. This is standard procedure regarding personnel issues." "Blanket approval" At the July 20, 2010 meeting of the board of aldermen, Kaufman requested, and was granted, permission to dispose of scrap metal received at public works "on a case by case basis with blanket approval by the Board," according to the minutes from that meeting. No distinction was made between public (city-owned) scrap and private scrap dropped off by residents. "I don't think they even realized they had given their approval," Kaufman said. The item was listed within the Consent Agenda on the meeting agenda of July 20, 2010. The Consent Agenda is a list of "routine" items that are approved as a whole with one vote of the board. "They left it up to him," Thomas said. Aldermen say they recall giving that approval. "I do remember him requesting to where every time he had to go out and make a run to the scrap yard it wouldn't have to be placed on the agenda (for approval) every single time," McDonnell said. "I do remember him requesting that from the board." "I was aware we did that and that Andre was having his people separate the scrap metal and then taking it over and selling it," Denyer said. McDonnell also acknowledged the vagueness of the agenda item of July 2010 may have led to some confusion. "That's a valid point, but I don't think there was thorough knowledge by anybody on the board there were two different types of scrap being sold," he said. "We just viewed scrap as scrap and we didn't really differentiate between city scrap and scrap brought to the dumpsters by the public." How it worked Once he was given what he believed to be full authority by the board to dispose of scrap metals as he saw fit, Kaufman and his department heads came up with a system for disposing of the scrap metals. A page from the ledger kept to record the balance and expenditures from the public works sale of private scrap. Initials of public works department heads can be seen at the right side of the page. City and private scrap metals were kept separate. An inmate laborer would generally be assigned to monitor the public dumpster for any scrap appearing to be of value - old lawnmowers, BBQ grills, propane tanks, screen doors, etc. - and separate it from the rest of the trash brought to the dumpster. Once enough scrap had been gathered to warrant a trip to a local scrap yard, the scrap would be loaded onto trailers - one for city scrap, one for private. Photographs were taken of each individual load before it left the public works compound. "I wanted to document what was going on," Kaufman explained. "I photo'd the city scrap, too. Everything." When the loads of scrap were sold, checks for city scrap were made out to the City of Ocean Springs and turned over to the city clerk's office. As no bank account was ever opened for the funds derived from the sale of private scrap, the checks were made out to Kaufman and placed in a safe in his office. Photocopies of each check - whether made out to the City or to Kaufman - were made. "I told Andre 'You're letting city employees take scrap to sell and then putting it in your name,'" Thomas said. "'If you were trying to get away with a bunch of money out of this, you weren't doing a very good job hiding it.'" "There was never any attempt to do anything wrong, but I knew I needed to be thorough with what documents I had," Kaufman said. "I knew it. This started long before the auditor came here or when I knew (the mayor) had talked to the auditor. I started documenting everything from day one. "We used city trucks and trailers because I had permission from the board to do it. Never were city scrap and private scrap comingled. Checks (for private scrap) were made out to me because they had to have a name on them - they couldn't be made out to the City." Where did the money go? At the time the investigation became known, it was said roughly $16,000 was "unaccounted for." Dalgo said he remembers a similar number being mentioned by investigators when he was interviewed in March 2015. "They had to have had cooperation from somebody at city hall," Dalgo said, "because they had figures they showed me outlining all of the money that had been generated from the sale of scrap. They had it broken down into two columns - one that showed the money that went into the general fund and the other that showed what was unaccounted for." Dalgo added he recalled the two figures being roughly equal. Kaufman says that of all that has been written or said about him relative to the investigation, what bothers him the most is the inference he pocketed any of the money. "When this thing first came out in the papers, it bothered me, it bothered my wife," he said, remembering an incident where a store cashier, waiting on Kaufman's wife, made an unkind remark. "That really upset her." So where did the money from the sale of private scrap go? Documents in the form of logs, journals and copies of receipts - many signed off on by other public works employees - indicate the funds garnered from the sale of private scrap were disbursed throughout the community - to charitable organizations such as The Lord Is My Help, the Poor Man's Yacht Club bike drive, and others. Other times, the money was used to provide Christmas gifts for underprivileged children identified by local churches and schools. Sometimes funds were used to provide a meal for public works employees - particularly during times the staff was working around the clock following weather events such as a tropical storm or heavy rains which caused flooding. Scrap metal monies were also used to purchase flowers for the funeral of an Ocean Springs Fire Chief, purchasing plaques for the Public Works Employee of the Quarter and, on at least one occasion, to help a public works employee whose spouse had been laid off right before Christmas. Every donation or expenditure from the scrap metal fund was voted on by a committee of public works department heads, along with Kaufman and (then) assistant director Johnny Groue. Logs detailing various disbursements show where committee members signed off on them. "There wasn't a single expenditure from the funds generated from the sale of scrap that was unknown to the committee," Kaufman said. "What I was doing was giving back to the community. Everything we did was for the community, with the exception of a few times we fed the public works employees. And everything we bought in terms of food or supplies was purchased local. We did business with Pleasant's (BBQ). We went to Castaways (Bar & Grill) and bought their pork chops because the guys like their pork chops. We went to Rouse's - everything we did was local." When cash was needed to purchase supplies or to make a cash donation, Kaufman would take the checks written to him, cash them at a local bank, and then give the money to public works employees to either purchase the goods or drop off the cash donation. The only time Kaufman recalls personally delivering a donation was each Christmas season he and another person, normally Groue, would deliver turkeys and hams purchased for the Mississippi Department of Corrections facility in Pascagoula as a thank you for the inmate labor - a program which has since been eliminated by the state. "That's very accurate. Very accurate," Larry Hill said when asked about the public works donations. Hill spent 30 years with the MDOC and was the commander in charge of the inmate labor program before retiring. "For a number of years, (Kaufman) and Johnny Groue would deliver hams or turkeys - sometimes both - to our facility in Pascagoula. They'd always bring that stuff to us around the holidays." Mary Ruddiman, director of The Lord Is My Help soup kitchen in Ocean Springs, likewise recalls the cash donations she'd receive from public works. "They donated on a semi-regular basis when Andre was there," she said. "I haven't seen anything in the last year or so. Andre was always helpful to us, going above and beyond what his position required." Kaufman says aldermen were aware of the donations his department was making and some of the board members had been guests at the fish frys or shimp boils held for public works employees and knew how those lunches were funded. "One more than one occasion, there were aldermen present for those lunches and they knew where the money came from," he said. "I can't say all the aldermen knew, but some of them did. I had board members at the shrimp boils. They always wanted to know when the shrimp boils were. We invited them to come. If we were trying to hide something, inviting the aldermen wasn't the best way to do it." "I wonder if (aldermen) would sit there and wonder how it was paid for," Thomas said. "If they didn't know, it seems like that would have been a legitimate question - how was it being paid for, what fund was it coming out of?" Aldermen, however, deny any knowledge that those lunches were paid for through the sale of scrap metal. "The only knowledge I had was that they had guys out monitoring the dumpsters at public works," McDonnell said. "I had personally taken trash to those dumpsters as opposed to going all the way out to Tucker Road (landfill). But in terms of what they collected, I didn't have any real first-hand knowledge as to how they determined what items were sold and for what. As far as I knew, those things were sold and the profits turned back over to the city coffers." Denyer, Dalgo and Cox all said basically the same thing. "I didn't even know what was going on," Dalgo said. "I didn't know there was a safe (in Kaufman's office). I didn't know scrap was being rescued from a dumpster and turned into cash to help feed the guys or donate. I found out about it the day I met with the investigators." "I didn't know about it until it came out in the paper," Cox said. "I didn't even know they saved it or piled it up." "I was aware of the practice of separating the scrap metal," Denyer said, "but I wasn't aware of how it was happening, when it was happening - but I think we were all aware Andre was using his people to separate the scrap metal and then taking it over and selling it." Dalgo, however, intimated that some aldermen were aware of where the money went. "Some of them were aware of it, based on conversations I had with them at the time," he said. "I was totally oblivious. But I'm not down there (at public works) micromanaging, either." Kaufman noted, and aldermen agreed, that the public works staff had been making charitable donations around Ocean Springs for years prior to the sale of scrap program - funding those donations through contributions by employees out of their paychecks or by holding fundraisers. The investigation Based on Moran's comments in March 2015, the investigation started sometime around the fall of 2013. Yet neither Kaufman nor any of the aldermen who commented for this story say they knew anything about it until it became public roughly 18 months later. McDonnell, Denyer and Dalgo each said they had no knowledge of it until they were contacted to set up a meeting with auditor's investigators in March 2015. Cox was not interviewed by investigators and didn't learn of it until it came out in local media. Dalgo recalled receiving his call from the mayor herself, asking when he could meet with investigators. "I asked her what it was about," he said. "She said 'I can't tell you.' I asked 'Do you know?' She said 'Yes,' so I said "Then tell me.' She said 'Jerry, I can't.' I finally asked her if the investigation had anything to do with me, and she said 'No.'" Dalgo also remembered getting a call from a Mississippi Press reporter that afternoon and was surprised to learn the newspaper had found out about the investigation before he did. "The mayor wouldn't even tell me what it was all about and I had to go through the angst and anxiety of meeting with investigators before I knew what it was all about," he said. In a statement released that same day, Moran wrote, in part, "We became aware 18 months ago of potentially illegal activities in a city department." Aldermen are curious as to who the "we" is she referred to in her statement. "She used the word 'we' in her statement. She should have used the word 'I,'" Dalgo said. "Unless she's talking about someone other than her and the aldermen. I remember calling other aldermen and asking them if they knew anything. The answer was always 'no.' She hadn't told us anything." "She never communicated it to me," McDonnell agreed. "My first knowledge of it was when I received a call from the auditor's office." Kaufman is aware none of the aldermen were informed of the investigation by Moran - and thinks he knows why. "When the investigation first became public, the mayor said it had been going on for 18 months," he said. "There's not a single board member who will tell you she told them about it. None of them knew until the investigators came down to interview them. She was concerned I had too much pull with the board and they wouldn't do anything." While auditor's investigators have never spoken with Kaufman, neither did Moran - either before or during the investigation. Kaufman believes it was Moran herself who contacted the auditor's office. "I was appalled she never talked to him," Thomas said. "What did she do, immediately call the auditor's office without giving Andre so much as the benefit of a phone call to discuss it? That's appalling to me. Then, why wouldn't you at least tell the aldermen this is going on, since it's happening in the city they've been elected to represent?" Among the questions posed to Moran via email was why she never met with Kaufman. She did not respond to that question in her statement. "It's unconscionable to me the mayor put (the investigators) on me without providing them with all the information, which I know she had because what I have is a copy of what was sent to her," Kaufman said. The State Auditor's office, as is its practice, has steadfastly refused to either "confirm or deny the existence of an investigation." A call to the auditor's office from The Mississippi Press seeking explanation as to why the Kaufman investigation has taken more than three years was never returned. Both Kaufman and McDonnell equated what public works was doing in using city resources to make charitable donations to the police department's "Shop With A Cop" program in which police officers would solicit donations from businesses throughout town and then use those donations to take underprivileged children shopping. "The 'Shop With A Cop' program is one I endorse wholeheartedly," McDonnell said, "but if we have the police department or police officers using city equipment to go out and solicit donations or funds are being solicited on city time, then there's really a grey area with even that type of activity. "Those things were brought to the auditor's attention," he continued. "I thought 'Wait a minute - if this is procedurally wrong, what would be the difference in using city employees on city time, riding around in city vehicles, soliciting donations for any other charitable activities?'" The fallout In early April 2015, roughly two weeks after the investigation became public, Moran placed Kaufman on three days leave. She did so without board approval, as is allowed by law, and - citing federal privacy laws - never announced why Kaufman had been suspended, although she subsequently sent a letter to aldermen outlining her grievances against him. Days later, after a 5-hour executive session, Kaufman met with the media and announced he was stepping down as public works director, with his retirement taking effect in June. Oddly enough, never once during the 5-hour private meeting was the subject of the investigation touched upon. Dalgo told The Mississippi Press at the time that discussion of the investigation was taken "off the table." "I had no intention of resigning that night," Kaufman said. "I went into the meeting that night confident I could beat the mayor's accusations, because we had the file showing I had done nothing wrong. Dustin came in dragging this box on a cart behind him, but there was never any discussion of what I had done or any of that - except the fact the mayor had written a letter with her complaints and suspended me." The "Andre Box" -- a box containing hundreds of pages of documents and photos detailing the entire scrap metal sale program at Ocean Springs Public Works under Andre Kaufman. Thomas calls it the "Andre Box" - a box containing meeting agendas, minutes, correspondence, logs, copies of receipts for items purchased, copies of all checks received for city and private scrap and photographs of every load of scrap taken to scrap yards. "They all kept looking at the box that night," Thomas said. "I don't think they wanted the lid to come off of it." Kaufman expressed disappointment that none of the aldermen - many of whom he had worked with for years - supported him. "None of them, even my so-called friends, spoke in my defense in this mess," he said. Denyer noted that he and McDonnell were each out of town at the time the meeting to determine Kaufman's fate was scheduled. They asked the meeting be postponed until they could return, but Moran and the other five aldermen went forward. Groue, Kaufman's longtime assistant, was first named interim director for public works and later appointed the permanent director. He resigned from that post effective Jan. 5 to take a job with Jackson County. Attempts to reach him for comment on this story were unsuccessful. Nothing criminal "I had no reason to believe that anything going on with the scrap wasn't on the up and up," Kaufman says. "It was done with the knowledge of anyone who was at or around public works." "Anyone who hears this should realize -- no matter what else they might think of what was going on -- that there was no criminal intent here, that nobody was stealing anything from anybody," Thomas said. "That's why I've been so willing to let Andre speak to investigators from day one." On that point, aldermen are in full agreement. At worst, they say Kaufman may be guilty of a procedural violation. "I never did (believe there was any criminal wrongdoing)," McDonnell said, "only because I've known Mr. Kaufman a long time and I knew how he ran his department. I certainly believe the intent he had was to make sure the money they were generating was utilized in a fashion that would benefit the city, either through charitable donations or the things he was able to do for his department, to cover things he didn't have the money budgeted for." "I don't think anybody was stealing any money," Denyer said. "I think it was just a procedural deal, which would be perfectly ok to do in private business, but apparently not for city business. You can do it in a governmental agency, but it has to go back into a specific fund. At least that's my understanding." Dalgo said he's not entirely convinced there were violations of any kind. "To me, taking pure trash and repurposing it to where you don't have to ask for money for good, charitable causes, to do it the way they were doing it - I don't find anything criminal about that. In fact, if anything - and this would be a stretch in my mind - it may have been a breach of policy. But that may even be a stretch, in my mind." "Hindsight being 20/20, maybe he could have gone about it in a different fashion to where this wouldn't have escalated to the point it did, but that's all water under the bridge now," McDonnell added. Aldermen won't say with certainty Moran orchestrated the investigation to facilitate pushing Kaufman out, but they each expressed regret for how Kaufman's tenure with the City ended. "I just know it was not a good relationship," Cox said. "I do know that. But I can't state for a fact she was trying to get rid of Andre - at least not there until the end when she made it known to everybody." "Whether this was a cooked-up deal to leverage him out, I don't know that I have enough information to speculate," McDonnell said. "But I will say this: it certainly had the appearance - when you sat down and learned that an investigation had been going on for a year and a half and none of us (aldermen) had any knowledge of it - it certainly appeared it was something that could be used to leverage his exit from the City." What's next? As noted in a story earlier this month, a source close to the situation told The Mississippi Press the district attorney's office had in December been told to expect the file on the Kaufman investigation "after the first of the year." If and when the file is received, it will be up to the DA's office whether or not to present the case to a Grand Jury. "I want the auditor's office to send the file to the DA," Thomas said, "and then I want to meet with the DA's office and let them see there was no wrongdoing here. As soon as they want to meet with us, Andre and I will be there." "I don't want this to just not be discussed anymore," Kaufman said. "I want to be exonerated, publicly. And I want the newspapers to print it as vigorously as they did when the investigation first came out." Kaufman and Thomas are fully confident Kaufman will be cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and once that happens, Kaufman says not only does he believe apologies are in order, but hinted there may be legal action taken. "I don't know how they (the auditor's office) operate, but I think they should apologize," Kaufman said. "I think the mayor should. I think the mayor and others should be concerned I might come after them for unjustly terminating and prosecuting me, for creating a hostile work environment. "I've been drug through the mud over this and I think someone should be held accountable for it." Arnold Schwarzenegger has a thing for large and rugged looking vehicles, having owned quite an impressive collection that included Hummers and Unimogs. However, Californias former Governor decided to address the climate change problem, and since the aforementioned vehicles no longer align with his new ideas, he had to reassess his personal collection. After doing some research, the 69-year old star found a small battery startup in his home country of Austria, launched by three brothers. The companys name is Kreisel Electric and its already producing electric motors, battery packs, and prototypes, so their work convinced the Terminator to have them modify his personal Mercedes-Benz G-Class. 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That points not lost on the Blue Oval, which offers complimentary, hands-on tutelage to buyers of many Ford Performance vehicles. And now its extended its high-performance driving school to owners of the new F-150 Raptor. The latest addition to the Ford Performance Racing School at the Utah Motorsports Campus in Grantsville is the Raptor Assault program. The program includes classroom sessions as well as extensive course time to learn how to handle the off-road performance truck on the terrain its been designed for. According to the automaker, that includes instruction in rock crawling, Baja runs, high-speed driving, side-hilling, descending and braking techniques, all the while educating owners in the finer points of the six driving modes offered by the vehicles Terrain Management System. The one-day program is offered free of charge to anyone buying or leasing a new Raptor, and includes use of a vehicle (and the requisite safety gear) on-site. Travel and lodging are up to the participating owners, who can also opt (at extra charge) to take a second day of instruction on track behind the wheel of a Mustang GT. Of course the Raptor Assault program isnt the only course offered at the Ford Performance Racing School. Hot-hatch buyers have the similar opportunity to take part in the ST Octane Academy or RS Adrenaline Academy, while owners of the Shelby Mustang are invited to the same facility to enroll in the GT350 Track Attack program. That takes care of just about every car and truck in the Ford Performance lineup short of the Ford GT, owners of which, wed expect, will be offered an even more extensive program. Photo Gallery As you may or may not be aware, there are two companies called Rolls-Royce. One is the luxury automaker that produces such high-end rides as the Ghost, the Wraith, and the Dawn. The other is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of aviation engines. Lest there be any confusion on the matter, its the latter thats been making headlines for the past few days. The aerospace company officially called Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc has been under investigation for the past several years over allegations that it won contracts in countries around the world through questionable means. Those revolve principally around the bribery of key officials in countries such as Russia, India, and Nigeria. Under the leadership of CEO Warren East since 2015, Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc cooperated with investigators from the UKs Serious Fraud Office, freely providing incriminating documents uncovering the criminal activities of his predecessors and intermediary brokers who acted on the companys behalf. With the investigation now complete, Rolls-Royce has agreed under a Deferred Prosecution Agreement to pay the equivalent of over $600 million in fines in the UK, as well as another $170 million in the United States and over $25 million in Brazil. The first year of payment alone (between all three countries) will come to over $360 million. The behaviour uncovered in the course of the investigations by the Serious Fraud Office and other authorities is completely unacceptable and we apologise unreservedly for it, said East. This was unworthy of everything which Rolls-Royce stands for, and that our people, customers, investors and partners rightly expect from us. Founded in 1904 by Charles Stewart Rolls and Sir Frederick Henry Royce, the company started out making automobiles, but branched into aircraft engines during the First World War. Rolls-Royce Limited began developing jet engines in the 1940s, an endeavor that eventually lead to its financial collapse and nationalization. The British government subsequently split the company into two one dealing with automobiles and the other with aircraft engines with the former sold to Vickers and the latter separately incorporated and launching its IPO on the stock market in 1987. BMW took over the automaker in 1998 and turned it into the company we know today. But in an arrangement not unlike those between the Volvo automaker and truck manufacturer, both the luxury automaker and the troubled aerospace concern share the rights to the same brand name and logo. With a workforce of over 50,000 employees worldwide, Rolls-Royce Holdings reported revenues of $17 billion in 2015. Meanwhile Rolls-Royce Motor Cars employs some 1,300 people and sold just over 4,000 vehicles last year. At around $300k a pop, that would work out to about $1.2 billion in revenue contributed to the BMW Groups bottom line or less than a tenth of its former sister companys annual turnover. Photo Gallery Photo: Charlie Angus Veteran Ontario New Democrat MP Charlie Angus says he has moved into the second phase of his possible campaign to lead his party. Angus, who launched a new website Sunday, says he is trying to build a national team of volunteers and collect donations after spending weeks reaching out to family, colleagues, constituents and supporters. He says the "unnerving" inauguration of President Donald Trump speaks to why it is necessary to build a national political movement in Canada that offers a positive reason to get involved. So far, the lengthy race to replace Tom Mulcair in October remains wide open. B.C. MP Peter Julian is the only person to formally register with Elections Canada but he says he has yet to make a decision about the race. Other possible contenders include Manitoba MP Niki Ashton and Ontario deputy NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. Photo: The Canadian Press Israel's prime minister on Sunday accepted an invitation to visit the White House next month in hopes of forging a "common vision" for the region with President Donald Trump that could include expanded settlement construction on occupied territories and a tougher policy toward Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his plans to head to Washington in early February hours after delaying a vote on an explosive proposal to annex one of the West Bank's largest settlements, apparently to co-ordinate his policy toward the Palestinians with the new administration. The move put on hold legislation that threatens to unleash fresh violence and damage already faded hopes for Palestinian independence. It also may have marked Trump's first presidential foray into Middle East diplomacy. After eight years of frosty relations with President Barack Obama, Netanyahu has welcomed Trump's election as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two allies. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was gearing up plans to expand settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem a policy that had been condemned by Obama. Late Sunday, the two men held what Netanyahu's office described as a "very warm conversation" by phone. It said they discussed the international nuclear deal with Iran, which both men have harshly criticized, and the Palestinian issue. "The prime minister expressed his desire to work closely with President Trump to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region, with no daylight between the United States and Israel," the statement said. It said a date for Netanyahu's visit would be finalized in the coming days. The White House said Trump told Netanyahu that peace with the Palestinians "can only be negotiated directly between the two parties" and that the U.S. will work closely with Israel on that goal. Trump also affirmed his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security" and his administration's focus on countering terrorism, the White House added. With Trump signalling a more tolerant approach toward the much-maligned settlement movement, Israel's nationalist right now believes it has an ally in the White House, and Israeli hard-line leaders make no secret they will push for aggressive action in the occupied West Bank. Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, has been pushing Netanyahu to abandon the internationally backed idea of a Palestinian state and to annex the Maaleh Adumim settlement near Jerusalem. But after convening his Security Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said his Cabinet ministers, including Bennett, had decided "unanimously" to delay action on the annexation plan until he goes to Washington to meet with Trump. In order to placate Bennett, Israeli media reports said Netanyahu had promised the ministers to clear the way for expanded settlement construction in east Jerusalem and in major West Bank settlement "blocs" that Israel hopes to keep under a future peace deal. He was quoted as saying his "vision" is to place all settlements under Israeli sovereignty. In Washington, Trump described their phone call as "very nice." Photo: Contributed Is your Internet connection slow? How do you know? And, I found a new way to get files from one computer to another. But you need a good connection. Why is the Internet so slow? There are lots of reasons for this, but you have to start somewhere. Start with understanding what speed youre getting vs what speed youre paying for. It is ridiculously easy to determine what speed youre getting. You dont need to download any programs to do this. (In fact, you shouldn't download any programs to do this. Theyre probably crapware at best and malware at worst.) Here are the three easiest way to check your speed. Open Google search, and type in speed test. Click on Run test. Youll see the results presented clearly in text. Browse to Fast.com/. You dont have to click on anything else. Youll see the results of the download speed test. Browse to the Internet Speed Test. Click on Test now and watch a beautifully presented set of test results come back to you. You can scroll down the page to learn how to interpret those results. Now that you know what speed youre getting, you can compare it with what youre paying for. Check your Internet Service Providers bill or call your provider to get this information. High Speed and High Speed Lite are not speeds, they are names of products. You are looking for a number to compare with the number for download speed in the speed test. Why is this important? Well, because if your test results show youre getting six mbps and youre paying for 30, someone needs to fix something. If youre getting six and you're paying for six, then you might want to pay for faster Internet. Transfer files from one computer to another with your browser When you want to send a lot of files (like pictures) or a large file (like a video or spreadsheet-from-hell) to someone, email is an extremely inefficient and insecure way to do that. There are so many alternatives. But most of them either insist you create an account or limit the amount of data you can transfer, or store your files on their servers. Sometimes thats not what you want. If you cant be bothered creating accounts and dreaming up passwords or you simply dont want your stuff in the cloud try Take A File. Its dead easy. Open your Firefox or Chrome browser. Browse to https://takeafile.com/. Drag and drop your file(s) into the box on that page. Take A File generates a link to that file. Its still on your computer; youve never uploaded it the way you do for WeTransfer, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Facebook and so on. Send the link to someone (or send it to yourself to download on another computer or your smartphone) and keep that tab open in your browser until your recipient downloads the file. No one has to create and account or login. The file is encrypted during transfer. Only someone with the link to the file can get the file. When the sender closes his/her browser, the link wont work. I still love Dropbox, and I still use OneDrive and Google Drive to store files that I want to share. But when I just need to get something quickly from one place to another, Take A File looks like a good solution. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Former President George H.W. Bush's health continues to improve and his wife, who is also recovering from illness, has chosen to remain hospitalized one more night to be "closer to her husband," a family spokesman said Sunday. The 92-year-old former president and his wife Barbara remained at Houston Methodist Hospital. He has been receiving treatment for breathing difficulties from pneumonia while she is recovering from bronchitis. The 41st president's vital signs are normal and doctors hope he can be moved out of intensive care in the next day or two, said Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath. Bush has been in the Houston hospital now for a week. Doctors on Wednesday inserted a breathing tube, and a ventilator was employed to assist his breathing. The tube was removed Friday. Barbara Bush, 91, entered the hospital Wednesday after feeling run down and coughing for the past few weeks. Doctors determined she had bronchitis. Her health has improved since receiving treatment. "Mrs. Bush was given the option of being discharged today, but has elected to remain at Houston Methodist Hospital one more evening to continue her recovery and to be closer to her husband," McGrath said. McGrath added the Bushes wanted to make sure "they thank their well-wishers for their kindness, and especially their prayers." In a tweet on Saturday, McGrath said the couple's spirits were up, they were very interested "in inauguration doings" and were "very happy" that President Donald Trump went to see the men and women of the CIA. On Saturday, Trump travelled to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and spoke to a group of about 400 people in attendance. Bush served as CIA director from 1976 to 1977. The couple's 72-year marriage is the longest of any presidential couple in American history. Photo: The Canadian Press Exiled Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh stole millions of dollars in his final weeks in power, plundering the state coffers and shipping out luxury vehicles by cargo plane, a special adviser for the new president said Sunday. Meanwhile, a regional military force rolled in, greeted by cheers, to secure this tiny West African nation so that democratically elected President Adama Barrow could return home. He remained in neighbouring Senegal, where he took the oath of office Thursday because of concerns for his safety. At a press conference in the Senegalese capital, Barrow's special adviser Mai Ahmad Fatty told journalists that the president "will return home as soon as possible." Underscoring the challenges facing the new administration, Fatty confirmed that Jammeh made off with more than $11.4 million during a two-week period alone. That is only what they have discovered so far since Jammeh and his family took an offer of exile after more than 22 years in power and departed late Saturday. "The Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are virtually empty. That is a state of fact," Fatty said. "It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia." Fatty also confirmed that a Chadian cargo plane had transported luxury goods out of the country on Jammeh's behalf in his final hours in power, including an unknown number of vehicles. Fatty said officials at the Gambia airport have been ordered not to allow any of Jammeh's belongings to leave. Separately, it appeared that some of his goods remained in Guinea, where Jammeh and his closest allies stopped on their flight into exile. Fatty said officials "regret the situation," but it appeared that the major damage had been done, leaving the new government with little recourse to recoup the funds. The unpredictable Jammeh, known for startling declarations like his claim that bananas and herbal rubs could cure AIDS, went into exile under mounting international pressure, with a wave to supporters as soldiers wept. He is now in Equatorial Guinea, home to Africa's longest-serving ruler and not a state party to the International Criminal Court. Jammeh's dramatic about-face on his December election loss to Barrow, at first conceding and then challenging the vote, appeared to be the final straw for the international community, which had been alarmed by his moves in recent years to declare an Islamic republic and leave the Commonwealth and the ICC. Barrow's adviser disavowed a joint declaration issued after Jammeh's departure by the United Nations, African Union and West African regional bloc ECOWAS that bestowed a number of protections upon Jammeh, his family and his associates including the assurance that their lawful assets would not be seized. "As far as we're concerned, it doesn't exist," Fatty said. Photo: The Canadian Press A robbery inside a San Antonio shopping mall ended with shots fired on Sunday, leaving one person who tried to intervene dead, three others shot and another two people taken to hospital with non-shooting injuries, police and fire officials said. Police Chief William McManus said two suspects robbed a jewelry store at the Rolling Oaks Mall on Sunday. "What we have here is a robbery gone really, really bad," McManus said. After the suspects fled the store, a man, described by McManus as a "good Samaritan" tried to stop the two men. One of the robbers then fatally shot the man, McManus said. A second individual, who was carrying a licensed concealed weapon, then shot and wounded the robber who had killed the person who intervened, McManus said. McManus called the fatal shooting "absolutely senseless." The victim's name was not immediately released by authorities. The other robber fled the mall, firing his weapon and injuring a man and a woman. These two individuals, along with the injured robber, were taken to local hospital, said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood. Two other people a woman who complained of chest pains and a pregnant woman who had labour pains were also taken to local hospitals, Hood said. The condition of the people who were injured in the incident was not immediately available. McManus says police are still looking for the other robber who is believed to have left the mall. "We searched the mall and we feel as confident as we can feel that the suspect is not in there," McManus said. Photo: CTV Toronto Public Health says norovirus may be the cause of an outbreak that has affected more than 200 students at a city college, but the agency is waiting for laboratory confirmation. Dr. Michael Finkelstein, an associate medical officer of health at the agency, says the illness was first reported to public health on Friday, after 40 people at a Humber College campus were sent to hospital. He says that so far, 50 people have been sent to hospital, but only one person has been admitted for treatment of dehydration. The rest were examined in the emergency room and then released. Most of those affected live in the college's north campus residence, which houses about 1,000 students. Finkelstein says those affected by the illness experienced symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and abdominal pain, which are consistent with norovirus. He says norovirus is highly contagious, causes severe symptoms quickly, but it also goes away very quickly. A spokesman for the college said on Friday that students began reporting symptoms around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, with more cases surfacing through the night. At that point, there were only about 77 reported cases. While the setting of the outbreak may be somewhat unusual Finkelstein said that he'd never investigated an outbreak on a college campus before it isn't necessarily surprising. "When you bring this number of people in a small space like a college residence, certainly that does increase the risk of a virus like norovirus spreading from person to person." "They're using common bathrooms," he added, which presents ample opportunity for germs to spread if sinks and toilets aren't cleaned between uses. A representative from the college said common areas are now being cleaned more often, and Finkelstein said students should be sure to properly clean their living spaces to prevent the disease from spreading further. Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario's Liberal premier has written an open letter to newly announced candidate for Conservative leadership Kevin O'Leary criticizing his proposed policies and comments he made about Ontario's auto sector. Kathleen Wynne wrote that she thinks O'Leary believes the government's role should be to serve "society's most well-off," based on policies he's outlined thus far. O'Leary announced that he's running for Conservative leadership last week. Wynne wrote the letter in response to comments she said O'Leary made to the media, though she didn't give specifics about which media outlets. She said O'Leary was "inaccurate on just about every count" when he told media that Ontario falls behind Michigan when it comes to investment in the auto sector. She closed off the letter by welcoming the former "Dragon's Den" and current "Shark Tank" star to the political arena. "I respect anyone who is willing to enter the den," she wrote. O'Leary's campaign didn't immediately provide a response to Wynne's letter. Photo: The Canadian Press A severe storm system that spun off apparent tornadoes and left scattered destruction around the Southeast has claimed at least 18 lives on a two-day sweep across the region, authorities said. The enormous system put millions of people in the South on edge during a weekend of violent weather that left crumpled trailer homes, downed trees and caused other damage in the hardest-hit communities from Mississippi to Georgia. The severe weather threat was still continuing Sunday night in some parts, extending into the Carolinas and north Florida. At least 14 people were killed Sunday in Georgia as the fast-moving storms tore across the state throughout the day, with at least one deadly tornado reported before dawn and violent storms still rumbling after nightfall. Four people were killed Saturday in Mississippi when the system began its deadly assault. "There are houses just demolished," said Norma Ford, who rushed out with other relatives Sunday evening after hearing a reported twister had overturned her nephew's mobile home in the southwestern Georgia city of Albany, the region's largest city with some 76,000 residents. She said downed trees and powerlines made roads impassable, forcing them to walk the 2 miles to the mobile home park to check on her relatives. She said her nephew was fine, but several of his neighbours' homes were destroyed. Georgia's latest three deaths were confirmed Sunday evening in Dougherty County where Albany is located, said Catherine Howden, spokeswoman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Sebon Burns, the county's deputy chief for emergency management, said search and rescue efforts were continuing Sunday night following reports of injuries and extensive damage. Yet the day's deadliest toll came before daybreak Sunday when an apparent tornado blew through a mobile home park in south Georgia about 60 miles southeast of Albany shearing away siding, upending homes and killing seven people. Coroner Tim Purvis of south Georgia's Cook County confirmed that seven people died at the mobile home park, where roughly half of the 40 homes were "levelled." Georgia state emergency officials initially reported an eighth death in that county, but Howden later said that was incorrect. The other deaths in Georgia were reported elsewhere. Not far from the mobile home park, 19-year-old Jenny Bullard wore a sling on her injured arm as she combed through the rubble of her family's brick house. All that remained standing Sunday afternoon was the master bedroom and parts of the kitchen. "It's a horrible tragedy," Bullard said. "But all this stuff can be replaced. We can't replace each other. We're extremely lucky." Photo: The Canadian Press Natalie Harris was afraid to fall asleep. As a young paramedic in Barrie, Ont., Harris went to bed dreading her next nightmare. Nearly every night, she says she bolted upright screaming and drenched in sweat. In the morning, she sat frozen in panic, unable to put on her uniform. "I'd be crying and crying ... I couldn't control it and I didn't know why," she recalled. "I wished I had a broken leg. If I could've just had something that was fixable and explainable, then my recovery would have been a lot easier. "Eventually, suicide was my only option to get away from the terror in my mind." Harris now knows she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the many disturbing calls she responded to during her career, including a blood-soaked motel room where a man had fatally slashed the throats of two women and tried to kill himself. Next month, Harris will join a group of first responders and families in the House of Commons to call for a national strategy to help Canadian paramedics, firefighters, police officers and veterans who are in crisis. British Columbia MP Todd Doherty has introduced a private member's bill that would create a framework to track the disorder, establish guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and management, and would create education materials to be used by public health providers. It is set for second reading Feb. 9. Doherty said he had spoken with hundreds of veterans and first responders with heartbreaking stories, as well as family members whose loved ones have died by suicide. "I fear that if we don't do something, at all levels, we're going to lose more," he said. Scott Bardsley, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, said the government is working on a plan to address post-traumatic stress injuries. It has consulted with provinces, territories, public-safety officers and health-care practitioners, he said. Consultations have emphasized the need for prevention and early intervention, more research and awareness, the reduction of stigma, and an enhanced support for diagnosis, care and treatment, he said. "We promised Canadians renewed federal leadership on post-traumatic stress injuries," he said in a statement, adding the government will formally respond to Doherty's bill at second reading. A national strategy should also include increased funding for psychological care, said Vince Savoia, the founder of the Tema Conter Memorial Trust. The trust is named after the woman whose murder he responded to as a young paramedic in 1988. Since 2014, 183 Canadian public safety and military personnel have died by suicide, according to statistics kept by the organization. This year, already three first responders and one veteran have killed themselves, including Lionel Desmond of Nova Scotia, who shot and killed his wife, daughter and mother before shooting himself. "We have a massive problem," Savoia said. Photo: The Canadian Press A woman who treated her son with holistic remedies including dandelion tea and oil of oregano before he died of a strep infection is expected to learn her fate today. Tamara Lovett, 48, is accused of failing to provide the necessaries of life and with criminal negligence causing death. Her seven-year-old son Ryan died in March 2013 after getting an infection that kept him bedridden for 10 days. Alberta's chief medical examiner testified at Lovett's trial that the boy's body was full of group A streptococcus, which caused most of his major organs to fail. The medical examiner also said it appeared that Ryan had died well before paramedics responded to a panic-stricken, early-morning 911 call from Lovett. The trial heard Lovett failed to give the boy life-saving antibiotics. She told police officers she thought Ryan was suffering from a cold or the flu, and that he seemed to be getting better. Just a couple of days before he died, he was complaining of pain in his leg, his eyes became jaundiced and he couldn't stand on his own, she said during a police interview. She said she called 911 after he began convulsing and collapsed. Justice Kristine Eidsvik has indicated it's not a question of whether Lovett was an "attentive and loving mother," but at what point a reasonable person would have called a doctor. Prosecutor Jonathan Hak argued Lovett is the only one to blame for the seven-year-old boy's death. "Her best was woefully inadequate,'' Hak said in his final arguments to the judge. "The defendant's failure to obtain medical care for Ryan directly caused his death. It was cruel and morally unforgivable, but, more importantly, legally unforgivable.'' Lovett's lawyer, Alain Hepner, said she was a loving mother who did everything she could and realized too late how sick he really was. "She believed in the remedies. She was wrong, her judgment was wrong and, as such, she waited to call the doctor. But ... that doesn't raise that conduct to criminal standard,'' he said. Photo: The Canadian Press The Newfoundland police officer who says Don Dunphy aimed a rifle at him before he shot him three times saw no conflict in sending an email explaining his actions to the lead RCMP investigator. Const. Joe Smyth of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary told an inquiry into the killing that he saw no problem including the investigator on an email sent to about 400 RNC and RCMP officers. "I didn't see it as being a conflict" or having an impact on the probe, Smyth told the inquiry Monday. He said the email, which was leaked to media on the day of Dunphy's funeral, was to urge co-workers to reach out to troubled individuals. He stressed that although he sent the email -- signed "Joey" -- to so many people he never meant for it to be shared beyond the police community. "I was almost sick to my stomach," Smyth said of the realization it had been leaked to media on the day of Dunphy's funeral April 10, 2015 held five days after he was killed. "This is such bad timing" he recalled thinking, and said he thought of the family. Smyth said it hadn't occurred to him the email might be leaked. The note says Smyth couldn't regret his actions, but he told the inquiry he does regret it was "too late" to intervene with Dunphy in a different way. Smyth says he opened fire in self-defence on 59-year-old Dunphy on Easter Sunday 2015. Smyth had gone alone and unannounced to Dunphy's house in Mitchell's Brook on St. Mary's Bay after staff in then-premier Paul Davis's office flagged comments on Twitter. Smyth says Dunphy invited him in but the conversation suddenly got heated just before Dunphy reached beside his recliner and aimed a .22-calibre rifle at him. The RCMP says a loaded rifle was found at Dunphy's feet, and found no charges against Smyth were warranted. Dunphy's daughter has questioned the fairness and thoroughness of the Mounties' probe of the killing, which happened in RCMP jurisdiction. Smyth has denied planting the gun, after Meghan Dunphy told the inquiry her father was never a violent man and that she does not believe Smyth's account. The weapon, which had belonged to Don Dunphy's late father, had not been fired. Dunphy's daughter and several friends say they never heard Dunphy speak of the rifle or otherwise use guns. He did, however, always keep a metre-long stick at the right side of his chair for protection in case of a break-in. Also Monday, Smyth admitted that an email he later sent directly to lead RCMP investigator Cpl. Steve Burke was "probably" inappropriate. Smyth sent it past 3 a.m. on July 29, 2015 asking Burke for an update. His report is due by July 1. If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... After her disastrous turn in front of the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions last week, the odds of Betsy DeVos not being confirmed as secretary of education have to at least be a lot higher than they used to be. It seems like no stretch to say that she is no slam dunk, if she ever was. Now Lamar Alexander, the committee chair who has done his best to grease the skids for DeVos , has announced that the vote on DeVos confirmation will be delayed by a week. The reason Alexander gave for the delay made some sensehe said he wanted to give the committee time to review DeVos ethics paperwork , which was not finally available until the end of the weekbut its not hard to imagine that DeVos poor performance in her confirmation hearing might have had something to do with it too. Had she proven herself to be even remotely qualified, in other words, it would have been much easier for Alexander to push her nomination right on through in spite of the ethics paperwork. But she didnt, and now things are a little murkier. For starters, this ethics paperwork is genuinely troubling: DeVos has claimed at least $580 million in assets and has a tangle of connections to all kinds of different entities that at least raise questions about possible conflicts of interest (especially for a person who has been a vocal proponent of private, for-profit education), not to mention questions about what DeVos actually stands for. DeVos sits on all kinds of different boards and has given away millions of dollars to a variety of causes. Whatever DeVos believesand I do think that she must show that she will support all children who attend public schools, no matter what their race, ethicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristics may bethe assets she declared are simply mind-boggling. It would take the average teacher making about $45,000 a year over 11,000 years to make $580 million. It seems reasonable to say that she lives on an entirely different planet than the one most teachers inhabit. Of course being rich does not disqualify someone from public service, but it does make me wonder how well a person whose primary charge is to administer the provision of federal funds to ensure some semblance of equity in our nations schools will embrace the work that needs to be done. And that leads me to my point: DeVos may well still be confirmed as secretary of education, in spite of the questions and in spite of her performance last week. But she does not appear to be well informed about the nature of the job and doesnt seem to be especially well qualified to do it. And she was Trumps first choice for the job. What happens if he has to go to a backup plan? Actually, as it happens, DeVos apparently was not Trumps first choice: its been reported that he asked Jerry Falwell, Jr., the president of Liberty University, to take the job first. Ill let you be the judge of whether or not Falwell would have been a better choice than DeVos (lets just say its not grizzly bears hes afraid of ), but let me just say this: as bad as DeVos is, I could imagine a spurned Trump doing even worse. Someone is going to have this job, in all likelihood; if its DeVos it wont be because she didnt profess a love for public education. And if its somebody else it probably wont be because that person did. Im not suggesting that this means no one should stand in the way of DeVos confirmation. Far from it. I hope teachers and others concerned about education policy will continue to make themselves heard as the vote on her confirmation looms next week. Keep tweeting. Keep posting wherever you post. Keep talking to other people, and keep writing and calling Congress. Do whatever it takes to keep the pressure on. But then remember, if DeVos is somehow voted down, that Trump will just end up picking somebody else. Whether DeVos is confirmed or not, we will still have a president who said in his inaugural address that we have an education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge. Thats all knowledge, folks; deprived of all knowledge. And flush with cash, too. What Trump doesnt understand, of course, is that one reason we spend so much money on education in this country is because we distribute it inequitably (reinforcing the importance of having a competent secretary of education), and more importantly, because every single child who shows up to school is welcome to come inside, regardless of his ability to pay, regardless of where she came from, regardless of what adults might think of his or her ability to learn. To some people this generosity is a sign of weakness, something that holds us back and keeps us from being able to report the same test scores posted in some other countries. To me, its the thing that makes Americas schools the most American thing about America, to borrow a phrase. Our schools do deliver quite a bit of knowledge to our children, not all of which is tested. They would do this even better if they were led by someone with the vision to see that public schools serve an invaluable civic function in a democracy. DeVos does not seem to share that vision and neither, for that matter, does Jerry Falwell. Both seem challenged by the idea that our Constitution requires the separation of church and state, just to cite one example, and neither seems to appreciate how important public schools are to the health of a democratic society. Nor does Trump, whose scorn for our institutions of public life is well known and worn by him as a badge of honor. My hope is that Betsy DeVos will not be the next secretary of education; my fear is that even if she isnt many people will be satisfied with the fact that her candidacy was derailed and, once the spotlight has faded, will turn their attention to other things. We dont know who Trump might nominate if DeVos nomination fails, but we can be pretty sure that supporters of public education will be disappointed again no matter who it is. If thats the case lets remember the effort that was put into educating our representatives in Congress and the public at large about the damage DeVos could do to public education and redouble our efforts to make sure any future nominees who share those positions have their feet held to the fire too. As the nation inaugurated its first Twitter President, I traveled to San Diego to meet with Alan Daly , who is studying the impact of how the little 140-character messages are bending big politics. Daly chairs the Department of Educational Studies at the University of California, San Diego. Along with Jonathan Supovitz at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and Miguel del Fresno, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia in Madrid, Spain, Daly analyzed more than 200,000 tweets about the Common Core of State Standards. The battle over the Common Core, played out at #CommonCore, has heated up again with the Trump campaign and the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be education secretary (see #DumpDeVos). But Im talking with Daly about bigger things: Did Twitter just elect a President? Changed Political Communication Daly isnt ready to attribute the election to Twitter, but he clearly sees that it has changed political communication. Twitters use by Trump allows him to bypass the professional media, those elites that controlled the messages for decades, he said. My generation was raised on the belief that influential newspaper columnists and editorials influenced opinion leaders, who then influenced their followers. That didnt happen in this election. Only 2 of the largest 100 newspapers in the country endorsed Trump . The opinion leadership of major newspapers has been in decline for a long time as more people relied on television as their primary news source. Still, leadership fell to the three major networks, and some TV icons, such as Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite were counted as the most trusted people in the country. Cable news created both a dispersion of opinion leadership and the beginning of the extreme polarization we see now, as Fox News became a conservative mouthpiece and MSNBC a comfort zone for liberals. (In the locker room of the gym where I work out, grown men enact a daily game of picking the political channel they like and then hiding the remote control.) But cable television is still unidirectional: elites of whatever stripe talking to the masses. Twitter and other social media both splinter the audience and allow it to interact. The original message can be amplified, built on, and often distorted. Tweets in the Millions The volume of traffic is stunning. In Dalys research on the Common Core, the research group found more than 190,000 tweets sent over a six-month period. New research, to be published soon, tracks nearly 1-million tweets. Analysis reveals distinct groups, who mostly interact with one another: a group largely composed of educators who supported the Common Core, another group of educators who opposed it, and a much larger group of non-educators who both opposed the Common Core and linked it to broader social issues, such as government intrusion. What amounts to a new media elite sits at the core of these three groups: about 150 people who both transmit large numbers of messages and whose messages are mentioned in others tweets. The research report calls them transceivers, and their opinions and ideas are often considered worthy of mentions by others, giving them prestige in a network sense. Now, lets apply the same logic to Trump tweets. Candidate Trump sent more than 34,000 Twitter messages to his 20.4-million followers. CNN published an annotated list. That makes him a significant message sender, in the same league as the Kardashians. Outflanked Mainstream Media Without question, he has outflanked the establishment media, an effect that they are just starting to counter. The American media are terrified of Trump. They are freaked out by his ability to talk directly to the American public, a commentator wrote on the Fox News web site. The New York Times, which has 32-million Twitter followers, wrote, Mr. Trumps Twitter accounta bully pulpit, propaganda weapon and attention magnet all rolled into onehas quickly emerged as a fresh journalistic challenge and a source of lively debate. He has also been successful in getting the mainstream media to repeat his messages, essentially acting as his transceivers. Trump has unleased another tweet. When he does, the mediaespecially cable news outletsgoes into overdrive, with experts trying to decipher what Trump meant by his latest 140-character musing. Next come the political pundits who speculate over the political potential fallout from the tweet. And before we can ever figure out if Trump is actually signaling a strategic policy change or if he was just bored and felt like tweeting, then he is on to the next series of tweets prompting an identical media reaction all over again, said a CNN writer . But because Twitter is two-way communication, it is also a two-edged political sword. The MIT Media Lab examined 2016 campaign tweets, just as Daly and his colleagues examined those concerning the Common Core. A story by VICE News-Canada shows Trump supporters formed a particularly insular group. They had few connections to Clinton supporters or the mainstream media. Clinton supporters were more splintered and tended to include overlapping networks of journalists. (As VICE reports, the journalist bubble probably contributed to the inaccuracy of pre-election polls.) But the tight boundaries in the Trump network will certainly create future political problems for him. Its hard to be a populist President when you have lost the popular vote by 3-million votes. Its even harder when your supporters create their own echo chamber. Trump Messages Seed Doubt While Trumps campaign tweets were successful in rallying loyalists, his Presidential messages already seed doubt and pushback. At #POTUSTrump a day after the inauguration, there are already tweets about impeachment and about international disillusionment over the possibility of U.S. protectionism. So what of the power of Twitter in politics? Tweets didnt swing the election for Donald Trump. In a contest where a swing of 100,000 votes in three states would have created a different outcome, almost anything can be taken as the cause for Trumps victory. The feckless FBI, Russian espionage, Clinton campaign errors, and unmotivated Democrats; these are all on my list. But Twitter has changed the face of politics in ways that go well beyond the 2016 election. As Daly and his team said in their research report: The growth of a social media-savvy network of activists has given rise to a new and influential faction in the struggle for political influence. Future columns in this series will examine Twitter and Common Core politics and the use of network analysis to build stronger school and district leadership. [Thanks to Marquisha Spencer, a Claremont Graduate University doctoral student, for her assistance with this column.] Is It Illegal to Buy a Gun for Someone Else? Short answer: it depends. Generally, secretly purchasing a gun on someone else's behalf from a gun dealer, called a straw purchase, is illegal. If the end recipient is not disclosed to the gun dealer/seller, they cannot run the background check for the actual purchaser/owner. However, it is possible to legally purchase a gun for someone, or give a gun as a gift, but there are hoops to jump through. After all, it's a gun, and guns are very dangerous. In most states, when giving or selling a gun, there are laws regarding registering the transfer, and some states even require the transfer be done through a licensed gun dealer. Furthermore, if you are aware, or have reason to believe, that the person receiving the gun is not legally allowed to own a gun, then it is illegal to give that person a gun. If you are planning on buying a gun for someone else, either as a favor or for a gift, you may want to take a moment to look up the laws in your state. Illegal Gun Transfers are Serious Crimes Under federal law, a person could face 10 years in jail as well as $250,000 in fines if they help someone obtain a gun by purchasing the gun on their behalf from a federally licensed dealer without disclosing the actual recipient. Despite the fact that this happens quite frequently, it is rarely prosecuted. Depending on state law, transferring the ownership of a gun within your own state without registering the transfer can have very serious consequences. States like California, Colorado and New York require all gun transfers to be done through licensed dealers. Serious Controversy Just a couple years ago, the Supreme Court made a controversial decision on this very issue. A man who had purchased a gun for his uncle in another state did not disclose that his uncle would be the actual recipient of the firearm for the background check. When it was discovered that he lied on the application, he was arrested and convicted of making false statements under the straw purchaser law. Despite the fact that his uncle would have passed the background check, the act of providing false information on the application justified the conviction in the Court's opinion. Related Resources: Sri Lanka: INSEE Cement links with universities 23 January 2017 Cement manufacturer INSEE Cement (formerly known as Holcim (Lanka) Ltd) has signed a partnership with three of Sri Lankas universities Peradeniya, Moratuwa and Ruhuna to boost the local construction industry with research agreements. This partnership was formalised between INSEE Cements Sri Lankan corporate unit, Siam City (Lanka) Ltd. The agreement implies INSEE Cements assistance with research on identified challenges faced by the construction industry, knowledge sharing with the universities and academia, as well as the transfer of knowledge/solutions developed with the collaboration with the universities to the industry on different applications. At INSEE, we encourage new thinking and innovation to strengthen the future of the local construction industry, said Janaka Weerakoon, commercial director of Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd. With this partnership, INSEE Cements dedicated Innovation and Application Center is looking to address these challenges through continuous research and collaboration, thereby introducing application-based cement products to the market that provide swift, high quality, safe and economic solutions. INSEE Cement heavily invests in creating premium quality products that strictly adhere to the countrys quality, safety and operational health regulatory requirements. INSEE Cements Palavi and Ruhunu Analytical Laboratories are accredited for cement mechanical testing based on ISO / IEC 17025:2005 standards from national accreditation authority, the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment (SLAB). The company also maintains a culture of safety first in a formidable industry for all stakeholders, also providing the latest in safety equipment to encourage best practices in process and production. Published under UK: Ribblesdale plant begins GBP25m upgrade project 23 January 2017 Hanson is implementing a seven-year project at Ribblesdale cement works in Clitheroe, Lancashire, to improve production efficiency and emissions. In the first six months of the GBP25m project, GBP11m is being spent on improvements and maintenance to enable the plant to meet and exceed new dust emission regulations. This project represents the plant's biggest capital investment programme since the 1990s and includes a GBP2m replacement of the dust filters on two cement grinding units. Plant manager, Terry Reynolds, said: "The permitted dust level is being reduced by 66 per cent in April, from 30mg/m2 to 10mg/m2 the new grinding plants will perform much better than this, running well below the new maximum after the installation." At GBP6.5m, the replacement of the wet gas scrubber the house-sized unit that removes sulphur and odour from kiln gases is the largest investment. While the three-month scrubber installation starts in March, 75m of ducting has already been replaced as part of a five-year improvement plan for the sites exhaust gas handling system. Environment Manager, Nick Sharpe, said: "The ducts dated back to the 1980s so needed to be replaced. They range in in size from three to five metres in diameter and the new lengths prevent fugitive emissions leaks and improve overall efficiency since cold air is not sucked into the process, so theres a double benefit." Published under Zuckerberg Sues Hawaiians for Their Property: What's 'Quiet Title'? When you buy a piece of property you want to know that you, and you alone, own what you've just purchased. This may seems obvious, but when it comes to buying real estate, ensuring that no one else has a legal claim to the land can get a bit more complicated. This is especially true in Hawaii, where state law can grant property rights to descendants, sometimes without their knowledge. And if you're Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and you just bought 700 acres on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, that means filing legal claims against hundreds of Hawaiians to ensure their legal claims to the land are extinguished. Land Status Updates As the Honolulu Star-Advertiser describes, land in Hawaii was not always available for sale and private ownership, and once private ownership was permitted, certain legal protections on "kuleana lands" were put in place for native citizens: Kuleana lands refers to real estate initially acquired by Hawaii citizens through the Kuleana Act of 1850, which followed the Great Mahele, in which the Hawaiian kingdom began allowing private ownership of land. Often, Kuleana lands automatically passed to heirs of the first owner in absence of a will or deed, and then down through subsequent generations of descendants who in some cases now own just fractions of an interest in the property without documentation. Almost a dozen small parcels of such land cross Zuckerberg's new estate, some as small as two acres, and he has filed at least eight lawsuits against as many as 300 people (some living, some dead) in an effort to gain sole ownership and access to the entire property. A Loud "Quiet" Action Depending on your perspective, Zuckerberg's lawsuits are either an aggressive land grab, uprooting native landowners, or the legal means by which unwitting landowners can be properly compensated for their property. "Quiet title and partition" actions force the sale of undeveloped land to the highest bidder at a public auction. The Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law says the law has been used to reduce Native Hawaiian landownership: "Partition by sale in particular is highly problematic for the Native Hawaiian community because it severs a family's connection to ancestral land." Zuckerberg defended the legal action, saying it's the only way to fairly compensate landowners, "descendants who own 1/4% or 1% of a property [who] don't even know they are entitled to anything." "To find all these partial owners so we can pay them their fair share, we filed what is called a 'quiet title' action. For most of these folks, they will now receive money for something they never even knew they had. No one will be forced off the land ... We love Hawaii and we want to be good members of the community and preserve the environment. We look forward to working closely with the community for years to come." Related Resources: Mathematician Stephen Wolfram and his company do a lot of consulting for Hollywood. But he doesn't often do it on an urgent basis because a movie is about to shoot and they neglected to "tech the tech." When I first started looking at the script for [Arrival], I quickly realized that to make coherent suggestions I really needed to come up with a concrete theory for the science of what might be going on. Unfortunately there wasn't much time and in the end I basically had just one evening to invent how interstellar space travel might work. Here's the beginning of what I wrote for the movie makers about what I came up with that evening (to avoid spoilers I'm not showing more) He builds a convincing technical and scientific backstory for space travel that informs the movie production rather than being dumped on the viewer. But he also offered suggestions on fixing little howlers ("You shouldn't say the spacecraft came a million light years; that's outside the galaxy; say a trillion miles instead.") and found that the process of line-editing screenplays reminded him of software design. ("cut out any complexity one can, and make everything as clear and minimal as possible.") He also created, at short notice, a whiteboard covered in physics jibber-jabber when the filmmakers were doing reshoots. Irony: he's not used one in decades. Shradha Agarwal, left, and Rishi Shah founded ContextMedia in 2006; it's now known as Outcome Health. (Blue Sky photos) ContextMedia, the Chicago-based health information provider, is rebranding as Outcome Health. The bootstrapped company was founded by Shradha Agarwal and Rishi Shah in 2006. It builds products including digital anatomy boards to help doctors talk to patients about illnesses or treatment options, and digital waiting room screens, which display programming relevant to an office's patient population. Advertisement The company said in an email it plans to officially announce the name change on Tuesday. The new name seems to signal an increased focus on patient outcomes. In a LinkedIn post about the change, Agarwal wrote Outcome Health wants to "bring health intelligence and decision-making tools through our technology platform to activate the best health outcome possible for every person in the world." Advertisement ContextMedia announced in November it was acquiring competitor AccentHealth, which nearly doubled its footprint. It now has products in more than 55,000 doctors' offices and other health care locations. AccentHealth's 160 employees joined ContextMedia, which had about 500 of its own employees in Chicago and New York in November. mgraham@chicagotribune.com Twitter @megancgraham Microsoft's effort to halt the FBI's so-called sneak-and-peak searches of emails may ride on whether it's allowed to defend its customers' constitutional rights. The judge who will decide whether the case can go ahead told the company's lawyers to be ready in court Monday to address earlier rulings that undercut their arguments. At stake is half of Microsoft's case to block the U.S. from secretly accessing customer data stored in the cloud, including email. Microsoft drew support from tech leaders including Apple, Google and Amazon.com when it sued the Justice Department in April. They say the very future of mobile and cloud computing is at risk if customers can't trust that their data will remain private. The federal law allowing searches goes "far beyond any necessary limits" and infringes users' Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and seizure, they contend. The Justice Department argues it needs such digital tools to help fight increasingly sophisticated criminals and terrorists who are savvy at using technology to communicate and hide their tracks. Disclosing the searches would undermine investigations and put Americans at risk, they argue. A decision for the U.S. would give an early victory to President Donald Trump, who said during his campaign that he would compel technology companies to cooperate. The case may never reach that point unless Microsoft wins the argument that it has the ability to sue or standing to protect customer privacy. "Standing has been a barrier in cases that seek to vindicate people's privacy rights," said Jennifer Granick, a Stanford Law School professor. "It's a serious issue in conducting constitutional litigation, and this case is no different." Four court decisions listed by U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle all reached the same conclusion Fourth Amendment protections can only be cited by individuals, and not vicariously by third parties. The most recent was a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the family of a driver who was shot and killed by police after a high-speed chase couldn't invoke that right on his behalf related to a lawsuit over his death. Microsoft's lawyers may have anticipated the Fourth Amendment challenge in their complaint, stating that the government's silent searches of user data have directly injured it by "eroding the customer trust" in the company. The industry's push against government intrusion into customers' private information began in the wake of Edward Snowden's 2013 disclosures about covert data collection that put them all on the defensive. Microsoft said when it filed its lawsuit that federal courts had issued almost 2,600 secrecy orders barring it from disclosing government warrants for access to private email accounts. It said more than two-thirds of those orders have no fixed end date, meaning the company can never tell customers about them, even after an investigation is completed. The Redmond, Wash.-based company concedes there may be times when the government is justified in seeking a gag order to prevent customers under investigation from tampering with evidence or harming another person. Still, the statute is too broad and sets too low of a standard for secrecy, Microsoft contends, arguing regarding the other half of its case that its own free-speech rights are being violated by the orders. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy group supporting Microsoft in the case, fears a ruling that the company can't sue could mean no one will ever have the right to file a data privacy lawsuit under the Fourth Amendment. The people whose privacy might be violated will never find out about the searches, said Andrew Crocker, a lawyer for the group. "We obviously think that providers should be able to raise the rights of their customers," Crocker said. "Otherwise you're cutting customers out of the equation when the government comes to companies with these secret gag orders." President Trump has made American manufacturing a top priority, yet many fashion brands that make goods in the U.S., such as Santa Ana surfwear company Birdwell, are cautious about getting caught up in partisan politics. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Buyers from all over the world flock to Gitman Bros. to get a piece of timeless American style: oxford shirts, plaids and rep ties often cut slightly slimmer to appeal to the trendy and urbane. But when the company's president, Chris Olberding, attended the venerable menswear trade show Pitti Uomo in Italy this month, the brand's "Made in USA" label was an unexpected liability. Advertisement Clients flung jokes at the then-president-elect's expense. There was talk about avoiding travel to the U.S. during Donald Trump's four-year term. And one of the Ashland, Pa.-company's accounts was almost canceled because a customer wanted to boycott American clothes. "I felt like the wind got knocked out of me," Olberding said in a phone interview from Florence. "I always thought it was a good thing to keep our production in the U.S., and all of a sudden the conversation changes because of this one person." Advertisement By all appearances, Trump should be a boon for the "Made in USA" brand. The nation's 45th president swept into office pledging to get American factories humming again. "We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American," Trump said during his inauguration speech Friday. But the negative reaction at Pitti Uomo underscores the pitfalls of these polarizing times. Trump by association can act as a double-edged sword. Is 'Made in USA' in danger of becoming 'Make Made in USA Great Again'? Jonathan Wilde, editor of GQ.com A backlash against American brands would be a painful and ironic twist for the apparel and footwear companies that have fought to keep production stateside against innumerable odds. Long before Trump campaigned on the promise of reviving domestic manufacturing, time-tested labels such as Gitman Bros., Filson and Red Wing Shoes were touting their "Made in USA" roots and encouraging customers to buy American menswear at a time when competitors had long fled to cheaper countries. They rode a wave of popularity in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis as trendsetters began rejecting fast-fashion brands like H&M and embracing traditionally stodgy ones like Brooks Bros. an acknowledgment that it was better to buy pieces that lasted than support wasteful fads. With a modern cut and higher prices, the movement essentially made your grandfather's clothes cool, at least among a certain subset of fashion-savvy men. Now, some of those same companies, as well as more recently established ones, are wondering what the "Made in USA" label will mean under the new administration. Will it continue to stand for craftsmanship and style, or amount to an endorsement of Trump's policies or even the president himself? It's a question made all the more important because many of the labels' newfound fans are ensconced in left-leaning enclaves like Brooklyn and Silver Lake. Advertisement "Is 'Made in USA' in danger of becoming 'Make Made in USA Great Again'?" said Jonathan Wilde, editor of GQ.com, a men's fashion bible that has been at the forefront of reviving interest in so-called heritage American brands. Wilde sees a contradiction unfolding. On one hand, U.S. apparel makers could benefit from an administration that favors local producers and makes domestic manufacturing more cost effective. On the other, these brands could lose their cool among their prime demographic if Trump turns "Made in America" into a political slogan. "He can support things that aren't entirely wrong," Wilde said. "But can you separate that from the rest of him? He could be your largest ally or your worst ally. He could make what was a very good phrase almost something of a third rail." New Balance, whose retro sneaker designs have enjoyed a popular resurgence, may be the first casualty of this new dynamic. The company, which makes some of its footwear in the U.S., found itself at the center of a social media firestorm in November after an executive was quoted in the Wall Street Journal saying the Obama administration "turned a deaf ear to us" and that "things are going to move in the right direction" under Trump. Defaced my New Balance shoes as an interim measure. Will certainly never buy another pair. https://t.co/WfWqLc09yP pic.twitter.com/rrLNoWdaHJ Janine Ballard (@janine_ballard) November 17, 2016 I run 1000s miles (I run ultras). Will never wear NB ---New Balance Created Its PR Crisis. Neo-Nazis Arent Helping https://t.co/cr4HxKXxHR Julie Goodale (@JulieGoodale) November 15, 2016 Customers were outraged, pledging a boycott and posting videos of the company's chunky sneakers getting tossed in the trash or set ablaze. White supremacists began claiming New Balance as the shoe brand of white people. The company, which did not respond to a request for an interview, quickly released a statement saying it did not tolerate bigotry or hate and remained committed to manufacturing in the U.S. A similar controversy befell L.L. Bean this month (albeit without the white supremacists) after Trump tweeted support for the Maine clothing brand, which had landed on a list of companies to boycott because of its ties to the president. Those ties, however, were limited to board member Linda Bean, a Trump donor. In a public statement, the company sought to distance itself from Linda Bean, the granddaughter of L.L. Bean's founder. Advertisement "We are deeply troubled by the portrayal of L.L. Bean as a supporter of any political agenda," said the company, which still produces some items such as boots in the U.S. The recent politicization of fashion labels is the stuff of nightmares for executives like Geoff Clawson, president of Birdwell, a surfwear company that's been manufacturing its signature board shorts in the same Santa Ana factory since 1961. "It's something we pay close attention to, but I don't wish for that problem," Clawson said of the controversies that usurped New Balance and L.L. Bean. Keeping production in the U.S. is hard enough without having to worry about how partisan politics can affect the bottom line. Supply chain is a constant concern because the success of Clawson's business is deeply linked to the survival of his nylon supplier in South Carolina and grommet supplier in Florida. "It's possible for 'Made in America' to come back, but it will require more of this source material manufacturing to also return to the U.S. and be profitable," Clawson said. "Politics aside, it seems like that's what the president-elect is pointing to. For us to be 'Great Again,' we need to reclaim these disciplines." It's unclear precisely what Trump's administration will do to bring jobs back other than to renegotiate trade deals or raise tariffs on imports. Fashion industry experts say that would be devastating for a broad swath of American apparel brands that either manufacture or source materials from overseas (including Trump- and Ivanka Trump-branded apparel). It would, however, shrink the gap between the cost of clothes made in the U.S. and those made overseas. Advertisement The fashion industry's low margins have punished companies such as the recently sold American Apparel, which tried to sell affordable, mass-market clothes while offering its employees living wages. The share of domestically produced clothing in the U.S. in 2015 was 2.7%, down from 10.2% in 2005 and 46.2% in 1995, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Assn. Over the same period, apparel consumption has grown more than 60%. "There's absolutely no possibility of fashion making a reentry to the U.S.," said Bjorn Bengtsson, a professor at Parsons School for Design in New York. "The reason is labor. Most U.S. manufacturers are having tremendous difficulty finding skilled labor. We have to train people. But even then, salaries are not going to be as low as in countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar." Higher wages means higher price tags, and Americans have shown an unwillingness to pay more for their shoes and threads. A recent NDP Group survey found that 80% of Americans considered "Made in USA" labels important to some degree, yet only 23% said they would pay more for it. Made in USA tags to be sewn into shorts, shirts and jackets at Birdwell, a surfwear company founded in 1961 that makes its goods in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times ) The apparel industry is also nervous about the effect that Trump will have on its largely immigrant workforce. Finding qualified workers to man sewing machines has been so challenging that companies such as Brooks Bros. have turned to refugees to fill out its ranks. "I'm not sure this work appeals to anyone," said Marcus Wainwright, co-founder of Rag & Bone, which still relies on the shrinking New York garment district for production. "I wish it did. The only people left to work in this are immigrants. Cut down on them and it will make things a lot harder." Still, some fashion brands are hopeful about a Trump administration, arguing that his rhetoric is invariably bringing more positive attention to the "Made in USA" label and that his policies could level the playing field with competitors that manufacture abroad. Advertisement When designer Todd Shelton started selling his namesake clothes, he manufactured in China but hated having little control over production itself. So he shifted manufacturing back to the U.S., eventually making jeans, woven shirts and sweaters out of a factory in East Rutherford, N.J., where he can hover over his products as they're made. Still, Shelton believed that the odds were stacked against him, with local suppliers struggling to survive and competitors turning to low-cost foreign manufacturers. So he cast his vote for Trump in the hope that his administration would take action like levying import tariffs, which could make his products more cost-competitive and slow the deluge of imported clothing that's driving over-consumption. "As business owners, we've heard support for 'Made in USA' before from politicians, but with Trump, it felt sincere," Shelton said. "In my case, I saw this election as the best shot I may ever have to affect trade policies that could help my company and my employees so I took a chance." But any new trade policies may not keep up with changes in fashion. The American heritage look, which gave us sartorial curiosities like the lumbersexual, is already falling out of favor, according to men's fashion experts. In its place is a return to European luxury, as well as a sort of gulag chic popularized by Kanye West, whose own label and popular Adidas sneakers are manufactured overseas. "Even if policies are enacted to bring American manufacturing jobs back, that doesn't mean there will be a demand for American-made goods," said Brad Bennett, founder of Well Spent, a website that highlights up-and-coming brands and ethically sourced clothing from America and around the world. Bennett added: "Most New York fashion editors wouldn't be caught dead wearing Red Wing shoes now." Advertisement david.pierson@latimes.com Follow me @dhpierson on Twitter ALSO American Apparel rapidly grew its retail footprint. Did that strategy contribute to its collapse? Stocks edge up, snapping the Dow's five-day losing streak HUD suspends FHA mortgage insurance rate cut an hour after Trump takes office Xue bin Li and his daughter Le Xuan Li, 4, visiting from China, wait to check in for a flight to Nashville, Tenn., at the United terminal at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. United flights were halted due to a computer malfunction. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) United Airlines grounded all its flights for more than two hours Sunday night but the airline began working shortly after 8 p.m. to get its airplanes back in the air. The Chicago-based carrier grounded all its domestic flights at 5:30 p.m. central time due to a computer issue. International flights were not affected by the ground stop, which was made at United's request, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Advertisement "As of 8:00 p.m. CT, we have resolved the issue and flights are resuming," United said in a statement shortly after 8 p.m. "Customers may experience additional delays as we work to get flights out this evening. We apologize for the inconvenience to our customers." The airline said it would waive fees for affected passengers choosing to change flights. Advertisement United said the problem affected the airline's ability to get information that allows flights to depart, such as weight and balance information, to the pilots. More than 200 flights were affected, though that number could grow, United said. The delay was the latest in a run of technology problems at major U.S. airline carriers. In November, United said technology-related flight delays declined 57 percent in 2016 compared with 2015 and were at their lowest level since 2012. But United suffered an overnight outage that led to what a spokesman called "a few" cancellations the month before. In August, a power outage in Delta Air Lines' operations center resulted in more than 2,000 flight cancellations over three days and Southwest Airlines also had to cancel more than 2,000 flights after an outage in July. lzumbach@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lzumbach Caitlin Laman has been in Chicago full time for less than a month, but she's getting ready for her cocktail debut. Taking the reins at Logan Square's beloved Mezcaleria Las Flores, the beverage director has set her sights on keeping Chicago fueled on mezcal. While her new menu won't be available for a few weeks, here's what you need to know about the mixology scene's latest arrival: Advertisement She's one of the most acclaimed mixologists in the country. Before moving to Chicago, the Portland, Ore., native managed Trick Dog in San Francisco, a bar with almost too many accolades to mention. Laman was part of Food & Wine's inaugural best new mixologist class in 2014 and that same year took home the national prize at Speed Rack, an industry competition. Last year, she also spent four months in Mexico City consulting at Licoreria Limantour, a contender for one of the world's best bars. Advertisement She loves sherry "Who knows, maybe I'll turn MLF into a secret sherry bar," says Laman. Joking aside, she is a fan of the crazy-diverse fortified wine from Jerez, Spain. Case in point: Since 2013, she's helped execute Sherry Fest, a touring celebration of the wine and, in 2015, became a partner. "Sherry is a big part of my life. It's an industry that needs some love, but there's a great community behind it." On sherry and mezcal playing well in cocktails, Laman says, "it can be difficult. I get really romantic ideas in my head about sherry in cocktails, and they don't often do (well), but when it does: Wow. They're some of my favorite cocktails. With mezcal and sherry, it's finding the exact balance where they meet I can't wait to introduce them on the menu in a few weeks." but she knows her mezcal. "At Trick Dog, I was really lucky, because we had a lot of the first bottles as mezcal became popular," says Laman. "I saw it blow up, but when I traveled, it never seemed like other places had stuff that we had, but Chicago's mezcal market is incredible." Having first visited mezcaleros in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 2012, she punctuated her duties at Licoreria Limantour with frequent trips to Mexican states that produced mezcal and many of its cousins. "The best bottles, I've realized, are the ones I can never have again." "Chicago is a great place for mezcal, and I'm seeing a lot of bottles you can't get anywhere else," she says. "We're getting weirder and weirder stuff, which is exciting, but the industry has to be careful and mindful about keeping things sustainable." Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > She's digging Chicago's dive bars and drinking scene. "People here drink a lot!" Laman has been stretching her legs since getting to town, getting the lay of the drinking landscape. Advertisement "You guys have dive bars on lock. I've been to a lot, but there are dozens more I want to check out. They're so authentic it's hard to make a new bar authentic, so dive bars just feel really natural, like some guy has been sitting on that same stool for 40 years. There's something really good-hearted about Chicago's dive bars." She's got room to play. When Laman first landed, she was frustrated with sourcing seasonal, local ingredients she could readily get in San Franscisco. "You live in California long enough, it makes you soft." That frustration, though, has all but dissipated, as now Laman gets excited by a whole new set of produce and products to tinker with. "I'm excited to learn about the cool stuff that makes it to market here. The fruits and vegetables are going to be different. I've been learning about wild herbs you can't find on the West Coast. Making cocktails is one thing, but creating drinks from new stuff is going to be really fun." Mezcalaria Las Flores, 3149 W. Logan Blvd., 773-278-2215, www.mezcalerialasflores.com jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com Twitter @joeybear85 The dim sum feast at Won Kow restaurant in Chinatown includes sesame balls with sweet bean paste, clockwise from lower left, barbecue pork buns, shrimp dumplings, sticky rice with pork, pork siu mei, curry beef buns, fried shrimp rolls and shrimp crepe. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) The Year of the Rooster begins Jan. 28, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to celebrate: Chinese New Year festivities traditionally go until the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, giving people time to visit family. In accordance, Chicago Chinese New Year celebrations run through Feb. 12 (for exceptions, see dates in some listings below). Establishments in Chinatown and beyond, listed below in alphabetical order, will serve food and drink specials. If you happen to notice a lot of 8s in prices, it's no coincidence. The number 8 is lucky in Chinese culture because it sounds like the word that means "wealth" in many dialects. Chinese-American Museum of Chicago Advertisement In the 121-year-old building that once housed Quong Yick Food Imports, where tofu was made and bean sprouts were grown in the basement, sample jiaozi dumplings, sesame ball cookies, candied coconut with all eight sweets on the Tray of Togetherness, fa gao fortune cupcakes and more. $10 adults, $5 children, free for members. Feb. 4. 238 W. 23rd St., 312-949-1000, www.ccamuseum.org. Chiu Quon Bakery Advertisement The oldest bakery in Chinatown, open 31 years, is now serving its Chinese New Year-only sweets nian gao (sticky rice cake) and kok zai (peanut-stuffed puff dumplings) at all three locations. $7.50 each. Multiple locations, www.cqbakery.com. DanDan The Milwaukee restaurant offers a four-course dinner for two with pork and Chinese chive dumplings, steamed bass in banana leaf, lion's head meatballs with rice noodles and broth, and a dessert trio of a mini egg tart, mango pudding and a walnut cookie. $60. Jan. 26-28. 360 E. Erie St., Milwaukee, 414-488-8036, www.dandanmke.com. The Duck Inn The signature rotisserie duck ($65, must preorder) gets hoisin-glazed and comes with gai lan, fried lotus root, mandarin orange and bao. Cocktails ($14 each) include Year of the Drunkey (Cognac, Zhenjiang shrub, black sesame, sesame oil) and Zen by the Sword (Mizu shochu, Ichinokura Himezen Ume sake, Umenoyado yuzu shu sake, matcha). Through Jan. 29. 2701 S. Eleanor St., 312-724-8811, www.theduckinnchicago.com. Fat Rice Choose a three-course lunch or five-course dinner, with eight-treasure chicken, plus add extra whole steamed fish or tchai de bonzo (vegetarian Buddha's Delight). The bakery makes muchi muchi (sugar- and coconut-stuffed Macanese mochi) for dessert, or sold separately ($3). The Ladies' Room pours baijiu shots ($5) and plans a cocktail with the funky white liquor. $22 lunch, $45 dinner. Jan. 28 to Feb. 9. 2957 W. Diversey Ave., 773-661-9170, www.eatfatrice.com. Hing Kee Advertisement At a dumpling-making dinner presented by the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, learn how to make dumplings, then have dinner with chicken and vegetable dumplings, kung pao chicken, fish with soy bean paste, Mongolian beef, braised bean curd with black mushroom, vegetable fried rice, water chestnut cake and more. $40. Feb. 4. 2140 S Archer Ave., 312-808-9538, www.chicagocci.com/events. Imperial Lamian The Chinese New Year menu features dishes such as the Prosperity Toss (salmon salad), spare rib lotus soup, steamed branzino, snow pea leaves, shrimp lamian and tang yuan (dumplings in sweet soup). If you're dining with five or more people, a larger menu adds roasted duck with foie gras and mantou (steamed white buns). $28-$38. Jan. 27-28. 6 W. Hubbard St., 312-595-9440, www.imperial-lamian.com. Intro The restaurant's switch to dim sum launches with Seven Lucky Things: long curry noodles, mandarin meringue, whole steamed salmon, sticky turnip cake, spring roll, lobster dumplings and eight-treasure broccoli. Plus, if you were born in the Year of the Rooster, free dessert. $5 to $50 per dish. Jan. 28. 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-868-0002, www.introchicago.com. Jade Court Advertisement Former Phoenix restaurant owners offer braised goose web (foot) with Chinese mushrooms and pea tips, sun-dried oysters with black moss, braised pork hock in fermented red tofu, clams in black bean sauce, crispy roast squab, lotus root stir fry, and pan-fried vegetable tofu rolls. $13 to $28 per dish. Jan. 27 to Feb. 3. 626 S. Racine Ave., 312-929-4828, www.jadecourtchicago.com. Katy's Dumpling House Special dishes include fish fillet with vegetables, spicy bean paste fish fillet, Sichuan twice-cooked pork, stir-fry pork kidney, pork intestines, boiled spicy beef, stir fry garlic string beans and more. Through March 31. Prices vary. 665 N. Cass Ave., Westmont, 630-323-9393; 1113 Lake St., Oak Park, 708-383-9888, www.katysdumpling.com. Ming Hin The Cantonese dim sum palaces offer fat choy (black moss) with dried oyster or pork leg, shiitake with lettuce or pork hocks, steamed lobster, salt and pepper shrimp, taro with pork and steamed whole bass. Nian gao (New Year cake) is available for dine-in or to-go to pan-fry at home. $3.50 to $36 per dish. Jan. 25 to Feb. 3. Multiple locations, www.minghincuisine.com. Mott St Advertisement The eight-course Fire Chicken Fortune Feast ($38.88; two people minimum) offers shrimp and pork belly skewers, dumplings and more. The 10-course Supreme Imperial Feast ($78.88; four people minimum) adds some dishes (catfish clay pot, rib-eye) and swaps others out. Add on a Dragon Balls cocktail made with Old Fitzgerald bourbon, rosemary Campari and Amaro Nardini for $12. Through Jan. 28. 1401 N. Ashland Ave., 773-687-9977, www.mottstreetchicago.com. Paulie Gee's The Chinese New Year special includes a pizza with lap chong sausage and an almond cookie ice-cream sandwich with sweet red bean, rolled in black sesame seeds and crushed almond cookies. Plus, all diners get a free fortune cookie. $21. Jan. 27-29. 2451 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-360-1072, www.pauliegee.com/logan-square. The Peninsula The Lobby serves afternoon tea with Chinese savories and sweets, and special teas ($65; Jan. 26-29), while The Bar and Shanghai Terrace pour a Little Red Rooster cocktail (blood orange, Aperol, Bulleit bourbon, Flor de Cana rum) ($17; Jan. 26-29). Shanghai Terrace also offers a six-course dinner with XO sauce scallops and steamed sustainable longline Chilean sea bass ($88, Jan. 26 to Feb. 5). 108 E. Superior St., 312-337-2888, chicago.peninsula.com. Phoenix Advertisement Poon choi ($160 serves five, $320 serves 10), the big bowl feast with chicken, pork belly, abalone and more is available now (order in advance with deposit). The restaurant also hosts the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce dinner ($75; Feb. 9); dishes include braised ham hock, thousand island prawns, stir-fried lobster and more. 2131 S. Archer Ave., 312-328-0848, www.chinatownphoenix.com. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Sun Wah The restaurant is best known for its roasted duck carved tableside, served with mantou, duck soup and duck fried rice. The menu for the annual Chinese New Year multicourse dinner is, as usual, a mystery (it's traditionally posted as a poem), but there will be duck. Single seatings at communal tables (up to 10 people) must be prepaid. $40. Jan. 28- 29. 5039 N. Broadway, 773-769-1254, www.sunwahbbq.com. Won Kow This is the oldest restaurant in Chinatown, open since 1928 (Al Capone was a regular), and it's an unironic favorite of food and cocktail insiders. Co-owners Peter Huey and nephew David Hoy said they may do Chinese New Year specials. If not, their daily dim sum offers dumplings that will leave you feeling lucky enough. 2237 S. Wentworth Ave., 312-842-7500. WonFun and 2Fun Advertisement The dramatic new West Loop restaurant duo Sichuan and beyond restaurant downstairs, dim sum karaoke cocktail bar upstairs shakes a Lucky Dragon cocktail with Sichuan peppercorn-infused vodka, Grand Poppy liqueur, beet juice, chamomile syrup and lemon juice. $15. Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. 905 W. Randolph St., 312-877-5967, www.funfunchinese.com. lchu@chicagotribune.com Twitter @louisachu "Booze Traveler" Jack Maxwell visited Lost Lake, WhirlyBall and Twisted Spoke in his trip to Chicago last week for his new Travel Channel show "Booze Traveler: Best Bars." "Always nice to kick the night off with a flaming cocktail... In this case, courtesy of Sean at the Twisted Spoke, in Chicago," Maxwell posted Friday on Instagram about the West Town bar/restaurant. Advertisement Always nice to kick the night off with a flaming cocktail.. In this case, courtesy of Sean at The Twisted Spoke, in Chicago. A photo posted by Jack Maxwell (@southiejack) on Jan 20, 2017 at 4:39pm PST They have some REALLY nice rum here at Lost Lake (and 300+).. With DP Mikie Brown and Cameraman Tim Flick. #BoozeTraveler: Best Bars A photo posted by Jack Maxwell (@southiejack) on Jan 18, 2017 at 5:50pm PST Maxwell's "Booze Traveler" show premiered in 2014 on the Travel Channel. "Booze Traveler: Best Bars" is set to premiere in the spring with 10 half-hour episodes. Getting into a game of Whirlyball in Chicago.. and then a cocktail concoction in a fishbowl called Whirlypunch. #WhirlTraveler #WhirlPeace A photo posted by Jack Maxwell (@southiejack) on Jan 20, 2017 at 8:34am PST MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Watch the latest movie trailers. A tweet by Saturday Night Live writer Katie Rich about Barron Trump has drawn calls for the writer to lose her job. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) A writer for "Saturday Night Live" has apologized for a tweet last week about Barron Trump, the 10-year-old son of President Donald Trump a tweet that has since been deleted. On Friday, after the inauguration, Katie Rich, a Chicago native and Second City alum, tweeted that "Barron will be this country's first home-school shooter." The reaction on Twitter was swift and pointed: Minor children of the president are off-limits. Advertisement For much of the weekend, Rich's Twitter account was de-activated. It was restored Monday afternoon and contained just a single tweet: "I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I'm so sorry." I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I'm so sorry. Katie Rich (@katiemaryrich) January 23, 2017 Rich's name was absent from the credits after Saturday's broadcast. However, on NBC's media website for journalists, Rich is still listed as a writer. Advertisement When contacted by the Tribune, "SNL" had no comment regarding the tweet nor Rich's employment status. A person familiar with the situation said that Rich was suspended immediately after her tweet and the suspension is indefinite. Rich also has not responded to an interview request. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR A Northwestern University graduate, Rich joined "SNL" 4 1/2 years ago. She writes exclusively for "Weekend Update." Previous to that, she was a writer-performer on Second City's Mainstage and also performed improv at iO Theater. Barron attends Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, a private school on the Upper West Side of New York City. It is expected that he will finish out the school year there. A comedy writer's posting about Barron Trump was widely criticized. Jan. 23, 2017. (CBS Chicago) RELATED STORIES: Leave Barron Trump alone In 'SNL's' first post-inauguration episode, Putin roasts Trump on crowd sizes Advertisement Alec Baldwin returns as Trump on SNL to take on Russian dossier, inauguration plans 'SNL' goes after Trump's Cabinet picks - by introducing Walter White as the head of DEA 'SNL' makes fun of Trump's tweets, and Trump immediately tweets his disapproval Watch the latest movie trailers. 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) Delegates on the Democratic National Convention floor chant "Stop the war" after a speech by Pierre Salinger, President John F. Kennedy's press secretary, on Aug. 28, 1968. Salinger urged adoption of the dove plank on the Vietnam War. (John Austad / Chicago Tribune) The whole world was watching, again. And there was more of that world and more to watch and more places to watch Saturday as an estimated 250,000 people here and millions more around the planet marched and held signs and otherwise exercised their right to free speech. There is a long history of that here. Advertisement So, standing in Grant Park on Saturday afternoon, it was not hard for many to remember and to talk about standing in that same park on the night of Nov. 4, 2008, when then President-elect Barack Obama celebrated his victory in the presidential election in front of a crowd estimated at 240,000. That night, Obama said, "The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep." Isn't it always? Advertisement Fewer people at Saturday's march were brought back to the night of Aug. 28, 1968, when the park across Michigan Avenue from the Hilton Chicago was also filled with people. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 58 Protesters walk during the Women's March on Washington, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) There were fewer of them, a few thousand, many cops who worked here and others demonstrators from here and elsewhere, the latter intent on voicing their displeasure with the Vietnam War and otherwise voicing their feelings during the Democratic National Convention. That was a Wednesday night and tensions were high. Police officers and protesters had been at it for days. There had been skirmishes between these two groups on previous nights in Lincoln Park. They were loud and bloody, but they did not have the dubious distinction of having television cameras present to record the action. But the TV cameras were there on Aug. 28, and the whole world watched. The clash was bad and brutal and also bloody unforgettable to those of us who were there. It seemed to last hours but actually was over in about 20 minutes. There were 101 demonstrators hospitalized, and 192 police officers reported injuries. So on Saturday, as the park filled with all those people, some of them, gray-haired now, could be heard telling stories, and some of those stories were about a statue. It sits there, as it has since 1897, on a knoll in Grant Park near Ninth Street. It is a statue of Gen. John Alexander Logan, a Civil War officer who later represented Illinois in Congress; his name also labels a boulevard, a plaza, an entire neighborhood. Protesters climb the Gen. Alexander Logan statue in Grant Park at the August 1968 protests during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune) In 1968, protesters tried to climb the Logan statue and were pulled from it by police. In the heat of that night, ironies and history escaped the demonstrators. There they were, trying to stop a war by trying to scale the statue of a man who, 100 years before, had come up with an idea for remembering men who died in war. His idea was Memorial Day. Advertisement Politics and art have always mingled in this city. One of the most frequently employed spaces for protests and demonstrations is Daley Plaza, at Dearborn and Washington streets. And in that plaza sits what is arguably the most famous of all the area's public sculptures, the Picasso (it has no formal name). It will celebrate its 50th birthday this year, so you'll be reading much about it in coming months, especially closer to the anniversary of its Aug. 15, 1967, unveiling. One of those in the plaza on that day was columnist Mike Royko, who wrote of the crowd's reaction: "They had wanted to be moved by it. But anyone who didn't have a closed mind which means thinking that anything with the name Picasso connected must be wonderful could see that it was nothing but a big, homely metal thing. "That is all there is to it. Some soaring lines, yes. Interesting design, I'm sure. But the fact is, it has a long stupid face and looks like some giant insect that is about to eat a smaller, weaker insect. It has eyes that are pitiless, cold, mean. "But why not? Everybody said it had the spirit of Chicago. And from thousands of miles away, accidentally or on purpose, Picasso captured it." Advertisement Not all public art can elicit this sort of response and, of course, not all public art is good art. But we do have plenty of it, in stunning variety. Works of famous artists are out there. In addition to Picasso, there's Chagall, Miro and Calder. Famous people, too, among hundreds: Ulysses S. Grant, Columbus, Shakespeare, Ben Franklin, Leif Erikson and Michael Jordan. Most of them, come rain or shine or snow, look happy to still be part of the scene. Some of the statues are of people long forgotten, such as Stephen A. Douglas at his Tomb and Memorial, which towers above a parklike setting on 35th Street near Cottage Grove Avenue, and heroic Peter Altgeld on Cannon Drive just south of Diversey Parkway. There are all manner of ways to discover the "residents" of this vast outdoor museum. Consult www.chicagopublicart.blogspot.com or the city's Chicago Public Art Guide or try to find a copy of an old book, "A Guide to Chicago's Public Sculpture Paperback" by Ira Bach and Mary Gray; published in 1983, it remains helpful though hardly inclusive, since dozens of pieces of public art have joined the crowd in the last three decades. Or, frankly, just walk around. On Saturday, if you had walked a few blocks to the east of Daley Plaza you would have seen people of all ages staring at themselves in and taking photos with Cloud Gate, the shimmering Anish Kapoor sculpture more commonly known as The Bean. The Chicago Women's March was over, but the weather was beautiful and spirits were high and no one seemed in any hurry to go home. There were many handmade signs and posters lying on the ground, all of them carrying messages and some with drawings, little pieces of public art that had joined the city's outdoor canvas for a few hours. rkogan@chicagotribune.com Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Why is Taylor Swift's tweet about the Women's March so controversial? 'Grannies protect what they love:' Why my mom joined the Women's March Illinoisans march in Washington: Their stories Thousands fill Loop after Women's March rally in Chicago draws estimated 250,000 Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) The Kings of Leon (Nathan, from left, Caleb, Jared and Matthew Followill) released "Walls" in October. (Jimmy Marble photo) Kings of Leon has postponed Monday's United Center show to March because one of its members is ill, a representative for the United Center announced Sunday. The band is scheduled to play March 8. Tickets for the Monday show will be honored on that date or refunded at point of purchase, according to the United Center. Advertisement (1/2) @KingsOfLeon drummer Nathan Followill has been diagnosed with pneumonia. Therefore, our Jan. 23 show will be postponed until March 8. United Center (@UnitedCenter) January 22, 2017 (2/2) Tickets will be honored on the new date or refunded at point of purchase. @KingsOfLeon apologizes to fans and looks forward to Mar. 8. United Center (@UnitedCenter) January 22, 2017 Drummer Nathan Followill was diagnosed with pneumonia, a United Center rep tweeted. Followill tweeted Friday that he has bronchitis, but still played a show that night in New York. The band recently began its cross-country tour in support of its new "Walls" album. A Detroit show scheduled for Sunday was also postponed to March. Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Finally, Kings of Leon riding a No. 1 album debut Kings of Leon to play Chicago in January as part of U.S. tour While hundreds of thousands of people participated in Women's Marches around the world on Saturday, many celebrities showed up as well, joining in with those protesting President Donald Trump's controversial campaign and election, particularly his treatment of women. The long list of stars included Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Amy Poehler, Lena Dunham and many more; celebs including Madonna and Alicia Keys made speeches and performed in Washington. Some A-listers didn't attend the march, but tweeted support. Pop star Taylor Swift, for example, wrote this: Advertisement While many fans praised her for speaking out, the backlash started almost immediately; over the weekend, publications rounded up the critical comments. (Buzzfeed: "Taylor Swift Didn't Go To The Women's March And People Are Mad." Cosmopolitan: "Taylor Swift Is Being Epically Dragged on Twitter By Her Fans." PopCrush: "Taylor Swift Faces Backlash Following Too Little, Too Late Women's March Support.") But why is Swift's tweet so controversial? There are two elements to the criticism. The first is that Swift, 27, was silent about the divisive presidential campaign until Election Day, when she posted a picture of herself in line to vote, urging her 83 million Twitter followers to do the same. It's clear that many were interested in her views: "Who is Taylor Swift voting for?" was a popular Google search term last fall. Advertisement Swift has always remained mum about her political leanings. "I don't talk about politics because it might influence other people. And I don't think that I know enough yet in life to be telling people who to vote for," she told Time magazine in 2012. Yet her wide-ranging influence is exactly why people wanted her to speak up this past election about Trump's attitude toward women, given that Swift has become an outspoken advocate for feminism. This leads to the second issue. While Swift's celebrity status obviously doesn't require her to reveal personal thoughts like voting preferences, she's fueled her brand over the last several years as a feminist who encourages women to stick together. The beginning of her "1989" era (kickstarted with her wildly successful 2014 album) was accompanied by in-depth profile in Rolling Stone, which noted that "earlier in her carer, Swift deflected questions about feminism because she didn't want to alienate male fans. But these days, she's proud to identify herself as a feminist." MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Since then, she's known for leading a powerful "squad" of famous women, and she frequently talks about how they empower each other. She even directed her Grammys acceptance speech for album of the year toward young women, urging them to stay focused when other people (in her case, Kanye West) try to take credit for their success. For some, Swift's tweet about the Women's March is another example of the pop star co-opting feminism for her brand but not taking action, or misunderstanding the concept all together. (See: The Nicki Minaj VMAs dust-up of 2015.) "As a fan of yours, this is some b---. You do not get to pick and choose when feminism benefits you," one fan tweeted. Others pointed out feminist celebrities who did attend: "Taylor should be going to the women's march. Ariana, Demi, Miley. . .so many others are going. I think Taylor should've gone. Sorry not sorry," another wrote. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 58 Protesters walk during the Women's March on Washington, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Naturally, the issue spiraled down the social media rabbit hole, as Swift's fans were furious that people criticized the tweet. Celebrities going public about any controversial topic can be a risky move these days, as you're guaranteed to make some people angry -- particularly about politics, likely one of the reasons Swift stayed quiet so long in the first place. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement 'Grannies protect what they love:' Why my mom joined the Women's March Illinoisans march in Washington: Their stories Thousands fill Loop after Women's March rally in Chicago draws estimated 250,000 Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) This image released by Top Shelf Productions shows "March: Book Three," by Rep. John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. The American Library Association announced Monday that the Georgia Democrat received prizes for "March: Book Three," the last of a graphic trilogy about his civil-rights activism and winner last fall of the National Book Award. The honors include the Coretta Scott King award for best children's book by an African-American and the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in children's literature. (AP) The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults - including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards - at its Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. A list of all the 2017 award winners follows: Advertisement John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: "The Girl Who Drank the Moon," written by Kelly Barnhill, is the 2017 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. Advertisement Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan and published by Atheneum. Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; "The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog," written by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; and "Wolf Hollow," written by Lauren Wolk and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: "Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat," illustrated by Javaka Steptoe is the 2017 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: "Leave Me Alone!" illustrated and written by Vera Brosgol and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; "Freedom in Congo Square," illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Du Iz Tak?" illustrated and written by Carson Ellis, and published by Candlewick Press; and "They All Saw a Cat," illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Corretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: "March: Book Three," written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by Nate Powell and published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Two King Author Honor Books were selected: "As Brave as You," written by Jason Reynolds, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division. Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award: "Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat," illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Three King Illustrator Honor Book were selected: "Freedom in Congo Square," illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "In Plain Sight," illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, written by Richard Jackson, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. Advertisement Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: "The Sun Is Also a Star," written by Nicola Yoon, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop is the winner of the Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children's author Virginia Hamilton. Dr. Bishop is a winner of numerous awards and has served as a respected member of many book awards committees over the course of her long and distinguished career. Her influential writing, speaking, and teaching articulates the history and cultural significance of African-American children's literature. Her globally cited work, "Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors," has inspired movements for increased diversity in books for young people, and provides the basis for the best multicultural practice and inquiry for students, teachers, writers and publishing houses. Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: "March: Book Three," created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: "Asking for It," by Louise O'Neill and published by Quercus, a Hachette Company; "The Passion of Dolssa," by Julie Berry and published by Viking Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers; "Scythe," by Neal Shusterman and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing; and "The Sun Is Also a Star," by Nicola Yoon and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: "Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille," written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 10). "as brave as you," written by Jason Reynolds and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13). "When We Collided," written by Emery Lord and published by Bloomsbury Children's Books is the winner for teens (ages 13-18). Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences: Advertisement "The Queen of Blood," by Sarah Beth Durst, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. "The Regional Office is Under Attack!" by Manuel Gonzales, published by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided," by Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford, published by Henry Holt and Co. "Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded," by Hannah Hart, published by Dey Street, an imprint of William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. "Arena," by Holly Jennings, published by Ace Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "Every Heart a Doorway," by Seanan McGuire, a Tor Book published by Tom Doherty Associates. Advertisement "Romeo and/or Juliet: A Choosable-Path Adventure," by Ryan North, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "Die Young with Me: A Memoir," by Rob Rufus, published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. "The Wasp that Brainwashed the Caterpillar," by Matt Simon, published by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko," by Scott Stambach, published by St. Martin's Press. Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video: Ryan Swenar of Dreamscape Media, LLC, producer of "Drum Dream Girl:How One Girl's Courage Changed Music" is the Carnegie Medal winner. Adapted from Margarita Engle's book, a girl in 1930s Cuba aspires to play the drums, a privilege afforded only to boys. Based on the life of Chinese-African-Cuban Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, this story demonstrates how the power of persistence can break barriers, shatter expectations, and make one's dreams a reality. Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. The 2017 winner is Nikki Grimes, whose award-winning works include "Bronx Masquerade," which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2003, and "Words with Wings," the recipient of a Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2014. In addition, Grimes received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in 2016 and the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 2006. Advertisement Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: The 2017 winner is Sarah Dessen. Her books include: "Dreamland," "Keeping the Moon," "Just Listen," "The Truth about Forever," "Along for the Ride," "What Happened to Goodbye?" and "This Lullaby," all published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a Penguin Random House Company. 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site. Naomi Shihab Nye will deliver the 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. The daughter of a Palestinian father and an American mother, Naomi Shihab Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San Antonio, Texas. The author and/or editor of more than 30 books for adults and children, her latest for young people, "The Turtle of Oman," was chosen as a 2015 Notable Children's Book by the ALA. She has received four Pushcart Prizes, was a National Book Award finalist, and has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, amongst her many honors. Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States: "Cry, Heart, But Never Break" is the 2017 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Danish in 2001 as "Grd blot hjerte," the book was written by Glenn Ringtved, illustrated by Charolotte Pardi, translated by Robert Moulthrop and published by Enchanted Lion Books. Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: "Over the Ocean," published by Chronicle Books LLC, written and illustrated by Taro Gomi and translated from the Japanese by Taylor Norman; "As Time Went By," published by NorthSouth Books, Inc., written and illustrated by Jose Sanabria and translated from the German by Audrey Hall; and "The Ballad of a Broken Nose," published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, written by Arne Svingen and translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson. Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: "Anna and the Swallow Man," produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Groups, is the 2017 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Gavriel Savit and narrated by Allan Corduner. Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks also were selected: "Ghost" produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written by Jason Reynolds and narrated by Guy Lockard; "Dream On, Amber," produced by Recorded Books, written by Emma Shevah and narrated by Laura Kirman; and "Nimona," produced by HarperAudio, written by Noelle Stevenson and narrated by Rebecca Soler, Jonathan Davis, Marc Thompson, January LaVoy, Natalie Gold, Peter Bradbury and David Pittu. Advertisement Pura Belpre Awards honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: "Lowriders to the Center of the Earth," illustrated by Raul Gonzalez, is the Belpre Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Cathy Camper and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Two Belpre Illustrator Honor Books were named: "Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist," illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, written by Susan Wood and published by Charlesbridge. "The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes," illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. "Juana & Lucas," written by Juana Medina, is the Pura Belpre Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Juana Medina and published by Candlewick Press. One Belpre Author Honor Book was named: "The Only Road," written by Alexandra Diaz and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/A Paula Wiseman Book. Advertisement Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: "March: Book Three," written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Four Sibert Honor Books were named: "Giant Squid," written by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; "Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story," written by Caren Stelson and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.; "Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II," written by Albert Marrin and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and "We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler," written by Russell Freedman and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children's and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience: "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor," written by Rick Riordan and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, and "If I Was Your Girl" written by Meredith Russo and published by Flatiron Books, are the 2017 recipients of the Stonewall Book Awards - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award, respectively. Three Honor Books were selected: "When the Moon Was Ours," written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press; "Unbecoming," written by Jenny Downham and published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with David Fickling Books; and "Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community," written by Robin Stevenson and published by Orca Book Publishers. Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book: "We Are Growing: A Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! Book," written by Laurie Keller. The book is published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. Four Geisel Honor Books were named: "Good Night Owl," written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; "Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper," written and illustrated by Mike Twohy and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; "Go Otto Go!" written and illustrated by David Milgrim and published by Simon Spotlight, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "The Infamous Ratsos," written by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers and published by Candlewick Press. Advertisement William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: "The Serpent King," written by Jeff Zentner, is the 2017 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a Penguin Random House Company. Four other books were finalists for the award: "Girl Mans Up," written by M-E Girard, published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; "Rani Patel in Full Effect," written by Sonia Patel, published by Cinco Puntos Press; The Smell of Other People's Houses," written by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a Penguin Random House Company; and "Tell Me Something Real," written by Calla Devlin, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: "March: Book Three," created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Excellence winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. Four other books were finalists for the award: "Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History," by Karen Blumenthal and published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives," by Kenneth C. Davis, and published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; "Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune," written by Pamela S. Turner, illustrated by Gareth Hinds and published by Charlesbridge; and "This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration," written by Linda Barrett Osborne and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children's experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma. In a more reasonable world, Ayelet Waldman's new book on LSD would not need to exist. The drug would be legal and regulated, and taking it would be a perfectly routine response to psychological distress. A memoir that chronicled one's reaction to the substance would seem no more interesting than the autobiography of an aspirin user. Though American attitudes and policies toward drugs are shifting, LSD and other psychedelics are not yet widely accepted as legitimate remedies for suffering. The story of how and why LSD and other psychedelics became stigmatized is one of the most interesting parts of Waldman's new book, "A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life." In the early 20th century, the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog openly advertised and sold heroin and cocaine, and opioids were readily available. Advertisement The legislative climate began to shift with the passage of the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, but doctors still could prescribe the drugs in some circumstances and academic researchers could conduct legal research studies with LSD. Celebrated midcentury cultural figures from Aldous Huxley to Francis Crick experimented with psychedelics and experienced tremendous intellectual and spiritual benefits. Once LSD became associated with the counterculture of the 1960s, however, complete prohibition followed. The wasteful illogic of American drug policy has been demonstrated in many books, perhaps most effectively in journalist Johann Hari's 2015 "Chasing the Scream." Waldman reiterates some of the key points: the differential enforcement of drug laws based on race, the lower addiction rates in countries that have decriminalized or legalized drugs, the bizarre inconsistency of criminalizing drugs that are chemically identical to prescribed equivalents. These are sensible and important points, and she makes them with force and clarity. Advertisement Much of the book, however, is an argument through personal narrative. When the story opens, she is desperate to become less irritable, angry and unhappy. Though she has tried therapy, meditation and countless prescription medicines, nothing seems to work. She recalls "flinging my children's toys across the room or starting a social-media flame war," as if these were completely routine activities. If anything, she finds that standard medication makes things worse. The class of drugs that includes Ritalin, she writes, "made me scream obscenities at my husband, blare my horn at cars that I felt were lingering at stop signs, and fling various objects across the room." Ayelet Waldma (Claire Lewis) LSD, however, does seem to help her. She takes microdoses roughly one-tenth of a standard dose and too little to cause hallucinations and experiences improvement in mood and self-control. She describes the benefit like this: "It allowed me a little space to consider how to act in accordance with my values, not just react to external stimuli." While the possibility of a placebo effect is impossible to exclude, she interviews other microdosers and reviews patchy existing data on LSD's effects to build a strong circumstantial case that the drug itself has caused her improvements. Waldman has an unfortunate tendency to complain about pseudo-problems and make strained attempts at humor. The woes of buying an expensive house in Berkeley, Calif., for instance, could have been omitted. Speculating about how to obtain LSD, she notices a young woman in a yoga class with a Tibetan mandala tattoo on her ankle and finds the permanence of the tattoo at odds with the material transience the symbol often represents: "I couldn't buy drugs from an idiot, especially a dirty one." This is meant to be charming and witty, but it comes across as tone-deaf and nasty. "A Really Good Day" by Ayelet Waldma Waldman definitely succeeds in establishing that LSD and other psychedelics should be among the menu of pharmaceutical options available in America. But she hardly considers a related question: In cases where the same result can be achieved by a variety of means a drug, meditation, therapy, exercise, reading Seneca or Marcus Aurelius does the method not matter? Rather than critiquing a cultural fixation on simple, immediate, ingestible fixes, Waldman instead proclaims happily that she has found an especially great one. She never seriously considers the potential value of traveling other routes to the same destination. She's also a bit too quick to blame outside factors for her dissatisfaction. Conceiving of problems as external to oneself naturally invites a search for external solutions, pharmacological or otherwise. She jokes at one point that if it weren't for the internet, "by now I'd be skinny and have read Proust." She's not entirely serious, of course. If drugs of any variety are the only tools that will allow some people to lead healthier lives, they should be available. But the joke suggests a dangerous idea that runs throughout the book the notion of pharmacology as a panacea, a sort of secular salvation. This impulse ultimately derives from a species of hunger that no drug can satisfy. Nick Romeo is a freelancer. A Really Good Day By Ayelet Waldman, Knopf, 256 pages, $25.95 "Midwinter" by Fiona Melrose, narrated by Peter Noble, 7:34, Wholestory A father and son unable to reckon with grief are in the hands of a narrator capable of sustaining the subtle and stormy emotions at play in Fiona Melrose's luminous first novel, "Midwinter." Advertisement What's puzzling is that narrator Peter Noble has far more nonfiction titles among the 70 books to his name. Why would someone so adept at conjuring characters read so many travel books? "Midwinter" is where he belongs. He clearly relishes Melrose's characters, providing a rich variety of voices for the cast of villagers and a subtle familial similarity for father Landyn Midwinter and adult son Vale. The Midwinters are complicated men, abraded by the murder of Landyn's wife when Vale was a boy. The death has made Landyn the kind of emotional man who can't bear to leave his old dog alone. His raw tenderness embarrasses Vale, who nurses only a single feeling: rage, a furious coil straining to unfurl. One cold evening, after a fight with his father, Vale and best friend Tom get drunk and take a boat onto the river a disastrous folly that serves as the book's riveting opening. Advertisement Noble occasionally overdoes it on Tom's theatrical proclamations. But any emoting is well in check when Vale finally lets loose in a harrowing scene so difficult that only the authenticity of Noble's delivery carries it off. You fall into a story like this one: the Midwinters, their Suffolk farmland, the fox that lives up the hill, sugar beets banging into the trailer during harvest. Noble makes it feel like home. "What Belongs to You" by Garth Greenwell, narrated by Piter Marek, 6:20, Recorded Piter Marek's narration falls just short of satisfying in Garth Greenwell's novel of distance and intimacy, "What Belongs to You." This is Greenwell's first novel, an extension of an earlier and well-received novella, "Mitko." In both, an unnamed American teaching high school in Bulgaria becomes entangled with a hustler, Mitko, who he meets in a men's room beneath the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. Something about the young man, his "bodily candor," a manner that was "cordial and brash, entirely public in place of intense privacies," draws the teacher. He is soon torn between his desire for Mitko and the risk involved. Mitko is always angling, always asking. There is an undercurrent to Mitko's manipulations, his perpetual insinuating requests and his desperate need. The teacher brings his own history of rejection, a distrust of intimacy, that makes him a mark for someone such as Mitko. Unfortunately, Marek never quite embodies the layered characters he's portraying. An actor on stage and television, with appearances on several TV series, including "The Black List," "Law & Order" and "Days of Our Lives," Marek has narrated a dozen audiobooks. But he's slightly mechanical here, failing to communicate any insight about the story he tells. It's not that the narration is distracting although it is sometimes marred when Marek places emphasis on the wrong words in sentences, changing their meaning it's just not what it should be. And this is writing that surely deserves better. "The Strays" by Emily Bitto, narrated by Vanessa Coffey, 7:39, Audible Studios Australian Vanessa Coffey had narrated four books of toddler-rearing advice and one novel before she became the voice of the naive observer, Lily, in Emily Bitto's compelling debut novel, "The Strays." Advertisement Lily is in third grade when she is first drawn by friendship toward the debris-filled orbit of the bohemian Trentham family in the 1930s. Modernist painter Evan and his wife, Helena, whose family money supports the enterprise, are creating a commune for a small group of painters. They call the artists strays, but no one here seems more at loose ends than the three Trentham daughters. Lily is bound to the middle Trentham child, Eva, in what Bitto describes as the "depth of intimacy in the first chaste trial marriage between girls." Then a grave on-the-job injury puts Lily's father out of work for months. Suddenly, Lily is a stray herself a bit of wish fulfillment as her own parents have faded to mouse brown aside the multicolor Trenthams with their drunken parties, nude models, handsome young artist tenants and the occasional joint. Narrator Coffey doesn't create sharply distinct voices for each character, which feels appropriate because this is really Lily's story and, by extension, Eva's. Still, Coffey never allows the characters to blur together despite her low-key strategy. Even when Evan is enraged as he often is over the actions of censors and art traditionalists Coffey conveys his searing anger without a bellow. But we know Evan's bellowing. And that's the trick, isn't it: making us hear what isn't quite there. Barron Trump stands with his parents July 21 at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) Let's go ahead and agree that Barron Trump should be off-limits. He's a 10-year-old child and, unlike President Donald Trump's other offspring, highly unlikely to advise his dad on financial or political matters. He hasn't behaved in a way that invites judgment or rebuke. He asked for none of this. Advertisement We're not off to a bang-up start. "Modern Family" actress Julie Bowen is catching heat for a series of tweets poking fun at his inauguration demeanor. "Saturday Night Live" writer Katie Rich, a Chicago native, tweeted a tasteless (now deleted) joke about Barron becoming the nation's first "homeschool shooter." Chelsea Clinton, the subject of terrible taunts during her White House stint, hopped on Twitter over the weekend to call foul. "Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does to be a kid," she wrote. Advertisement (She also added, "Standing up for every kid also means opposing @POTUS policies that hurt kids," which critics say muddled her message. But let's stay on point here.) We have a long and lousy history of being jerks about presidential kids. Before famously calling Chelsea Clinton "the White House dog," radio blowhard Rush Limbaugh called Jimmy Carter's daughter "the most unattractive presidential daughter in the history of the country" and later corrected himself, saying he'd forgotten about Harry Truman's daughter, Margaret. Congressional aide Elizabeth Lauten stepped down from her Tennessee GOP post in 2014 after ridiculing Barack Obama's daughters for their perfectly benign behavior at a turkey pardon. We can do better this time. We can pause before we poke fun at a kid and ask ourselves what we value. Kindness and empathy toward children should be high on the list. By many measures, Barron's life has been, and will continue to be, easy. He is shielded from physical harm. He has access to well-funded, high-performing schools. He will likely never go hungry. When he needs it, he will receive the best medical care available. If it bothers you that other children don't have those things, well, it should. It is this nation's greatest failing that access to education, health care, food and safety is so wildly disparate from one child to the next. But we'd be far better served to invest our energy in solving those deficiencies, rather than tearing down a child whose bloodline shields him from them. Few of us would have relished the spotlight at age 10 certainly not the spotlight that accompanies a parent in political office. As Devorah Heitner writes in "Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World" (Routledge): "Do you wish there were more pictures of you as a tween? Probably not." Advertisement No more Barron Trump taunts. They're lazy. They're mean. They're counterproductive. And seriously. A school shooting joke? Do better. hstevens@chicagotribune.com Twitter @heidistevens13 RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Calls for firing of 'SNL' writer after Barron Trump tweet Girl Scouts should skip inaugural parade in favor of an open letter A Marine watches as Air Force One prepares to take off at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Oct. 9, 2016. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Former U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk griped at a Washington, D.C., inauguration party Thursday that he was never invited on Air Force One by President Barack Obama because he is a "white Republican." Turns out, he was invited, according to his own spokesman. Advertisement Oops! Kirk's spokesman, Kevin Artl, said last year that Kirk was "asked to accompany Obama on Air Force One, but he declined because of Senate votes," according to a Feb, 10. 2016, report in the Chicago Sun-Times. Advertisement Asked following Kirk's latest unfortunate racial outburst whether he stood by that 2016 account, Artl, who has not represented Kirk since Kirk, a Republican from Highland Park, was replaced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, wrote in an email: "That was all in a past life," declining to comment further. Kirk's last years in office were marked by a series of strange comments, including remarks he made at a debate with Duckworth about her ancestry, which he later apologized for. His comments that U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham was a "bro with no ho" also raised eyebrows. The Obama Foundation did not respond to a request for comment Monday. kjanssen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kimjnews People converge at the corner of South Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard during the Women's March on Chicago Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) I have a question for every person who took to the streets to march for women's rights. What else are you willing to fight for? Don't answer too quickly. Think about it for a while. But most importantly, think about it honestly. Advertisement The sheer numbers of women, men, even children, who turned out for women's marches last weekend were astounding more than 1 million across America. Women sent a strong message to President Donald Trump that they are putting him on notice. And whether he acknowledges it or not, he heard them. It was historic, purposeful and bold. This is not an attempt to diminish that. Advertisement But before women start patting themselves on the back, they should remember this: The marches weren't just about reproductive rights and pay equity; they were about the future of our country. The impact was greater because others reached out to support you. In the crowd were African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Muslims, Jews, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, immigrants students, senior citizens, people with disabilities, unemployed people and families that can barely make ends meet. They stood with you because they believe in gender equality. But they also have important issues of their own. Are you willing to do the same for them? When the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community invites you to stand with them in pushing Congress to pass a federal law banning discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, what will you do? What will you say when they ask you to help block any attempts by Trump to repeal former President Barack Obama's executive order requiring hospitals to extend visitation and decision-making rights to same sex couples or extending basic protections for LGBT federal workers? Will you join civil rights groups in their push to outlaw voter identification laws designed to stifle participation by blacks and Hispanics? Though the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by Texas to reinstate its voter ID law, considered one of the strictest in the nation, it left the door open for future litigation. So will you support activists demanding that Trump's Justice Department continue to fight it? The next time young people from Black Lives Matter march peacefully along Michigan Avenue demanding that police treat all Americans with dignity regardless of their race, will you join in? Will you open your minds to their argument that police brutality is an injustice that cannot be tolerated? Will you consider that standing up against police misconduct is not anti-police; it's pro-humanity? And in Chicago, where violence is ripping some neighborhoods apart, will you pack the Red Line headed south and walk the streets of Englewood or Auburn-Gresham with community members taking a stand against rising homicide numbers? Will you join them in sending a message to gangbangers, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, aldermen, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson that the killings must end now? Advertisement For anyone who has ever participated in a protest, the sense of pride in standing up for what you believe in is overwhelming. The positive energy that comes from being in the midst of people determined to bring about change cannot be easily matched. It's electrifying, encouraging and rewarding. But it also brings with it responsibility. It is one thing to stand among a group of like-minded people holding signs that say "Love Trumps Hate" and "Women's Rights are Human Rights," but it is quite another to leave your comfort zone and stand up for someone else's cause. In the past, women, African-Americans, the LBGT community and others have not always seen eye to eye. It is much easier to concentrate on our own suffering than to open our hearts and minds to someone else's. Now, with Trump in office, we have no choice. On his first full day in the White House, Trump sent a strong message that he has no plans to back down on the issues regarding women's rights. He signed an executive order reinstating the "Mexico City Policy," cutting off U.S. assistance to organizations in foreign countries that offer family planning and reproductive health services. Though no U.S. money was used to fund abortions, the move is expected to drastically impact developing countries and war zones, where women and girls often resort to dangerous methods of ending pregnancies. According to the World Health Organization, more than 21.6 million women endure unsafe abortions annually, 18.5 million of them in developing countries. Advertisement It is clear that the fight for women's rights will be ongoing. But so will the fight over immigration, LGBT rights, voting rights, police brutality and other civil rights. In order to win, it will take all of us standing side by side, holding up each other's banner. You can bet that one day soon, these groups are going to send out their own call for action. The real test of this freshly minted women's movement is how they choose to respond. dglanton@chicagotribune.com Twitter @dahleeng Former state Sen. James DeLeos two-year lobbying contract with Chicago State University, which expires in June, is worth up to $180,000. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Cash-strapped Chicago State University spent about $200,000 over the past two years to lobby state lawmakers, including contracts with consultants closely tied to legislative leaders whose inability to pass a state budget has contributed to the school's financial crisis. With Chicago State's budget woes forcing administrators to lay off hundreds of employees, including professors, money continued to flow to the politically connected to help with the university's legislative strategy in Springfield and with communications advice for school leaders. Advertisement The most money went to the lobbying firm of former Democratic state Sen. James DeLeo, a longtime ally of Senate President John Cullerton and others. DeLeo's two-year contract, which expires in June, is worth up to $180,000 and is renewable for two additional years. The university, which has long had Democratic allies and worked with members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, also paid nearly $20,000 last year for a short-term contract with Republican consultants to help convey to the governor and legislators the urgency of passing a new budget last spring. Advertisement Finally, Chicago State continued its relationship with Steve Brown, the spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan. Brown hired as a communications consultant, not as a lobbyist was brought on board in 2011 to help then-President Wayne Watson with communications. He has been paid $18,000 a year, according to his contracts. The spending, spelled out in documents the Tribune obtained through open records requests, raises questions about how the school spent money at a time it was in such desperate financial straits and whether it made sense for the public university to pay to lobby lawmakers so deadlocked that higher education has received only partial, sporadic funding. Other financially struggling public universities in the state did not employ lobbyists. But Chicago State spokeswoman Sabrina Land said lobbyists are crucial to ensuring the university "has a voice and representation" in government decisions, and that they have helped secure funding for various projects in past years including for a new electrical system and pharmacy college. The university's former director of public relations, Thomas Wogan, a former top Madigan legislative staffer, was the university's primary liaison to Springfield until he was laid off last spring amid the downsizing. Others question whether spending money on lobbying amid a fiscal crisis particularly one brought on by the same people being lobbied is wise. "In the grand scheme of things, it is not a lot of money, but that's not the point. The point is how we make these financial decisions and what we choose to spend money on," said faculty union President Robert Bionaz. "You have to look at the end result, and the end result has been a series of piecemeal (state) appropriations. I just wonder what the outcome would have been without the expenditure of that money. I can't imagine it would have been much different." Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's chief of staff, Richard Goldberg, also has criticized Chicago State's use of lobbyists. In a memo last year to the General Assembly titled "CSU: Lobbyists & Administrators Win, Students & Taxpayers Lose" Goldberg argued that higher education funding should be tied to spending cuts and cost-saving reforms. Earlier this month, Rauner began to take control of Chicago State's leadership when he appointed four new trustees to oversee the campus, including former Democratic rival Paul Vallas, known for his education reforms while CEO at Chicago Public Schools and other school districts around the country. Advertisement The new leadership team faces a number of challenges. Enrollment is now at 3,600 students less than half of what it was in 2010. A new president was forced out after just nine months. The university has lost or settled several whistleblower lawsuits against the former president. Its graduation rate is 11 percent. What's more, the public campus faces the prospect of running out of cash before the end of the school year unless state lawmakers and Rauner find a way to end the longest budget impasse in state history. For the past 18 months, Rauner and legislative Democrats have agreed only on stopgap budgets to keep the government running, the latest of which expired at the end of last year. There is currently no additional money allocated for state universities, social service providers and others this fiscal year. Of all the public universities, Chicago State which historically has depended on the state for about one-third of its budget is among those hit hardest by the impasse. It has received about $32.5 million during the past 18 months, less than the $36 million it received in a one-year period the last time the state provided full funding. The university has trimmed its budget to about $70 million this year, down from about $110 million. Chicago State, in defending its use of lobbyists, said that compared with other public colleges and universities, it received the largest percentage allocation in a stopgap budget passed last April. After a second stopgap budget passed in June, though, Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University both public universities, and both at financial risk were brought up to the same level. Neither Eastern Illinois nor Western Illinois hired external lobbyists last year. Southern Illinois University this year has a $90,000 contract with a lobbying firm, and Northeastern Illinois University is in the final year of an $85,000-a-year contract, according to the campuses. The University of Illinois has a government relations staff and hires outside help as needed, a spokesman said. Advertisement Chicago State didn't always employ lobbyists. In March 2010, the university's then-head of governmental affairs told trustees that the university "was advised not to hire a lobbyist due to the budget crisis," according to minutes from a board committee meeting. After a board member questioned whether students' interests were being protected in Springfield, then-President Watson responded that he would revisit hiring a lobbyist. Land, the university spokeswoman, said the lobbying firms "were both integral in advocating and lobbying for CSU to receive funding during the budget stalemate." Chicago State University students rallied outside the Thompson Center on Feb. 8, 2016, over the state budget impasse that could close the school next month. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune) DeLeo's firm James A. DeLeo & Associates has been listed as a Chicago State lobbyist since 2013, according to secretary of state records. DeLeo retired from the state Senate in 2010 after serving in the legislature for 25 years, in both the House and Senate. DeLeo, who had a salary of $84,416 during his last year in office, draws $100,270 a year from the state pension system, according to state pension officials. His most recent two-year contract with the university was signed in July 2015 by Watson and DeLeo, president of the firm. The invoices, approved by university general counsel Patrick Cage, state that DeLeo's firm "monitored legislation moving thru out the current General Assembly." Two invoices include participation in a legislative rally as one of the lobbying services provided. Advertisement The firm also has lobbied the governor's staff, drafted legislation, monitored committee hearings and developed a legislative strategy, according to invoices. DeLeo did not return calls for comment. Cullerton, in an interview with the Tribune, said DeLeo has spoken with him about Chicago State, including during budget discussions last year. "Obviously they were trying to get money and we did some stopgap budgets where we had different levels," Cullerton said. In March, Chicago State signed a three-month contract to hire Leinenweber Baroni & Daffada Consulting. The university worked with Peter Baroni, a Republican lawyer and former counsel to the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee. The university paid the firm $19,500, records show. In a summary of work submitted with an invoice, the firm took credit for developing and implementing strategies to get state funding during the stalemate. The firm said the strategy led to the first stopgap budget in April that was needed "to avoid the university's closure." The firm then ensured the university's interests were addressed "to the fullest extent possible" in the second interim funding bill enacted in June, according to the memo. Advertisement The firm said it stayed in regular contact with university officials, legislators and legislative staff, and set up meetings between school officials and Republican legislative leaders. "I was advocating for a client that was distressed and had some desperate need and we had some success," Baroni said. Brown, Madigan's spokesman who Chicago State hired for communications work, said he has worked with the contracted lobbyists to try to "make sure they are aware of things that are going on." Brown works for Madigan as a contract employee and not a state employee and therefore is eligible for other consulting work. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Brown said most of his work involves strategizing with the university president. "It is trying to figure out how you position the university ... address some of the challenges that come with an institution that has had some criticism, has had some problems," he said. There are times when his work with Madigan and Chicago State have collided. Last year, as Rauner blamed the legislature for Chicago State's financial problems, Brown responded on behalf of Madigan and said the governor was responsible for "trying to destroy higher education." Brown contended, however, that he keeps his jobs separate and does not lobby Madigan on behalf of the university. Advertisement "I am not hired by people to gain some special advantage in the speaker's office or Democratic leadership in the House," Brown said. Tribune reporter Jennifer Smith Richards contributed. jscohen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @jodiscohen Fidel Martinez was born deaf and brought his life experiences to his work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the state of Illinois, and also shared his love of music with deaf and hard-of-hearing people as a performer, doing sign language in time with popular songs. "A lot of people don't realize that deaf people and hard-of-hearing people love music," said Roberta Mather Brown, who was a child when she met Martinez and said he introduced her and many others to music. Martinez put headphones on her so she could feel the beat of the music, "I just fell in love, music was my thing." Advertisement "He had this desire to do something for young deaf people," the Rev. Joe Mulcrone, director of the Catholic Office of the Deaf for the Archdiocese of Chicago, said of Martinez's decision to get a college degree in social work. Martinez, 76, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Jan. 16 in his Chicago home, according to his wife of 46 years, Iris. He was a longtime resident of the Pilsen neighborhood. Advertisement He was born and grew up in Chicago. He began his education in the city then transferred in the eighth grade to St. Rita School for the Deaf in Cincinnati, where he completed high school. Martinez returned to Chicago and worked on various production jobs and spent some time in the printing industry where, according to Mulcrone, the noise levels are often a problem for people with normal hearing. In the 1970s, Mather Brown said he worked with deaf and hard-of-hearing students at Ella Flagg Young Elementary School and Whitney Young Magnet High School. He also volunteered his time organizing youth clubs and coordinating dances, outings and visits to shows. He realized that to better help young people, he needed additional education. Married by then, he and his wife moved to Washington, D.C., where he enrolled in Gallaudet University, a private college for the deaf and hard of hearing. After working as a counselor and interning with social service agencies while in school, Martinez got his bachelor's degree in social work in 1983. Returning to Chicago, he worked as a vocational counselor for Goodwill Industries and as a residential manager for McLean House for the Hearing Impaired before becoming a vocational rehabilitation counselor for what is now the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services, where he worked for 15 years before retiring in 2003. "He had a case load for his own area," Mulcrone said, "but other folks in (the division) knew if they had a really tough, hard-to-place deaf kid, they'd turn to Fidel. "He was a vocation director, but for a lot of young people, he was their mentor, their teacher, their father." Advertisement Mather Brown said she was a toddler when her parents met Fidel and Iris at church during their time in Washington. In a Facebook posting, Mather Brown, who is now a marketing director for a U.S. government agency, listed some of the things she learned from Martinez. Those included a love for music, the steps and history of Latin dancing, and the importance of investing in disadvantaged youth, one child at a time. "He was always committed to make sure that all the youths in the area had opportunities," she said, "and he did a lot of work for the Latino community." Martinez helped start the Illinois Deaf Latino Association, according to Mulcrone. Mulcrone said Martinez had a whole other side to his life as an entertainer. In the days before closed captioning, Martinez loved to watch shows and movies on television. Mulcrone remembered a year when Martinez put on a Christmas show for the deaf and hard of hearing. "It was a tribute to Elvis and Blue Hawaii," Mulcrone said, with Martinez signing in American Sign Language the lyrics as recorded Presley songs played. Advertisement He and his wife performed all over the country and in Mexico, providing dance shows and music shows, often for charity events, conferences and festivals. "It was all about other people," Mulcrone said about Martinez's constant effort to bring joy to others. "It was never about himself." Martinez also is survived by a sister, Judy Hefner; and a brother Carlos. A service was held. Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter. Northwestern University freshman Adam Davies speaks Jan. 19, 2017, in his dorm room about the issues facing transgender people and why he wanted to join the "familylike" atmosphere of a campus sorority in Evanston. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune) (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) A Northwestern University freshman who recently came out as transgender tried to join a sorority this month, yearning for deeper friendships on campus. The case is unusual because the student is a transgender man, born with a female body but identifying as male, and already beginning to make that transition. Eighteen-year-old Adam Davies said he was drawn to the tenets of Greek life philanthropy, bonding and leadership but that with his changing body he might not feel comfortable living in a fraternity. Advertisement So he sought out the sisterhood of a sorority instead. "I guess I see it on a level that transcends the gender binary," said Davies, of Appleton, Wis. Advertisement While many international sororities have in the last few years adopted language to better include transgender women, this was among the first instances in which an openly transgender man participated in Panhellenic Recruitment, according to the organization's national conference based in Indianapolis, which covers 26 social sororities on more than 670 campuses around the world. Northwestern officials believe this is likely the first case of its kind at the university. In the end, no sorority extended Davies a bid. Because each chapter's membership decisions are private, it's unclear whether gender identity was a factor. Other students regardless of gender identity in past years have attempted to join a sorority without receiving a bid. Davies said he's disappointed he won't experience a candlelight ceremony, wear Greek letters or have a mentoring relationship with an older sorority member. "The vibe was as far as I could tell we would love to have you, but we can't," he said. Before winter recruitment, which ran Jan. 5-10, Davies said he was told by Northwestern staff that all 12 social sorority houses were notified of his gender identity and many of their international headquarters might find him ineligible based on their bylaws or guidelines, which often state that recruits must be women or identify as women. "Student Affairs staff explained what he might expect based on national organizations' bylaws, with the information we had available at that time," university spokesman said Alan Cubbage in an email, adding that Northwestern has no authority over any sorority's membership decisions. Davies said he was transparent throughout the recruitment process. He said he felt welcomed at all of the houses and described his talks with members as deep and introspective, often delving into the nature of feminism. "I made it very clear that I was a transgender man," he said. "Because I'm not afraid of who I am." Advertisement Unique case Amid an ongoing national debate on transgender rights covering everything from public bathroom use to school locker rooms, Davies' case highlights the particularly thorny realm of Greek life, where sex and gender identity have historically been at the core of membership eligibility. While Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education, the federal government has declared social fraternities and sororities exempt and free to make their own membership decisions, including those based on gender identity. "Those organizations are therefore permitted under Title IX to set their own policies regarding the sex, including the gender identity, of their members," according to a May 13 letter regarding transgender students issued by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. "Nothing in Title IX prohibits a fraternity from admitting transgender men or a sorority from admitting transgender women if it so chooses." The letter does not directly address the prospect of a sorority admitting a transgender man. Over the past few years, many fraternities and sororities have on their own crafted language accepting transgender members, said Tim Burke, a Cincinnati attorney who represents Greek organizations and publishes a newsletter on fraternal issues. Advertisement "This didn't become a big issue on college campuses until a few years ago," he said. "The whole question of transgender membership in fraternities and sororities is changing virtually on a daily basis." Even as Greek organizations become more inclusive when it comes to gender identity, Burke believes the vast majority of fraternities and sororities will staunchly defend their right to remain a single-sex organization. He thinks even sororities accepting of transgender recruits identifying as women would balk at including anyone who identifies as a man. The Tribune was successful in reaching four of the 12 Panhellenic sororities at Northwestern. A Delta Gamma official said its membership is open to women and transgender people who identify as women, but men are excluded. A Pi Beta Phi official described the sorority as "a women's organization for individuals who live and self-identify as women." Kappa Alpha Theta spokeswoman Liz Rinck said the organization was founded in 1870 in part to help support women in an often misogynistic social and academic atmosphere. "As some of the earliest women to attend college, Kappa Alpha Theta's founders fought for inclusion in a frequently hostile social and educational environment," she said. "Our mission is not to define the experience of being a woman but to offer lifelong opportunities for social, intellectual and moral growth. Membership in Kappa Alpha Theta is open to those who identify as women." Advertisement Tri Delta said it is "committed to supporting and serving women" but added that a task force is constantly reviewing policies, said Stacy Gillard, a vice president with the organization. "At a time when society is wrestling with questions about how the changing concepts of gender identity impact traditional distinctions between men and women," Gillard said, "we support our chapters as they make individual membership decisions involving transgender students, as they would for any potential member, based on the best interests of the individual and chapter." Changes ahead? As for Davies, even though he wasn't asked to join a sorority this recruitment period, he praised Northwestern as progressive for letting him experience the recruitment process. He wears his sandy blond cut short on the sides, a little shaggier on top. After recently starting hormone therapy, he says his face isn't as soft as it once was and his voice is becoming more androgynous. He wears a binder to flatten his chest but hopes to get top surgery, the surgical removal of breast tissue, in March. While he identifies as a man, he said that's only when society requires that he pick a gender, because his gender doesn't fit neatly in one of two categories. Advertisement In early December, a few weeks before Davies started recruitment, the university's Panhellenic executive board pledged to support "members of our community who ascribe to non-traditional forms of gender expression" in a letter published in The Daily Northwestern. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > While sororities were historically founded to be women's spaces, Northwestern Panhellenic President Nina Seminara said she feels they should expand their concept of what womanhood means and who is able to value and belong in a predominantly female space especially because there are already sorority members who don't necessarily "ascribe to the gender binary." Davies' participation in sorority recruitment "deepened the conversations on our campus and kind of challenged what it means to be a woman," Seminara said, though she couldn't speculate whether individual sororities would change their guidelines in the future. "Some international/national chapter headquarters do define eligible members as individuals identifying as women," she said, "but thanks in many ways to Adam I think this is beginning to be a more open conversation among (headquarters)." Just as sororities were established to give women a safe space in a patriarchal system, Davies believes they should now strive to provide that same kind haven to anyone marginalized for not fitting typical gender norms. "I believe, over time, the gender of these organizations will fade," he said. "I hope." Advertisement eleventis@chicagotribune.com Twitter @angie_leventis A Chicago man appeared in court Sunday over a violent robbery that left a man permanently disabled and in a coma for more than a month. Kameron Dominic Alston, 24, arranged on Facebook to buy marijuana from the man, but instead attacked him and left him to die, prosecutors said Sunday. Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil set Alston's bond at $600,000 in a hearing midday Sunday regarding the aggravated battery and robbery charges against Alston. Advertisement Alston reached out on Facebook to the victim, then 19, to buy marijuana, said Assistant State's Attorney Holly Grosshans. On June 22, the two agreed to meet at a fictitious address in the Cragin neighborhood that Alston claimed was his home. The victim arrived at the address in the 2100 block of North Leamington Avenue and found Alston was seated in the driver's seat of a car, with a woman in the passenger seat. After the two talked for several minutes, the man pulled a bag of marijuana from his shorts pocket, and Alston then stunned him with a punch to the face, prosecutors said. Advertisement Alston grabbed at the arm with which the victim was holding the bag of marijuana and pulled him into the car. Alston then sped down the street until he hit a parked car, causing the man, whose chest, head and neck were inside the car, to be flung into the roadway. Alston fled with the drugs. The victim was rushed to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he was treated for serious brain and spine injuries and a broken collar bone. The victim, now 20, is paralyzed from the waist down and in both his hands from the attack. Witnesses saw Alston "drive down the street holding onto the victim," Grosshans said. "Video surveillance captures the defendant driving at a high rate of speed with the victim hanging out of the driver's side window and the victim hitting a parked vehicle before tumbling off as the defendant drove off." In November, the victim identified Alston in a photo lineup. The Chicago Police Department Fugitive Apprehension Team arrested Alston on Friday at a South Side motel. Police gave his latest address as the 2600 block of South Wallace Street, but court records indicate he also had been living in a motel in the 1000 block of Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village. Three people were wounded in a shooting early on Jan. 21, 2017,in the 3800 block of South St. Louis Avenue, police said. (Elvia Malagon / Chicago Tribune) A woman who was one of three people shot in the Brighton Park neighborhood early Saturday died about 24 hours later, authorities said. Natalia Ramirez, 27, was pronounced dead at 4:02 a.m. Sunday at Mount Sinai Hospital after being injured in the 3800 block of South St. Louis Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Advertisement Ramirez, of the 3000 block of South Princeton Avenue, was among three people shot while they were near a parked Chevrolet Impala on South St. Louis Avenue about 3:15 a.m. Saturday. A dark sedan pulled up next to the group, and a man got out of the car and opened fire, according to police. The shooter then got back in the car and drove off. Ramirez, who was shot in the head, initially was in critical condition at Mount Sinai. A 28-year-old man was shot in the leg, and a 22-year-old man was shot in the back. Both men were taken to Mount Sinai, where their conditions were stabilized. Advertisement The morning of the shooting, officers guarded a parked silver Chevrolet Impala that had several visible bullet holes. The windows appeared to be shattered by gunfire. On the street, officers placed markers where spent shell casings had been found. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Jay Johnson, 36, was among the neighbors who watched as officers guarded the crime scene and interviewed witnesses. He said he was sleeping when gunfire woke him up. He recalled hearing about eight gunshots. He put on his pants, went outside and saw the commotion of the aftermath of the shooting. His neighbor was one of the gunshot victims, and his neighbor's brother also had been shot. "Basically, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time," Johnson said. "They aren't gangbangers, but they were in gang territory." There had been a small gathering for a birthday before the shooting. Johnson, who has lived in the neighborhood for two years, said the block is usually relatively quiet. A man, who did not want to be identified, said he had been approached by someone in a car and asked if he was affiliated with a gang. Shortly after, he heard gunfire in the neighborhood. Another neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said he was sleeping when he heard about 10 gunshots. He checked on his children before he went outside and found people screaming. "It sounded very close to us," he said. "It's not the first time it's happened." Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Topspin A busy week awaits a fresh group of lawmakers in Springfield, where Illinois Senate leaders could try to push forward a massive budget package the same day Gov. Bruce Rauner gives his State of the State address. Advertisement They're scheduled to start trying Tuesday with committee hearings on the tax hikes, gambling expansion, state worker pension changes and other ideas that make up their effort to break Springfield's historically long budget gridlock. How those hearings go could suggest their fate before the full Senate later in the week, possibly Wednesday. Rauner's Wednesday speech is distinct from the one he'll give next month in that he's not on the hook for a formal budget plan this time. Still, he'll give the talk in the Illinois House led by his chief political nemesis, House Speaker Michael Madigan as the spending stalemate hangs over everything in Springfield. Advertisement Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton typically stand behind Rauner during the speech, giving photographers a chance to preserve the two Democrats' reactions to the Republican's plans. Of course, they'll all be competing for political attention with new President Donald Trump, who has said he considers Monday his "day one." And the Chicago City Council is set to meet for the first time this year. That's Wednesday too. What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will attend the afternoon ribbon cutting for a new domestic violence shelter focusing on immigrant issues. *Gov. Rauner has no public schedule. *The Chicago City Council Zoning Committee meets. Agenda here. *Metra CEO Don Orseno is set to give a lunchtime talk to the City Club of Chicago on Monday, a few days before the agency's Feb. 1 fare hikes take effect. What we're writing *Illinois backers of Trump have their day in Washington. Advertisement *Protesters fill Loop as Women's March draws 250,000. *Illinoisans march in D.C., tell their stories. *In Reagan's hometown, excitement on Inauguration Day. *Obamas ask for ideas to help shape presidential library in Chicago. *Emanuel should empower "SWAT team" to monitor DOJ recommendations, official says. *Chicago taxpayers likely out $4 million more to settle another Burge-era torture case. Advertisement *Illinois Supreme Court rules Chicago can't tax suburban car rentals. *Another violent weekend in Chicago as shootings continue. What we're reading *Estimated nearly $500 million spent by film and TV crews in Illinois last year. *Sick? More Illinois residents heading to store clinics for treatment. *Replace Thompson Center with new largest tower in Chicago? From the notebook Advertisement *Dems headline Springfield rally: U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin joined state lawmakers and liberal advocates in Springfield on Saturday in what was billed as a rally to encourage unity and support for issues believed to be under threat from President Donald Trump. The event was organized by a coalition of local groups dubbed Springfield Call 2 Action. The event was one of many held across the nation, including Chicago, that served to back the Women's March on Washington. Other speakers included state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Champaign; state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill; and members from groups like Planned Parenthood of Illinois, and the AFSCME union. During his speech, Durbin referred to Abraham Lincoln's Bible, which both Trump and former President Barack Obama used to take their oaths of office. Durbin said Lincoln and Obama's imprints made the Bible a symbol of unity -- something he believes Trump's inaugural address did not reflect. "It was an inaugural address, with the exception of two or three sentences, which really appealed to the divisions and resentments of America," he said. "Instead of asking us to look up together to make a better nation, he gave people reasons to fear and to hate. That is not what the leader of the United States of America should be saying to its people." Durbin blasted Trump's policies on immigration and health care, vowing to fight Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He also encouraged attendees to organize instead of agonizing over the future administration. "This is what America's all about," he said after the rally. "People stand up with the freedom to express their point of view." Durbin said he chose to attend the Springfield event over Chicago's rally because the central Illinois city is his home, and he thought he could have a more significant impact at a smaller gathering. He also recalled the February 2007 day Obama announced his candidacy for president in the same spot, saying it changed America's history. "These bricks are magic, and I hope that what we did today was start changing for the better the history of this country again," he said. (Haley BeMiller) *The Sunday Spin: On this week's show, Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests were Pat Brady, former Illinois Republican chairman on President Trump; K. Sujata, CEO of the Chicago Foundation for Women on what's next; and David Yepsen, former director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University on the Trump administration. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN 720-AM. Listen to the full show here. *Crossbar hotel cross stitch: We spotted this cross stich pattern of the four former Illinois governors who ended up behind bars a while back and forgot to share it with you. It's got Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, all in kind of an 8-bit retro video game design. Chicagoist wrote about it. It's five bucks, if cross stitching is your thing. Follow the money *State Rep. Scott Drury, the lone House Democrat that didn't vote for House Speaker Michael Madigan earlier this month, reported a $2,000 contribution from Blair Hull, a businessman and 2004 primary candidate for U.S. Senate. *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Advertisement Beyond Chicago *"Alternative facts" enters the political lexicon; Trump won't release tax returns. *Trump visits CIA, attacks media for coverage of his inaugural crowd, then his press secretary offers "alternative facts" in attack on media. *There's no record Trump has resigned from his companies. *Republican senators hope to speed up Trump nominee confirmations. PALM BEACH, Fla. A woman is being charged with sneaking onto President Donald Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club shortly before his inauguration and smearing bananas on cars. Palm Beach, Florida, police say in a report released Monday that 48-year-old Kelly Weidman also typed a profanity about Trump on a Mar-a-Lago computer and moved outside some ballroom balloons a few hours before Trump was sworn-in Friday. Advertisement She was confronted by security guards, who called police. She allegedly told officers she wanted to be arrested because no one was paying attention to her claim of being cyber attacked. She was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and released. Because Trump wasn't at the ritzy club, the Secret Service wasn't involved. Advertisement No one answered a phone number listed for Weidman on Monday and court records didn't list an attorney. Associated Press Mighty storm swells pummeled the California coast over the weekend. In San Diego, waves swept two women, one fatally, away from shoreline rocks and into the surf. Some 400 miles to the north, the storm took another casualty. This one was a ship, a curious artifact of American history. The swells tore the stern off a crumbling but famous boat, the World War I-era tanker named the S.S. Palo Alto. Since 1930, the Palo Alto has been a symbol of Santa Cruz County, sitting at the end of a pier that juts from Monterey Bay's Seacliff Beach. During Saturday's storm, the waves reached a record height: 34 feet, according to a National Weather Service buoy in the bay, more than a foot taller than the previous record set in 2008. With the tall waves came destruction. The pounding surf snapped a section of the Palo Alto nearest to shore from the rest of the ship. The boat had an unusual concrete hull as well as an unusual origin story. As World War I progressed, and civilian and military vessels fell by the hundreds to German submarine torpedoes, ship builders worried about a shortage of steel. In 1917, the Emergency Fleet Corporation was formed under President Woodrow Wilson. The emergency fleet commissioned an order for 24 new ships built out of ferroconcrete. The material, concrete reinforced with steel, was cheaper to produce than steel and more readily available. It was also capable of producing boats that floated. In fact, the French inventor of ferroconcrete, Joseph-Louis Lambot, had created a concrete dinghy a half-century before; his small boat was displayed at the 1855 World's Fair. The Emergency Fleet Corporation's choice for concrete ships was a move, as described in a 1918 issue of the trade journal Concrete, born out of emergency. The year before, a Norwegian engineer had built a 84-foot-long ship with a concrete hull. But larger tankers like the Palo Alto were yet untested. "Good engineering judgment puts the concrete seagoing ship idea on a sound basis," noted the journal. "But it hasn't been proved -- that's all." The capabilities of U.S. concrete ships would remain unproven during the war. By the time builders completed all 420 feet of the S.S. Palo Alto, at the Naval Shipyard in Oakland, Calif., World War I was over. The Palo Alto did not move from Oakland until 1929, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. On the ship's first voyage, it was towed to the Sea Cliff beach, where the Cal-Nevada Company scuttled the boat by opening the valves in its hull. It earned the nickname the Cement Boat, and became a tourist destination. In 1930, a pier was constructed to link the ship to the beach. The Cal-Nevada Company installed a heated pool -- 54 feet long -- as well as a casino and a dance floor. The party on board the S.S. Palo Alto lasted for two years, until its prospects were hit by the twin blows of a severe winter storm and the Great Depression. The state of California purchased the ship, and it became a popular fishing spot. The state closed off public access to the ship 1950, after years of decay. Despite opening for a few years following a restoration attempt in the 1980s, the ship once again became off-limits. The fishing pier was open to foot traffic during summer 2016 but is now closed for repairs, according to the Parks and Recreation Department. Despite the repeated pummeling, the Cement Boat remained a touchstone. "There are always people who come back here," after having moved away, John Hibble, director of the local Aptos History Museum, told the Santa Cruz Sentinel in February. "Their parents danced on the ship. Some people were little kids when they actually got to go out on the front part of the ship." And yet life did not abandon the S.S. Palo Alto completely. Pelicans and other seabirds perched on the ship's deck, leaving behind streaks of white on the cracked concrete. In the water below, marine mammals like sea lions hunted sea perch and other fish. These fish, in turn, fed upon the algae and other organisms that grew in the shelter of the artificial reef. The discovery of dead wildlife tarnished the Cement Boat's environmental legacy in the mid-2000s. Exposed to nearly a century's worth of the elements, the ship's tanks had cracked, leaking fuel oil; the Palo Alto was held responsible for the dozens of birds that subsequently washed up, dead, on nearby beaches. In 2006, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted a $1.7 million cleanup effort. Workers sucked half-a-thousand gallons of gunk from the ship's cracked tanks. Inside the ship, they found an additional 200 bird bodies and two dead harbor seals, reported the Monterey County Herald. In the decade since the environmental cleanup, the ship had crumbled further. Winter 2016 storms shoved the ship to the starboard side, reported the Sentinel, and cracked open its rear half. This year's weather caused even more damage. "It's just an unusual January with this active weather," said National Weather Service forecaster Drew Peterson, according to the Mercury News. "With the Cement Ship, we're starting to see the ramifications." Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham said Sunday that they will back the nomination of Rex Tillerson, clearing the way for the oil executive to become secretary of state and leaving just one drama unresolved: What will Marco Rubio do? The Republican senator from Florida made clear during Tillerson's confirmation hearing earlier this month that he had significant reservations, chastising the ExxonMobil chief executive for refusing to call Russia's bombing campaign in Aleppo a war crime and declining to condemn Saudi Arabia and China as human rights violators. "In order to have moral clarity, we need clarity. We can't achieve moral clarity with rhetorical ambiguity," Rubio told Tillerson. "We need a secretary of state who will fight for these principles." Since then, Rubio has come under significant pressure from Republican party leaders to back Tillerson and avoid a split within the GOP on one of President Trump's most high-profile picks, according to those close to him. Rubio held an unannounced meeting with Tillerson last week, according to two people with knowledge of the get-together, although it was unclear whether Tillerson was able to alleviate Rubio's concerns. The Tillerson decision is a potentially pivotal one for the former presidential candidate, who during the campaign challenged President Donald Trump on foreign-policy differences that have since been reflected in concerns Republicans have voiced about Tillerson. Many in the party are leery of Trump's friendly approach to Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, with whom Tillerson frequently interacted as the head of ExxonMobil. Putin awarded Tillerson the Kremlin's Order of Friendship in 2013, and Tillerson has criticized sanctions the United States imposed on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. "Marco exposed a tension between kind of where a lot of Republicans are on Russia," said Lanhee Chen, who served as an adviser to Rubio during his 2016 campaign. "He's got a great opportunity to kind of lead this wing of the national security establishment that believes the long-standing orthodoxy on Russia." Politically, however, several people in Rubio's circle said they see no upside to defying Trump, especially now that Tillerson is on the path to being confirmed. Rubio is aware that the backlash from the new White House would be intense, according to those close to him. George Seay, a Dallas-based investment manager who was a major Rubio donor during his presidential run, said that many people close to him have been texting, calling and writing Rubio to urge him to support Tillerson "in very blunt fashion." "I think this is the wrong fight. I think it's the wrong position to make a stand," Seay said. Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos did not respond to multiple inquiries Sunday about Rubio's thinking on Tillerson or his meetings. Seeming uncertainty is a familiar position for Rubio. During the 2013 debate over immigration reform, Rubio initially joined with Democrats to push for a comprehensive bill before backing away from the effort when conservative ire reached a boiling point. The fallout would follow him into his presidential campaign, where he took heat from the right for being part of the effort and criticism from the left for backing away from it. During his presidential campaign, Rubio had a pattern of articulating two positions on some politically sensitive topics: his personal view, and what he considered to be politically doable. This mirrored how he campaigned against Trump, as well. Early on, Rubio avoided attacking Trump, even when he clearly disagreed with him. When the primaries heated up, Rubio switched his strategy and launched a forceful - at times awkward - attack, calling Trump a "con man" and a "fraud." After Trump won the nomination, Rubio switched again and supported his party's nominee. On Sunday morning, McCain, Ariz., and Graham, S.C., - Tillerson's two other most vocal GOP critics - released a statement announcing they would support him for secretary of state when the full Senate votes on it. Citing additional conversations with Tillerson, the pair expressed "confidence" that Tillerson "can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests," despite continued "concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government." Of all the Republican senators, only Rubio, McCain and Graham's support for Tillerson has ever been seriously in doubt. Of the three, Rubio's complaints have been the most broad, centering on his fear that as secretary of state, Tillerson might not be a strong-enough defender of human rights. Rubio warned Tillerson that being too soft "leads to people to conclude . . . America cares about democracy and freedom as long as it isn't being violated for something else." McCain and Graham's support all but guarantees that Tillerson will easily win the simple majority he needs to be confirmed as secretary of state by the full Senate. But if Rubio votes against Tillerson's nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - where Republicans outnumber Democrats by only one vote - it could throw a wrench into plans to move Tillerson's nomination to the floor smoothly. "I recognize the partisan split on the committee and what it would all mean," Rubio told reporters after Tillerson's hearing, asserting that he was "prepared to do what's right." If Rubio opposes Tillerson, GOP leaders are prepared to use a variety of procedural options to get his nomination to the floor. "I expect him to come out of the committee on Monday," Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said following Trump's inauguration Friday, although he admitted "the votes are still in flux." If committee members do not vote to report Tillerson's nomination to the floor with a favorable recommendation, they can vote to send it to the floor with caveats, such as an unfavorable recommendation, or with no recommendation at all. If those efforts fail, a senator can file a discharge motion to circumvent the committee's review authority entirely and send Tillerson's nomination straight to the floor. Top committee Democrat Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., said Friday that while he believes "our committee's recommendation's extremely important," he does "recognize the fact that confirmations are by the Senate, not by committee." I've spent the last few days reading accounts of President Donald Trump's inauguration speech, but I'm having a fundamental problem absorbing the analysis because I simply don't believe anything he says. I'm not just saying that I don't believe that "carnage" describes the American condition (if it does, we need a new word for Syria), and I say that as someone who's been trying for decades to get policymakers to pay attention to the economic costs of globalization. Advertisement I'm saying I don't believe that he believes it. From his speeches to his tweets, Trump does not speak truth. Instead, he speaks in two modes. One, he says what his audience wants to hear, and two, he does his "Art of the Deal" shtick, trying to put perceived enemies and negotiating opponents back on their heels. Advertisement Mode one is particularly easy to see; it's what he does in front of crowds. He tells coal workers he'll bring their jobs back. He tells those unhappy with their health insurance that his plan will provide more coverage for less money. He reassures the New York Times editorial board that he's a moderate on climate change ("I'm looking at it very closely"). He can't bring back coal jobs; he's got no plan for better health insurance, in no small part because it's impossible to provide more comprehensive coverage while spending less. Days after his meeting with the Times, he nominated Scott Pruitt, an avowed enemy of climate policy, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. His inaugural speech was full of populist rhetoric about helping those who've been on the wrong side of globalization and inequality. He boldly asserted that "every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families." How likely is that? It's early days, of course, and actions yet to come will speak louder than these words. But look at his Cabinet, look at his tax plan and the budgets of his Republican congressional majority. Observe that on the day he spoke those words, he signed an executive order to effectively gut Obamacare's individual mandate with no replacement in sight, raised the cost of mortgages to low and moderate-income home buyers, and expunged reports on climate change and gay rights from the government's website. Mode two is obvious in tweet-shaming China, threatening to punish companies that offshore jobs, 45 percent tariffs, the wall that he still claims Mexico will pay for, and most recently, falsely accusing the press of dishonestly reporting the size of the crowd at his inauguration. The idea here is that when actual negotiations on these matters commence, his opponents, which clearly include the media, will already be playing defense. That may or may not be an effective strategy - my guess is that it gets old pretty quickly - but that's what's going on. I don't believe a word he says, and neither should you. What does that mean from the perspective of both the media and the analytic community? Regarding the latter, I'm thinking about my own economic policy lens, but also that of the many foreign policy actors who are trying to figure out how to deal with our new president. (I've had numerous conversations with embassy officials here in Washington who've asked me some version of this question.) Starting with the media, I asked a reporter I much admire whether her paper really had to report Trump's tweets, given that whatever information they contain is wholly unreliable. Her reply was, "Of course! They're news." Her paper's solution is to provide context within which to place the tweet, which I took to mean some version of "the president may or may not mean what he says here." Advertisement That means that all of us voters, journalists, foreign officials, policy analysts must either quickly learn this lesson, i.e., he doesn't mean what he says, or suffer severe mental whiplash on a daily basis while missing what's really going on. But how can we possibly figure out what he's really up to? For one, as alluded to above, you look at who he's surrounding himself with, which, contrary to his populist campaign, are Wall Street bankers, education privatizers (Betsy DeVos), anti-safety-net advocates (Ben Carson), and business-oriented globalizers (Rex Tillerson). It's unclear whether he'll listen to them for the most part, their unifying theme is that they're really rich and were loyal to him during the campaign but I have an easier time seeing this crew cutting taxes on the wealthy and regulations on business/finance than lifting the living standards of the working class. (And note that, thus far, their announced agenda is all the former and none of the latter.) Look at the budgets and tax plans that the Republican majority has had on the shelf for years now. The budgets cut deeply in low-income programs; the tax cuts enrich the wealthy while starving the Treasury of much-needed revenue. This is not speculation; these documents exist, and we've analyzed them. What is more speculative, though still based on stated preferences and some policy work of powerful Republicans, is the desire to pay for these tax cuts by cutting Social Security and Medicare. Trump says he won't go there, but what did I just tell you what Trump says? Throughout history, demagogues have used populism to "dangle the keys," to get people to "look over here" while "over there," they engage in activities that are diametrically opposed to the public good. This was clear in his inaugural speech, as Trump blamed government for everything that's gone wrong while ignoring the finance and corporate sectors that brought us the financial bubble and offshoring of jobs. Advertisement Our job is thus not to be distracted by shiny objects, to keep our eye on the power, the budget, the social insurance, the facts, the numbers, the vulnerable, the safety net and the public good. I will not go gently into the fact-free night, and I expect you won't either. Bloomberg View Jared Bernstein, a former chief economist to Vice President Joe Biden, is a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and author of the new book "The Reconnection Agenda: Reuniting Growth and Prosperity." Related stories: Traditional way of reporting on a president is dead. And Trump's press secretary killed it. How long will Sean Spicer allow himself to be humiliated by President Trump? Advertisement Donald Trump still can't escape Hillary Clinton Women's marchers stomped all over Trump's brand of populism Protesters walk during the Women's March on Washington, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) I was a stowaway at the Women's March on Washington. I couldn't go, so a friend carried my name on a card in her pocket, along with those of a dozen other women there in spirit. My friend's act of kindness also was an act of faith. She is a pro-choice Democrat. I am pro-life Republican. And we suddenly found ourselves agreeing on the huge issue that the Trump administration threatens the tender progress recently claimed that genuinely achieves both our goals for women and unborn babies. So, she put me in her pocket. Advertisement There was good news on Sunday's 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade: The abortion rate has declined by double digits. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion and related trends, in 2014 the number of abortions dropped below 1 million annually. The rate for women age 15 to 44 is down 14 percent since 2011. What's making the difference: expanded community access to health care and young women's ability to develop real relationships with doctors, thanks, yes, to the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). It's a rare moment of convergence for those who say abortion should be available and rare, and those who believe we must do better for women and babies. Advertisement The Women's March showed the real choices facing both sides and the way forward. Observations from the pocket: 1. Now is the moment of truth. The Republican Party is adamantly pro-life. (At this point, it's one of the few things keeping me in the party.) And now we know that access to health care helps reduce abortion. Will Congress vote its claimed values and reinvest in health care that sustains life for women and unborn babies? 2. Pro-life feminism is ascendant. Three decades ago, I was one of those sidewalk vigil-standers, a "life chain" handholder. I didn't consider myself a feminist. Now I do, partly due to life experience and also to my deepening appreciation for diversity. Yes, some hard-liners at the march harassed pro-life feminists, but pro-life feminists have momentum on their sides, because to deny us is to deny the diversity of women. When a "Saturday Night Live" skit makes your point for you, you know you're gaining traction. 3. The false choice of "your baby or your life" is shown to be a lie. New initiatives such as Pregnant on Campus, a project of Students for Life, bring practical help to students who shouldn't have to sacrifice their babies for their educations. There are many ways to help women include their babies in their visions for their own futures. Progressive employers are adopting expanded parental leave and flexible work arrangements, for instance, that foster economic self-sufficiency for young families and single mothers. Congress can vote pro-life through expanded support for community colleges and for nutrition programs for mothers and children. 4. Fundamentalism is counterproductive. Religious pro-lifers muddy the message when they mix their faith with facts. (I don't want anybody's rosaries on my ovaries either.) And idolizing Planned Parenthood blinds pro-choicers to the bigger question of finding new ways to truly support women. If health care becomes ever more available and affordable, doesn't that make Planned Parenthood obsolete? 5. Science counts, but empathy wins hearts. Nobody disputes that a zygote, an embryo, a fetus and a born baby are all human. The issue is when that human deserves legal protection to live her life. The pro-life movement needs breakout stories to do for it what "Hidden Figures," the wonderful movie about black female mathematicians who helped power the space program in the 1960s, does for the civil rights movement. As the march morphs into a movement, feminists of all philosophies have a chance to seize the moment to make real progress for women and unborn babies. Congress might rise to the occasion. But we can't count on politicians to do what's right. Let's show them how to get it done, for females of all ages and life stages. Advertisement Joanne Cleaver is a communication consultant based in Chicago. Related articles: Before Roe v. Wade, the Jane Collective served Chicago women Women's marchers stomped all over Trump's brand of populism The looming abortion battle and a way out of it Study details anxiety women feel after being denied an abortion Advertisement Some women stay away from Women's March over abortion issue U.S. intelligence chiefs James R. Clapper Jr., John Brennan, James B. Comey and Adm. Michael Rogers (with an assist from BuzzFeed) all deserve an award: the J. Edgar Hoover memorial award, if you will. By giving official cognizance to, and personally presenting Donald Trump with the salacious fruits of British sleuth-for-hire Christopher Steele's anonymously sourced and poorly written opposition research memos intended to smear Trump's character, the United States' intelligence officials have reprised what then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and deputies William Sullivan and Cartha "Deke" DeLoach did to Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson should have fired Hoover and his minions for their opprobrious conduct. Advertisement Clapper and Brennan are already on their way out, but Comey's and Rogers's resignations should be the first things Trump requests after taking the oath of office. To anyone who knows the documentary record of both the FBI and the CIA's pursuit of King, Steele's 35-page dossier of 17 memos dating from June 20 through Dec. 13 of last year is replete with word-for-word echoes. Steele begins his assault on Trump with an anonymous accusation of "perverted sexual acts," and his insistent obsession with "sexual perversion" mirrors the characterizations Hoover and Sullivan flung at their subordinates in marshaling the FBI's workforce to seek King's personal destruction, repeatedly using phrases like "moral degenerate" in internal bureau communications about King. Akin to Steele's fanciful report of sexual exploits, Hoover's FBI entertained a made-up account of King involving a Las Vegas prostitute. Advertisement While the FBI leadership's animus toward MLK fixated on his reported sexual appetites, the CIA's Office of Security entertained and memorialized accounts that described the crucial secret conflict within the civil rights movement as one between Soviet-controlled agents and Communist China's sympathizers. Top CIA officials relied upon an informant who explained in meeting after meeting how a battle for subversive control over King was being waged between New York lawyer Stanley Levison and activist entertainer Harry Belafonte. In the CIA's version of civil rights history, Levison, a onetime Communist Party financial functionary, was actively representing Moscow as he advised King, whereas Belafonte supposedly favored Beijing. In a similar tone, Steele's memos detail Trump attorney Michael Cohen supposedly engaged in secret meetings with "Kremlin representatives" in Prague, notwithstanding that Cohen appears never to have traveled there. The CIA's source on King turned out to be novelist and television host Jay Richard Kennedy, who had longstanding friendships with civil rights leaders A. Philip Randolph and James Farmer, and who moderated a nationwide August 1963 telecast featuring the leaders of the March on Washington. But Kennedy (born Samuel Richard Solomonick) and Levison, his longtime business partner, had fallen out years earlier. Indeed, by the 1950s, Levison's first wife, psychotherapist Janet Alterman, was married to Kennedy, who by then was Belafonte's business manager. Kennedy and Belafonte then had a falling out of their own, and Kennedy subsequently published a roman a clef novel about Belafonte, "Favor the Runner." The Kennedy-Levison-Belafonte story may sound better than fiction, but more importantly, it is a case study in the ways anonymous intelligence sources may have multiple agendas when they tattle on, and smear, people for whom they have pre-existing antipathy. Kennedy was not an opposition research contractor like Steele, but when as in the Steele case, and in the case of the FBI's most important informant close to King, accountant James A. Harrison a source is compensated for the information they provide, their incentive to spin a narrative that the payer wants to hear is that much greater. American history teaches us again and again from the early Bureau of Investigation's pursuit of World War I pacifists and black nationalist entrepreneur Marcus Garvey, through Pearl Harbor, the Bay of Pigs and, yes, weapons of mass destruction that U.S. intelligence agencies are often far less competent than their most avid supporters and their most hostile critics mutually presume. That all four top leaders of the U.S. intelligence community were naively willing to give official credence to Steele's unsupported "oppo" is an indelible blot upon their records and reputations. Liberals and progressives who know better than to worshipfully respect American intelligence agencies should enthusiastically support President Trump in seeking entirely new leadership for the U.S. intelligence community come the afternoon of Jan. 20. Washington Post David J. Garrow is the author of "The FBI and Martin Luther King, Jr.: From 'Solo' to Memphis," the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference" and the forthcoming "Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama." Related articles: Advertisement Donald Trump still can't escape Hillary Clinton Trump's team suspended a mortgage insurance rate cut. Here's what that means Trump won't release his tax returns because people don't care, top adviser says Protesters walk during the Women's March on Washington, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) The White House can't get over the disparity between Donald Trump's modest inaugural crowd on Friday and the massive protests that took place the next day. But what matters most is not how the numbers of marchers across America surpassed the numbers celebrating the inaugural. What matters, now and over the long term, is how those protesting bodies challenged the words of Trump's inaugural address, and neutered them. Advertisement Millions of Americans took to the streets for a "Women's March" that, in the end, had less to do with sexual politics than with a broad defiance of Trump's new order. They turned out in Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle and Washington D.C., but also in places like Boise, Idaho, and Anchorage, Alaska. Trump being Trump, he probably would've been unnerved by the size of the protests regardless: Size is a simple handle for an unsubtle mind. But White House strategist Steve Bannon and the shrewder members of the Trump team surely grasped that the protests had just obliterated an inaugural address that was less than 24 hours old. Advertisement In his broken beer bottle of a speech, Trump jabbed at the "establishment" he had defeated. "For too long," he said, "a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost." The "rewards of government" is a curious phrase for an American inaugural address, with "rewards" sounding much like the spoils that go to the victor. To make this language less jarring, especially as fabulously wealthy Trump appointees assume power enmeshed in doubts about their ethics and public spirit, Trump insisted in his address that it's really "the people" who have triumphed. "What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. "January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again." Like countless populists before him, Trump has set himself up as the representative, voice and will of "the people." As Jan-Werner Mueller wrote in "What Is Populism?": "The claim to exclusive representation is not an empirical one; it is always distinctly moral. When running for office, populists portray their political competitors as part of the immoral, corrupt elite; when ruling, they refuse to recognize opposition as legitimate." Team Trump relishes the condemnation of elites. When bow-tied George Will called Trump's address the worst in history, it was a victory for Bannonism, the guiding force of Trumpism. A president elected with 46 percent of the popular vote, who entered office with historically low approval ratings, needs the scorn of elites to prop himself up and to buff his populist street cred. Yet the number of people marching against Trump on Saturday appears to have been north of two million. If Trump embodies the people, who were those millions of bodies insisting that he doesn't represent them? Bow ties were not much visible in the crowds. Advertisement Neither Trump nor the organizers of the Women's March could've known how the populist words of his inaugural would be so devastatingly refuted by Saturday's tide of humanity. True, it's a short-term victory. The Trump administration will be the arena for a long and fierce battle. We are at the opening bell. But it mattered. Everyone in Washington from a determined Speaker Paul Ryan to a shell-shocked White House, from tentative Democrats climbing out from the rubble to liberal interest groups searching for an ideological anchor just got a look at a very different people from the one described by Trump. Bloomberg View Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg View. Related articles: Thousands fill Loop after Women's March rally in Chicago draws estimated 250,000 Advertisement 'Grannies protect what they love:' Why my mom joined the Women's March How long will Sean Spicer allow himself to be humiliated by President Trump? Donald Trump still can't escape Hillary Clinton To: White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer From: Rex Huppke, formerly dishonest member of the disgusting media Advertisement Subject: I agree with everything you say First off, I would like to applaud your courage in standing up to my media colleagues over the weekend to state definitively that photographs showing sparse attendance at President Donald Trump's inauguration didn't show sparse attendance at President Donald Trump's inauguration. Advertisement Nearly every media outlet laughed at you on the fact-obsessed basis that you were lying through your teeth to protect a president whose ego is apparently too fragile to acknowledge weak turnout. But I'm here to tell you, Mr. Spicer, that I believe you. And I'll tell you why. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Your partner in truth-eradication, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, defended you Sunday by saying you were simply introducing "alternative facts." When "Meet the Press" anchor Chuck Todd had the temerity to tell Conway that alternative facts are "falsehoods," she said: "I think we're going to have to rethink our relationship here." I, for one, value my relationship with you and Ms. Conway and don't want that relationship rethought. So, unlike the many dishonest slobs in my profession, I gladly embrace alternative facts in all their nebulous wonder. That's why, Mr. Spicer, I truly believe everything you said about the inauguration. Everything and more. You see, I was there, according to me. I was on the National Mall, I claim, standing among millions upon millions of Trump supporters who locked arms that fine sunny day and sang songs of peace and inclusion. Advertisement There were people everywhere, as far as the eye could see, more people than I thought existed in the world. And each person wore a smile and had recently hugged an immigrant and/or a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, because the crowd that gathered on that day the biggest crowd to ever assemble anywhere was made up of all good people. Only the best. Truly. And I recall the sky that day, Mr. Spicer. The sky was gold, and the many millions in that crowd sang out in unison: "Hallelujah, Trump is here!" And each of us received an American-made Trump inauguration hat that was made in China and a bucket of casino chips redeemable at any Trump casino property (following a minimum five-night stay). The air was warm a 75-degree June day and green leaves in the trees rustled as a light breeze blew across the faces of 9,456,732 well-wishers. And there were unicorns so majestic! America never felt more whole, for the nation was putting in office a beloved man who won the popular vote by several million without any help from anyone, especially not Russia. Advertisement What a day it was, I say, alternative-factly. Of course the next day, some claimed there were "women's marches" in Washington, D.C., and Chicago and around the world protesting Trump. Some pointed to photographs that suggested the crowd at the Washington march was greater than the one at the previous day's inauguration. Nonsense. First off, it's a scientific fact that crowds at any form of protest can't be counted because they don't exist. But even if they did exist, crowd estimates based on aerial photographs would be unreliable at an event like that because the scene would be obscured by sulfurous black smoke released from the mouths of sinful demon women. One final point I'd like to slavishly agree with without the slightest question or hesitation is something Ms. Conway told ABC on Sunday when asked if Trump would release his tax returns: "The White House response is that he's not going to release his tax returns." Boom. End of story. What more could there possibly be to say? Some claim the president promised to release his tax returns once a routine audit was complete, but I personally don't remember seeing or hearing those words that are readily available on the internet. Sounds like fake news. Advertisement Except on Monday morning, Conway tweeted: "POTUS is under audit and will not release until that is completed. #nonews." #OK. Whatever! On Sunday, Conway also noted that nobody cares about the president's tax returns. I believe her because she said those words. But some so-called journalists brought up an ABC News/Washington Post poll released last week that found 74 percent of Americans think Trump should release his tax returns. What they failed to mention was that the poll was taken on Opposite Day which, as far as I'm concerned, is every day, except when it isn't. (Or is it?) In conclusion, Mr. Spicer, I congratulate you for standing up for alternative facts, and I want you to know that you can count on me to report exactly what you say, verbatim, without ever doubting a word for any reason. I was moved by the billions who gathered on the National Mall on Inauguration Day. And by the unicorns. And the stately dragons. And the obvious hugeness of all aspects of President Trump. Advertisement And I'm here to tell the American people just what you want them to hear, so they too can believe in unicorns. And dragons. In free casino chips and summer days in winter and all other forms of make-believe. Because, if I'm getting my alternative facts straight, that appears to be exactly what you and Ms. Conway have in mind. rhuppke@chicagotribune.com Aurora brothers Ivan Favela (left) and Jose Favela became dads on the same day when their sons, Josue Guerrero Favela Duran and Rodrigo Jose Favela, were born Jan. 15. (Jose Favela ) If good things come in pairs, then Aurora residents Jose and Ivan Favela are doubling down on just about everything. Recently, both brothers became parents on the same day as their wives gave birth to baby boys Jan. 15. The same-day births seemed to top a series of identical life experiences the brothers have been experiencing for quite a while. Advertisement "We actually got engaged on the same weekend, and wound up having a dual wedding," Jose Favela said. "My wife was going to have her 22nd birthday and that was the day I proposed. It turns out, my brother asked his wife to marry him on the same weekend. I had told him I was going to propose on that weekend, but I never knew he planned to do it too." The same day events continued as both brothers broke the news to their mother on the same day. Advertisement "We were living with my mother at the time, and she had recently suffered a stroke, but she was fine mentally, and she felt bad as well as happy," Jose Favela said. "She was sad she was losing both of her sons at the same time, but happy we were going to get married." The two brothers come from a small town named Tepehuanes in Mexico, and moved to the United States 13 years ago. Jose, 31, and Ivan, 26, each said they were fairly close as brothers beyond the usual issues that siblings face. "We were good probably nine days out 10, but since we've moved here, we definitely lean on each other," Ivan Favela said. Jose's wife, Elvia Chaivez, and Ivan's wife, Sarai Duran, continued the connecting of experiences as each would visit the same doctor's office during their prenatal care and find out from staff that the other had been in for a check up on the same day. "I remember going to an appointment, and the nursing staff telling me, 'Oh, we just saw your sister-in-law here earlier," Elvia Chaivez recalled. Jose Favela said he and his wife suffered a miscarriage a few years ago and kept quiet about the next pregnancy until they felt sure that everything would by OK. "When I finally told my brother that he was going to be an uncle, he told me in front of my mom that I was going to be an uncle too," he said. As the birth date drew near, Chaivez said she knew she was going into the hospital to have her labor induced Jan. 15 due to some concerns about her liver. Advertisement "My due date was actually Jan. 22, but the doctors had some concerns and wanted me to deliver the baby a little early," Chaivez said. "It turns out, my brother-in-law was already here on the second floor of the hospital and knew we were coming in. He took a picture of us with his cell phone from above as we were walking in." Jose Favela said he remembers inviting his brother over to watch a movie the night before the two baby boys were born but that Ivan declined, saying that his wife was in pain. "'Maybe we'll see you there' was what my brother told me," Jose Favela said. Jose Favela's son, Rodrigo Jose Favela, was born at 2:59 p.m. Jan. 15, and Ivan Favela's son, Josue Guerrero Favela Duran, arrived about seven hours later at 10:09 p.m. Jose and Ivan have great hopes for the two of them remaining as connected as they have been so far. "The fact that we have family here and all of us are going through the same thing really helps," said Sarai Duran. "We're going to have the boys baptized together the same as we did when we got married together. I mean, you invite the same family members on both sides, so why wouldn't we?" Ivan Favela remains convinced that none of these concurrent events are just accidents. Advertisement "I really feel there is a divine presence behind this, and these things are supposed to happen for a reason," he said. "God sets things up for you, and this has really been exciting." David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News A 52-year-old Riverdale man has been sentenced to prison for attacking and choking his girlfriend during an argument in 2015, according to a news release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. Carl C. Walker Sr., 52, of the 0-99 block of West 140th Street, Riverdale, was sentenced by Kane County Circuit Judge James C. Hallock to 16 years in prison. Advertisement In December, a Kane County jury convicted Walker of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. Prosecutors, Kane County Assistant State's Attorneys Bianca Camargo and Vincent Coyle, said during hearings that on the evening of Aug. 13, 2015, Walker and his girlfriend began to argue at her apartment in Aurora. When the girlfriend walked away, into another room, Walker followed, grabbed her around her neck from behind and choked her for 10 to 15 seconds, according to the state's attorney's news release. Advertisement The victim's friend noticed bruises on her neck the next day and asked what happened, then called police, prosecutors said. Walker received an enhanced sentence because of his criminal history, which includes multiple convictions of forcible felonies in Cook County since 1985, according to the state's attorney's office. Walker must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, in accordance with state law. He receives credit for 29 days already served in the Kane County jail, where online booking records indicated he was still located Monday afternoon. Walker is a registered sex offender with the state of Illinois. He was convicted in Cook County of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated criminal sex abuse involving bodily harm, in which the victim was 18 and Walker was 27, according to the sex offender registry. hleone@tribpub.com Twitter @hannahmleone Women from the western suburbs were among the hundreds of thousands of people who filled the streets of the nation's capital for the Women's March on Washington Saturday. Carrie Brasser, 41, of Elmhurst, boarded a bus Friday and got back on the bus Saturday night, just so she could participate. Advertisement "It was amazing," she said. "This was all in response to Nov. 8 and the election, and our new president's comments related to Planned Parenthood, a woman's right to choose, racism, health care for all and education. This was a chance for us to stand up and say, 'We're not going to take it sitting down.' We wanted to make our voice heard." Brasser said she especially wanted to be in Washington for the march, even though she could have saved herself about 25 hours on a bus driving downtown for the Chicago march instead. Advertisement "I went to college in D.C. and wanted to be there right in the middle of it, where it was happening," she said. "And I'm really glad that I went." Brasser said she also was there to represent her three young sons. "This is about the future for all of us," she said. :The key now is to harness this energy from the march, and it has to be a grassroots effort. We need to be on top of this administration and make calls and send emails." Liz Reyes, president of the board of trustees for the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, went "to show that there is this large group of people ready to organize and stand up for, not just women's rights, but for the rights of the disabled, of gays and lesbians, of immigrants." "The crowd was filled with men, women and kids," Reyes said. "Many were carrying signs representing the rights of every vulnerable population. My favorite was, 'Women's rights are human rights.'" Reyes, who lives in Riverside, said she has been to the capital many times and never imagined the National Mall so crowded. "It was beyond full and overflowing into the adjacent streets for many blocks," Reyes said. "I have never been around so many people in my life." The logistics of traveling to Washington, D.C. for the march could be a barrier for some people, Reyes said, but she knew she could stay with her husband's relatives, who live on Capitol Hill and within walking distance of the march. She had frequent flier miles she could cash in and once she found an available flight, she thought, "I can't say no to this." Advertisement Instead of feeling threatened or anxious by some of the president's remarks during the campaign, why not take part in a nonviolent public action with people who share the same values, Reyes said. "We started walking to the march at 10:30 a.m. or so and right away we joined the hundreds of people walking from (Robert F. Kennedy Memorial) stadium where the out-of-town buses were parked. I marched with my husband's cousin, Abigal Kruger. We stayed for about four hours. The mood was positive, yet determined and strong." Heather Pralle of Brookfield flew with several of her girlfriends. She wanted to attend to make her concerns known about issues such as immigration, women's rights and prejudice. She noted that she has nieces who are Muslim and wanted to be there on their behalf. She said the march attracted many people with diverse backgrounds. "It was packed. It was crowded. There were all sorts of people there. There were people of all races. There was an old woman with a walker," she said. "It took two hours to walk two miles." Though the issues that brought people to the march are serious, she said the mood of the event "'was celebratory." Advertisement Attending the march was a boost for Pralle, who wants to stay involved. "It made me feel better that we're all in it and we're going to keep a watch on what's going on," she said. kfornek@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @kfdoings When an affluent teenager from a Denver suburb fled her home to join ISIS in 2014, her arrest at the Denver airport made national news. Today, Shannon Conley is serving a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiring to aid a terrorist group. Her case elicited a troubling question for Selina Fillinger, a Northwestern junior when Conley was arrested: Why would a well-off, educated white girl born and bred in the United States, want to join a terrorist organization? "She had to be crazy, right?" says Fillinger. "I mean, what else could possibly have made her do it?" But as Fillinger dug deeper into the story, she came up against a disturbing fact: Conley wasn't alone. "There are over 250 U.S. teenagers who have tried to do the same thing," Fillinger says. "They can't all be insane. Something else has to be going on." Advertisement The murky world of a teen aspiring to be a terrorist forms the backbone of Fillinger's play, "Faceless." Opening in previews Jan. 26 at Skokie's Northlight Theatre, the drama puts audiences into the world of 18-year-old Susie Glenn, a well-off, white teenager who is on trial for conspiring to commit acts of terrorism. Fillinger has now graduated from Northwestern, but "Faceless" scored a spot in Northlight's 2017 season while she was still a student. When Northlight Artistic Director BJ Jones gave her the news over coffee, it took Fillinger a minute to grasp it. She'd been expecting feedback on the play, not a full production staged at one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. "I literally did not understand what he was saying," Fillinger recalls. "He had to say it a few different ways." Advertisement The conversation might have been startling, but Fillinger has been on a playwriting fast track for years. She's a two-time winner of Northwestern's Agnes Nixon Award, which provides staged readings and a cast prize to the winning student playwright. An earlier work "Three Landings and a Fire Escape" netted Fillinger the Judith Barlow Award, which includes a $2,500 prize and a New York workshop. "Faceless" is also already an award winner. The piece won a 2016 Edgerton Foundation New Play prize, which came with enough money to fund extra rehearsal time at Northlight. Long before the Edgerton, however, Jones already recognized Fillinger as an artist of major potential. Through Northwestern's Next Step Working Commission, Fillinger was paired with Northlight for a year-long play development process. Usually that process culminates in a workshop or a reading. Not this time. "I never thought of Selina as a student. I think of her as a peer," says Jones. "The language in 'Faceless' is elegant, but it's also punchy. It's thought-provoking. The story is incredibly, incredibly timely." However, the motivations that have driven hundreds of rich white teens to try and join terrorist groups won't be neatly explained. "It would be irresponsible for me to say I had an answer for that," says Fillinger. "But I do think there is a general trend. What I've noticed in my research is this: Many of the people who end up being radicalized are people who have felt rejected, lonely, isolated or unimportant. And that makes sense to me. If you're starving for affirmation, and somebody hands you just that, why wouldn't you take it? "I think we have an obligation to look at the pain," she says. "For a long time, I kind of stayed away from international news because it made me so sad, and it made me feel helpless. But writing this play, telling this story, this is something I can do. We need to keep looking, even when we don't have the answers." Northlight Theatre presents, 'Faceless' When: Jan. 26-March 4 Advertisement Where: North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie Contact: www.northlight.org Time to turn the page As an American, I will always accept whoever wins the election as our president for the duration of his or her term in office. I respect the will of the people and the Constitution of the U S. Advertisement And, so, I have a question for the anti- Trump protesters. What is the result that you are expecting in regards to your protest against the election of Donald Trump? Do you desire that America be made aware of your disapproval of Trump as president? America has already acknowledged your disapproval as of Election Night. Election results indicated that you anti-Trump protesters voted for Mrs. Clinton, thus demonstrating that you did not approve of Mr. Trump. That is how our democracy works. America has long been a great democracy. I pray that we remain so. I pray that your protest is not a way of saying that America's president is only America's president when everyone votes the way you say they should vote. Advertisement Charles Danyus, Round Lake Beach Antioch officials should be wary This letter is to Lexington Homes and the Village of Antioch. Once again a parcel of land is going to be developed and add to our suburban sprawl. But it gets better. According to Lexington Homes Vice President William Rotolo, the original plan is no longer economically feasible. Really? So by adding 33 more homes, it becomes economically feasible for you? What about us? What about the schools and other impacts to the community? We have seen and lived this impact. The small tax dollars in no way really pays for a development like this. It makes you wonder about vacant land, or farmland. Can we absolutely expect home developments guaranteed, eventually, from parcels like this? Is there no recourse? I suppose its a fight between lawyers, and we know who gets rich in those instances don't we? I'm hoping the Antioch village officials absolutely minimize this development. Its not about being economically feasible for the developer. It's about quality of life for the residents. Furthermore, if that parcel is negatively impacting other residents now then, in my opinion, it is the parcel owner who is responsible for taking care of that. Lake County News Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Additionally, isn't it the responsibility of Antioch village officials to ensure just that? A key point of this story in the News-Sun that really irritated me was where Lexington Homes Vice President William Rotolo insisted the development will actually help to control runoff. Maybe, but I guess this is his marketing strategy. Advertisement Hmmm, build 170 homes and sell runoff control to uneducated residents because he stated: "Most people don't really understand how the system works because it is technical. It is civil engineering. It involves physics and all that stuff." So, we really don't understand physics and all that "stuff," Mr. Rotolo? Although I am not a civil engineer and am, in fact, an electrical engineer, I do just fine with physics and, quite frankly, really believe that many more residents in our area are knowledgeable as well. These types of strategies by developers were also used by Neumann Homes, and we all know how that turned out. I urge Antioch village officials to fully scrutinize this development. Mike Korkowski, Antioch Share your views Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@tribpub.com. Please include your name and town of residence for publication. Please include phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 250 words. The future of the one-lane covered bridge (pictured) in downtown Long Grove is one of the major issues in the village board election this year. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune file) Voters in Long Grove will have major decisions to make during the April municipal election, as a political slate, which swept through the local election two years ago, tries to broaden its numbers. Running unopposed for village president, current trustee Bill Jacob is vying for the top elected post in Long Grove alongside three newcomers, who are running for village trustee seats under the slate called Voice of Long Grove Advertisement With a platform focused on economic development, Jacob secured a trustee spot during the 2015 election while running for the first time as part of Voice of Long Grove, which featured at the time Stan Borys an incumbent and Michael Sarlitto. The group easily defeated one incumbent and captured three village board seats overall leaving the board fractured in the nearly two years that followed. As another local election approaches, Voice of Long Grove members could occupy five of six village board seats and the village president spot once votes are tallied April 4. Advertisement Jacob also would have the authority after the election as village president to appoint a replacement to his trustee spot on the village board. But two other candidates for village trustee running independently could disrupt Voice of Long Grove's efforts to secure a strong majority on the village board, depending on how voters decide the contested race. "We're doing all the right things," Jacob said. "I wouldn't hit the brakes on anything we're doing." The three newcomers joining Jacob this year under Voice of Long Grove are real estate agents Rita O'Connor and Bobbie O'Reilly, and Anne Kritzmire, who works as managing director of strategy and marketing at Nuveen Investments. First-time candidate Pat Tode, a retired Chicago police detective, is running independently, as well as incumbent John Marshall. Current trustees George Yaeger and Lori Lyman, along with Village President Angie Underwood all decided against re-election bids. Two years ago, the three candidates with Voice of Long Grove ran on a platform of economic development, as well as the proposal to turn the old covered bridge in downtown Long Grove into a wider two-lane road. The debate over the covered bridge should carry into the April election since village officials have said a decision on the bridge likely will be made later this year. Advertisement Long Grove business leaders and other residents also recently added to the debate, circulating a petition to garner support for the preservation of the covered bridge. With the issue of business development, officials haven't done enough recently to attract development projects, Marshall said. The incumbent trustee, who owns a construction company, said he can lend his expertise to bring more economic activity to Long Grove. "My hope has always been to better the village and give us a better reputation with developers," Marshall said. "We've always been tough with developers." If elected trustee, Tode said he would explore the idea of creating a village-controlled police agency since deputies with the Lake County Sheriff's office only patrol the village part time as part of an agreement. Tode praised the work of sheriff's deputies but said if the costs are right, a local police force could help Long Grove in the long run. Advertisement "The contract with the sheriff is minimalistic," he said. As for the newcomers with Voice of Long Grove, Kritzmire said she agreed to run after volunteering for years with Sarlitto in the job-mentoring group Venturing. She said she hoped to diversify the village's revenue base, which relies heavily on sales tax receipts from Menard's and Sunset Foods. She also would like to re-engage residents and encourage them to contribute ideas for when village officials meet to update the long-term comprehensive in Long Grove later this year. "I'm a big fan of transparent communication and I'd like to see more proactive communication," Kritzmire said. O'Reilly said she decided to run for a trustee spot to make sure Long Grove doesn't become overdeveloped. "I'm not suggesting it's at our doorstep. It's not," she said. "But it could be." Advertisement If elected, one of her primary objectives on the village board, she said, would be to make it easy for walkers and bicyclists to reach the downtown area. "I'd like people to be able to get there by foot or bike, if they want to," O'Connor said. rwachter@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer Fire crews responded to a house fire Jan. 2 on Quentin Road in unincorporated Lake Zurich after Hawthorn Woods resident Susie and Doug Wheeler alerted residents inside the home of smoke coming from their house. (Lake Zurich Fire Department / Handout) Hawthorn Woods residents Susie and Doug Wheeler said they felt surreal after receiving the first-ever Citizen Service Award from Lake Zurich officials, recognizing them for their recent actions to alert residents of a fire. After all, the couple reacted instinctively when they saw a house on fire at about 7:30 a.m. Jan. 2 while driving in the 24000 block of Quentin Road in unincorporated Lake Zurich, Susie Wheeler said. Advertisement "It's something I was very surprised to hear (Lake Zurich officials) were going to do because it was just something we did on our way to breakfast one morning," Susie Wheeler said. "I guess I would hope most people would do that." Lake Zurich Village President Tom Poynton presented Jan. 16 the village's newly created Citizen Service Award to the Wheelers for their response after seeing the fire. Advertisement The family inside the house would not have been able to evacuate safely without the quick thinking of the Wheelers, he said. "The Wheelers' actions exemplified and strengthened Lake Zurich's core values and theme of being at the 'heart of community,'" Poynton said. Doug Wheeler declined to comment about the award and referred questions about the incident to his wife. The couple saw white smoke billowing from a home Jan. 2 after turning on Quentin Road and decided to act, Susie Wheeler said. The Wheelers also lived in Lake Zurich for five years before moving to nearby Hawthorn Woods in 1991. "I said, 'Something doesn't feel right there.' It just didn't look like dryer steam coming out of the house. I said, 'Turn around,'" Susie Wheeler recalled telling her husband. "We pulled into the driveway and I banged on the door until somebody opened." Another passerby stopped and confirmed the house was on fire, Wheeler said, adding how she could see flames inside the house when a man eventually answered the door. The man was not aware of what was happening, she said. The residents inside the home were all sleeping at the time since Jan. 2 was the day New Year's Day was observed legally, she said. "I said, 'You need to get out because your house is on fire.' He walked back in the house. I came into the house and said again, 'Your house is on fire and you need to get out,'" Susie Wheeler said. Advertisement The man eventually came out of the house along with two more people, she said. "I said, 'Do you have any pets?' They said, 'No,'" Susie Wheeler said. "They looked at me like deer in the headlights. We got them out. They're safe and sound, and it was a happy ending." Lake Zurich Fire Chief John Malcolm confirmed the Wheelers knocked on the door and helped the residents evacuate. Firefighters responded at 7:52 a.m. and determined an exterior fire had started on the deck and spread to the inside of the house. Nobody was injured in the incident thanks to the couple, he said. "The outcome may have been different if the Wheelers had not alerted the residents so quickly," Malcolm said. Malcolm later told the Wheelers how their actions changed the outcome of the house fire, Susie Wheeler said. Advertisement "I think about that and it just overwhelms me," she said. "I am extremely happy we stopped because had we gone by, and I read a story about three people dying of a fire at that address, I could never live with myself." The new Citizen Service Award emphasizes the value of community service and how important it is for residents to take care of each other, Poynton said. Lake Zurich officials worked together to create the award as a way to recognize the deeds of area residents, such as the Wheelers, he said. The new award is intended to "shine the spotlight" on residents of Lake Zurich and the surrounding area for performing outstanding community service, said Kyle Kordell, assistant to the village manager. "Mayor Tom Poynton thought this was a good way to recognize individuals who have done something memorable, unselfish or honorable for their fellow citizens," Kordell said. "The Wheelers literally took a moment out of their day to save lives, which inspired this new award." Phil Rockrohr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. A Culver's restaurant is shown in Oak Lawn. A planned Culver's location in Harwood Heights will not go forward as planned, officials have said. A Culver's spokesman said the company still has its eye on Harwood Heights. (Bob Bong / Daily Southtown) A Culver's restaurant, which had been expected to replace the former Carson's Ribs lot on Harlem Avenue in Harwood Heights, no longer will be opening as planned, officials said. Mark Heinle, legal counsel for the village of Harwood Heights, confirmed that a deal to bring a Culver's location to 5050 N. Harlem Ave. has fallen through. Advertisement The Harwood Heights Village Board in July had approved an economic incentive agreement to pay Culver's $100,000 to redevelop the property as a 4,232-square-foot franchised location with a drive-thru lane and outdoor seating. "The village served the would-be developers with a notice of default back in the fall because they failed to close on their lease for the property or initiate any of the construction activities in a timely fashion," Heinle said in an email. Advertisement Culver's spokesman Paul Pitas said the chain still had its eye on Harwood Heights, a town that has seen numerous eateries open during the past several years, including Buona Beef, Lou Malnati's, Starbuck's, Little Caesars, and a new Portillo's slated to open on Lawrence and Harlem avenues Jan. 31. "The franchisee and his financial partners are committed to establishing a Culver's restaurant in Harwood Heights," Pitas said in an email. "They are currently keeping their options open, looking at a number of potential sites." The owner of the vacant lot, "CAMK on Harlem Inc.," along with a team of Culver's franchisees that had secured a 20-year lease on the property, were required, under the agreement, to finish construction by Oct. 1 and open the restaurant to the public within six months, according to the agreement. In August of last year, Harwood Heights Mayor Arlene Jezierny said the village was expecting the developers to break ground around Sept. 1, but deadlines passed, prompting the village to issue the default notice. Development plans for the Wisconsin-based restaurant chain, which is known for "ButterBurgers," fried foods and frozen custard, showed a $2.1 million restaurant featuring an indoor dining room with seating for 102 customers, a drive-thru lane and an outdoor patio with four tables. The restaurant planned to employ up to 50 workers, according to development plans approved by the village. The developers told the village's Plan Commission in May 2016 that the restaurant would be expected to bring in an estimated $2.5 million in annual sales for the village. The Carson's Ribs building, which formerly occupied the 27,700-square-foot lot on the corner of Harlem and Carmen avenues, was razed several years ago, and the land parcel has sat vacant since then. "The village is currently working with the property owner to explore other commercial development options for the property, but nothing specific is in the works yet," Heinle said. Advertisement Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Thousands march across the bridge at Van Buren Street to get into Grant Park for the Women's March on Chicago on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) A suburban school board member who resigned Monday amid a storm of criticism over a tweet about the weekend's women's marches apologized for the "harsh and inappropriate" comment but also said it was "less vulgar" than some of the signs he saw at the marches and asserted that there's "a double standard at work here." Dathan Paterno tendered his resignation from the Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 school board a little more than 24 hours after posting the tweet and as those offended by the comments announced plans to protest him at Monday evening's board meeting. Advertisement The tweet read: "Most of these vagina screechers didn't vote, but they mean business. Riiiiiiiight. What a farce." The remark followed a few other provocative posts last week about the march, including one that referred to it as a "Procession of Palpable Penis Envy" and another that said: "Alas, the 300 million pound Women March provides a strong argument for doing away with women's suffrage." Later, in response to a comment that referred to the "screechers" tweet as "an interesting way for someone on the School District 64 board to speak about women," Paterno replied that he was "referring very specifically to the hyper-angry women dressed in vagina costumes." Advertisement In his letter of resignation, shared by District 64 Superintendent Laurie Heinz on Monday morning, and in a comment later released to Pioneer Press, Paterno repeated his assertion that his comments weren't intended to reflect his opinion of all the marchers, only some. But he also acknowledged "the damage was done." "I wrote some provocative tweets re: the recent women's marches," the letter says. "In retrospect, they were inappropriate and pushed too far in some ways. While I merely meant to harshly criticize some of the protestors (especially the very angry, hostile, vulgar and violent ones) and question the motives of some of them, my tweets were understandably misinterpreted to mean that I disrespect or hate all the protestors. Of course, this isn't true, but the damage was done." Dathan Paterno (Handout) The damage appeared to extend not just to Paterno's work on the school board, where he served not quite one term and had not filed to run for re-election this spring. Some people upset by his comments also posted their own critical remarks on the Facebook page of Park Ridge Psychological Services, where Paterno is founder and clinical director, and on the business review site Yelp, where angry commenters raised the issue of the tweets and posted screen shots of them. By Monday evening, the clinic's Facebook page appeared to have been taken down or removed from public viewing. Paterno's Twitter account was also deleted Monday. Before Paterno's resignation, several parents said they had planned to attend Monday evening's school board meeting to express their anger over his comments. Elena Demos, the mother of a Roosevelt Elementary School student, said she was "highly offended" by Paterno's comment. "I marched in the Women's March on Chicago, and I don't appreciate being called a 'vagina screecher.' And I did vote," she said. "It's offensive and abusive language," said parent Steve Kopka. "If a child in a District 64 school said this, they would be suspended and rightly so. And here is somebody who (is) supposedly representing our students and our education system. I couldn't believe it." Advertisement Reached via email Monday, Paterno responded to the controversy. "My harsh and inappropriate comment was not about most of the women who marched," he said. "I'm sure that the vast majority of women were civil, appropriate, self-controlled, and had noble intentions. But enough did not I saw and heard plenty and I was upset by that. Many who are now castigating me are suggesting that this represents my general view of women, which is far from the truth. At the same time, I recognize that some people are genuinely hurt by my comments; for that, I am truly sorry. That was never my intention." Paterno added: "Even though my comments were foolish, they mirror or are less vulgar than many of the placards viewed and some of the speeches given in D.C. I think there is a double standard at work here which is fundamentally unfair." Paterno was among seven candidates who ran for four open seats on the school board in 2013. Of the four elected, he received the fewest votes, with 3,860 ballots cast in his favor. Hundreds of thousands of people march through the streets during the Women's March on Chicago on Jan. 21, 2017. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) Since taking office, he has been known to press for accountability in taxing and spending: Paterno was the sole board member to vote against a tax levy increase in 2014 and has raised questions about the cost of such items ranging from security doors for schools to a compensation package for the superintendent. This isn't the first time Paterno has shared a strongly worded and potentially controversial opinion as a school board member. In late 2015, after a transgender student in nearby Palatine-based High School District 211 filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union for full access to the girls locker room, Paterno weighed in on a show called "American Trends," hosted by conservative pundit Gina Loudon. Advertisement "I'm hearing from parents and I'm hearing from the teenagers," he said when asked the reaction by District 64 constituents. "Particularly, the teenage girls are disgusted by this. They don't want boys in the bathroom, whether they're hormonally different or they are wearing the accouterments of girls. They don't want it. "And I know that parents almost overwhelming they don't want boys (in the girls locker room)," Paterno continued. " No matter what he wears or what he wants to go by, every last cell in his body is male. So, they don't want that to happen, either. But they are afraid of lawsuits and they are afraid, I think, of being called bigots." Paterno and Loudon co-wrote a 2012 book called "Ladies and Gentlemen: Why the Survival of Our Republic Depends on the Revival of Honor." According to the Amazon.com description of the book, atheism, liberalism and radical feminism have undercut the virtues of the "ideal woman and man." "Readers will understand the crucial contributions of government, family, literature/media, and churches in producing a culture that either esteems or debases the best of each gender," the description said. The book was published by God and Country Press, an evangelical Christian publishing house. Advertisement With Loudon, Paterno has also written for the Breitbart group of conservative websites, including on the how the "liberal media" are "biased (against) evangelical Christians." Paterno has been a licensed clinical psychologist since 2006 and has no record of discipline, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. On the website of his practice, Paterno wrote that he "adamantly denies the currently held myth that emotional disorders/problems are the result of genetically transmitted, biochemical imbalances." Paterno also "denies that psychotropic medications are necessary, effective, or generally safe," adding that he prefers "non-medical alternatives, which have been proven in an ever-expanding body of research and also in his professional experience to be largely more effective, safe, and humane." At the school board meeting Monday, President Anthony Borrelli opened his comments on the matter by saying he was responding "to the many emails and phone calls the district has received over the past 24 hours." Borrelli said Paterno's Twitter comments "do not reflect the thoughts, attitude or opinions of the district in general or of this board of education in specific." "While unfortunate, we should take the time to learn and reinforce our ideas of respect and civility," Borrelli said. "These are qualities that we teach our children and qualities that we should retain as adults." Advertisement The meeting drew about 50 residents. Parents, several of whom said they participated in the Women's March on Saturday, asked for better oversight of school board members and new policies regarding their behavior. Parent Stacy Kelly called for an "independent review of the board to assure the community of Park Ridge that this behavior will no longer go unchecked." Borrelli had said earlier Monday that Paterno had not violated any school board rules pertaining to the use of social media because he was posting on his personal Twitter page. The school board's operating principles, as described on the District 64 website, include that members "refrain from speaking negatively about others" and "use social media in a positive way only to express individual (not entire Board) citizen views." Borrelli acknowledged Monday evening that the district's policies on board member use of social media might require updating. "It's time to go back and review those requirements for our members," he said. Advertisement Fred Sanchez, a candidate running for the District 64 school board in April, denounced Paterno's comments in a Facebook posting on his candidate page. "No one with integrity would talk about women this way," he wrote. "This board desperately needs more honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability." Jennifer Johnson is a Pioneer Press reporter. Tony Briscoe is a Chicago Tribune reporter. jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @Jen_Tribune tbriscoe@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @_tonybriscoe A Lake County police dog shot in a Gary traffic stop last week in which a Merrillville man later died was released from a veterinary hospital over the weekend, according to a post on the Lake County K-9 Association Facebook page. The association posted a photo Saturday of the dog, Blade, with a cone around its head on its ride home from Purdue Veterinary Hospital in West Lafayette, where the dog had surgeries to remove bullet fragments and to repair a broken jaw. Advertisement "His working days are probably over, but he will always serve as my protector," the handler said in the post. The suspect in the case, 19-year-old Marquis Thomas, of Merrillville, died Thursday evening, according to a state police press release, after being taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., for treatment. Thomas died of a gunshot wound to the torso, according to a release from the Cook County Medical Examiner. Advertisement A search of Lake and Porter counties' court records shows Thomas had no criminal history aside from a couple of traffic cases for speeding and a seat belt violation. The officer involved in the incident, who has been with the department since 2004, will not return to regular patrol assignment until further notice, following normal protocol, said Mark Back, spokesman for the sheriff's department. Shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Lake County officer made a traffic stop in the 700 block of East 42nd Avenue in Gary when Thomas, a passenger, fled west on 42nd, according to state police. The officer and Blade pursued Thomas, who ran down an alley toward railroad tracks north of the traffic stop, state police said. Thomas shot at the officer, hitting Blade, and the officer returned fire and hit Thomas once, according to the release. Another officer arrived on the scene and disarmed Thomas before Thomas and Blade were transported for treatment, the release said. Last week, Lake County Sheriff John Buncich lauded Blade as a "hero," saying there was "no doubt" Blade saved the officer's life. Blade, a 6 1/2-year-old Dutch Shepherd, has been with the department's gang unit all four years it's been with Lake County, according to Back. "The gang unit has been patrolling in this area, and any area in Lake County where gang activity is present, for approximately five years," Back said. At the end of last week, Indiana State Police were "still interviewing, cataloging and submitting evidence and awaiting test results," as the "complex" case is investigated, according to Ann Wojas with state police. Advertisement rejacobs@post-trib.com Twitter @ruthyjacobs Skokie resident Bena Shklyanoy wanted to preserve her family history, which started in Ukraine, for her children. Eleven years later, she completed a history-rich website and blog titled The Apple Does Not Fall From the Tree. (Mike Isaacs / Pioneer Press) Skokie resident Bena Shklyanoy remembers just what drove her to create a blog and website about her life in Ukraine even if she didn't know at the time that it would consume her for years to come. Her mother died in 2004, she said, and she went with her daughter to clean out her apartment on the North Side of Chicago. Advertisement "My mother was very stingy with what she allowed the family to know," said Shklyanoy, 71. "She didn't reveal a lot." As she discovered photos and documents that were part of her own and her family's history, she realized her daughter was uninformed. Advertisement "My daughter would throw everything in the black bag and I'd say, 'what are you doing? Don't throw this out. This was the last dress my grandmother made for me.'" After similar incidents during the process, Shklyanoy said, her daughter finally asked: "How would I know?" "As soon as she asked that question, that's where it started," Shklyanoy said. "To me, I was always so totally immersed in the family and the stories my grandmother told me." More than a decade later, Shklyanoy completed her blog and website, The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree. Although she said the purpose was always personal to leave behind a family history for future generations she came to recognize "our story is the story of the Soviet Ukraine," as she says on the website. "Four generations of an ordinary family that persevered in the face of the Pale of Settlement, the pogroms, the Bolshevik Revolution and the resulting wannabe workers' paradise of the Soviet Union, two World Wars, Stalin's purges and Khrushchev's Thaw and Brezhnev's morass, the communal apartments and shortages of everything, the habitual anti-Semitism, and the Jewish emigration of the 1970s to the bewildering, the incomprehensible Free World," she said. Her project began by writing down what she remembered and collecting photos and artifacts, she said. Like her mother, Shklyanoy said, she is meticulous and organized, which served the project and her website well. She researched and remembered and reunited with relatives for 11 years before she could announce to herself the project was complete. Shklyanoy presented her website last year at the International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Seattle. "For some people, apple does not fall far," Shklyanoy writes on her blog. "But grandma said it does not fall at all if you belong to a family, you don't need to see them, you don't even need to know them, you are always part of that family." Advertisement The site is unique, she said, not just because it reflects important history but because that history is also personal and includes eyewitness accounts. "All day long, the janitor sorted the garbage brought in pails," she writes. "She watched fragments of papers for duplicitous content, return addresses for ties with subversives or foreigners and food leftovers for rarities consumed by families that could not afford them." The website is neatly categorized by family history, an extensive collection of images containing pictures of family, views of shtetls and cities where Shklyanoy's family lived, a glossary explaining people, places, ideology and artifacts and more. Shklyanoy grew up in Kiev, which was part of the Soviet Union. After earning a graduate degree in Russian language, she worked as a technical translator and editor, she said. An only child, just like her future husband, who also was born in Kiev, she writes about life there, how she met her husband, dating and getting married. The couple came to the United States in 1976 with two small daughters when there were about 500 Soviet Jewish immigrants, Shklyanoy said. Her parents followed a couple years later and were recorded as the 1,000th Soviet immigrants to arrive in Chicago. Advertisement Losing citizenship and assimilating into a new culture leaving people they knew and entering the other side of the world are also well documented on Shklyanoy's comprehensive site. "We had no idea of private property," she said. "Everything was novel. Every little thing. If I describe a day from morning to night, it was all discovery, discovery, discovery. People who came here at that time had to feel they had nothing to lose." More than 40 years later, much has changed for Shklyanoy. She has adult children, her husband and parents have died and she is now retired, she said. When she first came to the United States, she worked as a caretaker for an older lady, and then as an interpreter. She eventually made a 30-year career in computer science and information technology, she said. She admits her website became all-consuming as she worked on it both before and after she retired. She said she discarded the idea of writing a book because it was too limited. She had too much to present, too many photos and documents and words she wanted to incorporate from the beginning of her family story in 1852. "First, I only wanted my children to know their roots," she said about the project. "But as the research went deeper and deeper, I realized this was a window into the intricacies of Soviet reality that most are not aware of." misaacs@pioneerlocal.com Advertisement @SKReview_Mike Students in a primary school in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, compare an e-book to a printed one in April. Young readers are expected to drive the growth of e-readers. GUO CHEN/ XINHUA Chinese people clearly love to read. Unlike in other parts of the world, where many publishers are tearing their hair out, sales of both printed and electronic books continued to rise last year. The future, however, is clearly tied to the internet and electronic reading, thanks to the habits of young readers. It's all about convenience. Zhang Yujia, a 30-year-old freelance translator from Guangzhou, is just one example. Last summer, she borrowed a copy of the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy by China's Hugo Award-winning author Liu Cixin. But by the time she finished the first volume, she was supposed to move to the United States. While she was eager to continue reading the trilogy, she wasn't happy about the prospect of lugging heavy books with her. So she left them behind, downloading the next two volumes on her Amazon Kindle once she was in the US. "It's much easier to carry a Kindle around than the printed books of Liu's trilogy, and the electronic versions are cheaper as well," Zhang said. Increasingly, Chinese are reading books on every gadget they have, from desktop computers to handheld devices. The trend is now spreading to audiobooks. The e-reading market in China last year is expected to hit 11.8 billion yuan ($1.72 billion), when all the figures are tallied, which would be an increase of 17.4 percent over 2015, according to e-commerce consultancy company Analysis International. More than 60 percent of Chinese who read on mobile devices are no older than 30, and most are younger than 25, studies have shown. Young readers say it is faster and easier to obtain e-books. It is also easier to read using a handheld device than to turn paper pages in crowded subway trains. But despite expectations, e-books didn't affect the sales of printed books in 2016, according to OpenBook, a company that provides information services to the book market in China. Chinese have simply diversified and expanded their reading habits. Last year, sales of printed books increased by 12.3 percent to 70.1 billion yuan, according to OpenBook. The leading online bookstore in China, Dangdang, saw its overall sales grow to 14 billion yuan in 2016 from 11 billion yuan in 2015. Last year, 64 percent of customers on Dangdang more than 40 million people purchased e-books, up 55 percent compared with 2015. Among e-book readers, 35 percent spent more than one hour reading e-books every day. Since entering the Chinese market in 2013, Amazon has seen its monthly active Kindle users grow by 41 times, said Bruce Aitken, general manager of Kindle China. The US-based e-commerce company has worked with more than 660 Chinese publishers to provide old classics and modern books to readers on Kindle. In the past three years, the devices have offered 420,000 Chinese titles, Aitken said. China is now the second-largest market for Kindle after the United States. Besides books, users can also send articles from Chinese phone applications to their e-reader, using such functions as "send to Kindle" on WeChat. "If they (readers) come cross an article they like from People's Daily or the magazine Lifeweek on WeChat, they can send it directly to Kindle," Aitken said. Since this service started in 2015, the annual traffic for such posts has grown by 50 percent. For Amazon, books published simultaneously last year in print and for Kindles increased by 60 percent compared with 2015, said Elaine Chang, CEO of Amazon China. The sale of books that were published in both formats at the same time were double those for books published only in one, she added. Many readers consider flexibility important in their reading platforms. In 2015, Chinese adults spent more than 62 minutes reading text on cellphones as compared with a little less than 34 minutes in 2014, according to an annual reading report released by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication in April. Many use phones to read online literature. One of the country's biggest providers of online literature is China Reading, an arm of internet giant Tencent. The China Reading app, launched in 2010, has attracted hundreds of millions of users. Tencent launched the app after absorbing many independent platforms such as Cloudary, once the largest interactive online writing platform in China. Wu Wenhui, CEO of China Reading, said in previous media interviews that his company plans to launch its own electronic devices. China Reading now offers more than 10 million works, covering over 200 categories, such as romance, self-help and classics. It has about 600 million users, and every day about 30 million read via the app on mobile devices and other platforms. As many as 4 million people are writing for the platform on a wide range of topics, and in 2016 alone, China Reading paid about 100 million yuan to its writers. They include top names like Zhu Hongzhi. China plans to build a next-generation synchrotron radiation facility in Beijing, according to a researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences, one of the country's top research institutes. Dong Yuhui, the researcher, said that the project is expected to start construction in Nov next year and will be completed within six years. The total investment will reach 4.8 billion yuan ($698.4 million). The facility, dubbed Beijing Light Source, will meet the national security demands and create aerospace materials among other products. It will provide high-resolution method to know substantial structures better. Beijing Light Source will be the so-called fourth generation light source, and its key performance indicators would be higher than the third-generation ones. It will create the brightest X-rays in the worldwide, 70 times brighter than the US National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) and 10 times brighter than Sweden's MAX IV, the strongest of its kind in the world so far. Bright X-rays could help measure the atomic structure of various substances, and the higher brightness will help people to see more details of substances, something akin to using flashlight to see things, Dong said. Currently, China has the light sources from first generation to third generation, such as the first-generation facility BSRF in Beijing, the second-generation facility NHLS in Hefei, Anhui province, and the third-generation SSRF in Shanghai. Around the world, there are more than 50 such facilities providing support in many research fields. The light source plays an important role in the medical field, helping researchers know mechanisms of tumors and cerebrovascular diseases. China plans to launch the Chang'e-5 lunar probe at the end of November this year, from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan Province, aboard the heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-5. Chang'e-5 lunar probe is under development in a mimic lunar environment. [Photo/China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation] The mission will be China's first automated moon surface sampling, first moon take-off, first unmanned docking in a lunar orbit about 380,000 km from earth, and first return flight in a speed close to second cosmic velocity, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). "With a weight of 8.2 tonnes, the lunar probe is comprised of four parts: an orbiter, a returner, an ascender and a lander," said Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the program. The lander will put moon samples in a vessel in the ascender after the moon landing. Then the ascender will take off from the moon to dock with the orbiter and the returner orbiting the moon, and transfer the samples to the returner. The orbiter and returner then head back to the earth, separating from each other when they are several thousands kilometers from earth. Finally, the returner will reenter the earth. The development of Chang'e-5 has entered the end of its flight model phase, and relevant work is proceeding smoothly, according to CASC. China plans to fulfill three strategic steps with the launch of Chang'e-5, "orbiting, landing and returning." The country also plans to launch the Chang'e-4 lunar probe around 2018 to achieve mankind's first soft landing on the far side of the moon, and to conduct an in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point, according to the China National Space Administration. "The country plans to send robots to explore both lunar poles," said the administration's vice director Wu Yanhua late last year, adding that plans to send astronauts to the moon were also being discussed. You are here: Home An official who shot the Party chief and mayor of Panzhihua city in southwest China's Sichuan Province earlier this month committed the shootings out of revenge, provincial police said Sunday. The shooting occurred on Jan. 4 when the suspect, Chen Zhongshu, who was the city's land and resources chief, shot at chief leaders of the city during during a meeting. Both victims, Party Chief Zhang Yan and Mayor Li Jianqin, sustained injuries but were discharged from hospital and resumed work, according to the statement. "Investigators gained sufficient evidence to conclude that Chen became hateful of an investigation against him and panicked. He committed the shooting for revenge," the statement said. In October 2016, a district procuratorate in Panzhihua found that Chen was implicated in a bribery case. He was suspected of receiving expensive gifts, the statement said. Further investigation by city prosecutors show Chen was suspected of other severe violations of law and Party discipline. His dossier had been handed to the city's discipline inspection commission before the shooting took place. On Jan. 4, Chen stormed into a meeting at a local conference and exhibition center, fired several shots at the chief leaders, before killing himself while in the center. You are here: Home Police in Central China's Hubei province have seized 10 suspects involved in trafficking 100 kilograms of methamphetamine. Police in Hubei's Yicheng city said Sunday that they started to investigate the traffickers in March last year. They spent nine months tracking the ten-member gang, who had brought drugs from Guangdong province to Hubei. The main suspect, identified as Ma, said that he had bought the drugs from a person in Hong Kong for 2.1 million yuan ($300,000). All the suspects are in criminal detention, and further investigation is underway. Chinese President Xi Jinping Sunday attended a gathering in Beijing and extended Lunar New Year greetings to people from non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and those without party affiliation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on non-Communist parties and personnel to uphold the leadership of the CPC and give suggestions for CPC governance. Senior leaders Yu Zhengsheng and Zhang Gaoli also attended the event. After listening to a speech by a representative of non-Communist parties, Xi expressed appreciation for the CPC's united front work and contributions made by non-Communist parties last year. He also stressed the importance of consensus and joint efforts among the CPC and the non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and those without party affiliation. Xi expressed hope that non-Communist parties and personnel would support creating a good environment for the 19th National Congress of the CPC, which is scheduled for this year, and pool wisdom and strength for the implementation of the CPC Central Committee's decisions. He called on relevant people to give suggestions for the country's reform and development and ensure stability, as well as those that related to public concerns. He further noted the importance of the proper selection of personnel and officials in non-Communist parties. He said that CPC committees at all levels should support non-Communist parties and people without party affiliation in carrying out their duties. Moreover, he said the ruling party should be open-minded in following others' good suggestions, and it was an important duty for non-Communist parties to let voices from across spectrum, including criticism, be heard by the ruling party and to give their advice truthfully. You are here: Home Shanghai police have detained 83 people, who illegally earned 6 million yuan (873,000 U.S. dollars), in connection with the fake auctioning and unlicensed authentication of antiques. In the picture are the evidence seized by the Shanghai police. [Photo/Xinmin.cn] A gang led by a man surnamed Xiao charged antique holders high commissions by faking auctions, with the clients later told their collections were unsold, a police officer with Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau said Sunday. Collaborating with two other companies, the gang was also found to illegally authenticate antiques, issuing fake reports and charging high authentication fees of 15,000-30,000 yuan per piece. Police started investigating the case in July 2016 when three fake auctions were reported in Putuo District. Around 100 people had been caught as of mid-December, with 83 to face criminal charges, the police officer said. You are here: Home One of China's most wanted economic fugitives has been sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption. Chinese police escorting Li Huabo (C), second of the list of China's "100 most wanted economic fugitives" after he arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport. May 9, 2015. [Photo / Xinhua] Shangrao Intermediate People's Court on Monday awarded life imprisonment to Li Huabo, 55, the second on the list of China's '100 most wanted' economic fugitives who had fled overseas. The former local government official from Poyang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, was accused of embezzling 94 million yuan (about USD 14 million). Li escaped to Singapore in 2011, where he funneled 29 million yuan (about USD 5.2 million) through Singaporean banks before fleeing the country. He was sentenced to 15 months in jail by a Singaporean court for "dishonestly accepting stolen property" in July, 2014. In May 2015, Li was repatriated to Beijing after serving 10 months of his sentence. Li was the first of China's "100 most-wanted economic criminals" to be returned from overseas. He was repatriated as part of the "Sky Net" campaign, which aims to return corrupt officials and economic fugitives who have fled the country. US President Donald Trump takes the oath of office with his wife Melania and son Barron at his side, during his inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, US, January 20, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] President Donald Trump was sworn into power on Friday, assuming a tremendous amount of responsibility for the welfare and security of Americans. And as the United States is the world's sole superpower and highly interdependent with the rest of the world, Trump also shoulders great responsibility for global peace and development. As he did on the campaign trail, Trump declared in his inauguration speech that he was going to put "America First". It is not hard to understand why the US president would like to "make America great again", but as his first work after being sworn into office was to suspend Obamacare, his disruptive, if not destructive, style has already divided the country. He also seems intent on dividing the world, possibly plunging China-US relations into chaos. Despite certain turbulences in the past years, China and the US have largely experienced a stable and sustainable relationship during the Obama presidency. Actually this has been the trend since the two countries normalized their relations. Beijing and Washington do compete in many areas, but they also cooperate in many areas. Their relations are based on the shared consensus that Taiwan is part of one China, which has been affirmed by every US administration since 1979. On this basis, China and the US have partnered on various issues, in particular on nuclear proliferation and anti-terrorism, and notably climate change. However, Trump and his team conducted a rather controversial campaign on their march toward the White House. While he has vowed to raise the status of the US, he has shown great disrespect toward various groups of Americans. And in terms of foreign relations, while he wants "fair" trade through negotiations with others, especially China, he has attempted to gain an advantage, by threatening to disregard the one-China policy. Trump is known to seek the maximum concessions from the other party when making a deal, and he may have succeeded with this approach as a businessman. However, he needs to understand that as a statesman he is playing for much higher stakes, especially when it comes to another country's core interests. The best way for the two countries to handle their trade differences is through negotiation. And if, as he says, Trump is willing to settle disputes through negotiation, then he should realize that he needs to give as well as take. For instance on trade, while the American Chamber of Commerce in China says its members are complaining about an "unfavorable" investment environment in China, Chinese businesspeople are also complaining of the US' rising protectionism which is hurting them. Luckily, at a time of globalization, both China and the US are members of the World Trade Organization. Despite Trump announcing he is withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and he is threatening to quit the North American Free Trade Agreement unless it is renegotiated, it is unlikely that he will let America exit the WTO. So both Beijing and Washington can ask the Geneva-based body to settle their trade disputes. Should the Trump administration resort to a trade war, China is likely to respond by being equally unpleasant. If Trump chooses to raise the stakes even higher by using Taiwan as a bargaining chip, then he may step into a territory that he is unfamiliar with. China has made it clear that the one-China policy is nonnegotiable. Playing with fire will not make the US great again. Trump's pick for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has stated that his position is there is no intent to change the principle of one China. The Trump administration should reaffirm it unambiguously as the official US policy. The author is a professor and associate dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University. Flash ZhengWeimin, vice mayor of Tonghua city, delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the event in Tonghua, Jilin province, Jan 18, 2017. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn) A group of foreign tourism enthusiasts and Chinese journalists are nearing the end of a short trip to Tongua city in Northeast China's Jilin province. The"Nourish Yourself within the World, Enjoy Attractions in Tonghua" event ends Saturday, with participants experiencing local culture and the area's natural beauty, while the country's Spring Festival draws near. Foreigners from the U.S., Nepal, Maldives, Tunisia, Ecuador, Bangladesh and India are visiting natural and historical sites in Tonghua city, including the Koguryo cultural ruins in Ji'an county, the Korean folk village in Liangshui, the mountain grape wine museum and the geological wonder Yunxia Cave. They also learned how to make traditional sticky rice cake, cold noodles and dumplings, as well as experienced ice and snow sports. A series of activities to promote Tonghua's tourism under the theme of "A trip to Tonghua with authoritative media and foreign tourism enthusiasts" is scheduled to be held over four seasons, and this event in winter serves as a start. The event, co-hosted by the Tonghua Tourism Bureau and Ecological China Channel of CRI online, aims at promoting Tonghua's unique tourism resources. Zheng Wenmin, vice mayor of Tonghua city, said that the event is the first step in promoting Tonghua's four seasons' tourism in 2017, and he hopes that the tourism industry in Tonghua will be a strong impetus in driving forward Tonghua's green development. Foreign guest delegate Adhnan Ashiyath Alaika from the Maldives delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the event in Tonghua, Jilin province, Jan 18, 2017. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn) Tonghua, a city on the border of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is in the southeastern part of Jilin province, which is also a well-known medical city, grape wine city and ecological city. Boasting ice and snow resource, it is also famed for its long history of ice sports. Tonghua also has the only UNESCO world heritage site in Northeast China, the capital cities and tombs of the ancient Koguryo Regime. Flash Shortly after new U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated, the White House website published the America First Energy Plan, which has aggravated the anxiety and criticism concerning where Trump will lead the country to. The shift in energy policies, as seen in the website change of deleting these issues about climate change and claiming to embrace the shale oil and gas revolution, didn't come from nowhere. During his presidential campaign, Trump had blamed climate change as a "hoax," and threatened to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Observers worldwide are watching with uneasiness whether the biggest developed country in the world will backslide on climate change or not. If so, "all countries stand to lose," "most of all the U.S.," cautioned Rob Bailey, a research director on energy, environment and resources with the London-based think tank Chatham House. He elaborated that while the United States is expected to take a more protectionist approach to trade, it is possible that other countries might impose tariffs on American imports to adjust for the lower emissions costs of U.S. exporters. Moreover, American prosperity will not be served by its economy remaining shackled to fossil fuels while the rest of the world has already transited away from them, Bailey noted. Nicholas Stern, Chairman of the British Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, was quoted by the Guardian newspaper as advising Trump: "If you want to make America great again, building modern, clean and smart infrastructure makes tremendous commercial and national sense." "There is no long-term, high-carbon growth story, because destruction of the environment would reverse growth," he added. Dame Julia King, an official adviser to the British government at the Committee on Climate Change, echoed. In King's opinion, if Trump wants to deliver greater job security for Americans, he should focus on clean and sustainable industries where the United States has a competitive advantage and are set to prosper. "He needs to build an economy for 2050, not one for 1950," said the official adviser. According to Richard Black, director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a non-governmental organization, the changing economics of energy systems can't be reversed, just as public appetite for clean air and cool things like electric cars can't be wished away. In a responsive statement, America's Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune referred to Trump's energy policies as "a polluter wishlist that will make our air and water dirtier, our climate and international relations more unstable, and our kids sicker," adding that this is "a shameful and dark start to Trump's Presidency, and a slap in the face to any American who thought Trump might pursue the national interest." Barbara Finamore, Asia director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a U.S.-based environmental advocacy group, wrote in a recent blog: "Trump has given every sign that he would rather move backward, into our unsustainable past, than move forward-alongside China and other signatories to the Paris climate agreement-into the sustainable future." Deborah Seligsohn, an expert on China's climate and energy policies at the University of California San Diego, told Xinhua, "Obviously the U.S. partners in the world need to be prepared to speak up for what they believe is necessary and to press the U.S. to meet its commitments," highlighting the fact that both the energy secretary and the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) administrator nominated by Trump stand in opposition to constructive climate action. You are here: Home Flash Warplanes struck areas under the control of an extremist group in the northwestern province of Idlib on Sunday, opposition activists reported. The warplanes are believed to be with the U.S. anti-terrorism coalition. The opposing Qasioun news outlet said the U.S.-led warplanes struck a post belonging to the Jund al-Aqsa group in the Nayrab area in Idlib's countryside, causing unknown losses. Jund al-Aqsa pledged allegiance with the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a terrorist group recognized by the United Nations (UN). The al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front recently changed its name to the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in a bid to divert attention away from its ties with al-Qaida. The warplanes also struck other areas in Nayrab, targeting a poultry farm as well as areas where displaced people were residing, causing causalities including women and children buried under the rubble, according to the report. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the report, yet stopped short of identifying who was responsible for it. However, it said that a warplane killed a rebel commander after targeting his car in the Akrabat area in the northern countryside of Idlib. It added that the commander was an Arab national, without further details. The observatory relies on a network of on ground activists. It stated that 134 rebels and commanders have been killed since the beginning of January by warplanes in northern Syria. Flash The British government rejected Sunday a claim by Gerry Adams, president of the Sinn Fein political party, that taking Northern Ireland out of the EU will destroy the agreement that restored peace to the island. Adams made his remarks during a speech on Saturday in Dublin. The statement was issued in London following Adams' comments, suggesting Britain leaving the European Union will destroy the Belfast Agreement. An official spokesman for the British government said Adams' comments are totally without any basis in fact. "None of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement ... are in any way undermined by the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU," said the spokesman. Britain is "fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors," he said. The Belfast Agreement, a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s, ended three decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland. In his speech earlier, Adams said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status after Brexit, claiming it would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of Britain. He told his audience at a conference on achieving a united Ireland: "The British government's intention to take the north out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action. Adams is regarded as one of the most important people to be part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Britain's departure from the 28-nation trading bloc will mean the Northern Ireland border with the Irish republic being the only EU border within Britain. In a treaty going back to the 1920s people from both sides of the border have had free passage between each other. Ireland joined the EU at the same time as Britain, meaning there was no change in the border arrangements. Earlier this week, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny reiterated his wish for "a preservation of the seamless border that is there now". Flash Iran said it will "act appropriately" if the U.S. President Donald Trump chooses to "tear up" the Iranian nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers, Press TV reported on Sunday. "We can very easily snap back and go back ... not only to where we were, but a much higher position, technologically speaking," head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, was quoted as saying. The Iranians do not want the day when nuclear deal is broken apart, "but we are prepared" for that day, Salehi said. Trump has repeatedly criticized the Iran nuclear deal during his campaign last year, calling it "the worst deal ever negotiated." He also suggested that he would force Iran to return to the negotiating table or risk the accord being dismantled. Iran and six world major countries, namely the United States, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany, reached an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue in July 2015 that puts Tehran on the path of sanctions relief but more strict limits on its nuclear program. Flash Pianist Di Xiao, cellist Jiaxin Lloyd Webber and harpist Eleanor Turner performing at the University of Birmingham. [photo by Nicola Gotts] The University of Birminghams China Institute has marked the Chinese New Year with the help of a trio of world-renowned musicians. Pianist Di Xiao, cellist Jiaxin Lloyd Webber and harpist Eleanor Turner performed in the Elgar Concert Hall in a celebration concert that delivered a unique and exciting programme. The artists combined piano, cello and harp to perform western and eastern repertoires, as well as their own compositions and arrangements. They were joined by Poppy Weng playing the 3,000 year-old traditional Chinese 21 string instrument Zheng to deliver her interpretation of Adeles Rolling in the Deep. Tonight's event highlighted the Universitys engagement with China, which ranges from research collaborations with Chinas best universities to working alongside the municipal government in Guangzhou. Birminghams relationship with China dates back to the foundation of the University. In fact, the first Chinese student joined the University in 1907 and there are now over 14,000 Chinese alumni. There is also a strong musical connection with China, as the first original Chinese violin composition was Difficult Road (Xinglu Nan), composed in 1919 by Birminghams famous geology alumnus Li Siguang. The University sponsored the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestras (CBSO) recent New Year tour of China, which saw the world-famous orchestra perform five concerts in four Chinese cities - Beijing, Changsha, Guangzhou and Shanghai. University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood attended the Beijing concert after hosting a special reception for some of the Universitys friends and partners in China. The University of Birmingham launched its China Institute in 2012 to gather together its wide-ranging research activities with Chinese partners and encourage inter-disciplinary research across the University that focuses on China. In addition to the Birmingham-based Institute, the University established a presence in Shanghai in 2009 and opened the Guangzhou Center in 2011, to host its activities in China. Professor Jon Frampton, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (China) and Director of the China Institute, said: Chinese New Year offers the perfect opportunity for the University of Birmingham to reflect upon our proud and longstanding relationship with China, which spans over 100 years. Our celebration also gives us the chance to bring together people from the diverse communities in the University, as well as further afield in the city, which have an interest in Chinese culture and working with Chinese partners. Business / Companies by Staff reporter Ethiopian Airlines will commence direct flights to Victoria Falls by March, following the commissioning of the state-of-the-art Victoria Falls International Airport which can now handle wide-bodied planes.This was revealed at a meeting between Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Ethiopian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Mustafe Dek Abdisalam last Friday.Mr Abdisalam had paid a courtesy call on Adv Mudenda.Adv Mudenda said the coming in of Ethiopian Airlines was expected to enhance tourism and investment opportunities between Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.He said the tourism sector had evolved to become a critical sector, which was contributing to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product of any country, and this included Zimbabwe.Adv Mudenda said the meeting was an eye opener to Parliament and how it could improve its role in assisting Government in turning around economic fortunes."Our discussion was centred on tourism, as you are aware that the Ethiopian Airlines has been dedicated in bringing in passengers and taking out passengers from Zimbabwe," he said."What we agreed is that we need to accelerate tourism development between the two countries. The ambassador indicated to me that as from the 26th of March this year, Ethiopian Airlines will be flying into Victoria Falls International Airport, from there to Gaborone and Windhoek."In that regard, we believe we should be able to increase tourist inflows."Adv Mudenda said Mr Abdisalam indicated to him that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and Ethiopian Airlines were engaging each other on how to create joint venture partnerships as a way of boosting the airline industry.He said he was also informed on how Ethiopians had become masters of their economy by taking ownership of their land, which Zimbabwe had successfully done."In Ethiopia, there has been a deliberate focus to change the mindset of the people, especially when it relates to agriculture," said Adv Mudenda. "The ambassador informed me that 85 percent of their economy is agricultural."In the last 25 years, they were carrying subsistence farming and that has changed. Now they are growing crops for export and not only for their domestic consumption." The Ethiopian envoy, Adv Mudenda said, also shared notes on how Parliament could play a crucial role in spearheading democracy and peace."I was impressed by the establishment of an institute of public policy and democracy in their country," said Adv Mudenda. "This institute is chaired by the Speaker of Parliament and is funded by their Government."The idea is to build social cohesion. This is an area where we are lacking as Zimbabwe to build a robust social cohesion between the organs of the State, business and labour, so that we share a common vision in the development of the country."Adv Mudenda said Mr Abdisalam had informed him that Ethiopia rakes into the country $4 billion from Diasporians as investment, which Zimbabwe should emulate. Mr Abdisalam said it was important for Zimbabwe and Ethiopia to continue cooperating in various ways."We had fruitful discussions around tourism considering that Zimbabwe attracts a number of tourists such that we can cooperate in various areas of interest for the growth of the tourism industry," he said. By Danny Lee, South China Morning Post | Jan. 23, 2017 After the high-profile losses of two planes in 2014, and a brand name tarnished to the brink of collapse, Malaysia Airlines will make Hong Kong a big part of its comeback in 2017, chief executive Peter Bellew has said, with flights to China a key plank of its hoped-for revival. The Kuala Lumpur carrier is on track to add nine new mainland routes this year, with bosses planning to boost existing flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong. But the company is stained by the nightmare of flight MH370, the Malaysia Airlines flight that went missing in March 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Of the 239 passengers aboard, 154 were Chinese. The international underwater search for the plane was suspended last week. "I think the Chinese have forgiven us for what has happened," Bellew said, adding that senior aviation officials in China had backed the company's plans." Bellew said China was an "outstanding" opportunity, given the cultural similarities between it and Malaysia, and said he wanted to see up to 6 million more Chinese tourists visit Malaysia. The two countries' political and commercial ties are growing closer, particularly after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's visit to Beijing late last year, after which he returned home with 144 billion ringgit (HK$244 billion) of agreed trade deals. Malaysia Airlines is looking to cement that partnership with nine new mainland routes -- including to Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Haikou and Nanjing -- and by doubling its daily flights to Shanghai in response to what it sees as overwhelming demand for travel from China. After years of losses -- widely attributed to the image damage of the MH370 disaster and the shooting down of its flight MH17 over Ukraine four months later -- the airline's future looks less bleak. In the final quarter of 2016, 82 percent of seats were filled. The company registered a monthly profit in December, and business class bookings have doubled. All of that would not have happened, Bellew said, "if the brand isn't acceptable to people, or was badly damaged." The company's confidence-building plans include doubling down on the its Kuala Lumpur-Hong Kong route, with a bigger plane for one of its three flights between the cities each day, more economy class seats and lie-flat business class beds. The airline plans to move all three daily flights to the bigger aircraft eventually. Brendan Sobie, Southeast Asia analyst at CAPA Centre for Aviation, said the airline had momentum on its side with China. "There is a lot of opportunity in China for Malaysia Airlines, but there is also a lot of competition in the Malaysia-China market, and some risk, as the growth we have seen in this market over the last year may not continue indefinitely," he said. And Maybank Kim Eng's analyst Mohshin Aziz said the carrier was "stepping up to the first division" from recently being "fundamentally bankrupt". Bellew said: "MH370 will affect staff for ever, some of whom lost family and friends. But they have built resilience. Part of what we are doing is harnessing that energy. We were the pride of the nation. We want to restore that." Related News: Malaysia Airlines' Mainland Flights to Expand Rapidly By Lena Ge, China Aviation Daily | Jan. 23, 2017 Okay Airways is seeking rights for permission to launch three international services to Kalibo and Cebu, Philippines in March. Pending government approval, the Tianjin-based carrier plans to launch two twice-weekly services to Cebu from Tianjin and Xi'an, according to a notice released Monday on the CAAC's website. It also applied for a thrice-weekly services between Changsha and Kalibo. All three routes will be operated by Boeing 737 aircraft, the CAAC added. The Air Transportation Department of CAAC is soliciting public comments on the application until February 3, 2017. Workers calibrate sensitive systems on board an oil exploration project of CNOOC in Shanxi province. [Photo by Chen Yuanzi/For China Daily] A mega overseas project for liquefied natural gas or LNG that will likely burnish China's global profile, contribute toward the country's energy security, enhance its geopolitical strategy and bolster efforts for economic rejuvenation, is scheduled to start production in the Russian Arctic late this year. The 16.5 million metric tons per annum Yamal projectits corporate entity is called Oao Yamal LNGis located in north-central Russia (or north western Siberia). In September 2013, China National Petroleum Corp, the country's largest oil and gas producer by annual output, acting through its subsidiary CNPC Russia, bought a 20 percent stake for $5.4 billion in Oao Novatek's $27 billion Yamal project. Oao Novatek holds a 50.1 percent stake in the Yamal project, while Total holds 20 percent and Silk Road Fund 9.9 percent. Novatek is Russia's independent natural gas producer and the country's second-biggest LNG company after state-owned Gazprom. China's investment will help the Russian gas supplier to complete the project, one of the largest industrial undertakings in the Russian Arctic. It is reasonable to say a new gas production center is evolving in the Yamal Peninsula, which is expected to transform the Russian gas industry. It is also expected to boost China's oil and gas reserves substantially, ensuring steady long-term supply. Much of Yamal's output would to be supplied to China and other Asian countries, according to Novatek. CNPC had pledged to buy at least 3 million tons of LNG a year, said analysts. According to Wang Lu, an Asia-Pacific oil and gas analyst from Bloomberg Intelligence, imports from Yamal may account for at least 1.6 percent of China's gas demand, which is estimated to be 257 billion cubic meters in 2018, assuming a 10 percent compound annual growth rate during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). "China's LNG imports will continue to be an important contributor to its supply landscape by 2020," she said. "The project's success and reliability will enhance CNPC's investment return, so this aligns CNPC's interests with Novatek's." For CNPC, Yamal has strategic importance. It expects the project to foster greater cooperation between Beijing and Moscow in the Arctic, give a fillip to economic development and scientific research, and shape regional rules and norms relating to gas reserves in the region. Li Li, energy research director at ICIS China, a consulting company that provides analysis of China's energy market, said the country had arranged for steady import of natural gas from Russia even before the Yamal investment. For instance, Russia's Gazprom has a 30-year contract with China to supply 38 billion cu m of natural gas annually from 2018. CNPC's participation in Yamal is part of Chinese companies' going global strategy and signifies the country's intent to be a key player in the crucial Arctic region. In the process, China will have also helped Russia that has been facing capital shortage due to sanctions imposed by the US and Europe over the annexation of Crimea. The deal represents a significant step in Russian President Vladimir Putin's push to boost commercial ties with China. China's backing will ensure the project will roll, said an official from CNPC Russia. Elaborating, he said sanctions had rendered financing for the project in US dollars impossible. Several US and European banks had pulled out of financing deals. So, China's capital, technology and massive markets are exactly what an Arctic country like Russia needs now. According to Evgeniy Kot, director general of the Yamal project, the company has sold 96 percent of the project's LNG production to European and Asian customers through 20- to 25-year contracts. Benefiting from the vast natural gas reserves situated across the Yamal Peninsula, the company signed loan agreements with the Export-Import Bank of China and the China Development Bank Corp for 1.2 billion yuan ($173 million) in all. For its part, Russia will provide tax incentives to companies involved in the development of the Arctic region, including zero export duty on LNG and special tariffs for condensate oil. CNPC Russia said it is confident Novatek's rich experience in operating in Arctic weather conditions will help the Yamal project. China is increasing its presence in the Arctic region's energy industry. The country's largest energy group, China National Petroleum Corp, is the latest mainland company to venture into the region. It is participating in the Yamal liquefied natural gas or LNG project, one of the most complex of its kind. CNPC said it is willing to participate in more such collaborative ventures to explore Arctic oil and gas assets, to further beef up its gas reserves. Until recently, there has been no large-scale exploration by Chinese firms in the frozen land due to Arctic countries' protectionist policy. But analysts said Chinese energy giants' efforts in recent years to increase their presence in the Arctic have been a success, and have strategic importance. The current projects play a strategic role, said Li Li, energy research director at ICIS China, a consulting company that provides analysis of China's energy market. Many countries are interested in the massive oil and gas reserves in the far north. However, only few industry giants, such as CNPC, China National Offshore Oil Corp and China Petrochemical Corp, are qualified for the difficult and expensive game of energy exploration, she said. In 2013, China was accorded "observer" status in the Arctic Council. That symbolized an unspoken acceptance of Beijing's presence in the region. Since then, China's visibility has increased. CNOOC was the first Chinese oil company to enter the Arctic by partnering Icelandic company Eykon Energy. Before CNPC secured a 20 percent stake in the Yamal LNG project from Novatek in 2014, Sinopec Group, Asia's top refiner, had evinced interest in the region. Sinopec also held preliminary talks with Iceland over oil exploration off the northeast coast of the Nordic country. It recently signed a cooperation agreement with the Icelandic government for research and development of geothermal studies. According to Li, as US and European energy giants dominate the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic has become a precious land for Chinese companies. Despite technical challenges and the arduous Arctic weather, participation in the polar region gives China a foothold in the resource-rich area. This could help beef up exploration and production, she said. Despite the recent strengthening of relations between China and Russia, Li forecast no rapid expansion in the short term. Executives of Shenzhen Kaizhong Precision Technology Co Ltd ring the opening bell at the Shenzhen Stock Exchange to mark the company's listing on the bourse on Nov 24, 2016. Kaizhong is one of the 112 companies initially backed by State-owned Shenzhen Capital Group that went on to list on various stock markets in China and abroad. [Photo provided to China Daily] Shenzhen Capital Group Co Ltd, a State-owned venture capital firm, will strengthen international cooperation and investments to bring in new technology to emerging industries in China. Through investments in innovative companies overseas, the firm hopes to take full advantage of its capital resources to speed up upgradation of China's technology and industrial structure, said Ni Zewang, chairman of SCGC. He said the firm could also help connect the startups it has backed in China with overseas industry resources so that they could mature more rapidly. Since its founding in 1999 till November-end, SCGC has invested 24.3 billion yuan ($3.52 billion) in 683 projects in areas like modern service, high-end manufacturing, IT, technology and many other emerging industries. By the end of November, 112 companies listed on stock exchanges. Of them, 74 were A-share listings. Others listed on overseas bourses, including some in the United States, Australia and Singapore. Ni said competition among VC firms is intensifying in China. Also, projects securing investments are becoming extremely expensive. On the other hand, some overseas investment opportunities have arisen of late. China's VC firms such as Huashan Capital One Inc, which invests in firms in financial technology, and Legend Star, owned by Legend Holdings, have been investing abroad. In fact, China's VC and PE firms had made 265 investments worth 31.7 billion yuan in the first 11 months of 2016, according to Zero2Ipo Research, a Beijing-based researcher of financial institutions. Its data shows the number of investments and the money invested rose 105 percent and 189 percent on average year-on-year respectively from 2009 to 2015. SCGC's investments overseas account for only 6 percent of its total. Its goal is to increase the figure to 15 percent by 2020. To reach that goal, SCGC will hire professionals, cooperate with well-known investment institutes, and establish cross-border funding, Ni said. He believes such funding could connect domestic and foreign financial markets, leading to precise allocation of resources. SCGC's various funds had capital assets worth about 200 billion yuan under management by November. It also has 1.2 billion yuan worth of joint venture funds involving financial institutes in Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Israel. It is raising another 5 billion yuan for a new joint fund with US institutes, eyeing startups in cutting-edge technology industries, such as 3-D metal printing. In November, it signed a strategic cooperation agreement with a Russian venture capital firm, a government-initiated fund of funds, in a bid to invest in Chinese startups registered in Russia and Russian startups in China. "The fund will focus on Russia's competitive industries, including advanced equipment manufacturing, energy, chemical industries and premium consumption," said Ni, adding these sectors could also drive China's economic growth. Though State-owned, SCGC's operations have been in line with international conventions. For instance, its project managers and high-level executives who vote for a project, need to co-invest an amount of at least 1 percent. "The co-invest rule is common in private venture firms, but an exception in State-owned ones," said Ni, who personally has invested lots of money himself. SCGC swears by strict evaluation, careful project selection, time-tested management processes and having seasoned professionals on its team. It has ensured its investments generate relatively high rate of returns of around 40 percent, according to United Credit Ratings Co Ltd, a Beijing-based professional credit ratings agency. Ni is confident of sustaining high returns on international investments despite the sluggish global economy. He believes innovative companies will drive economy growth, but admitted competition from international VC firms with abundant resources and expertise in specific fields is fierce. Shen Lingkun, an analyst with Zero2IPO Research, said the biggest challenge for China's VC firms going abroad is technology risk. "Investment in the most advanced technology comes with stronger uncertainty." So far, many VC firms in China have regarded international investments as opportunities, but few have improved their strategy, she said. With SCGC going global, domestic VC firms can seek its guidance to explore overseas markets and build VC brands with global outlook, Shen said. Maintenance technicians conduct checks on the maglev train before it enters trial operation in Changsha, Hunan province. [Photo by Xu Xing/For China Daily] China's policymakers must make greater efforts to stabilize investor confidence as the country is facing the pressure of a slowdown in housing investments this year, economists said. "Our advice for policymakers is to reduce business taxes and fees, shore up the weak spots of the economy, close 'zombie enterprises', and break the monopolies of State-owned enterprises," said Qu Hongbin, co-head of Asian economic research and chief economist for Greater China at HSBC Holdings PLC. "This will help stabilize the confidence of private companies, prevent private investments from declining further. It will hedge against the risk of a drop in real estate investments and ease the pressure of capital outflows," said Qu at a media briefing in Beijing. He suggested the government should boost investments in metros, urban underground utilities and measures to fight against air pollution. China could also encourage companies to increase their environmental-friendly investments by upgrading equipment to meet higher emissions standards. Furthermore, it is important for the central government to continue streamlining its administration, delegating power to lower levels and reducing bias against privately owned enterprises in regard to market entry. This will help stabilize the economy in the short term and optimize China's economic structure in the medium and long run, he said. Zhao Yang, economist at Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited, agreed with Qu, saying that he expects the government to launch a more active fiscal policy which will accelerate infrastructure investments to enhance environmental protection, urban transportation, underground pipeline networks and high-speed rail. Liu Ligang, chief China economist at Citigroup Inc, said Citi forecasts that the Chinese economy will grow by 6.5 percent in 2017, if infrastructure investments maintain a growth rate of about 20 percent, and if the growth of consumption and foreign trade will remain the same as last year. "We believe China's policy priority will be economic stability over structural reform in 2017. Leading into late 2017, a 'steady boat' measure in economic policy is likely to be adopted to minimize economic uncertainty. This means the 2016 policy framework could be strengthened this year, with fiscal policy leading the way to achieve a 6.5 to 7 percent growth target," Liu said. China's first Skytrain is readied for trial operations in Chengdu, Sichuan province. [Photo by Lyu Jia/For China Daily] State-owned enterprise reform has seen modest progress in the second half of 2016. Looking ahead, he said the ongoing corporatization of SOEs will continue. However, as a result of the "steady boat" approach to economic policy this year, SOE ownership reformthe more decisive part of the reformmay have to wait till 2018. Externally, US President Donald Trump's policies may mean more trade frictions between China and the US, but Liu and other Citigroup economists believe the political and economic stakes are simply too high for the largest and second-largest economies of the world to engage in a trade war. "Trump's threats on China's currency and trade could mean Beijing will need to sit down and negotiate seriously with the US on market access and protecting intellectual property rights. In some areas, if interests are aligned, these dynamics could also help accelerate China's reform process," he said. A pedestrian walks past a HSBC sign in Hong Kong. [Photo provided to China Daily] China may accelerate approvals of green bonds this year as the nation battles a toxic wave of smog, according to Guotai Junan Securities, the nation's top underwriter of the notes. Dirty air has led to more than 60 Chinese cities issuing health alerts in recent months, leading to delays to hundreds of flights and encouraging consumers to stay at home. Guotai Junan, which managed 11 percent of 2016 issuance, said the government should boost incentives for bonds with proceeds earmarked for environmental projects. "This affects the air we breathe, it affects everyone," said Huang Baoyi, general manager in the debt financing department of Shanghai-based Guotai Junan. "The government should support and encourage green bond investors." Last March, Ma Jun, chief economist at the People Bank of China's research bureau, said the monetary authority will recommend steps such as waiving tax for holders of green bonds, though no policy has been introduced so far. The central bank hasn't 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 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." Chinese firms including banks, automakers, developers and power producers sold 186 billion yuan ($27 billion) of the debt in the domestic market in 2016, including the nation's debut offering onshore. 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 last September. China 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. It's 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, HSBC's global co-head of debt capital markets. "Market-based reforms are aligning the financial system with China's 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 PBOC's Green Bond Guidelines, which insist funds get independent assurances and regularly audited disclosure from issuers, are a "very good step forward," Chan said. Bloomberg Entertainment / Music by Usungulo Arts The Plumtree born Rhumba musician Mduduzi 'Golide' Tshuma is set to release a sizzling seven track album titled 'Ukwelikude', by end of march 2017.In his latest project Golide collaborated with Tony Sibanda from Plumtree, who according to Golide, also features some songs in the album.The new album features tracks like 'Good bye', 'Ukwelikude,' 'Earth' and 'iHighlanders.' All making a new flavoured rhumba collection from a revived Golide artistically reflecting the notions from diasporas islands.Narrating his long journey in music, Golide revealed that singing has always been his passion since his schooling days."I started singing whilst I was still doing my secondary education at Tshitshi Secondary school before coming to South Africa in 2005. Then in 2009 I thought of networking with some Johannesburg based artists hoping that maybe one day I will be nurtured into a fully blown rhumba star, unfortunately I fell prey to some greedy rhumba masterminds who only used me and recorded behind my back," Golide lamented.In 2010 Golide then met Givemore Nkiwane with whom they co-founded a group known as Abafana Bokuthula, assisted by Thabani Sibindi from Matabeleland Young Brothers."We recorded the album 'Ma Africa Amahle' together, however as the journey progressed I realised that we now differed in terms of vision , hence I was compelled to start my own group known as Mduduzi Golide and The United Africans," Golide said."In 2013 I recorded the album 'Uthando Luyinkinga' followed by 'Wavumelani?' In 2014 , then in 2016 I released a single track titled 'Dear mama' which I complemented with a DVD , a mixture of all other tracks in the previous albums. In this project I worked with Likhwa Mpofu from Tsholotsho.Responding to the question of sustainability in the ugly face of financial crisis within the industry itself, Golide said he and his group have resorted to roadshows and promotions in a bid to simultaneously gain publicity and few Rands as compared to booking large venues."Despite the everyday financial challenges which every artists will always highlight ,in my latest album I promise my fans a different flavour, I have improved and the story telling in the songs is something else. Come end of March people will see a totally different Golide in Johannesburg, " concluded Golide.The artists can be followed using these links:Facebook : Mduduzi GolideYou can watch Golide videos below: BEIJING - The State Council said Sunday that it had eliminated 17 intermediary service items in a move to cut red tape. Applicants will no longer need to provide an energy saving assessment for fixed assets investment or a test for radio transmission equipment, which were preconditions for applicants in the approval process in departments of the State Council, according to a document signed by Premier Li Keqiang. In China, new large-scale businesses or commercial projects must go through government review. Applicants for such reviews must go through intermediary agents, either independent or affiliated with cabinet departments. This was the third batch of intermediary service items that have been canceled in recent years. The document said that intermediary service agents had played an important role in government functions and providing specialized technological services, but the services they provided were often lengthy, costly and increased burdens on enterprises and the people. The State Council said that clearing up and regulating intermediary service represented a crucial step in improving government service and would help reduce burden and clear hurdles for start-ups and innovation. The cabinet said its relevant departments would gradually transform intermediary services that were related to approval into government procurement to cut business costs. DUBAI - Intersec, the biggest annual fair and exhibition on security and fire protection in the Middle East, kicked off on Sunday in Dubai. Producers of baggage security scanners and fire-fighting equipment were at the forefront of the ongoing fair. Anhui Qilootech Photoelectric Technology Co Ltd, exhibiting for the first time at Intersec, aims to market its security scanner systems regionally despite the sporadic turmoil and ongoing terrorism threats. According to global consultants Frost and Sullivan, the Middle East's homeland security market is expected to grow by 21 percent annually until 2020, with market revenues reaching $34.2 billion. "We have successfully installed our baggage and liquid scanners at many railway stations and airports across China. We are confident to expand our footprint in the Middle East " said Richard Xia, the firm's president. He added that Qilootech scanners are "the fastest in the world with a screening capacity of 1,500 passengers and their bags per hour." Chinese fire extinguisher producer, Victory Fire Fighting, is banking on the rising demand of fire fighting extinguishers by home owners and tenants. In 2016, several skyscrapers across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were partly destroyed by fires. "We see promising market potential here as many private homes still have no fire protection devices, but rely on blankets to extinguish fires instead," said Helen Chen, sales coordinator at Victory Fire Fighting. Frost and Sullivan estimated that the Middle East fire safety market will grow by 12.5 percent annually from 2012 to 2020, hitting $4.2 billion, up from $1.6 billion. The latest major fire in Dubai was on Dec 12, 2016 when the Oceana Palm luxury residence building on Dubai's man-made island Palm Jumeirah became engulfed by a blaze of fire which caused substantial damage to the building with no human casualties however. Organized by German exhibitor firm Messe Frankfurt, 2017's three-day Intersec is hosting 1,304 exhibitors and will end on Tuesday. WELLINGTON - New Zealand is working on a "Plan B" to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal and China's involvement is possible, Prime Minister Bill English said Monday. United States President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the still-unratified TPP would not necessarily stop the other 11 nations working on a modified version of the deal, English told Radio New Zealand. New Zealand passed legislation late last year allowing the government to ratify the agreement, which was signed in Auckland in February last year. English said the Trump administration's "America first" trade policy was "not in our interests and we would argue it's not in America's interests in the long run either, but they've made a pretty clear policy decision." "So we're working on Plan B. It was promising that last week the Prime Minister of Japan, when he was in Australia, made quite a positive statement about trying to proceed with a version of the TPP without the US in it, if it comes to that," said English. "We don't believe it's dead, but Plan B could be a bit tricky." Asked if it was possible the TPP could be scrapped and replaced with something else, possibly involving China, English said, "That's possible." "There are other vehicles for China if they've got an interest in free trade in the Asia-Pacific, but the TPP's a fairly original, a fairly unique kind of trade agreement and there are real benefits in it for New Zealand if we can just get everybody organized," said English. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay would probably visit Washington "before too long" and begin talks with his counterparts in other TPP countries over the next couple of months about an alternative to the current agreement. Companies like to hold annual galas to celebrate the New Year with employees. Besides performing dances, songs and comic dialogues at galas, the most exciting part of the program is giving out prizes to lucky people. Now, let's have a look at what kinds of prizes employees could win. 1. Cash Xiaomi, China's smartphone company, gives 100,000 yuan ($14,582) to ten lucky employees at this year's annual gala. Digital readers in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.[Provided to China Daily] BEIJING - About 695 million Chinese people -- around half of the country's population -- had used mobile phones to access the internet as of the end of 2016, an official report showed Sunday. The number of Chinese who surfed online using their phones increased more than 10 percent annually for the past three years, according to the report released by China Internet Network Information Center (CINIC). During the past year, the number of Chinese who used mobile phones to make payments reached 469 million people, an increase of 31.2 percent from 2015. Chinese netizens have hit 731 million, accounting for 53.2 percent of the total population, 3.1 percent higher than the global internet penetration rate and 7.6 percent higher than that of Asia. The growth rate of China's netizen population has stabilized after nearly 10 years of exponential growth, according to Liu Xin with the CINIC. In 2016, Chinese netizens used internet-based government services more often than offline service centers and hotlines. Government information was disclosed to the public in an increasingly mobile, immediate and transparent manner, the report said. In addition, internet coverage expansion has helped improve people's living standards and boost e-commerce, the report showed. For instance, the number of Chinese who ordered takeout online had reached 209 million as of December 2016, a year-on-year increase of 83.7 percent. Between Jan 1 and Nov 30, 2016, video websites filed 4,430 network dramas with authorities. Quality of network dramas improved, with some ranking among the most popular for the year, according to the report. The number of listed Chinese internet enterprises reached 91, with an aggregate value of 5.4 trillion yuan ($786.1 billion). Tencent and Alibaba accounted for 57 percent of the total value. Provincial-level regions on the coast will be inspected on a regular basis The State Oceanic Administration has published a set of guidelines on inspections by maritime authorities aimed at improving the management of the country's marine resources. The Sea Inspection Plan, which has been approved by the central government, stipulates that the administration will send inspectors to check the protection and development of marine resources by provincial governments. Inspections will cover the management and development of seas and islands, disaster prevention and relief, and countermeasures to tackle pollution, illegal development and environmental degradation. Provincial authorities will rectify problems found by inspectors and report them to the public. Failure to address problems will lead to restricted use of marine resources, while cases involving the violation of internal disciplines and laws will be handed over to disciplinary watchdogs or law enforcement departments. The administration will soon establish an inspection commission, and its three local branches that oversee affairs in the Bohai Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea will set up inspection teams, Fang Jianmeng, deputy director of the administration, told a news conference on Sunday. Inspectors will focus on provincial authorities' implementation of policies and plans made by the central government, he said. Fang added that inspectors will check the 11 provincial-level regions of the Chinese mainland that have coastlines, including Liaoning, Shandong and Shanghai, on a regular basis. Gao Zhongwen, the administration's spokesman, said that opinions and suggestions were solicited from the 11 regions and seven central departments, such as the Environmental Protection Ministry, before the guidelines were established. According to Gu Wu, deputy head of the oceanic administration's legislation and island management department, members of the public are encouraged to supervise inspectors and local authorities, and may give tipoffs to inspectors. An expert at the Ocean University of China in Qingdao, Shandong province, who asked not to be named, said that with the rapid development of coastal areas, some regions placing a high priority on economic growth driven by the exploitation of marine resources have unknowingly or intentionally neglected protection. "Therefore, the introduction of a high-level inspection mechanism will help extensively with environmental protection and restoration, and crack down on irregular or illegal exploitation," he said. A mass resettlement project for "ecological migrants" in China does not force ethnic groups to abandon their traditional culture and way of living, a senior official said on Sunday. Zhang Yongli, deputy head of the State Forestry Administration, made the remarks during a news conference held by the State Council Information Office. He was asked by a reporter whether ecological migrants are struggling under a government-led project, thought to be the world's largest environmental migration project. "The areas where the migrants come from do not have even the most basic facilities required for human survival and development," he said. "This would make it impossible for them to maintain their traditional culture and way of living. "The project aims to help migrants improve their living standards, so their cultural heritage can be protected and passed down better than before," he added. According to the State Forestry Administration, areas affected by desertification and sandification account for nearly 20 percent of China's territory. In some areas, land sandification is expanding, with another 310,000 square kilometers likely to suffer from sandification in the near future. Against this backdrop, many people in the Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions, as well as Gansu and Qinghai provinces, had to leave their homes, which had become distressed by desertification, climate change, industrialization and human activities. Jia Yaofeng, a professor at Beifang University of Nationalities and an expert on climate change, said China started ecological migration exploration as early as 1983 when the central government targeted three regions in Gansu and Ningxia Hui autonomous region. The project was then expanded to include more regions that were struggling with poverty and desertification. "Based on the results in central and western areas of China, moving people out of their homes has helped to mitigate local environmental pressure and helped migrants to improve their lives," Jia said. "However, we must admit that there are problems brought by mass resettlement." Wang Yuming, vice-chairman of the government of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, said all resettlement is proceeding based on the will of local residents. "We have relocated more than 200,000 people and we will relocate another 200,000." He added that places that embrace ecological migrants have mature industries. "Resettlement encourages local urbanization. Urbanization means more job opportunities, and people want to move to cities where jobs are available," he said. BEIJING -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will head a new central commission for integrated military and civilian development, according to a decision by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Sunday. The decision was made at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which was chaired by Xi. The commission will be the central agency tasked with decision-making, deliberation and coordination of major issues regarding integrated military and civilian development. The commission will report to the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Attendees at the meeting also heard a report on the work of leading Party groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. In a statement released after the meeting, the political bureau called for efforts to uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core, adhere to its centralized and unified leadership, and fully implement major policies of the committee. The year ahead is an important year to implement the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) and supply-side structural reform. The top leadership called on the leading Party groups of the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate to follow new development concepts, fulfil their responsibility for strict governance of the Party, promote stable and healthy development of the economy and social stability and harmony. Attendees urged the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee to make policies to serve the overall situation, improve its working system and capability to solve practical problems so as to complete tasks given by the CPC Central Committee. News / Africa by Stephen Jakes Economic Freedom Party President in South Africa, Julius Malema has blasted President Robert Mugabe saying his over stay in power was not doing good for the African revolution, his nation and his legacy.He said Mugabe was too old such that he was no even able to control a shovel during the planting of a tree in Masvingo a display that he was no longer fit to run a nation.He described Zanu PF members as cowards to a point of failing to tell Mugabe that it was his time to go.Malema said Mugabe must realise that it is time up and must leave the power to young and energetic members even to his son rather than to stick on power when he is no longer capable.Malema come out on the eNCA television discussing Mugabe's over stay.See the video attached: Former city Party chief sentenced for graft Xinhua | Updated: 2017-01-23 12:54 BEIJING - Wang Guoqiang, former Party chief of Fengcheng city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for graft. The sentence was handed down by the Shenyang Intermediate People's Court in Liaoning Province. The court also imposed a fine of 900,000 yuan (around 131,000 U.S. dollars) on Wang and ordered all his illicit gains to be confiscated. Wang, who fled to the United States in April 2012, returned to China and turned himself in to the discipline authority in December 2014. According to the court, his confession, remorse and the fact that all his illegal gains were recovered were taken into consideration when deciding on a sentence. Fugitive official sentenced to life in prison Xinhua | Updated: 2017-01-23 13:01 BEIJING - Li Huabo, a former local finance official in Jiangxi Province, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, according to a local court. The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Shangrao City in east China's Jiangxi Province. Li will also have all his personal property confiscated and his remaining illicit gains will be recovered, according to the court. Li, who fled the country in January 2011, remained in Singapore until he was repatriated in May 2015. The verdict took into consideration his confession and expression of remorse. Art-loving train attendant Li Wei draws a portrait for a passenger onboard a train from Chongqing to Beijing, Jan 18, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] Lucky passengers departing from Chongqing may get more than they expected on their journey as they make their way home for Spring Festival. Art-loving train attendant Li Wei has given away over 1,800 portraits of passengers in the past 12 years to record their special journey. "Hey, sister, can I draw a portrait for you?" Li asked a passenger holding a baby in her arms during a trip from Chongqing to Beijing last week. The mother was a little surprised, but agreed. After a while, Li handed her a pencil sketch of the mother and her baby as a gift. Li, 35, started working as a train attendant in 2003, but has always dreamed of becoming a painter. During a trip from Chongqing to Guangzhou, he noticed several passengers drawing pictures in the carriage and found out later they were students from the art school. Li became friends with those students and decided to chase his childhood dream. Though he failed the entrance exam for the local art school in 2004, he started to draw pictures during his spare time on the train. "It is a good way to practice my painting skills and also makes the trip a little bit interesting," Li said. "I am recording the real life of people with my pencils and brushes." In addition to pencil sketches, he also does oil paintings and watercolor paintings for passengers. In 2009, he bought a camera to help record the train journeys. Officials representing Beijing and Manila shook hands on joint projects worth $3.7 billion on Monday during a meeting in the Chinese capital. The agreement was the latest evidence of warming ties between China and the Philippines. While the specific types of deals and locations were not revealed, the package is the initial installment of planned cooperative projects that aims to improve livelihoods, Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng told reporters at a news briefing. The briefing came after discussions with a delegation led by Philippines Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez. Dominguez, in China from Sunday to Tuesday, led a heavyweight delegation that includes ministerial officials responsible for areas such as economic planning, telecommunications, financing and public projects. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that several Filipino ministers have led delegations to China recently to discuss such areas as trade, infrastructure and energy. This has "fully showcased the consistent increase in mutual trust and increasingly deepened cooperative relationships," Hua said on Monday. Also on Monday, the two sides agreed to a speedy resumption of meetings of the China-Philippines Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation, an important body that ground to a halt in 2012 as the relationship deteriorated over territorial sovereignty issues. Vice-Premier Wang Yang, who met with the Philippines delegation on Monday, said the countries also should gear up their joint efforts in drafting a plan for bilateral economic and trade cooperation and press ahead with their priority bilateral projects. China is now the second-largest trade partner of the Philippines. The relationship warmed markedly after Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte paid his first state visit to China in October. Duterte is expected to make a second trip to China in May to attend an international forum on building the China-led Belt and Road Initiative. Manila is seeking greater infra-structure cooperation within the initiative's framework, Dominguez said. "We think that both our governments, as well as both our peoples, will move quickly to support (projects under) this initiative in the Philippines." Luo Yongkun, a researcher in Southeast Asian studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, noted that although the Philippines' economy has seen rapid growth in the past few years, it is still weak in infrastructure and is in need of foreign investment. Two-way ties, frozen by the South China Sea arbitration case brought by former Philippines president Benigno Aquino III, showed signs of reviving after Rodrigo Duterte took office in June and decided to thaw ties with Beijing by shelving maritime disputes. This month, senior diplomats from both sides agreed to establish bilateral consultations on the South China Sea issue to address concerns and promote maritime cooperation. As more Chinese visitors are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, the theme park's signature Studio Tour is also offering Mandarin-speaking tour year-round.[Photo/Agencies] The Year of the Rooster gets a wake-up call from "Kung Fu Panda" when Po and Tigress make their first-ever appearance at the Universal Studio Hollywood's annual Lunar New Year celebration, from this Saturday to Feb 5. The celebration comes to life within Universal Plaza, at the heart of the theme park. Decorated with red Chinese lanterns and a stunning plum blossom arch, the Plaza has a dozen of lampposts featuring banners of 12 zodiac animals with introductions. Along with Po and Tigress, the 12-foot-fall Mandarin-speaking Megatron, the icon of Transformers, theme park characters Curious George and Woody Woodpecker in Chinese attire also greet and interact with visitors at the Plaza. "The Megatron is really funny, he speaks Chinese and makes jokes," Annie Zhang, a Chinese American visitor told Xinhua this Sunday, "I really enjoy the Lunar New Year atmosphere here." As more Chinese visitors are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, the theme park's signature Studio Tour is also offering Mandarin-speaking tour year-round. According to the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, the city welcomed 47.3 million visitors in 2016 and over 1 million of them came from China, which marked LA the first city in the US hosted over a million Chinese visitors. Visitors learn about traditional Lunar New Year customs at the "Charming Beijing" photo exhibition, part of the Spring Festival show in Beverly Hills on Jan 21. [Photo provided to China Daily] Beijing municipality and the China International Culture Association hosted a Spring Festival show in the US city of Beverly Hills on Jan 21 that was attended by more than 1,800 people. The "Happy Chinese New Year, Charming Beijing" cultural event, organized in cooperation with the local authorities, has now been held in the city for three years running. John Mirisch, mayor of Beverly Hills, said the celebration has become a landmark event for the city and has been welcomed by many in the South California region. In addition to acrobatics and Peking Opera performances, the show also featured an exhibition of photographs introducing traditional Chinese Lunar New Year customs. Intangible cultural heritage such as calligraphy and Chinese paper cutting were also showcased at the event. Chinese artists perform at the Chinese opera gala, Toronto, Canada, Jan 15, 2017. [Photo/Chinaculture.org] A Chinese opera gala was held in Toronto to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. Consul-general Xue Bing from the Consulate General of China in Toronto and about 600 government officials and representatives from China and Canada attended the gala on Jan 15. Xue said Chinese opera is a Chinese cultural treasure and he hoped the gala would narrow the distance between Canadian people and Chinese culture. As part of the 2017 Happy Chinese New Year in Canada program, the two-hour event featured Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera and other local operas. Chefs in a Suzhou restaurant prepare the city's famous dish, flying squirrel fish. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/China Daily] Eight fairies in water. Three whites of Taihu Lake. Mandarin flying squirrel fish. Indeed, Suzhou's saccharine cuisine delights with not only sugary flavors but sometimes also with the names of its delicious delicacies. That said, the city itself is hailed as "the land of fish and rice". The culinary cousin of Shanghai fare is genetically distinct from the gastronomy of the nearby megalopolis largely by virtue of a finer attention to detail in preparation and presentation. Both branches of the regional su family tree of cooking are typically light and sweet, and give greater prominence to the original flavors of fresh main ingredients than to the zests contributed by condiments and seasonings. Many of these staples come from Taihu Lake. Suzhou's aquaculture includes not only fish, shrimp and eels but also assorted water plants, the most celebrated of which are the "eight fairies of the water"namely, lotus roots, water caltrops, arrowheads, wild rice stems, water shields, Chinese eddo, water chestnuts and gorgon fruits. They take their collective appellation from the fact that the hazy lotus lakes that sire them resemble those associated with traditional descriptions of the otherworld. They're so revered that the city's Lizhi village hosts a museum exclusively devoted to their legacies. Flying squirrel fish is perhaps the most iconic local dish created with ingredients that swim. It takes its name from its presentation, in which a carp's flesh is sliced into dozens of bristling, quill-like projections said to resemble the namesake arboreal rodent's tail. Its appearance is sometimes also likened to a chrysanthemum's. This knife work isn't simply for looks. It also generates more surface area for the sweet-and-sour sauce to soak inand makes it easier to eat. It's said that emperor Qianlong (1711-99) adored the dish when he sampled it at Suzhou's Songhelou Restaurant. That's perhaps partly why the brand has survived and today hosts several branches throughout the city. Eels are a staple prepared in almost every way imaginable. They enjoy a special status since traditional medicine contends the nutrition they provide proffers homeopathic properties. A colorful name for a trio of local aquatic offerings are the "three whites of Taihu"whitefish, whitebait and white shrimp. Sampling such colorfully christened delicacies will show Suzhou lives up to its name as a place of supreme cuisinein more than name. Related: Eden of the East Peckish on Pingjiang News / National by Staff reporter EXTRA City Bus Company has been accused of negligence after its crew allegedly ignored an ailing passenger from Victoria Falls who died on arrival in Bulawayo.The woman, identified as Mrs Tarisai Muranda (37) from Victoria Falls, died on admission to Mater Dei Hospital on Saturday morning.She had boarded Extra City at 11PM on Friday in the resort town on her way to Gweru en route to Shurugwi to visit her sister.Mrs Muranda allegedly started breathing heavily and vomiting just after Hwange and the bus crew reportedly ignored her.Passengers are said to have begged the bus crew to turn into St Luke's Hospital in Lupane to no avail.The deceased's husband Mr Paul Muranda, who works at a local hotel, said his wife suffered from hypertension."People phoned me saying she was having problems breathing and they were planning to drop her at St Luke's Hospital. They later told me that the bus crew had refused and were now hoping to get to Bulawayo in time. I asked them to assist to liaise with an ambulance to meet them along the way. I tried to speak to her but she couldn't because of her condition," said Mr Muranda."I still have questions and I haven't spoken to the bus company's officials," he said.Mrs Mavis Masuku-Tshuma, a Victoria Falls resident who was in the bus and was among those who administered first aid on Mrs Muranda, said the bus crew did not assist the woman."I knew her personally and we shared a seat in the bus. She asked to sit closer to the window because she needed fresh air. Along the way she started vomiting and having difficulty breathing."We suggested that we rush her to St Luke's but the crew refused to take her. We asked to phone an ambulance but got no joy," she said.Mrs Masuku-Tshuma said passengers continued offering first aid to her but her condition deteriorated.She said after arriving in Bulawayo, she volunteered to accompany the woman to Mater Dei Hospital, but on admission, doctors said she was already dead.Extra City Bus manager Mr David Masimira said the bus company was sorry to the family and community for what happened. "We have spoken to our crew and it's true that a woman fell ill while in the bus and died at Mater Dei Hospital. We hear there was a medical expert in the bus who was helping and unfortunately because of the rains and the bad state of the road they couldn't turn into St Luke's as we have had challenges before," said Mr Masimira."Maybe things could have been different had they taken her to hospital and maybe our crew didn't handle the issue well hence we would want to make a public apology to the family and all our clients." Lujiazui, Shanghai's financial hub, is the host venue of the China-UK Asset Management Forum. [Photo/IC] The China-UK Asset Management Forum took place in Shanghai's Lujiazui Financial City on Jan 11, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the two countries' asset management markets, Pudong Times reported on Jan 17. The forum, jointly organized by the UK Department for International Trade, the British Consulate General in Shanghai, and Lujiazui Financial City, attracted a large number of British and Chinese financial institutions. The Investment Association along with many of the UK's asset management institutions such as Aberdeen, Barings, Old Mutual, Man Group, and Standard Life were among the attendees. Chris Cummings, CEO of The Investment Association, said that many UK asset management institutions are interested in the Chinese market and are inclined to seek cooperation in China. Chris said he will lead delegations to China in the future and welcomed Chinese delegations to visit London. Shi Hongshen, chief research officer of Shanghai-based consulting firm Z-Ben Advisors, predicted that the public fund sector may also be opening up to foreign investors after it became allowed to enter the private fund sector last year. A DRAFT of the revised Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security has recently been published to solicit public opinions for a month. Southern Metropolis Daily commented on Saturday: The latest draft serves as an opportunity for the public security authorities to better manage toy guns, imitation guns, and real ones. Earlier this month a Chinese woman who ran a small recreational shooting gallery in North China's Tianjin municipality was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for the illegal possession of guns. The sentence came as a shock to many and sparked heated discussion about the vague standards used to classify what is an imitation fireman and what is a real one. According to a document on firearms identification issued by the Ministry of Public Security in 2010, guns able to fire projectiles with a muzzle velocity equal to 1.8 joules per square centimeter or above are considered illegal firearms. Apparently the six guns owned by Zhao, had a muzzle velocity ranging from 2.17 to 3.14 joules per square centimeter. Such a strict standard makes possession of most toy guns illegal, since they will be defined as real guns according to this standard. What is also questionable is the current laws on gun control that explicitly forbid the manufacturing and selling of imitation guns, but stop short of how to deal with those purchasing or possessing them. The current Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security only deems the possession of real guns illegal without elaborating on the management of toy guns. The draft of the revised law for the first time stipulates that the production, transportation, and possession of imitation guns will be defined as violation of public security, not as criminal offense. That is a laudable move, but far from enough: It is yet to touch on the standards being used to identify guns, including the 1.8 joules per square centimeter restriction. It is in everyone's interest to adjust the limits to reasonable levels. US President Donald Trump takes the oath of office with his wife Melania and son Barron at his side, during his inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, US, January 20, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] The United States' foreign friends and partners had hoped that as the new US President, Donald Trump might temper the aggressive rhetoric he employed when campaigning, and that somehow, as one commentator put it, "the trailer would turn out to be worse than the movie". Many must have been disappointed therefore by an inaugural speech variously described as divisive, isolationist and pessimistic in headlines at home and across the world. Setting aside the tradition of inaugural presidential appeals to hope and unity, Donald Trump presented a dystopian vision of the US in which, amid widespread poverty and crime, there are "rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation." He left no doubt about who was responsible for this "carnage": it was the fault of foreigners who had stolen jobs from Americans. The new president did not actually name these aggressors. But echoing accusations he leveled at China during his campaign, and since, he warned: "We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs." There was also little comfort for the US' closest allies in Trump's choice of "America First" as the keynote slogan of his speech. For European countries, the phrase echoes the isolationism of the 1940s when the America First Committee campaigned to keep the US out of World War II, even at the risk of abandoning Europe to the Nazis. His inauguration took place against the backdrop of anti-Trump demonstrations on the streets of Washington, and riot police had to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds. More than 200 people were arrested. Organizers of Saturday's Washington Women's March, part of worldwide anti-Trump demonstrations, were predicting that as many people would turn out as attended the inauguration the previous day. Trump has entered the White House with the lowest approval ratings of any modern US president, which was reflected in the lower-than-predicted turnout along the Washington Mall on Friday. Commentators had theorized that, once in office, Trump might use his first speech to strike a more emollient tone. That was not to be, however. "It was like he was still in campaign mode," was a typical response from one US citizen interviewed. It was left to elsewhere in the new administration to stretch a hand of friendship to the rest of the world. Retired General James Mattis, sworn in on Friday as secretary of defense, said: "Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances." Mattis thereby struck a softer note than Trump, who had criticized NATO, questioned the future of the European Union and insulted Germany in the days before his inauguration. The enduring abrasiveness of Trump gives no real clue as to how his presidency will tackle the real challenges facing the country, and he has yet to produce a coherent doctrine of foreign relations. But how long can the world maintain this wait-and-see attitude toward a man who now occupies what is routinely described as the most powerful position in the world? The US' international partners have their own challenges to deal withon trade, on security, on climate change, on combating Islamic extremism and on reinforcing existing alliances, particularly the EU. The US has for three-quarters of a centurysince an unprovoked attack by Japan forced it to abandon America First isolationismplayed a central role in such global issues. Now a new president is signaling an inward-looking retreat. But no one yet quite knows what that will involve, or how far the checks and balances of the US system will constrain him from doing anything rash. The writer is a senior media consultant to China Daily UK. FAN JIANPING/CHINA DAILY After his inauguration, US President Donald Trump has begun to reset the White House trade policies. But the consequences of his "America First" stance could be disastrous. After his inauguration on Friday, Trump announced the United States will withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and declared the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement will be renegotiated. If Mexico and Canada refuse to renegotiate the trade deal, he has threatened to withdraw the US from NAFTA. Trump has also promised to renegotiate or reject other US international commitments. And he has threatened to impose 35-45 percent tariffs on imports. His appointments also suggest potential trade friction. He has selected Peter Navarro, the author of several sensationalist China-bashing books, to head the new National Trade Council, which will oversee the US' industrial policy. Navarro's anti-China buddy Dan DiMicco, former CEO of the largest US steel company Nucor and a vocal free trade critic, is Trump's trade advisor and former Reagan administration trade hawk Robert Lighthizer is his pick for US Trade Representative. The three will work with US Secretary of Commerce, billionaire Wilbur Ross, who made a fortune by offshoring American jobs. Targeting the US deficit, Trump has named Japan as one of the deficit contributors, which Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso considered inappropriate. In terms of trade imbalances, "China is No 1," Aso said. But in protectionist initiatives, blame is in the eye of the beholder as one country's deficit is another's surplus. Trump's trade warriors will begin by singling out nations that have a large trade surplus with the US. That makes big trading economies obvious targets. In 2015, the list was topped by China ($367 billion), Japan ($69 billion), Mexico ($61 billion) and Germany ($60 billion) However, they are likely to ignore the size of these surpluses on a per capita basis. If we take into account population size, Germany ($720) is the deficit leader followed by Japan ($543) and Mexico ($488), with China ($262) far behind. And if the Trump administration really is serious about targeting the deficit leaders, it should probably consider a trade war with Ireland. After all, the US has a deficit of $30 billion with Ireland, which translates to $6,380 in per capita termsthat's nine times that of Germany and 24 times the Chinese figure. In reality, trade deficits are likely to serve as pretexts for protectionismeven if such policies penalize the rest of the world. Trump's goals may well be dictated by realpolitik. Deficit criticism serves largely as an effort to undermine European unity (hence his anti-Merkel tirade), the rise of China and Mexico, and Japanese reforms. In such a win-lose world, "America First" is not possible through cooperation or even competition, but only by winning and harming perceived adversaries. And yet, historically, US trade deficits did not start with China, or any other single country. Rather, they are regional and have prevailed for more than 41 years with Asiafirst with Japan, then with newly-industrialized Asian tigers and recently with China and emerging Asia. A single-minded focus on trade deficits ignores the fact that global economic cooperation is not just about trade in goods, but about trade in services and high-technology. It also includes investment, which Trump would like to attract from the very same countries that he risks alienating with his trade policy. And it includes migration flows, which Trump would like to restrict dramatically, which would hurt US' long-term growth, reduce remittances to poorer nations and boost anti-US resentment particularly in the Middle East. Trump's stated protectionism does have a historical precedent. In 1930, the US Congress passed the notorious Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which sharply raised the cost of foreign imports. While it seemed to work initially, it soon caused other nations to retaliate. Rounds of tit-for-tat retaliation contributed to the Great Depression, and the way was paved for another world war. Trumping world trade is a bad idea, but its timing is even worse. The author is the founder of the Difference Group and he has served as the research director at the India, China, and America Institute (USA) and a visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). LUO JIE/CHINA DAILY That President Xi Jinping's attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the first by China's head of state, has drawn worldwide attention testifies to the sharp rise in China's international status and its growing voice in international affairs. With concrete words and actions, China has transitioned from being a beneficiary and participant of free trade and globalization to a maker and guider of global governance and the global economic rules. By successfully handling its domestic affairs to ensure its stable and healthy economic and social development, China has set a good example for international governance. Due to its industrialization and export-oriented economic development strategy, China has risen to be the world's largest manufacturer and exporter. It has also become the economy with fastest growing volume of imports since the start of this century with its import growth nearly double the world average. And the large volumes of goods and services China imports and its growing outward direct investment have bolstered the economic and social development of a number of countries and regions. From Southeast Asian nations, Brazil, Angola, Sudan and other emerging economies to resources-rich countries such as Australia and Canada and to the Republic of Korea, Japan, European countries and the United States, more and more countries have increasingly benefited from China's ever-expanding demand for imports. From a broader and longer perspective, that East Asia has managed to begin real and full industrialization and realize an economic and social takeoff is due to China's stable development. East Asia is now widely recognized as the most vigorous region in the world. If calculated according to the 2010 constant price of the US dollar, China's economic growth annually contributed 30.5 percent to world economic growth during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) period, meaning it was the biggest contributor. The United States contributed 17.8 percent and the eurozone 4.4 percent. China's contribution ratio would be as high as 41.3 percent if based on the 2015 dollar price, while the ratio would be 16.3 percent for the US and 1.4 percent for Japan. At a time when the world economy still faces dim prospects and the huge fiscal and tax policy changes made by major Western countries are having enormous repercussions, the sustainable, stable and healthy development of China's economy by itself is lubricating the development of the world economy. As a leading emerging economy, China should adhere to free trade rules as its foremost responsibility for better global economic governance. The US served as a flag bearer of global liberal trade for decades after World War II, but its looming protectionism in recent years and the inward-looking inclination of President Donald Trump's team have raised possibilities for increased global trade frictions. As the world's second largest economy and a leading trading country, China should take over the baton from the US and play a leading role in advocating and promoting free trade amid the rising economic and trade uncertainties. China is willing to undertake more responsibilities for the world governance system, but it has no intention of regarding itself as a player powerful enough to challenge the dominance of the US or promote a regime that can rival the US-led world institutions. Instead, what it is doing is the amelioration of the established world governance system. The increased disputes and trade frictions that can be expected between China and the US in 2017 will basically not change their pursuit of "unity through struggle". Despite its efforts to play a bigger role in international affairs, China can only undertake moderately expanded, but not excessive international obligations that are commensurate to its international rights so that it can undertake and fulfill its world governance responsibilities in a sustainable manner. The author is a researcher at the International Trade and Economic Cooperation Institute of the Ministry of Commerce. The annual Long Street Banquet was held on Chengdus Datong ancient street on Jan 19, spread across 31 tables and feeding more than 300 people. The banquet is held by Chengdus tourism bureau each year as a gesture to empty-nest elderly, stay-at-home children, and sanitation workers. At the New Year banquet, Huang Changqing, director of Yongxing community, said thanks to efforts and project like this from the local community, Datong county is thriving especially its tourism. We will keep promoting the countys tourism industry to help local residents increase income, said Huang. Statistics show that an average of 20,000 tourists visited Datong county per month in 2016. Chengdus Datong county holds a Long Street Banquet on Jan 19, celebrating the 2017 Lunar New Year. [Photo/xinhuanet.com] Over 300 local residents are invited to the Long Street Banquet held in Chengdus Datong county on Jan 19. [Photo/xinhuanet.com] Edited by Owen Fishwick Oakland County, Michigan's success in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) is underscored by one stark figure: $1 million-plus a day. The county located in the northwestern section of the Detroit metropolitan area totaled $371 million in FDI in 2016. The new investment has accounted for close to 6,400 jobs (either new or retained). Oakland County has more than 1,050 global firms from 39 countries. And the No 2 country on the county's investment roster (behind Germany) is China. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has led six trade missions to China, and he is frequently joined by Oakland County officials. "This (FDI) is a sector of our economy that doesn't get a lot of attention, but this is a significant source of jobs and tax revenue," said L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County executive. "Oakland County gets more investment than many states, and rest assured, we're going to press forward with this program." The county is nearing a total presence of 75 Chinese companies after it adds "another dozen or so in 2017", said Matthew Gibb, deputy executive in charge of economic development. "We're the heart of the automotive industry. We have 75 of the top 100 tier one global automotive suppliers," Gibb told China Daily. "When I go into China it gives us the credibility of the Motor City, the Detroit market. We're the ninth-wealthiest county in America; we have no debt. "I'll speak at the global automotive forum in Chongqing, and at the same time I'll have my senior business development rep and then other members of the region, like from a chamber, a law firm, an accounting firm; they'll do direct business-to-business consulting work, on legal barriers, financial barriers, accounting barriers. "Once you get your traction in having a system (in automotive) of being able to pull in companies on an international basis, it applies to a lot of markets." Gibb, who has been to China 14 times, said the county is not as concerned with where a company makes its products. "You don't have to land a factory to have growth If I have a company here (in Michigan) that needs to build a manufacturing facility in Shenzhen or southwestern China, I'm not going to lose sleep over the fact that they're doing that and they're not doing it here, because that's going to result in 30 or 40 new jobs that are here just to support the operation. "They're not moving the company over there. I think sometimes it gets lost. It's not necessarily chasing cheap labor anymore; it's a chase of market share. Ford is Chongqing. All those same tier one suppliers that are here are all in Chongqing because they all support Ford. Companies have the ability to build a product and sell it everywhere." And it's not just automotive, Gibb explained. "One of our strongest sectors is medical life science. We negotiated a relationship with China Medical City. When I go back to Jiangsu, I'm always visiting China Medical City (in Taizhou) and bringing commercialized product potential out of the United States to them. At the same time, they're looking at how they can create a presence of bringing some type of base manufacturing or product development here." Gibb said he is sometimes asked, "Did you bring another Fuyao Glass-type company to town? Sometimes we do." But not all of the companies as are as big as the automotive-glass giant. "Some of these companies are coming over, and we're doing almost an initial startup, 10 or 12 people in an office," Gibb said. "Shanghai Automotive is our big partner, SAIC. A lot of their subsidiaries we've been able to pick up on." Although Oakland County is car country, more than a decade ago it moved to diversify its industries. In 2004, the county developed its Emerging Sectors business development strategy to expand beyond its automotive nucleus. The county is also attuned to understanding China beyond business. Of its 28 public school districts, Mandarin is taught in 17. But it always comes back to relationships. Gibb said the key is that if "you have somebody that understands the culture of doing business in China, and has a respect for the importance of matching these two global economies", your chances of success are that much greater. Contact the writer at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, Jan 20, 2017.[Photo/IC] 'America first' pledge causes uncertainty around the globe The "America first" pledge made by Donald Trump in his inaugural address on Friday has created uncertainty in many countries over what that will actually mean in terms of US policies. Although Trump did not directly challenge China in the speechas he had done in the past monthBeijing should still prepare for possible trade frictions with Washington, experts said. In his 16-minute address, Trump vowed to make "every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs" to benefit United States citizens. He pledged to end what he has called wrongheaded efforts to help other nations at the expense of US interests. "For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing the very sad depletion of our military. We've defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own, and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay," he said. Trump's speech, featuring what many analysts called his usual protectionist rhetoric, is considered among the factors leading to worries and protests in many countries. Calling the inauguration speech "hostile", former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt wrote on Twitter: "We can't sit around & hope for US support & cooperation. Europe must take its destiny & security in its own hands." The Washington Post reported that in London, hundreds chanted slogans such as "dump Trump" outside the US embassy. In Mexico City, residents on social networks debated just how bad the new era might be. The Post's report's headline was "After Trump pledges 'America first,' the world responds with protests and dismay". According to a BBC report, millions in the US and around the world protested against Trump's new administration on Saturday. The largest US rally was in Washington, where city officials estimated that crowd to number more than 500,000, the report said. China's Foreign Ministry had not responded to Trump's speech as of press time Sunday. At a regular news conference held shortly before Trump's inauguration on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China will continue to stick to the principles of nonconflict, nonconfrontation, mutual respect and cooperation for win-win results to develop ties with the new US government. "Since the establishment of Sino-US ties, there have been ups and downs in the bilateral relationship, but it kept moving forward," she said. Jin Yong, a professor of international relations at the Communication University of China, said Beijing should prepare for challenges to the one-China policy and in trade issues given that Trump emphasized those issues in this statement. Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said Trump's taking office may be a major event that is unexpected for international relations. "Trump could change the image of the United States, and we may see an America that will say 'no' more frequently," he said. He added that the whole world, including many traditional allies of the US, are worried about the uncertainties presented by Trump taking power. "Fasten your seat belts. This is the only choice for the world when facing a changing America," he said. US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York City, US, January 11, 2017 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem January 22, 2017 in a combination of file photos. [Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday by phone to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relationship between the allies, and security and stability in the Middle East. Trump emphasized the importance the United States places on the close military, intelligence, and security cooperation with Israel, which "reflects the deep and abiding partnership between our countries," the White House said in a statement. The leaders agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran. Trump affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israel's security and stressed that countering the Islamic State group and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be a priority for his Administration, according to the statement. In addition, Trump emphasized that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between the two parties, and that the United States will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. During the telephone conversation, Trump also invited Netanyahu to an early February meeting at the White House. The White House said earlier Sunday that it is at the "very beginning" of discussing plans to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The remark came after reports in Israeli media that Trump had imminent plans to announce the move the embassy. News / National by Staff reporter Villagers in Bikita are said to have recounted horror stories of thuggery and intimidation by Zanu-PF, which in the end resulted in them duly voting for the ruling party in the Bikita West by-election.The report alleges that villagers, including some traditional leaders, had been told they were being closely monitored even when they were in voting booths.A report in the Standard claims there were a high number of assisted voters.Zim-PF interim chairman for Masvingo, Claudius Makova confirmed that the by-election could not be free and fair. Peace civic group, Heal Zimbabwe Trust also noted multiple electoral malpractices.Opposition leaders and civil societies have warned that Zanu-PF was oiling its coercive machinery in preparation for 2018.Human Rights Watch senior researcher for southern Africa, Dewa Mavhinga said the by-elections were a red flag that the 2018 elections will probably be as violent as the 2008 elections, with no accountability for abuses.A report says that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has ordered the human rights commission and police to submit reports on the violence that erupted in Bikita West which saw NCA's Madock Chivasa and his election agent Thomas Mudzamiri getting attacked. File photo combination of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. [Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington in early February during a phone call in which they discussed the importance of strengthening the US-Israeli relationship, the White House said on Sunday. In his first call with Netanyahu since taking office on Friday, Trump stressed his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security." "The president and the prime minister agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran," the White House said in a statement. Trump also said peace between Israel and the Palestinians could only be negotiated between the two parties, but that the United States would work with Israel to achieve that goal. Relations between Israel and the Obama administration ended on a contentious note, when the United States declined to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for a halt to Israeli settlement-building. The readout from the White House did not include any mention of moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, an action that would likely spark anger in the Arab world. Earlier on Sunday, the White House said it was only in the early stages of talks to fulfill Trump's campaign pledge to relocate the embassy. "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement. Aides said no announcement of an embassy move was imminent. Washington's embassy is in Tel Aviv, as are most foreign diplomatic posts. Israel calls Jerusalem its eternal capital, but Palestinians also lay claim to the city as part of an eventual Palestinian state. Both sides cite biblical, historical and political claims. US President Donald Trump and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, attend the "Salute to Our Armed Forces" inaugural ball during inauguration festivities in Washington, US, January 20, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] President Donald Trump's first weekend in office was dominated by sparring with the media and marches on Saturday in which hundreds of thousands of women across the country demonstrated against the new president. RELATIONS WITH PRESS The White House vows to fight the news media "tooth and nail" over what officials see as unfair attacks on President Donald Trump, setting a tone that could ratchet up a traditionally adversarial relationship to a new level of rancor. A US Air Force airman surveys debris covering an area of the Sunshine Acres neighborhood after a tornado struck Adel, Georgia, US January 22, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] ADEL Emergency responders rushed to answer new reports of deaths and injuries Sunday evening in southern Georgia as violent storms already blamed for killing 16 people in the Southeast continued to inflict destruction. An apparent tornado blew through a mobile home park early Sunday in southern Georgia's rural Cook County sheering off siding, upending homes and killing seven people, local authorities said. An eighth death was reported in Cook County by state officials, although it was unclear whether that victim lived in the park. Two people apiece were confirmed dead in neighboring Georgia counties, bringing the state's toll to 12 a day after a reported tornado killed four in Mississippi. And the deadly weather wasn't over as night fell Sunday. Search and rescue operations were underway Sunday night in Dougherty County, where a reported tornado carved a long path of destruction at about 3 p.m., said Sedon Burns, the county's chief deputy emergency manager. The county is home to Albany, southwest Georgia's largest city with about 76,000 residents. "We know we have fatalities and a lot of injuries," said Burns, who declined to estimate how many were dead or hurt. "And there is substantive damage to one of our trailer parks."An Associated Press reporter arriving in Albany saw several police and State Patrol cars heading to one area with lights flashing, as well as three ambulances. There were downed trees along the road and traffic signals were without power. A helicopter hovered overhead not far away. About 12 hours earlier and 60 miles to the southeast an apparent tornado "leveled" a Cook County mobile home park before dawn Sunday and emergency responders searched for survivors for hours after the twister struck, said Coroner Tim Purvis. Purvis said the park had about 40 mobile homes, and roughly half were destroyed. The area was cordoned off by police. Not far from the mobile home park, 19-year-old Jenny Bullard wore a sling on her injured arm as she combed through the rubble of her family's brick house. All that remained standing Sunday afternoon was the master bedroom and parts of the kitchen. Press Secretary Sean Spicer delivers a statement while television screen show a picture of US President Donald Trump's inauguration at the press briefing room of the White House in Washington US, January 21, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - The White House vowed on Sunday to fight the news media "tooth and nail" over what it sees as unfair attacks, with a top adviser saying the Trump administration had presented "alternative facts" to counter low inauguration crowd estimates. On his first full day as president, Trump said he had a "running war" with the media and accused journalists of underestimating the number of people who turned out Friday for his swearing-in. White House officials made clear no truce was on the horizon on Sunday in television interviews that set a harsher tone in the traditionally adversarial relationship between the White House and the press corps. "The point is not the crowd size. The point is the attacks and the attempt to delegitimize this president in one day. And we're not going to sit around and take it," Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said on "Fox News Sunday." No single issue has dominated the new administration's public discourse as much as the news media's treatment of Trump. "We're going to fight back tooth and nail every day and twice on Sunday," Priebus said. He repeated White House press secretary Sean Spicer's charges on Saturday that the media had manipulated photographs of the National Mall to show smaller crowds on Friday. Aerial photographs showed the crowds were smaller than at Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration. The Washington subway system said it had 193,000 riders by 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Friday, compared with 513,000 at that time during the 2009 inauguration. Several of Spicer's statements about Friday's turnout were challenged in photographs and media reports that cited crowd count experts. His categorical assertion that "this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - period" in particular was lampooned on social media as well. Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" why the press secretary was uttering provable falsehoods, White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway fired back. "If we are going to keep referring to our press secretary in those types of terms I think that we are going to rethink our relationship here," she said. What happened in this past weekend in Washington, however, is a reminder that there are two United States, if not three or four. I was surprised early Friday morning on way to covering the inauguration of Donald Trump to be the 45th US president. The Metro Red Line was not only unusually crowded for a Friday morning, the cars were filled with people wearing red caps emblazoned with "Make America Great Again," Trump's campaign slogan. That surprise resulted from the fact that Washington, the nation's capital, is deep blue. Trump supporters are hard to find among the local population. In the District of Columbia, about 90 percent of the votes in 2016 presidential election went to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and only a tiny 4 percent went to Trump. When Americans went out to vote on Nov 8, I had a hard time trying to find Trump voters while interviewing people outside several local polling stations. On Friday morning, I chatted with those Trump supporters walking out the Metro Center station, they came from Ohio, Illinois and even California and they came specially to go to the National Mall for Trump's inauguration. They were elated judging from the expression on their faces. The National Mall in front of the Capitol Hill was packed Friday morning with these jubilant Trump supporters. They cheered loudly when former US president George W. Bush, a Republican, and his wife Laura appeared on the screen. Some shouted "Lock Her Up" when former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary were announced to arrive at the inauguration platform. They booed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also a Democrat, when he delivered his speech at the inauguration, with message directing at Trump's policy rhetoric. It was certainly a day of the impossible could become impossible in the US. The New York real estate billionaire was not taken seriously in May 2015 when he announced his campaign is now the US president leader of the most powerful nation on the planet. However, outside the checkpoints to the National Mall were angry anti-Trump protesters who wanted to disrupt the inauguration. Some organizations had a daily protest days since days ago. In one violent protest erupted just blocks from the inauguration parade, a limousine was set on fire and police had to use teargas to disburse the crowds. A total of 217 people were arrested. The scene the next morning came as a bigger surprise. I could not even get on the Red Line at the Woodley Park station after seeing three trains passing by. This time the cars were filled with people, many wearing the so-called Pussycat Hat and carrying demonstration signs in their hands. It was a day of Women's March on Washington. The crowd is so huge that I've never seen a larger demonstration like this since I moved here four years ago. An estimated half a million people took part in the demonstration, more than the people at Trump's inauguration on Friday. They are literally all anti-Trump people, and many supporters for Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, another Democratic candidate in the 2016 race. The enormous and enthusiastic crowd demanded women's rights, but also expressed deep concern over Trump's policy on immigration and environment. There is no doubt that Americans are deeply divided on some fundamental issues. The CNN/ORC poll from Jan 12-15 showed that 53 percent of Americans view Trump unfavorably while only 44 percent have a favorable opinion of the incoming president. A Fox News poll from Jan 15-18 also showed an unfavorable view of 55 percent compared with the favorable opinion of 42 percent. A Pew Center survey released on Thursday shows that most Americans expect the nation's political divide to persist. A total of 86 percent describe the country as more politically divided today than in the past, while just 12 percent say the country is no more divided. While some believe that the nation might become more united after the Republicans control the White House and both chambers of the Congress, the crowds on the inauguration day and the women's march clearly suggest otherwise. Vehicles powered by hydrogenthe world's most abundant elementhave moved of the pages of science fiction novels and into the real world in recent years and China and the UK are driving forward with efforts to make the technology mainstream. A hydrogen cylinder is bolted into the engine of a van to the right of the exhaust pipe. In collaboration with the University of Liverpool and Huazhong University's Wuhan New Energy Institute, Liverpool-based technology firm ULEMCo will lead a project that aims to facilitate the mass production of hydrogen-fueled vehicles in China, as the country looks to curb carbon emissions. The project will focus primarily on the application of hydrogen technology for commercial vehicles. While the market for passenger cars that run on electricity is growing rapidly, power-intensive heavy-duty vehicles remain some of the worst carbon emitters. ULEMCo specializes in low-emission technology, and has developed a compression engine that mixes diesel and hydrogen, slashing emissions in vans and heavy-duty vehicles by up to 70 percent. "China is embarking on radical investment in hydrogen infrastructure," ULEMCo Managing Director Amanda Lyne told China Daily. "And it goes hand-in-hand with electric, they are both part of the solution. China gets where hydrogen can fit into the system." Last September, the Chinese government signed a deal with Tongji University and the China University of Geosciences to set up a joint $30 million fund for investment in hydrogen-fueled vehicle technology. The project will run for two years, with 2 million pounds ($2.5 million) of funding coming from Innovate UK and the Government Newton Fund. The fund invests specifically in cross-country science and technology partnerships. One of the main advantages of ULEMCo's engines is they can run solely off diesel if hydrogen is unavailable. The project will look into the development of a refueling infrastructure in China and the generation of hydrogen through processes that use locally sourced renewable energy. "It's a fabulous opportunity for us as an SME," said Lyne. "We have an ambition to have a market in China and we also recognize the opportunity for China. It's a win-win." Lyne said the aim is for fuel to be made out of local renewables. "Some might make it from solar, some wind or another. The cost of making that energy is not going to be dependent on global markets for the hydrocarbons that we all rely on. We will become more resilient, more secure." Durban, South Africa - Ten exceptional community-based organizations have won the 2016 Red Ribbon Award for their inspiring work towards ending or reducing the impact of the AIDS epidemic. They were presented with the prize in a special session at the 21st International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016) in Durban, South Africa. "Across regions and cultures, communities are showing the world that ending AIDS is possible. Their courage, innovation and leadership is helping us overcome barriers and better respond to the needs of those most affected by the epidemic," said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe. The 2016 winning organizations are from Burundi, Mexico, Belize, Kenya, Nigeria, Iran, Nepal, Chile, and New Zealand. Almost 1,000 nominations were received from more than 120 countries, for the Award, which is hosted by UNAIDS in partnership with AIDS 2016, the Global Network of People Living with HIV, the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations and Irish Aid. A global panel of civil society representatives selected the finalists from a shortlist determined by regional panels. Each of the winning organizations will receive a $10,000 grant and have been invited to participate in AIDS 2016, where they organize the Community Dialogue Space in the Global Village. At the Red Ribbon Award special session, the winners were congratulated by Her Royal Highness, Princess Mabel van Oranje of the Netherlands; Her Royal Highness, Princess Tessy of Luxembourg; Minister of Health and Child Welfare of Zimbabwe, David Parirenyatwa; Former President of Fiji H.E. Epeli Nailatikau, and Jan Beagle, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS. "Community-based organizations are taking the lead in shaping the course of the AIDS response. The organizations here today - recipients of the 2016 Red Ribbon Award - are examples to us all of what it truly means to fast track the AIDS response, and to do so in a way which is inclusive, and that advances human rights and gender equality", Jan Beagle, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS The Red Ribbon Award was first presented in 2006 and since then has been awarded every two years at the International AIDS Conference. China has agreed to cooperate on $3.7 billion-worth of projects in the Philippines, the bulk of which involve building new infrastructure. The deal was confirmed after a high-level meeting between ministers from China and the Philippines in Beijing on Monday, with the first batch of projects aiming to reduce poverty. China's minister of commerce Gao Hucheng said they were waiting for the banks to process the paperwork with more details about the projects to be revealed later. Philippines finance secretary Carlos Dominguez said 38 large and small projects had been planned. In addition to the small-scale projects, Dominguez said the Philippines were also looking at implementing large infrastructure projects in the rural areas particularly in irrigation, logistics, bridges and roads to connect our different communities with the major markets". Dominguez said the meeting was a very productive, first step towards achieving the desires of both sides. Bilateral trade volume between China and the Philippines reached $47.2 billion in 2016, up 3.3 percent from the previous year. Chinese direct non-financial investment in the Philippines increased by 63 percent compared to last year to $29.98 million in the first 11 months of 2016. There is huge economic and trade potential between China and the Philippines, Vice-Premier Wang Yang told a visiting delegation led by Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez on Monday. In a three-day trip to China, Dominguez led a high-level delegation including ministerial officials responsible for economic planning, telecommunication, financing and public projects. During talks with minister of commerce Gao Hucheng, the two sides agreed to resume the China-Philippines Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation, a major two-way consultation platform that came to a halt when ties became strained in 2012. The Vice-Premier said the two countries should tap into the bilateral commission. Wang said the neighboring countries should gear up efforts on bilateral economic and trade cooperation and press ahead with priority projects. China is now the second largest trading partner of the Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte paid a state visit to China last October. Wang said both sides should fully implement the consensus reached by the leaders. US President Donald Trump hosts a meeting with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on January 23. From left are Corning CEO Wendell Weeks, Trump, Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky and Dell CEO Michael Dell. [Photo/Agencies] Opening his first official week in office, President Donald Trump warned business leaders Monday that he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States, while promising tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a morning meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. The president also planned to sign multiple executive orders in the Oval Office. Trump had pledged to quickly use his executive authority to withdraw the US from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration. He's also expected to sign an order implementing a federal government hiring freeze. Conservatives are also eager for Trump to sign an order reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the "Mexico City Policy" or, by critics, the "global gag rule," has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he's aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. "Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," Trump said Monday. The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25 percent." He also called for cutting 75 percent of regulations, though he insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Trump's outreach effort comes after a tumultuous first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead but declared he believed they were ready. "But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done," he said. "We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history."Trump said his staff was in the White House not to "help ourselves" but to "devote ourselves to the national good.""This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. It's about serving the American people," he said. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests, first sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending the right to demonstrate a short time later. "Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly," Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views," the president tweeted, still using his personal account. Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a "common vision" with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that he's set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Later in the week, he'll address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. Julie Pace, Jonathan Lemire and Lisa Lerer contributed to this report. News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Ignatius Chombo told a youth league national executive meeting that youths should fully utilise social media in pushing the party's ideologies ahead of the 2018 national polls.Chombo acknowledged that Zanu-PF geriatrics have found it difficult to cope with information technology trends despite the Government adopting e-governance as part of its policy.He also called on the Youth league to come up with a budget for the next 18 months leading to the elections.Youth League chairman Kudzai Chipanga also said that the youth were not shaken by reports speaking ill of their choice of venue for the Feb 21 movement celebrations. He said this was part of their efforts to promote domestic tourism. Official: Trump expected to respect one-China principle China called on the new US administration to stick to the one-China principle and strictly limit its relationship with Taiwan to the nonofficial level, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday. She made the remarks at a regular news conference when asked about China's expectations of the government led by Donald Trump, who was inaugurated as president on Friday. President Xi Jinping sent Trump a congratulatory message. Every US administration should follow the commitment made by both the Republicans and Democrats to stick to the one-China policy, she said, adding that it is the foundation for the Sino-US relationship. China established channels to maintain communications with Trump's team after he won the election, she said. In a 1978 joint communique, the US said that it recognized the one-China policy that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China, and the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing China. In his inaugural speech, Trump did not mention China directly. Last month, however, he challenged the one-China principle by answering a congratulatory call from Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen. China and the United States should respect each other's core interests and handle disputes in a proper manner, Hua said, adding that China's stance on its sovereignty issues is clear. She called on both sides to deal with economic and trade frictions prudently since "trade war and confrontation will result in no winners". Teng Jianqun, a senior researcher in US studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said the Foreign Ministry's remarks constitute a message to the new US president that China's core interests should not be challenged. "Washington should keep the promises it made and abide by established policies," he said. Beijing also expressed its hope of maintaining the current stability in the China-US relationship under the Trump administration, he added. Fu Mengzi, a Sino-US relations researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the "America first" policy espoused by Trump cannot be accomplished without the assistance of other countries, including China. "All countries are closely connected within the context of globalization. Every single country that wants to develop, change or prosper will need help from other countries," he said. Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn News / National by Staff reporter ZIMBABWE People First (ZimPF) leader, Joice Mujuru had a baptism of fire at the weekend when her Bikita West parliamentary candidate, Kudakwashe Gopo, was hammered by Zanu-PF's Beauty Chabaya in an election where some of her lieutenants blamed factionalism for the opposition party's poor showing.Zanu-PF retained the Bikita West parliamentary seat with its candidate, Chabaya, polling 13 156 votes against Gopo's paltry 2 453 votes.The result will come at a cost to Mujuru, who had been seen as the biggest threat to President Robert Mugabe's continued stay in office.The defeat, which came at a time Mujuru is negotiating a possible coalition with Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party, punched a big hole in her bargaining powers, as she would have wanted to use her Bikita West victory as a trump card in the coalition talks.Leaked WhatsApp chats from senior ZimPF officials indicate that some party members were now blaming Mujuru for railroading them into the election without adequate preparations.They also accused her of failing to rein in some of her top leaders in Masvingo, who were said to be clandestinely backing independent candidate and former Bikita West MP, Heya Shoko, thus, splitting votes.Shoko is ZimPF Masvingo provincial secretary for education.The chats warn of possible implosion in ZimPF in the province, with a domino effect on the party's national structures, classifying the extent of the problems as the biggest ever to be encountered by Mugabe's former deputy since the formation of ZimPF in 2015.Sources told NewsDay problems started when provincial co-ordinator, Claudius Makova allegedly imposed Gopo as the ZimPF candidate for the by-election.Makova, the source said, was banking on the support of a Zanu-PF faction, Team Lacoste, loyal to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa that was unhappy with Chabaya, whom they claimed was imposed by Bikita South MP, Jeppy Jaboon, who is aligned to the rival G40 faction.Efforts by the Masvingo ZimPF provincial executive to force Mujuru to withdraw from the by-election failed to materialise, forcing her to join in the campaign at the last minute just to save the party's image.This saw some party members supporting Shoko, who, however, polled a measly 76 votes.The claims were confirmed by WhatsApp exchanges among ZimPF top officials that painted a gloomy picture of the state of affairs in the party, with some expressing dismay at the party's chocked internal democratic system."Upon realising the danger and the negativity of it all, some of us took a decision to engage them, with[out] meaningful success, but failed to convince others. About two weeks later, and two days before nominations for Bikita West by-elections, Gopo was declared ZimPF candidate by Makova and endorsed by [the] main wing's national elections committee chairman [Kudakwashe] Bhasikiti," the leaked chats reveal."This angered many people, who charged that ZimPF is a Zanu-PF project, whose positions are a special preserve for former Zanu-PF activists. I here (sic), other than [Dzikamai] Mavhaire, Masvingo province leadership and membership in general has boycotted Bikita West campaign and totally distanced themselves from everything to do with Makova, Bhasikiti, Madzivire and Gopo."The chat added: "A disaster isn't it? If the party leadership is not going to move in with speed to intervene, we are bound to witness a total disintegration of ZimPF in Masvingo province."Another member chipped in saying: "Allow me to correctly advise the ZimPF leadership, the Masvingo crisis is yet to become the worst since the formation of ZimPF to date. Almost everyone seem[s] to deny our leadership of the reality on the obtaining political environment in Masvingo."This is a mirror hidden away from the president and the rest of the progressive leadership. It is worthy the executive leadership's attention much earlier than people can go for their Christmas. We should not watch helplessly while the problem escalates."Contacted for comment yesterday, ZimPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire professed ignorance over the alleged infighting."I don't know of anything like that. Gopo's participation was a party decision. That is the official position. We lost together as a party," he said.Gopo said he begrudgingly accepted the results, though the by-election was not free and fair."The election was not free and fair, we had a lot of issues that we had raised that needed to be addressed before the polls, but we did not get any recourse," he said.Poll monitors expressed concern over the high number of assisted voters, who had been allegedly told to feign illiteracy by Zanu-PF activists. They also reported isolated cases of voter intimidation.Election monitoring groups claim there was massive intimidation, vote-buying and violence leading to the by-election. (Photo : https://pixabay.com/en/the-chinese-national-flag-flag-china-1752046/) China is preparing for a possible trade war with the US. Advertisement China is gearing to retaliate if its trade ties with the United States takes a turn for the worse. US President Donald Trump has maintained his anti-China diatribe. China has taken a firm stand against Trump's rhetoric, which have touched upon subjects ranging from Taiwan sovereignty to currency manipulation. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China has expressed its keenness to collaborate with the new US government. China said that both countries can work together to resolve their trade issues. China's Commerce Ministry Sun Jiwen said that the country will work towards creating healthy ties with the United States. "Both sides benefit with cooperation, and both are hurt with conflict." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying echoed the similar sentiments, "We look forward to working hard with the new U.S. government, adhering to no clashes and no confrontation," Sun told reporters. However, the country is also ready to take a tough stance if the situation requires it. Chen Wenling, chief economist at the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, an influential think tank with close government ties, said that China will "will fight to the end." A report released by Eurasia Group earlier this week suggested that China may target sectors which are deemed important to Trump's administration. The report suggested that China may seek alternative suppliers in places such as Latin America and Europe. China has increased punitive tariff on some products imported from the US including a substance called distillers' dried grains (DDGS). China accounts for nearly 50 percent export of DDGS from the United States. Advertisement Tagschina, donald trump, trade policies (Photo : https://pixabay.com/en/20-yuan-renminbi-a-fan-yuan-%C2%A5-1529728/) China has given temporary relief to five of its major banks as the authorities announced cut in its cash reserve ratio. Advertisement China has given temporary relief to five of its major banks as authorities announced a cut in their required cash reserve ratio. The lower ratio will allow the banks to employ more of their resources as they are not required to keep a high cash reserve. The People's Bank of China announced that it had shaved the reserve requirement ratio by one percentage point. The required ratio to be retained by the bank is now 16 percent. The step was taken to improve money supply during the Lunar New Year holiday period. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement It is expected that the central bank will revert the ratio to the normal level after the holiday period. "This is a temporary adjustment, and is mainly in response to the cash withdrawal, tax payment, and reserve payment," a source told Reuters. The People's Bank of China also said that the new lending arrangement would involve nearly 2.55 percent cost, which is in line with the open market operations. In this regard, the latest measure is somewhat different from traditional cuts in reserve ratio. According to Ming Ming, head of fixed-income research at Citic Securities Co. in Beijing, commercial banks in China are believed to have $1.6 trillion worth of sovereign and financial bonds outstanding as of December. However, the central bank did not say anything about the requirement or collaterals for temporary funding. The five banks covered under the scheme are the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd, China Construction Bank Corp, Bank of China, Bank of Communications Co., and the Agricultural Bank of China. Advertisement TagsThe People's Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd, Bank of Communications Co (Photo : Getty Images) A high-level Philippine business delegation will fly to China to discuss the economic agreements signed by both countries during Duterte's official state visit to Beijing last year Advertisement A group of high-level Philippine officials are set to meet high-ranking Chinese authorities this week in Beijing to iron out the final details of $15 billion worth of investment and economic deals that President Rodrigo Duterte inked with the Asian giant during his first official state visit to China last year. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement A statement released by the Philippine finance department on Sunday said that the trip by the Philippine delegation, scheduled for between January 23-25, will include Duterte's secretaries for finance, transport, public works, budget, and economic trade. At this week's meeting, Chinese and Philippine officials will hammer out the $15 billion worth of investment pledges Duterte took home from his visit to China last month. Economic Package The $15 billion economic package that China pledged to the Philippines was part of $24 billion worth of investment that Beijing committed to Manila during Duterte's visit in October last year. According to the Philippine finance ministry, the deals which were signed by the two nations include an agreement for Beijing to provide Manila with a 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) grant to help Duterte's ongoing war on drugs and to improve law enforcement. Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said a Memorandum of Agreement was also signed between the two sides in which China will provide financial support to the Philippines' major projects in the infrastructure and agricultural sectors. Soft Loans Officials from the Philippine delegation will meet with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, National Development and Reform Commission head Xu Shaoshi, and other finance executives to discuss the investment deals and economic cooperation. Apart from the $15 billion investment and economic package President Xi Jinping committed to Manila, China also pledged $9 billion worth of soft loans. Duterte has made a pivot to China after assuming the presidency in June and has declared his disdain for the US, threatening Washington that he would be taking the country's businesses somewhere else, possibly China. Meanwhile, Philippine authorities said Duterte is set to visit Beijing again in May to attend a multilateral summit. Advertisement Tagseconomic package, soft loans, Philippines, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Chinese President Xi jinping, chinese investment, 100 million yuan, $15 billion investment, $9 billion soft loans, $24 billion investment (Photo : Getty Images. ) China's population of new born babies reached to 17.86 million in 2016, a healthy jump of 1.4 million compared to the 2011-2015 average. Advertisement China's two-child policy has brought a much-needed relief to policymakers as it helped to bolster country's population last year. The two-child policy, which replaced the controversial one-child policy, was introduced in 2013 as a solution for China's aging population. China's population of new born babies reached to 17.86 million in 2016, a healthy jump of 1.4 million compared to the 2011-2015 average, according to Yang Wenzhuang, a division director at the National Health and Family Planning Commission. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "While the total number of women of childbearing age fell by 5 million, the number of births increased significantly, showing that the family planning policy adjustments were extremely timely and extremely effective," Yang told reporters. Yang said the government is hopeful that it will manage to keep birth rates at around 17-20 million in the coming years. Health authorities have little doubt that the recent surge in population growth is due to the universal two-child policy, which was officially implemented across China in 2016. The policy is seen as a desperate measure to fix the incremental problem of the country's population. China has more aging people in its population than most other emerging nations. Analysts and government officials have expressed concerns that an aging population may not be able to bear the burden of China's fast-growing economy, which could potentially derail the country's economic growth rate in the long run. China's aging population is mostly believed to be the result of its controversial one-child policy, which was introduced in the 1980s to curb the explosive growth of the country's population. At the time, the government was worried that its rapidly increasing population might put enormous stress on the country's economic resources. Today, more than 1.3 billion people reside in China, and the country is still officially considered as the world's most populated nation. Advertisement TagsChina Two-Child Polic, china population, China Aging Workforce, china News / National by Staff reporter United Kingdom-based politics expert, Stephen Chan, says Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is steaming ahead in the nasty Zanu-PF race to succeed President Robert Mugabe.The respected professor of international relations at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies told the Daily News yesterday that Mnangagwa was charging ahead because the Zanu-PF group which is rabidly opposed to him succeeding Mugabe, the Generation 40 (G40) faction, had no candidate within its ranks to rival him.The G40, and Mnangagwa allies, Team Lacoste, have been fighting hammer and tongs over the past two years, over who will succeed Mugabe, who turns a mature 93 next month.Chan said because Mnangagwa was in pole position at the moment, he was attracting significant international attention as the most likely candidate to succeed Mugabe."As long as those who oppose Mnangagwa cannot identify and rally around a candidate, he will be the one who attracts international attention."All major players, from the Europeans to the Chinese, have dossiers on Mnangagwa, and outline strategies on how to approach dealing with him."This is impossible when it comes to the opposing faction (G40). In international terms, therefore, Mnangagwa is ahead by default," Chan told the Daily News.Mnangagwa has been under the cosh in recent days for hosting sacked Zanu-PF officials at his rural home during the festive season, with his party foes alleging that this was in fact a meeting organised to plot the ouster of Mugabe from power.Since the images of him holding a coffee mug inscribed with the words "I Am the Boss" emerged in the public domain, Mnangagwa's foes have also gone to town about the issue, interpreting it as his open statement that he has unbridled presidential ambitions.But Chan said he saw nothing wrong with Mnangagwa drinking from such a cup."This was stupid (the furore over the coffee mug). I myself had a coffee mug with the same words on it. It's just a personal joke to drink out of such a mug first thing in the morning when the world looks impossible."If people are quarrelling about this, it makes policy outlooks even more remote. If the mug had the words, I will print money' on it, then there would at least have been a debate on fiscal policy," he quipped.Since the "Cupgate" saga, Mnangagwa's allies, particularly a large cross-section of war veterans, have escalated their loud calls for Mugabe to retire and pave the way for his long time aide to take over the reins at both party and government levels.Expelled former Mashonaland Central youth chairperson, Godfrey Tsenengamu, recently joined this growing chorus by Team Lacoste to have Mnangagwa succeed Mugabe.Former Cabinet minister and war veterans' leader, Christopher Mutsvangwa, together with his executive, have also stepped up their efforts to force Mugabe to step down, accusing the increasingly frail nonagenarian of being at the centre of the country's rot.Businessman-cum-politician, and an avowed Mnangagwa loyalist, Energy Mutodi, has also vented along similar lines, imploring Zanu-PF to hold an extraordinary congress to choose Mugabe's successor.He claimed that Mugabe had become so unpopular in Zanu-PF that "99 percent" of the party's members now wanted him to resign before the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, as there was allegedly no way that the nonagenarian could win elections against popular opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.And like Tsenengamu, Mutodi and Mutsvangwa, former Zanu-PF chairperson for Mashonaland West province, Temba Mliswa, has also recently suggested that Mugabe should hand over power to Mnangagwa, as the ruling party's deadly tribal, factional and succession wars burn ever hotter.Mugabe has studiously refused to name a successor, arguing that his party should rather follow what he sees as a more democratic process, to manage his succession via a congress. (Photo : Getty Images) China and Philippines have agreed to create 30 projects worth $3.7 billion to fight poverty. Advertisement China will be working with the Philippines on 30 projects worth $3.7 billion that aim to alleviate poverty, the two countries announced following a meeting in Beijing on Monday. "China supports president Duterte to lead the Philippines people in developing their economy," Hua Chunying, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, said on Monday. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Carlos Dominguez, the Philippine's Finance Secretary, described the meeting as "very productive" and revealed that both countries also discussed on bigger initiatives in rural areas as well as smaller projects. The initial batch still needs to be finalize and paperwork still need to be passed to the banks involved, Gao Hucheng, Chinese Commerce Minister, said without providing further details. The recent deal is the first announcement made from the visit of a Philippine cabinet delegation to China, three months after President Rodrigo Duterte came to Beijing to form new commercial alliances with the second biggest economy in the world. It can be recalled that Duterte pivoted the country's foreign policy, turning its back from its long-time ally the United States towards doing more regional agreements for loans and business to cater his "pro-Filipino" policy. The Philippine delegation#mce_temp_url# for this trip includes Duterte's fiance, budget, economic, public works, and transport secretaries, the ABS-CBN News reported. Both parties are also poised to tackled the Philippine's chairmanship of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference this year. Meanwhile, Perfecto Yasay, the secretary of foreign affairs in the Philippines, has earlier expressed his confidence that a code of conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China could be finalized later this year. Advertisement Tagschina, Philippines, Duterte, ASEAN (Photo : ROC) Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen during a visit to her troops. Advertisement The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) from Jan. 23-27 will hold complex table-top military exercises aimed at defeating a massive amphibious invasion of the Republic of China (Taiwan) by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) across the Taiwan Strait. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The simulation will determine how best JSDF and USFJ can assist Taiwan defeat a Chinese invasion across the 180 kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait. Taiwan published a report in 2015 saying China plans to attack Taiwan before 2020. Japan's Ministry of Defense said the military exercise is based on a scenario in which the JSDF and USFJ jointly deal with PLA forces in the event of an invasion of Taiwan. The United States is obligated by several treaties extending back to the 1950s to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China. The ministry, however, said USFJ will participate as "an observer." As expected, China angrily criticized news of the joint simulated war exercise, saying it would seriously sabotage China-Japan relations, especially defense relations. Chinese military media quoted an unnamed high-ranking PLA officer saying that if the report of the exercise, "were true, it would be outright interference in China's internal affairs, a deliberate mischief in cross-Strait relations and a serious sabotage of the relations, especially the defense relations between China and Japan, China is firmly opposed to this. " "Past experience, if lessons from its past and stop playing tricks, otherwise it will suffer from the backfire in the end," he said. The same officer said Japan should earnestly reflect on its history of aggression and learn from it. Taiwan is currently upgrading the fighting ability of its armed forces to deter China. In August 2016, the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCAF) held its largest military exercise ever, simulating the defeat of a seaborne invasion and aerial assault on the island by Chinese infantry and Special Forces. ROC President Tsai Ing-wen, a vocal critic of China, presided over the fourth day of the multi-service maneuvers that saw live fire drills conducted at the Joint Operations Training Base Command at Pingtung County in southern Taiwan. The drills ended Aug. 26. The massive five-day exercise was the largest ever in the ROC's history and also included cyberattack and asymmetric warfare drills. It came at a time of increasingly strained relations with mainland China that keeps piling the pressure on Tsai to take a more pro-Beijing stance, and acknowledge there is only "One China." Advertisement TagsJapan Self-Defense Force, United States Forces Japan, Republic of China, Taiwan, People's Liberation Army, Taiwan Strait, Japan, China-Japan Dispute (Photo : Getty Images) Sea levels are rising because of climate change. Advertisement The public can be "inoculated" against misinformation, including the damaging influence of fake news websites propagating myths about climate change, by "vaccinating" them against this kind of false or misleading information. A new study compared reactions to a well-known climate change fact with those of a popular misinformation campaign. When presented consecutively, the false material completely cancelled out the accurate statement in people's minds. Opinions ended up back where they started. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Researchers then added a small dose of misinformation to the climate change fact in a kind of "vaccination." This "vaccination" helped shift and hold opinions closer to the truth despite the follow-up exposure to 'fake news'. The study on U.S. attitudes found the inoculation technique shifted the climate change opinions of Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike. Published in the journal Global Challenges, the study was conducted by researchers from the universities of Cambridge in the U.K. and Yale and George Mason in the U.S. It's one of the first on "inoculation theory" to try and replicate a scenario of conflicting information on a highly politicized subject. "Misinformation can be sticky, spreading and replicating like a virus," said lead author Dr. Sander van der Linden, a social psychologist from the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab. "We wanted to see if we could find a 'vaccine' by pre-emptively exposing people to a small amount of the type of misinformation they might experience. A warning that helps preserve the facts. "The idea is to provide a cognitive repertoire that helps build up resistance to misinformation, so the next time people come across it they are less susceptible." To find the most compelling climate change falsehood currently influencing public opinion, van der Linden and colleagues tested popular statements from the internet on a nationally representative sample of US citizens, with each one rated for familiarity and persuasiveness. The falsehood: the assertion there isn't a consensus among scientists about humans being the main cause of climate change. This is the position of the anti-climate change website, Oregon Global Warming Petition Project. This website claims to have a petition signed by "over 31,000 American scientists" stating there is no evidence that human CO2 release causes climate change. The study also used the accurate statement that "97% of scientists agree on man-made climate change." Prior work by van der Linden has shown this fact about scientific consensus is an effective gateway for public acceptance of climate change. In a disguised experiment, researchers tested the opposing statements on over 2,000 participants across the U.S. spectrum of age, education, gender and politics using the online platform Amazon Mechanical Turk. To gauge shifts in opinion, each participant was asked to estimate current levels of scientific agreement on climate change throughout the study. Those shown only the fact about climate change consensus (in pie chart form) reported a large increase in perceived scientific agreement -- an average of 20 percentage points. Those shown only misinformation (a screenshot of the Oregon petition website) dropped their belief in a scientific consensus by nine percentage points. Some participants were shown the accurate pie chart followed by the erroneous Oregon petition. The researchers were surprised to find the two neutralized each other (a tiny difference of 0.5 percentage points). "It's uncomfortable to think that misinformation is so potent in our society," said van der Linden. "A lot of people's attitudes toward climate change aren't very firm. They are aware there is a debate going on, but aren't necessarily sure what to believe. Conflicting messages can leave them feeling back at square one." Alongside the consensus fact, two groups in the study were randomly given "vaccines." A general inoculation consisted of a warning that "some politically-motivated groups use misleading tactics to try and convince the public that there is a lot of disagreement among scientists." A detailed inoculation debunks the Oregon petition by highlighting some of the signatories are fraudulent. Among the signatories were Charles Darwin and members of the Spice Girls. Less than 1% of signatories have backgrounds in climate science. The research team point out that tobacco and fossil fuel companies have used psychological inoculation in the past to sow seeds of doubt, and to undermine scientific consensus in the public consciousness. They say the latest study demonstrates that such techniques can be partially "reversed" to promote scientific consensus, and work in favor of the public good. "We found that inoculation messages were equally effective in shifting the opinions of Republicans, Independents and Democrats in a direction consistent with the conclusions of climate science," said van der Linden. "There will always be people completely resistant to change, but we tend to find there is room for most people to change their minds, even just a little." Advertisement Tagsmisinformation, fake news, inoculated, vaccine, vaccination, social psychologists, inoculation theory, Dr. Sander van der Linden Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will be going forward with plans to build hundreds more settlements in East Jerusalem. According to Christian Today, the area where the proposed settlements will be built is an area also claimed by the Palestinians. Although many Israelis were discouraged by the U.S.-Israeli relations under the Obama administration, and particularly the recent U.S. decision to refrain from voting on an important U.N. resolution regarding Israeli settlements, many are looking forward to greater U.S. support for Israel under the new administration of President Donald Trump. Netanyahu told senior ministers of his plans for the new settlements on Sunday. "There is no longer a need to coordinate construction in the Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, stated Netanyahu. "We can build where we want and as much as we want. My vision is to enact sovereignty over all the settlements. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with the newly-inaugurated Trump in early February in Washington D.C. A bill proposing Israels annexation of the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim will reportedly be postponed until after that meeting. Netanyahu spoke with Trump on Sunday and said the conversation was very warm. Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Publication date: January 23, 2017 I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up. | Image: ERLC / Flickr The ERLC's Russell Moore speaks at the 2016 March for Life. President Donald Trump has reinstated a ban on federal funds for organizations that perform or promote abortions overseas in one of what is expected to be a series of executive orders overturning current policies. Acting the day after the 44th anniversary of the US Supreme Courts legalization of abortion, Trump signed an order restoring what is known as the Mexico City Policy, which President Barack Obama had rescinded three days after he was inaugurated in 2009. The rulefirst implemented by President Reagan at a 1984 conference in Mexico Cityprohibits international family planning organizations from receiving federal funds unless they agree not to perform or counsel for abortions or lobby in order to liberalize the pro-life policies of foreign governments. Pro-life advocates applauded Trumps action. "This decision will save lives, will encourage the hundreds of thousands of men and women who will march on Washington this week [at the Jan. 27 March for Life] for the rights of unborn children, along with millions more around the country who believe that foreign aid should promote life, not end it," stated Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), in a written release. "This is a welcome step in the right direction, and my hope is that the president will continue to defend human dignity and hold the predatory abortion industry accountable," stated Moore. Restoration of the Mexico City Policy was one of his top legislative goals of 2017. Rep. Diane Black, R.-Tenn., said in a written statement, "With this compassionate executive order, President Trump has turned the page from a sad chapter in his predecessor's legacy and ... Goodnight kittens. Goodnight emails unwritten. Goodnight clocks. Goodnight inbox Goodnight worrying about weight loss. Goodnight demanding boss. Goodnight test for which I need to cram. Goodnight Instagram. So goes Goodnight Smartphone, a modern-day rewriting of the classic bedtime story Goodnight Moon. The invention of the light bulb has kept Americans awake at least one or two hours later, and now todays glowing devices are interrupting the six or seven hours of shuteye adults average each night. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control declared sleep deprivation a public health problem, with 30 percent of adults getting fewer than six hours of sleep a night. You can see it in their eyes. The dark circles of a mother who hasnt slept more than a few hours since baby was born, who squints and smiles through the fatigue that has become her new normal. The glassy eyes of a workaholic who isnt sure if she should be embarrassed or proud of her latest all-nighter. The heavy lids of the friend whose depression or chronic pain wont let her get a solid eight hours. Arianna Huffington, who narrates the new Goodnight Smartphone book, has dedicated her postHuffington Post life to getting the tired people of the world to go to sleep, rest, and take steps to prevent burnout. The author of The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time and founder of the new site Thrive has been labeled a sleep evangelistapt terminology given how much our zzzs impact our spiritual lives, particularly as women. Even as Americans trade sleep for digital distractions and rest for caffeine, researchers have discovered more than ever about the significance of sleep. Their findings ... 1 Promise Keeping: Trump Reinstates Mexico City Policy Defunding International Planned Parenthood Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info.operationrescue@gmail.com WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order reinstating the Reagan-era Mexico City Policy, which effectively defunds International Planned Parenthood and stops American tax dollars from funding organizations that conduct or promote abortions internationally. This reverses former Pres. Barack Obama's unpopular 2008 Executive Order that rescinded the Mexico City Policy and opened the doors for tax-funding of abortions overseas. "This is a welcome first step on Trump's first full business day in office. It shows us that he is serious about keeping the promises he made to protect innocent lives from abortion," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Today's executive action shows Trump is placing a high priority on protecting the pre-born." Other pledges Trump made during the 2016 presidential campaign included: Nominate a pro-life conservative to the U.S. Supreme Court. Appoint strong pro-life judges to the Federal Courts. Defund Planned Parenthood. Pass the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act banning abortions at 20 weeks and later. Repeal and replace Obamacare and the abortion mandate that forces the insured to pay for abortions and abortifacient drugs. Steps have already been taken to fulfill some of these promises. The Trump Administration has signed an Executive Order "minimizing the economic burden" of Obamacare until it can be repealed and replaced. This essentially halts enforcement of financial penalties for those who, as a matter of conscience, refuse to purchase health insurance that pays for abortions. Trump has also telegraphed that his nomination for the Supreme Court is imminent. "Today's reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy is encouraging," said Newman. "It is refreshing to see action instead of the lip service we have gotten from establishment politicians. We expect that Trump will continue to act quickly to keep all his pro-life promises." Read this press release at OperationRescue.org About Operation Rescue Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Click here to support Operation Rescue. home World Insurgents impose Sharia in some villages in Mali, human rights group warns A human rights organization has warned that Islamic extremists have imposed Sharia or Islamic law in several villages in Mali, threatening the villagers not to celebrate weddings or baptisms. In a report published on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that several Islamic terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), are committing human rights abuses in the central and northern regions of Mali. The organization stated that the Malian government has largely been unable to protect civilians in the region from the insurgents, who have increasingly imposed restrictions on village life and executed numerous people. "The human rights climate grew increasingly precarious over the past year, a result of execution-style killings and intimidation by Islamist armed groups, bloody intercommunal clashes, and surges in violent crime," Corinne Dufka, associate Africa director of HRW, said in a statement. "The government's failure to assert control and curtail security force abuses has added to the deteriorating situation," she added. HRW has interviewed over 70 victims of abuses and violence in Mali, including members of four different ethnic groups, U.N. officials, diplomats and people who have been detained by the government. The group stated that at least 27 people were executed by Islamic groups in 2016. Most of the victims were local government officials, security personnel, village chiefs and fighters from parties to the peace accord. Villagers have recounted how Islamic groups of up to 50 armed fighters, including teenage boys, occupied their villages for hours and threatened to kill anyone collaborating with French forces, the government of U.N. peacekeepers, according to the report. "Our traditional customs are no longer allowed because of the presence of jihadist fighters from our own villages. Our way of celebrating is now haram [forbidden]," said one villager, describing a wedding he attended in the Segou region in December. Another villager said that families were forced to hand over their children to the armed groups in central Mali. HRW has documented as many as 400 incidents of banditry in 2016. At least eight people were killed and over 30 were wounded by armed bandits, who routinely targets animal herders, traders and public vehicles. Victims have said that the crimes committed against them were rarely investigated by the government. "The authorities need to do much more to fulfill their responsibility to protect civilians in north and central Mali," Dufka said, adding, "After so many years of insecurity, civilians deserve to see more security dividends from the peace process." Mali has been ranked on the Open Doors World Watch List as the 32nd worst country to live in as a Christian. It jumped 12 spots from its previous rank last year when it placed 44th on the list. home World Women are the driving force behind the growth of church in Iran Women are leading the efforts in spreading the Gospel in Iran despite the risk of imprisonment and rejection by their families, according to a research conducted by the global charity Open Doors. The report titled "Women Rebuilding the Future of the Church" revealed that women in Iran are taking on the role of evangelists, house church leaders and Sunday school teachers. Under Iranian law, women do not have equal standing with men, but more women are actively involved in ministry in the country than in many Western nations, according to World Watch Monitor. Although conversion away from Islam is banned in Iran, it is estimated that there are around 800,000 believers in the country, many of whom came from Islamic backgrounds. Azada, a woman who runs a church, said that Iranian women who turn to Christ gain the confidence they never had before, and they find that they "are loved, they are wanted, and they can come to God just as they are, without any shame." "Many women risk imprisonment and torture by being active evangelists. And because God gives them the strength to take this risk, each day new people, men and women, get to know the love of Christ and get to know their true identity: beloved children of God," she added. Another convert named Shifa was inspired to launch an online church group after her cousin, who told her about Jesus, was imprisoned for her faith, leaving her with no one to answer her questions about the Bible. She no longer lives in Iran, but she can still connect with other Iranian converts through her online church. "What I didn't have then a pastoral care and someone to disciple me a I can give to them now. The Bible alone is not enough. To grow as a Christian you also need your fellow Christians to grow and to pray with," she explained. Iran is currently ranked on the Open Doors World Watch List as the eighth most dangerous country to live as a Christian. At least 193 Christians have been arrested or imprisoned for their faith in the country last year, according to the charity. One of the Christian women who were imprisoned for their faith was Maryam Naghash Zargaran. She has undertaken two hunger strikes to protest against the denial of her access to medical treatment for her long-standing health issues. She was granted temporarily leave, but she has been forced to return before her treatment could be completed. Her sentence was recently extended by six weeks to make up for the time she spent out of prison. News / National by Staff reporter THE 15-year-old boy, who reportedly stole money from his parents and went to stay with a suspected hooker he met in Harare's Avenues, initially wanted a 3some, a court heard.Speaking during her trial, Rumbidzai Gwangwawa told the court that the teenager wanted to take her and another hooker for a 3some before he decided to accompany her to her place of residence."When I first came across him, there was another woman who was hugely built."He also wanted her and he told us that he was prepared to pay so that he could engage in sex with us at once."We later agreed and he paid US$10 before we went to engage in sex."He never lasted for long."The complainant then told me that he was prepared to add another US$4 so that we could spend the night together."I then asked him if he was prepared to go with me to my place and he agreed."He then hired a taxi and we went to Tiperary's Night Club where he was taking some alcohol."The complainant also hired another cab and we went to my place in Msasa Park," she said.Rumbidzai told magistrate Tildah Mazhande that she had sex with the teenage boy the whole night.She also told the court that the teenager had a fight with her ex-husband after they clashed at her place of residence on another day."On December 12 my ex-husband came to my place with intention to see our child."The complainant also arrived some 30 minutes later and he clashed with my ex-husband."They had a fight which saw the complainant rushing to Hatfield police station."At the police station he said he was 19 years old when the statement was being recorded."He also said that he was studying at a university in Australia," he said.Rumbidzai also accused the teenager's father of taking her US$400 and gas stove.Accusations she is facing are that on December 16 at around 11pm the 15-year-old met with Rumbidzai whilst she was soliciting for sex in Harare's Avenues Area.Reports are that the two hooked up and agreed to engage in sex at Rumbidzai's place.The two later agreed to stay together.It is said that the boy was found after some days of staying with the suspected hooker.Moleen Murozvi prosecuted. Archbishop Of Canterbury In Bid To Save Iraqi Christian From Deportation The Archbishop of Canterbury has intervened in an attempt to save a Christian asylum seeker from being sent back to Iraq. Both Justin Welby and one of his advisers have written separately to the Home Office pleading that the man not be returned to the country of his birth. The man, a Syriac Orthodox Christian who fled to Britain to escape the deadly ravages of Islamic State, had his claim for asylum rejected, aong with two appeals. His bid to appeal for a third time has been backed by Mark Poulson, interfaith adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who wrote to the Home Office last week "unequivocally endorsing" the asylum seeker. Poulson wrote: "We have been extremely impressed with his...willingness to spend time helping others whilst his own situation is so distressing." In an earlier letter from Welby, dated last September and reported by The Guardian, the Archbishop said he had "been impressed with his positive attitude, integrity, and the quality of his work". He added he described him as clearly "someone who wishes to contribute to society... He is someone who would be a great asset to the United Kingdom. I strongly endorse [his] desire to seek asylum in the UK." The asylum seeker told The Guardian that he and his family were among more than 100,000 Christians and Yazidis who fled Mosul in 2014 after Islamic State took control. They lived in a church basement in Irbil for a year. He arrived in Britain on a student visa and applied for asylum when it expired in May 2015. Judge Clive Lane, who dismissed the second appeal in October, decided the asylum seeker could return to his family in Irbil who appeared to "live in safety" there. The man's solicitor, Susan Liew, in seeking permission to appeal against Lane's ruling, said it was "erroneous, perverse and irrational" to believe he could be relocated back there as the family is still in the church basement, according to The Guardian. The man told The Guardian: "I feel safe in Britain. I can't go back to Kurdistan, it's a different government, it's not our country. They don't deal with us like people from the same place. It's a different language." He said he did not speak Kurdish and his degree would not be recognised in Kurdistan. Billy Graham on Why Sexual Activity Outside Marriage Is a Sin A 16-year-old newspaper reader wrote Billy Graham a letter, asking him why he shouldn't follow his friends who are sexually active and having a good time. "You'll probably tell me that God wants me to say no, but doesn't he want us to enjoy life?" the young man asked. The world-renowned evangelist replied, saying that God truly wants His children to enjoy life, and this is precisely why He placed "fences" or boundaries around their sexuality. "He knows that without them, we'll end up harming not only ourselves but also those around us, sometimes in very serious ways. The Bible says, 'Flee from sexual immorality. Honour God with your bodies' (1 Corinthians 6:18, 20)," Graham wrote for The Kansas City Star. One important reason why God commands Christians to avoid sexual impurity is because He knows the dangers people face when they fall into immorality. Some of these dangers are physical, such as unexpected pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases. But other dangers are of the emotional and spiritual kind people might face guilt, conflict, and even depression. "Never forget: God gave us the gift of our sexuality, and He meant for it to be a joyous expression of love between a husband and wife," he said. "When practiced outside of marriage, however, sex becomes selfish and even manipulative the opposite of true, self-giving love." Graham understands that the pressures people face in today's society are great. Temptation is lurking at every corner, and Christians are jeered at every time they choose to uphold their values. However, he reminded Christians that God has something far greater in store for their lives if they follow His will. For those who have committed to abstain from sex before marriage, Graham has an encouraging advice for them: "You are facing one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and I pray you won't choose the wrong path. But you're facing an even greater decision, and that is who will be the Lord of your life. By a simple prayer of faith commit your life to Jesus Christ, and make it your goal to follow Him. He loves you, and His way is always best." Christians Air Views on Trump Presidency: 'It's Miraculous That God Can Use a Very Secular Man to Help Christians' Some comments on the rise of Donald Trump as U.S. president stand out. The Christian Post spoke with several Christians who travelled to Washington, D.C. to join a crowd of about 800,000 people on the National Mall to witness Trump's inauguration on Friday. Many of them sounded optimistic on the new administration and what they hope to see in the next four years. Joe Waasdorp from Maryland said he considers Trump's rise to power as miraculous. "I do think it is miraculous that God can use a man that is viewed as very secular ... to help us as Christians to be able to have a platform, to once again have our views be noticed as being important," he said, adding that he doesn't even consider himself to be "a super Trump supporter." Joe's wife Kelly said she was "not on the Trump train" from the beginning but ended up supporting him. Asked why, she answered, "I'm hopeful [now], which I couldn't say before." Kelly Barmoy, 51, also from Maryland and who worships at an Assemblies of God church, also said she is "full of hope." "I have hope for the Supreme Court. I have hope for jobs, for our religious liberties. So much hope for today. The last eight years have been difficult, to say the least," she said. Her husband Paul Barmoy, 53, agreed. "I'm very pleased that our core values are going to be represented with this next president. Our core values have sort of fallen by the wayside," he said. However, he said Trump cannot succeed without the support of the people. "I think the issue in the United States is not so much who is president, but it's the people, the hearts of the people," Barmoy said. "The country is not going to turn around until the hearts of the people turn around. So I don't think Donald Trump is the saviour of the United States. I think we're in a testing period. I'm not convinced that everything is going to be wonderful now." Not all Christians are applauding Trump. Chrissi Steiner, 34, a missionary also from Maryland and who just arrived from China where she spent her last four years, said Trump could spell trouble in terms of U.S. foreign policy. "I feel like he's not very knowledgeable about history, our allies versus things that could cause trouble," Steiner said. She hopes that Trump would stop writing off-the-cuff remarks on Twitter, saying that "every word out of the president's mouth means something." "I hope [Trump] can bring everybody together but I don't know that that's possible," she said. Churches Demolished In One Of Nigeria's Sharia States Persecution of Christians in Nigeria's northern states appears to be on the rise again with reports that churches are being demolished in the state capital of Jigawa, according to World Watch Monitor. Nigeria is currently at number 12 on Open Doors World Watch list of Christian persecution. Twelve states including Jigawa have instituted Sharia law. The Redeem Christian Church of God and the Lord Chosen Church in the capital Dutse are the latest to have been bulldozed, Civic authorites said they were demolished because they had not been registered. Rev Yakubu Musa, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Jigawa, said that during the demolition, police blocked church doors to stop members entering, and chased off any they saw trying to take photographs. Musa said: "It was a terrible experience, with so many Christians who witnessed the demolition crying. I felt so bitter because we were in a situation where you have been cheated and you cannot talk." He said there had been no notice of demolition. He also insisted the leaders of both churches had applied for the necessary permits to exist, but had been refused. "They just came in unexpectedly and they demolished everything. Nobody was allowed to remove any valuables in the church buildings and other nearby properties," said Musa. Both churches had applied for official registration documents, he said, but the government had refused to grant them. In all, more than 30 churches in the state are in the same situation, having applied for but been refused registration documents. Neither church was new. The Lord Chosen Church was 17 years old and the Redeem Christian Church of God had been there for eight years. Musa added: "I was very angry because there were two mosques in that same place, but none of these mosques were demolished. There is also another building belonging to a Muslim person, which was marked for demolition, but they only concentrated on the church buildings because we are not many and we don't have anyone in the government to speak for us." Six more churches have been earmarked for demolition by authorities in the same state, according to World Watch Monitor. These are the Deeper Life Bible Church, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Ministry, the Methodist church, the Presbyterian church, the Redeem Church II and the Baptist church. Churches in Jigawa are experiencing strong growth. The congregations of the bulldozed churches have no plans to give up or go elsewhere. From now on, they will worship in the open air. Churches Urged To Adopt Refugee Family As Home Office Struggles To Meet 20,000 Target "Go and do something" was the Salvation Army founder's motto and is the message to UK churches over support for refugees fleeing persecution in the Middle East. Parishes across Britain are being urged to adopt a Syrian refugee family under the government's community sponsorship scheme after it emerged just two families had been welcomed under the programme. Home secretary Amber Rudd launched the scheme six months ago and it means churches can register to support a refugee family by providing housing, education and ensuring they are integrated into the local community. The initiative is meant to support the Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme which aims to bring 20,000 refugees from the Middle East to the UK by 2020. But so far just two families have come into the UK under the system and one was taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury. "I want to encourage more groups to sign up and join this movement," Rudd said in a social media post last week. "Community Sponsorship is about bringing communities together to welcome families in need." Home Secretary @AmberRudd_MP calls for more local community groups to join scheme supporting vulnerable refugees fleeing conflict pic.twitter.com/jTyegAHXvF Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) January 19, 2017 Church Response For Refugees coordinates churches wanting to sign up. Executive director Tania Bright said: "I have no doubt, therefore, that Community Sponsorship has the potential to be the defining channel through which UK churches can be salt and light to Syrian refugee families arriving in their local communities." Does The White House Need A Chaplain Now More Than Ever? A prominent Southern Baptist pastor is calling for a chaplain to be appointed to the White House, just as the Senate and House of Representatives both have chaplains already. Wiley Drake, who heads the Congressional Prayer Conference, said in a press notice that the conference's efforts to ask President Donald Trump to establish an office of Chaplain of the White House will begin today. "We have an office for Chaplain of the US Senate and for the House of Representatives," he said. "We now need an Office of Chaplain for the White House. "We are asking Mr Trump to set this office up to help us seek Jesus in all that we do. "We are in a new day and we need God's help to guide us as we pray America back to one nation under God." Drake, a Southern Baptist from Buena Park, California, was once subject to strong criticism after he delivered an imprecatory prayer about Barack Obama. Since 2011, chaplains of the House of Representatives and Senate can be of any faith, although all so far have been Christian. The current chaplain of the House is Father Patrick Conroy, the first Jesuit in the post. The current Senate chaplain is Barry Black, a retired Navy Rear Admiral. He is the first African-American and the first Seventh-day Adventist in the post and is revered for his Bible-based Christian beliefs as well as his deep, sonorous voice heard by nations around the world when he delivered the prayer at the Inauguration Luncheon for new President Donald Trump. In the past, some people have referred to evangelist Billy Graham as the unofficial White House chaplain. Evangelicals Warn Of A 'New Fascism' Sweeping The World Evangelical mission specialists have warned of the rise of a "new fascism" in different countries around the world. A 'Call to Biblical Faithfulness' from the International Fellowship of Mission as Transformation (INFEMIT) has been signed by theologians including Paul Bendor-Samuel from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Rene Padilla from the Kairos Foundation in Argentina, Vinoth Ramachandra from the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and Ronald J Sider from Palmer Seminary at Eastern University in the US. Reflecting on the election of Donald Trump in the US and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, and on referendums in Colombia and the UK, It says: "As an ideology characterised by fundamentalist, militant, nationalistic, and racist policies, fascism threatens especially the 'other', be it the poor, the oppressed, or the disenfranchised people for whom God has a special concern." The theologians say they are releasing the statement around the inauguration of Donald Trump because of the global influence of the US. They say they are "keenly aware of the anxiety and fear being caused around the world by the actions, stated positions, and inflammatory foreign policy remarks" of the president. They note evangelical support for the "new fascism" in referendums and elections around the world. Regarding the US, while they acknowledge the complexity of the political process, they say: "Nonetheless, we grieve the part that evangelicals played in electing a person whose character, values, and actions are antithetical to the Gospel." They say: "It does not surprise us that many people, especially from the younger generation, are abandoning the evangelical world altogether." They conclude: "As representative members of the global evangelical community, we stand with all who oppose violence, racism, misogyny, and religious, sexual and political discrimination by resisting the leadership of a person whose life, deeds and words have normalized and even glorified these postures. Our voices represent solidarity with them both in their grief over the results of the elections and in their resolve to speak to power in word and deed in these troubling times." The statement calls the Church to "biblical faithfulness" in the treatment of immigrants, rejecting the objectification of women and seeking the welfare of the poor. It encourages prayer for Trump and his administration. The INFEMIT statement echoes language used by Pope Francis in an interview with Spain's El Pais newspaper, in which evoked the spectre of Nazism. "Germany is broken, it needs to get up, to find its identity, a leader, someone capable of restoring its character, and there is a young man named Adolf Hitler who says: 'I can, I can'," Francis said. "And all Germans vote for Hitler. Hitler didn't steal the power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people." On Trump, the Pope said he would "wait and see". "I don't like to get ahead of myself nor judge people prematurely. We will see how he acts, what he does, and then I will have an opinion," he added. Gambians Celebrate Jammeh Flight To Exile: 'Allah Has Decided This Is The End' Gambians flooded the streets of the capital Banjul on Sunday to celebrate the end of ex-ruler Yahya Jammeh's 22-year authoritarian regime. A West African regional force, headed by Sengalese troops and backed by Nigerians, took control of the presidential palace after a bloc of surrounding countries backed his challenger Adama Barrow, who won December's elections. Jammeh had refused to accept the result of the vote but with the surrounding countries and international community all against him, he fled. He is heading exile in Equatorial Guinea. Hundreds of Banjul residents assembled outside State House as darkness fell after soldiers, who deployed on Sunday to secure the country, moved in to secure the compound. "We are free," said food seller Isatou Toure, 35. "Everyone is so happy that man is gone. We are happy to see (the soldiers). They protected us from Jammeh." Senegalese army officials said the force, which also includes troops from Nigeria, Ghana and Mali, met no resistance as they advanced on Sunday. But even amid the celebrations, troubling details of Jammeh's departure began to emerge. Speaking to radio station RFM in Senegal, where he is waiting to return to Gambia, Barrow said that, upon initial inspection, it appeared Jammeh had looted state resources. "According to information we received, there is no money in the coffers," he said. "It's what we have been told, but the day we actually take office, we will clarify all of it." In a news conference later in the day, Barrow advisor Mai Ahmad Fatty said 500 million dalasis ($11.45 million) had been withdrawn by Jammeh in the past two weeks. The regional military operation was first launched late on Thursday after Barrow was sworn in as president at Gambia's embassy in neighboring Senegal, but it was halted hours later to give Jammeh one last chance to leave peacefully. His departure followed two days of negotiations led by Guinea President Alpha Conde and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, prompting speculation over what, if any, terms were agreed upon to convince him to step down. "He wanted to stay in Gambia," Barrow said. "We said we couldn't guarantee his security and said that he should leave." Barrow denied that Jammeh had been offered immunity from prosecution in exchange for leaving the country. Earlier in the day, the African Union and United Nations published a document on behalf of these two organizations and regional bloc ECOWAS. In it, they pledged, among other things, to protect Jammeh's rights "as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State," to prevent the seizure of property belonging to him and his allies, and to ensure he can eventually return to Gambia. Barrow said the document had not been signed and did not constitute a binding agreement. He also said he planned to return to Gambia soon but did not say when. Jammeh's loss in the December 1 poll and his initial acceptance of the result were celebrated across the tiny nation by Gambians grown weary of his increasingly authoritarian rule. But he reversed his position a week later. In a video clip posted on social media that a United Nations official confirmed was filmed shortly before his departure from Gambia, Jammeh thanked Conde, seen standing beside him, as a "true friend." "Allah has decided that this is the end my time," he said. "When you are inflicted by something that you are not happy with, don't move away from Allah, but thank Allah because he is testing you." Rights groups accuse Jammeh of jailing, torturing and killing his political opponents while acquiring a vast fortune, including luxury cars and an estate in the United States, as most of his people remained impoverished. Thousands of Gambians sought asylum abroad over the years. An additional 45,000 people fled to Senegal amid growing fears of unrest in the wake of last month's election, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of Gambians carrying sacks, suitcases and cooking pots began returning by ferry from Senegal's Casamance region on Sunday. Hawa Jagne, 22, a cloth trader, hugged her sister Fama as she stepped off the boat. "I'm so relieved to see her," Jagne said. "Everyone is free. You can do whatever you want, because this is a democratic country. You can express yourself. No one can kill you." Additional reporting from Reuters. High Support For Abortion Restrictions Among Both Pro-Life And Pro-Choice Adults Significant majorities of Americans oppose the use of tax dollars to fund abortions and want the Supreme Court to rule in favor of abortion restrictions, according to a new Marist Poll sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Those who identify as pro-life are about ten times more "intense" than those who are pro-choice. The poll also found high support for limiting abortion to the first three months of pregnancy, with a substantial number in favour of limiting it to victims of rape or where the mother's life in danger. It came as President Donald Trump reinstated the Mexico City policy restricting US funding for abortion and abortion education. Many of those who supported restrictions on abortion in the Knights of Columbus poll were from the pro-choice side of the argument. More than eight in ten Americans also overwhelmingly opposed the use of tax dollars to support abortion in other countries. More than six in 10 Americans opposed the use of tax dollars to fund abortions in the United States. This included almost nine in 10 Donald Trump supporters and even nearly four in 10 Hillary Clinton supporters. The poll showed many people on both sides of the debate wanted to limit abortion to the first trimester. A majority of Clinton supporters - 55 percent - and more than nine in 10 Trump supporters - 91 percent - said they supported such limits. Among Americans overall, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) want abortion restricted to, at most, the first trimester. Among those who want restrictions, 74 percent want the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of those restrictions. This equates to about 55 percent of Americans who support such action by the Court. Nearly six in 10 say restricting abortion to the first trimester is either an immediate priority or an important one. This includes 78 percent of Republicans and nearly half of Democrats. Even among those who identify as pro-choice, more than four in 10 say restricting abortion is an immediate priority or important. "There is a consensus in America in favor of significant abortion restrictions, and this common ground exists across party lines, and even among significant numbers of those who are pro-choice," said Carl Anderson, head of Knights of Columbus. "This poll shows that large percentages of Americans, on both sides of the aisle, are united in their opposition to the status quo as it relates to abortion on demand. This is heartening and can help start a new national conversation on abortion." Regardless of their views on whether abortion should remain legal, nearly six in 10 Americans believe that abortion is morally wrong. This includes eight in 10 Trump supporters and nearly four in 10 Clinton supporters. The survey of 2,729 adults was conducted from December 12-19 last year by the Marist Poll and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Dr Barbara Carvalho, director of Marist Poll, based at Marist College in New York, told Christian Today: "I think the issue is a very complex one to most peope. What we generally tend to do is speak in terms of just the labels - pro-life and pro-choice - and force peole to take one position or the other." The issue was more complex than the labels suggest. Even nearly a quarter of millennials, perceived as being generally liberal, believe abortion should only be allowed in the first trimester. "There is actualy a consensus that people really do want a good number of retrictions on abortion. When we try and debate this in terms of labels on one side or the other, we are really missing what peole feel around the country." Is Southern Baptist Decline Primarily an Image Problem? In 2016 the Southern Baptist Convention reported that the denomination's membership had declined for the ninth consecutive year, losing 200,000 members in 2015. Baptisms of new believers also declined by 10,000. The analysis of many Southern Baptist leaders was understandably straightforward. If the SBC is declining and baptisms are down, then it is struggling to evangelise effectively and in sufficiently large numbers. Frank S. Page of the Executive Committee remarked: "The truth is, we have less people in our churches who are giving less money because we are winning less people to Christ, and we are not training them in the spiritual disciplines of our Lord." Thom Rainer, President and CEO of the SBC's LifeWay Christian Resources echoed this evaluation: "People underestimate the importance of momentum," he said. "It only takes a few people in each church, being intentional about sharing their faith, for some new momentum to build." While I am not a Southern Baptist and have no plans to attend an SBC congregation, I am sympathetic to the decline of any Christian denomination. I am also friends with many former Southern Baptists who have strong opinions about why this denomination has declined in recent years. However, the most insightful source of information about ways to turn around the SBC may be Thom Rainer's blog. In a recent post, Rainer wrote that he had conducted an informal poll with his large following of 235,000 on Twitter, asking for their reactions to the word "Baptist." While Rainer is well respected across denominations beyond his own, it's reasonable to expect that his followers are still immersed in the SBC or familiar with it. I personally found it surprising that even among Rainer's followers, his list ended up having so many negative words or words that implied irrelevance: Legalism Potluck Immersion John the Baptist Traditional Bible Outdated Southern Boring Conservative Sound theologically Fundamentalism Hymns Suits and ties Missions While Rainer abstained from offering his own commentary, I found that it matched the anecdotal stories I have heard from my friends who are former Southern Baptists or my friends who attend SBC churches with some reservations. As I considered the many articles I've read in the past year about the decline of the SBC and the resolve of many to evangelise more, a list like this is striking. Put plainly, are Southern Baptists trying to convince people to join churches that they have no intention of ever joining just based on what they think about "Baptists"? I'm not talking about rebranding or changing names here. I'm talking about a deeper issue about what people associate with Christians, and most specifically with Baptists. If people already have an overwhelmingly negative image of Southern Baptists, then perhaps a list like Rainer's could help them consider what needs to change before committing themselves to more fervent evangelism efforts. To a certain degree, Southern Baptists are already working to change their image by planting new churches that leave behind the "boring", "suit and tie" and "outdated" labels. In 2014, the SBC planted 985 new churches, which was a 5 per cent increase. It's often significantly easier to launch new churches than to change an existing church. The SBC should be credited with taking those steps. But the larger problems with the SBC remain, specifically with legalism and fundamentalism. While certain Southern Baptist beliefs, such as the limitations on women in ministry, will frequently serve as a barrier to converts, the SBC is in greatest need of being known as people who show love and mercy. That is a tall order for a group that has also forged its identity around keeping clear doctrinal boundaries and excommunicating those who cross those lines. Perhaps the most accessible way forward for the SBC is to consider a year of biblical reflection on the opposites of legalism and fundamentalism. If legalism is an excessive reliance on laws and rules, a study of God's love and mercy or the Bible's teachings about transformation could prove especially relevant. Most importantly, if Jesus said that love should be the hallmark by which his followers are known and Paul prayed that his followers would know the immeasurable vastness of God's love, it would appear extremely worthwhile to devote a significant amount of time exploring the nature of God's love and acceptance of us. Southern Baptists are surely familiar with the phrase: "You become what you worship." It is something I heard frequently in my childhood Baptist church. It's possible that people known as legalistic and fundamentalist have been worshipping a God who is also legalistic rather than merciful. Perhaps that isn't the case for all SBC members, but isn't it worth setting aside some time to determine where the fruit of legalism is coming from and seeking God's direction in order to forge a new identity? I count 157 occurrences of the word mercy in the English Standard Version of the Bible, an SBC favorite. The word merciful occurs 27 times. For people hoping to leave their legalistic image behind, the Bible is more than capable of leading them toward transformation. Perhaps if words like love and merciful top such lists in the future, a renewed emphasis on evangelism will hardly be necessary. Ed Cyzewski (MDiv) is the author of Pray, Write, Grow, A Christian Survival Guide, and The Contemplative Writer. He writes at www.edcyzewski.com and is on Twitter as @edcyzewski. News / National by Stephen Jakes Fabulously-rich Zimbabwe businessman Wicknell Chivayo's list of requirements for a future wife was certainly controversial and proves to have yielded results after he has been seen on social media again having posted his picture with a beautiful woman.The wealth-flaunting tenderpreneur, who has made no secret of his friendship with the first family, announced he was looking for a wife on December 31.Less than three weeks later, he says he's found her."Applicants with the following requirements should apply," Chivayo wrote in his initial post, adding a list of 16 'must-haves'." One was a university degree in finance. Another was "written recommendations from at least two former boyfriends."Here is the link to his Facebook page.He also wanted natural hair, white teeth and no tattoos."Grandmothers aged 30 years and above do not qualify," he said.Chivayo posted a picture of himself on Tuesday with an unnamed woman with the caption: "Sir is chilling at home with the successful candidate". Some of his fans have pointed out that she does not appear to have natural hair, according to the official Chronicle newspaper.The businessman stirred controversy last year when he posted pics of himself having dinner with Grace Mugabe and her son in Dubai. He called the first lady his "mother". Source - news24.com Israel To Build Hundreds Of New Settlements: 'We Can Build Where We Want' Israel is to build hundreds of new settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory of East Jerusalem after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he is lifting restrictions. Israel's Netanyahu told senior ministers of his plans on Sunday, immediately after the city's municipal government approved permits for the building of hundreds of new homes in the area. "There is no longer a need to coordinate construction in the Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. "We can build where we want and as much as we want," Netanyahu said in a statement, adding that he also intended to allow the start of building in the West Bank. "My vision is to enact sovereignty over all the settlements," the statement added, pointing to Netanyahu's apparent bid to win greater support from settlers and appeal to a right-wing coalition partner. Netanyahu told the ministers of the move at a meeting where they also decided unanimously to postpone discussing a bill proposing the Israeli annexation of the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, home to 40,000 Israelis near Jerusalem. Work on the bill will be delayed until after Netanyahu meets the new US President, Donald Trump. Netanyahu held his first phone conversation with the president on Sunday, saying afterwards that the conversation had been "very warm" and that he had been invited to a meeting with Trump in Washington in February. "Many matters face us. The Israeli-Palestinian issue, the situation in Syria, the Iranian threat," Netanyahu said in remarks broadcast at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting. Meanwhile the housing projects approved by the Jerusalem municipality on Sunday are on land that the Palestinians seek as part of a future state and had been taken off the agenda in December at Netanyahu's request to avoid further censure from Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. However, Israel's right wing believes that Trump's attitude towards settlements built in the West Bank and East Jerusalem -- areas Israel captured in the 1967 war -- will be far more supportive than that of Obama. Jerusalem's City Hall approved the building permits for more than 560 units in the urban settlements of Pisgat Zeev, Ramat Shlomo and Ramot, areas annexed to Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said in a statement that the eight years of the Obama administration had been "difficult with pressure ... to freeze construction" but that Israel was now entering a new era. The Palestinians denounced the move. "We strongly condemn the Israeli decision to approve the construction," Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Reuters. In its final weeks, the Obama administration angered the Israeli government by withholding a traditional US veto of an anti-settlement resolution at the United Nations Security Council, enabling the measure to pass. Trump's nominee to be US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, echoed his condemnation of the world body over its treatment of Israel at her Senate confirmation hearing last week. Before taking over as president, Trump also pledged to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and has nominated as new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, who is seen as a supporter of settlements. Israel views all Jerusalem as its capital, but most of the world considers its final status a matter for peace negotiations. The Palestinians have said that an embassy move would kill any prospect for peace. Negotiations broke down in 2014. Commentators in Israel have said it is too early to tell what Trump's policy on these matters will actually be although the White House said on Sunday it was in the early stages of talks to fulfill Trump's pledge. "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement. Most countries consider settlement activity illegal and an obstacle to peace. Israel disagrees, citing a biblical, historical and political connection to the land -- which the Palestinians also claim -- as well as security interests. Additional reporting from Reuters. Israeli Occupation Fuels Poverty And Misery - Catholic Charities Warn Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is fuelling poverty, misery and resentment, an alliance of Catholic charities claims in a new report launched today. Life for Palestinians under Israeli rule is worsening, the report says, as it marks half a century since the six-day war in 1967, during which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced. No Place Like Home by the coalition of Catholic aid charities, the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE), blames "recurring Israeli military incursions and attacks" for the fact that 80 per cent of Gaza's population relies on humanitarian aid for survival. "Urgent action is needed by the international community, including the EU and its member states, in order to address the situation," said Brigitte Herremans, from CIDSE's working group on Palestine and Israel. "Israel must uphold its duties under international law." It is published as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed hundreds of new settlement buildings in occupied East Jerusalem. "There is no longer a need to coordinate construction in the Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem," he said, announcing the removal of building restrictions. "We can build where we want and as much as we want," Netanyahu said in a statement, adding that he also intended to allow the start of building in the West Bank. "My vision is to enact sovereignty over all the settlements." US President Donald Trump has pledged to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a move certain to affect peace negotiations. The new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is seen as a supporter of settlements. CAFOD's Director of Advocacy, Neil Thorns, called on Boris Johnson, the UK foreign secretary, to make the peace process a priority. "The current status quo is unsustainable," he said. "Our Israeli and Palestinian partners describe worsening conditions on the ground, as families are driven into ever-deeper poverty and left to live on aid hand-outs. Displacement is a fundamental threat to the chance of a just peace." Recently, a group of Catholic and Anglican bishops demanded the end of 50 years of occupation. "We must never become accustomed to what is happening in the Holy Land. It is a scandal that requires all of us to take responsibility," said Bishop Declan Lang, chair of the Holy Land Coordination. In a statement last week the bishops' said: "For fifty years the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza have languished under occupation, violating the human dignity of both Palestinians and Israelis." They added: "We all have a responsibility to oppose the construction of settlements. This de facto annexation of land not only undermines the rights of Palestinians in areas such as Hebron and East Jerusalem but, as the UN recently recognised, also imperils the chance of peace." 'Lion' Makes A Strong Case For God Without Ever Mentioning Him Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. 'Twas Grace that brought me safe thus far, and Grace will lead me home. John Newton's famous old hymn doesn't appear on the soundtrack of Lion, but that feels like an oversight. Garth Davis' award-courting movie makes a strong case for a guiding 'grace' without ever mentioning it by name, through telling the true story of Saroo Brierley, an Indian-born Australian who somehow found safety after being marooned a thousand miles from home at just five years old. Dev Patel gives a fine performance as the grown-up Saroo, but he doesn't appear for almost the whole of the first half of the film. Until he does, a cast of wonderful child actors (led by the diminutive Sunny Pawar) play out the heartbreaking story of the character's early life. Living with his mother, sister and older brother in a small impoverished village, Saroo's headstrong nature gets him into serious trouble. Forcing his brother to take him to a nearby town to help with some casual labour, he ends up asleep and alone on an out-of-service train to Calcutta, over 1,600 kilometres away. When he's finally able to escape the train, he's in a strange land full of danger and short on help. His escapes from the hands of traffickers and other evils are frequent and often too close for comfort; an ugly insight into a nation that treats its poorest children like cockroaches. Remarkably though, Saroo finds his way to Australia via a cruel children's home and to altruistic adoptive parents Sue and John Brierley (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). Against all odds, Saroo is safe, and placed at the heart of a loving family. Twenty years later, we find Saroo fully-grown and no less headstrong, embarking on higher education and making new friends including love interest Lucy (Rooney Mara). As he meets other students with Indian heritage however, he begins to reflect on his own past, and soon sets out on an increasingly-obsessive quest to find the obscure village from which he originated. He yearns to know if his family are still alive, and to connect with his true home, the place where he was meant to grow up. This sense of unresolved yearning is at the very heart of Lion. Saroo is safe and in relative terms richer than he could ever have dreamed; yet deep down he has an aching sense of homesickness a feeling that he's actually a citizen of a different kingdom. One would imagine that preachers will be peppering sermons with clips and references from the film for years to come, and perhaps rightly so. It's a pretty perfect allegory for the way so many of us search for a deeper meaning to our lives. The story of Saroo's attempt to reconnect with his family is moving and remarkable (perhaps it'd be unbelievable if we didn't know it was true). Yet for me it's the extraordinary journey across India made by that five-year-old boy, who somehow then escapes mounting dangers in Calcutta, which really elevates Lion. Saroo is only able to make the journey towards home because he survived all those "dangers, toils and snares" in the first place, and while the film contains barely any reference to God, a viewer who is minded to can certainly trace his hand in Saroo's extraordinary luck. Lion is a tremendous piece of film-making. Davis draws brilliant performances out of his whole cast, and especially the younger members, while he balances capturing the toxicity of the Indian city with the beauty of the wider country, not least in an eye-popping series of opening shots. The story is compelling throughout, and while the mainly-subtitled first half is a surprise given the trailer, it's actually the strongest part of the movie, and shouldn't put foreign-language-avoidant audiences off. Cult film reviewer Mark Kermode once coined the phrase "there's an awful lot of Shawshank before you get to the Redemption", and it's certainly applicable here. Saroo's descent into the dangerous city as a child and then into near-breakdown as he fruitlessly scours Google Earth for home, is at times a gruelling watch. Ultimately though, Lion rewards, and more so because of the pain of the journey. Perhaps that's the story of Saroo Brierley's remarkable life, a perfect illustration of amazing grace. Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. Follow him on Twitter @martinsaunders. Muslim Man Murdered Christian Pensioner, Tied Her Up And Left Cross In Her Hands, A Court Is Told A Muslim man murdered a Catholic pensioner while he robbed her house and left her body with her hands tied and holding a cross, a court in Germany has heard. He also left religous graffiti in Arabic around the house. Abubaker C, aged 27, denies murder and claims he has been framed by a religious conspiracy. The court heard that he strangled the woman, aged 70, as she slept in bed with a telephone cable after he broke into her home in Bad Friedrichshall last May where she lived with her 74-year-old husband. His DNA was found at the scene and an imprint of the sole of his red shoes and fibres from his jacket. Police found a stolen mobile phone and a diary in which he had written: "It's payback time!" The defendent told the court he came from a Pakistani family that had moved to Saudi Arabia. When asked his name, he told the court: "I am known by many names." Speaking in Punjabi, he answered other questions by saying: "I want to talk about my life." He insisted the charges were a "lie". Besides leaving Arabic slogans on the walls, he also wrote in English on the wall: "It's payback time." The victim's husband, Gunter M., a retired teacher, told the court his wife was a Catholic from a Silesian family and was "the emotional centre of the family". They had been married since 1967, were committed churchgoers and had two daughters and grandchildren. On the day of the murder, they had just celebrated the birthday of one granddaughter. Gunter M and his wife slept in separate bedrooms because of his snoring. He said that on the night of the crime, he wished his wife a "blessed night" and made the sign of the cross on her forehead. It was the next mornng when he found her tied up under the duvet, a cross that had been hanging on the wall in the kitchen in her hands and the furniture in disarray. There was no suggestion in the court of Islamic State involvement. Instead, the court heard that the defendent was a user of marijuana. The case, being covered by Spiegel, is being heard by judge Roland Kleinschroth at a court in Heilbronn. It is expected to last through February. Shariah Law Imposed in Mali As Islamist Extremists Ban Baptisms and Christian Weddings The ominous shadow of Islamist extremism appears to be looming larger in Africa. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported recently that Islamist extremists have imposed Sharia law in a number of villages in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa with a predominantly Muslim population. The human rights watchdog group said the radicals have banned baptisms and Christian weddings, threatening dire punishment to those violate their edicts. These extremists have also executed public officials, it added. The group said the human rights abuses are being carried out by several militant groups such as Al-Qaeda, Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa. It said the Mali government has largely been rendered powerless to stop these Islamist militant groups from "imposing restrictions on village life" and from executing people. "The human rights climate grew increasingly precarious over the past year, a result of execution-style killings and intimidation by Islamist armed groups, bloody intercommunal clashes, and surges in violent crime," said Corinne Dufka, HRW's associate in Africa director, in a statement. "The government's failure to assert control and curtail security force abuses has added to the deteriorating situation." The international human rights group said human rights abuses in Mali "steadily increased" starting in mid-2014 after a French-led military intervention helped to push back the Islamist extremists who occupied northern Mali in 2013. It said the abuses have worsened in the last two years and spread to the African nation's central region. The HRW learned about the atrocities committed by the Islamist militants from the people who witnessed them. "Villagers described how Islamist groups of up to 50 armed fighters, including teenage boys, occupied villages for hours and threatened death to anyone collaborating with French forces, the government, or U.N. peacekeepers," the group report states. "In several villages, the groups imposed their version of Sharia (Islamic law), threatening villagers not to celebrate marriages and baptisms." One villager told HRW that "our traditional customs are no longer allowed because of the presence of jihadist fighters from our own villages," adding that "our way of celebrating is now haram [forbidden]." The villagers also revealed that the militants pressured families to surrender their children to join their groups. According to the recently released Open Doors USA 2017 World Watch List, Mali is ranked 32nd in the list of countries that persecute Christians. It jumped 12 spots higher since it previously ranked at No. 44 on the 2016 World Watch List. Warring Anglican Primates Summoned To New Meeting In October The Archbishop of Canterbury has called the heads of warring Anglican factions together for a second meeting in two years. Justin Welby wrote to the Anglican primates in November, the website Anglican Ink revealed, confirming details of an upcoming gathering in October. Rather than being an official "Primates meeting" the leaders of the different Anglican provinces will meet "only as Primates of the Communion in 2017", Welby said. The meeting will take place in Canterbury from 2-6 October and will be the first time all the leaders of the different Anglican provinces have met since January 2016. That gathering resulted in The Episcopal Church (TEC) in the USA facing "consequences" for changing its teaching to welcome gay marriage. The Primates' decided TEC should be removed from any decision making on "issues pertaining to doctrine or polity" for three years. It is not clear whether TEC bishops have been invited to the October 2017 conference. Christian Today has contacted Lambeth Palace for a response. In his letter Welby also attached a response to "the unfortunate and continued inaccurate comments on the situation over same sex relations in the Church of England". In November, shortly before Welby sent his letter, the C of E's senior civil servant, William Nye, rebuked the conservative body GAFCON UK after it published a list of gay clergy in relationships. The document painted a "significantly misleading picture both of the teaching and practice of the Church of England", Nye wrote. GAFCON represents a number of primates from the more socially conservative provinces in Africa and the global south. What Should Christians Do Now That Donald Trump Is President? Hundreds of thousands of people attended the Women's March in Washington on Saturday, with the protesters airing their grievance over President Donald Trumps's alleged anti-women stance. But Bruce Ashford, Provost and Dean of Faculty at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, said Christians should have a different approach in looking at Trump's presidency. He said he knows some Christians supported his candidacy while others were indifferent or totally opposed to it. But whatever category they fall into, Christians owe Trump the benefit of the doubt, Ashford wrote in an article for Fox News. "We owe it to President Trump and to our fellow citizens to hope that he does well, to give him the benefit of the doubt, to affirm him and his Cabinet when they do well for our nation. We owe it to President Trump because he is our President, and one of the Bible's few political imperatives is to give leaders the respect that is due to their office," he said. Christians should also give Trump their honest criticism, especially since the nation's political discourse has broken down. Ashford said Trump supporters might be lured to agreeing with everything he says, while those opposed to him might be tempted to ignore his faults just so he would fail. He said Proverbs reminds God's children to speak the truth at all times, even when it hurts. When the truth is spoken, only then will the nation encounter healing. "Because we are Christians who are committed to truth, and because we are citizens of a democratic republic in which we are encouraged to speak up for the common good, we owe him our honest criticism," he said. Lastly, Ashford said Christians should not forget to pray for Trump. He said the Bible is clear that Christians should seek God's guidance for those in authority. People should not get carried away by discussions or debates against Trump that they forget to appeal to God for his leadership. By praying for Trump, believers are placing their trust in God. White House Vows To Fight Media 'Tooth And Nail' Over Trump Coverage The White House vowed on Sunday to fight the news media "tooth and nail" over what it sees as unfair attacks, with a top adviser saying the Trump administration had presented "alternative facts" to counter low inauguration crowd estimates. On his first full day as president, Trump said he had a "running war" with the media and accused journalists of underestimating the number of people who turned out Friday for his swearing-in. White House officials made clear no truce was on the horizon on Sunday in television interviews that set a much harsher tone in the traditionally adversarial relationship between the White House and the press corps. "The point is not the crowd size. The point is the attacks and the attempt to delegitimise this president in one day. And we're not going to sit around and take it," Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said on "Fox News Sunday." The sparring with the media has dominated Trump's first weekend in office, eclipsing debate over policy and cabinet appointments. It was the main theme at the Republican president's first visit to the CIA, at the press secretary's first media briefing and in senior officials' first appearances on the Sunday talk shows. Together, they made clear the administration will continue to take an aggressive stance with news organisations covering Trump. "We're going to fight back tooth and nail every day and twice on Sunday," Priebus said. He repeated White House press secretary Sean Spicer's assertions on Saturday that the media manipulated photographs of the National Mall to make the crowds on Friday look smaller than they really were. Aerial photographs showed the crowds were significantly smaller than when Barack Obama took over as president in 2009. The Washington subway system said it had 193,000 riders by 11 am on Friday, compared with 513,000 at that time during the 2009 inauguration. Spicer's categorical assertion that "this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration period" was widely challenged in media reports citing crowd count experts and was lampooned on social media as well. Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" why the press secretary was uttering provable falsehoods, White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway fired back. "If we are going to keep referring to our press secretary in those types of terms I think that we are going to rethink our relationship here," she said. Conway responded to criticism that the new administration was focusing on crowds rather than on significant domestic and foreign policy issues by saying: "We feel compelled to go out and clear the air and put alternative facts out there." Priebus and Conway focused on a press pool report that said the bust of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office after Trump took office. The report on Friday night was quickly corrected, but Trump called out the reporter by name during a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency on Saturday. Spicer also berated the reporter later in the day. Russian shadows With the November 8 election results shadowed by US intelligence reports of Russian meddling on his behalf, Trump has bristled at reports suggesting his popular support is soft and that the election was not legitimate. Trump, who lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes, made no mention of Russia in his first visit to the CIA on Saturday. He praised his nominee to head the agency, Mike Pompeo, and ranted against the "dishonest" media, a favourite target during his presidential campaign. The president accused the media of fabricating his tensions with the US intelligence community, despite his frequent posts on Twitter that derided the agencies. Trump drew criticism from Democrats as well as former CIA Director John Brennan for his remarks at the agency, where he spoke before a memorial wall with stars representing personnel killed in action. "President Trump ought to realise he's not campaigning any more. He's president," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on ABC's This Week. "Instead of talking about how many people showed up at his inauguration, he ought to be talking about how many people are going to stay in the middle class and move into the middle class." Why There's Nothing UnChristian About Inclusive Language For many Christians, gender-neutral language is just about politeness. The days when a speaker could address a mixed group of people as "brothers" have long gone. If anyone repeats the Nicene Creed and says, "For us men and our salvation" it grates unbearably (and I write as a man). Why should half the human race be denied an acknowledgment of their existence because of the language we use in public discourse? For others, gender-neutral language is an assault on the foundations of Christianity, and an act of connivance with the forces of Godless liberal feminism. This is particularly true when it comes to translating the Bible. There are conservative evangelicals who watch this like hawks. A few years ago Zondervan, publishers of the New International Version, released versions in 2002 and 2005 that aimed to translate the Bible, where appropriate, using gender-neutral terms. So where "people" instead of "men" was clearly meant, that's what it would say. This Today's New International Version infuriated conservatives including Wayne Grudem in the US. A successor, in 2011, didn't fare much better; the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood released an 'Evaluation of Gender Language' in it that concluded 75 per cent of its "errors" remained. Politeness is one thing. Where most evangelicals do draw the line, however, is changing how we talk about God, who in the Bible is masculine. While everyone acknowledges that the Bible talks about him in feminine terms sometimes, addressing him as female is a revision too far; there's too much going on there, theologically and philosophically. (There's just as much going on when we talk about him as male, but somehow that's different isn't it?) So news that Wycliffe Hall, the impeccably evangelical CofE training college in Oxford, was not only making its students and staff use that gender-inclusive NIV, but was dropping the word "He" in relation to God (use "the one who" instead, it is supposed to have said) is rather alarming. It was a Times story on Sunday, but it turns out to be quite startlingly untrue. The "new" inclusive language policy is in fact three years old, and a stern rebuttal from the college says that "there is no suggestion that the traditional gender pronouns concerning God should be altered in any way. Indeed the Hall's policy reaffirms that we should continue to speak of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as Christians have always done." Wycliffe's inclusive language policy, in fact, looks eminently sensible. It notes that language changes and that while once it was common to talk about mankind, man, every man, we don't do that any more. "The biblical writers used these terms with the intention to mean everyone. In society now terms such as 'human', 'humanity' (or 'humankind') and 'every one' are used to convey this idea of inclusiveness which the biblical writers sought to convey," it says. The patriarchal masculine, it says, "has become a form of alienation for many women and indeed many men" so don't do it, in sermons or writing or how you talk to each other or in the examples of conduct you choose. And yes, it does use that gender-inclusive Bible translation that caused such a row in 2005. Refreshingly, it also says Wycliffe will carry on using old hymns and the Book of Common Prayer. This attitude toward gender-inclusive language is largely uncontroversial in the UK Church, at least at a theoretical level. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of jaw-droppingly insensitive remarks by male preachers in pulpits around the country every Sunday, but generally speaking I think we do our best. What seems to be more of a pressure point is when this principle of politeness starts to affect how we translate the Bible. Is it because evangelicals are wedded to a literalist, word-for-word translation and are suspicious of anything that looks as though human beings have a role to play? Might want to think about that. Is it because the traditional masculine language subtly, or not-so-subtly, backs up the traditional male norm of authority over women? Is it because when evangelicals talk about gender it's usually in the context of homosexuality or transgenderism, with all the culture-war baggage that tends to bring along? Or is it because once you start talking about 'people' instead of 'men' and 'children' instead of 'sons' you're on a slippery slope to Goddess-worship? Any and all of these might be true. But it's worth saying that recognising the existence and equal worth of one half of humanity in the language we use is one thing, and changing how we talk about God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is another. The discussions are not unrelated, but they are not the same. Christ died for us, not just for us men, and we shouldn't be shy of saying so. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods From the home of Givenchy A unique collection of pieces by the designer and sculptor Diego Giacometti, with whom the great couturier shared a friendship that spanned decades, is to be offered at Christies Paris on 6 March, accompanied by a week-long viewing On 6 March 2017 Christies Paris is set to offer a selection of pieces by renowned designer Diego Giacometti (1902-1985), brother of the sculptor Alberto Giacometti, custom-made for the collection of one of the 20th centurys greatest fashion designers, Hubert de Givenchy. The sale Les Giacometti dHubert de Givenchy is to be preceded by a week-long view, in tribute to Giacomettis work and his close friendship with Givenchy. All the lots in the sale can be viewed below. Now approaching his 90th birthday, Givenchy has designed for some of Hollywoods biggest names, from Elizabeth Taylor to Audrey Hepburn, who wore his now-iconic little black dress in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffanys. He met Giacometti as his career took off, having been fascinated by the pure aesthetic of a gueridon, or small table, which Giacometti had made, gifted to Givenchy by the textile designer and art collector Gustav Zumsteg. Open a larger version of this image The elegant Chateau de Jonchet, Givenchys home Open a larger version of this image Giacometti made several sculptures of labradors for Givenchy, often basing his designs on photographs of the designer's own dogs Commenting on the sale, Francois de Ricqles, President of Christies France, said: It is with great pride that we present The Giacometti of Hubert de Givenchy. Through Hubert de Givenchys collection, whose taste and elegance are the inspiration for many collectors, we are able to pay tribute to one of the most poetic and talented artists of the 20th century, Diego Giacometti. The sentiment is echoed by Givenchy, who adds: With this sale, I want to pay a further tribute to him, an additional recognition which he does not need, but which shows how important he was to me. Open a larger version of this image Octagonal table with caryatides and atlantes, patinated bronze and stained oak veneer. Circa 1983. 32 x 75 in (82 x 190.5 cm). Estimate: 800,000-1,200,000. This lot is offered in Les Giacometti dHubert de Givenchy auction on 6 March 2017 at Christies in Paris If Givenchys own circle was star-studded, Giacomettis was equally impressive. As a young man, Giacometti had travelled from his native Switzerland to Paris to collaborate with the renowned interior designer Jean-Michel Frank, who introduced him to fashion legends including Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel and Helene Rochas. It was here that Giacometti met Zumsteg, who worked for clients including Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as Hubert de Givenchy. Perhaps the most famous of Diego Giacomettis circle, however, was his brother Alberto, 13 months older than Diego, with whom he shared a small apartment in Montparnasse and a studio in Rue Hippolyte-Maindron. Their collaboration was a life-long one, spanning 40 years until Albertos death in 1966. Open a larger version of this image Hubert de Givenchy, pictured in Paris In Paris, Diego soon became the preferred designer within the citys most fashionable circles, receiving orders to furnish private apartments, including that belonging to Aime and Marguerite Maeght. The couple had always supported and promoted the Giacometti brothers, and acquired several sculptures by Alberto before asking Diego to design their home on Pariss Avenue Foch. A further commission followed, for the Maeght Foundation founded in 1964 in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, 25km from Nice. Following Albertos death Diego became devoted to the orders he received, including one in 1984 for the Musee Picasso, which was inaugurated a year later. Of their first meeting, Givenchy recalls, I asked Gustav Zumsteg if it was possible to meet Giacometti, and he introduced me to him shortly afterwards. The encounter marked the beginning of a friendship that would endure for 20 years. He was a very kind man: simple, welcoming, discreet, and a talented craftsman, says the designer. Giacometti made his first pieces for Givenchys house at Jouy at the end of 1960, and from the early 1970s worked on bespoke pieces for the designers elegant Chateau de Jonchet in the Loire Valley. News / Press Release by PDP The on-going saga surrounding the multi-million lavish lifestyle of the First Lady, Grace Mugabe, clearly shows that her greediness has reached alarming and unacceptable levels as she has become the biggest looter of the country's natural resources while the ordinary people who should be benefitting are suffering as the economy falls.As Grace abuses state resources to fund a glamourous lifestyle, the broke government and is failing to pay civil servants their 2016 bonuses.While millions of Zimbabweans are going through one of the worst financial hardships since Independence in 1980, Grace, her husband and family are still on holiday in the Far East at a reported obscene cost of $6 million.The extravagant lifestyle of Grace, who is currently embroiled in an ugly and embarrassing court battle with a Lebanese businessman over a botched $1.4 million diamond ring, reads like a fairytale in a country where the majority of the citizens do not know where their next meal will come from.Grace, a compulsive shopper, is also using dwindling state coffers to pay $42 000 a month for rentals at an upmarket 10 bed-roomed apartment in Dubai in the Middle East.During her frequent but pointless foreign travels with her husband, Grace, has been reported to spend thousands of dollars buying expensive clothes and jewellery from funds illegally raided from the Treasury, proving that she is now the Queen of Corruption -- a First Lady from Hell for the people of Zimbabwe.It is no wonder that due to her lavish spending using state resources, her husband, Robert Mugabe as the President of Zimbabwe has failed to reign in corrupt Cabinet ministers as the same ministers are following what the First Family is doing in looting the country's resources.It is interesting to note that as a First Lady, Grace Mugabe, has managed to outdo other first wives in looting their countries' resources to fund personal lifestyles. Some of these materialistic first ladies were; Imelda Marcos of the Philippines; Marie Antoinette, France; Mary Todd Lincoln of the USA; Nancy Reagan, the USA and the current Syrian First Lady, Asma Al-Assad.Marcos, is the widow of Ferdinand Marcos, the former President of the Philippines. During her time, as the First Lady, she was notorious for traveling the world, constantly adding to her thousand-plus shoe collection, which included designers such as Givenchy, Dior, Chanel, and Ferragamo, while the people of the Philippines were living in extreme poverty.On one trip to New York, Marcos purchased $3.5 million Michelangelo painting, $2.5 million in jewellery, and over $19,000 on nightgowns.Al-Assad is leading a glamorous life against a background of Syria's on-going political unrest. The wife of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad, she has become known as the "modern-day Marie Antoinette" for her overly-lavish lifestyle. One report highlights how recently Assad spent as much as $420,984 in London.Assad also has a penchant for expensive shoes and at one time bought a pair of crystal-encrusted high heels for $6 000 while her country continues to go up in flames.Antoinette (1755-1793), while France was struggling financially during the French Revolution, she enjoyed spending government money on expensive fashion, jewellery and outrageous parties. She was known as "Madame Deficit or Mrs Debt" and would spend copious amounts of money and developed a gambling problem, reportedly losing $1.5 million in one year.Todd Lincoln (1818 - 1882), the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, enjoyed frivolous spending and ended up comprising her husband's presidency by sharing government secrets in exchange for personal loans.During a recession, Reagan spent frivolously and was nicknamed "Queen Nancy,". She also enjoyed expensive clothing, which many felt was inappropriate considering the economic state of America at the time. She was criticised for borrowing designer clothing -- as gifts in exchange for exposure, and was warned by the White House counsel to quit her habit.However, the above first ladies were or are from countries whose economies are 20 times more developed than the Zimbabwean economy.In Zimbabwe, the situation is desperate with widespread poverty and 95% of the people unemployed. The remaining functioning companies have scaled down and are using archaic equipment, which makes their products uncompetitive.However, for the First Family's close relatives to survive under such harsh economic challenges, Grace Mugabe has ensured that her son-in-law, Simba Chikore, is appointed to a senior position at Air Zimbabwe, a state enterprise.Chikore's brother, Derrick, was in turn awarded a $250 million Dema Diesel Power Plant tender under unclear and controversial circumstances by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).It is, therefore, sad that Mugabe has only managed to sink the country deeper into economic turmoil characterised by high unemployment, hopelessness and fatalism while his wife continues with her compulsive shopping and foreign travel.PDP Communications Department Pearl Moen, who at 17 years old stabbed a 23-year-old woman to see how it would feel to kill someone, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Friday she pleaded guilty to attempted murder for the Nov. 14, 2015 attack, which took place outside of an apartment complex in the 4400 block of Speedway in Austin. THE ARREST: Texas teenage girl stabbed woman 21 times and called it 'absolutely fantastic' in her diary At the time, Moen detailed the premeditated act in a murder diary where she wrote: "So, okay I'll start with the exciting bit. I stabbed an innocent woman to death earlier today (well yesterday since it's 1 a.m.)...It was absolutely fantastic. Murder gives me a high unlike any other, it feels like this crisp unreality, flashing and sparkling, adrenaline and shock. Fight or flight mode. How do I even go about describing it. The whole thing was unreal. I'm so proud of myself. I stabbed her like 20 times. Maybe more." In the same journal entry, Moen said that she committed the crime because she's "a homicidal psychopath" and had "a deep hatred towards people right now." HAVE YOU SEEN HER?: Family desperate to find missing Conroe ISD teen The woman Moen attacked, who said she did not want to be identified, spoke at the sentencing hearing, KSXAN reports. She said that she was glad the vicious assault happened to her instead of to a child or "someone who could not defend themselves." Following the attack, she reportedly suffered from a collapsed lung, severe blood loss and had to undergo physical therapy. CAUGHT: Escaped suspect in deadly attempted robbery caught in Converse According to the Austin-American Statesman, Moen never posted bail or left the Travis County Jail after she was arrested in late February. "Moen was 17 years old at the time of the crime and had a history of drug use and psychological issues, but no criminal record," the DA's office told the Statesman. APTOS, Calif. It's the end of an era for Aptos. Last winter, El Nino storm waves split the S.S. Palo Alto ship. And on Saturday, the stern connected to the long pier at Seacliff State Beach was tossed onto its side by even bigger, more powerful, winter waves. This weekend's waves not only broke the ship, but they were also records in the Monterey Bay. The National Weather Service said a new wave record was set as the Monterey Bay buoy recorded 34-foot waves. This smashed the previous wave size record, set in 2008 by 32.8-foot waves. Under the forces of Mother Nature, the S.S. Palo Alto has slowly crumbled into the sea for decades. But locals were still stunned by how dramatically the ship shifted during this swell. The heavy local landmark, while made out of concrete, is nicknamed the "Cement Ship." The S.S. Palo Alto is the most famous concrete ship on the West Coast, according to concreteships.org. "The Palo Alto was built as an oil tanker by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company in Oakland, California and launched May 29, 1919. The Palo Alto remained docked in San Francisco Bay for over 10 years until she was purchased by the Seacliff Amusement Company of Nevada and towed to Seacliff State Beach in Aptos. The ship was grounded in the bay and connected to the shore by a long pier. An arcade, dining room, dance hall and even a swimming pool were built on the ship. Unfortunately, the Seacliff Amusement Company went out of business two years later under the financial crunch of the Great Depression. Then, in winter, a storm cracked the ship across her midsection. The Palo Alto was stripped and turned into a fishing pier," concreteships.org wrote. This story originally appeared on KSBW.com. The other day I was invited to the "Nuestra Palabra" (Our Words) Radio Show at 90.1 FM in Houston and enjoyed partaking and listening to different points of views about fake news and the role of truth in the media and social media. I thought to bring this discussion to our readers with this provocative essay from Cora Pfafferott*, where she makes some bold propositions. I invite you to read it and chime in with your ideas. Let me tease you with this questions: What is your take on the so-called 'post-trust' era? What is the meaning of 'truth' and our responsibility with it in today's world, according to you? Let's read the essay: You know the feeling when something gets caught in your eye? It could be an eyelash that has loosened, or a cold wind hitting your visual nerve. It's not a pain that hinders you from seeing. Nevertheless, it is irritating. You look in the mirror to find this little something and get rid of it. This is the kind of irritation I have been experiencing whenever I hear the word "post-truth." I've been hearing it a lot. It's inescapable on social media feeds and in international news reports. The German Association for Language named "postfaktisch" its word of the year for 2016, following the Oxford Dictionaries, which chose "post-truth" as its word of 2016 internationally. The problem is that all this usage hasn't made "post-truth" any more helpful, or accurate. We don't understand the phrase well, and we don't use it correctly, so its ubiquity is giving us the wrong idea about the problems our democracies face. To put it more bluntly, the signature feature of the post-truth era is that we can't even get post-truth right. Which is why we should ditch the termas soon as possible. An artificial divide Post-truth stands for a very broad claim that very large numbers of people no longer base their judgments on facts but on unsupported beliefs, bogus conspiracies, and their emotions. The trouble with such a claim is that "post-truth" is itselfforgive mea post-truth. It enhances a largely rhetorical and artificial societal divide between two campsthe supposed "establishment" and the supposed "populists"who are purportedly battling for all kinds of power, including the power to decide what is true. And that's bunk. The "establishment" and "populists" in societies inevitably draw from social, financial and educational eliteslike the billionaire, Ivy League-educated populist who just was elected president of the United States. To see "post-truth" do damage is especially irritating when the term itself is phony. Truth vs. beliefs Generally speaking, "truth" is a statement about what is perceived as real. And the truth is that truth is always contested. Facts can always be challenged and interpreted differently. If shared by many in a society, truths turn into societal beliefs. What may be different about this moment is that the battle for truth feels larger given our connected worldand thus especially bitter. In my work supporting campaigns and activism in favor of greater democracy around the globe, I keep observing two camps that are fragmenting in Western societies. One camp involves those who previously had the power to make public statements about truth. Many politicians, journalists, scientists, and influential intellectuals belong to this camp. The other camp has evolved through the power of social media. Such media are democratic in that they give a voice to everyone, regardless of gender, origin, age, education or status. This has brought about a pluralism of facts. The so-called "populists" are one people among many offering their own truths through new media, claiming many wrong facts to be true. They find followers for fake news, distorted facts, hate speech and conspiracy theories. Such people must be combatted. Peril and promise But does this behavior justify calling the moment we're in right now an "era of post-truth?" Not at all. We are simply seeing the democratization of competing claims and, in the process, that contest is becoming much broader (and, in some ways, more dangerous). However, while there is peril in this moment, there is also great promise. The social media channels that have divided us into camps allow us to communicate. But we need to build a smarter digital public realm and include everybody in the debate on what is true. The debate is inevitable. The thing to worry about is not falsehoodsbut isolated falsehoods that can be repeated without conversation or contest. And it's now clear that creating a true digital public realm starts with disempowering the private internet companies Facebook, Google, Twitter and their ilkthat have gained far too much power and influence. Such companies should not have the power to define algorithms that allow us to filter contrary opinions or put us in a bubble. They do not have the right to narrow our views, and to fragment us into camps. The channels of digital communication belong in the public realm. But who should manage such a realm, which crosses national borders? Why not the United Nations? Ownership of private data The U.N. is hardly the perfect solution, but it's the institution best equipped to define rules and to create structures in the public sphere. I see the U.N. as taking a firm hand, actually maintaining and administering the public servers. The private data of the world's people should no longer be on private servers; they also shouldn't belong to states. The best solutions are international, inter-governmental structures like the U.N. In this new digital realm, social media platforms should exist, and people of all camps would exchange their statements on how they perceive the world. Journalists should play the role of facilitators of dialogue, making sure that every person is taken seriously and has a say. Journalists would also examine the claims of truth made by different camps. Today, the internet has its "darknets," the term for overlay networks that can only be accessed with certain authorizations or via gated ports. What we need is a "brightnet": This is the term I've come up with, inspired by the ideas of the Enlightenment, to describe social platforms that enable us to question our assumptions, to talk with others and to commonly decide on what is true. After all, there is no "post" in this new digital age we need to build. It is profoundly an age of truth. And the avant-garde will be those who commit their intelligence and energy to this new, inclusive project of giving people around the world more ways to debate and discover what is true. *** *Cora Pfafferott is the spokesperson for Democracy International, a non-governmental organization based in Cologne, Germany. This essay was published first by Zocalo Public Square. Would you like to ask specific questions to the author? Let us know. We will post the author's answers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This story appeared in the Houston Post on May 27, 1963. The headline and words are reprinted as they ran then. Miss Sandra Ramirez, an attractive 32-years-old brunette had much to be thankful for Sunday. She was the first of 36 patients to be transferred from Jefferson Davis Hospital to the new Ben Taub General Hospital, the city-county charity hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Reclining in a comfortable new bed in an air conditioned ward on the second floor, she said: "WE HAD wonderful treatment at Jefferson Davis, but this is a lot different. This is very beautiful place. It's cool and a whole lot more modern." Miss Ramirez, of 709 Paschall St. and 20 other men and women were moved first because they have either had, or are in need of major surgery. In addition, 15 other male patients in need of constant care were shifted from the old hospital to a ward on the fourth floor. The transfer of these patients started at 8 AM and finished smoothly an hour later. Fourteen ambulances, with police escorts, made two trips each to do the job. THERE WERE still 135 patients left at the old hospital Sunday night and these will be in moved on Monday and Tuesday. Miss Ramirez entered Jefferson Davis a month ago for major abdominal surgery. She hopes to be leaving Ben Taub Hospital in another month. She and the others especially liked the air conditioning. Their environment changed on a particularly hot day, when the temperature reached 92 degrees. They noted that there is no air conditioning at Jefferson Davis and that many of the windows have no screens. Disease-bearing flies and mosquitoes used to enter the wards whenever the windows were left open. THE CHANGE was also a big treat for George Hamilton Hudgens, 55, whose 21-years-old boy James, had been in and out of Jefferson Davis for bladder operations during the past eight years. Hudgens, of 4316 Floyd St. Exclaimed: "Oh man, it's nice, nice. It's OK, I got nothing against it. The biggest trouble's finding my way around. You can't beat it to my notion. "That hospital over there (Jefferson Davis), is kinda gettin' old. The beds 'n' water pipes are busted loose." A bevy of nurses, gathered around a coffee bar on the first floor agreed that the new hospital is a lot more convenient than the old. JEFFERSON DAVIS, a 10-story building, has only two bathtubs and a few showers that function properly they said. The beds are falling apart and the sideboards, which keep the patients from falling on the floor, have to be taped on. The new hospital has all new beds. Oxygen tanks have to be lugged around the old hospital, whereas in the new one there are abundant wall sockets which provide oxygen. It's a chore getting from the medical floor to the medical clinics or from surgery to the surgical clinics at Jefferson Davis. At Ben Taub, the clinics are close by. EQUIPMENT AT the new hospital can be delivered speedily from floor to floor by dumbwaiters, the nurses said, which was not the case before. All an attendant has to do now is flash a request on the "teleautograph" and the stuff is sent immediately. A person is sure to get lost walking through the new hospital, which has many more mazes and corridors than the old one, but there are some fascinating incongruities that make the tour worthwhile. Throughout the hospital, there is an abundance of old furniture from Jefferson Davis that contrast glaringly with the new equipment purchased specifically for Ben Taub. MOST OF THIS is furniture such as desks, tables and chairs. The most ludicrously furnished room in a conference room on the first floor. This room is expensively paneled, but its furniture consists of 20 or 30 small creaky desks of the school variety that have had initials and what-not carved into them for decades. But the medical equipment befits the most modern of hospitals, and the bed capacity of the new facility is around 400, or 70 more than at Jefferson Davis. Monday morning more than 30 pediatric and psychiatric patients are due to be transferred. On Tuesday, the charity hospital staff will move some 30 orthopedic and neurosurgery patients, around 40 general surgery and gynecology patients in need of constant medical care. THE EMERGENCY room at Ben Taub will open Monday and its counterpart at Jefferson Davis will remain open until Wednesday. More than 58 patients and the staff of the Tuberculosis hospital at 3602 West Dallas Ave will move into Jefferson Davis Thursday. The old hospital which opened its doors in January, 1938, will continue to house the jail and the obstetrics ward, although there will be two delivery rooms in operation at Ben Taub Hospital in the event of an emergency. UPDATE The opening of Ben Taub Hospital did not mean the end of Jefferson Davis Hospital. Jefferson Davis continued to operate for 2 more decades, delivering babies and treating psychiatric and TB patients. During much of that period, it was the largest maternity service in the nation. It finally closed in 1989, when the Harris County Hospital District opened Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. Despite the excitement over its opening, Ben Taub was out of code virtually from the start, built based on plans drawn up in 1948. The building nevertheless served as Houston's major hospital for the indigent - and the site of the city's first trauma center - for more than a quarter of a century. A new, more modern Ben Taub Hospital opened next to the original facility in January 1990. The teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine, it currently occupies more than 730,000 square feet of space and is licensed for 486 beds. A $70 million expansion project is currently underway, part of which will utilize the old Ben Taub, renovated. Jefferson Davis Hospital was razed in 1999 to make way for the Federal Reserve Building. But the previous incarnation of the hospital - which served as Houston's public health hospital from 1924 to 1938, before it relocated - is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Long abandoned, it was designated as a protected historic landmark on November 2013. Todd Ackerman This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate THE CONCEPT After opening five Agu Ramen restaurants in Hawaii, chef/owner Hisashi Uehara decided his next big expansion would be in Houston, even though business advisers suggested both Austin and Dallas over the Bayou City. Uehara thinks big: He's opened three stores in Houston in a matter of months and has three more on the way in Sugar Land, Nassau Bay and Katy. And he's looking for spots in the Med Center and The Woodlands. His concept is simple: ramen bowls, a few appetizers and donburi and poke bowls, and a smattering of Hawaiian specialties served in a casual setting. THE SPACE Exposed brick and rough-hewn wood decorate the spare, minimalist restaurants. His newest store on Washington promises to be an interesting redo of the former Christian's Tailgate roadhouse. Once Uehara's initial quick expansion in Houston is completed, he wants to open the city's first "stand-up ramen bar" - a stall-like concept at which ramen is consumed in a matter of minutes while standing up. THE FOOD The star of the show is his tonkotsu pork ramen. The broth is a 24-hour process; pork bones are boiled until they release their creamy marrow. In some ramen bowls he achieves extra creaminess by adding a handful of snowlike Parmesan cheese. It's unusual but delicious, he said. Uehara is proud that he sources many ingredients - seaweed, sausage, pickled cabbage, soy sauce, and even salt and pepper - directly from Japan. He even installed special water softeners in his central commissary that change the texture of the water used to make his ramen broths. THE DRINKS Beer and wine only at the Eldridge store; a full bar, with selections of Japanese beer and whiskey, is coming to the Westheimer and Washington locations. THE WORD "At first, they thought it was a joke," Uehara said of the reaction from his staff and friends when he said he wanted to expand his business to Houston. "Then I said, 'Adios.' " Uehara said he has now permanently moved to H-town and is looking forward to being an in-the-know Houstonian. ONE MORE THING Because Uehara refuses to do takeout - ramen must be eaten immediately and does not travel well, he says - he said he's earned the name "ramen Nazi," as in the strict, unyielding Soup Nazi from "Seinfeld." THE DETAILS 1809 Eldridge Parkway, Suite 108 (open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.); 9301 Westheimer (open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.); 7340 Washington (open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight); aguramen.com A popular chain of restaurants is in hot water after a receipt with an odd discount has gone viral on Facebook. A customer of California restaurant Fat's Asia Bistro & Dim Sum Bar reportedly saw a rat in the dining room during her dinner at the Folsom, California location on Thursday, January 19. The customer's friend, Jackie Logan, shared her story on Facebook and it has since made national news. WORST EVER: These are the most disgusting restaurant violations Logan shared the photo of the receipt from the dinner with her Facebook post. On it, there is the general list of food and drink items, but at the very bottom, there is a "seen rat" discount amounted to $30.95 off of the lofty $116.80 bill. Logan also reports there never was a conversation with the manager about the alleged seen rat. "That's nice. I'm sorry, but does anyone else see a problem with this? If a rat joins you at dinner at a very well known family of restaurants in the area, at a minimum a manager should visit your table and comp the meal," Logan wrote in her Facebook post. WABC spoke to chief operating officer of Fat's Family Restaurant Group Kevin Fat, "The manager put verbatim what the guest saw or stated. In 14 years in Folsom, we've never experienced anything like this before." The Facebook post made its way to the Sacramento County Environment Management Department and they sent a health inspector to the location to see if there are any signs of rats. VIRAL RECEIPT: Customers face racism in their takeout ticket "There were no live or dead bodies from the rodents, no nesting, no gnawed food packages or anything like that," Kelly McCoy of the Sacramento County EMD told WABC. "I think with the weather and all, I think it's possible one came through the back door and maybe wandered around the dining room and was chased back out." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate John Peterson, owner of popular The Rice Box food truck and its Greenway Plaza food court sibling, will open his most ambitious venture yet this week at the Heights location that once housed Chirps Chicken and Rice. The Chinese takeaway bar will offer made-to-order Chinese classics to go or to dine in at nine counter seats, along with patio tables designed to accommodate 16 or so more. On tap will be a range of craft beers and genre-bending chilled, nitro-infused teas. Soft opening with limited hours starts on Chinese New Year, Saturday, January 28, with the official opening on Super Bowl weekend, February 4-5. BIGGER AND BETTER: Kiran's is reopening The plans for 300 W. 20th Street, at the corner of Rutland just a block west of Yale, sound like a good fit for the Heights neighborhood, with its busy families and relative lack of Asian options. For the younger, footloose set, The Rice Box will stay open late-ish, until 10 p.m. weeknights and midnight on weekends. More Information The Rice Box 300 W. 20th 713-993-6577 See More Collapse Peterson and his partner, Jenny Vo, are building out the retro Rice Box menu with dishes including killer wings with Vo's irresistible sweet red chile dip. A new noodle stir-fry dish, a variant on chow fun, is a hawker-style tumble of shrimp, Chinese sausage, egg, onion and sprouts with flat noodles. "Super calorically dense," claims Peterson happily. "I can just see somebody sitting out on the corner eating this on a chilly day." Want your noodles spicy? Add some of Vo's housemade Szechuan peppercorn chile oil. Then there's the lovely, elemental beef and broccoli dish with flat flaps of beef that seem almost velveted, the dark lengths of gai lan affording a healthy crunch. It's stir-fried to order rather than doled out on the all-too-common fast food scoop-and-serve basis, and it's this built-in freshness and simplicity that makes Rice Box an attractive option. Everything at The Rice Box in the Heights, whether take-out or eat-in, will come in specially designed to-go containers that fold out into ad-hoc "plates" an intrinsic feature of Chinese to-go boxes of which I was unaware until Peterson demonstrated the trick of it. If the Chinese food comforts, the look is all sharp surprise. I doubt if there's an edgier takeout joint in the city, if not the state. Peterson has long taken visual inspiration from Blade Runner, the 1982 science fiction film, and his new spot channels its neon-lit noir aesthetic in dramatic style. A big double-faced red and blue neon logo installation sheds a violet light outside and in, a color wash that lights up unexpected surfaces, from a ceiling forest of white tubing to a gleaming zinc countertop. Neon reflections are mirrored in multiple glass surfaces and the all-glass front wall, so the the long rectangular room opens out rather than closing in. If you've ever bathed in the neon lights of Tokyo's Shinjuku district, you'll know the otherworldly feeling Peterson is going for here, with assistance from Jim Herd's Collaborative Projects. One bas-relief wall mimics Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House, the Mayan Revival mansion that was used as a location in Blade Runner. (It stood in for the Harrison Ford character's house.) Interlocking and stacked Rice Box logos, cut from medium-density fiberboard, end up looking like Uxmal relief ornamentation cut out of metal. It's spectacular, particularly when rinsed in that violet neon. Suspended flat screens flicker with classics of noir sci-fi, and round tube lights over the counter replicate the ones in Blade Runner's famous noodle bar scene. That's the one that opens with Harrison Ford, as Deckard, reading a newspaper in front of a neon shopfront as he waits for a counter seat to open up. So at his own noodle bar, Peterson has arranged for an iconic selfie opportunity. He will stash a wooden stool by the neon installation, together with a newspaper. Instant DIY Blade Runner. Instant Instagram, too. And what about those nitrogen-goosed teas? The gas infused at the tap nozzles give the teas a velvety texture without added dairy, so that spiced Thai iced tea seems creamy, even though it's not; and an iced black sweetened tea version tastes like a milk tea, although it involves no milk. The sweetness is restrained, not blatant, and foamy finish resembles that of nitro iced coffee. The Rice Box will add a green nitro tea to its Thai and Lo-Pan Black choices. (Yes, that's a reference to Big Trouble in Little China, another movie staple on the flat screens here.) The remaining taps will be devoted to five craft beers and a tap wine chosen by noted sommelier Justin Vann of Public Services Wine & Whiskey. Add that beverage program to the cutting-edge room and The Rice Box Heights outpost promises to be a cool hang as well as a neighborhood amenity. That's Peterson's goal. "We've always felt we could offer takeaway or fast food with the kind of hospitality and detail you'd get in a full-service restaurant" he says, gliding his hand along his sleek zinc countertop. He's looking forward to watching it acquire years of Blade Runner-style patina. News / Press Release by Benedict Sibasa As Parliament resumes sitting on the 24th of Janaury 2017 and legislatures are going to be debating the 2017 National Budget Statement, Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights would like to urge the Members of Parliament (National Assembly and Senators) to demand the Minister of Finance to allocate funds for Constitutional awareness as in accordance with Section 7 (a)(b) and (c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.Section 7 of the Constitution demands that:The State must promote public awareness of this Constitution, in particular bya) translating it into all officially recognised languages and disseminating it as widely as possible;b) requiring this Constitution to be taught in schools and as part of the curricula for the training of members of the security services, the Civil Service and members and employees of public institutions; andc) encouraging all persons and organisations, including civic organisations, to disseminate awareness and knowledge of this Constitution throughout society.It is disheartening to note that since the year 2013 when the new constitution came into force, the Government of Zimbabwe has not made deliberate efforts to ensure that more Constitutional copies are printed and public awareness of the Constitution is made.Currently it has been noted that about 80% of urban citizens and about 90% of rural citizens of Zimbabwe have never had access to the Constitution of Zimbabwe.According to a MIHR 2016 Survey on access to human rights information in Bulawayo, 20.7% of the respondents claimed to be having possession of a copy of the Zimbabwean Constitution and 90% of those who did not have a copy of the Constitution said they want to have a copy of the Constitution.Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights is an independent human rights watchdog that exists to enhance the protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe.Statement By:The General SecretaryMatabeleland Institute for Human RightsBenedict Sibasa This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN -- A decision by the newly elected Travis County sheriff to no longer cooperate with federal immigration officials on deportation detainers drew a sharp rebuke Monday from state officials, including a threat from Gov. Greg Abbott to cut off state law-enforcement grant funding if the policy is not changed. The apparent showdown immediately drew predictions from state and local officials that the growing fight will likely spur action by the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a tougher state law to prohibit, even harshly penalize, so-called "sanctuary cities" in Texas. The issue was already a priority in the state Senate. CAUTIOUS: Pasadena-area Hispanics wary of President Donald Trump In a video released Friday, Sheriff Sally Hernandez said that effective Feb. 1, her office will only honor immigration detainers when the suspect booked into the Travis County Jail on charges of capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and "continuous smuggling of persons." Hernandez said that while her agency will continue to cooperate with other local, state and federal law enforcement and immigration officials, but the office will not "set unwise public safety priorities simply to ease the burden of the federal government." Deputies can no longer inquire about a person's immigration status under the policy, officials said. "Under previous policy, an inmate who is charged with a crime was deported as soon as he posted bond or before his court date. As such, the inmate never went before a court, the victim and family never had their day in court, and the inmate's criminal record would grow," said Hernandez, a Democrat who had used the issue in her campaign. "This system does not foster public safety. Public safety is fostered whenever there is accountability and closure." TOP JOBS: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lists legislative priorities Under current law, state officials have insisted that all Texas law enforcement agencies are to hold immigrants who are in the country illegally so the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency can pick them up and deport them once the local charges are resolved. Reaction from state officials was quick. Echoing the sentiment of other Republican lawmakers, state Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Austin, called Hernandez's decision disappointing and said it will have "significant consequences" if it is not rescinded. Buckingham promised to join Abbott and other state leaders who are seeking a tougher state law to outlaw so-called "sanctuary cities." "We will not stand idly by while the safety of our constituents is endangered," she said in a Facebook post. "Municipalities cannot be allowed to enact policies that turn a blind eye to criminal activity of those who enter our country illegally and then continue to break our laws." AIDING IMMIGRANTS: Houston opens office to offer assistance In a letter to Hernandez on Monday, Abbott called her policy "shortsighted" and "reckless," and noted that Travis County received nearly $1.8 million in federal grants through his office last year. "Your policy is in violation of that commitment," Abbott stated. "Unless you reverse your policy prior to its effective date, your unilateral decision will cost the people of Travis County money that was meant to be used to protect them." >>>Click through the above gallery to see shots from "sanctuary cities" around the country. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to revive Texas' controversial voter ID law, dashing for now the hopes of the state's Republican leaders to overturn a lower-court decision that the rule discriminated against blacks and Hispanics. The decision could mean that the Texas Legislature, which is now in session for five months, could try to fix the legal issues with the law on its own. But officials who were reviewing the ruling said the most likely course will be to let pending appeals continue in lower courts. Without dissent, the high court let stand a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision last July that found that the Texas law ran afoul of a federal statute that bars discriminatory practices in elections. The justices sent the issue back to a lower court to decide how to fix the law. GAY MARRIAGE: Texas high court to take up same-sex benefits case In a statement explaining the court's decision not to hear an appeal in the case at this time, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that litigation on the law is continuing in lower courts. Although there was "no barrier to our review," he stated, all the legal issues can be raised on appeal at a later time. In a 9-6 decision, a special 15-judge panel of the New Orleans-based appeals court ruled that the Texas law violated the U.S. Voting Rights Act. That court directed a lower court to review claims by the plaintiffs that the law was intended to be discriminatory, rather than just having a discriminatory effect. A hearing on that part of the case by a Corpus Christi federal judge had been scheduled Tuesday, but was delayed until Feb. 28 after the U.S. Department of Justice late Friday sought time for the Trump Administration to review whether to continue challenging the Texas requirements. NO CHANGE: Federal judge stands firm on Pasadena voting rights ruling When that case is decided, appeals are expected. State officials said they were reviewing the decision and would comment later in the day. "The job of the courts is to protect our fundamental rights," said Myrna Perez, director of the Voting Rights and Elections Project at the Brennan Center that represents the Texas NAACP and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in the case. "When the case comes before it, the Supreme Court has an important opportunity to affirm and uphold this country's promise that Americans will be free from racial discrimination when they step into the voting booth." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he was disappointed but optimistic. "Chief Justice Roberts made it very clear that the case will be an even stronger posture for Supreme Court review after further proceedings in lower courts," he said. "Texas enacted a common sense voter ID law to safeguard the integrity of our elections, and we will continue to fight for the law in the district court, the Fifth Circuit, and if necessary, the Supreme Court again." Texas' voter ID law has been the subject of litigation for years. STUDY: Fewer Texas women have abortions if they have to travel long way In 2012, a federal appeals court in Washington first blocked the implementation of the law requiring voters to show a photo identification before they could cast a ballot. That court ruled that the law had a disproportionately negative effect on minority citizens in Texas. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court, ruling in a separate case, allowed Texas to implement its law, which it quickly did. The Texas State Conference of the NAACP and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the Texas House challenged the law in federal court, and a trial in 2014 showed that the state's ID requirement would create discriminatory barriers to voting. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ruled the Texas law unconstitutional, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed it to remain in effect for the 2014 election. Other reaction was supportive of Monday's decision. "It has been an incredible waste of taxpayer monies and state resources to challenge what any reasonably objective person knows that the law is plainly and simply discriminatory against racial and ethnic minorities," said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP. "Judges appointed by presidents of both political parties have so held repeatedly." "There is no more fundamental American right than the right to vote, and the Supreme Court protected it by declining to hear this case," said Jose Garza, legal counsel for MALC. "Multiple courts, including the Fifth Circuit, have reviewed this bill and seen it for what it is a tool to silence the voices of Latinos, African Americans, and elderly or poor voters. There was no basis for questioning their conclusions, and the Supreme Court affirmed that today." >>>Click through the above gallery to see the long, colorful history Texas has with the U.S. Supreme Court. 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. Opinion / Columnist I am indeed responding to the article Cd Fuzwayo wrote on Bulawayo24.com January 19th regarding the cruelty done to a minor by some rouge desperate wife from Gwanda who paraded an innocent victim of sexual abused n'ked minor for sleeping with her silly hubby. It makes me proud to have men in our midst who are so human in their political activities. Cd Fuzwayo stands out as one of the few men of substance in our Zimbabwe's political landscape. It takes a man to stand up and speak for the rights of a girl-child in our devilish and child hating societies. It also takes the heart of a good man to speak out so loud the way Fuzwayo did. In my eyes you are great Comrade. I love you dear Bekezela. Your article was political correct, as a politician!Evidently our girl-children are not safe from the hands of rogue men and women. This young minor is an absolute victim of paedophilic Gwanda husband who has the hide to put a young girl into such a cruel disposition because his trouser zip was failing him even at odd times of the day and place, if he felt it and the wife went grocery shopping he could casually call a girl to relieve his sexual pressure from his penis for him. Young girl-children are cheap service objects of sexual nature paedophiles use in Zimbabwe. As remunerations a girl-child will be given a fake one dollar, at best he would go without payment; he is THE MAN AFTER ALL. He has the right to sexual intercourse with anyone he felt at that time he so wanted it.But our Bekezela Fuzwayo is not the type of a man. He begs to differ from the rough-rough of Zimbabwean men who think that their sex desires exudes the law regarding the protection of children in our societies. Fuzwayo is questioning the low values and decaying fabric of our societies regarding children and their rights. In the photo that girl could be about 14 years of age, a minor by definition. As Fuzwayo puts it, that girl must have been threatened: a threat of force was used to the girl to come to the bedroom, was frightened by threats of force and she complied. This is the maximum punishment she had to go through, degrading her persona; the element that defines her as a human being was ripped off, curiously by a woman. This girl endures six times-abuse from both the husband and the wife.In any sexual intercourse, who soils the linen, men or women? Biology will tell you that it's the men who soil the blankets. In what way would this little girl have soiled the woman's blankets? She endured a sex act she was not part of but was done to her in absolute cruelty- she get punished for enduring pain in the course of sexual encounter with this rogue man. Is her slipping into the blankets the soiling of the bed linen? Why did she not confront her hubby and shame him in the public in the same way she shamed the minor? Is she afraid to lose her "good marriage" to her "good husband"? This woman should be ashamed and be shamed by all civilised citizens of our nation. This devilish woman from Gwanda crossed the radical line!Cd Bekezela Fuzwayo is leading in telling us to be vigilant in protecting those vulnerable in our societies: the-girl-children. He eloquently talks about protecting the community values and upholding exactly that that makes us human: if there was a problem there are many avenues to solve such issue however painful, he said.There are situations where the Zim government gets it right. When we hear that this particular woman was incarcerated we should applaud this. Abuse on young women and girl-children is rampant in Zimbabwe; it is getting worse by the day. It is worse enough to know that there are many "decent men" out there who will never test justice for their pa*dophile links to both girls and boys. This homosexuality that is forbidden by law, as a matter of fact homosexuality is there in our Zimbabwean societies it's just secretly practiced on young boys who will forever keep the secret of anal sexual intercourse from the public.This Gwanda woman may believe that this girl is the one at fault and not her husband. Hence she vents her absolute anger in the public to her than her husband. She knows too that the public will support her action it did not matter how much she violated the rights of the child. Abuse on children has always been the fault of the child and not the man in question. A girl-child is the last piece of dirt in our societies! The UNCRC articulates the rights of children less than 18 years in its human rights treaties. It spells out the rights of children as human being whose rights must be protected by UN members who ratified the treaties regarding children. Zimbabwe as a member of the UN is bound by the international law to protect children. This Gwanda woman must be told that those jungle-like bush-laws she meted on our girl-child are not tolerated in Zimbabwe by any civilized government present and future regimes of Zimbabwe. She should remain behind bars until she learns to abide by the law that respects human beings including children and not her short-lived temper tantrum culminating from a husband who cannot zip up a simple trouser zip.Would it not have been easier if she taught her husband good manners of a hubby at home than to attack the weakest in our society the girl-child? It is typical in our society to reduce the weaker sections to nothingness to effect power of possession. Women enjoy this kind of power possession when one member is humiliated in the presence of all to see. This is misplaced power show-casing. This woman should confront her hubby, her equal, and deal with him thoroughly she was going to get respect from all corners of the country. I will not be surprised if this woman will welcome her hubby back home and continue to condemn the little girl- a victim of it all.Our societies' mindset should change from shaming victims of sex abused girl-children by abusing sex-victims in a public bashing. If you are a mother you should think and empathize with such situations. It can be my own child tomorrow in this situation.We Zimbabwean people we lack empathy seriously. We dwell too much on pornographic material found at every corner of CDs shops. We tend to consume pornographic violence without condemning it as such. We see abuse, instead of assisting the victim, we start shooting video clips with our mobile phones to send to You-tubes sometimes without any due remunerations but just for the sake of publicity and fun, how sad. This love of pornographic violence is so country-wide, how we are going to curb this ruthless scourge of absolute insensitivity towards the other: no idea! To a certain degree, women should be to blame for their role in reducing other women victims of sexual nature. I am telling this story all over again! When I wrote a book and passionately told it that there was serious sexual abuse in my family, I was attacked by the very women in my family who are victims of sexual abuse themselves. These women are custodians of family secrets, never to be publicly known and spoken about. I went further and told it that the very SOCIAL FATHER IN THE FAMILY IS A SERIAL PAEDOPHILE, the attack was then direct, you do not belong to the family anymore: whatever that means! It was good to know that I could effect that change, pull down walls of deceit forever. The emperor is naked, his armpits are smelly, and he needs a good bath!I should never be part of a family institution that conceals sex abuse on children as old as eight, nine and 11 years old. If I was abused myself at that age, it then compels me to root out such evils first and by foremost talking about it and doing something tangibly starting from my home going out. We have the nation's duty never to leave any stone unturned by making sure such men; paedophiles see justice one day: but that one day will come! Come hell or sunshine!My politics in Zimbabwe is clear from the onset, to protect the rights of women and children, assist in formulating future perspectives, and empower them as such so that we are not seen in a cycle of poverty that will further pull us into the deep end. These are my objectives I consider them uttermost to live for God willing! We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. 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... Call them what you willwhoppers, untruths, liesbut casual falsehoods have been the hallmark of President Donald Trumps young political career. The latest example came on Saturday, when White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer berated journalists for deliberately false reporting on the underwhelming attendance for Trumps inauguration. Spicers error-ridden diatribeon his first day in the taxpayer-funded jobcame after hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Washington, New York and elsewhere to protest Trumps ascent to power. This was the largest audience to ever witness an inaugurationperiodboth in person and around the globe, Spicer said of Fridays ceremonies, contradicting all available evidence. Such bald-faced deception is the new reality under the Trump Administration. Whereas every president for the past century has attempted to mold public opinion by spinning information, taking messages directly to voters, and selectively curtailing press access, Trump obstructs a fact-based debate like none of his predecessors. With seemingly shameless fibsbig and smallthe president and his aides have served to cast doubt on the very notion of objective truth. Take Trumps years of lies about former President Barack Obamas birthplace. Or his repeated assertions that he initially opposed the Iraq War. Or his claims of widespread voter fraud. The list goes on; the press corps fact-checkers continue working overtime. Related: Journalisms moment of reckoning has arrived Sign up for CJR 's daily email Spicers easily disprovable statement Saturday was a minor fabrication, but such behavior is more ominous now that Trump is in power. The public needs accurate information to make informed political decisions. The new government, meanwhile, is already showing a willingness to make that task more difficult. Kellyanne Conway, Trumps campaign strategist-turned TV spin-doctor, explained Sunday on Meet the Press that Spicer was merely offering alternative facts about the inaugural turnout. The phrasing carries more than a whiff of propaganda. Trumps seeming imperviousness to being caught in a lie stems largely from a fragmented and increasingly partisan media environment. Though newspapers and networks often call out his falsehoods, the reality TV star can tweet directly to his huge social media audience and let right-wing media mouthpieces do the rest of the work. Digital filter bubbles and the press historically low levels of public trust work in tandem to further buffer Trumpworld from true facts. The new administration has every right to contest incorrect or unfair coverage. But Trump & Co. have gone a step beyond, using their bully pulpit to paint a monolithic crooked media as an oppositional force. Increasing partisanship makes such attacks particularly effective. Related: An open letter to Trump from the US press corps The new dynamic fomented seemingly endless handwringing by the mainstream media during the campaign. Now, they must ready themselves and the public for four years of such misinformation, not only by calling out falsehoods early and often in individual stories, but also contextualizing them within Trumps long history of actively distorting facts. On Sunday, Meet the Press Moderator Chuck Todd aggressively pushed back on Conways alternative facts. The New York Times likewise described the presidents falsehoods in a front-page headline. More of such no-nonsense treatment will be in order. This weekends episode is no doubt the first of many such collision points between a diminished news media and the president its tasked with holding to account. While its in Trumps interest to delegitimize the press, however, its in the publics to fight against efforts to delegitimize the truth. A version of this column was co-published in the New York Daily News. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti. Trump attacking a journalist at his first news conference. The White House press secretary lying to the media at the first post-inauguration press briefing. Trump attacking the media in his speech to the CIA. None of it is surprising. Yet the result has been a mainstream media in a state of wounded pride and downright hysteria that I havent seen since the advent of Gawker. It is yet another irony in this moment of proliferating ironies that the billionaire responsible for the destruction of Gawker, Peter Thiel, has helped to create a president whose street-fighting tactics resemble those of the erstwhile website, which during its first years stunned the well-heeled, clubby, super-entitled, piety-sharing media elite with its naked insults, insinuations, and verbal assaults. The medias response then was to engage in soul-searching with regard to its status in the digital age, much as the medias response now is to engage in soul-searching with regard to its status at a time of alternative facts, and a president who daily showers contempt on the press. It is incredible, and incredibly depressing, to see the media turn on itself even as Trump is turning on the media. Responding to BuzzFeeds publication of the Trump-Russia memos, Jim Rutenberg wrote admonishingly in The New York Times: Every journalistic misstep gives more fodder to people who want to stop the efforts against fake news by turning the tables and labeling those effortsor any other solid journalism they dont likeas fake news as well, corrupting the term for their own purposes (a classic case of no, you are!). At a moment when we are in entirely uncharted territory, when the rules and conventions of politics and the media and the relationship between them have been upended, Rutenberg is warning journalists to be careful not to make a misstep. And his definition of a media misstep is anything that can be used by the medias powerful adversaries against the media. In other words, it is Trump and his cronies who decide what the misstep is. It is they who define journalistic malfeasance. Helping to create an atmosphere where caution is the dominant approach is not the most effective response to a situation in which the incoming president and his associates possess no caution at all. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Yet you can hardly imagine a situation in which the partisans of so-called fake news are more aggressive than they are now, or a situation in which attacks on and hatred of the mainstream press could be more intense. Helping to create an atmosphere where caution is the dominant approach is not the most effective response to a situation in which the incoming president and his associates possess no caution at all. Not once in the eight years that George W. Bush was president did he handle the press with the derision and contempt Trump displayed last week. He gave frequent news conferences. He never publicly sought to undermine the fundamental credibility of the media. He and other members of his administration cultivated close relationships with many media figures. Not once during Bushs two terms as president did I read, or even hear, any rational expression of a fear that he posed a real threat to the media as a legitimate institution, or to free speech as a democratic principle. Instead, the media in the Bush era relied on access and sources to assimilate the most catastrophic lie in American history. Bush was a uniquely bad president. But even at the height of TV and internet assaults on him and his administration, Bush never tried to curb the presss prerogatives, or to curtail its access to him and the people around him in any unconventional way. He did not publicly spew contempt at the media. He was not outrageously rude to reporters. There he was, year after year, yukking it up with the media at the White House Correspondents dinner. (And there he was, giving a sardonic thumbs-up to Hillary Clinton at Trumps inauguration.) Compared to Bush and Cheneys smooth, respectful manipulation and subjugation of the media, Trump and his regimes snarling hostility and barefaced lying to the pressi.e., their openness about their motivesare a gift to the republic. Nero might have fiddled while Rome burned, but he didnt tweet about it. Trump, however, wants everyone not only to be in awe of his presence and pronouncements, but also to lavish attention on his random thoughts. Clues to how he will governif he does governare all over the trail of tweets and public pronouncements he has left behind him like so many bird droppings. One boast he repeatedly made during his campaign was that he was spending only a fraction of what his opponents were for advertising and publicity. The gist of the reason he gave for this was that, unlike his opponents, he was a fascinating, larger-than-life personality who knew how to put on such a good show that the media would find it irresistible. One glimpse of the decor of Trumps penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue, half Hollywood mogul, half Versaillesits gold hues now transported by Trump to the interior of the White Houseand you can see how he conceives of himself with regard to the media. He does not expect a press pool or a mass of reporters shouting questions at a press conference. He wants, demands even, an entourage, in the same way that a celebrity has an entourage, or a monarch has a crowd of courtiers. Even at the height of TV and internet assaults on him and his administration, Bush never tried to curb the presss prerogatives, or to curtail its access to him and the people around him in any unconventional way. In the manner of a celebrity, Trump will amuse himself by giving praise or attention to one media figure while denying it to others, or by singling out some reporters for taunts and insults. In the manner of a monarch, he will confer favors on some media people and deny them to their rivals, thus causing the entourage to fight over every crumb of favor or attention he tosses to them. In the medias current precarious financial condition, such desperate internecine strife is not hard to stir up. This divide and conquer strategy, recognized and denounced by the media, is already working beautifully for Trump. In an interview in the Times, Thiel explained why Silicon Valley executives, previously hostile to Trump, dutifully attended an off-the-record meeting with Trump the moment they were summoned by the president-elect. I think, early on, everybody was worried that they would be the only person to show up, Mr. Thiel says. At the end, everybody was worried they would be the only person not to show up. This is Trumps strategy with the media. The insecure, status-anxious, financially unstable Trump has, if nothing else, a visceral grasp of the medias insecurity, status-anxiety, and financial instability. How else to account for the bizarre meeting at Conde Nast, off the record, between Trump and the editors of The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Vogue, among others? The strangest presence at the meeting was David Remnick, who the very night of Trumps election wrote an impassioned piece for The New Yorkers website in response to the astounding turn of events. Whether you agreed with Remnicks alarmist tone or not, his essay was an eloquent cri de coeur, raw and deeply felt. In the course of the essay, Remnick twice warned that the media would try to normalize Trump, and that this tendency should be resisted. Yet you could hardly imagine a more normalizing event than the editor of The New Yorker attending an off-the-record meeting with the president-elect. Compared to Bush and Cheneys smooth, respectful manipulation and subjugation of the media, Trump and his regimes snarling hostility and barefaced lying to the pressi.e., their openness about their motivesare a gift to the republic. When Graydon Carter was asked how he felt about the meeting being off the record, Carter replied, Not my preference. But I will abide by that. Explaining why he attended the meeting, Carter later told Politico, I try to be a decent host. I went to Anna Wintour and I said, Listen, I dont want to make [Trump] feel uncomfortable. On the one hand, a media howls and cries about an impending constitutional crisis in which the media will be essentially abolished. On the other hand, a prominent media figure expresses his desire not to make the president-elect fidget. Agreeing to meet off the record with a man who has placed himself beyond the pale of what is accepted in American political and public life has the simultaneous effects of confirming peoples conviction that the media inhabits an opaque bubble of privilege, and of helping Trump in his attempts to silence the media. If Trump refuses to be transparent with the American public about his tax returns, his business entanglements, and his relationship with Russia, why are these powerful and prestigious media actors abetting Trump in his lack of transparency in these matters by agreeing to, essentially, talk with him in secret? What if Trump gave a press conference and nobody came? What if the press stopped reporting on his every tweet and utterance? Trumps principal means of upending robust and protective social and political conventions would immediately come to a halt. Instead of publishing lengthy, fluffy profiles of social media billionaires, the media might now want to press the social media giants that more and more control our national life on their policies with regard to the most divisive and least qualified president in American history. The medias diffidence in the face of new forms of communication that pose threats both to the media and to democracy is as worrisome as its accommodation, when push comes to shove, of our incoming president. It would be invigorating for prestigious media outlets and figures to make the argument that the way things stand now, Twitter is aiding Trump in driving the country toward dark and dangerous places. His strident, deceitful, inciting Tweets, reported on by a media determined to hold him to account, yet at the same time eager to draw readers, are destroying the possibility of rational, patient public discourse. On the one hand, a media howls and cries about an impending constitutional crisis in which the media will be essentially abolished. On the other hand, a prominent media figure expresses his desire not to make the president-elect fidget. In the end, the social media companies, behind their democratic rhetoric, are about money and power. But we live in strange new times, in which shame, expressed across social media platforms, is a powerful tool. Instead of succumbing to outrage and hysteria, the media shouldalong with adapting to the new situation and holding Trump to account without vindictiveness or spitebe reexamining the forces that have, over the past two decades, helped cripple the media. In the meantime, I hope Trump and his people keep wearing their thuggishness on their sleeves. On Sunday, as the media was reporting that the Republicans were planning to reinstitute high-risk pools that would enable health insurers to once again deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, Trump tweeted about the demonstrations against his presidency, Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I dont always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views. His appearance of rationality and political decency, even as policies sponsored by him that will ruin countless lives were beginning to take shape, sent chills down my spine. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Lee Siegel , a widely published writer on culture and politics, is the author of six books and the recipient of a National Magazine Award for Reviews and Criticism. Crowded around three tables, about 15 journalists clack away on laptops. A web of power cords crisscrosses the floor, balled-up fast food wrappers overflow from waste baskets, and a side-table displays what seems like every flavor of Doritos imaginable. Its early afternoon on Wednesday, and the Axios website launched just hours earlier. Most of these people didnt go to bed last night, says Jim VandeHei, describing the orderly insanity in the nascent companys makeshift newsroom. A decade after co-founding Politico, VandeHei is back in startup mode. The mastermind behind Politicos rapid expansion, who wakes up around 3:30 am nowadays, decamped earlier this year along with newsletter-extraordinaire Mike Allen and money man Roy Schwartz, setting up their own shop, just two Metro stops away, that aims to cover collision points between politics, tech, media, and business. Collectively, weve all made a mess of media, VandeHei says, chastising cheap ads and clickbait content. So if you can fix that, you can create an addiction. The man certainly proved to be an effective pusher in his past life, despite Politicos skeptics. The news organization grew into a Washington juggernaut by moving product that political and industry insiders didnt know they were previously craving. Axios aims to similarly capitalize on white-shoe Washington and other small, but elite, groups of news consumers. That mission belies Axios shared working space, with beer on tap and treadmill desks. The startups plan of attack centers on what VandeHei calls smart brevity, a user experience that gets rid of all the shit thats distracting, and a similar style of granular, scoop-driven reporting that Politico popularized and mainstream outlets emulated in modernizing their own political coverage for the web. The inaugural festivities of President Donald Trump formed the backdrop of the first days of the Axios sites life, which was complete with a star-studded launch event attended by outgoing Vice President Joe Biden, incoming Trump aides Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway, and other insiders. Just as Trump came to power promising to drain the swampand as many media outlets began looking outward to better understand national politicsAxios has begun marketing itself as an interpreter of the swamps language. Its a significant contrarian bet, one backed by a reported $10 million in funding last year. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Establishment, traditional legacy media is both discredited in so many quarters and is so defensive right now, Allen tells me in a glassed-in conference room. Theyre trying to solve their blind spots with volume. I can see it in the papers and the broadcasts. Thats not the answer, and thats a huge opportunity for usYoure not going to flip a switch, and someone will understand Ohio. But you can give them smart ways to think about it and help show them things are going on. VandeHei, wearing a dark blazer and jeans, cuts in: The answer is not to dispatch a reporter to Millinocket, Maine, and cover rural white people like theyre an exotic albino dart frog. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Axios employs about 50 people across editorial, sales, and marketing, poaching veterans from Fortune, The Hill, STAT News, and Independent Journal Review, as well as Capitol Hill staffers. The companys inside-out approach is apparent throughout its conversational and bullet-point-heavy work, from micro-scoops on the fate of Obamacare and staff changes in Washington to an exclusive interview with Trump. A trio of newsletters anchor the organizations offerings, with aggregation playing a supporting role. Its stories are fairly conventional other than the fact they rarely stretch past a few hundred words, and they often include one-sentence subheads on Why this matters and the like. Axios has experimented with new forms of delivery through segmented Facebook Instant Articles and a Snapchat Discover channel, We The People. But its real innovation, it seems, is a sleek and user-friendly design that arranges content into an ongoing stream. Political junkies can scroll indefinitely for both quick hits or the occasional extended-release fix. Think Twitter but with a topical focus and less shouting. The startup sees this stream as a competitive advantage over other political publications, particularly when it comes to native advertising. Axios branded content is extremely short in lengthin contrast to the longform work from the likes of T Brand Studio at The New York Timesand fits snugly within its other bite-sized pieces. Unless someone replicates the entire way we arrange our content, which would be extremely difficult, we dont see how many people can replicate our approach, says Schwartz, the companys president and the third co-founder. The answer is not to dispatch a reporter to Millinocket, Maine, and cover rural white people like theyre an exotic albino dart frog. Launch partnerships with corporate advertisers like BP and Walmart have stretched from hundreds of thousands of dollars upward, Schwartz says. He claims Axios has already surpassed expectations on 2017 ad revenue but doesnt go into specifics. The first phase of the companys business plan centers on branded content and events, while the secondto be expected sometime this yearwill comprise a paid, premium service tailored for industry and political insiders. The options include what VandeHei vaguely calls a platform play helping companies or organizations consume and disseminate information. He adds: But what were really, really good at? We know how to sell high-end subscriptions. Many journalists gasped in late November when VandeHei, speaking at a conference hosted by Recode, mentioned his inclination toward subscriptions costing upward of $10,000. The reaction suggested a lack of familiarity with the Politico Pro service he helped architect. If I was on stage, Schwartz adds with a laugh, I would have said $100,000. It would be no surprise for the former Politico brain trust to leverage their business know-how and Beltway connections to yield a windfall from a corporate-intelligence product. The bigger question is a journalistic one, particularly given the style of journalism Axios aims to practice. With Trumps use of innuendoif not not outright deceptionand constantly mixed messages from his aides, the new administration seems to call the very value of access into question. The cringe-worthy aspect of that dynamic bubbled up when Allen tweeted out photos of the food spread at Trumps Mar-a-Lago hotel in December, and then a picture of the president-elect smiling with the press pool. Such behind-the-curtain content seems somewhat dated in the context of an administration thats belligerent toward media and a press corps thats returning the favor in kind. Axios is betting that the new environmentwith new players and new ways of communication alikeprovides it an opening. Theyre building this stuff on the fly, theyre building a team on the fly, theyre building an ideology on the fly, VandeHei says of the Trump Administration. Everybody hanging on his every wordwhereas you might hang on them if it were a more conventional presidency with a specific agendaneeds to look at it differently. Or, to focus less on what Trump tweets, and more on what he does and how hes thinking about doing it. As far as our role, its fantastic to us, because people dont know what to trust, Allen says. Theres so much hunger to understand whats going on, and to sort through the mixed messages. And sometimes theres no sorting through themtheyre just mixed messages. The bespectacled and frenetic Allen helped catapult Politico to prominence with his early morning Playbook newsletter, which ranged from driving-the-day micro-scoops to Hill staffers birthdays. Now he hopes to reprise his role as the public face of a new media company, with a different morning newsletter, Axios AM, short for All Mikey. Before departing, I ask him if hes getting any more sleep on his second go-round at a startup trying to take Washington by storm. I dont set an alarm, he says. I just wake up. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti. Several people asked North Dakota lawmakers on Friday to reject Republican-backed legislation they say would allow drivers to run down Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters and other activists without consequence. The bill would exempt drivers from liability if they unintentionally injure or kill a pedestrian obstructing traffic on a public road. The proposal is among several spawned by the ongoing protests against the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline that drew thousands of protesters this summer to an encampment near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. It would send a clear and unequivocal message to some very bad people that vehicular homicide is welcome in the state of North Dakota, Andrew Varvel of Bismarck told the House Transportation Committee. Varvel was among about 10 people who testified against the legislation during the hearing at the Capitol, where the North Dakota Highway Patrol increased patrols in and outside the building on Friday because of interest in the hearing. Outside, several people waived signs in opposition to the bill. Republican Rep. Keith Kempenich of Bowman has said he crafted the bill after his 72-year-old mother-in-law was blocked by pipeline protesters waiving signs on a roadway. On Friday, Kempenich told the committee that his proposal does not impact pedestrians who are following the law and not interfering with traffic. Committee member Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, said the bill isnt aimed at preventing protests, but rather at protecting people who are caught up on a roadway and are blocked by a mob and fear for their life and need to try and extricate themselves from that situation. Tom Asbridge of Bismarck told the committee that he had no position on the pipeline but called the legislation shameful. It smacks of prejudice, racism and personal animosity, he said. Ruth Buffalo of Fargo testified that the legislation would allow drivers to get away with vehicular homicide, asking: Who are you going to believe, the dead or the living? The committee will decide later whether to endorse the measure. The full House will consider the bill later. Northwestern University researchers now have an answer to a vexing age-old question: Why do earthquakes sometimes come in clusters? The research team has developed a new computer model and discovered that earthquake faults are smarter in the sense of having better memory than seismologists have long assumed. If its been a long time since a large earthquake, then, even after another quake happens, the faults memory sometimes isnt wiped out, so theres still a good chance of having another, said Seth Stein, the studys senior author and the William Deering Professor of Geological Sciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. As a result, a cluster of earthquakes occurs, he said. Earthquake clusters imply that faults have a long-term memory. The model shows that clusters can occur on faults with long-term memory, so that even after a big earthquake happens, the chance of another earthquake can stay high. The memory comes from the fact that the earthquake didnt release all the strain that built up on the fault over time, so some strain remains after a big earthquake and can cause another. This isnt surprising, said Bruce D. Spencer, a professor of statistics in Weinberg and an author of the study. Many systems behavior depends on their history over a long time. For example, your risk of spraining an ankle depends not just on the last sprain you had, but also on previous ones. Leah Salditch, lead author of the study, will present details of the research Thursday, Dec. 15, at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in San Francisco. The presentation on paper S44B08: Are Earthquake Clusters/Supercycles Real or Random? will begin at 5:45 p.m. in room 305, Moscone South. Since earthquake seismology started after a large earthquake destroyed San Francisco in 1906, seismologists have usually assumed that when the next big earthquake will happen on a fault depends on the time since the last one happened. In other words, a fault has only short-term memory it remembers only the last earthquake and has forgotten all the previous ones. This assumption goes into forecasting when future earthquakes will happen, and then into hazard maps that predict the level of shaking for which earthquake-resistant buildings should be designed. However, Salditch, a graduate student in Steins research group, explained, Long histories of earthquakes on faults sometimes show clusters of earthquakes with relatively short times between them, separated by longer times without earthquakes. For example, during clusters on the San Andreas, big earthquakes happened only about 50 years apart, while the clusters are separated by several hundred years. Clusters also have been found on the Cascadia fault system off the coast of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and along the Dead Sea fault in Israel. These results could be important for forecasting when future earthquakes will happen, said Edward M. Brooks, an author of the study and a graduate student in Steins research group. When youre trying to figure out a teams chances of winning a ball game, you dont want to look just at what happened in the last game between those teams, Brooks said. Looking back over earlier games also can be helpful. We should learn how to do a similar thing for earthquakes. Source: Northwestern University The state of Montana has reached settlements totaling $25 million with more than 1,000 victims of asbestos-related disease over claims that health officials failed to bring attention to the hazards of a contaminated mine. The Flathead Beacon reported that the settlements stem from nearly 100 lawsuits brought against the state for failing to protect residents in the northwestern Montana town of Libby. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands sickened by asbestos exposure from Libbys now-shuttered W.R. Grace and Co. vermiculite mine, which operated for decades just outside of town. A different set of more than 1,000 plaintiffs reached a $43 million settlement with the state in 2011. Asbestos-related disease can have a decadeslong latency period before lung problems and other symptoms appear. The plaintiffs in the latest settlements had not been diagnosed when the earlier deal was reached, Tom Lewis, a Great Falls lawyer for the plaintiffs, told The Associated Press. Theyll receive payments ranging from $10,500 up to $60,000 for more severe cases, said Dale Cockrell, a Kalispell attorney who represented the state in settlement negotiations. Since an initial deal was reached in June, 30 to 40 additional people have filed similar claims about health problems from asbestos exposure. Those claims still are being reviewed and theres been no decision yet on how the state will handle them, Cockrell said. Separate lawsuits from victims are pending against BNSF Railway, which transported asbestos-containing vermiculite from the mine to processing sites across the country, and International Paper, the current owner of a lumber mill in Libby where vermiculite was stored. Wednesdays settlement marks the end of lengthy negotiations between victims and the state. It resolves hundreds of claims against the state on behalf of miners, their family members and members of the community. Attorneys with a Kalispell law firm representing 826 claimants and Lewis firm representing more than 200 reached separate agreements with the state, resolving the individual lawsuits. The Libby mine closed in 1999 and nearly $600 million has been spent on a cleanup program for the Montana community. The Environmental Protection Agency has investigated or cleaned more than 7,100 properties in and near Libby and plans to finish another 700 properties before completion. W.R. Grace agreed in a 2008 settlement to pay the EPA $250 million for cleanup work. Health officials have estimated that as many as 400 people have died and almost 3,000 have been sickened from exposure in Libby and the surrounding area. The Montana Supreme Court overturned lower court decisions in 2004, ruling that the state should have warned miners of the dangers first identified by officials in the 1950s. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Interactive map.png A screen grab of the city of Akron's interactive map that shows locations of active lead pipe services and non-lead pipe services throughout the city. (City of Akron) AKRON, Ohio - The city of Akron on Monday released public records and an interactive map that shows the locations of active lead pipe services and non-lead pipe services throughout the city. The map was released under a 2016 state law that requires public water systems to identify the locations of any lead piping in service areas and make that information available to the public. Akron has been proactively replacing lead pipe services (the pipe from the water main in the street to the shutoff valve) with copper piping since the mid-1950s. Currently, about 5 percent of the city's water customers have a lead pipe service. "Whenever a street or sidewalk is being repaired or other work is being done, we make it a priority to replace any lead pipe services in the area," said John Moore, director of public service, in a release. "On average, we replace 3-5 lead services every week." Having a lead service pipe does not necessarily mean that water will have elevated lead levels. The city of Akron uses zinc orthophosphate, a corrosion inhibitor, to coat lead pipes and help prevent lead from leaching into water. The city also tests homeowners' water for lead. Results have shown that the corrosion control measures are working and water exceeds all Environmental Protection Agency requirements. However, the presence of old fixtures or lead pipes that transport water from the pipe service into homes may still cause elevated lead levels. "Due to the hard work and progressive decision-making of our water department staff over the past several decades, we have a good story to tell in Akron," Mayor Dan Horrigan said in a release. "I am proud to say that only a small percentage of lead services remain in our city, and those that do are fully and carefully treated to prevent any dangerous contamination. We work every day to protect the health and safety of our residents and their families, and we are pleased to continue our long history of providing safe, reliable drinking water to our customers." To view the interactive map, including lead and non-lead pipe services throughout the city, visit: www.akronohio.gov/water. For questions, refer to the city's letter and frequently asked questions resources, or for specific questions, contact the Mayor's Action Center at 330-375-2311 or 3-1-1. Unemployment Benefits What is the best way for jobs to be created in Ohio? Take The Plain Dealer poll (Associated Press photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio's job growth rate has trailed that of the United States for nearly all of the last four years. So, what should Ohio do about about job growth? Hal Martin, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, says Ohioans shouldn't be overly concerned about the state's job growth lagging that of the nation. He says Ohio's job growth rate doesn't need to match that of the U.S. for a few reasons. For example, Ohio's working-age population is increasing more slowly than the nation's as a whole. See: Does job growth in Ohio need to improve? Other experts, including George Zeller, an economic research analyst, believe Ohio's job growth rate needs to at least match that of the nation. Job loss - especially the disappearance of good-paying, blue-collar employment - played heavily in the presidential race. This was particularly true in Ohio and other states in the industrial Midwest, which handed Donald Trump a White House victory. During his inaugural address Friday, President Trump referenced "rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation". How could good-paying jobs be created in Ohio? Tell us by taking The Plain Dealer poll and offering your opinion in the comment section below. ELYRIA, Ohio - An Elyria man is charged with drunken driving in a six-car crash that left a 6-year-old girl in critical condition. The crash also injured three others and caused a diesel fuel spill Sunday afternoon on Ohio 57 at Cleveland Street, police said. The 6-year-old girl and her mother were treated for undisclosed injuries at MetroHealth. The girl remains in critical condition but the mother's condition is unknown, police said Monday. Two other women were also injured and received treatment at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center. One woman suffered a fractured leg and the other had minor injuries, police said. Donald Buchs, 24, is charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in the crash that happened just after 1:30 p.m., police said. Buchs was driving a 2011 Ford F-150 when he struck a 2015 Ford Explorer and a 1994 flatbed tow truck from behind, police said. The Explorer and the tow truck were stopped at a red light on Ohio 57. The impact pushed the Explorer into a 2003 Dodge Durango and a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. It also pushed the tow truck into a 2016 Nissan Rogue. The F-150 continued through the intersection and hit a chain-link fence. The F-150's speed was likely a factor in the crash, police said. Buchs failed field sobriety tests at the crash scene and was taken into custody, police said. His blood sample has been sent to a lab for testing, police said. A diesel fuel tank attached to Buchs' F-150 leaked approximately 74 gallons of fuel into the intersection. The roads were closed for three hours while crews cleaned up the spill. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section. Elyria police.jpg An Elyria man is accused of pointing a shotgun at a pizza delivery driver during a Friday robbery, police said. (File photo) ELYRIA, Ohio - An Elyria man is accused of pointing a shotgun at a pizza delivery driver during a Friday robbery. Michael J. Flanigan, 55, is charged with aggravated robbery in the incident on Pasadena Avenue near Greeley Street, police said. Flanigan requested a preliminary hearing during his arraignment Monday in Elyria Municipal Court. Judge Gary C. Bennett set his bond at $20,000, court records show. A Sambino's Pizza delivery driver said an armed man forced him to hand over cash just before midnight Friday at a house on Pasadena Avenue. Flanigan ordered a pizza but did not answer his door or pick up his phone when the driver went to deliver it. Flanigan eventually called the pizza shop and asked the driver to deliver it to his back door, according to a police report. The driver returned to the house and knocked on the back door. A man wearing a camouflage mask, camouflage coat, jeans and a black mask came out and pointed a shotgun at the driver, the report says. The man forced the driver to place approximately $50 to $75 on the pizza box. The man then instructed the driver to walk away, the report says. Officers were already investigating at the house when Flanigan arrived and told them that someone broke into his house through a basement window. But the pizza delivery driver told the officers that Flanigan's voice sounded like the armed man's voice, the report says. A North Ridgeville Police Department K-9 also tracked a scent to a nearby garage, where officers recovered a shotgun, several dollars and pizza receipts, according to the report. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section. first-to-eleven.jpg Will Audra Miller and her First to Eleven band mate guitarist Matt Yost be the first three-time winner in the 21-year history of the Tri-C High School Rock Off. Don't bet against it. But don't bet against any of the 40 OTHER bands and artists trying to wrest the crown away in the annual competition that starts this Saturday, Jan. 28. (Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer) PREVIEW Tri-C High School Rock Off When: 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, starting Jan. 28 and running through Saturday, Feb. 25's Final Exam. Where: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 E. Ninth St., Cleveland. Schedule and details: . Tickets: $10, available at the box office, online at rockhall.com/rockoff and from members of participating bands. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Tri-C High School Rock Off turns 21 this year. Happy birthday! Time to wake up, grow up and pay heed to Lulu in "To Sir With Love": "Those schoolgirl days of telling tales and biting nails are gone.'' It's time to join the real world. Or not. The beauty of the grown-up Rock Off is that, honestly, it's still part of a "childlike'' (not childish) world where dreams are key and that ubiquitous "real world'' remains an intangible future. For the 41 bands who begin four consecutive Saturdays of preliminary competition at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this weekend, and the 12 who will make it into the Final Exam on Saturday, Feb. 25, this is a time where dreams and reality can cohabitate. I've been involved with this thing in some way, shape or form since Live Nation's Barry Gabel conceived of it all those years ago. Back then, it was to keep the cash register ringing at the Odeon, then owned by Belkin Productions (Live Nation's home-grown predecessor), during the bleak winter months when most national bands took a break from touring. But it's evolved into more than that. Far, far more. That very first Rock Off, I was a judge. We sat in the upper reaches of the club, cloaked in the dark, feasting on what I recall was some sort of greasy chicken box lunch and listened to what for the most part was a bunch of noise. Picking the winner was easy: Qwasi Qwa, the band led by Jesse Bryson, whose dad happens to be Cleveland's own Wally Bryson, probably best known as the guitarist for the Raspberries. The band's music truly WAS music, with dynamics, lyrics, chord progressions and the like. It's easy to see why Jesse is in New York City, still working on music as a career. And he's not the only one. Scores of Rock Off veterans over the years are pursuing musical careers, some more successfully than others. And I have no doubt that however long the Rock Off lives, some bands and artists will be moving into the ranks of music industry professionals. Some of these kids are just too good to do otherwise. But the reality is that most are not. Those are the ones who are in school studying engineering, in the work force stocking grocery shelves or maybe in the military wondering what the next few years will bring. No matter whatever will be, what was lives on in the memories of those few moments on the stage at the Odeon, at the House of Blues and at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, all of which have served as the home for the Rock Off. Greg Harris, the president and CEO of the Rock Hall and a fair guitarist, especially when he's banging out Chuck Berry, put it this way in an email: "I wasn't in battles of the bands in high school but jammed and finally started getting on little stages in my late teens. "It is amazing to see the poise and confidence of these high school rockers! I think many are veterans of battle of the bands and schools of rock. Those that make the finals are all incredibly talented,'' Harris wrote. "I remember being stiff and clunky while playing with early garage bands -- and that inspired you to turn up the volume and thrash through it! We always seemed to play well and felt comfortable in the basement but once a stage was introduced it took things to a new level and you couldn't help but tense up,'' he said. Gabel, himself a rocker from the old days (somewhere, there's a picture of a shirtless Gabel on guitar, rocking out some song as a Loverboy look-alike in his youth), is a ball of energy, a true disciple of his industry. He's a marketer, a huckster and everything you associate with "sales.'' But he's also one of those guys who is in the industry he loves because he loves the ENTIRE industry, starting with the music. And the Rock Off has a special place in the heart of its creator: "I love passion and dreamers,'' Gabel said in an email. "My life has revolved around the people that live it everyday. "No group captures passion and a thirst for dreaming [better] more than teenagers. From day one, the spirit of the Rock Off embodied this premise: 'I'm fearless and I've got something to say [and] well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk.' "I smile knowing the Belkin/Live Nation Team provided the Rock Off platform to generations of passionate dreamers like myself the belief that music matters, that music can make a difference that music can change the world, be it played in basements or arenas,'' he wrote. The winner of the Rock Off gets cash and prizes, including tickets to the upcoming Bon Jovi show. Some might even opt to enter the contest to open the Sunday, March 19, gig for Jon and the boys. The winner also gets a slot on the Blossom stop of this year's Warped Tour, plus all the Final Exam bands get to cut a track for a free download on the official Rock Off page, rockhall.com/rockoff, with engineer-producer Jim Stewart in the booth chair. None of those high school kids will turn down the moolah or the opportunity, but that's not really why they're doing this ... or why Rock Off alumni, as well as guys my age and older, are in bar bands today, willing to drive $5,000 worth of equipment a hundred miles in a $500 beater for $50 a night to play for 25 people. We love making music. Most of us know that the rock star dreams of screaming teenaged girls chasing us are just dreams. And besides, at our age, we'd probably all have strokes before we got halfway around the room. But I tell you, every time I pick up a stick and count out "Mustang Sally,'' "Born to Be Wild'' or "Johnny B. Goode,'' I'm once again the kid whose rock band blew out all the fuses at what up until then was an all-acoustic bluegrass show at Nelson County High School in Virginia in 1974. I'm never gonna make a living at making music. Never, ever. But the passion, as Gabel said, will live forever, and as long as that survives, so will the dream. And I hope for the sake of the kids this year, and for the years to come, so will the Rock Off. akron police car.png Akron police are investigating after a teen was robbed of a pair of shoes by a person he met on Instagram. (File photo) AKRON, Ohio - A 16-year-old Akron boy was robbed Friday night after he met another teen on Instagram and agreed to meet him to sell a pair of shoes, police said. The robbery happened about 7 p.m. Friday, Akron police said. The victim agreed to meet the boy he met through Instagram at a business on the 1200 block of Independence Avenue in order to sell a pair of shoes. The teen met the potential buyer, and the robber took off one of his shoes to try on the new pair, police said. The robber then grabbed both shoes and ran off into nearby woods. The teen chased after the robber but lost him. Two other teens - the robber's accused accomplices - followed the victim into the woods, caught up to him and gestured to him as if they had guns, police said. The victim walked away from the duo and called for help, police said. The victim described all three of the individuals involved in the robbery as teen boys around 16 years old, police said. All three were wearing hooded sweatshirts and sweatpants at the time of the robbery. Anyone with additional information about the robbery is asked to contact Akron police at 330-375-2552. If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. Get new posts by email: Subscribe watch now Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary conceded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal faces an uphill battle without the United States, even as Tokyo pressed other member countries to ratify the pact to keep the pressure on Washington, suggesting that Tokyo would work hard to convince President Donald Trump to rethink his stated opposition. In an interview with CNBC, Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's top adviser said the Japanese government would properly assert itself in trade talks, to prevent a move towards protectionism. "A TPP without the U.S. would be incredibly difficult, but we do have a window until 2018, when the treaty needs to be ratified," Suga said. "We believe we still have an opportunity to convince the U.S. about the importance of free trade." Trump has already vowed to withdraw from the TPP in the first 100 day of his administration, calling the pact "a potential disaster" for the U.S. In his inauguration speech, Trump reiterated his call for an "America first" policy, saying every decision on trade as well as taxes and foreign policy, would be made to benefit American workers and American families and has already moved to start potential renegotiation over the existing North American free Trade Agreement 104233449 (NAFTA). Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary of Japan, speaks during a press conference. Akio Kon | Bloomberg | Getty Images Still, Abe, who has championed the regional trade pact, has pushed Japan to ratify the treaty, becoming the first of a dozen member countries to complete domestic procedures required for the pact last week. Challenges over the TPP come, as Japan finds itself in the crosshairs of the new U.S. administration. Trump has singled out the country, alongside China and Mexico, for its trade deficit with the U.S. He's also targeted Toyota , threatening to slap the Japanese carmaker with a "border tax," if it moves forward with plans to build Corolla cars in Mexico. That has rattled Japanese lawmakers, who consider the U.S. Japan alliance a cornerstone of regional stability. "Japanese investments into the United States top $410 billion and create 800,000 jobs" Suga said. "This is the reality of what's happening right now. As long as we convey that clearly, we believe that there will be a clear understanding on the economic front." Analysts have pointed to a slight possibility that the TPP could proceed even without the U.S. "I'm not saying it's going to happen, but there is a very remote chance we could have the other countries of the TPP saying 'let's go ahead,'" Alex Capri, a visiting senior fellow at National University of Singapore's business school, told CNBC's "The Rundown" on Monday. "There are some loopholes that would have to be closed, but it's possible." He noted that the deal's other 11 parties may want to proceed as unlike most free-trade agreements, which tend to be shallow, the TPP was a deeper agreement addressing non-tariff barriers, such as intellectual property. Because the U.S. market was already very open and generally already had adopted such measures, these provisions would have impacted it less, he said. "It's really the other 11 countries that would have benefited," he said, noting that if the deal goes forward without the U.S., American companies would be at a competitive disadvantage in the region. watch now Online Dating Fraud At Record Levels Trending News: More People Than Ever Are Losing Money To Online Dating Fraud Long Story Short Online daters: if you thought the only things you had to worry about were dodgy profile shots and tangible awkwardness about who pays the bill, think again. Online dating fraudsters are scamming more people than ever before, according to stats seen by the BBC. Long Story With a dinner here and a few drinks there, online dating can be an expensive game. And thats before you even factor in all the new shirts youve had to buy on your way to dates, after eating your meal deal too enthusiastically at lunch. But some users are being scammed of thousands of pounds after being manipulated by others. The U.K. National Fraud Intelligence Bureau says the number of victims is rising every year, with a total of 3,889 Brits wishing they'd swiped left last year. On average, victims lost a whopping 10,000 each or around 39m altogether Action Fraud told the BBC. And the crime is on the rise. In 2013, 2,824 people reported crimes of online dating fraud, and in 2014, the number stood at 3,295, both in the U.K. and abroad. RELATED: Male Sextortion Victims On The Rise This type of fraud involves a criminal gaining the trust of someone through a dating website before asking them for money. They promise to pay the money back but all too often disappear. One victim, a 47-year-old single mother from Yorkshire, lost more than 300,000, according to the BBC. She signed up to Match.com after divorcing her husband, and met a man who said he lived in Manchester. They were soon texting all day, every day and after about six weeks her online lover said he was in Turkey and had been mugged and couldnt pay his employees, and that his son was seriously ill in hospital. She ended up sending him thousands of pounds, despite feeling uncomfortable with the situation, and now faces bankruptcy. Action Frauds deputy head, Steve Proffitt, told the BBC that a lot of online fraudsters live abroad mainly in West Africa and Eastern Europe. They can gather lots of information about you purely from your profile so be careful. In fact, follow these steps to avoid becoming a victim: Stay guarded about your income until you have met your date in person and have a relationship. Never send money online to somebody you haven't met. Be careful about posting or sharing information that could be used to bribe you (that includes naked selfies). If you think you're a victim, take screenshots of everything and inform the police. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Shall we all just go back to awkwardly asking each other out in nightclubs, instead? Drop This Fact Police can help investigate and track down perpetrators of online fraud, but often cannot get victims money back. Jho Low speaks onstage during Angel Ball 2014 hosted by Gabrielle's Angel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on October 20, 2014 in New York City. A New Zealand court on Friday approved a request by relatives of Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho to appoint new trustees to fight the seizure of assets by the U.S. government in its investigation of the scandal-tainted 1MDB fund. Low and several family members stand to lose $260 million in assets held in New Zealand trusts that they benefited from after the U.S. government seized the assets in a California court proceeding. Assets included a aircraft, property in New York and the Viceroy L'Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills. In its ruling, the New Zealand High Court agreed to a request by Low's family members to replace their Swiss trustees with New Zealand and Cayman Islands trust services companies. "I am satisfied that the replacement of the current trustees with trustees who are willing to ensure that proper legal steps are taken in the California proceedings is not only expedient, but necessary to safeguard the trust assets," Judge Christopher Toogood said in his judgment. Court records said the Swiss trustees did not take any steps to stop the seizure, citing concerns that that would be considered money laundering by the U.S. government. Oil prices are edging up in Asia on Monday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said it was near its target of cutting 1.8 million barrels of crude oil a day, two months after committing to the deal. Early in Asia, benchmark U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were 0.1 percent higher at $53.27 a barrel while international benchmark Brent crude oil futures were also up 0.1 percent at $55.53 a barrel, reflecting caution even after the OPEC statement. Vanda Insights founder Vandana Hari told CNBC's The Rundown said it was still early days at just a fortnight after the implementation of the cuts. A better gauge of their impact would be the full production and export data for January. Hari's comments came as U.S. energy companies last week added the most rigs drilling for new production in almost four years, energy services firm Baker Hughes data showed on Friday. Drillers added 29 rigs in the week to January 20, bringing the total count up to 551, the most since November 2015, it said. watch now Russia's energy minister has told CNBC that he welcomes President Donald Trump's decision to unveil a new energy plan for the U.S. Speaking to CNBC in an exclusive interview in Vienna Sunday, Alexander Novak said he hoped for a return to the dialogue on energy both countries enjoyed in 2014 before the crisis in Ukraine led to U.S. and European sanctions on Russia. "It's very pleasant for us that energy occupies first place on the new administration's program," said Novak. "We believe that for the industry as a whole this is good because the energy sector should develop and the fact that a large country, the largest country in economic terms, such as the USA will be developing its energy is overall a positive thing for the whole of the energy sector," he said. watch now Over the weekend, the Kremlin said it was working on arranging a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump. "It won't happen in a matter of weeks" said Dmitry Peskov in an interview with the BBC. "Let's hope that it can happen in the months to come" Novak also welcomed Trump's appointment of Rex Tillerson, the former head of Exxon, as the next Secretary of State. "Rex Tillerson is a very famous energy industry specialist and I am certain that his actions will be positive, as a whole, for the industry" While Novak refused to be drawn out on whether Trump's energy plan could drive prices lower, he told CNBC he believed oil would trade between $50-$60 a barrel over the next 12 months. In his inaugural address on Friday, Trump said he was committed to achieving energy independence from the OPEC oil-producing cartel and any nation hostile to U.S. interests. Novak told CNBC there was nothing surprising in America wanting to do this. "That is absolutely normal," he said, "That works for some with the availability of natural mineral resources" During a wide-ranging interview, Novak said he hoped relations with the U.S. would get better. When asked whether a Trump presidency was good for Russia, he responded "I think we can hope that relations will improve." Russia's energy minister added he believed the EU and U.S. sanctions have been bad for both Russian and foreign oil majors such as Exxon Mobil , Total , BP and Statoil . watch now Koh Dong-jin, president of mobile communications at Samsung Electronics, speaks as various types of batteries used in the company's Galaxy Note 7 smartphones are displayed on a screen during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Samsung Electronics finally identified what went wrong with its Galaxy Note 7 handsets that led to one of the worst technology recalls in recent times, a day before its full-year earnings. Dong-jin Koh, Samsung's mobile business chief, acknowledged two separate instances of battery malfunctions were to blame for some of the handsets catching fire at a Monday press conference in Seoul, South Korea. He also used the conference to apologize to customers and suppliers. Investors responded positively to the news, with Samsung shares closing up 2.31 percent at 1,903,000 won during market close on Monday. The Galaxy Note 7 handsets were packed with lithium-ion batteries, which are arranged in three layers: a positive electrode, a negative one and a third physical layer that acted as the separator between the first two. When the positive and negative electrodes touch, it can sometimes lead to short circuits within the battery cells. Koh explained in the first set of batteries, which were rolled out with the original devices, there was an issue with the upper right hand corner of the battery cell. "Our analysis showed the main cause for the incidents was deflections in the negative electrodes," he said, adding incorrect positioning of the negative electrode tip also led to a higher likelihood of incidents. For the second set of batteries, which were supplied by a different manufacturer and were put into the replacement units, Samsung found melted copper on the negative electrode area. Koh said there were welding issues that led to contact between the positive and negative layers, resulting in short circuits. "It does all add up," according to Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. But the odds of two separate battery manufacturers having issues in the same phone was incredibly low, he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. licensing business is a profit-making machine. Almost every time a smartphone is sold, the chipmaker gets a cut, because of its patents on communications standards. Investors love it. Qualcomm is among the world's biggest tech hardware companies, and one-third of its revenue or almost $8 billion in 2016 comes from high-margin licenses. Over the past five years, the company has traded for an average of close to 18 times profit, compared with about 13 times for chipmaker Intel, according to FactSet. But Apple's $1 billion filed against Qualcomm on Friday shows the risks of that dependence, sending the stock down 13 percent Monday. claimed that Qualcomm has been "charging royalties for technologies they have nothing to do with." That followed a lawsuit from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission earlier last week and investigations launched in 2015 by South Korea and Taiwan, all questioning whether Qualcomm's charges are fair and reasonable. "The licensing business is under attack on multiple fronts, from both governments and now Qualcomm's own customers," said Stacy Rasgon, an analyst at Bernstein Research who recommends holding the shares. "Nobody likes to pay royalties, but most held their noses and did. Now they seem less likely to pay those rates, and are fighting back." A Qualcomm spokesperson called Apple's claims "baseless" and said in an e-mailed statement that Apple "intentionally mischaracterized our agreements and negotiations, as well as the enormity and value of the technology we have invented, contributed and shared with all mobile device makers through our licensing program." Democrats hoping to recover from the 2016 election defeat might be encouraged by the Women's Marches, but the demonstrations were largely in the party's strongholds, according to Nate Silver of ESPN's FiveThirtyEight. The marches drew more than 3 million people in cities and towns around the country, according to estimates. In a post Monday, Silver said the turnout from Saturday's marches was about 10 times higher than the tea party rallies on April 15, 2009 the first major sign of backlash to President Barack Obama's policies. But Silver added: "About 80 percent of march attendees were in states that [Hillary] Clinton won, and a disproportionate number were in major cities." "So if the marches were a reminder of the depth of opposition to [President Donald] Trump unprecedented for a president so early in his term they also reflected Democrats' need to expand the breadth of their coalition if they are to make a comeback in 2018 and 2020," he said. To read Silver's full post, click here. watch now China's government newspaper used the weekend after U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration to promote China as an alternative to the "crisis" of Western democracy and capitalism. "Western-style democracy has played a progressive role in history, but right now it has heavy drawbacks," Han Zhen, Communist Party secretary of the Beijing Foreign Studies University, wrote in a Chinese editorial in the People's Daily. The article and two similar pieces filled up a full page in the government paper on Sunday, and blamed Western democracy and capitalism for global troubles such as the financial crisis and populist movements in the U.S. and Europe. In this context, the editorials said, China could show the benefits of "socialism with Chinese characteristics." Beijing is trying to enter what it sees as a leadership gap created by worries around Trump, said Scott Kennedy, director of the Project on Chinese Business and Political Economy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "I think they're just trying to take advantage of what looks like a disorderly transition in the U.S. and a great anxiety around the world about what a Trump administration looks like," Kennedy said. The commentary pieces follow other recent statements that criticize Western democracy as a concept. In the month ahead of the U.S. presidential election, Chinese commentators in state-run media said the campaign showed the "dysfunction of democracy" and said "the U.S. needs political reform." This weekend's editorials continue Beijing's efforts to demonstrate that China's communist version of business, economic and political development are a viable alternative for the world at large. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping also played up his country's role as a promoter of globalization during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Xi was the first Chinese head of state to attend the annual gathering of elites. 'Democracy isn't meant to be efficient' Chinese President Xi Jinping watches during a gift handover ceremony at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 18, 2017. Denis Balibouse | Reuters But China has a litany of its own struggles, if only on the financial side. State ownership of many industries has led to inefficient growth fueled by high levels of debt that China must reckon with. A yearslong attempt to shift the economy away from manufacturing to consumption has hit setbacks as reform efforts stall and China's overall economy stagnates. Gross domestic product grew in 2016 at its slowest pace in 26 years, a report said Friday. And China is trying to keep the yuan from weakening as capital is bleeding out of the country. Meanwhile, Xi must set the stage for his own consolidation of power at a Communist Party congress this fall. "When you have a country like China whose growth is slowing with massive debt, with concerns of its neighbors as it moves to become more powerful, I don't know if it's the right time for China to be strongly promoting its system relative to others," Kennedy said. "Democracy isn't meant to be efficient. ... It's meant to reflect diversity, have checks and balances on power and proceed in a manner where everyone has a say," Kennedy said. "I would tell you that from now on if you're looking at a company and you think that they can cut costs by moving offshore and you put that in your 2017, 2018 numbers, think again, that's over," Cramer said on " Squawk on the Street ." Cramer, discussing Trump's meeting on Monday with a range of business leaders, said Trump's message is clearmake in the U.S. or pay a hefty border tax. President Donald Trump is "slamming the door" on American corporations wishing to do business abroad, CNBC's Jim Cramer said on Monday. President Donald Trump arrives for a meeting with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington January 23, 2017. President Trump on Monday repeated his campaign pledge to roll back rules on companies, and said he believes his administration can cut regulations by 75 percent or "maybe more." Trump also said in the White House meeting, which included Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, companies that move abroad will face a major border tax on products coming into the U.S. Trump will reward companies that keep their jobs in the U.S. by getting them an "incredible tax rate," Cramer said. Cramer added, however, that President Trump lacks a coherent message on why companies would keep business here other than a tax benefit. Another benefit is the natural resources the U.S. has, Cramer said. A few winners of President Trump's battle on business abroad are intellectual technology companies that don't make anything overseas, according to Cramer. "What if you're Facebook ? Where do you make your stuff? California, right?" Cramer said. "Shark Tank" investor Daymond John is known for his hustle and ambition, having launched his streetwear start-up Fubu with $40 worth of fabric and turning it into a $6 billion brand. He's never been one to shy away from giving his opinion. With fellow reality TV star and businessman Donald Trump now occupying the highest office in the country, John is weighing in. "I'm an American, and my fellow Americans elected Mr. Trump. I think he's a brilliant businessperson, no matter what you may think about him," John tells CNBC. "His name is [known] around the globe, and that means he obviously knows how to work with people. "I hope for the best. That's my president now, and I am going to do whatever is needed to do the best job." As one of a handful of high-profile entrepreneurs appointed as a presidential ambassador for global entrepreneurship under the Obama administration, John joined AOL co-founder Steve Case, Kind Snacks founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky, Spanx founder Sara Blakely and others in traveling the world to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs. "Our job was to get people excited about entrepreneurship and educate them about it," John says. "Show them how they have access to capital and talk to them about scaling. If somebody only needs $20 a week to feed their family in Nigeria, and we can show them how to make that $20, they don't become a liability they become a taxpayer, father, mentor morale goes up. "If we can do that, we can help change the world." The holiday's hottest toy quickly turned into one of its biggest disappointments for many families. Now, that disappointment has led to legal action. Jodie Hejduk of Bakersfield, California, has filed a class-action lawsuit against Spin Master, alleging the Hatchimal toy she purchased for her daughter never hatched. Hatchimals are stuffed animals that start out inside a spotted plastic egg, and are supposed to hatch when the owner rubs the shell. That process should take 25 to 40 minutes, according to Spin Master's website. But that wasn't the case for "millions of families throughout this country," Hejduk said in her lawsuit. "Millions of children and families across the globe were sourly disappointed with coal in their stockings, in the form of a bait-and-switch marketing scheme perpetrated by Spin Master, the manufacturers of this Christmas season's 'it' gift, Hatchimals," the lawsuit says. "Spin Master knew that the 'hatching' was one of the primary draws of the toy," the suit continued. "One of the company's senior vice presidents recognized that getting the toy to hatch 'resonates well with kids' and that since children do not know what is inside of the egg 'they get excited about what they may get.' This excitement was replaced with extreme disappointment for the many children when their Hatchimals did not hatch." A Hatchimal cost about $50, depending on the retailer. However, the part-Furby, part-Tamagotchi toys were popular on the resale market, where they sold for upward of $250. Many parents lined up outside Toys R Us and Wal-Mart stores to purchase the highly sought-after toy. However, once children opened their Christmas presents, the buzz surrounding the toys quickly turned from, "Where do I find one?" to "This thing doesn't hatch." "I paid triple the price so I could get my 5 yr. old daughter what she wanted but when it was time to play with it the Hatchimal would not respond inside the egg. We watched every YouTube video we could for help, but to no avail ... we had to open it ourselves," one customer wrote on Amazon.com, according to the lawsuit. In a statement provided to CNBC, Christopher Harrs, Spin Master's executive vice president and general counsel, said that "Spin Master stands behind its products and cares about its consumers." "Given the popularity of Hatchimals and the overwhelmingly positive consumer response, a large number of Hatchimals were purchased as gifts and opened on Christmas day. As a result, the Company experienced a higher than anticipated number of consumer calls over the holiday period," Harrs said. "Spin Master took extraordinary and proactive steps to respond to consumer questions regarding Hatchimals," he continued. "The company provided troubleshooting support and where required immediately made available replacement products for those few consumers whose toys did not work as they anticipated. The allegations from the class action lawyer are simply inaccurate and not based on actual facts." Hejduk's lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Update: This story has been updated to include comment from Spin Master Translated from Hebrew by Rochel Sylvetsky Dr. Mordechai Kedar is a senior lecturer in the Department of Arabic at Bar-Ilan University. He served in IDF Military Intelligence for 25 years, specializing in Arab political discourse, Arab mass media, Islamic groups and the Syrian domestic arena. Thoroughly familiar with Arab media in real time, he is frequently interviewed on the various news programs in Israel. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..Israelnationalnews.com..17 January '17..For the last decade Israel has had to deal with the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) Movement, whose sanctions included the pulling out of investments from the Jewish state. The movement calls for academic, cultural and economic bodies to cut off relations with Israel.The supposed goal of the BDS Movement is to force Israel to leave the "Palestinian territories" and to establish a Palestinian state, but the basic real motivation behind the movement's activities is hatred of Israel and of Jews, and the openly expressed desire to rid the Middle East of Israel.For years the movement seemed relegated to the sidelines and had little influence . However during the last two years, mainly after Operation Protective Edge in Gaza and the negative publicity it engendered, the movement increased its activities, its donations grew significantly and so did the number of its volunteers. The organization's success on North American, Canadian and European academic campuses was especially pronounced, due to the large number of Muslims and Arabs enrolled on campus and the current fashion of putting everything in the context of human rights (as long as we are not talking about Jews, that is), in addition to traditional anti-Semitism and the presenting of Israel as an illegitimate state, scofflaw and a danger to world peace.The state of Israel, Jews and pro-Israel people the world over realized what the real goal of BDS is and decided to fight it. Israel's government even established official frameworks and allocated funds for this struggle. The anti-BDS activities are on different levels and in various arenas, and Israel has garnered significant successes fighting them. For example: Fifteen states in the USA have passed laws against firms that boycott Israel, in Canada similar laws were passed and in Europe there have been not a few successes in this regard. The question is who will make sure these laws are kept and how will it be done?Despite the growing activity of the BDS Movement and its various successes, many artists refused to cancel their appearances in Israel because they felt it was wrong to connect art and politics or art and nationalist issues. Most of the economic forces who feel investing in Israel is good for their balance sheet from a purely business point of view, do not end their relationship with Israel, because what counts to them is making a profit and they ignore issues that have nothing to do with their economic activities.The movement is still strong on campus, but has a good many problems there as well, arising - among other factors - from differences of opinion between activists and the PA about how to work and define goals. One example is what happened in Boston last November at the annual conference of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), an international academic organization with thousands of members who do research on the Middle East. As time passed, this organization adopted an anti-American political agenda as well as an anti-Zionist one - with some anti-Semitic overtones. As a result, a good many researchers left the organization a few years ago and founded the much less political and much more balanced Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA),The leading Palestinian website, Donia Al Watan, posted an article stating that in Boston, last November, the suggestion to boycott Israel was put on the agenda of the annual conference, despite the fact that MESA has many Israeli members for whom this was a slap in the face. Those opposing the boycott claimed that there are Arab countries - not just Egypt and Jordan - who have relations with Israel, so where was the logic in an international academic organization's boycott? The Americans and Europeans also argued that Israel is a legitimate state so that a boycott is irrational and if anything, the communities, factories and companies in Judea and Samaria should be boycotted. The difference stems from the definition of the word "occupation." The Americans and Europeans use that word for the result of the 1967 Six Day War, while Arabs and Muslims tend to use it for the result of Israel's 1948 War of Independence.In general, the anti-Israel activities at the conference were not centrally organized and everyone worked on his own without coordinating with other activists, nor, significantly, with the Palestinian Authority. This was obvious at a demonstration set up by the pro-BDS forces opposite the HP offices, aimed at getting the firm to stop working with Israel and most important, to stop its selling products to Israel's defense establishment.The problem with going out against HP is that it provides employment to approximately 350,000 men and women across the globe, a good many of them in the USA. A boycott might lead to economic difficulties and to laying off or firing workers, something no American will agree to, to say nothing of the ensuing fury on the part of the American nation and its newly-elected President who talks constantly of the need to add to the number of jobs in the USA. Getting on the wrong side of Trump is the last thing the PA government wants during this sensitive period, but the BDS activists neither see nor understand the complex considerations that affect the PA.Another headache that BDS has to face is the standard accusation that what motivates its activists is anti-Zionism and hatred of Jews because they are Jews, even if those Jews take no part in Israel's actions. It is hard for the BDS activists to deny this, and it seems especially true when Muslims or Arab members of the movement are accused of these prejudices, an off-putting accusation because being labeled anti-Semitic in the sense of being anti-Jew is still looked at negatively in Europe and North America.The author of the article in Donia Al Watan reaches the conclusion that that the BDS activist should concentrate on limited, local issues, such as illegal building in the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria, the way the right wing Israeli government does things, and similar causes. BDS, he says, should abandon the international stage where it brings more harm than benefits to the Palestinians.Are we witnessing the slow decline of BDS? Possibly, but it is too soon to rest on our laurels. A Gaza operation, a war with Hezbollah or a larger conflagration in Judea and Samaria (what many think is only a matter of time) can easily put new blood into the aging arteries of the movement. Israel must not stop its anti-BDS activities for a minute and reach every location where it has made inroads.It is possible that the struggle against BDS will be easier during the Trump administration because he is more receptive to Israel's expectations, but let us not forget that after four or eight years in the White House, the Democratic party could make a comeback, and their way of relating to Israel is quite different from Trump's.Israel must expand, widen and deepen its public diplomacy efforts against BDS so that the sense of the justice of its cause among Jews and non-Jews is strengthened.Israel must establish an official internet news channel in English and other foreign languages, not a great expense in comparison to satellite channels, and begin broadcasting news and commentary on what is happening non-stop, this in order to bring the world to realize that Israel is not responsible for the miseries in the region, the interethnic tribal violence that is tearing the Middle East to shreds and turning citizens into victims and refugees.Israel has neglected the public diplomacy front for years (what used to be called hasbara) by putting it into the hands of people whose political, social and cultural agenda reflect those who signed the delusionary and evil Oslo Accords: liberalism, secularism, and an attempt to sign treaties with our enemies even if they don't bring a real peace based on the Arabs and Muslims accepting our rights to live in a state of our own whose historic and eternal capital is Jerusalem.The vacuum created by Israeli governments since the 1993 signing of the Oslo Accords has been filled by organizations who work in Israel and outside it, who continue to expend sincere efforts in public diplomacy for the Jewish people and its rights to the land. Without in any way taking anything from their importance, I wish to state that a country cannot leave an issue of such consequence in the hands of private people, even if they are most efficient and effective. Now that the non-delusional majority, those who don't have pipe dreams about a "New Middle East" are in office, it is crucial to put the topic of public diplomacy in the hands of people who believe in the justice of the Jewish people's cause in its historical homeland and eternal capital. Only a sure and believing approach can influence those who do not share our fate, future and way of life, but who can influence ours.When the spies sent by Moses returned from their mission, they told the Israelites that the people of the land saw them as small insects and they felt the same way about themselves. Interpretations posit that because we thought of ourselves as insects, they thought so too. The problem begins with us, within us, so the solution also begins with us. The anti-BDS struggle is no different. European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi Sean Gallup | Getty Images International collaboration is the only way to solve problems that are too big for countries to tackle alone, Mario Draghi told an awards ceremony Monday in Turin. Today's situation offers frequent reminders of the dark days of the past, the European Central Bank (ECB) President said, as he collected the 2016 Cavour Prize for in the words of the Cavour Foundation - having maintained the central bank's independence in the face of challenges while implementing measures to boost growth and deflect deflation. Philippe Huguen | AFP | Getty Images Draghi turned to Camillo Cavour, a key figure in Italy's late 19th century unification and after whom the prize was named, to invoke the spirit of unity. According to the ECB chief, Cavour's love of Italy was so strong that he never stopped believing that his country needed Europe to grow, progress and improve. Cavour's relationship with Europe, continued Draghi, was founded on a solidarity stemming from recognition of the mutual benefits and responsibilities of the independent nation states toward one another. Drawing further on parallels with the leading statesman's approach, Draghi emphasized the opposition Cavour had faced and his ability to unify the country despite internal and external challenges and instability on the broader continent, calling him "an irresistible source of inspiration for anyone". Draghi donated the approximately 3,000 ($3,223) prize money to communities affected by recent earthquakes in central Italy. When a president sets the stage for the next four years, it's critical to think not only about the country's negatives, but its positives, and in the case of the United States, there are four key attributes that already make it great, economist Ed Lazear told CNBC on Monday. "If you look at the history of the United States and our economy in particular, and you look at where we've been and what we've accomplished, it's really an amazing story," Lazear told "Squawk Box." "It's a story that's been unmatched by any country in the history of the world." The former chairman of George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Lazear said that rising above the rest wasn't simple, but required four critical characteristics. "I would say there are a few things that we have going [for us]," he said. "One is we're industrious, the other is we're mobile, the third is we're low-tax and the fourth, believe it or not, is we're actually a welcoming society." U.S. industry, specifically the labor market, is more hard-working and opportunistic than any other nation's, Lazear argued. "Look at the amount of churn there is in the labor market. Every year, 40 percent of the jobs turn over. Every single year. That's amazing," he said. Turnover rates are reported bimonthly by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics in a report called the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS. Read CNBC's report on November's JOLTS here. Taxes are also a critical part of the equation, Lazear said. "I complain about high taxes, I don't like what the last administration did to our tax rates, but even then, even with that, we still have a 25 percent tax-to-GDP ratio," the economist said. Lazear compared the U.S. rate to Italy, where the tax-to-GDP rate is slightly higher than 43 percent, and France, where the rate is just over 45 percent. Finally, the welcoming nature of the United States has been something for immigrants to write home about for decades, Lazear argued. "You look at any other country, any G-7 country, their immigrants have higher unemployment rates than we have," he said, referring to the United States, Canada, Italy, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The informal group meets annually to discuss global affairs. "Our immigrants have a 10 percent lower unemployment rate than the native-born population, so we've got a lot of things going for us," Lazear continued. "I think that ... we can look forward to a positive future, and I'm hopeful." U.S. President Donald Trump smiles while speaking at the CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, U.S., on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. The first full day of the new U.S. presidency was a "catastrophic" moment for President Donald Trump in terms of media relations, an analyst told CNBC. Press secretary Sean Spicer told journalists summoned to an impromptu press conference in the White House Saturday that the media had distorted figures on how many people attended the inauguration ceremony. Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the President, told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that the Spicer's statement contained "alternative facts." "(Trump) had a catastrophic first weekend when it comes to media coverage," Brian Klaas , fellow in comparative politics at the London School of Economics told CNBC on Monday. "The first press moment they had from the White House podium, the four or five statements made were lies and they're easily provable lies." Spicer said that about 720,000 people attended the ceremony but that nobody had official figures. Several U.S. media used photos from 2009's inauguration of President Barack Obama to show that there were fewer people on Friday. The New York Times described the White House statements as a "striking display of invective and grievance at the dawn of a presidency". According to Klaas, taking such an approach by the new presidency brought into question the credibility associated with the institution and "puts American lives at risk because during a crisis you don't know you can trust the White House and that's really dangerous for the West." Emmanuel Macron, the investment banker turned politician, has been the surprise in French politics over the past few months, gathering more popular support than his center-left rivals. However, despite bringing some freshness to the political landscape, the enthusiasm of the 39-year old is unlikely to be enough to make him president. "Certainly, Macron has been the man of this year so far. He's definitely the man on the wave," Jonathan Fenby, director of European political research at TS Lombard, told CNBC on Monday. "But he hasn't got a party machine behind him, he's very dependent on pulling towards him a few well-known figures of the center-left," Fenby added. A poll published in mid-January showed a four point rise in only a month for Macron. He is currently perceived as the third big name in the presidential race, after the center-right candidate Francois Fillon and the far-right leader Marine Le Pen. According to Fenby, Macron could even be the best candidate to beat Marine Le Pen in the second round of the election, given that Fillon has a very conservative economic reform agenda that much of the French electorate don't like. However, Macron opted to run on his own, putting him in a more complicated position, at least from a structural point of view. Goldman Sachs told clients to buy companies with strong prospects for future growth as these names will do well even if Donald Trump's economic agenda disappoints expectations this year. "Investor angst is high. One investment strategy that avoids the risk of potential policy pitfalls is to focus on stocks with high secular growth potential," strategist David Kostin wrote in the note to clients Friday. "'Unsettled' is our best description of fund managers' mindset as the new administration takes office. ... Policy uncertainty was a topic of concern raised in every client meeting." Kostin said investors have growing concerns over President Trump's tax reform plan due to lack of details thus far and changing policy positions. "Investor confusion increases when a topic that appears to be gaining political momentum such as border adjusted tax reform is suddenly discredited when the president dismisses the idea saying it is 'too complicated,'" he wrote. The strategist updated the firm's "Rule of Ten" basket of secular growth stocks that are "capable of growing sales rapidly, independent of economic and policy uncertainty." Members of the list met the following criteria: "(1) increased sales by at least 10% in each of the last two years; (2) forecast to grow sales by 10% or more in each of the next two years based on estimates from Goldman Sachs equity research analysts; and (3) have consensus long-term earnings growth of at least 10%." Here are five buy-rated secular growth stocks in the basket Goldman recommends. NASA/Joel Kowsky | Getty Images London's Heathrow Airport said it had cancelled approximately 100 out of about 1,300 scheduled flights on Monday as foggy weather reduced visibility at Europe's busiest hub. The airport, located to the west of London, operates at full capacity meaning it struggles to fit in its full schedule when weather conditions mean aircraft need to leave longer gaps on the runway. "Some passengers may experience disruption to their journeys today," Heathrow Airport said in a statement on Monday. "Passengers should check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport." The British government gave Heathrow Airport permission to add a third runway last October but it is not due to be built until 2025. Gatwick Airport, the country's second busiest airport to the south of London, said it had cancelled one flight. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says he can't support President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland says in a statement that Rex Tillerson's business orientation and confirmation hearing answers could compromise his ability to forcefully promote U.S. values and ideals. Specifically, Cardin said he based his opposition on Tillerson's unwillingness to call Russia and Syria's atrocities "war crimes," or to describe Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's extrajudicial killings as gross human rights violations. Cardin also said the former Exxon Mobil CEO misled the committee about the company's lobbying against sanctions, such as penalties against Russia for its annexation of Crimea. The Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote on Tillerson's nomination on Monday afternoon. The oil market looks set to rebalance earlier than expected as OPEC members cut production, according to a report from UBS. OPEC oil output has reduced significantly since the production-cut agreement made in November. Saudi Arabia has reportedly cut production by 160,000 barrels per day (bpd), while Kuwait and Qatar have both cut down 20,000 bpd. Production cuts elsewhere look set to speed up the pace at which the oil market supply and demand will balance, leading UBS to revise its forecasts for rebalancing from the second quarter of 2017 to the first. "Incorporating the IEA's (International Energy Agency) baseline demand revisions would, all else equal, bring forward our projected rebalancing from 2Q17 to 1Q17," said UBS analysts Jon Rigby, William Featherston and Joseph Head in the report out today. The Future of Customer Engagement: Key Trends to Watch in 2017 In the early 1980s, children at a school in Nicaragua did something remarkable: they spontaneously created a language. Brought together for the first time in a school for deaf children, they had no shared sign language and so they developed their own. The result, ISN (Idioma de Senas de Nicaragua), is a grammatically complex, expressive language that speaks to our natural need to engage with others. Those children created a way to share, learn and converse with each other because thats what humans do. Remember the last time you chatted with a good friend: its likely that your conversation felt natural, easy. Now compare it with the last time you booked movie tickets or spoke to your bank over the phone. You probably felt frustrated by an unintuitive voice menu or by a voice recognition system that, youd swear, was set up for a language other than your own. This is the customer engagement paradox. Conversing with other humans is easy, but because human conversations rely on things that are hard to standardize or teach to computers context, nuance, cognitive ability our interactions with businesses and software are often underwhelming. But that is changing. Cloud-based communications providers are innovating faster than traditional equipment manufacturers and artificial intelligence is finally at a place where we can have comfortable voice interactions with computers. Both of those technologies are changing the way companies engage with their customers. For 2017, we see those advancements in communications and artificial intelligence fueling three key trends: Contextual communication: contact between a customer and company is driven by the context in which it was initiated. contact between a customer and company is driven by the context in which it was initiated. Omnichannel conversations: the interactions between a customer and a company become a continuous conversation regardless of which channel is used for each interaction. the interactions between a customer and a company become a continuous conversation regardless of which channel is used for each interaction. Human plus: as AI becomes more useful, bots will support the conversations we have with humans. At the heart of all of these is the idea that the way companies engage with customers is a defining part of the service itself. The relationship becomes a friendly, if business-like, conversation. Why do conversations matter? For most of us, spoken conversation lies at the heart of our relationships. Its not just how we exchange information but its how we build bonds. The chatter at the water cooler about last nights game wont change the world but it builds bridges between coworkers. Spoken conversation is also how we resolve important situations. Checking a bank balance is easier with an app but if theres a suspicious transaction, theres nothing we want more than to speak directly to the right person at the bank. For those of us that care deeply about customer experience whether as a start-up developer building an app or as a product manager in a large corporation conversational engagement can help build lasting customer relationships. Did you know that mobile apps lose 77% of their users within 72 hours of installation? Or have you found yourself frustrated that your relationship with customers is challenged by price comparison sites and other aggregators who insert themselves in the middle? The promise of online commerce was that customers would interact directly with suppliers. For some, that has been true: think of the boutique Napa Valley wineries that can now sell nationwide. But for many industries the internet has served simply to change the names of the intermediaries. In the UK for example, the general insurance industry has gone full circle. First, brokers went out of business when insurers, such as Direct Line, started selling directly to consumers over the internet. Then price comparison sites swept in, taking the role previously held by the brokers, and now account for over $1.2 billion in annual revenue. Its only a matter of time before price comparison sites, and other automated intermediaries, become a factor in your industry, if they havent already. To have a lasting business, you want to be more than the cheapest entry in a price comparison table. Building an ongoing conversation with your customers can help you overcome the threat of middlemen. Lets look at how. Contextual communication Youre waiting on a rainy roadside and your ride-share driver cant find you. You can see the car on the map but traffic and bad weather mean youre struggling to find the car on the street. You hit the Call button in the app and youre connected to the driver. In moments, you find each other and youre on your way. There was no contact center, no voice menu, no call waiting. You didnt need to know the drivers number. In fact, the likelihood is that the number dialed by the app was automatically provisioned as you hit the Call button. And the call was actually a redirect to hide your number from the driver and offer the same privacy to the driver. This is what were doing today. Almost any business can build this type of functionality into their service, thanks to cloud communications APIs. Now lets take it a step further and see how that journey might have developed. Youre using the ride-share service because you have a meeting with your bank. As you travel along, your phone vibrates. You see a message from the ride-share app: Accident ahead. No alternative route: 10-minute delay. You open your banking app to find the number to call but its way ahead of you: the app knows that you have an appointment at your local branch. Not only that, it has used your phones mapping facility to see that traffic will make you late and it has already notified the person youre meeting. This is increasingly how well connect with people and businesses: at the moment of need and with enough context baked-in that our message not only gets straight to the most appropriate place but in the form most suited to us at that time. Three technological advancements have made this possible. First, our customers increasingly serve themselves through a web or mobile app. That means contact centers no longer need to employ large numbers of people to provide the basic service. We can cut the phone queues and direct people more appropriately. Next, we can have a more detailed view of customer behavior. In our ride-share example, the driver and rider are connected directly because thats the best outcome in that context. Later, the banking app uses the knowledge of upcoming the appointment combined with the context of the journey to help the bank staff make better use of their time and to make the customer feel less stressed about being late. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, the way that we deliver telecom services has changed. Expensive and inflexible on-premises phone systems are making way for cloud communications APIs that let developers rapidly embed voice calling, SMS and other services into their applications. This new approach accelerates innovation and enables companies to more rapidly respond to customer needs. Context-aware customer engagement is the first step to building that ongoing conversation with customers. Omnichannel conversations In the 1960s Marshall McLuhan said the medium is the message. The idea is that the restrictions and possibilities of each medium shapes the message communicated; just think about the 140 character limit of a tweet. Our customers want to engage using the medium that suits them and without having to think about how that shapes what theyre communicating. Whether its a voice call, Twitter, SMS or even chat apps like WhatsApp. So heres the problem: from your customers perspective, youre having a single ongoing conversation throughout the lifetime of their relationship with you. To them, the medium is irrelevant. From your perspective, you have multiple unconnected conversations ongoing across different channels, some that are integrated with your CRM and others that arent. In the omnichannel future, voice becomes just another channel. Were seeing the beginnings of it today: you can text your bank for an automated balance update but you cant have a freer flowing conversation with most companies by SMS. Whats missing is the plumbing: the one service that ties all of these disparate communication methods together. Once we have that, it will be effortless for us to build services that let our customers text us a question, receive the reply and then send a follow-up using a chat app. The channel used by the customer will be transparent: it will be a single conversation no matter what method is used. So, step one is to use the customers context to help enrich the conversation they have with us. Step two is to turn what could be multiple conversations into a single ongoing conversation. What about more traditional conversations? How do we make the most of the immediacy and familiarity of voice? Human plus conversations Voice conversation is fundamental to how most of us work as humans. That doesnt mean that our voice communication always has to be with other humans, though. Perhaps youre skeptical. Youve tried your smartphones voice assistant and quickly hit its limitations. Okay, you think, its a smart trick but not all that useful in real life. The thing is, were in a time when all those limited experiments are coming together to make something thats awesomely useful. Take a look at Amazons Echo. Its in its early days but fans describe how Alexa, the Echos AI assistant, has integrated seamlessly into their lives. They can ask it to play their favorite radio station, set a timer when cooking, tell them the capital of Peru and it learns as they go along. Now imagine that in a business setting. Your customer calls and speaks to one of your contact center teams. She wants to know if her colleague paid their most recent invoice. With an AI bot listening to the conversation, it could bring the answer straight up onto your agents screen. If it isnt too jarring, the AI could even answer the question directly in the call. This way, your customers get the flow of a human conversation but with rapid answers to their questions. Taking it a step further, you could use such AI bots to transcribe conference calls. No one ever again gets the short straw of taking meeting minutes. Any query you have about what happened in previous calls is just a question away. This technology is becoming available now. IBMs Watson will soon be available as a virtual assistant for voice calls thanks to a partnership with Nexmo. With this partnership we are helping democratize artificial intelligence by extending its reach to anyone with access to telephone. The idea is less about replacing human interactions and more about augmenting them. Engagement is about making your business human Thanks to cloud communication APIs, developers can now bring to life voice, chat and SMS-based customer interactions that previously would have been unthinkable. The world where IBMs Watson assists your contact center team, where every customer can reach you seamlessly using their method of choice, where queuing is replaced by context-specific direct communication: that is the world of customer engagement in 2017. Edited by Maurice Nagle U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order at the White House as Vice President Mike Pence and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus look on in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2017. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images Headlines out of Washington D.C. over the weekend indicated that newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump was considering his foreign policy stance towards Israel, which could entail relocating the U.S. embassy in the country from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. CNBC takes a look at the significance of this move, and what its repercussions could be. What's the latest? During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged that he would move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But, so far the plan remains nascent. In a widely reported statement Sunday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said: "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject." It is also understood that Trump spoke on the telephone to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend. News reports say that the president reiterated his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security" and invited Netanyahu to visit Washington D.C. in early February. Why does it matter where the US embassy in Israel is? Both Israelis and Palestinians consider Jerusalem to be their capital, and each side has historical, political and religious claims to the city. Hugh Lovatt, Israel/Palestine project coordinator at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told CNBC via telephone that Trump's potential to move the U.S. embassy was "altogether a worrying phenomenon," as it signified a "broader U.S. drive which risks severely undermining not just stability (in the region) but also the two state solution." In 1995, the U.S. passed a law declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel and stating that the city should not be divided. But, presidents have since continuously signed waivers preventing the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a step which is taken every six months. watch now What's the knock-on effect? "There will be a backlash among Arab governments" should the U.S. embassy move, Lovatt said. He added that the response in the Middle East could progress "beyond the symbolic or rhetorical" and underlined the "potential for instability." Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat said in a statement reported by Israeli media that Spicer's announcement "sent a clear message to the world that the U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as the indivisible capital of the State of Israel." Meanwhile, it is also understood that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrote to Trump ahead of his inauguration advising him not to move the U.S. embassy in the country. How does Trump view Israel? Lovatt described Trump's foreign policy on Israel as adopting "no coherent position." But, the Times of Israel reported David Friedman Trump's proposed ambassador to the country as saying that "a two state solution is not a priority." Lovatt described Friedman as being "very supportive of the settlement enterprise." How did Obama leave things? Sen. Marco Rubio said Monday that he will vote to confirm Rex Tillerson as secretary of State after previously expressing concerns about the former Exxon Mobil CEO. "Given the uncertainty that exists both at home and abroad about the direction of our foreign policy, it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy. Therefore, despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillerson's nomination in committee and in the full Senate," the Florida Republican said in a statement. The support from Rubio, a Senate Foreign Relations committee member, all but removes Republican opposition to Tillerson's nomination in the GOP-controlled Senate. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina also said they will vote for Tillerson despite their misgivings. Rubio, McCain and Graham expressed concerns about Tillerson's ties to Russia amid a U.S. response to Moscow's alleged efforts to influence the 2016 election. Tillerson previously did business with Russia and received an award from President Vladimir Putin. Rubio said he still has doubts about Tillerson due to some of the answers he gave in his Senate confirmation hearing, including refusing to acknowledge that Putin committed war crimes in Syria. But Rubio added that he was "encouraged" by Tillerson's condemnation of the alleged election interference and statement that the Russian annexation of Crimea was illegal. The committee will vote on Tillerson on Monday. With the support of Rubio, McCain and Graham, Tillerson is all but assured to be confirmed in the wider GOP-controlled Senate. As of midday trading Monday, the was set to log its worst day of the year, as President Donald Trump's brash words and anti-free-trade moves appeared to spook investors. On Monday morning, Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement with 11 countries that had yet to be ratified. He is also expected to sign an order stating his intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. And in a meeting with CEOs, he reiterated his plan to impose some sort of tax on goods created outside the United States. Amid the headlines, the S&P slipped as much as 0.6 percent. While a small move in the scheme of things, that would actually make for the market's largest drop since Dec. 28, when the S&P closed 0.84 percent lower. "Trump's approach to trade is finally catching up to the market," Max Wolff, market strategist at 55 Capital, told CNBC in a Monday interview. To Gina Sanchez of Chantico Global, the decline is not about the moves against free trade specifically; rather, "this is a general sense of concern that is driving this move." After confrontational Trump speeches at his inauguration and at CIA headquarters dampened expectations he would become more temperate postelection, "the markets are starting to get nervous that the first 100 days [of Trump's presidency] are off to a rocky start," she wrote to CNBC. Boris Schlossberg, macro strategist and trader at BK Asset Management, is of a similar mind, writing on Monday: "Markets have clearly been taken aback by his confrontational style of politics and unless the U.S. economy shows some rapid improvements in growth, the enthusiasm that accompanied Mr. Trump into the office will quickly turn into fear as investors begin to consider the costs of his protectionist policies and bare knuckles style of governing." Wolff put it a bit more starkly: After a significant rally after Trump's election, "the honeymoon is over, and investors just woke up and took a long look at the bride." Of course, some context is important. Even at Monday's lows, the S&P is just 1 percent away from its peak. "What's crazy is that it feels like the world is on the verge of collapse but SPUs are less than 15 handles from the Jan. 6 all-time high," Michael Block, of Rhino Trading Partners, mused in a Monday morning missive. Prior to today's presidential inauguration, the official website of the president, Whitehouse.gov, was reset to reflect the new occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.: Donald Trump. And while the largely barebones new site features language related to the new administration's energy, defense, trade, and job growth policies, it features scant information related to technology, a sector that directly affects all four. More from Buzzfeed News: Iraqis are pissed that Trump said the US might try to seize their oil, again Alt-right news platform Breitbart News is set to expand its presence in Italy Trump announces end to climate and pollution rules as a first act There are only two direct mentions of issues germane to the internet or technology: One, in the "Making Our Military Strong Again" subsection, is some boilerplate about the importance of cyberwarfare: Cyberwarfare is an emerging battlefield, and we must take every measure to safeguard our national security secrets and systems. We will make it a priority to develop defensive and offensive cyber capabilities at our U.S. Cyber Command, and recruit the best and brightest Americans to serve in this crucial area. The second comes at the end of the biography page of first lady Melania Trump, and concerns her campaign against cyberbullying: CAMEROUN :: Cameroon: Biggest Ever Seizure of Pangolin Scales; Two Chinese Arrested. Wildlife officials made one of the biggest ever seizures of pangolin scales in the Central African sub-region on January 3, 2017, taking hold of over five tons of pangolin scales and two Chinese traffickers. Following information they received on wildlife trafficking concerning a Douala-based company run by some Chinese nationals, a crackdown operation was carried and two solidly sealed containers were cut open to reveal close to 300 boxes filled with pangolin scales. The operation was carried out by the Littoral Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife with the collaboration of the Judiciary and the police in Douala. The Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA) provided technical assistance during the operation. The arresting team spent several hours trying to break them open the containers and the services of a welder was required. When they finally succeeded they revealed iron boxes which were welded into frames and covered with lead to disguise them when passed through scanners at the ports. The two Chinese initially resisted allowing officials inspect the premises despite the presentation of a search warrant. The two managers claimed the containers had broken machines which were about to be exported to China for repairs. One of the managers looked more worried, kept smoking cigarettes for long hours as he tried several diversionary tactics to sway wildlife officials from breaking open the containers until two pieces of pangolin scales were found in the area. Rachelle Tchasso a forestry engineer who was part of the team explains When we got to the place, despite the resistance of the Chinese we found the hidden containers. We also found two pangolin scales lying on the floor despite the fact that the area was cleanly swept. According to sources close to the operation, the containers had been packed ready for shipment out of the country since a month ago and formalities were being carried out by the traffickers to ensure smooth passage at the ports. The arrest highlights the seriousness of pangolin scale trafficking and the role played by some Chinese nationals in the illegal export of wildlife species from the country. Tchasso a says the it should be a long and dense chain of traffickers putting together this huge quantity and we have found out that there is huge pressure on this species that has been reclassified. Chinese are part of the problem she says when they want to do trafficking, they go around with suitcases [of money]. The development of pangolin scales trafficking has been very rapid over the last few years as a growing number of seizures seem to indicate a troubling trend for the species. In June last year over 4 tons of pangolin scales that was exported from Cameroon were seized in Hong Kong. From two seizures only, close to 10 tons of pangolin scales are connected with the trafficking from Cameroon to Asia. The illegal trade in China seems to be putting a lot of pressure on this species that is barely known to many but which remains the most trafficked mammal in the world today. Experts say five tons of pangolin scales represent at least 5 000 pangolins slaughtered in the wild and conservationists are in alert mode, calling for more protection for this species. During the last Conference of Parties of the Washington Convention held in South Africa in September 2016, pangolins were upgraded into appendix I that represents the category of wildlife with the highest levels of protection and wildlife law enforcement efforts aimed at stopping big time pangolin scale traffickers became a priority after this reclassification. The operation is definitely a step up in the countrys fight against wildlife trafficking and the complexity of this operation is a big indicator of how far wildlife officials have gone in gaining experience in wildlife law enforcement. Here are some things to keep in mind when referring to the "Trump Rally" The is up nearly 6% since Trump was elected, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the Trump Rally is still on. When discussing the so-called Trump Rally, an argument can be made for referring to it in past tense, rather than in present tense since it appears that the gain has essentially been stalled for more than 5 weeks now (having ended around December 13). In fact, the S&P 500 has now moved sideways for a longer period than the actual post-election rally (26 sessions vs. 25 sessions). Source: Thomson Reuters Eikon "I'm certainly going to be making a visit to China and we are looking at what timing would be appropriate. We're obviously looking at our trading relationship with China," Mrs May told the Financial Times in an interview last week. Mr Trump's election is expected to lead to a chilling of US-China trade relations, giving Mrs May an opportunity to proclaim her commitment to free trade and revive a relationship with Beijing which has cooled in recent months. Mrs May's visit to Beijing will represent the second leg of an attempt to strengthen Britain's global trading links; later this week she will hold talks with Donald Trump, the US president, in Washington. Theresa May intends to visit China "relatively soon" to shore up Britain's trading arrangements with the world's second-largest economy, UK and Chinese officials said. With Mr Trump casting doubt on the benefits of global free trade, Mrs May sees the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, as a potential economic ally. "I think one of the things that was interesting to people in Davos was the speech that President Xi gave and the comments he made about the importance of free trade around the world," she said. For its part, China would value a reaffirmation of UK support following the sharp deterioration in US-China ties that have followed Mr Trump's election. "China can potentially help the UK at a difficult time and the UK can also help China," said a Chinese official, who declined to be identified. "We are just waiting to see what Mr Trump's real policies will be," said one Chinese official. "But our commitment to free trade will not change and the importance we attach to UK ties will remain high." Beijing also wants more concrete assistance from the UK, particularly over a nuclear power deal for a Chinese company that the Chinese feel has become bogged down in uncertainty over the UK's bureaucratic and regulatory procedures. Mrs May deploys the language of a "golden era" in China-British relations, but Beijing has cooled on a series of high-profile projects since the departure from the government of former chancellor George Osborne, a keen Sinophile. Chinese observers blame the changing mood in Beijing to several factors, including uncertainties following Britain's vote to leave the EU and China's own domestic economic concerns. Mrs May will travel to Philadelphia on Thursday to meet senior Republicans, holding their annual Congressional retreat, where she is expected to urge the GOP not to turn its back on world trade. On Friday she will become the first foreign leader to meet President Trump in the White House. Mrs May has promised to hold "very frank" talks with the US president, including urging him to maintain US support for Nato and the EU. "I expect trade will be discussed as a key lever in how we increase prosperity for the people of the UK and the US," Mrs May's spokeswoman said. The prime minister said last week that although the UK could not sign a new trade deal with the US while it was a member of the EU, the two sides could look to dismantle barriers which are an impediment to trade. Mrs May's spokeswoman said the prime minister would reaffirm Britain's commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East, confirming that the UK had no plans to follow Mr Trump's proposal to relocate the US embassy to Israel to Jerusalem. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that a lawsuit accusing him of violating the Constitution by allowing his hotels and other businesses to accept payments from foreign governments was "without merit." His remarks to reporters in the Oval Office coincided with a letter by Democratic lawmakers asking the General Services Administration what it was doing about Trump's hotel lease for the Old Post Office building. They said the lease states that no elected official of the federal government can share in the agreement or benefit from it. An ethics watchdog group Monday pulled no punches in a lawsuit filed in federal court against President Trump, claiming that the president's refusal to divest his sprawling network of business holdings put him in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. "This cannot be allowed," the complaint said. At the heart of the complaint is a clause in the Constitution written to prevent foreign governments from exerting influence on the United States. Known as the Emoluments Clause, the section bans the president from accepting gifts or compensation from foreign governments. With dozens of foreign holdings, any of which could benefit from Trump's new role as president, the complaint argues, the president's "business interests are creating countless conflicts of interest, as well as unprecedented influence by foreign governments, and have resulted and will further result in numerous violations" of the Constitution. "As the Framers were aware, private financial interests can subtly sway even the most virtuous leaders," the complaint said. President Donald Trump told business leaders on Monday he believes he can cut regulations by 75 percent or "maybe more." At the White House with 10 senior executives, he repeated his campaign pledges to roll back corporate rules, arguing that they have "gotten out of control." A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request to elaborate on which rules Trump will target or how the 75 percent was calculated. "We're going to be cutting regulation massively," but the rules will be "just as protective of the people," Trump told reporters at the meeting that included Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank. Democrats and interest groups have expressed concern about Trump's plans to roll back Obama administration environmental protections and pull out of the landmark Paris climate accords, among other regulatory pledges. In the wide-ranging statement Monday, Trump also reiterated campaign promises to cut taxes for businesses, saying he aims to get the business rate "down to anywhere from 15 to 20 percent" from the current 35 percent. He also said he wants to reward companies that manufacture in the U.S. and impose border taxes on products that American companies make abroad. As he did on the campaign trail, Trump said his plans to push American manufacturing and renegotiate trade deals do not mean that he wants to abandon free trade. His statements came ahead of an expected executive order to start the process of revising the North American Free Trade Agreement and pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. "What we want to do is bring manufacturing back to our country," Trump said. "That doesn't mean we don't trade because we do trade. We want to make our products here." After the meeting, Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris said the executives will come back in 30 days with suggested actions to boost American manufacturing. Trump's administration has already negotiated a deal with United Technologies for its Carrier unit to keep some jobs in Indiana rather than move them to Mexico, in exchange for $7 million in incentives over several years. Still, the company plans to shut down another Indiana facility and move hundreds of jobs to Mexico. He has also targeted some companies, particularly automakers, for making parts abroad. Trump has pledged a tax on those products that are sold in the U.S. Trump also touted his push to "massively" cut taxes for the middle class. Some independent analyses have concluded that Trump's across-the-board tax cut proposals will balloon the national debt by trillions, but his administration has argued that economic growth will cancel out the effect. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as early as Monday stating his intention to renegotiate the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, a White House official told NBC News. Eliminating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was crafted by former President Bill Clinton and enacted in 1994, was a frequent Trump campaign promise. The deal was intended to eliminate most trade tariffs between the three nations, increase investment and tighten protection and enforcement of intellectual property. More from NBC News: Donald Trump's Taxes: What We Know and What We Don't Kellyanne Conway: WH Spokesman Gave 'Alternative Facts' Trump Administration Official Responds To March Demonstrations "We will be starting negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said Sunday at a swearing-in ceremony for his top White House advisers. "We are going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on immigration and on security at the border." U.S. manufacturing exports to Canada and Mexico, the United States' two largest export markets, increased 258 percent under the agreement, according to the website of outgoing U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, and the deal helped create a trade surplus in agriculture and manufactured goods. Still, the new president blames it for destroying America's manufacturing sector and called it "one of the worst deals ever" during an October debate with Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump tweet The Center for Automotive Research, a respected automotive research firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said in a statement this month that pulling out of NAFTA could cost auto jobs created since the end of the Great Recession. "Counter to the incoming Trump administration's goal of creating manufacturing jobs, the withdrawal from NAFTA or the implementation of punitive tariffs could result in the loss of 31,000 U.S. jobs," CAR said. Trump is also expected to sign an executive order announcing his intention to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement among 11 Pacific Rim countries and never ratified by Congress, said the White House official. He will simultaneously move to begin individual trade negotiations with the countries in the TPP. Barbara Diner, right, and Deb Baker, managing partners of Higher Standard Packaging, which makes containers for cannabis products, at the Terrapin Care Station production facility in Aurora, Colo., Jan. 12, 2017. The legal marijuana business has created a multibillion-dollar industry, including some interesting side ventures and spinoffs, and even unlikely entrepreneurs have found lucrative niches. Among them are Deb Baker, a retired high school teacher, and Barb Diner, a former marketing executive, who both live in Denver and have been friends for 27 years. The two had found the relaxed retirement life a bit dull, so they would often bat around ideas that might be interesting to pursue and that could supplement their income. In 2014, the nascent entrepreneurs saw a niche to be filled child-resistant marijuana containers that would comply with Colorado's newly mandated regulation. More from The New York Times: Grass-Fed Beef, Sold One Cow at a Time At Repair Cafes, 'Beloved but Broken' Possessions Find New Life For Young Entrepreneurs, College Debts Can Snuff Out Start-Up Hopes On a market-research visit to a dispensary, Ms. Diner and Ms. Baker noticed some of the containers used there were made with chemicals that gave off an unpleasant odor. They thought they had a better idea. Higher Standard Packaging containers are filled with marijuana at the Terrapin Care Station production facility in Aurora, Colo., Jan. 12, 2017. Matt Nager | The New York Times "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. Higher Standard Packaging has about 50 clients, including cannabis dispensaries as well as makers of edibles, concentrates and other cannabis products. Most are in Colorado, but plans are in the works to expand around the United States and into Canada as the legalization of marijuana becomes more widespread. The cannabis industry is growing rapidly. The market for legal recreational and medicinal marijuana totaled $6.9 billion in 2016, a 34 percent increase over 2015, according to the Arcview Group, a California-based organization that researches and invests in the industry. Greg James, publisher of Marijuana Venture, a magazine focused on cannabis business issues, said lessons from Colorado could be instructive for future entrepreneurs in states where marijuana laws are loosening. Rows of cannabis plants grow in the twenty thousand square foot greenhouse at Vireo Health's medical marijuana cultivation facility. Drew Angerer | Getty Images "Entrepreneurs in states like California and Maine where cannabis has been newly legalized do very well to visit and study what's going on," he said. Marijuana packaging started out as "a glorified version of the plastic bag that people used when it was illegal," Mr. James said, and has become an important part of the business encompassing issues of safety, transportability and marketing. For entrepreneurs thinking about joining the cannabis industry, Ms. Diner and Ms. Baker recommend a high tolerance to risk, the flexibility to change course quickly as regulations change and the dedication to meet the needs of the market. Customers will "need you outside the hours of 9 and 5, and you will get calls on weekends. Marijuana grows 24 hours a day," Ms. Baker said. In an industry dominated by young men, Ms. Baker, 62, and Ms. Diner, 56, said cannabis sellers used to look a bit askance when the two women entered the store, but, "We would swear a bit and people would relax," said Ms. Diner. Now familiar faces, they say the budtenders (retail marijuana sellers) are likely to call out, "The ladies are here!" when the two visit their customers. Working out of their homes, the "ladies" run a lean operation, buying products as they sell them to take minimal risk. They have hired no employees and taken in no outside funding. Doing so, they became profitable in their first year and were able to take salaries. The company uses a delivery van that Ms. Baker's 90-year-old father-in-law gave them as a gift. "That's making life a lot easier," said Ms. Baker. Three years into their business, the pair still rely on personal interaction and a high level of service to find and keep customers. They note that there are websites selling low-cost containers made in Asia, "but we're resisting that model," Ms. Diner said. Cannabis plants grow in the greenhouse at Vireo Health's medical marijuana cultivation facility, August 19, 2016 in Johnstown, New York. Drew Angerer | Getty Images "The more we can interact face to face with our clients, the better chance we have of identifying their needs, wishes and dreams," she said. "It's a time-consuming model but is serving us well." Ms. Baker says the success of their approach may also have something do with the fact that "we remind many of our customers of their mothers or favorite aunts, with our reading glasses perched on our noses," giving out advice. About half of their business growth comes from referrals and another large percentage comes from the growth of existing clients. "I taught school for 30 years, and there's an educational component to this as well," Ms. Baker said. The personal connections also open the door to collaborations. Marijuana products are coming in new containers including single-use coffee pods, tins, droppers and others, and Higher Packaging is moving beyond its basic white canisters to partner with companies to customize packaging. Their first payment from a Denver cannabis dispensary was typical $5,400 entirely in small bills and reeking of marijuana. The marijuana industry can be a roller-coaster of good news and bad. "Our phones were ringing off the hooks when California legalized recreational cannabis use in November," Ms. Diner said. A few weeks later though, when President-elect Donald J. Trump said that he would nominate as attorney general Jeff Sessions, a hard-line marijuana opponent, it had a chilling effect throughout the industry and among its investors. More than half the states in the country have some form of legalized marijuana. But as the industry evolves, its laws change too. Regulations are still in flux, meaning that companies like High Standard need to change their products and stay nimble. In October 2016, a new law in Colorado required the packaging of all cannabis edible products such as the chocolate bars and brownies infused with marijuana to be stamped with a symbol indicating they contained THC, marijuana's psychoactive ingredient. This was a public safety measure meant to ensure people could distinguish the products from their non-cannabis foods. Because the edible cannabis makers had to create new production molds for their foods to include the symbol, their business costs increased. As a result, they looked for areas where they could reduce expenses, like packaging. This meant Ms. Baker and Ms. Diner had to put in extra time to find ways to accommodate the changes the new laws required but still offer products that were aesthetically pleasing and economical. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May are meeting this Friday in Washington to discuss future trade opportunities. However, analysts believe that the meeting is more about prioritizing relationships rather than discussing detail. Theresa May has told U.K. media that both sides of the Atlantic could look at current obstacles to their trade and remove those barriers. According to the Telegraph, one of the things that the U.K. government wants to discuss is how to make it easier for U.S. workers to move to the U.K. and vice-versa. "At the meeting, the two leaders may identify areas in which the U.K. and U.S. already have close trade ties, such as in manufactured goods and chemicals, and express a desire to maintain and perhaps deepen these ties," Danielle Haralambous, U.K. analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit, told CNBC via email. "However, they can do little more than hold an informal discussion at this stage and nothing concrete on tariffs or immigration can or will be agreed," she added. This is mostly due to the fact that the British government will be busy with exit and trade talks with the EU. But it will also be linked with how protectionist Trump gets. Over the weekend, The Sunday Times revealed that a serious malfunction in the system took place off the Florida coast just weeks before the vote, but was not made public. Construction of a replacement generation is now underway after a parliamentary vote in July 2016 approved an upgrade that is expected to cost the U.K. taxpayer 31 billion ($39 billion). The Trident program is Britain's submarine-based nuclear deterrent, which has been in operation since 1994. The British government has revealed that Prime Minister Theresa May did know that a test involving an unarmed missile that can carry nuclear weapons had gone spectacularly wrong just weeks before a vote on extending the system's use. In what the newspaper describes as the only test of a British missile in four years, the unarmed missile veered off in the direction of the U.S. mainland, the exact opposite of the Royal Navy's intent. In a BBC television interview Sunday, May declined to answer four times on whether she knew about the test firing. Instead, she said: "I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident." As media speculation intensified, a spokeswoman told reporters Monday that the prime minister did in fact know of the failure. "On taking office, the current prime minister was briefed on a range of nuclear issues, including this,"she said. The Ministry of Defense has not denied reports of a bungled test but issued a statement claiming that Trident's "capability and effectiveness . . . is unquestionable". Expanding, the ministry said: "In June the Royal Navy conducted a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew. Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent. We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons." The U.K has 4 Trident submarines, with one permanently armed and at sea. Correction: The headlines on this story were revised to clarify that the missile was not armed. watch now President Donald Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday that it has been "frustrating" and "demoralizing" for Trump and his team to constantly deal with a negative media narrative that either predicts failure for him or questions his accomplishments. "The narrative, the default narrative is always negative, and it's demoralizing," Spicer said at his first official White House news conference, two days after igniting a battle with the media over the purported size of Trump's inauguration audience. "There's this constant theme to undercut the enormous support that he has." "I think it's just unbelievably frustrating when you're continually told, 'It's not big enough, it's not good enough ... you can't win,' " Spicer said. "He's gone out there and defied the odds over and over and over again, and he keeps getting told what he can't do by this narrative that's out there and he exceeds every single time," Spicer said, citing Trump's electoral success after being dismissed by pundits as a long-shot candidate at best when he entered the presidential race in 2015. Spicer also said "there's a constant attempt to undermine his credibility and the movement that he represents." "And it's frustrating for not just him, but I think for so many of us that are trying to work to get this message out." Spicer's remarks came on what is only the fourth day of the Trump administration, and less than 48 hours after the press secretary sparked a fight with the media by accusing several outlets of intentionally misrepresenting the size of the audience that watched Trump's inauguration. Spicer had said Saturday that it was the largest audience ever to watch a presidential inauguration, a claim that was met with widespread derision given aerial photos that showed a relatively small crowd on the National Mall, in contrast to the throngs of people who crowded that area in front of the Capitol for President Barack Obama's swearing-in in 2009. Spicer said Monday that he was not claiming there were more people in attendance on the Mall. Instead, the spokesman said that the cumulative audience in-person and watching online or on television had set a record. Spicer's series of complaints about the media narrative surrounding Trump came in response to a question from CNN reporter Jim Acosta. Trump earlier this month, at a New York news conference, pointedly and repeatedly refused to call on Acosta while accusing CNN of publishing "fake news" about him. Acosta asked Spicer why Trump made "crowd size an issue" when the president spoke to CIA officers on Saturday and why Spicer addressed it when he spoke to the press later that day. "I will tell you it's not just about crowd size," Spicer said. "It's about this constant, you know, 'He's not going to run,' If he runs he's going to drop out,' 'If he runs he can't win.' 'No way he can win Pennsylvania.'" Spicer also cited news stories that had said Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., was boycotting his first inauguration ever by skipping Trump's, and another report that said a bust of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office after Trump entered the White House. In both cases, those reports were incorrect, but Lewis admitted he had been mistaken, and the reporter also quickly corrected his error and apologized. As he puts it, Eisen was Obama's "Ethics Czar." First I wanted to clarify the basic question: What is the difference between what is ethical vs. what is legal? Eisen: "What we mean by ethical in the government ethics context is that there is a body of laws that govern what you can and cannot do, with respect to your conflicts of interest and other personal financial interests. In government, when you're a government servant, that's what we mean by government ethics." "Of course, there's also the question of government morals, 'What's right and wrong to do?' We hope that the government ethics rules track the rules of political morality. What we've tried to do is codify abstract principles of right and wrong into a set of conflicts rules for government officials, starting with the Constitution and then the statutes and regulations as well. That's what we mean by government ethics." I wondered, then, if we have codified rules, why does there seem to be so much grey area? Is Trump right is the president above the law? Eisen: "In any rule of law system, any body of laws not just the government ethics laws that govern conflicts of interest on related subjects there always are going to be grey areas. There's no doubt about it. Rule of law systems are imperfect in part, because you're trying to build a set of behavioral codes on top of abstract principles of right and wrong. And that's tricky to do." "In the case of Donald Trump, he wants to make it into a grey area, or really he wants to make it into a black-and-white area that conflicts law doesn't apply to him. He's correct that there's a lot of black-and-white, but if the black-and-white of it cuts against him, the conflict does apply. There can be no dispute that the rules in the Constitution, for example, which prohibit presidents from taking foreign government cash and other benefits, so called emoluments, apply to the president." So what might all of this mean for U.S. business? While most analysis of potential conflicts has focused on the possibility of corruption, more immediately, they're become a question of competition. As Eisen has pointed out, the conflicts might mean that U.S. businesses could be in competition with sitting U.S. president. Eisen said recently on MSNBC: "Who has standing to do something about it? The Standing Doctrine requires someone to be injured. And I think you are going to see a lot of people who are injured stepping forward to go to the courts the guardians of our Constitution. For example, Donald Trump's competitors. His hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue is sucking in the cash and business from the foreign governments that used to go to a variety of hotels and other establishments around Washington. So those competitors that are losing business, that's an example of someone who's injured. There are a bunch of others who are going to be injured. I think you're going to see them go to court, maybe as soon as next week." Sound surprising? As Eisen told me last week: "[Trump's] going to be in violation of the Constitution, and I don't believe that American people or the courts will stand by for that idly. So there'll be litigation." Xiaomi's Hugo Barra gestures while speaking during the launch of the company's Mi 5 smartphone in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, March 31, 2016. Hugo Barra, the executive charged with leading Xiaomi's international expansion after being poached from Google in 2013, will leave the Chinese high-tech group at a critical time in the company. In a Facebook post on Monday, Barra, who was Xiaomi's vice-president of international, praised the "rockstar start-up" but said the role had impacted his health. "What I've realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health," Barra wrote. "My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return." Barra said he would transition out of his role in February after the Chinese New Year and take some "much-needed time off before embarking on a new adventure back in Silicon Valley". He has been with the firm for three-and-a-half years. The executive's departure comes at a difficult time for Xiaomi as it faces questions over growth. In a letter to staff this month, Xiaomi chief executive Lei Jun admitted the company had grown "too fast". GEDDES, N.Y. The New York State Fair will expand to a 13-day event in its 2017 edition, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. Cuomos State Fair task force had recommended the move, and the governor endorsed the recommendation. The annual State Fair has historically run 12 days from a Thursday in late August to Labor Day. This years Fair will start on Wednesday, Aug. 23, Cuomos office said in a news release. The decision to lengthen the State Fairs run comes after last years event attracted a record total attendance of more than 1.1 million people. Cuomo also today unveiled plans for the $70 million, second phase of the plan to improve the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes. The plan includes $35 million to develop an 80,000-square-foot, multi-use exposition center and $15 million for an aerial gondola between the Fairgrounds and the Lakeview Amphitheater, according to a presentation Cuomo made Monday during a visit the Fairgrounds. Cuomos budget proposal will provide $50 million in funding for those projects. The plan also includes the state using $20 million from the Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) to pay for the construction of a new on-ramp to Interstate 690 West and other improvements to the Orange parking lot, Cuomo said. The plan from the Central New York regional economic-development council (REDC) won one of three $500 million awards in the URI, the Cuomos 2015 economic-development contest. The second phase is part of the capital program to develop the State Fair into a year-round destination, Cuomos office said. He provided the second-phase details as he outlined his budget proposal during the noon-hour visit to the State Fairgrounds. About the task force Cuomo last November appointed a State Fair Phase Two task force of 21 local officials and industry leaders, Richard Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney co-chaired the task force. The group worked to develop new ideas that would build upon the first phase of improvements debuted at the 2016 State Fair The task force provided its recommendations to Cuomo at the end of 2016. Sky ride, new shows This years State Fair will also include an aerial sky ride over the Midway, which will debut on the Fairs opening day. Wade Shows Inc. will build, operate, and maintain the sky ride. It will feature at least 100 double-passenger seats. The state has also announced new events that are coming to the Fairgrounds, saying theyre a direct result of the States investments to improve and expand the fair. Right Coast Inc., promoter of the PPG Syracuse Nationals car show, will bring three events to the State Fairgrounds in 2017, including Syracuse SnowCross, Kawasaki Syracuse StadiumCross, and the Syracuse Man Show. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com MO judge temporarily blocks restrictions on voter registration groups The judge wrote that the requirements are "antithetical to the core tenets of freedom of speech." Refueling stations that would support a burgeoning hydrogen fuel-cell industry are on the rise and should reach nearly 5,000 by 2032, according to a new report. The research report from Washington-based Information Trends indicates that hydrogen fuel station deployment in major markets is in full swing, bolstering prospects for large-scale consumer adoption fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). In 2015, there were 115 hydrogen fueling stations worldwide, and 285 in 2016. This year, that number is expected to grow to 384. By 2022, there will be 1,306, and by 2032 there will be 4,808, according to Information Trends. In the U.S., hydrogen refueling stations are expected to reach 78 this year. By 2022, there will be 197, and by 2032 there will be 1,208, according to the report. Refueling stations are increasing in number as Audi and Mercedes-Benz are preparing to launch FCVs on the heels of rollouts of hydrogen-powered vehicles by Toyota, Honda and Hyundai. Audi AG Audi A7 Sportback h-tron quattro hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is due out this year. In 2015, Toyota started selling its FCV Mirai, and Hyundai continued commercial sales of its fuel cell Tucson (in the U.S.) and ix35 (outside the U.S.). Honda unveiled its FCV Concept at several 2015 auto shows, and it began shipping its first vehicle that year. Honda's third-generation FCV, the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, began shipping last month at dealerships across southern California. The Clarity Fuel Cell sedan can be leased and comes with $15,000 worth of free hydrogen fuel. The Clarity Fuel Cell has a 366-mile range and a fuel economy rating of 68 combined MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent). In Europe, Denmark was the first country to deploy a nationwide hydrogen fueling infrastructure, but Germany is leading the deployment charge with 400 stations expected in the next six years, the report stated. In the U.S., California is aggressively deploying hydrogen stations as part of its efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions. Nikola Motor Co./Google Maps Some of the 364 hydrogen fueling stations Nikola Motor Co. plans to begin building next year. "Both Toyota and Honda, as well as Korea's Hyundai, have largely stayed away from electric vehicles but are embracing fuel-cell technology in a big way," said Naqi Jaffery, the lead author of Information Trend's report, said in an email to Computerworld. "Both are providing funds for establishing hydrogen filling stations." According to a U.S. Department of Energy Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report for 2015, the hydrogen fuel industry has reached several milestones over the past several years. Among them was gas company Linde, which in 2015 had more than 1 million hydrogen fuelings at BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. BMW operates more than 350 fuel cell-powered forklifts to service the plant's production and logistics functions, making it the largest single-site fuel cell forklift fleet in the world. Information Trends While the costs of hydrogen stations are declining, their capacities are increasing, the Information Trends report stated. By 2032, hydrogen stations will have aggregate capacity of 3 million kg/day. The competition for dominance in the fuel-cell vehicle market will be vigorous, triggering significant technological innovations and cost declines, it said. "Hydrogen is the fuel of the future," Jaffery stated in a news release. "And, the proliferation of hydrogen stations represents the natural progression from fossil fuels to clean energy." The sums of money being poured in hydrogen station deployments is staggering, mostly raised through public-private partnerships." Hydrogen fuel cells work by electrochemically combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat. Fuel cells continuously generate electricity as long as a source of fuel is supplied. Fuel cells do not burn fuel, making the process quiet, pollution-free, and as much as two to three times more efficient than combustion technologies. A fuel cell system can be a truly zero-emission source of electricity when hydrogen is produced from nonpolluting sources. Toyota How a hydrogen fuel cell stack works. Last year, Information Trends said hydrogen FCVs will catch up to electric vehicle (EV) sales because of the advantage of shorter refuel times and greater drive distances. The report stated that by 2020, sufficient hydrogen filling infrastructure will be in place in several regions of the world, giving a boost to the market for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Worldwide, more than 20 million hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be sold by 2032, and those sales will generate up to $1.2 trillion in revenue for the auto industry. By 2050, FCVs will be the "fastest growing segment of the auto market," according to Jaffery. After an electoral cycle full of hate and intolerance, who knew that an unpretentious 30-second Amazon ad could do so much good? Youve probably seen it: a simple story of a Christian pastor and a Muslim imam having tea, laughing and complaining about their creaky knees. Later, each independently comes up with the ideal gift for the other: kneepads. The final few seconds show the two men putting on their pads and kneeling to pray. The ad is quite effective. Even after repeated viewing, it still brings a tear to my eye. Im apparently not alone. The ad has been a viral sensation, with 10 million views on Facebook and nearly 2 million on YouTube, not to mention countless millions on television (Amazon has bought a tremendous amount of airtime for it). News outlets including USA Today, Fortune and CNN took note of its message of the universality of faith and religious tolerance for Muslims. Its easy to feel cynical that the real message is to buy things from Amazon, but that ignores that the company had good reason not to release a high-profile plea for tolerance when doing so puts it directly in the president-elects crosshairs. During the campaign, Donald Trump called for a ban on any Muslims entering the U.S. He also went after Amazon directly, repeatedly attacking it and its head, Jeff Bezos, saying at one point, Believe me, if I become president, oh, do they have problems. Theyre going to have such problems. Investors seem to think that Trump will follow through: While the rest of the stock market has gone on a tear since his election, Amazons stock has dropped 20 points. And thats the least of Amazons potential problems with Trump, who has said he believes Amazon violates antitrust laws and has hinted hell make sure the Justice Department, under his leadership, launches an investigation. Interestingly, Microsofts Spread Harmony ad also prominently features Muslims. Both companies are doing the right thing, and other tech companies that like to project a holier-than-thou air of progressiveness and inclusiveness should join them though it would be even better if they practiced what they preached. Tech firms seem sincere in their efforts to improve their own diversity, but so far success has eluded them. As Patrick Thibodeau reported in Computerworld last May, Among the top 75 Silicon Valley tech firms, whites make up 47% of the workforce, Asian Americans 41%, Hispanics, 6% and African Americans 3%, according to an analysis by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Women account for 30% of the workforce at these 75 firms. (Figures on the employment of Muslims in the tech sector are difficult to find.) Still, I dont think Amazon and Microsoft are being hypocritical, and I dont think their ads will be ineffective. According to The New York Times, such ads can have effects in the real world. In an article about a wave of ads featuring Muslims in a positive light, it reported, Several advertising executives likened the movement to the decision by mass marketers to cast same-sex couples and their children in ads for the first time in 2013 and 2014, making inclusion and acceptance a priority over potential criticism from some customers. Kevin Brady, an executive creative director at ad agency Droga5, which made a Honey Maid commercial prominently featuring a Muslim family, told the Times, With the kind of gay parent issue, weve gotten a little closer to acceptance, but the Muslim issue in America is still pretty raw for a lot of people. I dont think it should be, but its one that I think brands took an extra step of courage to really go out there with in 2016. Its time for the tech industry as a whole to push back against intolerance, not just against Muslims but also immigrants and anyone else who was targeted during the presidential election campaign. Ads are one way to do it. Another is to refuse to cooperate with any effort to create a database of Muslims in the U.S., as over 3,800 tech professionals have done by signing a petition at Neveragain.tech. As the petition notes, IBM collaborated to digitize and streamline the Holocaust. Thats why its heartening to read that Facebook, Apple, Google, Twitter, Uber, Microsoft and, yes, IBM have said they will not work on such a project. Thats even better than a feel-good ad. As the Southern Railway strike drags on its understandable that MPs should be hunting for solutions. But Chris Philps proposals to toughen up on disproportionate strike action are, at present, a big step in the wrong direction. Under his proposals, first outlined on this site and which the Daily Telegraph reports will be introduced under a 10-minute rule motion tomorrow, a high court judge will be tasked with deciding whether a given strike is fair and proportionate. At a time when the Governments agenda has been thrown into uncertainty by the Supreme Court, one might expect Conservatives to be wary of laws which essentially invite the judiciary to carve out yet more constitutional territory for themselves. Yet this is precisely what the effect of Philps proposals would be. Unless accompanied by very specific guidance on what constitutes fair and proportionate and most likely, even then such law would involve judges distilling a just strike doctrine from their personal notions of what those words mean and introducing it into British law. Whether or not the importance of the strikers cause outweighs the inconvenience to the public is an inherently political decision. If applied to the doctors strike, for example, it would effectively require a judge to decide which side was right. Its not the proper role of judges to make that decision, and would be unfair to require them to do so. It would be unwise, too, to presume that the opinions of any given judge will align with those of the MPs backing this bill. Unless the judiciary proved particularly hawkish it seems likely they would, absent guidance, set a high bar to banning strike action and on any strike they allowed to proceed the Government would be automatically on the back foot. Philp himself only goes so far as to say that the Southern Rail strike the driving force behind the new law would only probably not be permitted under it. Further down the line, it invites the prospect of future Parliaments finding themselves once again paralysed, waiting on the judges to dole out the white hats which could effectively decide the fate of a reform programme, a ministerial career, or even a government, in accordance with a body of case law the courts have basically created from scratch. Other proposals outlined in Philps article on this site, such as mandatory mediation and a skeleton service requirement, are sensible, But the need for a High Court judgement is a textbook example of a worrisome habit in British lawmaking, whereby MPs farm out political decisions to individuals and organisations who are independent and therefore, unaccountable to the electorate. The judicialisation of politics is a significant part of a wider, anti-democratic trend towards rule by independent bodies and expert opinion, and the Prime Ministers determination to leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice suggests she is alert to the problem. Tory MPs should not try to bring the courts further into politics just as we start the long work of taking them out of it. If there is a case to be made for restricting strikes in key services, those decisions must be made and defended by people answerable to the voters. Close Genetically modified apples will hit the shelves of ten Midwest stores in American for the first time in February and March. The packed slices are engineered not to turn brown even when sliced. Produced by Okanagan Specialty Fruits of Summerland, B.C., the genetically modified apples has reduced polyphenol oxidase enzyme to prevent browning for three weeks after it is bitten, sliced or bruised. The Arctic brand sliced and packaged Golden Delicious apples were reported not to have chemical and flavour-altering additives. Neal Carter, founder and president of the company, said he is optimistic with the genetically modified apples because people love them at trade shows. He believes that product is great and even the eating quality is excellent. Around 500 boxes weighing 40 pounds of genetically modified sliced apples will hit some Midwest stores. Carter will not identify the name of the retailers, saying that it is up to owners to be known. Nothing on the packaging will identify that the apples are genetically modified, but a QR computer scan code will let the consumer get the information. However, Carter already said that the sliced apples will be sold under the Arctic brand. Okanagan Specialty Fruits is expected to produce 6,000 boxes of genetically modified apple slices from the 2017 fall crop. It has orchards in British Columbia and around 85,000 trees at an undisclosed location in Washington. In preparation for 2018, the company is expected to plant 300,000 trees this year, and bud around 500,000. Their goal is to plant 800 to 1,000 acres in northwest and eastern part of the country, with an addition of 600 to 800 acres in Canada by 2021. Nearly two years ago, the first genetically modified apples were approved by U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Apple Association said that they support the consumers' choice if they want a genetically modified apple that won't turn brown. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Pour a pitcher of these Bourbon Amaretto Coolers out at your next get together or BBQ! These sweet and sour drinks are going to be made again and again! From Meredith Steeles new cookbook Effortless Entertaining. I can single out the moment that I lost my romantic notions about flying. At 14, I was on my first non-parented trip, flying home from a student exchange in Japan with 14 other 8th graders, in the middle of the night. It was a trip to remember, not just for the experience and the fun. But because we flew over a massive lightning storm in the middle of the night. Turbulence included. When the flight attendants are requested to strap into their jump seats, it was a sign that it was a doozy of a flight. And even after I became legal to drink, it usually took a beer or two to get me on a plane. But there is one person I can almost single handedly say helped me get over my anxiety or most of it Meredith. And I am so glad that these Bourbon Amaretto Coolers came into my life! Dish Count :: 1 Pitcher, 4 glasses She may not remember this, but I sure do. The first time we met was on a press trip to Idaho, and our puddle jumper from Salt Lake City to Twin Falls Idaho, was a single aisle one by one plane. Flying to Idaho frequently meant I was well versed in flights on prop planes, like Q400s. Those I didnt mind so much, because Horizon hands out free booze on them. But this was smaller. So just as we are getting on the plane, I expressed my nerves of the upcoming trip, and she handed me two Dramamine. I quickly popped them in, and within 10 minutes of being airborne I was nodding off, and borderline ENJOYING the flight! Every little bump, as Ben had told me before, was just like a bumpy country road. And I was elated. Thank goodness! Now, I may not still be the worlds best flier, I mean over any great expanse of water still makes me tense up like Im waiting for someone to jump out from behind a curtain, but I not longer have to self medicate to enjoy flying. But lets be honest, anytime you get free booze on a plane it helps. When Merediths book came to me, I flipped through it mesmerized at her range of honest to goodness INCREDIBLE dishes that were made for entertaining. She has simplified entertaining recipes to be quick, easy, elegant, and flavorful. The best part of entertaining is the people and the food. But there is no point in entertaining if you are confined to your kitchen and missing out on making memories. I latched onto these Bourbon Amaretto Coolers, excited to make them and share them with Ben. These will be making appearances throughout the summer season! Get this and more in Merediths Effortless Entertaining Cookbook The Short Rib Tacos are next! Need More Cocktail Recipes? If you like these bourbon amaretto coolers, try these cocktails next! Strawberry Guava Mint Agua Fresca Rosewater Old Fashioned clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon heart heart icon heart solid heart solid icon Bourbon Amaretto Coolers 5 from 1 reviews Author: Country Cleaver Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes Yield: 4 servings 1 x Category: Beverage Method: Mixed Cuisine: American Print Recipe Pin Recipe Description Pour a pitcher of these Bourbon Amaretto Coolers out at your next get together or BBQ! These sweet and sour drinks are going to be made again and again! Ingredients Scale 1x 2x 3x 12 ounces Bourbon Whiskey Bourbon Whiskey 10 ounces Ginger Beer Ginger Beer 6 ounces Amaretto (such as Disaronno) Amaretto (such as Disaronno) 4 ounces Fresh Lemon Juice Fresh Lemon Juice 1 tsp Orange Bitters Orange Bitters Luxardo Cherries, or Bing Cherries Instructions In a small pitcher, combine all ingredients and stir gently. Pour over ice into low ball glasses, or mason jars. Garnish with cherries. Notes If you cant find orange bitters, use standard bitters, and add in a thick strip of orange zest twist. Keywords: amaretto cocktails, bourbon drinks, bourbon cocktails *This post contains an affiliate link. I make pennies off of this. But buy the book to support a wonderful bloggers whose talent knows no bounds!* Not a moment too soon, Princeton University Press has just released Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff by historian & Duke University Vice Provost Ed Balleisen. (Some readers might be familiar with his earlier book on bankruptcy in Antibellum America). As I learned when reviewing an earlier draft, Fraud is meticulously researched and completely fascinating, with plenty of careful attention to law and regulatory structures. The book's other virtues are well encapsulated by Kirkus: "Balleisen casts a gimlet eye on the passing parade of hucksters and charlatans, peppering a narrative long on theory with juicy asides that build toward a comprehensive catalog of Old Swindles in New Jargon. . . . Ranging among the disciplines of history, economics, and psychology, Balleisen constructs a sturdy narrative of the many ways in which we have fallen prey to the swindler, and continue to do so, as well as of how American society and its institutions have tried to build protections against the con. But these protections eventually run up against accusations of violating longstanding principles of due process, since the bigger the con, the more lawyers arrayed behind it."--Kirkus Although it starts in the 19th Century, the book's breadth includes our recent "deregulatory" decades and the impact of that approach on fraud containment. A book for our life and times for sure. Mobility News Samsung Says Battery Issues Did Cause Galaxy Note 7 Fires, New Safety Measures Are In Place Kyle Alspach Share this Samsung Electronics said that two separate battery issues were responsible for causing some Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to short circuit and catch fire last year, and the company has implemented new safety procedures to prevent future problems. Meanwhile, Samsung executive D.J. Koh told Reuters that the company won't release the next Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy S8, as expected at the Mobile World Congress in February. Koh said Samsung will be putting extra attention into ensuring the Galaxy S8 doesn't have safety defects. He didn't provide new timing for the Galaxy S8 launch. The 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 7, which originally launched on Aug. 19 in the U.S., was prone to catching fire in both its original and replacement versions. The company halted production of the phone in mid-October after selling 2.5 million units. The incidents have delivered a hit to the South Korean company's reputation in the market and cost the company at least $5 billion in direct losses. At PaRaBaL, an enterprise mobility solutions provider based in Baltimore, CEO Peter Coddington said Samsung is "too big" and popular to not recover from the incidents with the Note 7. "I think they'll come back, I really do," Coddington told CRN. "I don't think it's going to hurt their market position I think their biggest problem will be they'll be the butt of a joke." Samsung said it tested 200,000 Galaxy Note 7 phones as part of its investigation, which also included probes from independent firms. Two different manufacturers supplied batteries to the Galaxy Note 7, and the investigations found that batteries from both suppliers contained defects. The so-called "Battery A" suffered from design flaws including defective electrode separators, which caused positive and negative electrodes to touch each other, leading to a short circuit in some phones. "Battery B" the battery Samsung switched to for the replacement versions of the Note 7suffered from welding defects that occurred during manufacturing, which also led to short circuiting in some phones. Samsung said it has now instituted an "8-Point Battery Safety Check" for future smartphone releases that will aim to identify the types of issues that affected the Note 7. The company is "committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety," Koh said in a statement. Myanmars religious climate isnt getting any warmer. As violence mounts in the Buddhist-majority nation, formerly known as Burma, the countrys military is increasingly under fire for human rights abuses, most recently the forced disappearance of two Baptist church leaders. In November, two men connected to the Kachin Baptist Convention, youth pastor Langjaw Gam Seng and associate pastor Dumdaw Nawng Lat, reportedly agreed to take journalists to see and photograph the rubble of a Catholic church. The building was hit by airstrikes in a clash between Myanmars military and the Brotherhood of the Northern Alliance, an ethnic insurgent group. A few weeks later, the Burmese army summoned the men to a military base in northern Shan state, a rural region pocked with guerrilla fighting. The two pastors disappeared after the meeting, and according to Amnesty International, they may have been detained by Myanmar authorities for their role in organizing a visit by journalists [to the church]. The pastors were last seen on Christmas Eve, and the timing is not lost on local church leaders, who call the incident an example of unabashed religious oppression. There is this phenomenon called a Christmas truce where two warring parties temporarily and unofficially halt their fire. But for the Burmese army, it is their way of insulting and undermining our Christian faith, Rev. Hkalam Samson, chairman of the Kachin Baptist Convention, told The Irawaddy. The Burmese army denies involvement in the disappearance of the two pastors, but government officials will not respond to questions from human rights groups or the mens families. The apparent enforced disappearance of these two Christian leaders has created a climate of fear and terror in Northern Shan State, said Matthew Smith, chief executive officer of Fortify Rights. The term enforced disappearance refers to a deliberately concealed abduction not acknowledged by government officials. The official denial of responsibility places victims at significant risk. Enforced disappearances violate various rights protected under international law, including prohibitions against arbitrary arrest and detention; torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and extrajudicial execution, according to Human Rights Watch. This isnt the first crime report against Myanmars army. Civil society organizations have documented unlawful killings, torture, rape, forced labor, and other abuses committed by Burmese military forces against civilians in Northern Shan and Kachin States, according to a recent joint statement from Human Rights Watch and Fortify Rights. The Kachin Baptist Convention is the nations largest Christian denomination. While the population remains overwhelmingly Buddhist, like the rest of the nation, almost 10 percent of the states residents claim Christianity. In 2015, two young women serving as volunteer teachers with the convention were brutally raped and murdered in Shan state. Locals immediately blamed the Burmese army, and called for an investigation. Two years later, the case remains unsolved, with no charges brought against the military. Since November, northern Myanmar has erupted with clashes between the Burmese military and ethnic guerrilla fighters, triggering the flight of at least 3,000 civilians across the northern border into China. To the west, persecuted Rohingya Muslims have staged an armed resistance against Burmese security forces, but the backlash has driven at least 65,000 Rohingya refugees into neighboring Bangladesh. Courtesy: WORLD News Service Publication date: January 23, 2017 Daily in Christ, with Neil Anderson Discovering freedom through Jesus Every Day Light, with Selwyn Hughes Helping you see the light of Jesus in your life Heartlight Daily Verse, with Phil Ware A thought and prayer to start your day Wisdom from the Psalms Meditating on the teachings of the Hebrew songbook Daily in Your Presence, with Rebecca Barlow Jordan Conversations with a loving Father based on the qualities of God Living Free Every Day Life-changing biblical principles address life-controlling problems Daily Disciples Devotional Scripturally based readings with practical life applications. The Crosswalk Devotional Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life. Praying the Names of God, with Ann Spangler Gain a more intimate knowledge of God and His absolute faithfulness. Time With God, with John North The most important part of your day is your time with God Daily New Life with Steve Arterburn Daily inspiration to help on your healing journey Cross the Bridge Daily Evotionals with David McGee Experience daily inspiration in your inbox with Gods Word, encouraging thoughts and life lessons from pastor David McGee Insights from Bill Bright Daily reflections from the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ Answers for Church Members Common questions from church members answered by 9Marks ministries Somebody Loves You Radio w/ Raul Ries God's principles for daily living Your Daily Prayer A devotional prayer and inspirational image delivered to you every weekday morning to start your day in conversation with God. Joy of My Heart with Anne Graham Lotz Read thought-provoking insights from Anne on how to live out God's Word! First15 Devotional First15 is a one year, 365 day, daily devotional created to help you meet with your heavenly Father. Through worship, a devotional thought, and guided prayer, you can experience Gods loving presence every morning. Your Daily Bible Verse Dive deeper into Scripture with thoughts about the Bible verse of the day, with encouraging and helpful thoughts from our writers in the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast and devotional This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ANSONIA Founded in 1917, Better Packages has for a century tried to stay relevant and innovative. The growing popularity of the internet has helped the manufacturer grow even more. Unlike many brick-and-mortar retailers that have seen their numbers hurt by online shopping, Better Packages has seen its business explode over the last several years, said CEO Philip White. Because of e-commerce, the amount of packaging is just explosive, he said. And with customers as large as Amazon, its likely many people in the region have benefited from the companys product. The online giant is just one of the companies that uses Better Packages water-activated tape dispensers in its process to seal boxes before shipping them. This year, it celebrates 100 years in business. White said Thomas Edison is credited with creating the first water-activated tape, which quickly became a popular replacement for twine and other methods of keeping packages secured. It was a strong demand for the tape that led brothers Alfred and Theodore Kruger to start Better Packages in Brooklyn, N.Y. The business moved to Shelton in 1924 to be closer to the bustling manufacturers between Bridgeport and Waterbury. More than two years ago, it moved to a Hershey Drive facility in Ansonia with more space to accommodate increased demand. Less than a year later, Better Packages, which has seen annual revenue of more than $18 million, was acquired by the Intertape Polymer Group, a manufacturer of packaging products and machinery. When announcing the deal in 2015, Greg Yull, IPGs president and CEO, called Better Packages a recognized brand in the industry. Now producing more than 35,000 dispensers a year, Better Packages has about 70 percent worldwide market share in the water-activated tape dispenser industry, according to White. Its products, which have been sold internationally for the last 50 years, are found in more than 70 countries with international business growing each year. It employs about 45 people. Despite a brief interlude with Chinese labor, White said the company has maintained its manufacturing in the U.S. Having dedicated employees, many of whom have been with the company 25 to 50 years, in a local warehouse producing the dispensers has helped maintain the quality of the product, White said. Elizabeth Zygadlo, an Ansonia resident who has been working at Better Packages for nearly 30 years, said many of the employees work well together because they started out in the company around the same time. Its a nice company, she said. White said his company is unique because they use the dispensers to ship their own products. Throughout 2017, customers will receive dispensers in boxes sealed with tape that features its 100th anniversary logo. Each dispenser is designed to last 15 to 20 years. The company can also customize the machines to suit customers needs. It does so much more than a tape gun, White said. ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Cameron Carpenter gets heaps of satisfaction from crushing a few stereotypes now and again. No one debates whether the Juilliard-trained Carpenter is a brilliant musician and a mesmerizing nexus of energy when hes on stage. He is. Its the incongruity of it all. The way he looks and dresses doesnt fit the stereotype of the serious musician who plays a serious instrument: the organ. And thats part of his allure. With his now-famous digital International Touring Organ, the 30-something Carpenter will be at the Quick Center for the Arts in Fairfield on Saturday, Jan. 28. With his modified Mohawk hairdo and modern dress, Carpenter is expected to perform an array of classical, modern and theater music. Although the American virtuoso may be a marvel his foot work is especially outrageous he is not the only wonder on stage. The unique ITO, he said, was developed from his own design by Marshall & Ogletree, of Needham, Mass. After a decade of planning and building, the organ made its debut on March 9, 2014, at Lincoln Centers Alice Tully Hall. Loved by many, disliked by some, the movable feast liberates Carpenter from the need to always perform on mammoth-scale church or concert hall pipe organs. He has the flexibility to travel throughout North America and Europe, performing at intimate recitals and with grand orchestras. (More on this later.) We caught up with Carpenter by email at his home in Berlin. More Information Quick Center for the Arts, 200 Barlow Road entrance to the Fairfield University campus. Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. $55, $50. 203-254-4010, quickcenter.fairfield.edu See More Collapse Q: Why do you find the instrument so compelling? A: The organ was first an ove rwhelming force for me visually when I saw, as a tiny child, a highly evocative encyclopedia entry showing an organist playing in a movie palace. My later first contact with an organ at age 4 was almost sinister in its power and I was forever ruined to serious dedication to anything else. Conveniently, though, my first attraction was to performance rather than music, and the later convergence of this awareness with the organ was fantastically motivating. So it would be hard to say that I chose it, as I saw no other remotely possible option. Q: How does this digital instrument produce traditional pipe organ sound? A: In concept, (the ITO) is simple to understand: a very large organ, using sounds sampled from the best of both cathedral organs and Wurlitzer theater organs, using digital technology to liberate those sounds from the immobile infrastructures of wood and metal from which they originated. In artistic terms this means that I can keep whats best in the pipe organ its sounds, its spacial dynamics, its emotional impact and dispense with what I would argue holds it back: its immobility (as the pipe organ is certainly not going anywhere, whether literally or commercially), its great and ever-increasing expense and particularly its institutionality. The ITO is unique, though it has some distant precedents. Q: What about the shoes you always wear when performing? Theyre very distinctive boots with a wedge heel, much like a tango boot. A: The shoes are demanded by the pedal board; they unify the feet physically (and to some extent mentally) as an extension of the hands. I design them. And as for the logistics, The entire organ assembles in less than three hours and travels (in purpose-built touring cases) in a single large truck; identical European and American sound systems housed in Berlin and Needham make it internationally mobile. The organ console is assembled manually and hydraulically from only six modular parts, his website says. In 2013, Carpenter signed a multi-album recording contract with Sony Classical. He is renowned by critics for his flawless technique and unusual interpretations of music. pasboros@ctpost.com; Twitter: PhyllisASBoros STRATFORD - Police said a local man broke into an animal hospital and then fled, leaving his keys and cell phone inside. Nicholas Bruner, 31, of Eureka Avenue, was charged with third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief. "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration period both in person and around the globe." White House press secretary Sean Spicer, remarks to reporters, Jan. 21, 2017 "I looked out, the field was it looked like a million, million and a half people." President Donald Trump, remarks to the CIA, Jan. 21, 2017 --- It's rather remarkable that the Trump White House has decided to make easily disproved claims about the size of the inauguration crowd Friday. On the face of it, there is no reason why Trump should have expected bigger crowds than Barack Obama in either 2009 or 2013. The Washington, D.C. area leans left. Trump earned only 4 percent of the vote in the District of Columbia. Among the areas served by the Washington Metro transit system, Trump received 8 percent of the vote in Prince George's County, Maryland; less than 15 percent of the vote in Montgomery County, Maryland; less than 17 percent of the vote in Arlington County, Virginia; and less than 30 percent of the vote in Fairfax County, Virginia. Trump may believe he heads a new national movement, but that movement does not exist in the D.C. metropolitan area. Given the animosity of the election, it's fair to say that Hillary Clinton voters were not motivated to attend his inauguration. Further, the political leanings of the surrounding area helps explain why the Women's March on Jan. 21 drew a substantially larger crowd. Nevertheless, let's examine how wrong these statements are. --- The Facts Spicer, in his tongue-lashing of reporters, offered little evidence to back up his claims - and what he did say was wrong. He did not respond to requests for additional information, either via Twitter or email. "This was the first time in our nation's history that floor coverings have been used to protect the grass on the Mall. That had the effect of highlighting any areas where people were not standing, while in years past the grass eliminated this visual." False. Floor coverings were first used in 2013. It's actually astonishing a White House press secretary would get such a basic fact wrong in a prepared statement from the podium. A simple Google search would have helped. "We know that from the platform where the President was sworn in, to 4th Street, it holds about 250,000 people. From 4th Street to the media tent is about another 220,000. And from the media tent to the Washington Monument, another 250,000 people." Spicer appears to imagine that simply because a space can hold this many people, that this many people attended the inauguration. But there is ample evidence that the crowd on Friday did not extend to the Washington Monument. Marcel Altenburg and Keith Still, crowd scientists at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain, analyzed photographs and video taken of the Mall and its vicinity for The New York Times and concluded that about 160,000 people were in those areas in the hour before Trump's speech. By contrast, they said at least 470,000 people were in those areas for the Women's March as of 2 p.m. on Saturday, which was the time of the march's peak density. Crowd estimates, of course, are not definitive. Both Friday and Saturday were overcast, meaning no satellite images are available. Satellite images would certainly provide consistent perspective. From Trump's perspective at the Capitol, the crowd must have looked massive. But other images, extending over the Mall to the Capitol, clearly show fewer people than at Obama's inaugurations. In 2009, an estimated 1.8 million people attended Obama's first inauguration. "We know that 420,000 people used the D.C. Metro public transit yesterday, which actually compares to 317,000 that used it for President Obama's last inaugural." This is also false. The actual numbers are 783,000 trips for Obama in 2013 - double Spicer's figure - and 571,000 for Trump in 2017. There were 1.1 million trips for Obama in 2009. The number for Trump is actually lower than the average weekday ridership of 639,000 trips. Again, we must emphasize that Spicer provided these numbers as part of a prepared statement. There is simply no excuse for such a basic failure to do due diligence in double-checking facts. "This was also the first time that fencing and magnetometers went as far back on the Mall, preventing hundreds of thousands of people from being able to access the Mall as quickly as they had in inaugurations past." This also appears to be a false claim. The Secret Service denied the use of magnetometers to reporters. In any case, our colleagues at PolitiFact said that a 2017 Congressional Research Service report noted the use of magnetometers in previous inaugurations. Also, even if magnetometers were on the Mall, this does not explain the sparse crowds for the parade. "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration -- period -- both in person and around the globe." This was Spicer's summing-up statement. As seen above, his previous claims leading up to this sentence were false, so it already lacks credibility. The "in person" claim is simply wrong. But there is no explanation for why he believes the audience was the largest ever around the globe. We have not seen global data, but in terms of U.S. viewers, Trump already falls short. According to the preliminary data from Nielsen for inauguration coverage, 30.6 million television viewers in the United States watched Trump's swearing-in, 19 percent below the audience of 37.8 million for Obama's 2009 inauguration. The record-holder for an inauguration TV audience remains Ronald Reagan, who attracted 41.8 million viewers in 1981. --- The Pinocchio Test This is an appalling performance by the new press secretary. He managed to make a series of false and misleading claims in service of a relatively minor issue. Presumably he was ordered to do this by Trump, who conjured up fantastic numbers in his own mind, but part of a flack's job is to tell the boss when lies are necessary - and when they are not. Spicer earns Four Pinocchios, but seriously, we wish we could give five. (About our rating scale) Glenn Kessler has reported on domestic and foreign policy for more than three decades. He would like your help in keeping an eye on public figures. Send him statements to fact check by emailing him, tweeting at him, or sending him a message on Facebook. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Every four years a new president becomes (or remains) part of the history of the United States. As we enter a new term, let's take a look back in American history. These antique Connecticut homes give us a peek into how early Americans livedand if you like what you see, they're all for sale. The Benedict-Eells-Thatcher Home built circa 1724 is the oldest standing home in New Canaan and is thought to be haunted. It was restored in 2011 for modern living while still "keeping true to its antiquity." More for you Haunted history at New Canaans oldest home The home, considered a "mansion house" at the time, was built as a gift from Deacon John Benedick, of Norwalk, to his son John Benedick, Jr., before Canaan Parish existed. It wasn't until 1731, when settlers from Norwalk and Stamford began making their way into the woods that would become New Canaan, that Canaan Parish was founded and, as a result, a pastor was needed for the Congregational Church. In 1733, minister John Eels, perhaps the home's most colorful resident, moved into the home to lead the parish. He presided over the parish for only eight years due to "eccentricities deemed improper in a minister of the gospel," according to a 1951 book on New Canaan's historical landmarks compiled by the Historical Society, but lived in the home until his death in 1785. The home passed to several other owners through the 19th and early 20th-centuries, though only small efforts to modernize the house were reportedly made. In Southport, a home listed in the Historic and Architectural Survey of Fairfield is for sale and in Stonington, a house with historic farmland preserved by Stonington Land Trust is on the market. Merry Meeting Farm in Stonington "is a long-admired 18th century Georgian Colonial which was named after a large freshwater tidal bay in Maine as a symbolic reference to periodic festive gatherings." 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 ... County-specific poll may foretell whether Pa. is going blue or red Uber currently employs about 160,000 drivers in the United States. Uber and Lyft allow their drivers to turn the app "on" and "off," making it a very flexible work option for busy college students. With papers and exams in high demand of the average college student, time is in short supply. A lot is required of students and financial obligations and responsibilities persist. A part-time job is a students best friend. This is why taxi-alternative applications such as Lyft and Uber are becoming increasingly popular. There are roughly 160,000 Uber drivers in America, according to The Wall Street Journal. It is unclear exactly how many drivers Lyft currently has across the country, according to Fortune magazine, but the company operates in more than 200 U.S. markets and has raised about 1.4 billion from investors. Drivers of these services have the flexibility in creating their own schedule, making Uber/Lyft driver a job title that appeals to many students. Hunter McCormick is an engineering technology major and former Uber driver. I probably drove somewhere around 15 people, McCormick said. The 23-year-old turned to the service because of its flexibility. According to Hunter, the average driver can also make a decent amount of money. I will say it depends on how new your car is (if you should consider doing it), he said. With both Uber and Lyft, drivers are responsible for their own vehicle. The mileage and gas are the sole responsibility of the driver. Enad Abujodeh works for both Uber and Lyft. Originally from Jerusalem, the Jordan-bred 38-year-old has developed a system for juggling the two services. You turn on both apps, Abujodeh said. When one contacts you, you turn off the other. Its that simple. Abujodeh has a wife, three children and is waiting for approval to attend Southwest College. I do have a lot to do, he said. Abujodeh also works as a waiter at Casablanca when hes not driving or spending time with his family. He said his culture has inspired him to encourage others to become drivers themselves. We share the food, Abujodeh said. We share the pain. We share the happiness. My philosophy is if you know something that can help others, you tell them. According to him, the most profitable times to drive are during concerts and sporting events. Both Uber and Lyft drivers retain 80 percent of the profits for the day, according to Abujodeh. The other 20 percent is used as a sort of fee for using the application. Drivers also have the ability to reasonably adjust their fare. If you do it full-time, you can survive, Abujodeh said. Patrick Long, 22-year-old senior at the University of Memphis, is not an Uber driver, but said he would consider doing it if he needed the extra money. I know a lot of people who have talked about doing it, but havent actually done it, Long said. Long said that those who havent done it are resilient because they are afraid. People arent as trusting to let strangers in their car (in Memphis), Long said. McCormick thinks the size of the Bluff City contributes to Uber not being quite as popular here as in other, larger cities. The only places we go here is downtown or midtown, McCormick said. Theres a lot more places to go in bigger cities. Christopher Rembert, 47, said working as an Uber driver is not worth it. He started driving for Uber just three weeks ago after getting laid off from a previous job. Its your vehicle, your car and your gas, he said. He also dislikes the fact that you can never speak as an employee to an actual person from the service. You email them, and they get back to you as quickly as possible, Rembert said. But if I got into an accident right now, I couldnt talk to a live person. He still believes the job could work for younger drivers. This would be great for a college kid, Rembert said. You couldnt support a family with Uber. Theresa Kassis, 18, said she would love to try being a driver. However, she has apprehensions about riding. Shes rode only once, while visiting family in California. I was a little nervous, Kassis said. It probably helped that (the driver) was an older man. Uber and Lyft perform background checks on all of their drivers. All drivers must own a vehicle, have insurance and, of course, a drivers license. You wanna be a driver? Abujodeh said. Why not? Uber currently employs about 160,000 drivers in the United States. Uber and Lyft allow their drivers to turn the app "on" and "off," making it a very flexible work option for busy college students. The announcement that George Osborne has joined his former chief of staff Rupert Harrison at BlackRock, one of the worlds biggest asset managers, should come as no surprise. Though his friends insist hes still determined to work his way back into the Cabinet, the former Chancellor is clearly no longer putting in the hours in Parliament. Former Chancellor George Osborne (pictured) only managed to turn up to 32 per cent of votes, compared to 54 per cent for Prime Minister Theresa May Could it be the lure of filthy lucre? He has already trousered 628,000 from speeches on the lecture circuit since his dismissal from the Cabinet in July, and, as an adviser at BlackRock, hell reportedly be on more than 200,000. Whatever the case, he now has one of the worst voting records at Westminster. Hes managed to turn up for only 32 per cent of divisions or votes, compared with 54 per cent for Theresa May, who has a much bigger political workload away from the House. Even Philip Hammond, his successor as Chancellor whose work keeps him away from the Commons has voted more often, on 34 per cent. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is often overseas, has managed 69 per cent. Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson (pictured), managed a 69 per cent turn up attendance to votes Meanwhile, Michael Gove, sacked as Justice Secretary in the same bloody reshuffle, attended an impressive 79 per cent. Osborne has not even tabled a single written question since he returned to the backbenches. Since his Tatton constituency is destined to disappear in the boundary changes at the next election, hell be hoping to find an alternative safe seat. He may well find his pursuit of well-paid roles beyond Westminster will count against him. Hain's Brexit fears take a pounding Lord Hain (above) argued that the poorest would be worst off if Britain left the single market Former Labour Cabinet minister Lord Hain will defy his party leadership to vote against triggering Article 50 to begin the formal divorce process from the EU. Hain, a former Minister for Europe, says it is a matter of principle and conscience, arguing that the poorest will be worst hit by leaving the single market. How much credence should we give his warnings? None whatsoever. This is the same fanatical Europhile who said in 2002 we would never make it without joining the single currency. Britain could find it impossible to survive alongside the euro, Hain declared. Advertisement Guitar-picking Labour MPs desperate to join former colleague Tristram Hunts lifeboat are sniffing around an attractive position thats just come up chief executive of UK Music. But I hear Iron Maiden-loving former Tory Culture Secretary John Whittingdale might also be tempted now the curtain has fallen on his frontbench career. Lib Dem Lord Wallace was aghast when Brexit Secretary David Davis said trade deals were being lined up with Australia, Canada and New Zealand. So back to the British Empire long before the EU was dreamed of, he wrote. Its actually called the Commonwealth an institution I thought all parties supported. Lefty left out One conspicuous absentee at Deputy Labour leader Tom Watsons 50th birthday party last week: Jeremy Corbyn. He wasnt invited. Tom Watson (left) didn't invite Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn (left) to his 50th birthday party last week Meanwhile, Momentum, set up by Lefty headbangers to fight to keep Comrade Corbyn as Labour leader, are holding elections for regional chairmen/women. All 17 candidates are men. So much for Corbyns equality agenda. Advertisement The Church of England is advertising two senior communications jobs. Neither role has an operational requirement to be a Christian, says the ad. How very modern. Britain's border security, we are loftily assured, is taken seriously. Who do ministers think they are kidding? Even as blameless Britons queue for hours at passport controls, Mail journalists expose an appalling loophole by travelling on the Eurostar from Brussels to London on two occasions in one week without a single document check. You may be sure of this: if our undercover reporters could do it, using a simple means often exploited by people smugglers, then so could terrorists. Even as blameless Britons queue for hours at passport controls, Mail journalists expose an appalling loophole by travelling on the Eurostar from Brussels to London on two occasions in one week without a single document check Indeed, the ruse by which illegal migrants can stay on the train to London, after buying commuter tickets from Belgium to Lille in France, shows how desperately vulnerable the UK is to Europes open-borders Schengen agreement. Is it any wonder that photographs of Birmingham landmarks were found on a Belgian terror suspects phone, when getting into the UK without papers is as simple as boarding a train? With Brexit must come the closure of this loophole, once and for all. Our partners recklessly lax security is yet another good reason why voters made the right decision last June. The PMs trump card As the massed ranks of luvviedom march against Donald Trump, democracy and the US constitution, some have suggested Theresa May should refuse her invitation to visit the President on Friday. This is mad advice, which she is right to ignore. Indeed, her trip will offer a fine chance to promote Britains interests with our most powerful ally and exert what influence she can on the shape of his presidency. As the massed ranks of luvviedom march against Donald Trump, some have suggested Theresa May should refuse her invitation to visit the President on Friday (pictured, campaigners during the Women's March in London on Saturday) For better or worse, the American people chose their new leader. That is their business. It is the Prime Ministers to secure the best deals she can for our country, its trade and defence. Mr Trump has sent out many signals that he is well disposed towards Britain. He has welcomed Brexit, while promising to reinforce old alliances. He has even restored Sir Winston Churchills bust to the Oval Office, from which Barack Obama unceremoniously removed it. The Prime Ministers place at the front of the visitors queue is yet another sign he wants to revive the Special Relationship. Mrs May must make the most of it. Courting controversy This paper has great respect for Prince Charles, whose enthusiasms from organic farming to the good works of the Princes Trust do him much credit. But in throwing his weight behind climate change zealots, he dives into political waters that the heir to the Throne would do well to avoid. If Prince Charles throws his weight behind climate change zealots, he dives into political waters that the heir to the Throne would do well to avoid Among other contentious assertions, he insists there has been no pause in global warming thus baldly rejecting the findings of some scientists who detected no significant rise in average temperatures for 15 years after the late 1990s. And with the jury still out, can he really be wise to suggest TV and radio weather forecasts should pin part of the blame for flooding and heatwaves on global warming (though, heaven knows, the BBC needs little enough encouragement to spread green propaganda)? The Mail prays the Queen will live for many years yet. But as the heir to a 90-year-old monarch, shouldnt the Prince be backing away from controversy instead of plunging in, mouth first? A devastated mother has revealed how falling pregnant with her daughter was the cause of her exceptionally rare cancer - and she wants other women to be on the lookout for signs of the disease. Ashley Shaw, 26, from Widnes in Cheshire, was diagnosed with a tumour caused by the cells that attach the placenta to the womb after giving birth to Layla in October 2014. Just five women are diagnosed in the UK each year with the cancerous growth, called a placental site trophoblastic tumour. Ashley with sons and newborn Layla - Dylan, 6, and Declan, 4, the day after Ashley had Layla in October 2014 Ashley and Layla shortly after Layla's birth, before Ashley was diagnosed Ashley, after her surgery, with daughter Layla last year Ashley, a rugby stadium operations assistant, said: 'In the months after Layla arrived, I had this strange feeling that something just wasn't right. 'My periods hadn't returned to normal and I felt generally off. 'For months I begged my GP for tests, but it wasn't until I had my routine smear in February 2016 that I was diagnosed with the tumour. 'When I discovered it was a direct result of being pregnant with Layla I couldn't believe it. I'd never heard of this happening before.' Ashley had difficult pregnancies with her two sons - Dylan, eight, and Declan, six. However, the pregnancy with Layla had been problem-free until 32 weeks. The expectant mum called the maternity unit when she stopped feeling her baby move inside her. Then, when she arrived at Whiston Hospital in Prescot, Merseyside, she discovered that her unborn baby had stopped growing as her placenta had failed. Ashley in hospital shortly after her diagnosis, as her two young sons help her to get around Ashley in hospital with Dylan, her eldest child. It was a month after her operation and she was in hospital on her birthday Ashley said: 'I was told that effectively my placenta had died. 'Then I was rushed for an emergency caesarean. Layla was delivered eight weeks early weighing just 4lb 15oz, and thankfully she went from strength to strength. 'After ten days in hospital, I could finally take my little girl home. At that point, I thought all the medical drama was over.' However, while Layla thrived, Ashley was becoming increasingly worried about her own health. She was having very heavy periods and sharp abdominal pain. After a hysteroscopy and blood tests, Ashley was told she had cancer Proud mum Ashley with her two-year-old daughter Layla Ashley said: 'After the smear test I was sent to the hospital for further investigations as the results showed abnormal cells.' Then, after a hysteroscopy and blood tests, she was told she had cancer. 'Nothing could have prepared me for the news. I'd never even heard of this type of tumour, let alone thought that it would happen to me. The only treatment option for Ashley's tumour was a full hysterectomy, before the cells spread to her other organs. She said: 'By the time that I was diagnosed I'd split up with my kids' dad and had met my new partner, Ryan Bell, 22, in October 2015. Ashley, seen with Ryan, said: 'I knew I had to have the surgery to survive, but I felt awful for Ryan. He'd barely been with me five minutes when already he was dealing with this' Proud mum Ashley with her children, Layla, Declan and Dylan, last year 'It was still early days for our relationship, and we hadn't even talked about having children. Suddenly, that choice was being taken from us. 'I knew I had to have the surgery to survive, but I felt awful for Ryan. He'd barely been with me five minutes when already he was dealing with this.' In March this year Ashley was admitted to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield for the four-hour operation. But during the procedure the surgeon accidentally cut one of Ashley's arteries, complicating her recovery. She ended up having an artery removed from her right leg for a patch repair, and spent ten days in hospital. 'The surgery was absolutely horrendous,' Ashley said. Ashley with Ryan and her kids on a day out in August 2016 A healthy Ashley on a day out at the beach with daughter Layla last year 'But, thanks to the support of lots of family and friends, I've recovered and I'm cancer free. In that sense I feel so lucky, because not everyone has that support. 'I have to have regular blood and urine tests to monitor whether the cancer has returned. However, that's a small price to pay for surviving. 'The mental after effects of what I've been through have hit me really hard. I've been diagnosed with depression, and been prescribed medication and counselling. 'I felt like a terrible mother as I couldn't be there for my children while I was recovering, and having no womb left me feeling like less of a woman. 'Now I want to raise awareness for other mums, as this cancer is so rare. If I can inspire just one woman to keep nagging her doctor when she notices something isn't right, it will be worth it.' A woman who killed herself in prison after pushing her husband out of a 25th floor window can be heard protesting her innocence from beyond the grave in a chilling new documentary. Mother-of-one Amber Hilberling, 25, from Oklahoma, features in an episode the documentary Women Who Kill, which reveals the shocking stories of female prisoners who were driven to murder. Amber, whose husband Josh died when she pushed him out of their apartment window 25 floors up following a violent row, maintains that she was acting in self defense on the show, which was filmed before she took her own life last October. Amber Hilberling, 25, appears in Channel 4's Women Who Kill filmed before her death in October 2016 Amber, whose husband Josh (pictured together left and right with her son Levi) died when she pushed him out of their apartment window 25 floors up following a violent row, maintains that she was acting in self defense on the show The 5ft 5-tall prisoner describes the moments leading up to 6ft 6-tall US Air Force Veteran Josh's death, and how the pair argued and he attacked her, before she retaliated by pushing him. The documentary, which features on Channel 4 in the UK, looks back at then 19-year-old Amber's trial, and includes chilling original CCTV footage of her admitting to her grandmother that she had pushed her husband out of the window. In what would turn out to be her last televised words, Amber says that while her marriage was fiery, she believes that they could have had a happy ending. 'I've never tried to make it sound like he is the big bad wolf and I'm little Red Riding Hood that is running for her life, it wasn't like that,' she says. 'We were both young and we were both selfish in our emotions because we were young, and I think if it had happened later on in life when we were both a little bit more grown up, I think it would have been happily ever after.' Long way down: Mr Hilberling fell from the 25th floor of the tower and landed on a parking garage below This screenshot from a video shot in 2011 shows the busted window in the Hilberlings' apartment after Joshua's fatal fall The image above is a still photo of the broken window through which the 23-year-old US Air Force veteran had fallen This screenshot shows a heavily pregnant Amber Hilberling being questioned by police on the evening of her husband's death; she subsequently gave birth to Levi Amber's mother Rhonda also features, and says the media painted her daughter 'as an aggressor', while Josh's military record - and the fact he was kicked out for manufacturing drugs - was ignored. Amber's family believe she was painted to be the 'aggressor' during her trial, after which she was convicted of second degree murder and given a 25-year sentence Amber, who married Josh when she was 18, was seven months pregnant when she was sentenced and her mother Rhonda now cares for her son Levi, five. He appears in the program and regularly visited Amber along with her mother, before she killed herself in her cell at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, in Oklahoma. One third of the world's female prison population is in America, with 5,000 of them serving time for murder. The documentary looks at what pushes ordinary women to commit an act of violence. Katherine Casey, author and journalist says: 'Women almost never kill a stranger, in 99.9 per cent of the time the woman has a relationship with the victim.' Women Who Kill airs on Wednesday, Channel 4 at 10pm The breaking of promises seems topical at this time of year. Looking around, sales of Hobnobs are still buoyant and dry January is becoming increasingly dampish. I might feel superior, had I not found myself climbing the shelves to scoff all the Bountys left lurking in the Christmas tin. The basic flaw with the whole New Year resolution malarkey is that of all the promises we enter into, the ones we make to ourselves are the easiest to make and, of course, the easiest to break. Should you want a friend in failure, its a good time to revisit Bridget Joness Diary. In The End Of The Affair, Graham Greene deals with the gravest promise of all: one made to God What is there to lose? Youre hardly going to not speak to yourself ever again just because youre overweight by a couple of pounds. But should you want a friend in failure, its a good time to revisit Bridget Joness Diary. She starts with her list of I Wills: Go to gym not just to buy sandwich. And I Wonts: Get annoyed with Una Alconbury. Then proceeds to break them and the best thing is it doesnt matter. The promises we make to each other are more serious. And those of the Ill love you for ever, Till death us do part variety do matter, as the breaking of them can ruin lives. In Sweet William, Beryl Bainbridge examines the havoc that is wrought when people say all that without meaning it. The basic flaw with the whole New Year resolution malarkey is that of all the promises we enter into, the ones we make to ourselves are the easiest to make and, of course, the easiest to break William makes your average love rat look as dangerous as a pet gerbil. He bombs around on a borrowed bicycle between wives and mistresses, picking up anyone he fancies on the way. In exchange for his vow of eternal love, the women guarantee him devotion, secrecy, money and a roof over his head. While they are all keeping their side of the bargain, they just trust him to keep his. And that is their mistake. In The End Of The Affair, Graham Greene deals with the gravest promise of all: one made to God. It is wartime London and Sarah, married to a civil servant, begins an affair with a writer called Bendrix. During an assignation, a bomb drops on them. Sarah fears Bendrix is dead. She begs God that if he survives, she vows she will never see him again. She keeps her word, until Bendrix tracks her down. Her promise is broken. God gets his revenge. Its a heart-breaking novel of guilt, mysticism and the power of love. All of which should put your broken New Years resolutions into perspective. And while youre reading, have another Hobnob. You never forget your first love, as the saying goes. And psychologists agree that there is scientific merit to explain why they affect us more than subsequent relationships. 'Your first experience of something is going to be well remembered, more than later experiences,' Art Aron, a psychology professor at State University of New York, told the Washington Post. 'Presumably thered be more arousal and excitement, especially if its somewhat scary. And falling in love is somewhat scary.' And it's certainly true for these people, whose painfully honest confessions on Whisper explain why they are unable to move on from the ones that got away. People took to Whisper to reveal why they are unable to move on from their first loves (stock image) One woman admitted that she has a permanent reminder of her first love because she named her son after him (stock image) Some explained how they have permanent reminders of their first loves. 'I named my first son after my first love,' one woman revealed. Another added: 'I have a tattoo pertaining to my first love. I tell everyone else that it means something completely different.' Others revealed that despite being in new relationships themselves, they can't seem to forget their first boyfriend or girlfriend. Another woman reveals she loves her boyfriend but has not moved after her first love died Another woman admitted that she has not been attracted to her past three boyfriends One woman revealed she looks for her first love's attributes in potential boyfriends One woman confessed she fears that she won't fall in love with her boyfriend because she's not over her first love 'I have a fear that I won't fall in love with my boyfriend because I'm not over my first love,' one woman confessed. Another person revealed they reconnected with their first love - and are now cheating on their spouses together. 'I'm planning a weekend getaway with my first love. We're both married with children,' they said. Another person revealed they reconnected with their first love - and are now cheating on their spouses together Another added: 'I can't stop thinking about my first love, even though I'm three years into my relationship with my now [boyfriend] and we just moved in together.' Another woman revealed that she has not been attracted to her past three boyfriends because she's still hung up on her first love, despite never dating him. 'And yes, I know it's pathetic,' she added. One man revealed: 'I have a girlfriend now but I'm still not over my first love. She just left me and forgot me like I was nothing.' One man revealed his pain after being dumped by his first love who 'forgot him like it was nothing' Another person revealed their pain at seeing their first love move on and get married One woman revealed how she is unable to move on from her first love who died. 'I really do love my [boyfriend] but I still haven't moved on from the death of my first love and I'm scared to tell my boyfriend that.' Another another revealed how she looks for her ex in all potential new boyfriends. 'I am still stuck on my first love...I try to move on but I look for him in my dates,' she said. And others confessed how much it hurt them to see their first loves with their new partners. A man revealed how much it hurts him to see his first love move on with new boyfriends One woman revealed her pain at seeing her first love have a child with the woman he dumped her for One person admitted they have a permanent reminder of their first love - a tattoo 'Facebook stalked my first love last night. He has a baby with the woman he dumped me for. That hurt,' one woman admitted. A man said: 'After almost four years, I'm still not over my first love. It kills me seeing her with her second boyfriend since me.' 'My first love just got married... I can't seem to move on,' another person revealed. With an enviable wardrobe, thousands of dollars of jewellery and an array of beautiful homes, Princess Mary of Denmark appears to be a woman who wants for very little. But this hasn't stopped Prince Frederik, 48, reportedly splashing out on something very special for his Australian-born wife's upcoming 45th birthday on February 5th. According to New Idea, the adoring Prince has bought his wife her very own $10 million Tasmanian island to celebrate her big day - and has already dubbed it 'Isle Mary.' Lucky Princess: With an enviable wardrobe, thousands of dollars of jewellery and an array of beautiful homes, Princess Mary of Denmark appears to want for very little Idyllic: According to New Idea, the adoring Prince has bought his wife her very own $10 million Tasmanian island to celebrate her big day - and has already dubbed it 'Isle Mary' (not pictured) Palace sources told the magazine that the island was likely one of the few privately owned islands of the coast of Tasmania. 'Mary might live on the other side of the world but she talks about Australia and Tasmania all the time... she's proud of her heritage,' a royal aide said. 'He said it took some persuading and negotiating to buy the island he wanted, but he didn't stop at anything and spent around $10 million. He knew how much Mary would love it.' Happy couple: Palace sources told the magazine that the island was likely one of the few privately owned islands of the coast of Tasmania Stunning: The islands that are available often guarantee owners breathtaking scenery, penguins, stunning bays, sweeping beaches and privacy (pictured is Maria Island, TAS) The sources also said that while the island has been purchased, there is still a lot of paperwork to be done and that the pair will likely visit the island in late 2017. According to Vladi, an island buying and renting website, there are over 4,000 islands in Tasmania but only around a dozen are freehold. The islands that are available often guarantee owners breathtaking scenery, penguins, stunning bays, sweeping beaches and privacy. Adoring husband: 'Fred has definitely had his brokers approach private island owners in Tasmania,' the magazine's source added Waterhouse: One of the most recent island sales in Tasmania was in 2016, when Waterhouse Island (pictured) was sold for an impressive $5.48 million to a Singaporean businessman One of the most recent island sales in Tasmania was in 2016, when Waterhouse Island was sold for an impressive $5.48 million to a Singaporean businessman. The rare island was located three kilometres off the north-eastern tip, accessible only by charter flight and boat and boasted 287 hectares of 'untouched beauty.' Ray White's Ant Manton told Domain at the time that it was the first island the company had offered and that he was only aware of nine freehold islands in Tasmania. 'Fred has definitely had his brokers approach private island owners in Tasmania,' a source told New Idea. Melissa Procter was in the shower one morning in 2014 when she felt a lump in her armpit. The Australian mum-of-three didn't realise it at the time, but that discovery was going to impact her life forever. 'I thought it would go away, that I was getting the flu or something,' the 39-year-old told Daily Mail Australia. 'I had an eight-month-old and two other young children, I was busy. So I just left it.' Melissa Procter (pictured with her family) was in the shower one morning in 2014, washing her body, when she felt a lump in her armpit The lump turned out to be breast cancer, which Ms Procter has now been told has spread to her bones The mother of three boys (pictured) has said she is now determined to make the most of the time she has left with her children A couple of weeks later Ms Procter realised that rather than going away, the lump had increased in size. She went to her GP, who referred her for a mammogram. Shortly after she had an ultrasound and biopsy, which confirmed the worst: she had breast cancer. 'They dont normally tell you the result after a biopsy, they say to go to your doctor,' the mum explained. 'But I was mess. The nurse came in and I said I can handle the truth better than not knowing, please tell me. 'She said yes, theres cancerous cells in your breast.' 'It was incredibly hard, especially as a mum, because the work doesnt stop,' she explained Ms Procter said that coming home to see the faces of her children helped her more than anything else What followed was a year of treatment: six rounds of 'hardcore' chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and reconstruction, and then radiotherapy. 'It was incredibly hard, especially as a mum, because the work doesnt stop,' she explained. 'To be stuck in hospital is really hard. 'But then you come home and youve got these beautiful faces of your children. Psychologically they helped me more than everything else.' Although she was initially told the cancer had gone, it returned - this time in her bones The cancer is stage four, and terminal and the active mum was told that she would soon die After all this treatment, the cancer was gone and Ms Procter was in remission. Everything was good, until September 2016, when the mum started to get shooting pains in her leg. 'By early November I was calling my mum in tears saying I dont have a good feeling about this,' she said. 'So I went to the GP, who sent me for a scan.' The news wasn't good. Ms Procter had secondary cancer in her bones. It was in her right side, from her femur through to her spine, shoulder, arm, and the base of skull. The cancer is stage four, and terminal. The active mum was told that she would soon die. 'My biggest fear is not being able to see my sons grow up,' she said But in spite of the devastating diagnosis, Ms Procter said she now wakes up 'reinvigorated' with life, with a determination to live it to the fullest Ms Procter is now on a trial of new drugs to treat the cancer, and will have between two and ten years depending on the effectiveness of the treatment. 'My biggest fear is not being able to see my sons grow up,' she said. 'But in a way the diagnosis is good. 'Im excited, every day I wake up reinvigorated with life. Some people get depressed but for me its the opposite.' 'My future is uncertain, but mine is a known uncertainty,' the 39-year-old said The mum has made a bucket list of experiences she wants to share with her children before she leaves them Given the limited time Ms Procter will have with her family, they have made a bucket list of experiences they want to have before she leaves them. Her sister, Amanda, has created a Go Fund Me page to help raise money not only for Ms Procter's medical costs, but to help her have those experiences. As part of the bucket list, Ms Procter hopes to take her sons Huon, seven, Mitchum, five, and Harvey, three, to Disneyland, 'the happiest place on earth'. They're also hoping to travel to the UK, where Ms Procter has some family, and just spend as much time together as possible. 'My future is uncertain, but mine is a known uncertainty,' the 39-year-old said. Can you donate to the fundraising page here Just hours after he was born, baby Ryder had a big job helping his daddy propose. Susan Medina and Darick Mead, from Nebraska, welcomed their first child on January 14. And shortly after their baby boy was delivered via C-section, Mr Mead put his plan into action to make the day even more memorable. He enlisted the help of nurses to sneak little Ryder away from his mother to change him into a special outfit, a personalised onesie with the message: Mommy, will you marry my Daddy? Big job: Hours after he was born, baby Ryder wore this onesie to help his dad propose Ms Medina, a 20-year-old banker, told Daily Mail: 'It was super emotional.' 'I thought I was gonna be changing a diaper and ended up seeing that. It was absolutely wonderful though, I couldn't be happier.' She added to Buzzfeed that she was stunned by the proposal as her husband-to-be had always joked they wouldnt wed for decades. He always used to say that we wouldnt be married for at least 40 years, just so I wouldnt know when he would pop the question, so when he did, I was super overwhelmed, she told the website. She met Mr Mead, a 26-year-old welder, online and they have been together for two years. Memorable day! Susan Medina and Darick Mead got engaged hours after their son was born Man with a plan: Mr Mead bought the ring a month before his son was delivered via C-section She added that her fiance had bought the ring a month ago and let everyone at the hospital in on his scheme. Nearly all of our visitors came at the same time and I was stressing out because I had to talk to all of them, but little did I know the nurses and the doctors were all in on it, she added. The nurses even took Ryder to check on him when really they were getting him in his outfit. Happy: The couple, from Nebraska, have been together for two years after meeting online She later took to Twitter to make a double announcement her sons birth and her engagement with the caption: So this happened tonight. The tweet quickly went viral and amassed more than 12,000 likes. And she is clearly loving motherhood. Its been 42 hours since youve taken your first breath and I cant remember or even imagine what life was like before you, Ms Medina added on Twitter. When Hayley Halford sets off for the supermarket, she lifts her daughter Finnella into her sling and buckles her onto her back, so that mother and daughter can feel the warmth of each others bodies and chat at eye level. So far, so normal. After all, this practice of babywearing, part of the attachment parenting movement, has been popular for years. But take a look at Finnella shes no baby. She is a lively, walking, talking four-year-old, who weighs more than 3 st. Thats about as much as 19 bags of sugar. Hayley Halford, 33, from Whitchurch, Hampshire, carries her daughter Finnella, four, in a sling on her back. She also wears her six-month-old son Indiana in a sling strapped to her front Even more remarkable is the fact that Finnella has a six month-old baby brother, Indiana, who Hayley also wears in a sling strapped to her front, adding another stone to her load. When Hayleys out and about, she can look like a rather comical pack pony. While many may question the need for a child of Finnellas age, weight and height to be carried in this way, Hayley believes sling wearing her daughter is not only convenient and practical, but allows them quality one-on-one time, which is advancing Finnellas vocabulary and making her feel loved and secure. When I carry Finnella on my back, our heads are at the same level and she can look around and talk about what were both seeing, says Hayley, 33, a drama therapist from Whitchurch, Hampshire. Its so lovely to be able to be so close and chat away. The aching joints, wobbly legs and strange looks, she adds, are a small price to pay for this unique closeness they are able to share. While most parents would be glad of a pushchair when their toddlers start walking, toddler wearing is the latest trend among those who ascribe to the philosophy of attachment-style parenting, which also advocates co-sleeping and feeding on demand. Not only is there an explosion in the number of babywearing retailers online for all ages, but 127 Sling Libraries have sprung up nationwide since 2007, offering sling hire from 5 a week and expert advice on choosing the right product. Most slings and carriers on the UK market are weight- tested to 4 st, which covers the majority of children that people want to carry, says Emily Taylor, director of Coventry Slings C.I.C, a sling hire and consultancy service. Lauren Gordon, 27, from Norfolk, still carries her three-year-old son, Dilon, in a sling and swears its the reason for their closeness There are toddler and preschool versions, but you can comfortably carry most children in a baby size carrier, or slings like a woven wrap grow with the child. For Hayley, who has 20 slings of different colours and styles, the advantages of carrying an older child are countless. It provides special bonding time, she says. It works especially well when were in busy places such as out shopping or at a market, when it can be quite intimidating for Finnella to be down on the ground. Hayley claims the carrier also works wonders for taming toddler tantrums. I just lift Finnella onto my back and shes immediately distracted and soothed and will go limp and quiet, she says. Its her safe, secure space, and she can often fall asleep in there if shes tired or feeling poorly. If were out for a long walk, its perfect for giving her little legs a break. It provides special bonding time. It works especially well when were in busy places such as out shopping or at a market, when it can be quite intimidating for Finnella to be down on the ground As Finnella gets older and heavier, Hayley carries her only two or three times a week, for no longer than an hour at a time. The slings are fantastic for spreading the weight evenly across my back but, after too long, especially if Im carrying both children, it is quite hard, admits Hayley. She says she often gets comments from strangers in the street not all positive. Some of them see Finnella in the sling and ask: Can she not walk? Or they make a comment about her not getting enough exercise and I try to bite my tongue. The truth is Finnella can walk for a long time and is very independent. They just dont get it. I know they think Im mollycoddling her, but people expect kids to grow up so quickly these days. Shes still so little. Infant carrying is nothing new. In many cultures, toddlers remain strapped to their mothers for the first six months and are then carried around for their own safety for as long as is comfortable. Although less popular in the West, with our penchant for expensive, designer prams and obsession with advancing our children to independence as soon as possible, there has been a creeping movement among mothers who admit they just dont want to let go. The sling provides older children with a secure space to come back to and is really just a comfortable, practical way of cuddling and holding your child for longer, which can only be a good thing, says Michelle McHale, founder of Attachment Parenting UK, which helps teach parents to trust their instincts and be sensitive to their childs needs. Katie Briggs, 33, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, believes the sling is responsible for boosting the conversational skills of her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Daisy It builds strong physiological and emotional habits within the child for comfort and gives them positive memories and associations. You dont need to tell Lauren Gordon any of this. The 27-year-old stay-at-home mother from Norfolk still carries her three-year-old son, Dilon, in a sling and swears its the reason for their closeness. I love the strong bond we have, and that has definitely been added to by babywearing, explains Lauren, who split from Dilons father when he was a baby. Just being able to hold him and cuddle him for longer periods when he wants to be close is great, and it wouldnt be possible without a sling. Lauren carries him in a 100 ring sling, which is essentially a long piece of material that is fed through rings at each end and tightened to fit. I spent 1,000 on an iCandy pram when he was born, but I found myself rarely using it. Nowadays, the longest time Ill carry him is two hours and hell only ask to go in the sling about two to three times a week, as he loves running around. But its so snuggly in there its our special time and we both love it. But what does sling-wearing to such an advanced age do to a mothers back? Lauren carries her son Dilon in a 100 ring sling, which is essentially a long piece of material that is fed through rings at each end and tightened to fit Paediatric osteopath Coby Langford, based at the Soothe Clinic in Gwynedd, Wales, says the spine is actually very strong. Experiments have shown that the spinal discs can carry one ton of weight before damage when centrally loaded (thats almost the weight of a Mini car!), she says. The catch is that the moment you take the spine out of the central position (forward, backwards, sideways and, most dangerously, into a twist) and carry weight, you start to place strains through structures and tissues and risk injury. The longer you carry the load, the greater the strain on the tissues of the back and the greater the chance of back pain, neck pain and headaches. While carrying a heavier child on your back is preferable to your front, Coby is worried about mothers putting excessive strain on their bodies at a time when they are vulnerable. Mothers after giving birth are especially vulnerable because their ligaments are weak and lengthened, their muscles are tight and exhausted from carrying a baby for nine months, and their core stability is completely non-existent. This is why women have so much back pain anyway after giving birth. When weve got her on our back, were physically close and can have a proper conversation. She sees things as Mummy does and feels much more a part of things So carrying heavy weights at a time when their backs and spines are most vulnerable is not such a good idea. Professor Elizabeth Meins, of the Department of Psychology at the University of York, is keen to point out there are no evidence-based benefits to babywearing children at this pivotal age. She says: At three or four years old, children should be focusing on reaching the development milestones of making friends and learning language and play, and its difficult to see how babywearing can stimulate these types of things. There are lots of ways you can have physical contact with your child that doesnt involve carrying them around you can sit on the floor with them and show them a book, have a cuddle, enjoy a pretend tea party or play a game. These children are nearing school age and will have to make their own independent way very soon, so these are possibly more age-appropriate ways for a parent and child to connect. Dr Amy Tuteur, an obstetrician gynaecologist and author of Push Back: Guilt In The Age Of Natural Parenting, agrees. The idea that babywearing promotes bonding is ridiculous, she says. Bonding is going to happen regardless. It does not need to be chivvied along by constant physical proximity to the mother. It is assumed that all babies have the same needs and all mothers have the same needs. As anyone who has more than one child can tell you, nothing could be further from the truth. Some children want to be held; others want to explore. Some enjoy lots of cuddling and physical proximity. Others cherish their independence from a very early age. A mother should decide whether to practise babywearing, and how long to do it, based on what the baby seems to want and what is compatible with the mothers needs as well. Theres nothing you can do while babywearing that you cant do equally well without it. But, according to Katie Briggs, the sling does far more than just engineer close physical time with your child. Katie, 33, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, believes the sling is responsible for boosting the conversational skills of her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Daisy. She was an early walker and talker. In fact, she has been early with everything and is very bright, says Katie. Im sure this is, in part, down to babywearing, with her always being so close to my husband Dave and I. When weve got her on our back, were physically close and can have a proper conversation and talk much more than if she was three foot lower in a pushchair. She sees things as Mummy does and feels much more a part of things. When Daisy was born, Katie paid 795 for a beautiful Silver Cross pram, but rarely used it beyond six weeks. Daisy was a baby who needed contact as she was quite colicky, so when my sister gave me a Mothercare carrier when she was six weeks old, the relief was immediate, she says. Daisy went from being an unhappy, hungry baby to being much calmer and peaceful. It also helped massively with our breastfeeding journey because I held her on my front in those days and being so close to me helped the hormones with my milk production and allowed for easy access. Now that shes older and heavier, Daisy is only carried a few times a week, for anything from ten minutes to two hours, in Katies preferred carrier an Ergo, which cost her 95. I use it if we go into town or when we go on day trips and she becomes tired or in need of a cuddle or some time out. She adds: People definitely think its a bit weird and see me as an oddity. Theres not many in our area that carry an older or younger child in a sling. One woman even said: Oh, that kid will never walk, but its not held Daisy back at all. She can walk for a long time and runs around like every other three year old, but it gives her an extra bit of confidence to know that the sling is there, with that bond, if she wants it. People never seem to make the same comments when a three year old is in a pushchair. As for when shell give it up, that depends on Daisy. Ill probably use it until Daisy decides theres no need or when we know that she can go out for the day without needing a rest, says Katie. She will be going to school in September, and I cant imagine using it to walk into school with her, so maybe well give it up before then. But Im in no rush. She's the undisputed queen of the catwalk who's turned her hand to designing. Now Kate Moss has launched her latest capsule collection for French label equipment - and she appears to have used her own wardrobe as inspiration. The supermodel, who also collaborated with the brand in 2016, has created a range featuring leather jackets, patterned shirts and muted colours that have become her signature style. Scroll down for video Look familiar? Kate steps out in a black biker jacket in Paris, 2014. Her new collection for Equipment, which launches this month, features a $398 (320) silk jacket in a similar style The 19-piece collection is described as an 'homage to the decade of glam rock' and the 'Ziggy Stardust legacy.' Fans can snap up a $398 (320) silk biker-style jacket, a $98 (239) silk shirt, and a two-piece pyjama set totalling over $556 (447). Equipment's website touts the range as a collection of 'psychedelic stars and undertones of flashy jade and coral' which captures Kate's 'signature rock 'n' roll style'. Kate, 43, who is dating aristocrat Count Nikolai von Bismarck, designed her first collection for the French brand, which is now based in Los Angeles, last year. She said at the time she has loved the brand ever since she started swiping shirts from an ex-boyfriend's wardrobe. A $398 (320) silk jacket from the Kate Moss x Equipment spring 2017 collection. Equipment's website touts it as a collection of 'psychedelic stars and undertones of flashy jade and coral' A $98 (239) silk shirt, right, and one worn by Ms Moss in London in 2010, left. The Equipment capsule collection is said to 'capture Kate's signature rock 'n' roll style' She was reportedly heavily involved with putting the collection together, appointing herself creative director and even shooting the pieces in her own Cotswolds home. The mother-of-one launched her debut Topshop collection in 2007 and has also collaborated with Longchamp and Coty. Her spring 2017 collection comes after what has been a busy year for the former '90s It-girl, who launched her own modelling agency after leaving her long-time reps Storm Models in April. In an interview with Business of Fashion at the time she revealed her vision for the company: 'It's a dream!' she said. 'It's so weird. I want to focus more on managing people's careers than just [running] a modelling agency. Kate in a silk pyjama suit at Paris Fashion Week in 2016, left, and a $378 (303) silk dress from the collection, right. Kate, 43, is dating aristocrat Count Nikolai von Bismarck A $278 (223) silk 'pyjama' top from the collection. Kate designed her first collection for the French label last year, and has also collaborated with Longchamp, Topshop and Coty A $268 (215) pyjama top, left, and $288 (231) pyjama pants, right. Kate was reportedly heavily involved with putting the collection together, appointing herself creative director 'I don't really want pretty people, I want people that want to sing and dance and act I want to create stars.' Talking about her decision to leave Storm, she said: 'Its a grown-up thing. I felt like I wanted to do things that were more than modelling. 'It didnt matter how much we would try and do it together with them, I was always going to be the little Kate that they've known since I was 14. 'They were like, "Yeah you've got to go now, we've done as much as we can do. I wanted to spread my wings." Advertisement While preparations are currently underway for the 65th annual Miss Universe competition in the Philippines across the globe a slightly more alternative pageant has taken place. Last night saw dozens of women gather in Kazan to compete for the prestigious title of Miss Tatarstan 2017 in a unique beauty pageant. While many competitions will see the women flaunt their physiques in the swimsuit round the Russian lead contest asked contestants to take a more daring approach. Last night saw dozens of women gather to compete for the prestigious title of Miss Tatarstan 2017 in a unique beauty pageant. In one round the competitors can be seen entering the stage one by one in a variety of caged head pieces resembling accessories used in bondage. In another equally unique stag of the evening each of the women presented in a different style of black dress complete with spherical accessories and black tassels. At another point of the evening the women's outfits were not dissimilar to employees of Butlins as each of the contestants walked the runway in a red blazer. While many competitions will see the women flaunt their physiques in the swimsuit round the Russian lead contest asked contestants to take a more daring approach In one round the competitors can be seen entering the stage one by one in a variety of caged head pieces resembling accessories used in bondage Competitors wore nothing more than a black swimsuit with their caged headpieces as they took to the stage As is custom with the majority of pageants the final round of the competition sees the women take to the stage in the dress of their choosing as the winner is announced. Taking the crown this year is Zulfia Sharafeyeva who looked stunning in a navy blue evening gown and shed a tear as she accepted her award. Organisers of the event were keen to emphasis that it was not just Zulfia's beauty that saw her succeed on Sunday night. Taking the crown this year is Zulfia Sharafeyeva who looked stunning in a navy blue evening gown Zulfia could not hold back the tears as she was presented with her award but luckily a kind hearted woman stepped in to help her out She was presented with the winners sash as well as a bunch of flowers and a tiara as is custom with beauty pageants The winner of the contest is then expected to carry out charitable duties as well as represent Tatarstan in Russian and international beauty competition The official website states: 'The focus of the event - a girl, having not only the undisputed external beauty, but also the originality, talent, desire for self-improvement and self-realization. 'Grace, grace, intelligence, charisma - all these qualities are needed to become a member of "Miss Tatarstan".' The winner of the contest is then expected to carry out charitable duties as well as represent Tatarstan in Russian and international beauty competition. At another point of the evening the women's outfits were not dissimilar to employees of Butlins as each of the contestants walked the runway in a red blazer Zulfia impresses the judges in this round with a smoldering smile and the addition of some unique silver jewellery A long-limbed mother-of-two is challenging the current Guinness world record holder to claim the title of the world's longest legs. Caroline Arthur, a former model who lives in Melbourne, has legs that measure a whopping 51.5 inches from hip to heel. The 39-year-old said: 'I believe that they are definitely the longest in Australia and, as far as I know, in America too. Scroll down for video Caroline Arthur, a former model who lives in Melbourne, has legs that measure a whopping 51.5 inches from hip to heel The former model poses with her husband, Cameron, and their two children Dermotherapist Caroline is an impressive 6ft 2in tall 'The lady in the Guinness Book of World Records (Russia's Svetlana Pankratova) has legs that are 51.9 inches long so it's quite close. 'Because it's so close I think it is worth contacting them and finding out exactly where they measure from and getting an official, accurate measurement done.' Dermotherapist Caroline is 6ft 2in tall - meaning her legs account for around 69 per cent of her frame. Caroline has always struggled to find clothes that fit her long slim physique and is the subject of stares and astonished glances whenever she is out in public. 'Mostly, I enjoy it,' said Caroline. 'My friends always have to be a bit prepared when they venture out with me because people do stare - especially if I'm dressed up in heels. Caroline towers over her mother Janet, who is just 5ft 2in tall Caroline says she finds it difficult to find clothes that fit her, and that her mother-in-law often makes her outfits for her 'I just know by now that if I'm going out with people in the evening, I'm going to get a lot of attention so I am sort of used to it. 'I have had a few people say nasty things but mostly it's great and people are really nice'. But body positive Caroline has not always been so confident in her appearance - she recalls being a self-conscious teenager who wanted to dress in ways that would disguise her height. She explained: 'I definitely didn't embrace my height and there was a real period where I didn't feel beautiful or attractive at all. The mother-of-two says: 'I know by now that if I'm going out with people in the evening, I'm going to get a lot of attention' Caroline with her 15-year-old daughter Zoe who, at 5ft 9ins, is the 'midget' of the family 'I just wanted to be the same as everyone else. 'I started modeling when I was around 15 and that gave me confidence. 'My legs featured in a lot of stocking commercials and things but I was also rejected from a lot of jobs because of my height. 'I was told that I'm too tall for Australian beauty standards and couldn't model clothes because they just wouldn't fit me. 'So as much as I did get work because of my long legs, I also got knocked back for the same reason.' Caroline does seem to have passed her impressive height on to her two children, 13-year-old Cooper, who is already 6ft 2in and 'midget' of the family, Zoe, who at 15 stands at 5ft 9in. But body positive Caroline has not always been so confident in her appearance - she recalls being a self-conscious teenager Caroline's husband Cameron says: 'Being married to her is definitely good for my posture because I have to stand up straight' Caroline's mother, Janet Ware, however, is only 5ft 2in. 'She was always taller than all of her friends,' Janet said. 'When she was young she was shy and kind of ashamed of being so tall. 'I was pleased when she started modeling because it helped her to stand tall and not be stooped or trying to hide her height. 'I am so proud of her. She carries herself so well, is a lovely person, a great mother and a wonderful daughter. 'When I think that she might have the longest legs in the world, I feel incredibly proud. The former model says: 'I was told that I'm too tall for Australian beauty standards' Caroline's mother Janet says: 'I am so proud of her. She carries herself so well, is a lovely person, a great mother and a wonderful daughter' 'She is so striking. I love going out with her. I often walk a few paces behind because I love seeing the reactions on people's faces as she walks by!' Caroline, who is married to builder Cameron, says her mother-in-law makes her clothes for her and that her husband thoughtfully designed their house to have 10 ft ceilings and extra-high kitchen worktops to accommodate his super-sized family. Cameron said: 'Caroline and I are about the same height but when we stand next to each other, her hip is much higher than mine. 'Being married to her is definitely good for my posture because I have to stand up straight. 'I think her legs most definitely are the longest in Australia - I can't imagine any longer. Caroline says: 'I feel more beautiful than I ever have in my life' Caroline seems to have passed her impressive height on to her two children, 13-year-old Cooper, who is already 6ft 2in and 'midget' of the family, Zoe, who at 15 stands at 5ft 9in 'She was working in a shop when we first met and I'd go in and see her. I never really had a thing for tall women; I just had a thing for Caroline.' Caroline's children say they are both excited by the prospect of seeing their mother in the Guinness World Records. Zoe said: 'Mom looks like a giant. She's like a human skyscraper. When we are out she towers above everybody else. 'I think that Mom looks really beautiful and I really aspire to look like her.' Whether she's awarded the title or not, Caroline says she is finally proud of who she is and how she looks. 'I can honestly say now, as a 39-year-old woman, I'm the most secure in my own skin that I have ever been. I feel more beautiful than I ever have in my life. 'It takes time, and you go through stages, but now I definitely see my legs as a positive thing.' As well as being a successful actress and the girlfriend of one of the world's most famous royals, she is a self-styled lifestyle blogger. And Meghan Markle has taken to her website once again to share a series of 'quotes to live by' - on the day of Donald Trump's inauguration as President of the United States. The Suits actress posted mantras from figures including Oprah Winfrey, Gandhi and Mother Teresa on her website The Tig on Friday. Scroll down for video Meghan Markle took to her website on Friday to share a series of 'quotes to live by' - on the day of Donald Trump's inauguration as President of the United States While she does not mention Mr Trump explicitly, Miss Markle has previously expressed her disdain for the businessman-turned-politician, branding him as 'misogynistic' and 'divisive' - and even threatening to leave America if he was sworn in. Appearing on the Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore last May, she said: 'You don't really want that kind of world that he's painting.' Protocol dictates that members of the British Royal family remain politically impartial - yet in her latest blog post, Prince Harry's girlfriend hints at a 'new chapter in history' which would see the world facing 'unfamiliar times'. While she does not mention Mr Trump explicitly, Miss Markle has previously expressed her disdain for the now President, branding him as 'misogynistic' and 'divisive' in an interview 'While the future is still ripe with questions, these people remind us that a steadfast dedication to the values of equality, peace, and love will always remain at the core of our potential to bring about meaningful change,' she wrote on Friday, which was also the day she returned from a charity trip to India. And quoting the late poet Maya Angelou on The Tig, which is named after her favourite wine, she wrote: 'Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, pentrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.' She encouraged fans to print off the 'little nuggets' and stick them to their desk or wall for motivation. Meghan quotes figures including Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, left, and Oprah Winfrey, right, encouraging her fans to print the mantras out and stick them on their desk 'After all,' Meghan added, 'it is still us, a collection of individuals, who are responsible for making the difference and creating a world in which we can all take pride.' The actress is believed to have spent five days in Delhi last week promoting young women's health and hygiene for the charity World Vision Canada. Prince Harry's love interest attended meetings with various NGOs during the visit, including an audience with Shamina Shafiq, a former member of the National Commission for Women. She has previously visited Rwanda as a World Vision Global Ambassador in 2016 and saw firsthand the impact that clean water has on the lives of children and communities in Africa. Meghan and boyfriend Harry might have spent the Christmas holidays apart but whisked themselves away for a trip to the Norwegian fjords, where they enjoyed romantic lake trips Meghan was announced as the global ambassador for World Vision in March last year. The charity's programme encourages Canadian's to join in combating poverty and improving the lives of children and families around the world. Meghan and boyfriend Harry might have spent the Christmas holidays apart but they recently whisked themselves away for a trip to Tromso, on the Norwegian fjords, where they whale watched and enjoyed romantic lake trips. It wasn't exactly brassieres at dawn, but the French lingerie industry was not going to take a provocation from Victoria's Secret lying down. The US lingerie label flew a jet full of supermodels into Paris in November for its annual Las Vegas-style fashion show, seeking to build a bridgehead into the lucrative European market. Such a slight to the city that invented sexy underwear could not go unanswered. It wasn't exactly brassieres at dawn, but the French lingerie industry was not going to take a provocation from Victoria's Secret lying down (Pictured above: A model presents a creation during the French Lingerie Show "Lingerie, Mon Amour" by Lingerie Francaise in Paris on January 22) The French resistance snapped into action with a rival show called 'Lingerie, Mon Amour' (Lingerie, My Love) late on Sunday as Paris haute couture week began. For the first time in history the country's 14 top brands united on the same runway to face down the US giant's steamroller hype with nothing more than some peek-a-boo lace and fine corsets. Billed as a clash of class against cash, it set Victoria's Secret's casino showgirl chic, and $3-million emerald-encrusted 'fantasy bras', against the subtle age-old French art of seduction. While Victoria's Secret spent $20 million bringing Lady Gaga and electro star The Weeknd across the Atlantic, the French show settled for a 14-piece orchestra to summon up the spirit of Marie Antoinette, one of the first women, its organisers claimed, 'to liberate herself from her corset'. The US lingerie label flew a jet full of supermodels into Paris in November for its annual Las Vegas-style fashion show, seeking to build a bridgehead into the lucrative European market (Above: Gigi Hadid walks the runway during the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 30 2016) The French resistance snapped into action with a rival show called 'Lingerie, Mon Amour' (Lingerie, My Love) late on Sunday as Paris haute couture week began (above) And rather than a procession of pneumatic models led by Gigi and Bella Hadid, the French show went for older, unknown models to show that glamour was 'within every woman's reach'. Karine Sfar, who heads the French lingerie federation, said that France was still the world's number one for high-end undies because of the unparalleled know-how of its bra makers. 'Each bra has 30 to 40 individual parts, and it takes an incredible amount of expertise' to really make the best of a woman's assets, she added. But most of all, she said with such 'an intimate garment', it had to be comfortable and 'make you more beautiful' while smoothing away all that you don't want on display. For the first time in history the country's 14 top brands united on the same runway to face down the US giant's steamroller hype with nothing more than some peek-a-boo lace and fine corsets Billed as a clash of class against cash, it set Victoria's Secret's (above) casino showgirl chic, and $3-million emerald-encrusted 'fantasy bras' against the subtle age-old French art of seduction Victoria's Secret spent $20 million bringing Lady Gaga (above) and electro star The Weeknd across the Atlantic Rather than lingerie being something men bought for women - the business model that drives Victoria's Secret $7-billion in sales - women buy French underwear for themselves, said Alain De Rodellec of the Chantelle label. 'It is not all about pleasing men. Women buy lingerie first of all for themselves to feel good and to feel beautiful. Although France is number four in the world behind China, Taiwan and Sri Lanka in terms of volume of lingerie it makes, Sfar argued that the country - where Hermine Cadolle invented the modern bra in 1889 - still has the edge on style and quality. 'The French je ne sais quoi', she said. She said they had deliberately not hired big-name models for the packed show to take the limelight off the lacy creations themselves. The French show settled for a 14-piece orchestra to summon up the spirit of Marie Antoinette, one of the first women, its organisers claimed, 'to liberate herself from her corset' And rather than a procession of pneumatic models led by Gigi and Bella Hadid, the French show went for older, unknown models to show that glamour was 'within every woman's reach'. Karine Sfar, who heads the French lingerie federation, said that France was still the world's number one for high-end undies because of the unparalleled know-how of its bra makers The show played on three centuries of Gallic coquetterie, from the courtesans and ladies in waiting of the Palace of Versailles to the femmes fatales of Dior's 'New Look', and Yves Saint Laurent's powerful women in black smoking jackets and suspenders Despite its focus on giving women inner confidence, Sfar admitted that the big name historic French lingerie companies such as Aubade and Maison Lejaby, are far from feminist bastions The show played on three centuries of Gallic coquetterie, from the courtesans and ladies in waiting of the Palace of Versailles to the femmes fatales of Dior's 'New Look', and Yves Saint Laurent's powerful women in black smoking jackets and suspenders. Despite its focus on giving women inner confidence, Sfar admitted that the big name historic French lingerie companies such as Aubade and Maison Lejaby, are far from feminist bastions. 'We cannot say that when almost none of the heads of the big French companies are women,' she said. De Rodellec said lingerie had long been regarded 'accessories rather than real clothing. But it is a real fashion item and it deserves its place on the fashion runways. 'It has long been our dream that lingerie shows become part of Paris fashion week, and we hope that will happen one day,' he added. Criminologists are regularly tasked with taking photos involving a murder - but not usually one quite like this. Walker Berg, a criminologist for the Portland Police Bureau in Oregon, was working on the 12th floor of the Justice Center when he spied something amazing out of the window - a massive murder of crows speckled across the trees below. Luckily, Walker had a Nikon D700 camera on hand so he could snap a photo of the scene. Quite a view: Walker Berg, a criminologist for the Portland Police Bureau in Oregon, recently took this image of a murder of crows outside the Justice Center The stunning photo shows the black birds perched atop the snow-covered trees with light from street lamps below illuminating the treetops, creating a veritable winter wonderland. The criminalist showed the otherworldly image to his colleagues, and it was decided it would be shared on the department's social media pages. 'We're calling it "Crows on Snow." Taken with a Nikon D-700, ambient light, aperture mode, F16,' the department explained on Facebook. It quickly proved a hit among social media users, many of whom commented on its beauty - as well as to offer a joke or two. Joking around: This Twitter user illustrated his 'murder' joke by using a gif of Horatio Caine from CSI: Miami Not so impressed: Some Portland residents couldn't help but express their true feelings about the birds, who descend upon the city en masse during the winter months One user shared a gif showing the famous one-liner-slinging CSI: Miami character Horatio Caine putting on his sunglasses with the caption reading: 'It looks like we have....a murder.' Another added: 'Quick, someone call the police, I just witnessed a "mass murder".' Between the Twitter and Facebook posts, the image has been shared online more than 10,000 times. Despite the beauty of the post, many Portland residents used the opportunity to complain about the birds, who commonly take to the city in huge numbers during the winter months. 'As someone who takes the bus, those crows are a pain in the a**. Arrest them,' wrote one disgruntled resident. Another said: 'Now this is terrifying. When I cycle downtown, it's like I'm riding through a war zone, and the crow droppings are grenades.' While an estimated three million people joined Saturday's Women's March in the United States making it the biggest protest in the country's history another country actually holds the honor of having the highest percentage of its population join the protest. In Antarctica, about 30 people participated in a march of their own, holding up signs and posting on social media while a smattering of other protesters popped up elsewhere on the continent. In a country where the population is made up of only about 1,100 people during the winter and 4,000 in the summer, that places Antarctica's national participation at up to three per cent. We're here, too! Men and women in Antarctica joined in the Women's March on Saturday Only about 1,000 people live on the continent during the winter The protesters there were all tourists and scientists, who live and study there Antarctica's population actually fluctuates throughout the year, reaching just over 4,000 in the summer and dipping to 1,000-1,100 in the winter, when the weather is harsher. Most people living on the continent or tourists or scientists. Antarctica doesn't have an indigenous people, and the scientists come from all around the world. Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Norway, New Zealand, and the UK all have bases there, and the US, Russia, and Brazil have a presence as well. On Saturday, about 30 protesters on a ship in Antarctica's international waters joined the Women's March. According to CNN, the group was made up of scientists and tourists. Men and women made signs and stood out in the snow to protest Many had signs with messages of peace, as well as pro-environment messages Protesters popped up in several places in Antarctica and posted photos on social media Brr! Temperatures in the region were in the 30s on Saturday Pictures shared on social media show the group, made up of men and women, posing on the ship and in the snow with their homemade signs. They're all bundled up, as temperatures in Paradise Bay, where they set up, dipped to 37 F (2.78 C) that day. Wind also gusted up to 29 mph. Their signs shared messages about peace, the environment, and other themes present in marches around the world. Some read 'Save the Whales', 'Save the Planet', and 'Penguins for Peace', while others had peace signs and prominently featured the word 'Love'. 'We are allies not bystanders,' read one. 'Women's rights are human rights,' read another, quoting Hillary Clinton's famous speech. Protesters also took pictures of themselves with signs in African countries like Liberia In Bucharest, Romania, a crowd of men and women hit the streets, too There were plenty of signs at this bar in Thailand, where men and women showed up to march This woman in Russia couldn't find a group, so she protested on her own and shared a photo online According to the Women's March Global Facebook page, a woman named Loretta marched alone in Moscow when she couldn't find a group to join. In Bucharest, Romania, a group of men and women hit the streets in solidarity. And in Bangkok, Thailand a crowd turned up in pink to join the protest. Men and women in Liberia even held up signs as they watched the March on Washington on TV. In South Korea, crowds carried balloons and flags along with their signs. The group will also share a video of their protest on Thursday. In addition to the protest in Paradise Bay, there was also a protest at the Gonzalez Videla Base, further north. Antarctica's participation means that all seven continents participated in the worldwide protest. Events were also held in Canada, the UK, Norway, Serbia, Beirut, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Iraq, Australia, and New Zealand. Whether it's unexpected traffic jams or delayed public transport, it's likely all employees will be late to work at some point in their careers. And in some cases their excuses are so elaborate or unusual, that employers question whether they're telling the truth. Here, a number of employees and employers have revealed the strangest and most unbelievable excuses they've given or been given for being late... and they all turned out to be true. A number of employees and employers have revealed the strangest and most unbelievable excuses they've given or been given for being late - and they're all true! 'I once came too late to my first day of work at my new employer because my train took a wrong turn and ended up in a totally different city... try explaining that,' one employee wrote on Reddit. 'I live in the Ruhr-Area in Germany (largest agglomeration of cities in Europe) and ended up in the next big city of Duisburg. Not too far away, but long enough to be too late for my first day of work.' Another said their friend had experienced a similar situation on a bus. Traffic was a recurring issue for employees - but not always for the reasons bosses expected 'It went the wrong way, had to backtrack and get back on the route etc etc. So everyone was late,' he wrote. One morning I went to open the door to my apartment and the knob came off in my hand. Traffic was also a recurring issue for employees - but not always for the reasons bosses expected. 'She was stuck in traffic and about 15 minutes late because an elephant was being moved across the parking lot,' a boss wrote. 'My son was late to work once because of a whale. It got itself lost and stuck in the harbour. Too many people blocking traffic on the bridge, trying to get a look at it, that he couldn't get through,' another added. Other unlucky employees locked themselves in bathrooms, in the hallways of their apartment buildings and inside their own bedrooms Another unlucky employee accidentally locked themselves inside their home. 'One morning I went to open the door to my apartment and the knob came off in my hand. The shaft came with it, so the outside knob fell off as well,' he wrote. 'After 30 minutes of jabbing at it with a screwdriver, I called a locksmith... and then my boss to explain to him that I would be late because I was locked IN my apartment.' Another person didn't just lose their door knob, but their entire door. 'One morning I went to open the door to my apartment and the knob came off in my hand. The shaft came with it, so the outside knob fell off as well,' a man wrote 'I went to leave for work, closed it behind me, and heard a loud crash. The hinges had come unscrewed and fallen off,' an employee wrote. 'Since I couldn't leave my apartment without a door and I didn't have an electric drill, I had to wait for maintenance to come out it back on. My boss thought I was lying until I took a picture of the door lying on the floor and sent it to him.' Other unlucky employees locked themselves in bathrooms, in the hallways of their apartment buildings and inside their own bedrooms. Other excuses included an employee being stuck inside due to a bear on his porch, another breaking his arms while trying to start his truck and a woman who was late because a truck transporting bees rolled over on the freeway. Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain wearing a J by Jasper Conran dress What makes you want to rush out the door and buy an outfit? A sale at your favourite shop? Or the fact that youve just seen an A-lister you admire pictured wearing it? Increasingly, its the latter. Almost a third of us admit to buying clothes, shoes and accessories simply because weve spotted them on a celebrity. There is an elite breed of famous women who have the ability to make an outfit sell out immediately simply by stepping out the door in it. The Duchess of Cambridge has been setting off stampedes on the High Street for years, with entire websites dedicated to what shes wearing and giving the lowdown on where to buy it. Last week, a 75 Jasper Conran shift dress was out of stock 90 minutes after presenter Susanna Reid wore it on breakfast TV, while it took just two days for Theresa Mays 995 leather trousers to be snapped up by women eager to emulate the PMs trendy look. Fashion expert Rebecca Glenapp, who co-founded the retail site Lux Fix, says the influence these famous faces wield should not be underestimated. Its so easy now to find out where an item comes from, and thats had a huge impact on the pace of the see, want, buy cycle, she says. So just who are the other sell-ebrities and how quickly can they make an outfit fly off the shelves? Susanna Reid - sold out in 90 minutes With more than 700,000 loyal viewers tuning in to Good Morning Britain on ITV every day, its no wonder Susannas fashion choices make waves. Her J by Jasper Conran dress dubbed a liquorice allsort by her co-presenter Ben Shephard sold out online less than 90 minutes after appearing on screen. Donning a 55 black-and-white dress from Marks & Spencer had the same effect last October, as did a tight-fitting navy dress from Whistles (75) worn in November. And a 149 dusky pink number, with three-quarter length sleeves and a ruched middle from London brand Almost Famous, was out of stock just a day after Susanna, 46, sported it on the sofa in 2015. Emma Watson - sold out in four days Harry Potter star Emma Watson wearing a Crumpet cashmere scarf As a budding Hollywood actress and the face of Burberry, Emma, 26, has become something of a fashionista. When she was spotted wearing a dog-print cashmere scarf (179 by British company Crumpet) in 2012, it sold out in less than a week and sales at the company soared by 62 per cent over the next month. And shoppers stripped H&M shelves of 20,000 checked shirts when Emma, taking time out from acting to get a degree, wore one for her first day at Oxford. It happened again with the 486 Yves Saint Laurent army boots that she wore to a shop opening in New York. Within four days, theyd marched out of the shops. Mary Berry - sold out in 59 minutes Mary, 81, became an unlikely fashion icon after sporting that silk floral Zara bomber jacket on The Great British Bake Off in 2012. The 29.99 jacket soon sold out nationwide and within no time it began selling on auction website eBay for an incredible 200. Mary Berry wearing and M&S jacket which went on to sell out in less than an hour But thats far from the baking queens only sell-out coup. During an episode of BBC 1s Bake Off in 2014, Marys 47 stork-print jacket from M&S sold out in just 59 minutes between the time she first appeared on screen and the end credits with more than 20,000 sold. With 12 million viewers hanging on her every word, its little wonder that Marys wardrobe proved so popular among Bake Off fans. But the most recent series (and Marys last) was her biggest sell-out yet. Every single one of the outfits she wore was soon out of stock: a 99.95 baby-pink jacket from Joules (four days), a 69 cream jacket from M&S (eight days) and a 65 Aztec cardigan from Debenhams (six days). Even her flashy 495 Hermes belt flew off the shelves and was fetching 1,200 on eBay. Amal Clooney (left) wearing a 395 fringed dress by London-based designer William Vintage Amal Clooney - sold out in four hours The glamorous Mrs Clooney, 38, isnt one for browsing the High Street rails, but even her pricey designer wardrobe has proven a draw for well-heeled admirers. Her 645 black suede Prada ankle boots, worn on several shopping trips, flew off the shelves after their first appearance, while a 395 white fringed dress, by London-based William Vintage, sold out in four hours after she wore it to a party on Lake Como last summer. A gold mesh mini-dress, worn to the launch of Georges tequila company in 2015, sold out everywhere despite its 1,985 price tag, while her daring striped jumpsuit (1,122 from Modus Operandi) disappeared in all but a size four. Holly Willoughby - 20 minutes A striped blouse that the This Morning presenter wore sold out within 20 minutes The TV presenter has gained legions of fans for her stylish-yet-affordable wardrobe on popular breakfast show This Morning. There are several websites devoted to copying 35-year-old Hollys style but not all her outfits are quite so easy to obtain. A 15 striped blouse from Marks & Spencer sold out within 20 minutes after Holly wore it on TV last April, while a 29.99 leopard print dress from New Look, first seen in December, was out of stock within the hour. She caused a buying frenzy at Peacocks back in 2010 when she wore two of their dresses on air in quick succession. Viewers flooded the phone lines for details, with the 40 frocks proving so popular that both sold out within 48 hours, with 10,000 of the dresses snapped up. Fashion expert Rebecca Glenapp says part of the stars appeal is her penchant for High Street clothes. Holly is really good at finding labels that arent break-the-bank expensive, she adds. She champions well-priced British shops, and it makes her style feel more accessible. Advertisement The Duchess of Cambridge - sold out in eight minutes The Duchess of Cambridge was pictured in a 35 maternity dress from Asos in 2015 The well-documented Kate effect continues, with the Duchesss followers enthusiastically mimicking every aspect of her style. When, in 2015, she donned a 35 polka dot maternity dress from online retailer Asos while pregnant with Princess Charlotte, it took just eight minutes for the garment to sell out. And a 69.99 black-and-nude dress from High Street favourite Zara, which she wore to a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011, sold out in all sizes within hours of its appearance, as did her now-trademark nude heels (165 from Russell & Bromley). In total, more than 25,000 of each garment were sold. So powerful is her influence that Kate, 35, has been credited with sending profits at her go-to shops soaring: Reiss recorded a 19 per cent lift in sales in December, while Hobbs posted a 14.3 per cent rise. When the Duchess wore a 159 white Reiss dress in her engagement photographs, the brand sold one every minute for several days until there were none left. And its 175 nude bandage dress, worn to meet the Obamas in 2011, was so sought-after that the stores website crashed. Kate can also create a rush on designer labels. An eye-catching 995 yellow dress by Roksanda Ilincic flew off the shelves when she wore it in Australia in 2014, and again at Wimbledon last summer. When model Alexa Chung wore this Topshop dress, it sold out in just three hours Alexa Chung - sold out in three hours Model, TV presenter and It-girl Alexa, 33, has moved from the fringes of fashion to veritable Middle England darling, recently designing several ranges for M&S. Every time she wears outfits from her own collection, they sell out instantly: the 89 Briggate trench was gone from shops in a few hours when it went on sale last year. The same is true of her Topshop designs: in 2015, a 225 Seventies-style dress she created for the High Street shop sold out in just three hours. Theresa May - sold out in two days Prime Minister Theresa May in the infamous 995 Amanda Wakeley leather trousers The Prime Ministers leather trousers 995 by British designer Amanda Wakeley didnt just spark a political row when she wore them for a photo shoot last December; they sent online shoppers into a frenzy, making them a sell-out in all but a size 12 after one day. Her 600 purple Escada dress (first worn on the day she succeeded David Cameron as PM) and 695 navy and lime green Amanda Wakeley coat (donned on day one at No 10) have proven not only power-dressing triumphs, but complete sell-outs in the shops. So, too, was the striking ruffled shirt (120 from John Lewis) that Mrs May, 60, chose to wear for a fashion reception in September last year. Her trademark kitten heels and bold statement necklaces often from affordable High Street brands have taken just days to sell out. The 995 Amanda Wakeley bag she toted last week is still available but only just. Theres an element of role model in her fashion clout, says fashion expert Rebecca Glenapp. People love having a PM who looks great. Pippa Middleton - sold out in one-and-a-half days Pippa Middleton wearing a 285 Tabitha Webb dress in 2013 that sold out in under two days Though not as influential as her sister, Pippa, 33, can still set off a shopping frenzy. Within 36 hours of the younger Middleton stepping out in a pretty coral-coloured dress (285 by Tabitha Webb) in 2013, it had disappeared online. And last summer, after her engagement to millionaire trader James Matthews, every outfit Pippa wore that week sold out. Step back in time 64 years, when war rationing was still in place and Queen Elizabeth II was about to be crowned. Brits had to find clever ways to make food as interesting as possible with the very little they had - but you probably wouldn't expect one ingredient to be making an appearance. The avocado was part of a well-used recipe thought up by one of the first great television cooks, Marguerite Patten. Scroll down for video Michelin star chef Paul Ainsworth recreates the classic coronation chicken dish for BBC One's Royal Recipes series Also on the royal menu is Creme a la Careme, a cream-filled orange sponge dessert and salmon rosette canapes Seafood rice ramekins were part of the buffet menu, pots stuffed with crabmeat and prawns topped off with breadcrumbs Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 was the first royal televised event and had TV cooks like Marguerite Patten (right) creating menus for Brits to make and eat while watching Her daughter Judith appears in BBC One's Royal Recipes, which delves into the past to look at the types of food people were eating to celebrate the queen as well as what royalty themselves had on the menu. She tells historian Dr Polly Russell that her mother created an avocado dip, alongside a seafood rice ramekin and melon balls as part of a buffet people could make before sitting down to watch the coronation - the first televised royal event in 1953. Judith explained how avocados played a part: 'In the very first ever book she ever wrote for Harrods I think was in 1947 or 1948, you opened it up and there on the very first page was an avocado recipe. Polly added: 'Thats very interesting as in my imagination of the 1950s, avocados would have been pretty rare.' Marguerite's daughter Judith (right) is joined by historian Dr Polly Russell (left) as they discuss her mother's dishes and recreate melon balls Michael Buerk (centre), is joined by Michelin star chef Paul Ainsworth (right) and chef Anna Haugh n Royal Recipes The seafood rice pots were made up of mashed crabmeat and prawns that were topped off with breadcrumbs, and the classic melon balls were topped off with slices of orange segment. Newsreader Michael Buerk hosts the cooking documentary, which also revisits the 100-year-old notebook of royal cook Mildred Nicholls. She recorded the recipes and methods for dishes prepared for the King and Queen that has been stored in the Royal Archives, and the BBC One programme marks the first time that the recipes have been brought back to life. For Queen Elizabeth's crowning in 1953, Mildred stated that the menu included the classic coronation chicken. The newsreader looks into Mildred Nicholl's royal recipe notebook to cook the dishes for the first time in over a 100 years The original version of the coronation chicken recipe was cooked with red wine giving it a pink tinge rather than the yellow-orange hue we are so familiar with But instead of the yellow-orange tint we're so familiar with now it was actually pink. Michelin star chef Paul Ainsworth, who is tasked with recreating the royal dishes, explains that it was because the original was made with red wine. He makes his own version poaching chicken in coconut milk, lemongrass, ginger, chicken stock and kaffir lime leaves before then adding some of the mixture to a turmeric, mango chutney and onion reduction. Presenter Buerk adds that the newly-crowned Queen never actually tasted the famous dish: 'It was considered pretty exotic and was only served to the foreign guests at the time. Paul and Michael put the finishing touches on their Creme a la Careme which is filled with cream and candied orange pieces 'I suppose it was considered too spicy for British taste.' Paul also makes a salmon rosette canape, using only Scottish ingredients as per Mildred's instructions and a fancy dessert named Creme a la Careme, by French chef Marie-Antoine Careme who invented 'haute cuisine'. Made of sponge lady fingers soaked in jelly, the inside is filled with a creme anglaise mixed with cream and candied orange pieces. Set in the fridge, once turned out it looks like a crown. Royal Recipes returns to BBC One tomorrow at 3.45pm. First, experts told us to use a blender to make our cheap plonk taste like an expensive vintage. And now, wine aficionados have let us in on another secret to make bargain booze taste like a quality bottle. And all it takes is just one simple ingredient that you'll almost certainly already have in your kitchen. Adding a pinch of salt to a glass or bottle of cheap wine can make it taste like an expensive vintage, according to one wine expert The secret ingredient to making a cheap wine taste expensive is simply salt. That's according to wine buff Nathan Myrhvold, a technology officer at Microsoft, who told the Wall Street Journal that adding just a few grains of salt can balance out any uneven flavours in the wine. Myrhvold came up with the bizarre hack while he was drinking a glass of Cabernet and wishing it tasted more savoury. He tried adding a pinch of salt to the drink and surprisingly, found it tasted much better than before. The salt can balance out uneven flavours in the wine, according to Nathan Myrhvold He soon told all his friends - and he swears they now all add a pinch of salt to the drink. If you've bought a dirt cheap bottle of wine that tastes more like vinegar than a smooth vintage, then perhaps it's worth trying this simple and very inexpensive wine hack. It comes after vineyard owner Marcy Roth, from California, last year told wine lovers to aerate their wine using a blender to make cheap plonk taste better. Blending the wine is a quick way of decanting it, which aerates it and help oxygenate the liquid. The method is known as hyper-decanting. This means that the flavour of the wine is greatly improved. You just need to blitz the wine for 30 seconds apparently to improve the flavour, it's said. Electronic cigarettes are getting a generation of teenagers hooked on nicotine, a study has warned. Researchers claim that teenagers who would never normally smoke are now starting out with so-called vaping before moving on to regular cigarettes, risking long-term health problems. Scroll down for video Researchers claim that the number of schoolchildren who vape has risen between 2011 and 2014 The study by the University of California, San Francisco, found the number of schoolchildren who were both smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes which vaporise a fluid containing nicotine and a flavouring has risen between 2011 and 2014, suggesting that the trendy devices are a gateway to the harmful habit. Although since October 2015 it has been illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s in Britain, the wide range of flavours, such as bubblegum and blueberry, make the devices extremely appealing to young people. The reports authors said youths in their study who were deemed a low risk of smoking cigarettes may not have developed a regular smoking habit at all if e-cigarettes did not exist. A growing body of evidence is raising fears for children who use e-cigarettes, with a recent study showing young smokers who see others vaping are just as likely to crave a cigarette as if they had seen someone smoking. Nicotine exposure to children as they are still growing can harm memory, attention span and emotions, according to the study published in the journal Paediatrics. The researchers also referred to previous studies on the gateway effect, which suggest young people who vape are three times more likely to become smokers a year later. Senior author Dr Stanton Glantz, professor of medicine at the University of California, said: E-cigarettes are encouraging not discouraging youth to smoke and to consume nicotine, and are expanding the tobacco market. Tobacco firms that have been hit by falling sales of cigarettes have been branching out into e-cigarettes, which contain a liquid form of nicotine heated into a vapour to be inhaled. Although it has been illegal since October 2015 to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s in Britain, the wide range of flavours, such as bubblegum and blueberry, make the devices extremely appealing to young people The figures from the US and Canada in the latest research cover a health study of more than 140,000 teenagers, and show smoking rates are coming down. But between 2011 and 2014, the proportion of children using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes rose from 11.4 per cent to 12.2 per cent, driven by the fashion for vaping. Lead author Dr Lauren Dutra said: While some of the kids using e-cigarettes were also smoking cigarettes, we found those who were at low risk of starting nicotine with cigarettes were using e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are marketed as helping people to quit smoking, but the authors said they saw no evidence of this. A spokesman for the UK Vaping Industry Association said: Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians found vaping to be at least 95 per cent safer than smoking tobacco. 'A recent survey found regular use among 11 to 18-year-olds was rare and largely among children who currently or previously smoked tobacco. 'There are also strict rules to ensure vaping products are not sold to minors. A Michigan woman has released shocking pictures of the moment her beloved rescue dog tore into her right index finger. Alexandra Ross, 22, was bitten by her three-year-old pit bull, Aries, after trying to find him a new owner in December. The dog, which had been under her care for two months, had struggled to settle in with her other canine. But after finding someone willing to re-home him, Aries lashed out and clamped his jaws around his potential new owner's cat. Desperate to release its jaws, Miss Ross jumped in to save the feline's life - but she proved too late, and was bitten during her attempts. Surgeons managed to re-attach her digit during a 15-minute operation, but it is believed that Aries was destroyed in the process. Though the dog trainer and groomer, from Battle Creek, Michigan, believes he was still 'safe', and that if he was killed it was unnecessary. Alexandra Ross, 22, was bitten by her three-year-old pit bull, Aries, after trying to find him a new owner in December Miss Ross said: 'I was hysterical. I was crying, and screaming, 'My finger is gone'. 'Surprisingly, it didn't hurt at first, because of the adrenalin, but I could hear him biting through the bone. 'It sounded like crunching and I knew it was bad, everything happened so fast - it burned for a split second, but I couldn't feel it after that because I was in shock.' She added: 'I don't blame Aries. He just wasn't used to seeing over-stimulating behaviour from cats. 'I cried more about him than about my finger because he was a good dog. 'I still work with dogs, including aggressive ones, as they're my passion.' Surgeons managed to re-attach her digit in a 15-minute operation after being bitten in December - but she witnessed the entire procedure She said: 'It sounded like crunching and I knew it was bad, everything happened so fast - it burned for a split second, but I couldn't feel it after that because I was in shock' Miss Ross adopted pit bull Aries in September from a rescue shelter. But at this point, he had no hair and open wounds from where he had bitten himself. Infested with fleas and his pupils constantly dilated, she fell in love with 'the way he looked at her'. She spent two months nursing him back to health, taking him for daily walks and feeding him his favourite foods. But despite her best efforts, he failed to bond with her other dog, a two-year-old Doberman called Atlas. It sounded like crunching and I knew it was bad, everything happened so fast Alexandra Ross, 22 They would bump into each other and there was constant tension, because they were both dominant. So in December, she set about finding him a new home. 'I wanted to keep him and it was a hard decision, but he needed someone who would give him one on one attention,' she said. 'I was looking for a family with no kids or other dogs because I wanted him to be the focus.' Aries and Miss Ross were visiting his prospective new home in Marshall, just outside Battle Creek, when disaster struck. He lashed out, clamping his prospective new owner's 20-year-old cat in his strong jaws. Despite her insisting that he posed no threat, she suspects he has since been destroyed - although she hasn't been told (pictured with another dog) Miss Ross added: 'Surprisingly, it didn't hurt at first, because of the adrenalin, but I could hear him biting through the bone' Miss Ross was bitten when she tried to release Aries' jaws from his potential new owner's cat - but her efforts proved too late and the feline died Miss Ross jumped in, trying to open his mouth to make him let go of the cat in a bid to save its life. WHAT IS RABIES? Rabies is a very serious viral infection that targets the brain and nervous system. It can be spread to humans from infected animals through a bite, scratch or lick to broken skin, the mouth or the eye. Once it enters the body, the rabies virus multiplies before spreading into nerve endings. It then travels to the spinal cord and brain. Once the virus is in the central nervous system, it multiplies rapidly and spreads to the salivary glands, lungs, kidneys and other organs. It's almost always fatal once symptoms develop, but can be prevented if treatment is given promptly after exposure. In the UK, rabies is not found in the animal population (with the exception of bats) and infections are almost always picked up during travel abroad. All mammals, including monkeys, can carry the rabies virus, but dogs, raccoons and foxes are the most common carriers. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement But, despite her valiant efforts, the cat died - and Aries' teeth bit through her finger. Because he'd bitten all the way through her flesh and bone, she was able to release her hand. The cat's owner - who has asked not to be named - then drove her to the nearest hospital. Upon her arrival, she began hyperventilating and vomiting. Doctors gave her medication to try and relax her. She then went for an X-ray of her hand, before medication was used to numb it and vaccinate her against rabies. The police also came to the hospital and Aries, who'd stayed behind at his new prospective owner's house, was taken away by officers. It's unclear what happened to him. 'I told the police Aries had never been to the vet's before or had any vaccinations and they just asked me where he was,' she added. 'They then left the hospital and I heard from the couple that they took him away.' After six hours, she was rushed to the Bronson Methodist Hospital to have a 15-minute operation to sew her finger back up with six stitches. But she was able to watch the entire ordeal, seeing hair, blood clots and bone fragments. Aries was just skin and bones when he was rescued by Miss Ross in September 2016 But after just a fortnight in her care, he was left looking healthy and managed to put on weight 'I'm tough I guess and it didn't feel like my finger, so I was able to watch,' she said. For four days after the incident, she was still vomiting, and she had to keep her finger bandaged for a week while taking antibiotics. WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE BITTEN Clean the wound immediately by running warm tap water over it for a couple of minutes, even if the skin does not appear broken. Remove any dirt or foreign objects from the wound. Encourage the wound to bleed slightly by gentle squeezing (unless already bleeding freely). If there is heavy bleeding, place a clean pad or sterile dressing over wound and apply pressure. Dry the wound and cover with a clean dressing or plaster. Seek medical advice unless the wound is very minor. For severe wounds, go to A&E. Advertisement While the painful vaccinations - jabbed into her shoulders, thighs, and right hand - took place over three hospital visits in the week following. The bone at the top of her right finger was broken, but doctors said it should fuse together naturally, after her finger was stitched back up. Miss Ross, who suspects Aries has been destroyed, insists he was a safe dog despite his behaviour. She said no charges were pressed in the incident, and that the cat's owners were really understanding and thought it wasn't Aries' fault either. Her hand has almost healed now, but the tip of her finger is still numb and feels like an electric shock is going through it when she touches something. She said she can move her hand, but is still unable to bend it at the second knuckle. Miss Ross added: 'It still aches but the worst part was that the dog didn't deserve to be put down. 'My outlook is if they are safe to humans they are safe to be placed and I still believe Aries was safe.' A baby boy was rushed 3,000 miles to the US for emergency surgery to save his sight - after NHS doctors didn't operate on a tumour growing over his eye. Oliver Francis, seven months, was born nine weeks premature and developed a capillary haemangioma while in hospital. The benign growth on his right eye - caused by overdeveloped blood vessels - swelled up to the size of a pea and caused his eye to close up completely. Doctors told his parents Tasha, 25, and Mike, 34, to give him drugs to reduce the growth - but it caused him persistent nose bleeds. Despite their pleas for help, doctors simply increased the drug dosage - but it didn't help Oliver. Instead, they searched for alternative treatments online. But they came across New York-based charity Little Baby Face Foundation who were willing to fund the sight-saving operation. Oliver was flown 3,337 miles to the US just 10 days later and the growth was successfully removed - without any charge. Oliver Francis was given drugs to reduce the benign growth on his right eye that was causing him to lose his vision. But when they were found to not work, his family searched for alternative treatments, and found a charity in the US willing to fund surgery to remove it Mrs Francis, from Midway, Staffordshire, said: 'It is all still sinking in. The doctors in America said that if we had not operated when we did he could have lost his sight. 'The foundation are absolutely brilliant. I cannot thank them enough. 'It all happened so quickly. We flew in on October 15 and went straight to the hospital for a meeting where the doctor explained what would happen. 'Two days later, they removed the haemangioma. They paid for absolutely everything. It was such a relief.' The growth on his right eye - caused by overdeveloped blood vessels - swelled up to the size of a pea and caused his eye to close up completely Oliver was born at Burton's Queen's Hospital in June last year and was putting on respiratory support for five weeks. He quickly developed a mark on his right eye, but his family were told not to worry about it. But it kept getting bigger and bigger, and by the time they left when he was five weeks old, it was larger than a pea. After his nine-week check-up, Oliver was referred to Birmingham's Children's Hospital where he was put on a 0.1mg dose of propranolol. The drug is used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heart rates and capillary haemangioma. However, it wasn't working in Oliver's case, meaning his eye was starting to become misshapen. Mrs Francis added: 'I was really worried and told them that the haemangioma was still growing, but the doctors did not listen to me. It was really frustrating.' Oliver, from Midway, Staffordshire, was born nine weeks premature and developed a capillary haemangioma while in hospital His mother, Tasha Francis, 25, said: 'I was really worried and told them that the haemangioma was still growing, but the doctors did not listen to me' (Oliver pictured in hospital in New York after the first operation) At Oliver's last appointment on October 5, she was told to increase the dosage to 0.26ml twice a day and 'come back in six weeks'. WHAT ARE CAPILLARY HAEMANGIOMAS? A capillary haemangioma is a benign tumour consisting of an abnormal overgrowth of tiny blood vessels. They tend not to be present at birth, but instead appear within the first few months of life, experts say. Vision can be affected by ones growing on the eyelids, as it can cause the lid to droop - blocking the ability to see. The majority do not require treatment, but in some instances propranolol is given to help reduce the size of the tumour. Traditional surgery to remove those around the eye is generally just for small growths that are located under the skin surface. Source: AAPOS Advertisement She said: 'They wanted to leave him on propranolol for 18 months. 'I asked them if there was anything else they could do, but they just said it was the best thing for Oliver. 'I knew if I did not do anything then he was going to lose his eyesight. 'He was suffering from the side effects from the drug, such as nose bleeds and he was constantly crying because he was in pain. 'I needed to find help from somewhere.' But Tasha had found Little Baby Face Foundation online and emailed them and days after her last NHS appointment she received a reply. Tasha said: 'I saw a video on Facebook which showed a child from the UK with a haemangioma on his face and the foundation managed to help him. I had hope then. 'They were fantastic, they paid for everything and saved Oliver's eye sight.' A spokesperson for Birmingham Children's Hospital said: 'In some cases surgery may be required but due to the associated risks to the eyesight and potential facial scarring, surgery, along with other treatment options, is usually considered only if non-invasive methods of treatment have proved ineffective.' If it takes you more than half an hour to fall asleep at night, and find yourself counting sheep, you may have a sleeping problem. Waking up at night and taking more than 41 minutes to drift back off is another sign of poor quality sleep. The first guidance to be published on what exactly makes up a good night's sleep shows many more of us are struggling than we might think. A panel of experts who examined 227 scientific studies found people who wake up more than once a night and sleep less than 85 per cent of their time in bed are not getting good quality slumber. From nodding off in 30 minutes to waking up just once, experts have revealed the first ever guidance on what it means to get a good night's sleep - but few of us hit the mark The results could mean a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes, both linked to a lack of shut-eye. Not getting enough sleep is linked to putting on weight, fatigue, depression and can affect the fertility of couples who are trying for a baby. The National Sleep Foundation's guidelines highlight that sleep changes as people get older. However adults should not be taking any longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep, with a time lag of 45 to 60 minutes classified as poor sleep quality. Older people should be concerned if it takes them more than an hour to nod off. On the all-important matter of naps, the experts now says adults of any age should not be sleeping for more than 100 minutes at a time, and should not take more than four naps a day if they are sleeping properly. Dr Max Hirshkowitz, chairman of the board of directors at the National Sleep Foundation, which is based in the US, said the findings will help the millions of people now using digital technology, like Fitbits, to track how well they snooze. He said: 'These devices provide a glimpse into one's sleep universe, which is otherwise unknown. The National Sleep Foundation's guidelines on sleep duration, and now quality, make sense of it all - providing consumers with the resources needed to understand their sleep. 'These efforts help to make sleep science and technology more accessible to the general public that is eager to learn more about its health in bold new ways.' A third of people in the UK suffer from poor sleep, with the blame put by experts on stress, home computers and taking work home with us. The new research, published in the journal Sleep Health, shows people should not spend any more than a quarter of their time in bed lying awake. People who sleep well and are woken up in the night should take only up to 20 minutes to fall back to sleep, with children and adults facing a problem if it takes them more than 41 minutes. Teenagers, who need more sleep generally, can get away with napping for longer, with the guidelines stating there is a problem only if their power nap takes more than two hours, compared to 100 minutes for adults. This is how long we should aim to sleep based on our age, according to the NSF But if they are sleeping well they should not take as many naps, with the limit set at one a day, while older adults can take up to four in 24 hours before the experts say they have poor sleep quality. However there is some doubt over the evidence, as the scientific literature does not distinguish between planned and unplanned naps. Many people are likely to find they do not meet the guidelines for sleep, with a previous US survey showing as many as 27 per cent of people take more than half an hour to fall asleep. Dr Maurice Ohayon, MD, DSc, PhD, director of the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Centre, said: 'In the past, we defined sleep by its negative outcomes including sleep dissatisfaction, which were useful for identifying underlying pathology. 'Clearly this is not the whole story. With this initiative, we are now on a better course towards defining sleep health.' Fecal transplants could treat behavioral symptoms in autism patients, a new study has claimed. Scientists have discovered that children with autism are lacking in bacterial diversity in their gut - and fecal transplants could help rebalance it. Introducing healthy microbes into the gut to adjust the lack of diversity is a method generally used for people with gastrointestinal disease. Behavioral symptoms of autism and gastrointestinal distress, such as irritability and hyperactivity, often go hand-in-hand, according to the researchers. As many as nine out of 10 autistic individuals also suffer from problems such as inflammatory bowel disease and 'leaky gut'. Fecal transplants could help treat behavioral symptoms in autistic children, such as irritability, by introducing healthy microbes which rebalances gut bacteria Fecal transplants involve transferring feces from a healthy donor containing roughly 1,000 different species of bacteria that act as probiotics. The study, conducted at the University of Arizona, looked at 18 children between ages seven and 16 with autism, and moderate to severe gastrointestinal problems. The researchers used a method called microbiota transfer therapy, which started with the children receiving antibiotics for two weeks to wipe out much of their existing gut flora. Doctors then gave them an initial high-dose fecal transplant in liquid form. In the seven to eight weeks that followed, the children drank smoothies blended with a lower-dose powder. Both parents and doctors said they saw positive changes that lasted for at least eight weeks. Doctors reported that behavioral symptoms, such as irritability, hyperactivity, and communication issues, decreased by 22 percent at the end of treatment and 24 percent eight weeks afterwards. Parents of the children with autism not only reported a decrease in gut problems, including diarrhea and stomach pain, but also that they saw significant changes for the better when it came to their children's behavioral symptoms. WHAT IS A FECAL TRANSPLANT? Fecal transplantation is the transfer of stool from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. It is most commonly used to treat recurring C. difficile infection - spread by bacterial spores found within feces. It can also be used to treat gastrointestinal infections such as colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and constipation. Antibiotics often kill off too many 'good' bacteria in the digestive tract. Fecal transplants can help replenish bacterial balance. The stool contains roughly 1,000 different species of bacteria that act as probiotics. The transfer is completed via: Enema (fluid injected into the lower bowel through the rectum) Orogastric tube (a tube inserted through the mouth, past the the throat, and down into the stomach) A pill containing freeze-dried material Advertisement Researchers also were able to document how the gut was rebalanced by studying children without autism for comparison of bacterial and viral gut composition. At the end of the study, the bacterial diversity in the children with autism was indistinguishable from their healthy peers. Additionally, the viral diversity of the treated children rebounded quickly, and became more similar to the donor's microbiome. Lead author Ann Gregory, a microbiology graduate student at The Ohio State University, said: 'Transplants are working for people with other gastrointestinal problems. 'And, with autism, gastrointestinal symptoms are often severe, so we thought this could be potentially valuable.' There currently exists no approved pharmaceutical treatment for autism. Dr James Adams, one of the study's lead authors and an Arizona State University professor who specializes in autism, called the results compelling, but cautioned that larger, more rigorous studies confirming benefits must be done before the approach could be used widely. Co-author Dr Matthew Sullivan said the team originally planned to study the use of probiotics in autism, but shifted gears when fecal transplantation began to show benefits for those with other conditions. The researchers want to conduct a larger clinical trial as well as uncover the precise types of bacteria and viruses that make a difference. Dr Sullivan say these types of discoveries could lead to lab-engineered treatments tailored to specific diseases. He said: 'We have to be mindful of the placebo effect and we have to take it with a grain of salt. But it does give us hope.' The research team cautioned that families should not try to replicate the experimental treatment on their own, as it could harm children if done improperly. A test for people who lose their sense of smell in the early stages of Alzheimer's could diagnose the condition before it strikes. Scientists have developed a simple scan which may be able to pinpoint dementia before memory loss even begins. The key is in someone's sense of smell, which starts to deteriorate in many neurological conditions, from Down's syndrome and schizophrenia to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. It is why there is a so-called 'peanut butter test' for people with Alzheimer's who are less able to sniff out the spread from a distance. Scientists have developed a simple scan which may be able to pinpoint dementia before memory loss even begins. The key is in someone's sense of smell, which starts to deteriorate in many neurological conditions However simple smell tests, according to a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, offer an incomplete picture, monitoring the sense of smell only after it is detected by the brain. They have developed a PET scan, called Neuroflux, which avoids the need for a painful biopsy, and picks up the early signs of Alzheimer's in the nose. The breakthrough, found to work effectively in mice, is hoped to lead to a test for all kinds of memory loss in adults, and not just Alzheimer's. Lead author Dr Jacob Hooker said: 'I heard about the peanut test for Alzheimer's years ago. 'A lot of beautiful research with smell tests has been published with many geared towards making them more robust, but there are lots of reasons that might not work very well, for example if someone has sinus inflammation due to a cold. 'By looking more directly at olfactory sensory neurons between the nose and brain, we can learn more about the health of the cells that are responsible for smell and extend into the brain. The breakthrough, found to work effectively in mice, is hoped to lead to a test for all kinds of memory loss in adults, and not just Alzheimer's 'This may provide a window into the brain and we hope this will ultimately help with early diagnosis.' The link between the nose and the brain explains why people's memories are more strongly triggered by a smell, like an ex-partner's perfume, than by a photograph. This may provide a window into the brain and we hope this will ultimately help with early diagnosis Dr Jacob Hooker, from Harvard Medical School Previous studies have shown smell tests can flag up everything from very mild memory loss to full-blown Alzheimer's disease. That is because in many people hyposmia or anosmia a partial or complete loss of the sense of smell happens before cognitive problems in Alzheimer's and years before the tremors and loss of motor function caused by Parkinson's disease. Charity Parkinson's UK said a new test could be a 'significant step forward' in diagnosing the condition earlier when people are most likely to benefit from treatment. A PET scan is said by the researchers, whose study is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, to be better than sniff tests. NOISY HOSPITALS AND DEMENTIA Noisy hospitals can accelerate the course of dementia in elderly patients, experts found last week. The confusion of busy waiting rooms or seeing different doctors and nurses can send patients into a rapid decline, according to a major study. The research, led by University College London and the University of Cambridge, is the first to show that becoming acutely confused and disorientated - a condition known as delirium - can accelerate cognitive decline among patients with dementia. Advertisement That is because it finds initial problems with odour detection and not just the higher-level processing of smells in the brain. Biopsies work better by showing if olfactory sensory neurons have been lost, but are painful and technically difficult. MRI scans, also used to check for these neurons, can be challenging because they detect water and there is very little in the nose. The new scan, which tracks a radioactive molecule injected into the body which flows through the nose, is hoped to hold the answer. If its signal reduces a few months between scans, this is a sign that there are fewer olfactory neurons. Dr Doug Brown, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: 'There is evidence to suggest that someone's sense of smell could be impacted in the early stages of dementia. 'This study looks at a new technique for detecting changes in the brain cells that are important for our sense of smell, and could help to explore this link further. 'However, because this method has only been tested in animals and not humans, it is too early to tell if this test could help improve diagnosis.' Donald Trump's inaugural speech spells out his domestic and external agenda, not in detail, but in its broad features. Because America remains the most powerful country in the world, the direction its policies take, affects the international community for better or for worse. Partisan Trump's election has polarised the country politically and socially. Many in America are still not reconciled to his victory and do not see him as their president. US President Donald Trump, flanked by Senior Advisor Jared Kushner (standing, L-R), Vice President Mike Pence, Staff Secretary Rob Porter and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, welcomes reporters into the Oval Office All this time America has prided itself on its democracy. It has made the spread of democracy world-wide as a pillar of its foreign policy, to the point of crusading for it and imposing it by force if necessary on others. But the election that has propelled Trump to the White House has tarnished the image of American democracy. The controversies surrounding it are those that elections in some 'third world countries' generate. The election result is still being questioned. The opposition, the intelligence agencies, the strategic community, the mainstream press and many elements of the civil society are acting to undermine the political legitimacy of the new president and hamper his functioning. Foreign interference in the election process has been made a big issue as if America is so porous and vulnerable that external actors can materially affect the political choices of the American people. United States President Donald Trump gestures towards the cameras The elected American president has been smeared with allegations of scandalous conduct and accused of vulnerability to blackmail by a foreign power. Trump's inaugural address was highly partisan, directed exclusively at his electoral base. He did not use it to heal divisions and unite the entire country behind him. His tirade against self-seeking 'Washington', pitting it against the 'people', to the point of fulminating that for 'too long a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost', was pure electoral rhetoric. Four previous presidents, Congressional big-wigs and other members of the 'establishment' attended his inauguration. His address was an indictment of their supposedly anti-people policies. It would have been especially mortifying for his immediate predecessor, Barack Obama, to listen to him and join in the customary applause afterwards. Trump's vision of the past and present engagement of America with the outside world seemed as one-sided as his view of 'Washington' pitted against the American people. To claim that for many decades America has enriched foreign industry at the expense of its own industry, subsidised the armies of others while allowing the depletion of its own and defending other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own repudiates the reality that US policies, especially after the end of the Cold War, have sought to perpetuate the country's international hegemony by incorporating others into the American led global system. Unconvincing Trump seems to be more acutely conscious of America's decline than others outside who still see America as the world's most powerful nation by far. Which is why his statement that the US 'has made other countries rich while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country have dissipated' is unconvincing. The entire US-led globalisation process was aimed at shaping the global economic system in accordance with America's economic philosophy of open markets, eliminating barriers to trade and investment, de-regulation and so on, primarily to benefit the US corporate sector. President Donald Trump introduces first lady Melania Trump at the Freedom Inaugural Ball Economic globalisation was intended to entrench America's global power. To suggest that globalisation was an altruistic enterprise and that the US became a victim of its own generosity misrepresents reality. Even if the US has been generous, the underlying objective has been to gain acceptance of its leadership role by others willingly. For Trump to therefore declaim that every foreign capital should know that from today the new vision governing his country will be 'America first' is bemusing. Protectionist It is interesting that a billionaire businessman should say that 'Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families'. In this vision the role of US corporations, entrepreneurs, innovators and the initiators of the fourth industrial revolution in leveraging the global market where the US cannot lose ground seems unclear. The agenda that Trump has outlined is clearly protectionist. 'Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength', he claims. 'We will follow two simple rules buy American and hire American', he has threatened. Of course, if each country were to follow this nostrum the global economic system will break down. Trump's inaugural address was highly partisan, directed exclusively at his electoral base. He did not use it to heal divisions and unite the entire country behind him America has made costly mistakes in seeking to impose its values on others by force if necessary. This is one reason for Trump's diatribe against the establishment for the state of the nation. He has said wisely in his address that 'We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone'. He has also promised to 'unite the world against radical Islamic terrorism which we will eradicate from the face of the earth' by forging new alliances (a hint of cooperating with Russia). At the end of it all, it is unclear how Trump can make an America retrenched upon itself, suspicious and disdainful of the interests of others, carrying a sense of victimhood, closing its borders, great again. Greatness cannot be in isolation. Avinash Anand promised to facilitate beds for patients in return for money, it's alleged There are black sheep lurking among the men in white at the city's top hospitals. Authorities said they caught a fake doctor on Monday who conned patients by offering to get them admitted to the state-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or the neighbouring Safdarjung Hospital in south Delhi. Thirty-year-old Avinash Anand claimed to be an assistant professor in the orthopaedic department at the AIIMS trauma centre, it's alleged. He was unmasked while trying to arrange admission for some patients at Safdarjung Hospital's orthopaedic block. Anand allegedly produced a bogus ID card as proof. Dr Balvinder Singh, assistant professor in the orthopaedic department of Safdarjung Hospital, told Mail Today: 'It seems that he was running this illegal business of making money from patients. 'He used to force the resident doctors here to arrange beds and in return he charged his patients.' Even the government's note ban move failed to hurt his business. He 'claimed to be an assistant professor at the AIIMS trauma centre', officials said 'A large number of bank account slips of Rs 15,000, which he charged from patients, have been found on him. Strangely, this transfer of money has been done in the time of demonetisation,' said Singh. In 2012, cops arrested 40-year-old Harish Goswami from Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital for allegedly posing as doctor. With a stethoscope around his neck and fake ID cards, Goswami used to move around the OPDs of major hospitals like AIIMS, Safdarjung and RML. He would dupe patients who were recommended diagnostic tests by sending them to private labs and taking 30 per cent commission in return. The 'fake doctor' had also been operating at the Safdarjung Hospital in south Delhi Mail Today has accessed a video of police and doctors questioning Anand. On being repeatedly asked why he conned patients and if he had any actual medical knowledge, the imposter said: 'I don't have deep knowledge of medicine like you doctors here. I just have a little knowledge of yoga.' He then claims that he holds a PhD and because of this he uses the honorific, 'Doctor', before his name. Ending the conversation, he says: 'I am not a doctor. Sorry, and please forgive me.' A senior doctor from AIIMS, requesting anonymity, told Mail Today: 'There is no Dr Avinash Anand at the AIIMS trauma centre. This is a security breach. 'Mostly, we, the senior faculty, don't ask the junior doctors to show their ID cards. 'Departments have expanded and so the number of doctors has also increased enormously. Every year, hundreds of new doctors join the institute. So, it becomes very difficult to know each other.' But after this shocking incident, which could put patients' lives at risk, security should be enhanced at the hospital, another AIIMS doctor said. Speaking to Mail Today, the medical superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, Dr AK Rai, said, 'Avinash, who claims to be AIIMS doctor, is in police custody and an FIR has been lodged at Safdarjung Enclave Police Station.' Foreign buyers planning to snap-up key British technologies and infrastructure will be breathing a sigh of relief. Theresa May's pledge in July to curb foreign takeovers has sunk in a sea of verbiage in the Government's Industrial Strategy. Indeed, Business Secretary Greg Clark goes as far to suggest that Softbank's 24billion acquisition of Cambridge-based ARM is an example of the nation's industrial success. All talk? Prime Minister Theresa May walks with Business Secretary Greg Clark and Chancellor Philip Hammond to the regional Cabinet meeting at Ski-Tech Daresbury in Cheshire There is no doubt that ARM is a technology triumph, built upon the excellence of scientists and technicians at one of our great universities. With its pioneering work in the internet of things, from fridges to cars, ARM had the opportunity to become Britain's finest contributor to the new digital world. The Softbank bid ended all that. It symbolised what has become known as the 'financialization' of business under which short-term gains for investment bankers, advisers and shareholders are the overriding interest. The only 'Soft' thing about this deal was the soap applied by Masayoshi Son on his visits to Downing Street, with his promises of doubling the workforce. Since then the Softbank boss looks to have lost focus on post-Brexit Britain and transferred his affections to the US. He has promised Donald Trump he'll put his muscle behind a $100billion fund to invest in American technologies. The speed with which his attention switched to ingratiating Softbank with the new commander-in-chief is almost comparable with the way Softbank snaffled ARM patents, the results of the hard work of a generation of British scientists, many of them recipients of generous taxpayer funding. Much of what the Green Paper says on investing in infrastructure is also unwelcome. The dangers of allowing overseas owners to control vital infrastructure are evident almost every day. The prospect of Japan's Toshiba becoming a major investor in new nuclear in Cumbria has become less and less likely with the group's accumulating financial difficulties. It demonstrates the problems of handing command and control on infrastructure projects to overseas companies and governments. Yet the May Government is allowing the mistakes to be repeated. National Grid is selling gas distribution networks to the 'vampire kangaroo' Macquarie. One only has to look at the past of Thames Water to see how short-sighted this has become. Only last month, Camden Passage, in Jeremy Corbyn's backyard, was flooded as a result of under-investment in the capital's pipes. Under Macquarie ownership, the pension fund deficit at Thames has soared to 250billion and more than 1billion in dividends shipped off to shareholders. Thankfully, as a result of questions by MPs, the proposal to sell the Green Investment Bank to Macquarie and a consortium of investors looks as if it may have been canned. There is much in the Green Paper that makes a great deal of sense. The redirection of the education system to focus more on science, technology, engineering and maths clearly is a good thing. It is also encouraging that the Tories recognise there is a role for government in backing key sectors of the economy, such as the creative industries in which the UK has competitive advantage. It also wants to strengthen investment and commerce in the regions. The report draws attention to the frightening gap between the gross value added to the economy in London and that in other parts of the country. But the financial and institutional support proposed is negligible. The British Business Bank is getting extra funding, but it is as nothing compared with the resources of the KfW in Germany or the Small Business Administration in the US. We may live in budget-constrained times, but the post-Brexit economy is not going to be transformed by the 170million set aside to create 'prestigious new Institutes of Technology'. If Britain is serious about the skill shortages domestically, it needs to talk billions rather than millions, and the same for the British Business Bank. Similarly, if the Government wants to keep the economy competitive, it needs to make sure the Competition and Markets Authority works in the interest of citizens, not corporations. An industrial strategy is the right idea, but so far the execution is feeble. Copper plated The abrupt departure of Garry Jones as chief executive of the London Metal Exchange is just the latest setback for the Hong Kong Exchange & Clearing, which spent 1.8billion on the City bauble in 2012. A cursory glance at the LME's history might have offered some clues to the exchange's mixed pedigree, including the adventures of Britain's Charles 'Copperfingers' Vincent in the 1990s and the disgrace of a Sumitomo trader after the bank took a 1.3billion trading loss. Among the LME's alma mater is none other than former Ukip leader Nigel Farage. Need one say more. Trump trade How do investors trade Trump, given his habit of making market-sensitive tweets? One suggestion is an active Trump Tweet ETF (exchange trade fund) that buys and sells on the President's words. Could be highly volatile. Weetabix could be offloaded to an Italian pasta company in a 1.5bn deal. The UKs second biggest cereal brand has been attracting potential buyers since it was put up for sale by its Chinese owner last year. Barilla, a 140-year-old Italian family business run by three brothers, is believed to be the latest potential suitor in talks about acquiring the Northamptonshire-based cereal firm. The Weetabix group, which is also behind Alpen and Ready Brek cereals, could be the subject of a bidding war which analysts say could value the business at 2bn. Chinese firm Bright Foods, which bought the business in 2012, has enlisted Goldman Sachs to help it sell off its 60 per cent stake in the 84-year-old brand. Weetabix doubled sales in China in 2016 but the UK, where it has a 14.8 per cent market share, still accounts for around 84 per cent of sales. Nestle, which is behind cereal brand Cheerios; Lucky Charms owner General Mills; and Quaker Oats owner PepsiCo are all thought to be potentially interested in the business. It is understood that Kelloggs cannot bid because of competition concerns. Ministers may backtrack on plans to sell the Green Investment Bank to the so-called Aussie vampire kangaroo. Plans to offload the bank to investment firm Macquarie may be scrapped in favour of floating it on the stock exchange. Ministers had been widely criticised over plans to sell the Green Investment Bank. Concerns: City Editor Alex Brummer has warned about the Macquarie deal It was founded by the Coalition Government in 2012 and uses public funds to encourage the development of green buildings and energy infrastructure. Macquarie had been lined up in October to take over the organisation but concerns mounted when the investment bank was accused of planning to strip assets from the business. The Australian outfit was revealed to be lining up buyers for its assets such as wind farms and biomass projects before the deal was even finalised. Estimates suggested that Macquarie could make an instant profit of 2.7bn on its purchase by selling off the assets piece by piece. Now, in a major U-turn, business secretary Greg Clark is believed to be about to tear up the deal and instead push for a stock market listing which would value the bank at 3.8bn. The Edinburgh-based Green Bank was set up in 2012 by then-business secretary Sir Vince Cable to encourage growth in the renewable energy industry. It employs 125 people and has invested more than 2.7bn in 80 wind farms, power plants and street-lighting systems across the UK. Investments have included a 5m boiler replacement project for sheltered housing, a renewable power facility at Tilbury in Essex and a 33m waste treatment plant in North Yorkshire. As part of its bid Macquarie had to commit to investing a further 2bn over the next three years. The bank is the latest asset which the Government is looking to privatise, after selling almost all of its stake in Lloyds. If the bank was valued at 3.8bn upon listing then the privatisation would be even bigger than the 3.3bn flotation of Royal Mail in 2013. Plans to privatise the bank were first announced in 2015, shortly after the Government revealed it would scrap all new subsidies for onshore wind farms a year earlier than planned. The Government said it would sell its stake by the end of its current five-year term in 2020. One of Britain's biggest housebuilders has suspended at least three more staff following the arrest of an executive on suspicion of bribery in a cash-for-contracts scandal. Alastair Baird, managing director for London at Barratt Developments, was arrested in October as part of an inquiry by the Metropolitan Police. The 52-year-old, who has overseen some of the capital's biggest housing projects in recent years, was suspended by Barratt following his arrest at his pig farm in Gloucestershire where his wife Irayne Paikin makes award- winning sausages. Three staff members have been suspended from Barratt Developments following the arrest of an executive on suspicion of bribery in a cash-for-contracts scandal But it has now emerged that at least three more employees within Barratt's London business have been suspended as part of the investigation into potential misconduct in the awarding of contracts. Barratt shares fell around 3 per cent in a matter of minutes yesterday as investors digested the latest setback for the firm. They finished the day down 1.7 per cent, or 8.2p, at 486.4p. A spokesman for Barratt said it would be inappropriate to comment given the investigation by the company and the police. Just last week Barratt was rocked by the departure of Neil Cooper, its finance director, after little more than a year in the job following clashes with other directors. The company said Cooper's resignation was unconnected to the bribery probe. The arrest of Baird came after the company launched an investigation into possible misconduct in the way contracts were awarded in London and passed its findings to the police. Baird was quizzed along with a 47-year-old woman from East London, who used to work for the housebuilder. They were released on bail until April. In October, Barratt chief executive David Thomas said the company 'acted decisively' by launching its own investigation and referring the matter to the police. Baird had previously been described by the firm as 'one of the most experienced and respected residential developers in the capital'. Projects he has overseen include the purchase of West Ham United's former home, the Boleyn Ground, where Barratt plans to build 842 houses. Baird and his wife, who have two daughters, paid 4million in cash for their Gloucestershire pig farm in 2005. They spend weekends there and the week at their 15million home in Hampstead, North London. Barratt's inquiry led to a civil case against another former employee, thought to be Michael Fitzpatrick, who was sacked in February last year after allegedly receiving secret payments from sub-contractors in return for influencing the award of tenders. He is understood to be defending the claim. Advertisement Sally Faulkner has been spotted driving a luxury BMW X5 and is planning to build a home in Brisbane's north as she asks strangers to pay $20,000 to help her pay off legal fees. In recent weeks, Ms Faulkner has raised over $13,000 through a GoFundMe page made by friends on her behalf to 'pay for lawyers in Lebanon'. In a desperate plea, she said she had to move in with her mother and sell her car as she was 'almost broke'. But Ms Faulkner was seen driving the fancy 4WD BMW around Brisbane on Friday and sources who know the family warned it 'isn't a good look' to be driving the expensive vehicle in the situation she's in'. 'I don't think she is as cash strapped as she makes out,' the source said. Ms Faulkner and partner and father of her little boy Brendan Pierce are deciding whether to 'include a pool and extra rooms' on the home, the source claimed. The mother-of-three raised $150,000 from the publication of a tell-all book but has denied using the proceeds to fund the house or car, both which she said were in Mr Pierce's name. 'We work hard and we pay our taxes,' she said. Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner has been spotted in a fancy new BMW X5 just a week after thanking strangers for raising $13,000 to help her pay for a lawyer in Lebanon to get her children back Pictured: Homes nearby at the housing development near the block of land where Ms Faulkner and her partner Brendan's property will be built In April, the Brisbane mother spent two weeks in a Beirut prison for a failed attempt to snatch her children Pictures show the beginnings of a huge homes around Mr Pierce's block - with a cement mixer and a trailer parked nearby. A brand new BMW retails at between $90,000 and $150,000. Ms Faulkner has denied she and Mr Pierce have a new home, saying the property is in Mr Pierce's name, having been purchased in August 2015 when they were newly together. It has 'all been put on hold for obvious reasons'. 'We don't have a new home,' she said. 'We've had that property before any of this happened with 60 Minutes. (The) Property is solely in Brendan's name.' When asked about the BMW, Ms Faulkner said: 'For the record the car isn't even in my name. 'Brendan brought it for himself and when I sold my car (Captiva) I gave him a small amount of money for the Nissan Pathfinder I drive which actually doesn't have aircon in it that works.' She posted to Facebook earlier this month saying she used a 'small' part of the $150,000 she was paid for the book to pay off a car and put it towards a house. But she said that wasn't referring to the BMW or the home in Warner. An online advertisement was put up on CarSales.com.au selling the 4WD in November and it was last edited on Sunday. 'Need gone ASAP,' the ad said. The price was $35,000 and the contact phone number was Ms Faulkner's. The BMW X5, which she parks on the street adjacent to her mother's property, is believed to have been purchased at the end of last year. She says the car is Mr Pierce's car and is in his name A source told Daily Mail Australia Ms Faulkner's family had warned it 'isn't a good look' to be driving the expensive vehicle 'in the situation she's in' Construction site: Pictures show the beginnings of a huge house at the nearby housing development where Ms Faulkner and her partner Brendan plan for their home to be built Ms Faulkner has raised over $13,000 through a GoFundMe page, made by friends on her behalf, to 'pay for lawyers in Lebanon' to fight for custody of her children Lehela, five, and Noah, three (pictured) Ms Faulkner has raised over $13,000 through a GoFundMe page, made by friends on her behalf, to 'pay for lawyers in Lebanon' after she claimed she had moved back in with her mother and sold her car as she was 'almost broke' Speaking to Kyle and Jackie O on Monday, Ms Faulkner revealed she hasn't spoken to her two children since saying goodbye to them at a Lebanese McDonald's. In April, the Brisbane mother spent two weeks in a Beirut prison for a failed attempt to snatch her children Lehela, five, and Noah, three from her estranged husband Ali Elamine, 32, with the help of Channel 9's 60 Minutes. 'I just want to have a relationship with Noah and Lahela,' she said. Some access to the kids would be a 'very nice start'. Since returning home to Australia last year, Ms Faulkner has made $150,000 on a memoir titled 'All For My Children,' but claims the revenue went toward paying off credit card debts and legal costs. Last week, she shared photographs of two invoices for legal costs, one for $8434 and another for $1560 to show she was 'being honest'. She thanked everyone who donated to the GoFundMe page. 'Now I need $20,000 to start up a custody case in Lebanon,' she wrote. Earlier this month, Ms Faulkner told News Corp she had been almost left with nothing after the botched 60 Minutes Beirut kidnapping and had moved back in with her mother. Mr Elamine forced Ms Faulkner to sign over the custodial rights of the children to have the child abduction charges against her dropped after the botched Beirut kidnapping 'I don't thinks she is as cash strapped as she makes out,' a source said - however Sally said both the car and her house are in her partner's name Last week, she shared photographs of two invoices for legal costs, one for $8434 and another for $1560, and thanked everyone who donated to the GoFundMe page to show she was 'being honest' Ms Faulkner continues to share photos of Lehela and Noah to her Facebook page saying she will never stop fighting to bring them home Since returning home to Australia, Ms Faulkner has made $150,000 on a memoir titled 'All For My Children,' but claims the revenue went toward paying off debts On her GoFundMe page, Ms Faulkner describes 'everyday as a a living nightmare' and said she is 'now at breaking point,' after not speaking to her children in over six months. 'I'm desperate to hear Lahela's voice, to hold Noah's precious hands - to tell them both mummy loves and misses them terribly,' Ms Faulkner wrote. 'Lahela just turned 6 and Noah will soon be 4 - pulled from our life in Brisbane and dumped into a dangerous, war-torn country in the Middle East'. Mr Elamine forced Ms Faulkner to sign over the custodial rights of the children to have the child abduction charges against her dropped after the botched Beirut kidnapping. Ms Faulkner was released from prison on bail on April 20 along with Tara Brown and her crew, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson, sound recordist David Ballment. Ms Faulkner has denied she and Mr Pierce (both pictured with their son Eli) have a new home, saying it has 'all been put on hold for obvious reasons' Ms Faulkner was released from prison on bail on April 20 along with Tara Brown (both pictured) and her crew, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson, sound recordist David Ballment Outspoken radio host Alan Jones back in hospital after he went off-air indefinitely for a 13-hour back operation, according to reports. The 2GB broadcaster is back in hospital after returning to Sydney on Sunday, and now requires an operation on his right arm, 7 News reported. Jones went on indefinite leave from the Sydney radio station from November 21 last year for back surgery. Outspoken radio shock-jock Alan Jones back in hospital after he went off-air indefinitely for a 13-hour back operation, according to reports (Jones is pictured in 2008) He has been overseas to recovery. A source close to Jones told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that Jones' arm surgery was 'nothing serious'. 'He will be out (of hospital) very soon,' the source said. It is understood the surgery to his arm was to treat an ongoing ailment. Last year, the 75-year-old said he had been suffering chronic pain 'for a lot of years and it's just got hopeless at the moment', Sydney Morning Herald reported at the time. 'I have had in the past there interventions in my back and now the thing has got chronic, so I am in for some major surgery. 'I wanted to leave it until the end of the year but unfortunately I can't because of the pain. Pain has never killed anyone by the way, but this has got out of control.' The 2GB broadcaster is back in hospital after returning to Sydney on Sunday, and now requires an operation on his right arm, according to 7 News (Jones is pictured in October 2015) Jones had shut down cancer rumours after he recently lost 10 kilograms. He was warned by doctors he was at risk of diabetes and had become insulin resistant. At the time, he said he hoped to be back on air 'within weeks, not months'. On Friday, Jones called his own show while on leave and said Gladys Berejiklian lacked the ability to be the next NSW Premier. Mike Baird announced his retirement on Thursday, with Treasurer Berejiklian being the likely choice for his replacement. Israel's prime minister accepted an invitation to visit the White House next month in hopes of forging a 'common vision' for the region with President Donald Trump that could include expanded settlement construction on occupied territories, and a tougher policy toward Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his plans to head to Washington in early February hours after delaying a vote on an explosive proposal to annex one of the West Bank's largest settlements, apparently to coordinate his policy toward the Palestinians with the new American administration. The move put on hold legislation that threatens to unleash fresh violence and damage already faded hopes for Palestinian independence. It also may have marked Trump's first presidential foray into Middle East diplomacy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his plans to head to Washington in early February Israel's prime minister accepted an invitation to visit the White House next month in hopes of forging a 'common vision' for the region with President Donald Trump After eight years of frosty relations with President Barack Obama, Netanyahu has welcomed Trump's election as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two allies. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was gearing up plans to expand settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem a policy that had been condemned by Obama. Late Sunday, the two men held what Netanyahu's office described as a 'very warm conversation' by phone. It said they discussed the international nuclear deal with Iran, which both men have harshly criticized, and the Palestinian issue. 'The prime minister expressed his desire to work closely with President Trump to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region, with no daylight between the United States and Israel,' the statement said. It said a date for Netanyahu's visit would be finalized in the coming days. Netanyahu has welcomed Trump's election as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two allies The White House said Trump told Netanyahu that peace with the Palestinians 'can only be negotiated directly between the two parties' and that the U.S. will work closely with Israel on that goal. Trump also affirmed his 'unprecedented commitment to Israel's security' and his administration's focus on countering terrorism, the White House added. With Trump signaling a more tolerant approach toward the much-maligned settlement movement, Israel's nationalist right now believes it has an ally in the White House, and Israeli hard-line leaders make no secret they will push for aggressive action in the occupied West Bank. Trump told Netanyahu that peace with the Palestinians 'can only be negotiated directly between the two parties' and that the U.S. will work closely with Israel on that goal Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, has been pushing Netanyahu to abandon the internationally backed idea of a Palestinian state and to annex the Maaleh Adumim settlement near Jerusalem. But after convening his Security Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said his Cabinet ministers, including Bennett, had decided 'unanimously' to delay action on the annexation plan until he goes to Washington to meet with Trump. In order to placate Bennett, Israeli media reports said Netanyahu had promised the ministers to clear the way for expanded settlement construction in east Jerusalem and in major West Bank settlement 'blocs' that Israel hopes to keep under a future peace deal. He was quoted as saying his 'vision' is to place all settlements under Israeli sovereignty. In Washington, Trump described their phone call as 'very nice.' Netanyahu, a longtime supporter of the settlements, has nonetheless been cautious about expanding them in the face of strong opposition from the international community. In a final showdown with Israel last month, the Obama administration allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution condemning settlements as illegal. The Israeli settlement of Maaleh Adumim looms over Arab Bedouin shacks in the West Bank. The municipality of Jerusalem has granted final approval for the construction of hundreds of new homes in east Jerusalem, while a hard-line Cabinet minister pushed the government to annex Maaleh Adumim, a major West Bank settlement But Bennett and other hard-liners believe there is no longer any reason for restraint. 'For the first time in 50 years, the prime minister can decide: either sovereignty or Palestine,' Bennett wrote on Twitter. Annexing Maaleh Adumim, a sprawling settlement of nearly 40,000 people east of Jerusalem, could cause a major clash with the Palestinians and the rest of the international community. The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war for a future state. The Palestinians and the international community consider all settlements illegal, and unilaterally making Maaleh Adumim part of Israel would deal a powerful blow to hopes for a two-state solution. To the Palestinians, it would be seen as undermining negotiations. Maaleh Adumim is also strategically located in the middle of the West Bank, potentially hindering the establishment of their state. Palestinian workers at a construction site of a new residential neighbourhood at the Jewish settlement of Ma'ale Adumim 'If they are serious about making it part of Israel and closing it down, then it is actually cutting the West Bank into two,' said Hagit Ofran of the anti-settlement group Peace Now. While Trump has not expressed an opinion on the annexation, he has signaled a softer approach toward the settlement movement than any of his predecessors. His designated ambassador to Israel has close ties to Jewish West Bank settlements, and a delegation of settler leaders attended Friday's inauguration as guests of administration officials. Workers carry material at a construction site in the West bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim, Trump also has already said he supports one of Israel's key demands moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The president ignored a question Sunday from reporters about the issue. The U.S., like other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv, saying the conflicting claims to Jerusalem must be worked out in negotiations. Trump, however, faces heavy pressure from the Palestinians and Arab countries against moving the embassy. The fate of east Jerusalem, home to the city's most sensitive religious sites, is deeply emotional, and disagreements have boiled over into violence in the past. The White House dispelled rumors that Trump had imminent plans to announce the move. It said it was only at the 'very beginning' of discussing plans to move the embassy. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sent a series of messages to Trump urging him not to move the embassy and warning that he would revoke recognition of Israel if the move takes place. General view of a construction site of a new residential neighborhood at the Jewish settlement of Ma'ale Adumim , near Jerusalem.Israeli media reports state that right-wing parties in the coalition pressed Prime Mniister Benjamin Netanyahu to contain sovereignty over Maale Adumim and annex it into Israel territory Abbas met Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Amman. Jordan, which serves as the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, has warned that moving the embassy would cross a 'red line.' Jordan is a key Israeli and Western ally in the battle against Islamic militants. 'We discussed the possibility of moving the embassy, and we say that if this thing happens, then we have measures that we agreed to implement together with Jordan,' Abbas said. 'And we hope that the American administration will not do that.' Also Sunday, Jerusalem city officials granted building permits for 566 new homes in east Jerusalem. The permits had been put on hold for the final months of the Obama administration. 'We've been through eight tough years with Obama pressuring to freeze construction,' said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. 'I hope that era is over.' Unlike other West Bank settlements, Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers its neighborhoods inseparable parts of its capital. But the annexation is not internationally recognized. This is the moment a matador was gored on the day that bullfighting returned to Colombia's capital for the first time in four years. Dramatic pictures show a huge bull trampling a man during the controversially reintroduced 'fiesta brava' in Bogota. The incident unfolded amid mass protests outside the bullright in which animal rights activists clashed with riot police and harassed spectators. Scroll down for video Pictures captued the moment a matador was gored on the day that bullfighting returned to Colombia's capital for the first time in four years Dramatic pictures show a huge bull trampling a man during the controversially reintroduced 'fiesta brava' in Bogota The incident unfolded amid mass protests outside the bullright in which animal rights activists clashed with riot police and harassed spectators Police had to fire tear gas to control the protesters, many of whom shouted 'murderers' and 'torturers' while spitting and sometimes coming to blows with spectators nervously making their way to Bogota's 1930s-era brick bullring. There were several arrests as tensions ran high in what at times seemed a reflection of deep social divisions between wealthy, well-dressed spectators who had expected a booze-filled, fun afternoon and a crowd of mostly young, angry protesters screaming obscenities at all who passed before them. 'Everyone you see going are old, conservative elites,' said David Saitru, a 17-year-old protester dressed in black to mourn what he considered the barbaric killing of the bulls. 'My generation thinks differently. We're not prepared to see an animal suffer.' Animal defense activists challenge police ahead of a bullfight, the first such events in four years, outside the Santamaria bullring in Bogota A woman aids a man injured during clashes between animal rights activists and police ahead of a bullfight in Bogota There were several arrests as tensions ran high in what at times seemed a reflection of deep social divisions between wealthy, well-dressed spectators who had expected a booze-filled, fun afternoon and a crowd of mostly young, angry protesters screaming obscenities at all who passed before them Police had to fire tear gas to control the protesters, many of whom shouted 'murderers' and 'torturers' while spitting and sometimes coming to blows with spectators nervously making their way to Bogota's 1930s-era brick bullring Bogota's previous leftist mayor outlawed bullfighting in 2012. But the constitutional court later overturned the ban, ruling that it was part of Colombia's cultural heritage and couldn't be blocked. Mayor Enrique Penalosa says that while he sides with animal rights activists who consider the bulls' slow, agonizing death in front of an audience a barbaric throwback, he has no choice but to enforce the high court's ruling. This week he said he supports legislation working its way through congress to prevent state resources from financing bull fights and leaving it up to each district to decide whether they can take place. Bogota's previous leftist mayor outlawed bullfighting in 2012. But the constitutional court later overturned the ban, ruling that it was part of Colombia's cultural heritage and couldn't be blocked Mayor Enrique Penalosa says that while he sides with animal rights activists who consider the bulls' slow, agonizing death in front of an audience a barbaric throwback, he has no choice but to enforce the high court's ruling The eight countries where bullfighting still takes place are increasingly putting restrictions on the spectacle, in some cases stipulating the bulls be spared a violent death The eight countries where bullfighting still takes place are increasingly putting restrictions on the spectacle, in some cases stipulating the bulls be spared a violent death. In Ecuador, dozens of cities, including the capital Quito, voted to prohibit bullfighting in a 2011 nationwide referendum. A few states in Mexico have also banned the blood sport. In Spain, where the tradition began, the Constitutional Court reversed in October 2016 an earlier ban on bullfighting in Catalonia passed by the regional parliament. Some promoters are working toward holding the first bullfighting in Barcelona, probably in March. Bogota's bullring received a major cleanup ahead of Sunday's reopening and organizers say that one of the biggest beneficiaries of this season's six scheduled bullfights is Bogota itself and that for every dollar in profit about a third goes to the city government. 'We had a fight for freedom and the right to work, which are pillars of our democracy,' Felipe Negret, head of Bogota's Bullfighting Corporation, told El Tiempo newspaper. Every year, approximately 250,000 bulls are killed in bullfights worldwide, according to US-based Humane Society International. Police officers scuffle with animal defense activists before a bullfight, the first of such events in four years, outside the Santamaria bullring in Bogota Animal rights activists push a barrier toward police, ahead of the festival in Colombia A young man lost an hour of his memory after a homophobic attack that left him with serious facial injuries. Christopher Johnson, 22, was attacked near a friends home in Liverpool in broad daylight as he was walking home. He was taken to hospital for treatment on his wounds, with his face left bloodied and bruised. Christopher Johnson believes he was the victim of a 'homophobic attack' after he was assaulted while walking in Liverpool Mr Johnson, pictured, said he has been left 'too afraid' to go outside anymore According to the Liverpool Echo, Mr Johnson said he cannot remember the attack and has lost time between walking home and then waking up on the ground. He told the paper: Theres no way a fall could have caused the injuries Ive got, I must have been attacked, but Ive got no memory of it. I feel it must have been a homophobic attack because I wasnt robbed of anything and I didnt have anything of value on me. Mr Johnson is understood to be too frightened to leave his own home since the incident. The 22-year-old, pictured, said he 'lost an hour' of his memory after the attack in Liverpool He added: Whats more scary is that I was there for almost an hour and nobody stopped to help me. His best friend Iwan Steffan, whose home Mr Johnson had stayed at the night before, said he was shocked to hear of the incident and believes the injuries are too severe to have happened in a fall. Merseyside Police have received a report of assault and are investigating. A man who watched in horror as an American beauty queen was dragged under water and eaten alive by a huge saltwater crocodile has revealed what really happened on that fateful day. Ship captain Bruce Fitzpatrick said part-time model Ginger Meadows was told not to get into the crocodile-infested water at Cascade Falls, south of Darwin, in 1987, but she failed to heed the warning. Mr Fitzpatrick told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Meadows had been instructed 'to not so much as dangle a foot in the water' at the beautiful Cascade Falls, south of Darwin, on March 29. But she and a friend went for a dip anyway and quickly found themselves pinned up against the wall of a waterfall as the ravenous crocodile lurked just metres away. American model Ginger Faye Meadows, 24, was eaten by a large saltwater crocodile on March 29, 1987, after deciding to swim in crocodile-infested waters Ms Meadows was warned that the waters were crocodile-infested but went for a dip anyway Ms Meadows - who decided to visit Australia after watching hit movie Crocodile Dunee - and her friend, chef Jane Burchett, splashed about in the water when Mr Fitzpatrick and other members of the crew were climbing the majestic falls. The skipper saw a crocodile approaching the women and screamed out to them, but it was too late. The saltwater predator was too fast for the girls to get back to the safety of the boat so instead they backed up to the waterfall's wall still waist-deep in water. Ms Burchett revealed her horror as the crocodile's jaws widened in front of the two women. 'It swum right up to us and had its mouth open,' she said. 'Then I took my shoe off and threw it at it and hit it on the top of its head and it closed its mouth.' The crocodile then went under the water and Ms Meadows jumped into the water in an apparent attempt to reach safety. 'Because the crocodile was in front of us maybe she thought she could swim to the shoreline and get away,' Ms Burchett said. Tragic: Ms Meadows was dragged under the water by a huge four-metre saltwater crocodile (file picture) Bruce Fitzpatrick witnessed Ms Meadows' death - and can't understand why people still go into water with crocodiles when they know it is dangerous Ms Meadows was swimming with friend Jane Burchett, pictured, when a crocodile closed in for the kill 'She let go of my arm, jumped off the ledge took two strokes and it grabbed her around the waist and pulled her right under the water. 'Then he pulled her up out of the water right in front of me I looked her right in the face she had her arms in the air and she was looking right at me. 'Then it pulled her back under the water.' The young woman's body was recovered the next day which would have been her 25th birthday. Mr Fitzpatrick was the skipper on board the Lady G the day he witnessed Ms Meadows being taken by the four-metre crocodile. He was taking the luxury boat to Darwin with a skeleton crew. Ms Meadows had hopped on board as the chef's assistant and planned to visit Papua New Guinea as well as northern Australia. 'We were aware there were crocodiles in the area,' Mr Fitzpatrick told Daily Mail Australia. 'And before we went Ginger was told to not so much as dangle a foot in the water.' News of the American beauty's death shocked the world and was one of Australia's most high-profile crocodile attacks. Ms Meadows had been working on the Lady G a luxury boat - earning her passage from Perth to Darwin She was told not to swim in the brown waters at the bottom of Cascade Falls but did and paid the ultimate price Mr Fitzpatrick was speaking after a 47-year-old man was killed by a crocodile after attempting to wade across a notorious river crossing. The local man, who was traversing Cahill's Crossing - which passes through East Alligator River in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory - died after being taken by the killer reptile. 'I don't understand why people are still entering water where crocodiles are known to live,' Mr Fitzpatrick said. 'When I saw the news I was just shocked. 'I suppose people have just become over confident near water they need to educate themselves or be aware how dangerous swimming with crocodiles is.' The man's body was found about two kilometres downriver and the 'very protective' crocodile had to be shot dead so the body could be safely retrieved, police told Daily Mail Australia. The man's injuries were 'consistent with being taken by a crocodile', police said. In October last year, a woman was filmed standing on Cahill's crossing as she warned off a crocodile with a flip flop The crossing is a notorious hunting ground for the saltwater predators The crossing passes over the East Alligator River, which is known to be infested with at least 120 saltwater crocodiles, and is littered with signs instructing people not to wade through it on foot. In 1987 a man was decapitated near the same crossing during a fishing trip. The man was fishing when a five-metre crocodile attacked him. 'Cahill's Crossing is notorious for crocodiles and to walk across it to me is just foolishness,' NT Police Duty Superintendent Bob Harrison said. 'The area's noted for crocodiles on the causeway and there are signs there saying don't go in the water. Unfortunately they did and that was the result', he told Sky News. 'You are tempting fate, knowing the size of the crocodiles in that area,' Mr Harrison told ABC Radio Darwin on Friday morning. The Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is recalling eight different craft beers after discovering a packaging flaw that could cause a piece of glass to break off into the bottle. The California-based company issued the voluntary recall after quality inspections at its Mills River, North Carolina, brewery detected a limited number of bottles made with the flaw. The recall includes the brewery's popular Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, purchased in 36 states across the Midwest, the South and East Coast of the United States. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is recalling a number of its beers after it detected a packaging flaw that could cause a piece of glass to break off into the bottle The company issued a statement that explained the packaging flaw 'may cause a small piece of glass to break off and possibly fall into the bottle, creating a risk of injury.' Aside from its Pale Ale, the includes 12-ounce bottles of its Beer Camp Golden IPA, Sidecar Orange Pale Ale, Torpedo Extra IPA, Tropical Torpedo, Nooner, Hop Hunter and Otra Vez. The affected beer has a package date that falls between December 5, 2016, and January 13, 2017 and a brewery code of 'M' which stands of Mills River printed directly on bottles and the packaging of cardboard cases. 'We have decided to take this precaution to ensure the safety of our customers,' said Mike Bennett, chief supply chain officer. Aside from its Pale Ale, the recall includes 12-ounce bottles of its Beer Camp Golden IPA, Sidecar Orange Pale Ale, Torpedo Extra IPA, Tropical Torpedo, Nooner, Hop Hunter and Otra Vez The affected beer has a package date that falls between December 5, 2016, and January 13, 2017 and a brewery code of 'M' on the bottles and cardboard cases He added Sierra Nevada had not received any consumer reports of injuries. The packaging flaw could impact about 1 in every 10,000 or .01 percent of its bottles packaged during the five-week time period. The company has stopped distributing all affected beer and is working to have it removed from retails shelves, the statement said. Consumers were urged to check the company's website for details on the recall and not to drink any of the recalled beer, which would be fully refunded. The Islamic extremist who brutally murdered Lee Rigby has found a lawyer to fight a 20,000 legal battle against the prison service after his teeth were knocked out during a scuffle with guards. Michael Adebolajo, 32, lashed out at officers who were trying to escort him to his cell at HMP Belmarsh, south east London, in July 2013. His head reportedly hit a window but he refused medical attention afterwards. The five officers involved in the incident were suspended on full pay during a six-week police investigation. They were later cleared and returned to work. Claim: Michael Adebolajo (right), who murdered Lee Rigby (left), lashed out at officers who were trying to escort him to his cell. His head reportedly hit a window but he refused medical attention after the incident Adebolajo has been trying to find legal representation ever since and reports say he has finally found someone to help him sue. The exact figure for the claim is not known but similar cases have sought up to 20,000. The news has been met with disgust and anguish by Mr Rigby's family, who said the jihadi killer had no remorse for his 'heinous' crime. Mr Rigby's mother, Lyn, told the Sun: 'This is nothing more than blood money. 'You can replace broken teeth but you can't bring back the life of my treasured boy.' Adebolajo and his accomplice Michael Adebowale, 24, murdered 25-year-old Fusilier Rigby near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south east London, in May 2013. They knocked Rigby down in a car and then hacked him to death with knives and a cleaver. Both of the attackers were found guilty of Rigbys murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Adebolajo (pictured) and his accomplice Michael Adebowale murdered Fusilier Rigby near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south east London, in May 2013 Adebolajo was given a whole life order and Adebowale was ordered to serve at least 45 years. Adebolajo has since complained about being segregated from other Muslim prisoners. He was moved from HMP Belmarsh to Frankland in County Durham after fears that he was trying to radicalise other inmates. He wrote to support group Muslim Prisoners who said: The guards at Frankland are worse than Belmarsh for treatment of Muslims. This move is deliberate. Adebolajo and Adebowale were raised as Christians but described as British Muslim converts at their trial. Adebowale had openly discussed murdering a soldier on Facebook, but that information had not been passed to the intelligence services. Transfer: Adebolajo was moved from Belmarsh (above) in South-East London to Frankland in County Durham after fears that he was trying to radicalise other inmates The killer issued a series of threats to the West after the bloody murder took place. A shocking video of him was taken on a mobile home while he ranted with a bloody machete in his hand. Explaining his decision to give Adebolajo a whole-life term, trial judge Mr Justice Sweeney said he was the leader of the murderous plot and had no real prospect of rehabilitation. Royal Navy chiefs must wish their Trident missiles were as unswervable as Theresa May. According to reports yesterday, the admirals recently saw one of their Tridents go wonky during sea trials. We cannot be sure of the details but it seems the nuclear rocket (blessedly minus its deadly warhead) went phutt like a cheap firework an askew flight, premature climax and then, mwah-mwah with a honk of trombones, into the drink it plummeted. Theresa May, pictured on the Andrew Marr Show, refused four times to say if she knew about a major malfunction in the UK's Trident nuclear missile deterrent Top-of-the-range nuclear deterrent? Pah. It seems to have been as much use as a Reliant Robin with a flat front tyre. We can but imagine the silence as the naval top brass lowered their binoculars, said Oh, and went below deck for a consoling noggin. Worse than a Christmas morning toy that refuses to work. Bad luck, Carruthers, Im sure theyll give you your money back. Have you still got the receipt? When Mrs May, appearing on yesterday mornings Marr show on BBC1, was asked about this Trident misfire this multi-spondoolick technology horlicks she was grimly uncooperative. Dodgy Trident? A test that had gone wrong? Her eyes shuttered. Her voice did its warbly thing. Computer not recognise. Request denied. Access barred. National secret. Presenter Andrew Marr wondered, first, if the Prime Minister had known about the cock-up when she urged the House of Commons last year to renew Trident. I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles, said Mrs May. Marr: Did you know it had happened? Mrs May said that she believed we should defend our country against would-be enemies. Jeremy Corbyn thinks differently, she said. Comrade Marr, who remained admirably polite, stuck to his flight path, which is possibly more than can be said for that Trident missile as it did a loop-the-loop and stood on its tail before going into a death spiral. This is a very serious incident, he said. Did you know about it when you were talking in the House of Commons? Mrs May could say neither yes nor no. If yes, we might deduce that she had misled the House and it might break official secrecy about what is no doubt meant to be an ultra-confidential matter. If she said no, it might raise the possibility that military personnel were keeping secrets from her. And so she replied: And the issue we were talking about was a very serious issue. Mrs May dodged questions on her knowledge of the failed test during the BBC1 interview Marr dropped his voice and asked, quietly so as to try to shame her into answer: Prime Minister, did you know? There was a nanoseconds pause before Mrs May replied: Tests take place all the time for our nuclear deterrents. At which point Marr said, Im not going to get an answer and moved on to another matter. If the Trident misfire story is true, you wonder who will benefit: The Russians? Or the Royal Navy arms procurement team? Is it not possible that this disclosure has been timed perfectly to allow Mrs May to look a bit disenchanted when she meets President Trump later this week? We buy Trident from the Americans and it is most unlikely it would not be on the agenda at the first bilateral talks between the new US premier and his British counterpart. Trump is a deal maker. Will he not see that we need to be given a hefty discount in order to continue with the Trident update programme? January sales time, please. We need a big price cut and a decent warranty package on the next model. Any Vauxhall sales agent would understand how the realities of the purchase have just altered. In the rest of her Marr interview, a sober (ie unexciting) Mrs May was asked again about Mr Trumps boastful attitude to women. Some two million feminists had gone on marches on Saturday to moan about Trump. Marr went through the motions slightly and Mrs May saw him off with ease on this area. Perhaps the rakish Andrew knows he will never be seen as one of lifes most convincing womens libbers. Theresa May will outline her plans to improve broadband and transport in a Green Paper tomorrow Britain will slash bureaucracy, boost broadband coverage and improve transport links in a post-Brexit industrial strategy, the Prime Minister will announce tomorrow. Theresa May also wants to introduce a fund to invest in smart energy technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics and the 5G mobile network. In a Green Paper, she will set out the ten pillars that underpin the strategy, including getting firms to identify any red tape that can be cut after Britain leaves the EU. The industrial strategy, which aims to create better paid jobs, was due to be unveiled by the Cabinet today in the North West. In a comment that will be seen as critical of David Cameron and George Osborne, Mrs May said she would make the Government play a more active role in helping business and spreading wealth around the country, rather than step back like previous administrations. Her strategy for a global Britain also includes a 170million fund to set up institutes of technology to train youngsters who do not go to university in science, technology, engineering and maths. She also wants to put Britain at the forefront of the rollout of the 5G mobile phone network, which promises to be faster and more robust than the 4G technology in use now. However, many Britons still cannot get a decent signal using 4G or even the older and slower 3G network. No 10 said the goal was to improve physical and digital connectivity across the UK. Mrs May said: The modern industrial strategy will back Britain for the long term, creating the conditions where successful businesses can emerge and grow and backing them to invest in the long-term future of our country. It will be underpinned by a new approach to Government, not just stepping back but stepping up to a new, active role that backs business and ensures more people in all corners of the country share in the benefits of its success. She told BBC Ones Andrew Marr Show today: Its about saying, What are our strengths? as we come out of the European Union. On Sunday Theresa May told BBC One's Andrew Marr that her industrial strategy is about shaping the future economy Were coming together as a country, were forging our shape, our future. What the modern industrial strategy will be about will be saying what is the shape of the economy that we want in the future. The Government will announce a cash boost of 556million to support jobs and encourage growth in the North, including an intermodal terminal at Goole in the East Riding of Yorkshire, linking rail, sea and road transport, a modern conference centre in Blackpool and an innovation fund for businesses in Manchester and Cheshire. The aerospace industry will be used as an example of how the state and private sectors can work together to create thousands of well-paid jobs. Greg Clark, the Business and Energy Secretary, said the strategy will improve living standards and drive economic growth across the country. The news comes as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on steel publishes its report tomorrow on the future of the industry. MPs will warn that it faces an existential crisis, and will demand cheap energy deals, a post-Brexit plan and stronger defences against the dumping of cheap steel by China. An organiser of the campaign to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes has been handed a place at Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar. Joshua Nott, 23, was a key publicist behind South Africa's Rhodes Must Fall movement and was central in the battle by Cape Town University students to tear down a statue of the British mining magnate. But the privately educated student, who likened the statue to 'a swastika in Jerusalem', will receive nearly 40,000 in Rhodes's name to study postgraduate law. Joshua Nott, 23, pictured, was one of the leaders of the Rhodes Must Fall campaign at Cape Town University, but has accepted 40,000 to study law in Oxford as a Rhodes scholar Nott, pictured, from Johannesburg said he would never toast Cecil John Rhodes Mr Nott, from Johannesburg, insisted he would 'never toast Cecil John Rhodes'. He said he was against the 'perverse' statue of Rhodes outside Oxford's Oriel College, but claimed he would not join the Rhodes Must Fall movement there. At Cape Town University he was an active campaigner. Photos show him with a placard calling on students to join him in protest. His mouth has gaffer tape over it and other students sport signs asking to be set free from white oppression. Mr Nott has also been photographed making black power salutes he claimed signified the anti-apartheid movement. His biography on the Rhodes Trust website, which runs the scholarship, does not include this activism and says he 'pioneered a number of workers' rights and student focused initiatives'. Mr Nott appears to have distanced himself from Rhodes Must Fall which has branded him a hypocrite around the time he applied for his scholarship. There is no mention of the protest group on a copy of his CV online. But during a social science degree at Cape Town, Mr Nott was heavily involved in a bid to remove a Rhodes statue and used radio broadcasts to state Rhodes 'has a history of brutality to his name'. The statue was taken down, amid acts of vandalism and dirty protests. When asked at the time about the agitators' tactics, Mr Nott appeared to advocate violence as it 'gets your voice heard'. Campaigners in Oxford have continued a campaign to have a statue of Rhodes at Oriel College He said: 'I think protests should not be degraded to that level But you can only get your voice heard if you engage in extreme or violent protests. 'I use the Rhodes scholarship to defeat the very ideals of what it originally stood for. When the Rhodes Must Fall campaign began it was less about the statue and more about student transformation at UCT [Cape Town University]. But it is radicalised black nationalists now.' He said Rhodes Must Fall was 'burning bridges instead of building them it has become very unintelligent'. The Oxford branch has proved unsuccessful in bids to have a Rhodes statue removed from outside Oriel College. Rhodes studied there in the 1870s, founded the De Beers diamond company in southern Africa and served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. The Rhodes Trust grants 95 Oxford scholarships a year to foreign students who 'demonstrate a strong propensity to emerge as leaders'. At his palatial Johannesburg home Mr Nott rejected suggestions he should not get a scholarship because of his family's wealth, saying: 'If an underprivileged person could effect as much change I would easily renounce it but I firmly believe in myself as someone who can effect immense macro change.' He said the Cape Town statue was 'more perverse to the public consciousness' than Oxford's, but added: 'Grossly radicalised capitalism is the legacy of apartheid and Rhodes represented that. I have no regrets in campaigning against what he stood for.' A Rhodes Trust spokesman said: 'We pick young people of enormous ability without regard to any particular political affiliation Mr Nott has been involved in a wide range of social change initiatives. He made this clear.' She was at her best in the driving seat at No 10, helping steer the country in the right direction. But Margaret Thatcher's decision to literally take the wheel to help launch a new Rover in Downing Street provoked panic behind the scenes, her newly-released personal papers reveal. To prepare her, civil servants arranged a secret test run at Chequers and a Rover, which cost 19,000 at the time, was smuggled in on a trailer, according to files published by the Churchill Archive Centre. Hands on: Margaret Thatcher takes the new 19,000 Rover 800 for a spin outside No 10 in 1986 Her aides were fearful that the drive would become something of a car crash in front of the television cameras because she hadn't driven since becoming PM seven years earlier. There were also fears that the company would send a Labour red car, rather than Tory blue, as they had for the previous launch of the Rover Maestro 500. In the end, she pulled the short demonstration off with aplomb even managing to reverse. The files reveal that the company approached Downing Street in March 1986 to ask if she would like to test drive the new Rover 800. Her trusted press secretary Bernard Ingham wrote to her private secretary Nigel Wicks: 'This would be good publicity if it is politically desirable. 'The Prime Minister helped to launch the Maestro in Downing Street. If she were to agree to launch the 800 I would make sure this time they brought a blue (not a red) car.' A note to Mrs Thatcher from Mark Addison, her private secretary for home affairs, reads: 'You are trying out the Rover 800 tomorrow at Chequers' A note to Mrs Thatcher from Mark Addison, her private secretary for home affairs, reads: 'You are trying out the Rover 800 tomorrow at Chequers to familiarise yourself with the car before the test drive in front of the cameras in Downing Street next Tuesday.' A further note from July suggests: 'The most straightforward way of arranging this would probably be for you to drive the car from the front door towards the bottom of Downing Street, reversing into the side road, and then driving back up the street to the front door. If you would like to handle the test drive in this way, you would need to feel fully confident about manoeuvring the car into the side road and back out again. 'The alternative would be to walk down to the car at the bottom of Downing Street and drive it back to the front door.' Never someone to back down from a challenge, Mrs Thatcher replied: 'First plan.' It seems Mrs Thatcher, although determined to promote all things British, was also nervous about the drive. Mr Addison wrote in a memo: 'I shall... mention the points the Prime Minister made about arranging for a trial at Chequers and about the colour.' A letter from Mrs Thatcher in which she expressed her gratitute after trying out the Rover He added: '[Rover representative Jean Denton] is fully aware of the importance of getting the right colour this time.' The files reveal that the plans included bringing the car to Chequers covered and on a trailer behind a Range Rover. Mrs Thatcher's official historian Chris Collins said: 'There was this dark fear that she would crash into something, that it would all go horribly wrong.' Journalist Paul Potts wrote at the time: 'When Mrs Thatcher test drove the new Rover in Downing Street, she was impressed by the car's design, smooth handling and comfort but not by the price.' The Margaret Thatcher Foundation is releasing her personal papers from 1986 to the Churchill Archive Centre at Churchill College, Cambridge. Westland ultimatum she wrote - but never sent - to Heseltine Margaret Thatcher drafted an ultimatum to defence secretary Michael Heseltine over the Westland affair but never sent it, her personal files show. The row over the future of Westland, Britain's last helicopter manufacturer was one of the most damaging of Mrs Thatcher's premiership. It revolved around whether Westland should be bailed out by a European consortium or the American company Sikorsky. Margaret Thatcher drafted an ultimatum to defence secretary Michael Heseltine (pictured iun 1988) over the Westland affair but never sent it, her personal files show While Mr Heseltine wanted it to be bought be a European company, trade and industry secretary Leon Brittan and Mrs Thatcher preferred the company's own choice Sikorsky. Now the contents of a severe note written by Mrs Thatcher to her defence minister have been made public. The message reads: 'You were on the front bench in the House yesterday when I made clear the Government's position concerning the future of Westlands [sic] namely that it is a matter for the company to decide. 'The company's decision is a matter of commercial judgment for its directors and ultimately its shareholders. TEBBIT'S BATTLE WITH 'HOSTILE' BBC Tory Party chairman Norman Tebbit A war with the BBC in the wake of the Libya raid of 1986 threatened to become a repeat of the damaging Westland affair, newly-released files reveal. Tory Party chairman Norman Tebbit went into battle with the BBC over its coverage of Margaret Thatcher's decision to support the US-led attack, the files show. In a strongly-worded complaint, he said the Corporation's 'confrontational' style 'led to mixing news with views, speculation, error, and hostile propaganda'. The BBC maintained its coverage was 'neutral and unbiased'. But Mr Tebbit claimed its response was 'cheap and glib'. Mrs Thatcher was faced with a dilemma: back Mr Tebbit, or let the BBC win. Her private secretary Nigel Wicks wrote to her: 'At the risk of being alarmist, I see a danger of some elements of this episode repeating the Westland troubles. A colleague with an obsession, doing things difficult to reconcile with collective responsibility. And all this at a time when things are going well for the Government.' He concluded by advising Mrs Thatcher to tell Mr Tebbit to drop the battle. She responded: 'I will try.' Advertisement 'In this situation no minister should use his position to promote one commercial option in preference to another so long as he remains in Government.' Crucially, the note of December 18, 1985, says: 'Drafted, but not sent.' The files, released by the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, show her aides particularly her press secretary Bernard Ingham warning her about the threat to her premiership. Mrs Thatcher's official historian Chris Collins said it was Ingham who had blocked the ultimatum letter. He said: 'More than anyone else he stands outhe says: 'Look, I wouldn't do this. This ultimatum is a bad idea.' Brittan is annoyed about that and Brittan actually says as much to the press and Ingham then feeds it back to her 'Ingham is warning that she has to be careful here. Not that she probably needed to be told.' The Westland affair dragged Mrs Thatcher into a very public spat and ended with Mr Heseltine and Mr Brittan resigning. Gambia's exiled former leader plundered millions of dollars during his final weeks in power leaving state coffers 'empty', the country's new president has claimed. Yahya Jammeh flew out of The Gambia on Saturday, ending 22 years at the helm of the small west African nation, and headed for Equatorial Guinea where he is expected to settle with his family. The new President, former Argos security guard Adama Barrow, now says Jammeh had stolen 500 million dalasi - about 9million - leaving the country in 'financial distress'. A West African military force entered The Gambia on Sunday - greeted by cheers from relieved residents - to provide security and allow Barrow, who has been in neighbouring Senegal for more than a week, to return and take power. Gambia's exiled former leader, Yahya Jammeh (left), plundered millions of dollars during his final weeks in power leaving state coffers 'empty', the country's new president, Adama Barrow (right), has claimed But amid growing controversy over the assurances offered to Jammeh to guarantee his departure, Barrow aide Mai Fatty said the new administration had discovered that millions had recently been stolen. 'The coffers are largely empty,' he told reporters in the Sengalese capital Dakar. 'Over two weeks, over 500 million dalasi were withdrawn' by Jammeh, he said. 'As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress.' Following Barrow's win in the December 1 election, Jammeh refused to step down, triggering weeks of uncertainty that almost ended in a full military intervention. Jammeh slunk off in the early hours of Sunday on an unmarked plane. Barrow is eager to return 'as soon as possible', Mai Fatty said, warning however, that 'the state of security in The Gambia is still fragile.' On Sunday, 'additional forces crossed into The Gambia to beef up the numbers already on the ground,' Barrow said, according to a statement read out by Mai Fatty. Former president Yaya Jammeh, who led Gambia for 22 years, looks through the plane window as he leaves the country The new administration wants the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forces to stay on. 'We want their mandate to be extended,' Mai Fatty said, adding that Barrow was waiting for assurances of loyalty from the security forces, including the police and the army. Jammeh personally controlled certain sections of the security forces, and his long tenure was marked by systematic rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. The Senegalese general leading a joint force of troops from five African nations said soldiers would 'control strategic points to ensure the safety of the population and facilitate... Barrow's assumption of his role'. Marcel Alain de Souza, a top ECOWAS official, said the country 'could not be left open' for long, and that Barrow must be in place 'as soon as possible'. A senior Senegalese military source told AFP that his forces had met little resistance on Sunday, as army chief Ousman Badjie has already declared his loyalty to Barrow. Yahya Jammeh flew out of The Gambia on Saturday, ending 22 years at the helm of the small west African nation, and headed for Equatorial Guinea where he is expected to settle with his family Senegalese soldiers, membrers of ECOWAS forces (Economic Community of West African States), arrive in Banjul to secure the arrival of new President Adama Barrow Critics have raised concerns over the wording of a statement issued by the UN, ECOWAS and the African Union that seemed to offer Jammeh comfortable guarantees for his future. 'No legislative measures' would be taken that would infringe the 'dignity, security, safety and rights' of Jammeh or his family, it said, noting that property 'lawfully' belonging to him would not be seized. However, experts told AFP the document was not legally binding. Equatorial Guinea is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court, meaning Jammeh would not be extradited in the event he was charged with crimes against humanity or other serious offences. Gambian residents return to Banjul by ferry on January 22, 2017 after fleeing political instability Senegalese ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) soldiers arrive in Banjul His expected arrival in the country was met with ire as the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS) blasted President Teodoro Obiang Nguema for showing 'contempt' towards Equatorial Guinea and 'thinking only of his personal gain' by granting Jammeh 'political exile'. Obiang is a similar strongman to Jammeh and has been in power since ousting his uncle in 1979. Jammeh took power in a 1994 coup from the country's only other president since independence from Britain, Dawda Jawara, making this The Gambia's first democratic transition of power. The new administration's first priority will be to ensure the safe return of tens of thousands of people who have fled in recent weeks fearing a bloody end to the crisis. The decision to withhold news last summer that a Trident missile test experienced some kind of problem is spectacularly stupid, writes Admiral Lord West When a missile test goes wrong, the North Koreans deny it. So did the old Soviet Union. But for Britain to stoop to cover-ups, to tell lies and pretend that everything is fine is beyond the pale. The decision to withhold news last summer that a Trident missile test experienced some kind of problem ironically, almost certainly minor is both bizarre and spectacularly stupid. Now it looks, at least to the general population, as though the Navy had something to conceal. Thats why the Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, must urgently step onto the floor of the House of Commons and reassure the country that there is no major problem, no big cover-up. When people suspect facts are being withheld about atomic arms, thats when fear of a nuclear catastrophe can take hold. The truth is that, as a former First Sea Lord who was directly responsible to the Prime Minister for the fighting effectiveness and delivery of the UKs nuclear capability, I am totally confident that Trident missiles work. I can only surmise that the decision to cover this up was taken by a smart-alec advisor who thought that, with all the furore over Brexit, nobody would notice if nothing was said. We should have admitted to the error immediately. Thats what defines us as a nation our honesty, our trustworthiness. It is ludicrous to lie and pretend that every test runs smoothly every time. My guess is that the PM said nothing about the test failure, prior to the vote in Parliament on whether to recommission the Trident defence system, because to highlight the malfunction then would have made it look like a major flaw existed. Thats what happens when you try to hide petty problems they can emerge at the worst possible moment. I have utter confidence in our Trident defences. They are the perfect second-strike weapon, writes Admiral Lord West In the most recent test, I understand the missiles navigation system suffered a glitch, causing it to veer off course. But I havent been told that officially, because whatever did happen will be classified information. Thats no reason, however, for the general truth of the matter to be hushed up. All we want to know is that the problem was not a major one, not something that compromises our defences. Im confident that it will be something very minor. If this was an MOT failure on your car, its the equivalent of a blown bulb, not an engine breakdown. Trident was the system in place when I was First Sea Lord, and based on my experience I am certain this assessment is correct. And if one did malfunction like this during a combat situation, the effect on our overall firepower would be negligible. Because of the number of missiles in our arsenal, and the effectiveness of our targeting plans, one warhead would not have a significant impact on our firepower. Britains Trident system is tested once every four years, after a submarine refit. The crew go to the US for the test where they are subject to examination by both the Americans and Brits, to make sure they know exactly how to use the system. The Americans do their own tests and, because our two systems are completely interchangeable, we know that one of these 17million missiles is fired at least once a year. Thats more than sufficient. Even if a missile careered off course and headed for completely the wrong target towards Europe or the American mainland, for example that would not be a serious problem. Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured on the Andrew Marr Show, refused four times to say if she knew about a major malfunction in the UK's Trident nuclear missile deterrent Trident missiles cannot be recalled, once launched. But the fact they are armed with nuclear warheads does not necessarily mean there will be a nuclear explosion when they land. The exact mechanism to trigger it is classified, naturally, but there will be no nuclear detonation without the correct deployment of the missiles and a specific sequence of instructions, controlled from the sub. Of course, if a missile hits the ocean at 1,000mph, there will be quite a bang but it will not be a nuclear bang, not unless the crucial signals are sent. In addition, although the warhead cannot be destroyed by remote instruction, it is possible to order a missile to ditch, using the range controllers. It is impossible for a Trident missile to hit the wrong target and cause a nuclear disaster. I have utter confidence in our Trident defences. They are the perfect second-strike weapon they guarantee that, if Britain is hit by nuclear blitz, our enemies will be destroyed, wherever they are in the world. It is the ultimate deterrent, both to attack and to nuclear blackmail. This country can defend herself. Nothing could be more crucial. n Admiral Lord West was First Sea Lord 2002-2006 An EpiPen rival is set to return to the market free of charge for millions of consumers - but will set insurance companies a whopping $4,500 for a two-pack. The Auvi-Q, sold by Virginia-based manufacturer Kaleo, will be available again in February. It was recalled in 2015 due to what the FDA called a 'potentially inaccurate dosage delivery'. Kaleo will offer the Auvi-Q for free to patients with commercial insurance, who represent about 200 million people. Uninsured patients who belong to households earning less than $100,000 will also be able to get the auto-injector for free. The offer comes after pharmaceutical company Mylan came under fire for hiking the price of the EpiPen to more than $600 since 2007 - an increase of more than 400 per cent in less than a decade. The Auvi-Q, an epinephrine auto-injector, will return to the market in February and will be available for free to patients with commercial insurance Other patients who do not have government or private insurance will be able to buy the Auvi-Q at a cash price of $360 for a two-pack. Kaleo's epinephrine auto-injector comes with a list price of a whopping $4,500 for two auto-injectors - but Kaleo executives have said that no one will actually pay that sum. Insurance companies, who could have been expected to foot the bill, will get rebates and discounts, Kaleo CEO Spencer Williamson told CNBC. 'The reason the list price is high is it's the only way we can make sure patients have access and can get it for $0,' he said. Identical twin brothers Eric and Evan Edwards (pictured) invented the Auvi-Q, which will also be available for free to uninsured patients from households earning less than $100,000 Patients, meanwhile, will be able to get it for free if they are commercially insured or come from a household with an income of less than $100,000 and do not have commercial or government insurance, or $360 if they have no insurance but do not meet the $100,000 threshold. Those with government insurance will have to liaise with their own insurers to figure out how much they'll have to pay for the Auvi-Q. Some Medicare and Medicaid plans will cover the auto-injector but coverage offered by government plans may very widely, according to an FAQ posted on the device's website. The Auvi-Q, which will go for sale on February 14, was invented by identical twin brothers Eric and Evan Edwards, who grew up with life-threatening allergies and have food-allergic children. Mylan, the manufacturer of the EpiPen, drew outrage from parents, politicians and consumer groups when it increased the price of the life-saving device. It has since offered coupons and a generic version, which comes at $300 for a two-pack. Adam Paget's throat was slashed open from his collarbone to his lip by a slaughterhouse meat saw - but somehow he survived thanks to work mates who 'held him together'. The 33-year-old from Casino, New South Wales received 57 internal stitches and 40 external stitches after the nine-inch blade missed his carotid artery by mere millimetres. Mr Paget was injured in mid-December 2016 when the saw he was using at the slaughterhouse where he works malfunctioned and 'kicked back', slicing him open, the Coffs Coast Advocate reported. Adam Paget's throat was slashed open from his collarbone to his lip by a slaughterhouse meat saw The 33-year-old man received 57 internal stitches and 40 external stitches after the nine-inch blade narrowly missed his carotid artery Now, the father-of-three is recovering - but is bedridden and in a pain killer 'haze', his fiancee, Gemma Brett said. '[It] could have gone very different if it wasn't for his work mates who held him together, literally, and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service,' she told the Coffs Coast Advocate. Among his injuries, Mr Paget also cut one of the nerves in his voice box and has no feeling on the left side of his face on his chin and lip. His jaw was shattered and he required a plate and screws to hold it together. Mr Paget, 33, pictured with his fiancee, Gemma Brett, 28 (left) Ms Brett is surprised he's able to speak - albeit croakily. 'It's terrible, I'm just glad he's here ... but it's going to be a long road.' She was thankful for his work mates and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew that came to his aid. When Mr Paget ran to his colleagues as he bled out and they carried out first aid and called an ambulance. The Westpac helicopter was on standby and arrived, stabilised him and rushed him to the Gold Coast University Hospital. 'If it wasn't for them, he wouldn't be here, it's an amazing the job they do, that you don't realise until you have to deal with them.' Now, she's fundraising to support the rescue helicopter service to continue saving lives. Prince Charles, pictured, has suggested climate change is the biggest threat to the globe Prince Charles cares about climate change more than anything else. According to his spokesman, he regards it as 'the number one threat to the planet and it is the thing he cares most passionately about'. That's quite a claim. Does he care more passionately about this issue than the future of Britain or poverty in the Third World or the possibility of a third world war? Apparently so. For years the Prince has been increasingly outspoken in predicting Armageddon. Back in March 2009 he stated that we had 'only 100 months to act' before damage caused by climate change became irreversible. Those 100 months are about to expire but he evidently believes it's still not too late to do something. This week sees the publication of a Ladybird book aimed at adults written by the Prince with the assistance of the former Green Party parliamentary candidate Tony Juniper and polar scientist Emily Shuckburgh. According to the publishers, the idea for the book came from the heir to the throne. Reasonable people may ask why he shouldn't express his views on a subject so important to him. If it were done moderately, humbly and sensibly there could be no objection. Unfortunately, the Prince has become a zealot where wise men tread cautiously. Here is a man who declared in 2012 that mankind was 'committing suicide on a grand scale' if urgent action were not taken on green issues. In 2015 he suggested that one of the 'main reasons' for the war in Syria was a drought attributable to climate change. I can think of about ten more plausible contributory factors. His latest extreme idea, expressed in an article in yesterday's Mail on Sunday, is that television weather forecasts should make clear that global warming is partly to blame for floods and heatwaves. This might go down well with the BBC, which has virtually banned climate-change sceptics from its airwaves, but I suspect that many people would regard such an innovation as naked propaganda. Prince Charles, pictured, suggested climate change could be responsible for the Syrian war There is, in fact, room for doubt as to whether most of the floods and other recent natural disasters have been caused by climate change. Yet the assumption that all of them have been is held by many enlightened people. On Christmas Day I heard the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Steven Croft, in an otherwise excellent sermon ascribe the exceptionally mild weather to climate change. The idiocy of that view may be tested by the cold spells we have endured over the past few weeks. Christmas happened to be mild. Prince Charles has no doubt considered the matter more carefully than the bishop. Nonetheless, there are some scientists who, though not necessarily climate-change sceptics, argue that the increasing number of natural disasters may not be the result of man-made climate change. Why, I ask myself, is Prince Charles behaving like a far-out climate-change activist, of whom there are surely enough? In the introduction to his new Ladybird book, he argues tendentiously that action on climate change 'must be urgently scaled up'. He means we need even more measures than currently exist. In Britain this would affect the poor and the old disproportionately. Prince Charles almost certainly does not study his electricity bill. If he did, he would know that green levies already account for about 10 per cent of energy bills. If action is indeed 'scaled up', this figure will rise. The consequences would be felt even more keenly in the Third World, where millions are already suffering from malnutrition because of the diversion of crops into biofuels. The growing discouragement of the cheapest source of electricity, namely fossil fuels, is another burden borne disproportionately by the poor in underdeveloped counties. Some of President Trump's views on climate change appear nuttier than Prince Charles's In short, the Prince's demand for further action is politically controversial and potentially divisive. Highly privileged as he is, he apparently spares little thought for the less exalted victims of the changes he advocates. How are the Third World poor to become richer if they are weighed down by such punitive costs? Moreover, by entering the political arena so unabashedly he risks crossing swords with President Donald Trump, against whose views on immigration he unleashed a barely concealed attack only a month ago. It is perfectly true that some of Trump's stated views on climate change seem even nuttier than Prince Charles's. In one of his daftest tweets, he suggested last November that 'the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive'. The difference is that whereas the new President surely can't believe such rubbish, Prince Charles undoubtedly has complete faith in all his prophecies of impending doom as a consequence of climate change, as well as in his stringent would-be remedies. Trump, of course, has appointed several climate-change sceptics to his Cabinet, including his energy secretary, Rick Perry, who averred in 2011 that global warming was an unproven scientific theory. The Prince has every right to try to change the President's mind in private when he meets him, as he seems likely to do within the next few months. But he shouldn't be making public statements that could be seen as inflammatory. I realise he has strong views on all sort of subjects, and it would probably be asking too much of such an intelligent and opinionated man to take a total vow of silence. But as he gets closer to succession, he increasingly risks the vaunted neutrality of the monarchy by wading so unapologetically into such controversial waters. And it is not just members of the new American administration who may be perplexed. Millions of his future subjects may be aghast that the future king should proselytize so apocalyptically on a subject as complex as climate change. The Queen's genius has been to keep us guessing as to most of her views. None of us knows what she thinks about the seriousness of climate change. If only there were someone on this earth who could induce our overzealous Prince to sometimes keep his mouth shut. A cyber attack on some of the UKs largest banks left customers of Lloyds Banking Group unable to access their accounts. The online assault brought down digital services at Lloyds for more than two days a fortnight ago. The Financial Times reports the attack was carried out by an international criminal gang. It is understood that a number of high street lenders were targeted but only Lloyds customers had trouble accessing their accounts. A cyber attack on some of the UKs largest banks left customers of Lloyds Banking Group unable to access their accounts A denial of service attack, where a website is swamped with traffic in an attempt to disable it, also affected Lloyds brands Halifax and Bank of Scotland, meaning many customers could not check their balances or transfer payments online. TSB, which split from Lloyds in 2013 but shares its technology platform, was also hit. No customers lost any money and Lloyds has declined to speculate about the cause of the loss of service. The National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency are currently investigating a hack into Tesco Bank, where 9,000 customers were fleeced out of 2.5m. Other banks, including HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland, also suffered service outages over the past two years after their systems were breached by attacks. Banks are frequently targeted by cyber attacks, and manage to deflect many of them. Banks are frequently targeted by cyber attacks, and manage to deflect many of them (file photo) But successful attacks reveal flaws in banks systems, which are often based on out-of-date technology. Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury committee, called on regulators last year to help bolster the security of Britains banks after a high number of system failures. A spokesperson from Lloyds Banking Group told the Daily Mail: We had intermittent service issues with internet banking between Wednesday AM and Friday PM week before last and are sorry for any inconvenience caused. We had a normal service in place for the vast majority of the period and only a small number of customers had problems accessing their accounts. In most cases if customers attempted another log in they were able to get on OK. We will not speculate on the cause of these intermittent issues. Jeremy Clarkson was expelled from Repton for 'drinking, smoking and generally making a nuisance of himself', and now the loudmouth motoring presenter has driven into a row with his daughter's leading boarding school. Clarkson is furious with the 34,000-a-year school after teachers allegedly told the sixth former to study a different syllabus to the one she will be examined on. 'Since last summer, my youngest daughter who reads heavyweight novels and even Shakespeare for fun has been studying hard for her English A-level,' Clarkson says. 'And now I get a letter from the school saying: 'Oops, sorry. We've been teaching her about a poem by William Yeats but it turns out that's not on the syllabus and we should have been doing Chaucer.' Jeremy Clarkson has driven into a row with his daughter's leading boarding school 'They assure me that if she gives up her Easter holidays and all social activity until June, they can cram her with enough knowledge to get her through the exam. Well, that's not good enough.' Clarkson adds: 'I won't name the school but I will say that it can send me a bill for the last term if it likes. But I shall use it to wipe my a***.' The school's headmaster declines to comment. No doubt, he's grateful Clarkson didn't express his anger physically. The 56-year-old presenter, who has three children with his estranged second wife Frances, was sacked by the BBC in 2015 after a fracas with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon. Clarkson punched Tymon after he failed to provide him with a hot dinner at the hotel where they were staying on location. Clarkson was promptly snapped up by subscription channel Amazon Prime to make a new motoring series, The Grand Tour, for which he is reportedly paid a staggering 9.6 million per year. That should pay for plenty of extra tuition for his daughter. Donald Trump has appointed colourful billionaire Robert 'Woody' Johnson as America's ambassador to Britain, but he may be eclipsed by his predecessor, Matthew Barzun. For I hear Barzun is to appear in the next series of MasterChef, to be broadcast in spring. It could be amusing, as Barzun is very particular, moaning in 2014: 'I must have had lamb and potatoes 180 times since I have been here.' It was the weekend of the billionaire birthdays. Ghastly gold trader James Stunt, whose wife Petra is an heiress to father Bernie's 2.48 billion F1 fortune, celebrated his 35th birthday at Tramp nightclub in St James's. Despite the vintage champagne on offer, Stunt arrived carrying his customary plastic bottles of home-made squash. Mark Vandelli and Lisa Tchenguiz at her birthday party in Mayfair Pop's Pixie Lott, meanwhile, marked her 26th with a 'Roaring Twenties' bash in Kensington Among the guests was heiress Chloe Green, whose father Sir 'Shifty' Philip is under pressure to dip into his 3.22 billion wealth to plug the hole in the BHS pension fund. Chloe took a leaf out of Theresa May's book by wearing leather trousers. Across town, Lisa Tchenguiz, who got a 15 million payout in her 2013 divorce from Del Monte tycoon Vivian Imerman, celebrated hitting 52 at Harry's Bar in Mayfair, where guests including former Made In Chelsea star Mark-Francis Vandelli (pictured with her, above) danced on tables. Former model Christina Estrada, awarded 75 million last year on divorcing Saudi billionaire Walid Juffali, also joined the party. Pop's Pixie Lott, meanwhile, marked her 26th with a 'Roaring Twenties' bash in Kensington. What she lacks in cash, she made up for in glamour. Bee Patel, 34, says she was unfairly picked on by the chefs at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in London When mother-of-three Bee Patel spent her life savings to attend the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu cookery school, she believed it would aid her dream of becoming a Michelin-starred chef. The 34-year-old and her husband forked out 40,000 in fees for the course at the London establishment, which is described as your passport to the culinary world. But the pair are now set to sue the world famous organisation claiming that far from helping her, the schools constant criticisms and bullying have ruined her confidence in the kitchen. Mrs Patel says that she was unfairly picked on by the chefs, who delivered scathing criticism of dishes such as her lemon tart, burnt their own food during teaching demonstrations and made unprofessional remarks about other chefs. And she claims she was bullied by her fellow students, who stole her ingredients and sabotaged her dishes. The final straw came when she failed her patisserie exam, in which judges described her tarts pastry as raw in the middle and unevenly cooked and demanded she spend a further 6,000 to re-take that part of the course. With her confidence in tatters after just ten weeks of the 15-month course, Mrs Patel who was having to wake up at 4am everyday to commute in from Leicester decided she couldnt face carrying on. But Le Cordon Bleu turned down her request for a refund prompting a furious Mrs Patel and husband Neil, 37, to threaten legal action after claiming the contract they signed with the school was unfair. Mrs Patel, who studied law in her twenties, said: Although I trained as a lawyer my dream has always been to be a chef in a Michelin star restaurant. I thought Le Cordon Bleu would help me achieve that and Id get world-class teaching. Instead I found there are chefs at Le Cordon Bleu who, as well as burning their own food during demonstrations, prefer to criticise and insult rather than encourage their students. After all the money I paid I should not have failed the patisserie exam. I most certainly should not be paying more money. Le Cordon Bleu was founded in Paris in 1895 and has since opened up cookery schools worldwide. Its Grand Diplome is described as your passport to the culinary world. Prices for the basic nine-month course start at 33,995. Mrs Patel, pictured getting experience at a restaurant prior to starting the course, is now threatening legal action after she was refused a refund However, in 2008 police were called after a 28-year-old man threatened to kill himself after failing one of the exams. Mrs Patels issues began in October last year, within a fortnight of starting the Grand Diplome part of the schools culinary management course. One of the students pinched half my pancake mixture ... and another time when I was making a poached egg dish which had a grilled topping, a student sabotaged it because he kept opening the oven, said Mrs Patel. It was ruined and all of this affected my patisserie grades. I complained and asked to move groups but nothing was done. Instead the bullying was allowed to continue with one Chinese student swearing in Chinese at me. Mrs Patel also claims that the schools teachers did little to encourage her, adding that even the most perfect dish was picked on. She also found their remarks about well-known chefs really unprofessional, such as one teacher who told the class: Jamie Oliver has earned millions for just making pasta. A few weeks later while practising a fish recipe at home, she accidentally cut herself. The injury meant I couldnt attend the patisserie exam with the rest of the group, she said. But I was shocked when I was charged 500 to reschedule it and then horrified to be invigilated by a teacher I did not get on with. After being told shed failed the exam, which involved making a lemon tart, she launched an unsuccessful appeal. She said: I was very upset when the appeal letter stated my presentation and piping was poor and my tarte au citron pastry was raw in the middle and unevenly cooked. Worse, I then had to fork out an extra 6,000 to retake the patisserie part of the Grand Diplome course. My husband and I saved for years so I could attend this course but it just seems all about money and I cant face returning. Mr Patel said: My wife is a fabulous cook but having attended this course her confidence is in tatters and not to give us our money back is grossly unfair. A spokesman for Le Cordon Bleu said: Le Cordon Bleu is an accredited school which is highly recommended throughout the world. As this person is still a student with us we are unable to comment. Video shows a foamy ocean in San Diego violently churning as rescue crews look for a woman who was swept up in the waves caused by violent weather. Earlier, another women was dragged into the ocean but was heroically rescued by a passerby. She is in hospital and expected to make a recovery according to Fox 5 San Diego. The two women were pulled into the chilly 58 degree ocean that rose up to 15 feet high and was topped with two feet of sea foam. One woman was killed by the waves at Ocean Beach on Saturday after four lifeguards searched for her from 40 minutes. She was found unconscious and died at UCSD Medical Center. The good Samaritan who rescued the other woman, called by his last name Struble, was taking photos of the scenic view when he saw the women who were sitting on a cliff get sucked into the sea. He told NBC 7 San Diego: 'I tried to go back for the second one, but I couldnt get there in time because the waves just got too big and she got too far out.' Struble (right) rescued one of the women who fell into the ocean and went back to try to get the other. Rescuers (left) ended up finding the woman who later died in the foamy ocean Lieutenant Rick Romero said finding the woman who would later die was a challenge. He said: 'We did see her, but in the amount of the time, the surge was coming in and out shed appear and then disappear in the foam.' Dangerous tide conditions have plagued the west coast with recent heavy rains. Raging storms have created hazardous conditions in the Pacific Ocean and flooding in rivers. There have been flash-flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service throughout Southern California Sunday with rain falling at three-quarters of an inch per hour in some areas. Tides rose with the heavy storms that have been sweeping across California in January Two women and a father and son were pulled into the Pacific Ocean after heavy storms raised waters (pictured, Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles county) The rescue mission of the two women came one week after a father and son were swept out to sea in Oregon. The U.S. Coast Guard searched Sunday and Monday with two helicopters and a 47-foot motorized life boat while state police and other rescuers used ATVs. They found only Thomas' jacket and a child carrier he had been wearing. The Coast Guard, state police and local sheriff's office will continue to search for the bodies. Waves crash against a historic WW1-era ship called S.S. Palo Alto at Rio Del Mar in Aptos Regulators have launched a probe into Yahoo over cyber attacks which endangered the data of the company's users but were apparently kept secret for several years. The US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether two data breaches at Yahoo should have been reported to investors sooner. In documents filed in November 2016, the technology company stated it was 'co-operating with federal, state and foreign' agencies, including the SEC, that were seeking information and documents about a 'security incident and related matters.' The US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether two data breaches at Yahoo should have been reported sooner to investors. Above is Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer Other agencies looking into the data breach include the Federal Trade Commission, the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan and 'a number of State Attorneys General', Yahoo said in the filing. The company revealed in December that it uncovered a cyber attack in August 2013 and data for more than one billion user accounts was compromised. This followed an admission from the company in September that personal information for 500million users was stolen in 2014. Other agencies looking into the data breach include the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan and a number of State Attorneys General It has faced pointed questions about the hacks, but has yet to disclose why it took two years to reveal the 2014 security breach. The SEC issued requests for documents in December and is thought to be investigating whether the cyber attacks complied with civil security laws, according to the Wall Street Journal. Security industry rules require companies to disclose cyber breaches to investors. However, an investigation revealed last year that despite the SEC's guidance on when publicly traded companies should report hacking incidents, companies that have experienced known breaches often omit those details in regulatory filings. The company has faced two hacks over the years, one in 2013 and one 2014, and they were only made public last year Democratic Senator Mark Warner asked the SEC in September to investigate whether Yahoo and its senior executives fulfilled obligations to inform investors and the public about the 2014 hacking attack. The disclosures from Yahoo about both breaches came after the company agreed to sell its main business to Verizon in July, triggering questions about whether the deal would still be viable and, if so, at what price. The communications giant is expected to purchase Yahoo's digital advertising, email and media asset, called Yahoo Core, for $4.83 billion. Should the transaction go through as planned, Yahoo will then rename an entity of the business, called 'RemainCo', as 'Altaba'. Altaba is expected to act as a holding company for its 15 per cent stake in Alibaba, a 35 per cent stake in Yahoo Japan, and a small portfolio of patents called Excalibur. Yahoo chief executive, Marissa Mayer, will also step down from the board following the takeover, but will continue to act as chief executive. Five other Yahoo directors will also resign after the deal closes. Texas police are investigating a murder-suicide that has left three dead and two wounded. The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office said they received a call early Sunday from an unidentified man allegedly admitting to shooting his wife. When they arrived at the Manvel home just after 1:30am they found two men and a woman fatally shot. The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office said they received a call early Sunday from a man allegedly admitting to shooting his wife. When they arrived at the home just after 1:30am they found two men and a woman fatally shot The people killed were a 28-year-old man, a 30-year-old man, and a 50-year-old woman. Additionally, a 36-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the head and a 43-year-old woman was shot in the abdominal area. The 36-year-old was transported to Herman Memorial Hospital by Lif Flight, and the 43-year-old was transported to Ben Taub hospital by ambulance, according to ABC 13. Both women were in critical condition. They both now appear to be in stable condition, and their names and the motive behind the attacks have not been released. Manvel is about 24 miles south of Houston. A black man has claimed he was the victim of a racist attack by the police after an officer caught on camera putting him in a chokehold during a search for drugs. A video posted online by Blade Mdaka, 26, shows him arguing with the painclothes police officer before the cop suddenly grabs him by the throat and shoves him up against a wall. Mr Mdaka, who had his arms outstretched before he was grabbed, does not appear to resist as he is held by the neck and placed in handcuffs. In the footage, shot on a mobile phone, the man's friends are heard saying: 'He didn't do anything.' It is not known what happened before the video started and the officers' use of force may have been justified. A black man has claimed he was the victim of a racist attack by the police after an officer was caught on camera putting him in a chokehold during a search for drugs Mr Mdaka, who is a supervisor at a transport company, told Daily Mail Australia that he and three other black men were parked in a car park in Melbourne when a police car pulled up in front of them. He said officers asked to search the vehicle for drugs so the four friends got out of the car, but Mr Mdaka stayed nearby so he could watch the search. He claims one of the police officers was not happy for him to witness the search and said the officer called in back-up. The video shows one of the police officers grabbing Mr Mdaka by the throat and pushing him up against the wall and putting him in handcuffs. Despite the officer's actions, Mr Mdaka said he was not arrested or charged and was eventually let go. He claims he and his friends were 'racially profiled' by the police and claimed the officers thought they were Apex gang members because they are black. A video posted online by Blade Mdaka shows him arguing with the painclothes police officer before the cop suddenly grabs him by the throat and shoves him up against a wall 'African people have lost faith in the police,' he wrote on Facebook. 'Police are meant to serve and protect but they treat every African person as Apex. 'I will not apologise for the colour of my skin, I will not belittle myself because you have authority, I will not be submissive of my rights. I will not be treated like a criminal because of my race. 'This is very disgusting and appalling. You treat us like dirt because you think we are not worthy, but we will not give in. I will not be treated like a criminal because of my race 'I was not aggressive, I was not intimidating, my body language was not threatening and yet you manhandle me like like a wanted fugitive.' Mr Mdaka said the confrontation was 'unprovoked' and added that he would moved away if the officers had asked him politely. 'He held on to my neck and pressed my head against the roller door until back-up came,' Mr Mdaka said. 'No charges were made and they expect me to drop it. They're dead wrong. 'We were racially profiled and targeted with this Apex thing going on. I'm going to take it further'. It is not clear if anyone was arrested or charged over the incident. Victoria Police said a man was arrested at the scene for being drunk in a public place and was issued a penalty notice. A police spokeswoman said: 'Victoria Police is aware of a video posted online on 23 January 2017 which shows a plain clothed police officer arresting a man in a street. 'Police have spoken to the man involved and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrest. 'Victoria Police takes all complaints seriously and expects officers to treat every individual with dignity and respect and to make decisions that protect their human rights.' Workers in British factories are paid as little as 3 per hour to make clothes for high street stores including River Island and New Look, undercover footage suggests. An investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches will tonight expose Britain's cheap clothing scandal, in which factory bosses in Leicester say they are in direct competition with Bangladesh and China. An undercover reporter, named Belal, was paid less than half the national living wage in three factories, and filmed dangerous working conditions in one. Workers in British factories are paid as little as 3 per hour to make clothes for high street stores including River Island and New Look, undercover footage (pictured) suggests The jumper being made above is pictured for sale on the website for clothes retailer New Look An investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches will expose Britain's cheap clothing scandal. Pictured is Fashion Square Ltd, a factory making silver party dresses for River Island When working for Fashion Square Ltd, which makes clothes for River Island, the reporter was paid 3 per hour to pack and press dresses. After he challenged his boss about why he was not being paid the national living wage of 7.20, the boss said: 'We don't get paid much for our clothes, and we need to compete with China and Bangladesh... If we pay everyone 10 or 6 then we will make a loss.' Fashion Square has since denied anyone at the factory was paid below the minimum wage, but River Island said the firm was removed from its approved factory list in February 2016, following two failed audits. The store added: 'Suppliers were informed not to use this factory for any further orders.' Between October and November last year, Belal worked at another factory in Leicester making clothes for New Look, including a yellow knitted jumper which retails for 19.99. He was paid 3.50 an hour and a total of 110 for the week. He saw documents detailing an order from New Look for the jumpers. The order had actually been sent to a firm called TS Knitwear Ltd, which had subcontracted the work to the factory. Reporter Tazeen Ahmad went undercover at the factories to expose the conditions in them The silver party dresses seen being made are pictured for sale on River Island's website New Look said: 'We have terminated our relationship with TS Knitwear with immediate effect.' Meanwhile, TS Knitwear said it has 'clear ethical guidelines'. The documentary, Undercover: Britain's Cheap Clothes, which airs tonight at 8pm, also showed clothing for online retailers being produced in these factories. The women's clothing company Boohoo has operating profits of 15.3 million. Missguided is another retailer to have hit the market in recent years, with its founder Nitin Passi reported to have a net worth of 65 million. Belal also worked for United Creations Ltd, making clothes for both companies, and was paid 3.25 an hour. Abdussamad Dookanwala, is the boss at United Creations Ltd. The firm denied anyone at the factory was paid below the legal wage, and said a fire risk assessment was carried out last June Workers in British factories are paid as little as 3 per hour to make clothes for high street stores including River Island and New Look, undercover footage suggests (stock image) An investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches will tonight expose Britain's cheap clothing scandal (stock image) The reporter filmed rubbish piled on the factory floor, blocked fire exits and a factory worker smoking indoors. After seeing the footage of someone smoking in the factory, Professor Richard Booth, a safety expert with 40 years' experience, said: 'That was the most remarkable sight on the video, I mean an absolute disgrace.' United Creations denied anyone at the factory was paid below the legal wage, and said a fire risk assessment was carried out in June 2016. Boohoo said it was 'unaware that United Creations was carrying out work [for an approved supplier]'. Missguided told Channel 4 it is investigating. It added: 'We take the allegations very seriously.' You could call it life's lottery or the democracy of death, but they are an eclectic bunch. Margaret Thatcher appears alongside wrestler Mick McManus and Great Train Robbers Bruce Reynolds and Ronnie Biggs. Peter O'Toole, classical actor, is in the bag, as are the comic double-act Mike and Bernie Winters. Who else? Broadcasters David Jacobs and David Frost, six Nobel laureates, Leftie novelist Doris Lessing and Mel Smith, the TV star who died three years ago, aged just 60. Also: racehorse trainer Henry Cecil, various scientists, conductor Sir Colin Davis, Reg 'Wild Thing' Presley of Sixties group The Troggs, and a Countess of Arran who had a penchant for powerboat racing and earned the soubriquet 'the fastest granny on water' when she roared across Windermere at 103mph. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography shows that you have arrived... once your gone Margaret Thatcher, pictured, is one of the eclectic personality contained within the ODNB Wrestler Mick McManus, pictured flying through the air is also in the reference book These very different figures are among the 241 latest graduates to the Oxford Dictionary Of National Biography. You could say inclusion in the ODNB is confirmation that they have arrived, except it is the exact opposite in that they have departed i.e. died and thus became eligible for inclusion in the most engaging, unwieldy, indisputably British publication in the world. The ODNB, written by 14,356 authors, contains potted biographies of 60,032 souls who have helped to shape these small, remarkable islands. They range from back in the fog of pre-Roman days, to the latest cut-off point of 2013. Included in the dictionary's 72 million words are monarchs, murderers and mavericks, bishops and bankers, thespians, fakes, field marshals and more. Astronomers Royal, papal legates, Chief Rabbis, Commanding Officers at Calais: all these are on parade, most accompanied by vivid essays with their dates, achievements (if any) and sometimes the size of their fortunes when they died. But there is also room for a man such as Henry Moat (1871-1940), hippopotamus-shaped valet to the Sitwell family, who spoke Italian with a thick Yorkshire accent, drank heavily, had tempestuous fallings-out with his employers and never left the house without his bowler hat. Henry Cecil, left, trainer of Frankel the wonder horse, right, is a recent inclusion Compiling a dictionary of death (which is basically what this comprises) is like painting the Forth Bridge. Even now the next batch of entries is in preparation, cooking slowly at Oxford University Press's editorial offices where the compilers discreet assassins are deciding which of the latest crop of well-known stiffs deserve inclusion. Yet 'deserve' is maybe the wrong verb, for this is an archive which has become a mark not of merit or good character but of national notability. Every time a new batch of names is announced, there is a minor kerfuffle. This year it has been no different. Minority rights campaigners have complained there are only 350 black people, about 0.6 per cent of the total. There have been protests about an 'appalling lack of diversity' and 'black lives being airbrushed out of history'. This is unfair because prominent black involvement in British public affairs was so limited until a few decades ago. The black percentage will grow but, given the rate at which the Grim Reaper works, it will take time. It is, however, a measure of the ODNB's place in our culture that such hoo-hahs erupt. Margaret Thatcher has a larger obituary in the ODBN than Winston Churchill, pictured There are more than 55,000 people inside the ODBN, but you have to be dead to be included. Queen Elizabeth, right, visited the Oxford University Press archive on May 5, 2006 This is more than a mere dictionary. It symbolises something bigger: public acceptance. To make it into the ODNB is to be memorialised, to receive the stamp not of approval but of permanence The entry on Mrs Thatcher has created surprise in that it is so long. Its 33,648 words make it the third longest in the dictionary, behind Shakespeare (37,543) and Elizabeth I (35,557), just ahead of Sir Winston Churchill, Oliver Cromwell and Henry VIII. The Thatcher entry was written by the dictionary's current editor, Sir David Cannadine, a flinty historian who could never be described as a gushing Conservative. His essay on Mrs T is balanced yet, at the same time, jauntily readable. In addition to an extensive account of her political and parliamentary doings it passes comment on her looks her 'elegant legs', her application of 'carmine lipstick in considerable quantities' and such quirks as brushing lint off the jackets of her male Cabinet ministers. The entry, with no little brio, catches some of the hysteria Mrs T stirred among both her admirers and detractors and it is a good example of how the ODNB is more than some dusty work of reference. This verve you could almost say this mischief makes the ODNB a distracting narcotic. Once you dip in, it becomes addictive. I lost the best part of a day flitting from such biographees as Iron Age British resistance leader Caratacus who was puzzled that the rich Roman invaders 'envied the British their poor huts' to Mary Toft, an 18th-century Surrey illiterate of 'small stature, strong constitution and sullen nature'. Karl Marx, pictured is included on the list despite being born in Prussia She claimed to have given birth to numerous rabbits. Why is this freak in the ODNB? Her claims to have popped bunnies from her human womb were brought to the attention of George I, who despatched his surgeon to examine her. The distinguished physicians of the day crouched round Mistress Toft's bed, awaiting the next litter of rabbits. Oddly enough they never emerged. Shyness? Or was Mary Toft the perpetrator of a great medical hoax? What do you think? The inventor of the public lavatory is in the dictionary: George Jennings (1810-1882), sanitary engineer, his entry full of good stuff about water seals, ceramic lips, rubber hosings and the fact that his house was awash, if that is the term, with terracotta ornaments. I enjoyed reading about 'Boy Jones, born 1824, trespasser', son of an impoverished tailor, who kept breaking into Buckingham Palace when Queen Victoria was a young woman. He left his finger-marks in the kitchen, made himself at home on the Throne and slathered himself in a royal valet's bear-grease pomade before trying to escape via one of the chimneys. What a sooty mess that made. The dictionary calls Jones 'a representative of self-help taken to its ludicrous extreme'. After his third raid on the Palace, when he was caught leaving with a handkerchief wrapped full of meat and potatoes, he completed another spell in chokey before retiring, like any self-respecting Palace burglar, to Perth, Western Australia. William Joyce, left, better known as Lord Haw Haw was executed by Albert Pierrepoint, right, both of whom are among the 60,000 names included in the dictionary This, therefore, is not a dictionary simply for Establishment worthies, 'the great and the good'. Though it does contain many people who would qualify as such, it also embraces scalliwags, oddballs, celebrities and notorieties of the passing centuries. Poor Jade Goody, the reality TV star who died so young just 27 in 2009, has an entry. Why? 'Anyone in the future who reads newspapers from the early 2000s is likely to find references to her,' explains Alex May, an ODNB senior researcher. 'They would want to find out about her.' There is something refreshing and, for want of a better term, democratic about this. The memorable dead are a classless battalion. The Boy Jones was a well known personality in his day. The old joke in newspaper obituary columns is that: 'People are dying to get on to our pages.' It is the same at the ODNB. Every week, Dr May and his colleagues are contacted by individuals and families seeking to obtain an entry for themselves or some relation. People often submit their own suggested entries. Such efforts are politely rebuffed. Are bribes offered? Dr May, a history don who has worked on the dictionary for 18 years, gives a dry cough and tactfully replies that 'our policy is not to accept bribes'. George Best has an entry, as does skiffle star Lonnie Donegan, society magazine columnist (and raging snob) Betty Kenward, and the inventors of both Veno's cough mixture and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce. Prussian-born Karl Marx is in there, too, described as 'revolutionary and thinker'. He qualifies for this British dictionary because he lived for a while and died in London the ODNB is not just about Britons, but about people who have had a connection with Britain. Marx's entry, by the way, was written by Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm. Comrade Eric, like other ODNB contributors, received only a modest honorarium (currently 100) for his efforts. You do not become rich writing for the ODNB, but you do have the comfort of knowing that your words will be read long after you have gone. Each author has his or her own style, but the dictionary aims for a 'dispassionate, Olympian tone' and on the whole this is achieved. Its editor Prof Cannadine explains how the dictionary's entrants are selected: 'We rely on some 500 advisers organised into around 45 occupational panels such as politics, medicine, sport, chemistry, zoology, etc. 'We send them huge lists of people from their areas who died in a particular year and ask them to grade the subjects (from 'must go in' to 'definitely not') and, where possible, give their reasons.' Having that many advisers reduces the chance of missing an obvious biographee and means personal vendettas not unknown in academia are diluted. The brilliance or decency of a person is of no concern in the process of selection, though that may be addressed in the entry itself. The ODNB exists as a hall of both fame and infamy. Moors killer Myra Hindley is in there, as is 'West, Frederick Walter Stephen, 1941-1995, murderer'. We are told that West was 'a dirty, scruffy and deceitful child who never learned to spell'. How refreshing to read a work of reference that takes the blow-torch to people's characters. The entry also notes the 'sadistic ferocity and erotic compulsions' of West's wife, Rose. There is no shilly-shallying here, none of the equivocations of professional sociologists. It may be rigorously objective in its politics, but the ODNB does have a moral core. It knows its words will stand as a judgment for time. Inclusion in the dictionary is not a question of taste. It is whether or not someone was noteworthy whether or not future historians want to know who these figures were. The dictionary dates back to the 1880s, when its original edition of 63 bound volumes started to appear (the dictionary is now online, and can be read free at most public libraries or via private subscription). That first edition's completion at the turn of the 20th century was a cause for national celebration, as it had beaten similar publications in rival countries. So great was the jubilation that Edward VII spoke at a banquet to mark the achievement. Yet the dictionary has never been a government project; hence its outspoken editorial flavour. A state-run dictionary would soon become blandly politically correct. The first editor, Leslie Stephen, quickly found that he earned the enmity of certain readers. He also complained about 'the insane verbosity of the average writer', and even today certain entries could do with judicious filleting. Queen Victoria's entry was originally 100,000 words long, but over the years this has been scythed back to some 20,000. Entries are kept under review and may be rewritten. Jimmy Savile's underwent substantial surgery after the extent of his child molestation became evident and at the very top of his entry he is now described as 'disc jockey, broadcaster and sexual predator'. 'In many respects, his whole life and persona were deceptions,' is the dictionary's withering conclusion. Not all bad apples are judged so fiercely. The newly inserted entry of Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs ('criminal and fugitive') sketches him as 'a gregarious, charming rogue who capitalised on a quirk of the British psyche that admires the rascal who tweaks the lion's tail'. The entry of former Daily Mirror owner Robert Maxwell ('publisher and swindler') catches something of the chaotic garishness in Maxwell's fraudulent tendencies the way he drank from a bowl-sized coffee cup marked 'I'M A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON' and his weakness for self-serving sentimentalism. The entry on astronomer Patrick Moore hints, albeit sympathetically, that he was gay. A new entry on trumpeter Kenny Ball expresses quiet anger this popular virtuoso and generous supporter of charities, 'unaccountably received no public honours'. Of Richard Seifert, one of those architects whose angular buildings so altered the face of post-war London, the ODNB does not hesitate to say his designs are unlikely to endure in the public affection. This art of distilling character and melding it with factual biographical detail and occasionally salty editorial comment may not simply be a current British literary strength; it may also reflect something of our close-quartered body politic. Even today, we are a smallish society with a proud tradition of 'warts and all' (to quote Cromwell) social observation. A few other countries Australia and New Zealand among them have national dictionaries of biography, but the Oxford version is some way ahead of the field in its exuberance and flair. The ODNB tells our island story and it does so with masterly British aplomb. A driver has been charged with five counts of murder for allegedly plowing through lunchtime crowds in central Melbourne, injuring dozens of people. Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, has appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court to face the charges related to the horrific scenes at Bourke and Queen streets During the lunch hour, he arrived at Victorian police headquarters, following a weekend in hospital after police shot him when they stopped his car on Friday. He was taken to police headquarters about 12.30pm on Monday after Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said Victoria Police had been waiting for permission from doctors to interview him. A man believed to be Gargasoulas could be seen in a car, dressed in a hospital gown and facing away from cameras in 9 News footage. Scroll down for video Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, arrived at a police station on Monday A man believed to be Gargasoulas could be seen in a car, dressed in a hospital gown and facing away from cameras Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, the man accused of the attack, will face multiple murder charges A bystander, Tevita Mahina, 17, attempted to stop this mid-1990s Holden Commodore before it plunged through the crowds Victims injured in the attack are tended to after being hurt in the tragedy, which took place on Friday The driver of the vehicle (red, centre) drove it down Melbourne's busy Bourke Street Mall Fifteen people remain in hospital after he allegedly rammed a mid-1990s Holden Commodore through one of Melbourne's busiest streets at 1.30pm on Friday. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressed his fears for two people who are fighting for their lives. 'We have grave fears for their health and wellbeing,' he said on Monday. 'What occurred on Friday is not only a cause of great sadness, but it is a cause of legitimate and, I think, profound anger. All of us feel it.' So far, five people - three adults and two children, a three-month-old baby and 10-year-old - have died. Gargasoulas had surgery on Saturday for a gunshot wound he sustained when police stopped him on Friday. Thalia Hakin, 10, Jess Mudie, 22, Matthew Si, 33, a three-month-old baby and a 25-year-old man died. The accused allegedly drove this Holden through crowds in Melbourne's busy city centre One of the five people who died after the tragedy on Friday, Jess Mudie, 22, from Sydney Matthew Si, 33 (left), and Thalia Hakin, 10 (right) were also killed in the incident More than 30 were injured with 13 remaining in hospital on Sunday, with at least two of them still fighting for their lives. 'They are critical. They're in a very, very serious condition,' Mr Andrews told reporters. 'The fear is of course that the death toll from this evil act will rise.' The fear is of course that the death toll from this evil act will rise. Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews Thousands of Victorians and visitors laid flowers in Bourke St on Sunday as families paid tributes to their loved ones. The Jewish community in St Kilda East held prayers for Thalia and all the other victims, praying for a speedy recovery for the injured. Federal MP Michael Danby, who is Jewish, expressed his condolences. 'All Victorians can identify... with a girl who was going into grade five, her life all in front of her, robbed by some crazed person,' he said. Mr Si was a devoted husband and a loving father, brother and son, his wife Melinda said in a statement. They had just finished lunch together in the city, and parted to go to their respective offices, when he was struck and killed. 'The family would like to thank everyone who helped Matt at the scene and did their best to save him,' Ms Si said. People flocked to Melbourne GPO to lay floral tributes and mourn for the victims of the Bourke Street attack Masses of flowers laid at a floral tribute on Bourke street in Melbourne on Sunday Ms Mudie's family wrote a tribute letter that was released to media: 'To our dearest and most badass daughter and sister, Jess. You are always up to do everything and are such bright bubble of joy. ' Gargasoulas had been driving erratically around Melbourne after allegedly stabbing his brother, who is also in hospital, much earlier that morning. The loss of fellow Australians in such a shocking, wanton, criminal attack is a tragedy Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull The accused was well known to police and had been bailed on an assault charge just five days before Friday, when he was due to attend court. Mr Andrews said bail laws would be reviewed following the attack. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joined Mr Andrews and laid a wreath at the memorial site on the steps of the old GPO in the mall. 'The loss of fellow Australians in such a shocking, wanton, criminal attack is a tragedy,' Mr Turnbull told reporters. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said an 'evil... hoon' had attacked one of Melbourne's well-known places. A tax deductible fund has been set up to help the families of victims who died as a result of the attack, with the Victorian and federal governments putting in $100,000 each. A public vigil is being planned for Monday night at nearby Federation Square. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (dark jacket) and Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle lay flowers Protesters shut down car lanes at one of the busiest crossings on the U.S. border Sunday to oppose Mexican gasoline price hikes. They waved through drivers into Mexico after Mexican authorities abandoned their posts. It was their third weekend of protesting in a row with several events . Motorists headed to Mexico zipped by about 50 demonstrators at the Otay Mesa port of entry connecting San Diego and Tijuana, many of them honking to show support. Protesters in Tijuana, Mexico, wave through motorists at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry The demonstrators waved signs to protest gas hikes and aired other grievances against the government of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Other protests closed southbound traffic for hours at the San Diego-Tijuana San Ysidro port of entry, the busiest crossing along the 2,000-mile border, and halted southbound traffic at one of two crossings in Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and California Highway Patrol officers closed southbound Interstate 5 to block access to the San Ysidro crossing, diverting traffic several miles east to the Otay Mesa port of entry. Demonstrators hold up a Mexico flag and posters during a protest against a fuel price hike in Tijuana on Sunday People protest against the fuel price hikes and demand the resignation of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. The protest Sunday was the third protest against gas prices this month Activists protest against the rise in the price of fuel at the International border in Ciudad Juarez on Jan 20 Inspections were normal for all travelers entering the U.S. from Mexico. A CBP statement said that Mexico-bound motorists were directed to the other crossing for 5 1/2 hours at the request of Mexican authorities. The demonstrations, which are unrelated to the election of President Donald Trump, have disrupted Mexican border crossings for weeks. Earlier this month, police in the Mexican state of Sonora fought a pitched three-hour battle to free a border rail crossing at Nogales that had been blocked by people protesting the 20 percent nationwide hike in gasoline prices that took effect on New Year's Day. Activists protest against the rise in the price of fuel at the International border in Ciudad Juarez on Jan 20 Only a small percentage of motorists entering Mexico from the U.S. are stopped for inspection under normal circumstances, but Sunday's demonstration gave them an open invitation. Guns and cash from drug sales in the U.S. are often introduced to Mexico by car. Protesters said Mexican customs officials retreated within minutes after they arrived at the Otay Mesa crossing. About two hours later, a Mexican soldier stood by, but there were few other signs of government presence. 'We're exercising our right to free speech,' said Brenda Cortez, a 22-year-old college student from Tijuana. 'It's to make sure we are noticed.' New York governor Andrew Cuomo is requiring health insurance companies to cover medically necessary abortions and most forms of contraception at no cost to women in the state. The move is an effort to safeguard some of the protections women currently receive under the Affordable Care Act, which is likely to be repealed under President Donald Trump. New York will require health insurers to provide at least one form of FDA-approved contraception for an initial three months before doling out 12-month supplies. Insurance companies must also provide medically necessary abortions without co-pays and deductibles. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (left in Trump Tower, right,on election night) is requiring health insurance companies to cover medically necessary abortions and contraception at no cost to women in New York The Republican controlled Congress has already made steps to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Trump has also signed an executive order directing every government agency that implements or enforces the 'Obamacare' law to grant waivers, deferments, exemptions and delays in order to minimize or eliminate any costs associated with implementing Obama's signature medical insurance scheme. While Trump has alluded to a healthcare replacement, saying, 'Were going to have insurance for everybody,' Cuomo singled out reproductive rights, safeguarding them in New York regardless of what happens in the federal government. Cuomo's announcement, which coincided with the women's marches and the 44th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, left some questioning whether he was jostling for a 2020 presidential run. President Trump signed his first executive orders in the Oval Office on Friday night within minutes of his White House arrival. One rolled back regulations under Obamacare Regardless, Cuomo may be setting an example for other governors in blue states. The new mandate will require insurers to cover a three-month supply of contraception the first time before providing 12-month supplies. Insurance companies currently only cover one month at a time. Medically necessary abortions will also no longer be subject to co-pays or deductibles. Cuomo said: 'Women deserve to make a fair wage and the same salary as any man, they deserve to work in an office free of sexual harassment, they deserve comprehensive paid family leave and they deserve control over their health and reproductive decisions.' Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo said: 'New York will not tolerate any impediments or impairments of womens rights and access to reproductive health care' The governor's new mandate, however, will not cover preventative benefits included in the Affordable Care Act, according to Vox. If the ACA is repealed, then STD tests, breastfeeding support, or screenings against anemia or the BRCA breast cancer gene, will not be protected at the state level. The new regulations will take effect about two months after the Department of Financial Services files the mandate, according to theNew York Times. Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo said: 'New York will not tolerate any impediments or impairments of womens rights and access to reproductive health care.' Shortly after Trump won the election, Cuomo issued a statement that read: 'As New Yorkers, we have fundamentally different philosophies than what Donald Trump laid out in his campaign. Cuomo has since unveiled an agenda addressing criminal justice reform, college tuition, child care, and renewable energy plans. A top military counsel to President Donald Trump is under scrutiny by US counterintelligence agents who have probed the new national security adviser's communications with Russian officials. Michael Flynn, a retired three-star general who was among senior White House staff sworn in on Sunday, has come under investigation as part of a counterintelligence examination of communications between Russian government members and Trump's inner circle. Inquiry findings and whether it was still underway remain unclear, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. Michael Flynn has come under investigation as part of a counterintelligence examination of communications between Russian government members and Donald Trump's inner circle Flynn raised eyebrows for receiving payment from the Russian TV network RT to join a gala celebration in Moscow in 2015, where he sat at a banquet table with President Vladimir Putin After leaving his position as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, Flynn made appearances on RT, a state-run Russian television network. Flynn later raised eyebrows for receiving payment from the RT to join a gala celebration in Moscow in 2015, where he sat at a banquet table with President Vladimir Putin. US reports have also said Flynn telephoned Moscow's ambassador to Washington, Sergey Kislyak, several times the day before Obama unveiled punitive measures over Russia's alleged cyberattacks to influence the US election. Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer has said Flynn had spoken with the envoy on Christmas Day, sending him a text to wish him a merry Christmas and happy New Year. It's not unusual for incoming administrations to have discussions with foreign governments before taking office. But repeated contacts just as Obama imposed sanctions would raise questions about whether Trump's team discussed - or even helped shape - Russia's response. The national security adviser is not formally part of the cabinet but is usually one of the president's most influential counsels. Michael Flynn, a retired three-star general, was among senior White House staff sworn in on Sunday. He's pictured above right on Saturday with Trump after a visit to the CIA headquarters Flynn, a veteran of America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has courted controversy with extreme statements that critics say border on Islamophobia, but has taken a more flexible line on Russia and China. More broadly, Flynn's contact with the Russian ambassador suggests the incoming administration has already begun to lay the groundwork for its promised closer relationship with Moscow. That effort appears to be moving ahead, even as many in Washington, including Republicans, have expressed outrage over intelligence officials' assessment that Putin launched a hacking operation aimed at meddling in the US election to benefit Trump. As national security adviser, Flynn will work in the West Wing close to the Oval Office and will have frequent access to Trump. Unlike Trump's nominees to lead the Pentagon, State Department and other national security agencies, Flynn's post does not require Senate confirmation. Flynn's contacts with the Russian ambassador were first reported by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. The U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press was not authorized to confirm the contacts publicly and insisted on anonymity. A Pennsylvania homeowner was shot and killed in his by police officers investigating a reported burglary. Police said they were trying to gain entry to the home Sunday morning. Then, Christopher Mark Thompkins began shooting in the direction of officers who were on his front porch. They returned fire, killing the 57-year-old cleaning business owner. In 1997 Thompkins went to prison in connection with the shooting death of a man who was trying to protect Thompkins's ex-wife who is his current partner. Police shot Christopher Mark Thompkins dead at his home in Larimer Sunday morning Thompkin's partner Brenda Richmond, his ex-wife who he had reconciled with seven years ago, heard a stranger near their bed Sunday morning. They jumped out of bed, spooking the intruder who ran away. Richmond called 911 but thinks the alarm company might have called police before her. Officers went to the home in Larimer, near Pittsburgh, just before 4 a.m. Sunday after getting a report of a burglary in progress. Richmond, 51, told TribLive her deceased partner was concerned about his mother who was in a bedroom on the first floor: 'They shot the wrong guy. He didn't want to hurt no cops. He was trying to save his mother.' 'He was just saying, My mom, my mom." That's all he was worrying about.' Christopher Mark Thompkins, who goes by Mark, was on the landing of the staircase shooting downward at the intruder. Pittsburgh police released a statement saying two officers involved have been placed on administrative leave Thompkin's partner said he was aiming to shoot at the intruder, not the police Richmond told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 'I gave him my gun and he went to the stairs and I was behind him. I could see Mark shoot down the stairs at the guy.' 'The cops came and they shot through the door. Mark was shooting at the robber not the cops.' After the traumatic moment Richmond ran away to a window. She said: When the police came in, I was gonna jump (from the roof) but the police told me "Don't jump." I was screaming, "Im a victim. Dont shoot me. Im on the phone with 911."' It was unclear how many people were in the house at the time, however, police did take a man into custody. The two officers involved were placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure. Police and the Allegheny County district attorney's office are investigating. In a statement, Pittsburgh police said: 'As with standard protocol, the two officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.' 'There is an ongoing investigation with oversight of the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office. Additional information will be released by the Bureau at the appropriate time.' A school cleaner has been awarded $156,000 for putting up with work colleagues who faked a sex orgy. The male cleaner was traumatised by a groundsman and a supervisor who had made the Gold Coast school staff room look like it had hosted a group sex session. A messed-up bed from the sick room, empty beer and wine bottles and condoms filled with cream were left to resemble the scene of an orgy. A school cleaner was awarded $156,000 for putting up with work colleagues who made a school staff room look like the scene of a sex orgy. (Stock image) Ladies' boxer shorts were left on the back of a chair while a bra was placed on a table. Condoms were also placed on the kitchenette floor and near the mattress brought in from the sick bay. The cleaner was traumatised after his work colleagues at Helensvale State School failed to own up to the prank, his lawyer Bruce Simmonds said. 'He was horrified and subjected to great emotional stress by this trauma especially when they didnt own up to the joke and left him believing it was real,' Mr Simmonds said. Shane Green found the whole episode devastating he didn't know who to tell. (Stock image) The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal accepted this prank in September 2014 had distressed the cleaner and ordered the state's Department of Education and Training to pay him $156,051. 'As a result of these events (he) suffered psychological consequences,' it said in its judgement, adding the cleaner had been targeted after complaining to the Anti-Discrimination Commission. 'The circumstances of the sexual harassment are unusual.' Mr Simmonds said his client had been ordered to clean up the scene and was distressed as children were at the school. The cleaner quit his job at Helensvale State School (pictured), lived off WorkCover and filed a sexual harassment claim when he learned the truth 'He was devastated by the incident. Who could he speak to? Who should he report this to? He bottled it up,' he said. Other incidents of sexual harassment caused him to quit his job and rely on WorkCover. He lodged a claim for sexual harassment after learning about what had happened. 'He feels humiliated by the experience and right now his future is unclear,' Mr Simmonds said. An Ohio father and son accused of imprisoning and raping a teenage relative in their basement for a year will act as their own attorneys in their trial today - and will use the Bible as a guide on what to do. Timothy Ciboro, 53, and his 28-year-old son, Esten Ciboro, are accused of sexually abusing children in their care, including the elder Ciboro's 13-year-old stepdaughter, who said she was kept locked in their basement. At a pretrial hearing on Friday, Timothy Ciboro successfully argued that he should be able to bring a Bible into court, saying it was 'the only law book that matters'. 'There's a great deal of strategy in Scripture and I use those strategies in everything I do,' he told the judge, according to the Toledo Blade. Scroll down for video Accused: Timothy Ciboro (left), 53, is accused of sexually abusing and imprisoning his 13-year-old stepdaughter. His son, Esten Ciboro (right) faces the same charges. Both deny all claims No attorneys: Both men will represent themselves at their trial Monday, using the Bible for legal 'strategies'. They were arrested in May after the girl told police she had escaped them (Video courtesy WTOL 11) He added that their ability to defend themselves would be compromised if they couldn't 'use Gods holy word to ask questions, questions that we believe are absolutely vital to our case.' Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings said that the book would be allowed in court but they would not be permitted to use it to directly question witnesses. A lawyer will be on hand to answer procedural questions, but will not provide any other help. When urged to consider getting professional legal counsel in May last year, Esteban Ciboro said: 'Professionals built the Titanic. Amateurs built the ark,' according to the Blade. Charges: Timothy Ciboro also faces a second charge of raping a child. He also denies that claim. The pair's first day of trial is today; they are expected to spend it selecting a jury The two men have both pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, kidnapping and child endangerment. They are accused of sexually assaulting the stepdaughter from 2012 to 2015. Timothy Ciboro also stands accused of raping another child. The trial - which begins today with jury selection, which is expected to take the whole of the session - began in May when Timothy Ciboro's stepdaughter was found in downtown Toledo. The 13-year-old, described as 'unclean and traumatized' by witnesses was helped by two janitors from the Port Authority building, around a mile from the Ciboros' home. The women said the girl told them that she was told to obey a 50-point system, and that if she lost those 50 points she would be taken to the basement and handcuffed. This had been happening on and off for around a year, she said. She later told police that she was forced to eat spoiled food and use a bucket full of ammonia for a toilet. Prison: The girl said she was imprisoned in the basement of this home, where she said she was sexually abused, as well as being locked in a basement and made to eat spoiled food She told them that she had smuggled a key in to the basement and escaped while the pair were out running. The girl hadn't seen her mom since she went to Las Vegas in 2012, she said. She didn't know why her mom left or why she didn't come back. Police then raided the Ciboros' home; the pair attempted to flee with Timothy's two sons and a box containing a gun, but were apprehended. All three children have been put in foster care. They were being 'homeschooled', the teen told the janitors. At the time of their arrest, the Facebook pages of both the father and son were filled with ramblings about Satan. In one rant, Esten Ciboro said a cartoon road sign welcoming people to the village of Cedarville in Ohio, showed a child pledging allegiance to the devil. Rants: Esten Ciboro's Facebook page was full of rants about 'Satan worship' in small Ohio towns. The pair lived in Toledo with the girl and Timothy's two young sons 'As of 2013 or earlier, Cedar Creek has been aware of this demonic hand gesture indicating 'Satanic Allegiance,' however Cedar Creek has continued to proudly display this gesture of allegiance,' he said. His father stepped into defend his son when he was mocked by friends, writing: 'There is real Satan worship out there, and yes the hand gesture that Esten is warning you about is a real Satanic hand gesture that has been around a lot longer that you have been alive.' He then accused people criticizing his son as being part of a 'Satanic cult'. Timothy Ciboro was a firefighter until 2004, the Toledo Blade reported, but Fire Chief Luis Santiago remembered him as 'not being a very good employee'. He filed a harassment and wrongful dismissal against the city in 2007 after being fired for demanding a discount on ice cream at a stand in 2004. The children will be aided during their court appearances by Anna, a 'comfort dog', who will sit alongside them as they testify, WTOL 11 reported. 'A dog can, in particular Anna, can make just about anybody feel comfortable. Thats her job. Thats what shes trained to do,' said Annas handler, Nancy Borders. The dog is supplied by the Comfort Dog Ministry Program sponsored by Lutheran Church Ministries. A man charged with murder after he allegedly ploughed his car through crowds of shoppers in central Melbourne has refused to appear in court. Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, claimed he was feeling 'unwell' when summoned to Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday to face five counts of murder. His defense lawyer told the court that his client was unable to appear after being released from hospital following surgery on a gunshot wound to his arm. Scroll down for video Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, failed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, saying he felt 'unwell' following surgery on his arm Gargasoulas is thought to have been caught on camera earlier in the day being taken from hospital in order to be interviewed by police Gargasoulas is accused of running down 37 people with a maroon Holden Commodore on Friday last week, leaving five of those dead A bystander, Tevita Mahina, 17, attempted to stop this mid-1990s Holden Commodore before it plunged through the crowds People injured in the attack are helped after being hurt after being run down on Friday The driver of the vehicle (red, centre) drove it down Melbourne's busy Bourke Street Mall The request was accepted by Magistrate Jelena Popovic, who also granted prosecutors more time to put together their evidence against Gargasoulas, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Lawyers argued it would take months to put together all the documents required, calling the events in Melbourne last week 'unprecedented.' Ms Popovic remanded Mr Gargasoulas in custody to appear again on December 15, with the case listed for special mention on August 1. Gargasoulas had been questioned by police earlier on Monday after his release from hospital, where he was taken on Friday afternoon. Gargasoulas was shot in the arm by police after he allegedly used a maroon Holden to run down 37 people on Swanston Street and Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD on Friday last week. Since then five of those people, including a 10-year-old and a three-month-old, have died and have been reflected in the charges. Prosecutors say that more charges are likely to be laid as the case moves along. Gargasoulas was taken to police headquarters about 12.30pm on Monday after Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said Victoria Police had been waiting for permission from doctors to interview him. A man believed to be Gargasoulas could be seen in a car, dressed in a hospital gown and facing away from cameras in 9 News footage. The accused allegedly drove this Holden through crowds in Melbourne's busy city centre One of the five people who died after the tragedy on Friday , Jess Mudie, 22, from Sydney Matthew Si, 33 (left), and Thalia Hakin, 10 (right) were also killed in the incident Fifteen people remain in hospital after he allegedly rammed a mid-1990s Holden Commodore through one of Melbourne's busiest streets at 1.30pm on Friday. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressed his fears for two people who are fighting for their lives. 'We have grave fears for their health and wellbeing,' he said on Monday. 'What occurred on Friday is not only a cause of great sadness, but it is a cause of legitimate and, I think, profound anger. All of us feel it.' Thalia Hakin, 10, Jess Mudie, 22, Matthew Si, 33, a three-month-old baby and a 25-year-old man died. More than 30 were injured with 13 remaining in hospital on Sunday, with at least two of them still fighting for their lives. The fear is of course that the death toll from this evil act will rise. Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews 'They are critical. They're in a very, very serious condition,' Mr Andrews told reporters. 'The fear is of course that the death toll from this evil act will rise.' Thousands of Victorians and visitors laid flowers in Bourke St on Sunday as families paid tributes to their loved ones. The Jewish community in St Kilda East held prayers for Thalia and all the other victims, praying for a speedy recovery for the injured. Federal MP Michael Danby, who is Jewish, expressed his condolences. 'All Victorians can identify... with a girl who was going into grade five, her life all in front of her, robbed by some crazed person,' he said. Mr Si was a devoted husband and a loving father, brother and son, his wife Melinda said in a statement. They had just finished lunch together in the city, and parted to go to their respective offices, when he was struck and killed. 'The family would like to thank everyone who helped Matt at the scene and did their best to save him,' Ms Si said. People flocked to Melbourne GPO to lay floral tributes and mourn for the victims of the Bourke Street attack Ms Mudie's family wrote a tribute letter that was released to media: 'To our dearest and most badass daughter and sister, Jess. You are always up to do everything and are such bright bubble of joy. ' Gargasoulas had been driving erratically around Melbourne after allegedly stabbing his brother, who is also in hospital, much earlier that morning. The loss of fellow Australians in such a shocking, wanton, criminal attack is a tragedy Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull The accused was well known to police and had been bailed on an assault charge just five days before Friday, when he was due to attend court. Mr Andrews said bail laws would be reviewed following the attack. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joined Mr Andrews and laid a wreath at the memorial site on the steps of the old GPO in the mall. 'The loss of fellow Australians in such a shocking, wanton, criminal attack is a tragedy,' Mr Turnbull told reporters. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said an 'evil... hoon' had attacked one of Melbourne's well-known places. A tax deductible fund has been set up to help the families of victims who died as a result of the attack, with the Victorian and federal governments putting in $100,000 each. A public vigil is being planned for Monday night at nearby Federation Square. Masses of flowers laid at a floral tribute on Bourke street in Melbourne on Sunday Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (dark jacket) and Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle lay flowers Sex crimes in Victorian hospitals have doubled in the past year, with statistics revealing one person is raped or assaulted once every four days, on average. Victorian hospitals recorded 83 sexual offences between October 2015 and September 2016. Despite the high number, the state's body against sexual crimes said it was largely 'underestimated' and there were undoubtedly many more going unreported. Victorian hospitals recorded 83 sexual offences between October 2015 and September 2016 Victoria Centre Against Sexual Assault spokeswoman Carolyn Worth said she believed the number of reports was 'underestimated'. 'I'm not surprised by the figures,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'There are hundreds and thousands of patients and hospital workers a year so the [recent] figures are not a high number at all.' She said the number of assaults took into account everyone who stepped foot inside a hospital, not just patients. 'The figures are not only based on patients but staff members - and staff members [allegedly] assaulting other staff members,' she said. While only a small percentage of assaults were reported, she said the culture was changing. She said the number of assaults took into account everyone who stepped foot inside a hospital, not just patients She said the figures doubled in the past year potentially because more people reported the assault. 'People don't report sexual assaults - so we can see that more people are coming forward in the last year.' Ms Worth called for more rigorous protocols, to make it easier for victims to come forward. Crime Statistics Agency told Daily Mail Australia 76 per cent of the 83 assaults were committed by the same 15 offenders. The agency said there was no offender identified for the remaining seven offences. 'People don't report sexual assaults - so we can see that more people are coming forward in the last year,' Ms Worth said A spokesman said sex crimes recorded in Victorian hospitals included anyone who stepped foot inside the hospital, including patients, staff, family members, and any visitors. Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said two in five victims had no relationship with their alleged offender. 'The past 12 months of data shows that more offences were recorded in these incidents,' she told Daily Mail Australia. The Department of Health and Human Services told Daily Mail Australia the number of sexual assaults reported was 'completely unacceptable'. 'It is expected that all of our healthcare workers and patients are able to do their jobs and visit hospitals in a safe and respectful environment. Anything less is completely unacceptable,' a spokesman said. Jaimie Ayer, of Bradenton, was arrested for allegedly providing teenagers alcohol and engaging in sexual activity with teenage boys at her daughter's house party A Florida mother now faces seven charges after 'providing alcohol to minors and having sex with five underage boys' at her daughter's house party. Jaimie Ayer, 40, returned home to her daughter's party on December 23, and reportedly socialized with the teenagers and provided them alcohol. The Bradenton woman eventually told a boy that she needed to shower and that he should come help her, an arrest report said. She was later allegedly caught by party-goers having sex with two teenage boys aged 16 and 17, and three more boys have since come forward. Three of the five alleged victims are aged 16. She was arrested on Wednesday for three counts of 'unlawful sexual activity' and now faces an additional four charges, the Miami Herald reported. Her daughter also witnessed the illicit activity, the arrest affidavit said. Ayer appeared very drunk when she was apprehended, the arrest affidavit stated. Her bond was set at $22,500 and she remains in Manatee County Jail. Anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 941-747-3011. A total of 19 people have died following devastating storms and tornadoes in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, as people in the Southeast are starting to assess the major damages caused. In addition to the 15 dead and dozens injured in southern Georgia, four people died after a tornado tore through hundreds of homes in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on Sunday. The southeastern United States has been pounded by storms, high winds and unstable weather over the weekend, and deadly weather began to impact Florida later on Sunday, officials say. Around 77,000 people felt the impact of the weekend's storms. Scroll down for video Jenny Bullard (pictured) said she and her parents were fortunate to escape with their lives as a storm destroyed their brick house in Cook County, Georgia on Sunday Ann Bell (pictured) describes how an apparent tornado picked up her son's house from its foundation destroying it and how her son was dug out of the debris at 3am by neighbors in the Maryville community outside Thomasville, Georgia There have been 30 preliminary reports of tornadoes this weekend, with 11 in Georgia. This map shows where the reports of tornadoes have been made over the weekend The governor of Georgia declared a state of emergency in seven counties that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. Governor Nathan Deal's office said Sunday the emergency declaration includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties where 15 people have been confirmed dead, all along the Florida-Georgia line. At least another 23 people were injured. A state of emergency was also declared in Mississippi after a tornado came through, killing four and injuring at least 50 others. Parts of Northern Florida, Louisiana, and Texas also experienced tornadoes, hail, and thunderstorms. A woman holds a child while walking through a farm that was damaged by a tornado on Sunday in Adel Jeff Bullard sits in what used to be the foyer of his home as his daughter, Jenny Bullard (left) looks through debris at their Georgia home that was damaged by a tornado Jeff Bullard (pictured sitting) sits in what used to be the foyer of his home as an unidentified man stands near. In Adel, GA (pictured) a state of emergency was declared The deadly weather is now headed towards Florida, officials say. This map shows several cities in north Florida and surrounding areas that are under tornado watches for Sunday The worst may be yet to come as another round of 'high risk' severe weather, including more potential tornadoes, heads for the region on Sunday. This map shows what areas in the region are expecting severe weather for Sunday In total, eight people were confirmed dead after an 'apparent tornado leveled' roughly 20 mobile homes near Adel, Georgia, in Cook County, the county coroner Tim Purvis said. He added that emergency responders were searching for victims still trapped. Jenny Bullard said she and her parents were fortunate to escape with their lives as a storm destroyed their brick house in Cook County. At least five people were confirmed dead in Adel, Georgia (pictured). A county corner said an 'apparent tornado leveled' roughly 20 mobile homes near Adel Downed trees rest on a shed and vehicle belonging to Mike Herington near Baxley, Georgia The devastating storm in Mississippi (pictured) caused 'massive damage' and flipped cars over, tore apart homes and ripped trees from their roots. Thousands of homes were left without power The 19-year-old said a wall and a door fell on her, but she managed to reach her father and help free him from a pile of debris. They escaped with her mother through a hole in the wall of what had been a home office. The South Georgia Motorsports Park was also badly damaged - a grandstand was ripped apart, according to Fox News. Two people were killed after their mobile home was struck by a tornado and moved nearly 100 yards onto a Georgia highway, according to Brooks County Coroner Michael Miller. He added to Fox News: 'I don't know if it rolled or was lifted, but it blocked the entire highway.' The death toll from an outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes spread across the South Saturday and Sunday morning has jumped to 15 Storm damage is seen at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Georgia, Sunday A map shows cities in the weather danger zone for Sunday, which include Albany, Savannah and Valdosta in Georgia along with Tallahassee and Jacksonville in Florida Pictured: Murray said that among structures damaged was a Hattiesburg fire station. He says the city does not yet have an estimate on how many buildings are damaged or destroyed President Trump made his condolences to the 'great people' of Georgia affected by the tornadoes to the press today from the White House. He said: 'I want to start off by telling you I just spoke with Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia, great state, great people. 'Florida affected, Alabama affected by the tornadoes, and just expressed our sincere condolences for the lives taken.' The deaths in Georgia's storms were related to severe weather, but an official for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency could not specify whether tornadoes were the cause of the deaths. Ren (pictured) cleans up at his home that was destroyed in a tornado on Sunday in Adel, Georgia A total of 16 people have died following devastating storms in Georgia (pictured) and tornadoes in Mississippi, part of the severe weather wreaking havoc across the southeast over the weekend Margarita Morales, carries her possessions out of a house she shared with two other people after a tornado destroyed the residence in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Saturday Lanada Miller stands before the remains of her trailer home being ripped apart, while leaving two other trailers with exterior damage in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The tornado was part of a wall of storm weather traveling across the region, bringing with it rain and unstable conditions Other officials investigating have credited the deaths and wreckage to an 'apparent' tornado. Over the course of the weekend there have been 30 preliminary reports of tornadoes in the South, with at least 11 reported in Georgia alone. The tornado in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, killing four people, including a 20-year-old, after it went through a 25-mile path, happened early on Sunday morning. The Forrest County coroner identified the dead as Earnest Perkins, 58; Cleveland Madison, 20; David Wayne McCoy, 47 and Simona Cox, 72. The tornado had winds above 136 mph and a team of more than 40 firefighters were sent door-to-door to search for the dead and injured. Four people died and hundreds of homes were destroyed after a tornado ripped through Hattiesburg, Mississippi (pictured), on Saturday morning Fallen trees sit near Zoar United Methodist Church that sustained damage to its steeple in Northern Florida A structure landed on top of a car near a home in Lauderdale, Mississippi, after a tornado struct the area damaging structures, trees, and property The tornado was so powerful that it ripped roofs off homes in Hattiesburg (pictured) The girlfriend of Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, the man accused of deliberately ramming a car into pedestrians in Melbourne killing five people, has posted a cryptic love note days after the massacre. Akiir Muo, 25, claimed she begged for her life on Friday as her boyfriend Gargasoulas allegedly took her hostage and drove erratically around the city before letting her out on Bolte Bridge. Then, police alleged, he killed five people - including a three-month-old boy - and injured dozens more in a shocking car rampage through Bourke Street Mall. And on Sunday, Ms Muo shared a vague but clearly emotional message to Facebook. 'When i close my eyes - I MISS YOU. When i open my eyes - I WANT YOU. When tears fill my eyes - I NEED YOU. Now i realize how Madly I LOVE YOU (sic),' she said. Pictured: The girlfriend of Dimitrious Gargasoulas, the man accused of deliberately driving a car into pedestrians in Melbourne The cryptic post Ms Muo posted to Facebook at the weekend Ms Muo's post came just hours after she opened up to Daily Mail Australia about her terrifying experience on Friday, saying she witnessed Angelo Gargasoulas covered in blood after a family dispute at their Windsor flat. 'It was the scariest thing I've ever seen,' she said. She was then allegedly taken hostage around 6am that morning and Ms Muo claims her boyfriend threatened to kill them both by driving into a pole. 'He threatened to kill himself and me by driving us into a pole - I pretty much have to do what he says,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I begged him to stop and slow down. It shouldn't have happened - I mean all the people that lost their family and their loved ones, you know.' Akiir Muo, 25, said she was begging for her boyfriend Gargasoulas (right) to slow down when she alleges he took her hostage and drove around Melbourne 'Jimmy is just lost,' she said. 'It was scary.. I was just thinking my life is going to end.. I'm gonna die. Eventually the pair stopped at Bolte Bridge where Ms Muo was able to get away from the car after the two hour nightmare. Gargasoulas's mother, Emily, said she was sickened to hear about her son's alleged rampage. 'I feel so ashamed and bad, you know,' Ms Gargasoulas told 7 News . 'I don't want to be known that I'm the mother. Gargasoulas was charged with five counts of murder on Monday. A 25-year-old who claims her tongue was partially ripped out by her ex-boyfriend is trying to rebuild her life by speaking out against domestic violence. Carleigh Hager of Indianapolis, Indiana, is still recovering three months after Ryan Cameron, 26, allegedly beat her, strangled her, bashed her head against a door frame and attempted to bite off the tip off her nose and ear. Hager often stays inside, for fear of running into Cameron, and she still hasn't regained her full sense of taste - but a recent benefit thrown in her honor offered a momentary reprieve from the trauma. Teka Abner organized the party on Saturday to help raise money for Hager's medical bills and posted a photo of the 25-year-old, writing: '100% worth every hour of work for this sweet smile'. Carleigh Hager (pictured, in an undated photo posted on Facebook in January 2017) of Indianapolis, Indiana, is trying to rebuild her life by speaking out against domestic violence Hager (left) claims her tongue was partially ripped out by her ex-boyfriend Ryan Cameron, 26, (right) who also allegedly beat her, strangled her, bit her and caused bleeding in her brain Abner, who runs a children's hospital outreach at Miracle Fundraising LLC, said it was worth the hours of planning to see Hager smiling and dancing with her friends and family. But Hager is still struggling to make sense of ' who she is in this world or what she's capable of or how much shes loved', her sister Megan Splichal told the Indy Star. Hager was taken to the hospital in October with a long list of injuries from the brutal attack, including a partially ripped tongue, bleeding in her brain, 20 bite marks across her body and a quarter-sized open wound on her face. 'He tried to rip my tongue out with his bare fingers... and he succeeded halfway,' she told CBS News, speaking from her hospital bed. Cameron was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and strangulation. His trial is scheduled to begin on February 6. Hager's mother Amy Ballard told WTHR: 'It kind of makes me nauseated to think how many times I told him I loved him and thank you for taking care of my daughter.' The young Indianapolis couple first met at a party more than two years ago. But their relationship soured and he threatened to kill her dog when she tried to break up with him Police responded to the couple's home in the 2300 block of Hanover Drive in Indianapolis to find Hager unconscious. According to the description on a GoFundMe page, Hager and Cameron returned home from a wedding with friends, when they started arguing. Hager told reporters the fight turned physical and he locked their friends out of the house. He then locked himself in the bathroom with her, Hager claims. In the course of the attack, the boyfriend allegedly slammed Hager's head against the bathtub, bit her all over her body, tried to maul her finger and the tip of her ear, and also attempted to rip the tongue out of her mouth. Hager accused Cameron of trying to suffocate her with her own blood during the brutal attack. He also allegedly smashed her head against a door frame while dragging her around He also allegedly smashed her head against a door frame while dragging her through the house, leaving a massive bloody gash on the left side of Hagers forehead. 'He started calling me names like an effin' b, the c-word and then he proceeded to tell his friends if they ever wanted to f*** me, here was their opportunity, Hager recalled. He tried to suffocate me with my own blood, Hager said of Cameron. He put his hand right here and plugged my nose and I couldn't breathe. At some point during the assault, the victim passed out. She regained consciousness later to find a female police officer standing over her. When Hager was transported to the ICU at Eskenazi Hospital, beyond the bruises and bite marks all over her body, doctors found swelling and blood on her brain, the GoFundMe page states. Medical staff had to perform emergency surgery to reattach her partially torn tongue, and she spent weeks unable to consume solid food. With her speech still slurring after surgery, Hager told reporters she never imagined that she would become the victim of domestic violence at the hands of a man she had called her 'Prince Charming.' The young Indianapolis couple first met at a party two years ago, reported the station WTHR. Hager said she fell for Cameron instantly and hoped to marry him one day. But the once-loving relationship soured with Cameron allegedly subjecting Hager to psychological, verbal and physical abuse involving name-calling and beatings. Hager said whenever she tried to break up with him, Cameron would threaten to kill her dog, and she was too embarrassed to tell her family about her relationship troubles. Don't ever let them tell you that you're nothing, that you have nowhere to go, she said to other women trapped in abusive relationships But the 25-year-old Hager has a message to other women who find themselves trapped in abusive relationships and feel like they have no way out. Don't ever let them tell you that you're nothing, that you have nowhere to go, she said. Don't let them take your spirits away from you and tell you that you're not pretty, that you can't do anything. A reckless driver ran over a teenager as he was walking across a street in Brooklyn on Sunday night, seriously injuring him. The 14-year-old boy was in Greenpoint when he was struck by a white Porsche Cayenne early Sunday evening, around 6pm, according to police. Abdullah Muhammad, a 23-year-old assistant magager at a nearby check cashing outlet said about the incident: 'I thought it was a bomb or something. He flew 10 feet in the air,' reported the New York Post. A reckless driver ran over a teenager as he was walking across a street in Brooklyn on Sunday night, seriously injuring him The 14-year-old boy was in Greenpoint when he was struck by a white Porsche Cayenne (pictured) early Sunday evening, around 6pm, according to police After running him down, the 39-year-old Porsche driver lost control of his car and ran into a pole near the entrance of Muhammad's business, the Post said. The teenager was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he remained in serious condition Sunday night. His injuries appear to be serious, though not life threatening, according to police. Three witnesses were present at the scene, a woman and two men, but their role was not immediately clear. Police have arrested the driver and charged him with reckless endangerment, according to the Post. It is not clear if he was speeding or if the teen was in a crosswalk at the time of the incident. Pictured: After running him down, the 39-year-old Porsche driver lost control of his car and ran into a pole near the entrance of a business It is not clear if he was speeding or if the teen was in a crosswalk at the time of the incident Former Happy Days actor Scott Baio claims he was attacked on his way to the Liberty Ball following President Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday. Fox Business correspondent Charles Gasparino accompanied the Happy Days star to the event in Washington D.C. and tweeted that he 'stopped a thug from attacking' Baio. A protester reportedly called Baio a 'f**king fascist', and lunged at him. Gasparino tweeted about the 'wild night' where he witnessed Kellyanne Conway in 'middle of a fight' at the Liberty Ball, and defended Baio from the alleged attacker. Baio posed at the Inaugural Ball next to a man wearing a yarmukle adorned with an American flag and 'Make America Great Again', with the caption: 'We are proud to support Israel' Gasparino tweeted about the 'wild night' where he witnessed Kellyanne Conway in 'middle of a fight' at the Liberty Ball, and defended Baio from the alleged attacker Another group of protesters reportedly approached Baio and his wife Renee as they attended the Freedom Ball the same evening Another group of protesters approached Baio and his wife Renee as they attended the Freedom Ball the same evening, and had to be 'extracted by police' according to Page Six. It's not the first time Baio has been attacked for his support of the 45th President. Baio was an ardent supporter of Trump very early on in the campaign The actor filed a police report in December over an alleged altercation with the wife of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's drummer Chad Smith at an elementary school function where both their children were in attendance. Smith's wife Nancy Mack reportedly began berating Baio and shouting 'grab em by the p***y', at at one point physically grabbed him, according to TMZ. The Ventura County District Attorney is still deciding whether to prosecute Mack for the incident. Baio was an ardent supporter of Trump very early on in the campaign. He told to the Hollywood Reporter when he arrived in Washington DC on Thursday: 'I'm looking forward to seeing the guy I backed take the oath of office,' 'I'm looking to get the country back on track.' He stated simply that his goal is 'the resurgence of the United States of America and the resurgence of the American dream.' A couple in Russia dumped their dog at an airport to freeze to death while they flew on holiday to Germany. Oksana and Alexander Urusov wanted to take Tori with them but at check-in for their flight to Hamburg were told they had failed to complete the necessary paperwork in time. Mr Urusov then walked Tori outside the terminal at Russia's Koltsovo airport and left the small pet shivering in temperatures as cold as minus 30C. Tori was discovered dead three days later. Tori was found dead after being left outside Russia's Koltsovo airport in freezing temperatures The pet was found shivering in a part of the airport where people rarely go to When the couple arrived in Hamburg, where their children were staying with their grandmother, they only reported Tori missing after three days. Mrs Urusov admitted doing so because her children were distraught over the fate of their pet. In an appeal, she wrote: 'We are looking for our little dog, she is white with a flick of ginger. 'Our children can't stop crying, please can you help? We're ready to pay a fine. 'We had to leave her at the airport...they didn't take her on board at check-in when we were flying to Hamburg to see our children.' After the couple were not allowed to board the flight with the pet, they decided to leave it outside the terminal The dog was eventually found in a part of the airport where people rarely go to. Dmitry Tyukhtin, spokesman for Koltsovo airport in Yekaterinburg, said he 'could not believe a human could do that to a dog'. He criticised the owners for not seeking help from the airport. He said: 'If only we knew about the problem, at least the dog would be alive. The weather was so cold on those days. 'Tori was left in an area where there are usually no people. If she was to be left closer to or inside the terminal, the dog would have been rescued.' The couple had been advised by the check-in clerk to leave the dog with a friend or postpone their flights for a day to obtain the correct documentation. Mr Urusov then left the building with Tori on a leash and came back without the dog. When he returned, staff asked if he managed to solve the issue and he said they had passed it to a friend. Alexander Urusov and his wife wanted to take Tori with them but at check-in for their flight to Hamburg were told they had failed to complete the necessary paperwork in time A petition demanding the couple are brought to justice has been signed by more than 7,000 locals. Viktoria Milovanova said: 'They are such idiots to have left the animal when it is freezing. 'I wish they could stayed outside themselves. Animals are not toys, they are living creatures, they feel pain, cold and fear just as people do.' Olesya Khoroshilova wrote: 'Such people are sick and dangerous not only for animals but the whole society'. Tatiana Maslennikova said: 'I wish somebody would take this woman - the dog owner - to an abandoned place and leave her in the freezing weather alone without a mobile, food and water. Let her feel what her dog felt.' Another woman wrote: 'They deserve to spend their life in jail. Someone should take the kids away from them. They are terrible parents.' A single mother-of-three who worked her way up from being a dinner lady to a headmistress has been praised for inspiring others. Rosalind Brotherton took a job serving food to youngsters to make ends meet following the break-down of her marriage - but just nine years later she was running a school of her own. Her story has now won her praise from Ofsted inspectors, but the 49-year-old claims she is 'nothing special', adding: 'If I can do it, anyone can.' Mother-of-three Rosalind Brotherton worked at Swan Lane First School near Worcester while studying an Open University history degree, and later training to be a teacher at the school Mrs Brotherton had a handful of CSEs and no A levels but while working as a dinner lady at Swan Lane First School, she also studied for an Open University degree in History. After graduating in 2005, she studied for her PGCE teaching qualification before re-joining the school in Evesham, Worcestershire, as a trainee teacher. She moved to another school where she became deputy head in 2009. Incredibly, she clinched a top job when she was appointed as headteacher at nearby Flyford Flavell First School, near Worcester, last September. But she told Good Morning Britain: 'If I can do it, anyone can. I'm not special.' And in a bid to encourage others, she added: 'Just go for it, just do it, one foot in front of the other is being successful and really give it a go.' 'I think it's just finding your thing that you love, for me it was teaching, but you know it could be anything.' In the school's Ofsted report published this month, inspectors praised Mrs Brotherton, adding: 'The headteacher provides committed leadership that is focused on the pursuit of excellence for all pupils. 'Together with the governors and leaders, she has created an aspirational culture where pupils achieve well.' The report adds: 'The headteacher provides inspirational leadership. She is passionate about providing the best possible education so that pupils have the opportunity to achieve their best.' Mrs Brotherton, pictured with some of her pupils, said working in a school 'made her want to be able to affect change' and so she trained to become a teacher Mrs Brotherton, who has three adult sons, said she did not enjoy school as a child but now wants to 'make sure children love learning' Mrs Brotherton, said: 'My marriage broke down when I was 30 and I wanted to help provide for my children and to do something for myself. 'I started doing my degree at the Open University. 'I was juggling jobs working as a dinner lady and a learning assistant at a school, so I was working with children and that inspired me to become a teacher.' It took Mrs Brotherton five years to get a degree and by the following year she was training to be a teacher at Swan Lane First School with the University of Worcester. After qualifying, she took a job at Thomas Jolysse School in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, where she rose through the ranks to deputy head. Since joining Flyford Flavell School, pictured, she has overseen a rise in its Ofsted ranking from 'needs improvement' to 'good' Mrs Brotherton, who has three sons Alexander, 28, George, 25, and Sebastian, 21, added: 'It really surprised me because, when I started the journey, I was never career-minded. 'But I was working in school and I wanted to be able to affect change. 'The higher I went the more I felt I could make things better for children, sort things out or influence more. 'I didn't have a very good education. I didn't enjoy school. 'I came from a single-parent family and all this came together and there weren't many opportunities for me when I left school at 16 with a few CSEs. 'I think that has helped me to make sure children love learning and enjoy learning. She graduated from the Open University with a history degree in 2004, right, and has spent the next decade rising up the ranks to become a headteacher today, left 'I understand the stresses and strains of each particular role. 'When you are a dinner lady you are seeing the children at a social time when they need to let off steam. 'There are mores stresses and strains as a headteacher but it's just as enjoyable. 'As a dinner lady you can form strong relationships. 'As a head I still have that but I have to work hard to make sure that I don't shut myself in the office and don't engage with the children. 'You have to walk around the playground and be available to them.' Since joining Flyford Flavell, an Ofsted inspection rated the school, which caters for 79 pupils aged 5-9, as 'good', compared to 'needs improvement' two years ago. A Sydney masseur who admits he intimately touched a female client claims she consented to his fondling by saying 'mmm' when he asked her if she was OK. Anthony Theodosiou, 31, is accused of five counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault stemming from a massage of a woman in Sutherland on 7 August 2015. At the opening of the trial at the Downing Centre District Court on Monday, the court heard Theodosiou regularly asked if the woman was comfortable with what he was doing and she replied 'mmm'. Anthony Theodosiou (pictured), a 31-year-old Sydney masseur, told a court on Monday he intimately touched a female client but believed she consented by saying 'mmm' when he asked her if she was OK Theodosiou (pictured) is accused of five counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault stemming from a massage of a woman in Sutherland on 7 August 2015 Crown prosecutor Linda McSpedden told the jury this did not signal consent. 'She was frozen and scared and did not make any objection and will give you reasons for that,' she told the jury. After the final time Theodosiou allegedly molested the woman, he asked if she wanted him to stop and she replied: 'You better stop', Ms McSpedden said. Theodosiou asked if she was sure she wanted him to stop and she replied, 'yes, stop', the court heard. He left the room and the woman put her clothes back on. She walked out of the massage room, had a light-hearted conversation with him as she paid for the session and booked another, the court heard. Crown prosecutor Linda McSpedden told the jury the woman's mumbling did not signal consent She then walked to Sutherland Police Station to report what happened, the court heard. Theodosiou's lawyer said there was no dispute over whether his client touched the woman, but over her consent, which he believed she had given. 'The accused honestly believed at the time that she was consenting,' Les Nicholls told the jury. 'At the time when she says stop, he does exactly that.' The trial continues before judge Andrew Hasler. Peace talks have started in Kazakhstan after the Syrian government and rebel fighters attempt to bring a brutal six-year civil war to an end. Although the two groups have agreed to meet in the Kazakh capital Astana, the rebels have refused to negotiate face-to-face with the President's officials. Representatives from the two sides sat at the same round table but rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi said earlier Monday they were backing out of the first direct talks because of the regime's continued bombardment of Damascus. Kazakhstan's officials prepare working space for delegations at a hotel lobby where Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold talks on Syrian peace in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday It remains unclear whether rebels could negotiate directly with the regime at a later session. Rebels have said the talks would be focused on strengthening a frail nationwide ceasefire that was brokered last month by Russia and Turkey. Damascus has meanwhile pushed for a 'comprehensive' political solution to the conflict and insisted that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal. The talks are the first between the two warring sides in a year and mark the first face-to-face meeting between government representatives and a delegation heavily made up of rebels. Representatives of Syria's rebel factions sat on one side of a room at the luxury Rixos Hotel in the capital of Astana, while government delegates sat on the other side. The talks are expected to focus on consolidating a shaky cease-fire that has been in place since December 30. The opposition delegation, which arrived in Astana on Sunday, is made up of about a dozen rebel figures led by Mohammad Alloush of the powerful Army of Islam rebel group. The Syrian government has sent its U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, and military delegates. Astana's Rixos President Hotel - the host of the latest round of Syrian peace talks The Astana talks were organised by regime backers Iran and Russia and rebel ally Turkey. Islamic State representatives, who are also attempting to overthrow the Syrian government, were not invited to the talks. Several rounds of failed negotiations in Geneva saw political opposition figures take the lead in negotiating with the regime. But in Astana, the 14-member opposition delegation is composed solely of rebels leading the armed uprising, backed by nearly two dozen legal and political advisers. More than 310,000 people have been killed and more than half of Syria's population displaced since the conflict erupted in 2011 after protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Theresa May, pictured holding a Cabinet meeting in Runcorn today, has confirmed she will meet new US President Donald Trump for talks on Friday Trade tariffs between the US and UK could be slashed and workers will be free to move more freely, under plans set to be discussed by Theresa May and Donald Trump this week. The outline of an historic trade deal will be one of the main topics when the PM meets the new commander-in-chief in Washington. Mrs May has scored a major coup by getting the first invite to the White House since the billionaire tycoon was installed as President. She hailed the prospects for closer links with the US yesterday - making clear that she is keen to build on the new administration's desire for a trade deal. But Mrs May also said she 'won't be afraid' to challenge Mr Trump's views when she finds them 'unacceptable'. Downing Street is desperate to make quick progress on an agreement with the US - which would be a shining symbol that the UK is still open for business after the Brexit vote. Mr Trump's enthusiasm for a deal has dramatically strengthened Mrs May's hand in the looming negotiations with the EU. New arrangements could see tariffs slashed on existing imports and exports between the US and UK. Restrictions could also be eased on Britons who want to work in the US and vice-versa, Whitehall sources told the Daily Telegraph. In an appearance on the BBC's Andrew Marr show yesterday, Mrs May said she looked forward to welcoming Mr Trump for a reciprocal visit to Britain 'sometime this year' - but said invitations for state visits are decided by Buckingham Palace. Mrs May will use Friday's meeting to urge Mr Trump to maintain free trade with the rest of the world - amid signs he could take a more isolationist approach than his predecessor. She has also promised to stress the importance of Nato - which the president has suggested is 'obselete'. She said she will reiterate the importance of the military alliance and press him to continue America's support to help protect Baltic states against Russian aggression. But Ted Malloch, a close Trump adviser who is tipped to be his choice for the US ambassador to the EU, said the President will pursue a radical shake-up of Nato. THERESA MAY VOWS TO CONFRONT TRUMP ON NATO Theresa May, pictured arriving at the BBC in London today, insisted she 'won't be afraid' to challenge Trump's 'unacceptable' views but said the focus of their meeting later this week will be on trade, Nato and Russia Theresa May will tell Donald Trump he must recognise the value of Nato when she becomes the first world leader to meet the new US President on Friday. She vowed to press the US President to commit to continued US support for the mutual defence alliance. He has previously branded Nato 'obsolete' and in a sign that he intends to keep to his 'America First' strategy one of his close advisers said today that the new US administration will pursue a radical shake-up of the organisation. In the latest attack on Nato from Team Trump , Ted Malloch, tipped to be the next US ambassador to the EU, suggested there would be more 'burden sharing' in the military alliance. Asked about President Trump's stance on Nato now he has entered the White House, Mr Malloch told the BBC: 'I think that the institutions will be recreated. 'Some of them may be taken down, there may be some new ones. 'I think Nato itself and certainly the defence secretary will have discussions with Donald Trump about how Nato can be reformed and reshaped and maybe there'll be more burden sharing. That's an important thing for Mr Trump.' Mrs May said she would confront Mr Trump on his opposition to Nato and urge him to make clear that America stands ready to defend the Baltic states in the event of Russian aggression. She will tell him that Britain is committed to spending a minimum of 2 per cent of national income on defence until at least the 2020 General Election and will pledge to press other Nato members to 'step up to the plate and pay their way'. Mrs May told the Andrew Marr Show today: 'I've spoken to him about Nato - Nato is very important, Nato has been the bulwark of our security here in Europe and we work together in Nato. 'We've both made the point before about contributions being made by countries, the United Kingdom is spending 2 per cent of its GDP on defence, I believe that's important.' She added: 'What is important is that we recognise the value of Nato, which he does, the value of Nato as an organisation that is helping us to defend Europe and defend the interests of all of those allies who are in Nato.' Advertisement Mrs May refused to say whether she will use Friday's meeting to bring up his controversial comments about women, but she told the BBC: 'I will be talking to Donald Trump about the issues that we share - it's the special relationship that enables us to say when we think things are unacceptable.' 'Whenever there is something that I find unacceptable I won't be afraid to say that to President Trump,' she added. She insisted that being a female Prime Minister and the first foreign leader to meet Mr Trump since his inauguration will be the 'biggest statement' she can make about the role of women in the world. Mrs May's promise to stand up for women's rights during the Trump presidency comes after a weekend in which hundreds of thousands of people around the world joined women's marches to protest against Mr Trump. An estimated 500,000 people joined the 'pink pussy hat' march in Washington and 100,000 marched in London yesterday. In October Mrs May hit out at revelations that Mr Trump had boasted that his fame allowed him to 'do anything' to women - such as 'grabbing them by the pussy'. She said his comments were 'unacceptable'. Mrs May also lashed out at Mr Trump over his pledge at the end of 2015 to ban Muslims from entering the US and branded him 'plain wrong' after he claimed police in London were afraid to go out and police the streets of London. She said yesterday: 'I have already said that some of the comments that Donald Trump has made in relation to women are unacceptable, some of those he himself has apologised for. 'When I sit down I think the biggest statement that will be made about the role of women is the fact that I will be there as a female Prime Minister, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, directly taking to him about the interests that we share.' The PM highlighted her 'track record' in defending the interests of women, including moves to tackle modern slavery and domestic violence while home secretary. She said she will use Friday's meeting with Mr Trump as an 'opportunity to talk about trade, world challenges, defeating terrorism and conflict in Syria'. The Prime Minister, who was the tenth world leader to be phoned by Mr Trump after his election, was due to meet him in February but will now fly out this week. Mr Trump has said he hopes their co-operation will match the friendship between Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. He is said to refer to Mrs May as 'my new Maggie'. Mr Trump will also invite Mrs May to unveil a statue of Sir Winston Churchill which he has returned to the Oval Office after Barack Obama removed it. The PM has said she is 'confident' of striking a deal and has suggested the UK and US could even reduce barriers to trade before being able to sign a formal agreement after Brexit. She insisted Mr Trump was looking for 'early' talks on a UK-US free trade deal despite his 'America first' strategy sparking concerns that he would not be willing to reach an agreement. 'He and people around him have also spoken of the importance of a trade arrangement with the United Kingdom and that is something they are looking to talk to us about at an early stage, and I would expect to be able to talk to him about that alongside the other issues I will be discussing with him when I am in Washington,' she said. Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts The PM told the Cabinet about the government's industrial strategy during a meeting in the North West today Mrs May has also spoken of reducing barriers to trade before a formal deal can be reached after Brexit, amid reports of potential moves to set up a 'passporting' system for transatlantic banking. One of the items said to be on the agenda is a possible 'passporting deal' which would allow British and American firms to set up and trade in each other's countries with minimum regulatory hurdles. And Mrs May defended Mr Trump's widely criticised 'America first' message: 'If you think about it, any leader, any government, as we do here in the United Kingdom when we look at any issue, we ensure that we're putting the UK's interests and the interests of British people first.' The Prime Minister insisted Mr Trump was committed to Nato despite worries that he has consistently undermined the mutual defence alliance at a time of Russian aggression. At their meeting, the pair could agree a statement emphasising their commitment to spending at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence and urging other Nato countries to match them, according to reports. In a major victory for No 10 Theresa May, pictured on the Andrew Marr Show yesterday, will be the first world leader to visit President Trump in the White House and they will meet less than a week after his inauguration Mrs May said: 'I've spoken to him about Nato - Nato is very important, Nato has been the bulwark of our security here in Europe and we work together in Nato,' she said. 'We've both made the point before about contributions being made by countries, the United Kingdom is spending 2 per cent of its GDP on defence, I believe that's important.' She added: 'What is important is that we recognise the value of Nato, which he does, the value of Nato as an organisation that is helping us to defend Europe and defend the interests of all of those allies who are in Nato.' Mrs May also suggested her visit would be followed by a state visit by Mr Trump to Britain this year, which would include an audience with the Queen and the pomp and pageantry of which the President seems so fond. 'I would look forward to welcoming President Trump here to the United Kingdom sometime this year if that's possible but of course in terms of state visits that's a matter for Buckingham Palace and they haven't announced the visits this year yet,' she said. In his inauguration speech, President Trump, whose mother is Scottish, pledged to 'reinforce old alliances' in a sign that Britain's special relationship with the US could be boosted under the new regime. Nigel Farage, pictured at a Trump inauguration party in Washington on Thursday, praised Donald Trump's speech and declared a new era for US-UK relations Meanwhile, there is speculation that Nigel Farage could become a member of Trump's team. Phil Bryant, Governor of Mississippi, revealed at a party thrown by Farage that the former UKIP leader will be made a 'close but unofficial adviser' to the new President, reported the Telegraph. Mr Bryant said: 'There is an opportunity for him to work directly with the president, we call it "close but unofficial".' On Friday Farage praised Donald Trump's inauguration speech and declared a new era for US-UK relations. He told MailOnline it was a 'great speech and good for the UK'. Mr Trump's mention of 'old alliances' was interpreted as a reference to the 'special relationship' between the US and the UK, which critics claimed Barack Obama undermined during his eight years in office. After Trump's speech, May said: 'I congratulate President Trump on taking office today. 'From our conversations to date, I know we are both committed to advancing the special relationship between our two countries and working together for the prosperity and security of people on both sides of the Atlantic. 'I look forward to discussing these issues and more when we meet in Washington.' A 21-year-old man in Malaysia had to be rescued by firemen after he accidentally got his penis trapped in a water bottle. According to reports, he decided to use the water bottle to relieve himself because he couldn't make it to the bathroom in time. However when he tried to remove his penis, it became lodged in the bottle. Taking matters into his own hands, the man then tried to use a metal saw to cut himself free but ended up injuring his penis and causing it to bleed. A 21-year-old man in Malaysia had to be rescued by firemen after he accidentally got his penis trapped in a water bottle The incident happened while he was at home in Teluk Gong, in Malaysia, on Friday. Firefighters from the Port Klang and Andalas fire stations were called to the scene and managed to free the man's penis. The victim was sent to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital for treatment where he is said to be in stable condition. It comes after doctors had to amputate a man's penis in Honduras last October after it became stuck in a bottle he was using as a sex toy for four days. The 50-year-old man arrived at hospital with a penis that was 'black and decaying' according to medical staff. It is understood the man was trying to 'relieve sexual frustration' because he did not have a wife or girlfriend. Firefighters from the Port Klang and Andalas fire stations were called to the scene and managed to free the man's penis A month later in a separate incident, a Chinese man who was too nervous about visiting a doctor because of blood in his urine tried to investigate the problem by inserting a chopstick in his penis. The gentleman, named only as 'Chen', then had to undergo surgery to remove the painful object from his manhood. Doctors said he could have died if he pushed the chopstick any further into his genitals. A mother was on her first week back from maternity leave and had just finished breastfeeding her baby when she was mowed down in the Melbourne rampage. Nethra Krishnamurthy is one of the victims critically injured after Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, allegedly ploughed through crowds at Bourke Street mall. She and 19-year-old student Erin Shi are the two victims who remain in a critical condition after the Friday tragedy. Scroll down for video Nethra Krishnamurthy remains in hospital after the tragedy on Friday. She is pictured with her eight-month-old baby Ms Krishnamurthy had just finished breastfeeding her eight-month-old baby at day care before she returned to work and was caught in the tragedy, colleague Tanvir Chowdhury said. It was her first week back from maternity leave. 'She sustained serious injuries, which include deep lacerations to her head, a punctured lung, damage to her liver and kidneys, as well as broken ribs and fractures to her spine in three different places,' Mr Chowdhury wrote on a My Cause page. The colleague is crowdfunding money to help care for Ms Krishnamurthy and her family. So far, it has raised $27,100, as of 7.40pm on Monday. The new mother, aged in her 30s, remains in intensive care. The colleague is crowdfunding money to help care for Ms Krishnamurthy and her family. So far, it has raised $27,100, as of 7.40pm on Monday Three-month-old baby Zachary (right) was killed. His two-year-old sister Zara was injured but is in a stable condition Jess Mudie, 22, is one of the five people to have been killed in the Melbourne massacre Jess worked as a consultant for an insurance company and was visiting from Sydney, where she grew up in the southwest In a statement, Jess's family spoke of the loss of their 'most badass daughter and sister' Jess worked as a consultant in Sydney, where she grew up in the southwest 'Given that Nethra and her family don't have any other relatives in Australia, this adds to the difficulty of her situation. With her husband by her bedside every day, the care of their baby is of utmost importance,' the friend wrote. 'Nethra's baby is currently in the care of a work colleague, and some family friends, who are all doing as much as possible.' Ms Krishnamurthy is expected to remain in hospital through a 'long road to recovery'. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the organiser of the crowdfunding campaign. RMIT student Erin Shi, 19, remains in intensive care at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Herald Sun reported. She previously studied at Presbyterian Ladies' College in Melbourne, according to her Facebook page. Her uncle Colin said the family was hoping for the best. 'She's a very bright young girl. We hope a miracle happens,' he told Herald Sun. 10-year-old girl Thalia Hakin was killed in the rampage on Friday. Her mother and sister were also hospitalised with serious injuries Father and husband Matthew Si, 33, was also killed in the tragedy Five people have been killed. The victims are 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, 22-year-old Jess Mudie, 33-year-old Matthew Si, three-month-old baby and a 25-year-old man. The three-month-old baby has been identified as Zachary. His two-year-old sister Zara was also injured but is stable. On Monday, his parents released a statement for their 'beautiful' son Zachary. 'He was the most beautiful, loving, happy, and perfect little baby we were so lucky to be gifted with,' the parents said in a statement. 'He was the light of our lives constantly filling our days with smiles and laughs. He leaves us with the best three months and 14 days of wonderful memories spent in this world. 'Zac, Mummy and Daddy love you very much, and always will.' Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Bourke Street on Sunday to pay respect to the victims of the deadly Melbourne car rampage 'We are with you, we mourn with you, we thank you, we love you,' Mr Turnbull said in remarks at the scene where five people were killed when a crazed motorist ploughed into pedestrians The parents thanked everyone for their help, and to everyone who had comforted them and grieved with them. 37 people were injured, and 15 remain in hospital. Two are still fighting for their lives. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he had 'grave fears' for the two patients who remain in a critical condition. Gargasoulas was charged with five counts of murder on Monday. One of those killed, 22-year-old Jess Mudie, has been described by family as a 'badass' young woman. Mr Turnbull also took the time to praise law enforcement officers, saying Australia has 'the best police and security services in the world' Opposition Leader Bill Shorten speaks to members of the public after laying flowers on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Street in Melbourne on Sunday Jess was visiting Melbourne from Sydney, where she worked as a consultant for insurance company Marsh & McLennan, according to her Facebook page. In a statement, Jess's family said she was 'one of the strongest people we know' who had an 'extravagant humour'. 'We are constantly inspired by your love for everyone around you and the lengths you will go to for the people you love. 'You are strong, beautiful, determined, always work hard to get what you want and never shy away from a challenge.' Jess grew up in southwest Sydney, where she attended Holsworthy High School. On Sunday evening, a spokesperson for the school described her death as 'incomprehensible'. Mourners visit Melbourne's centre to pay their tributes to the victims who were killed on Friday Gargasoulas is pictured moments before he allegedly mowed down dozens of people on Friday Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, was charged with five counts of murder on Monday Mr Si's wife Melinda said he was a devoted husband and a loving father, brother and son. She said they had just finished having lunch together in the city, when he was struck and killed. They had just parted to go back to their respective offices. 10-year-old girl Thalia Hakin is among those to have died. Her mother, Nathalie, and sister, nine-year-old Maggie, were also seriously injured. On Sunday evening, the Jewish community held a service for Thalia and other victims, to pray for those killed and for a speedy recovery for the injured. 'You were a bystander. You were innocent. You could have been any one of us. You won't be forgotten' tribute reads Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull lays flowers at a floral tribute on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Street after a man went on a rampage in a car through busy Bourke St mall A young boy joins the masses of mourners leaving floral tributes at the sight of the crime Rabbi Daniel Rabin, president of Rabbinical Council of Victoria, addressed the service before the Hebrew prayers at the service in St Kilda East on Sunday. He said the school community was shocked by the 'horrific tragedy'. 'We mourn the loss of our dear student and community member Thalia Hakin, as well as the others who lost their lives,' Rabbi Rabin posted on Facebook. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hakin family.' A crowdfunding page set up by martial arts trainer Avi Yemini has raised more than $37,000 for the family by 8pm on Sunday. Members of the Jewish community pay respects to Thalia Hakin and other lives lost '(I saw) two little girls who came to class each week with bright and warm smiles,' Mr Yemini posted on the crowdfunding page. 'They were always happy and bubbly and I am heartbroken to know that they have been torn apart in this most senseless and horrific way.' Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Bourke Street on Sunday to pay respect to the victims of the deadly Melbourne car rampage. Mourners visited the scene of the attack in Melbourne's centre to pay their respects, just one day after the horrifying attack. Hundreds of flowers and messages of love line Bourke Street and surrounds. BAIL LAWS TO CHANGE Victorian bail laws are set to change after the Bourke Street Mall tragedy, in which a man allegedly drove through a crowd just days after being bailed on an assault charge. Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas was bailed against the wishes of Victoria Police five days before Friday's attack. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews admitted he was frustrated with the bail system. 'It's my job, though, to take that frustration and that anger and the deep sadness that I feel, and that every Victorian feels, and to make sure that's put into reform and change,' Mr Andrews told reporters on Sunday. He foreshadowed changes to the bail system, in which Victoria uses volunteer bail judges for out-of-hours decisions. 'We do have a number of unique features of our system, but ... we have to have a close look at these arrangements,' Mr Andrews said. 'If changes need to be made then they should be, and be in no doubt they will be.' Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said he could not speak freely about bail, but it would be covered in a coronial review. 'We've expressed frustration over the course of the journey about bail issues. We haven't made a secret of that,' he told reporters. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the whole bail system needed reform. 'The bail system in this state is broken and it needs to be fundamentally reformed,' Mr Guy told reporters. He said Victoria would likely need to build new facilities to hold more people on remand if bail changes went ahead. Advertisement Two firefighters return to the scene to lay flowers in memory of those who lost their lives on Friday Two firefighters return to the scene to lay flowers in memory of those who lost their lives on Friday Firefighters who attended yesterday, shed a tear as they left flowers at the chilling scene It was a sombre scene on Saturday as people broke down in tears in Melbourne's centre A little girl is pictured contributing to the growing floral tribute in Melbourne's centre on Saturday A mourner prays where flowers are being laid on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Street Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews lays flowers on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Street People mourn the lives lost in Friday's horrific attack which killed four and left 26 others injured Two young boys are pictured laying flowers as mourners gather in Melbourne's Bourke Street The three-month-old baby who was killed after a man drove his car into a crowd at Melbourne's Bourke Street mall has been identified as Zachary Bryant. Zachary was one of five people killed in the rampage on Friday, but his two-year-old sister Zara - who was injured - is in stable condition. Their parents Matthew and Nawwar Bryant described Zachary was a 'beautiful, loving, happy and perfect little baby' in a statement released to Daily Mail Australia on Monday. 'On 20th January a man drove through Melbourne city, killing and hurting people, including our two-year-old toddler Zara and our three-month-old son, Zachary. Scroll down for video The three-month-old baby who was killed after a man drove his car into a crowd at Melbourne's Bourke Street mall on Friday has been identified as Zachary Bryant Zachary was one of five people killed in the rampage (pictured) but his two-year-old sister Zara - who was injured - is in stable condition Pictured are crowds at a memorial held for victims of the Bourke Street Mall Attack 'Our beautiful Zara is in a stable condition, however Zachary, our son, did not survive. 'He was the most beautiful, loving, happy, and perfect little baby we were so lucky to be gifted with. He was the light of our lives constantly filling our days with smiles and laughs. He leaves us with the best three months and 14 days of wonderful memories spent in this world.' The couple thanked everyone for the outpouring of support they received and asked people to keep Zara in their prayers. 'Zac, Mummy and Daddy love you very much, and always will,' they wrote. 'He was the most beautiful, loving, happy, and perfect little baby we were so lucky to be gifted with, Zachary's parents Matthew and Nawwar Bryant said Other victims include Matthew Siew Ping (left) and Jessica Mudie (right) 10-year-old Thalia Hakin (pictured) also died in the attack on Friday Other victims of the tragic incident include 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, Melbourne father Matthew Si, 33, and Sydney woman Jess Mudie, 22. A 25-year-old man was also killed and the Japanese Consulate told The Age a citizen in his 20s had died. Fifteen people remain in hospital after the attack and two people are still fighting for their lives. A 25-year-old man was also killed and the Japanese Consulate confirmed a citizen in his 20s had died and another Japanese man in his 20s was injured Thousands of flowers decorate Bourke St mall in honour of the victims A total of 37 people were injured in the tragic rampage on Friday 'We have grave fears for their health and wellbeing,' Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday. 'What occurred on Friday is not only a cause of great sadness, but it is a cause of legitimate and, I think, profound anger. All of us feel it,' Mr Andrews said. It comes as police charged Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, the man accused of the attack, with five counts of murder on Monday. Gargasoulas was previously in hospital being treated for a gunshot wound. A former choirboy who became a chief headhunter for Islamic State and one of France's most-wanted terrorists has handed himself into police claiming he has been reformed. Kevin G, 24, who converted to Islam a decade ago, has been charged with financing terrorism and recruiting jihadis for both al-Qaeda and Islamic State having been placed on the UN's blacklist in 2014. The former church choirboy reportedly socialised with the November 2015 Paris attackers during his time in Syria, though it is not clear whether or not he was directly involved. Kevin G, 24, who converted to Islam a decade ago, has been charged with financing terrorism and recruiting jihadis for both al-Qaeda and Islamic State having been placed on the UN's blacklist in 2014 (file photo) The jihadi is thought to have been in charge of getting young French people to sign up to terrorism in Syria and Iraq, according to France 24. He spent four years in Syria before leaving with his four French wives and their six children for Turkey last year. They were all arrested and the wives sent back to France. Kevin G's case is being handled by the Paris prosecutor, and the jihadi claims to have turned his back on terrorism. He is said to have told detectives he walked away from ISIS because he feared being killed. Officials must now determine whether he has genuinely reformed or whether it was a deliberate ploy to return to Europe as part of a sleeper cell. He was born in Brittany and raised by a single mother before converting to Islam. President Donald Trump will receive a federal lawsuit today from an ethics charity which claims he has 'illegally received payments from foreign governments'. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) claim Trump is in breach of the US Constitution because he has not divested himself of his business interests, including the hotel in the Old Post Office building in DC. The Trump Organization leased the building from the federal government before turning it into a hotel, and the lease expressly prohibits any elected official from benefiting from the property. The Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington (pictured) is housed in the Old Post Office, which is leased from the federal government CREW, which claims to be non-partisan, says Trump has broken an 'emoluments clause' in the Constitution which prevents the commander-in-chief from receiving payments from foreign governments. They argue that because guests staying at the hotel and other Trump-owned resorts include politicians and government officials from China, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, where he has business interests, he is in breach of the Constitution. The lawsuit says: 'When Trump the President sits down to negotiate trade deals with these countries, the American people will have no way of knowing whether he will also be thinking about the profits of Trump the businessman.' Trump's lawyer Sheri Dillon recently insisted the President was not in violation of the emoluments clause. She said at a press conference: 'Paying for a hotel room is not a gift or a present, and has nothing to do with an office. It is not an emolument. The Constitution does not require President-elect Trump to do anything here.' President Trump (pictured) denies he has done anything wrong and his son Eric said the lawsuit was 'purely harassment for political gain' The New York Times reported that Mr Trump's son Eric said of the CREW lawsuit: 'This is purely harassment for political gain, and, frankly, I find it very, very sad.' CREW will file the lawsuit at the Southern District of New York at 9am today. The group's director, Noah Bookbinder, said: 'We did not want to get to this point. It was our hope that President Trump would take the necessary steps to avoid violating the Constitution before he took office. Patrick Keogh, a real estate investor in Austin, Texas, said: 'It's a simple matter of amending the lease.' He said Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter and chief negotiator on the hotel, should ask the GSA to exempt her father from that provision of the contract. But CREW and others say Trump must relinquish ownership of the hotel and sell off his company, putting the cash into a blind trust as previous presidents have done. He is not legally required to do so, but it has become common for presidents to separate themselves from their personal finances to avoid any possible conflicts with national policy. Trump handed control of his international real estate development, property management and licensing company to his two adult sons. Tamia White was left scarred for life when she was attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the communal lobby of her home A schoolgirl has recounted her horrifying ten-minute battle with a Staffordshire bull terrier that tore chunks out of her leg and has left her scarred for life. Her father, Thamar White, said the crazed dog took 'chunks of flesh' out of his daughter Tamia in the communal lobby of their home in Quinton, near Birmingham. The 11-year-old was forced to fight the dog off for ten minutes and it has left her with huge scars, muscle and nerve damage, and she will need crutches for weeks. The owners, who live opposite and have a two-year-old daughter, eventually pulled off the animal, which is called AV, short for Aston Villa. However, they have shown no remorse, claiming that the eight-year-old dog is 'a real softie' and has never bitten anyone before. Now, Tamia has bravely told the story of her horrific experience, opening up about the attack that happened as she was on her way to school at 8.15am last Thursday. She said: 'I'd let myself out of the flat and was locking the door when I turned round and the dog was there. 'He was running around loose on the landing and what happened next is just a blur. I remember him grabbing hold of my leg with its mouth with so much force it wouldn't let go. 'I started screaming and tried to get back into my flat, but couldn't because it wouldn't let go of my leg. I was screaming my head off and that's when both the owners came out of the door. The 11-year-old had been on her way to school at around 8.15am when she was bitten by the dog, which tore chunks of flesh from her leg Tamia will be scarred for life and siffered nerve damage as a result of the attack in her home in Quinton, near Birmingham 'The man was kicking the dog to get it off me, while the woman had to put her hand in the dog's mouth to separate us. 'I can't remember much of what happened, but I think the whole thing went on for about 10 minutes.' Arnolda Farrell, 34, praised the quick-thinking of her daughter, who was left with horrific injuries - which medics said could have been fatal. Tamia bravely opened up about the experience, talking of how she battled the dog for 10 minutes Miss Farrell, a case manager with a bank, said: 'She was fighting the dog on her own for several minutes before anyone arrived. 'Although she was terrified, she had the sense to jump up and down to try and stop the dog biting her face. 'I was at work when this happened and Tamia rang me, crying, saying she'd been attacked by a dog. 'I asked if an ambulance had been called and she said it hadn't so I rang for one and also the police, then I jumped in my boss's car and we came straight home. 'It was going to savage her to death if the owners had not run out when they did. The doctors said if it had been minutes later, she would have died.' Tamia was taken by ambulance to Birmingham Children's Hospital where she underwent three hours of surgery. She suffered four major bites to her left arm and both legs, muscle and nerve damage, lots of scratches and will be on crutches for three weeks. Although she is expected to make a full recovery, she has been warned she will need skin grafts and will be scarred for life. Arnolda Farrell, 34, praised the quick-thinking of her daughter (pictured together), who was left with horrific injuries - which medics said could have been fatal Mr White, aged 37, a lab technician, said she was also due have psychiatric counselling next week to help her get over the mental effect of the attack. He said: 'Tamia's always been terrified of dogs, we've never had one ourselves but there are lots of dogs in this block. The dog's owners, who live opposite in the block of flats (pictured), claim the dog is 'a real softie' 'If we're out walking and she sees a dog, even if it's on a lead she goes and hides behind us.' The family said they had only seen the dog once or twice before this incident. Miss Farrell said: 'I know the owners say she's a real softie, I don't know if that's the case, but softie or not, that dog attacked someone. 'Just minutes before I left the flat with my two-year-son - what if the dog had attacked him? My daughter wasn't hysterical, she didn't provoke it, the dog was always going to attack her.' The family said what angered them the most is that the dog's owners hadn't shown any remorse. Miss Farrell added: 'They haven't come round to see how Tamia is or say sorry. 'The only thing they seem to care about is how their daughter is missing the dog and how soon they can have it back.' Mr White and Miss Farrell said they were now going to apply for a transfer out of the building because of the memories and also the number of dogs there. The police have seized the dog and launched an investigation into what happened. Meet Pearl - an albino alligator with skin so bright she truly lives up to her name. Extraordinary video footage shows the snow-white alligator creep out of the water and try to snatch a hat after a keeper teases her by hitting her on the nose with it. The seven and a half-foot-long, 105lb alligator is no slouch and her pink eyes make it hard to see where she is looking at any one time. Pearl, an albino alligator, has been caught on tape emerging out of the water in her enclosure in Florida Pearl is the resident albino alligator at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida. 'Pearl is ten years old,' said a spokesman for the park. 'She arrived at Gatorland when she was three years old. Pearl is an albino alligator, due to the complete absence of pigmentation, which gives her white skin and pink eyes. 'Visitors to the park like to come and see a rare albino alligator like Pearl.' The 100-acre theme park, which has been open since 1949, is also home to 'leucistic' alligators, which are alligators that have dark eyes but also lack pigmentation in their skin. In the video, a park worker at Gatorland in Orlando can be heard trying to get the rare animal to smile He waves a hat near her mouth, causing her to open her jaw and show her terrifying set of teeth Only around three in every million alligators are born with this genetic default. Sadly, leucistic alligators and crocodiles are highly desirable when it comes to making expensive handbags. The park attempts to combat their slaughter by buying and rescuing alligators from trappers that would kill them for their meat and skin. Other white gators that have lived at Gatorland over the years include albino Whitie, an alligator that toured Europe nine years ago, and Bouya Blan, who was found deep in a Louisiana swamp. Bino, another albino breed, famously had to receive acupuncture treatment at his home in Brazil's Sao Paulo Aquarium after suffering back and leg problems. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been 'critically injured' in air strikes in northern Iraq, it has been claimed. The terror mastermind is said to have been wounded after a bombing raid in Al-Ba'aj, it has been reported locally. However, it is not the first time claims have emerged that al-Baghdadi has been either hurt or killed and there has yet to be official confirmation. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (pictured) has been 'critically injured' in air strikes in northern Iraq, it has been claimed Buildings destroyed during previous clashes are seen as Iraqi forces battle with Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, on January 23, 2017 The Pentagon said in December it believed that the ISIS chief was alive, despite repeated efforts by the US-led coalition to take out the jihadist group leader. Baghdadi has kept a low profile, despite having declared himself the leader of a renewed Muslim caliphate, but last month released a defiant audio message urging his supporters to defend the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. It is not clear if he is in the besieged city, where he declared his caliphate in 2014 after the ISIS group seized territory covering much of eastern Syria and northern Iraq. 'We do think Baghdadi is alive and is still leading ISIL and we are obviously doing everything we can to track his movements,' Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told CNN. 'If we get the opportunity, we certainly would take advantage of any opportunity to deliver him the justice he deserves,' he said. 'We're doing everything we can. This is something we're spending a lot of time on.' In mid-December, the United States more than doubled the bounty on the shadowy ISIS leader's head to $25 million. The group has only released one video of Baghdadi, showing a man with a black and grey beard wearing a black robe and matching turban, dating back to 2014. Cook suggested that Baghdadi is isolated because coalition raids have killed many ISIS leaders. 'He's having a hard time finding advisers and confidants to speak with because a lot of them are no longer with us,' the spokesman said. According to an official Iraqi government document, Baghdadi was born in Samarra in 1971. He apparently joined the insurgency that erupted after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and spent time in an American military prison. An Iraqi soldier walks amidst the debris at St. George's Monastery (Mar Gurguis), a historical Chaldean Catholic church on the northern outskirt of Mosul There have been numerous reports in the last year that he has either been killed or injured - but none have yet been confirmed. It comes amid separate reports an ISIS commander in charge of executing women has been assassinated in Iraq. Saudi national Abu Abdel Rahman was killed by an unknown gunman in besieged Mosul, the terror group's northern Iraqi stronghold, according to a security source. The fanatic, who oversaw the execution of women in the city, is understood to have been killed 'right on the spot'. According to IB Times, the security source said: 'The unknown gunmen shot at Abu Abdel Rahman, Isis' senior commander, in al-Askari region in the centre of Mosul city, and he was killed right on the spot.' It comes a day after it emerged that a British sniper in Iraq killed three ISIS terrorists with one bullet in what has been described as a shot in a million. The SAS marksman fired one bullet that killed two men instantly before it ricocheted into a third during a November mission in a remote northern Iraqi village. Wreckage: The Catholic church in Mosul is believed to have been destroyed by ISIS in 2015 The sniper fired his single .338 Lapua Magnum bullet from a L115A sniper rifle from a range of 1,800m just as the senior ISIS members prepared to fire shots into a crowd of women and children. News of Rahman's assassination emerged as Iraqi forces retook two areas from ISIS in Mosul, sealing their control of the east bank three months into an offensive to reclaim the city. And it comes as Ankara claimed 65 ISIS fighters had been killed by the Turkish army in northern Syria yesterday. Turkey launched an operation to drive the jihadists away from the Syrian border five months ago and have been besieging ISIS controlled town of al-Bab for weeks. In Mosul, Iraqi forces have recaptured 'Al-Milayeen neighbourhood and Al-Binaa al-Jahiz area and raised the Iraqi flag over the buildings', the military said in a statement. 'These are the last neighbourhoods of the centre of the city (on) the left bank,' the statement said, referring to eastern Mosul. It also said that federal forces had retaken control of the road linking Mosul, Iraq's second city, to Dohuk, a provincial capital in the west of the autonomous region of Kurdistan. Iraqi soldiers have been finding historical buildings in ruins after reclaiming parts of Mosul The latest progress effectively seals the Iraqi forces' control over the east bank, with only the neighbourhood of Rashidiyah, on Mosul's northern edge, left to retake. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and top commanders in the Counter-Terrorism Service, which has spearheaded operations inside Mosul, had already declared the city's east 'liberated' on Wednesday. The Joint Operations Command coordinating the battle against ISIS in Iraq had said then that a few more days would be needed to clear the last pockets of holdout jihadists. Iraq's top brass and its foreign allies were expected to confer in the coming days on the strategy to adopt to conquer the west bank of Mosul, which is still under full ISIS control. A huge offensive, Iraq's largest military operation in years, was launched on October 17 to retake Mosul, the last major stronghold ISIS had in the Iraqi part of its self-proclaimed and now crumbling 'caliphate'. News of the assassination emerged as Iraqi forces retook two areas from ISIS in Mosul, sealing their control of the east bank three months into an offensive to reclaim the city Iraq's top brass and its foreign allies were expected to confer in the coming days on the strategy to adopt to conquer the west bank of Mosul, which is still under full ISIS control Residents of parts of eastern Mosul, some for several weeks already, have tried to resume a normal life, despite the circulation of goods being restricted. On Sunday, a few dozen students and activists gathered at the gate of the University of Mosul, which ISIS had used as a headquarters during its two-and-a-half-year rule and which was severely damaged in the fighting. They celebrated the recapture of one of the country's most prestigious institutions by chanting slogans, raising an Iraqi flag above the arch that marks the campus entrance and unfurling a banner calling for its swift reopening. The west side of Mosul is a little smaller but more densely populated and home to some of the jihadists' traditional bastions. It contains the old city of Mosul, a maze of narrow streets crammed with shops, mosques and churches that will be impassable for larger military vehicles. That area houses Al-Nuri mosque where the ISIS group's Iraq-born supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate in June 2014 after his forces took the city. 'IS and Sunni insurgent groups also have had historical support zones in western Mosul,' said Patrick Martin, Iraq analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, warning that federal forces there may receive less warm a welcome than in the east. The United Nations and other relief organisations had planned for an unprecedented exodus of up to one million people, but so far about 160,000 civilians have been displaced as a result of the Mosul offensive. A man who fell asleep while riding the New York subway woke up to find himself on fire while a callous teenager laughed at him. Piotr Olszewski, 30, was riding home to Brooklyn from his friend's house on the G train at 2.30am on Friday, January 20, when the incident happened. Police said he was purposely set alight by 18-year-old Christopher Jackson, from Brooklyn, who stood there laughing as Mr Olszewski dashed off the train to get help at Court Square station in Queens. Piotr Olszewski, 30, was set alight at 2.30am on Friday, January 20, when he was asleep on a subway The 30-year-old suffered second-degree burns on his hands and arm and received hospital treatment He was aided by two conductors as Jackson, who did not try to escape, was detained by a transit worker. Speaking about the incident, Mr Olszewski told CBS2: 'I was screaming from the pain. 'He was enjoying it. He was still there next to me.' He suffered second-degree burns on his hands and arm and has said he hopes Jackson will face jail and more will be done to prevent future incidents on the subway. He said he hopes Christopher Jackson, who police named as the suspect, will face jail and more will be done to prevent future incidents on the subway His mobile phone cover was also melted during the incident. Jackson has been charged with arson, assault and reckless endangerment He added: 'It's not safe, people getting pushed onto the tracks. You know what I mean? Stabbed, robbed and now me catching on fire. Ridiculous.' Court records show Jackson has previous arson charges after setting a trash can on fire at Queens Vocational and Technical High School and two other sites in October. He was charged with arson, assault and reckless endangerment. A major malfunction in the UK's Trident nuclear missile deterrent is said to have been covered up by Downing Street US officials have confirmed an 'anomaly' did lead to the failure of a British Trident missile test despite the refusal of the Defence Secretary to give MPs details. Confirmation from US defence sources as Sir Michael Fallon was on his feet in the Commons rejecting questions. The Defence Secretary branded reports of the missile failure 'speculation' and insisted HMS Vengeance was successfully recertified and back on operational duty. A US defence official with 'direct knowledge' of the incident said the anomaly triggered self destruct procedures that involved crashing the Trident missile into the sea off Florida, CNN said. The Sunday Times revealed the alarming incident, which did not involve a nuclear warhead, yesterday. Prime Minister Theresa May refused four times in an interview to say if she was aware of the major malfunction before she led July's Trident debate. She confirmed tonight she was briefed on the launch but refused to confirm what she was told or what happened. TRIDENT FAILURE: WHAT HAPPENED? Defence sources have told CNN that Britain's Trident missile test failed because of an 'anomaly' detected during launch. Under normal conditions, the Trident missile is fired from below the sea's surface before heading into a high sub-orbital flight to its target. In this case, a source with direct knowledge of the incident said, electronics on board the missile detected a problem. This triggered a self destruct mechanism that involved re-directing the rocket to a crash site off the Florida coast. Advertisement The government has been accused of imposing a 'news blackout' on the June test to avoid embarrassment before MPs were asked to vote on renewing the deterrent. Despite MPs' questions, Sir Michael insisted he would not discuss the operational details of 'systems or sub systems' on Britain's nuclear submarines. Sir Michael said the Government had full confidence in the Trident nuclear deterrent and said HMS Vengeance was successfully certified and returned to operational duties. He played down the reports, branding them 'speculation' and urging MPs they should not 'believe everything in the weekend press'. Labour MP Mary Creagh challenged Sir Michael on the CNN report but he again refused to give 'operational details' about a Trident missile. The Commons debate began amid bizarre scenes as Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg moved a motion that the House should sit in private to debate the failure. His motion was defeated. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon (pictured in the Commons today) refused to give more details to MPs, insisting he would not discuss the operational details of 'systems or sub systems' on Britain's nuclear submarines Business Secretary Greg Clark also tried to sidestep questions as he toured TV and radio studios this morning, saying the government did not routinely comment on such matters - despite press releases and footage previously having been issued about successful Trident tests. But Defence Select Committee chairman Julian Lewis said most of the blame for the debacle belonged to Mr Cameron, as the failure happened just before he handed over power to Mrs May. But the ex-PM's media team have condemned the claim they had been involved in a cover up as 'completely false'. 'In fairness to the present prime minister one has to accept that she has been dealt a rotten hand because this matter, the decision to cover it up, if there was such a decision, as appears to be the case, was taken in the dying days of the Cameron administrations when spin doctors were the rule in Number 10 Downing Street,' Mr Lewis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. The Trident II D5 missile is believed to have veered off course during a test near the coast of Florida last June. But Mrs May did not mention the failed test when the Commons voted in July to spend 31billion on four new Trident submarines. She repeatedly avoided direct questions on her knowledge of the test yesterday, simply saying she had 'absolute faith in our Trident missiles'. Theresa May, pictured at a Cabinet meeting held in Runcorn, Cheshire, today, refused four times yesterday to say if she knew about a major malfunction in the UK's Trident nuclear missile deterrent Pressed on the issue today, the PM's spokeswoman said: 'The Defence Secretary and the Prime Minister are routinely informed when one of these specific 'demonstration and shakedown' operations are planned and on the outcome of them. 'In this instance, that was in June so it was under the then prime minister (David Cameron). On taking office, the current Prime Minister was briefed on a range of nuclear issues, including this.' TORY MP LASHES OUT AT CAMERON OVER TRIDENT FIASCO A top Tory has lashed out at David Cameron over the Trident fiasco - blaming his spin doctors for covering up the apparent misfire. The chair of the Commons defence committee, Julian Lewis, said Theresa May had been dealt a 'rotten hand' by her predecessor. But Mr Cameron's former media team have hit back, saying the MP's claim is 'entirely false'. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Lewis said: 'In fairness to the present prime minister one has to accept that she has been dealt a rotten hand because this matter, the decision to cover it up, if there was such a decision, as appears to be the case, was taken in the dying days of the Cameron administrations when spin doctors were the rule in Number 10 Downing Street.' But a spokesman for the ex-PM's media aides said he was 'making claims with no evidence'. Advertisement The spokeswoman declined to say whether Mrs May was informed of a malfunction in the missile system - insisting it is not Government policy to discuss operational details of tests in public. 'We have been clear that the submarine and the crew were successfully tested and certified,' said the spokeswoman. 'That was the purpose of the operation. 'What is also clear is that the capability and effectiveness of the Trident missile is unquestionable.' Pressed about the controversy today, Mr Clark said: 'It's been the long-standing policy not to comment on tests of weapons systems and, if that's the approach that you take, I think we have to abide by that approach.' The former head of the Royal Navy blasted No10 over its 'bizarre and stupid' decision to 'cover up' a major malfunction in the UK's Trident nuclear missile deterrent and said it made Britain look like North Korea. Admiral Lord West, who led the Navy from 2002-2006 and later served as a security minister, said the decision not to admit the failed test was 'extraordinary'. He said the cover-up was probably the work of some 'silly' special adviser [Spad] trying to be 'clever'. 'The whole point of testing and firing things is to see that they work. What I am shocked by is why the Government didn't come clean about it,' he told the BBC. 'If a firing goes wrong, you should say that it's gone wrong unless you think there's something that means so fundamentally wrong that the whole system is no longer viable. 'And from what the Government says that there was a minor glitch with the missile and they're quite happy with the system still, in which case go ahead and let people know. Defence Select Committee chairman Julian Lewis has said most of the blame for the debacle belongs to David Cameron 'Otherwise we're rather like the Soviet used to be, or like North Korea or China, where they won't admit to things going wrong when you're actually testing them to see if they do or don't go wrong.' He added: 'Historically, we've made a bit of a pageant of these events because it shows that the system works properly and we've had a boat accompanying it and we then send out pictures of the firing. 'You show the missile streaking away, we say we've conducted a firing, those videos are released. 'But I think it is bizarre and stupid that they didn't say that there had been a firing and that there'd been a missile malfunction, that it was a minor fault indeed, if it was something that was fairly straightforward and not top secret that went wrong they could have even said what it was. 'It's much better to be open, but I imagine it was some Spad or something some silly Spad said 'ooh let's not tell anyone' and they thought this would be clever advise and it's not it's absolutely stupid actually.' Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called for 'full disclosure' about who knew what when, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called the failed test 'a pretty catastrophic error'. The long-standing unilateralist said we should use the revelations to have a 'serious discussion' about the future of our nuclear deterrent. 'I think this failure is something that ought to pause everyone for a moment and just think what happened,' he said. Mrs May dodged questions on her knowledge of the failed test during an interview on the Andrew Marr Show yesterday 'We understand the Prime Minister chose not to inform Parliament about this and it's come out through the media some months later. 'It's a pretty catastrophic error when a missile goes in the wrong direction and whilst it wasn't armed, goodness knows what the consequence of that could have been, I think we need a serious discussion about that.' Mrs May was repeatedly pressed on her knowledge of the failed test on the Andrew Marr Show. But she dodged the questions, saying: 'When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident, whether or not we should have Trident missiles, an independent nuclear deterrent in the future. 'I think we should defend our country, I think we should play our role in Nato with an independent nuclear deterrent. 'Jeremy Corbyn thinks differently, Jeremy Corbyn thinks we shouldn't defend our country.' Jeremy Corbyn, a long-standing unilateralist said we should use the revelations to have a 'serious discussion' about the future of our nuclear deterrent Asked again, Mrs May replied: 'The issue we were talking about in the House of Commons was a very serious issue. 'It was about whether or not we should renew Trident, whether we should look to the future and have a replacement Trident. 'That's what we were talking about in the House of Commons, that's what the House of Commons voted for.' When host Andrew Marr asked about her knowledge of the test for a final time, Mrs May said: 'There were tests that take place all the time for our, regularly, for our nuclear deterrents. 'What we were talking about in that debate that took place was about the future.' During the test last June the missile, fired from HMS Vengeance, was aimed at a sea target off the west coast of Africa but may have gone in the wrong direction, towards the US. The missile, fired from HMS Vengeance (pictured) during a test near the coast of Florida, was reportedly aimed at a sea target off the west coast of Africa but may have gone in the wrong direction, towards the US It was the only firing test of a British nuclear missile in four years. A senior naval source told the Sunday Times: 'There was a major panic at the highest level of Government and the military after the first test of our nuclear deterrent in four years ended in disastrous failure. 'The upcoming Trident vote made it all the more sensitive.' The incident took place shortly before Mrs May replaced David Cameron as Prime Minister. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pictured, called for 'full disclosure' about who knew what when Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith said: 'This report of a Trident missile veering off course during a test is clearly a very serious matter indeed, and we need to know exactly what happened.' 'Furthermore, it is completely unacceptable that today the Prime Minister chose to side-step questions on the test, and would not even tell us when she knew about the incident.' A Government spokesman said: 'The capability and effectiveness of the Trident missile, should we ever need to employ it, is unquestionable. 'In June the Royal Navy conducted a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance, as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew. 'Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent.' Officials refused to provide further details on the submarine's operations, citing 'obvious security reasons'. German finance minster Wolfgang Schauble (file picture) said Britain should look to Switzerland for its post-Brexit model Britain should look to Switzerland for a post-Brexit model of 'close co-operation', German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble has claimed. He said Britain needed a 'wise political solution' to Brexit and cited how Switzerland had 'cleverly' linked with the European Union. A series of bilateral deals have been struck between Switzerland and the EU meaning it accepts free movement of people and certain rules on trade. It also pays a contribution to the EU budget but is not a full member. Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted Britain will pursue a 'clean Brexit' and will not seek to cling on to parts of its existing membership. Mr Schauble told Swiss paper NZZ: 'Britons should take as an example how cleverly Switzerland has linked national sovereignty and close cooperation with the European Union.' The German minister branded David Cameron 'irrational' for calling the EU referendum and said Brexit would be 'bad in the long term' for Britain. He said: 'The world has changed and it will continue to change. 'One has to take the growing uncertainty in the population seriously and explain necessities, instead of arouse illusions, there is also an easy way out. 'Brexit is bad in the long term for Great Britain. In the short run, the economy is currently doing well, but this is mainly because the pound has weakened. 'We know that countries that rely on devaluations of their currency are not successful in the long term. Prime Minister Theresa May (pictured on the Andrew Marr programme yesterday) has insisted Britain will pursue a 'clean Brexit' and will not seek to cling on to parts of its existing membership 'Switzerland is much more successful than others because it is forced to innovate by its strong currency.' The latest intervention from an EU politician comes days after Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem claimed Brexit would take Britain back to the 1970s. Mr Dijsselbloem said: 'Let's speak to each other again in 20 years, and then England will be back to where it was in the seventies. 'Totally outdated, massive unemployment, totally impoverished.' A British schoolboy was offered 5million by American investors for a money-saving website he created in his bedroom at his parents' house but rejected it in the hope of making more money. Mohammed Ali, 16, who launched his first company aged 12, has earned more than 40,000 after creating his own video game and a financial app for the stock market. The teenager, from Dewsbury, Yorkshire, is now set to launch a price comparison site with 60-year-old business partner Chris Thorpe and claims it is unrivalled by competitors. Savvy teenager: Mohammed Ali, 16, was offered more than 5million by American investors for a groundbreaking money-saving website he created in his bedroom but rejected it Mr Ali said that when the pair met a group of Americans in London to discuss an investment, they instead offered to buy the company for a sum of 'more than 5million'. The sixth-form student would not disclose the exact figure but said: 'We met the investors in London, they were a global data driven company, and they didn't realise I created all the technology involved. 'The offer was rejected in December, just before Christmas. 'The main reason we rejected the offer was because, if the technology and concept is worth millions already, just think how much it will be worth once people use it. 'I understand this is a big risk for me but I want to create this as a household name, and at the same time make something for myself. 'The big thing about what we're doing is that there are no competitors - this is a real time money saving expert - it's like a Bloomberg for the general public.' For his latest venture, weneed1.com, Mr Ali said he has 'developed an algorithm which provides real time quotes instead of the normal pre-fixed quotes you find on insurance sites.' The idea for the money-saving website came from Mr Thorpe, an entrepreneur who lives in Scarborough with his family. He founded WeNeed1 in 2009 as a reverse marketing platform designed to introduce buyers to sellers of goods and services in the UK, but it wasn't until he arranged a meeting with Mr Ali that the idea really took off. The student, who still lives with his parents (pictured) and siblings, said he became interested in computers from a young age and taught himself how to code by watching YouTube videos Multi-million pound idea: The money-saving website created by Mohammed Ali is shown here The teenager (pictured playing on a PC as a four-year-old) launched his first company aged 12. He has earned more than 40,000 after creating his own video game and a financial app The teenager, who came to Mr Thorpe's attention on BBC News in Yorkshire, coded the WeNeed1 platform in his bedroom while studying for his A-levels. The site is designed to alert both buyers and sellers of available products, everything from properties to electronic items, with constantly updated prices. Set to be launched on January 28, the young entrepreneur said he now hopes to inspire other teenagers to get involved in the business world. HOW THE 5MILLION WEB IDEA WAS BORN For his latest venture, Mr Ali said he has 'developed an algorithm which provides real time quotes instead of the normal pre-fixed quotes you find on insurance sites' The idea for the money-saving website came from Yorkshire entrepreneur Chris Thorpe. He founded WeNeed1 in 2009 as a reverse marketing platform designed to introduce buyers to sellers of goods and services in the UK. One evening while having a meal with his daughter Candice, 27, and son Jared, 24, the trio began discussing business ideas and came up with it. Mr Thorpe then heard about Mohammed Ali after watching a segment on the teenager on BBC News in Yorkshire. He arranged a meeting and the 16-year-old then coded the WeNeed1 platform in his bedroom while studying for his A-levels. Advertisement Mr Ali previously hit the headlines when he created Project 2006, a video game which had a 5.99 per month subscription cost and made 30,000. The teenager, who still lives with his parents and siblings, said he became interested in computers from a young age and taught himself how to code by watching YouTube videos and reading books. Mr Ali said: 'Right now I work from the bedroom day and night but we're launching this globally so we will need to travel more. 'My mum used to hate me going on the computer all the time but I think she's proud of what I'm doing now and my brother has been inspired by what I'm doing. 'I have learned everything from watching videos and books - there's not much being done in schools and the education system is a bit messed up. 'Anyone can revise for exams but I don't think enough is being done to prepare people for getting out in the real world. 'I want other people to be inspired and I want to inspire young people to develop a work ethic - it disgusts me when you see young people just getting drunk on a Friday night.' The teenager, who is studying for English, geography and law A-levels, said his most extravagant purchase so far has been contributing 1,400 towards refurbishing his parents' living room. The student said that the majority of his fortune is placed in savings accounts to help fund his business ventures. Mr Ali, who estimates that he has earned around 41,000 from his businesses, said: 'If I see some clothes or trainers I like I'll buy them but most of my money is saved. 'I look at the things I make as inventions and I like to be proud of building them up. 'People think you need to have a massive investment or to take out loans but you don't - you can start small and build it up.' This is the distressing moment a terror-stricken dad runs from a restaurant with his two-year-old daughter in his arms after she was hit by a stray bullet during a shoot-out between a car thief and police. Sofia Braga was fatally injured as she had fun in a children's play area at Habib's in Rio de Janeiro. She was pronounced dead after her police officer father reached hospital with her. Scroll down for video This is the distressing moment a terror-stricken dad runs from a restaurant with his two-year-old daughter in his arms after she was hit by a stray bullet during a shoot-out between a car thief and police Sofia Braga is carried by her father Felipe de Souza Amaral Fernandez who was was fatally injured as she had fun in a children's play area at Habib's in Rio de Janeiro Grief-stricken Felipe de Souza Amaral Fernandez, who works for the city's 16th battalion, confirmed the tragedy in an emotional tweet, saying: 'Friends of the 16th battalion. 'It was my daughter, it was my daughter. 'It was during a police pursuit. 'My daughter was in the play area at Habib's and the bullet the car thief fired hit my daughter. 'She didn't survive.' Speaking ahead of the funeral to local press and explaining how he had gone to investigate after hearing the commotion outside the restaurant, he revealed: 'I got up and went to see what was happening while the mothers who were there went looking for their children in the play area. 'I heard my wife shouting out the name of my daughter and yelling, "Sofia, Sofia," when she didn't appear. 'When I heard that I ran after her but couldn't find her. 'When all the other children came out and I saw she didn't I climbed up one of the slides and saw she was at the top with her head covered in blood. 'I can't believe this is happening. 'I live with danger but I never thought something like this would happen to Sofia. 'I always feared she would lose me and never envisaged it might happen the other way round. 'She was so beautiful, happy and intelligent, more than any other child I've seen before. The father took his daughter to the hospital where she was tragically pronounced dead 'She brought my wife and I nothing but happiness.' The tragedy happened around 10pm on Saturday night. Police said afterwards they began their pursuit after the suspect, arrested after his stolen car overturned during the chase, refused to stop at a routine roadblock. Sofia was buried on Sunday at Iraja Cemetery near to where she was killed less than 24 hours earlier. Her mum Heriga Braga published an emotional Facebook message saying: 'Today I lost my angel. 'An angel aged two years and seven months who showed me the best things in life.' She also posted a series of poignant videos, including one showing the youngster counting to ten in English, alongside the message: 'I chose to bring you into the world, I chose to make you my companion for life, I chose to hold your hand and walk with you wherever you went.' Stray bullets are an increasing danger for Rio's citizens. The government hasn't published statistics on the victims of stray bullets since 2013. But a local radio station reported in July last year 33 of 125 people injured by stray bullets in the first six and a half months of 2016 died, compared with 95 stray bullet shootings for the whole of 2015. A stray bullet passed through the tented roof of the equestrian media centre at the Rio Olympics last August, landing near a photographer and next to a busy entrance. It was initially believed to have come from nearby army live-fire exercises, though Rio 2016 claimed it was fired from a favela. Eighteen children are said to have died from stray bullets in Rio de Janeiro since 2015. A lion bit the heads and legs of two animal keepers while they were bathing him inside a cage in preparation for a photo shoot. The lion, reportedly a 10-year-old male, was chained and did not escape. The keepers, a man in his 20s, and a female in his 50s, remain conscious but were severely injured. Established in 1972, Shonan Animal Production is the largest animal actor agency in Japan. The company has a total of 400 types of animals used for TV commercials and shows The two employees were bathing the the lion owned by Shonan Animal Production, a company that rears animals for television productions and film projects. It made an emergency call at around 11am on January 23, saying the lion kept at the organization in the Japanese city of Narita 'bit' people. Local media reported that the middle-aged woman and a man in his twenties had their face, head and legs bitten when the lion suddenly turned aggressive. Another woman in her 20s was present when the incident took place, but was not injured. The company's website shows that it is certified by the prefecture to raise 'dangerous animals,' and NHK reported the company had 15 lions under their care as of September last year. But the police and the prefecture's health facility officials are investigating whether or not there were any abuse of animal rights or oversight in management. Hideki Maruyama, chief of Inba Health and Welfare Center's hygiene department, said: 'We will direct the company accordingly if a problem comes to light based on (animal rights) law.' Established in 1972, Shonan Animal Production is the largest animal actor agency in Japan. The company has a total of 400 types of animals used for TV commercials and shows, according to Japanese media. It relocated from the prefecture city of Togane to Narita in 2010 and owns approximately 10,000 square meters of land 1 kilometre northeast of Narita Airport. It was not immediately available for comment. The company's website shows that it is certified by the prefecture to raise 'dangerous animals' The incident comes a month after a circus trainer was mauled by a lion during a live show in Egypt. Trainer Islam Shaheen, 35, was filmed motioning at a lion with a stick as another lion climbed up a ladder during a performance in Alexandria. At that moment, a third lion launched a savage attack on the trainer, rearing up and biting him in the neck as watching children screamed in terror. Shaheen was rushed to Andalusian Salam hospital but died later from his injuries. A video of a man letting a huge swinging wooden pillar repeatedly hitting his crotch has left the Chinese web users astonished. The man, in black tracksuit, is believed to be practising 'Iron Crotch', a Shaolin Kung Fu stunt through which practisers showcase the strength of their manhood. Kung Fu masters claimed that the stunt could help treat erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Ready, steady, go: The Chinese man let a huge wooden pillar repeatedly swing into his groin The video was posted on Weibo, a Chinese micro-blogging platform, by an account named 'Qidi Daily' yesterday. As the video shows, the man repeatedly pushed the wooden pole and let it swing back to his crotch. He squatted in front of the pole to make sure it could hit his vital parts directly. Chinese people believe that the squatting position helps him transport his 'chi energy' down to his manhood, making it as hard as iron. It is claimed that the stunt could treat erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation The Iron Crotch, as its name suggests, is a Kung Fu stunt which helps men to train themselves from being attacked in the groin. It is also considered to bring health benefits to men as the exercise regime could stimulate the blood circulation and improve the flexibility of the tissues around the testicles. Preparatory exercises and guidance are mandatory before performing the stunt. Transporting the chi down to the crotch and staying focus are the key to the 'Iron Crotch' stunt According to Kung Fu masters, before practising 'Iron Crotch', a man needs to focus on his body sensation and massage his testicles, such as pushing them outwards. Such exercise has to be done for at least 300 to 500 times per day in order to reach the level of the man from the video. To practise the 'Iron Crotch' stunt, other forms of exercise include attaching weights to the crotch or dragging heavy objects using the crotch are advised to do so. However, these exercises are not supported by the Western doctors to prevent erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. HMRC's 70million computer system may not be able to cope with hundreds of millions of extra customs checks after Brexit, ministers have been warned. Theresa May confirmed last week that Britain would leave the customs when it quits the EU and its single market. This could mean all goods coming in and out of Britain will need customs declarations - potentially 390 million declarations a year. The 25-year-old current system - known as Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (Chief) - was designed to handle 50 million items a year. But its 70million replacement Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is designed for only double that capacity. HMRC, based on Whitehall (pictured) has a new 70million computer system that may not be able to cope with hundreds of millions of extra customs checks after Brexit A Whitehall official told The Times: 'Its fair to say that Chief and what to do about its replacement is one of the more horrendous problems right now.' Drawing up a system for post-Brexit Britain is complicated by the fact officials have no idea yet what the new system will be. The new CDS system is supposed to enter service in 2019, the same year as Brexit if talks end after two years as planned. CDS was flagged as 'amber' in a Government review of major projects. An HMRC spokesman said: 'The new system will support any changes to legislation, redesigned business processes and increased volumes of transactions. 'HMRC is prioritising the delivery of CDS to make it ready by January 2019. 'For a period of time, during the cutover and migration phase, we are planning for the two systems (Chief and CDS) to operate in tandem at the border. 'This would provide extra contingency should we need it to ensure that the UK has a robust border declarations service.' This quick-thinking moped rider survived being run over by a 30ft truck by curling into a ball to avoid being crushed by its huge wheels. The woman was hit by the long lorry as she crossed into its path on a busy road in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She tumbled under the vehicle as it continued moving - with the driver unaware someone was under his truck. The woman was hit by the long lorry as she crossed into its path on a busy road in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam But after the lorry passed over she emerged alive and apparently without any serious injuries. Traffic accidents are a serious problem in Vietnam, with an estimated 14,000 people dying each year in collisions, according to the World Health Organisation. These often involve mopeds or scooters, as these make up more than 80% of registered vehicles in the country. The majority of motorcycle helmets do not meet international safety standards, and child passengers are often seen riding unprotected. A UFO expert who claims to have been abducted by aliens has released pictures he believes are of the ghost of Robin Hood. But the man who stole from the rich to give to the poor was captured not in Sherwood Forest, but in Cockington, Devon. John Mooner shot the pictures of a caped figure wearing a hat and wielding a sword and said he was left stunned. The picture John Mooner took which he believes shows the ghost of Robin Hood with a sword The images appear to show a ring of smoke which forms a figure with a pointed hat and a sword. He said: 'I was not smoking and there was not any smoke when the photograph was taken. It really is a peculiar manifestation. 'If you look closely at the photograph you can clearly see a ghost of someone in a hat with a cape wielding a sword with a hand guard. Mr Mooner, a UFO expert, said he can see the shape of someone in a cape and hat, wielding a sword Robin Hood is often portrayed as wearing Lincoln green and donning a pointed hat when he steals from the rich ROBIN HOOD AND NOTTINGHAM Robin Hood was a heroic character of English folklore and was associated with several places over the centuries, most notably Sherwood Forest. The first mention of him there was made around 1420 in the Lincoln Cathedral Manuscript. Robin Hood's Well and the Major Oak are also linked with him and his band of merry men. He was also linked with West Yorkshire and Barnsdale at other points. Advertisement 'The ghost appears to be manifesting from the top of a wall right side of the the arch. 'This is incredible.' Mr Mooner, of Newton Abbot, Devon, has taken several pictures showing other world activity over the years, and claims he was abducted for an hour in 2014. He said he has always been fascinated by UFOlogy and has been studying the field for more than two decades. On his website, he says he has photographed UFOs leaving and entering the sea on the English coast and that he encounters strange phenomenon every day. More recently, he thinks he may have been abducted in 2016 and believes he could have had a sexual encounter with a Pleiadian woman, who said he would have to 'go back' with her if he got her pregnant. Mr Mooner is chief photographer for World UFO photos and a member of The British Earth and Aerial Mysteries Society. Marco Rubio rescued Donald Trump's nominee for for secretary of state on Monday morning. The Republican senator said he would support Rex Tillerson when his confirmation comes before the Senate Foreign Relations committee today, despite significant reservations over the former oil baron's personal relationship with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. 'I believe the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet,' Rubio said. Tillerson's appointment to the post hinged on Rubio voting yea. The full Senate must also approve him, but Rubio and two other Republicans who could have derailed Tillerson said they would vote along party lines, all but assuring his confirmation. Decision time: Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon CEO who attended President Trump's inauguration with his wife Renda, will receive a vote from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today The decision was in the hands of Marco Rubio. Rubio said this morning that he will vote yea Lukewarm backing: John McCain and Lindsey Graham both offered endorsements of Tillerson, suggesting he would be approved if Rubio allowed his nomination to come before the full Senate Rubio, whom Trump defeated for the GOP presidential nomination last year, clashed with Tillerson at a committee hearing earlier this month. The Florida senator bridled at Tillerson's refusal to label Russian President Vladimir Putin a 'war criminal' or condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. He chided Tillerson over the need for 'moral clarity.' 'Despite his extensive experience in Russia and his personal relationship with many of its leaders, he claimed he did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists, and political opponent,' the Republican senator said in a statement Monday. Rubio said he continues to have concerns about Tillerson's position on sanctions. The millionaire said at a hearing that he would only support punishing actions if they met the 'impossible condition that they not affect U.S. businesses operating in Russia. 'While he stated that the "status quo"should be maintained for now on sanctions put in place following Putins illegal taking of Crimea, he was unwilling to firmly commit to maintaining them,' Rubio said. The Republican senator said he was, however, 'encouraged' by Tillerson's assertion that Russia hacked the emails of Democrats as the intelligence community has claimed and his declaration that the Russian invasion of Crimea was illegitimate. He was ultimately convinced to vote for Tillerson, who he described as qualified and patriotic, based on his belief that it 'would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy.' ' I remain concerned that in the years to come, our country will not give the defense of democracy and human rights the priority they deserve, and will pursue a foreign policy that too often sets aside our values and our historic alliances in pursuit of flawed geopolitical deals,' Rubio said in a lengthy Facebook post. 'But in making my decision on his nomination, I must balance these concerns with his extensive experience and success in international commerce, and my belief that the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet.' His vote was effectively the deciding one in the case of Tillerson's nomination. A refusal by Rubio would have presented the Trump administration with its first clash with the Senate and force them to find a new nominee. Decision time: The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committe, Ben Cardin, says he will not vote for Rex Tillerson, suggesting that all Democrats on the committee will follow him. That made Rubio the deciding vote The scenario became less likely on Sunday after two influential Republican senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina offered tepid endorsements of the former Exxon Mobil chief. The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had said he could not support Trump's nominee for secretary of state, and other Democrats on the committee are expected to follow him. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland said in a statement ahead of the vote that Tillerson's business orientation and confirmation hearing answers could compromise his ability to forcefully promote U.S. values and ideals. Specifically, Cardin said he based his opposition on Tillerson's unwillingness to call Russia and Syria's atrocities 'war crimes,' or to describe Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's extrajudicial killings as gross human rights violations. Advertisement Deep in the hills of Bangladesh, isolated tribes are clinging on to their traditional way of life. Photographer Rehman Asad spent weeks in the Bandarban district, one of the three tribal populated Chittagong Hill districts, in south-eastern Bangladesh to meet some of the hidden tribes. He visited five tribal villages home to 11 indigenous groups including the Murongs, the fourth largest tribe in the area. Indigenous women in Bangladesh walk along a precarious makeshift bridge as they collect water from a hill stream Photographer Rehman Asad observed that women do all the household work in the tribe during his visit to Bangladesh A man of the Murong tribe plays a traditional bamboo flute during the Kumlang festival, which is observed before the harvest The Murongs live as poor farmers and eat tiger, dog, goat, pig, cow and many other animals. Their delicacy is nappi made of fermented fat of fish, frog, deer or boar, mixed with rice. Mr Asad said: 'Their homes were made by bamboo and woods on hilltops, locally known as Machang Ghar. Every house has three or more rooms and a little balcony in front of the house. 'Those rooms are used for beds, kitchen, store room and guest room. They have no furniture and no electricity. Some people use a small solar panel for using lights. 'They sleep on the ground of the house using a simple home made mat as a bed and they sleep together.' The Murongs live as poor farmers and eat tiger, dog, goat, pig, cow and many other animals Some of the Murong tribe live in one of the nearly two hundred villages located in the tropical forests of the Chittagong Hills A woman crouches at the entrance to her small village home, that has no furniture or electricity Members of the tribe enjoy a meal on bamboo sticks - they are highly skilled in producing bamboo items An indigenous girl cradles her baby during the Kumlang festival, where the tribe prays for plentiful crops for the year ahead When visiting a small Murong village called Chomipara, Mr Asad witnessed the indigenous group celebrate the Kumlang festival, in which they ceremonially kill a cow before the harvest. Traditional folklore has it that the Murong's ancestors sent a cow to Torai, the great spirit, to seek help when they realized other tribes had a written language and rules for living. Torai wrote the rules on banana leaves, but an evil animal ate them, leaving the Mru destitute. The cow is therefore sacrificed in memory of this occasion. During the festival, they pray for plentiful crops for the upcoming year and the community eat, drink and dance to mark the occasion. While the men drink homemade beer and prepar bamboo flutes for the occasion, the women dance in their colourful traditional dress and matching ornaments. Most Murongs are Buddhists although some are Christian converts. They are still animists and worship nature and revere Thurai as the creator of the universe. A boy stands on the edge of a village, home to the hidden tribe that enjoy a simple lifestyle Tribal girls store drinking water during the Kamlang festival in Bangladesh, that is celebrated before the harvest Observing their day-to-day living, Mr Asad said: 'Men do little work regarding the family. They mainly hunt animals to eat from the hill. 'Women work hard. They collect water from the hill stream, river and lake early in the morning and then cook food. They do all the household work. 'They go to the hill to cultivate crops and they collect woods from the hill. 'Children stay home and play with neighbours. They have no educational institutions so they are deprived of education.' He added: 'I hope when people see my images they will learn about the indigenous peoples lifestyle, culture and the hard struggle of their lives.' Deep in the hills of Bangladesh these depleted indigenous tribes are clinging to their traditional way of life Members of the Murong community await the Kumlang festivities in the pictures taken by Rehman Asad Australia's favourite chocolate milk has had a summertime makeover. Frozen Oak Milk is now available in select Caltex petrol stations in Sydney and on the Central Coast, causing hysteria among chocolate milk fans on social media. Dozens of people took to Twitter and Facebook this week in excitement and begged for Oak Milk, which is often referred to as a staple for Aussie kids, to bring the slushie treat to other states. Chocolate milk fans are rejoicing after it was revealed Frozen Oak Milk (pictured) is available at nine Caltex stores throughout Sydney and the Central Coast Fans rushed to nearby stores to buy the frozen version of their childhood treats (pictured) It's release this week has caused hysteria among chocolate milk fans on social media One woman couldn't contain her glee as she posted a photo of herself with the frozen treat and said: 'How could I not get one of these babies!' 'Yes this is a real thing. Frozen f***ing Oak,' two men proclaimed as they sipped on their drinks. 'This is not a drill,' another man posted on Twitter with a Frozen Oak machine. 'It was quite an adventure searching for this but I found it, I tried it and it was one creamy, delicious piece of goodness,' one woman said. Numerous others begged Oak Milk to bring its frozen spin-off to Queensland, Melbourne and Tasmania. 'Oak please bring Frozen Oak to Queensland, not only do we deserve it, but with the heat we need itplease don't disappoint us,' a man pleaded. Oak Milk (pictured) is often referred to as a staple for Australian children 'Yes this is a real thing,' two men proclaimed on Instagram as they sipped the frozen milk slushies (pictured) The closest one to the Sydney CBD is in Neutral Bay The Frozen Oak machines can only be found in nine Caltex stores in NSW as of now, but Oak representatives told fans to 'stay tuned'. 'Caltex Australia is the exclusive stockist for the Frozen Oak chocolate milk and we're excited that the people of NSW think it tastes as good as we do,' an Oak Milks spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. 'Currently, Frozen Oak is located in nine Caltex stores across Sydney, Central Coast and one store in Newcastle the former home of the Oak Milk Factory.' The Frozen Oak machines can only be found in nine Caltex stores (pictured) in NSW as of now, but Oak representatives told fans to 'stay tuned' 'We're excited about the overwhelming positive response from customers and the future of Frozen Oak. There's more to come, so stay cool until then!' The closest locations to the Sydney CBD are in Neutral Bay and Rose Bay. There are others in Bondi Beach, in East Sydney, and Northmead, North Ryde, and Luddenham in West Sydney. Frozen Oak Milk is stocked at Caltex stores in Beresfield, north-west of Newcastle, and two locations along the M1 in Wyong. Advertisement The unsung heroics of an RAF pilot who took part in a top secret mission in World War Two have been revealed after his medals were put up for sale by his family. Herbert Horatio Kitchener went into battle against the Luftwaffe in a biplane, in a secret sortie to help the Norwegians in their last ditch effort to repel the Germans after they invaded the Scandinavian country in April 1940. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his bravery in Norway and the Norwegian Cross - the equivalent of the Victoria Cross - for helping the country in its time of need. Now Wg Cdr Kitchener's medals, his flying goggles and hat, photographs and official letters and log books, have been put up for sale by his family. One of the heroes of the Second World War, RAF pilot Herbert Horatio Kitchener took part in a top secret mission Herbert Horatio Kitchener went into battle against the Luftwaffe in a biplane, in a secret sortie to help the Norwegians in their last ditch effort to repel the Germans after they invaded the Scandinavian country in April 1940 Wing Commander Kitchener was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his bravery in Norway and the Norwegian Cross - the equivalent of the Victoria Cross - for helping the country in its time of need Some 18 Gloster Gladiator biplanes landed near a frozen lake at Aandelsnes in Norway only to find a massive lack of facilities, fuel and ammunition for them. The planes were destroyed one by one in a German bombardment but not before the British had taken down 14 enemy aircraft using a combination of a machine gun on the ground and feint air attacks. Wing Commander Kitchener and the men of 263 Squadron were re-equipped with another 18 Gladiator biplanes to support the Battle of Narvik, further north. Over a period of days Wg Cdr Kitchener and his fellow pilots engaged in furious dog-fights and claimed 50 victories in all. Wg Cdr Kitchener shot down two German bombers and two Stuka dive-bombers and helped provide air cover for the evacuation of Narvik. Ten of the 18 biplanes returned to the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious which was later attacked and sunk with a great loss of life hours later. Wg Cdr Kitchener was not one of them as he had earlier been assigned an aircraft which he flew back to Britain in. The day before he had been due at Buckingham Palace to receive his decorations in March 1941 he was tasked with intercepting a German Junkers 88 bomber off the Cornish coast. His Westland Whirlwind fighter was badly shot up and he was forced to make a crash landing at St Evel aerodrome - suffering a fractured skull and broken arm in the process which he spent months recovering from. Wg Cdr Kitchener, pictured here with his wife Ida, left the RAF in 1945 and worked in local government in Kent. He passed away in 2010 aged 95 Ten of the 18 biplanes returned to the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious which was later attacked and sunk with a great loss of life hours later RAF pilot Herbert Horatio Kitchener, right, with a fellow service man. Wg Cdr Kitchener shot down two German bombers and two Stuka dive-bombers and helped provide air cover for the evacuation of Narvik Wg Cdr Kitchener, from Crowborough, East Sussex, joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1937 at the age of 23 - and went on to become a highly-decorated pilot BATTLE OF NARVIK Two separate incidents make up the battle of Narvik - fought between April 9 and June 8, 1940. The battles comprised of a naval battle and an air battle in the Norwegian city of Narvik. Both were part of the campaign in World War II known as the Norwegian Campaign. Source: Totally History Advertisement His medals are being sold on March 9 by Duke's Auctioneers of Dorchester, Dorset, with a pre-sale estimate of 10,000. Timothy Medhurst, of Duke's, said: 'It is an awe-inspiring archive. It is always amazing to delve into the past and highlight the bravery of men and women during the First and Second World Wars. 'This group is particularly exciting as it is the first time this archive has ever been offered for sale. 'It relates to one of our unsung heroes of the war and draws a picture of an extremely loyal, dedicated and brave man.' Wg Cdr Kitchener, from Crowborough, East Sussex, joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1937 at the age of 23. A month after the outbreak of war he joined 263 Squadron. After the Norway mission the squadron moved to Cornwall to patrol for German E-boats and to escort convoys. He left the RAF in 1945 and worked in local government in Kent. He died in 2010 aged 95. Wg Cdr Kitchener had been due at Buckingham Palace to receive his decorations in March 1941 he was tasked with intercepting a German Junkers 88 bomber off the Cornish coast. Pictured, the confirmation of his Norwegian Cross Auctioneer Timothy Medhurst (pictured) said Wg Cdr Kitchener's medals, flying goggles and hat, photographs and official letters and log books, form 'an awe-inspiring archive' Left, The DFM, Air Efficiency Award, Air Crew Europe Star, (bottom) 1939-45 War Medal and 1939-45 Star and right, Herbert Horatio Kitchener's Norwegian Cross Patrick Rock was given too short a sexual harm prevention order after he was found guilty of making indecent images of children A judge has admitted a former aide to David Cameron who was spared jail for downloading indecent images of girls as young as ten should have got a heavier sentence. Patrick Rock, 65, was a key member of the former Prime Minister's inner circle at Downing Street and had been involved in drawing up government policy on internet porn. He walked free last June because the 'very public humiliation' and the 'loss of his reputation' was deemed punishment enough. Rock kept photos of girls wearing skimpy clothing in sexually suggestive poses on an iPad with labels including 'princess' and 'cutie'. He was found guilty of five counts of making an indecent photograph of a child following a 2016 trial at Southwark Crown Court. Jurors cleared him of three counts of the same charge and were unable to reach verdicts on 12 further charges which will lie on file. Judge Alistair McCreath gave Cameron a two-year conditional discharge on each charge and said: 'The punishment for you is the loss of your reputation and your very public humiliation.' The former No 10 aide was found to have photos of young girls in sexual poses on his iPad The judge also handed Rock a two-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his internet use - but the statutory minimum for such orders is five years. Prosecutors, who have a duty to correct judges when they are in error about their sentencing powers, failed to spot the mistake, which means the SHPO was unlawful. Judge Alistair McCreath imposed the two-year order and spared Rock jail The Commissioner of the Met Police today applied to amend the order, but Judge McCreath has no power to do so because the 56-day limit for corrections has now passed. Officers from the National Crime Agency - known as Britain's FBI - were called in by No 10 to search Rock's office and computers in Downing Street as part of their investigation. The arrest was not made public until details were published in a newspaper three weeks later. Rock, of Fulham, west London, failed to win a seat in Parliament on three separate occasions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He has resigned from his post as a Whitehall advisor. Leslie Benzies, from Elgin in Moray, Scotland, was the president of Rockstar North The former Grand Theft Auto boss has set up his own virtual reality companies despite a 105million row with the firm behind the best-selling video games. Leslie Benzies, 46, from Elgin in Moray, Scotland, was the president of Rockstar North, which oversaw the production on the ever-popular Grand Theft Auto games. He is currently in the middle of a financial dispute with his old company and its US Parent company Take Two Interactive. Mr Benzies claims he was forced out of the company in 2016 and sued his ex-employers, but the publisher denied this and launched their own legal action. While the legal battle rages on, the Bafta-winning producer has set up five new companies in Edinburgh. One of these companies, Royal Circus Games Limited, has applied to the Intellectual Property Office to make clear its aim is to develop games for consoles, PCs and mobile devices. It has also trademarked the title 'Time for a New World' and an associated social media hashtag #TFANW. Another of the firms, VR-Chitect Limited, has filed documents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These documents show that the company will produce headsets and glasses, along with the accompanying software, for virtual reality. Mr Benzies worked as a producer on eight of the Grand Theft Auto titles, which has sold more than a quarter of a billion copies around the world. He claims he was ousted after he took a sabbatical from work. GTA is a worldwide phenomenon but attracted criticism as it encourages players to set up criminal empires, indulge in prostitution, steal cars and kill rivals, police officers and members of the public. GTA is a worldwide phenomenon but attracted criticism as it encourages players to set up criminal empires, indulge in prostitution, steal cars and kill rivals, police officers and members of the public Mr Benzies is suing the company in the US courts, claiming he was not allowed to return to Rockstar North's offices in April last year and that his security pass had been deactivated. He claims bosses at the firm wanted to freeze him out of a royalty deal which involved 450million being shared between him and two colleagues. Rockstar North denies the claim, insists he decided not to return from his sabbatical and is counter-suing the 46-year-old, who now lives in Los Angeles. Rockstar North is regarded as the jewel in the crown of Scotland's video game industry. It was established in Dundee and later moved to Edinburgh. The firm's HQ is the former Scotsman newspaper building overlooking the Scottish parliament. Rockstar North is regarded as the jewel in the crown of Scotland's video game industry. It was established in Dundee and later moved to Edinburgh In his 71-page lawsuit, Mr Benzies says Rockstar recognised the need to keep him on board following his incredible success. The lawsuit, which will be heard at the New York State Supreme Court, claims: 'Mr Benzies was offered the opportunity to become a 'Rockstar Principal', an exclusive group of three which comprised him and English brothers Sam and Dan Houser. 'This entitled him to share equally the fortunes of company game creations through equal distributions of profit-sharing payments under the 2009 Royalty Plan. 'Mr Benzies worked tirelessly with his team for five years and Sam Houser regularly referred to Mr Benzies as his 'partner', sending dozens of emails praising his work.' He claims royalty payments stopped once he began his sixmonth sabbatical. Mr Benzies worked as a producer on eight of the Grand Theft Auto titles, which has sold more than a quarter of a billion copies around the world The lawsuit says: 'Seeming to recognise this record-breaking success, tireless dedication and 19 years of diligence and achievement by Mr Benzies, the Housers flew him to New York in 2014 and encouraged him to take a six-month sabbatical to recharge his batteries. 'However, when he attempted to return, he learned he had been ousted from Rockstar.' The lawsuit claims Mr Benzies's company BlackBerry was remotely disabled and his company email locked. Instead of a royalty deal worth tens of millions he was offered a 'severance' package worth a little over 1million. Rockstar North is owned by Rockstar Star Games, part of giant games publishing firm Take-Two Interactive, based in New York. Rockstar North and Take-Two have filed a counter-claim for breach of contract in a New York court declaring they have 'sought unsuccessfully to resolve this issue through mediation and seek judicial clarification' to resolve it. The suit says: 'Benzies resigned without good reason and the Royalty Plan therefore provides that he is not entitled to any royalties not already accrued and payable to him prior to termination.' Top fashion model Hanne Gaby Odiele has revealed that she is intersex. The married Belgian model, 29, said she is speaking out about her intersex status to break the taboo and discourage parents from putting their children through perhaps unnecessary surgeries. 'It is very important to me in my life right now to break the taboo. At this point, in this day and age, it should be perfectly all right to talk about this.' Odiele told USA Today in an exclusive interview. According to the United Nations, about 1.7 per cent of the world population is born with intersex traits - which is about the same as the number of redheads. Intersex persons are born with sex characteristics that are not exclusively male or female. Model Hanne Gaby Odiele has revealed in an interview with USA Today that she is intersex In Odiele's case, she was born with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, which meant that she has some XY chromosomes, instead of all female XX chromosomes. This resulted in her being born with a set of undescended testes. Her parents had them removed in a surgery at age 10, after doctors warned that they could cause cancer and keep her from developing as a female. But Odiele was not informed about the true reason for the surgery until she demanded answers a few years later, around age 12 or 13. She says she underwent yet another surgery at age 18 to reconstruct her vagina, which also left her in agony. Odiele, 29, is pictured above with her husband, fellow model John Swiatek The Belgian model with born wit undescended testes that were removed in a surgery at age 10, without her consent 'I am proud to be intersex, but very angry that these surgeries are still happening,' Odiele said. 'If they were just honest from the beginning...it became a trauma because of what they did,' Odiele said. Sue Stred, a professor of pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University, says parents often feel compelled to have their intersex children undergo surgery so they look more typical. But in many cases they may just be cosmetic, while carrying lifelong repercussions - such as infertility and a reliance on hormone replacement medications. Stred says the threat of cancer has also been 'vastly overwrought'. Odiele pictured at her wedding last year to Swiatek. She wore white slacks with a long, flowing top Odiele was discovered at a Belgian music festival at the age of 17, but has only begun to talk about her intersex status with close friends in the industry in the past year. So far, she says she has not experienced any kind of backlash. Odiele's husband, John Swiatek, is also a model and says he is 'incredibly proud and happy' his wife is speaking out. 'I am very impressed with her decision to advocate for intersex children in order to give them an opportunity to make up their own minds about their bodies, unlike the lack of options and information Hanne and her family (and many others) were given,' he says. Odiele will also talk about being intersex in this month's issue of Vogue magazine. She is partnering with interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth to raise awareness and champion against childhood surgeries. A former champion netballer is charged with stealing almost $300,000 from an Aboriginal cultural organisation. Kelly Anne Howard is accused of pocketing money from the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation while she worked as its accountant. Her spending spree allegedly included landscaping works for her husband Brad, interactive comedy dinners, and 20 netball dresses. Former champion netballer Kelly Howard, 47, is charged with stealing $300,000 from Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation Her spending spree allegedly included landscaping works for her husband Brad, interactive comedy dinners by Bare Elements, and 20 netball dresses The group sued her in the Victorian Supreme Court last year claiming she stole more than $475,000 over six years. However, she is only being criminally charged on January 10 with one count of theft for the $300,000 according the the Sydney Morning Herald. Wathaurung manages Aboriginal heritage values and culture in Wadawurrung country which includes Ballarat, Melton, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria. The 47-year-old faced the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday, where her lawyer Simon Gillespie-Jones asked for the matter to be moved to Echuca as Howard had moved away from Ballarat. The group sued her in the Victorian Supreme Court last year claiming she stole more than $475,000 over six years. Aboriginal elder Byron Powell pictured But Magistrate Frank Jones said she would need to apply at her next appearance on April 13. Howard was allegedly found out when an audit discovered many payments to her company as part of a wider regulatory investigation. Poor financial management and governance prompted the audit by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took time out from his mission to slaughter drug-dealers by posing with Miss Universe contestants. Addressing the pageant contestants he gushed how he had never been in a 'roomful of beautiful women', adding 'I hope this day will never end'. Eighty-six women will vie for the Miss Universe crown on January 30 in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Scroll down for video Rodrigo Duterte inspects Miss Universe candidates at the presidential palace in Manila Duterte poses for a picture with Belize's Rebecca Rath, as well as Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo (second right) Miss Mexico Kristal Silva walks back to her seat after meeting the controversial president Duterte heaped praise on the Miss Universe contestants and later took pictures with them The president, known for his expletives-laden speeches, said he read prepared remarks 'because they told me that I must behave in my language, in the adjectives that I would be using to characterize or define your beauty, all of you.' The controversial 71-year-old has been criticized for a number of derogatory comments about women, including in November when he joked about looking at his Vice President Leni Robredo's skirt and knees in a Cabinet meeting. During the presidential campaign last year, he also made a tasteless rape joke about an Australian murder victim. His speech also departed from routine by not mentioning his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs. Police figures show more than 7,000 people have been killed during Duterte's bloody campaign. Duterte greets Miss Universe contestant Nuka Karalashvili of Georgia at the event Miss Universe contestants wait for their turn to pose with President Duterte Duterte instead heaped praise on the Miss Universe contestants and later smiled as they had several pictures taken with him. Speaking at the Malacanang presidential palace, he said: 'I must say that God is really good. Aside from the worries of governance, with all the troubles in the world, when we look at you, we forget the universe but only you.' He thanked Miss Universe officials for allowing the Philippines to host the international pageant, which he said had brought enormous pride and joy for countries of winning candidates, including the Philippines, where three winners have come from. He said: 'More than presenting beauty and brains, the Miss Universe competition or any beauty contestant for that matter is an opportunity for you to represent your country, to promote your advocacies, and to advance women empowerment to a greater audience.' The controversial 71-year-old has been criticized for a number of his comments about women Duterte poses with Miss Universe candidates, including Miss Great Britain Jaime-Lee Faulkner However activists said the pageant couldn't be used to gloss over exploitation of women. Emmi De Jesus, of the Gabriela party-list group, said: 'Despite the pomp and supposed celebration of women power surrounding the 65th Miss Universe pageant, women here and abroad remain in their unglamorous and exploited state. 'In the Philippines, 22 women and children are raped every day. Women workers remain concentrated in low-paying, contractual jobs. 'And mothers face rising budget pressure amid looming price hikes in basic commodities, power and water.' 86 candidate are vying for the title in the grand coronation to succeed Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines Miss Universe contestants, from left in foreground, Zuzana Kollarova of The Slovak Republic, Cheryl Chou of Singapore and Hawa Kamara of Sierra Leone, walk back to their seats after meeting Duterte Iris Mittenaere of France (left) and Li Zhenying of China (right) at the event in Manila Duterte won presidential elections in May after pledging to slaughter tens of thousands of drug suspects. Since assuming office, he has called on police and even civilians to kill drug users. Duterte also said he would be 'happy to slaughter' three million drug addicts, and likened his campaign to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's efforts to exterminate Jews in Europe. He later apologised for his Hitler reference, but said he was 'emphatic' about wanting to kill drug users. Last month he boasted about shooting dead three criminal suspects while he was mayor of Davao and he has also threatened to throw corrupt officials from helicopters mid-air, claiming he had done it before. Alfred Siddle (pictured) died at Ingleton House in Ingatestone, Essex, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on October 16 Heartless staff at a sheltered accommodation unit said a deceased pensioner could have been a 'crack' addict in a voicemail message to his grieving son. Alfred Siddle, 63, died at Ingleton House in Ingatestone, Essex, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on October 16. Following Mr Davie's death, his son Alfie, 33, tried to get in touch with the home to talk to a female member of staff who helped his father. The lift engineer visited the home but was unable to get hold of her and left them a voicemail message a couple of days later. A different female staff member called him back four days after his father's death but he couldn't answer as he was busy at work. She left him a message and she thought she had hung up when she proceeded to insult Mr Siddle to her colleague. During the recording, she said: 'He wants to know about his dad's illnesses.' The other woman replies: 'The only thing I knew was that he had COPD and you wouldn't have known it the way he used to scamper around.' The first carer responds: 'And he used to smoke [cigarettes].' She continued: 'Yea he did and he used to smoke dope. When you walk round... you can smell it.' The first carer responds: 'Well maybe he went on the green that night [when he died]? How are we supposed to know? 'Maybe they didn't give him drugs, maybe they gave him a bit of bit of crack. 'How are we supposed to know? It'll come up [in toxicology tests] because he will have a coroner's report I would assume.' She added: 'I just find it funny; he wants to know about his dad's illnesses but he should have known what his dad had I should have thought.' The message left Alfie, of Poplar, London, furious at their lack of compassion. He said: 'They were laughing and joking about my dad passing away. Obviously I'm going to lose my rag hearing that. 'When I first heard it I didn't take much notice. It wasn't until I sent it to my partner I realised it was quite serious. 'What they've done is totally wrong. I was angry. My sister and half-sister were fuming. 'They started slagging my dad off, saying he could have been a crackhead as far as they knew. 'They said he's fine running around the town centre. He could walk but would do ten paces and would have to stop and would struggle breathing so I know that was a lie.' He said the women were unaware that he heard their conversation and he struggled to 'bite his tongue' when one of them called him to speak about his father. Mr Siddle was inadvertently left a voicemail message by staff in which they insulted his dead father Alfie, who lives with his partner Jemma Rogers, said: 'It's more to do with the way they spoke about my dad, about him being a crack head. And saying he could have been doing all sorts of drugs. 'They said he never wanted to associate with them. He was a proud East End man who didn't want help from people but still they could have knocked on his door.' Mr Siddle was a father-of-three and a grandfather of six. He grew up in Canning Town, before moving to Brentwood six years ago. He had lived at the home since 2013. He worked as a painter an decorater before retiring and had three children with Lelia Siddle, 54, who he later divorced. The sheltered accommodation is run by Brentwood Borough Council and consists of 25 flats. A spokesperson said: 'Brentwood Borough Council can confirm it is undertaking an investigation following a complaint regarding Ingleton House in Ingatestone. The enquiry is currently ongoing and therefore Brentwood Borough Council is unable to comment further at this time.' The two members of staff have been suspended while it carried out its investigation. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin see eye to eye when it comes to many foreign policy goals, Russia's foreign minister said today. Sergey Lavrov was speaking at a news conference with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto. 'We have been following the situation in the US,' Lavrov said. 'We can see that many of the major foreign policy issues that Donald Trump has mentioned overlap with what President Putin has been saying about Russia's foreign policy priorities. 'Donald Trump seems to focus on advancing the United States' core interests rather than promoting various ideas and interfering in other countries' internal affairs. This is actually the essence of Russia's foreign policy.' Scroll down for video Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin see eye-to-eye on foreign affairs Lavrov added that Russia and Trump share the goal of defeating Islamic State. He called the fight against ISIS 'a major priority' for both the United States and Russia. Lavrov said, however, that he wants to wait until Trump's team is 'completely formed' and the administration 'officially clarifies its position on the main global issues' before moving forward, TASS reported. Larvrov said that he wants to wait until Trump's team is 'completely formed' before speaking with the administration The foreign minister said that the Obama Administration formed some 'red flags and minefields' before leaving office, making communication between Moscow and Washington, DC, 'seriously complicated'. He said Russia is ready to bring relations between the countries 'back to normal'. 'It will only be possible if relations are based on equality, mutual respect and the search for the balance of interests in the fields where we have common goals, such as the war on terror,' he added. Trump, who has praised Putin, has signaled he wants to improve strained ties with Russia despite US intelligence agencies alleging the Kremlin chief ordered a cyber campaign to help him beat rival Hillary Clinton to the White House. Russia denies it tried to sway the US election by hacking or other means. It has also dismissed as a fabrication a dossier written by a former British spy which suggested Moscow had collected compromising information about Trump. Lavrov dismissed the dossier's author, Christopher Steele, as 'a fugitive charlatan from MI6' and said the dossier looked like part of a campaign to cause problems for Trump and his allies. Putin last week called the same dossier a hoax. While cautioning that the new US administration would need to settle in before wider conclusions could be drawn, Lavrov signalled he was encouraged by the tenor of the Trump team's statements so far which he said suggested it would be possible to have a pragmatic relationship. Lavrov was speaking at a news conference with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto on Monday 'Trump has a particular set of views which differ a lot from his predecessor,' said Lavrov, who accused the Obama administration of wrecking co-operation across a swath of areas and of trying to recruit Russian diplomats as agents. 'By concentrating on a pragmatic search for mutual interests we can solve a lot of problems.' On Tuesday, Putin took a parting shot at the Obama administration accusing it of trying to undermine Trump's legitimacy with fake allegations and 'binding the president-elect hand and foot to prevent him from fulfilling his election promises'. 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.' The story of former CIA director David Petraeus' downfall is set to be adapted for television, and a bidding war has broken out over the rights to the tale. George Clooney and Aaron Sorkin are both hoping to close the deal on Jill Kelley's book 'Collateral Damage: Petraeus, Power, Politics and the Abuse of Privacy' reports Page Six, which details Kelley's affair his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The revelation that Petraeus was having an affair led to his resignation from the CIA, and Kelley's book includes details of the many texts and emails she and her husband Scott exchanged with Petraeus and his wife Holly around that time. 'There are many explosive details about the Petraeus scandal that were never made public, but can be made public in the TV dramatization,' revealed one source. Kelley meanwhile would not comment other than to say: 'There is a lot of interest in the television series about my memoir, but I cant discuss anything, as we dont have the greenlight yet. I will be in LA meeting with my producers in February.' Scroll down for video Bidding war: George Clooney (left) and Aaron Sorkin (right) are both fighting over the rights to the book detailing David Petraeus' downfall Out of a job: Petraeus (above) resigned from his position as director of the CIA in 2012 just as details began to emerge about his affair with biographer Paula Broadwell Detials: Jill Kelley (left), who was close to Petraeus, shared her emails with Petraeus from that time in 'Collateral Damage: Petraeus, Power, Politics and the Abuse of Privacy' (right) Petraeus confided in an email that he had committed 'something terrible and dishonorable' by having an affair with his married biographer Paula Broadwell and explained that by resigning from the CIA he could not be blackmailed, Kelly wrote in her self-published book. The book also includes correspondence between Kelley and Marine Gen. John R. Allen, then-commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and other senior U.S. government officials. The sexually charged emails about Kelley that FBI investigators traced to Broadwell are also in the book. Kelley described her book just prior to its release as providing a glimpse 'beyond the narrative of one powerful man's unbridled ego, ill-timed infidelity, a jealous mistress and her relentless efforts to haunt an innocent family along with the world's most iconic military leaders.' On the afternoon his resignation was announced, Petraeus wrote in an email to the Kelleys that military officials at U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command - both are based at MacDill Air Force Base - 'all knew Paula Broadwell (was) stalking them and me.' He also wrote: 'Bottom line: I did something terrible and dishonorable,' and he said that by resigning as CIA director, 'I guess she can't compromise me then.' Broadwell was not charged with stalking or any other crime in the case. Petraeus pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified information relating to documents he provided to Broadwell. Up for grabs: 'There is a lot of interest in the television series about my memoir, but I cant discuss anything, as we dont have the greenlight yet,' said Kelley (Petraeus and Paula Broadwell left; Broadwell with her biography of Petraeus right) Friends in high places: Kelley was at the inauguration last week, and posted a photo of herself with billionaire Republican donor Sheldon Adelson Kelley had complained to the FBI in 2012 when an unknown person sent her harassing emails. It was that complaint which triggered a criminal investigation that led agents to Broadwell and exposed her affair with Petraeus. Clooney has previously politically-charged produced films including 'Argo,' 'Syriana' and 'The Ides of March,' while Sorkin created 'The West Wing' and got his big break with the screenplay for 'A Few Good Men.' Kelley meanwhile is still a big part of the political scene and attended the inauguration last Friday, posting a photo of herself with big-time donor Sheldon Adelson. And despite his scandal, Petraeus had been under consideration for the position of Secretary of State, but Trump went with ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson in the end. A transgender man studying at Northwestern University tried to join a sorority in fear he wouldn't be comfortable living in a frat house, but was rejected after he wasn't deemed 'fit or eligible'. Adam Davies, from Appleton, Wisconsin, attempted to join one of Northwestern's sororities instead of a men's fraternity because he feared there was a 'possibility of harm'. Davies, 18, identifies as a male but was born a female. He recently came out and started his transition. The freshman student received no bids from any of the 12 sororities at the private Chicago university when he rushed in January. Adam Davies, a transgender man, tried to join a Northwestern sorority in fear that he wouldn't be comfortable living in a frat house with other men. The 18-year-old from Appleton, Wisconsin, feared there was a 'possibility of harm' Davies said he would feel more comfortable surrounded by women because of his changing body and that there was a chance he could be harmed living with all men. He told the Daily Northwestern: 'I understand the fact that I still have a woman's body, and living in a house full of boys there's potential for harm. 'I would feel comfortable in a sorority setting, and I identify with a lot of the values they have.' Several of the sorority chapters deemed him ineligible because of rules that a member must be a woman, or identify as a woman. Davies had trouble finding acceptance at his home in Wisconsin. When he returned for winter break, his mother handed him a lease agreement Northwestern University (pictured) has 12 sororities on campus. Davies was turned down by all of them because he didn't fit the 'fit and eligibility' requirements For three days Davies participated in the recruitment process, until he was dropped from all houses one day before the last round of house visitation. He was called into a meeting with an university administrator who told him he did not meet the 'fit and eligibility' requirements. Several of the sorority chapters deemed him ineligible because of rules that a member must be a woman or identify as a woman, reported the Chicago Tribune. Davies had trouble finding acceptance within the Greek life community and also at home in Wisconsin. When he returned home for the winter break his mother gave him a lease agreement, reported Daily Northwestern. Davies said his mother did not respond well to his transgender identity and he called a hotline to find a place to stay that welcomed LGBTQ identities. Rudy Giuliani said Monday morning that much of the journalism establishment is filled with 'venom' aimed at President Donald Trump and they should admit their biases. Of 'Fox & Friends,' the former New York City mayor blasted NBC News anchor Chuck Todd for badgering Trump senior counselor Kellyanne Conway during a 'Meet the Press' interview. Todd had pressed Conway about why White House press secretary Sean Spicer chose to berate the press corps on Saturday over 'deliberately false reporting.' 'I'd feel a lot better if Chuck [Todd] and the others would just admit that they don't like Trump, they're against Trump, and they're going to view facts in the light most unfavorable to him,' Giuliani said in response. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani said Monday that anti-Trump journalists should admit their 'venom' comes from a deep-seated bias Spicer laced into the media Saturday, his first day on the job, calling out 'shameful and wrong' efforts to 'lessen the enthusiasm' for the inauguration. He was backed by Reince Preibus on Sunday In her sparring match with Todd, Conway insisted Spicer presented 'alternative facts' in the White House briefing room, chosen to balance what had become a one-sided anti-Trump slugfest. 'Wait a minute? Alternative facts?' an incredulous Todd jabbed. 'Four of the five facts he uttered were just not true. Alternative facts are just not facts. They are falsehoods.' On Monday morning, Giuliani said 'Meet the Press' was symptomatic of a media culture dedicated to tearing down the new president. 'I was on that show during the campaign under difficult circumstances any number of times, including all of the others. And, my God, the venom is enormous. They don't like him, and they're looking for things to pick on.' Giuliani also speculated that a much-maligned Time magazine reporter who inaccurately reported that Trump had removed a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. from the Oval Office was likely looking for a reason to criticize Trump. 'The reason that guy probably missed the Martin Luther King bust is that's the preconception that he has of Donald Trump,' he said. Trump had placed a bust of Winston Churchill where King's likeness stood during the Obama years. The King bust had been moved to another shelf in the Oval Office. Meet the Press host Chuck Todd (left) said he was 'befuddled' after Kellyanne Conway (right) said the White House press secretary was providing the public with 'alternative facts' The reporter, Giuliani claimed, 'saw the Churchill bust back where it was, which is where the Martin Luther King bust used to be, and he didn't bother looking around the room to say, "Do they still have the Martin Luther King?"' Because they just assume. 'And that's what leads to these charges of racism. And it's all based on falsehoods. And I don't know if they're going to get over it,' he said. The intervention by the former New York mayor came ahead of Spicer's first full briefing as press secretary and suggests that the Trump administration is not giving up on its war with the media. SO WHAT'S THE BUST-UP OVER? SEAN 'SPHINCTER' SPICER AND THE FOUR VERY TALL TALES HE TOLD Spicer came out swinging in his first media briefing when he accused journalists of 'deliberately false reporting' on Donald Trump's inauguration. But as Spicer lambasted the media for focusing on the size of the crowds at the inauguration, he also used several items of false information - opening himself to criticism from the reporters he was attempting to scold. At the same time a college friend told DailyMail.com how his hatred of the press went back to being called Sean Sphincter in a student newspaper. The resulting feud threatens to drag on for days. Here are the four inaccurate claims Spicer used: White House press secretary Sean Spicer used several pieces of false information when he came out swinging in his first media briefing on Saturday when he criticized the media Metro riders in Washington Spicer said: 'We know that 420,000 people used the D.C. Metro public transit yesterday, which actually compares to 317,000 that used it for President Obama's last inaugural.' Full day Metro ridership for Trump's inauguration day was 571,000 and for Obama's 2013 inauguration it was 782,000, according to the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority. The 317,000 figure Spicer quoted for Obama is the ridership until 11am. The comparable figure for Trump is 193,000 trips. The figures Spicer used don't make for an exact comparison between Obama and Trump's inauguration days. It is not clear where Spicer's 420,000 figure came from. Full day ridership for Obama's inauguration day in 2009 was 1.1 million. Spicer claimed that 420,000 people used the Metro on Friday to see Trump be sworn in as president and that 317,000 used the transit system for Obama in 2013. Metro figures reveal Trump's was 571,000 and Obama's was 782,000 The Washington Metro Area Transit Authority published figures on Friday for the past four inaugurations for people traveling up to 11am ahead of the 12pm ceremony Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts on Friday morning Empty space in crowd Spicer said: 'And from the media tent to the Washington Monument, another 250,000 people. All of this space was full when the President took the oath of office.' Reuters photo editor Jim Bourg says a photo taken at the top of the Washington Monument that shows spaces in the crowd was taken at 12:01:18 p.m. on Friday. At the time Trump was being sworn in as president. 'Only one news organization had a still photographer atop the Washington monument for the inauguration and I assigned him to be there,' Bourg said. 'This photo by Reuters News Pictures staff photographer Lucas Jackson was taken at 12:01:18 p.m. on Friday and not much earlier as many people are trying to claim.' Reuters photo editor Jim Bourg says this photo taken at the top of the Washington Monument that has been widely circulated was taken at 12:01:18 p.m. as Trump was taking the oath of office on Friday. It shows empty space in the crowd. Sean Spicer had claimed crowds reached back to the monument when Trump was being sworn in . Reuters editor Jim Bourg revealed on Sunday that one of his photographers took the photo at exactly 12:01:18 p.m. on Friday Donald Trump said at the CIA on Saturday that his own gut feeling on the crowd size at his inauguration was 'a million and a half people' Floor coverings Spicer said: 'This was the first time in our nation's history that floor coverings have been used to protect the grass on the Mall. That had the effect of highlighting any areas where people were not standing, while in years past the grass eliminated this visual.' Photographs from Obama's inauguration in 2013 clearly show workers laying mats to protect the lawn on the National Mall. It refutes Spicer's claim that 'floor coverings' seen on Friday were a new phenomenon. Workers were pictured laying down special mats to protect the lawn for Barack Obama's inauguration in 2013. Trump's press secretary had claimed on Saturday that mats were used for the first time in 2017 This was the view towards the Washington Monument on Trump's inauguration. It was taken from a platform a few hundred yards from the East Portico of the Capitol Largest ever audience Spicer said: 'This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - period - both in person and around the globe.' Global TV audiences are extremely hard to measure, but domestic TV ratings figures show fewer people watched Trump's inauguration than Obama's in 2009. Nielson ratings, an information company that tracks the television viewing audience of all inaugurations, released its final numbers on Donald Trump's White House induction - at 30.9 million domestic viewers. The 31 million figure is seven million fewer eyeballs than Obama received in 2009. Ronald Reagan is the highest since Nielsen started compiling the domestic viewing figures with Richard Nixon's 1969 oath of office. Reagan drew in a television audience of 42 million viewers when he was sworn in for his first term in 1981. Obama drew an average audience of over 20.5 million in 2013 for his second inauguration, according to Nielsen. A group of homeowners in Brooklyn have been told if they want to sit on their stoops, they will have to pay for the privilege. Nearly three dozen property owners in Boerum Hill say say they are being charged more than $1,000-a-year just to use the steps leading to their homes. Despite owning their homes, which are worth as much as $2.5 million, residents are having to shell out even more to access the staircases up to their front doors, all because of a contract that included an 'illegal' side deal between the developer and city. Developers who built a row of 34 townhouses on State Street between Hoyt and Smith streets in 2005 struck an agreement with the city that allowed them to charge for the staircase Sitting on the stoop is a Brooklyn tradition. The homeowners claim charging $1,000 is illegal 'It's one of those weird, bureaucratic things that doesn't make sense,' said resident Luke Gunnell, 50, to the New York Post. The side deal saw the builder being allowed to construct the homes' six foot stairways linking the property with the sidewalk, but for an additional fee. In exchange, the city receives a special annual tax paid for by the residents. It means that residents are effectively 'renting' the space where their stoops are. A lawyer for the homeowners says the entire deal is 'inconceivable.' Despite their frustration, Manhattan Supreme Court rule in favor of the city last week and the $1,000 annual tax will remain (file photo) Jack Lester sued the city on behalf of the residents in 2015, arguing that the city should only be allowed to enter into such arrangements for temporary structures, such as scaffolding or things like marquees, flagpoles and awnings. Under the current agreement, if the city wanted, they would be well within their rights to demolish the steps entirely. Some homeowners have claimed the first they knew of the unusual agreement was when they were given a bill with an 'administrative fee' for more than $1,000 in 2015. They maintain that the entire agreement is illegal. But, a lawyer for the city, William Vidal, has argued that the residents have nothing to moan about as the deal was clearly stipulated in their buyer's contract. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Joan Lobis ruled on the issue last week and sided with the city saying that the city 'acted within its discretion.' Lester now plans to meet with the homeowners to see if they want to appeal the rules with the city or sue the developer. President Donald Trump sent several more of his predecessor's policies through the paper shredder this morning. Trump made full use of his executive authority to halt Barack Obama's Pacific Rim trade policy and institute a federal hiring freeze that affects all departments - 'except for the military,' Trump was quick to add. Reversing a policy Obama put into place on the same day eight years ago when he began his administration, Trump also moved to prohibit non-governmental organizations from receiving foreign aid if they perform abortions. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Donald Trump signed three more memorandums this morning as he continued to use executive actions to send his predecessor's agenda through the paper shredder The policy was put in place by Ronald Reagan in August of 1984 and was revoked by Bill Clinton. George W. Bush changed the policy again when he took office, reinstating the Reagan policy. With Trump, the pendulum swung to the right again as he signed a memo today returning to the rules imposed by Bush. Trump directed the State Department to 'take all necessary actions, to the extent permitted by law, to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund organizations or programs that support or participate in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.' The memo pertaining to the hiring freeze said it affected all 'federal civilian employees' and would be 'applied across the board in the executive branch.' It left room for exceptions such as Trump's cabinet and other executive appointments. Additionally, department and agency heads 'may exempt from the hiring freeze any positions that it deems necessary to meet national security or public safety responsibilities. 'In addition, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) may grant exemptions from this freeze where those exemptions are otherwise necessary.' The freeze will stay in place until the White House's Office of Management and Budget recommends 'a long-term plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government's workforce through attrition.' It bars the contracting of workers to circumvent the memorandums intentions. Trump is on a mission to undo as many of the Obama-era policies he campaigned against as he can in his first 100 days. He took an ax to Obamacare with his first Oval Office directive Friday. Trump ordered agencies to begin prepping for legislative action that will repeal and replace ex-Obama's health law by 'minimizing the economic burden' of the existing legal requirements. He had his chief of staff Reince Priebus issue a memo to government agencies mandating that they abide by an immediate regulatory freeze' the same day. Trump's team had said that Obama's 12-nation trade agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, was next. He formally withdrew from it as he signed memos earlier today. 'In order to ensure these outcomes, it is the intention of my Administration to deal directly with individual countries on a one-on-one (or bilateral) basis in negotiating future trade deals,' he said in the order. Trump's also looking to change the terms of the North American Trade Agreement. The White House said Saturday that he'll meet with Mexico's president, Enrique Pena Nieto, to discuss the trade pact next week. He'll soon have a face-to-face meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeam, as well. The president is also expected to make official his five-year lobbying ban on senior administration officials and cement his policy on the border wall in short order. He's already said he'd order his administration to begin a 90-day review of Russian hacking and cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the government. That mandate could stay on hold until his national security team is in place. The Senate will vote on his intended CIA Director, Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo. today. It has not yet looked at his nominee for direction of national intelligence, Dan Coats, a Republican senator from Indiana. His defense secretary already in place, Trump is also ready to begin issuing orders to his joint chiefs of staff pertaining to the fight against ISIS, a lobbyist with knowledge of Trump's plans told online news publication Axios. Trump's team has looked at 200 potential executive orders for him to sign right off the bat, Reuters reported, on climate change policy, immigration, and energy, among other issues. Actions on immigration said to be in the pipeline in addition to the border wall had to do with sanctuary cities, which Trump has said he'd direct the federal government to defund, the expansion of E-Verify, and a formal policy on the extreme vetting policy that the president he'd institute to combat terrorism. Trump hosts a meeting with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House this morning. He'll sign executive orders next A Trump source told Axios that the list of orders being queued up includes 'dozens for the EPA.' 'EPA has clean water-related and some 30,000 foot regulatory ones lined up [immediately]...We have dozens for the EPA...Starting Monday through the month of February. We have to roll them out gradually.' The new president's team has been promoting a 'robust' agenda for the Republican leader's first days in office. 'He is committed to not just Day 1, but Day 2, Day 3 of enacting an agenda of real change, and I think that you're going to see that in the days and weeks to come,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the day before Trump took office. Spicer said Trump would sign executive orders on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, 'shortly.' Greg Clark - pictured at a Cabinet meeting in Cheshire today with the PM and Philip Hammond - said the revaluation is 'technical' Ministers have rejected calls for a rethink over business rate hikes despite warnings of an 'uprising'. Business Secretary Greg Clark said the controversial revaluation was 'technical' and insisted councils had been given powers to ease the impact on local firms. The defence came after Tory MP Glyn Davies said the increases in some areas risked 'destroying' local communities. Rural enterprises such as horse riding schools, vineyards or stud farms are said to be facing huge rises in the amount of tax they pay under the latest overhaul of rates. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) sets the values of properties based on their rental value on the open market every five years. But critics say the 'bricks and mortar' approach is deeply unfair. Mr Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, called for greater transparency on how the rates are calculated. 'I can see this becoming a very, very big issue. There is going to be a bit of an uprising. If we see businesses closing ... it will destroy local communities,' he told The Times. 'Just what are the instructions to the district value assessors? They have got to go on actual rental value, not some notional rental value based on space.' The Tory backbencher's warning comes after the Government was urged to carry out a 'root-and-branch re-appraisal' of the valuations in the House of Lords. Sarah Phillips, director of participation at the British Horse Society, told The Times: 'A riding school is not the same as, say, a spanner factory. You can't simply just squeeze more horses and riders into the space (to cover higher bills). 'There is a safety issue. How can they justify these increases? We want an explanation from the Valuation Office Agency of how they arrived at the unit valuations they have.' The VOA says it approaches all classes of property fairly and equally, and always uses recognised methods to set rateable values. There are fears that businesses with large footprints, such as vineyards, could be hit by the revaluation in business rates Certain properties are exempt from business rates, including agricultural land and buildings, buildings used for training or welfare of disabled people or buildings used for religious worship. Mr Clark told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'In terms of the revaluation, that is something that happens technically. 'But we have introduced the ability for councils to give discounts and vary levels.' The Department of Communities and Local Government said no small business will see an increase of more than 5 per cent this year, while 3.6 billion is being spent on relief. A spokesman said: 'This revaluation improves the fairness of rate bills by making sure they more closely reflect the property market. 'Nearly three-quarters of business in England will see no change, or even a fall - including 600,000 who from April will have their bills cut altogether.' China is famous for its ruthless public shaming on burglars, and the latest victim was apparently a rat. Pictures spotted on Weibo, a Chinese micro-blogging platform, showed the rodent being tied up to what seemed to be a trolley. A piece of paper attached to the animal's body explained that it had been caught stealing rice at a convenient store. Shame on you: A convenient store owner in China has allegedly punished a rat for stealing rice 'I dare not do it again!' The owner tied the rodent to a trolley and put notes on it in Heyuan city, according to a social media account Two pictures were posted yesterday by a Weibo user with the screen name 'jiu lian shan she zhang'. The post said: 'A friend of mine found a small rat in the warehouse of a convenient store.' It carried on saying: 'After [it] was arrested, it was shamed by a poster. Poor rat! How could it spend the Lunar New Year?' The uploader indicated that the two pictures had been taken at the Lianping County of Heyuan city in southern China's Guangdong Province. The post, which was up yesterday, claimed the pictures had been taken in Guangdong, China In the first picture, a post-it note was attached to the rat. The note was written as if the rat had been complaining to the man who had caught it and shamed it. The note read: 'Huh, is this the best you could do? Even if you beat me to death, I would not admit that the rice at your home had been stolen by me.' In the second picture, the rat had a different post-it note attached to its body, which read: 'I dare not do it again!' A person can be seen taking a picture of the rat and the note. The trolley is believed to be transporting boxes of bin liners. The account holder of 'jiu lian shan she zhang' confirmed to MailOnline that the rat had been caught at a shop in Zhuhai city, Guangdong Province, which was owned by his friend. The said that the notes had been written by staff at the store. The man has not expected the pictures would draw so much attention on social media today. He explained that many people had left comments under the pictures with different opinions. He said: 'Some people pitied the rat, some people hated the rat, and some people found it to be funny. 'I pity the rat. It's just a small animal. It would almost certainly die being treated like this.' The owner of the shop where the rat had been caught confirmed that the rat had been found by his staff. The man, named Lai Tiancai, said 'it was just a rat' and this was a 'small incident'. The man added that the incident should not matter too much. The uploader has called for attention from the Shenzhen Traffic Police through his post. In response to the pictures, the Shenzhen Traffic Police posted three smiling face emojis on its official account on Weibo yesterday. In January, 2016, a man and woman from China filmed themselves tying up a defenseless mouse and 'interrogating it' for allegedly stealing bananas. President-elect Donald Trump begins his first business day in office by meeting with business leaders Monday, and said he would cut regulations 'by 75 per cent, maybe more' while slashing taxes 'massively.' Trump met with a dozen business leaders in the White House Roosevelt Room, which contains an oil painting of the Trust-busting Roosevelt. Seated were CEOs Kevin Plank of Under Armor, Elon Musk of auto company Tesla, Lockheed Martin CEO Marilyn Hewson, who met with Trump during the transition, and Mario Longhi of US Steel. 'What we're doing is going to be cutting taxes massively for both the middle class and for companies and that's massively,' Trump said. 'Were trying to get it down to anywhere from 15 to 20 percent.' Scroll down for video President Donald Trump begins his first bull business day by meeting with business CEOs on Monday morning With actions looming on trade, Trump said he would slap a 'substantial border tax' on goods entering the U.S. from foreign countries, and where would be 'advantages' to companies that manufacture here. 'So essentially Im talking about no tax,' Trump said, discussing his pitch to retain U.S. workers. 'Because if you stay here, theres no tax. Somebody said, "Oh, Trump is going to tax. There is no tax, none whatsoever. And I just want to tell you: All you have to do is stay, dont leave.' 'Don't leave, dont fire your people in the United States. We have the greatest people. And many other countries have the great people. We all have great people, okay? This isnt that kind of a competition. Everybody has great people. But if were going to fire people, and build a product outside not gonna happen.' President Donald Trump greets Wendell P. Weeks, right, Chief Executive Officer of Corning, as he host breakfast with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room President Donald Trump spoke for about 10 minutes when he allowed reporters in to see a meeting he hosted with business leaders Trump gave shout-outs to Ford, Foxconn, and Lockheed Martin during his remarks, and told businesses they wouldn't pay a tax if they keep manufacturing here WHO WAS AT MEETING Wendell Weeks - CEO Corning Elon Musk - CEO Space X and Tesla Kevin Plank - CEO Under Armour Alan Gorsky - CEO Johnson & Johnson Michael Dell- CEO Dell computers Mario Longhi - CEO US Steel Mark Fields - CEO Ford Motor Company Marillyn Hewson - CEO Lockheed Andrew Liveris - CEO Dow Chemical Mark Sutton - CEO International Paper Jeff Fettig - CEO Whirlpool Klaus Kleinfeld - CEO Arconic Advertisement During his remarks at the White House, Trump mentioned Ford, telling the company, 'You have been great,' after the company announced a plan to scrap a planned factory expansion in Mexico. He also singled out for praise Lockheed Martin, whose exec made a personal commitment to cut the price of the F-35 fighter jet under pressure from Trump. He also gave a shout-out to Foxconn, whose announced on Sunday plans to build a $7 billion factory in the U.S. to build a display making plant. He said the company would spend 'a tremendous amount of money' building a 'massive plant and probably more than one.' Company chairman and chief executive Terry Gou, made the announcement Sunday. Trump during the transition met with Foxconn business partner Masayoshi Son, who is head of the Japanese SoftBank Group Corp. 'We want to start making our products again,' Trump said. 'We dont want to bring them in. We want to make them here. That doesnt mean we dont trade, because we do trade. But we want to make our products here again.' In his trademark extemporaneous style, Trump indicated even as he lavished praise on the executives that he only wanted to spend so much of his time with them. 'Well have these meetings every whenever you need them,' he said. 'I would say every quarter, perhaps. You could say monthly but then all of a sudden monthly becomes repetitive.' 'A bigger thing, and thats surprised me, is we are going to be cutting regulation, and it will be just as strong and just as good and just as protective of the people as the regulation we have now,' Trump said. 'The problem with the regulation we have right now is you cannot do anything,' he added, going on to discuss building difficulties. According to the schedule released by the White House, Trump, who created a real estate empire before taking office, was to host a 'breakfast and listening session with key business leaders.' The White House did not provide a list of attendees in advance, although the group was to include Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris, who Trump put in charge of an industry advisory group, Bloomberg News reported. The meeting signals Trump's commitment to give business leaders and corporations a major say in his agenda, after meeting with a parade of business officials during the weeks after his election. Trump tweeted Monday that he has a 'busy week planned,' with a 'heavy focus' on jobs and national security White House aides have promised a busy day, with pent-up actions after Trump has made promises to tear apart a considerable amount of President Obama's agenda through executive actions. The first action is an order announcing his plan to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership, a global trade deal painstakingly avoided for years during the Obama administration. Twelve nations are parties to the deal include Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. Trump had during the campaign called the deal a 'potential disaster for our country,' but failed to get it through Congress after it became a hot-button campaign issue. NBC reported that Trump would sign the order as soon as Monday. Obama had hoped to use the agreement both to boos overall trade and U.S. exports, and to expand ties with Asian neighbors who might otherwise come under China's growing influence. Trump has called it a job killer that contributes to the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Andrew Liveris, Chairman and CEO The Dow Chemical Company, is expected to attend Trump's meeting with business heads Trump will also act soon on NAFTA, a Clinton-era trade deal he has vowed to renegotiate. 'We will be starting negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said Sunday at an event where he swore-in senior staff. "We are going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on immigration and on security at the border,' he said. Trump also holds a 'listening session' with 'union leaders and American workers,' according to the White House. Later, he holds a bicameral, bipartisan leadership reception. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who's relationship with Trump saw ups and downs during the campaign, gets a private meeting at 6 pm in the evening. Trump tweeted Monday that he planned to discuss U.S. manufacturing, but didn't reveal more. "Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security," Trump wrote. "Top executives coming in at 9:00 A.M. to talk manufacturing in America." In the weeks after the election, Trump met with top tech executives, leaders of top companies like Boehing and Lockheed, as well as union leaders like Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO. Trump began his presidency with a busy weekend. On Sunday he spoke by phone with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, who he invited to visit the White House in February. He also swore in senior White House staff. On Saturday, he visited CIA headquarters, where he railed against the media and talked up the size of his inauguration crowd. A top adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump plans to hold talks in Canada on Tuesday with members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's team, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, will travel to Calgary, Alberta, where Trudeau and his cabinet are holding a two-day retreat focused largely on the new U.S. administration. The talks will make him the first member of the Trump administration to travel abroad and underlines the 35-year-old son-in-law of the president's importance in the White House. It may also be in part due to the lack of cabinet members who can take part in such a mission, with Rex Tillerson not yet approved by the Senate as secretary of state. Neither is WIlbur Ross, his trade secretary pick. The federal ethics watchdog ruled at the weekend that a 1967 nepotism law did not apply to the President himself, opening the way for Kushner to be sworn in as his senior advisor. The son-in-law also rises: Jared Kushner sat behind his father-in-law as the new president met business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. He goes to Canada Tuesday Talks: Jared Kushner will meet Justin Trudeau. The president has said he will meet both Canada and Mexico's leaders soon to discuss NAFTA He and his wife Ivanka Trump are moving into a new home in Kalorama, the upscale D.C. section where they will become neighbors of the Obama. And Kushner was directly behind his father-in-law on Monday as the president met business leaders to promise drastic cuts in regulation and reductions in the tax burden on business. Trump was signing an executive order Monday opening the way for a renegotiation of NAFTA, the trade deal between the USA and both Canada and Mexico which was a focus of his criticism during the campaign. Kushner's visit appears to be a step towards Trump himself meeting Trudeau. One of Canada's key officials said he believed the NAFTA renegotiation was more about Mexico than the U.S.'s northern neighbor. The Trump administration's main concerns about trade revolve around deficits with Mexico and China, Canada's ambassador to the United States told reporters on Sunday, saying his country was not the focus of U.S. efforts to renegotiate NAFTA. David MacNaughton, a key Canadian player in the North American Free Trade Agreement issue, also said Trump and Trudeau had agreed to meet 'very soon.' Earlier on Sunday, Trump said he would meet Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to begin renegotiating NAFTA, under which both nations send most of their exports to the United States. First family: Jared Kushner's wife Ivanka is moving to Washington D.C. with their children as he takes up his White House role 'I don't think Canada is the focus at all,' MacNaughton said. 'But we are part of NAFTA, and there are discussions that need to be had, and we'll be having them over the next few weeks.' MacNaughton expressed optimism that Canada would make progress in the talks. Senior Trudeau aides in recent weeks have tried to persuade their U.S. counterparts that given the tight links between the two nations' economies, protectionist moves would hurt both Canadians and Americans. 'What we've got to worry about is that we're collateral damage,' said MacNaughton. The envoy also suggested Canada might at some point focus on bilateral relations with the United States rather than including Mexico in all the NAFTA talks. That could upset Mexico, whose economy has suffered since Trump started expressing unhappiness with U.S. companies that have factories there. 'We will cooperate on trilateral matters when it's in our interests, and we'll be looking to do things that are in our interests bilaterally,' said MacNaughton, declining to give details. Mexico said it president, Enrique Pena Nieto, has talked with Trudeau about NAFTA ahead of planned meetings with Trump. Pena Nieto's office said that during Sunday's conversation, Trudeau and the Mexican president 'spoke about the importance of the United States for both countries, and agreed to join forces to continue promoting the economic integration of North America.' Mexico's manufacturing sector has benefited from NAFTA, but Trump claims it has displaced U.S. jobs. James Fogle (pictured) left behind a 'loving family' who still do not know why he was killed 23 years ago Police in Texas have reopened an investigation into the unsolved murder of a Walmart security guard 23 years ago. James Fogle, 30, was shot dead when he interrupted a burglar at the store in Military Drive, San Antonio around 1am on January 20, 1994. Mr Fogle had been investigating why a burglar alarm had gone off at the store, which has since been demolished. He was shot several times in the back and died instantly. Detective Michael DeLeon told KSAT-TV: 'I think after 22 years, somebody's conscience may be weighing heavy on them where they may feel that they can call in and not necessarily leave a name, but give us some new information on the case.' He said there were no CCTV cameras covering the site and the only witness was a security guard at a nearby Taco Cabana restaurant who heard the shots and called police but did not see the culprits. Walmart made profits of $121billion last year but it is not clear if they have offered a reward But Detective DeLeon said: 'There are other people who were working that night who were not interviewed, so we are at the point now where we can go back and look at the employees, look at the timesheets that we have and bring in some of those employees that were there that night that were not interviewed and see if they can shed some new light on this.' He said Mr Fogle came from a 'loving family' and he said: 'They really cared about him... all I can hope to do is get some new information on the case which may help the family.' Anyone with information about Mr Fogle's death can call 224-STOP and can remain anonymous. Michael Chamberlain was investigated by police for taking pictures of naked women on a beach with a long lens camera as his wife Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton was behind bars. Ms Chamberlain-Creighton was serving a life sentence after being wrongly convicted of killing the couple's nine-week-old daughter Azaria in 1980 when Mr Chamberlain caught the attention of NSW police for trying to develop images of nude women, according to The Daily Telegraph. Rex Tunbridge, who ran a photo shop in Toronto on the Central Coast, said he alerted police after Mr Chamberlain dropped off 10 slide films of about 360 images to him in 1983 to be processed under two false names. Michael Chamberlain was investigated by NSW police in 1983 for taking pictures of nude women on a beach with a long lens camera as his wife Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton (pictured together) was in jail A photo shop owner alerted officers to a stack of more than 360 images Mr Chamberlain (pictured) asked him to process The pastor, who died on January 9 from acute Leukaemia at the age of 72, hid behind a motorcycle helmet as he dropped off the film but Mr Tunbridge recognised him from the coverage of his Azaria's death. 'Being the father of two girls, I didn't think it was right that a bloke, never mind a pastor, would be standing in the bushes photographing young women who could have been my daughters when all they were doing was going for a swim,' Mr Tunbridge told the Daily Telegraph. Mr Tunbridge said he was curious the pictures may have something to do with Azaria's death so he scanned through them, but they were the last thing he expected. Mr Tunbridge said he believed Mr Chamberlain took sexual pleasure from it. Ms Chamberlain-Creighton was serving a life sentence at the time after being wrongly convicted of killing the couple's nine-week-old daughter Azaria in 1980 (pictured) Azaria was taken from their tent by a dingo during a camping trip at the base of Uluru in August 1980 (pictured) Authorities believed Ms Chamberlain-Creighton (pictured) had killed her young daughter and she was later convicted of murder and sentenced life in prison The Chamberlain family was thrown into the spotlight when Azaria was taken from their tent by a dingo during a camping trip at the base of Uluru in August 1980. Authorities believed Ms Chamberlain-Creighton had killed her young daughter and she was later convicted of murder and sentenced life in prison. Mr Chamberlain was convicted of being an accessory after the fact but was released on bond. Mr Chamberlain (left) was convicted of being an accessory after the fact but was released on bond Ms Chamberlain-Creighton (pictured) was released from prison after three years Ms Chamberlain-Creighton was released from prison after three years and the couple was exonerated in 1986 after Azaria's clothing was found in a dingo lair. But Azaria's tragic death and the following legal battles took a toll on their marriage and the couple divorced in 1991. In the months before his death, Mr Chamberlain said his heartache over his daughter's death still remained and Ms Chamberlain-Creighton spoke of how she had never been able to forgive her ex-husband. No laughing matter: Zackery Perry, 30, a former member of Muskogee Fire Department's Clown Society, has been charged with possession of child pornography and 'crimes against nature' involving a woman and a dog A former Oklahoma firefighter has been charged with amassing thousands of images depicting child pornography and filming a sexual encounter between a woman and a dog. Zackery Perry, 30, appeared in Muskogee County District Count of Thursday to answer to felony counts of aggravated possession of child pornography, publishing, distributing or participating in obscene material, child sexual exploitation and crimes against nature. A probable cause affidavit, cited by Tulsa World, states that a search of Perry's cell phone turned up 1,378 images and videos depicting child pornography. The affidavit goes on to say that investigators also recovered photos, videos and text messages on the suspects device suggesting that the 30-year-old former Muskogee firefighter 'had been involved in or facilitated the recordings of sexual acts between an adult female and a dog.' Police launched an investigation into Perry after getting a tip on January 5 from a mother who claimed the firefighter had asked her to provide him with photos of her eight-year-old daughter, from the neck down, on social media app Kik, according to Norman Transcript. The 30-year-old was taken into police custody the following day on suspicion of sending messages and videos containing child pornography. The same day, police served a search warrant at Perry's home on Haskell Boulevard and seized various electronic devices, among them a computer and a phone, reported Muskogee Now. Zackery Perry joined the Muskogee Fire Department in August 2014 and was part of the departments Clown Society, performing under the stage name Scooter at events catering to children. Perry joined the Muskogee Fire Department in August 2014 and was part of the departments Clown Society, performing under the stage name Scooter Firefighters involved with the non-profit group dress up as clowns and put on skits to teach kids about fire prevention. In the wake of his arrest, Perry was put on administrative leave before resigning on January 11. On Thursday, Perry pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and was released from jail after posting $25,000 bond. His next court appearance was scheduled for February 2, at which time a date will be set for a preliminary hearing. A sadistic teenage stole cats from an animal sanctuary to use as 'live bait' for his dogs to hunt and kill. Frank Lewis, 18, from Port Talbot, South Wales, slit one of the cat's legs to slow it down while he used the pets in his sick hunting game with his fierce dogs. A court heard the teenager broke into the purpose-built cat sanctuary late at night - and stole a cage with ten cats nursed back to health by volunteers. Frank Lewis, 18, from Port Talbot, South Wales, slit one of the cat's legs to slow it down while he used the pets in his sick hunting game with his fierce dogs Georgina Buckley, prosecuting, said: 'Lewis essentially used the cats for sport. He used his dogs to hunt down and kill them. 'He caused lacerations to the cats himself to try and hinder their escape.' Miss Buckley told Swansea Crown three cats were found mauled to death in different spots near the sanctuary in Neath Port Talbot, South Wales. Four were found alive and returned - but three others are still missing and presumed dead. Ms Buckley added: 'Post mortem gave the cause of death as the result of an attack and having been shaken viciously by an animal, like a dog.' The court heard Lewis set up his sick game just two weeks after he was sentenced in a youth court for a gruesome attack on a sheep. Lewis stole the sheep from a field and strung it up upside down to a tree, before cutting its head off with a machete. He then posed for photos next to its bloodied carcass and posting them on Facebook. The police were alerted and Lewis, who is unemployed and on benefits, was given a referral order at Swansea Youth Court. The court heard Lewis set up his sick game just two weeks after he was sentenced in a youth court for a gruesome attack on a sheep But he then went on to strike at the Ty Nant Cat Sanctuary at Port Talbot, Sout Wales, just days later with a 15-year-old accomplice. Theresa Ahmed, owner of the sanctuary, read out am emotional victim impact statement in court, where she called Lewis 'pure evil and beings without a soul.' Ms Ahmed, who built the sanctuary on the grounds of her family home and has run it with her husband since 1990, said: 'The burglary has changed my life forever. 'The sickening realisation that cats were missing and what had happened to them will remain with me for the rest of my life.' She said she had fallen during the search for the cats, and sustained injuries to her spine for which which she was waiting for the results of an MRI scan. Mr Herd, defending, said Lewis accepted responsibility for the burglary and the deaths of the cats. He said: 'Lewis concedes his dogs were trained to hunt and he knew full well about what the outcome would be.' Mr Herd said Lewis, whose mother committed suicide five years ago, had been seen by child psychologists after decapitating the sheep, who concluded he showed 'psychopathic traits' and signs of a personality disorder. He pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage at Swansea Crown Court where he appeared for sentencing today. Judge Paul Hopkins told Lewis his sickening acts added with his 'extreme right-wing views on race and sexuality' meant he was 'dangerous' Judge Paul Hopkins told Lewis his sickening acts added with his 'extreme right-wing views on race and sexuality' meant he was 'dangerous'. Judge Hopkins said: 'You tortured a sheep before beheading it, and then took a photo such was your satisfaction at what had been done. 'You then broke into a cat sanctuary and stole 10 cats. You used them as bait for your dogs. 'They are acts of great cruelty amounting to sadism.' Lewis, of Croeserw, near Port Talbot, was sentenced to 30 months in a young offenders institute. His 15-year-old accomplice, who was found not to have taken part in the killing of the cats, was given a nine month curfew order earlier this month. A 91-year-old Italian pensioner was killed by a falling tree branch after he jumped in front of it to save his 49-year-old Thai wife. Giacomo Smedile, who was enjoying his retirement in Thailand, was walking along the sea front on Sunday evening when a 10ft long branch snapped from a tree in Pattaya, a city on the country's eastern Gulf coast. Mr Smedile pushed his Thai wife out the way but was then struck on the head by the branch and killed instantly. Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene and found his body in a pool of blood as his devastated wife desperately tried to revive him. A 91-year-old Italian pensioner was killed when he jumped in front of his Thai wife to save her from a falling tree branch A police officer holds up the branch that fell from the tree, as the man lies dead on the ground The 49-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, told police they had left their rented apartment for an evening stroll when they heard the sound of snapping branches. She said: 'We were almost home when it happened. I turned around and he was lying dead on the floor. 'He was fit and healthy. He was still very active. I am shocked.' Mr Smedile was a retiree from Italy who had been enjoying his retirement in Thailand The pensioner pushed his Thai wife out the way but was then struck by the falling branch A spokesman for the Sawang Boriboon Thammasatarn charity foundation said the tourist had been hit on the head and suffered severe bleeding. He added: 'His female friend said that he had pushed her out of the way of the falling branches. 'He was struck on the head and pronounced dead at the scene.' Apichai Klobpetch, chief of Pattaya Police Station, said workers who trim the tree branches along the popular sea front 'may have missed' the one that killed the 91-year-old. He said: 'They look out for these branches. They might have not seen this one, or they might have overlooked it. It was windy, so it fell down.' Police said the death was an accident but would offer compensation to Mr Smedile's family and had informed the Italian Embassy. The 91-year-old Italian was killed by a falling tree branch on the sea front in Pattaya, Thailand Award-winning rapper Kano attacked a couple in a row over a booth at a private members club, a court heard. The grime star - real name Kane Robinson - allegedly assaulted Henry Kinman and Suzzan Atala at Shoreditch House, east London on December 16 last year. The 31-year-old has released four albums and previously won a MOBO award. He also acted in Channel 4's Top Boy and starred in the film 'Tower Block' in 2012. He appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court today alongside Christopher Brown, 29, who is said to have joined in with the assault against Mr Kinman. The defendants both denied all charges against them. Rapper Kano, pictured left today and right in 2016, appeared in court charged with assault Alice Cole Roberts, prosecuting, said: 'The incident occurred on December 16 of last year in the early hours of the morning at Shoreditch House, a private members club. 'The defendants had gone with a group, and they were sat in a booth where the victims in this case were sitting. 'An argument then broke out as to whether the couple should be in the booth, Ms Atala and Mr Kinman. Christopher Brown is also charged with causing actual bodily harm over the incident 'Mr Robinson threw the first punch at Mr Kinman and then repeatedly punched him.' Robinson denied two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of affray, while Brown denied one count of assault causing actual bodily harm. The star has collaborated with a litany of famous Brit stars, ranging from Craig David to Blur's Damon Albarn. Robinson won best newcomer at the MOBO awards in 2005, and that same year was announced as one of 'London's Heroes of 2005' by then mayor Ken Livingstone. More recently, his latest album 'Made in the Manor' won best album at the 2016 MOBO awards, and was also nominated for the Mercury Prize. Bench chair Tony Mcsean bailed the pair ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Wood Green Crown Court on February 20. Robinson, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, denied two counts of ABH, and one of affray. Brown, of east London, denies one count of ABH. A paedophile has been jailed for sexually assaulting a girl he met on XBox Live. Michael Pratt, 33, groomed the 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by pretending to be a teenage boy as they played computer games. But after his messages turned sexual, Pratt, from Chelmsford in Essex, convinced the teenager to meet up with him - threatening her family if she refused. Hearing: Chelmsford Crown Court (pictured) in Essex was told that Michael Pratt, 33, groomed the 14-year-old girl by pretending to be a teenage boy as they played computer games He has now admitted causing a child to watch a sexual act and sexual assault between April and October 2014, and was jailed for two and a half years. Marc Brown, prosecuting, said: 'When she first saw him she said she was disgusted. They spent time shopping in Westfield (shopping centre). 'He said if anyone asks she is to say he is her dad. They got the train to Chelmsford. He kept asking her to hug him. They went onto his flat where she stayed the night. 'At this stage she was really quite frightened. She was worried about whether she would go home at all. She described wondering if people would look for her if she went missing.' The court heard how Pratt met the victim in 2014, when he was in his early thirties. But after she broke up with her boyfriend, he began messaging her, saying: 'If you need any help, text me, you know where I am.' She challenged him over his age, and he sent her a picture of an 18-year-old man, rather than an image of him. The paedophile has been jailed for sexually assaulting a girl he met on XBox Live (file picture of an Xbox 360 console) But just a month later, he sent naked pictures of himself before asking her to do the same. 'About a month or so after their first interaction the tone changed,' said Mr Brown. 'The messages became sexual. He would make suggestions to which she would respond "I'm only 14". 'There were occasions where she was at home eating dinner and would get messages saying "I want to f*** you". She said they made her feel sick. 'She had to make sure other family members couldn't see her phone so frequent were the messages. 'He persuaded her to send pictures of her breasts and bottom half wearing knickers but he got angry so she sent him pictures of her vagina. Things took a sinister turn when she said no.' The court heard how when the victim refused to do what he asked, Pratt would threaten her friends and family. Eventually he forced her to meet him in London, before taking her back to his home in Chelmsford. The pair fell asleep but the girl woke in the night to Pratt touching her inappropriately. She later told her mother what had happened and Pratt was reported to police. At Chelmsford Crown Court, he admitted causing a child to watch a sexual act and sexual assault between April and October 2014. Defending Pratt, Ita Farrelly told the court: 'He was part of a party of friends on the Xbox. She joined this group of friends and at that point the pair got chatting. 'At that point they got to learn more about each other. He said he had recently split with his girlfriend and his grandfather had recently passed away. 'He had been through some difficult things in his life. He had witnessed significant domestic violence to his mother at the hands of his father. 'He accepts she told him her age and at that point the conversation should have stopped. For him that was a safe place. He said he did find her attractive. 'He did like the messages he received. He admitted he found the pictures nice. He doesn't cast any blame on her whatsoever. He accepts she must have felt afraid.' Jailing Pratt for two-and-a-half years on Friday, Judge Emma Peters told him he should have known better. She said: 'It was perfectly apparent to you how old she was. She thought she was dealing with a boy the same age as her. 'For a young girl to end up in such a confusing situation as this must have been extremely disturbing for her. It's deeply disturbing that a man of your age would do that. 'Thank goodness she told her mum what had been going on at the hands of a man in his thirties who should have known better. 'Perhaps you're a man who doesn't have much confidence and so can't find attachment with women of a similar age to yourself. 'You knew what you were doing and that what you were doing was wrong.' Pratt was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and will be on the sex offenders register for ten years. A woman was arrested after she made threats with a knife and slashed through a Trump sign because it 'ruined her chill'. Elizabeth McSurdy, 30, was arrested for slicing through a vinyl Donald Trump sign and threatening a Florida Keys shop owner while she holding a knife, on Friday. The woman from Oakland, California, initially denied the assault accusations but eventually admitted to destroying the signage because it 'ruined her chill'. Elizabeth McSurdy, 30, was arrested for slicing through a Donald Trump sign because it 'ruined her chill' in Big Pine Key, Florida, on Friday McSurdy is facing charges of criminal mischief and aggravated assault for the incident at R&T Vinyl Signs in Big Pine Key, Florida. Monroe police said that McSurdy threatened the store owner while clutching a knife in her hand. She then drove away after the altercation. Someone took a photo of her car as she made her getaway, which police later used to track her down. They found the knife she allegedly used sitting in her vehicle's glove compartment. McSurdy admitted to slashing the sign and holding a knife, but denied that she made threats to anyone. McSurdy is facing charges of criminal mischief and aggravated assault for the incident at R&T Vinyl Signs (pictured) in Big Pine Key, Florida A survivor of the Tunisian beach massacre today re-lived the horror of identifying her dead friend whose body was only recognisable by her glittery toenail varnish. Divorced mother-of-four Trudy Jones, 51, was holidaying with friends when she was shot in the neck and chest by a terrorist gunman who hid his firearm in a parasol as he carried it along a beach, an inquest heard. Seifeddine Rezgui killed 30 British tourists after entering the Riu Imperial Marhaba in Sousse from the beach on June 26 2015. One witness described how he grabbed his wife and ran for his life after seeing the gunman shooting victims 'like he was doing a normal job.' A gunman who killed 30 British tourists in Tunisia hid his firearm in a parasol as he carried it along a beach, an inquest has heard Another told how he ran down the beach after realising his wife was on the beach with the terrorist. 'My only thought was for my wife, to get to my wife,' Simon Greaves told the inquest. An inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in London is set to hear evidence in relation to each of the 30 British victims murdered in the atrocity. The first victim the inquest heard details about was Ms Jones, from Gwent, South Wales. She had been on holiday with a number of friends including Carol Anne Powell when Rezgui killed 38 tourists at the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel. On the morning of her death she had gone for breakfast with Ms Powell, before both women got ready to sunbathe. Trudy Jones, from Gwent, South Wales, was a divorced single mother-of-four, who was holidaying with friends when she was killed Ms Jones made her way to beach while Ms Powell sat by the pool. In a statement she said: 'At around 12 or 12.30pm I heard the most terrible explosion. The explosion came from behind me, towards the beach area. It was the loudest noise you could ever hear.' She added that she initially thought it was an explosion in a beach kitchen, and then crowds of people appeared, running away from the area. 'I wanted to run towards the beach to check on Trudy, but people were running towards me shouting 'Go, go'. 'I started to run towards the hotel with the crowds of people.' Ms Powell described getting caught up in the 'chaos' and eventually deciding to play dead in a hotel car park. She said a man picked her up and put her on his shoulders - while she continued to play dead - before carrying her to the safety of a neighbouring hotel. 'I am desperate to find out who he is because he saved me,' she added. In the following days Ms Powell attended the mortuary where the victims' bodies were being held. Family members of victims of the Tunisia terror attack arrive for the first day of the inquest Samantha Leek QC, counsel to the inquest, said: 'She (Ms Powell) looked at photographs. She initially did not see anyone who looked like Trudy. 'A couple of hours later she saw a photograph that looked like her.' The inquest heard that Ms Powell was then shown a body which corresponded with that picture. Ms Leek continued: 'She recognised the glittery nail varnish on her toes.' The court was told that a post-mortem examination was carried out in Tunisia and another in the UK - where Ms Jones was also identified through dental records. Both gave Ms Jones's cause of death as a single gunshot wound to the neck and chest. Ms Powell had also been on holiday with Mark Hornby. Mark Stocker (pictured today), whose parents were killed, heard they 'didn't stand a chance Describing how aware he had been of the terror threat in Tunisia, he said: 'I did not check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website as I was not aware of it. 'The terror risk was not brought to our attention by Thomson (holiday company).' He added: 'I assumed we would be safe on our holiday, especially as the hotel was five stars.' Ms Jones was just 48 hours away from returning home to Blackwood in South Wales when she was killed. The inquest also heard evidence into the deaths of Janet and John Stocker, aged 63 and 74. The husband and wife had been sunbathing on the beach when they were gunned down. A witness said he believed Mr and Mrs Stocker were the first to be killed in the massacre Eyewitness Anthony Miller said they 'did not stand a chance' when Rezgui opened fire at holidaymakers. He and his wife Julie had met the couple a year earlier and become good friends. They spent much of the 2015 holiday in each other's company and had even planned to go for dinner on June 27, so the Stockers could end their trip 'on a high'. But two days before they were due to return home in Morden, Surrey, they were shot dead. In a statement read to the inquest, Mr Miller said: 'I heard what I thought were firecrackers going off. I looked up and saw the man standing over Janet and John had something in his hands.' He added: 'I thought "I don't believe this is happening". It seemed to me he was not very good with the gun. He seemed to have a job controlling it. 'He was swinging it side to side. I think that may have saved us.' The scene of the atrocity. The High Court is hearing evidence about the events of June 2015 Mr Miller went on to explain that he knew his wife would not be able to run, so he pushed her down into the sand, lay on top of her, and told her to play dead. Describing what he saw of the Stockers, he said: 'I thought he (John) was alive. Janet had slumped forward, half on and half off the sunbed. I am not sure how many times they had been shot. 'They must have been the first to be shot. They didn't stand a chance.' Mr Miller continued: 'I realised there was nothing I could do for John and I needed to look after my wife.' Post mortem examinations gave the Stockers' causes of death as gunshot wounds to the pelvis. The court has heard the harrowing evidence of those whose holiday turned into a nightmare The inquest also heard tributes from the Stockers' families who said the couple were 'still very much in love with each other'. 'They were a happy couple, both young at heart, and enjoyed all life could afford. 'They were frequent flyers and enjoyed travelling to new places and exploring. 'John and Janet's home life revolved around the most simplest of pleasures - family and friends.' The family statement read: 'They died together doing what they enjoyed most - being side by side.' The inquest resumes at 10am on Tuesday. Two burglars who shot a businessman in the leg during an armed raid on his country mansion have been jailed for 34 years. Charlie Simms and Christopher Bergin targeted the home of insurance company president Timothy Mardon because they wrongly believed he was a drug dealer growing cannabis. The pair burst into his family home in Sible Hedingham, Essex while stoned and drunk and shot the 51-year-old in the leg with a sawn-off shotgun in an ordeal which was overheard by a 999 call handler. Sentencing them today, Judge David Turner said the raid was 'every householders' utter nightmare' and it had drastically changed the lives of Mr Mardon and his wife, Sarah. Charlie Simms and Christopher Bergin have been jailed for a terrifying armed raid on a businessman's country home The court heard the raiders held a gun to Mr Mardon's head and began counting down from 10 - threatening to kill him if he did not reveal where he kept his 'drug money'. His life was only saved by police who used a tourniquet to stop the blood gushing from the gaping wound to his left leg. Chelmsford Crown Court heard today that Mr Mardon has since endured 'five or six' operations on his leg and each time there was 'a 50 per cent chance' of keeping the limb. Simms, 23, and Bergin, 28, denied a string of charges after the early hours aggravated burglary but were found guilty of last February's raid following a seven-week trial at the same court. The judge said: 'Mr Mardon was in the house alone mercifully for him and his family and for you his wife and daughters were elsewhere. 'He's a successful insurance executive who then lived most of the year in Bermuda he had that very day flown from Tokyo and was due the following morning to fly out to America.' Timothy Mardon nearly died in the raid and has since faced a series of operations on his leg The judge continued: 'It was to be a fateful overnight stay in his own home. 'The 34 minutes during which his desperate call to the emergency services remained open conveying as graphically as anything could the sheer horror of what followed as you blasted your way into his upstairs bedroom. 'The shot which gravely injured him was heard ringing out and and there after the threats to kill indeed threats to blow his brains out.' Simms was jailed for 20 years and Bergin was handed a 14-year sentence. Previously the court was told how Mr Mardon heard the raiders breaking into his Sible Hedingham home and phoned 999, telling police in a hushed whisper of the ordeal. Mr Mardon was shot through his bedroom door as he was threatened by the two raiders Armed officers were scrambled but were unable for reach the scene for more than 40 minutes and the businessman - who locked himself behind a bedroom door - was blasted in the leg with a shotgun. The married millionaire and father of two young daughters could be heard on the recording of the call pleading with the crazed gunman who was screaming at him, demanding to know where the drugs money was kept. Mr Mardon was left bleeding on the ground and the pair escaped with just a Tudor Heritage Watch worth 3,000 and a few hundred pounds worth of foreign currency. During the trial, it emerged Simms and Bergin had been at a house party in the village and drank heavily and smoked drugs before deciding on a whim to raid The Old Rectory. Mr Mardon took to the witness stand to re-count the events which unfolded last February, telling a stunned jury of seven men and five women how he had pleaded for his life to be spared. Theresa May will discover at 9.30am tomorrow exactly what she will have to do to officially start her Brexit negotiations as an historic court case finally ends. The Supreme Court will rule whether she has the power to do so at a time of her choosing or whether she must ask Parliament to vote first. Her powers were called into question by Remain campaigner and former model Gina Miller - who won an extraordinary victory in the High Court that caused explosive political rows about the role of judges intervening on the will of the people. The Government appealed and a landmark four day case was heard by all 11 of Britain's most senior judges for four days in December. Ministers expect to lose their appeal - a decision that will likely trigger a scramble to legislate in Parliament and officially hand Mrs May the powers she needs. Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger (file picture) will tomorrow hand down a ruling on whether the Prime Minister has the power to trigger Brexit at a time of her choosing or whether she must ask Parliament first Theresa May (pictured today at a factory in Cheshire) will discover at 9.30am tomorrow exactly what she will have to do to officially start her Brexit negotiations The Prime Minister has vowed to start her talks - done by invoking Article 50 of the EU treaties - before the end of March. If the Supreme Court simply upholds the High Court ruling, the legislation could be passed within days as it is expected to clear the Commons by a landslide. But if the Judges impose even more restrictions on Mrs May, it will explode a new row over the political interference of the judiciary. Former Tory constitutional reform minster John Penrose told MailOnline: 'If the Supreme Court rules against the Government tomorrow, Ministers should table a short and tightly worded Bill in Parliament immediately. 'MPs and Lords must not frustrate the democratic will of the people. 'Weve had a referendum, the result must be respected and Article 50 should be triggered by the end of March, according to the Governments timetable. 'Indeed, the House of Commons has already voted for this by 461 votes to 89.' The landmark case was brought by Remain campaigner and former model Gina Miller who questioned whether Mrs May had the appropriate powers But the case caused furious protests from both sides, with many Brexit supporters complaining the judges were biased in favour of Europe If legislation is brought to the Commons, it is expected to clear MPs by a landslide - in similar numbers to the symbolic vote held last month. But the issue is fraught for Labour as many of the party's MPs - potentially as many as 80 - are determined to vote against Article 50. THE SUPREME COURT RULING: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The Supreme Court will hand down its ruling on the Prime Minister's power to invoke Article 50 at 9.30am tomorrow. What happens next depends on exactly what the judges say. The Government wins: If the Court rejects the High Court ruling, it would confirm Theresa May has the power to invoke Article 50 at a time of her choosing. The Government's case was this was a use of the so-called 'Royal Prerogative' used to make international treaties. The Government loses but the Supreme Court goes no further: The High Court ruled that because invoking Article 50 was irreversible, it meant UK citizens would lose rights currently provided by virtue of EU membership - even if the Government promised to match them. This meant ministers needed to pass a law in Parliament to carry it out. Any such law is expected to very short and very simple - as little as one clause that is just three or four lines long. The Government could introduce a Bill as soon as Wednesday and push it through the Commons and Lords as quickly as possible. This is likely to take a couple of days but could be done over a couple of weeks. The Government loses and the Supreme Court raises new barriers: The Supreme Court could throw up several conclusions which would take much longer to implement. The Judges could demand a comprehensive replacement for the 1972 European Communities Act, the law underpinning all other EU laws in Britain - as was suggested by one Supreme Court justice, Lady Hale, ahead of the case. Imposing vetos for the devolved assemblies on any Article 50 would also raise a huge number of questions about implementing the Bill - particularly in Scotland where the SNP have demanded a right to stay in the EU. Advertisement Labour sources today outlined to MailOnline amendments in four areas - but said even if they were defeated the party would not try to block an Article 50 bill. The amendments will demand the Government produce a full plan for Brexit - going beyond Mrs May's speech last week. The party also priorities - including single market access - spelt out in the legislation, as well as regular, binding, checks on progress by MPs through the two-year negotiation. The final deal should also be presented to MPs in time for it to be rejected and sent back to the European Council for improvement before the expiry of the two years given by Article 50. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday said his party would not seek to block Article 50 - which he said meant he would ask MPs to support it. He told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'We accept the result of the referendum. 'It's clear, it's a democratic decision that was made, parliament must reflect that. 'We therefore have to negotiate our way out, therefore Article 50 gives us the responsibility and the opportunity to negotiate. 'So we will not block Article 50, we will however amend the Bill in order to make demands on market access, in order to make demands on regulation, these things are very important.' But Labour shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman admitted said the party is in a 'difficult position' over voting to trigger Article 50 as the party has 'supporters, members, voters on both sides of this debate'. She was speaking on BBC Radio Four's Westminster Hour ahead of the Supreme Court's judgement on parliament's say in triggering Article 50. 'Whipping is an interesting concept', she said. She said it is 'very difficult for colleagues who have seats that voted strongly to remain', and for MPs who 'feel passionately that we ought to remain' so to expect them to vote to trigger Article 50 is 'a big ask'. The case at the Supreme Court came weeks after Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, and two other leading judges at the High Court, ruled on November 3 that Mrs May lacked power to use the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50. The subsequent Supreme Court hearing attracted media attention from around the globe. It was the most televised UK case ever. The Government's top law officer, Attorney General Jeremy Wright, arguing that the High Court got it 'wrong', told the justices that the use of the prerogative in the circumstances would be lawful. It was for the Government to exercise prerogative powers in the conduct of the UK's affairs on the international plane. He said: 'When it comes to leaving the European Union, Parliament has had full capacity and multiple opportunities to restrict the executive's ordinary ability to begin the Article 50 process and it has not chosen to do so.' The landmark Supreme Court hearing in December was the most televised case in British legal history (pictured) Attorney General Jeremy Wright led the Government's case in the Supreme Court (pictured) Government lawyers told the court that there was no 'affront to Parliamentary sovereignty' in giving Article 50 notice. At the heart of the legal battle were rights given to UK citizens by Parliament under the 1972 European Communities Act following the decision to join what is now the EU. James Eadie QC, for the Government, argued that the 1972 Act was the 'conduit' which allowed executive powers to be used by successive governments to give effect to EU treaty obligations under domestic law. But Lord Pannick, for Gina Miller, who won the ruling at the High Court, told the justices that her case 'is that the prerogative power to enter into and terminate treaties does not allow ministers to nullify statutory rights and duties'. He declared: 'Parliament is sovereign. What Parliament created only Parliament can take away.' When the case concluded Lord Neuberger announced: 'It bears repeating we are not being asked to overturn the result of the EU referendum. 'The ultimate question in this case concerns the process by which that result can lawfully be brought into effect. 'As we have heard, that question raises important constitutional issues and we will now take time to ensure the many arguments presented to us orally and in writing are given full and proper consideration.' Under fire: Republican Senator Jack Sandlin came under fire after sharing a fat-shaming meme on his Facebook page on Sunday. He claims to have no idea how it got there An Indiana state senator has come under fire online after he claimed he was 'not sure' how a fat-shaming meme was shared on his Facebook account. The official account of Republican Jack Sandlin shared the meme from another group Sunday. It showed Saturday's Women's March thrso ough DC with the message 'In one day, Trump got more fat women walking than Michelle Obama did in 8 years.' The post was taken down, Fox 59 reported, but not before screenshots were shared online - and not before Sandlin stirred up more anger with his response. The meme's mention of Michelle Obama was a reference to her campaign against obesity. Sandlin initially posted 'Apparently there is an offensive post on Facebook that's attributed to me about women in Washington marching. 'Not sure how that ended up on my Facebook wall but that certainly does not reflect my opinion of women. People who know me will know that's not my view.' The remark, which notably lacked an apology, mostly garnered 'angry' reactions from Facebook followers, according to NY Magazine. Offensive: This is the meme that was shared by his account from another Facebook group. It references Michelle Obama's drive to get people to live more healthily when she was First Lady 'Not sure': Sandlin later posted this on Facebook, saying he was 'not sure' how the meme ended up on his wall. He also did not apologize in this message, which was later removed Sandlin then deleted that comment too, or made it private, and released an official statement that was more forthcoming with an apology. 'Yesterday, an offensive message related to the Women's March on Washington appeared on my Facebook page. It's unclear to me how this ended up on my page, but I have removed it,' he wrote. 'This message in no way represents my views toward women, and I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have seen it.' That wasn't enough to appease hordes of furious Indianans and others who filled his official Facebook account with angry comments, however, some of whom perhaps missed his apology. 'Your sharing a misogynist meme is absolutely inexcusable from an elected official. You owe millions of women an apology, jacka**,' wrote Dawn Leonard. And Beth Mahoney Nelson complained: 'Dear Senator Porn 'Stache, You are an idiot and no one believes you didn't post this tripe. 'Own up to it and apologize and you MIGHT have a chance of not being spanked like a cheap hooker in your next election.' 'Inexcusable': Sandlin later released an official apology, but still said he didn't know how the meme got shared on his page, which this person said was 'inexcusable' Disbelief: This user said - in more colorful language - that she didn't believe his claim that he wasn't personally responsible for sharing the tweet Sandlin represents the 36th District in Indianapolis and Greenwood, and was elected last November. He had previously spent six years on the on the Indianapolis Marion County City-County Council; prior to that he was a police officer. The Women's March took place in cities across the world, including one in Indianapolis, which attracted 4,500 people. The march in Washington, DC, attracted around 500,000 people. According to crowd analysis experts contacted by The New York Times, that was around two thirds more than attended Trump's inauguration on Friday. A boy believed to be 12 years old has been identified as one of several people arrested and believed to be part of a suspected Islamic extremist network in Vienna, Austria, authorities said. While authorities have not released the boy's age, authorities said he is not old enough to be tried in court - a person must be 14 to be tried in Austria - and local reports say that the boy is 12. Authorities said that the young boy had been radicalised by a 'hate preacher' and was in close contact with a 17-year-old terror suspect who was arrested last week. On January 20, Austrian authorities arrested 17-year-old with a migrant background in a Vienna apartment on suspicion he had planned an attack. It is believed the teen, identified only as Lorenz K, had been in touch with jihadists in Albania. Authorities announced on Monday that a 21-year-old was also arrested in Germany with connections to the attack plan. German authorities have been on high alert since a Tunisian man whose bid for asylum had been rejected rammed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin on December 19, killing 12 people. Pictured above is the scene of the attack two days after German security police arrested the man and a woman during a raid on a flat in the western city of Neuss on Saturday, the regional Criminal Investigation Office (LKA) said. The woman, identified by local media as the man's wife, was later released. German authorities have been on high alert since a Tunisian man whose bid for asylum had been rejected rammed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin on December 19, killing 12 people. A spokesman for the Duesseldorf prosecutor's office said the 21-year-old suspect admitted during questioning that a 17-year Austrian with Albanian roots who was arrested in Vienna had visited him for two weeks at the end of last year, though the purpose of the visit was not immediately clear. Austrian officials initially said the Vienna suspect, who grew up in Neunkirchen, was 18. Police say that the 17-year-old Lorenz K was known for a history of petty crimes and assault, according to The Local. It is believed that he might have become radicalised while serving a year in prison from 2014 to 2015 for assault. The 17-year-old Lorenz K was tranferred to Justizanstalt Josefstadt prison in Vienna on Sunday. He turns 18 in the coming days. The 21-year-old and 17-year-old reportedly had experimented with making explosives in flat in Neuss. A search of the 21-year-old suspect's apartment in Neuss did not turn up any evidence of an imminent attack and no weapons or explosives were found, a prosecutor's spokesman said. Germany's Focus magazine said the man was planning a bomb attack on police and soldiers. Both he and the suspect detained in Austria had experimented with materials to create explosives in the Neuss apartment, it said. The Neuss arrest followed a tip-off from Austrian authorities, according to Frank Scheulen, spokesman for the LKA in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The man, whose nationality was not given, was arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out a 'serious act of violent subversion', Scheulen said. The Vienna suspect was arrested on Friday on suspicion of plotting an attack in the Austrian capital. The Austrian authorities did not specify the nature of the intended attack but said the suspect had expressed support for Islamic State and had been in contact with jihadists in Albania. Austrian police were carrying out additional searches of homes and conducting interviews, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka told ORF radio, adding that the suspect was part of a 'communications network', without elaborating. A spokesman for the German interior ministry said German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere discussed the case with Sobotka on Friday. Scheulen said computers, mobile telephones and data storage devices were seized in the Neuss raid. Austria's director of public security Konrad Kolger said that the radicalisation of teens in the country is a 'relatively new phenomenon'. The deputy head of Vienna Police, Karl Mahrer, said that a 220-person standby unit is prepared in case of an emergency but told locals to 'continue to live normally'. He said that security measures will remain high in Vienna and across the country, and urged people to contact police if they see anything suspicious. A 'known actor' bit the ear off another man in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as they argued about President Donald Trump, police say. The victim was bitten at his apartment in the city's East Liberty neighborhood after a verbal argument turned physical, police said. Salatiel Marcos Ortiz told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he got home at around 2.30am Monday and his roommate quickly turned combative. The roommate feared he'll be deported under Trump, Ortiz told the newspaper. Scroll down for video Salatiel Marcos Ortiz says he got home at around 2.30am Monday and his roommate quickly turned combative Ortiz says that his roommate was drinking beer and watching Trump on TV. The roommate broke his finger and bit off some of his ear Ortiz, 30, says that he and his roommate are Mexican. Ortiz told the newspaper that his roommate was drinking beer and watching Trump on TV. The roommate broke his finger and bit off some of his ear, the newspaper reported. Ortiz told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette his roommate had threatened to grab a knife and kill him, but he fled on foot to a gas station. Pittsburgh police said that they responded to a Baum Boulevard gas station around 6.45am Monday. According to authorities, 'Officers located a 30-year-old male victim who had been assaulted at his apartment in the 300 block of Amber Street by a known male actor. 'According to the investigation, the victim and actor were arguing about President Donald Trump. The part of Ortiz's ear was recovered by police in the apartment. His finger is in a cast and his ear was stitched back together and bandaged The victim was bitten at his apartment in the city's East Liberty neighborhood after a verbal argument turned physical, police said 'The argument turned physical and the actor bit the victim's right ear off. The victim ran to a nearby gas station to seek help.' Police spokeswoman Emily Schaffer says she isn't able to say whether the victim supported Trump or opposed him. The part of Ortiz's ear was recovered by police in the apartment. Police say he was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in stable condition. Ortiz is out of the hospital, and his ear was stitched back together and bandaged, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Ortiz, 30, says that he and his roommate are Mexican. The roommate feared he'll be deported under Trump, according to Ortiz Police say they know who bit the man's ear and are searching for him. They wouldn't give his name. Schaffer told DailyMail.com that authorities are continuing to investigate. 'We can't release the name until there's a warrant' issued, she said. Schaffer said there is no timeline for when a warrant for the attacker will be released. The incident took place in the 300 block of Amber Street (pictured) Controversial commentator Stacey Dash has been fired from her job with Fox News. It was confirmed over the weekend Dash did not have her contract renewed by the network after she had been off the air since September. A decision was made not to bring the actor turned pundit back last spring, according to The Hill. A Fox News spokeswoman confirmed the report to DailyMail.com. The 50-year-old had been with Fox since 2014 and mainly appeared on the afternoon program Outnumbered. During her time with the network she was suspended for swearing during a rant directed at President Obama, and also expressed controversial views on Middle Eastern immigration and transgender rights. Scroll down for video Controversial commentator Stacey Dash has been fired from job with Fox News. Dash is pictured on the network in April 2014 Trouble: She has frequently come under fire for comments she has made, such as calling for an end to Black History Month (Dash and Donald Trump above last year) Dash (right) rose to fame after she appeared with Alicia Silverstone (left) in the 1995 comedy, Clueless Dash came under fire last year when she discussed eliminating Black History Month and BET in a post on her blog late last year. She wrote at the time; 'I don't need a special month or special channel. What's sad is that these insidious things only keep us segregated and invoke false narrative.' Dash then further explained her beliefs on the subject while appearing on Fox News. 'We have to make up our minds,' Dash said during an appearance on Fox & Friends. 'Either we want to have segregation or integration. And if we don't want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET [Black Entertainment Television] and the BET Awards and the Image Awards where you're only awarded if you're black.' She then added: 'If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It's a double standard.' Dash did not stop there either, saying later in the interview when again asked if BET should be on air: 'No, I don't think so, no. Just like there shouldn't be a Black History Month. You know? We're Americans. Period. That's it.' BET was quick to respond to Dash's comment in an Instagram post, writing; 'Soooooo @realstaceyldash, can we get our check back... or nah? #Remember #YouWereOnTheGame #AndWeDontMeanTheRapper.' It included a photo of the actress appearing on its program The Game, where she had a guest role, along with the snide remark about her dating the rapper The Game. Dash voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 election but then switched her party affiliation in 2012 to Republican, endorsing Mitt Romney in the election. She supported President Trump in the recent election. Dash (pictured) did not have her contract renewed by the network after she had been off the air since September Many on social media were quick to react to the news Dash had been let go by the network Social media lit up with comments after the news was announced, with many welcoming Dash's departure. 'Stacey Dash is the perfect example of Karma.' one person tweeted. 'Before you laugh at Stacey Dash for losing her gig at Fox News, just remember this means shes now available for a cabinet appointment,' another wrote. Other people referenced controversial comments the Clueless star had made in the past about racial issues. 'Stacey Dash lost her Fox contract, and suddenly that "career" of being the black who hates blacks isn't gonna pay so well anymore,' Oliver Willis said. 'Let Stacey Dash being fired from Fox be a lesson about the perils of thinking that pandering to white supremacy will save you. It won't,' another added. Dash is yet to comment on her firing. She was born in the Bronx and is part Bajan, African American and Mexican. She is the cousin of Roc-A-Fella Records founder and CEO Damon Dash. The other founder of Roc-A-Fella is Jay Z, but he and Damon had a falling out a little over a decade ago with Damon leaving to start his own label Roc4life. Around the same time, Damon married his now ex-wife Rachel Roy, who many believe is the 'Becky with the good' hair referenced in Beyonce's recent song Sorry, which tells the story of a husband's affair with another woman. Dash also criticized Jay Z after he campaigned for Clinton, be retweeting a blog post written by Bristol Palin entitled: '5 offensive and lewd lyrics Jay-Z lyrics sang before endorsing Hillary Clinton.' 'Despicable' gang members who targeted vulnerable pensioners and robbed them of their life savings have been jailed. Phillip Orton, Lee Davidson and Scott Greathead, took more than 27,000 from unsuspecting OAPs by posing as builders and roofers who hadn't been paid - even though no work was ever done. The men bombarded their victims with up to 40 phone calls and numerous home visits, asking them for payments, and they even drove some of the pensioners to cash points to withdraw money. Left, Lee Davidson was jailed for five years, and right, Phillip Orton, the driver for the gang, who was paid in alcohol. He was jailed for three years and nine months One victim, pensioner Joan Barnett, 87, was pushed over and later died after an incident at her home in Tunstall, Sunderland. In the aftermath William Gales was arrested and charged with her manslaughter but has since died, meaning he will not face justice. However the 'ringleader' of the gang, Michael Gales, 27, failed to turn up to the sentencing hearing at Newcastle Crown Court and is believed to be on the run in Spain. The court heard shocking details of how the men were caught on camera celebrating after conning one of the elderly victims, even sending victory texts to each other with pictures of 50 notes. Left, Scott Greathead who was jailed for two and a half years for his role in the crimes. Right, Michael Gales, who failed to turn up to court and is believed to be on the run in Spain Prosecutor Chris Knox told the court how one of the victims, Mrs Barnett, was approached by William Gales, who then forced his way into her house to use her toilet. The late 44-year-old, of Borrowdale Street, Redcar, was accused of rummaging through the old woman's kitchen cupboards where 10,000 was hidden and pushing her to the ground when she tried to stop him. William Gales is said to have left the pensioner on the ground, where it is believed she lay for hours shouting for help in August 2014. Joan Barnett, 87, who died after William Gales allegedly forced his way into her home and left her lying on the ground Mrs Barnett died in hospital months later, allegedly as a result of the incident. Another victim, a former miner, was tricked out of the majority of his 30,000 savings, intended for his family's inheritance. It wasn't until his daughter overheard one of the phone calls that the cruel sham came to an end. In a victim impact statement she said: 'After the events of October 2014, I would describe the impact on my father as being, in my opinion, catastrophic. 'Up until he was targeted by these men, he was a proud, independent and hardworking man. It was clear he had kept the extent of this crime a secret from his family until it was discovered. 'I feel that this was because he is a trusting man and this has been taken from him by these criminals, leaving him embarrassed and upset. His health has declined dramatically. He became isolated in his own home as he stopped answering the phone and didn't leave the house. 'It is my opinion that the actions of these criminals have contributed to his health issues and decline in mental health. This whole incident has devastated the life of my father and our whole family.' All three defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and fraud by false representation. Orton who worked as the van driver within the conspiracy, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment. His barrister Alec Burns said: 'He fully accepts everything that is being said - yet he did not have any direct contact with any of the victims as he was simply the driver. 'He was not paid in cash for the work - he was paid in alcohol, as he is an alcoholic.' Davidson, 30, was found guilty after a trial and was jailed for five years. His barrister Laurie Scott told the court how Davidson was not positively identified by any of the victims. She said: 'He was described by one of the victims as being the quiet one. 'He did not have such a brash role as the others.' Greathead, who Judge Bindloss said 'played a lesser part in the conspiracy', was given two and a half years behind bars. His lawyer Mark Styles said: 'His role was less than the rest of the group since he was not there from the beginning.' The sentence of Michael Gales, 27, has been adjourned and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. Northumbria Police spokesman Detective Inspector Dave English who led the investigation Recorder Edward Bindloss QC told the defendants: 'This is a despicable case of criminal conduct - it was planned and premeditated. 'One of the victims was systematically targeted between June and October. 'You told him to make up to 20 cash withdraws totalling 27,600, in other words, basically his entire life savings. 'However I must stress this - none of you are criminally responsible for the death of Mrs Barnett.' Detective Inspector Dave English, who led the investigation, said: 'This has been a tragic case for all involved. A woman has lost her life and the other victims have lost thousands of pounds. 'It has been utterly heartbreaking for the family and friends of Joan Barnett and all the other victims. I'm sure many people will empathise with their loss. All families involved have remained dignified throughout this investigation and their contribution and support has been invaluable. 'Preying on vulnerable and elderly people is sickening. These men targeted residents across the North East, using persuasive and aggressive techniques to urge their victims to pay them money for work that had not been carried out. 'These men were finding any excuse to get into victims' houses and in the case of Joan Barnett, this is what subsequently led to her death after she was pushed to the floor and left to suffer for hours. 'In another case, they actually drove the victim to the bank to withdraw cash. 'This is just one of the measures these criminals will go to. They have travelled all around the North East taking advantage of vulnerable people for their own financial gain. 'I would urge anyone to be mindful of anyone who comes to your door asking for money, offering to carry out work or finding any reason to gain access to your house. Any genuine caller or salesperson will be happy to show you ID and return at a later date once you have been able to check their authenticity. 'We are absolutely committed to stopping these criminals and we will work tirelessly to protect those most vulnerable in our communities. Victims are our absolute priority and we will continue to work closely with them to help prevent repeat incidents and take action on those who commit these offences. 'These men preyed on vulnerable people and there may be other victims out there who may feel too embarrassed to come forward or haven't realised they have been targeted. I would urge anyone who recognises these men and believe may have fallen victim to them should contact police.' A neighbour of Joan Barnett said: 'Joan was a strong and independent woman as well as kind and generous. I had known Joan for about 15 years and she had become an unofficial grandparent to my children. 'She loved children and would always give them presents for Christmases and birthdays. After the incident in August 2014, we would visit her in hospital but she seemed to have lost all interest in life. 'She was no longer the chatty, happy person I had come to know over the years. Joan's death was upsetting and shocking to the whole of out community so we came together to give her the funeral she deserved. 'This has had a huge impact on us all in the community.' Advertisement Many abandoned buildings have a ghostly air about them - but few are as unsettling as the rusted, abandoned and forgotten slaughterhouse seen in these eerie images. Taken by LA photographer Jim Sullivan, the photographs show the remains of the machinery used to slaughter and process thousands of cows, from the death chute that funneled the animals into the killing floor to the rusted grates that were once slicked with blood. There are even the desiccated remains of severed hooves lying amidst the silent and decaying machinery. 'The abandoned slaughterhouse is a nightmarish place,' Sullivan said. He isn't wrong. Abandoned: Eerie photos by LA photographer Jim Sullivan reveal the interior of this creepy, long-abandoned and crumbling slaughterhouse in rural Nebraska Clocked off: A timecard clock by the entrance (left) is no longer functioning. Signs by the clock tell employees how to care for rashes or stitches. Levers, pipes and pneumatic pistons (right) all remain untouched by human hands Grim discoveries: A slaughter chute can be seen in this room, down which cattle would be funneled to their deaths. A sign on the door to the right reads 'NOT AN EXIT'. Sullivan described the slaughterhouse as 'nightmarish' Old bones: The animal carcasses had been removed when the abattoir was closed down, but a few sets of dessicated hooves remained on the killing floor The decay is clear from the very entrance to the slaughterhouse, where a timeclock stands skeletal and forlorn. A sign above it reads, 'If it isn't safe, don't do it.' 'It seemed like a stressful place to work,' Sullivan, 36, said. 'A notice hung on the bulletin board next to the timeclock, reminding employees how to care for any rashes or stitches they might have.' Inside, the bare concrete-and-brick walls are knitted with a lattice of pipes, cables, wires and heavier machinery, all covered with decades of dust, cobwebs and grime. A long concrete ditch with a trap at one end is the last thing that the cows taken to the abattoir would have seen: The slaughter chute, guiding them to the killing floor. In the room adjacent to the chute, a sign on a door reads, 'NOT AN EXIT.' High above a number of rooms is a winding series of gears, pulleys and chains that would have hoisted the animals' carcasses around the building as they were broken down into steaks, chops and detritus. And dotted around are grim reminders of how messy that work would have been: sinks operated by foot pedals; a grill sunken into the floor to allow blood to drain away. Chilling: The grating in this floor would have drained away the blood of the slaughtered cows; the bodies would then have been carried off using tracks suspended from the ceiling Rural decay: Grime, cobwebs and dust cover the complex systems of machinery that run around the building. These fans spun for the last time long, long ago Rusted: This track once hoisted cow carcasses around the slaughterhouse as they were broken down. Now it lies as silent as the grave. Rust is slowly claiming all of the machinery in the building Grisly: Pneumatic machinery can be seen all over the building, though for what grisly purpose it was used remains a mystery now that the factory is shut down Messy: There are signs everywhere of how messy the business would be - such as this sink, which is operated by foot pedals to avoid having bloody hands touch faucets Behind heavy metal doors lies the basement, where tangles of pipes - some having collapsed, bringing masonry down with them - hang over baths, basins and rusted machinery of unclear purpose. 'The old slaughterhouse was extremely dark in most places and the basement had a lot of standing water,' Sullivan said. The photographer says he is inspired by the ruins of the buildings he discovers. 'Growing up in Wisconsin, I spent a lot of time hiking and would occasionally happen upon the ruins of old farms,' he said. 'I'd wonder about the people who lived there and why they ended up leaving. Since I moved to Southern California, home of countless ghost towns from the mining era, my love of abandoned places has grown into an obsession. 'Knowing that the old structures will eventually be destroyed by vandalism, the elements, or developers, I feel compelled to learn their stories and photograph them while they still stand. 'I'd read a lot about abandoned places in the American Midwest and wanted to see them for myself. I took a road trip from Los Angeles to Cleveland and stopped at countless places in between.' Ominous: These massive metal doors lead down to the basement of the slaughterhouse, where water lies in deep black puddles in many areas Mysterious: It's unclear what this machinery, found in the abattoir's basement, would have been used for, but it is now rusted and crumbling Collapse: It would appear that a chunk of the wall next to this piece of basement machinery has collapsed, as has the piping from the ceiling above it Peeling: The paint above this grimy, rusted bath is peeling. A black substance is also collecting on the dry, dusty floor beneath the large vat Packaged: This is where the finished meat products would be rolled out on conveyor belts and weighed by stlaughterhouse staff before being packaged up and distributed January 23, Saint. Source: The Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 Roman martyrology: At Alexandria, St. John the Almoner, bishop of that city, most celebrated for his charity towards the poor. SHORT BIOGRAPHY Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt, called "the Almoner" because of his generosity to the poor. He was born into a noble family of Cyprus and was briefly married. When his wife and child died, he entered the religious life, and in 608 was named patriarch of Alexandria. He aided refugees from the Persian assaults on the Holy Land and built charitable institutions. John predicted his own death. He had to leave Alexandria when a Persian invasion troubled the region and had a vision of his demise. John went to Amathus, on Cyprus, where he died on November 11. An anorexia sufferer who is close to death has been sent home from hospital by a judge after a court heart she saw the illness as her 'profession'. The woman, who has not been named for legal reasons, has battled the condition since her teens and is in extremely poor health as a result. Speaking during the hearing at the Court of Protection, in London, doctors said she had an 'entrenched fear' of gaining weight and described her anorexia as 'severe and unremitting.' Speaking at the Court of Protection (pictured) in London, the doctors said the woman had an 'entrenched fear' of gaining weight at described her anorexia as 'severe and unremitting' The court heard the woman, referred to only as Z, 'identifies her place in the world' through her anorexia and the illness has been described as her 'profession'. Giving evidence to Mr Justice Hayden, the doctors said she currently has a BMI of 9.5 - when the healthy range is 20 to 25. She also suffers from severe osteoporosis which is normally only seen in the elderly. Last autumn, she had to be sectioned and detained in hospital because of her 'profoundly malnourished and life-threatening physical state'. The details of the woman's illness were revealed as Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation trust asked the court to decide whether they should continue treatment. This includes being restrained and fed through a tube and, after her condition deteriorated further, doctors became concerned the treatment could cause greater harm. Medics told the court there must now be a choice between continuing her treatment, feeding her under sedation, or allowing her to leave the hospital. Continuing to tube feed against her wishes could result in injury and sedation posed a 'very high risk' of cardiac arrest, they added. One doctor said she 'at least fares better emotionally' when she is not under an enforced medical regime. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reason, is vulnerable to sudden death after battling the condition since her teens (woman not pictured, file photo) WHAT IS ANOREXIA AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT SUFFERERS? Sufferers of anorexia nerovosa restrict the amount they eat in a bid to keep their body weight as low as possible. The serious mental health condition can cause those affected to make themselves vomit and to become fixated with excercise and burning calories. People with anorexia often develop the condition because of an anxiety about their body shape and image. An distored image of themselves means they believe they're overweight when they're a healthy weight. The NHS advice on the signs that someone may have anorexia or another eating disorder is, that the person may be: missing meals, eating very little, or avoiding eating any fatty foods obsessively counting calories in food leaving the table immediately after eating so they can vomit taking appetite suppressants, laxatives, or diuretics (a type of medication that helps remove fluid from the body) repeatedly weighing themselves or checking their body in the mirror physical problems, such as feeling lightheaded or dizzy, hair loss, or dry skin people to make themselves For help and advice for anyone suffering with an eating disorder, visit charity B-Eat's website. Advertisement The woman herself believes she will 'do much better at home' and her parents support that view - although Mr Justice Hayden said that is 'despite a lifetime of evidence to the contrary'. The judge said it is 'hoped' that, by leaving hospital, she will feel more able to co-operate with treatment to prolong her life. However, he added, her health is so poor that all of the options amounted to 'palliative care', and that withdrawing treatment was the 'least worst option.' Ruling that she should return home, he said: 'It is almost certainly a pious hope that Z will, if left broadly to her own devices, manage to effectively confront this terrible illness, which has darkened her life since she was 15. 'I am aware that her parents express a belief that she can manage this and I have no difficulty in understanding why they might cling to that hope. 'I however must be more objective in my analysis and reasoning. 'Although it will be terribly painful for Z and her parents to hear it expressed in these terms, I have come to the conclusion that I am choosing between three palliative care options.' The judge added: 'Of course the further and obvious benefit of this option is that it allows Z to take responsibility for herself, in so far as her illness permits her to do so. 'The trust has been at pains to emphasise, and it is important that I repeat it, that the hospital doors are always open to her and that she is encouraged by them to engage to whatever extent she can.' Given the woman's extreme vulnerability, Mr Justice Hayden ordered that nothing must be published that might tend to identify her, or members of her family. Theresa May (pictured today in Runcorn, Cheshire) has been distracted by millions of women marching in silly hats because they are not men This Friday Theresa May will become the first world leader to meet President Trump. With one eye on the Women's Marches that have shrieked across our cities, she says this is the 'biggest statement' she can make about the role of women in the world. No, Theresa. It is not. Your chromosomes do not interest us, your actions do. Put your vagenda to one side and focus. You are the Prime Minister. You have work to do. Sadly, you have been distracted by millions of women marching in silly hats because they are not men. You have to be better than that. And do not dare to suggest you will be letting President Trump know which of his behaviours or statements you find unacceptable as a woman. You are not going to lecture the President of America. In this game of Top Trumps you cannot play the Vagina card. Because the guy you are speaking to owns the name of the whole damn pack. Sitting here a few blocks from the White House, perhaps I can provide some much needed perspective on where Theresa May and Britain stand in the order of things. Women's Marches - including this one in London on Saturday - have shrieked across our cities A year ago last Thursday our politicians sat around and debated banning Trump from the UK to placate the sticky-keyboard brigade who clicked on a pathetic petition. Our liberal press and state broadcaster indulged in every minute of this tragic spectacle and continue to do so. In Scotland, the Ginger Dwarf from the North stripped the new President of his role as business ambassador for Scotland after he called for a temporary ban on Muslims travelling to the USA. (Frankly, with her in charge, I'd rather be ambassador for Gambia.) In England our blond-haired bluster-ball of a Foreign Secretary said the only reason he would not come to New York was the very real fear of bumping into Donald Trump. And in London our Prime Minister campaigned on the wrong side of Brexit and subsequently entered No 10 without ever actually having won an election. Theresa May has not been voted into power by the people as Trump has. Never used her own cash to fight against the odds and win. She is on the wrong side of history. This President is not a normal politician. He sees the good in our brave country outside of the Establishment. And he believes in us So whichever way you look at it, Britain has treated the new President of the United States appallingly. Thanks to our politicians and their sneering cheerleaders in the press I would not blame Trump if he followed through on Obama's clumsy threat and put Britain right at the 'back of the queue'. He has every reason to punish us over the next four years for our treatment of him. But when we go low, he goes high. Because of Brexit. Because he is listening to the people of Britain and not the politicians, because of Farage giving us a voice. Trump has given Theresa May an audience, at least partly because of the 17.4million who voted Leave. Trump is listening to the people of Britain and not the politicians, because of Nigel Farage (pictured) giving us a voice You see, this President is not a normal politician. He sees the good in our brave country outside of the Establishment. And he believes in us. Theresa May is not the first in line to see Trump because she is Prime Minister. Or because she has earned it. And certainly not because she is a woman (although it won't do Trump any PR harm to have his pussy-grabber being photographed clasped in the Oval office by a female world leader). She has been afforded a place by the 52 per cent who believed in Britain and kept faith with the power of the nation state. May is allowed to meet with Trump because Farage had a clear vision for a country with strong borders and increased national security, and a priority to put its own people first. It's a vision President Trump shares for the people of America. As he said in his inaugural address: 'From this day forward a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward it's going to be only America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families.' And he encouraged other nations to do the same, to put their own nation first, too. When she arrives in Washington the Prime Minister should keep her politically correct lectures to herself, reaffirm we are on the same team, apologise for the dreadful way our political class has spoken about Trump, and confirm that the good people of Britain the majority of Britain share his aspirations for a strong nation state working side by side with its allies across the pond. Theresa May has been given a second chance she doesn't really deserve. Now she needs to pick up this baton from this new President and run with it. Retiring commissioner of the CBP Gil Kerlikowske said on Friday that Trump's campaign promise is 'not going to work.' In a final warning days before leaving office, the outgoing head of the Customs and Border Protection agency said that it's a waste of time and money for President Donald Trump to build a wall on the southern U.S. border. Retiring commissioner of the CBP Gil Kerlikowske said on Friday that one of Trump's most consistent campaign promise is 'not going to work.' 'I think that anyone who's been familiar with the southwest border and the terrain...kind of recognizes that building a wall along the entire southwest border is probably not going to work,' 67-year-old Kerlikowske told ABC News. During the campaign, the billionaire gave speeches in cities across the country where he repeatedly promised to his supporters 'we're going to build a wall'. But according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released last week, only 37 per cent of Americans support having a wall built along the U.S. border with Mexico. Kerlikowske cited how during the presidential campaign, Trump (above in September) repeatedly claimed 'we're going to build a wall' at a number of stops across the country Kerlikowske said: ''I think that anyone who's been familiar with the southwest border and the terrain...kind of recognizes that building a wall along the entire southwest border is probably not going to work'. Pictured above is a fence along the border Kerlikowske stated that Trump's supporters of the wall don't see the real problem when it comes to immigrants entering the country. He explained that immigrants 'can come right up to our ports of entry. All our ports of entry of course are open. That's where we have our commerce.' 'People can come up to those ports of entry, as they are doing now, and turn themselves in and ask for whatever laws they feel will protect them,' he added In relation to Trump claiming that he can build a wall 'very inexpensively', Kerlikowske, who first assumed office in 2014, said that it's not 'feasible.' '[It's] not the smartest way to use taxpayer money on infrastructure,' Kerlikowske stated. According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released last week, only 37 per cent of Americans support having a wall built along the U.S. border with Mexico. Above an agent surveys a car at the border 'When we look at the cost and we have about 600 miles of fencing now we look at the maintenance and the upkeep, we know how incredibly difficult it is.' Kerlikowske cited the declining numbers of people coming across the border over the years during his tenure. 'Not many years ago we had 1.6 million people coming across the border,' he said. Kerlikowske said that that number has decreased to 400,000, as he thanked the hard work of from the '21,000 border patrol agents and 24,000 Customs and Border Protection Officers.' 'But, if we say, 'you know, what is secure border?' I think definition is in the eye of beholder,' he said. 'Does it mean nobody get in ever? Does it mean 400,000 is too many, but 1.6 million compared to 1.6 million?' 'I think you have to put it into context,' he said. 'But it is a safer place today.' A Roman Catholic School has found itself at the centre of a social media storm after telling parents of a four-year-old Muslim girl she should not wear the hijab to school. St Clare's School in Handsworth, has a strict uniform policy, including no headwear or scarf and asked parents of the girl to respect it. The row has now divided senior councillors and women's rights activists who have been locked in a row over Facebook and Twitter. St Clare's School in Handsworth, has a strict uniform policy, including no headwear or scarf and asked parents of the girl to respect it But her father called on Birmingham City Council's Labour cabinet member for equalities Waseem Zaffar to intervene causing the row to erupt. Councillor Zaffar wrote that he had met with the head teacher and told her the ban on the scarf was against the equalities act. He added: 'I'm insisting this matter is addressed asap with a change of policy.' But his cabinet colleague Coun Majid Mahmood (Hodge Hill) countered that as a faith school St Clare's is 'maybe within its rights to insist upon a particular dress code,' just as a Muslim faith school 'may require girls to wear headscarves'. Dr Mashuq Ally, a former head of equalities for Birmingham City Council, agreed that there is no religious requirement for girls of infant school age to wear the hijab. He also pointed out that a faith school is allowed to set its own uniform policy and exempt from discrimination legislation. Where there are demographic changes which lead to a significant number of Muslim children attending a Christian school, then the parents should ask the school governors to consider changing the uniform policy he explained. He added: 'I also would have thought a Muslim parent would have thought very carefully about sending their child to a Roman Catholic school and considered the uniform policy. 'This should have all been discussed between school and parent, not been dragged into the public and political arena.' Campaigner Gina Khan attacked Councillor Zaffar on Twitter, accusing him of backing male parents who enforce the hijab on little girls as a means of control. She said: 'Hijab isn't compulsory for a child in Islam, but patriarchal biradari power used to control Muslim school girls.' Councillor Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children, families and schools, said: 'Each school's governing body is responsible for the creation and implementation of its own uniform policy. 'However, the local authority is supporting the school to ensure its policy is appropriate, in line with legal requirements, and we are engaging with all schools to remind them of their responsibilities when it comes to setting school uniform policies.' An ambitious man has been spotted chasing after people's shoes on a busy Chinese street as he tried to start his shoe-shine business. The 22-year-old, a university student, grabbed hold of pedestrian's feet, cleaned their shoes by force before trying to sell shoe polish to them, as a recently video posted by Sohu shows. The persistent shoe-shine boy claimed that his forceful sales method was earning him 300-400 yuan (35-47) per day, and that he had treated it as a practice for setting up his future business. The man waited on the street to find someone wearing leather shoes before giving it a shine The incident was filmed on the streets of Zhengzhou, central China, according to the Sohu report. The man, unidentified, told a reporter that he was studying Electronic and Information Engineering in a university and he was on holiday. During the video, he had his eyes locked on pedestrians' feet, aiming for those wearing leather shoes. The footage showed that once he spotted a customer, he dashed towards them and quickly knelt down to shine their shoes. The lady insisted she did not need the service when the young man offered to shine her shoes Shoe shine for free: The young man wanted to practise his selling techniques through this Many customers were puzzled and some female customers were frightened, telling him that they had not wanted the service. Nevertheless, the man carried on. The video was taken on January 21. The university student explained that sales representative has a very promising income which could help him afford a house and a car in the future. He is now working for a leather repair company that restore leather jackets and leather sofas. The 22-year-old university student sees sales as a promising job to earn big money He claimed his persistent sales acts on the street had been a trial of entrepreneurship. 'So are you starting your business now?' The reporter asked. 'Yes.' The man said as he took out a piece of paper to prove he had had an average of 15 customers a day. 'This is just the beginning. I am earning 300-400 yuan (35-47) every day now,' said the young man. The video has drawn different comments from the viewers. One weibo user commented: 'It's good to have such a spirit, but this kind of service is not welcomed by everyone.' Another user, 'Mmos_', said: 'There are so many ways to sell a product, what he has done left the others feel very uncomfortable. I have seen this before and it is very embarrassing.' The man said he had been following Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's words to be creative and innovative. Suspect charged: Registered sex offender Somorie Moses, 40, has been arrested and charged in connection to woman's remains that were found at a waste sorting plant A convicted sex offender has been arrested and charged with hiding a womans head and other body part in his freezer after allegedly dumping other remains at a New York City waste-sorting station. Somorie Moses, 40, was taken into custody at around 12.15am Sunday at his home in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, where investigators with the New York City Police Department executed a search and found a woman's head, hands and feet stuffed inside the freezer. The grisly discovery was made just days after workers at the Metropolitan Transfer Station on Halleck Street in the Hunts Points section of The Bronx came upon a female torso and a leg without a foot in the trash. So far, Moses has been charged with concealment of a human corpse and tampering with evidence, but police say the suspect could face more serious charges once the autopsy on the victim is complete. Gruesome mystery: A torso and leg belonging to an unidentified woman were found the Metropolitan Transfer Station in the Hunts Points section of The Bronx A cadaver dog is pictured scouring the trash-sorting plant in Hunts Point The dismembered woman has not been identified as of Monday morning, and the Medical Examiners Office has yet to determine a cause of death. Investigators believe the victim may have been a prostitute who knew Moses, according to DNAInfo New York. Employees at the privately owned Metropolitan Transfer Station unearthed a woman's torso and leg at 4.40am last Tuesday and notified the NYPD. Waste from all areas across the city ends up at the Bronx facility, where it is collected and destroyed. Crime scene investigators later found additional human remains, including a right arm and a left arm, both without hands, in Kearny, New Jersey, according to NBC4. Police say they used surveillance video at the Hunts Point waste-processing plant and phone records to identify and track down Somorie Moses to his apartment on on Erasmus Street in Brooklyn. Moses was arraigned on Sunday in Bronx Supreme Court and ordered held without bail after a prosecutor argued that he was a flight risk and revealed that at the time of his arrest, the suspect knocked over a police officer during a failed attempt to flee, according to the New York Daily News. Crime scene: Police executing a search warrant at Moses' apartment on Erasmus Street in Brooklyn (pictured) say they found a woman's head, hands and feet inside his freezer Moses is a registered Level 2 sex offender who was convicted in 2006 on charges of promoting prostitution of a girl younger than 16 and profiting from prostitution. His criminal record also includes no fewer than eight arrests on charges that included rape and patronizing a prostitute. In 2003, Moses was picked up in connection to a non-fatal shooting incident. He was released from prison in 2016 after serving more than three years on an unrelated weapons charge, according to amNY. A 74-year-old man 'murdered his wife before getting into his car with his hands covered in blood and killing himself by driving into a tree'. The couple have been named locally as Ann Furneaux, 70, and her husband Edward aged 74. Neighbours speculated that Mrs Furneaux had been ill for some time and could have been the victim of an assisted suicide. A pensioner, named locally as Edward Furneaux, died in a car accident on Kewstoke Road on Thursday. One female neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told how police forensic teams had been searching the couple's detached 70s property for evidence. She said: 'All I know is the lady was very ill and she is now dead. 'Her husband was found dead in a car up against a tree in the woods. 'They are treating it as murder investigation. They have been going round all the drains looking for the murder weapon. The accident has now been linked to the death of a woman in Worle Somerset, Police confirmed 'It was either a murder or an assisted suicide, that's what we are thinking. 'They were a very close couple.' Police launched an investigation after a woman's body was found at a house on Pilgrims Way in Worle, Weston-Super-Mare, at 9.30am on Thursday. Neighbours said Mrs Furneaux had been ill for a long time and that this could be an 'assisted suicide' An hour-and-a-half earlier, her husband suffered fatal injuries when he collided with a tree on nearby Kewstoke Road. Witnesses described passers-by trying to give the man - who had 'blood all under his nails and on his hands' - CPR but he died at the scene. Tweeting on Thursday, Ryan Tiney posted a text message about the collision. It read: 'The bloke on the toll road murdered his wife and then drove off with blood on him and all over his hands and committed suicide. 'A few people left work at the time it happened and were trying to give him CPR and there was blood all under his nails and on his hands. 'They didn't think anything of it at the time but went to tell his wife what happened to him and she was already dead. Shocking.' Avon and Somerset Constabulary have confirmed that this is now a murder investigation and they are not looking for anyone else in connection Pamela Price, who was at the crash scene, wrote on Facebook: 'Sorry we couldn't do more. Attended the scene after hearing a loud crash. 'All of us there tried our best and ambulance took 30 mins to arrive. 'My thoughts and love go to all who held him dear. May he now rest peacefully.' Avon and Somerset Constabulary have linked the two incidents and confirmed they are treating the woman's death as murder investigation and are not looking for anyone else. Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: 'Our enquires are continuing and our thoughts remain with the family of those who have died.' A plush five star hotel in Dubai has complained that scantily-clad Russian Instagram models are ruining its family-friendly reputation. The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah - where a suite costs more than 1,000 - now wants to ban flesh-baring models from using the name of their hotel in a hashtag or sharing their location on social media. It comes after a group of Russian models flaunted their assets in the hotel as part of a photo shoot for designer Anna Chibisova's brand D'AngelAnn. They included model and TV presenter Victoria Bonya, 37, actress Anna Kalashnikova, 44, and TV reality star Alena Shishkova, 24. Plush five-star hotel Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah has complained about its Instagram feed being littered with pictures of scantily-clad models One of the models pictured at the hotel was 21-year-old Russian model Alina Lobacheva Ms Lobacheva was also pictured soaking in a bubble bath at the hotel that now wants to crack down on the images of scantily-clad models appearing on its social media feed Russian model Dasha Mart pictured in a suggestive post at the five-star hotel in Dubai Defending her conduct, actress Anna Kalashnikova, 44, said: 'Personally I do not publish inappropriate pictures, and here I mean half-naked photos' Model Lily Ermak, a Philipp Plein Sports ambassador, was also pictured flaunting her assets Alina Akilova also uploaded a raunchy selfie - the hotel said the pictures are harming its image Other glamorous women pictured at the luxury five-star hotel included Lily Ermak and Alina Lobacheva, both Philipp Plein Sport models, as well as Alina Akilova and Dasha Mart. Hotel managers have complained the model's revealing selfies and suggestive photographs have given the wrong image of the hotel. A spokesman for the hotel said: 'This is an Arab country. We have had a lot of complaints from families with children. 'We do not want to see our location [coming up on social media] on photos of girls in semi-naked and erotic poses. Let the photograph simply state the location as Dubai.' TV presenter Victoria Bonya, 37, was pictured at the hotel as part of a photo shoot for designer Anna Chibisova's brand D'AngelAnn Alena Shishkova, 24, a reality TV star, also took part in the photo shoot for D'AngelAnn Another Russian Instagram model was pictured on the private beach of the five-star hotel Russian model Dasha Mart uploaded this picture of her topless in the Dubai's hotel bath Ms Mart also posted this snap of her reclining on a chair at the five-star Dubai hotel The Waldorf Astoria has a private beach, sea-facing guest rooms and a Michelin-starred chef Defending her social media posts, Ms Kalashnikova said: 'Personally I do not publish inappropriate pictures, and here I mean half-naked photos. 'They have a different mentality in the UAE and by law it is forbidden to publish such photos.' The Waldorf Astoria has a private beach, sea-facing guest rooms and a Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck on site. It also boasts two pools, a children's pool, and a spa with nearly 50 luxurious treatments available. The US military has rubbished claims Russian fighter jets have flown their first combat mission in Syria alongside American-led coalition forces. US Marine Major Adrian JT Rankine-Galloway completely dismissed the claims from the Kremlin on Monday afternoon. 'The Department of Defense is not coordinating airstrikes with the Russian military in Syria,' a statement read. 'DoD maintains a channel of communication with the Russian military focused solely on ensuring the safety of aircrews and de-confliction of Coalition and Russian operations in Syria.' The Russian defense ministry has said its warplanes have flown their first combat mission in Syria with US-led coalition aircraft. Pictured are two Russian Tu-22M3 bombers on Monday US Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, spoke out almost immediately against the Russian claim - dubbing it propaganda. White House spokesman Sean Spicer would not comment on the specific reports, however he suggested Donald Trump would be willing to work with Russia. 'The President has been very clear he is going to work with any country that shares our interest in defeating ISIS. If theres a way we can whether its with Russia or whoever else, well take it,' Spicer said. Moments earlier the Russian Defense Ministry claimed the landmark operation had taken place. Coalition spokesman Air Force Col. John Dorrian (left) slammed the Kremlin's claims as propaganda US Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, spoke out almost immediately against the Russian claim - dubbing it propaganda. Pictured are American jets on an aircraft carrier in July 2016 The Pentagon dismissed the claims that were made by the Kremlin on Monday about a joint strike The ministry claimed its forces in Syria had received coordinates of ISIS targets near al-Bab on Sunday 'from the US side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters.' WHAT COUNTRIES ARE IN THE COALITION INTERVENING IN SYRIA? USA Australia Denmark France Turkey Netherlands UK Russia Canada Belgium Germany Italy Jordan Morocco Bahrain UAE Advertisement Coming just three days after Trump was sworn in as President, the alleged mission could arguably be seen as a sign of America's changing relationship with Vladimir Putin's administration. Russia-US relations were at their lowest since the Cold War under Barack Obama, with tensions around conflict in Ukraine and Syria crisis. However, it has been reported President Trump is planning to make contact with the Russian leader in an attempt to rebuild the relationship. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters contacts between Moscow and Washington about the date of the first phone call between the two leaders were being handled by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Contrary to Monday's reports, Peskov explained that it was too early to talk about the details of any possible cooperation between Russia and the US in fighting ISIS. Despite efforts to build bridges with the Kremlin, last week Trump made clear he wanted Russia's nuclear weapons to be 'reduced very substantially'. It has been reported Donald Trump will work to build a relationship between the US and Russia. The President is pictured in the Oval Office on Monday President Trump is planning to make contact with Vladimir Putin. The Russian President is pictured on January 18 'They have sanctions on Russia - let's see if we can make some good deals with Russia,' Trump told the Times newspaper in the UK. 'For one thing, I think nuclear weapons should be way down and reduced very substantially, that's part of it.' The President also criticized Russia for its intervention in the Syrian civil war, describing it as 'a very bad thing' that had led to a 'terrible humanitarian situation.' A Florida judge who allegedly called a woman the C-word and said black people should 'go back to Africa' resigned abruptly on Monday, the day before a possible impeachment plan could go into place. Jacksonville-based Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey, 66, submitted a one-page resignation letter to Governor Rick Scott on Monday, effective that morning - but allegedly only because he was facing impeachment due to a series of transgressions. 'He resigned under the threat of the investigation,' house speaker Richard Corcoran (R - Land O'Lakes) told the Tampa Bay Times. Resigned: Mark Hulsey resigned as a circuit judge on Monday, the day before impeachment proceedings against him for alleged racist and sexist comments were scheduled to begin Threat: Florida House speaker Richard Corcoran (pictured) said Hulsey was trying to escape impeachment. Claims about Hulsey came out after a review last July The allegations against Hulsey surfaced last July when the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) filed its notice of formal charges against Hulsey, who was then running for re-election. That notice ran through a litany of complaints, including Hulsey allegedly telling a staff attorney that black people should 'go get back on a ship and go back to Africa'. The report also said that he referred to a female former lead Staff Attorney as a 'b***h' and a 'c**t', overworked staff and other transgressions. In total, it said, he violated the Canons of Judicial Ethics 18 times, state election law once when he claimed endorsements without securing those endorsements in writing. Hulsey disputed the claims, calling them 'dirty political tactics,' and ultimately won re-election. But the matter was not forgotten, and this Tuesday's meeting of the House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee, was planning to begin impeachment proceedings, the Times said. Its agenda had an item titled 'actionable items: report on preliminary findings' that would have seen a House investigator presenting a report on Hulsey, and vote being taken on subpoenaing witnesses. Hulsey headed them off at the pass by handing in his notice Monday. According to July's JQC notice, Hulsey called his lead staff attorney a 'b***h' and a 'c**t' in conversation with a third party, after she had him admonished by another judge for overworking the attorneys she oversaw. The report agreed with her, upbraiding Hulsey for forcing staff attorneys to work unreasonable hours, effectively putting them 'on call'. That included including making one attorney sit with him for two weeks, providing 'basic information about capital trial procedures.' Claims: The review said Hulsey demeaned black people and women, and overworked staff attorneys. Pictured: Duval County Court, where Hulsey once worked It added: 'at the end of the two-week trial, you unfairly berated, and blamed the staff attorney for mistakes you made during the course of the trial.' Hulsey also referred to women as being like 'cheerleaders who talk during the national anthem,' according to the report. The report also said that Hulsey had attempted to interfere with its investigation by ordering his judicial assistant to tell investigators he would never say anything derogatory about black people or women. Hulsey, who had been reassigned to the probate division last year after the media flate-up, denied all the claims last year through a lawyer. Hus resignation letter, sent Monday to Governor Rick Scott by email and hand delivery, said: 'I hereby tender my resignation as a judge of the Circuit Court of the State of Florida, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Group 25, effective this 23rd day of January, 2017 at 10:15 am' He added: 'It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of the state of Florida.' Donald Trump will not be 'El Presidente,' judging from the website his White House launched on Friday. The new whitehouse.gov, unlike the online home of the Obama administration, has no Spanish-language content. Visiting the old White House website address for content 'en Espanol' brings Web surfers to an error page. The newly minted president made a point during the Republican primary season of his preference for immigrants to learn English, mocking former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish on the campaign trail. ENGLISH ONLY: The new White House website has only an error message where the Obama administration's Spanish-language content used to be EARLY DAYS: President Donald Trump, shown Monday after signing executive orders, hasn't yet weighed in on making English the official language of the United States 'We have a country where to assimilate, you have to speak English,' Trump declared during a September 2015 debate. 'We have to have assimilation to have a country,' Trump added. 'We have to have assimilation. ... This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish.' Then-candidate Trump told ABC News weeks earlier that 'while we're in this nation, we should be speaking English.' Trump uttered only Spanish word during the 23 debates and televised forums in which he participated, and it didn't help him. 'We have some bad hombres here, and we're gonna get em out,' he said in an October debate with Hillary Clinton, referring to illegal immigrants who remained in the United States despite convictions for violent crimes. The chairman and CEO of U.S. English, the nation's most vocal advocate of making English the official language of the United States, told DailyMail.com that the Trump administration shouldn't give Spanish-speakers any special dispensation. 'Maybe if they're going to do it in Spanish, they should also use all 323 languages spoken in the United States, right?' asked Mauro Mujica. 'Why just one and not the other 322?' 'ASSIMILATION': During the Republican primary season, Trump urged immigrants to learn English in order to take full advantage of their adopted country NO MAS: The Obama White House's website can still be viewed on a government archive, complete with its Spanish-language pages Mujica cautioned that while 'we have no problem with it,' the English-only White House website might only be temporary as the new administration comes up to speed. 'I would assume they're deciding in how many languages they want to do it,' he said, but 'English is the de-facto official language of this country.' 'I know many of those people including the president, but nobody has asked us what they should do,' Mujica acknowledged. White House press secretary Sean Spicer directed questions about the English-only website to media affairs director Helen Aguirre Ferre. Spicer took a question about Spanish-language website content during his first official press briefing hours later. 'We are continuing to build out the website both in the issue areas and then that area,' he said. 'But we've got the IT folks working overtime right now to continue to get all of that up to speed. And trust me, it's just going to take a little bit more time but we're working piece-by-piece to get that done.' Mauro Mujica, Chairman and CEO of U.S. English (left, during a congressional hearing) said 323 languages are spoken in America and only English should get special treatment America's new president lost the Hispanic vote to Hillary Clinton by a 65-29 margin in November, but it had little effect on the election's outcome. Exit polls showed they comprised just 11 per cent of the voting public, and were largely confined to non-battleground states like California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Mitt Romney, John McCain and George W. Bush, the three previous Republican presidential nominees, all made Spanish-language websites part of their campaign. So did Clinton's. But Trump made no serious bid to reach out to them in their native tongue including online. His campaign's one visible effort Spanish signs at the Republican National Convention that were meant to say 'Hispanics for Trump' backfired. They read: 'Hispanics para Trump,' instead of the grammatically correct 'Hispanics por Trump.' Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte sought to lure voters away from far-right politician Geert Wilders, as campaigning for the March 15 national elections heated up on Monday. In a full-page newspaper message, Rutte said 'we have to actively defend our values' against people who refuse to integrate or act antisocially. 'Behave normally or go away.' While Rutte's message did not mention Wilders or his Party for Freedom, it was clearly aimed at winning over voters who would likely back Wilders' hard-line platform. Scroll down for video Dutch PM Mark Rutte said people had to 'actively defend' the nation's liberal values Rutte has been losing support to Geert Wilders of the Far Right Freedom Party, pictured Rutte, leader of the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, said he understands calls for people who don't integrate to leave the Netherlands. 'I have that feeling, too,' he said. But he also appeared to criticize Wilders' anti-immigration stance. 'The solution is not to tar people with the same brush,' Rutte said. A court convicted Wilders in December of insulting and inciting discrimination against Moroccans. He is appealing the conviction, which he branded 'shameful.' On Monday, Wilders hit back and called Rutte 'the man of open borders, the asylum tsunami, mass immigration, Islamisation, lies and deception.' Polls give Wilders an edge on Rutte at the moment. But mainstream parties shun Wilders and it appears unlikely he will be able to form a coalition even if he wins the popular vote. Rutte's coalition has steered the Netherlands to a strong recovery from the financial crisis that swept Europe, but his party's popularity has slipped as Wilders' has grown. Wilders joined right-wing populist leaders from France, Germany, Italy and elsewhere on Saturday at a meeting Germany ahead of elections this year that could see major gains for nationalist parties. 'I believe we are witnessing historic times,' Wilders said in the aftermath of Donald Trump's inauguration. A Texas man has pleaded guilty to paying to have his daughter's boyfriend killed in a bungled plot that was ultimately unsuccessful. Jeffrey Peyton, 59, appeared in the Wichita Falls 30th District Court last week over charges stemming from a failed attempt to hire a hitman to murder a man in June 2015. The 59-year-old admitted to handing over the cash, and also listed his wife, 41-year-old Christina Peyton, as an accomplice, the Times Record News reports. Jeffrey Peyton (left), 59, and Christina Peyton (right), 41, are accused of hiring a hitman to kill their daughter's boyfriend He offered the man $500 - $300 up front and $200 once the deed was done - to have the boyfriend 'taken out'. The killer plot was foiled by an undercover officer the Peyton's allegedly approached to carryout the hit, who secretly recorded all their conversations about the plan. According to the cop, the Peytons initially hinted about how they wanted the boyfriend dealt with 'permanently', before Christina added: 'I want him gone. Not out-of-town gone. I want him dead gone.' The 41-year-old then explained how she would to the movies on the day of the hit, saying she could not be around 'the day this happens', according to the newspaper. Jeffrey Peyton, 59, appeared in the Wichita Falls 30th District Court (pictured) last week over the incident But to really catch the Peytons out, police went to the boyfriend and convinced him to play dead. He posed for pictures having been 'shot', and then on July 2, 2015, the imagines were shown to Jeffrey and Christiana - who thought it was proof of a job well done. However, they were arrested later that same day. Jeffrey Peyton will be sentenced on on March 3. As a result of a plea deal, it is expected he will receive 22 years in prison. A lock down of a U.S. Air Force base in Arizona after 'unconfirmed reports of gunshots' has finally been lifted. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson announced the lock down on social media at just after 10am on Monday. Authorities warned anyone on base to 'seek shelter immediately'. The lock down was lifted, after three-and-a-half hours, at just before 1.40pm. Scroll down for video A U.S. Air Force based in Arizona was placed under lock down after 'unconfirmed reports of gunshots' Authorities warned anyone on base to 'seek shelter immediately' in the tweet Courtesy KGUN9 'All clear, the lockdown has been lifted,' a base spokesman tweeted. 'Base personal are free to resume all normal operations. We will continue with updates as available.' Ashlee Silcox, who appears to be a decorated officer with the armed forces according to her Facebook photos, posted on a Facebook group that she had heard the gun shots which sparked the lock down. 'I heard gunshots from my office but that's it,' she wrote. When questioned where the shots were coming from she replied, 'Near the flight line but its been a moment or two since I have heard anything.' She has since deleted her post. Community page Soaring Heights at Davis-Monthan AFB posted at around noon on Facebook that the base 'just reported an active shooter.' Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson announced the lock down on social media at just after 10am on Monday They later updated the post saying that the base was still on lock down after 'there were reports of the sound of gun shots. 'No actual shooter has been confirmed at this time,' they posted at around 1pm. Officials with the Tucson Police Department and Pima County Sheriff's Office said that they have officers had been watching the situation although neither have been called to base. 'We're still gathering information about that right now,' Tucson police Chief Chris Magnus told AJC.com earlier today. 'At this point we have not been requested by the base. We are in active communication with them. 'Right now, we are in a little bit of a holding pattern right now until they advise further.' On-base schools and Child Development Centers were all cleared by security forces during the lock down while parents and family member were barred from traveling to them. The Tucson base is home to the 355th Fighter Wing, which provides training and deploys the A-10 jet A nearby charter school for grades 6 to 12 said on its Twitter account that it's not allowing anyone to enter or leave the school. No further information was available. The Tucson base is home to the 355th Fighter Wing, which provides training and deploys the A-10 jet. About 6,500 active duty military and 1,000 Reserve and Air National Guard personnel work on the base, along with about 3,000 civilians. Three young men suspected of gang raping a woman in Sweden and livestreaming the attack on Facebook have been detained - wit police urging social media users on Monday to turn over the footage. At a press conference on Monday, investigators appealed to social media users who had images of the attack to turn them over to police. Uppsala deputy chief prosecutor Magnus Berggren said: 'We have some picture and video material. But we don't have any images showing the attack itself'. The film has been removed from Facebook but it has been circulated on the internet. Swedish media have published excerpts of the footage, showing at least one of the suspects holding a revolver. Three suspects, aged 18, 20 and 24 have been arrested at an apartment in Uppsala after the alleged gang rape was streamed on Facebook. One of the suspects was seen holding a revolver (pictured above) The suspects, aged 18, 20 and 24, were arrested early Sunday in an apartment in Uppsala, 45 miles north of Stockholm, in the presence of their 30-year-old victim. The arrest were made after members of a Facebook group saw the attack streamed live and alerted police. Josefine Lundgren, 21, was one of the witnesses who watched the incident online and reported it. She said she saw the victim being stripped and then sexually assaulted by several armed men and said the attack only ended several hours later when police arrived and switched off the webcam. She told Sweden's Expressen newspaper that the 24-year-old suspect, a repeat offender considered by police to be the main attacker, 'tore the clothes off' his victim before raping her. Witnesses saw the victim being stripped and then sexually assaulted by several armed men and alerted the police She added that the attacker also 'had apparently filmed everything and took pictures that he put on (messaging site) Snapchat'. Ms Lundgren said she saw uniformed police arrive at the scene and arrest the culprits. Another online witness told the paper: 'At first I thought it was a poorly orchestrated joke.' He said: 'The first thing you think is 'how can you do such a thing to a girl?' And how can you do it live? It is totally sick.' Three men were arrested in Uppsala (pictured) in Sweden after the incident on Saturday night According to Berggren, other charges could be pressed against the suspects in addition to one of aggravated rape, for having streamed the attack. In an email to AFP, a press spokesman for Facebook in the Nordic countries denounced 'a hideous crime'. He said: 'Our teams work around the clock to review content that is being reported by users' and Facebook cooperates systematically with police in criminal investigations. The incident will be more bad publicity for Facebook Live, following the online torture of a man with learning difficulties in Chicago earlier this month In June last year gang member Antonio Perkins, 28, unwittingly live streamed his own death on Facebook after he was shot dead in Chicago while using the real time video app. And earlier this month four black people were charged with a hate crime after a white man with learning difficulties was tortured on Facebook Live. The gang shouted: 'F*** Trump' and 'F*** white people' during the attack, also in Chicago. Advertisement Two men have been arrested following an explosion at an alleged 'cannabis factory' at a block of flats which saw more than 70 firefighters tackle a huge blaze. Police confirmed then men were in custody and being questioned on suspicion of arson. The Met also confirmed they had been taken to hospital for treatment after five people were hurt in the fire. An unnamed neighbour claimed the blaze was the result of 'gas canisters' catching alight in the 'factory'. Cannabis factories often depend on numerous heating lamps which can cause electrical problems, with scores of lights and transformers used in the growing huge numbers of plants. The incident took place in Hornchurch, east London, with nearby roads shut and reports of debris strewn across the area as flames 'billowed' out of the front of the building. Witnesses said the front of the flats had been 'blown out across the street' while other buildings in the area 'were shaken' by the blast. Smoke continued to 'pour' out of the front of the block for hours as the emergency service teams doused the building with water, with 30 people evacuated from the 41 flats. Scroll down for video More than 70 firefighters have been at the scene of a blaze in Hornchurch after an explosion at a block of flats, pictured Witnesses said flames were 'pouring' out of the front of the building, left, before emergency services arrived with a hazardous area response team, right The fire brigade confirmed there was a partial collapse of the building, with the fire starting in a corner flat, pictured, according to the local council Residents and bystanders, pictured, have been evacuated from the area as emergency services make it safe Window frames were ripped away from walls by the blast, with rubble strewn across the grass outside the building, pictured Serious internal and external damage has occurred at the flats, with all 41 emptied. Residents who do not have family to stay with will be found alternative accommodation, the council confirmed The neighbour told EssexLive: 'Allegedly there was a cannabis factory on the ground floor. One chap had two gas canisters that somehow caught fire. 'The fire brigade were called and in ten minutes there were loads here. It looks like he lost control of it. 'The window frames were blown 70 feet.' The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on the accusations and said it 'would not speculate' on the cause. Ten fire engines were sent to the scene alongside specialist hazardous area vehicles. The ambulance service confirmed it took four people to hospital. Darren Lawrence, 47, told the Romford Recorder that cars passing on the A127 were struck by debris. He told the paper: 'When I heard the noise I thought a lorry had crashed into the building. I rushed outside and there were people running around, frightened.' Mr Lawrence added: 'I saw a man bleeding from his ears. Another had a laceration to his head. 'I and another man tried to keep people calm and away from the building. We used cones from the nearby building site to keep people and cars away. A spokesman for Havering Council said most residents went to a local McDonald's restaurant, adding that measures will be put in place to ensure they have somewhere to stay. The council spokesman said the explosion came from a ground floor corner flat, adding that 41 flats had been evacuated, with many residents staying with family and friends. Eyewitness Jason Smedley, who is managing director of fingernail gel firm Nail Harmony UK, based around the corner from the flats, said he felt his office shake during the explosion and thought 'a lorry had driven into our building'. He wrote on Facebook: 'Carnage!! Never witnessed anything like that before. We all heard a massive explosion.. ran round to see the front of the house across the A127! Pray that no one was in the flats. Stomach churning!!' Speaking to MailOnline, he added: 'We felt the building shake and all of us went outside. 'We went down an alleyway and you could see the flames billowing out of the flat; the flames were pouring out of the front of this flat. 'The moment it happened we immediately though it was some kind of explosion. 'Originally we thought maybe a car had driven into the flats but now we think it must have been a gas leak. 'We were just trying to pull people back from the building to keep them safe. There were people screaming and crying everywhere.' Much of the right side of the block has been blackened and charred by the fire as firefighters assessed the damage, pictured Locals have been watching the drama unfold from behind a police cordon, pictured, with some given foil blankets Reports suggest at least four people were injured in the incident, with London Ambulance Service and the Met Police also at the scene. Pictured are firefighters using an aerial platform to battle the flames Witnesses said debris was 'scattered around' the area in the aftermath of the blast, with this window blown off the building Witness Jason Smedley said part of the flats had been 'blown out across the road' due to the force of the explosion Mr Smedley said the front of the flats had been 'blown out' across the road. 'We pulled people back and told them to get out of the way,' he said, adding that he and his staff brought people back to their office to give them shelter. 'Unfortunately there was a woman and her daughter, that were in the flat above, that heard the explosion, ran out, and we brought them back ... had just their dressing gowns on, so we just gave them tea and blankets. They've got nowhere to live tonight,' he said. Mr Smedley added: 'By the looks of the flat where the fire was, if anyone was in it I don't think they could have survived. We are just praying it was empty.' But there have been conflicting reports over injuries, with the Met Police claiming two people had been taken to an east London hospital. A police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 5.14pm on Monday, 23 January to reports of an explosion at a block of flats in Ardleigh Green Road. Hornchurch. 'Officers, the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service are currently at the scene. As of 8pm the London Fire Brigade was still at the scene, pictured, as part of the ground floor flat remained alight Thick plumes of black smoke have been pictured billowing out of the building, left, as the emergency services continue to work at the scene It is still unknown how the explosion occurred and an investigation is underway with several police officers at the scene The London Ambulance Service confirmed its first medics arrived at the scene within 'five minutes' of the blast Motorists and pedestrians have been urged to avoid the area while the emergency services continue the operation Police have also tweeted about the incident with the A127 road closed 'Two people at the scene were taken by London Ambulance Service to an east London hospital. 'Two people are currently being treated at the scene. 'One person presented themselves at an east London hospital with injuries. We await an update on their conditions. 'At this early stage officers are unable to confirm the cause of the explosion but enquires are underway. 'Residents are in the process of being evacuated from the building. The Local Authority has been informed and also on scene. 'Local road closures are in place. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area.' A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: 'Ten fire engines and 72 firefighters and officers are dealing with a fire and suspected explosion at a block of flats on A127 South Arterial Road, near Harold Hill, at the junction of Ardleigh Green Road. A huge emergency services presence has been at the scene, pictured Transport for London confirmed the A127 Southend Arterial Road has been closed while emergency services work (pictured) There were 10 London Fire Brigade vehicles at the scene of the incident 'Part of a ground floor flat is alight. 'The Brigade was called at 5.14pm. Fire crews from Harold Hill and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.' He added: 'The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.' A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: 'We were called just before 5.15pm to reports of an incident at Southend Arterial Road, Hornchurch. 'We sent a number of resources to the scene including three ambulance crews, our Hazardous Area Response Team, a single responder in a car and a duty manager. The first of our medics arrived in under five minutes. 'We have now treated four patients at the scene and taken them all to hospital. We remain on scene.' Transport for London said the A127 Southend Arterial Road was shut between Ardleigh Green Road and Bryant Avenue. Dr Stephen Frost, pictured, treated injured soldiers for more than 20 years The Ministry of Defence 'destroyed the career' of a well respected doctor because he was a whistle blower, an employment tribunal was told yesterday. Dr Stephen Frost, 69, was dismissed from his job as a locum at Weeton Barracks in Lancashire after an Afghan war veteran was prescribed with six times the normal dose of morphine tablets. The well respected doctor who had a 'blameless' 20 year career of caring for injured soldiers was then removed from the register of his local health board in North Wales. Officials then wrongly told the health board that Dr Frost had been involved in the mistaken dispensing of the pain killers to the soldier, who had lost a leg in a roadside bomb attack. Senior Army officials were accused of 'Stasi like tactics' when they highlighted Dr Frost's opposition to the Iraq war and his views that there should be a further inquiry into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly. Mr John Hendy QC , for Dr Frost, told the Manchester tribunal in his closing submissions that Dr Frost's views on David Kelly's death were 'widely held in the legal community.' Dr Frost claims he was dismissed ' without the merest hint of natural justice ' because he suspected criminal offences may have been committed in a mix up over the prescription and dispensing of the tablets. The doctor, who neither prescribed nor dispensed the tablets, was dismissed for not telling the soldier that he had been given the wrong tablets and was at risk of overdosing. But the soldier himself said he had never been given the orange 60 mg tablets and had only ever taken the brown 10 mg pills. Dr Frost said the amputee had shown no signs of overdose and that therefore up to 2400 mg of morphine tablets were unaccounted for. Dr Frost was employed on a six-month contract at Weeton Barracks. He worked for the Ministry of Defence for nearly 20 years The concerns of the doctor about the missing tablets had been brought to the attention of the then Minister of State for Defence , Anna Soubry, who was wrongly told that an investigation had taken place. Mr Hendy told the tribunal: 'The only explanation as to why there was no inquiry into the truth of what happened to the drugs is that the MOD did not want such an inquiry, the outcome of which could be damaging to Weeton and the MOD management. 'The only person who had called for such an inquiry and supplied information tending to show that criminal offences might have occurred was Dr Frost.' Mr Hendy told the tribunal that a series of 'malicious' e-mails citing Dr Frost's views on Iraq and the death of Dr Kelly were designed to ' sink him without trace.' He added: 'They demonstrate the animus of the MOD to Dr Frost and that animus can only be explained by the desire to remove a whistle blower.' He said Dr Frost had been left 'deeply distressed and disturbed just for trying to tell the truth.' 'He did not consider himself a whistle blower - he was simply highlighting a contradiction.' Mr Hendy added: 'It is truly extraordinary. Here is a doctor who has worked for the MOD without criticism, who was not involved in the mis-dispensation or mis-prescription of the tablets or any wrong doing whatsoever. Dr Frost claims there are questions to be answered in connection with the death of whistleblower Dr David Kelly 'He goes on holiday without a problem but comes back to find his contract ended without any chance to argue his case.' Mr Hendy said the ' false allegation ' that Dr Frost had been involved in the tablet scandal had ' echoed through the MOD ' and had ' destroyed his career.' During the tribunal Frost was accused by the MoD of fabricating evidence and described as 'vague, evasive and contradictory.' Ashley Serr, for the MoD, said it was wrong to suggest there was an attempt to 'hoodwink' the authorities over the morphine sulphate tablets. The campaign group Whistleblowers UK have backed Dr Frost's case. It said:' His fight to address injustice has taken three years to come to court. The case is yet another example of an ingrained determination on the part of the public sector to silence and punish the whistleblower rather than confront the wrong doing he or she may have exposed.' Helen Clifford, of MW Solicitors, which is representing Dr Frost, said: 'The tribunal heard evidence that the MoD did not abide by the principles of natural justice as there was a systemic violation of their own protocols. The investigation carried out was defective. 'The way in which the MoD treated Dr Frost in relation to the termination of his employment and since that time, including the malicious emails and attempts to prevent him from returning to practice, illustrate the animus of the MoD towards Dr Frost. 'That animus can only reasonably be explained by the desire to remove a whistleblower.' The tribunal's ruling on the case will be made later this year. President Donald Trump yanked the United States out of President Barack Obama's 12-nation trade pact today, making good on a campaign promise to negotiate a better agreement. Trump signed an executive order Monday morning withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. 'We've been talking about this for a long time,' Trump said in remarks from the Oval Office on Monday as he signed the memorandum. 'Great thing for the American worker.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Donald Trump yanked the United States out of President Barack Obama's 12-nation trade pact today, making good on a campaign promise to negotiate a better agreement The deal had not yet been ratified and was considered dead on arrival once Trump won the presidential election. Trump railed against the agreement on the campaign trail, calling it a 'rape of our country.' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that the president is 'moving quickly' on trade policies to make the United States more competitive and has appointed 'tough and smart' experts to fight for American workers. 'This is a strong signal that the Trump administration wants free and fair trade around the world,' he said, calling it a 'new era.' A copy of the memo White House released began: It is the policy of my Administration to represent the American people and their financial well-being in all negotations, particularly the American worker, and to create fair and economically beneficial trade deals that serve their interests. 'Additionally, in order to ensure these outcomes, it is the intention of my Administration to deal directly with individual countries on a one-on-one (or bilateral) basis in negotiating future trade deals. 'Trade with other nations is, and always will be, of paramount importance to my Administration and to me, as President of the United States.' It misspelled the word 'negotiations.' It went on to say, that by the power vested in Trump by the Constitution, 'I hereby direct you to withdraw the United States as a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to permanently withdraw the United States from TPP negotiations, and to begin pursuing, wherever possible, bilateral trade negotiations to promote American industry, protect American workers, and raise American wages.' Spicer said during his briefing that Trump rejected the multinational agreement because it put the United States 'on par with some very small countries.' 'They're not always in the best interest of the United States,' Spicer said. Not only are bilateral agreements easier to get out of, he argued, 'a good chunk' of the countries that were part of TPP have existing trade deals with the United States to begin with. Trump's opposition to trade deals negotiated by Democrats was a driving force behind his victory in Rust Belt states with populations that are largely white and working class and were expected to go to Obama's preferred successor, Hillary Clinton. Clinton's husband signed the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, which Trump has said he'll take a look at, too. Trump warned workers that Clinton would 'betray' them, too, just like her former president husband if they gave her the authority to negotiate on their behalf. As president-elect, Trump promised to back out of the trade deal that Obama pursued with the backing of congressional Republicans, against the demands of his own party, on 'day one' of his administration. In a video he released in late November, Trump said the trade deal is 'a potential disaster for our country.' Trump said promised to negotiate 'fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores' instead. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a proponent of Obama's trade deal, applauded Trump in a statement on Monday for 'acting on his promises,' including on trade. 'He followed through on his promise to insist on better trade agreements,' Ryan said, supporting the Republican president. In addition to signing the TPP memorandum, Trump met business leaders and union workers Monday. Ford CEO Mark Fields told reporters after a 'breakfast and listening session' for the business community that he has 'a lot of confidence that the president is very, very serious on making sure that the United States economy is going be strong and have policies, tax regulatory or trade to drive that.' So it was a very, very positive meeting, and I think a very positive meeting for the United States of America and manufacturing,' Fields said. Trump later held a listening session with union leaders and American workers in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Trump told a reporter that they would be discussing free trade. Meeting came after he officially withdrew the U.S. from Obama's trade deal Trump later held a listening session with union leaders and American workers, including Tom Flynn of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Terry O'Sullivan of the Laborers' International Union of North America, and Joseph Sellers, Jr. of the Sheet Metal National Workers' Fund, according to the White House. 'We're going to get them working again,' the president said in Oval Office remarks. He said in response to a question that they would be discussing free trade. Not on the list of attendees provided by the White House to journalists: labor giants that supported Clinton. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the National Federation of Teachers, the Teamsters and the American Federation of Teachers were not represented on an official list. Spicer said in his daily briefing Trump 'made it a priority' to meet with the unions and laborers he did today - on 'working' day one - in recognition of the 'tremendous union support' he received on Election Day. 'He's dedicated to growing and deepening their support,' Spicer said. 'The offshoring of American jobs, the lack of economic growth in recent years, has hit American workers particularly hard. The president's top priority is to retain and attract American jobs.' The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is looking at a series of reports to examine what went wrong as she and Bill Clinton figure out what's next for the couple who have dominating their party's politics for 25 years. Politico talked to a number of Clinton allies who say the former secretary of state is waiting out the Democratic National Committee chair election in February as it's shaping up to be an ideological rematch of the Clinton versus Sen. Bernie Sanders Democratic primary war. Their inner circle is also advocating a 'wait-and-see' approach before she steps into a more public-facing role in part so they can see if President Donald Trump's poll numbers sink, which in turn means Hillary Clinton's could rise. 'I'm certain Trump will screw up enough that by the fall of '18, Hillary's numbers will be way up again,' predicted Clinton friend and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell to the online publication, referring to the timing of the congressional midterm elections, the party's next big test. Scroll down for video Hillary and Bill Clinton are combing through reports, writes Politico, trying to learn where she fell short in the 2016 presidential race Hillary Clinton's allies will be running for office - and be running many of the Democratic groups in Washington, D.C. - so she's expected to eventually help the party once more Clinton's detractors can take comfort in knowing that the former secretary of state, senator and first lady nor her ex-president husband will likely ever appear on a ballot again. 'The Democratic Party does need new blood, new faces and I don't think Bill or Hillary Clinton would ever want to get back and run for anything,' said former Democratic Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor to Politico. 'I don't think a team of mules could drag them to do that,' Pryor added. So then, what's left for the Clintons to do? First the 2016 presidential campaign autopsy could sooth Democratic fundraisers, upset that their cash haul for the White House on down seemed to be a big waste. As not only did the party lose the White House unexpectedly to a political novice, but Democrats didn't overtake Republicans in the Senate, which they had seemed poised to do. 'She understands that a forensic exam of the campaign is necessary, not only for her, but for the party and other electeds, and for the investors in the campaign,' said a Clinton friend to Politico who didn't want to be named. Allies of the Clintons are suggesting a 'wait and see' approach when it comes to President Trump, with the idea that if his poll numbers plummet hers will rise In that scenario, the Clintons could really help the Democrats raise money and get candidates elected from a local to a national level 'People want to know that their investment was treated with respect, but that their mistakes wouldn't be repeated,' the source added. Clinton's former campaign manager Robby Mook and members of his team are putting together presentations that include where there were date and polling errors and where in the electorate she underperformed, a Democrat familiar with the project told Politico. Bill Clinton has also been involved, poring over the precinct-level data, while complaining to friends about the involvement of FBI Director James Comey who received a warm embrace yesterday in the White House from President Trump and the Russians' involvement in the election, Politico learned. He's also resumed his work at the Clinton Foundation, which had its reputation rattled during the presidential campaign. Coming down the pipeline are two elections that people like to read like tea leaves for what's to come in the next set of primaries the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. From there, the Clintons have a number of allies, including Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who are up for re-election in Trump friendly states the following fall. 'It someone they knew was running for the Senate or the Statehouse or City Hall, it would be out of character for them not to be supportive,' Bill Clinton's original White House chief of staff Mack McLarty, told Politico. Other party leaders and allies, too, said they believed the Clintons would be fundraising and campaigning again, perhaps even in the next several months. Some in the party have suggested deploying the political couple to red states, to help raise money for local election, which tend to be underfunded and ignored by those in the national scene. Politico pointed out that a number of groups that will help in the rebuilding of the Democratic party have Clinton ties at the top too. There's the Priorities USA super PAC, which is steered by Guy Cecil. The John Podesta-founded think tank, the Center for American Progress continued to be run by ally Neera Tanden. And David Brock, an ex-conservative who embraced the Clintons and now runs a number of liberal groups, will also continue to have the couple's back. 'I would be surprised [to see Bill Clinton step way from politics] only because he has so many friends who are still involved, who he's worked with for so many years,' Skip Rutherford, the dean of the University of Arkansas' Clinton School of Public Services told Politico. Rutherford noted that 'many of the people who are involved in the political world got their stars in the Clinton world, so there's a whole base of people who are connected to both Clintons.' 'Many Democratic politicians have been personally influenced or share direct ties to President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, or both,' McLarty echoed to Politico. He predicted they'd eventually both play roles in the party going forward. 'And despite the grave disappointment, resilience is in the Clintons' DNA,' McLarty said. 'So while I certainly don't expect to see them trying to assert their authority, I think there will be natural and welcome opportunities for them to engage.' Surveillance video shows a thief stealing a full-sized $1,700 guitar by stuffing it down his pants and walking out of the store. Police are looking for a man who stole an expensive guitar by hiding it in his tracksuit bottoms last week in Fort Worth, Texas. Security footage shows the suspect stealing the brown Sunburst Fender Guitar, worth more than $1,700, in just under a minute. Police are looking for a man who walked out of a store with a brand new guitar stuffed down his pant in Fort Worth, Texas. The theft happened last week and the suspect was seen causally walking behind display shelves (left) before ducking down (right) The man in a dark colored tracksuit is seen putting an object, which was later confirmed to be a $1,700 Sunburst Fender Guitar, down his pants Police are still looking for this man who stole a guitar last week in Fort Worth, Texas Video footage shows the man wearing a dark colored tracksuit and cap walking to a display area inside of a Guitar Center store. Once the suspect's body is partially blocked by shelves, he ducks down and is seen putting an object down his pants. He quickly adjusts his red vest and shirt over the expensive object and spends several seconds fiddling around with his clothing. The thief then walks with his hands in his pockets away from the area, with his legs spread slightly apart. Police only described the suspect as a white male. He is seen fiddling and adjusting his vest (left) before walking out of the store with his hands in his pocket (right) Authorities in Greenville, Mississippi, say a man was shot to death by police after walking out of a house firing a handgun at officers. Police Chief Delando Wilson Johnson tells The Delta Democrat-Times that 44-year-old Ronnie Lee Shorter died at the scene. The Washington County coroner said he had been shot five times. 44-year-old Ronnie Lee Shorter was shot dead when he came out of his fire a gun in the air Shorter was apparently shot five times by police who were forced to return fire as he came out of his Greenville, Mississippi house, pictured Officers say they responded to a call of shots being fired and knocked on the suspect's door. He then walked out of his home firing a handgun at which point the officers were forced to return fire. MBI spokesman Warren Strain says Shorter's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy. Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons says five officers at the scene were put on leave. Their names were not released. Johnny Ross, who lives nearby, said Shorter 'randomly, from time to time, would shoot up in the air.' The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into what happened and interviews will continue this week with the officers involved. The police chief has collected their weapons and they will be submitted to the crime lab for processing as part of the investigation. The officers involved in the shooting were not injured and have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of MBI's investigation. Patricia Katchur has pleaded guilty to shooting her husband hours after he got a protection-from-abuse order against her A Pennsylvania woman has pleaded guilty to shooting her husband hours after he got a protection-from-abuse order against her. Patricia Katchur pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced Monday to 15 to 30 years in prison. Allegheny County police say the 56-year-old Katchur shot her husband May 13, 2015. He was killed at slightly after 7pm, according to local media. Katchur had been living with her sister since the couple fought days earlier, but she returned to their McKeesport home to get some belongings. Police allowed her into the home after 52-year-old Christopher Katchur refused. After she took her belongings, police advised him to get a protection-from-abuse order. Police say Patricia Katchur went back to the house while he was getting the order, and she fell asleep. She went back with two guns and gained access to the home by breaking a window, the Tribune-Review reported, citing police. Allegheny County police say 56-year-old Patricia Katchur shot her 55-year-old husband Christopher Katchur on May 13, 2015 Her husband returned and woke her up. Christopher Katchur told her to leave, and went outside and sat on the front steps, the newspaper reported. Katchur admitted to shooting her husband in the back while he sat on the steps, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Christopher Katchur's hand held the court paperwork for the protection-from-abuse order at the time of the killing, according to the newspaper. He got the order two-and-a-half hours before he was killed, WTAE reported. According to the television station, in his request for the order, Christopher Katchur said that on May 9: 'I came home from errands and my wife started one of her many arguments. 'I refused to argue with her, so she only got more enraged and began tearing up our home. She took our marriage license and burned it in the kitchen sink, made some calls, took her stuff, and left.' Katchur admitted to shooting her husband in the back while he sat on the steps Writing about the day of the shooting, he said, according to WTAE: 'She came to the door heavily sedated with her sister and dog, but I refused to let her in. She called police. 'I informed police she had weapons (2 guns) permitted to carry and the police informed me to file PFA!' The victim's son Joseph Katchur was quoted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as saying at a Monday hearing: 'He showed me everything I am today. 'We were inseparable. He was my everything. She took him from me. Her selfish, cowardly act of murder took him from me for the rest of my life.' Patricia Katchur apologized to the family, the newspaper reported, and said: 'There's always two sides to a story. I suffer just like them. I wish it never happened.' A senior Hong Kong politician has been criticised for taking a taxi to her former residence to collect toilet rolls. Carrie Lam was caught short a few hours after moving out of her government quarters to live as a civilian as part of her election campaign. The 59-year-old is seen as favourite to become Hong Kong's chief executive, the highest position in the city. Carrie Lam was caught short a few hours after moving out of her government quarters to live as a civilian as part of her election campaign After she revealed her story to reporters over the weekend, Lam has been ridiculed on social media. 'I'm laughing so hard, I'm on the floor,' a user called Robhimx wrote on Twitter. Many have questioned why she couldn't have gone to a local convenience store instead of travelling to her former home in the exclusive Peak district. The episode has become known as 'Loo paper-gate'. Lam defended her actions to reporters: 'A lot has happened in my life in the last few days,' she said. 'I have to keep adapting to the changes, and to keep learning.' Lam came from a working class background but has worked as a civil servant since 1980. She has also held the prestigious chief secretary position, which gave her chauffeured cars and government homes. The 59-year-old is seen as favourite to become Hong Kong's chief executive, the highest position in the city But Lam is now underfire and questions are being asked of her knowledge of the city. Last week Lam was criticised for appearing not to know how to use a turnstile at a Hong Kong subway station. In the footage she is seen waiting at the turnstile until a rail worker advises her she can just walk through. Another hopeful for the chief executive role, Regina Ip, has tried to use the gaffe to her advantage. When asked on a radio show whether she could use a rail turnstile she held up pre-paid Octopus electronic cards which are used to pay for a range of services in Hong Kong, including travel and food shopping. Hong Kong's chief executive will be elected in March. Kelly Weidman, 48, is being charged with sneaking onto Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, smearing bananas on cars and writing a profanity about Trump A woman is being charged with sneaking onto President Donald Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club shortly before his inauguration and smearing bananas on cars in its parking lot. Kelly Weidman, 48, also allegedly typed a profanity about Trump on a computer at the Palm Beach, Florida club and moved some balloons in the Grand Ballroom to bushes outside a few hours before Trump was sworn in on Friday. Weidman, of Clearwater, was confronted by security guards and would not leave. Guards then called police. She allegedly told officers she wanted to be arrested because no one was paying attention to her claim of being 'cyber attacked,' Palm Beach police said. She also said she had typed 'F***UTrumpB' on the computer, WPTV reported. She was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and released. Weidman was confronted by security guards at Mar-a-Lago, pictured, and would not leave. Guards then called police Weidman was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and released. Pictured: Donald and Melania Trump at a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago Earlier on Friday, Weidman had come to Mar-a-Lago by car but was turned away. She later returned on foot. Because Trump wasn't at the ritzy club, the Secret Service wasn't involved. President Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of President Barack Obama's 12-nation trade pact today, making good on a campaign promise to negotiate a better agreement. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, was originally billed as the gold-standard in free trade deals and a strategy to blunt China's dominance in the Asia-Pacific. But just three days after the TPP's champion, former president Barack Obama, moved out of the White House, Trump, sitting in the Oval Office, signed the executive order to withdraw the US from the TPP. It is a major blow to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as the TPP was the key plank of the nation's trade policy. Scroll down for video President Donald Trump yanked the United States out of President Barack Obama's 12-nation trade pact today, making good on a campaign promise to negotiate a better agreement WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AUSTRALIA? Australia's Trade Minister Steven Ciobo announces the government is committed to finding a way forward for the TPP He said Australia is still willing to work with 10 remaining countries He admitted access to US market was an incentive for other countries' involvement in the first place Australia might now look to China or Indonesia to enter the agreement Security Studies lecturer Adam Lockyer claims US withdrawing will have no impact on Australia Mr Lockyer says Australia already has stable free trade agreements in place and the TPP would have been difficult because there were so many nations involved Opposition Leader Bill shorten claims the TPP is 'dead in the water' and pursuing the deal is 'a waste of time' Advertisement 'We've been talking about this for a long time,' Trump said from the Oval Office on Monday as he signed the memorandum. 'Great thing for the American worker.' The not yet ratified agreement promised to liberate Australia's foreign investment by 98 per cent between TPP nations. It claimed to reduce costs and red tape for Australian exporters, service suppliers and investors. The agreement also promised to boost Australia's agricultural industry. Australia's beef, sugar, rice, dairy, cereals, wine and seafood industries were all in line for significant benefit - according to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australia's booming agricultural sector could now be in threat. Australia's resources and energy industry is also in the firing line, an export industry worth about $38 billion. The government claimed the TPP would make overseas investment more transparent - an agreement now in limbo since Mr Trump's announcement on Monday. While billion-dollar industries could now be at risk, security experts argue US' decision to withdraw will have little impact. Security Studies lecturer Adam Lockyer said Australia already boasted strong and stable free trade agreements, unlikely to falter, he told the Cairns Post. The TPP agreement promised to promote cross-border industries by knocking down regulatory hurdles. Outlined in the agreement was also a clause stating product labels be made more transparent. It said products needed to clearly label where they were made - specifically in which country. The deal had not yet been ratified and was considered dead on arrival once Trump won the presidential election. Trump railed against the agreement on the campaign trail, calling it a 'rape of our country.' His opposition to trade deals negotiated by Democrats was a driving force behind his victory in Rust Belt states with populations that are largely white and working class and were expected to go to Obama's preferred successor, Hillary Clinton. A slimmed down TPP, without the US, could emerge, although China is expected to move in and fill the hole left by America. China was not invited to join the TPP. Australian Trade Minster Steven Ciobo, who is in the US, said on the weekend he had been speaking with remaining TPP nations 'on ways to lock in the benefits from the TPP' without US involvement US Senator John McCain condemns the decision, dubbing the nation's withdrawal in the agreement 'a serious mistake' Australian Trade Minster Steven Ciobo, who is in the US, said on the weekend he had been speaking with remaining TPP nations 'on ways to lock in the benefits from the TPP' without US involvement. The TPP has had a long history. Negotiations began more than eight years ago and Australia's prime ministers during the period - Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott and Mr Turnbull - all threw their support behind it. Hillary Clinton, as US secretary of state, said during a speech in 2012 in Adelaide the TPP was the 'gold standard in trade agreements' while Obama sided with his usual foes, Republican members of Congress, in an attempt to make the TPP a reality. It is a major blow to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as the TPP was the key plank of the nation's trade policy WHAT IS THE TPP? The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement aims to promote economic growth and high living standards in participating nations It also promotes transparency, good governance, the creation and retention of jobs, innovation and competitiveness Total number of countries was 12 Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Vietnam, new Zealand, Chile, Singapore, Brunei and the US All 12 signed the TPP on February 4, 2016 Trump announced plans to withdraw the US from the agreement as president-elect He signed an executive order to withdraw on 23 January, three days after he was sworn in to office Advertisement The release by WikiLeaks of Clinton's presidential campaign chairman John Podesta's emails showed the internal debate among Clinton's advisors about whether she should support or oppose the TPP. With her Democrat rival Bernie Sanders and Republican frontrunner Trump opposing the TPP, Clinton made a surprise move by announcing an anti-TPP stance. Clinton's husband signed the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, which Trump has said he'll take a look at, too. Trump warned workers that Clinton would 'betray' them, too, just like her former president husband if they gave her the authority to negotiate on their behalf. As president-elect, Trump promised to back out of the trade deal that Obama pursued with the backing of congressional Republicans, against the demands of his own party, on 'day one' of his administration. Australia's Trade Minister Steven Ciobo announced committment to finding a way forward for the TPP but admitted access to US market was an incentive for many countries' involvement in the first place In a video he released in late November, Trump said the trade deal is 'a potential disaster for our country.' Trump said promised to negotiate 'fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores' instead. The White House has not released a copy of the memo Trump signed this morning ending the United States' involvement in TPP or explained what it says. At the beginning of his first briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president is 'moving quickly' on the negotiation of 'tough and smart' trade policy. 'This is a strong signal that the Trump administration wants free and fair trade around the world,' he said. Ivanka Trump kicked off the first day of her new life by joining a few friends for lunch in Washington DC. The former Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization was photographed exiting her house and getting into a waiting SUV on Monday, with her head shielded from the cameras by a giant umbrella. She was joined by her Secret Service detail and son Joseph, who joined her for lunch at the Open City coffee shop in Woodley Park. Ivanka, 35, and her family moved to DC over the weekend, and on Monday her husband Jared Kushner began his unpaid job as a senior advisor to President Donald Trump in the White House. Scroll down for video Where's Ivanka: Ivanka Trump hid behind an umbrella as she got into an SUV outside her $5.5million Washington DC home on Monday Outing: The 35-year-old mother was joined by Secret Service agents and her son Joseph Family time: On Sunday, Ivanka shared a photo of her and Jared Kushner posing with her father and their three children shortly after the inauguration (above) The Washington Post reported that Ivanka was joined at lunch by several female friends, and that the group ordered from the breakfast menu despite the time of day. Joseph had oatmeal, which was fed to him by his mother. There was now word on what Ivanka had to eat. The restaurants manager noted that the group enjoyed their meal undisturbed, with just a few well wishers approaching Ivanka. On Sunday, Ivanka posted a photo of the Trump family down in DC< with her and her husband posing with their three children and the new commander-in-chief. 'Family photo moments after my father @realdonaldtrump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States,' wrote Ivanka. Meanwhile, It was revealed on Monday that her brother Eric has been named president of Trump International Hotels Management LLC in papers that were filed in Florida. Meanwhile: Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner, seen far right on Monday, started his first full official day as Senior Advisor, and stood by while his father-in-law signed executive orders Last week, Ivanka finally broke her silence about rumors that she might fill the role of first lady when her father takes office on Friday in an interview with 20/20. 'Well, I think its an inappropriate observation. There's one first lady and she'll do remarkable things,' said Ivanka, referring to her father's wife Melania. She later told Deborah Roberts in the interview that she also found the comments 'sexist,' saying that they seemed to suggest that two women could not have a powerful role in her father's White House administration. Ivanka also revealed during the interview that she is still close to former first daughter Chelsea Clinton despite her father's victory over Hillary in the election, and said that she will likely go to her for advice. She spoke about how difficult it was to step down from her role as an EVP in the Trump Organization as well, while also backing away from her leadership role in her eponymous clothing and accessories line. 'It's emotional that I'm stepping away from my business,' said Ivanka, who then pointed out however that the reward was much greater in the end. 'My father will be president and hopefully I can be there to support him and to support those causes I have cared about my whole professional career.' Big day: Ivanka met several female friends for lunch at Open City coffee shop in Woodley Park (police set up barricades outside Ivanka's home above) New life: Monday marked Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner's first day at work as an unpaid senior advisor to President Trump (police work to create a perimeter around Ivanka's property) Ivanka spent her last day in her New York office on Wednesday, and uploaded a photo to her Instagram as she said goodbye to her job in the Big Apple to head on down to the nation's capital. 'My last day in the new @ivankatrumphq space. I'm a little jealous I won't be here to enjoy the beautiful new office with my talented team,' wrote Ivanka. Earlier this month, Ivanka attended a women's power dinner ahead of her big move, which was held at her good friend Wendi Deng's $34m penthouse apartment. Among the invitees who turned up to give Ivanka advice were Tory Burch, Mika Brzezinski, Tina Brown, Christy Turlington Burns, and former White House press secretary Dana Perino. Pattie Sellers, the executive director of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, was another guest at the dinner, and wrote about the evening for Fortune. 'Trump explained that she wanted to learn from the efforts of leaders in their fields,' said Sellers. 'We talked about entrepreneurship, equal pay, paid leave, and a lot about where the Donald Trump Administration may have the most opportunity: education.' Also on hand was Goldman Sachs executive Dina Powell, who the Trump team announced would be joining the administration in a senior role focused on entrepreneurship, economic growth and the empowerment of women. It is expected that Ivanka will now be working closely with Powell in DC. Powell put the dinner together on Thursday, and was in charge of coming up with the guest list for the event. Ivanka has yet to officially reveal what her plans are once her father takes office, but did say last Wednesday that her first priority once she moved would be to settle her family into their new residence. She has already busied herself working behind the scenes by phoning members of Congress in an attempt to rally support for childcare proposals. including tax-free childcare accounts and childcare deductions for families making under $500,000 a year. President Trump's oldest daughter also confirmed last Wednesday that she had stepped down from her senior position at the Trump Organization and put her eponymous fashion brand in the hands of the chief brand officer for the company, Abigail Klem. New digs: The family's $5.5million house (above) in the District's Kalorama neighborhood is just a few blocks away from the Obamasa Brother: Ivanka also posted a video on Monday of her brother Barron, 10, playing peek-a-boo with Theo (above), writing, 'My youngest brother proves he's a baby whispererwhile my father signs his first executive orders.' Ivanka will certainly be the most visible first daughter that has ever been in the White House, and a source close to the family tells DailyMail.com that she is taking that role 'very seriously' at this time. 'She want to be respectful,' added the source. There have been numerous indications over the past few weeks that Ivanka would be taking a role in the White House. The most notable of these was the news earlier this month that the family would be moving into the $5.5million house in the District's Kalorama neighborhood which they are now calling home. One week later, Trump announced that Kushner would be joining his staff as a senior advisor. It is unclear however if the couple bought the six-bedroom residence or will just be renting the home, which was sold just before the holidays to an unknown buyer. The Trump-Kushners will now be just two blocks away from the home of Barack and Michelle Obama, who are moving to the neighborhood after next week so that their younger daughter Sasha can finish high school in the city. An 11-year-old girl has been gang-raped by seven underage boys in two separate attacks in India. The girl is reported to have been raped by seven boys in her village of Mawten, India in two different attacks. The first attack took place in a paddy field in her village in December 2016 and the second attack took place on January 13 2017 at her home, according to the Times of India. The gang-rape of an 11-year-old girl by seven boys comes five years after the gang-rape of Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, led to protests. Pictured is a protest held in her memory in Kolkata, India, in December 2014 The seven boys, who have all confessed to the crime, are believed to live in the same village as the victim. They have all been sent to a juvenile home, according to local police. A senior district police officer told the Press Trust of India news agency: 'We have detained six of the accused. 'They all hail from the girl's village and are aged between 14 and 16 years.' The girl's family reported the crimes to the police in a written complaint. The police then made the detention based on the complaint. Police then registered a case against each of the seven accused who have now confessed. Nuns praying during a vigil in March 2015 in Kolkata, India, to protest the gang rape of an elderly nun. There has been increasing pressure on state and central governments in India to do more to protect women and girls against violence Last year alone 101 cases were filed under India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and 22 rape cases against children in the northeastern state of Meghalaya were filed, according to the Crime Records Bureau of the Home Department. Calls have been growing for more to be done to end rape against women and girls in India. 37,000 cases of rape against women and girls were reported in India 2014, two years after the gang-rape of Jyoti Singh in Delhi drew international condemnation. Protesters (pictured) hold signs during a rally to remember Singh in December 2014 In 2012 the case of Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who was raped on a bus in south Delhi and later died from her injuries, drew international condemnation and led to protests against state and central government. According to Amnesty International 37,000 cases of rape against women and girls were reported in 2014. A 3-year-old girl was killed when she was struck by a table that folded into a gymnasium wall during recess at a Head Start school in suburban Detroit on Friday. Dearborn Heights police say the table fell from the wall and on top of Lilliana Kerr. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office has concluded that the toddler died of accidental blunt-force trauma. Lilliana was pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital. Other children were present in the gymnasium at St. Albert the Great Parish at the time of the accident. Tragic death: Lilliana Kerr, 3 (pictured left and right) was killed when a table fell on top of her during recess at a Head Start program in Michigan Accident took place Friday in the gymnasium at St. Albert the Great Parish on Parker Street in Dearborn Heights (pictured) Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, which operates the Head Start program offering free child development activities and educational services to low-income families, said in a statement released on Friday that it's working with law enforcement amid the investigation. According to the statement, school staff performed CPR on the 3-year-old and provided first aid until paramedics arrived on the scene. The agency offered condolences to Lillianas family and said that the Saint Albert and Great program will be closed until further notice. Grief counselors have been provided to students attending the educational program and their families. Police say the deadly accident took place at around 10.30am in the gym of the Head Start program on Parker Street, reported WXYZ. After school employees removed Lilliana Kerr from under the collapsed table and unsuccessfully tried to revive her, she was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead from her injuries. Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency Statement: Angelic: Lilliana is survived by her mother and two siblings 'We learned that despite all efforts the child passed away at the hospital. Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the family. We have been working with law enforcement who are continuing their investigation. They have told us that staff took the appropriate actions and this again was a tragic accident. Our Head Start SAG site will be closed until further notice. We have arranged for grief counseling services for our families and will continue to work closely with them through this tragedy. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.' Advertisement The toddler was being raised by Tabatha Kerr, a single mother-of-three (left). On Sunday, the grieving mother shared a photo of Lilliana clutching a toy from Disney's Frozen Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko called the child's death an 'unthinkable tragedy' and asked the community to pray for Lilliana's family, reportedDetroit News. Meanwhile, a relative has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with Lilliana' funeral expenses, which has drawn just under $18,000 as of Monday afternoon, surpassing its initial goal of $15,000. The description of the fundraiser states that Lilliana was the daughter of Tabatha Kerr, a single mother-of-three from Dearborn Heights. On Sunday, the grieving mother shared a photo of Lilliana dressed in a pink Hello Kitty top, excitedly clutching a box containing an Elsa doll from Disney's Frozen. Shia LaBeouf was captured screaming into the face of a 'white supremacist' just two days into his four-year protest of Donald Trump. The 30-year-old actor spent the weekend outside Manhattan's Museum of the Moving Image, and on Sunday was approached by a young man who said directly into the camera: 'We must secure the existence of white people.' At the time, LaBeouf and all those present had been chanting 'he will not divide us,' and when the young man made his statement the actor immediately went off on a tirade. 'HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US,' screamed LaBeouf, with his head snapping out towards the man and forcing him to back down. 'HE WILL NOT DIVUDE US.' There was also an incident on Saturday where LaBeouf tried to punch a man who was running up to the camera with a 'Pepe 2020' sign. Scroll down for videos Lashing out: Shia LaBeouf screamed at a man who came to his Donald Trump protest over the weekend and said into a camera: 'We must secure the existence of white people' (above) Physical violence: Over the weekend another man appeared on camera flashing a sign that said 'Pepe 2020,' which caused LaBeouf to try and punch him in the face It is unclear however if this was an actual protester or a willing participant in LaBeouf's project. Given the sheer number of people present it seems a bit odd that the man would venture to the site alone and make the comment directly into the camera. What's more, after he walks off he is more than willing to return to a spot directly in front of the camera for LaBeouf to begin his one-sided shouting match. There have been a number of people trolling LaBeouf and the protesters at the site over the first weekend. One man even made an appearance in the early hours of Monday and spent 30 seconds stating directly into the camera's microphone: 'Hitler did nothing wrong.' LaBeouf has been at the site every single day since it launched on Friday, and on Monday was seen bringing pizzas to those protesting, many of whom were also seen at the location on previous days. He was also filmed chatting with a police officer for a while. Keeping watch: On Monday, LaBeouf was on the scene bringing pizza (left) and talking to police (right) Chowing down: LaBeouf was back at Manhattan's Museum of the Moving Image on Monday for the livestreamed protest, which will last four years LaBeouf announced his plans to launch this protest last Friday after tweeting out 'he will not divide us' all week. 'Commencing at 9am on January 20, 2017, the day of the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, the public is invited to deliver the words "HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US" into a camera mounted on a wall outside the Museum of the Moving Image, New York, repeating the phrase as many times, and for as long as they wish,' said the website announcing LaBeouf's project. 'In this way, the mantra "HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US" acts as a show of resistance or insistence, opposition or optimism, guided by the spirit of each individual participant and the community.' Jaden Smith, the son of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, was the first person to be filmed protesting President Trump taking office. President Donald Trump has no intention of publicly appearing with British Prime Minister Theresa May for a traditional joint press conference when she visits the U.S. this week, the White House press secretary said Monday. 'I don't believe we have any plans right now for a joint press conference,' Sean Spicer told reporters during his first regular press briefing. But he added that the idea was among things his Team Trump 'will be working out' with the prime minister. May will be the first foreign leader to meet the new president for in-person talks. Scroll down for video White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that there are no plans for a joint press conference when UK Prime Minister Theresa May visits President Donald Trump on Friday May will be in Washington to talk about trade issues with the new president The special relationship between Britain and the U.S. 'can always be closer,' Spicer Monday. He declared that the May visit, a week after President Trump's inauguration, reflects the historic ties between the UK and the United States. 'I think we have always had that special relationship with Britain, and that reflects in the Prime Minister's first visit here,' he said, adding that Trump is 'going to have a great conversation about the potential for greater trade.' 'And he looks forward to having her here. But we can always be closer.' Spicer said there were also 'no plans' in place for another phone call between Trump and May in advance of her travel to America. But 'it's always possible,' he added, citing 'a tremendous number of calls' with heads of state. Trump, only in his third full day on the job, has already pulled the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and has said he favors one-on-one deals with individual countries May will use the meeting to make the case for increasing free trade between Britain and the U.S. Trump has argued that broad, multi-nation trade deals have been damaging for American industry, and favors smaller bilateral pacts with individual countries. Spicer said that 'when he talks to Prime Minister May, he is going to have a great conversation about the potential for greater trade with the UK.' But he also predicted that Trump would usher in a 'new era of trade policy' that would 'put American workers first and foremost.' Natalie Finn, 16, suffered cardiac arrest in October caused by emaciation due to denial of critical care. Her parents pleaded not guilty in court on Monday charged over her death An Iowa man and woman accused of starving and torturing their 16-year-old daughter have pleaded not guilty in her October death. Nicole Finn, 42, and Joseph Finn Jr, 45, of West Des Moines, are charged with kidnapping, two counts of child endangerment and one of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. Nicole Finn is also charged with first-degree murder. Some of the counts involve at least two other children. The Finns entered their pleas Monday and their trial is set to begin March 27. A medical examiner found that 16-year-old Natalie Finn died from denial of critical care. Prosecutors say in court documents that the girl was starved and tortured by her parents. During a court appearance last year, the Finns were accused of secretly confining Natalie and two of her siblings, a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy, inside their small home. The pair are also are accused of using 'unreasonable force, torture or cruelty' to cause serious injury to the three children. The children were deprived of food, clothing, shelter, health care or supervision, which caused 'substantial' physical, mental and emotional harm, according to the complaints. In Natalie's case, those actions caused her death, the complaint against them states. Nicole Finn (left), 42, and Joseph Finn Jr (right), 45, of West Des Moines, are charged with kidnapping, two counts of child endangerment and one of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person The teenager had repeatedly asked neighbors for food and clothing in the months before her death in her West Des Moines house, pictured here In addition to the three children listed, the Finns also have two other children, the eldest of which is about to turn 23. The couple also have another 15-year-old. Police only began investigating the family after the emergency services were called when Natalie was suffering cardiac arrest. She later died at a local hospital. Natalie was a student at Walnut Creek Campus, and neighbors described her as sweet and outgoing - however they added there was very little interaction with the siblings. She had also asked the neighbors for food and clothing at times. An employee at a Las Vegas jewelry store was accidentally shot and killed by a security guard during an attempted robbery Saturday night, police say. The Clark County coroner identified the victim Monday as 57-year-old Kimberlee Ann Kincaid-Hill, of Henderson. Kincaid-Hill died late Saturday of a gunshot wound to the chest after the failed armed heist at the Jared jewelry store on West Sunset Road near the Galleria Mall. Her death was ruled a homicide. Scroll down for video Accidental victim: Nevada ewelry store worker Kimberlee Ann Kincaid-Hill, 57 (left and right) was accidentally shot and killed by a security guard during an attempted robbery Saturday night Crime scene: Police say a masked man entered the Jared store near the Galleria Mall in Henderson, Nevada, Saturday night and pulled a gun According to police, the masked suspect barged into the store just before 9pm Saturday brandishing a gun. The guard fired his weapon at the perpetrator, but missed and instead hit the clerk. Ms Kincaid-Hill was rushed to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in critical condition, and she later died from her injuries, according to Fox 5. Police say the security guard who fired the deadly shot is not being charged with a crime, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Wanted: Officials have released screenshots from CCTV footage showing the armed suspect, who is being sought for murder Have you seen him? The would-be robber is described as a black male, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 140lbs Investigators intend to seek a murder charge against the male robbery suspect who pulled a handgun and fled from the store empty-handed after the shooting. As of Monday afternoon, he has not been identified or located. He is described as a black male, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 140lbs. He was last seen wearing a red-and-black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, a black mask and a dark hat. On Sunday, a statement was posted about Kimberlee Kincaid-Hill on Jareds official Twitter account, which read: We are shocked and saddened to learn of the loss of our team member and extend our sympathies to her family, friends and colleagues. Memorial: People have been leaving flowers, candles and stuffed animals outside the Henderson jewelry store following the employee's tragic death Kincaid-Hill lost her husband, Vietnam War veteran Michael Hill, in 2009 (pictured together) According to Kincaid-Hill's Facebook page, she started working at the Jared store last September after leaving her previous job at Pandora jewelers. The 57-year-old Idaho native lost her husband, Vietnam War veteran Michael Hill, in May 2009. He was 59 years old. She is survived by grown children and at least three grandchildren. Sam Mendes has married his musician fiancee Alison Balsom (both pictured) With secrecy befitting the director of James Bond films Spectre and Skyfall, Sam Mendes has got married to classical musician Alison Balsom. Some friends did not even know that Mendes, 51, who has a son with Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Kate Winslet, was engaged to the glamorous 38-year-old trumpeter. The couple had a blessing, said the Rev Ginny Thomas, who conducted the church service at the weekend at St Michael & All Angels, in Great Tew, Oxfordshire. The wedding had been held previously at a register office. Thats all I can say. Oscar-winner Mendes was married for seven years until 2010 to Titanic star Winslet, 41, while Balsom separated in 2011 from her long-term boyfriend, the top conductor Edward Gardner, 42. Gardner, a former music director of the English National Opera, now lives in Norway. Mendes has a 13-year-old son, Joe, with Winslet, while Balsom has a six-year-old son, Charlie, with Gardner. The Daily Mail Diary disclosed last October that Mendes was enjoying a romance with Balsom. The couple were reported to be moving into a house the trumpeter had bought for 1.9 million by the seaside in Dorset. Its the talk of the village, one of Mendess new neighbours said at the time. They have moved here because Alison loves sailing and is keen to teach Sam. Builders daughter Balsom bought the 300-year-old former rectory in her name alone. The attractive detached four-bedroom home is just a few hundred yards from the beach. It was revealed last year that glamorous trumpeter Balsom (pictured), 38, and Bond director Mendes, 51, were dating and were planning to move into her 1.9m Dorset home together The couple were married at a register office before holding a blessing at St Michael & All Angels Church, in Great Tew, Oxfordshire (pictured) Yesterday a spokesman for Mendes told the Mail: I can confirm Sam and Alison are married. Last November, Cambridge-educated Mendes accompanied Balsom to Buckingham Palace, where she collected her OBE for services to music from Prince Charles. Mendes split up with Hollywood actress Rebecca Hall in 2015. The 34-year-old star of movies Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Iron Man 3 is the daughter of celebrated theatre director Sir Peter Hall. Mendes has a son with Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Kate Winslet (both pictured in 2005) Before his marriage to Winslet, Mendes enjoyed romances with Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz and Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart. Winslet lives further along the South Coast with her third husband Ned Rocknroll, who changed his name by deed poll from Ned Abel Smith and is a nephew of Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson. The couple have a three-year-old son. Winslets third child is her 16-year-old daughter from her first marriage, to film director Jim Threapleton. Before his marriage to Winslet, Mendes enjoyed romances with Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz (left) and Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart (right) Balsom, who attended a comprehensive school in Hertfordshire, has spoken in the past about her fight to prove herself because she is a woman in the very male-dominated brass section. Ive always played the trumpet. And Ive always been a girl, she told the Daily Mail in 2009. Orchestral brass players can be very macho, with an intimidating group mentality. She added: Ive got this thing about not showing too much leg, not being too girlie, when Im playing the trumpet. Anyway, it wouldnt be appropriate for the Haydn. Yesterday Balsoms spokesman said the trumpeter did not wish to comment further about the wedding. A south Florida sheriff's deputy was arrested after he 'sold an elderly woman's dog on Craigslist and shoved pills down her throat in an attempted murder'. Frankie Bybee tried to kill a 79-year-old woman he was defrauding by making it seem that she committed suicide with a drug overdose, Sarasota County police said on Monday. The 46-year-old committed a series of crimes against the elderly Sarasota, Florida, woman including selling her dog on Craigslist and possessing fraudulent checks totaling $65,000, according to police. Scroll down for video Frankie Bybee tried to kill a 79-year-old woman he was defrauding by making it seem that she committed suicide with a drug overdose, Sarasota County police said on Monday Bybee entered the woman's home wearing latex gloves, mounted and held her down while he forced medication down her mouth, in the attempted murder on January 12, Sheriff Thomas Knight said in a press conference. The woman went unconscious and when she awoke and called for help, officials found the house was filled with carbon monoxide, according to Knight. Bybee was placed on administrative leave earlier this month after the deputy's fingerprint was found on fraudulently signed checks that totaled $65,000, Knight said. Knight said Bybee attempted to kill the woman and make it look like a suicide. The 46-year-old committed a series of crimes against the elderly Sarasota, Florida, woman including selling her dog on Craigslist and possessing fraudulent checks totaling $65,000, according to police. He is pictured with the victim's dog Officials began an internal affair investigation on Bybee after the woman reported the officer was harassing her in December. The deputy has been investigated five times during his time on the force and suspended multiple times, ABC Action News reported. The two initially met when Bybee was responding to a service call at the victim's home back in October 2016 and began a friendship. While the woman was in the hospital the deputy was given possession of her dog and $1,000 to cover any medical expenses for the pet, which Bybee pocketed, police said. Bybee allegedly 'rehoused' and sold the dog through Craigslist without the owner's permission. He also reportedly brought family members to meet the woman and used her vulnerability to gain access to her home and personal financial information. The officer is held on a million dollar bail and faces charges including forgery, grand theft and attempted murder. Donald Trump last night pledged to build an even closer relationship between the US and Britain in a significant boost for Theresa May. The US President also paved the way for a lucrative trade relationship with the UK, after ripping up the landmark Trans-Pacific Partnership deal with other countries. As the Prime Minister prepares to fly to Washington DC at the end of the week, Mr Trump's official spokesman was asked why she had been chosen for his first visit by any world leader. Donald Trump has ripped up the landmark Trans-Pacific Partnership deal on his first working day in the White House after his inauguration last Friday Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer revealed the possible closer relationship with the US Press secretary Sean Spicer replied: 'I think we've always had that special relationship with Britain and that reflects in the Prime Minister's first visit here. 'He's had a great conversation with her and he looks forward to having her here, but we can always be closer.' Mrs May is hoping to make progress on securing an ambitious trade deal when she meets Mr Trump at the White House on Friday, including lifting existing tariffs. Yesterday, Mr Trump scrapped a separate trade agreement which had been negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, known as TPP, was part of a plan to boost economic relations and lower tariffs with 11 countries, including Japan, Mexico, Canada, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. CHELSEA CLINTON TELLS TROLLS TO STOP BULLYING TRUMP'S SON Barron Trump, pictured, has been bullied online by critics of his father Chelsea Clinton came to the defence of Donald Trump's youngest son yesterday after he was taunted by internet bullies. Barron Trump, ten, was the subject of cruel posts on social media after his father's inauguration including one from a writer on NBC comedy show Saturday Night Live, who claimed the youngster would turn into a 'homeschool shooter'. Miss Clinton, who spent her teenage years in the White House while her father Bill was US president from 1993 to 2001, called for trolls to leave Barron alone. The 36-year-old mother of two wrote on Facebook: 'Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does to be a kid.' But she also urged followers to oppose his father's administration, saying: 'Standing up for every kid also means opposing POTUS (President of the United States) policies that hurt kids.' Mr Trump ran a deeply personal campaign against her mother Hillary Clinton prior to his election win in November. Miss Clinton has spoken of her own struggles growing up in the public eye. She once recalled that when she was 13, Right-wing broadcaster Rush Limbaugh was forced to apologise after referring to her as the 'White House dog'. Advertisement But Mr Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US yesterday. Mr Spicer said of the decision: 'When you enter into these multinational agreements, you're basically putting every other country on par with the United States.' A separate trade deal between the US and the EU is also considered to be in tatters. Brussels chiefs are growing increasingly frustrated by Mr Trump's differing stances towards Britain and the EU. Yesterday, Brussels officials fired a warning shot across Mrs May's bows by claiming the UK could fall foul of EU laws if it enters formal negotiations with the US before Brexit. LAWYERS CLAIM TRUMP HAS ALREADY BROKEN ETHICS LAWS A group of American lawyers have filed a federal lawsuit against Donald Trump, accusing him of violating a constitutional ban on accepting payments from foreign governments. Mr Trump dismissed the suit as 'totally without merit'. The group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), is pursuing Mr Trump over his vast business holdings, from which the billionaire has refused to divest fully, saying that as US president, he can have no conflict of interest. CREW says Mr Trump's business properties abroad operate based partly on goodwill from foreign governments and regulators, but that no federal official can receive a gift or 'emolument' from a foreign government. Advertisement However, Downing Street has confirmed that Mrs May will begin discussions about the potential shape of a UK-US agreement when she meets the President. It is expected that plans will be put in place to allow thousands of workers to move freely between the two countries to boost both economies. Although any agreement could not come into effect until after Britain has left the EU, some Government sources have suggested the prospect of a deal could offer Mrs May leverage around the Brexit negotiating table. Stephen Moore, a former economic adviser to the President, said Mr Trump was 'very committed' to securing a deal which will help to distance him from his predecessor. Mrs May also plans to use the meeting to stress that Nato is vital to the West's security to protect against potential Russian aggression, after Mr Trump appeared to dismiss the alliance. The Prime Minister said on Sunday: 'We'll have an opportunity to talk about our possible future trading relationship, but also some of the world's challenges that we will face. I will be talking to Donald Trump about the issues that we share about how we can build on the special relationship.' But she added: 'It's the special relationship that also enables us to say when we do find things unacceptable.' Mr Spicer, who incorrectly described Mrs May as the UK's head of state at a briefing yesterday, indicated that there would be no press conference when the two leaders meet this week. The possibility of an early deal with the US came as it emerged that Britain has started discussing a similar agreement with Australia. That deal could also pave the way for highly skilled workers being guaranteed an easier route into the UK, as Britain shapes up its post-Brexit economy. Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured, is flying to the US on Friday to meet President Trump EU leaders, however, have threatened to stall Brexit negotiations by opposing Downing Street's wishes to iron out a new trade agreement with Europe as soon as possible. They have insisted that Britain first pays off a bill of up to 60billion, which covers existing EU budget obligations and Eurocrats' pensions. One diplomatic source claimed yesterday that there was growing concern among remaining member states about the UK's relentless pursuit of other agreements across the world. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox is understood to be recruiting dozens of trade experts, in the hope of carrying out 'scoping' exercises with other countries while a Brexit deal is finalised. But an EU official said member states would be unflinching until Britain signed off an exit payment, and that its dealings around the world could harm relations with EU negotiators. A European Commission spokesman said yesterday: 'I do not like that member states ... including those that are still member states, are negotiating free trade agreements. 'This is an exclusive matter of the EU. That means you can discuss or debate but you can negotiate a free trade agreement only after you leave the European Union.' In a further sign of the rising animosity between London and Brussels, Jean-Claude Juncker told EU officials that English should no longer form part of the EU's official dialogue. The European Commission president said: 'English is an outgoing language of the EU so we have to become used to the fact that other official languages are employed with the same intensity.' From the endearing McDonald's golden arches, to the simple Nike tick, many brands are instantly recognisable by their logo. And some, including BMW, FedEx and Carrefour, have gone to the extra effort to include hidden messages. You might not instantly be able to spot the hidden meaning, but once you see it, it's hard to forget. Scroll down for the answers The FedEx logo was created in 1994, and is instantly recognisable, with block writing in purple and orange. But can you spot the hidden logo? Sony's VAIO logo features the 'V' and 'A' joined up as one continuous symbol, beside the 'I' and 'O'. Formula 1 is commonly known as F1, and this can be seen reflected in the logo. Both have secret messages Amazon's logo has a yellow arrow under the logo title, that points from the 'A' to the 'Z', which illustrates the variety of products on the website. The arrow also forms a smile The BMW brand has a background in aviation, and the logo stays true to history, while Carrefour, the French chain of supermarkets, translates to crossroads, which explains why two arrows have been included in French colours on the logo Gillette's logo may look like it's in a simple font at first glance, but it really has a hidden meaning Baskin Robbins has a bright pink and blue logo, but a hidden meaning is within. Meanwhile, the Tour de France logo has a picture within it The Toblerone logo features bold red and yellow writing beneath an image of a mountain. But there is also an image hidden within it The FedEx logo was created in 1994, and is instantly recognisable, with block writing in purple and orange. But taking a closer look at the negative space within the logo, an arrow can be seen between the 'E' and the 'x'. In a book titled The Laws of Subtraction, Lindon Leader, who designed the logo, said: 'The arrow could connote forward direction, speed, and precision, and if it remained hidden, there might be an element of surprise, that aha moment.' Amazon's logo has a yellow arrow under the logo title, that points from the 'A' to the 'Z', which illustrates the variety of products on the website. But the arrow has also been shaped as a smile, to represent customer satisfaction. Sony's VAIO logo has the 'V' and 'A' joined up beside the 'I' and 'O'. WHERE ARE THE HIDDEN MESSAGES? FedEx - There is an arrow hidden between the E and x Amazon - arrow points from A to Z, representing the range of products, and also looks like a smile, to represent customer satisfaction Sony VAIO - The 'V' and 'A' together make up the analogue signal, while the IO resembles binary code. Formula 1 - With the black F, and the red pattern signifying speed on display, the 1 comes in when you look at the negative space between the two BMW - The white sections in the middle represent the parts of a moving propeller, while the blue segments represent the sky Carrefour - The white space between these arrows also spells out a 'C' for Carrefour Toblerone - A white bear is hidden in the negative space in the yellow mountain Baskin Robbins - The number 31 is hidden in the Baskin Robbins logo. This represents the number of flavours of ice cream the firm sells Gillette - The Gillette logo features two blade shape cuts in the G and i, representing the sharp presicion of the firm's razors Le Tour de France - Hidden within the Tour de France logo is a man riding a bicycle, with the 'R' representing the man, and the T, O and U representing the back of his bike Advertisement The 'V' and 'A' together make up the analogue signal, while the IO resembles binary code. Formula 1 is commonly known as F1, and this can be seen reflected in the logo. With the black F, and the red pattern signifying speed on display, the 1 comes in when you look at the negative space between the two. The BMW brand has a background in aviation, and the logo stays true to history. The white sections in the middle represent the parts of a moving propeller, while the blue segments represent the sky. Taking a closer look at the negative space within the logo, an arrow can be seen between the 'E' and the 'x' in the FedEx logo As well as pointing from 'A' to 'Z', Amazon's arrow has also been shaped as a smile, to represent customer satisfaction In Sony's VAIO logo, the 'V' and 'A' together make up the analogue signal, while the IO resembles the number 10, which symbolises the digital signal With the black F, and the red pattern signifying speed on display, the 1 comes in when you look at the negative space between the two Taking a closer look, you might also notice that the white space between these arrows also spells out a 'C' for Carrefour A white bear is hidden in the negative space in the yellow mountain within the famous Toblerone logo The number 31 is hidden in the Baskin Robbins logo. This represents a different flavour of ice cream for every day of the month The Gillette logo features two blade shape cuts in the G and i, representing the sharp precision of the firm's razors Hidden within the Tour de France logo is a man riding a bicycle, with the 'R' representing the man, and the O and U representing the back of his bike Carrefour, the French chain of supermarkets, translates to crossroads, which explains why two arrows have been included in French colours on the logo. But taking a closer look, you might also notice that the white space between these arrows also spells out a 'C' for Carrefour. It's not just secret messages, colour is an important tool in making a brand memorable. In 2014, researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia tested which emotions people associated with coloured logos. Some 184 adults were surveyed, using generic logos of different colours for fake companies, created by the researchers. The results showed that blue logos invoked feelings of confidence, success and reliability, while green logos invoked perceptions of environmental friendliness, toughness and masculinity. Studies suggest that logo colour could have a significant impact on how that logo and the brand as a whole is viewed by customers Purple logos were shown to invoke femininity, glamour and charm, while pink logos gave the perception of youth and fashion. Finally, yellow logos invoked perceptions of fun and modernity, and red logos brought feeling of expertise and self-assurance. As well as colour, logo shape has a huge effect on brand impact. A study last year looked at how circularity and angularity of a logo affects perceptions of the attributes of the company. A group of 69 students were told that the study was about people's product preferences, and were then shown an advert for a sofa containing either a circular or angular brand logo. As well as colour, logo shape has a huge effect on brand impact. More angular logos are associated with more hard-wearing brands such as Mitsubishi, while circular logos are associated with more comforting brands, such as Disney After seeing the advert, the participants were asked how comfortable they thought the sofa was. The results showed that those who had seen an angular logo perceived the sofa as being less comfortable than those who had seen the circular logo. THE PRICIEST LOGOS IN THE WORLD Brand Cost BP 167.5 million ($211 million) Accenture 79.4 million ($100 million) Posten Norge 43.6 million ($55 million) Australia and New Zealand Banking Group 11.9 million ($15 million) BBC 1.43 million ($1.8 million) Pepsi 790,000 ($1 million) London 2012 Olympics 496,000 ($625,000) With so many elements to take into considerations, companies are now spending huge amounts of money on logo design. Despite receiving poor feedback for sloppy design, the logo for the 2012 London Olympics cost 496,000 ($625,000) to design. But the most expensive logo of all time was oil firm BP's re-brand, which set the firm back 167.5 million ($211 million). Samsung has blamed two separate battery issues for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under the humiliating recall. The world's biggest smartphone maker was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apple's iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire. The fiasco cost the South Korean company $5.3 billion (4.2 billion) in lost profit and reputational damage. Scroll down for video Samsung has blamed two separate battery issues for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under the humiliating recall TWO MAJOR FLAWS The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer. Advertisement It came during a torrid period when it has also been embroiled in a corruption scandal that has seen President Park Geun-Hye impeached. Internal and independent investigations 'concluded that batteries were found to be the cause of the Note 7 incidents', Samsung said in a statement. 'We sincerely apologise for the discomfort and concern we have caused to our customers,' Koh Dong-Jin, the head of its mobile business, said bowing before hundreds of reporters and cameramen at a press conference in Seoul. The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. Samsung has blamed lithium-ion batteries for causing its Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones to overheat and catch fire These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer. Samsung is the most prominent unit of the giant Samsung group, South Korea's largest conglomerate with a revenue equivalent to about a fifth of the country's GDP. It announced a recall of 2.5 million units of the oversized Galaxy Note 7 in September 2016 after several devices exploded or caught fire, with the company blaming batteries from a supplier, widely believed to be its sister firm Samsung SDI. When replacement phones - with batteries from another firm, largely thought to be Chinese manufacturer ATL - also started to combust, the company decided to kill off the Note 7 for good. The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing The world's biggest smartphone maker was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apple's iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire. Pictured is a test in which the Galaxy S7 battery caught fire under pressure As many as 1.9 million of the phones were sold in the US, where authorities banned the device from use on planes and even from being placed in checked luggage. Airlines around the world issued similar prohibitions. The firm has since embarked on a campaign to restore its battered reputation, issuing repeating apologies and putting full-page advertisements in prominent US newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post admitting that it 'fell short' on its promises. Analysts said that Samsung was looking to move on from the crisis with the announcement, which did not implicate other devices. 'Consumers tend to be forgiving the first time,' said Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Technology. 'But if it happens again, it will leave a lasting mark on Samsung's quality and brand image.' Samsung had concentrated on innovative design, thinness and battery capacity rather than safety, he said. The firm's next model, the Galaxy S8, had been expected to be unveiled at next month's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but Samsung's Koh said it would be delayed to ensure that it had no safety issues. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer Koh Dong-Jin, president of Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications Business apologises for the faults in its Galaxy Note 7 devices that led to their recall Analysts said that Samsung was looking to move on from the crisis with the announcement, which did not implicate other devices. Pictured is the Galaxy S7 Customers whose devices spontaneously set on fire shared their pictures since the first incidents were reported in August Samsung deployed around 700 researchers and engineers on its investigation, testing more than 200,000 fully-assembled devices and more than 30,000 batteries, it said. It did not identify the battery makers on Monday, but independent investigators UL and Exponent agreed with the findings. Battery A had a design issue that pushed down the right corner of the battery, while Battery B had defective internal welds, said Kevin White, principal scientist at Exponent. But Koh dismissed the possibility of suing the manufacturers. 'Whatever parts we use, the overall responsibility falls to us for failing to verify its safety and quality,' he said. 'At this point, I don't think it's right to seek legal action. GIRL, 13, SUFFERS MINOR BURN FROM NOTE 7 REPLACEMENT A Minnesota father says his daughter suffered a minor burn to her thumb when her replacement Samsung smartphone melted in her hand last week. Andrew Zuis of Farmington, Minn., said his daughter, Abby, was holding the Galaxy Note 7 in her left hand Friday when it melted. Zuis saidthat the family had acquired the new phone on the day the replacement phones were released. There had been no problem with the original phone, he said. 'She's done with Note 7s right now,' Zuis said of his daughter. Reports of more replacement phones catching fire continued 'It's very fortunate Abby was not injured and was holding the phone,' Zuis said. 'If it was in her pocket, I think it would have been a whole different situation. I'm just very disappointed in Samsung and their product.' Zuis provided KSTP-TV with receipts showing that the family bought a Galaxy Note 7 in August and then exchanged it Sept. 21 after Samsung announced the recall. Andrew Zuis, of Farmington, Minn., showed the replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone belonging to his 13-year-old daughter Abby, that melted in her hand 'She's done with Note 7s right now,' Zuis said of his daughter. A Samsung representative told KSTP that an investigation is underway. 'We want to reassure our customers that we take every report seriously and we are engaged with the Zuis family to ensure we are doing everything we can for them and their daughter,' the representative said in a statement. Advertisement Around 1,000 different parts from some 450 suppliers were needed for each Galaxy Note 7. Samsung acknowledged that it provided the specifications for the batteries, adding in its statement: 'We have taken several corrective actions to ensure this never happens again. The lessons of the past several months are now deeply reflected in our processes and in our culture.' The firm, which is set to announce fourth-quarter and full-year results on Tuesday, has estimated the cost of the recall at $5.3 billion. But investors welcomed today's announcement with Samsung shares trading up 1.9 percent at 1.90 million won in Seoul in the afternoon. The firm has separately been caught up in South Korea's wide-ranging political corruption scandal, with prosecutors last week seeking the arrest of its vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury. 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. The kingdom of Rheged is one of the most elusive in Dark Age Britain, famous for contributing to some of the earliest medieval poetry composed in the UK. But despite its reputation, the location of Rheged - ruled by King Urien around 600AD - has remained a mystery for centuries. Now, researchers believe they have found the site of the stronghold in Dumfries and Galloway. If confirmed, the finding could improve our understanding of the time when the foundations for the kingdoms of Scotland, England and Wales were being laid. Researchers believe they have found the kingdom of Rheged in Dumfries and Galloway. On the approach to the summit was a symbolic entranceway containing Pictish symbols, where rituals of royal inauguration were conducted THE PICTS Mel Gibson's blue face paint in Braveheart is a nod to the Pictish tradition of body-paint - but the real Picts fought stark naked, and there are records of them doing so up until the 5th Century. The Roman name for the people - Picti - means 'painted people'. It's not known what they called themselves. The habit of fighting naked, especially in the cold Scottish climate, didn't harm the tribe's reputation for ferocity. Picts held the territory north of the Firth of Forth in Scotland - and were one of the reasons even heavily armoured Roman legions could not conquer the area. It's long been debated how the Picts and their Southern neighbours the Britons interacted with one another. The discoveries in Galloway hint that the two might have allied, at least briefly - before the fort was burnt to the ground. Advertisement Before now, many historians assumed that Rheged was around Carlisle and Cumbria. But researchers from GUARD Archaeology have excavated the Trusty's Hill Fort in Dumfries and Galloway, and now believe this could be the real site. Ronan Toolis, who led the excavation, said: 'What drew us to Trusty's Hill were Pictish symbols carved on to bedrock here, which are unique in this region and far to the south of where Pictish carvings are normally found.' In 2012, the researchers began to study these Pictish carvings as part of the Galloway Picts Project. Mr Toolis said: 'The archaeological context revealed by our excavation instead suggests the carvings relate to a royal stronghold and place of inauguration for the local Britons of Galloway around AD 600. 'Examined in the context of contemporary sites across Scotland and northern England, the archaeological evidence suggests that Galloway may have been the heart of the lost Dark Age kingdom of Rheged.' The researchers believe that the summit of the hill was fortified with timber-laced stone, while the lower slopes had supplementary defences and enclosures. This transformed Trusty's Hill into a nucleated fort a high status settlements of the early medieval period. In 2012, the researchers began to study these Pictish carvings as part of the Galloway Picts Project On the approach to the summit was a symbolic entranceway containing Pictish symbols, where rituals of royal inauguration were conducted. After entering the summit, you would walk into the king's hall, where feasting took place, before the workshop of the master smith, where gold, silver, bronze and iron were worked into objects. THE KINGDOM OF RHEGED One of the most mysterious kingdoms of Dark Age Britain is Rheged - a late sixth century kingdom. Its people were Britons, who spoke a form of ancient Welsh. Much of the earliest literature known to man is the poetry of Taliesin, its bard, praising the valour of his king, Urien of Rheged and his son Owain. As well as being famous for its poetry, Rheged is also known for the earliest Christian monument in Scotland, the Latinus Stone, erected in Whithorn to Latinus and his daughter around 450 AD. Ninian, Scotland's first bishop, established his church in Whithorn, from where the Christian faith spread across Scotland. Whithorn had extensive contacts with continental Europe, and the kings of Rheged acquired wine and spices from the eastern Roman Empire, foods and dyes from western France and decorated glass from the Rhineland. The violent fiery destruction of Trustys Hill may reflect the fall of Rheged, when during the seventh century AD much of southern Scotland became part of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria. Advertisement The researchers believe that the summit of the hill was fortified with timber-laced stone, while the lower slopes had supplementary defences and enclosures (artist's impression) Trusty's Hill was a nucleated fort a high status settlements of the early medieval period The layout of the fort was very complex, each element deliberately formed to exhibit the power and status of its household. Mr Toolis told MailOnline: 'The royal household here included a king and his extended family and retainers, including warriors, bards, skilled craftsmen and servants. 'We found plentiful evidence of the wealth of this household including jewellery, evidence of gold, silver and bronze working on site, and pottery imported from continental Europe.' Researchers believe that the royal household was also part of a trade network that linked western Britain with Ireland and Europe. Dr Christopher Bowles, Scottish Borders Council Archaeologist, said: 'The people living at Trusty's Hill were not engaged in agriculture themselves. The researchers found plentiful evidence of the wealth of this household including jewellery, evidence of gold, silver and bronze working on site, and pottery imported from continental Europe 'Instead, this household's wealth relied on their control of farming, animal husbandry and the management of local natural resources - minerals and timber - from an estate probably spanning the wider landscape of the Fleet valley and estuary. 'Control was maintained by bonding the people of this land and the districts beyond to the royal household, by gifts, promises of protection and the bounties of raiding and warfare.' In this context, the researchers believe that the Pictish symbols were probably created by a local Briton. Anglo-saxon style bronze jewellery was discovered at Trustys Hill. Analysis showed that this was originally gilded and silvered and made of leaded brass quite distinct to the leaded bronze objects being made at the workshop here The researchers have created a new map of Dark Age Britain, which includes Rheged and its neighbouring kingdoms during the sixth and early seventh centuries Mr Toolis said: 'The literal meaning of the symbols at Trusty's Hill will probably never be known. 'There is no Pictish Rosetta Stone. 'But they provide significant evidence for the initial cross cultural exchanges that forged the notion of kingship in early medieval Scotland.' The only other Pictish carvings located outside Pictland were found near Edinburgh Castle Rock; another site attested by archaeological and historical evidence to be a royal stronghold of the sixth to early seventh centuries AD. Dr Bowles added: 'The new archaeological evidence from Trusty's Hill enhances our perception of power, politics, economy and culture at a time when the foundations for the kingdoms of Scotland, England and Wales were being laid. 'The 2012 excavations show that Trusty's Hill was likely the royal seat of Rheged, a kingdom that had Galloway as its heartland. 'This was a place of religious, cultural and political innovation whose contribution to culture in Scotland has perhaps not been given due recognition.' The findings are published in a book called The Lost Dark Age Kingdom of Rheged. A 10p (12 cents) patch made from aircraft wings has been hailed the 'holy grail' in tackling arthritis. The revolutionary 'smart patch' could save sufferers years of pain by detecting the disease early. Scientists have developed the disposable patch using damaged sensors from jet wings to catch the subsonic cracking sounds in joints. Scientists have developed the disposable patch using damaged sensors from jet wings to catch the subsonic cracking sounds in joints WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS? Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It most often develops in adults who are in their late 40s or older. However, it can occur at any age as a result of an injury or be associated with other joint-related conditions, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis initially affects the smooth cartilage lining of the joint. This makes movement more difficult than usual, leading to pain and stiffness. Once the cartilage lining starts to roughen and thin out, the tendons and ligaments have to work harder. This can cause swelling and the formation of bony spurs, called osteophytes. Severe loss of cartilage can lead to bone rubbing on bone, altering the shape of the joint and forcing the bones out of their normal position. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement It has been hailed the 'holy grail' because it can detect signs of osteoarthritis before the disease fully develops. Dr Davide Crivelli from Cardiff University, who helped create the device, said: 'The idea has got huge potential to change the way we diagnose osteoarthritis (OA). 'If we're able to link the sound signature of a healthy knee and a knee with disease, we will be able to lower the costs on society a lot.' An estimated 8.75 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis, and an additional 27 million in the US. Dr Crivelli said he hoped the patches could be made for around 10p (12 cents) each and used in a GP surgery or even be developed to use on a smartphone app. The patches are made from acoustic emission sensors which are usually found on plane wings to pick up damage in the structures. Professor Cathy Holt, director of the university's musculoskeletal biomechanics, said: 'The key thing is most people, once they have got joint pain, it's too late - they have got the disease already. 'Whereas, there might be points where we can intervene earlier. 'So, the holy grail really is some sort of screening tool. 'An early and reliable detection system for osteoarthritis has clear potential to save large amounts of money on expensive diagnostic tools, such as x-ray, and greatly improve the lifestyle and health of patients.' The patches are still being developed at the university before clinical trials take place. But Professor Holt said she hoped they could be available within seven or eight years. With the global population expected to reach 9.5 billion in 2075, the world's giant cities are quickly filling up. But experts believe that the brunt of migration will not be on big cities. Instead, they say that most urban migration will be to smaller cities, that are not prepare for a population flood. Scroll down for video Experts believe that most urban migration will be to smaller cities, that are not prepare for a population flood. Pictured is a Brazilian favela town near Rio de Janeiro THE 100RC INITIATIVE The 100RC initiative is backed by a commitment of $164 million (132 million) from the Rockefeller Foundation. The funding pays for cities to appoint a chief resilience officer and develop a strategy to deal with challenges such as climate change. The 100RC initiative aims to give 'mind space and oxygen' to the cities signed up so that they can prepare themselves for the future and 'think differently' over a horizon of 20 to 30 years. Advertisement The warning comes from Eugene Zapata Garesche, Latin America and Caribbean director for the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) initiative. He said: 'The cities that are set to grow are those that are not prepared to grow - the medium and small-sized ones. 'The cities that got prepared to grow are not growing anymore as they are already big enough. That is where the whole challenge of urbanisation is sitting today.' As megacities such as Brazil's Sao Paulo can no longer sustain more population growth, cities like Curitiba or Salvador, which still have room to expand, will be required to absorb rising numbers of people, said Mr Zapata. 'You have cities like Mexico City that aren't even growing any more population-wise, because the city has turned into a nightmare for commuting, and there's a lot of pollution,' he said. 'It's good news for Mexico City, but bad news for the cities around.' The United Nations estimates the number of people living in medium-sized cities of up to 5 million inhabitants is expected to jump to 1.1 billion by 2030, up from 827 million in 2014. And it predicts an estimated 27 percent of the world's population will be living in smaller cities of at least 1 million people by 2030. In Latin America, where 80 per cent of people are urban dwellers, 17 cities - including Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro - have signed up to the 100RC initiative, which is backed by a commitment of $164 million (132 million) from the Rockefeller Foundation. POPULATION SPIKES OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS From 1960 to 2015, certain regions have experienced a startling rise in inhabitants, data from the World Bank reveals. This includes: Afghanistan - from 8.9m to 32m Bangladesh - 48m to 160m Brazil - 72m to 207m Egypt - 27m to 91m Ethiopia - 22m to 99m Indonesia - 87m to 257m Iraq - 7m to 26m Mexico - 38m to 127m Pakistan - 44.8m to 188m Syria - 4.5m to 18.5m Source: World Bank Advertisement The funding pays for cities to appoint a chief resilience officer and develop a strategy to deal with challenges such as climate change. 'Resilience is not an easy thing to push forward. There has to be willingness and capacity... within the government,' said Mr Zapata, who will head up a regional office for 100RC opening in Mexico City later this year. Making sure resilience is institutionalised by cities and supported by legislation is essential to guarantee the long-term continuation of the strategy, he said. The biggest resilience challenges for cities are improving transport and waste management, and securing water supplies, along with social policy issues such as supporting migrants, he said. The 100RC initiative aims to give 'mind space and oxygen' to the cities signed up so that they can prepare themselves for the future and 'think differently' over a horizon of 20 to 30 years, he added. In 2011, a report, entitled Popluation: One Planet, Too Many People? outlined the issues we might face if populations continue to grow. It suggests that without drastic changes there will not be sufficient resources to provide people with basic human needs such as water, food, energy and shelter. Experts say that without drastic changes there will not be sufficient resources to provide people with basic human needs such as water, food, energy and shelter (stock image) Climate change is likely to place even more stress on resources, resulting in as many as a billion people moving from inhospitable regions. Water requirements are projected to rise by 30 per cent by 2030 while food resources will be stretched by a doubling of demand for agricultural produce by 2050. Slum living, already forced on a third of the world's urban populations, will become even more widespread as cities became increasingly packed with people. As a result billions could be at risk of hunger, thirst and appalling living conditions, creating tinderbox conditions that could ignite civil unrest and conflict. Archaeologists studying an ancient inscription on a remote Scottish island have been left divided over whether it is a Viking engraving after its letters spelt 'FURKU.AL'. Experts cannot make up their minds for certain if it is a modern expletive or a carving over 1,300 years old that has by chance formed the brusque swear word. The runic inscription was found on a stone by a resident of the Isle of Eigg off the west coast of Scotland. Scroll down for video Slide me Archaeologists studying an ancient inscription on a remote Scottish island have been left divided over whether it is a Viking engraving after its letters spelt FURKU.AL WHAT THE INSCRIPTION SAYS John Borland, Historic Environment Scotland measured survey manager, asked a few colleagues. 'I have consulted with several people who are much more expert than I am on the subject of runic inscriptions and here is a digest of our thoughts,' he said. 'My reading of the inscription was furkusal. Whilst this might be a recognisable Norse name, I thought it more likely that it was a humorous (attempted, anyway) play on words. 'Furk equalling the obvious expletive, similar to the way someone might say/write frock off or feck off. Plus, the early futhark alphabet does not have the letter C. 'Us could be read as "us" but I thought it might be the west-of-Scotland vernacular "yous", meaning you plural. 'Al reading as "all", the missing second L due perhaps to a lack of space. 'So furk us all or furk yous all.' Dr Ragnhild Ljosland, who lectures at the Centre for Nordic Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, also read it as 'either furkusal or furku.al'. Advertisement The resident was cleaning the drains by the side of his home when he stumbled across the mysterious object carrying the old language of the Vikings, who had first settled on Eigg somewhere around the 8th century. The Scandinavian variants of runic languages are also known as futhark or fuark - derived from their first six letters of the alphabet: F, U, , A, R, and K. Camille Dressler, chair of Eigg History Society, sent a photograph of the stone to Historic Environment Scotland. John Borland, HES measured survey manager, was so intrigued that he asked a few colleagues. 'I have consulted with several people who are much more expert than I am on the subject of runic inscriptions and here is a digest of our thoughts,' he said. 'My reading of the inscription was furkusal. Whilst this might be a recognisable Norse name, I thought it more likely that it was a humorous (attempted, anyway) play on words. 'Furk equalling the obvious expletive, similar to the way someone might say/write frock off or feck off. Plus, the early futhark alphabet does not have the letter C. 'Us could be read as "us" but I thought it might be the west-of-Scotland vernacular "yous", meaning you plural. 'Al reading as "all", the missing second L due perhaps to a lack of space. 'So furk us all or furk yous all.' Dr Ragnhild Ljosland, who lectures at the Centre for Nordic Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, also read it as 'either furkusal or furku.al'. 'She couldn't identify this as a recognisable name and wondered if it might be a futhark inscription, where lines or parts of the futhark alphabet are carved,' said Mr Borland. 'However it doesn't really work as that either. She also noted that the A rune is slightly unusual in its form, differing from the A of the early futhark alphabet. Whilst reluctant to absolutely right it off as being modern, she couldn't really confirm it as genuinely Norse. 'Professor Henrik Williams, who teaches at the University of Uppsala, Sweden, was also unwilling to absolutely declare the inscription modern although he could not identify the name as Norse and didn't like the form of some of the runes, particularly the R.' The runic inscription was found on a stone by a resident of the Isle of Eigg off the west coast of Scotland (shown on map). The resident was cleaning the drains by the side of his home when he stumbled across the mysterious object carrying the old language of the Vikings THE VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY: TIMELINE 789AD Vikings begin their attacks on England, moving to Ireland around 800 AD 794 AD Vikings invaded Scotland, starting in the Isle of Iona 840AD Viking settlers found the city of Dublin in Ireland 844AD Vikings raid Seville but are repulsed 860AD Rus Vikings attack Constantinople 866AD York is captured by a Viking army 870AD Vikings colonise Iceland 981AD Erik the Red discovers Greenland 986AD Bjarni Herjolfsson sights North America after being blown off course 1002AD Leif Ericsson, son of Erik the Red, explores the coast of North America, named them Karland, Helluland and Vinland 1492AD Italian explorer Christopher Columbus lands in the New World when he stumbles across the islands now known as The Bahamas Advertisement Professor Michael Barnes from University College, London - and is one of the leading authorities on Norse inscriptions in the British Isles - believed the answer lay closer to home. 'He was more definite in saying that he thinks it unlikely to be very old, due to layout, form of runes and the size of stone bearing the inscription,' said Mr Borland. 'He offered an interesting alternative reading of furkuson, being an attempt to phonetically represent the Scottish surname Farquharson. 'It might be worth investigating if the house where the stone was found was ever occupied by someone of that name. 'So I think it's fair to say that on balance, even the expert opinion is tending towards uncertain at best but probably not genuinely Norse. 'Having said that, someone in the future might arrive at a different conclusion so don't go chucking it out. At the very least it's an interesting piece of social history. 'I hope to get back out to the island soon to record a couple of early crosses which have appeared in the last year or two and I would like to see and record this stone too.' Ms Dressler said the researchers so far could not definitely confirm if it was either modern or Norse. 'The letters puzzled the experts. So the mystery remains to be solved - did somebody with a knowledge of the runic alphabet have a go at carving it for fun or is it Viking? 'Whoever did it must have been motivated because it would have taken a long time to carve out the letters from hard pitchstone! 'There is plenty of evidence of Viking settlement on Eigg - in its place names, burial sites etc - so who knows?' It has been rumoured to have a dual-lens camera, augmented reality, a curved screen and even facial recognition - but what will these features look like in the iPhone 8? New concept images have revealed what one artist thinks Apple's next phone might look like. The concept is based on a succession of reports suggesting Apple is abandoning its aluminum casing in favour of a return to a glass and stainless steel design. New concept images have revealed what one artist thinks Apple's next phone might look like. The concept is based on a succession of reports suggesting Apple is abandoning its aluminum casing in favour of a return to a glass and stainless steel design SPECS SHOWN IN THE CONCEPT IMAGES - High quality Gorrilla Glass - Liquid metal frame - 6.9mm thin - 5.8 inch OLED edge to edge display - Wireless Charging - Touch ID built into display - Second touch sensitive display - Smart connector - 10nm A11 chip - Dual 12mp wide angle + telephoto lens - 3D camera technology Advertisement Apple's iPhone 8 may still be months away, but rumours about the highly anticipated smartphone are flooding the internet. Recent rumours from an 'upstream supply chain' suggest the Cupertino company is ditching the aluminium back cover for its next model. Instead, it will be designed with a stainless steel forging process that brings together two reinforced glass panels supported by a metal frame. It was first reported by Chinese newspaper DigiTimes, which revealed the new components would be ordered from Foxconn electronics US-based Jabil firms who worked with Apple in creating the iPhone 4, reports 9To5Mac. Now Industrial Design student Imran Taylor from Manila, the Philippines, has released pictures of what this might look like. Mr Taylor describes his concept as: 'Bringing back the classic iPhone 4 design language, with glass on the front and back constructed with a NEW liquid metal frame.' The concept shows a high quality Gorrilla Glass with a liquid metal frame, Mr Taylor says. The rear of the phone shows the glass back with a vertical dual-camera arrangement that has been suggested in previous reports. The pictures also show an iPad Pro-style Smart Connector that has not been rumoured. The new camera will have the ability to take augmented reality photos and parallax photos, and measure distance and volume, design student Imran Taylor says Functions of the lower bezel, a word used to describe the circular button, display, shown, could vary among different apps Other features appear to include some form of facial/gesture recognition supported by a new laser sensor and an infrared sensor mounted near the front-facing camera. It could also come in gold, rose gold and white (shown right) IPHONE 8 RUMOURS Several rumors have been circulating about the iPhone 8, and suggest the next device may have: - Dual-lens 3D camera - Augmented reality to generate real-time views of surroundings - Curved glass casing - Plastic OLED screen - Wireless charging - A folding element - New 5 inch (12.7 centimeter) and 5.8 inch (14.7 centimeter) model, which will have a wraparound, OLED screen - 5.8 inch will be designed with the Touch ID finger print sensor 'under the glass and in the active display area.' - A new 'pure white' model - Aluminum back will be replaced with two reinforced glass panes and a metal frame in the middle - Facial recognition Advertisement A rumour that was leaked by Cowen and Company earlier this month suggests this year's tenth anniversary handset will have 'some form of facial/gesture recognition'. Written by Timothy Arcuri, a Cowen and Company analyst, the note was firest reported by Kif Leswing with Business Insider. 'Other features appear to include some form of facial/gesture recognition supported by a new laser sensor and an infrared sensor mounted near the front-facing camera and, as expected, should also finally include wireless charging,' Arcuri wrote. Sources also speculated there will be a new 5.8 inch model, complete with a 'wraparound' OLED screen with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor underneath the glass. The lower display notifies and provides quick access to apps/notifications when the screen is off, Imran Taylor says Recent rumours from an 'upstream supply chain' suggest the Cupertino company is ditching the aluminium back cover for its next model The concept images also show what the iPhone 8 would look like if it was just 0.27 inches (6.9mm) thin Samsung will not unveil its Galaxy S8 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show in February this year as expected, it has been revealed. The make or break handset will be the firm's first flagship launch since the disastrous Galaxy Note 7 launch, which led to a $4.5bn recall. Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jin confirmed the phone would not get a launch event at the MWC event in Barcelona, which begins on Feb. 27, unlike the previous Galaxy S smartphones. Scroll down for video According to the images, the Galaxy S8 Plus (pictured) measures 152.38 x 78.51 x 7.94mm, which would make it taller that the Samsung S7 edge. It would also have a 6.3 inch screen with curved sides Koh did not comment on when the company planned to launch the new handset, the first premium model Samsung is due to release since the failure of its Note 7 flagship device in October over safety issues. The firm showed off the Galaxy S7 on the sidelines of MWC in February 2016, and started selling the phones in March. It comes as Samsung has blamed two separate battery issues for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under the humiliating recall. The world's biggest smartphone maker was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apple's iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire. The fiasco cost the South Korean company $5.3 billion (4.2 billion) in lost profit and reputational damage. It came during a torrid period when it has also been embroiled in a corruption scandal that has seen President Park Geun-Hye impeached. Internal and independent investigations 'concluded that batteries were found to be the cause of the Note 7 incidents', Samsung said in a statement. Samsung has blamed two separate battery issues for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under the humiliating recall TWO MAJOR FLAWS The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer. Advertisement 'We sincerely apologise for the discomfort and concern we have caused to our customers,' Koh Dong-Jin, the head of its mobile business, said bowing before hundreds of reporters and cameramen at a press conference in Seoul. The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer. Samsung is the most prominent unit of the giant Samsung group, South Korea's largest conglomerate with a revenue equivalent to about a fifth of the country's GDP. Samsung has blamed lithium-ion batteries for causing its Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones to overheat and catch fire It announced a recall of 2.5 million units of the oversized Galaxy Note 7 in September 2016 after several devices exploded or caught fire, with the company blaming batteries from a supplier, widely believed to be its sister firm Samsung SDI. SAMSUNG'S GALAXY S8 RUMORS New renders of what could be Samsung Galaxy S8 have surfaced and they suggest the device will incorporate a dual-lens camera design and remove the home button for an edge-to-edge screen. It's speculated that Samsung could design a fingerprint-sensing display or place the feature behind the tempered glass. Because levels of concentration will be increased with a 'full screen', pictures and videos should be much clearer and even go so far as to produce a 3D effect. A recent render of what Samsung's Galaxy S8 is believed to look like. Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jin confirmed today the phone would not get a launch event at the MWC event in Barcelona, which begins on Feb. 27, unlike the previous Galaxy S smartphones. Rumors suggest that pixels of the dual-cameras will support 16 megapixels and 8 megapixels. Another new addition to the Galaxy S8 could also be an upgraded Application process (AP) that corresponds to handset's brain. Sources say Samsung is going to start mas-producing 10-nano Snapdragon 830s, which will be used for Galaxy S8, at the end of this year at the earliest. The artist impression also shows the handset in four vibrant shades of red, blue, purple and yellow - another feature yet to be seen by Samsung users. Advertisement When replacement phones - with batteries from another firm, largely thought to be Chinese manufacturer ATL - also started to combust, the company decided to kill off the Note 7 for good. The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing The world's biggest smartphone maker was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apple's iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire. Pictured is a test in which the Galaxy S7 battery caught fire under pressure As many as 1.9 million of the phones were sold in the US, where authorities banned the device from use on planes and even from being placed in checked luggage. Airlines around the world issued similar prohibitions. The firm has since embarked on a campaign to restore its battered reputation, issuing repeating apologies and putting full-page advertisements in prominent US newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post admitting that it 'fell short' on its promises. Analysts said that Samsung was looking to move on from the crisis with the announcement, which did not implicate other devices. 'Consumers tend to be forgiving the first time,' said Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Technology. 'But if it happens again, it will leave a lasting mark on Samsung's quality and brand image.' Samsung had concentrated on innovative design, thinness and battery capacity rather than safety, he said. The firm's next model, the Galaxy S8, had been expected to be unveiled at next month's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but Samsung's Koh said it would be delayed to ensure that it had no safety issues. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer Koh Dong-Jin, president of Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications Business apologises for the faults in its Galaxy Note 7 devices that led to their recall Analysts said that Samsung was looking to move on from the crisis with the announcement, which did not implicate other devices. Pictured is the Galaxy S7 Customers whose devices spontaneously set on fire shared their pictures since the first incidents were reported in August Samsung deployed around 700 researchers and engineers on its investigation, testing more than 200,000 fully-assembled devices and more than 30,000 batteries, it said. It did not identify the battery makers on Monday, but independent investigators UL and Exponent agreed with the findings. Battery A had a design issue that pushed down the right corner of the battery, while Battery B had defective internal welds, said Kevin White, principal scientist at Exponent. But Koh dismissed the possibility of suing the manufacturers. 'Whatever parts we use, the overall responsibility falls to us for failing to verify its safety and quality,' he said. 'At this point, I don't think it's right to seek legal action. GIRL, 13, SUFFERS MINOR BURN FROM NOTE 7 REPLACEMENT A Minnesota father says his daughter suffered a minor burn to her thumb when her replacement Samsung smartphone melted in her hand last week. Andrew Zuis of Farmington, Minn., said his daughter, Abby, was holding the Galaxy Note 7 in her left hand Friday when it melted. Zuis saidthat the family had acquired the new phone on the day the replacement phones were released. There had been no problem with the original phone, he said. 'She's done with Note 7s right now,' Zuis said of his daughter. Reports of more replacement phones catching fire continued 'It's very fortunate Abby was not injured and was holding the phone,' Zuis said. 'If it was in her pocket, I think it would have been a whole different situation. I'm just very disappointed in Samsung and their product.' Zuis provided KSTP-TV with receipts showing that the family bought a Galaxy Note 7 in August and then exchanged it Sept. 21 after Samsung announced the recall. Andrew Zuis, of Farmington, Minn., showed the replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone belonging to his 13-year-old daughter Abby, that melted in her hand 'She's done with Note 7s right now,' Zuis said of his daughter. A Samsung representative told KSTP that an investigation is underway. 'We want to reassure our customers that we take every report seriously and we are engaged with the Zuis family to ensure we are doing everything we can for them and their daughter,' the representative said in a statement. Advertisement Around 1,000 different parts from some 450 suppliers were needed for each Galaxy Note 7. Samsung acknowledged that it provided the specifications for the batteries, adding in its statement: 'We have taken several corrective actions to ensure this never happens again. The lessons of the past several months are now deeply reflected in our processes and in our culture.' The firm, which is set to announce fourth-quarter and full-year results on Tuesday, has estimated the cost of the recall at $5.3 billion. But investors welcomed today's announcement with Samsung shares trading up 1.9 percent at 1.90 million won in Seoul in the afternoon. The firm has separately been caught up in South Korea's wide-ranging political corruption scandal, with prosecutors last week seeking the arrest of its vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury. 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. In a city hit by chronic pollution and traffic problems, Paris officials are experimenting with an electric powered self-driving shuttle linking two train stations. Two of the EZ10 minibuses, which can carry up to six seated passengers and six standing, were put into service today. The buses will be tested until early April, between the Lyon and Austerlitz stations in Paris. In a city hit by chronic pollution and traffic problems, Paris officials are experimenting with an electric powered self-driving shuttle linking two train stations THE EZ10 BUSES In a city hit by chronic pollution and traffic problems, Paris officials are experimenting with an electric powered self-driving shuttle linking two train stations. Two of the EZ10 minibuses, which can carry up to six seated passengers and six standing, were put into service today. Like a metro, the shuttle buses run back and forth in a single traffic lane. Instead of a tram, the bus requires no infrastructure - instead it follows a virtual route that can be changed at any time. Advertisement 'The autonomous vehicle presents an opportunity for new services notably in less densely populated areas,' RATP president Elisabeth Borne said in a statement. The GPS-guided vehicles will be free and will be running seven days a week. Like a metro, the shuttle buses run back and forth in a single traffic lane at 15 miles (25km) per hour. Instead of a tram, the bus requires no infrastructure - instead it follows a virtual route that can be changed at any time. Jean-Louis Missika, a Paris deputy mayor in charge of innovation, said self-driving vehicles 'will change the urban landscape in a spectacular fashion' within the next 20 years. Conceived by the French company Easymile, the EZ10 has already been tested in several countries, including the United States, Japan, Singapore and Finland. It is also due to be tested between two main green spaces in southern Paris. The east-central French town of Lyon carried out its own test on a driverless minibus last year. Operator Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RAPT) hopes to have regular routes for the high-tech vehicles up and running within two years. Jean-Louis Missika, a Paris deputy mayor in charge of innovation, said self-driving vehicles 'will change the urban landscape in a spectacular fashion' within the next 20 years The buses are made by French hi-tech firm Easymile. They are also due to be tested between two main green spaces in southern Paris Officials hope to have regular routes running for the state-of-the-art vehicles within the next two years Online retail giant Amazon has set its sights on he car parts industery as its next target. The retail giant has made deals with auto part manufacturers to expand the auto parts arm of its business, as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is set on taking control over the $50 billion cart parts industry. It follows a report last year frominvestment banking firm Jefferies LLC released a report saying that Amazon was offering same-day delivery for auto parts in 40 cities across the US and their prices were 23 per cent cheaper than other major car part retail chains. Scroll down for video Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (pictured) has struck deals with major car part manufacturers in the US and is selling parts 23 per cent cheaper than other major car part retailers The move is set to cause sales to suffer for car part retailers such as Advance Auto Parts Inc., Autozone Inc., Genuine Parts Co. and O'Reilly Automotive. According to the New York Post, in the past few months, Amazon has signed contracts with some of the biggest car part manufacturers in the US, including Robert Bosch, Dorman Products and Cardone industries. Recently, car part retail chains have been successful due to high profit margins because of their control over manufacturers. Amazon may also acquire regional parts distributors, says Steve Handschuh, chief executive of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association. According to a wall street analyst, Amazon's auto parts business could expand by more than 50 per cent this year. The Dorman 902-407 auxiliary water pump sold at AutoZone (pictured left) is priced at $124.99, compared to the same product from Amazon priced at $90.70 (pictured right) The Dorman 902-407 auxiliary water pump sold at AutoZone (pictured) is priced at $124.99, compared to the same product from Amazon priced at $90.70 The Dorman 902-407 auxiliary water pump sold at Amazon (pictured) is priced at $90.70, compared to the same product from AutoZone priced at $124.99 There are some Wall Street analysts who are doubtful about whether Amazon will succeed with auto parts as it has with books and electronics, but others are taking this step more seriously. Amazon has widened its range of name-brand parts and it selling them for less than other retailers. FORD'S PLANS TO HAVE CARS EQUIPPED WITH AMAZON'S ALEXA Ford plans to have 10 million vehicles in North America and 20 million globally equipped with embedded modems by 2020. Ford cars will talk with Alexa through a new mobile app connected to SmartDeviceLink. This is an open-source platform that allows developers to create apps compatible with all automakers within the system, avoiding the need to adapt them to the specifications of each carmaker individually. Advertisement For example, a Dorman 902-407 auxiliary water pump currently costs $90.70 on Amazon and the same part costs $124.99 on AutoZone's website. Amazon has been able to achieve this because other parts retailers are trying focusing on obtaining deals with foreign, private-label part manufacturers. This makes the parts retailers more profitable, but not the local part manufactures. An executive at an auto parts manufacturer even said that this reduced the loyalty of the manufacturers to these chain retailers. Amazon has even been paying manufacturers 30 per cent more than car part retailers for the same parts. An executive at a major auto parts supplier told the post: 'It's the classic tipping point. 'The majority of us now are selling directly to Amazon.' According to sources of the Post, Dorman was the first parts manufacturer to sign a contract with Amazon - and many others have followed except for Standard Motor Products. Last year, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles teamed up with Amazon to start selling cars online at prices up to a third cheaper than available elsewhere. Only Amazon users based in Italy are able to buy cars online for now, with the offers on Amazon.it limited to three models - the 500, the Panda and the 500L. A rocky, oven-hot Earth-sized spotted orbiting a small nearby star just over a year ago is one of the best chances we have of finding alien life outside our solar system. The planet, named GJ1132b, is around 1.2 times the size of Earth and appears to be predominantly composed of rock and iron. Now scientists have taken the closest look yet at GJ1132b, confirming the presence of its thick atmosphere and finding hints the planet could be rich in water. Scroll down for video Scientists have taken the closest look yet at the planet GJ1132b (artist's impression pictured). The researchers confirmed the presence of its thick atmosphere and found hints the planet could be rich in water WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GJ1132B The planet, named GJ1132b, is around 1.2 times the size of Earth and appears to be predominantly composed of rock and iron. GJ1132b orbits its host star a small M-dwarf star called Gliese 1132 at a far closer distance than the Earth is to the sun, meaning it receives about 19 times the level of radiation. Now scientists have taken the closest look yet at GJ1132b, confirming the presence of its thick atmosphere and finding hints the planet could be rich in water. The planet is close compared to other stars in the galaxy, just 39 light years away. When it was first found astronomers described the world as 'arguably the most important planet ever found outside the solar system'. Advertisement Researchers led by Dr John Southworth from Keele University studied the planet's atmosphere using a variation on the 'transit' planet-detection method. As the planet crosses its star, it blocks a small portion of the stars total light and casts a planetary shadow toward our solar system. GJ1132b causes the light from its star to dip by 0.3 per cent every 1.6 days. The researchers said the spectrum observed in the planet suggests 'initial signs of a water-rich world'. Using the MPG/ESO 7 foot (2.2 metre) telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, the team monitored nine transits of GJ 1132 b across a range of wavelengths. 'We have shown that an Earth-mass planet is capable of sustaining a thick atmosphere,' Dr Southworth told Scientific American. The results have been published on the pre-print server arXiv, and are currently under review for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. GJ1132b orbits its host star a small M-dwarf star called Gliese 1132 at a far closer distance than the Earth is to the sun, meaning it receives about 19 times the level of radiation. The planet is close compared to other stars in the galaxy, just 39 light years away. When it was first found astronomers described the world as 'arguably the most important planet ever found outside the solar system'. Now the evidence for the planet potentially having liquid water is mounting up. GJ1132b is around 16 per cent larger than Earth but its star, Gliese 1132 is just a fifth of the size of our sun (illustrated). However, as it orbits closer to its small star, the planet receives far more radiation Scientists were able to spot the new planet as it passed in front of its compact star (illustrated) by looking for the tiny dimming of light it causes. GJ1132b causes the light from its star to dip by 0.3 per cent every 1.6 days 'Planets around M dwarfs are of particular interest because the dimness of the host stars means their habitable zones,' the authors wrote in the new paper. It is estimated the surface of the planet may experience temperatures of between 278F (136C) and 584F (306C). This means the planet is likely to be too hot for human habitation, but scientists is still cool enough to have a substantial atmosphere. The size of the planet 'allows for a wide range of interior compositions ranging from a nearly Earth-like rocky interior, to a substantially H2O-rich water world' the authors said. Scientists have reconstructed the ancient meteorites that fell to Earth after a cataclysmic collision in space 466 million years ago. The study has revealed a shift in the types of meteorites seen today versus those in the past, with many that are rare now found to be common millions of years ago. These findings shake up the conventional belief that the solar system has been stable over the last 500 million years. Scientists have reconstructed the ancient meteorites that fell to Earth after a cataclysmic collision in space 466 million years ago. The study has revealed a shift in the types of meteorites seen today versus those in the past HOW THEY DID IT To understand more about these ancient events, the researchers analyzed micrometeorites from more than 466 million years ago. These are tiny specks less than 2mm wide. The researchers gathered samples from a now-exposed ancient seafloor at Lynna River in Russia. Then, they dissolved the micrometeorite-containing rocks in acid, leaving behind just microscopic chromite crystals. The analysis revealed differences in the chemical makeup between the meteorites and micrometeorites that fell before 466 million years ago, and those that fell after. While just .45 percent of meteorites that fall to Earth today are in a class known as 'primitive achondrites,' the researchers found that these made up 34 percent of the pre-collision samples. Advertisement In the study, published to Nature Astronomy, researchers investigated the difference in meteorites before and after the massive collision 466 million years ago, when something slammed into an asteroid and broke it apart. 'We found that the meteorite flux, the variety of meteorites falling to Earth, was very, very different from what we see today,' said lead author Philipp Heck of The Field Museum in Chicago. 'Looking at the kinds of meteorites that have fallen to Earth in the last hundred million years doesn't give you a full picture. 'It would be like looking outside on a snowy winter day and concluding that every day is snowy, even though it's not snowy in the summer.' The collision sent chunks of rocks meteorites raining down on Earth. And, as this debris is formed from many types of collisions, including those between asteroids, moons, and even planets, they have different compositions, reflecting those of their parent bodies. Much of what is known about the meteorites that fell millions of years ago, however, has long remained a mystery. 'We knew almost nothing about the meteorite flux to Earth in geological deep time before this study,' says co-author Birger Schmitz of Lund University in Sweden. 'The conventional view is that the solar system has been very stable over the past 500 million years. So it is quite surprising that the meteorite flux at 467 million years ago as so different from the present.' To understand more about these ancient events, the researchers analyzed micrometeorites from more than 466 million years ago. These are tiny specks less than 2mm wide. The researchers gathered samples from a now-exposed ancient seafloor at Lynna River in Russia. Then, they dissolved the micrometeorite-containing rocks in acid, leaving behind just microscopic chromite crystals. 'Chrome-spinels, crystals that contain the mineral chromite, remain unchanged even after hundreds of millions of years,' explains Heck. 'Since they were unaltered by time, we could use these spinels to see what the original parent body that produced the micrometeorites was made of.' The researchers dissolved the micrometeorite-containing rocks in acid, leaving behind just microscopic chromite crystals. An electron microscope image of a polished cross section of chrome spinel from thought to be from the asteroid 4 Vesta is pictured The analysis revealed differences in the chemical makeup between the meteorites and micrometeorites that fell before 466 million years ago, and those that fell after. While just .45 percent of meteorites that fall to Earth today are in a class known as 'primitive achondrites,' the researchers found that these made up 34 percent of the pre-collision samples. They also discovered relics from Vesta the brightest asteroid visible from Earth. Vesta experienced a collision event more than a billion years ago, the researchers say. 'Meteorite delivery from the asteroid belt to the Earth is a little like observing landslides started at different times on a mountainside,' said William Bottke of the Southwest Research Institute. The researchers gathered samples from a now-exposed ancient seafloor at Lynna River in Russia. Co-author Fredrik Terfelt of Lund University is pictured 'Today, the rocks reaching the bottom of the mountain might be dominated by a few recent landslides. 'Going back in time, however, older landslides should be much more important. The same is true for asteroid breakup events; some younger ones dominate the current meteorite flux, while in the past older ones dominated.' The researchers say these findings can help to develop a better understanding on the formation and evolution of the basic components of the solar system. 'Knowing more about the different kinds of meteorites that have fallen over time gives us a better understanding of how the Asteroid Belt evolved and how different collisions happened,' said Heck. 'Ultimately, we want to study more windows in time, not just the area before and after this collision during the Ordovician period, to deepen our knowledge of how different bodies in Solar System formed and interact with each other.' Archaeologists have unearthed what could be the ancient remains of a synagogue in a village near Israels Sea of Galilee. It was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, and incorporates parts of a fifth-century Roman synagogue known to contain stunning mosaics. The placement of benches along the east, north, and west walls suggests that the ancient structure is a synagogue but researchers say such a find is extremely rare in this setting, given the lack of a Jewish presence in the area at the time. Archaeologists have unearthed what could be the ancient remains of a synagogue in a village near Israels Sea of Galilee. It was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, and incorporates parts of a fifth-century Roman synagogue known to contain stunning mosaics HUQOQ EXCAVATIONS Researchers first discovered mosaics at the synagogue in Huqoq, Israel in 2012. Since then, excavations have been conducted every summer. They have since found mosaics depicting Samson and his foxes, and Samson carrying the gate of Gaza on his shoulders, both from the Bible. And, they've found a scene containing a Hebrew inscription surrounded by human figures, animals, and mythological creatures. The site also produced the first non-Biblical mosaic ever found in an ancient synagogue, showing the meeting between Alexander the Great and the Jewish high priest. Advertisement In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Crusaders and Mamluks (a Muslim people) fought for control of the area around Huqoq, where the excavations are now taking place, Live Science reports. The researchers have so far been unable to find evidence of a Jewish presence in the medieval records, apart from one of just a few textual references from the early 14th century, in which a traveller named Ishtori Haparchi reported seeing a synagogue with a very old floor. Coupled with the benches found in the building, which are arranged in a style commonly seen in synagogues, Jodi Magness, director of the Huqoq excavation project, says the researchers speculate that perhaps our building is that synagogue. While researchers arent quite sure what the medieval building was really used for, they say there is clear evidence that it was a public building, likely of religious importance. A monumental public building was erected on the same spot as the late Roman synagogue, reusing some of the earlier structures architectural elements, but expanding it in size, Magness said during a presentation of the research in Toronto at the joint annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America and the Society for Classical Studies this month, Live Science reports. Small patches of mosaics with geometric and floral designs were preserved on top of the floor. The researchers have so far been unable to find evidence of a Jewish presence in the medieval records, apart from one of just a few textual references from the early 14th century, in which a traveller named Ishtori Haparchi reported seeing a synagogue with a very old floor In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Crusaders and Mamluks (a Muslim people) fought for control of the area around Huqoq, where the excavations are now taking place According to Magness, the medieval building reuses the north and east walls of the Roman structure, along with ancient columns and pedestals. These were placed on top of low walls, known as stylobates. The fifth-century Roman structure atop which its built was previously discovered by the team, who revealed its brilliant mosaics depicting the stories of Noahs Ark and the parting of the Red Sea. Researchers say these scenes are extremely rare in such a setting, and only a handful of others have ever been found. The mosaics decorate the floor of the ancient synagogue, with images of the Pharaoh's soldiers being swallowed by massive fish, overturned chariots, and animals of many kinds. The mosaics decorate the floor of a fifth century synagogue, revealing images of the Pharaoh's soldiers being swallowed by massive fish, overturned chariots, and animals of many kinds. Researchers say these scenes are extremely rare in such a setting The mosaics have since been removed from the site for conservation. They depict an arc and pairs of animals, including elephants, leopards, donkeys, snakes, bears, lions, ostriches, camels, sheep, and goats Four schools are involved in the excavations at Huqoq, including Baylor University, the University of North Carolina, Brigham Young University, and the University of Toronto. The researchers say this synagogue dates back to a time when the Roman Empire ruled the area, and the mosaics have since been removed from the site for conservation. These ancient relics depict an arc and pairs of animals, including elephants, leopards, donkeys, snakes, bears, lions, ostriches, camels, sheep, and goats. Nathan Elkins, is working to protect ancient coins from looting and smuggling. Pictured above, Elkins studies a coin found at the site Along with this, the mosaics show images of Pharaoh's soldiers being swallowed by large fish, with overturned chariots, horses, and drivers surrounding them. 'These scenes are very rare in ancient synagogues,' said Jodi Magness, director of the excavations and professor in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's College of Arts and Sciences. 'The only other examples that have been found are at Gerasa/Jerash in Jordan and Mopsuestia/Misis in Turkey, and at Khirbet Wadi Hamam in Israel and Dura Europos in Syria.' Researchers first found mosaics at the synagogue in 2012 and have since continued excavating the site, uncovering many more images. In the time that's passed, they have found mosaics depicting Samson and his foxes, and Samson carrying the gate of Gaza on his shoulders, both from the Bible, along with a scene containing a Hebrew inscription surrounded by human figures, animals, and mythological creatures, including putti, or cupids. Roughly four billion years ago, Earth, the moon, and the other terrestrial planets of our solar system may have been pummeled by the rocky debris of planets that never quite made it to be. The activity during this period, known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, has long been attributed to a group of asteroids that now sits in the belt between Mars and Jupiter. But, new research suggests there may have been other factors at play. Massive chunks of rock and dust leftover from the formation of the planets may instead have been to blame, creating massive craters on Mars and the moon, and ancient scars that have since been erased from Earths surface. Massive chunks of rock and dust leftover from the formation of the planets may instead have been to blame, creating massive craters on Mars and the moon, and ancient scars that have since been erased from Earths surface. Three views of the moons Apollo Basin are shown LATE HEAVY BOMBARDMENT The Late Heavy Bombardment is a period that took place roughly 3.8-3.9 billion years ago. Activity during this period has long been attributed to a group of asteroids that now sits in the belt between Mars and Jupiter. During this time, it's thought that Earth, the moon, and other terrestrial planets were pummeled with asteroids, creating massive craters. This includes the huge Imbrium and Orientale basins on the moon. But researchers now suggest there may have been objects from two separate regions to blame, flung toward the planets at different times. Advertisement Much of the activity of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) may have been the result of dancing planets, sending material crashing into the moon and terrestrial planets, William Bottke, an impact scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado, told Space.com. The new simulations suggests that large planets may have left behind material as they migrated, which was, consequently, sent raining down on the young planets in the inner solar system. We have evidence for two early-bombardment populations and a time difference between them a late one, plausibly made by escapees from the asteroid belt, and an early one from elsewhere, Bottke told Space.com. The LHB took place about 3.8-3.9 billion years ago and is thought to have marred the surfaces terrestrial planets, including Earth and Venus. But weathering and tectonics on our home planet, and volcanic activity on the latter may have eliminated the evidence. Without these processes, however, the scars are still visible on Mars and Earths moon. The researcher suggests the activity did not happen as a brief, intense period, but instead was the result of objects from two separate regions, and at different times. Their findings were presented at the 229th meeting of the American Astronomical Society earlier this month. Massive chunks of rock and dust leftover from the formation of the planets may instead have been to blame, creating massive craters on Mars and the moon, and ancient scars that have since been erased from Earths surface. A stock image is pictured In a recent paper, Bottkes colleague David Nesvorny suggests that planetesimals the debris from the formation of large planets was solely to blame. These objects would have been much larger than those from the asteroid belt, allowing for the creation of massive craters like the lunar Imbrium and Orientale. We find that asteroids were probably not responsible for the LHB, independently of whether the dynamical instability in the outer solar system happened early or late, because the calibrated flux is not large enough to explain the ancient lunar record, the authors wrote. Comets and leftovers of the terrestrial planet accretion probably provided a dominant source of impacts during the early epochs. But, according to Bottke, its still too early to abandon the LHB theory entirely, and additional research is needed to determine just how this process was carried out. Advertisement The criterion that goes into creating a list of the world's best restaurants often centres around the food, the service and the ambience - rarely is the environment outside ever considered. But there are restaurants around the world, often in remote and isolated locations, where the unforgettable experience is as much about the view from the windows as it is about what you're eating. And with idyllic and unusual spots like the snow-capped Alps, the volcanoes of Lanzarote and even the Hobbit film set in New Zealand to choose from, these really are the restaurants that are worth the journey. Scroll down for video Restaurant Le 3842, Aiguille du Midi, France Situated at 12,605ft (3,842m) above sea level on one of the peaks of Aiguille du Midi is Restaurant Le 3842 (pictured) The restaurant offers unrivalled views of the mountains and visitors can reach the remote spot via a special cable car service If you're in the Chamonix, it's worth heading to the Aiguille du Midi. Situated at 12,605ft (3,842m) above sea level on one of its peaks is Restaurant Le 3842, a place that offers unrivalled views of the mountains around it. The isolated spot can only be reached by cable car and aside from a cafe, there is virtually nothing else around. It offers a fare of locally sourced, French cuisine. El Diablo, Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote El Diablo, a barbecue restaurant in Timanfaya National Park, offers its guests panoramic views of the Fire Mountains Its specialism is barbecue food, which is cooked over a custom-built grill that's heated over a volcano (pictured) At El Diablo, a barbecue restaurant in Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a feast cooked with the help of a volcano. And before their meal, they can also take a tour of the volcano, which has been dormant since 1824. But perhaps even better than the novelty of a daredevil feast is the stunning panoramic view of the Fire Mountains from the restaurant. The Green Dragon Inn, Matamata, New Zealand The Green Dragon Inn is set in the surreal surroundings of the Hobbiton film set (above), which appeared in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies The film set continues inside the inn where guests can enjoy different flavoured pies in the surreal environment The Green Dragon Inn is set in the surreal surroundings of the Hobbiton film set, which appeared in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. There almost nothing but endless farmland around the area, until you reach Hobbiton. And then you're suddenly transported into the other-worldly landscape of the Hobbits where the grass is a lush green and the gently reflects off the waters. Suhail, Abu Dhabi, UAE If the desert is your idea of an escape then the Suhail restaurant at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara (above) in Abu Dhabi is where you should head The Suhail restaurant is an open-air space with views of the Arabian desert - a view that's particularly stunning at sunset If the desert is your idea of an escape then the Suhail restaurant at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in Abu Dhabi is where you should head. The open-air restaurant, which looks out over gentle slopes of the Arabian desert, serves up an up-scale fare, including meat sourced from all over the world. But it's the view at sunset that truly completes the experience. Piz Gloria, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Piz Gloria is perhaps best known for its appearance in the 1969 James Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service The film location, which has since been turned into a restaurant, is now a popular tourist spot - especially with skiers Piz Gloria is perhaps best known for its appearance in the 1969 James Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The film location, which has since been turned into a restaurant, is now a popular tourist spot - especially with skiers. Visitors are only able to reach the picturesque spot, which overlooks the mountains of the Swiss Alps, via a cable car. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, Rangali Island, Maldives Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the Conrad resort (above) in the Maldives is perhaps the most iconic of the underwater restaurants in the world The underwater experience is perhaps best enjoyed at lunch though be prepared to bring your sunglasses Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the Conrad resort in the Maldives is perhaps the most iconic of the underwater restaurants in the world. It was once voted the most beautiful restaurant in the world by New York Daily news and allows guests to be surrounded by the ocean's creatures without getting their feet wet. The experience is perhaps best enjoyed at lunch though on occasions, guests and staff have to wear sun glasses in order to protect their eyes from the sun. Faviken, Jarpen, Sweden It takes serious planning to reach Faviken, a restaurant that's situated in Jarpen, an hour's flight or seven hours by car from the capital of Stockholm The restaurant (above) is considered by many to be among the world's best and there are room where guests can stay overnight if they can't make the journey back It takes serious planning to reach Faviken, a Swedish restaurant considered by many to be among the world's best. Situated in Jarpen, which is an hour's flight or seven hours by car from the capital of Stockholm, the restaurant is surrounded by nature. Close by is a lake and beyond it are endless forests. Luckily, there are also rooms where you can stay if you can't make the journey back on the same day. Stratosfare, Queenstown, New Zealand Located in the Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve, the elevated Stratosfare restaurant looks over the town of Queenstown and the shores of Lake Wakatipu Although the views of the lake (above) is spectacular during the day, it's perhaps even more beautiful at sunset Located in the Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve, the elevated Stratosfare restaurant looks over the town of Queenstown and the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Although the views of the lake is spectacular during the day, it's perhaps even more beautiful at sunset. And thanks to the design of the restaurant, every table in the house has a great view. Advertisement You'd be forgiven for assuming these jaw-dropping coastal photos were taken on exotic beaches across the Mediterranean or at rugged outposts overlooking the Atlantic ocean. But they were all captured in the UK by an Italian photographer who was so taken aback with the beauty of Britain's beaches that he made it his mission to photograph them all. Alessio Putzu, 28, has spent two years touring the UK's coastline to capture the most magnificent scenery - and has snapped calm waters and crashing waves everywhere from Cornwall to the Highlands, and Northumbria to The Mumbles, Wales. Striking Durdle Door in Dorset looks deceptively like a deserted beach in the Mediterranean in this shot by an Italian photographer determined to showcase the beauty of Britain's coastlines Alessio Putzu, 28, has spent two years touring the UK's coastline to capture the most magnificent scenery - and has snapped calm waters and crashing waves everywhere from Cornwall to the Highlands, and Northumbria to South Stack lighthouse in Wales (pictured) Black Church Rock in Devon looks like it belongs on the rugged coastline of Scandinavia in this dramatic capture Pictured above is Godrevy Lighthouse in Cornwall. Mr Putzu said: 'I really love to travel because it makes me feel as though I'm really living my life to the fullest' Mr Putzu, who now lives in London, said: 'I first came to the UK just to visit, and I brought my camera with me. 'But I soon realised that it is one of the most spectacular countries in the world to take these kind of pictures.' He added: 'It took me a long time to get all the way round the UK coastline, I usually planned my trips to take two or three days at a time - but I had to take longer if I needed to go to Scotland. Mr Putzu, who now lives in London, said: 'I first came to the UK just to visit, and I brought my camera with me.' Pictured, left, Kilt Rock Waterfall in Scotland and right, Hartland Quay in Devon The haunting beauty of Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland is visible in the distance of this craggy beach with its crashing waves Mr Putzu said that Britain has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Pictured above is St Marys Lighthouse in Tyne and Wear The photographer's trips are usually planned for two or three days at a time to ensure he captures moments like this glorious sunrise at Mumbles Lighthouse in Wales 'It takes careful planning so I know what the weather will be like on each trip.' His collection captures the length and breadth of the UK's diverse seascapes. He outlined: 'My pictures range over from south Cornwall to north Scotland on Skye, passing by Devon and Dorset through South and North Wales, going up to Lake District and crossing to Northumberland.' Working around the UK's unpredictable weather, the photographer said it takes careful planning to find the right days to shoot. Above is Boscastle, Cornwall Welsh wonders: Mr Putzu snapped the endless serenity that awaits holidaymakers at Worm's Head in Wales Forget heading to Iceland for a glimpse of the Northern Lights - they can be viewed at Neist Point Lighthouse, Scotland Mr Putzu intends to continue his journey to the rest of the UK as he hasn't shot anything in Northern Ireland yet. Above is Hartland Quay in Devon Mr Putzu added: 'Every day is full of adventure and discovering, and at the end of the day I go to sleep with an huge smile on my face.' Above is Elgol, Scotland Mr Putzu intends to continue his journey to the rest of the UK. He said: 'I really love to travel because it makes me feel as though I'm really living my life to the fullest. 'Every day is full of adventure and discovering, and at the end of the day I go to sleep with a huge smile on my face. 'I'm aware that my project can't be completed without Northern Ireland, so I'm now planning my next trip there.' The travel industry is increasingly tailor-making holidays for gay tourists, because they spend more than most other holidaymakers. Tourism boards in countries including Spain have been spending thousands of pounds on marketing campaigns for the LGBT community in recent months. The gay market is particularly attractive to travel companies because they spend more on trips and are more likely to travel all year round. Customers with families are tied down by school holidays. People in the streets of Sitges in Spain last July celebrating Gay Pride. Tourism boards in countries like Spain have been spending thousands of pounds on marketing campaigns for the LGBT community in recent months During the Fitur tourism fair in Madrid this month, noticeably more companies were plugging cultural attractions and nature activities to this market. Spain's western region of Extremadura, for example, featured posters promoting annual gay pride festivities in the city of Badajoz, which began in response to homophobic comments made by a local politician. But it also promoted bird watching trips, local architecture and rural tourism to gay and lesbian travellers at a special section of the fair dedicated to the market segment. The goal is to appeal to the growing number of gay and lesbian couples who are having children, said Hugo Alonso of the Extremadura's tourism promotion agency at the fair. Spain's western region of Extremadura (pictured) featured posters promoting annual gay pride festivities in the city of Badajoz at the Fitur tourism fair in Madrid this month He said: 'We are interested in volume. Gay and lesbians make up around 10 percent of all tourists.' But for most destinations, this segment is attractive because they travel all year round since and spend more. Juan Pedro Tudeal, the director of Diversity Consulting International, a Spanish firm which advises firms targeting the gay and lesbian market, said: 'They have more disposable income since there are fewer couples with children.' Thomas Bomkes of Diversity Tourism, a German consultancy, added that gay tourists spend 'even more when they know they're accepted'. While it is difficult to estimate how much gay travellers spend, the United Nations World Tourism Organization said in a recent report that 'there is no denying' that they 'are a dynamic and influential segment within the tourism sector'. Many companies are also hoping to appeal to the growing number of gay and lesbian couples who are having children (stock image) The Spanish capital generated about 150million euros ($160million) from its annual gay-pride festivities last summer, which feature one of the world's biggest pride marches. The windfall is expected to be even higher this year as Madrid will host World Pride in late June and early July. Some three million people are expected to take part in the event and Spanish airline Iberia as well as several hotels have launched special offers in conjunction with the event. Pride festivities are used by many Spanish coastal destinations to attract gay travellers outside of their high season. The beach resort of Maspalomas, on Spain's Canary Islands, stages three pride events each year, which generate up to 20million euros each, said the organiser of the event, Fernando Ilarduya. There has also been a boom in the number of cruises, vacation clubs and bungalows geared specifically at the gay market. The beach resort of Maspalomas (pictured) on Spain's Canary Islands stages three pride events each year 'Certain details make the trip more enjoyable, like for example a hotel that does not provide separate beds to two women who book a room together,' said Marion Couturier of event management agency Hansen&Partner. While destinations like Spain - which was one of the first nations to legalise gay marriage - Thailand and Bali are already well established as 'gay friendly', others are now seeking to follow their example. At Fitur, Argentina's tourism board highlighted in its brochures that it was the first nation in Latin America to approve gay marriage, while Colombia promoted several destinations specifically for LBGT people. Meanwhile, some firms have begun to focus exclusively on the lesbian segment, which is said to be 'booming' after initially lagging behind the gay male segment. Sylvia Lacosta, who runs a travel agency in Tenerife that focuses on the lesbian market, said: 'Men prefer urban tourism, while women are looking for outdoor activities, culture, gastronomy.' A travel agent is offering wealthy tourists the ultimate holiday of a lifetime - which comes with a custom private plane and famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes as a tour guide. The three week trip, which costs 35,000 per person, will involve holidaymakers being flown to South America in a Boeing 767-300 that has been customised to carry just 96 people rather than the standard 300. It means the guests can walk around with a drink and mingle with others during the 13 hour flight from London to Rio. During the three-week trip, which costs 35,000 per person, the group will visit the Iguassu Falls on the Brazilian/Argentine border (pictured) accompanied by the famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes Guests will stay at the stunning Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas at the Iguassu Falls Flying game: This map shows the route the wealthy tourists will take The trip will involve holidaymakers being flown around in a Boeing 767-300 that has been customised to carry just 96 people rather than the standard 300 The 'Grand South American Journey' has been dubbed the 'pinnacle in luxury travel'. During the first five days in Rio and at the Iguassu Falls on the Brazilian/Argentine border the group will be joined and escorted by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who will be available for 'informal chats'. Sir Ranulph Fiennes will be available for 'informal chats' with the holidaymakers The trip then takes in Buenos Aires, meeting the five species of penguin living on the Falklands Island, a visit to Easter Island, Cusco in Peru and a trip to Machu Picchu on a luxurious train rented just for the group. There follows a three-day cruise around the Galapagos Islands and two nights in Cuba before returning home. In each location, guests will stay in some of the most luxurious hotels in South America, except on the Falkland Islands where they have been warned five star hotels don't exist. With luxury travel experiences an ever-increasing priority for the world's wealthiest, tour operators and travel agents are being challenged to create increasingly elaborate holidays. They will spend three days cruising around the Galapagos Islands (stock image) Guests on the tour will spend several nights on board the M/V Galapagos Legend (pictured) Prestige Holidays, in Ringwood, Hampshire, says the holiday of a lifetime actually represents good value for money in the luxury holiday bracket. The trip, which was launched last Thursday, leaves London Stansted's private jet terminal on November 6 and returns on November 25. Tour manager Gary Bartelings said: 'This trip is for people who want to spend that much money on a holiday but if you are in that bracket then this is a really good deal at a good price.' An angry holidaymaker has spoken out about a recent holiday to Lisbon that was ruined by a stay in a bed-bug infested apartment. Nicola Stone, from Queensferry near Edinburgh, claims she was a few days into a 10-day break in the Portuguese capital last November with her partner Jerry when she woke up with itchy bites all over her body. The infestation in the couple's bed was so severe that the sheets were littered with bug excrement and spots of blood from where the parasites had latched on to Stone's skin, she claimed. Nicola Stone, from Queensferry near Edinburgh, had her holiday last November ruined by a bed bug infestation The bites all over Stone's body were so painful that she was unable to even hold hands with her partner without causing discomfort Initially though, they were unaware of the cause of the itchy marks and put it down to a rash caused by an allergic reaction. It was only after a visit to a local pharmacy, where Stone was given antihistamines and cream, that they realised the cause was bed bugs in their hotel. Stone told The Daily Record: 'It was itchy, painful and hot - it was only after we saw the chemist that we realised little black dots which kept appearing on the sheets was bed bug excrement. 'There was also blood on the sheets which they had dripped as they walked around the bed.' By that time, the bites had become so painful that Nicola was unable to even hold hands with her partner without causing discomfort. She said: 'I couldn't sleep because of the itching so my partner couldn't sleep either.' Following their visit to the pharmacy, the couple looked up their hotel on TripAdvisor and learnt that a fellow guest at the Hello Lisbon Santos Apartment had also recently suffered with the same problem. After lifting up the mattress in their room, they discovered several skeletons of dead bugs lying on the bed frame. Despite the infestation causing the couple serious discomfort, they were forced to wait until the following day to inform the cleaners of the issue and be moved to separate accommodation. Stone was on a romantic holiday in Lisbon (pictured) when she began to get bites all over her body The couple also handed over all of their clothes to staff for a deep clean and Stone was forced to wear long-sleeved tops and trousers to protect her bitten arms and legs. Following advice for the Citizen's Advice Bureau back in Scotland, the couple were later given a 549 refund for the cost of their bedroom and their medical supplies from their booking agent Lastminute.com. A Hello Lisbon spokesman told MailOnline: 'There was identified a problem in one of our properties, and at the moment, the property is closed until the end of the month for the solving of the the situation without causing harm to more guests. 'Besides the refund, when the problem was reported to us, the guests were immediately accommodated in another property of Hello Lisbon.' Lastminute.com's spokeswoman told the Daily Record: 'The experience and the safety of our customers is our No1 priority. We regret the impact this has had on Ms Stone's holiday.' With her model good looks, quirky fashion sense, and a role in The CW's newest drama, it's not hard to see why actress Camila Mendes is already on the path to stardom. Despite graduating just last year, the 22-year old Miami native has already landed a role on Riverdale, The CWs live action take on the classic Archie Comics, premiering this Thursday. But before she makes her television debut, to get you up to speed on the little-known starlet, weve brought you five reasons why were sure were going to fall in love with her in 2017. One-to-watch: Camila Mendes, pictured at The CW Network's 2016 New York Upfront last summer, looks set to be a star after landing a role in new series Riverdale 1. She's super-talented It didn't take long for Mendes to catch the eye of casting directors after enrolling at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, from which she graduated in May last year. While still a student, Mendes landed the role of spoiled socialite Veronica Lodge in new drama series Riverdale, a subversive take on the Archie Comics. She was offered the job off of the back of what was only her second audition. The young actress will be starring alongside the equally stunning Lili Reinhart, who plays Mendes' on-screen love rival Betty Cooper, and KJ Apa who plays Archie, as the teens navigate the darkness and surrealism of small town life. And from the sneak peeks we've seen so far, Mendes looks set to impress. Talented: Mendes was offered the role of Veronica Lodge in Riverdale (left) while studying at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, which she graduated from in May 2016 (right) 2. She's gorgeous Thanks to her Brazilian heritage - both of the actress's parents are from the Latin American country - Mendes has been blessed with the dark and brooding good looks that make her the perfect fit for brunette vixen Veronica Lodge. And also the sort of good looks that wouldn't look out of place on red carpets and the pages of glossy magazines. Watch this space. 3. She's a girl's girl Despite being blessed with natural good looks and a fledgling career most young actresses would kill for, Mendes, who is now based in New York City, seems to be a down-to-earth kind of girl. We love the fact that she's close to all her Riverdale co-stars - the group posted a ton of fun shots together while filming on location in Vancouver - but it's Mendes' strong friendship with Reinhart that we find particularly heart-warming. New girl: Mendes plays the role of spoiled socialite Veronica Lodge in Riverdale. The actress is pictured with Marisol Nichols who plays her mother Hermione Lodge 'She really is the Betty to my Veronica,' Mendes told NYLON magazine last August. 'Were out to portray two iconic characters on our own, plus were portraying an iconic friendship. 'To have someone to take on that challenge with me is really special. I dont have to do it alone, I have Lili with me.' 4. She adores her family You've got to love a girl who loves her family. Not only does Mendes dote on her friendships, but her social media accounts also pay tribute to her parents and older sister. Throwbacks: Mendes has shared a number of pictures of her family on Instagram. Pictured with her older sister and father (left) and again with her sister (right) Last June, the actress posted a super-cute snap on Instagram of her and her sister posing with their father, with the caption: 'As I merge into adulthood, your role in my life expands from father to friend. Thank you for giving us the world.' Awwww. 5. She's got style We just can't get enough of Mendes' fashion sense . From cute dresses to simple tees, the actress's style is quirky and laid-back. And compared to other actresses who have wardrobes stuffed full of designer gear, Mendes sees the value in narrowing down. In an interview with Who What Wear last September, the actress spoke about the value of minimalism. Co-stars: Mendes (left) and her on-screen love rival Lili Reinhart (right), who plays Betty Cooper in Riverdale, have become close friends since filming the show She told the magazine: '[Its] not necessarily throwing away and getting rid of everything, but just holding on to each article of clothing and deciding what it is that really makes you happy, making sure it sparks joy every time youre touching it or looking at it.' Citing model Camille Rowe as her style inspiration, Mendes added: 'Shes got that L.A. retro beachiness, and then she has an air of French effortless chic as well.' She's the reality star turned radio host who hasn't had the smoothest start to 2017. And it appears things still aren't working out for Sam Frost, who split from ex-Bachelorette love Sasha Mielczarek before she learned her 2DAY FM show was axed. The 27-year-old is reportedly distraught Sasha partied with model Kris Smith and others during a recent 'boozy boys weekend,' according to NW magazine. Scroll down for video Moving on: Sam Frost is reportedly distraught ex Sasha Mielczarek partied with model Kris Smith and others during a recent 'boozy boys weekend' 'It was the last thing Sam needed... it was like Sash was rubbing it in her face that he's over her,' her friend allegedly told the publication. 'She's finding it hard to believe that he ever really loved her if he's already moving on so quickly,' they added. Sasha announced his split from Sam in a post to Instagram late last month. Happier times: The handsome couple dated for 18 months after falling in love during the reality show's first season in 2014 The handsome couple dated for 18 months after falling in love during the reality show's first season in 2014. He was seen on the Gold Coast earlier this month for the Magic Millions races with fellow bachelor Kris Smith, who broke up with model Maddy King in October. The good-looking bachelors partied at Surfers Paradise bar Stingray Lounge and were 'popular with local women', according to The Daily Telegraph. Rough run: It appears things still aren't working out for Sam, who split from Sasha before she learned her 2DAY FM morning show was axed Sasha told Daily Mail Australia the strapping duo enjoyed their time together. 'Kris and I had a great night out with mutual friends after the races,' he said. He downplayed the notion they had a boisterous evening, offering they 'had a few waters, stayed well hydrated and [were] in bed by 9pm.' After her emotional break-up with Sasha, Sam learned her breakfast radio show with Rove McManus was axed in the first week of January, following a year of bad ratings. 'She's finding it hard to believe that he ever really loved her if he's already moving on so quickly,' a reported friend of Sam's revealed The on-air duo has been moved to an evening time slot on the network, starting January 30. Sam remained upbeat in an official statement the radio station released following the shock announcement. 'Im pleased to move on with my friend Rove to our next gig, as well as undertake other commitments outside of radio,' she said. Cate Blanchett can certainly juggle a lot. The 47-year-old actress beamed as she entered New York City's Barrymore Theater with her daughter Edith Upton on Sunday. The actress is slated to take the Broadway stage for Sunday evening's performance of The Present. Good day: Cate Blanchett, 47, looked happy as she entered the Barrymore Theater Sunday with her daughter Edith Upton to perform in The Present The two-time Academy Award winner was clad in a pink turtleneck knit sweater with black pants and black leather sneakers with white outsoles. Large sunglasses looked designer. The working mother-of-four carried a patterned purse and a black trench coat into the playhouse. Hands full: The Oscar-winning beauty carried her daughter, a trench coat and a purse as she made her way into the venue Family affair: The Present was adapted from an Anton Chekhov work by Cate's spouse Andrew Upton The play, which opened earlier this month, marks the Australian beauty's first foray on The Great White Way. Cate's playwright husband Andrew Upton adapted The Present from Anton Chekhovs Platonov to take place amid politically-shaky Russia of the early 1990s. The Sydney Theater Company production has a strong resonance with the recent string of major world events, in particular President Donald Trump's election victory, Blanchett told Variety earlier this month. Gorgeous: The Australian stunner dazzled in a gown at an opening night bash January 8 Maiden voyage: Cate's current stint marks her first appearance in a Broadway production 'You cant present anything at the moment without thinking of the state the world is in,' said the Cinderella star, who donned a symbolic pussycat knit cap at a New York City rally for The Ghostlight Project Thursday in support of social tolerance. She continued: Were in a real state of ... I was going to say "transition," but I think its more of a realization of what weve lost. Weve lost the state of passivity, perhaps, that weve all been in, no matter what side of the political spectrum you are.' In addition to her Broadway endeavors, Cate, who collected Oscars for her performances in 2013's Blue Jasmine and 2004's The Aviator, remains making movies, most notably with a spot in the all-star cast of the upcoming Ocean's Eight. The fourth installment in the series puts Blanchett alongside fellow Oscar-winners Sandra Bullock and Anne Hathaway, as well as pop superstar Rihanna. The Present, which co-stars Richard Roxburgh, is slated to run through March 19. My Kitchen Rules has been teasing a new 'mystery judge' ahead of the 2017 season. Now Woman's Day claims the person in question is co-founder of popular Sydney restaurant Three Blue Ducks, Darren Robertson. According to the magazine, Darren will join Pete Evans, Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge in the upcoming season and is set to bring a calm persona to the often frantic show. Scroll down for video Revealed: Leading Sydney chef Darren Robertson (left) is reportedly the new 'mystery judge' on hit Channel Seven cooking show My Kitchen Rules 'Darren is a dream [on set],' a source close to the hit cooking show reportedly told the publication. 'He was so eager to learn the ropes. He often turned up early and stayed late, which impressed people.' A father-of-one, Robertson is currently engaged to bubbly blonde media personality and blogger Magdalena Roze. Born in England, the leading cook worked under Michelin Star chefs abroad before moving to Australia in 2001. Happy family: Robertson is currently engaged to bubbly blonde media personality and blogger Magdalena Roze (middle) and the couple have one child International star: Born in England, Robertson worked under Michelin Star chefs abroad before moving to Australia in 2001 Renowned: He became a hit in Sydney after opening up the successful Three Blue Ducks in 2011 alongside four friends - Mark LaBrooy, Sam Reid, Jeff Bennet and Chris Sorrel After spending years working at some of the country's leading eateries he began to expand his horizons further. Organising successful pop-up food events in factories and open parks, Robertson soon began his prized restaurant in Sydney's east. Alongside mates Mark LaBrooy, Sam Reid, Jeff Bennet and Chris Sorrel, the group created Three Blue Ducks and saw instant success. A regular in the media and on television, Robertson reportedly became an instant hit on My Kitchen Rules. Woman's Day claims he is so fondly thought of after just one season on the show that producers are considering making him a full-time fixture next year. Media man: A regular on television, Robertson has reportedly become an instant hit on My Kitchen Rules Stepping up: Woman's Day reports he is so fondly thought of after just one season on the show that producers are considering making him a full-time fixture next year It comes as the same magazine also claims Pete and Manu are at war. Friction between the pair is said to be 'so bad' that on recent trips across Australia they had to travel separately. The publication allege the pair have 'nothing in common' and say Pete thinks Manu is an 'attention seeker', while Manu thinks Pete is 'stranger than strange'. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Seven for comment on the claims. His now signature hit Puppy Love made him an overnight sensation after making it to number one in 1972. And it is clear Donny Osmond has lost none of his appeal among female admirers to this day. The 59-year-old kicked off a UK arena tour in Manchester on Saturday in front of a crowd of around 18,000 screaming fans, the majority of whom were women. Donny Osmond, 59, kicked off a UK arena tour in Manchester on Saturday in front of a crowd of around 18,000 screaming fans, the majority of whom were women Just as they used to, his fans swayed, sang and screamed their way through the concert, during which Osmond donned a wig and a striped coat to relive his starring role in the 1999 film Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. And many women were spotted looking adoringly into his eyes as they gathered round him afterwards, wearing merchandise emblazoned with his name or pictures of puppies. The packed concert marked exactly 45 years since Osmond, then aged just 14, first encountered mobs of hysterical teenage fans as he and his brothers touched down in the UK for their first-ever nationwide tour. Landing at Heathrow in October 1972, the teen sensation was immediately greeted by fanatical teens who followed Osmond and his brothers wherever they went. Osmond, 14, on his first UK tour in 1972. His hit single Puppy Love spent five weeks at number one that year Recalling Osmondmania, as it was dubbed, Osmond told the Daily Mail: On that airplane ride over our manager said, Its hysteria. I thought maybe a few fans at the airport is called hysteria. I had no idea what I was walking into. Even the pilot and crew let everyone off the plane first and I thought, Wow, theyre treating us like royalty here! Then all of a sudden that wave of hysteria hit me when we walked off the plane. I thought, Someone has really promoted this! Osmond was spotted using reading glasses on the first night of the UK tour Although he first came to attention in the mid-Sixties singing with his four elder brothers as the Osmonds, it was not until his solo single Puppy Love was released in June 1972, spending five weeks at number one, that Osmond became a huge star in the UK. In fact, there was little fanfare during his first visit to the UK shortly before Puppy Love was released when he and his brothers performed for the Queen at the Royal Variety Gala. It was exciting from the point of view we were performing for Her Majesty but there was no hysteria whatsoever, he said. We went over did our gig and got back. It wasnt a leisure trip, it wasnt for sightseeing. We went, got our job done and got back on the plane. Osmond, who has sold over 100million records worldwide, added: My whole life has been a blur. How many people can say theyve been relatively relevant for 53 years in showbusiness? Im one of the lucky few. Speaking ahead of Saturdays show, he said: This is probably going to be my most fulfilling tour. The show is two hours long and covers all five decades of my career. When I touch down [in the UK for the tour], I think its going to feel like I m coming home. To buy tickets for Osmonds current UK tour, go to myticket.co.uk They're two of the most famous figures in Australian media. And according to New Idea, Roxy Jacenko and Karl Stefanovic were so 'chummy' at a recent media event that their behaviour had onlookers 'wondering if they were more than friends'. However, a source close to Roxy has steadfastly denied the rumours to Daily Mail Australia, slamming the claims as 'comical'. New rumours: New Idea claims that Roxy Jacenko and Karl Stefanovic appeared close at the Women In Media lunch in December, however a source close to the PR maven has slammed the rumours as 'comical' The magazine report claims that Roxy and Karl headed for drinks with several close friends after the Women In Media lunch in Melbourne last month. The insider told the publication that Roxy was also messaging Karl, stating, 'We couldn't believe that Roxy was texting Karl, no-one knew they were that close'. However, Roxy has had an affiliation with the Nine Network - where Karl works - for a number of years. The PR maven appeared on Celebrity Apprentice in 2013, and is a guest on the Today Show and Mornings from time-to-time. Single: A newly single Karl attended the Women In Media lunch last month During the Christmas break, Roxy flew to Hawaii for a holiday with her two children, while Karl reportedly spent time in Aspen, Colorado before heading to Washington D.C. to cover Donald Trump's inauguration. New Idea reports that given both of the Sydney-based stars will soon be back in the same city 'it's understood the two will see more of each other'. A source close to Roxy slammed the rumours, telling Daily Mail Australia that 'the suggestion is comical and couldnt be further from the truth'. A difficult year: Roxy's husband Oliver was jailed in 2016 for insider trading Close family: A source close to the PR maven has slammed the rumours involving Karl Both Roxy and Karl have suffered difficult years in 2016. Mother-of-two Roxy is married to investment banker Oliver Curtis, who was jailed last year for insider trading. He is currently serving out his sentence at a correctional facility close to Lithgow, in regional New South Wales. Meanwhile, Karl announced his separation from his wife of 21-years, Cassandra Thorburn, late in the year. The father-of-three was spending time in Melbourne with his mum, Jenny, in December, when he decided to drop in at the Women In Media event held at the Crown, which is where he was spotted with Roxy. Separated: Father-of-three Karl split with wife Cassandra last year Thats what you call a clear-out. Call The Midwife (BBC1) became Call The Removals Men, as most of the East End period dramas favourite characters were sent packing. Trixie, the bottle-blonde alcoholic with the brittle smile (Helen George), has been carelessly left in South Africa after the below-par Christmas special. Patsy (Emerald Fennell) looks set to depart after her father in Hong Kong, the one no one has ever mentioned before, fell ill. Call The Midwife (BBC1) became Call The Removals Men, as most of the East End period dramas favourite characters were sent packing Down at the police station, Sgt Noakes (Ben Caplan) is pointedly not mentioning his wife, Chummy. No one ever breathes her name, in fact. Chummy has been dropped from the history of midwifery. Could that be because the actress who plays her, Miranda Hart, was scheduled to return for this series then pulled out at short notice? Among the young nurses, this just leaves Babs (Charlotte Ritchie), who is so eager to marry her vicar boyfriend that she bought the engagement ring herself and popped it on her own finger. She neednt worry the Rev Tom is keen enough to marry a nurse, any nurse, that hes already been engaged to Trixie. Must be the uniforms. And the exodus didnt engulf only the medical staff. Timid Sister Mary Cynthia (Bryony Hannah), who was subjected to a vile assault in the last series, suffered a mental breakdown and was bundled off to Chichester . . . one of those places that is just far enough from anywhere that no one ever returns. Jenny Agutters saintly Sister Julienne, meanwhile, came back from Africa to find she had been replaced as sister-in-charge. Now she is reduced to running errands and setting out the chairs. Thatll teach her not to slope off for a bit of winter nun sun. Her role was filled by Dame Harriet Walter, last seen as Churchills imperious wife Clementine in The Crown. Here, she made Winston look like an old softie, banning the television, and lunch, and biscuits, all of them deemed ungodly. Wait until she finds out about the nurses secret cocktail shaker. All this change was a bold step and just what the show needed. That trip to the Cape was a messy digression. If writer Heidi Thomas had tried to take the characters back to London and carried on as if nothing had happened, Call The Midwife would have felt stale. Instead, everything is different and the most thoughtful and spiritually rich drama on television can start afresh. Homeland (C4) was also beginning again, as highly strung ex-CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) returned to America after her Middle Eastern adventures to look after her young daughter. Homeland (C4) was also beginning again, as highly strung ex-CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) returned to America after her Middle Eastern adventures to look after her young daughter But the producers have made a catastrophic miscalculation. They knew this series would launch as a new U.S. leader was taking office and they bet the pot that it would be Hillary Clinton. Ooops! The plot centres on panicky efforts by secret service chiefs to convince Madam President that Islamic extremists are still a threat and militant Muslims in America need to be watched. She isnt persuaded and wants to end all military action against ISIS. Thats slightly less bellicose than the actual situation in the White House, where The Donalds CIA nursemaids are probably telling him strictly that he cant play with his nuclear red button until hes eaten all his vegetables. Homeland made its name with a brilliant analysis of the War on Terror. It was utterly credible as it dissected the drone strikes in Pakistan and the mass influx of Syrian refugees to Europe. No show on TV, not even the news, was more topical. But it has plunged disastrously off target. Its as though a missile aimed at a cave in Afghanistan took out a sandcastle in Eastbourne by accident. Worse, the main characters have lost their mojo. Carrie is still twitching and gurning, but now shes no longer a spy, she just looks like an attention seeker. Assassin Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) is a basket case, a drooling crack addict. We left him last series, apparently dead in a pool of coloured light. Better if hed stayed there, and Homeland with him. She had been spending a lot of time in France at the end of 2016 alongside her French beau. Now back on home soil, Kelly Brook was all smiles as she stepped out in style to watch West End musical School of Rock with her handsome boyfriend Jeremy Parisi on Sunday. The 37-year-old wrapped up for the occasion in a wool burgundy jacket with eye-catching button detail that covered her infamous curves at The New London Theatre on Drury Lane. Scroll down for video Rock on! Kelly Brook was all smiles as she stepped out in style to watch West End musical School of Rock on Sunday Kelly's stylish coat featured a black fur lined collar while the wardrobe staple featured an empire waist line to bring some shape to the garment. Adding a daring edge to her look, she donned a pair of wax coated jeans that highlighted her gym-honed pins as she injected height into her buxom frame with a simple suede ankle boot. She left her long chocolate brown locks loose as she accentuated her pout with a slick of warm red lipstick. Taking to Instagram, Kelly shared a candid backstage snap alongside her man and show star Preeya Kalidas, captioning it: 'Putting on a Show!!!' 'Putting on a show': Taking to Instagram, Kelly shared a candid backstage snap alongside her man and show star Preeya Kalidas, captioning it: 'Putting on a Show!!!' Her appearance comes after she confessed in August 2016 that she is happily loved-up with Jeremy - but in no rush to start a family, while speaking in an interview on Good Morning Britain. The model, who has had four failed engagements, said of her very public love life: 'I see it as a success that Im 36 and still not married with children. Ive dodged so many bullets.' Explaining why she believed she hadn't settled down just yet, she added: 'My life is chaotic. 'I'm back and forth all the time, my feet were never really on the ground, so I was kind of trying to fit in relationships and dating while managing a career which is really difficult to do.' Wrapped up: The 37-year-old wrapped up for the occasion in a wool burgundy jacket with eye-catching button detail that covered her infamous curves Flaunt it: Adding a daring edge to her look, she donned a pair of wax coated jeans that highlighted her gym-honed pins as she injected height into her buxom frame with a simple suede ankle boot Rock on! She left her long chocolate brown locks loose as she accentuated her pout with a slick of warm red lipstick But the brunette beauty hinted that things could all be changing with her handsome new beau, Jeremy. 'I was living in LA and I was doing some martial arts training to keep fit and I saw a social media video and we skyped each other for six months. We eventually got together and it became romantic, but he's lovely.' As she found her new man through social media, Kelly broke her pattern of dating well-known stars. In the past, Kelly has enjoyed high profile relationships with the likes of Danny Cipriani, David McIntosh, Jason Statham, Billy Zane and Thom Evans. Anybody could tell things were going to end badly for Dr Yvonne Carmichael in Apple Tree Yard. Any idiot could see it the instant a dashing civil servant casually started making small talk in the queue for coffee from a kiosk in the Palace of Westminster. Anybody except Dr. Carmichael of course She was far from an idiot but, unlike most of us, the attractive eminent genetic scientist obviously hadnt watched the innumerable salacious scandals in TV dramas down through the ages from Bouquet Of Barbed Wire to The Affair. New drama: Anybody could tell things were going to end badly for Dr Yvonne Carmichael in Apple Tree Yard - the BBC's adaptation of Louise Doughtys thriller Inevitably her life like her emotions and her sense of reason was soon spiraling out of control. Mind you to be fair, not even the most experienced viewer could have foreseen the terrible, savage, sting in the tale that eventually befell her. (She was raped, and not by the man she had unwisely, illogically, become involved with.) Just like Bouquet Of Barbed Wire and The Affair (or Mistresses, Homeland, and House Of Games) the sex and the storyline in Apple Tree Yard were totally ridiculous but ridiculously gripping. The four-part adaptation of Louise Doughtys controversial steamy thriller started with a classic voice-over by Dr. Carmichael (played by the mesmerising Emily Watson ) as she was taken to court, in handcuffs, in the back of a prison van. Before I met you I was a civilised woman, she said. Now I dont even know what civilised means. Not a good start to be honestShe'd clearly lost all knowledge of dictionaries. Dangerous territory: Just like Bouquet Of Barbed Wire and The Affair (or Mistresses, Homeland, and House Of Games) Apple Tree Yard was totally ridiculous but ridiculously gripping Food, shelter, sexOnce those needs are covered we can pretend were in control she went on. But really were all just animals. Do you know how I know that? Fear fear for your life. Once youve felt that, this so-called civilisation is a dream. Youve taught me that, my love. Fear makes animals of us all. We got the picture... Cut to nine months earlier. Dr Carmichael, an expert on DNA, had just given evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee about Franken-foods. You were very articulate in there, purred a suave, suited, civil servant (Ben Chaplin) as they queued for refreshments. First time Ive known what a genome is ! Having broken the ice with the old 'genome' line, he lured her into his clutches/web, asking have you seen the chapel in the crypt? a chat-up line weve all tried let's face it. It probably helps if you look like Ben Chaplin, who was certainly well-cast if not necessarily totally credible. Stranger: Dr Carmichael (Emily Watson) had just given evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee when a suave, suited, civil servant (Ben Chaplin) lured her into his clutches Deep in the bowels of a Westminster, the real attraction of this beautiful royal peculiar (the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft) was a tiny broom cupboard. Crammed inside she read the plaque commemorating this was the place where the Derby Day suffragette Emily Wilding Davison hid herself illegally during the night of the 1911 census, allowing her to record her address as being in the House of Commons. I knew youd be interested, he said. He was right. But more in him than Emily Wilding Davison Whether the suffragettes had fought for a womans right to have torrid sex up against the wall of a broom cupboard with a man she had only just met standing on a metal bucket was debatable. Whether Dr Carmichael's rationale (or lack of it) for becoming embroiled in the liaison was distinctly dubious too. We were given only cursory insights into her vague dissatisfaction with her notoriously sensible life - married to a lecherous lecturer, missing her grown up son, and devoted to her work. Encounter: Deep in the bowels of a Westminster, the real attraction of this beautiful royal peculiar (the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft) was an illicit encounter Anyway, when she bumped into Mr X again, their affair began without her ever knowing his name (in the manner of Last Tango In Paris) and always in public: playing footsie under the table in bars, having sex in toilets or alleyways (specifically in Apple Tree Yard). She had started a diary on her computer at home, filed on the computer under VAT Query 3 as a precaution. What we did today is without doubt the most reckless act I have ever committed. I know nothing about you. Well one thing...Sex with you is like being eaten by a wolf. Will you even give me a second thought, or is this just something you do? This was one of those questions where if you have to ask deep down you probably know the answer. The signs were all there. After their frenzied passion in the broom cupboard, when she confessed Ive never done anything like that before, he did not reply me neither but merely grin lucky me ! He was revealingly too meticulous about how to cover things up, as a spook would be: pointing out that she had been carrying her coat not wearing it just before they had sex in case someone noticed; having cigarettes on him even though he didnt smoke because it was handy sometimes; and buying her a mobile for secret texts. Diving in: Their affair began without her ever knowing his name and always in public: playing footsie under the table in bars, having sex in toilets or alleyways Dont top it up at the same place twice - because it establishes a pattern, he recommended, enjoying observing which is the exact opposite of what you do in your job. She had told him that the most common misconception about scientists was that we know what were doing when the truth was Im just scrabbling about in the dirt with him, more than ever. Even she didnt know what 98% of the DNA in the human genome was really for. Not that this seemed to be the justification for her kamikaze actions. Their first row had been about genetics, when she realized he was turned on by having sex in public places and he confessed she was right. It just does ! Its probably genetic, he made the mistake of suggesting (to a world expert). Christ ! You really think that means something?! she spat. That it absolves you of all responsibility - just hard wiring?! Trouble ahead: Their first row had been about genetics, when she realized he was turned on by having sex in public places and he confessed she was right He had assumed she had been as aroused by the danger of sex in public as he was. No, she stated simply. Its you actually. YOU turn me on. This was the moral of the story (or one of them): even with the most intelligent, complicated people this was what sex/desire/an affair comes down to. Anyone who had not read the book probably assumed Dr Carmichaels undoing would be the affair - that she did not know what she was doing: the way she left her tablet lying around for her husband to find after she had been searching for STD Clinics or standing underneath a CCTV camera in Apple Tree Yard, trying to work out if it was real and if their passion/debauchery had been recorded. But after she had inadvertently (drunkenly) let a lascivious, vicious, work colleague see her texting her lover, she paid an even higher, more terrible, price when she was punched in the face and raped in his office. Fear thats what makes animals of us all. Before I met you I was civilised. Civilised ! So help me God said her voice-over again, as she stood in the dock. What Dr Carmichael was charged with (and why), or what Apple Tree Yard is trying to say about women, sex, and infidelity with her story and its allusions to genertics and the Suffragettes also remains to be seen. He's back at work after celebrating his 40th birthday in balmy Palm Springs a week ago. And Orlando Bloom looked like he'd rather be back in the sunshine with girlfriend Katy Perry as he tried his best to keep warm in chilly Shanghai over the weekend. The British actor was spotted using a pink hand warmer as he waited around between takes on the set of his new movie- Smart Chase: Fire & Earth. Chilly: Orlando Bloom looked like he'd rather be back in the sunshine with girlfriend Katy Perry as he tried his best to keep warm in chilly Shanghai over the weekend Orlando was shooting scenes outside on Saturday in what looked like a market place. While he was looking cool when the cameras rolled in a tight leather jacket, he quickly threw on a padded coat when cut was called. A pink and orange hand warmer and gloves provided some extra heat during the long waits. Take me back to the sun! The British actor was spotted using a pink hand warmer as he waited around between takes on the set of his new movie- Smart Chase: Fire & Earth Action! While he was looking cool when the cameras rolled in a tight leather jacket, he quickly threw on a padded coat when cut was called Orlando was sporting his bright blonde locks for the film - which sees him play a washed-up private security agent transporting a valuable Chinese antique out of Shanghai. The 2017 action flick is being helmed by Kevin Bernhardt and it will also feature Simon Yam. While filming appears to have just started, Orlando has been in training for months, sharing an Instagram video back in September as he took part in a kung fu lesson. Leading man: Orlando was shooting scenes outside on Saturday in what looked like a market place Nice 'do: Orlando was sporting his bright blonde locks for the film - which sees him play a washed-up private security agent transporting a valuable Chinese antique out of Shanghai Quiet on set: The 2017 action flick is being helmed by Kevin Bernhardt and it will also feature Simon Yam Orlando flaunted his chiseled chest in the clip as he stunt-punched, blocked, and wrestled with a 'Shaolin master' while inside a Shanghai gym. 'He's a shaolin master imma have to practice lots to keep up,' Orlando wrote to his 159K followers. Orlando is back at work on the film after taking some time out to celebrate his big 4-0 last week. His girlfriend Katy caught her beau off guard with the big bash in his honor, flying friends and family to Palm Springs to surprise the British actor. She's known for her cleavage-baring selfies and raunchy Instagram updates. But Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe Lattanzi, 30, has declared that the revealing nature of her busty snaps is nothing but accidental. After sharing a decidedly busty selfie on Monday, the controversial celebrity engaged in an argument with a fan about the suggestive nature of her poses. 'They just kinda stick out': Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe Lattanzi, 30, has declared that the revealing nature of her busty snaps is nothing but accidental 'Can you post without emphasizing your boobs?' the fan asked in a comment below the image. 'I like them. But I'll try just for you,' Chloe responded, adding in a separate comment: 'also breasts are beautiful big or small. I didn't mean to emphasize them. They just kinda stick out.' She went on: 'I'm proud of all parts of my body. I have lots of picks where the girls aren't taking over he shot. But I'm not ashamed of my breasts. I think breasts are beautiful.' Just an accident? Chloe is known for her cleavage-baring selfies and raunchy Instagram updates Meanwhile, Chloe's black-and-white picture depicts her pouting toward the camera with her sizable cleavage in full view. The caption of the image read: 'Stay strong. Stay cool. Stay true to yourself and others. Remember who you are, when a cyber world around you tries to make you forget. Stay weird!' 'Remember it's all your strangeness that makes you interesting. I love you. Even if you don't love me. #lovewins my glasses are crooked! Haha that's what i get for paying 10 dollars for em. But they are unique,' she concluded. Under the knife? Last September, New Idea reported that Chloe had undergone $415,000 worth of enhancements 'They are like a fun accessory,' she explained. Last September, New Idea reported that Chloe had undergone $415,000 worth of enhancements, which included multiple boob jobs, fillers, rhinoplasty and botox. 'Chloe's totally obsessed with getting a Barbie doll body and nothing is ever quite good enough for her,' a source revealed. Transformation: The magazine claimed she had undergone multiple boob jobs, fillers, rhinoplasty and botox American surgeon Tahl N. Humes also told New Idea he suspected Chloe has had several breast augmentations and perhaps liposuction. Earlier this month, she shared an emotional Instagram post about learning to love herself. 'It's scary! There's comfort in pleasing others. But we don't grow when we are comfortable,' she wrote. 'I have to fight everyday to let my freak flag fly and not let myself be pulled back into the line.' Famous mum: Chloe (pictured in 2008) is the daughter of Australian pop icon Olivia Newton-John The American actor is currently in Australia filming Pacific Rim: Maelstrom. And on Sunday Scott Eastwood flexed his muscles as he headed into the surf at Bondi Beach. The 30-year-old star looked every inch of perfection as he flaunted his enviable six-pack and buff physique. Ripped and ready! On Monday Scott Eastwood flexed his muscles as he headed into the surf at Bondi Beach Clutching his surfboard, Scott cut a relaxed figure in green and black Reebok boardshorts. The son of Clint Eastwood later headed back from the beach holding a purple towel, white runners and a black T-shirt. Last week, Scott 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.' Easy and breezy: Clutching his surfboard, Scott cut a relaxed figure in green and black Reebok boardshorts Phew! The son of Clint Eastwood later headed back from the beach holding a purple towel, white runners and a black T-shirt Scott 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. 'Some people don't like the heat, I f***ing love it!' Scott Eastwood raves about Australia's heatwave via Instagram stories When temperatures remained in the 30s a few days earlier, 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 to Instagram. Scott also made the most of his trip with a hike to the famous Figure 8 pools. 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 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. Like father, like son: Scott is the son of legendary actor, Clint Eastwood She's the hilarious comedian who co-hosts I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! But Julia Morris was feeling more 'furious' than funny during her battle with menopause. The 48-year-old opened to Australian Women's Weekly about her struggle with her biological changes, revealing that she now feels in a much better place eighteen months on. Sharing her struggle: I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! host Julia Morris has opened up to Australian Women's Weekly, telling the publication that menopause and her jam-packed schedule left her feeling 'furious' Julia told the publication that despite having career success, happy marriage and two healthy daughters, she felt 'furious' during menopause. 'If I let someone into traffic and they didn't wave, I just wanted to follow them home and bash them to death. Make no mistake, that's how I felt,' the funnywoman told the publication. The star believes that it wasn't just menopause, but also her crowded schedule, juggling commitments on multiple TV projects with her family life. Long-term love: Julia's husband Dan is happy with the star's turnaround following cognitive behaviour therapy 'I was trying to be the best mumma, best comedian, best colleague, best everything,' Julia said. She eventually began cognitive behaviour therapy [CBT], which she believes saved her. 'I'm evangelical about it,' Julia says of CBT. 'It's like my new religion'. Close co-stars: Julia and Chris have landed in South Africa for filming on the third season of their hit show Now the mother-of-two feels much better, and her husband, Dan Thomas, and their two daughters, Ruby, 10, and Sophie, 8, are ecstatic. 'It's been amazing to reconnect properly with my family... rather than feeling lost and overwhelmed by my own fury', Julia said. The star recently flew to the South African jungle ahead of filming on the third season of I'm A Celebrity, which she hosts opposite Dr Chris Brown. 'I feel like I treat him with nothing but respect': Julia has slammed claims of 'sexual harassment Julia was accused of 'sexual harassment' due to her flirtatious displays with the handsome vet during the last season of the show, something she vehemently denies. 'He is a big, strong, smart man and I feel like I treat him with nothing but respect'. It's clear the co-hosts share a healthy relationship, with Julia sharing a series of snaps of the pair to her Instagram account. The new series will soon screen on Channel Ten, with the top-secret celebrity contestants yet to be unveiled. Having fun: Julia took to Instagram to share her latest adventures from the South African jungle Jake Gyllenhaal is speaking out. The Oscar-nominated actor on Saturday was among the many famous faces spotted in the crowd in Washington, D.C. as he walked for women's rights with his actress sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal. On Sunday, the 36-year-old star took to Facebook to reflect on the lessons he gleaned after attending the historic gathering, one of many that took place a day after President Donald Trump's swearing-in to the Oval Office. Scroll down for video Solidarity: Jake Gyllenhaal, 36, reflected Sunday on Facebook about his experience attending the Women's March in the nation's capital a day before 'I was so proud to stand with the women, men and children at yesterdays #WomensMarch on Washington,' said the movie star, whose catalog includes films such as Brokeback Mountain, End of Watch and Jarhead. 'After months of fear and shame, the gathering was full of joy, defiance and hope.' Jake said that in attending the mass demonstration, 'It was more clear than ever that women are the real stewards of our countrys soul. 'I will continue to follow their lead and show up' for similar events in the future, he said. Sibling support system: The Southpaw star posed with his sister Maggie Gyllenhaal at the demonstration on Saturday Fashion statement: The star wore buttons that read, 'Women Are Powerful and Dangerous,' and 'Deeds Not Words' Jake accompanied the upbeat post with a shot of himself at the march, as he held a sign parodying the reality star-turned-commander-in-chief that read, 'I make the best signs. Theyre terrific. Everyone agrees.' He made a fashion statement on the day as well, wearing a pair of buttons that read, 'Women Are Powerful and Dangerous' and 'Deeds Not Words.' The actor was a major supporter of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton throughout the last election cycle, paying homage to her as he presented at June's Tony Awards when he referenced her win in the party primaries over Sen. Bernie Sanders. Staying true to his ideals: The Hollywood standout was an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton throughout the previous election cycle Low key: Jake, one of many celebs at the function, tried to blend into the crowd in a beanie and dark sunglasses As he read out the winner of the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play category, the star said, 'As Hillary Clinton showed us this week, women can do anything.' He also appeared in her support at a celeb-laden October fundraiser in New York City dubbed Stronger Together. More than one million people took to the streets of cities around the globe a day after the inauguration of the new commander-in-chief, who infamously bragged to (now-deposed) TV host Billy Bush on a 2005 recording that his fame entitled him to grab women by their genitals. Giving a hand: The Nightcrawler actor clapped amid the proceedings, which included a moving speech from Alicia Keys 'You know Im automatically attracted to beautiful [women] ... 'I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. I just kiss, I dont even wait,' the President said in the audio recording, which was publicly leaked in October. 'And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.' He was labelled 'rude' by chat show host James Corden. But Pierce Brosnan was all smiles as he arrived at the Take Every Wave: Life Of Laird Hamilton Premiere at Sundance Film Festival on Sunday. The 63-year-old actor looked dashing as he cut a casual figure on the red carpet in Park City, Utah. Cheery: Pierce Brosnan was all smiles as he arrived at the Take Every Wave: Life Of Laird Hamilton Premiere at Sundance Film Festival on Sunday Flip flops! He was joined at the event by surfer Laird Hamilton - the subject of the documentary The Goldeneye star added a loosely fixed cravat around his neck, with a blue shirt with white stitching. A sporty fleece kept the Mamma Mia star warm. His salt and pepper locks were combed back into a smart style, showcasing his chiseled features. Smiling: The 63-year-old actor looked dashing as he cut a casual figure on the red carpet in Park City, Utah Casual: He wore a blue jacket and denim jeans, while chatting with Pierce He was joined at the event by big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton - the subject of the documentary. Even in the cold Utah temperature, he still wore flip flops with his denim jeans. Take Every Wave captures the remarkable and unconventional life of the legendary big wave surfer. Doc: Laird Hamilton, left, and director Rory Kennedy were on hand to promote their film, Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton, at the Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday Surf flick: Pierce's salt and pepper locks were combed back into a smart style, showcasing his chiseled features as he joined Laird , Director Rory Kennedy, Writer Mark Bailey and Producer Paul Speaker It's described as an in-depth portrait of a hard-charging athlete - exploring the fear, courage and ambition that push a man to greatness-and the cost that comes with it. Distinguished filmmaker Rory Kennedy celebrates Hamiltons lifelong desire to charge new frontiers and his intense commitment to conquering the next wave at all costs. She mixes evocative, unseen archival footage with intimate access into the Hawaiian-born star's current adventures. They began dating one year ago this month. And on Saturday, Patrick Schwarzenegger and his pretty girlfriend Abby Champion took advantage of the break in the Los Angeles rain and hit Brentwood's Earthbar for a juice, an adorable puppy in tow. The 23-year-old actor-model and dog lover looked content, smiling as he spent the day with his favorite gal and a sweet fur baby. Puppy love: Patrick Schwarzenegger, 23, and Abby Champion, 19, were spotted on a juice run with a fur baby in tow Patrick wore a light blue, long-sleeve turtleneck with black horizontal stripes, a pair of super light distressed jeans, and heather gray sneakers. His most noticeable accessory was his blue denim hat with a white symbol that his good friend Justin Bieber was rocking at Catch LA just a week ago when the two grabbed dinner together, joined by Justin's artist Madison Beer. The dog - who Patrick admitted is his roommate's girlfriend's pet on Twitter - was snuggled in the arms of Patrick's 19-year-old girlfriend. Bromance: It seems Patrick and his good friend Justin Bieber share a favorite hat Snazzy dresser: Patrick wore a light blue, long-sleeve turtleneck with black horizontal stripes, a pair of super light distressed jeans, and heather gray sneakers Abby wore high-waisted flare lightly distressed jeans and a cropped, zipped-up leather moto jacket. She opted for a pair of comfortable checkered Vans slip-ons for footwear and carried a black and cheetah-print patterned shoulder purse. Her blond locks were parted in the middle and cascaded down her front in loose beachy waves. Showing off: Pat took to Instagram to share a photo of himself snuggling the pup, who seemed to be a type of Maltese mix and had light brown golden fur The former Governator's son later took to Instagram on Saturday to share a photo of himself snuggling the pup, who seemed to be a type of Maltese mix and had light brown golden fur. The blue-eyed hunk's Midnight Sun co-star Bella Thorne couldn't help but comment on the sweet photo - not once, but three times. Competition? His Midnight Sun co-star Bella Thorne couldn't help but comment on the sweet photo - three times Co-stars: The twosome's dramatic romance is set to hit theaters in July The actress wrote: 'Ok stop,' 'WAYYY to cute (sic),' and 'The dog you weirdo.' The twosome's dramatic romance is set to hit theaters in July. The film is based on the Japanese film and centers on Katie, played by Bella, a sheltered 17-year-old that was confined to her house since childhood due to a rare disease. Fate intervenes when she meets Charlie, played by Patrick, and they embark on a summer romance. 11/4/2022 Lee Universitys Small Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Tom Hurst and Shawn Perkinson, will present a concert on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dixon Center. The performance will ... more His two sons have gone on to become Australia's leading stars in Hollywood. But it seems the Hemsworth brothers will never forget their roots, with Liam taking to Instagram on Monday to praise his father Craig. The Hunger Games star, 27, shared an image of his father standing on a balcony by the ocean in Los Angeles, enjoying a drink as the sun set - sending many female fans into a frenzy in the process. Scroll down for video Adoring: Liam Hemsworth took to Instagram to share this photo of his father Craig with the caption - 'The man. The myth. The legend. My Dad.' 'The man. The myth. The legend. My Dad,' Liam captioned his photo, which was heavily affected by the reduced light. Not for the first time, the photo of the handsome father-of-three had fans swooning. 'I'm not in love with you anymore... but with him,' one woman commented. Like father...! Craig's two Hollywood star sons Liam (left) and Chris (middle) regularly take to Instagram to share photos of their father 'Your dad is so handsome', another wrote, while others simply called him a 'stud'. The Hemsworth boys have previously told of their relaxed upbringing, which saw them move between the Northern Territory and Melbourne. And while his sons are no strangers to the limelight, it has also become increasingly common over recent years for Craig. As a former social worker and counsellor, he played a crucial role in forming Victoria's child protection policies, according to Thor star Chris. While he resides in the quiet beachside town of Phillip Island, the father-of-three has featured in a number of social media posts with his famous sons. Family affair: In October, Craig featured prominently on both his famous son's Instagram accounts as they attended the AFL grand final Childhood: On father's day, Chris took to Instagram to share this throwback photo of his dad Last year, pictures of him looking buff next to his muscly son Chris on a day out at the beach left fans commenting on the Hemsworth genetics. In October, he featured prominently on both Chris and Liam's Instagram accounts as they attended the AFL grand final. Lifelong Western Bulldogs fans, the famous brothers turned the major sporting event into a family affair alongside their father. Photos from inside the rooms after their team's victory showed the Hemsworth clan - minus eldest son Luke - struggling to hide their smiles. Fans of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia were speculating he would enter the South African jungle this season. But it's now understood Vince Colosimo has been pulled from the cast of the reality TV series after being arrested for drug possession - a claim Network Ten has refused to comment on directly. It was revealed the 50-year-old was arrested in September last year after police allegedly found a small bag of methamphetamines on him. Scroll down for video Embattled star: Network Ten have refused to directly comment on whether Australian actor Vince Colosimo was pulled from this season's cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia Network Ten have not commented on the actor's participation on the show. Instead, they told The Daily Telegraph, speculation on which celebrities are taking part in the upcoming season is welcomed. 'Ten celebrities from all walks of life will go into the South African jungle. There will be plenty of surprises this season for both the celebrities and viewers,' a spokeswoman added. The Underbelly star was fined $1000, with no conviction recorded and placed on a one year good behaviour. Devastating: Vince was fined $1000, with no conviction recorded, and placed on a one year good behaviour. He will face Melbourne Magistrates Court in February 'My children and acting are my two biggest loves': The Underbelly star said his drug arrest was devastating for his family and a 'wake up call' He will face Melbourne Magistrates Court in February, and will be represented by elite defence firm Tony Hargreaves and Partners. Vince called his drug arrest devastating for his family and a 'wake up call'. 'I have two beautiful children, whom I love more than anything in the world, and I want to be a good role model to them,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'They, and acting, are my two biggest loves. I want to settle the matter (in court) as soon as possible. We're here! The crew and co-hosts of I'm A Celebrity, including Bondi Vet's Dr Chris Brown (right) and comedian Julia Morris (left), have arrived in South Africa Meanwhile the I'm A Celebrity crew and co-hosts, Bondi Vet's Dr Chris Brown and comedian Julia Morris, have arrived in South Africa. The brunette comedian took to social media to share snaps documenting their journey and the campsite in the South African jungle. The third season will debut on January 29, with the top-secret celebrity contestants yet to be revealed by Network Ten. As the old song goes - it never rains in Southern California.... it pours. And Reese Witherspoon tried to shelter from the storm on Sunday as she ran errands in Brentwood, Los Angeles. The 40-year-old actress bundled up as she braved the heavy rain to pick up necessities from CVS. It pours! Reese Witherspoon tried to shelter from the storm on Sunday as she ran errands in Brentwood, Los Angeles She added blue and white rain boots to keep her feet dry in the soggy conditions. The Legally Blonde actress peeked tentatively from the fur-trimmed hood of her green parka jacket to see where she was going. The star also shared a snap of her pet pooch on Sunday. Wet! The 40-year-old actress bundled up as she braved the heavy rain to pick up necessities from CVS She captioned the French bulldog: '#Sunday feels. #PepperPortraits' Reese has been busy lately filming the film adaptation of the beloved children's book A Wrinkle In Time, and the star was clearly taking full advantage of a well-deserved day off from work. The actress, however, did take some time to show her support for the numerous Women Marches occurring around the world in response to the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. Indoor time: The star also shared a snap of her pet pooch on Sunday Taking to Instagram, Reese wrote: 'Go Sisters! #womensmarch', along with a photo of three raised fists. Reese has been married to talent agent Jim Toth since 2011. The couple have a son, Tennessee James Toth, who is now four years old. The actress also has daughter Ava, 17, and son Deacon, 13, from her previous marriage to Ryan Phillippe. She's the brunette beauty who won the fifth season of Australia's Next Top Model. And on Monday, Tahnee Atkinson proved she was at home in front of the camera, as she sizzled in a shoot for fashion brand Bec & Bridge. The 24-year-old stunned in a series of sultry poses, showing why she may have caught the eye of fellow model Jordan Barrett, after the pair were recently linked. Scroll down for video Stunning: Australia's Next Top Model winner Tahnee Atkinson showed exactly why she won the crown, sizzling in a photo shoot for fashion label Bec & Bridge Tahnee won Australia's Next Top Model at the tender age of 17, and has been working consistently ever since. In one stunning picture, the star sits on a ledge with her back arched in a seductive manner. Showing a hint of cleavage, she wears a tight grey dress that shows off her exquisite curves. Another photo shows the star posing upon a balcony, with her right hip jutting out. The black wrap dress again accentuates her frame. Curves: Tahnee showed off her incredible figure in a series of seductive photos The star's brunette locks are curled in loose waves that flow down to her chest. Tahnee was not alone on the shoot, accompanied by two other beauties for a photograph. While the other models look away nonchalantly, Tahnee wears a pair of oversized sunglasses as she poses with her mouth slightly agape. Model material: The brunette beauty was joined by two other models for the shoot Sydney-based Tahnee is a fixture on the city's eastern suburbs beaches, where she frequently shows off her fantastic physique. The stunner is also a social media favourite, sharing racy snaps from behind-the-scenes of numerous photoshoots. Last month, the brunette was spotted embracing fellow Australian model Jordan Barrett as he arrived home in Australia for Christmas. The pair were reportedly seen out and about during Jordan's holiday stay in Sydney leading to romance rumours. Incredible: Tahnee frequently flaunts her sensational physique on Sydney's beaches The Sundance Film Festival draws Hollywood's best to Utah, and on Sunday, fans got a chance to speak with an industry stalwart in one Geena Davis. The 61-year-old stunner headlined a Q&A event at Park City, Utah's Rock & Reilly's, sponsored by May's Bentonville Film Festival, which she's a founder of. The actress was initially snapped arriving in the cinematic center-point Sunday keeping warm in a furry and fuzzy white coat with black pants, black dress shoes and a white beanie. Scroll below for video Stunning as ever: Geena Davis, 61, looked amazing as she posed at a Q&A event Sunday that took place amid the Sundance Film Festival She's got a point: Those in attendance got the rare chance to ask questions to the socially-conscious Oscar-winner Give her a hand: Davis, with her co-host, producer Trevor Drinkwater, co-created the Bentonville Film Festival, which runs in May in Arkansas The statuesque stunner, who topped off her stylish look with sunglasses, smiled as shutterbugs snapped her photo as she arrived at the Salt Lake City International Airport ahead of the day's events. The Accidental Tourist Oscar-winner sported a casual look once she arrived at Rock & Reilly's, sporting a woolly dark grey sweater with horizontal stripes lining the bottom half. She rounded out her look with dark blue jeans and black pants, in addition to a dark grey jacket. Davis, who's been seen on series such as The Exorcist, Grey's Anatomy and Annedroids in recent years, co-hosted the showcase with producer Trevor Drinkwater. Stalwart: Davis has had a remarkable career in film, both in front of the camera, as well as with her Institute on Gender in Media, which analyzes the portrayal of women in work geared toward impressionable kids The 6ft beauty, who celebrated her birthday Saturday, has been a vanguard in Tinseltown for more than a decade with the advent of her Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which takes a think-tank approach to righting the inequities of the portrayal of women in productions that are typically geared to kids 11 and under. Among its mission statement, the organization said it has a multi-pronged goal of 'eliminating unconditional bias, highlighting gender balance, challenging stereotypes, creating role models and scripting a wide variety of strong female characters' in work aimed at impressionable youth. Geena herself has racked up some impressive credits portraying strong women, most famously in 1991's Thelma & Louise (alongside Susan Sarandon) and on her former show Commander in Chief, in which she played a female president. The Bentonville Film Festival, based in Arkansas, runs this year from May 2 to May 7. They met, fell in love, and married on camera and now these real estate reality stars are in the final stretch to parenthood. Josh Altman and his wife Heather celebrated the impeding birth of their first child on Sunday. While the rain fell down hard across Los Angeles, there was no raining on the Million Dollar Los Angles' stars' parade with the couple throwing a baby shower in Beverly Hills. Almost time: Josh Altman and his wife Heather celebrated the impeding birth of their first child on Sunday throwing a baby shower in Beverly Hills It is traditional for just the mom-to-be to be present at the shower, but Josh was not missing it for the world. While they had to move their party indoors, the 37-year-old realtor beamed in a picture of him and his wife at the shower. In the snap, the reality star and his heavily pregnant wife stood in front of balloons revealing their daughter's name, Alexis. Sharing the photo on Instagram the real estate agent said: 'So excited to welcome our baby girl Alexis Kerry Altman. Only 9 weeks away! #babyalexis #babyshower #welcomebabyalexis.' Big reveal: The couple (seen here in their wedding picture which Josh shared last week for Heather's birthday) announced the name of their little girl, Alexis Countdown is on: The real estate pair (seen here in Aspen over the holidays) will get to meet little Alexis in just nine weeks For the shower, Heather - who turned 32 last week -showed off her baby bump in a tight white body con dress which featured a tie top and a low cut neckline. The couple married in April of last year at the St. Regis Aspen Resort in Aspen, Colorado. The couple's wedding was shown on Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles and came two years after they postponed their nuptials. She got her break in Dazed and Confused alongside Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey. And Parker Posey dazzled as she rocked winter style on the red carpet of her latest movie on Sunday. The 48-year-old actress looked furry nice as she arrived at the Columbus premiere at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Hats off! Parker Posey dazzled as she rocked winter style on the red carpet of her latest movie at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday She covered her head with a fur-trimmed hat, and added sheepskin boots with a slight heel. The Cafe Society actress had on an embellished silk top, and black cropped trousers. Her make-up accentuated her already impressive bone-structure. Strike a posey! The 48-year-old actress looked furry nice as she arrived at the Columbus premiere at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah The beauty added large framed sunglasses as she larked about for the cameras. She was joined at the event by co-stars Haley Lu Richardson, Rory Culkin and John Cho. In the movie, a Korean-born man finds himself stuck in Columbus, Indiana, where his architect father is in a coma. Keep warm: She covered her head with a fur-trimmed hat, and added sheepskin boots with a slight heel Having fun: The Cafe Society actress had on an embellished silk top, and black cropped trousers as she larked around with Michelle Forbes Team effort: She was joined by co-stars John Cho (L) and Haley Lu Richardson Cast: Haley Lu Richardson wore a demure checked dress and Rory Culkin donned a snowflake sweater Winter fashion: Rory added a wine red beanie Film fest: Michelle Forbes, John Cho, Haley Lu Richardson, Rory Culkin and Kogonada attend the Columbus Premiere The man meets a young woman who wants to stay in Columbus with her mother, a recovering addict, instead of pursuing her own dreams. Posey plays a former student whos dating Chos characters father. The Sundance festival runs until January 29. They play on-screen partners Claire Beauchamp Randall/Fraser and Jamie MacKenzie Fraser on hit time travel series Outlander. And Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan looked quite the attractive off-screen duo as they attended the Trainspotting world premiere in Edinburgh, Scotland on Sunday. Irish actress Caitriona, 37, stunned in a metallic dress slashed to the thigh as she posed with her Scottish co-star Sam, 36. Scroll down fro video Outlandish genes! Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan looked quite the attractive off-screen duo as they attended the Trainspotting world premiere in Edinburgh, Scotland on Sunday Caitriona's gunmetal grey sweater dress was an apt red carpet choice for the chilly Scottish weather, with the racy leg slit adding a touch of glamour. Hugging her toned curves perfectly, the piece oozed understated elegance and she teamed it with coordinating glitzy pumps. With her raven hair slicked back into a stylish high braid, she flaunted her flawless porcelain complexion under minimal make-up. Hot stuff! Irish actress Caitriona, 37, stunned in a metallic dress slashed to the thigh as she posed with her Scottish Outlander co-star Sam, 36 Sam looked dapper in an all-black ensemble, completed with a suave leather jacket as the twosome posed up a storm on the red carpet. Meanwhile the duo have been hard at work. On Saturday Caitriona joined the Women's March in Edinburgh, tweeting: 'In Edinburgh @ 11 am .. I'll be marching in support of my American sisters and women everywhere. #lovenothate'. And last week Outlander heartthrob Sam was pictured filming series three of the time travel drama alongside Caitriona in Edinburgh's Royal Mile. The dashing star's character, rebel Highlander Jamie Fraser, and his love interest Claire (Caitriona) are meant to be 20 years older in the new series. Winter chic: Caitriona's gunmetal grey sweater dress was an apt red carpet choice for the chilly Scottish weather, with the racy leg slit adding a touch of glamour Last year the pair regularly denied they were a real-life item, with Sam telling the Radio Times: 'It was a weird one, we were asked in an interview and we were honest about it - and I really sort of felt we shouldn't really discuss it,having said that, I guess we're aware of it, and we're aware that some fans were upset, they felt they'd been duped or something, which is really strange because we're just doing our job.' 'I think if me and Caitriona were together we wouldn't say. Why would you? In this industry we give away so much of ourselves anyway. We talk about ourselves and we tell people stuff. 'I guess it's nice that we've done our job well enough to convince them,' he added. A protracted stay on British shores continued in earnest on Sunday evening as Paris Hilton enjoyed the latest in a string of nights out in London. After letting her hair down with celebrity pal Sofia Richie the previous evening, the American socialite was in rather less familiar company as she climbed into the rear of a waiting cab. Readying herself for another appearance in the capital, Paris, 35, was joined by a dashing male pal and both were in high spirits as they set off into the night. Scroll down for video Side by side: After letting her hair down with celebrity pal Sofia Richie the previous evening, Paris Hiltion was in rather less familiar company as she climbed into the rear of a waiting cab on Sunday evening The former Hilton hotel heiress looked typically stylish in an edgy leather ensemble comprised of cropped black jacket and matching skint-tight trousers. A simple black vest top added to the look, while on-trend leather ankle boots and a retro choker necklace rounded things off. With inevitably plunging winter temperatures in mind Paris clutched a thick, faux-fur lined coat in one hand as she made her way to her latest late night destination. High spirits: The American socialite beamed as she prepared for another night out in London In good company: Readying herself for another appearance in the capital, Paris, 35, was joined by a dashing male pal and both were in high spirits as they set off into the night Sitting alongside the blonde socialite, her mystery pal looked casual in a quilted jacket and black denim jeans. Paris has been making the most of a prolonged stay in London, during which she made a welcome appearance at billionaire businessman James Stunt's 35th birthday on Friday evening. The blonde had flown straight in from Milan, where just hours earlier she had been enjoying Men's Fashion Week. Low key look: Sitting alongside the blonde socialite, her mystery pal looked casual in a quilted jacket and black denim jeans Making the most of it: A protracted stay on British shores continued in earnest as Paris enjoyed the latest in a string of nights out in London Fashion forward: The former Hilton hotel heiress looked typically stylish in an edgy leather ensemble comprised of cropped black jacket and matching skint-tight trousers Finishing touches: A simple black vest top added to the look, while on-trend leather ankle boots and a retro choker necklace rounded things off Joined by former The Simple Life co-star Nicole Richie's younger sister Sofia, Paris shared a fun snap from party venue Tramp. 'Reunited in London with my sis @SofiaRichie. #SistersTakingOverLondon,' Paris captioned the photo-booth image as they pulled faces. The 18-year-old daughter of Motown legend Lionel Richie reposted the same image, calling it a 'girl's night in London.' Sensible: With inevitably plunging winter temperatures in mind Paris clutched a thick, faux-fur lined coat in one hand as she made her way to her latest late night destination She is just weeks into being a new mum since welcoming a son with Sir Mick Jagger. But Melanie Hamrick is determined to get back into shape as she focuses on a return to the stage. The ballet dancer, 29, shared a snap of her after working up a sweat in the gym over the weekend. Scroll down for video Tiny dancer! Mick Jagger's ballerina partner Melanie Hamrick is determined to get back into shape after giving birth by undertaking gruelling sessions at the gym Looking glowing after the gruelling session, she gave the camera two thumbs up as she posed for the post workout snap taken by her personal trainer. She wrote: 'One day at a time getting back in ballet shape #ballerina #fitness #fitnessbody #ballerinabody #postbaby.' The ballerina welcomed a son named Deveraux Octavian Basil with the Rolling Stones frontman, 73, last month. Flexing her bicep, the dancer dressed in black leggings and a sweatshirt which highlighted her slim figure. 'Gym day for a baby workout!': The dancer has been constantly working out since giving birth to her baby boy with the Rolling Stones rocker in December Flexing her bicep, the dancer dressed in black leggings and a sweatshirt which highlighted her slim figure. With her hair pulled up ready to build up a sweat and her yoga mat laid out on the gym floor, Melanie looked ready for her work out 'Gym day for a baby workout! @abtofficial #ballerina #fitness #nike #flexistretcher postpartumbody #3weekspostpartum,' Melanie captioned the shot. Melanie also shared an Instagram shot from her NYE celebrations at the weekend, which she marked by partying at a pal's wedding. Party time: Melanie also shared an Instagram shot from her NYE celebrations at the weekend, which she marked by partying at a pal's wedding Night on the town: Melanie also enjoyed a fun girls' night out a week ago, sharing a video as she danced with her girlfriends Perched on a window seat, the beauty shows off her long legs in a pretty black mini dress. 'Happy New Year from a NYC rooftop! Honored to ring in the new year with a #petely wedding !! #beautifulcouple #happynewyear #3weekspostpartum #postpartumbody,' she wrote. Melanie has been documenting her first few weeks of motherhood on her social media, telling fans she's getting back into her health and fitness regime. Last week she shared a snap from her Cryotherapy session, with the bizarre treatment involving exposing the body to nitrogen gas at minus 100c temperatures for up to four minutes. Post-baby regime: Ballerina Melanie underwent a bizarre Cryotherapy session - just three weeks after giving birth to her baby boy The extreme cold is said to boost metabolism, aiding weight loss. Melanie can be seen giggling as she poses nude in a furturistic pod mid-treatment. 'Day one of my journey to getting the Ballet Body back! Thanks @kryolife for the Icy start! #ballerina #kryolife #balletbody #postpartumfitness #postpartumbody #fitness @abtofficial', she captioned the image. The week before, Melanie treated her followers to the very first snap of her baby son. 'I'm so love with my baby Deveraux Jagger': Thrilled Melanie shared a snap of her newborn son with Sir Mick Jagger on Instagram Taking to Instagram, she wrote: 'I'm so love with my baby Deveraux Jagger. Thank you @lizzyjagger for the sweet introduction.' The picture is very similar to the one first shared with Mick's daughter Elizabeth two days ago. The baby's full name is Deveraux Octavian Basil Jagger - Octavian means 'born eighth' in Latin. A photograph of the baby, Sir Mick's eighth child, appeared on an Instagram account under the name of Elizabeth Jagger, one of the Rolling Stones rocker's other children. The caption read: 'My beautiful baby brother Deveraux Octavian Basil Jagger.' Mick's daughter Elizabeth posted an almost identical first picture of the newborn boy on Instagram Basil was the first name of Sir Mick's late father, who died in 2006, although he was known to others as Joe. Sir Mick became a father again at the age of 73 on December 8, with his partner Melanie Hamrick, 29. Elizabeth, commonly referred to as Lizzy, is followed by more than 50,000 people on her social media account, although it is not verified. Sir Mick, who is a great-grandfather, has six other children as well as Lizzy and his one week-old son - Karis, Jade, James, Georgia, Gabriel and Lucas - from previous relationships. Their ages range from 17 to 46. Baby joy: Rolling Stones frontman Mick (right) has become a father again at the age of 73. He welcomed the latest addition to his brood with Melanie (left) Sir Mick and Ms Hamrick began dating after the death of fashion designer L'Wren Scott in 2014, Sir Mick's partner of 13 years. A representative for Sir Mick has been contacted. It is understood Sir Mick flew 3,500 miles from London to New York in a last-minute dash to be by Hamrick's side for the birth. A source told the Daily Mirror the legendary rocker said he 'needed to be there' for his partner. The source added: 'He made sure he was there. He wouldnt have missed it for the world.' A statement from Sir Mick's publicist said: 'Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger's son was born today in New York and they are both delighted.' The couple are pictured together in May 2014 A statement released on behalf of the couple said: 'Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger's son was born today in New York and they are both delighted. 'Mick was at the hospital for the arrival. Mother and baby are doing well and we request that the media respect their privacy at this time.' Sir Mick is understood to have given Melanie a $150,000-a-year maintenance deal to help the ballerina raise their child. He is also believed to be helping the New Yorker find a home in the US to raise the boy. Jumping for joy: Sir Mick is understood to have given Melanie a $150,000-a-year maintenance deal to help the ballerina raise their child The $150k will be paid until the child is 18, with school fees also paid for. After secondary school a trust will help cover further education and expenses, which could be as much as 500k. Even though Mick and Melanie are not planning on getting married, they plan to co-parent given his hectic work schedule. A source told MailOnline: 'Mick wanted to make sure that the deals and money aspects were in place before Christmas and the birth of their child. 'Mick is adamant that the kid will be cared for and the deal works out at 150k a year and then housing on top of that. Elegant: The singer and 29-year-old ballerina Melanie Hamrick welcomed a son, Sir Mick's eighth child, in the latest addition to his brood 'It is a very fair deal for family to make sure they have adequate care and finances, and of course Mick is keen to help raise the child. Mick insists that he will be stand by Melanie throughout the child's first 18 years. 'After that they will make sure that the child's future is provided for too whether it be a career or seeking further education. This is a very amicable deal which has been agreed between a couple, who are not married, but are devoted to doing the right thing for the child. 'Mick is excited about the shows and has found a new found love for the band again. 'They will be pushing their new blues album out too during much of 2017. He is very excited about things that are happening with the band.' Sir Mick has a daughter, Karis Hunt Jagger, 46, from his relationship with Marsha Hunt and a daughter Jade Jagger, now 45, with his ex-wife Bianca. He had four children with his ex-partner Jerry Hall - Elizabeth, 32, James, 31, Georgia, 24, and Gabriel, 18. He also had a son, Lucas, 17, following a brief relationship with Brazilian model Luciana Gimenez. Their liaison ended Sir Mick's 22-year-relationship with Hall, who is now married to media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Legends: Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger (pictured third from the left with bandmates Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards) has become a father again at the age of 73 Sir Mick has five grandchildren and became a great-grandfather in May 2014 when Jade's daughter Assisi gave birth to a baby girl. The new addition is Sir Mick's eighth child, and his first with Ms Hamrick. Sir Mick and Ms Hamrick began dating after the suicide of fashion designer L'Wren Scott in 2014, Sir Mick's partner of 13 years. The baby news comes six months after his bandmate Ronnie Wood's wife Sally Humphreys gave birth to twin girls, just two days before Wood turned 69. In an interview given by Wood a month after the birth of his daughters, Wood revealed that Sir Mick was one of the first people to meet them. He told Hello! magazine: 'Mick popped in on the third day. He couldn't wait to see them, I put one in each arm and took a photo. Federal Building James Building Medical Arts Building Patten Hotel Pound Building Hamilton National Bank Building Previous Next Woodfin B. Martin was my dad - and a Letter Carrier. All through the 1920's,'30's, '40's, and over half of the 1950's he was an icon on the streets of Chattanooga. Every time I went into town I could expect to see him at least once, scurrying from one mail box to the next in his little Model "A" Post Office truck. There were mailboxes on the sidewalks which had to be collected, and all the main buildings of the downtown area also had mail boxes inside which were part of dad's route. I always liked it when I would see my dad double-parked (!) in front of the James Building, because it had one of the friendlier, though small, lobbies. I would follow him inside where the good odors emanating from the small sandwich shop (on the right) could make anyone's mouth water. The elevators were situated directly in front as you entered the lobby. To the right was a rather large, solid bronze and ornate mailbox which appeared so strong that it could have survived an Atomic blast! Dad had the key to that amazing utilitarian object, of course, (he had seemingly thousands of keys!) and the lock, although shaped somewhat like a regular Yale lock, was designed so that it could not be removed. It could only be opened and closed - never taken out of its hasp. For whatever reason, that lock and box always fascinated me, as it was kept gleaming, being hand polished every day. Above the box was a mail-chute like in all the other tall buildings, which stretched to the top floor. The poor letter carrier's hand, then, became the unwilling target of a sudden terrorist attack from above when someone would drop a heavy envelope, or barrage of envelopes, from an upper floor! I am sure it could be pretty painful at times, but it was just an accepted "occupational hazard", and dad never complained. When I want to indulge myself a nostalgic minute or two - when I want to get really close to my dad again like in the old days, I have once or twice done so by visiting that very site to study that ancient mail box and its ponderous lock, becoming for a few moments a little boy of ten again, with his uniformed dad standing by. But I have other good memories of the James Building also: Clarence T. Jones's (the Observatory builder's and one of my earliest hero's) office was on one of the floors and I was there to see him on various occasions. I think the James Building was Chattanooga's first "skyscraper" - the source of much civic pride in 1910 or so. And it has been well-preserved through the years by the on-site supervision of a resident architect. Kudos to that person or persons! My childhood doctor - Dr. Carl Hartung's office - was in that building also, and possibly that of Dr. Hiram A. Laws, my birth doctor. "Medical Arts" was a beautifully designed early tall building on McCallie Avenue, and I am glad that it has been kept pretty much as it always was. Main differences are on the ground floor where the entrance has been altered for the new owner's needs. Back in the 1940's and later there was a very popular drugstore on the ground floor, usually full of students of all ages, with a barber shop and other "humanizing" features on the same level. Nowadays the former crowds of students and other commercial traffic are missing, though I continue to wonder where they all went every time I pass by! I still remember going there to see my old EENT (Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist, Dr. Samuel Long. He had a wonderful way with children, was about five feet tall, with a son who seemed about seven feet tall by comparison! The building was acquired by First Presbyterian Church next door, and pastor Ben Haden made it the seat of that church's radio and TV ministries. The former Hamilton National Bank Building (now First Tennessee), was the tallest building in town. (It seems like two stories were added to the building when it changed names and was renovated throughout). I worked in it for a couple of years while at the university - in WDOD's very lovely and modern studios. When time permitted, I used the stairways where I would frequently run to the top floor to keep my legs in shape. Near the Market Street entrance there was a nice lunch counter with some really "droll" and funny characters who ran it. Everybody liked them and it was always busy as a result. An elderly retiree wearing a business suit (and NO weaponry!) sat on an old-fashioned swivel chair in the lobby after 5:00 p.m. - the ONLY security for the entire building! Never suspicious of anyone, he seemed always to be smiling and friendly. But the "creme-de-la-creme" building in town was the Art Nouveau-style, U.S. Post Office building. It is now known as the "Jay Solomon Federal Courts and Office Building". It was - and is - a magnificent addition to the Chattanooga skyline. Built of gleaming white granite, I always admired it. My dad worked out of it, and it was the "new" post office to him, while the old one was on 11th Street, (and now still being used as a public building). Built with Federal funds, and before WW2, tons of money were spent on it. I have known architects who have told me how every tiny detail of that structure was meticulously drawn on pure linen paper! Even the ornate vent-gratings for air circulation were drawn by hand. Where today an architect would search through printed or online catalogs for a suitable mass produced grating, those of our post office were designed, drawn, sculptured and cast locally to suit each exacting need! (The casting may have been done elsewhere, but all the design work was done in Chattanooga). I loved that building, as I knew every part of the public areas, including some of the people who worked behind the barred windows selling stamps. I knew the blind man who ran a refreshment stand (of candies, chewing gum, etc.) whose stall was in a kind of alcove under a stairway near the north entrance to the building. Ask him for a specific item and he would hand it to you instantly although obviously totally sightless. This was in the marble-floored public part of the building (and one of the rare buildings in town which was air-conditioned in those days). But since my dad worked there I also knew the large work area in the back where the vast amount of mail was received and disseminated. I knew all my dad's friendly co-workers - and I also knew where to find the ominous peep-holes where postal inspectors could secretly spy on the men at work. These were eliminated from all post offices years later when complaints arose by postal workers - nation wide - and Congress passed laws against Government spying. Flooring in the work areas, however, was wooden and like a very coarse parquet. When the ceiling occasionally would leak, large areas of this wooden parquet would swell up and hinder the use of hand-pushed mail carts. All the work lavished on this "new" post office was done under FDR's WPA program, of course, to provide work for artisans and laborers who had suffered during the recent Great Depression. I understand that there is a WPA mural in one of the Federal courtrooms which I have unfortunately never seen, and I always liked the larger-than-lifesize aluminum sculpture of the postman carrying his leather shoulder-pouch of mail which stands near the south entrance to that building. Recent newspaper stories have shown how certain parts of that building have deteriorated from their original glory, but it IS 80 years later, after all! I understand that the mural has been cared for through the years, and is available be be seen when court is not in session. Before leaving this post office I have to give a nod to the four white granite eagles - two at each entrance - which I thought were so "cool" back in my day - and to the paper-boys crying, "paper, paper, Free Press paper" from its steps. This was then a very lively area, with a movie-house directly across Georgia Avenue, called the Dixie Theater, a "Quickie" restaurant (subsidiary of Krystal) next door, and the Millard Reece Cafe on the corner of 9th and Georgia Avenues. The Millard Reece restaurant, with its ornate 2-shade gold leaf doors, was demolished to make way for a new First Federal Savings and Loan building, which housed George Little's locally famous mural, still preserved at Girls Preparatory School (GPS) in North Chattanooga. And the First Federal building was in turn demolished to make way for Miller Park! Lots of vanished history in that area, folks! Adding to the "lost" excitement of the area was the daily noise of the Chattanooga Times' and Free Press' loud-whirring presses which could be heard loud and clear from the post office's shipping and receiving dock on the east side of the building. (The two separate newspapers shared the same press in those days). I have already written stories about other well-liked Chattanooga buildings, such as the Tivoli theater, and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, built to replace a really desolate earlier venue of my mother's day (of a century ago), which was so shabby a building that famous Irish tenor John McCormick refused to perform there back in the 1920's. When I was just a toddler, my mom opened a bank account for me in the old "American Trust and Banking Company" building, today having morphed after many changes into Suntrust Bank. The lobby of that building preserves the old American N.B. eagle. I was in that facility many times and can even remember the pleasant odor of the place, which identified it instantly as you walked in. Chattanooga's two main hotels have always been the Read House, whose predecessor at the time of the Civil War was the Crutchfield House, and the Patten. I personally have more experience with the Hotel Patten than with the Read House, so can only describe the landmark created by Mr. Zeboim Cartter Patten, and one of his four businesses which lasted 100 years or more. Although no longer a hotel, the Patten name continues in its present capacity as "Patten Towers Apartments". Its original broad parapets have long since been demolished - a feature which gave the building its own easily identifiable character. Also, the WDOD radio transmitter towers have been removed as well. Otherwise, the building looks just the same as always, despite the addition of air conditioning throughout. In the old hotel some windows would be open and some closed. Now they have a uniform "closed" appearance. In the 1950's I attended many pan-hellenic (sorority and fraternity) dances there, many play rehearsals, and many banquets. Best word to describe the interior as a whole was, "solid"! For, like the Tivoli Theater, no corner had been cut in its construction. Any visitor entering the Patten's lobby felt himself in a world-class environment. I would imagine that the Read House was similar in top-notch construction. Being across the street from a major train station (Union Depot), it attracted many a weary traveler - including Miguel Aleman, president of Mexico, and Winston Churchill, the one-time Prime Minister of Great Britain. Both hotels were home to Broadway and Hollywood stars when they came to town for a brief stint here. The Pound Building on East 11th Street, now demolished, was home to J.B. Pound's, "Chattanooga News". That newspaper was bought by Roy McDonald and moved to other headquarters where the name "Free Press" was added. An excellent, well-constructed building, it served the TVA for a long time, and my wife worked there for several years. The FBI took over an entire floor in it during a famous trial of the 1960's. (Chester Martin is a native Chattanoogan who is a talented painter as well as local historian. He and his wife, Pat, live in Brainerd. Mr. Martin can be reached at cymppm@comcast.net ) She's left her social media followers green with envy thanks to her continuous posts of sunny snaps during her glamorous getaway to Mexico. And Georgia Kousoulou treated her adoring fans to yet more shots of her sun-soaked break in Riviera Maya with long-term love Tommy Mallet on Saturday. Posing in nothing but a figure-hugging red one-piece, the TOWIE star, 25, looked sensational as she showcased her toned and tanned physique. Scroll down for video Baywatch babe: Georgia Kousoulou posed in a sexy scarlet swimsuit as she treated her adoring fans to yet more shots of her sun-soaked break in Riviera Maya, Mexico, on Saturday The reality TV personality looked every inch the Baywatch babe as she flaunted her gym-honed figure while posing up a storm on the balcony of her hotel room. The skintight ensemble cut high up Georgia's waist to display an eyeful of her incredibly tanned and toned pins, while she seductively stared into the horizon. Clearly enjoying her break from reality, the blonde beauty captioned the shot: 'I think I was born to live in the sun & be a life guard.' In another snapshot of her luxurious holiday, Georgia relaxed on a sun lounger while she was 'acting cute while I sip on pineapple juice'. 'I'll be in the VIP eating pizza': In another snapshot of her luxurious holiday, the TOWIE star, 25, relaxed on a sun lounger while she sipped on a refreshing pineapple juice Loved up: The Essex-native showed off her natural beauty in another snap, opting to shun all traces of make-up as she posed in the arms of her hunky beau, Tommy Mallet, 24 The Essex native showed off her natural beauty in another snap, opting to shun all traces of make-up as she posed in the arms of her hunky beau. She simply captioned the shot: 'Wet hair. No makeup. Just Holiday vibes'. Last week, Georgia couldn't help but flaunt her gym-honed physique once again as she enjoyed some R&R with her partner, while sharing a series of sunny and idyllic photos with her 970,000 followers. Posing up a storm for one picture on her own, the reality star took the chance to showcase her enviable figure in a tiny black bikini. Bikini babe: Last week, Georgia couldn't resist showing off her enviable bikini body as she posed for a snap in her hotel room Fun in the sun! Sharing some sunny snaps from their break in Riviera Maya on Instagram, Georgia couldn't resist showcasing her enviable bikini body in a range of outfits Opting for a plunging, strappy two-piece, Georgia showed a serious amount of skin whilst also flaunting her toned abs and lithe legs. 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, 24, 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] in 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: DespiteTommy's ongoing 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 Melissa George has returned to the public eye for the first time following an alleged domestic violence incident with partner Jean-David Blanc last October. The Australian actress was seen on Monday at Day Two of Paris Fashion Week, arriving for the Schiaparelli Haute Couture fashion show. The 40-year-old mother-of-two looked slim in a matching beaded black suit with only a lace camisole on underneath. Back in black: Melissa George returned to the public eye on Monday for the first time in three months, attending Day Two of Paris Fashion Week Melissa looked confident as she posed for the cameras outside of the iconic Place Vendome. The Home And Away alumna's sophisticated black pant suit was embellished with black sequence motifs of flowers and elephants. Adding height to her statuesque frame, the actress donned a pair of pointed-toe stilettos. Meanwhile, Melissa kept her make-up look simple and understated, with strong brows, a nude lip and little blush on her porcelain complexion. Fashion first: The Australian actress was seen arriving for the Schiaparelli Haute Couture fashion show for her first public appearance since an alleged domestic violence incident with partner Jean-David Blanc last October Confident: The Australian actress posed confidently in her black matching pant suit while standing outside of Place Vendome Sophistication: The raven haired beauty accessorised with an ebony vintage crocodile skin clutch The raven haired beauty accessorised with an ebony vintage crocodile skin clutch. In 2016, she was cast in the lead role NBC medical drama Heartbeat as heart surgeon Dr. Alexandra Panttiere alongside fellow Australian actor Don Hany, of Offspring fame. The very short lived drama was based on the real life of a heart surgeon Dr Kathy Magliato, but was cancelled after just one season. Chic: The Home And Away alumna's sophisticated black pant suit was embellished with black sequence motifs of flowers and elephants Melissa was last pictured in October as she left a Paris court following Jean David's appearance on charges of domestic assault against her. The case has been postponed till February. In September, the actress was admitted to Cochin hospital after turning up to a local police station with bruises to her face and complaints of pain. The Perth-born actress was allegedly assaulted by her partner of four years - allegations Jean-David denies, according to a report in French newspaper Le Parisien. The couple first met in 2011 at a BAFTA after-party and welcomed their first son Raphael in February 2014 and their second son Solal the following year. Melissa was previously married to Chilean film director Caludio Dabed. His tragic two-year battle with dementia has left Emmerdale viewers distraught, especially after he failed to recognise his own family. But there may be a happy ending in sight for Ashley Thomas, as show bosses promised they were trying to find ways to make the much-loved vicar's fate a 'joyful' one. Producer Iain McLeod teased that he was working with writers to come up with an ending that could 'warm the cockles' after the emotional rollercoaster fans have been on so far. Scroll down for video Happy ending? Emmerdale bosses have promised to find a 'joyful' ending for Ashley Thomas' tragic two-year battle with dementia During a fan Q&A Twitter session, Iain tweeted: 'There's an interesting episode in Ashley's story that you'll get to see before the summer.' 'One of the things we're trying to do between now and the summer is find ways to make this a joyful story,' he added. 'Something that really warms the cockles as well as breaking your heart.' It comes as John Middleton, who plays Ashley, prepares to bow out of the show this year as his condition worsens. Speaking about his imminent exit, the actor, 63, told the Daily Star: 'I don't know exactly what the end of the story is, I've been given hints by my producers because the scripts are still in the draft stage. Promise: Producer Iain McLeod teased that he was working with writers to come up with an ending that could 'warm the cockles' after the emotional rollercoaster fans have been on so far Heartbreaking: Ashley was unable to recognise any of his close friends and family due to the symptoms of dementia in a recent one-off episode 'It's going to be immensely moving but I hope it will be very compelling because it's a great story we're telling.' Meanwhile soap fans were left in tears watching Emmerdale's special dementia episode in December. It was told solely from the point of view of vicar Ashley, who has been battling stroke related early onset vascular dementia in the ITV soap for the past two years. Viewers witnessed how he was unable to recognise his close friends and onscreen wife Laurel and it sent them on an emotional rollercoaster. Regular actors were replaced by unfamiliar faces in the thirty minute special, to replicate how difficult it was for the character to recognise those who loved him. 'Heartbreaking episode, been in tears since it started,' said one upset viewer. Tragic: Although he was rescued by his onscreen wife Laurel, Ashley was scared and upset and didn't remember them Pulls the heartstrings: He left the hospital in the episode by himself to try and find his mother, who has been dead for years, to try and tell her about Laurel who was sat with him Viewers could barely hold back the tears as they watched the special Emmerdale episode told solely from the point of view of the vicar The distressing portrayal of Ashley's dementia battle was heartbreaking for people watching at home. The confused vicar left hospital in the episode and made his way out onto the streets alone as he tried to hunt down his old childhood home to find his dead mother. Ashley was seen wandering around in the cold in his pyjamas, but in his state he believes he is fully dressed. 'Emmerdale has got me already. Dementia is pure evil,' said one viewer watching on Twitter. 'Already in tatters watching #Emmerdale your man giving Ashley the coat... This soap just does not get enough credit, best one by a mile,' added another. The vicar is rescued by Laurel after his close friend finds him wandering in the street but due to the symptoms of his illness he was unable to piece together who they are. Viewers agreed that it was heartbreaking to watch as Ashley failed to recognise those who were close to him and wanting to help Sad: Laurel was played by another actress for the special episode to replicate exactly how confused Ashley was about the people surrounding him Distraught: The special one-off episode of Emmerdale told the story solely from the point of view of Ashley Thomas, played by John Middleton, offering the audience an insight into the life of someone living with dementia Tension: Ashley (middle) with his onscreen wife Laurel (left, played by Charlotte Bellamy) and Marlon Dingle (right, played by Mark Charnock) at the hospital John said in an interview with FEMAIL about the episode: 'I t is possibly life threatening what is happening to him and it is very cold, and he is behaving eccentrically in the middle of a town centre full of traffic and noises and it's all very bewildering and frightening.' Over recent months viewers have seen Ashley's condition steadily worsen. However his onscreen wife Laurel, played by Charlotte Bellamy, has continued to support him and vowed to stand by him. 'This is a tragic love story because it's only got one possible ending. 'The interesting thing is the chapter or even book in their life together, they were separated for a while, a good while but I think we were responding to an audience desire that they got back together again. 'They know full well what they are going to be facing from the outset and Ashley says he doesn't think it's possible and that it would be unfair to inflict this on her. 'She wants to face it with him in the first place, Ashley says no but then he begins to realise that he can't face it on his own. Confused: Ashley ended up leaving the hospital wearing just his pyjamas, making his way out onto the streets alone in the cold Rumours: Laurel explained to Marlon the damage from the mini-stroke Ashley has just had might be permanent, he comforted Laurel but confused Ashley saw and angrily accused them of having an affair Oh dear: From his own perspective Ashley believed he was fully dressed but viewers knew he walked out of the hospital wearing nothing but his bed clothes Unbearable: Ever since his diagnosis from stroke-related vascular dementia things have not gone well for the Thomas family 'And there's no better person to face it with than Laurel, because she is the great love of his life, he never stopped loving her. 'There's a jeopardy right at the beginning of this new book in their relationship where they both know it's going to end tragically but they're taking each day as it comes.' Aside from one major difference to shooting this distinctively different episode was that John was in every scene, he says that it was particularly emotional because he regresses to a 19-year-old version of himself. 'In the episode Ashley is in hospital because he has just had a transient ischemic attack which is a mini stroke. 'The condition that Ashley has is stroke-related vascular dementia and your condition deteriorates quite rapidly and markedly after you've had a mini stroke. He's just had a severe one and he's very confused and he doesn't really now what is going on properly. 'He eventually wanders out of the hospital, and it's one of the things I've noticed in my research that when people do wander off who have got dementia, they are not just wandering they are going with a purpose, a very definite purpose. He has accidentally lashed out at his wife Laurel and forgot his daughter Dotty at her christening in just a few of his confused moments Laurel has been left distraught and heartbroken but has vowed to stand by him and support him as his disease progresses The two characters first got married in 2005 but then split before being reunited which actor John said was based upon fans' wishes 'All of a sudden he is a young man again with a purpose and that purpose is to go home to his mother, if we know the show and his background, his mother has been dead for years and years. 'He thinks she is still alive but what he is reliving is that she has a terminal illness and she's going to die and he's reliving that and the grief and the anxiety which was provoked at the time when he was about 19.' John, who is married and has two children and lives in the same village as his longtime co-star Charlotte, spent many hours researching dementia and the affect it has on the 850,000 people living with the disease in the UK. In a bid to make it feel as authentic as possible, the producers sought advice from Alzheimer's Society and received support from Methodist Care Homes, visiting and speaking with patients. 'In the first place I did a lot of research, the whole story line team the producer everyone did the research, Charlotte as well,' he explained. Ashley's has been slowly declining in health over the past two years on screen, something which the actor has put a lot of research into 'The story was first pitched to me by Kate Oates [Emmerdale producer] and my first reaction was 'what a great story'. 'I wanted to throw myself into it wholeheartedly but obviously the next thing you think is I am going to be dealing with human extremes here, I best get this right. 'As I started doing research I began to realise what a huge issue this is, the immense responsibility we were taking on because it is such a big issue and it affects so many people. 'If we didn't do this properly and accurately and give it the dignity and the integrity that it deserved then we would be doing an immense disservice to the people who have this condition and their carers. ' From then on we became dedicated in the team to getting it right.' John added that Alzheimer's Society 'virtually had script approval' to make sure that what they were portraying was as realistic as possible. 'I have always thought, and I am not alone in this, that our stories come from real stories because real stories have the added advantage of being true. 'It is the truth of the issue that we wanted to get to, and you also get into the detail and the truth of those stories. 'The Alzheimer's Society are absolutely delighted that we are running this story, raising awareness of the issue like nothing else, they are very pleased about that. 'Another name I should mention is Methodist Homes who have been very helpful as well. Right at the beginning of my research into this I visited a home called Glenn Rosa which is in Ilkley. John said that many of Ashley's storylines have been based on real stories from real people who have been suffering from the disease 'I met staff there and the people who lived there. It's a home which is for old people and it has a special dementia wing. They were incredibly helpful.' The cast also met with young sufferers of dementia, around the same age as what Ashley is in the soap, and John adds: 'They were fascinating to talk to. 'We brought them into the studio and talked to the Emmerdale team and for hours we just listened to them telling their stories, some of which we were appalled by some of which we couldn't contain the laughter. From that we got a lot of detail. 'It all adds to the way that we portray the condition and the way we express it.' Since his diagnosis the Thomas family have faced heartbreak - with the loving father lashing out at his wife Laurel, and forgetting his baby daughter Dotty at her christening in just a few of his confused moments. In a Christmas Day episodethe former vicar goes to a carol service but appears to forget that it's Christmas in the village She's been enjoying a sun-soaked, yet gruelling, week-long boot camp in Morocco. But Melanie Sykes swapped her tiny workout outfits for a chic winter wardrobe as she returned to work on her BBC Radio 2 show with comedian Alan Carr on Sunday morning. The TV personality, 46, looked as stylish as ever, teaming an elegant all-black ensemble with an on trend camel wool coat while leaving the studios in central London. Scroll down for video Double trouble! Melanie Sykes swapped her tiny workout outfits for a chic winter wardrobe as she returned to work on her BBC Radio 2 show with comedian Alan Carr on Sunday morning Walking arm in arm, the presenting duo looked in high spirits following a successful stint on the radio waves. Melanie's thigh-grazing black frock was belted at the waist to draw attention to her slim figure. Keeping the cool winter chill at bay, the mother-of-two topped her all-black outfit with a stylish double-breasted coat, while she toted her belongings in an oversized handbag. Meanwhile, the Chatty Man star looked equally as stylish in a fur-trimmed parka and jeans combo. New BFFs: The TV personality, 46, looked as stylish as ever, teaming an elegant all-black ensemble with an on trend camel wool coat while leaving the studios in central London Stylish: The presenting duo looked in high spirits following a successful stint on the waves Filling in for Paul O'Grady, Melanie was keen to share an insight into her intense retreat in Marrakech, where the star endured four days of workouts and healthy eating. She said: 'It was really intense, it started at 7.30 in morning with an hour of exercise and breakfast no coco pops but just a rice cake with peanut butter, which believe me is actually delicious. 'Anyways its just exercise, snack, exercise, snack. I was only there for four days, but people who were there longer were losing lots and lots of weight'. Ever the funny man, Alan quipped about his own weight gain. Thankful: Melanie has clearly been enjoying her time as Radio 2's substitute radio presenter as she took to Instagram to thank her fans for tuning in Chic: Melanie's thigh-grazing black frock was belted at the waist to draw attention to her slim figure He said: 'I need to get fit, I was sitting over Christmas and my back fat was hanging over the back of the chair like a cape! 'I was like superman and Ive had dry January as well!' Melanie has clearly been enjoying her time as Radio 2's substitute radio presenter as she took to Instagram to thank her fans for tuning in. Posing gleefully with her co-host, the brunette beauty wrote: 'Thank you for all your messages re the radio 2 show with @chattyman filling in for Paul o'grady next week too. Thank you for getting involved #radio2 #TeamPOG (Sic)'. To those in the know it is a byword for style, sophistication and sheer elegance, and two of the privileged few at Christian Diors latest runway show ticked all three boxes on Monday afternoon. Making a glamorous entrance at Paris Couture Fashion Week, Diane Kruger and Kirsten Dunst caught the eye during a photo call ahead of the iconic French brands haute couture spring-summer 2017 unveiling. Leading the way, Diane looked stunning in a bold, off the-shoulder gown that fully exposed her cleavage - thus guaranteeing the German star plenty of attention. Scroll down for video Visions in black:Making a glamorous entrance at Paris Couture Fashion Week, Diane Kruger (L) and Kirsten Dunst (R) caught the eye during a photo call ahead of Christian Dior's haute couture spring-summer 2017 unveiling A tightly cinched waist drew attention to her slender frame, while a sweeping lower half provided a dramatic contrast as the 40-year old sashayed towards her front row seat. Matching black stiletto heels provided a conventional flourish, while a simple monochrome clutch proved to be her only visible accessory. Ensuring her ensemble dominated proceedings, the star tastefully selected her make-up from a natural colour palette, opting for soft, subtle tones that served to accentuate her naturally pretty features. Not to be missed: Leading the way, Diane looked stunning in a bold, off the-shoulder gown that fully exposed her cleavage - thus guaranteeing the German star plenty of attention Striking: A tightly cinched waist drew attention to her slender frame, while a sweeping lower half provided a dramatic contrast Style and sophistication: Ensuring her ensemble dominated proceedings, the star tastefully selected her make-up from a natural colour palette, opting for soft, subtle tones that served to accentuate her naturally pretty features Not to be outdone, fellow actress Kirsten opted for a smart black tunic coat over a pleated, ankle-length evening gown. The American actress, 34, continued what appeared to be a recurring colour theme amongst guests by teaming her ensemble with thick black tights and matching stiletto heels. Adding a splash of vibrancy to an otherwise subdued look, Kirsten opted for a generous layer of bold red lipstick, further accentuated by her heavy application of ghostly white foundation. Finishing touches: Matching black stiletto heels provided a conventional flourish Star attraction: Not to be outdone, fellow actress Kirsten opted for a smart black tunic coat over a pleated, ankle-length evening gown Colourful: Adding a splash of vibrancy to an otherwise subdued look, Kirsten opted for a generous layer of bold red lipstick The star completed her wardrobe with a simple clutch as she cheerfully posed for photos ahead of the fashion event. Diane and Kirsten were joined by an array of stars in the French capital on Monday afternoon - amongst them American socialite Olivia Palermo, who hot-footed it to the Dior show after a previous front row appearance at the Schiaparelli Fashion show earlier that day. The 30-year old sported a sophisticated off-the-shoulder sweater and corset, teamed with elegant cropped trousers over thick black tights. Here she comes: American socialite Olivia Palermo attended the Dior show after a previous front row appearance at the Schiaparelli Fashion show earlier that day Hello boys: Former Wonderbra model Eva Herzigova sported a simple black and cream ensemble for her appearance at the star-studded Dior runway show Keeping it simple: Smokey eye-shadow drew attention to Eva's already striking features Veteran: Eva cast a seasoned eye over the models as they showcased the latest Dior collection Quite a view: Diane stood out as she occupied her place on the front row Ethereal: Billowing dresses and garish fascinators proved to be the order of the day as models took to the runway on Monday afternoon All eyes on me: A catwalk model commands attention as she strides through the star-studded audience Elsewhere Eva Herzigova embraced a similar colour scheme - albeit with rather rather more orthodox results. Opting for the assurance of simplicity, the Czech model, 43, sported a stylish black cape over a matching blouse and high-slung cream trousers. Black stiletto heels completed the look, while a bold Dior handbag caught the eye as she made her way into the event. Lady in leather: Olga Kurylenko, another to attend the Schiaparelli Fashion show, made her appearance in a quilted white leather jacket and matching trousers Looking good: Russian model Natalia Vodianova (L) and Italian businesswoman Chiara Ferragni (R) were also in attendance on Monday afternoon Check mate: Natalia opted for a monochrome hounds-tooth coat for her appearance at the event In attendance: French actress Louise Bourgoin (L) and model and actress Aymeline Valade (R) joined the party on day two of Paris Couture Fashion Week That's a rap: ASAP Ferg (L) and ASAP Rocky (R) showed off their style credentials Main men: ASAP Rocky (L) was also joined by American actor Rami Malek (R) A welcome appearance: Celebrated fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg was joined by her model granddaughter Talita von Furstenberg Olga Kurylenko, another to attend the Schiaparelli Fashion show, made her appearance in a quilted white leather jacket and matching trousers. Tasteful Dior loafers completed the look as the 37-year old readied herself for her latest front row outing. Other guests to attend the Dior show included Russian model Natalia Vodianova, rapper ASAP Rocky, actor Rami Malek and celebrated fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Magical: The setting was suitably stunning as Dior unveiled their latest collection A sweeping statement: Generously cut and heavily layered gowns dominated the unveiling In you go: Filipino fashion blogger Bryan Boy was on hand to observe the Dior show on Monday afternoon If you don't get enough Vanderpump action from Vanderpump Rules, Vanderpump Rules After Show and The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills then there's good news. Jax Taylor and girlfriend Brittany Cartwright are getting their own spin-off show, according to TMZ. Bravo sources claim the couple already started filming their new reality series months ago in Kentucky, where Brittany's family lives. Spin-off of a spin-off! Jax Taylor and girlfriend Brittany Cartwright are getting their own spin-off show, according to TMZ The new show will focus on Brittany's family pressuring her to get married to the 'bad boy', while the notorious player is not as sold on the idea. Show execs are reportedly worried the couple may already have broken up by the time the show airs this summer. Model Jax works as a bartender at Lisa Vanderpump's upmarket eatery SUR in West Hollywood. He has been a main cast member throughout all five seasons. En route: Bravo sources claim the couple already started filming their new reality series months ago in Kentucky, where Brittany's family lives Brittany, a waitress at SUR who used to work at Hooters, was introduced as a recurring cast member in season four. Both Jax and Brittany came up in conversation during last week's Watch What Happens Live, when co-stars Ariana Madix boyfriend Tom Sandoval joined Andy Cohen in the Bravo Clubhouse. The couple discussed the rumours that Kristen Doute had 'gone down' on Brittany . Match: Model Jax works as a bartender at Lisa Vanderpump's upmarket eatery SUR in West Hollywood. Brittany, a waitress at SUR who used to work at Hooters, was introduced as a recurring cast member in season four 'It's definitely a possibility, it was late night, a lot of drinking,' speculated Tom. Tom also scoffed at the fact an old photo of Jax's genitalia came back to haunt him in the most recent episode of VamderPump Rules 'I would never send a d*ck pic,' he declared. Star Wars Episode VIII finally has a name after months of speculation. The penultimate installment in the space epic will be titled The Last Jedi. StarWars.com confirmed the news via Twitter on Monday morning. The Last Jedi: Star Wars Episode VIII's official title unveiled ahead of December release 'It's official. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is the next chapter of the Skywalker saga. This December. #TheLastJedi,' the site tweeted. It is scheduled for a December 15th release. The title undoubtedly refers to Luke Skywalker, last seen in the final scene of Episode VII, The Force Awakens. He was serving a self-imposed exile following the loss of his student and nephew Ben Solo, AKA Kylo Ren, to the Dark Side of the Force. One left: The title undoubtedly refers to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) last seen in the final scene of Episode VII, The Force Awakens It's official: StarWars.com confirmed the news via Twitter on Monday morning He is, as far as fans are aware, the only living Jedi in the Star Wars universe, after the order was all but wiped out by his father, Darth Vader, and Emperor Palpatine. Indeed in 1983's Episode VI Return Of The Jedi, Master Yoda confirms to his student with his dying words: 'When I am gone, the last of the Jedi will you be'. The opening crawl of The Force Awakens also reads: 'Luke Skywalker has vanished. In his absence, the sinister FIRST ORDER has risen from the ashes of the Empire and will not rest until Skywalker, the last Jedi, has been destroyed.' The plot of JJ Abrams film revolved around the search for Luke, and concluded with Daisy Ridely's Rey finally tracking him down at a long lost Jedi temple, on an isolated island on a remote planet. Were is he? The plot of JJ Abrams' The Force Awakens revolved around the search for Luke, and concluded with Daisy Ridely's Rey finally tracking him down at a long lost Jedi temple, on an isolated island on a remote planet In charge: The newly titled film, according to its director Rian Johnson, will pick up immediately where its predecessor left off It was actor Mark Hamill's only scene in the entire film. The newly titled film, according to its director Rian Johnson, will pick up immediately where its predecessor left off. Since December 2015, fans have been speculating as to the connection between Rey and Luke, with many believing she is his daughter. Called it: In 1983's Episode VI Return Of The Jedi, Master Yoda confirms to his student: 'When I am gone, the last of the Jedi will you be' Family drama: Luke was serving a self-imposed exile following the loss of his student and nephew Ben Solo, AKA Kylo Ren, to the Dark Side of the Force Johnson previously admitted that Star Wars: Episode VIII would focus on Rey learning and beginning to understand her connection to The Force. He explained: 'Part of what's she's dealing with is the realisation that she has this power and this gift. She's taking her first step to coming to terms with this thing inside her that she never knew was there and is just starting to reveal its potential. 'I don't want to skip ahead two years. I want to see the very next moment of what happens.' Opening crawl: Fan reaction to the new title was a mix of excitement for the film, worry for Luke, and general skepticism the Jedi were down to one The Force JUST awakened: Not everyone was buying the whole 'last Jedi' thing Who is it? Many fans speculated as to whom the title referred However if Rey does indeed become a Jedi, the film's title may in turn refer to her by its conclusion... hinting that Luke might follow Harrison Ford and Han Solo's lead in getting killed off. Fan reaction to the new title was a mix of excitement for the film, worry for Luke, and general skepticism the Jedi were down to one. Fans also picked up on the fact the normal yellow font had been forsaken for a rather foreboding red, while others pointed out that the plural for Jedi is still 'Jedi' - so there could be any number remaining. The new title will also serve as a sad reminder that Leia Oragana - once billed by Yoda as a possible Jedi herself - is unlikely to realise that potential following the untimely death of Carrie Fisher. Lucasfilm have already dismissed suggestions they are seeking the rights to use her digital image in future Star Wars films. Relation? Since December 2015, fans have been speculating as to the connection between Rey and Luke, with many believing she is his daughter Second last: Fans were quick to recall Yoda's dying words 2Last 2Jedi: A lot of fans poked a bit of fun at the name It had been claimed Disney had entered negotiations to her use likeness with the late actress' estate following her death last month at the age of 60, but they insist that is not the case, though they will always 'strive to honour everything' the star gave to the sci-fi series. A statement posted on StarWars.com read: "We want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher's performance as Princess or General Leia Organa. 'Carrie Fisher was, is, and always will be a part of the Lucasfilm family. She was our princess, our general, and more importantly, our friend. We are still hurting from her loss. We cherish her memory and legacy as Princess Leia, and will always strive to honour everything she gave to Star Wars. Another Skywalker: The new title will also serve as a sad reminder that Leia Oragana - once billed by Yoda as a possible Jedi herself - is unlikely to realise that potential following the untimely death of Carrie Fisher Nope: Lucasfilm had already dismissed suggestions they are seeking the rights to use her digital image in future Star Wars films After recent Star Wars prequel Rogue One featured a likeness of Peter Cushing, despite the actor having died in 1994, BBC's 'Newsnight' programme reported Disney wanted to use the same technology to enable Carrie's General Leia to appear in future films in the series. Kirsty Wark said on the show: 'With what might be regarded as unseemly haste, Disney is negotiating with the actor's estate over her continued appearance in the franchise. If Disney gets the go-ahead, Carrie Fisher will join Peter Cushing, who, last month, played a key role in Rogue One as Grand Moff Tarkin.' Carrie was believed to have completed filming on 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' before her death, though there are further films planned in the franchise. Worried? If Rey does indeed become a Jedi, the film's title may in turn refer to her by its conclusion... hinting that Luke might follow Harisson Ford and Han Solo's lead in getting killed off It was previously claimed the studio will receive a staggering $50 million after having taken out insurance in case the actress was unable to fulfil her three-movie contract. Lloyds of London will pay out for the "contract protection cover", with the insurance underwritten by US-based Exceptional Risk Advisors, who say there are "experts in insuring complex human capital risks for highly successful individuals". The staggering sum is said to be the biggest personal accident insurance claim ever. As well the late Fisher and Hamill, The Last Jedi will see the return of Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyongo, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members will include Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. This past weekend meanwhile, Rogue One soared past the $1billion box office mark. She has one of the most impressive physiques on the planet. And Elsa Hosk looked white hot on the beach in Mexico on Saturday as she topped up her tan. The 28-year-old model put on a peachy display as she showcased her pert posterior in a skimpy white string bikini. Sizzling: Elsa Hosk looked white hot on the beach in Mexico on Saturday as she topped up her tan Looking good: The 28-year-old model put on a peachy display as she showcased her pert posterior in a skimpy white string bikini The Victoria's Secret Angel risked getting some odd white marks in the fancy Brazilian style bikini. She left her blonde locks loose in beachy waves and looked stunning make-up free. Later she took a walk in white cut-off shorts and a striped Tee. Elsa was inspired by the Women's Marches across the globe on Saturday. Cover up: Later she took a walk in white cut-off shorts and a striped Tee The 28-year-old Stockholm, Sweden native took to Instagram to write about her 'solidarity with my sisters' by sharing a photo of with her pals on the beach. Their hands were raised as they flashed their bikini bottoms. The stunning star was on a photo shoot in Tulum, Mexico, all last week. In touch: The star was seen checking her phone as she enjoyed her break 'YES WE MUST,' she began. 'For my mothers. For my sisters. For our future daughters. For the women who taught me and raised me to stand up, speak up for my rights. 'Running, marching here in solidarity with @womensmarch and my brothers and sisters who are in Washington, New York City and all over the world. We, here in Tulum, are with you in spirit.' The one-time winner of Sweden's Next Top Model has walked for high-end fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana, Dior and Ungaro. Elsa's career in 2015 had a huge boost when she was promoted to Angel status by Victoria's Secret, joining an elite group of famed supermodels that include Alessandra Ambrosio, Jasmine Tookes, Behati Prinsloo and Stella Maxwell. Elsa, speaking about her ascension up the catwalk ranks in a 2015 interview on her website, described her initial days as an Angel for the lingerie giant as 'amazing and unexpected. Empowered: Elsa was inspired by the Women's Marches across the globe on Saturday Kristen Stewart has spoken candidly that she doesnt care what you think about herand the Twilight actress certainly kept her word on her latest outing. Marching through Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, she sported painful-looking bruises that weren't hard to miss through distressed jeans that were ripped at the knee. The journey was a fuss-free for the Hollywood star, who teamed the black trousers with a bomber jacket, white T-shirt and added a slight touch of luxury to the look with a Chanel bag, fulfilling her duties as an ambassador for the French brand. Ouch! Kristen Stewart arrived at LAX on Monday with bruises on her knees Nothing to hide: The Twilight star did not mind showcasing the unsightly marks She completed the edgy look with Adidas sneakers and chunky grey socks that were on show under the torn hem of her high-water jeans. Her dark tresses were brushed back in an easy-does-it mannerseemingly without the use of hair products keep stray strands from letting loose. The Still Alice star was still bruised since first stepping out at LAX with the painful-looking injuries on Tuesday while making her way to Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. She promoted her forthcoming gun control drama Come Swim. The picture is her directorial debut. Edgy: The Chanel ambassador plays by her own style rules You don't have to be a politically involved person to be uber-aware of the fact that very basic humanitarian ideas are being so incredibly trampled on, she told The Hollywood Reporter, highlighting the films significance amid the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Speaking to Variety, she added that young girls should be worried about the Trump agenda. "I've never been the most politically charged person, but at this point, it's not political, it's f**king so humanitarian," she said. Easy does it: The Cafe Society star's hairstyle was fuss-free The former Apprentice reality star and the actress have been at odds for nearly five years. In 2012, the billionaire fired off a tweet shaming Kristen for her past indiscretions with ex Robert Pattinson. Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart, the current president tweeted in 2012. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it againjust watch. He can do much better! Tweeter-in-chief: Before becoming the 45th U.S. President, Donald Trump shamed Kristen Stewart for cheating on Robert Pattinson The Cafe Society actress said she was bewildered by his interjection and considered his interest in her obsessive. He was mad at me a couple years ago, really obsessed with me... which is f**king crazy, she said. I can't even understand it. She continued: At that point, he was just a reality star. I had no reference, it wasn't really a thing, adding, He's probably gonna tweet about this. Kristen is rumored to now be dating blonde stunner Stella Maxwell, whom she smoked cigarettes with in Los Feliz, California last week. Donalds harsh words hurled at the young star likely came from his own experience with infidelity. Smokin' hot couple: She enjoyed a sly puff with rumoured lover Stella Maxwell in Los Feliz last week In a 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters in 1991, Gawker revealed in transcripts, when Donalds first wife Ivana recalled the humiliating moment his mistress, Marla Mapleswho later became his second wifeconfronted her on a ski slope while they were on a family vacation. The current President, now on his third marriage to Melania, was enjoying a holiday with both women at the same time, it was reported. Barbara shared with Ivana the accounts from tabloid reporters: She said, Im Marla and I love your husband. Do you? she asked Ivana, who responded that indeed, those were Marla Maples' brazen words. What did you say? Barbara asked. Yes, Ivana responded. I saidI really saidI said, Get lost. I love my husband very much. It was very unladylike, but it was as much as I really couldthat was as much as Ias harsh as maybe I could be. It was reported that tension between My Kitchen Rules stars Pete Evans, 43 and Manu Feildel, 42 is so bad they are forced to travel separately. But despite animosity between Pete and Manu, on Tuesday co-host Colin Fassnidge, 42, took to Instagram to share a plane selfie of himself and Manu travelling from Sydney to Brisbane together. He captioned the post: '6am flight to Brisbane.' At least they travel together! On Tuesday co-host Colin Fassnidge, 42, took to Instagram to share a plane selfie of himself and Manu travelling from Sydney to Brisbane together Colin is seen taking the snap while Manu sits next to him and poses cheekily with a peace sign. But unlike Colin, according to Woman's Day, the friction is 'so bad' between Manu and Pete they take separate planes when travelling. 'In December they travelled to Perth and onto Broome, and on both the inbound and outbound flight they travelled separately,' the source allegedly told the magazine. Crisis in the kitchen: According to Woman's Day , the friction is 'so bad' between Manu and Pete Evans they are forced to travel separately The magazine claims that even last week they flew an hour apart from each other. The publication also allege the pair have 'nothing in common' and say that Pete thinks Manu is an 'attention seeker' while Manu thinks Pete is 'stranger than strange.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Channel Seven for comment. Tension: The publication also allege the pair have 'nothing in common' and say that Pete thinks Manu is an 'attention seeker' while Manu thinks Pete is 'stranger than strange.' Hitting back: It was alleged Pete Evans 'blacklisted' select journalists from covering the fifth season of My Kitchen Rules - but Channel Seven denied the claims to The Sunday Telegraph Meanwhile, it was alleged Pete 'blacklisted' select journalists from covering the upcoming fifth season of the show. Three journalists - two from Bauer Media and one from News Corp - were reportedly cut off from access to the show and it's launch party this coming week. But over the weekend, a spokesperson for the network told The Sunday Telegraph that the allegations were simply 'not true.' Clearing up the rumours: A Channel Seven spokesperson told the publication, 'Pete does not make any decisions in regards to who is given access to MKR' 'Pete does not make any decisions in regards to who is given access to MKR,' Channel Seven told the publication. 'That is a decision made by the publicity department. 'And we would never refuse access to anyone because obviously we are grateful of all publicity,' they concluded. Competition: MKR will go head-to-head with Channel Nine's controversial dating show Married At First Sight, with both airing on 30 January The reports suggested that MKR's co-host and judge Pete was on the offensive after several unflattering articles were written about him. Not only would the blacklisted journalists be refused access to the show, they would also not be invited to the launch at Colin Fassnidge's Sydney restaurant, 4 Fourteen. It is only one week until the highly-anticipated season five of MKR returns to screens. MKR will go head-to-head with Channel Nine's controversial dating show Married At First Sight, with both airing on 30 January. The show's hosts Manu and Pete will be joined by Colin Fassnidge, but the network have also added an element of mystery with a fourth judge. Producers have also tried to inject a sprinkle of romance into the show, with trailers suggesting 'love is in the air' between two rival contestants. Average retail gasoline prices in Chattanooga have fallen 1.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.05 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.2 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.30 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com. Including the change in gas prices in Chattanooga during the past week, prices on Sunday were 49.0 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 3.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on January 23 in Chattanooga have ranged widely over the last five years: $1.56 per gallon in 2016, $1.83 in 2015, $3.05 in 2014, $3.16 in 2013 and $3.24 in 2012. Areas near Chattanooga and their current gas price climate: Knoxville- $2.04, down 2.3 cents per gallon from last week's $2.07. State of Tennessee- $2.10, down 2.2 cents per gallon from last week's $2.12. Huntsville- $2.12, down 1.1 cents per gallon from last week's $2.13. "Last week ended with President Trump's Inauguration and we saw the benchmark WTI crude close up more than $1 per barrel from the previous day... Coincidence? said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. "One of the first announcements made by the new Administration was its 'America First Energy Plan' which states that "Producing more energy is in Americas national security interest. It said: "President Trump is committed to achieving energy independence from the [Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries] cartel and any nations hostile to our interests. At the same time, we will work with our [Persian] Gulf allies to develop a positive energy relationship as part of our antiterrorism strategy. "While it's too soon to speculate what such a plan might mean in the long term for prices at the pump, for now we expect another week of nominal decreases in retail gas prices. Refineries are unloading winter-blend gasoline at 'fire sale' prices." She's the statuesque Perth beauty, who's representing Australia at the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines next week. And Caris Tiivel will use her platform to draw attention to issues like Australia's refugee crisis and advocating same sex marriage, should she win the international competition. Speaking about her passion for politics, the 23-year-old Perth resident told The Daily Telegraph this week that Australia should not close its doors to those 'who are less fortunate.' Model with a purpose: Caris Tiivel will use her platform to draw attention to issues like Australia's refugee crisis and advocating same-sex marriage, should she win Miss Universe pageant next week However, in the same interview, she voiced her support for US president Donald Trump - whose conservative views on immigration in-part inspired last week's anti-Trump Women's Marches across the globe. 'I think we are quite lucky to live our lives here in Australia, so I think we should do our best to help people who are less fortunate than us,' she said. 'Everyone deserves a chance, [Trump] hasn't been given that chance yet.' Passion for politics: Speaking about her passion for politics, the 23-year-old Perth resident told The Daily Telegraph this week that Australia should not close its doors to those 'who are less fortunate' Backing trump: However, in the same interview, she voiced her support for US president Donald Trump - whose conservative views on immigration in-part inspired last week's anti-Trump Women's Marches across the globe She added: 'Even though I know he has said some very controversial things, and he has upset a lot of people and he still is upsetting people, but at the same time we can't change it now, he is the President of the United States and we have to give him that chance. 'Hopefully he performs.' Caris, who hopes to become the first Australian crowned Miss Universe since Jennifer Hawkins, shares similar political views with the model - who previously told The Sydney Morning Herald that she has 'a lot of respect' for Trump. In addition to advocating for immigration and same sex marriage, Caris hopes to raise awareness about domestic violence. Making America great again? 'I think we are quite lucky to live our lives here in Australia, so I think we should do our best to help people who are less fortunate than us,' she said Last year, the beauty opened up about her struggles with depression in a bid to shine light on mental health. 'I'm someone that has suffered from anxiety and depression in the past and a lot of people think you are always smiling, you are always happy all the time, there is nothing wrong with you,' she told the Herald Sun in September. 'But that's the stigma that comes with depression.' 'Everyone deserves a chance, [Trump] hasn't been given that chance yet' Caris, who hopes to become the first Australian crowned Miss Universe since Jennifer Hawkins, shares similar political views with the model - who previously told The Sydney Morning Herald that she has 'a lot of respect' for Trump Stunning: Caris is signed with Chadwick models and has appeared in campaigns for clothing store ae'lkemi, graced the cover of Women's Fitness magazine's August 2016 issue and posed for GQ She said many people were not aware that someone might be suffering from a mental health issue. She plans to show her support by providing assistance to other mental health patients. Caris is signed with Chadwick models and has appeared in campaigns for clothing store ae'lkemi, graced the cover of Women's Fitness magazine's August 2016 issue and posed for GQ. They announced their engagement following a romantic European holiday last July. And it's now been revealed that Peter Stefanovic ditched the tradition of asking his partner's parents for their blessing before popping the question. 'Pete didn't ask anyone in my family,' Sylvia Jeffreys revealed during a Today show panel discussion about engagements on Tuesday. Scroll down for video Ditching old traditions: Sylvia Jeffreys revealed on Tuesday that her fiance Peter Stefanovic didn't ask for her parents' blessing before proposing last year Her co-stars were shocked at the confession, but the 30-year-old presenter insisted her family would have approved of their future son-in-law regardless. 'I think he knew he had the Jeffreys tick of approval,' the blonde beauty explained. 'It's pretty obvious,' she added. Confident: The 30-year-old presenter says her beau 'knew he had the Jeffreys tick of approval' from her family without having to ask Pete, who regularly appears alongside his fiancee on the Channel Nine breakfast show, dropped to one knee and popped the question during the couple's romantic holiday to France in June. Posting a belated announcement on her Instagram two weeks later, Sylvia gushed: 'How's this for a framer?! A couple of weeks ago Pete popped the question, and I said yes, OF COURSE!!! 'We've had the most wonderful time celebrating with great mates. We couldn't be happier (check the grins) and so excited to share the news with everyone.' 'I said yes, OF COURSE!!!' The proposal took place in France, during the couple's romantic European holiday last June The bubbly journalist flashed her diamond engagement ring as she posed with her beau. Sharing the news with her Today co-hosts on live TV, Sylvia explained that Pete's gesture took her by surprise. 'We ended up in some vineyards, having drunk so much wine,' she recalled. 'He tricked me into taking some photographs and then I turned around and there he was, on one knee. 'We've had the most wonderful time celebrating with great mates,' Sylvia said at the time (pictured with Pete and his brother Karl Stefanovic) 'He popped the question with a big gold grin on his face and there you go. So we are getting hitched. Happy days! 'He completely caught me off guard.' Peter and Sylvia began dating at the end of 2013 after co-hosting the weekend edition of the Today show. She's the bikini businesswoman who often flaunts her impressive 32DD bust on Instagram. And Tuesday was just another day for Devin Brugman, almost spilling out of a skimpy black two-piece, while on vacation in Fiji. 'I'll forever be an island girl,' the blogger captioned a snap, just days after spilling her style tips for voluptuous women on blog site A Bikini A Day. 'I'll forever be an island girl': Devin Brugman took to Instagram on Tuesday, almost spilling out a skimpy black bikini, while on vacation in Fiji The image shared with Devin's 1.3million followers, saw the brunette beauty posing seductively on the balcony of a cabana, at the Namale Resort in Fiji. A black triangle bikini emphasised the star's generous cleavage, while a pair of high-cut briefs with ties at the side showed off her taut torso and toned legs. With her tresses falling effortlessly around her face and shoulders in relaxed waves, Devin appeared to go makeup-free, allowing her natural beauty to shine through. Spilling her secrets: The post came just days after Devin took to her A Bikini A Day blog to dish out style advice for voluptuous women The post came just days after Devin took to her A Bikini A Day blog to dish out style advice for voluptuous women. When it comes to swimsuit shopping, Devin said: 'Avoid thin neck ties, it doesnt matter how cute the bikini is its not worth having your neck severed all day.' She continued: 'Always look for an underwire or under band support in tops, this is the ideal scenario for us and most brands offer styles that do include it.' The Instagram superstar also recommended buying a different sized top and bottom to make sure they fit your body correctly. At ease: When it comes to swimsuit shopping, Devin said: 'Avoid thin neck ties, it doesnt matter how cute the bikini is its not worth having your neck severed all day' For everyday style, Devin told her fans to avoid baby doll style tops and dresses. 'These can make you look bigger than you are by distorting your natural shape and gorgeous womanly figure,' she explained. The blogger also told her followers 'bodysuits are your friend' and to 'focus on accentuating your best assets, besides your chest.' Ample advice: 'Always look for an underwire or under band support in tops, this is the ideal scenario for us and most brands offer styles that do include it,' Devin says Helpful hints: The blogger told her fans 'bodysuits are your friend' and to 'focus on accentuating your best assets, besides your chest' Devin co-founded A Bikini A Day with her business partner and fellow Instagram model Natasha Oakley. After launching in 2012, the best friends have since become two of the best known digital influencers in fashion. They're now moving into the fitness world with their own workout program. Shocked EastEnders fans have slammed the soap for being 'insensitive' after a dramatic bus crash scene evoked memories of recent terrorist attacks. The cliffhanger crash in Albert Square could leave up to 11 characters fighting for their lives, in a dramatic plot twist. But viewers have criticised show bosses for a lack of respect to victims of those murdered in the ISIS-orchestrated truck crashes in Nice and Berlin last year. On Twitter, one fan fumed: 'Slightly insensitive storyline from #Eastenders. Glasgow bin lorry crash, the lorry in France & Berlin Christmas markets.' Scroll down for video EastEnders fans watched in shock as a dramatic bus crash occurred in Albert Square during Monday night's epsiode The double-decker careered out of control after it appeared its driver suffered a heart attack behind the wheel The cliffhanger crash now leaves the lives of 11 of the show's characters in the balance The collision was caused when the double-decker's driver appeared to suffer a heart attack at the wheel, sending the bus spinning out of control and careering into Walford's iconic market place. Smashing through everything in its path, the bus then hit a bridge and headed towards the Queen Vic pub. The long list of characters at risk from the crash include Denise Fox, Keegan, Bex Fowler, Shakil Kazemi and Louise Micthell, who were on the bus. While Martin Fowler, Donna Yates, Honey Mitchell, Johnny Carter, Carmel Kazemi and Kush Kazemi faced getting mowed down on the street. While the collision will no doubt send ratings through the roof, for some viewers it was an upsetting reminder of the terrorist atrocities of last year. In July 2016, a HGV driven by Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel crashed into crowds of people on the southern French resort of Nice, killing 86. The bus crashed through Walford's market place, sending characters jumping for safety Shattering: The bus crashed after the driver appeared to have a heart attack at the wheel The dramatic crash was slammed by some fans as being insensitive after terrorist attacks in Nice and Berlin last year After smashing through the market, the bus hit a bridge before heading towards the Queen Vic pub While on December 19, a truck was driven into a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, leaving 12 dead. One EastEnders fan tweeted: 'Hmm not sure about this latest storyline considering recent terrorist activities. Seems a bit insensitive.' While another wrote: 'Cannot believe eastenders has shown a bus driving through a busy market despite what's happened the last few months #someone'sgettingfired.' However, not all were upset by the scene and accused fellow viewers of being over sensitive. One fan tweeted:' 'It's pathetic how easily offended people are these days. Like I said #eastenders is filmed months in advance. Do some research.' Another said: 'Some people really aren't happy unless they are moaning. Change the channel and let the REAL fans enjoy #eastenders.' The drama unfolded on tonight's episode after Bridge Street market workers were furious to discover the council was planning to relocate the stalls. Plan of action: Before the crash, Martin Fowler (James Bye) had gathered a group of market traders on the street to discuss going forward with a possible strike Martin Fowler urged his colleagues to go on strike, but his pleas fell on death ears and landed him in the dog house with partner Stacey Fiowler (Lacey Turner). However, his worries were soon overshadowed by the dramatic crash, with locals rushing to the scene to assist the injured. Tilly Keeper, who plays the role of Louise Mitchell, said that fans are in for a treat as Walford reacts to the horror crash. She told The Sun : 'All I'll say is that next week's episodes are HUGE and unmissable. 'It was exciting to film and I can't wait to see the audience's reaction. I can't say anything else! My lips are sealed. All I will say is make sure you tune in.' EastEnders will continue on Tuesday at 7:30pm on BBC1. She was left trembling in fear after being robbed at gunpoint in Paris last year. And Kim Kardashian's mother Kris Jenner has opened up about the reality star's struggle to overcome the horrifying incident, describing it all as 'gruelling and draining.' The Kardashian matriarch told the Kyle and Jackie O show on Tuesday that the robbery has taken a devastating toll on Kim, 36, following news that French police recently made 17 arrests in connection with the multi-million dollar heist. Drained: Kim Kardashian's mother Kris Jenner has opened up about the reality star's struggle to overcome the horrifying incident, describing it all as 'gruelling and draining' '... Apparently they did [catch the thieves],' she said. '[Kim's] had a really hard time with the incident and the whole thing has been very gruelling and draining.' The reality TV star was reportedly bound and gagged by thieves at Hotel Pourtales in October, before being robbed of an estimated $10 million in jewellery and Kris said confirmed the stolen goods are yet to be recovered. Hard times: '[Kim's] had a really hard time with the incident and the whole thing has been very gruelling and draining,' Kris Jenner said The latest: The reality TV star was reportedly bound and gagged by thieves at Hotel Pourtales in October, before being robbed of an estimated $10 million in jewellery and Kris said confirmed the stolen goods are yet to be recovered 'I have not heard anything about that to be honest, I think we're just getting past people getting arrested,' she said. Her comments come says after Kim's sister Khloe opened up about the mother-of-two's 'traumatizing and terrifying' experience while also hitting back at critics who suggested the family's public lifestyle led to the robbery. 'It's traumatizing and terrifying but genuinely that's when you get down on your knees and you pray and you thank the Lord that nothing worse happened,' she recently told the Today Show. Still struggling: Kim took a break from social media in the wake of the Paris ordeal although she has slowly made her return in recent weeks Sister act: Her comments come says after Kim's sister Khloe opened up about the mother-of-two's 'traumatizing and terrifying' experience while also hitting back at critics who suggested the family's public lifestyle led to the robbery No security: Kim's bodyguard Pascal Duvier (pictured) was not with her at the time of the armed robbery 'I don't believe that because people show their life anywhere, that anyone deserves [what happened] or there's consequences in getting robbed.' Earlier this month, Kim's lawyer said t he arrests of 17 men, aged mostly between 50 and 72, would end 'outrageous' speculation that it was all a publicity stunt. Barrister Jean Veil said his client had been left deeply traumatised after being bound, gagged and threatened with death in the French capital on October 2. Following coordinated raids at 6am earlier this month, the gang including a 'major thug' in his 70s are reported to have been rounded up The suspects' homes are still being searched, with documents and other potential evidence being seized. A suspect (centre) is pictured being escorted to a police station But following coordinated raids at 6am earlier this month, the gang including a 'major thug' in his 70s are reported to have been rounded up. 'I welcome this with great satisfaction,' said Mr Veil, who said he was due to discuss details of the raids with Ms Kardashian when she woke up in Los Angeles today. 'These arrests are a nice surprise because on the one hand, it will perhaps make it possible to find the jewellery,' said Mr Veil. Coordinated raids earlier this month saw a total of 17 men including a 'major thug' arrested in the city, and also in the south of France. A handcuffed man was seen being led in to a police station in Paris following the raids earlier this month 'On the other hand, it puts an end to the outrageous speculation by some, who thought it was intelligent to pretend that this robbery was staged, or a publicity stunt organised by Ms Kardashian.' Mr Veil indicated that Ms Kardashian would look forward 'putting her nose up' at those who had doubted her word. During recent conversations, Mr Veil said Ms Kardashian 'still showed some form of anxiety. I think she was recently shocked and had the opportunity to say so on television. Raids were also underway at other key premises, including a jewellery shop in the centre of Paris. Police are pictured bringing a suspect into custody in Paris Raids were also underway at other key premises, including a jewellery shop in the centre of Paris. Police are pictured bringing a suspect into custody in Paris Just an hour before the robbery, Kim posted a video on Snapchat that showed her wearing the engagement ring (left) 'The money she lost during this robbery is not the only issue. Even though my client was not injured, this assault was very brutal and traumatic. Imagine yourself alone, at night, in front of armed people.' Ms Kardashian feared 'they're going to shoot me in the back,' she said this weekend on 'Keeping up with the Kardashians', adding: 'There's no way out. It makes me so upset to think about it.' Today it also emerged that French police have failed to call on the key witness in the case because the authorities will not grant him a temporary visa to enter France. Support: Kanye West has been a strong source of support for his wife Abdulrahman, the Algerian concierge who was tied up and forced to give the robbers access to the reality star's apartment, left France in November to recover from the stress of the experience. Currently in Algeria, Abdulrahman, 39, is thought to be the only person to have clearly seen the intruders' faces, and to have had prolonged conversations with them on the night of the crime. Family troubles: Kanye has been struggling with personal problems recently, after he was hospitalized for exhaustion So far, however, investigators have not contacted him to identify the suspects, and his attempts to enter France to be available to police have been rejected, MailOnline can reveal. 'Before leaving France, the judge in charge of this case told my lawyers that I should renew my residence permit so I can travel quickly for the investigation purposes,' he told MailOnline. 'Last week, I was in Paris to receive a letter from 'le prefet de Police' but he refused my request.' He added: 'It is so crazy.' It comes as police revealed that at least two of the suspects arrested this morning are of northern Algerian descent. Staying strong: Kim has kept a lowe profile since being robbed at gunpoint last year Ouatiki's lawyer, Henri de Beauregard, told MailOnline: 'He had a visa that expired in November, and when he applied for a new one, he was refused. 'He doesn't want to stay in France for long, he just wants to come and be available for the investigation and help the police. It is important for justice and important for him. 'A victim is a victim. He is no less a victim than Kim he has a right to face his aggressor. 'I don't know if this is incompetence or just a bad decision. He is the best witness, he saw the criminals much longer than Miss Kardashian. I hope the police have a lot of solid proof and evidence, because if they don't, it will be seen as a crazy decision.' The suspects that police have held are accused of breaking into the reality TV star's Paris apartment block last October, and tying her up at gunpoint, along with a security guard. Fashionista: Kim would often travel to Paris for the art and fashion shows Coordinated dawn raids saw a total of 17 suspects, mostly with long criminal records, arrested in the city and also in the south of France, a source close to the case said. This morning, it emerged that the DNA sample that ultimately led to today's arrest was found on a piece of tape used to gag Ms Kardashian. After three months of checks, it was finally found to correspond to a well-known criminal who had been involved in numerous armed robberies. He has not been named but like all the others in custody can be held for up to 96 hours before being charged or released. Philanthropic duties: The beauty recently travelled to Dubai to do some charity work One of the suspected 'Mr Bigs' allegedly involved in the robbery has been partially identified as Pierre B., a 'career villain' living in Grasse, in the south of France. The 72-year-old is part of a diverse network of alleged criminals spanning different communities across France and Belgium. As well as Pierre B. who made millions through counterfeit money they include three women, and two diamond dealers. Some of the women are thought to have been involved in trailing Ms Kardashian around Paris before the October heist. Homes are still being searched, with documents and other potential evidence being seized. Raids are also underway at other key premises, including a jewellery shop in the centre of Paris. The source confirmed that 'months of surveillance' has taken place, including phone taps. Spending patterns have been looked at, and attempts to re-sell the jewellery stolen in October. Beyond the five thought to have been directly involved in the crime, others include so called 'fences' who can dispose of stolen goods. Bling: Kim posted this image of the $5 million ring that was stolen on Instagram before the robbery One theory is that many of Ms Kardashian's jewels ended up in Antwerp the diamond capital of Europe. Belgium police are known to be involved in the investigation, and are carrying out checks in a number of businesses in the port city. Ms Kardashian feared 'they're going to shoot me in the back,' she said this weekend, adding: 'There's no way out. It makes me so upset to think about it.' After months of detailed police work, DNA has now been found in the Hotel de Pourtales also known as 'No Address', which is close to the U.S. Embassy in the French capital. Europe adventures: Kanye is believed to own a property in Paris, where the rapper stays with Kim during Paris Fashion Week The forensics material matches that of a well-known armed robber with a number of convictions whom another officer described as a 'major thug'. All the others arrested were linked to him. 'Coordinated raids took place at 6am today,' said the source. 'The men were arrested at addresses in greater Paris and in the Gard department. 'The oldest supect is 72, while others are in their 50s and 60s. All are well known to the police.' Ms Kardashian, who flew out of Paris within hours of her ordeal, will now have to undergo the ordeal of watching a video of all the men. It is being sent to New York, where she will have to watch it with American officers working with the French. 'The hope is that she will be able to recognise the men, so as to make positive identifications,' said the source. Family first: Kim's sisters are all said to be offering emotional support Ms Kardashian, was tied up and locked a bathroom as the gang fled with jewellery including a ring worth around 4million, and a case of jewellery worth 5million. The 36-year-old, who is married to rap star Kanye West, finally broke her silence about the incident on 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' at the weekend. The gang escaped on bicycles but one of them dropped a diamond pendant worth around 28,000 in the street outside. It was found by a woman who handed it in to police, as grainy CCTV of the men on bikes also emerged. Busty: The brunette beauty is often hailed for her womanly curves Ms Kardashian also lodged a legal complaint after she was filmed at the flat immediately after the robbery possibly by an aide. Her lawyers said in October the video was made 'without her consent or the police's and while the police were investigating the crime scene'. Ms Kardashian has, meanwhile, said she is prepared to return to France if summoned by a judge leading the investigation. Jean Veil, the barrister acting for her in Paris, said last year that 'she is very calm and very determined over a matter that was particularly violent.' Mr Veil said: 'If she is summoned to France, she will come to France, but judges also have the possibility of moving [to the USA]. This is a formal process, which cannot be done on the phone, or even via a video link.' Public life: The Kardashians are known to live their lives openly on reality TV The five men thought to have been directly involved in the attack face charges of 'armed robbery by an organised gang, criminal conspiracy and kidnapping'. An instructing judge is leading an investigation involving some 100 judicial and criminal brigade officers. Ms Kardashian, who flew out of Paris within hours of her ordeal, will now have to undergo the ordeal of watching a video of all the men, and may also have to attend an identity parade in Paris. Mr Veil said: 'I think that my client will be re-heard again by the investigators, or even be confronted with the suspects arrested. This may be necessary for the investigations, but it will be for the investigating judge to decide.' She picketed against US President Donald Trump by joining thousands of protesters at the women's march in Washington this week. And Caitlin Stasey, 26, has used her celebrity status to bring attention to the issue of menstruation and the American health-care system. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the APB actress shared a photo of herself at the Washington rally holding a sign emblazoned with the illustration of a used tampon. 'Menstruation is a monthly burden': Caitlin Stasey, 26, has used her celebrity status to bring attention to the issue of menstruation and the American health-care system In the caption, she wrote: 'Menstruation is a monthly burden for millions of humans across the gender spectrum.' 'If you're lucky, you have can have a consistent and relatively painless cycle (which still means cramps and mild to severe depression) if you're not you can be literally crippled for a week or longer,' She continued: 'The majority of people I know fall into the latter category. Efforts to maintain a routine cycle and ease discomfort can cost up to thousands of dollars. A period is a pre-existing condition.' 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever': Trump came under fire by the media last year after he clashed with Fox News host Megyn Kelly during a GOP debate Trump came under fire by the media last year after he clashed with Fox News host Megyn Kelly during a GOP debate. Speaking of his fiery exchange with Kelly, Trump told CNN's Don Lemon: 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever'. The comment was widely presumed have been made in reference to menstruation, prompting many social media users to live-tweet details about their periods to Trump. 'I was terrified': US-based Australian actress Caitlin, a Hillary Clinton supporter, is passionate about reproductive rights, having recently shared her experience of having an abortion on Instagram US-based Australian actress Caitlin, a Hillary Clinton supporter, is passionate about reproductive rights, having recently shared her experience of having an abortion on Instagram. 'When I was 22 I fell pregnant. I was terrified and alone in a city without my family, or a partner to support me,' Caitlin began in her post. 'Luckily I was in California, one of the remaining states that allows a woman to have agency over her own body. It was scary, it was sad, it was eye opening, but above all it was made easy for me.' 'One of the remaining states that allows a woman to have agency over her own body': Caitlin revealed that she was able to have an abortion because she lived in California at the time 'My story is one of a state's successful relationship with family planning and reproductive rights. So many women are nowhere near as fortunate,' 'Now more than ever women need you, #plannedparenthoodneeds you,' Caitlin continued, referring to the non-profit organisation that offers abortion services and other sexual and reproductive health care. 'I think about that day often and while it was trying and heavy I never regretted my decision. Thank you @plannedparenthood from the bottom of my heart,' the actress concluded. Trump has previously declared himself 'pro-life' and in March said women should face 'some sort of punishment' after having an abortion in the event the practice was outlawed. Kaley Cuoco is not letting the rain stop her from obtaining a healthy spirit. The Big Bang Theory star was spotted leaving a yoga studio in Los Angeles on Monday with her boyfriend Karl Cook. As it poured down rain in the big city, the actress made sure to continue attending the class known for freeing the mind and body. Scroll down for video Rainy day: Kaley Cuoco was spotted in Los Angeles on Monday leaving a yoga class as it poured down rain Kaley sported a long-sleeved grey shirt with the word Original written across it. She added on black sweatpants and soft blue boots to show more of her easygoing look. Keeping a natural look without makeup, the comedic star had a casual vibe going on. Namaste: The actress left the yoga class with her boyfriend Karl Cook Healthy conscience: The couple carried their yoga mats as they embraced the cold weather Carrying a green yoga mat outside, the actress's boyfriend was dressed in clothes that made him look less warm. Karl wore a white T-shirt with black gym shorts along with black sandals. He walked alongside his bae as he carried a jacket and a black yoga mat after the meditative class. Feeling better: The happy pair smiled at each other when they headed over to the car So funny: The TV star and her beau shared a giggle while keeping the chemistry alive The couple appeared to be in a good mood as they smiled next to each other. This could've easily been due to the sport they participated in that focuses on living in a positive atmosphere. Kaley and Karl made their way over to their car as they set their stuff in and made their way over to the next destination. And we're off! The People's Choice Award winner put her stuff in the backseat of her car as she and Karl got out of the rain Kaley and Karl have reportedly been dating since March 2016. They spent their first Christmas together last holiday season when the blonde beauty posted a photo of them spending the day together, which also happened to be her man's birthday. 'Happy happy happy birthday to this beautiful creature,' she wrote in the caption. 'You are a gift in every sense of the word, which must be why you were born on Christmas. I love you, Mr' The Shahs of Sunset have a new cast member. Asa Soltan Rahmati and boyfriend Jermaine Jackson Jr have welcomed a new baby boy. The tot, born on Friday, is named Soltan Jackson. Aaahs Of Sunset! Asa Soltan Rahmati and Jermaine Jackson Jr welcome newborn son Soltan on Friday Us Weekly reported both mother and baby are doing fine. 'Our lives have completely changed for the better,' the 40-year-old told the mag. 'Jermaine and I brought our precious love home last night. Our families are completely overjoyed.' In her final pregnant Instagram post, the reality star was crossing her fingers the 'Love Nugget' would be born on the following Friday, so he could 'celebrate life together' with his dad, who turns 40. In her final pregnant Instagram post, the reality star was crossing her fingers the 'Love Nugget' would be born on the following Friday, so he could 'celebrate life together' with his dad, who turns 40. Baby shower: Jermaine is the son of Jermaine Jackson senior, and thus the nephew of Michael and Janet Jackson 'Been feeling so dreamy. Resting a lot, sleep and day dreams about our Love nugget are melting into each other,' she wrote with a stunning snap showing off her pregnancy bump. 'Getting physically and mentally ready to bring this super special soul into the world. Feeling beautiful. Feeling magical. Feeling peaceful. Feeling Grateful.' Rahmati didn't reveal the pregnancy news until she was six months along in October. Secret: Rahmati didn't reveal the pregnancy news until she was six months along in October Paris in Paris: This week Asa shared this pic of her partner's cousin, Paris Jackson 'This has been the happiest news of our lives and we are beyond excited and graceful,' she wrote at the time. 'Some of you know about our relationship and others do not as we are deeply private with our relationship. I wanted to share with you all this beautiful news.' The Bravo star and Jackson scion have been dating for six years but they have known each other since they were 15. They met in high school after the Iranian refugee moved to the US with her family. Jermaine is the son of Jermaine Jackson senior, and thus the nephew of Michael and Janet Jackson. Before the baby bump: The 40-year-old reality star showed off her curvaceous shape in a figure-hugging red dress at the iHeart Radio Music Awards in Los Angeles in January She's known as one of Hollywood's most philanthropic stars. And now, Angelina Jolie has landed a new gig as the face of the beauty brand Guerlains new fragrance called Mon Guerlain. But the 41-year-old actress won't be making bank as the famous humanitarian will be 'donating her entire salary to charity,' according to People magazine. Angelina Jolie has landed a new gig as the face of the beauty brand Guerlains new fragrance called Mon Guerlain, and will be 'donating her entire salary to charity,' according to People The new fragrance campaign is set to debut in March. Previously, the brand has hired Hilary Swank who appeared in ads for the company back in 2007. That same year, the Maleficent actress starred in another beauty brand Shiseido's ads. Meanwhile, the mom-of-six is currently going through a divorce from Brad Pitt. Man of the hour Casey Affleck goes back to indie roots Casey Affleck's stock is at an all-time high after his acclaimed performance in Kenneth Lonergan's "Manchester by the Sea" made him one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces. Yet the enigmatic 41-year-old -- a best actor Golden Globe winner and a frontrunner for the Oscars in February -- can next be seen in an obscure indie role, shrouded in a bedsheet and largely silent. "He and I have been friends for so long at this point that it's just fun to watch him get all the acclaim," director David Lowery told AFP Sunday ahead of the world premiere of "A Ghost Story." Casey Affleck, winner of the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for 'Manchester by the Sea', poses in the press room at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, on January 8, 2017 ROBYN BECK (AFP/File) "Working with him is just like hanging out with a good friend, and this is not a typical movie for an actor of his caliber to do." Affleck may have been given his air fare to Texas to shoot "A Ghost Story," but it's unlikely it would have been his biggest pay day. Filmed mostly in one house, it cost almost nothing to make and was shot secretly over two months last summer in Dallas, Texas. Lowery began working on the movie just days after wrapping the big budget Disney remake of "Pete's Dragon" and found what little cash was required himself. A languid, hypnotic meditation on time, legacy and belonging, "A Ghost Story" sees Affleck and Rooney Mara together for the first time since Lowery's last indie hit, the 2013 crime romance "Ain't Them Bodies Saints." - 'Low-charisma mumbler' - They play an unnamed couple who appear to be enjoying the trappings of domesticity in a secure relationship which is ripped apart when his character is killed in car crash near the start of the movie. He spends the rest of the film as a ghost, compelled to inhabit his rural Texan home, even after his grieving partner moves on and leaves. Draped playfully in the archetypal white bedsheet, Affleck is the kind of comic specter you might find in "Scooby Doo," his sorrowful but inscrutable expression defined by two black eyeholes. It is an odd role for a big star, but perhaps one uniquely suited to an actor whose sensibilities have always been somewhat left of the mainstream. Variety's chief film critic Peter Debruge, who describes Affleck as a "low-charisma mumbler who tends to keep his characters' emotions bottled up," points out that he is one of the few actors who can convey as much with a sheet over his head as without. "I know him so well at this point that I can just call him up and say 'can you come to Texas for two weeks and do something kind of crazy?' and he's totally down to do it," Lowery said. - Auteur - "He, like myself, has so many different interests as a filmmaker. It's exciting to see him not only be incredibly successful with 'Manchester' but to not rest on those laurels and to go off and... make a small art film like this." Affleck was not at Sunday's screening at the Sundance Film Festival as he is having another go at directing after making the unloved mockumentary "I'm Still Here." But his performance earned warm applause from the audience in Park City, Utah and critics have been generous in their early reviews for the movie. IndieWire described "A Ghost Story" as Lowery's best film to date, while the Hollywood Reporter predicted that it would find an admiring, if niche, audience. "A Ghost Story," also written and edited by 36-year-old Lowery, was inspired by an argument the director had with his wife, actress Augustine Frizzell, about where they should live. An indie auteur at heart, he has adopted the common indie kid strategy of paying for the labors of love with the big studio movies, and he is lined up for another Disney remake, "Peter Pan." "It's just me following my creative instincts. I have all sorts of interests as a filmmaker and it would be a shame to not indulge all of them," Lowery told AFP. "I do want to make giant blockbuster studio movies -- that's really fun -- but I also love making really small, for lack of a better term, art films." Hamilton County Department of Education Interim Superintendent Dr. Kirk Kelly announced the Hamilton County Board of Education and Superintendents Student Advisory Council (SSAC) will host the 15th Annual Student Speak Out Conference on Friday, Feb. 3. It will take place at The Chattanoogan Hotel from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The SSAC is an organization comprised of students representing every high school who meet regularly with the Superintendent to discuss school issues that are important to students. Each high school appointed approximately five students to attend the conference. They will engage in the following focus group discussions led by student members of the SSAC: - How Does Community Service Make You a Successful Student and Future Adult? - What Are The Advantages of Achieving Optimal Health and Wellness Skills? - How Do We Help Students Understand the Importance of School Attendance and the Impact of Truancy on Their Future? - How Do You, as a Leader, Help Other Students Balance Outside School Activities, in Order to be Successful? - How Can Technology Improve a Students Learning Over Textbooks? - As a Leader, How Can You and Your School Stop Bullies from Inflecting Emotional and Physical Abuse? - How Does The Fine Arts Programs Help Create a Well Rounded Individual? No sign of breakthrough on first day of Syria talks Peace talks with Syrian rebels and the war-torn country's government got off to a rocky start Monday, while Washington said President Donald Trump was open to joint operations with Russia against Islamic State jihadists in Syria. The Syrian rebels' representatives vowed to keep fighting if peace negotiations with the government of President Bashar al-Assad fail, as the first day of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana ended with no apparent breakthrough. Monday's meetings, organised by key players Russia, Turkey and Iran, could have marked the first time armed rebel groups negotiated directly with the Assad regime since the conflict erupted in 2011. Chief rebel negotiator Mohammad Alloush attends the first session of Syria peace talks at Astana's Rixos President Hotel on January 23, 2017 Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV (AFP) But the rebels backed out of direct talks because of the regime's continued bombardment and attacks on a flashpoint area near Damascus. However, they took part in indirect talks with the government and held a three-way meeting with Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, an encounter rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi described as "long and productive". "If the negotiations succeed, then we are with the negotiations," another rebel spokesman Osama Abu Zeid told AFP early on Monday. "If they don't succeed, unfortunately we'll have no choice but to continue fighting." - US-Russia coordination -- Meanwhile the Russian army announced on Monday that it had carried out joint attacks on Islamic State targets with the United States, a claim swiftly denied by the Pentagon. The commander of the Russian air force contingent in Syria on Sunday "received from the American side... the coordinates of IS targets in Al-Bab, in the province of Aleppo," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement. "Two Russian air force planes and two planes of the (US-led) international coalition carried out air strikes against terrorist sites," destroying arms and fuel dumps in the "joint operation", the ministry said. The US defense department denied the Russian claim but later Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters in Washington that the new US president is open to conducting joint operations with Russia to combat the Islamic State group in Syria. "If there's a way we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it's Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we'll take it," Spicer told reporters. The negotiations in Kazakhstan's capital come amid a rapprochement between regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey, who have come to fill the vacuum left by months of US disengagement from the conflict. Trump's administration was invited to participate in the talks but did not send a delegation. Washington is instead represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan, while France and Britain also sent envoys. A member of the rebel delegation told AFP that the group would agree to seeing Russia as a guarantor of the current ceasefire but not Iran, another Assad backer. Aridi told reporters the "two sides are working on issues relating to the confirmation of the ceasefire" brokered last month by Ankara and Moscow. "It's not been a bad day," a Western diplomat told AFP. "The delegations met, made presentations." - Diverging goals? - Several rounds of failed talks in Geneva saw political opposition figures take the lead in negotiating with the regime. But in Astana, the 14-member opposition delegation is composed solely of rebels leading the armed uprising, with members of the political opposition serving as advisors. The initiative has been widely welcomed, but the two sides arrived in Astana with apparently divergent ideas on their aim. Chief rebel negotiator Mohammad Alloush said in his opening statement that the opposition was focused on bolstering the nationwide truce, while Assad has insisted rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal. "We came here to reinforce the ceasefire as the first phase of this process," Alloush said in comments broadcast online. "We will not proceed to the next phases until this actually happens on the ground." Damascus has also called for a "comprehensive" political solution to a conflict that has killed more than 310,000 and displaced more than half of Syria's population. The head of the regime delegation, Syria's UN ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari, said in his opening comments carried by the country's SANA state news agency that he hoped the talks "will reinforce the cessation of hostilities". He added the government was keen to separate the rebels from IS and former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front. Previous pushes for a long-term ceasefire have faltered, with both sides trading accusations over violations. Although Russia and Turkey back opposing sides, they have worked hand-in-hand in recent weeks to try to secure an end to the brutal war and forged a partnership likely to be tested in Astana. A Syrian woman and her children walk past the ruins of buildings in Aleppo on January 21, 2017 LOUAI BESHARA (AFP/File) Syrians perform in front of a large poster of President Bashar al-Assad outside the Aleppo Citadel on January 22, 2017 LOUAI BESHARA (AFP) Syrian government forces patrol the northern city of Aleppo George Ourfalian (AFP/File) Japan police make arrests in Cambodian trafficking case Japanese police said Monday they have arrested three people in a sex trafficking case involving Cambodian women and discovered 10 Thai women who may also be victims of the same prostitution ring. Two Japanese men and a Thai woman were taken into custody after allegedly forcing the seven Cambodians, aged from 20 to 36, into prostitution. The group was rescued from a restaurant in Gunma northwest of Tokyo last month after a victim made a desperate Facebook plea. Japanese police rescued 49 victims of human trafficking in 2015, according to the latest available figures TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (AFP/File) Police raided the restaurant and suspects' homes, where they found another 10 women from Thailand aged from 21 to 34. Several of the women were detained for visa violations, a police spokesman said in the first announcement of the arrest of the trio. "But once they are determined to be victims of human trafficking, they'll be released," he told AFP. Japan has long been a destination for Southeast Asian women seeking higher wages who often find themselves forced into sex work or indentured labour. The Cambodian women were lured to work at the restaurant in November with the promise of high wages by a Japanese owner who arranged visas and airfares for them, according to the Cambodian foreign ministry. The victims told police they had been promised salaries of $3,000 a month but were instead forced into sex work. Several other suspects are on the run, according to local media. Last August the Philippines warned its citizens against illegally travelling to Japan in search of work, saying they 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 report says. Venus, Coco look to steam into Australian Open last four Ageless Venus Williams shows no signs of slowing down at Australian Open with another Grand Slam semi-final beckoning, but to get there she needs to beat a player who feels her time has come. The American will face off with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Tuesday, with either American Coco Vandeweghe or French Open champion Garbine Muguruza waiting in the last four. If Williams gets through it will be her 20th time in the last four at a major. For the Russian, it will be the first. Venus Williams of the US hits a return against Germany's Mona Barthel in their Australian Open fourth round match, in Melbourne, on January 22, 2017 PAUL CROCK (AFP) Despite her lack of big-time success, Pavlyuchenkova feels that at 25 and with three Slam quarter-final appearances under her belt she is ready to take the next step. "I definitely feel like I've been long enough on the tour, but at the same time I can't compare myself to Venus and Serena, because they have been there," said the 24th seed. "I remember I was a little girl -- the racquet was bigger than me -- and they were ready to play in finals of a Grand Slam. So, of course, I can't compare myself to them, but at the same time I kind of also feel experienced. "I have had some matches with Venus before, as well. I played her before, so I know how it feels to play against her. Let's see who's gonna win." The pair have met five times before, with Williams, who is yet to drop a set in Melbourne, holding a 3-2 lead in their head-to-head, most recently a win in Montreal in 2014. At 36, she is enjoying every moment of the tournament but also retains the hunger that drove her to seven Grand Slam titles, with the possibility of meeting sister Serena in the final an added incentive. She is familiar with Pavlyuchenkova's game, and will be ready for whatever is thrown at her. "I know her game. I have played a lot of matches this tournament kind of not knowing what to expect," said the 13th seed, having met two qualifiers and China's Duan Yingying, who she admitted knowing "zero" about. "That can be a little -- it's a whole different approach. "Now I have played her, I know what to expect. So I can almost already be settled in before I get to that match, so it's a good thing." - 'Beat her to that punch' - In the other quarter-final on Tuesday, giant-killer Vandeweghe, who stunned world number one Angelique Kerber in the last round, meets seventh seed Muguruza. The confident American, who also ended the comeback of Eugenie Bouchard en route to her first Australian quarter-final, has no fear of the Spaniard. "It's just another person that's in front of me, whoever it may be, if it's number one in the world, number 130 in the world, it doesn't matter, it's still an opponent to get in my way of achieving my goals," she said. Muguruza is an aggressive power-hitter, whose game has similarities to Vandeweghe. "She is going to play that way, and no other way. For me it depends on if I can match it, as well as if I can beat her to that punch of getting first strike, first play," said the unseeded American. Being in the last eight at Melbourne is also uncharted territory for Muguruza, who also yet to drop a set as she targets a second Grand Slam title. She has played Vandeweghe twice before, with a win apiece. "She's a tricky player, she has a lot of power, full shots, serve, everything,' she said. Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova celebrates her Australian Open fourth round victory over compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, in Melbourne, on January 22, 2017 GREG WOOD (AFP) Sri Lanka president to probe controversial bond sale President Maithripala Sirisena ordered an investigation Monday into alleged insider trading at Sri Lanka's central bank that has heightened tensions between him and his prime minister. Sirisena announced he was setting up a special panel to probe the February 2015 bond sales to a relative of the then governor, a hand-picked appointee of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. "I will appoint a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry this week to investigate the central bank bond issue and recommend actions," the president said in a brief statement on his website. Tensions between Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (R) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are rising over an alleged insider trading case LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI (AFP/File) The announcement came a day before parliament was due to debate a report by lawmakers who in October recommended the criminal prosecution of former central bank chief Arjuna Mahendran. While parliament has no powers to instigate prosecutions, the presidential commission could set the stage for criminal charges. When Mahendran's tenure ended in June last year, Sirisena denied him an extension and overlooked Wickremesinghe's alternative candidate, causing more friction within their troubled ruling alliance. A Singapore national of Sri Lankan origin, Mahendran was accused of leaking inside information to his son-in-law's firm, allegedly allowing it to make millions of dollars in profits from central bank bond auctions. Mahendran has consistently maintained his innocence. He has begun working as a senior advisor to Wickremesinghe since being removed from his top post at the central bank by the president. Sirisena came to power in January 2015 after he defected from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and secured the support of Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP). The UNP formed a coalition with a section of Sirisena loyalists within the SLFP as August 2015 parliamentary elections did not give an absolute majority to any single party. The two top men have had several clashes over economic policy, with Sirisena publicly accusing the government in October of using the police and anti-graft institutions to further the UNP's political agenda. China cracks down on bids to bypass online censorship China has announced a 14-month campaign to "clean up" internet service providers and crack down on devices such as virtual private networks (VPNs) used to evade strict censorship. The ruling Communist party oversees a vast apparatus designed to censor online content deemed politically sensitive, while blocking some Western websites and the services of internet giants including Facebook, Twitter and Google. It passed a controversial cybersecurity bill last November, tightening restrictions on online freedom of speech and imposing new rules on service providers. China's Communist party oversees a vast apparatus designed to censor online content deemed politically sensitive Ed Jones (AFP/File) But companies and individuals often use VPNs to access the unfettered internet beyond China's "Great Firewall". Telecom and internet service providers will no longer be allowed to set up or rent special lines such as VPNs without official approval, the ministry of industry and information technology said Sunday. Its "clean up" campaign would last through March 2018, it said in a statement on its website. The announcement comes days after President Xi Jinping extolled globalisation and denounced protectionism in a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he insisted that China was committed to "opening up". China's internet access services market has grown rapidly, and the "first signs of disorderly development are also appearing, creating an urgent need for regulation", the statement said. The new rules were needed to "strengthen internet information security management", it added. IT expert Li Yi told the Global Times newspaper, which often takes a nationalistic tone, the new regulations were "extremely important". While some multinationals such as Microsoft needed VPNs to communicate with overseas headquarters, other companies and individuals "browse overseas internet pages out of illegal motivations", Li said. A 2015 report by US think tank Freedom House found that China had the most restrictive Internet policies of 65 countries it studied, ranking below Iran and Syria. Yemeni loyalists seize Red Sea port of Mokha Yemeni government forces captured on Monday the port of Mokha as they pushed to oust Huthi rebels from the Red Sea coastline, an AFP journalist said. Government forces were combing the port, a journalist accompanying the troops said, almost three weeks after the loyalists launched an offensive against the Shiite insurgents and their allies on Yemen's southwestern coast. An official statement said government forces recaptured the whole city, but a military commander in the field told AFP that loyalists were still fighting the rebels on the southern outskirts of Mokha. Yemeni government forces flash the sign for victory after they captured the southeastern port of Mokha from Shiite Huthi rebels on January 23, 2017 SALEH AL-OBEIDI (AFP) Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi launched a vast offensive on January 7 to retake the Dhubab district overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait, a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Warplanes and Apache attack helicopters from a Saudi-led Arab coalition have been pounding the rebels in support of pro-Hadi forces, military sources said. The rebel's media arm claimed however that insurgent fighters repelled loyalist troops as they advanced on the village of Jadid, some 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) south of Mokha. More than 150 fighters from both sides have been killed in the battle for the coastline since the government offensive was launched on January 7. Huthis have controlled Mokha since they overran the capital Sanaa in September 2014 and advanced on other regions aided by troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. The coalition mounted a military campaign against the rebels in March 2015 as insurgents closed in on Hadi in his refuge in the southern city of Aden and forced him to seek exile in Riyadh. Loyalists have since drove rebels out of five southern provinces, including Aden. But despite its massively superior firepower, the rebels and their allies still control Sanaa and much of the central and northern highlands, as well most of the 450-kilometre (280-mile) Red Sea coast. United Nations peace envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed visited Sanaa on Sunday for talks and to push a peace plan that would restore a ceasefire and lead to a political transition in the country. The plan would lead to a political transition under which Hadi's powers would be significantly reduced. Seven ceasefires brokered by the United Nations have failed and UN-backed peace talks have repeatedly broken down. The World Health Organization says that more than 7,400 people have been killed since the coalition intervention began. A UN spokesman has said the civilian death toll alone could top 10,000. Xiaomi's Barra quits China for Silicon Valley Hugo Barra, who caused a sensation in 2013 by leaving Google to become a vice president of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, announced Monday he was returning to the United States for health reasons. Barra, under whom Xiaomi was for a time China's best-selling brand, described his experience as a "spectacular" journey but said it was time to return home for a "new adventure". He did not elaborate. "But what I've realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health," he said in a message on Facebook, without giving details. Hugo Barra caused a sensation in 2013 by leaving Google to become a vice president of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi WANG ZHAO (AFP/File) Beijing and other Chinese cities are notorious for dangerous air pollution. "My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family," he said. Barra said Xiaomi was now well placed to continue its international expansion. The firm, created in 2010, was little known outside China when it recruited Barra to run its international activities. The highly publicised recruitment marked the beginning of its dramatic transformation into an industrial giant. It briefly held the top slot for smartphone sales in China, far ahead of Apple and South Korea's Samsung. At Barra's instigation, Xiaomi also made some overseas breakthroughs, notably in Southeast Asia, Russia, and especially India -- where he achieved $1 billion in annual revenue. Despite his efforts, Xiaomi still depends on the Chinese market for the overwhelming majority of its sales. But it faces strong domestic competition -- including newcomers Oppo and Vivo -- in the low-cost smartphone niche, and its market share continues to decline. In the third quarter of 2016, Xiaomi was fourth with 8.7 of the Chinese market compared to 16 percent a year earlier. Deal to remove Israeli outpost in West Bank in jeopardy A deal to evacuate a hardline Jewish outpost that has become a symbol of Israel's occupation of the West Bank was in jeopardy Monday ahead of a February 8 deadline to remove it. Settlers in the Amona outpost of some 40 families and which was built on Palestinian land accused the government of not living up to the terms of a deal reached in December that would see them moved nearby. Palestinian landowners also filed a petition to the Israeli high court on Monday with further objections to the government's relocation plans, said rights group Yesh Din, which is representing them. Young Israeli settlers gather in the settlement outpost of Amona in the West Bank on December 18, 2016 MENAHEM KAHANA (AFP/File) In response, the court issued an injunction preventing the land plots in question from being taken over while it studies the petition, Yesh Din said. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief of staff, Yoav Horowitz, reportedly told ministers from his Likud party that the deal could not be implemented because of legal complications. The lack of a clear solution has once again raised the possibility of a forced evacuation of the Amona settlers by the Israeli government and fears that violence could result. "Right now we're dealing with the fact that the government and officials lied," said Eli Greenberg, an Amona resident and spokesman for the outpost. "They promised all kinds of lies to us." The Israeli defence ministry unit that oversees civilian affairs in the West Bank did not respond to a request for comment. The long-running saga has centred on a 2014 high court ruling ordering the outpost northeast of the Palestinian political capital of Ramallah to be evacuated because it was built on private Palestinian land. An initial deadline of December 25, 2016 was given for the outpost to be removed. - Deadline extended - But with the deadline approaching, Israeli right-wing politicians rushed to Amona's defence while also promoting a bill to legalise thousands of other settler homes in the West Bank. Hundreds of hardline Jewish youths also flooded into the outpost in a bid to prevent the evacuation. Negotiations resulted in a deal on December 18 under which Amona residents agreed to relocate peacefully to nearby land considered abandoned. The court then granted an extension of the deadline to February 8 when the settlers promised to relocate peacefully. But Palestinian landowners objected to the plans, resulting in further legal manoeuvrings. Their court petition on Monday objected to a government plan to divide certain plots and called for the deal to be scrapped. "Ever since the notion of using abandoned property was suggested, we have claimed that one injustice cannot be corrected with another, and that additional land cannot be taken over just to appease Amona residents," Yesh Din executive director Neta Patrick said in a statement. Israeli settlements are seen as major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of a future state of their own. All are considered illegal under international law, but Israel differentiates between those it has approved and those it has not. Settlements such as Amona are called outposts -- those that Israel has not approved. Some 400,000 Israelis live in the West Bank among around 2.6 million Palestinians. Bahrain court hears Twitter 'evidence' against activist The prosecution in a Bahraini court on Monday presented what it said was evidence against prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab, accused of spreading "false information" about the kingdom, a judicial source said. They submitted an "expert report" that they said confirmed Rajab was in charge of his Twitter account where allegedly offensive tweets were posted, the source said. The defence, for its part, reiterated it case that Rajab was not in control of his account at the time the tweets were posted. Prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab (centre) has been repeatedly detained for organising protests and publishing tweets deemed insulting to Bahrain's Sunni authorities Mohammed al-Shaikh (AFP/File) The court had ordered the appointment of an expert from the interior ministry's cyber crimes unit to determine who was operating Rajab's Twitter account. The hearing was adjourned to February 21. Rajab is accused of "spreading false news and rumours and inciting propaganda during wartime which could undermine the war operations by the Bahraini armed forces and weaken the nation", according to state media. Sunni-ruled Bahrain is part of a Saudi-led coalition battling Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen. Shiite human rights activist Rajab, who had been pardoned for health reasons in 2015, was rearrested in June and is on trial on a list of charges, including insulting a state institution and Saudi Arabia in online postings. A Bahraini court had last month ordered Rajab freed pending the trial on charges of spreading false information. But the prosecution decided to keep Rajab in custody pending questioning in another cyber crime case on a similar charge of "spreading false news about the situation in the kingdom". Rajab has been repeatedly detained for organising protests and publishing tweets deemed insulting to Bahrain's Sunni authorities. He previously served two years in jail on charges of taking part in unauthorised protests in the Shiite-majority kingdom. Erdogan asks Tanzania to act against Gulen network Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli to take action against the network of an exiled cleric he blames for last year's failed coup. The Hizmet movement run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, is linked to a network of schools across the world, including in Africa, and the Turkish president is rallying leaders on the continent to help him fight the influence of his longtime rival. "The party that wants to overthrow me isn't only in Turkey... I am convinced that Tanzania will from now on take measures against this terrorist organisation," Erdogan said after meeting Magufuli. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe Magufuli arrive at State House in Dar es Salaam on January 23, 2017 STRINGER (AFP) It was not clear what action he had asked Tanzania to take against the schools, which are believed to be affiliated with Gulen's movement. They are extremely popular among the country's middle class and often among the best performing schools. Turkish officials accuse Gulen of using his vast private education network to build influence and of running a "parallel state" inside Turkey. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally, vehemently denies the allegations. A reclusive figure, he has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Hizmet describes itself as promoting Islam through charity efforts and educational work in countries stretching from Turkey to Africa and Central Asia to the United States. - Rail loan - Erdogan, whose five-day tour will also take him to Mozambique and Madagascar, also discussed business and trade. Magufuli said he had asked Erdogan for a loan to help build a planned railway to link Dar es Salaam with neighbouring countries including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. A Turkish firm is set to win a tender to build the $7.6 billion (7.1-billion-euro) railway. The contract had initially been awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies, which had already built five kilometres of the railway. But it was cancelled due to irregularities in the tender process shortly after Magufuli was elected. The tender being awarded to a non-Chinese company has cast doubts over whether China's Exim bank, which finances external development projects, will still put up the money. Erdogan's visit also comes as Tanzania looks to new sources for budgetary support and concessional loans, after several donor countries in 2015 withdrew their support over a high-level corruption scandal. "The government is turning to Turkey as a possible source of concessional loans and investments," the government official said. The Tanzanian government said earlier this month it would have to turn to India and China to borrow $939-million. What do the Cold War and a Kentucky Derby competitor horse have in common? Nuclear power and the Mennonites? Opposites collide in a beautiful way in South Carolinas Thoroughbred Country, situated along I-20, between Atlanta and Charleston just east of Augusta. From North Augusta, travel through Thoroughbred Countrys charming small towns, including Williston, Blackville, Denmark and Bamberg, to Charleston and Hilton Head, by US 78 and US 278. Venture off the beaten path and take US 301, 321 or 1 as alternate routes driving through new opportunities for cultural explorations in the counties of Thoroughbred Country located along these pathways. Or follow I-95 on the other side of Bamberg County and take a new route to the final destination. While in Thoroughbred Country, visit the Savannah River Site a 198,344-acre key Department of Energy industrial complex, established in the 1950s as a nuclear reservation in the United States in Aiken, Allendale and Barnwell counties, adjacent to the Savannah River, 25 miles southeast of Augusta, Georgia. The plant was used to produce the basic materials used in the fabrication of nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239, in support of the nations defense programs. Five reactors were built to produce these materials. Also built were a number of support facilities including two chemical separations plants, a heavy water extraction plant, a nuclear fuel and target fabrication facility, a tritium extraction facility and waste management facilities. Now a hydrogen production facility, the Site is a top employer in the area. Today the Savannah River Site (SRS) is responsible for stewardship of the environment, the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile and nuclear materials. More specifically, SRS processes and stores nuclear materials in support of the national defense and U.S. nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The Site also develops and deploys technologies to improve the environment and treat nuclear and hazardous wastes left from the Cold War. Visit www.srs.gov/general/tour/public.htm to sign up for one of the limited, free, controlled driving tours, offered on a bus provided by the SRS, requiring advanced registration and credentials and open to the public each year. TIP: You must be 18 years or older to take the tour. Coming soon, heritage tours will be offered, covering the towns that were relocated due to the building of the SRS, providing a visualization of the history of the area and delving into the lives of the people who were affected by the plant. Netanyahu sees 'opportunities' with Trump but calls for restraint Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday Donald Trump's presidency in the United States represented "significant opportunities" for Israel, but called for restraint from fellow right-wing politicians. Referring to former US president Barack Obama, Netanyahu said "after eight years of withstanding huge pressures on a large array of topics, first and foremost Iran and the settlements, I definitely welcome the change of attitude". "We're (now) facing great and significant opportunities for the security and future of the state of Israel." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on January 22, 2017 Ronen Zvulun (POOL/AFP) Obama's administration grew frustrated with Israeli settlement building, warning it was eating away at prospects of a two-state solution. Netanyahu also strongly opposed the nuclear deal between Israel's arch-foe Iran and world powers, including the United States. But with right-wing politicians pushing hard for Israel to move immediately to build more settlements and even annex parts of the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu said restraint was needed. "This is not the time to shoot from the hip," Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history, told lawmakers from his Likud party. "This is the time for responsible and rational diplomacy with friends, diplomacy that will strengthen the cooperation between us and the trust between the Israeli government and the new administration in Washington." Trump has signalled strong support for Israel, and Israeli right-wing politicians have sought to take advantage, with hardliners calling for an end to the idea of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has said he still supports a two-state solution, but reportedly told ministers Sunday that all restrictions on building settlements in annexed east Jerusalem were being lifted. He also said he plans to expand construction in large settlement blocks in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reported, and that he foresees eventually bringing all settlements under Israeli sovereignty. Media said those comments helped convince Education Minister Naftali Bennett from the hardline Jewish Home party to postpone a push to immediately annex Maale Adumim, a large West Bank settlement near Jerusalem. Discussion on whether to do so is to be put off until after Netanyahu meets Trump in early February. The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday. Bennett, who opposes a Palestinian state and advocates Israel annexing most of the West Bank, has spoken repeatedly of what he sees as the rare possibilities under a Trump presidency. "We're calling on PM Netanyahu: Do not miss the opportunity of once in 50 years," he said Monday, according to his office. Pompeo confirmed as CIA boss, Tillerson nomination advances The US Senate has confirmed Mike Pompeo as CIA director and advanced the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state, taking key steps toward filling President Donald Trump's cabinet. Pompeo, a Republican congressman on the House Intelligence Committee, becomes only the third member of Trump's cabinet to take his post, as the president's Republican Party has pushed hard to speed up confirmation of his nominees. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly were sworn in Friday, Inauguration Day. US Senate confirms Mike Pompeo, a Republican congressman on the House Intelligence Committee, as CIA director ALEX WONG (Getty/AFP/File) The Republican-led Senate confirmed Pompeo, a 53-year-old US Army veteran, by a vote of 66 to 32, with significant support from Democrats. "He will be an excellent CIA director," said House Speaker Paul Ryan, who tweeted his congratulations to his House colleague. While Pompeo faced some Democratic pushback, many in the opposition party acknowledged his keen understanding of intelligence issues, especially the cyber threat facing the nation. Pompeo "has committed to following the law regarding torture (and) promised to provide objective analysis of Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement," said veteran Senator Dianne Feinstein. Republicans had hoped to confirm Pompeo on Friday but Democrats balked, arguing that a CIA director has never been put in place on Inauguration Day. The delay drew criticism from Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer, who charged that Democrats, led by Senator Chuck Schumer, were "playing politics with national security." Schumer voted in favor of Pompeo on Monday. - 'Demonstrated business orientation' - Meanwhile, a Senate panel greenlighted Tillerson, the former ExxonMobil chief whose nomination has been a source of controversy in large part because of his lack of government or diplomatic experience. The move cleared the way for a confirmation vote by the full chamber. The vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was 11 to 10, along strict party lines, setting up a period of debate and subsequent vote on an as-yet-undetermined day in the Republican-controlled Senate. Tillerson received a major boost when Senator Marco Rubio, one of three Republicans who had expressed doubts about him, announced he will support Tillerson for the post despite serious reservations. Rubio said he still had concerns about Tillerson's positions on human rights. But he stressed that given the "uncertainty" about the direction of US foreign policy, "it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy." Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, the other Republicans who had expressed reservations about Tillerson's past dealings with Russia, gave their blessing on Sunday. Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate. A simple majority is required for confirmation of cabinet positions. The committee's Democrats voted in unison against Tillerson. "I believe Mr Tillerson's demonstrated business orientation... could compromise his ability as secretary of state to forcefully promote the values and ideals that have defined our country and our leading role in the world for more than 200 years," Senator Ben Cardin said in a statement. Democrats have also blocked nomination votes by arguing that ethics reviews and other vetting of key nominees had been insufficient. Former president Barack Obama had seven nominees approved on his first day as president in 2009. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News Sunday that despite the delays by Democrats, "we will be able to confirm the entire cabinet." Republicans were also hoping to get Trump's pick for US attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, installed swiftly. Trump torpedoes Pacific trade pact President Donald Trump yanked the United States out of a major Pacific trade deal Monday, making good on an election campaign promise and delivering a hammer blow to Asian allies. Trump said he had "terminated" the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- a trade deal binding the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Vietnam and seven other allies against growing Chinese economic clout. Together, TPP members represent 40 percent of the world economy. US President Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership in the Oval Office of the White House on January 23, 2017 SAUL LOEB (AFP) After signing an executive order, Trump said he would be "going back to those countries one-on-one" to find terms more favorable to the United States. "We are going to have trade but we are going to have one-on-one," he said. "And if somebody misbehaves, we are going to send a letter of termination -- 30 days and they'll either straighten it out or we are gone." Trump came to office promising to gut existing trade pacts and reclaim manufacturing jobs lost overseas. Trump has also vowed to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada. Economists warn those jobs are never coming back and point to automation, not trade, as the main reason. But Trump has sought to tap populist anger and argued for much more transactional trade deals, regardless of the impact on international norms and standards. - 'Serious mistake'? - According to a Peterson Institute analysis, the United States stood to be the biggest beneficiary from TPP, with an annual increase in exports of $357 billion. The Institute also projected that the pact would be broadly neutral for employment levels. President Barack Obama's administration had also touted the deal as a strategic counterweight to China. Trump's Republican ally John McCain described the new president's decision as a "serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for America's economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region." "It will create an opening for China to rewrite the economic rules of the road at the expense of American workers. And it will send a troubling signal of American disengagement in the Asia-Pacific region at a time we can least afford it." It remains far from clear whether countries that have spent years negotiating the TPP would be willing to enter new talks. "The US already has trade deals with six of the 11 TPP partner countries so that leaves a handful of countries for potential new deals, most notably Japan," said Cathleen Cimino-Isaacs of the Peterson Institute. "The emphasis on bilaterals is based on the perception that the US gave up too much in the TPP and will get better concessions from other trading partners in bilateral deals," she said. "But it's not clear that would be the case. The US actually gave few new concessions in the TPP in big areas like services and government procurement," Cimino-Isaacs added. "At the same time, it was able to get greater concessions from countries like Japan in exchange for helping secure market access and agreement on high standards in other TPP markets." - Tax cuts - Later Monday, Trump met with Congressional leaders and had private talks with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan. Tax reform is likely to be high on the agenda. "What we're doing is we are going to be cutting taxes massively for both the middle class and for companies," Trump said Monday. To pay for those cuts, Trump has promised a "border tax," which is likely to come in the form of increased tariffs on exports. That move is likely to face a challenge at the World Trade Organization and from big-box retailers. Trump also vowed Monday to cut regulation "massively" by up to 75 percent. It remains unclear how this would be done or quantified. - Rocky start - Trump signed two other executive orders Monday -- freezing the hiring of federal workers and hitting foreign NGOs that help with abortion. The Republican leader is looking to shift attention firmly back onto his policy agenda after a first few days that put his incoming administration on the back foot. Since he was sworn in on Friday, Trump's White House has been pilloried for lying to the public about inaugural crowds and over a campaign-style speech by the president before a memorial to fallen CIA officers. On Saturday, several million Americans poured onto the streets for women-led demonstrations against Trump, the scale of which were unseen in a generation, in a potent rebuke to the president. Trump has upbraided top aides over unfavorable media coverage on everything from crowd sizes to suggestions he has ruled out releasing his taxes. He is the first presidential candidate in recent memory not to do so. Trans-Pacific Partnership John SAEKI, Gal ROMA (AFP) Fears for Mosul civilians as Iraq plans west bank assault Three quarters of a million civilians living in west Mosul are at "extreme risk", the United Nations warned Tuesday as Iraqi forces prepared for a push into the jihadist bastion. A hundred days into a massive offensive to retake the Islamic State group's last major stronghold in Iraq, federal forces and jihadists took up positions on either side of the Tigris River that divides Mosul. The three months it took to reconquer Mosul's east saw some tough fighting but even deadlier battles are expected on the city's west bank, which is home to the narrow streets of the Old City and some of IS's traditional redoubts. Iraqi forces have all but completed their reconquest of Mosul's east bank and commanders are turning their sights to the western side of the city W.G. DUNLOP (AFP/File) "We hope that everything is done to protect the hundreds of thousands of people who are across the river in the west," the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Iraq Lise Grande said in a statement. "We know that they are at extreme risk and we fear for their lives." Iraqi forces have retaken all central neighbourhoods in east Mosul and on Tuesday were clearing Rashidiyah, which lies on the northern edge of the city and is the east bank's last area still to be secured. Tens of thousands of other forces are deployed north, south and west of Mosul, meaning that the jihadists are trapped in the city where their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed his "caliphate" in 2014. Residents of west Mosul and civil activists told AFP on Monday that IS fighters had forced civilians along the river front to leave their shops and homes. "The group forced us to leave our homes... without allowing us to take our belongings," a resident of Al-Maidan said. "It deployed gun positions and posted snipers on roofs and at windows." Facing them across the river are some of Iraq's most seasoned elite forces, whose engineers some reports said were already working on assembling pontoon bridges for a cross-river assault. All bridges across the Tigris in Mosul were either bombed by IS or hit by airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition that has helped Iraq reclaim about two thirds of the territory it lost to IS in 2014. - Siege conditions - "The Iraqi forces have over the course of their battle against Daesh (IS) in this country developed the capability to do bridging, including bridging while under fire," coalition spokesman Colonel John Dorrian said. The UN had feared an exodus of unprecedented proportions before the Mosul offensive began on October 17 but while 180,000 people did flee their homes, the majority stayed. It now estimates that 750,000 people still live in Mosul's west bank, either because they did not want to leave their homes or were prevented from doing so by IS, which has routinely used civilians as human shields in this conflict. "We don't know what will happen in western Mosul but we cannot rule out the possibility of siege-like conditions or a mass exodus," Grande said in the statement. "To date, nearly half of all the casualties from Mosul are civilians. It's terrifying to think of the risks families are facing," she said. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which assists some of the displaced families, also said the lack of access to west Mosul was a source of great concern, given the humanitarian crisis that fighting in the east had already caused. "Those still trapped inside Mosul city are in even graver danger due to the fighting and shortages and, 100 days since the fighting started, we still have no way to reach them," it said in a statement. The recapture of Mosul by Iraqi forces would deal a death blow to the Iraqi part of IS's caliphate, with the next major target the group's stronghold of Raqa in neighbouring Syria. In retaken areas of eastern Mosul, efforts to resume a normal life picked up in recent days, with many shops reopening and children starting to go back to school. The UN's Children Fund said 30 schools had reopened this week. "After the nightmare of the past two years, this is a pivotal moment for the children of Mosul to reclaim their education and their hope for a better future," UNICEF's Iraq representative Peter Hawkins said. The UN said more than 20,000 people displaced since the Mosul offensive started 100 days ago have already returned to their homes in areas retaken from IS. Iraqi forces take eastern Mosul Thomas SAINT-CRICQ, Sabrina BLANCHARD, Simon MALFATTO (AFP) First day of Syria talks end without apparent breakthrough: sources A first day of indirect peace talks between Syrian rebels and the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Kazakhstan's capital Astana ended Monday without any apparent breakthrough, sources told AFP. "Our delegation's meetings are over for today," a source close to the regime told AFP, after rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told reporters the opposition's meetings were also done for the day. Monday's talks, organised by rebel backer Turkey and regime allies Russia and Iran, could have marked the first time armed rebel groups directly negotiate with Assad's regime since the conflict began in 2011. Representatives of the Syria regime and rebel groups along with other attendees take part in the first session of Syria peace talks at Astana's Rixos President Hotel on January 23, 2017 Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV (AFP) But the rebels backed out of direct talks because of the regime's ongoing bombardment and attacks near Damascus. The rebels, however, participated in indirect talks with the regime and held a three-way meeting with Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, an encounter Aridi described as "long and productive". Aridi told reporters the "two sides are working on issues relating to the confirmation of the ceasefire" brokered last month by Ankara and Moscow. He said that the rebel delegation had met with Russia -- which launched a bombing campaign in support of Assad in September 2015 -- and discussed "achieving a ceasefire in Syria". The talks are scheduled to continue on Tuesday, with Aridi saying he expected they would take place "through mediation." Sharks gather off Israel in pilgrimage to warm waters Sharks have gathered off a coastal electricity plant in northern Israel where the Mediterranean waters are warmer, prompting authorities on Monday to warn people to keep away. Dozens of sandbar and dusky sharks, which can reach up to three metres (10 feet) in length, are attracted to the Hadera plant that uses seawater to cool its turbines before discharging the warmer water back into the sea. Images of the sharks have created a stir among Israeli divers seeking the ultimate thrill of swimming with the predators and taking pictures with them. Dozens of sandbar and dusky sharks, which can reach up to three metres (10 feet) length, are attracted to a coastal electricity plant in northern Israel JACK GUEZ (AFP) The Israeli Nature and Parks Authority and the Israel Diving Authority issued a warning to protect both the public and the sharks from close and potentially lethal encounters, noting that sharks are a protected species that cannot be fished, fed or harassed. While the past decade has seen a steady growth in the number of sharks seeking warm spots off Israel's Mediterranean coast, experts are still unsure what draws them there. "We know they like being in the warm waters, but we don't know exactly why," Nature and Parks Authority marine ecologist Ruth Yahel told AFP. "You can see they're drawn to the warm water -- they enter its stream and perform a Rondo-like dance, fly out with the stream, circle around and do it again," she said. "They might do it because it's fun, or pleasurable to be in the warm water." Other possible explanations to the warmer water's appeal could be a relative abundance of prey, protection from parasites or a meeting point for mating. But "these are all theories, we don't really know", Yahel said. While shark populations in the Mediterranean are in decline, the number of sightings off Israel has been rising in recent years, according to Yahel. "The impression is they're arriving here more," she said, with scientists unable to explain the phenomenon. There have not been any recorded incidents of sharks attacking people off Israel's Mediterranean coast for decades. US judge blocks Aetna-Humana deal as bad for consumers A US federal judge on Monday blocked Aetna's proposed $37 billion acquisition of rival health insurer Humana, ruling the combination would stifle competition in the health sector. US District Judge John Bates upheld the essential arguments of antitrust regulators who sued to block the deal, saying that combining two of the big five American health insurers would harm consumers. He highlighted consumers in the "Medicare Advantage" program for seniors, an alternative to the federal health-care program, and the three health exchanges in Florida set up under the Affordable Care Act. US District Judge John Bates, pictured in 2016, ruled against health insurer Aetna's acquisition of Humana ZACH GIBSON (AFP/File) "The Court concludes that the proposed merger is likely to substantially lessen competition," Bates said in a 158-page decision. "The proposed merger of Aetna and Humana will be enjoined." Aetna, which would be forced to pay $1 billion to Humana if the deal falls through, said it is considering appealing the decision. But the decision to block the merger was applauded by US Justice Department antitrust chief Brent Snyder. "Aetna attempted to buy a formidable rival, Humana, instead of competing independently to win customers," Snyder said in a statement. "Millions of consumers have benefited from competition between Aetna and Humana, and will continue to benefit because of todays decision to block this merger." The decision could be a bad omen for the merger of two of the other big five American private insurers who sought to merge, Cigna and Anthem. A trial was held on the Cigna-Anthem merger with a different judge late last year, shortly before the start of the 13-day trial on Aetna-Humana. The decision comes as President Donald Trump takes initial steps to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Congressional Republicans have said undoing the signature legislation of former president Barack Obama is one of their top priorities. Rapper Soulja Boy faces prison on gun charges The rapper Soulja Boy, whose 2007 track "Crank That" became a major dance craze, was charged Monday with felony weapons charges that could land him four years in prison. Los Angeles prosecutors announced two felony counts and a misdemeanor charge against the 26-year-old, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way. The rapper, who was arrested at his Los Angeles home on December 15, is accused of owning an illegal assault weapon and possessing another gun despite restrictions due to a previous conviction. Soulja Boy, pictured in 2009, is accused of owning an illegal assault weapon and possessing another gun despite restrictions due to a previous conviction Taylor Hill (GETTY/AFP/File) The Glock handgun was allegedly stolen from a police vehicle, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office said, adding that Soulja Boy faced up to four years in state prison. "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," the rapper's debut released when he was still a teenager, was the first single ever to be downloaded three million times, although the record has since been surpassed. The song became a viral sensation online as dancers tried out the moves, which entail shaking arms alternately to the right and the left. France FM in Saudi to reaffirm 'partnership' France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to reaffirm the allies' "strategic partnership", as European concerns mount over US President Donald Trump's foreign policies. Ayrault, on his first ministerial visit to the kingdom, "will discuss the main regional issues, particularly the situations in Yemen, Iraq, Libya and Syria", the French foreign ministry said in a statement. The minister is to meet his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir as well as King Salman. French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault on his first ministerial visit to Saudi Arabia "will discuss the main regional issues, particularly the situations in Yemen, Iraq, Libya and Syria" Eric FEFERBERG (AFP/File) France's ties with Saudi Arabia have grown under President Francois Hollande. At the same time, Riyadh has been building alliances beyond its traditional defence partner, the United States, to counter Iran, after concerns that former president Barack Obama had eased US policy towards Riyadh's regional rival. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shiite-dominated Iran support opposite sides of the wars in Syria and Yemen. Ayrault's visit coincides with Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan jointly organised by Iran, Turkey and Russia. The French minister "will reaffirm the strategic partnership uniting France and Saudi Arabia", the foreign ministry in Paris said. Trump, who took over from Obama on Friday, has prompted European fears of an isolationist Washington. Trump cast doubt on Europe's future, particularly after Britain's shock vote to leave the EU, prompting Ayrault to say last week that the best response is for Europeans to "come together as a bloc". However, Jubeir has said he expects Trump's administration "to be more engaged" in the Middle East, rebuilding ties with allies. Ayrault's Saudi visit, which ends on Tuesday, follows a trip to France last June by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the defence minister and driving force behind the kingdom's Vision 2030 plan to diversify its oil-dependent economy. The French minister on Tuesday morning is to visit construction work on the $22.5-billion Riyadh Metro rapid transit project, in which French company Alstom is part of a consortium building the system. He will also meet Saudi business leaders. White House warns China on trade, South China Sea The White House warned China it will "defend" US and international "interests" in the South China Sea and that trade must be a "two-way street." Signaling Donald Trump's tough stance against Beijing on Monday, spokesman Sean Spicer said "the US is going to make sure we protect our interests" in the South China Sea. "If those islands are, in fact, in international waters and not part of China proper, yeah, we'll make sure we defend international interests from being taken over by one country." A Chinese navy formation, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning (C), during military drills in the South China Sea on January 2, 2017 China lays claim to a vast extent of the South China Sea within a so-called "nine dash line," including waters claimed by several of its neighbors. Under president Barack Obama's administration that preceded Trump's, Washington insisted it was neutral on the legal question of sovereignty over the islets, reefs and shoals. But, while calling for the dispute to be resolved under international law, the US supported freedom of navigation by sending naval patrols through Chinese-claimed turf. Last week, former ExxonMobil chief executive and secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson suggested a hardening of this stance, calling China's building of bases on the disputed islands illegal. "We're going to have to send China a clear signal that, first the island building stops, and second, your access to those islands is also not going to be allowed," he said. Tillerson's remarks raised the prospect of a confrontation between the world's two greatest powers, and Spicer did nothing from the White House podium to walk them back. He also took a tough line on trade, returning to Trump's campaign theme that existing rules favor Chinese exports to the United States and cost American jobs. - 'Not a two-way street' - Spicer said that Trump is aware that US firms need access to China's large domestic market, but that he is not prepared to accept that current arrangements continue. "In many cases, it's not a two-way street," he argued. "There's so many Chinese businesses and individuals frankly, who can have ease of access in the United States to sell their goods or services." Spicer cited limits on the penetration of US financial and banking services in China, and noted the difficulties of US firms protecting their intellectual property rights. Trump "understands the market that China has and our desire to further penetrate that market," Spicer argued. "But he also recognizes there are a lot of concerns with how we are treated entering into China's market and we need to review that." Trump advisors have mulled declaring China a "currency manipulator," or levying tariffs on Chinese products in a bid offset in the import gap. Even before taking office, Trump infuriated Beijing accepting a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The move upended decades of diplomatic precedent in which the US president avoided direct public communication with the island's leader. Longtime civic leader and CPA Carl Henderson was named to the Chattanooga Housing Authoritys Board of Commissioners by Mayor Andy Berke. Mr. Henderson replaces the unexpired term of outgoing board member Jim Steffes, who is also a CPA. He will serve until 2020. Serving as past managing partner for HHM CPAs, Carl Henderson has vast experience in multiple services and industries. As a former revenue agent for the IRS, Mr. Henderson is well versed on tax laws and will bring that expertise to the Housing Authority. In addition to his professional service, Mr. Henderson is an active member of the community serving in volunteer leadership roles at the Mountain City Club, Siskin Foundation, and, Friends of North Chickamauga Creek Greenway. He and his wife Paula, reside in North Chattanooga. I am pleased Carl Henderson agreed to join the Chattanooga Housing Authority Board, said Mayor Andy Berke of the appointment. His professionalism and commitment to the community are second-to-none and Im excited about the talents he will bring to the agency. In addition to Mr. Hendersons appointment, the City Council also approved staggered board terms for several members of the CHA Board. Board Chair Eddie Holmes and Jim Levine will serve terms ending on May 31, 2021. Wilbert Roberts and Edna Varner will serve terms ending on June 1, 2019, while Vice-Chair Jim Sattler will serve a term ending June 1, 2018. CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright said, Individuals serving the community as CHA Board Members bring a wealth of expertise and experience to their roles. By staggering the terms of their appointments, weve ensured that the Housing Authority will continue to enjoy strong leadership both now and into the future. US blacks experience far more deaths in the family: study African-Americans are twice as likely as whites to lose two or more family members by age 30 -- often their mother, father or a sibling -- a factor that may contribute to poorer health over a lifetime, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is described as the first to show "the corrosive effects on black families and communities" of this repeated grief and bereavement. The report was based on 42,000 people whose information was recorded in nationally representative health surveys over the past several decades. African-Americans were 90 percent more likely than whites to experience four or more deaths in the family by age 65 BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI (AFP/File) It found that whites were 50 percent more likely than blacks to never experience a family member death at all by age 65. But blacks were 90 percent more likely than whites to experience four or more deaths in the family by age 65. Black Americans are known to die early at much higher rates than white Americans due to a host of reasons, including poverty, crime and lack of health care. But researchers said this toll has never before been explored as a factor in racial health disparities. Losing a parent, or other family member, so frequently "is a unique source of adversity for black Americans that contributes to lifelong racial inequality," said the study, led by researchers at the University of Texas (UT), Austin and Michigan State University. The loss of these important social connections can trigger health problems through stress, financial crises, and instability at home. The study pointed to "substantial literature on bereavement" that shows loss of family members "undermines physical health and increases mortality risk." "The potentially substantial damage to surviving family members is a largely overlooked area of racial disadvantage," said Debra Umberson, a sociology professor who is the director of the UT Population Research Center. The Latest: Trump changes course after denouncing protesters WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times EST): 9:45 a.m. President Donald Trump is doing a quick about-face about the protests that swept through Washington and around the world on Saturday. A large crowd gathers at the Capitol for the Women's March on Jackson, Miss., as people across the nation rally in support of women's rights Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger, via AP) Trump tweeted Sunday morning that "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy." He then continued, "Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views." That came less than two hours after he first denounced the protests, which drew more than 1 million people. He tweeted he was "under the impression that we just had an election!" and adds: "Why didn't these people vote?" While Trump is claiming these protesters didn't vote, that seems unlikely. Trump won the vote in the Electoral College, putting him in the White House, but Democrat Hillary Clinton captured the popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots. __ 9:35 a.m. The Senate's top Democrat says his party won't be rushing into confirming President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees. Already on the job are retired Gens. James Mattis at the Defense Department and John Kelly at Homeland Security. And there's a vote expected Monday evening on a Republican congressman, Mike Pompeo (pahm-PAY'-oh), to lead the CIA. Sen. Chuck Schumer says that for many other nominees, "there's going to be a thorough debate." He tells CNN's "State of the Union" that he's "dubious" about eight or nine of Trump's picks, and he's citing potential conflicts of interests and policy stands, but says he hasn't made final decisions about how he'll vote. The New York Democrat is making his view clear that "advise and consent does not mean ram it through." ___ 8:15 a.m. President Donald Trump says he watched some of the protests from Saturday when more than 1 million people rallied at women's marches in Washington and around the world. But he doesn't seem to think much of the demonstrations. He says in a tweet Sunday morning that he was "under the impression that we just had an election!" and adds: "Why didn't these people vote?" While Trump is claiming these protesters didn't vote, that seems unlikely. Trump won the vote in the Electoral College, putting him in the White House, but Democrat Hillary Clinton captured the popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots. ___ 8:05 a.m. Germany's foreign ministers says Donald Trump's election as president means "the old world of the 20th century is finally over." Frank-Walter Steinmeier writes in Bild newspaper that Germany will act quickly to secure "close and trusting trans-Atlantic cooperation based on common values" with the new administration. He says that with any power change there are "uncertainties, doubts and question marks," but a lot more is at stake "in these times of a new global disorder." ___ 6:30 a.m. Britain's prime minister says she plans to discuss free trade and the importance of NATO when she becomes the first foreign leader to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington. The White House's invitation for Theresa May to meet with Trump on Friday is seen in Britain as affirmation that Trump values the vaunted "special relationship" between the U.S. and Britain. May tells the BBC that the Trump team is interested in discussing a new trade arrangement with Britain despite the "America first" theme of Trump's inaugural address and his pledge to evaluate every trade deal for its possible benefits to the United States. May says she'll bring up NATO during the meeting, and she calls the alliance the "bulwark" of Europe's defense system. Trump has rattled European allies by suggesting NATO is "obsolete" and that the United States might not come to the aid of countries that don't meet targets for their own defense spending. ___ 4:15 a.m. The Dalai Lama says he hopes President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will work together for global peace. The exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists says the world needs leaders with compassion. According to a press statement, he made the remarks Saturday at a program in New Delhi organized by the women's chapter of an industry group. ___ 4 a.m. Turkey's president says he's interested in hearing President Donald Trump's policies on the Middle East. Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH'-jehp TY'-ihp UR'-doh-wahn) tells reporters before leaving on a trip to Africa that Turkey wants a Mideast where countries' territorial integrity is upheld and the region is not "shattered." Turkey is especially concerned about the possible disintegration of neighbors Iraq and Syria. Erdogan says efforts are underway to set a date for a possible meeting with Trump. FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2017 file photo, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of N.Y. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. The inauguration of Donald Trump leaves Democrats facing a stark power deficit, not only in Washington but in states around the country. Republicans control the White House, Congress, almost two-thirds of statehouses and 32 legislatures. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson, File) Southee reaches 200 wickets, NZ takes control vs. Bangladesh CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) Tim Southee snared his 200th test wicket on Monday as New Zealand took a commanding position on day four of the second test against Bangladesh. At tea, Bangladesh was 100-5 in its second innings, having trailed by 65 runs on first innings. Southee dismissed Tamim Iqbal (8) and first test double century-maker Shakib Al Hasan (9) between lunch and tea to become the fifth New Zealander after Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori, Chris Martin and Chris Cairns to take 200 test wickets. Bangladesh lost two wickets before erasing the first-innings deficit and two more shortly afterwards. At tea, 18-year-old Nazmul Hossain was 10 not out and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan about to come to the crease. The match was following the pattern of the first test in Wellington in which Bangladesh performed strongly in the first innings before faltering in the second to hand New Zealand a comfortable win. After scoring 289, batting first on losing the toss, Bangladesh had New Zealand 260-7 by stumps on the rain -shortened second day, with all of day three lost to rain. Henry Nicholls, who resumed at 56 not out, marshalled the tail order to guide New Zealand to 354 and to establish a good lead. He was out for 98 the ninth wicket to fall only two runs short of a maiden test century. New Zealand strengthened its position in the match and series when it snatched five wickets before tea; two each to Southee and Neil Wagner. Southee first dismissed Iqbal with a classic leg-side trap, luring the batsman into a pull shot that went straight to Mitchell Santner at deep square leg. He then achieved a valued trophy in claiming Shakib's wicket as his 200th. He drew the batsman into a slash outside off stump and Colin de Grandhomme held a catch above his head at gully. De Grandhomme already had a wicket of his own, removing Soumya Sarkar (36) who edged a catch to Jeet Raval at second slip. The veteran Mahmudullah (38) was left to steady the innings but was furious with himself when he edged an innocuous delivery from Wagner onto is stumps. The Latest: 2nd arrest made in San Antonio mall shooting SAN ANTONIO (AP) The Latest on the shooting at a shopping mall in San Antonio (all times local): 10:30 p.m. San Antonio police say a second suspect has been arrested in the deadly shooting and robbery that took place in a shopping mall. Police confirm the person was taken into custody Sunday night. Additional details were not immediately available. The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon after authorities said two men robbed a jewelry store at Rolling Oaks Mall. Police Chief William McManus previously said a "good Samaritan" who tried to stop the suspects was shot and killed. The other robber was shot and injured by another individual, who had a licensed concealed handgun. ___ 7 p.m. San Antonio's police chief is describing the death of a man who was shot as he tried to stop two men after they robbed a jewelry store at a mall as "absolutely senseless." Police Chief William McManus says the "good Samaritan" came upon the two robbers as they fled a jewelry store at Rolling Oaks Mall on Sunday. The man was shot by one of the robbers. That robber was then shot and injured by another individual, who had a licensed concealed handgun. The second robber fled the mall, firing his weapon and injuring two others. Two women suffered non-shooting injuries. Police are still searching for the second robber. McManus described the incident as "a robbery gone really, really bad." The dead man's name was not immediately released by authorities. ___ 5:55 p.m. Authorities in San Antonio say one person is dead and five others have been injured after two men robbed a jewelry store in a San Antonio shopping mall. Police Chief William McManus said that after the two suspects fled the store on Sunday, one of them fatally shot a "good Samaritan" who tried to stop them. Another man, who was carrying a licensed concealed weapon, then shot and wounded that robber. The other robber fled the mall, firing his weapon and injuring a man and a woman. Two other people were taken to the hospital suffering from non-shooting injuries. McManus says police are still looking for the robber who is believed to have left the mall. McManus initially said that six people were injured. ___ 5:20 p.m. Police in San Antonio say they have responded to a shooting at a large shopping mall. Romana Lopez, a spokeswoman for San Antonio police, confirmed that police on Sunday were at Rolling Oaks Mall. Lopez did not immediately provide any other details about the shooting. What could an Indonesian volcanic eruption, a 200-year-old climate disaster and a surge in the consumption of mackerel tell us about today's era of global warming? Quite a bit, researchers say. A group of scientists and academics with the University of Massachusetts and other institutions made that assessment while conducting research about a long-ago calamity in New England that was caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora half a world away in 1815. In this 1891 photo released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Penobscot Bay fishermen clean mackerel near their saltwater farm off the Maine coast. Scientists concluded the 1815 volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia that led to a short period of climate cooling also increased the consumption of mackerel, which were less effected than crops and other animals in New England. WHAT HAPPENED? The 1815 eruption caused a long-lasting, extreme climate event in 1816 known as the 'year without a summer.' The eruption of the volcano, on the island of Sumbawa in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), reached a climax on 10 April 1815 and was followed by between six months and three years of increased steaming and small eruptions. As volcanic winter settled on much of the Northern Hemisphere, crops failed, livestock died and famine swept over many lands. In New England, crop yields may have fallen by 90 percent. The researchers found that 1816 was also called 'the mackerel year,' a clue to what they would find regarding fisheries. Advertisement A cooled climate led to deaths of livestock and changed fish patterns in New England, leaving many people dependent on the mackerel, an edible fish that was less affected than many animals. The researchers assert that bit of history gives clues about what food security could be like in the modern era of climate change. 'How we respond to these events is going to be critically important for how we come out of this in the long term,' said Karen Alexander, the lead author of the study and a research fellow in environmental conservation. 'We can learn from the past how people dealt with the unanticipated.' The research group's findings were published this month in the journal Science Advances. They looked at what the catastrophic Tambora eruption meant for the Gulf of Maine and nearby human food systems. The eruption was one of the most powerful in recorded history and was followed by a short time of climate change specifically, global cooling and severe weather. The eruption was one of the most powerful in recorded history and was followed by a short time of climate change specifically, global cooling and severe weather. Its impact on weather, food availability and human and animals deaths worldwide has been studied extensively. The year that followed the eruption, 1816, is often described as the 'Year Without a Summer.' The researchers behind the Science Advances article found that alewives, a fish used for everything from fertilizer to food by 19th-century New Englanders, did not fare well. But mackerel had better survival rates and became a critical source of protein and jobs, Alexander said. Fishermen tending a brush weir near the St. Croix around 1900. Weir fishing had changed little over the past 100 years. These men still used local available materials to construct the weir and harvested herring in row boats. As crops failed and famine began to spread, the little fish emerged as a staff of life, the report states. The shift marked the beginning of the mackerel fishery as a critical piece of New England's marine economy, and it remains active today; Maine and Massachusetts fishermen caught more than 8 million pounds of Atlantic mackerel in 2015. It's a scenario similar to what parts of the developing world are experiencing today as climate change affects food security. The study states there is a parallel between the need for immediate adaptation after Tambora and the challenges in coping with the climate-driven devastation caused by storms, floods and droughts today. It notes that the loss of food staples due to climate change caused people in the northeastern states to move something seen today in places such as Pakistan and Syria. SOLVED BY A SALEM PHYSICIAN Alex Bryan, a U.S. Geological Survey climate scientist and co-author, says studying a 200-year-old event was a challenge. 'Long-term temperature records don't begin until the turn of the 20th century. 'Fortunately, we found the weather journal of a physician residing in Salem, Mass., who recorded the air temperature four times a day from the 1780s to the 1820s. 'Without his devotion to monitoring the weather, this study would not have been possible.' Advertisement 'Understanding how adaptive responses to extreme events can trigger unintended consequences may advance long-term planning for resilience in an uncertain future,' the report states. How fisheries in the developing world will adapt to future climate change is an important contemporary food security issue, because fish are a vitally important protein resource worldwide. More than a billion of the world's poor obtain most of their animal protein from fish, and 800 million depend on fisheries and aquaculture for livelihoods, according to the nonprofit research group WorldFish. The 1815 Eruption of Mount Tambora was one of the most powerful eruptions in recorded history. The eruption of the volcano, on the island of Sumbawa in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), reached a climax on 10 April 1815 and was followed by between six months and three years of increased steaming and small eruptions. The report illustrates how abrupt changes in climate can have unexpected consequences long after conditions moderate, said Andy Pershing, chief scientific officer and ecosystem modeler for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland. 'Good stewardship of our natural resources can help buffer against some climate impacts. Kuwait state oil company says onshore oil leak contained KUWAIT CITY (AP) Kuwait's national oil company says it has contained an oil leak at one of its southwestern oil fields. Monday's statement by the Kuwait Oil Co. did not identify the onshore oil field affected by the leak, which began Sunday. The state-run Kuwait News Agency said the leak hit the al-Maqwa field. It offered no details about how many barrels of oil had been spilled. OPEC member Kuwait is a major oil producer. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says Kuwait produces some 2.7 million barrels of crude oil a day and holds the world's sixth-largest oil reserves. Scorecard: Bulk of Trump's "Day One" promises unfulfilled WASHINGTON (AP) As a candidate, Donald Trump set a sweeping "Day One" agenda. As of Monday evening, the vast majority of his promises had gone unfulfilled. At rallies and in speeches over the course of his campaign as well as in a contract he spelled out with American voters Trump vowed to move swiftly to overhaul the country's approaches to trade and immigration. President Donald Trump's White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, center, and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, right, watch as President Donald Trump, left, congratulates other White House senior staff during a swearing in ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) He said repealing and replacing his predecessor's signature health care law would be "one of his first acts as president." He vowed to terminate what he dubbed his predecessor's "two illegal executive amnesties." And he committed to push forward with sweeping ethics reforms and undo scores of environmental and other regulations. But since he was sworn into office on Friday afternoon, President Trump has moved forward at a decidedly slower pace. The White House has said it hasn't stuck to its plan because it wants to maximize attention. "If we put 'em all out on one day, they get lost in the ether, I think," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday. But Trump and his aides have also suggested they're reconsidering speed for political and policy reasons. Here's what Trump promised to do on his first day in office, compared with what he's actually accomplished so far. FULFILLED: Promise: Impose a hiring freeze on federal employees, excluding military, public safety, and public health staff. Fulfilled: Trump signed a memorandum Monday freezing most federal government hiring, with an exception for the military. Promise: Formally withdraw from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership. Fulfilled: Trump signed a memorandum Monday that moves to pull the United States out of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. __ IN PROGRESS: Promise: Announce his intention to renegotiate or withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. Progress: In conversations with Canadian and Mexican leaders, aides say Trump has made clear his intention to renegotiate the deal, though no formal steps have been taken. Promise: Convene his generals and inform them that they have 30 days to submit a new plan for defeating the Islamic State group. Progress: Spicer said on Monday he believes Trump has formerly requested Pentagon advice on changing the campaign against the militants. He says the president will continue to have those conversations later in the week. Promise: Ask Congress to send him a bill to repeal and replace Obama's signature health care law. Progress: Trump did sign an executive order Friday aimed at "minimizing the economic burden" of the "Obamacare" law. The order notes that Trump intends to seek the "prompt repeal" of the law. But in the meantime, it allows the Health and Human Services Department and other federal agencies to delay implementing any piece of the law that might impose a "fiscal burden" on states, health care providers, families or individuals. __ PENDING: IMMIGRATION: Stop all federal funding to "sanctuary cities" places where local officials don't arrest or detain immigrants living in the country illegally for federal authorities. Begin deporting what Trump estimates to be more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants living in the country. Cancel visas for citizens of foreign countries that won't take those criminal illegal immigrants back. Immediately terminate former President Barack Obama's "two illegal executive amnesties." That presumably includes DACA, which protects people who were brought into the country illegally as children. Spicer said on Monday that, "For now ... the focus is going to be on people who have done harm to our country." SECURITY AND DEFENSE: Immediately suspend the Syrian refugee program. Suspend immigration from "terror-prone regions" where he says vetting is too difficult. Implement new "extreme" immigration vetting techniques. TRADE: Direct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. DRAINING THE SWAMP and GOVERNMENT REFORM: Propose a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress. Ban White House and congressional officials from becoming lobbyists for five years after they leave the government. Ban former White House officials from lobbying on behalf of foreign governments for the rest of their lives. Ban foreign lobbyists from raising money for U.S. elections. Impose a requirement that for every new federal regulation imposed, two existing regulations be eliminated. ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Remove any Obama-era roadblocks to energy projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline. Lift restrictions on mining coal and drilling for oil and natural gas. Cancel payments to the U.N.'s climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure. HEALTH CARE, GUN CONTROL AND OTHER ISSUES: Cancel "every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama." Begin the process of selecting a new Supreme Court justice. Senate panel narrowly backs Trump's choice for top diplomat WASHINGTON (AP) Rex Tillerson's bid to be secretary of state narrowly won approval Monday from the Republican-led Foreign Relations Committee, a move that all but assures the full Senate will confirm President Donald Trump's pick for the key Cabinet post. Members of the panel voted along party lines, 11-10, to back Tillerson following a contentious confirmation hearing nearly two weeks ago that stoked concerns he might not win the panel's recommendation. But just hours before members cast their votes, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., declared his support for Tillerson, backing off from a challenge to the new president. Rubio said that despite serious reservations about Tillerson, particularly over his views on Russia, he believed a president was entitled to significant deference in assembling his Cabinet. FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2107 file photo, Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. said Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, that he will support Tillerson despite reservations about the former Exxon Mobil CEO as the Republican lawmaker backed away from any challenge to the new president. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) None of the committee's 10 Democrats voted for Tillerson. They cited concerns Tillerson would continue to view the world through the lens of a corporate executive and not the nation's chief diplomat. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panel's top Democrat, said Tillerson "equivocated" during his confirmation hearing on questions about human rights, civil society and press and religious freedoms, and repeatedly prioritized "narrow business interests ahead of these core national security interests." Every nominee for the job going back at least four decades has been approved by overwhelming votes from both sides in the Foreign Relations Committee, as senators have traditionally wanted to deliver a bipartisan display of confidence to the nation's top diplomat. No other nominee since 1977 has received more than two "no" votes from the committee. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the committee's Republican chairman, said he has "no doubt" Tillerson is well-qualified, citing his leadership of the energy giant. Corker chided his colleagues who had demanded information about Tillerson's personal taxes, saying the material had been used to ask "silly, silly questions." Corker also criticized unnamed lawmakers who held Tillerson responsible for comments Trump made during the presidential campaign or during his inauguration speech. "To me, Mr. Tillerson is an adult who's been around," said Corker, adding that Tillerson can be a "very good anchor" on issues that Congress cares about. Rubio announced he would vote for Tillerson in a statement posted on Facebook. "Despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillerson's nomination in committee and in the full Senate," said Rubio, who'd come under strong pressure from fellow Republicans to back the nomination and avoid dealing Trump an embarrassing setback in the early days of his presidency. Rubio had clashed with Tillerson at a committee hearing earlier this month, bridling at his refusal to label Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" and his failure to condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. He chided Tillerson over the need for "moral clarity." But in the end, after unsuccessfully opposing Trump for the GOP nomination last year before coming around to support him, Rubio decided to fall in line this time, too. His statement came after the nomination got a boost Sunday from two influential Republican senators, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who also offered tepid endorsements for Tillerson. Like Rubio, McCain and Graham had voiced concerns in light of Tillerson's long history of personal dealings with Putin, his record of doing oil deals in Russia and his questioning of the U.S. sanctions on that country. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he was encouraged by several of Tillerson's public stances, including "his clear-eyed understanding of the threat posed by Putin's Russia" and his commitment to NATO. But Coons said the differences on key issues between himself and Tillerson outweighed the similarities. "I believe that climate change is a pressing national security threat," Coons said. "I believe that advocating for human rights, a free press, and democracy around the world advances our own security and economic interests here at home." Further roiling the debate is U.S. intelligence's assessment that Russia meddled in the presidential election to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. Even while announcing his support for Tillerson, Rubio laid out a series of concerns in his statement Monday. "Despite his extensive experience in Russia and his personal relationship with many of its leaders, he claimed he did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists and political opponents," Rubio said of Tillerson. "He indicated he would support sanctions on Putin for meddling in our elections only if they met the impossible condition that they not affect U.S. businesses operating in Russia." ___ Associated Press researcher Monika Mathur contributed to this report. ___ Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner Residents pick up pieces after tornadoes leave 19 dead ALBANY, Ga. (AP) Chuck Stafford was watching the Atlanta Falcons rout the Green Bay Packers for the NFC title when bad weather suddenly began to pound his mobile home in southern Georgia. Stafford, 74, had just gone to the bathroom during Sunday's football game when the wind started whipping the mobile home park in Albany where he has lived for 31 years. His home started shaking violently. The gusts blew the windows out of Stafford's trailer, spraying shattered glass everywhere. But he was lucky. A tractor trailer truck that was damaged by an apparent tornado lays on its side, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in Albany, Ga. A vast storm system kicked up apparent tornadoes, shredded mobile homes and left other destruction scattered around the Southeast over the weekend. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) "I grabbed hold of my washer and dryer, got my legs spread apart and hunched over," Stafford said. "I guess I picked a good time to go to the bathroom." Stafford was among residents in Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina who were trying to pick up the pieces left behind by a powerful storm system that tore across the Deep South over the weekend, killing 19 people, including 15 in south Georgia. Rescuers were going through stricken areas Monday, searching for possible survivors. Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler said that a total of four people died Sunday in the county that includes Albany. Some 60 miles away, Coroner Tim Purvis in south Georgia's Cook County confirmed seven people died at the mobile home park in the rural community of Adel, where about half of the 40 homes were leveled. The 15 killed in south Georgia included two deaths each in the counties of Berrien and Brooks. In South Carolina, the National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes struck over the weekend, injuring one woman who was trapped in a mobile home that was damaged near Blackville. The weather service says a tornado touched down about 3:45 p.m. Saturday in Barnwell County and moved into Bamberg County. The other occurred in Orangeburg County a few minutes later. Weather experts say tornadoes can hit any time of year in the South including in the dead of winter. Even north Florida was under the weekend weather threat. While the central U.S. has a fairly defined tornado season the spring the risk of tornadoes "never really goes to zero" for most of the year in the Southeast, explained Patrick Marsh of the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. He said 39 possible tornadoes were reported across the Southeast from early Saturday into Sunday evening none immediately confirmed. Of that, 30 were reported in Georgia, four in Mississippi, and one each in Louisiana and South Carolina. January tornado outbreaks are rare but not unprecedented, particularly in the South. Data from the Storm Prediction Center shows that, over the past decade, the nation has seen an average of 38 tornadoes in January, ranging from a high of 84 in 2008 to just four in 2014. Jenny Bullard, 19, said she and her parents, Jeff and Carla, are glad to have escaped without major injury after an apparent tornado battered their home in Cook County, causing walls to collapse. They are a farming family dating back generations, living not far from where the mobile homes were destroyed. The middle section of their brick house was ripped off the slab. A piano was blown out of the house. She recalled waking up to the sound of hail and then heard her father, calling her name. "There was a bunch of stuff on top of him and I just started throwing everything I could until I got to him," she said. Then she and her parents fled. The young woman went back through the debris for family photos and other belongings. Bricks lay scattered about, alongside their possessions and furniture. Across the street, where the Bullards kept farm equipment in sheds, one shed was blown apart. Two grain silos were blown over. "It's a horrible tragedy. But all this stuff can be replaced," she said. "We can't replace each other. We're extremely lucky. My dad is lucky to be alive." ___ Reeves reported from Albany, Georgia, and Farrington from Adel, Georgia. Associated Press writers Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia; Justin Juozapavicius in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Bill Cormier in Atlanta contributed to this report. A member of the media walks near a truck that was damaged by an apparent tornado, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in Albany, Ga. A vast storm system kicked up apparent tornadoes, shredded mobile homes and left other destruction scattered around the Southeast over the weekend. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Jeff Bullard sits in what used to be the foyer of his home as his daughter, Jenny Bullard, looks through debris at their home that was damaged by a tornado, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) People stop to take a photo of a gas station damaged by an apparent tornado, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Albany, Ga. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Jenny Bullard carries a pair of boots from her home that was damaged by a tornado, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) A broom rests against a stool next to a demolished mobile home on Lockhart Trailer Court Road in Lauderdale, Miss., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Several homes in Lauderdale County were damaged or destroyed after a tornado ripped through the area late Saturday. (Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star via AP) Terry Paramore works on his roof after a severe storm caused a tree to fall on his home, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Albany, Ga. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Prince Kirkland, 1, of Hattiesburg takes a nap at the Forrest County Storm Shelter, in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Kirkland and his family were displaced after a deadly tornado swept through the Hub City in the early hours of Saturday morning. (Ryan Moore/WDAM-TV, via AP) At center, David Barnes, with Colquitt EMC, lunges backwards as a limb he has just cut snaps into the air from tension on downed power lines Sunday Jan. 22, 2017 in Valdosta, Ga. The National Weather Service said Sunday that southern Georgia, northern Florida and the corner of southeastern Alabama could face "intense and long track" tornadoes, scattered damaging winds and large hail. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) Garrett Wooten, right, with the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, looks for residents to evacuate Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, at a trailer park in Adel, Ga. Emergency responders rushed to answer new reports of deaths and injuries Sunday evening in southern Georgia as violent storms already blamed for killing more than a dozen of people in the Southeast continued to inflict destruction. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) Law enforcement officials search for residents to evacuate Sunday Jan. 22, 2017, at a trailer park in Adel, Ga. The National Weather Service said Sunday that southern Georgia, northern Florida and the corner of southeastern Alabama could face "intense and long track" tornadoes, scattered damaging winds and large hail. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) Ken, who asked not to give his full name, works to remove a tree that fell near his home after a severe storm, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Albany, Ga. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Ken, who asked not to give his full name, walks his property after a severe storm passed by his home Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Albany, Ga. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Sandra calls for her cat near a tree that fell in her yard after a severe storm, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Albany, Ga. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Sandra and her husband Ken stand near a tree that fell outside their home after a severe storm, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Albany, Ga. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Sumter Utilities workers restore power line as the remains of a mobile home sit alongside Plant Farm Road on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. Emergency responders rushed to answer new reports of deaths and injuries Sunday evening in southern Georgia as violent storms already blamed for killing more than a dozen of people in the Southeast continued to inflict destruction. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) Sumter Utilities worker Kenny Morgan waits in his bucket in front of the remains of a Valdosta Plant Co. building Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. Emergency responders rushed to answer new reports of deaths and injuries Sunday evening in southern Georgia as violent storms already blamed for killing more than a dozen of people in the Southeast continued to inflict destruction. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) A Sumter Utilities worker lines up a drill for a new power pole amidst a stand of snapped trees Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. Emergency responders rushed to answer new reports of deaths and injuries Sunday evening in southern Georgia as violent storms already blamed for killing more than a dozen of people in the Southeast continued to inflict destruction. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) A tree branch went through the roof into the nursery at Lockhart Church of God in Lauderdale, Miss., when a tornado went through the area late Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star via AP) Sumter Utilities worker Cole Eubanks throw a part up to co-worker Kenny Morgan in front of the remains of a Valdosta Plant Co. building Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. Emergency responders rushed to answer new reports of deaths and injuries Sunday evening in southern Georgia as violent storms already blamed for killing more than a dozen of people in the Southeast continued to inflict destruction. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) A tree branch went through the roof into the nursery at Lockhart Church of God in Lauderdale, Miss., when a tornado went through the area late Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star via AP) The porch is all that is left standing at a home on Lockhart Trailer Court Road in Lauderdale, Miss., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Several homes in Lauderdale County were damaged or destroyed after a tornado ripped through the area late Saturday. (Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star via AP) A woman holds a child while walking through a farm that was damaged by a tornado, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) A man walks through a farm that was damaged by a tornado, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Hattiesburg volunteers Jasmine Fortson, left, Savannah Beans clean up debris after Saturday's tornado in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. The enormous system put millions of people in the South on edge during a weekend of violent weather that left crumpled trailer homes, downed trees and other damage in the hardest-hit communities from Mississippi to Georgia. (Susan Broadbridge/Hattiesburg American via AP) Hattiesburg, Miss., volunteers Brenda Dillion and Vanessa Molden put together boxes of food to give out to tornado victims, law enforcement and others in need of food after Saturday's tornado in Hattiesburg on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. The enormous system put millions of people in the South on edge during a weekend of violent weather that left crumpled trailer homes, downed trees and other damage in the hardest-hit communities from Mississippi to Georgia. (Susan Broadbridge/Hattiesburg American via AP) Three local engineers have been selected to participate in the 2017 Tennessee Leadership PE class, a leadership program designed to sharpen the skills of high potential engineering leaders and current mid-level and senior leaders. Class members selected from engineering firms located in the Chattanooga and Cleveland area are: Jason Hill, Project Manager/Construction Compliance, Tennessee Valley Authority Erin Woodson, PE, Project Manager/Senior Engineer, ARCADIS Michael Kendall, PG, Executive Director, Geotechnical & Environmental Engineering, Geoservices, LLC Leadership PE is a leadership program directed by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee (ACEC Tennessee) targeted to engineering professionals who are committed to developing their leadership and management skills and abilities, and identified by their firm as a future leader of their business. The program includes an orientation session in January and five additional monthly sessions held in locations across the state. Each session is designed to give the participants an opportunity to expand their skillset in the areas of self-knowledge, effective team-building, delegation, conflict management, political savvy, and business acumen. Austrian official: suspect potentially dangerous radical VIENNA (AP) Austrian police urged Vienna residents Monday to be on heightened alert for suspicious objects and activities as they hunted for possible associates of a suspected Islamic radical who they say might have been planning a bomb attack. A 12-year-old boy was among those questioned. Briefing reporters along with other senior law enforcement representatives, Konrad Kogler, Austria's top security official, said the boy had been in contact with the main suspect arrested Friday in his Vienna apartment. Kogler said the child is under supervision, without going into details. Amid the search for suspects, Vienna Deputy Police Chief Karl Mahrer told reporters that the Austrian capital would remain under increased security alert until police were satisfied that any threat of potential attacks was banished Karl Mahrer vice president of Vienna Police speaks on the results of the investigations after the arrest of the radical suspect in Vienna on Friday, during a press conference in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Another suspect thought linked to the Austrian is in German custody after his arrest Saturday. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) "Look, instead of looking away," he urged Vienna residents, calling on them to immediately report anything unusual that could be linked to a terrorist strike. Separately, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka told state broadcaster ORF that the arrested suspect a 17-year-old male has said he supports the Islamic State group. Sobotka described the suspect as having a "real communications network" and as someone with "weight" in radical circles. At a subsequent news conference, Sobotka said "several connecting lines" existed between the youth and other potential suspects in Austria and in Germany. He said the teenager had a "Salafistic background," adding that any attack plans he might have had appeared to have been still in the planning stage. A SWAT team made the arrest after what police said was a tip from a foreign intelligence service. The youth was not identified due to Austrian privacy laws, but Interior Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck said the suspect is believed to be in contact with radical "Albanian-Islamist" circles. Wolfgang Blaschitz, the suspect's lawyer, rejected suggestions that his client was a dangerous radical, describing him as "misled." While acknowledging that the teenager was duped into believing that "countermeasures ... through attacks or similar" were justified in response for misdeeds against civilians in Syria, Blaschitz said "he had no attack plans." Another suspect thought linked to the teenager was in German custody after his detention Saturday. German news agency dpa said law enforcement officials suspected the 21-year-old of helping the Austrian plan an attack and experimenting with making explosives in the German suspect's apartment in the city of Neuss. It cited them as saying, however, that no weapons or explosives were found in a search of his apartment at the time of his arrest. Austrian authorities said after they detained their suspect that he may have been close to carrying out an attack, with the city's subway line a potential target. Sobotka said there were no indications that he had "concrete" plans. But the decision to indefinitely increase the presence of Vienna police at train stations and other frequented areas indicated continued concerns about what Kogler described as a "potential danger situation." ___ This story has been corrected to show that the minor's age was 12. Christian Pilnacek head of the criminal justice section in the justice ministry in Austria speakes during a press conference on the results of the investigation after the arrest of the radical suspect in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) Philippine leader tames his words for Miss Universe hopefuls MANILA, Philippines (AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered a speech without sex jokes and expletives Monday, telling a gathering of Miss Universe contestants that he was told to be careful with his language. Duterte told pageant contestants at the Malacanang presidential palace he had never been in a "roomful of beautiful women," adding "I hope that this day will never end." Eighty-six women will vie for the Miss Universe crown on Jan. 30 in Manila. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte greets Miss Universe contestant Catalina Caceres of Chile as Siera Bearchell of Canada, left, and Violina Ancheva of Bulgaria walk back to their seats after posing with the president during their courtesy call at Malacanang Palace Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. Eighty-six candidates are vying for the title in the grand coronation Jan.30 to succeed Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) The president known for his expletives-laden impromptu speeches said he read prepared remarks for the beauty pageant contestants "because they told me that I must behave in my language, in the adjectives that I would be using to characterize or define your beauty, all of you." Duterte, 71, has been criticized for a number of his remarks on women, including a comment in November about the length of Vice President Leni Robredo's skirt in a Cabinet meeting and a rape joke about an Australian murder victim during the presidential campaign last year. His speech departed from routine also by not mentioning his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs. Duterte instead heaped praise on the Miss Universe aspirants and later smiled as they had several pictures taken with him. "I must say that God is really good," he said. "Aside from the worries of governance, with all the troubles in the world, when we look at you, we forget the universe but only you." He thanked Miss Universe officials for allowing the Philippines to host the international pageant, which he said has brought enormous pride and joy for countries of winning candidates, including the Philippines, where three winners have come from. "More than presenting beauty and brains, the Miss Universe competition or any beauty contestant for that matter is an opportunity for you to represent your country, to promote your advocacies, and to advance women empowerment to a greater audience," Duterte said. Left-wing activists, however, said the pageant couldn't be used to gloss over exploitation of women. "Despite the pomp and supposed celebration of women power surrounding the 65th Miss Universe pageant, women here and abroad remain in their unglamorous and exploited state," the left-wing Rep. Emmi De Jesus said of the Gabriela party-list group. "In the Philippines, 22 women and children are raped every day. Women workers remain concentrated in low-paying, contractual jobs. And mothers face rising budget pressure amid looming price hikes in basic commodities, power and water," she said. Miss Universe contestants, from left in foreground, Tania Dawson of New Zealand, Zoey Ivory of The Netherlands and Lizelle Esterhuizen of Namibia, walk back to their seats after posing with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, second from left in background, during their courtesy call at Malacanang Palace Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. Eighty-six candidate are vying for the title in the grand coronation Jan.30 to succeed Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Samsung details causes of Note 7 fires but questions remain SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Samsung says a thorough investigation into the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 phone has confirmed widely held suspicions that its batteries were to blame, marking a first but important step toward restoring consumer confidence. Samsung announced tighter quality controls and more rigorous testing and took responsibility for failing to ensure that design specifications given to its suppliers were failsafe. The South Korean company was also delaying its next Galaxy phone, the Galaxy S8, which is usually announced in February. The spontaneous fires, many chronicled in videos circulated on YouTube, prompted Samsung to recall millions of phones and take a $5.3 billion hit on its earnings and an unknown amount in reputation. Samsung Electronics's mobile president Koh Dong-jin speaks during a press conference at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday that problems with the design and manufacturing of batteries in its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones caused them to overheat and burst into fire. (Choi Jae-koo/Yonhap via AP) While praising Samsung's frankness and apologies, analysts question whether the world's largest smartphone maker has really gotten to the bottom of the problem in blaming flaws in the design and production of batteries. "Samsung said the weaknesses could make the phone prone to catch fire. That I understand, but what did trigger fires in such conditions? Did they discuss if there is another cause? No," said Park Chul Wan, a former director of the next generation battery research center at the state-owned Korea Electronics Technology Institute. Forrester analyst Frank Gillett said the company's emphasis seems to be on detecting problems in manufacturing, not preventing design problems earlier. The company, he said, needs to find ways to prevent commercial pressures, such as getting a phone out quickly, from causing engineers to make bad decisions. Samsung's Note 7 was timed, in part, to beat Apple's iPhone 7 by weeks. Ramon Llamas, an analyst at research firm IDC, said he would like to see Samsung show more of a "human side" to solving its problem and say what it's doing to work with consumers affected by this. During a two-hour press conference livestreamed in English, Chinese and Korean, Samsung said tests involving more than 200,000 phones and 30,000 batteries showed different problems with both kinds of batteries used in the Note 7. Though some experts had speculated that the phones' ultra-thin design or water-resistant features could have made them prone to overheat, Samsung says the investigation found no such problems. Samsung also ruled out software or design with the rest of the phone's hardware, as well as the supply chain. The Note 7 has one of the biggest battery capacities for a smartphone, but Samsung said the company and outside inspectors found no evidence that the high energy density alone was to blame. Samsung introduced the Note 7 on Aug. 2 and weeks later recalled the first batch after reports emerged that the phones were overheating and in some cases exploding. After replacement phones also started catching fire, aviation authorities banned them on flights and the company dropped the product for good. Having received complaints for failing to fix the problem after the first recall, Samsung brought in three private inspectors to help. Inspectors found damage to the upper corners of batteries made by one manufacturer likely sister company Samsung SDI and used in the initial batches of Note 7s. That, combined with overly thin separators and high energy density, caused the phones to overheat, Samsung said. The cell-pouch design of the battery also did not have enough space to safely accommodate its electrodes another flaw. In other batches of batteries from a second manufacturer, presumably China-based ATL, used in replacements for the recalled smartphones, the researchers found welding defects and a lack of protective tape in some battery cells. Patrick Moorhead, president of Moor Insights & Strategy, said the odds of two different suppliers having issues with the same phone are extremely low. The case "may signal we may have reached an inflection point in smartphone battery technology," Moorhead said. Though Samsung faulted the batteries from its suppliers, it said it would bear all costs. It was unclear to what extent the battery makers were responsible, as Samsung said only that it had provided "targets," such as capacity and thickness. That may suggest a breakdown in communication between Samsung and its suppliers and in quality control and testing. The Note 7 isn't the only gadget to catch fire because of lithium battery problems. Manufacturers like the batteries because they weigh less and pack much more energy into the same space than other batteries. But they are also more susceptible to overheating if they are exposed to high temperatures, are damaged or have manufacturing flaws. Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile division, said Samsung would use what it learned from its investigations to improve lithium battery safety for the industry. To avoid further problems, Samsung said it was introducing an eight-point battery safety check with more intense durability tests; a new test on accelerated usage and a charge and discharge test. The tighter safety measures will be implemented in "every element of the company's devices," it said, including overall design and materials used. Samsung said it also will seek advice on battery safety and innovation from a group of battery experts. The company has recalled 3.06 million Note 7 phones. About 4 percent, or 120,000 units, of the recalled Galaxy Note 7s have not been returned. ___ Follow Youkyung Lee: www.twitter.com/YKLeeAP and https://apnews.com/search/youkyung%20lee ___ AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay contributed to this story from New York. Samsung Electronics's mobile president Koh Dong-jin speaks during a press conference at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday that problems with the design and manufacturing of batteries in its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones caused them to overheat and burst into fire. (Choi Jae-koo/Yonhap via AP) FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2016 file photo, a Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is displayed at the headquarters of South Korean mobile carrier KT in Seoul, South Korea. Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, that problems with the design and manufacturing of batteries in its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones caused them to overheat and burst into fire. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) PICTURED: Editor selections from the past week in Asia The inauguration of President Donald Trump drove many in Asia to the streets, with Filipino protesters burning a mock U.S. flag bearing Trump's image and thousands of Australians joining in a march in Sydney. In other images from the Asia-Pacific region last week, relatives of those lost aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 were devastated by news that the search for the airliner had been called off, nearly three years after it disappeared in the Indian Ocean. Malaysia, Australia and China have agreed not to resume the search unless they get information about the plane's specific location. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a two-day official visit to Vietnam, where Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc appealed for greater investment in the Southeast Asian country. In this Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 photo, protesters burn a mock U.S. flag during a rally in front of the U.S. Embassy to coincide with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, in Manila, Philippines. Left-wing and Muslim activists have asked President Rodrigo Duterte in a noisy protest to keep his promise of charting a foreign policy independent of America by staying away from Trump. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File) Ethnic Chinese communities across the continent prepared for Chinese New Year on Jan. 28 by making traditional foods. And in Tokyo, half-naked parishioners threw cold water on themselves at the Kanda Myojin Shinto shrine in an annual cold-endurance festival. ___ This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Wally Santana in Bangkok. In this Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 photo, thousands file through the streets during the Women's March protesting the start of Donald Trump's U.S. presidency as a skywriting plane spells out "Trump" above in Sydney, Australia. Protesters at the Women's March rally carried placards with slogans including "Women of the world resist," ''Feminism is my trump card" and "Fight like a girl." (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File) In this Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 photo, Wen Wanchang, whose son was on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, cries as he waits for a meeting with Malaysia Airlines officials in Beijing, China. Some relatives of Flight 370's passengers expressed anger, disappointment and a resolve to press authorities to resume their efforts and find out exactly what happened. Others said they understood that the search the most expensive of its kind in aviation history had to come to an end. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) In this Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left on the podium, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, second left, accompanied by their wives, Akie Abe, second right, and Tran Nguyet Thu, right, review an honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi during Abe's two-day official visit to Vietnam. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang, Pool, File) In this Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 photo, workers make a toffee-like sweet cake called "dodol," one of the traditional delicacies served during Chinese New Year celebrations in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia. Ethnic Chinese communities in the world's most populous Muslim country are preparing to celebrate the start of the year of the rooster. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File) In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 photo, impoverished Indian children watch a performance as part of advocacy against child labor in Allahabad, India. Despite the country's rapid economic growth, child labor remains widespread in India, where an estimated 13 million children work, with laws meant to keep kids in school and out of the workplace routinely flouted. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File) In this Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 photo, a man with an umbrella stands in snow in front of the Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the 14th-century Gyeongbok Palace, one of South Korea's well-known landmarks, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File) In this Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 photo, half-naked shrine parishioners using wooden pots throw cold water on themselves during the annual cold-endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin Shinto shrine in Tokyo. Pouring cold water on their bodies is believed to purify their souls. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) In this Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 photo, roosters attack each other during a cockfight as part of Jonbeel festival near Jagiroad, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) east of Gauhati, India. Tribal communities like Tiwa, Karbi, Khasi, and Jaintia from nearby hills come down in large numbers to take part in the festival and exchange goods through an established barter system. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File) In this Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 photo, a tree stands in snow in Pampore on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir. The only all-weather road link that connects the Kashmir valley to the rest of India was closed on the day due to heavy snowfall. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) In this Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 photo, a pair of buffalos take on each other during a traditional buffalo fight held as part of Magh Bihu festivities at Boidyabori village, east of Gauhati, India. Magh Bihu is the harvest festival of north eastern Assam state and is observed in the Assamese month of Magh, that coincides with January. (AP Photo/ Anupam Nath, File) In this Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 photo, a man climbs a palm tree to collect juice from palm flowers to make a palm sugar during the harvest season at Chheu Buorn village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Some villagers of Chheu Buorn earn up to $7 a day by collecting palm juice as part of their daily income. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File) In this Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 photo, two surfers carrying their boards are silhouetted against the sunset at Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File) In this Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 photo, an Olive-backed Sunbird feeds an insect to its two chicks in their nest in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. Sunbirds, a group of very small passerine birds, feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding their young. Sunbirds are found in tropical Africa, India, and the forests of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File) Eight people, including three children, were sent to a hospital after an SUV careened into two Amish buggies in rural northeast Ohio, also killing one horse. The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a Jeep Liberty was heading east on County Road 97, also known as Chestnut Road, in Wayne Township when it crossed the median on Sunday morning and slammed head-on into a horse-drawn buggy. The collision sent the cart hurtling into a second buggy following behind. All seven people in the two buggies were ejected from the vehicles on impact. Scroll down for video SUV Vs buggy: A red Jeep Liberty (left) slammed head-on into a horse-drawn Amish buggy traveling on County Road 97 in rural Ohio Sunday The first buggy then slammed into another cart that was following it, causing all seven people in the two horse-drawn vehicles to be ejected onto the roadway In all, eight people, including a toddler, were taken to area hospitals. The extent of their injuries wasn't immediately known. The three-vehicle crash took place at around 8am at Chestnut Road and Lawnfield Road in Wayne Township as two Amish families from Beach City were on their way to church. The red Jeep Liberty that smashed into the buggies was driven by 36-year-old Stephanie Graybill, of New Philadelphia, who was returning home from work delivering newspapers, according to the Times Reporter. On impact, the Jeep veered off the road and eventually came to a stop in a wooded area. One buggy was carrying a 55-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, who were taken to Aultman Hospital, according to Fox 8. Carnage: The crash killed one horse (pictured) and left eight people injured, among them three children, ages two, six and eight The other buggy was carrying a family of five, including a 32-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman, and three children, ages eight, six and two. One horse was killed in the crash and another sustained minor injuries. Glance at Kazakh capital Astana, host of Syria talks MOSCOW (AP) Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is hosting Syria peace talks, is a relatively new name on the map. Founded in the early 19th century as a Russian empire outpost, Akmolinsk was a backwater in the wind-swept steppe. That changed in 1994 when Kazakhstan's first president decided to move the capital from the commercial center Almaty, and Akmolinsk was renamed Astana. Since then the city's population soared from about 200,000 to 880,000 last year. Primarily developed in post-war years with typical provincial two-story buildings, Astana received a radical makeover in the 1990s to be dominated by skyscrapers and steel-and-glass modern buildings which house government agencies and major companies. Astana's Rixos President Hotel, the place that will host Syria peace talks, seen in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Syrian rebel delegates huddled in Kazakhstan Sunday ahead of talks with government representatives scheduled to begin Monday, the first such negotiations between the two sides in a year. At the top of the agenda is an effort to consolidate a fragile cease-fire agreement reached last month and ease humanitarian suffering in the war-ravaged country. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) Locals joke about how fast Astana was developed. In one anecdote, a passenger asks the taxi driver about a skyscraper they pass. "I don't know. It wasn't there yesterday," the driver replies. Weather in Astana is so brutal that the area was chosen in the 1930s as a location for Stalin's prison camps. A special camp for the wives of "traitors of the people," a common charge that party officials and Red Army officers faced in the 1930s, was set up in the steppes in 1938. Before it was closed in 1950, thousands of female prisoners were sent to the camp, simply for their association with their husbands. Survivors of the wives' camp recall working in deadly winter with the freezing winds sweeping through the steppes and suffering from heat when dust storms rolled in. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Astana is -52 degrees Centigrade (-61 degrees Fahrenheit) and the highest is +43 degrees (109 degrees Fahrenheit). Snow can be seen on the streets in Astana in April and snowfalls are not unheard of in May. People wait for a bus in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is hosting Syria peace talks, is a relatively new name on the map. Founded in the early 19th century as a Russian empire outpost, Akmolinsk was a backwater in the wind-swept steppe. That changed in 1994 when Kazakhstan's first president decided to move the capital from the commercial center Almaty, and Akmolinsk was renamed Astana.(AP Photo/Sergei Grits) A woman walks in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is hosting Syria peace talks, is a relatively new name on the map. Founded in the early 19th century as a Russian empire outpost, Akmolinsk was a backwater in the wind-swept steppe. That changed in 1994 when Kazakhstan's first president decided to move the capital from the commercial center Almaty, and Akmolinsk was renamed Astana.(AP Photo/Sergei Grits) A man uses a mobile phone in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is hosting Syria peace talks, is a relatively new name on the map. Founded in the early 19th century as a Russian empire outpost, Akmolinsk was a backwater in the wind-swept steppe. That changed in 1994 when Kazakhstan's first president decided to move the capital from the commercial center Almaty, and Akmolinsk was renamed Astana.(AP Photo/Sergei Grits) Cars drive past the Byterek tower in the center of Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is hosting Syria peace talks, is a relatively new name on the map. Founded in the early 19th century as a Russian empire outpost, Akmolinsk was a backwater in the wind-swept steppe. That changed in 1994 when Kazakhstan's first president decided to move the capital from the commercial center Almaty, and Akmolinsk was renamed Astana.(AP Photo/Sergei Grits) Iran cautious in its first comments about US President Trump TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran is being cautious in its first comments on U.S. President Donald Trump. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told reporters on Monday that the Islamic Republic has no immediate pronouncement on Trump. Ghasemi says that it's "too soon to assess him and analyze his remarks, stance and the framework of his viewpoints." Vice President Mike Pence, right, accompanied by President Donald Trump, left, swears in White House senior staff during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Ghasemi's remarks mark the first official comment from Iran on Trump since his inauguration as the 45th American president. The U.S. and Iran haven't had formal diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, which saw 52 Americans held captive for 444 days. Maryland's Cardin won't support Tillerson for sec'y of state WASHINGTON (AP) The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says he can't support President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland says in a statement that Rex Tillerson's business orientation and confirmation hearing answers could compromise his ability to forcefully promote U.S. values and ideals. Specifically, Cardin said he based his opposition on Tillerson's unwillingness to call Russia and Syria's atrocities "war crimes," or to describe Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's extrajudicial killings as gross human rights violations. Cardin also said the former Exxon Mobil CEO misled the committee about the company's lobbying against sanctions, such as penalties against Russia for its annexation of Crimea. UK's Theresa May was briefed on nuclear missile system test LONDON (AP) Officials say British Prime Minister Theresa May was told about the June test of Britain's nuclear deterrent system when she took office last year. Downing Street did not confirm or deny a newspaper report that one of the unarmed missiles fired during the test of the submarine-based Trident system had malfunctioned. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about a possible cover-up because Parliament was not told about the test before it debated whether to renew the aging Trident missile system. May's spokeswoman told reporters Monday that she had been briefed about the test. She said the government does not discuss operational details of tests. Families travel to eight different countries and engage in activities specific to the culture of the country. These activities are so much fun that children will have to be reminded that they are measuring, graphing, and using fractions, mathematical operations, timelines, and geometry. Cleveland City Schoolsmeetsat the Administrative Office Building. Members of the Board of Education and parent representatives from each school will discuss the mission and vision of CCS. For more information contact Andrea Byerly, abyerly@clevelandschools.org George R. Stuart Elementary hosts Mother-Son Game Night on Thursday , 6:30 pm . All Stuart mothers and sons are invited to come out and compete against each other in various "Minute to Win It" games. This is a free event including free popcorn and soda. Click here Top Hamas leader in Gaza visits Egypt, 1st trip since 2013 CAIRO (AP) The top Hamas official from the Gaza Strip has arrived in Egypt for meetings with security officials, the highest level visit by a member of the Palestinian militant group since Egypt's army overthrew an Islamist president in 2013. Ismail Haniyeh arrived late Sunday, Egyptian security officials said, as Hamas officials confirmed the visit. All spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters. Hamas, an Islamic militant group with historic links to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed warm relations with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, a top Brotherhood figure who was overthrown by the military after a divisive year in power. The Egyptian government tightened an Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza shortly thereafter, but in recent months there have been signs of a thaw in relations. For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, stifling the economy and largely blocking its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, signs are emerging that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the group. In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013, and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations. Haniyeh left Gaza in September to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca the first time Egypt allowed him to leave the territory since Morsi's ouster. He then went to Qatar to see Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal and discuss issues including the group's upcoming elections. Mashaal is slated to step down from his position this spring, and Haniya is considered a strong candidate to replace him. Meshaal's deputy Moussa Abu Marzouk is the other main candidate. ___ Fate of Polish WWII museum unclear amid battle over history GDANSK, Poland (AP) It was supposed to be the first museum in the world to tell the story of World War II in its entirety by focusing on all the nations caught up in that global conflict. But it has fallen foul of changing political priorities in its Polish home, and as it opened its doors for the first time Monday, it's facing an uncertain future. After nine years of work, the Museum of the Second World War opened in Gdansk for one day to reporters, historians, veterans and donors. Director Pawel Machcewicz hoped the world could get a glimpse of it as he races against the clock to get it finished before he is pushed out of his job, something he believes is inevitable. The project was launched in 2008 by then-Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who is today one of the European Union's top leaders. Aside from its global approach, the creators of the state museum say it is different from most other war museums in that it puts civilian suffering not military campaigns at the heart of the narrative. A woman looks at an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) But the political climate in Poland has changed dramatically since then, with a nationalist and populist government in charge that deeply objects to its approach and wants to take control over the institution to change its content. Members of the ruling Law and Justice party say they want a museum that focuses solely on the Polish experience, with primacy given to the heroism of Polish soldiers who resisted the Germans. "We are being attacked as a museum that is not Polish enough," Machcewicz said. "It's very unusual for the creation of a historical exhibit to encounter such huge pressure from the government." He is putting up a stiff opposition to the attempt to take over the museum, and is now in a legal battle with the Culture Ministry. A decision by a top court on Tuesday is expected to determine whether the museum can maintain its independence long enough to open to the public in late February, as scheduled. Machcewicz said the government is also withholding critical funds he needs to operate the museum. As a result of the rush, many of the displays were not yet in place Monday. But enough was there for viewers to get a sense of the immensely tragic story being told. One object on display is a farewell note written on a handkerchief by a Polish politician, Boleslaw Wnuk, before he was executed in 1940 by the Germans in an operation that targeted the Polish intelligentsia. "Let God pay for my blood with eternal damnation for the foul villains," said the note, which was smuggled out by a Polish prison guard. Museum visitors learn that Wnuk's younger brother, Jakub, a pharmacist and army officer, became the victim of Poland's other wartime occupier, the Soviet Union. He was captured by the Soviet army in 1939 and killed in 1940 in Katyn, one of some 22,000 Polish officers killed in the Soviet massacres of Polish elites. World War II still holds a key place in the Polish national identity. There is huge pride at the fierce resistance put up by the Polish army to the German invasion of 1939 that launched the war and the years of underground resistance. There is also a sense that Poland's tragic fate, which included being occupied by the Germans and Soviets, has not been fully recognized by the world. Adding to the sense of grievance, Poland was condemned to the Soviet sphere despite its contribution to the Allied effort. So for Poland, the war didn't fully end until 1989, when the country regained its sovereignty, a message that is also stressed by the museum. The nationalist authorities governing the country believe the museum should focus on the uniqueness of Poland's tragedy and not be watered down by exploring the fate of other nations. A key spokesman for this idea, historian Jan Zaryn, who is also a senator for the ruling party, complains that the multinational approach taken by the museum makes it more difficult for the visitor to see "our exceptionality." He argues that Poland should create something comparable to what Holocaust museums have achieved for Jews. "After decades of silence there should be a museum that introduces the phenomenon and specificity of the Polish historical experience," Zaryn said in a televised discussion in October. "We should do something like what the Jewish community has done, which managed to arrange around the Holocaust all the other events of World War II." But the museum's creators and supporters insist that the very act of placing Poland's history in the broader context is what will help foreign visitors understand and appreciate the specificity of Poland's tragedy. "Sometimes when politicians look at the museum like this they don't understand how much conceptual work there was," said Yale historian Timothy Snyder, who is a member of the museum's advisory board. "If this museum is lost, Gdansk, Poland, Europe, the world, loses the only chance we have for an experience of public history, for people from all of the world, not only in Poland, to understand the Second World War. That would be a dreadful civilizational loss." Visitors look at an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A woman looks at an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A woman looks at an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A man walks through the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Visitors walk in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A woman looks at an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A woman stands in front of an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A visitor looks at an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A man looks at an exhibit in the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years has opened its doors for a day to historians, museums and reporters in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A woman fishes near the Museum of the Second World War, an ambitious new museum under creation for nine years which is almost completed, in Gdansk, Poland, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Lawsuit: Trump business ties violate Constitution NEW YORK (AP) To fight what it called a "grave threat" to the country, a watchdog group on Monday filed a lawsuit alleging that President Donald Trump is violating the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments. The lawsuit claims that a constitutional clause prohibits Trump from receiving money from diplomats for stays at his hotels or foreign governments for leases of office space in his buildings. The language in the clause is disputed by legal experts, and some think the lawsuit will fail. But it signals the start of a legal assault on what Trump critics see as unprecedented conflicts between his business and the presidency. FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump leaves the President's Room of the Senate at the Capitol after he formally signed his cabinet nominations into law, in Washington. A legal watchdog group plans to file a lawsuit Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, alleging that Trump is violating the Constitution by allowing his businesses to accept payments from foreign governments. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool, File) Trump called the lawsuit "without merit, totally without merit" after he signed some of his first executive actions Monday in the Oval Office. The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. The group is being represented in part by two former White House chief ethics lawyers: Norman Eisen, who advised Barack Obama, and Richard Painter, who worked under George W. Bush. The two have expressed frustration that Trump has refused to take their recommendation and divest from his business, and feel they had no choice but to take legal action. "As the Framers were aware, private financial interests can subtly sway even the most virtuous leaders," the lawsuit argues, "and entanglements between American officials and foreign powers could pose a creeping, insidious threat to the Republic." At a news conference earlier this month, Trump Organization lawyer Sheri Dillon the so-called emoluments clause of the Constitution isn't meant to ban fair-value exchanges. They didn't think "paying your hotel bill was an emolument," she said. Trump drew fresh attacks from critics almost the moment he took the oath of office on Friday. The group behind Monday's lawsuit also filed a complaint Friday addressed to the General Services Administration, an agency that oversees the lease of the government-owned building that houses Trump's new Washington hotel. The complaint argued the agency must cancel the lease because it expressly forbids any elected official from benefiting from it. GSA officials had said they needed to wait until Trump took office before weighing in on the issue. They have yet to issue an opinion, though, and have not responded to repeated requests for comment. Democrats in the House and Senate on Monday sent letters to Acting Administrator Timothy Horne seeking information about what the agency plans to do. In the new lawsuit, the group faces several legal hurdles, including making the case that it even has standing to bring the suit. "There are a lot of issues that have to be litigated for the first time," said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of CREW. He added, though, that "we have never had a president who has in a significant way accepted foreign payments." Bookbinder said his group will argue it has standing because the president has forced his organization to divert all it is resources to this fight rather than other issues, and therefore is harming it. That line drew criticism from some legal experts. Its argument for standing "barely passes the laugh test," said Robert Kelner, chairman of the election and political law group of the firm Covington & Burling and an experienced Republican attorney. Edwin Williamson, a former State Department legal adviser, said that the group will struggle to prove its case. He agreed with Dillon's assessment that the emoluments clause does not apply the payment of a "market price" for a stay at a hotel. Trump said at his news conference earlier this month that he would not sell his ownership in his company, but would hand over management control to his two adult sons. He pledged that his company would strike no more deals abroad and would donate any profits from foreign governments using his hotels to the U.S. Treasury. Trump's companies began publicly filing paperwork on Monday to show that they're now being run by others. For example, Trump International Hotels Management LLC, registered in Florida, updated its paperwork with the secretary of state to list Eric Trump as president. Although Dillon says Trump has taken "extraordinary" measures, many government ethics lawyers have panned them as insufficient. They note that no modern president has taken office with as much wealth and as sprawling and opaque a business. His company, the Trump Organization, has stakes in golf resorts, office buildings, residential towers and hotel licensing deals in about 20 countries. Those include ones with which the U.S. has sensitive relations, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey. With so many business ties, particularly abroad, government ethics experts worry U.S. interests could take a back seat to his personal financial concerns. And even if they don't, they argue, people will try to curry favor with the new president by buying apartments in his towers or memberships in his golf resorts, raising doubts fair or not that U.S. policy is for sale. The lawsuit on Monday says that Trump's company is receiving payments from foreign government-owned tenants at Trump Tower in New York, including The Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. It also argues Trump's "The Apprentice" could get him in trouble. It says government-owned stations in in the United Kingdom and Vietnam are paying for broadcast rights of versions of the reality TV hit. Eisen and Painter have urged Trump to sell his holdings and put the cash in a blind trust, following the example of recent presidents. Trump is bucking another presidential tradition by refusing to disclose his tax returns. He has said he would be happy to release them, but only after the completion of an Internal Revenue Service audit. A public petition to the White House on Friday demanding he go public with his tax returns gathered more than 250,000 signatures well over the 100,000 needed to trigger an official response. "The White House response is that he's not going to release his tax returns," senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said on ABC's This Week. "We litigated this all through the election. People didn't care." _______ The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it won't hear an appeal from the family on TV's Sister Wives challenging Utah's law banning polygamy. The decision ends the family's long legal fight to overturn a seldom used and unique provision of Utah's law that the Browns and other polygamous families contend has a chilling effect by sending law-abiding plural families into hiding because of fear of prosecution. The provision bars married people from living with a second purported 'spiritual spouse' even if the man is legally married to just one woman, making it stricter than anti-bigamy laws in other states. The reality TLC cable channel TV show follows the lives of Kody Brown, his four wives and all their children. When it debuted in 2010, it was considered ground-breaking by offering viewers a glimpse into how a plural family navigates the unique complexities of the arrangement. Scroll down for video Pictured is Kody Brown with wives: back Janelle and Christine, front Meri and Robyn. kThe Supreme Court said Monday it won't hear an appeal from the family on TV's Sister Wives challenging Utah's law banning polygamy Utah prosecutors say they generally leave polygamists alone but that they need the ban to pursue polygamists for other crimes such as underage marriage and sexual assault. Only 10 people were charged with violating the law between 2001 and 2011, prosecutors say. The Utah Attorney General's Office declined comment on the Supreme Court's denial of the case, which the justices issued without comment. The saga between the Browns and Utah officials began in September 2010 when the first episode aired of the TLC show, Sister Wives. Kody has 18 children, three of whom are Robyn's children from another marriage. Kody has since legally adopted them Kody Brown (far left) is legally married to Robyn Brown, but says he is 'spiritually married' to three other women. He is pictured with his children A county prosecutor opened an investigation, leading the Browns to leave their longtime of Lehi, Utah, in 2011, to settle in Las Vegas where they still live today. That same year, the Browns filed a lawsuit calling the opening of the investigation government abuse. The case was closed without filing any charges. In 2013, the Browns scored a key legal victory when a federal judge in Utah ruled the law violated polygamists' right to privacy and religious freedom. But an appeals court in Denver decided last year that the Browns could not sue because they were not charged under the Utah law. It did not consider the constitutional issues. That ruling will now stand. Jonathan Turley, attorney for Kody Brown and his four wives, the stars of the reality show Sister Wives, leaves the Frank E. Moss United States Courthouse, in Salt Lake City (file) The Brown's attorney, Jonathan Turley, said in a statement posted on his blog that he and the family are disappointed but not surprised because the high court is on a pace to hear less than 1 per cent of the 7,500 appeals it is likely to receive this term. Turley emphasized that an appeals court ruling was not made based on the merits of the Browns' assertion that Utah's law violates their rights of speech and religion. 'Our victory in Salt Lake City will remain as a cautionary decision for legislators who wish to marginalize or sanction this community in the future,' Turley said. 'It has been a long road for all of us and it is not the end of the road. Plural and unconventional families will continue to strive for equal status and treatment under the law.' Kody Brown is legally married to Robyn Brown, but says he is 'spiritually married' to three other women. They live together in a plural relationship and belong to a religious group that believes in polygamy as a core religious practice. Their show continues to air on TLC. About 30,000 polygamists live in Utah, according to court documents. The mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abandoned the practice in 1890 and strictly prohibits it today. Bush ready to leave intensive care; wife Barbara goes home HOUSTON (AP) Former President George H.W. Bush is still suffering from pneumonia, but is well enough to leave the intensive care unit at a Houston hospital, doctors said Monday. His wife, Barbara, has been discharged from the same facility after completing treatment for bronchitis. The 92-year-old former president was struggling to breathe when he was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital Jan. 14. Last week, he was breathing with the aid of a ventilator in the ICU, but doctors removed the breathing tube on Friday and by Monday were talking about the possibility that he could return home soon. Dr. Amy Mynderse said at a news conference that the former president is "sitting up, watching TV and is waiting anxiously for his favorite oyster stew for lunch." In this photo provided by Office of George H.W. Bush on Monday Jan. 23, 2017, former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara pose for a photo at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston. The 92-year-old former president is still suffering from pneumonia, but is well enough to leave the intensive care unit at a Houston hospital, doctors said Monday. His wife, Barbara, has been discharged from the same facility after completing treatment for bronchitis. (Courtesy the Office of George H.W. Bush via AP) "He's on minimal oxygen, joking and laughing with the nurses and doctors," she said. Dr. Clint Doerr said Bush was still coughing "a fair amount" but that if he continues to improve, he could be discharged from the hospital by Friday or over the weekend. "He's excited to get home and he's feeling well," Mynderse said, describing Bush as "not your average 92-year-old." Mynderse said when she told Bush he was being released from intensive care, he asked her: "Can I just go home?" Meanwhile, former first lady Barbara Bush, 91, who was admitted to the facility for treatment of bronchitis on Wednesday, is "back to her normal self," Mynderse said. Mrs. Bush was told she could return home Sunday, but she opted to stay one more night to fully recover and remain close to her husband, according to family spokesman Jim McGrath. The couple's 72-year marriage is the longest of any presidential couple in U.S. history, and the doctors said they have been a great support to each other. "They truly do have just such an amazing love for each other and that really came across here," Mynderse said, adding that Barbara Bush spent much her hospital stay by her husband's side. "Part of why she ended up, I think, in the hospital was because even though she was ill, she was trying to be by his bedside all the time." Doerr said: "They're essentially therapy for each other. They help and are compliant in terms of when one of them doesn't want to take a breathing treatment, the other says, 'Get on that.' It helps our cause." Bush, who served as 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 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. The former president and his wife appear to have touched the medical staff with their humility. Mynderse told reporters that when she informed the former president she would be speaking at a news conference Monday, he replied: "About what?" "I said, 'About you!' And he said, 'People want to know about me?'" she said. "They're so humble. They truly are the most humble people," Mynderse said. FILE - In this March 29, 2015, file photo, former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, speak at a college basketball game in Houston. Barbara Bush was discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, while her husband is expected to be moved from the hospital's intensive care unit soon. The former president was struggling to breathe when he was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital Jan. 14, and had since been treated for pneumonia in the intensive care unit. Barbara Bush was suffering from bronchitis and entered the same hospital Wednesday, Jan. 18. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) Real Madrid loses Marcelo and Modric because of injures MADRID (AP) Real Madrid defender Marcelo and midfielder Luka Modric will be sidelined because of muscle injuries, the club said Monday. Marcelo hurt his left hamstring in Saturday's 2-1 win against Malaga in the Spanish league. The club didn't say how long the Brazil left back will be sidelined, but the injury should keep him out of action for about a month. Marcelo had to be replaced in the 26th minute against Malaga at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Real Madrid's Marcelo is helped up from the ground during a training session in Madrid, Spain, Friday Jan. 20, 2017. Real Madrid will play Malaga on Saturday in a Spanish La Liga soccer match after having lost their last two games. (AP Photo/Paul White) Modric was substituted in the 79th because of a right leg ailment. Tests on Monday showed he has a strain in his abductor muscle, which should keep him from playing for at least a week. Cristiano Ronaldo, the team's leading scorer with 12 goals, complained of a foot injury after Saturday's game, but the problem is not likely to keep him from playing in upcoming matches. "I'm a bit fed up with the injuries because we've got a lot of games ahead of us," Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. "I'm a bit downbeat because of that." Marcelo and Modric are certain to miss the return leg against Celta Vigo in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday. Celta won the first leg 2-1 at the Bernabeu. Marcelo may also miss the first leg against Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League in February. South Dakota lawmaker quits over sexual contact with interns PIERRE, S.D. (AP) A South Dakota legislator who admitted having sexual contact with two interns resigned on Monday, saying he regretted his actions during the past two legislative sessions. Republican Rep. Mathew Wollmann, 26, said last week that both interns were over age 21 and that the contact during the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions was consensual. But his colleagues voted to set up a committee to investigate his actions, and they were scheduled to meet Tuesday. Wollmann announced his resignation in a letter first reported by the Mitchell Daily Republic newspaper. The former Marine didn't immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press, but the Legislative Research Council provided a copy of his letter. In this Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 photo, Republican Rep. Mathew Wollmann sits on the House floor in Pierre, S.D. The House decided to investigate Wollmann, who told reporters that he had sexual contact with interns during the past two legislative sessions. (AP Photo/James Nord) The meeting on Wollmann's conduct is still planned, said Republican Rep. Timothy Johns, chairman of the House Select Committee on Discipline and Expulsion. In South Dakota, legislative interns are college students, some 21 or older. Legislative rules don't explicitly ban sexual contact or relationships between lawmakers and interns, although they do prohibit sexual harassment and call on lawmakers to maintain "the highest of moral and ethical standards." Wollmann, from the eastern South Dakota city of Madison, first won the seat in 2014. In the letter, Wollmann expressed his regret, writing that he hoped to return to the Legislature in the future. "I have nothing but the greatest respect for those that I have grown so close to these past two years, and even in these early days of the 92nd legislative session," Wollmann wrote. "Those that read this should know that it is my wrongdoing that has put this institution in a sour light. Those responsible for me have displayed nothing but the highest honor for this establishment." House Majority Leader Lee Qualm, House Speaker Mark Mickelson and Minority Leader Spencer Hawley said in a statement that Wollmann decided "this was best for him, his fiance, his family and the young ladies involved." "Every legislator has an obligation to refrain from behavior unbecoming to the Legislature and inconsistent with maintaining the public's trust," the House leaders said. Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard said in a statement that he thinks Wollmann made the right decision. Daugaard said he will act quickly to name a replacement. Wollmann's public admission came shortly after a legislative committee voted down a new rule to explicitly bar legislators from sexual contact with interns and pages. One lawmaker who spoke against the change said he felt the current rules were sufficient. The House leaders said they will meet with lawmakers, interns and staff to discuss potential improvements that could be made to legislator and employee training and any updates to legislative rules. Hawley told the AP that he supports discussing new rules. Wollmann is the second South Dakota lawmaker in roughly a decade to be investigated by lawmakers for alleged misconduct involving interns or pages. In 2007, the state Senate censured Democrat Dan Sutton after he was accused of fondling an 18-year-old page when they shared a motel room during the 2006 legislative session. Sutton denied the allegation and was re-elected. ___ Official: 236 dead at camp bombed by Nigeria's air force MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) The death toll from the bombing of a refugee camp by Nigeria's air force has climbed to 236, a local official said Monday a sharp increase from earlier counts. A total of 234 victims were buried in Rann, where the camp is located, while two others died after being evacuated to the city of Maiduguri for medical care, said Babagana Malarima, chairman of the Kala Balge local government council of northeast Borno state On Jan. 17, Nigeria's air force bombed the camp housing Boko Haram refugees near the Cameroonian border multiple times. In a rare admission, air force officials said it was an accident and formed a panel of senior officers to investigate. Just two days after the bombing, more than 100 Boko Haram extremists attacked the camp, and soldiers had to battle for hours in order to repel them, residents and aid workers said. Last Friday, medical charity Doctors Without Borders put the death toll from the bombing at "around 90" but also noted that community leaders said it could have been much higher. Satellite imagery supports witness accounts that the camp was struck with "multiple air-dropped munitions" even though tents should have been easily visible, Human Rights Watch said last week. Congo expels Human Rights Watch researcher a second time KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Human Rights Watch says Congo expelled one of its researchers for the second time in less than six months. The group said Monday that immigration authorities on Friday escorted Ida Sawyer, its Central Africa director, across the border into Rwanda after annulling her visa. Sawyer, based in Congo since 2008, had her work permit revoked last August and was in Brussels before returning in January after receiving a visa from the embassy there. Congo spokesman Lambert Mende said Sawyer made "false declarations" and "changed the order of names in her passport." He said officials who allowed Sawyer to enter in the city of Goma had been sanctioned. Moccasin Bend Brewing Company is hosting a fundraiser Friday with live music and silent auction for Brooke Mendenhall, a single mom and Chattanooga Rollergirl who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer just before Christmas. MBBC will also release the first in a series of Brickhouse Brews, the # 77 Cherry Bomb cider and all the sales from it will benefit Ms. Mendenhall as well. There is an $8 cover and the doors open at 6 p.m. at MBBCs new location at 3210 Broad St., Suite B. All proceeds from the cover charge, silent auction and sales from the Cherry Bomb Cider go directly to Ms. Mendenhall and her medical bills. Main Line Ink, Mt. Top Toys, Lodge Cast Iron, Four Bridges Outfitters, Party Girls Dance and Fitness Studio, Niedlovs Breadworks and Chattanooga Girls Rock are just a few of the contributors to the silent auction. Diagnosed four days before Christmas with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Ms. Mendenhall started chemotherapy treatment at the end of December. Initially, as she just began playing in 2016 with the Chattanooga Rollergirls as Malice in Wonderlust #77, she thought she simply injured herself during a roller derby scrimmage when she developed tenderness underneath her right arm. She went to a chiropractor who did some adjustments and the swelling went down. It was then she discovered a lump under her arm. After a mammogram and multiple ultrasounds, another lump was found in her breast. Ms. Mendenhall wasted no time and found a local oncologist on Dec. 28, she had a port placed on Dec. 29 and began chemotherapy on Dec. 30. Ms. Mendenhall has a mastectomy scheduled for April. She is raising two teenagers while trying to maintain a full-time job. Ms. Mendenhall also has a donation page at https://www.gofundme.com/brooke-mendenhall The Latest: Governors ask House to continue Medicaid help WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on activities in Congress (all times EST): 6:10 p.m. The nation's governors are asking top House Republicans to retain "a meaningful federal role" in financing the Medicaid program for low-income people. Budget Director-designate Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Budget Committee. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) In a letter Tuesday to GOP leaders, the bipartisan National Governors Association writes that Congress should not shift costs to the states as Republicans move toward annulling President Barack Obama's health care law and substituting a GOP plan. The governors also want protection from spiking Medicaid costs should the economy sour. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia expanded Medicaid under Obama's law. Republicans are considering changing the program, including possibly eliminating the expansion. The letter underscores the political challenges Republicans face as they try revamping the health care statute. The governors say Republicans should provide "a smooth transition" between Obama's law and any GOP replacement. ___ 6:05 p.m. The Senate has voted decisively to approve President Donald Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Senators easily confirmed South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for the post, 96-4, despite her lack of foreign policy experience. Sen. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, calls Haley a proven leader who will be a "fierce advocate" at the U.N. for American interests. The committee's top Democrat, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, says he's encouraged by Haley's commitment not to hastily cut back on the money the U.S. contributes to the U.N. The United States pays 22 percent of the body's regular operating budget. Sen. Chris Coons opposed Haley. The Delaware Democrat says she didn't convince him that she'll serve effectively in the job. ___ 6 p.m. The chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is predicting a smooth path to confirmation for David Shulkin, President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sen. Johnny Isakson met with Shulkin on Tuesday. The Georgia Republican says he believes Shulkin will be a "passionate veterans' advocate" who will ensure they get the timely, quality care they need. The Senate panel set Shulkin's confirmation hearing for Feb. 1. He is the only Obama administration official named to Trump's Cabinet, having been unanimously approved by the Senate in 2015 to be undersecretary of health. Veterans groups and Democrats have generally praised Shulkin. Still, they say they want to hear more about his views on privatizing the VA and whether he intends to embrace broad changes pledged by Trump. ___ 5:15 p.m. Health insurers are telling Congress there's a workable alternative to getting Americans covered that does not require a federal mandate. The main industry lobbying group says in a statement to the House Ways and Means Committee that the coverage requirement in President Barack Obama's law is likely to be repealed. America's Health Insurance Plans is proposing an alternative to encourage healthy people to get covered and help control premiums. It would work like this: In 2018 there would be a one-time enrollment opportunity for everyone who's uninsured. After that, customers would have to show they had been were covered for 12 months in order to get a new policy on the same terms as everyone else. Otherwise they would face higher premiums or a six-month waiting period. ___ 4:50 p.m. The House has approved legislation that would permanently bar federal funds for any abortion coverage. The measure, which passed 238-183, would also block tax credits for some people and businesses buying abortion coverage under former President Barack Obama's health care law. Republicans passed a similar bill in 2015 under veto threat from Obama. The legislation would have a better chance under Republican President Donald Trump. But it would have to first get through the Senate, where it would need 60 votes and faces opposition from many Democrats. The vote was timed to come just after the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States, and ahead of Friday's march against abortion. Democrats say the legislation would unfairly target low-income women. ___ 4:40 p.m. A spokeswoman for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee says the panel postponed votes on two Cabinet nominations because of miscommunication between the Republican chairwoman and the committee's top Democrat. Nicole Daigle, a spokeswoman for Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the panel's chairwoman, says Murkowski "wants to start 2017 on a good footing with her ranking member" and hopes to reschedule the votes soon. On Monday Murkowski canceled scheduled votes on Ryan Zinke and Rick Perry to head the departments of Interior and Energy, respectively. Only three of President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees have been confirmed so far, although secretary of state-designate Rex Tillerson has been approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. ___ 4:30 p.m. Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning will give a motivational speech to Republican lawmakers at their annual policy retreat in Philadelphia. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., calls the two-time Super Bowl winner a longtime friend and is scheduled to introduce him to colleagues Thursday evening. That's the same day President Donald Trump will be meeting with Republicans to work out more details on moving a legislative agenda through Congress this year. Corker says passing meaningful legislation takes teamwork and that's a skill Manning mastered through his football career. Manning played his college football at the University of Tennessee. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., describes Manning as a leader and great example of what hard work and perseverance can achieve. ___ 3:30 p.m. Sen. John McCain is grilling President Donald Trump's pick to head the White House budget office over his votes in Congress to cut defense spending and to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan. South Carolina congressman Mick Mulvaney says he voted to withdraw the troops after meeting with a veteran whose son had been deployed overseas four times. He says America's troops were overtaxed. An incredulous McCain asked his fellow Republican, "What were you thinking?" and "Don't you know where 9/11 came from?" Mulvaney said he can't remember several votes to cut defense spending. McCain told him, "Maybe you don't take it with the seriousness it deserves." ___ 2:16 p.m. Republicans on the powerful House Appropriations Committee have blocked a move by Democrats to force President Donald Trump's Cabinet chiefs to certify that they are complying with their ethics agreements before appearing before the panel. The attempted move, by top panel Democrat Nita Lowey of New York, came as Trump's nominees many of whom are wealthy and could face potential conflicts of interest are going through their confirmations. Democrats warn that some nominees may be confirmed with unresolved ethics issues. Existing panel rules require witnesses to disclose whether they receive federal grants and other funds. Republicans swatted down Lowey's proposal on a party-line vote. They say the proposal is unnecessary and simply a political stunt. __ 1:20 p.m. Congressional Republicans are discovering that with Donald Trump in the White House, they may be spending a lot of time answering for false claims from their president. Eager to dive into a packed legislative agenda in a new era of GOP governance, Republicans instead found themselves confronting questions Tuesday about Trump's claim that he would have won the popular vote but for 3 to 5 million ballots cast by immigrants in the country illegally. No evidence supports that assertion, which Trump made in a private meeting with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders at the White House on Monday night. Trump has also made incorrect claims about crowds at his inauguration and his feud with the CIA in the four days since taking office. ___ 12:25 p.m. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has overwhelmingly approved South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. By voice vote, the panel recommended President Donald Trump's selection of Haley to the full Senate. She is expected to be confirmed easily. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the committee's top Democrat, backed Haley's nomination. Cardin says what Haley lacks in foreign policy experience, "she makes up for in capability, intelligence, and a track record of building coalitions in South Carolina." During her confirmation hearing, Haley declared her support for moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The shift may trigger increased violence in the Middle East. Haley also took a hard line against Russia. She says she doesn't think Moscow can be trusted right now. ___ 12:20 p.m. President Donald Trump's pick for health secretary is adamant that the new administration will protect people with pre-existing medical problems even as it moves to repeal the Obama-era law prohibiting insurance discrimination. Georgia Rep. Tom Price told the Senate Finance Committee that "we need to make sure nobody loses their insurance or is unable to gain insurance because of pre-existing conditions." Price was being questioned by Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. But the way Republicans would go about guaranteeing coverage could be very different. They are looking at special "high-risk" insurance pools as a last resort for people who can't get coverage otherwise. That hasn't worked well in the past, providing costly coverage to a limited number of people. Price said "nobody ought to be priced out of the market for having a bad diagnosis." ___ 12:15 p.m. Health care plan? What health care plan? Laughter erupted during a tense Senate confirmation hearing when Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, asked President Donald Trump's health nominee if it's true that the new administration is close to having a final health care plan as Trump himself has hinted. "It's true that he said that, yes," responded Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., who's been picked by Trump to run the Health and Human Services department. Trump and congressional Republicans have committed to repealing and replacing President Barack Obama's signature health care law, but they haven't provided details on how that can be done without harming millions who've gained coverage. Price said he has had conversations with Trump about health care policy. And Brown didn't press him for more details. ___ 11:52 a.m. Health secretary nominee Tom Price says science shows that vaccines do not cause autism. That's a position that goes against views espoused by President Donald Trump, who has voiced skepticism about vaccine safety. Price's comments Tuesday came in response to questions by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., at a Finance Committee hearing on his nomination. Price also disputed claims that abortion leads to breast cancer. He said the science is relatively clear that it does not. If confirmed to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Price pledged to make certain that factual information, validated by science, is provided to the public. Under the umbrella of HHS are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration. __ 11: 45 a.m. Donald Trump's pick to head the White House budget office says Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid need significant changes to be preserved for future generations. Rep. Mick Mulvaney's testimony before Congress stands in sharp contrast to Trump's campaign promises not to cut the programs. Mulvaney, a South Carolina Republican, said he wouldn't propose to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits for people already receiving them. But, he said, younger workers should expect to work longer than their parents. He also said Medicare should be means tested, which means benefits would be limited for wealthy retirees. They already pay higher premiums. __ 11:25 a.m. President Donald's Trump's pick for budget director says he failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a babysitter because he did not consider her a household employee. Rep. Mick Mulvaney said, "We made a mistake." The South Carolina Republican said his wife had triplets in 2000 and they hired a babysitter. She worked for the family for four years but, Mulvaney said, she did not live with them. Mulvaney said he didn't realize that he should have paid the taxes until he was preparing for the nominating process. He said he has since paid the taxes. ___ 11:20 a.m. Rep. Tom Price President Donald Trump's nominee for health secretary is defending his decision to invest in health care companies as a powerful member of Congress. Price's nomination hearing Tuesday before the Senate Finance Committee quickly turned testy. Top Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon questioned Price about his investment in Innate Immunotherapeutics, an Australian drug company trying to develop a treatment for multiple sclerosis. A fellow Republican congressman is a board member and a major stockholder. Finance committee staffers found that Price undervalued around 400,000 shares of Innate stock he purchased last August. He reported the shares were worth $50,000 to $100,000, but those shares were worth up to $250,000. Price blamed a "clerical error" and answered "no" when Wyden asked if he'd used poor judgment. ___ 11:10 a.m. The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee has unanimously approved President Donald Trump's nominee for housing secretary, Ben Carson. The former Republican presidential candidate and celebrated neurosurgeon would lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a sprawling agency with 8,300 employees and a budget of about $47 billion. His nomination now heads to the full Senate. Committee Chairman Michael Crapo of Idaho praised Carson and his impressive career, saying HUD "will benefit from having a secretary with a different perspective and a diverse background." Ranking Democrat Sherrod Brown said he had some reservations but welcomed Carson's promises to address lead hazards in public housing. ___ 11:10 a.m. Former wrestling entertainment executive Linda McMahon is emphasizing her experience in building a business from scratch as she seeks to become the next administrator of the Small Business Administration. McMahon says in a confirmation hearing Tuesday that she and her husband started out sharing a desk and went on to build a company with more than 800 employees. She also notes that she and her husband once declared bankruptcy and lost their home, saying "I know what it's like to take a hit." McMahon resigned from WWE in 2009 before running unsuccessfully on two occasions for the U.S. Senate. She spent about $100 million of her own money in those races and was a big contributor to political action committees seeking to help Donald Trump in November's election. __ 11:00 a.m. President Donald Trump has invited the Senate leadership to the White House to discuss the vacancy on the Supreme Court. That's the word from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky Republican said Tuesday that he, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the leaders of the Judiciary Committee would meet with Trump on Tuesday afternoon. The court has had one vacancy since last February when Justice Antonin Scalia died. McConnell and Republicans refused to consider former President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland. ___ 10:55 a.m. Sen. Bernie Sanders says President Donald Trump's nominee for budget director should be disqualified because he failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household worker more than a decade ago. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, is the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. The committee held a confirmation hearing Tuesday on Republican Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina. Sanders noted that Mulvaney voted for a bill in 2015 that would disqualify people with serious tax delinquencies from being federal employees. Mulvaney said he discovered the unpaid taxes while preparing for the nominating process. He has since paid the taxes. Unpaid taxes have derailed some previous Cabinet picks, but others were confirmed anyway. Mulvaney's tax problem is unlikely to derail his nomination if Republicans remain united behind him. ___ 10:50 a.m. A Senate panel has easily approved the nomination of Elaine Chao to lead the Transportation Department. Chao was labor secretary in President George W. Bush's administration and deputy transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush. She is also the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and was known to many senators before President Donald Trump tapped her for his Cabinet. Chao told senators during a hearing on her nomination this month that she hopes to "unleash the potential" of private investors to boost infrastructure spending. She is expected to play a major role in Trump's effort to fulfill his campaign promise to generate $1 trillion in infrastructure investment. The administration is expected to release its infrastructure plan this spring. ___ 10:45 a.m. A Senate panel has approved President Donald Trump's choice of conservative billionaire investor Wilbur Ross to lead the Commerce Department. Ross has specialized in buying distressed companies that still have a potential for delivering profits. He has known Trump for more than 20 years, was an early supporter of his presidential campaign and an economic policy adviser to Trump's team. The Senate commerce committee approved his nomination by a voice vote. The full Senate must still vote on the nomination. Ross has been a critic of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, which he blames for a loss of U.S. jobs. He has also accused China of protectionist policies. __ 10:35 a.m. The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has forced a one-week delay in the committee vote on attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein says one reason she asked for the delay until Jan. 31 is because of women who marched in Washington and other locations on Saturday. Feinstein said the women want equal rights and pay, rights for workers and protections for the environment. "It is these principles, these values that the attorney general must defend," Feinstein said at a committee meeting Tuesday. She said "we owe it to" those women to be careful in considering the nomination. Feinstein said the committee received 188 pages of new material Sunday that need to be reviewed. Committee rules allow any member of the committee to delay a vote. __ 10:20 a.m. Breaking with President Donald Trump, Speaker Paul Ryan says he has seen no evidence that 3 million to 5 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally voted last November and cost the Republican the popular vote. Ryan told reporters on Tuesday: "I've already commented on that I've seen no evidence to that effect." His comments came hours after Trump incorrectly claimed at a White House reception with congressional leaders, including Ryan, that he lost the popular vote to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton because of the vote by those here illegally. That's according to a Democratic aide familiar with the exchange who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. There is no evidence to support Trump's claim. Another Republican, Pennsylvania Rep. Charlie Dent, said Trump needs to move on. "The election is over," Dent said, and Trump "won fair and square." Trump needs to "get to the serious business of governing," Dent said. __ 10:05 a.m. House Speaker Paul Ryan says he has invited President Donald Trump to address a Joint Session of Congress on Feb. 28. Ryan announced the invitation on Tuesday, informing reporters after a meeting with House Republicans. Ryan had met with Trump Monday night at the White House. Trump also met with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders on Monday. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president on Friday. It would be his first speech to Congress. __ 10 a.m. Congressional analysts are projecting that President Donald Trump has inherited a stable economy and a government that is on track to run a $559 billion budget deficit for the ongoing budget year. The new estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office also say the economy will hold relatively steady. Economic growth is projected to rise slightly to 2.3 percent this year and unemployment to average less than 5 percent for the duration of Trump's term. The latest CBO figures are in line with previous projections. They come as Trump and Republicans controlling Congress are working to repeal much of former President Barack Obama's signature health care law, boost the Pentagon budget, and reform the loophole cluttered tax code. Balancing the budget would require cuts to domestic agencies and big health programs like Medicare House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., joined by, from left, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, as he announced that he has invited President Donald Trump to address a Joint Session of Congress on Feb. 28. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) UN Ambassador-designate, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, accompanied by her husband Michael, left, prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., left, arrives with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, center, and Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, before the start of his confirmation hearing before the committee. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2017 file photo, Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Ben Carson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. The Senate committee approved Carson for housing secretary. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson) Mexico leader lays out points for talks with Trump MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Monday his government is prepared to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump if Mexico's national sovereignty is respected. Pena Nieto gave a speech detailing what Mexico's baseline negotiating points would be, including economic integration, respect for the rights of migrants and the money they send home. Those remittances amount to about $25 billion annually and have become a major source of foreign revenue for the country. Trump had originally suggested that the U.S. might retain some of that money to help pay for a wall between the countries, a project he says Mexico will pay for but which Mexico opposes. Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto holds a press conference at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Pena Nieto said Monday that Mexico's attitude towards the Donald Trump administration should not be aggressive or biased, but one of dialogue. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Pena Nieto sought to chart a middle course. "Neither confrontation nor submission. Dialogue is the solution," he said. Pena Nieto said over the weekend that he has talked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the North American Free Trade Agreement ahead of a planned Jan. 31 meeting with Trump. Trump has pledged to renegotiate the three-nation trade agreement and slap tariffs on imports. Pena Nieto's office said that during Sunday's conversation, Trudeau and the Mexican president "spoke about the importance of the United States for both countries, and agreed to join forces to continue promoting the economic integration of North America." Trump announced Monday that he's set up meetings with Trudeau and Pena Nieto, saying "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA." Mexico's manufacturing sector has benefited from NAFTA, but Trump claims it has displaced U.S. jobs. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump "has already spoken to both the president of Mexico and the prime minister of Canada about his desire to renegotiate, and as he meets with both of these individuals over the next 30 days or so, that is going to be a topic." "If they come in and express their willingness to do that, you could negotiate it in the current parameters and update it through the existing structure," Spicer said. "If they don't, and decide to pull out, we will have to go back to the drawing table in the future." Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto speaks during a press conference at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Pena Nieto said Monday that Mexico's attitude towards the Donald Trump administration should not be aggressive or biased, but one of dialogue. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto pauses during a press conference at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Pena Nieto said Monday that Mexico's attitude towards the Donald Trump administration should not be aggressive or biased, but one of dialogue. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto speaks during a press conference at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Pena Nieto said Monday that Mexico's attitude towards the Donald Trump administration should not be aggressive or biased, but one of dialogue. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Belarus canoe team wins case over Olympic ban for doping LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) The Court of Arbitration for Sport says the Belarus men's canoe and kayak team was wrongly banned from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in a doping case. The court says its judging panel overturned a one-year ban imposed on the team last July by the International Canoe Federation. There was "insufficient evidence to uphold several of the alleged anti-doping rule violations," the court said. Five Belarus team members tested positive for meldonium after a police raid on their training camp in France last April. French police and customs officials "confiscated various substances, medication, material and medical equipment," CAS said. The panel ruled "there was no justification" for the ban if multiple doping violations were not proved. Its detailed reasons will be published within days. Mexico ex-governor denies fake medicine claims MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico has become accustomed to accusations of wrongdoing by former state governors, but the most recent scandal has been especially shocking. The current governor of the Gulf coast state of Veracruz has accused a predecessor of buying fake medicines for state-run hospitals, claiming an inert substance was administered to children instead of a cancer drug. On Sunday, former Gov. Fidel Herrera resigned as Mexico's consul in Barcelona. He said in a Twitter post that, "I am going to confront this slander. It is completely false." Herrera was Veracruz governor from 2004 to 2010. Current Gov. Miguel Angel Yunes said purchases of falsified medications began under Herrera and continued under his successor, Javier Duarte. Federal judge swats Aetna-Humana insurer combo A federal judge has rejected health insurer Aetna's bid to buy rival Humana on grounds that the deal would hurt competition in hundreds of Medicare Advantage markets, ultimately affecting the price consumers pay for coverage. U.S. District Judge John Bates said in an opinion filed Monday that federal regulation would probably be "insufficient to prevent the merged firm from raising prices or reducing benefits," and neither new competitors nor an Aetna plan to sell some of the combined company's business to another insurer, Molina Healthcare Inc., would be enough to ease competitive concerns. Aetna spokesman TJ Crawford said the insurer was reviewing the decision "and giving serious consideration to an appeal after putting forward a compelling case." FILE - This Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, file photo, shows signage in front of Aetna Inc.'s headquarters in Hartford, Conn. A federal judge has rejected health insurer Aetnas plan to buy rival Humana for about $34 billion and become a major player in the market for Medicare Advantage coverage. U.S. District Judge John Bates said in an opinion filed Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, that he largely agrees with federal regulators who contended that such a combination would hurt competition. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File) Aetna, the nation's third-largest health insurer, had announced in 2015 its plan to spend around $34 billion on Humana Inc. and become one of the top providers in the fast-growing Medicare Advantage market. Medicare Advantage plans are privately run versions of the government's Medicare program for people who are over age 65 or disabled. The Justice Department sued last summer to block Aetna's deal and Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Anthem Inc.'s separate, $48-billion purchase of Cigna Corp. Both cases went to trial late last year. An opinion has yet to be rendered for the Anthem case. The two deals would consolidate the nation's five largest insurers into three, a list that includes UnitedHealth Group Inc., currently the largest. The big insurers had argued that by getting bigger they will be able to negotiate better prices with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and doctor groups that also are growing. They also expect to cut expenses and add more customers, which helps them better spread out the cost of investing in technology to manage and improve care. But Bates, who is based in Washington, D.C., said in a 158-page opinion that the Aetna-Humana combination would "likely substantially lessen competition" for Medicare Advantage plans in 364 counties and, separately, in some Florida public insurance exchanges. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent Snyder said in a statement that the decision was "a victory for American consumers - especially seniors and working families and individuals." Industry experts have said any impact from the deals on consumers would take years to materialize and could lead to savings in some areas, along with the risk of higher costs elsewhere. Shares of Hartford, Connecticut-based Aetna Inc. fell about 3 percent, or $3.33, to $119.20 Monday, while broader indexes slipped less than 1 percent. In contrast, Louisville, Kentucky-based Humana Inc.'s stock climbed $4.49 to $205.02. ___ AP Writer Eric Tucker contributed from Washington, D.C. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Trump adviser: Canada well positioned for NAFTA negotiation TORONTO (AP) A Wall Street tycoon who advises U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday "things should go well for Canada" if the new U.S. leader reopens the North American Free Trade Agreement, noting that Canada has a balanced trade relationship with the United States. Stephen Schwarzman, who leads Trump's economic advisory group, met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet in Calgary, Alberta, as Canada braces for a renegotiation. Canada is an export-driven economy and 78 percent of Canada's exports go to the U.S. The chief executive of the Blackstone Group investment firm said Canada has "special status" and is well positioned for talks. He said other countries have large trade unbalances and markets that aren't as open to American trade as Canada's. "I don't think he should be enormously worried," Schwarzman said of Trudeau. "Canada is held in very high regard. We have balanced trade between the U.S. and Canada and that's not the kinds of situation where you should be worrying." He said trade between U.S and Canada is a model for the way trade relations should be. He said there might be some modifications, but there is a low risk of collateral damage if Trump targets Mexico if a renegotiation of NAFTA. "The amount of commercial linkages, cultural linkages with Canada are such that some people are not aware that it's not a part of the United States," he said. "I know that's not appreciated here but there's a sense of enormous connection." Romanian president calls for referendum on prisoner pardons BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Romania's president has called for a referendum on a government proposal to pardon thousands of prisoners, which critics say could weaken the anti-corruption fight. President Klaus Iohannis said Monday he wants to hold a referendum because of the intense public interest. He spoke a day after 15,000 people demonstrated in Bucharest, the Romanian capital, and thousands in other Romanian cities against the proposal. Iohannis said the referendum would ask Romanians whether they agreed with these measures or not, noting the Social Democratic Party that won the December parliamentary election had not mentioned the pardons in its program. Some thousands march during a protest against the government's proposal to pardon thousands of prisoners, in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Some thousands marched through the streets of the Romanian capital and other cities to protest against the pardon of prisoners which critics say could weaken the anti-corruption fight. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) After women's marches, can numbers translate to real change? DENVER (AP) Deb Szeman, a self-described "homebody," had never participated in a demonstration before hopping on an overnight bus from her home in Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend the women's march on Washington. She returned on another bus that pulled in at 4 a.m. Sunday, full of people buzzing about what might come next and quipping that they would see each other at the next march. "I wouldn't have spent 18 hours in Washington, D.C., and taken the bus for seven hours both ways if I didn't believe there was going to be a part two, and three and four and five," said Szeman, 25, who works at a nonprofit and joined the National Organization for Women after Trump won the White House. A crowd fills Independence Avenue during the Women's March on Washington, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "I feel like there's been an awakening," she said. More than a million people turned out Saturday to nationwide demonstrations opposing President Donald Trump's agenda, a forceful showing that raised liberals' hopes after the election denied them control of all branches of federal government. Now, the question is whether that energy can be sustained and turned into political impact. From marches against the Iraq War in 2003 to Occupy Wall Street, several big demonstrations have not directly translated into real-world results. In Wisconsin, for example, tens of thousands stormed the state Capitol in 2011 to protest Gov. Scott Walker's moves to weaken unions. Walker has since been re-elected. Trump also won the state in November as Republicans increased their hold on the statehouse, part of the GOP's domination of state-level elections in recent years. Organizers of Saturday's marches are promising 10 additional actions to take during the first 100 days of Trump's presidency. So far, the first and only is for supporters to write to their senators or representatives. Groups scrambled so fast to arrange the massive demonstrations in only a few weeks that they have had limited time to determine how to channel the energy into additional action. But, they promise, it's coming. "The left has really woken up and said, 'My gosh, we've been fighting the symbolic fight, but we haven't been fighting the institutional fight,'" said Yong Jung-Cho of the activist group All of Us, which organized protests at the inauguration as well as the women's march. There's still value in symbolism. Saturday's immense crowds ruffled the new president as his press secretary falsely contended that Trump had broken a record on inauguration attendance. Jamie Henn of the climate action group 350.org said that reaction is a hint on how to build the movement. "Size matters to this guy," Henn said. "It's like dealing with a schoolyard bully and some of us need to go back to middle school and revisit what that's like" as they think up new tactics. Saudi Garcia, a 24-year-old anthropology student at New York University, is a veteran of Black Lives Matter protests in New York. She rode to Washington with longtime, largely minority activists to block checkpoints to the inauguration. She was heartened to find herself in a very different crowd Saturday, which she described as largely white women, many of whom brought young children to the women's march. Garcia hopes those women stay involved in fighting Trump. "We need to be like the tea party was in 2009," Garcia said. "Those people were relentless showing up at town council meetings, everywhere." Stan A. Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, co-authored a study of how the nationwide demonstrations that launched the tea party movement led to increased conservative political clout. Higher attendance at individual demonstrations correlated with more conservative voting by congressional members and a greater share of Republican votes in the 2010 election, when the GOP won back the House, he said. But, Veuger cautioned, it wasn't automatic. The tea party activists also went home and volunteered in local organizations that helped change the electoral results. "Political protests can have an effect," he said. "But there's nothing guaranteed." One positive sign for the left, he added, was that the women's marches seemed to draw an older crowd not deeply rooted in demonstrating people who are more likely to volunteer, donate and vote. Beth Andre is one of them. Before the election, the 29-year-old who works in crisis services at a college had bought a ticket from her home in Austin, Texas, to Washington to watch what she thought would be Hillary Clinton's inauguration. After Trump won, she canceled the trip. She was heartbroken again when she realized that meant she could not attend the women's march. But a friend invited her to a meeting to plan a women's march in Austin instead. Andre has never been involved in a protest movement before. Still excited after Saturday's demonstration, she's planning to attend lobbying workshops by her local Democratic Party and is thinking of running for office. "We want to be able to harness that energy and anger that we have right now and turn it into something good," she said. Protesters move along Constitution Avenue at the Women's March on Washington during the first full day of Donald Trump's presidency, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Crowds march up Church Street towards Romare Bearden Park during Saturday's Women's March on Charlotte, which drew at least 10,000 people according to CMPD. The mile-long march was scheduled to coincide with a national demonstration Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, in Washington, D.C., the day after Donald Trump's inauguration as president. The march started at First Ward Park, traveled down Tryon Street to 4th St. to Church St. and ended at Romare Bearden Park. "The Women's March on Charlotte is a first step in uniting our communities and in empowering grassroots change," march organizers say on the march's website. "We will work peacefully to send a bold message to our elected leaders that women's rights are human rights." (Diedra Laird/The Charlotte Observer via AP) Protesters listen to a speaker as they fill the streets of downtown Los Angeles during the Women's March against President Donald Trump Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. he march was held in in conjunction with with similar events taking place in Washington and around the nation following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Demonstrators attend the Women's March on Washington near the White House on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 in Washington. (AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz) Tombstones on Rio beach for kids killed by stray bullets RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) A Brazilian civil rights organization is placing tombstones on Copacabana Beach to commemorate children killed by stray bullets in Rio de Janeiro. The Rio de Paz group has also spread over the sand a large Brazilian flag with several holes representing bullets. Monday's action follows the death of a 2-year-old girl hit by a stray bullet while playing in northern Rio de Janeiro. The case is under investigation. Activists lay out a Brazilian national flag, punctured to symbolize bullet holes, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, during a protest calling for an end to the violence that erupts during police operations against suspected drug traffickers and thieves. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) The host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics has long struggled with violence. Shootouts between drug traffickers, or between traffickers and police, are common. Some of the violence occasionally spills into touristy and well-to-do neighborhoods. Rio de Paz estimates that at least 31 children in Rio have been killed by stray bullets in the last 10 years. Mexican businessman, pilot dead in chopper crash MEXICO CITY (AP) A Mexican businessman and the pilot of a private helicopter have been found dead in the wreckage of their aircraft in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon. The state government said Monday that the Robinson 44 helicopter went missing Saturday. The wreckage of the four-seat light helicopter was found in a rural area of the state north of the city of Monterrey. Businessman Fernando Maiz and the pilot died In the crash. Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, economic growth and carbon emissions have gone hand-in-hand. Manufacturing has relied on power production, which has mostly relied on coal. That is until the year 2000, when 35 nations undertook the difficult work of carbon decoupling, which is to say breaking the link between growth in their gross domestic product and carbon emissions. The U.S. has been a player in this process, according to a recent study by the Brookings Institute, and 33 states have decoupled GDP from carbon, including six of the Valley states: Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. Our carbon numbers are down 30 percent and were on a path to have them down 60 percent by the end of the decade, says Brenda Brickhouse, vice president of Environment and Energy Policy at TVA. How is such a change possible? Weve changed our fleet substantially to move toward a more balanced portfolio, she says, all based on least-cost planning. These days, overreliance on coal just doesnt make sense, she explains: It costs a lot of money to keep some old coal plants running; it costs a lot of money to keep them up to date. So were investing in low-cost, cleaner gas. We just invested in Watts Bar 2, which generates enough emissions-free electricity to power 650,000 homes. Were also committed to hydro, to renewables and to energy efficiency. All of those changes are outlined in TVAs Integrated Resource Plan, its planning roadmap to the year 2020. Structurally, with our now more-balanced fleet, were not looking at significant change beyond this year, Ms. Brickhouse says. We have a couple of coal plants that need to be retired, we have a couple of gas plants that need to be finished. Well continue to look at resource planning, but if we follow the course laid out in the IRP, were not looking at any big changes in the near term. Questions about environmental regulation abound right now. One is: How will power companies react if strict carbon reduction restrictions are lifted? From Ms. Brickhouses point of view, TVA will simply stay the course. Because of the changes we have made, we are well on our way to meeting the Clean Power Plan, she says. And because that was a least-cost plan, and lower carbon emissions happened to be baked right into it, we will continue to be aligned with its goals even if it gets repealed. We make decisions with low-cost, reliability and clean energy in mind, Ms. Brickhouse explains. Its a three legged stool, and we consider all three when making decisionsnot just the environment. That being said, she does note that TVAs industrial and business partners expect a cleaner and cleaner portfolio. Companies from across the spectrumnot just the big oneshave environmental benchmarks now, she explains. To a certain extent, we must shape our product to meet the needs of what the customer wants it to be. For all of these reasons, she says, We will stay the course, not driven by regulation, but by what works for us and for our customers. Chief: Man killed after shootout with police in Mississippi GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) Authorities in Greenville, Mississippi, say a man was shot to death by police after walking out of a house firing a handgun at officers. Police Chief Delando Wilson Johnson told The Delta Democrat-Times (http://bit.ly/2kkx9F0 ) that Ronnie Lee Shorter, 44, died at the scene. The Washington County coroner, Methel Johnson, said Shorter had been shot five times. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into what happened. MBI spokesman Warren Strain said Shorter's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy. Assistant Police Chief Michael Merchant told The Associated Press that five officers were put on administrative leave. Their names and other identifying information, including their race, were not released. Merchant said Shorter was black. Greenville is a Mississippi River port city and hub of commerce in the cotton-growing Delta. About 78 percent of the city's 32,100 residents are African-American, as are the mayor and police chief. Johnny Ross, who lives nearby, said Shorter "randomly, from time to time, would shoot up in the air." Katherine Kilby, who also lives in the neighborhood, said she heard shots in the area for about two hours Saturday night. "They just laid his body in the middle of the street and covered it up with a sheet," Kilby told the newspaper. "It was terrible." Wilson said he thinks the last officer-involved shooting in Greenville was in 2004. ___ Philadelphia bans employers from asking salary history PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia is banning employers from asking potential hires to provide their salary history, a move supporters say is a step toward closing the wage gap between men and women. Mayor Jim Kenney signed the bill Monday, saying, "What is good for the people of Philadelphia is good for business, too." Comcast has vowed to challenge the measure in court, and the city's Chamber of Commerce is backing the cable giant. They say the law goes too far in dictating how employers can interact with potential workers. Advocates contend that since women have historically been paid less than men, the practice of asking for a salary history can help perpetuate a cycle of lower salaries. OSU president apologizes for student blackface incident STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) The president of Oklahoma State University issued an apology Monday after a white student posted an image of herself on social media in blackface the second such incident by students at the campus in a week. Members of the school's African American Student Association protested outside the university's administration building Monday morning before meeting with OSU President Burns Hargis, where they expressed frustration and concern over the racially insensitive posts, said Terrance Williams, vice president of the student group. "Our immediate reaction was: 'Not again'," Williams said. The image was posted six days after a group of OSU students took a similar picture in which two students appeared online in blackface on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Williams said. "We're very disgusted and annoyed by the situation and the lack of care from some of our fellow students," he said. In a statement, Hargis said OSU values all of its students and "that intolerance or discrimination of any person or group is not acceptable on this campus or in our society." "On behalf of the OSU family, I apologize for the hurt these incidents have caused," Hargis said. "We are working with the students involved in these incidents to help them understand the consequences of their inappropriate actions." Williams said members of the student group expressed "our feeling of lack of support" from OSU's administration. He said the group wants the university to launch diversity training for students at OSU's main campus. Napolitano returns to work after hospitalization SAN FRANCISCO (AP) University of California President Janet Napolitano has returned to work after being hospitalized last week following side effects from cancer treatment. Spokeswoman Dianne Klein says Monday that Napolitano returned to work Friday. Klein says she is back to her full schedule and is doing "extremely well." The UC did not respond to requests last week for an update on her condition. Napolitano, a former U.S. Homeland Security secretary and governor of Arizona, has been undergoing cancer treatment for five months and was hospitalized last week after suffering complications. Her condition had not previously been made public, and her office has not said what type of cancer she has. Stephen Colbert to host Emmys on CBS in September NEW YORK (AP) Stephen Colbert will host the annual Emmy Awards telecast, this year to be shown on his home network of CBS. The annual awards show honoring the best in television will take place on Sept. 17 in Los Angeles. Colbert is host of the "Late Show" on CBS, and the former host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report." In talking about hosting the 69th Emmy telecast, Colbert made sly reference to the Trump administration's unprovable assertion that Trump's inauguration was the most watched ever. FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2015 file photo, Stephen Colbert attends the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center Hall of States in Washington. Colbert will host the annual Emmy Awards telecast, this year to be shown on his home network of CBS on Sept. 17 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File) Said Colbert: "This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period. Both in person and around the globe." Prime Minister Theresa May launched the Governments new industrial strategy for a post-Brexit Britain as she held her first Cabinet meeting in the regions. Mrs May and 30 ministers met at a science park and business incubator in Daresbury, near Warrington, Cheshire to discuss a new approach for the UK as the country prepares to exit the European single market. The plans include a 556 million boost for the so-called northern powerhouse, an overhaul of technical education and 170m cash for a new emphasis on science, technology, engineering and innovation. Later today the PM will launch the Modern Industrial Strategy. Find out more: https://t.co/BDRtiAKu99 pic.twitter.com/f83Fqo07ju UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 23, 2017 As we leave the EU, this Government has a plan to get the right deal for Britain. RETWEET https://t.co/zMPKYNri2q pic.twitter.com/d2cOcPSNkl Conservatives (@Conservatives) January 19, 2017 She said: This is a very important part of our plan for Britain. This is how we shape a stronger future for the UK and also ensure we are building a fairer Britain and a better Britain. And I think it is absolutely right we are launching this strategy, here in the north west, because one of the themes that underpins what we are doing in the industrial strategy and underpins our plan for Britain, is ensuring we drive growth across the whole of the UK, that we ensure that we are building on the strengths of different parts of our economy and different parts of the UK, and that we see prosperity and opportunity spread across the country so everybody has those opportunities to get on in life. .@beisgovuk secretary @gregclarkmp says creative industries will have big part to play in industrial strategy #FedParty Creative UK News (@CreativeUK_News) January 9, 2017 And youll see through the industrial strategy, the pillars that are in here, the importance of issues like infrastructure, skills, ensuring young people have the skills they need for the future, working, looking at the way in which clusters can help to drive economic growth. Business Secretary Greg Clark We are seeing that very clearly here at Daresbury, Ive just been hearing about the work that is done, the new companies that are brought together here and accessing facilities. This is all about driving our economy for the future. This is important anyway, but as we leave the European Union we want to ensure that we are that truly global Britain with an economy that is in the right shape for the future and driving that growth, so that we really do have an economy in the country that works for everyone. The head of GCHQ has announced he is to step down as head of the intelligence agency. Robert Hannigan informed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson of his intention to leave the post for personal reasons. He was appointed director of the organisation often referred to as Britains listening post in 2014. Robert Hannigan We're sorry to announce that Robert Hannigan, our Director since 2014, has decided to step down as head of GCHQhttps://t.co/K5KdKnStcz pic.twitter.com/HaQpWYlqP2 GCHQ (@GCHQ) January 23, 2017 In a letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Hannigan wrote: After a good deal of thought, I have decided that this is the right time to move on and to allow someone else to lead GCHQ through its next phase. I am, like you, a great enthusiast for our history and I think it is right that a new director should be firmly embedded by our centenary in 2019. I am very committed to GCHQs future and will of course be happy to stay in post until you have been able to appoint a successor. James Haskell is a major doubt for Englands RBS 6 Nations opener against France at Twickenham on Saturday week after sustaining an injury on club duty. Haskell returned to the UK after Wasps Champions Cup victory over Zebre in Parma on Sunday instead of joining Eddie Jones squad at their Portugal training camp. Although England have declined to specify the nature of the injury, Haskell has indicated that the toe problem that kept him on the sidelines for seven months has not fully healed. James Haskell (David Davies/PA) SQUAD UPDATE | Haskell & Clifford miss training in Portugal through injury & will remain in UK for treatment. More: https://t.co/umvmveUAyq pic.twitter.com/AmkIBf3AcL England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) January 23, 2017 I tried to do the basics well against Zebre. Ive obviously got a bit of discomfort in the foot, but you are always going to have that, Haskell told BBC Sport on Monday. Haskells comeback from foot surgery earlier this month lasted only 35 seconds due to concussion and after missing the victory over Toulouse, he started against Zebre and was replaced in the second half. It leaves the 31-year-old flanker desperately short of match fitness ahead of the clash with France on February 4 and opens the door for Maro Itoje, Nathan Hughes and Tom Wood to form the back row. Brazil, homebuilders near decision on sales cancellation rules -sources By Gabriela Mello and Ana Mano SAO PAULO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Brazil's government and homebuilders are nearing an agreement on new industry rules giving companies the right to keep a defined share of the value of the home in the event of a canceled purchase, according three people briefed on the matter. A meeting to confirm the potential agreement was scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Brasilia but was delayed until Jan. 26 by the Planning Ministry, according to another person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Under the proposal most likely to be adopted, homebuilders may be allowed to retain an average of 9 percent to 15 percent of the value of units if buyers cancel a purchase, one of the industry sources said on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not finalized. A Planning Ministry official said there was no meeting scheduled on the matter. The talks underscore attempts to define clearer rules, and mitigate the impact of sales cancellations on real estate companies amid Brazil's harshest recession on record. The potential agreement on new industry rules was first reported by newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo on Saturday. "Sales cancellations battered the companies and made the government worried," said the second industry source. Through October, sales cancellations reached 37,702 units, according to real estate developers group Abrainc. According to the third industry source, the cancellations provoked a surge of litigation. Aside from the liabilities arising from contradictory court rulings, cancellations have caused companies to miss sales targets, while raising the risk that banks could cut financing for projects, the same source said. Another proposal under consideration would give builders the right to retain 10 percent of the value of the contract depending on the size of the payments buyers already made, the third industry source said. Shares of Brazilian homebuilders rose on Tuesday after Reuters reported on the likely accord between the government and homebuilders. An index tracking real estate firms listed in the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange rose 0.93 percent on Tuesday afternoon, trading at a nearly three-month high. Japan's Suga: Will closely monitor impact of U.S. policies on Japanese firms TOKYO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said on Monday that it will closely monitor any impact of the new U.S. administration's policies on Japanese companies. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference that he wants to further deepen economic ties between Japan and the United States. Sarah Brogdon and Davey Horsman announced that they have joined Real Estate Partners Chattanooga LLC. Both experienced realtors, Ms. Brogdon and Mr. Horsman now become part of Chattanoogas locally- owned, independent real estate company. Officials said, "Real Estate Partners Chattanooga is proud to be a leader in both the real estate market and in the citys vibrant, diverse and nationally-recognized local business and entrepreneurial community." Both Ms. Brogdon and Mr. Horsman are Chattanooga natives. Ms. Brogdon holds an undergraduate degree from Roanoke College and a Masters Degree from Virginia Tech. She lives in North Chattanooga with her husband Joe and two sons, Beau, 6 and Buz, 3. Mr. Horsman graduated from Baylor School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He lives in North Chattanooga with his wife, Christie Dillard Horsman. The partners are licensed to sell residential and commercial real estate in Tennessee and Georgia. Ms. Brogdon and Mr. Horsman closed out 2016 with over $20M in sales, and look forward to continuing their success in the greater Chattanooga real estate market. China, Philippines agree to cooperate on 30 projects worth $3.7 bln By Benjamin Kang Lim BEIJING, Jan 23 (Reuters) - China has agreed to cooperate with the Philippines on 30 projects worth $3.7 billion focusing on poverty reduction, the two countries said after a meeting in Beijing on Monday. Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng announced the deals without giving details, saying it was an "initial batch" of projects that still needed to be finalised and paperwork still needed to be processed by the banks involved. Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he had a "very productive" meeting with Gao and they had discussed large projects in rural areas, as well as some smaller projects. The deal is the first announcement from a two-day visit by a Philippine cabinet delegation to China that comes three months after President Rodrigo Duterte visited Beijing to pave the way for new commercial alliances. China has welcomed Duterte's foreign policy shift away from traditional ally the United States and towards doing more regional deals for loans and business under his "pro-Filipino" policy. Relations between the Philippines and China "fully recovered" after Duterte's visit, and "China supports president Duterte to lead the Philippines people in developing their economy," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing on Monday. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang told the Philippines' delegation that the two countries were friends and there was enormous potential to develop trade and business ties, state news agency Xinhua said. Both countries should continue to push for the healthy development of relations, Wang added. Chinese officials pledged $15 billion of investment to the Philippines during Duterte's visit in October, according to the Philippine finance department. Asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump's economic policies would affect commercial ties between China and the Philippines, Dominguez said: "It's better to be with good friends." "I'm not sure at this moment exactly what the new U.S. policies, but I believe that the reorientation of our president to our neighbours really was very smart," Dominguez told reporters. The Philippine delegation is due to meet Vice Premier Wang Yang at Zhongnanhai, the Beijing complex that houses China's central government, later on Monday. The Philippine team on the trip includes Duterte's finance, budget, economic, public works and transport secretaries. The two sides will also discuss the Philippines' chairmanship of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 23 PRAGUE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Monday. 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: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/2E/events-overview ==========================NEWS================================== RATINGS: Ratings agency Standard & Poor's affirmed the Czech Republic's 'AA-/A-1+' foreign currency and 'AA/A-1+' local currency ratings; outlook stable. Story: Related stories: TELECOMS: O2 Czech Republic will cut wholesale prices for mobile Internet services, the network operator said on Friday after the national industry regulator warned that current prices were too high for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Story: Related stories: DUKOVANY: CEZ said it started a planned outage of Dukovany nuclear power plant's unit 1 Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: Central Europe's main currencies traded marginally weaker or flat on Friday ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration as investors awaited clearer signals on his future policy direction. Story: Related stories: ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change close on day in 2017 vs Euro 26.999 27.019 0.07 0.03 vs Dollar 25.146 25.353 0.82 1.96 Czech Equities 928.53 928.53 -0.02 0.75 U.S. Equities 19,827.25 19,732.4 0.48 0.33 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600 GMT ==========================PRESS DIGEST======================== WORKERS: A shortage of workers is one the biggest economic problems, the head of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, Vladimir Dlouhy, wrote in a commentary. He said the state must do more to make it easier for firms to hire foreign workers from Ukraine but is not. Mlada Fronta Dnes, page 8 (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) Hochschild to resume operations at Peru's Pallancata mine on Jan. 25 Jan 23 (Reuters) - Hochschild Mining Plc said it would restart operations at its Pallancata silver mine in Peru on Jan. 25, after reaching an agreement with members of a local community who blocked a road and demanded renegotiation of agreements. The miner, which operates in Peru, Chile and Argentina, said Pallancata's guidance for 2016 production and associated all-in sustaining cost had not been affected by the stoppage. An agreement had been reached between Hochschild and the local community, the company said on Monday, without providing any further details. Turkey dismisses deputy head of TMSF state fund in latest post-coup decrees ISTANBUL, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Turkey has dismissed a deputy head of the state fund which runs seized companies and shut down two local television stations in the latest decrees issued on Monday under emergency rule, imposed in the wake of last July's failed coup. The Official Gazette said Zulfukar Sukru Kanberoglu of the TMSF fund was one of 367 people dismissed from state institutions under the latest four decrees, which also reinstated 124 civil servants. It said the people were dismissed for being members of, or having links to, terror groups or groups which act against national security. Broadcaster Haberturk said on Saturday prosecutors had issued arrest warrants for more than 400 people, including soldiers and security officers, in 48 provinces across the country following July's failed coup. They were being sought on suspicion of using Bylock, an encrypted smartphone messaging app that the government says was used by the network of Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of orchestrating the attempted coup, Haberturk reported. Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the charge and condemned the coup. In a post-coup crackdown, Turkey has jailed some 40,000 people pending trial and has suspended or dismissed more than 100,000 from the military, judiciary and public services. PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - Jan 23 SOFIA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. -- Bulgaria's new president Rumen Radev took office on Sunday, pledging to work to unite Bulgarians and see the national interest through the countriy's allies EU and NATO. (24 Chasa, Trud, Sega, Duma, Standart, Monitor, Telegraph, Standart, Capital Daily, Duma) -- Centre-right GERB leader Boiko Borisov, whose government resigned in November after losing the presidential election, said his party should not seek coalitions from now on. (Trud, Telegraph, Standart, Capital daily, Monitor, Duma) Oxford historian Garton Ash to receive Germany's Charlemagne prize BERLIN, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Oxford University historian Timothy Garton Ash, an outspoken opponent of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, is to receive the 2017 Charlemagne Prize conferred annually by the German city of Aachen. Pope Francis was last year's winner of the prize, awarded annually to those who have contributed most to the ideals of post-war Europe. The prize organisers described Garton Ash as "an extraordinary British academic, who has commented on and accompanied the journey of the European Union with passion and precision, providing the community with thoughtful depth". It singled the historian out for his engagement and commitment to a unified Europe, and his call to press forward towards an EU with "practical construction that is strong enough to weather the storm".. Garton Ash published a column on Saturday in Britain's Guardian newspaper criticising U.S. President Donald Trump for his "irascible, bullying, narcissistic character" and said his arrival in the White House heralded "a new era of nationalism" marked by such personalities as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Xi Jinping of China. Russia and Turkey push Syria's warring sides to seal truce By Denis Dyomkin and John Irish ASTANA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Syria's warring sides met for their first talks in nine months on Monday, with their Russian and Turkish backers pushing to cement a ceasefire that could pave the way for political talks. The meeting in the Kazakh capital comes at a time when Turkey, which backs the rebels, and Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, each want to disentangle themselves from the fighting. That has led them into an ad-hoc alliance that some believe represents the best chance for progress towards a peace deal, especially with the United States distracted by domestic issues. After facing each other to make opening remarks on Monday, the rival delegations spent the rest of the day negotiating indirectly through intermediaries and at times trading barbs. But the rebel side expressed optimism about Moscow's position. "We noticed a real understanding on the part of the Russians," Yahya al-Aridi, an opposition spokesman, told reporters. "We understand that militarily they have achieved what they wanted in Syria. Now they want to translate this military achievement into some sort of political deal. That has to be a ceasefire." Diplomats said Russia, Turkey and Iran were working on a final communique that could be completed as early as Tuesday. It would reaffirm a Dec. 30. ceasefire that each side accuses the other of violating. Russian news agency TASS cited an early draft communique as saying Moscow, Ankara and Tehran would commit to jointly fighting Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the militant group formerly known as Nusra Front. They would set up a mechanism for trilateral monitoring of the ceasefire. But fundamental divisions remain between Russia and Turkey which could complicate the final text. Turkey and Russia may also be at odds with Iran, whose militias are core to Assad's military strength and who rebels blame for rights violations. Mohammed Alloush, a leader of the powerful Jaysh al-Islam group who heads the rebel delegation, insisted he wanted to stop "the horrific flow of blood" in the six-year-old war. To achieve that, the Syrian army and its Iran-backed allies had to abide by the truce and Shi'ite militias had to leave the country. Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's United Nations envoy, leading the government delegation, said the talks were an opportunity to reconcile the country with Assad staying in power, a red line for rebels. He accused opposition negotiators of defending "war crimes" by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. OVERSEEING CEASEFIRE The head of the Russian delegation, Alexander Lavrentyev, told reporters talks had been heated because of the mistrust between the parties, but he remained optimistic that Tuesday could yield results. Some observers said the meeting, sponsored by Moscow and Ankara with the support of Tehran, could jump-start U.N.-led negotiations that were suspended in April. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, attending the Astana talks, said it was crucial to get a mechanism to oversee and implement a nationwide ceasefire. "That by itself ... would be a major achievement," he said, adding he hoped Astana could pave the way for talks that he has proposed for next month in Geneva. The rebels' loss of their former urban stronghold, Aleppo, has shifted the momentum of the fighting in favour of Assad. On Sunday, warplanes bombed rebel-held areas of western Syria, killing 12 people in one location, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, while insurgent shelling of Aleppo killed six. The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said on Monday it would not be bound by any decision that came out of the talks in Kazakhstan as it was not involved in the meetings. The West is playing no role in Astana, although Kazakhstan, with the backing of Moscow and Ankara, extended an invitation to the new U.S. administration last week. The local U.S. ambassador was present, while several Western envoys for Syria were also in Astana to observe developments. "It's not very serious. You don't seal a ceasefire in two days. You have to work on the modalities, things like observers, mechanisms, maps, the list goes on," said a senior Western diplomat. Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank seeks bids for insurance business -sources By Anshuman Daga and Saeed Azhar SINGAPORE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Siam Commercial Bank Pcl (SCB) has begun to formally seek bids for its life insurance business in a sale that could raise about $3 billion for Thailand's third-biggest lender, said people with knowledge of the process. Prudential PLC, AIA Group > and Manulife Financial Corp are among insurers weighing a bid for SCB Life Assurance, the people said. SCB was looking to sell a 49 percent stake in the unit last year, but the process was delayed due to expected changes in foreign shareholder rules governing the sector, according to separate sources aware of the process. Whether it sells all or only part of the business depends on the offers it receives and who they are from, the people said. First round bids are expected to be submitted by early February, they added. The sources for this story declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. SCB's CEO Arthid Nanthawithaya declined to comment. Prudential, AIA and Manulife declined comment. Thailand caps foreign companies' stakes in domestic insurance ventures at 49 percent, but lawyers said Thailand recently amended its rules to allow foreign insurers to seek government permission to own more than 49 percent or up to a 100 percent shareholding in a Thai insurer. Bangkok-based law firm Tilleke & Gibbins said in a note last week that the move is a significant reform for Thailand's life insurance industry, following liberalisation of the country's non-life insurance sector in recent years. GLOBAL INSURERS SCB's deal is expected to include rights for a buyer to sell insurance products through the bank's 1,200 branch network. The so-called bancassurance model is lucrative for banks as global insurers are willing to pay hefty fees for access to lenders' branch networks and for exposure to a rapidly growing middle class in developing markets, such as Thailand. SCB Life is ranked fourth in Thailand's life insurance market, with Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Co the market leader. Other major players are AIA, France's AXA, which has a deal with Krung Thai Bank, and Thai Life Insurance. Southeast Asia is seen as a growth region for foreign insurers, who are attracted by relatively faster growth rates of life premiums and the region's low insurance penetration. The Thai Life Assurance Association said this month that total premium income in the country grew 5.4 percent from January to November 2016, to 508 billion baht ($14.4 billion). Analysts expect strong growth. "The Thai economy is expected to grow and there's more savings coming out as well, so things are looking better than before," said Rajnish Juta, who looks after Southeast Asia insurance services at Deloitte & Touche. (OFFICIAL)-UPDATE 2-Austrian police arrest man suspected of planning imminent attack VIENNA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - An Austrian man suspected of having jihadi contacts was arrested on Friday in Vienna in a move the interior minister said prevented an imminent attack and police urged citizens to report any abandoned bags. Special forces arrested the 17-year-old with a migrant background in a Vienna apartment at around 1700 GMT, police said. "The decisive leads came from foreign intelligence services," Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka told reporters. Asked whether the suspect had Islamist motives, he said: "There are certain indications, which we have to investigate. There is one contact which is fairly clearly positioned." The arrest comes a month after an attack at a Berlin Christmas market killed 12 people and after attacks in France and Belgium raised fears in Europe. Austrian newspaper Krone said a group of radical Islamists of Albanian descent had planned an attack in Vienna between Jan. 15 and 30. It did not specify its sources for the report. The minister declined to give further details on the suspect but asked people to be vigilant in crowds and to report unattended items of luggage in public places. The arrested man had been monitored by special forces for several days, Sobotka said, adding there were hints the man, who lives in Vienna, had travelled to Germany. Leftwinger may win French Socialist ticket, but presidency beyond reach By Brian Love PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Radical left-winger Benoit Hamon looked well-placed on Monday to become the Socialist contender in France's presidential election after winning the first round of a candidate-selection contest, but the ultimate goal of becoming president seemed as remote as ever. Voters will have a clear choice in the Jan. 29 runoff of the Socialist primary between the markedly more left-wing Hamon and former prime minister Manuel Valls, a moderate Socialist who came second in Sunday's opening round. Hamon wants, among other things, to legalise cannabis and establish a basic state income level of 600 euros per month for all adults. Hamon's breakthrough, which quickly won the support of party grandees such as Arnaud Montebourg and Martine Aubry, marks a resurgence of a more traditional Left after five years of more pro-business leadership under President Francois Hollande. But beyond the personal triumph for Hamon and the fallout for his party, analysts doubt any such victory would significantly improve dismal prospects facing any Socialist candidate in the presidential election, which takes place on April 23 and May 7. It stands, ironically, to boost Emmanuel Macron, a centrist whom pollsters put in third place in the race for the Elysee behind right-winger Francois Fillon and far-right leader Marine Le Pen - the two candidates whom polls tip to make it to the May 7 presidential runoff. By signalling a lurch to the left, a Hamon win in the Socialist primary will boost Macron's prospects of drawing votes from moderate left-wingers after Valls exits. UNPOPULAR HOLLANDE "From here on, there are three contenders who could make the second round of the presidential contest: Fillon, Le Pen and Macron," said Bruno Cavalier, chief economist at Oddo Securities and a long-time observer of the French political scene. Opinion polls show no Socialist is likely to win the presidency after the unpopular rule of Hollande. With Valls out of the picture, Macron, an independent who says he wants to transcend the traditional Left-Right divide, would be well placed to pick up much of the centre ground and grab second place in the opening round of the presidential ballot on April 23. That would get him into the May 7 runoff. Hamon, who was sacked from government by Hollande in 2014 for criticising his economic policies, took more than 36 percent of votes versus 31 for Valls in the first round of the Socialist primary. Buoying his prospects for next Sunday, the former education minister won the endorsement of Montebourg, another left-winger and primary candidate who came in third with 18 percent. Aubry, now mayor of Lille and another pillar of the Socialist party, also said she would back Hamon. This year's primary, open to anyone of voting age, drew just 1.6 and 1.7 million of France's 44 million-plus voters. Macron, 39, was an economy minister in Hollande's Socialist government but he has never been elected to office and remains a largely unknown factor on the political scene he wants to shake up. He is a former investment banker who oversaw liberalisation of Sunday shop opening and bus transport but has yet to produce an official presidential election programme to be judged by. The NAACP will focus on working with elected officials and other community organizations to improve Chattanooga in the areas of education, economic development, low income housing and accountability of elected officials in these areas, said Dr. Elenora Woods, local NAACP president. Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are advocates for civil rights in their communities, voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in public and private sectors. The Southeast Region consist of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Listen every Saturday from 12:30-1 p.m. on WNOO to hear Local NAACP News with host Dr. Woods and co-host and first vice president, George Calhoun. The show is dedicated to keeping the community informed about NAACP positions on issues dealing with the inequalities and injustices affecting African Americans, minorities and poor people in the areas of economic development, education, low income housing, and criminal justice. NAACP meetings are now held on the first Monday for the executive committee and the third Monday for general membership at 756 E. MLK Blvd. in the Whiteside Building. This change in meeting time will allow officers and members to attend City Council meetings on Tuesday evenings. NAACP membership dues are $30 annual for regular membership and $750 for life membership which can be paid in a lump sum or $75+ annual installments for 10 years. In generation shift, Sinn Fein names O'Neill as N.Ireland leader By Amanda Ferguson BELFAST, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Sinn Fein named Michelle O'Neill to succeed Martin McGuinness and lead the Irish nationalist party into Northern Irish elections in March, marking a shift towards a generation not directly involved in decades of conflict. McGuinness, a former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander turned peacemaker, bowed out of frontline politics last week, saying illness and Northern Ireland's current political crisis had led him to step down several months earlier than planned. He was also deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. "This is the handover of a primary leadership position from my generation, from Martin's generation, to another generation," Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams told a news conference. O'Neill was 21 when she began her political career as an advisor at Northern Ireland's devolved assembly in 1998, the year the Good Friday peace agreement was signed, largely ending the bloody period of "The Troubles". McGuinness was Sinn Fein's chief negotiator in the peace talks between Catholic nationalists seeking a united Ireland and Protestant pro-British unionists wanting to remain in the United Kingdom. Outgoing Health Minister O'Neill, who turned 40 this month, was the first woman to serve as mayor of her local council area before being elected to the assembly 10 years ago. Her father, a former Sinn Fein councilor, was jailed during the conflict. Her appointment by the party's leadership also raises the prospect that Sinn Fein could soon be led on both sides of the Irish border by women from a younger generation. Adams, the party's president for more than 30 years and its leader in the Irish Republic, where it is a growing force, has also said he is preparing to make way, as the former political wing of the IRA broadens its appeal to voters. Deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald is favourite to succeed him. O'Neill faces the task of repairing relations with the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, with whom Sinn Fein led the British province's power-sharing devolved government for a decade before its collapse last week. The March 2 election will be followed by renegotiations on the terms of power-sharing to avoid a return to direct rule from London as Britain begins talks to leave the European Union. Sinn Fein has called for Northern Ireland to be given a special designated status within the EU once Britain leaves, after the majority of the province voted against Brexit. The DUP backs making a clean break from the EU. "The British government is clearly on a collision course with the EU in which our economy and peace agreements are regarded as collateral damage," O'Neill said, after embracing McGuinness whom she described as a political giant. Notes of caution surround U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem By Luke Baker and Matt Spetalnick JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump's team spoke often about moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But since taking office, the contentious issue has become more nuanced and may already be moving to the backburner. In a statement before a first post-inauguration phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer appeared to lower expectations of an imminent announcement of a move that could anger the Arab world. "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," he wrote. The White House did not respond to questions or requests to elaborate. Some Israeli news outlets and pro-settlement groups took it as a positive sign, interpreting the line as an indication that talks have begun on a move they long for, even if it could have profound repercussions for regional stability. But Israeli officials said the issue was barely discussed on the 30-minute call, and diplomats said their understanding was that it was being moved down the agenda, at least for now. "Sounds more like walking it backwards," one Israeli official said in a text message after Spicer's statement. Another said that during the call Netanyahu had not sought a commitment from Trump on the move or a timeframe for it. The former spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry suggested Spicer's line was age-old diplomatic code for "not now". "This really means: 'Don't call us, we'll call you'" Yigal Palmor said on Twitter. Netanyahu's spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NO EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM While the Israeli prime minister cannot be seen to oppose the United States moving its embassy to Jerusalem - Israel considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all countries to base their embassies here - there is an awareness that such a move could be destabilising. Currently, no country has its embassy in Jerusalem, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Costa Rica and El Salvador did until a few years ago, but they are now located in Tel Aviv. The reason is that the final status of Jerusalem is supposed to be determined via direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, who want to have the capital of an independent Palestinian state in the east of the city. If the United States were to relocate its embassy, it would be an explicit recognition of Jerusalem belonging to Israel, pre-determining the outcome of negotiations and taking a side in a process in which the United States is a critical actor. Trump has suggested that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, could take on the job of mediating peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. To do that, Kushner and the United States would have to be seen as scrupulously independent. For the Palestinians, moving the embassy would cross a red line. Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab countries with peace treaties with Israel, have warned against the move, as have former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state John Kerry, saying it could be explosive for the region. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held discussions on the issue with King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman on Sunday. Palestinian officials said the king, who oversees the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, expressed concerns about any relocation. Abbas and the king agreed a list of steps they would take if the embassy move is made, one official said. It is not clear what steps Jordan would take, but withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, halting security cooperation or suspending its 1994 peace treaty are all possible, analysts say. It also wants to ensure the large Palestinian population in Jordan does not react angrily. Egypt, which signed a peace deal with Israel in 1979 and cooperates closely with it on security, also has reservations about any move, calling it a "very inflammable issue". "I don't want to indulge in speculation about what might or might not happen, but I think everyone recognises the importance of this issue," Foreign Minister Samed Shoukry told members of the foreign media at a briefing on Jan. 4. "This is one of the final status issues that has to be addressed between the two sides ... it is our interest that all issues are resolved through negotiations." WIDER CONCERNS Another consideration for Israel is the stronger relations it has quietly been building with the Sunni Muslim world. Netanyahu speaks frequently about the "new horizon" Israel has with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Gulf states. If the United States were to shift its embassy, it could rock those ties. Israeli officials say they don't want any move to be rushed. They believe the U.S. embassy should be in Jerusalem, and Trump has said he will live up to his promise, but the decision has to be carefully thought through. The practicalities alone are difficult. While the U.S. government has several buildings in Jerusalem, including a consulate-general dealing with the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, it cannot creat an embassy overnight. The incoming U.S. ambassador, David Friedman, has told Israeli media he intends to live in Jerusalem, where he has an apartment. But shifting the entire embassy with all its security arrangements and commercial, trade, cultural and economic units from Tel Aviv to a new site in Jerusalem will take time. In the interim, Netanyahu has other political considerations. He is under investigation in two criminal cases and he faces a growing challenge from the far-right, pro-settlement Jewish Home party in his coalition. The announement on Sunday that Israel will build more settlements in East Jerusalem was in part a move by Netanyahu to satisfy voters on the far-right pushing for more rapid settlement expansion now Trump is in office. London Metal Exchange CEO resigns after a difficult year By Pratima Desai and Michelle Price LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Lower trading volumes and a lack of strategy created a crisis that led to the resignation of London Metal Exchange Chief Executive Garry Jones after three years at the helm of the world's largest and oldest metals market, metal industry sources say. Parent company Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEx) said on Monday that Jones was leaving the LME, but did not give a reason. The LME declined to comment. Jones was appointed in August 2013 and his departure follows that of Chief Operating Officer Stuart Sloan late last year. Problems at the 140-year old exchange helped depress profits at Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd (HKEx). It paid $2.2 billion for the LME in 2012. HKEx reports 2016 results on Feb. 27. Jones, with 30 years experience in exchanges and financial services but limited experience in metals, took over at a difficult time for the LME, which was caught up in a controversy over warehousing metals and its impact on consumers. He will be replaced in the interim by Matthew Chamberlain, the LME's 34-year-old chief operating officer, until a permanent replacement is found. Andrew Dodsworth, the LME's head of market operations, has been appointed interim COO. "The decision to appoint Matt is not a surprise, he's young, intelligent and understands the business," a marketing source at a metals brokerage said. "(HKEX Chief Executive) Charles Li may decide to keep Matt in the CEO's position if he can find a way to improve volumes ... The problem is finding someone who can reconcile the needs of the physical with the financial market." An average 31 percent fee increase at the start of 2015 prompted consumers and producers to abandon the exchange in favour of over-the-counter (OTC) trade, hitting LME volumes. The downtrend was reinforced last year by economic and demand slowdown in China, the world's top consumer of industrial metals, which subdued prices and activity, triggering an exodus of funds to other markets with higher return potential. LME volumes overall in 2016 slid 7.7 percent after a fall of 4.3 percent in 2015. However there was a 5.6 percent drop in copper trading compared with a 26.7 percent surge in trade on the U.S. rival CME Group's exchange, which sources say is easier and cheaper to use for funds. "Last year was one of the most difficult for us in recent times," one head of a metals brokerage said. Incursions into its territory from rivals such as the Shanghai Futures Exchange and CME has seen the LME's share of overall copper trading fall to near 60 percent from 80 percent in 2008. Globally the LME accounts for 71 percent of all metal traded on exchanges compared with 87 percent in 2008. Michael Farmer, founding partner of Red Kite Group, said in a speech during LME Week that the exchange should further cut fees and that the rising costs of trading on the LME would further cut liquidity. "If they'd had any real success with the new contracts, it wouldn't have hurt so much," a floor trading source said. "They hiked the fees and gave us nothing in return." LME brokers say an iron ore contract should have been launched soon after the takeover, but it was too late now because the Singapore Exchange and the Dalian Commodity Exchange had beaten them to it. "Instead they gave us aluminium premium contracts, which have never traded," a broker said. HKEx last week announced plans to launch a U.S. dollar-denominated, cash-settled iron ore futures contract in Hong Kong this year. The LME's cash-settled steel rebar and scrap contract have gained more interest but has yet to be judged a success. Part of the problem is the LME trying to break into markets such as gold, dominated by already well-established and liquid futures in Shanghai and New York. Russian bombers hit Islamic State near besieged Syrian army enclave BEIRUT, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Russian jets pounded Islamic State in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zor on Monday, seeking to thwart a full-blown assault by the militants against the last district in the region still held by the Damascus government. Six TU-22 strategic bombers carried out air strikes against Islamic State targets near the city of Deir al-Zor, Russia's defence ministry said in a statement. The long-range bombers took off from Russian territory, it said, a rare occurrence as Russia usually launches bombing runs from its air base in the Syrian province of Latakia. Islamic State has launched its fiercest assault in a year to capture the government enclave, a pocket of Deir al-Zor city surrounded by IS territory, in a battle that has killed dozens. The assault has raised fears for tens of thousands of people living in the government-held zone, whose main supply route was cut off when IS severed the road to a nearby air base last week. A military commander in the alliance of forces fighting in support of the Syrian government said recently that Islamic State was seeking to turn Deir al-Zor into a base of operations. The commander urged the U.S.-led coalition and "every air force" to attack Islamic State to stop it moving its convoys in the area, an apparent sign of dissatisfaction with the level of support from the Russian air force there. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said Russian air strikes had escalated in Deir al-Zor since Saturday, describing them as intense. Warplanes flew from Russia to hit IS positions in Deir al-Zor on Saturday and returned after the strikes, RIA news agency quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying. CIVILIANS UNDER THREAT The Observatory reported heavy clashes on Monday between government forces and IS fighters, especially around the city's cemetery and a road junction known locally as the Panorama Roundabout. The U.S.-led military alliance against Islamic State also said in a statement that coalition jets had conducted 14 air strikes near Deir al-Zour on Sunday. Food prices have soared and families are drinking untreated river water in Deir al-Zor, the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said on Monday, due to the IS-imposed siege. "The escalation of violence threatens the lives of 93,000 civilians, including over 40,000 children who have been cut off from regular humanitarian aid for over two years," said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director, in a statement. "Indiscriminate shelling has reportedly killed scores of civilians. Food prices have sky-rocketed to levels five to ten times higher than in the capital, Damascus. Chronic water shortages are forcing families to fetch untreated water from the Euphrates River, exposing children to the risk of waterborne diseases," he said. The assault, which began earlier this month, appears to be part of an IS effort to shore up its presence in Syria as it loses ground in Iraq. Islamic State controls nearly all of Deir al-Zor province, with the army retaining the air base in the city and neighboring districts, which the jihadists encircled in July 2014. The Syrian government and its Russian ally have since made regular aid drops into the beseiged zone. Miner Teck eyes sharing port with Anglo American in Chile VANCOUVER, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Teck Resources has held talks with fellow miner Anglo American Plc about sharing port infrastructure at their neighboring copper mines in Chile, Teck's chief executive officer said on Monday, arguing for more industry partnerships. Sharing infrastructure between Teck's Quebrada Blanca copper mine and Anglo's Collahausi copper mine, both of which are weighing expansions, would help reduce costs for both companies as well as reduce their environmental footprint, Teck CEO Don Lindsay said. "They are looking at expansion. We are too. We are building two ports 5 kilometers (3 miles) apart. This is ridiculous," Lindsay said, speaking at a mining conference in Vancouver. "We've got to stop doing that as an industry," he said, adding that host countries appreciate miners working together to reduce their environmental impact. There are clusters of ore bodies all over the world owned by different companies but well suited for joint development, Lindsay said. Teck, which also mines coal and gold, formed a joint venture with fellow Vancouver-based gold producer, Goldcorp in 2015 to jointly develop their neighboring mines, Relincho and El Morro, which are also in Chile. Lindsay said he had spoken with Anglo CEO Mark Cutifani about sharing infrastructure. "We'll sort something out," he said. The European Investment Bank (EIB) today said it will provide EUR 50 million to support improvement and expansion of sewage networks across the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The new loan will help the Colombo Municipal Council achieve its goal of providing full sanitation coverage to benefit people living and working in the greater Colombo area. The new loan is EIBs first ever support for water investment in Sri Lanka and the first loan for public sector investment agreed with the new post-civil war government. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayke said the new support from the EIB will help unlock essential new investment to improve sanitation in Colombo. EIB Vice President Andrew McDowell said increased access to sanitation to be achieved by this project will improve the lives of thousands of people living in Colombo and contribute to achievement of sustainable development goals in Sri Lanka. The EIB is pleased to be working closely with partners in Sri Lanka to ensure an environmentally sustainable future for the countrys capital and is grateful for the excellent cooperation with the Asian Development Bank in our first joint support in the country, he said. The existing water supply and sewage network in Colombo was built a hundred years ago and is not adequate for the citys needs. Once complete the upgraded water network will enable a clean water supply 24 hours a day and seven days a week, compared to the currently heavily restricted service. The new water investment programme will include provision of a new sewage network in currently un-served areas of Kirillopone. Under the initiative a new wastewater treatment facility will also be built to reduce pollution at the Wellawata sea outfall. Left to right - JINESH HEGDE - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER / MANAGING DIRECTOR BHARTI AIRTEL LANKA, POOJA UMASHAKAR BRAND AMBASSADOR BHARTI AIRTEL LANKA AppointsPooja Umashankarto spearhead youth empowerment activities Aims to further improve its fastest mobile 3G internet status Rewards the first few customers with lifetime free calls on its network Bharti Airtel, the third largest telecommunications and network operator in the world with a footprint in over 18 countries recently celebrated its 8th Anniversary in Sri Lanka with a commitment to further empower the youth. Since its inception in January 2009, Bharti Airtel Lanka with aninvestment of approximately LKR 64 billionhas built a formidable network in the country. According to the recently published Internet Speed Test Results by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka,Airtel is the fastest among all 3G networks in the island. The brand has also been acclaimed as one of the most preferredmobile telecommunication brand among the youth of Sri Lanka. With a view to further strengthen their brand promise to EMPOWER THE YOUTH, Airtel has named the countries muchadored actress Pooja Umashankar as their Brand Ambassador for the year 2017. Pooja, widely acclaimed for winning the hearts the youth of this country, will spearheads Airtelsyouth empowerment programmes.Further as part of the festivities, Airtel and its business partners awarded thesome of theirfirst customers with a lifetime of free calls within the Airtel network. Left to right - G D C DILRUKSHI KORALE, E. IMESH KUMAR, FOUZIL HAMEED, M. FAWDUS SARFAS, Z M ZAVAHIR, POOJA UMASHAKAR BRAND AMBASSADOR BHARTI AIRTEL, JINESH HEGDE - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER /MANAGING DIRECTOR BHARTI AIRTEL LANKA, J A ROSHAN, THANGAIYA BALA KRISHNAN, ANUSHI UDALAWATTA Mr. Jinesh Hegde, the CEO/MD of Bharti Airtel Lanka speaking at the event said Airtel wouldnt be where it is without the support of its subscribers. To uphold our promise to them of 40% faster internet,we have expanded our 3g reach by 40% over the last two years; and will constantly strive to bring in technologies that will keep us in that position. Welcoming renowned actress PoojahUmashankar onboard he added that Pooja will help cement Airtelsposition as the most preferred telecom service provider among the youth of Sri Lanka. Commenting on her partnership with Bharti Airtel Lanka, Pooja Umashankar said, I have always had passion for helping people, and I am thrilled to be associated with a brand who has long since demonstrated a similar passion. Together we will provide more opportunities for the youth of Sri Lanka to develop themselves and get closer to their dreams, no matter which corner of the country they may be in. One million tonnes into 10 USD into 150 rupees, is the loss we, as taxpayers have to bear said Maithri Gunaratne, the Past Chairman of Lanka Coal Company (LCC) speaking to the Daily Mirror. This is the gist of the coal tender scandal that has rocked Sri Lanka since 2015, which was brought to the forefront again after an Auditor Generals report revealed that the country had suffered a loss of Rs.4145.43 million in 2016 due to it. The beauty of the situation is this is a story that has been heard by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, been the contents of an Auditor Generals report and has gotten widespread media coverage, yet in the face of blatant irregularities and violations, technicalities have ensured that the wrong prevails. The story is as follows Tender Danger On June 13, 2015, Noble Resources International (Pte) Ltd emerged as the lowest bidder in the competitive bidding process to supply coal to the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Nuraichcholai, Puttalam. On June 29, before the tender had been formally awarded to Noble Resources, Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises (Pte) Ltd, which had come in the 5th place after the bidding process, had written to the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) which had opened the price proposals for bids, calling for a re-evaluation of its bid. This resulted in the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) which appraises all tenders, being ordered to re-scrutinise the tenders by the SCAPC, disregarding two vital criteria that had been previously imposed with regard to the size of the coal. On July 2, Gunaratne, then Chairman of the LCC, had written a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy, Dr. B. M. S. Batagoda highlighting clause 5.5 of the LCC bid document which prevented any bidder from contacting any organization involved with the bidding process, from the time of the opening of the bids. This is a Secretary to a Ministry who would have sat on a million tender boards so he should have been able to see this. I had a very good relationship with Batagoda and this was the first time I saw him taking this route. After my letter he bitterly complained to the Minister upon which the SCAPC decided that I was interfering with the process and wanted to get rid of me said Gunaratne. Irrespective of the letter, a few weeks later the tender was awarded to Swiss Singapore. 4 of the 6 bidders then appealed to the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB), which hears appeals by bidders, and the PABs observations included the fact that Nobel Resources was the lowest responsive bidder, that the awarding of the tender to Swiss Singapore was incorrect and that the SCAPC had entertained a letter from Swiss Singapore which was contrary to the LCC bid document as it appeared that an attempt had been made to influence the price evaluation procedure. The PAB recommendation was for the Cabinet to cancel the tender and call for fresh bids. As with the letter these recommendations died a natural death. However, Noble Resources and another bidder, filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The application was dismissed however since Noble Resources, did not have locus standi as they were a Company registered under the laws of Singapore and had invoked the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court all by itself without a local agent, representative or an Attorney at Law enjoining them as a Petitioner. Technicality versus consciousness In his judgment however, Chief Justice K. Siripavan, stated that: If the Petitioner with a good case is turned away, merely because he is not sufficiently affected or the Petitioner has no locus standi to maintain this application, that means that some Government Agency is left free to violate the law and this is not only contrary to the public interest, but also violates the Rule of Law, the object of which is to protect the citizens from unlawful Governmental actions. It will be a travesty of justice if, having found as a fact that a Fundamental Right has been infringed or is threatened to be infringed, the Court yet dismisses the application on a preliminary objection raised by the Respondents. The Chief Justice considered it appropriate to make the directions that the LCC may terminate the contract entered into with the 22nd Respondent (Swiss Singapore) for the supply of Coal to the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant...; and call for fresh bids in terms of the law, for the supply of Coal for the said power plant following competitive Bidding procedure. This is a direction I have got with the discretion given to me to terminate the contract. The reason why the Supreme Court has given me this discretion is that if I were to cancel it immediately and there were ships that were sailing already with the coal for us it is unfair to them, said Gunaratne. When the judgment had come out Maithri had brought it to the notice of the Board which had wanted clarification from the Supreme Court. According to him, Batagoda had then taken over the entire operation and had proceeded to send the judgment to the Attorney General for a decision. We come under the Ministry so Batagoda may be CFO but we are an independent organization tasked with procuring coal for the power plant. I couldnt do anything when he took it all over because I come under the Secretary himself. I cant fight them every step of the way and I also couldnt be seen fighting with them always since I am appointed by the President. You feel uncomfortable to keep on telling them that what they are doing is wrong, Gunaratne said. However, instead of the AG himself, the Additional Solicitors General (ASG), Sanjay Rajaratnam Presidents Counsel, who was also counsel for 58 of the named Respondents in the Supreme Court case, had interpreted judgment and deliberated on it. It was Rajaratnams opinion that if Swiss Singapore filed for damages there would be an opening for a damages suit. A case of rhetoric So in October 2016, I was called for a meeting at the Ministry with Batagoda and Swiss Singapore. Batagodas questions to them were as follows If we dont give you the contract you will sue us wont you?. Swiss Singapores reply was, Yes we will. Another question of his was, Then if you sue you will ask for damages wont you?. To which the reply was again in the affirmative. So it is extremely clear that Batagoda wanted this. I am surprised at the manner that the ASG conducted himself. He had no right to interpret judgement since he was representing respondents. Either he is dishonest or he is corrupt. said Maithri. When Rajaratnam was contacted by the Daily Mirror he said he couldnt comment on the issue and that any response had to come from the AG. The ASG had then instructed the parties to get Cabinets opinion on this already warped opinion. This was opposed in the Cabinet by Minister Champika Ranawaka and a few others however it was hurriedly put to the Cabinet Economic Sub-Committee. The seal was then put on it and it came back to me as a Cabinet decision. So even though there is a Supreme Court judgment when it comes as a Cabinet decision I have to follow that since I am appointed by the President, Gunaratne explained. Therefore the tender went ahead with Swiss Singapore for one million tonnes of coals at a price of USD 90-92 per tonne, whereas according to Maithri it was possible to purchase it at USD 80 in the open market. In the past there have been issues like this but thats why we had a change of regime. Therefore we need to practise good governance. Here is a situation where we call for an international tender which takes at least six months and has a pre qualification process as well so if there was any indication that Nobel had abused their power to enjoy an unfair monopoly then the tender board should have taken a decision and told the Cabinet to cancel their bid. But after doing everything and even calling Nobel for the final discussion with regards to awarding the tender they have awarded it to 5th highest bidder. Maithri claims that Batagoda specifically fixed the tender for Swiss Singapore to get it. There is a relationship between both of them and he seems to be working hand in hand with them. They never expected Nobel to get the lowest price so they wanted to scuttle it all. We are dealing with international bidders so the process has to be transparent. We are a small country with a begging bowl so we cant be manipulating the process. Consumers cry when the electricity bill comes. We need to work at bringing it down, not for a few officials to be getting money. When I was at the LCC I was able to supply the full requirement to the power plant. An operation cost of Rs. 40 per metric tonne was brought down to Rs.17. A residue of bottom ash was used to make blocks of stone. None of these projects were to the liking of Batagoda. The LCC team was better than any private organisation so much so that 4 international bidders wrote to me commending it as the most transparent conduct they have been part of. When asked about his future plans in tackling this issue Gunaratne said that he would be consulting his lawyers to see if his Fundamental Rights were infringed upon since under Art. 26 of the Constitution we are all bound to protect resources of the country. I have been under undue pressure from the Ministry. We were all ridiculed and accused of helping several suppliers. My position is that if you win the tender I have to treat you as a friend since we need to get along from that moment onwards and these are international bidders. But that was construed as undue support. They want a puppet so that they will appoint someone like that, commit all forms of irregularities and hang it on an unfortunate candidate. Defence of a report Allegations have been made by UNP MP Nalin Bandara that the loss from the coal procurement tender is incorrect. However when the Daily Mirror contacted the Auditor Generals office, it defended the report by stating that the loss was calculated by the documents provided by the LCC and the Ministry. According to the Procurement Guidelines the criteria cannot be changed for evaluation said Assistant Auditor General E. A. G. Ananda. A 17 point letter by Batagoda detailing the recommended steps to deal with the Auditor Generals report however places the blame squarely on the LCC and in the opening paragraph itself states that the examination done by the report shows that over the past 6 months the LCC has suffered a loss of 4145 million due to procuring coal. The letter cites several chapters of the report detailing the loss that has taken place and ends with the recommendations that with regards to the above mentioned facts by the Auditor General, the LCC hasnt taken any steps to right the wrongs or identify the individuals responsible and therefore to rectify the situation and to strengthen the LCC once again or whether the LCC should continue to function in the future, the following recommendations are presented: to dissolve the Board of Directors with immediate effect and to take a decision regarding the future of the LCC at a meeting with the shareholders "Consumers cry when the electricity bill comes. We need to work at bringing it down, not for a few officials to be getting money. When I was at the LCC I was able to supply the full requirement to the power plant. An operation cost of Rs. 40 per metric tonne was brought down to Rs.17" However, Batagoda was unavailable to answer any questions with regards to the letter or to explain his actions throughout the process. Swiss Singapore will be supplying coal until April and would have in total supplied two sets of one million tonnes of coal by then. The issues are as follows. Why did the SCAPC entertain a letter by Swiss Singapore, in violation of the tender rules and order the TEC to re-evaluate the bid? Why were the PAB recommendations unheeded? Why was the discretion given to the Chairman of LCC taken over by Batagoda? Why werent the directions of the Supreme Court given any weight in the Cabinet Economic Sub-Committee action? And most importantly, leaving aside the right and wrong of this debacle, if one is dissatisfied with the lowest bidder what is the logic behind skipping 2, 3 and 4 to award the tender to the 5th? The answers should be contained in Good Governance but maybe only time will tell. The Government has sought the advice of the Attorney General on the action it should take on the delay by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approving the Google Loon Project, Telecommunication Infrastructure Development Minister Harin Fernando said today. He told a news conference that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) and the Cabinet approved the project. "But the delay is caused by the ITU" he said. He said the Google Company Chief would also be keen to see the proposed project when he visited Sri Lanka next month for the 'Digital Island' Digital Summit. When asked about the WIFI project, the minister said it was being implemented. "The issue is that we have not been able to launch a marketing drive to make people aware of the locations where they could get free WiFi. We have asked the Finance Ministry for funds for such a drive and to go ahead with a campaign when we receive the funds," the minister said. He said fiber optic cables were being laid covering a large area. The minister assured that this would be a revolution as it would be possible to have video conferencing among households. "You will be able to engage in video conferencing with your next door neighbour soon," he said. The minister said two-thirds of the fiber optic cable network has been completed. (Yohan Perera) Video by Isuru In all the tributes paid to the late Judge Weeramantry, no reference appears to have been made to the pivotal role he played as Chairperson of the Judicial Integrity Group that developed the universal code of judicial conduct. In the late 1990s, credible evidence began to surface that people in many countries, on many continents, considered their judicial systems to be corrupt. Those who participated in public perception surveys considered the judiciary to be only somewhat less corrupt than the police. Litigants who responded in service delivery surveys claimed to have paid bribes to court officials, judges, and in a South Asian country, even to the opponents lawyer. A presidential commission of inquiry into corruption in an African country reported that corruption in the judiciary was so widespread that the ordinary citizen had no faith in the judicial system, with many believing justice was only for those with money. In Sri Lanka, judges who responded in a direct mail survey reported at least three incidents of bribery involving judges and relating to the delivery of judgments. I was then functioning as Executive Director of Transparency International at its secretariat in Berlin. We took the initiative to speak with judges, lawyers, academics, justice ministry officials, members of parliament and civil society representatives. They all agreed on the need to formulate and implement a concept of judicial accountability without eroding the principle of judicial independence. The challenge was to determine how the judiciary could be held to account in a manner that was consistent with the principle of judicial independence. How does one achieve the right balance between autonomy in decision-making and independence from external forces on the one hand and accountability to the community on the other? These were issues that were best resolved by the judges themselves. Accordingly, in early 2000, UNCICP Vienna agreed to host a preparatory meeting of Chief Justices from common law countries who spoke a common legal language, to discuss this issue. The Chief Justices I communicated with from South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and the longest serving judge in Australia, Justice Michael Kirby, all agreed to attend this meeting, as did the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Param Cumaraswamy and the Chairman of the UN Human Rights Committee P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India. We were then faced with a very sensitive problem. Who should preside at this meeting? Would the choice of an Asian Chief Justice offend their respected colleagues from Africa? Would the choice of a white Australian Judge offend everyone? It was at that stage, after consultation with my UN colleagues, that I contacted Judge Weeramantry, Vice-President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He agreed and his leadership was accepted unreservedly by all the participating Chief Justices. At its first meeting, the Judicial Integrity Group (as this group came to be known) agreed that the principle of accountability demanded, initially, a universally acceptable statement of the core judicial values which were capable of being enforced by the judiciary. "He emphasized the universality of the expectation of judicial integrity. He explained that it was important to be alert not only to financial corruption but also to intellectual corruption, given the choice which judges have to make in the discharge of their judicial duties" At the request of the Group, I prepared a draft statement of principles of judicial conduct. It drew on rules and principles already articulated in national codes of conduct (wherever they existed), and in regional and international instruments. When we met in Bangalore in 2001 to consider the draft, Judge Weeramantry placed the work of the Group in the context of other developments of international law. He emphasized the universality of the expectation of judicial integrity. He explained that it was important to be alert not only to financial corruption but also to intellectual corruption, given the choice which judges have to make in the discharge of their judicial duties. Over the next twenty months, the text of a document that came to be known as the Bangalore Draft was disseminated among senior judges of both common law and civil law systems in over 75 countries. It was discussed at several judicial conferences at which Judge Weeramantry, Justice Kirby and I participated. It was reviewed by the Consultative Council of European Judges in Strasbourg. It was translated into several Eastern European languages and commented on by the Constitutional Courts of those countries. Finally, in the light of the comments and criticisms received, the draft was revised. By then, Judge Weeramantrys term of office on the ICJ had ended. As 2002 drew to a close and we were discussing how best to proceed to the next and final stage, Judge Weeramantry returned to The Hague as an Ad Hoc Judge of the ICJ. Insisting that the draft code, when adopted, should be one that was universally acceptable, he made three proposals. The first was that the final meeting be held in the Peace Palace at The Hague, the seat of the ICJ. The second was that we should invite a representative group of Chief Justices of civil law countries. The third was that we should also invite the Judges of the ICJ. Accordingly, in November 2002, a Round Table Meeting of Chief Justices drawn principally from the civil law system Brazil, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Mexico, Mozambique, Netherlands,Norway, and the Philippines - at which several Judges of the International Court of Justice from Madagascar, Hungary, Germany, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, Brazil, Egypt and the United States - also participated, was convened in the historic Japanese Room of the Peace Palace, chaired by Judge Weeramantry. Unlike at previous meetings of common law judges, the working languages at this meeting were English, French and Spanish. The participation of judges from legal systems other than of the common law also meant the absence of a common legal language. However, the consummate chairperson that he was enabled Judge Weeramantry to complete the proceedings within two days, having achieved a consensus on several disputed issues. From this meeting emerged The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct which identified six core values of the judiciary: Independence, Impartiality, Personal Integrity, Propriety, Equality and Competence and Diligence. The document then proceeded to state the principle derived from each value, followed by more detailed statements of the application of each value. Judge Weeramantry was insistent that we should endeavour to have the Bangalore Principles adopted by the United Nations as the global standard. That was an almost insurmountable challenge. An instrument not drafted by representatives of governments had never been accepted or endorsed by the United Nations. The fact that it had been prepared under UN auspices was of no relevance. The memory of the events of the 1980s, when two parallel attempts were made to draft the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, was still fresh in our minds. One attempt was by the UN Crime Committee in Vienna comprising representatives of governments, and the other in Geneva by the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities comprising human rights experts. The latter prepared a much more comprehensive statement of principles than the government representatives. The two streams did not converge in any real sense, and the UN at that time ruled that standard-setting was the business of governments, and not of experts. The first attempt to reach the General Assembly was made in 2003 by the UN Special Rapporteur when he attached the Bangalore Principles to his annual report to the Human Rights Commission. That effort met with mild success. The Commission merely noted the Bangalore Principles. The next effort produced spectacular results. In April 2005 on the initiative of UNODC, the Economic and Social Commission in a resolution adopted without a vote, acknowledged the important work carried out by the Judicial Integrity Group emphasized that the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct represent a further development and are complementary to the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and invited Member States to encourage their judiciaries to take into consideration the Bangalore Principles when developing rules with respect to the professional and ethical conduct of members of the judiciary. ECOSOC also invited the Group to develop a Commentary on the Bangalore Principles. With the assistance of Justice Kirby, I prepared the draft commentary. When I submitted it to Judge Weeramantry, he pointed out that we should demonstrate that contemporary judicial values were drawn from the great religious systems of the world, all of which were unanimous in their insistence on the highest standards of judicial rectitude. After hours of discussion with him and drawing on his immense knowledge of the subject, especially Islamic law, I prepared an annex to the draft commentary that drew on religious and cultural traditions: the texts of ancient Egypt and Hindu law; Buddhist philosophy and the Twelve Tables of Rome (which contained the injunction that The setting of the sun shall be the extreme limit of time within which a judge must render his decision ); the legal systems that flourished in China and in Africa at the same time as they did in Greece and Rome; the writings of Jewish scholars; the teachings of the Old Testament; and the very specific and comprehensive provisions in Islamic Law. These judicial values were not only global; they were also eternal. They were part of the heritage of mankind. "I can imagine the sense of achievement he must have felt when, in May 2016, he was informed that the Bangalore Principles were now included in the United Nations Compendium of UN Standards and Norms" In 2007, Judge Weeramantry, together with Chief Justice Pius Langa of South Africa, presided over the Intergovernmental Expert Group, convened in Vienna at the request of ECOSOC, to scrutinize and approve the draft Commentary. As the draft was examined in detail, paragraph by paragraph by over a hundred participants, not only by judges but by senior government officials nominated by states, it was the unique judicial experience and temperament of these two distinguished judges that made it possible to retain the text of the Bangalore Principles and of the 175-page draft Commentary with minimum amendments. In 2010, in Lusaka, Judge Weeramantry chaired the meeting of the Judicial Integrity Group at which Measures for the Effective Implementation of the Bangalore Principles was adopted. That statement of benchmarks or guidelines describes the responsibilities of the judiciary and the institutional arrangements to be established by the state to give effect to the Bangalore Principles. Earlier, at a meeting in Colombo in January 2003, the Group adopted Principles of Conduct for Judicial Personnel, that had been prepared following a consultation process with selected court registrars. The Philippines was among the first judiciaries to adopt the Bangalore Principles and the Principles of Conduct for Judicial Personnel. From Belize in the Caribbean to the Marshall Islands in the Pacific, the Bangalore Principles have been used as the model by national judiciaries in fashioning their own codes of conduct. Judge Weeramantry kept himself informed as judiciary after judiciary modelled their own codes of conduct on the Bangalore Principles. I can imagine the sense of achievement he must have felt when, in May 2016, he was informed that the Bangalore Principles were now included in the United Nations Compendium of UN Standards and Norms. The Judicial Integrity Group over which Judge Weeramantry presided has survived for over sixteen years as an autonomous body with a continuing commitment to developing tools to strengthen judicial integrity. Its initiatives have considerably expanded the global architecture of standards applicable to judicial systems. There were moments when other, more powerful organizations attempted to absorb the Group. I recall a meeting in Vienna when a senior UN official attempted to convert it into a UN activity with the offer of funds and other benefits and Judge Weeramantry strongly insisted that it should remain a UN-supported activity. On that occasion, all its members, led by Chief Justice Langa of South Africa asserted that the Group was, and would continue, as an independent and autonomous body which determines its own programme of work and its own membership. With dignity, grace and charm, Judge Weeramantry presided over a group of powerful judicial personalities of many nationalities. His indomitable spirit led them to achieve the objectives they sought. The Bangalore Principles was the first ever instrument not drafted by representatives of governments to have been accepted and endorsed by the United Nations. In that sense, Judge Weeramantry led the process that broke the glass ceiling. The Anti-Corruption Front (ACF) led by Ven. Ulapone Sumangala Thera wrote to President Maithripala Sirisena today demanding him to prevent former Central Bank governor Arjuna Mahendran from attending meetings at the Finance Ministry. In its letter, signed by the Thera and the Fronts Advisor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, the ACF said that Mr. Mahendran is a regular attendee of the Finance Ministry meetings which are being held every Tuesday and Thursday to advise current Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy on decisions that should be taken by the Monetary Board. It said Dr. Coomaraswamy, Treasury Secretary Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga and Advisor to the National Policies and Economic Affairs Ministry R. Paskaralingam take part in these meetings. Mr. Mahendran, who faces serious allegations regarding the controversial Treasury bond scam, currently acts as an advisor to the Ministry of Finance on the Central Bank. When Dr. Coomaraswamy was appointed Governor this meeting was held each Monday and Thursday at 5 pm on July, August and September. The dates later changed to Tuesday and Thursday and the last meeting was held on January 6, 2017 at 11 am. During that meeting, Mahendran advised Coomaraswamy on the decisions that should be taken by the Monetary Board, which is a violation of the Banking Act, the letter said. The ACF lauded the President for appointing a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Central Bank bond issue and recommend actions. It urged the President to show his commitment to good governance by action and not by mere words. If Mahendran is still in a position to advise and influence the Monetary Board, the people of Sri Lanka will surely think that the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry which you will appoint will be another ploy to buy time. Thus we sincerely believe that you would immediately prevent Mahendran from communicating with the Treasury as a coordinator to the Ministry of Finance, the letter said. Injured captain Angelo Mathews is expected to return to Sri Lanka from South Africa this week. Issuing a statement, the SLC said Mathews is expected to return to Sri Lanka to join his family. The SLC announced that prior to the tour, Mathews had indicated that he would need time off to be there for the birth of his first child. The skippers leg was injured during the second T20 international against South Africa held in Johannesburg yesterday. Meanwhile, fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep and opener Dhanuskha Gunathilaka are expected to return home to Sri Lanka today. Sri Lanka Cricket said that both players are in need of rest to recover from their injuries. The national team's physiotherapist confirmed that Nuwan Pradeep sustained a hand injury following the match on January 17. He has been requested to rest and will not be available for the next four weeks. President Maithripala Sirisena told a public meeting in Nuwara Eliya about an incident he encountered on his way to the event, that a student of a school in Kotagala had requested a toilet for his school. The student had made this request in response to an inquiry by the President about the problems faced by the people in the area. The President had promised the student to send a team of officials to the latters school next week to do the needful and also assured them he would provide an ambulance for the rural hospital in the area in response to a request by another resident of the area. Interestingly, almost all television channels had picked up this part of the Presidents speech to be telecast. The State media might have chosen this part of the speech to boost the image of the President, while the other media had focused on the human interest aspect of the story. The President might have inquired about the problems of the people he met and promised to fulfill some of their demands, simply out of courtesy and good faith. Many leaders do something of this sort to please the masses who gather around them when they travel to various parts of the country. Some leaders carry the babies brought by women in the crowd, while some others address people by their name if somebody known was among the crowd, and publicly inquire about his or her health. Therefore President Sirisenas assurance to the people to provide toilets and ambulances was not something new. However, the episode might give rise to several misgivings over the relationship between the leader of the State and the people. One might infer that problems faced by the people of the country remain unresolved just because the President is unaware of them. On the other hand, it implies that all problems among the people could be resolved by Presidential decrees if they are made known to him, as the one presented by the Kotagala student. In turn, people might tend to write to him about their problems and many might be disappointed as all problems could not be solved through Presidential decrees. If we take, for instance, the toilet problem in schools around the country, anyone could realize that it is not as simple a problem as that could be solved through a Presidential order. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said in 2011 that 1299 schools or nearly one million children and 200,000 families did not have access to toilets. It also stated that 1860 schools did not have access to water. Another survey conducted by the Public Interest Law Foundation had also confirmed these statistics, which indicate a pathetic situation in about 10 percent of schools in the country. Take another issue. According to the latest Central Bank report persons per doctor ratio in the country is 1079:1 while it is 10,000:15.4 in respect of nurses. When the floods hit the Kelani Valley area in May last year the President ordered to stop all unauthorized filling of marshy lands, but we do not see any follow-up action after that. Some experts predict a dire food shortage as well as power and water cuts in the near future due to the prevailing drought, giving ammunition to some of the Opposition politicians. It is puzzling as to what the reasons are, for the authorities not realizing that the drought is an occasional phenomenon in Sri Lanka which requires a permanent solution. The JVP at least proposed and started to implement a programme to reconstruct 10,000 dilapidated old tanks in the dry zone during the Parivasa government with President Chandrika Kumaratunga. But after its exit from the government the authorities abandoned the programme. In short, we need master plans to solve problems, spontaneous decrees by the President or the Prime Minister or any other minister, in spite of their good intentions would hardly address them. The weekend saw the United States of America enter a new phase in history. Thirteen minutes before noon on Friday, January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States as the US Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Roberts Jr. administered the oath at the countrys 58th inaugural ceremony on the steps of Capitol Hill. Protesters walk during the Womens March on Washington, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, on January 21, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Most of the world watched Just two and a half months ago, having been literally been on his intense US Presidential campaign trail, we observed at close range- especially at the Concord political meeting- how he aimed straight at those who lost jobs in the Industrial zone with his rhetoric on the doom and gloom of America. That gathered speed, breaking even on the opinion polls with just days to go for the election. He raced on the last lap to an astonishing finish that had us in the media in a twirl. The results showed the strategy won. Most of the world was stunned At the historic power transfer ceremony, Republican Senator Roy Blunt quoted Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln about national unity, reminding the crowd the event was not a celebration of victory, but a celebration of democracy. A week before a Gallup found just 44% of those questioned approved of the way the incoming President had handled his transition, compared with 83% approval for Barack Obamas transition. 61% approved of Bushs transition. President Trump takes over power at a time when the country appears to be deeply divided. He enters the presidency with historically low approval ratings. According to a new Washington Post ABC News poll, he takes office as the least popular President in 40 years. Forty percent of Americans view Trump favourably, which is 21 points lower than the rating with which Obama will leave office. Most of the world observed The three days scheduled for celebrations in Washington DC kicked off on the January 19 with the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National ceremony where Trump and Vice President elect Mike Pence honoured the countrys veterans at the US military cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. This was followed by the first inaugural event that included a concert and rally, with popular Trump slogan, Make America Great again a welcome celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. The Speech The events that unfolded during the celebrations from the Arlington cemetery to the parade down Pennsylvania and the evening balls expected to unfold with pomp and pageantry, were described to be less glittery than on previous inaugurations. However it was the Inaugural speech that was the main focus of attention. Most of the world listened. His address was totally consistent with his campaign rhetoric, where he painted a very dark picture of a suffering American people and an America where the Washington Establishment had created a land of lost jobs and struggling families. Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities, rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation, an education system that is flushed with cash but leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge, and the crime! he emphasized, and the gangs and the drugs, that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. he gushed. For too long, a small group in our nations capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost, he said. Politicians prospered but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. He pledged a greater America, the time for empty talk is over, now arrives the hour of action. Trump reiterated campaign pledges to completely eradicate radical Islamic terrorism from the face of the earth and vowed to bring power back to the people. The real estate mogul and reality TV star turned politician, now the President of the United States, said his vision was of America first. It is clear, after the inauguration speech, that President Trump intends to govern as he campaigned. Trump is reported to have had tweeted previously that he began drafting the speech three weeks ago. He had been receiving advice and counsel from advisors such as his campaign speech writer Stephen Miller as well as from historians, especially regarding the length of his speech. Incoming Press Secretary Sean Spicer is reported to have said the words were fully Trumps. That certainly rings true, it is unlikely anyone would doubt that. In his inaugural address, he further promised to be the voice of the forgotten people, ignored by Washington politicians.Today, he said was the day the people became rulers of this nation again.I will fight for you with every breath left in my body and I will never ever let you down, said President Trump.America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs, bring back our borders, bring back our wealth and we will bring back our dreams. Some analysts feel he let America down with his description of a broken country before he could even begin his administration. Outgoing President Barack Obama and wife Michelle, together with Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton and former Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and his wife Laura were in attendance. The absentees were 92-year-old George Bush Senior, who is in hospital being treated for respiratory problems, and his wife Barbara. Inaugurations, like campaigns are mostly talk, but governing is judged through results. Trumps swearing-in gives Republicans control of both the White House and Congress for the first time since 2006. However, more than 50 House Democrats had refused to attend the ceremony in protest. Widespread protests. Just as it was during his controversy-riddled campaign and following his win, the inauguration was held amidst widespread protests and incidents of violence. Police arrested 217 people protesting against the inauguration and six officers suffered minor injuries, according to the Washington DC Police Department. Many were apprehended for vandalism and destruction of property, police reports revealed. Earlier, about 150 protesters dressed in black marched through Washington, smashing windows and rolling rubbish bins into the street to form blockades. The Womens March took place in Washington on Saturday, for racial and gender equality and other issues perceived to be under threat from Mr. Trumps administration. Similar protests took place in various parts of the world. First Official Actions Shortly after the ceremony, President Trump was seen signing his first official documents as the 45th President. He also signed into law a waiver allowing retired Marine General James Mattis, his pick for Defence Secretary, to fill the post. The Senate has voted overwhelmingly to approve retired Marine General John Kelly as his Secretary of Homeland Security. The change of hands was reflected on the White House website, in which Mr. Obamas policies were replaced with President Trumps new agenda. The Trump administration has only listed 6 issues on the website: energy, foreign policy, jobs and growth, military, law enforcement and trade deals but there was no mention of civil rights, LGBT rights, healthcare or climate change. He sent his Cabinet nominations to the Senate as well as a signed a proclamation for a national day of patriotism, according to Press Secretary Sean Spicer. He also signed his first executive order as President, ordering federal agencies to ease the regulatory burdens associated with Barack Obamas healthcare laws, known as Obamacare, as the US Congress determines how to repeal and replace them. The world reacts. The transfer of power prompted many messages for the newly sworn in President from dignitaries and people around the globe, who weighed in on US President Donald Trumps inauguration on Friday, anticipating how his policies would play out on the international stage. The messages ranged from congratulatory to not so much. Pope Francis said he was praying Mr. Trumps decisions would be guided by the rich spiritual and ethical values that have shaped Americas history. At a time when our human family is beset by grave humanitarian crises demanding far-sighted and united political responses, under your leadership, may Americas stature continue to be measured above all by its concern for the poor, the outcast and those in need he added. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also offered his wishes and the Canadian Prime Minister said he looked forward to restoring prosperity to the middle class on both sides of the border.fter Mr. Trumps inauguration, his meeting with President Putin will be the most important event in world politics. A defining moment in history, tweeted Alexei Pushkov, an outspoken Russian senator and former chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee. About 200 people were reported to have marched on Friday against Trump in the Philippines capital, Manila. Demonstrators burned a mock paper US flag before setting alight an actual one. Chants included: US troops out now! People also held signs with messages such as Donald Trump, pull out US troops in the Philippines. Earlier in the day, a UK-based protest group used signs and bridges across the country to convey a less celebratory message. Huge banner reading Bridges Not Walls on the iconic Tower Bridge over Londons River Thames on Friday morning was one of more than 150 such strips that the group planned to display on bridges across the country. Fight Trump. Resist fascism and imperialism was the message on banners or signs displayed on some of Londons other bridges, including Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridge. Mexicos President, Enrique Pena Nieto congratulated the new leader and expressed a desire to strengthen the relationship between the countries. However, Former President Vicente Fox an outspoken critic of Trumps pledged to have Mexico pay for a border wall, tweeted: Speaking of allegiance, Trump? Speaking of greatness? America was already great and successful, then you happened! Outspoken Mexican Sen. Armando Rios Piter said happiness is a good thing to work on and Mexico and the United States should be working in that way, not in the way Donald Trump has been talking about. Protesters calling Trump a fascist, racist and xenophobe gathered at the roundabout marked by Mexicos Angel of Independence carrying signs that said Make America human again and Love trumps hate. Protesters chanted Get out Trump. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted Congrats to my friend President Trump. Look fwd to working closely with you to make the alliance between Israel & USA stronger than ever. His relationship with President Obama is reported to have deteriorated rapidly in its final weeks. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying spoke on constructive bilateral relations between the two countries to propel further development of China-US ties at a new staring point. We would like to join hands with the new US administration to uphold the principles of non-confrontation, non-conflict, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Chunying said, at the beginning of a contentious bilateral relationship between the worlds two largest economies, with Trump having vowed to renegotiate trade agreements and propose imposing tariffs on Chinese imports. In his inaugural address when he said we must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs, was a hint to China. The main concern on the minds of many in attendance was the future of the nuclear agreement among Iran, the US and other nations, aimed at curbing Irans nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief. Trump has called the agreement a bad deal and said he wants to renegotiate it. Irans government has rejected the idea and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has insisted that one man cannot repeal the deal or change its terms. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday extended his heartfelt congratulations to Trump. Abe was the first Asian leader to congratulate him after the election win. Looking forward to working with President @realDonaldTrump to further deepen India-US ties and realise the full potential of our cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, soon after the inauguration. Messages from Sri Lanka Meanwhile,Congratulations on your inauguration as the 45th @POTUS. Looking forward to working with you to strengthen the US-#SriLanka partnership, President Sirisena tweeted. Last month saw new US Vice President Mike Pence telephone President Sirisena and had spoken on further strengthening US-Sri Lanka relations, maritime security and disaster management under President Elect, Donald Trump. President Sirisena was assured of a meeting soon. Last November, President Sirisena said he hoped Trump would grant Sri Lanka redress by not pursuing human rights accountability charges against the country. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva has adopted three anti-Sri Lanka successive resolutions against Sri Lanka between 2012 and 2014, with the US taking the lead for which the Obama Administration was seen to adopt a softer line on Sri Lanka since President Sirisena took office in 2015. In Sri Lanka too, while Trump was being inaugurated as the US President, a small but vociferous group gathered outside the US embassy, carrying placards and chanting slogans denouncing Trumps comments on issues including the environment, war and immigrants. Siritunga Jayasuriya, leader of the United Socialist Party, explained, We are showing our solidarity with people throughout the world taking part in protests against President-elect Trump, However, one of Sri Lankas Buddhist organisations placed a full-page newspaper advertisement wishing him long life! Watch the future This wont be the first time the world reacts to Donald Trump and it will not be the last. After more than a year of turbulent campaigning, 26 primary and General Election debates and countless press conferences, attack adds victory speeches, public apologies and early morning twitter rantsTrump won the election and has squarely landed in the White House. So this was his day. The stage was his and the country he had sought to command would be his, at last. Governing however will be judged by results. The United States of America stands politically a deeply divided nation and two words constantly used by analysts to describe the way forward are unpredictable and uncertain, yet there is optimism that the change will be for the good. Trump defied all polls and analysts and took the world by storm in his unprecedented win of the Presidency. The question remains whether he will do the same with his four year presidency. The world will now have to continue to watch. Donald Trump, Nuclear Weapons & The Ominous Tick Of The Doomsday Clock By Stephen Gossett in News on Jan 23, 2017 5:17PM Physics Nobel Prize winner Dr. Leon M. Lederman, director of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, moves the hands of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 'Doomsday Clock' two minutes closer to midnight February 27, 2002 at the University of Chicago. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) The metaphorical minute hand on the Doomsday Clock, currently set at 11:57, didnt move forward last January, the most recent time the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists convened for their annual reflection on just how close humanity teeters toward global catastrophe. But it didnt move back either. And if something dubbed the Doomsday Clock being set at three minutes to midnight sounds alarming, well, thats precisely the point. The Doomsday Clock was created as a figurative reminder to the public of the catastrophic capabilities posed by nuclear armamenta risk that, despite obvious self-evidence, has required a surprising degree of reiteration. But the concern over nuclear weapons is all of a sudden once again on high alert, in no small part thanks to a pattern of alarming and sometimes confounding statements from President Donald Trump. When the Bulletin makes its next clock-update announcement, this Thursday morning, theyll deliver it to an American public that already seems more anxious about the topic than at any point since the Soviet era. The clocks origins, rooted in Chicago, stretch back to 1947, when some of the researchers who helped develop the atomic bomb introduced the symbol. Two years prior, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had prompted a serious bout of I-am-become-Death self-reflection among the scientists and engineers who contributed to the Manhattan Projectexperts, like eventual Bulletin founder Eugene Rabinowitch. He was part of the landmark projects University of Chicago leg that set off the very first controlled nuclear reaction, underneath the universitys Stagg Field bleachers in Hyde Park. Those people knew about the horrible effects of these new weapons and devoted themselves to warning the public about the consequences of using them, as the Bulletins site reads. By the summer of July, 1947, the Bulletin was giving the Doomsday Clock, as it came to be known, its brilliant science-meets-iconography push. The editorial of the July, 1947 issue begins: The new cover of the BULLETIN bears the design of a clock, its hands approaching twelve. This symbol of urgency well represents the state of mind of those whose closeness to the development of atomic energy does not permit them to forget that their lives and those of their children, the security of their country and the survival of civilization, all hang in the balance as long as the specter of atomic war has not been exorcised. The clock made its debut on the first magazine issue of journal, in June, 1947. Artist Martyl Langsdorf, a landscape painter whose husband was a Chicago-based Manhattan Project researcher, created the design, including the hands initial, seven-minutes-to-midnight placement. The specific time was chosen simply because it looked good, Langsdorf said, according to the Atlantic. [I]t seemed the right time on the page it suited my eye, she also remarked, according to the Bulletin. The clocks debut may have lacked formality, but the Bulletin is rigorous with its annual decision of whether or not to adjust the clockand if so, by how much. The currently 14-member Science and Security Board of the Bulletin gathers for a two-day meeting to scrupulously pore over everything that has happened that might threaten existential global stabilityincluding, ever since 2007, climate change and disruptive technological swings. The panel and the discussion is a nexus of science and policy, said Jennifer Sims, a board member who also serves on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. There are eminent scientists and also political scientists on the board. It reflects the fact that we look very hard at current science, the actual evidence. But we also have political scientists talking about best measures and how our political institutions fared. As we know, they're currently hardly starved for conversation topics. Three days before Christmas, Donald Trump dropped a metaphorical bomb of his own. The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes, he tweeted. The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016 The eyebrow-raiser didnt come out of nowhere, following as it did directly on the heels of Vladimir Putins pledge to build a new Russian weapons systems. But it was a characteristically jumbled, counterintuitive thoughtnot what one hopes to see in terms of nuclear-weapons policy. (Trump reportedly double-downed on the build-up claim according to Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC. She claimed that he told her: "Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.") It was of a pattern, too, part of a string of confoundingsometimes terrifyingly sostatements about nuclear capabilities. The Bulletin mustve thought: Since the Cold War, has the need for a reminder of the potential for atomic catastrophe ever seemed simultaneously so essential and so redundant? In fact, gestures toward nuclear expansion, like Trumps, were previously called into question by his own Secretary of Defense nominee, James Mattis. Is it time to reduce the triad to a diad, removing the land-based missiles?" Mattis asked in 2015, referencing the common belief that air and sea deployment options are more than sufficient without ICBMs. The retired generals skepticism of the Cold War-style configuration of course calls to mind the fact that Trump, as recently as December, 2015, seemed to have no idea what the nuclear triad even is. When Lester Holt pressed the issue in a September presidential debate, Trump offered more inscrutable logorrhea. That time, he seemed to caution against building up the nation's nuclear stockpile, but also fallaciously claimed that the arsenal has been allowed to rot under Obama's administration. Obama began an expensive modernization effort to overhaul the nuclear program, that could cost as much as a trillion dollarsand that figure would balloon even further if Trump did choose to bulk up. Photo: Matthew Busch The list of alarming incidents runs on, too: There's Trumps claim that proliferation among Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia wouldnt be such a bad thing. And there's the Joe Scarborough claim that Trump repeatedly asked at a foreign policy briefing, If we have them, why cant we use them? There are also troubling reports that the head and deputy positions of the agency in charge of developing and maintaining the American atomic stockpile will be vacant for an unknown amount of time, due to Trumps refusal to allow key personnel to retain roles after inauguration, but before staffing transitions take place. One of the most devastating examples was the most recent: that Rick Perrynominee to head the Energy Department, (the same guy who once advocated we eliminate the Energy Department)believed his job was to advocate for oil and gas, when in fact it included management of the nations nuclear armory. Part of the Clock-setters task is to cut through the noise, but such uncertainty is hardly desirable in what is already, in many ways, a fraught geopolitical landscape. Were very leery about acting on things people say. People say all sorts of things, said Robert Rosner, a University of Chicago Physics professor and co-chair of the Science and Security Board for roughly two years. The main thing Im worried about (in terms of Trump) is [he's] very unclear. (The Issues pages of the updated White House website don't offer much elucidation.) Other dangerous global factors are less opaque, however. Our relationship with Russia is an issue, aggression in the South China sea, sabre-rattling and warfare in the Middle East, climateafter the Paris Agreement, not much happened, Rosner said. The threat of nuclear exchange as a result miscalculation on the Indian subcontinent is a particular strong concern of Rosner's, he said. Add the fact that the very concept of deterrence is being met with increasing skepticism among experts and observers and the backdrop only gets darker. While not referencing any one particular issue (the Science and Security Board has embargo limitation ahead of the announcement), Jennifer Sims said 2016 was an unusual clock year, because so much [transformation] is happening. [The Board] did talk about the role of precedent, Sims said. When unprecedented things happen do you take an unprecedented approach to the process? I think, when the clock announcement is made, youll see what decision we made about that in 2016. This is the crunch time in triggering a paradigm shift in deepening ties between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which has acquired a strategic hue of late. The upcoming state visit of Abu Dhabis crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India (January 25-27) will determine whether the two sides actually take a giant leap into the future bilateral ties or whether the event ends up as a one-step-forward-and-two-steps-backward kind of process. The central theme of the foreign dignitarys upcoming India visit will be whether Abu Dhabi comes good on its one-and-a-half-year old pledge of investing US $ 75 billion in India because not a dime of the promised investment has come thus far. In a way, the detractors can argue, and with some justification, that India itself has to be blamed for this. The reason is that the promised investment fund from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was meant to be in the infrastructure arena and till recently India was still busy in fastening the nuts and bolts of its nodal agency for the purpose, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). However, this deficiency has now been taken care of as the architecture for receiving and managing any foreign investment, including from Abu Dhabi, has now been put in place. The NIIF is now in place with a corpus fund of Rs 40,000 crore. NIIF is a fund created by the Indian government for enhancing infrastructure financing in the country and is different from the National Investment Fund. Its creation was announced in the Union Budget 2015-16 and its first chief executive officer (CEO), Sujoy Bose, was appointed on June 27, 2016. The upcoming state visit to India by Abu Dhabi's crown prince, during which he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade marks a crescendo in India-UAE bilateral strategic ties. A milestone in India-UAE bilateral relationship came about on January 20, five days before the crown princes India visit, when the two sides held their first-ever strategic dialogue in New Delhi on Friday. Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. (Credit: PTI photo) It signified how close the two countries have come to each other and taken their bilateral relationship to a new level. India-UAE relationship thus far had revolved around two issues mainly: oil and diaspora. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UAE in August 2015, the India-UAE relationship has acquired a strategic dimension as during that trip the two powers upgraded their relationship to a "strategic partnership". The inaugural edition of the India-UAE Strategic Dialogue is the first demonstration of the two countries' foreign offices taking a giant step in redefining their bilateral relationship. New issues, which have emerged between the two countries and came up for intensive discussions at the strategic dialogue were (1) trade and investment, (2) defence and security and (3) cooperation in counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing. Needless to say that India's arch-rival Pakistan needs to worry a lot in view of such a rich agenda of the first India-UAE Strategic Dialogue. The event may well mark the beginning of the end of Pakistan's traditional strategic stranglehold over the UAE. Strengthening of India's strategic relations with powers of the Arab world such as the UAE is part of a decade-old "Look West" foreign policy thrust of India for past one decade at least which started when India's relations with Saudi Arabia scripted new history. India's ties with the UAE have gone from strength-to-strength in the strategic arena, especially with a marked uptick in bilateral cooperation in fields such as defence, intelligence and counter-terrorism. This has virtually put Indias arch-rival Pakistan on notice and has caused consternation in the Pakistani civil and military establishments. Now, let us return to the argument made at the outset: why it is a crunch time in India-UAE bilateral relations. India and the UAE are yet to traverse quite a distance to realise the fullest potential of their strategic relationship. Their cooperation in energy and trade and investment spheres, for example, is still being fine-tuned, which may happen to some extent during the upcoming visit of Abu Dhabi's crown prince. The most important still-to-do aspect of this is the UAE pledge to invest $75 billion in India, nothing of which has materialised even after one-and-a-half years of that pledge. Prime Minister Modi is particularly restive about the fast fulfillment of the UAE promise as he has completed 32 months of his 60-month tenure. Abu Dhabi has cleverly not given any time line for its proposed funding and has kept it open-ended. Pakistan is already plagued with a host of problems domestic terror, a fragmented military, human rights abuses, strained relations with neighbouring Afghanistan, resentment brewing in Balochistan and PoK keeping the establishment on its toes. In addition to all these, a new malady has struck the nation the curious case of missing bloggers. The problem assumed monstrous proportions as several bloggers went missing within the first week of January. Judging by history, Pakistan has never been very tolerant towards men of letters. It was a sound and wise judgement on the part of urdu poets and academics that they chose to remain in India after the Partition. Their vision paid off and poetry flourished in a tolerant India, where even the common man remains a patron of Urdu literature. Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Ali Sardar Jafri, Sahir Ludhianvi, Jan Nisar Akhtar, Shakeel Badayuni and other such luminaries would not have prospered in today's Pakistan. Same holds true for musicians and artists belonging to diverse disciplines. To illustrate the argument, Josh Malihabadi (1894-1982) ignoring the advice of Jawaharlal Nehru and others decided to go and live in Pakistan acquiring Pakistani citizenship in 1958. Already recognised for his literary work in India (Malihabadi was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1954), his work never got the same kind of acceptance in Pakistan. Crestfallen for being ignored, Malihabadi sent numerous feelers to India to return, but, sadly, by then it was too late. Coming back to the mysterious disappearance of bloggers in Pakistan, the establishment seems helpless and not really interested. There is no place for dissent and free speech even as the right-wing zealots accuse the vanished bloggers of blasphemy and anti-state utterances. A policeman intervenes as supporters of a religious group chant slogans during a protest against human rights activists in Karachi. (Credit: Reuters photo) Since January this year, an estimated 14 bloggers and activists have been reported missing. These bloggers were raising their voices against extra judicial killings and highhandedness in Balochistan. A couple of days ago, Pakistan interior minister Nisar Ali Khan issued a statement decrying what he described as negative propaganda particularly on social media against the missing men, and alluded to the perils inherent in the allegations against them. Does that mean the disappearances point to state endorsement? Coincidentally on January 19, supporters of various religious groups in Karachi hurled stones at protestors demonstrating against the disappearances, and strongly demanded that the men be put on trial for blasphemy. This is indeed disturbing. According to Raza Rumi, visiting faculty at Ithaca College and Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (who has also authored The fractious path: Pakistan's democratic transition), in recent years hundreds of suspected men from south western Balochistan have been picked up by religious extremists. He reckons that a government-appointed commission is dealing with as many as 1,129 cases of missing persons. Rumi further alleges that the exact relationship between the right-wing bigots and the security establishment remains suspicious and far from any conviction. From the recent developments, it appears that Pakistan too has joined Bangladesh and China in silencing the bloggers with the support of extremists. If the trend continues in Pakistan, things would go more out of hand with a spurt in terrorist-driven activities. While those in power seem complacent and oblivious of the sad occurrences, secular and progressive intellectuals in Pakistan are facing increased risks from extremists. It has happened. It should have happened years ago. Priyanka is launched on the stage of Uttar Pradesh (nee, national) politics. A welcome sign that the Congress is beginning to think tactically and sensibly. Priyanka, unlike Rahul, is not a Stephanian. She chose to attend Jesus and Mary College, instead. Why do I, a former Principal of St Stephen's, mention this in her favour? Because I am embittered with the institution, now that I am retired? No! There is no other institution I love more than my Alma Mater. Priyanka's decision to forego a coveted label is a significant pointer to who she is. Am I worried about the Vadra factor? Of course I am. I wish this cloud were not there in the background. Photo: PTI Most aspirants choose St Stephen's attracted, first, by the glow and reach of its label. I'm not saying that academic considerations are superfluous. They are not; but serve mostly as a foil to the jewel of prestige. Priyanka's decision to pursue her studies quietly, unnoticed by others (I bet, not many know that she studied in J&MC), offers a relevant insight into her character and, hence, into the secret of her charisma. She is not one to shine in borrowed robes. She will not be a parasite on ready-made advantages. Now, on to another aspect of her personality, which too is hardly known. Priyanka used to work in cognito as a volunteer in an orphanage in Delhi. Princess Diana too used to do philanthropic work elsewhere during the same period. But that was a visibility-driven, camera-inspired, image-makeover exercise. But a young, charming girl was, in Delhi, doing dedicated and soulful humanitarian work, un-smelt by the media and unknown even to many in her social circles. I know it from the authorities of the orphanage that she insisted on the confidentiality of her service. She knew that publicity and sincerity could not mix. Priyanka served as a volunteer for years in this charity, deriving joy and fulfilment from serving unwanted children. These facts are helpful in understandings why Priyanka moves hearts. She is a rich and radiant heart. She is free from the stain of spuriousness and hypocrisy. She embodies the power of sincerity. Priyanka signals the upswing of romanticism in Indian politics. The hallmark of the romantic sensibility was sincerity. It is my conviction that she is unrivalled in this respect by any other on the political canvas of our country. We are free to prefer power over sincerity. But we can no longer pretend that the choice does not exist. I am not anybody's fan. At the same time I do claim for myself the freedom to speak my convictions. You want proof for the power of sincerity? Wait for the reactions of those in the power-paradigm camp. I make a prediction. In the days ahead, every effort will be made to abort the emergence of this alternative - the alternative to brute power - in the horizon of our political choices. It should not be misunderstood as a clash of personalities: it will be a clash of political cultures. In the meanwhile, let me assure my readers: The entry of Priyanka Gandhi into politics is the best news we've had in a long while. Why do I say so, despite being a strident critique of the lapses of UPA-II, in which Congress was the dominant player? Priyanka embodies, in a refreshing and reassuring way, the sense and sensibility of being authentically feminine. It is my confirmed and informed conviction that the bane of Indian politics is the tyranny of the male principle. Macho has been our ascending political cult and it has reached its apogee in Modi, who exudes power and drives our collective destiny like a mythological charioteer. A charioteer sees the track and the distant destination, but is blind to the plight of the people along the way. Woe unto you, if you happen to be caught under the wheels. Such has been the dominance of the macho in our political imagination that the highest tribute we could pay to Indira Gandhi was that she was the "only man" in the Congress party! Now, a small insight from anthropology. Historically, the male has been the monopolist of what, in technical terminology, is called "exploit". Hunting, for example, is a typical male exploit. So is war. War and violence are expressions of the male principle. Women too may condone war and justify violence. But they do so, not as women but as she-men, or co-opted imitations of men. In the genre of politics dominated by the male principle, women and children are victims. As in war, for example. Men fight. Its brunt falls on women and children. The sorrows of mothers and wives, as Shakespeare says, strike heaven on the face. The female principle, in contrast, embodies care and compassion, not cruelty. She mothers mankind. She cares and nurtures. She is the Ganga of life. There is no man who has not drunk of its living waters. Yet, in him, this very river of life turns, somehow, into a thirst for blood. The "authentic-she" alone, I ardently believe, embodies the counter-paradigm to the political culture that mankind (as opposed to humankind) has developed over the millennia, distinguished by war, bloodbath, cruelty, oppression and corruption. This is not a biological or physiological bias. It is a spiritual truth. Deep down every human being knows this, except that this thirst is not spelt in the lexicon of man-made politics. So it remains as a deep and suppressed longing. Traditionally, we associate courage only with the male. We cannot be more stupid than this! Men have monopoly over only a particular brand of courage: the courage to hurt and to humiliate, the courage to kill and to vandalise, the courage to con and to corrupt. Women, as women, too embody courage: the courage to give, nurture and sanctify life; the courage to mother hope amidst hopelessness and the courage to endure in times of adversity. As a man, I dare to believe and to testify (fighting my manly timidity) this to be true courage. The female principle alone blends courage with justice. A mother's heart goes out more to the weakest among her children. Translated into political idiom, she will not prefer, as Justice Krishna Iyer wrote, the billionaires among her children and sacrifice the welfare of billions to inflate their greed. Only the ascendancy of the female principle will rehabilitate the long-disenfranchised social justice in the oeuvre of our political culture. Till then we shall rest with the male hypocrisy of tokenism, and the crumbs that fall from the master's bounteous table. So, it is not Priyanka, the daughter of so-and-so that we hail. We shall not compromise vis-a-vis the dynastic principle. We should not welcome Priyanka only because is the daughter of a distinguished political family. At the same time, the dynastic principle should not work in the reverse against her either. She should not be discredited for where she was born, which she could not have helped. Am I worried about the Vadra factor? Of course I am. I wish this cloud were not there in the background. Should we convict Priyanka without giving her an opportunity to prove herself because of her husband? Certainly not. That will be the height of injustice. We should leave it to Priyanka to sort out the likely tension between her love for the people of India and the dissonance that her plight as a wife could occasion. That will be the litmus test of her authenticity as a woman in public life. Every woman has to cope with this dilemma: the tension between her role as a wife and her duties as mother. It is there; but we seldom talk about it because it is universal and also because it is mostly the woman's headache. She adjusts. What happens in homes happens also in nations. Whether Priyanka has the sagacity and the sense of purpose - the female heroism of standing caringly by a people in distress - time alone will tell. This Photography 101 Lesson Puts Your Trump Inauguration Crowd Conspiracies To Rest By Chicagoist_Guest in News on Jan 23, 2017 7:30PM By Tyler LaRiviere While protesters spent Jan. 20 marching through the streets of every major U.S. city and Donald Trump was being inaugurated the 45th President, the question of who brought in a bigger crowdformer President Barack Obama, or Trump?loomed over the media's coverage of Inauguration Day. Initially, Reuters showed an aerial shot of Trump's Inauguration with wall to wall people close to the U.S. Capitol Building where the Inauguration took place, but the crowd appeared to putter out as it got further from the capital building and all but disappeared around 12th Street. When this image is compared to Obamas Inauguration in 2009, the contrast is stark. In response, Some Trump supporters and even White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer claim that these images are deceptive, if not downright manipulated to minimize the enormous support that Trump received and claimed that as many as 1.5 million attended the Inaugural. Spicer and supporters also claimed that an image similar to the one taken by Getty Photographer Scott Olson showed the full extent, support and depth in crowd and intensity that existed and went on to claim that this was the largest audience to witness and inauguration. Both in person and around the globe. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) When we take a look at Scotts image (Which isnt the exact image that Spicer mentioned, but very similar) the crowd is undeniably large and seems to extend far into the Washington Mall. So does this mean Spicer is correct in accusing media outlets of framing images to downplay a number of supporters at Trumps Inauguration? The simple answer is that the process of taking a photo (and the advanced physics that come into play here) can mess with our sense of depth, size, and scale. Most photojournalists carry at least two cameras with them, with two separate lenses attached,so they can be prepared for just about any photographic scenario: one wide angle lens usually a 24-70mm and one telephoto lens usually a 70-200mm lens. These two lenses are great for just about anything, but run into two problems: distortion on the wide-angle side, and lens compression on the telephoto end. Distortion, or the more specific term Barrel Distortion, is commonly seen in wide-angle lenses and happens when the field if the view is larger than the image sensor, making it so the subject matter is crammed into the image plane. This distortion is seen more prominently at the edges of the photograph, where straight lines appear to curve, subjects appear to be wider and distances appear to be greater. The crowd at the Vans Warped Tour in Tinley Park. This is an example of Barrel Distortion where the crowd seems to be wider and go back further than it really does. The photo was taken with a 15mm lens. (Tyler LaRiviere/Chicagoist) This distortion can be seen more prominently in photos of a single person in a cramped environment. When shooting at a low angle, the persons feet appear massive while their head seems to be disproportionately tiny. This image was shot a lower angle in a cramped CTA train. The distortion can be clearly seen with the man on the left whos right leg and foot seem disproportionality larger than the rest of his body. (Tyler LaRiviere/Chicagoist) Lens Compression happens when background elements appear larger than they really are, thus fooling our brain into thinking they are closer than they really are based on our concepts of perspective. Perspective: These three images were taken with three different lenses while trying to keep the woman framed the same. The left image was taken at 24mm, the center image was taken at 200mm and the right image was taken at 300mm. If you look at the background objects they grow bigger as the focal length increases. (Tyler LaRiviere/Chicagoist) Lens Compression can happen at any focal length, but is more prevalent at higher focal lengths. For example, youll have higher lens compression at 70mm vs. 24mm, but even more at 200mm vs. 70mm. So how does this all relate to crowd sizes at the Trump Inauguration? When we take a look at the landscape image taken by Olson (above), we see minor distortion around the edges. Its obvious that it was taken with a wide-angle lens. Olson confirmed this to Chicagoist that this image was taken at 24mm. In contrast, when looking at a portrait-style image also taken by Olson (below), we see that the crowd appears almost at the base of the Washington monument based on our perceived perspective of distance (this perspective makes us reason that the Washington Monument looks bigger, so it must be closer). But thats lens compression at workcompressing the background and making background objects appear bigger than they truly were. Olson also confirmed that this image was taken at 70mm. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) So does using this equipment with the understanding that theres perspective distortion mean that the media is being dishonest? The simple answer is no. The reality, is no matter what photographic equipment the media uses, perspective distortions will be a reality. Its a limitation on the equipment more so than a conspiracy to deceive the masses. Why We Shouldn't Valorize 'Zero Arrests' At The Women's March On Chicago By Stephen Gossett in News on Jan 23, 2017 8:00PM Women's March on Chicago / Photo: Tyler LaRiviere Two hundred fifty thousand attendees. Zero arrests. Both were remarkable figures for the momentous Womens March on Chicago, which tripled an already sizable attendance forecast on Saturday, as people from all over the region flooded downtown to peacefully register protest one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump. Nationwide, in fact, not a single person was taken into custody in the nations largest cities. But an over-focus on that detail, in Chicago and elsewhere, belies the fact that arrests made at protests are hardly all just and that moral law-breaking, when necessary, is a cornerstone tenant of civil disobedience. The reminder came forcefully and eloquently from Chicagos progressive activist wing shortly after the rally. Local politically-focused rapper Mykele Deville noted the dangerous line between respectability and docility, pointing out a particularly egregious quote from a Maryland resident who attended the New York rally. This is not about people doing stupid stuff and getting arrested, Robin Gilmore said, according to NBC New York. Really, the police are cooperating. This couldn't happen without police cooperation." Deville posted in response: Calling arrests in protests "stupid" only serves to keep a people passive, support the actions of the police, and defecates on the legacy of those who defied law to bring about change through civil disobedience, property damage and armed direct action Others highlighted how people of color in particular are often targeted by police at demonstrations. Me and other black people of all genders have been to many marches & protests where we were peaceful, yet unduly criminalized, wrote Eve Ewing, a prominent essayist and sociologist of education at the University of Chicago, on Twitter the day after the rally. I've had more than one friend targeted by police and literally be just standing there, then get snatched out of a protest and arrested. Black people are surveilled, criminalized & presumed a violent threat to property & white civil society. No matter how peaceful the march. Not getting arrested in a march doesn't mean you're better than anybody. The police state doesn't deem you a threat. So slow your roll." Forms of protest that are intentionally disruptive are not somehow morally inferior to big marches, Ewing added. One thinks of just one day prior, when PNC bank windows were smashed on Michigan Ave. during protests which saw at least 15 people arrested, according to the National Lawyers Guild of Chicago. You can debate the ethics, but it hardly seemed indiscriminate, as PNC is a known funder of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Women's March rally of course took place less than a week removed from Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Excerpts from Dr. Kings "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" were widely shared that Monday, arguably the most instructive passages being those which defended ethical legal violation. King wrote: "You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court's decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may well ask: "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?" The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all." We would all do well to agree. 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. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, and markets biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, neuroscience, and covid-19 diseases. The company's products include Revlimid, an oral immunomodulatory drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma; Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; and Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis. It also provides Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia; Yervoy for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma; Abraxane, a protein-bound chemotherapy product; Reblozyl for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia; and Empliciti for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In addition, the company offers Zeposia to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; Breyanzi, a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma; Inrebic, an oral kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with myelofibrosis; and Onureg for the treatment of adult patients with AML. It sells products to wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, retailers, hospitals, clinics, and government agencies. The company was formerly known as Bristol-Myers Company. The company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in New York, New York. ESCO Technologies Inc. produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Shielding and Test segments. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines. It also designs, develops, and manufactures elastomeric-based signature reduction solutions for U.S. naval vessels; and mission-critical bushings, pins, sleeves, and precision-tolerance machined components for landing gear, rotor heads, engine mounts, flight controls, and actuation systems for the aerospace and defense industries. The Utility Solutions Group segment provides diagnostic testing solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment; and decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar. The RF Shielding and Test segment designs and manufactures RF test and secure communication facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, RF measurement systems, and broadcast and recording studios; and RF absorptive materials and filters, active compensation systems, antennas, antenna masts, turntables, electric and magnetic probes, RF test cells, proprietary measurement software, and other test accessories to perform various tests. It also provides services, such as calibration for antennas and field probes, chamber certification, field surveys, customer training, and various product tests. The company distributes its products through a network of distributors, sales representatives, direct sales teams, and in-house sales personnel. The company was incorporated in 1990 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Lang Lang will stage a piano concerto at the National Center for the Performing Arts in April. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily] Chinese pianist Lang Lang, who has played to sold-out venues around the world, performed with world-renowned orchestras, and has performed at the Beijing Olympic Games and the Grammy Awards, is now taking on a new role. He will be artist-in-residence at the National Center for the Performing Arts for 2017-18. Before Lang, 33, others who have held the position were cellist Wang Jian, pianist Wang Yuja and composer Chen Qigang. According to NCPA vice-president Li Zhixiang, the appointment, which marks the 10th anniversary of the theater, will see a piano recital by Lang on April 8, a joint performance by Lang and the NCPA Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, as well as two joint performances by Lang and the NCPA Symphony Orchestra during the ensemble's North American tour in October. The pianist will also conduct masterclasses at the NCPA as part of its art education programs. "Lang Lang is a role model for young people, not just for millions of classical music students, but also for others in China. He bridges cultures with his music and he is an icon," says Li. Li also says the pianist has worked with the NCPA ever since the venue was opened in 2007. On Dec 31, 2007, Lang performed at the NCPA's inaugural New Year Concert under Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa. In December 2012, he performed with the NCPA symphony orchestra for the first time, marking the NCPA's fifth anniversary. Lang gave his first masterclass at the NCPA in January 2008, which was followed by two more, in 2009 and 2012. Speaking at a news conference announcing his appointment as artist-in-residence recently, Lang said: "I can still recall the night in January 2006 after my first New Year piano recital at the Great Hall of the People. At the time, the NCPA was still under construction but the main structure had been completed. I saw it after I walked out of the side door of the Great Hall and I wanted to perform there." "I have many unforgettable moments of the NCPA because almost every year I perform there. It's a great venue. Over the past 10 years, it has contributed immensely to promoting classical music in China." Speaking about his piano recital in April, Lang says he wants to give the audience something different. So, besides performing the works of Debussy and Liszt, Lang will also perform pieces by three Spanish composersManuel de Falla, Isaac Albeniz and Enrique Granadoswho are not very familiar to Chinese audiences. In 2009, Lang performed Chopin's piano concertos with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Mehta. In 2015, the pianist and the conductor worked together again. Referring to his upcoming collaboration with Mehta, he says: "I am looking forward to working with the maestro again." Lang will perform works by Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg at the NCPA in December. "I will go to Bergen, the hometown of the composer. I hope the trip will help me better understand the composer and his works." Ren Xiaolong, the managing director of the NCPA symphony orchestra, says the upcoming North American tour of the ensemble, under NCPA's artistic director of music, Lu Jia, will see Lang performing The Yellow River Piano Concerto at Carnegie Hall in New York on Oct 30. Lang was born in Shenyang, an industrial city in Liaoning province. He says he first became interested in learning the piano after watching the Tom and Jerry episode The Cat Concerto, which features the Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 by Franz Liszt. He first went to Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music and at 15, he began his studies with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Speaking about his other links with the NCPA, he says: "I have many classmates from the Central Conservatory of Music, who are now performing with the NCPA orchestra. So I feel very close to the ensemble." 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. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. engages in designing, building, overhauling, and repairing military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Newport News Shipbuilding, and Technical Solutions. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. It also provides nuclear-powered ships, such as aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as refueling and overhaul, and inactivation services of ships. In addition, the company offers naval nuclear support services, including fleet services comprising design, construction, maintenance, and disposal activities for in-service the U.S. Navy nuclear ships; and maintenance services on nuclear reactor prototypes. Further, it provides life-cycle sustainment services to the U.S. Navy fleet and other maritime customers; high-end information technology and mission-based solutions for Department of Defense (DoD), intelligence, and federal civilian customers; nuclear management and operations and environmental management services for the Department of Energy, DoD, state and local governments, and private sector companies; defense and federal solutions; and unmanned systems. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Newport News, Virginia. 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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. Read More Maximus, Inc. provides business process services (BPS) to government health and human services programs. It operates through three segments: U.S. Services, U.S. Federal Services, and Outside the U.S. The U.S. Services segment offers various BPS solutions, such as program administration, appeals and assessments, and related consulting works for U.S. state and local government programs, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, child support programs, Preadmission Screening and Resident Reviews, and Independent Developmental Disability assessments. This segment also provides program eligibility support and enrollment; centralized multilingual customer contact centers, multichannel, and digital self-service options for enrollment; application assistance and independent health plan choice counseling; beneficiary outreach, education, eligibility, enrollment, and redeterminations; person-centered independent disability, long-term sick, and other health assessments; and specialized consulting services. The U.S. Federal Services segment offers centralized citizen engagement centers and support services; document and record management; case management, citizen support, and consumer education; independent medical reviews and worker's compensation benefit appeals; Medicare and Medicaid appeals; and federal marketplace eligibility appeals. This segment also provides modernization of systems and information technology infrastructure; infrastructure operations and support services; software development, operations, and management services; and data analytics services. The Outside the U.S. segment offers BPS solutions for governments and commercial clients outside the United States, including health and disability assessments, program administration for employment services, and other job seeker-related services. The company was incorporated in 1975 and is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia. President Donald Trumps counselor, Kellyanne Conway announced on Sunday that Trump would not release his tax returns, which reverses months of repeated promises during his campaign to release them after an audit had been completed. The comments from Conway came as a response to a petition at Whitehouse.gov with over 200,000 signatures that called on Trump to release the returns. Get Warning: Undefined variable $CompanyName in /home/acctdp/public_html/wp-content/themes/responsalambre/single.php on line 65 alerts: Any petition on that site that receives at least 100,000 signatures in a period of 30 days receives a White House response. The petition reached twice the figure in only two days. The response by the White House is that Trump will not release the tax returns, said Conway during an interview on This Week a Sunday television show on ABC. Trump broke a decades long precedent during the presidential campaign by being the first major party presidential nominee in four decades to not release tax returns. He cited repeatedly an ongoing audit by the IRS in refusing to hand the returns over but said he would release them eventually when the IRS had completed its audit. However, Trump and allies have continually argued that his person tax returns have no relevance, a statement made again Sunday by Conway. She added that the campaign litigated the issue throughout the election and people did not care. Conway said they voted for him. She went on to say that she wanted to be clear that most Americans were focused on what their own tax returns are going to look like with President Trump in the White House, not what the presidents look like. Conway continued by say everyone knows that Trump and his family have complied with every ethical rule, everything needed to step away from his many businesses and be a president on a full time basis. However, the general population seems to have a different opinion. A number of polls show that the majority of people in the U.S. believe that Trump should hand over his tax returns. A poll released a week ago by ABC News found that 75% of Americans polled believe Trump should release the returns. Last Friday, another investigation revealed that despite the pledge by Trump to transfer control of the many businesses he owns to his kids, as part of an agreement on ethics as the president, he to date has not filed the needed documents in New York, Delaware and Florida. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and distributes fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Fresh and Value-Added Products, Banana, and Other Products and Services. It offers pineapples, fresh-cut fruit, fresh-cut vegetables, melons, and vegetables; non-tropical fruits, such as grapes, apples, citrus, blueberries, strawberries, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, and kiwis; other fruit and vegetables, and avocados; and prepared fruit and vegetables, juices, other beverages, and meals and snacks. The company also engages in the sale of poultry and meat products; and third-party freight services business. In addition, it manufactures and sells plastic and box products, such as bins, trays, bags, and boxes. The company offers its products under the Del Monte brand, as well as under other brands, such as UTC, Rosy, Fruit Express, Just Juice, Fruitini, Mann's Logo, Arcadian Harvest, Nourish Bowls, Broccolini, Caulilini, Better Burger Leaf, RomaLeaf, and other regional brands. It markets and distributes its products to retail stores, club stores, convenience stores, wholesalers, distributors, and foodservice operators. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. was founded in 1886 and is based in George Town, Cayman Islands. Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics at the University of Virginia will host Patrick J. Deneen presenting Is There a Way Forward After Liberalism? from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Harrison Institute Auditorium in the Special Collections Library at UVa. iasculture.org. (434) 924-7705. Nature Foundation at Wintergreen holds its Winter Lecture Series with Craig Ashbrook presenting Understanding Karst Landscapes at 7 p.m. Friday. twnf.org. Trillium House at 3421 Wintergreen Drive in Wintergreen. (434) 325-8169. Congregation Beth Israel continues its Adult Education Lecture Series with Rachel Harmon presenting How We Govern the Police: Contemporary Legal Issues at 4 p.m. Sunday. 301 E. Jefferson St. (434) 295-6832. League of Women Voters holds a Sunday Seminar with Meg Haubeck of the UVa Center for Politics presenting Voting Challenges and Solutions from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at City Space at 100 Fifth St. NE. (434) 970-1707. Montpelier holds a Working Woods Walk discussing active forest management with Virginia master naturalists from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. 11407 Constitution Highway in Montpelier Station. (540) 672-2728. Miller Center holds the American Forum First Year 2017 with E.J. Dionne presenting Can Trump Get the Wheels of Our Broken Government Turning Again? from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Jan. 31 and Gary Freeman and Tamar Jacoby presenting Building a Wall, Foreign Workers, and Whats Really Possible from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Jan. 31. millercenter.org. 2201 Old Ivy Road. (434) 924-7236. Three people are dead following a tractor-trailer crash near the Fluvanna-Buckingham county line Monday morning, according to Virginia State Police. At about 9:10 a.m. Monday, a tractor-trailer loaded with sand traveling south on U.S. 15 came downhill through a curve and crossed over the center line into oncoming traffic, striking a northbound 2015 Honda sedan, a state police spokeswoman said. The crash caused the truck to tip over. The Hondas driver, Roderick V. Manifold, 69, of Lake Monticello, and two passengers 69-year-old Demetria B. Manifold, of Lake Monticello, and her mother, 91-year-old Marion J. Brewer, of Chesapeake died at the scene as a result of the impact with the truck, police said. All three were wearing seat belts. The truck driver, 51-year-old Franklin L. Rowe, of Weems, was treated at the scene for minor injuries. He was wearing a seat belt. Rowe is charged with reckless driving. More charges may be filed depending on the outcome of the state police investigation and consultation with the Fluvanna County Commonwealths Attorney. Just a few months before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. cemented his legacy when he delivered his I Have a Dream speech in 1963 to approximately 250,000 gathered before the Lincoln Memorial, the civil rights leader came to the University of Virginia to spread his message of racial unity. On Monday, university officials unveiled a new plaque in Old Cabell Hall commemorating Kings address at the university on March 25, 1963. The unveiling is part of a community celebration this month of Kings legacy. On that day, before a crowd of approximately 800 people a mix of black and white students, faculty and townspeople he stayed on point with a message thats continued to resonate worldwide today, nearly 50 years after his assassination in 1968. If democracy is to live, segregation must die, King told the crowd gathered in Old Cabell Hall that March evening. Donated by twin brothers Wesley Harris, a 1964 graduate of UVa engineering schools honors program, and William Harris, dean of the Office of African American Affairs from 1976 to 1982, the plaque states that Kings address that evening provided a philosophical and moral foundation supporting non-violent resistance to racial segregation. At the time, Wesley currently a professor of aeronautical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology was instrumental in orchestrating Kings visit to the university as a member of the Jefferson Chapter of the Virginia Council on Human Relations. Still deeply segregated in those days, he said the university officialdom at the time distanced themselves from the event. You had a handful of black students on Grounds like seven or eight among 4,000. There was no room to welcome a person of Kings dimensions. They could not do that intellectually or spiritually, Wesley said. About 20 years ago, Paul M. Gaston, a former UVa history professor and civil rights activist who spent time with King that evening, told The Daily Progress about Kings visit, saying that he remembered university officials giving him the cold shoulder. Here was this distinguished man who was about to get the Nobel Peace Prize, one of the most influential people in the South, and he was totally ignored by anyone with responsibility at the University of Virginia, Gaston said. It struck me how far apart this community was. We thought here was this rare and special man, and yet all officialdom stayed away. Wesley Harris, a Ph.D. graduate from Princeton, said Monday that he got the idea for a plaque at UVa after noticing a plaque at his other alma mater, which commemorates a sermon King delivered at the Princeton University Chapel in 1960. He said the speech he gave at UVa about three years later carried a special importance, as it was delivered to a community that was still widely segregated and resistant to change. A Daily Progress story about the event reported that King responded to a question about the Black Muslim movement, which favored black nationalism a separation from the white race but with a homeland of their own within what is now this country, saying it could hamstring the effort to desegregate institutions and create racial harmony. Although he was critical of that movement, King said it is just as important to remove the causes which brought that movement into being as it is to oppose it. Thats why he was such a great visionary. He was after a win-win solution. He wasnt after being divisive. I think thats the point we should not forget, Wesley said Monday. I think he gave us a major gift, he said of Kings visit. If our great minds who come through Old Cabell can just reflect on that plaque, read it, go beyond that and read some of the writings of Dr. King, and other philosophers that influenced him, such as Soren Kierkegaard and Plato, I think well be good. He fought for civil rights and social justice, which we still fight for today, Marcus Martin, university vice president and chief officer for diversity, said about King. When the students look at that plaque, they should think of Dr. King as a man of honor who spoke for a number of people, Martin said.If it werent for him, some of us may not be here today. University officials will hold several more events to week to honor King and explore the celebration's theme of "Silence as Betrayal." A full schedule of events can be found at mlk.virginia.edu. Flash Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he decided to lift restrictions on new construction for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem, local media reported. Officials with the Prime Minister's Office told Israel's Haaretz newspaper that Netanyahu promised members of his security cabinet to cancel all restrictions on Israeli construction in settlement neighborhoods of Jerusalem, which were imposed due to pressure by the Barack Obama administration. Netanyahu also said he supports an "Israeli sovereignty over Ma'aleh Adumim," the largest Jewish settlement in the West Bank. However, he asked the ministers to postpone the vote on a bill to annex the settlement, put forward by the pro-settler Jewish Home party, citing a request by the Donald Trump admiration "not to make surprise moves but to draft a joint policy." The announcement came after the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee approved 671 new housing units in East Jerusalem on Sunday morning, according to a statement by the municipality spokesperson. The permits were given to projects in 10 different locations in East Jerusalem, including 324 units in Ramot, 174 units Ramat Shlomo, 68 units Pisgat Ze'ev -- all are Jewish settlement neighborhoods. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said more permits are expected to be issued after "eight difficult years with Obama, who pressured to freeze the construction." Israel seized East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast War, along with the rest of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It later annexed East Jerusalem and declared it as part of its "eternal" capital, in a move that has never been recognized by the international community. Teachers aren't happy with the state's decision to eliminate its share of a 2-percent pay raise last year, even though most school divisions paid it anyway. "It's time to bridge the gap in state funding!" shouted Jim Livingston, president of the Virginia Education Association, to a thick crowd of teachers thronging the lobby of the General Assembly Building on Monday morning. Livingston wants Virginia to pay its share of the 2-percent raise that was canceled on Dec. 1 because of a revenue shortfall now projected at $1.26 billion for the biennium. While legislators have made a priority to restore a 3-percent to state employees that also was eliminated, only one legislator, Sen. Frank M. Ruff Jr., R-Mecklenburg, has proposed to amend the budget to provide a raise for teachers. Ruff's proposed amendments would give a 3-percent raise to teachers instead of the 1.5-percent one-time bonus proposed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The proposal would cost about $127 million, or roughly $72 million more than the governor's proposed bonus. Teachers weren't part of the amendment proposed in the House of Delegates by Del. Charles D. Poindexter, R-Franklin County, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on compensation and retirement, to restore raises that had been planned last year for state employees and state-supported local employees. While all but a dozen or so localities gave teachers a 2-percent raise anyway, Livingston said the state's decision to tie its funding to revenue performance is unfair to local school divisions. "They recognize the state is not stepping up to the plate and meeting their constitutional obligation to provide a high-quality education to the children of the commonwealth," he said in an interview before the rally outside a House committee meeting room. Tom Smith, lobbyist for the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, said most school divisions gave the raise because they were already obligated under teacher contracts before the state confirmed the shortfall and canceled the raises. "Once we start raises at the beginning of the (fiscal) year, either you give it the rest of the year or you have to change the contract to take it away," Smith said. One of the localities that did not give the raise was Dickenson County, in far Southwest Virginia. The school division did not pay the raise after the state canceled its share, said Larry Barton, finance director for the Dickenson school system. "If the state had not done that, we would have given the raise," Barton said. The state decision brought Phyllis Mullins, a 7th-grade civics teacher in Dickenson, more than 350 miles to Richmond early on Monday to advocate for the state's share of a teacher pay increase. "With the economic situation the way it is in the coalfields, we're desperate," Mullins said. Robert P. Vaughn, director of the House Appropriations Committee, said the decision on teacher raises rests with local school boards, not the state, which only offered incentive funds for a raise. "This time, the incentive money went away, and all but 12 (school divisions) paid," he said. The committee is looking for a different way to boost funding for school divisions by channeling more money to them from the Virginia Lottery, without requiring a local funding match. The assembly dropped the match requirement as part of a new budget approach last year to eventually send 40 percent of lottery profits to K-12 education; currently, about 30 percent of lottery money goes to education. "We want to help our schools, but we don't want to put a burden on them" with the funding match, Vaughn said. In Dickenson, the lottery money is welcome, Barton said. "It really helps as far as the match. Our locality is really strapped for cash right now." A bill in the Senate to raise the threshold for felony larceny advanced in committee Monday. A similar bill passed the full Senate last year but was killed in a House committee. Virginias threshold for felony larceny is $200, set in 1980, and is one of the lowest thresholds in the country. Amended legislation by Sen. Scott A. Surovell, D-Fairfax, and legislation from Sen. J. Chapman Petersen, D-Fairfax City, would raise the amount to $500. Gov. Terry McAuliffe called for the move in his Jan. 11 State of the Commonwealth Address, saying that Virginia "is tied with New Jersey for 50th out of 50 for the most punitive felony threshold in the nation." Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, made a motion to combine the bills for approval in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. The committee approved the legislation, which next goes to the full Senate. Proponents of raising the threshold say a low threshold doesnt reduce theft, and raising it would save taxpayers money because of fewer people incarcerated for larceny. Supporters of the current law, including the Virginia Retail Federation, say Virginias strict law prevents theft. The Virginia Association of Commonwealths Attorneys has no position because the membership could not reach consensus, said a representative, Nancy Parr, the commonwealths attorney in Chesapeake. The state Senate on Monday rejected, 14-26, a bill that would have brought potential jail time for the crime of remaining at an unlawful assembly or a riot after being ordered to leave. Several Republicans joined Democrats to stop Senate Bill 1055 by Sen. Richard H. Stuart, R-Stafford. Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond, said the bill did more than increase penalties for rioting. Because an unlawful assembly could stem from a peaceful demonstration, she said, the bill does subject peaceful protesters to a penalty that quite frankly in many circumstances could be too harsh. Stuarts bill would increase the punishment from a Class 3 misdemeanor to a more serious Class 1 misdemeanor. Such a conviction could result in up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Under current law, a Class 3 misdemeanor could not result in jail time and could result in a fine of up to $500. Stuart, a former commonwealths attorney in Westmoreland County, and some Republicans said the bill was necessary to deter illegal behavior at an increasing number of political demonstrations. This is a public safety bill for us and the protesters, frankly, Stuart said. This has absolutely nothing to do with civil disobedience or peaceful protest this has to do with a riot, looting, pillaging, breaking into peoples places of businesses. McClellan rebutted that point. Republicans also said remaining at an unlawful assembly after being told to disperse is already illegal the bill simply enhances the punishment, they said. What this bill does is give teeth to that law, said Sen. Charles W. Carrico, Sr. R-Grayson, a former state trooper. Carrico cited a protest in Richmond after the November election in which demonstrators blocked an interstate. Democrats decried the bill, noting that it passed the Senate courts committee on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday. Youre going to put people in jail because they didnt move on quickly enough? said Senate Democratic Leader Richard L. Saslaw of Fairfax. Social media has inarguably become the Wild, Wild West of communications. But the solution suggested recently by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice in letters to the heads of Facebook and Twitter is a slippery slope indeed. "In order to effectively stem the tide of hate speech and bullying" on the social media sites, the group urged that they "take aggressive and proactive steps to combat this conduct. If not, courts and regulators will step into that void and mandate reforms." The letter, sent by the organization's director of litigation, is, of course, aimed at intimidating both social media giants into some form of voluntary compliance. And the companies do have policies against hate speech, which they attempt to enforce albeit imperfectly. Frankly, hate speech is the least of their worries right now. What about hate acts? In recent weeks there was that vicious attack on a white mentally impaired teen by four young African-Americans broadcast live to Facebook as they shouted racial slurs. So is there a problem especially with the video components of social media? You bet there is. But somehow we think that's not exactly what the Lawyers' Committee had in mind with its pleas against "hate speech" a phrase now so abused by every "snowflake" on college campuses that it is virtually meaningless. "The failure to take more aggressive action and to protect minority users is tantamount to facilitating discrimination and raises the specter of liability under federal and state law," the letter states. So only minorities can be victims of hate speech? It is high time to recall the advice of Justice Louis Brandeis on the issue of hate speech that "the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence." Excerpted and adapted from The Boston Herald. Flash A face time between the rebels and the Syrian government will take place for the first time in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday to lay the foundation stone of the solution to the long-standing conflict in Syria. The unprecedented vis-a-vis is the result of a fresh Turkish-Russian understanding, as Turkey negotiated on behalf of the rebels it's backing, while Russia for the Syrian government. The deal between both powers was positively received by the conflicting parties, due to the confidence they have in their backers. REBELS ONBOARD AS MAIN STEPS The first step for bringing the crisis to an end is to achieve and consolidate a ceasefire, which will be the cornerstone to any later solution, and categorizing the rebel groups, meaning that the terrorists must be detached from the moderate ones who seek a solution, is also as important. With Turkey and Russia in play, it's highly likely that such a ceasefire will be more serious and real than previous failed attempts, as both powers have the means to make sure their allies on ground abide by the plan. The main goal of the Astana talks which will start on Monday is to reinforce the ceasefire, which has been in place since Dec.30. Bashar Jaafari, the permanent representative of Syria in the UN, and the current head of the government delegation to Astana, said the agenda of the meeting revolves fixating the cessation of hostilities in Syria, and categorizing the rebel groups, by separating rebels who agree to the talks from the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) group, both designated as terrorist organizations that should be eradicated. Also, Syria's Prime Minister Imad Khamis said Sunday that his government is serious about the imminent Syrian talks in Astana, noting that Damascus welcomes any initiative to restore peace. The prime minister said the priority of the meeting is to kick the foreign terrorists out of Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that establishing a ceasefire in Syria is the priority of the negotiations in Astana. He said the conference will be in the shape of negotiations between the government and the rebel groups to reach a ceasefire and allow the rebels to join the reconciliation deals with the government. Analysts believe that the Russian-Turkish agreement will have more viable results, contrary to the previous Russian-American one, which failed as the United States failed to separate the rebels from the terrorist groups. "I think now that Russia and Turkey are on the same page, a message that has been sent to the concerned rebel groups on ground that either you are involved in the solution, or accept a doomed fate," Maher Ihsan, a Syrian journalist and political analyst, told Xinhua. It's now or never, as the conflict has been dragging on for nearly six years, and no winner has emerged, owing to the fact that only a political solution is the answer, he added. TERROR GROUPS ISOLATED The rebels who have alliances with the Nusra or the IS group will have to detach themselves from such links, to have a role in the future solution to the country, and that's what is happening now. The Turkey-backed Ahrar al-Sham has already engaged in battles against Nusra and the allied Jund al-Aqsa group in the northwestern province of Idlib, a key bastion for Nusra. In Idlib, there are plenty of declared, or undeclared allegiances with Nusra, which means that a wide-scale confrontation between this terror-designated group and other rebel groups is inevitable. Opposition activists said Jund al-Aqsa group has also deserted from Nusra in the city of Kafr Zaita in the northern countryside of the central province of Hama and surrendered to Ahrar al-Sham. Also, activists said a new rebel alliance has been formed to capture areas under the Jund al-Aqsa control in the Jabal al-Zawiyeh region in Idlib countryside. The alliance includes Ahrar al-Sham, Suqor al-Sham, Jaish al-Islam, Jaish al-Mujahideen, the Free Syrian Army, and Istaqem Kama Umert group. Aside from the rebel coalition against Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa, warplanes believed to be with the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition has intensively targeted commanders of the Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa since the beginning of this month. The Syrian Observatory for Human Right on Sunday placed the death toll of the slain commanders at 134, in another sign that the terror-designated group is losing and becoming more isolated. In its first response to the Astana talks, Nusra issued a statement on Saturday, saying that the fact that "Russia being the political and diplomatic supervisor of the negotiations in Astana, is a flagrant humiliation to the sacrifices of the mujahideen and that going to Astana means one way or another the acceptance of (president Bashar) al-Assad being on top of his rule." It urged other rebel groups to "not slide into the intrigues and conspiracies." As for the Islamic State, the group is also being attack on several fronts, either by Russia or the U.S.-led coalition. The Russian warplanes have been heavily backing the Syrian ground forces in the battles against IS, either in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, or the eastern countryside of Homs, near the ancient city of Palmyra. The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army is also closing in on the IS strongholds in the northern countryside of the northern province of Aleppo, namely in the city of al-Bab, the last IS stronghold near the Turkish borders. "Now the rebels who are part of the Astana talks will find themselves, willingly, or unwillingly, in the same trench with the Syrian army in the face of IS and Nusra as there is no other way around, as those who will not comply, will be counted with either one of the terrorist groups," Ahmad al-Ashqar, a political analyst, told Xinhua. TURKEY, RUSSIA MAINTAIN INTERESTS IN SYRIA Resolving the conflict in Syria has been the priority of Russia since it intervened to help the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad in 2015. "Their aim wasn't to sink in the quagmire of the Syria war, but to get things done quickly and find a solution," Ashqar said. He added that the Russians have reserved their interest in Syria, citing the fact that Russia will have a permanent base in the coastal cities of Tartus and Latakia for the next 49 years. On Friday, Russia signed a long-term agreement to greatly enlarge its military presence in Syria. The agreement will see Russia doubling space of warships in the Tartus naval base, and also in the Hmaimim airbase in the coastal city of Latakia. The agreement ensures Russia's ability to deploy forces in Syria for the next half-century. As for Turkey, Ankara has felt the pinch when the Kurds in Syria started growing influence and explicitly voicing their goal to achieve an autonomy in northern Syria near the Turkish borders. Moreover, several bombing rocked Turkey, which Ankara blamed either on the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), which it deems terrorist, or on IS. Now that the fire reached Turkey, Ankara had to join force with Russia to protect itself, while maintaining its interest in the Syrian cake. The rebels it's backing have already made notable gains against the Kurdish-backed groups in northern Syria and the IS, and securing the borders from any Kurdish expansion. Moreover, the Astana talks have excluded the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In a statement on Saturday, the SDF said it will not abide by the decisions that would come out from Astana. It said the exclusion is a "flagrant violation to the rights of the forces in the SDF and violation to their rights and sacrifices." Analysts in Syria said that the Kurdish paper was among the agreements between Russia and Turkey. "Since the Kurdish influence was growing, we knew that they will be the ones to pay the price in any negotiations, as their exclusion and limitation will be Ankara's demand to be part in ending the conflict in Syria," Kinda Maryia, a Syrian journalist, told Xinhua. WHAT'S THE U.S. TO DO? The administration of the former President Barack Obama was dealing with indecisiveness regarding the threats of the terror groups, amid reports that weapons and training was offered for several rebel groups, whose alliances were not taken into consideration. Separating the terrorist groups from other rebel factions has been a failure, as the Obama administration stopped short of achieving such goal through a previous agreement with Russia. And due to the fact that the United States was busy with its presidential elections over the past few months, Turkey and Russia, as well as Iran, have taken the initiative, analysts said. The prospects of a U.S. cooperation under the administration of President Donald Trump is high, as he expressed willingness to cooperate with Russia in the war on terror on several occasions. "We will...unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth," Trump said during his inauguration speech. Speaking to members of the CIA community at its headquarters in Langley on Sunday, Trump described IS as evil that needs to be rooted out. "This is a level of evil that we haven't seen. You're going to go to it, and you're going to do a phenomenal job," he said. Analysts believe that Trump will cast his blessing on all efforts made by Russia against the terror groups in Syria, particularly during the upcoming talks in Geneva, where more superpowers will be involved for a broader political talks that will be based on the outcome of the Astana meeting. Flash The government "covered up" a malfunctioned unarmed test of Britain's Trident missile system, The Sunday Times reported. The Trident II D5 ballistic missiles are carried by Britain's four Vanguard-class submarines, and they are able to deliver thermonuclear warheads from multiple independently-targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). In a front page article, the newspaper says that the failed test took place shortly before Theresa May became prime minister, "but she omitted any mention of the failed test when she persuaded parliament to spend 40 billion pounds on new Trident submarines in her first big Commons speech on July 18." During the test, the unarmed missile "may have veered off in the wrong direction towards America" after being launched from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June last year, according to the article. However, Sky News quoted its Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall as saying that he had been told that the earlier report about the missile veering towards the United States is not true. The revelation of the missile test failure has put pressure on May's government. But the prime minister did not directly respond to the issue when she was questioned by BBC. She told BBC that she had "absolute faith" in Britain's nuclear weapons system despite reports about the failed missile test. Bajaj has recently confirmed the launch of 2017 Pulsar NS200 in India. The Pune-based automaker has posted a teaser of the bike on social media that says it is coming soon. As per the speculations, the new model could be launched within a few days and we believe that it will not just be a cosmetic update. Launched in 2012 as the Pulsar 200NS, it was the flagship model of the company that time and was based an all-new platform. Moreover, it was the first bike of the company to use a perimeter frame which is the similar one that comes in the existing Pulsar AS range, RS200 and the newly launched Dominar 400. In 2015, reports emerged that the production of the Pulsar 200NS was being suspended to fulfil the demand of the new Adventure Sport (AS) models. Although never announced officially, the bike was silently discontinued from the market by 2016. Now, the company has decided to reintroduce the bike with some added features. The 2017 Bajaj Pulsar NS200 has already been showcased at a recent dealers' meet of the company in Turkey. There are no cosmetic changes in the model except a revised paint job, providing it with a new look. The platform also remains unchanged and the bike retains the same 199.5cc, liquid-cooled motor that was used in its predecessor. However, the 2017 version of the engine will get some updates to meet the BS-IV emission standards along with a fuel injection system for better performance. The FI will help the mill to produce some extra power and will give a slight bump to the peak torque output as well. The new Pulsar NS200 is expected to have performance figures similar to its full-faired sibling, the RS200, which means the maximum power and torque figures could be 24.5PS and 18.6Nm respectively. Other features of the bike, such as the digital-analog instrument, front and rear petal disc brakes, front 37mm telescopic forks, rear Nitrox monoshock, and more, are also expected to remain untouched. Another anticipated feature on the bike is ABS, which could come as an optional extra. Source: Bikedekho.com The initiative will not only boost the cottage industry run by women in Nagaland, but also lead to the overall advancement of women e-entrepreneurs from the state. New Delhi: Amazon India has partnered with the Nagaland government and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to enable women entrepreneurs in the state to sell their products online. Under the partnership, Amazon.in will conduct extensive training and skill development workshops to help women entrepreneurs in Nagaland understand nuances related to online selling, Amazon India said in a statement today. It will also help them to develop skills and capabilities necessary to nurture successful online enterprises, it added. The programme also aims to encourage cottage industries in Nagaland by helping them grow through online commerce. As part of the initiative, a one-stop centre will be created. Amazon India aims to promote the flourishing cottage industries in the region and unlock unique selection of products such as hand-woven items, intricate metalwork, woodwork, stonework, pottery and basketry, it said. "Through this partnership, we look forward to fostering entrepreneurship and empowerment among women in Nagaland by giving them the opportunity to experience India's digital economy firsthand," Amazon India Director and GM (Seller Services) Gopal Pillai said. With specialised training, skill development workshops, technology support and market access at zero initial cost, the initiative will not only boost the cottage industry run by women in Nagaland, but also lead to the overall advancement of women e-entrepreneurs from the state, he added. New Delhi: India is opposing an informal proposal made by the EU and Canada about a global investment pact with an investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision at WTO. The issue was discussed at an "informal meeting" of key WTO members, including India, China, Brazil, Japan and Australia, in Davos last week. "We rejected it (the attempt made by the EU and Canada) completely. We want anything to do with investments to be a bilateral thing... We do not believe in making investments a subject of multilateral disputes," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters here. The minister said she is not in favour of the "contentious" investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms, which is part of a bilateral agreement between the European Union (EU) and Canada. Under ISDS, corporates can take sovereign governments to international arbitration for resolution of disputes. Both these countries wants other WTO members to agree to this mechanism and the template to resolve investor disputes at the multi-lateral level. "... there is no way, we will have investment treaty in which companies can take the sovereign or even the regional governments to court. Anything with regard to investments, we wanted to be settled by the domestic laws and courts and only after that... appeal outside," she said. Sitharaman said other WTO member countries, including Argentina and Brazil, too did not support the move. "So at this stage, to have this template for a multi-lateral approach to investment may be immature," she said. However, the minister added that India put its view "informally" as this was an informal discussion of WTO member countries. On WTO issues, she said the countries discussed the forthcoming ministerial conference in Argentina in December. "We reinforce that the Bali and Nairobi issues to be fulfilled," she said, adding that WTO DG Roberto Azevedo admitted that although Nairobi meeting was successful, the "process was not right". India, Sitharaman said, wants resolution on providing safeguards to poor farmers and permanent solution for public stock holding purposes. India asked the members for detailed discussions on these issues among the groups before they meet in Paris in June. On its proposal on trade facilitation agreement on services, Sitharaman said India will submit a proposal soon. "Many people said it is a low-hanging fruit which can be harvested," she said. Sitharaman said that during a bilateral discussion with the EU, the bloc indicated that it will hold negotiations for the comprehensive free trade agreement only after concluding the new bilateral investment treaty with India. "I went to check up with the EU Trade Commissioner (about when the talks could start). They are keen to get the investment agreement negotiated," she said. Last year, India had asked all countries with which India has investment protection agreements, including the EU, to renegotiate those pacts on the basis of the new model draft text of BIT. The EU has not yet started the talks and the existing BITs with members are set to lapse from April 1. The commerce minister also held bilateral meetings with Australia, Canada and New Zealand and all showed keenness in concluding their respective free trade pacts. Switzerland, too, has expressed interest in speeding up the negotiation for India-EFTA trade pact, the minister said. Asked about the statement made by the new US administration on its global trade policy, she said: "We have to see how he (the new US President) is going to translate that into action." On discussions with regard to "industrial revolution 4.0" at the World Economic Forum, she said a separate chapter of South Asia will be set up. Industrial revolution 4.0 refers to automation, use of robotics and Internet of things (IoT). India, she said, is absolutely ready, which is already using robotics in auto and defence, but not in every sector as it has a huge skilled manpower. "We are a manpower rich country. We are also using digitisation," she added. Mumbai: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is all set to present Union Budget 2017 in Parliament on February 1. This year, Jaitley faces many challenges to have to tackle with in order to bring out a 'world class' budget. One of the many tough tasks ahead for him was the outcome of delay in implementation of Goods and Services Tax regime and concerns as to how to deal with its aftermath? Government had highly anticipated that it would manage to roll out the One Nation One Tax regime from April 1, 2017, a deadline that has now been pushed back to July 1. It would have facilitated calculation of indirect taxe rates. Demonetisation has taken its toll on the Budget calculations too as Jaitley would find it hard to arrive at a simplified indirect taxes structure. Budget had hoped for new indirect tax rates under the GST regime. That has not happened though. The economic disruption caused by the notes ban makes it a tough job to forecast next year's revenue, said NDTV in an article. Budget's key task is to allot funds to government so that it continues to work. Besides, it also calculates total revenues and total expenditure based on total tax revenues. It is an unprecedented budget, the channel quoted a Reuters news report that sourced the information from a government official in the know of ongoing budgetary exercise. Finance Minister Jaitley is expected to bring in a cut of perhaps one percentage point in the 30 per cent corporate tax rate, NDTV quoted Sandeep Chaufla, a partner at tax consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers. The committee considered creation of a new payments regulator, or making the current Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) within RBI more independent. New Delhi: With digital transactions gaining traction, the government is mulling setting up of a separate regulator for enabling electronic payment system in the country as well as regulate transaction charges. While the Ratan Watal committee on digital payments suggested that the government makes regulation of payments independent from the function of central banking, sources said the RBI is not very keen on giving up the regulation on Payment systems. Official sources said that RBI, as a banking regulator, frames policies to benefit banks and not enforcement of competition and innovation objectives in conduct of firms in the payment industry. "So far, regulations are becoming bank focused. If there is a separate regulator, the focus would be on ease of transaction and rationalisation of cost. Hence, there is a case for setting up of an authority for enabling electronic payment system in India," an official source told PTI. The Reserve Bank, in its representation before the Watal Committee, has stated that regulation of payments should be with the central bank because regulating money supply is an integral function of a central bank and includes maintaining the confidence in money as a means of exchange. Explaining the need for a separate regulator, the source said that electronic payment does not entail exchange of physical cash and it does not involve deposit taking or credit offtake or servicing of loans/deposits. "Payments can happen without banking. Payment regulation is different from banking regulation. RBI is not agreeing to it," the source said, adding the proposed regulator should have majority of its membership from businesses having direct familiarity with the payment process, or allied businesses. The Watal Committee, which submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month, weighed two options on how best regulation of electronic payments can be made independent from the function of central banking. The committee considered creation of a new payments regulator, or making the current Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) within RBI more independent. Sources said that RBI, as a regulator, is focusing more on the interest of banks rather than creation of a financial ecosystem and even after coming up with consultation paper on fixing MDR charges in March 2016, it has not been able to fix the charges. In December, post-demonetisation, the RBI had said that Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) charges on payments made through debit cards will be capped at 0.25 per cent for transactions up to Rs 1,000 and 0.5 per cent between Rs 1,000 and 2,000 for the period January 1-March 31. The RBI also did away with levies on small transactions through mobile phones till March-end. Since September 2012, the MDR for debit card purchases had been capped at 0.75 per cent for transactions up to Rs 2,000 and 1 per cent for above Rs 2,000. However, there is no RBI cap on MDR on credit card payments. MDR, or Merchant Service Fee (MSF), is the fee charged to the merchant by the financial institution/ bank which has set up the PoS or card acceptance machine at the merchant location for use of this infrastructure. "RBI could not rationalise the MDR charges since last year despite floating a consultation paper. RBI has not been able to regulate it and it should be separated," the source said, adding that even while UPI or United Payment Interface, just entails payment transfer, the banks are charging money. "They are taking it more as a revenue model rather than an integral part of banking. If there is a separate regulator, then the regulations will not be bank-focused," the source said. Though the regulatory policy on MDR (issued in September 2012) had indicated a cap on it, it is generally treated as floor, with the benefit of lower MDR not really accruing to smaller merchants. "In certain segments like mutual funds, insurance, etc., a flat fee structure of charges has also been established by the industry," the RBI had said in the concept paper. Therefore, cash continues to be the predominant mode of payment as it appears to be 'costless' in comparison to the visible costs associated with card/ electronic payments. Kerala government has asked more subsidy support as the state wants to sell subsidised sugar to entire population under the PDS. New Delhi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today called on Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and demanded higher allocation of foodgrains for the state under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The state also sought more allocation of subsidised sugar as well as foodgrains for distribution to migrant workers and welfare institutions, while also asked the central government to extend the rice procurement period for three months. Kerala had rolled out the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in November 2016, under which foodgrains are sold to the poor at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 1-3/kg via public distribution system (PDS), also called ration shops. "Kerala CM has placed many demands before us. One is increasing foodgrains allocation under NFSA," Paswan told reporters after the meeting. In the meeting, sources said that the Kerala Chief Minister demanded that state should get foodgrains for PDS supply that it used to get before implementing the NFSA. Under the NFSA, the state is getting 14.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrains annually, lower than 16.25 lakh tonnes earlier. To this, the the Food Minister said that an uniform formula has been applied to all states while allocating foodgrains to each state under the food security law. "Allocation under the NFSA is being made taking into account last three years average foodgrains lifting of the state. And the average was 10 lakh tonnes per annum for Kerala. But more is being given to protect poor people," a senior Food Ministry official said. Kerala is asking for more allocation under the NFSA as it wants to cover the entire population. Among other demands, the Kerala government has asked more subsidy support as the state wants to sell subsidised sugar to entire population under the PDS. At present, sugar is supplied to only families of below poverty line (BPL). It has also asked for paraboiled rice and additional foodgrains allocation of about 50,000 tonnes per month to meet the demand of 10-15 lakh migrant workers in the state. The state has also demanded up foodgrains allocatin to 550 tonnes per month for welfare institutions from existing monthly allocation of 212 tonnes , while it has also sought central support to make extra payment to state-run FCI labourers. That apart, the Kerala government has asked the Centre to extend rice procurement period for three months. Mumbai: Majid Majidi, the renowned Iranian filmmaker, had turned a few heads by showing up for a secret look test with Deepika Padukone in Mumbai, a few months back. The actress, who had her first international release last week in 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage,' was almost a confirmation for the film, until now. We now have learnt from reliable sources that she got rejected after her first look test. Deccan Chronicle had been the first to release her snaps from her look test. Dressed in a washed out oversized red kurta and green salwar, Deepika had been seen donning a completely rugged look. The makers confirmed Shahid Kapoor's younger brother Ishaan Khatter would be making his debut with the film, today. Though the youngster had been rumoured to be making his debut in Karan Johar's Hindi remake of 'Sairat,' the news had been rubbished. The rejection might come as a major blow to Deepika, who hasn't had a Bollywood release since 2015's 'Bajirao Mastani,' with her being overshadowed completely by Vin Diesel in her latest film, 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage,' as opposed to her contemporary Priyanka, who's been making steady inroads into Hollywood. If she were to be selected, Deepika would have been seen playing Ishaan's on-screen sister. Incidentally, she portrays Shahid Kapoor's wife in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmavati'. The film, titled 'Beyond the Clouds,' will have music composed by Indian maestro, 'AR Rahman'. Though an international film, it is set entirely in India, featuring Indian actors. The two superstars seem to be bonding really well. Mumbai: After much speculation, Jackie Chan has met Salman Khan. Salman himself took to Twitter to share a snap of the two. Jackie arrived in Mumbai today to promote his upcoming film, Kung Fu Yoga. The actor has worked in several Hollywood movies and was recently awarded an honorary Oscar for his extraordinary achievements in film at the 8th Annual Governors Awards ceremony. A source close to the development had said, Jackies co-star Sonu Sood is close to Salman (they worked together in Dabangg) and it was he who arranged for this meeting between the two stars. Jackie will have a press conference in the afternoon and host a small, intimate dinner for some select people." The source had further added, "He wont have time to meet many people, but he is keen on meeting Salman during his stay here. Sonu has spoken a lot about Salmans superstar status in India and his charity work and the action star expressed a desire to meet him. Though Salman is shooting for Kabir Khans Tubelight, he plans to meet Jackie at an Asian bar and restaurant at JW Marriott, where the star is staying." Kung Fu Yoga also stars Aarif Rahman, Sonu Sood and Disha Patani. The movie will be releasing on January 26. Jackie has earlier had an Indian connection, by starring alongside Mallika Sherawat, in 'The Myth'. (Photo: Viral Bhayani) Mumbai: Jackie Chan has enjoyed a humongous fan-base in India and now his fans are in for one helluva ride. The actor, whose next film stars a plethora of Indian actors, including the likes of Sonu Sood, Disha Patani and Amyra Dastur, is all set to charm his city fans. Jackie, alongside Sonu, arrived in Mumbai, to promote 'Kung Fu Yoga,' amid much fan-fare and revelry. Jackie has earlier had an Indian connection, by starring alongside Mallika Sherawat, in 'The Myth'. He's also expected to host a special dinner for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who's quite close to Sonu. The film is set to release in India on February 03. After the mammoth success of Pichaikkaran and Saithan, music director-actor-producer Vijay Antony is all set to release his next flick, Yeman. Directed by Jeeva Shankar of Amara Kaaviyam fame, the film has Vijay Antony and Miya George in the lead roles. Speaking to DC, Jeeva Shankar says, This is the first time I am attempting to direct a commercial film. Set in a political background, Yeman is a revenge thriller. We have completed the film and the screenplay will be the highlight. Vijay Antony will be seen with a twirled moustache throughout the movie. The director believes that Yeman will be apt for todays scenario. Considering todays political scenario, this film will be a perfect one. So far, filmmakers have come out with political movies from the perspective of the people. But, in Yeman, we will show the events from a politicians point of view. We have explored how a leader would handle a particular situation, he asserts. Elaborating on Miyas character, Jeeva says, She will be seen as an actress in the film. There is always an understanding between a politician and an actor and we have touched on this fact. Majority of the portions were shot in Chennai and we also erected a prison set in Puducherry. Two songs have been shot at a discotheque in Mumbai and in Georgia. Vijay Antony, who is also scoring the music for the film, is now busy with the post production. Produced by Lyca Productions, Yeman is slated to release in February. With zero releases in 2016, Bharath has half a dozen films, which will release every two or three months in 2017. The actor, who is shooting for AR Murugadoss-Mahesh Babus bilingual, hopes that this year will be fruitful. Opening up to DC, Bharath shares, My first release of 2017 is Ennodu Vilayadu, in which I play a gambler. In April, Kadugu, directed by Vijay Milton will hit the theatres. The film is about two extreme characters who live in the same town. I play a township boxer. The Killadi actor claims that Simba is one of the most experimental films in his entire career. This is Tamil cinemas first stoner film. However, there is nothing to mislead the youngsters and will concentrate on the relationship between a man and his dog, he explains. Bharath is an expert when it comes to trying different get-ups. In the horror film, Pottu, I will be seen in multiple looks. And for the first time, I have tried a lady get-up in my film, he reveals. He also has Kadaisi Bench Karthi, which is a college film with double entendre dialogues. The film talks about how social media has influenced the younger generations. Even though there are innuendo dialogues in it, it wont be vulgar and can be seen with the family, he quips. Bharath is all praises for AR Murugadoss and Mahesh Babu. I play one of the villains in the movie and this film will open up my market in Telugu to a wider audience. There are many artistes from Telugu in the film, but they make it a point to converse in Tamil, which makes it easy for all of us. I am having a wonderful time working with AR Murugadoss and Mahesh Babu. We will shoot the rest of the portions in Pune, Bangkok and Mumbai, he concludes. Kamal also has been in talks with CM Panneerselvam Mumbai: With police cracking down on pro-Jallikattu supporters, veteran cinema star Kamal Haasan today came out in support of students and youth, saying 'aggressive police action on students' passive resistance will not bear good results" and urged protesters not to resort to violence. "This is a mistake. Aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results", Haasan wrote on Twitter. He also appealed to the students and youth not to resort to violence. Haasan insisted that the protesters take up the non-violent path and said neither students nor public should resort to violence. He also expressed concern over violence in Alanganallur, famous for holding the sport. Kamal also has been in talks with CM Panneerselvam, while also trying to bring PM Narendra Modi's notice to the looming issue. Meanwhile, RJ-actor Balaji requested the protesters to go home, saying the Government promulgating an ordinance in itself was success to the peaceful protests conducted over the last week. "Instead of celebrating the first success (of making the Government to promulgate an ordinance), why are you venturing into violent protests?", he asked in a video that was widely circulated in the social media. The protests which were held peacefully over the last week should not end like the way it is turning out now, he said. "I appeal to the protesting students and public to go home. Protests are over. Please go home." he said. Police today evicted scores of pro-Jallikattu demonstrators from protest venues across Tamil Nadu, especially from Marina beach, amid incidents of stone-pelting, torching a car and mild lathi-charge at a few places in the city. He's also asked them to trust the lawmakers. Mumbai: After Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth has also urged protestors to end riots and go back home. In a handwritten letter in Tamil that the superstar shared on Twitter, he's addressed the scores of Tamil youth who have been protesting against the Supreme Court's ban on Jallikattu. Rajini asks the protestors to quit the protest, saying that the right thing to do is to trust the lawmakers' words and give them the time they have asked for. He has also said that the protestors should not give room to 'anti-social elements' and taint the goodwill that they have earned until now." He also added that miscreants have been trying to hijack the very peaceful protests. Kamal had also tweeted urging protestors to not resort to violence. The week-long pro-Jallikattu protest at Chennais Marina Beach turned violent on Monday after early morning crackdown by the police on scores of protesters, demanding a permanent solution for holding of the bull taming sport. The Supreme Courts ruling, banning the traditional bull taming sport had been met with tremendous resistance across the state, including its thriving and influential film industry. AR Rahman, Ajith, Dhanush and other popular celebrities had come out in support of the sport. Suriya and Vijay had supported the protest by the students and lashed out at PETA for opposing the bull taming sport. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is not new to controversy. This time, he has faced the wrath of Tamilians for voicing his support for the jallikattu ban. A series of tweets on supporting PETA did not go down well with the people of Tamil Nadu. Right from directors Venkat Prabhu and Naveen to actor Sarathkumar, many retorted to his comments. No Coke or Pepsi in theatres The Tamil Nadu theatre owners association has announced that they wouldnt be selling any foreign soft drinks in theatres across the state. Even before the announcement was made, theatres in Madurai, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram boycotted selling the soft drinks and voiced their support for jallikattu. Jaipur: A work of literature has something"special" to offer and conveys more meaning than other art forms such as a painting or a piece of music, according to renowned writer and politician Shashi Tharoor. Tharoor, who has authored 15 best selling books of fiction and non-fiction, said there was no department of life, public or private, which was not effectively influenced by literature. "Good literature is the attempt to capture the human condition in a way that can be shared with other people and understand it. I believe every policy, every public political issue is either reflected in people depicted in literature or is influenced by reader's awareness," he told PTI in an interview. The Congress MP, who is attending the Jaipur Literature Festival here, feels that a painting cannot convey as much as a book. "It is difficult to imagine that a piece of music alone can convey as much as a passionate or polemical work of literature. I think a work of literature has something special to offer, more details to offer than any other single piece of art form," he said. The 60-year-old author, who is holding strong, both to his words and his charm, said an ideal writing situation was when nothing mattered more than the writing itself. "The ideal writing situation is when you are so completely immersed in what you are writing that other things like your dressing, your shaving, your eating become totally irrelevant. When I wrote 'An Era of Darkness', it was very much like that," Tharoor said. Admired for his great learning, Tharoor said he was an "indiscriminate" reader and reads at least a dozen books a year. "I'm an indiscriminate reader but not a copious one. I still manage to read at least a dozen books a year, but that is nothing compared to what I would have have been able to. "Before my children were born, my wife and I were very easily reading four to five books a month," he said. Responding to his scathing criticism of writer R K Narayan whom he has described in his book titled "Bookless in Baghdad" as an "impoverished" author whose writing was 'pedestrian' and compared his prose with a "bullock cart", a vehicle which moves only in one gear, Tharoor said his language was "unnecessarily harsh". "My language was unnecessarily harsh. When I wrote that (essay) I was trying to be a little provocative. He had been hailed as a great writer, whereas his greatness lay in being a pioneering writer. But the actual quality of his writing did not match up to that exalted stature," Tharoor said. "People should see Narayan's contribution as a whole. I think, stylistically and linguistically he is a very limited writer, but his humanity, his empathy with his characters, his broader evocations of life are special, you cannot take that away from him," he said. About his castigation of Nirad C Chaudhuri in many of his books, Tharoor said the Bengali writer had offended him by praising Britishers. "I felt offended that someone could praise the Britishers. Some of what he did was offensive and insulting to Indians," he said. Tharoor, who in his boyhood days set himself a challenge of finishing 365 books in a year and accomplished it before Christmas, said it was a "silly challenge" and a "bit of a crazy" which he would never recommend to anyone, not even to his children. "The bad thing about it was you were no longer reading to savour the pleasure of the book. Finishing the book became more important," he said. Commenting on the contemporary literary trend in India, Tharoor agreed that while the readership had gone up, there was more demand for steamy potboilers and bestsellers rather than growing appetite for serious literature. "It is true of every country. In Britain and America also it is not only about high literature. There are also bestsellers, potboilers, detective novels, thrillers, rom-coms, chick-lits all of that stuff. So, I think we are also reaching the same kind of pattern which is not unusual or wrong," he said. The gum will contain 50mg of CBD per serving (Photo: AFP) Washington: A study suggests that a chewing gum laced in cannabis can cure irritable bowel syndrome, reducing painful stomach cramps, control bloating and normalise stool. Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands claims CBD - a key property in marijuana - could ease the colon spasms that seem to be the root cause of symptoms, reports Dailymail. "We are excited to see that Axim Biotechnologies Inc (AXIM) has reached another milestone in its clinical development program," said Dr. Stuart Titus, CEO of Medical Marijuana, Inc. "This is the first advancement in cannabinoid research for treatment of IBS in medical history and gives a clear example of how far ahead AXIM is in its clinical development programs," Titus added. The study claims itself to be first of its kind to test a relationship between CBD and IBS. From next month, the trial will begin, testing a cannabis-infused chewing gum made by US firm Medical Marijuana Inc. They will give trial to 40 participants, aged between 18 and 65, alongside matching placebo gums. The gum will contain 50mg of CBD per serving and the participants will be allowed up to six chewing gums a day to control their stomach cramps, bloating, pain and other symptoms. Preliminary research suggests the product could reduce painful stomach cramps, control bloating, and normalize stool. "The cost to society in terms of direct medical expenses and indirect costs associated with loss of productivity and work absenteeism tied to IBS is considerable," Dr Titus stated. The study reveals that the drug would interact with the endogenous cannabinoid receptors in sufferers' digestive tract, loosening tension. Specifically, it will test a new product called CanChew, developed my AXIM Biotechnologies, Medical Marijuana Inc's major investment company. Mumbai: Amid the fund-raising efforts for the treatment of an Egyptian woman who weighs around 500 kg, a city-based doctor who will be treating her here visited her home country recently. Noted laproscopy surgeon Muffazal Lakdawala flew to Alexandria last week to meet Eman Ahmed, probably the heaviest person in the world, and discussed her medical conditions. Eman's treatment is getting delayed, mainly due to the factors like transportation and steep medical cost supposed to be incurred by her family. "I met Eman in Alexandria and assured her that we are making every effort to get her the best possible medical help. A team of specialists is on standby and each will do his or her bit to address the multiple medical problems that Eman is dealing with," Lakdawala said in a statement. In October, 2016, Eman's sister Shaimaa Ahmed had contacted Lakdawala, who gave his consent to treat Eman. The 36-year-old has been suffering from multiple medical conditions and her treatment will be a long process which is expected to stretch over a couple of years. Besides a team of experts set up by Lakdawala, city's Saifee Hospital has offered to form a specialised facility to host Eman. Manila: Activists and organisations across the world have been leading initiatives for bringing awareness regarding safe sex and encouraging people to use protection to avoid HIV by distributing condoms among other activities. But despite HIV being a major cause of death in Africa and other parts of the world, the situation remains grave and shocking trends like indulging in unsafe sex as a fetish is said to be gaining ground. In such a situation some in Philippines suggest that distributing condoms is clearly not enough. The president of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators said that authorities should convince HIV/AIDS patients to come out and share their stories with people as a deterrent from unsafe sex. He said that such patients should be encouraged to talk on TV and radio in order to promote safe sex among young people who will quickly absorb accounts by victims themselves. He also suggested that patients can also be offered financial support for such initiatives. Hyderabad: After a normal monsoon in 2016, Skymet Weather Services, a private forecasting service, says the El Nino could influence the 2017 monsoon. Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department Dr K.J. Ramesh, however, said it was too early to make predictions for the 2017 monsoon. The IMD does so only in the first week of April. El Nino refers to a not-completely-understood irregular series of climactic changes that affect the equatorial Pacific region. It is characterised by unusually warm weather off northern Peru and Ecuador in South America. India experiences poor rainfall in the El Nino years. In an official release on Monday, Skymet said that El Nino has started showing signs of activity. An El Nino is followed by La Nina that is invariably related to good monsoon rains. Back in December 2016, all weather models were suggesting that weak La Nina conditions would continue during early 2017 and by April or May, neutral conditions may develop. Going by this prediction, India in 2017 would have witnessed either a normal monsoon or above normal rains. However, weather models took a U-turn and by mid-January, most of them have started indicating the resurfacing of El Nino. Weather office says its too early After a normal monsoon in 2016, Skymet Weather Services, a private forecasting service, says the El Nino factor could influence the 2017 monsoon. As per the latest models, the sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean are likely to increase in a span of six months. India got a brief respite in 2016 as the El Nino index started declining rapidly since March 2016 and reached the negative value of 0.1 in May. The Pacific Ocean had also cooled down considerably. Thus, the southwest monsoon of 2016 ended with normal rainfall at 97 per cent of long period average from June 1 to September 30. The consensus is that the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) will remain neutral till the fall season in the southern hemisphere. Two prominent weather models have predicting that the El Nino index was most likely to exceed the threshold neutral value of 0.5C by June. Another model was predicting the same, but fell short of the neutral value. Another factor that influences the southwest monsoon is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). According to meteorologists, a positive IOD is linked to a good monsoon. As of now, weather models are suggesting that the IOD is likely to remain positive this year. IMD director-general Dr K.J. Ramesh said that monsoon predictions at this stage were premature. El Nino alone cannot decide the impact of the monsoon, he said. The monsoon depends on various other factors like snowfall and temperatures across global seas. We have to assess the weather variations and conditions from January 2017 to end of March to come to a preliminary prediction on the coming monsoon. We will bring out our predictions in the first week of April this year. Oslo: Although as many as 7 in 10 of us will experience a one-night stand at some point in our lives, new research from Norway suggests how women and men feel about it the morning after can vary greatly. After a previous US study found that women more often regret agreeing to a one-night stand than men, whereas men regret passing up the chance more than women, a team of researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technologys (NTNU) Department of Psychology along with the University of Texas at Austin, wanted to see if the same held true in Norway, a supposedly more sexually liberal and egalitarian country. For their research the team recruited 263 male and female students aged 19 to 37 years who had all experienced at least one one-night stand. The team found the same pattern in Norway as in the US, with around 35% of women and only 20% of men regretting the experience to some degree. Women were also more likely to feel unhappier about the experience, with just 30 of women reporting that they were happy about their most recent casual sex experience -- compared to over 50% of the men. The results also showed that when it came to turning down the offer of a one night stand, nearly 80% of women were happy that they had said no, however only 43% of men felt the same. When explaining possible reasons for the differences, the team suggested that it could be that women worry more and are less likely to partake in risky behaviour that men. However this theory doesnt explain the differences in reactions after the event. Further questioning ruled out the idea that women feel more regretful because they do not get as much sexual pleasure out of a one-night stand as men do, with the team also suggesting that pregnancy concerns, STD infections and getting a bad reputation could instead help explain the patterns. Evolutionary psychology could also be a reason. Dr. Buss, one of the co-authors on the study, explained that, Women and men differ fundamentally in their sexual psychology. A key limitation on mens reproductive success, historically, has been sexual access to fertile women. These evolutionary selection pressures have created a male sexual mind that is attentive to sexual opportunities. So for men, continued researcher Professor Kennear, its a case of quantity not quality so he can improve his reproductive success by having as many fertile mates as possible. Because women are restricted in how many children they can have, they instead go for quality over quantity to pass good genes on to their children and produce a good environment in which to raise them. And although society, culture, and attitudes change, our basic biological function does not, with Dr. Buss adding that, Many social scientists expect that in sexually egalitarian cultures such as Norway, these sex differences would disappear. They do not. This fact makes the findings on sex differences in sexual regret in modern Norwegian people so fascinating scientifically. London: It will take just 100 days for zombies to take over the world and reduce human survivors to a population of less than 300, a new study says. According to the study at University of Leicester in the UK, the students assumed that if a zombie can find one person daily, with a 90% chance of infecting victims with the zombie infection, then by day 100, there would be just 273 human survivors remaining, outnumbered a million to one by zombies. The team, which presented the findings in the student-run Journal of Physics Special Topics, investigated the spread of a hypothetical zombie virus using the SIR model - an epidemiological model that describes the spread of a disease throughout a population. The model splits the population into three categories - those susceptible to the infection, those that are infected and those that have either died or recovered.The SIR model then considers the rates at which infections spread and die off as individuals in the population come into contact with each other. As part of the formula, the students looked at S (the susceptible population), Z (the zombie population) and D (the dead population), suggesting that the average life-cycle of a zombie would be S to Z to D. They also examined the time frame over which individuals in the population encounter one another. The initial study did not factor in natural birth and death rates, since the hypothetical epidemic took place over 100 days, resulting in natural births and deaths being negligible compared to the impact of the zombie virus over a short time frame. Without the ability for humankind to fight back against the undead hordes, the students calculations suggest that if global populations were equally distributed in less than a year the human race might be wiped out. However, in a more hopeful follow-up study, the students investigated the SIR model applied to a zombie epidemic and introduced new parameters, such as the rate in which zombies might be killed and people having children within the nightmare scenario. This made human survival more feasible. The team factored in how over time survivors may also be less likely to become infected after having experience of avoiding or fending off zombies. They found that it would be possible for the worlds human population to survive the zombie epidemic under these conditions and that eventually the zombie population would be wiped out and the human population would recover. Every year we ask students to write short papers for the Journal of Physics Special Topics. It lets the students show off their creative side and apply some of physics they know to the weird, the wonderful, or the everyday, said Mervyn Roy, a lecturer at Leicesters department of physics and astronomy, said. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to clarify whether the appointment of 1984-batch IPS officer Karnal Singh as full-time Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was as per statutory requirement. A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to also clarify whether Singh's appointment gave him two year tenure as per the provisions of Central Vigilance Commission Act of 2003. The apex court said the appointment letter issued to Singh on October 27, 2016, says he will cease to hold office the day he superannuates in August 2017. "This does not comply with section 25(d) of CVC Act which fixes the tenure of director of Enforcement Directorate not less than two years. You clarify whether a new appointment letter can be issued to him or not as the appointment till the date of his superannuation is violative of statutory provisions," the bench said. Singh, who was holding the additional charge of the director's post after being granted extension, was appointed a full time director of Enforcement Directorate on October 27, 2016 till August 31, 2017, the date of his superannuation. "A Director of Enforcement shall continue to hold office for a period of not less than two years from the date on which he assumes office," reads section 25 (d) of the CVC Act. The apex court had on September 30 last year asked the Centre to give a time frame for appointing a full time director of the agency which probes money laundering cases. The apex court's direction came on a PIL filed last year by Mumbai-based former IRS officer Uday Babu Khalwadekar, who has sought quashing of ad-hoc appointment and subsequent extensions granted by the Centre to Karnal Singh as head of premier investigation agency, Enforcement Directorate, in "violation" of the law. He had alleged that Singh had been given "ad-hoc extensions from August 2015 till November 2016" in complete contravention of Section 25 (d) of the Central Vigilance Act. An old enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the attack, the police officer said adding that some of the accused have been identified. (Photo: Representational Image) Indore: A 26-year-old army jawan was stabbed to death while another personnel and the latter's sibling were seriously injured when a group of men attacked them in Banganga area in Indore, police said on Monday. "The jawan, identified as Varun Chouhan, died on way to hospital after being injured by sharp edged weapons in the attack by around 10 men late last night," Banganga Police Station in-charge Vinod Dixit said. "Chouhan, an army man posted in Pathankot, was on leave and had come to Indore to meet his family," he said. Another 25-year-old jawan and his younger brother were also injured in the attack, Dixit said. The three personnel were returning home after watching a wrestling completion when they were attacked. The injured jawan and his younger brother have been admitted to a private hospital. An old enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the attack, the police officer said adding that some of the accused have been identified. Further probe into the incident is on, police added. Thrissur: A BJP state-level functionary and secretary of the Kanji Kamakodi Yajur Veda Padasala in Irinjalakuda has been booked and lodged in Irinjalakuda sub-jail on a complaint that he subjected a teenage male student of the Padasala to unnatural sex. The accused in the case A T Narayanan Namboothiri,57, was picked up by the Irinjalakuda police on Saturday and was presented at the Irinjalakuda Magistrate Court the same day. He was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. The boy who had been allegedly subjected to unnatural sex for nearly two years was under severe mental pressure and spoke about the torture to his friends. The inmates of such institutions live there to learn veda and get a school and college education simultaneously. The padasala is situated adjacent to the famous Koodalmanikyam Temple Irinjalakuda in an old house. Meanwhile, Irinjalakuda police is facing allegations of showing reluctance about divulging the name of the accused in the case under political pressure. Shahjahanpur: A mentally-challenged minor Dalit girl was allegedly raped for a period of ten months by a youth of her village in the district, who has been absconding after the incident came to light as she became pregnant, police said on Monday. The family of the 17 year-old girl, belonging to a village in Puvaya police station area, took her to a hospital recently after she complained of stomach ache. They were then informed by the doctors that the girl is seven months pregnant, Puvaya police station inspector Ashok Kumar said. After being questioned by the family members, she named a youth of the village, claiming that he had been raping her since the past ten months, Kumar said, adding involvement another youth in the connection has come to light. A case has been lodged and hunt is on for the culprits who are absconding. The girl has been sent for a medical examination, the inspector said. Covering more than 21 acres along the Red Cedar River in Dunn County is the worlds only source for a hot, steaming cup of Swiss Miss Cocoa. Well, make that 1.2 billion cups. Thats how many servings of cocoa are produced annually at the Conagra Brands plant in Menomonie, the birthplace of the world-famous brand. Along with Swiss Miss Cocoa, the other consumer brands the plant produces are Swiss Miss Pudding packs (refrigerated), and shelf-stable Snack Pack GELS and Pudding packs. It also delivers dry, condensed and evaporated milk products to industrial clients. All this is made possible from the massive amount of milk processed there every day milk provided by 70 farms in the area. The fact 600,000 pounds of raw milk come here every day and within three days become pudding, cocoa and other products is still, after all these years, just fun, says Jeff Stevens, plant manager. The sheer volume of cocoa powder, sugar, milk,and other raw goods moving through here is just incredible. Examples of that sheer volume include the 432 million servings of pudding and gels the plant produces a year. In addition to the millions upon millions of cocoa mix packets filled there annually, 50,000 pounds of the 600,000 pounds of raw milk arriving daily leaves the plant as cream. The cream is sold far and wide on the open market, with much of it purchased by ice cream manufacturers. Turns out the comfort food center of the universe is right here in the Chippewa Valley. As for the Swiss Miss side, it all started by accident. Born in 1917 The plant opened its doors as the John Wildi Evaporated Milk Company in 1917, enjoying success for a number of years before eventually closing, according to local historian John Russells column in the Dunn County News. The building was purchased and rehabilitated by Nestle Food Co., employing up to 200 people at its height of operation, but was one of many businesses to close during the Depression. After World War II, Sanna Dairies purchased it. With the Sanna purchase, the evaporated milk plant started drying milk. The Sanna brothers invented our spray dryer, says Toby Auth, processing lead. It is one-of-a-kind, as they were on the leading edge of this technology. We still use it today. The brothers reportedly developed the dairys dried-milk products based on a process first created by their father, Anthony R. Sanna, a Sicilian immigrant. Sanna Dairies, founded in the 1930s in Madison, initially concentrated on fluid dairy products and distribution. Their new drying process allowed them to introduce their first nationally-marketed product, Sanalac, in the mid-1940s. It was said to be the first instant dry milk on the market. Many more consumer products followed, including Swiss Miss, the first instant hot cocoa mix. The story goes that one of the dryers sometimes went into hyper-dry, resulting in milk that appeared specked. So the Sanna brothers asked, What do we do with this? says Aaron Richartz, human resource manager at Conagra. It tasted fine. The quality standards were fine. So they started mixing cocoa and sugar with it, and a few other ingredients that are now trade secrets, and that was the invention of the dried, hot-cocoa mix business. Worldwide reach Initially they sold the mix exclusively to commercial airlines as a luxury drink. Today it is distributed across the globe, with the most recent interest emanating from less-wintry climes. It has really taken off in the Philippines, where its earning a reputation as a comfort drink, says Auth. Our sales group is enjoying great success there. In fact, the Facebook page Conagra started a couple years ago has more than 700,000 likes, whereas the U.S. page (where hot chocolate has long been a winter staple) has only 42,000. One of the things that has made the Swiss Miss brand successful is quality and taste, says Jonathan Kruesi, senior brand manager, Sweet Snacks, Conagra Brands. The fresh Wisconsin milk delivers a rich, creamy taste, while being made easily with hot water. The highly skilled Menomonie workforce helps ensure the consistency and quality that enables Swiss Miss to now expand globally. Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa is now sold in Latin America as well as Asia. Sanna Dairies was sold to Beatrice Foods in 1967, but the Menomonie plant continued to produce products under Sanna brands, such as Swiss Miss and Sanalac. The pudding lines were added in the 1980s, evolving over the years to add the Snack Pack GELS. The plant was sold to ConAgra Foods in 1990. Conagra Brands is an $8 billion company that moved its headquarters from Omaha, Neb., to Chicago last year. A Nebraska family founded the company in 1919 after purchasing four grain mills. The new business, Nebraska Consolidated Mills, eventually expanded into milling flour and invested in the development of Duncan Hines cake mixes as a new market for its flour. In 1970 the company name changed to ConAgra Foods, and 10 years later purchased its first private label, Banquet Foods. Today it has 40 plants across the country, employing more than 13,000 people. Two years ago the company changed its name from ConAgra Foods to Conagra Brands and spun off its private-label brands to focus on its well-known consumer brands, including Healthy Choice, Slim-Jim, Reddi-wip, Hunts, Banquet, Marie Callenders, and the Menomonie-based brands. Menomonie connection This plant is a strategic site for Conagra Brands, says Stevens. We have unique capabilities within the corporation, especially with our dairy operation that includes blending, the spray dryer, filling dry powders or aseptic packaging. Another recent change at the corporate level is a new commitment to producing more natural products by avoiding artificial growth hormones and replacing artificial flavors with real ingredients, such as Menomonie-made cream. Menomonie employees and farms that supply the plant are featured prominently on the Swiss Miss website. Most of our products off-the-dryer are sold within Conagra to other Conagra plants, says Auth. For example another plant uses our dried milk to make the crust of a Banquet chicken pot pie. The volume of product produced at this plant is better appreciated when taking a plant visual or two into account. We mix pudding and gels in 18,000-pound batches, says Chris Larson, Conagras continuous improvement manager. The Menomonie High School swimming pool holds 300,000 gallons of water. We can fill that pool 90 percent full every week with the pudding and gels we make. The plant is also able to store two millions pounds of fluid product at a time, with 900,000 pounds of that as raw milk. Snack Pack pudding is made at two Conagra plants, the one in Menomonie and another in Waterloo, Iowa. All the milk for both plants is supplied by the Menomonie plants milk suppliers. Both plants together produce about 28 million cases of Snack Pack pudding a year, says Larson. Some of the area farms that supply the plant are second- and third-generation farms. Even some of the employees cross generations. We have multiple employees who have been here more than 40 years, says Richartz. There are also two generations from the same family working in different areas. Among locals, the plant is still often referred to as the Sanna Dairy or the Swiss Miss plant. For the nearly 300 full-time employees and their families, the Conagra plant which runs three shifts a day, seven days a week is continuing to provide a solid living for them with product lines that are fairly recession proof. Long gone are the days of employees having to hand-fill each Swiss Miss carton with packets, as the plants fastest line in that division now fills about 1,000 packets a minute. Robots now palletize cases of product work that once had to be done by hand. Updating the plant with new technology, automation, is a journey for any business like ours, says Auth. Were always seeking ways to make things more efficiently. Stevens says that the emphasis on safety, quality, customer service and managing cost is helping to position the plant for new projects in the coming years. We are always looking to attract further innovation through our performance as a plant and earn the right for the investment. We are working on a couple of different projects that we hope will secure our future. As we think about celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2017, I would say it is our people and our culture that make the difference, he said. At every level in this plant, this team is the best Ive had the privilege of working with, and I think that is just a reflection of the entire Menomonie community. Judith Munson of Eleva is a freelance writer and owner of Write Now Media. She can be contacted at jmunson.wnm@gmail.com Kochi: Customs officials at the Cochin International Airport seized 300 grams of gold from a priest who flew in by a Qatar airways flight from Doha on Monday morning. Three gold bars weighing hundred grams each were found concealed inside chocolate bars. The same was detected upon inspecting the baggage of Father Issac Kizhakkeparambil, a priest working in Switzerland who originally hails from Tiruvalla, a senior Customs officer said. He didnt make any declaration about the gold and we found it hidden inside chocolate bars. It was a clear attempt to evade customs duty, he said. However, no arrest was made since the quantity of the contraband seized is small. A case was, however, registered. The accused also gave a written statement saying he wont be needing the gold back. The catholic priest was serving in Switzerland for the last several years. Madurai: Two persons were killed and 28 suffered minor injuries during Jallikattu in Tamil Nadus Pudukottai district on Sunday. Also, a man died due to dehydration in Madurai during protests demanding a permanent solution for holding the sport, police said. The people injured during the incident in Pudukottai, where scores of people and several bulls took part, were discharged after first-aid. Also read: Jallikattu protesters threaten suicide as police begin forceful eviction With an ordinance being promulgated for holding Jallikattu, the sport was organised in several parts of the state. Police said the two persons were killed when they were gored by a bull at Rapoosal, which saw several bulls being used. Also read: Jallikattu: DMK boycotts Assembly, terms police action anti-democratic Meanwhile, a 48-year-old man, from Jaihindpuram, died due to dehydration in Madurai when he was taking part in protests demanding a permanent solution for holding Jallikattu. At Tirunelveli, some students fainted at a protest venue following which they were given medical treatment. Also read: Nobody on Earth can stop Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu: O Pannerselvam Visakhapatnam: A silent movement is taking shape in this region, demanding Special Category Status to AP. Probably taking a cue from Tamil youths Marina beach protest demanding jallikattu, a campaign had begun on social media platforms like WatsApp, Twitter with hashtag #APDemads-SpecialStatus, #APELFRESPECTMOVEMENT asking youngsters to assemble at RK Beach on January 26, Republic day for a silent protest at 9 am. Actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan said in a statement while hailing the Tamil movement for jallikattu, that people of AP should take inspiration from Tamils spirit and fight for special category status. The printed flyers bearing a fist, sought police support for the silent protest. While its not known who started the campaign or who the organisers of the protest are, the forward is going viral. It is learnt that a group of youngsters who are active on social media, chanced upon their common opinions about the special category status and started a Whatsapp group and planned the event. The organisers asked the participants to keep away from any political parties and not to carry any party flag. They asked them to attend the event in black shirts, carrying a black flag. They cautioned: 'no fan wars and no party wars'. They also asked the participants to maintain peace and not to damage government properties. It is said that Alam came out of his room in a hurry telling a few of his friends that he is going to end his life. (Representational image) BENGALURU: A first year PU student plunged to his death from the third floor of his hostel building at Dayananda Sagar college premises in Kumara Swamy Layout on Sunday afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Jehan Ullah Alam, 17, who hails from Assam. He was studying commerce in Dayananda Sagar college and staying at the hostel. According to the police, the incident took place around 2.30 pm. Alam came out of his room on the third floor and jumped from the corridor. Though, other students and staff of the hostel, tried to shift him to a hospital, he died on the spot of fatal head injuries. It is said that Alam came out of his room in a hurry telling a few of his friends that he is going to end his life. Before they could stop him, he climbed the parapet, which is about three feet, and jumped from there. DCP (South) S. D. Sharanappa told DC that the student had left a note in his room. He has mentioned the reason for his extreme step but it cannot be revealed. We are investigating the case in all angles, he added. However, sources said that Alam had mentioned a few personal issues in the three page suicide note. The note makes it clear that he had some personal problem and that drove him to take the hasty step. He has also apologised his parents for taking the extreme step, an official said. The police have informed his parents, who live in Mumbai, about the tragedy and they are expected to arrive in the city by Monday morning. Besides the parents, the police will also question Alams classmates, roommates, lecturers and staff of the college and the hostel to know more about the reasons for the suicide. The Kumara Swamy Layout police have registered a case of unnatural death and are further probing into the case. Kolkata: With an eye on opposition space in Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to capitalise on its bitter political tussle with ruling TMC on demonetisation by launching a "massive movement" against its "misrule" in the state. The decision was taken at the just concluded two-day BJP state committee. "In most of the districts of Bengal, the law and order situation has completely broken down. TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is dreaming of becoming prime minister. We will launch a massive movement across the state against the misrule of TMC," BJP general secretary and state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya said. West Bengal, he alleged, has turned into a safe haven for jihadis as law and order has completely failed in Bengal. According to sources in BJP, CBI investigation into Rose Valley chit fund scam and arrest of TMC MPs Sudip Bandopadhyay and Tapas Pal has given the party the much needed opportunity to shed off the tag of "political match fixing between BJP and TMC in Bengal". "For the last two years, we had suffered due to the false propaganda by CPI(M) and Congress that there was political match fixing between TMC and BJP. Time has come to change the narrative and emerge as the main opposition party in Bengal," a senior BJP leader told PTI. The "failure" of CPI(M) and Congress as opposition parties has given BJP the opportunity to emerge as a major player in state politics, he added. "There has been a series of communal rights in Bengal. But neither Congress nor CPI(M) has bothered to hit the streets. It is BJP which has been fighting against the appeasement policies as we are not bothered about vote bank politics," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said. Democracy is under threat in West Bengal, Ghosh said, adding BJP will wage a month-long intense programme across the state. The protest programme will be built up with the campaign slogans 'Save democracy', 'Save Bengal', 'Save Sanskriti (culture)'. BJP will launch the agitation in different blocks from on Tuesday till January 30 and hold a law violation and big meeting on February 6 in Kolkata. New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has convened an all-party meeting on January 30 evening as Parliament prepares to meet for Budget Session, sources said on Monday. President Pranab Mukherjee will address a joint sitting of the two Houses in the Central Hall of Parliament. The central government will table its Budget and Economic Survey on the same day. The first half of the session will be a short affair and will end on February 9 as it is being held in the middle of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. A shorter first part will help parties focus on electioneering. The second half of the session will begin on March 8 and will conclude on April 12. Sixteen opposition parties had this month moved the Election Commission urging it to ask the government to present the Union Budget after the elections are over on March 8 so that it is not used as a tool by the NDA to influence voters in the five states. While the Supreme Court on Monday refused to give any directions to the government in this regard, the Commission's decision is long awaited. Madurai: The ordinance promulgated by the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure conduct of jallikattu failed to cut ice with the Alanganallur protesters. The Chief Minister O Panneerselvam returned from Madurai on Sunday without being able to inaugurate the event at one of the most traditional venues of bull-taming. The protesters and people of Alanganallur did not let authorities enter their villages and blocked all roads leading to their hamlets since Saturday night to ensure that the jallikattu events were not held. The Chief Minister, who was quite confident of ending the week-long impasse by inaugurating the event at Alanganallur, understood the ground reality after reaching Madurai on Saturday night. After a briefing from authorities, Mr Panneerselvam decided to break the logjam by himself by holding back-to-back meetings with his senior colleagues, officials, jallikattu organisers and Madurai District Collector Veera Raghava Rao. The last-ditch efforts by the CM did not yield any result as villagers refused to open vaadi vaasal (the traditional entrance through which bulls are let out to the jallikattu track). To control the damage and to save the Chief Ministers face, the Dindigul district administration swung into action to conduct jallikattu in Koilpatti near Natham, but that too ended in failure with villagers opposing the event. A visibly dejected Chief Minister took the 1.30 pm flight to Chennai on Sunday, before asserting that the Ordinance once replaced with a law in the Tamil Nadu Assembly is permanent solution to the issue and no one on Earth can stop jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. Ministers did not listen to us, says protesters The stage for Sunday's boycott was set on Saturday evening, sources said, when villagers of Alanganallur prevented Mr Rao and Superintendent of Police Vijendra S Bidari from entering the village after Mr Panneerselvam announced in Chennai that he would flag off the jallikattu event from the village. Sources told DC that organisers of Alanganallur jallikattu were apprehensive whether people and protesters would allow the event to take place on Sunday, but local ministers Sellur K Raju and R B Uthayakumar got their consent forcibly during a meeting at the Circuit House on Saturday evening. The ministers never listened to us. We were afraid of our people. We told the ministers that the situation was not conducive for the event to be held in Alanganallur, a member of the organising committee who attended the meeting said. The source also said the ministers thought there would be no problem since Alanganallur was an AIADMK bastion, but what happened was something else. On Saturday night, the CM dispatched Mr Raju and Jallikattu Peravai president R Rajasekaran to Alanganallur to convince the people. And once that too failed, the Chief Minister had no option but to return to Chennai. Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday directed Tamil Nadu DGP to ensure safety of the public and pro-Jallikattu protesters holding their stir peacefully even as the state government claimed that anti-social elements have infiltrated the students protests in the last few days. Till January 19, it was protest by students, but after that anti-social elements had infiltrated them, state Advocate General R Muthukumarasamy said, quoting intelligence reports. He also told the court that 25 vehicles in the Ice House police station in the city vicinity were burnt and as many as 24 police personnel injured in stone pelting and hospitalised. Two sub-inspectors and four constables were severely injured, he said. The submissions were made by the AG when petitions by two of the protesters seeking a direction to the police not to harass them came up before the court. In his oral orders, Justice R Mahadevan directed the state DGP to ensure safety of public and pro-Jallikattu protesters conducting their stir 'peacefully'. However, he said police can take action if the protesters violated the law or in the event of any untoward incident. The petitions came up for hearing hours after the police crackdown at Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation. Posing questions such as why police resorted to baton charge, the judge directed the AG to instruct the DGP to ensure safety of public and protesters. The judge also directed senior advocate R Sankarasubbu, who appeared for the petitioners, to get instructions from the protesters as to how long they will continue their agitation in the wake of the government passing an ordinance for conduct of Jallikattu. In their petitions, G Pavendhan and Senthil Kumar sought a direction to the police not to harass the protesters. Sankarasubbu claimed that police overnight unleashed force on the protesters who were peacefully protesting since January 15 last. He alleged some of the protesters 'collapsed' in the baton charge and this was not an isolated incident. "We are only students. We may have concluded (the protest) after discussing with the legal fraternity about the ordinance passed. But the government did not have patience," he said. Countering the charges, the AG, who traced the sequence of events leading to the promulgation of the ordinance, submitted that a number of protesting students had withdrawn their stir in view of the promulgation of the ordinance. He also said the petitions had been filed under Section 482 of CrPC and not PILs. The government was also supporting the cause of the protesters. At 5.30 am today, police made a request to the remaining agitators to leave the place and also showed them a copy of the ordinance. However, they refused to disperse and some 'unruly' among them started pelting stones, the AG said. At this, the judge asked the petitioner's counsel how long they would continue the protest. "Who is the regulator? Get instructions, public safety is first." He also said the general public should be given safety. "The public safety comes first. If the protesters violate law it is for the police to take action." Later, the judge adjourned the matter to tomorrow. Some time later, senior counsel R Gandhi and advocate V Suresh made a mention before first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar that the police have baton charged the protesters and the whole city was paralysed. However, the judges said the single judge was seized of the matter. "We will see tomorrow." Guntur: Jana Sena founder and Telugu cine hero Pawan Kalyan sought justice to the Dalit island farmers of Amaravati. YSR Congress president and Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded the government to do justice to the Dalit island farmers of Amaravati during his visit to Amaravati on January 19. Now, Mr Pawan Kalyan has taken the turn and sought the government to pay package as promised in his twitter comments. The Amaravati Dalit island farmers who lost hopes about getting good package are now hoping for a change in the governments decision. Mr Kalyan said that according to the Green Tribunal norms, no construction would be allowed on the banks of rivers but there is no clarity about government taking permission for construction in the Amaravati. He wanted the government to inform about the purpose of taking the lands to public, at least to the farmers concerned. He sought paying of promised compensation to Dalit farmers without bias and leaving their lands for cultivation if the government is not wishing to construct any structures in the lands. The islands are in Lingayapalem, Uddan-darayunipalem and Raya-pudi in which the Dalits are cultivating vegetables and horticulture crops in an extent of 3,000 acres. Nearly 1,600 Dalit families are dependent on cultivation in these lands and they would be deprived with the collection of lands without a proper package. Dalit island farmer leader N. Suresh claimed that their lands are Jareebu lands which can be cultivated throughout the year and the government allotted them 50 years ago to Dalits. He said that first the APRCRDA officials and the ministers agreed to offer Jareebu Land Pool-ing Scheme package of 1,000 yards of residential and 450 yards of commercial plot per acre but later it was changed to 500 yards residential and 100 yards commercial. He said the government claiming their lands is unjustifiable. He said that they are ready to give their lands against Jareebu package, annuity and allotting of returnable plots in their villages itself. The Dalit farmers of the islands said that Jagan highlighted their problem through his visit and now Pawan is further trying to bring their issue to the notice of the government and demanded that the TD government do justice to the Dalits by offering them Jareebu package. They said they should not be deprived of a good pac-kage for the fertile lands. The Dal members informed the police that while a Hyundai Accent car was carrying the beef, a white Santro car was escorting it. (Photo: Representational Image) Gurgaon: Gurgaon police on Saturday arrested two persons carrying 900 kilograms of meat in a car, and claimed the meat was beef. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the police acted on a tip-off from Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, who got information that the accused were travelling from Mewat towards Delhi via Sohna Road carrying beef. The Dal members informed the police that while a Hyundai Accent car was carrying the beef, a white Santro car was escorting it. The police installed barricades at Sohna Road and signalled the Santro to stop when it arrived. However, the driver tried to reverse the car and flee, said the report. While two occupants of the car managed to flee, one Hasan Mohammad, a resident of Nagina in Mewat, was nabbed. Hasan confessed to the police that the Accent car, which was following the Santro, was carrying beef. A little while later, a white Accent car reached the spot and was stopped. The police arrested the Accents driver. He was identified as Jumma, a resident of Nagina in Mewat and meat stuffed in the trunk, near the rear seat, and front passenger seat was recovered. A veterinarian was called for examination of the meat, and on his observation that it was likely to be beef, a sample was sent to a laboratory in Hisar. The lab reports are now awaited, said the report. Cow vigilantism has emerged as a problem in recent times, with Gau Rakshak groups indulging in violence against those accused of carrying or eating beef. On June 10, two men nabbed for smuggling beef in a car were beaten by cow vigilantes and forced to eat cow dung near Badarpur border on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway. Later last year, Dalit men in Una of Gujarat were stripped and thrashed in public for carrying beef. A few months ago, Jerry Jacobson approved the purchase of a $9,000 statue from Sculpture Tour Eau Claire to be donated to Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services for its new building on Chippewa Crossing Boulevard. As president of Northwestern Bank in Chippewa Falls, Jacobson always is looking for ways to help the community. He saw the firefighter statue and knew it would be perfect for the new fire station. He also knew the city of Chippewa Falls wouldnt be able to spend money on artwork, so he took matters into his own hand. After nearly 113 years in the banking business, Northwestern Bank has thrived by thinking outside of the box, constantly evolving and taking care of its community, Jacobson said. Were grateful to make a living by working with the people of this community, he said from his desk in the main Northwestern Bank location on Bridge Street. Its very important to make sure the community gets something back. Its not a new philosophy for the bank. His predecessors have been doing the same as far back as Jacobson can remember. Whether its money or time, we live here too. We need to give back, he said. I dont know if it makes us unique, but it definitely lets the community know that were in this with them. A look back Jacobson was hired at the bank in 1978 and within 20 years had worked his way up to bank president. More than 60 years before Jacobsons first day on the job, P.T. Favell opened Northwestern State Bank on July 20, 1904, at the banks current location the corner of Bridge and Central Streets. Throughout the decades, the bank went through cosmetic changes, but the heart of its mission never wavered a strong commitment to its customers and the community. The locally-owned, community bank grew generously in assets and staff since its opening. By its 25th anniversary in 1929, the bank had five officers, five employees and resources of $1.2 million. The stock market crash and Great Depression in 1929 was a challenging time for banks across the nation. The Chippewa Falls bank closed for six months, and reopened with all customers receiving their money back with interest. By 1962, Northwestern Bank welcomed an extensive three-story expansion, and assets had grown to $12.7 million. After 100 years of service to the community in 2004, the bank celebrated its centennial with a total of 17 officers, 73 employees, a drive-up facility, five branches and assets of $260 million. Having worked with bank presidents A.W. Langill and William Pickerign gave Jacobson a good view of why giving back to the community not only helps specific organizations short-term, but helps the entire community in the long run. Bill Pickerign had a great attitude of giving back, Jacobson said. He gave employees time off from work to donate their time to the community. That tradition lives on. For years the bank has been donating to many groups in the Chippewa Valley, including United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley, Chippewa Falls Boys and Girls Club, Heyde Center for the Arts and HSHS St. Josephs Hospital, just to name a few. Just within the last few years, Jacobson has approved many generous donations from the bank, including $100,000 to Eau Claires Confluence Project in 2014, donation of the Fanny Hill property to Hope Gospel Mission, and a number of school mini-grants through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County. In the spring of 2016, Jacobson received the inaugural Hero award at the Junior Achievement Heros Gala being recognized for his long-term commitment in giving of his time, talent and as a long-standing advocate of the organizations mission. Some of Jacobsons favorite donations are gifts that affect many, such as those to Irvine Park Zoo and Chippewa Falls Downtown Riverfront Park development. Donations that spur economic development just make sense, he said. I dont think a few days go by where were not talking to Bob McCoy and Mike Jordan, Jacobson said. Its a crucial part of any financial institution. Were proud to be part of the community, and we have to make money. Economic development and change It wasnt long ago when U.S. Highway 53 ran up the main drag in Chippewa Falls, intersecting with Highway 29 and the downtown was home to department stores and dime stores like J.C. Penneys and Woolworth. Bridge Street may not look like it did 40 years ago, but thats what growth is all about, Jacobson said. Thats why you come to the Chippewa Valley and stay here economic development, he said. We have to be able to keep and retain our young people. Many young people have ties to the area, but thats not enough. We have to change. As the Chippewa Valley evolves, businesses have to think ahead anticipate and welcome change, Jacobson said. In 1978 we did not even have one computer. We did checks by hand, he said. Its about finding out what people want. Were looking at technology constantly. Recently, he spoke to economic department student at UW-Eau Claire with an important message. Quoting economist Joseph Schumpeter, Jacobson told graduates that a successful business is constantly on grounds shaking beneath their feet. Change is constant. Embrace it and continuously change to succeed. Jacobson said Northwestern Bank is changing constantly mostly in the way of technology to be user friendly for its customers. But theres no substitute for great customer service. You have to constantly give customers what they want at a price thats competitive, he said. You have to prove yourself every day. Jacobson said over the years, because of strict banking regulations, the hometown feel is sometimes challenged. For instance, identification is required for all transactions something that wasnt even a thought 20 years ago. Years ago Jacobsons uncle was a customer. He said to Jacobson, Ive known you since you were born. Yet he had to show identification and sign a form. You feel that for your customer, Jacobson said. But it protects the bank and customers alike. The lending business All business leaders know that really good years can be followed by bad years. Such was the case leading up to the 2008 economic downturn, followed by a recession. Banks were hit hard, including Northwestern Bank. That is one reason all banks save for rainy days. One thing you have to do is put money aside. We had losses then and we will have losses again, Jacobson said. We take a lot of time evaluating our loans, and we try to make sure we have enough cushion. But things happen. People want to pay, Jacobson said. But life happens. Through the years he has seen good businesses fall short on loans. Jacobson lives in reality. He knows there will be losses. Ninety-nine percent (of non-payment) isnt because they are crooked. Most problems are because of life, he said. If you dont have some sort of heart in this business, you shouldnt be in the business. You just try to do your best. Jill Herriges, the banks leader of marketing and customer relations, said Northwestern Bank prides itself on being a company that works outside of the box when it comes to lending. We want people to come to us if theyre thinking about a loan, she said. We look at all options and try to make it work. Herriges, who has been with the company for less than two years, said Northwestern Bank has always had a good reputation. Before I worked here, I remember this place being referred to as The Bank, she said. No one even asked which bank it was just The Bank. Now that shes a part of the organization, she sees how much the bank is ingrained in the community. We give back to our community, were involved in the economic development pieces and we have friendly service, she said. Neither Herriges nor Jacobson see that changing in the future. What they expect is to welcome positive change in the years to come. Jacobson admits he is not a visionary on the technology front. What he does know is banking, people and forward thinking. Wed like to grow with our communities and try to be a leader in that growth, he said. Were constantly looking for the products that our customers need, and then presenting it to them in a way that makes sense. Were here to fulfill dreams. Rescue efforts at the site where the Hirakhand Express derailed. Officials say the toll could go up from the 40 dead, reported on Sunday. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: AP Crime Investigation Department has taken over the case of the Vizianagaram mishap and is probing the alleged sabotage angle by Maoists as suspected by the railways. Officials will also investigate if this was the handiwork of terrorists in the wake of the ISI plot to target the Indian Railways. National Investigation Agency teams have also rushed to the site. Recently, railway police of all states and the Railway Protection Force had received an alert stating that terror suspects caught in East Champaran had said Pakistans ISI was involved in the Indore-Patna Express crash. NIA reaches rail mishap site, to probe hand of ISI A top Intelligence Bureau official told this newspaper, IB teams are at the spot collecting inputs. NIA teams also reached the spot at night. So far we havent got inputs indicating sabotage. The mishap occurred at the track diversion point and there could be a technical defect at the point where the train shifts from one track to another. However, we have to pursue multiple angles. AP Additional Director General of Police K.R.M. Kishore Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that the AP DGP N. Sambasiva Rao has issued orders to hand over the case to the Crime Investigation Department. We have initially booked a case under 174 CrPC (investigation into unnatural death) with the Government Railway Police Station. Railways technical experts will have to tell us if it is sabotage. Waltair Senior Divisional Security officer A Ibrahim Sheriff confirmed that there was an alert from central agencies on the railways. Theni (Tamil Nadu): Police on Monday said some of the protesters, who took part in the pro-Jallikattu agitation in Theni, belonged to ultra-left organisations such as the CPI(ML) and Revolutionary Youth Front of India. Police said many protesters did not have a proper answer when they were asked why were they continuing with the protest when an ordinance for conducting the bull-taming sport had been promulgated. When police started recording their statements, they found out that some of the protesters belonged to ultra-left outfits like the Puthia Jananayakam, CPI(ML) and Revolutionary Youth Front of India. They also recorded their statements regarding those who supplied microphones and other infrastructure facilities for organising the demonstration. Police asked them when genuine supporters of jallikattu were satisfied with the government action, why should they want to continue with the agitation and what was their real objective. They did not have a proper answer and soon afterwards, dispersed from the spot, police said. At Perambalur, the protesters dispersed on being requested by the police. Some of them even hugged the police personnel before leaving the protest venue. Police said even at Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, the protesters dispersed without arguing with the security men. South Indian actor Raghava Lawrence on Monday alleged that various outfits mingled with the student protesters at Marina beach and resorted to violence diverting attention from finding a permanent solution to the jallikattu issue. The actor, who has been supporting the cause led by the students since last week, said the protests had been held in a peaceful manner and turned 'sour' as a section of people started to raise slogans for "some other issues". "Everyone's wish in Tamil Nadu, including mine, is to conduct the sport (jallikattu). The students have been putting forth this demand and have been staging protests since last week as one single cause", he told reporters. Stating that the student community were raising slogans seeking a permanent solution for the issue, he said "suddenly some other outfits who were along with the crowd began raising slogans to issues that were unconnected." "Those people were imposing such issues along with our demand. The violence staged are not by students. That is for sure. It (violence) is done by some other outfits". The students were planning to end the stir after they received a copy of the Ordinance signed by the Governor, he said. Cops said anti-national elements, determined to cause some wreckage as attempts are made to clear the area for Republic Day arrangements, had crept into the area. Chennai: Jallikattu, the rural sport held as part of Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu, was held in several places across Tamil Nadu after a gap of three years. However, Alanganallur, the traditional venue hosting the event for decades, skipped it after protesters refused to vacate the village. Jallikattu was back in Tamil Nadu, courtesy an ordinance by the Tamil Nadu Government making a state-specific amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, but protests at the Marina Beach and elsewhere in the state continued for the seventh straight day with agitators refusing to budge from their stand demanding a permanent solution. The jallikattu held in Rapoosal village in Pudukkottai district claimed two lives as the government organised the event in a hurry and even failed to erect barricades at the venue where the event was held. Television visuals showed jallikattu being held without any proper barricading, which has been mandated in the ordinance promulgated on Saturday. In Madurai, 48-year-old Chandramohan, from Jaihindpuram, died due to dehydration after protesting for the past few days. Protesters asked to give 2 months time to Centre While a few villages in Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts held jallikattu events, protesters at Alanganallur refused to let authorities inside the village to make arrangements. In the evening, leading jallikattu campaigner Karthikeyan Sivasenapathy asked the protesters to postpone the agitation till March 31 this year so as to give two months time for the Union and State Governments to fulfil their promises. We respect and worship the agitation. But I think it would be good if the agitation is postponed for two months and revive it if the need arises if the governments do not keep up their word, he said. While a few villages in Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts held jallikattu events, protesters at Alanganallur refused to let authorities inside the village to make arrangements. Manjuvirattu (a variety of jallikattu) was held at Sevoor and Iruveli villages in Ramanathapuram village. The government also conducted a rekla race (bullock cart race) in Western districts of the state as part of governments efforts to renew the rural sports. Protesters in Alanganallur even went to the extent of squatting outside the vadi vaasal (the traditional entrance through which bulls enter the jallikattu track), forcing Chief Minister O Panneerselvam who was to inaugurate the event to return empty-handed. Protesters also refused to conduct jallikattu in Koilpatti village in neighbouring Dindigul district. Mr Panneerselvam reiterated that the ordinance once replaced with a law during the Assembly session beginning Monday will be the permanent solution for jallikattu and declared, Nobody on Earth can stop jallikattu from happening in Tamil Nadu. At the Marina Beach, the epicenter of the protest which began on Tuesday, protesters continued their agitation, but differences cropped up between them with the original authors of the agitation expressing helplessness saying fringe elements are trying to dictate the agenda. Chennai: The showdown between the Naam Tamizhar Katchi members and the rest of the jallikattu congregation at the VOC stadium ground in Tirunelveli on Saturday and the expression of distress by the original jallikattu campaign authors on Sunday night at a press conference in Chennai over being pushed aside by extreme elements, have turned the amber light on the mass protests that have been sweeping Tamil Nadu over the issue. The NTK speakers at the Tirunelveli rally had raised slogans for a separate Tamil nation and called for boycott of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. Rather than salute the national flag, they must wear black badges as a show of mourning, they told the congregation. A large group of students, who were the initial organisers of the protest rally, stood up and objected. Upon this, their mike was snatched away by the NTK functionaries NTK had made arrangements for the mike and speakers, besides the shamiana, food and water and more separatist slogans were raised. The students then left the shamiana and began fasting at a separate place in the VOC ground, braving the rain. Some people tried to bring peace between the two groups but the students were unrelenting, insisting that anti-national and separatist slogans should not figure in a jallikattu campaign. The students turned down NTKs food packets and water, and brought water in pots from nearby houses. A fourth-year engineering student Nanda was hospitalised after he swooned due to dehydration, eyewitnesses said. Madurai Jallikattu Peravai leader Rajasekaran, leading campaigner Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, hip hop Tamizha Adhi and Veera Vilayatu Kazhagam leader Rajesh called for an emergency press meet at the Chennai Press Club at 6 pm Sunday and shifted the time to 8 pm and then to 9 pm due to extreme pressure from the new leaders at the Marina who launched an all-out attack on social media on the four men branding them as collaborators in a fascist plot by the Centre and the state government to break the jallikattu campaign. An extract from one such WhatsApp reads: .The struggle that started for jallikattu now has gained enough momentum to rebel against fascist nationalism under the Modi govt., against Hindutva Brahminism and against global imperialism, demanding an end to the suffering of people in every corner And that clearly means that the bulls are galloping way beyond the jallikattu track, say worried state officials, pointing out that the goal-post was being shifted quickly starting with the demand for ordinance to run the bulls, to permanent legislation for unhindered jallikattu, to Cauvery, to Katchatheevu and Eelam. Indications are clear that a few fringe groups have taken charge, cleverly manipulating the emotions of the masses, particularly the young people. The students who stood up against the NTK anti-nationals in Tirunelveli are real heroes; its a pity that many educated and intelligent youth are refusing to see the danger in following these extreme elements, lamented a senior police officer. NTK chief Seeman told Deccan Chronicle that he was proud of the students movement and the protest is one of the biggest revolutions that the Tamil race has ever seen. I have been talking about these issues for the past 7 years and am proud that I sowed the seeds for the protest. If you blame me for this, I am happy to take the blame, Mr Seeman said. A Saravanan of Makkal Kalai Ilakiya Kazhagam, which has also been involved in the protests, said the protest was not just limited to jallikattu but to protect the Tamil culture and identity. Mr Saravanan also said there was no need for instigating the students as they are very clear on what they want. We have just been helping them by giving water and other things, he said. May 17 Movements Praveen also spoke in the same vein, saying the Tamil Nadu Government was misleading by saying that the Ordinance was enough. However, hip-hop Adhi said there were incidents of disrespecting the national flag like trampling it and those people had no connection with the jallikattu protest. Why should the national flag be insulted in this protest? he asked. A political analyst, who did not want to be quoted, asked the students to get back home since their academics was also important. Why are these fringe elements holding the students back? Students studies is also important and they should let them get back home and colleges, he said. Chennai: After early morning crackdown by police on pro-Jallikattu supporters at Chennais Marina beach, DMK staged a walkout as soon as the Tamil Nadu Governor began his address in the state Assembly on Monday. DMK Working President MK Stalin criticised the police action on protesters at Marina beach demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu and a permanent solution for holding it. Also read: Jallikattu protesters threaten suicide as police begin forceful eviction "It is condemnable that instead of holding talks with peaceful protesters, it has been attempted to end protests using police with an authoritarian mindset," Stalin, opposition leader in the state assembly, said in a statement. He also dubbed the action as "anti-democratic." Also read: Nobody on Earth can stop Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu: O Pannerselvam Police started removing scores of protesters who were demonstrating at the Marina beach. Police baton-charged protesters and used tear-gas as protesters refused to budge. The action comes on a day when the state Assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary Governor's address. The protesters, mostly students and youth, had dubbed the ordinance, promulgated on Saturday, as a temporary measure and sought a 'permanent solution' for conduct of Jallikattu. Also read: Protesters also turn blood donors in Salem Protesters at Marina Beach sang the national anthem as they tried to defy attempts to remove them from the site. Chennai: The week-long pro-Jallikattu protest at Chennais Marina Beach turned violent on Monday after early morning crackdown by the police on scores of protesters, demanding a permanent solution for holding of the bull taming sport. Police restored to baton-charge and fired tear gas to forcefully disperse demonstrators. The police action at Marina Beach led to clashes and violent protesters pelted stones at Ice House police station and set the police station and several vehicles on fire. Following an advisory, the crackdown comes on a day when the state Assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary Governor's address. Also read: 3 die as Jallikattu restarts in Tamil Nadu DMK staged a walkout as soon as the Tamil Nadu Governor began his address in the state Assembly on Monday. DMK Working President MK Stalin criticised the police action on protesters at Marina beach demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu and a permanent solution for holding it. "It is condemnable that instead of holding talks with peaceful protesters, it has been attempted to end protests using police with an authoritarian mindset," Stalin, opposition leader in the state assembly, said in a statement. He also dubbed the action as "anti-democratic." A large posse of cops was deployed at Marina. The protesters, mostly students and youth, had not bought the government decision to issue an ordinance for holding Jallikattu, which was done on Saturday, and the bull taming sport held in some parts of the state. They had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure the sport was held annually without any hindrance. Also read: Jallikattu: DMK boycotts Assembly, terms police action anti-democratic Some protesters lined up at the seashore forming a human chain and a group entered the water refusing to heed police requests to disperse. Some others staged a sit-in on the sands while others regrouped in nearby areas, shouting slogans and allegedly throwing stones on policemen. Police burst teargas shells and reportedly baton-charged to chase away a section of protesters who had regrouped at Triplicane near Marina beach and allegedly started throwing stones at police personnel. TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing protesters from the beach. Senior police officials could not be reached. The protesters criticised the police crackdown at the beach. The police action, however, came following an early morning 'advisory' asking the agitators to end their 'disciplined and peaceful' protest as their "purpose has been fully achieve." The advisory, released to the media, said that tens of thousands of youth, students and general public had been protesting in Marina since January 17 urging to lift the ban on the conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and that it had been "staged in a disciplined and peaceful manner without causing inconvenience to the general public and hindrance to the traffic." Also read: Nobody on Earth can stop Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu: O Pannerselvam "In fact the participants have been assisting the police throughout and have cooperated well in the maintenance of Law and Order and regulation of traffic. "The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken every initiative and has conducted Jallikattu yesterday at various places all over Tamil Nadu to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu," it said. Also read: Protests metaphorical fight for greater Tamil cause "Through an exemplary display of unity and discipline, the purpose of the protest has been fully achieved. Hence the participants are requested to leave the Marina in the same peaceful and disciplined manner and co-operate with the Chennai City Police," it said. Several protestors were also seen threatening the police, saying they will commit suicide at the beach if forcefully removed from the site. Also read: Jallikattu ban: Protests taking a different turn At Coimbatore, police forcibly evicted the protesters from VOC Park Grounds here where they were agitating for the last six days. As the appeal made by senior officials to clear the grounds failed, police in large numbers started to bodily lift the protestors and shift them out of the venue. Women police personnel were seen taking women agitators, some elderly and some with babies in their arms, out of the grounds, despite them appealing with folded hands not to disturb the peaceful agitation. 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 a human chain on the main Avanashi chain and police made a 'mild' cane charge to disperse them, police said. A section of protestors were raising slogans in support of their demand for a permanent act for conducting Jallikattu and against PETA and police, near the Central Jail, some 200 metres from the venue, prompting the police to take into custody nearly 300 people, they said. Police said they had cleared the ground, venue for the Republic Day function, and it is under control of the district administration and police. Protests are reportedly continuing in Madurai with demonstrators allegedly throwing stones at police in Alanganallur even as officials are trying to persuade the agitators to disperse. After the Governor's address to the Assembly today, the government is expected to move a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Chennai: The prime organisers behind the pro-jallikattu protests across the state on Sunday welcomed the ordinance promulgated by the state government with adequate safeguards to permanently hold jallikattu and asked the protesting students and youths to postpone the protest till March 31. Our request to the students and the youths is to postpone the protest till March 31. We request them with folded hands to the youths, women and children who were responsible for the unprecedented peaceful movement in the world to postpone it, one of the organisers of the ongoing mass uprising Karthikeya Sivasenapathi, managing Trustee of Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, told reporters here. If the ban was not permanently lifted, we shall protest again, he said while appealing to the protesters. He attributed the success of the movement to the youths, students, women and children who came out in large numbers in favour of jallikattu. Campaigners to file complaint against NGO However, Hip-Hop Tamizha, Adhi, who has composed a Tamil track in support of jallikattu, expressed anxiety over a few elements with an agenda trying to hijack the mass movement. These anti social elements are coming out with religious and anti national demands. We dont want youth and students community to fall prey for it. After all, their parents have brought them up well and have great dreams for them, he said, explaining the reason for his video message posted in the social media to distance himself from the ongoing protest earlier in the day. Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has given a 500 per cent guarantee that nobody could dislodge this ordinance. It will be placed before the Assembly and enacted as a law tomorrow, Rajesh, president of Veera Vilayatu Mitpu Kazhagam said. When asked what if the PETA moves the court against the new ordinance or law, he said that last time too the Supreme Court scrapped the 2009 state act to regulate jallikattu following the affidavit filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India. This time it will not happen. Environment ministry has changed the AWBI chief and he will not file a petition against jallikattu. We were given such an assurance, he said. On the demand seeking ban on the PETA, Mr Sivasenapathi said he, along with other organisers, met union minister of state for Home affairs along with MoS Pon Radhakrishnan to urge him take action on the international NGO under the FRA act for using funds from foreign countries to eradicate the native cattle breeds in the country. The minister has asked us to give a complaint against the NGO. We will follow it up, he said. Allaying the fears of the pro jallikattu protesters, K. R. Ambalatharasu of Jallikattu Protection Movement said that the ordinance promulgated by the state government would permanently help hold the jallikattu as it was drafted without any loopholes as per the Constitutional provisions. Prime Minister advised the state to issue the ordinance since the President had expressed his views against the Centre often taking ordinance route for legislation, he said. P. Rajasekar of Jallikattu Padukappu Peravai demanded that the state government extend financial support to build double barricades in the villages as part of the safety measures to hold the bull taming sport. This time it will not happen. Environment ministry has changed the AWBI chief and he will not file a petition against jallikattu. We were given such an assurance, he said. Prime Minister advised the state to issue the ordinance since the President had expressed his views against the Centre often taking ordinance route for legislation, he said. Youngstres and Students during the protest to Lift ban on jallikattu and impose ban on PETA, at Kamarajar Salai, Marina Beach in Chennai. (Photo: PTI) Bhopal: Amidst a growing call for the ban on the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) by the people of Tamil Nadu for opposing Jallikattu, Environment Minister Anil Dave on Saturday said it is mulling to consider on the same. When asked whether the Centre will ban the animal rights organisation after the people of Tamil Nadu hold them accountable for the ban, Dave said, "PETA is an NGO, funded by foreign countries. They always rake up these issues. We will see as to what can be done." Dave further hoped that the bull-taming sport will be conducted in a peaceful manner after the ordinance was cleared by Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar. "The permission has been given. And Jallikattu should be conducted within the parameters of law. It should be done peacefully, which I believe will happen," he said. The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kahagaham (AIADMK) has been demanding a ban on PETA with its general secretary Sasikala Natrajan leading the chorus. The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) also dubbed the animal advocacy group as "anti-national" and said it's working against Tamil culture. He sought a ban on the NGO which has been stridently opposing the bull-taming festival Jallikattu. The Ordinance allowing Jallikattu to take place was brought in by the Tamil Nadu Government after four days of protests. It received the Governor's approval today. The traditional and popular bull-taming sport will be held in three places in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district on Sunday morning. The ordinance was promulgated to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Vehicle burn outside the Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Chennai: Protests against Jallikattu ban in Marina beach took a violent turn on Monday afternoon, when protesters set a police station on fire. Supporters of the bull-taming sport set afire the Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach in Chennai. Vehicles were also set on fire and photos showed charred remains of two-wheelers lying outside the station. Chennai Police had to step in and disperse the protesters. Injured protestors have been rushed to hospital for treatment. Despite assurances from the Tamil Nadu Government to legalise Jallikattu, the crowd refused to end their protest which entered its seventh day today. Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam appealed to the people to withdraw their protest, saying that amendment bill will be introduced and passed in the state assembly. The Supreme Court had earlier on Friday agreed not to deliver its verdict next week after the Centre pointed out that a decision could create a law and order problem. Last year, the Centre allowed the sport, but that decision has been challenged in court." Hassan: Since, an on field inspection by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Bengaluru, earlier this month, to assess the number of trees felled in the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water project areas of Sakleshpur in Hassan failed to get them a clear picture, the ministry has now asked the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehra Dun to assist them in the tree count. The MoEF has asked FSI officials to get them high resolution imageries on the standing trees of 2015 and 2016 in the Yettinahole project area in Sakleshpur so that they could compare these with the existing situation on the ground at the project areas. Chief Conservator of Forests, MoEF, Arvind Kanpade told Deccan Chronicle on Sunday that he has written a letter to FSI on January 6 asking them to get high resolution imageries of the trees which stood in the area before civil works on the Yettinahole project commenced. Once, the imageries are available, they would be compared with the current situation on the ground to get a count of trees felled at the project sites. The spot inspection by the MoEF was taken-up on the direction of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, after the petitioner K.N. Somashekar drew the attention of the Tribunal to the fact that excess trees in Sakleshpur, a biodiversity hot spot in Western Ghats, were felled to make way for the civil works carried out under Yettinahole project. In 1917, a small group of Wisconsinites gathered at the Madison home of University of Wisconsin-Madison Physics Professor Earle Terry to witness the launch of public broadcasting in the state. There was no fanfare; there were no crowds, just a small group of scientists and students who were committed to using new technologies to enhance life across the state a commitment that remains at the heart of everything Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) do to this day. By all accounts, were the oldest public radio station in the nation and one of the oldest continuously broadcasting radio stations of any kind in the country were even older than the BBC, noted Mike Crane, director of WPR. When Terry demonstrated voice and music broadcasting in 1917, he was really introducing a significant change in how the world would share information and connect, and it continues to be life changing to this day. The history of public broadcasting in the state is really two stories: one of technological innovation and one of program innovation. While UW professors and students were developing the transmitters that would make radio possible crafting fragile vacuum tubes by hand in the lab educators at the recently established University of Wisconsin-Extension Division were wondering if the new technology could help the states mostly rural families improve their lot in life. When our founders decided what they should broadcast first with the new wireless technology, what did they choose? The two things that would benefit the most people in Wisconsin weather forecasts and crop prices, Crane said. Among many broadcast firsts, WPR was the first station in the nation public or private to offer regularly scheduled weather forecasts. Public service was really the foundation of those early innovations and it still drives everything we do on air, online and in communities across the state, he added. With the arrival of television in 1954, WPT embraced WPRs educational mission with original and award-winning childrens programs, even before the advent of PBS. There was a lot of important, early work here that people might not know about, noted Jon Miskowski, director of WPT. The Friendly Giant, which became our first national show in the 1950s, changed many families understanding of what television could do. In 1967, 50 years after the launch of Wisconsin public broadcasting, the U.S. Congress established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which created PBS and NPR a few years later. Both organizations turned to Wisconsin for direction. Over the years, as WPR and WPT built a statewide network of stations to ensure equal access to information and education, they also connected the state like never before. Whether its mobile apps and video on demand or podcasting and virtual reality, WPR and WPT continue to embrace new media technologies to ensure that their groundbreaking educational, cultural and news content will serve Wisconsinites for generations to come. WPR and WPT are celebrating 100 years of public broadcasting in Wisconsin with a series of special events around the state, special broadcast promotions, and a centennial microsite that includes an interactive timeline (with historic photos, audio and video) and a place where anyone can share their stories visit wpr.org/100 to learn more. New Delhi: On the 120th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted his valour, saying that he had played a major role in attaining independence for the country. "I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism," Modi tweeted. He said Netaji Bose was a great intellectual who always thought about the interests and well-being of the marginalised sections of society. On the occasion, Modi also highlighted that his government had declassified files on Bose. "Honoured that our government got the opportunity to declassify files relating to Netaji Bose & fulfil a popular demand pending for decades," he said in another tweet. Mumbai: A 59-year-old man was allegedly assaulted in a movie theatre in Mumbai for not standing up when the National Anthem tune was played on screen in a scene of Aamir Khan's film 'Dangal', police said on Monday. The incident took place at a theatre in suburban Goregaon on Wednesday evening, they said. The victim, Amalraj Dasan, was allegedly hit on his face by a person for not standing up while the National Anthem was being played in a scene during the screening of 'Dangal'. The particular scene pertained to depiction of winning of a gold medal by daughter of Mahavir Phogat (enacted by Aamir Khan). The accused, identified as Shirish Madhukar, has been booked under IPC section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to broke peace), police said adding that a probe into the matter is on. Madurai: Nobody on Earth can stop jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, said Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. He added the event in Aanganallur would be conducted as per the peoples wish on the day they want. Clarifying that the ordinance promulgated by the state government was a permanent one and it would be made as law when the Assembly meets on Monday, the Chief Minister Panneerselvam told reporters that the jallikattu held in various district in Tamil Nadu on Sunday with the district administration and police taking all safety measures in the venue. The bulls have run through Vadivasal (the entry point of bulls into the arena, he said. When asked how they would face the legal challenge from PETA, the CM said, Nobody on Earth can stop jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, Respecting the sentiments of Tamil people, the state government promulgated the ordinance after receiving consent from President of India, and Central ministries including Environment, Law and Animal Husbandry, the CM said before he left for the airport on Sunday. Earlier, Panneerselvam, who visited Madurai with the hope of inaugurating the event at Alanganallur, was stuck inside Pandian Hotel as the attempts of the officials to pacify the protesters didnt yield a positive result. Three of CMs secretaries - Vijayakumar, Ramalingam and Shiva Das Meena - and the district collector Veera Raghava Rao were present in the hotel. The Madurai district AIADMK MGR wing office bearers, who gathered outside the hotel, blamed the DMK and Congress for instigating the people against conducting jallikattu despite the AIADMK government promulgating an ordinance. Meanwhile, the police prevented the journalists from meeting the CM. Only after they held a protest in front of the hotel they were allowed to meet him. Vijayawada: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyans war using tweets is continuing. This time he targeted TD MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao. Transstroy, owned by Mr Sambasiva Rao, who is the Polavaram project contractor, is allegedly forcibly using 207 acres of wetlands as a dumping ground without the consent of the farmers. Pawan Kalyan took to Twitter to question why the state government wasnt looking into this issue, though it was reviewing the Polavaram construction works monthly. He also questioned why the state government was ignoring the plea of farmers to compensate them as their wetlands were becoming dumpyards. Was it because the farmers dont belong to their community, or was it uncomfortable for the contractor, he asked. The Jana Sena chief said the farmers at Polavaram had already incurred losses in different ways, and yet the state government was not considering their plight. Filing cases against the farmers with the support of the police was hardly a good move, he said. In a series of tweets, the actor-turned-politician said the state government to do justice to them at least from now on. Pawan Kalyan had expressed his scepticism over whether or not the government had taken permission for the capital city constructions at Amaravati from the National Green Tribunal. He said that as per the NGT stipulations, construction in land near the river basin was not practical. He said those who want the betterment of society should understand the agony of the farmers of Krishna lanka land. He said discriminating between farmers holding pattas and those on lanka land was not good. He also said that if constructions are not being planned, those lands should be left for farmers for farming. New Delhi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said the RSS must refrain from political violence in the state before campaigning against it at the national level. "If the RSS is campaigning against violent politics, they must also refrain from all sorts of violent politics. The government does not support any kind of violence. We are taking necessary steps to maintain peace in the state," he told a press meet here. Read: Kannur: 2 bombs hurled at building attached to CPI-M committee office Vijayan, who arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit, also trashed the BJPs threat to impose Presidents Rule in Kerala and said a lot had changed in the country since the state government was dismissed in 1959 by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. "Threats to impose Presidents Rule will not affect us. The state government was once dismissed in 1959. Since then, a lot has changed in the country. They (BJP) need to understand that," he said. Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who was in Kerala last week, had warned the CPI(M)-led LDF government in the state of "serious consequences" if it continued to "unleash political violence" on its rivals. The BJP will stage a day-long sit-in at Kerala House on Tuesday to protest the "violence" in the state. Asked about a recent alleged political murder in Kannur district, Vijayan said the government was mulling convening an all-party meeting to resolve the issue. "We had called an all-party meet earlier to ensure peace. We are planning to convene one such meeting again," he added. Earlier in the day, Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed Keralas ration issue and other pending projects with him. Hundreds of protesters continue with the stir seeking permanent solution to the issue in Salem. (Photo: DC) Salem: The pro-jallikattu protesters, who gathered near the district collectors office at Salem, did not stop with just slogan shouting. They also lent a helping hand for the post-delivery treatment of a woman, who was in need of blood at the government hospital here. As the protests entered into its fifth day with hundreds of youngsters staying put through day and night, demanding a permanent solution for jallikattu imbroglio, touching humanitarian scenes of played out at the venue on Sunday. Soundarya, 20, wife of Vijayan, 25, from Erode district had delivered a baby at the Erode Government hospital three days ago. As she suffered profuse bleeding, she was shifted to Salem Government hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, the doctors treating her were left in a dire situation, as the hospital did not have stock of her AB+ blood group. When the doctors asked her husband to arrange for blood, Vijayan rushed to the protest venue near the collectors office and made a fervent appeal on Saturday seeking donors. Immediately, a group of youngsters, with no second thoughts, came forward willingly to donate blood. On Sunday too, Vijayan, who was asked by the hospital to bring blood donors, visited the protest site, but stood there teary eyed for a while. On seeing his worried face, the protestors enquired and made an announcement over the mike seeking blood donors. Five persons then came around to donate blood. Moved by the humanitarian gesture of the protesters, Vijayan, who was seen with tears rolling down his eyes, expressed a heartfelt thanks to the crowd. Meanwhile, all trains on the Salem-Virudhachalam route were diverted as a group of youngsters continued to block the Karaikal-Bengaluru passenger train for the fourth consecutive day. Protestors supporting Jallikattu, a traditional bull-taming ritual try to hold on to each other as police try to remove them from the Marina beach. (Photo: AP) Chennai: After a day of arson and violence, the students who organised the protests against the ban on Jallikattu at Marina beach, said that the protests were over. Speaking for the students, Raghava Lawrence, a famous movie producer and choreographer, said, "Whoever is still sitting there is not a part of our movement. It is time to celebrate our success." Tamil celebrities like RJ Balaji, superstar Kamal Haasan and others had earlier appealed to students to discontinue the protests on Monday. Haasan had contended that by continuing the protests, students would risk the gains and goodwill of the last week Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Jallikattu bill. The bill was earlier was tabled in the assembly for approval. Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao on Saturday approved the ordinance issued by the state government revoking ban on Jallikattu. Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the ordinance promulgated by the state government and said that Jallikattu is to be conducted with customary fervour with all necessary safeguards. Former Attorney general Soli Sorabjee earlier in the day said that the Jallikattu bill will pose a serious constitutional challange. From the past one week, Chennai's Marina Beach has been thronged by massive crowds demanding to lift the ban of the traditional sport, and now seeking a permanent solution. Yesterday, protesters in Alanganallur did not allow Panneerselvam to inaugurate the Alanganallur jallikattu which was cancelled. Later talking to media persons, the Chief Minister said that even Rayagada: The newly built district headquarter hospital, it appeared, was inaugurated only to provide help to the mishap victims. The hospital was opened just about two months back on November 15. However, we could start the operation of the facility so far as the fire and electrical safety permissions are still awaited. Today we opened the hospital premise and started giving treatment, said additional district medical officer, Rayagada, Dr Siva Prasad. We heard about the mishap and decided to open the new building, considering that the old building would not be ideal to provide fast and smooth service," he said. The hospital, being one of the big ones on which thousands of people from surrounding areas depend, lacks an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We did not have ICU in the old building, but have given a proposal for having one in the new premises. I hope the government sanctions it," the doctor added. Local people said if the hospital has ICU facilities, precious lives could have been saved. Many people in the area are dying as they dont get timely treatment in the absence of an ICU, they said. Compensation is very low, say locals Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announ-ced `2 lakh as compensation for the kin of the deceased in the Hirakh-and express train derailment mishap at Kuneru area under Komarada mandal in Vizianagar-am district on Saturday night. Mr Prabhu landed in a helicopter at Kuneru ar-ea and inspected the accident spot along with Vizag MP Kambhampati Haribabu and a few others on Sunday evening. The Railway minister also announced Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for injured. However, the people who thronged the accident spot have alleged that poor track maintenance and lack of proper fittings have causes fracture on the track and led to the mishap. It is very sad the Railways has announced low compensation to the kin of the deceased, they added. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking postponement of Union Budget presentation ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in five states, saying there was no illustration that it would influence voters. A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar refused to admit the plea saying "there was not even a single concrete example that the presentation of Union Budget would influence the minds of electorate in state elections". The bench, also comprising Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, did not grant opportunity to lawyer M L Sharma, who had filed the PIL in personal capacity, to come back to it if the Centre violated the model code of conduct in itsbudget, to be presented on February one. Referring to constitutional provisions, the court said there are clear divisions of subjects, Union, State and concurrent, in the Constitution and the presentation of Union budget cannot be dependant on state polls "which keep happening." It was not impressed with the arguments that the Centre may announce sops for the voters of the states going for polls in the budget, saying "Your argument is absurd. This way you will say the party in power at Centre should not contest state polls". The bench did not agree with the submission that in the past, Centre had postponed presentation of budget due to assembly polls. The PIL has said the Centre be directed to present the Budget in the financial year 2017-18 which would commence from April 1, instead of the proposed February 1 date. It has also said the government be restrained from declaring "any relief, programme, financial budget until the states' elections are over" as they would violate the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission had on January 4 come out with the schedule of assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. The Centre has already decided to convene the Budget Session of Parliament from January 31 to present the Budget for 2017-18 fiscal the very next day. Chennai witnessed incidents of arson and stone-pelting by a section of protesters following police efforts to make them vacate the Marina beach. (Photo: AP) Chennai: A group of pro-Jallikattu supporters asserted that students had nothing to do with Monday's violent turn to the week-long protests for lifting the ban on the bull-taming sport. "The students had held the protests (for the past six days) in a very peaceful and organised manner, trying not to cause inconvenience to the general public," Rajesh, a senior functionary of a well-known pro-Jallikattu organisation, said. He was speaking to reporters after the city witnessed incidents of arson and stone-pelting by a section of protesters following police efforts to make them vacate the Marina beach, where thousands of volunteers, mainly students, had converged in support of the Jallikattu demand. "Those who were still continuing with the protests are not students," he claimed. Musician Adhi, who had yesterday announced backing out of the protests citing the presence of "anti-social" elements, insisted students had achieved victory and hence they should now go home. "A permanent solution has been achieved (with the Assembly passing a bill to replace the Jallikattu ordinance). Students should realise they have won. This victory is purely because of students. They should now go home," he said. Rajesh and Adhi insisted that students had no role in the violence. Speaking for the students, Raghava Lawrence, a famous movie producer and choreographer, said, "Whoever is still sitting there is not a part of our movement. It is time to celebrate our success." Tamil celebrities like RJ Balaji, superstar Kamal Haasan and others had earlier appealed to students to discontinue the protests on Monday. Haasan had contended that by continuing the protests, students would risk the gains and goodwill of the last week. Rajasekar, leader of another pro-Jallikattu group, said they had urged Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to ensure the release of arrested students and that no cases are filed against them. GRANTSBURG/CHIPPEWA FALLS Dale C. Dresel, 86, of Grantsburg and formerly of Chippewa Falls, passed away Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, at the Chippewa Manor Nursing Home. He was born Dec. 19, 1930, to Alfred and Ethel (Clark) Dresel in Chippewa Falls. After high school Dale married Janice L. Gebhard in October of 1949. Dale went into the excavating business with his father. They formed A.E. Dresel & Son Construction Co., later changing to Dresel Construction Co. Ltd. Dale was a founder and president of the Wisconsin Land Improvement Contractors Association, and the president of the Transportation Development Association. He was a member of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and the Wisconsin Earth-movers Association. Dale was also a member of the Masons-Lodge #176, the Zor Shrine, City Council of Grantsburg and the County Board of Burnett. He received two Excellence in Grading Awards from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the Rice Lake and Boyceville airports. Dale is survived by his children, David S. (Linda) of Chippewa Falls, Kathryn (David) Spurgeon of River Falls, and Steven; former wife, Janice of Chippewa Falls; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Janice Hasmuk; son Greg, in infancy; and his dog, Buddy. The funeral service will be at noon Saturday, Jan. 28, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 201 W. Central St., Chippewa Falls, with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at the church. The Rev. Robert Hoekstra will be officiating. Interment will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls. In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family requests memorials to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55414. The family would like to thank the Chippewa Manor Nursing Home, for all their kind and compassionate care given to Dale. Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, Chippewa Falls, is serving the family. Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences. Chennai: The much-awaited Jallikattu bill seeking to revoke Supreme Court's ban on the sport, was passed unanimously on Monday in a special session of Tamil Nadu state Assembly. Chief Minister O Panneerselvam tabled the bill, which would replace his governments ordinance on the popular bull-taming sport. Read: Jallikattu crackdown: Protesters attack police station, burn vehicles Replacing an ordinance promulgated two days ago to allow jallikattu, the Bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 was unanimously adopted by the House after members of all parties spoke welcoming the legislative initiative. The "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017" was piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and adopted by voice vote. It was deemed to have come into effect on the day the ordinance was issued, January 21, 2017. The government had promulgated the ordinance in a bid to defuse the raging protests across the state, especially at the Marina Beach, by students and others, demanding lifting of the ban on jallikattu. The Bill defines jallikattu as an event involving bulls conducted with a view to following tradition and culture from January to May and it includes similar events like 'manjuviratu', 'vadamadu' and 'erudhuvidum' festivals. It noted that the Supreme Court had held jallikattu as violative of the PCA Act (sections 3, 11, and 22). The Bill further said, considering the vital role of jallikattu in preserving and promoting tradition and culture among people and also in view of ensuring the survival and continuance of native breeds of bulls, the "Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt jallikattu from the provisions of the PCA Act". Paneerselvam explained the legal and factual background that necessitated the amendment bill. Leader of Opposition in Assembly M K Stalin was among those who spoke welcoming the Bill. Observing that a mass movement and "spontaneous outpouring of emotion" paved the way for lifting of the ban on Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao had assured that the bill to replace the ordinance would be "placed" by the state government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly "immediately." "The unprecedented and spontaneous outpouring of emotion and sentiment in a completely orderly and peaceful manner by lakhs of youth, supported by common people across the state, has received the solidarity of Tamil people across the globe to conduct Jallikatu and preserve Tamil cultural heritage," he had said. In his maiden address to the Assembly in its first session this calendar year, Rao said, "This mass movement has paved the way for lifting the ban on Jallikattu." "Considering the situation, the bill will be moved when the House meets at 5 pm today," Assembly Speaker P Dhanpal told reporters in Chennai. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Business Advisory Council which decides on the agenda and duration of a particular session of the state Assembly. The state government, after receiving Centre's assurance on its support for efforts to conduct the sport, had followed the constitutional route and issued an ordinance amending the relevant provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Vidyasagar Rao said. He expressed happiness over the sport being held on Sunday in the state. The traditional sport, which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014, was organised in several parts of the state yesterday, following promulgation of the ordinance on Saturday for conducting the bull taming sport. "As a permanent measure to allow the conduct of Jallikattu, a bill to replace the ordinance will be placed before this august House immediately," the governor said, as the DMK staged a walkout. Soon after Rao started his address, DMK members led by their leader MK Stalin rose and sought to raise some issue. With the Governor continuing to read out his address, they soon staged a walkout. The assembly is meeting for the first time after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death on December 5, 2016. New Delhi: Accusing the Modi government of "abject failure" on railway safety, Congress today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell the people, who is responsible for the deaths in railway accidents and cited his own speeches on accountability. "Modi ji has made many speeches about Accountability. Who is accountable for the increase in Railway Deaths, Modi ji? We demand that for all these accidents, we want to ask the Prime Minister, who is responsible & what action will be taken?," Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said. "The Indian National Congress would like to ask the Modi Government as to who is accountable for this continuous loss of innocent lives. Is there a deliberate neglect of duties which is resulting in these mishaps? It is high time someone took responsibility for the present mess," he said. The Congress spokesperson said the rail accident due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express is the third major train accident in the past two months, resulting in the death of 40 innocent lives and it is the fifth such accident in the past six months. He said even as the probe report of previous Patna-bound Indore-Rajendranagar Express derailment that took place two months back in which at least 146 people lost their lives is awaited, the Government has been again caught unaware to deal with a similar accident in Andhra Pradesh. Congress also put out an article on its website entitled, "BJP has compromised Railways security, to meet its own PR goals" that said, "An image obsessed BJP Government has cultivated a host of Ministers who are more concerned with looking good rather than actually serving people." The article also said, "The question to be asked is what compromises on safety are being made so that Shri Prabhu can meet his financial targets, and help in building the image of the Modi Government." Kumar alleged that the Narendra Modi Government has "failed" on all fronts and the abject Railway Safety record is a good barometer of this Government's record. "While changing the colours of the bedsheets, surge pricing and Wifi at stations could be cosmetic ideas, the Modi Government has miserably failed on the core issue of ensuring the safety and security of the crores of passengers who travel by train in the length and breadth of this country," he said. "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is quick to advertise the so called 'Bullet Train' which he is supposedly bringing to India since the last 32 months, but remains a mute spectator and maintains a stoic silence on the loss of lives due to abject negligence on the part of his Government. Policemen detain students who were holding a protest demanding a permanent solution for holding the Jallikattu, in Coimbatore. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: Monday morning, the week-long peaceful protest held by thousands of youth at Chennais Marina beach in support of Jallikattu, took an ugly turn amid reports of stone-pelting and baton-charge. The Chennai police carried a swift crackdown and started evicting the sea of protesters and parts of the city started resembling a battle-ground, with vehicles set afire and smoke from the burning vehicles filled the air. Despite promulgation of an ordinance on Saturday for conducting the bull-taming sport, they had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure that the sport is held annually without any hindrance. Read: 3 die as Jallikattu restarts in Tamil Nadu Even early Monday morning, protesters refused to leave from the beach and some even threatened to coming suicide if they were forcefully removed from the site. With the youth resolute on carrying on their protests, heated clashes ensued between police personnel and protesters. Some protesters lined up at the seashore forming a human chain and a group entered the water refusing to heed police requests to disperse. Some others staged a sit-in on the sands while others regrouped in nearby areas, shouting slogans and allegedly throwing stones on policemen. Also read: Jallikattu: DMK boycotts Assembly, terms police action anti-democratic The Ice house police station located near Marina was set on fire and charred vehicles, burnt out police cars lay in front of the building after fire-fighters put out the flames. A helicopter was sent in by the government to monitor the escalating situation on the ground. All routes leading to Marina Beach had been closed, and barricades were put up by the police to prevent people from assembling there. Clashes also erupted in other parts of Tamil Nadu, like Madurai, where police were seen dragging pro-Jallikattu protesters away from the demonstration site. At Coimbatore, police forcibly evicted the protesters from VOC Park Grounds here where they were agitating for the last six days. In a bid to calm the situation, the Tamil Nadu government announced that the much-expected bill to replace its Jallikattu ordinance will be tabled in the state assembly on Monday evening. The news was announced by Speaker P Dhanapal who said "considering the situation, the bill will be moved when the House meets at 5 pm today." The decision was taken at a meeting of the Business Advisory Council which decides on the agenda and duration of a particular session of the state assembly. Chennai: Chaos and violence ruled the streets of Chennai as well as other places in Tamil Nadu, as police cleared jallikattu protesters who refused to budge leading to high drama on the sands of the Marina. While some protesters threatened to enter the sea, anti-social elements seemed to take over the scene to unleash large-scale violence in the area, burning police vehicles, ransacking a police station and throwing petrol bombs. 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 police fought pitched battles with mobs in the by-lanes leading to the Marina Beach even as fishermen seemed to have helped the protesters in challenging the police. Across the state, police began swooping on the agitators from 6.30 am after their requests to call off the protest went unheeded. In some places like Tirunelveli, protesters called off the agitation on their own, but at venues like Marina Beach, VOC Grounds in Coimbatore and Tamukkam Grounds in Madurai, police had to use force. At least 130 people, including 100 policemen, were injured in Chennai city with the police claiming 35 of their colleagues had suffered serious injuries. In most places, especially at the Marina Beach, police dealt with protesters without lathis. Several hundred private vehicles and police vans were burnt in Chennai. Protesters also torched the seized vehicles parked at Ice House police station. The mangled remains of Hirakhand Express which met with an accident near Kuneru station in Vizianagaram, Andra Pradesh. (Photo: PTI) Kuneru: The National Investigation Agency visited the Hirakhand Express mishap site here on Monday and quizzed railway engineers to explore all angles, including sabotage. The CID and a forensic team from Andhra Pradesh have also started a probe The NIA asked the railway engineer about how the train derailed and whether they had found the 25-cm piece of rail mising after derailment. The National Investigation Agency team said if the track got fractured when the train ran over it, the broken piece would have been found near the spot. But, the section engineer said no fractured piece of track was found. The fracture was seen on rails over which the train did not pass. triggering doubts. The engineer could not explain the precise reason for the fracture on the other bar. The section engineer told it could be due to the weight of the train, hammering or other reasons. With the Railway suspecting sabotage they explored all angles to see if the derailment was a subversive act. The NIA is currently probing the role of ISI in the Indore-Patna mishap last year. A CID team will also probe all possible angles responsible for the mishap. The CID team also visited the spot to ascertain the reason behind the mishap. Though the team had doubts about the sabotage theory, they said they would look into it as the railways had suspected it. The versions of the locopilot and the railway authorities were a bit conflicting, the team said. The CID will form five teams to probe the incident. It will seek the help of an explosive detection team. We will look into all the physics and chemistry based theories behind rail track fractures, a member of the team said. In this clip of a video that has gone viral, a policeman is seen setting an autorickshaw on fire in Mylapore. Chennai: Chennai city police commissioner S. George on Monday said that the genuineness of the video telecast on a television channel which appears to show a policemen setting fire to an auto, will be probed. I have inputs about such videos doing rounds in social media. The Cyber Crime police will investigate to verify the genuineness of the video, the officer said. In the video, which has been shared widely on WhatsApp groups as well, showed a policeman throwing a clutch of burning newspapers into an auto rickshaw somewhere in Mylapore, not far from Marina beach, where the jallikattu protest was going on for a week. Experts feel the raw footage of the video should be handed over to the Tamil Nadu Government for an investigation. The footage needs to be ascertained whether it is genuine and unedited. Another question doing the rounds in police circles is about the intelligence gathering mechanism which had failed to foresee such a well-planned attack on policemen from the bylines of hamlets opposite the Marina beach. It appears the unruly crowd that attacked the police were ready with enough materials to attack the police while the police personnel were not even having helmets and lathis to begin with. The police personnel were asked to leave their lathis in a room in a college on Kamarajar Salai initially because senior government officials believed that there was no need for lathis when negotiating with youngsters protesting so peacefully, sources said. But such a belief was short-lived as an unruly mob started pelting stones and petrol bombs at the cops from hamlets across the road from the beach. The police personnel had to rush back to the college to collect their lathis to defend themselves. Protesters supporting jallikattu try to hold on to each other as police try to remove them from the Marina beach in Chennai on Monday. Protesters attacked a police station with stones and set some vehicles on fire on Monday in anger at being forcibly evicted from the beach where they been protesting for the past week in support of the sport. (Photo: AP) Chennai: Close on the heels of Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam tabling jallikattu legislation in the Assembly, prime organisers of the jallikattu protests reiterated that with the Assembly now passing the law and getting the Presidential assent, jallikattu bulls would run unhindered from now on. Jallikattu Peravai president Rajasekaran, hip hop musician Tamizha Adhi and Veera Vilayatu Peravai organiser Rajesh welcomed the Tamil Nadu Assembly passing the jallikattu law and asserted this was the permanent solution to the issue. They also asked the students and youngsters to call off their protest. Also read: Jallikattu is legal in Tamil Nadu The sober voices, who maintained that the Bill was unlikely to be challenged in a court of law, termed the jallikattu movement success and gave the entire credit to the students and youth who camped at Marina beach and elsewhere in the state for the past one week. We thank the ruling party and Opposition parties for unanimously passing the jallikattu Bill in such a short time. This is a historic day for us since jallikattu would be held unhindered from now. We salute the spirit of the students and youngsters who made this happen, a beaming Rajasekaran told reporters inside the secretariat complex. Also read: Alanganallur bulls will run on February 1 Rajasekaran was among the first to appeal to the students to call of their agitation on Sunday as he addressed a press conference along with Adhi and Karthikeyan Sivasena-pathy by asserting that the ordinance, which has now been replaced with a law, was the permanent solution that they have been demanding. He and Adhi had also disapproved anti-national slogans at the protest sites. Also read: Jallikattu protests: Video shows cop setting auto on fire, fuels anger online Caveats filed for Jallikattu Over 70 caveats have been filed on Monday in the Supreme Court to ensure that no order is passed by the court without hearing those who support jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. Union minister Maneka Gandhi, however, has clarified that her organisation has not filed any petition challenging the ordinance. On Saturday, the Tamil Nadu government issued an ordinance to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act so that bulls participating in Jallikattu do not come under the ambit of cruelty. Also read: Ill-equipped Chennai cops face rioters wrath On Monday the ordinance was passed into a Bill by the Assembly. The caveats were filed to protect the law. Meanwhile, advocate N. Rajaraman moved the court for a direction to the authorities to take preventive and prohibitive measures to prevent escalation of violence in the State. He said owing to arson, road roko and violence across Chennai and Tamilnadu people are under severe danger of life and limbs. He made a mention before the CJI J.S. Khehar for urgent listing but the CJI said there is no urgency. Lucknow: An exodus has begun from the Samajwadi Party with leaders belonging to the Mulayam faction opting for greener pastures after being denied tickets. The latest to join the bandwagon is Rakesh Varma, son of party MP Beni Prasad Varma, who has been replaced with UP minister Arvind Singh Gope on the Ramnagar seat in Barabanki. Mr Rakesh Varma will now be joining the BJP to contest from the same seat. Mr Beni Prasad Varma termed it as a battle between Ram and Ravan and said he would take the support of Ram to defeat Ravan. Another sitting MLA Vijay Misra resigned from the party on Monday and has threatened to expose the SP leaders. He will contest as an Independent. Former MP Shafiqur-Rehman Warq has also quit SP and joined the All India Muslim Ittehadul Muslimeen after his grandson Ziaur Rahman Barq was denied a ticket form Sambhal. Two days ago, former minister Ambica Chaudhary had joined the BSP and three other MLAs Rampal Yadav, Ashish Yadav and Ramvir Singh also quit the SP to join the Lok Dal. If seniors are treated shabbily by the new leadership, people will obviously move out of the party and by the time the new leaders realise their mistake, it will be too late, said Ms Chaudhary. National SP chief and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has also held back tickets to sacked ministers Shadab Fatima and Narad Rai and both are expected to join the BSP soon. Two other SP MLAs Guddu Sharma and Mukesh Sharma have joined the RLD after being denied tickets, while SP MLA Kuldeep Sengar has already managed a ticket for himself from the BJP. Mr Akhilesh Yadav has left no choice for us. It is allowing personal vendetta to guide his decisions. We have been with the Samajwadi Party since its inception and now we are being targeted because we are loyal to Mr Mulayam Yadav, said one of the disgruntled legislators. Sources said, about 50 members from Mr Mulayam Singh Yadavs list met the him after they were denied tickets by the Mr Akhilesh. Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed his helplessness on the issue. He is said to be deeply upset at the fact that seniors are being driven out of the party because they are loyal to me. Meanwhile, the SP will now cancel the tickets of about 42 candidates after the alliance with the Congress. State president Naresh Uttam said on Monday that a fresh list will now be issued in view of seat adjustment with the Congress. Sources said that those whose tickets are being cancelled will either contest as rebel candidates or hitch on to another party. This exodus could prove detrimental to the partys interests since leaders who walk out will also take their supporters and local workers with them. Vijayawada: Political circles are full of animated discussions on the chief minister N Chandrababu Naidus Davos tour. Opposition parties decry the state governments spending of more than Rs 10 crores for the tour, which they dismiss as just a publicity stunt, since not even a single MoU will be signed. On the social media platform, it is being circulated that the World Economic Forum meet hadnt listed the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidus name among the speakers. It also mentioned that the state government had purchased a pavilion at the meet, and put up a vernacular show. Communication Advisor Parakala Prabhakar had dismissed all these allegations saying the Forum was a rare opportunity to meet all the bigwigs of the industrial world, for which they had received an official invitation from WEF. It was hoped that this would yield fruitful results in future, as the tour had been successfully completed by promoting the Sunrise AP brand. APCC Vice President and former speaker Nadendla Manohar demanded that the chief minister present a white paper to clear the allegations and doubts among the public about the 5- day Davos tour. He also questioned the establishment of Gherzi textile mega park, worth Rs 2,000 crore, announced at the 2016 Davos tour. On this 2017 Davos tour, it has been announced that Stadler, a Swiss rail car manufacturer, was going to establish a unit at Vizag, but this has been denied by Stadler that said that Vizag is a possible location which had been evaluated. (An article had been published on the same in DC.) Mr Manohar also said APCC is demanding an explanation on how many employment opportunities had been provided and how much investments had been brought to the state with the expenditure of Rs 40 crore spent on CII Summit, 2016, and Rs 8 crore on the Davos tour, 2017. YSRC MLA G Srikanth Reddy said the Davos tour is just a publicity stunt by the Chief Minister, and criticised him for spending his time in places for his personal purposes, rather than concentrating on public issues, stating that he is branding for the state to attract foreign investments to the state. Mr Parakala Prabhakar, issued an official press release stating the news circulating in some quarters that the chief minister was not a special invitee to the WEF and that his name did not figure in the list of speakers, was patently false and amounted to false propaganda. Mumbai: More than 50 children who were left orphan after their farmer parents committed suicide due to the agrarian distress have been touring the length and breadth of Maharashtra at present, appealing the people not to take the drastic step. These children are inmates of `Adhartirth Ashram', set up by Trimbakrao Gaikwad at Tupadevi in Trimbakeshwar tehsil of Nashik district. The children have travelled through 12 districts and 47 tehsils and urged the farmers not to commit suicide and spare their children the agony of becoming orphans, Gaikwad said. "At present 283 children from across the state are living in the Ashram, while 1,477 children are on waiting list for admission," said Gaikwad, who set up the institution in 2007. "We picked up children from families where nobody was ready to take care of them after the father committed suicide. Sometimes Sarpanchs brought children to our Ashram as even close relatives were not ready to take care of them. Even the district collectors approached us in some cases and handed charge of such children," he added. According to Gaikwad, most of these children are from open category communities, and they don't get facilities like free education or admission at government-funded residential ashram schools which those from SC/ ST communities can avail of. "We do not get any grant from the government. We depend on farmers and people living near the Ashram. They donate rice, clothes, food left at marriage functions, etc. But it is not enough and children hardly get two square meals," he said. The Ashram had approached the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan during the Congress-NCP rule seeking permission to convert the Ashram into a residential school. "Chief Minister (Devendra) Fadnavis has given a special approval for ashram (residential) school but the actual government resolution is yet to be published," he said. Not everyone touring the Vanville apartments in Bloomer are looking for a place to live. Some are reliving part of their childhood. So far the apartment tours of the former Bloomer Middle School on Newman Street have captured the attention of members of the schools Class of 1949, along with the Class of 1954 and a group of women from the Class of 1966. That is an indication of the buildings many uses. At times during its existence, the school building also housed the citys public library, fire station and police station, along with the middle school and high school. The school building is being developed by Andrew Martin and his cousin, Eric Klein. They have had lots of success attracting interested renters to apartments on the second and third floor of the former school building. Yesterday I had 11 school tours. Of that, we had probably 50 people, Martin said Thursday. Another six tours scheduled for that day alone and an additional four on Friday. It feels like the interest is strong, he said of the approximately 20,000 square feet set aside for apartments in the building that dates to 1921. The development is being done by Martin and his cousin, Eric Klein. Once fully completed, prospective tenants will be able to chose from 20 apartments, including eight studio apartments, four one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom apartments. One of the apartments will be designed to be barrier free and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The studio apartments have close to 600 square feet, the one-bedroom ones will have 700-800 square feet and the two-bedroom apartments will have from 1,000-1,100 square feet. The Newman Street location is a plus. It is within easy walking distance from a bank, City Hall, the Main Street Cafe, a city park and a grocery store. Developing an old school business, however, has not been easy for Martin and Klein. Especially for a building that came very close to being demolished in 2002. Starting out My cousin and I have been building our experience with old buildings, said Martin, who operates New to You Properties based in Eau Claire. They remodeled the former Diamond Lounge bar building, which had been constructed in 1895. The Fire House bar settled into the building at 202 Gibson Street in Eau Claire, along with apartments. Martin and Klein sold the building in 2012. The next year, the men developed the former Knights of Pythias building in downtown of Menomonie that dates back to 1925. The renovated first floor houses an antique store, Martin said. As for the old Middle School building in Bloomer, it went unsold for years after the school district moved into a new middle school on Jackson Street. The school district came close to hiring a Medford firm for $104,000 to tear down the building in 2002, but instead decided to sell it to a couple for $5,001. The deal included the Wally Mohrman Memorial Gymnasium, where the late teachers brainchild, the speed rope jump contest, was held for several years. Most recently the building was home to the Badger Hole Tavern. With the change of building ownership, Martin and Klein now have a liquor license they may use in the future. Getting ready Preparing an old building for a new use takes a lot of work. New water lines had to be installed. So did new sewer lines, because the old ones were clogged with tree roots. Electrical work was needed to bring the building up to todays codes, along with updated heating and ventilation. The mothers of Martin and Klein have helped out several times with the numerous tasks at hand. Its been stressful and it has definitely pushed us to the limit, Martin said. But the end of all that work is within sight. Were only a couple of weeks out, he said. A state inspector looked at the building Jan. 18 and will return sometime before Feb. 1. Cleaning and the final painting is done, and the final coats of varnish need to go on some wood. The plumbers are done, The electrics are done, Martin said. So far, so good. When Martin and Klein first announced they were developing the former middle school in Bloomer, they drew skeptics wondering why people would want to live in Bloomer. Initially we got the reaction, Bloomer? Whos living in Bloomer? Martin said. But the advantages of living there continue to grow. We are happy with our investment. We are in the home stretch and we are grateful for that, he said. Hyderabad: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Sunday claimed that the BJP will taste another electoral defeat in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Mocking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the voters of Delhi and Bihar had already given "talaq" to the saffron party and it was going to get the same "message" for the third time from the voters of Uttar Pradesh. "They are opposing triple talaq. BJP has already been given talaq twice in the Delhi and Bihar polls. Modi is going to get the third one from the people of Uttar Pradesh in the ensuing Assembly election. And finally, they will be ousted by the people in the 2019 general election," Yechury told a meeting organised by the Dalit Hakkula Sadhana Samiti in Hyderabad. He accused the Centre of "unleashing a financial emergency" in the name of demonetisation and claimed that the move was expected to have a bearing on the country's economic growth. Meanwhile, CPI general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said the NDA government did not take any step to arrest the likes of Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, while BJP leader Gali Janardhan Reddy was not arrested, in spite of spending a huge amount on his daughter's wedding after the currency ban. BR Ambedkar's grandson and former MP Prakash Ambedkar alleged that a major chunk of black money was deposited in the banks before November 8, the day PM Modi announced ban on 500 and 1,000-rupee notes. Lucknow/New Delhi: After days of Akhilesh Yadavs Hamletian dilemma and intense bargaining over seat-sharing, the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance finally came into being on Sunday. Of Uttar Pradeshs 403 Assembly berths, the SP will contest 298 seats and leave the remaining 105 for the Congress. The Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal, which would be fighting the polls alone, has already declared candidates for 35 seats in western UP. On Saturday, the alliance was tottering and it had nearly collapsed with the SP refusing to give the Congress more than 99 seats, and the latter sticking to its demand for over 140 seats. Things began to take shape after Congress president Sonia Gandhi intervened and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, one of whose daughters is married into the Mulayam Yadav clan, approached Akhilesh Yadav. All Congress heavyweights ranging from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad, as well as Akhilesh Yadavs close aide Abhishek Mishra, got into the act on Saturday night. Speculation was rife that Priyanka Gandhi personally spoke to Akhilesh Yadavs wife Dimple after both sides refused to relent. Pact to stop communal forces: SP After days of Akhilesh Yadavs Hamletian dilemma and intense bargaining over seat-sharing, the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance was finally struck on Sunday. Of Uttar Pradeshs 403 Assembly berths, the SP will contest 298 seats and leave the remaining 105 for the Congress. Ghulam Nabi Azad was also in constant touch with his Rajya Sabha colleague and Akhileshs uncle Ram Gopal Yadav. Sources also said Congress strategist Prashant Kishor also spoke to the UP Chief Minister and urged him to look at the bigger picture. Finally, the pact was sealed before Akhilesh Yadav released his partys manifesto on Sunday. In Lucknow, UP Congress president Raj Babbar and state Samajwadi chief Naresh Uttam announced at a joint press conference that the alliance was being forged in the larger interests of the nation and to stop divisive and communal forces from coming to power. The state SP chief appealed to party workers to support the candidates of the alliance and carry forward the development work. It is necessary to check communal forces from coming to power, he said. Raj Babbar said that the prevailing atmosphere in the country had made it imperative for like-minded parties to join hands. New Delhi: Despite their apparent bonhomie, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, with an eye on the 2019 general election, is trying hard to bring together all anti-Narendra Modi forces on a common platform. The Bihar Chief Minister, in a bid to project himself as the face of an anti-Modi platform, has decided to take the battle to Prime Minister Modis home turf Gujarat, tying up with Hardik Patels Patidar Navnirman Sena. Mr Kumar is due to address at least three rallies in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat in the third week of March just after the results of the crucial five-state Assembly elections are out. The two leaders have decided to take forward their cooperation at the national level too. Akhilesh Katiyar, a close associate of the Patel leader, has joined as national general secretary of the JD(U), a senior party leader said. Mr Katiyar, who was a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Patel Navnirman Sena (ABPNS), had organised Mr Nitish Kumars rally in Varanasi and adjoining areas in the past one year. Mr Katiyar has also been appointed the JD(U) in-charge in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Rajasthan. He was earlier general secretary of NDA ally Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, but was sacked from the party after he organised a meeting of Hardik Patel in Delhi. New Delhi: The Congress party, which had lauded Priyanka Gandhis role in cobbling together an alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, was on Monday evasive about the part she could play in the party in future. Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said Priyanka, who had hitherto limited herself to Amethi and Rae Bareli Parliamentary seats represented by her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia respectively, played an "active role" along with senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in putting together an alliance with Samajwadi Party. Kumar said Priyanka was following "instructions" from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, "who can assign a role to any party worker". "Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been active in the two Parliamentary seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli purely out of her choice and we respect that. As far as UP elections are concerned, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi requested Ghulam Nabi Azad ji and Priyanka ji for sewing the alliance of progressive, like- minded parties," he said when asked about the role she played in bringing about the tie-up in UP. When asked about the role she could play in the state in future, the Congress leader said, "The workers of the Congress party and everybody else are desirous of Priyanka Gandhi playing a larger role. And when that happens you will be duly informed." Party insiders said she was instrumental in bringing Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other leaders into the party fold ahead of the elections to five state assemblies. Facing a barrage of questions as to how she assumed such an important role despite not being an official of the party, the Congress spokesperson said, "The Congress vice president can ask any party worker to take an active role. Why should there be an issue of propriety?" "The Congress vice president can instruct, request anybody in the party for any work he deems fit. So he made a request to Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka ji for helping in sewing the entire alliance and that is what has happened." He said now a "wonderful" alliance was in place despite many not wanting so. There has been widespread speculation about Priyanka assuming a larger role in the party, particularly after her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi started not keeping well. New Delhi: Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over Congress-SP alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the BJP on Monday said the Congress vice-president needed such a tie-up to save his political career. "..this shows that Rahul Gandhi needs Akhilesh's cycle carrier to save his political career, while junior Yadav (UP CM Akhilesh Yadav) knows that his misrule of five years will haunt him in these elections," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters. His remarks came a day after SP and Congress decided to contest the UP Assembly elections together. The alliance, which at one stage looked doomed with both sides driving a hard bargain, was announced by the chiefs of the state units of the two parties who declared while SP will have the lion's share of 298 of 403 seats, Congress will contest the remaining 105. Patra also attacked the SP president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over alleged manhandling of two women in Tappal, Aligarh, a kilometre away from Yamuna Expressway. "..the Chief Minister was busy in politicking and stitching an alliance at the time when this gory incident was taking place. This shows lawlessness in the state and the way Akhilesh is ruining Uttar Pradesh," he said. The BJP leader 'mocked' that the Uttar Pradesh government had set a record of laying foundation stone and inaugurating the project on the same day. BJP, which had won 71 out of 80 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has been pulling out all stops to capture power in UP, which in terms of political implications is more important than all other poll-bound states of Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur. The saffron party has already announced 304 candidates for 403 member UP assembly. The seven-phase polls in the state will take place on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, March 4 and 8. Lucknow: Pressure cookers for women, 50 per cent concession in bus fares for women, smart phones and laptops for the youth, 1kg ghee and milk powder for children in primary schools and monthly pension for over 1 crore poor Samajwadi Party national president and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, on Sunday, adopted the Jayalalithaa pattern of politics and liberally announced sops for all sections of society in the party election manifesto. Releasing the manifesto, Mr Yadav said that the Samajwadis are way ahead of competition, and if there is any, it is from the Samajwadis themselves. Mr Yadav said that his government has already fulfilled all the promises that the party has made in 2012 and people have full faith in his words. In fact we even went beyond our manifesto and did even what we had not promised, he said, adding that his government, when it will return to power, would focus on balanced development between the rural and urban areas. He said that the expressways were designed to give an impetus to rural economy and he would construct more greenfield expressways. Lashing out at the BJP, Mr Yadav said the party had given slogans like Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas and achche din, but now had nothing to offer. I have seen achche din well as burre din but their achche din have not yet arrived. They have not gone beyond holding the broom and doing Yoga, he said. Terming the BSP a patthar ki sarkar, he said the stone elephants would get bigger if the BSP had its way. Some of the other promises made in the manifesto include subsidised midday meal for laborers, free ration and medical services for those earning less than Rs 1.5 lakh per year, old age homes for seniors and ambulances for animals. For the minorities, the CM has promised better educational and an atmosphere of religious freedom. After many ifs and buts, finally the Samajwadi Party and the Congress have entered into an alliance, agreeing to contest 298 Assembly seats, leaving 105 seats for the Congress. What looked like uncertain at numerous moments during last few days has finally been materialised. This was possible only after the intervention of the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and SPs new and undisputed boss and current chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Mrs Gandhi and Mr Akhilesh Yadav personally seemed to have intervened because this alliance was necessary to put up a strong contest against the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP was no less anxious about this alliance. A divided Opposition (if alliance had not materialised) would have certainly put the BJP ahead of all others in the electoral race in Uttar Pradesh. It would certainly have been the frontrunner; the single-largest party if not getting the requisite majority to form the government. The fate of BJP depends more on how other parties go into these elections rather than its own strength. This alliance seems to have changed the political fortunes of the political parties in UP. If the SP-Congress secular alliance clicks at the ground level, this could be a frontrunner in the forthcoming electoral contest in Uttar Pradesh, with strong possibility of the BJP emerging as the main Opposition party and the BSP at number three. This alliance would help in consolidating the votebank of the Congress and the SP, which could easily fetch winning numbers. The Yadavs, who have voted for the SP in large numbers in the past elections, will polarise more sharply in favour of this alliance keeping in mind the winnability factor. This alliance will now be perceived as a real challenger. Muslims would consolidate behind this alliance and vote in large numbers. This will also prevent splitting of the Muslims votes between the two. The Muslims, who constitute nearly 18 per cent of total voters will sharply polarise in favour of the SP-Congress alliance. The recognition of cycle as the symbol for the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP was the first assurance to them, but the alliance with the Congress would hardly leave any doubt among them about who is more suitably placed to defeat the BJP in the state. There are 73 Assembly constituencies where Muslims form more than 30 per cent of the total electorate while in another 70 Assembly constituencies, Muslims are between 20-30 per cent of total voters. In a three-way contest, party getting little over 30 per cent votes would emerge victorious. A sharply polarised Muslim vote in favour of the alliance can make a huge difference in these 140 Assembly constituencies. It is true that Congress has been out of power in the state for nearly 27 years and has not been able to perform well during various Lok Sabha elections held during this period, except for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Yet, it still commands roughly 10 per cent votes. It is reasonable to assume that those who have voted for the Congress in its worst times are the loyal supporters of the party. The alliance of the SP-Congress would help in transferring the votes of loyal Congress supporters to the SP. Studies indicate that parties find it easier to transfer the votes of their loyal supporters compared to their add-on voters. The SP may also be able to transfer votes of its loyal Yadav supporters to the Congress. So both the parties stand to gain from this alliance. This alliance of the SP and the Congress may also help in mobilising the non-Jatav dalit voters in its favour. Studies by CSDS have clearly indicated that the Jatavs still remains sharply polarised in favour of the BSP, but the recent elections have witnessed splitting of the non-Jatav dalit votes. They did vote for the BJP in sizeable numbers during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but there is a huge possibility of them voting for the SP-Congress alliance in forthcoming Assembly elections. After all, the shift amongst various communities of voters, including the non-Jatav dalits towards the BJP in 2014 was largely due to Narendra Modi and not that much for the party. Results of various Assembly elections held after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections have clearly indicated a movement of the dalits away from the BJP to state-based parties with Bihar being the latest example. There is no reason to believe why at least non-Jatav dalits will not vote for the alliance in sizeable numbers. Besides consolidating the non-Yadav, the other non-Kurmi OBC votes, which used to get divided between the SP and Congress, will also consolidate with coming together of these two parties. While there is a possibility of counter-polarisation in favour of the BJP since Muslims will vote in favour of the alliance, this counter-polarisation has its limits as various section of voters are already polarised Yadavs in favour of this alliance, dalits and Jatavs in particular with the BSP, Jats in favour of Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal. Clearly, there hardly remains any community sizeable enough to make a difference even if there is a counter-polarisation. Whether alliance or no alliance, the upper castes are already in favour of the BJP. They hardly have a choice. With recent statement by RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya on the issue of reservations, the BJP may not find easy to mobilise the OBC and the non-Jatav salits. With this alliance, the BJP has certainly been pushed on the backfoot and that too overnight. The Supreme Court has ruled that legally there is no bar on the Union government from presenting the annual Budget in Parliament on February 1. The PIL filed by a lawyer was dismissed paving the way for the government to go ahead with the Budget session that is set to begin on January 31 with the presentation of the Economic Survey and then the Union Budget the next day. The Election Commission, which has been approached by 16 parties in this issue, is yet to give its final word. The issue was always a moral one as five states are due to go to the polls from February 4, just three days after the Budget. In all fairness, it must be said the government may not have known what the election dates would be while fixing a date for the Budget. However, the rulers must have been aware that a tricky issue would crop up this year. There was a parallel to this in 2012 when BJP and other Opposition parties objected to the Budget date then and the UPA postponed it to March 16 that year from the traditional date of February 28, as the same five states were going to the polls then. It is apparent that the BJP was not inclined to pay heed to such niceties now. The argument that there will be no special announcements on the five states is specious because so much in the general Budget can influencing the vote, like corporate and personal taxation. There may be no legal bar to the Budget on February 1, which date may make sense from the bureaucracys point of view, but it is apparent that the ruling dispensation is not unduly worried about the moral aspects of the Budget date. The visit of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, to India as the chief guest at our Republic Day marks the culmination of an extraordinary engagement that India has had with the countries of the Gulf at the level of our Prime Minister. Since June 2015, he has visited the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar, and hosted the Abu Dhabi crown prince in February last year. Perhaps, no other geographical space has received this kind of concentrated attention from India. This interaction with the Gulf is a tribute to Indias historic links with the region that go back to the days of our Indus Valley civilisation, and recognises the substantial energy and economic ties we have at present, the presence of our eight million-strong community in the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the logistical connectivities we are pursuing through Chabahar port in Iran with Afghanistan, the Central Asian Republics and, via Russia, with west Europe. India and the UAE are natural business partners: While India is a global economic powerhouse, the UAE has a diversified economy and is a global centre for trade, logistical connections, tourism and finance. It is also the major supplier of oil to India, is an important trade partner and the premier destination for Indias exports a large part of which is re-exported across South and West Asia, and east and southern Africa. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the UAE in 2015 has prepared the ground for the shaping of new economic ties that would be relevant to contemporary times, such as cooperation in the frontier areas of technology, including telecommunications, renewable energy, space, desert ecology, advanced healthcare, food security and sustainable development. The UAE has also set up a fund of $75 billion to invest in the development of Indias infrastructure. The centrepiece of the visit of the crown prince of Abu Dhabi will be the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that will take bilateral ties to a new level of mutual trust and confidence and facilitate the shaping of a new Indian role in the Gulf region. The UAE is again the appropriate partner for India in this endeavour. Indias 5,000-year engagement with the people of the Gulf has shaped a shared cultural ethos and has provided a high level of cultural comfort to the people linked by the waters of the Indian Ocean. In an environment marked by intolerance, both countries are bastions of moderation and accommodation, and have nurtured societies that are open and free, where diversity is celebrated and peaceful co-existence is extolled as a national virtue. These values have resulted from their cultural traditions, spiritual values and shared heritage, as was noted in the India-UAE joint statement issued after Mr Modis visit to the UAE in 2015. The common threat to these values from the forces of extremism and violence has encouraged India and the UAE to set up a powerful front against terrorism through enhanced security cooperation covering intelligence-sharing, joint counter-terrorism operations, and adoption of best practices and technologies by the agencies of the two countries. Linked with this is heightened defence cooperation consisting of dialogue at strategic and tactical levels, joint exercises and training, and cooperation between the navies of the two countries to maintain the security of the Indian Ocean. But, beyond these traditional areas, the two countries are also pursuing joint development of the defence industry to reduce dependence on other countries, an indication of the high level of confidence that has already been achieved. The concerns of the two countries embrace the security scenarios in West Asia and South Asia. Thus, the joint statement concluded at the end of Mr Modis visit to the UAE in 2015 had spoken of the need for the two countries to establish a close strategic partnership for these uncertain times, and called upon them to work together to promote peace, reconciliation, stability in the wider South Asia, Gulf and West Asia region. This cooperation has become extremely urgent today. West Asia is experiencing three conflicts, in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, which have acquired the shape of a sectarian confrontation. The region also faces a threat from Daesh, the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), that has perpetrated extraordinary atrocities on the diverse peoples of West Asia and on Western hostages captured by it. While the ISIS is presently under attack in both Iraq and Syria, it is likely to inspire lone-wolf attacks in the region and beyond, in Europe and the US. In these ongoing wars, thousands of people have been killed, millions have been displaced, millions more face humanitarian crises of extraordinary proportions, and the worlds ancient cities and shrines have been devastated. Major regional powers have lost all sense of mutual confidence: they see their rivalry in existential terms, so that this divide could easily deteriorate into a direct conflict, by design or accident. It is in this background that India and the UAE have not only condemned the misuse of religion to justify acts of violence, they have also, in the joint statement of 2015, condemned efforts by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries. They went further: they also found unacceptable the attempt of regional powers to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and disputes, including in West and South Asia, and use terrorism to pursue their aims. India and the UAE have the shared interest and the capacity to work together to defuse ongoing tensions and promote confidence between the estranged Islamic neighbours so that a common front is created against the twin scourges of sectarianism and jihad that threaten the region. This joint effort will give meaning and substance to the comprehensive strategic partnership agreed to by the leaders of the two countries on Indias Republic Day. An increasing number of companies are rolling out autonomous machines that boost the production efficiency but also, at the same time, reduce the need for human employees. Humanity has entered the fourth Industrial Revolution wherein automation and data exchange is a part of the on-going trend. Technological inventions are no longer products of multi-national companies alone as numerous crowd-funding websites and business hotspots like Silicon Valley , Indiegogo or Kickstarter offer just as many new gadgets. Most inventions these days involve the use of human augmentations. One of the many projects on Kickstarter. An increasing number of companies are rolling out autonomous machines that boost the production efficiency but also, at the same time, reduce the need for human employees. Take for instance this years Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that took place in Las Vegas . The event is typically about futuristic consumer products such as a smart TV or voice-controlled fridges. This year, however, digital assistants powered by AI stole the limelight. These developments foretell a visible shift to the coming of the age, tech-enhanced humans. CES, 2017. To top it off, researchers in AI groups such as Google Brain, OpenAI (co-founded by Elon Musk), MIT, the University of California , Berkeley and Googles other AI research group Deep Mind are developing machine-learning systems that can create more machine-learning systems. The AI system developed by the machine-learning software took a test and managed to perform better than the software designed by humans. Jeff Dean, who leads the Google Brain research group, described this invention as one of the most promising research avenues his team was exploring. Currently the way you solve problems is when you have expertise, data and computation, said Dean, at the AI Frontiers conference in Santa Clara , California . Researchers from Googles DeepMind suggest that the latest invention could help lessen the problem of machine-learning software needing to consume vast amounts of data on specific task in order to perform it well. Easing the burden on the data scientist is a big payoff, says Otkrist Gupta, a researcher at the MIT Media Lab. It could make you more productive, make you better models, and make you free to explore higher-level ideas, he added. We are at a point in history where we are trapped by our own advances. Questions like whether these machines will judge our actions and rebel against our decisions need consideration. Seventy-four year old theoretical physicist Stephen Hawkings recently stated, We have less than 100 years to save the human race. He identified AI, nuclear war and genetically engineered viruses as problems that pose an imminent threat to humanity. Hawkings also warns that leaving Earth may just be our last hope for survival. He is not the only one alarmed by the rate at which technology is advancing. Industrial experts speaking at an interactive session on AI at World Economic Forum Annual, 2016 agreed that technology and access to technology must be democratised. In a shared effort, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar donated a combined of $20 million to the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund on January 11 helping ensure the futures more man and machine rather than man against machine, as IBM CEO Ginny Romelty put it as Walt Street Journal. Theres an urgency to ensure that AI benefits society and minimises harm, said Hoffman in a statement reported by The Guardian. AI decision-making can influence many aspects of out world-education, transportation, health-care, criminal justice and the economy yet data and code behind those decisions can be largely visible, he added. There is an urgent need for technology to be augmented, rather than replacing human capability and opportunity. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. I had a long talk with an old friend the other day. We were in graduate school together. A year or so after earning our masters degrees, we were living in Washington. I had a few freelance news stories and a bunch of fishing trips under my belt. My pal finished his doctorate and had a choice job. Any bank or business in the country would have snatched him up for big bucks. He could have gone for a comfortable academic career. He chose public service instead. It wasnt a hard choice. Many moons later, he is one of our most senior professionals in his field. Every day, all day, he shoulders immense responsibilities, sometimes matters of life and death. My friend told me about the humility and the pride he felt having had the honor and privilege of briefing four presidents in the Oval Office. The prospect of shaking President Donald Trumps hand, he confessed, made him, to put it nicely, very, very uncomfortable. I suspect the feeling is mutual. If Trump ever shakes my friends hand, I imagine he will dismiss him as another bureaucrat who never made any big money his measure of worth on earth. Donald Trump does not pay respects for public service or public servants. He says he loves our vets a lot. But he routinely mocks the notion that government (and military) experts could know anything about anything. Insulting generals, diplomats, scientists and especially intelligence agencies intoxicates him. And he comforts the nation that his grenades arent a problem because Trump knows more than any of them on any topic. Trust me, Ive got a gift. Its beautiful. These guys will do what I say. Or else. All new presidents have to handle policy disagreements with various pockets of the government, sometimes whole agencies. Military brass often was suspicious of liberal Democratic presidents and even Republicans who never served in the military. Professionals in the safety net agencies freaked when Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush were elected. That is exactly how it should be. Its an institutionalized process to balance power and protect deliberation. When candidates become president, they assume a duty to lead the executive branch. Some presidents have worked hard to win over skeptics, some played tough and some never got it right. No president I am aware of aggressively demeaned the federal workforce as a way to manage it and pander to government-hating voters. Ronald Reagan came close. He had a standard line he loved to use, Government is not the solution to our problem, it is our problem. That wasnt exactly a morale booster for a Foreign Service officer in the Congo or undercover DEA agent in Colombia. But Reagan was not snarky or mean. He didnt insult individuals. He used unfortunate rhetoric to push his plan to shrink a fat government, eliminate unnecessary agencies and spur economic growth. Donald Trumps rhetoric and posture is a world apart, a whole different beast. His antics are unheard of. This is proved by Trumps overt campaign of disinformation and slander against the covert work of the countrys intelligence community. It is outrageous, vindictive and reckless. Trumps comments and tweets arent just puerile insults but also false claims and made-up accusations. Coming from a president-elect, this comes off as unpatriotic and a kind of sabotage. Trumps jihad against the spies is a high-profile escapade, but Trump uses the same flame-thrower on other agencies and officials. Presumably this will continue. Imagine how hed Twitter-torture a scientist who testified that vaccines dont cause autism. TOADY FOR BIG PHARMA, BIG SCANDAL! VERY DISHONEST. OVERRATED AT SCIENCE. SAD. HE BETTER WATCH IT, VERY POWERFUL PEOPLE UPSET. #DTS This will create a gridlock goldmine in the executive branch: The president explicitly asserts he has no trust or respect for the federal government while large numbers of public servants and whole agencies have subtly indicated they have no trust or respect for the new president. Is this a recipe for disaster? I think not, though that may be wishful thinking. I make two assumptions about the Trump administration: Congressional Republicans will rarely restrain or positively influence Trump unless they face obvious catastrophe in their next elections; also, congressional Democrats lack the backbone and skill to effectively work with or against Trump, depending on the issue. If thats how it plays out, only the permanent government, the maligned bureaucracies, the soldiers of public service will have the power to throw sand in the cheap gears of Trumpism. Then it will be Trump who drowns in the swamp, a flourishing swamp full of clean water, native wildlife, a few poison plants, sure, but all protected by idealistic, patriotic park rangers and scientists. It will be a beautiful thing, trust me. The ex-Googler put Xiaomi on the global map, but now he is stepping down from his huge throne. Global Vice President for Chinese tech giant Hugo Barra has announced his exit from the company this morning. Hugo took to Facebook to announce his exit where he shared his experience of 3.5 years with the Chinese tech giant. Xiaomi came to the Indian market in July 2014 and has been seeing a constant rise, beyond expectations. Hugo Barra was the star for Xiaomi where he gathered a huge fan following that helped the Chinese giant take a huge stand on the global stage. Hugo said on his Facebook post that he will be transitioning out of his role in February and will continue to be an advisory to the company. He will be parting the Chinese company to take a much-needed time off before heading on for a new adventure in Silicon Valley. Bin Lin, the co-founder and president of Xiaomi replied in Barras post that Hugo will now be an advisor to the company and Xiaomi senior vice president Xiang Wang will now lead the entire global efforts in future. Hugo gives out his explanation for leaving China as staying miles away from his comfort zone and working with in China (at Xiaomi) has taken a huge toll on his health and personal life because of the singular environment he lived in. He said his life is in Silicon Valley, where he will start a new team with a bigger startup. Hugo was the face of Xiaomi outside the home country. The brand grew big with Hugo taking the Chinese giant to the global launch platforms such as the MWC and CES. Hugo has a lot of fan following, both personally and professionally. He drew a huge attention and was a star performer both on stage and off. Here is the open letter to his fans Hugo posted on Facebook. THANKS FOR A GREAT 3.5 YEARS, MI FANS When Lei Jun and Bin Lin came to me nearly four years ago with the opportunity to help turn a young rockstar startup into a global player, I embarked on what has been the greatest and most challenging adventure of my life. I moved to Beijing, 6,500 miles out of my comfort zone in Silicon Valley, to build from scratch a startup team within a bigger startup. This journey has been nothing short of spectacular in every way, and I can proudly say that Xiaomi Global is the first baby I helped bring into the world :) But what I've realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return. As I thought about this late last year, I concluded that Xiaomi is in a very good place on its global expansion path, and if there was ever going to be a good time for me to come back home, that time is now when I can confidently say our global business is no longer just an in-house startup. We turned India from a dream into Xiaomis largest international market with $1 billion in annual revenues, faster than any company in India's history. We expanded into Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and more recently 20 other markets including Russia, Mexico, and Poland. We teamed up with Google to launch our first official product in the US, and with our successful debut at CES 2017 where we won 3 prestigious awards the world now sees that Xiaomi is a global player changing the tech industry through our simple promise of bringing innovation to everyone. More importantly, we now have a team of some of the most remarkable and enthusiastic people I have ever worked with, and leaving them all behind is without doubt the most difficult part of stepping away. At the same time, I know Ill be leaving them in very good hands. Xiaomi now has a strong, globally-minded executive team who will continue to drive the momentum we began together. I want to thank the Xiaomi founders, and particularly our CEO Lei Jun, who has been a mentor and a friend. It has been both humbling and uplifting to work with a man whose vision is redefining the role technology plays in all of our lives, and the role the China tech industry plays in the world. As a friend and shareholder of the company, I am honored that he has been very supportive of my transition and has asked me to remain an advisor to Xiaomi indefinitely, as we continue to extend our reach around the world. For me, as for many people in China, the Spring Festival brings new beginnings, and I will be transitioning out of my role at Xiaomi in February after Chinese New Year. I will take some much-needed time off before embarking on a new adventure back in Silicon Valley. To my Xiaomi colleagues in China and India: as I leave our home in Beijing and Bangalore, please be assured that I will remain your loyal and grateful Mi fan . I will be watching diligently from the sidelines and rooting for you guys all the way! And, of course, a very special shout-out to all our Mi fans around the world, who have won my heart for life! Stay in touch guys :) I'll be seeing you, Hugo Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Apple's lawsuit arrives just days after the US Federal Trade Commission sued Qualcomm over what it called aggressive and unfair business practices. Recently, Apple had filed a lawsuit against its partner Qualcomm alleging that the mobile chipmaker had used its monopoly power to push for onerous, unreasonable and costly licensing terms. Apple had stated that Qualcomm had prevented it from looking for chips from other suppliers between 2011 and 2016. Apple had used Qualcomm's baseband chips in the iPhone and iPad. In the lawsuit, Apple is seeking $1 billion in rebate payments which says Qualcomm has withheld since Apple met with Korea's fair trade regulatory body last year. Apple's lawsuit arrives just days after the US Federal Trade Commission sued Qualcomm over what it called aggressive and unfair business practices. The government, in particular, said Qualcomm had taken advantage of Apple and others with its licensing terms. Qualcomm has denied the allegations. "While we are still in the process of reviewing the complaint in detail, it is quite clear that Apple's claims are baseless. Apple has intentionally mischaracterized our agreements and negotiations, as well as the enormity and value of the technology we have invented, contributed and shared with all mobile device makers through our licensing program," said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm. In addition to the FTC complaint, Qualcomm was recently sued by the Korean government over similar claims. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Vice President Mike Pence holds up a letter left for him by former President Barack Obama as he speaks at a White House senior staff swearing in ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (Photo: AP) Washington: US President Donald Trump made an emotional mention Sunday of a "beautiful letter" that he said Barack Obama had left for him in the White House."I just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama," he said at a swearing-in ceremony for several top administration appointees. "It was really very nice of him to do that and we will cherish that," he said, holding up a white envelope before tucking it back in his jacket pocket. "We will keep that. And we won't even tell the press what's in that letter." It has long been part of American tradition for an outgoing president to leave a letter for his successor on the desk of the Oval Office. The letter left in 1993 by Republican president George HW Bush for Democrat Bill Clinton -- the man who deprived him of a second term -- was considered particularly elegant. "Your success now is our country's success," it read. "I am rooting hard for you. Good luck." Bush warned Clinton that "there will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair." But the elder Bush added that even entering the Oval Office on his last day as president, "I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago." President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walk through the Crypt of the Capitol for Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony, in Washington. (Photo: AP) Dubai: Gulf Arab states are quietly applauding the arrival in the White House of a hawkish leader opposed to their adversary Iran, even if they suspect Donald Trump's short temper and abrasive tweets may at times heighten tensions in the combustible Middle East. While many countries around the world listened with concern to his protectionist inaugural address, Gulf Arab officials appear optimistic. They see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washington's role as their main strategic partner in a region central to US security and energy interests. In Gulf Arab eyes, that involves above all checking what they see as a surge of Iranian support for paramilitary allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon and for fellow Shi'ite Muslims in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province. It also means overlooking for now rhetoric about uniting "the civilised world against radical Islamic terrorism" in an address that critics said echoed George W Bush's "crusade" against terrorism, a phrase which, for Muslims, evokes barbarous campaigns by medieval Christians against Islam. Saudi Arabia in particular appears relieved at the departure of Barack Obama, who it felt considered Riyadh's alliance with Washington less important than negotiating a deal in 2015 to neutralise Iran's nuclear programme. The relationship is a pillar of the Middle East's security balance. But it has suffered since Riyadh took issue with what it saw as Obama's withdrawal from the region, and a perceived inclination towards Iran since the 2011 Arab uprisings. "Another Ronald Reagan" There have been tensions over Syria, where Obama dismissed Gulf Arab urgings to give more aid to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, who has survived thanks to Iranian and Russian backing. "Perception is important: Trump does not look like the kind of guy who will bend towards Iran or anyone else," said Abdulrahman al-Rashed, a veteran Saudi commentator. "If he behaves as he says, then we will see another Ronald Reagan, someone all the forces in the region will take seriously. That's what we have missed in the past eight years, unfortunately." Some worry that Trump's Twitter habit - his rapid, unbridled messages of praise or blame - mean he is unsuited to handling the volatility of the Middle East. Faisal al-Yafai, a columnist with The National newspaper of Abu Dhabi, said that while his use of social media could be a problem, Trump was unlikely to change. "At some point down the line something will happen in the world that will require a careful response, a careful policy, and Trump will react emotionally. That is always going to be the worry. But that's his attitude. That's who he is. Those who like Trump like that aspect of his personality," he said. Some Arab commentators see a political resemblance between Trump and Reagan, who also campaigned on the slogan of making America great again. Reagan was also a strong backer of the military, although in the Middle East his 1981-89 presidency was marked by extended crises involving Iran, Lebanon and Libya. While few in the Gulf expect Trump to repudiate the Iran nuclear deal despite his threats to do so, most want Tehran pressured to roll back what Gulf Arabs see as subversion in fellow Arab states by a revolutionary theocracy. "I think he is going to be very, very tough on Iran. He will be decisive," said a Gulf Arab businessman, noting he expected the deal-maker Trump would demand something in return. Foreign Policy Moments after his speech, the White House website said the Trump administration would make defeating "radical Islamic terror groups" its top foreign policy goal and would develop a "state of the art" missile defence system to protect against attacks from Iran and North Korea. That will be the job in particular of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, and CIA chief nominee Mike Pompeo, all well known to Saudi officials. In particular Mattis, a retired Marine general known for distrust of Iran, is a familiar figure to Gulf Arab rulers. A former leader of Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and South Asia, Mattis said in Senate confirmation hearings this month that Iran was "the biggest destabilising force in the Middle East and its policies are contrary to our interests." Such views play well with Gulf Arabs. "We hope Trump can correct (Obama's) policy, and while we are not sure of that yet, his choices to run the administration all sound experienced," said al-Rashed. Military build up On Syria, Yemen, Iran and Bahrain, arenas for a tussle for influence between Riyadh and Tehran, Obama's preference for dialogue appeared weak to some Gulf Arabs. Trump's own vision of "peace through strength" may change that perception of a passive Washington, and encourage Gulf Arabs to press on with a military build-up that relies heavily on U.S. and European defence companies. Any number of issues could yet disturb ties - Jerusalem, oil policy, perceived anti-Muslim prejudice, and a U.S. law allowing lawsuits against Riyadh over the Sept. 11 attacks. One of the most explosive appears to be Trump's vow to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would upend decades of U.S. policy, and his appointment as ambassador a lawyer who raised money for a major Jewish settlement. Israel and the Palestinians, who are seeking a state of their own, both claim Jerusalem as their capital. Polarising language "It would create a lot of chaos, a new intifada maybe," a Gulf source with knowledge of official thinking said, adding Trump would think long and hard about a move that would be "a huge burden on the peace process". Another issue is Trump's policy of seeking to destroy Islamic State. Gulf Arab states agree with him on the goal, but use of polarising language seen as demonising Muslims, and reliance solely on military force, would raise objections. Such language could also inflame militancy by hindering the hearts and minds effort needed to counter the thinking behind the violence. "The worst part about the speech is that he will target Islam as a religion in the name of fighting what he called radical Islamic terrorism, a blank label that is meaningless," Tweeted Daham al-Qahtani, a Kuwaiti political analyst. "If he goes back to the era of Bush, and 'you are either with us or with the terrorists', this polarised idea, and then also the idea that military forces can solve it, then I think we will find ourselves in a very difficult situation, with a war that is going to be unwinnable," al Yafai said. President Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd at the Freedom Ball in Washington at the Washington Convention Center during the 58th presidential inauguration. (Photo: AP) New York: A Muslim family in the US were pleasantly surprised to receive a heartwarming letter from their neigbours, offering support to them to live without discrimination. Abubaker Amry, who has lived in Cincinnati, Ohio for nearly four decades, said he and his neighbours do not interact much beyond a cordial "Hello," so the note someone left him, came as a surprise. So the day 70-year-old Trump was sworn into office, one of his neighbours in Westwood left this in his mailbox, "Dear Neighbours, today begins a new stage for our country. No matter what happens, please know there are still a lot of people who will fight for your right to practice your religion, to continue your lives without discrimination. You are welcome in our neighborhood and if you need anything - please knock on our door," a CNN affiliate WCPO reported. "My daughter, she doesn't know any other place" and like many Muslim Americans, says he grew worried by President Trump's rhetoric during the heat of a campaign. We don't know if he's just saying that ... or if it'll be true," Amry said. "It's a lot," Amry said. "I mean, there's no way I could express my feelings when I got that note." Amry said the act of kindness has changed his mind a lot. "Even when I was driving the next day to my work, I looked at the people on the street totally different," he added. Amry's niece, tweeted a photo of the note, which quickly went viral. "This is the other side of America," Amry said. "This is the best, best, best experience." Following Trump's inauguration, plenty of American citizens are unsure what the future holds, especially those that are Muslim. Washington: Several hundred Tamil-Americans have gathered at the Gandhi status here to hold a rally in support of the ongoing Jallikattu movement demanding lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport which is an integral part of Tamilian culture. Several dozens of them also held a protest demonstration outside the PETA headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Laced with posters and banners, Tamil-Americans including a large number of children and women raised slogans in support of Jallikattu and vented out their anger against animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which is leading in supporting the ban on the grounds that it is a torture to animal. "We love our animals. We know how to treat our animal. This is part of our tradition and culture," said Babu Vinayagam, one of the anti-PETA protestors at the Gandhi Statue in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington. "Today's rally is to show our solidarity with our people back home fighting against ban on Jallikattu," he said. Majority of the slogans were in Tamil, but at times They shouted "Down Down PETA," venting their anger at the animal rights group. They also shouted "We want Jallikattu." Vinod Kumar, an IT professional from Tamil Nadu, said adding, expatriate Tamilians want a permanent solution and an ordinance route to lift the ban on Jallikattu. "We want legislative measures, so that this age-old tradition could be continued," he said. This was one of the largest protest rally and demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy in recent years. "We may be away from home, but home is always with us. We are Tamil people and we are proud of our heritage, it is our pride that is being taken away from us," said Nalini Britto speaking on behalf of the Greater Washington Tamil Diaspora, which had organised the anti-PETA, pro-Jallikattu rally in Washington. Meanwhile, an ABC-affiliate local news channel in Virginia reported a protest outside PETA headquarters here in Norfolk. "Dozens of people travelled to Hampton Roads from all across the world to protest outside of the PETA headquarters," the news channel said. "Protesters stood outside of PETA headquarters in Norfolk, telling 13News. Now they are protesting the organisations influence on the court decisions," it said. "What PETA has done is that there is a prevention of cruelity act in India, which was backdoor amended, through the lobbying that PETA did," Karthik Rangarajan, a protest organiser said. In a statement, PETA alleged that these protesters "are anxious" to overturn the court ruling and "preserve a culture as heinous" as fox hunting was in the UK and bullfighting is in Spain, one now outlawed the other being banned, city by city. Washington: Its tough to cover up a mistake on social media, especially when you are a nominee for the education minister postition of the United States of America. Betsy DeVos, Donald Trumps nominee for the post of United States Secretary of education was latest to be trolled on Twitter, after her grammatically incorrect tweet went viral on the social micro-blogging website. DeVos had written a congratulatory tweet to the new president after the inauguration ceremony saying, Honored to witness the historical inauguration and swearing-in ceremony for the 45th President of the United States! (sic). Subsequently, a volley of tweets poured in slamming DeVos for her tweet. A tweet where the mistakes were marked in a red pen also went viral. While she put up a corrected tweet, the jibes didnt end as the edited tweet also had few errors, resulting in more trolls. DeVos nomination for the education minister post has been wrought with controversy after she was unable to give satisfactory answers to questions at her confirmation hearing. She was asked about her contribution to the Republican party, her opinions on the LGBT community, her billionaire status and if guns should be banned from school. Her answers, especially for the last question to which she said That is best left locals and states to decide, had drawn severe criticism and backlash. When questioned further, the nominee had quoted a case where a gun was used for protection from grizzly bears. Interestingly, DeVos was not the only one slammed by the Twitterati for incorrect English. She had illustrious company as the President himself was mocked after her misspelled the word honoured in one of his first tweets post inauguration. While the tweet was quickly taken off the account, it did not fail to catch the attention of the vigilante on Twitter. As per media reports, deleting the tweet could have been illegal as documents an records relating to the US president has to be archived under the Presidential Records Act. Predecessors have interpreted the act to include social media posts. Barack Obamas team has been quoted saying that they archive tweets before deleting them to ensure that there was no breach of law. However, it is not known yet if Trumps team had archived the deleted tweet. Florida: A woman from the US state of Florida was arrested and charged for having sex with five minors at a party allegedly in front of her daughter. According to a report in the Mirror, she was earlier charged for having sex with two teenagers and now is being additionally incriminated after two more victims came forward. As per police, the 40-year-old Jaimie Ayer had initially tried to seduce two boys aged 16 and 17. Telling one of the boys that she needed help with her shower, Ayer had taken him to a bedroom and had oral sex. Another minor also claimed to have engaged in sexual activity with Aimer at that time. Now, three more teenagers have come forward claiming that Ayer indulged in sexual activity with them, following which she was additionally incriminated. The arrest affidavit stated that the accuseds daughter saw some of the sexual activity her mother was engaged in. Ayer is currently being held at the Manatee County Jail where she faces charges of sexual activity with minors. Beijing: Over 18.46 million new babies were born in China on 2016 registering an increase of 11.5 per cent after the world's most populous nation permitted a second child scrapping the three-decade-old controversial one-child policy. The number of newborns in 2016 was the highest since 2000 with 45 per cent being second children, Yang Wenzhuang, head of the Department of Community Family Planning with the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) told media in Beijing. Yang attributed the growth in 2016 to the country's relaxation in family planning rules. However, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday, the number of China's newborns in 2016 was 17.86 million, 1.31 million more than that of 2016. China scrapped one child policy 2016 which was in vogue since 1970s to limit the population. The government permitted second child as the country faced demographic crisis with old age population crossing 250 million already. However the policy to permit a second child has not evoked big response as many couples felt they can not afford and cope up with second child, specially their education. Yang said China's fertility rate is expected to fluctuate around 1.8 in the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), which will reveal the effect of the loosened family planning policy. "The data given by the NHFPC, based on birth certificates released last year, is closer to the country's actual birth situation," Yuan Xin, a professor at Nankai University and expert on family planning policy, told the Global Times. The full effect of the policy easing will show in the following two to three years, with around 18 million newborns annually, Yuan predicted. According to the NBS, the population of the Chinese mainland reached 1.38 billion at the end of 2016, up 8.09 million year-on-year. The male population is more than 708 million, whereas there are upward of 675 million women in the mainland. The working-age population aged between 16 to 60 years old, is 907 million, about 65.6 per cent of the total population, which is expected to decline rapidly in the coming years. China, with a population of 1.357 billion is the world's most populous nation. Beijing: Chinese warships have embarked on a tour of Gulf Arab states for the first time in six years as Beijing has signaled a desire to play a bigger role on the global stage. Three Chinese vessels, including a guided-missile destroyer warship, arrived in Qatar's capital Doha on Saturday following a visit to the Saudi port city of Jeddah, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. China's navy regularly tours the world and its ships patrol off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia as part of international anti-piracy operations. Visits to Gulf Arab states, where both the US and Britain have naval bases, are less common. China's navy visited Iran for the first time in 2014 to take part in joint naval exercises with Saudi Arabia's regional arch-rival. Beijing relies on the Middle East for oil but has tended to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France and Russia. However, China has been trying to get more involved, especially in Syria peace efforts, and has taken tentative steps over the Yemen crisis too. A senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday that Beijing could be forced to assume a role of world leadership if others step back from that position after US President Donald Trump pledged in his first speech to put "America first". The following editorial appeared in The Sacramento Bee on Thursday, Jan. 19: Like all presidents, Barack Obama had the power to commute the sentence of anyone, even an Army private who disclosed 700,000 classified and sensitive military and diplomatic files. But his explanation for granting clemency to Chelsea Manning wasnt entirely convincing. In 2013, Manning was convicted in a military court of six violations of the Espionage Act and 14 other offenses. Obama said Wednesday that Mannings 35-year sentence the longest ever for leaking U.S. government information was disproportionate, and that she has already served a tough prison sentence, about seven years when she is released in May. Its important to note that its a commutation and not a pardon, which would have forgiven the crime. I feel very comfortable that justice has been served, Obama said in response to the first question at his final press conference as president. Obamas decision was weighted with several complex factors. While he denied the commutation sends a message that divulging classified information will go unpunished, some Democrats as well as Republicans argued it could encourage espionage. President Donald Trump, remarkably, didnt react right away on Twitter, but Vice President Mike Pence said: Manning is a traitor and should not have been turned into a martyr. Obama took a hard line on leakers, but on Tuesday he also pardoned retired Marine Gen. James Cartwright, who pleaded guilty to lying during an investigation into a leak on the campaign to cripple Irans nuclear program with a computer virus. Critics say that Mannings leak put people at risk and damaged our national security. It created a global diplomatic crisis, helped spark unrest in several nations and might have helped ignite the Arab Spring. However, the leak also revealed a clearer, uglier picture of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a widely viewed video of a 2007 helicopter assault in Baghdad in which civilians were killed, including two journalists. Also, though Obama didnt mention it, Manning, 29, presented a special case because she has been changing her gender since her arrest in 2010, when she was known as Bradley Manning. She is struggling with the transition at the all-male military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., has been held in solitary confinement for long stretches and twice attempted suicide last year, her lawyers say. Amnesty International and other groups had been lobbying Obama for her release on humanitarian grounds. Then theres the intrigue surrounding WikiLeaks, which in 2010 posted the documents taken by Manning. Now, its in the spotlight because it posted emails from Democrats during the presidential campaign which U.S. intelligence agencies say were hacked by Russia to help Trump. Last week, WikiLeaks tweeted that founder Julian Assange, who has been hiding out in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012, would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama gave clemency to Manning. Assange apparently is backing out; his lawyers said Wednesday that he wanted Manning released immediately and all conditions for extradition hadnt been met. Obama referred a question on Assange to the Justice Department. With his Manning decision, Obama joins the club of presidents who issue controversial pardons and commutations as they leave the White House. In his last month in office, George H.W. Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five other officials in the Iran-contra scandal. On his last day, Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, a fugitive financier and tax evader. Obama had his reasons for showing mercy to Manning, but he must accept that it might tarnish his legacy. Turkish soldiers, arrested by civilians, are handed to police officers, in Istanbuls Taksim square. (Photo: AP) Ankara: Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for more than 400 people, including soldiers and security officers, in 48 provinces across the country following Julys failed coup, broadcaster Haberturk said on Saturday. They were being sought on suspicion of using Bylock, an encrypted smartphone messaging app that the government says was used by the network of Fethullah Gulen who is alleged by Ankara to have orchestrated the attempted coup, Haberturk reported. Gulen, a US-based cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the charge and condemned the coup. In a post-coup crackdown, Turkey has jailed some 40,000 people pending trial and has suspended or dismissed more than 100,000 from the military, judiciary and public services. Among the suspects were 123 soldiers from the navy and 187 security officers, Haberturk said. It said 12 people had been detained so far in operations centred in Ankara and Istanbul. Separately, authorities detained five people in relation to attacks with rocket launchers on Friday by unidentified assailants on Istanbuls police headquarters and an office of the ruling AK Party. NATO member Turkey has been hit by bombings and shootings in the past year, on top of Julys failed coup, in which soldiers commandeered tanks and fighter jets in a bid to seize power. An Andhra Pradesh Special Protection Force Police (APSPF) head constable, who aspired to set a record in swimming with his legs and hands tied, died in Vijayawada on Sunday during a practice session. Lanke Umamaheswar Rao was supposed to perform the feat before a team from the Guinness Book of World Records on the eve of Republic Day. According to sources from APSPF, the 40-year-old police officer had been practising swimming across river Krishna with his hands and legs tied. He had performed the feat many times over the last month. However, on Sunday, while crossing the river, he suffered a massive stroke and drowned. Divers who were following him rushed him to hospital, but he was declared dead. Rao was a native of Oleru in Guntur district. He was a swimming enthusiast, who had joined the police force in 1994. He had already secured a place in the Limca Book of Records, the India Book of Records and the AP Book of records. The six-day-old stir over jallikattu turned violent today after an early morning crackdown on the protesters here, leaving over 20 police personnel injured even as the Tamil Nadu assembly moved swiftly and passed a bill replacing an ordinance for conducting the bull taming sport. A senior police official told PTI that 90 per cent of the protesters at Marina beach, the epicentre of the agitation, predominantly by students and youth, had vacated the area by late evening and that normalcy was being restored. Reports said most protestors in other parts of the state like Madurai, Erode and Coimbatore were either evicted or had left on their own, heeding the appeal of police. However, the crackdown had a ripple effect in the city and elsewhere, where normal life was affected, with protesters staging road blocks and state transport buses being withdrawn at many places. The government moved quickly to get the amendment bill to replace the jallikattu ordinance promulgated two days ago, passed in the assembly in the evening session. The "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017", piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was passed by voice vote with the support of opposition DMK and other parties. It said the "Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt jallikattu from the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act." On an eventful day, police set on an early morning crackdown at Marina after issuing an advisory asking students to leave. They said students' protests had been successful as jallikattu had been held yesterday following the state issuing the ordinance. Former Madras High Court Judge Hari Paranthaman also spoke to the protesting youngsters, explaining to them the technical specifications of the state government's amendment to the PCA Act. According to a senior police official, "90 per cent of the protesters at Marina Beach have left." Earlier in the day, protesters fought pitched battles with police at several areas, especially around Marina Beach from where thousands were evicted. They blocked roads at various parts of the city with the week-long agitation taking a violent turn. Traffic was thrown out of gear as the agitators took to the streets, with some attacking policemen and their vehicles. Police fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge at some places as sections of protesters, removed from Marina in the early morning crackdown, pelted stones. They went on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire 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, some vehicles, including cars, were set on fire by unidentified persons near Nadukuppam. Several schools shut early in view of the sudden turn of events, while city buses were halted as a preventive measure. However, suburban electric train services were operated on most routes. In tell tale signs of the violence several nook and corners of Triplicane, which abuts the beach, were strewn with stones, bricks and broken tree branches. Police said protesters threw sand and water packets at them at the beach area and as a result they had to use "mild force". Meanwhile, Attorney General S Muthukumaraswamy informed the Madras High Court that 20 police personnel were injured and hospitalised and 25 vehicles were burnt. He also said anti-social elements had infiltrated the protests since the last few days. At the sprawling Tamukkam grounds in Madurai, one of the main venues of the pro-jallikattu protests in southern Tamil Nadu, police convinced a large number of people to leave. The local village committee at Paalamedu, a famous jallikattu venue in Madurai district, decided to organise the sport on February 2. One policeman was injured when he was gored by a bull at Watrayiruppu in Virudhunagar District, police said. In Salem and Madurai, police managed to release rakes of two trains blocked by protesters since the last few days after the latter gave up their protest. Railway officials in Salem said the diesel locomotive and coaches were found damaged and estimated it at around Rs 60 lakh. They said traffic in the Salem-Vriddhachalam sector, which remained hit, would be restored soon. In Madurai, police made a baton charge on the protesters to release empty bogies of Coimbatore-Nagercoil passenger train, which were detained by them for five days. Police said some persons were injured as they run for cover and fell down while fleeing. Coimbatore also witnessed violence, with sections of protesters pelting stones at police, who used batons to disperse them at various places, including VOC Park Grounds. In the melee, three police personnel and a few students sustained bleeding injuries and hospitalised, police said. Vehicular traffic, including government buses, plying in the area was stopped, during the tense period. Nearly 300 people, who were arrested near the central jail and accommodated in marriage halls, refused to take food and announced a 'hunger strike', police said. Earlier in the day, police foiled an attempt by a student to self-immolate, protesting against the eviction. A controversial study that found there has been no slowdown in global warming has been supported by new research. Many researchers had accepted that the rate of global warming had slowed in the first 15 years of this century. But new analysis in the journal Science Advances replicates findings that scientists have underestimated ocean temperatures over the past two decades. With the revised data, the apparent pause in temperature rises between 1998 and 2014 disappears. The idea of a pause had gained support in recent years with even the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reporting in 2013 that the global surface temperature has shown a much smaller increasing linear trend over the past 15 years than over the past 30 to 60 years. But that consensus was brought into question by a number of studies, of which a report by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published in Science last year was the most significant. Researchers from NOAA suggested that the temperatures of the oceans were being consistently underestimated by the main global climate models. The authors showed that the ocean buoys used to measure sea temperatures tend to report slightly cooler temperatures than the older ship-based systems. Back in the 1990s, ship measurements made up the vast majority of the data, whereas now the more accurate and consistent buoys account for 85% of measurements. Virtually indistinguishable When the researchers corrected the data to take this cold bias into account, they concluded that the oceans had warmed 0.12C per decade since 2000, nearly twice as fast as previous estimates of 0.07C. As a result, the authors said that the warming experienced in the first 15 years of the 21st Century was virtually indistinguishable from the rate of warming between 1950-99, a time generally acknowledged to have seen significant rates of warming from human emissions of CO2. The study did not go down well with climate sceptics. Members of the US House of Representatives subpoenaed the authors emails which NOAA refused to hand over. However, this new analysis supports the findings of the NOAA report. The scientists involved believe the problems in the original temperature estimates for the oceans came from attempting to mesh together data from ships and buoys. Only a small fraction of the ocean measurement data is being used by climate monitoring groups, and they are trying to smash together data from different instruments, which leads to a lot of judgement calls about how you weight one versus the other, and how you adjust for the transition from one to another, said Zeke Hausfather, the new papers lead author. Zeke and colleagues decided to put together three independent data sets from satellites, buoys and robotic floats to find the true scale of ocean warming, so there was no mixing or matching of data. Our approach was to create three separate ocean temperature records from the three different instruments, and it turns out that all three agree really well with the new NOAA record, he said. The conclusion is that NOAA got it right, the scientists at NOAA were not cooking the books or manipulating the data in any way and that three independent sets of data back up their results. Replicating the findings The controversy that surrounded the original paper proved a strong motivation for attempting to replicate the findings, says another author, Dr Kevin Cowtan from the University of York, UK. We were initially sceptical of the NOAA result, because it showed faster warming than a previous updated record from the UK Met Office. So we set out to test it for ourselves, using different methods and different data. We now think NOAA got it right, and a new dataset from the Japan Meteorological Agency also agrees. The new study is unlikely to quieten sceptics but the authors say their new work shows that the rate of warming in the last two decades is no different from the rate of warming since 1970 or from 1950. As for attempts by politicians to subpoena emails in an attempt to suggest that scientists are committing fraud, the idea gets short shrift from the new papers authors. If people disagree with things they should ask other scientists to look into it rather than demanding access to scientists emails, said Zeke. By mastering some tough computer chip technology and then pulling off an audacious business strategy based on selling its smartphone knowledge, Qualcomm has made billions of dollars and seized influence in the tech industry. Some days that is a real drag. On Friday, Apple, its longtime partner, sued Qualcomm over what it said was $1 billion in withheld rebates. In the lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Southern District of California, in San Diego, Apple said the money had been promised in conjunction with an agreement not to buy chips from other suppliers or to divulge Qualcomms intellectual property licencing practices. The suit seeks the rebates, among other things. Apple sued three days after the Federal Trade Commission accused Qualcomm of using anticompetitive practices to guarantee its high royalty payments for advanced wireless technology. The commission cited Qualcomms deals with Taiwanese companies that manufacture Apple iPhones over semiconductors it sells for the iPhone. In its complaint, the commission described Qualcomm as the worlds dominant supplier of semiconductors that manage smartphone communications. The commission said Qualcomm had obtained elevated royalties for its patented intellectual property on wireless communications. Other smartphone chipmakers have to pay Qualcomm for that intellectual property, too. The commission and Apple complaints follow several other problems, including a $975 million fine by Chinese regulators in 2015 and activist shareholder complaints later that year that forced layoffs at Qualcomm. Last month, Qualcomm was fined $850 million in South Korea for unfair patent licencing. When Apple provided information to South Korean regulators in that case, and sought competing chips from Intel, Qualcomm refused to pay Apple its promised money, Apple said. Qualcomm has vowed to fight the South Korean charge and the FTC suit. "Apple has intentionally mischaracterised our agreements and negotiations, Qualcomm said in a statement, adding it would fight that lawsuit, too. Few expect Qualcomm to back down. It was shaped by its founders to be brainy, combative and profitable. They are seasoned and equipped to fight, said Mark Hung, an analyst at Gartner. But when such a big company is so reliant on the way it sells its intellectual property, and under the microscope in various geographies, its tough. Qualcomm, based in San Diego, far from Silicon Valley, was founded in 1985 by seven people, including Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi. The two were well-regarded electrical engineering professors who had formed a military satellite communications company. Qualcomms engineers work at a 41-building campus between a park and the University of California, San Diego. They have earned thousands of patents, including for the airplane mode on smartphones and the way apps are downloaded from stores. Companies like Samsung and Apple need Qualcomm for the technology that enables things such as high-speed wireless video for millions of people at once. Its major technology is spread spectrum, which harnesses lots of computation and clever radio engineering for use in the various functions of smartphones. Qualcomms radio technology is called CDMA (code division multiple access), a way voice calls work more efficiently over cellphone networks. And the companys influence grew over the past several years with the advent of third-generation, or 3G, phones as people started downloading lots of mobile data as well as making calls. At the time, many thought Qualcomms success would be limited to that transition. Instead, Qualcomm innovated in 4G wireless for the new smartphones from Samsung and Apple that toppled Nokia and Motorola. In its last fiscal year, Qualcomm had revenue of $23.6 billion and a profit of $5.7 billion. Qualcomms ventures in phones and network gear helped promote CDMA but did not make much money because older companies did not need CDMA until the success of wireless began to tax the capacity of their networks. Qualcomm turned to Asian companies that wanted to get into wireless. Youd never have seen the Koreans or the Chinese in wireless if not for Qualcomm and CDMA, said Clint McClellan, a 17-year employee of Qualcomm who now runs a wireless health business. We enabled those markets. South Korea, in particular, made CDMA an industrial policy, which carried Qualcomm for years. More recently, China accounted for half of Qualcomms revenue. Apples Taiwanese manufacturers, which pay Qualcomm royalties for iPhones, are another big profit centre. Qualcomm would not say what it charges for its intellectual property, but analysts figure the fee usually amounts to 5% of the selling price of a phone at least it did, until the 2015 Chinese fine, which included an agreement that Chinese manufacturers pay only about half the old Qualcomm royalty. That, and problems collecting Chinese royalties even before the agreement, hurt Qualcomms share price. In 2015, Jana Partners, an activist hedge fund, stepped in and pressed for a breakup of the company into separate intellectual property and chip businesses. That did not happen, but Qualcomm cut about 15% of its staff, cut executive pay and gave Jana three board seats. The stock has recovered to about where it was just before the fine but not to the heights it reached before the problems. Regulatory issues By helping to create todays smartphone giants, Qualcomm may have engineered its current woes. Qualcomm executives say they see a connection between the China discounts, which Qualcomm had hoped would be limited to that country, and the latest regulatory attacks. We believe Samsung had a major role to play in the Korean decision, said Don Rosenberg, a lawyer for Qualcomm. The regulators, he said, were prodded and misled by commercial interests. In an email, Hea-Ryoung Jee, a spokeswoman for Samsung, said it was one of many multinational corporations that responded to questions from South Korean regulators. Qualcomms lawyer figures the Korean case may take years to move through the courts. And recent events, including the impeachment of South Koreas president and a bribery scandal at Samsung, could complicate, or eliminate, Qualcomms regulatory issues there. Additionally, the FTC has just three of its normal five commissioners. One of those, Maureen Ohlhausen, a Republican, voted against the suit. She may be named chairwoman when the current chairwoman, Edith Ramirez, a Democrat, steps down Feb. 10. Neither the FTC nor Apple would comment on the US case against Qualcomm. Its disappointing when our partners want to pay less after weve contributed to their success, said Derek Aberle, Qualcomms president. Now, it must get out ahead of other technology inventors in 5G, possibly while paying billions in fines and dealing with a painful restructuring and fraying relationships with its biggest customers. Were not sitting still while the problems are sorted, Aberle said. You have to invest, and invent cool stuff that will change the way people live their lives. In other words, create unique technology so people will keep paying for Qualcomms expensive intellectual property. India is opposing an informal proposal made by the EU and Canada about a global investment pact with an investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision at WTO. The issue was discussed at an informal meeting of key WTO members, including India, China, Brazil, Japan and Australia, in Davos last week. We rejected it (the attempt made by the EU and Canada) completely. We want anything to do with investments to be a bilateral thing... We do not believe in making investments a subject of multilateral disputes, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. The minister said she is not in favour of the contentious investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms, which is part of a bilateral agreement between the European Union (EU) and Canada. Under ISDS, corporates can take sovereign governments to international arbitration for resolution of disputes. Both these countries want other WTO members to agree to this mechanism and the template to resolve investor disputes at the multi-lateral level. There is no way, we will have investment treaty in which companies can take the sovereign or even the regional governments to court. Anything with regard to investments, we wanted to be settled by the domestic laws and courts and only after that... appeal outside, she said. Nirmala said other WTO member countries, including Argentina and Brazil, too did not support the move. So at this stage, to have this template for a multi-lateral approach to investment may be immature, she said. However, the minister added that India put its view informally as this was an informal discussion of WTO member countries. On WTO issues, she said the countries discussed the forthcoming ministerial conference in Argentina in December. Taking a leaf out of the success of pro-Jallikattu protest in Tamil Nadu, various organisations supporting Kambala have decided to stage a mammoth demonstration demanding lifting of the ban on the traditional sport in Moodbidri on January 28. Zilla Kambala Samithi, Sampradaya Kambala Samithi, Kambala Samrakshane Nirvahane Matthu Tarabethi Academy and Koti Chennaiah Jodukare Kambala Samithi have supported the demonstration. Prof K Gunapala Kadamba, president, Kambala Academy and founder secretary of Dakshina Kannada Kambala Committee, told reporters that a rally would start from Swarajya Maidan in Moodbidri and pass through Bypass Road before culminating at Kadalakere Nisargadhama Kambala field. Around 200 pairs of Kambala buffaloes and 70,000 people will take part in the demonstration. It is unfortunate that the Kambala is being misunderstood. It is part of Tulunadu tradition and religious practice. Showing the footage of Jallikattu, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sought a ban on Kambala. We need to understand the traditional practices of the region and Kambala enjoys a special place and is part of the worship, he claimed. He said the hearing of committees interim application has been adjourned to January 30 and would be heard with the main petition filed by PETA. The committee has filed an application to put off the hearing. Currently, the case is in the high court and those in favour of Kambala have been demanding that the court grant at least two years to an expert committee constituted by the government to study Kambala before banning it, he said. Prof Kadamba said, We will not allow the ban on Kambala that has been practised from time immemorial. Unlike Jallikattu, it does not entail any form of cruelty to animals. We have to prove to the court that Kambala is part and parcel of the tradition of the land. There is a need for a permanent solution to the row over Kambala. He said if Kambala is banned completely, then the buffalos will go the slaughter houses. MLA and Moodbidri Kambala Samithi president K Abhayachandra Jain said, We will hold a demonstration to press for vacating the ban order. The government-appointed committee has never got chance to study the issue as no races were held due to the stay order. The government has prayed to the court to allow the committee to examine the traditional sport, he added. Dharna today Tulu Nada Rakshana Vedike will hold a dharna in front of the DCs office at 11 am in Mangaluru on Tuesday. The Vedike members would also hold a dharna from Wednesday and submit memorandum to tahsildars in their respective taluks. Biruver Kudla members said that they would start a post card campaign to urge the government to vacate the stay order on Kambala. Nithesh Kumar Marnadu of the forum said around 10,000 post cards would be collected and submitted to governor, demanding the need to hold Kambala in undivided Dakshina Kannada district. The campaign would be held as a part of Kambala Ulisi Tulunada Siri Rakshisi campaign. DH News Service Bengaluru will host this years All-India Presiding Officers Conference. Among other themes, it will dwell on the conduct of elected representatives. The annual four-day event is held to strengthen the functioning of the legislative bodies in the country. Speaking at an interaction with journalists, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker K G Koliwad said he is in touch with Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and dates for the conference will be finalised soon. Delegates from across India, including speakers and deputy dpeakers of all the Legislative Assemblies and chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of Legislative Councils as well as secretaries, will take part. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that his government is for holding Kambala a traditional buffalo race and said the Centre should support Karnataka like it had backed Tamil Nadu on Jallikattu. We are for Kambala...The Centre should stand by Karnataka in a manner it supported the Tamil Nadu government on the issue of Jallikattu (sic), he told reporters who sought his reaction on the growing demand that the state government take steps to allow Kambala in the coastal districts. However, his senior Cabinet colleague and Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa opposed Kambala. We have to discontinue any tradition that involves cruelty to animals. Those traditions are not in sync with civilised society...Can we encourage Made Snana (a ritual wherein people roll over leftover food) because it is tradition? he asked. But he said permission can be given for Kambala if it is treated as a sport. Meanwhile, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa told reporters in Mangaluru that the elected representatives from the party will submit a memorandum to the Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad, urging the Centre to allow Kambala. Prasad is scheduled to visit Dakshina Kannada district on January 25. Yeddyurappa said that the BJP leaders would convince the Centre about the cultural importance of Kambala. He hoped that the court too would rule in favour of Kambala. The Karnataka government has begun exploring the possibility of promulgating an ordinance to allow Kambala, the traditional annual buffalo race held in the coastal districts. Kambala, in which the man and buffalo race together in slush, is not permitted to be held due to the interim stay by the Karnataka High Court. The Animal Welfare Board of India had moved the court seeking a ban. Last year, the government got an interim stay against the court order and allowed Kambala with prior conditions. One condition was that animals should not be tortured, and the race should be held under the supervision of officials. The districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod of Kerala witness Kambala during November, December and January. Sometimes it extends up to April. Tamil Nadu, to circumvent the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu, promulgated an ordinance and later replaced it with a law which has allowed the traditional game of bull taming, Jallikattu. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra told DH, I have told officials to get a copy of the ordinance promulgated by Tamil Nadu which facilitated Jallikattu. We want to study it. At present, the matter is before the high court and as per the court order, we cannot allow Kambala. Two Central legislations have banned any game that is seen as cruelty to animals. Hence, it is in the hands of the Centre to take a decision to relax the rules. The minister said once the Jallikattu issue erupted in Tamil Nadu, he had convened a meeting of representatives of associations of Kambala in the wake of the court ban. Jallikattu cannot be equated with Kambala. People in the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have sentimental attachment to this traditional game which has a rich history. This game does not harm animals, said Jayachandra. The minister said experts from the Karnataka Veterinary University in Bidar had given a report analysing Kambala in 2015. The three-page report had not recommended imposing a ban on Kambala. Based on the report, the high court had permitted Kambala with a host of conditions. But later it was banned. But the point is, Kambala is not being opposed by the government, Jayachandra added. Sources in the law department said Karnataka should not have any problem in promulgating an ordinance to allow Kambala while taking precautions not to harm animals. As there is unanimity among political parties, the legislature can pass a law in this regard. There are about 20 committees which conduct Kambala in the coastal districts and nearly 15 to 20 races are held spread over three to four months, a source said. A defiant Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refused to accept the censure of the Election Commission (EC) for his speech at a Goa rally, asking voters to accept money if it was offered but vote for his party. Kejriwal demanded that the poll panel allow him to repeat his comments as those were aimed at checking graft. He also suggested that he be made the ECs brand ambassador for his efforts to check bribery in elections. On January 21, the EC censured Kejriwal for his remarks made at a poll rally in Goa, saying that if he continues to violate the model code, stern action would be taken against him and his party, including suspension or withdrawal of recognition to the Aam Aadmi Party. By stopping me to say what I am saying, the EC is not stopping corruption, but encouraging it. I hope you (the EC) will re-examine this. Through this comment, I am trying to stop bribery. In fact, the EC should make me its brand ambassador, Kejriwal said. I hope you (the EC) will review the issue and will allow me to repeat my comments, he said. With Assembly polls in Punjab on the threshold, the Congress seems to be topping the list of candidates indulging in paid news in newspapers. President of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, a Congress candidate from Gidderbaha Assembly seat, has been blamed on maximum counts by the Election Commission (EC) for indulging in paid news. The 39-year old MLA has been involved in issuing paid news in the print media five times. The Press Council of India has defined paid news as any news or analysis appearing in any media (print and electronic) for a price in cash or kind as consideration. The EC has as on date certified 16 cases as paid news while 26 are under scrutiny out of the 46 total suspected cases of paid news that have come to the fore so far. The Congress has nine certified paid news cases, while the ruling Akali Dal has only one. Three candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party, too, have indulged in paid news till date. No BJP candidate has been found guilty of such practice. In the 2012 Assembly elections, the state saw a whopping 523 cases. There are a few newspapers that are making sure that they broadcast their credentials as a newspaper that does not indulge in paid news content. Warring became the president of the IYC in December 2014, two years after he defeated former Punjab Finance Minister and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badals estranged nephew Manpreet Singh Badal from Gidderbaha assembly seat. Meanwhile, as on Monday drugs worth Rs 9.2 crore have been confiscated from Punjab ever since the model code of conduct came into play. Gold worth Rs 21.52 crore, liquor worth Rs 1.2 crore and cash over Rs 4 crore has been seized by the EC, the officials said on Monday. DH News Service Priyanka Vadra is in no mood to snatch the focus away from her elder sibling Rahul Gandhi. A day after the Congress credited her for salvaging an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP), the AICC made it clear that Priyanka had stepped in only at the instructions of Rahul, virtually scotching reports of her larger role in politics. The Congress also said that Priyanka has always played a supportive role for her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul by nurturing their Parliamentary constituencies of Raebareli and Amethi respectively. As far as Uttar Pradesh elections are concerned, Rahul Gandhi has requested Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for sewing up the alliance, AICC spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said. He said Rahul has chosen the best people for the job and must congratulate them for the great alliance. The SP-Congress alliance, which was in the works for the past several months, was on the brink of a collapse on Saturday after the SP leadership rejected the Congress demand for 120 seats. Even as the Congress tried to assert that the final authority vested with Rahul, party workers were in a different mood. Priyanka should take out roadshows across Uttar Pradesh and not limit herself to Amethi and Raebareli, was the refrain of a group of Congress workers from Kanpur who had come to the AICC headquarters. They wanted Priyanka to campaign extensively across the state, and if possible, alongside Dimple Yadav, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadavs wife. The Congress managers said it would be too early to talk of Priyanka campaigning for the party. Last year, poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who has been working with the Congress, had suggested projecting either Rahul or Priyanka as the chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh as part of plans to revive the organisation in the state. DH News Service The appearance of exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin at the Jaipur Literature Festival caused a stir, as various Muslim organisations gathered outside the venue to protest against her participation. Organisers had kept Taslimas participation a secret. Learning about her presence, 20 organisations, including the Rajasthan Muslim Forum, Mili Council, Tahafuz-e-Imam, Jamaat-e-Islami, the Muslim personal law board and Mansuri Samaj, raised slogans outside Diggi Palace against the author and the festival organisers. She was thrown out of Bangladesh. She was allowed to stay in this country, but she has got too much freedom, Rajasthan Muslim Forum convener Qari Moinuddin told DH. Protestors slammed the organisers for withholding her name from the programme and then advancing her session. Protesters, however, dispersed after Sanjoy Roy from the organisers side assured them that Taslima will not be invited again. We assured the group that we will never invite (author) Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen ever again, Roy said. Conversing with the chair of the Writers-in-Prison Committee of PEN International Salil Tripathi, Taslima underlined the lack of freedom in criticising Islam. People come running after your life, issue fatwas and want to kill you, she said. The 55-year-old author said the uniform civil code is necessary to protect Muslim women. If Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their properties, and weve seen how progressive that has been, then why are the Islamic fundamentalists opposing the uniform civil law? Is that not democratic? she asked. The United States may be anathema for the Indian communists, but the CIA appeared not to rate them highly as they feel they are neither a revolutionary threat or a serious challenge to American interests. The American spy agency also goes on to charge the communists of trading their class struggle philosophy for a share of parliamentary power, but at the same time says that they are forced to concentrate on electoral politics as the countrys religious, cultural and social institutions resist revolutionary changes. Declassified records, which are now made available online, show how CIA agents captured every development in communist parties through incisive analysis. From the analysis on Indias first elected Communist government to the split in the CPI and activities during the Emergency, the CIA reportage on the Indian Left sometimes resembled the language of self-criticism one could read in the party congress documents. An analysis in September 1982, India: Dim Prospects for the Communists reasoned that social and cultural institutions and Hindu religious traditions have become a formidable barrier for their growth. It said the communists won several elections in states for 30 years, but have little hope of making meaningful gains. DH News Service Hours after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Bill seeking to replace the ordinance on Jallikattu, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao forwarded it to President Pranab Mukherjee for his assent. A statement from the Raj Bhavan on Monday night said that the Bill, after its passage in the Legislative Assembly, has to be reserved by the governor for the consideration of the President under Article 254 (2) of the Constitution. Accordingly, the governor reserved the Bill for the consideration of the President, the communique said. The governor had promulgated The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 so as to facilitate the smooth conduct of the traditional bull-taming sport, and remove the ban. DH News Service Rajini appeals for peace Expressing deep concern over the activities of pro-Jallikattu students, superstar Rajinikanth urged the agitators to call off their stir peacefully, reports DHNS from Chennai. Rajinikanth asked the youth and students not to give anti-social elements any chance to gain from their hard-earned protest, which has yielded positive results. Actor Kamal Hassan also requested the Tamil Nadu Police not to harass the protesters. Stop harassing peaceful protesters of TN and Marina. Let the CM offer solutions arrived upon @ the assembly, he tweeted. Senior diplomats of India, Pakistan and other Saarc member nations are likely to meet in Kathmandu early next month to end the impasse over the 19th summit of the block. Nepal the current chair of the Saarc has convened a meeting of the programme committee of the eight-nation regional bloc in Kathmandu on February 1 and 2. The diplomats are likely to discuss ways to end the stalemate over the 19th summit, apart from scheduling events to be held by the regional organisation in the coming months. The 19th summit was proposed to be held in Islamabad in November. However, it was postponed after India pulled out in protest against the continued export of terrorism from Pakistan. New Delhi decided against Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Islamabad for the summit after terrorists from territories under Pakistans control crossed the Line of Control and attacked a camp of the Indian Army at Uri in northern Kashmir on September 18. As many as 19 soldiers were killed in the incident. Islamabad had to postpone the summit as the other Saarc nations too issued statements, pointing out that the situation in the region was not conducive to hold the conclave. Sources told DH the diplomats from New Delhi would make it clear that India remained committed to Saarc, but the onus to turn the regional situation conducive for holding the summit was on Pakistan. India remained steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts within the Saarc framework, but believed that such initiatives could only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror, a source said. New Delhi has been accusing Islamabad of blocking connectivity initiatives within the Saarc, like the proposed agreements for free movement of trucks and trains within the region, and cooperation to combat terrorism in South Asia. DH News Service Violence broke out in several parts of Tamil Nadu on Monday, hours before the Assembly passed a draft law to bypass the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu. On Marina Beach here, the week-long, peaceful demonstration took a dramatic turn, with agitators clashing with the police in the afternoon. The protesters were seeking a permanent law to allow the bull-taming sport, and a ban on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the NGO that had filed a petition against it. About 50 people, including students and security personnel, were injured in Chennai. Violence also broke out in Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Salem districts. A special sitting of the Assembly unanimously passed a Bill in the evening to replace last weeks ordinance making the traditional sport legal. The Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu in response to a petition citing cruelty towards the bulls. Introducing the Bill, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said it amends Section 2, 3, 11, 22, 27 and 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Streets in Triplicane leading to Marina Beach looked like a battlefield, with security personnel chasing away protesters. After clamping prohibitory orders in Triplicane, police appealed to the people to stay indoors. In Madurai, students attacked the police with sticks when they were told to disperse. They damaged several police vehicles and barricades. More than 100 people were arrested in Coimbatore, when they refused to leave the protest venue. Violence was also reported in Alanganallur in Madurai, famous for its Jallikattu events. Police caned protesters at the site where Jallikattu was called off on Sunday. As demonstrations showed no signs of abating in the morning, police began evicting protesters from Marina Beach. Students arguing with the police continued to raise pro-Jallikattu slogans and moved their base to the sea shore. About 500 students rushed into the sea, with the police trying to pull them back to the shore. When the situation seemed under control, youths spilled on to the streets and started pelting stones, damaging two-wheelers, cars and the glass fronts of several shops. Income tax raids on the houses of a minister and a Congress leader have led to the unearthing of Rs 162.06 crore in undisclosed income. Ramesh Jarkiholi, small scale industries minister, and Laxmi Hebbalkar, State Congress womens wing president, are the leaders raided. Jarkiholi is also the minister in charge of Belagavi district. The haul Unexplained cash totalling Rs 41 lakh and gold and jewellery weighing 12.8 kg were also seized during the raids, tax officials said.The operations began early on Thursday (January 19) and ended on Sunday, according to a release from the income tax department. On Thursday, the departments Investigation Directorate conducted multiple raids in Gokak, Belagavi and Bengaluru on the houses of Jarkiholi, his brother Lakhan Jarkiholi, Hebbalkar and their close associates. Gathered intelligence revealed that both followed almost similar modus operandi for tax evasion. Common entry providers/facilitators were involved, said the statement, released on Monday. The taxmen said they had carried out the operations with sensitivity, given the political implications and the law and order challenges. Mobs gathered at Gokak and Belagavi, and at one place the situation threatened to go out of hand. People dispersed only after I-T officials convinced them the raids were not political, the statement said. Dismissing rumours that the raids were based on a tip-off from Sanathkumar V V, a close associate of BJP MLA Sanjay Patil (Belagavi Rural), the release said the information came from its own intelligence sources. No informer was in any way involved, the department said. Cash, co-ops, sugar factories Surveys confirmed huge cash deposits were made into the accounts of the leaders family members and associates, and in benami accounts in primary cooperative societies. The money was then transferred to business entities engaged in sugar manufacturing, the tax department said. Non-existent persons were made shareholders and investors in one of the sugar companies, according to an official release. Sources said the officials had found money being siphoned off to companies taking up turnkey projects to set up sugar factories. The books also showed bogus assets. DH News Service The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition for prosecution of Karnataka-cadre IPS officer Rupak Kumar Dutta for forging classroom attendance while studying LLB in 2009. After noting that the officer, now special secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, didnt complete the course, a bench of Justices A K Sikri and R K Agrawal said, For some reasons, the complainant, who claimed to be a social worker, was after him. In March 2015, a magisterial court had ordered registration of an FIR against Dutta and the management of Arunodaya Institute of Legal Studies, Bengaluru. The high court quashed order in September 2016. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for G Mallesh, the complainant, moved the Supreme Court. Can a police officer be allowed to forge his attendance and violate the law, Dhawan asked. Sanjay Nuli, representing Dutta, said every time Dutta was being considered for a key post, the complaint was filed. The first one was filed when he was being considered for the post of additional director of the CBI, he said. Now, he is in the race to be the DG&IGP of Karnataka. Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa on Monday said he is against a proposal submitted by the state legislature, urging the government to hand over the responsibility of maintaining a part of Vidhana Soudha to it. I will not allow this (proposal) to materialise. It is the responsibility of the government to maintain Vidhana Soudha, he told reporters, who sought his reaction on the legislatures proposal. The legislature has reportedly urged the government to hand over the ground floor and the first floor of Vidhana Soudha to it for maintenance. Currently, the Public Works Department of the government is maintaining the entire Vidhana Soudha. Kagodu said vested interests in the Legislative Assembly are behind the proposal. There are some elements who always indulge in mischief like this. The proposal, I believe, is aimed at taking control of Vidhana Soudha. If this is allowed, the legislature secretariat would ask even the chief minister and other ministers to seek permission to enter the Vidhana Soudha, he stated. The Legislators Home was under the supervision of the state legislature till a few years ago. But vested interests ensured that it was divided with one controlled by Legislative Assembly and another controlled by the Legislative Council. Besides, he said he is against a proposal of the Legislative Assembly to develop a township on a 100-acre government land near Whitefield. The Karnataka government has halved the penalty under a scheme to regularise houses built illegally on public land in urban and rural areas. The penalty for regularising houses built illegally on government land measuring 20x30 square feet in Bengaluru and five other cities is now Rs 5,000 per unit, down from Rs 10,000. For SCs and STs, the penalty is Rs 2,500 per unit. The government has invoked section 94C of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act to regularise houses built illegally on its land within 18 km in Bengaluru, 10 km in Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru and Mysuru, 5 km in city municipal councils and 3 km in town municipal councils, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa told journalists here on Monday. For rural areas, the government is invoking section 94CC of the same Act for regularising houses built illegally on its land. The penalty is Rs 1,000 for a house built on a plot measuring 1,200 square feet, Rs 2,000 for 2,400 square feet and Rs 3,000 for 4,000 square feet, he said. This apart, the government has extended the deadline for submitting applications for regularisation under both the provisions. The new deadline for urban areas is February 21 and rural areas February 27. The previous deadline was December-end 2016, the minister said. DH News Service Italian, Spanish Frigates Sail to Do Battle In Australia The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable. 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Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. Trump, America, The Book of Revelation, Bible Prophecy Contact: Steve Wohlberg, White Horse Media, 559-977-9744, steve@whitehorsemedia.com MEDIA ADVISORY, Jan. 23, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- On January 20, Donald Trump, with his hand upon the Holy Bible, repeated this solemn oath: "I, Donald J. Trump, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God." Does the Bible itself pinpoint Americathe most powerful nation on earthin its apocalyptic prophecies? Bible expert, international speaker, bestselling author of over 30 books Steve Wohlberg, executive producer of "Startling Prophecies for America," with compelling evidence affirms exactly that. "The ancient nations of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome," reports Wohlberg, "are clearly mentioned in Bible prophecy." In the book of Daniel, chapter 7, these nations are symbolized by a winged lion, a bear, a leopard, and a dragon-like beast (verses 4-7). "The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom upon the earth," states Daniel 7:23. Thus a "beast" in prophecy symbolizes a great nation, Wohlberg then examines Revelation 13:11, which predicts: "I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." Read Revelation 13:11-17 for yourself. This new "beast" (nation) "comes up" (rises into power) in the end-times (see verse 16), has "horns" without crowns (is not a monarchy ruled by kings, compare with verse 1), has lamblike, Christian features (mildness, promotes religious freedom), achieves superpower status (verse 16), influences the global economy (verse 17), yet finally "speaks like a dragon" in its descent into tyranny as it enforces an apocalyptic "mark" upon earth's citizens (verses 16,17). "No other nation on earth today," affirms Wohlberg, fits the specifications of this prophecy like the United States of America. Steve Wohlberg is the Speaker/Director of White Horse Media (Priest River, Idaho). He is the executive producer of "Startling Prophecies for America," and the author of The United States in Bible Prophecy. By special invitation, he was invited to share his views on America's role in prophecy before an audience inside the United States Pentagon. He has also been a special guest on numerous History Channel documentaries and one National Geographic International documentary. For interviews, Mr. Wohlberg can be contacted at: steve@whitehorsemedia.com; (mobile) 559-977-9744 Share Tweet Americans Support Supreme Court Ruling to Restrict Abortion, Oppose Taxpayer Funding New K of C-Marist poll finds support for abortion restrictions on both sides of the political aisle Contact: Andrew Walther, Knights of Columbus, 203-824-5412, andrew.walther@kofc.org WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Significant majorities of Americans oppose the use of tax dollars to fund abortions and want the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of abortion restrictions, according to a new Marist Poll sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Americans overwhelmingly oppose the use of tax dollars to support abortion in other countries (83 percent). More than six in 10 Americans (61 percent) also oppose the use of tax dollars to fund abortions in the United States. This includes almost nine in 10 Trump supporters (87 percent) and even nearly four in 10 Clinton supporters (39 percent). The poll demonstrates that there is a clear bi-partisan consensus on limiting abortion to at most the first trimester, with a majority of Clinton supporters (55 percent) and more than nine in 10 Trump supporters (91 percent) saying they support such limits. Among Americans overall, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) want abortion restricted to, at most, the first trimester. Among those who want restrictions, 74 percent want the Supreme Court to rule in favor of those restrictions. This equates to about 55 percent of Americans who support such action by the court. In fact, nearly six in 10 (59 percent) say it is either an immediate priority (34 percent), or is an important one (25 percent), to limit abortion to the first trimester. This includes 78 percent of Republicans and almost half of Democrats (47 percent). Even among those who identify as pro-choice, more than four in 10 say restricting abortion is an immediate priority or important (44 percent). "There is a consensus in America in favor of significant abortion restrictions, and this common ground exists across party lines, and even among significant numbers of those who are pro-choice," said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. "This poll shows that large percentages of Americans, on both sides of the aisle, are united in their opposition to the status quo as it relates to abortion on demand. This is heartening and can help start a new national conversation on abortion." Regardless of their views on whether abortion should remain legal, almost six in 10 Americans (59 percent) believe that abortion is morally wrong. This includes eight in 10 Trump supporters and nearly four in 10 Clinton supporters (37 percent). Nearly eight in 10 Americans (78 percent) think laws can protect both the well-being of a woman and the life of her unborn child. The survey of 2,729 adults was conducted Dec. 12-19, 2016, by the Marist Poll and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the continental United States were interviewed in English or Spanish by telephone using live interviewers. The results are statistically significant at 1.9 percentage points. Share Tweet Ashley Judd to Visit India to Address the Issue of Violence Against Girls and Women Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9 Winner, Teriya Magar Is A Fan Of This Bollywood Actress! home World Burmese army admits detaining two Baptist pastors who went missing last month The Burma Army announced last Thursday that it had detained two Kachin Baptist pastors, whose disappearance last month raised concerns among human rights groups. In November, Langjaw Gam Seng, 35, and Dumdaw Nawng Lat, 65, assisted journalists from Rangoon to take photographs of the rubble of a Catholic Church. The church had been destroyed by airstrikes in the battle between the Myanmar Army and the Brotherhood of the Northern Alliance, a new coalition of ethnic groups in northern Myanmar. The two pastors were last seen on Dec. 24 after they were summoned by the Burmese army to a military base in the northern Shan state. The military had previously denied detaining the two men, and government officials have not responded to questions from human rights groups or the pastors' families. However, the Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that the men had been secretly detained for security reasons. The pastors were suspected of recruiting and spying for Kachin ethnic rebels, according to the Indian Express, citing the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper. The army said in a statement that the two men were investigated in accordance with Section 376 of Burma's Constitution, which stated that no one can be detained for more than 24 hours without charge except "on precautionary measures taken for the security of the Union or prevalence of law and order, peace and tranquility." It added that the pastors "could not be detained under investigation by opening files of lawsuits" because of the ongoing military clashes in Mong Ko, and there was no functioning police force in the town during that time. Zau Ra, an official from the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), rejected the accusations that the two men assisted the rebels. "They only helped the wounded. They did not support the [ethnic armed groups]," he told The Irrawaddy. The KBC, which is the largest Christian denomination in Myanmar, made a request the Burma Army to turn over the two pastors to the Mong Ko police as soon as possible. The organization has been providing aid to internally displaced people who fled the fighting between the government army and militias in the Kachin and Shan states. Millicom is believed to be interested in bidding for mobile spectrum in Costa Ricas upcoming auctions as a means of entering the market. Already established as a cable and TV services provider in Costa Rica, where it operates under the Tigo Star brand, Millicom is now reportedly interested in obtaining 70MHz of spectrum across the 1800MHz and 1900MHz/2100MHz bands. The tender for this block was launched by regulator Sutel at the end of 2016. The operator, which has a footprint across Latin America and Africa, has asked for further information on spectrum pricing structures, as well as asking Sutel for an extension to the current deadline of February 13th. It has also provided feedback on the tender process, along with Costa Ricas second and third biggest operators, Telefonicas Movistar and America Movils Claro. Millicom boss Mauricio Ramos stated that the group was looking to increase its global presence while focusing on growth in mobile data following the firms Q3 2016 results. The Costa Rican market is led by state-owned ICE, branded as Kolbi, which has around 4.8 million subscribers nationwide. Most Christians I know want to see the reality of a church revival. We just dont all agree on what revival looks like. What Is a Church Revival? Back in the olden days (the mid-1990s) I preached a few times at a small church (averaging 12 each Sunday) in eastern Arkansas. They had a rotation system that determined who would take the visiting speaker home for lunch, and one day my lot fell to two elderly ladies who made awesome roast beef! As I sat in their living room visiting after lunch, they brought out some photo albums from the churchs history. I was amazed to see crowds of people stuffed so tight into the little white clapboard building that they were spilling out into the yard around the church with small groups gathered around each window leaning in to hear a loud evangelist thunder forth the gospel. The next few photos were of the mass baptisms they conducted in the White Riverdozens had come to claim Jesus Christ. Some argue that revival isnt about people being saved but about the church coming back to life. I agree, but the byproduct of the church coming to life is nearly always lost people knowing and claiming Christ as Savior to the glory of God. I had grown up in a similar tradition with loud evangelists, standing-room only crowds and mass baptisms in Clear Fork Creek in southern Kentucky (although when I was baptized as a kid, we had already installed one of those fancy new indoor baptistries). Ill never forget those two ladies question to me. Pastor, why dont we see revivals like these anymore? My heart has hurt over their question since the day they posed it for at least two reasons. First, I, too, hunger for a fresh, massive, community-shaking movement of the Holy Spirit of God. But second, my heart hurts over their question because they werent really asking why doesnt God move like this anymore? Whether they realized it or not, they were actually wondering why doesnt a movement of God look like that anymore? The difference is subtle, but worth exploring. A similar experience happened to me when I was serving a church in Kentucky as pastor. A guest speaker and I made a short road trip to visit the old Red River Meeting House in Logan County, Kentucky. In the year 1800, a Methodist preacher named James McGready began asking his three small congregations scattered along the Gasper River to fast every third Saturday and pray for revival. And their prayers were answered. The open-air meetings drew thousands of seekers and worshippers who camped out across the rolling pasture land. Hugo Barra cites home sickness and health issues as the reason for leaving the organisation Hugo Barra, Xiaomi's Global VP is leaving the Chinese smartphone maker after 3.5 years. Barra joined Xiaomi from Google, where he served as the VP of Android and now plans to head back to Silicon Valley. Hugo Barra will continue with the company till February and plans to take some time off before heading back to Silicon Valley. Hugo Barra joined Xiaomi in 2013 when the company was primarily selling its products only in Greater China. With Barra's joining as Global VP, the company expanded across Asian markets and other regions including Russia. Under the leadership of Barra, the Chinese company announced its 2016 flagship at Mobile World Congress last year and announced Android TV-based products at Consumer Electronics Show 2017. However, Xiaomi is yet to establish its foothold in the US market. For Xiaomi under Barra, India has been the strongest market for the company. Xiaomi India recently announced that it has surpassed over $1 billion in sale and the company is one of the first in the business to start making its smartphones in India. Hugo Barra cites home sickness and health issues as the reason for leaving the organisation. In a Facebook post announcing his departure, he notes "What Ive realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much Ive left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return." He also noted that Xiaomi's global footprint is in a very good place and the company's Senior Vice President, Xiang Wang will lead international business going forward. With Hugo Barra leaving the organisation, Xiaomi's events will never be the same again. One wonders if Barra's decision to move to the valley has anything to do with Android Creator, Andy Ruben's plans of making a smartphone. Only time will tell. The budget battles heating up again. In our tests, weve found the Coolpad Cool 1 to be the best budget performer, but Xiaomis Redmi Note 4 (review) lays a decent claim to the throne as well. In fact, the Lenovo K6 Note lies just around the corner, selling offline and hence promising a wider reach. As a buyer, you do have options, but which phone is right for you? This comparison between the Redmi Note 4, Coolpad Cool 1 and Lenovo K6 Note should answer that for you. Performance This one actually gives us a very good look at the incremental performance boost that three of Qualcomms top SoCs today offer. The Lenovo K6 Note (review) runs on the Snapdragon 430 SoC, against the Snapdragon 625 on the Redmi Note 4 and the Snapdragon 652 on the Coolpad Cool 1 (review). From the 430 to 652, you see almost a 50% performance increment, however the 625 is an interesting intersection. In terms of performance, the 625 is a wild card for Qualcomm. On the one hand, theres a definite performance drop. However, the combination of a 14nm manufacturing process and high clock speeds results in an SoC that can do wonders when used right. Xiaomi has done just that, utilising the Snapdragon 625s efficiency to maximise battery life, while the high single core speeds aid in reducing app load times to reasonable levels. The overall performance is still lower than the 652 and Coolpad Cool 1, but in terms of regular usage, its barely noticeable. In pure comparative terms, there are a few extra lags on the Redmi Note 4. For example, playing Asphalt 8 youll see slight stutters on menus or between transitions. These become much more pronounced on the Lenovo K6 Note, which has a weaker GPU and CPU. In terms of raw power, it goes Snapdragon 430 < Snapdragon 625 < Snapdragon 650. However, in terms of efficiency, it goes Snapdragon 625 > Snapdragon 650 > Snapdragon 430. Winner: Coolpad Cool 1 Battery Life Enhancing battery life is the primary reason for using the Snapdragon 625. Both the other SoCs are built on the 28nm manufacturing process, which gives the 14nm SoC a major advantage, at least theoretically. This, and good utilisation of Googles Doze mode make the Snapdragon 625 quite efficient in terms of battery life. However, the Snapdragon 430 being weaker, also consumer lesser power. As a result, in terms of battery life, the Lenovo K6 Note and Redmi Note 4 are comparable, while the Coolpad Cool 1 lags behind. On our tests, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 offers about 10% more battery life than the Lenovo K6 Note. However, the Note 4 and K6 Note offer 28% and 20% more battery life than the Coolpad Cool 1, respectively. On the PC Mark Work 2.0 battery test, the phones last 535 minutes (Redmi Note 4), 481 minutes (Lenovo K6 Note) and 384 minutes (Coolpad Cool 1). In real world usage, youll get a work days battery life from the Coolpad Cool 1, while the Lenovo K6 Note and Redmi Note 4 can last longer. In fact, the Note 4 can go from dusk till dawn, while the Coolpad Cool 1 will need a charge in between. What matters most, though, is that on battery intensive activities, the 14nm Snapdragon 625 consumes less power when playing games. The phone can last a full day with an hour of heavy gaming, while both the Lenovo K6 Note and Coolpad Cool 1 drop almost 15% battery over the same period. Winner: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Camera Specs wise, the Coolpad Cool 1 is the obvious winner in the camera department, and the same is true otherwise. The phone has two 13MP cameras on the back, against the 13MP sensors on the Redmi Note 4 and Lenovo K6 Note. The dual-camera setup allows the Coolpad Cool 1 to capture more light, while its monochrome sensor is instrumental in producing more details. Coolpad Cool 1 (Top) vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Middle) vs Lenovo K6 Note (Bottom): Image resized for web Coolpad Cool 1 (Left) vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Middle) vs Lenovo K6 Note (Right): Image resized for web On this test, the Redmi Note 4 is behind the Cool 1, followed closely by the K6 Note. The Cool 1 produces the most details and has the best low light performance. It captures more light, producing brighter photos in low light, and colours are much more natural than on the other two smartphones. The Cool 1 also has higher dynamic range than the Xiaomi and Lenovo phones, thereby differentiating between closely matched colours better. Differences are slimmer between the Note 4 and K6 Note. However, the Note 4 is the better of the two. This is because the K6 Note sometimes morphs colours and produces much dimmer photos indoors. That of course means its low light performance is also weaker, and both phones have a tendency to clip highlights. Dynamic range is low and colours are oversaturated very often, which some may still like. Coolpad Cool 1 Sample Images Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Sample Images Lenovo K6 Note Sample Images Winner: Coolpad Cool 1 Note: It is worth mentioning that the Nubia Z11 Mini (not included in this comparison) has a better camera than all of these smartphones. It is the right choice for those who want camera over all else. Display Between their displays, things basically come down to your personal preference. However, the Lenovo K6 Note seems to have the best contrast ratio between blacks and whites. However, the difference is barely visible between this and the Note 4. Our contrast tests make it easy to pinpoint the difference, but this will barely be visible unless youre using the phones side-by-side. Lenovo K6 Note (Right) > Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Left) > Coolpad Cool 1 (Middle) The K6 Note also has the brightest display, with maximum luminance ratings of 573 Lux, tested in a completely dark room on a full white screen turned up to 100% brightness. The Coolpad Cool 1 comes in next, at 486 Lux, followed by the Note 4s 474 Lux. In terms of general viewing, the K6 Note does best with sunlight visibility, while the Note 3 and Cool 1 are not ideal, but functional. All three phones return minimum luminance readings of 3-4 Lux, which is good enough for viewing in completely dark conditions. Winner: Lenovo K6 Note Update Cycles Interestingly, updates are problematic with all of these three OEMs. Neither is particularly known for providing timely updates. While Xiaomi focuses on its MiUI more than the underlying Android OS, Lenovo and Coolpad havent had the best update records either. However, the Redmi Note 4 is going to be sold with a beta version of MiUI running on Android Nougat. This gives the Redmi Note 4 a slight advantage over the other two. In fact, in terms of updates, Coolpads Cool 1 is the least favourable. It runs on LeEcos eUI, which is often behind competitors in terms of Android versions. Given the fact that the Cool 1 doesnt come with eUIs content features, a slow update cycle could be an issue for many. Winner: Tie Design The design aspect of a smartphone is highly subjective, and shouldnt be made part of an objective comparison. Our personal opinion here is in favour of the Lenovo K6 Note, as far as ergonomics are concerned. We think the rounded sides are indeed more comfortable to use than the curves of the Redmi Note 4 or the complete slab-like design of the Cool 1. However, we do find the Cool 1 to be the best looking smartphone amongst the three. Theres little to differentiate devices in terms of dimensions as well, so that decision is purely up to the user. That said, this gives the Cool 1 and K6 Note a major advantage over the Redmi Note 4. The two devices do sell offline, which means users can actually touch and feel them before buying. Of course, it also means theyre more readily available. Winner: Tie Which one should I buy? Its obvious that users who cant compromise on battery life should go for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. However, that device will come with slight compromises on camera quality and performance. If youre fine with that, then this is the device for you. Xiaomi has aced the pricing and the Note 4 is a dependable smartphone for the regular user. That said, in terms of pure value for money, the Coolpad Cool 1 is a better choice for a mere Rs. 1000 more. You get a noticeably better camera, better performance, and decent battery life. You can also buy the phone offline if needed. On the other hand, the Lenovo K6 Note is the one that we cant recommend anymore. The phone is indeed decent, but the other two are simply better at the same or cheaper prices. These were the movements in some of the most widley-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2.40% (-6bp) UK: 1.37% (-6bp) Germany: 0.36% (-6bp) France: 0.86% (-5bp) Italy: 1.99% (-3bp) Spain: 1.44% (-7bp) Portugal: 3.79% (-8bp) Greece: 6.99% (-9bp) Japan: 0.06% (-1bp) Sovereign bond yields found a strong bid on Monday after the new US president signed an executive order yanking his country out of the Trans Pacific Partnership and announced he would levy "a very major" border tax on companies choosing to move overseas. Just as significant, while Donald Trump also reportedly told a group of executives from Americas leading companies that he would push for a big reduction in regulation and corporate taxes, for now at least the emphasis was on trade protectionism. Nevertheless, at least for European corporates, in many cases the combination of higher taxes on imports and lower corporate taxes might yey be positive, JP Morgan strategist Mislav Matejka said in a research note sent to clients. The stronger dollar which would result from the trade tax, Matejka added, would also act as a certain offset for foreign corporates, by boosting the value of their US earnings. "US and international law provides mechanisms to respond to alleged trade abuses and the US has been an active user of such tools as anti-dumping duties. It is appropriate to respond in cases of abuse of trade agreements. But care needs to be taken to avoid costly protectionism, which reduces efficiency and hurts growth," chipped in analysts at HSBC. Of interest, in a blog post three Bank of England staff penned an article cautioning of the potential for risks to financial stability arising from the transition to a more a clean-energy economy. "According to one estimate, 80% of energy firms equity valuations depend on cash flows further than 5 years in the future. So, even if the energy transition kicks in only by 2020, it could have a large impact on todays valuations. "Large movements in prices may not, in themselves, impair financial stability. But risks might arise if a sharp repricing was to occur in several sectors simultaneously (say, oil & gas, utilities, automobiles, materials) or if this were to spark further sales by investors and affected the availability of finance for firms more broadly," Yuliya Baranova, Joseph Noss and Carsten Jung said in their post. Customs posts will not be set up on the Northern Irish border, after the Irish and British governments agreed that they would look at technology to facilitate trade following Brexit . After Theresa May confirmed in a speech last week that Britain would leave the single market, questions were raised about how the border between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom would uphold new EU tariffs on trade. The relationship between the two countries will come under the spotlight in the coming months due to the high levels of trade that run between the two regions, as well as the breakdown of power-sharing in Northern Ireland. Talk of of a hard border being reintroduced between the northern and southern parts of the island have been rebuffed by both sides, but some believe that Ireland could become a "back door" for businesses looking for trade loopholes. At the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos last week, Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that "we've agreed that there will not be a return to borders of the past". Tensions have been fraught in recent weeks in NI following preparations for Britain's departure from the bloc, as well as the fallout from the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme, which led to the collapse of the Stormont coalition government. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has claimed that Brexit will jeopardise the Good Friday Agreement, which provided the basis for peace in the region following decades of political turmoil. "The British government's intention to take the north out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action," Adams said during a conference in Dublin. "Along with her (Theresa May) commitment to remove Britain from the European convention on human rights, this stand threatens to undermine the fundamental human rights elements of the Good Friday agreement." Samsung 's investigation into its failed Galaxy Note 7 device has found that fires and explosions were caused by faulty batteries. The South Korean smartphone maker was forced into an embarrassing withdrawal of its flagship phone in October after also recalling millions of Note 7s, with several users reporting fires and overheating. The Note 7 was targeted as the competitor to rival company Apple's iPhone 7, but instead Samsung has faced a bill of 4.3bn related to the recall. Samsung ordered the independent investigation into the issue, and the results concluded that hardware and software were not at fault, only the batteries. "To find the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 incidents, Samsung examined every aspect of the Galaxy Note 7, including hardware, software and related processes over the past several months," the firm said in a statement. "Samsung's investigation, as well as the investigations completed by three independent industry organizations, concluded that the batteries were the cause of the Galaxy Note7 incidents." The company has also been in the news for the wrong reasons recently for its involvement in a corruption scandal in South Korea which led to the impeachment of president Park Geun-hye. Samsung's de facto boss Jay Y Lee was questioned by investigators over a donation given to a prominent business woman, but a judge refused to give prosecutors an arrest warrant. US President Donald Trump has met with the CEOs of several large US companies, telling the likes of Elon Musk and Mark Fields that regulations for companies will be cut "massively" during his term. In a White House meeting with the chief executives of Tesla, Ford and Lockheed Martin among others, Trump also vowed to reduce taxes for big businesses from its current level of 35% to anywhere between 15% and 20%. "We think we can cut regulations by 75%, maybe more," Trump told the CEOs. During his successful run to the Oval Office, the Republican consistently called for a high border tax for companies which import products into the US, promising to bring vast numbers of jobs to the country. "We're going to be cutting regulation massively," he said, but stressed that any new rules will be "just as protective of the people". "The problem with the regulation that we have right now is you can't do anything. I have people that tell me they have more people working on their regulations than they have doing product, and it's out of control." Trump added that the stripping back of regulations would have minimal effect on the environment, claiming that he is a very "big person" for the issue, despite previously claiming that climate change was a "hoax" perpetrated by Chinese authorities. "I'm a very big person when it comes to the environment, I've received awards on the environment but some of that stuff makes it impossible for things to get built," Trump told the meeting. The new president has been busy on his first few days in office, signing executive orders to renegotiate the NAFTA and TPP trade deals, as well as a private meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan and a reception with other congressional leaders. Donald Trump has wasted little time in acting on one of his campaign promises, as the new President of the United States is due to sign executive orders directing the dismantling of two major trade agreements. Trump swept to victory in the election last November on promises of ripping up and renegotiating the trade deals that the US was involved in, specifically focusing on those involving China and Mexico. The North America Free Trade Agreement brings together the US, Mexico and Canada, and Trump said on Sunday that he had planned meetings with the heads of both countries in order to renegotiate the deal. "Anybody ever hear of NAFTA?" he said. "I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA. But we're going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on immigration, on security at the border." Trump is likely to face opposition to the move from both Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who are both due to meet him this month, as well as a potentially hostile Congress, even if it is controlled by his own Republican party. Abandoning the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a much simpler objective as it has not yet been ratified. In addition to the trade agreements, Trump also infamously promised to build a physical wall on the US border with Mexico in order to halt illegal immigration, and make the country pay for its construction. Markets in Asia finished mixed on Monday, as investors kept their focus squarely on the United States, now turning their attention to the Trump administrations trade policies. Japans Nikkei 225 lost 1.29% to settle at 18,891.03, with a strengthening yen dragging on the benchmark. The currency was last 0.75% ahead on the greenback, at JPY 113.76 per $1. Computing firm Toshiba was ahead 9%, after a number of local outlets reiterated reports it was preparing to spin out its recently-downsized semiconductor business. The major exporters were mostly down, with the stronger yen weighing on their stocks - Honda Motor was down 1.72%, Panasonic lost 1.62%, Sony was 1.15% softer and Toyota finished down 1.63%. On the mainland, the Shanghai composite was up 0.43% at 3,236.64, while the Shenzhen composite was 0.87% firmer at 1,902.14. South Koreas Kospi was virtually flat, closing up 0.02% at 2,065.99 as the political turmoil surrounding impeached President Park Geun-hye continues. Her culture minister and her former advisor were arrested on Sunday, after allegations emerged that they blacklisted news articles critical of Parks government. Technology giant Samsung Electronics was 1.56% firmer after it told markets it had finally identified what made its now-cancelled flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone so spontaneously combustible. It said manufacturing issues, primarily the process in layering the batteries during assembly, played a part. Shares in Sharp and Kuroda Electric were also moving - Sharp up 2.69% but Kuroda losing 1.91%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index ended the day 0.06% higher at 22,898.52. Not long after Trumps inauguration as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, his administration said its trade strategy was to be a protectionist one in a bid to save domestic jobs. It confirmed it was withdrawing from the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and would crack down on those nations that violate trade agreements and harm American workers in the process. [Trump wants an] inward-looking and protectionist US, extolling 'only America first' policies on trade, taxes, immigration and on foreign affairs, noted Mizuho Bank senior economist Vishnu Varathan. Oil prices were down during Asian hours, after both OPEC and non-OPEC producer claimed success in their bid to lower oil output. West Texas Intermediate was last down 1.41% at $52.48 per barrel, and Brent crude lost 1.34% to $54.81. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.77% to settle at 5,610.97, with the industrials sector plunging 3.97%. Sydney-based logistics firm Brambles saw its stock free-fall 15.8% after it downgraded its earnings for the first half to 31 December, over jitters in its North American operation. It said it expects sales revenue to now grow at 5%, down from the previous 7% to 9% guidance, with underlying profit growth to hover around 3% - a significant downgrade from the previous 9% to 11% guidance. New Zealands S&P/NZX 50 eked out gains to finish up 0.3% at 7,087.84. It was led by crude processor New Zealand Refining, which rose 1.5%, while health food manufacturer Comvita suffered a sharp 16.99% drop. Both of the down under dollars were ahead on the greenback, with the Aussie last strengthening 0.06% to AUD 1.3228 per $1 and the Kiwi gaining 0.22% to NZD 1.3919. European stocks were in the red as investors continued to digest Donald Trumps admission into office as US President on Friday. At midday, the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.17%, Germanys Dax was down 0.35% and Frances CAC 40 was 0.31% lower. Meanwhile, oil prices pushed lower with West Texas Intermediate down 1.4% to $52.50 per barrel and Brent crude 1.1% lower at $54.87. Mike van Dulken head of research at Accendo Markets said: Equities are on the back foot to start the new trading week, sentiment dented by a weak USD derived from Trump's Friday inauguration speech striking a very anti-globalisation tone. This is fuelling concerns about how gung-ho he'll be on certain divisive policies. "Reciprocal GBP and EUR strength is pushing FTSE and DAX components lower on account of their goods now being slightly more expensive and international profits worth that little bit less. On the corporate front, Italian insurer Generali racked up healthy gains following a report that Intesa Sanpaolo could take a stake in the company, possibly with Germanys Allianz. Housebuilder Bovis Homes rallied following a Sunday Times report that one of its larger shareholders has suggested Berkeley Group may mount a bid for the company. Dutch electronics company Philips Lighting dimmed after it said it plans to return up to 300m to its investors over the next two years through share disposals by its main shareholder Royal Philips. Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell slipped as Saudi Basic Industries (Sabic) announced on Sunday that it has signed an agreement to acquire the 50% stake in the company that it doesnt already own for $820m. Paddy Power Betfair was in the red after saying it would not hit its top-end targets after Donald Trump's unexpected US election win and several other punter-friendly sporting results at the end of the year cost it around 40m. However, the FTSE 100 group said it still expected to make underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation around the mid-point of its November guidance of 390-405m. Essentra, a maker of cigarette filters and plastic packaging, tumbled after it warned that it expects profit will be below expectations to a due to a more challenging than previously anticipated Health & Personal Care Packaging unit, which has been experiencing operational issues. Insurer Admiral was lower as Deutsche Bank cut its stance on the stock to sell. Coming up, investors look to eurozone consumer confidence index at 1500 GMT. Theresa May has revealed the 10 pillars of her industrial strategy for the UK economy, ahead of a trip to Washington to meet new US President Donald Trump at the end of the week. Having clarified her position on the government's Brexit strategy last week, the mid-point of a key fortnight for the Prime Minister saw her set out a green paper that aims to boost productivity, link in with the Chancellor's plans to increase spending on infrastructure and generally see the government play a more active role in boosting business. At her first regional cabinet meeting, May published the public consultation paper that outlined the intention to increase spending on broadband, transport and energy networks as well as ramp up government support for the high-growth sectors of life sciences, green vehicles, industrial digitalisation, creative industries and nuclear via sector-specific deals with industries that make a good case for how state support will address their specific problems. "Our economy has great strengths, but while many people, places and businesses are thriving, opportunities and growth are still spread unevenly across the country," the paper said. The 10 pillars were: investing in science, research & innovation; developing skills; upgrading infrastructure; supporting businesses to start & grow; improving procurement; encouraging trade & inward investment; delivering affordable energy & clean growth; cultivating world-leading sectors; driving growth across the whole country; creating the right local institutions. In a skills push, May will pour 170m into the building of new institutes of technology in every region, aiming for these 'new polytechnics' to be given similar parity of esteem with established universities. The government is reported to be willing to deregulate, arrange trade deals or create new institutions to boost skills or research, May signalled, as the automotive and aerospace industries have done. The CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn welcomed the government creating an opportunity for all sectors to get involved. A modern industrial strategy will be a landmark opportunity to build a successful, modern economy as the foundation for a prosperous, fairer and more inclusive society," she said. It must help fix the countrys productivity problems and remove the regional inequalities that have dogged our country for generations, having a positive impact on living standards, wages and the future opportunities of many people." Professor Karel Williams, a political economy expert at Alliance Manchester Business School, said it was a "very traditional kind of industrial policy", focussed on high tech sectors of the future and seemingly ignoring the more mundane but larger part of British manufacturing. He added: As Greg Clarke, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, admits, the announced strategy is a consultation and scoping exercise, rather than a policy. Skills are a priority, but just 170m of investment has been promised for technical education which, if we remember, is just half of the 350m we were promised would be saved by Brexit every week. Trump meeting On Friday, the PM will become the first overseas leader to meet Trump, with the pair expected to discuss a new trade deal between the UK and US that cuts or even drop tariffs and makes it easier for workers to move between the two countries. May told the BBC she would discuss the countries' future trade relations, the importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Syrian conflict. "What I think is important is that when I sit down, I will talk about how I can build on this special relationship. He has already said to me that he wants to see a very strong relationship between the US and the UK in the future," she said. The Telegraph cited sources who believe any agreement on tariffs would give May sizeable leverage in her negotiations with Brussels and allow her to demand that EU leaders give Britain a good deal. Other rumours for the talks include a new 'passporting' systems for banks post-Brexit. As part of a broader charm offensive, the Queen is likely to extend an invitation to Trump for a state visit this summer, with May saying she would look forward to welcoming president Trump some time this year if that is possible. In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! Hochschild Mining has reached an agreement with a local community at its Pallancata mine in Peru to allow the silver and gold mine to reopen this week. Production at Pallancata has been on pause since November due to ongoing discussions with the local community On Monday, the FTSE 250-listed company said 2017 production forecast for Pallancata of 6m silver equivalent ounces and associated all-in sustaining cost guidance was not affected. Last week Hochschild has guided for group production of 37m oz silver equivalent at a higher AISC of $12.2-12.7 per oz because of increased exploration and one-off investment to develop the Pablo vein at Pallancata. The group celebrated record annual attributable production for the full-year 2016 of 35.5m oz, slightly higher than guidance. Financially, Hochschild reported having circa US$140m of cash and $183m of net debt. Financiers are losing confidence in the economy and one of the countrys most closely watched forecasting panels has predicted a three-year grind of slow growth. The gloomy expectations come as officials prepare this week to publish their first estimate for growth in the final quarter. This is expected to slow slightly from 0.6 per cent in the second and third quarters to 0.5 per cent in Q4. - The Times Theresa May will signal an era of greater state intervention in the economy as she launches her industrial strategy with a promise of sector deals, a new system of technical education and better infrastructure. The prime minister will publish the strategy at a cabinet meeting in the north-west of England, setting out five sectors that could receive special government support: life sciences, low-carbon-emission vehicles, industrial digitalisation, creative industries and nuclear. - The Guardian One of the Citys most influential fund managers is trying to put Bovis Homes in play after calling for Berkeley Group to consider an all-paper merger with its troubled rival. Andy Brough, of Schroder Investment Management, which has an 8.1 per cent stake in Bovis, has written to the Berkeley board, led by Tony Pidgley, urging it to consider a marriage with Bovis to accelerate its expansion outside London. - The Times British-based factory workers producing garments for a string of top fashion brands are being paid less than half the legal minimum wage, a new undercover film claims. Textile firms making products for fashion retailers such as River Island, New Look, Boohoo and Missguided are paying their UK workers between 3 and 3.50 an hour, Channel 4s Dispatches will allege on Monday night. - The Guardian One of Britains biggest housebuilders, a specialist in the luxury London market, has started to make and sell houses built almost entirely in a factory. Berkeley Group has cast aside years of suspicion by the traditional construction industry to embark on a huge drive to market modular homes. - The Times The UKs small, privately-owned pharmaceutical companies often go under the radar, but theyre playing an increasingly important role in Britains healthcare sector and posting impressive growth rates, according to a report from consultants Catalyst Corporate Finance. As big players such as GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca come under pressure from rising R&D costs, stricter regulation and outcomes-based reimbursement, theyre outsourcing parts of their business that would historically have been done in-house to specialist companies. - Telegraph Royal Dutch Shell has agreed an $820 million deal to sell its share of a Saudi Arabian petrochemicals joint venture, taking it past the $6 billion milestone in its asset sales programme. It is seeking to offload $30 billion of assets by the end of 2018 to help to cut its debts from the 35 billion takeover of BG Group and protect its dividend. - The Times Shells plans to sell off UK oil assets are expected to move ahead within weeks ahead of an M&A boom for the North Sea. City sources have said that private-equity backed investment funds are expected to close in on asset sales from supermajor Shell as well as French energy giant Engie amid rising investor confidence in the oil market recovery. - Telegraph British renewables firms Lightsource Energy, RES and Solar Century are preparing to compete for a multi-million dollar windfall by snapping up contracts to develop wind, solar and power storage projects in Saudi Arabia through the kingdoms $50bn renewables drive. Within weeks the world's largest producer of oil will launch a tender process for an ambitious renewable energy program which is expected to involve investment of between $30bn and $50bn by 2023 to help kick its addiction to fossil fuels. - Telegraph Sky is preparing a push into feature film production, according to industry sources. The company is due to give investors its half-year report on Thursday against the backdrop of its planned takeover by 21st Century Fox, as it attempts to maintain focus on its sporting battles with BT and efforts to retain subscribers as Netflix and Amazon pile more money into original programming. - Telegraph The British and Irish governments have agreed that there will be no customs posts on the Northern Irish border, despite Theresa May signalling she will take the UK out of the European Unions customs union. Enda Kenny, the Irish prime minister, and his finance minister said separately in Davos last week at the World Economic Forum that the two governments were looking at technology to replace border posts. - The Times An internet mortgage broker that aims to shake up the convoluted process of securing a home loan has raised 5.5m from a Silicon Valley investor. Habito, a London start-up, allows homebuyers to find a mortgage using an artificial intelligence chatbot instead of a series of meetings or phone call with a broker. - Telegraph Hochschild Mining climbed as it reached an agreement with a local community at its Pallancata mine in Peru to allow the silver and gold mine to reopen this week. Fellow miners Ferrexpo and Kaz Minerals also rose on the back of a 0.61% rise in copper and the price of iron ore going up marginally to $78.2/t from $78/t. Housebuilder Bovis Homes rallied following a Sunday Times report that one of its larger shareholders has suggested Berkeley Group may mount a bid for the company. Food travel experts SSP Group got a boost after Jefferies upgraded its stock to 'buy' rating based on the food and drink concession operator's "sizzling solid potential" from structural changes in the US and UK. Petra diamonds was in the red despite its production going up 24% to 2,015,087 carats for the six months ended 31 December 2016. Diamonds sales also rose 47% for the period to 1,910,113 carats, and in line with previous years, with the second half is expected to be a stronger sales period. Oil industry service providers Amec Foster Wheeler and Hunting were under the cosh as oil prices took a dive. Banks Shawbrook and Aldermore are down as after Trumps inauguration speech sent yields lower and after a survey showed optimism among the UKs lenders and money managers fell for the fourth consecutive quarter. The survey of 103 financial services firms by business group CBI and accounting firm PwC revealed the longest period of falling business sentiment since the worst days of the 2008 financial crisis. It found that nine out of 10 cited Brexit as their main challenge. Risers Hochschild Mining (HOC) 247.60p 9.65% Ferrexpo (FXPO) 135.80p 4.38% SSP Group (SSPG) 407.50p 4.22% Bovis Homes Group (BVS) 822.50p 3.20% Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 422.90p 3.07% Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 2,860.00p 2.62% AO World (AO.) 162.00p 2.14% Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 367.00p 2.14% G4S (GFS) 251.00p 1.95% Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 86.20p 1.77% Fallers Hunting (HTG) 591.00p -4.29% Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 458.80p -3.41% Inmarsat (ISAT) 636.50p -2.97% Pets at Home Group (PETS) 199.30p -2.88% Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 1,127.00p -2.84% Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 296.70p -2.72% Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 152.40p -2.43% Shawbrook Group (SHAW) 237.00p -2.07% Dairy Crest Group (DCG) 604.50p -2.03% Aldermore Group (ALD) 211.50p -1.99% Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. National finalist: Gold award Structural systems COWI North America Photos courtesy of COWI North America This Santiago Calatrava-designed structure at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub consists of two parallel arches supported by narrowly spaced columns. Project: World Trade Center Transportation Hub Client: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey A 300-foot opening in the roof allows natural light into the commuter hall. One hundred feet above the ground at the tip of New Yorks Manhattan Island, a giant steel-and-glass, dome-like structure rises over the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub. The eye-catching structure, designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, is inspired by what appears to be a pair of hands releasing a white dove. The structure, called Oculus, consists of two parallel arches spanning a 300-foot-long oval-shaped opening in the roof, supported by columns spaced five-and-a-half-feet apart. Glass panels fit in between the columns, allowing natural light to bathe the 200,000 daily commuters below. Yes, it is beautiful and inspiring, but it also was an extremely complex and complicated structure to design and build. In fact, because of its bridge-like design, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey didnt seek out a traditional structural engineering company to help build it. Instead, the port hired for the project a top bridge-engineering firm, COWI North America, and its New York bridge division, Buckland & Taylor International. Santiago Calatrava was the lead design and calculating engineer. (Editors note: The article has been changed to clarify Santiago Calatravas engineering role.) A sequential erection scheme, used in bridge construction, was deemed the ideal approach. Essential to this scheme was a custom finite element analysis model that determined the cambered shape of each individual steel segment and computed the stresses in the structure and the position of the geometry control points during each stage of the erection. Constant monitoring with the model helped define erection sequence, maintain tight geometric tolerances, achieve schedule and reduce costs, and allowed for slight alterations and adjustments as construction progressed. The project team also identified significant risks associated with traditional field welding. To mitigate these risks, COWI replaced welded splices in the arches with bolted connections. Fully connecting an arch piece by field welding required almost three weeks, but with bolts, the connection could be completed in two days. Dan Payea, a vice president for Skanska, the contractor, wrote, Applying bridge engineering concepts and first principles to the erection of the building allowed this highly complex project to be completed safely and accurately. Awards judge Jeff Carpenter, state design engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation, added, COWIs Oculus structural lift plan highlighted the challenges engineers can face when embracing bold architecture. Other Stories: National finalist: Gold award Structural systems HDR Engineering Photo courtesy of HDR Engineering The new state Route 520 Bridge is supported by 21 of the heaviest, widest, deepest and longest floating bridge pontoons ever built. Project: SR 520 Bridge replacement and HOV program Client: Washington State Department of Transportation The greater Seattle area is expected to grow by at least 1 million more people and 40 percent more traffic in the next 25 years. So how do you fix the state Route 520 Bridge one of the largest, most obsolete transportation corridors in the area especially when it crosses the states second-largest lake? One of the main problems facing the Washington State Department of Transportation was that water gathered in the hollow pontoons supporting the bridge, requiring regular pumping. The bridge deck was less than eight feet above Lake Washingtons surface, so heavy rains and winds would create waves that would crash onto the deck, endangering motorists and bicyclists, and pedestrians were forbidden on the bridge. In addition, approach spans were at risk of collapse since they did not meet current seismic standards. Still, more than 115,000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily, and it operated near capacity for more than 13 hours daily. WSDOT needed an engineering team that could hit the ground running, and hired HDR Engineering as the general engineering consultant to oversee preliminary design, preparation of requests for proposals, construction management and environmental mitigation. Even though the project included roadway renovation on either side of the bridge, the complexity of the challenge was exacerbated by the bridges location over Lake Washington, which plunges to a depth of more than 200 feet over the top of another 200 feet of soft silt not the best bridge anchoring scenario. So HDRs team simplified things by turning the marine job into a land job whenever possible, even though there was just a 150-foot-wide stretch of shoreline for all land access to over-water construction activities. The new bridge is supported by 21 of the heaviest, widest, deepest and longest floating bridge pontoons ever built. At 360 feet long, 75 feet wide and 28.5 feet high, the longitudinal pontoons weigh nearly 22 million pounds each. The pontoons are anchored by 3 1/8-inch-diameter cables (nearly an inch thicker than the old cables) that descend as much as to 1,000 feet into the lake and tie into one of 58 anchors. The bridge now can resist up to 98 mph winds, equivalent of a 100-year storm, and its higher bridge deck (20 feet over the lake versus the old eight feet) prevents large waves from washing over traffic. The new bridge deck is 56 feet wider than the old bridge deck and includes a 14-foot-wide bicycle-pedestrian path with several belvederes, or viewpoints, along the way. It also provides six travel lanes for vehicular traffic, including a dedicated transit and high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction. Also, the team prepared the new bridge for light rail with a design that allows pontoons to be added and the bridge to be widened. The new bridge will give our states most populous and economically robust region much safer, more reliable, and more environmentally responsible transportation for decades to come, said Roger Millar, secretary of WSDOT. On opening day, a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records certified that the 7,708-foot-long bridge 130 feet longer than its predecessor was, indeed, the longest floating bridge in the world. In addition to the many technological challenges involved, the project team successfully integrated other aspects into the design such as fire/life safety, emergency power, communications, sustainability, future expansion capability and community concerns. Other Stories: Swiss Re, 4 other reinsurers granted licence to operate in India European reinsurance major Swiss Re has received the approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to open a branch in Mumbai. With the composite branch licence, Swiss Re will be able to operate in India and offer both non-life and life and health reinsurance solutions directly to clients and brokers in the country. Global insurance majors are flocking to India to utilise its untapped potential, as the Indian insurance sector is poised to grow at an average annual growth rate of 8 per cent from 2017 to 2025. Swiss Re is among the first five foreign reinsurance companies to obtain a licence to sell reinsurance in India. Swiss Re's newly licenced entity, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd, India Branch, will begin its operation on 1 February 2017, the company stated in a release. Besides Swiss Re, IRDA has granted final licences (R3) to Munich Re, Hannover Re, SCOR and RGA to open branch operations in India. Besides, the insurance sector regulator has cleared preliminary approvals to four more players, including Lloyd's of London, Gen Re of Warren Buffett and Axa Re last week. While Lloyd's has received R2, the second round of regulatory approvals, Axa Re and Gen Re have received R1. XL Catlin has also received the preliminary licence. Swiss Re chief executive officer Reinsurance Asia, Jayne Plunkett, says: "This is a significant milestone for us. As a reinsurer, Swiss Re has served Indian insurers for over 87 years. Our new India branch, together with Swiss Re Global Business Solutions centered in Bangalore, represent our commitment and investment in India's long term future, and our ambition to be part of this dynamic high growth market." "We will continue to be actively involved in supporting the development of the Indian insurance market and making India's society more resilient. Our clients and partners will benefit from a combination of innovative, customised risk transfer and capital management solutions, as well as our knowledge transfer and risk services support and delivery," adds Jayne. Kalpana Sampat, currently managing director of Swiss Re Services India Private Ltd, will head the Swiss Re India branch as its chief executive officer (CEO). She will be responsible for developing the reinsurance business and operations of the branch. She brings with her 30 years of life insurance industry expertise with experience in insurance, audit and law, and has a profound understanding of the business culture. Kalpana Sampat, CEO of the India branch, says: "India is a high growth market for Swiss Re and we are committed to the healthy and sustainable growth of the insurance market here. With Swiss Re's global experience, strong financial ratings, large net capacity, deep insight and proven underwriting knowledge, we have a strong value proposition for India and will generate significant value to our clients and partners in the market." Over the years, Swiss Re has worked closely with various sectors across the Indian insurance industry to deploy a number of reinsurance solutions in the areas of life, health, agriculture and infrastructure.Swiss Re will capitalise on its more than 150 years of insurance knowledge, act as a trusted partner to the industry, lend support in pricing, product development, risk mitigation, risk management, claims handling, technology development and data analytics to the insurance market in India, the release adds. The Swiss Re Group is a leading wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, Swiss Re serves clients through a network of over 60 offices globally and is rated "AA-" by Standard & Poor's, "A1" by Moody's and "A+" by AM Best. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. There has been mixed reaction to the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development announced this afternoon. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, launched Realising our Rural Potential: The Action Plan for Rural Development today. They claim the plan is the first ever whole-of-government strategy aimed at delivering real change for people living and working in rural Ireland The Plan contains 276 actions across five key pillars including: Supporting Sustainable Communities, Supporting Enterprise and Employment, Maximising our Rural Tourism and Recreation Potential, Fostering Culture and Creativity in Rural Communities, Improving Rural Infrastructure and Connectivity. Donegal TD, Deputy Thomas Pringle called the initiative insincere as post offices and other services in rural Ireland continue to be undermined by the Government. He added: It really does beggars belief how a Government could claim it will revive rural Ireland at the same time it continues to undermine vital rural services like Post Offices, expressway bus services, mobile coverage and a Broadband Plan that has been postponed on several occasions. The 60m allocated to the Rural Plan will be spread very thinly, leaving under 2m per county. That kind of money will do nothing to address the persistent problems arising from chronic underinvestment in Donegal, he stated. Director of Oideas Gael and former Donegal person of the Year, Liam O Cuinneagain, said the announcement should be welcomed. He stated: The Action Plan is hugely ambitious and challenging and the acceptance that improved health services and better security and safety should be addressed as core issues is essential. Creating jobs and supporting enterprise and employment is also a core issue and consideration should be given to extending the remit of Udaras na Gaeltachta to rural areas outside of the Gaeltacht. The expertise and experience is there to take on the challenge for a period of years, he added. Residents of three Wiregrass counties will have an opportunity to have questions answered or voice their opinion on a proposal to resurface rural county roads through an increase on the state gas tax. Commissioners from Henry, Dale and Houston counties will host a public meeting at Headland High School on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver announced the gathering during the regular commission meeting on Monday. The meeting has a twofold purpose. We want to get the word out and we want to allow people to ask any questions, Culver said. We like to think regionally. We thought if we all got together we could make a presentation that would make sense to the whole region. The commission was poised Monday to vote on a resolution supporting the proposal, known as ATRIP-II (Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program), but pulled the resolution from the agenda. The commission is expected to reintroduce the resolution at its next scheduled meeting following the public meeting on Feb. 2. The Association of County Commissions of Alabama is supporting the proposal as a way to fix the states ailing rural roads. Under the proposal, a 3-cents per gallon gasoline tax would provide the revenue for a $1.2 billion bond issue to be distributed among Alabamas 67 counties for road resurfacing. The proposal also calls for the tax to end after the revenue has been raised to repay the bond. The money would specifically target the states rural county roads which are not eligible for federal funds. We dont want the public to feel as if we are doing this without getting all the information out, Culver said. Houston County Engineer Barkley Kirkland has identified $48 million worth of resurfacing needs to fix the countys worst roads. Houston County would receive an estimated $22 million, enough to resurface all of the county roads currently in the three lowest grade categories and about 43 miles of county roads in the next most critical category. Culver said all counties have critical road resurfacing needs. The core Wiregrass counties of Houston, Henry, Dale, Coffee and Geneva would receive an estimated combined total of $75 million for road resurfacing. That is a direct impact of $75 million. When you think about the way that money can be multiplied, it could have a tremendous impact on our area, Culver said. Youre talking about a big impact, plus addressing a huge problem at the same time. ------------------- WHAT: Joint meeting for residents of Dale, Henry, Houston counties to discuss ATRIP2 proposal WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 2, 6 p.m. WHERE: Headland High School Bands of storms that killed at least 18 people and injured dozens more in Georgia and Mississippi blocked roads and caused damage in the Wiregrass. Ronnie Dollar, Henry County Emergency Management Agency director, said the severe weather destroyed a mobile home and knocked down power lines and trees, blocking sections of some roads. Weve got a good bit of damage, Dollar said Sunday afternoon. Were not aware of anybody that was injured at this point. Chris Judah, Houston County Emergency Management Agency director, said Dothan and Houston County suffered no significant damage other than trees across roads. Judah said road and bridge crews were taking care of those issues. Flooding and damage were reported in every Wiregrass county. Wind speeds were still up after the last of the storms passed through early Sunday afternoon. The forecast calls for winds up to 24 miles per hour during the daytime Monday before dropping to 12 or less beginning at sundown. Our website uses cookies We are always working to improve this website for our users. To do this, we use the anonymous data provided by cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies Page Content The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission will jointly host a high-level seminar on 7 February in Brussels entitled Investing in Europe: building a coalition of smart cities & regions towards a Third Industrial Revolution . The seminar will be co-hosted by Maros Sefcovic, Vice President of the European Commission and Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions CoR. They will be joined by Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation on Economic Trends. With this in mind, we have invited Etienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of the Economy for Luxembourg;Xavier Bertrand, President of Hauts-de-France; and Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, to share their experiences in mobilizing the public sector, business community, civil society and academia towards transforming their jurisdictions into a smart economy and society. Whatever your involvement in smart cities and regions as an EU investment pioneer, as a climate change ambassador or through other associations such as Open and Agile Smart Cities ( whose 2017 conference took place at the CoR last week ) we look forward to seeing you on 7 February. Please click here to register . The seminar takes place at the CoR, JDE Building - rue Belliard 99-101, 1040 Brussels, 10.00 - 16.00, including a networking lunch. 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We habitually tell the story of the United States by connecting up administrations from George Washington to Barack Obama and beyond. But other frames can serve as well. Ive argued that Donald Trumps victory was largely accidental, a combination of little-recognized trade shocks to the American economy cumulating over twenty-five years Japan, Mexico, China and the Hillary stopper in the bottle. Already there are signs, in the business arrangements Trump has made, that the 70-year-old trademark baron doesnt expect to serve a second term. The likelihood is that Trump will be a one-term president. If so, like others of that ilk Martin Van Buren, Benjamin Harrison, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush he will be fundamentally unimportant in the long run, except as a springboard to what happens next. So what narrative horizon might serve better for the next four years? We should clear a place in story-space for the new integrated systems of national accounts. To put it slightly different, consider the prospects for world growth. The principal expert here is Dale Jorgenson, 83, of Harvard University. Hes been working on the measurement problem for sixty years. The prospects are surprising, says Jorgenson. After a century in which the US economy became the largest economy in the world and remained so throughout, a massive shift has taken place. It will continue in the future. China will supplant the US as the worlds largest economy, if it hasnt already, as India has surpassed Japan. The world economy will continue growing at a brisk pace, around 3.5 percent a year, according to Jorgenson. But China and India will grow faster than the average, and the US, Germany, Japan, Russia and Brazil will grow slower. Germany will continue to lead Russia, and Russia will lead Brazil. Hence the new world order: China, US, India, Japan, Germany, Russia and Brazil. Does this amount to stagnation for the industrial democracies? The new normal, Jorgenson says, is a much better term. It is remarkable to think how short a time ago it was that governments had no real idea of the relative standing among nations and the well-being of their citizens (or lack thereof) beyond the accounts of travelers. Britain and the United States are well-established as sources of a new economics, but historian J. Adam Tooze, in Statistics and the German State: The Making of Modern Economic Knowledge (Cambridge, 2001), demonstrated that the Weimar Republic, along with the Soviet Union, Sweden and the Netherlands, was an important source of new ideas in this case the statistical tools for management of economic systems that today we take for granted. During the Nazi years in Germany, the Reichs Statistical Office mutated into a fantasy of government control of every aspect of the economy. In 1945, the tradition was all but obliterated. Instead the national income accounts drawn up by Simon Kuznets in the United States became the standard, especially after Colin Clark and Richard Stone in Britain extended the system to other nations. The new field of growth accounting received a further boost when Robert Solow in 1956 published a model of the sources of economic growth and the next year estimated that additions to the stock of capital and labor could account for as little as 15 percent of measured growth in the early twentieth century. Improvements in technology, broadly defined, accounted for the rest. In 1963, in Capital Theory and Investment Behavior, Jorgenson introduced refinements in measurement, notably the concept of the cost of capital, that changed the way economists have measure various inputs ever since. In 1965, in The Explanation of Productivity Change, with Zvi Griliches, he added refinements in measurement of human capital in order to argue that the contributions to growth of education and investment had been greatly underestimated. Somewhat cheekily, they began their article with an epigraph from Solow: But part of the job of economics is weeding out errors. That is much harder than making them, but also more fun. Harvards economics department hired them both, Jorgenson from the University of California at Berkeley, Griliches from the University of Chicago, as part of a determined attempt to catch up with economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Paul Samuelson and Solow held forth across town. Jorgensons sixty-year quest to describe and explain the growth process. Griliches had been recognized with the John Bates Clark Medal as the most influential economist of his cohort under the age of 40 in 1965; Jorgenson was similarly honored in 1971. In the 1970s, Jorgenson battled with Edward Denison, of the Brookings Institution, to define the theoretical underpinnings of national income accounting. He teamed up with William Nordhaus, of Yale University, to identify with increasing precision, the role played by natural resources, energy in particular. In the 80s, he became an influential adviser to governments on pro-growth tax policies. He ecame an early supporter of a tax on carbon emissions. By the 90s, his interest shifted to computers, and the burgeoning role of information and communications technology, and software in particular, in growth statistics. He became involved in arguments with his old rival Solow, as well as Paul Romer, then of Stanford University, and Robert Lucas, of the University of Chicago, who had ventured models of their own of the determinants of long-term growth. Jorgensons long-time friend and collaborator Griliches died in 1999, but Jorgenson has soldiered on. In the 00s, his attention shifted back to the national income accounts and related data. Various major systems in the US had arisen from different impulses at different times. The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Commerce Department produced the core data of gross national product the National Income and Product Accounts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics collects prices, compiles employment, wage, and salary data, and prepares productivity statistics; the Federal Reserve Board produces the flow-of-funds accounts, including balance sheets. The Census Bureau conducts business and population surveys. The Internal Revenue Service creates tax-based data through its Statistics of Income Division. Jorgenson and Steven Landefeld, director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, undertook to incorporate the cost of capital concept in the measurement of all assets, including computers and software. A New Architecture for the US National Accounts (Chicago) edited by Jorgenson, Landefeld and William Nordhaus, appeared in 2006, under the aegis of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Jorgensons latest project has the unlovely name of the World KLEMS Initiative, a joint project with the US Conference Board, designed to generate industry-level data sets of outputs and inputs of capital (K), labor (L), together with inputs of energy (E), material (M), and services (S). The modest rates of innovation needed to maintain long-run growth are usually concentrated in a relatively small number of sectors, Jorgenson writes in The World Economy: Growth or Stagnation? (Cambridge, 2016), a book of surveys edited by Jorgenson, Kyoji Fukao, and Marcel Timmer. With its 15 essays, 58 authors, and 199 countries, The World Economy contains more than you probably want to know. But it is the latest word on changes in the distribution of income, wealth, prospects and power, (at least potential power), among nations around the world. Other daunting economic measurement projects have been undertaken over the years. But none is of greater significance. Never mind the weeds of growth accounting. You could do worse than fastening on the horizons of relative growth hither and yon for the next four years as a means to keep calm and carry on. When An Inconvenient Truth was released more than 10 years ago, the most criticized scene of Al Gores climate change documentary was the flooding of downtown New York City from sea level rise and storm surge. Well, as the former vice president explains in the first official clip of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, that prediction came true. [facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnInconvenientTruth/videos/343294439146892/ expand=1] The new film, which premiered last week at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, is a follow-up to the groundbreaking 2006 documentary. It follows Gores efforts around the world to influence international climate policy and galvanize support for the climate change movement. The overall message is more hopeful compared to its predecessor, emphasizing how solutions for climate change are already at hand. It has much more emphasis on the solutions, as Gore explains in the clip below. Compared to 10 years ago, the solutions are widely available now and are in many cases cheaper than continuing to burn dirty fuel that causes the problem in the first place. [facebook https://facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/1504142262932039/ expand=1] The response to the new film has been positive so far. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the screening was met by two standing ovations. Now we are undergoing a time of challenge, but we are going to prevail, Gore told the crowd during a Q&A after the screening. Im not going to give all the evidence of why Im so confident. Always remember that the will to act is a renewable resource. We will win, Gore added. No one person can stop this movement. We want this movie to recruit others. The original Oscar-winning film sparked a major environmental movement, prompting millions around the world to start asking questions about our warming planet. While a lot of progress has been made, from advances in climate science to the renewable energy boom, theres still a lot of work to be doneespecially since Donald Trump, a notorious climate denier, is now the most powerful person in the world. Incidentally, Gore unveiled the clip on the same day of the presidential inauguration. Gore made headlines last month when he met with Trump and his daughter Ivanka to discuss climate change. When asked by an audience member what he got from the Trump talks, Gore responded, We will know soon enough. Its not the last conversation. A lot of people started out as climate-change denialists. Whether he will change remains to be seen. He was receptive to some of what I had to say, and I appreciated that, Gore also told The Hollywood Reporter in a later interview. Candidate Trump made a number of statements and wrote a bunch of tweets that caused concern, but he also has other statements that at least give rise to the possibility that he and his team will take a fresh look at the reality of what were facing here. An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, comes to theaters July 28. To coincide with the films release, publishing company Rodale Books will also release a companion book of the same name. Watch Gores Q&A here: [facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnInconvenientTruth/videos/847378348738496/ expand=1] By Bob Henson After the least-deadly year for U.S. tornadoes in three decades, 2017 is off to a troublesome start. At least 19 people died over the weekend in two consecutive nights of tornadoes across the Deep South, compared to the total of 17 fatalities recorded for the entire year of 2016. Although midwinter outbreaks dont happen every year in the U.S., theyre most likely to be across the South when they do occur. Many of the deadliest tornadoes in these outbreaks happen overnight, when residents may be caught asleep or otherwise unaware and when getting to shelter can be difficult. The high proportion of manufactured/mobile homes across the South adds to the vulnerability of residents. Winds at jet-stream level (250 mb or about 34,000 feet) show a strong upper-level trough over the lower Mississippi Valley at 7:00 p.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 22 (00Z Monday). An unusually strong surface low of 989 mb was located over far north Georgia. Tropicaltidbits.com This past weekends activity was fed by a powerful disturbance rolling through the polar jet stream atop very sultry air for midwinter at ground level. Jacksonville, Florida, set a record high of 84 F on Saturday and air with dew points well above 70 F streamed onshore through the weekend. The severe weather occurred in three distinct rounds, as shown in the satellite loop embedded at bottom. A pre-dawn supercell tore across southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama early Saturday. Five tornadoes were reported. The most extensive damage occurred in and near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, around 4:00 a.m. CST by a long-track tornado (31 miles), a half-mile wide at its peak, that was rated EF3 on the enhanced Fujita intensity scale. This tornado produced 4 deaths and 56 injuries, according to the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi. Insured damages are likely to top $200 million in Hattiesburg alone, Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said. Just four years ago, on Feb. 10, 2013, Hattiesburg was extensively damaged by an EF4 twister that caused more than 80 injuries in two counties. A wide shot of all the homes damaged looking towards Edwards Street in downtown Hattiesburg. pic.twitter.com/elmJ2hA10c Ryan Moore (@RyanMooreMS) January 21, 2017 A more extended, widespread round of 31 tornadoes occurred from midday Saturday into Sunday morning. The main culprits were two long-lived supercell storms, the first of which rolled from extreme eastern Alabama across central Georgia to extreme western South Carolina from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. The second supercell tore across southern Georgia after midnight. Eight people were killed when a tornado ripped through a mobile home park southeast of Adel, Georgia, around 3:45 a.m. EST Sunday. Two others died in the same storm a few minutes later. Conditions became increasingly volatile by midday Sunday, leading the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center to issue a rare high risk outlook (its first anywhere since 2014) for parts of southeast Georgia and northern Florida. Instability was more than adequate for severe weather and wind shear was at extreme levels, with very high storm helicity (the amount of rotation imparted to a storm by winds at various levels). By early afternoon, thunderstorms were sweeping from the Gulf of Mexico into the Florida Panhandle with well-developed rotation evident on radar, a rare occurrence along this coast. The worst storm of the day produced a tornado that ravaged a mobile home park in Albany, Georgia, killing at least 4 people. The afternoons other thunderstorms developed so quickly and vigorously that they competed with each other, reducing the odds that another long-lived tornadic supercell would emerge. Four other tornadoes were reported on Sunday afternoon and evening, but none of them produced widespread destruction. WU radar depiction from 6:35 p.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 22, shows a broken line of intense thunderstorms extending from coastal South Carolina and Georgia well into the eastern Gulf of Mexico. A Noteworthy January for Tornadoes All told, NOAA/SPC logged more than 40 tornado reports from early Saturday through early Monday, scattered from western Louisiana to far southeast Georgia. Loosely speaking, this whole event might be considered a single outbreak, since it emerged from the same overall weather pattern. However, experts often define an outbreak as a string of tornadoes with no more than six hours of tornado-free conditions. By that standard, we could label the early-Sunday tornadoes (round #2 above) as an outbreak and all three periods above as a sequence. Only a few Januarys since 1950 have produced outbreaks or sequences topping this one, according to a compilation from ustornadoes.com. The reigning champion is the outbreak of Jan. 21-23, 1999, which led to nine deaths and produced 129 tornadoes from east Texas to southern Illinois. There was one F4 tornado in that event in far northeast Arkansas and 11 other tornadoes were given F3 ratings on the original Fujita tornado intensity scale that was in use at the time. The nations deadliest individual tornadoes on record in January, as noted by weather.com, were two Arkansas twisters that each led to 55 fatalities: one in Fort Smith on Jan. 11, 1898 and the other in Warren on Jan. 3, 1949. Echoes of Another El-Nino-to-La-Nina Winter Through early Monday, the Storm Prediction Center had logged a total of 91 preliminary tornado reports for the month so far. The upcoming pattern will be much less conducive to severe weather throughout the week and perhaps all the way to the end of the month. Even so, if all or most of these reports are confirmed, this could end up as the second most active January for tornadoes since comprehensive records began in 1950, according to ustornadoes.com. The clear record-holder is January 1999, when a total of 212 tornadoes were notched. Interestingly, the twister-packed January of 1999 occurred during a moderately strong La Nina event that was in place one year after the record-setting 1997-98 El Nino event. Similarly, were now one year past the comparably strong 2015-16 El Nino event and again experiencing La Nina, albeit a weak one. The only other super El Nino on par with these was in 1982-83; the following January of 1984 was very quiet tornado-wise, with only one confirmed twister. That year as a whole was quite active, though, with a devastating tornado outbreak in the Carolinas on March 28, 1984, killing 57 people and injuring more than 1000. In general, La Nina years appear to be a bit more favorable than El Nino years for early-spring tornado outbreaks, but this applies mainly to La Nina events that are at least moderately strong, which the current one isnt. Recent work led by John Allen (now at Central Michigan University) has bolstered the idea that La Nina is more favorable than El Nino for springtime hailstorms and tornadoes. Reposted with permission from our media associate Weather Underground. By Andy Rowell As the Trump Administration Sunday descended into a farce of alternative facts to try and argue that there had been historic numbers at the new Presidents inauguration, it is quite clear alternative and blatantly bogus facts, will be used on energy and climate too. Within minutes of the president being inaugurated on Friday, the White Houses webpage got a make-over, reflecting Trumps post-truth, pro-oil agenda. The White House removed pretty much all references to climate change. Out went Obamas message on climate change, where you could see the ex-president saying our children, and our childrens children, will look at us in the eye and theyll ask us, did we do all that we could when we had the chance to deal with this problem and leave them a cleaner, safe [sic], more stable world? That box has now been deleted and replaced by Trumps America First Energy Plan which is an oilmans Drill-baby-drill dream come true. The page states: Sound energy policy begins with the recognition that we have vast untapped domestic energy reserves right here in America. The Trump Administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. We must take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own. Screenshot This pro-oil agenda is reflected in Trumps proposed cabinet. Even the ever-impartial Financial Times noted that: As Donald Trump moves into the White House, it would be hard to dream up a cabinet friendlier to fossil fuels. Such is the optimism about Trump from fossil fuel investors that since his election, investors have pumped nearly $4 billion into the U.S. energy sector. But whilst the President might be able to ignore climate change on paper and by the people he picks for his cabinet, he will not be able to ignore climate change in the real world. Trumps energy plan concludes with the concept of a brighter future depends on policies that stimulate our economy, ensure our security and protect our health. As Newsweek points out: The missing piece is a plan to address climate change. The future will not be brighter if the coasts are inundated by rising sea levels. Florida could be hit hard, as could Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. Separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach is only seven feet above sea level. If Trump wants a brighter future, perhaps he should move to higher ground. Likewise, Trump may want to drill every last drop of oil and gas from under U.S. lands, but this may not be as easy as he thinks. For a Billionaire businessman it seems Trump does not understand simple supply and demand economics. Once again the Financial Times is skeptical: The idea that expanding where companies can drill, easing the process of getting a permit and scrapping efforts to curb carbon emissions will unleash an energy revolution, as the Trump transition website put it, is untested. If more supplies do flow, they could depress energy prices and punish investors. The more shale that is produced, the more it will undermine coal. If Trump subsidies coal, it will undermine shale. The majority of shale is on private land and not on federal land. That is subject to jurisdiction from the states, rather than the Federal Government. Trump may want to try and undo Obamas legacy on climate, but the Financial Times argues this could take years to undo. Trumps rhetoric maybe simple, but life is more complicated in the real world. And Trump will face huge pressure from the international community on climate too. Xie Zhenhua, the veteran Chinese climate negotiator said last week: The international community and U.S. citizens will pressure the Trump Administration to continue clean energy policies. The person they would lobby is the U.S. Secretary of State. Later today, Rex Tillerson, the ex-Exxon boss could be approved for that post. Yes, we face the most pro-fossil fuel cabinet in generations. But every day the resistance to this extreme Trump agenda grows stronger. Just witness the amazing scenes from the womens marches last Saturday from around the world. Look at those pictures and draw hope. Reposted with permission from our media associate Oil Change International. ECSU, Pitt Community College Sign Criminal Justice Degree Agreement Elizabeth City State University is continuing its push to partner with regional community colleges. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Chancellor Thomas Conway met with Pitt Community College President Dennis Massey to enter into a partnership that will allow PCC students to continue pursuing a Criminal Justice degree at ECSU. The agreement will allow PCC students who graduate with an associates degree in Criminal Justice Technology to transfer seamlessly to ECSU to earn a bachelors degree. Students at PCC will complete 65 credits toward a four-year criminal justice degree at the community college campus, before transferring to ECSU to complete their remaining 59 credit hours. Students who complete bachelors degrees at ECSU through the partnership now in place will increase their opportunities for employment at higher levels within the criminal justice field, said PCC criminal justice instructor Sherri Joyner. At the signing ceremony, ECSU Chancellor Thomas Conway said criminal justice is one of the universitys largest programs, and ECSU plans to keep it growing. He said ECSU has signed criminal justice program agreements with other regional community colleges, and he intends to sign more in the near future. Last fall, Chancellor Conway signed agreements with Roanoke-Chowan Community, Halifax County Community College, and Beaufort County Community College. Unlike the transfer partnership with PCC, those agreements established an onsite bachelors degree program at each of the community college campuses. Students finish their associates degrees and then move on to earn their bachelors degrees while attending class at their regional schools. These programs give students the opportunity to pursue a higher education when it might be financially challenging otherwise. PCC President Massey said with student debt becoming a growing concern nationally, completing the first two years of a criminal justice degree at a community college offers students a financial advantage. Chancellor Conway has also noted that agreements such as this increase the chance for residents of Northeast North Carolina to change their future through access to higher education. (Photo: Courtesy White House home page https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-trump)U.S. President Donald Trump after being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2017 in Washington DC. Pope Francis has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to remember "the poor, the outcast and those in need" during his time in office while extending his "cordial good wishes" to the new American leader. He assured Trump of his prayers moving forward, saying he'd be praying that God would give him wisdom and strength in his role as President. Trump's first weekend as president was greeted with concern outside the United States where Trump's inaugural speech strongly emphasized "America First," but offered scant signs of conciliation to U.S. friends and neighbors. An imam who delivered a prayer from Trump spoke of diversity in what was seen as a counter to the president's anti-Islamic rhetoric during his electoral campaign, In a Jan. 21 statement, Francis said: "At a time when our human family is beset by grave humanitarian crises demanding far-sighted and united political responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by the rich spiritual and ethical values that have shaped the history of the American people and your nation's commitment to the advancement of human dignity and freedom worldwide. "Under your leadership, may America's stature continue to be measured above all by its concern for the poor, the outcast and those in need who, like Lazarus, stand before our door." The Pope said that , "with these sentiments, I ask the Lord to grant you and your family, and all the beloved American people, his blessings of peace, concord and every material and spiritual prosperity." Separately, in an interview published Jan. 21, Francis said he will wait to see what Trump does before making any judgments, emphasizing God's own patience with him and his faults, Catholic News Agency reports. In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais Jan. 20, the same day as the U.S. presidential inauguration, the Pope said he doesn't like to get ahead of himself "or judge people prematurely." "We will see how he acts, what he does, and then I will have an opinion. But being afraid or rejoicing beforehand because of something that might happen is, in my view, quite unwise. It would be like prophets predicting calamities or windfalls that will not be either," he said. "We will see. We will see what he does and will judge." The world is so upside down, that it needs a fixed point, grounded firmly in reality: "what did you do, what did you decide, how do you move. That is what I prefer to wait and see." The remarks came after Pope Francis publicly questioned the Chrisitian credentials of a person proposing to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border as Trump did during his presidential campaign. The Pope said in 2016: "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian." Trump posted a critical reply on Facebook. "For a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful. I am proud to be a Christian and as President I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now, with our current President. "No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man's religion or faith. "They are using the Pope as a pawn and they should be ashamed of themselves for doing so, especially when so many lives are involved and when illegal immigration is so rampant." In one of his first events as U.S. President, Trump attended a prayer service at Washington Cathedral the day after his inauguration Jan. 20. IMAM ADRESSES PRAYER MEETING FOR TRUMP At the service an imam who had been expected to deliver the Islamic call to prayer instead recited two verses from the Quran that contained clear political messages for the new president and his administration, CNN reported. http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/trump-imam-magid/ Imam Mohamed Magid, executive director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, a well-known figure in Washington, had been sharply criticized by fellow Muslims for agreeing to take part in the Saturday event at Washington National Cathedral. He was one of 26 religious leaders from diverse faiths to participate in the service, an inaugural tradition since George Washington. The event's program said Magid would recite the "Muslim call to prayer," leading many to believe he would intone the adhan, the melodic call to worship that issues forth from many mosques five times a day. Addressing the capitol's power brokers, including Trump's family and Vice President Michael Pence, Magid read first in Arabic and then provided an English translation. The first verse he read was from Surah Al-Hujarat, in which God says: "O humankind, We have created you a single male and female (Adam and Eve) and made you into nations and tribes and communities, that you may know one another. Really, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you, and God has all knowledge..." The second verse he read was from Surah Ar-Rum: "And among the signs of God is the creation of heaven and earth, and the variation in your languages and your colors. Verily, in that are signs for those who know." 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 In the wake of the 2016 election, Education Week Commentary asked five education policy experts their thoughts on the following question: What should be the K-12 policy priority for the Trump administration? And what levers would need to be pulled to make that a reality? The responses, which come from across the policy spectrum, highlight a range of ideas. Work Across the Aisle Catherine Brown is the vice president for education policy at the Washington-based Center for American Progress. In a televised interview last August, presidential candidate Donald Trump said he wanted to cut the U.S. Department of Education down to shreds. His central K-12 education proposal would shift more than half of federal K-12 education funding into a voucher-style programa policy even a GOP-controlled Congress rejected in 2015. And then, the president-elect nominated Betsy DeVosa longtime champion of private school vouchersto serve as our countrys next secretary of education. With such hostility toward public education, Trump underscores his aim to privatize educationfrom cradle to careeras well as his plan to scale back the federal Department of Educations resources. For many, the question the country is left with now is how far will Trump go and can he be stopped? First, lets be clear about what President-elect Trump should do: The new administration should focus on using public dollars to strengthen schools and continue to improve on record-high graduation rates. Trumps administration should also support charters, which are innovative public schools. But private school vouchers, like those supported by Betsy DeVos, are clearly ineffective: A report from the Brookings Institution in May 2016 showed students who made use of those vouchers performed worse on assessments than their peers who remained in public schools. Second, the federal government should maintain its focus on young people who are most at risk by providing targeted resources to disadvantaged students in public schools. Funding for special education services for nearly 7 million students with disabilities and supplemental funding to 56,000 high-poverty schools serving 24 million low-income students should continue. These funds should supplement state and local resources, not supplant them. Third, Trump should modernize and elevate the teaching profession by investing in programs that support teachers and encourage states and school districts to address all aspects of the teacher pipeline. Teachers are being asked to do more every day to ensure students can compete with their global peers, yet teachers receive inadequate pay, support, and preparation. Finally, the new president must reassure many of the students and families who felt endangered by his campaign rhetoric. The Education Departments office for civil rights should aggressively enforce existing civil rights laws and make sure that schools are safe and supportive places to learn for all students, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, or disability status. While uncertainty remains on how Trump will governand his ability to actually get things donethe nations schoolchildren need to be certain that he will help all of them succeed. Empower States Jonathan Butcher is the education director at the Goldwater Institute, headquartered in Phoenix, and a senior fellow at the Nashville-based Beacon Center of Tennessee. There is evidence that President-elect Donald Trumps campaign proposal to divert $20 billion in federal funds to help children attend private schools of choice may sound appealing to many people. A 2015 survey of black voters in four states from the Black Alliance for Educational Options found that 60 percent supported private school scholarships. Another survey, by the American Federation for Children (chaired until recently by Betsy DeVos, the incoming presidents choice for U.S. secretary of education), found that 68 percent of white voters likely supported more school choices. President Barack Obamas opposition to such ideas proved an obstacle to creating and expanding parental choices, especially in Washington. Renewing Washingtons Opportunity Scholarshipswhich help low-income families afford private school tuition in our nations capitalshould be a priority for Trumps first 100 days. And then he should reconsider his larger campaign promise. Recent examples from education policy are instructive as to why the federal government should not use promises of financial help to coerce states to change their laws. Federal support for the Common Core State Standards caused a clash of ideas among families, taxpayers, and state and federal lawmakers. In 2012, 90 percent of respondents to an Education Next survey supported the common core, but after years of wrangling over Washingtons role and a raft of YouTube videos created by parents and students frustrated with fuzzy math, support dropped to 50 percent in 2015. Did parents and teachers change their minds about higher standards, or can Washington not control the impact of its decisionswhich affect children in nearly 132,000 public and private schools across 50 states? The answer is likely the latter. Parental choices in education differ from one place to another by design and per student needs. For example, Arizonas education savings accounts allow families to use preloaded Visa cards to buy educational products and services. A similar law in Florida has the state pay educational vendors directly or reimburse parents for their education-related purchases. Georgia has four kinds of charter school options, with different authorizers; South Carolina has two. Betsy DeVos helped make parental choices in education successful for thousands of children around the country through her work at the American Federation for Children. As secretary, her advocacy for more success surrounding parental choice in education will be critical. But the new administration should not design the same education choices for every statesuch standardization is what has forced traditional schools to try to be all things to all children instead of focusing on the areas in which a traditional school may excel. Leave parental choices in education to state and local policymakers so they can respond to families. Washingtons absence would be a welcome change. Expand Opportunity Matt Gandal is the president and founder of the Education Strategy Group, a consulting firm specializing in K-12, higher education, and the workforce. Previously, he served as a senior adviser to then-U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and as the executive vice president of Achieve. If this presidential election revealed one thing, its that many Americans dont feel secure about their economic future. That should place education at the top of the agenda in states and communities, because it is Americas economic engine. President-elect Donald Trump and his administration should forge a stronger bond between education and the economy by supporting existing strategies in high-performing states and encouraging tighter connections between the K-12 sector, higher education, and the workforce. Here are six recommendations to help accomplish those tasks: Maintain a steady focus on postsecondary preparation and success for all. Nearly all the jobs created after the Great Recession required postsecondary education or training. Those who dont earn a meaningful credential after high schoola two- or four-year college degree or certificate with demonstrated employer valuewill struggle in the United States. Education policy at the federal, state, and local levels should be driven by clear goals for increasing credential attainment, and all educators should feel mutually responsible for achieving these goals. Make career preparation a high priority. An increasing number of states are focused on improving the quality of career education, providing all students access to pathways that combine rigorous academics with work-based learning opportunities. This work holds great potential to provide young peoplein both rural and urban areaswith a meaningful path to the workforce. Reauthorization of the Perkins Act provides an opportunity for the new administration to lead by emphasizing high-quality pathways that lead to credentials of value. Dont undermine states efforts to establish high standards. Although standards have become politicized, the intent in most states has been right: to raise expectations for students so that they are well prepared at the end of high school for the demands of college and careers. The Every Student Succeeds Act rightly reiterates that standards are the province of states, not the federal government. The administration should resist any temptation to get involved with standards. Support strong accountability systems. The administration should expect that states continue to assess and publicly report school performance, creating greater transparency around results. It should support states efforts to implement quality assessments, emphasizing college- and career-ready measures that open doors to students futures. And it should encourage strong data systems that safeguard student privacy while disaggregating information on student subgroups and forging connections across K-12, higher education, and the workforce. All publicly funded schoolstraditional and charter alikeshould be subject to the same rigorous performance expectations, with a deep focus on closing gaps. Use the limited federal role to push for K-12, higher education, and workforce alignment. Ownership for student success must be shared across systems. This means establishing common priorities, removing red tape that hinders cross-sector partnerships, and creating coherence across federal legislation, including ESSA, the Perkins Act, the Higher Education Act, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. When the business, higher education, and K-12 sectors align efforts, it drives greater educational and economic opportunity for all youths. This work must be incentivized or the sectors will remain siloed. Honor diversity. Diversityof background and opinionis what makes America great. In classrooms, just as in business, young people encounter individuals from all walks of life. It is in these interactions that students develop the communication, collaboration, and joint problem-solving skills that are fundamental for student success. Our public schools are a reflection of our great democracy and should be a safe space for children of all races and backgrounds to learn and thrive together. Our policies and use of the bully pulpit should honor this great tradition. Leading states and systems are raising expectations, setting ambitious credential-attainment goals, and expanding opportunities in their quest to get more students ready for success in the economy. This work should be acknowledged, scaled, and accelerated so that youths in all communities can attain the promise of a prosperous future. Dont Privatize Education Jack Jennings wrote Presidents, Congress, and the Public Schools (Harvard Education Press, 2015) based on 27 years of experience as the key education expert for the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives and 17 years as president and CEO of the nonpartisan Center on Education Policy, which he founded. During the campaign, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump promised to respect state and local control of public education. With his nomination of Betsy DeVos for U.S. secretary of education, President-elect Trump has tossed that promise aside, saying that she will help him reform the education system based on one ideaprivatization. Truth be told, candidate Trump had earlier signaled that his promise to respect state and local control was fraudulent because he pledged to spend $20 billion on charter schools and tuition vouchers for children to attend private schools. Since DeVos work has been to promote those ideas, the federal government will most likely be forcefully changing education regardless of state and local opinion. For many years, Congress has hotly debated this issue of control, and on a bipartisan basis passed the Every Student Succeeds Act in December 2015. The law limits the federal governments power by emphasizing state and local decisionmaking. President George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind Act and President Barack Obamas Race to the Top program were at the root of this debate. Those policies moved the federal government front and center in school reform and precipitated a powerful kickback from many states and local school districts. President-elect Trump wants to reverse the course of an intrusive federal government dictating to states how to run schools. What will the Republicans who control Congress do with his proposals? Will they stick with their position that state and local school districts should control education? Or, was that only a trick to oppose the outgoing president? Will they be two-faced now that a Republican will be president? Research shows that school choice has, at best, a mixed record of success. Even President-elect Trump has written: Look, I know that people both for and against school choice can roll out endless arguments and statistics showing charter schools are either very successful or make no difference at all. This is a legitimate debate. His proposal, though, would have Washington dictating policies to states without clear evidence of effectiveness. That is DeVos record: promoting privatization without solid research showing conclusively that it will work. The Trump administration should honor the idea of state and local control of education contained in ESSA. The states are busy making their own plans for school improvement, and they deserve time to show what they can do. More broadly, why do conservatives argue for limited federal involvement unless it is something they want? Will state and local leaders let them get by with that? Has anyone asked educators and not billionaires what really makes a difference in schooling? Make School Choice Fair Kimberly Jenkins Robinson is a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law in Richmond, Va. She is co-editor with Charles J. Ogletree Jr. of The Enduring Legacy of Rodriguez: Creating New Pathways to Equal Educational Opportunity (Harvard Education Press, 2015). She served as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Education from 1999 to 2004. The Trump administration should prioritize ensuring that all students have equal access to excellent schools. Many children today are denied the opportunity to attend an excellent school because most states tolerate the provision of low-quality schools to children in many poor and minority neighborhoods. These disparities in educational opportunity greatly harm our national interests in a strong economy, an effective military, and an educated and engaged citizenry. Given that the incoming administration has signaled a strong desire to reduce federal involvement in education, it should incentivize states to reduce and eliminate educational opportunity gaps, rather than adopt federal mandates. The administration should offer federal research, technical assistance, and funding to states that present research-based plans to achieve this important national goal. If the new administration encourages greater school choice to build a stronger education system, as press reports suggest it might, it should condition federal funding for choice on state-developed standards that insist on high-quality choice options as well as nondiscrimination in admission to and the administration of new educational opportunities. The Trump administration also should promote the provision and expansion of excellent educational opportunities. For example, this can be done by encouraging innovation in new educational delivery models that take advantage of technology to expand access to excellent teaching and rigorous curricula to students who live in areas lacking these resources. President Donald Trump said less about education on the campaign trail than almost any major-party nominee in recent history, except for a high-profile proposal on single issue: school vouchers. But his ascendance to the White House could upend K-12 education in ways that are felt from the U.S. Department of Educations headquarters in Washington to urban schools that serve big numbers of immigrant students. In his unconventional bid for president, Trumpa real estate developer and TV personality who had never held public officepromised he would deport millions of immigrants, eliminate or scale back the Education Department, and create a $20 billion school voucher program. After his election, he picked as education secretary a school choice advocate and Republican mega-donor, Betsy DeVos, who seems likely to help him try to deliver on that voucher promise. And in his inaugural address Jan. 20 , Trump did little to allay the anxieties of those concerned about his view of the nations public school system, decrying an education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge. Trumps inauguration last week came at a time when schools are already experiencing significant changes and anxieties. Children from racial minorities now collectively make up a majority of the public school population. Technology is remaking instruction. Aid for education in many states still hasnt recovered from the Great Recession. And a new federal K-12 law, the Every Student Succeeds Act , gives states and districts more control over testing, accountability, school turnarounds, and teacher quality than they had in more than decade under the laws predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act. At either end of the education span, Trump also has said little about college access or about early-childhood education, beyond a proposal to expand tax credits for child care, to be championed by his daughter Ivanka. Big questions loom about how the 45th president and his team will handle this rapidly shifting landscape. Conservatives are eager for their best opportunity since the Reagan era to shrink the federal role in education and dramatically expand options for parents, while Trump is sure to face fierce opposition from educators and advocates who fear that his administration will move to privatize a sizable chunk of public education. It may take a while for a clear picture to emerge of just how much Trump and DeVos will be able to accomplish. Over the coming weeks, the new administration will need to choose and Congress will have to confirm the presidents nominees for key positions at the department. In all, the administration is allowed to hire some 150 political appointees for the agency . Against this uncertain backdrop, here are six areas for educators to watch closely this year: The Trump administration will have a major role in implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act, the bipartisan law that passed in 2015 to replace the No Child Left Behind Act. For instance, the new team will get to decide whether to delay, revise, or simply toss some of the Obama administrations ESSA regulations, including on accountability. Congressional Republicans have already targeted the accountability regulation for the elimination through the Congressional Review Act. ESSAwhich retains the previous laws annual testing while turning authority on teacher evaluation, school turnarounds, and other policy matters over to states and districtsis slated to be fully in place in the 2017-18 school year. That means the Trump team will get to approve state accountability plans for the new law. States initial deadline for those plans is in April, but key federal players still may not be in the job by then. Im doubtful that they are going to have enough staff in place to start reviewing plans unless they simply rubber-stamp them, said Michael Petrilli, who served in the department at the start of the George W. Bush administration and is now the president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. As education secretary, DeVos could also put a high priority on the pieces of ESSA that will help advance her school choice agenda, emphasizing, for instance, a weighted-student-funding pilot that will allow federal, state, and local aid to be tied to individual students, with more money going to needier students. And she could encourage states and districts to take advantage of a provision in the law allowing students at low-performing schools to transfer to a better public school. Trumps first budget proposal, which will cover federal fiscal year 2018, is likely to come out sometime in late winter or even spring. That will give educators and advocates a sense of whether Trump is planning to immediately make good on his campaign promise to get rid of the Education Department, or at least cut it way, way down. Scrapping the 37-year-old agency, with a budget of about $70 billion this year and some 4,000 career employees, would be a tough political lift, even though both houses of Congress are in Republican hands. But some proposed program elimination seems likely, particularly for initiatives that are viewed as part of President Barack Obamas legacy, such as Promise Neighborhoods, which helps school districts pair academics with other services, such as affordable housing. The budget could also provide insight into how the Trump administration plans to deal with across-the-board cuts, known as sequestration, that were enacted under a budget deal in 2011 and are slated to be in place through the new presidents first term. Over the past few years, Republicans have tangled with the Obama administration over whether to stop those cuts for both defense spending and domestic programs, or just for military spending. Trump said during the campaign that he wanted to end the cuts for defense, but he didnt address programs such as education. Trumps presidencyand his decision to tap DeVos, a longtime voucher and charter school advocate, as education secretarypresents proponents of school choice with perhaps their biggest opening for major federal backing in the history of that movement. The explosion of interest in school choice in recent years has mostly been at the state level, said Jeanne Allen, the founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, which supports school choice and is a strong supporter of DeVos. Allen noted that over the past couple of decades, nearly every state has adopted a charter law, while some have moved on other forms of school choice, such as education savings accounts. But even in statehouses, its typically an uphill battle, rarely getting the kind of support and recognition from Washington that it needs, Allen said. With Trump and DeVos at the helm, thats likely to change, she said. Trumps only major K-12 pitch on the campaign trail was for a $20 billion voucher program, to be paid for using unspecified federal funds. Thats a long shot in Congress, which defeated a similar proposal when it considered ESSA. But a big voucher initiative isnt the only way the Trump administration could further its goal of expanding school choice. The administration could work with Congress to create or expand education savings-account programs, which can also help families cover the cost of private schools. It could also develop a federal tax-credit scholarship program, giving individuals and corporations a tax break in exchange for donating to organizations that help needy students cover the cost of private school. Or the president and his team could ask lawmakers to pour resources into federal grants for charter schools or a voucher program serving District of Columbia students. One catch: GOP lawmakers from rural areas are unlikely to be big fans of school choice programs because students in remote schools often already must travel an hour or more to the closest regular public school. In her confirmation hearing, DeVos said those schools might benefit from distance-learning programs. But rural schools have broadband challenges that might make it tough for them to take advantage of virtual learning, and at this point even some choice supporters say the quality of the programs is still uneven. Under the Obama administration, the federal Department of Educations office for civil rights has been an aggressive arm of the agency, processing a record 17,000 complaints and opening up 4,000 investigations in fiscal year 2016 alone. The OCR has issued guidance on a wide range of issues, among them making sure that students have access to the same career and technical opportunities regardless of gender, ensuring educational rights for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and calling for districts to allow transgender students to use the restroom that matches their gender identity. For now, theres a lot of anxiety and little concrete information about how the Trump administration will handle the OCR and civil rights in general. When Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., pressed DeVos on that point at her Jan. 17 confirmation hearing, the nominee for education secretary didnt go into specifics. But she said she believes students deserve to be in an environment thats safe and free from discrimination. Advocates expect that one of the Trump administrations first moves on education will be rescinding the transgender guidance. More broadly, Trumps campaign has some in the civil rights community deeply worried about how he and his team will enforce laws protecting students from discrimination. How would she enforce [civil rights laws] in a climate where the [president] has normalized discrimination of national origin and religion? said Liz King, the director of education policy for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, referring to comments that Trump made about Mexicans and Muslims during the campaign. No issue dominated Trumps campaign as much as immigration. As a candidate, Trump pledged to create a deportation force to round up the countrys estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. Since winning the presidency, Trump has said his first priority will be deporting the 2 million to 3 million immigrants that he believes have criminal records. He hasnt given specifics about how those plans would affect schoolchildren. Trump also repeatedly said that he would rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama executive order that allows some children of undocumented immigrants to receive two-year work permits. Some DACA workers serve as teachers, including through alternative-route programs such as Teach For America. During his confirmation hearing, Trumps pick for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said that repealing DACA would need to be studied, but in his opinion the executive order is very questionable constitutionally. He didnt offer specifics about how he would handle undocumented immigrants who have benefitted from the program, but said he would like the administration to work with Congress on a legislative solution. Whether or not Trump, as president, makes good on those plans, the threat of mass deportations has unnerved many children and educators, said Maureen Costello, the director of Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center aimed at providing resources to K-12 schools to help advance equity and inclusion. Teachers of immigrant students are feeling very stressed themselves. They want to be able to protect the kids they teach, and they feel unable to do so, she said. School district officials are worried that classrooms will no longer be considered sensitive places where immigration raids cant take place, Costello said. The Los Angeles Unified School District and Santa Cruz city schools have passed resolutions pledging to resist any requests for student information from federal immigration officials. There are even fears, Costello said, that after the addition of a Trump-appointed justice or two, the U.S. Supreme Court could have an opportunity to overturn Plyler v. Doe, the 1982 ruling that the children of undocumented immigrants are entitled to attend public schools for free. Such an about-face seems unlikely, she said, given that the precedent has been on the books for more than three decades. Still, some civil rights advocates worry about what enforcement of Plyler will look like under Trump. Congressional Republicans have been vowing for years to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Obamas signature domestic accomplishment. With a Republican president, that aim now moves closer to reality. A repeal of what is widely known as Obamacare could have big implications for teachers, students, and younger children. For one thing, the ACA requires that health plans cover mental and behavioral health, alongside medical services. If the law is repealed entirely, children from families without employer-based health care and that make too much to qualify for programs like Medicaid and the State Childrens Health Insurance Planand who need more help with behavioral or emotional problems than their schools are able to providecould lose access to that coverage, said Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, the director of government affairs for the National Association of School Psychologists. The ACA encouraged most states to expand Medicaid. Those funds often go to school districts to help cover the cost of vision screenings, preventive care for students, and other services. The law has also helped pay for grants to finance internship stipends for health professionalsincluding school psychologists and social workerswho want to train in high-needs schools, Vaillancourt Strobach said. Other provisions of the 2010 law havent been as enthusiastically embraced in the education community. For instance, the law calls for employers with at least 50 workers to provide coverage for full-time employees or pay a fine, with full-time employees defined as those working 30 or more hours a week. Some district officials say the mandate has left them scrambling to find money to cover uninsured workersin many cases support staffor forced them to cut employee hours. And both national teachers unions have backed an effort to repeal a significant funding mechanism for the law: the so-called Cadillac tax on plans with rich benefits. The tax, which is slated to go into effect in 2020, could affect some plans for district employees, including teachers. Its unclear how quickly an ACA repeal could happen and whether lawmakers would have a replacement ready as soon as the law was rolled back. Whats more, Trump has also said hed like to retain some of the most popular parts of the law, which could have implications for some of the programs that benefit schools and students. Between the ages of 13 and 20, teenagers must develop an authentic person out of many possible selves derived from peers, cliques, mass media, and role models. The German-born American psychoanalyst Erik Erikson regarded these years as a struggle between identity formation and role confusion, out of which a teenager will either establish an enduring sense of self or instead continue to search for identity in gangs, ideologies, bad romances, or other societal black holes. One of the best ways to engage students in a process of person-building is to provide them with frequent opportunities in the classroom to make meaningful choices. Adolescence is not known as a great time for optimal decisionmaking. The regions of the brain that are most involved in decisionmaking (in the prefrontal cortex) are the last regions of the brain to fully develop in the early to mid-20s. Unfortunately, we see the results of bad decisionmaking by teens every day in the news when we read about adolescent traffic deaths, drug abuse, gang membership, cyberbullying, binge drinking, and other hazards. These incidents should only cause educators to double our resolve to do all we can in the classroom to help develop those areas of the brain responsible for choosing wisely. As a former junior high school teacher, a professor of courses in child and adolescent development, and a staff developer in schools, Ive come to appreciate the wide range of approaches available for helping teens develop their choice muscles. Here are five surefire strategies: 1. Let students choose the books they read. Lorrie McNeill, a middle school teacher in Georgia, decided to scrap the perennially required book To Kill a Mockingbird and allow students to choose their own books . Among their choices were chick-lit novels and books from the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey along with selections like Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye and Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying, a novel about black Americans in the South immediately following World War II. After several months of implementing her new reading plan, NcNeill observed, I feel like almost every kid in my classroom is engaged in a novel that theyre actually interacting with, whereas when I have them read To Kill a Mockingbird, I know that I have some kids that just dont get into it. 2. Use student polling. Teachers are increasingly using free or low-cost apps for mobile phones and tablets to gauge student opinion on a variety of topics or to glean responses to content-related questions and issues, such as Poll Everywhere , LocaModa , Socrative , The Answer Pad , ClassPager , and even Twitter. Such technologies provide students with immediate feedback on their peers opinions, get them to think more deeply about an issue, and may even prompt them to revise their views once theyve heard other points of view. 3. Involve students in decisions about school policy. Educators are beginning to recognize the value of student voice in decisionmaking, both at the classroom and the school-wide level. Student-voice policies can be structured in a number of ways, including having students lead focus groups, develop surveys, co-design courses with teachers, or take part in actual school governance. At Federal Hocking High School in Stewart, Ohio, for example, students are involved in the hiring of teachers , the development of curriculum, and the creation and enforcement of school rules. At Vanguard High School in Manhattan, students involved with the Student Voice Collaborativea group that supports student-led change in New York Cityfocused on improving student engagement and boosting graduation rates. They ended up recommending students to serve as co-facilitators in the classroom, a proposal that teachers readily accepted. By giving students a voice in determining the conditions of their education, teachers are personalizing school experience and preparing students to make good decisions once they reach adulthood. 4. Provide opportunities for independent study. Until recently, schools doled out educational content to their students in bite-size portions through the portals of lectures, textbooks, workbooks, slide shows, laboratory experiments, and other highly controlled forms of learning. Now, students have direct access to a whole world of online expertise. We need to provide students with the opportunity to engage in both online and real-world independent study projects that reflect their own interests, learning styles, rates of learning, and other personalized learning factors. At Montpelier High School in Montpelier, Vt., students can enroll in Soar, a unique program consisting of independent study, internships, and a weekly seminar where students learn how to set goals , conduct research, and reflect on their learning. And at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Mass., students participating in a program called the Independent Project create their own curriculum and engage in learning of their choice, including traditional academic pursuits in addition to projects like taking flight lessons, writing a novel, and building a kayak. 5. Offer more electives. Increasingly, states are requiring students to go through some version of a mandatory college preparatory curriculum to graduate, usually involving four years of English and math and three or more years of science and social science. This trend continues to gain steam, even though some research indicates that it doesnt really improve learning or heighten student engagement. What it does do is leave less room for students to choose courses that interest them and could actually help them decide on a career, a hobby, or a lifestyle theyd like to pursue in adulthood. One solution to this problem is for schools to institute a rigorous academic program and, at the same time, offer a wide range of electives. In a single year, Pelham Memorial High School in Pelham, N.Y., which is a high-performing school with a rigorous college preparatory program added 17 electives to its class schedule , offering options such as jewelry-making, ceramics, photography, broadcast production, military history, and human rights. Personalized learning is about more than just asking students what their needs and interests are or providing ready-made instructional materials and experiences customized to their particular profiles. Learning becomes truly personal when the students themselves take charge of their own learning. This is especially true at the middle and high school levels when students are most likely to disengage emotionally from classroom instruction strategies that fail to resonate with their growing sense of autonomy. Secondary school classrooms will become places that truly contribute to the optimal development of a students full potential when educators recognize the important changes going on in the adolescent brain; when they address the motivational factors in a teens surging emotions (where the thinking is"if its not cool, its not for me), and when they sensitively cultivate the identity-formation regions of the students prefrontal cortex through personalized teaching strategies. In this way, educators can truly light up their students brains for success in school and beyond. Global octopus landings on the uptrend Global octopus landings appear to be on an increasing trend, according to a FAO analysis. FAO said that in 2015 landings increased by 6.7% compared with the previous year. Increases were registered in the major suppliers (Morocco, Mauritania and Mexico), while landings in Spain, Portugal and the Republic of Korea declined. According to the Marine Affairs of Galicia, the value of octopus landings in Galicia, Spain, for the first half of 2016 exceeded 2.6 million (US$2.8 million), which is the highest level recorded since 2010. Even with significantly more product on the local market, prices have remained stable, FAO reported. In 2015, Japan significantly increased its imports of octopus. Particularly in the first half of that year, imports increased 38.5%. However, during the first half of 2016, imports fell back by 15% to 24,500 tonnes. Main suppliers Morocco and Mauritania shipped less octopus to Japan during this period, while China increased shipments by almost 23%. While Morocco reduced octopus shipments to Japan, it increased exports to another main market, Spain, whose octopus imports from Morocco went up by almost 17%. Imports from the second-largest supplier to Spain, Mauritania, went down by 12.5%. Total Spanish imports of octopus remained stable at 27,200 tonnes during the first half of 2016. Octopus prices are expected to remain more stable, as the supply situation has improved, with some slight increases in global landings. 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The movie is the second sequel to the hit "Fifty Shades of Grey", which received mixed reviews. Nevertheless, the first movie was still a smashing hit in the worldwide box-office. Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson star as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, respectively. "Fifty Shades Darker" is expected to dominate the box-office when it hit cinemas next month. The movie is also said to be raunchier and sexier because the stars of the movie have already been accustomed to each other. As reported by E Online, in an interview with GQ Australia, Jamie Dornan divulged that he even visited a real S&M club to be acquainted with Christian Grey's world. As it is known already, the Irish actor plays the Sex God Christian Grey who has a particular taste and style when it comes to his sexual preference. As for the 34-year-old actor, he and his character are not at all the same when it comes to real life. Dornan divulged that though he is very broad-minded when it comes to sex, he does not have any interest when it comes to S&M. The actor, however, stressed that he does not judge those who are particularly into that kind of stuff. According to Digital Spy, the "Fifty Shades Darker" actor also does not think that he will get along with Christian Grey in real life. His character is really serious, business-minded and not at all easy to talk to, contrary to his friends in real life. It is true that the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy is the actor's stepping stone to worldwide fame. However, with all of his next projects already lined up, it is undeniable that Jamie Dornan's star will continue to shine after "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed". Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson will star in "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed" that are scheduled to hit cinemas on February 2017 and February 2018, respectively. "Game of Thrones" Season 7 release date is getting nearer and nearer. And now that the Mother of Dragons and the King in the North will finally meet in the show, rumors of them being together in real life are more alive than ever. Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke have always been "Game of Thrones" fan favorites. And although they technically have a nephew-auntie relationship, fans are still hopeful that they end up together. After all, incest is not an issue when it comes to Targaryens. Emilia Clarke is very much single but unfortunately Kit Harington is not. The 30-year-old actor is very much involved with Rose Leslie. The actress has been part of "Game of Thrones" as the wildling, Ygritte. Jon Snow and Ygritte played as star-crossed lovers in "Game of Thrones" from Seasons 2 to 4. As reported by E Online, in an interview with Vogue Italia, Kit Harington considers Season 2, which was shot in Iceland as one of his fondest memory of the show. The couple has had an on-off relationship for the past years. But unlike Jon Snow and Ygritte's romance, their love for each other is pretty much still alive in real life. According to Daily Mail UK, the couple has been pictured having a quiet walk in Northern Ireland. With their busy schedules, Kit Harington and Rose Leslie make it a point to spend time with each other in between tapings by flying in other countries or even just video calling each other. The fact is, there are actually very few rumors and news about the real-life sweethearts, which is very surprising. This is since the "Game of Thrones" actor is non-arguably one of Hollywood's heartthrobs now. The truth is, Kit Harington and Rose Leslie just want to keep everything low key and private. Android One was originally launched by Google as an initiative to bring low-cost smartphones to the developing world. Now, Google reportedly is aiming to invade the US market for its Android brand after targeting developing markets such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and other South Asian countries. It apparently all started with India and then expanded to other Pacific countries. The devices launched featured 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. The phone would be unlike other Android phones, at least in terms of software updates. It is said that Google, the web search giant, guarantees it would roll out timely software updates, as well as security updates, for two years from the time the devices go on sale. Apparently, this is the practice Google follows even with its Nexus editions and its new Pixel phones. Accordingly, there is no idea on how many handsets are planned to be distributed, but Google probably will fund an ad campaign when the Android One phone launches in the middle of this year. Reports suggests that the phone is likely to be priced around $200-$300. Probably the primary reason for the company to expand its Android One devices in the US is to promote its Android brand considering that Google's high-end Pixel and Nexus devices are at the top of consumers' priority list. A report also suggests LG could be its first manufacturing partner. Once the first phone is out, Google is likely to add more Android One phones from other manufacturers. Unveiled at its 7th annual I/O developer conference in San Francisco, Google rolled out the Android One handsets with high-quality performance, affordable price tags and reasonable data plans in emergent markets. Conservation not more control By Paul Driessen President Obamas parting edicts betrayed Israel and commuted prison sentences for terrorist Oscar Lopez Rivera and traitor Bradley/Chelsea Manning. Another abused the Antiquities Act yet again, by banning economic use on an additional 1.7 million acres in Utah, where the federal government controls 61% of the states land. (This one new lock-up is nearly equal to Delaware and Rhode Island combined.) The withdrawal was on top of 320 million acres in national park, preserve, wildlife refuge, wilderness and other restrictive land use categories plus buffer zones around many of those areas nearly all of it in the eleven westernmost states and Alaska. Thats equivalent to virtually all the land in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Folks in Eastern and Midwestern states have no idea what it is like to have federal bureaucrats controlling 30-87% of lands within their borders, and affecting vast additional acreage questioning, studying, delaying, blocking and escalating costs for every proposal and project. Theyre about to get an inkling. With yet another last-minute regulation, the Obama Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) designated the rusty patched bumblebee (RPB) an endangered species, because its populations have declined significantly in recent years. It did so in response to a petition and a sue-and-settle lawsuit by the activist Xerces Society, which originally claimed the decline was due to low population dynamics, habitat loss, and a nasty parasitic fungal infection that spread to RPBs from commercially raised bees imported from Europe. Then, out of the blue, Xerces and the FWS suddenly and inexplicably revised their rationales, to argue that most of the blame should be attributed to pesticides, specifically neonicotinoids the advanced technology, reduced-risk pesticides that farmers love and radical environmentalists have been trying to ban for years. In another nod to green extremists, the agency also blamed herbicides like RoundUp, saying the weeds they kill in farmers fields and along highways are important food sources for RPBs. (Friendly sue-and-settle lawsuits between pressure groups and regulators have been a hallmark of the Obama Administration, and there is good reason to suspect carefully plotted collusion in this case.) These always rare bumblebees make their nests in the ground. That means any activities that disturb the soil could impact them: road, pipeline, transmission line (for wind, solar or conventional power), housing and other construction projects, and even plowing fields for crops. Ironically, RoundUp-ready crops largely eliminate plowing, which would seemingly increase RPB habitats and populations. In its rush to beat the January 20 noon deadline, the FWS failed to publish any survey protocols for finding RPB nests and avoiding damage to them. All of this means farmers, developers and even homeowners are in murky legal waters and could face fines if they inadvertently harm any nests or bees. Vast areas are affected. Rusty patched bumblebees were once found from the Dakotas through the Midwest, down to Kentucky and the Carolinas and northward to Maine. Xerces claims the bees have been sighted since 2000 in 13 states including many major corn and soybean producing states, as well as the Upper- and Mid-Atlantic seaboard states. Having that huge swath of the USA in legal jeopardy and subject to review, control, delay and penalty by the FWS is bad enough. But the agency is also pondering endangered status for two more bee species. The yellow-banded bumblebee has been found all the way from Montana east to New England, and down the Atlantic coast to Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. The western bumblebees range includes the entire block of eleven western states plus Alaska: more than a billion acres nearly half of the entire United States! Just to protect a bumblebee species and its potential habitat. Put them together, and the Fish & Wildlife Service would regulate nearly three-fourths of the USA. The bumblebee listings would be the highest impact designations in Endangered Species Act (ESA) history and would rival the EPAs CO2 endangerment rule, Clean Power Plan and Waters of the US power grab. Most Americans associate the ESA with prominent conservation achievements, such as reversing the near-extinction of iconic national emblems like the bald eagle, alligator and bison. However, the ESA has increasingly been invoked to protect small, obscure creatures like beetles, other bugs and the snail darter of Tellico Dam fame and often to block energy and economic development. Three invented spotted owl subspecies ended timber cutting in many states often resulting in super-hot conflagrations that incinerate forests, soil organisms and endangered species alike. The delta smelts 2010 endangered species designation is being used to deny water to farmers and communities in Californias Central Valley, costing thousands of jobs, millions in agricultural damage and numerous bankruptcies while regulators flushed billions of gallons of water into the sea in unsuccessful efforts to help the fish. Indeed, it seems only wind turbines are exempted from the ESAs draconian rules and penalties. Worse, threatened or endangered designation has only rarely been used as a foundation for proactive efforts to restore species populations. In some cases, environmentalists have opposed human intervention: hatching California condors and releasing the grown adults into the wild, or employing fish hatcheries for smelts. The real activist and regulator goal of ESA designations and actual result seems to be land use control. With regard to neonicotinoid seed treatments, which account for over 90% of neonic usage, even EPA recently concluded that these insecticides pose no threat to honeybees, and careful practices can easily mitigate potential risks from spraying them. In fact, growing scientific evidence is so overwhelming that neonics are safe for domesticated bees and wild bees (native bees) alike that anti-pesticide groups are now focusing on bumblebees, which have declined in numbers and about which much less is known. The real threats to all bee species continue to be natural and imported mites, fungi and other diseases. There is little evidence that government-mandated efforts to restore lost habitat for bumblebees (or other endangered species) will actually bring them back. Many suspect that these last-ditch DC diktats have little to do with conservation and are primarily designed to expand government control over land use and development. Thats why a 2016 FWS decision to expand its definition of critical habitat caused 18 state attorneys general to sue the agency over its asserted authority to protect areas where endangered species do not currently live, calling it an unconstitutional taking of private property without compensation. This and countless other Obama Administration actions also help explain why 98% of all US counties voted for Donald Trump, and why Republicans now control the House and Senate, 33 governorships and 68 state legislative chambers. Hillary Clinton won only in coastal cities, academic enclaves and very poor areas; in fact, without her margins in just five New York City and LA counties, she would have lost both the popular and Electoral College votes, notes John Steele Gordon. All of this suggests that most of America is tired of being governed by unelected, unaccountable, elitist, illegitimate Washington bureaucrats who dont understand or care about citizens concerns and needs. The endangered species actions raise vital questions for the new Congress and Trump Administration: Amid all the other high-priority items, how can we block and defund this last-ditch RPB overreach? How can we repeal, replace, repair and improve the Endangered Species Act, to prevent future abuses, balance human and wildlife needs, and find ways to recover populations of threatened and endangered species without controlling or shutting down thousands of human activities on hundreds of millions of acres? Its an essential component of restoring power from Washington to the people. Paul Driessen is senior policy analyst for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of Eco-Imperialism: Green power - Black death and other books on environmental issues. Home Trumping the media By Scot Faulkner President Donald Trumps first news conference since the November election vividly displayed how he has turned the media world upside down. His unprecedented campaign and transition points to an administration committed to solidifying a media revolution that began decades ago. The media, especially the 95 percent within the media who are liberals, are in free fall in audience and credibility. A recent Associated Press survey reported that 96 percent of Americans no longer trust the mainstream media. The media elite are still in denial that their world of unaccountable privilege and bias has vanished. How the media elite respond will determine whether anyone listens to them ever again. The latest Buzzfeed/CNN promotion of false Trump trash is further evidence that the elite are on a different planet from the real world. The American news media was middle of the road and patriotic until the mid-1960s. At that time the older generation of media moguls retired or died, ushering in activist liberals. Media liberalism became radical with the Vietnam War and Watergate. Accuracy in Media (AIM) was founded in 1969 by Reed Irvine to expose this new liberal media bias. AIMs documentation remained within conservative circles until Vice President Spiro Agnew used its research in boldly partisan speeches during the 1970 elections. Americans were also held captive by three broadcast networks and Public Broadcasting until CSPAN cable television entered the scene in 1979. Conservative Members in the House of Representatives used CSPAN to conduct guerrilla theater. Using large photos, graphs and models of Soviet airplanes, House conservatives began to directly educate the public about big government and the Soviet threat. It was the first breech of the liberal media filters. In April 1980, two senior news editors, Arnaud De Borchgrave and Robert Moss, published The Spike, a novel exposing communist influence within the American media. As importantly, they exposed how liberal media moguls pervert reality as much by what they dont cover as what they do spiking stories. The real media revolution really began in 1987 when the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) eliminated the Fairness Doctrine. For the first time since 1949, radio stations could feature editorial content in their normal programming. On August 1, 1988, Rush Limbaugh launched his radio show. Now all Americans finally had access to non-liberal perspectives. The liberal media fought back. Talk radio hosts and news reporters were denied press credentials to cover Congress until the Republicans took over the House in January 1995. Even though credentialed, talk radio was still shunned. The liberal media elite branded it unprofessional and said it trafficked in conspiracy theories. Starting in May 1995 with Netscape, the Internet devastated the liberal media citadels. Website news began to supplant broadcast and print media. Social media, along with internet access on mobile devices in 2004, ignited an historic information revolution. Conservative voices were unleashed by these upheavals. Liberal media elites could no longer spike stories or present their bias unchallenged. Even their own audience favored getting their news from social media and shows on Comedy Central. The media establishment sped its own demise by succumbing to fake news from its reporters like Jayson Blair and Dan Rather, and trafficking in false news like hands-up dont shoot and a video caused the Benghazi attack. All the elements of a liberal media cataclysm were in place. Trumps blunt talk and his supporters contempt for the media brought the status quo crashing down. Nore than any other politician today, Trump understands that he can render the media irrelevant. Pew Research and other studies show that 62 percent of Americans now get all or part of their news from social media. Facebook posts 510,000 comments and 136,000 photos per minute. Nearly 2.5 million emails are sent every second. Fifty percent of Millennials check out Facebook when they first wake-up. Trump does not need to have his message filtered and interpreted by Democrat operatives posing as journalists. Chris Matthews and George Stephanopoulos were Democrat flacks long before they took on the trapping of journalists. Dozens of reporters and on-air talent are married to Obama Administration officials. Trumps response is to go over and around them. Even President Trump currently has over 50 million Facebook and Twitter followers. Millions of Trump supporters repost or retweet his quotes on countless social media pages. Some 128 million Americans posted or liked Trump content on Facebook during the campaign. No one has ever been so pervasive in communicating and mobilizing. Mr. Trump is the master of this new media reality. He understands that 140 characters on Twitter or a pithy comment or compelling image on Facebook shapes the media cycle. This is all before he becomes President, with all its additional resources and reach. Liberal media in the Trump era is fast becoming as credible and relevant as horoscopes. Scot Faulkner advises global corporations on leadership and strategic change. He served as the first Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. Home Trump makes America great again why wait? By Dr. Robert Owens I know the snowflakes and their geriatric leaders are freaking out because they have lost the keys to the gravy train. However, out here where Americans work every day to pay the bills our President, The Donald isnt waiting to take the oath to fulfill his oath to us. Just like the interminable hostage crisis that Jimmy Malaise Carter couldnt solve solved itself when the Gipper took the oath of office. As Ronaldus Magnus placed his hand on the bible and raised his hand the Ayatollahs deiced, We dont want to mess with him, and sent them home. So too as BHOs death grip on the throat of American enterprise weakens people begin to see the light at the end of the collectivist tunnel. Just the promise of fewer regulations, tax relief, and the Commissars returning to their faculty lounges is enough to inspire entrepreneurs to hope again. It is enough to ignite Americas Can-do class to once again plan and project growth instead of stagnation. Just look at what has already been announced and imagine what will happen once the assault on American enterprise has finally ended. As reported by Warner Todd Huston in Breitbart: Ford: 700 Jobs to Start As January began, Ford Motor Company went public to tell Donald Trump that they are ready to deal with the new administration and also noted that at least 700 new jobs were on the table with more to come as the year rolls onward. SAP SE: 400 Jobs German business-software maker SAP SE is adding nearly 400 jobs to its Pittsburgh and suburban Philadelphia facilities, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Amazon.com: 100,000 Jobs Amazon is eyeing a huge expansion starting this year and recently announced it intended to add up to 100,000 workers to its retail staff in new facilities across the nation. Many of these jobs will be in brand new fulfillment centers the online giant plans to begin building this year. Lockheed Martin: 1,800 Jobs Aeronautics leader Lockheed Martin told President-elect Trump that it intends to hire over 1,800 new workers in the coming months. Indeed, Lockheed feels that its expansion will bring even more jobs indirectly. CEO Marillyn Hewson said of the new jobs, when you think about the supply chain across 45 states in the U.S., its going to be thousands and thousands of jobs. GM: 1,500 Jobs and $1 Billion Investment General Motors said this month that it is looking to re-invest in factories in the U.S.A. and will add some 1,500 or more jobs to its roster of workers. The plans will include a one-billion-dollar plan to build new manufacturing lines in the U.S. Bayer AG: $8 Billion Investment The Trump transition team is touting a commitment by German-based Bayer AG pharmaceutical company to invest an additional $8 billion in the U.S.A. in research and development in cooperation with Monsanto AG. The announcement came on the heels of a very productive meeting between the Trump team and Bayer CEO Werner Baumann and Monsanto chief Hugh Grant. Walmart: 10,000 Retail Jobs, 24,000 Construction Jobs Retail giant Walmart is eyeing an expansion plan to build new stores that will eventually amount to some 10,000 new jobs in outlets across the country. But it will also mean up to 24,000 jobs for construction workers needed to build the new stores. Walmart intends to build at least 59 new stores in fiscal year 2017, according to a statement by the company. LKQ: 150 Jobs and New HQ in Tennessee Publicly traded automotive company LKQ Corp is establishing a new headquarters in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. It is a sign that the company feels that the automotive industry in the U.S. is on track to grow in the age of Trump. Add to that other announced industry expansions: Carrier 1,100; US Steel 10,000; IBM 25,000; Soft Bank 50,000; Dow Chemical 1,000; Tesla 1900; Sprint 5,000; One Web 3,000; Black & Decker 100; Chrysler 2,000; Toyota 5,000; and Apple 2,000 and it becomes apparent how much change some real hope can inspire. During the tenure of our Regulator-in-Chief it is estimated that 107,000 jobs were created or saved per year. Since the unexpected victory of Himself and even before the official beginning of the Trump Revolution by my estimation he has added 220,650. Not bad for a prequel. Just imagine the growth we will see in the coming years. Remember the Democrat controlled Creature from Jekyll Island will do its best to slow or sink the economy. The rent-mob Progressive grass-roots simulation will do its best to agitate. The nomenclature in Congress and the bureaucracy will do its best to malign, de-legitimize and possibly impeach The Donald. However, I believe that they will not be able to get the lightening back in the bottle. I believe that unlike the Reagan Revolution this re-birth of the American Spirit will not be betrayed and sold out by a thousand points of light and led into decades of darkness. Keep the faith. Keep the peace. We shall overcome. Dr. Robert Owens teaches History, Political Science, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com 2017 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens Home 23 January 2017 EPO President Benoit Battistelli and Senior Minister Cham Prasidh, Cambodian Minister of Industry and Handicraft, sign agreement EPO President Benoit Battistelli and Senior Minister Cham Prasidh, Cambodian Minister of Industry and Handicraft, have signed an agreement in Phnom Penh to extend, upon request of the applicant, the validity of European patent applications and patents to Cambodia. This means that Cambodia is set to become the first Asian country to recognise European patents on its territory. The agreement will enter into force once it has been adopted into Cambodian law, tentatively 1st July 2017. Cambodia expressed the wish to make for the moment use of the WTO waiver regarding pharmaceutical products that will consequently be excluded from the agreement for the duration of the transitional period. "The new validation agreement with Cambodia is positive news for the development of the European patent system," said EPO President Benoit Battistelli. "It extends its attractiveness beyond the European market and its immediate neighbourhood. The recognition of the European patent by an Asian country demonstrates its global impact, also in the context of a least-developed economy." The agreement means companies and inventors will now be able to obtain patent protection in up to 43 European and non-European countries with a single European patent application, and to protect their innovations in a market of more than 650 million inhabitants. Cambodia sees this agreement as an incentive for owners of European patents to consider investing in Cambodia, thereby strengthening the country's economic development. Senior Minister Cham Prasidh and President Battistelli also signed a bilateral cooperation plan in Phnom Penh. This plan aims to strengthen the Ministry's capacities to administrate Cambodian patent applications and granted patents, as well to raise awareness of the benefits of patent protection in the country. Cambodia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the Southeast Asian region. The country is currently modernising its intellectual property system in order to boost the economy and attract foreign direct investment. Further information A trio of recent data breaches at CoPilot Provider Support Services, Delaware Blue Cross Blue Shield and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles may have exposed as many as 242,600 patients protected health information (PHI). On December 21, 2016, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles learned that an unencrypted laptop containing patient data was stolen from the locked vehicle of a Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group physician on October 18, 2016. The laptop may have held approximately 3,600 patients names, birthdates, addresses, medical record numbers and some clinical information, SC Magazine reports. We are taking action to prevent this type of thing in the future by enhancing the encryption levels of all laptops that physicians use in the provision of care for patients, the hospital stated in a notification letter [PDF] to those affected. Separately, Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro recently announced that a security breach impacted Summit Reinsurance Services and BCS Financial Corporation, both of which are subcontractors of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware (h/t Internet Health Management). On August 8, 2016, Summit discovered that a server containing customer data, including names, Social Security numbers, health insurance information, provider names and/or diagnosis and clinical information, was infected with ransomware. An investigation determined that the server was first accessed on March 12, 2016. The breach affects approximately 19,000 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield members. I would like to ensure Delaware consumers that the Department of Insurance takes this matter seriously and is currently investigating how this occurred, Navarro said in a statement. While Summit sent notification letters to those affected, Navarro noted that many customers may have discarded the letter assuming it was a sales pitch, since they were customers of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, not Summit. And CoPilot Provider Support Services recently announced that one of its databases used by healthcare professionals to determine whether treatments will be covered by insurance was accessed in October 2015, potentially exposing approximately 220,000 patients names, genders, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, health insurers, and in some cases Social Security numbers. The breach was discovered on December 23, 2015. Its not clear why it took the company more than a year to notify those affected. We are taking steps to address the situation and to further protect against a similar incident in the future, including utilizing enhanced verification, enhanced encryption and implementing increased security audit activity, CoPilot said in a notification letter [PDF] to those affected. Last spring, a Ponemon Institute survey found that 79 percent of healthcare organizations experienced two or more data breaches in the past two years, and 45 percent experienced five or more breaches. Over the past two years, the survey found, the average cost of a data breach to a healthcare organization was more than $2.2 million. In the last six years of conducting this study, its clear that efforts to safeguard patient data are not improving, Ponemon Institute chairman and founder Dr. Larry Ponemon said at the time. More healthcare organizations are experiencing data breaches now than six years ago. Donald J. Trump was sworn in the 45th President of the United States on Friday (20 January) and his inauguration was immediately followed by what some believe was the biggest one-day protest in the US history as an estimated 2.9 million march. Millions of women have taken to the streets from New York to Los Angeles and all in between. The American women were supported by the women around the world who gathered in cities including Frankfurt, Berlin, London, Sydney, Paris and Barcelona, rallying primarily in support of womens rights but also for broader issues such as multiculturalism and the protection of the environment. Mr. Trumps inauguration, however, also gave boost to Europes anti-immigrant and anti-establishment politicians who gathered in Rhineland the same day to launch an election year that they hope would topple the European Union. The rightest leaders from France, Germany, Austria, Italy and the Netherlands used their meeting to ridicule German Chancellor Angela Merkel and congratulate Mr. Trump even by directly referring to his inauguration speech. My friends, this year will be the year of the people the year in which the voice of the people is finally heard, said Geert Wilders, who wants to become the Dutch prime minister in March elections despite having been found guilty by a Dutch court in December of triggering discrimination. Marine Le Pen, the French nationalist leader, commented that 2016 was the year the Anglo-Saxon world awoke. 2017, I am sure, will be the year in which the peoples of the European continent awake. The official stance of the EU leaders could best be characterized by the wait and see approach, which was also mostly shared by the global elite in Davos during the World Economic Forum. EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici, however, predicts more nationalism and protectionism coming from the White House. The relations between Algeria and Morocco have been frozen since 1994 when both sides closed their border due to the long-standing dispute over the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. The lack of progress has been a result of numerous factors, such as Frances unconditional support of the Moroccan side, which is thus complicating the EUs stance on the issue or by the inability of the United Nations to broker any sort of agreement. However, most observers agree that the frozen conflict could be and should be resolved by Morocco and Algeria themselves, for example in a similar fashion as India and China did. India and China did not count on an initiative and good will of an outside power when solving their territorial conflict. Actually, they did not really solve the conflict the 1962 war when China seized a disputed border territory in the Himalayas claimed also by India. Both sides merely focused on the revival of their economic ties because they failed to find a solution to the territorial dispute. A solution like this would be more than welcome in both Algeria and Morocco, which could both tremendously benefit from the opening of their border and thus trade flows. Morocco has a thriving fertilizer industry and could benefit from importing Algerian gas while Algeria could benefit from the Moroccan crop nutrient. In reality, Rabat has bought minimum amount of gas from its neighbor despite the existence of a pipeline that has been carrying Algerian gas through Morocco to the Iberian Peninsula since 1996. In contrast, Morocco could provide Algeria not only with fertilizer but also with foodstuffs as well as manufactured goods. Instead of working on utilizing their mutual economic potential, the pipeline that was built during a political thaw in mid-1980s under Moroccos King Hassan II and Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid is working at less than half of its capacity and Morocco is just building a regasification site to support its thriving fertilizer industry a sign that it is not planning to buy Algerian gas any time soon. In a nutshell, instead of leveraging the potential of their key industries, both sides are looking for reasons to keep the border closed, including for trade. Algeria claims that a closed border provides a better control of drug trafficking and Moroccans travelling to join the Islamic State. If Algeria were to open its Moroccan border, it would surely be seen as a welcome development by the EU but while it is far from certain that it will bring greater diplomatic leverage, this step will certainly not change Frances pro-Moroccan stance. Last, but not the least, Algiers political elites are not entirely convinced whether current domestic political realities namely an ailing president and the economic pressures due to the tumbling oil prices bode well for such a bold initiative. Doubts Remain About Reopening the Algeria-Morocco Border an Opinion piece written by Francis Giles CIDOB Barcelona Centre for International Affairs. (The study can be downloaded here) Salmon may not be happy when we eat them, but were happy learning about them. So in a symbiotic relationship, we should take care of them so that future observers of these masters of migration can continue to inspire future generations of nature lovers. In Living Waters, Illustra Media tells the story of the salmons amazing life cycle. Whats new about these fish that swim thousands of miles at sea, yet find their native freshwater streams years later? Several discoveries have come to light since the film was released. Drugged Salmon One news article says that Happy salmon swim better. Like people, salmon can get anxious. Current research from Umea University shows that the young salmons desire to migrate can partly be limited by anxiety, this article says. Fear of the unknown downstream slows down the young migrants. But is this experiment ethical? The research team studied how salmon migration was affected both in a lab, where salmon migrated in a large artificial stream, and in a natural stream outside of Umea in Northern Sweden. In both environments, researchers found that salmon treated with anxiety medication migrated nearly twice as fast as salmon who had not been subjected to treatment. Several billion animals migrate yearly and the results presented here, i.e. that anxiety limits migration intensity, is not only important for understanding salmon migration but also for understanding migration in general. [Emphasis added.] Well, maybe these salmon got a little too happy! The scientists may have only discovered that whatever they gave them made them reckless, like snowboarders on stimulants. Natural anxiety might serve to protect salmon from unnecessary risks. In any case, we do not recommend letting your kid give Ritalin to your goldfish as a science project. Daredevil Salmon You can imagine the stress on a salmon in this next story. Look at the video of 9-to-10 pound chum salmon swimming across a Washington state highway, right in front of an oncoming car. Why did the salmon cross the road? Because the scent of its natal stream took a shortcut over the highway after heavy rain, National Geographic explains. In the article you can also watch a bobcat take advantage of the opportunity. Drowning Salmon The last story was about too little water; this one on Phys.org is about too much. How will salmon survive in a flooded future? Fishery scientists, realizing how important salmon fishing is to the northwest economy (its a $1 billion industry in Alaska), are worried that flood conditions in spawning grounds might scour the delicate salmon eggs out of their nests and wash them away downstream. The key to preserving their breeding grounds, they found, is keeping the areas rivers and floodplains pristine. Flood plains essentially act as pressure release valves that can dissipate the energy of large floods, says Sloat. In fact, most salmon prefer to spawn in stretches of river with intact floodplains, which is probably no coincidence because these features of the landscape help protect salmon eggs from flood events. Thermoregulation and Osmoregulation The salmons ability to change its gill physiology when going from freshwater to salt water and back is called osmoregulation (see how thats a great design story, here). Now, researchers at Oregon State University have found that northern sockeye salmon can regulate their temperature as well, despite evolutionary inexperience. Imagine that! Maybe they took a class in fish school. Sockeye salmon that evolved in the generally colder waters of the far north still know how to cool off if necessary, an important factor in the species potential for dealing with global climate change. Research by Oregon State University revealed that sockeyes at the northern edge of that range, despite lacking their southern counterparts evolutionary history of dealing with heat stress, nevertheless have an innate ability to thermoregulate. The salmon regulate their body heat by finding water just right for their needs. Sounds simple, doesnt it? While it may seem obvious that any fish would move around to find the water temperature it needed, prior research has shown thermoregulation is far from automatic even among populations living where heat stress is a regular occurrence. By monitoring tagged fish, the researchers found that the salmon knew how to cool off at tributary plumes or in deeper water. It ends up saving them a lot of energy to stay at their optimum Goldilocks temperature not too hot, not too cold. The scientists never do explain how the sockeye salmon learned to do this despite evolutionary inexperience. Diving Deeper into the Salmon Nose Fans of Living Waters probably remember the dramatic animated dive into a salmons nostrils (see it here). Recently, we added new information about turbines in the nose. Now, we can learn about another wonder at the molecular level. Salmon and other fish, as well as mammals, have a molecular amplifier involving chloride ions. Stephan Frings, a molecular biologist at Heidelberg University, talks about the discovery in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. First, lets hear him wax ecstatic about olfaction in general. The sense of smell and its astonishing performance pose biologists with ever new riddles. How can the system smell almost anything that gets into the nose, distinguish it from countless other odors, memorize it forever, and trigger reliably adequate behavior? Among the senses, the olfactory system always seems to do things differently. The olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the nose were suggested to use an unusual way of signal amplification to help them in responding to weak stimuli. This chloride-based mechanism is somewhat enigmatic and controversial. A team of sensory physiologists from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has now developed a method to study this process in detail. Li et al. demonstrate how OSNs amplify their electrical response to odor stimulation using chloride currents. The mammalian olfactory system seems to have the capacity to detect an unlimited number of odorants. To date, nobody has proposed a testable limit to the extent of a dogs olfactory universe. Huge numbers from 1012 to 1018 of detectable odorants emerge from calculations and estimations, but these are basically metaphorical substitutes for the lack of visible limits to chemical variety among odorous compounds. Dogs can cope with their odor world by using just 800 different odorant receptor proteins, a comparably tiny set of chemical sensors, expressed one receptor type per cell in 100 million OSNs in the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory research has revealed how it is possible to distinguish 1018 odorants with 800 receptors. To do this, the receptors have to be tolerant with respect to odorant structure. After all, the huge numbers suggest that an average receptor must be able to bind millions of different odorants. Low-selectivity odorant receptors are, therefore, indispensable for olfaction. The olfactory system nevertheless extracts high-precision information from an array of low-precision receptors by looking at the activity of all its OSNs simultaneously. The combined activity pattern of all neurons together provides the precise information about odor quality that each individual OSN cannot deliver. Thus, combinatorial coding is the solution to the problem of low-selectivity receptors. If you are not sufficiently boggled by that, consider that the incoming signals are very weak. A typical OSN (the only neuron exposed to the environment) has only a millisecond to sense an odorant. Because that is too short to trigger the receptor, it has to integrate 35 sensations in 50 milliseconds. To increase their sensitivity, the cilia at the tips of the OSNs where the action takes place charge their receptors with chloride ions. These ions boost depolarization and promote electrical excitation, amplifying the output signal. Heres where salmon come in: Interestingly, the components of this mechanism were discovered in freshwater fish, amphibian, reptiles, birds, and mammals, indicating that the interplay of cation currents and chloride currents is important for OSN function throughout the animal kingdom. A recent study appears to confirm this hypothesis in some cases. You, too, may be smelling better with chloride. (Here, have some salt on your salmon fillet.) But Frings admits, The relation between OSN activity at the onset and odor perception at the conclusion of signal processing is far from being understood. The olfactory system is very different in virtually all respects from the other senses, like vision and hearing. First, thousands of OSN axons all with the same odorant receptor protein converge onto a common projection neuron in the olfactory bulb. This extreme convergence shapes the signal that enters the brain, and we still have to find out how ORN electrical amplification contributes to this process. Second, when the olfactory information enters the piriform cortex, the largest cortical area in the olfactory system, it enters a world quite different from the primary visual cortex. Extensive horizontal communication between the principal neurons and continuous exchange with multiple other brain regions turn the original afferent signal into highly processed information. Finally, the way to perception leads through brain regions that establish, evaluate, and use olfactory memory. Thus, much signal processing has to take place before a mouse [or a salmon, for that matter] performs in an operant conditioning experiment. Next time you go fishing, take a second to look into the eyes and nose of your catch. Our of reverence, you may just want to throw it back. Photo: Salmon eggs, via Illustra Media. Investors were not particularly encouraged by the Supreme Court ruling that parliament must be consulted prior to Article 50 being triggered, in large part due to the indication that the devolved governments might not have as large a role to play in negotiations as previously hoped. Monday's session saw GBP/INR trend in the region of 84.9200. The pair had gained an impressive 0.8% on the day as traders rushed away from risky emerging market currencies. Concerns grew this week that the new US Trump administration was quickly working on scrapping or redoing key US trade deals. Analysts fear that emerging markets like India would suffer most from having US trade scrapped. A wide sense of investor bearishness and concern over the outlook of the new US administration have weighed heavily on the Rupee, allowing the Pound to make strong gains ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on Article 50. Softer Retail Sales Dented GBP INR Exchange Rate Ahead of the weekend the Pound Indian Rupee (GBP INR) exchange rate faltered, with demand for Sterling diminished thanks to weaker-than-expected UK retail sales figures for December. Sales were found to have contracted -2% on the month, suggesting that consumer confidence and spending had declined sharply at the end of 2016. This disappointing data helped to dissipate the increased sense of optimism that had followed Theresa Mays commentary on the governments Brexit plan, with investors still concerned by the uncertain outlook of the UK economy. Weaker Oil Price May Boost Indian Rupee Demand Risk appetite could be volatile in the coming week thanks to ongoing political developments in the US, as investors will be looking for greater clarity over the new administrations economic policies. With Indian economic data absent from the calendar this week the Rupee (INR) will be left at the mercy of wider market sentiment, limiting the upside potential of the emerging-market currency. If US oil production continues to rise, filling the gap left by OPECs output cuts, the increased downside pressure on oil prices should offer support to the Rupee. However, with the domestic economy still adapting to the demonetisation of the 500 and 1000 Rupee notes the mood towards the GBP INR exchange rate could return to a bullish trend. Pound Sterling Volatility Possible on Brexit Court Ruling The Supreme Court ruling on the governments ability to trigger Article 50 without the approval of Parliament could offer a fresh rallying point to the Pound. While the impact of the ruling is likely to be limited, given Theresa Mays earlier comments and promise of a vote of approval on the final deal, if the Court denied the governments appeal this could still boost hopes of a more moderate exit plan. Even though the government has ruled out remaining a member of the single market the suggestion of greater parliamentary oversight of the exit process could limit the prospect of a hard Brexit; something which would be seen to bode well for the UK economy. UK Data Predicted to Maintain Downside Pressure on Pound vs Rupee However, worries over the economic outlook are likely to hang over the Pound in the wake of Fridays poor retail figures, as James Knightley, senior economist at ING, noted: We suspect that retail sales growth will soften in 2017. Consumer confidence is weakening and employment growth has stalled while real household disposable incomes are being eroded by higher prices. At the same time retailers themselves are going to see profit margins squeezed by higher import costs resulting from Sterlings weakness (this will continue due to currency hedges gradually falling off) and increases in the National Living Wage. Decembers public sector net borrowing figure could equally exacerbate concern over the negative impact of the weaker Pound, with any increase in borrowing set to emphasise the UKs vulnerability and large deficit. GBP INR Data Releases 24/01/17: 09:30 GBP Public Sector Net Borrowing (DEC) 25/01/17: 11:00 GBP CBI Trends Total Orders (JAN) 11:00 GBP CBI Trends Selling Prices (JAN) 11:00 GBP CBI Business Optimism (JAN) A report released by Morgan Stanley this week describes their short-term bullishness on the pound vs. US dollar exchange rate. Theresa Mays speech has given the market the clarity and insight it needed. EUR/GBP is also set to break lower. Sterling was trading at 1.2534 at the end of Monday's New York FX session, up 1.29% from last week's close. Despite having forecast the pound vs. US dollar rate at a rather gloomy 1.17 at the end of this quarter, the latest research from Morgan Stanleys FX team suggests that the bank is quite bullish on sterling over the next few weeks, believing it will test the 1.28 handle. Morgan Stanleys views, as well as those of other major institutions, reflect the positive message that the market heard from British Prime Minister Theresa May last Tuesday a message in which she sounded more conciliatory and assured regarding Brexit negotiations. In her speech, Prime Minister May not only repeated her message that the British government would aim for a transitional deal with Europe, but also acknowledged that access to the single market is simply incompatible with the UKs double aim of regaining control over immigration and extricating itself from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Such remarks offered global investors the clarity and insight they were looking for, say Morgan Stanley. While not exactly akin to a post-Brexit crystal ball, at least following the PMs remarks there does seem to be at least some level of certainty that the UK will not follow what British Conservative Party strategist Steve Hilton called a closed Brexit as opposed to an outward looking, open Britain. The GBP USD Exchange Rate at 1.20 Would Be a Strategic Buying Opportunity Notwithstanding the banks quarter-end forecast of 1.17, Morgan Stanley will be buyers in the near-term should the pound to dollar exchange rate fall to 1.20. Such a view mirrors what FX Strategists at BNP Paribas said last week. Based upon BNPs quantitative CLEER model for exchange rate valuation, Sam Lynton-Brown of the French bank said when describing fair valuations in extreme post-Brexit scenarios, that GBPUSD at 1.20 is significantly undershooting [fair valuation]. In research seen by exchangerates.org.uk, Morgan Stanley say: We expect GBPUSD to test 1.28 over the next couple of weeks. And that Market positioning is still short GBP, suggesting there is room for more adjustment to the upside. Morgan Stanley are also entering long this week in the pound to yen market a market which, at current prices, they believe to be a better buying opportunity than pound-dollar. They also believe that the euro to pound rate will move lower, although they declined from giving precise near-term targets for either pair. Pound, Dollar Events to Watch This Week For sterling markets, crucially on Tuesday we have the judgment by the British Supreme Court on the governments appeal against Novembers High Court ruling in which it was decreed that an Act of Parliament must be passed before the UK could invoke article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty (before Brexit could be confirmed). In terms of UK economic data next week, Morgan Stanley are watching Tuesdays Public Sector Net Borrowing and Thursdays preliminary GDP reading. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up for our Exeter newsletter and you'll never miss a big story again The owner of the Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter which was devastated by fire has confirmed he wants to restore the original facade. Brownsword Hotels has appointed a firm of structural engineers to start work on the process of rebuilding the hotel in Cathedral Yard, which was badly damaged in the blaze at the end of October. The news follows debate in the city about what should be built in the historic quarter of Exeter opposite the cathedral. Last week Exeter city council's chief executive said he was aware of suggestions that the project was an opportunity for a new modern design. But he felt that the historic frontage of the hotel should be restored, with a modern building behind. Work has been going on to assess the archaeology and historic nature of the area. The hotel, said to be England's oldest, was built in 1769. It was named after the Duchess of Clarence (Queen Adelaide), wife of the future William IV, who stayed there in 1827. A spokeswoman for the hotel group said owner Andrew Brownsword had confirmed plans "to rebuild the facade as closely as possible to the original, whilst behind this will sit a new hotel to offer the city of Exeter a modern hotel that can best serve the city and its people." She added: "Engineers from Thomasons' Manchester office are on site leading the project and anticipate spending many months painstakingly dismantling the building, assessing the damage and recording historic features before the restoration design work can begin." The fire started in the early hours of Friday, October 28, and continued through the weekend. Around 100 firefighters were on the scene at the height of the blaze, which started in the building housing Castle Fine Art gallery on Cathedral Yard. The fire spread to the Well House Tavern next door and the Royal Clarence Hotel which were badly damaged. The hotel was evacuated safely and no one was injured. Large parts of the city centre cordoned off for several weeks after the fire, and businesses were forced to close. Demolition work began soon after the fire was out. Thomasons director Gary Brown said: "The Royal Clarence Hotel is a hugely significant and much-loved building. "Our engineers and project managers have vast expertise in making safe and restoring important historical buildings. "In partnership with other experts, we will take every care to salvage as much of the important historic fabric as possible to allow the hotel to be restored to its former glory." Thomasons' award-winning historic building projects include the restoration of Crathorne Hall Hotel, a Grade II-star former stately home in Yarm, North Yorkshire, following extensive fire damage; the renovation of a rare Victorian glasshouse at Wentworth Castle in Yorkshire; and the sympathetic conversion of Manchester's famous Royal Exchange into a hotel and restaurant. Hello, My girlfriend and I met in 2015 at a summer camp in New York and I want to know what options I can look into to move over to Canada and work/live there. She has applied for a masters in Edinburgh so hopefully they'll accept her and I'll have a year + to work on this dream. I've lived with her in total for around 7-8 months in total in Canada since October 2015 and we've been together just over 18 months. - Graduated with a 2:1 in 2014 - Business Studies with Accounting - Worked as a butcher for my whole time at university and then worked at a summer camp in New York for 2 summers. Travelled after that around America and then lived with her. - I have funds too, around 15,000. I am more than willing to work on any schemes that will help me in making this a reality and as I have mentioned if she gets in to Edinburgh I'll have around 2 years to plan this and work on it. Thanks for any ideas/input you guys have! Expats from around Europe have explained to a British parliamentary group their fears surrounding the decision by the country to leave the European Union, especially over healthcare.The representatives of expat groups in Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, Poland and Romania, voiced their concerns at a meeting last week of the House of Commons Brexit Select Committee. Pensioners are particularly concerned, according to Sue Wilson, one of the founders of the Remain in Spain group, who pointed out that they are already suffering in terms of income since the Pound has fallen since the Brexit vote last June.She also explained that currently British people receiving a UK pension use an S1 form provided by the Government that they can use to register for subsidised care from their local health authority and are worried about what will happen in the future as many cannot afford the full cost.Wilson said it is a myth that the 100,000 British pensioners living in Spain are living the good life. We have got to get away from this perception that they are all there having a good time. Many moved to Spain in the first place because it was cheaper to live there, because it was cheaper to buy a property, she said.A big concern is people wondering if they have free healthcare in future, particularly if you are elderly. If your only alternative was private, for most that would be the difference between staying in Spain and leaving, she explained, adding that if pensioners are forced to return as they can no longer afford to live in Spain they could be a drain on the NHS and perhaps the housing market.The Britons in Belgium group also said that healthcare costs are a major issue for expats. Spokesman Debbie Williams told the committee that there could be hundreds of thousands of people returning to the UK over healthcare issues.Christopher Chantrey, a Briton living in France representing the Expat Citizen Rights in EU (Ecreu) group, said expats would welcome an early deal that would guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK and vice versa.The committee also heard from representatives of EU expats living in the UK. According to Barbara Drozdowicz, chief executive of the East European Resource Centre, people from countries like Poland and Romania moved to Britain to set up business not to sponge off the state and they are worried about whether or not they can stay after Brexit. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RIO GRANDE VALLEY Its hard to imagine that the pile of sand and earth being compacted near the southernmost tip of Texas will soon launch Elon Musks dreams one rocket at a time into space. That is where SpaceX is building the companys first commercial launch pad the SpaceX South Texas Launch Site near Boca Chica Beach just a few miles north of the Mexican border in the Rio Grande Valley. The company remains on track to open for commercial rocket launching as early as next year even after one of his rockets blew up on the launchpad last fall. The Sept. 1 explosion destroyed the $60 million rocket and a $200 million Israeli satellite. SpaceX said a complex chain reaction caused by frozen liquid oxygen reacting to something in the fuel tank made the rocket explode. Musk said the problem was fixed, and SpaceX successfully returned to flight on Jan. 14. Potential hiccups The launch pad explosion showed the potential hiccups that the fledgling private commercial space industry faces as it pushes the bounds of engineering and physics. But the work in South Texas continues unabated, and is part of a larger space industry that already is established in the border region. Musks new launch pad, along with other companies in the race to commercialize space, are feeding a growing workforce and research hub exploring the universe thats emerging in the Rio Grande Valley. A joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin called United Launch Alliance Musks main competitor has about 160 employees tucked inside a nondescript hangar at Harlingens Valley International Airport about 47 miles northwest of the SpaceX launch site where ULA quietly has been assembling nose cones for Atlas V rockets over the past 30 years. Local leaders are hoping that SpaceXs new complex and ULAs facility will help create a high-tech renaissance in the Rio Grande Valley, where agriculture and staid manufacturers drive the economy. Building under the radar On the southern edge of Valley International Airport, a massive 300,000-square-foot white building is marked by a single sign that says ULA Americas Ride to Space. Inside, dozens of workers are assembling rocket pieces destined for a one-way trip to space. The facility in Harlingen has been on the same site since 1987 assembling Atlas payload fairing components the nose cones used to protect spacecraft. Eighty percent of what my folks do is load parts, drill holes and put in fasteners, said Tim Piller, the senior manufacturing manager in Harlingen who has been at the facility for 14 years. A tour of the facility showed men and women doing just that. The payload fairings as large as 14 feet in diameter are loaded onto mounts where workers drilled holes, placed fasteners and pinched them together. Some fairings can be wider, depending on the rockets payload. Rocket assembly The facility also assembles the adapters that connect the first and second stages of the rocket to each other and are designed to break apart at the right moment when the first stage has run out of fuel. The Harlingen facility works with ULAs Decatur, Alabama, manufacturing plant, which Piller said has roughly 800 employees and 1.25 million-square-feet under roof. They have a much more robust capability manufacturingwise versus what we do, Piller said. We do structural assembly. They do everything from machining to welding to harness fabrication to pressure type test. The nose cones built in Harlingen go either to Decatur or directly to one of two launch pads that ULA operates: one located in the Cape Canaveral complex in Florida, the other at Vandenberg AFB on the southern coast of California. The Harlingen-assembled parts are transported to Florida by truck and to California by boat through the Panama Canal. Saving money The distance to Harlingen which is roughly 1,000 miles from Decatur, 1,300 miles from Cape Canaveral, and 1,700 miles to Vandenberg may seem prohibitive, but Piller says that the location gives the facility an edge on labor costs. Its not a secret that the reason that companies come to South Texas is labor costs less than it does in other parts in the country, theres no doubt about it, Piller said. Thats why we still exist because we can fabricate cheaper than they can in Decatur or any other part in the country. Neither Piller nor Lyn Chassagne a ULA spokeswoman would say how much the Harlingen employees are paid, but employee-posted salaries on the job review site Glassdoor showed that most employees at ULA make more than $80,000 a year. Cheap labor The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that in May 2015, people working in the Brownsville-Harlingen metropolitan area made a mean hourly wage of $16.21 an hour or a little more than $33,000 a year. Every occupation except health care practitioners and technical categories made less in Brownsville-Harlingen than their national counterparts. Mathmaticians and computer programmers make 34 percent below the national average while architects and engineers earn 20 percent below average U.S. incomes, according to federal wage data. Without SpaceX, well go back to what we had which is what we still have right now which is manufacturing, logistics and distribution, said Gilberto Salinas, executive vice president of the Brownsville Economic Development Corp. But right now, its an open canvas, he said. We get to create this sector, a niche for ourselves from scratch, which hardly happens. Expensive rocket science Launching satellites into space is an expensive business, and cutting on costs when possible is paramount to commercial space companies such as SpaceX. It costs Musk roughly $62 million to send one of his Falcon 9 rockets into space. Chassagne said a base-level Atlas V rocket without additional boosters costs $160 million. The ULAs two rockets the Atlas V and the Delta IV have multiple variants that use the same central core with different payload fairings and rocket booster layouts. SpaceX currently operates the Falcon 9 and is developing the Falcon Heavy, a modified version of the Falcon 9 that would compete directly with the Delta IV and the Vulcan, ULAs next generation rocket set to launch in 2019. The Vulcan will replace the Delta IV and, eventually, the Atlas V. Work for years to come ULA Chief Executive Officer Tory Bruno said in a phone interview that the Vulcan will eventually cost less than $100 million to fly. The Harlingen facility will still have work for years to come even after the Atlas V is phased out because there will be a long overlap in use for years after the Vulcan is introduced. Harlingen which assembles the aluminum Atlas V payload fairing wont assemble the Vulcans composite fairing, a job that will go to ULA partner RUAG in Decatur. But other aluminum structures assembled in Harlingen the first- and second-stage adapters, among others may continue to be made in South Texas once the Atlas V is retired. We have not made a final design and therefore a final decision on where theyll be manufactured, Bruno said of the adapters. The metallic structures that are similar to whats on Atlas will very likely end up right back in Harlingen. Building the future At Musks launch pad, on the last curve in Boca Chica Boulevard before the road ends on the sandy strip of beach and the Gulf of Mexico, a tall mound of dirt stands surrounded by chain-link fencing and sandy dunes. Approaching the end of the road, offshore oil rigs can be seen dotting the Gulfs horizon while birds rest at the edge of the water. The launch pad was brought to Boca Chica about two years ago with at least $13 million in incentives from the Texas Spaceport Trust Fund to the Cameron County Spaceport Development Corp. to build the infrastructure, according to Sam Taylor, deputy press secretary for the Texas governors office. Another $2.3 million was provided through a grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund. SpaceX has committed to eventually hire 300 employees in the local area, and expects the Boca Chica launch site to be finished in 2017 for launches in 2018, said SpaceX spokesman John Taylor. SpaceX has installed one of two ground station antennas at the site, said James Gleeson, another company spokesman. They will be used to track manned flights flown by SpaceX to the International Space Station, which are scheduled to launch in 2018. STARGATE For now, local groups along the Interstate 69 East corridor are working to take advantage of having one of the leading space companies in the world move to their backyard. At one of the University of Texas new campuses the UT Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville Dr. Frederick Jenet is pushing ahead with the schools STARGATE program, a collaboration with SpaceX to expose students to the companys space program. STARGATE will have a facility next to the SpaceX integration facility in Boca Chica, giving students and professors a unique ability to interact with and view SpaceXs missions. UT Rio Grande Valley associate professor of physics Volker Quetschke said that the September explosion was progress because if its unchanged, its proven engineering thats 100 years old, (then) we would all drive around in horse buggies using steam engines. It wont have much impact on STARGATE, he said. Sure, companies rise and fall and the whole STARGATE thing came out of SpaceX, but thats not the only avenue, Quetschke said. The university program is talking with other companies and pursuing other areas of research, he said. The program is being supported by a $4.4 million grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund matched by $4.6 million from the University of Texas System. Jenet is a California Institute of Technology-trained associate professor of physics who started working at UT Brownsville in 2005, long before it combined in mid-2015 with UT Pan American to form the new UT Rio Grande Valley. 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. Space discoveries The schools main initiative for a decade has been its Arecibo Remote Control Center, or ARCC, which takes data from the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Centers Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico and has students sift through it to find radio pulsars and other exotic galactic bodies. To date, at least 63 discoveries have been made at ARCC, including the 10th known double-neutron star system. Jenet said that students from his program are the ones who led the charge to engage SpaceX and persuade them to partner with local educational institutions. We basically have these programs that were developed, we have these students that were at this level and then SpaceX comes nosing around. Our students immediately take advantage of this and they start organizing themselves to talk to SpaceX and organizing themselves to talk at the forums, he said. Part of the practical use of STARGATE will be developing new radio frequency communications to increase the bandwidth of information that can be sent to and from space. At the end of the day its the same bag of tools that you learn to get a radio telescope to work, function and detect astronomical objects, its the same kind of stuff that you learn that ultimately can be used to get a rocket to launch, to track it, to communicate with it, Jenet said. Brain drain Residents also talked about reversing the brain drain that occurs on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Alma Guerrero-Miller, assistant director for special projects at UT Rio Grande Valley, said that states on both sides complain that their most talented people will not stay on the border. Our best people were leaving, she said. Flanked by computer monitors in the center of ARCCs circular desks, Andrew Danford, a 24-year-old senior physics major from Brownsville, said the mentality in high school was to leave. There really isnt anything to pursue down here, he said. And now there is something to pursue down here, there is something I can see. Giving the local population more avenues to stay is what Salinas of the Brownsville Economic Development Corp. hopes SpaceX and others will bring. He was one of the people who worked to bring SpaceX to the area. He said that many locals are in more traditional lines of work, such as manufacturing for the automotive sector. Because of that, he and his fellow economic developers had to do more than think outside of the box. Totally new We really had to create boxes outside of that box simply because its a totally new industry for us, he said. Salinas hopes that SpaceXs involvement in the area will bring some types of aerospace manufacturing, whether partial or whole, to the Rio Grande Valley. He said that Brownsville has already seen enhanced name recognition with heavy manufacturers and the Big 3 automakers Ford, General Motors and Fiat-Chrysler. Back in Harlingen, 34-year-old Rita Gonzalez has made her career in space as a structural assembler for ULA. Gonzalez, who has an associate degree in collision repair from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, said she initially didnt know what ULA did. When I came for my interview and they brought me to see and to walk through and everything I was just amazed it was like it was hidden from me, she said. New companies Gonzalez and other team members were conducting final inspections on fairing parts being prepped for delivery. When Gonzalez is not in the clean room doing inspections, she is out on the floor riveting. When asked what opportunities there were before she joined ULA, Gonzalez replied, Here in the Valley? Not very many. Back at UT Rio Grande Valley, students such as Louis Dartez, a 25-year-old graduate student from Brownsville and Port Isabel, are starting to open their own doors. Dartez is the chief operations officer for SG Surveillance, a surveillance startup and the first to come out of the STARGATE program in South Texas. Dartezs company hopes to create a ground-based platform to allow people to conduct remote surveillance and analysis of large sites something he believes SpaceX could be interested in using. Physics professor Quetschke said: After years of stagnation, I feel an excitement in the community that stuff is going on. rdruzin@express-news.net @druz_journo USAA Life Insurance Co. says a change in how life insurance companies calculate the reserves set aside to pay future death claims will lead to lower rates for its customers. Beginning this month, customers who take out life insurance policies could save as much as 15 percent on their annual premiums, with an average of 2.6 percent, as a result of the new way of determining reserves, according to the San Antonio company. USAA Life hopes that consumers who previously didnt consider life insurance will give it another look because its now a little more affordable. You really need to look into this if you have a family to protect, said Shawn Loftus, USAA Life senior vice president and chief actuary. It can be a game-change for a family if the unthinkable happens. USAA and other insurers have been lobbying regulators for more than a decade to change how reserves are calculated, Loftus said. The old way used formulas that were pre-computer and one size fits all, which led to reserves that were way, way too high, he added. On Jan. 1, Texas and 45 other states adopted whats called principle-based reserving, or PBR, which allows insurance companies to reserve less when there is lower risk while setting aside more capital when there is higher risk. The change has been referred to by those in the industry as right-sizing reserves. The change would knock 41 cents off the monthly premiums of $47.49 for a $500,000 policy for a 40-year old male, Loftus said. That would buy a term policy for 20 years under USAAs preferred plus plan, a notch below its best rate class. Loftus said the price difference in this example is low because profit margins are low for this demographic. For a 60-year-old male, the rate dropped by $47 a month, or 10 percent, to $423 a month. Consumer watchdogs arent necessarily convinced the change is good. Principle based (reserving) works if the insurer is principled, as USAA is. For others, watch out! said Robert Hunter, the Consumer Federation of Americas director of insurance. If reserves are set too high, that can drive prices artificially up. If too low, the insurer could be headed to insolvency. Reserves must be accurate. Giving insurers flexibility is OK (for) the honest/competent insurers, but not all insurers meet those definitions. Birny Birnbaum, director for the Center for Economic Justice in Austin, wondered whether the change would give the industry enough cushion to survive another financial crisis. Will the industry come through? he asked. Birnbaum said reserves had been set with a level of conservatism to ensure companies would be around in 20 to 30 years to pay claims. Now, under PBR, he said insurers get to set their reserves on various assumptions and their experience. He is concerned that regulatory oversight will be strained at best and may be inadequate. Regulators said reserves will remain conservative. We are making sure to protect the consumer (and) to promote the solvency of companies, said Mike Boerner, actuarial director for the Texas Department of Insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners plans to hire staff to assist state regulators. Insurers had complained that their reserves, particularly for term life insurance, were far more than needed to protect consumers. Some insurers circumvented regulations by using captive insurance arrangements, also known as shadow insurance, to offload excess reserves, Birnbaum said. They then used those reserves to generate revenue. The practice led the New York Department of Financial Services to recommend state insurance commissioners consider a national moratorium on approving shadow insurance transactions in 2013. USAA Life hasnt done any shadow insurance transactions, Loftus said. Birnbaum said the hope was that by switching to PBR there would no longer be a need to have shadow insurance. But he said insurance companies have not promised to do away with shadow insurance. Nor, he said, have insurance companies promised to lower rates. 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. USAA Life had $4.2 billion in reserves at the end of 2015, the latest figure available from the Texas Department of Insurance. Loftus wouldnt say how much of that USAA considered excess, but he cited an industry report that shows reserve levels are two to four times higher than what companies need. Were in that range, but I cant really tell you where, Loftus said. He cited competitive concerns. So why isnt USAA dropping rates even more than the 2.6 percent average it announced? Youre talking about a low revenue product, lowest in the industry, and its a low (profit) margin product, Loftus said. The margins are very, very tight. Theres just not much to give there. USAA serves the military community and its mission is to help its members achieve financial security. Life insurance is a critical component in reaching that goal, the company said. About 35 percent of USAAs 11.8 million members live paycheck to paycheck, so lowering rates will make it possible for more members to afford life insurance, Loftus said. About 80 percent of the life insurance USAA sells is term life, which pays a death benefit of the insured for a specified term. It has well over a million policies in force, he said. Policies executed prior to the reserve change on Jan. 1 will not be impacted. USAA will create new reserves for insurance contracts completed starting Jan. 1, Loftus said. Loftus added that even non-USAA members can buy life insurance from the company. pdanner@express-news.net Twitter: @AlamoPD This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The three students focused their eyes on their instructor, Jerry Ashby, as he wrote New Years Resolution in black marker on a white board at the Center for Refugee Services. Its a tradition to make a New Years resolution, Ashby said, standing by an alphabet wall chart. Its a promise that is backed up by plans. The adult students wrote notes in a workbook subtitled, Life skills for success in the US. Each student had a different reason for enrolling in the intermediate English as a Second Language class. Radha Pradhan, 23, from Nepal, wanted to improve her word skills for job opportunities. Abukar Kadar, 62, from Somalia, who already speaks five languages, wanted to become more proficient in his newest language. And Ayesha Akder, 28, from Bangladesh, took the class to help pass her citizenship test so she could get a passport and visit her sick mother. Were comfortable with the class, Akder said. We like it. Its a good start. This was the second intermediate ESL class for Ashby and his students who meet twice a week for two hours. Forty-five adults attend five daytime ESL classes and 30 students from elementary school to college attend tutoring sessions on Monday nights. Volunteers from Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church teach English classes to 30 refugees Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the center. The center is a nonprofit that has helped resettle refugees from more than 20 countries in the San Antonio area. In addition to ESL classes, center volunteers lead citizenship classes, offer family counseling, maternity help for new mothers and job search assistance. Ashby, a retired English teacher with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, said he always wanted to do his part to help refugees. After he found the center during an online search he called and asked staff members how he could help. He said he hadnt taught since 1987 and had to resurrect old skills to teach the students, whom he admires for being supportive of each other. Theyre highly motivated, Ashby 66, said. Their lives are difficult enough with large amounts of chaos, so they dont need anymore pressure, they just need support. The centers assistant director, Jann Fractor, said working online is difficult because of slow and outdated computers. Were in desperate need of new computers, Fractor said. Its taking a lot to do a little bit. By the end of Ashbys second class, two of his students had revealed their resolutions. Pradhans goal was getting up earlier and Akders plan was applying and getting her passport. Class ended before Kadar said what his goal was, but he did reveal his favorite part of the ESL class. Our teacher, Kadar said, is the best thing we like about the course. For more information about the center call 210-949-0062 or visit the Center for Refugee Services Facebook page. vtdavis@express-news.net In whats being hailed as a victory for groundwater protection and property rights, a judge is reversing the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualitys authorization for a subdivision in Comal County to discharge treated wastewater onto its neighbors land. The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance joined property owners in suing the TCEQ over its approval in 2015 of a permit amendment that allowed Johnson Ranch to discharge up to 350,000 gallons of wastewater daily into a ditch that carries it to a low spot on bordering properties. On Tuesday, state District Judge Amy Clark Meachum of Travis County notified the parties by letter that she would reverse the TCEQs decision on the permit and remand the case back to the agency for further proceedings. The original permit issued to the developer, DHJB Development, allowed up to 75,000 gallons of effluent discharge daily, using a subsurface drip irrigation system at the 767-acre subdivision still under construction off U.S. 281 at FM 1836. The developer and the Johnson Ranch Municipal Utility District, which wanted the TCEQ permit upheld, are also parties to the lawsuit. The MUD will eventually own and operate a wastewater treatment plant built to serve the development, where 955 high-end homes and some commercial lots are planned. A small interim treatment plant went into operation there in late 2015. Meachum heard oral arguments in the lawsuit at a half-day hearing last month and considered evidence in the administrative record from the TCEQ and the State Office of Administrative Hearings, which had recommended denial of the permit amendment after conducting a contested case hearing. We are ecstatic about the decision, said Terrell Graham, one of the five property owners who sued. He predicted that the judges ruling would be challenged, but said, We feel we have a solid case that can withstand appeal. Annalisa Peace, executive director of the Aquifer Alliance, said the discharge of effluent thats treated to less than drinking-water standards poses a risk to the regions primary water supply because the effluent would flow over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. The scientists tell us thats a bad idea, said Peace, who also faulted the developer for what she called an egregious disregard for neighbors property rights. You cant just go dump trash on your neighbors land, she said. Awaiting the judges written order, the TCEQ and attorneys for the parties declined comment. In challenging the TCEQs approval of the permit amendment, the plaintiffs accused officials of the agency of violating its own rules, acting arbitrarily and capriciously, and improperly modifying the evidentiary findings of Administrative Law Judge Sarah G. Ramos. Commissioners considered evidence outside of the administrative record solicited new evidence and made their own fact findings, Charles Irvine, the plaintiffs attorney, argued in court filings. A major point of contention is whether the low spot on the neighboring properties into which the effluent flows is an unnamed tributary of Cibolo Creek, as claimed by the developer, or merely a grassy swale, as the plaintiffs contend. Ramos concluded that no watercourse exists there and said the discharge would likely saturate the soil of downslope neighbors, causing erosion and creating health concerns. In overruling Ramos, the TCEQ said the discharge route was indeed a watercourse. The lawsuit said that finding was unsupported by facts until the commission improperly solicited additional evidence. It also said the TCEQ ignored its own regulations on development over the Edwards Aquifer. The TCEQs failure to follow the clear, unambiguous language of its own rule is arbitrary and warrants remand, the lawsuit stated. zeke@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A sunny and peaceful afternoon at Rolling Oaks Mall on the Northeast Side descended into chaos Sunday afternoon as a volley of gunfire erupted in the shopping complex, injuring four people one fatally when a store robbery turned violent. Two men robbed a Kay Jewelers store in the mall, but when the heist was unsuccessful, they tried to flee without taking any merchandise, San Antonio Police Department officials said. A hail of gunshots rang out when the men encountered two bystanders who tried to intervene. One of those bystanders was shot and killed by one of the robbers, police said. The other person who intervened, a holder of a concealed handgun license, then shot and critically wounded one of the robbers. The other robber continued to run through the mall, firing a gun as he fled, police said. Two other people in the mall were hit by gunfire, though it was unclear late Sunday who fired the shots that wounded them. Police Chief William McManus described the incident as a robbery gone really, really bad. After an intense manhunt, Converse police arrested a 35-year-old Hispanic man believed to be the escaped suspect. His name was not released Sunday night because he had not been magistrated, but San Antonio Police spokesman Douglas Greene said he will be charged with capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault. The other alleged robber, who was in critical condition at San Antonio Military Medical Center, will face the same charges, Greene said. At a news conference at police department headquarters just after midnight, Greene said that the Converse Police Department responded at 3:48 p.m. to a call about a wreck near the intersection of Coppergate and Loop 1604 and found a silver vehicle had crashed. There was no one in the vehicle, which turned out to be stolen, Greene said. Canvassing the area, Converse police found a man nearby that they believe was the driver. He was arrested without incident; police said he had two weapons on his person. Converse PD, who was helping SAPD in searching for the escaped robber, called SAPD, who took custody of the man. Green said that homicide and robbery detectives interviewed the suspect and believe he is the suspect who fled. Greene said police believe both robbers fired their guns, but that the man who is in critical condition is the one who fired the fatal shot. The violence prompted authorities to lock down the mall for several hours. Greene said that several store managers had been allowed back into the mall, and that its expected that the mall will be open to the public today. None of the victims names was released Sunday. All were being treated at SAMMC. Police are investigating whether the suspects are the same men who committed a smash and grab robbery at South Park Mall on Friday, said Sgt. Jesse Salame, an SAPD spokesman. They are very similar incidents, the way the store was targeted, and two Hispanic males with the same clothing description, he said. S.A. teen says he won't soon forget shooting scene Sundays incident unfolded shortly after 3 p.m. as customers were busy shopping. The shooting left many terrified. We heard the shots and just started running. It was chaos, said Benjamin Arsate, who was near the food court when the gunfire erupted. I mean, where do you go to have fun now? This is insane. Its like nowheres safe anymore, Arsate said. Maggie Hernandez and her daughter Tera, 18, were among those at the mall at the time. They huddled with a group of Dillards employees behind a car outside the building. We started running out, too you dont want to be caught inside, Maggie Hernandez said. Its a learning experience, right? If you have this experience, then either hide or find a nearest exit, she said. People caught inside the mall when it was locked down were stuck there for several hours. After sweeping the building, police said they were confident that the suspect who fled was no longer inside the mall. Police started releasing people from the mall around 6:40 p.m. They did a second sweep with K9 units once everyone was out of the building. Two other people who werent hit by gunfire also received medical attention at the mall. One was taken to a hospital after suffering chest pains. The other person, a pregnant woman, was treated at the scene. The jewelry store that was robbed is on the malls second floor, near the food court. A childrens playground is also nearby, Salame said. Mayor Ivy Taylor arrived as the investigation was underway. She lauded law enforcement officials for showing quick and efficient coordination. I know here in San Antonio we often feel insulated because we have such a great community, Taylor said, but weve seen an uptick in crime in big cities across the country and, unfortunately, were not immune to that. Officials with Kay Jewelers did not respond to a request for comment Sunday night. Managers and spokespeople for the mall also did not respond to questions by press time. The mall is run by Washington Prime Group, a retail real estate investment trust headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, according to the malls website. One local concealed handgun instructor said he always teaches his students not to interfere in robberies. Dont be a hero, said Mike Taylor, instructor at San Antonio Concealed Handgun. Youre not a hero, youre not a cop, youre not Rambo. Four hours after the shooting, Alyssa Bailey, 21, emerged from hiding still carrying the Java Joz food she had planned to eat on her break. An employee at Francescas, she had just picked up her food and was heading back to work around 3 p.m. when she heard a loud crack that sounded to her like something large had fallen. But then she noticed a family get up and begin to run, in panic, yelling about a shooting. As a daughter of a police officer, Baileys mind switched into action mode. She ran to Francescas and yelled at everyone to run and hide. She, two other employees, and two customers all hid in a bathroom locked with the employee code. They crouched there in hiding for more than three hours, they said. At one point a police officer came and allowed them to get their phones from the store to contact their friends and family, but encouraged them to stay in the restroom until all was secure. Now-a-days shootings like this are common, said Alyssa Ortega, a 19-year-old coworker of Baileys at Francescas. Im just thankful that there werent a lot of victims from what Ive heard. They said they could hear people talking and a baby crying from what sounded like another hiding place for people on the other side of the wall. One of the customers they were hiding with was worried about her son, who had been shopping at a different part of the mall. (She) was crying My son, my son and we were like Please be quiet and holding her, said Bailey. But as calm and collected as she tried to be, Bailey said she was silently worrying herself about the fragile glass door at Francescas entrance. I was having such a good day, and then this came out of nowhere, Ortega said. Allyson Hamby paced in the parking lot of Rolling Oaks for over an hour, waiting for her daughter amid the police cars and fire trucks while the mall was in lockdown. Its too close to home. My daughter is 17 years old and I know shes okay but should she be going through a situation like this? No. Nobody should, Hamby said. Her daughter works in the shoe department at JC Pennys and hid in a stockroom with other coworkers and customers when the shooting occurred. She and her daughter called each other every 15 minutes to give each other status updates. She just keeps asking what is going on. She texted me about half an hour ago saying she is scared. As a mother I want to protect her and right now I cant, said Hamby, tears in her eyes. sfosterfrau@express-news.net jgerlach@express-news.net AUSTIN Despite a tight revenue picture, the Senate Finance Committee will move aggressively to devise an overhaul of the much-criticized public school funding system, its chair said Monday. No more Band-Aids. We need to start over, Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said in naming a committee workgroup on the issue. Theres a similar drive in the state House, despite the fact that the Texas Supreme Court last year found the current school funding system is constitutional. In making that declaration, the states high court also found multiple problems with the system, giving fuel to the effort to make changes. The school funding system relies on state aid and local school property taxes with some federal funds. Local taxes have been bearing a growing share of the cost, putting a strain on local districts and taxpayers. Its broken. The Supreme Court said its broken. They just didnt say it was unconstitutional, Nelson said. She and Senate Education Chair Larry Taylor a Friendswood Republican who serves on the finance committee and was named by Nelson to head the workgroup said lawmakers have a huge opportunity to fix the system without a court dictating the parameters of a solution. It will get down to funding, said Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, a finance committee member. He asked Taylor whether he would be open to considering all different variety of taxes. Im open to any good idea, Taylor said. With a Republican-dominated Legislature, however, theres no anticipation of a state tax increase, even though revenues are tight. There will be less state money available for general-purpose spending for the next two-year budget cycle than lawmakers allocated for the current fiscal period, according to projections from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. The drop is due to the uncertain economy and past decisions to cut taxes and dedicate billions of dollars to transportation. Some lawmakers have expressed the hope that Hegar will raise his revenue projection in a few months, as comptrollers are known to do during legislative sessions as they get updated economic information. But Hegar told the Finance Committee Monday, I want to dispel any rumors that I will show up in a few months with a significantly different revenue estimate. While the nuts-and-bolts of funding formulas and revenues sources will be at the heart of any school finance revamp, other issues also are likely to be part of the discussion, including the push for school choice. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has championed the idea of allowing parents access to public monetary support to pay private-school tuition for their children. I think everything will be a part of the discussion, Nelson said. I dont want anything off the table, and Im not putting anything on the table. House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, also has been highlighting the need to take steps toward changing the school finance system. The House starting-point budget unveiled last week would create an incentive for doing so. The proposal centers on the impact of a school-funding mechanism that allows the state to put less money into the system when property values go up. It would put $1.5 billion back into public education - money the state otherwise wouldnt have to spend -- contingent on passage of legislation to increase equity in the school-finance system and reduce recapture, the provision by which a number of school districts are forced to share some local tax revenue with the rest of the state. Gov. Greg Abbott also has expressed support for fixing the system, saying in December, I think school finance does need to be addressed and I expect it to be addressed. The difficulties of making changes to the system absent a court order at a time when dollars are short, however, arent lost on lawmakers and leaders. That is a challenge, said Sen. Juan Hinojosa, a McAllen Democrat who is a Finance member and was named to the workgroup by Nelson. Any time you deal with a public education, you are dealing with a very important and sensitive issue. It not only involves our children, but also parents, and teachers, and its huge institution, and a very complex system. Frankly, I dont think it can be overhauled at one time, Hinojosa said. It is a process, where everybody has to have a say-so. Nelson suggested all she can promise this session is that the effort will begin. First of all, I want to know what it would look like. And Lt. Gov. Patrick is full on board, she said. Were going to start the process. Whether it can get done this session, I dont know. ... Were going to get started. If you dont start, youre not going to get anything done. pfikac@express-news.net Twitter: @pfikac The strange case of Jeffrey Hartfield, a convicted murderer who lingered in prison for decades after his first conviction was overturned, moved a step closer to resolution following an appellate opinion that voided his latest conviction, increasing the likelihood he may be released and face no new trials. The Texas 13th Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the indictment against Hartfield be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that prosecutors are barred from seeking a new one. A three-judge panel declared that the states negligence in allowing the murder case to lie fallow for so long violated Hartfields right to a speedy trial and that his attorneys had done nothing to perpetuate the delay. We are deeply mindful that our conclusion today means that a defendant who may be guilty of murder may go free, Judge Gina M. Benavides wrote for the Court of Appeals. However, based on the United States Constitution, it is the only possible remedy. The opinion overturns a trial court ruling that said Hartfield was as much to blame as the state for not pushing the case, suggesting it was his own fault, in part, for not getting an expeditious trial. We disagree with the trial court that Hartfields right to a speedy trial was not violated, the opinion stated. Instead, our balancing weighs against the State, due to the unprecedented amount of time Hartfield spent in prison without a conviction or sentence, as well as the serious negligence on the part of the State. Prosecutors could choose to appeal the ruling to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the states highest court for criminal matters. They have not said whether they will do so. Ive been optimistic on this case more than some other cases, and I definitely thought this should be the resolution, said defense attorney Jeffrey Newberry of the Texas Innocence Network at the University of Houston Law Center. In some other similar cases, there has been some affirmative action on the part of defense attorneys to add to the delay. There was nothing like that here. Hartfield, 60, has been in state prison since 1977. He was convicted of the 1976 capital murder of Eunice Lowe, a ticketing agent at the Continental Trailways bus station in Bay City, and sentenced to die. That conviction was erased on appeal because of an error in the sentencing portion of the trial. State law at the time required an entire new proceeding even if the mistake did not involve the matter of guilt. The re-trial did not take place. No one today really knows why. The state has argued that prosecutors believed a motion for rehearing they had filed gave them an extension of time to act. Eventually they decided to ask the governor to simply commute Hartfields sentence to life imprisonment, figuring that would make moot the need for a second trial. He did, but it didnt. Later courts ruled they had miscalculated the timing and waited too long: The commutation was not valid because there was no longer a valid sentence to commute. It was at that point that Hartfield drifted into legal limbo. For reasons that are not clear, the judicial machinery broke down and Hartfield did not get his second trial. Nothing in the court record suggests that his lawyer at the time took steps to secure one. Local prosecutors apparently did not pursue a new trial, either, while the lawyers for the Texas attorney generals office apparently assumed the matter had been resolved by the commuted sentence. In truth, the commutation had no legal force. So in prison Hartfield remained. He was no longer represented by a lawyer because the death sentence had been removed. Had he filed a motion on his own asking for a new trial, the issue could have been resolved. But Newberry said Hartfield had no idea he was supposed to do anything, in part because he no longer was getting legal advice and because his intellectual deficits did not make it easy for him to understand what was going on. An earlier IQ test placed Hartfield well below the level that makes a defendant eligible for execution. In 2006, a fellow inmate aware of Hartfields situation helped him file a writ of habeas corpus that revived his prosecution. Local prosecutors, convinced of his guilt, said there was substantial evidence to convict him once more. Defense lawyers insisted a confession he signed had no weight because he had no idea what he was signing, and that physical evidence that could be tested for DNA is not available. A 2015 trial of Hartfield resulted in another conviction and mandatory life sentence. In voiding the conviction, the 13th Court panel said essentially that too much time had passed for a proper trial. Its clear that the trial Mr. Hartfield had in 2015 after a 30-year delay was not fair, Newberry said. Much evidence was lost and many people he should have been able to interview were dead. A persons ability to defend himself diminishes over the course of time. His trial was not fair. He was not able to adequately defend himself. Newberry said he had not spoken to Hartfield yet about the potential for his imminent release. Even if the district attorneys office decides to appeal, Hartfield would be eligible for reasonable bail pending the decision by the Court of Criminal Appeals, he said. mike.tolson@chron.com To whom it may concern: Please be informed that I am choosing to exercise my right to remain silent and my right to refuse to answer your questions. If I am detained, I request to contact an attorney immediately. I am also exercising my right to refuse to sign anything until I consult with my attorney. Thank you. These words are on the Know Your Rights card that activists have been passing around town and around the country to immigrants and others. Their other advice? Carry it at all times. Its not a bad idea for the rest of us. So, cut the phrase out and put it in your wallet, in your purse or on your refrigerator. Share it with family, friends and neighbors. All of us in this great nation, whether citizen or immigrant, whether here legally or not, have rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Some might disagree that rights extend to those who crossed a U.S. border illegally or overstayed a visa, but legal experts say it is true. These efforts are as old as the documents that protect us, led by political and civil rights movements and organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union. But the cards and campaign, in its most recent form, were the brainchild of CASA, an agency that provides organizational, educational, health and other services to immigrant communities in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The campaign has been replicated by many, including the National Immigration Law Center in Los Angeles and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services in San Antonio. It showed up, too, in cartoonist Lalo Alcarazs 2017 La Cucaracha Cartoon Calendar. Marisa Bono of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, also San Antonio-founded, has seen these cards and campaigns ebb and flow in response to anti-immigration policies and laws, civil wars in the Americas, demagoguery and dramatic shifts in migration patterns. A spike came after Donald Trump announced his presidential bid and then again after his November election. Since then, the immigrant community feels very much that theyre under attack, Bono said. The reports of bullying based on race and national origin have spiked. With uncertainty and fear comes misinformation. Facts can keep the calm, arming us with information that empowers us. Bono also points to the Fifth Amendment, which guarantees no person can be deprived of rights without due process of law. All are encompassed by the clause, Bono said. The right to remain silent is included. She first saw Know Your Rights cards in 2006, when she started practicing law, a year after CASA began its campaign. It got second winds at various times since, said RAICES policy director Amy Fischer. Last weeks inauguration of President Trump has galvanized activists again to spread the word. Fischer says RAICES tells its clients to practice what to say and what to do, so theyre confident about exercising their rights. The rule of law is important to know, Fischer said. When everyone holds law enforcement accountable, then law enforcement will do a better job. This does not just fall on the backs of non-citizens. San Antonians are luckier than most. Bono praises the San Antonio Police Department for its community policing and policies that dont make them extensions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, the federal agency that enforces immigration law. Immigrants should not fear our local law enforcement, she said. Were fortunate we have a department that understands community policing. Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA, spoke from the Womens March on Washington on Saturday and said CASA was spurred by 2005 legislation by U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican. With other sanctions, it criminalized everyone who works with undocumented immigrants, Torres said. Using cartoons, graphics and simple phrases in English, Spanish and French, CASAs Know Your Rights booklet and card, which are both online, were designed to get to the crux of ones rights. Remain silent. You have the right to see a warrant. Dont sign any documents before speaking with a lawyer. Everyone who marches and protests should have this information as well. The cards were circulated in 2006, when the nations major cities held immigration rights marches, some of which far outnumbered the numbers of those at Trumps inaugural. That continued as the Obama administration racked up what may be the most aggressive deportation policy in the nations history. The cards resurfaced last year when Central American women and children began to show up at the border to request asylum. We dont care who is in power, Torres said. With this administration, well need it more than ever. Say you want an attorney, he emphasized. Say, I want an attorney. Period. As Torres looked out on a landscape of diversity at Saturdays march, he reaffirmed the work ahead. All of them, he said, walking, ready to fight, ready to resist. Period. eayala@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN Like any other tough job, how you start writing a state budget helps determine where youll end up. House leaders decision to draft an introductory budget that would spend more state general revenue than is projected to come into Texas coffers over the next two years will put the focus on the key services that are at stake in the process. If budget writers decide to spend less than originally proposed by House leaders, theyll be putting a knife to funding already seen as essentially promised. Senate leaders initial budget for the next two years, by contrast, is so lean that they almost inevitably will add to it. Both chambers eventually will have to agree to one budget document to pay for state services, and it will have to pass muster with Gov. Greg Abbott. But the Houses initial position will be a point of comparison throughout the process. Its a point not lost on leaders. We can count, said House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, when asked about his initial budget plan coming in high. We knew that. We have spent months talking about priorities such as public education, and mental health care, and others child protective services, Straus said. The Houses approach is to work toward some priorities. We know it doesnt balance. We know there are some tough decisions to be made. Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Jane Nelson didnt hesitate when asked if her starting-point budget would come within the revenue estimate. I would never spend more money than what we have, said Nelson, R-Flower Mound. Leaders on both sides know the budget has to balance. To spend more than the comptroller has said is available for general services, the economic outlook would have to improve and yield more revenue; federal funding would have to increase for example, in border security, allowing the state to redirect money committed to that area; lawmakers would have to find a way to defer payments; or they would have to take a politically difficult vote to dip into the states rainy day fund. Its seen as conservative to avoid dipping into savings, particularly for recurring expenses. They might need to hope for the first two and consider the second two. Theres not a lot of evident fat in Texas budget, which pays for such basics as education, health care for the poor, public safety and parks. The current two-year budget includes $106.8 billion in state general-revenue money, the funds over which lawmakers have discretion. Its rounded out by federal funds and dollars set aside for particular services. Comptroller Glenn Hegar has projected that Texas will have just $104.9 billion in state revenue available for general-purpose spending through the next two years, thanks to the uncertain economy and lawmakers previous decisions to cut taxes and dedicate billions of dollars directly to transportation. House leaders starting-point budget, at $108.9 billion, is $4 billion more that what Hegar has said will be available. The initial budget proposal filed by Nelson is $103.6 billion, which is short of spending everything available. It doesnt cover some basics, such as caseload increases for Medicaid. With the Senate budget, theres only one way to go, and thats up, said Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, the Finance Committee vice chairman. While he pointed out that the comptroller nearly always increases the revenue estimate during the legislative session, Hinojosa added, We dont want to create expectation that we cannot meet if we dont have the money. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said Nelsons approach reflects the economic times. When you have an economic slowdown, you need to recognize the obvious, Bettencourt said. Though the total two-year budget, with state and federal money combined, is well over $200 billion, he said, Every $10 million is going to matter. Literally, every $1 million can matter. Nelson, whose committee meets today, is aware of the options and no doubt of the political difficulty of using some of them. When I mentioned that lawmakers have a load of money in the rainy day fund, which is expected to reach nearly $12 billion by the end of the next budget period, she acknowledged, We do, then laughed. And miles to go before I sleep, she said. Write that down. And miles to go before I sleep. A combination of "Labour's careless spending and the Conservatives' mean-spiritedness" means flood-hit areas across the North of England will miss out on millions of pounds' worth of EU flood funding, the Liberal Democrats have said. The EU has given the UK 60million to help flood-hit areas following the devastation caused by last winter's floods. Once the changes to the UK's budget rebate are taken into account, this leaves a net total of around 15 million. However, the government has decided not to pass on this cash to the areas that were affected by flooding. Instead, the government will use the money to pay a 14.5million fine which it faces due to the Labour government misspending money which it was allocated under the EU Solidarity Fund following floods in Southern England in 2007. Money was spent on projects for which it was not eligible. 'Deprived flood-hit areas' Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "Labour's careless spending and the Conservatives' mean-spiritedness have combined to deprive flood-hit areas of much needed funds. "The government have left bridges unbuilt, communities isolated and because the TV cameras moved on, so did they. "Labour's overspending has hurt the North and all those affected by last year's floods. "But it is the Conservative's mean-spiritedness which means they have chosen to use this money to pay the fine, instead of passing this money onto flood-affected areas and paying the fine from Treasury coffers." The first minister of Wales and Plaid Cymru's leader have published a plan for Brexit, calling for freedom of movement rules to be linked to whether migrants have a job. As well as a 'balanced approach' to immigration linking migration to jobs, the joint Welsh Brexit plan calls for continued participation in the single market. First Minister Carwyn Jones stated that the paper balances the message which the Welsh people gave us of the Brexit vote with the economic reality that makes participation in the single market so important for the future prosperity of Wales, and indeed the UK as a whole. Last week, Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK should leave the single market as she outlined her 12 principles for Brexit. 'Reliant on exports' Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) has said they welcome the stance taken by the Welsh Government. President Glyn Roberts responded to the plans, saying: The livestock producers which make up the vast majority of Welsh farmers are particularly reliant on exports to the continent, and the FUW has made it clear since the referendum that full and unfettered access is essential to Wales. Around 30 percent of Welsh lambs were exported to continental Europe, and the complexity of pan-EU food supply chains means there are acute threats for other sectors. The Brexit white paper also call on the UK Government to make good on promises that Wales would not lose funding as a result of Brexit, as well as calling for recognition that there needs to be a 'fundamentally different' relationship between the devolved governments and the UK government. Transition period The FUW has stressed that a transition period of at least 10 years is necessary in order to phase in and allow the industry to adjust to new agricultural policies post-Brexit. In addition, the Union has argued that agricultural support following the UK's exit from the European Union should be maintained at levels which 'at least' reflect those levels which would have been in place should the UK have voted to remain in the EU. Furthermore, recognising the different role the Welsh and devolved administrations have to play has been welcomed recently by the FUW. A third of Wales population live in rural areas where farming, and businesses which rely on agriculture, play an important role in local economies; in sparsely populated areas, where centres of population have less than 2,000 people, around 10 per cent of workers are employed in agriculture. That equivalent to 14 per cent of those employed outside the public sector. Mr Roberts concluded: The chances of a bad trade deal or no deal at all increase the faster the UK government proceeds, which is why the FUW has consistently called for a lengthy transition period. Otherwise we risk being like lemmings rushing towards a cliff edge. Leaving the European Single Market would be 'disastrous' for Scotlands farming and food sectors, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has said. The Cabinet Secretary highlighted the threat yesterday (22 January) of leaving the European Single Market on food and farming industries. He said Scotland values the contribution that non-UK EU nationals bring to the economy and society, 'unlike the UK Government does.' As millions of people prepare to celebrate Burns Night on January 25 by enjoying Scottish food and drink, Mr Ewing has called for protection of access to markets for Scottish producers. The EU is Scotlands biggest overseas regional food and drink export market, with exports of food and drink worth 2 billion in 2015. 'We cannot ignore the impact' Mr Ewing said: We simply cant ignore the disastrous impact that leaving the Single Market, and the 500 million people within it, could have on our food and drink sector. One example of the threat that the hard Brexit, outlined this week by the Prime Minister, poses for our wider economy can be seen in the Scottish potato, a staple part of any Burns supper. The value of Scotlands potato sector is 167 million, and currently exports Scottish potatoes to EU markets, tariff free, whilst relying on free movement of people for all stages of production and retail, including growing, harvesting, storing, transporting and selling. 'Devastating for Scotland' Mr Ewing continued: A Hard Brexit would be devastating for Scottish agriculture and the many food companies which rely on Scottish produce. Potentially, they face both high tariffs of up to 50% and loss of subsidy support. It may also put at risk Scottish protected food names which give confidence to consumers, and the common regulatory frameworks which help maintain food safety, animal and plant health standards and guarantee access to EU markets and many other countries. Potentially worst of all would be the impact on the labour market. In 2014, almost 40% of people employed in the UK Food and Drink Manufacturing sector were foreign-born, with the majority of these from within the EU. Mr Ewing concluded: Unlike the UK Government, we value the contribution that non-UK EU nationals bring to our economy and society, contributing to sustainable economic growth, mitigating the effects of demographic change and enriching our culture and communities. The fundamental importance of EU labour to sectors like pig production must not be forgotten as the Government forges ahead with its Brexit plans, the National Pig Association (NPA) has warned. Prime Minister Theresa May has outlined her priorities for the Brexit negotiations, including controlling the numbers of people coming to the UK from Europe. She signalled the UK will leave the Single Market and full membership of the EU Customs Union, while seeking to retain frictionless trade with the EU via a Free Trade Agreement and forging new trading relationships elsewhere. The NPA has responded to the speech by outlining its top three Brexit priorities. These are: Retaining sufficient access to EU labour, retaining tariff-free access for exports to the EU market and ensuring pork imports are produced to equivalent standards. Biggest concern: Access to labour NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said, while the nature of future trade arrangements will have a huge impact on the viability of UK pig sector, currently the industrys biggest concern is access to labour. Without EU labour there will be no British pig industry as we know it, she said. We understand why immigration is going go to be a priority for Mrs May but, along with many other sectors, we fear this could result in serious unintended consequences if politics triumphs over economic reality. We are heavily reliant on EU labour on our farms, in our processing plants and across the wider industry, to produce British pigmeat, which is so highly valued in our home and export markets. We must do everything we can to retain that access. Dr Davies welcomed the extra clarity around Single Market access and Mrs Mays comments on a suitable transition period for new Brexit arrangements. It is now absolutely vital for our sector that we secure tariff-free access to the EU market, and also some sort of transitional arrangement whilst trade negotiations are conducted. Our pig producers must be protected, she said. It is equally essential that any new trade arrangements, for example, with the US, do not result in the UK being flooded with cheaper pigmeat produced to lower standards than permitted in the UK. Equivalence of standards is an NPA priority. 'Grind to a halt without overseas workers' A recent NPA survey showed 58 per cent of businesses across the pig supply chain employed at least one migrant worker, while nearly half would not survive or would be forced to make changes to how they operated without migrant labour. In a recent interview, the chief executive of Cranswick, one of the UKs biggest pork processors, said between 35-65 per cent of his staff were foreign workers, predominantly from Europe. He predicted the UK food and drinks sector would grind to a halt without overseas workers. NPA policy services officer Lizzie Wilson said the fall in the value of the pound, effectively cutting UK wages relative to those on offer in other member states, was already having an impact on the availability of staff for the pig industry. Defra Secretary Andrea Leadsom suggested at the recent Oxford Farming Conference that the Government would consider introducing seasonal migrant worker schemes for the agricultural sector. But Mrs Wilson said the pig sector needed stronger guarantees. She said: We are making the case in the strongest possible terms to Government that, any immigration policies put in place, must not jeopardise our access to permanent workers, both skilled and unskilled, who want to live and work in the UK. And it is not just the policies we put in place. This is also about the rhetoric around Brexit and the messages we send out to EU workers. On behalf of the UK pig sector, we continue to welcome them with open arms. Government officials and senior police officers have been presented findings indicating that around 15,000 sheep were killed by loose dogs in 2016, more than ten times higher than the number previously thought. The National Police Chief Council has bowed down to pressure and agreed to set up a team to investigate how well regional forces react to complaints of dog attacks. The problem has become so serious that sheep awareness group SheepWatch UK commissioned a report based on police statistics to understand for the first time the true scale of sheep deaths in the UK. Aside from 15,000 sheep killed 2016, the figures also showed that 49 dogs were destroyed. Campaigners say the issue is being made worse by bans or restrictions placed on dogs in more than 3,300 parks and open spaces over the last two years, which in turn forces their owners to take them into the countryside more frequently. Terena Plowright, a Hampshire farmer and founder of SheepWatch UK said: More people are being forced into the countryside on a daily basis and that is what is pushing up the numbers of attacks. Sheep attacks are devastating for farmers, who lose the value of the livestock killed and future earnings from those animals and their offspring, as well as having to pay for the carcasses to be removed. Attacks on sheep by dogs were forcing some farmers out of business while others are having to sleep rough with their flocks to protect them, SheepWatch UK said. 'Threat to flock' In some circumstances farmers are legally allowed to shoot dogs if they are endangering their sheep as long as they have lawful excuse. Last week, a farmer 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. Only recently on the 10th of January, dogs at a popular nature reserve in East Sussex attacked sheep, killing and injuring more than four. It is estimated dog attacks on livestock costs the UK farming industry more than 2 million each year. The British red meat sector has said it 'looks forward' to dealing with new US President Donald Trump after his inauguration. With Mr Trump having been inaugurated yesterday (Friday, January 20), the British red meat industry is looking forward to 'continued good progress' towards opening up the American market to lamb and beef products; a market which could be worth 20 million a year for Welsh red meat alone. The American market has been closed to lamb from Britain for many years, but work has been ongoing for a decade to re-establish the trade by Hybu Cig Cymru Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), working alongside the Welsh and UK governments. HCC visited the US Department of Agriculture in January 2014 in the company of Welsh Ministers, and welcomed USDA delegations to Wales last year. 'Positive progress' The United States Government held a consultation last year on bringing its rules on animal health in line with other countries, which is essential for red meat exports to resume, said HCCs Market Development Manager Rhys Llywelyn. This was positive progress, and something we hope to see continue under the new US Administration. Recent market research has shown us that there is an excellent potential demand for high-quality PGI Welsh Lamb in the American market particularly in retailers and foodservice clients on the east coast, added Mr Llywelyn. Theres still some way to go, but HCC will continue to work with the whole of the red meat industry in Wales to be ready for when the opportunity to export to the USA arises. Mr Trump has named former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as his nominee for secretary of agriculture. The National Sheep Association (NSA) has urged sheep farmers to contribute a little of their time to a study to find out facts about the working life and cost of rams in commercial sheep flocks. NSA is facilitating a team of expert sheep consultants to carry out a project to investigate the longevity of rams in commercial flocks. The project has two main elements a short, online survey to gather views from a large number of producers, coupled with more in-depth focus group meetings of 10 producers each held at different locations around the UK. Independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings is one of those involved. She says: This study is a great opportunity for us to pin down some actual data on how long rams are lasting on commercial farms. The aim is to gather information on how we can improve their longevity and reduce costs per lamb reared as a result. Ultimately, we want farmers to not only get the most out of their investment but also feel confident they can pay for improved genetics and know it will pay dividends over the lifetime of the ram. To achieve this we need help from commercial farmers and are asking individuals to get involved by completing the quick online survey or get involved through local focus groups. So why not volunteer to join myself or one of my colleagues for a discussion around the data collected so far? Afterwards we can continue to chew over other topics while enjoying a hot supper. Focus group meetings Sheep farmers with more than 200 commercial breeding ewes and at least two years worth of ram purchase information are eligible to take part in the focus group meetings, with several still to be held in England and Scotland. Harry Fredrick, a sheep farmer from Penshurst, Kent, is one person whos already taken part and enjoyed the experience. He says: The focus group was a really interesting evening and I would recommend anyone who is buying rams to get involved in a session if they can. Without knowledge from projects like this, we cannot gauge what is really going on. It was useful to hear about the practices of other farmers in my local area, and will hopefully be a way to improve ram buyer and seller relationships in the future. A report has been released showing leading businesses worldwide who consistently engage and report their farm animal welfare policies and practices. The global Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report published today (23 January 2017), shows an annual review of how 99 of the worlds leading food companies are managing risks and opportunities associated with farm animal welfare. The report, which is compiled in collaboration with leading animal welfare organisations Compassion in World Farming, World Animal Protection and investment firm, Coller Capital, reveals that companies are paying increased attention to farm animal welfare within their supply chains. For example, 73% of companies have now published farm animal welfare policies (compared to just 46% in 2012) and 65% of companies have published targets on farm animal welfare (up from 26% in 2012). Currently, 13 companies occupy leadership positions in the Benchmarks top two tiers. These companies demonstrate strong commitments to farm animal welfare and have established management systems and processes. They include Noble Foods, Cranswick Coop Group (Switzerland), Marks & Spencer, Migros, and Waitrose in Tier 1, and BRF, Cargill, Co-op (UK), Greggs, McDonalds, Unilever and Tesco in Tier 2. A total of 36 producers and manufacturers were reviewed in the BBFAW report with 11 moving up at least one tier, (Cargill and Mondelez International both moved up two tiers), six new entries, 18 non-movers, while Brazilian producer Marfrig fell two tiers to Tier 4. 'Consistent leader' Veli Moluluo, Managing Director, Consumer Foods Division, Noble Foods expressed the companys delight at retaining their Tier one ranking: Our commitment to continually seek to improve the welfare of animals on our farms, or those owned by our contracted farmers, is absolute. To be recognised as a consistent leader in this field since the BBFAW report was launched in 2013 is very pleasing, and the interest from customers and consumers alike is testament to the growing profile of both BBFAW and the subject as a whole. One area in which Cranswick scored highly in the report is its commitment to the avoidance of long-distance transport. They have a KPI to keep typical journey times to its own processing sites to below eight hours, with typical journey times between 3-4 hours. The report also highlights the important role being played by institutional investors in driving improvements in practice and process across the food industry. 'An important business issue' Reflecting on these findings, BBFAW Executive Director, Nicky Amos, said: With 26 companies moving up at least one tier since 2015, there is a clear indication that the food industry is finally starting to treat farm animal welfare as an important business issue. Despite this progress, 42 of the 99 companies (including Restaurant Brands International, Dominos Pizza Group Plc and Starbucks Corporation) appear in Tiers 5 and 6, demonstrating there is still much work to be done to even get farm animal welfare on the business agenda of many large global food companies. BBFAW Advisor, Rory Sullivan, said the Benchmark shows that investors are 'key agents of change'. He said: They are sending a clear signal to companies that they expect food companies to effectively manage the systemic risks and opportunities posed by farm animal welfare, and it is clear that companies are responding to these expectations. Compassion in World Farmings CEO, Philip Lymbery said the public have witnessed some 'monumental market shifts' for animal welfare since the last BBFAW report. Mr Lymbery said: Stakeholders and investors are pushing this progress forwards, reflecting the wishes of the vast majority of consumers today. It is increasingly clear that this is an issue which cannot be ignored by companies and we congratulate those that are moving up the ranking and driving progress in animal welfare across the food industry. Retailers stocking more British pork but 'more can be done' The announcement, made last June on the final day of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity Public Trust Summit in Ottawa, marks the first time the industry has dedicated a day to celebrating agriculture and the people in the industry. We all eat food yet many people dont automatically make the connection between whats on their plate and the commitment and care that goes into raising livestock, growing crops or processing food, said Crystal Mackay, CEO of Farm & Food Care Canada, a national charity committed to building public trust and confidence in food and farming in Canada. In the 1930s, more than 90 per cent of Canadians had a connection to agriculture. Today, its less than three per cent, according to Statistics Canada census information. Its all about showing our love, pride and passion for an industry that puts food on our tables Every link in the food production chain from the farm to the grocery store and restaurant plays a vital role in bringing food to your table every day, said Mackay, whose group organized the summit. Canadas Agriculture Day is an opportunity to get involved, celebrate and be a part of the conversation about food and farming. Candace Hill, manager of Agriculture More Than Ever, said Canadas Agriculture Day complements the industry-led initiative that has attracted over 470 partner organizations and 2,100 individuals committed to creating positive perceptions of agriculture. Launched more than four years ago, Agriculture More Than Evers goal is to encourage those involved in agriculture to speak up and speak positively about the industry. Its all about showing our love, pride and passion for an industry that puts food on our tables, Hill said. We want to give everyone the opportunity to have a voice in the conversation and celebrate the industry that feeds the world. Hill encourages the industry, organizations and individuals to mark the date on calendars and come up with their own ideas and activities to promote and celebrate Canadian agriculture. Source: Meatbusiness By David Peters Its no secret that the farm economy has faced a downturn since its peak in 2012. But how has the downturn affected farmers, specifically related to their farm income and levels of farm debt? A new study by David Peters, associate professor and extension rural sociologist with Iowa State University, aims to directly answer those questions. "Income Trends for Iowa Farms and Farm Families 2003-2015" (SOC 3076) is now available through the Extension Store. Family farm income has remained relatively high, even though there were strong declines in income across the board over the last three years, Peters said. That indicates the incomes in 2011 and 2012 must have been phenomenally high to keep income averages this high after a drop off, in many cases, of 30 to even 50 percent over the last two years. Commercial farm net income averaged $187,000 in 2015, down from a high of $381,344 in 2012. Intermediate farms, farms where the operators primary occupation is farming, averaged an income of $34,000. Residence farms, where the operators primary occupation is not farming, had an income of $17,000. The concern should be for the 800 to 1,000 acre commercial farm, Peters said. We talk in general about the falling farm economy, but the area of most concern is the midsized commercial farm. They are the leaders in rural communities and are the slice of the farm sector that policy makers should be most concerned about. The uniqueness of these farms large enough to sustain a family but not so large as to be able to survive downturns in the economy place them in a vulnerable position. Very large farms bring in a lot of income, there is more room for them to move as the economy goes up or down. And smaller farms survive on off-farm work, Peters said. With the midsized commercial class, policy should be aimed at supporting them, the ones with viable farm operations who are the most vulnerable to changes in the farm economy. They are the leaders in rural communities and we dont want to lose them. Growing debt has become a problem for farms of this size. The debt utilization rate (a measure of total debt relative to maximum feasible debt) rose from 35 percent in 2012 to 73 percent in these farms three years later. Midsized farms have taken out as much debt as they feasibly can, Peters said. When we lump them together with larger farms the outlook is very rosy, but these midsized farms are the ones that are really struggling. Bringing home only around $100,000 a year with high debt levels makes them the most susceptible to any additional downturns in the economy. To Peters, the study clarifies the need for financially supporting farmers. It is so important to have farm bill income support for farmers, Peters said. This is exactly what those farm bill programs are designed to do; when there are short-term fluctuations in the economy they wont drive people out of farming because they cant afford it. Source:iastate.edu Warrenton, VA (20186) Today Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Pitts: Before voting, take a look at your sample ballot in Cumberland County and NC The Brazilian judge overseeing the politically explosive investigation into a massive bribe and kickback scandal at the state energy company died Thursday in a plane crash. Supreme Court Justice Teori Zavascki was killed when a light plane he was travelling in crashed into the water near Paraty in Rio de Janeiro state. Zavascki, 68, presided over the corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash. The probe focused on kickbacks, bribery, and politcal payoffs tied to contracts with Brazils state oil and gas giant, Petrobras. Zavasck, pictured above, was vacationing. He left a Sao Paulo airport in a Hawker Beechcraft C90GT around 1 p.m. local time Thursday. The plane crashed an hour and a half later, two miles from an airport in Paraty. Police and federal authorities are investigating the incident. Heavy rain may have been a factor. Zavascki was compiling testimony from 77 executives from construction giant Odebrecht SA. The testimony was expected to provide evidence against about 100 politicians in Brazil including members of the current government. Odebrecht admitted last month that over several years it paid nearly $800 million in bribes and kickbacks. Odebrechts owner, Marcelo Odebrecht, was sentenced to 19 years in prison last March on charges of money laundering, corruption, and taking part in a criminal association. In December, Odebrecht SA and its petrochemical unit, Braskem SA, entered into a global settlement of bribery and money laundering offenses with authorities in the United States, Brazil, and Switzerland. The companies agreed to pay combined penalties of $3.5 billion. In the U.S., Odebrechts criminal penalty for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was set at $260 million or more. Braskem agreed to pay the DOJ and SEC $159.8 million for criminal and civil FCPA offenses. Braskem admitted that between 2006 and 2014, it paid about $250 million into Odebrechts secret bribe payment system. The money went to politicians and political parties in Brazil and to an official at Petrobras, the company said. Odebrecht controls just over half of Braskem. Petrobras has a minority stake. Justice Zavasckis replacement on the Supreme Court will be nominated by Brazils president, Michel Temer. There is no fixed deadline for the nomination and it isnt clear how Zavasckis caseload will be handled. ___ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. The Securities and Exchange Commission Monday awarded more than $7 million to three whistleblowers who helped the agency stop a fraudulent investment scheme. One whistleblower, an outsider, provided information that led to the start of the SECs investigation. The SEC awarded that whistleblower more than $4 million. Two other whistleblowers jointly provided more new information during the SECs investigation. That information significantly contributed to the success of the SECs enforcement action, the agency said. The SEC awarded those two whistleblowers more than $3 million to be split between them. By law, the SEC protects the confidentiality of whistleblowers and doesnt disclose information that might reveal who they are. The SEC Monday released a redacted whistleblower award order (pdf). The SEC has now awarded $149 million to 41 whistleblowers since the first award in 2012. The biggest award was more than $30 million in 2014. The agency made its second biggest award of $22 million in August 2016. And in November 2016, the SEC awarded more than $20 million to a whistleblower. Whistleblowers can be eligible for an award when they voluntarily provide the SEC with original, timely, and credible information that leads to a successful enforcement action. Awards can range from 10 percent to 30 percent of the money collected when the recovery is more than $1 million. Mondays award was the second of 2017. On January 6, the SEC awarded more than $5.5 million to a whistleblower who helped stop an ongoing fraud. In that case, the SEC said it made an exception for the whistleblower who didnt provide the information in writing, as required by SEC rules. The SEC received about 4,000 tips in the latest reporting year and more than 14,000 since the award program started. Tips have come from individuals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and 95 foreign countries. ____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Summary Company Announcement Date: January 22, 2017 FDA Publish Date: February 08, 2018 Product Type: Food & Beverages Bakery Product/Mix Allergens Food & Beverage Safety Reason for Announcement: Recall Reason Description Undeclared milk Company Name: Athens Baking Company Brand Name: Brand Name(s) Trader Joes Product Description: Product Description Bread Company Announcement Athens Baking Company, out of an abundance of caution, is issuing a voluntary recall of Trader Joes Harvest Whole Wheat Bread (SKU 00132) because it contains undeclared cultured whey, which is made from milk. Only products labeled with BEST BY: 01/08/17 through 01/27/17 are included in this recall. The BEST BY date is printed on the front of the products package. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. The Trader Joes Harvest Whole Wheat Bread was only sold at Trader Joes stores in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Trader Joes stores in the Pacific Northwest, South, Midwest and East Coast are NOT Affected by this recall. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product with the affected codes received incorrect packaging, which did not list cultured whey (milk) in the ingredients label. Upon discovering the issue, Trader Joes immediately removed from sale all products from store shelves. There have been no consumer complaints or illnesses reported to date. If you purchased Trader Joes Harvest Whole Wheat Bread bearing the BEST BY: 01/08/17 through 01/27/17, and have an allergy or sensitivity to milk, please do not consume the product. Instead, return it to any Trader Joes store for a full refund. Customers with questions may contact Athens Baking Company, Inc. (559)324-8535 ext.108 here Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Company Contact Information Consumers: Athens Baking Company, Inc. (559)324-8535 ext.108 Media: Dave Smart (559)324-8535 ext.105 davesmart@athensbaking.com Woody Harrelson has suggested he will play Garris Shrike in the Han Solo 'Star Wars' spin-off. Woody Harrelson The 'Hunger Games' actor was announced to be joining the movie in a mystery role last month and now he has seemingly confirmed he will portray the former bounty hunter who raised the smuggler. Asked if he will play Han's mentor, Garris Shrike, in the origins story, Woody paused for a long time, asked for a repeat of the question and then admitted to Variety: "Yeah, I am." However, Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo later took to Twitter to suggest all wasn't as it seemed. He tweeted: "I'll let others sort it out, but ask yourself - what question was he answering?" And website /film suggested the 55-year-old actor was just confirming he would play a mentor to the main character. Woody previously teased his character is a "bit of a criminal". He said: "I'm a mentor to Han. I'm also a bit of a criminal. "I don't think I should say more than that because the Force is not allowing me." Movie bosses are thrilled to have the actor on board for the movie alongside Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo), Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian) and Emilia Clarke. Of Woody's casting, the film's directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller said: "We couldn't be more excited to work with an artist with as much depth and range as Woody. "His ability to find both humour and pathos, often in the same role, is truly unique. He is also very good at ping pong." His casting comes after LucasFilm chief Kathleen Kennedy - who is also a producer for the film - teased the movie will have a "Western-type feel". She revealed: "This moves closer to a heist or Western-type feel. We've talked about [Western-era artist Frederic] Remington and those primary colours that are used in his paintings defining the look and feel of the film." The movie - which is currently untitled - is slated for release in late 2018. Kings of Leon, Little Mix and Stormzy are to perform at BBC Radio One's Big Weekend. Kings of Leon The UK radio station's annual music festival will be held at Burton Constable Hall in Hull on May 27 and May 28 and BBC Radio One 'Breakfast Show' host Nick Grimshaw announced the 'Sex On Fire' hitmakers are among the first acts confirmed to be taking to the stage to play to 50,000 fans. Speaking on his show on Monday morning (23.01.17), he said: "I'm super excited for Big Weekend as it kicks off festival season and always has a mega line-up of the best live music. Roll on May - I can't wait to party in Hull alongside Kings of Leon, Little Mix, Stormzy and loads more!" Hosted by Radio One DJs, Radio One's Big Weekend is Europe's largest free ticketed festival, and will be heading to Hull to coincide with the UK City of Culture celebrations for Hull in 2017. Speaking about being on the bill, Kings of Leon said: "Looking forward to seeing you in Hull for Radio One's Big Weekend at the end of the May. Huge thanks to Radio One for leading the charge in helping us get our music to our fans, it's going to be a great show, can't wait!" The majority of free tickets for the music event, which celebrates its 14th year, will go to the residents of Hull and the surrounding areas. Ben Cooper, controller of Radio One said: "Listen to Radio 1, and search on your phone, to find out how you could join the young people of Hull enjoying the biggest pop stars, playing the best new music, from the UK and around the world." Martin Green, director Hull UK City of Culture 2017, added: "We are thrilled that BBC Radio One's Big Weekend is coming to Hull for 2017. Bringing this major national event with some of the biggest names in the music industry is a massive coup for the city and confirms its growing international profile as THE place to be. We're delighted to be working closely with the National Heritage Memorial Fund appointed trustees and family at Burton Constable, as well as our colleagues at Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council to ensure a successful event." Further information about Radio One's Big Weekend 2017, including the full line-up, will be announced in coming months along with ticketing details. Meghan Markle has embarked on a humanitarian trip to India. Meghan Markle The 35-year-old actress - who is currently in a relationship with Prince Harry - touched down in the country last week on a charitable visit as she journeyed to a number of poverty stricken areas. The brunette beauty was spotted handing out sanitary items such as tampons and promoting hygiene to the young women she met on her travels. Meghan embarked on the trip as part of her work as the global ambassador for World Vision, a charity which aims bring hope to children living in the world's most poverty stricken regions. Speaking previously about her work, the 'Suits' star said: "I'm the global ambassador for World Vision, which I'm really excited about and I've been working with them for the past year. "So, in January, I'm going to India for two weeks setting up a girls' programme that I'm really excited about and have been working on for the past six months." And it isn't just Meghan who's been getting involved in charity work overseas, as her royal beau Prince Harry - whom she has been dating for around seven months - recently made an impassioned plea to save the "incredibly special" African black rhino. He said: "The rhino is one of Africa's most iconic species. This is a black rhino, an animal that deserves the utmost respect, so to be able to be sitting next to her is incredibly special. "The black rhino has been reintroduced into Botswana and its numbers are increasing here, while numbers are decreasing elsewhere. If we can't save these animals, what can we save?" Calum Best's on/off ex-girlfriend wanted to "vomit" when she saw him kiss Jasmine Waltz in the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house earlier this month. Calum Best The 35-year-old heartthrob split up with his lover Lindsey Pelas just before he entered the infamous abode at the beginning of January because they both knew he wouldn't be able to stay faithful but she has admitted, although they're no longer together, she can't stomach him getting cosy with another woman on screen at the moment. Speaking to OK! magazine, she said: "He can't be in a full-time committed relationship and I get that, but also I'm not dating anyone else because I don't think he'd like that. "I don't want to see someone I like flirting with other people so I watch clips on Twitter rather than full episodes. Seeing him with other girls makes me feel jealous but he's in a weird position. I saw a clip of Jasmine kissing him on the lips. I saw it out of context and I was like, I hate that! I just wanted to vomit." Calum and Jasmine dated briefly while they were both living in Los Angeles a few years ago and had no trouble sharing a bed with one another in the 'CBB' house until the brunette beauty was given the boot by her fellow contestants two weeks ago. However, a friend close to the pair are adamant they will not get back together and were just flirting with one another in front of the cameras in order to make good TV. A source said at the time: "The reality is that he and Jasmine were close and had sent flirty texts to one another, so when they signed up for the show, it was a no-brainer they would couple up for the cameras." Stranger Things was without a doubt one of the most popular new series of 2016, with the supernatural sci-fi series debuting on streaming service Netflix and becoming yet another brilliant addition to the platforms original series roster. Winona Ryder in Stranger Things / Credit: Netflix Following a group of youngsters who are all searching for their missing best friend, it soon became apparent that this child abduction was like no other. In fact, Will Byers had been dragged into a parallel dimension where evil reigned supreme, and from that moment on audiences were hooked. Co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer, in a conversation with Vulture, explained that the series wasnt originally going to be so PG: The Eleven character, the kind of powers she has and to have a young protagonist thats violent its not E.T. Its not a happy situation. Shes killing people, and brutally murdering them. Matt added: The original pilot was much more violent. It was originally like an R-rated thing. Winona [Ryder]s character was like, Eff this, eff that! It felt a little bit unnecessary. I dont feel like we sacrificed anything by toning it down little bit. Bringing the level of violence down was obviously a great move on behalf of the Duffer brothers. In a time where shows such as The Walking Dead are being blasted for going too far with their gory scenes, Stranger Things actually allowed a wider scope of viewers to access it by toning things down. Thats not to say the series is one that people of all ages are watching because there are certainly scary moments throughout but the level of comfort of those watching has to be a little higher than it would have been if those brutal scenes described had remained. Stranger Things will return to Netflix for its second season later this year. by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on @deepikapadukone last night at the #GoldenGlobes2017 Styled by @elizabethsaltzman @cwoodhair @hungvanngo using @marcbeauty Here is all the key products: Face: Under(cover) Perfecting Coconut Primer Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation, #46 for center area & #66 for perimeter of the face. Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer in 4 Glow "Spotlight" Glow Stick Illuminator Perfection Powder in the color 400 Brows: Brow Wow Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown Brow Tamer Grooming Gel Eyes: Twinkle Pop Stick Eyeshadow in Three Shakes Brown(Out) Highliner Gel Pencil Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara Feather Noir Ultra-Skinny Mascara Cheeks: O!Mega Bronzer Air Blush in Lines & Last Night Lips: Poutliner Lip Liner in Nude(ist) Le Marc Lip Creme in JAdore @marcbeauty @harrods #velvetnoir #marcjacobsbeauty A photo posted by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on Jan 9, 2017 at 5:27am PST Bombay Dyeing, a 137-year old textile manufacturer of the Wadia group that is now focusing on the retail business, is likely to expand its distribution network in Tamil Nadu, said a top official of the firm. The company, which already has a presence in about 350 multi-brand textile stores in the state, plans to double its footprint to 700 stores in four years. Close to 7 per cent of the total revenue of Bombay Dyeing comes from Tamil Nadu and the company plans to increase it to 10 per cent, said Nagesh Rajanna, chief executive officer of Bombay Dyeing Retail while addressing the media persons. The company had earned a revenue of Rs 306 crore in the last financial year. It plans to open 50 new stores and franchises in 40 towns in Tamil Nadu by 2020. It currently has 25 stores across nine towns in the state. Bombay Dyeing, a 137-year old textile manufacturer of the Wadia group that is now focusing on the retail business, is likely to expand its distribution network in Tamil Nadu, said a top official of the firm. The company, which already has a presence in about 350 multi-brand textile stores in the state, plans to double its footprint to 700 stores in four year# The company will enter 20 towns in the next one year through franchises, added Rajanna. (KD) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Chinas total cotton imports declined by 39.1 per cent to 896,000 tons in 2016, according to customs statistics. In December 2016, China imported 143,500 tons of cotton, which was down both on month-on-month and year-on-year basis. During the first four months of Chinas cotton season beginning September 1, imports dropped 17.8 per cent to 300,000 tons. Meanwhile in December, the China Cotton Association and the small cotton-padded cotton professional cooperatives conducted a survey on the picking and selling of 2,751 fixed-point farmers in 13 provinces and urban areas, and verified the cotton production in Xinjiang and other provinces. The cotton production in Xinjiang was 3.95 million tons, an increase of 10.65 per cent. The national cotton output was adjusted to 4.397 million tons, an increase of 2.4 per cent compared with the same period of last year. According to the surveyed cotton farmers, 96.13 per cent of all cotton picked had been sold at an average price of 6.99 yuan/kg, up 31.1 per cent. China's total cotton imports declined by 39.1 per cent to ...tons in 2016, according to customs statistics. In December 2016, China imported ...tons of cotton, which was down both on month-on-month and year-on-year basis. During the first four months of China's cotton season beginning September 1, imports dropped ...per cent to ...tons.# At the end of December, Hami, Bachu, Aksu, Yili and other cotton areas announced subsidies, and some farmers began to apply for the first batch of subsidy amount of 0.5 yuan/kg. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk China SPGPrints will present the superior quality, productivity and cost-reducing capabilities of its comprehensive inkjet printing solutions for textiles at Colombiatex 2017, to be held from January 24 26 in Colombia. The company will also highlight its rotary screen technologies including digital imaging systems and nickel screens at the exhibition. SPGPrints Pike single-pass printer and Javelin scanning printer set the standard for digital textile printing, and can be used with a variety of inks and dryer configurations to suit individual businesses. The Pike is a full-production machine that is already economically attractive at three to four million metres per year, with a potential capacity of more than 10 million meters per year. The Javelin has a potential productivity of up to two million metres per year, and is designed for companies that might be taking their first step into digital, or that wish to add digital capability. Besides the standard width of 1.85m, Javelin is also available in a 3.2 metre printing width to cater for the home furnishing market. SPGPrints will present the superior quality, productivity and cost-reducing capabilities of its comprehensive inkjet printing solutions for textiles at Colombiatex 2017, to be held from January 24 26 in Colombia. The company will also highlight its rotary screen technologies including digital imaging systems and nickel screens at the exhibition.# Both printers use SPGPrints Archer technology, a universal inkjet platform designed to evolve with the developing print head technology. Currently, both printers are equipped with Fujifilm Dimatix Samba print heads to produce sharp lines, precise geometrics, smooth gradations and solid blotches, by firing variable drops (2pL to 10pL) to achieve the perfect image. Print heads are 4mm from the substrate so risk of damage to them is minimised. Additionally, a wide range of fabrics may be printed. Amid economic and political challenges in Latin America, the digital textile market continues to grow and at a fast pace. As printers have been increasingly adopting digital technology as they and their customers, especially in the fast-fashion sector, realised the enormous potential for supply-chain cost reductions, and lower risk, said Jorgen Lindahl, senior areas sales manager (digital textiles) at SPGPrints. Printing on-demand also means that companies can carry less stock, warehousing costs are dramatically cut, and there are much faster times-to market. All these things reduce risk which makes working with a printer with digital capabilities more attractive. While these benefits are ideal for fast-fashion houses, similar benefits are enjoyed at the higher end of the market with easier and more affordable production of shorter runs and limited editions, added Lindahl. SPGPrints develops and manufactures its own inks at its ink plant in Boxmeer, the Netherlands. Offering the widest colour gamut, and superior density, the digital inks range continues to expand in response to market demands, and is specially formulated for consistency, runnability, reliability and trouble-free use. It also develops solutions for screen printers to enable them to streamline their workflows while printing textiles of unparalleled quality. (KD) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The US textile industry is eager to work with President Donald Trump to stimulate manufacturing, employment and trade. Congratulating President Trump on his inauguration as the 45th President of the US, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) said American textiles are of the highest quality and the most innovative in the world. NCTO congratulates President Trump on his inauguration. The US textile industry is eager to partner with him to stimulate American jobs, production, and exports, said NCTO president and CEO Auggie Tantillo. From fibres to finished fabrics, American companies make the highest quality and most innovative textiles in the world. Given a level playing field, US textile industry is primed for expansion, Tantillo added as he noted the sectors comeback from the 2008 financial crisis despite intense competition from Asian suppliers that often benefit from state subsidies and cents-on-the-hour wage rates. Since the end of the recession in mid-2009, US textile production has grown by 21 per cent. The US textile industry is eager to work with President Donald Trump to stimulate manufacturing, employment and trade. Congratulating President Trump on his inauguration as the 45th President of the US, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) said American textiles are of the highest quality and the most innovative in the world.# Thanking outgoing President Barack Obama, Tantillo said, US textile manufacturers are grateful for his administrations work to improve the industrys competitiveness. Pointing out that President Obama created and funded a fibre and textile manufacturing innovation centre, the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) and that his administration opened a direct and very sincere line of communication with NCTO on sensitive policy matters, Tantillo remarked, The US textile sector had a legitimate and impactful seat at the policy table in recent years, a privilege greatly appreciated. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) programme has added six new contributorsICEC, MAS Holdings, Siam Pro Group of companies, TUV SUD, Oeko-Tex and The Fiber and Textile Chemicals Technology Division of ITRI. ZDHC is a collaboration of over 50 signatory brands, value chain affiliates and associates, which works for removal of harmful chemicals. ICEC, MAS Holdings, Siam Pro Group of companies and TUV SUD have joined the programme as value chain affiliates, while Oeko-Tex and The Fiber and Textile Chemicals Technology Division of Industrial Technology Research Institute, for sustainability are the associates. With the addition of these six companies/organisations, the total number of contributors to the ZDHC programme has gone up to 56. ZDHC takes a holistic approach to safer chemical management by focusing on a range of key areas to achieve the goal of sustainability. Its key tools include a Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), Chemical Guidance Sheets, Wastewater Guidelines and the launch of two new platforms: The ZDHC Academy and Chemical Gateway. Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) programme has added six new contributorsICEC, MAS Holdings, Siam Pro Group of companies, TUV SUD, Oeko-Tex and The Fiber and Textile Chemicals Technology Division of ITRI. ZDHC is a collaboration of over 50 signatory brands, value chain affiliates and associates, which works for removal of harmful chemicals.# Institute of Quality Certification for the Leather Sector (ICEC) is the only certification Institute worldwide specialised for the leather sector. Based in Sri Lanka, MAS Holdings is one of the worlds most recognised designto-delivery solution providers for apparel and textile manufacturing. Siam Pro Group of companies, headquartered in Thailand, is a leading specialty chemical company with an extensive portfolio to fully serve the textile industry. TUV SUD is an international service corporation focusing on consulting, certification, training and the testing of consumer products. The Fiber and Textile Chemicals Technology Division of ITRI is one of the worlds leading technology R&D institutions, which aims to innovate a better future for society. Oeko-Tex provides certifications and services which test for harmful substances and optimize production conditions, helping companies deliver high quality, more sustainable products. Responsible hazardous chemical control is complex, and demands a holistic approach, said ZDHC executive director Frank Michel. Its not enough to simply use one standard or tool, and industry collaboration, from all actors across the value chain, is essential to drive this agenda forward. Since January 2015, our contributor base has doubled, and I'm delighted that today we are continuing this trend. We are also welcoming our first contributors based in Sri Lanka and Thailand, further expanding our geographic scope, he added. (RR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India An astrologer once told her mother/actor Shobhna Samarth that young Nutan was a great soul who was reluctant to return to this world. Uncannily, Nutan, even in her 20s, played characters that were way beyond her age and also her times. She was no tragedienne who marketed tears and victimhood. Rather, her characters were about yearning, learning and evolving. They went through the entire graph of suppression and self-realisation. Like the delinquent in Seema who attains redemption. Or the exploited actress in Sone Ki Chidiya who finds her bearings. As the outcast fighting for acceptance in Sujata. Like Kamala torn between the insanity of love and the sanity of duty in Bandini. Or the slighted but self-respecting Mahjabeen in Saudagar if theres anything that Nutans characters stood for it was dignified feminism... And yet the personal life of this liberated performer was allegedly overcast by shadows compelling even the late Dev Anand, with whom she did Paying Guest, to once tell Filmfare, There was a streak of sadness in Nutan. The last part of her life was so sad. While none has been privy to the truth, Nutans close friend and author Lalita Tamhane has recorded memories and moments of the late actor as shared by family and friends in the book Nutan - Asen Mee.. Nasen Mee. Read on as Lalita looks back at her friend, philosopher and guide The Interview I always admired Nutanji as an artiste. But I never got the opportunity to meet her. I knew her mother Shobhnaji (Samarth), her sisters Tanujaji and Chaturaji and even their nani (maternal grandmother) Rattan Bai Shilotri - she had acted in Swarajyachya Seemewar. But I didnt want to use those contacts. I wanted to meet her as a journalist on my own accord. Those days I was to interview Rati Agnihotri for Chitranand magazine. So I often visited her on the set of Rishta Kagaz Ka (1983). Nutanji was in the film too. She must have been in her 50s then. But I had no guts to approach her. One day I learnt that she was to be the chief guest at a car showroom. I waited for hours there to meet her. Finally, I did and introduced myself. Many phone calls later we met at Essel Studio. We spoke the whole day but there was no interview. Soon after that her landline went dead and there was no way to contact her. Then one morning, as I sat writing in my bungalow in Thane, the door bell rang. My sister came running to say, Nutanji is at the door. I ran to welcome her. She had come to a bank in the vicinity (she had a beautiful bungalow in Mumbra, near Thane). She had come to inform me that she was shooting at a particular location and that I could do the interview there. My respect for her increased double fold after this. She made it clear at the onset that I do not ask about her marriage (to Lieutenant Commander Rajnish Behl) or how she got married. And I always respected that. The bond Through the years, we developed a close bond. Shed come home at least twice or thrice a week. Shed park her car outside. There were tuition classes in the vicinity. The students, on learning about her arrival, would rush in our house to get a glimpse of her. Shed go to the kitchen and ask my mother what she had prepared. Mee jevnaar aahe (Im going to eat here), shed say. Like her, we belonged to the CKP (Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu) caste. So she enjoyed our cuisine. Chauli chi amti was her favourite. Usually, she didnt have sweets. But shed happily have homemade sweets. Also, shed insist on picking her plate herself. After lunch, shed pull out her diary and sing the bhajans she had written. Sometimes shed take me along to her bungalow in Mumbra to chat and later drop me home. She came to love me like a daughter. She confided in me. She trusted me. When I got married, she wrote me a letter, which began with Aatma swaroop Lalita and signed it off with Om. She had stopped sigining as Nutan by then. Despite being a top star she remained unaffected by name, fame or glamour. I always saw her in simple sarees or churidars. She wore no make-up except lipstick and tied her hair back in a juda (bun). The only accessories shed wear were small earrings and a watch. She was naturally beautiful. She didnt have a single white hair. In fact, good friend and photographer, the late Gautam Rajadhyaksha, said something to the effect, From a photographers point of view, Ive come across only two perfect faces. One is that of Nutan. Shoot her at any time, in any costume, at any angle even without make-up and shes beautiful. The other is Madhuri Dixit. So upright was she that nobody dared to misbehave with her or with anyone else when she was around. Except for the alleged incident on the set of Devi (1970) where she reportedly slapped co-star Sanjeev Kumar. All she said to me about that was, Sometimes people misbehave with you. You have to show them their place. As an artiste she was magnanimous. K Asifs Mughal-E-Azam (1960) was first offered to her. She was honest enough to understand that she didnt suit the character. Instead she suggested Madhubalas name. After 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) she wrote a letter of appreciation to Jennifer Kendall for her performance. Marriage Nutanji married naval Lieutenant-Commander Rajnish Behl in 1959. She believed in the institution of marriage. No matter what, you have to save the marriage, shed say. She never spoke about whatever troubles she may have allegedly undergone. It remained a secret. Nutanji had announced that she wouldnt be working after marriage. But fortunately for us, her husband made her change her mind. When Bimal Roy approached her for Bandini she refused it. Bimalda adamantly said he wouldnt make the film if she didnt say yes. Rajnishji urged her to listen to the script. She loved it. He persuaded her to change her decision. So somewhere we have to be grateful that he gave Nutanji back to us. She loved her son Mohnish dearly. She was protective and worried about him and his career. Initially, he wanted to be a pilot. Then at one time, she wanted to buy him a petrol pump. At some point she even wanted to launch a recording studio for him. Family feud There was an allegation that Shobhnaji had mishandled Nutanjis funds. A court case ensued. There was no communication between the Samarth family and Nutan for almost two decades. Even if they happened to cross each other they wouldnt look at each other. Once Nutanji was to fly to Chennai. She found Tanuji in the same plane. She got off that flight and boarded another. It was that bad. But there was no harsh feeling in the Samarth family for Nutanji. Shobhnaji, Chaturaji and Tanuji loved her and trusted her. They understood why she did what she did. Shed often pass Usha Kiran, the building at Peddar Road where Shobhnaji lived. Instinctively, shed turn around to glance at it. Once, when she heard that her grandma was ill, she went to Usha Kiran and met the family there after 20 years. Both parties had undergone immense emotional trauma. But there was only love and affection for each other. That day I happened to call Tanuji. She said excitedly, Guess who has come to our house? Tai has come! Nutanji also spoke to me over the phone. I lived their moment of reunion from my house in Thane. It seemed as though they had never separated. Finally, around 1983, the case was settled. Jaideepji put it humorously to Shobhnaji saying something to the effect, You didnt give dowry during the time of marriage. That you have given now. Spirituality Nutanji was always spiritually inclined. In fact, Shobhnaji once shared that as a newborn shed cry everyday from 5 in the evening to 5 in the morning. She consulted doctors who found nothing wrong with the baby. Then an astrologer told her, Shes a mahaan atma (pure soul), who didnt want to be reborn. But something was left incomplete. Hence she had to come. Nutanji wrote bhajans even as a child. When she was older she wrote, composed and even sang them. She didnt know Sanskrit but shed uncannily weave Sanskrit words into them. Shed attend satsangs (spiritual discourses).There was a Radhe Krishna temple in Kalwa in Thane. Wed often visit it and there shed share a lot with me. She was disturbed about many things. Sometimes, post midnight, around 12.30 am, shed call me up and say, Ive written a bhajan. Can I recite it? I have a diary of her bhajans. At first, she wrote about Lord Krishna. Later, she revered a lady guru. Tanuji and Shobhnaji would say that even as a child her nails and palms had the fragrance of chandan oil. The illness The illness began with a biting sensation in the armpit. She was detected with cancer in 1990. Aaj mi sutli (today Ive been set free)! she told Shobhnaji with a sense of relief the day she was detected with cancer. She returned the signing amount of some films. She was shooting for Garajna (1991) those days. She asked the producer to complete her portions soon. I dont have much time, she said. Later the cancer spread to the liver. She passed away on February 21, 1991. After her demise, Shobhnaji would say, Meri Meerabai chali gayee. Once we were at their Lonavala cottage with Shobhnaji when we were enveloped by the fragrance of chandan. I was reminded of Nutanjis words, Asen mi nasen mi whether Im there or not, Ill be there forever, Hence the title of the book. I began writing it after her death. We asked Mohnish to share his memories too. But he didnt want to. Tanuji and Jaideepji also tried. You cant force anyone, so we let go. Letting go is one thing I learnt from Nutanji. Shed say, Lalita, let go and life will be easier for you. Shed also say, I believe I have no enemies. She did suffer from emotional pain. But when she learnt to let go, she was at peace. NUTANS Filmfare Awards Best Actress Seema (1956) Sujata (1959) Bandini (1963) Milan (1967) Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978) Best Supporting Actress Meri Jung (1985) NUTANS Memorable Songs Suno chhotisi gudiya ki lambi kahani Seema Kaali ghata chhaye mora jiya lalchaye Sujata Mora gora ang lai le Bandini Tumhi mere mandir Khandaan Hum tum yug yug se Milan Chhod de saari duniya Saraswatichandra Tera mera saath rahe Saudagar Mahira Khan may be missing from the Indian leg of Raees promotions but the actress has been giving interviews in Pakistan and Dubai. During one such chat, Mahira spoke at length about working with Shah Rukh Khan. He is magic really, honestly. He spoilt me for life. He used to tell me to do things this way, do it that way. At one point I asked him, am I not doing it right? He said Look I am only telling you what I know, from my experience. You do it your way but all I want is when you see yourself on screen you dont come to me and say, why didnt you tell me!, said the beauty. She also spoke about SRKs famous wit and charm. Hes so bloody smart. Theres nothing you cant talk to him about. Its so much fun to talk to someone whos intelligent. Its not just about films, he can talk about anything! Of course, Ive always been a fan. But if you watch his interviews, you can tell hes witty, smart. It was a pleasure working with someone you can have a conversation with. I think hes hilarious, sometimes at my expense," she joked. Jackie Chan, who arrived in Mumbai along with Sonu Sood for the promotions of his upcoming film 'Kung Fu Yoga' is all set to meet Salman Khan at a private dinner and the Sultan star is reportedly flying down to Mumbai from Ladakh to meet him. Salman is in Ladakh for the shoot of Tubelight and it is reported that he'll be in Mumbai by evening. Donald Trump Will Be The Greatest President Ever! Says Ram Gopal Varma A source close to the actor was quoted as saying, "Jackie's co-star Sonu Sood is close to Salman and it was he who arranged for this meeting between the two stars. Jackie will have a press conference in the afternoon and host a small, intimate dinner for some select people. He won't have time to meet many people, but he is keen on meeting Salman during his stay here. Sonu has spoken a lot about Salman's superstar status in India and his charity work and the action star expressed a desire to meet him. Though Salman is shooting for Kabir Khan's Tubelight, he plans to meet Jackie at an Asian bar and restaurant at JW Marriott, where the star is staying." Right after the dinner, it is reported that Jackie Chan will head back to Hong Kong and the actor has very little time in India. Jackie also revealed that he had a lot of fun shooting for the movie and was quoted as saying, "I'm grateful and proud to be part of this action-packed, fun journey. Kung Fu Yoga gave me the opportunity to work with Indian actors and technicians. We all have worked very hard on the movie and I hope the audience like the film." Pictures! Mika Singh Attends Donald Trump's Pre-inaugural Dinner, Takes A Selfie With Ivanka Trump It was first reported that Shahid Kapoor's brother Ishaan is all set to debut with Karan Johar's Hindi remake of the Marathi film 'Sairat' and would star alongside Sridevi's daughter Jhanvi Kapoor. However, things did not go forward as planned and the idea was dropped by the film-makers. Donald Trump Will Be The Greatest US Preident Ever! Says Ram Gopal Varma As per a report from Mumbai Mirror, Ishaan is all set to debut in an Iranian film titled 'Beyond The Clouds' and the film will explore a brother-sister relationship. Ishaan, would be playing the role of the brother and it is reported that Deepika Padukone has also done a look test for the film. However, whether she would be a part of the film or not, is not confirmed yet. Meanwhile, she is currently shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati. Also, the producer of 'Beyond The Clouds' praised Ishaan by saying, "He is a superb actor, was amazing in his look test and suits the character Mr Majidi was looking for. Ishaan will play someone deeply connected to the ground and to the city." The film starring Ishaan will be shot in Mumbai and Jaipur and the film-makers are on the lookout for many more actors to be a part of the movie. Pictures! Mika Singh Attends Donald Trump's Pre-inaugural Dinner, Takes A Selfie With Ivanka Trump People Blame Me For Every Rift "People blame me for every possible rift in the country. When the Ambanis split, they projected me as the person who created the Mahabharat between them. It wasn't me." Amitabh & Jaya Were Living Separately "People have said the same about me and the Bachchans. But even before I met Amitabh Bachchan, he and Jaya Bachchan were living separately. One of them was living in Pratiksha and the other lives in his other bungalow Janak." Amar Singh On Aishwarya & Jaya "There were also speculations about a problem between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Jaya. I am not responsible for that." How Big B Is Going To React? These comments of Amar Singh are surely going to irk Bachchan parivaar! We wonder how Big B or Jaya Bachchan would react to this. Ahem Ahem! Last year also, he had made a few shocking comments on Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya's involvement in the Panama Paper Leak Controversy. Scroll down to know, what did he say.. Amar Singhs Row With The Bachchans "I have made public vows in Baraily two days ago. As far as Aishwarya is concerned, she has always given me utmost resptect and Abhishek has not uttered a single word against me. I don't have any issue with Amitabh Bachchan. He actually warned me not to accept Jaya Bachchan in my political field considering her inconsistent nature and habits. But I did not adhere to his noble advise.'' I Don't Want Any Bachchan Tag On My Head Amar Singh further added, "I am Amar Singh, a small man from lower-middle class background and I am proud of that. I don't want any Bachchan tag on my head. So don't insult me. Don't ask me questions regarding Bachchan and Panama. I am not a finance minister of the country, neither am I the Prime Minister. 'Let Me Live In Peace Without Bachchans' "Bachchan is not a brand ambassador of Gujarat, which is Modi's home state. Please go and pose this question to Arun Jaitley, the agencies which are probing Mr. Bachchan or Mr. Bachchan himself. Live me alone and let me live in peace without Bachchans and their name," had said Amar Singh. On The Ban "It was painful. With this ban, it's unfortunate. Six months ago, I was getting a new script every day. Cut to six months later and producers are saying there's no scope, let's go back to dramas." On Raees Not Releasing In Pakistan I want my country to see this. I want everybody to see it, every person in the world. My friends keep saying you did it, it's enough, you can just keep it in a box somewhere... I do that, but there's a part of me that says, no, I want everybody to see my blood sweat and tears for these two years, because it's been tough and I want people to see it even if I fail at it. ' There Are Some Things That Are Out Of Your Reach "But if it's one thing I've learnt over these two years it's that there are somethings beyond one's control. I mean you can save a scene; you can fix things later in film but there are somethings that are out of your reach. You just can't do anything. But I'm dying for it to come here." Mahira On Not Being Able To Promote The Film With The Team "I was coming here and the new song is out. Everyone was sending messages and I had tears rolling down in the car. Again. For the tenth time! And my hairstylist sent me a message saying I think we should always say goodbye with tears because we always meet again when we do that.''' 'I don't want to romanticize things but by the end of the two years we had people crying saying goodbye. And I am so indebted to all of them, especially my director Rahul Dholakia and the producer Ritesh Sidhwani, who have stood by me all through these two years, even at the worst of times." Shahrukh Khan is A Magic Really "He is magic really, honestly. He spoilt me for life. He used to tell me to do things this way, do it that way. At one point I asked him, am I not doing it right? He said Look I am only telling you what I know, from my experience.'' We've Had Amazing Conversation "We've had amazing conversations. It's so much fun to talk to someone who's intelligent. It's not just about films, he can talk about anything! Of course I've always been a fan. But if you watch his interviews, you can tell he's witty, smart. It was a pleasure working with someone you can have a conversation with." I Also Want To Promote The Film With SRK "Yes I'm grateful, but it's something I have worked for! Why shouldn't I feel it? Just because I'm an actor? Just because it's a film? Just because it seems like fluff? I also want to promote the film. I also want to be in an interview with Shahrukh Khan talking about it. Why not? Why is it I get told that that's asking for too much? It isn't! It is my right. This was also my film." Priyanka Chopra denied all claims that she said 'male stars need guts to try for Hollywood'. She revealed that she has been misquoted and her statement have been taken out of context. When asked about why Bollywood male actors are not trying Hollywood, her statements read as, "need guts to try (their luck) in Hollywood." PeeCee has denied that she used the word 'guts'. Donald Trump Will Be The Greatest US President Ever! Says Ram Gopal Varma Rubbishing all the allegations, she said, "Again, as usual, I was misquoted. When they (the media) asked me why the male actors weren't doing anything, I said, 'Maybe because they haven't tried'. That's all I said. I don't know where 'guts' came from. I didn't use the word, 'guts', and whatever I said was said in a lighter vein." All PeeCee tried to say was that Bollywood male actors must try their luck and enter Hollywood. She said, "I don't know why the boys haven't. Anil Kapoor has done it. He has gone out of his way to work in Hollywood, but not many other Indian actors have. Try kare toh ho sakta hai (it might work out if they try). Irrfan and Anil are the only two that come to mind." Pictures! Mika Singh Attends Donald Trump's Pre-inaugural Dinner, Takes A Selfie With Ivanka Trump Also, Priyanka Chopra will soon debut in Hollywood with the movie Baywatch, and is scheduled to hit the theatres worldwide on May, 2017. The film also stars Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock and Zac Efron in the lead roles. Manasvi Mamgai Attends Vice President Mike Pence' Dinner Event! It's raining biopics in Bollywood and lately, there have been reports of Shahrukh Khan being approached by Sanjay Leela Bhansali for a film on noted writer-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. Hrithik Roshan On His Failures: 'I Have Never Been Disillusioned' As King Khan has never been a part of biopic, when a leading daily asked him about which iconic personality's life story would he like to bring alive on the big screen, the actor quipped, "I'd love to essay Guru Dutt saab's life." Well, we believe that it would be quite interesting to watch SRK step into Guru Dutt's shoes! What do you guys think? In the same interview, Shahrukh also spoke about the variations in his role. He said, "People say I play Shah Rukh Khan on screen. That my roles are a means to an end. Not true. My work defines me. But I have no identity of my own. It's difficult being Shah Rukh Khan. I have been trying to be him for so many years. I'm an actor, yaar, an entertainer. Acting can't be written about or discussed, nor can it be analysed, it's got to be felt. That's what I do." He further added, "Audiences understand what I tell them. People like a good story. I make films for the stories behind them. But I'm shy of seeing myself on screen. I'm not fond of my face or physique. Maybe I'm an actor, so I can play someone else." Now, that's quite well said! Sometimes, a film's shoot can be emotionally draining and can leave behind a permanent mark on the actors. Recently, Raveena Tandon underwent a similar episode in her life while shooting for her upcoming film, The Mother, which has her playing the title role. Shahrukh Khan: I Would Love To Essay Guru Dutt's Life When the actress first heard the narration of the film, based on violence against women, she found the script both interesting and disturbing. As she started shooting, she could connect with her character well, and it slowly became difficult for her to dissociate from the film even after the shooting was done. "I couldn't sleep for three nights after we shot the horrific incident. A leading daily quoted Raveena saying, The worst was when I had to dub for it all over again. I couldn't stop crying once the dubbing got over. It took me some time to come back to my calmer self. It was very disturbing," Meanwhile, the actress refutes the reports that the film directed by Ashtar Sayed is based on the December 16 Delhi gang rape case. She added, "The film is based in Delhi, but it has nothing to do with the incident. However, it's really strange that the minute we wrapped up shooting in the Capital, a similar incident happened, exactly like what we shot for the film. So when we read about the incident in newspapers, we were shocked that something we shot in fiction has actually happened in real. That was uncanny," says the National Award-winning actor. Hrithik Roshan On His Failures: 'I Have Never Been Disillusioned' Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman says that the only way she manages to draw a balance between her work and personal life is by bringing her children to the film sets and making them travel with her for the sake of her job. She terms them gypsies. While talking about her life being a working mother, Nicole Kidman says, "I commute or travel with the kids. "They're gypsies. Luckily, my husband is a musician and that's what he knows. He's not an office-job man. He really is the guy who can go, 'Hey, we're going to Antarctica tomorrow', and he'd pack his bags." Said Nicole Kidman. "He live out of hotels and buses getting his career going for years. Our children have those gypsy hearts." She added. The Lion actress also states that, without her, her family can't survive as she holds them all together. But she also states that it is because of the love and support of her present husband Keith Urban, she is able to manage her work and the family efficiently. "Keith is the rock but I'm very much the glue. I mean, I hate to say it, but yeah, you're the heartbeat of the family. Keith says it. The girls say it. They just like when I'm at home." Stated Kidman. The annual police function, Umang 2017 was held recently on Sunday (January 22), which was a starry affair. Apart from Bollywood celebrities, the television actors too, graced the event. The event was organised in the honour of the Mumbai Police. Popular anchor and actor Manish Paul hosted the event. Umang 2017 witnessed some power-packed performances by Bollywood actors Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif, Sidharth Malhotra, and others. Television actress Gauhar Khan also performed at the event. Naagin actors Mouni Roy and Arjun Bijlani, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor Karan Patel, Pavitra Rishta actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Comedy Nights Bachao Taaza's host Bharti Singh, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa's ex-contestant Shamita Shetty, Ex Bigg Boss contestants Ajaz Khan, Sana Khan, Nora Fatehi, Gauhar Khan and Elli Avram, were a few others from the television industry who were present at Umang 2017. Check out pictures from the event.... Mouni At Umang 2017 When Mouni was asked if she is planning to do a film with Salman Khan, she gracefully ignored the question by saying that it is not the event (place) to answer such a question! Mouni With Madhuri Mouni said that she would love to play the role of police on small screen. She also said her favourite police role on screen is Dabangg. Mouni With Tabu Mouni shared a picture snapped with Tabu at the Mumbai Police Event. She wrote, "Oh so graceful, Oh so beautiful @tabutiful #backstage #Umang2017." Karan Patel At Umang 2017 Karan also spoke to the media and said that the event is special event. He said that he was doing a small segment with Manish on stage. He was supposed to perform, unfortunately he didn't get time to rehearse! Elli Avram Elli posted this picture and wrote, "Sis presence and support when you're gonna perform. Love you @shwetarohira . #umang #umang2017 #show #sisterhood." Nora Fatehi Ex-Bigg Boss contestant, who recently participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9, graced Umang 2017. The actress apparently performed at the Mumbai Police event. Arjun Bijlani Snapped With Mumbai Police Arjun shared this picture and wrote, "UMANG .A Big thank you to the mumbai police force for keeping our lives at peace .lots of love and respect specially to the women force.#mumbaipolice#respect#zeetv." Arjun With Mouni Naagin Season 1 actors Mouni Roy and Arjun Bijlani were spotted together. Arjun shared this picture and wrote, "UMANG Celebrating our MUMBAI POLICE .we love u guys. @imouniroy." The actors shared the pictures on the social media. Mouni Roy dazzled in a black dress, while her Naagin co-actor Arjun Bijlani was seen in black and white suit. Mouni was even seen clicking pictures with her favourite actress Madhuri Dixit and Tabu. Mouni even spoke to the media present at the event. She said, "It is a very special event. I am glad and grateful that I have been invited. I am looking forward to a great evening ahead." She added that she is not performing as she has hurt her shoulder. "I have been in Mumbai for 10 years and they have been very helpful. I am a very lousy person and I keep losing something or the other. If something gets stolen or something happens, without any fear I have been to the police station and they have been always been helpful." Seasoned finance executive Gillian Davies joins leader in direct carrier billing Boku is pleased to announce the appointment of Gillian Davies as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Ms Davies joins Boku from Banner Managed Communication, part of Adare Group, where she served as interim Finance Director. Prior to this role, Ms Davies spent 11 years as Group Finance Director of London listed 4imprint Group plc, the leading international direct marketer of promotional products. During her tenure at 4imprint, the company saw significant organic growth and a more than six fold increase in share price. Commenting, Boku CEO Jon Prideaux said, "I am delighted to welcome Gillian Davies to Boku at its new CFO. While new to mobile payments, Gillian brings with her a wealth of experience as well as a fresh perspective that I am sure will serve Boku well as our global operations continue to expand." About Boku Boku is a leading direct carrier billing mobile payments company integrated with hundreds of mobile operators all over the world. Its bank-grade payments technology allows consumers to charge purchases to their mobile phone bill. Boku partners with global merchants including Facebook, Sony, Spotify, Riot Games, and many more. Based in San Francisco with offices in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, Boku is funded by leading Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists including Andreessen Horowitz, Benchmark Capital, DAG Ventures, Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and NEA. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170122005184/en/ Contacts: DRS Media (US PR) Kevin Brown, 512-917-8744 kevin@drsmedia.com or IFC Advisory (UK PR) Tim Metcalfe, +44 (0) 203 053 8671 Tim.metcalfe@investor-focus.co.uk or Graham Herring, 44 (0) 203 053 8671 Graham.herring@investor-focus.co.uk Trading Symbols AIM: AGQ FWB: I3A 23 January 2017 Panfilo Natera Exploration Update Arian Silver Corporation ("Arian Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of preliminary exploration work on its wholly-owned La Africana Project ("La Africana") located within the Panfilo Natera area of central Zacatecas. La Africana is a past-producing high grade silver mine located in close proximity to the Company's San Celso project, and benefits from excellent infrastructure, just 3 kilometres from the Zacatecas-San Luis Potosi highway. Jim Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Arian Silver commented: "The results from this latest underground sampling programme demonstrate consistently high silver grades at La Africana ranging from around 200g/t Ag up to approximately 1200g/t Ag, and include encouraging lead and zinc grades. The systematic exploration of our concessions within the State of Zacatecas continues on schedule and some excellent exploration targets are emerging. Further exploration of these targets will involve geophysical methods as well as preliminary drilling programmes." The Panfilo Natera area is an emerging mining district that is known to host several large silver and base metal deposits and is located approximately 50 kilometres south of the State capital, Zacatecas. A map of the area is presented here: http://www.ariansilver.com/assets/img/maps/Arian Silver-Silver-Zac-properties-notes.jpg La Africana Project The La Africana area is a brownfield site with all-weather access roads and comprises the past-producing La Africana mine. Geological work recently undertaken by Arian Silver comprising underground mapping and sampling indicates that the La Africana Vein contains significant silver mineralisation over commercially viable widths. The underground workings have been surveyed and the results of this survey indicate mining terminated at approximately 50 metres below surface coinciding with the current water table. Evidence suggests that the mineralisation extends below this level. The results from the underground sampling programme are set out in the table below: Sample ID True width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Cu (ppm) AF001 2.40 0.17 445.1 2,819 4,913 114 Inc. 0.65 0.01 1,195.0 1,380 2,090 110 AF003 4.97 0.04 259.7 2,070 3,683 260 AF005 1.00 0.08 253.0 3,320 2,160 249 AF008 3.45 0.03 183.9 6,493 3,407 184 AF009 4.46 0.05 178.5 3,308 4,463 178 AF014 3.35 0.02 198.0 6,723 2,944 482 AF015 4.95 0.02 319.0 7,092 3,725 369 Inc. 0.70 0.02 636.0 2,680 1,730 259 Arian Silver is currently conducting a surface mapping and sampling programme with a view to identifying further mineralised structures and exploration targets. The Company expects to provide an exploration update of the La Africana project by summer 2017. A schematic of La Africana Project showing the location of old mine shafts and vein expressions on the surface is presented here: http://www.ariansilver.com/assets/img/maps/Africana-Project-Map.jpg Other Projects in the Panfilo Natera Area Arian Silver has three additional projects: Donovan 1 Donovan 2 Navidad Donovan 1 The Donovan 1 project is located a short distance south of the Bilbao Volcanic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") deposit and importantly from a geological context, covers the contact between the Panfilo Natera Batholith and Jurassic Limestones. Recent preliminary work has identified base-metal mineralisation and the presence of copper skarn mineralisation. Additional exploration is planned to take place on Donovan 1 with the intention of identifying both skarn and VMS-style mineralisation. Donovan 2 The Donovan 2 project is located close to Arian Silver's wholly-owned San Celso Project and in close proximity to the well-known and world-class San Nicholas copper zinc deposit. Arian Silver, through its recent preliminary exploration programme, has identified several areas that exhibit pathfinder indicators of VMS-style mineralisation. Given the findings to date, Arian Silver is obtaining quotes to undertake ground magnetic geophysics, which will indicate any sub-surface VMS-style mineralisation. A map of the area of interest is set out here: http://www.ariansilver.com/assets/img/maps/Donovan-2-and-Milagros-vein-system.jpg Navidad The Navidad project is very prospective for epithermal-style mineralisation but is very early-stage and currently represents one of our least explored concessions. The Company expects to provide a several updates on the work at Donovan 1, Donovan 2, and Navidad throughout the course of this year. Arian Silver owns mineral concessions over approximately 1,500 hectares in the heart of the Zacatecas mining district, which includes the Company's wholly-owned San Celso project. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014. For further information please contact: Arian Silver Corporation Jim Williams, CEO David Taylor, Company Secretary Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 6599 Northland Capital Partners Limited Gerry Beaney / David Hignell Tel: +44 (0)203 861 6625 OR OR Beaufort Securities Limited Jon Belliss Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 8300 Yellow Jersey PR Limited Charles Goodwin / Dominic Barretto Tel: +44 (0)7768 537 739 Forward Looking Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking information". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are deemed forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company as well as certain assumptions. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realised or substantially realised, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 23, 2017) - Augustine Ventures Inc. (CSE: WAW) ("Augustine") and Red Pine Exploration Inc. (TSXV: RPX) ("Red Pine") are pleased to announce that Augustine obtained shareholder approval for its proposed plan of arrangement with Red Pine (the "Arrangement") at the annual and special meeting of its shareholders held on January 20, 2017 (the "Meeting"). The Meeting was held in accordance with the interim order of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (the "Court") obtained by Augustine in connection with the Arrangement on December 16, 2016 as previously disclosed. Augustine shareholders approved the Arrangement by special resolution, with 83.6% of the outstanding Augustine shares represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting and 100.0% (following rounding) of the votes cast in favour of the resolution. As previously disclosed, Augustine and Red Pine have entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") dated November 14, 2016 pursuant to which Red Pine will acquire all of the outstanding securities of Augustine under the Arrangement, subject to the terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement. Upon completion of the Arrangement, Augustine will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Red Pine and Red Pine will carry on the business of the combined companies after changing its name to "Wawa Gold Inc." (or such other name as the Board of Directors of Red Pine may approve) and reorganizing its board of directors (referred to in the press release of December 16, 2016 as the "Resulting Issuer"). Under the Arrangement Agreement, the parties have agreed that each Augustine common share will be exchanged for 0.76 Red Pine common shares (the "Exchange Ratio"). Pursuant to the Arrangement, the holders of common shares of Augustine outstanding at the time of completion of the Arrangement will receive Resulting Issuer common shares ("Resulting Issuer Shares") based on the Exchange Ratio and all of the currently outstanding warrants and stock options of Augustine will be exercisable pursuant to the terms of such warrants and stock options for common shares of the Resulting Issuer with the number of shares issuable and the exercise price adjusted based on the Exchange Ratio, subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The completion of the Arrangement is subject to certain conditions, including a final order of the Court, final acceptance by the TSX-V, and certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. Augustine plans to apply to the Court for the final order approving the Arrangement at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on February 1, 2017. If all necessary approvals are obtained and the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement are satisfied or waived, it is currently anticipated that the Arrangement will be completed on or about February 1, 2017. The Arrangement cannot close until the required conditions are satisfied or waived, and there can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed as proposed or at all. Augustine shareholders are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the information circular of Augustine prepared in connection with the Meeting, any information released or received with respect to the Arrangement and/or other associated transactions may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Shareholders are encouraged to read the information circular, as well as other relevant documents available under the profiles of Augustine and Red Pine on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Trading in the securities of the Augustine and Red Pine should be considered highly speculative. Cautionary Statements Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation relating to the proposal to complete the Arrangement, including statements regarding the terms and conditions of the Arrangement and the description of the Wawa Gold Project. The information about Augustine contained in the press release has not been independently verified by Red Pine and vice versa. We use words such as "might", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "forecast" and similar terminology to identify forward looking statements and forward-looking information. Such statements and information are based on assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and information and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements and information. Although each of Red Pine and Augustine believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because neither Red Pine nor Augustine can give any assurances that they will prove to be correct. In evaluating forward-looking statements and information, readers should carefully consider the various factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements and forward-looking information depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not complete the Arrangement and/or other associated transactions, that the ultimate terms of the Arrangement and/or other associated transactions will differ from those currently contemplated, and that the Arrangement and/or other associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities). The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Neither Red Pine nor Augustine undertakes any obligation to comment on analysis, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Red Pine, Augustine, their respective securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). The TSX-V and the CSE have in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Arrangement and have neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES This press release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States. Further Information For further information, please contact: Augustine Ventures Inc. Robert (Bob) Dodds, President & CEO Tel: (416) 363-2528 bdodds@augustineventures.com Red Pine Exploration Inc. Quentin Yarie, President & CEO, Tel: (416) 364-7024 qyarie@redpineexp.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar dropped against its major rivals in the early European session on Monday amid risk aversion, as Donald Trump took a protectionist tone in his first speech as U.S. President. His inaugural speech hewed closely to the themes of presidential campaign, offering a populist message and promising to solve the many problems he sees facing the nation. The president's remarks have been described as protectionist, as he lamented U.S. policies that have enriched foreign industry and subsidized the armies of other countries at the expense of America's industry and military. Further undermining sentiment was falling oil prices, on the back of expectations for growing oil production in the U.S. Data from energy services firm Baker Hughes showed that the US oil-rig count resumed its increase last week, rising by 29 to 551. The data raised worries over the possibility of higher oil production in the U.S., which could derail attempts by the other major oil producers to stabilize oil market. The kiwi was trading in a positive territory in the Asian session, with the exception of the yen. The kiwi dropped to 1.4943 against the euro and 0.7181 against the greenback, from its early highs of 1.4889 and 0.7219, respectively. The kiwi may locate support around 1.50 against the euro and 0.70 against the greenback. The kiwi retreated from an early 5-day high of 1.0491 versus the aussie with the pair trading at 1.0519. The next possible support for the kiwi may be found around the 1.065 mark. The kiwi declined to a 5-day low of 81.58 against the yen, off its previous high of 82.06. Further weakness may take the kiwi to a support around the 80.00 area. Figures from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed that Japan's all industry activity increased at a slower-than-expected pace in November. The all industry activity index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent month-over-month in November, after remaining flat in the previous month. That was just below the 0.4 percent gain expected by economists. Looking ahead, at 6:30 am ET, ECB President Mario Draghi will deliver a speech on the occasion of the awarding of the Premio Camillo Cavour organised by Fondazione Camillo Cavour in Turin, Italy. Canada wholesales data for November is due to be released at 8:30 am ET. At 8:15 am ET, ECB Board Member Peter Praet delivers a speech at 'European Pillar of Social Rights Conference', organised by European Commission in Brussels. At 10:00 am ET, Eurozone consumer confidence for January is slated for release. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de OKLAHOMA CITY, OK--(Marketwired - January 23, 2017) - APMEX, Inc. has announced it has named Mark Yoshimura as the company's next Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Yoshimura joined APMEX in August 2012 as Vice President of Operations before taking his most recent role as Vice President of Sales and Customer Service. As Vice President of Sales, Mr. Yoshimura was responsible for managing APMEX's Purchasing, Sales and Customer Service functions. With more than 20 years of leadership experience within the retail sector, Mr. Yoshimura has a very diverse background that includes leadership roles within supply chain, merchandising, finance and international business development. This includes experience with both Office Depot and Payless ShoeSource. "We have complete confidence in Mark's ability and have seen tremendous growth in both his acumen and leadership since joining the company in 2012," APMEX CEO Ken Lewis said. "His background and proven ability to get results make him the perfect fit for this critical position and we look forward to great results as his responsibilities expand." Mr. Yoshimura's background before joining APMEX includes the following: As the leader of Office Depot's North American transportation function, Mark was responsible for all inbound, outbound to retail and outbound to customer transportation activities. This included P&L responsibilities totaling more than $350M annually and service on more than 400,000 deliveries per week. He also conceived, sold and implemented a "game changing" supply chain initiative, resulting in an $8M fixed expense reduction, which included the consolidation of seven distribution facilities, increased delivery frequency to stores, moving the transportation model to 100% variable and reduced overall transportation expenses to more than 1,000 retail stores. As the lead for Office Depot's Vendor Integration team, Mark created "ground-up" processes and functions that worked with Office Depot's suppliers to increase visibility and performance throughout the supply chain. This included a custom CPFR program, vendor compliance program and vendor scorecards. "I am excited and honored to take on this role and have the opportunity to leverage my prior experiences to help propel APMEX to its next level of growth and innovation based on our customer centric business model," Yoshimura said. "I have had the pleasure of being part of this great organization for the last four years and have seen tremendous internal and external growth over that time period, and I look forward to helping extend upon our company's current and future success." About APMEX, Inc. For more than 15 years, APMEX has been one of the nation's largest Precious Metals e-retailers. In 2016, APMEX was ranked the #1 Specialty E-Retailer and #42 out of 500 e-retailers by Internet Retailer Magazine. APMEX has the largest selection of bullion and numismatic items provided by a retailer, boasting more than 10,000 products. Product offerings include all U.S. Mint bullion such as Gold, Silver and Platinum American Eagle coins. APMEX also sells products from leading mints around the world including The Royal Mint, Perth Mint, Royal Canadian Mint and many others. APMEX is a member of the American Numismatic Association, the International Precious Metals Institute and the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. For additional information, visit www.APMEX.com or call (800) 375-9006. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/1/23/11G128071/Images/700x309-PR-image-for-Mark-COO-89c04376dd69a83ca9ab515c041c4d9c.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/1/23/11G128071/Images/240x240-PR-image-for-Mark-COO-65a5c123d0ebb764a613763cfc0772ba.jpg Whitney McCown Whitney.McCown@apmex.com OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - TerraForm Global, Inc. (GLBL), an operator of clean energy power plants, said Monday that it has signed an exclusivity agreement with Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (BAM, BAM-A.TO) to negotiate a potential business combination between them. Shares of TerraForm Global are gaining more than 6 percent in pre-market activity following the announcement. The exclusivity agreement will expire on March 6. Separately, TerraForm Global's publicly traded sister company, TerraForm Power, Inc. (TERP) also said it has entered into an exclusivity deal with Brookfield Asset Management regarding a potential transaction. TerraForm Global noted that prior to entering into the exclusivity agreement, it received a revised bid letter from Brookfield. In its letter, Brookfield proposed four possible transactions that are not subject to any financing condition. Under the terms being negotiated, Brookfield would either buy 100 percent of TerraForm Global for as much as $4.35 per share, or replace solar energy company SunEdison Inc. (SUNEQ) as TerraForm Global's sponsor and acquire 50.1 percent of the company's outstanding shares for as much as $4.25 per share. However, TerraForm Global noted that any aggregate amounts payable to its shareholders will reflect the terms of a final settlement agreement, if any, between the company and SunEdison. Brookfield's proposals are subject to certain conditions. This includes the negotiation of mutually acceptable definitive transaction documentation that addresses the treatment of potential liabilities previously disclosed by TerraForm Global. The proposals are also conditional on a voting and support agreement with SunEdison, and the negotiation of a comprehensive settlement agreement between TerraForm Global and SunEdison that is acceptable to Brookfield. TerraForm Global also said it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with SunEdison. The MOU outlines potential separate settlements of claims between SunEdison and TerraForm Global, and SunEdison and TerraForm Power in connection with SunEdison's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. 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. RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/23/17 -- In its ongoing plan of action to acquire the Murray Brook Property, Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE: PUM) (the "Company " or "PUMA") is pleased to update investors concerning the acquisition of the Murray Brook Property and wishes to clarify the value of the deposit as reported on December 28th, 2016 in the "L'Avantage" Rimouski newspaper. Progress on the Murray Brook Property Transaction As previously reported in Puma's news release on December 21st, 2016 a revised NI 43-101 compliant underground resource estimate totaling 5.28 million tonnes averaging 5.24% Zn, 1.80% Pb, 0.46% Cu, 68.9 g/t Ag and 0.65 g/t Au was completed and submitted to the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") for review by the Exchange at the beginning of January. Final approval by the Exchange is pending and is expected to be completed shortly. As part of the financial plan also required by the Exchange, 95% of the shareholders of the mining exploration company Murray Brook Minerals Inc. ("MBM") have to date accepted the acquisition of MBM by PUMA. The acquisition is subject to the standard regulatory conditions but if completed as planned, MBM will become a wholly subsidiary of PUMA bringing a $1 million cash secured investment to the Murray Brook Property transaction. Additionally, Votorantim Metals Canada Inc., El Nino Ventures Inc. and PUMA have agreed to extend the closing date for the acquisition of the Murray Brook Property to on or before February 28th, 2017 (see news release dated October 13th, 2016). This extension will allow PUMA to confirm the regulatory approval for the transactions. To demonstrate that PUMA is both determined and confident that the deal will close, the Company is providing to Votorantim Metals Canada Inc. a deposit in the amount of CAD $100,000 to be credited against the Closing Cash Consideration for the acquisition of the Murray Brook Property. In the event that the transactions contemplated in the Asset Purchase Agreement does not close on or before February 28th, 2017 the deposit will be retained by the vendor. Additionally, please note that in the news release dated December 30th, 2016 in connection with the private placement, the Company has issued 100,000 finders' warrants instead of 80,000 as stipulated in the news release. Clarification on the value of the Murray Brook Deposit As stipulated in the news release dated December 21st, 2016, PUMA completed a Mineral Resource Estimate on the Murray Brook Deposit ("MBD"). The underground Sulphide Mineral Resource Estimate is comprised of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources totaling 5.28 million tonnes averaging 5.24% Zn, 1.80% Pb, 0.46% Cu, 68.9 g /t Ag and 0.65 g /t Au. The MBD contains 610 Mlbs of Zinc, 209 Mlbs of Lead, 54 Mlbs of copper, 11.7 Moz of silver and 111 Koz of gold at a C$85 per tonne NSR cut-off in the Sulphide Measured and Indicated categories. To be noted that the Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. In the "L'Avantage" Rimouski newspaper, the value of the deposit has been incorrectly reported as gross metal value (in situ) as per article 2.3 (c) of the rule NI 43-101. PUMA will produce a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") during the first half of 2017 for mining of HIGH GRADE ZINC zones of the sulphide portion of the MBD contained in the current Mineral Resource Estimate. 2016 Mineral Resource Estimate (news release December 21st, 2016) The Technical Report dated incorporates P&E's NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for sulphide and oxide mineralization at a C$85/t Net Smelter Return ("NSR") cut-off that is summarized in Table 1. ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- Table 1 Murray Brook Underground Mineral Resource Estimate at C$85/t NSR Cut-Off(1-4) ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- Tonnes Cu Cu Pb Pb Zn Zone Category ('000's) % M lb % M lb % ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- Oxide Measured 434 1.13 10.8 1.44 13.8 4.51 ---------------------------------------------------- Indicated 105 1.94 4.5 0.82 1.9 2.84 ---------------------------------------------------- M+I 539 1.29 15.3 1.32 15.7 4.19 ---------------------------------------------------- Inferred 4 3.94 0.3 0.19 0.0 0.62 ------------------------------------------------------------- Sulphide Measured 3,681 0.36 29.0 1.87 151.9 5.57 ---------------------------------------------------- Indicated 1,603 0.70 24.8 1.63 57.4 4.48 ---------------------------------------------------- M+I 5,284 0.46 53.8 1.80 209.3 5.24 ---------------------------------------------------- Inferred 125 2.16 5.9 0.92 2.5 2.58 ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Table 1 Murray Brook Underground Mineral Resource Estimate at C$85/t NSR Cut-Off(1-4) ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Zn Au Au Ag Ag Zone Category M lb g/t K oz g/t M oz ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Oxide Measured 43.2 0.31 4.3 60.5 0.8 -------------------------------------------- Indicated 6.6 0.46 1.6 45.3 0.2 -------------------------------------------- M+I 49.8 0.34 5.9 57.5 1.0 -------------------------------------------- Inferred 0.0 0.46 0.1 26.6 0.0 ----------------------------------------------------- Sulphide Measured 451.7 0.56 65.8 70.5 8.3 -------------------------------------------- Indicated 158.4 0.88 45.1 65.3 3.4 -------------------------------------------- M+I 610.1 0.65 110.9 68.9 11.7 -------------------------------------------- Inferred 7.1 0.54 2.2 47.3 0.2 ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- (1) Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. (2) The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. (3)The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. (4) "M" means millions; "K" means thousands. PUMA's projections for 2017 in view of the purchase of the MBD are as follows: 1. Produce a new PEA during the first half of 2017 for mining of HIGH GRADE ZINC zones of the sulphide portion of the MBD contained in the current Mineral Resource Estimate. 2. Proceed with additional advanced recovery (metallurgical) tests on the MBD's mineralization, focusing on GOLD and SILVER recovery with the objective of establishing the economic value of the MBD. 3. Proceed with a drilling exploration program to delineate the size of the deposit and potentially find more deposits along strike in the direction of the Caribou Mine. About Puma Exploration Inc. Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company with advanced precious and base metals projects in Canada. The Company's major assets are the Turgeon Zinc-Copper Project and the Nicholas-Denys Project in New Brunswick and an equity interest in Black Widow Resources related to the Little Stull Lake Gold Project in Manitoba. Puma's objective for the coming year is to focus its exploration efforts in New Brunswick. Canada. You can visit us on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more by consulting www.pumaexploration.com for further information on Puma Exploration Inc. The contents of this press release were prepared by Marcel Robillard, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. 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. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Puma Exploration Inc. to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma Exploration undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the quarterly and annual reports and in the documents submitted to the securities administration. Contacts: Marcel Robillard, President (418) 724-0901 Toll free: (800) 321-8564 president@explorationpuma.com QUEBEC CITY, QC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/23/17 -- Of the many things done well by the French, cuisine undoubtedly resides at the top of the list. Yet for those who find themselves in downtown Quebec City, indulging in a bit of Gallic gastronomy doesn't have to set you back a plane ticket. Simply pull up a seat at Que Sera Sera, the resto-bar located inside the Quebec City Marriott Downtown hotel, to taste the best French cooking this side of the Atlantic. Before you tuck into the grilled salmon with saffron couscous, however, or the pork tenderloin with seasonal vegetables, take a look around the restaurant. The sleek banquettes, muted color palette and open floorplan all nod to the same contemporary sensibility that appears on the plate. Que Sera Sera may translate to "Whatever will be, will be," but it's clear there's an author behind every detail of this Old Quebec hotel restaurant, and his name is Martin Berthelot. A Quebecois by birth, Chef Berthelot was trained at Ecole Hoteliere de la Capitale before honing his technique in Paris. He went on to retain positions at the L'Auberge Saint-Gabriel and the Fairmont Chateau Montebello before arriving at Que Sera Sera in 2016. In his current position, Chef Berthelot combines classic French cooking with modern preferences for lighter dishes and regional ingredients. Accordingly, visitors will encounter on the plate both local produce and ingredients sourced from more exotic locations. This original combination promises a carefully curated adventure for the palate while also distinguishing Que Sera Sera from other restaurants and hotels in Quebec City. Que Sera Sera's bistro-style menu complements innovation with convenience by way of its 5|10|20 menu. Designed to offer guests the comfort of time management, the menu categorises dishes by how long you may need to enjoy them. Visiting between meetings? Order something from the five-minute section. Enjoying an extended lunch hour? Then indulge in an entree from the 20-minute section. Like any self-respecting Frenchman or -woman, Que Sera Sera also offers a tempting selection of signature cocktails and an extensive wine list designed to enhance each meal. Drop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner and be transported to France -- with a distinctly Quebecois twist. About the Quebec City Marriott Downtown With its sleek elegance and modern convenience, the Quebec City Marriott Downtown offers a warm welcome to business and leisure guests alike. Visitors will appreciate the hotel's well-appointed accommodation featuring 103 guest rooms and eight suites outfitted with amenities like high-speed Internet access, pillowtop mattresses, mini-refrigerators and spacious desks. Other features include a 24-hour fitness centre, in-room dining and delicious French cuisine featuring regional ingredients at the hotel's Que Sera Sera bistro. Conveniently located on the Place D'Youville, the hotel also offers easy access to attractions like Parliament Hill, Montmorency Falls, the Chateau Frontenac and the Quebec City Convention Centre. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3101436 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3101438 CONTACT: Quebec City Marriott Downtown 850 Place D'Youville Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3P6 Canada 1-418-694-4004 http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yqbmc-quebec-city-marriott-downtown/ TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/23/17 -- MCW Energy Group Limited (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: MCW)(OTCQX: MCWEF), a Canadian holding company involved in the development of environmentally-friendly oil sands technologies, the production of oil from Utah's vast oil sands deposits, and remediation projects involving extraction of contaminating hydrocarbons, wishes to make the following statements regarding certain recent promotional activity surrounding the Company's common stock. On December 5, 2016, the Company was notified by the OTC Markets about promotional newsletter emails encouraging investors to purchase the Company's common stock. The Company was not aware of any promotional activities until notified of same by OTC Markets on December 5, 2016. The Company is unaware of the full nature of the promotional activity, the extent of the email newsletters' dissemination, or the responsible parties. The Company is not affiliated in any way with the authors of these promotional newsletter emails. This promotional activity coincided with higher than average trading volume and fluctuations in the Company's stock price. From October 24 through January the 17th, which is 58 trading days, the Company' s stock traded an average of approximately 600,000 shares per trading day on the OTCQX Platform and the per share closing price of the Company's stock on the 24th of October was 28 Us Cents and on January 17th 10 cents. In the 58 trading days prior to October 24th, the Company's stock traded an average of 223,500 shares per day with the per share closing prices ranging between .09 cents and .27 cents. After inquiry, the Company confirms that its officers, directors or its controlling shareholders (i.e., shareholders owning 10% or more of the Company's securities) have not, directly or indirectly, authorized or been involved in any way (including payment to a third-party) with the creation or distribution of promotional materials including these email newsletters. Neither the Company's officers, directors and, to the knowledge of the Company, any controlling shareholders, sold or purchased shares of Common Stock of the Company within the last 90 days other than: Gerald Bailey, the CEO, who sold 40,000 shares of Company's stock on October 23, 2016 at the price per share of $0.24CDN, 48,000 shares of Company's stock on October 31, 2016 at the price per share of $0.25CDN, and 46, 000 shares of Company's stock on November 29, 2016 at $0.13CDN; and Robert Dennewald, a director, who purchased 100,000 shares on January 19, 2017 at $0.12CDN per share. The Company has engagedthe following service providers to provide investor relationships and marketing services during the past year for cash consideration. On October 24th, the Company announced that it had retained services of KCSA as Strategic Communications and Investors Relations Counsel. The Company has also hired Oilprice.com and had native adds on their website from October 27th through November 4th . The Company has also entered into a JV agreement with Oilprice.com and Recruiter.com which was announced via press release on November 30th 2016 and distributed by Recruiter.com to its more than 2.8 million subscribers. On July 26th the Company issued a press release about a research report issued by RB Milestone LLC . In February of 2016 the Company retained the services of Small Cap Nation which services included the recording and distribution of several video's and generation of a report that was distributed in the months of February. Over the course of the last 6 months the Company has made several private placement of shares of its stock upon conversion of debt at a discount to the market price at the time of issuance. On November 17, 2016 245,181 shares were issued at a price of $0.22CAD per share. On November 17, 2016 129, 567 shares were issued at a price of $0.26CAD. On November 17, 2016, 532, 479 shares were issued at a price of $0.2775CAD. About MCW Energy Group MCW Energy Group Limited is focused on value creation via the development and implementation of (i) proprietary, environmentally-friendly oil sands technologies and remedial tailing ponds projects solutions (ii) expanding production capacities of its extraction plant in Asphalt, Ridge, Utah, and (iii) the formulation of worldwide joint ventures and the licensing of oil sands opportunities with worldwide with private and government entities within countries possessing extensive oil sands/oil shale deposits. MCW's management team is comprised of individuals who have extensive knowledge in both conventional and unconventional oil and gas projects and production, both in upstream and downstream industry sectors. 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: MCW Energy Group Limited Gerald Bailey Chief Executive Officer (800) 979-1897 (Ext. 3) China has long been the leader of the textile and apparel industry worldwide. As industries in other countries face change, China's involvement with their export and import businesses is set to increase. Further details on the changing relationships between China and textile and apparel industries across the globe are some of this week's featured stories on BizVibe. BizVibe is the world's smartest B2B marketplace and allows users to connect with over seven million companies around the globe. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005926/en/ Market opportunities in the global textile industry. (Graphic: Business Wire) Mexico expected to increase textile imports from China Donald Trump's promise to slap hefty tariffs on exports from Mexico and the expected breakdown of the US-Mexico trade relationship is threatening Mexico's textile and apparel industry. In 2015, Mexico imported USD 6.5 billion worth of textiles and apparel from the US, and 80% of Mexico's total exports go to the US. The uncertainty of its relationship with the US is causing Mexico to look for other strong trading partners. Mexico has begun importing raw materials for textile production from China rather than the US due to reduced costs and reduced tension, and their trade relationship is expected to strengthen over the coming years. Connect with nearly 250 textiles companies in Mexico listed on BizVibe High costs threatening textile industry in Germany The textile and apparel industry in Germany employs 130,000 people. Its total textile exports were valued at EUR 24 billion in 2013, and the industry focuses heavily on innovative technical textiles. However, the significantly cheaper cost of doing business in China is threatening the German industry, and imports from China and other countries have risen significantly over the past decade. This is forcing German textile and apparel manufacturers to improve upon the quality and uniqueness of their products in order to remain competitive in the market. Connect with over 400 textiles companies in Germany listed on BizVibe Pakistan and China becoming competitors once more Pakistan's textile industry lost 500,000 jobs as of September of last year, and has faced challenges largely due to energy shortages and threats of terrorism throughout the country. However, thanks to a new government initiative, the industry is expected to recover and attract new business in the near future. This initiative is expected to create 3.5 million textile jobs and has the potential to increase Pakistan's textile exports to $26 billion. Additionally, as Pakistan has lower wages and production costs than China, it has the potential to attract business from clients looking to move from China for cheaper sources of labour, re-establishing itself as a competitor as the industry begins to thrive. Connect with over 500 textiles companies in Pakistan listed on BizVibe In addition to these segments, BizVibe is also home to 50,000+ apparel and textile companies across 200+ countries, covering all sectors. The BizVibe platform allows you to discover highest quality leads and make meaningful connections in real time. Claim your company profile for free and let the business come to you. About BizVibe BizVibe is home to over seven million company profiles across 700+ industries. The single minded focus of BizVibe's platform is to make networking easier. Over the years, we've searched far and wide to figure out how businesses connect and enable trade. That first interaction is usually fraught with the uncertainty of finding a potential partner vs. a potential nightmare. With this in mind, we've designed a robust set of tools to help companies generate leads, shortlist prospects, network with businesses from around the world and trade seamlessly. BizVibe is headquartered in Toronto, and has offices in London, Bangalore and Beijing. For more information on the BizVibe network, please contact us. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005926/en/ Contacts: BizVibe Jesse Maida BizVibe Media Marketing Executive media@bizvibe.com www.bizvibe.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 23, 2017) - Argo Gold Inc. (CSE: ARQ) ("Argo Gold" or the "Company") welcomes Dr. Charles (Jay) Hodgson to the Advisory Board. Dr. Hodgson is a Research Exploration Geologist with over 40 years of worldwide experience in base metal and precious metal exploration. He is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal and received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley. From 1972 to 1995, Dr. Hodgson was Professor of Economic Geology at Queen's University where he taught and carried out a program of mineral exploration research on gold, base metal VMS and Sedex, and copper-gold porphyry deposits in collaboration with the mining industry. During his tenure at Queen's University, he supervised over 50 graduate theses and published 45 scientific papers including several landmark articles on economic geology and exploration. From 1996 to 2006, Dr. Hodgson was Chief Geologist at Barrick Gold Corp. where he was involved with designing Barrick's worldwide exploration programs and ensuring that the company maintained its technical edge among the gold exploration world. During his mandate at Barrick, he was involved with the exploration of several world-class gold deposits such as Pierina and Alto Chicama in Peru, Pascua-Lama in Chile, Valadero in Argentina, and Bulyanhulu in Tanzania. Dr. Hodgson brings an invaluable wealth of experience and his passion and enthusiasm for exploration to Argo Gold. Argo Gold also welcomes Stan Buchalter as a Consultant to the company. Mr. Buchalter graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics. He owned and ran his family business for 20 years, and he has many years of experience in the public market and started with his investor relations business in 2002. Argo Gold also announces that it has granted an aggregate of 400,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company exercisable at a price of $0.10 per share and expiring on January 23, 2020 to consultants of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a four-month hold period from the original date of grant. About Argo Gold Inc. Argo Gold is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker ARQ. Argo Gold is focused on gold exploration projects central and northwestern Ontario. All of Argo Gold's projects are 100% owned and have indications of economic viability. Argo Gold's website is www.argogold.ca. For more information please contact: Judy Baker President (416) 786-7860 judybakertoronto@gmail.com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. 644 franchise dealers to receive payments after diesel emissions scandal A federal judge today granted final approval for a $1.67 billion settlement for hundreds of Volkswagen-branded franchise dealers following the automaker's Dieselgate scandal that blindsided dealers, according to Hagens Berman. The settlement brings $1.67 billion in benefits to Volkswagen dealers, including nearly $1.2 billion in new cash, $270 million through a non-offset provision for prior payments and $175 million in continued sales incentives. The settlement garnered nearly unanimous approval of dealers, with 99 percent participation in the settlement. Participating dealers will receive an average settlement payout of $1.85 million. "The Volkswagen-branded franchise dealer class-action settlement finalized today represents an outstanding result for Volkswagen's affected franchise dealers who, like consumers, were blindsided by the brazen fraud that VW perpetrated," said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman and the lead attorney representing the class. "We are pleased to have been able to reach a swift resolution to allow these small business owners to get back to business and offset the tremendous hit to franchise value, revenue and profits suffered due to VW's Dieselgate scandal." The order, granted by Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, states that franchise dealers will share just under $1.2 billion in payments intended as compensation for the alleged diminution in the value of their franchises. The court approved allocation of the cash payments based upon the formula that Volkswagen used to provide its monthly support payments to franchise dealers, specifically the monthly support payments that began in November of 2015 and, pursuant to the settlement, continued through December 2016. Hagens Berman has established a dedicated email, toll-free number and website to answer dealers' questions about the proposed settlement. Dealers are invited to contact Hagens Berman's legal team: vwdealers@hbsslaw.com 1-800-657-1758 www.vwdealersettlement.com Half of the settlement payment will be made up front, and the remaining 50 percent will be paid in 18 equal, consecutive monthly installments beginning the month following the initial payment. Approximately 85 percent of Volkswagen's dealers have already executed Individual Release forms that have allowed VW to pay the initial payments in December 2016 and January 2017. Franchise dealers who chose not to complete the individual release will receive their initial payments within 30 days of the effective date of the settlement. In addition to the cash compensation and continued incentives, the Settlement limits VW's ability to require its dealers to make costly capital improvements for two years and establishes parameters to resolve dealer inventory issues with the diesel cars that have been stuck on dealers' lots since the emission scandal when Volkswagen issued broad stop-sale orders covering diesel-powered cars. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with offices in 10 cities. The firm has been named to the National Law Journal's Plaintiffs' Hot List eight times. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123006166/en/ Contacts: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Ashley Klann, 206-268-9363 ashleyk@hbsslaw.com R3 Communications, a Berlin, Germany-based manufacturer of communication systems, received a seven-digit pre-series A financing. Backers included Creathor Venture, VC Fonds Technologie Berlin, managed by IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its development efforts and make their technology ready for the market. Founded in July 2015 by and Florian Bonanati and Dr. Mathias Bohge, managing directors, R3 Communications develops real-time communication systems used in industry 4.0/internet-of-things applications as well as automotive and aerospace scenarios to circumvent the problems of common wireless communication systems (deficient transmission reliability, latency, and co-existence). Today, Berlin electronics company Schleicher Electronic bases its radio product development on the companys EchoRing technology. FinSMEs 23/01/2017 Shoptalk, a NYC-based company that organizes U.S. event for innovation in retail and ecommerce, raised $2m in venture capital funding. The round was led by New York-based Primary Venture Partners with participation from Commerce Ventures as well as individual partners at Bain Capital Ventures and New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The company, which has raised over $5m in funding, intends to use the capital to launch Shoptalk Europe. Led by Anil D. Aggarwal, founder and chief executive officer, Shoptalk organizes events for retail and ecommerce innovation held in both the U.S. and Europe. Each event provides a platform for large retailers and branded manufacturers, startups, tech companies, investors, media and analysts to learn, collaborate and evolve. The next Shoptalk will be held on March 19-22, 2017 at the Aria in Las Vegas, followed by Shoptalk Europe, which will take place on October 9-11, 2017 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen. FinSMEs 23/01/2017 Mumbai: Government is likely to set fiscal deficit target in the range of 3.3-3.4 percent of GDP for the financial year 2017-18 in the upcoming Budget, say research reports. The Budget for the financial year 2017-18 will be presented on February 1. "We think that the government will have to tread very carefully between the need for stimulating demand in a weak economic environment after demonetization and continuing on the path of fiscal consolidation. We expect the government to budget for a fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of GDP, 30 basis points higher than planned in the governments medium-term fiscal consolidation program," Goldman Sachs said in its research report. It said the lower reduction in fiscal deficit is to stimulate demand in a weak economic environment post demonetisation announced in early November. An SBI internal research report, Ecowrap, has pegged in a "fiscal deficit target of Rs 5.75 lakh crores for the financial year 2017-18, at 3.4 percent of GDP." Fiscal deficit for the financial year 2016-17 is budgeted at 3.5 percent. The Goldman Sachs report said the government is likely to meet its budget deficit target of 3.5 percent of GDP for the financial year 2016-17 due to better-than-expected tax revenue growth and via some adjustment to capital spending. Higher revenues from duties on oil (0.3 percent higher than budgeted) should help the government achieve its target for the current financial year, it said. Additional income tax revenues from the amnesty on undisclosed income, ending in September 2017, are also likely to boost government tax revenue (0.1 percent of GDP), it said. "We think that higher-than-expected tax revenues would offset any shortfall on the non-tax side, including telecom spectrum receipts and privatization proceeds," the Goldman Sachs report said. It expects government capital spending to be slightly lower in current financial year compared to what was budgeted - 1.5 percent of GDP as against 1.6 percent budgeted. Goldman Sachs expects tax revenue to grow by over 16 percent in the financial year 2017-18 and support government finances. The SBI research report expects a 13 percent growth in tax revenues (gross) in the financial year 2017-18, driven primarily by robust growth in corporation tax (28.8 percent). Capital receipts, on the other hand may rise marginally due to low disinvestment target compared to the current fiscal over-optimistic target of Rs 56,500 crore, Ecowrap said. "We expect the government would keep a realistic disinvestment target of Rs 45,000 crore for the financial year 2017-18," Ecowrap said. On the expenditure side, the SBI research report said it doesn't perceive any significant jump and hopes a marginal increase in revenue expenditure at 13.1 percent for the financial year 2017-18 compared to fiscal 2016-17 while a modest increase of 13.3 percent in capital expenditure. The removal of distinction between plan and non plan expenditure will help capital expenditure to grow at a better rate in the next fiscal 2017-18, Ecowrap said. For the financial year 2017-18, it expects a net market borrowing at Rs 4.05 lakh crore with gross borrowing at Rs 5.80 lakh crore after adjusting for net redemptions of Rs 1.75 lakh crore (adjusted for debt switch and buy back). The SBI research report believes there is a need to raise the income tax exemption limit to Rs 3 lakh from Rs 2.5 lakh. It also expects the government to increase the exemption limit of interest payments under housing loan to Rs 2.5 lakh for existing home loan buyers also from the current level of Rs 2 lakh. "The overall impact of such concessions will result in revenue foregone of around Rs 35,300 crore," Ecowrap said. However, it is expecting a tax collection under Income declaration Scheme (IDS) to be around Rs 50,000 crores and cancelled liabilities from RBI to be around Rs 75,000 crore, which will still give the government a sizeable revenue surplus even after such giveaways. For full coverage of Union Budget 2017 click here. New Delhi: FMCG major HUL Monday reported 6.82 percent increase in standalone net profit to Rs 1,037.93 crore for the third quarter of current fiscal on account of strong exceptional income. Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) had posted net profit of Rs 971.66 crore in the October-December quarter of last fiscal. Its exceptional income in the third quarter of 2016-17 was Rs 153.05 crore, as against exceptional expense of Rs 79.61 crore it had incurred in the same period of 2015-16. "The gradual recovery of the market was temporarily impacted by adverse liquidity conditions. However, our performance demonstrated resilience and agility in this challenging environment, HUL Chairman Harish Manwani said in a statement. "There are early signs of normalisation and our focus continues to remain on innovation led volume growth and improvement in margins. Our strategic agenda of delivering Consistent, Competitive, Profitable and Responsible growth remains unchanged," he added. Its total income from operations declined 0.79 percent to Rs 8,317.94 crore in the quarter under review, compared with Rs 8,384.68 crore in the same period of last fiscal, the company said in a BSE filing. In a conference call, HUL Chief Financial Officer P B Balaji said due to impact of demonetisation consumers' purchase basket size reduced and frequency in shop visits increased. "There was varied impact across market and we expect a gradual improvement in the market in line with the liquidity improvement. South and West regions of the country were least impact while North and Central were most," Balaji added. He said the company extended credit to its trade partners after demonetisation to help tide over liquidity crunch. It, however, did not hold back any planned investment or launches during the quarter. During the quarter under review, HUL's revenue from home segment was up 1.02 percent at Rs 2,689.06 crore, while its revenue from personal products declined by 2.69 percent to Rs 3,980.17 crore. The refreshment segment revenue was up marginally by 0.46 percent to Rs 278.5 crore and that from foods vertical grew by 8.14 percent to Rs 1,164.12 crore. Revenues from other segments which include exports, water, infant care business declined by 27.33 percent to Rs 195.4 crore in the third quarter. In a separate filing, HUL said it has appointed Dev Bajpai as Director on the Board of the company. Bajpai was appointed as the Executive Director Legal and Company Secretary and as a member of the Management Committee of the company in May 2010. HUL stock closed 0.25 percent up at Rs 863.25 on BSE. India pushed ahead with its decision to scrap banknotes even as the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) own board expressed concern whether the cash could be replaced quickly enough, the central bank has said in written testimony to parliament. The revelation comes amid growing criticism about whether the central bank and the government had sufficiently assessed the potential fallout from the 8 November ban of about 86 percent of the cash then in circulation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock move caused a severe cash shortage that brought large parts of the economy to a virtual standstill, as the central bank struggled to print new 500-rupee and 2,000-rupee notes to replace the old currency. A copy of the private testimony to a parliament panel, seen by Reuters, showed the central bank had also warned the government of "possible inconvenience to the public for some time," among the potential consequences of the massive exercise. Despite its own doubts, the testimony showed, the RBI board approved the plan to ban 500-rupee and 1,000-rupee notes, as it believed the move would rein in counterfeiting and reliance on cash, and pull unaccounted cash into the financial system. "It might not immediately be possible to replace these notes fully in terms of both value and volume," the board felt at a meeting ahead of Modi's Nov. 8 announcement, according to the central bank submission. But the RBI's board ultimately believed that "corrective" action could be taken and decided to recommend the move, the document showed. The RBI also believed the impact of such an exercise would be "transitory", given its efforts to quickly replace the old notes, it said in the testimony. The RBI's endorsement of the government action has drawn strong criticism from several former policymakers, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's 1991 financial reforms and a former central bank governor. The document also notes the proposal to ban the cash had come from the government, in a letter a day before the announcement that advised the RBI to 'immediately' put the plan before its board for approval. Under India's RBI Act, such a move was necessary. The central bank did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comments on its submission to parliament. 'Painful' for RBI Since Modi declared the ban, the central bank has been forced to announce a barrage of measures to soften the impact, including several high-profile reversals, undermining confidence in it. In a letter to RBI Governor Urjit Patel, unions of central bank employees called such criticism 'painful', and accused the government of steering decisions behind the replacement of the banned notes, saying that 'blatantly encroaches' on the central bank's jurisdiction. The government, however, has denied it was taking the decisions during the implementation, saying that it was merely cooperating with the RBI and reiterating that it fully respected the autonomy of the central bank. Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said such cooperation was necessary, since it involved an unprecedented "exercise" and that the flurry of action showed India's flexibility in taking the necessary measures. "They never had got an experience of this kind of a war-type situation," Goyal said, referring to the RBI. "So, every organization which is doing this is doing it for the first time. You will learn as you go along." Previous banknote bans have not had such a dramatic impact as they removed only a small fraction of cash from circulation. It is highly critical that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has an independent view. Stating this, K C Chakrabarty, former deputy governor RBI termed any talk of autonomy for RBI as 'useless' unless there is a clear framework that defines which authority the central bank is accountable to. So long as the RBI is accountable to government, it cannot be autonomous. In such a scenario, the RBI will be autonomous only to the extent government wants it to be autonomous. That means, they will give them some target, some framework to operate within, Chakrabarty said in an exclusive interview to Firstpost on Monday. The veteran banker, who previously headed the Punjab National Bank, said talks of a cashless economy is an unreal idea and felt that the change into a cashless economy and financial inclusion are contradictory things. All the talk on cashless economy is an unreal thing. This is an agenda of the multinational fintech technology and communication companies. Financial inclusion and cashless economy are contradictory, Chakrabarty reiterated. The former central bankers comments are significant at a time the Narendra Modi-government is aggressively pushing the idea of a cashless economy post 8 November demonetisation announcement and the central bank under governor Urjit Patel, facing severe criticism for undermining the institutions hard-earned independence. Edited excerpts: There is a big debate on RBIs autonomy yet again The issue of autonomy cannot be discussed without discussing the issue of accountability. Autonomy without accountability is the most dangerous thing. So, ideally the RBI should be first made accountable within a firm framework (to an authority) before the issue of autonomy arises. Now, only in the monetary policy some accountability has come because of the MPC (monetary policy committee) and the agreement between the government and the Reserve Bank. At present, who is the Reserve Bank accountable to? For all purposes, it (RBI) is accountable to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. So long as the RBI is accountable to the government, it cannot be autonomous. In such a scenario, the RBI will be only autonomous to the extent government wants it to be autonomous. That means, they will give them some target, some framework to operate from. It is highly critical that the RBI should have an independent view in an economy to discharge its functions. In your opinion, where should the accountability of the RBI rest? In a Parliamentary democracy, Parliament is supreme. Accountability to the public is accountability to Parliament. The accountability of the government is to Parliament. The accountability of the bureaucracy is to the government. If you want any institution to be autonomous, to be free of government (control), it should be directly accountable to Parliament. For example, CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India). Thus, if you want RBI to be autonomous, it should be directly answerable to Parliament (alone). But, in a democracy, it is desirable if institutions are accountable to the elected government. In that case, if the government is accountable (for RBIs functions), if something goes wrong, a minister has to explain on why that particular matter has gone wrong in the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank has to be subservient to the government. Now, how much autonomy is needed by the RBI is another question. But, all this talk of autonomy is useless without understanding the structure. Can the government intervene in the RBIs functions? If the RBI is accountable to the government, there should be a framework for autonomy defining what should the central bank deliver. In that case, the government can interfere any time if they so desire. If the RBI should be accountable to Parliament, then Parliament should lay out a framework. Currently, the RBI is actually accountable to government, but there is no framework for accountability, hence the government is intervening in everything. Anywhere in the world, if central banks are free of government, they should be accountable to Parliament. Had you been in the RBI now, would you have said yes to demonetisation? I have already said earlier that as an institution the Reserve Bank has always been opposed to demonetisation because it is not going to deliver the results. Even if RBI opposed demonetisation, the government would have gone ahead with it. The originally stated targets of note ban are fighting black money, fake currency and corruption. None of these is going to be solved out of the demonetisation exercise. Tell me how? Anytime you do this, it will hurt the common man only. Now, some of the activities like terror funding, etc would have come down because there is no cash available in the system. But, with this, the overall economic activities also have come down. Money, which was utilized earlier, is not available now. Once the cash comes back, all of this will start again. The point is for one or two targets, you dont burn the entire forest. Some former RBI officials, including Usha Thorat, have criticized the RBI for being non-transparent about the rollout of demonetisation? What transparency they want from the Reserve Bank? On demonetisation, whatever details RBI has, they are being transparent to that extent. Now, if I dont have information, how do I give? First thing, all information now (currently coming out) is incorrect. Whatever numbers are being given out on new currency or what is being written about in papers do not tally. Unless you have a very robust information system, nobody will know whether the information is correct or incorrect. But, on the issue of transparency, the RBI is as transparent as it was earlier (even during the times of Y V Reddy or Usha Thorat). RBI says it is still counting old notes that have been deposited If they (RBI) are counting, they are counting. Thats it. If they are saying, we dont have the right kind of information and we are collecting the information by counting the notes, one cannot blame them. How long do you think the cash curbs will continue? Till the time the currency situation improves, curbs will continue. I cannot tell you how quickly RBI will be able to reissue the (scrapped) currency. RBI has been assuring time and again that there is enough currency in the system Look around. If there is enough cash, then why is there restriction (on cash withdrawals even now?) One can say the situation is back to normal when there are no more restrictions to withdraw currency from the bank. What is the impact of demonetisation on the economy? Ours is primarily a consumption-driven economy. So, if people dont have enough cash to buy goods, there will be an impact. Thats why it (demonetisation) has effected more. As and when you put out the cash (into the system), they will start buying. The consumption will then come back. But, how much will be its impact will depend on how soon the government and RBI will manage to normalize the situation. The government is pushing for a cashless economy. Your take? That is impossible. All the talk of a cashless economy is away from ground, an unreal thing. This is all agenda of the multinational fintech technology and communication companies. Financial inclusion and cashless economy are contradictory. Im going to talk about this more in the coming days. New Delhi - As the countrys economy recovers from the scars of demonetisation, the government has sought to float another trial balloon called universal basic income (UBI). The idea of a dole, to replace all other doles, on the face of it looks sound. But just like demonetisation, there is no equivalent large, sophisticated economy catering to a big population, which has tried it so far. And therein lies the need to tread with caution, and we are not even talking politically. Should every Indian citizen, whether a wealthy industrialist or a street dweller, get a small amount each month from the government for subsistence? The Chief Economic Advisor to the government, Arvind Subramanian, spoke to a newspaper at length on this novel idea recently and said also said that this years Economic Survey will examine issues involved in a Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme. The CEO of Niti Ayog has also urged the government to examine the need for UBI. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Amitabh Kant said UBI is definitely one of the options before the government but it requires extensive research and debate. He further said that any such scheme should be looked at in the context of the existing rural employment guarantee scheme MNREGA and food subsidies under the Public Distribution System (PDS). In MNREGA there have been leakages...the PDS again is riddled with corruption. The government needs to think if it is better to put money directly into individual accounts...and do away with PDS, MNREGA...put resources generated through taxes and penalties in UBI. In this article Subramanian says through the proposed new scheme the Modi government is considering giving unconditional cash transfer of about Rs 10,000-15,000 on an annual basis to each and every citizen in the country. So why is India even considering a universal basic income, when world over even developed countries are still examining the idea and its pitfalls? The driving force for providing a minimum level of sustenance to each citizen seems to emanate from the growing realisation that the nature and availability of jobs has altered significantly around the world. There are fewer jobs due to increasing automation and then, there are more of these jobs which require higher skills, higher pay. For India, the situation has been particularly grim over the last two years as job creation has been at abysmally low levels even when the economy was galloping. In this article in The Wire, BJD MP Jay Panda who advocated UBI much before demonetisation says the new economy of the 21st century - not just in India but everywhere in the world - is having a lot of automation and robotics, which means job creation is much less than before. For example today, if we have 7% growth rate in the Indian GDP, it creates less jobs than 7% growth rate would have created in 1990s. He refers to the World Bank estimate of 68% of existing jobs in India being under threat in the coming 10 or 20 years due to technology. Because of automation and robotics, even factories which used to employ hundreds of people today can manage with only five or seven people because they use robots for manufacturing. In essence, the inability to create the required number of jobs at a pace which matches Indias GDP growth could be the trigger for a UBI scheme being announced in the forthcoming Union Budget. Not everyone is gung ho about this prospect though. Professor of Economics at JNU, Jayati Ghosh, told Firstpost that if the government was serious about helping citizens, it would begin with implementing a universal basic pension first, at half the minimum wage. This would mean a monthly pension of Rs 3,000-4,000 against a barebones Rs 200 that is now being paid every month and even this amount is not universal but targeted pension. Can India afford another large welfare scheme under its current budget? Well, different economists have pointed out that it could cost anywhere up to 10 percent of the GDP. An editorial in the Business Standard newspaper this morning says UBI, based on existing definition of the poverty line, as calculated by Maitreesh Ghatak, could cost upwards of 10 percent of GDP when existing subsidies already account for 4.2 percent of the GDP. This basically means 1) instead of making it a universal dole, the government could look at providing this money to the poor already identified instead of providing this to each of the roughly 1.3 billion Indian citizens; 2) it could simultaneously do away with subsides and schemes like PDS and MNREGA. Ghosh says no current welfare scheme should be sacrificed at the altar of UBI. A UBI cannot be the substitute for provision of food, education and healthcare to the citizens. This article in the Mint newspaper says an acceptable level of the UBI could be an income equivalent of the poverty line (the Tendulkar committee poverty line), which is about Rs 1,090 per month for each individual, in 2015-16 prices. The total cost of providing this income to all Indians would amount to 12.5 percent of GDP, which is nearly equal to the size of the Union Governments budget. Thus, such a UBI which provides poverty line-equivalent income to all Indians does not appear to be feasible because of budget constraints...the subsidies which are already burdening the Indian taxpayer are, more often than not, helping the rich. Perhaps the answer to the UBI conundrum lies in getting the aim of the exercise crystal clear first and then figuring out where the resources for such a scheme will be generated from. It is obvious that in the current scenario, running food subsidy and guaranteed employment programmes cannot continue if a UBI is to be also given. Besides, as Ghosh has pointed out, if the UBI sum turns out to be a pittance like the pension pittance, it would become more a political gimmick than a scheme to address poverty. It was a thing waiting to happen, given the unseemly haste with which the NDA government was pushing cashless transactions after its 8 November demonetisation push. But events over the past week suggest that we need a strong regulator for financial technology -- and one that acts quick, is endowed with effective processes and is blessed with clarity. A tussle between ICICI Bank and PhonePe, the mobile payments app championed by online retailer Flipkart, has reached a regulatory logjam with PhonePe refusing to acknowledge a call from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that it fell short of regulatory guidelines, which resulted in ICICI Bank blocking its transactions. With PhonePe questioning the legal jurisdiction of NPCI the ball is effectively in the court of the Reserve Bank of India. The question: is RBI ready enough to police or regulate the issue? On the face of it, it seems not. NPCI has developed a technological platform that enables customers to transfer money across banks. Mobile apps essentially are like retail financial shops that are in turn connected to bank accounts or credit card accounts. Last week, NPCI asked ICICI Bank to reverse its decision to block transactions from Flipkart on the Unified Payments Interface, only to go on reverse gear later, in effect acknowledging ICICI Bank's case that PhonePe did not conform to guidelines. ICICI Bank's case is that Flipkart's bosses effectively created a closed loop that violated interoperability guidelines. The problem is that NPCI is basically a security guard of sorts --- whose job is like a watchman who allows in people if they are found safe. While guards do have their rights, they are limited. They are not exactly judges. The scene bears a striking resemblance to disputes between telecom operators -- and that should not surprise us, because electronic money is nothing but pieces of data carrying assurance of underlying value. In the digital cash, however, unlike in the case of currency notes that automatically bears the stamp of RBI, there are elements that need to be sorted out fast. The PhonePe situation is akin to somebody refusing to recognise a currency note in a shop because it looks like a counterfeit or a "private currency." The RBI has provided guidelines for e-wallets but it is a small part of its activity, as of now. That has to change. The pace with which rival brands are promoting mobile payment apps, and with banks themselves having proprietary e-wallet apps, there are issues related to business rivalry and conflict of interest that in effect call for quick regulation. ICICI Bank refusing to acknowledge PhonePe transactions is like Airtel or Vodafone not taking calls from Reliance Jio, on which the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) last year ordered fine on telecom operators. Now, the difference is that financial transactions cannot be under TRAI but we need the equivalent of a TRAI now. NPCI clearly falls short, while RBI, from all accounts, is a slow body rooted in age-old bureaucratic practices. The real-time financial economy needs a better alternative. In appointing IIT-educated financial expert Viral Acharya as deputy governor, the RBI recently recognised the emerging significance of financial technologies. Ahead of that last year, it also set up a working group on financial technology and regulation . We don't quite know what the group has done, and we are staring into a real problem. Last month, speaking at the Vibrant Gujarat summit, RBI governor Urjit Patel said there was a need for a unified regulator for international financial service centres. That may be desirable, but the more urgent need is to ensure a level-playing field and clear rules of engagement in the domestic market as wannabe brands and entrenched banks fight to gain market shares in the emerging digital payments game. The Flipkart-PhonePe dispute with ICICI Bank has significance because digital payments sit at the intersection of e-commerce and data science, with profound implications on everything from privacy to security and fairplay. Dr Patel now has on hand a task more urgent than he might like to believe. (The author is a senior journalist. He tweets as @madversity) New Delhi: The governments spending on healthcare has been coming down over years. As a result, now government hospitals cover a minuscule proportion of the population. Last budget, spending on healthcare shrank to 1.2 percent of the GDP, the lowest ever. WHO ranks India at 112 out of 170 countries in terms of its healthcare systems. China spends 3 percent of its GDP on healthcare while the global average is 5.4 percent of GDP. The NDA government had stated in its manifesto that healthcare is going to be one of its priority area for improvement. National Healthcare Policy 2015 has been languishing due to the lack of budgetary support and the bill targets a spending of 2.5 percent of GDP. Which is why on LocalCircles survey for the citizens budget an overwhelming 89 percent of the citizens want the government to increase its expenditure on healthcare. And 40 percent of the citizens polled want that the government should invest in improving the facilities at government hospitals. While 24 percent want them to build more hospitals like AIIMS, another 21 percent want them to subsidise the cost of treatments and medicine. Like healthcare, education is another crucial area that has not been getting the attention it needs. As per the latest data, government intends to increase spending on education in 12th five year plan by 2.79 times compared to the 11th five year plan. But for the last four years spending on education has been stagnant at 2.7 percent of GDP by both the central and state government. So, how does the government intend to boost spending on the education front will be a crucial area to look at in this budget. In the education area, 58 percent of the citizens want the government to improve the governance and delivery in government schools. While 32 percent want infrastructure in government schools to be improved, just 5 percent want the government to focus on increasing the salaries of teachers. This means almost 90 percent of the citizens want that the governments education budget to focus on government schools. It started with Meryl Streep's stirring speech at the Golden Globes 2017. At the Women's March, however, Hollywood celebrities stepped out in support of the peaceful protests against US President Donald J Trump. Scarlett Johansson, Ian McKellen, Emma Watson, Alec Baldwin, Katy Perry and Robert DeNiro were just a few of the celebrities to show up at the anti-Trump march. Ugly Betty star America Ferrera delivered a particularly rousing speech, in which she drew upon her experiences as a "woman and an immigrant". Her most inspiring lines as evinced by the cheers from the crowd? "The President is not America. Congress is not America. WE are America, and we are here to stay." Watch her deliver the speech in this video tweeted out by CNN: Scarlett Johansson also spoke about womanhood and choices, and how they may be imperiled under a Trump presidency. Here's a video recording of her speech, tweeted by Hollywood Reporter: Scarlett Johansson speaks directly to Trump in personal #PlannedParenthood story at the #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/8q0cfhguY3 Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 21, 2017 Emma Watson interacted with the women at the protests, and put up the videos on her Instagram feed. In one, she interviewed a pair of mother-daughter protesters, while in the other, she simply panned around to show all the signs and placards that had been used during the March: @womensmarch A video posted by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Jan 22, 2017 at 9:36am PST @womensmarch A video posted by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Jan 22, 2017 at 3:10pm PST Here is Emma at the March: Madonna performed a version of 'Express Yourself' at the March although she drew more attention for several comments she made regarding 'blowing up the White House'. She also shared an image of herself with Amy Schumer: With My Girl Amy at the Women's March in D.C. We Go Hard or We Go Home. pic.twitter.com/st68AeZ3HQ Madonna (@Madonna) January 21, 2017 Katy Perry's tweets regarding snoozing through Trump's inaugural speech, and waking up in time to make it to the Women's March got a lot of attention. The pop star later wrote on Instagram: "Marching with so many sisters today but my heart is most proud to march with my blood sister, Angela, who has always been my guardian angel... I march today because I am not afraid anymore and I hope I can be an example of fearlessness and resilience. I will not let anyone suppress me, silence me or clip my wings...I am here today to break the cycle of suppression and inequality. I stand with you all." Jessica Chastain wore her heart on her sleeve, and her message on her t-shirt as she headed off to the Women's March: Here's Alicia keys at the rally: No matter where you were today... We sent a powerful message! I'm proud of everyone all over the world who gathered with such dignity and strength to send the message that we won't stop until we are heard! #WomensMarch #WhyIMarch #WomensRightsAreHumanRights #WeAreHere A photo posted by Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) on Jan 21, 2017 at 12:27pm PST Several other celebrities tweeted out their support of the movement: John Legend even had a pithy response for some critics of his tweet Screen legend Ian McKellen stepped out for the March, and shared a long note on his social media account: Meanwhile, at a rally, Alec Baldwin's Trump impersonation got a lot of guffaws. Shia LaBeouf also shared details of his latest art project, an anti-Trump live stream that will run for four years, titled "HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US." Jaden Smith was among those who showed his support for the project. "Commencing at 9 am on 20 January 2017, the day of the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, the public is invited to deliver the words 'HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US' into a camera mounted on a wall outside the Museum of the Moving Image, New York, repeating the phrase as many times, and for as long as they wish. Open to all, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the participatory performance will be live-streamed continuously for four years, or the duration of the presidency. In this way, the mantra 'HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US' acts as a show of resistance or insistence, opposition or optimism, guided by the spirit of each individual participant and the community," Shia's curatorial note read. (See it here.) Meanwhile, the man of the hour Donald Trump himself wavered between dismissing the protesters, asking where they were during the elections (to which Twitterati reminded him that he had in fact, lost the popular vote, by a grater margin than any other US President in history), crowing over the TV ratings for his inaugural speech (they are the fifth highest for such an event Ronald Reagan's swearing in, Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration and Jimmy Carter's speech are among those that enjoyed higher ratings than Trump's), and upholding the right of the marchers to dissent. Global banks have warned they could move thousands of jobs out of Britain to prepare for the expected disruption caused by the country's exit from the European Union, posing a risk to London's status as a major financial centre. Leading financial firms warned for months before last June's Brexit referendum that they would have to move some jobs if there was a leave vote, and have been working on plans for how they would do so for the past six months.More details are starting to emerge after Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would leave the European single market, ending banks' hopes they might retain "passporting" rights that let them sell their services across the EU out of their London hubs.Below are comments and reports on banks about their potential Brexit plansHSBC Stuart Gulliver, CEO of HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, said his bank will relocate staff responsible for generating around a fifth of its UK-based trading revenue, or around 1,000 people, to Paris. BARCLAYS Barclays Chief Executive Jes Staley told BBC Radio in an interview in Davos that the bank will keep the bulk of its activities in Britain after the UK leaves the European Union, saying that any changes to how the bank operates will be small and manageable. UBS Swiss bank UBS's Chairman Axel Weber said at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January that about 1,000 of the Swiss bank's 5,000 employees in London could be affected by Brexit.Separately, Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti said that UBS has a degree of flexibility if its UK outpost looks set to lose its ability to operate across the European Union once Britain leaves the bloc.The world's biggest wealth manager has also set up a bank in Frankfurt to consolidate most of its European wealth management operations, after Britain's vote to leave the European Union dashed London's chances of being the host city. CREDIT SUISSE Credit Suisse's Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam said in September that his bank was relatively well placed to deal with the impact of Brexit and that only around 15-20 percent of volumes in the investment bank would be impacted.LLOYDS Lloyds Banking Group, Britain's largest mortgage lender and the only major British retail lender without a subsidiary in another EU country, is considering setting up a subsidiary in Frankfurt as Britain prepares to leave the European Union, a person familiar with the plans told Reuters. GOLDMAN SACHS U.S bank Goldman Sachs is considering moving up to 1,000 staff from London to Frankfurt because of concerns over Britain's vote to leave the European Union, Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported in January, citing financial sources.The bank is considering halving its London staff to 3,000 and moving key operations to New York and continental Europe, particularly Frankfurt, the paper reported.Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters in November that Goldman Sachs is considering shifting some of its assets and operations from London to Frankfurt.MORGAN STANLEY U.S. bank Morgan Stanley has identified many of the roles that will need to be moved from Britain following its exit from the European Union, sources involved in the processes told Reuters. Morgan Stanley, which bases the bulk of its European staff in Britain, will have to move up to 1,000 jobs in sales and trading, risk management, legal and compliance, as well as slimming the back office in favour of locations overseas, one source told Reuters. CITIGROUP Citigroup, which has also identified roles that will need to be moved out of the UK and has a large banking unit in Dublin, will need to shift 100 positions in its sales and trading business, sources with knowledge of the matter said.JPMORGAN JPMorgan Chase & Co could be forced to move 4,000 of its 16,000 staff currently based in Britain if the country loses access to the single market, bank CEO Jamie Dimon warned in June."It looks like there will be more job movement than we hoped for," Dimon told Bloomberg TV in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. BOFA Bank of America Corp said in August that its businesses and results could be adversely affected and it may have to incur additional costs if Britain's exit from the European Union limits the ability of its UK entities to conduct business in the bloc. (Compiled by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Bengaluru: With the clamour growing for organising 'Kambala', a traditional annual buffalo race, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said his government was in favour of holding it and asked the Centre to take a favourable stand as it did for jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. "We are in favour of Kambala, we are for Kambala. We pressurise the Union government to take a stand in favour of this (Kambala), similar to the way in which it favoured jallikattu in Tamil Nadu," he told reporters in Bengaluru. To a question on large-scale protests planned by Kambala committees, he said "....they are protesting for Kambala, we are also in favour of Kambala." Spurred by the jallikattu stir in Tamil Nadu, Kambala Committees had met in Mangaluru on Sunday to strategise their agitation, where it was decided to hold a massive protest on 28 January in Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district. Symbolic Kambala, a traditional annual buffalo race in the marshy fields in coastal districts of the state, is also likely to be held as a mark of protest. Karnataka High Court's division bench, headed by Chief Justice S K Mukherjee, in an interim order in November 2016 had stayed holding of Kambala on a petition by PETA challenging it in view of orders passed by the Supreme Court on jallikattu. Kambala Committees have filed an interim application, seeking vacation of the stay. The matter came up on Friday before the division bench of the High Court, which adjourned the case to 30 January. Calling Kambala a folk festival with over a thousand-year history, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said it has an emotional connect with the people. "Ban on Kambala is an after effect, on the basis of the ban on Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu. The matter is coming before the High Court on January 30, I'm hopeful that we will get justice and there will be no need for any agitation..." he said. Hoping that the Centre would take a favourable stand for getting approval for Kampala, he said, "The state government should also approach the Centre, and for no reason should Kambala be stopped..." Support for the folk sport has gained momentum in the social media also. New Delhi: A 30-year-old cab driver was killed after a speeding car rammed into his vehicle near IIT flyover in south Delhi, police said on Monday. The driver of the speeding car, 24-year-old Shoaib Kohli has been arrested, they said. The incident happened on Sunday evening, around 11 pm, when Kohli rammed his vehicle into cab driver Nazrul's car. Injured Nazrul, who is resident of West Bengal and was presently living in Gurgaon, was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre where he was declared brought dead, a senior police official said. The accused had fled from the spot leaving behind his car, that bore a Chandigarh registration number, police said, adding but he was later arrested. Taunting a wife and ridiculing her lack of English speaking skills don't amount to cruelty under the law, says a recent Bombay High Court ruling granting bail to a man charged with the abetment of suicide and showing cruelty to his wife. The Free Press Journal reported the court's observations: "According to the mother of the deceased, when her daughter informed her husband that she was feeling uneasy and unwell after he has asked her to make tea for his mother, he started saying insulting things about her parents. This incident, according to the prosecution, as reflected from the evidence of parents and brother of the deceased triggered her suicide. Prime facie, this discloses the hyper sensitivity of a wife, and an ordinary discord in matrimonial life." This casual attitude of the court towards mental trauma and emotional abuse is quite alarming. Even the Gujarat High Court, in 2015, ruled that mere taunting and rude behaviour by in-laws are mundane and does not amount to cruelty for a woman to file an FIR. This was about a case where the woman complained that her in-laws would hurl abuses at her, Gujarat High Court observed: "Rude and uncultured behaviour as well as perfunctory abuses are mundane matters and would not attract the rigours of section 498A of the IPC. There has to be something more to attract section 498A of the IPC." But, how does one define cruelty? The dictionary says: Behaviour which causes physical or mental harm to another, especially a spouse, whether intentionally or not. And according to Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code: Any willful conduct which is of such nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or Harassment of the woman where such harassment is with view to coercing her or any person related to her meet any unlawful demand for any person related to her to meet such demand. When it comes to describing cruelty, the Indian court system has shown contradictory colours. The Delhi High Court, said lack of respect, faith and understanding towards partner amount to cruelty. In the case of a woman requesting to dissolve her marriage to a CRPF commandant on the grounds of mental cruelty was dismissed the court observed: Couples are expected to "tolerate and accommodate each other's propensities, preferences and habits," PTI reported. While there are instances of the misuse of Domestic Violence Act, stray observations by the high court can undermine the problem faced by many women as far as mental trauma and emotional abuse are concerned. Especially when a wife's asking the husband to live separately from the husband's parents (in-laws) is considered cruelty. In one such case, the apex court in fact held that forcing husband to separate from parents amounts to 'cruelty'. In normal circumstances, a wife is expected to be with the family of the husband after the marriage. She becomes integral to and forms part of the family of the husband and normally without any justifiable strong reason; she would never insist that her husband should get separated from the family and live only with her. If a wife makes an attempt to deviate from the normal practice and normal custom of the society, she must have some justifiable reason for that and in this case, we do not find any justifiable reason, except monetary consideration of the respondent wife. In our opinion, normally, no husband would tolerate this and no son would like to be separated from his old parents and other family members, who are also dependent upon his income. From these judgments and rulings, the court system appears to be viewing matrimony through the strict lens of culture and outdated mores. And these rulings normalise bad and dangerous behaviour. Shouldn't a married woman have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, why should it be 'mundane' to be treated with disrespect? Moreover, take this case, where the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court said that a wife's refusal to have sex with the husband can also amount to cruelty; the court observed: "The refusal on wife's part to cohabit with husband and have a physical relationship with him has surely resulted in causing cruelty to him. There is ample evidence on record to show that he suffered mental cruelty in view of wife's refusal to do household work, cohabit with the husband, and maintain physical relationship with him." But, on the other hand, Delhi High Court upheld the divorce pleas of a businessman who complained of facing daily humiliation from his wife for being overweight and being unable to satisfy her sexual desires. The court said: "The calling of names and hurling of abuses such as 'hathi' (elephant), 'mota hathi' (fat elephant) by the appellant in respect of her husband even if he was overweight, is bound to strike at his self-respect and self-esteem. Obviously, the respondent was sensitive to such taunts, and it is not the appellant's case that the taunts were made jokingly, or out of love and affection, and without malice." Of course these cases need to be looked at in detail, but the trend of dismissing something as common as mistreatment by in-laws as something 'ordinary' sets bad precedent through language. Our nation state is one that has been exalted on democratic systems and the rule of law. While India has battled many challenges from poverty to illiteracy to a lack of public health care and sanitation, our democratic systems have remained robust and our faith in the pillars of our democracy has remained unshakable. Today, this great nation has been held ransom by misguided protesters from Tamil Nadu who are crying foul, three years after the Supreme Court has prohibited Jallikattu. The Jallikattu case has been litigated for over 10 years and the Supreme Court has given a detailed judgment after exhausting every other remedy including regulating Jallikattu. These protesters have ignored the rule of law and due process that is so central to the Indian democracy and seek to subvert and undermine the greatest champion of democratic rights our judiciary. The Jallikattu bulls endure unspeakable cruelty in name of this taming. Bulls are domesticated peaceful animals. They are animals of prey and in a situation of fight or flight they chose to run away from a situation of danger or threat. A bull would not run out of the vaadi vaasal into the Jallikattu arena where there are several men waiting to jump at him. The animal needs to be provoked. The provoking involves biting tails, poking rods into the animal, inserting chillies in the anus and eyes and force feeding alcohol to the animal. The animals run into the arena are sacred and are running out of fear and not pleasure or joy. There are pictures of men holding onto the tail of the bull and trying to stop the animal without even realizing the agony the animal feels. The tail is the extension of the vertebrae and is like pulling the animal by the spine. The first public interest litigation against Jallikattu was filed by A Nagaraja a man who lost his son to the blood sport. He filed a petition in 2006 as his son N Marimuthu was killed during a Jallikattu event. N Marimuthu was an artist who was sitting in a gallery and sketching the entire event. A bull a desperate escape a chasing crowd trampled over the young man who got terribly injured and unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and died. A bereaved father not wanting to see other parents in his position moved the courts seeking a prohibition on the blood sport. The issue was litigated for over ten years and still continues to be before the Supreme Court. While the single bench of the Madras High Court held in A Nagarajas favour and prohibited Jallikattu on appeal the division bench allowed Jallikattu with stringent conditions. This was then challenged and the matter made its way to the Supreme Court. After years of documenting Jallikattu take place with conditions imposed, in 2014, the apex court came to the conclusion that Jallikattu is inherently cruel and must be prohibited. In 2016, the executive passed a notification permitting Jallikattu which was challenged by several NGOs and was stayed. It is essential to note that the petition is still pending before the Supreme Court. There is a judgment of the Supreme Court against Jallikattu. A review against the 2014 judgment has also been dismissed. People interested in promoting Jallikattu have taken every legal recourse possible and have been guided by and have the best legal minds in India appearing for them in court. During the proceedings, articles from The Constitution and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 were argued and studied in depth. The 2014 judgment has been cited by courts the world over and has been exalted as a path changing ruling that has altered the way the world sees its non-human citizens. The sentience of animals has been recognised and for the first time their right to live without fear has taken precedence to a human activity that causes them pain and anguish. After studying, not just the reports of the observers appointed by it, but also reports of other officials, the Supreme Court considered the anatomy of bulls in depth. It then came to the conclusion that bulls do not enjoy running. They are draught and pack animals with barrel shaped bodies not suited for running. They have to be cruelly goaded into running out of the vaadi vaasal where a huge crowd shouting cheering jeering awaits them. The 'sport' cannot be conducted without tormenting them. It is inherently cruel, and therefore, 'regulation' is not possible. The movement for environmental and animal rights began as a human right to a healthy environment or a human right to share this planet with animals so that we may learn from them and enjoy their presence on the planet. The environment and animals always had a secondary right through human beings. Jurisprudence has taken a new turn now. With data showing animal intelligence, their ability to feel emotions like affection and fear, they are now being viewed as sentient beings. Their status in the eyes of the law is changing. Even in the case of animals being killed for food, major changes are on the horizon. The environmental impact of animals used for food is so heavy and with the report of the Food and Agricultural Organization titled Livestocks Long Shadow reliance on meat as a source of protein is reducing. With the vegan movement on the rise and millions being invested by visionaries like Bill Gates into research on in vitro-meat, it wont be long before animals have their own rights and are no longer subservient to humans and part of the human abuse chain be it for food or culture. The Animal Welfare Board of India (a statutory body whose members dutifully reported the cruelty involved in Jallikattu) and every NGO who has dared to speak for animals is under attack. We have been accused of being foreign funded despite it being repeatedly enforced that every advocate who appeared in the case has worked totally pro bono. We have been accused of supporting foreign cattle. When every animal rights NGO in India advocated veganism and has saved animals from going to slaughter. While the protesters maybe extremely interested in the conservation of one type of bull, they are neglecting the thousands of bovines who are overcrowded into trucks and taken for hammer slaughter into Kerala on a daily basis in neglect of their very own Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958. A campaign fearlessly worked on by most of Indias NGOs who risk their lives rescuing the animals on a daily basis. The fact is the animal rights movement is always under attack by one lobby or another. Animals dont vote and cant speak and no matter how harsh the criticism or allegations if those who have been given the gift of compassion keep quiet and dont speak for animals then there are dark days ahead for humanity. The Makkal Movement is being hailed a peoples movement which has attained victory and made the political structure accountable. When one looks at the large issues facing India how I wish these 20,000 people had come out to fight black money or for farmers rights it is essential to note that 140 formers have committed suicide in Tamil Nadu and no protestor is talking about that. It is truly sad that those spearheading the Makkal Movement have not realized that they are seeking to undermine the greatest guardian of our democratic rights the Supreme Court. At each step overwhelming evidence has been shown that Jalikattu cannot take place without exposing the animals to extreme cruelty. The Makkal Movement is reveling in a tradition which causes animals tremendous cruelty and pain. While one cannot help but laud the fact that Indian citizens have come out to have their voice heard it is tragic that rather than coming out against serious social evils facing India they have been misguided and have come out against our democratic process and our weakest citizens the animals. The movement is being seen as Gandhian when the father of the nation was one of the greatest champions of animal rights and said that the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. By Gandhijis definition of greatness, India is not fairing very well today. The author is an advocate and legal advisor to People for Animals Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday directed Tamil Nadu DGP to ensure safety of the public and pro-jallikattu protesters holding their stir peacefully even as the state government claimed that anti-social elements have infiltrated the students protests in the last few days. Till 19 January, it was a protest by students, but after that anti-social elements had infiltrated them, state Advocate General R Muthukumarasamy said, quoting intelligence reports. He also told the court that 25 vehicles in the Ice House police station in the city vicinity were burnt and as many as 24 police personnel injured in stone pelting and hospitalised. Two sub-inspectors and four constables were severely injured, he said. The submissions were made by the AG when petitions by two of the protesters seeking a direction to the police not to harass them came up before the court. In his oral orders, Justice R Mahadevan directed the state DGP to ensure safety of public and pro-jallikattu protesters conducting their stir 'peacefully'. However, he said police can take action if the protesters violated the law or in the event of any untoward incident. The petitions came up for hearing hours after the police crackdown at Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation. Posing questions such as why police resorted to baton charge, the judge directed the AG to instruct the DGP to ensure safety of public and protesters. The judge also directed senior advocate R Sankarasubbu, who appeared for the petitioners, to get instructions from the protesters as to how long they will continue their agitation in the wake of the government passing an ordinance for conduct of jallikattu. In their petitions, G Pavendhan and Senthil Kumar sought a direction to the police not to harass the protesters. Sankarasubbu claimed that police overnight unleashed force on the protesters who were peacefully protesting since 15 January last. He alleged some of the protesters 'collapsed' in the baton charge and this was not an isolated incident. "We are only students. We may have concluded (the protest) after discussing with the legal fraternity about the ordinance passed. But the government did not have patience," he said. Countering the charges, the AG, who traced the sequence of events leading to the promulgation of the ordinance, submitted that a number of protesting students had withdrawn their stir in view of the promulgation of the ordinance. He also said the petitions had been filed under Section 482 of CrPC and not PILs. The government was also supporting the cause of the protesters. At 5.30 am on Monday, police made a request to the remaining agitators to leave the place and also showed them a copy of the ordinance. However, they refused to disperse and some 'unruly' among them started pelting stones, the AG said. At this, the judge asked the petitioner's counsel how long they would continue the protest. "Who is the regulator? Get instructions, public safety is first." He also said the general public should be given safety. "The public safety comes first. If the protesters violate law it is for the police to take action." Later, the judge adjourned the matter to Tuesday. Some time later, senior counsel R Gandhi and advocate V Suresh made a mention before first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar that the police have baton charged the protesters and the whole city was paralysed. However, the judges said the single judge was seized of the matter. "We will see tomorrow." WHY DONT YOU READ THESE? Chennai/Coimbatore: In a crackdown, police on Monday started evicting scores of pro-jallikattu demonstrators from protest venues across the state, especially from the Marina Beach, epicentre of the stir for the past one week, amid reports of stone-pelting and lathicharge at a few places. At the Marina, the police action began early in the morning with roads to the beach being cordoned off and police personnel being deployed in large numbers. Some protesters lined up at the seashore forming a human chain and a group entered the water refusing to heed police requests to disperse. Some others staged a sit-in on the sands while others regrouped in nearby areas, shouting slogans and allegedly throwing stones on policemen. Police burst teargas shells and reportedly lathicharged to chase away a section of protesters who had regrouped at Triplicane near Marina Beach and allegedly started throwing stones at police personnel. The protesters had been demonstrating for the past one week demanding lifting of the ban on jallikattu. Despite promulgation of an ordinance on Saturday for conducting the bull-taming sport, they had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure that the sport is held annually without any hindrance. TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing protesters from the beach. At Coimbatore, police forcibly evicted the protesters from VOC Park Grounds here where they were agitating for the last six days. As the appeal made by senior officials to clear the grounds failed, police in large numbers started to bodily lift the protesters and shift them out of the venue. Women police personnel were seen taking women agitators, some elderly and some with babies in their arms, out of the grounds, despite them appealing with folded hands not to disturb the peaceful agitation. Even as some protesters were seen leaving the venue voluntarily, police removed nearly 300 protesters from there, police said. Protesting against the police action, some youths formed a human chain on the main Avanashi chain and police made a 'mild' cane charge to disperse them, police said. A section of protesters were raising slogans in support of their demand for a 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 people, they said. Police said they had cleared the ground, venue for the Republic Day function, and it is under control of the district administration and police. Protests are reportedly continuing in Madurai with demonstrators allegedly throwing stones at police in Alanganallur even as officials are trying to persuade the agitators to disperse. Police forcibly removed protesters from protest venues at Alanganallur, famous for jallikattu events, when they refused to heed to their repeated requests to disperse. According to Alanganallur police, 20 people, many of them policemen, were injured in stone-pelting by protesters. Roads near the protest venue was strewn with stones, glass pieces and logs. Alanganallur village is now under the control of the police, they added. Police said protesters at Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Erode had dispersed. Earlier, the Alanganallur village committee, which was satisfied with the ordinance, had agreed to hold jallikattu on February 1 and thanked those who participated in the agitation in favour of the bull-taming sport. Though the decision of the local committee was made through public announcement system, some miscreants at the agitation venue refused to disperse and started pelting stones, police said. There was a scuffle between police and some youths in which 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. Police resorted to lathicharge at two places in Coimbatore to disperse protesters who allegedly indulged in stone pelting against the security force. A group of students of a private engineering college squatted on the airport road to protest eviction from VOC Park Grounds and seeking a permanent solution to the jallikkattu issue. Police resorted to mild lathicharge after they refused to disperse, police said. Three police personnel, including a woman, were injured when they started pelting stones. The injured have been admitted to the government hospital, they said. Meanwhile, some 200 people sat on dharna near the Central Bus stand in Gandhipuram to protest police action. Police managed to chase them away. According to police, about 300 persons, including students, who were removed from VOC Park grounds during the crackdown and lodged at a marriage hall, refused to have lunch and announced their decision to observe a fast, police said. The second edition of the Raisina Dialogue (held in New Delhi from 17 to 19 January) tackled the theme of The New Normal: Multilateralism with Multipolarity. And as you would undoubtedly expect at a conference in India, organised and hosted by an Indian think-tank in association with a department of the Indian government, the topic of discussion frequently hovered around whether or not we truly live in a multipolar world and the idea of India as one of those poles. And over the course of two-and-a-half days of intense in some cases, rivetting dialogue, discussion and debate, a trinity of questions emerged: Is India capable of being a pole? Does India deserve to be a pole? Is India ready to be a pole? Lets start with the concept of poles, and more to the point, what is one of those? A pole, as per the International Relations description, is a single country or collection of countries where there is a predominant bloc leader and several other countries closely allied to the bloc leader. By that logic, a multipolar world is one with multiple bloc leaders with other countries closely allied to them. The world we inhabit comprises numerous strong economically and militarily countries, but is that enough to say we live in a multipolar world? Its debatable. One school of thought suggests that although in remission, the US remains the only true pole in this still unipolar world. Another states that while the US remains the only superpower in the world, a resurgent Russia, a rising China, a Japan moving out of an era marked by the pacifist interpretation of its Constitution, and India (with its young population, growing economy and assertive government) could feasibly be considered poles in a swiftly-changing geopolitical matrix. And now, with the US, under President Donald Trump, appearing to be, as former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper put it, reversing that cornerstone of US foreign policy the idea that America has an overarching responsibility for global affairs, there are voids opening up across the world for countries including Russia, China, Japan and India to occupy. The world is moving into uncharted space, as Harper added. For the past eight decades or the post-Second World War order, the world has always had one or two global superpowers. For the time being, it seems almost unimaginable that there will be any global scenario that is not a multipolar one. And to avoid conflict all around, it is likely that multilateral cooperation in a variety of areas will be needed. So where does all this leave India? Is India capable of being a pole? Over the course of the Raisina Dialogue, several distinguished speakers ranging from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Admiral Harry B Harris, the commander of the US Pacific Command, spoke glowingly of India vis-a-vis regional leadership. We see ourselves both as a source of stability and a key contributor to both growth and security in the region, said Jaishankar on the second day of the conference. In terms of growth and economic prowess, certainly, India is a regional powerhouse and when it comes to military might and with the exception of number of nukes in its possession when compared with Pakistans arsenal it is also the regional leader. When it comes to being a key contributor to growth in the region, India has certainly been at the forefront of such regional organisations as Bimstec and the new BBIN grouping that are essentially in place to promote economic development. To address the elephant in the room, Saarc, as Jaishankar pointed out, has been made ineffective due to the insecurity of one member. And so, rather than sitting on its hands, New Delhi has been attempting to forge regional relationships through other groupings. And in the process, as Modi noted in his speech to inaugurate the conference, India has helped Afghanistan with reconstructing its institutions and training for its citizens; Bangladesh through initiatives that had been held back by a lack of convergence and political understanding so far; Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives through energy and connectivity projects. Onto the topic of security, India has long harboured ambitions of being a net security provider something that was articulated in October 2015, as part of the Indian Navys strategy document titled Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy or simply, IMSS-2015. Considering the growing profile and capabilities of the Indian Navy, the document notes its contributions as a net security provider in the maritime neighbourhood, including deployments for anti-piracy, maritime security, NEO (non-combatant evacuation operations) and HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) operations. The document adds: The term net security describes the state of actual security available in an area, upon balancing prevailing threats, inherent risks and rising challenges in a maritime environment, against the ability to monitor, contain and counter all of these. With an increasing number of naval exercises to improve cooperation with the navies of other countries, participation in HADR operations and anti-piracy operations, India has been moving in the right direction. In summation, having demonstrated its regional leadership, the country certainly ticks the box when it comes to its capability of becoming one of the poles in a multipolar world. Does India deserve to be a pole? In recent times, India has rarely shied away from projecting its ambitions of growing from a regional to a global power. And if military might was the only metric on which to ascertain whether a country deserves to be a pole, Pakistan would be right up there among the contenders. However, rather than use it to secure the region, Islamabad has primarily (and perhaps exclusively) used this might to antagonise and threaten India. As Raisina Dialogue panelist and outspoken Pakistan-watcher C Christine Fair has noted in the past, even Operation Zarb-e-Azb Pakistan's crackdown on the Taliban in North Waziristan has been an eyewash. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on where you stand, there are a few more parameters. Security and the economic aspect are certainly important elements, but to be a pole, it is important that the country is seen as stable, responsible and respectful of international law. A variety of speakers over the course of the Raisina Dialogue described India as a source of international stability. Just as this was a theme that popped up frequently for the duration of the Raisina Dialogue, it is also a theme that will pop up again in a later section of this piece. And in that capacity, India has been a voice of restraint in global fora. Whether it was Russia in Crimea or the expanding Chinese presence in the South China Sea, India has encouraged stakeholders to resolve their differences through dialogue. And when we discuss being a source of stability, Indias contribution to UN peacekeeping operations essentially to lend stability in troubled parts of the world cannot be understated, with the country having contributed the largest number of troops. When it comes to showing responsibility on the international stage, there are plenty of examples out there. But its imperative to look at one in particular. Referred to in some circles as a de facto nuclear power as opposed to those nuclear powers that are signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty India has never shown any sign of sharing the technology, nor wavered from its no first use policy. On a side note, the idea of a de facto nuclear power is frankly strange, since a country either possesses nuclear weapons or does not; there is no grey area. New Delhis steadfast refusal to budge from its policy, despite the sort of instigation it has faced from Islamabad, is testament to Indias responsibility. And finally, respect for international law. In July 2014, Bangladesh won a longstanding maritime dispute against India, with a UN tribunal awarding Dhaka nearly 80 percent of the disputed 25,602 square kilometres of the Bay of Bengal. India respected the fact that the judgment was binding and not up for appeal and mobilised to accommodate the contents of the tribunals ruling. As a counter-example, compare this with what happened two years later when the Philippines won a case relating to the South China Sea at the UN tribunal against China. In this scenario, Beijing flatly refused to accept the judgment. The above reasons are all buttressed by the fact that four of the five permanent members it seems somewhat redundant to name the outlier of the UN Security Council have at one time or another voiced support for Indias inclusion in an expanded permanent membership of the UNSC. Take all these together and what you are left with is a country that very much deserves to be a pole in a multipolar world. Is India ready to be a pole? Indias transformation is not separated from its external context, said Modi during his speech, adding, Our economic growth; the welfare of our farmers; the employment opportunities for our youth; our access to capital, technology, markets and resources; and, security of our nation all of them are deeply impacted by developments in the world. But, the reverse is also true. To take the concept a little further, India must have stability and security at home to project a sense of stability and security internationally. Unfortunately, Indias progress on certain key indicators has been less than satisfactory. In terms of food security, a most damning statistic is the one that shows that the country has a worse rate of children suffering from malnutrition than even North Korea and a number of Sub-Saharan African countries. The Indian education sector has a long way to go before it can be consistently considered to be high-quality. The gap in standard of living between the wealthy and the impoverished is nowhere close to decreasing. And the fact is that in a city like Mumbai, a large percentage of its 20 million (as per the 2011 Census) residents live in terrible conditions. That the city (and indeed, state) would rather spend crores on a statue in the Arabian Sea than on improving living conditions shows that we are yet to get our priorities in place. While India has a solid track record of conducting free and fair elections, there is no empirical evidence to show that corruption is on the decline. When it comes to safety of women, the less said, the better. And as per the Global Trends report prepared by the US National Intelligence Council titled Paradox of Progress, the world will look to see how India tames its Hindu nationalist impulses. It adds, Indias largest political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, increasingly is leading the government to incorporate Hindutva into policy, sparking increased tension in the current sizable Muslim minority as well as with Muslim-majority Pakistan and Bangladesh. So internally, theres some room for improvement. But how about on the external front? Indias foreign policy has been a success story for the BJP government that took office in 2014, and has been doing well to cultivate, rebuild and reinforce bilateral and multilateral relations where possible. Unfortunately, far too much of Indias foreign policy focus as well as the attention of its strategic community has been on Pakistan. And when it comes to China, India, as former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd stated, often views bilateral relations through the prism of what is happening in Pakistan. This has two implications. The first is that India is allowing the famed 'death by a thousand cuts' strategy to manifest itself, not simply through attacks, but through the capture of its foreign policy bandwidth. The second is that China is able to manouevre effortlessly through getting what it wants in South Asia by unleashing Pakistan on India when required. And so alongside addressing internal issues and factors leading to instability, high on India's priority list should be a reduction in the focus on Pakistan in terms of foreign policy which will not only allow India to spend more time and effort on working with cooperative partners, but will also send out a firm message to Islamabad. Doing so will help India become a global leader, and not just remain a regional one. But, and to return to the start of the piece, is India ready to become a pole? It's hard to say. Over two-and-a-half days, this question remained unanswered. And with so much uncertainty ahead, perhaps it is safest to say that we will have a definitive answer by the time the next edition of the Raisina Dialogue rolls around. Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that Bose was "a great intellectual who always thought about the interests and well being of the marginalised sections of society". I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 Netaji Bose was a great intellectual who always thought about the interests & wellbeing of the marginalised sections of society. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 Honoured that our Government got the opportunity to declassify files relating to Netaji Bose & fulfil a popular demand pending for decades. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 Files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose are available on https://t.co/IftvV0e2V2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Parliament today. pic.twitter.com/OfwIKoiQUF ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 In June 2016, the Central government had released another batch of declassified files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on portal www.netajipapers.gov.in. The files included report of Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry on the alleged disappearance of Bose and Action Taken Report of 2006. The new batch of files consisted among others files containing photographs of interior view of Renkoji Temple showing how Netaji's ashes are kept, Russia Parliament question on Netaji and letter from Amiya Nath Bose to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru regarding conversion of Netaji's house into National museum and disposal of properties of Indian National army. The government had earlier released four files including on 27 May from the Prime Ministers Office, from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and also from the Ministry of External Affairs pertaining to the period 1968 to 2008. Before that, the government had released three batches of files pertaining to Bose in March and April this year. The first lot of 100 files relating to Bose were put in the public domain by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 January last year, on the occasion of the 119th birth anniversary of Netaji. With inputs from PTI Srinagar: The night temperature across Kashmir division, except Qazigund, went down as the weather remained dry, leading to opening of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway a day after snowfall led to its closure. The national highway has been opened for one-way traffic on Monday, an official of the Traffic department said, adding however, only light motor vehicles were allowed to ply. He said only one-way traffic from Jammu towards Srinagar, has been allowed on the nearly 300 km long arterial road, the only all-weather road-link connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country. The highway was closed on Sunday following snowfall which had rendered the road slippery. Meanwhile, the weather stayed mostly dry across the Valley last night but the Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast rains or snow over five days from Monday. It has warned of moderate to heavy snowfall from Tuesday till Thursday and the forecast has prompted the divisional administration to issue directions for taking precautionary measures. The night temperature across the Valley, except Qazigund town, dipped last night with Srinagar registering a drop of nearly three degrees from the previous night's low of minus 1.3 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, a MeT official said. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, in south registered a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, up from minus 4.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The official said the famous health resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, registered a low of minus 7.2 degrees, up from the previous night's minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, the star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during winter, recorded a low of minus 8.6 degrees, against minus 6.0 degrees Celsius on Sunday. He said the resort was the coldest recorded place in the Valley. Kupwara, in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, while the mercury in Kokernag town in south Kashmir dipped two degrees from the yesterday's low of minus 4.4 degrees to settle at a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, he said. Leh town of Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place in the state as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 8.7 degrees Celsius, the official said. Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably. The Valley has already experienced heavy snowfall twice during this period so far, first one of January 6 and then on January 16, throwing life out of gear on both the occasions. 'Chillai-Kalan', which, began on December 21 last year, ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold). Jaipur: Bangladeshi writer and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen on Monday batted for Uniform Civil Code, saying that the measure was "urgently" needed to empower people with their rights. In an impromptu session at the Jaipur Literature Festival here, the author who has been living in exile since 1994 after facing the ire of fundamentalists, said the Islamic society needed to be more tolerant towards criticism to make progress. "It is necessary for Islamic society to be tolerant and accept criticism without which they cannot progress. Uniform Civil Code is urgently required for empowering people with human rights," Taslima said. The writer, who was in conversation with Salil Tripathi, a former board member of English PEN, slammed religious fanatics saying she did not believe in terms like "nationalism" or "religious fundamentalism". "I don't believe in nationalism, religious fundamentalism. I believe in one world. I believe in rights, freedom, humanism and rationalism. Until Islam accepts criticism, no Islamic country can be considered secular. Whenever I criticise, people want to kill me." Citing the treatment meted out to her by the West Bengal government, that issued a fatwa against her in 2007, she questioned why secular writers were forced to leave the country or murdered. "Why are secular writers being forced to leave the country or murdered, while religious fanatics are sheltered. I was attacked in Kolkata. Fatwa was issued against me," she said. "Secularism doesn't mean to save and shelter such people just to cash in on Muslim votes. Hindu and Muslim fanatics have equally attacked me, but they were never punished," she said. Noting that "true secularism" was not being practised, she said both the right to believe in a religion and not to believe in one must be respected by the state. "People do not practice true secularism. Everyone has a right to believe in their religion and I respect it. The problem is that the state and the society respect the right to believe in a religion, but not the right to not believe in one. The state must not be religious. All laws must be based on equality and justice," she said. She also said that all religions were "against women" and only education can help mitigate the "rising intolerance". "Be it any religion, they are always against women. I believe in absolute freedom of expression. To curb rising intolerance in society and atrocities on women, education can play a major role. "When I talk about women rights, I criticise religions that do not have equal rights for women. Hindu women in Bangladesh do not get the freedom they have in India. What kind of democracy is it?" she said. Hyderabad: Stressing that the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments are "sensitive" towards the culture and ethos of the state, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, on Monday, appealed to those agitating on the Jallikattu issue to give up their stir as steps have been taken to address their concerns. Taking exception to the attack on the NDA government over the issue, he alleged that the bull-taming sport suffered setbacks during the previous UPA rule. "I appeal them to give up their agitation. The Centre and the state, we are sensitive to the ethos. Steps have been taken. The matter is being heard in the Supreme Court," Naidu told reporters here on the sidelines of a meeting of Geospatial World Forum. Asserting that the Centre and state governments are alive to the situation, he urged the protesters to call off their stir. "What else can be done... That will be kept in mind. The matter should rest there," he said. Referring to the criticism of NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by some opposition parties on the issue, he wondered what mistake was committed by the NDA regime. If at all there was any mistake in the issue, the Congress and DMK, who were coalition partners during the UPA government, should take the primary responsibility, he said. Recalling the sequence of events vis-a-vis Jallikattu, Naidu said Modi was not the prime minister in 2006 when the sport was banned. The use of bulls was banned during the UPA rule when Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was Environment minister in 2011, he said. Jallikattu and bullock-cart races were allowed in 2016 during the present NDA government, Naidu said. In an apparent reference to the criticism of the RSS over the quota issue by Congress and the Left, Naidu said the opposition parties do not have the "moral right to take the name of RSS". Asserting that RSS' ideology is inclusive, he alleged that Congress and the Left indulged in vote-bank politics. "Communists are the most divisive forces... They believe in class confrontation. We believe in social harmony," he said. Alleging that the Congress and Left are "trying to segregate people," he said the Left ideology is losing relevance in the present day world. Manmohan Vaidya, RSS publicity chief, had on 20 January kicked up a row with remarks favouring a review of the reservation policy, saying even the architect of the Constitution B R Ambedkar had not favoured its continuance in perpetuity. Taking exception to the criticism of NDA government over its economic policies amid reports that 58 per cent wealth is concentrated in the hands of one per cent, he asked what is the responsibility of Congress that ruled the country for several decades. "Your (Congress) politics has been words for poor and deeds for rich," he said. Claiming that poor people are happy with demonetisation, the Union Minister stressed that the note ban campaign would increase revenue to the government and promote transparency. Hailing the initiatives of the Modi government, he said a change of mindset is taking place in the country. The coming Union Budget would herald more benefits to the common people, he said. "BJP would win almost all states (where elections are going to be held). The poor think Modi is a messiah," he said. BJP would do well in Uttar Pradesh inspite of the alliance of Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Congress, he said. "Though new ones are taken on board the cycle (SP's poll symbol) by leaving out father, BJP would win," he said. Vasco (Goa): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident of winning the Uttar Pradesh assembly election with a two-third majority, party President Amit Shah said on Monday. He also claimed that the "family drama" in that state's ruling Yadav family would not distract voters from the lawlessness and scam-tainted tenure of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Speaking at a rally in Vasco in south Goa, 35 km from Panaji, Shah also said the BJP would comfortably win majorities in all the five poll-bound states: Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur. "I want to tell Akhilesh that because of the family drama, grabbing of land, goonda raj, mafia raj and corruption cannot be hidden. The BJP will win in UP with a two-third majority." He said Uttar Pradesh was plagued by scams and poor governance. "Law and order has crumbled, lands of the poor are being snatched, women are not safe, there is no infrastructure, farmers are upset, they are not getting their dues," he said. Mumbai: Amid uncertainties over a pre-poll pact with the BJP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Monday released his party's manifesto for the BMC elections, even as he maintained that seat-sharing talks with the ally are still on. Thackeray, flanked by a number of party MPs and MLAs, said the manifesto was being released independently by the party as today was the birth anniversary of Sena founder Bal Thackeray. "January 23 is a very important day for Shiv Sainiks and we continue to be committed to the people of Mumbai on this day. Hence, (we) decided to release our manifesto today," he said. "People are surprised and their eyes are left wide open when they see the budget of the Mumbai civic body and they ask where does all this money go. But if they study the subject in detail, they will find that BMC can only spend Rs 29,000 per person in Mumbai," Thackeray said addressing reporters in Mumbai. The Sena chief said if at all an alliance with BJP for the BMC (Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation) polls materialises, "good suggestions" by the ally will also be incorporated in the manifesto. He, however, refused to divulge details on the parleys being held by the two parties. "Talks are still on. As and when we come to a conclusion, I will have to announce it anyway," he said. Among sops in the manifesto, Sena has promised to open e-learning centres for students and broaden the scope of teaching to meet demands in the current age. The party also offered to give preference in jobs in the BMC to those educated in civic-run schools. The manifesto, read out by Arvind Sawant,MP, also revealed the party's plans in sectors like tourism, health, environment, 24X7 water supply, free travel in BEST buses to students in school uniforms, besides promises in areas like sanitation and treatment of waste water. BMC goes to polls on 21 February. Protracted negotiations between the two parties have failed to clinch a deal with both sides claiming larger number of seats than each is willing to concede. While BJP has staked claim for over 100 seats in the 227-member council, the Sena appears to be in no mood to yield to the ally's demands in its prime political space. A senior BJP leader had virtually ruled out yesterday the possibility of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis resuming seat-sharing talks with Thackeray. Arvind Kejriwal brings a distinct flavour to political speeches. He does not beat around the bush and pulls no punches while going at political rivals. He raises uncomfortable points with ease and for most part what he says appear from the heart. He crosses that red line far too often; unusual for a politician. But then, this is what endears him to his audience. Take the blunt-speak out, he is nothing. Then whenever was there an election speech without attack on opponents? From allegation of corruption to character assassination to charges of electoral malpractice political leaders resort to all while trying to show competitors as inferior. It may not qualify as fair play but that is how election campaigning goes in the country. Red lines are rarely respected. So why blame the AAP founder alone? Thus the Election Commissions censure of Kejriwal for his speech in Goa is a bit harsh. Addressing a rally at Benaulim, he had asked the voters not to refuse the money if offered by the BJP or the Congress, but they should cast their ballot in favour of the Aam Aadmi Party. Given the depths to which the discourse dips during electoral campaigns this should be considered pretty innocuous. However, the commission found him violating the election Model Code of Conduct. It held that the speech amounted to promoting bribery, an electoral offence. The commission in its order added: "You may also note that in case of similar violation of MCC in future, the Commission shall take stern action against you and your party, using all powers available to it including action under Para 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968." Kejriwal has said he would challenge the order in court. Notwithstanding what the court decides the fact remains that it is practically difficult to ensure that all election speeches remain in the limits of decorum. Unless a speech is too divisive or too vulgar or too inflammatory it should be allowed. The Supreme Courts recent decision forbidding candidates to seek votes in the name of religion, caste, creed and community is problematic for the similar reason. Seasoned leaders rarely make direct references to these in their public utterances. But their affinity to specific social groups is hardly unknown. The Election Commissions move is likely to take the character out of Kejriwals speeches and render them bland. Nobody needs to shed tears for him, but for the sake of fairness the utterances of all other leaders must be strictly monitored too. The model code of conduct must not be a barrier to free speech. Theres a gap between free speech and loose talk. Both are acceptable, but when loose talk becomes potentially dangerous to people, not necessarily to political players, it should be a matter of concern. The commission needs to assert itself here. Kejriwals statement on bribes does not come in the category of dangerous. Kejriwals attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the commissions order is a bit confounding though. He asked whether the election authority was taking orders from the prime ministers office. In an interview with The Times of India, he accused the former of waiting for Modis speech in Lucknow to announce dates for elections. He questioned the independence of the commission and alleged that all institutions were under threat from the current government. Knowing his penchant for attacking Modi even on the slightest of pretexts, this fulmination does not surprise. He has done it so many times so far that it appears more compulsive obsessive disorder than serious business. It could be unfair on the prime minister but then Kejriwal gets his share of brickbats too, particularly from the formers party. His attacks being political in nature should be left to the BJP to handle in the political way. If the party choses the legal option, like it has done earlier, it can go for it too. Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's son, Surajkumar, 29, who is fighting the state assembly elections from the Khangabok constituency, plans to stress on modern technology and digitisation in the northeastern state if elected. Surajkumar, the Chief Minister's only son, is set to be the youngest candidate in Manipur's history to fight the state assembly elections. Surajkumar's mother Okram Landhoni, who has been the MLA from Khangabok for two consecutive terms, announced her retirement from electoral politics, to make way for her son. The block Congress recently made an announcement on Surjakumar's candidature. Landhoni said she would continue serving the people as a social activist. There will be a multi-cornered contest in this constituency that has about 31,000 voters. Surajkumar, who did his schooling in Manipur and some other states, went to London where he graduated in Economics in 2008. He worked there for a while before returning home to help his parents in their election campaign for the 2012 polls. Surajkumar told IANS: "I had never dreamed of joining politics. I had planned to do business. However, I silently decided to do something for the people. My first direct contact with the suffering people was when villagers of the Khangabok constituency reeled under two devastating floods." Earlier, he had planned to set up some residential schools so that the children are not denied classes. "Manipur is notorious for general strikes, blockades and other forms of obstructions and the students are denied classes for nearly five months each year." A prominent national level polo player, Surajkumar said, "Global warming and rampant deforestation are serious problems. Over 100 like-minded persons have formed the Green Revolution Society, Manipur, which has planted about 200,000 saplings." Surajkumar, who has widely travelled abroad, has observed how basic amenities are not lacking in most countries. "The Congress government has ensured glut power supply and there is no reason why there should be paucity of potable water in Manipur. We have the Loktak, the largest lake in eastern India, and as such the people should not face a drought-like situation," he said. He also said that the Manipuris are hard-working and innovative and they could forge ahead with little guidance and assistance. He admits being a chip off the old block. Surajkumar plans to move the state forward through modern technology and digitisation. "Of course, the flagship programmes shall remain there," he added. His mother, Landhoni, who has been the MLA for two consecutive terms, is happy that her son will take charge. She plans to take up social service for the poor. "My doors are kept open and, most importantly, I will be able to spend time with my grandson and look after the home," Laldhoni told IANS. His father, who was first elected in 1985, has been Chief Minister for three consecutive terms. He appears only too happy to hand over the baton to his son. Surajkumar said: "I have closely watched the style of working of my father. If given a chance I shall keep his vision alive." Manipur goes to the polls in two phases 4 and 8 March for its 60 seats. With the deadlock between the Shiv Sena and BJP over the seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls shows no sign of being solved, it appears Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is the man holding the key. According to sources, he will break the deadlock and bring both parties' karyakartas on board for a Sena-BJP alliance. While pressure tactics are being employed by both sides, it is believed that the chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will sort out the terms and announce their alliance before the end of the week. Uddhav has repeatedly stated that a final decision will be taken after the discussion with Fadnavis. "I havent received any proposal from BJP, but we are positive about the alliance." "There have been two meetings between senior leaders of both parties, but so far, there has been no outcome. Later, Fadnavis called Uddhav, but this discussion was also unsuccessful. But now, the chief minister is taking a lead role in negotiations and I'm confident he will take the smart decision and announce a tie-up with the Sena soon," said a senior BJP office-bearer. In the 2012 BMC election, the Sena contested 158 seats and the BJP 69 seats of the 227 in the BMC. In 2012, the was an alliance between the Shiv Sena, BJP and Ramdas Aathwales Republican Party of India (RPI). And so, the Sena gave the RPI 20 seats, while the BJP handed over nine from its quota. The results of the election gave 78 seats to the Sena, 31 to the BJP and a solitary seat to the RPI. Speaking to Firstpost, a senior Sena leader who is part of the dialogue with the BJP, said that in the first overture, the BJP was offered the same number of seats it contested in 2012. "They think that their strength has increased, but we offered them the same 60 seats they contested in 2012. We know that everything won't happen exactly as per our demand. So we are also in an adjustable mode. We are not stuck to any figures," he said. "We also know that the BJP demand of 114 seats is simply a tactic to put pressure on us. Even they know that 114 is not a feasible number. But the dialogue is ongoing on," said Sena MLC Anil Parab. However from the BJP's side, those who are participating in the dialogue told Firstpost that in 2014 (Assembly elections) there were clear-cut directions from the Centre that the party would go it alone. But this time, the Central leadership has insisted that the party contest the election in alliance with the Sena. At a recent party meeting in Thane, Fadnavis said that the difference (in terms of the likelihood of seats they will win) between the BJP and Congress is not very much. "So in order to stop the Congress in the state, an alliance with the Sena is a must. But the alliance must function on the basis of transparency and development work. So to avoid dividing votes, the chief minister is still positive about an alliance with the Sena. Fadnavis and Uddahv have a good equation and neither leader is openly criticising the other. So on the 90th birth anniversary of late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, Fadnavis will talk to Uddhav, said a close aid of the chief minister, adding that within 100 hours, the Sena chief and chief minister will turn all negativity between their parties into positivity. Meanwhile, the Opposition parties (Congress and NCP) have shown a desire to join hands across the state. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has openly said that if a tie-up is to take place, it will happen all over the state, in order to effectively fight the Sena and BJP. Former chief minister and Congress state president Ashok Chavan also indicated that his party was ready to partner with the NCP to stop the BJP in the state. And if a Congress-NCP alliance works out, it will make life very difficult for a BJP and Sena going it alone. What's interesting is that the results of the BMC election will be out of 23 February. The BJP top brass' biggest fear is that that results of the BMC election effect the party's prospects in the three phases of the Uttar Pradesh election that will remain. In the winter of 1989, Mulayam Singh Yadav thoroughly vanquished Congress in Uttar Pradesh and pushed the then ruling party into oblivion. Mulayam's big bang arrival, along with the rise of Kanshiram-Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), meant that Congress sank into political insignificance in the critical Hindi heartland state. Mandal-Kamandal politics of the late 1980s and early 1990s had changed the political landscape of north India, UP in particular. Congress' traditional social support base, Muslims, Dalits and Brahmins split three ways Muslims shifted their political allegiance to Mulayam's Samajwadi Party, Dalits to Kanshiram-Mayawati's BSP and Brahmins to the BJP, while the Congress got marginalised. Twenty seven years later, Akhilesh Yadav pushed his father Mulayam to the margins in his very own Samajwadi Party and embraced the Congress as a significant alliance partner. By giving 105 seats to Congress, much beyond its perceived electoral strength, Akhilesh not only negated Mulayam's politics of keeping Congress on the margins in the state, but also gave the party an ideal launchpad on a platter to bounce back. If the Congress had contested on its own, the party's prospects would have been doomed. An alliance with the Samajwadi Party would ensure that it remains in contention, even if as a pillion and be a talking point in UP and outside. The Congress will surely gain out of this alliance but how much the Samajwadi Party will gain out of this alliance is difficult to assess for now. The Samajwadi's rank and file is certainly not very happy with this deal, not in the areas where the party is going to give its seat to Congress. "By entering into an alliance with the Congress, Akhilesh has finished the party in several districts. In 105 constituencies, from which the Congress will contest, the Samajwadi workers will now be expected to get out and work for a party against which we have fought all along. Mulayam Singh Yadav had finished Congress and never allowed it to gain ground, Akhilesh has done just the reverse. More so, the number of seats given to Congress is totally disproportionate to their strength. We are not sure why he did so," a Samajwadi Party leader said. The root cause of the anguish of the SP leaders is a 1996 poll analysis when the BSP had aligned with Congress. In the undivided UP, the BSP fought on 296 seats and had given 126 seats to Congress. The Congress won 33 seats and polled 20.13 percent votes in the seats it contested, while the BSP won 67 seats and polled 27.73 percent votes in the seats it contested. Since then, Mawayati has not aligned with the Congress. This year too, she rejected all overtures from Congress. The BSP chief and several others believe that while the BSP cadre transferred its vote to Congress, the Congress could not get its votes transferred to the BSP. The other argument, which some aggrieved Samajwadis are making, is that the Muslims had deserted Congress in the wake of the Ram temple movement and demolition of the Babri Mosque. They came out strongly in support of Mulayam because he stood as a saviour to their cause during the Ram temple movement. Now, there is a situation where the party responsible for the demolition of Babri Mosque and the one (SP) who solidly stood against it that have joined hands. Similarly for Muslims in eastern UP, sentiments around the Batla House encounter is very strong. The Batla House encounter in New Delhi took place in September 2008, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power and the Delhi police, involved in the encounter, reported to the Union Home Ministry. The two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists killed and two arrested in the incident were from Azamgarh. In the run up to the 2002 Assembly election, Rahul Gandhi was jeered at in Shibli College, Azamgarh. The BSP's could stand to gain if the Muslims are not impressed by the secularist hype around SP-Congress alliance. Akhilesh has joined hands with Rahul when Congress party was facing the worst prospects. Since the second half of 2013, Congress has lost all the elections it fought states, parliamentary and even municipal. But the Congress bargained hard for a dignified three digit seat-sharing agreement in the alliance. The stigma of corruption still looms large over Congress. Will that hurt Akhilesh's prospects? There have been charges of rampant corruption during SP's five-year regime in UP but now Akhilesh is desperately attempting to go for an image makeover. The BSP has already decided to make Congress' 'Coalgate' and Tulsi Prajapati (minister in Akhilesh government) mining scam as one of main campaign points against SP. The BJP will be equally ballistic. Akhilesh's supporters are banking on the "glamour quotient" of Akhilesh-Rahul and Dimple Yadav-Priyanka Gandhi Vadra than ground realities to win these polls. Few have the political prescience of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. In a conversation with colleagues in Patna, he is learnt to have said when asked about the possibility of a grand coalition (Mahagatbandhan) in Uttar Pradesh on the lines of Bihar, Thats possible only if the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) come together. Nitish chooses his words carefully. He seems to have summarised the situation in this one sentence. Even those with scant knowledge of Uttar Pradesh politics can vouchsafe without the slightest fear of being repudiated, that the coming together of the SP and BSP is almost impossible. BSP chief Mayawati is far too ambitious with her national aspirations to let others share her political space. And Akhileshs Samajwadi Party sans Mulayam Singh Yadav is a novice in electoral politics. Read the signals emanating from the ground in the context of Nitishs remark. All indications are that the three-way alliance between SP, Congress and Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) will come a cropper. Akhilesh has somehow salvaged a bilateral tie-up with the Congress. Too much is being read into this political marriage. The inherent contradictions of the SP-Congress alliance are bound to strain any tie-up at every stage of the polls. Historically, the SP has grown by substantially eating into the Congress minority support base. In the post-Babri mosque demolition phase, Muslims deserted the Congress lock stock and barrel and joined the SP in 1993. The hard-boiled politician that he is, Mulayam could see the writing on the wall and had the sagacity to have an alliance with Kanshi Rams BSP. That was a formidable social combination of OBC-Dalit and Muslims that literally overwhelmed the Hindutva wave in 1993. It goes to the credit of Mulayam that he successfully confined the Congress to the margins till 2004 when the SP emerged as the biggest party by bagging 36 seats in the Lok Sabha. Following this stunning success, the 2004-2009 period saw a bonhomie between the SP and the Congress. Mulayam even bailed out the Manmohan Singh government against the CPMs attempt to pull the rug out from under the UPA governments feet. The immediate electoral impact was that in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections the Congress won 21 (from nine in the previous House) seats. The SP was reduced to 22 from 36. That is, the Congress grew by eroding the SPs core base of minority and a section of OBCs. The realisation that bolstering a dormant Congress to revival is inimical to the SPs political interests must have dawned on Akhilesh of late. That is the precise reason why he has been desperately making all moves not to let the Congress emerge from the fringe role it has been playing all along. Herein lies the problem with those who see elections through the prism of an agglomeration of arithmetic. Politics is more chemistry than a sheer game of numbers. Take for instance the manner in which the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has scored a goal against its political wing, the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must be squirming with unease after hearing what RSS spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya said about the deleterious impact of the reservations in government jobs. Vaidyas statement is a throwback to the out-of-the-blue statement of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat before the Bihar polls just ahead of the election. Bhagwats unprovoked, carelessly-timed statement made the coming together of Nitish and Lalu Prasad Yadav possible and pretty much turned the election on this head. Although the BJP and the RSS subsequently tried to retrieve the situation, the damage was done. We can draw a parallel between Bhagwats statement on reservations then and Vaidyas now. But the parallel between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is tenuous. The last-minute alliance stitched up by Akhilesh with the Congress is nothing like the Nitish-Lalu alliance. Also, the caste dynamics of Bihar are different from those of Uttar Pradesh. After Bhagwats statement in Bihar, a shrewd combination of hard-boiled Mandal politicians Nitish and Lalu turned the tide in their favour by successfully projecting the BJP as anti-reservation. As a result, smaller castes of backward classes and scheduled castes gravitated towards the political formation that represents social justice. But Akhileshs politics have consistently moved away from the mooring of social justice and assumed the mantle of mainstream of national parties like the Congress and the BJP. Unlike Mulayam, who stuck to social justice slogans in spite of resistance, Akhileshs attempt for an image makeover has alienated him from smaller non-Yadav OBCs that moved towards the Hindutva fold in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Akhilesh and the Congress are hardly in a position to gain from the faux pas committed by the RSS. In place of Akhilesh, Mulayam would have used the situation to his advantage far more astutely than any other leaders. On the other hand, Mayawati is better placed than any other political formation to gain from the RSS indiscretion. Soon after Vaidyas statement, Mayawati launched a full-blooded attack on the RSS-BJP combine and questioned their commitment to the Constitution and Dalit welfare. Nobody knows better than Mayawati that with solid backing of 22 percent Dalits, she would sail through if she can engineer a shift of the Muslim votes and the most backward classes (MBCs) in BSPs favour. Mayawati is leaving nothing to chance to stitch up a formidable social coalition of Dalit-Muslim and MBCs in the state. As of now, it looks like a three-way contest in Uttar Pradesh where political coalitions have lost their relevance. Unlike Bihar where the Nitish-Lalu political coalition reshaped the social coalition in the state, regional satraps of Uttar Pradesh lack the political sagacity and perspicacity to milk the situation in their favour. Nitish had diagnosed the coalition problems of Uttar Pradesh aptly much before election fever even caught up. The Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, stitched at the last-minute amid familiar dramatics, serves to define the ideology of coalition politics. It is simple. There is no ideology. Just a contract of convenience with power as the underwriter. While that in itself may be little more than ideological bankruptcy, the stated "goal" of the alliance flouts with impunity the Supreme Court ruling against mixing religion and politics. Not surprisingly, the hyperventilating media has found little time to highlight this worrying aspect. At a joint news conference after sealing the late-night deal on Sunday, both Congress and SP pitched it as a battle of 'secularism versus communalism'. Much has already been written about subversion of the term "secularism" in Indian context and how it is used as a dog whistle to polarise the electorate. The astounding part was the way both parties showed scant regard for the spirit of Supreme Court judgement and set the agenda for an electoral battle along the religious fault lines of India's largest and one of the most volatile states. In its 2 January ruling, a seven-judge Constitution bench had added a larger interpretation to Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, to prevent religion and community from being invoked during elections. It held that the candidate will be disqualified if he/she or his/her agent appeals for votes on the grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language. It was held as a landmark judgement and all political parties wasted no time in "welcoming" it. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari had waxed eloquent, telling reporters shortly afterwards that it is an excellent decision; it is a decision which should be welcomed by everybody. It reaffirms the fundamental values on which this nation was cast by the founders of the Indian Constitution." And yet on Sunday, Raj Babbar went to town over Congress's "secular alliance" with SP, meant to uproot and keep out "communal forces". While explaining the rationale behind settling for 105 seats instead of their earlier demand of 140, Babbar, Congress UP chief, said: "Congress leadership agreed to strike an alliance to thwart BJP's divisive politics and at the same time to boost secularism and promote communal and social harmony." Vowing to throw out BJP, the PCC president said alliance between the two youth leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi will ensure that politics transcends the narrow boundaries of caste and religion. Consider the irony. There is zero focus on development, no mention of pressing issues that some of the poorest voters of India grapple with in their daily lives. The discourse goes nowhere close to promising an upliftment of healthcare, education and economic well-being. Instead, the state's ruling party and India's grand old party while claiming to "transcend the boundaries of caste and religion" went out of their way to ensure that the electoral agenda remains firmly tied to the apron strings of communal polarisation. The impunity was matched only by the astounding hypocrisy. It shows the degree of perversity in Indian political paradigm that allows parties to openly pursue their communal agenda if they are perceived to be on the right side of "secularism". For its part, the SP, which will field 298 candidates in the 403-seat UP Assembly, said: "for the unity and integrity of India, and following a secular ideology, we will continue our fight under SP National president (and Uttar Pradesh chief minister) Akhilesh Yadav". "The country's secular fabric will become stronger when Akhilesh Yadav becomes the chief minister again," party spokesman Naresh Uttam said on Sunday while announcing the tie-up. Public memory is short. That of media's even shorter. Else reporters would have sought the SP spokesperson's opinion on the statement that his chief minister had made on the floor of the UP Assembly in March 2013. In a written reply to a question raised by Peace Party and BJP members, Akhilesh Yadav had admitted that 27 incidents of communal violence had occurred since he became the UP chief minister. According to a report in The Indian Express, three incidents at Mathura, Bareilly and Faizabad were big. Another seven incidents occurred during the period including two at Pratapgarh and one each at Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Sambhal, Bijnore and Allahabad. Also, 17 communal incidents took place during the period in question thrice at Meerut, twice at Ghaziabad, thrice at Muzaffarnagar, twice at Kushinagar, and once at Lucknow, Bijnore, Sitapur, Bahriach, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Moradabad and Sambhal. These were over and above the infamous Muzzaffarnagar riots that occurred in August-September 2013 and resulted in the deaths of around 40 people and displacement of another 50,000. And yet SP finds it suitable to project Akhilesh as the upholder of UP's "secular fabric". The chief minister became the embodiment of bountifulness on Sunday while announcing in the party manifesto one lakh new business opportunities for minorities, participation in every government scheme and ironically, "guaranteed" security. Once again, no questions were raised why job opportunities will be targeted at only 19 percent of the total UP population (the Muslim vote base) or why other communities might not need security "guarantees". But this is now the standard operating procedure of our "secular" parties. The judiciary can take a hike. New Delhi: Hours after it sealed a pre-poll pact with Samajwadi Party, Congress on Sunday released its first list of 43 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, that include former Union minister Jitin Prasad and controversial leader Imran Masood. While Masood, who is known for his hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, will contest Nakur seat, Prasad will fight from Tilhar Assembly constituency. Some of the other names in the list include Mukesh Choudhary, who will contest Deoband Assembly constituency, while Pradeep Mathur has been fielded from Mathura seat. After an initial list of 41 candidates, AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistry later released a list of two additional nominees cleared by the party's Central Election Committee (CEC), which include Masud Akhtar from Saharanpur Nagar and Sherbaz Khan from Chandpur Assembly constituency. Samajwadi Party and Congress today sealed a pre-poll pact to contest the UP Assembly elections, ending days of suspense and feverish parleys, with compulsions of realpolitik forcing the two parties to come together to thwart BJP's attempt to storm back to power after 15 years. The alliance, which at one stage looked doomed with both sides driving a hard bargain, was announced by the chiefs of the state units of the two parties who declared while SP will have the lion's share of 298 of 403 seats, Congress will contest the remaining 105. The seven phase polls in the state will start on 11 February. In what could be seen as an announcement of her arrival, several senior Congress leaders on Sunday acknowledged the role of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in striking an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh. The crucial state Assembly polls are almost here and a senior Congress leader told IANS that Priyanka played a key role in sealing the deal with the SP. Senior Congress functionaries like Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad separately acknowledged Priyanka's role in giving the final shape to the alliance with the SP, which at one point had hit a roadblock. Azad is also the in-charge of Uttar Pradesh. Another low came in the talks when the Congress reportedly sent "political lightweights" like Prashant Kishor to negotiate with the SP leadership. However, the Congress on Sunday said there were no "political lightweights" and Priyanka herself was involved in the talks. Patel, who is political advisor to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, tweeted:. Wrong to suggest lightweights were dealing on behalf of Congress party.Discussion was at highest level- b/w CM (UP),GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) January 22, 2017 "I have not spoken to any leader from the Samajwadi Party. News reports mentioning this are incorrect," he said. Separately, Azad said that Priyanka Gandhi played a crucial role in forging the alliance with the SP, according to which the Congress would contest 105 seats while the SP will fight on 298 seats. Reports said that apart from Azad, who leveraged his rapport with his Rajya Sabha colleague and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's close confidante Ram Gopal Yadav and called him late on Saturday night, Priyanka called Akhilesh's wife Dimple and set the ball rolling. Priyanka also spoke to the chief minister, and so did Congress' poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who was flown in to Lucknow at short notice. Kishor was in Uttarakhand, reports had earlier said. Kishor urged Akhilesh to look at the larger picture and not to allow the alliance to be jeopardised on account of a few seats. The SP was initially offering Congress around 90 seats, while the latter was not ready to accept anything less than 120. The talks hit a roadblock, but the two parties finally pulled off a deal and formally announced an alliance at a joint presser in Lucknow. Priyanka, Congress sources said, will campaign extensively in the polls, with Rahul Gandhi as well as separately. She may also campaign along with Dimple. The acknowledgement of her proactive role by the Congress party for the first time perhaps is significant as it portends the change of guard and a generational shift at the Congress. There was a last minute negotiation that clinched the deal and paved the way for the alliance. This is the first time that the Samajwadi Party formed a poll alliance with any national party for elections. This is also the first time that Priyanka has been actively involved in crucial alliance negotiations Both the parties have come a long way from 2012 when Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tore up the SP manifesto during a public rally. "They promise that they will give power, water, employment and if not employment then unemployment allowance...this is mere list of assurances...," he had said at an election meeting and tore a paper it to stress his point. "Did you understand?" he had asked, referring to his act of tearing the paper, and said, "Only promises will not do". With inputs from agencies Dehradun: At his recent rally (27 December, 2016) in Dehradun, Narendra Modi gave special focus on his governments demonetisation decision by describing it as a useful weapon to deal with problems like fake notes and terrorism in one stroke. He also referred to the problems faced by the people in the wake of this particular decision and highlighted it as peoples cooperation in the fight against corruption. Perhaps Modi was aware about the ruling Congress Partys desperate attempts to develop implementation part of the demonetisation decision as an issue against its main political rival BJP in the forthcoming Uttarakhand Assembly polls. More than three weeks before Uttarakhand goes to vote on 15 February, there is no indication to suggest demonetisation as an important poll issue in the states hill or plain parts. Since Uttarakhand has a large number of retired and serving army-men as voters, the sense of nationalism always matters in election campaign. So, Modis special focus on demonetisation at his Dehradun rally has apparently its own political meaning in this state. On the contrary, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has been trying hard to stop the BJP from gaining indirect political benefits in the assembly polls by centres demonetisation decision. Exactly 20 days after the centres demonetisation decision on 8 November, the Rawat-headed state government was quick to constitute a committee to study the impact of demonetisation on the states revenue and economy. The committee, headed by chief secretary S Ramaswamy, included principal secretaries of different departments like finance, agriculture, commercial taxes, tourism, revenue and health. The committee was also supposed to prepare a list of such persons who purchased valuable lands in the recent past. Rawats decision to constitute the committee was a clear indication about the Congress Partys concern for countering the BJP on demonetisation issue in the election campaign. Congress partys Uttarakhand President Kishore Upadhyay soon announced his partys all attempts to develop demonetisation as an issue in its favour by highlighting the problems faced by people. Later, Rawat started saying that his state incurred a loss of Rs 500 to Rs 700 crores due to the Centres demonetisation decision. Tourism sector is important source of Uttarakhands economy and thus, Rawat has kept on highlighting this particular sector as worse affected by the demonetisation decision in view of the alleged sharp decline in the inflow of tourists. Rawat has reportedly communicated to centre about the alleged difficulties his government is facing in a new situation. Apparently keeping in his mind the voters sentiment for important national issues in this hill state, Rawat has never directly opposed the centres demonetisation decision. He deliberately targeted the implementation part of the decision in an apparent bid to avoid political problems for his party in this election. Rawat has so far tried to make it a political point that Uttarakhand depends on the economy coming through revenue from different quarters. Reports reaching from various districts show that BJP or Congress is giving little attention to the demonetisation issue in its election campaign. As things stand today, both rival camps BJP and Congress are focusing on local issues mainly. As per the report Moneycontrol, "many within the indian real estate business fraternity, privately admit that the government's demonetisation drive, has done more damage to the real estate business than even the Lehman Brother crisis and according to Knight Frank report, it is being said that demonetisation causes real state sales to slump to six year low, Dehradun real estate business appears to stay unaffected." Managing director of a prominent real estate developer company shuns any fall in sales, he said: "Real estate is affected in the places where constructions are being done in bulk and people purchase property for investment purpose. Dehradun is the place of end users, no investment criteria works here. Instead sales have grown up as the pollution graph continues to increase in nearby metro cities like Delhi and Gurugram and people are planning to get shifted to pleasant weather places like Dehradun." By Cate Cadell | BEIJING BEIJING Hugo Barra, the most prominent global executive at China's Xiaomi Inc [XTC.UL], has left the smartphone maker citing health concerns and a new job, dealing a fresh setback to a firm that is struggling to recover ground ceded to rivals. In a post on Facebook on Monday, Barra, Xiaomi's vice president in charge of global operations and the face of its international expansion, said he was leaving the company after three-and-a-half years for a new project based in Silicon Valley.Xiaomi was briefly the world's most valuable startup with a valuation two years ago of $45 billion and had hopes to be China's equivalent of Apple Inc (AAPL.O). But the firm has grappled with slowing smartphone sales and fell out of the top five in China for smartphone vendors in 2016, after reaching No. 2 in 2015."The last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health," Barra, 40, said in the Facebook post."Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return."Based in Beijing, Barra often traveled to other strategically important markets including India and his home country of Brazil. Barra's exit comes at a time Xiaomi is trying to adjust its strategy. The company has pulled back from several overseas markets, including Singapore and Brazil, in 2016. It is increasing its offline retail presence and aims to develop artificial intelligence and internet finance as growth areas.India was the one of the few bright spots on the company's international growth map last year, and is also where Barra opted to make his final public appearance for the company during a launch event in New Delhi last Thursday.In a letter released to employees earlier this month, Xiaomi Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun said "the worst is over", referring to the company's recent struggles to keep up with an ever increasing number of local competitors. "For Xiaomi to return strongly in 2017 the biggest priority is the China market," says Nicole Peng, senior analyst at Canalys. Barra's replacement, senior vice president Xiang Wang, will oversee the company's global efforts going forward, a spokeswoman confirmed. Formerly the President of Qualcomm's (QCOM.O) greater China operation, Xiang joined Xiaomi in 2015 to oversee strategic partnerships. "Given his international experience he's a very safe pair of hands," said Peng. "However they are very different types of persons and have a different type of leadership style."For Barra, the role involved many roadblocks, including a halt of production in Brazil due to the country's economic instability.Barra said he would officially leave the role after Lunar New Year, which runs until Feb. 2, and take time off before embarking on a new role. He did not specify the role. (Reporting by Cate Cadell in BEIJING, Vishal Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Muralikumar Anantharaman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. DOHA Chinese warships have embarked on a tour of Gulf Arab states for the first time in six years as Beijing has signaled a desire to play a bigger role on the global stage. Three Chinese vessels, including a guided-missile destroyer warship, arrived in Qatar's capital Doha on Saturday following a visit to the Saudi port city of Jeddah, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.China's navy regularly tours the world and its ships patrol off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia as part of international anti-piracy operations. Visits to Gulf Arab states, where both the U.S. and Britain have naval bases, are less common.China's navy visited Iran for the first time in 2014 to take part in joint naval exercises with Saudi Arabia's regional arch-rival. Beijing relies on the Middle East for oil but has tended to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - the United States, Britain, France and Russia. However, China has been trying to get more involved, especially in Syria peace efforts, and has taken tentative steps over the Yemen crisis too.A senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday that Beijing could be forced to assume a role of world leadership if others step back from that position after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged in his first speech to put "America first". (Reporting by Tom Finn; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Tom Heneghan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Some optimists thought that Donald Trump would be inclusive, seeking to carry everyone along, once he actually became President of the United States. They were wrong. He has been combative and divisive from the word 'Go'. In the manner of a petulant child answering an opponent on a playground with a "No, youre a liar! Liar, liar, pants on fire!", his administration began its four-year innings by telling the media it was wrong to say more people had watched Barack Obamas 2009 inauguration than Trumps photographic evidence notwithstanding. The combativeness was not one-sided. People at large voiced their opposition to the new president on the streets across much of the US the day after his Friday inauguration. Women, in particular, rallied in processions in several towns and cities, making it clear that they would stand up to their new president. Society in the US has not been so divided, and alienated from the government, for half a century since the Vietnam War brought millions on to the streets to oppose their countrys war policies. The worst part of this is that Trump probably isnt actually just being petulant. He may be working to a plan. Perhaps it is part of his agenda to put the media on the back foot, forcing it to be cautious about saying anything negative about him, his decisions or policies. It would not be the first time such an agenda had played out in a leaders national policies. No doubt Trump and his colleagues will seek to undermine other institutions of democracy too. Their task will be easier if they do put the media on the back foot at the outset. However, it might turn out to be a strategic mistake for liberal intellectuals to attack Trump on his chosen battleground. His backers might rally to him, just as they did after audio recordings of his lewd comments became public. His backers, it turned out, did not share his critics abhorrence for misogyny and sexual predation. Many in the demographic segments that back Trump may not watch television news (preferring sports, sitcoms and movies) or even read the papers. In fact, they might be easily convinced to suspect the liberal media of ulterior motives. That would make it easier for the administration to marginalise the media, as well as universities and other bastions of liberality. War games possible Combative divisiveness could prove even more dangerous on the international plane. Trumps selections for top jobs in his administration indicate that the oil lobby will play a powerful role, at least as much as it did during the George W Bush regime and look at how that turned out! Dubyas Neocon backers, led by his vice-president Dick Cheney, pushed the US into a terribly destructive war in the Levant (Iraq), which has divided the world bitterly. Since then, the northern Levant (Syria) has become a battle zone too. Alongside and intertwined with the civil war in Syria, the worlds leading Muslim powers and a former superpower too have become embroiled in war there. Obama played his cards cautiously when Russia got openly, actively involved in defence of the Bashar al-Assad regime. So the danger that the Cold War could have received a greater boost via Syria was averted although the Cold War has been back in play in the regions of Ukraine and Belarus. The dynamics of Trumps relationships with Russia on one hand, and with the leading Gulf states on the other, are yet to become clear. If the US oil lobby enhances American relations with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, it would put the US more firmly on the opposite side of the Russia-Iran axis and deepen this very major global rift. Much will hinge on why Russian president Vladimir Putin preferred Trump to become president, and the extent to which Putin will now be able to influence US policy or, conversely, the US belligerence. Either way, it appears almost certain that division and combat are going to be the order of the day both domestically within the US, and in the global arena under Trump in the White House. By Paul Sandle | LONDON LONDON Britain's Guardian newspaper is considering becoming a tabloid and outsourcing printing to a rival such as Rupert Murdoch's News UK as one of a series of options to cut costs, sources told Reuters.Publisher Guardian Media Group (GMG) said last year it needed to make savings of 20 percent to stem underlying losses that widened to 62.6 million pounds ($78 million) for the year to April 3. It said it was aiming to break even in three years."The company is working on a whole range of efficiency projects and the print programme fits into that," one source close to the company said on Monday.GMG prints both the Guardian and its Sunday stablemate The Observer on special presses bought more than 11 years ago when it switched from a broadsheet to the mid-sized Berliner format.Editorially, the left-leaning Guardian has clashed with Murdoch's (NWSA.O) British newspapers, notably in bringing to light the phone-hacking scandal that resulted in the closure of his News of the World tabloid in 2011 On a business level, however, the two groups are collaborating, along with Trinity Mirror (TNI.L) and Telegraph Media Group, on Project Rio, a plan to pool newspaper advertising sales. Daily Mail publisher DMGT (DMGOa.L) pulled out of the initiative this month, according to reports."The discussions explored a number of other areas of co-operation," one source said.Another source said GMG was considering a plan to move production to News UK's presses later this year, and change the format to a tabloid in the process. Rival publishers' presses are set up to print in broadsheet and tabloid formats. The Berliner format can still be produced using cutting equipment, although it would increase costs, the other source said.Any saving in production costs from moving to a tabloid if the group decided to change printers would need to be weighed against the cost of redesigning the paper, the source said.GMG is owned by The Scott Trust, created in 1936 to safeguard its flagship newspaper.SCOOPS The newspaper's scoops include U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden's revelation about mass surveillances as well as the phone hacking scandal, and its online edition is one of the most popular in the world.A deterioration in the advertising market has led to widening losses, however, and the group cut jobs last year under a turnaround plan led by editor in chief Katharine Viner and Chief Executive David Pemsel.The Guardian abandoned the broadsheet size in 2005, but unlike its rivals The Independent and The Times which went tabloid, it choose the Berliner, a format long established in continental Europe but little known in Britain.GMG spent 50 million pounds ($62 million) on presses from German engineer Man Roland, according to a Guardian article published in 2009, and another 30 million on new print sites in London's Stratford and in Trafford Park in Manchester. Print sales of the newspaper rose following the change and an associated redesign, but the boost was short lived. Its average sale in October was 157,778 copies, according to ABC, fewer than half the number of copies sold in 2005, resulting in under-utilised presses.A spokesman for the Guardian declined to comment on speculation regarding future print allocation.News UK's NewsPrinters operation has sites in Broxbourne, near London, Knowsley in north-west England and Motherwell, Scotland, where it prints The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times, as well as The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and the Financial Times for other publishers. A News UK spokeswoman said: "NewsPrinters is an active industry printer and is always looking at new opportunities."However, we don't comment on any business matters that may relate to third-party contracts."($1 = 0.8015 pounds) (Editing by Susan Thomas) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Olzhas Auyezov and Suleiman Al-Khalidi | ASTANA ASTANA Syria's warring sides met for talks for the first time in nine months on Monday, with frosty initial exchanges suggesting chances of a significant breakthrough were slim as the country's six-year-old conflict ground on.They sat opposite each other at a round table in a hotel conference room before a day of negotiations - sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran in Kazakhstan's capital Astana - got under way.Both delegations said the focus was on the country's ceasefire, a fragile precursor to a wider political solution.But Bashar al-Jaafari, the head of the delegation representing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said negotiators for the rebel forces had been rude and unprofessional, accusing them of defending "war crimes" committed by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the militant group formerly known as Nusra Front.A rebel source said opposition representatives planned to negotiate with the government side only via intermediaries.Mohammed Alloush, the head of the opposition delegation, told delegates he wanted to stop "the horrific flow of blood" by consolidating the shaky ceasefire and freezing military operations, saying Iran-backed militias had to leave Syria.Russian news agency TASS cited a draft communique in which Moscow, Ankara and Tehran would commit to jointly fighting Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and set up a mechanism for trilateral monitoring of the ceasefire, which took effect on Dec. 30. But fundamental divisions also remain between pro-Assad Russia and Turkey, which has supported anti-Assad rebels - including whether Syria's president should stay in power or, as the rebels are demanding, step down.There were no senior government figures among the delegations in Astana and Kazakhstan's foreign ministry said it expected the meetings to be over by midday on Tuesday.OVERSEEING CEASEFIRE Some observers said the talks, which UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is attending, could help jump-start U.N.-led negotiations that were suspended in late April.De Mistura said it was crucial to get a mechanism to oversee and implement a nationwide ceasefire in place to build confidence."That by itself ... would be a major achievement," he said, adding he hoped Astana could pave the way for direct talks between the government and opposition in Geneva next month. The Astana talks pointedly exclude the West, though Kazakhstan, with the backing of Moscow and Ankara, extended an invitation to the new U.S. administration last week, which Washington declined. Iranian officials have said they strongly oppose U.S. involvement, though George Krol, the U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, attended as an observer.Turkey and Russia - each for their own reasons - both want to disentangle themselves from the fighting. That has pushed them into an ad hoc alliance that some people believe represents the best chance for progress towards a peace deal, especially with Washington distracted by domestic issues.The opposition arrived in Astana aware that the fall of their former urban stronghold, Aleppo, has shifted the momentum in the fighting in favour of Assad.On Sunday, war planes bombed rebel-held areas of western Syria, killing 12 people in one location, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, while insurgent shelling of Aleppo killed six."The ceasefire is clinically dead, but the Russians and Turks want to keep it alive to send a message to the international community that they are the ones in charge of the Syrian situation," said Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman. (Additional reporting by John Irish, Denis Dyomkin and Kinda Makieh in Astana, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Dubai and Thomas Perry in Beirut; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov/Christian Lowe/Andrew Osborn; Editing by John Stonestreet) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Maher Chmaytelli and Saif Hameed | BAGHDAD BAGHDAD Iraqi officials said on Monday government forces had taken complete control of eastern Mosul, 100 days after the start of their U.S.-backed campaign to dislodge Islamic State militants from the city.The deputy parliament speaker announced the capture of the east of the city, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, after a meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi."We completed the total liberation of the left bank of Mosul and this is a gift to the Iraqi people," said Sheikh Humam Hamoudi in a statement.The army on Sunday entered Rashidiya, the last district under the control of the militants on the east bank of the Tigris, said military spokesman Brigadier-General Yahya Rasool.Mopping-up operations were still under way on Monday to flush out remaining militants in a pocket in this northeastern district, he said in a statement. A resident of Rashidiya said the army had stormed the area after air strikes destroyed a tank and car bomb the militants had been preparing to attack the advancing forces. A resident of Zanjali, a district on the west side of Mosul, said Islamic State fighters "have arrived from the left bank and are trying to find houses on the right bank", fleeing from the government forces' advance. The resident asked not to identified as the militants kill those caught speaking with the outside world. Iraqi forces launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul from the hardline Sunni group, which captured the city in 2014, declaring from its Grand Mosque a "caliphate" that also spanned parts of Syria, ruled by its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. MILITANTS CORNERED The defence ministry had earlier on Monday issued a statement announcing the complete takeover of eastern Mosul, adding that Abadi would be making a formal announcement later. The statement was later removed from the ministry's website. A U.S.-led coalition is providing air and ground support to the Iraqi forces. The west side of Mosul could prove more complicated to take than the east as it is crisscrossed by streets too narrow for armoured vehicles.The militants are expected to put up a tough fight as they are cornered in a shrinking area of the northern Iraqi city.Mosul had a pre-war population of nearly 2 million, and about 750,000 people are estimated to live in western Mosul. More than 160,000 have been displaced since the start of the offensive, according to the United Nations. The battle for Mosul, involving 100,000 Iraqi troops, members of the Kurdish security forces and Shi'ite militiamen, is the biggest ground operation in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. Iraqi forces estimated the number of militants inside the city at 5,000 to 6,000 at the start of operations three months ago, and says 3,300 have been killed in the fighting since.The militants blew up a landmark hotel in western Mosul on Friday in an apparent attempt to prevent advancing Iraqi forces from using it as a base or a sniper position when fighting moves west of the Tigris.The Mosul Hotel, shaped as a stepped pyramid, stands close to the river.State TV said the army had set up temporary bridges across the Tigris south of Mosul to allow troops to cross in preparation for the offensive on the western bank.The city's five permanent bridges across the Tigris have been damaged by U.S.-led air strikes and Islamic State blew up two. (Editing by Andrew Roche) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Luke Baker and Matt Spetalnick | JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump's team spoke often about moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But since taking office, the contentious issue has become more nuanced and may already be moving to the backburner.In a statement before a first post-inauguration phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer appeared to lower expectations of an imminent announcement of a move that could anger the Arab world."We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," he wrote. The White House did not respond to questions or requests to elaborate.Some Israeli news outlets and pro-settlement groups took it as a positive sign, interpreting the line as an indication that talks have begun on a move they long for, even if it could have profound repercussions for regional stability.But Israeli officials said the issue was barely discussed on the 30-minute call, and diplomats said their understanding was that it was being moved down the agenda, at least for now."Sounds more like walking it backwards," one Israeli official said in a text message after Spicer's statement.Another said that during the call Netanyahu had not sought a commitment from Trump on the move or a timeframe for it. The former spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry suggested Spicer's line was age-old diplomatic code for "not now"."This really means: 'Don't call us, we'll call you'" Yigal Palmor said on Twitter.Netanyahu's spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.NO EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM While the Israeli prime minister cannot be seen to oppose the United States moving its embassy to Jerusalem - Israel considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all countries to base their embassies here - there is an awareness that such a move could be destabilising.Currently, no country has its embassy in Jerusalem, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Costa Rica and El Salvador did until a few years ago, but they are now located in Tel Aviv.The reason is that the final status of Jerusalem is supposed to be determined via direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, who want to have the capital of an independent Palestinian state in the east of the city. If the United States were to relocate its embassy, it would be an explicit recognition of Jerusalem belonging to Israel, pre-determining the outcome of negotiations and taking a side in a process in which the United States is a critical actor.Trump has suggested that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, could take on the job of mediating peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. To do that, Kushner and the United States would have to be seen as scrupulously independent. For the Palestinians, moving the embassy would cross a red line. Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab countries with peace treaties with Israel, have warned against the move, as have former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state John Kerry, saying it could be explosive for the region.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held discussions on the issue with King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman on Sunday. Palestinian officials said the king, who oversees the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, expressed concerns about any relocation. Abbas and the king agreed a list of steps they would take if the embassy move is made, one official said.It is not clear what steps Jordan would take, but withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, halting security cooperation or suspending its 1994 peace treaty are all possible, analysts say. It also wants to ensure the large Palestinian population in Jordan does not react angrily.Egypt, which signed a peace deal with Israel in 1979 and cooperates closely with it on security, also has reservations about any move, calling it a "very inflammable issue"."I don't want to indulge in speculation about what might or might not happen, but I think everyone recognises the importance of this issue," Foreign Minister Samed Shoukry told members of the foreign media at a briefing on Jan. 4."This is one of the final status issues that has to be addressed between the two sides ... it is our interest that all issues are resolved through negotiations." WIDER CONCERNS Another consideration for Israel is the stronger relations it has quietly been building with the Sunni Muslim world. Netanyahu speaks frequently about the "new horizon" Israel has with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Gulf states. If the United States were to shift its embassy, it could rock those ties.Israeli officials say they don't want any move to be rushed. They believe the U.S. embassy should be in Jerusalem, and Trump has said he will live up to his promise, but the decision has to be carefully thought through.The practicalities alone are difficult. While the U.S. government has several buildings in Jerusalem, including a consulate-general dealing with the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, it cannot creat an embassy overnight.The incoming U.S. ambassador, David Friedman, has told Israeli media he intends to live in Jerusalem, where he has an apartment. But shifting the entire embassy with all its security arrangements and commercial, trade, cultural and economic units from Tel Aviv to a new site in Jerusalem will take time.In the interim, Netanyahu has other political considerations. He is under investigation in two criminal cases and he faces a growing challenge from the far-right, pro-settlement Jewish Home party in his coalition.The announement on Sunday that Israel will build more settlements in East Jerusalem was in part a move by Netanyahu to satisfy voters on the far-right pushing for more rapid settlement expansion now Trump is in office. (Additional reporting by Lin Noueihed and Ahmed Aboulenein in Cairo; writing by Luke Baker; editing by Giles Elgood) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Denis Dyomkin and John Irish | ASTANA ASTANA Syria's warring sides met for their first talks in nine months on Monday, with their Russian and Turkish backers pushing to cement a ceasefire that could pave the way for political talks.The meeting in the Kazakh capital comes at a time when Turkey, which backs the rebels, and Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, each want to disentangle themselves from the fighting.That has led them into an ad-hoc alliance that some believe represents the best chance for progress towards a peace deal, especially with the United States distracted by domestic issues.After facing each other to make opening remarks on Monday, the rival delegations spent the rest of the day negotiating indirectly through intermediaries and at times trading barbs. But the rebel side expressed optimism about Moscow's position."We noticed a real understanding on the part of the Russians," Yahya al-Aridi, an opposition spokesman, told reporters. "We understand that militarily they have achieved what they wanted in Syria. Now they want to translate this military achievement into some sort of political deal. That has to be a ceasefire."Diplomats said Russia, Turkey and Iran were working on a final communique that could be completed as early as Tuesday. It would reaffirm a Dec. 30. ceasefire that each side accuses the other of violating. Russian news agency TASS cited an early draft communique as saying Moscow, Ankara and Tehran would commit to jointly fighting Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the militant group formerly known as Nusra Front. They would set up a mechanism for trilateral monitoring of the ceasefire. But fundamental divisions remain between Russia and Turkey which could complicate the final text. Turkey and Russia may also be at odds with Iran, whose militias are core to Assad's military strength and who rebels blame for rights violations.Mohammed Alloush, a leader of the powerful Jaysh al-Islam group who heads the rebel delegation, insisted he wanted to stop "the horrific flow of blood" in the six-year-old war. To achieve that, the Syrian army and its Iran-backed allies had to abide by the truce and Shi'ite militias had to leave the country.Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's United Nations envoy, leading the government delegation, said the talks were an opportunity to reconcile the country with Assad staying in power, a red line for rebels. He accused opposition negotiators of defending "war crimes" by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. OVERSEEING CEASEFIRE The head of the Russian delegation, Alexander Lavrentyev, told reporters talks had been heated because of the mistrust between the parties, but he remained optimistic that Tuesday could yield results.Some observers said the meeting, sponsored by Moscow and Ankara with the support of Tehran, could jump-start U.N.-led negotiations that were suspended in April. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, attending the Astana talks, said it was crucial to get a mechanism to oversee and implement a nationwide ceasefire."That by itself ... would be a major achievement," he said, adding he hoped Astana could pave the way for talks that he has proposed for next month in Geneva. The rebels' loss of their former urban stronghold, Aleppo, has shifted the momentum of the fighting in favour of Assad.On Sunday, warplanes bombed rebel-held areas of western Syria, killing 12 people in one location, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, while insurgent shelling of Aleppo killed six. The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said on Monday it would not be bound by any decision that came out of the talks in Kazakhstan as it was not involved in the meetings. The West is playing no role in Astana, although Kazakhstan, with the backing of Moscow and Ankara, extended an invitation to the new U.S. administration last week. The local U.S. ambassador was present, while several Western envoys for Syria were also in Astana to observe developments."It's not very serious. You don't seal a ceasefire in two days. You have to work on the modalities, things like observers, mechanisms, maps, the list goes on," said a senior Western diplomat.But he added: "There is momentum now. The Russians hold the keys. It's now time to use them." (Additional reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi, Kinda Makieh and Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Roche) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Syrian rebels began peace talks with the war-torn country's government on Monday in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, but refused to negotiate face-to-face in the first session. The talks had been billed as the first time armed rebel groups were due to negotiate with President Bashar al-Assad's regime since the conflict erupted in 2011. But rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told AFP the opposition backed out of the first round of direct talks because of the regime's continued bombardment and attacks on a flashpoint area near Damascus. "The first negotiation session will not be face-to-face because the government hasn't committed until now to what it signed in the 30 December agreement," Aridi said, referring to the fragile ceasefire deal brokered by Turkey and Russia. It remained unclear whether the two sides would negotiate directly later. Several rounds of failed talks in Geneva saw political opposition figures take the lead in negotiating with the Damascus regime. But in Astana, the 14-member opposition delegation is composed solely of rebels leading the armed uprising, with members of the political opposition serving as advisors. The two delegations entered a luxurious meeting room for opening statements by the Kazakh foreign minister, before the closed-door talks began. The negotiators have been welcomed by all parties in the war, but the two sides arrived with apparently divergent ideas on their aim. Rebel groups say the talks will focus on bolstering the ceasefire, but Assad has insisted rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal. Damascus has also called for a "comprehensive" political solution to a conflict that has killed more than 310,000 and displaced more than half of Syria's population. "The government delegation took part in the Astana meeting on the basis that the agenda would include reinforcing the ceasefire and discussing the principles of a political solution," a source close to the government delegation told AFP. The source said the Turks, Russians, and Iranians joint organisers of the talks were rushing to put together a final statement that the rebels and regime were expected to sign on Tuesday. 'Common ground' The talks come a month after the regime recaptured rebel areas of Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory since the war began. "This is not a replacement for the Geneva process," rebel negotiator Fares Buyush told AFP, referring to the UN-hosted political negotiations set to resume in the Swiss city next month. Delegation spokesman Osama Abu Zeid said the rebels were concerned with "more than just a ceasefire". "The issue is putting monitoring, investigation, and accountability mechanisms in place," he told AFP. "We want these mechanisms so that this doesn't play out over and over." Previous pushes for a long-term ceasefire have faltered, with both sides trading accusations over violations. Syrian state media reported the regime had met the Iranian delegation as well as UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura ahead of Monday's talks to discuss their positions. The regime's objectives include reaching "common ground" with other participants, Syrian state news agency SANA quoted lead negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari, Syria's UN ambassador, as saying. The regime will also seek to "consolidate the cessation of hostilities" and separate the rebels from the Islamic State group and former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, he said. As the sides headed to Astana, three regime air strikes killed nine civilians in rebel-held areas in the central Syrian province of Homs, a monitoring group said. 'No shortcut' Although Russia and Turkey have backed opposing sides in Syria, they have worked hand-in-hand in recent weeks to try to secure an end to the brutal war. The Astana talks will be a major test of this new partnership. The rapprochement, which saw Russia and Turkey conduct their first joint air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria last week, has come to fill the vacuum left by Washington's disengagement from the conflict in recent months. US President Donald Trump's administration was invited to participate in the talks but did not send a delegation. Washington will instead be represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan, the State Department said, while a European diplomatic source said France and Britain would also be represented at the ambassador level. Experts say a breakthrough could see some of the armed opposition join next month's Geneva talks. "Nearly six years of war demonstrates there is no shortcut to ending it," a Western diplomat told AFP. "A genuine transition in Syria first means building confidence on the ground. That is what the opposition have demanded and it's not so much to ask." KABUL The Taliban has called on President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the "quagmire" of Afghanistan, saying that nothing has been achieved in 15 years of war except bloodshed and destruction.In an open letter to the new U.S. president published on one of its official web pages, the insurgent movement said the United States had lost credibility after spending a trillion dollars on a fruitless entanglement."So, the responsibility to bring to an end this war also rests on your shoulders," it said.So far, Trump has had little to say publicly about Afghanistan, where some 8,400 U.S. troops remain as part of the NATO-led coalition's training mission to support local forces as well as a separate U.S. counter-terrorism mission.Two of his top security appointments - retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as Secretary of Defense and former General Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser - both have extensive experience in Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, warned Trump against relying on the kind of "unrealistic" reports presented to former presidents by their generals, saying: "They would emphasize continuation of war and occupation of Afghanistan because they can have better positions and privileges in war."The United States would not accept foreign forces on its territory or even in a neighbouring country, said the Taliban. It accused Washington of imposing a "surrogate administration" on Afghanistan in the face of popular Muslim resistance. "You have to realize that the Afghan Muslim nation has risen up against foreign occupation," it said.The Taliban has made steady inroads against the Western-backed government in Kabul since coalition forces ended their main combat mission in 2014, with government forces now in control of only two thirds of the country. It has repeatedly urged the United States and its allies to leave Afghanistan, ruling out peace talks with the Kabul government while foreign forces remain on Afghan soil.Trump has sharply criticised past U.S. administrations for their handling of conflicts in the Muslim world but he has also pledged to eradicate militant Islamists around the globe. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Gareth Jones) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON The new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump vowed on Monday that the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea, something Chinese state media has said would require Washington to "wage war.""I think the U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing."Its a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not part of China proper, then yeah, were going to make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country."Spicer was responding to a question as to whether Trump agreed with comments by his Secretary of State nominee, Rex Tillerson, on Jan. 11 that China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.Tillerson's remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing prompted Chinese state media to say the United States would need to "wage war" to bar China's access to the islands where it has built military-length air strips and installed weapons systems. Tillerson said at the hearing, when asked whether he supported a more aggressive posture toward China: "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. The former Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands. China's Foreign Ministry said it could not guess what Tillerson meant by his remarks, which came after Trump questioned Washington's longstanding and highly sensitive "one-China" policy over Taiwan.China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the remarks from the White House. Aides have said that Trump, who took office on Friday, plans a major naval build-up in East Asia to counter China's rise. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Andrew Hay) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Washington: On Monday, US President Donald Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House early next month, working quickly to establish close ties with a crucial ally in the Middle East who was often at odds with his predecessor. As the Trump administration took steps toward relocating the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, Trump, on his second full day in office, spoke over phone to Netanyahu and discussed ways to ensure security and stability in the Middle East. The President emphasised on the importance the US places on US-Israel close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between the two countries, it said. The two leaders discussed efforts to make peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Trump and Netanyahu agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran, the White House said. During the call, Trump invited Netanyahu "to an early February meeting at the White House". "The President affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israel's security and stressed that countering ISIL and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be a priority for his Administration," it said. During the call, Trump emphasised that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between them and that the US will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, called the conversation "very warm". He said he had "expressed his desire to work closely" with the administration, "with no daylight between" the two countries. This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Trump was sworn in as the US President on Friday. A day earlier, he spoke over phone with the Mexican and Canadian leaders. Relations between Israel and the US were strained under former President Barack Obama and his administration abstained from a UN resolution in December that declared settlement construction in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank illegal. But the White House statement on the call did not mention Trump's suggestion to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump pledged during his campaign to move the US embassy, and his designated ambassador to Israel. No country in the world has its Israel embassy in Jerusalem, which is also claimed by the Palestinians as their capital. While Congress long ago passed a resolution ordering the move, both Republican and Democratic presidents have repeatedly waived the order on national security grounds. President Donald Trump gets down to work on Monday, signing a slew of executive orders to start rolling out his policy agenda after a tumultuous start put his administration on the back foot. Embarking on his first full week in office, the 45th US president will try to steady the ship, seeking support from lawmakers, business leaders and unions at the White House. Since he was sworn in on Friday Trump's White House has been pilloried for lying to the public about crowds at the inauguration, and the president himself for making a campaign-style speech before a memorial to fallen CIA officers. Some two million Americans poured into the streets for women-led demonstrations, the scale of which were unseen in a generation. "Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly," Trump tweeted angrily on Sunday morning. Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017 An hour later, adopting a more conciliatory tone, he noted "peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy." "Even if I don't always agree," he said, "I recognize the rights of people to express their views." Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017 Trump aides say the next week will see a steady if not daily drip of executive actions designed to get back to Trump's agenda. Already there have been moves to roll-back President Barack Obama's health care reforms and freeze some regulations in the pipeline. On Sunday Trump vowed to swiftly start renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. But reality has also bitten. A pledge to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has been put on the back burner for now. A Washington group of lawyers and researchers plans to file a federal lawsuit against Donald Trump Monday, alleging that the US president is violating a constitutional ban on accepting payments from foreign governments. In a statement released Sunday the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) said the newly sworn-in Trump was in violation of the Constitution because his business properties abroad operate partly based on goodwill from foreign governments and regulators. We did not want to get to this point. It was our hope that President Trump would take the necessary steps to avoid violating the Constitution before he took office, CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said. He did not. His constitutional violations are immediate and serious, so we were forced to take legal action. And a petition on Whitehouse.gov demanding that the billionaire president immediately release his tax returns passed 100,000 signatures, the threshold beyond which the White House is supposed to respond within 30 days. Back on the bike More quick legal tweaks in the form of executive orders are expected on immigration and limiting environmental legislation. But more substantive changes will need buy-in from the Republican controlled Congress. On Monday, Trump will host separate meetings with business leaders, unions and members of both houses of Congress. He will also meet the speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan. Tax reform is likely to be high on the agenda. Some in Congress want to lower the corporate tax rate to 20 percent and pay for it by ending tax breaks on imports. That is likely to come up against fierce opposition from big retailers who depend on cheap imports and could well run up against WTO rules. Reform of Obama's health care laws is also likely to be on the menu. Republicans are keen to repeal the law, but are less united on what should replace it. Trump has publicly promised that none of the tens of millions of Americans who obtained health insurance under Obama will lose it. That makes any meaningful changes difficult to pay for. Trump will also need to win support for some of his cabinet nominees who have yet to be confirmed. His picks for the CIA Mike Pompeo and the State Department Rex Tillerson now appear to have enough votes in Congress to pass, but others are less certain. But the more urgent task for Trump may be to keep always skeptical establishment Republicans on board the "Trump train." Dissent in check Trump's approval rating is around 40 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics average, low for a president just starting out. That could make legislators think twice about toeing the line with an unpopular leader. But Trump's bareknuckle style has also kept dissent in check, with some terrified they will become the object of a presidential tweet that sets off a world of political pain. So far the most willing to thumb their nose at Trump have been senators who have just been re-elected like Marco Rubio and John McCain. On Thursday, Trump will travel to a Republican Congressional retreat in Philadelphia to further build ties. The following day, he will host British Prime Minister Theresa May the first White House visit of a foreign leader under the new administration. By Diego Ore and Anggy Polanco | CARACAS/SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela CARACAS/SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela Offering prized bags of flour to police and hurling empty medicine boxes on the floor, Venezuelan opposition protesters launched a new push on Monday to force President Nicolas Maduro from power and end 18 years of socialist rule.Turnout for the opposition's first rallies of 2017 was not massive, reflecting disillusionment over last year's failure to bring about a referendum to recall the 54-year-old leader and successor to Hugo Chavez.But those who did march in a string of rallies around the country turned creative in their complaints about the South American OPEC nation's unprecedented economic crisis.In the politically volatile western state of Tachira, long a hotbed of anti-Maduro sentiment, some demonstrators proffered flour - an increasingly scarce and expensive commodity during the nation's three-year recession - to police, witnesses said.In Caracas, where several thousand opposition supporters marched, some threw empty medicine cartons on the floor to symbolize shortages afflicting the health sector. Security forces fired teargas in Tachira to stop protesters from reaching an office of the National Election Council, while in Caracas they used tear gas against people blocking a highway.With many of Venezuela's 30 million people skipping meals, unable to pay soaring prices for basic goods and facing long lines for scarce subsidized products, Maduro, who won a 2013 election to succeed Chavez, has become deeply unpopular.Polls showed a majority of Venezuelans wanted a referendum last year which could have brought his rule to an early end and sparked a presidential vote. But compliant courts and election authorities thwarted the move, alleging fraud in signature collections. "This government is scared of votes, and the election council is the instrument they use to avoid them," said housewife Zoraida Castro, 46, during a march to the election council's office in southern Ciudad Bolivar city.The opposition Democratic Unity coalition is demanding dates for regional elections that are supposed to happen this year, and also urging Maduro to hold a new presidential ballot."It's a day of struggle in Venezuela," said coalition secretary general Jesus Torrealba, in Barquisimeto town to show solidarity with a Catholic archbishop whose residence was recently attacked after he criticized the government. Maduro's six-year term is due to end in early 2019.Red-shirted government supporters, who accuse the opposition of seeking a coup with U.S. connivance, were also marching on Monday, a politically significant day for Venezuelans: the anniversary of the 1958 fall of dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez. They gathered at the National Pantheon building to honor leftist guerrilla Fabricio Ojeda, who was murdered in 1966. (Additional reporting by German Dam in Ciudad Bolivar, Anggy Polanco in San Cristobal; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Alexandra Ulmer and Paul Simao) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Hugo Barra, who joined Xiaomi as Vice President of Xiaomi Global back in August, 2013 from Google has announced his departure from the company. He said that he will go back to Silicon Valley in February after Chinese New Year. He says that his decision has been strongly motivated by a feeling of detachment from his family and the life he had built up in Silicon Valley. He was one of the main reasons for the expansion of Xiaomi outside China. Xiaomi is already selling its products in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and Middle East and North Africa. It announced its plans to expand to Vietnam, Russia, Turkey and Mexico back in 2014, but it put its expansion plans on hold. Barra will be succeeded by Xiang Wang, who is already a senior vice president at Xiaomi. He will remain an advisor to Xiaomi indefinitely. In a Facebook post he said: What Ive realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much Ive left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return. Check out the new FoneArena Daily video that gives you a quick roundup of todays technology news. Vivo launched the companys selfie-focused smartphone in India dubbed as V5 Plus. It has a 20-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel secondary font-facing camera for capturing depth information. The Vivo V5 Plus comes in Golden color, is priced at Rs. 27,980 (MOP) and will be available starting from February 1st. Samsung, after several months of in-depth investigations today announced the cause of the Galaxy Note7 incidents. Hugo Barra, who joined Xiaomi as Vice President of Xiaomi Global back in August 2013 from Google has announced his departure from the company. Apple has filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Qualcomm saying that Qualcomm has been charging royalties for technologies. Deal of the day HP DeskJet 2131 All-in-One Printer for Rs. 2,199. It's no secret that department stores are having a rough time these days. Comparable sales over the holiday season fell at nearly every major chain, and total sales at department stores dropped 5.6% last year, according to the Census Bureau. Macy's (M -0.81%) may be the poster child for this declining industry. The company is more than 100 years old, and it has flagship stores in the downtown areas of major cities across the country. It's as synonymous with shopping as any other store. It has, however, posted declining comparable sales for the last seven quarters in a row, and it's on its way to its eighth straight drop. Like its peers, Macy's has been squeezed by e-commerce competitors like Amazon.com on one side and fast-fashion purveyors like H&M and Uniqlo on the other. As part of its restructuring strategy, Macy's announced last year that it would shut down 100 stores, and it recently named 68 of them, saying it would lay off 10,000 employees in the process. However, incoming CEO Jeff Gennette revealed an interesting fact about the store closures when he said that the stores the company is closing are still profitable. Gennette explained the reasoning: Nearly all of the stores to be closed are cash flow positive today, but their volume and profitability in most cases have been declining steadily in recent years. We recognize that these locations do not yield an adequate return on investment and often do not represent a customer shopping experience that reflects our aspirations for the Macy's brand. We decided to close a larger number of stores proactively so we can invest in a winning customer experience in our most productive and highest-potential locations, as well as invest in growth sooner and more aggressively in digital and mobile. As much of the apparel retail industry is seeing, in-store sales are moving online and store traffic dwindling. Even J.C. Penney (JCPN.Q), which remains among the weakest department store chains years after Ron Johnson's gutting of the business, said all but four of its stores are profitable, though it is considering closing stores. Profitability is not the issue. The trend is. Playing defense Macy's move underscores the fact that these businesses remain substantially profitable, but are in retreat as times change. In most industries, a company would attempt to turn around a store with declining volume that was still profitable, but the major department store chains recognize that these shifts are structural as declining retail traffic is not going away. Macy's also believes that not all of those stores' sales will be lost as some move to other stores and others go online. But these actions underscore the department stores' biggest problem. This retail format is more than a century-old and came to a rise to give customers a convenient place to shop for items ranging from apparel to jewelry to home goods to gifts. The central purpose department stores served in the pre-internet days is no longer necessary as all of those items can be purchased online or in specialty stores where customers might get better service or better-curated selection. What it means for retail While Macy's and other department store chains are seeing e-commerce sales grow by double digits, they are at a disadvantage against another subset of brick-and-mortar retail. The brands of Macy's and other department store chains are directly tied to the brick-and-mortar real estate and the in-store experience since Macy's brand is not associated with an actual product. Competitors like Michael Kors, L Brands' (BBWI -2.77%) Victoria's Secret, or Lululemon therefore have an advantage as their brand value stems from products rather than stores. That may explain why those types of retailers have fared better in the e-commerce era as they've been able to rapidly build online sales. Victoria's Secret now derives more than 20% of its revenue online, partly as a result of its vibrant catalog business. Macy's plans to open more off-price Backstage stores within its department stores as well as BlueMercury beauty outlets to help drive traffic. But as it waves the white flag on even profitable stores, it seems like the tide is inevitably turning against the department store concept as a whole. What happened Shares of Banc of California (BANC 2.73%) are trading down by about 10% as of 2:30 p.m. EST today after the company announced the resignation of its CEO, Steven Sugarman, and provided details into an internal investigation of company management. So what In October 2016, a short report linked Sugarman to John and Jason Galanis, a father-son duo with a long history of involvement in securities and banking frauds. At the time, Banc of California largely denied the relationship between management and the serial fraudsters, putting out a press release that detailed internal investigations of the matter. Today, though, Banc of California admitted that its October 18, 2016 press release contained a number of misstatements and falsehoods about its investigation of its then-CEO, Steven Sugarman. What It Said in October 2016 What It's Saying Now Disinterested directors of the board of directors directed the investigation. The investigation was actually initiated by company management. The investigation was "independent." The law firm hired for the investigation had a previously established relationship with the company and its CEO. Members of its board had received "regular reports including related to regulatory and governmental communications" about the matter. The disclosure overstated the degree of contact between the bank and regulators, and well as the involvement of the company's board of directors in oversight. Skeptical investors are right to wonder what else the company may have misrepresented, given its willingness to make what appear to be false and misleading statements about an internal investigation of company management. Now what The Banc of California indicated that it was cooperating with January 12, 2017, formal order by the Securities and Exchange Commission to deliver certain documents to regulators. Steven Sugarman stepped down as CEO and chairman of the board. The company announced that Sugarman was replaced as chairman of the board by the company's current chair of its audit committee, Robert D. Sznewajs, and that it is currently looking for someone to fill the vacancy of CEO. With prices rising as much as 21% last August, gold looked like it was bouncing back last year from the slide that it has endured since 2013. Donald Trump's election put an end to that, though -- from the election to the end of December, the price of gold fell nearly 11%. In the midst of this volatility, however, shares of Yamana Gold (AUY 19.85%), a global leader among gold stocks, climbed more than 46%. Let's dig into the company's performance in 2016 and see what we can expect in 2017. The highlights Reducing its debt by $286 million in fiscal 2015, Yamana acknowledged its interest in further strengthening its balance sheet , identifying a debt-reduction target of $300 million in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. And in one transaction, Yamana took a giant step toward achieving that target. Selling its Mercedes mine in Mexico in September, Yamana received $122.5 million in cash and $22.5 million in shares, warrants, and net smelter return royalties -- all of which the company planned on using to reduce its debt. Divesting its Mercedes mine wasn't the only action the company took in 2016 to streamline its portfolio. In December, Yamana -- holding about 85% of the issued and outstanding shares -- completed the spin-off of Brio Gold into a standalone public company. Like the sale of Mercedes, management intends to use some of the proceeds (about C$56.3 million) from the spin-off to further reduce Yamana's debt. The company could also count 2016 a success from an operations perspective. Although it hasn't released its Q4 earnings yet, management recently reported that preliminary results indicate that the company achieved its production estimates for gold, silver, and copper production. Management also reported that at $914 per gold ounce, preliminary results suggest Yamana achieved its co-product all-in sustaining costs for gold production estimate: between $880 and $920 per gold ounce. Eye on 2017 Characterized as the next of Yamana's cornerstone mines, Cerro Moro, located in Argentina, is expected to begin gold production in early 2018. Management estimates that over an initial six-year mine life, Cerro Moro will average annual gold production of 130,000 gold ounces and 6.4 million ounces of silver. Progress at Cerro Moro is important, as the company looks to replace gold production that it will be lost as a a result of the divestiture of Mercedes. According to management, approximately $224 million will be spent through 2017 and 2018 to complete the project. Another growth catalyst on Yamana's horizon is Suruca. Located at its Chapada mine in Brazil, Suruca is an example of Yamana's ability to grow organically. The company is in the process of updating the feasibility study, so investors will want to monitor this in the coming year. Gold production at Suruca isn't expected to begin until 2019, but, when it does, management estimates that production will total between 45,000 and 60,000 gold ounces over an initial mine life of four to five years. To put this in context, Chapada, according to management's preliminary results, produced 107,000 ounces of gold in fiscal 2016. Golden valuation We've looked at what's behind Yamana and what's ahead, so let's turn our attention now to its stock. One thing to remember when evaluating mining companies is that assigning a value to an asset, like a mine, is far from cut and dried; consequently, companies may take large writedowns on their assets, resulting in skewed earnings figures. One thing that can't be massaged, though, is cash flow, so foregoing the traditional price-to-earnings ratio, let's consider the stock in terms of its free cash flow on a trailing-12-month basis. Since fiscal 2015 was the first year that Yamana was free cash flow positive since fiscal 2011, it's misleading to look more than one year back at the stock through the price-to-free cash flow metric. Nonetheless, when we look over the past year, we find that the stock, currently trading at about 8.8 times free cash flow, seems to be inexpensive. It seems insufficient to consider only one valuation metric, so let's also look at it's price-to-sales ratio on a trailing-12-month basis. Trading at about 1.6 times sales, shares look reasonable -- about the midpoint of its high and low for the year. And according to Morningstar, which pegs the stock's price-to-sales ratio at a five-year average of 3.2, the shares seem even more fairly valued. To provide more context for the stock's valuation, let's consider it alongside its peers: Barrick Gold, Goldcorp, Kinross Gold, and Newmont Mining. In terms of both free cash flow and sales, Yamana seems like quite a bargain. Overall, considering where shares are trading today, the stock -- though not a screaming buy -- seems attractively priced. The takeaway Shares of Yamana Gold enjoyed quite the ride in 2016, but there's no guarantee that it will continue flying higher through 2017. Wall Street, not baking any irrational expectations into the stock, seems to be unimpressed with the company which may represent a buying opportunity. In streamlining its portfolio through the divestment of Mercedes, spin-off of Brio Gold, and execution of projects in its pipeline, Yamana Gold represents a reasonable consideration for investors looking to gain exposure to the gold industry. Millions of seniors rely on Social Security to pay their living costs in retirement. The average beneficiary today receives $1,360 each month, though many collect much more. But while current retirees don't have to worry that those paychecks will stop coming anytime soon, future retirees may have some reason for concern. The latest projections from Social Security's Board of Trustees show that the program's trust funds are set to run out in 2034, and when that happens, the program could face an $11 trillion shortfall. Clearly this news isn't lost on concerned workers. According to Transamerica's latest retirement survey, 77% of Americans fear that Social Security won't be available to them when it's their turn to retire. But while the program definitely needs fixing, it won't be going away anytime soon -- not even when its reserves run dry. The state of Social Security Though Social Security's looming shortfall is an obvious concern, there are currently no concrete plans to address the problem. In fact, the last time Congress stepped in to help the program in a meaningful way was back in 1983, when it sought to fill a funding gap of roughly 1% of incoming taxable wages. Come 2034, we'll be faced with a shortfall three times as large, and while Donald Trump has pledged to preserve Social Security, we can't be sure yet how that might shake out. But here's what we do know: Even once Social Security's trust funds are depleted, it will still have enough incoming tax revenue to pay out roughly 79% of scheduled benefits. Furthermore, based on current estimates, the program will be able to continue paying benefits at that level until 2090, which means that today's younger workers stand to collect benefits when they retire, even though their benefits may be reduced. That said, just because Social Security won't be going away doesn't mean current workers should bank too heavily on those paychecks. While the program can certainly play a role in helping you keep up with senior living expenses, you'll still need to save independently for retirement. Social Security has its limitations Even if Congress enacts Social Security reforms that maintain its current level of benefits past 2034, those payments still won't be enough for the average senior to live on. Social Security in its present state will only replace about 40% of the average worker's pre-retirement income. Most of us will need 70% to 80% of our pre-retirement income to keep up with our living costs once we stop working. Remember: While some expenses, like commuting, might go down in retirement, others, like healthcare, are likely to climb. In fact, you can't rule out the possibility that you'll need more money in retirement than you did during your working years, especially if your medical costs are particularly high. That's why it's important to save for retirement on your own and use your Social Security benefits to supplement your income. Take matters into your own hands So just how much money should you aim to save? There's no universal answer to that question, as we all have varying goals and needs. But as a general rule, saving at least 10% of your paycheck each month will put you in a good position to retire comfortably. And if you invest your savings wisely, you'll be even more likely to amass an adequate nest egg. Giving your money enough time to grow is also key. Let's assume that you establish a portfolio capable of generating an average annual return of 8%. (Note that this would be a fairly stock-heavy portfolio, which is reasonable for someone who has time to ride out the market's ups and downs.) If you start saving $300 a month at age 30, then by the time you turn 65, you'll have $620,000. But if you wait until age 45 to start saving that $300 a month, you'll have just $165,00 by age 65. Saving money in a tax-advantaged plan like an IRA or 401(k) will give you the additional benefit of lowering your taxes during your working years. Currently, anyone under age 50 can contribute up to $5,500 a year to an IRA and $18,000 a year to a 401(k). If you're 50 or older, those annual limits increase to $6,500 and $24,000, respectively. While there's no need to spend your time worrying about Social Security, you should develop your own independent savings plan to protect yourself down the line. Even if we do manage to preserve Social Security's current payment level, it still won't be enough to sustain the average future retiree. You're far better off saving on your own and treating those Social Security checks as icing on the cake. Oil prices edged up on Monday, supported by statements from oil producers over the weekend that a output cut was being successfully implemented, but markets were held back by a surge in drilling that suggested U.S. output would rise further. Brent crude futures , the international benchmark for oil prices, were trading at $55.57 per barrel at 0016 GMT (07:16 PM EST), up 8 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 8 cents at $53.30 a barrel. "Oil rallied strongly as oil producers met to discuss the adherence to the production cut agreement. Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said that producers have cut 1.5 million barrel per day so far in 2017," ANZ bank said on Monday. "Prices reversed these gains after data showed another pickup in drilling activity," it added. U.S. energy companies last week added the most rigs drilling for new production in almost four years. Drillers added 29 rigs in the week to Jan. 20, bringing the total count up to 551, the most since November 2015, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday. U.S. oil production has risen over 6 percent since mid-2017, and although they remain 7 percent below their historic 2015 peak, they are back to levels of late 2014, when high U.S. crude output contributed to a crash in oil prices. (Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Joseph Radford) Bikers for Trump founder Chris Cox joined FOX Business to share his experience at President Donald Trumps inauguration in Washington, D.C. this weekend, which included some violent interactions with protesters. We had many clashes of our own. We served many knuckle sandwiches. We had a couple of nose rings knocked out of some protesters, Cox said. Cox highlighted one incident, where he said a protester spat on a biker and made an explicit gesture toward him. The biker gave him a knuckle sandwich, dislodged the nose ring and then he massaged his face with his knuckles several times after that, he said. The police witnessed it, they walked up, they believed that the biker had reason to believe the protester was there to do harm to him, and they told the biker to have a nice day. Despite the skirmishes with protesters, Cox said not one biker was arrested. Weve never had a biker arrested at any of our events. And those were just two of the five encounters that we had with protesters, he said. America's biggest, quietest tech monopoly has finally come under fire. If you made a cell phone call this year, you probably used a Qualcomm chip. The company makes the best modems to connect to cellular networks, but according to a federal complaint, it's also spent years twisting arms and threatening partners to make sure that none of its competitors get a chance to do so. Apple then trotted up behind the FTC with a similar, but much less consumer-friendly complaint that could lead to lower-quality iPhones. Together, the two complaints are going to provide the first big test of President Donald Trump's competition policy. In short: is a monopoly okay if it keeps business in America? Qualcomm Holds Verizon's Phone Both complaints start with the fact that if you want to connect to Verizon or Sprint's networks, you have to go through Qualcomm. President Trump has said he's going to work based on two rules: buy American, and hire American. Back in 1995, the predecessors to Sprint and Verizon chose to go with an American-owned cellular technology, CDMA2000, rather than GSM, a global standard promoted by Europe. At the time, CDMA2000 was also a better technology, with better voice quality and more capacity. But it was controlled by one company, Qualcomm. As GSM was a more open standard, various competing GSM chip firms cropped up, offering competition and lower prices. The FTC's complaint says Qualcomm has an effective monopoly on CDMA chips for high-end phones. If you wonder why Samsung uses its own processors in most of the world and Qualcomm's in the US, this is why. This doesn't completely prevent other chipmakers from using CDMA2000Mediatek just started to build Sprint chipsetsbut the amount Qualcomm charges to license the technology makes it hard for them to make a profit on it. "OEMs have had limited practical alternatives to Qualcomm for the supply of CDMA processors. Qualcomm has used its dominant position to obtain onerous and anticompetitive supply and licensing terms from OEMs," the FTC says. The only way for our carriers to break free of Qualcomm's control would be to kill their CDMA2000 3G networks. The Canadian carriers decided to do that a few years ago, so they could get cheaper GSM equipment. But Verizon and Sprint will keep CDMA2000 going until at least 2020, probably because it would cost them so much to switch over their huge networks. The FTC also says Qualcomm has a similar stranglehold over 4G LTE chips, but that argument is weaker because Samsung, Huawei, Mediatek and Intel are all selling LTE chipsets right now. Qualcomm charges more for the elements of LTE technology that it owns than other companies that are part of the LTE standard do, the complaint says. And it makes cellular manufacturers pay extra for use of Qualcomm technology, even if they buy other companies' chips. Qualcomm, for what it's worth, denies that it's abusing its power. "Qualcomm has never withheld or threatened to withhold chip supply in order to obtain agreement to unfair or unreasonable licensing terms," the company says. Here's the Trump twist: Breaking Qualcomm's back will benefit Apple and Intel, but it'll also benefit non-American companies like Mediatek, Samsung, and Huawei, all of whom would like to better compete with Qualcomm in making modems. It would lead to less money from Korean and Chinese smartphone makers flowing into Qualcomm's coffers. It might lead to a net loss of jobs in the US and a net loss of profits from the US. But it would also probably lower prices and improve competition. Apple Just Wants Cash Apple has also been chafing against Qualcomm's dominance for years. The company used non-Qualcomm modems when iPhones were AT&T-only, because those phones didn't need CDMA2000. But when Apple decided to start making iPhones for Verizon, it signed on with the Qualcomm monopoly. Qualcomm offered Apple great prices on its chips as long as the company didn't also use anyone else's modems. Apple says that is unfair, and that when it started using cheaper Intel modems this year for some iPhones, Qualcomm raised its rates. Apple is no good guy here, though. Its demand for rebates comes because this year, it decided to buy cheaper Intel modems. As a study by Cellular Insights showed, the Intel modems don't perform as well as Qualcomm's, yet Apple is charging consumers the same amount for the lesser-performing products. In other words, Apple wants to pay less for its parts and give you a lower-quality product for the same amount of money as the better one they had been selling before. The Apple/Qualcomm deal is just about the balance of profits. Qualcomm makes the best modems in the business, but has also suppressed competition. Apple wants to charge you the same amount as it did before, for a lower-quality iPhone. Neither is looking out for you. But the FTC litigation asks some serious questions about whether the government should protect an American company against its competitors, if the competitors include foreign firms. In his inaugural address, Trump said, "protection will lead to great prosperity and strength." Dropping the FTC's litigation against Qualcomm would test that theory. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Saving for retirement is a challenge many workers face, but without an amply funded nest egg, you risk running out of money as a senior. Let's explore your options for saving for retirement so that you can get started as soon as possible. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. IRAs versus 401(k)s While you're allowed to contribute to both an IRA (individual retirement account) and 401(k) at the same time, many savers tend to choose one or the other. If you have access to a 401(k) plan through your employer, signing up can be advantageous for many reasons. First, the annual contribution limits for a 401(k) plan are higher than those of most IRA varieties. Currently, employees under 50 can contribute up to $18,000 a year to a 401(k) but only $5,500 per year to a traditional or Roth IRA. Those 50 and older are allowed an additional $6,000 401(k) catch-up contribution and a $1,000 IRA catch-up, for a total of $24,000 and $6,500, respectively. Note that all 401(k) contributions go in tax-free, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as income. Additionally, since many employers offer matching incentives for the plans they sponsor, participating in a 401(k) could help you save even more. (If you work for a public school or tax-exempt organization, you'll probably be offered a 403(b) plan, which is similar to the 401(k) in most regards.) With an IRA, all of the money going into your account will typically come from you, not an employer. Not all IRAs, however, are created equal. The two most common types -- the traditional and Roth -- have a number of key differences. With a traditional IRA, your contributions are typically tax-free, but withdrawals are taxable in retirement. Roth IRAs work the opposite way: You don't get an immediate tax break for contributing, but withdrawals are not taxed later on. However, there are income limits for contributing to a Roth, and if you earn too much, you won't be eligible. Retirement plans for small businesses and the self-employed While large companies frequently offer 401(k)s, these plans can be costly and cumbersome for smaller businesses to administer. The SIMPLE (savings incentive match plan for employees) IRA is a more cost-effective option for businesses with up to 100 employees. If your company offers a SIMPLE IRA, you'll be allowed to contribute up to $12,500 a year if you're under 50. If you're 50 or older, you're allowed a $3,000 catch-up for a total of $15,500 per year. Furthermore, employers are required to match contributions to a SIMPLE IRA, either by contributing a fixed rate of 2% of every employee's compensation (regardless of participation in the plan), or by matching employee contributions up to a maximum of 3% of compensation. If you're self-employed, you're allowed to open a SIMPLE IRA and contribute as both employer and employee. Another option available to small businesses and self-employed workers is the SEP (simplified employee pension) IRA. Like SIMPLE IRAs, SEP IRAs are easy and cost-effective to set up and maintain. SEP IRAs, however, come with a much higher annual contribution limit. This year, employers can contribute up to 25% of employees' salaries up to $54,000. (Note that if you're self-employed, that 25% threshold applies to net earnings from your business.) If you own a small business, a SEP IRA might allow you to sock away a sizable chunk of money tax-free. But remember that as an employer, you're required to make the same contribution percentage-wise to your employees' accounts as you do to your own. Finding the right plan for you Navigating the different retirement plans out there can be tricky, but here are some key points to consider when making your decision: Contribution limits -- how much can you contribute each year? Tax benefits -- will you receive an up-front tax break for contributing? Taxes in retirement -- will your withdrawals be tax-free, or will you pay taxes on distributions as a senior? Other restrictions -- will you have the option to withdraw your money early if need be, and will minimum distributions be mandated in retirement? The following chart will help you compare your options to see which type of plan might work best for you: TABLE BY AUTHOR. No matter which type of retirement plan you choose, the key is to start contributing as early as possible to give your money a chance to grow. As an example, contributing $300 every month for 35 years will give you an ending balance of over $400,000 if your investments generate a relatively conservative average annual 6% return. Given that many people are living longer these days, the more you're able to save along the way, the greater your chances of being able to fund the comfortable retirement you deserve. The $15,834 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $15,834 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Emirates' announcement on Monday that it would start flying to the United States with a stop for passengers in Greece sparked a strong reaction from a lobby group representing U.S. competitors who accused it of competing unfairly through state subsidies. The world's largest long-haul airline said it would start daily flights to New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport via Athens on March 12. Emirates was "flagrantly violating" the air services agreement that allows it to fly to the United States, said the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, which represents Delta Air Lines and other U.S. airlines. Accusing Emirates of "throwing down the gauntlet," the group said it would discuss the matter with the new administration of President Donald Trump to "protect American jobs." The Dubai-Athens-Newark route would be Emirates' second so-called 'fifth freedom' flight to the United States in addition to an existing daily Dubai-Milan-New York service. It also operates three daily direct Dubai-New York flights. Fifth freedom rights allow an airline to fly between foreign countries as a part of services to and from its home country. Delta and other U.S. airlines have accused major Gulf carriers -- Emirates, Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways - of receiving over $50 billions in unfair subsidies. The Gulf carriers deny the allegations. The Obama administration began informal consultations with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on the issue, but no agreement was reached before President Obama's term ended. The group, which also includes United and American , was always likely to try and block the new service before it starts, said Will Horton, senior analyst at CAPA Centre for Aviation. However, the U.S. carriers would have a hard time arguing the flight was damaging to their interests, given that U.S. carriers do not fly to Greece all year round, Horton said in emailed comments. He also said that the fact that Emirates was an important customer for U.S. planemaker Boeing would also work against the group. Emirates President Tim Clark said the Greek government approached the airline "some time ago" to start a flight between Athens and New York, according to an airline statement. Emirates has previously said it could fly to the United States from European hubs and in 2016 the Hungarian government said the airline could fly fifth freedom routes from its capital, Budapest. (The story clarifies status of Obama administration, US airline lobby and Gulf states on airlines.) (Editing by Jeremy Gaunt, Greg Mahlich) The top executives of Ford (NYSE:F) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) were among several notable CEOs who attended a meeting at the White House on Monday, a sign these executives want a less turbulent working relationship with the new administration. Ford and Lockheed Martin, two of President Donald Trumps targets during the transition phase, have sought to smooth relations with Trump since his election victory. Trump frequently hit Ford over the automakers plan to expand its manufacturing footprint in Mexico. Ford later scrapped those plans. As for Lockheed Martin, the largest supplier to the U.S. military, CEO Marillyn Hewson pledged to make the F-35 fighter jet less expensive for the Pentagon after Trump called out the company for cost overruns. As he left the White House on Monday, Ford CEO Mark Fields voiced optimism over the administrations policy proposals. Walking out of the meeting today, I know I come out with a lot of confidence that the president is very, very serious on making sure that the United States economy is going to be strong, and they have policiestax, regulatory or tradeto drive that. I think that encourages all of us as CEOs as we make decisions going forward, Fields said. It was a very, very positive meeting, and I think a very positive meeting for the United States of America and manufacturing in general. Hewson said she looks forward to continue working with President Trump on business issues. I was encouraged by the presidents commitment to reduce barriers to job creation, including targeted regulatory reform and long term budget planning, Hewson said in a statement. The meeting was arranged by Dow Chemical (NYSE:DOW) CEO Andrew Liveris, the head of Trumps American Manufacturing Council. Dow is merging with DuPont (NYSE:DD) in a deal valuing the combined companies at around $130 billion. The other attendees included Under Armours (NYSE:UA) Kevin Plank, Dells Michael Dell, Teslas (NASDAQ:TSLA) Elon Musk and Johnson & Johnsons (NYSE:JNJ) Alex Gorsky. Trump told CEOs at Mondays meeting that he will seek to cut business regulations by up to 75%, along with significant cuts to federal corporate taxes. The new administration is eyeing a rate of 15% to 20% for businesses, Trump said. During the campaign, Trump called for a 15% corporate tax rate, while Republicans in Congress are crafting a plan that includes a 20% rate versus the current 35%. Trump also repeated his threat to pursue tariffs on products imported by the U.S., saying the administration wants to bring manufacturers back to America. Ford CEO Mark Fields on meeting with President @realDonaldTrump: It was a very very positive meeting. pic.twitter.com/olBx8AhfCF FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) January 23, 2017 Throughout the campaign and after the election, Trump often criticized Ford and other automakers for shipping cars from Mexico to the U.S. In response, Ford ceased construction of a new factory south of the border. Rival Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU) said it would consider moving production of heavy-duty Ram pickup trucks back to the U.S. from Mexico, while General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced new domestic investments and production plans of its own. I want to thank Mark and Ford, because youve been great, Trump told the group on Monday. After the meeting, Trump signed an executive order officially withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade pact that was awaiting congressional approval. The White House also released a statement saying it will open negotiations to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). U.S. supermarket operator Kroger said on Monday it would fill 10,000 permanent positions in its supermarket divisions. Kroger, which had about 431,000 full- and part-time employees as of Jan. 30, 2016, also said its total active workforce grew by more than 12,000 in 2016. The world's No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart said last week it would create about 10,000 jobs in the United States this year, as President Donald Trump puts pressure on companies to hire more U.S. workers. Companies such as General Motors and Amazon.com have also announced plans to add jobs in the United States. German drug and chemical maker Bayer, which is awaiting approval to buy U.S. seeds company Monsanto for $66 billion, said last week it would maintain more than 9,000 jobs in the United States and add 3,000 new U.S.-based high-tech positions. (Reporting by Aravind K in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Martina D'Couto) President Donald Trump moved to pull the United States out of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact Monday, dealing a quick blow to Barack Obama's legacy as the new chief executive began fulfilling campaign promises in his first full week in office. "Great thing for the American worker that we just did," Trump said in brief remarks as he signed a notice in the Oval Office. The president also signed memorandums freezing most federal government hiring, though he noted an exception for the military, and reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the "Mexico City Policy," has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Following a tumultuous first weekend in office consumed by Trump's criticism of the media's inauguration coverage and his spokesman's angry, inaccurate tirade against journalists the president was seeking to refocus on the sweeping, yet often vague, promises he made as a candidate. He campaigned as a fierce opponent of multilateral trade agreements, particularly the 12-nation Pacific Rim deal. The deal was the cornerstone of Obama's attempt to counter China's influence in Asia. The Obama administration labored for years to finalize TPP. But Obama's own Democratic Party was skeptical of the pact, and the former president never sent it to Congress for ratification. As Trump pressed forward with executive actions, a legal watchdog group filed a lawsuit alleging he is violating the so-called emoluments clause in the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments. The liberal-funded watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics says the clause prohibits Trump from receiving money from diplomats for stays at his hotels or from foreign governments for leases of office space in his buildings. Asked about the suit, Trump said it was "totally without merit." The president was spending much of the day reaching out to lawmakers and others with a stake in his economic policies. Congressional leaders from both parties were attending an evening reception at the White House. The president was also scheduled to meet with union leaders and workers. He began the day huddling with business leaders. He warned that he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States. He also promised tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he's aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. "Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," Trump said Monday. The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25 percent," although Trump has not been clear on how he intends to make up for the lost tax revenue. He also called for cutting 75 percent of federal regulations and insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Monday's developments came after a first weekend in the White House that included Trump lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Spokesman Sean Spicer was dispatched to the White House briefing room Saturday to reinforce the message, though his remarks included several inaccuracies, including a claim that floor coverings were used on the National Mall for the first time, accentuating empty spaces. Coverings were also used during Obama's 2013 inauguration. In his first days in office, Trump has been reaching out to several world leaders, including a call Monday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. On Sunday, the president spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a "common vision" with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded Israeli settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that he's set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose countries are partners with the U.S. in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump has vowed to renegotiate the terms of that pact. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Later in the week, he'll address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. ___ Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire and Lisa Lerer contributed to this report. With prices rising as much as 21% last August, gold looked like it was bouncing back last year from the slide that it has endured since 2013. Donald Trump's election put an end to that, though -- from the election to the end of December, the price of gold fell nearly 11%. In the midst of this volatility, however, shares of Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY), a global leader among gold stocks, climbed more than 46%. Let's dig into the company's performance in 2016 and see what we can expect in 2017. Image source: Getty Images. The highlights Reducing its debt by $286 million in fiscal 2015, Yamana acknowledged its interest in further strengthening its balance sheet , identifying a debt-reduction target of $300 million in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. And in one transaction, Yamana took a giant step toward achieving that target. Selling its Mercedes mine in Mexico in September, Yamana received $122.5 million in cash and $22.5 million in shares, warrants, and net smelter return royalties -- all of which the company planned on using to reduce its debt. Divesting its Mercedes mine wasn't the only action the company took in 2016 to streamline its portfolio. In December, Yamana -- holding about 85% of the issued and outstanding shares -- completed the spin-off of Brio Gold into a standalone public company. Like the sale of Mercedes, management intends to use some of the proceeds (about C$56.3 million) from the spin-off to further reduce Yamana's debt. The company could also count 2016 a success from an operations perspective. Although it hasn't released its Q4 earnings yet, management recently reported that preliminary results indicate that the company achieved its production estimates for gold, silver, and copper production. Management also reported that at $914 per gold ounce, preliminary results suggest Yamana achieved its co-product all-in sustaining costs for gold production estimate: between $880 and $920 per gold ounce. Eye on 2017 Characterized as the next of Yamana's cornerstone mines, Cerro Moro, located in Argentina, is expected to begin gold production in early 2018. Management estimates that over an initial six-year mine life, Cerro Moro will average annual gold production of 130,000 gold ounces and 6.4 million ounces of silver. Progress at Cerro Moro is important, as the company looks to replace gold production that it will be lost as a a result of the divestiture of Mercedes. According to management, approximately $224 million will be spent through 2017 and 2018 to complete the project. Another growth catalyst on Yamana's horizon is Suruca. Located at its Chapada mine in Brazil, Suruca is an example of Yamana's ability to grow organically. Image source: Yamana Gold. The company is in the process of updating the feasibility study, so investors will want to monitor this in the coming year. Gold production at Suruca isn't expected to begin until 2019, but, when it does, management estimates that production will total between 45,000 and 60,000 gold ounces over an initial mine life of four to five years. To put this in context, Chapada, according to management's preliminary results, produced 107,000 ounces of gold in fiscal 2016. Golden valuation We've looked at what's behind Yamana and what's ahead, so let's turn our attention now to its stock. One thing to remember when evaluating mining companies is that assigning a value to an asset, like a mine, is far from cut and dried; consequently, companies may take large writedowns on their assets, resulting in skewed earnings figures. One thing that can't be massaged, though, is cash flow, so foregoing the traditional price-to-earnings ratio,let's consider the stock in terms of its free cash flow on a trailing-12-month basis. Since fiscal 2015 was the first year that Yamana was free cash flow positive since fiscal 2011, it's misleading to look more than one year back at the stock through the price-to-free cash flow metric. Nonetheless, when we look over the past year, we find that the stock, currently trading at about 8.8 times free cash flow, seems to be inexpensive. It seems insufficient to consider only one valuation metric, so let's also look at it's price-to-sales ratio on a trailing-12-month basis. Trading at about 1.6 times sales, shares look reasonable -- about the midpoint of its high and low for the year. And according to Morningstar, which pegs the stock's price-to-sales ratio at a five-year average of 3.2, the shares seem even more fairly valued. AUY Price to Free Cash Flow (TTM) data by YCharts To provide more context for the stock's valuation, let's consider it alongside its peers:Barrick Gold,Goldcorp,Kinross Gold, andNewmont Mining. In terms of both free cash flow and sales, Yamana seems like quite a bargain. AUY Price to Free Cash Flow (TTM) data by YCharts Overall,considering where shares are trading today, the stock -- though not a screaming buy -- seems attractively priced. The takeaway Shares of Yamana Gold enjoyed quite the ride in 2016, but there's no guarantee that it will continue flying higher through 2017. Wall Street, not baking any irrational expectations into the stock, seems to be unimpressed with the company which may represent a buying opportunity. In streamlining its portfolio through the divestment of Mercedes, spin-off of Brio Gold, and execution of projects in its pipeline, Yamana Gold represents a reasonable consideration for investors looking to gain exposure to the gold industry. 10 stocks we like better than Yamana Gold When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Yamana Gold wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of January 4, 2017 Scott Levine has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio on Monday said he would reluctantly back President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, in a move that all but secures Senate confirmation of the former Exxon Mobil Corp chief executive as the nation's top diplomat. Rubio said he was troubled by Tillerson's recent responses before lawmakers regarding Russia as well as other countries, but that ultimately he decided he would vote to approve the nominee in deference to Trump, as well as to not leave a critical top job unfilled. "Despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillerson's nomination in committee and in the full Senate," Rubio said in a statement ahead of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's vote on Tillerson later on Monday. A vote in the Republican-controlled Senate was expected shortly after the committee vote. Rubio, a onetime rival to Trump for the Republican presidential nomination who was re-elected in November, said he would not be so deferential regarding Trump's other nominees for top posts at the State Department. At a confirmation hearing earlier this month, Tillerson expressed views that appeared to be at odds with Trumps's on key foreign policy issues like nuclear proliferation, trade deals, climate change and relations with Mexico. The nominee also had a tense exchange with Rubio on whether he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was a war criminal, in reference to Russia's military actions in support of Syria's government. He deplored such actions but stopped short of calling Putin a war criminal. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has relied on longtime ally Russia's help to try to suppress rebel opposition to his rule, which sprang up in 2011. Tillerson, 64, also sidestepped questions on human rights, declining to condemn countries like Saudi Arabia and the Philippines for rights abuses, saying he wanted the facts first. Over the weekend, fellow Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said they would back Tillerson despite their concerns over his relationship with Putin. Earlier on Monday, the most senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Ben Cardin, said he would not support Tillerson. Despite Democratic opposition, Tillerson was expected to win confirmation. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Peter Cooney and Jonathan Oatis) President Trump on Monday reiterated his promise to slash the tax rate for individuals, and for American businesses: aWe are going to be cutting taxes massively for both the middle class and for companies,a he said from his chair in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. Trumpas tax plan involves collapsing the current seven-tier bracket system into just three brackets; those who make less than $75,000 would pay 12%, Americans with earnings between $75,000-$225,000 would pay 25% and workers with incomes of more than $225,000 would pay 33%. Under these reforms, taxpayers making between $48,652 and $88,148 annually would save between $1,174 and $7,052, according to the Tax Foundation. The top rate proposed by the new administration (33%) is significantly lower than the maximum rate under President Obama, 43.8%, according to Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform president. a[The Republican plan] will offer a standard deduction of $12,000,a Norquist told FOX Business. This means, on average, an additional $12K worth of your income will be exempt from taxes as a result of the governmentas policy. However, the Republicansa blueprint for reform offers advantages to Americans beyond the mere reduction in taxes, according to Chris Edwards, director of tax policy at the Cato Institute. aThe benefits of tax reform for the average family wonat be just the tax reduction, but also the higher wages and incomes stemming from greater business investment and hiring. The Tax Foundation found that the Trump plan would raise U.S. wages by about 6%. So for workers earning $50,000 a year, that would be a substantial $3,000 annual wage boost,a he told FOX Business. The tax benefits for American businesses are also expected to be substantial. Trump said the new administration will slash the corporate tax rate to 15%-20%, down from the current level of 35%. After attending a meeting with Trump Monday morning, Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris expressed his confidence in Trumpas forthcoming economic policy bids, saying aheas going to make us all more competitive,a to a group of reporters gathered outside the White House. Overall, Norquist believes President Trump and the U.S. House are moving in tandem on tax reform, which is a promising sign for swift approval of the legislation, and for the economy in general. aBy reducing tax rates for the American taxpayer, it will lower barriers to savings investments and worka. [It will be a] big step forward for job security and job growth,a Norquist said. Simon Wiesenthal Centers Rabbi Marvin Hier, who spoke at President Trumps Inauguration, discussed the future of the United States relationship with Israel under Trump. President Trump plans to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone on Monday and has invited Netanyahu to visit to Washington, D.C. in February. When asked if these were the first steps in Trumps plan to realign the countrys relationship with Israel, Rabbi Heir said, It is. Hier then explained why the relationship with Israel is so important to the U.S. If you look at the Middle East, what other country could the United States rely on that is a democracy in the fullest standard than the state of Israel? So, I think President Trump is doing the right thing. According to Hier, Trumps decision to make that phone call to Netanyahu so early in his presidency shows that Israels friendship with the U.S. is a priority. Hes realigning, hes saying, You know what? Israel is a primary great friend of the United States and I want to make sure that the first move that I make is to have a conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel. Hier then discussed the potential reasons why a high percentage of American Jews tend to vote Democrat. I think that goes back to the Roosevelt Administration during the Depression. I know my parents were Democrats, they believed at that time that FDR rescued them from the Depression and this became sort of cultivated, but I think today you have many, many Jews around the country that are Republicans. In the 1960s, particularly in San Francisco, flower power ruled, a counter-culture revolution was underway, and psychedelic rock drifted from open windows in Haight-Ashbury. Just four miles east, a culinary revolution was happening in Chinatown thanks to Cecilia Chiang, the founder of both authentic Chinese cuisine in America and the legendary restaurant The Mandarin. She's called the Julia Child of Chinese cooking, and when she introduced authentic Northern Chinese cuisine to America, Chiang changed the dining landscape forever. Her acclaim as a chef, restaurateur, and advocate for Chinese cuisine blazed a path for other generations of Chinese and Asian restaurants-- including the popular P.F. Changs brand of Asian-American cuisine. A Successful Asian-Inspired Brand with a Stellar Pedigree A billion-dollar brand with more than 200 restaurants across the country, P.F. Changs is a household name with a unique history. More from The Daily Meal Imitation P.F. Chang's Sichuan-Style Asaparagus Recipe P.F. Chang's to Bring Back Local Favorites for a Limited Time The Best Chinese Food in Every State Its roots, dedication to Asian food, and culinary pedigree come directly from Chiang her son, Philip Chiang, is one of the founding partners. He learned how to cook the Cecilia way alongside his mother in her restaurant, The Mandarin, and over the years developed his own cooking style that made him a popular chef both in her restaurants and on his own at his Asian bistro, Mandarette. It was at this restaurant that he met Paul Fleming, a regular customer who lived in Arizona and was desperate for good Chinese food. He convinced Philip to come to Scottsdale, Arizona, and together they founded P.F. Changs in 1993 in a shopping mall. This unlikely partnership between Paul Fleming (thats the P.F. part), who was also the owner of the Ruths Chris Steakhouse Franchise in California, and Philip Chiang (thats the Chang part) turned out to be blessed from the start. Its first weekend in business, the restaurant was packed with enthusiastic diners who couldnt get enough of Philips menu, which included dishes from Asia with a focus on the upscale Chinese wok cooking found in Northern China. Rather than change the Northern Chinese cuisine entirely, Philip cooked it simpler, fresher, and his new approach launched a dynasty that continues to thrive 23 years later. Share a photo of your Chinese New Year wish with #PFCHANGSWISH & #SWEEPSTAKES for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card! https://t.co/MzNEYJNS2o pic.twitter.com/vrfOuitfB5 P.F. Chang's (@PFChangs) January 19, 2017 A Modern Twist on Classic Asian Cuisine Philips inventive dishes and Flemings insistence on American-style service offered diners a new experience. Friendly service, incredible decor (every hand painted mural in each restaurant is unique and depicts twelfth-century China), and regional Asian-themed menus were complemented by one of the industrys first progressive wine lists a wine-by-the-glass program that included more than 100 wines and an extensive Asian-inspired dessert menu. A Farm to Work Philosophy from the Beginning Success in the restaurant industry is never a guarantee, but since it launched, P.F. Changs has made its food and signature beverages from scratch, every day, in each individual restaurant. Dim sum is hand-folded, fresh ginger root is juiced for house-made ginger beer, and even sauces are made from scratch. Clean ingredients, purposeful recipes, and the power of a fiery wok are part of the Farm to Wok approach that has been the brands food philosophy since the day it launched. Its been our story and now we are telling it, said Dwayne Chambers, head of marketing at P.F. Changs. Many guests dont know that every one of our restaurants has a scratch kitchen. This means our chefs are preparing food fresh every day chopping vegetables, hand rolling sushi, and crafting handmade cocktails from fresh squeezed fruits." They Really Walk the Wok Philip Chiangs preference for wok cooking (a cooking technique that is more than 2,000 years old) was more than a nod to his lineage and training. Wok cooking is one of the purest forms of cooking, creating an intense flame (what is called wok hei or breath of wok) that imparts unique, smoky, caramelized flavors and crispy textures favored in Northern China. Wok cooking also allowed the restaurant to feature classic favorites inspired by recipes Cecilia invented at The Mandarin, like Mongolian Beef, which was originally made with lamb, and the Chicken Lettuce Wraps, which were originally made with shredded squab. Philips versions of these classic dishes are still some of the most popular dishes on the menu. An Industry First, All From Scratch P.F. Changs is the restaurant first credited with putting lettuce wraps on the food map, and this menu staple is one of the most-copied items in the restaurant industry. Forget trying to copy it; the recipe is top secret and is closely guarded by all of the chefs. P.F. Changs kitchens are all-scratch kitchens, meaning the food is made from scratch every day, in every restaurant, and the chefs use all-natural meat, responsibly sourced seafood, and local produce whenever possible. According to The New York Times, P.F. Changs was the first national restaurant to use Sriracha in 2000, and its restaurants use nearly 100,000 bottles of Sriracha per year. Some say the most important role in the P.F. Changs kitchen is hand-folding the dim sum, which starts early every day, along with hand-folding wontons and egg rolls. Learn more surprising facts about P.F. Chang's. The official inauguration festivities celebrating President Donald Trump may have ended but foodies with deep pockets in New York City can continue the party with a gilded "Trump pizza. The pie, created by Champion Pizza in Manhattan, comes with a price tag somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000-- depending on how many heapings of the pricey toppings your heart desires. So what's actually on it? The dish comes with gold leaf arranged to spell out TRUMP. Theres also Russian caviar, 25-year-old aged balsamic vinegar, Brazilian honey, white truffles and a crust infused with ginseng, reports the New York Post. DINER SPARKS CONTROVERSY WITH TRUMP-THEMED GOLDEN SHOWER BURGER There are also seven (yes, seven) varieties of cheese: three different types of mozzarella, black truffle Pecorino, Foglie di Castagno, Testun and aged Parmesan. The $10,000 version of the white pie comes with an extra heaping of each of the premium ingredients. Hakki Akdeniz, who immigrated to North America from Turkey as a teenager, invented the Trump Pizza. This pizza shop owner wouldn't devulge his political views but hopes Trump will do a good job as the commander in chief. But unlike the business-focused President, Akdeniz designed his priciest pie for a charitable cause. Champion Pizza shop owner Hakki Akdeniz layout edible gold leaf and caviar on the $5,000 "Trump Helps the Homeless" pizza. (CFP / Polaris) pic.twitter.com/nfcz4JTyD3 Global Times (@globaltimesnews) January 19, 2017 Sales from the Trump Pizza will all benefit The Bowery Mission, a center that provides meals and medical care to New York City's homeless. I want to give them hope. If you work so hard you will make it happen, the restaurateur said. Those guys in the shelter have nowhere to go. You dont know where you wake up or what you are gonna do when you are homeless. He said the idea of the pizza capitalizes on the media sensation surrounding Trump while also raising money for a good cause. Akdeniz himself says he spent three months at the shelter, so it's a cause close to his heart. Whenever I pass that place, it makes me emotional, Akdeniz said of the Bowery Mission. FOR THE LATEST FOOD FEATURES FOLLOW FOX ON FACEBOOK Want to buy the pie? You can actually only pay for the pizza by making out a check to the Bowery Mission. The altruistic pizza entrepeneur has a habit of giving back. After hearing that Stars Wars actress Carrie Fisher had died late last month, Akdeniz gave out free slices to customers who came in dressed as characters from the iconic film franchise. Belgian supermodel Hanne Gaby Odiele, who is famous for strutting on high-fashion runways, dropped a bombshell this week when she revealed to USA Today that she is intersex. It is very important to me in my life right now to break the taboo, 29-year-old Odiele told the newspaper. At this point, in this day and age, it should be perfectly all right to talk about this. Individuals who are intersex dont fit traditional definitions of female or male based on their genitals or chromosomes. According to the United Nations, about as many intersex babies are born as are redheads. By divulging her true identity, Odiele told USA Today, the supermodel hopes to raise awareness of the often secretive surgeries intersex children are forced to undergo. Odiele reportedly experienced such a procedure at age 10, when surgeons removed her testes, which were internal and undescended. USA Today reported that Odiele was born with XY chromosomes due to an intersex characteristic called Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS). She later underwent vaginal reconstructive surgery. Sue Stred, a professor of pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University, told USA Today that parents whose children are born without typical genitals may be encouraged to have their child undergo cosmetic surgery solely for aesthetic purposes. Stred likened the surgeries to a nose job on a 7-year-old. Those decisions can cause children to become permanently infertile, as was the case for Odiele, and dependent on hormone replacement medications. Eventually, Stred said, that premature choice may harm the childs relationship with his or her parents. There is a sense of betrayal when teens or young adults find out, Stred told USA Today. Some individuals leave medical care altogether because they are so angry at what physicians did to them before they were the age of consent. Odiele, whose modeling career began when she was 18 after being discovered a year prior at a music festival in Belgium, said its not that big of a deal being intersex. She said her parents decision has had traumatic effects on her. I am proud to be intersex, she told the newspaper, but very angry that these surgeries are still happening. Infertile women who are depressed are less likely to proceed with fertility treatments, a small U.S. study suggests. Fertility specialists should consider screening patients for depression, the authors write, to help these patients improve their quality of life and not miss out on the chance of pregnancy. Of 416 women in the study, 41 percent screened positive for depression, researchers found. "The relationship between depression and infertility is complex. Many women in our study screened positive for depression," lead author Dr. Natalie Crawford told Reuters Health in an email. Dr. Crawford, who is currently medical director of fertility preservation at Austin Fertility Institute in Texas, led the study while she was at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill. While she was at UNC, all patients were given questionnaires to screen for depression and providers noticed that many women tested positive. "We suspected that women who did screen positive for depression were less likely to comply with infertility treatment recommendations," Dr. Crawford said. "Our study revealed that women who have a screening test correlating with depression were less likely to proceed with infertility treatments, likely making it harder to achieve the ultimate goal of pregnancy," Dr. Crawford said. The research team sent electronic questionnaires to 959 women. The surveys were designed to screen for mental health disorders and patients' perception of mental health disorders and fertility. Of the 416 women who answered the questionnaire, more than half had been trying to conceive for more than two years. Although 41 percent actually tested positive for depression based on their questionnaire responses, 50 percent of the women with infertility said they felt depressed most or all of the time. Only 36 percent of the women who screened positive for depression went ahead with fertility treatments compared to 64 percent of women who did not have depression, according to the results published January 9 in the journal Human Reproduction. Dr. Crawford said that if people have friends or family members who are struggling with infertility, it is important to acknowledge their difficulty. "I think simply starting the conversation is the hardest part. Couples who have infertility often report social isolation," she said. "Thus, supporting friends and family who are suffering can be extremely helpful. Express your feelings clearly." Patients might not realize that their avoiding fertility treatment may be, in fact, a sign of the stress infertility is causing them, said Dr. Heather Shapiro, who wasn't involved in the study. Dr. Shapiro, vice chair of education in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at the University of Toronto, said she thinks that fertility doctors are generally familiar with the problem of patients avoiding or delaying treatment due to depression or anxiety or some kind of emotional response to fertility. It might help if family and friends recognize that when someone has started and then abandoned fertility treatment, there's a good chance that there's a major stress component to that, she said. "If you're in a position to address that stress component either as an informal family support member or professional support member, addressing the stress directly would probably in the long-term help their fertility," Dr. Shapiro said. Via G1.globo.com: Secretaria da Saude confirma 3 mortes por febre amarela em SP. [Health department confirms three yellow fever deaths in Sao Paulo] An edited excerpt from the Google translation: State Department of Health has investigated 10 suspected cases of yellow fever in the state of Sao Paulo. Of these, three people have died. All the victims this year had been in Minas Gerais, a state that faces an outbreak of the disease. (Correction: The State Department of Health had initially reported investigating 13 cases of yellow fever in Sao Paulo. The information was corrected at 3:16 pm) According to the department, there are three deaths confirmed by the disease, one case being imported from Minas Gerais (with notification in Santana do Parnaiba) and two contracted in the state (autochthonous), in the municipalities of Batatais and Americo Brasiliense, in the interior. Cases of yellow fever in SP Investigated: 10 Deaths investigated: 3 Deaths confirmed: 3 Also according to the department, two deaths from wild yellow fever were confirmed last year: one in April in the municipality of Bady Bassit (where the probable site of infection is known as "monkey forest" in the municipality of Sao Jose do Rio Preto); and another in Ribeirao Preto, also in an area close to the forest. A baby whose mother died of cancer shortly after giving birth recently defied the odds to celebrate his first birthday. CTV News Vancouver reported that Salvatore is a smiling boy who loves playing with his toys and getting attention. His late mom, Breanne Smaaslet, 22, was diagnosed with terminal cancer while pregnant and fought for her life to give her son a chance. The news website didnt report on the type of cancer she had been suffering from. It just makes me upset that I can't actually be a mom, but I know my baby will be in great hands when the time comes Its time to be strong for our little boy, Smaaslet told CTV News days before Christmas 2015, when Salvatore, whose name means savior, was born at 26 weeks weighing only 1.9 pounds. Smaaslet died a few days later at Surrey Memorial Hospital, CTV News reported. Salvatores father also died suddenly one month before his birth. After spending four months in the hospital, Salvatore is nearing his 13-month birthday and weighs 22 pounds. Hes in the 50th percentile for his height and weight. His aunt Rose Pachota and her fiance, Frank Vargas, are raising him, and told the news website that doctors are amazed at how hes developing. The situation was tragic, but we also have this beautiful little boy who is a representation of the mom and dad, Pachota told CTV News. Editors note: The following column originally appeared in the National Review Online. What is a better word for the more than 6,000 black men shot dead on the streets in 2015? The media have been clucking their disapproval at the darkness of Donald Trumps inaugural speech. Uniquely dark vision of the U.S., read a New York Times headline on Saturday. The Washington Post reported that Trump delivered a dark inaugural address adding, somewhat contradictorily in which he pledged fealty to all Americans. A New York Times op-ed by a former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton decried Trumps dark, counterfactual picture of American carnage: an economy in decline, communities under siege by the crime and the gangs and the drugs. A New York Times editorial, President Trumps Dystopian America, scoffed at how President Trump waxed apocalyptic in imagining the prevalence of crime in the nations cities. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now, [Mr. Trump] vowed, the Times wrote incredulously. The press unleashed an identical outpouring of criticism for Trumps acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, which was likewise said to adopt a counterfactually bleak view of the nation. Are you scratching your head and wondering, Since when did liberals and the Left embrace a sunny, light-filled vision of the United States? If so, youre not misremembering things. These are the same liberal elites who have been telling us for decades that America is shot through with an ever-expanding array of hatreds and injustice that disenfranchise large portions of the population and force them to live in fear. While the conceit of an endemically bigoted and unjust America is longstanding, you need look no further than Saturdays Womens March on Washington, D.C., to refresh your memory. To continue reading Heather Mac Donalds column in the National Review Online, click here. President Trump inherits an increasingly dangerous world and a military that has been severely damaged in recent years. Funding national security, which used to be a bipartisan priority, has become part of the political gamesmanship that so frustrates the American people. Now the new president and the new Congress have a pivotal opportunity to turn things around, and there is much to do. President Trump has made rebuilding our military strength one of his top priorities. More money is certainly required, but so is reform of the Pentagon and how it does business. Over the past two years, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have made defense reform a very high priority. We have put the military retirement and health care systems on a more sustainable footing. We have enacted the most significant organizational changes to the Pentagon since Goldwater-Nichols and have mandated reductions in overhead, in flag officers, and in the number of civil servants. We have passed two rounds of deep acquisition reform designed to get more value for the taxpayer dollar. Reform will continue to be a major emphasis. We must become more agile in order to keep up with technological advances and with rapidly evolving threats. But reform alone will not repair the damage of the past several years. If the men and women who protect the country are to succeed in the missions they are assigned, we simply must invest more in defense. From 2010 to 2014, the military budget was cut 21 percent in real terms. Yet, the world did not get 21 percent safer. We asked more of our military than ever, while budget cuts eroded Americas military capability. The Marine Corps is harvesting spare parts from museums to keep planes flying over Iraq. Air Force pilots fly fewer hours than some of our adversaries. The Chief of Staff of the Army has testified that the readiness of the Army is not at a level that is appropriate for what the American people would expect to defend them. The last time Congress passed a threat-based defense budget was in 2012. Keep in mind that in 2012 Russia was not bullying its neighbors, ISIS did not exist - nor was it inspiring terrorist attacks in the United States - and China was not building new islands in the South China Sea. Over that same time, we have cut the number of Airmen, Marines, and Soldiers, making deployments more frequent and more dangerous for those who remain. We also have failed to ensure that they receive the training and the modern equipment they need. That is simply immoral. What is to be done? First, Congress should immediately pass the fiscal year 2017 funding for national defense. The military has been operating on a stopgap measure since October, which hamstrings the Department of Defense and wastes millions of taxpayer dollars. Every day we fail to pass this funding bill is another day that the Department spends inefficiently and that the repair work is delayed. Second, President Trump has promised to request supplemental funding for national security in his first 100 days in order to get a head start on rebuilding the military. A good blueprint to follow is the House-passed version of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. It supported an increase in the number of troops, additional resources for training, maintenance, and facilities, and new equipment to replace old, outdated systems. Third, Congress and the President must pass funding for fiscal year 2018 at a level that adequately supports our military and begins to repair the damage inflicted over the last several years. President Obamas proposal of $584 billion to fund base requirements next year is clearly not enough. The House Armed Services Committee has been working to identify the major gaps ignored by President Obamas budget and to fulfill President Trumps promises to increase the number of troops in the military and begin building a 350 ship Navy. For example, an additional $15 billion is needed to start rebuilding an active Army of 490,000 Soldiers; almost $14 billion is needed to begin repairing our ships, restoring our naval presence around the world, and recovering current readiness shortfalls; and nearly $11 billion is needed to replace worn out equipment and begin making up for military training missed over the last four years. It will take nearly $4 billion to restore dilapidated facilities. We are sharing the details of our analysis with the new team. The cost to do these things is approximately $640 billion next year. If the Trump Administration and the Congress decide they are willing to take greater risk in some areas, then the numbers can be adjusted. But playing politics with our troops has gone on too long and has done too much damage. Lower funding will have real consequences. While there are those who want to spend more, we believe that $640 billion is the level that the Department of Defense can responsibly spend next year. As we rush to restore the military, we must be careful not to overload the system. To protect Americas security, we are going to have to pull Americas military out of the swamp of Washington politics. Making America great again begins with making our military great again. As President Trump begins this daunting task, many of us in Congress will be his strongest allies. As the 115th Congress begins, I am honored to assume a new role as Interim Chair of the House Budget Committee. It is an exciting opportunity, particularly as the first woman to fill the position, but more than any title before my name, Im still most proud of the two letters that follow: R.N. I graduated from nursing school in 1971 and still keep my license today. Those years on the front lines of patient care, primarily in emergency room settings, inform much of the work I do in Congress especially when it comes to ObamaCare. Its no secret that Congressional Republicans arent keen on former President Obamas health care law (of course, recent polling shows that a majority of Americans still arent either) but, for me, the debate has never been about politics. Its personal. As a nurse, I saw the impact of health care decisions in Washington play out every day on my patients faces and in their billing statements. I understand the need for healthcare reform as well as anyone, but ObamaCare wasnt the way to do it and nowhere is that more deeply felt than in my home state of Tennessee. In 2013, 28,000 Tennesseans lost their insurance coverage in a single day when a state program called CoverTN lapsed after the Obama administration decreed that it ran afoul of the health care laws top-down requirements. Two years later, our states ObamaCare co-op would follow suit, leaving thousands in a scramble for coverage. Today, Tennesseans are seeing an average 63 percent premium spike and 73 of our 95 counties have a single option to choose from on the Obamacare exchange. Our state insurance commissioner didnt mince words last year when she described the marketplace as very near collapse but even that characterization is generous. When three-fourths of your state lacks any choice among insurers, its no longer a marketplace at all its a monopoly. Sadly, Tennessee has seen this movie before, and we know exactly how it ends. A similar government-run program, called TennCare, failed in our state less than 15 years ago. First enacted in 1994, this program dramatically expanded Medicaid eligibility to just about anyone that wanted it, including healthy, insurable adults who simply lacked employer-sponsored coverage. Costs for TennCare quickly exploded, rising 146 percent over a ten-year window with little to show in the way of improved health outcomes. In 2001, BlueCross Blue Shield, which covered half of all TennCare patients, threatened to pull out of the program because of massive losses and, by 2004, an independent audit revealed TennCare was on track to bankrupt Tennessee. Like ObamaCare, TennCare couldnt deliver on its promises. Both programs found themselves mired in court cases, unable to attract healthy adults, struggling to keep insurers, crippled by a lack of proper verification for eligibility, and ultimately failing to bend the health care cost curve. It was ultimately a Democrat Governor, Phil Bredesen, who scaled back TennCare to a traditional Medicaid model, admitting Our experience with trying to do universal coverage ended up being a disaster." Now, Tennesseans are experiencing a bad case of deja vu. Following the clear mandate from American voters last fall and keeping the lessons of TennCare in mind Congressional Republicans recently took the first steps towards the repeal of ObamaCare. The debate on the House floor over the legislation was spirited, with Democrats claiming that supporters of repeal are pulling the rug out from millions of Americans, but their argument falls short. For every person that ObamaCare loyalists claim has been helped by this law, another has opted out of the law altogether. Indeed, between the number of people who claimed an exemption from ObamaCare penalties and those who paid the fines some 20 million Americans are rejecting ObamaCare outright. Washington types fail to understand that by repealing and replacing ObamaCare, we are not disrupting a system that is working, we are offering a rescue plan to stop the bleeding and transition away from a law that already failed by every measure. That also means offering a stable transition period, so that no one falls through the cracks, and then offering a path to something better. If President Obamas infamous pledge that If you like your plan, you can keep it was the greatest lie surrounding ObamaCare, then a close second is the claim that Republicans have no alternative. For example, Speaker Paul Ryan filed the Patients Choice Act during the same session of Congress ObamaCare was passed. Unsurprisingly, the Democratic majority wouldnt give the bill consideration. More recently, my Tennessee colleague, Congressman Phil Roe, a physician by trade, offered the American Health Care Reform Act and Congressman Tom Price, an orthopedic surgeon, introduced the Empowering Patients First Act. While the exact details of these bills vary, they all center on solutions that expand choice, force insurers to compete for patients business, protect our most vulnerable, and work to drive down the cost of care. Last summer, House Republicans put many of these solutions together in a detailed, 37-page policy blueprint called A Better Way for health care reform. The House will legislate on an ObamaCare replacement bill that meets the contours of that plan this year. Nearly seven years after ObamaCare became law on a party line vote, we can say with certainty that weve tried health care reform the Washington way and it didnt work. Now, its time to try a better way with solutions that trust patients over politicians and that offer Americans the care they want without forcing them to buy into a product they dont need. This nurse is ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. Rep. Darrell Issa fired back at the Obama administration after Democrats complained his decision to release 166 pages of documents on the security situation in Benghazi threatened the lives of several Libyans who are named and worked with the U.S. Administration officials had said those named in the documents could be in danger in Benghazi, a city with known Al Qaeda sympathizers. They claimed Issa, the Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, failed to ask the State Department to review the documents for sensitive information before releasing them to the public. Those accusations were echoed by top Democrats in Congress -- including Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the ranking Democrat on Issa's committee, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But Issa rejected the claims in a statement Sunday night -- he suggested one Libyan rights activist identified in the documents was already publicly associated with the U.S. following a State Department-sponsored trip to the U.S. in 2011. The Libyan rights activist who was highlighted by the Obama administration in news accounts as having not been, publicly associated with the U.S. until the Oversight Committee released documents had actually been brought to the U.S. in December 2011 by the State Department and her trip is highlighted on the Internet," Issa said. "President Obama should be ashamed of yet another example where his administration has been caught trying to mislead the American people about what happened in Libya. Issa also shot back at the remarks from Kerry and other Democrats. Obama Administration officials and their surrogates are clearly reeling from revelations about how the situation in Benghazi was mishandled and are falsely politicizing the issue in a last ditch effort to save President Obamas reelection effort," he said. "To see such prominent officials as Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Carl Levin, Rahm Emanuel, and Obama Senior Advisor David Axelrod paraded out over to weekend to make false charges about the Oversight Committee putting Libyans in danger only shows their desperation to hide the truth." Kerry was early to criticize Issa, saying in a statement: "It's bad enough that it's becoming a political sideshow presumably driven by the calendar of Monday's upcoming presidential debate, but even worse is that in their rush to make news they've exposed Libyans who were working side by side with America." Issa held a hearing this month in which a State Department official acknowledged she declined requests from U.S. officials in Benghazi for more security. The official, Charlene Lamb, said she believed before the attacks that security at the Benghazi consulate was sufficient. Frederick Hill, Issa's spokesman, said the documents were given to State Department officials and Cummings almost two weeks ago. "That Cummings and State Department officials did not express specific concerns about Libyans mentioned in these unclassified documents obtained by the committee until three days before the presidential debate on foreign policy is telling," Hill said. He added the department has yet to directly contact the committee with any requests for specific redactions to the documents. Hill added that the committee did make redactions in the documents, and the Libyan individuals mentioned in the records worked in positions where their interactions with westerners would not be surprising. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Trump said Sunday that hell discuss immigration and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement when he meets soon with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, part of a busy fourth day for his administration. Anybody ever hear of NAFTA, Trump said during a White House swearing-in of several top administration officials including senior adviser Kellyanne Conway. I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA, on immigration and security at the border. And Mexico has been terrific. The president will meet on Jan. 31 with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, according to the White House. To be sure, Trump ran for office on a pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and have Mexico pay for it. And he reiterated that promise following the election. The president is also expected to meet soon with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country is also a partner in NAFTA. Trump has blamed the three-nation trade pact for disadvantaging American workers and leading companies to move out of the United States. Earlier in the day, White House officials said that they are having preliminary discussions about plans to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and, separately, that President Trump will not release his tax returns. The statement about officials being at the very beginning of discussions on possibly moving the embassy follows reports in Israeli media that Trump had imminent plans to announce the move. Trump, who has said he would move the embassy to Jerusalem, spoke Sunday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone. Previous presidential candidates also have promised to make the embassy move. But presidents have avoided following through on that pledge in part because of concerns that it would inflame tensions in the Middle East. In addition, Conway said Sunday that Trump wont release his tax returns, appearing to shut the door on a decades-long tradition of transparency. Every president since 1976 has released their returns. During the campaign, Trump refused to make his filings public, saying they were under audit by the Internal Revenue Service and saying he'd release them after that review is complete. Conway was asked Sunday about a petition on the White House website signed by more than 200,000 people calling for Trump to release his returns. "The White House response is that he's not going to release his tax returns," she said on ABCs This Week. "We litigated this all through the election. People didn't care." However, polls appear to show a majority of Americans want Trump to release the returns. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday accepted a phone invitation from President Trump to visit the United States next month, according to the White House. The call was purportedly part of a broader effort to strength U.S.-Israeli ties now that Trump is officially president and included Trump restating that defeating ISIS and other Islamic terrorist groups remains a top priority. The two world leaders agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including the threats posed by Iran and relations between Israel and the Palestinians, the White House also said. Trump during the call also emphasized that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between the two parties, and that the United States will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal, according to the White House. The two leaders spoke after Trump won the presidential election on Nov. 9. And Netanyahu called Trump a true friend of Israel, after Trumps victory. Trump, a Republican, has been critical of how his predecessor, Barack Obama, and his administration treated Israel, considered the United States closest Middle East ally. Most recently, the administration effectively backed a United Nations resolution that opposed Israel building more settlements in the disputed West Bank. President George H.W. Bush was set Monday to be moved out of the intensive care unit and onto a regular hospital floor, and his wife, Barbara Bush, has been discharged though shes expected to soon be back by her 92-year-old husbands side. The former president could be discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital as soon as Friday, though a weekend release may be more realistic, pulmonologist Dr. Clint Doerr said during a news conference at Houston Methodist Hospital. He is sitting up watching TV and is waiting anxiously for his favorite oyster stew for lunch, Doerr said. Hes on minimal oxygen, joking and laughing with the nurses and doctors. Family spokesman Jim McGrath tweeted a photo of the smiling couple thanking the world for their prayers and good wishes. President and Mrs @GeorgeHWBush thank their fellow Americans and friends from around the world for their prayers and good wishes. pic.twitter.com/PhpXXGKl6p Jim McGrath (@jgm41) January 23, 2017 The 41st president still has a fair amount of coughing, but that issue is being addressed with various breathing treatments and hes still receiving antibiotics. Hes a really strong person, Doerr said. Hes not your average 92-year-old. And, according to Doerr and hospitalist Dr. Amy Mynderse, Barbara Bush is not your typical 91-year-old, either. Even though she was ill, she was trying to be by his bedside the whole time, Mynderse said. Other than sleeping in separate rooms, shes basically been sitting at his bedside the whole time. Barbara is set to return to the hospital, but this time as a visitor, not a patient. Theyre essentially therapy for each other, Doerr said. They help in our compliance. When one of them doesnt want to take a breathing treatment, the other one says, Get on that. Help our cause! The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's choice to head the Central Intelligence Agency Monday evening, while Trump's pick for secretary of state cleared his first hurdle en route to becoming America's top diplomat. Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo was confirmed as CIA Director by a 66-32 vote, the closest of three Senate votes on Trump appointments. Thirty Democrats, along with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposed Pompeo, variously citing his positions on key issues like surveillance, torture and Russia's meddling in the 2016 election campaign. The libertarian-leaning Paul told Fox News that he voted against Pompeo because of worries that Pompeo's "desire for security will trump his defense of liberty." Pompeo, who was sworn in Monday evening by Vice President Mike Pence, will lead the CIA at a critical time for U.S. national security, when intelligence -- traditionally a nonpartisan issue -- has been thrust into the political arena. Trump has been critical of intelligence agencies' findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign with the goal of electing him over Hillary Clinton. Earlier Monday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted along party lines to approve former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as President Trumps secretary of state, setting up a full Senate vote as early as next week. Tillerson was assured of enough votes to avoid an embarrassing defeat in committee after Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., decided to vote "yes" on Tillerson's nomination. Rubio voted for Tillerson despite his concerns, and those of others on the committee, about Tillerson's past business ties with Russia. He has a proven record of running a large, complex company, Rubio said before voting yes. For me, this wasnt simply a concern about Russia. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. the top Democrat on the committee, voted against Tillersons nomination. I believe Mr. Tillersons demonstrated business orientation and his responses to questions during the confirmation hearing could compromise his ability as secretary of state to forcefully promote the values and ideals that have defined our country and our leading role in the world for more than 200 years, he said before the vote. Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had expressed concerns about Tillerson similar to those raised by Rubio. However, the senators said Sunday that they would support Tillerson in the final floor vote. "Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests," they said in a joint statement. Tillerson's nomination is expected to be approved by the full Senate since the Republicans have 52 senators in the chamber and 51 of them, a simple majority, are needed to vote yes." As CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson spoke out against U.S. sanctions levied on Moscow following its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. The penalties cost the energy giant hundreds of millions of dollars. Fox News' Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The recovery operation was costly and dangerous, requiring the special operations soldier to enter hostile territory in full body armor and make his way to a U.S. military base. The purpose of his mission, however, did not include bringing back an American soldier. It was to pick up a 45-pound white Canaan dog named "Ghost" and reunite him with his human companion back home. It's the kind of mission this soldier, who declined to give his name for security reasons, says he conducts in war zones around the world. "It's the best feeling to reunite these pets with their soldiers," he told Fox News. "I was wounded in Iraq, myself, and I owe my life to my dog. There is a bond there that could never be broken." For American soldiers serving abroad, pets are not considered military property and are often left to die in the war zones where they bonded with their handlers. But this special operations soldier, with the help of a New York animal rescue group, has made it his mission to fly into countries in the Middle East and bring the pets back to the U.S. to live with their companions and their families. "Theres a risk of kidnapping theres a risk of everything over there. You dont know whos your friend and who isnt," said the soldier, a 14-year special operations veteran who to date has carried out 20 missions, returning dozens of pets. "I had a gun held to my head while I was trying to get a dog," he said. Each operation costs between $3,000 and $4,000, and is funded entirely by Guardians of Rescue, a group based in Smithtown, N.Y., that has been providing financial assistance for such missions since 2012 in places like Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen. "The animals are not classified as military property, therefore theyre not authorized on the packing list," the soldier said. "You take home with you what you bring." Past rescues include an orange, fluffy cat named, "Majnoon" and a dark-colored puppy found near death in a desert after his mother had been shot and killed. The soldier explained what he called a "very flawed policy" in the Middle East called "vector control," in which local contractors at the bases within the region trap and exterminate the animals, including packs of ferral dogs. Such was the case for Ghost, who, along with his entire litter, was poisoned as part of the vector control program. The 1-year-old dog miraculously survived, according to the veteran, who brought him stateside in November to live with his soldier's family in the Northeast. "I think he realizes hes lucky," he said of Ghost, whom he described as the quintessential puppy who loves to play. "He has an undying love for his soldier," he said. There are many logistical challenges involved in animal rescue missions, said Robert Misseri, who runs Guardians of Rescue, the subject of a weekly show on "Animal Planet." Pets must receive medical clearance before they can leave the country for the U.S. The goal for each mission is to bring home four animals at a time -- an operation Misseri said is funded through many small donations. Every time a pet is reunited with its soldier, "it helps both ends of the leash," he said. "When you know you can help an animal stay alive and also prevent a service member from experiencing guilt for having left a pet behind -- it's very rewarding," Misseri said. Via the Los Angeles Times: Measles outbreak grows in L.A.'s Orthodox Jewish community despite California's strict new vaccination law. Excerpt: Six months after Californias strict vaccine law took effect, a measles outbreak has infected 20 people, most of them in Los Angeles County, prompting a search for others who may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. Most of the patients live in western areas of the county, including L.A.s Westside, the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Fernando Valley. Santa Barbara and Ventura counties each reported one case. At least 15 of the 18 L.A. County patients either knew one another or had a clear social connection, said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, interim health officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. None of the 18 could provide proof of vaccination, he said. Gunzenhauser said the first person was diagnosed in early December, followed by 16 cases in the last three weeks of 2016, and then one more case last week. Im hopeful that were getting to the end of this, he said. Hershy Z. Ten, a rabbi who runs Jewish healthcare foundation Bikur Cholim in L.A.s Beverly Grove neighborhood, said county health officials told him a measles outbreak was affecting the countys Orthodox Jewish community. He convened a panel last week to discuss steps that Jewish day schools and synagogues could take to stem the outbreak and ensure unvaccinated children are immunized. Seven cases of measles reported in L.A. County Measles is very, very serious, he said. Those children are at risk and they put other children at risk. A measles outbreak that began at Disneyland in 2014 infected 145 people across the United States, as well as dozens in Canada and Mexico. It led to the passage of a law in California requiring all children to be vaccinated unless a doctor provides a medical exemption. The law took effect in July. California is now one of three states that forbid children from opting out of vaccines because of religious or personal beliefs. Health experts say the outbreak reveals the degree to which immunity against the disease has eroded a problem the new law will probably improve but not completely fix. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, in his first daily press briefing Monday, picked a reporter from Univision a Spanish language outlet that had frequently been hostile to President Trumps candidacy - to ask one of the first questions. Spicer chose reporter Janet Rodriguez to ask the third question, having first called upon the New York Post and the Christian Broadcasting Network. Spicers decision to overlook The Associated Press and other front-row publications for the first questions seemed to be a sign that he might give less deference to mainstream news outlets in the briefing. Univision has been critical of Trump, particularly over his stance on immigration. Rodriguez asked Spicer about President Obamas actions on children of illegal immigrants (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA) and what would be done for recipients. She also asked about the status of the White Houses Spanish website which was taken down when Trump was inaugurated Friday as part of the transition to a new website. Spicer said the website may require a little more time and the IT technicians were working on it. Trust me, it's just going to take a little bit more time, but we're working piece by piece to get that done, he said. As for DACA, Spicer said that the priority for immigration was to deport criminal illegal aliens first. First and foremost, the president's been very, very clear that we need to direct agencies to focus on those who are in this country illegally and have a record - a criminal record or oppose a threat to the American people, he said. That's where the priorities are going to be and then we're going to continue to work through the entire number of folks that are here illegally. But right now the clear focus is on that. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is set for what is sure to be a testy briefing with the press corps Monday after he lambasted the media at an unusual late-Saturday appearance over their reporting on inauguration crowd sizes while making a series of questionable assertions of his own. His first full-scale White House briefing is set for 1:30 p.m. ET. Two days earlier, Spicer summoned the press to the briefing room to excoriate the media for allegedly underplaying President Trumps inauguration turnout in what he described as a shameful attempt to minimize enthusiasm for the new president. Spicer also used the briefing to condemn a reporters erroneous claim, since retracted, that a Martin Luther King Jr. bust was removed from the Oval Office. Were going to hold the press accountable, Spicer said. But in making his case, Spicer on Saturday incorrectly cited statistics from the Metro transit system to suggest Trumps inauguration attendance was bigger than that of then-President Obamas 2013 inauguration. And he made the sweeping claim, This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe. Counting spectators in Washington Friday and viewers watching on television and online around the world, it is possible Fridays inauguration had the biggest global audience. But such comprehensive statistics are not available, and the claim cannot be verified. Further, there is little question that Obamas 2009 inauguration drew a much bigger in-person crowd than Trumps ceremonies on Friday based on aerial photography, Metro ridership statistics and other factors. Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway faced tough questions on Sundays Meet the Press on NBC News, as she claimed Spicer used alternative facts to challenge the media. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus defended Trump and Spicer over their media criticism, saying on Fox News Sunday there is an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president. We are not going to sit around and let it happen, Priebus said. Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for then-President George W. Bush, told Fox & Friends on Monday that the White House should push back on efforts to delegitimize Trump. But do it on high ground, not on shaky statistics, he said. Fleischer said the complaint about erroneous reporting on the MLK bust was a legitimate fight. But he questioned why they picked a fight over the size of the crowd, speculating: This is where Donald Trump must have said to Sean, Get out there, fix this and Sean felt the squeeze and felt the pressure that the president can impose on him. New Yorkers smoke more smuggled cigarettes than they do those that are legally taxed in the state. Its also probably no coincidence the state has the nations highest cigarette tax rate. Thats the takeaway from a recent study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the Tax Foundation that found cigarette smuggling is a growing problem, particularly in those states that heavily tax the smokes. The Empire State imposes a $4.35-per-pack excise tax rate on cigarettes, while smokers in New York City pay an additional $1.50-per-pack tax. And lets not forget that a federal tax rate of just over $1 per pack is also collected. That means a resident of New York City pays $6.85 in taxes for each pack on top of the actual cost of the smokes. Even though states in the northeast tend to impose higher cigarette tax rates than the rest of the country see a map of rates here New Yorkers can still save quite a bit of money by going across state lines to buy cigarettes. Residents of New York City, for example, could cross the Hudson River into New Jersey and pay a $2.70-per-pack tax rate, saving them more than $4 per pack. In all, an estimated 55.4 percent of cigarettes consumed in New York in 2014 were smuggled into its borders. New York is followed by Arizona (49.6 percent), New Mexico (46.2 percent), Washington (45.2 percent) and Minnesota (35.5 percent). Click for more from Watchdog.org Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to cut funding for one county after its sheriff announced the agency would be scaling back its cooperation with federal immigration. Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez announced last week shes scaling back the amount of aid her department provides federal immigration agents in detaining suspects who might be in the country illegally, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Starting Feb. 1, sheriffs officials will begin honoring so-called immigration holds or detainers placed by federal authorities only when a suspect is booked into the Travis County Jail on charges of capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and continuous smuggling of persons. Otherwise, federal agents must have a court order or arrest warrant signed by a judge for the jail to continue housing a person whose immigration status is in question. "The public must be confident that local law enforcement is focused on local public safety, not on federal immigration enforcement. Our jail cannot be perceived as a holding tank for ICE or that Travis County deputies are ICE officers," Hernandez said. Hernandez's announcement came as Texas Republicans are gearing up for a new fight to ban so-called sanctuary cities in the current legislative session. Abbott responded to the announcement, tweeting his office will cut funding for Travis County adopting sanctuary policies. "Stiffer penalties coming," Abbott's tweet said. Abbott has pushed the issue to the front of his unofficial agenda for 2017, pledging in interviews and on social media to sign into law a "ban" on cities and local governments that are seen as protecting people in the U.S. illegally, with sanctions such as cutting state funding. Civil rights groups say the threat from the governor could lead to racial profiling. Travis County could lose up to $1.8 million in grants because the governor's office requires compliance in order to receive grants. The Travis County sheriff's office has a $169 million budget, according to the county's budget website. The $1.8 million would represent 1 percent of that budget. "The public must be confident that local law enforcement is focused on local public safety, not on federal immigration enforcement," Hernandez said in a video announcement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In 2007 the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez gave foreign oil companies operating in his country an ultimatum - either hand over a bigger share of their profits to the Bolivarian Republic or risk having their assets nationalized. While most of the companies agreed to Chavezs demands, there was one company that didnt: ExxonMobil. The refusal to give into Chavezs dictate saw ExxonMobil headed at the time by then-CEO Rex Tillerson lose an estimated $10 billion in properties throughout the South American nation and set up a contentious relationship between Venezuela and the global oil giant. In what some see as an ironic twist of fate, Tillerson is now poised to become the United States next secretary of state and will play a crucial role in shaping the Trump administrations policies in regards to the already turbulent relations between Washington and Caracas. I think we are in full agreement as to the calamity that has befallen Venezuela, largely a product of its incompetent and dysfunctional government-first under Hugo Chavez, and now under his designated successor, Nicolas Maduro. Rex Tillerson Despite reportedly taking Venezuelas expropriation of ExxonMobils assets as a personal affront, it appears that at least in his statements made to the Senate Tillerson is not out to get even with Venezuela. In answers to a questionnaire sent to Democratic senators and leaked to the analysis website Latin America Goes Global Tillersons positions on Venezuela dont seem to differ much from those under President Obama. Tillerson is critical of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's economic and human rights policies, and strongly advocates working with regional powers toward a solution to the ongoing political crisis. I think we are in full agreement as to the calamity that has befallen Venezuela, largely a product of its incompetent and dysfunctional government-first under Hugo Chavez, and now under his designated successor, Nicolas Maduro, Tillerson wrote. I would urge close cooperation with our friends in the hemisphere, particularly Venezuelas neighbors, Brazil and Colombia, as well as multilateral bodies such as the [Organization of American States], to seek a negotiated transition to democratic rule in Venezuela. Tillersons careful wording and call for regional cooperation may not be what some members of the Maduro opposition were hoping to hear from Trumps nominee, especially given his battles with country during his time as the head of ExxonMobil. After the expropriation, Tillerson took Venezuela to international arbitration court and demanded his company be paid based on the $10 billion market value of the company assets in the country, not the $1 billion book value that Chavez was offering. The court, however, sided with Venezuela and in 2014 Exxon settled for $1.6 billion. There are a lot of Venezuelan hardliners who are hoping that Tillerson will take a hardline approach, Chris Sabatini, the editor of Latin America Goes Global and an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, told Fox News. In his answer, hes showing a fair and balanced approach to Venezuela. But on close reading of his words, Tillerson does voice one major difference with Obamas polices toward Venezuela - a call for transition to democracy. Despite the Obama administrations widespread criticism of the Maduro regime and open support of opposition leaders, it never called into question the countrys status as a democracy. Tillerson did, and it was likely based on the authoritarian tactics of Maduro. Tillerson did declare it a non-democracy, but that will not be something that too many people will dispute, Sabatini said. Since global oil prices plunged in 2015, Venezuela hasnt had the funds to import basic goods such as food and medicine, creating acute shortages and stirring anger toward Maduro. Adding to the overall misery are a drastic rise in violent crime, especially in the capital city of Caracas, rolling blackouts and widespread and often times bloody protests against the government. There have been casualties and deaths on both sides of the protests and accusations from the international community of human rights abuses and political oppression. The pressure that Venezuelans face every day is tremendous because of all the uncertainty, Sonia Schott, the former Washington, D.C., correspondent for Venezuelan news network Globovision, told Fox News. Nobody knows what will happen the next day. With Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., voicing his support for Tillerson on Monday, it appears all but set in stone that the former ExxonMobil boss will be the next head of the State Department. I dont know if Tillerson will personalize his relationship with Venezuela or implement an institutional policy, Venezuelan analyst Luis Salamanca told Fox News.com, adding that the U.S. has nothing to lose. Today the United States needs little from Venezuela, unlike Venezuela, which needs the cash payments of the oil it sells to the U.S. President Trump is set to kick off his first full work day in the White House by signing an executive order withdrawing the United States from a controversial Pacific-nation trade deal, Fox News is told. The president is expected to sign an order taking the U.S. out of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, which he railed against during the campaign and which Hillary Clinton previously supported before distancing herself from the deal. The executive order, and possibly others, are being signed after a weekend of introductory meetings and perfunctory duties marking the transfer of power. Trump has said he considers Monday his first real day in the office. Bracketing the order-signing on Monday are a host of meetings at the White House, including a listening session with business leaders, another one with union leaders and later a reception with congressional leaders from both parties. He'll also hold his first meeting as president with the speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. "Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security," Trump tweeted early Monday. "Top executives coming in at 9:00 A.M. to talk manufacturing in America." In his early-morning meeting with business leaders, Trump said he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States, while promising unspecified advantages to companies that manufacture domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a morning meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The busy agenda and focus on policy issues could help the Trump administration reset after a weekend of warring with the media over their reporting on inaugural crowd sizes and other issues. Both Trump and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer excoriated the media on Saturday for allegedly underplaying the turnout though Spicer went on to make his own questionable claims touting Fridays attendance, despite available statistics and aerial photography making clear attendance at then-President Obamas 2009 inauguration was higher. Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead, but declared he believed they were ready. "This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. It's about serving the American people," he said. Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a "common vision" with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that he's set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. His chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said on "Fox News Sunday" the president would spend his first full week in office undoing some of Obama's agenda and planned to sign executive orders on immigration and trade. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Senate is expected on Monday to hold its confirmation vote on President Trumps pick for CIA director, Kansas GOP Rep. Mike Pompeo. But the chambers Republican and Democratic leaders this weekend offered sharply different perspectives about the future of the presidents 20-plus Cabinet nominees. Top Senate Democrats on Friday postponed Pompeos vote saying they wouldnt rush through the confirmation process for Trump and fellow Republicans who control Congress. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday that several of Trumps remaining nominees will be subject to a thorough debate. The New York Democrat said he was dubious about eight or nine of Trump's picks -- citing potential conflicts of interests and policy stands. The Senate has so far confirmed just two Trump nominees: Gens. James Mattis, as defense secretary, and John Kelly, as Homeland Security secretary, on Friday when Trump was sworn-in as president. However, Senate Democrats have little chance of blocking a confirmation unless some chamber Republicans defect. Senate Republicans have a 52-to-48 majority and need only a simple majority of 51 to confirm a nominee. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed confidence Sunday about having enough votes to get all of Trumps nominees confirmed. I believe well be able to confirm the presidents entire Cabinet, the Kentucky Republican told Fox News Sunday. Im optimistic. The prospects for former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson becoming secretary of state improved this weekend when two influential Republican senators expressed support, after having waivered over Tillersons past professional ties to Russia. "Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests," Sens. John McCain, Arizona, and Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, said in a joint statement. Tillerson also faces a vote Monday, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. McCain, Graham and fellow GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida, have questioned whether Tillerson has too many conflicts of interests to champion U.S. policy abroad, especially in Russia. As CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson spoke out against U.S. sanctions levied on Moscow following its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. The penalties cost the energy giant hundreds of millions of dollars. The episode became even more of a concern after the U.S. intelligence community concluded Russia meddled in the presidential election to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the White House race. McCain and Graham are not on the Foreign Relations committee, like Rubio. However all three will cast a final vote on the Tillerson nomination, if he gets enough votes Monday in the committee, which has 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats. Graham told CBS' "Face the Nation" that he was persuaded to back Tillerson after they met privately. According to Graham, Tillerson told him "when America doesn't lead, other people will, and the vacuum is always filled by bad actors. He said that we have to have a foreign policy that engages the world. We need to lead from the front." McCain said on ABC's "This Week" that he talked to Tillerson about his views on Russia and his duty heading a major corporation. This wasn't an easy call," McCain said. "But I also believe that, when there's doubt, the president, the incoming president, gets the benefit of the doubt." Rubio, who challenged Trump for the GOP nomination last year, clashed with Tillerson at a hearing earlier this month. Rubio bristled at Tillerson's refusal to label Putin a "war criminal" or condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. He also chided Tillerson over the need for "moral clarity." Hours after Trump was sworn in on Friday, Rubio was tight-lipped, saying he would make his decision "certainly before the vote" Monday and that Tillerson's responses to written questions had addressed "some of" his concerns. Still, a "no" vote from Rubio would not doom Tillerson's confirmation, because the nomination could go directly to the Senate floor even without a positive committee recommendation. But it would be an embarrassing rebuke to Trump just as his presidency gets under way, with questions swirling about his ties to Russia. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A liberal-funded watchdog group filed a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump alleging that he is violating the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York and claims Trump is violating a clause in the Constitution that prohibits his businesses from receiving anything of value from foreign governments. Because Trump didnt divest his businesses, the group claims hes now receiving gifts from foreign governments via guests and events at his hotels, leases in his buildings and real estate deals abroad. "When Trump the president sits down to negotiate trade deals with these countries, the American people will have no way of knowing whether he will also be thinking about the profits of Trump the businessman," the Washington-based organization said in a statement. Trump dismissed the lawsuit Monday as "without merit" when asked by a reporter in the Oval Office. The New York Times reported that the group wont seek any monetary damages, but instead hopes New York will order Trump to stop taking payments from foreign governments. Eric Trump told The New York Times that the Trump Organization had taken more than the steps required by law to avoid litigation. He dismissed the lawsuit as, purely harassment for political gain. The groups lawsuit is one of many expected lawsuits to be filed against Trump. The Times noted that the American Civil Liberties Union filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Thursday asking the Department of Justice, the General Services Administration and the Office of Government Ethics for anything they have on addressing the possible ethical conflicts Trump faces. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "It's worse than we thought 10 years ago," a researcher says following a "landmark" study on the world's primates that found many could go extinct in the next 50 years. Primatologists studied every primate speciesall 504 of themand found 75% are in decline, while about 60% are threatened with extinction, including every species of ape and 87% of lemurs, reports the New York Times. What's imperiling them: hunting (for food and body parts), mining (the search for coltan, an ore used in cellphones, is one factor), and deforestation (our appetite for palm oil is particularly troublesome). The Guardian reports deforestation is the biggest factor of the three: From 1990 to 2010, 580,000 square miles of primate habitatsan area more than twice the size of Texaswas destroyed due to agricultural growth. "The scale of this is massive," a researcher tells the Guardian, adding he was "horrified" by the report. "The world will soon be facing a major extinction event if effective action is not implemented immediately," reads the study, published Wednesday in Science Advances. New Scientist suggests conservation efforts could zero in on four key countries, which host two-thirds of our primate species: Brazil, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Madagascar, which is down to the last 2,000 of its famed ring-tailed lemurs. Building fish farms in areas where hunting is common and protecting primate habitats might safeguard primates' roles in the ecosystem, including moving pollen from tree to tree and spreading seeds through their dung, researchers say. This could be our "one last opportunity." (Extinct animals can be found in an "ark" in a freezer.) This article originally appeared on Newser: Primate Study Finds It's 'Worse Than We Thought' The recruits assembled by moonlight at a watering hole. Hundreds of boys and young Kenyan men were herded onto trucks, which were covered with heavy canvas, and driven through the night. It was so hot inside they could hardly breathe. One recruit, Salad Dahir, said they banged the sides of the truck for water but got none. Some had to urinate where they stood. Their destination: a secluded training camp deep in the Kenyan bush. Thousands of people, including children, are being secretly recruited and trained inside Kenya to battle Islamic insurgents in neighboring Somalia, according to deserters, local officials, families of recruits and diplomats. Most recruits are Somalis living in crowded refugee camps and Kenyan nationals who are ethnic Somalis living nearby. Spokesmen from the Kenyan government, police and military, as well as the Somali chief of military staff, have denied that the government is recruiting fighters within Kenya. But interviews showed that recruiting has been taking place for months and that different government agencies and military resources including vehicles with government license plates have been involved. A U.N. official says there have been rumors but no hard evidence of recruitment in refugee camps, which would violate the rights of the refugees. Eight diplomats, citing internal reports and other sources, told The Associated Press that the recruits are being trained for a planned offensive on behalf of Somalia's weak, U.N.-backed government to wrest control of parts of southern Somalia from the insurgents. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity to prevent damaging relations with Kenya over the sensitive subject. Two of the diplomats said the offensive is planned for the end of Somalia's rainy season around the end of the year. Kenya has long feared that the conflict in Somalia, which has been bloodied by civil war since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, will spill across the border into its own neglected northeastern region. The area is home to hundreds of thousands of ethnically Somali Kenyans. Thousands of would-be fighters, some as young as 11, have been lured into the militia by promises of up to $600 a month, but many fled after they were not paid, were beaten or went hungry, more than a dozen of the deserters told the AP. Many recruits remain in the ranks and see the secret militia as their only way out of overcrowded refugee camps and the dusty, poor towns around them. Chris Albin-Lackey, a researcher at Human Rights Watch who has interviewed recruits and their families, said: "Refugees are supposed to find safety in the camps, not a government that is trying to trick their sons into going back to fight in Somalia." Albin-Lackey noted the recruitment of children violates the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Kenya is a signatory. Kenya is eager to counter the influence of insurgents in Somalia who preach the spread of a pan-Islamic state into Kenya and Ethiopia, where many Somalis live due to borders drawn by former colonial powers. Somalia's al-Shabab insurgents some of whom have ties to Al Qaeda already cross into northern Kenya. About two months ago, recruiters started openly operating in Kenyan towns and in nearby huts and tents of the refugee camps, according to more than 20 interviews with recruits, their families and religious, municipal and civil society leaders. Some recruiters even worked from a hotel fronting a heavily fortified U.N. compound in the northern town of Dadaab, home to three overcrowded camps of about 275,000 refugees, most from Somalia. Baijo Mohamed, chairman of a youth group in Dadaab's Ifo camp, said he had been approached by two Somali generals to help recruit fighters but refused because he did not want to see his friends die in a war they are not responsible for. More than a dozen deserters said they were promised positions in the Kenyan or Somali armies or jobs with U.N. security by men acting as recruiters. Some said they were told they would patrol the Kenya-Somalia border. But upon arrival at the training camp, they were told they were going to Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, or Kismayo, a key southern city under Islamist control. Some recruits said they would never have joined if they had known they were supposed to be fighting in Somalia, a sun-scorched nation that has not seen peace in a generation. Kenyan Defense Ministry spokesman Bogita Ongeri denied a secret militia is being formed or that the military was involved in any recruitment or training. Contradictory evidence was the result of propaganda by Somali Islamists, he said, adding that the only training taking place is Kenyan police training Somali police. "The military is not involved at all in any training of any Somali forces," he said. "This is propaganda being disseminated by some militia groups in Somalia." Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said he is not aware of any such police training by Kenya. Alejandro Bendana, the manager for the U.N. program training Somali police, also said he knew of no such U.N.-related training in Kenya. The main training area for police recruits is in the northern Somali region of Puntland, Bendana said. Ismail Garat, the deputy mayor of the northern town of Garissa, about 60 miles from Dadaab, said he has received many complaints from constituents about the recruitment for the secret militia. "They recruited retired Kenyan army officers first," Garat said. "Then they came back and began to take the youth." Garat estimated at least 300 young men disappeared from the town into the militia. Garat's brother was among those approached and the deputy mayor had to persuade him to return. Hussein Mahad, the secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers for the town, said all 100 of the imams in his group have reported complaints about the recruitment drive. He said he knew of a woman whose husband, a retired Kenyan soldier, had joined early in the process and whose son was taken later. Garat said trucks from the Kenya National Youth Service with government license plates took away the recruits from Garissa at night. Witnesses told him military escorts were sometimes present. Most of the recruits from Dadaab said they were also transported on trucks with government plates. The deserters all said they were taken to Manyani, a training center for the Kenya Wildlife Service outside the port of Mombasa. They said their cell phones were confiscated upon arrival and Kenyan citizens had to surrender their identity cards. Kenyans of Somali descent can easily pass for Somalis. They share with Somali nationals the Islamic religion, a common language Somali and a tall, slender appearance, looking distinct from members of other ethnic groups from farther south. "They said, 'You are not a Kenyan. From this moment, tell yourselves and other people you are Somali,"' recalled 18-year-old Kenyan citizen Aden Hassan, who said he made the journey with 400 other men and was told to surrender his ID card. Both Somali and Kenyan military officials were involved in the training, the recruits said, adding that they recognized Kenya's green military uniform and beret on some trainers while others wore plain clothes. Salad Dahir, a tall, thin man in a tattered blue shirt, said he had traveled to the training site in the crowded, sweltering truck about a month ago. He said the Kenyan military did the training push-ups and other calisthenics. "Kenya military were there wearing uniforms," added Hassan. The refugees who were interviewed asked that their last names be withheld to avoid losing their refugee status. Salad Dahir, 26, said he deserted after a severe beating at the training site left him unconscious. Tiny rations of dirty food, beatings and failure to pay promised salaries caused widespread desertion, recruits said. Some who tried to flee were caught and beaten, but many managed to return home through Tsavo, a vast national park filled with dangerous animals that surrounds the training camp. At least one boy who fled at night with a group of nine others was attacked and killed by lions, Salad Dahir said. Garat, the deputy mayor, said another group of deserters was chased by elephants. Some recruits called their families on phones smuggled into the camp and whispered tearful pleas for help. "He was crying and his father was crying and then the phone cut," said Suban Abdi, a Kenyan woman whose 20-year-old son Aden Nor was recruited. "We don't want them to go back and face the bullets that we fled," said Fatuma Mohamed, a 39-year-old Somali who kept a tight grip on her teenage son during an interview. Mohamed's younger brother has already joined. Khadija Rageh Abdi, a Kenyan whose son was approached, is an advocate for the rights of refugee women and a favorite with visiting diplomatic delegations, but said she cannot get inside the U.N. compound to complain about the recruitments. Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba, a Geneva-based spokeswoman for the U.N.'s refugee agency, said it has no evidence recruitment is taking place in the camps, although it put up signs saying only civilians are allowed in after mothers complained their sons were missing. "If it's happening, it's clearly a violation of the refugee's rights because nobody's supposed to recruit refugees," she said. She said the agency had heard rumors of recruitment, but "we need facts." "Sometimes refugee women say 'My son is no longer here,' but maybe the son is in Nairobi because some of them do go to Nairobi, but we have no evidence," she said. Several recruits said they know of dozens of minors in the militia, and one spoke of a boy as young as 11. "The recruiters said, 'Even if you're 15, you're still old enough to handle a gun,"' said 16-year-old Ahmed Omar, one of four minors who deserted. Northern Kenya legislator Adan Keynan, chairman of Kenya's Defense and Foreign Relations parliamentary committee, said parliament has opened an investigation into the recruitment allegations. He declined to comment on the inquiry but said several politicians have complained of the recruiting drive. Gen. Yusuf Ahmed Dhumal, chief of staff of Somalia's military, denied recruitment is taking place in Kenya. He said Kenya is training 1,500 Somalis recruited in Somalia as soldiers to support the Somali government. Training is also taking place in Ethiopia and Djibouti with U.S. support, he said. One diplomat said sustainable training is urgently needed to help the beleaguered Somali government against the hard-line Islamists. Somalia is now on its 15th government in 19 years. "The problems of Somalia are older than my son," said Halima Aden, whose 18-year-old was taken from their hometown of Garissa. "If all the people who are working on Somalia cannot bring peace there, I do not see how my boy can help." The transition to a new administration hit a digital snag following President Trumps inauguration when a Twitter glitch made over half a million people follow the new presidents @POTUS account. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey explained what happened in a series of tweets Saturday. The @POTUS account transitioned to President Trumps administration at 12 p.m. EST on Friday. The Obama administration had already discussed its plan to transfer the @POTUS account with followers intact but zero tweets in its timeline. Twitter worked on transferring followers following Trumps inauguration Friday. According to Dorsey, this meant that if you were following @POTUS before Trump was sworn in as president, by the end of Friday you would be following both @POTUS and @POTUS44, where President Obamas tweets are archived. TRUMP MAKES FIRST TWEETS AS PRESIDENT However, two issues were reported on Friday, Dorsey said people who followed @POTUS44 after 12 p.m. EST were mistakenly set to also follow @POTUS. Also, some people who unfollowed @POTUS in the past were mistakenly marked to now follow @POTUS. We believe this affected about 560,000 people. This was a mistake, it wasn't right, we own it, and we apologize. No excuses, the Twitter CEO tweeted. Dorsey noted that similar issues also affected other official administration accounts, like @VP, @WhiteHouse and @PressSec. The Twitter CEO said that the issues with @POTUS and the other accounts had been resolved. We believe we've corrected all accounts to reflect your follow/unfollow intent. We're sorry for the mistakes made here, and thank you all, he tweeted Saturday. TRUMP'S TWITTER: COULD HACKERS WREAK HAVOC FROM THE WHITE HOUSE? The Trump administration made its first tweet from the @POTUS account on Friday afternoon, tweeting out an inauguration day image and a link to the text of President Trump's inaugural address, posted on his Facebook page. A number of tweets and retweets have since been sent out from the account, with the first tweet signed DJT by Trump posted Monday. The @POTUS account had 14.3 million followers by late Monday morning. President Obamas @POTUS44 account had 14.5 million followers. As he promised prior to his inauguration, Trump has continued to tweet from his @realDonaldTrump account since becoming president. The account has 21.6 million followers. However, security experts have warned that Trumps Twitter account is a prime target for hackers. Citing people close to the transition, The New York Times reported Thursday that the president has traded his Android phone for a secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess. An Israeli artists website is shaming people who take inappropriate photos and smiling selfies at Berlins Holocaust Memorial by merging the images with horrific pictures from Nazi concentration camps. The Yolocaust project is the brainchild of Berlin-based satirist and author Shahak Shapira, who combined the photos and selfies with concentration camp footage. The selfies were found on Facebook, Instagram, Tinder and Grindr. Comments, hashtags and Likes that were posted with the selfies are also included, he explains on the website. Berlins 4.7-acre Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe consists of 2,711 concrete blocks, or stelae, reflecting the scale of the Holocaust. The haunting memorial in the center of Berlin was designed by New York architect Peter Eisenman and inaugurated in 2005. HOLOCAUST HEROINE'S WILL, LOST PHOTOS, UNEARTHED IN SCOTLAND The Yolocaust website shows images of grinning people posing at and on the memorial for selfies and photos. However, when visitors to the site move their cursor over the images the pictures become black and white and the people are superimposed on graphic concentration camp footage of dead bodies and skeletal prisoners. About 10,000 people visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe every day, explained Shapira, on the website. Many of them take goofy pictures, jump, skate or bike. No historical event compares to the Holocaust. It's up to you how to behave at a memorial site that marks the death of 6 million people, he added. GERMAN RESEARCHERS TO INVESTIGATE NAZI-ERA EUTHANASIA CAMPS Shapira explains that he will take down the pictures of anyone who regrets uploading them to the Internet. Just send an email to undouche.me@yolocaust.de, he writes on the website. A number of images have been removed from the site since it went live on Wednesday. One image showed a woman doing yoga on the memorial. Another image showed two young men jumping from stelae the social media caption included on the image was Jumping on dead Jews @ Holocaust Memorial. Yolocaust combines the acronym YOLO or You Only Live Once with the word Holocaust. President Obamas announcement in December of a new U.S policy toward Cuba has opened the door a bit wider for Americans who want to travel to their island neighbor. "When you look at Havana, there are really four or five five-star hotels. Then you get down to the four-star hotels and three-star hotels, and they get shaky." Collin Laverty, founder and president of Cuba Educational Travel Most American leisure travelers to Cuba currently go there on authorized people-to-people programs, which allow them to book their trips through a U.S. travel agent. But now, though you still cant just hop aboard a plane, many Americans are eyeing the communist island nation with the pent-up intrigue youd expect after a 54-year prohibition. But where will they stay? Where will they eat? And what will detente mean for cruise lines? Collin Laverty, founder and president of Cuba Educational Travel, which specializes in legal and licensed trips to Cuba, says his companys bookings have increased more than 300 percent since Obamas announcement, and that uptick has already taxed Cubas hospitality industry. Just imagine what will happen if the U.S. lifts its travel restrictions altogether. With this increase in demand and visits, there are more challenges on the Cuban side, Laverty said. Accommodations Cubas 60,000 hotel rooms are already occupied near capacity, says travel writer and photographer Christopher P. Baker, whos authored six books about Cuba and whose latest edition of the Moon Cuba Handbook was published in February. But not all of those rooms will appeal to middle-class Americans. "When you look at Havana, there are really four or five five-star hotels, Laverty said. "Then you get down to the four-star hotels and three-star hotels, and they get shaky. He predicts Cuba will make adding high-end hotel rooms a priority. Laverty said the resort town of Varadero, a 90-minute drive east of Havana, is a popular vacation destination for Canadians and Europeans and already has ample hotel capacity. But current U.S. requirements for Americans traveling to Cuba typically preclude spending more than a day or two in a resort area, and most Americans are not interested in Cubas resorts anyway, according to Baker. They can get that anywhere, he said. "They want to experience Cuban culture." Along those lines, hotels in more remote parts of the island have seen an increase in American travelers since the change in U.S. policy. I just got back from leading a month of motorcycle tours all around Cuba, Baker said, "and in the eastern part of the country, where one never ever previously saw American groups, the hotels are full of American groups on the people-to-people program." He said the Cuban government two years ago set a goal of having 85,000 hotel rooms by 2020, but he has seen few signs of new hotel projects on recent visits, other than in Havana and at the beach resorts. They are certainly going to face room shortages, he said. For visitors who cant find hotel rooms, private-room rentals are an alternative. Airbnb launched in Cuba earlier this month, and while a U.S.-based company expanding into Cuba is noteworthy, theres nothing new about Cubans renting out rooms in their homes. There are thousands of private room rentals in Havana and elsewhere in the country, Baker said. But private rooms, too, are filled near capacity now, he added. Hostels and family-run bed and breakfasts are other options for Cuba Educational Travel's clients, especially in the tobacco-growing region of Pinar del Rio and the cities of Trinidad and Cienfuegos. And you have the added experience of having the family cook for you and getting to know them, Laverty said. Cruises Cruise ships owned by non-American companies mostly go to Cubas three main cruise ports: Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. At the start of the current season (November through April), Cubas state-run travel agency estimated that more than 200 ships would visit these ports . And theyre getting larger. You see one once every two weeks or three weeks and you can feel it, Laverty said. Youre in Old Havana and all of a sudden instead of, whatever it is, 2,000 tourists out walking that day, all of a sudden there are three or four [thousand]. Smack dab between the Bahamas and Jamaica, Cuba is an obvious port of call for U.S.-owned cruise lines. But it will take more than a go-ahead from American politicians for Cuba to open up fully to the major ones, said John Boyd Jr., a principal with The Boyd Company, which counsels cruise lines and other companies on site selection. The Cuban ports, including Havana, are all too shallow to accommodate the large modern ships of major cruise lines, Boyd said, citing Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. Also, some Cuban ports are inland, necessitating negotiating unmapped, narrow channels. "What is needed before the mainline cruise industry enters Cuba is massive private investment to dredge and develop other port infrastructure. He said floating jetties and tendering (ferrying passengers between ship and port) are also being considered. But ocean liners arent the only way to reach Cuba by boat. The island lies only 90 miles from Florida, putting it well within the reach of private boats. And Cuba can accommodate them. Probably the most fascinating development in tourism in Cuba, but not many people are aware of, is that Cuba has already completed building one of the Caribbeans largest marinas for private vessels. Its at Varadero, Baker said. Directly below Florida, its got about 1,300 berths already built including for mega-yachts. Restaurants Cuba has 11,000 restaurants, according to the Cuban government, and last September it announced that 9,000 of them would be privatized, joining the 1,261 that already were independent. In 1993 these family-run restaurants known as paladars became among the first private businesses allowed on the island. Located in private homes, they were limited to just 12 seats and prohibited from selling hard liquor or luxury foods like lobster and steak, according to Anita Snow, a long-time Cuban correspondent, in an article for the Associated Press last September. Even before the mass privatization, Snow reported that "hundreds of private restaurants operate in Havana and can serve whatever food or drink they want, as long as they can prove it was purchased legally." Cubas 22 years of experience running private restaurants has paid off handsomely, Baker said. Now you have world-class restaurants in Havana, and youre beginning to see a few world-class restaurants outside Havana. And thats going to accelerate." Air travel For years Americans have gotten around restrictions for visiting Cuba by flying from the U.S. to another country (typically Canada, Mexico or a Caribbean island) and, from there, taking a second flight to Cuba. The cheapest option for this approach has been via Cancun, which costs just more than $700 round trip, according to the iOS app Hopper. American carriers have offered charter flights for U.S. citizens in limited travel categories round-trip prices are usually more than $500 and on Wednesday CheapAir became the first online booking agency to let authorized U.S. travelers book direct charter flights to Cuba from Miami, Tampa and New York. But now U.S. airlines are setting their sights on Cuba. American Airlines, JetBlue, United, Delta and Southwest Airlines have all expressed interest is starting commercial service to Cuba. Before that happens, though, the U.S. Department of Transportation will have to negotiate a civil aviation agreement with Cuba that clarifies the rules for air travel between the countries, such as how many flights will be permitted. Once the travel ban is lifted, Hopper estimates the cost of flying between the U.S. and Cuba will drop to about $375 round trip. But Baker thinks the Cuban government wont allow its airports to handle their full capacity of incoming flights. In the next few years, theyre going to have to restrict the airport landing rights to control the influx of Americans, just because theres nowhere to put the groups, he said. Several domestic airlines have announced they will be offering travel waivers for passengers concerned about inclement weather sweeping the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and West Coast early this week. That includes United Airlines, which also experienced an IT issue Sunday that has impacted at least 200 flights. Meteorologists expect Winter Storm Leo to bring gusty winds and heavy snow in the Rockies, Plains and Midwest through the first half of this week, the Weather Channel reported. On Sunday, the storm system began pummeling California with flooding, snowfall and high winds. The storm is now expected to move east. UPDATE: Additional delays are expected as we work to get flights out this evening. A travel waiver is in place: https://t.co/pyXEh3LCwX. United (@united) January 23, 2017 Here are the airlines offering waivers in preparation for Winter Storm Leo: American Airlines American announced Sunday that passengers traveling Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 from the New York area including some airports in New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania can change their flight for free to a date up until Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. The flight must be between the two cities and in the same cabin. Delta Airlines As of Sunday, Delta had listed travel alerts for 15 cities spanning the Northeast. Travelers may cancel their trip and receive a refund if their flights are canceled, or delayed by 90 minutes or more. They also may change their flight for free if they are traveling to, from or through the listed destinations on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 and Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Rebooked travel must begin no later than Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. JetBlue Airlines Seven airports on the West Coast and 18 cities in the Northeast are affected by JetBlues waive change/cancel fees, which apply to customers traveling Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017 and Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Original travel must have been booked on or before Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, and rebooked through Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. Southwest Airlines Southwests travel alert impacts 15 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic cities, where customers who booked their travel from Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017 to Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 can rebook for free in their original service class or travel standby within 14 days of their original date of travel between the same cities. FOR THE LATEST TRAVEL FEATURES, FOLLOW FOX LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK United Airlines A technology problem on Sunday evening led United to issue a system-wide travel waiver for passengers with reservations on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. A travel change fee waiver is also in effect for United flights in 18 Northeast cities for reservations on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 and Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Flights affected by the weather must be rebooked on flights departing by Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. As of Monday morning, Amtrak had not announced any changes to its scheduled rail service operations. For additional details, check with your carrier. A Good Samaritan was shot and killed trying to prevent a jewelry store robbery at a San Antonio mall Sunday afternoon and five others were hospitalized, local police said. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus described the shooting at the Rolling Oaks Mall as a "robbery gone really, really bad." BODY CAM FOOTAGE SHOWS WASHINGTON OFFICER RESCUING WOMAN FROM BURNING CAR Investigators say two men attempted to rob a Kay Jewelers store in the mall, which is located northeast of downtown San Antonio. As the suspects tried to get away, they ran into two bystanders. McManus said one of the men who tried to intervene was shot and killed. The other Good Samaritan, who had a concealed carry permit, shot one of the suspects. HOMELESS MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO BLOW UP BOSTON POLICE CRUISER Investigators identified the man who died as 42-year-old retired Marine Jonathan Murphy, Fox 29 reported. He and his wife were at the jewelry store getting their wedding rings cleaned, according to his stepdaughter's boyfriend, who set up a GoFundMe page for the Murphy family. "Jon loved Harleys, the Marine Corps, and being a good man, but over everything else I believe he loved his wife and family," Chris Cercone wrote. "Its absolutely senseless. Absolutely senseless. This is the second [recent] time that a Good Samaritan was killed trying to intervene in a crime to help the victim, McManus told reporters. Its absolutely senseless. The other suspect managed to escape the mall, firing at bystanders as he went. Police said later Sunday that the second suspect was arrested. The robbery suspect was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, Fox 29 added. Two other shooting victims also were taken to a hospital, as was a woman who complained of chest pains and a pregnant woman who went into labor. There was no immediate word on any of their conditions. McManus said the mall was placed on lockdown after the shooting and officers were escorting people out of the stores one by one. Click for more from Fox 29. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Authorities are investigating the death of a man shot and killed in his Pennsylvania home by police officers investigating a reported burglary. Officers went to the home in Larimer, near Pittsburgh, just before 4 a.m. Sunday after getting a report of a burglary in progress. Police said they were trying to gain entry when a man inside the home began firing in the direction of officers on the front porch. They returned fire, killing the 57-year-old homeowner, Christopher Thompkins. It was unclear how many people were in the house at the time, however, police took a man into custody. The two officers involved were placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure. Police and the Allegheny County district attorney's office are investigating. Georgia ramped up its state of emergency Monday as crews organizing the cleanup from the weekend's deadly storms begged for additional aid. Gov. Nathan Deal expanded his emergency declaration to include nine additional counties in southern Georgia. The declaration frees up state resources to assist storm victims. The storms killed at least 20 people, most of them in Georgia. SLIDESHOW: DEADLY TORNADOES SLAM SOUTHEAST Dozens of homes demolished in Albany after tornado barrels through #fox5storm #fox5atl pic.twitter.com/tjnCdGUxfo denisedillon (@DillonFox5) January 23, 2017 The governor promised to visit the storm-ravaged areas later this week, offering his "thoughts and prayers" to victims there. North Georgia was under a wind advisory for most of the day Monday, as forecasters warned wind gusts could top 40 mph, Fox 5 reported. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for much of Charlotte, N.C., as well as for several streams in Cabarrus County just east of Charlotte. Emergency officials in Georgia confirmed a 20th death in connection with the storms. Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler said a fourth person died in his county Sunday, without elaborating. Many families in the area had "no homes, no food, no warmth, no hope," County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas said during a news conference Monday, apparently choking back tears. Pleading for aid, he said, "we've exhausted everything we have." At least 15 people were killed in south Georgia alone, including seven from an apparent winter twister that tore through a trailer park before dawn Sunday. Officials reported four deaths Saturday in Mississippi as the storm system ramped up. In addition, a tree knocked over by strong winds split a home in half, killing one person in Columbia County, Fla., emergency officials said. In southwest Georgia, Bridget Simmons along with her parents, her daughter and her grandson were in their brick home in the city of Albany when the sky got dark Sunday afternoon and the wind began to howl. "I was in the den and I heard that loud roar and I grabbed the baby and I said, `Let's go guys. This is it.' We laid down and that was it." The wind was so loud, she added, "you could hear it beating back and forth." Minutes later, their home was largely unscathed, save for a carport that collapsed atop two cars. But trees were down all around, police sirens wailed and authorities would add four more deaths for an overall count of at least 19. The National Weather Service said a survey team concluded Monday that a tornado left a path of destruction a half-mile wide in parts of Albany. The agency said it was an EF-2 tornado or stronger, meaning it packed winds of at least 111 to 135 mph. Some 60 miles away from Simmons' home, Coroner Tim Purvis in south Georgia's Cook County confirmed seven people died at the mobile home park in the rural community of Adel, where about half of the 40 homes were leveled. Debris lay about not far from mobile homes largely untouched but emptied of survivors and cordoned off by police. Elsewhere, shredded siding from mobile homes, a house stripped of exterior walls but left standing, even a piano blown outdoors, all bore evidence of the power of the powerful storms system that tore across the Deep South. The 15 killed in south Georgia included two deaths each in the counties of Berrien and Brooks. In South Carolina, the National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes struck over the weekend, injuring one woman who was trapped in a mobile home that was damaged near Blackville. The weather service says a tornado touched down about 3:45 p.m. Saturday in Barnwell County and moved into Bamberg County. The other occurred in Orangeburg County a few minutes later. Weather experts say tornadoes can hit any time of year in the South -- including in the dead of winter. Even north Florida was under the weekend weather threat. While the central U.S. has a fairly defined tornado season -- the spring -- the risk of tornadoes "never really goes to zero" for most of the year in the Southeast, explained Patrick Marsh of the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. He said 39 possible tornadoes were reported across the Southeast from early Saturday into Sunday evening -- none immediately confirmed. Of that, 30 were reported in Georgia, four in Mississippi, and one each in Louisiana and South Carolina. January tornado outbreaks are rare but not unprecedented, particularly in the South. Data from the Storm Prediction Center shows that, over the past decade, the nation has seen an average of 38 tornadoes in January, ranging from a high of 84 in 2008 to just four in 2014. Nineteen-year-old Jenny Bullard said she and her parents, Jeff and Carla, are glad to have escaped without major injury after an apparent tornado battered their home in Cook County. They are a farming family dating back generations, living not far from where the mobile homes were destroyed. The middle section of their brick house was blown off the slab, leaving nothing but the kitchen island standing. On one side, the parents' bedroom remained intact. Jenny's bedroom on the other side was smashed in -- and a piano was blown out of the house. She recalled awaking to the sound of hail before dawn. "The hall wall came in on me and I fell down. And our backdoor came through and fell in on me. And I heard my dad calling my name ...There was a bunch of stuff on top of him and I just started throwing everything I could until I got to him," she said. Together, she and her father met up with their mother and got free. The young woman wore a sling on one arm hours afterward Sunday as she went back through the debris for belongings. Bricks lay scattered about, alongside their possessions and furniture. "The first thing I wanted to do was get all the pictures," she said. Across the street, where the Bullards kept farm equipment in sheds, one shed was blown in amid twisted metal. Two grain silos were blown over. "It's a horrible tragedy. But all this stuff can be replaced," she said. "We can't replace each other. We're extremely lucky. My dad is lucky to be alive." Click for more from Fox 5. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A lockdown at an Air Force base in Arizona was lifted Monday, more than an hour after "unconfirmed" reports of shots fired there, as a Pentagon official told Fox News it likely was a false alarm. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base officials had urged everyone to seek shelter as on-site security investigated. SUPPORTERS GUARD VETERANS MEMORIAL AFTER CITY PULLS CROSS We are here at the gate at @DMAFB you can't get in and there was an announcement over the loud speaker. pic.twitter.com/QHPOw4SnkL Kevin Adger (@K_Adger_TNN) January 23, 2017 Two airmen on the flight line thought they heard "gunshots," initiating a response from local police, the Pentagon official said. #TucsonSector Border Patrol's Special Operation Group is currently supporting @DMAFB during base lockdown. CBP Arizona (@CBPArizona) January 23, 2017 The base in Tucson is home to the A-10 Warthog and the infamous "boneyard" where more than 4,000 retired U.S. Air Force aircraft are kept in the desert, but can be brought back into service. About 6,500 active duty military and 1,000 Reserve and Air National Guard personnel work on the base, along with about 3,000 civilians. Borman K-8 School is located on the base. The school went on a "soft lockdown," meaning nobody could enter or leave, and windows and doors had to stay locked, according to the Tucson Unified School District. The Sonoran Science Academy, a charter school on the base, reported that it would not answer phones during the lockdown. Officials there said no students or staff were missing. Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Fox 10. A Washington state police officer is being hailed a hero for rescuing a woman from a burning car on Saturday and the dramatic moment was captured on his body camera. Spokane police said in a press release Officer Tim Schwering arrived on the scene of a burning vehicle Friday night. Kimberly Novak had called for help, saying he was trapped in the vehicle as the passenger side began to fill with smoke. Schwering managed to break a window with his baton, but couldnt unlock the door. Police said Schwering had to break the drivers side window and have Novak climb out that window. The officer received help from a neighbor nearby. Schwering was later treated at a hospital and released. Novak recalled the incident in an interview with KHQ-TV. She said she hit an ice patch in Spokane and her car suddenly shut off. Her locks also wouldnt open, which is why Schwering had to break open the windows. I've never been so terrified in my life, Novak said. Between that and the smoke, I didn't know what was going to get me first. Novak and Schwering reunited on Sunday. Right now I'm really blessed. It's humbling to think it can happen that fast without any warning, she told him. Police have arrested a 42-year-old homeless man in connection with an explosion that damaged a Boston police cruiser, but caused no serious injuries. The near-tragedy occurred Friday morning outside a police substation in South Boston. A passing officer spotted a fire burning near the cruiser and moved the vehicle. Two explosions were heard soon afterward. Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told the Boston Herald that investigators believe the device involved a propane tank and possibly some fireworks. The Herald reported that Asim Kieta, formerly of Dorchester, Mass., was arrested Saturday night while sitting in his car in Charlestown. Surveillance video purportedly shows the suspect walking to and from the police substation Friday morning before getting in his car and driving away. Kieta faces charges of possession of an explosive device, assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer and arson of personal property. We have who we believe is responsible," Evans told reporters Sunday. "As far as motive goes, that's something we're still looking at." Evans added Herald that he is in discussions with the FBI about potential federal charges being brought against Kieta. Authorities say a man who broke into a classmate's home in 2007 and stabbed the teenager and his parents to death in 2007 has killed himself in prison. Cumberland County Deputy Coroner Jeff Miller said Monday that 25-year-old Alec Kreider was found hanging in his cell Friday at the state prison in Camp Hill. The Department of Corrections says staff members tried to revive Kreider after a guard found him unconscious in his cell. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Kreider was 16 when Kevin Haines and his parents, Thomas and Lisa Haines, were killed in Lancaster County in May 2007. The couple's daughter, a college student, was awakened by the attacks and escaped unharmed. Kreider pleaded guilty in June 2008 to first-degree murder and was sentenced to three consecutive life terms. Parents in southern Indiana have voiced their disapproval over a worksheet assigned to middle school students that they claim paints Sharia or Islamic law in oppressive countries like Saudi Arabia in a positive light. ATHEIST GROUP WINS BATTLE TO PULL CROSS FROM PUBLIC PARK AFTER THREATENING LAWSUIT According to the Courier-Journal, several parents spoke out against the worksheet assigned to seventh graders at Highland Hills Middle School in Georgetown, Indiana, during a recent New Albany-Floyd County school board meeting. The worksheet in question features a passage attributed to a fictional 20-year-old woman from Saudi Arabia named Ahlima. In the passage, Ahlima states that she is "very fortunate" to be living under the rule of Sharia law, which in many Muslim cultures is a strict religious code that governs the way Muslims dress and act. She goes on to explain that she will soon be married and become a man's second wife. NEARLY 1 MILLION CHRISTIANS REPORTEDLY MARTYRED FOR THEIR FAITH IN LAST DECADE "I understand that some foreigners see our dress as a way of keeping women from being equal," the worksheet states. "But ... I find Western women's clothing to be horribly immodest." As many in the West have warned about the dangers of Sharia law, stating that it oppresses women and non-Muslims, one father told the school board that the worksheet is similar to praising Nazi Germany without mentioning the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. "The way that the worksheet is left would be like describing how effective Hitler was at nationalizing Germany and creating patriotism but leaving out that he slaughtered 6 million Jews," parent Dean Hohl was quoted as arguing at the meeting. Parent Jon Baker explained that the worksheet that his daughter received is almost like a "propaganda" piece. "If you read that, you would think everything's wonderful in that world," Baker said. Under some versions of Sharia law, men are allowed to have multiple wives, while women are often stoned to death for adultery or punished for leaving home without being accompanied by her husband, father or closest male relative. Additionally, women who are not married can be lashed if they have relations out of wedlock. There are also strict consequences for apostasy and blasphemy. Bill Briscoe, a school district spokesman, told the Courier-Journal that they are now reviewing the curriculum after receiving complaints. Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com Police officers responding to a burglar alarm fatally shot a homeowner, who had grabbed a gun when he spotted an intruder, after shots were fired in their direction as they arrived at his house. Police said Monday they weren't sure who shot at them while they were on Christopher Thompkins' front porch. Ballistic evidence was being reviewed. Thompkins, 57, died in the gunfire before dawn Sunday. Police did not report finding a gun on the intruder, identified as Juan Brian Jeter-Clark, 23. Jeter-Clark was charged with criminal trespass but could face additional counts. Thompkins' ex-wife, Brenda Richmond Thompkins, said she was in bed with him when they spotted an intruder standing nearby. She said he grabbed her gun, not realizing police had already been summoned by their burglar alarm company, and then chased after the intruder down some steps to the home's front door because he was worried about his blind mother, who uses a wheelchair and lives downstairs. "Christopher was saying, 'My mom, my mom, my mom, my mom,'" said Richmond Thompkins, who was divorced from Thompkins years ago and had reconciled with him but not remarried. She said she fled out the second-floor bedroom window while calling 911. "I don't know how they started firing because I wasn't there," she said. "I was going, I was running for my own life." Once out the window she yelled at police, "Please don't shoot me. I'm a victim. The guy's still in here." Thompkins was sentenced to seven to 15 years in prison for murder for shooting a handyman who tried to break up an argument between the couple in 1994. Thompkins had said the gun fired accidentally. Court records show the sentence was vacated by an appellate court, though Richmond Thompkins said Thompkins still wound up serving 10 years in prison. After getting out of prison, Thompkins worked for a cleaning company and later as a dialysis technician. Richmond Thompkins said she doesn't believe Thompkins purposely fired at police and believes he would have dropped the gun had officers yelled out to identify themselves. "They shot the wrong guy. He didn't want to hurt no cops," she said in a telephone interview. "He was trying to save his mother." Court records didn't list an attorney for Jeter-Clark, who remained in the county jail on Monday and couldn't be reached for comment. The Allegheny County district attorney is reviewing the shooting. The officers involved have been put on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard practice. They have not been publicly identified. Richmond Thompkins said three men were seen lurking on their block in recent days and one of them looked like Jeter-Clark. She said it's possible the intruder entered the home because Thompkins recently bought a new car. The intruder called Thompkins "old head," a slang term for an older person, she said. "You know how these kids are," she said. "When they think you got something (valuable), you know how they are." Authorities in Texas stopped an armed patrol and a group of young boys Saturday who said they were out to patrol the streets after a woman seen struggling during an arrest said she didnt feel safe in her neighborhood. According to Fox 4 News, the support for Jacqueline Craig in Fort Worth lasted about 20 minutes. Neighbors said the group had someone yell through a loudspeaker while others were screaming profanities. They said they were worried the march couldve become violent. "I didn't find anything alarming myself. I didn't find anything out of the norm. Police officers have guns, but they don't protect," Roderick Smith, a spokesman for Craig, told Fox 4 News. "She said it meant a lot to have complete strangers come and try to protect her, when the individuals that she pays, which is the Fort Worth Police Department, failed to do so." Fort Worth Officer William Martin was captured on video wrestling Craig to the ground before arresting her and her two teenage daughters last month. Craig had been arguing with a man who she said had physically confronted her 7-year-old son for littering. In the video, Craig can be heard telling the officer that the man had "grabbed and choked" her son. Martin is seen engaging Craig in a conversation that quickly escalates. He asks why she hadn't taught her son not to litter. Craig says regardless of whether the boy littered, the man did not have the right to "put his hands on him." The officer says, "Why not?" Martin was suspended without pay for two weeks, and is now preparing to returning to the neighborhood on the same patrol. Smith told Fox 4 News he doesnt think the patrol wouldve happened if Martin hadnt been reassigned to the same neighborhood. Police stopped the armed patrol and asked them to put the weapons down. No arrests were made. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Fox 4 News. A South Carolina high school student was arrested earlier this month after a paper plane he allegedly threw in class struck a teacher in the eye. The South Strand News reported that the 17-year-old Andrews High School student could face up to 30 days in jail after being charged with third-degree assault and battery. The paper airplane struck Edward McIver. According to an incident report, McIver contacted a resource officer after he was struck in the eye. Deputy Paul Glover wrote in the report that McIvers eye appeared to be very red and that the science teacher and Florence Public School District trustee was upset because he recently had eye surgery. The report added that McIver and the student have had other confrontations prior to the paper airplane incident. McIver wanted to press charges if the particular student was involved. The student reportedly admitted to throwing the paper airplane in a meeting with McIver and a vice principal, but said he intended to hit him in the eye. The teen was then cited for third-degree assault and battery. He was taken to the Georgetown County Detention Center and was released on bond. The paper reported the teens first court appearing is scheduled for Feb. 14. Click for more from the South Strand News. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Trump administration on Monday opened the door to cooperating with Russia "or anyone else" to combat the Islamic State group in Syria, suggesting it could reverse a previous refusal to coordinate military action with Moscow as long as it backs the Syrian government. "I think if there's a way that we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it's Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we'll take it," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said. Asked if the openness extended to working with Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been condemned internationally for killing civilians, Spicer said, "We're not going to get together with people under the guise of defeating ISIS if that's not truly their guise." He added, "So let's not take that too far." Spicer also suggested that Trump already has told Defense Secretary James Mattis to change the U.S. approach to fighting the Islamic State. "I think he has ordered it," Spicer said, adding that Trump would discuss the matter with Mattis during a visit to the Pentagon Friday. "At that time, he will continue to have conversations about what he wants from them and the joint chiefs," he added, referring to the military service chiefs. During the more than two years that President Barack Obama directed U.S. military action against IS in Syria, he resisted Russian overtures to coordinate military action. Obama believed Moscow was acting counter to U.S. interests by propping up Assad, whose government Obama called illegitimate. The Pentagon has maintained a hotline with the Russian military to deal with the narrower issue of avoiding air accidents in Syria. With Trump in the White House, Moscow seems eager to draw the new administration into closer military cooperation, perhaps reflecting Trump's frequent statements during the presidential campaign that he welcomed opportunities to improve relations with Moscow. On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the U.S. had provided targeting information for a joint airstrike against Islamic State fighters in Syria. But Pentagon officials flatly denied the Russian assertion. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, chief spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad, called the Russian statement "rubbish." At the Pentagon, a spokesman, Maj. Adrian J. Rankine-Galloway, said the U.S. military is not providing targeting information to the Russians or coordinating air operations with them. Trump has not yet spelled out how he will change the U.S. approach in Syria or Iraq. During the campaign he said that as president he would ensure the Islamic State's quick defeat. At CIA headquarters over the weekend, he repeated his campaign assertion that the U.S. had erred in not taking control of Iraq's oil as compensation for having ousted President Saddam Hussein in 2003. "If we kept the oil you probably wouldn't have ISIS because that's where they made their money in the first place," Trump said. "So we should have kept the oil. But, OK, maybe you'll have another chance." Asked what Trump meant, Spicer said, "We want to be sure our interests are protected. We're going into a country for a cause. He wants to be sure America is getting something out of it for the commitment and sacrifice it is making." Seeing just one Donald Trump sign was enough to provoke a woman into a fit of anger, sheriff's investigators in Florida revealed Sunday, saying she claimed the display "ruined her chill." WOMAN KICKED OFF PLANE FOR BERATING TRUMP SUPPORTER IN VIRAL VIDEO The woman, 30-year-old Elizabeth McSurdy of Oakland, Calif., whipped out a knife, slashed the sign and threatened to attack the owners of the business where she spotted it Friday, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. Deputies hauled her off to jail, which may also have ruined her chill. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FACES JAIL TIME OVER PAPER AIRPLANE INCIDENT The business on Big Pine Key had plenty of signs. It's name: R & T Vinyl Signs. After cutting up the offending Trump sign, McSurdy drove off, but deputies were quick to pull her over, the Miami Herald reported. The knife in question turned up in the glove compartment. McSurdy reportedly denied threatening the business owners until a deputy revealed a photo they took, showing the woman leaving the place. McSurdy faced charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She posted $10,250 bond Saturday, the Herald added. Big Pine Key is about a 40-minute drive from Key West. Austrian police urged Vienna residents Monday to be on heightened alert for suspicious objects and activities as they hunted for possible associates of a suspected Islamic radical who they say might have been planning a bomb attack. MEXICAN WOMAN ARRESTED IN SPAIN WAS FERVENT PROMOTER OF JIHAD, POLICE SAY A minor was among those questioned. Briefing reporters along with other senior law enforcement representatives, Konrad Kogler, Austria's top security official, described him as a 12-year old who had been in contact with the main suspect arrested Friday in his Vienna apartment. Kogler said the child was under supervision, without going into details. Amid the search for suspects, Vienna Deputy Police Chief Karl Mahrer told reporters that the Austrian capital would remain under increased security alert until police were satisfied that any threat of potential attacks was banished. REBEL LEADER, SYRIAN GOVERNMENT IN SHOWDOWN DURING PEACE TALKS "Look instead of looking away," he urged Vienna residents, calling on them to immediately report anything unusual that could be linked to a terrorist strike. Separately, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka told state broadcaster ORF that the arrested suspect -- a 17-year-old male -- has said he supports the Islamic State group. Sobotka described the suspect as having a "real communications network" and as someone with "weight" in radical circles. At a subsequent news conference, Sobotka said "several connecting lines" existed between the youth and other potential suspects in Austria and in Germany. He said the teenager had a "Salafistic background," adding that any attack plans he might have had appeared to have been still in the planning stage. A SWAT team made the arrest after what police said was a tip from a "foreign intelligence service." The youth was not identified due to Austrian privacy laws, but Interior Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck said the suspect is believed to be in contact with radical "Albanian-Islamist" circles. Another suspect thought linked to the teenager arrested in Austria was in German custody after his detention Saturday. German news agency dpa said law enforcement officials suspected the 21-year-old of helping the Austrian plan an attack and experimenting with making explosives in the German suspect's apartment in the city of Neuss. It cited them as saying, however, that no weapons or explosives were found in a search of his apartment at the time of his arrest. Austrian authorities said after they detained their suspect that he may have been close to carrying out an attack, with the city's subway line a potential target. Sobotka said there were no indications that he had "concrete" plans. But the decision to indefinitely increase the presence of Vienna police at train stations and other frequented areas indicated continued concerns about what Kogler described as a "potential danger situation." Police are reportedly investigating the suspected gang rape of a woman after the attack was live-streamed on Facebook. 'YOLOCAUST' WEBSITE SHAMES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL SELFIE TAKERS An online witness said the victim had her clothes pulled off by armed men and was sexually assaulted before cops arrived and turned off the camera. According to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, three people have been arrested after the alleged attack was broadcast in a closed Facebook group Saturday night. THREE PUPPIES FOUND ALIVE DAYS AFTER ITALY AVALANCHE The horrific assault took place in an apartment in Uppsala, Sweden. Police rushed to the scene after they were tipped off by someone watching the live stream in horror. The victim was apparently close to unconscious as the she was assaulted. Witness Josefine Lundgren, 21, called the police immediately when she tuned into the live footage. She told Swedens Expressen: He pulled her clothes off and lay on top of her. A few hours later she saw a uniformed policeman interrupt broadcast as he arrived at the scene. He confronted the men and demanded they come to the station before shutting off the webcam. Another person watching the stream told the paper: I first thought it was a poorly orchestrated joke. The first thing you think is how can you do such a thing to a girl? And how can you do it live when you know that you are going to go there?' a former member of the closed group told the Expressen. I think of course it is screwed, totally sick, they added. Regional police have begun an investigation and the apartment is being examined by forensic scientists. This story first appeared in The Sun. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is hosting Syria peace talks, is a relatively new name on the map. Founded in the early 19th century as a Russian empire outpost, Akmolinsk was a backwater in the wind-swept steppe. That changed in 1994 when Kazakhstan's first president decided to move the capital from the commercial center Almaty, and Akmolinsk was renamed Astana. Since then the city's population soared from about 200,000 to 880,000 last year. Primarily developed in post-war years with typical provincial two-story buildings, Astana received a radical makeover in the 1990s to be dominated by skyscrapers and steel-and-glass modern buildings which house government agencies and major companies. Locals joke about how fast Astana was developed. In one anecdote, a passenger asks the taxi driver about a skyscraper they pass. "I don't know. It wasn't there yesterday," the driver replies. Weather in Astana is so brutal that the area was chosen in the 1930s as a location for Stalin's prison camps. A special camp for the wives of "traitors of the people," a common charge that party officials and Red Army officers faced in the 1930s, was set up in the steppes in 1938. Before it was closed in 1950, thousands of female prisoners were sent to the camp, simply for their association with their husbands. Survivors of the wives' camp recall working in deadly winter with the freezing winds sweeping through the steppes and suffering from heat when dust storms rolled in. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Astana is -52 degrees Centigrade (-61 degrees Fahrenheit) and the highest is +43 degrees (109 degrees Fahrenheit). Snow can be seen on the streets in Astana in April and snowfalls are not unheard of in May. Talks aimed at ending the war in Syria have begun with rebels and the government meeting face-to-face for the first time. The U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is taking part in the talks, which are expected to be followed by more political talks in February in Geneva if successful. But the meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, got off to a fractious start when a Syrian government envoy denounced a speech by a rebel representative at the peace talks, calling it "insolent" and "provocative." ALEPPO'S LANDMARK MOSQUE BEARS SCARS OF SYRIA'S WAR Syria's U.N. ambassador Bashar Jaafari said rebel leader Mohammad Alloush's speech did not rise to the level of the gathering of diplomats attending the conference. Jaafari repeatedly referred to the rebel delegation as representatives of "terrorist armed groups." ISIS BOOSTS OIL AND GAS SALES TO ASSAD, OFFICIALS SAY He also said that the agenda for the talks is "not ready yet." Turkey has said both sides have been fighting each other for years and a solution could not be expected in just days. Deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said: "There are parties that have been at war with each other for six years around the table at Astana. A solution in one or two days should not be expected." The head of Syria's rebel delegation said the opposition is "ready to go to the ends of the earth" to end the bloodshed in Syria. Alloush told reporters after an hour of talks that the rebels "are men of peace, and at the same time knights of war." All parties involved in the war have welcomed the new attempts to thrash out an agreement but the two sides have different ideas as to the aim of the discussions. Rebel groups have said the meeting will focus on bolstering a frail nationwide ceasefire agreed last month by opposition ally Turkey and regime backer Russia. But Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has insisted that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal, and called for a "comprehensive" political solution to a conflict that has killed more than 310,000 and displaced more than half of Syria's population. The talks, which have been organised by Turkey, Russia and Iran, come a month after the regime recaptured rebel areas of Aleppo, notching up its biggest victory since the start of the year. Click for more from Sky News. A 38-year-old Mexican woman living in Spain has been arrested and charged for cooperating with the jihad cause and allegedly helping in the recruiting efforts of her husband, Aziz Zaghnane, a Moroccan national captured 10 months ago. Officers with the Spanish Guardia Civil said they were able to confirm the womans role in the terrorist cell after analyzing the electronic devices seized to her husband and four others. The woman, whose identity has not yet been released, was born and raised in Monterrey. The couple lived in Pinto, just south of Madrid, and had two children under the age of 4, according to Spanish media outlets. Authorities in the case said there is evidence the woman was part of a network in charge of creating and distributing jihadist propaganda through various web platforms and instant messaging applications. She explicitly called for participants willing to be trained and take part in terrorist activities, according to the Interior Ministry sources. The woman converted to Islam in 2010 while still living in Mexico, they say, and radicalized her views after marrying Zaghnane. She became a very influential figure among the community of Islamic women in Mexico, according to the police investigation. Police say this and other recent developments show the growing importance of women within the propaganda apparatus of jihadist groups, especially ISIS, in which women have switched from mere wives or mothers of combatants to active recruiters and preachers of the jihadist ideology. Since 2015, security Forces have arrested a total of 183 jihadi terrorists in Spain. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Monday his government is prepared to negotiate with President Donald Trump if Mexico's national sovereignty is respected. TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER PULLING UNITED STATES FROM TPP TRADE DEAL Pena Nieto gave a speech detailing what Mexico's baseline negotiating points would be, including economic integration, respect for the rights of migrants and the money they send home. Those remittances amount to about $25 billion annually and have become a major source of foreign revenue for the country and, Pena Nieto said, of support for families on low incomes. SPICER CHANGES UP FORMAT AT WH BRIEFINGS, MOVES TO HIT RESET WITH MEDIA Trump had originally suggested that the U.S. might retain some of that money to help pay for a wall between the two countries, a project he says Mexico will pay for but which Mexico opposes. Pena Nieto sought to chart a middle course. "We will work for a border that unites us, and not one that divides us," he said. "Neither confrontation nor submission. Dialogue and negotiation are the solution." The president spoke after holding talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ahead of planned meetings with Trump. Trump has pledged to renegotiate the three-nation trade agreement and slap tariffs on imports. Mexico's manufacturing sector has benefited from NAFTA, but Trump claims it has displaced U.S. jobs. Dimitrious Jimmy Gargasoulas was charged but refused to appear before a judge to face five counts of murder over Fridays Melbourne attack. POLICE OFFICER SHOT IN THE ARM IN BELFAST IN DRIVE-BY ATTACK The 26-year-old was en route to Melbournes Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon after being questioned be police. But Nine News reported his lawyer requested the accused be excused from appearing in court due to health concerns. MAN'S FINGER CUT OFF BY TRIO WITH MACHETE AND KNIVES, NYPD REPORTS The Herald Sun reports Dimitrious Gargasoulas isnt expected to return to court until August. Even then he will only appear via video link and will not step inside a courtroom until next year. Instead he will stay in custody on remand while police and prosecutors work to build their case against him. Fridays rampage left five people dead and at least two still fighting for their lives. Gargasoulas, 26, had surgery on Saturday for a gunshot wound he sustained when police stopped his alleged deadly drive into lunchtime crowds on Friday. He was released from hospital earlier Monday. Three adults and two children, a three-month-old baby and 10-year-old, were killed when the accused, who was on bail at the time for assault, allegedly deliberately drove into people in the heart of Melbourne. Thalia Hakin, 10, Jess Mudie, 22, Matthew Si, 33, a three-month-old baby and a 25-year-old man died. More than 30 were injured with 13 remaining in hospital on Sunday, at least two of them still fighting for their lives. They are critical. Theyre in a very, very serious condition, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters. The fear is of course that the death toll from this evil act will rise. Click for more from news.com.au A rally in Nigeria supporting Donald Trump's inauguration ended with police tear gas and dozens of arrests, law enforcement officials said Sunday. Friday's demonstration in southern Rivers state was organized by the Indigenous People of Biafra, which aims to break off from Nigeria and has called on Trump to back an independent Biafran state for the Igbo people. Supporters call its their own version of the United Kingdom's Brexit -- in other words, a "Biafrexit." HELICOPTER CRASH KILLS CAMEROON GENERAL, 5 OTHERS However, police said organizers did not get approval for the rally. Officers moved in with tear gas to break it up, triggering panic. A Nigerian separatist group claimed 20 people were killed in the chaos, but police denied anybody died. At least 65 people carrying the movement's flag were arrested, according to Nnamdi Omoni, a spokesman for Rivers state police. BOKO HARAM ATTACKS REFUGEE CAMP IN NIGERIA Ugochukwu Chinweuba, a member of the separatist group, said lawyers were working to locate and release those who were arrested, and that more than 200 people remained missing Saturday. Police also claimed the march disturbed public order, AFP reported. One million people died in the 1967-70 civil war over efforts to create a Biafran state. In November, Amnesty International accused Nigeria's military of killing 150 pro-Biafra protesters. The army denied the allegations, saying soldiers used "maximum restraint." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Romania's president has called for a referendum on a government proposal to pardon thousands of prisoners, which critics say could weaken the anti-corruption fight. President Klaus Iohannis said Monday he wants to hold a referendum because of the intense public interest. He spoke a day after 15,000 people demonstrated in Bucharest, the Romanian capital, and thousands in other Romanian cities against the proposal. Iohannis said the referendum would ask Romanians whether they agreed with these measures or not, noting the Social Democratic Party that won the December parliamentary election had not mentioned the pardons in its program. Premier Sorin Grindeanu wants to pass an emergency ordinance to pardon prisoners to help ease overcrowding in prisons. Critics say the move is designed to help government allies convicted of corruption. In the summer of 2014, 4-year-old Safia was playing in her family home in the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor when a bomb blast scalded 70 percent of her face and body. An explosive device in the Syrian city of Deir Al Zour left Israa, 8, severely burned. And a jet missile in Daraa that killed the family of 10-year-old Yumna also left her with melted flesh. They are considered the lucky ones. They are among 11 Syrian children who for the past three years have been brought to the famed burn center at Shriners Hospital for Children (SHC) in Galveston, Texas, for a second chance at life. The injured kids were flown to the hospital under a program established by the non-profit Burnt Children Relief Foundation (BCRF), which raises money to transport the children while the hospitals team assists with medical costs. The humanitarian crisis is the worst since World War II, Syrian Institute for Progress (SIP) Chairwoman Susan Baaj, who coordinates the foundations efforts to assist the children, told Fox News. These kids are in dire need for help. The most recent case, 7-year-old Moath whose face was deeply seared by flames in Aleppo arrived with his mother last Thursday to begin his long road to recovery. SHC has a global focus. Many times, the specialized care children need is not available in Syria, so we provide the care, said John McCabe, executive vice president of Shriners Hospital. SLIDESHOW: BURNED SYRIAN CHILDREN FIND TREATMENT IN TEXAS We believe every child deserves the best chance in life. SIP President Saed Moujtahed, who is the foundations founder, said one of its biggest challenges is navigating the necessary paperwork for the children to enter the U.S. Most of the young and wounded do not have any identification papers, their homes often blown to bits in the bombing. We face challenges with determining guardianship and obtaining travel visas, McCabe said, as we cannot transport them to one of our hospitals without these. Through cooperation between the U.S Consulate in Istanbul and the Turkish consulates in Los Angeles and Houston, travel documents are processed for the child in need and one (female) immediate family member. Almost every day, the foundation receives desperate request for help from families abroad with young children severely singed by conflict. But, because of financial constraints, the all-volunteer foundation can only help the most severe cases. Scores of other children are still waiting to cut through visa red tape. But, Moujtahed noted, unlike other controversial refugee programs, the foundations policy is not to grant permanent residency to the children. Rather, the children in desperate need undergo surgeries and follow-up treatment which could last between six months to two years, on average before returning to the Middle East. So far, three of the cases have successfully returned to countries neighboring Syria and the others soon will follow. Oklahoma Republican Congressman Steve Russell, a retired soldier, said he is proud of the work the hospital and the foundation is doing. The effort has bipartisan support and the backing of the U.S. State Department. I visited Syrian refugee camps (in Turkey) during the big debate about refugees. I wanted to see what the vetting process was and see it firsthand, Russell told Fox News, referring to last years deep divides over the resettlement of Syrians amid terrorism concerns. During the course of that we became aware of a family, a mother who had lost several children but her youngest daughter, Kawthar, was horribly burned and disfigured. Kawthar, 2, from Idlib, has since undergone successful treatment at Shriners and returned to build a new life with her displaced family in Turkey. ALEPPO'S LANDMARK MOSQUE BEARS SCARS OF SYRIA'S WAR The foundation also tries to integrate the children into the American way of life through education, English-language classes and other activities even though their stay in the country is not permanent. And while the foundation was specifically established to treat Syrian minors, it hopes to eventually expand its mission to children across the world who have been caught in the cross fire of conflict. The biggest reward is looking at the change in the child not only physically, but psychologically, Moujtahed said, recalling the way in which Kawthar spotted another child around her own age in recovery dancing, and for the first time danced, too. You can see the smile and you can sense the security of the faces of these children. There is great peace that comes with that. Jamie Brennan contributed to this report The top Hamas official from the Gaza Strip has arrived in Egypt for meetings with security officials, the highest level visit by a member of the Palestinian militant group since Egypt's army overthrew an Islamist president in 2013. Egyptian security officials say Ismail Haniyeh arrived late Sunday. Hamas officials confirmed the visit. All spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters. Hamas, an Islamic militant group with historic links to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed warm relations with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, a top Brotherhood figure who was overthrown by the military after a divisive year in power. The Egyptian government tightened an Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza shortly thereafter, but in recent months there have been signs of a thaw in relations. As former President and World War II naval aviator George H.W. Bush recovers in a Houston hospital, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier bearing his name set sail for the Middle East Saturdaythe first full day in office for President Donald Trump and his defense secretary, James Mattis. GEORGE H.W. BUSH TO BE MOVED FROM ICU; BARBARA BUSH DISCHARGED USS George H.W. Bush deployed from her home port of Norfolk, Virginia, along with the destroyers Laboon and Truxton, a scheduled deployment in the fight against the Islamic State in the Middle East. The U.S. military had been without an aircraft carrier in the region since late December. Two Florida-based U.S. Navy cruisers, Philippine Sea and Hue City, were set to join the strike group at sea. BERGDAHL CASE PRESENTS EARLY LEGAL TEST OF TRUMP RHETORIC The carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and her strike group returned to Norfolk on December 30 after a seven-month deployment. The Ike launched hundreds of airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from both the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. It was not immediately clear whether the USS George H.W. Bush would conduct strikes from the eastern Mediterranean as Eisenhower did at the start of her deployment in June or proceed directly to the Persian Gulf. The carrier was delayed by more than six months in the shipyards due to budget cuts, according to officials. While there is no U.S. aircraft carrier in the Middle East right now, there is a large deck U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship in the Persian Gulf with roughly a thousand Marines on board as well as helicopters and some jets to respond to a crisis, according to officials. Earlier this month, a U.S. Navy destroyer fired three warning shots at an Iranian gunboat speeding towards it in an aggressive manor in the Strait of Hormuz, according to officials. Iranian harassment of U.S. Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf doubled last year compared to 2015, according to the U.S. Navy. This was not the first carrier gap in the Middle East. In the fall of 2015, the U.S. Navy relied on a French aircraft carrier to fill the void when the USS Theodore Roosevelt returned home. At the time, it was the first gap in carrier coverage in the Middle East since 2007. For about a week in late December and early January, not only was there no American aircraft carrier in the Middle East, but also nowhere in the world for the first time since World War II, according to officials. That worldwide carrier gap ended when USS Carl Vinson deployed to the Pacific on January 5. In the USS George H.W. Bush's final workups before deployment, Fox News visited the carrier in late November off the coast of North Carolina. In addition to fighting ISIS, the ship's commanding officer said his crew would be ready to deal with a resurgent Russia or China if necessary. While we don't have any emergent or pending conflicts with them, certainly, it is fair to say that we have divergent interests in many cases. and so we need to be prepared to understand how we will react to that if necessary, Capt. Will Pennington said. There is recent history with the warship. On Aug. 8, 2014, a pair of F-18s from the Bush launched the first airstrikes against ISIS in northern Iraq. Now, two and a half years later, the ship is headed back to the anti-ISIS fight. That doesn't mean that three months or six months from now, that will be the priority for our country. So we have to be ready to execute anywhere, anytime, any mission, said Capt. James McCall, commander of Air Wing 8, in charge of all of the aircraft on board. 11 Images Burned Syrian children find treatment in Texas War-torn Syrian children are being treated at the famed burn center at Shriners Hospital for Children (SHC) in Galveston, Texas. Wag N Wash Natural Food & Bakery Earns First Ever Ranking in Entrepreneur Magazines Franchise 500 List January 23, 2017 // Franchising.com // DENVER Wag N Wash Natural Food & Bakery, a full-line specialty retail and grooming center for cats and dogs, has ranked #448 in Entrepreneur magazines 38th Annual Franchise 500 list. This marks Wag N Washs inaugural ranking on the prestigious list, which is widely recognized as the worlds first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Nearly 1,000 companies were vetted by Entrepreneurs editorial team for the 2017 ranking. The key factors that went into Entrepreneur's evaluation included costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. All franchises were given a cumulative score based on more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores became the Franchise 500 in ranking order. We are incredibly proud to make our debut on this exclusive ranking of Americas top franchise opportunities, said Wag N Wash co-founder Dan Remus. When we opened our first store nearly 20 years ago, we forged a mission to recognize, promote, and foster the positive impact that companion pets and their humans have on each other. We have continued to deliver on this promise and are confident that at just 12 locations today, we have significant opportunity for continued growth. Founded in 1999 and franchising since 2006, Wag N Wash offers a community for pet enthusiasts to come, find quality goods and services for their pet companions, and simply be pet people. Among the stores offerings are various brands of all-natural pet foods, high-end supplements, grooming and washing facilities, and cool toys. In addition, an in-house bakery, rare in the pet store market, offers treats such as Liver Bites, Pumpkin Ravioli, Poochie Sushi and a variety of pies, cakes and muffins. Expert nutritional staff is there to help customers make the best nutritional choices; and all the while, furry friends are mingling throughout the store. Today, Wag N Wash has grown to 12 stores open and operating in six states. One-third of those stores have opened in the last 24 months alone, including the companys first locations in Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada and New Jersey. With seven additional stores slated to open in 2017, and a rapidly growing number of entrepreneurs looking to join the Wag N Wash family, company plans call for having a total of 40 locations in the next few years. Every day I see more and more new faces human and animal alike come into our stores, and the excitement they express is real. You know theyre both thinking, finally, a business that gets me! More than the success of our locations, is the idea that we are providing a unique and positive service to our communities that people need and love, said Remus. The 38th Annual Franchise 500 ranking can be found at www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. About Wag N Wash Natural Food & Bakery Wag N Wash Natural Food & Bakery is a full-line specialty retail destination for cats and dogs that has created a community for pet enthusiasts to come and be pet people. With a mission to recognize, promote, and foster the positive impact that companion pets and their humans have on each other, Wag N Wash provides the full experience fresh dog treats baking in the oven, natural food, high-end supplements, clean grooming and wash facilities and cool toys. There are currently 12 stores open and operating in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada and New Jersey, with several others in various stages of development across the country. For more information, visit www.wagnwash.com. SOURCE Wag N Wash Natural Food & Bakery Contact: Mike Misetic Franchise Elevator PR (847) 239-8149 mmisetic@franchiseelevator.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. The work to close down a family-run small business that has operated for decades can be time-consuming and tedious, and the emotional letting-go can be a job in itself. In recent months in the Richmond area, a number of long-standing, family-run small businesses have closed or announced plans to close businesses that collectively have more than 400 years of local retailing experience. A few have been around long enough to have survived the Great Depression. All weathered more recent economic downturns, including the 2007 to 2009 recession. William A. King closed H.W. Rountrees Luggage Co. after 141 years in operation, and sold the property at 5915 W. Broad St. for $965,000 to Hutton Team LLC. Plans are for an OReilly Auto Parts store to go on the property. Its just the economy, King said last year, explaining why he was closing. Young people they just order online. They dont come into the store anymore. Bachrachs Jewelers, open for 129 years, shut down Oct. 31. The business sold estate jewelry, watches, silver and art pieces and had been a fixture at 111 E. Broad St. for 62 of its 129 years. Co-owner Hank Klein said business had dropped off the past five years to the point where it was not worth it to continue operating. Another long-time retailer packing up is Adkins Lighting Center at 8280 Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County. Debbie Edwards and her husband and business partner, Mark Edwards, are in the midst of permanently closing the business started in 1969 by her parents, James and Edna Adkins. Originally in Petersburg, the store was an offshoot of Adkins electrical contracting business that operated at the time. The current store on Midlothian Turnpike was built in 1972. Although we will still have more to do after the retail part is complete, the most involved part for us is dismantling the showroom, Debbie Edwards said. Some of our crystal chandeliers and more intricate items have taken two or more hours each to clean and package. Debbie Edwards started in the family business in 1980. Her husband joined the business in 1984. Her mother still comes in some days to help. The customers have been so appreciative of our years of serving the community, and have expressed such kind words to us. There is a part of me that would love to continue, but I know this is the right thing for our family, Debbie Edwards said. The Edwardses are moving on to other pursuits and do not have heirs to whom they can give the reins. They consulted with a business expert about possibly selling the business. After evaluating both options, selling our inventory would offer the best outcome, Debbie Edwards said. They own their building and plan to lease it after March 1. *** Businesses open and close all the time. For instance, a total of 220,000 business establishments started during one quarter in 2014 while 205,000 closed, according to the latest report from the U.S. Small Business Administrations Small Business Profile reports. Generally, post-recession, private-sector business startups have outpaced business exits, the SBA said. To some observers, the spate of closures of long-time businesses is just part of the business cycle and reflects the changing dynamics of commerce which is increasingly moving online. Youve got different types of business, said Gavin Raphael of Light & Raphael, a business brokerage firm in Henrico County that helps business owners find buyers for their companies. The problem with a lot of (the businesses) shutting down is that they are retail. Retail in todays world is somewhat troubled because of the growth of online shopping. Its troubled by the megastores. ... Where weve been more successful, as well as our peers probably, is when its a service or manufacturing company. There is a lot more (buyer) interest, he said. In some instances, Raphael added, We cant always provide a better solution than simply shutting down. Sam Davis III, principal with The Davis Group Consulting and director of the Virginia Family and Private Business Forum at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business, said some of the recent local closures were not surprising. The business climate today is dramatically different from what it was when these businesses started, and some did not keep up by, for instance, adding websites. Rountrees was probably in as bad a location as you could be, Davis said. The luggage store was on a busy stretch of Broad Street, but located by itself on a parcel away from nearby shopping centers. On the other hand, Davis said he was surprised to hear that Carey Burke Carpets at 3115 W. Cary St. in the trendy Carytown shopping district in Richmond is planning to close. Owner Rick Poh is retiring and closing the store that was started by his father-in-law in 1978 and was run for years by his wife, Karen Burke Poh, before she died in 2010, and later him. Rick Poh said the couples three children who work as an accountant, a labor and delivery nurse and in financial services do not want to run the business. Poh said he looked into selling the store. The business has a robust website and is in a trendy area filled with shoppers. Why not sell? Basically, we decided that really was not an option, Poh said last year. We explored that possibility but decided that the best thing to do would be to close. Poh owns the building and land and adjacent parcels that city records assess at $1.2 million. He is in the process of selling the stores inventory while continuing the carpet installation business, which will eventually close. In general, Davis said, its hard to find buyers for retail businesses than other types of businesses, with one exception, automobile dealerships. The barrier there is getting your main supplier to agree to your new owners, Davis said. Other long-timers that have closed recently include Friedmans pawn shop at 118 E. Broad St. and Stevens Jewelers at 10877 W. Broad St. A new jewelry store under different ownership, SJ Jewelers, is scheduled to open in the former Stevens Jewelers space on Feb. 1. Don Stevens, co-owner with his wife, Linda, started Stevens Jewelers in 1993. Its time to retire, Stevens said last year. He said the couples children a lawyer and two teachers are involved in their own careers and are not interested in taking over the business. Friedmans Loan Office Inc. owner John Goodman said business had dried up, which is why he chose to close. Business is just quiet. Im not making any money, Goodman said last year. He had worked at the pawn shop for 41 years. His father, Stuart Goodman, owned the store before him. *** Shuttering a business that generations of family have poured hearts, souls and dollars into is a big decision that could have financial implications if not done correctly. Whether it is feasible to sell requires doing a thorough financial analysis of the value of the business, experts said. Lets say a restaurant is break-even. Its not making any money, Raphael said. In that case, we might value a restaurant at close to zero, and they might be better off shutting down. Assuming they own the building or can get out of the lease, if they can sell their equipment their toasters, refrigerators, tables and chairs they might walk away with $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000. Charlie Broadwater of Sunbelt Business Brokers, with offices in Henrico, has worked with numerous buyers and sellers over the years. If a business has been around for five years or more, is doing at least a half-million dollars in revenue and is throwing off close to six figures to the owner as business profit or salary or whatever then those businesses have a higher probability that they will sell, Broadwater said. No two businesses are alike, he said. On the surface, it might look like they are alike. ... They all have difference nuances in terms of the tenure of the employees, the nature of their lease, if its a franchise business, if there is any concentration of revenue with one or two key customers, suppliers. Some local long-standing, family-run businesses do find buyers. Westhampton Pastry Shop, a Richmond tradition since 1952, was sold last year to brothers George A. Oley III and Mark Oley and their cousin Billy Fallen. Guy Boots Rogers III, the former owner whose father purchased the bakery in 1976, had operated the bakery since 1994. They had a location that was sort of iconic retail at that corner of Libbie and Grove, said Davis, suggesting one reason that a buyer was found. The Oleys also talked sentimentally about the bakery, which they remember going to as children to get sweets. Camelot Pewter based in Goochland County is another small business that successfully transferred to new ownership. Anthony Berry, who had been employed at the small pewter manufacturer since 2002, bought it outright in August for $119,000 from Sam Shiplett, who retired. We worked out a deal between our lawyers and went from there, said Berry, who had purchased 10 percent ownership of the company in 2008 and another 5 percent in 2013. Website BizBuySell.com is an online marketplace where sellers and brokers can voluntarily list small businesses for sale. Nationally, the No. 1 reason people cite for wanting to sell a business is retirement, said Bob House, president of BizBuySell.com. The website tracked 7,842 closed transactions in 2016. That was the highest number of small-business sales since BizBuySell first started tracking data in 2007, House said. It certainly has been aided by the large number of baby boomers who have built these businesses and are at their retirement age now, House said. Many of them wanted to retire around 2009 or 2010 but were not able to because of the market conditions at the time. House could not say how many listings do not find buyers. It would not surprise me if half the businesses ended up not selling. Its tough out there, and there certainly are plenty of struggling business, he said. BizBuySell.com data for the Richmond area for 2016 show 33 small businesses listed on the website changed hands 15 retail, 10 service business, four restaurants, one manufacturing and three others. The local businesses sold for a median price of $130,000, about 0.87 percent of the asking price. The businesses had a median revenue of $360,000 and a median cash flow of $95,000. House said the uncertainty of the political climate leading up to the presidential election may have helped drive up the sales transaction numbers in 2016. Small-business buyers and sellers and brokers all generally skew politically conservative, he said. When it looked like (Hillary) Clinton was going to be the winner for the White House and continuing a lot of the policies of the last administration around overtime and health care and minimum wage, I think there were some sellers thinking that now might be a good time to exit, House said. UPDATE, 4 p.m.: Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa says the officer involved in the fatal shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is completed, which Lippa says is standard procedure in such cases. Lippa released this statement on the shooting: Last night, one of our deputies had to make the decision none of us ever wants to makethat of firing a weapon at another human being. Sadly, this incident has resulted in the death of the person involved. "The aftermath of officer-involved shootings are always emotional times. At my request, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the circumstances of this unfortunate incident. This is a difficult time for all involved. "I am fully confident the Virginia State Police will do an extensive, impartial and thorough investigation, and that investigation will come to its logical and just conclusion. "As is standard procedure in incidents of this type, the involved deputy will be on paid administrative leave until the matter is adjudicated. "My thoughts and prayers are with our deputy, his family and to the family of the deceased. UPDATE, 10:00 a.m.: The Virginia State Police have identified the armed man fatally shot by a Caroline Sheriffs deputy as William D. Fisher, a 49-year-old Woodford man. Fisher was shot after deputies responded to a verbal domestic call in the 13000 block of Long Branch Road in Caroline at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sgt. Stephan Vick said in a release Friday morning. He said that when deputies arrived on the scene they found Fisher in an outbuilding on the property. Vick added that Fisher was armed with a handgun and made continuous verbal threats to harm himself and the deputies. Fisher refused to comply with deputies commands to drop the weapon and was subsequently shot by the deputy. Fisher died at the scene. Original Post A Caroline County deputy answering a domestic disturbance call Thursday night shot and killed a man who had a gun, state police said. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the 13000 block of Long Branch Road. According to a Virginia State Police release, deputies were called to a verbal domestic disturbance, where they encountered a man with a firearm. The man was shot by a Caroline deputy and died at the scene, release said. Neither the man nor the deputy were identified in the release. No law-enforcement officers were injured, the release said. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Richmond Field Office is investigating the shooting at the request of Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa. State police said the findings of the investigation would be turned over to the Commonwealth's Attorney to review. A shooting victim was rushed to a hospital Sunday evening following an incident on Madison Court off Travis Lane in northern Stafford, police said. The incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. Police are searching for two Hispanic males who were last seen wearing all black and fleeing on foot toward Barrett Heights Road, Sheriff's spokeswoman M.C. Morris Moncure said. The Sheriff's Office put out a call to residents in the area and posted a brief release on its Facebook page asking residents to call police if they have any information regarding the suspects or a black SUV that was seen rushing away from the shooting scene. Sheriff David Decatur was at the scene but said the investigation had just begun and no further information was available Sunday night, including the condition of the victim and the reason for the shooting. RICHMONDThe Virginia Senate on Monday rejected a bill to increase the penalty for protesters who remain at the scene of a riot or unlawful assembly after being told to leave. The legislation, proposed by Sen. Richard Stuart, RStafford, was defeated on a 2614 vote, as several Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it. The American Civil Liberties Union said the bill was an overreaction to civil disobedience. Under Senate Bill 1055, anyone who remains at the place of any riot or unlawful assembly after having been lawfully warned to disperse would have been guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months of jail time and a $2,500 fine. Currently, this offense is a Class 3 misdemeanor, which can draw a fine up to $500 but no jail time. Stuart, a former Westmoreland County prosecutor, said he submitted the bill at the request of the Westmoreland Sheriffs Office. As a representative of an area, when you have constituents who ask you to bring bills, we are their vehicle to do that, Stuart said. So I typically do. The legislation drew opposition from Democratic senators. Many of them cited demonstrations from the civil rights movement, the womens rights movement and Saturdays Womens March on Washington. I find it ironic that Senate Bill 1055, which increases the penalty for unlawful assembly, was passed on the holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an individual who understood the power of nonviolent direct protest and the power of marching, said Sen. Mamie Locke, DHampton. It was on Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, that the Senate Courts of Justice Committee approved the bill and sent it to the full Senate. The committees vote was 84, with all Republican members voting yes and all Democratic members voting no. Sen. John Edwards, DRoanoke, called SB 1055 one of the worst bills he has ever seen. This is contrary to what we believe in as Americans, what we believe in as Virginians. I think Thomas Jefferson would roll over in his grave if he thought we were considering something like this, Edwards said. Several Republican senators spoke in support of the bill. When demonstrations become riot and become violent, I think we need to have the tools to deal with them, said Sen. Richard Black, RLoudoun. Stuart said his bill applied only to riots, although the language also included unlawful assembly. This has nothing to do with peaceful protest, Stuart said. The ACLU of Virginia strongly opposed the legislation. In Virginia and in a lot of communities, we are supposed to be moving away from putting more people in jail and more people in prison for typically non-violent crimes, and this is the opposite direction, said Charlie Schmidt, a public policy lawyer for the ACLU. Paul J. Creeden Dr. Paul J. Creeden, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed peacefully into eternal rest on January 22, 2017. He was born on July 3, 1929 in Harrisburg, Pa, and was a son of the late Louis A. and Margaret (McKenna) Creeden. He was a graduate of Harrisburg Catholic High School and the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Illinois. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Dr. Creeden established his Podiatry practice in Harrisburg. In 1960, he moved his Podiatry practice to Carlisle, with a satellite office in New Bloomfield. The practice flourished over the next 50 years until illness forced him to retire. Dr. Creeden loved his work and took great satisfaction from helping his patients feel better. He was deeply committed to the needs of the elderly, and made weekly house calls to area nursing homes. He was admired and respected by patients and peers alike for his professionalism, dedication, and compassion. He was awarded the Pioneer of Podiatry award by the Pennsylvania Podiatry Medical Association in 2011. Dr. Creedens skilled treatment of patients and his genuine interest in their wellbeing fostered friendships in Carlisle and Perry County that lasted well beyond his retirement. Dr. Creeden was deeply involved in service to the Carlisle community. He was a member and past president of the Carlisle Lions Club, and recipient of the Lions prestigious Melvin Jones Award. He was involved for years with the clubs eye glass assistance program. Dr. Creeden was also a former member of the Board of Directors for Industries Limited, and received the Outstanding Service Award from the Cumberland-Perry County Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board. He was a life member of the American Legion, and a member of the Elks. Dr. Creeden was a skilled carpenter, and enjoyed working with wood during his time off. Doc also appreciated classic cars, and loved going to car shows and discussing auto restoration with his friends and family. He fully enjoyed the outdoor life, fishing and camping along the Delaware River with his son and father-in-law, and hunting in Colorado. He took annual trips with his children and grandchildren to the New Jersey shore, building happy memories that will live on forever. He lived an interesting life and often entertained us with his stories. A devout Catholic, Paul truly lived his religion. He was a parishioner of St. Patrick Church, and spent his time and treasure with those less fortunate. He was a Fourth Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus Saint Martin Assembly ASM 2708. He prayed daily at the St. Katherine Drexel Adoration Chapel for many years. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanne (Englert) Creeden, one daughter, Elizabeth and husband Robert Winkler of Vernon, CT, two sons, Paul and wife Renee of Fruita, CO and Louis of Vernon, CT, two granddaughters, Kristen (Michael) Madsen, Stacy (Marco) Aguiar, two grandsons, Eric (Sasha) Creeden and Sean Creeden and two beautiful great-granddaughters, Grace and Emily, one sister, Rita Lehmer of Bradenton, FL and many nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by one son, David Creeden, one sister, Josephine Ogden and one brother, Rev. Louis Creeden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 27, 2017 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 85 Marsh Dr., Carlisle, with Rev. Robert F. Sharman officiating. A viewing will be held at the church on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Burial with military honors by Cumberland County Honor Guard will be in St. Patrick New Catholic Cemetery, Carlisle. Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, Carlisle, is in charge of arrangements. Paul valiantly battled lung cancer for over 10 years. His family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to his doctors, nurses and care providers for their excellent care and compassion. Special thanks to the Hospice and Palliative Care team of ECHN Visiting Nurse & Health Services of Connecticut. Assisting people with disabilities was near and dear to Pauls heart. Memorial contributions can be made to: The ARC of Cumberland & Perry Counties, 71 Ashland Ave., Carlisle, PA 17013. Please visit www.Since1853.com to send condolences. A revised proposal for the new Jewish student center near the University of Mary Washington will be considered by Fredericksburgs Planning Commission at its Feb. 8 meeting. Fredericksburg developer Larry Silver has offered to build a multimillion-dollar project for the Hillel Jewish student organization across the street from campus at 1500 College Ave., next door to the Baptist Student Union and just down the street from both Catholic- and Methodist-run student centers. It will be named The Maxine and Carl Silver Hillel Center. Jud Honaker, president of commercial development for the Silver Cos., said the new plan is a compromise between the company and some College Heights neighbors who felt the original plan was too massive for the street. The building will now be 7,900 square feet, 2,000 square-feet smaller than the original design. It will also be one-story with a basement, rather than a two-story building. The facility will still include meeting space, several staff and student offices, a multipurpose room for student activities and a cafe for students. A small apartment for a rabbi or staff member is also planned. The builder is seeking a special-use permit for a religious institution in a residential zoning district and a special exemption for general density from the Planning Commission. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in City Council chambers, 715 Princess Anne St. The University of Mary Washingtons Middle East studies program is hosting a talk on Human Rights and Media Freedom Issues in Contemporary Turkey. The event is free and open to the public. It will be held in Monroe Hall, room 346 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Abdulhamit Bilici, a former Turkish newspaper executive and former editor of Zaman; and Mahir Zeynalov, a columnist for Al Arabiya and a blogger at Huffington Post based in Washington, will lead the panel discussion. HARRISBURG A former mayor pleaded guilty Monday to 20 counts of receiving stolen property related to his ill-starred effort to bring a Wild West museum to his central Pennsylvania city. Former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed, 67, faces serious health problems and felt pleading guilty was the right thing to do, his lawyer said. We think this is an opportunity now to move on with his life and get the treatment he needs for his illness, said attorney Henry Hockeimer Jr. The plea came before jury selection was scheduled to get underway for Reeds trial on 114 counts. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining 94 charges. We think that this achieves justice for not only the commonwealth, but the city of Harrisburg, said Joe Grace, spokesman for the state attorney generals office. Hockeimer said all 20 counts to which Reed pleaded guilty involve photos or documents. Reed, who led the city of Harrisburg for nearly three decades, had also been accused of receiving stolen property for other items, including stagecoach equipment and firearms. Sentencing was scheduled for Friday. In a statement, Reed said that more times than I can count, he purchased items that were the same or similar to artifacts being purchased for the museum, which was never built. Reed said he ultimately concluded he ended up with items that belonged to the city. How they got into some box when moving out of office seven years ago, I dont know, Reed said. My guess is they were thrown in with a bunch of similar things in the haste of getting everything packed. Reed, a Democrat, said he was diagnosed with cancer and recounted his mayoral accomplishments. Todays proceeding does not, in any way, affect nor take away from any of that progress, he said. Reed and city staff traveled the country to accumulate the artifacts, eventually spending about $8.3 million in public money for some 10,000 items. Thousands of them were sold after he took office, producing about $4.4 million. Experts said they were a mixture of items with real value alongside fakes and junk. A grand jury report issued nearly two years ago said Reed had an almost pathological preoccupation with buying artifacts and that some within city staff tried to stop him. Merle and Earl Corbin are identical twins, but they dont even share the same birthday. Merle was born a few minutes before midnight on Aug. 30, 1934, and Earl was born a few minutes after the clock struck 12. They laugh and say theyve been trouble ever since. As years passed, the Varina men looked so much alike that many people sometimes even their own children couldnt tell them apart. That sort of confusion came in handy during the twins moonshining days when witnesses in court cases occasionally couldnt look at the two of them and say for sure who was who. Or as one witness exclaimed when Merle and Earl arrived together in court in one case, Theres two of them boys! Case dismissed! Merle recalls the judge saying. Ah, their moonshining days. To some, the making of illegal whiskey has always represented a somewhat honorable lawlessness, the manufacturers providing a link in the basic supply-and-demand chain with a homemade product, albeit cutting the government out of taxes it is rightly due. There are even television shows now that in some ways romanticize the practice and make stars of the moonshiners. To others, its simply against the law. To Merle and Earl particularly Merle it was a living. For much of the 1950s and 1960s, Merle was in the distilling business in a big way. Earl joined him for a while, but a night in jail convinced Earl that a man with a wife and children at home needed to find something to do that wouldnt land him in the pokey and wouldnt require him to live alone deep in the woods minding a still for weeks at a time, so he quit the business before the law retired him. However, Merle, a bachelor, kept going. Over the years, he set up a dozen or more stills in secluded rural areas outside Richmond. As soon as law enforcement would find one and blow it up with dynamite, Merle would go about building another one three counties away. I aint done nothing illegal in my life except make liquor for 16 years, said Merle, who is proud of the quality of his work, even if the authorities werent so impressed. Everything was done right, Merle said, or it werent done. Merle served time in state and federal correctional facilities in the 1960s, but overall has good memories of those days. He hasnt made a drop of liquor since 1969. It was fascinating to run a still, Earl added. Getting that thing set up in the woods. Man, it looked like a small factory. Then you get that thing running a big stream of whisky about as big as three fingers coming out. We were like scientists. People liked it, and they didnt know how to make it. Funny thing, the Corbins didnt even drink liquor. Didnt drink any kind of liquor, Merle said. Just didnt care for it. It was business to us. *** The brothers are eager to tell their stories now, in part, because Earl was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer last year, and they like the idea of sharing their story while theyre both here. Earl is not sure how much time he has left, though his daughter Cheryl reported to me a few weeks ago that he was still feeling well enough to go out every day to wrangle fallen leaves, and hes talking about restoring an old car. Hes always tinkering around the house and in the yard, she said. We spent a pleasant afternoon talking around the kitchen table at Earls home in Varina. The brothers shared their colorful stories matter-of-factly, but with an unmistakable delight that showed they clearly enjoyed their time in the illicit whisky business. They also clearly dont think much of the modern-day moonshiners making a name for themselves on reality TV and toting small stills on their shoulders. That aint no still! Merle said. When we moved stills, Earl went on, we moved them on trucks. And what about these sort of boutique moonshine flavors that are out there? Apple pie and lemonade and such? That aint moonshine! Merle said. This stuff today, people are putting everything in it. We made regular, ol bootleg liquor. Corn, rye, sugar and yeast. Nothing fancy, but a lot of it. Merle said his 1,200-gallon stills with upright boilers could produce enough hooch to fill upward of 600 cases of half-gallon jars each week to supply nip joints near and far until the law rooted them out. His stills also were substantial enough to require a significant effort to dispose of them. According to a court transcript in a 1964 case against him in Louisa County, an investigator for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control board testified it required 40 sticks of dynamite to destroy the still. The Corbins spent their childhood on a farm their family leased off Charles City Road. The boys chopped wood, fed hogs, milked cows and helped raise the vegetables they later would carry to Fulton Hill and Church Hill on a mule-drawn wagon and sell. They quit school at age 14 because they couldnt see the point. We didnt have time for (school), Merle said. Common sense was better for us than book sense. The boys grew up without indoor plumbing or electricity just a kerosene lamp in every room so the lure of cash from making whisky was strong. They hung out at a gravel plant where they met men who concocted little pots of liquor and listened to stories about how they made it. They were intrigued, and mechanically inclined, so Merle and another man built a still on Route 5, but they were caught the first night it was operating. He showed me a copy of a tattered clipping from the Richmond Times-Dispatch with a photo of the still after the police arrived. The date of the paper was Oct. 8, 1953. Merle was 19, and he went to jail for more than a month and wound up with three years of probation. He was delayed but not deterred. Kind of had to wait for that to fade away, and save up money, he said. Believe me, when we started setting stills, we rolled, the liquor rolled and I got to know everybody in Richmond that bought liquor. The brothers told me stories about rigging cars to be able to carry hundreds of pounds of distilling supplies or whisky without looking as if they were dragging the pavement the key was in the springs and of evading law enforcement officers who were constantly on the lookout for them. In fact, the Corbins said they came to respect and even befriend some of the officers, and even didnt hold grudges when they got caught. Everyone, they said, was simply doing their jobs. Come 1969, however, the untaxed whisky market seemed to dry up at around the same time the illegal drug trade picked up. Merle shut down his last still and never looked back. He never even considered dealing with drugs. I just aint like that, he said. I dont want anything to do with that kind of illegalness. Merle spent the rest of his working life operating a small trucking business, primarily hauling produce out of Florida. Earl hauled produce, as well, and also worked for a construction company where he put his mechanical know-how to good effect rebuilding engines and transmissions. And, though their moonshining career is long gone, the fruits of their labor have not entirely disappeared. Earls daughter, Cheryl, has a small jelly jar of whisky from that last batch almost 50 years ago stashed in her freezer. Shes saving it for special occasions: When her dad and uncle pass, she plans to bury a little white lightning with each of them. A 30-year-old Beaverdam woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of a man in Hanover County on Friday afternoon. The victim has been identified as Glen T. McMillan, Jr., 31, of Beaverdam. At 12:14 p.m., the Hanover County Sheriffs Office responded to the 16000 block of Trainham Road, a dead end road located off Beaver Dam Road to a report of a shooting. Deputies found McMillan suffering from obvious signs of trauma, the department said in a release. McMillan was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators later Friday charged Stephanie D. Tinsley, 30, of Beaverdam, with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. She is being held without bond at the Pamunkey Regional Jail. This is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community, the statement said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Hanover County Sheriffs Office at (804) 365-6140 or the Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637 (CRIMES), using the keyword iTip followed by their tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous. WHEN it comes to policing for profit, no one is immune from temptation. Just ask Attorney General Mark Herring. The knock against the practicesometimes called civil asset forfeiturehas been clear and simple for many years: Allowing law-enforcement agencies to confiscate peoples personal property without even filing criminal charges, let alone obtaining a conviction, violates the nations bedrock principles regarding justice. Whats more, allowing law-enforcement agencies to keep and spend the proceeds of such seizures gives them an overwhelming incentive to further abuse an already abusive system. This is not a new concern. Congress tried to address it more than 15 years ago, when it passed the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act. The measure produced underwhelming results. Two years ago, two former directors of the Justice Departments asset-forfeiture division urged Congress to kill the program entirely. Government self-interest corrupted a crime-fighting tool into an evil, they wrote in The Washington Post. As two people who were heavily involved in the creation of the asset-forfeiture initiative at the Justice Department in the 1980s, we find it particularly painful to watch as the heavy hand of government goes amok. The program began with good intentions but now, having failed in both purpose and execution, it should be abolished. They offer good adviceparticularly for Virginia, which the Arlington-based Institute for Justice says has some of the worst civil forfeiture laws in the nation. Last year the House of Delegates passed a bill that would have required a criminal conviction before property could be confiscated. The Senate killed the measure. Legislators did slightly tighten the standard of proof in forfeiture proceedings, which is an improvementbut only a modest one. Not many people can afford to challenge the confiscation of their property, especially when doing so would cost them more in legal fees and lost wages than the property is worth. Law-enforcement agencies sometimes defend asset forfeiture by arguing that it deprives criminals of their ill-gotten gains and strengthens law enforcement. Who could be against that? But since criminal charges are rarely filed, thats circular reasoning: We took the property because the owner was a criminal, and we know he was a criminal because we took his property. Last year, Attorney General Eric Holder announced some reforms of asset forfeiture. They might not be long for this world: Donald Trumps nominee for the post, Jeff Sessions, supports policing for profit. But even existing reforms can be undermined, sometimes by the very people who are supposed to enforce them. Formal Justice Department policy prohibits paying for raises with funds gained through equitable sharing of property seizures carried out in joint federalstate operations. But somebody at Justice put together an informal PowerPoint presentation showing states how they could get around that rule. All a state has to do, the presentation explained, is to use funds from seizures on other expenses, such as operations and vehicle maintenance. That frees up money that can then be allocated for pay hikes. Virginia took in more than $100 million from a case against Abbot Laboratories. In this instance, the case was legit: The company pleaded guilty. But Herrings office then used some of the money just as the Justice presentation advised: to hike salaries. (It also should be noted that Herrings predecessor, Ken Cuccinelli, distributed the vast bulk of the proceeds to state and local law-enforcement agenciessome of it while he was running for governor. State lawmakers were taken by surprise, and some of them were not happy about it.) To be clear, salaries need hiking, badly. Some lawyers in the AGs office make substantially less than lawyers working in local commonwealths attorney officesand far, far less than they could make in private practice. Thats not the issue. The issue is the way in which the Justice Department encouraged states to circumvent its own clear directiveand the fact that Virginia did so. While the behavior is less nefarious than the many cases in which the police have stolen from innocent people, it does offer another example of the ways in which meting out justice can become an exercise in self-dealing. Think of the episode as one more data point in a case that needs no further proof. Its high time for Virginia to end asset forfeiture in any case that lacks a criminal convictionand to allocate the proceeds to charity, so that policing is no longer tainted by profit. The Richmond TimesDispatch Voter supports Glenn Davis for lt. governor Seldom have I seen in my life a candidate for political office willing to work as hard as voters themselves. Businessman Glenn Davis is the exception, and he proved it recently in Hanover County, where he dominated a forum featuring candidates for lieutenant governor. Ever since he started his campaign, hes been logging major miles across Virginia, talking with everyone from Roanoke County to Virginia Beach, workers at coal mines to foreign companies, college students to Estonian entrepreneurs (he traveled there during his Christmas holiday to promote Virginia coal and other resources). At the Hanover forum, Davis came off as intelligent, informed, but most importantly, genuine and honest. He clearly puts the truth above politics, and its refreshing to see. Thats the leadership I want in Richmond, and thats why Im with Glenn Davis in the June 13 Republican primary. Rabih Abuismail Spotsylvania 8 p.m. (HIST) American Pickers Mike and Frank enter a property that houses a considerably large collection custom 1932 Ford vehicles; Danielle participates in a military mission. (R) (HD) (FLIX) Clerks II (2006, Comedy) Two friends find new jobs similar to their old ones at a fast food counter and begin to plan the rest of their lives in order to get out of their ruts. (HD) (SPIKE) Cops Suspected criminals are pursued by a law enforcement helicopter; officers try to settle a heated argument between a mother and her sons. (R) (HD) (CBS) Kevin Can Wait After Kyle receives attention for saving a cat, Kevin tries to outshine his brother by bragging to anyone who will listen about how he saved a man from choking. (N) (HD) (DSNXD) Kirby Buckets Kirby, Eli and Fish decide to participate in a series of pranks with the orb, but find themselves in a dimension that is ruled by Prank Williams, Jr. (R) (HD) (A&E) Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath Twin prodigies at the Church of Scientologys spiritual counseling practice part ways after one brother leaves, and the other reveals the ensuing tragedy. (R) (HD) (DISN) Stuck in the Middle Bestowed with an extraordinary opportunity, the Diaz family is asked if they would be interested in becoming stars in their own reality show. (R) (HD) (CW) Supergirl Kara and Mon-Els search for a missing woman leads them to another planet that strips them of their powers, leaving them defenseless against Roulette. (N) (HD) (ABC) The Bachelor Two women are unexpectedly sent home at the rose ceremony before Vanessa loses her cool while confronting Nick about Corinne. (N) (HD) (BRAVO) Timber Creek Lodge Mark makes choices he regrets that impact the lodge; Cynthias actions after a heartbreaking text are completely out of character, surprising Louise. (N) 8:30 p.m. (CBS) Man with a Plan Adam and Andi resolve to have the talk with Teddy and Kate, but their approach only leaves the kids more uncomfortable than before. (N) (HD) 9 p.m. (CBS) 2 Broke Girls Caroline discovers that she is sweet on the contractor renovating the dessert bar; Max rushes to see Randy in the hospital; Sophie joins a crowd of party moms. (N) (HD) (HIST) American Pickers Frank has a chance encounter with an old friend while he is out visiting the heartland of beer; Mike and Frank have a special surprise in store for Danielle. (N) (HD) (PBS) Antiques Roadshow The host visits the Pacific Pinball Museum; the values of a Lambert magician automaton and a 1925 Edgar Brandt La Tentation floor lamp are determined. (R) (HD) (FREE) Beyond Holden tries to forget about the events that have occurred since waking up from a coma by going on his first date; another person is recruited to pursue Holden. (N) (HD) (SPIKE) Cops A routine traffic stop for officials gives them quite a bit of drug evidence; law enforcement officials investigate a suspicious man in a parked car. (R) (HD) (TLC) Counting On While listening to the heartbeat of their second baby, Jessa and Ben wonder if they have twins; Jinger plans for the wedding and finalizes major details. (N) (HD) 9:01 p.m. (FOX) Lucifer Lucifer and Chloe begin an investigation into the deaths of college students believed to be poisoned by a serial killer; the pair talks about the kiss. (N) (HD) 9:30 p.m. (CBS) The Big Bang Theory In the aftermath of Sheldons mother having an intimate evening with Leonards father, the gang is left to deal with an uncomfortable morning the next day. (R) (HD) 10 p.m. (TLC) Rattled: A Paralyzed Mothers Story A woman with quadriplegia overcomes the odds and has her own child, but she is unable to walk and doesnt have dexterity in her hands. (N) (HD) (CBS) Scorpion Team Scorpion must save a man on the edge of a sink hole from falling in and stop the sink hole from permanently damaging the water supply of Los Angeles. (N) (HD) (FREE) Shadowhunters Clary struggles with the new Shadowhunter order; Jace is held in The City of Bones with an unknown fate; Valentines daughter is under suspicion. (R) (HD) (COM) South Park When Cartman helps Jimmy come up with a new joke for his comedy routine, it becomes an instant hit and takes off on the late night talk shows. (R) (HD) (NGEO) The Story of God with Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman compares various faiths ideas of the End of Days, inspecting the Dead Sea Scrolls, pondering the Mark of the Beast, and meeting a Buddhist. (R) (HD) 10:33 p.m. (HIST) Pawn Stars Pewter tankard from before the American Revolution; original Jean-Michel Basquiat postcards; Hydro-Cycle Barracuda watercraft from the 1960s. (N) (HD) 11 p.m. (SPIKE) Cops A sympathetic officer gives a rebellious suspect too many chances; a driver reminds officers why a friend should never borrow someones car; a man lies. (R) (HD) (AMC) Walk the Line (2005, Drama) A young boy who is raised on a humble cotton farm pursues his dream of performing music as a country-singing star, but drug addiction interferes. (HD) 11:30 p.m. (SPIKE) Cops An officer patrolling his area on a bicycle is hit by a vehicle, leading the officer to immediately call for assistance; a man claims he was beaten with a bat. (R) (HD) 11:35 p.m. (CBS) The Late Show with Stephen Colbert CBS This Morning co-anchor Charlie Rose; Hayden Panettiere from Nashville; television personality Jack Maxwell from Travel Channels Booze Traveler. (R) (HD) (NBC) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Actress Cate Blanchett from Manifesto; actor Hugh Dancy from The Path; musician Cobi performs. (N) (HD) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will address the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDCs membership at the organizations 2017 Legislators Forum I Wednesday. The event is to be held at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. Second St. The event is intended to facilitate interaction between theh organizations members and state government officials, the chamber said in a news release. The legislators will make opening comments, and questions will be solicited from members prior to the forum. Representatives whose constituencies reside in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties have been invited to participate. Reps. Steve Bloom, 199th District; Sheryl Delozier, 88th District; Mark Keller, 86th District; Patty Kim, 103rd District; Tom Mehaffie, 106th District; Greg Rothman, 87th District; Will Tallman, 193rd District; and Mike Tobash, 125th District, have confirmed their attendance. The event will be held in cooperation with the Perry County Chamber of Commerce and West Shore Chamber of Commerce. Legislators Forum II, scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Hilton Harrisburg, will feature members of the Senate. The cost to attend is $40 for members and $65 for general admission. Katie Ulsh is busy adjusting her focus to make the picture crystal clear. This 17-year-old Carlisle area youth has an image of what direction to take toward a career as a professional shutterbug. Im not interested in studio work, said Ulsh, a senior at Trinity High School. Im much more interested in field work possibly photojournalism. I want to write stories about the people Im taking pictures of. Growing up, Ulsh never thought of digital photography as an art form. It was just a way for her parents to take family snapshots of herself and her brother. That all changed the summer of 2012 when Ulsh went overseas to Europe as part of a People to People tour of Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. I took 7,000 pictures on my dads camera in the span of two weeks, Ulsh said. I thought this was really cool. I can capture these moments and look back on them. The subject matter was typical tourist landscapes, architecture and group shots of travelers, but the quality of her work impressed family and friends, setting in motion a career aspiration. Encouraged by the feedback, Ulsh took a basic photography class with the Carlisle Arts Learning Center. In the summer of 2014, she participated in a program for middle school and high school students offered through Pace University in New York City. There Ulsh learned how to work in a studio and to use software like Photoshop and Lightroom to process images. It was the beginning of an understanding of photography as a career. It opened my eyes to all the possibilities, she said. It doesnt have to be fine art photography. The opportunities really took off once Ulsh realized she could turn a hobby into a business venture. She started Katie Ulsh Photography as a freshman by asking friends if they could model for her. In exchange, she made the images available for them to use on Instagram. Gradually Ulsh took on paying jobs where she would photograph events like family reunions, snap senior portraits and take publicity skills for local businesses. Her parents taught her such basic business practices as how to prepare an invoice and develop a pricing sheet. Its a unique thing to have at such a young age, Ulsh said of her business. Because customers are expecting quality results, the experience has forced her to be more mature and responsible with her time. Trinity High School students are encouraged by staff and faculty to use their skills and talents to help charitable organizations. Ulsh volunteers to photograph events held by the United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania and the United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County. Her most exciting opportunity came during the summer of 2015 when Ulsh was selected to travel to London with National Geographic for a photography expedition. National Geographic carried with it a prestige that allowed Ulsh greater access to sites than the general public. She was able, for example, to go in among the ring of stone monoliths that make up the mysterious Stonehenge. Participants in the expedition were given assignments to complete. If they failed to follow through, they were not allowed to be involved in the next opportunity to do field work. For one assignment, Ulsh had to take 15 photographs in 45 minutes. This proved to be irritating to her because she wanted the freedom to take more. Another assignment required Ulsh to take 50 portraits in 90 minutes of passersby recreating along the river Thames or heading to work in the London financial district. Ulsh was not used to going up to complete strangers and asking them if they could be photographed. She had to learn quickly how to be assertive without being standoffish. During her two weeks in London, Ulsh learned from such mentors in the field as Gianluca Colla, an internationally known photographer, teacher and speaker who guided the expedition. So far, she has been accepted to three schools of photography including the Parsons school of art and design, the Pratt Institute and the Savannah College of Art and Design. Farmers have taken to social media urging support to keep glyphosate. They warn its loss would increase production costs, decrease yields and lead to environmental damage. The Twitter campaign under the hashtag #glyphosateisvital has been backed by a number of British farmers, who have posted tweets in support of keeping the herbicide. Glyphosate, the central ingredient in Monsantos herbicide Round-up, is a vital tool for weed control which allows farmers to use conservation tillage techniques such as minimum or zero tillage. See also: Three growers look for three alternatives to popular herbicide When used as a min-till establishment technique, it allows growers to reduce ploughing and decrease subsequent greenhouse gas emissions by leaving the soil undisturbed. The NFU says glyphosate is fundamental for weed control at pre-planting or pre-emergence stages on stubble fields. In June 2016, the European Commission extended the license to market glyphosate for another 18 months following conflicting scientific advice on its possible carcinogenicity. Licence review The licence will be up for review at the end of 2017 and the European Chemicals Agency has started its review into glyphosate. It has been tasked with deciding if it should be classed as a carcinogen. The latest Twitter campaign by farmers lobbying to keep glyphosate follows several campaigns by green groups and NGOs, including Friends of the Earth and the Soil Association, calling for an outright ban of the herbicide. NFU vice-president Guy Smith said: As we start the lobbying run into the relicensing of glyphosate at the end of 2017, its not surprising to see new activity trying to demonise this key crop-protection material. Its interesting the scientists behind the latest scare stories are the same ones who have tried to prove GM food causes health problems. The NFU are now redoubling efforts in Brussels to make sure sound science dictates the regulation here and that regulators are aware of the importance of glyphosate when it comes to keeping EU and UK farmers competitive and how it can help farmers reduce their carbon footprint when it comes to reducing cultivations and drying crops. According to Adas, the value of the use of glyphosate in the arable sector is 633m (547m) a year. It has estimated its loss would see UK production of winter wheat and winter barley drop by 12% and oilseed rape by 10%. Crucial tool The loss of glyphosate would require 49% more man hours a year for crop establishment, says Adas. Mark Buckingham, UK spokesman for Monsanto, said: Glyphosate is one of the most thoroughly tested herbicides on the market, those tests by expert regulators have consistently concluded that glyphosate can be safely used. Glyphosate is a crucial tool in a farmers armoury. When used according to the label, it is less toxic than baking soda, table salt and the caffeine in our coffee and it enables farmers to control weeds while protecting soil life such as earthworms and reducing carbon emissions. We all benefit from #Glyphosate it reduces CO2 emissions on farm by 12m tonnes = to emissions from an extra 2.5m cars pic.twitter.com/FBR9mbM26b Longwool (@Longwool) January 19, 2017 Story Highlights 39% say they are more hopeful, 30% less hopeful about next four years Less positive reaction than to Obama's first inauguration Trump speech rated less positively than those of Bush, Obama WASHINGTON, D.C -- Americans' reactions to the inaugural ceremonies for Donald Trump were more positive than negative. Thirty-nine percent say they are more hopeful about the next four years based on what they saw, heard or read about Friday's inauguration, 30% are less hopeful, and 30% say what they heard or read made no difference. That reaction is similar to what Gallup measured for George W. Bush's and Barack Obama's second inaugurations, but much less positive than it was for Obama's first. Based on what you have heard or read about today's inauguration, does it make you feel more hopeful about the next four years, less hopeful or does it not make any difference? More hopeful Less hopeful No difference % % % Donald Trump (2017) 39 30 30 Barack Obama (2013) 37 27 30 Barack Obama (2009) 62 11 23 George W. Bush (2005) 43 25 28 Based on one-night reaction polls conducted the night of the inauguration. Gallup Gallup conducted a one-night reaction poll Friday night after Trump was inaugurated as the nation's 45th president earlier that day, just as it had done immediately after the 2005, 2009 and 2013 inaugurations. Reactions to Trump's ceremonies are predictably partisan, though Republicans had stronger reactions than Democrats did. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans, including Republican-leaning independents, say they are more hopeful about the next four years after the inaugural ceremonies. In contrast, 56% of Democrats and Democratic leaners are less hopeful about the next four years; 36% say it makes no difference. Democrats were more positive about Obama's 2009 inauguration (87% said it made them more hopeful) than Republicans are about Trump's this year. But Republicans were much less negative about Obama in 2009 than Democrats are about Trump. In fact, Republicans were about as likely to say Obama's 2009 inauguration made them more hopeful about the next four years as to say less hopeful. Partisan reactions to Trump's inauguration are very similar to those for Bush's second inauguration in 2005. Based on what you have heard or read about today's inauguration, does it make you feel more hopeful about the next four years, less hopeful or does it not make any difference? Results by Political Party More hopeful Less hopeful No difference % % % Donald Trump (2017) Republicans/Republican leaners 78 3 19 Democrats/Democratic leaners 8 56 36 Barack Obama (2013) Republicans/Republican leaners 7 57 30 Democrats/Democratic leaners 66 3 25 Barack Obama (2009) Republicans/Republican leaners 31 26 40 Democrats/Democratic leaners 87 1 10 George W. Bush (2005) Republicans/Republican leaners 73 4 19 Democrats/Democratic leaners 12 50 35 Based on one-night reaction polls conducted the night of the inauguration. Gallup Many More Americans Tuned in to Obama's First Inauguration Than Trump's Forty-six percent of Americans reported watching the 2017 inaugural ceremonies as they happened, fewer than the 60% who did so for Obama's first inauguration in 2009. The percentage watching Trump's ceremonies exceeded those for Bush's (40%) and Obama's (38%) second inaugurations. The viewing audience for Trump's inauguration was decidedly more Republican than Democratic -- 61% of Republicans and Republican leaners said they watched the events as they happened, compared with 35% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. That pattern of the president's party members being more attentive to the coverage has been the case in each of the last four inaugurations, but the party gap in viewership was smaller in 2005 and 2009 than in the last two. In 2009, majorities of both parties reported watching the ceremonies, perhaps given their historic significance with Obama becoming the first African-American president. Which of the following applies to you -- you watched or listened to the inauguration ceremonies as they happened; you watched, listened to or read news reports about the inauguration ceremonies after they happened; or you did not do either? Watched Saw coverage Did neither % % % Donald Trump (2017) All Americans 46 23 30 Republicans/Republican leaners 61 21 17 Democrats/Democratic leaners 35 27 37 Barack Obama (2013) All Americans 38 27 33 Republicans/Republican leaners 26 31 43 Democrats/Democratic leaners 56 24 20 Barack Obama (2009) All Americans 60 20 20 Republicans/Republican leaners 51 21 28 Democrats/Democratic leaners 70 19 11 George W. Bush (2005) All Americans 40 33 26 Republicans/Republican leaners 48 32 20 Democrats/Democratic leaners 33 39 27 Based on one-night reaction polls conducted the night of the inauguration. Gallup In addition to the 46% watching the Trump inaugural ceremonies, another 23% say they saw or heard news coverage of the ceremonies after they ended. The combined 69% who watched or saw coverage of the event is lower than for the 2009 inauguration (80%) but similar to 2005 (73%) and 2013 (65%). Trump Speech Rated Least Positively of Last Four Inaugural Addresses A slight majority of Americans who saw the ceremonies or news coverage of them, 53%, gave Trump's inaugural address a positive review -- rating it as either "excellent" or "good." Twenty percent rated it negatively -- as either "poor" or "terrible" -- with the remainder saying it was "just okay." Americans who had viewed or seen news coverage of the three prior inauguration ceremonies rated those inaugural addresses more positively, including 65% excellent/good ratings for Obama's speech in 2013, 81% for Obama's 2009 address and 62% for Bush's 2005 speech. Negative evaluations of Trump's inauguration speech are higher than for the most recent addresses. Based on what you have heard or read, how would you rate Donald Trump's inauguration speech? Would you rate it as -- excellent, good, just okay, poor or terrible? Asked of those who saw ceremonies or news reports of them Excellent Good Just okay Poor Terrible % % % % % Donald Trump 2017 Jan 20 29 24 22 6 14 Barack Obama 2013 Jan 21 33 32 19 5 7 2009 Jan 20 46 35 12 2 1 George W. Bush 2005 Jan 20 25 37 20 7 4 Gallup The vast majority of Republicans who saw inauguration coverage, 87%, rated Trump's speech positively, compared with 15% of Democrats. Close to half of Democrats and Democratic leaners, 46%, gave his speech a negative review. Implications While not quite the home run Obama's first inauguration was, Trump's inauguration was not much different than other recent inaugurations in terms of making Americans more hopeful about the coming four years. This is the case even though Trump's speech got less positive reviews than prior inaugural addresses from those who watched the inauguration ceremonies or saw news coverage of them. The more positive than negative reaction to Trump's inauguration, based on a measure of how hopeful it made Americans about the next four years, is notable given that the public held Trump in much lower esteem than prior presidents-elect. His final pre-inauguration favorable rating of 40% is also lower than those for Obama (58%) and Bush (60%) before their second inaugurations. Trump will still likely have a lot of ground to make up to match the public good will enjoyed by prior presidents in the early stages of their presidency. But the inauguration seems to have done more to help Trump than to hurt him in closing that gap. However, since the good feeling coming out of the inauguration is predominantly from his natural political allies, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, and less from his natural opponents, the gap may not be fully closed unless and until Democrats' strong negative feelings toward him subside. The defendants before the U.S. Supreme Court sound like a political Where are they now? quiz: former Attorney General John Ashcroft, former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III and former Commissioner James W. Ziglar of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. They are involved in a civil suit, the last arguments of which were heard by the high court before Donald Trumps inauguration. At issue is whether the plaintiffs 760 foreign men, mostly Muslim have standing to sue the former government officials for denying them the constitutional rights of due process and equal protection. The case takes new significance now, as Trump has notoriously promised to institute policies with respect to Muslims that are of questionable constitutional legitimacy. The plaintiffs in the case were rounded up in 2001 in the days and weeks following the September 11 attacks. They were thrown into two detention centers and held for about eight months. The immigrant men claim they were targeted because they were Muslim, dark-skinned and Arab or South Asian. They were kept in solitary confinement and put through sleep and food deprivation. A government investigation later found that some were slammed up against walls, strip-searched unnecessarily and yelled at with slurs for praying. None of these men not one was ever charged with terrorism. Instead, most eventually faced deportation for immigration violations such as having over-stayed visas or worked without a green card. These are civil crimes but hardly the stuff of high national-security drama. Its worth remembering the shock and fear that followed those terror attacks on U.S. soil. The nation is forever changed for the lives lost that day. Yet this embarrassing episode an example of hysteria that led to a clear miscarriage of justice is as pertinent as ever. We have every reason to believe that our new commander-in-chief and his intelligence and law-enforcement appointees are liable to repeat this behavior. We just inaugurated as president a man who dogmatically clung to the lie that Muslims in New Jersey were dancing in the streets after terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Trump is not known to back down from his lies and calumnies, yet many of his Cabinet nominees and advisers have tried to distance the administration from talk of creating a database for Muslims, monitoring mosques and banning immigration of practicing Muslims. The Supreme Court case, brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights, turns on the question of whether top officials in the George W. Bush administration bear any personal responsibility, or if they have qualified immunity, for violations of the plaintiffs constitutional rights. An inspector generals report on the detentions mentioned that some in the administration tried to push back against overreach, but the rational voices were silenced. Hooligans took over. Guards at one detention center were fond of twisting hands, wrists and fingers and dragging the men around when they were handcuffed and in leg shackles. Withholding soap and toilet paper was another game. Family members had trouble finding out information, left to guess how or why their loved ones had disappeared. Many of the men had been caught in the sights of the government thanks to anonymous tips. Gadflies called authorities, believing that their Muslim neighbors were highly suspicious, perhaps because they worked odd hours. In one case, a man landed in a detention center because someone thought he had made anti-American statements. Thats what happens when fear leads. When those in power bend to it. Its one thing for a private citizen to answer the call of If you see something, say something and mistakenly flag an innocent person. Its quite another when officials working for the government brush their duty to respect constitutional rights, holding people for months, even after they knew they were innocent. Certainly, anyone with memory of those horrifying days following the attacks that killed 3,000 people can understand how mistakes were made. Some reasons for delay in releasing the men were a lack of resources and muddled communications between the FBI and other agencies. Erring on the side of recklessness comes with a high price. It undermines the constitutional rights America values most. It harms our international image. It hands a recruitment tool to terrorists. We know this now. Time to apply the lesson. Mary Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Readers may email her at msanchez@kcstar.com. HONG KONG, Jan 23 (Reuters) - China is reinforcing its censorship of the internet with a campaign to crack down on unauthorised connections, including virtual private network (VPN) services, that allow users to bypass restrictions known as the Great Firewall. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a notice on its website on Sunday that it is launching a nationwide clean-up campaign aimed at internet service provider (ISP), internet data centre (IDC), and content delivery network (CDN) companies. It ordered checks for companies operating without government licenses or beyond the scope of licenses. The ministry said it was forbidden to create or rent communication channels, including VPNs, without governmental approval, to run cross-border operations. VPNs can be used to gain access to blocked websites. China has the world's largest population of internet users - now at 731 million people - and is home to some of the biggest internet firms such as Tencent Holdings, Baidu Inc and Alibaba Group Holding. The government also aggressively censors the internet, blocking many sites it thinks could challenge the rule of the Communist Party or threaten stability, including sites such as Facebook and Google's main search engine and Gmail service. The ministry asked telecoms infrastructure providers to verify their clients' use of network resources. Authorities have launched numerous operations to combat illegal online behaviour, from pornography to gambling. By Sijia Jiang This year's Southern Gaming Summit is set to be held from May 2nd to May 4th in Biloxi, Mississippi. The event marks the 24th annual meetup of members of the gaming industry and will host a variety of talks detailing the latest developments in the gaming world. With the networking opportunities available, a whole host of the industry's most important figures are sure to attend and enjoy a good helping of southern hospitality whilst catching up on all the most exciting new advancements in gaming including equipment, games, and hospitality. One of the highlights of the event is sure to be the talk titled New Slot Games: Picking the Winners which is to be held on the Wednesday. From the event website, the description of this talk states that those attending this session "will hear their assessment of the new game landscape, what holds the most potential, which games continue to pay off and trends that may have seen their peak." There's no doubt there will be focus on some of the most exciting new games, which may include titles like the brand new Monopoly Big Event on Sun Bingo. This officially licensed slot is attempting to further bridge the gap between casual gaming and iGaming, attracting a wider audience with its 5 reel, 20 payline set up. This game is a twist on the classic board game and includes recognisable features from Monopoly like the "Community Chest" and "Chance," and also offers players the choice between the regular mode and a "big bet" mode which raises the stakes but gives the chance of cashing out on a bigger prize. Other new games to watch are titles like Happy Birds - another twist on a familiar title, and Sheik Yer Money - a game based on the alluring promise of middle-eastern riches with enticing 1001 Arabian Nights style graphics. Project Scorpio Specs, Features & Price: The Most Powerful Xbox Consoles Ever Made; Microsoft To Keep Up With Sony? It's going to be a good year for Microsoft with the development of Project Scorpio. It has been known to be the biggest console project of Microsoft so far for 2017, which is reported to be launched also this year. Xbox CEO, Phil Spencer is very happy with the development of the project, and confident on what the team can be able to do. According to GameSpot, Xbox Scorpio was labelled "the beast" by Xbox marketing boss, Aaron Greenberg. He further stated that the console will provide gamers with a special gaming experience this year, as the team's morale is very high in delivering innovation to the console. It is 2017, the year of PROJECT SCORPIO, are you ready for the beast!? pic.twitter.com/25SKDZMXfK Aaron Greenberg (@aarongreenberg) January 1, 2017 The Project Scorpio can bring Xbox to the next level, and may finally keep up with Sony's PlayStation 4's performance. GameRant reports that for the several years now, Microsoft has been fairly behind Sony in terms of consoles,which only sold 26 million units compared to Sony's more than 50 million units. Furthermore, Sony is still confident that sales will continue to increase by April. However, Microsoft is positive that Project Scorpio will be better than the previous consoles. Project Scorpio will have 8 cores, 320Gb memory, and six teraflops that will accommodate 4k gaming. With this features, Project Scorpio is reportedly 4 times powerful than the other Xbox counterparts. As to the price, there is no official release yet, however, gamers can expect a premium price for Project Scorpio. Although initial announcement for its release to the market, specific date has not been divulged yet, so gamers will have to wait for more update. What do you think of Project Scorpio? Will Microsoft finally competes With Sony? Stay tuned for more here at Gamenguide. Readers, we need your help to prove a merry Christmas for victims of domestic violence. June 6, 1952 Jan. 19, 2017 Don Thornton, 64, of Brownsville passed away Thursday surrounded by his family at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Born in Albany to Ivan and Laretta (Byerley) Thornton. Don was raised in Brownsville with his sister and brother. He graduated from Central Linn High School in 1970, and later attended Linn Benton Community College. In April 1973, he married Denise Walker and together they raised their two children. He started his career out young working for local neighbors doing farm work until early adulthood. Then he went to work in the timber industry at various local mills. In 1996, he went to work at the Target Distribution Center in Tangent until his death. Don could often be found helping out on the family farm or any friend in need. He never met a stranger. He had a natural mechanical ability and could make just about anything run. He enjoyed building floats for the annual Pioneer Picnic Parades with his family and especially his grandson. In the spring he enjoyed fishing with his grandson. In the fall he always looked forward to deer hunting and his annual elk hunting trip to eastern Oregon. He is survived by his wife Denise; mother Laretta; children Teresa and Christopher; grandson Walker I. Thornton; sister Brenda and husband Ron Dearth, brother Randall Thornton and wife Julie; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Ivan and granddaughter Alexis K Thornton. Memorial contributions may be made to the Brownsville Fire Dept. or Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 SW Washington St., Albany, OR. 97321 A viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Fisher Funeral Home. A service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the old Brownsville Grade School. Fisher Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Two key legislators last week released their proposed framework for the state's 2017-19 budget cycle. The framework is a bare-bones affair that envisions cuts in programs and assumes that legislators will not find additional revenue to add to the mix. It's a stark document indeed, calling for teacher layoffs, an almost-certain increase in tuition at universities and steep cutbacks in the Oregon Health Plan and the state Department of Human Services. (The online version of this editorial includes a copy of the document.) It's a document that its creators, Sen. Richard Devlin and Rep. Nancy Nathanson, the co-chairs of the legislative Joint Committee on Ways and Means, hope never comes to pass. "To be clear," they said in the document, "we do not believe the resources as allocated in this document are sufficient. In fact, at the level of funding that we have to begin our budget work, we will actually be moving backward on investments in K-12 and higher education, health care, and critical human services. There will be Oregonians who will directly feel the reductions on a daily basis if we must adopt a budget at this level of funding." They added later: "This existing resources budget framework provides a glimpse at one path forward one we believe Oregonians will reject. We hope it can be a starting point for a new series of choices to put us on a sustainable path into the future." And that provides the best light in which to understand this proposal as another step in the delicate dance known as budget-writing. Here's some context: The state is projected to have more than $20.6 billion in revenue in the 2017-19 budget, an increase of $1.3 billion in tax and lottery revenue from the current budget cycle. The problem is that's not enough to continue services at what legislators call the "current services level" the state's official estimate of what it would cost to maintain all current programs and services in the next two years. The shortfall is estimated now at about $1.8 billion. Big factors driving expenses include cost increases for personnel, the state's Public Employees Retirement System and the Oregon Health Plan. Last week's legislative budget document comes on the heels of a proposed budget from Gov. Kate Brown, but she softened the blow of the budget cuts by recommending $897 million in new revenue. The governor emphasized, however, that her budget was a stopgap solution. The message in both documents to legislators (and Oregon taxpayers) was reasonably clear: We need to find more revenue. And that's where Republicans, who are in the minority in the Legislature, will play a critical role. Democrats don't have sufficient votes in either house to generate the three-fifths supermajorities required to pass tax increases. Republicans have suggested they'd be willing to entertain talk about new taxes but only if Democrats are willing to strike a deal on crafting a statewide transportation package and on cutting public pension costs. You might be thinking, "Well, that doesn't sound completely unreasonable, seeing how the transportation package and those pension costs are two of the most important items on this year's legislative agenda." And that's correct. But it doesn't mean that these will be particularly easy deals to reach; the transportation package was arguably the most notable failure of the 2015 session. And, although there is hard work to be done on trying to rein in pension costs, it seems increasingly likely that there is no single silver bullet to fix that issue. In any event, the stage is set for what likely will be the primary legislative storyline this session. But plenty of chapters in this story remain to be written. (mm) Koblenz summit : Europes right-wing populists applaud Trump KOBLENZ 5000 people protested against a right-wing populist summit in Koblenz attended by Marine Le Pen, Frauke Petry and Geert Wilders on Saturday. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Europes right-wing populists see themselves as on the rise after US President Trumps inauguration. On Saturday in Koblenz they set out their own claim to power at an inaugural meeting in this year of European elections. However, they were also exposed to stronger than expected protests with around 5000 demonstrators taking to the streets to protest against the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), the French Front National, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) and the Dutch Party for Freedom headed by Geert Wilders. There are elections this spring in the Netherlands and France and this autumn in Germany. The AfD leader, Frauke Petry, told around 1000 participants that Trump had shown the way out of a dead-end street and we want to do exactly the same for Europe. The head of the right-wing extremist Front National party, Marine Le Pen, said some of the points made by Trump in his first speech as president were similar to, what we are saying. The Dutch ring-wing populist Geert Wilders spoke of a patriotic spring in Europe. It was Petrys and Le Pens first joint appearance in Germany. In 2000, two brothers were drilling in the lead and silver rich Naica Mine one thousand feet down when the found a cavern and enormous crystals. Since that time, the Naica Crystal Cave has become one of the most fascinating caves in the entire world. It is like something out of "Journey to the Center of the Earth," with temperatures and conditions similar to those found in the movie. This was only one amazing cave find for this magical country. NAICA CRYSTAL CAVE STARCHILD In the 1930s, an American teen was on vacation with her family in Mexico in the Copper Canyon region (another mining area), she came across an abandoned mining tunnel where she found a full human skeleton lying on its back. Even more disturbing, there was an arm bone sticking out of the ground, fingers wrapped around the arm bone of the full skeleton. She dug up the dirt to find what was below only to discover another skeleton that was smaller with a most misshapen skull. ( LINK Since that time, the skull has been examined extensively and referred to as "Starchild," by the odd features. An entire Starchild Institute was designed to handle the skull, learn about its origins and even perform DNA testing. The skull was dated at 900 years old. Not only the anomalies and misshapen features have caught researchers' attention, but the very fibers of the skull appear to be strangely woven in a way that makes it exceedingly strong. OLDEST HUMAN FIND IN AMERICA "NAIA" Naia is what they refer to a skull found in an underwater cave in the Yucatan area. LINK ) At 140 feet in a water-filled cave, remains were found of a 12,000- to 13,000-year-old human, considered the oldest complete remains of a human in the Americas. They found her DNA to match that of today's Native Americans, placing their immigation to the New World at least 13,000 years ago during the ice age. ANCIENT GIANT SKELETONS Not the actual cave (LINK) The Washington Post Jun 22, 1925; Large Skulls at the Ica Museum in Mexico. Click and drag photo to resize. Mexico City, June 21---Giant human skeletonsmeasuring from 10 to 12 feet have been discovered by prospecting miners in a new gold and silver district in the mountains of the State of Chihuahua, according to members of the party who arrived here today. The miners say they found a group of these skeletons intact in a hidden cave. The feet measured from 18 to 20 inches. (A male with a U.S shoe size of 13 has approximately a 12 inch foot). The government anthropology department plans to send a commission to investigate the discovery. It is felt that the find may clear up the present doubtful origin of the Chihuahua Indians. The discovery was made near the village of Sisoguichie. The skeletons were in a sitting position, the shoulders and arms bending forward and resting on the upraised knees. In this position they measured,from the top of the skull to the ground, from five to six feet. Carl Lumholtz was a Norwegian explorer who travelled to Australia and Mexico. He spent many years in Mexico between 1890 and 1910, during which he spent a full year with the Tarahumara people. His book, Unknown Mexico is the source of the Giant's myth quoted below: "GIANTS On the heights once lived giants. They were as big as pine-trees and had heads as big as bowlders [sic]. They taught the Tarahumares how to plant corn, by cutting down trees and burning them, but they ate children. A woman bore a giant in a cave, which was situated very high up on the side of a valley. She died, because the child was so large, and he was taken care of by his grandmother. Once when she was asleep, she turned over and crushed him. From Wasivori (near Cusarare) came giants to Nararachic to ask alms. Tesvino [Note: a kind of beer made from corn] they liked very much. They worked very fast, and the Tarahumares put them to hoe and weed the corn, and gave them food and tesvino. But the giants were fierce, and ravished the women while the latter were under the influence of the Moon; therefore the Tarahumares got very angry and they mixed a decoction made from the chilicote-tree with the corn that they gave the giants to eat, and the giants died.[2] The paragraph before the one quoted above mentions a "Deluge", which filled the world with water. It, like most Flood myths around the World (and also in the Americas) must surely reflect the deep impression caused by rising sea levels and glacial dam ruptures with the consequent flooding caused by climate change at the end of the last Glacial Period some 8 - 10 kya. Unearthed Elongated Skulls Elongated skulls are a common trait found by Native people around the world and is created by molding the skull of the infant by binding or cradle boarding as it is formed. There are some, however, that lead us to wonder - who were these Native people hoping to imitate? These skeletons found in the Sonora region of Mexico have elongated skulls, but looking at the features of teeth/jaw/nasal bone/eye sockets, they do not seem like anyone we have ever seen - elongation aside. LINK ) Found in the village of Onavas, these unearthed elongated skull skeletons (13 of them) shocked and amazed. LIYOBAA CAVE Zapoteca Region of Mexico has a cave called Liyobaa. There are four temples above ground and four levels are below ground. The cave forks off the underground and people fear it has no end. Many beileve it leads to hell and the "cavern of death." It is said the entrance was covered over with rubble to hide the entrance to hell. It was said the Spanish Catholic priests hoping to convert the Native People had entered the cave - LINK) As they advanced into the mountain, a putrid, dank air assailed their nostrils, serpents retreated from the light behind the shadows of the pillars in the distance. They continued into the depths at a distance of about 40 meters when suddenly a strong cold wind began to blow about them. Still striving to continue, as their torches were extinguished rapidly, they took flight when all became dark, not only for the danger of the serpents, but also from strange sounds they could not place, but which were not being made by the members of their own party. Using the rope and the light of the torch one of the guards held in the doorway, out of the strong wind, the entire party rapidly retreated from this terrifying region. When all the company had swiftly retreated to the ante-chamber of "Hell," they rapidly replaced the large stone slab door. After this the head prelate gave orders to fill in all the underground chambers and seal off and erase all signs of the stairs to them, thus eradicating for all time this entrance to the Caves. From the potential crater that is the Yucatan Peninsula to the mining mountains and arid deserts of Mexico, this enchanted land proves over and over again that it is rich in a history that we know so little about. Hopefully, more and more secrets are unearthed to help us understand the land of America in ancient times. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. KCR BJP : - ; bayonel3 at 23-01-2017 10:27 AM (5 years ago) (m) The Zambian Police Service has launched a man hunt for a police officer who was shot in a video gesturing the political party symbols of the ruling Patriotic Front. Zambia Police Service Spokesperson Mrs Esther Mwaata Katongo says, "This is very wrong. Police officers are expected to be loyal to the government of the day but that does not mean that they need to be cadres. The two are different. What this officer is displaying is pure caderism. As police we shall not tolerate this whether the officer is supporting the ruling party or the opposition. The officer will be located so that Disciplinary action is taken against him." The Zambian Police Service has launched a man hunt for a police officer who was shot in a video gesturing the political party symbols of the ruling Patriotic Front. Zambia Police Service Spokesperson Mrs Esther Mwaata Katongo says, "This is very wrong. Police officers are expected to be loyal to the government of the day but that does not mean that they need to be cadres. The two are different. What this officer is displaying is pure caderism. As police we shall not tolerate this whether the officer is supporting the ruling party or the opposition. The officer will be located so that Disciplinary action is taken against him." Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. +2348055557203 Posted: at 23-01-2017 10:27 AM (5 years ago) | Hero bayonel3 at 23-01-2017 12:20 PM (5 years ago) (m) After weeks of uncertainties and the eventual exit of Gambias former president Yahya Jammeh, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is reporting that over $11million has been declared missing from The Gambia's treasury as the ex-leader goes into exile. Yahya Jammeh, who was defeated by Adama Barrow in the December 1 presidential poll, finally left the country in the evening of Saturday, January 21, 2017 after 22 years of holding sway as the president of the tiny West African country. An adviser to President Adama Barrow, Mai Ahmad Fatty, who spoke to reporters in the Senegalese capital Dakar, said that The Gambia was in financial distress as a result of this. After weeks of uncertainties and the eventual exit of Gambias former president Yahya Jammeh, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is reporting that over $11million has been declared missing from The Gambia's treasury as the ex-leader goes into exile. Yahya Jammeh, who was defeated by Adama Barrow in the December 1 presidential poll, finally left the country in the evening of Saturday, January 21, 2017 after 22 years of holding sway as the president of the tiny West African country. An adviser to President Adama Barrow, Mai Ahmad Fatty, who spoke to reporters in the Senegalese capital Dakar, said that The Gambia was in financial distress as a result of this. "The coffers are virtually empty. It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia," Fatty said. There is no money in the coffers. Its what we have been told. But the day we actually take office, I will take a look at all the documents and evidence and we will clarify all of it, President Barrow on the other hand reportedly said. Fatty alleged that more than $11m has disappeared from The Gambias treasury in the past two weeks alone. The BBC however has not been able to independently verify the claims. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Nigerian APC national leader Bola Tinubu helped facilitate peace in Gambia over the weekend by allowing his private jet to fly out former president Yahya Jammeh and his family into exile. The jet, VP-CBT Falcon, had been in the care of Alpha Conde, Guinea president and close friend to Tinubu who flew out from Gambia with Jammeh aboard the plane. Fatty said.President Barrow on the other hand reportedly said. Fatty alleged that more than $11m has disappeared from The Gambias treasury in the past two weeks alone.The BBC however has not been able to independently verify the claims. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Nigerian APC national leader Bola Tinubu helped facilitate peace in Gambia over the weekend by allowing his private jet to fly out former president Yahya Jammeh and his family into exile. The jet, VP-CBT Falcon, had been in the care of Alpha Conde, Guinea president and close friend to Tinubu who flew out from Gambia with Jammeh aboard the plane. Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. +2348055557203 Posted: at 23-01-2017 12:20 PM (5 years ago) | Hero Samsung will not exhibit Galaxy S8 at MWC News oi -Samden Sherpa Samsung's Mobile Chief Koh Dong-jin has confirmed that the phone would not be launched at the MWC event this time. Samsung the South Korean multinational conglomerate is expected to roll out a new device and many have speculated that it will be the Galaxy S8 this year. However, with Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show happening next month, many have been expecting the company to announce the smartphone. Sadly, Samsung has stated that the company will not be unveiling its Galaxy S8 smartphone at the MWC this year. The company has suggested that the flagship model may be launched later in the year. According to a report from Reuters, Samsung Mobile Chief Koh Dong-jin has confirmed that the phone would not be launched at the MWC event in Barcelona, unlike the previous Galaxy S smartphones. Moto Z (2017) with Snapdragon 835 and Android 7.1.1 Nougat spotted Also, no information has been disclosed as to when the company would launch the new handset officially. Samsung will be taking its time in releasing another device especially after the exploding-fiasco with the Galaxy Note 7. While the earlier Galaxy S-series smartphones were first revealed at the MWC event and then sold after a month, this time it's a different story for Samsung altogether. Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Sony Xperia X Concept updates released, brings "Night Mode" feature News oi -Samden Sherpa The new Concept build is now available for download to all those who are running the Experimental firmware on their Xperia X phones. Sony has just announced that it has released a new firmware update for Xperia X Nougat Concept users. The new update comes in the form of build number 38.3.A.0.66. This latest update adds a number of new features but the key highlight of this update is the "Night Mode." As per the Xperia blog, this feature when turned on will tint your screen or change the display color to a pinkish amber color during night time. By doing this, the Night Mode will help make your phone easier to read at night and help you sleep better as it reduces exposure to blue light. Further, you will be able to adjust the settings to turn the feature on from sunset to sunrise. You will be able to customize the exact timing as well. Vivo V5 Plus launching today in India The update also comes with other additions which include the latest 1 January 2017 Google security patches, a new version of the Xperia Home launcher (10.2.A.1.18) and bug fixes for the noise canceling feature and fingerprint test in the service menu. Sony also claims that the update will offer better network handling. The update is currently available for all those running the Experimental firmware on their Xperia X concept phones. Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals Best Mobiles in India Nokia along with SK Telecom announced the emergency VoLTE system: MCPTT News oi -Chakri Kudikala This new service is built upon VoLTE. Nokia, along with SK Telecom has unitedly developed the world's first next generation push-to-talk communications technology, namely, the Mission-Critical Push-To-Talk (MCPTT). This new technology is built upon VoLTE and was firstly showcased at the Nokia Research Center in Krakow, Poland. This new technology will be first utilized in South Africa via the SK Telecom's Public Safety LTE network and LTE-R network. Also, it is said that SK Telecom is planning to offer the MCPTT technology to other countries such as the USA and the UK. Also Read: Vivo V5 Plus review: Engineered to win the selfie war This new technology helps in making efficient communication encompassed by hundreds of salvage workers by using a standalone channel during the period of massive disasters. The current IP-based networks don't sustain a massive number of users at the same period, but the MCPTT won't be affected with that as it used VoLTE as its base and offers a stable group communications service, even with more number of active users at the same time. A terrible incident which took place back in 2014 in South Korean dethroned over 300 people in a terrible Sewol disaster. Ever since that incident, the Government of South Korea is envisioning these type of emergency services, and MCPTT helps in providing additional public safety networks. Also Read: Did Nokia just confirm the launch of a Snapdragon 835-powered flagship smartphone? Shim Sang-soo, the Senior Vice President and Head of Infra Business Promotion Office at SK Telecom said as follows: "For the first time in the world, SK Telecom and Nokia have successfully developed MCPTT, the core solution for public safety networks. SK Telecom will continue to contribute to the successful completion of the public safety network project in Korea, while actively seeking new business opportunities in the global market." SOURCE Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Overall, dont let the bhoot mislead you, nothing bhootiya about this story. Had the makers tried to push the envelope, the idea could have been outstanding for a bhootiya comedy. Praise for Intelligence: Trump Buries Hatchet With CIA on First Official Visit Sputnik News 14:54 22.01.2017(updated 15:10 22.01.2017) On a visit to CIA headquarters, US President Donald Trump appeared keen to forget past disagreements and promised support for the intelligence agency under his presidency. On Saturday US President Donald Trump visited the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where he sought to build bridges with the agency after a fractious presidential election campaign. During the campaign, CIA officials including then-director John Brennan supported false claims made by the Hillary Clinton campaign team that "Russian hackers" had interfered in the election campaign, to the detriment of Clinton. Despite having no evidence, they claimed that hackers from Russia had obtained information from the Democratic National Convention and Clinton aides such as campaign chief John Podesta, and passed it to Wikileaks. Wikileaks, which published leaked emails from the Clinton campaign, has denied that hackers from Russia were involved and says the information came into its hands thanks to leaks from establishment insiders. In December, Trump reacted in disbelief to a CIA report which repeated the claims, but failed to produce any further evidence to back them up. Despite their claims, US intelligence agencies have so far failed to name or arrest anybody in connection with the alleged hacking. "These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction," the Trump team said of the CIA report. On January 11, Trump also reacted angrily to the release of a report which made scandalous accusations about his conduct on a trip to Moscow. Trump aired his suspicion that intelligence officials were behind the leak of the unsubstantiated report. Despite the furor, it appears that Trump is keen to heal division within the government, and chose the CIA headquarters for his first official visit to a government agency on Saturday. Trump told a group of around 400 officers at the CIA memorial that "there is nobody that feels stronger about the intelligence community and the CIA than Donald Trump." "I am so behind you. And I know maybe sometimes you haven't gotten the backing that you've wanted, and you're going to get so much backing," Trump said, adding that "I am with you 1,000 percent." Trump also blamed the "dishonest media," which "made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community." "The reason you're my first stop is that, as you know, I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on Earth," Trump said. While Trump's speech was well-received by the audience of around 400 CIA officers at the memorial, a commemoration of officers who died during service, former CIA head John Brennan was critical of the appearance. A spokesman for Brennan said that Trump "should be ashamed of himself" after the speech. Trump has nominated Republican Congressman Mike Pompeo as the new CIA director, and explained his reasons in his speech. Noting Pompeo's academic achievements at West Point and Harvard, Trump told the CIA that "you will be getting a total star." "Everything he's done has been a homerun. People like him, but much more importantly to me, everybody respects him," Trump said. However, Pompeo's nomination was delayed on Friday by three Democratic senators who said they want senators to have the chance to debate it. "The importance of the position of CIA Director, especially in these dangerous times, demands that the nomination be thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated," Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut stated. Pompeo's nomination has met with opposition from campaign groups such as Human Rights Watch, which argues that Pompeo isn't the right choice because of his "history of xenophobic statements about Islam and his endorsement of the CIA's defunct torture program." Pompeo has made statements supporting the greater surveillance of Americans and the continuing use of the Guantanamo Bay detention center. In 2013 he told Congress that Muslim leaders have a "special obligation" to condemn jihadist terror attacks, and said that those who fail to do so are "potentially complicit in these acts, and more importantly still, in those that may well follow." The congressman also played a prominent role on the House Select Committee on Benghazi, which investigated the 2012 terrorist attack on US government facilities in Libya that killed the US ambassador and three other American employees. Pompeo harshly criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an addendum to the official report, accusing her of lying to the American people about the attack. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Drops By CIA to Say He's Got Their Back, Then Mostly Complains About Media Sputnik News 01:05 22.01.2017(updated 09:25 22.01.2017) In a rambling speech at CIA headquarters in Virginia, US President Donald Trump took another swipe at his favorite enemy, the media, promised that the US was going to start "winning" again and ominously suggested that the country might get "another chance" to take Iraq's oil. Trump began by pointing out to the roughly 400 assembled members of CIA staff that he had made the CIA his first official stop as president and then almost within a breath was commenting that "the dishonest media" had managed to treat him nicely during his inaugural speech for once. He then dragged himself back to his intended message that "there is nobody that feels stronger about the intelligence community and the CIA than Donald Trump." He called the staff of all the US intelligence agencies "very, very special" and assured them that as president, he supported them. "I know maybe sometimes you haven't gotten the backing that you wanted, but you're going to get so much backing," he promised. The president also vowed to bring "great things" for the country and the intelligence community, among them a return to using the "real abilities" of the US in its many long-running wars. We've been fighting wars for years, Trump explained, but "we've been restrained." Now, the intelligence community and military will be loosed to get rid of Daesh, he implied. "Radical Islamic terrorism has to be eradicated. Just off the face of the Earth." The terrorist threat of Daesh is pure evil, the commander in chief said, ignoring complex reasons for the rise of Daesh in the Middle East. "It's time right now to end it," he announced. Evoking the phrase "to the victor belong the spoils," Trump also suggested that the US hadn't looting as much as it should have from its foreign adventures and chillingly, some might say suggested 'maybe we'll have another chance" to take Iraq's oil. Moving along, Trump promised the CIA would be getting a "total star" in CIA director nominee Mike Pompeo and declared again to the intelligence ranks, "I am with you 1,000 percent." That business out of the way, he couldn't resist a parting shot or two at his favorite target. "As you know, I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on Earth," he told the gathering, which promptly erupted in cheers. "And they sort of made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community, and I just want to let you know it is exactly the opposite." Meandering on, he mentioned turning on his TV set the morning after the inauguration and seeing images of an empty field, nothing like the masses of people he saw yesterday, he said. "It looked like a million, a million and a half people," he said, erroneously claiming that the crowd stretched as far as the Washington Monument. The networks are reporting that he drew 250,000 and that's "not bad" he said. "But it's a lie." The crowds were much bigger than that, the president of the United States insisted. "We caught them," he said of his favorite amorphous adversary, the media. "We caught them in a beauty, and I think they're going to pay a big price." It didn't end there. A "Zeke" from Time Magazine (reporter Zeke Miller, apparently) falsely reported that Trump had removed a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. from the White House. "This is how dishonest the media is," he said. They reported that he'd removed the bust when really it was just hidden behind a camera or something the president didn't make it terribly clear, other than to insist that the bust is present and accounted for. He only pointed this latest slight out "because I love honestly," Trump said. And that's not all he loves. "I love you," he told the spooks. "We're going to start winning again and you're going to be leading the charge." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump to CIA: 'I Am So Behind You' By Mary Alice Salinas January 22, 2017 President Donald Trump, who has sharply criticized the U.S. intelligence community, told workers at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Saturday, "I am so behind you." Trump delivered remarks at the agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, on Saturday, his first full day as U.S. president. "I know maybe sometimes you haven't gotten the backing that you wanted and you're going to get so much backing. Maybe you're going to say, 'please don't give us so much backing,'" said the newly sworn-in leader, prompting laughter. CIA officials said about 400 CIA staff members were present for the president's remarks. Trump made clear the fight against Islamic State will be a top priority and that his administration will ramp up America's approach. "We've been fighting these wars for longer than any wars we've ever fought," he said. "We have not used the real abilities that we have, we've been restrained. We have to get rid of ISIS, have to get rid of ISIS. We have no choice." ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State. 'Olive branch' The president's visit was an apparent bid to mend fences and meet with top security officials, according to analysts. "It's kind of an olive branch for the intelligence community," said Aki Peritz, a former CIA counterterrorism analyst and coauthor of Find, Fix, Finish: Inside the Counterterrorism Campaigns That Killed bin Laden and Devastated Al Qaeda. Intelligence officials have argued that Trump's disparaging remarks about spy agencies and their work has hurt staff morale. "The CIA employees are all pretty smart people, they're professionals, they're well-educated," said Peritz. "One kumbaya speech is not going to really change their grave concerns that they're having with the current president." Trump also used the occasion to berate the media for what he said was unfair reporting about the size of the crowd at his inauguration, and claimed he saw a million or a million-and-a-half people far more than anyone has reported. Former CIA Director John Brennan was scathing in his assessment of Trump's CIA appearance. Nick Shapiro, Brennan's former aide, released a statement that said "Brennan is deeply saddened and angered at Donald Trump's despicable display of self-aggrandizement in front of CIA's Memorial Wall of Agency heroes. Brennan says Trump should be ashamed of himself." For months, Trump refused to side with CIA and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conclusions that Russia hacked the Democratic National Convention in a bid to meddle in U.S. elections, in part to boost his chance of winning. It was not until a January 11 press conference that Trump conceded "I think it was Russia" who carried out the DNC hacking, but later added it may have also been someone else, including China. The new U.S. president has continued to reject claims Moscow carried out the attacks to undermine his former Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and to help propel him in the White House. He has also repeatedly noted the agencies' previous errors and suggested the U.S. intelligence community may have leaked an unsubstantiated report that Russia has compromising information about him. During his remarks Saturday, Trump said the reason for his stop is his "long-running war with the media," whom he said "made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community." 'Total star' nominated to lead Trump's CIA visit comes after congressional Democrats succeeded in stalling until Monday Senate consideration of Trump's choice for CIA director, Representative Mike Pompeo. Republican lawmakers denounced the delay and noted that it leaves the spy agency leaderless over the weekend. Trump hailed Pompeo, telling CIA staff his nominee is the clear choice for the job. "You will be getting a total star. You're going to be getting a total gem," he said. Another former CIA official questioned why the president visited the agency on a weekend. Typically, such visits are made during the week when the greatest number of workers are present. Often, a receiving line is also formed to greet staff members. "There's a real effort orchestrated so that it is a morale-boosting visit," said Carmen Medina, former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. "It's conceivable that it could be about some sort of national security and intelligence issue, that either the president has requested a briefing or the intelligence community has suggested he receive a briefing," she said. Before his visit to the CIA, the newly-installed president along with his family and Vice President Mike Pence and Pence's wife, Karen attended a prayer service at Washington National Cathedral. Early Saturday, Trump took to Twitter to express gratitude to the American people for participating in Friday's inauguration activities and to thank the news media for the generally favorable reviews of his inauguration speech. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US military holds naval drills with S Korea, Japan to counter N Korea Iran Press TV Sat Jan 21, 2017 11:43PM The US military starts joint naval missile-defense drills with South Korea and Japan to counter the "growing threat" posed by North Korea. The three-day war games kicked off amid concerns that Pyongyang may test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile or "stage another provocation in connection with Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony," US-based military.com reported on Saturday. According to the report, among the warships taking part in the naval exercise were Japan-based guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem, Japan's JDS Kirishima and South Korea's Sejong the Great, which conducted "missile detection and tracking drills in the waters off the divided peninsula and Japan." No missiles were fired during the drills as the Aegis-equipped warships faced simulated targets in waters within the 7th Fleet area of operations, according to US Naval Forces Korea spokesman Josh Kelsey. "The US Navy continually seeks every occasion to strengthen relationships and interoperability with participating allies and partners, while further developing maritime capabilities and capacity," he said in a statement. The naval exercise, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, is the third of its kind after identical maneuvers in June and November 2015. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared recently that his country is in the "final stages" of developing an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which would constitute a major step towards the nation's stated aim of reaching the capability of targeting the US mainland as a deterrent measure against persisting military provocations by Washington and Seoul. This is while Trump, who has not yet stated his policies concerning North Korea, responded to Kim's declaration on Twitter by stating, "It won't happen!" North Korea's foreign ministry, meanwhile, reacted swiftly by insisting that "the ICBM will be launched anytime and anywhere" as ordered by the country's leadership. While experts remain divided over how close Pyongyang is to developing an ICBM and miniaturizing nuclear warheads that would fit on one, some agree that it may come by the end of the current decade. Moreover, Yonhap has also cited unnamed military sources in the country as saying that the North has probably built two new ICBMs and placed them on mobile launchers to prepare for a test. The defense ministry, however, said that it could not confirm the report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Seeks $550M in Aid for Millions of Vulnerable Afghans By Ayaz Gul January 21, 2017 The United Nations appealed Saturday for $550 million in humanitarian assistance in 2017 to meet the needs of Afghans affected by conflict, or natural disasters, and for those returning home from neighboring countries. The assistance will reach an estimated 5.7 million "most vulnerable and marginalized" people in Afghanistan, said U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator, Mark Bowden, while launching the appeal in Kabul. He noted that an estimated one million Afghans have returned home from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in the last year, while more than 600,000 people fled their homes internally due to conflict. Large-scale migration With the exception of Syria", he observed, there have been no other movements of people of this scale elsewhere in the world. "While the movement of people has created exceptional levels of need, we cannot ignore the fact the civilians continue to be the most affected by conflict, with women and children being most at risk," Bowden noted. Swedish ambassador to Kabul Anders Sjoberg praised the service of aid workers under extremely challenging conditions in Afghanistan, though he admitted the humanitarian effort has largely failed. "Let us also acknowledge that we've been doing this work in Afghanistan for too long. This is a failure in itself. Humanitarian aid is not short-term anymore, it has, unfortunately, become a 'Band-aid' for the unresolved conflict," Sjoberg said. He underscored the need to not allow humanitarian aid "to contribute to cementing the conflict" and called for investing more efforts into finding an early solution to the Afghan war. Lives at risk Sjoberg said the current scope of need in Afghanistan calls upon the humanitarian community to deliver increased levels of assistance to ensure the lives of many Afghans are not endangered. Bowden projected that 9.3 million people, about one-third of the population, in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2017. That's a 13-percent increase from last year. The U.N. humanitarian agency says persistent underlying poverty and widespread violence continue to disrupt access to basic health care in Afghanistan, where roughly 40 percent of the population is out of reach of the national health service, and an estimated one million children suffer from acute malnourishment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Jan. 22, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 25 strikes consisting of 39 engagements in Syria: -- Near Bab, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an artillery piece and damaged a tactical vehicle. -- Near Raqqa, 22 strikes engaged 12 ISIL tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, two tunnels, two tanks an improvised-bomb factory and an ISIL headquarters; and suppressed three ISIL tactical units. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed two oil well heads. Strikes in Iraq Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted six strikes consisting of 16 engagements in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government: -- Near Rutbah, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a tactical vehicle, two weapons caches and a mortar. -- Near Beiji, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle. -- Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and an ISIL-held building. -- Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb factory, a vehicle-borne bomb, a tank, three fighting positions and a vehicle; and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a semi-truck and a command-and-control node. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces kill, injure dozens in attacks on Saudi bases Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:49PM Yemeni army soldiers, backed by fighters from Popular Committees, have launched heavy missile and artillery attacks against several Saudi border military bases, inflicting significant casualties and damage on them, a report says. According to a report by Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network, the Yemeni forces on Sunday carried out a major offensive against Tabat al-Hamrah, al-Qamamah, Qaem Zabid, al-Shabaka, al-Kers bases and the strategic al-Ghavieh military camp, destroying or damaging many armored vehicles and military equipment. The surprise attacks also killed and wounded dozens of Saudi troops, it further said, adding that a number of senior Saudi military officials were also slain in the offensive. The operation forced the remaining Saudi troops to flee their bases, leave behind some burning arsenals and taking refuge in the town of al-Khobe in the kingdom's southwestern province of Jizan. The Yemeni forces, however, managed to seize a considerable amount of weapons from the bases during the attacks, which lasted from early morning to the afternoon. The Yemeni forces also killed at least 14 Saudi mercenaries and injured 22 more during a battle near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, in southwest Yemen. Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah fighters and their allies in Yemen's army have been launching retaliatory attacks against parts of Saudi territory adjacent to northern Yemen, as well as the gatherings of Riyadh-allied militants inside Yemen. A report by Reuters published in April last year showed that at least 400 Saudi soldiers had been killed in the cross-border fire since the start of the campaign in March 2015. Riyadh has maintained a policy of ambiguity regarding its casualties in the war on Yemen. Senior military officials have said that they would not release such information until after the campaign. Saudi war machine breathes fire Other Yemeni outlets also reported that some Saudi frigates had on Sunday bombarded the Yemeni coastal cities of Zobab and Mokha, in the southwestern province of Ta'izz, using banned white phosphorous munitions. There were no immediate reports of casualties and the extent of damage. Meanwhile, according to an AFP report, citing unnamed sources, Saudi warplanes, Apache attack helicopters and pro-Riyadh militants had killed at least 52 Yemeni people around Bab al-Mandab strait during the past 24 hours. It further added that a hospital in the city of Hudaydah had received 14 dead on Saturday and 38 more on Sunday, as well as 55 wounded. Saudi Arabia has been engaged in the deadly campaign against Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to bring back Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh, to power and undermine the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement. The Saudi war has so far claimed the lives of at least 11,400 Yemenis, and taken a heavy toll on the country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said recently that Saudi military aggression against Yemen has killed nearly 1,400 Yemeni kids, injuring hundreds more. Rights groups have described the United States and the United Kingdom as complicit in the bloodletting given their provision of deadly weapons to the Saudi regime during the bombardment campaign. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Eleanor Roosevelt once said, The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dream. For a local Farmington High School graduate, his future will be found in the beautiful underworld of the Indian Ocean. When Andrew Monnig boards his plane on Jan. 29 bound for Thailand, the first stage of his dream will have begun as he sets course for the Merlin Dive Shop on Phuket Island to begin a three month diving internship. I know diving is something I truly enjoy doing, Monnig said. So, while Im still young and I am not married, I thought I would go have an adventure before I start a career, or I might do this as a career. You never know. Although Monnig graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in education, his heart lies in the warm waters of the ocean with a scuba tank on his back rather than in a classroom with a back pack over his shoulder and lesson plans in his hands. At first, I will just be doing grunt work, Monnig said. I will be hauling tanks to and from the boat, working around the shop, making sales and cleaning the boat at the end of the day. But I will also be learning the dive sites, and eventually leading and guiding customers on their dives. Monnigs first connected with diving more than seven years ago when he got a chance to dive for the first time while on a Caribbean cruise with his parents, Joe and Vicki. We went on a cruise during Christmas, and we had a chance to go diving. We had to try it, Monnig said. We watched a video for about an hour and a half, got fitted with the equipment and did our first dive. When we got back, we immediately signed up for certification classes in St. Louis. Since that first dive, Monnig and his parents have become avid divers and have gone diving in various locations throughout the world. We really took to diving, Monnig said. Once a year, I would go on trips with my parents, and we would go diving. I would always talk to the dive masters and ask them about their work. Over the course of seven years, Monnig has found himself diving in some of the most pristine locations in the northern hemisphere. He has dove off the coast of Mexico, West Palm Beach, the Florida Keys and the Cayman Islands. It a whole other world down there, Monnig said. Seeing whats going on under the water is pretty amazing. The ocean is really big, and diving gives you a whole new perspective of everything. But Monnig did admit part of the excitement of diving is the risk factor of being underwater. Its really exciting when you are down there, Monnig said. It may be (because) you dont have the same amount of control as you do when you are not in the water. To help prepare himself for his diving adventure, Monnig spent part of this past summer becoming certified as an emergency first responder and rescue diver. Its important if I am going to lead dives that I have the skills, Monnig said. Accidents do happen and people do get into trouble. You got to know what to do to keep everyone safe. Although there are dive sites more popular or more well-known than Phuket Bay, Monnig says the area offers a large array of different dives. It's not the first place that comes to mind, but the water is warm, which I like, Monnig said. They have wrecks out there and a bunch of reefs, and its probably less touched by tourists than other place, but I would bet a lot of Europeans dive there because it is so much closer to them. Monnig is hoping to use his time in Phuket Bay as an entry into a long association with diving. Starting from here, I would like to get my master diving certification and get on with another shop, Monnig said. I also want to become a certified instructor as well. While Monnig will be thousands of miles from home, he knows his parents understand his passion for diving. During that same vacation when he dove for the first time, his parents became just as enthusiastic about diving. My parents have been all over the world diving, Monnig said. They have gone to Fiji and this past summer went diving in the Red Sea. I am hoping to do the same. Im looking past this job and looking at Japan, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. "There are plenty of places I can dive. I think I just want to float around and see some of the world. In a short time, Monnig will begin a journey that most people will envy, not for what he will be doing, but for having to courage to follow his dream. West African troops in Gambia to secure transfer of power to new president Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 4:32PM Hours after the Gambia's former President Yahya Jammeh left the country after 22 years in power, West African troops approached the capital to secure the arrival of President Adama Barrow from Senegal. A Senegalese general leading a joint force of troops from five African countries said on Sunday that the soldiers entered the Gambia to control the strategic points to ensure the safety of the population and facilitate Barrow's assumption of his role. Witnesses in the Gambian border town of Farafenni saw a convoy crossing the frontier on Sunday morning. It could take them several hours to reach the capital Banjul. Marcel Alain de Souza, a top official with the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) said pro-Jammeh mercenaries had opened fire as troops crossed the border. "They were neutralized," he said in a statement. The official also said Barrow must be in place "as soon as possible." "A country must have a government, but the security conditions required the troops we have sent to secure Banjul and other towns," De Souza said. President Barrow has said he would return to the Gambia once a security sweep is complete. On January 19, the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution to ensure a transfer of power in the Gambia. Jammeh flew to Equatorial Guinea following the UN decision with a set of assurances from the international community. Jammeh left the country after finally conceding defeat in an election under increasing international pressure. He lost the presidential election in December to Barrow but said he would not relinquish power, claiming that there had been irregularities in the vote and pushing the country to the edge of war. On Saturday, some two days after the expiration of his mandate, Jammeh finally announced a decision "to relinquish the mantle of leadership" and, now with his exit from the Gambia, the way was paved for Barrow to return home from Senegal, where he was inaugurated on January 19. Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 coup, urged negotiators that he be given amnesty and safe passage out of the Gambia and that his political party be recognized. However, no deal on amnesty was finalized with the negotiators and Jammeh was forced to go into exile. His family and aides were to depart on a separate plane. The fate of his party was not immediately clear. During Jammeh's reign, his government was accused of harsh treatment of opponents. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Four killed in US drone strikes in Yemen Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:54AM Separate US drone attacks have killed four people in the southwestern Yemeni province of Bayda. Yemeni security sources, who were speaking on condition of anonymity, said the first drone strike hit a vehicle carrying three people, purported to be al-Qaeda suspects, in Sawma'ah district in the province on Saturday. A day earlier, another drone attack had purportedly killed a local military instructor for the terrorist group in the same province. Among the fatalities of the Saturday attack was Abu Anis al-Abi, identified as an area field commander. The al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has taken advantage of the chaos and breakdown of security in Yemen to tighten its grip on the southern and southeastern parts of the Arab country. The US carries out drone attacks in Yemen and several other countries, claiming to be targeting al-Qaeda elements; but, local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks. Last week, American intelligence officials said as many as 117 civilians had been killed in at least 526 drone strikes conducted during former US president Barack Obama's terms in office. The attacks had been carried out in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and elsewhere. The drone strikes in Yemen continue alongside the Saudi military aggression against the impoverished conflict-ridden country. Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 in an unsuccessful attempt to reinstate a former government. The United Nations recently said that about 10,000 had been killed in the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China hits back at US Secretary of State Tillerson over island remarks Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:3AM A Chinese daily run by the state says Beijing will continue to carry out military drills in the South China Sea regardless of foreign pressure. A Sunday commentary published in People's Daily, which is run by China's ruling Communist Party, pointed to recent pronouncements by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson against China's island-building and military activities in the contested South China Sea and said Beijing would not change its course with such "provocation." During a recent Senate confirmation hearing, the then-nominee for Secretary of State Tillerson said China should be denied access to the islands it has built up from reefs and shoals in the disputed South China Sea. He also said such island-building should stop but did not explain how the US would act to enforce such policies if it would, that is. "These provocations, pressure, fantasies and over-exaggerations will not prevent the normal drills of the Chinese military," the commentary on the Chinese daily said in reference to Tillerson's remarks. "The meddling and disruption of countries from outside the region can only run counter to the consensus of common interests that accords with this region and the world," it said. "Henceforth, the Chinese military's exercises far out at sea will become a kind of normal, extremely normal drill," the paper said. Tillerson, a former chairman and CEO of oil and gas company ExxonMobil, had also said that China's activities in the South China Sea were a threat to the "entire global economy" and were "illegal." But President Donald Trump's choice for secretary of state has not been the only individual to bash China in the new US administration. Trump himself has been the most aggressive in rhetoric so far toward China. Also a former businessman with no prior political career, Trump has decried Chinese economic activities and threatened to impose unusually high tariffs on goods imported from the Asian powerhouse. Chinese officials and media have been actively responding to the rhetoric by Trump and his men. Earlier in the month, China also dispatched a naval fleet, including its only aircraft carrier, Liaoning, to the Taiwan Strait, prompting officials in Taipei to scramble jets and naval vessels to monitor the passage. The fleet was back from drills in the South China Sea, and its passage through the Taiwan Strait was also meant to signal to Trump, who has questioned Chinese sovereignty over the self-ruled island, that Beijing was serious when it came to matters of sovereignty. China claims almost all of the strategic South China Sea, through which 6.5 trillion dollars in shipping trade passes annually. The sea is also claimed in part by Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. While some of those rival claimants, such as the Philippines, have been handling their differences with China smoothly, the US stands accused of needlessly heightening tensions in a region it does not belong to. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gambia's ex-ruler escorted into exile Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:8AM The Gambia's former leader, Yahya Jammeh, has left the country after finally conceding defeat in an election under increasing international pressure. Jammeh lost the presidential election in December last year to Adama Barrow but said he would not relinquish power, claiming that there had been irregularities in the vote and pushing the country to the edge of war. West African nations, which had been peacefully trying to convince him to leave, gradually turned to the idea of removing him militarily and put a regional force on standby as the official end of Jammeh's mandate approached. On Saturday, some two days after the expiration of his mandate, Jammeh finally announced a decision "to relinquish the mantle of leadership" and, now with his exit from The Gambia, the way was paved for President Adama Barrow to return home from neighboring Senegal, where he was inaugurated on Thursday. Jammeh, who had taken power in a 1994 coup, demanded from the negotiators that he be given amnesty and safe passage out of The Gambia and that his political party be recognized. But no deal on amnesty was finalized with the negotiators and Jammeh was forced to go into exile. Regional leaders did escort him into a plane, however, seeing him off into exile in Equatorial Guinea. His family and aides were to depart on a separate plane. The fate of his party was not immediately clear. During Jammeh's reign, his government was accused of harsh treatment of opponents. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Madrid's Castles in the Air: Spanish Jets to Spy on Russia Over Baltics Sputnik News 12:46 22.01.2017 The Spanish Air Force will join the mission to patrol the skies over the Baltic States amid the deterioration of ties between NATO and Russia, according to the Spanish newspaper ABC. The Spanish newspaper ABC reported that Spanish pilots will join the NATO-led mission in Estonia to strengthen patrolling the air space of the Baltic States near the Russian border, one of the hot spots of confrontation between Moscow and NATO. The Spanish mission, which is due to begin in April, will be joined by jets from the 15th Wing of the Spanish Air Force, based in Zaragoza. In addition to monitoring the air space, the Spanish airmen will be responsible for training new pilots of F-18 all-weather carrier-capable multirole combat jets. The details of the upcoming mission were announced by Spanish Defense Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal during her visit to Zaragoza Air Base earlier this week. The three Baltic States, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, do not possess air patrol capabilities. Since joining NATO in 2004, the three Baltic countries' airspace has been defended by a rotating NATO mission. NATO's main base in the Baltic region is the Zokniai Air Force Base in Latvia, while Estonia's Amari Air Base has been used by the alliance since 2014. Last year, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance will enhance its rotational presence in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with 4 battalions in 2017. He said that there is no timeline for NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe and that it will last as long as needed. Since 2014, the alliance has been building up its military presence in Europe, especially in Eastern European countries neighboring Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in the Ukrainian conflict as a pretext. Moscow has repeatedly denied the claims and warned NATO that the military buildup on Russia's borders is provocative and threatens the existing strategic balance of power. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Reaches Out to Trump Administration By Robert Berger January 22, 2017 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened his weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday by reaching out to Israel's most important ally, the United States, and its new leader Donald Trump. The two spoke by telephone, with Trump calling the conversation "very nice." He did not mention the possibility of the United States moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Netanyahu later said Trump invited him to a meeting in Washington next month. Before the phone call, the White House said it is "at the very beginning stages of even discussing" such a move, which Trump has said he favors. "We congratulate President Trump on the start of his term," Netanyahu said earlier Sunday. "I very much appreciate his deep friendship for Israel, as well as his declared willingness to fight radical Islamic terrorism with full force." "Radical Islamic terrorism" appeared to be a swipe at Netanyahu's old White House rival, former President Barack Obama, who refused to use the term. The Israeli leader sees militant Islam as a mutual threat to both the Jewish state and the West, but Obama sought to separate it from the Palestinian issue, which he saw as a legitimate quest for freedom. It was one of many issues on which the two leaders disagreed. Another was the Iran nuclear deal with the United States and world powers, which Netanyahu sees as a catastrophic mistake that threatens the security of Israel. He said Iran is one of several matters that will top the agenda with the new administration. "There are many issues before us including the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the situation in Syria and the Iranian threat," the prime minister said. "I would like to make it clear ... that stopping the Iranian threat, and first and foremost the threat reflected in the bad nuclear agreement that was signed with Iran, continues to be a supreme goal of the state of Israel." Settlements Netanyahu also hopes to turn the page on another sore spot with the Obama administration, Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, built on land that the Palestinians claim for a future state. U.S.-Israel relations plunged to a new low when, in the last days of the Obama presidency, the administration allowed a tough resolution condemning the settlements to pass in the U.N. Security Council, by abstaining from the vote instead of using its veto, as it has traditionally done in the past. Netanyahu was furious, accusing Obama of a "shameful act" in collusion with the Palestinians. But the former president defended the move, saying the settlements are an obstacle to peace that is destroying the prospects of a two-state solution. Israel wasted no time in trying to reverse that legacy, announcing on Sunday that 566 new housing units would be built for Jews in disputed East Jerusalem. "On the issue of settlements, none are more concerned about it than the ... government and myself," Netanyahu told his ministers at the Cabinet session. "And we will continue to look out for it wisely and responsibly, for the benefit of the settlement enterprise and the state of Israel." "We've been through eight tough years with Obama pressuring to freeze construction," said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. "I hope that era is over and now we can build and develop Jerusalem for the welfare of its residents, Jews and Arabs alike." There are indications that the Trump administration will be more sympathetic to the settlements than its predecessor. For instance, President Trump's choice for U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has challenged the notion that the West Bank is "occupied" territory, and has financially supported the large Jewish settlement of Beit El. All of this has the Palestinians worried, especially because Trump has publicly vowed to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. "By targeting specifically Jerusalem, they [the Israelis] are making use of the statements during the Trump elections campaign about recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and therefore legalizing Israel's illegal annexation of Jerusalem in order to expand its settlement activities," Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi told Reuters. "[This] would bisect the West Bank and therefore prevent the establishment of a territorially contiguous or even viable Palestinian state." Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem could be explosive. There are fears that it could spark a new wave of Palestinian violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and that protests could spread across the Arab and Muslim world. VOA White House correspondent Cindy Saine and Kenneth Schwartz contributed to this report NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Regional Security Forces Arrive in Gambian Capital Ahead of New President's Return By VOA News January 22, 2017 Troops from a regionwide military force moved Sunday into Gambia's capital, Banjul, where they were greeted by cheering throngs, hours after defeated leader Yahya Jammeh fled into exile. The regional force is expected to clear the way for the return of the country's newly elected President Adama Barrow, who earlier took refuge in nearby Senegal when Jammeh refused to leave office. Barrow was sworn in Thursday at a ceremony in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. No time frame had been announced by late Sunday for Barrow's return, but a spokesman told reporters it would be "as soon as possible." Marcel Alain de Souza said parts of Gambia's security forces needed to be "Immobilized" ahead of Barrow's return. A second spokesman told reporters in Banjul that the capital would be inspected Monday to determine whether security is adequate for Barrow's safe return. U.S. reaction The U.S. State Department welcomed "the on-going peaceful transition of power in Gambia," and congratulated Barrow on his inauguration. Acting spokesman Mark Toner also praised "the restraint shown by the Gambian people over the past weeks," as Jemmah struggled unsuccessfully to maintain his grip on power. Separately on Sunday, a top adviser to Barrow, speaking in Senegal, alleged that Jammeh looted government bank accounts in the last days of his rule. Mai Ahmad Fatty told reporters the coffers in his tiny nation are, in his words, "virtually empty." He said the finance ministry and Gambia's Central Bank had confirmed that more than $11 million went missing in the past two weeks alone. Fatty also said he confirmed that a cargo plane from Chad had moved luxury goods, including an unknown number of vehicles, out of the country on Jammeh's behalf in the final hours of his rule. Earlier in the week, Jammeh declared a national state of emergency in a last-ditch effort to hold on to power. He dissolved his Cabinet while the National Assembly extended his term of office by three months. But by Friday, as pressure mounted, he was negotiating with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania before agreeing to step down. Sources said the talks centered on where Jammeh would live and whether he would be granted amnesty for alleged crimes committed during his rule. Barrow, a property developer, celebrated as it became clear on Friday that Jammeh's departure was imminent. "The rule of fear has been banished from Gambia for good," Barrow said in Dakar as he prepared to return to his homeland. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Noble Lance ('Asil Mizrak Operasyonu') "We want to protect the Kurds, but I don't want to be in Syria forever," Trump said in January 2019. "It's sand. And it's death" In October 2019, he ordered the withdrawal of US troops from the Kurdish-controlled region in northern Syria, and Turkish and Russian troops closed in. Trump's policy revealed a split between the president and other members of his administration. The sense of a forceful American strategic position in Syria was immensely damaged by these internal divisions and clearly a sense of ambition by President Trump to to withdraw the Americans from from Syria. The withdrawal helped Russia maneuver into a position of hegemony in the region. This was an "interesting development" considering that the United States had never given Russia such free rein. This is the effect of Trump's policies. On 01 November 2019, Trump said he liked Syrias oil and that the US would be keeping the oil, with his remarks coming in the wake of a report by Russian military intelligence that the US military and CIA had teamed up with US oil companies and military contractors to illegally smuggle tens of millions of dollars of oil out of the war-torn country. The ceasefire has held very nicely. Weve kept the oil. Weve stayed back and kept the oil. Other people can patrol the border of Syria, frankly, and Turkey, let them - theyve been fighting for a thousand years, let them do the border, we dont want to do that. We want to bring our soldiers home. But we did leave soldiers because were keeping the oil. I like oil. Were keeping the oil, Trump said. Pentagon Chief Mark Esper said the US troops would protect against Daesh, but also deny the oil from being taken by other actors in the region, including the Syrian government and Russia. In October 2019, the US president announced the withdrawal of American troops from Syrian soil only to partially revert it at a later date. Some US servicemen stayed behind with the Pentagon claiming that they are guarding Syrian oil fields from falling back into the hands of terrorists. By December 2019 US troops returned to six out of 16 bases and outposts in Syria that had been previously abandoned during the October withdrawal ahead of a Turkish military operation in the country's north, Anadolu news agency reported. The American soldiers were mainly deployed to the oil rich regions in the country's northeast close to its borders with Iraq and Turkey. According to Anadolu's information, the US holds a total of 11 bases and outposts, five of them located in Deir ez-Zor Province, two more in Raqqa. They are also reportedly building two additional outposts in Deir ez-Zor Province. Previously, Washington had sent a group of experts to the al-Omar oil field in Deir ez-Zor Province, currently controlled by local Kurdish militia. These experts are reportedly expected to boost oil production and to train local Kurds how to operate the oil field properly. Trump repeatedly criticised US foreign policy during the 2016 campaign, and even during his days as a private citizen. In 2011, Trump urged the Obama administration to keep troops in Iraq and keep the oil. In 2016, he reiterated the need to take the oil in Iraq, saying the move would be reimbursing ourselves, and not stealing. The Russian defence ministry reported on a major $30 million a month oil smuggling operation being carried out in Syria by leading American corporations in coordination with private military contractors, US special forces and air power. Satellite image provided by the Russian Defence Ministry showed oil transit vehicles gather in Deir ez-Zor Province, Syria, 10 km east of Al Mayadin as part of the US's operation to ship oil out of Syria. Former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden criticised Donald Trump over his Syria policy, saying it has only worked to strengthen Russia, Iran and Daesh (ISIS) terrorists. Leaving troops behind like [Trumps] doing now he says that what he wants to do is were going to occupy the oil fields and were going to take em. Thats like a giant 300-foot recruiting poster for ISIS, Biden said, speaking to the Wall Street Journal. And so, I dont think he has a foreign policy," Biden added. "Russias position in the region has just been strengthened. [Syrian President Bashar] Assads position has been strengthened. Iran now has a pathway all the way to Syria and even to Lebanon. If Im the Israelis Im not going to be very happy about that. So the whole thing has been turned upside down and were in there alone now, basically, the former vice president said. The chief spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, noted that the US' stated goal of protecting Syrian oil fields from Daesh* fighters could not be farther from the truth. What Washington does now the capture and holding under its armed control of oil fields in Eastern Syria is, simply speaking, an international state banditism, he said, adding that Syrian oil reserves and other mineral resources belong solely to the Syrian Arab Republic, not to Daesh terrorists or to American protectors from Daesh terrorists. Neither international law, nor the American legislation itself can justify the US troops goal to guard Syrian hydrocarbon reserves from Syria itself and its people, the statement reads. Citing intelligence obtained via Russian Defence Ministry surveillance satellites, both before and after the Daesh defeat north of the Euphrates, Syrian oil was being actively extracted and smuggled to other countries, while being guarded by US soldiers. The oil was smuggled in tanker truck convoys, guarded both by US servicemen and the mercenaries of private military contractors (PMCs), the ministry spokesman said. The United States announced 06 October 2019 it was withdrawing its troops from the region, effectively abandoning the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), its main ally in the battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) armed group. The SDF, led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), has denounced Washington's move as a "stab in the back". In 2019, as U.S. troops withdrew from Syria, Western satellites "missed" collectively, and no one posted satellite pictures. Chinas Remote Sensing Think Tank released a set of satellite pictures in a timely manner, showing the results of the Syrian military conflict. On the one hand, it confirmed that the military operations performed by the Turkish army were effective at the same time. Twenty military vehicles and five Black Hawk helicopters were deployed to show that the U.S. military was ready to "run away" at any time. In fact, the actions of the U.S. military were also confirmed with satellite images released by the "Remote Sensing Think Tank". According to CCTV reports on October 15, China's "Remote Sensing Think Tank" and "Today's Statement" cooperated for the first time. Li Shaoxian, an expert on Middle East issues, and Du Wenlong, a special commentator, made detailed analysis of Syrian satellite photos taken by China remote sensing satellites. Once upon a time, China relied heavily on foreign satellites, but now China's remote sensing satellites have proven to the world once again that China was capable of accomplishing any task we want to accomplish and no longer rely on foreign satellites. Military expert Du Wenlong said that the satellite map of the Syrian Tyre Abyed area captured by Turkey is the result of interpretation and interpretation by the Chinese remote sensing satellite through a 0.5-meter commercial satellite. "Remote Sensing Think Tank" also provided a satellite picture of the US military base. Military expert Du Wenlong said after carefully looking at the picture, based on the situation presented by the US military base, it can be seen that this is just a The temporary escape base is not a combat base. The entire U.S. military base covers an area of only about 1 square kilometer, and no defensive facilities are built around it. Therefore, this is only a temporary base. Through satellite pictures, the equipment configuration in the U.S. military base can be clearly found. Most of the equipment is transportation vehicles, of which 8 helicopters are 5 Black Hawk helicopters. There are more than 20 chariots in the southern area, most of them Hummers and high motor vehicles. Trump's tweet 17 October 2019: "This is a great day for civilization. I am proud of the United States for sticking by me in following a necessary, but somewhat unconventional, path. People have been trying to make this 'Deal' for many years. Millions of lives will be saved. Congratulations to ALL!" Trump later told reporters on the tarmac in Texas, "This an amazing outcome. Regardless of how the press would like to tamp it down, this was something they've been trying to get for 10 years. You would have lost millions and millions of lives. They couldn't get it without a little rough love as I call it." Trump slathers praise on Erdogan: "I just want to thank and congratulate President Erdogan. He's a friend of mine and I'm glad we didn't have a problem because frankly he is a hell of a leader and a tough man, a strong man." Erodgan's response: He said he wouldn't "forget the letter sent earlier in the week by Trump 'which did not go hand in hand with political and diplomatic courtesy,'" NBC reports. Erdogan told reporters he will meet with Russia's Vladmir Putin in four days, and "God willing, we will bring peace to the area." US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said 13 October 2019 President Donald Trump had ordered the withdrawal of up to 1,000 troops from northern Syria. "I spoke with the president last night after discussions with the rest of the national security team and he directed that we begin a deliberate withdrawal of forces from northern Syria," Esper told CBS's Face the Nation. "We find ourselves as we have American forces likely caught between two opposing advancing armies and it's a very untenable situation". He added that Washington had learned "in the last 24 hours" that Turkey "likely intend to expand their attack further south than originally planned and to the west". Esper told Fox News that the number of troops being pulled back totaled "less than a thousand". Only around 300 soldiers would remain in the U.S. military's Al Tanf base in the south. Accusing Turkey of endangering civilians and threatening peace and security with its Syrian operation, on 14 Octover 2019 Trump announced upcoming tariffs and sanctions against Turkish officials and economy. Turkeys action is precipitating a humanitarian crisis and setting conditions for possible war crimes, Trump said on Monday, announcing the upcoming measures against Ankara. In addition to an executive order sanctioning current and former officials involved in destabilizing actions in northeast Syria, Trump said he would raise tariffs on Turkish steel to 50 percent, and immediately stop the negotiations over a trade deal valued at $100 billion. I am fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkeys economy if Turkish leaders continue down this dangerous and destructive path, the US president said. While accusing Ankara of jeopardizing the victory over IS, Trump also announced the departure of all remaining US troops from Syria, with the exception of a small footprint at At-Tanf in the south, on the border with Jordan. US troops will redeploy and remain in the region to monitor the situation, to prevent the return of IS, Trump added. Let Syria and Assad protect the Kurds and fight Turkey for their own land, Trump had tweeted an hour earlier, referring to the Syrian president Bashar Assad, and adding he would much rather focus on defending the US border with Mexico. Ankara planned to create a "safe zone" in northern Syria within which it can resettle millions of Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey. "Unfortunately, Turkey has chosen to act unilaterally. As a result we have moved the US forces in northern Syria out of the path of potential Turkish incursion to ensure their safety. We have made no changes to our force presence in Syria at this time," spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement 08 October 2019. Trump denied the United States had abandoned its Kurdish allies in Syria. Trump's instinct was to say the US was withdrawing to let others take care of this problem. In his "great and unmatched wisdom", Trump tweeted that ISIL prisoners will magically somehow transfer from Kurdish to Turkish control and he "will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey" if Ankara does anything "off-limits" in its incursion. Donald Trump in December 2018 shocked Washington with an abrupt decision to unilaterally withdraw from Syria after a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. James Mattis resigned as the defence secretary in response to that decision, but thanks to some expert delay tactics by Trump's advisers, no US soldier left Syria. Seth Frantzman wrote in The Jerusalem Post on October 9, 2019 "Never before in history has the US worked with a group and then opened the skies to have another US ally bomb and destroy it. ... In an unprecedented reversal for Washington's policy in Syria, the Americans armed, trained and encouraged the SDF to liberate wide swaths of Syria from ISIS only to turn around on October 6 and, under the leadership of US President Donald Trump, give Turkey the open skies and borders to attack US partner forces. Like thieves in the night, US forces withdrew from their positions without explanation, processes, discussions, or leaving behind people to monitor the area, and made it clear to Ankara that nothing would be done to impede an attack.... Although the military invasion of a foreign country, settling of people and confiscation of the lands of the indigenous inhabitants is usually illegal under international law, a new set of global rules have been created for Turkey's operation. The unprecedented nature of Turkey's attack on Wednesday, bombing peaceful towns along the border with impunity, represents not only a setback for 30 years of US policies in the Middle East and around the world, but also a change in the concept of international law.... " Jordanian analyst Osama al Sharif said the announcement to leave the Kurds to fend for themselves against the powerful NATO member, Turkey, has sent jitters among other US allies. "For American allies the region, it definitely sends a very serious and disturbing message that nobody can rely on Mr. Trump for help when help is needed," he said. "That happened to Saudi Arabia when Aramco was hit, and they expected some sort of stronger American reaction. Israel, itself, was stunned by the declaration because it changes the whole delicate geopolitical balance in Syria in favor of Israel's foes. ... It was shocking to see Mr. Trump seemingly abandon the Kurds without recalling the sacrifice they made to rid Syria of Islamic State militants, known in Arabic as Daesh, particularly as Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan permitted foreign jihadists to cross into Syria in the first place," al Sharif added. Politicians from both parties sharply condemned Trump's rash withdrawal from Syria a novelty in a time of political trench warfare over impeachment. Trump simply doesn't care about the regional and geopolitical consequences of the withdrawal and the emerging power vacuum that Turkey, Russia and Iran are happy to fill. The re-election he hopes for is still about a year off, and that's as far as Trump's horizon goes. The withdrawal of troops was, and is, a key election campaign promise no matter the cost. But evangelical leaders sharply criticized Trumps decision to stand down US forces in northern Syria, warning that Turkeys invasion of the region threatens Americas longstanding Kurdish allies and vulnerable Christian communities. The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) founder, Pat Robertson, described the grave stakes in a broadcast on 07 Pctpber 2019. I believe the president of the United States is in danger of losing the mandate of heaven if he permits this to happen, Robertson said. According to the Defense Manpower Data Center's quarterly report from September 2017, there were 1,720 American troops in Syria, three times as many as the 503 troops in Syria that US military officials had told reporters. The US forces in Syria were not numerous enough to wage an all-out war against the Syrian army. However, it remained difficult to attack them directly, because of the ability of the United States for reprisal. The Turks claimed that there are now 13 US bases in the country, some of which appeared to be permanent. The US and the coalition never stopped arms supplies, despite earlier reports that Donald Trump promised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to end deliveries to the Syrian Kurds. A contingent of 400 US Marines arrived in northeast Syria 08 March 2017 to provide artillery support for local forces in an upcoming assault on Raqqa. A contingent from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed in northern Syria within 32 kilometer artillery range of Raqqa. The unit was equipped with M777 Howitzers, capable of firing 155mm shells. This deployment mirrored a similar move in 2016 in Iraq when artillery-equipped US Marines arrived ahead of the start of the assault to take Mosul, in order to provide covering fire for Iraqi security forces. This deployment marked an escalation of US military involvement in Syria. Several hundred Special Operations troops had been advising the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces. In early March 2017, a hundred US Rangers, deployed in Manbij in a bid to deter clashes between YPG fighters and Turkish-led rebels. A small number of other American soldiers were assisting Special Operations troops in Syria with the truck-mounted High Mobility Artillery Rocket System [HIMARS] and with medical and other logistical support. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu said 26 January 2017 it will be important to first see the results of studies that Trump is expected to order from the Pentagon and State Department about instituting zones where civilians in Syria could be safe from the country's ongoing conflict. In Russia, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the Russian government has not been consulted by Trump's administration. He added that all of the potential consequences of a no-fly zone need to measured first, and that "it's important not to exacerbate the situation with refugees." Russia received coordinates of Daesh targets in Al-Bab, Aleppo Province, from the US via the 'direct line,' the Russian Defense Minsitry said 23 January 2017. The United States provided coordinates of the terrorists' targets in the city of Al-Bab in Aleppo province for Russian airstrikes. After the reconaissance check, Russia and two coalition jets conducted joint airstrikes on the Daesh targets in the region. "On January 22, the Russian command center at the Hmeymim airbase has received coordinates of Daesh targets in Al-Bab, Aleppo province, via the 'direct line' from the US-led coalition headquarters. After further data verification with the assistance of unmanned aircraft and space reconaissance, the Russian Aerospace Forces and two jets of the international coalition have conducted airstrikes on the terrorists' targets," the statement said. Later, US Department of Defense spokesperson Adrian Rankine-Galloway said that the the United States has not coordinated counterterrorism strikes in Syria with Russia. "The Department of Defense is not coordinating airstrikes with the Russian military in Syria," Rankine-Galloway said. On 08 December 2016 Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act. Tulsi Gabbard, who represents Hawaii, is the first Hindu member of Congress. Gabbard served in the military and has held office in Hawaiis state legislature and in the Honolulu City Council. She is not of Indian origin. A veteran of the Iraq War and major in the Hawaii National Guard, Gabbard has long been committed to peace and ending counterproductive, interventionist wars, her spokesperson Emily Latimer said. The legislation would prohibit the U.S. government from using American taxpayer dollars to provide funding, weapons, training, and intelligence support to groups like the Levant Front, Fursan al Ha and other allies of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, al-Qaeda and ISIS, or to countries who are providing direct or indirect support to those same groups. The legislation was cosponsored by Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT-AL), Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA-48), and Thomas Massie (R-KY-04), and supported by the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) and the U.S. Peace Council. Alfred Marder, President of the U.S. Peace Council said, The U.S. Peace Council is honored to endorse and support the Stop Arming Terrorists Bill as a major contribution to peace. This legislation will serve to galvanize the anti-war movement and the opposition to regime change policies that characterize our present foreign policy. The US defense secretary said 10 December 2016 that the US was sending an additional 200 troops to Syria. Ash Carter said the military personnel will be used to help drive Islamic State militants out of Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of the terrorist group. Carter said the 200 troops will include special forces trainers, advisers and explosive ordnance disposal teams. These uniquely skilled operators will join the 300 U.S. special operations forces already in Syria, to continue organizing, training, equipping, and otherwise enabling capable, motivated, local forces to take the fight to ISIL,'' Carter said. On 19 January 2017 Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii stirred up the US foreign policy establishment by going on a private fact-finding mission to Syria. Gabbard had been a vocal critic of outgoing President Barack Obamas policy of demanding the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad and blaming his government for the bloody war with Islamist rebels Donald Trump's unscripted remarks in March 2018 about pulling out of Syria very soon, were at odds with his own policy. For weeks, top advisers have been fretting about an overly hasty withdrawal as the president increasingly told them privately he wanted out. By January 2018,, Trumps aides thought they had persuaded him that the US needed to maitain an open-ended presence in Syria. The Islamic State group had yet to be entirely defeated, and the emerging power vacuum could be filled by other extremist groups or by Iran. Trump approved a major speech in January 2018 in which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared it is vital for the United States to remain engaged in Syria. But by mid-February 2018, Trump was telling his top aides that as soon as victory can be declared against IS, he wanted American troops out of Syria. State Department and Pentagon officials had been planning for a gradual, methodical shift from a military-led operation to a diplomatic mission to start rebuilding basic infrastructure. But the White House this week put a hold on $200 million for stabilization projects in Syria. The money was to have disburse by the State Department for infrastructure projects like power, water and roads. This had been announced by Tillerson at an aid conference in February 2018 in Kuwait. The military mission to eradicate ISIS in Syria is coming to a rapid end, with ISIS being almost completely destroyed, the White House said in a statement 04 April 2017. The pronouncements from the White House come a day after President Donald Trump publicly repeated his desire to bring home the approximately 2,000 U.S. troops stationed in Syria, even as top military officials signaled the mission there was not near completion. The US is setting up two "bases" in Syrias northern Manbij region, currently occupied by YPG/PKK terrorists, Anadolu Agency learned on 03 April 2018. These locations are not "bases" in the sense of Fort Hood, but rather are small fortified strongpoints. The US was extending an observation post in Dadat village, northern Manbij, in order to build a base, according to information Anadolu Agency says it has received from local sources in Manbij. Construction materials and heavy equipment had already been transported to the southeast of the village. The base was located eight kilometres (4.9 miles) from Sajur River, which forms the frontline between Jarablus and Manbij. The other base was being built four km (2.4 mi) from the frontline, south of Dadat. US-backed groups are staying in a farm named "Nuaymiyah" and are engaged in constructing and planning of the base. When completed, this will be the closest US base to the Euphrates Shield forces, which liberated parts of northern Syria during an operation led by Turkey from August 2016 to March 2017. Background In May 2015, General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, characterized the U.S.-led train-and-equip mission in Syria as very complex and not easy. He emphasized its importance, however, as one component of a much broader approach. Up to 1,000 U.S. military personnel had been authorized to support the program in FY 2015, and DoD reported that several coalition nations will play a critical role. These partners have offered training sites, logistical support for trainers and recruits, and personnel to assist U.S. forces with training under CJIATF. Additionally, these partners may provide weapons systems that the United States does not maintain in its stocks, transportation resources, life support for both trainees and U.S. personnel, and some forms of financial support for the trainees. During May 2015, U.S. officials met with Syrian opposition and civil society leaders in Turkey. According to DoD, these meetings provided an opportunity to further discuss the U.S. train-and-equip program, improve coordination with Syrian civilian actors who have a role in the fight against ISIL, and discuss the current situation on the ground in Syria. A small team of American ground troops would deploy to northern Syria to help assist opposition groups in the fight against Islamic State militants. The White House said 30 October 2015 the president had authorized fewer than 50 US special operations forces to coordinate Syrian local fighter movements with the US-led coalition efforts. The deployment marked the first US ground forces sent to Syria for more than a raid or a specific mission. The US troops in deployed to Syria will provide some training, some advice and some assistance to those fighting IS-extremists, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. The entry of US special operations forces into northern Syria to energize the fight against the Islamic State came as intelligence officials saw the terror group as the most vulnerable it has been in some time. IS had been accustomed to acting as an aggressor, but US intelligence officials said its momentum has largely been blunted in Syria, where Kurdish forces are drawing closer to its de facto capital of Raqqa. It has suffered significant casualties, lost key leaders and can no longer rely on sweeping victories to boost moral. The Obama administration is "pausing" and "evolving" a $500 million Pentagon-led program to train and equip Syrian rebels fighting Islamic State militants. The operation will shift away from vetting moderate Syrian rebels and training them in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. "We are going to pause that for now," Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Christine Wormuth told reporters 09 October 2015 on a White House conference call, "but there may be an opportunity in the future where the situation on the ground is more fruitful." United States officials said 28 October 2015 there was "no intention to pursue long-term, large-scale ground combat operations" like in Afghanistan or Iraq, in its stepped-up offensive against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. Defense Secretary Ash Carter 27 October said the change in strategy would include more airstrikes and possible ground assaults. The next day White House Press Secretary Eric Schultz backed up Carter's statement, making clear the United States "retain[s] the ability to conduct limited operations [in Syria] with partners as opportunities allow. Operation Noble Lance in Syria was authorized in mid-September 2016, initially including about 300 American special forces. The Pentagon says it had allocated 40 special operations forces combatants to participate in the Turkish incursion. The joint effort labeled Operation Noble Lance was the first time the two forces have fought side by side on Syrian soil since the start of the conflict. Five or six US special forces troops had to withdraw from the town of al-Rai on Syrias border with Turkey, after allies from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) had driven them out, calling them infidels and crusaders. Aa group of rebels purporting to be representatives of Ahrar al-Sharqiya, a militia operating in the area, circulated a video statement, saying that US support of Kurds, who are also fighting Islamic State, was behind their protest. "We and other FSA groups fighting in and around Aleppo say that we remain a free army, and refuse to fight on the side of Americans, who support the terrorist Kurdish PKK. We are halting all military activities until US troops leave the region." The US State Department spokesman John Kirby said the "rhetoric" used by the rebels was not appropriate and acknowledged that the opposition is not a monolith, but still praised the overall success of Turkeys operation inside northern Syria. We knew all along that the Turkish forces would be teaming up with some opposition forces, and in this they have been successful. So, lets keep in mind the greater goal, which was to choke off that stretch of border so that [ISIS] cant use it, he said during a press briefing in Washington. Progress against ISIL forces in Syria also was evident along the Mara line in the north, as NATO ally Turkey and coalition forces continued advise-and-assist missions with local forces. "Since the start of Operation Noble Lance, these partnered forces have liberated 254 square kilometers of ground, to include the people in 37 villages in that area," Air Force Col. John L. Dorrian, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, said 23 September 2016. The coalition remains focused on putting pressure on ISIL in both Iraq and Syria, Dorrian said. It continues to attack ISIL leadership and has struck the terrorists' ability to make money from illicit sales of petroleum products, he added. "All these operations are intended to disrupt and dismantle the enemy's ability to function as a coherent organization or respond to coalition and partner operations," he said 03 November 2016. ISIL does not have the ability to move large troop formations or convoys in and out of the Syrian city of Raqqa. The coalition has conducted strikes on ISIL supply and infiltration routes to limit freedom of movement in and out of Raqqa, Dorrian said. In Syria, Operation Noble Lance, with Turkish and partnered forces, has liberated about 50 villages to further isolate areas in northern Syria around Raqqa, the colonel said. That operation and previous missions have created a buffer along Syria's northern border, he said, reducing the access to infiltration routes to and from Europe. Dorrian explained the buffer limits ISIL's ability to resupply, bring in fighters and equipment and to conduct operations in Europe. Raqqa is not fully isolated and encircled, Dorrian said, "but that's what's coming in the near future." By late 2018 The US had about 2,000 troops in Syria, many of them special operations forces working closely with an alliance of Kurdish and Arab groups known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. The partnership with the SDF outraged NATO ally Turkey, which viewed the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as an extension of an armed group fighting inside Turkey. The Trump administration will withdraw all of the approximately 2,000 American troops in Syria, according to a US official 19 December 2018, as the White House declared victory in its mission to defeat Daesh terrorists there. "Our boys, our young women, our men, they're all coming back and they're coming back now," Trump said in a video. At the time, administration officials predicted the withdrawal would take about 30 days. The decision came after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Everything that has followed is implementing the agreement that was made in that call," the official said. Planning for the pullout has begun and troops will begin leaving as soon as possible, said the official, who was not authorised to publicly discuss military planning and spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump said American forces no longer were needed in a country torn apart by long-running civil war. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that "victories over ISIS in Syria do not signal the end of the Global Coalition or its campaign". She added "We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign .... The United States and our allies stand ready to re-engage at all levels to defend American interests whenever necessary, and we will continue to work together to deny radical Islamist terrorists' territory, funding, support and many means of infiltrating our borders." US officials had said in recent weeks that pockets of Daesh terrorists remain. US policy has been that American forces would stay in place until the extremists were eradicated. In addition, Pentagon and other officials have said that US troops were countering Iran-backed militants in Syria, which was an expansion of the US mission. Trump said on Twitter: "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency." The US announcement came days after Erdogan announced that Turkish forces would launch a new cross-border operation against the YPG to the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria. Erdogan said his country may launch the new military operation at any moment, adding that Trump has given a positive response to Turkey's plans in a phone call between the two leaders. A complete, rapid withdrawal, if confirmed, would upend assumptions about a longer-term US military presence in Syria, which US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other senior US officials had advocated to help ensure ISIL cannot re-emerge. Reports of an abrupt withdrawal drew quick criticism from Congress Senator Marco Rubio who said a full and rapid removal of troops would be a "grave error with broader implications" beyond the fight against Daesh. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also parcelled out a caution in response, saying withdrawing US troops from Syria would "be a big win for ISIS, Iran, Bashar al Assad of Syria, and Russia." Trump had previously lambasted his predecessor, Barack Obama, for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq that preceded an unraveling of the Iraqi armed forces. Iraqi forces collapsed in the face of ISISs advance into the country in 2014. William Wechsler, a Middle East expert at the Atlantic Council, a global affairs think tank in Washington, said that besides Iran, the Syrian regime and their allies, the U.S. decision was also a major win for Turkey and its influence in the region. "The Syrian Kurds, who bore a disproportionate burden in the battle against the Islamic State, will feel abandoned and indeed betrayed by the U.S. This is therefore undeniably a big win for Turkey. It is likely not a coincidence that just yesterday the Trump administration announced it would reverse another policy and now sell the Patriot missile defense system to Turkey." Trump overruled U.S. national security officials and surprised allies with his Dec. 19 announcement he was withdrawing the U.S. troops from Syria, where they have carried out air attacks on Islamic State and Syrian positions and advised Kurdish fighters. Trump's action, meeting a long-time pledge of his to get U.S. troops out of Syria, drew widespread protests, including from Republican lawmakers and led to the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Defense Secretary James Mattis, perhaps the most respected foreign policy official in the administration, announced on 20 December 2018 that he will leave by the end of February. He told Trump in a letter that he was departing because "you have a right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours." Brett McGurk, the top US envoy in ISIL fight, quits over Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria. McGurk submitted his resignation letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on 21 December 2018, a day after Mattis said he was leaving his post. McGurk said at a State Department briefing on December 11 that "it would be reckless if we were just to say, 'Well, the physical caliphate is defeated, so we can just leave now.' I think anyone who's looked at a conflict like this would agree with that." McGurk was appointed to the post by former President Barack Obama in 2015 and retained by Trump. McGurk worked as a lawyer for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq after the 2003 US-led invasion and joined Bush's National Security Council staff, where, during 2007 and 2008, he was the lead US negotiator on security agreements with Iraq. Donald Trump's move to withdraw US troops from Syria prompted speculation on whether Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blackmailed his US counterpart into the decision, according to Wesley Clark, a former NATO commander. In an interview with CNN on 25 December 2018, Clark specifically singled out the lack of "any strategic rationale for the decision", which he said prods people to ask why the move was made. "People around the world are asking this and some of our friends and our allies in the Middle East are asking, did Erdogan blackmail the president? Was there a payoff or something? Why would a guy make a decision like this? Because all the recommendations were against it," Clark pointed out. He claimed that Trump' decision may also raise questions over Washington's foreign policy. "What does this say about the foreign policy of the United States? That we're not reliable? That we make strategic decisions based on no strategic logic? What kind of person is driving the helm? That's the issue," Clark noted. US National Security Adviser John Bolton said 06 January 2019 there is no timetable for a US withdrawal, but that the process would not be abrupt. His comments were the first public confirmation that the administration had backed off an initial indication that it would pull out the troops within 30 days. Bolton said President Donald Trump "wants the ISIS caliphate destroyed," referring to Islamic State, which once claimed Raqqa in northern Syria as the capital of its religious territory in Syria and Iraq. Bolton said protection for the Kurdish fighters who have helped battle Islamic State militants was one of the necessary conditions for a U.S. withdrawal of its 2,000 troops in Syria. "We don't think the Turks ought to undertake military action that's not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States at a minimum so they don't endanger our troops, but also so that they meet the president's requirement that the Syrian opposition forces that have fought with us are not endangered," Bolton told reporters 06 January 2019. Bolton said the US withdrawal from Syria would be carried out in a manner that "makes sure the defence of Israel and other friends in the region is absolutely assured". US forces in Syria have a plan in place for their much talked about withdrawal, but it will likely not see all of them leave the fight against the Islamic State terror group anytime soon. The 2,000 US troops in Syria as part of the fight against the Islamic State terror group have "an approved framework for the withdrawal," Pentagon spokesman, Commander Sean Robertson, said 07 January 2019, adding commanders are "now engaged in executing that withdrawal.... That framework is conditions-based and will not subject troop withdrawal to an arbitrary timeline." About 200 US peacekeepers will remain in Syria after the military withdraws from the country, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "A small peacekeeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for [a] period of time," Sanders said on 21 February 2019 as quoted by CBS News. Earlier, the White House said President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed in a phone conversation a possible creation of a safe zone in northern Syria. Senator Lindsey Graham said in a press release that Trumps plan to leave a small contingent of forces in Syria will ensure that Daesh* will not return. "I applaud President Trumps decision to leave a small contingent of American forces in Syria as part of an international stabilizing force," Graham said. "This will ensure ISIS [Daesh] does not return and Iran does not fill the vacuum that would have been left if we completely withdrew." Graham told defence officials that leaving zero troops in Syria would be the "dumbest" idea he ever heard. Trump said 22 February 2019 that his decision to leave a small number of U.S. troops in Syria did not constitute a reversal of his plan to withdraw all troops from the country. "I am not reversing course," Trump told reporters at the White House. "It's a very small, tiny fraction of the people we have," he said, referring to the more than 2,000 American troops in Syria who are supporting Kurdish forces fighting the last of the Islamic State group. Administration officials said the United States would leave some four hundred troops in Syria while the rest would be withdrawn. about 200 U.S. troops would join what is expected to be a total commitment of about 800 to 1,500 troops from European allies to set up and observe a safe zone being negotiated for northeastern Syria. About 200 other U.S. troops will remain at the U.S. military outpost of Tanf, near the border with Iraq and Jordan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Parti Socialiste (PS) Socialist Party The leftwing Socialist candidate Anne Hidalgo scored just barely two percent on 10 April 2022 according to projections below the five-percent threshold required to have campaign expenses reimbursed by the state. The partys ranks have dwindled for decades as Frances political landscape shifted to the right. More recently, leftwing voters backed Macron or embraced the revolutionary rhetoric of Jean-Luc Melenchonwho far outpaced the Socialists with a projected score of around 21 percent. The left has never been able to recover the working classes. Instead of reinventing itself the party stuck with the bureaucratic middle classes and civil servants not necessarily bad, but not enough. Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon was knocked out of the race to become France's president after securing just 6.2 percent of the vote in the first round of the elections 23 April 2017. With the exception of 2002, it's the first time since 1969 that the party was not in the run-off. The French left, even though it was exercising the power of the State for the fourth time since 1981, was one of those moments of acute crisis which was customary. The Socialists had already tasted defeat in the first round, back in 2002. Bruised by five gruelling years in power and bitterly divided, they had always looked destined for defeat. On 29 January 2017 Socialists in France chose former junior minister Benoit Hamon as their candidate for president in a victory that analysts said was not likely to boost his election chances when French voters begin first-round balloting for a new president in April 2017. The 49-year-old Breton, who wants to legalise cannabis, tax robots and give everyone in France a 750 living wage, picked up around 59 percent of votes cast in the run-off, defeating Manuel Valls, a pro-business former prime minister. The victory capped a remarkable run by the Socialist nothing much, who was long seen as a side-kick for leftists with greater panache. It mirrors trends seen across the West, where the mainstream left had been mauled by a decade of crisis, rising unemployment and surging inequality", said Bruno Cautres, a political scientist at CEVIPOF in Paris. Pointing to parallels with Britains Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, Spains anti-establishment Podemos, and leftist firebrand Bernie Sanders all of whom Hamon singled out as sources of inspiration Cautres added, Many Socialists dream of a return to the lefts core values. Five years after sweeping France's presidential and legislative elections, by 2017 the Socialists were in a sorry state. France's ruling Socialist Party is weak, deeply unpopular and ideologically divided. "The situation is absolutely desperate for the Socialists," says Paris-based analyst Bruno Cautres. "The most important thing about Francois Hollande's mandate is the Socialists have lost their identity." So low had they sunk that Hollande, his ratings at rock bottom, announced last month he would not seek re-election. For the Socialists, the elections marked a humbling end to five years in power that saw France hit by three major terrorist attacks, unemployment that peaked at 13 percent, and a series of rolling strikes over what economists describe as mostly modest reforms. The party had failed to capitalize on its years out of power. The Socialists did not work on a new political program or project during that time, so their 2012 presidential and parliamentary win more a repudiation of unpopular, center-right leader Nicolas Sarkozy. Hollande's presidency has been "an immense waste," lamented the leftist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, in an interview with Le Monde newspaper, saying it had led the left "to a state of absolute confusion." The party's very foundations have crumbled, Le Monde wrote in a separate editorial - including its traditional working class support base "which has yielded to the populist sirens of the National Front." French left-wing voters cast their ballots 22 January 2017 in the Socialist Party presidential primary to choose a candidate they hope will be strong enough to effectively confront conservative and nationalist rivals in the April-May general election. Given deep voter disenchantment, it might seem normal for a leftist politician to sit out this election season. Yet no fewer than seven were on the ballot for the primaries, which are open to all French voters for the price of two euros. Center-leaning former Prime Minister Manuel Valls was a leading contender among seven candidates, but faced formidable challenges from harder-core leftists Arnaud Montebourg and Benoit Hamon, both former government ministers and three members of other leftist parties. Valls embodied the party's more centrist leanings, although he had since tried to adopt more leftist rhetoric as candidate. As prime minister for much of Hollande's presidency, he pushed through controversial labor and security measures, sometimes ramming them through parliament with the help of a constitutional measure he now called for repealing. While Valls is expected to win the first round of voting, analysts predicted he would lose the runoff to a more left-leaning candidate. Valls' main rivals embodied the party's left wing. Flamboyant former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg championed anti-austerity, protectionist policies summed up by his 'Made in France' motto. "Little Benoit" lacked both Vallss notoriety and the flourish of Arnaud Montebourg, the fiery former economy minister. Nor did he enjoy the intellectual aura associated with the fourth candidate, Vincent Peillon, who preceded him at the education ministry. Though all four were part of the same generation of former Socialist Young Turks, alternately allies and rivals, Hamon was very much the junior member in age, fame and deed. The dark-horse candidate was another ex-minister, Benoit Hamon. Both fans of the firebrand US senator Bernie Sanders, Hamon and Montebourg ran neck-and-neck in the polls, behind Valls. Surveys suggested one of them would win the January 29 second-round runoff against the former prime minister, scooping up backing and supporters from the other. Most of the Frondeurs supported Montebourg; and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo threw her lot behind Peillon. Hamon, a former education minister who quit Hollandes government in protest at its right-ward lurch, had recently joined the growing ranks of the Frondeurs the partys dissident leftist faction. His was the first recognisable name in a festering rebellion that would ultimately prove fatal to Hollande. But, at the time, the French president dismissed the threat. A Socialist apparatchik, Hamon enjoyed little recognition beyond the partys confines. His first cabinet post, as junior minister for the social economy, was hardly a headline-grabber. The subsequent upgrade, to education minister, lasted just 147 days. He was elected to the European Parliament once, in 2004, and the French National Assembly a decade later, but suffered as many defeats. With his working-class family background, impeccable left-wing credentials and understated coolness, Hamon was a perfect fit for the Mouvement des Jeunes Socialistes (MJS), whose leadership he took over back in 1992. Ironically, it was Valls, five years his senior, who helped the young Breton into the youth wing. To this day, Hamon is known as the man who secured the MJSs autonomy within the party, turning a docile, obedient club into a formidable force, capable of mobilising large crowds and challenging the top brass. Analysts said the party winner was likely to be ousted in the first round of the presidential election in April, in a country marked by anti-immigrant populism and economic stagnation. The far-right National Front party of Marine Le Pen is generally expected to dominate the first round, reflecting a wider populist backlash in Europe and the U.S., where President Donald Trump took office. President Francois Hollande declined to seek re-election, fearing his record-low popularity would hurt the Socialists' chances of keeping the presidency. Support for the Socialist candidate would also be drawn away by popular independent Emmanuel Macron, who shares some of the pro-business strategies of Valls and was seen as attracting the same kind of middle ground voters. Polls say Macron could make it into a presidential runoff, and even potentially win it, if a harder-core leftist such as Montebourg or Hamon gains the Socialist nomination. Macron, a senior adviser to Hollande and the minister of finance under the previous Socialist government, was a former Socialist Party member whose defection from the party and move to the centre in 2016 also damaged the lefts prospects in a great deal. Macron completely dismantled the Socialist Party, forming a centralist bloc to face the strengthening far-right. The once-dominant Socialist Party polled a dismal two percent approval of voters in a survey in early 2022, showing how far the left had lost its credibility ahead of upcoming April elections. In modern France, the birthplace of the left-right division, the left is at a loss on how to transform the country and give hope for change in the face of rising far-right and the dominance of President Emmanuel Macrons centrist populist policies. Due to the political weakness of the left, even when they came to power, they are doomed to disappoint and to apply the most centrist and more right-wing programmes, Francois Gemenne, a political scientist at Sciences Po in Paris and the University of Liege in Belgium, told TRT World, giving the example of Francois Hollande, the former Socialist leader. Many voters of the left are really kind of disappointed with the presidency of Hollande and consider that he betrayed the values of the left, says the political scientist, leading many leftists to think that the Socialist Party is not a real left. Hollandes right-wing domestic policies after the 2015 terrorist attacks alienated many leftists as corruption scandals rocked his presidency. Under the neo-liberal order, the Socialist Partys increasing ties with pro-business circles have also alienated many traditional voters of the party, according to Murat Yigit, an academic at the Istanbul Commerce University, who was educated in France. Prior to Hollande's presidency, in 2011, the Socialists even considered that they could nominate Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former IMF president, as their presidential candidate, Yigit told TRT World. Many leftists usually find IMF policies incompatible with their political views. Strauss-Kahn withdrew from the race after a sex scandal. Beyond all measures, Hollandes failed presidency became a markstone for the collapse of the party, leading many leftists to either back Macron or move to the extreme left, according to Gemenne. This political scene left the Socialist Party in limbo, making the left more divided than ever. With the Socialists political base being badly weakened, there is no blank space left on the left because in France the left has been always organised around the Socialist Party until now. And what happened to the large base of the Socialist Party? Certainly, part of them is being taken over by Macron himself and another part is being taken over by the extreme left. If you look at the manifesto of Jean-Luc Melenchon, its pretty similar to the manifesto of Francois Mitterrand when he won the elections in 1989, says Gemenne, referring to the late Socialist leader and the former president. Melenchon, a far-left candidate who wants to leave NATO, is a former Socialist minister, but he also left the party in 2008 like Macron but for different reasonsto form a leftist bloc, including communists. In 2016, he formed "France Unbowed". At the moment, he is the most powerful leftist candidate, moving up to third place in polls with a two-digit approval rating. He received a big endorsement from Segelone Royal, a prominent leftist figure and the former presidential candidate for the Socialist Party. It is obvious that the only useful vote on the left is the Melenchon vote, Royal said, angering the current Socialist Party candidate, Anne Hidalgo, another female politician like Royal. Hidalgo is now Paris mayor. If I were in her place, Id give up, Royal added, referring to Hidalgo, who receives less than five percent support, according to polls. While Hidalgo is officially the partys presidential candidate, she recently lost an unofficial online peoples primary to Christiane Taubir, a left-wing icon, but still refused to pull out her candidacy. But for the Socialists, it will be a difficult task to reinvent themselves as populist movements, which have been partially reignited by a growing resentment toward neo-liberal policies as well as fears of increasing migration, hit many countries including France. In this new populist era, traditional parties have various difficulties to reframe their political discourse. Among them, the leftist parties are having the hardest time reframing their political views. They could not develop a comprehensive analysis on whats going on in France. As a result, the French Socialists lost much of their political base to populists like Macron. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ulster Northern Ireland consists of six counties: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry. These form two-thirds of the historical province of Ulster - three other majority-Catholic counties were retained by the republic: Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal. From a Unionist perspective, the term "Ulster" suggests a greater level of distinctiveness from the Republic of Ireland than the term "Northern Ireland". The protestant or unionist collective term Ulster, is deliberately provocative to nationalists. Returning the favor, catholics say they are from 'Derry' - droping 'london' in order to disassociate themselves with the United Kingom. Republicans also don't like the name Northern Ireland, preferring instead the North of Ireland (implying Ireland is still one entity) or sometimes even 'the Six Counties'. Over two decades after from the Good Friday peace agreement, Northern Irish politics is still dominated by nationalism and unionism. Moderate parties rarely fare well. Under the terms of a 1998 peace accord which brought stability to the region the two parties - Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein - must share power. The devolved government at Stormont collapsed after a financial scandal boiled over into wider disputes between the pro-British DUP and republican party Sinn Fein. Since Sinn Fein pulled out of the executive in January 2017 the territory has been managed by its civil service, without ministerial direction. An election would be called if the executive was not reformed by 13 January 2020 as legislation allowing the civil service to run the region would expire. Negotiations to revive Stormont snagged on disagreements over the provision for Irish language in the province and a controversial mechanism which gave minority movements the power to veto legislation. A draft deal was released 09 January 2020 jointly by British secretary of state for Northern Ireland Julian Smith and Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney, reflecting the Republic's role as co-guarantor of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the region's 30-year conflict known as "The Troubles". Northern Ireland's government reopened for the first time in three years on 10 January 2020 after rival parties rallied around a new power-sharing deal aimed at helping the province face the challenges of Brexit. The new deal, entitled New Decade New Approach, was published by the Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney and by the Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith on January 9. On January 10, politicians gathered in the parliamentary buildings in Stormont, Belfast, to choose a new Executive. Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was appointed as first minister and Republican Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill would serve as her deputy. Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party, fell just short of becoming the largest party in March 04, 2017 elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Democratic Unionist Party led with 28 seats, just one more than Sinn Feins total. The Democratic Unionists were narrowly on top with 28.1 percent, down 1 point from the last election 10 months ago. Sinn Fein trailed with 27.9 percent, up 4 points, the narrowest sectarian gap in Northern Ireland electoral history. At stake in the outcome from the snap election was the revival or demise of power-sharing between Irish Catholics and British Protestants, the central objective of the US-brokered Good Friday peace accord nearly two decades ago. The DUP topped the polls in the May 2016 devolved election, winning 38 seats. Sinn Fein, the former party of the Irish Republican Army, finished second. The two parties - sworn enemies throughout the Troubles - had controlled the power-sharing government for almost a decade. In Northern Ireland winter is the season for political crises. True to form, on 10 January 2017, Martin McGuinness, from the Irish republican party Sinn Fein, resigned as deputy first minister, triggering fresh elections. His resignation automatically removed Arlene Foster, the leader of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), as the First Minister cannot hold the position without a co-equal Deputy First Minister. Sinn Fein, once the political arm of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), had governed with the rival DUP for 10 years under power-sharing arrangements that put an end to three decades of sectarian violence. Many feared that Northern Ireland would have no government in place at arguably the most important moment in its modern history: Brexit. This year's crisis could prove to be the most serious since the Good Friday peace agreement was signed in 1998. Unusually the current difficulties have nothing to do with flags, parades or the legacy of the 30-year-long Troubles that cost more than 3,000 lives. At the core are fundamental questions about whether nationalists and unionists can work together in a devolved government. The Assembly elections - the second in 10 months - took place on 02 March 2017. The Democratic Unionist Party won Northern Ireland's parliamentary elections, edging ahead of Sinn Fein by a single seat. At 65 percent, voters turned out in their highest numbers in the vote, the UK's first regional election since last summer's Brexit referendum. Unionist candidates, Protestants' preferred choice, captured less than half the seats for the first time. The DUP won 28 of the 90 seats, but the surging Sinn Fein almost wiped out the 10-seat advantage that the unionists had secured in elections a year ago. The result meant pro-British unionist parties no longer commanded a majority leadership for the first time since the province was created in 1921. The parties had three weeks to form a government to avoid Northern Ireland's devolved power returning to the UK Parliament at Westminster for the first time in a decade. The Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein, which seeks unification with Ireland, hailed a new era 07 May 2022 for Northern Ireland as it captured the largest number of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly for the first time in a historic win. With almost all votes counted from Thursday's local U.K. election, Sinn Fein secured 27 of the Assemblys 90 seats. The Democratic Unionist Party, which has dominated Northern Irelands legislature for two decades, captured 24 seats. The victory means Sinn Fein is entitled to the post of first minister in Belfast a first for an Irish nationalist party since Northern Ireland was founded as a Protestant-majority state in 1921. The centrist Alliance Party, which doesnt identify as either nationalist or unionist, also saw a huge surge in support and was set to become the other big winner in the vote, claiming 17 seats. The victory was a major milestone for Sinn Fein, which has long been linked to the Irish Republican Army, a paramilitary group that used bombs and bullets to try to take Northern Ireland out of U.K. rule during decades of violence involving Irish republican militants, Protestant Loyalist paramilitaries and the U.K. army and police. Today ushers in a new era, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said shortly before the final results were announced. Irrespective of religious, political or social backgrounds, my commitment is to make politics work." O'Neill stressed that it was imperative for Northern Ireland's divided politicians to come together next week to form an Executive the devolved government of Northern Ireland. If none can be formed within six months, the administration will collapse, triggering a new election and more uncertainty. 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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 New leader takes helm of PLA Navy People's Daily Online By Zhao Lei (Chinadaily.com.cn) 09:45, January 21, 2017 The People's Liberation Army Navy has a new commander, 60-year-old Vice-Admiral Shen Jinlong, according to the Navy. Shen, in the capacity of the PLA Navy commander, had a video chat on Friday morning with officers and sailors of the 25th escort fleet to the Gulf of Aden, according to a Navy news release. That means he has replaced Admiral Wu Shengli, 71, to take charge of the largest navy in Asia. Although the Navy did not disclose when the transition took place, observers believe it occurred in the past week. A senior researcher with the PLA Navy who asked not to be named said Shen was chosen because he has rich experience gained through posts in front-line combat units, institutes and a major fleet's commanding body. "He has theoretical and practical knowledge and front-line commanding experience, and he is just 60. These make him a suitable choice," the senior researcher said. "However, Shen is facing many challenges, since the Navy now has heavier responsibilities in safeguarding the country's maritime interests and dealing with threats and interventions," he added. The researcher said he expects the new commander to continue to improve the Navy's strategies, tactics and weapons and to keep honing its joint operation capabilities. Admiral Wu, Shen's predecessor, was captain of several frigates and destroyers and gradually moved up through the Navy's ranks. Wu was commander of the South Sea Fleet before taking the job of deputy chief of general staff in 2004. In April 2006, he was named commander of the PLA Navy. He is the second-longest-serving commander of the PLA Navy, exceeded only by Xiao Jinguang, who was the Navy's chief from 1950 to 1980. In Wu's tenure, the Navy went through a massive expansion in terms of armaments, capabilities and operational scope. When he took over the Navy in 2004, most of its ships and submarines were old and incapable of matching their US or Japanese counterparts, while most of the Navy's exercises were conducted in China's coastal waters. In the past 10 years, the Navy took delivery of about 100 advanced ships and submarines as well as a large number of new aircraft. It commissioned around 20 new ships in 2015 as well as last year and is believed to have deployed several new-generation nuclear submarines during this period. The Navy now has a carrier battle group, which just completed a long-distance, live-fire drill in the Western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. The Navy's aviation force has carried out several long-range, combat-ready drills. Moreover, the Navy has gained extensive experience of large, sophisticated operations through its active participation in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and multinational naval exercises in the past several years. The last time Wu appeared in media reports as the PLA Navy's commander was on December 28 when he attended a symposium that marked the eighth anniversary of the Navy's escort mission in the Gulf of Aden. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA frigates, drone search for fishing boat crew in East China Sea People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 14:39, January 21, 2017 NINGBO, Jan. 21 -- China's People's Liberation ArmyNavy has sent two frigates and a drone to search for a fishing boat that sank in the East China Sea on Friday evening, leaving at least one person dead, navy sources said Saturday. The Chinese fishing boat, Liaoda Zhongyu 15126, had 13 crew on board before sinking at around 6 a.m. Friday. Frigates Suzhou and Ji'an arrived in the area and began their search on Saturday morning after the Donghai Fleet received requests for assistance late on Friday from the maritime rescue center in Jiangsu Province. A military drone was also dispatched. So far, only one body has been recovered and the rest of the crew remain unaccounted for. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New vessel beefs up PLA Navy fleet People's Daily Online (China Daily) 08:41, January 22, 2017 The People's Liberation Army Navy has commissioned its 31st Type-056 class corvette, marking a new addition to the world's largest fleet of modern corvettes. The CNS Ezhou with a hull number of 513 was delivered to the East Sea Fleet in a naval base in East China's Fujian province on Wednesday, PLA Daily reported, saying the ship will perform coastal patrol, fishery escort, anti-submarine and anti-ship operations. It is the second ship that has been commissioned to the PLA Navy since the start of 2017, following the CNS Kaiyangxing, a Type-815A class electronic reconnaissance ship, which now belongs to the North Sea Fleet. The newest of the Type-056 class to enter service, the Ezhou is 89 meters long and 11 m wide and has a full displacement of 1,254 metric tons. With a maximum speed of 52 km/h, the ship features good maneuverability, a high level of automation and stealth capability, and is capable of hitting aircraft, ships and submarines, the report added, noting it can carry one anti-submarine helicopter. In addition to the Navy, the China Coast Guard is also attracted to the fast speed and reliable self-defense capacity of the Type-056 vessels and has introduced a number of such ships, which have appeared in operations near Huangyan Island and the Diaoyu Islands, the newspaper said. China began to build the Type-056 class around 2012 to modernize its coastal defense flotillas that were composed of the antiquated Type-037 class corvettes, which were virtually submarine chasers, and some other old patrol boats. The first Type-056 class ship, CNS Bengbu, was delivered to the East Sea Fleet in February 2013. Before the Ezhou, a total of 30 Type-056 class ships have been commissioned for the Navy, official statistics show. Russia has the world's largest corvette group that consists of about 80 vessels, but most of them were built in the 1980s and 1990s and cannot compete with the Type-056 in terms of technology and equipment, defense observers said, adding that the Type-056 fleet is now the biggest force of modern corvettes of all navies. Information from IHS Jane's Fighting Ships shows a Type-056 class corvette is armed with four YJ-83 anti-ship missile launchers, a 76-mm gun, two 30-mm cannons, two triple-barreled lightweight torpedo launchers, and an eight-cell HHQ-10 short-range anti-aircraft missile launcher. The industry publication also says that some of the Type-056 class vessels have enhanced anti-submarine capabilities with towed and variable-depth sonar. According to a ranking by the British website Naval Technology, the Type-056 is one of the world's 10 best modern corvettes along with Sweden's Visby class and Germany's K130 Braunschweig class. Cao Weidong, a researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said despite the Type-056 class being smaller compared with frigates, it will be as powerful as frigates in battles in coastal waters thanks to its stealth design and strong firepower. Du Wenlong, an equipment expert at the PLA Academy of Military Science, said that in addition to coastal defense, Type-056 class ships can also help with long-range operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese naval escort task force visits Qatar People's Daily Online By Sun Wenyu (People's Daily Online) 17:15, January 22, 2017 The 24th Chinese naval escort task force arrived in Doha, Qatar on Jan. 21 local time, starting its five-day visit to the country. It is the second visit by the Chinese Navy to Qatar. The task force was welcomed by 400 representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Qatar, local Chinese companies, overseas Chinese and Qatari marines. The two countries' marines will visit each other's fleets, and other exchanges will also be carried out during the visit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India to Replace Archaic Battlefield Communication With Advanced Radios Sputnik News 10:10 21.01.2017(updated 10:16 21.01.2017) In tune with India's public airing of the Cold War doctrine that advocates a blitzkrieg into enemy territory, the army is updating its vital component communications that will ensure complete battlefield awareness for theatre commanders. New Delhi (Sputnik) Indian Army is fast-tracking a purchase plan that includes state of the art communication systems which will be critical for the success of Cold War doctrine, if it is ever put into practice. Under the Cold War doctrine, the Indian army is supposed to move fast and quickly, giving little time to the adversary to react. The simultaneous movement of a large number of soldiers and sophisticated military equipment requires fail-safe and secure communications network. India has invited global manufacturers of software defined radio (SDR) to place bid before February 17. The Indian Army has not disclosed the exact number of airborne, handheld, manpacks and armored fighting vehicle SDRs that will replace combat net radios. With the state of the art SDRs, soldiers spread over larger areas can exchange voice messages, data and images in real time to enable commanders keep track of their soldiers' locations. This will be very crucial in the difficult terrains of the Himalayas. The SDRs can also deter the threat of Chinese malware to the communication networks. A recent report prepared by the Indian Army design bureau has warned that imported communication equipment has heightened the threat from an embedded virus or malware. The Indian Army bid document indicates that all the three services will migrate to the new communication systems very soon. "Eventually all the three services will migrate to SDRs. Therefore interoperability for joint operations will require common waveforms," read a document issued by Indian Army. "SDRs will be intelligent communicators. They allow expanded communication range, flexibility in operating on a large number of frequencies and avoiding interference. They can also reduce power consumption and afford a high degree of security. Thus SDRs will completely revolutionize field communications," says Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle, a Delhi-based defense expert. The SDR market is expected to reach up to $ 29 bn by 2021. France's Thales has offered its latest tactical SDR while others in the fray could be BAE Systems, Elbit Systems, Raytheon, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH, Viasat Inc, SAAB AB and Northrop Grumman Corp. "Some of the Indian manufacturers like L&T and BEL have expressed the capability to deliver such systems. However, information about the actual stage of development and production is awaited," added Bhonsle. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address If Trump nixes nuclear deal, 'we are prepared': Iran's atomic chief ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 22 January 2017 / 11:38 Tehran (ISNA) - Iran says it is reserving judgment on new U.S. President Donald Trump. But if he does, as he's vowed, "tear up" the international deal Tehran reached on curbing its nuclear program, it could quickly ramp that program back up, says the country's atomic energy chief. In the first comments on Trump's inauguration from a high-ranking member of Iran's government, Ali Akbar Salehi, who is also a vice-president, said he viewed the absence of a mention of Iran in Trump's inaugural speech as "positive." But in an interview with CBC News in Iran, he also dismissed the new U.S. administration's intention to develop a "state of the art" missile defense system to stave off attacks from North Korea and Iran. That intention was announced yesterday on the White House website, within minutes of Trump's inauguration. "The United States it's more than 10,000 miles [16,000 kilometers] away from Iran, and we have never intended to manufacture missiles that would go that far," he said. It is a "politicized" decision that is "against all rationality," he added. But the nuclear deal is Iran's central concern. Iran has watched warily as Trump repeatedly cast doubt on the deal, under which tough sanctions were lifted a year ago this month. The unprecedented agreement in 2015 brought together Iran with the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany in a rare show of international consensus. In the dying days of his presidency, Barack Obama insisted the deal brought "significant, concrete results in making the United States and the world a safer place." Echoing critics who say "Iran cannot be trusted" and is ultimately after a "military nuclear program" Trump has called the deal the worst ever made and, during his campaign, he promised to tear it up. Last week, he was very vague about his plans but insisted the deal was still "one of the dumbest" he'd ever seen. Salehi is a key architect of the deal that Trump wants to tear up, and if that happens, Iran will "act appropriately," he said. "We did once before that deal didn't work and Iran was able to go back to its nuclear activities with high speed," he said. "We can very easily snap back and go back not only to where we were, but a much higher position technologically speaking." "I don't want to see that day. I don't want to make a decision in that course, but we are prepared." Salehi says he watched the inauguration with the expectation that Trump would mention Iran or its nuclear deal. But he did not raise either. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We're prepared if Trump tears up deal: Iran nuclear chief Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:21AM Iran's nuclear chief says the country is prepared to "act appropriately" if US President Donald Trump chooses to "tear up" the nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers, including Washington. "We can very easily snap back and go back not only to where we were, but a much higher position, technologically speaking," Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) told Canada's CBC News on Saturday. He added, "I don't want to see that day. I don't want to make a decision in that course, but we are prepared." The agreement, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in July 2015 between Tehran on the one side and the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China plus Germany, on the other. The European Union acted as the coordinator for the negotiations in the lead-up to the deal, which took effect in mid-January 2016. The deal, which was later enshrined in a legally-binding UN Security Council resolution, rolled back nuclear-related sanctions against Iran, which, in turn, put limits on its nuclear program. However, on his campaign trail, Trump threatened to rip up the deal, which he has denounced as "the worst accord ever" and "one of the dumbest" ones he has come across. Reacting to Trump's threat earlier this week, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Washington cannot unilaterally decide to abrogate the agreement as it is an "international agreement," and not a bilateral one between Iran and the US. Zarif, however, said Tehran's response would "surprise" Trump should the new US president "tear up" the JCPOA. Earlier in the month and on the anniversary of the deal's implementation, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said if Trump went ahead with acting on the threat, Iran would burn the agreement, echoing remarks by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Trump's harsh rhetoric against the JCPOA comes while Washington's partners in the P5+1 have thrown their weight behind the Iran deal. In comments marking the first anniversary of the JCPOA's implementation, the EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini praised the accord and urged all signatories to abide by it. The top EU diplomat called the accord a diplomatic milestone, which worked to benefit all sides. Elsewhere in his comments, Salehi played down another threat by Trump, right before his inauguration, that he would order the construction of a missile system against Iran and North Korea. The White House made the announcement in a policy position posted on its website on Friday. "The United States it's more than 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) away from Iran, and we have never intended to manufacture missiles that would go that far," Salehi said. The Iranian atomic chief, however, called it a "positive" sign that the US commander-in-chief had made no mention of either Iran or the deal in his inaugural address. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi forces make fresh territorial gains against Daesh in Mosul Iran Press TV Sat Jan 21, 2017 7:31PM Iraqi government forces have registered more territorial gains in Mosul as they are battling in joint operations with volunteer fighters and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to push Daesh Takfiri terrorists out of their last urban stronghold in the Arab country. Commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, said on Saturday that the 9th Armored Division and the 3rd Brigade of the First Division in the Iraqi Army had freed al-Qousiyat village on the outskirts of Mosul, located some 400 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad, and hoisted the national flag over several buildings there. The high-profile Iraqi military commander added that government forces had inflicted heavy losses on Daesh ranks and military equipment during the operation as well. Earlier, the 71st Brigade of the 15th Division and the 76th Brigade of the 16th Division in the Iraqi Army had established complete control over al-Araby neighborhood in eastern Mosul, killing and injuring many Daesh Takfiris in the process. Colonel John Dorrian, the Baghdad-based spokesman for the Operation Inherent Resolve, also told Sky News Arabia television news network that the US-led military coalition had targeted 90 Daesh boats and three crafts across the Tigris River as the Takfiris were fleeing from the eastern flank of Mosul to the western side. Dorrian noted that dozens of Daesh terrorists were killed and injured during the airstrikes. Meanwhile, Daesh terrorists blew up a hotel in the al- Rifa'i neighborhood of Mosul, after they placed a considerable amount of explosives inside the building, and detonated them by remote control. A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that at least seven Daesh terrorists were drowned in the Tigris River as they were fleeing from intense clashes between government forces and their extremist comrades in eastern Mosul. An unnamed local source also said Daesh had placed a number of dummies dressed in military fatigues on a number of buildings in the western part of Mosul in a bid to mislead security forces and military aircraft bombing purported positions of the Takfiris. The source added that Daesh had also installed a number of Humvee military light trucks made out of wood along streets in Mosul to deceive Iraqi soldiers and cover up the increasing loss of its forces in the strategic northern Iraqi city. Furthermore, fighters from pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, engaged Daesh terrorists in Adayah and Tal Zallat regions west of Mosul, killing at least 20 terrorists. Four vehicles and a large amount of munitions belonging to the extremists were also destroyed in those areas. Iraqi army soldiers, supported by Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation on October 17, 2016 to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi forces regain control of two more neighborhoods in east Mosul Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:26PM Iraqi government forces have managed to liberate two more neighborhoods in Mosul from the clutches of the Daesh Takfiri terrorists as they try to push the extremists out of their last urban stronghold in the country. The commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, said on Sunday that soldiers from the 71st Brigade of the 15th Division in the Iraqi Army had recaptured al-Milayeen neighborhood and al-Binaa al-Jahiz area east of the city, located some 400 kilometers north of the capital, Baghdad, Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network reported. Yarallah added that government forces had raised the Iraqi flag over several buildings in both locations. The high-ranking Iraqi military commander also noted that troops had established control over the road linking Mosul to the northern city of Dohuk in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Members of the 9th Armored Division in the Iraqi Army retook the road linking Bahwiza neighborhood in northern Mosul to the Assyrian town of Tel Keppe. The latest territorial gains almost seal the Iraqi forces' control over the eastern bank of the Tigris River, with only Rashidiyah neighborhood left to be retaken. Daesh forces Mosul women to hand over gold coins Meanwhile, an unnamed local source says the so-called Supreme Audit Court of Daesh has obligated all women in the al-Dawassah neighborhood of western Mosul to donate gold coins to finance the terror outfit in battles against government soldiers. The source went on to say that the Takfiris had threatened punishment against those who did not abide by the rules, having whipped four women in public for their refusal to take the measure. Iraqi army soldiers, supported by fighters from pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic word, Hashd al-Sha'abi, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation on October 17, 2016 to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With East Mosul Taken, Iraqis See Tough Fight For Western Part RFE/RL January 22, 2017 With east Mosul mainly cleared of Islamic State (IS) fighters, Iraqi officers are preparing for the next phase of the battle for Iraq's second-largest city. Western Mosul, the last stronghold of IS fighters in the key city, is lined with narrow streets and alleyways that make it nearly impossible for tanks and large armored vehicles to pass through, taking away much of the advantage of the Iraqi army. Nevertheless, officers say they are prepared to take the next step. "We expect to enter the west in the next few days," Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saad told the Reuters news agency. Some 100,000 Iraqi troops, members of the Kurdish security forces and Shi'ite militiamen are taking part in the battle for Mosul, helped by U.S.-led coalition air strikes. The UN estimates that 750,000 people are still in the city's west. With the narrow streets, Iraqi troops won't be able to fight from inside their vehicles like they did in the east. "We don't have a strategy yet for these areas," Major-General Sami al-Arithi said. "For now, our approach will be to just surround them and wait." U.S. Army Major General Joseph Martin told the Associated Press that "west Mosul will be as tough as east Mosul, and from our view even tougher." The U.S. military said on January 21 that coalition warplanes this week hit a flotilla of about 90 Islamic State boats and barges being used by the militants to escape east Mosul across the Tigris River, Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/iraq-west-mosul-tough- fight-islamic-state/28249575.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Libya's Neighboring Countries Oppose Foreign Intervention to Resolve Crisis Sputnik News 19:58 21.01.2017 Countries-neighbors of Libya supported communique that "rejected any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of Libya," as well as military solution to the crisis, as it could endanger Libya's stability and security. CAIRO (Sputnik) Countries-neighbors of Libya stand for peaceful settlement of the country's crisis and oppose any foreign military intervention, a final communique of the participants of the tenth session of Libya's neighboring countries meeting said Saturday. The meeting to discuss recent developments of the Libyan crisis took place in Cairo earlier on Saturday and was attended by the foreign ministers of Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, and Niger, head of the UN Special Mission to Libya Martin Kobler, Arab League's Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, as well as by African Union Special Envoy in Libya Jakaya Kikwete. The final communique said the neighboring countries "rejected any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of Libya," as well as military solution to the crisis, as it could endanger Libya's stability and security. The participants of the meeting also expressed their support to the Government of National Accord (GNA), which they believed should represent all Libyan forces. Libya has been in a state of turmoil since 2011, when a civil war began in the country and Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. In December 2015, Libya's rival governments the Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress agreed to create the GNA, to form the Presidency Council and to end the political impasse. The first meeting of the GNA Cabinet took place on January 2, 2016 in Tunisia. Nevertheless, Libya's Tobruk-based parliament still refuses to cooperate with the unity government. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar defies OIC call to stop atrocities against Rohingya Iran Press TV Sat Jan 21, 2017 9:9AM Myanmar has defied a call by Muslim governments to stop atrocities against Rohingya Muslims, slamming instead Malaysia for hosting a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). At an extraordinary OIC meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, the Malaysian premier called on Myanmar to end its crackdown on Rohingya Muslims and stop the "unspeakable cruelty" against them. Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said it was "regrettable" that Malaysia had called the emergency meeting to discuss the plight of the Rohingya. The ministry accused Malaysia of exploiting the crisis "to promote a certain political agenda" and disregarding alleged efforts of the Myanmar government to tackle the crisis. Myanmar's military began its crackdown in Rakhine State after an attack on the country's border guards on October 9 left nine police officers dead, which the government blamed on the Rohingya. There are reports that at least 400 people have been killed, more than 2,500 houses, mosques, and religious schools destroyed, and three villages completely wiped out during the military siege. The Myanmar government has also blocked humanitarian and media access to Rakhine which is home to about 1.1 million Rohingya. Rohingya Muslims have been subjected to executions, rape, and arson attacks since October, according to refugees and rights groups. In its meeting, the OIC which represents 57 countries called on the United Nations to intervene in Rakhine State, where it said the escalation of violence against Rohingya Muslims could lead to "genocide." The organization's special envoy to Myanmar, Syed Hamid Albar, said the world body should act to resolve the conflict, which is no longer an internal issue but an international concern. "We don't want to see another genocide like in Cambodia or Rwanda," he told Reuters. "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." On Friday, a UN human rights investigator slammed Myanmar's campaign and called on the military to respect the law and human rights. Many of Myanmar's Buddhists name the minority group of Rohingya Muslims as Bengalis, shorthand for illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh, even though the community has lived in Myanmar for many generations. The United Nations has described the Rohingya as one of the most downtrodden communities around the globe. The prime minister of Muslim-majority Malaysia has been a vocal critic of Myanmar's government since the country's army launched a harsh crackdown on the Muslim community in the state of Rakhine in October 2016. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says it has lowered oil output by average 100k bpd Iran Press TV Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:17PM Russia says it has lowered its oil output in the wake of a landmark deal struck in November by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to spur prices through reduced production. Russia is not a member of OPEC but has agreed in the framework of a December deal with the organization to reduce its output by a maximum of 300,000 barrels per day (bpd). On December 10, OPEC also struck an agreement with countries outside the group, most notably Russia, for them to reduce production by 558,000 bpd. Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday that Russian companies were working "ahead of schedule" in this regard. "We have reduced (production) by an average of 100,000 barrels per day," Novak stated. The Russian minister made the remarks ahead of a key trip to the Austrian capital, Vienna, where he is set to attend the compliance committee meeting in the OPEC headquarters. Under the deal reached in Vienna last year, some key OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, agreed to cut their production to help boost oil prices in the global market. The scheme worked and oil prices reached above $50 per barrel to mark a 20-percent increase. However, analysts have been wary of a return to depressed prices in case major oil producers refuse to implement the agreements. Higher prices could also encourage non-OPEC members such as the United States to increase their shale production, which could lead to lowered prices. "We are doing all we can to participate in the implementation of the agreement," said Novak. Russia is the second major oil producer and exporter in the world after Saudi Arabia. A Russian government spokesman said Novak would also hold a meeting with Saudi Energy Minister Khaled al-Falih during the visit to Vienna. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Plan B: Russian Defense Ministry Considers Major Overhaul of Its Airliner Fleet Sputnik News 18:31 21.01.2017 Following the loss of a Tu-154 plane in a tragic crash that claimed the lives of all 92 people aboard, Russia's Defense Ministry is pondering whether to replace its aging passenger aircraft with new domestically-manufactured models. Russia's Defense Ministry is considering replacing its aging fleet of Tu-164, Tu-134 and Il-62M jet airliners with newer models like the Tu-214 and Sukhoi Superjet 100, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. Furthermore, according to RIA Novosti, the Ministry of Industry and Trade press service said that the United Aircraft Corporation "can manufacture and supply Tu-214, Tu-204SM, SSJ-100 and Il-96-300 aircraft to the Defense Ministry." However, it should be noted that the Ministry of Industry and Trade hasn't yet received any such orders from the military. Yuri Sytnik, a decorated Russian pilot, pointed out that these new aircraft models clearly surpass the aging passanger airliner fleet of the Defense Ministry: for example, while the Tu-134 can carry up to 70 passengers consuming 3 metric tons of fuel per hour, SSJ-100 can carry up to 100 passengers and requires only 2 tons of fuel per hour. At the same time, he pointed out, many of the ministry's passenger aircraft that have been in service for two to three decades now have yet to exhaust their flight life and thus may still be kept in action for the next ten years with proper maintenance. His concerns were echoed by aviation analyst Roman Gusarov. "The Tu-154 that crashed near Sochi, despite being relatively old, had clocked only 7,000 flight hours, which equals roughly to two to three years in service, as per civil aviation standards," he pointed out. Furthermore, Gusarov added, it appears unlikely that the Defense Ministry might decide to replace its Tupolev airliners with Sukhoi Superjets as virtually all of the latter's components are manufactured abroad. "A plane that may experience an absence of replacement parts cannot be employed by the Defense Ministry, especially when sanctions are imposed (against Russia)," he explained. The Tu-214, however, is a reliable aircraft that may indeed serve as an adequate replacement for the older planes used by the Defense Ministry. "It is a very good, wonderfully manufactured machine which unfortunately was created too early, when Boeing and Airbus aircraft were a priority," said Sytnik, who was the first pilot to fly a Tu-214 after it was successfully tested. He pointed out that the Tu-214 is adapted to the extreme cold and can fire up its engines with the outside temperature as low as minus 55 degrees Celsius the kind of cold that Boeing and Airbus planes cannot endure. However, at this time the number of passenger aircraft that Russia's Defense Ministry may need to replace is 66: namely, thirty six Tu-134, twenty one Tu-154 and nine Il-62 planes. But it'll take at least 20 years to replace all 66 aircraft with Tu-214 planes. "Our aviation industry cannot supply 60 aircraft outright, the maximum Tu-214 output is only three planes per year," Gusarov explained. At the same time, he noted, a "gradual transition" to the new aircraft model would not only allow the Defense Ministry to upgrade its fleet of passenger airliners, but also provide new contracts and jobs for Russian aircraft factories. And if Russian aircraft industry would keep getting new contracts and funds from the Defense Ministry, then it is quite possible that "in five to ten years Russia would get a new, high-quality aircraft," Sytnik added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Keep Missiles in Kaliningrad Amid NATO Plans to Create Missile System Sputnik News 14:37 21.01.2017 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia cannot withdraw missiles in its western Kaliningrad region without knowing that plans for creating entire missile system are to be abolished on the European continent. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia is going to keep its missiles in its western Kaliningrad region as NATO is working on creating an "entire missile system" in Europe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the BBC broadcaster. "It is a very complicated issue. You cannot just withdraw those missiles from Kaliningrad without knowing that plans for creating entire missile system are to be abolished on the European continent," Peskov said. On October 8, 2016, official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the information on relocation of Iskander missile complexes to the Kaliningrad region, adding that it was a part of routine drills aimed improving missile forces capabilities. On October 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the CNN broadcaster that by placing weapons in Kaliningrad, Russia acts on its territory, while Washington placed weapons in Eastern Europe, which is not US territory. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia sees Syrian talks in Astana as achievement for Moscow, Tehran and Ankara IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Moscow, Jan 21, IRNA -- Russian Foreign Ministry deputy Sergey Ryabkov has said the talks on Syrian crises in the Kazakh capital is the outcome of the joint efforts by Moscow, Tehran and Ankara to put an end to the ongoing situation in Syria. Talking to IRNA on the threshold of the Intra-Syrian talks which is to meet in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Jan 23, he said the outcomes of the convergences made among the three countries in topics related to the Syrian crisis is quite valuable. He said that, during the upcoming meeting in the Kazakh capital, the three countries could consolidate and reinforce the agreements already reached on the issue. Stressing the importance of the Astana talks, he noted after years of bloodshed in Syria, the parties involved in talks are coming together to explore ways to solve the problem. The Russian official further underlined that the nuclear agreement signed by Iran and the 5+1 had certainly had a positive impact on regional situation including Syria and said the agreement was good not just for the Islamic Republic of Iran but all parties involved. Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa Mikhail Bogdanov hailed the achievements made by Iran and Russia in their anti-terrorism campaign in Syria. In an interview with IRNA, he stressed the positive outcomes of Tehran-Moscow convergence on Syria and said the two countries will continue with their real anti-terrorism combat in Syria. An Iranian delegation arrived in Astana Saturday morning to take part in the talks which will also be attended by the representatives of the Syrian government, non-terrorist opposition groups and the United Nations. The negotiations will be monitored by Iran, Russia and Turkey. Conducting the Intra-Syria talks is one of the main articles of the final statement of the December 20 meeting held by foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey in the Russian capital. 1424**1394 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to participate in Astana meeting with high level of readiness ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 21 January 2017 / 15:31 Tehran (ISNA) Iran will participate in upcoming Astana meeting with the high level of readiness, Iranian deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs, Hossein Jaberi Ansari announced. The Iranian delegation, led by Hossein Jaberi Ansari arrived in Astana on Saturday for Syria peace discussions. "The aim of this trip is participation in Syria peace discussions in Astana to maintain the cease-fire and pave the way for serious negotiations between Syrian government and the armed opposition groups", Ansari said. "We attend this meeting with the high level of readiness and as we said before there is no military solution for Syrian crisis. The continuation of Syrian crisis only led to the destruction of an Islamic country", he added. Ansari hoped the Astana meeting comes to useful results. The two-day Astana meeting is expected to hold on Monday. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Astana talks aim to bring lasting peace to Syria: Iran Iran Press TV Sat Jan 21, 2017 1:57PM A senior Iranian diplomat says the forthcoming Syria peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana are aimed at finding possible ways to establish sustainable peace in the conflict-stricken state and put an end to its nearly six-year crisis. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari, who is heading the Iranian delegation to the Syria peace talks, made the comments in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) channel upon his arrival in Astana on Saturday. "The aim of this visit is to attend the Syria peace negotiations in the Kazakh capital of Astana with the purpose of [enforcing] a lasting ceasefire in Syria and preparing the ground for serious talks about sustainable peace between the Syrian government and the opposition groups," Jaberi Ansari said. He added that Iran would participate in the Astana talks "with full readiness." The two-day talks, mediated by Iran, Russia, and Turkey, are to involve the representatives of the Syrian government and opposition to discuss a potential solution to the conflict in Syria. The negotiations will start on Monday. The negotiations exclude the Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist groups. The Iranian diplomat said the Islamic Republic has always emphasized that the Syrian crisis has no military solution and "must be solved through peaceful means and political and serious talks." "The continuation of the Syrian crisis will have no result but the killing [of people] and the destruction of a Muslim country," he added. He expressed hope that the Astana talks will be a watershed in resolving the Syrian conflict. The Astana talks will be addressing issues such as the further stabilization of the all-Syria ceasefire, effective confrontation with terrorism, and intra-Syrian dialog toward the achievement of a political solution to the crisis. Iran-Russia negotiations on Syria The Iranian and Russian delegations to the Syrian peace talks held a meeting in Astana on Saturday. A Turkish delegation is also scheduled to join the talks. Coordination between Iran, Russia, and Turkey helped bring about an agreement on the evacuation of militants in the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo late last year. A ceasefire was also negotiated for the city, and, as the agreement held, the way was paved for its extension to the entire country. Foreign-sponsored militancy began in Syria in 2011. Substantive financial, political, and ideological support was offered to the militants by the countries opposed to the Syrian government, most notably the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Buffer Zone for Refugees Should Be Created in Border Areas of Syria Sputnik News 21:37 21.01.2017 Yalcin Topcu, Chief Adviser of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that it is necessary to create a buffer zone for refugees in the border areas of Syria. ASTANA (Sputnik) A buffer zone for refugees should be created in the border areas of Syria, while coalition forces should protect the people fleeing war, Chief Adviser of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday. "I think it is necessary to create a buffer zone in the border areas of Syria, where people fleeing war could come to," Yalcin Topcu said in an interview with Kazakh Khabar 24 TV channel. He added that the coalition forces should take those people under protection. Topcu also praised Astana peace negotiations on Syria, expressing hope that the talks would give an impetus to restoring peace in the country. "Astana process is a historic event, which will give an impetus to the process of restoring peace and stability in Syria, Iraq and the Middle East. The most influential regional players will gather at the negotiations table," he said. According to Topcu, the UN Secretary General endorsed the Astana process and expressed the hope that it would be fruitful. "I hope that other countries will support the decisions and assist in resolving Syrian crisis," he said. The peace negotiations on Syria will take place on Monday in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Syrian opposition groups, which agreed to attend the talks brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran as an attempt to end the six-year civil war in the country, which sees government forces fighting against a number of opposition and terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, which is banned in Russia as other states worldwide. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian soldiers, allied fighters liberate 4 villages east of Aleppo Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 4:33PM Syrian army soldiers and fighters from allied popular defense groups have made more gains against members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the country's northwestern province of Aleppo, pushing terrorists out of four villages. The media bureau of operations command for the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement announced in a statement on Sunday that Syrian soldiers and their allies had captured the villages of Sora, Moran, Surja al-Saghira and Surja al-Kabira, located about 16 kilometers southwest of al-Bab town, where Turkish-backed Takfiri militants are active. On August 24, 2016, the Turkish air force and special ground forces kicked off Operation Euphrates Shield inside Syria in a purported bid to support the Free Syrian Army militants and rid the border area of Daesh terrorists and fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD). The offensive was launched in coordination with the US-led military coalition, which has purportedly been fighting Daesh extremists since 2014. The incursion was the first major Turkish military intervention in Syria, which drew strong condemnation from the Syrian government for violating the Arab country's sovereignty. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on November 29 that the Turkish army had marched into Syria to end the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, whom he accused of terrorism and causing the deaths of thousands. The Turkish leader backtracked on the comments two days later, asserting that the offensives there were aimed only at terrorists. Meanwhile, a Syrian army unit targeted a battle tank belonging to Daesh terrorists in the Mohandessin district of the eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr, killing and injuring several terrorists. Syrian forces also struck a Daesh position and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle in the Maqabir district. Scores of Daesh terrorists were killed and their vehicles destroyed as Syrian government forces conducted operations in the villages of al-Bogheilia and Ayash plus al-Houwayqa neighborhood of Dayr al-Zawr and al-Taim Field. Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a Daesh militant commander, identified as Kaser Heddawi, and one of his aides were killed in al-Quria village east of Dayr al-Zawr. Additionally, Syrian soldiers killed several Daesh extremists in Tallet al-Marsad area east of al-Qaryatain, located some 85 kilometers southeast of Homs city. A number of terrorists were also killed as Syrian army soldiers lobbed a barrage of artillery rounds at the hideouts of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, militant group in the villages of Ezzedin and Um Sharshouh, situated 18 kilometers north of Homs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Preparations For Syrian Cease-Fire Talks Intensify In Kazakhstan RFE/RL January 22, 2017 The Russian, Turkish, and Iranian co-hosting delegations to the Syrian truce conference in Kazakhstan have been meeting to draw up a document for potential signing. Delegates began gathering in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on January 22, one day ahead of the opening of the talks aimed at solidifying a shaky cease-fire between the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups. The United States will be represented at the talks by U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol. The UN special envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, will also attend. De Mistura hailed the conference as "a good initiative." The Syrian opposition is sending a delegation of some 50 members. An opposition source was quoted as telling the Russian news agency Interfax that his delegation was unhappy because the Syrian government delegation was dominated by politicians instead of military representatives as had been agreed. It was considered unlikely that there would be direct talks between the Syrian opposition and Syrian government representatives in Astana. The talks come at a time when the Syrian government is in a strong position, having recaptured the city of Aleppo in an offensive backed by Russia. At the same time, the opposition is fractured after the loss of Aleppo and the deaths of several prominent leaders. Efforts to unite various moderate and extremist factions have not yielded results. Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said the talks were expected to end in the afternoon on January 24, followed by a concluding news conference. Some 300,000 people have been killed during Syria's six-year civil war and more than half the country's population has been displaced. With reporting by TASS, Interfax, AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/syria-cease-fire-talks- astana-preparations/28249616.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bashar Assad's Fate Not on Agenda of Astana Talks on Syria Sputnik News 17:30 22.01.2017(updated 17:41 22.01.2017) Ahya al Aradi, advisor to the Syrian opposition delegation at the Astana talks, stated that the fate of Syrian President Bashar Assad is not on the agenda of Syrian talks in Astana. ASTANA (Sputnik) The fate of Syrian President Bashar Assad is not on the agenda of Syrian talks in Astana, being a separate issue, Ahya al Aradi, advisor to the Syrian opposition delegation, said in an interview with Current Time channel. "The talks now are not concerning this issue. We are not fighting with government institutions, we are fighting one person But we are fully committed to preserving institutions in Syria. But as for Bashar, it is a separate issue, " Aradi said. Aradi noted that such institutions, like the army "which is killing people now, should be transformed into army which serves its people." Aradi also said that the Syrian opposition is ready both for direct and mediated talks with the delegation of the Syrian government. "We will seat [at the negotiations table] if it will be needed, if not, we are ready to conduct negotiations through mediators in order to reach full ceasefire and stop bloodshed for these aims we are ready for lots," Aradi said. He stressed that Russia was playing against time as it needed to reach solution, while Iranians could become "a part of the process or become a spoiler." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria Peace Talks Set to Begin in Kazakhstan after Delegations Arrive By Daniel Schearf January 22, 2017 Syrian opposition and government delegates arrived Sunday in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, a day before peace talks and an anticipated first face-to-face meeting between the foes in a year. Russian media reported a trilateral meeting was underway late Sunday between representatives of the talk's organizers, Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Russia and Iran back the Syrian government forces under President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey and the United States have supported rebels who want to see him removed from power. Negotiations Monday are expected to focus on cementing a nation-wide cease-fire mediated by Russia, Iran, and Turkey in December that has largely held. All sides, including a U.S.-led international coalition, say they are targeting terrorist groups inside Syria such as Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliates, who have not been invited to the peace talks and are not subject to the ceasefire. But Syria and its supporters, Russia and Iran, have also targeted so-called moderate rebels fighting Assad in the six-year conflict. Previous cease-fire attempts involving the United States and United Nations quickly fell apart as the warring sides exchanged fire and blame. U.N. Special Envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is participating in the talks that officially begin Monday afternoon and will last at least until Tuesday. Russia and Turkey invited U.S. President Donald Trump to send a delegation to the talks some days before he took office. But, citing demands of the presidential transition, the U.S. State Department said its Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol would attend. Despite disagreement over Russia's military intervention in Syria, the Kremlin appears to want U.S. participation in the peace process. "I think that Russia wants to create a pretext, one more pretext, to improve its relations with the United States," says Moscow Carnegie Center analyst Alexey Malashenko. "At the same time, Moscow understands very well that without [the] presence of Washington, it [talks] will be more or less difficult." Rebels partially conquered & divided The talks come just weeks after the Syrian Army and supporters of Assad overtook the last rebel-held districts of Aleppo in a strategic and symbolic defeat of those opposed to his rule. Fighting between moderate and extremist-linked rebel groups has hampered efforts to form a more cohesive moderate coalition opposed to Assad. Russia's Interfax news agency reported Syria's government delegation, led by its Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Ja'afari, was ready for direct talks with the Syrian opposition in Astana. But some in the opposition have expressed concerns Damascus is looking to negotiate a political solution with only the Turkey-backed opposition in attendance. The main rebel umbrella group in previous negotiations, the High Negotiations Committee, was not invited to Astana, but hopes the meeting will be a step forward to peace talks in Geneva February 8. Not having all the players willing to engage in the peace process makes success less likely, says Stanislav Pritchin at the Research Center on Central Asia at Moscow's Oriental Studies Institute. "But at the same time, it is a completely new format when Russia, Iran, and Turkey with participation of official Syrian government, with participation of military opposition taking part," he notes. "And, it gives some optimism to observers, to people living first of all in Syria, that it might be a very important step forward to resolving this long-term civil war in Syria." Olga Pavlova contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan looks forward to working with Trump's administration ROC Central News Agency 2017/01/21 11:01:37 Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) The Taiwan government said Saturday that it has extended its congratulations to Donald Trump and Mike Pence on becoming U.S. president and vice president, respectively, and looks forward to working with the new administration to advance bilateral ties. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Taiwan has offered its congratulations to Trump and his vice president, who were inaugurated on Friday. The ministry said Taiwan and the United States share common values such as freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, and have maintained cooperation based on the principles of mutual trust and reciprocity. The two countries have established a close relationship in areas of politics, security, economy and culture, the ministry said, adding that Taiwan looks forward to working with the new U.S. administration to strengthen bilateral relations and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Also on Saturday, President Tsai Ing-wen () congratulated Trump and Pence on their inauguration and hoped for stronger ties between Taiwan and the U.S. under the Trump administration, in a tweet on her recently reactivated Twitter account. In a statement, the Presidential Office said that Tsai was offering congratulations to Trump and Pence on behalf of the people of Taiwan. The president believes the U.S. is Taiwan's most important international ally, it said. The close and long-standing cooperation in areas such as politics, trade, security and culture has not only led to a strong friendship between the people of the two countries but has made a remarkable contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region, it added. Taiwan also sent a delegation to Trump's inauguration ceremony. The delegation was led by former Premier Yu Shyi-kun () and comprised lawmakers and other politicians of Taiwan's major political parties. (By Elaine Hou) ENDITEM/jc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump cannot 'sell out' Taiwan's interests: former premier ROC Central News Agency 2017/01/21 17:32:38 Washington, Jan. 20 (CNA) Former Premier Yu Shyi-kun () said Friday that he has asked about the possibility of U.S. President Donald Trump "selling out" Taiwan and got a reassurance from Edwin Feulner, a former president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Among the many "pointed questions" Yu put to Feulner, he asked whether Trump will "sell out" Taiwan, as some have suggested. According to Yu, Feulner asked in return how any U.S. president could betray Taiwan when there exists the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), U.S. legislation governing relations with Taiwan. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Yu quoted Feulner, an advisor to the Trump transition team, as saying that Taiwan need not worry too much. Yu interpreted Feulner's response to his question as meaning that a U.S. president cannot sell out Taiwan's interests even if he wants to, because he has to act in accordance to U.S. law in the shape of the 1979 TRA. The TRA was enacted in 1979 to maintain commercial, cultural and other unofficial relations between the United States and Taiwan after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The TRA also requires the U.S. "to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character." Feulner also spoke with President Tsai Ing-wen () by phone earlier this month, when she was in Houston during a stopover on her way to Central America. Yu was in Washington to attend Trump's inauguration on Friday. He was the head of a Taiwanese delegation that also comprised lawmakers and politicians of Taiwan's major parties, to offer congratulations to Trump and his vice president on behalf of the Taiwan government. After attending the ceremony, Yu told reporters that it was impressive that former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in the November election as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, received a warm welcome from Trump's supporters when she arrived at his inauguration ceremony. The U.S. is an old democracy and can always see a peaceful power transition despite fierce competition during election campaigns, Yu said, citing it as a good example for Taiwan. He also urged China to learn from the U.S. experience and see the value of democracy. On the issue of U.S.-Taiwan trade, he felt that both sides should focus on innovative industries. He said that Taiwan should speed up efforts to negotiate a free trade agreement with the U.S. if Trump withdraws the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional trade deal for the Asia-Pacific region. The Trump administration's "America First" foreign policy includes withdrawal from the TPP, according to information on the White House website. (By Rita Cheng, Jay Chen and Elaine Hou) ENDITEM/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey orders over 400 arrests as post-coup crackdown widens Iran Press TV Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:27PM Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for more than 400 people, including soldiers and security officers, over alleged affiliation to the network of US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of having orchestrated last July's failed military coup. Turkish-language Haberturk television news network reported on Saturday that the suspects were being sought for using ByLock mobile application, which the Turkish government claims to be the top communication tool among members of the Gulen movement. A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, later announced that security officials had arrested 132 people during separate raids in 49 provinces across the country. Ankara says it has been successful in significantly diminishing the power of Gulen's supporters in state institutions following the botched July 15, 2016 putsch. Gulen has strongly condemned the coup attempt and denied any involvement in it. Turkish officials say over 240 people were killed and more than 2,100 others injured in the coup attempt. Tens of thousands of people, including military personnel, judges and teachers, have been suspended, dismissed or detained as part of the post-coup crackdown. According to a survey conducted by the official Anadolu news agency, a total of 40,832 suspects have been arrested since the coup attempt. A total of 2,279 administrative and judicial judges, 104 members of the Appeals Court, 41 members of the Council of State, two members of the Supreme Court, and three members of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigations. Additionally, 168 army generals, 7,596 Security Directorate police officers, 17 governors, 74 deputy governors, and 69 district governors under the Interior Ministry have been detained. International rights groups argue that Ankara's crackdown has gone far beyond the so-called Gulenists and targeted Kurds as well as government critics in general. On November 24, 2016, the European Parliament decided to temporarily halt accession negotiations with Turkey over the large-scale crackdown. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK has sold 50 million worth of arms to Turkey since coup Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 5:3AM The United Kingdom has sold almost 50 million worth of arms to Turkey since its government clamped down on opposition groups after the failed coup attempt in July 2016. According to newly published export statistics, Turkey, which is now a major buyer of British weapons, purchased 26 million worth of ML13 licences pertaining to exports of armored plate, body armor and helmets between July 1 and September 30. Britain also sold Turkey 8.5 million worth of ML10 licences, for aircraft, helicopters and drones, and approximately 4 million worth of ML4 licences, for missiles, bombs and "counter-measures." In total, Turkey has bought 330 million in arms since 2015 and now it is on the UK Department for International Trade's list of "priority markets" for arms exports. The increased sales of weapons come amid concerns that the country might use the weapons in violation of human rights. "The political situation in Turkey is unstable, and the crackdown has meant that the repression is getting even worse," Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade was quoted by The Guardian as saying. "This should be a time for caution and the promotion of human rights, not arms sales. The government is always telling us how rigorous its arms export criteria supposedly are, yet it continues to arm and support repressive governments across the world." "The aftermath of the coup attempt has seen an erosion of democracy in Turkey, and Whitehall should not be legitimizing it. The rights of Turkish people are more important than arms company profits." Last week, Turkish lawmakers voted in favor of a controversial reform bill that would grant additional executive powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Under the new mechanism, which still has to be put to a national referendum for final approval, Erdogan would be allowed to serve two five-year terms in office, meaning he could be leading Turkey until 2029. The constitutional reform package would also enable the president to appoint and dismiss government officials at his own discretion. Since the failed coup, more than 125,000 people have been sacked or suspended from their jobs and nearly 40,000 others arrested. Human rights groups say that opponents of the government have been tortured in jails. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two days before Trump inauguration, UK tests tunnel to France: Report Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:25PM Britain's military sent tanks down the tunnel linking the country to France to see if the route could be effectively used to send troops to Europe just as Donald Trump was preparing to assume office. The test was conducted on Wednesday, when five tanks were sent into the 30-mile Channel Tunnel, known as Chunnel, NBC News reported Sunday. The test was apparently aimed at assessing the feasibility of deployment through the tunnel to Eastern Europe to confront Russia. The British Ministry of Defense said the test had been planned long ago, suggesting that its timing had nothing to do with the onset of Trump's presidency, following an inauguration ceremony on Friday. The test could serve as a warning signal to the Trump administration about how serious the Europeans consider the "Russian aggression" to be. Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have been exchanging praise for one another since the New York billionaire and former reality TV star started campaigning for the 2016 presidential election. The new American commander-in-chief has on several occasions called for better ties with Moscow, causing concern among some of the US allies especially in Europe. Apart from that, the new president is not a big fan of US alliances, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This is while the West considers Russia to be a threat to Eastern Europe. Russia-West ties have been strained since Crimea joined Russia in a referendum in March 2014. Crimean people voted to join Russia after rejecting the Western-backed government that took over power in Kiev in February 2014. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK covering up failed nuclear missile test: Report Iran Press TV Sun Jan 22, 2017 4:2PM The government of British Prime Minister Theresa May has been accused of hiding a "disastrous" test firing of a Trident nuclear missile, according to a report. The Trident II D5 missile was fired from a British submarine in June of last year near the coast of the US state of Florida, The Sunday Times reported. However, Britain's first test of a nuclear weapon in four years went awry as the missile veered off in the wrong direction towards the American mainland, the paper added. May, who was Home Secretary at the time of the test, decided to keep members of the Parliament in dark about the issue when she became the new premier. The new PM at the time had made no mention of the test failure in her first major speech in July, where she tried to persuade the MPs to authorize a 40 billion pound plan for producing new Trident submarines. On Sunday, when BBC asked May four times whether she knew about the test before she made that speech, the prime minister simply dodged the questions and did not give a direct answer. "I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. When I made that speech in the House of Commons what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident, whether or not we should have Trident missiles," she said. "There are tests that take place all the time, regularly for our nuclear deterrent," she added. Meanwhile, the prime minister's office and Britain's Ministry of Defense said in a joint statement that the Royal Navy's test was carried out by the HMS Vengeance nuclear submarine, as part of an operation to certify the submarine and its crew. The statement did not confirm or reject the failure, arguing, "We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons." According to the Times, the UK has only tested five submarine-launched Tridents this century, mainly because the US-made weapons cost 17 million apiece. The misfire has drawn criticism from the Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has called for a discussion. "People on both sides of the argument on Trident would have expected that to be reported to parliament and the fact that Theresa May didn't is extremely worrying and I think questions have to be asked about that," John McDonnell, the opposition leader's financial spokesman, told BBC. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address British Government Reportedly Covered Up Failed Trident Missile Test January 22, 2017 The British government suppressed information about a failed nuclear missile test last June, The Times newspaper has reported. The failed missile test came just a few weeks before a key parliamentary vote on funding the submarine-based Trident missile force. Citing an unnamed British naval source, the newspaper reported that the missile suffered a "disastrous failure" off the coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It was the first test of the country's nuclear deterrent in four years. The source said the failure set off "a major panic at the highest level of government and the military." Prime Minister Theresa May, who succeeded David Cameron as premier a couple weeks after the test, urged Parliament to approve $49 billion for a new Trident system in a vote on July 18. She did not mention the failed test in her presentation to Parliament. Based on reporting by The Times and dpa Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/u-k-trident-failed test-cover-up/28249594.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shh, Don't Tell Anyone! London in Trouble for Hush-up of Trident Test Gone Wrong Sputnik News 21:20 22.01.2017(updated 03:51 23.01.2017) A scandal is brewing in London following the publication of a story in the Sunday Times revealing that the British government covered up a Trident II D5 missile test gone awry in June, just weeks before a crucial parliamentary vote on the future of the weapons system. In its report, the newspaper indicated that the unarmed, nuclear-capable Trident missile "experienced an alarming failure" following a test launch from a British submarine off the coast of Florida. Instead of heading across the Atlantic as planned, the weapon veered and headed dangerously toward the US mainland before splashing down in the water. A senior naval source anonymously told the Times that "there was severe panic that this test launch was not successful," adding that "senior figures in military and government were keen that the information was not made public." The revelations made by the newspaper prompted questions for Prime Minister Theresa May about why she did not tell the House of Commons of the failed test ahead of a scheduled vote on whether or not to spend 40 billion pounds ($49.5 billion US) to renew the submarine-based strategic nuclear weapons system. All that was said by the Defense Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office following the test was that the HMS Vengeance and its crew had been "successfully tested and certified." This was the first test firing of a Trident in four years, and took place shortly before May became Prime Minister in June after the surprise success of the UK's referendum to leave the European Union caused David Cameron to resign. The Times explained that Trident missiles have been fired only five times since the early 2000s, because they cost 17 million pounds ($21 million) apiece to test fire. The missiles are produced by US defense firm Lockheed Martin. On Sunday, May declined to answer repeated direct questions by the BBC about whether she knew about the incident before she made a speech persuading parliament to purchase four new submarines for the Trident program. Some opposition Labour lawmakers and members of the Scottish National Party had voted against the new spending in June; they are now calling for a public discussion of the missile malfunction. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon is expected to be called to the House to report on the incident. Labour MP Kevan Jones told the Times that "the UK's independent nuclear deterrent is a vital cornerstone for the nation's defense," and "if there are problems, they should not have been covered up in this ham-fisted way." Speaking to Zvezda, a Russian media network run by the Ministry of Defense, Russian military analyst Igor Korotchenko said that the failed test was "a serious incident," and leads to questions about whether it was purely a technical issue, or if user error was also a factor. In any case, Korotchenko suggested that it was obvious why the British Defense Ministry failed to publish any details of the incident when it occurred. "For the image of the UK, a member of the nuclear club, the publication of this information was obviously not considered necessary," he noted. And if not for the Times piece, it would have remained classified, he added. For his part, Ivan Konovalov, a military expert and the director of the Center for the Study of Strategic Trends, told the radio station Moscow Calling that the Pentagon and the Russian Defense Ministry most certainly knew about the failed launch. "These launches are monitored around the world, and they do not occur so often because few countries have missile carrying submarine fleets. I think that the Russian Defense Ministry had the information on this launch. And not just them, since the Americans also watch over their allies," Konovalov said. Now, the analyst said, the UK's Defense Ministry will be forced to issue a statement regarding its own version of the incident. "The Trident is a tried and tested missile. Its deviation from course or the failure of testing reflects poorly on the manufacturer, because when a combat system that's been tested many times behaves like this, it's a signal that there needs to be an investigation into what really happened." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudis Bow Out of Contract to Develop Ukraine's Grom-2 Missile System Sputnik News 16:02 21.01.2017(updated 17:17 21.01.2017) Last year it was reported that Saudi investors had secretly invested about $40 million into the development of the Grom-2: a new Ukrainian tactical short range ballistic missile (SRBM) system designed to compete with Russia's Iskander. However, reports now suggest that the Saudis have cut off funding, leading to the suspension of the program. Last summer, Ukrainian media reported that military engineers from the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau and the Pavlograd Chemical Plant had begun development work on the Grom-2 ('Thunder') system using money from a mysterious foreign client. That secret client was soon revealed to be Saudi Arabia, whose investors provided about one billion hryvnia ($40 million US) for the design and development of the ground-to-ground tactical short-range missile system. At the time, experts speculated that the Saudis were looking for a system capable of firing both ballistic and cruise missile interchangeably, and Grom-2, whose initial design goes back to the early 2000s, was supposed to be fitted with two ground-to-ground missiles with a range of 280 km (upgradable to 500 km, although this would be illegal under the Missile Technology Control Regime treaty, to which Ukraine is a party). Late last year, with design work apparently progressing, Ukrainian media began boasting that their new Grom-2 would be able to strike Moscow, and to finally crush the fledgling breakaway republics in Ukraine's war-torn Donbass region. The system was said to be so advanced that it would change the balance of power between Ukraine and Russia, and outperform and outprice the Russian 9K720 Iskander SRBM that it was meant to compete with. The missiles' unpredictable trajectory would make them immune to Russian air defenses, including the S-300 and S-400, media said. Now, however, it looks like development on the Grom-2 has stalled, with Saudi money drying up. BMPD, a blog affiliated with the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a respected Moscow-based think tank, has kept an eye on the development of the Grom and the Saudi connection from the start. On Thursday, BMPD reported, citing several sources from enterprises involved in the development of the Grom-2, that work on the project has been suspended. Without getting into detail, BMPD said only that "the reason for the halt is the lack of funding from the customer from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the second stage of design and development work." Furthermore, the report added that earlier claims by some Ukrainian media that the system would be ready to enter into service with the Ukrainian military later this year "do not reflect the actual situation." Defense analysts, Ukrainian and Russian alike, are now left with the question of why the Saudis would decide to freeze financing for Grom-2 at this stage. Saudi Arabia, they recalled, had unsuccessfully sought to obtain both Russian and American systems (the Iskander and the ATACMS, respectively), but has had no luck doing so. CAST senior fellow Andrei Frolov suggested that it's possible that Riyadh was simply unsatisfied with the results of the first stage of R&D work. Alternatively, he noted, the Saudi partners themselves may have run out of money, or Ukraine could have been pressured to stop development by its Western allies. Another option, he said, was that the Saudis may have never planned to see the project through to completion at all, and simply wanted access to the missile technology or its individual components. For his part, journalist and political analyst Anatoly Wasserman said that initially, Riyadh seemed to have been interested in the purchase of Ukrainian missiles in commercial quantities. Unfortunately, he added, the Saudis soon came to understand that Ukraine's economy, "ravaged by two coups, first in 2004 and then in 2014, has been finished off" by the halt in economic cooperation with Russia, was incapable of offering what they were looking for. "It's clear that an economy managed in this wayhas difficulty coping with even the simplest of tasks, not to mention something like the development of compact ballistic missiles, and with maneuvering warheads to boot," Wasserman explained. "Therefore even though the word 'Iskander' is Arabic, or rather the Arabic pronunciation of the Greek word 'Alexander', the Arabs didn't get a chance to get these 'Iskanders' on the cheap" from Ukraine. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over the past year, solar energy has made an impact on school campuses and in the lives of North Carolina students, thanks to the NC GreenPower (NCGP) Solar Schools pilot program, supported by local communities as well as the member-funded State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation. In 2015, SECU members teamed with NCGP to help jumpstart the energy initiative with a 2-year investment of up to $140,000, providing funding to assist fourteen K-12 schools with the opportunity for a 5 kW campus solar array system. The expansion of renewable energy and integration of solar power to North Carolina schools brings with it both financial and educational benefits for school systems, teachers and students. East Columbus High School (ECHS) in Lake Waccamaw participated in the pilot and has an operational 5 kW solar array on site. ECHS Business Education teacher LaTanya Pattillo shared her thoughts on why it was important to take part in the program, noting, The appeal of this project was three-fold for us: It could give our students a chance to explore solar energy and its environmental impact; as a business department we could explore workforce opportunities; and it was a project that would bring schools and the community together. Since launching the program in 2015, nine K-12 schools have successfully achieved their campaign goal of raising an initial $10,000 as part of NCGPs program requirements. Four Solar School participants received matching grants from both NCGP and SECU Foundation in 2016 to complete their campus solar installation, with five schools to receive matching funds and system installation this year. Since 2007, SECU Foundation has been an advocate and partner of NC GreenPowers programs to raise awareness about renewable energy sources, commented Jim Johnson, SECU Foundation Board Chair. SECU members are proud to support the Solar Schools program, which is providing valuable educational benefits and making a powerful and positive difference in the consumption of traditional electricity for our schools and state. Applications are currently being accepted for NCGPs 2017 Solar Schools pilot five additional schools will be selected to complete the initiative. The application deadline is February 24, 2017. For program information, visit NC GreenPowers website, www.ncgreenpower.org/our-impact/#solar-schools. About SECU and the SECU Foundation A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 79 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves 2.2 million members through 257 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org. The SECU Foundation, a 501c (3) charitable organization funded solely by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter The director of GCHQ, Robert Hannigan has announced his resignation from the intelligence agency. In a letter to the Foreign Secretary, Mr Hannigan confirmed that he would be stepping down from the top of the Cheltenham-based agency once an successor had been found. In the full letter, Mr Hannigan who has been in charge since 2014 said: "Dear Foreign Secretary, "I have had the great privilege of leading the men and women of GCHQ since 2014. I am proud of what we have achieved in those years, not least setting up the National Cyber Security Centre and building greater public understanding of our intelligence work. I am equally proud of the relentless 24 hour operational effort against terrorism, crime and many other national security threats. "While this work must remain secret, you will know how many lives have been saved in this country and overseas by the work of GCHQ. Underpinning this is our world-class technology and, above all, our brilliant people. As you know, I have also initiated the greatest internal change within GCHQ for thirty years, and I feel that we are now well on the way to being fit for the next generation of security challenges to the UK in the digital age. "After a good deal of thought I have decided that this is the right time to move on and to allow someone else to lead GCHQ through its next phase. I am, like you, a great enthusiast for our history and I think it is right that a new Director should be firmly embedded by our centenary in 2019. I am very committed to GCHQ's future and will of course be happy to stay in post until you have been able to appoint a successor. "I have been lucky enough to have some extraordinary roles in public service over the last twenty years, from Northern Ireland to No.10, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign Office. But they have all demanded a great deal of my ever patient and understanding family, and now is the right time for a change in direction. "I want to thank you and the many Ministers I have served over the years, and to thank the Prime Minister and her three predecessors, for the opportunities I have been given. I have worked with outstanding people, whether politicians or Crown Servants, and none more so than in GCHQ. I am very confident that they will continue to achieve even greater things in the future. "With very best wishes." Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson replied to the resignation, saying: "Thank you for your letter of 23 January and for your service as Director of GCHQ since 2014. "You have led the renewal of some of our most important national security capabilities, which we continue to depend on every day to save lives from terrorism and to protect our interests and values. You also set the groundwork for a major transformation of our cyber defences, and put GCHQ on a path to meet the challenges of the future with your focus on technology and skills. "Following your successful tenure, and thanks to the work of thousands of excellent GCHQ staff, the organisation is well placed to play its part continuing to protect our nation. "I wish you the very best for your future career." In line with normal practice there will be an internal competition within Government to identify candidates to succeed Mr Hannigan, for onward recommendation to the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister. In the meantime the Director and Board will continue to oversee all the department's work. Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. A blog about life under, and resisting, a dictatorship GREENSBORO The N.C. Attorney Generals Office has advised a Superior Court judge that he does not have the authority to ask it to prosecute a case of possible theft of state money but the judge does have the right to appoint a special prosecutor to do so. In July, Superior Court Judge Joe Crosswhite ordered the State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the district attorneys offices in Person/Caswell and Rockingham counties for the alleged theft of state money. After reviewing a preliminary report from SBI agents, Crosswhite wrote to Senior Deputy Attorney General Robert Montgomery in December to ask that the attorney generals office take necessary action in the case. Montgomery wrote to Crosswhite in a letter dated Jan. 20 that the attorney generals office has to decline because state law only allows for a district attorney to make such a request. Absent a proper request from a district attorney and the attorney generals acceptance of that request in his discretion, the attorney general has no authority to initiate criminal actions, Montgomery wrote. He then suggested that Crosswhite appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case. An employee of Crosswhites office who answered his phone Friday told the News & Record that Crosswhite received Montgomerys letter Thursday and had been making phone calls since then to figure out his next step. Crosswhite did not immediately return a request for comment. Montgomerys letter clarified specifics of the investigation, stating that it centers on the possible theft of state funds by Cindy Blitzer, an employee of District Attorney Wallace Bradsher. A call to Cindy Blitzer on Friday was not answered and a message left for her received no response. Bradsher, whose office serves both Caswell and Person counties, answered his phone but hung up when he heard that the caller was a News & Record reporter. Cindy Blitzer worked for Bradsher as an investigator in the Person/ Caswell district attorneys office from Jan. 13, 2015, until October 2016. She also is married to Rockingham County District Attorney Craig Blitzer, who initially employed her from Jan. 1, 2015, when he took office, until she joined Bradshers office. Neither prosecutor has been named specifically as a suspect, and Rockingham Countys involvement in the investigation remains unclear. Crosswhite had named one other suspect, John J. Stultz, who had approved Cindy Blitzers work time in the states payroll system. Stultz worked in Bradshers office until Jan. 1, when he was sworn in as an elected District Court judge in Caswell County. Montgomerys letter said that, in addition to Cindy Blitzer, an assistant prosecutor and other individuals are under investigation. SBI officials confirmed on Jan. 7 that agents had not completed their investigation into the two prosecutors offices and did not have time frame to do so. A request for a status update sent by the News & Record on Thursday has not been answered. Gov. Roy Cooper appointed the SBIs spokesman, Erik Hooks, to his Cabinet. Several officials have said since then that the SBI does not have a spokesperson, and other agents are not authorized to speak directly to reporters. SUDBURY, ON, Jan. 23, 2017 /CNW/ - Transition Metals Corp. (XTM TSX.V) ("Transition", "the Company"), is pleased to announce the discovery of a new platinum group metals (Pt+Pd+Au or PGM's) enriched intrusion within the emerging Midcontinent Rift Ni-Cu-PGM camp at the Company's 100% owned Saturday Night Property, located 25 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Saturday Night Intrusion (SNI) was discovered by a single, 601 metre drill hole (SN-16-001), drilled by the Company that tested an 800 metre diameter magnetic target with similar characteristics to the Company's award winning Sunday Lake platinum discovery located 16 kilometres to the east. Assays from core samples returned 6.25 metres averaging 1.07g/t PGM's including a higher grade section of 4.0 g/t PGM and 0.56% Cu over a core length of 0.30 metres near the interpreted base of a >200 metre thick sequence of early-rift intrusive rocks. Commenting on the discovery, CEO Scott McLean stated, "We are extremely pleased to have made another exciting PGM discovery so close to Sunday Lake. The similarities are striking when compared to other nearby well mineralized early-rift intrusions such as the Sunday Lake and Thunder Bay North Intrusions. We consider the results to be very encouraging and confirms the success of our aggressive approach including limited diamond drilling within the Project Generator Exploration model. We look forward to attracting a partner to help aggressively advance the new discovery." HIGHLIGHTS The SNI is located 16 kilometers west of Transition's Sunday Lake discovery within a similar structural environment to that of the nearby Sunday Lake (up to 42.9 m @ 3.43 g/t PGM) 1 and Thunder Bay North Intrusions (9.83 Mt @ 2.87 g/t Pt-Eq for 0.741 Moz Pt-Eq (Indicated) + 0.53 Mt @ 2.87 g/t Pt-Eq for 0.05 Moz Pt-Eq (Inferred) (locations provided on Figure 1). and Thunder Bay North Intrusions (9.83 Mt @ 2.87 g/t Pt-Eq for 0.741 Moz Pt-Eq (Indicated) + 0.53 Mt @ 2.87 g/t Pt-Eq for 0.05 Moz Pt-Eq (Inferred) (locations provided on Figure 1). The SNI overlies a prominent circular remnant magnetic anomaly, similar to anomalies associated with the Sunday Lake and Thunder Bay North Intrusions. Geochemical signature of the SNI matches the signature of other mineralized 'early-rift' intrusions such as the Sunday Lake and Thunder Bay North Intrusions. Intersected stratigraphy is very similar to the geology encountered at the Sunday Lake Intrusion including a well-developed alteration halo surrounding the intrusion, an evolved upper monzogabbro zone and a lower mafic to ultramafic zone. The intersected mineralization is associated with the mafic to ultramafic lithologies located along the basal contact of the intrusion and is comprised primarily of disseminated to blebby pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. The mineralized zone exhibits high Pt:Pd ratios, which are >1:1, a common attribute of mineralization within other 'early-rift' related intrusions. 1 Transition Metals News Release, November 16, 2015 Resource reported by Panoramic Resources, Thunder Bay North deposit: 2011 JORC compliant mineral resources estimate prepared by AMEC Americas Ltd. Assay results from hole SN-16-001 are summarized below: Table 1: Summary of Drill Intersections Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Au (g/t) PGM (g/t) Cu (%) Ni (%) S (%) SN-16-001 507.0 513.25 6.25 0.60 0.37 0.10 1.07 0.18 0.08 0.81 including 509.78 510.08 0.30 2.21 1.46 0.33 4.00 0.56 0.19 1.88 Note: Reported intervals represent actual core lengths. Insufficient information exists to infer true thicknesses. Please refer to Figures 1 through 3 which present the generalized location of the Saturday Night Project, a plan map depicting the location of the grids and drill holes on a backdrop of total field magnetics and an interpreted geological cross section. If you are having difficulties viewing the figures please visit the Saturday Night Project section at www.transitionmetalscorp.com / Discussion of Results The Saturday Night Property was staked in early 2015 by Transition to secure a discreet circular magnetic anomaly observed within new airborne geophysical data released by the Ontario Geological Survey. In 2016, Transition completed a 15 kilometre ground based magnetic and gravity survey to better define the anomaly in preparation for drill testing. Hole SN-16-001 was completed by the Company to test a portion of the circular magnetic anomaly, the results of which are summarized below. Funding for the 2016 Saturday Night Exploration Program was approved for receipt up to $50,000 in rebates from the Junior Exploration Assistance Program ("JEAP") sponsored by the Ontario Prospectors Association and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. SN-16-001 (601m: 300/-89) Strongly hematite altered and magnetic granitic bedrock belonging to the Trout Lake Granite was encountered at a depth of 95.7 metres and extended for a core length of 192.0 metres to a depth of 287.7 metres, with intensity of alteration increasing downhole. The SNI was intersected over a core length of 225.55 metres from 287.7 to 513.25 metres and consisted of a fractionated and altered monzogabbro upper portion followed by a more primitive melagabbro to peridotite base. Disseminated and blebby sulphide mineralization (primarily chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite) was encountered towards the base of the intrusion in close association with vari-textured and fragment bearing lithologies. Assays returned values of 6.25 metres @ 1.07g/t PGM's including a higher grade section of 4.0 g/t PGM, 0.56% Cu over a core length of 0.30 metres. About the Saturday Night Property The 100% owned Saturday Night Property consists of staked mining claims encompassing a located 16 kilometres west of the Sunday Lake discovery in Fowler Township, north of Thunder Bay Ontario. Drilling has confirmed that the magnetic anomaly is associated with a buried mafic-ultramafic intrusion interpreted to be Proterozoic in age and related to the Midcontinental Rift (MCR) based on lithological and geochemical observations. The MCR is a 2,000 kilometre long geological failed rift in the center of North America that formed when the North American craton, began to split apart about 1.1 billion years ago. Early phases ('early-rift') of mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks, with high associated PGMs occur within the MCR. Qualified Person The technical elements of this press release have been approved by Mr. Steven Flank P.Geo. (APGO), a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. All samples were analyzed in Vancouver by ALS Chemex. Platinum, palladium and gold values were determined together using standard lead oxide collection fire assay and ICP-AES finish. Base metal values were determined using a four acid digest and ICP-AES finish. A Certified Reference Material (CRM) standard, blank or duplicate is inserted on every 10th sample in the following order: CRM, blank, CRM, duplicate. The cycle repeats every 40 samples, thus ensuring that 10% of samples submitted are control samples. Laboratory checks are also done with one sample in every batch (max 40 samples) being submitted to an external lab for comparison. About Transition Metals Corp Transition Metals Corp. (XTM -TSX.V) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity project generator that specializes in converting new exploration ideas into discoveries. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively. Rigorous fieldwork combining traditional and new techniques helps unearth compelling prospects and drill targets. Transition uses the project generator business model to acquire and advance multiple exploration projects simultaneously, thereby maximizing shareholder exposure to discovery and capital gain. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. The company has a portfolio that currently includes gold, copper, nickel and platinum projects primarily in Ontario, Nunavut and Saskatchewan. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Transition Metals Corp. RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jan. 23, 2017) - In its ongoing plan of action to acquire the Murray Brook Property, Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE:PUM) (the "Company " or "PUMA") is pleased to update investors concerning the acquisition of the Murray Brook Property and wishes to clarify the value of the deposit as reported on December 28th, 2016 in the "L'Avantage" Rimouski newspaper. Progress on the Murray Brook Property Transaction As previously reported in Puma's news release on December 21st, 2016 a revised NI 43-101 compliant underground resource estimate totaling 5.28 million tonnes averaging 5.24% Zn, 1.80% Pb, 0.46% Cu, 68.9 g/t Ag and 0.65 g/t Au was completed and submitted to the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") for review by the Exchange at the beginning of January. Final approval by the Exchange is pending and is expected to be completed shortly. As part of the financial plan also required by the Exchange, 95% of the shareholders of the mining exploration company Murray Brook Minerals Inc. ("MBM") have to date accepted the acquisition of MBM by PUMA. The acquisition is subject to the standard regulatory conditions but if completed as planned, MBM will become a wholly subsidiary of PUMA bringing a $1 million cash secured investment to the Murray Brook Property transaction. Additionally, Votorantim Metals Canada Inc., El Nino Ventures Inc. and PUMA have agreed to extend the closing date for the acquisition of the Murray Brook Property to on or before February 28th, 2017 (see news release dated October 13th, 2016). This extension will allow PUMA to confirm the regulatory approval for the transactions. To demonstrate that PUMA is both determined and confident that the deal will close, the Company is providing to Votorantim Metals Canada Inc. a deposit in the amount of CAD $100,000 to be credited against the Closing Cash Consideration for the acquisition of the Murray Brook Property. In the event that the transactions contemplated in the Asset Purchase Agreement does not close on or before February 28th, 2017 the deposit will be retained by the vendor. Additionally, please note that in the news release dated December 30th, 2016 in connection with the private placement, the Company has issued 100,000 finders' warrants instead of 80,000 as stipulated in the news release. Clarification on the value of the Murray Brook Deposit As stipulated in the news release dated December 21st, 2016, PUMA completed a Mineral Resource Estimate on the Murray Brook Deposit ("MBD"). The underground Sulphide Mineral Resource Estimate is comprised of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources totaling 5.28 million tonnes averaging 5.24% Zn, 1.80% Pb, 0.46% Cu, 68.9 g /t Ag and 0.65 g /t Au. The MBD contains 610 Mlbs of Zinc, 209 Mlbs of Lead, 54 Mlbs of copper, 11.7 Moz of silver and 111 Koz of gold at a C$85 per tonne NSR cut-off in the Sulphide Measured and Indicated categories. To be noted that the Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. In the "L'Avantage" Rimouski newspaper, the value of the deposit has been incorrectly reported as gross metal value (in situ) as per article 2.3 (c) of the rule NI 43-101. PUMA will produce a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") during the first half of 2017 for mining of HIGH GRADE ZINC zones of the sulphide portion of the MBD contained in the current Mineral Resource Estimate. 2016 Mineral Resource Estimate (news release December 21st, 2016) The Technical Report dated incorporates P&E's NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for sulphide and oxide mineralization at a C$85/t Net Smelter Return ("NSR") cut-off that is summarized in Table 1. Table 1 Murray Brook Underground Mineral Resource Estimate at C$85/t NSR Cut-Off(1-4) Zone Category Tonnes ('000's) Cu % Cu M lb Pb % Pb M lb Zn % Zn M lb Au g/t Au K oz Ag g/t Ag M oz Oxide Measured 434 1.13 10.8 1.44 13.8 4.51 43.2 0.31 4.3 60.5 0.8 Indicated 105 1.94 4.5 0.82 1.9 2.84 6.6 0.46 1.6 45.3 0.2 M+I 539 1.29 15.3 1.32 15.7 4.19 49.8 0.34 5.9 57.5 1.0 Inferred 4 3.94 0.3 0.19 0.0 0.62 0.0 0.46 0.1 26.6 0.0 Sulphide Measured 3,681 0.36 29.0 1.87 151.9 5.57 451.7 0.56 65.8 70.5 8.3 Indicated 1,603 0.70 24.8 1.63 57.4 4.48 158.4 0.88 45.1 65.3 3.4 M+I 5,284 0.46 53.8 1.80 209.3 5.24 610.1 0.65 110.9 68.9 11.7 Inferred 125 2.16 5.9 0.92 2.5 2.58 7.1 0.54 2.2 47.3 0.2 (1) Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. (2) The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. (3)The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. (4) "M" means millions; "K" means thousands. PUMA's projections for 2017 in view of the purchase of the MBD are as follows: Produce a new PEA during the first half of 2017 for mining of HIGH GRADE ZINC zones of the sulphide portion of the MBD contained in the current Mineral Resource Estimate. Proceed with additional advanced recovery (metallurgical) tests on the MBD's mineralization, focusing on GOLD and SILVER recovery with the objective of establishing the economic value of the MBD. Proceed with a drilling exploration program to delineate the size of the deposit and potentially find more deposits along strike in the direction of the Caribou Mine. About Puma Exploration Inc. Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company with advanced precious and base metals projects in Canada. The Company's major assets are the Turgeon Zinc-Copper Project and the Nicholas-Denys Project in New Brunswick and an equity interest in Black Widow Resources related to the Little Stull Lake Gold Project in Manitoba. Puma's objective for the coming year is to focus its exploration efforts in New Brunswick. Canada. You can visit us on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more by consulting www.pumaexploration.com for further information on Puma Exploration Inc. The contents of this press release were prepared by Marcel Robillard, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. 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. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Puma Exploration Inc. to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma Exploration undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the quarterly and annual reports and in the documents submitted to the securities administration. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Ronna Romney McDaniel -- who as state Republican chair helped deliver Michigan to a Republican presidential nominee for the first time since 1988, and had to navigate some thorny family politics to do so -- became the Republicans' national party chair Thursday, with President-elect Donald Trump's backing.Romney McDaniel was elected by the Republican National Committee a day before Trump was to take the oath of office on the west portico of the U.S. Capitol. She becomes the second female chairman of the committee in its history."Thank you for investing your trust in me to lead this committee in an exciting new era," Romney McDaniel said during the meeting at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington. She added, "I am a mom from Michigan. I am an outsider. And I am here to make Donald Trump and Republicans everywhere successful."Her vote was by acclamation -- which wasn't surprising given that the president-elect had given her his endorsement for the post last month.By ascending to the post, Romney McDaniel takes over a party emboldened by Trump's election in November, which was largely brought about by the Republican nominee breaking through what was considered a Democratic firewall in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- three states that together hadn't backed a Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan in 1984.Trump won the three states together by fewer than 80,000 votes, or about six-tenths of a percent of the 14 million votes cast in those three states. In Michigan, the margin was less than 11,000 votes.Romney McDaniel led the Michigan Republican Party even as her own family split over Trump's candidacy. Her uncle, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was the party's nominee for president in 2012, loudly denounced Trump, saying his boorish behavior disqualified him from being president. But Romney McDaniel served as a Trump delegate and continued to try to get her uncle to switch his loyalties."President-elect Trump's movement gave the forgotten and the ignored a voice and the power to bring change to Washington," she said.Her grandfather was the late George Romney, a three-term governor of Michigan in the 1960s and President Richard Nixon's secretary of Housing and Urban Development."I'm very proud. She's fantastic," said her father and Mitt's brother, attorney G. Scott Romney, who attended the meeting to elect her. "I think she handled herself superbly.""No question, this will be the biggest challenge of her life," he added, saying he knows she's up to it.In her speech, Romney McDaniel criticized the Democratic Party as being "the elite, coastal, redistributionist party of the status quo," and called Republicans "the national, opportunity-for-everyone, party of change.""Whether you have been left behind by the stagnant economy, the failed promises of Obamacare or the general belief that the government treats its citizens as an afterthought, we hear you," she said. "To the factory worker in Erie, Pa., we hear you. To the woman at the salon in Ypsilanti, we hear you."She also said she was "humbled" to become the party's second female chairman and its first since the 1970s, saying, "For too long, Democrats have hailed themselves as the party of women. ... Women are not a special-interest group. We care about all issues."The RNC is a 168-member body that coordinates national platforms, fund-raising and policies for the party. Its former chairman, Reince Priebus, is headed to the White House to be Trump's chief of staff following the inauguration of the new president at the U.S. Capitol at noon Friday."I step away from this job fully satisfied that we on this committee have accomplished our goals," said Priebus, who was elected party chairman in 2011, defeating a field that included former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis. Preibus has seen the Republicans not only win the White House, but take control of the U.S. Senate and build majorities in statehouses across the U.S., and take governorships."You can't do much better than Ohio and Michigan on election night," said Priebus. "Ronna led the demolition team that took down the defunct Democratic blue wall. ... She barely slept this cycle because she was so focused on winning.""Ronna knew what she was doing," he said. "She is the right woman to lead the RNC and it is time for a woman to lead the RNC."Romney McDaniel was not well-known in national political circles before working on her uncle's campaign for president in 2012 and taking over as state chairman in 2015. But Michigan's turn -- as well as her loyalty to Trump's campaign -- helped launch her toward the chairmanship.Besides Romney, state Attorney General Bill Schuette and former state party chairman Bobby Schostak were among those in attendance at the meeting. Gov. Rick Snyder -- who remained neutral throughout the election season -- also issued a statement congratulating Romney McDaniel."Ronna is a perfect example for Michigan, and the nation, about Michiganders' relentless determination for success," he said. "Above all, I am very proud to call her my friend and wish her the best of luck." It's back to the drawing board for the Alabama Legislature.A federal court ruled that 12 of Alabama's legislative districts were unconstitutional, citing an improper use of race in their composition.The three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals enjoined the use of the districts in future elections but stopped short of intervening in the drawing of new districts."It is this court's expectation that the state legislature will adopt a remedy in a timely and effective manner, correcting the constitutional deficiencies in its plans in sufficient time for conducting the 2018 primary and general elections, without the need for court intervention," the judges wrote in a separate order.The decision ends a chapter in a nearly five-year battle over the district lines -- which has gone to the U.S. Supreme Court -- and adds another item to a lengthy punch list awaiting state lawmakers next month.The 2-1 majority of U.S. Circuit Court Judge Bill Pryor and U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins upheld the constitutionality of 24 districts challenged in a lawsuit brought by the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus and the Alabama Democratic Conference. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, while concurring in that decision, wrote that he would have found 12 other districts unconstitutional and argued the majority did not properly apply earlier instructions from the nation's high court.But the impact of the decision will likely go beyond the affected districts. Redrawing the boundaries will likely mean adjustments to others."The ripple effect will require redrawing most, if not all of the state districts, in both the Senate and House," said James Blacksher, an attorney for the plaintiffs.The judges ruled nine House and three Senate districts unconstitutional. Democrats represent all 12. Black lawmakers represent all but two of the districts."Some of what was done was political in nature to pack people in districts which eliminated the opportunity for them to partner in other areas," said Senate Minority Leader Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, who represents Senate District 26, one of those found unconstitutional. "We're thankful for the opportunity to look at this, particular in these 12 districts."Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, who co-chaired the committee that drew up the redistricting maps, said Friday he was reviewing the decision. But the senator said he expected to convene the redistricting committee early in the 2017 legislative session -- which begins Feb. 7 -- and address the boundaries during the three months the Legislature will meet."I think what we will do will get the affected individuals in a room ... and have a one-on-one look at what we've got to do to meet requirements of the court," he said. "We won't be adverse to any of those individuals."The Legislative Black Caucus and the ADC argued that the Republican-controlled Legislature deliberately moved black voters, who tend to vote for Democratic candidates, into districts that prevented them from forming alliances with like-minded white voters, muting their voices in the process.Legislators used a strict standard that prevented the House and Senate districts from going above or below one percent of their ideal population. Republicans argued that the standard allowed them to maintain minority percentages in those districts, and to address population losses in them.Attorney General Luther Strange, who represented the state in the lawsuit, said in a statement Friday morning the office was reviewing the decision."We are pleased that the Court upheld the constitutionality of two-thirds of the state legislative districts under challenge," the statement said. "We will determine the next steps in consultation with the Legislative leadership and the Governor."The offices of House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, had no immediate comment Friday. House Minority Leader Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, said in a statement that Democrats always knew the districts were unconstitutional."Today's ruling highlights the need to take the politics out of drawing legislative districts and instead, rely on an independent, non-partisan commission," the statement said. "We look forward to working with the leadership to quickly solve this issue so that the 2018 elections take place without controversy or conflict."The three-judge panel upheld the maps in 2013 over a dissent from Thompson, who said the districts amounted to a racial gerrymander. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the panel to reconsider the maps in early 2015, saying that the Legislature should not have focused on minority percentages, but instead asked what percentage would be appropriate to allow minority voters to select their preferred representatives.The nation's high court found Ross' district, more than 70 percent African-American, problematic.Dial said he believed the Legislature could address the problems with Ross' district quickly.The panel also found House District 77, represented by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, unconstitutional. Knight said Friday he expected changes to go beyond the districts affected."I think you've got to look more at keeping precincts together, keeping counties together, common interests ... those are all the dynamics need to be looked at in this process," he said.Pryor's 457-page opinion, joined by Watkins, tended to be technical in nature. The federal circuit judge, a former Alabama attorney general and potential candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court, wrote that to find a district unconstitutional, the court had to find not only that race was a predominant factor in the drawing of the boundary lines, but that it could not survive "strict scrutiny" -- that the state had to have "good reasons" for the use of race to meet legal criteria.In Ross' district, the judges wrote that some of the splits between his Senate district and District 25 -- represented by Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Montgomery -- were "suspicious," finding that 58 percent of the people moved into Ross' district were black, while only 25 percent of those moved in Brewbaker's district were black.The judges also ruled that the state made no arguments about strict scrutiny specific to that district."The splits tend to put a higher percentage of black people in District 26 than District 25, with the effect of increasing the black population percentage in District 26 and keeping the black population percentage in District 25 below 25 percent," the judges wrote.Similarly, in Knight's district, the judges found that 57 percent of the voters moved into the district were black. In District 74, represented by Rep. Dimitri Polizos, only 16 percent of voters moved into the district were black. The judges called that a "similar phenomenon" to the Ross/Brewbaker districts, and found the district failed strict scrutiny.Elsewhere, the judges upheld the maps. In District 78, represented by Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, the judges ruled that the splits did not appear to follow any racial pattern.In two districts -- Senate District 23, represented by Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, and House District 68, represented by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville -- the judges found race was the predominant factor but ruled that the districts survived strict scrutiny.In Sanders' district, Pryor and Watkins wrote that it was a "close call" but found race to be the predominant factor in the drawing of the boundaries. But the judges wrote that they found compelling reasons to draw Sanders' district that way, citing testimony from Sanders that the majority-minority district should not be less than 62 percent black.Thompson wrote in a 170-page opinion that the majority made "clear legal errors" in upholding Sanders and Jackson's districts, arguing Sanders' argument that the percentage was needed because "sometimes a lot of people don't vote" was inadequate as evidence. Thompson also argued the majority misread the U.S. Supreme Court's instructions, saying the design of a district was not the standard applied."If a plaintiff can prove that the State predominantly relied on race when drawing district lines, a cognizable injury exists even if that classification did not distort the district's shape or otherwise violate traditional redistricting principles," Thompson wrote. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up Texas effort salvage its strict voter identification law, handing at least a temporary victory to civil rights advocates who have successfully argued that the law discriminates against minorities.But Chief Justice John Roberts said Texas could later try another appeal after a lower court rules whether the state lawmakers discriminated on purpose when they passed the law in 2011.Petitioners may raise either or both issues again after entry of final judgment, Roberts wrote Monday.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he was "disappointed" that the high court would not immediately hear the case. But, he added in a statement, Roberts made it "very clear" that an appeal request would be "even stronger" after the lower court resolves lingering questions.The courts decision comes as voting rights experts are waiting to see if President Donald Trumps administration will reverse the federal governments opposition to the Texas law.Last July, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas' 2011 voter ID law discriminated against minority groups, who were less likely to possess one of seven accepted types of identification. Those include: a state driver's license or ID card, a concealed handgun license, a U.S. passport, a military ID card, a U.S citizenship certificate or an election identification certificate.The Texas law violated the federal Voting Rights Act, the appeals court ruled. That court did not wholly strike down the law, but ordered a lower court judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, of Corpus Christi to draw up a temporary fix for last years elections.She temporarily softened the rules, allowing folks without photo identification to vote if they presented an alternate form of ID and signed a form swearing a reasonable impediment kept them from obtaining identification.The appeals court also told Ramos, who previously ruled that Texas intentionally discriminated in drawing up the law, to reweigh the evidence on that question.Experts have testified that more than 600,000 Texans lacked identification required by the 2011 law, though not all of them have necessarily tried to vote.Texas officials say the voter ID law bolsters the integrity of elections by preventing voter fraud, which Gov. Greg Abbott has called "rampant." But the U.S. Department of Justice (under President Obama) and other plaintiffs backed by court rulings have pointed out that in-person voter fraud is incredibly rare.Texas had spent about $3.5 million litigating the case as of last April."We will continue to fight for the law in the district court, the Fifth Circuit, and if necessary, the Supreme Court again," Paxton said Monday. Amazon says it will collect sales tax on items sold to customers in Vermont starting next month.The internet e-commerce giant announced last week that it will begin collecting the state's 6 percent sales tax on Feb. 1.Officials with the state's tax department say they're happy with the change. They say it will create more equity between local stores and online retailers. "A community moment" End of the emergency Each evening during the recent cold spell, homeless people by the dozens filed through the doors of the city's main government office building.They hauled plastic sacks filled with clothing and duffels stuffed with sleeping bags past the security-guard station in the front lobby. Then they boarded elevators for the brief ride up to second-floor conference rooms where they could spend the night."It's been brutal cold, and there's been a lot of bad," said Bill Madyou, a 68-year old Portlander who took refuge there. "But this has been part of the good. This was the only humanitarian thing to do. We got to go somewhere."This was the first time The Portland Building -- adorned by the massive copper Portlandia statue of a kneeling woman holding a trident -- had ever welcomed the homeless. The Jan. 4 opening was ordered by new Mayor Ted Wheeler, who faced a searing start to his term with four homeless deaths linked to hypothermia during his first two weeks on the job. There also was the discovery of a baby -- later ruled by medical examiners to have been stillborn -- carried to a bus stop by a homeless woman.These deaths rattled the residents of a city that -- like Seattle -- has seen its urban landscape defined not only by a burst of new construction, but a backdrop of tent cities and, each night, bedrolls unfurled in store entryways.During the early January cold spell, there was a keener sense of the crisis as ice and then about a foot of snow fell on the city and homeless people died. The resulting mobilization offered a glimpse of what's possible when government and ordinary residents pull together.Police, often tasked with clearing homeless people from public spaces, were told to bring them inside to public shelters. Fire & Rescue employees and other government workers joined in.Residents donated warm clothes, socks, blankets and other supplies, and the mayor told them to keep a lookout for people who were struggling, tucked away in the woods or elsewhere out of view.Community groups, often splintered into different tasks and missions, broke down their silos to work together. They helped provide food, staff and other resources during the first two weeks in January for nearly a dozen emergency shelters that eventually opened for up to 750 people who might otherwise sleep outside."I think everyone is pretty tired now," said Mike Whitey, a homeless advocate who pulled all-night shifts as a volunteer at The Portland Building shelter. "But absolutely, it's an inspiration. ... It is something that I hoped would happen a long time ago. It's unfortunate for people to have to die make it happen."Even before this cold snap, deaths among the homeless have been on the rise in Portland.In 2015, 88 homeless people died in the city and surrounding Multnomah County, according to a county report. That was nearly triple the deaths tracked three years earlier and nearly as many as the 91 deaths tracked that year in King County, which has a significantly higher homeless population.Many deaths, though, are not caused by the cold. As in Seattle, alcohol and drugs are often to blame. Of the 2015 Multnomah County deaths, 44 percent were due to substance abuse, according to county medical-examiner records of those presumed homeless.For protection from the elements, the homeless, in increasing numbers, use tarps and tents. And last year, then-Portland Mayor Charlie Hales authorized, and later rescinded, a controversial safe-sleep policy that allowed temporary structures on sidewalks between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.But police found the policy difficult to enforce, and many of the encampments stayed up all day. And some critics viewed the policy as an opening for more homeless to come to Portland.Hales did not run for re-election in 2016. He was succeeded by Wheeler, who had worked in finance and gained political clout as the elected chairman of the Multnomah County Commission and later as state treasurer.Homelessness was a big issue in the mayoral campaign, and Wheeler has proposed policies that include a push to increase shelter space and experimentation with clusters of tiny houses with running water and other amenities. Wheeler also is focusing on an expansion of affordable housing that got a boost in November as voters passed a $250 million bond measure.Wheeler was sworn in Dec. 30.He then quickly faced the need for action as three hypothermia-linked deaths -- of two men and a woman -- occurred during his first nine days in office. Their bodies were found near a bus stop, underneath a blanket by a storefront and in a parking garage.Around a dozen emergency shelters were operating, including at The Portland Building, which opened to the homeless Jan. 4.But for whatever reasons, the three were unable -- or unwilling -- to get out of the cold. Alcohol appeared to play a role in the men's deaths, as it lowered their resistance to the cold, according to Karen Gunson, the Oregon state medical examiner.On Jan. 10 came news of the fourth death.Zachary Young, 29, was a troubled young man whom The Oregonian later reported had suffered a brain injury as a teenager when he fell off a skateboard, and had struggled with extreme paranoia. He was found on a wooded hillside, where he appeared to have made a camp.This last death, coming so quickly after the others, hit hard."This is a community moment," Wheeler told reporters. "This is an all hands-on-deck situation, and that is why we are asking to the public to help out, be our eyes for us in the community. Help us identify someone who might need help."In Seattle, additional emergency shelters also were set up during the cold spells, including one in City Hall for a few days in December. And the city contracted for vans to offer transportation.So far, it is unclear whether any deaths of homeless people were linked to hypothermia.The King County Medical Examiner's office does not yet have that information available for release, according to James Apa, a county public-health spokesman.Detective Patrick Michaud, a Seattle Police Department spokesman, says he's not aware of any reports of hypothermia deaths during the January cold snap, which in Seattle lacked the snow that added to Portland's problems.The Portland emergency shelters stayed open through Wednesday morning.During their final evening of operation, a tour of the downtown area found only a scarce few still outdoors.By a 7-Eleven, Tony Phillips, an elderly man from Florida who said he was drawn to Oregon by the legalization of marijuana, had unrolled his sleeping bag.Phillips said he had stayed in shelters through most of the cold. But that night, he had intended to try a new shelter that didn't allow smoking breaks, and he wasn't sure he could last the night without a cigarette."They said once you go in, you couldn't go out, and I figured that would be a problem," Phillips said.He opted to pack up his gear for another shelter with fewer restrictions.At The Portland Building, the doors were open all night. People could bring pets, as long as they were kept on a leash, and take smoking breaks away from the building.This attracted overflow crowds, with an initial capacity of 100 stretched by the final night to about 120. Space was tight where people slept on rugs covered with protective plastic.Jim Patterson, a 27-year-old Nike employee who volunteered as a monitor, said things were relatively calm except for one minor scuffle.Yet a security guard, surveying the trash in a hallway, was skeptical of the shelter operation."It's difficult to try to create a living space when this is an office space. There are not enough facilities for everyone here," he said.By the next morning, janitors were sweeping and mopping the hallway floors, and everyone -- except for Madyou and his partner, Angela Borovicka -- had cleared out.Madyou, who came to Portland as a boy and held jobs as a welder, cook and janitor, said he had been homeless for a decade. Borovicka, 56, said she was evicted from an apartment last spring.The couple had more than a half-dozen bags of stuff, and no way to transport them because they lost their shopping carts during the cold spell.So, once they got outside The Portland Building, they set their belongings down, and pondered their next move. Numerous states have taken steps in recent years to reduce punishment for nonviolent offenders and roll back mandatory minimum sentences. Theyve sought to reserve prison space for the worst criminals while stepping up re-entry programs for prisoners returning to their communities. The results have been impressive.The states have been the proverbial labs of democracy and shown that its possible to reduce crime and incarceration at the same time, says Adam Gelb, who works on criminal justice issues at the Pew Charitable Trusts.The reductions in both cost and imprisonment at the state level have drawn the attention of federal lawmakers. Prominent members of Congress, including John Cornyn of Texas and Richard Durbin of Illinois, respectively the majority and minority whips in the U.S. Senate, favor the passage of legislation modifying some harsh federal penalties. Iowa Republican Charles Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has reiterated his desire to move on the issue.Its clear that criminal justice reform is a rare subject that can attract bipartisan support. But even with backing from the Obama White House, getting a bill through Congress proved impossible last year. Its still tough for many politicians to support something that appears to be giving criminals a break.Now the question is what sort of stance the new administration will take. President Trump sought office as a law and order candidate, one who would seek to make life tougher for criminals. To a certain degree, it was a throwback to the approach that dominated discussion throughout the 1980s and 1990s, when the driving idea seemed to be locking up criminals and throwing away the key. These are the very policies that the criminal justice reform movement is seeking to rethink.Supporters of change point out that some of the key players on Trumps transition team have signed reform pledges, such as Kenneth Blackwell, who headed the domestic policy transition. But Jeff Sessions, Trumps anointed attorney general, was hostile to criminal justice reform efforts while he served in the Senate. So its far from clear where the administration will ultimately land.The president is committed to the creation of a task force on serious and violent offenses, and has called for mandatory minimum sentences for people who repeatedly enter the country illegally. His rhetoric, at least, suggests skepticism about the idea that the right way to combat crime is shorter but more certain prison terms, which is what the reformers are calling for.Its easy to fall back and say that locking more people up for public safety is a good thing, says Kara Gotsch of the Sentencing Project, a progressive advocacy group.In the meantime, states are continuing to press ahead on reforms. Voters in California, New Mexico and Oklahoma cast favorable votes on criminal justice reform ballot measures in November. This year, at least nine states will consider comprehensive bills, including Arkansas, Georgia, North Dakota and Pennsylvania.We feel like those are moving forward strongly, Gelb says, and are not getting any sense that the election has suggested to people at the state level that theres any need to return to a more law-and-order type of posture.Governing Newly-elected Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez on Friday made good on her most controversial campaign promise, announcing that her department would reduce its cooperation with federal immigration authorities when they request an inmate be flagged for possible deportation.The announcement will undoubtedly set up a showdown with state Republican officials, especially Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who have pledged to eliminate "sanctuary cities," the common term for cities where law enforcement doesnt enforce immigration laws.The public must be confident that local law enforcement is focused on local public safety, not on federal immigration enforcement, Hernandez said in an online video. She added that her jail cant be seen as a holding tank for federal immigration offenders and that the policy change will save taxpayer money.Hernandez also expressed doubts that holding a person longer than legally required isnt a violation of that persons rights and said her duty as a sheriff is to protect the local community.This office will not increase our liability or set unwise public safety priorities simply to ease the burden of the federal government, she said.In a two-page memo, the Travis County Sheriff's Office said it would still continue to hold people charged with very serious crimes, including capital murder, first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault or human smuggling.Hernandez said she would honor requests from the federal government if its officers follow due process and obtain a warrant from a judge ordering the confinement.Abbott reacted to the news swiftly. "The Governor's Office will cut funding for Travis County adopting sanctuary policies," he tweeted Friday evening. "Stiffer penalties coming."Abbott has said he would scrap state funds for entities that adopt sanctuary policies. The Austin American-Statesman reported earlier this week that that could cost the Travis County Sheriffs Office about $1.8 million in state money. In response to the story, Abbott tweeted he was about to up the ante.The announcement comes after lawmakers in Texas have already filed several bills that would penalize sanctuary cities, including Senate Bill 4 by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and House Bill 889 by state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth.The proposals 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.Hernandezs supporters praised the decision in a statement issued late Friday afternoon.Today we have arrived at this point where weve not only convinced the people but also our leaders to make a change regarding the decisions that harm our immigrant community," said Carmen Zuvieta, the organizer of ICE Out of Austin, an advocacy group. "We are grateful to all who believed in us and everyone who never left us alone. Description GIS - 23 January, 2017: A series of activities on the theme La Main dans La Main will kick off on 12th March 2017 in the context of the 49th anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius and the 25th anniversary of the Republic. These activities will span till next year to mark the 50 years of Independence also the Golden Jubilee and the 26th anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius. A series of activities on the themewill kick off on 12March 2017 in the context of the 49anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius and the 25anniversary of the Republic. These activities will span till next year to mark the 50 years of Independence also the Golden Jubilee and the 26anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius. This was announced by the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Mr Nandcoomar Bodha, at a press conference on 20th January 2017 in Port Louis in the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Yogida Sawmynaden, the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment and Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions and Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, and the Minister of Local Government, Mr Anwar Husnoo. Minister Bodha explained the rationale behind the celebrations which is to portray the evolution and the various phases of development of the country since its independence in 1968 and upon its accession to Republic in 1992. He further highlighted that the activities will be organised in great fervour this year as Mauritius will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee for the Republic which will culminate into the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee for the 50 years of Independence in 2018. He appealed for a greater participation of every citizen of the Republic of Mauritius including Rodrigues and the Outer Islands. According to him, the significance of the celebrations is to create a sense of belonging to our country while at the same raising the consciousness of the people into achieving Nation Building and consolidating the spirit of patriotism, unity and solidarity. The activities for the celebrations will consist of: launching of a logo competition on the theme: La Main dans La Main to be used as the official logo; the official programme comprising of the flag raising ceremony at the Champ de Mars including a march past by the Police Band, Disciplined Forces and Uniformed Organisations; cultural show; sound and light show followed by fireworks among others. This year the activities will also comprise of a special cliche namely the torch bearing ceremony which will start on the 12th March 2017 at the Municipality of Port Louis and will transit throughout the whole 12 local authorities that is the 5 Municipalities and the 7 District Councils. It will be recalled that the winner of the logo competition for the National Day Celebrations will be awarded a cheque prize of Rs 100 000. Description GIS 23 January, 2017: The 27th Airport Council International (ACI) Africa/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition will be held in Mauritius in October 2017. The 27th The ACI Africa/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition is one of the most prestigious events of the Global Airport Sector, where renowned professionals and industry leaders in the fields of Airport Management, Civil Aviation and Air Travel, share the latest best international practices and trends. The Exhibition brings together international suppliers of airport and aviation technologies, as well as other service providers, to showcase their latest products and services. The annual ACI Airport Service Quality Awards will also be held during the conference to reward airports which have excelled in terms of passenger service delivery during the year 2016. (TNS) Imagine picking up your smartphone to explore crime statistics for your neighborhood, see new restaurant permits issued over the past year or chart the safest bike route through the city.Lafayette city-parish government is in the early stages of a new initiative to give residents easy access to a world of interesting information sitting on government computers that has been largely inaccessible.The idea is generally referred to as "open data": taking the piles of digital data held by government agencies and opening it up to the public.The effort here received a boost late last year when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $40,000 grant to install 300 air quality sensors throughout Lafayette as part of the federal agency's Smart City Challenge.The plan is to allow online access to up-to-the-minute air quality data information residents could use to assess air quality on their street or to see how it might vary in different parts of town or at different times of the day.The sensors will collect data on particulate matter and ozone, two common pollutants, as well as temperature and humidity."This is all going to be publicly accessible data, ready for them to use and immediately relevant to the community," said Will LaBar, of CGI, a global technology firm with a Lafayette office that is working with city-parish government on the open data initiative.Lafayette's air quality is not known to be particularly bad and the air quality data will not be used by any regulatory agency but the idea is to use the project to develop better strategies for collecting, storing and accessing large amounts of local data and to get residents, particularly tech-savvy students, thinking about what they might do with it."It is the first of what we hope to be many smart city initiatives," LaBar said, using a term that describes using data and technology to improve quality of life and government services.Residents already can access some data held by city-parish government, including crime figures, but finding and exploring the information online can be a clunky process, and the digital data is generally not available in a form that allows someone to use it in their own specialized computer application.Building permits are now accessible through city-parish government's website, but not in the form that would allow an enterprising resident with computer skills to build a smartphone app that shows, for example, every building permit issued within a mile of any address for the preceding month or every restaurant in Lafayette.But an increasing number of cities are making such tasks easier.The closest example is an hour away from Lafayette in Baton Rouge, where city leaders launched an open data initiative in 2015.East Baton Rouge Parish government offers online access to data on businesses registered with city, fire incidents, government purchase orders, crime, real-time traffic conditions, sales tax collections, blighted property, building permits, tax rolls and city-parish employee salaries, among other things.The data can be easily navigated on East Baton Rouge Parish government's website, which lets users display data through a variety of maps and charts that can be customized."The public can create their own visualizations," said Eric Romero, director of information services for East Baton Rouge Parish government. "It's about giving them the tools to really drill down into their area."That Baton Rouge data also is available in raw form for anyone who wants to use it as fodder for their own smartphone or Web app.In Lafayette, the possibilities of open data are expected to be explored at the upcoming CajunCodeFest, a computer programming competition hosted each spring by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette."It's the 'Iron Chef' for technology people and creative people," LaBar said.This year's event, to be held March 30 through April 1, will task participants with working under a tight deadline to use data focused on the Acadiana region to develop interesting and useful digital tools."The whole goal is to drive smart innovation for Lafayette by using real data from the city," said UL-Lafayette's Center for Business and Information Technologies Director Matthew Delcambre, who is helping organize the event. "Where are the traffic jams? When is the mosquito man going to pass in front of my house" to spray?CajunCodeFest participants will use some data that's already readily available, such as census figures, and Lafayette city-parish government has agreed to offer some of its local data, an early step in its nascent open data initiative.City-parish government has set no timeline for a fully developed open data program that is geared toward the general public, but the city-parish administration has identified it as a priority.City-Parish President Joel Robideaux said the recent EPA grant for the air quality sensors is a "momentum builder" for taking advantage of the city-owned fiber-optic Internet service, Acadiana's emerging technology sector and the expertise at UL-Lafayette.Pursuing smart city solutions in order to transform how [city-parish government] serves and interacts with citizens and businesses is critical to economic growth in Lafayette, Robideaux said in a written statement. Integrating our information systems and enabling open data initiatives will foster our economy, improve government services and increase citizen engagement. (TNS) The University of Toledo has joined a leading-edge research project from the U.S. Department of Energy that is examining how complex software can work with building infrastructure and alternative energy sources to create a more reliable and efficient energy grid.If successful, the findings could help color how our national electric grid operates in the future.Todays grid is relatively simple. Power companies anticipate how much demand theres likely to be, match their production to it, and push out that electricity to homes and businesses.But experts say that model is poised to become far more complex as power needs change, additional alternative energy-generation comes online, and power storage becomes more feasible.The development and market penetration of those technologies is happening a lot faster than weve seen in the past. Addressing the impact of that deployment is really important for the Department of Energy, said Dennis Stiles, the Buildings Program manager at the departments Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.Theres a lot of benefits to the building owners and occupants of having that kind of technology, but we also need to mitigate the impact that has on the local grid, he said.The work that is under way at UT, researchers said, is an early step toward addressing those issues.Were teed up for them to implement their software best at this particular location, said Michael Green, the director of UTs energy management. As crazy as it sounds, the foresight of having the campus developed this way, the energy innovation, it was ready for this kind of a project.The project pairs the universitys existing smart-building technology and one megawatt of solar generation capability on the Scott Park campus with open-source software that was created by the U.S. Department of Energy. UT has been doing research regarding solar energy for a long time, dating back to the late Harold McMaster, who had had research facilities there supporting the company he founded that is now First Solar Inc.That software, called Volttron, effectively taps into the grid to monitor energy prices, generation, and demand in real time.Armed with that information, Volttron can control whether the buildings draw power from the grid, from UTs solar array, or from a battery that will be installed on the Scott Park campus to collect excess power from the solar array. It also will line up the timing of energy usage think heating and cooling to put the lowest strain on the grid.What were trying to do here is provide flexibly to the grid and enhance grid reliability, Mr. Stiles said. Were also trying to make buildings more efficient and have lower costs to operate, and were trying to facilitate the more distributed energy generation outside the control of the utilities.While the Department of Energy has been working with the Volttron software for several years now and has conducted a number of simulations, the projects at UT and Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, are the first time the program has been tested in the real world.Its going to look at the reliably of that infrastructure and its going to monitor that grid, Mr. Green said. The nice thing about our campus, this particular campus is on a microgrid that can simulate that. They can do that real world on our campus right now.UT is working with Case Western as well as the NASA Glenn Research Center on the project, which has received $1 million in funding from U.S. Department of Energy through the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.The project, initially funded for 15 months, is in its early stages. Alexis Abramson, director of the Great Lakes Energy Institute at Case Western, said the focus right now is getting devices within buildings talking to each other and getting the batteries hooked up.From there, theyll be able to begin collecting data.What were doing is kind of preparing these campuses to be these living labs for these concepts, Ms. Abramson said.The research also caught the interest of a number of industrial companies, including Johnson Controls Inc., which will make the batteries that are being used at Case and UT.Also joining on was Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., the Akron utility that supplies power to this part of the state through Toledo Edison.Mark Durbin, a FirstEnergy spokesman, said the company is eager to assess how the software controls might affect its distribution grid.With some customers using distributed generation such as on-site wind turbines, solar panels, or battery storage these types of research projects take on added significance when it comes to analyzing energy savings, cost reductions, and maintaining overall system reliability, Mr. Durbin said.One of the key challenges for the electric industry is that generation needs to be matched to load.When generation is centralized and produced by burning fuels, thats relatively easy. But as generation becomes more spread out and more reliant on environmental factors such as the sun and wind, that becomes more complex.That, experts say, is one reason the research being done at UT and Case is so intriguing.This project is about buildings being able to provide flexibility.At the heart of it, thats what this is. Can buildings provide flexibility, rather than always using generation as the way can we change the load to match things up, said Mark McGranaghan, the vice president of power delivery and utilization for the nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute. (TNS) Across the region, police officials have big ideas about how drones could bolster residents safety and well being.They could spot missing people, houses with blight or uncovered manholes. They could document accident scenes from the sky. They could determine when a roof is so hot its about to collapse, and be sent to find obstacles in tactical situations.Few are disputing the likely value of the technology, still in its infancy. But locally, many police chiefs are waiting for state lawmakers to establish legislation concerning drone use before they invest in the technology.I would kind of like to have one, said Groton City police Chief Thomas Davoren, noting that it could be used to track down blight. But the rules are changing so quickly. I would hate to invest in something and then not be able to use it.Such legislation has been proposed in Connecticut and passed one chamber in each of the last two legislative sessions. But its failed primarily because of time, not opposition to pass both and be signed into law.According to David McGuire, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of the ACLU, the organization is pushing to have similar legislation proposed again this year.This is useful technology that can help increase public safety, McGuire said. We in fact want police to be able to use it, but to use it appropriately without violating peoples privacy.Last year, the bill included provisions that would ban the use of weaponized drones in most situations, make police get a warrant to collect footage except during certain emergencies and give police-related organizations just more than a year to provide recommendations for policy regarding the retention of data collected by drones.The bill passed the House by a vote of 131-14. It never made it to the Senate floor McGuire suggested the public should be louder about the legislation so it gets considered and passed. He said its a really good sign that law enforcement officials are looking for guidance, but that police using the technology without regulations is problematic.Law enforcement by their nature in trying to keep us safe often push the limits, McGuire said. We want them to vigorously defend our safety. But without meaningful rules, its impossible to know where the lines are.Across the state, McGuire said he knows of three police departments that are using drones: Hartford, Woodbury and Plainfield.In Plainfield, police were able to purchase a drone with a thermal-imaging, high-resolution camera and an ability to go 60 mph solely because of a $10,000 donation, according to the Norwich Bulletin. There, police reported planning to use the drone to find missing people and document crash scenes.But cost is not the barrier most chiefs expressed.Groton Town police Chief Louis J. Fusaro Jr., whose 21-plus years with the state police include time in the counterterrorism and emergency services units, brought up the use of helicopters as a point of comparison. He estimated it takes between $800 and $1,500 to keep one in the air for an hour. The cost to put a drone in the air for the same amount of time?Peanuts, he said.Still, Fusaro said his department hasnt discussed acquiring one. Privacy is an issue, he said, and so, too, is safety. Should a drone go out of range or run out of battery power, he explained, it could hit somebody or something on its way down.There are definitely advantages, but the technology is relatively new, he said. Just like a lot of other things, the laws havent caught up to it.According to Stonington police Capt. Todd Olson, his department isnt planning on using a drone anytime soon.Ledyard police Lt. Ken Creutz said his force has discussed the devices conceptually but also is waiting for policy before making any moves.Were relatively new here as independent police department and trying to get normal operating scenarios down smoothly before we try to introduce newer-edge technology like that, he said. But Im sure it will be a consideration down the road.In Waterford, however, police Chief Brett Mahoney said his department, along with other town agencies, has seriously discussed bringing a drone on board.Like Plainfield, Waterford is a heavily wooded town. Since police purchased ATVs years ago, Mahoney said, theyve been deployed countless times sometimes to recover stolen vehicles, sometimes to find people whove gone missing.Drones, he said, could expand the departments search capabilities tenfold.Mahoney, however, said he and others envision any drone that comes to Waterford as a town-wide asset.In large-scale storms, emergency management officials could use the drone to map the damage and let residents know whats going on. In fires, the drones thermal camera could warn firefighters a roof is hot and susceptible to collapse. When manhole covers are stolen for scrap, the drone could make the pollution control authority aware of it sooner.As for privacy issues, Mahoney said Waterfords drone would be used solely from a community safety perspective and wouldnt be used for surveillance.He said the department is looking for grant opportunities so the town doesnt have to foot the bill. From there, it will have to apply for licenses, get approval, set policy and then buy the equipment and train some officers and other officials.Mahoney expects all of that will happen within the next two years.Drones are another thing were going to have to deal with, Mahoney said. If were going to have to deal with it, we should also be allowed to take advantage of it. This week could mark the end of Bernie Ecclestone's decades-long reign in formula one. It is believed that, after Liberty Media offered the 86-year-old a less hands-on role for the future as 'life president', Ecclestone turned it down. Liberty, the company headed by US media tycoon John Malone, is close to completing its acquisition of F1's commercial rights from former owner CVC. Retired reigning world champion Nico Rosberg thinks it is a good thing for the sport. "It's a good thing that this is happening now," the German is quoted by Sport Bild. "Bernie Ecclestone did a great job, but I think Liberty Media can bring something extra. Maybe they can Americanise the whole thing a little, because they seem to understand show business and we need that now," Rosberg added. The start of the big changes in F1 is in 2017, with the new cars to be up to 4-5 seconds per lap faster than in 2016, when Rosberg won his title for Mercedes. "The new cars are not an evolution but a revolution," Rosberg said. "Everything starts from zero so it will be very exciting to see who is the fastest." The German is also quoted by RTL as saying: "The new cars look impressive and I think the drivers will have a lot of fun driving them." (GMM) Indycar, the major American open-wheeler series, says it will not be going down F1's route of the 'Halo' device for cockpit protection. In 2015, former F1 driver Justin Wilson was killed by a flying wheel during an Indycar race, which was one factor that powered F1's push to develop the Halo. 'Halo' is now ready to be debuted, the safety chief of F1's governing body, the FIA, confirmed. "From a technical point of view, the Halo is now complete," Germany's Sport Bild quotes Laurent Mekies as saying. However, he said "talks" between the teams, drivers and FIA are still ongoing about what route F1 should take with regards to its introduction. But Indycar is not open to the same kind of talks. "We don't see that - the Halo - having any possibility for us," said Mark Miles, CEO of Indycar's parent company. "We have banked tracks and you can't see out of the car with that. But we are very interested in developing driver head protection and continue to work hard," he added. "We are more likely to introduce a limited windscreen rather than that Halo." Indeed, the idea of a windscreen or cover is also "not dead" in formula one, the FIA's Mekies insists. "Technically it is possible," he said. "We are currently waiting for the final decision about Halo, and whether they want the cockpit cover or something in between which is more aesthetically appealing." (GMM) One month before winter testing begins, Pascal Wehrlein was sidelined by doctors following a scary crash at the annual Race of Champions event. Held this year in Miami, the Race of Champions sees drivers from international series go head-to-head in various cars, including a bizarre three-wheeler. Racing with a passenger on board at the weekend, Wehrlein flipped the car after making contact with a dividing barrier and his rival Felipe Massa. The young German, who will switch from Manor to Sauber for 2017, was then sidelined by doctors "as a precautionary measure". "I'd really like to race again and I feel fine, but the doctors have advised me to rest so of course I will take their advice," Wehrlein said. "It's no more than mild discomfort but my real priority for the coming year is my formula one season." Wehrlein, 22, was also quoted by the German news agency DPA: "Somehow I crashed at the end of the straight line with Felipe. "What is important is that everyone is ok. The speeds are not too high and the cars are extremely safe," he added. (GMM) The applications filed demonstrate the utilities support of the objectives in Senate Bill 350 (De Leon) [Chapter 547, Statutes of 2015] which called upon utilities to file applications for programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification to reduce dependence on petroleum, meet air quality standards, achieve the goals set forth in the Charge Ahead California Initiative, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Three investor-owned California utilitiesPacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)have submitted applications to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) outlining programs and investments aimed at achieving multiple electric transportation and emission-reduction goals set by the governor and state agencies. PG&Es proposal is aimed at accelerating widespread EV adoption and combatting climate change by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions related to transportation. For the seven proposed projects, PG&E is requesting a total budget of approximately $253 million. PG&E addresses three specific areas: Expanding the electrification for fleets with medium- and heavy-duty vehicles including school buses, transit agencies and delivery fleets that often use diesel, a highly polluting fuel. To address air pollution issues in the state, PG&E suggests a five-year project with a budget of $211 million that would build make-ready electric infrastructure for medium- to heavy-duty and off-road fleets. Responding to consumer demand for fast-charging stations, PG&E proposes to complement state and privately funded fast charger deployments with new electric infrastructure. In prior years, this type of infrastructure has been slow to develop due to the high costs and complexity of installations. The companys five-year,$22 million recommendation includes offering a significant rebate toward the purchase of a fast charger for sites in disadvantaged communities. PG&E will utilize the findings from a new report and interactive map developed in partnership with the University of California, Davis to support and facilitate the installation of fast chargers in Northern and Central California. Exploring new uses for vehicle electrification through five, one-year projects for an overall budget of $20 million. These include a range of projects for both consumers and heavier-duty vehicles and focus on: simplifying charging for residential customers; exploring commercial smart vehicle charging; and requesting third parties to submit potential electrification projects to the company. Installation of up to 90,000 charging stations at single family homes throughout the companys service area; Installation of up to 45 charging ports to enable electrification of approximately 90 new pieces of ground support equipment at San Diego International Airport; Installation of several electric vehicle charging stations and research meters to study the charging habits of heavy and medium-duty electric trucks and forklifts at the Port of San Diego; Installation of grid-integrated charging stations for about 90 fleet delivery vehicles at approximately six business locations; Grid-integrated charging infrastructure to four Park-and-Ride locations; Incentives to purchase electric taxis and shuttles and install charging stations at five locations frequently traveled by taxis, shuttles and rideshare vehicles. 50 EV drivers from rideshare companies would receive fueling credits on their electric bills; EV educational programs and financial incentives for the sale of EVs. is proposing to install tens of thousands of EV charging stations in new, key areas to help accelerate the transition to electric transportation. The proposals include: SCE is proposing a portfolio of projects tailored to meet the needs of its customers. In addition to innovative programs for passenger vehicle adoption, SCE is proposing to install charging infrastructure for heavy commercial and industrial vehicles at ports, warehouses, and along its freeways. These projects will benefit all SCE customers, with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities, often located along transportation corridors, that are disproportionately affected by pollution and economic hardship. Southern California Edisons filing lays out a clear plan to accelerate the adoption of electric transportation, which is critical to California achieving its climate change and environmental goals. The benefits of electric vehicles are growing, but barriers to their adoption still existand utilities and other market participants have a clear role to play in overcoming those barriers. Ron Nichols, President of SCE Californias three investor-owned utilities are committed to electric vehicles and the environmental and economic benefits of shifting to electricity as a transportation fuel. This commitment is essential to the states efforts to protect public health and economic prosperity. Utility support ensures that the transition to electric transportation results in efficient management of the grid and renewable resources, as well as safe, reliable and affordable electricity for all. Eileen Wenger Tutt, Executive Director of the California Electric Transportation Coalition Governor Brown and the Legislature recognize that utilities involvement is necessary to achieve the goal of Executive Order B-16-2012, which calls for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California roads by 2025, and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure able to support 1 million vehicles by 2020. In the memorandum of understanding, the eight organizations promised to collaborate on the development of core technologies for the near-supersonic Korean Hyperloop train, also known as Hyper Tube Express (HTX). The Hyper Tube Express (HTX) is an ultra-fast transit system powered by magnetic attraction that would move at nearly 1,000 km/h (621 mph) inside a tube under partial vacuuma concept similar to Elon Musks Hyperloop. ( Earlier post .) At this speed, traveling from Seoul to Busan would only take about 20 minutes; the 412-km (256-mile) trip is currently a little less than three hours on the KTX (Korea Train eXpress). The Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) signed a multi-year strategic partnership agreement with seven Korean research institutesKICT (Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology); KOTI (Korea Transport Institute); KIMM (Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials); KERI (Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute); ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute); KRRI (Korea Railroad Research Institute); and Hanyang Universityto accelerate the realization of governments new plan to build a futuristic transportation system. Top: HTX Hyper Tube Express (HTX) capsule. Bottom: Capsule in tube cutaway, designed by Professor Yunwoo Jeong of Design and Human Engineering at UNIST. Click to enlarge. Through the theoretical analysis, UNIST will be in charge of the design and implementation of the magnetic levitation system of the HTX. UNIST is the only university, embarked on a joint study of Hyper Tube and is currently working on the designs for both HTX and its station building. According to Professor Yeon Woo Jung of Design and Human Engineering, the length of the train is 21 meters and could carry up to 20 passengers. It is designed as a round three-dimensional platform capable of rotating. When a train arrives in station, a circular lift takes the train down to the lower floor to disembark and embark passengers, and then climbs up again. For the design of air compressors, UNIST is analyzing the change in air flow in a vacuum state. The air compressor is the key element of a hyper tube that sucks in the air in front of the train in order to reduce the air friction and the air resistance in the tube when the train moves through the vacuum tube. UNIST is also studying the power supply system for ensuring the stability of the body and proper acceleration through vibration analysis of trains moving at super high speed. KRRI will develop the system engineering of the hypertube including the vehicle system, propulsion and float technology, and operation control system. The railroad research institution said it will test core technologies of the system such as electromagnetic technology in the lab while developing a blueprint for general infrastructure such as tubes. The KRRI will oversee the system engineering for three years. KRRI had already committed 24 billion won (US$20.4 million) for nine years as a project endorsed by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. I'm sorry this happened to former Gov. Pat McCrory the other day in Washington. Demonstrators spotted him in the city and began to chant at him because of his role in enacting the HB 2 LGBT discrimination law last year. They said some unkind things and followed him and others down an alley. It was rude and a little frightening. It speaks to McCrory's national notoriety. He's to blame for that, so I can't say he doesn't deserve some unwanted attention, but these people crossed a line of inappropriate conduct into his personal space and could have made him and his companions fear for their safety. I'm glad his wife wasn't with him. Sadly for the former governor, this could happen again almost anywhere. He may need to wear a disguise. On the other hand, there's no need to make too much of it. A Republican state senator from Charlotte, Dan Bishop, how proposes to introduce a bill that would "make it a crime to threaten, intimidate, or retaliate against a present or former North Carolina official in the course of, or on account of, the performance of his or her duties, The News & Observer reports. He also said he will urge legislators to take other appropriate steps to guarantee the personal safety of Gov. McCrory by all means necessary. There's no indication that McCrory does need security, but if circumstances change that should of course be considered. I don't see that the demonstrators' behavior was criminal. It shouldn't be considered retaliation to castigate a present or former elected official for his or her actions in office. I hope this doesn't happen again, but it might. McCrory may have to live with it, as North Carolina and the people directly and indirectly affected have to live with HB 2 until it's repealed. Jan. 23, 1968 North Korea hijacked a U.S. Navy intelligence ship on the high seas today. The United States demanded its immediate release, and the aircraft carrier Enterprise was on its way to the area. The United States demanded through diplomatic channels that North Korea release the 966-ton USS Pueblo and its men immediately. It asked the Soviet Union, among other nations, to help. The Navy said four unidentified crewmen of the Pueblo were injured one of them critically after the ship was boarded and forcibly seized by an armed North Korean party from among four Communist patrol boats. MIG jet fighters circled the Pueblo while it was captured. GREENSBORO A person is hospitalized Sunday night after being shot at a Greensboro convenience store. A Greensboro Police Department news release stated that the victim had non-life threatening injuries. The victim was found when police responded shortly after 7 p.m. to a reported shooting at the Mojo Mart located at 2435 Randleman Road in Greensboro. Officers are searching for four people traveling in an older-model gray sedan on Randleman Road. Further details weren't immediately available. GREENSBORO Wheels are turning as Say Yes and Guilford County Schools lay the groundwork for the next stages of their partnership. And, as it turns out, those next stages depend on mass participation by parents in an online survey. Say Yes Guilford is probably most widely known for giving scholarships to students exiting Guilford County Schools, a practice that started with graduates last year. But the organization also aims to help the school district produce students who are willing and ready for secondary education. To that end, Say Yes and the district have picked 12 schools as launch schools to begin putting systems and supports in place to allow students to access services that can help them be ready for college when graduation rolls around. In each of the districts four geographic regions one elementary, one middle and one high school are participating. The launch schools are: Wiley Elementary, Jackson Middle, Smith High School, Northern Elementary, Northern Middle, Northern High School, McLeansville Elementary, Eastern Middle, Eastern High School, Fairview Elementary, Ferndale Middle and High Point Central High School. At Northern High on Tuesday evening, Say Yes Guilford Executive Director Mary Vigue addressed a crowd of parents from the three Northern schools to explain why Say Yes needs parents at these schools to fill out a roughly 20 minute online survey. Parents will be notified soon when it is time to start completing the surveys. The organization plans to have a meeting for each of the four geographic regions. Vigue explained part of what her organization wants to do is help identify barriers to students being ready for college and connect some students with existing service providers in the larger community to help them overcome those barriers. Examples Vigue gave include food services, mental health services, tutoring or legal aid. So eventually, for each student in the school system, Say Yes wants to generate a Student Growth Plan with potential targets for growth in three areas: academic, health, and social needs. The growth plans will be generated by computer algorithm, following the input of surveys from parents, students and teachers. Each survey is tied to a specific student, so parents who have more than one child enrolled at launch schools would fill out a survey for each child. Parents should not fill out surveys for students attending other schools, even if they will attend a launch school next year, Vigue said in response to parent questions. Parents of seniors on track to graduate do not have to fill out the surveys for those students either, she told one father. The parent surveys will be supplemented by teacher surveys for students in the younger grades and by surveys taken by students in the older grades. A team at each school will work to use the growth plans to help individual students connect with services. Vigue said while its possible that work could begin at those launch schools as early as next fall, shes not making any promises. The first order of business is finding out how successful they are in getting back surveys from parents. The primary method of distributing the surveys will be online, she said, although paper copies can be made available. In response to an audience question Vigue said officials havent set a specific target for a percentage of parents to complete the surveys, though of course, they would love to see 100 percent. Amy Blalock is a parent who has students at both Northern Elementary and Northern Middle. She belongs to the PTAs at both schools and said she wants to do what she can to encourage all parents to participate, even if they dont think their children will need services, so the schools will have the data. That may be the challenge, to help parents understand how important it is to fill out the survey, she said. She added that she has been part of brainstorming ideas on how to make it easier, like having computer labs open for parents to do the survey during book fairs and similar evening events. The Cole case files Seven Greensboro protesters were arrested last week after demanding all files connected to a June police incident and being rebuffed. The well-publicized case involves former Officer Travis Cole, who resigned last summer as he was being investigated for excessive use of force. On June 17, Cole punched a local man, Dejuan Yourse, wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed him in his mothers front yard. The city has since apologized to Yourse and both Cole and the other officer involved, Charlotte Jackson, have left the police force. The City Council also requested that the District Attorneys Office prosecute Cole (it declined) and that the state revoke Coles law enforcement license. And, of course, it released both officers body camera footage to the public. Strong stuff. So, why are protesters, who call themselves GSO Operation Transparency, still clamoring for more? The group wants the information to address concerns that someone in the department may have dragged his or her feet in flagging the incident. The full file, they believe, would either confirm or deny those suspicions. The city has refused, saying the file is a confidential personnel record. We believe the city is trying to do the right thing. But it has hurt its own cause with past lapses. There was its disappointing body camera footage policy, which was only marginally better than the awful state law that superseded it. And revelations of an Oct. 18 council vote behind closed doors concerning the Cole case that appears to have violated the state open meetings law. Thats why the Transparency Greensboro folks remain so resolved and insistent. They dont trust the city. And, for all of its good intentions, the city has given them ammunition. No more bathroom bills? I saw that North Carolina lost hundreds of millions of dollars. And I wasnt willing to put the state in that particular position, Republican Delegate Barry Knight of Virginia Beach said in explaining why he joined colleagues in killing a proposed bathroom bill in committee last week. Thats the same reason Texas Republican House Speaker Joe Straus cited when he told business leaders he wont support a bathroom bill in their state: 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 what North Carolina has experienced, Straus said. In Greensboro, we know all too well what that means. UNC President Margaret Spellings added another dimension last week, saying that House Bill 2 makes it harder for our universities to attract faculty. Its a shame when Texas and Virginia look more attractive. Our lawmakers in Raleigh should pay attention. Another McCrory gift Gov. Roy Cooper rightly put a hold on bonus payments ordered by his predecessor for outgoing agency heads. On Dec. 29, then-Gov. Pat McCrory gave instructions for his Cabinet leaders to be awarded accrued vacation and bonus payments as if they were regular state employees, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported. But, as political appointees, they werent entitled to that compensation. The amount could have totaled $166,000. Thats not a lot, perhaps, but McCrory already had signed a measure allowing about a thousand of his political appointees to keep their jobs in the Cooper administration. Providing these bonuses, with taxpayer money, was an unnecessary parting gift for the few who were leaving. Navy is fine with wind farm The U.S. Navy last week said again that a wind energy development in northeastern North Carolina wont interfere with its radar installation over the state line in Virginia. Republican state legislative leaders cited that concern earlier this month when they asked the then-incoming Trump administration to block the $400 million project. Their objections are baffling. The development, constructed by Avangrid Renewables for Amazon, is virtually completed and ready to go on line. It benefits the regional economy and local governments. It will produce clean energy. We hope that opposition to green energy isnt behind this objection, but given the Navys clear position, its hard to draw any other conclusion. REIDSVILLE Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group has found a home of its own in downtown Reidsville and is ready to help others do the same. On Jan. 19, Reidsville Councilwoman Sherri Walker cut the ribbon to the new office at 721 S. Scales St., and the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Atlantic Bay team to Rockingham County. Were just excited to see this building being used, said Chamber President Diane Sawyer. (We) just wanted to say thank you for being part of the chamber. Thank you for supporting us. Were here to support you. A 30-year veteran of the mortgage business, senior mortgage banker Brenda Dickerson took an early retirement to open her own Atlantic Bay office to offer more to her clients. Ive enjoyed working here my past 30 years, Dickerson said. I love what I do and it makes me happy putting people in homes. This new location marks a milestone for Reidsvilles Atlantic Bay. I was in the chamber office for about two months working with them until we got this office ready, Dickerson said. There was some painting and stuff like that, maintenance stuff that we needed to do before we could actually move in. Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For more information, call the office at 336-344-8467 or visit AtlanticBay.com. HARTFORD U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, and a coalition of environmental activists on Monday demanded Congress reject President Donald Trumps nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. A strong, aggressive EPA is now more necessary than ever as our planet faces increased threats, Blumenthal said. Consensus seems to be Trump could have done way worse. Photo: Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images Just before the inauguration, news leaked that Donald Trumps long-awaited pick for Agriculture secretary would be former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue. In a way, it was a relief to some people, since its true that, unlike some of Trumps most controversial cabinet nominees, Perdue at least meets the minimum qualifications of the position: He grew up on a row farm in Georgia, got his doctorate in veterinary medicine, is no stranger to agribusiness, and even wore a red tractor tie to Trump Tower. Unfortunately, his nod hardly eliminates peoples panic about unmitigated disaster at the 100,000-employee, $155 billion agency now that its under Trumps control, especially since Perdue thinks they see pretty eye-to-eye on agriculture policy, and served on the presidents agriculture advisory board. In fact, industry watchers will keep a close eye on Perdues moves and these are the most pressing issues facing the food world right now. 1. Regulatory rollbacks. Politico reports Indiana power brokers with farming ties were getting apoplectic at the possibility of an unsympathetic pick. They now seem pleased with Perdue a Southerner, alas, but also a familiar Republican whos poised to roll back regulations. Back in December, he also told Politico the next Agriculture secretarys job was ensuring that USDA branches across the nation are friendly environments for all farmers and ranchers, and if theres anything farmers and ranchers dislike, its federally mandated rules. For example: Obamas USDA passed new regulations at the end of last year that expand small farmers protections against the most egregious retaliatory practices used by big chicken companies like Tyson. Those rules cant go into effect until a 60-day comment period has passed, though, which means one of Perdues first acts as secretary could be deciding whether to implement and enforce them. 2. Labor shortages. His 2006 efforts to crack down on illegal immigration by depriving undocumented workers 40 percent of farms workforce in certain states of state benefits drew widespread protests across Georgia, and were called some of the nations toughest measures at the time. It doesnt look like his views have evolved any, and its fair to say Trump probably approves. 3. Ties to Big Industry. With the exception of Big Peanut, which was embroiled in a massive salmonella scandal at the time, Georgia was pretty friendly to food-industry interests during Perdues two terms. He also took about $330,000 in contributions from Monsanto and other agribusinesses for his campaigns. The GMO lobby group Biotechnology Innovation Organization even named him its 2009 Governor of the Year. In his capacity as Food Policy Actions co-founder, Tom Colicchio isnt a fan: Sonny Perdues record on food policy is light on substance and poor on action. We need strong leadership to reform our food policy, promote affordable, nutritious and safe food, fight hunger, safeguard our lands and clean water, and protect our farmers and farm workers not someone who is weak on oversight and in the pocket of Big Ag. We can and must do better than Governor Perdue. 4. Harm to the environment. Perdue has been called a climate-change skeptic, and the Environmental Working Group released a statement Wednesday night saying, Its certainly hard to imagine that a former fertilizer salesman will tackle the unregulated farm pollution that poisons our drinking water, turns Lake Erie green, and fouls the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. He fought the EPAs attempts under George W. Bush to enforce the Clean Air Act, and once wrote this in National Review: Liberals have lost all credibility when it comes to climate science because their arguments have become so ridiculous and so obviously disconnected from reality. When Georgia was hit by an epic drought in 2007, his response was partly to summon lawmakers to a prayer vigil on the Capitols steps. 5. Unhappy animals. In a sort of parting gift to animal-rights groups, Obamas USDA announced last week it was enacting stricter animal-welfare standards for organic producers. The new rules touch on a variety of things: more space for livestock, an end to the practice of removing beaks and tails, greater access to fresh air and direct sunlight. But trade groups like the National Chicken Council reject those regulations (and most others) as too onerous, and Republicans are already vowing to reverse them. Perdue is likely sympathetic to their cause because his track record while governor isnt what youd call pro-chicken: He helped factory-farm mecca Perdue Farms (no relation, shockingly) expand its Georgia operations by $155 million. Its possible his views have changed, but then again, the National Chicken Council wants him confirmed expeditiously. Another factor worth keeping in mind, as The Wall Street Journals Kelsey Gee notes, is that Georgias agriculture industry moved in a pretty decisive direction under his leadership one that expanded factory farming considerably: If you're curious what's in store for food & agriculture in President Trump's America, interesting to watch Georgia's evolution since 2003 kelsey gee (@kelseykgee) January 19, 2017 2002 Georgia: 49,311 farms brought $4.9 billion in sales 2012 Georgia: 42,257 farms with $9.3 billion in saleshttps://t.co/SPvp51o4Lc kelsey gee (@kelseykgee) January 19, 2017 That's a 17% drop in farm operations, compared to a nationwide downturn of just 1%, but nearly twice the sales kelsey gee (@kelseykgee) January 19, 2017 Cattle + hog farms evaporated, and tobacco acreage was halved. Meanwhile, the broiler flock swelled and corn, soybeans & peanuts doubled kelsey gee (@kelseykgee) January 19, 2017 His own workers are protesting his own nomination. Photo: Al Seib/LA Times via Getty Images Donald Trumps pick for secretary of Labor, Andy Puzder the robot-loving CEO of Carls Jr. and Hardees parent company, CKE Restaurants is notoriously anti-labor. Hes advocated for replacing people with machines instead of paying them a livable wage, thinks Obamacare is bogus, and presided over chains with remarkably high sexual-harassment rates. (Carls Jr. has also produced a series of sexist burger ads.) His own workers at Carls Jr. have been revolting against him by protesting his nomination, with a 20-year employee of CKE calling him not the person to protect American workers rights. Today, CNN Money revealed more evidence of his animosity toward workers. In a speech given at Westmont College in February 2011, CNNs KFile reports, Puzder described fast-food workers as the best of the worst and kind of the bottom of the pool. Continuing, he said that at Hardees it was so bad, we were hiring the worst of the worst. Later that year at California State University, Puzder drove this point home again, saying fast-food companies compete for the best of the worst. In that same speech, he did admit that nobody wanted to work at Hardees, though its not clear that hes thought about why that might be the case. Hugo Barra Vice President, Xiaomi Global announced today in a Facebook post that he will be leaving the company in February after Chinese New Year. He will be replaced by current IP & Partnerships chief Xiang Wang. Barra clarified in his post that ever since he took up the position three and a half years ago, the work took a huge toll on his life and affected his personal health. He also misses his friends and family back home in Silicon Valley. As such, he took the decision of leaving the company and head back to Silicon Valley. Barra does look back fondly at his time in the company and all the progress it made since he joined it nearly four years ago. He called Xiaomi Global the "first baby I helped bring into the world". He did not specify what he will be doing next after going back to Silicon Valley, saying only that he will be taking a "much-needed time off" first. Source These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. The last S835-powererd Nokia rumor proved to be a red herring, but now Nokias official Weibo account is suggesting that its just a matter of time as a flagship with a Snapdragon 835 chipset is the works. Now, were relying on Google Translate here so things are a bit fuzzy, but the post mentions Nokia Windows devices and its not about legacy support either (Microsoft is still on the hook for that one). And reading between the lines the post likely references Kaby Lake, Intels latest architecture. Those chips scale from 3.5W to 91W TDP so maybe a bit much for a phone, but perhaps a tablet? Source Samsung has finally announced the outcome of its Note7 investigation, revealing not one but two reasons that caused some of the units to overheat (and catch fire in some cases). While the problem was no doubt battery-related, the South Korean company revealed that original Galaxy Note7 units and replacement units had different battery defects. Samsung Galaxy Note7 In case of original units, the tech giant said the battery design was to blame. Specifically, the flaw was in the upper right corner of the battery, and it "made the electrodes prone to bend and, in some cases, led to a breakdown in the separation between positive and negative tabs, causing a short circuit." And in case of replacement units, that contained battery from a different supplier, Samsung said there was no design-related issue, but a manufacturing defect in the batteries instead. This defect - introduced as the supplier was in a rush to meet the demand - also caused the battery to short circuit and ignite. "It was a painful crisis to me," said D.J. Koh, Samsung's mobile chief, adding that it was the worst stretch in his 33 years with the firm. Samsung said its investigation of the issue involved 700 dedicated staff members. A total of 200,000 phones and 30,000 additional batteries were used in the process. The tech giant also made it clear that the design of the phone was nowhere to blame for the issue. The company said that its findings have been validated by three independent testing firms, including UL, Exponent, and TUV Rheinland. The problem in the first battery could have been detected by doing an X-ray test, while that in the second battery would have required Samsung to disassemble it. Unfortunately, the company's quality and assurance process included none of these tests. However, the testing approach - especially for batteries - has since been changed, and the tech giant has now come up with an eight-point inspection process that it believes will prevent a Note7-like situation in future. The following infographic (taken from Cnet), explains the new tests that have been added to the existing process: Image credit: Alfred Ng/CNET "There are going to be some tests we're going to do that we believe go well above and beyond the industry standard," said Justin Denison, head of product strategy and marketing for Samsung US. The company's upcoming Galaxy S8 flagship will undergo the new testing process. In fact, "all [new] manufacturing processes are reflected on all 2017 models," said Koh. Via 1 2 HTC announced the U Ultra smartphone a couple of weeks ago and the best bit about it was that it had a Sapphire crystal display glass, only you couldn't have one. It was a limited Sapphire edition that would get the special treatment, some time later in the year. Being the skeptics that we are, we interpreted that as don't hold your breath. Well, turns out we were wrong. HTC has put up a note on its Taiwanese website that it will start accepting pre-orders for the U Ultra Sapphire edition in mid-February. The phone will ship towards the end of the month or in the beginning of March. There well be luxury gifts in the bundle too, though it's unclear if it's the same package that includes a leather case, a power bank, and a key ring, that will come with pre-orders of the ordinary phone. The regular glass U Ultra is already on pre-order for TWD 23,900 ($760) for the 64GB storage version and TWD 28,900 ($920) for twice the memory. We'd rather not try to guess the price of the Sapphire edition. Source | Via Haiti - FLASH : Truck against walking band, 9 victims On Sunday evening around 10:00 pm, the driver of a truck coming from the South lost control of his vehicle which hit a walking band of Valet, killing 2 people on the spot and injuring 7 others, according to testimony of a taxi-motorcycle. The wounded were rushed to the Notre Dame hospital of Petit-Goave. According to other witnesses the truck seems to have accelerated for an unknown reason just before the impact... The number of victims was confirmed by Dr. Martial Beneche, Medical Director of Notre Dame Hospital where the wounded (whose one in a critical condition) are currently receiving the care that their condition requires. Let's recall that in 2016, the National Ambulance Center (CAN) took care of 13,894 victims (injured and dead) resulting from 2,136 accidents across the national territory (partial balance, in December 2016 the CAN having been the victim of a strike, preventing normal operation). HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave) Published on 2017/01/22 | Source Kim Tae-hee and Rain smiled. Advertisement The two headed for Incheon International Airport to Bali on the 22nd. Many thought they would leave for Bali in secret as they had their wedding under complete secrecy but they didn't. They stood right in front of the reporters. They appeared holding hands and said, "Thank you. We will be happy together". Then they headed for the departure hall. They were smiling the whole time. Rain escorted her all the while and watching them was like a scene from a movie. It was a Sunday but the airport was filled with tourists. Attention drew to the reporters who were waiting for Rain and Kim Tae-hee to arrive. Kim Tae-hee and Rain got married on January 19 after 5 years of being together. They got married in a cathedral in Seoul with just the closest family and friends. The security around the cathedral was intense. The location and time of the wedding was notified to guests and family at 11AM in the morning. It was like a 007 mission. J.Y. Park performed for the love birds and Ahn Sung-ki acted as the witness of the wedding. Lee Hanee received the bouquet. The reason they had such a secret wedding was in consideration of the instable country at the moment. Rain revealed a letter on the 17th saying, "I am ready to become a husband and a father. She's always been there next to me without a doubt and the trust and loyalty has led us to getting married. The country is very instable and messy right now so we want to keep it as minimal as possible. I apologize for not having said this sooner". After the ceremony, Kim Tae-hee wrote a letter and posted, "Thank you for everyone's blessing. We promise to be a good couple". Published on 2017/01/22 | Source Song Joong-ki and Park Bo-gum are close. Advertisement Song Joong-ki appeared as a special guest at Park Bo-gum's fan meeting on the 21st. Song Joong-ki explained why he cried when Park Bo-gum was announced for Best Actor last year. He said, "I was teased so much. I remember he was worried when he landed himself in a lead role for the first time. I was shaking 4 years ago when I was given the award and I wondered how much he'd be shaking now". Park Bo-gum said he was touched and that last year's December 31st would be unforgettable. Song Joong-ki and Park Bo-gum drew each other's faces and played games together. Park Bo-gum appeared at Song Joong-ki's fan meeting last year and in China too. Meanwhile, Park Bo-gum's fan meeting will take place in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Taipei and more. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 12:22, 4 NOV 2022 by Andrew Walden Why would a lawyer plead her client guilty of stealing over $14M worth of State-owned land and other assets? If the lawyer is working for the LLCs owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the answer might be to avoid an open records request. Honolulu attorney Kimberly Greeley, represent(ing) Hiilei Aloha, LLC, Hookele Pono, LLC, and Hiipaka LLC in a January 9 response to an open records request from Hawaii Free Press claims: Sole title to the land comprising Waimea Valley was transferred to Hiipaka LLC (by OHA) in 2007. The State does not own the valley nor any of Hiipakas other assets. Nor is Hiipaka operated or managed by the State. In sum, the State does not control or direct any of the Companies activities or business affairs and does not provide any funding for the Companies. The Companies activities are not a required function of any government agency. The Companies are not, therefore subject to the provisions of the UIPA. Of course all of this is nonsense. Waimea Valley and all of the LLCs are still 100% owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The LLCs are State property and therefore completely subject to UIPA. OHA owns a total of six LLCs and OHAs ownership is completely documented with the DCCA BREG at the links below: Falsely pleading her clients guilty to multiple counts of grand theft aina is an act of desperation if their ever was one. It might also be professional misconduct. What is Greeley trying to hide? What might be found if the LLCs are obligated to hand over their compete check registers to Hawaii Free Press? Office of Hawaiian Affairs financial statements record $13M in expenses attributed to Hiilei Aloha and Hiipaka since 2009. The partial record from IRS form 990s filed by some of the LLCs show extensive money transfers between the LLCs and fat salaries paid out to OHA insiders. Hiilei Aloha has paid Mona Bernadino, a crony of ousted OHA Trustee Haunani Apoliona, a total of $613,108 in salary and $49,615 in other compensation between 2010 and 2014the only years for which Hiilei Alohas 990s are available online. Projecting back to the foundation of Hiilei Aloha in 2007, Bernadinos hidden salary may well exceed $1 million making her one of the most highly compensated employees in OHA history. Total salaries paid by Hiilei Aloha between 2009-2014 are $6,015,922, according to their 990s. Fewer 990s are available for Hiipaka LLC but records show that Richard Pezzulo was paid $145,917 in salary and $11,497 in other compensation in 2014. Pezzulo received $138,000 in salary and $6,625 in other compensation in 2013. In total, Hiipaka LLC paid $7,225,350 in salaries between 2011-2014, according to their 990s. Pezzulos $145,917 would make him the second-highest paid OHA employee compared to the OHA salaries listed in a 2016 news report. Bernadinos $125K per year salary would make her the equal of recently-resigned OHA CFO Hawley Iona. But salaries may not be the only thing OHAs LLCs have to hide. If the LLCs view themselves as completely private entities, not property of the State of Hawaii, then the owners have no prohibition against self-dealing and nepotism. Who are their contractors? Which profitable Trustee-connected non-profit and for-profit corporations are receiving fat juicy contracts from the LLCs? Only the check register can answer these questions. The 990s show big spending on other expenses by the LLCs: Hiipaka spent $7,663,603 between 2011-2014, Hiilei Aloha spent $4,804,672 between 2009-2014, and Hookipaipai spent $580,501 between 2011-2014. Two of OHAs LLCs became the subject of litigation in 2014. Ka Piko vs OHA, filed December 31, 2014 in Kauai's 5th Circuit Court, alleged that Mona Bernadino and her sub-cronies looted the Waimea, Kauai Makaweli Poi Mill via Hiilei Aloha LLC and its subsidiary Hiipoi while also using the two corporations as a conduit for transferring OHA assets to their own pockets. After Apoliona's alleged cronies were allegedly finished, one of OHA CEO Kamanao Crabbe's cronies allegedly took a turn. Especially noteworthy: Line 137 of the complaint alleged "Defendant OHA indicated that because Defendant HIIPOI was an LLC whose sole member was Defendant OHA, HIIPOI was exempt from the Hawaii State Public Agency and Meetings Laws, HRS Chapter 92, and from the Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act, HRS Chapter 92F." There have been other complaints as well. In 2008, the website OHA Lies explained: The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chair Haunani Apoliona, Administrator Clyde Namuo, Deputy Administrator Mona Bernardino, and Director of Land Management Jonathan Scheuer are programmatically and financially mismanaging Waimea Valley. According to OHA sources, Apoliona led a charge to release $4,567,511 of Trust funds to support Hiilei Aloha LLC, Hiipaka LLC, and Hiipoi LLC in January 2008. By June 2008, Hiipaka LLC managers who are also state employees Namuo and Scheuer with the support of Apoliona and Hiilei Aloha LLC manager and state employee Bernardino forced Hiipaka LLC Executive Director Gary Gill to resign and announced in a June 5, 2008 report that Hiilei Aloha LLC, Hiipaka LLC, and Hiipoi LLC are operating in a deficit. The June 5, 2008 report stated that the deficit was $614,809.70. This is absolutely appalling, because in January 2008 OHA under Apoliona authorized $4,567,511 of Trust funds to support Hiilei Aloha LLC, Hiipaka LLC, and Hiipoi LLC of which $2,276,882 was released. In less than six months, OHA leadership lost $2,891,691.71 in Trust funds. Where did all the Trust funds disappear too? Waimea Valley employees have publicly shared that the leadership of Apoliona, Namuo, Bernardino, and Scheuer has brought chaos and dysfunction to Waimea Valley. Furthermore, these individuals on numerous occasions have lectured employees to stifle the truth from being told. Waimea employees have publicly stated, Waimea Valley needs to be saved again, only this time OHAs beneficiaries will need to save the Valley from OHA itself. Nine years later, we are still trying to find out where all the money went. ---30--- Related: RESPONSE TO TRUSTEE PETER APO'S FALSE CLAIMS ON OHA'S SEXUAL HARASSMENT SETTLEMENT From Mililani Trask Aloha Hawaiian Beneficiaries and Voters, January 21, 2017 On January 17th, 2017, OHA Trustee Peter Apo responded to my live interview with reporter Rick Daysog of Hawaii News Now about recent revelations that the State Office of Hawaiian Affairs had settled out a Sexual Harassment claim against Trustee Apo by agreeing to pay $50,000.00 in Trust funds to keep the case from being filed during the election period. Trustee Apo claimed that I was a disgruntled candidate who lost the election and that my statements had no basis of fact. In this email and others to follow, I am going to present information regarding OHA Trustee Peter Apo that I received personally and later filed with the State Ethics Commission as formal Complaints in March and April of 2016. Because no corrective action has been taken by the state regulatory bodies for months and because OHA continues to be plagued by in-fighting caused by the outgoing Trustee Majority, including Trustee Peter Apo, I have decided to reveal the information I have so that there will be more accountability and transparency in OHA. I. Trustee Peter Apos Sexual Harassment Complaint 2015: In early 2016 I received a call from a friend who asked me to meet someone who needed help. It was a young woman who had been working at OHA as a staffer for Trustee Peter Apo. She had been hired in 2015 to fill the staff vacancy left when Apos former aide, Makana Chai left for a job at Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate. The woman who I will refer to as the victim was looking for legal help to file a Sexual Harassment case against Apo & OHA and was afraid of retaliation. I agreed, and met with her at a friends home. The meeting lasted 4 hours. During this time, I listened to her story and personally reviewed and copied several communications and documents she had from the OHA office. She had just graduated from law school and went to OHA to work for her people. It was the fulfillment of her dream and she was thrilled to be working with Trustee Peter Apo, an OHA Board member. Soon after she began work her dreams were dashed. Apo began to make inappropriate sexual comments and she was regularly subjected to his harassing comments and sexual advances. Things got worse when she was required to travel to the neighbor islands for OHA BOT meetings and community hearings that required she stay at the same hotel he was booked at. She gave me the details that included inappropriate verbal harassment but also unconsented physical contact. After months of enduring this, she decided to file a formal Complaint with the OHA Administrator and Human Resources Staff. An effort was made to dissuade her but when she insisted, OHA Administration initiated their formal Sexual Harassment Complaint process. It involved an investigation by an independent attorney (OHA board attorney Bob Klein and Ernie Kimoto were conflicted out because they are attorneys for BOT Trustees). Following the investigation a report would be made to all parties including the employee and a resolution would be recommended. She went through the process, filed written statements, met with the attorney but was never given the final report. Instead, Apo told her he wanted to bring Makana Chai back and that she would be leaving her present employer to return to OHA. The Administrator placed the victim on leave with pay but later this was changed to leave without pay, and termination. When I met with her she had already interviewed several attorneys who specialized in Sexual Harassment cases and who were reviewing her case, but she had not retained counsel formally. At our meeting she showed me several documents from OHA. She said that she had come under pressure from Apo to do work that did not relate to OHA. It was work for his private company, The Peter Apo Company. She told me that Trustee Apos office and work computer were filled with data & correspondence relating to his private company. This included correspondence relating to articles for his Civil Beat contract, private business meetings with Peter Apo Company clients, billing statements for his private company and even a monthly and weekly calendar of meetings he attended with his OHA secretaries for private business purposes. She showed me these documents all of which verified use of OHA staff, equipment., financial resources and offices during working hours for Peter Apo Company. When I asked her why she had removed the data from her office at OHA, she said she was afraid because she knew it was not right to use a State office for private business and that she was worried that when this misuse was made public she would be blamed because she had been Apos staffer & people would think she had been the secretary who broke the law. She showed me several documents sent out by other Apo staffers. She said she personally never performed any task for Apos company. I asked if I could copy the documents and told her I was going to use them to file an Ethics Complaint as a beneficiary. She agreed to allow me to copy the documents. This is how I acquired the data I used in my interview with Hawaii News Now and Rick Daysog. In March and April of 2016, I and another beneficiary who have worked together for OHA accountability and transparency filed two Ethics Complaints with the State Ethics Commission on these and other facts demonstrating extensive violations of State law at OHA. The election was held in November, 2016, and 7 months later. No corrective action was ever taken by the State Ethics Commission. I have also received credible information that several other Ethics Complaints have been filed by Trustees of OHA, Beneficiaries and staff, none of which have ever been acted on. I do not retract or regret the statements I made to Hawaii News Now last week. I thank Hawaii News Now for having the integrity to seek out, confirm and report on the activities of publicly elected officials whose conduct violates our Sate laws. Over the next few days, I will be publishing more data on Apos use of the OHA offices for personal business to advance his contract with Civil Beat, to obtain benefits for himself and friends relating to the Kakaako development and other questionable transactions. I call on Peter Apo to come out publicly and admit or deny that an OHA staffer filed a Sexual Harassment claim against him in 2015 and that a Settlement was reached with OHA agreeing to a settlement paid with Public Trust funds belonging to Hawaiian beneficiaries. Today, women are marching nationwide and in Hawaii for equality & fair treatment. We cannot and should not tolerate Sexual Harassment of women in the workplace. Government officials, whether elected or appointed, who engage in Sexual Harassment should be removed from office. Peter Apo should resign his office and repay any money taken from our peoples trust for his misdeeds. Tomorrow I will address how Peter Apo has used the OHA office, staff and trust resources to further his private contract with Civil Beat. For the purpose of transparency and accountability, I am confirming that I have forwarded this public communication to all 9 members of the OHA Board of Trustees including Trustee Peter Apo. Aloha, Mililani B. Trask OHA Beneficiary BACKGROUND: MYOB currently use virtual reality in their onboarding program, and in the future they hope to use it more often in their L&D to complement current e-learning. There are many different aspects of L&D that VR can be useful for, Alla Keogh, head of people and performance at MYOB told HC. In particular, this includes soft skills development such as communication skills, presentation skills and sales skills. Not to mention compliance-based training like OH&S and office familiarisation sessions. I think those types of training lend themselves really well to this kind of immersive experience, she said. Thats just one example of how soft skills are becoming increasingly significant in the workplace of today and tomorrow. Indeed, for staff-level (or non-management) roles, 42% of Australian HR managers place an equal amount of importance on the candidates technical and soft skillsets, according to new research by Robert Half. When evaluating candidates for management-level positions, the majority (56%) place more emphasis on the candidates technical skills, while 28% said its an even split between their technical capabilities and soft skillset. David Jones, Senior Managing Director at Robert Half Asia Pacific said a strong technical skill set is no longer enough. "Though harder to quantify, soft skills can be what sets a jobseeker apart from the competition. Soft skills have evolved in recent years from nice-to-have to need-to-have competencies," he said. As our workplaces become more collaborative, employers need an employee who can not only perform the job well, but who also demonstrates sound communication, leadership and team-building qualities. Businesses not only pay attention to the soft skills during the selection process but also to their further development with company training programs. Robert Half identifies the following to help develop soft skills Leadership aptitude Climbing the ranks throughout your career will be next to impossible if you cant prove your ability to manage a team, which inevitably requires mastering the so-called soft skill of leadership. If your employer doesnt offer any leadership workshops, look into leadership courses outside of work. If you cant afford the course or cant spare the time, ask your boss for extra responsibilities or new projects at work, both within your department and in other areas of the company. Spearheading new initiatives shows employers that youre proactive and a natural team leader. Communication As you rise in your career, it will become increasingly important to express your ideas clearly and succinctly. To develop sound communication skills, practice active listening with both your supervisors and direct reports, and use writing skills to produce flawless reports. To boost your communication talent, try to be self-aware during every interaction. If you cant get your point across when speaking, try saying it another way rather than repeating yourself. A good tip for speaking more clearly is to skip jargon and buzzwords, and always maintain a professional tone. Do the same with your writing, and be sure to proofread everything twice. Adaptability Technology and other resources are transforming the modern workplace at breakneck speed, and to demonstrate your relevance, you need to stay on top of current trends and embrace change. For example, if your company is heavily invested in its online presence, you should fine-tune your social media skills to contribute to the business in more meaningful ways. Another good way to demonstrate adaptability is to become more proficient in the latest updates relating to your specific industry and business. By Katie Benfield The Daniel Boone Rail Jam took place this past Saturday at the Daniel Boone Amphitheater, hosted by the We Can So You Can Foundation that is sponsored by Appalachian Mountain Brewery. This was the third annual Rail Jam here in the High Country with this being the biggest and the most community-based and organized thus far. Participants all throughout the county came together to put on the best event possible and to bring out as many people from the community as they could. All the proceeds went to revitalizing the Daniel Boone Amphitheater. I think the event was 100% successful, Danny Wilcox, Director of Retail Operations of AMB, said. Everything turned out extremely well, everyone had a good time, people came out. Leading up to the event was cautionary because of issues with weather. It was expected to rain throughout the entire event, but luckily, it stopped just in time. One of the unique things about the event was definitely weather, Wilcox said. The rain stopped right as the event was staring, and it was clear the entire event going forward. The entire process of developing the Rail Jam and planning it out to be at the Daniel Boone Amphitheater has been a team effort from the beginning. The Town of Boone partnered with the We Can So You Can Foundation, along with several businesses from all over the High Country, including Mellow Mushroom, Skyline Skybest and multiple others. The community effort was amazing. So many people came out in support, Wilcox said. That was what the event was aboutgetting people in the community out and having a great winter event here in Boone, and that clearly happened. According to Wilcox, there was an estimated couple thousand of people in attendance. People from all over, including areas such as Chattanooga, West Virginia and across North Carolina, came in order to be a part of the event. It was a major production, Wilcox said. Photos by Ken Ketchie Photos by Lynn Willis Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket 3 Executed in a Similar Case on January 15 2 Bahrainis appear to be at imminent risk of execution despite the authorities' failure to properly investigate their allegations of torture, Human Rights Watch said today. Both Mohamed Ramadan and Husain Ali Moosa have disavowed confessions that they allege were the result of torture and that were used as evidence in a trial that violated international due process standards. The January 15, 2017 executions of three other Bahrainis in a similar case have raised concerns that King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will approve the executions of Ramadan and Moosa, who face the death penalty for a February 2014 bombing that resulted in the death of a policeman. Human Rights Watch analysis of their trial and appeal judgments found that their convictions were based almost exclusively on their confessions, which both men retracted. "Bahrain should not under any circumstances execute 2 more young men, especially where there is credible evidence of confessions obtained through torture and unsound convictions," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. On December 29, 2014, Bahrain's 4th superior criminal court convicted Ramadan and Moosa of the premeditated murder of 'Abd al-Wahid Sayyid Muhammad Faqir, a policeman who died from injuries caused by an improvised explosive device in Muharraq on February 14, 2014. The court convicted 10 other Bahrainis of involvement in the bombing and sentenced them to between 6 years and life in prison. Ramadan and Moosa's lawyer, Mohamed al-Tajer, told Human Rights Watch that he was unable to speak with his clients during pretrial detention. The 1st time he was able to speak with them was on the 1st day of their trial on July 24, 2014, he said. An examination of the trial record indicates that the key evidence used to convict Ramadan and Moosa was their confessions, which their lawyer argued in court should have been inadmissible because the court did not thoroughly investigate the men's torture allegations. The trial court dismissed this argument, stating that "the defendant's [Moosa's] confession is overall consistent, which confirms and proves that his confession is consistent with the truth and facts of the case." On May 27, 2015, Bahrain's First Supreme Criminal High Appellate Court upheld the death sentences, saying that it was "persuaded that these confessions and statements were free of any taint of coercion of any kind, using in this its discretionary authority." Human Rights Watch reviewed copies of the reports from Dr. Mohamed Nour Fowda, the forensic doctor employed by Bahrain's public prosecutor's office, who examined Ramadan and Moosa on March 2, 2014. The reports do not refer to the men's allegations of torture, stating only that their purpose is to assess the nature and cause of any injuries. The report on Ramadan concludes that the bruising on his legs was the result of "collision ... with an object," and the report on Moosa concludes that marks on his wrists were "the result of handcuffs." The trial court judgment makes no reference to either forensic report. Al-Tajer, who has defended many prominent opposition figures and rights activists, told Human Rights Watch that their absence probably relates to the considerable evidentiary weight that judges in Bahrain place on confessions. United Kingdom-based human rights organization Reprieve provided copies of these reports to Dr. Brock Chisholm, an honorary lecturer at St Georges Medical Hospital Medical School, University of London, and an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of torture victims. Chisholm wrote that the report on Ramadan "fails in almost all aspects of what is required in a forensic investigation of possible torture. ... is in complete violation of the internationally recognised Istanbul Protocol and should therefore be completely disregarded." Chisholm listed a range of failures, including the absence of details of the report's author's qualifications or independence, the presence of a police officer during the investigation, the absence of a lawyer during the investigation, the failure to document full details of Ramadan's injuries, and the fact that "no causation is explored or rationale given for the injuries within the report and no attempt was made to obtain any elaboration from the individual concerned." Chisholm said of the Bahraini authorities' forensic report on Husain Moosa that, "there are clear violations of the Istanbul Protocol and compelling reasons to suspect that sufficient independence was lacking." The Istanbul Protocol is the United Nations manual detailing best practices on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Ramadan's wife, Zainab, told Human Rights Watch that her husband looked "pale, skinny, weak, and shaken" when she met with him at what she described as a strictly monitored visit approximately 10 days after his arrest on February 18, 2014. She said that after his transfer to Jau prison month after his arrest, he told his family that officers at the Criminal Investigations Directorate and Riffa police station tortured him to make him confess to his involvement in the bombing. The trial court judgment says the case against the defendants "was also proven" in reports from the Crime Scene Division and Criminal Investigations Lab, but it cites no physical or other evidence linking any of the defendants to the bomb or to the 2 devices - a Nokia mobile phone and a remote control - that the judgments says "could have been used" to detonate the bomb. On January 17, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "appalled" by the January 15 execution of Sami Mushaima, Ali al-Singace, and Abbas al-Sameea, charged with the murder of 3 police officers, citing their alleged torture and the fact that "their lawyers were not given access to all the hearings against them nor allowed to cross-examine prosecution witnesses during court hearings." France condemned the executions, while the UK and the European Union issued statements reiterating their opposition to the death penalty. The UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Bahrain has ratified, has said that "in cases of trials leading to the imposition of the death penalty scrupulous respect of the guarantees of fair trial is particularly important" and that any death penalty imposed after an unfair trial would be a violation of the right to life. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty. On April 11, 2016, Tobias Ellwood, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister for the Middle East and Africa, wrote in response to a question by UK Member of Parliament Tom Brake about Ramadan's alleged torture that UK embassy officials had been in contact with Bahrain's Interior Ministry ombudsman over the case, adding that the ombudsman's office had said that, "whilst there have been a number of complaints raised with his office in the case of Mr. Ramadan, there have been no allegations of mistreatment or torture." On July 14, 2016, Ellwood acknowledged in a letter to Reprieve that this was incorrect and that there had been "some confusion over the nature of the complaints made to the Ombudsman." He attached to his letter a June 15, 2016 memo from Bahraini Ombudsman Nawaf al-Ma'awda which states: "Given ongoing concerns, I plan to initiate a full, independent investigation into the treatment both Mohamed Ramadan and Hussain al-Moosa from the point of their arrest to throughout their detention." On December 7, 2016, Ellwood informed Reprieve that the complaint had been passed to Bahrain's Special Investigations Unit, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting the criminal liability of security or other government officials allegedly involved in the torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of detainees. It is unclear what stage the investigation is at. Based on information in the ombudsman's three annual reports, it has referred 138 cases to the SIU since July 2013. Of these, the Special Investigations Unit has successfully prosecuted only 1 torture case. "Investigations into torture should be conducted before trials not after them," Stork said. "Similarly, the UK, France, Germany, and the EU should publicly condemn this unfair trial and oppose these sentences before Bahrain assembles its firing squad." | 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 Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: Human Rights Watch, January 22, 2017 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. By Sara Cronk Correspondent COKATO, MN A traveling sauna, built by Cokato company Finnleo Sauna in honor of the 100th anniversary of Finnish Independence, began its one-year journey around the US Jan. 14. It was inaugurated in front of Minneapolis Orchestra Hall with Finnish Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi, Minnesota Orchestra Musical Director Osmo Vanska, and Finnleo president Keith Raisanen. This special sauna, named Sisu (Finnish for courage) was chosen as Finlands centennial mascot. As it travels, it will help celebrate the countrys achievements. Finland has developed into one of the great democracies of the world and is a shining light to the world in many regards especially in education, Raisanen stated. The Finnish Embassy reached out to the Minnesota chapter of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce for ideas to commemorate Finland and its centennial. Raisanen, along with fellow co-founders Risto Sivula and Jouko Sipila, decided that nothing is more Finnish than sauna, and suggested building a traveling sauna. We were thrilled the embassy viewed the traveling sauna and Finnleos cooperation as the ideal year-long Finland promotion, Raisanen remarked. The embassy originally planned to run the program themselves, but they found they did not have the ability to execute it. However, this was not the end for the traveling sauna. Jouko and Risto felt so strongly that this was the ultimate way to celebrate Finlands independence [that] they created [the TravelingSauna.com] company, raised funds through corporate sponsorships, and committed to taking on the challenge on their own, Raisanen explained. The factory launch took place in Cokato Jan. 11, and Sisus first stop was Temperance Corner (in Cokato), the home of the oldest sauna in North America. It was a wonderful way to tie Finnish history with Cokato the first home for most of the earliest Finnish immigrants Raisanen said. For Raisanen, Finlands independence from Russia is a part of his personal history. All four of my grandparents emigrated to the US in the early 1900s, he said. Its amazing that when they left Finland the country was still under Russian control. My grandparents loved the US and its free society, but they also loved Finland. Certainly, Dec. 6, 1916 was a big day for all Finns whether living in Finland or abroad. The traveling saunas 12,000-mile journey around the US will end in Washington, DC Dec. 6, 2017, the 100th anniversary of Finnish Independence. Now the Central Bank has had to issue targets to banks to stock lower-value notes (Stock picture) If you're ever taking cash out of an ATM abroad, chances are you'll get a selection of notes, from 10 to 50. Banks in European countries dispense these for customer convenience. It's often viewed as a pleasant surprise by Irish tourists. Here, it's more often than not all 50 notes, which is embarrassing if you don't have that much in your account or need only to buy something small. In fact, only 7pc of notes issued are tenners, which isn't helpful to poorer customers (or those nearing pay day), while 59pc are 50s. Apart from the affordability aspect, there's also the security issue of having bigger notes, which can worry older people in particular. Targets Now the Central Bank has had to issue targets to banks to stock lower-value notes. It asked them nicely last year, but it didn't seem to make any difference. So, by the end of 2018 it wants to see 6 to 10pc of notes to be 10 (I'd make that much higher), while 40 to 45pc should be 20s and the rest 50s. Let's hope they listen this time. Paintings worth up to 50,000 that were seized from a Dublin art collector's home must be handed back to the original owners or be given to the State, a court has ruled. The paintings and antiques were discovered at the home of Andrew Shannon by gardai conducting a criminal investigation. Detectives had held them since 2014, suspecting that many of the works at Mr Shannon's home had been stolen from hotels, stately homes and other locations. Owners were found for some of the pieces, but some paintings were unclaimed, despite a nationwide appeal. Mr Shannon was not charged with any criminal offence. However, Judge John Coughlan ruled that he had not proved ownership of the paintings and ordered their return or forfeiture. Mr Shannon, of Willan's Way, Ongar, had contested most of the garda applications, insisting that either he or his brother had bought the works, which had lined the walls of his apartment. At Dublin District Court he also disputed valuations put forward by gardai and vowed to appeal against the court's findings. Valuable The most valuable painting was Holywood Harbour by Brian Ballard, estimated to be worth 15,000. Others were works by Thomas Rose Miles, Kenneth Webb, William Ashford and G Barrett. Holywood Harbour and another two paintings had gone missing from the Culloden Hotel near Belfast, while another had disappeared from a stately home in England. An antique book collection worth 3,500 went missing from Maynooth University, where it had been kept for 200 years. Det Sgt Eugene McCarthy said he had visited Mr Shannon's home three times in the course of investigations. Mr Shannon told the court he did not know how the books came into his possession. He said his brother, Gerard, had lived with him for a short time and his nephew, Noel, was still living with him. They both "bought stuff at markets", he said. It was poss-ible they bought some of the items. Receipts for other works were produced by Mr Shannon's lawyer, but these were rejected by the court as proving his ownership. He did not contest some of the garda applications. Further similar cases were adjourned. 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. FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA Lodge wins Best of 2017 Award Stoneybrook Lodge, a Holiday Retirement Community, recently was recognized by SeniorAdvisor.com as part of the Best of 2017 Awards. The Corvallis senior living community was honored by the largest ratings and reviews site for senior care and services for receiving consistently high ratings from residents and their families throughout 2016. To qualify for a Best of 2017 Award, communities must offer either assisted living, Alzheimers care, independent living, low-income senior housing, skilled nursing or in-home care in the United States or Canada, and have maintained an average overall rating of at least 4.5 stars, and have received three or more new reviews during 2016. SeniorAdvisor.com provides easily accessible resources and information to help families educate themselves about senior living options and make informed decisions about senior care. To learn more about Stoneybrook Lodge, call 541-754-1961 or visit holidaytouch.com/our-communities/stoneybrook-lodge. Family provider joins clinic Paula J. Spencer is the newest family medicine provider to join The Corvallis Clinic at North Albany Village. Spencer practiced family medicine as an owner of Valley View Medical Clinic in Happy Valley from 1998 until joining the clinic. She also practiced at Valley View Medical Clinic in Clackamas in 1997 and 1998. She completed a general practice residency in 1997 at Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland, and earned a doctor of osteopathy degree from University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1994. She is certified by the American Osteopathic Association. Spencer and her husband have three children. To schedule an appointment, call 541-757-3757 or email www.corvallisclinic.com/FindPhysician. Schoeneman joins Coldwell Banker Austin Schoeneman recently joined Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers Team. Schoeneman has experience in sales and customer dealings. He can be reached at the Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers Albany Office at 831-588-4682 or austin@valleybrokers.com. Credit union sends funds to hospitals Oregon-based Childrens Miracle Network hospitals Doernbecher and Sacred Heart will benefit from $36,000 generated through an internal campaign at Oregon State Credit Union. This is the fifth consecutive year the credit union has sent matched funds to the Childrens Miracle Network, and that five-year total stands at $141,000. The Corvallis-based credit unions staff dedicated $26,000 out of their own pockets for a dollar-for-dollar match to the national Credit Union for Kids program. The 230-member team pledged the record amount to the Credit Union Legislative Action Council, and Oregon State Credit Union sent the match to benefit the Credit Unions for Kids/Childrens Miracle Network programs at Doernbecher Childrens Hospital in Portland and Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene. In addition, the credit union was granted a match of $10,000 for the fourth time in the last five years from one of its business partners. CO-OP Financial Services, headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California, repeated the grant out of its CO-OP Miracle Match program, which is dedicated to efforts for the Childrens Miracle Network. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Before wrapping up the Corvallis Youth Symphonys Cabaret concert Saturday night with a Star Wars Suite, Conductor George Thomson turned to the capacity crowd at Corvallis High School and marveled at the brilliance of the themes. Its almost as if they conjure up the characters in person, Thomson said with a smile before raising his baton to the 80-plus Willamette Valley students in the Symphony. And just as the first few notes of the Imperial March made their way through the crowd, the house lights went up and Darth Vader and a dozen other Star Wars baddies walked out from the audience. And in front of a cheering audience, Vader continued out onto the stage, lifted his hand to force choke Thomson out of the way and Vader used his own red baton to conduct the rest of the theme. As soon as the song finished, Luke Skywalker and a dozen more characters came out onto the stage, with Luke convincing Vader to stand down and allow Thomson to finish conducting the concert. That was a lot of fun, Thomson said. And it was great to see the surprise from the students. The moment took more than 100 volunteers and workers several weeks to plan and was kept secret from all of the members of the Symphony. For me, the greatest thing was that we kept it a surprise for the students, because they were just buzzing about it afterward, said Joe Dody, executive director of CYSA. Part of what makes an event like that so satisfying and special is that everyone pitched in and helped make the moment happen. In fact, minutes after the Symphonys Saturday morning dress rehearsal concluded, more than 20 members of the Star Wars costuming club known as Cloud City Garrison, a chapter of The 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, arrived. The group is really cool and theyve turned this fun hobby into doing something good for people, Dody said. I have heard so many really positive responses to this. Saturdays concert, known as Classical Cabaret: Screen Gems, acted as a major fundraiser for the Symphony, which historically has raised roughly $15,000 to keep the program going. The concert featured an eclectic mix of classical movie themes like the "Pink Panther," "Mission Impossible" and "Psycho"; modern themes such as "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter"; and a suite of video game pieces from "World of Warcraft," "Halo" and "Kingdom Hearts." We had a lot of music from different sized screens, Thomson said. It used to be that you only heard orchestral music when you went to the movies. But these students hear orchestral music all the time now, just in the back of video games. Thats where their eyes and ears are, and we wanted to acknowledge that and celebrate it. Thomson, who previously taught at Corvallis High School, said he was delighted to offer the program at a venue that meant so much to him. A lot of the students in the Orchestra were middle-schoolers when I taught them here, he said. So it was like a really fun reunion for a lot of us and that made it really fun. Next up for CYSA is a look toward the future with auditions for the Junior Honors Symphony, which features middle and early high school students, kicking off Jan. 31. Those looking to learn more about the program are asked to visit the CYSA website at www.cysassoc.org. Storms closed schools statewide for so many days this winter that Oregon's State Board of Education will discuss writing off some makeup time when it meets next week. Heavy snowfall and freezing rain this month closed schools in Portland and Central Oregon for a week or more. But most mid-valley schools, which didn't get hit as hard, have already made decisions on makeup time although those could change if the weather takes another turn for the worse before spring. Board members are expected to take action at their Jan. 26 meeting to include a "permission" as part of the waivers school district may request from state standards. The "permission," specific to the 2016-17 school year, states a school district may request permission to include up to 14 hours in its calculation of instructional time for emergency school closures caused by to adverse weather conditions. This is the first year Oregon hasn't automatically included up to 14 hours of time available to school districts for storm closures. This year, a provision took effect that removed weather closures from the list of items that count as instructional time. The State Board meets from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Oregon Department of Education, Room 251 A/B: 255 Capitol St. in Salem. Deliberations will be live streamed at https://livestream.com/accounts/4436497/ODEVideo. Many mid-valley districts already have altered their calendars, however. Lebanon's policy is to add up to six missed days to the end of the academic year. The district closed for four days in 2016 and has shifted its last day from June 8 to a half day on Wednesday, June 14. Albany, which missed five days, took a different tack. Schools will be in session on Presidents Day, on April 7 (previously a planning day), and and extra day and a half in June. The last day of school is now a half-day on Friday, June 16. The district also will extend all early-release Wednesdays by 20 minutes starting Feb. 1. Scio, which closed for two days, also chose to extend school hours. Starting Jan. 30, all schools will let out nine minutes later each day through the last day of school, June 15. Central Linn, which operates on a four-day academic week, closed just two days. Makeup days will be Friday, April 28, and Friday, May 26. School lets out for the summer on June 16. Sweet Home hasn't made any decisions yet. Nor has Corvallis, which is surveying parents to see whether they prefer adding 15 minutes to remaining school days or extending classes later in June. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ The confusion regarding the chief ministerial candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab reflects the dilemma of a party that is going through growth pangs. Delhis Deputy CM Manish Sisodia told voters in Punjab that they should cast their vote as if Arvind Kejriwal was going to be the next chief minister, a broad hint that in the event of a victory, the AAP chief could contemplate taking over. Kejriwal swiftly rebutted that, saying that AAP would select someone from Punjab as the CM. But who? That is where the party cannot make up its mind. There is of course an underlying assumption that the Aam Aadmi Party will win enough seats to form the government in the first place, but it is brimming with confidence and is being taken very seriously by the other players. The Congress and the Akali Dal dont lose any opportunity in attacking Kejriwal and there have also been reports of violence against AAP workers, allegedly by Akali Dals activists. That by itself should show that the fledgling party, with just one small state under its belt, is making its rivals nervous. Read: Sukhbir Badal insulting NRIs by branding them terrorists: AAP AAP and its chief have always punched above their weight. From the time Kejriwal broke away from the India Against Corruption campaign and started his own party, he has always thought of himself and behaved as a national level politician. In the 2014 elections, he stood against Narendra Modi, a move guaranteed to get him eyeballs, and garnering over two lakh votes was no small achievement. The two rounds of victories in Delhi the first before the general elections and the second in February 2015, when the party won 67 out of 70 seats further bolstered AAPs standing; from here on, expansion was a natural next step. At the same time, AAP has been careful where it goes it tends to move into states where there are two dominant parties, hoping to cut into the vote shares of each. Kejriwals media savviness has ensured constant publicity and his frequent claims of there being many conspiracies against him and his party by the Congress, the BJP, the corporate sector and most of all the media have helped keep him in the headlines. The constant pressure on his government by the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung at the behest of the Central government, according to Kejriwal has not gone unnoticed either and has worked in AAPs favour. Arvind Kejriwal is the mascot of his party. But while that is its strength, it is a major weakness too, and the net effects are showing in the Punjab campaign. The lack of a credible face or any face -- as a potential chief minister is a handicap in a situation where the Congress is projecting Amarinder Singh and the Akali Dal has a surfeit of Badals. Navjot Sidhu came close to joining AAP, but would have wanted the top chair. This could have been a win-win for both, except that Kejriwal would have had to share space and attention with a high-profile name. That was clearly unacceptable. Read: Vote assuming Kejriwal will be Punjab CM: Sisodia sets off storm, AAP clarifies AAPs dilemma is not unique. Many regional parties suffer from this problem. The votes come in because of the recognisable leader who has a rapport with the masses Jayalalithaa, Mamata Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu are good examples. If there is no natural-born heir who can take over the famous dynastic principle a second line of leadership is not allowed to emerge. But regional parties rarely look outside their immediate domain. Large parties such as the Congress and the BJP also suffer from the one-man band syndrome, but have enough regional leaders. AAP falls somewhere in between--is not a regional party in the conventional sense, but is not a full-fledged national party either. It is much too dependent on one man, but has aspirations to grow beyond its small base. An outright victory in Punjab, if indeed it happens, will help in the emergence of regional leaders, but will come at a price Kejriwal will have to learn to let go. A big defeat will reflect the partys inherent structural weaknesses. A creditable performance, giving it a substantial number of seats, should be used as an opportunity to start scaling up the organisation and create young leaders who subscribe to the AAP ideology but have enough initiative of being self-starters. Instead of sidelining them, Kejriwal should nurture them. If AAP does not want to remain a one trick pony and wants to expand organically, it has to create structures that have the potential for long term growth. It has already indicated its willingness to fight in Goa. Other opportunities will emerge in time. This will require creating an organisation that does not bank on one man, even if he continues to be the face and the spearhead of the party. Its a treacherous route to traverse, but there is no other way ahead. Sidharth Bhatia is a journalist and commentator and founder editor of the www.thewire.in The views expressed are personal Tirupati where the flow of money never ends is now the largest recipient of new notes in donations. The TTD has even opened a demat account with the Stock Holding Corporation of India so that it can take shares and securities from the faithful. In a fit of gratitude and extreme generosity with the taxpayers money, the chief minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhara Rao is planning to donate 5.5 crore to the fabulously wealthy Tirupati temple. With revenues last year of 2,600 crore, it is the richest Hindu temple in the world. The Tirumala Tirupati Devashtanam (TTD) which runs the temple attracts cash and kind in donations from all over the world, some of the more dazzling offerings have been diamond studded crowns, gold bullion and bags full of emeralds and rubies. Read: Black money in scrapped currency could be heading to religious places The TTD is no slouch when it comes to managing the bountiful donations it receives. Despite its status as a religious institution which is not bound to pay taxes, the TTD makes sure that the bulk of the donations it receives goes towards a corpus which is tax-free. Voluntary donations which are given without any specific direction that they are to go to the corpus can be treated as income but can be granted exemption subject to these being utilised for charitable or religious purposes within a specified time-frame. So the TTD has got all the angles covered. There is nothing wrong in anyone giving money to Tirupati in his private capacity but the chief minister here, of a state with a myriad teething problems and suffering the after-effects of a severe drought, seems to be playing fast and loose with public money. Not that this is a novelty. His bullet-proofed bathroom as also his sprawling residence, his penchant to shift work to different buildings on account of vaastu have all been at great cost to the taxpayer. It is not the remit of the head of a state in a secular country to make public money available to any religious institution. Read: KCR spends Rs 50 crore for bungalow, but housing for poor still a dream The money should have been used for public works to benefit the people. Many of our netas are religious. But conducting havans, as KCR did and making this huge donation to Tirupati in no way enhances the quality of life for the people who elected him. We rightly oppose the government using public money to subsidise the haj. The government has no business to make donations or provide subsidies to any religious institution or practice and what the Telangana CM can be easily challenged in the law. Temples were used as a convenient vehicle to dispose of currency note after the demonetisation. Tirupati where the flow of money never ends is now the largest recipient of new notes in donations. The TTD has even opened a demat account with the Stock Holding Corporation of India so that it can take shares and securities from the faithful. In 2010, the Mumbai High Court had prevented a religious trust from opening demat accounts in the name of its deities. But that was for an unregistered trust while the TTD is a registered one. It has, therefore, been able legally to get a demat account in the name of the deity. KCRs proposed donation is clearly aimed at securing the deitys goodwill and blessings for himself. In which case, he should have used his own personal funds. Or provide proof that the people of the state acquiesced in this move. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Despite shorter bank queues, the demons of demonetisation will continue to haunt India for a very long time. This decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an otherwise calm November evening is without parallel legally, as well as in implementation and impact. Section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, lays down the fundamental principle that every bank note shall be legal tender guaranteed by the central government. The only exception is sub-section (2) that empowers the central board of the RBI (not the Centre) to recommend that certain notes shall cease to be legal tender. Read | Tradition vs selfishness: The black, white and other colours of money Information in the public domain, especially the RBI governors deposition before the parliamentary committee of finance, shows that the reverse transpired. The Centre advised the RBI on November 7 that it consider withdrawal of Rs 500/1000 currency notes (the governor now admits that the government initiated the move). Within 24 hours, the RBI board acted as per its perceived bosss direction: It recommended to the government the withdrawal of 86% of Indias currency. On the same day the Cabinet accepted and notified the withdrawal of currency. No one received a Cabinet agenda and attendees learnt of the subject they were approving on the spot. The RBI admits that prior to November 7 there was no discussion or consideration. The RBI governor accepts that no minutes were kept of the board meeting. The reason given defies logic and adds insult to injury by citing secrecy. Why could minutes not be kept to be seen after November 8? Does keeping of minutes affect secrecy? Obviously not. What it achieves is that it obviates post-facto accountability. This political and bureaucratic wizardry of 24 hours is no less than legal subterfuge and a breach of a statutory legal promise to the people of India. Read | Demonetisation rips apart textiles from farm to loom, leaves 25 million tottered The very identity, autonomy and future of the premier regulator of India with an unequalled global stature (the RBI) has been irreparably prejudiced and irreversibly jeopardised. The very concept of a statutory central bank is that of an independent regulator of monetary policy notwithstanding pressures from the executive. Even though, unlike the Election Commission of India and the CAG, the RBI is a non-constitutional body, Section 3 of the RBI Act mandates that it shall be constituted for the purposes of taking over the management of the currency from the central government. Former governors, including YV Reddy and Bimal Jalan, have used the language of studied moderation in warning against this loss of RBI autonomy. All economists of note globally, not associated with any political party, have severely criticised it. There is the visible absence of a steady guiding hand of the current RBI governor from the steering wheel. If such a mammoth operation with such enormous consequences can spring from such uncertain premises, reckless decision-making and the most unprecedentedly wayward post- November 8 implementation, then India has much to worry about. Read | Shiv Sena mouthpiece taunts PM Modi on Bal Thackerays birth anniversary Not one of the stated objectives black money depletion, corruption reduction and instant digitisation are remotely near realisation. The governor is unable to tell the nation the amount of old currency received. Hence the goalposts have been changed to say that a non-existent army of IT officials will adjudicate on crores of returned currency to give quasi-judicial findings of how much is illegal/tainted or not. All such orders will be appealed under a minimum three-rung statutory procedure for decades. So much for destroying black money. One time destruction of a huge stock of money has no effect on its flow, in future, since it does not plug the mechanism that produces black income. Demands for illegal cash payments, whether as black money or bribe money, will start yet again, as money flows back into the system. Singing paeans to a Digitising India are facetious. No one not the poor farmer or the daily wager was warned that he needs to get a smartphone to upload an app to pay for seeds or receive his daily wages. Any logical and well-governed system would have done a blitzkrieg of digitisation for two years before the big bang demonetisation. The NDA, instead, chose to put the cart before the horse. The image of an urban elite with multiple credit/debit cards and smartphones mocks the spirit of the common Indian. A call to resoluteness in a bleak economy is only political glibness, not responsible leadership. Read | Demonetisation: RBI says doesnt know exact number of scrapped notes Empirical reports confirm the worst. Micro-small scale industries suffered 35% job losses and 50% dip in revenue in the first month after November 8; the All India Manufacturers Organisation predicts a 60% drop in employment and 55% loss in revenue over the next quarter; automobile sales in December fell the most in 16 years; GDP growth in the first quarter slowed to 7.1% from 7.5% from that a year ago; the IMF downgraded India to about 6.5% (while increasing Chinas ratings). Crisil lowered its GDP forecast for 2016-17 to 6.8% from 7.8% earlier, suggesting an erosion of Rs 1.5 trillion this fiscal. Less money in hand has reduced sales in the informal sector by 30%-40% as also in FMCG segment. More than 100 deaths in a month are themselves enough to rest the case against this firman. Abhishek Singhvi is MP , national spokesperson, Congress, and former additional solicitor general of India The views expressed are personal From being the dominant party in UP for over four decades, the Congress now has to ride on a cycle to come back to power in the state. It has settled for one-fourths of the overall seat, and has accepted chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as the common face of the alliance. How did a party move from being the dominant force with inherent disdain for alliances to becoming a junior coalition partner? The setback On September 27, 1989 the then Union home minister Buta Singh flew into Lucknow when the sun had not yet risen. He immediately drove to the official bungalow of chief minister ND Tiwari. Soon a delegation of saffron clad saints associated with Rama Janma Bhoomi Nyas led by Ashok Singhal was ushered in. Buta Singh later announced the Centres conditional permission to the Nyas to lay shilanayas at the contentious Ram Janma Bhoomi /Babri Mosque complex. On November 10, 1989, the VHP-BJP laid the foundation stone of the temple amid pomp at a plot, away from the disputed site. It was poll time. The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi decided to launch his partys campaign from Faizabad and spoke about Ram Rajya. From there started the long chapter of Congress decline in North India; it lost support of the Muslims in northern belt as they held the party leadership squarely responsible for unlocking of the shrine gates in 1984 and shilanyas in 1989. The final nail in the coffin was when the mosque was demolished under the Congress government led by Narasimha Rao. The Muslims shifted to the Samajwadi Party. It is thus ironical that the primary motive of the Congress-SP alliance, sealed on Sunday evening, is to signal to the Muslims that this is the best secular alternative to the BJP. The continued decline Why has the Congress been unable to regain power in UP? The first reason is the rise of regional parties the BSP and the SP that pursued caste and communal politics. While the SP was able to project itself as a champion of Muslims, the BSP wooed Dalits and marginalised castes. The Congress leadership, in its bid to maintain caste and communal balance, could not speak their aggressive language. Second, after the death of Rajiv Gandhi, the party literally became rudderless. Sonia Gandhi remained elusive and indecisive on joining politics while PV Narasimha Rao and Sita Ram Kesari ran the show. The people of the state could not connect to them and there was no state leadership that could fill in the vacuum. By the time Sonia entered the scene in 1997, politics had become competitive, the Congress cadres had moved to greener pastures and the elections had turned four-cornered. Read | Yadav family feud: For Cong, Akhilesh is a better bet than Mulayam Formulas were evolved to reconstruct the traditional vote bank of Muslims, Dalits and Brahmins. Muslims voted for the winning horse against the BJP (Congress was a sinking ship), Dalits for Mayawati and Kanshi Ram while Brahmins preferred to remain on the right side of the power. In the process, a generation born in early 1990s did not see a Congress rule in the state. It also failed to find poll partners, barring 1995 when it had tied up with the BSP. Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi also preferred an independent poll trek as he did not find either the SP or the BSP trustworthy. He thought this was also the best way to revive the organisation. The search for an ally After 20 years, the Congress finally opened itself to an alliance with either of the regional forces in UP, for coming back to power and stopping BJP was the immediate priority. While Mayawati was against pre-poll tie-ups, the Yadav family was divided over seat sharing with the Congress. Mulayams politics was staunchly anti-Congress, but his son Akhilesh was more pragmatic. Negotiations between the next generation of both parties Rahul and Priyanka in Congress, Akhilesh in SP sealed the deal. It is generally believed that the SP and the Congress together will be a formidable force that Muslims will immediately adopt. Agra-based political analyst KS Rama says, The base vote of Congress is scattered. They need to rebuild the party brick by brick. Coalition with SP will be useful. This may now well be the Congress only route back to power. Also read | For BJP, Cong, Uttar Pradesh election a dress rehearsal for Lok Sabha polls Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is a self-proclaimed chief justice of Indian politics, the BJP said on Monday as it accused him of denigrating the credibility of Election Commission and the voting process with his bribery remarks. Kejriwal wants to be Delhi chief minister on odd days, Punjab chief minister on even days and Goa chief minister on holidays. But, now when his desire to become chief ministers of three states at the same time has shattered, he is frustrated and saying all this, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said. The Aam Aadmi Party convener had stirred up a hornets nest during an election rally in Goa earlier this month where he had asked people to accept money offered by the political parties, but vote for the Aam Aadmi Party only. By asking voters to accept bribe, Kejriwal is instigating the people towards corruption, against which his entire politics is based, Patra told reporters in Delhi. Kejriwal, a self-proclaimed chief justice of Indian politics who also has a constitution bench of corrupt ministers, has again and again repeated his bribery remarks. By doing this, he is not only denigrating the credibility of Election Commission but also the entire voting process, he said. The EC had later censured him for his reported remarks in poll-bound Goa, saying his statement amounted to abetting and promoting electoral offence of bribery. But despite the ECs notice, the Delhi CM had reportedly reiterated his bribery remarks. Earlier on Monday, the Kejriwal, in a letter to EC, claimed that his remarks were aimed at containing graft and sought a review of its order to allow him to repeat the comments. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday accused Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of not fulfilling his poll promises for the national capital and sent a team of 250 bikers to Punjab to expose the lies. The BJP also said that the bikers would search for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Cabinet ministers, who have left the national capital for campaigning in the assembly polls of Punjab. Delhi BJP unit president Manoj Tiwari and Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore flagged off over 250 bikers from New Delhi, led by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), for Punjab. The people who were tasked to look after the problems of the people of Delhi are missing from the city. Chief minister Kejriwal and all his Cabinet ministers have left the Secretariat vacant, Tiwari told reporters here. Today we have flagged off 250 bikers from the city to Punjab to search for Kejriwal and his team there, Tiwari said. The man who can cheat the people of Delhi even after winning 67 out of 70 seats, what he will do with Punjab, the BJP leader wondered. So we have sent our party workers to tell the people of Punjab how development work in Delhi has come to a standstill, how the government has failed to deliver on its major promises of increasing seats in schools and colleges, beds in hospitals, installing CCTV for beefing up women security, and providing free wifi and water, Tiwari said. Slamming Kejriwal for failing to fulfil his poll promises, Tiwari said: The BJYM workers would apprise the youth of Punjab how they deceived youth with dreams of eight lakh job promises and how the residents of slums and unauthorised colonies were deceived with the promises of development and regularisation. Addressing the BJYM workers going to Punjab, Tiwari appealed: A great responsibility lies on your shoulder of apprising the people and youth of Punjab of the ground realities in Delhi. You should tell Punjab that Kejriwal sells dreams of anti-drug and anti-liquor campaign, but in Delhi his government has opened a chain of bars and liquor vends, Tiwari said. Meanwhile, Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said a special responsibility lay on the shoulders of the youths of Delhi to share their experience of two years of deception by the Kejriwal government with the youth of other states. The youth of Delhi need to launch a strong campaign in social media to expose Kejriwal governments total failure, Rathore said. Kejriwal, also AAPs national convenor, has been aggressively campaigning for his party in Punjab and Goa, which go to polls on February 4. The Election Commission on Monday directed the Centre to ensure no state-specific announcements are made in the Union budget for the five states where assembly elections will be held, starting February 4. Not giving in to the Oppositions demand for deferring the budget presentation, the commission said, in the interest of free and fair elections and to maintain level playing field during elections, no state specific schemes should be announced in the national budget. It said the move will ensure that voters in the five poll-bound states are not influenced in favour of the ruling party. EC also said that it should be ensured that in the budget speech, the governments achievements in respect of the five states should not be highlighted in any manner. Read | 10 things we bet you didnt know about the Budget The Albany City Council will address road maintenance funding at their 4 p.m. work session today at Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin St. S.W. To prepare for the session, Councilor Ray Kopczynski said council members last week received a "huge" package from the Public Works Department on "road maintenance 101." He said the packet breaks down the cause and effect for road decay and maintenance, and gives an idea of how costs can grow or shrink, depending on maintenance practices. According to public works, the city has 311 lane miles of paved streets to maintain, and another 13.7 lane miles of gravel streets. Each year about 600 customer work orders and complaints are handled by city crews. "I don't think people have an idea how much it costs to maintain roads," he said. Kopczynski said the city is trying to stay ahead of the curve, rather reacting to road decay emergencies. But funding such operations remains a challenge. While a state gas tax provides some money for maintenance, Mayor Sharon Konopa and the council agree a new revenue source is needed. To this end, the council is considering a collection of options. Konopa would still like to see a regional gas tax, but has not garnered support for the city of Corvallis for such a plan. For that reason, the gas tax is considered a back burner option, and Councilor Rich Kellum said a gas tax would be a tough sell, both for him and voters, without defined terms. "It all depends on what streets we're talking about," he said. "Everybody's ox will get gored with the gas tax, and the only way to get people to vote for gas tax is if you give specifics." Councilor Bill Coburn he likes the idea of a regional tax because it would potentially level the playing field in terms of cost, but like Kellum he wants to figure out what the needs are and then go ahead and find the right amount. Coburn cited Hill Street, south of Queen Avenue, as an area that would be considered for maintenance funding. Alternatives to a gas tax, said Coburn, include a possible mileage tax, or another general obligation bond, akin to the one voters passed in 1998 that provided maintenance funding for work along 34th Avenue. The mileage tax is an option that has roots in the Oregon Department of Transportation program called OreGo, launched in July of 2015, that seeks to provide a revenue stream through a 1.5 cent per mile usage tax on Oregon drivers, instead of paying a gas tax. But Coburn said he believes a bond measure would be most efficient. "That's traditionally how we fund street maintenance," he said. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union home minister Rajnath Singhs son Pankaj Singh, who has been fielded from the Noida assembly constituency, said on Monday that his candidature should not be considered dynasty politics. It is not dynasty politics because I have worked with the party as an ordinary worker and served in different capacities, first in the youth wing and later in the main organisation. The party has named me from Noida because I have been working with it for the past 15 years with dedication. If a person does not work for the party as a worker and then gets a ticket, that is wrong, he said while talking to reporters and addressing party workers at a meeting at Kailash Hospital in Sector 27. Dr Mahesh Sharma, Gautam Budh Nagar MP and Union minister of state for tourism and culture, was also present on the occasion. The BJP had on January 22 named Singh for the Noida assembly seat in its second list for the assembly elections, which named candidates for 155 seats in the state. Dozens of local party workers, including sitting BJP Noida MLA Vimla Batham and BJPs Gautam Budh Nagar general secretary Sanjay Bali were among ticket hopefuls. Bali resigned from his party post on Monday, saying in an email that BJP is no different as it does not give importance to workers and has become a party of a family. (sic) Singh said nobody is unhappy with his candidature and he has amicably resolved issues with Bali. However, when asked, Bali, who did not share the dias with Singh at the event, said, I will not take back my resignation. They are talking to me. Let us see what happens. Singh had sought a ticket for Noida in the 2012 state elections and in the 2014 bypolls, but the party had chosen a local leader. This time, Singh wanted a seat either from Ghaziabads Sahibabad or Noida. Addressing party workers, he said, I did not choose Noida. It was the decision of my party. Now that my party has named me, it is the duty of all of us workers to work to win this and other assembly seats so that we can get 300 seats and form the government in the state. The other two parties (SP and BSP) who have ruled the state for the last 10 years will lose their existence in this election because people are fed up of their policies. These two parties have looted the state. He added that he has worked in Noida as a party worker and also lived in the city during his college days. However, there is still resentment among BJPs Noida leadership. Local leader Vikas Gupta, who was also seeking a ticket from Noida, also said he plans to quit the party. I will resign from BJP on Tuesday and have decided to fight the elections as an independent candidate from Noida. I am preparing for nomination on Tuesday, said Gupta, who has been in BJPs state organisation. He had already purchased nomination papers as he had hoped to get ticket from Noida assembly constituency. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The district election authorities said on Monday that a voter is entitled to cast a tender vote if he or she finds out that someone has already cast a vote in their name. Tender votes are cast on ballot papers that are then sealed and locked away. It was seen that when some voters found on reaching the polling booth that someone had already voted in their name, they would get agitated and go back. However, such voters can cast a tender vote, which is their right under election laws, Kumar Vineet, additional district magistrate and deputy district election officer, said on Monday. If the first polling officer tells a voter on reaching the polling station that their vote has already been cast, they must bring this to the attention of the presiding officer immediately, he added. The law allows such a voter to cast a tendered vote. A tendered ballot paper, as per Rule 49P of the Conduct of Elections Rules, will be given to that voter and they will be required to sign their name on the list of tendered votes. A tendered ballot paper is the same as the ballot paper displayed on the balloting unit, except that it shall be endorsed on the back with the words, Tendered Ballot Paper either stamped by the returning officer or written by the presiding officer at the time of issuing it. After marking their choice of candidate with the help of the arrow cross mark rubber stamp, the voter should hand over the tendered ballot paper to the presiding officer, who will keep it in a separate cover. In such a case, the voter will not cast their vote on the EVM, said Vineet. Further, in case their identity as a voter is challenged by a polling agent of any candidate on the grounds that they are not the person whose name is listed on the rolls, the presiding officer will ask the challenger to provide evidence in proof of his claim, he added. Similarly, the presiding officer will ask the voter for proof of their identity. They can use their EPIC or any other supporting document such as passport or ration card for this purpose. If the challenge is not established, the voter will be allowed to vote. However, if the challenge is established, the voter will be barred from voting and handed over to the police with a written complaint from the presiding officer, the ADM added. Nearly at an hours drive from Patiala, this non-descript village, part of Sanaur assembly segment, bears a festive look. Its election time and the walls of the houses are splashed with Akali blue-yellow posters bearing list of achievements accomplished in the past three months. Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra, the 36-year-old engineer son of Akali MP from Anandpur Sahib, Prem Singh Chandimajra, is banking on much beyond being his fathers son to wrest the Sanour seat from the Congress. He has only good news trickling in for him, he says. Congress stalwart Lal Singh who won the seat in 2012 is not the candidate this time having been replaced by Harinders namesake Harinder Singh Mann and other rival is Aam Aadmi Partys Kuldeep Kaur, who is the daughter of former Akali stalwart Gurcharan singh Tohra. The Tohra family is completely delegitimised and no one really knows the Congress candidate, he says. Facts Name: Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra Age: 36 Party: Shiromani Akali Dal Constituency: Sanour Poll quotient: Banking on the development works taken place in the area in last three months since he was made the halqa in-charge by the Akali Dal Educational qualifications: BTech, LLB By the way: Loves to spend every free minute with his two kids But it is not going to be a cakewalk. And he knows it. Hence the focus on the hyper local development works. In the end, everything else fails and what you have done for the people matters. Never make a promise you cannot keep. My idea of politics is to have a no nonsense approach to work. I think my strongest point is that I deliver what I say, he adds. Harinder Pal has been working for this seat for three months now. He was made the halqa in-charge, replacing late Akali stalwart Jasdev Singh Sandhus son Tejinderpal Singh, who was the candidate from here in 2012. The area is visibly underdeveloped and even basic amenities are lacking. Jo keha, oh kitta; jo kahanga oh karanga (I did what I said; I will do what I will say) The area has been ignored. It was no ones baby. For thirty years, the constituency has been crying for simple demands such as a BDPOs office. I got it done. Earlier for even tiny works, people of the area had to go to Patiala. The check dam on the Ghaggar is another achievement I am proud of. That brings so much of land in this village under irrigation. The villagers too bear out his accomplishments of three months. The road to the village was in a very bad shape. But it has now been repaired, points out a village elder. The fact that you are the son of an astute politician also makes a difference. Prem Singh Chandumajra has had close links with the area for several decades. This was my fathers first constituency. We had as a family nurtured this area, he says. Chandumajra has represented Sanaur (earlier Dakala) seat in 1985 and later remained Patiala MP twice, defeating Sant Ram Singla in 1996 and Captain Amarinder Singh in 1998. I have proved my credentials working at the grassroots with the people in the cooperative movement, he points out. He was elected as the MD of the cooperative bank, along with his men for other posts. It is an election with proper voting and till you are really popular, it is more difficult to win those elections, he laughs. He plans to get a big industrial unit for Sanaur. One large manufacturing unit can change the entire economic profile of an area. It leads to employment, growth of ancillary industries. My area is backward, and it will need constant hard work to uplift it, he says. My war cry is: See what I have managed to get done in three months. Compare it with what has been left undone by others in 30 years. People are wise. They will make the right choice, he says. FRESH FACES IN THE FRAY: 12TH OF 13 PART SERIES NEXT: ANU RANDHAWA SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday promised cheaper petrol and LPG besides 10% reduction in electricity duty throughout the state if the party is voted to power in the state. During a brief stopover while campaigning in the region for the coming assembly elections, Amarinder said free travel for senior citizens and students on state transport buses would also be incorporated in the partys poll manifesto. Besides, ex-servicemen, police and paramilitary force personnel will also be able to avail the free travel facility on state transport buses, he said. Though the manifesto was a comprehensive document, addressing the concerns of every section of Punjabs populace, the need to bring in some more welfare measures was strongly felt in party circles, he said, explaining the rationale behind these announcements. Explaining the rationale behind bringing parity in petrol and cooking gas prices with Chandigarh and neighbouring states, he said: It was not fair that the people of Punjab had to pay more for the same amenity for which others were paying less. He said taxes for petrol pumps would be rationalised to make them on a par with others. This will help bring down the petrol price by about Rs 3 per litre, he said, adding the cooking gas price would come down to Rs 15 per cylinder through the initiative. READY TO GO TO JAIL TO SAVE STATE WATER The state Congress chief also said he was ready to go to jail in defiance of the court orders on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute. I will defy any orders against the state to save its water. I urge people to help the Congress gain two-third majority so that it can take tough decisions in the interest of the state, he said. If the canal is constructed, around 10 lakh acres in southern Punjab would go dry. If the Congress gets two-third majority, it will prevent this by bringing in tough legislation against construction of SYL canal in the assembly, he said. AAP VOLUNTEERS FROM OUTSIDE MUST LEAVE Citing law and order problem, Amarinder asked the Election Commission (EC) to send back AAP volunteers from outside the state. He said he had written to the EC to take cognisance of the fact that AAP had inducted more than 27,000 Punjabi-origin people settled elsewhere, including foreign nationals, and 40,000 volunteers from other states to campaign for their candidates for assembly polls. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, outsiders cannot stay in Punjab for elections on the appointed dates and are supposed to leave the state 48 hours before the polling, he said in his letter. (With PTI inputs) Several leaders and members of the UK unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday sought blessings at the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall before undertaking a mile-long walk before boarding a flight to Amritsar to campaign for the party on Monday. Sunday shoppers and worshippers at the gurdwara looked on as the AAP procession wound its way to the beating of drums and slogans along Broadway to Hayes, where the last event of the partys Flame of Hope campaign concluded. The flame is to be carried to Punjab and handed over to AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on February 1. Over 100 party supporters were booked on flights to leave for Punjab on Monday, AAP sources told Hindustan Times. The procession included Harpreet Singh, convener of AAPs UK unit, councillor Manjit Singh Bhuttar (Hounslow council), and party leaders from west London, which has a large concentration of people of Punjab origin. A customised van has been traversing Britain to raise funds and awareness about the partys stand in the forthcoming elections in Punjab and Goa. The torch campaign was first launched before the Delhi elections in 2015. The van has so far travelled from Leamington Spa and Warwick to East London, Nottingham, Wolverhampton and Birmingham among other cities. The partys supporters have organised election-related events, including among the large Goan community in Swindon. The partys target was to raise the equivalent of Rs 50 lakh from Britain and contribute to the partys expenses in Punjab and Goa. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After working hard behind the scenes to hammer out an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has another major task of selecting winning candidates for the Congress in the assembly constituencies of the two family bastions of Rae Bareli and Amethi. The SP had demolished the Congress boroughs and won seven out of 10 assembly seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi in 2012 assembly polls. The Congress had won two while one seat went to an Independent candidate. Although Priyanka keeps an eye on the process of selection of candidates across the state, she takes personal interest in the selection of candidates for the two constituencies. The Congress has been demanding all the 10 seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi in the alliance. As the Samajwadi Party has announced its candidates for five out of 10 assembly seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi (two in Rae Bareli and three in Amethi) pressure is also building on her to wrest more seats for the party in the family strongholds. All about Uttar Pradesh elections Priyanka is likely to clear partys candidates on two seats in Rae Bareli and Amethi. She had met ticket aspirants of two constituencies in Delhi about four months ago. We hope an announcement about candidates will be made after final round of discussions between the two alliance partners soon, said a senior party leader. Although senior party leaders say they would abide by the decision of Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi on the selection of candidates and issue of seat sharing, they have own arguments to demand more seats for Congress in the region. The Congress has a strong organizational base in Sareni and Unchahar. The two assembly constituencies are winning seats for the Congress. But the SP has fielded its candidates there. We have informed Congress president Sonia Gandhis representative KL Sharma. We are also informing Priyanka ji about the situation. Hope she will do something, said a Rae Bareli Congress leader. A similar situation prevails in Amethi where the SP has fielded candidates on three assembly seats. Read | Election 2017: Priyanka played key role in sealing Samajwadi Party-Congress pact Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had agreed to give Amethi and Gauriganj seats to Congress during the talks for an alliance. He appears to have succumbed to pressure from SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav to field his controversial minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati from Amethi. He has fielded a SP candidate on Gauriganj under pressure of his cabinet colleague Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, said a leader of Congress in Amethi. Despite a sharp division in the party over the alliance with the SP, Congress members have generally made no complaints against the party high commands decision. As the talks for an alliance with the SP progressed in past few weeks the posters carrying pictures of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with those of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav were put up in Allahabad, perhaps reflecting the partys keenness to firm up the alliance. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the Samajwadi Party announcing choti bahu Aparna Yadav as its candidate for Lucknow Cantonment (Cantt) in the upcoming state elections, the battle for the constituency will be fierce as Yadav will take on sitting MLA Rita Bahuguna Joshi of the BJP. Both women are heavyweights and come from political dynasties in Uttar Pradesh. In fact, both come from a family of chief ministers. Aparna Yadavs father-in-law Mulayam Singh Yadav is the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, while brother-in-law Akhilesh Yadav is the incumbent. Joshis father, the late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, was also UP chief minister. Her brother Vijay Bahuguna was the Uttarakhand chief minister. Read | Congress veteran Rita Bahuguna Joshi joins BJP, attacks Rahul Gandhi In 2012, Joshi, then with the Congress party, had wrested the Lucknow Cantt seat from the BJP, which it had won five times since 1991. Now, she will attempt to win the seat for the BJP. For the SP, this is the first time it is fielding someone from the Yadav clan to win the constituency, something it has never managed thus far. Twenty six-year-old Yadav will have to defeat Joshi, the sitting MLA, to achieve this. Read | How to be a good bahu: Meet Aparna Yadav, Mulayams younger daughter-in-law Both women also have strong links with the academic world. Aparna has studied international politics at the University of Manchester and Rita used to teach history at Allahabad Universty. Yadav is new to politics and Joshi is a veteran leader. The BJP leader indicated that Aparna will have a tough fight. In fact, I want her to contest. People should realise that just being a member of the ruling family doesnt mean that one has an electoral presence and one can succeed, Joshi told Hindustan Times. I have developed a personal relationship with Lucknow Cantt. Added to it is the charm of Bharatiya Janata Party which has won the constituency five times in a row till I won it in 2012. I dont think it will be difficult for me to win the seat, Joshi said. Aparna, who has been campaigning since March 2016, dismissed Joshis public connect claim. Rita Bahuguna has not done any work for the constituency. I got more work done, despite not being an MLA in the constituency through the government. In six months, more work was done here than what was done in the last 60 years, she said. Ritaji wrote me a letter of appreciation for raising my voice in the December 16 (2012) Delhi gang rape case. Her tone changed when my party gave me the ticket for this seat. I will win. Read | Mulayams wife leads campaign for Aparna Yadav The Shivpal Yadav camp had announced a ticket for Aparna in March last year when the family feud was nothing more than an undercurrent. As the feud became intense, and two separate lists of candidates started coming from the SP, Aparnas political fate looked uncertain. Last week, the picture turned rosy for her when Akhilesh confirmed the ticket to her in his final list. Also, in the mix is the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)s Yogesh Dixit from the constituency. As the SP-Congress have a pre-poll alliance, the Congress will not put up a candidate for this seat. Read | Cong announces first candidates list for UP polls hours after SP alliance deal The Lucknow Cantonment is an urban constituency with 3.3 lakh voters. In the last elections in 2012, the turnout was 50.76%. This years polls will be held from February 11 to March 8 in seven phases. Bhopal: They got less marks in class 11 than what they had expected. But instead of blaming themselves for their poor studies they blamed teachers for the same. Hence, they allegedly threw a petrol bomb at the residence of one of the teachers in Morena, about 465 kilometers north of Bhopal, on Saturday night. Hindi teacher Ramkumar Singh Sikarwar of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Morena at whose residence the petrol bomb was allegedly thrown fainted due to smoke caused by fire. He was rushed to a hospital. He later lodged a complaint with the police. Interestingly, this was not the only criminal act the students allegedly indulged to harass their teachers or take vengeance on them. They targetted three teachers in particular. According to school teachers, the two class 12 students had been creating troubles for teachers for the past about six months. When the school management conducted an inquiry on its own they came to know about the students involvement. About a week ago, the students reportedly set the bike of the biology teacher RN Verma afire. Later, they made a similar attempt to set afire the bike of chemistry teacher KK Joshi too, according to the school teachers. After the inquiry the school management believes that the phone calls made to the school by local member of parliament Anoop Mishra to increase their marks in class 11 were not the calls made by the MP but by these students too who impersonated as the MP. The matter regarding the fake phone calls has been referred to the disciplinary committee of the school. Talking to HT over phone, Sikarawar said, These students are facing so many disciplinary actions. But now they have crossed all the limits. Thats why I have registered a criminal case against them. School principal Kadam Singh said proceedings would be initiated to rusticate the students from the school. Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Yashpal Rajput said, After the criminal case was lodged and police made an attempt to nab the students they ran away. The students are absconding. How did demonetisation affect you? Oh, as soon as I got to know about it, I went to the mall and bought everything I wanted with all the money I had in cash. It didnt affect me at all you see. This is not the kind of conversation youd expect at the biggest literature festival in the world. But as it turned out, one of the last sessions on the fourth day of the Jaipur Literature Festival was quite unlike any other. The Charbagh venue was packed to the brim with fans cheering, clapping and laughing their hearts out. On panel was moderator Suhel Seth, in his ever sardonic self, and speaker Mallika Dua, who rose to social media fame with her Make-Up Didi avatar. The session called #nofilter was an ode to the digital influencers whore writing a new narrative with the language and way of talking of the millennials. Dua, a natural comic, was quick on her feet to answer Seth, and even put him on the receiving end of her quick remarks. Seth, for his part, played along and seemed to be having a good laugh or two. Which school did you go to? Seth asked. Modern School. Why, which school did you go to? Doon? Dua replied. To which, Seth promptly chipped in, If I had gone to Doon, Id be heading the Congress right now. No, I went to a proper school. What might have seemed like a frivolous session wasnt really so, with Dua exposing her smart, intelligent self in questions like: How do you react to trolls on social media? I dont have too many haters, as I dont deal with very serious content. But yes, I do get the occasional body-shamer, she answered. But Ive a healthy sense of self-esteem. So it doesnt affect me at all. When asked about if shed like to do a Bollywood film, she said, Of course. But I wouldnt want to play the heroine ki chubby saheli. Im sure I can hold a film on my shoulder on my own. She said that shed like to work with directors like Anurag Kashyap or Vishal Bharadwaj. Id love to do a character like Tommy Singh of Udta Punjab (played by Shahid Kapoor). I think a woman couldve easily pulled off a Tommy Singh too, she said, to much hooting and encouragement from the crowd. Click here for our full coverage of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Recipe for a successful LitFest 1. A long line outside the Gulzar book signing 2. One Prasoon Joshi and one Javed Akhtar holding forth on everything from education to the deterioration of song lyrics 3. Imtiaz Ali with carefully messy hair and bodyguards 4. A provocateur famous for being famous 5. One famously crotchety old film star who is the son and grandson of film stars and has succeeded in producing a son who is also a film star. Ho hum 6. A goodlooking Shashi Tharoor brandishing his latest book 7. A few Booker prize winners suitably overwhelmed by Indias madness and the crowds, the crowds, the crowds 8. A generous sprinkling of foreign writers who arent wildly famous but could get there some day 9. Thousands of enthusiastic young people who might even read all the books they buy at the Books Tent 10. Some tetchy RSS types in over-starched underwear keen to storm every bastion of Left-Liberalism, one litfest at a time (L to R) Journalist Salil Tripathi in conversation with controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 on Monday. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) 11. One Taslima Nasreen to dispel the notion that the Sanghis are taking over, while also avoiding pandering to the mad mullahs 12. A crowd of fundamentalist protesters (of whichever currently crazed religious or caste persuasion) at the gates 13. A loud debate where everyone displays their photogenic tonsils without really saying anything important Method: Vigorously mix all ingredients, allow to ferment, and voila, the perfect JLF. Serve in style at quaintly crumbling haveli with too few loos. Members from the Muslim community protest the presence of Bangladeshi Writer Taslima Nasrin on the last day of the Jaipur Literature Festival. (Himanshu Vyas/HT Photo) The Jaipur Literature Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. When you began covering it, your hair was still black and you didnt look longingly at clinics advertising botox shots. UPA2 was tottering about like blind dipsomaniac, the festival was smaller and prone to being hijacked by the controversy du jour; and the only Hindu fundamentalists on the panels were the suave ones in disguise. Last years festival ended with a crowd shouting Modi, Modi drowning out a not-so-genteel discussion on the freedom of expression. There was plenty of freedom of expression on display at this years JLF. So free was it in fact that the RSS sent two of their er best brains to hold forth on their grand plans of World Irritation. Hindutva is a way of life they said; RSS has no influence on the BJP they said; Ancient India treated everyone with dignity without persecution they said (wink, wink); caste quotas are great but hey, not for Muslims they said; bleddy Left-Liberals and damn secularism is a dirty un-Indian word, they said; religious values cannot be kept out of the classroom, they said. By the end of it all, you wanted to break a coconut on your liberal head an auspicious ceremony that could mark your ghar wapsi to that brand of Demented Hinducus long jettisoned by even your grandparents. Poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar during one of the sessions at the 10th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival. (Prabhakar Sharma/HT Photo) But this years JLF wasnt all about Hindu Right Wingers wailing to be accepted by the amazingly intellectual gang of Left Liberal Land. It was about Taslima Nasreen calling for a uniform civil code and a rejection of intolerance and fundamentalisms of every sort, about the impossibility of silencing women voices any longer, about Rishi Kapoor proving that he could still pull in the crowds, about Bollywoods centrality in our lives theres a reason Gulzar, Prasoon Joshi and Javed Akhtar return year after year; Where else could they get such a rapturous reception, and quite amazingly, about Shashi Tharoors undiminished star power. He could have been babbling about reparations or the Kohinoor or ancient forms of contraception it didnt matter. Every time the man opened his mouth, the crowd erupted into joyous screams, the sort usually reserved for shaggy-haired adolescent rock stars. And then there was the irrepressible Suhel Seth being silenced by a panel of feminists during a session on Manelists, Misogyny and Mansplaining. Why he agreed to be the token man, in feisty British writer Bee Rowlatts words, on a panel of feminists is an enduring mystery. (L to R) Swapan Dasgupta, Luke Hardinge, Anne Waldman, Shashi Tharoor, Barkha Dutt, Prasoon Joshi, David Mc William, Ashutosh Varshney and Suhel Seth at the concluding debate of JLF 2017 We Are Living in Post Truth World on Monday. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) He was back to his irrepressible self, however, during the concluding debate on whether We Are Living In a Post-Truth World. In between attempts to rile up the crowd on demonitisation during a discussion focused largely on fake news and the Trump phenomenon, he and Swapan Dasgupta took potshots at Barkha Dutt, who, no stranger to trolling, held her own. The crowd loved every bit of it, especially when journalist Luke Harding, he of The Snowden Files, told Swapan Dasgupta, esteemed member of the upper house, to shut up. The debate was inconclusive but left you feeling like you do after a particularly shouty Arnab debate none the wiser but fully entertained. Finally, it seems like JLF despite a few sessions that sent you to slumberland, and a few others that felt like they had been conceptualized by Eng Lit undergraduates has got the recipe just right. Even the appearance of Taslima Nasrin accompanied by a police escort was perfectly timed on the afternoon of the last day. Before the religious crazies could whip themselves up into a righteous rage she had already said her piece and, like Elvis, had left the building. Yup, surprisingly, a good time was had by all. Click here for our full coverage of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 Follow @htlifeandstyle for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. A right delayed is a right denied.Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Martin Luther King Jr. No one is born hating another person People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist James Baldwin There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence. Newton Lee The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein Taslima Nasrin, made a surprise appearance at an unscheduled event on the last day of the festival and reiterated her stands against all forms of fanaticism, whether perpetrated by Muslim or Hindu extremists, and also spoke about her love for India, her support for a uniform civil code, and her continued fight for womens rights. This staunch belief in womens rights is what propels her to speak up for a uniform civil code in India. Muslim personal laws... actually run against women. Hindu shastras also do not give any freedom to women. In Bangladesh, Hindu women do not have right to divorce their husbands or any rights to their fathers property. In India, you now have modern law and Hindu women are getting equal rights. But why shouldnt Muslim women have the same democratic rights? she asked. Some fanatics dont want it for selfish reasons, but why do you, Indian secular people not want a uniform civil code? she asked. Nasrin reiterated her belief in absolute freedom of expression, and championed it by speaking without holding back. She came down strongly on fanatics, both Muslim and Hindu, and also those who claim to be secular. She spoke of the time Syed Noorur Rehaman Barkati issued a fatwa against her in Kolkata and the alleged inaction on the part of the state and the law enforcement. People protesting Taslima Nasrins participation on the fifth day of the Jaipur Literature Festival outside the venue, Diggi Palace, on Monday. (Himanshu Vyas/HT Photo) People (in India) proudly say this country is secular, the state is secular. What do you mean by secularism? Secularism means that you have to encourage Muslim fanatics who issue fatwas against people? Who set a price on writers? Here, Muslim fanatics, whatever crime they commit, will not get punished. Rather the victim will be punished, she said. She alleged this was a ploy to bank Muslim votes a reason why many in power do not fiercely oppose fanaticism. She also said it was not just Muslims but Hindu fundamentalists too who have troubled her. You call yourselves secular, but you dont see it when I get attacked by Hindu fanatics. You only see it when I get attacked by Muslim fanatics, said Nasrin who added that she criticized religions as most are anti-women. Though the audience appreciated the unscheduled event, pockets of protest were reported outside the venue. About 20 representatives of organisations like the Rajasthan Muslim forum, the Mili Council, the Tahfuz-e-Iman, the Jamaat-e-Islami, the SDPI, the popular front, the Muslim personal law board, and the Mansuri Samaj raising slogans outside Diggi Palace against Nasrin and the JLF organizers. Click here for our full coverage of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 Follow @htlifeandstyle for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A fascinating portrait of Mughal emperor Akbar emerged at this years Jaipur Literature Festival. The crowd listened avidly as journalist Ravish Kumar and writer Shazi Zaman discussed the latters Hindi novel Akbar. At the outset, Ravish said he wanted to finish the book before the session and not cheat the audience. Chatting with Zaman in his trademark style, peppered with commentary and asides (at one point, while reading out a description Akbars eyes, he broke into Yeh kali kali aankhein), Ravish asked him how much of the novel was fact, and how much fiction. Zaman, who has been working on the book for 20 years, said the novel is rooted in historical fact and research. But how these events affected the kings feelings and thoughts is my imagination, he said. The crux of the novel is about Akbars inner wrangling, his restlessness with matters of faith and spirituality. Zaman cited many passages from his novel as examples of the emperors respect not only for other religions, but also for differing opinions. When Man Singh, who Akbar was very close to, told him that he could not understand Din e Ilahi, a new order founded by the king, Akbar never broached the subject again, said Zaman. Watch: In conversation with Shazi Zaman, author of Akbar, and journalist Ravish Kumar For Ravish, one of the pressing questions was whether the Mughal king was progressive and tolerant -- something that todays rulers need to embody? At Fatehpur Sikri, a charpai was dragged to the door of the royal chamber so that Akbar could converse with Brahmans, sufis and others, said Zaman. Just like Akbars quest, a lot of people are searching why people are fighting over religion, said Ravish. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) This spirit of respecting all ideas and streams of thought emerged as one of the biggest takeaways from this session. At a time when efforts are being made to erase the history of Mughals, Zaman feels Akbar survives as an idea of eclecticism. Talking to HT later, Ravish said, When you go through the novel, you understand present day India more than the India of 400 years ago. Just like Akbars quest, a lot of people are searching why people are fighting over religion. Historical accounts have recorded Akbar saying some controversial things, which would offend believers even today. An account in the Dalpat Vilas, a fragment of an anonymous manuscript, recounts how the emperor once declared that Muslims should eat pigs and Hindus should eat cows. This willingness to push the envelope rattled many people, said Zaman. Akbar used to employ the words aqal and naqal. Bynaqal, he meant those traditions that we inherit and accept without question. Akbar always said that we should employaqal, even when looking at deen, or religion, explained Zaman. Click here for our full coverage of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 Follow @htlifeandstyle for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Author Vera Hildebrand talks about her book on the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the first all-women infantry regiment in the world. How did you think of the idea for this book? I came to live in India because of my husbands job and immediately it seemed to me that there was a difference between Indian women and Danish women. Especially in the home, Indian women were so nice to their husbands; they didnt want to eat until they had eaten and so on. I thought this strange and thought I had to learn something about Indian womens history. Then I read about the Rani of Jhansi regiment and I thought Hey! Nowhere else in the world has there been a combat regiment of women and now Indians! I then asked around and I was introduced to Lakshmi Sehgal and I went to her house in Kanpur and stayed for five days talking about Subhas Chandra Bose and the Rani of Jhansi regiment (of Boses Indian National Army) and then I thought Well, I would like to meet as many of them as possible.Then I went all over India, Malaysia, Singapore. One had moved to the United States. When I told people what I was doing they said, Oh, I didnt know that there were women soldiers! More people should know about it and so I started writing it. As I was writing about it I realised I didnt know nearly enough about Indian culture, history, so I started studying that. Thats why this book took so long to write. It took me eight years! Your book Women at War; Subhas Chandra Bose and the Rani of Jhansi Regiment is a great subject because it stands at the junction of feminist history, military history and national history. There is a lot to look into because it really is interrelated. To understand Bose I had to learn about his family and what he read in college in order to see how he got his inspiration. He said that in the new, free India, Indian women need to have equal rights and equal responsibility. And I thought Right, you dont get anything without putting something in. He wanted women to do their part, to fight for freedom, and he started recruiting Indian women. And these young women were just amazing. I talked to them when they were in their late seventies and eighties and nineties and they just warmed my heart. They said you are asking me this but nobody ever wanted to know. One of them in Malaysia said when she got back her mother said, OK you did what you wanted to do. Now the war is over and there is no difference in free India so now just dont talk about it. I imagine some mothers would have wondered how to get their daughters married if its known that they had spent two years in the jungle with male soldiers and Japanese soldiers. But all of them except for one of them got married. All the women I met said that those years they spent in the Rani of Jhansi regiment were the best years of their life. I said but you had a good marriage, wonderful children, a good job. And they said yes, but there was nothing like being together with other women fighting for something that was greater than themselves. This is 65 years later. I am absolutely convinced Bose died. It was not in his personality to see how things would go. He wanted so much for India to be free and for women to become equal and so on, says Hildebrand. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) Watch: In conversation with Vera Hildebrand, author of Women at War There were rumours that Subhas Chandra Bose hadnt really died. Yes, I had read many of those books that said he had become a sadhu. I asked the Ranis and they said, No, of course Netaji died. They never called him Bose. They said he would have returned, he would have come back when he saw how the country was doing; he must have died in that airplane crash. I am absolutely convinced Bose died. It was not in his personality to see how things would go. He wanted so much for India to be free and for women to become equal and so on. He couldnt have sat somewhere and contemplated life, no. Click here for our full coverage of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 Follow @htlifeandstyle for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Government is likely to make sweeping recast of direct taxes in the ensuing Budget to give a boost to the economy following demonetisation, says a report. According to SBIs research report Ecowrap, the upcoming Budget is likely to see an increase in personal income tax exemption limit, increase in section 80C exemption limit, interest exemption on housing loan and and at least reducing (if not abolishing) the lock in period for bank fixed deposits. We expect an increase in personal income tax exemption limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3.0 lakh, increase in section 80C exemption limit from current Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, interest exemption on housing loan from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh and at least reducing (if not abolishing) the lock in period for bank fixed deposits from 5 years to 3 years for availing tax exemption, SBI Research said in its Ecowrap report. The report, authored by Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Chief Economic Adviser & GM, Economic Research Department, SBI noted that such giveaways will cost Rs 35,300 crore but we expect this to be more than balanced by IDS2 revenue and cancelled note liabilities of RBI. SBI Research expects tax collection under IDS to be around Rs 50,000 crore and cancelled liabilities from RBI to be around Rs 75,000 crore. Following the demonetisation move, the recast in direct tax moves is expected to give a boost the economy. The demonetisation has changed the entire gamut of the economy. The GDP growth is expected to be grow by 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 compared to 7.6 per cent growth in 2015-16, it said. The report further noted that the challenges for the budget this year are more formidable than they were in the previous year. There is no substitute to investment led growth as opposed to consumption led. A more prudent approach will be to select two-three high potential sectors for fiscal stimulus, agriculture being the most promising followed by SME, it said. To compete with app-based taxi hailing services, Meru Cabs has restructured its service offering and introduced new cab categories that can be booked through its revamped mobile application Meru Cabs. We are adding SUVs, sedans and hatchbacks as a separate service through the mobile app. The pricing is also competitive, in line with other services available in the market, Meru Cabs CEO Nilesh Sangoi told PTI. Last year, our revenues were to the tune of Rs 500 crore. We have crossed it this fiscal and will be looking to close at even more positive note due to our new initiatives, he added. Meru has roped in 2,000 drivers and vehicles under these new categories and are beginning services in Mumbai. It will roll out services in other cities after a month, he further said. The rates have been fixed at Rs 9/km for hatchback, Rs 10/km for sedan and SUV at Rs 15/Km. Meru does not plan to charge travellers surge price. By revamping our services portfolio, we aim to provide even more affordable travel options for our ever growing customer base, Sangoi said. Last year Meru has begun a slew of services in order to keep up with the changing scenario of the taxi industry. Last June, Meru raised $ 25 million (about Rs 165 crore) from Brand Capital, the investment arm of Bennett Coleman and Co (BCCL), which it is deploying to enhance services, increase brand salience and brand awareness with the aim of widening its customer base. It has expanded to 24 additional cities, launched services including Carpool, disability equipped vehicles under Meru Enable, and also integrated its booking system with Facebooks messenger bot, besides its own mobile application. It has also grown its fleet size to 20,000 vehicles, it said. In an unprecedented change in Olas leadership team, the cab-hailing companys first employee Pranay Jivrajika has been replaced by an outsider. Jivrajika was the chief operating officer of Ola and was responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the company. He is replaced by Vishal Kaul, who has worked with PepsiCo since 1999, and in his last role was the general manager of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Ola is Ubers local rival, and is engaged in a turf war of market share with the American firm, as both the companies are burning in the tune of $40-50 million, each, every month. After Flipkart, Ola is the second large Indian startup, which is trying to institutionalise the company, to be run by executives. Jivrajika has been elevated as the founding partner, and the company said, he will continue to lead strategic initiative. Flipkart, recently, appointed Kalyan Krishnamurthy as its CEO, as co-founder Binny Bansal moved up to become the CEO of the Flipkart Group, which also counts Myntra and Jabong as its businesses. Pranay (Jivrajika) has been a partner with Ankit (Bhati, co-founder) and me in every single brick that has been laid since inception, from one booking a day to over a million bookings a day now, said Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and co-founder at Ola. Jivrajika will work closely with Aggarwal on strategic initiatives, and that the organisational change will enable him to focus on these initiatives much more sharply, the co-founder said. Meanwhile, Kaul will look at bringing in some global expertise and a fresh dimension of marketing, scale and business operations, aspects that he has learnt by spending nearly 18 years at global packaged food and beverage maker, PepsiCo. Aggarwal said that his discussions with Kaul started a few months ago and he enjoyed those interactions. He is a passionate and experienced business leader with a demonstrated ability to drive business towards growth and profitability. His intuitive understanding of consumer businesses, ecosystem management experience and market understanding is invaluable, Aggarwal said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Protest that erupted on Sunday after the ruling Congress unveiled its first list of candidates for Uttarakhand assembly poll took an ugly turn on Monday with supporters of a ticket hopeful vandalising the partys state headquarters. One of the supporters of Aryendra Sharma, who was Congress candidate from Sahaspur assembly constituency in the 2012 state poll, tried to immolate self but police whisked him off to a police station. Sharma, however, lost to BJPs Sahdev Singh Pundir by more than 5,000 votes. Supporters of a candidate burn an effigy of Uttarakhand Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay at Rajiv Bhawan in Dehradun on Monday. (Vinay Santosh Kumar/ HT Photo) They were protesting against nomination of Congress state unit president Kishore Upadhyay from the seat. Agitated supporters of Sharma burnt Upadhyays effigy besides damaging furniture at the party office. One protester identified as Shamim from Sahaspur village poured diesel to immolate self. We want the Congress to change its candidate from Sahaspur and field Sharma from the seat. We will ensure his victory. Upadhtyay cannot win it, said Sanjay Kuamr, the Sahaspur block unit president of Congress. Meanwhile, a section of Congress workers from Tehri district began a dharna demanding that Upadhyay must contest from his home constituency -- Tehri. Led by Tehri district Congress president Suraj Rana, the Congress workers said Upadhyay, who won from Tehri assembly constituency in 2002 and 2007, should contest again from the seat as there was a wave in his favour. We want Upadhyay to contest again from Tehri and he will win the seat hands down. There is a wave in his favour, said Pankaj Raturi, the Congress state unit secretary. The hill state will hold election to the 70-member state assembly on February 15. DEHRADUN: The BJPs Uttarakhand unit has constituted a core team of party leaders to placate its disgruntled members who are on protest after being denied tickets to contest the February 15 assembly election. The move comes following intervention of BJP central leadership as nearly a dozen party leaders resigned from the party after failing to get nominations. The party has also readied an aggressive campaign strategy that would be launched soon. The two key decisions were taken at a meeting held by the partys four central leaders after they arrived in the city (Dehradun) on Sunday night, BJP state unit spokesperson Vijay Goyal said. Central leaders are national vice-president Shyam Jaju, national joint secretary (organisation) Shiv Prakash, state election in-charge and union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and JP Nadda. The party constituted a core team comprising leaders of the partys state unit to pacify the disgruntled workers whose name did not figure in the list of candidates, he said. Our central leaders discussed the matter threadbare but concluded that it was not a serious issue as the problem (of rebellion) is confined to hardly 4-5 constituencies, he said while refusing to disclose names of the seats. BJP insiders, however, said the party top brass was unnerved by the rebellion that broke out just ahead of the assembly election and was forced to depute its representatives to contain it. Those privy to the meeting told HT that the partys four central leaders soon after their arrival here went into a huddle to discuss the rebellion issue. Ex-BJP MLAs Suresh Jain and Shailendra Rawat have joined the Congress and are contesting on its ticket from Roorkee and Yamkeshwar assembly seats, respectively. Other ex-BJP MLAs Om Gopal Rawat and Asha Nautiyal are contesting as Independents. Most (BJP) rebels resigned from the party after it gave tickets to 13 of the 14 Congress turncoats ignoring their claim. BJP insiders admitted that the party was facing problem in 38 of the 70 assembly constituencies where its cadres were in a protest mode. BJPS PRE-POLL CAMPAIGN CHALKED OUT Goyal, meanwhile, told HT that a four-member team had readied the campaign schedule. The campaign would be carried out so aggressively that our rivals (Congress) wouldnt be able to match its pace and magnitude, he said. As part of the move, five mechanised raths (chariots) would be flagged off from the partys state headquarters on Monday, he said. Each of the (five raths) equipped with LED television sets would criss-cross the 70 assembly constituencies to publicise pro-people schemes initiated by the BJP-led Centre and also failures of the Harish Rawat-led Congress government in the state, he said. A schedule for the partys star campaigners, who would soon start addressing public meetings in the state, has also been prepared, Goyal said. Besides Prime Minster Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues, a bevy of cine and TV stars, including Hema Malini, Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff and Smiriti Irani would be campaigning, he told HT. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON shivani.singh@hindustantimes.com Sunil Rastogi, a tailor accused of sexually assaulting girls in four states for over a decade, was arrested for the first time in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, in 2006. In six months, he was granted bail. He jumped parole and went underground, only to be arrested again from the same place in July 2016. This time too, on charges of rape. In 10 years since his first arrest, investigators say, Rastogi made Delhi his hunting ground. He kept going back to east Delhis New Ashok Nagar, where he had started out as a tailor 15 years ago. Read: Good that he was caught : Wife of Delhi serial rapist doesnt want to lament But it was not until December 2016, that one of his alleged victims of the Delhi serial rapist from east Delhi reported his crime to the police and he was arrested again. This month, two more girls came forward. The investigators are still counting the number of sex crimes he may have committed. They are also convincing many more victims some are adults now to file formal complaints. This, however, is not the first time, men accused of rape were found to have a past record of sex crimes. Shiv Kumar Yadav, the Uber driver accused of raping an executive in Delhi in December 2014, was earlier arrested on charges of raping an employee of a Gurgaon pub. He spent seven months in jail but was acquitted for lack of evidence. In 2013, he was arrested in Mainpuri, UP, on rape charges but released on bail. Also under investigation in two molestation cases, Yadav forged a character reference by police to find employment and a fresh crime stint in Delhi. Read: Uber cabbie a serial offender, his village celebrates arrest Following the latest case, women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi has revived her demand for a national crime register under which sex offenders are mandated by law to provide their personal details to the local police on a regular basis. But, as Child Rights and Yous Puja Marwaha pointed out in HT last week, Rastogis name would have figured in such a register only if he was convicted. Conviction rates are among the lowest under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. For 1,072 convictions in 2015, there were 1,418 acquittals. At the same time, successive studies have found that publicising sex offenders made them vulnerable to vigilantism and chances of recidivism increased when public access to such registries limited their housing, employment and educational opportunities. Such registries should be held by the police and not made public, experts maintain. One also needs to be realistic while drawing up a sex-offender registry. A report by Human Rights Watch in the United States found that five states required men to register if they were caught visiting prostitutes, 13 of them required it for urinating in public (in two of which, only if a child was present), 29 required listing of teenagers who had consensual sex, and 32 states registered flashers and streakers. As a result, the number of registered sex offenders in America has exploded, The Economist reported in 2009. In any case, watching a sexual predator for recidivism is possible when the state can identify one. For three cases of child rape recorded daily in Delhi, many never make it to any crime register. Also, in 95% of the cases reported in 2015, the perpetrators of sexual assault were known to the child. Reporting sexual assaults, especially when the abuser is not a stranger, or worse, when he is a family member, requires remarkable courage because most often the victims are emotionally and financially dependent on their abusers. Be it a repeat offender, an opportunistic abuser or a family member involved in the act, detecting sex crimes and helping victims, experts say, become easier when there is a support system in place. Under the POCSO Act, teachers are required to report child abuse if they get to know about one. But as pointed out in this column earlier, in most schools, they have little time and sensitisation to engage with students individually. Read:Four years after Dec 16: Number of rape cases in Delhi have increased Besides, thousands of children are not enrolled in schools. The children of poor working parents are vulnerable because they are left home alone or under the supervision of a relative or a neighbour. Delhi keeps no record of abuse among street children, underage labourers, beggars and the destitute. The child welfare committees and counselling desks at the city police stations are geared to provide help only after such violence has occurred. Those who have reasons to fear the worst need preemptive help. Victims who have been courageous to report abuse deserve justice. And the state has no excuse for letting loose and then losing track of repeat offenders. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday accused the Centre of acting against its legislators with political vendetta as the cases filed against them are failing the test in court of law. Reacting to a HT report Delhi Police struggle to prove charges, AAP convener of Delhi, Dilip Pandey, said the BJP government is using its central agencies, including the Delhi Police, against the AAP. Our MLA Jarnail Singh has recently been cleared by the court. The Delhi Police had declared him Bhagora (absconder). Now, who will take responsibility of the damage done to him (as a public figure)? One after the other, court is questioning police theories in cases against AAP legislators, said Pandey. It shows the police are acting with vendetta. Centre has been using all its agencies to harass AAP and its MLAs in frivolous cases as it has still not been able to digest the defeat at the hands of AAP, he added. In the two-year-long uneasy relationship between the AAP government and the city police, which reports to the Centre through the lieutenant-governor, the ruling party in Delhi has consistently accused the police of launching a witch-hunt. So far, 13 AAP MLAs have been arrested for offences that include molestation, rioting, kidnapping, and forgery. Of the 13, two legislators have been acquitted, while the others are out on bail. AAP national spokesperson Raghav Chadha said, While AAP legislators are being wrongly framed, no action is being taken against BJP MPs and members of Modis Cabinet who are facing charges of heinous crime. A union home ministry official, however, rejected allegations of intervention. The Union home ministry doesnt intervene in any probe carried out by the agencies working under it. However the ministry expects that all directions given by the courts are duly complied with by the agency concerned, said a home ministry spokesman. BJP national spokesman Nalil Kohli warned that bail in a case should not be treated as a clean chit. The proceeding of bail normally have the police demanding custody, for strengthening the cases against the accused. The courts normally tend not to extend custodial interrogation unless the police can bring on records specific reasons justifying so, he told HT. However, bail has nothing to do with what an eventual chargesheet would be. What evidence would be part that chargesheet and the trial process. Unless the police closes the case for lack of evidence, he said. Kohli also pointed out that the AAP should concern itself with the gaps in its candidate selection for the Delhi 2015 assembly elections. Beyond the legal process, the important thing is shouldnt Mr Kejriwal hold himself personally accountable for the failure of his so called candidate vetting process, which was supposed to be of highest standards. Now that we have seen ministers with fake degrees, and the comments of Mr Prashant Bhsuhan and Yogendra Yadav, who opposed the sham of Kejriwal candidate selection process, what he is now trying to do is hide behind legal arguments, Kohli said. In this sense Mr Kejriwal once again reconfirms how wide is the gap between what he promises and what he professed and what he actually he has delivered, the BJP spokesperson said. The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a plea filed by December 16 gang rape convicts challenging the Delhi high courts death sentence order after keeping in view the fact that it was a rarest of the rare case. The appeal, which is being heard by the apex court bench headed by justice Dipak Misra, is at the fag end in the case. Earlier, the apex court had declined the request by two amici curiae, senior counsel Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay R Hegde, to withdraw from assisting the court in hearing of appeals by Mukesh, Akshay, Pawan and Vinay, the convicts in the gang rape case. Asking both to continue assisting the court in hearing of the appeals by the four accused convicted and sentenced to death, the three judge bench comprising of justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan said: We can appreciate the anguish expressed by the learned amici curiae. Six people gangraped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus and thrashed her and her male friend. They then violently raped and attacked her, and threw both of them from the moving bus on December 16. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. The incident led to large scale protests across the country, forcing the government of the day to make strict and punitive laws related to harassment of women. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another man, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August and served three year-term in a reform home. Meanwhile, on December 3, amicus curiae Sanjay Hegde questioned the evidence produced by the prosecution in the gang-rape case, and came out with certain points putting a question on the merit of evidence. According to Hegde, one of the convicts, Mukesh, was not with the prime culprit Ram Singh when the offence was committed, since their mobile locations were found to be different on that night. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia welcomed a Supreme Court order asking private schools built on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land to obtain prior approval from the government to raise fees. Sisodia, also the education minister, warned that the government will take strict action against schools that dont comply with the SC order. We dont have a personal enmity with private schools, and are not against them either. The government just wants to keep their (schools) fee and admission process transparent, he said. He said private schools cannot harass parents in the name of fee and asserted that despite the SCs order, if schools dont follow rules, government has several tools to take strict action against them. Sisodia said the government has set a process for fee hike and got the finances of schools audited by government-appointed charted accountants. Out of 450 private schools, only 162 schools applied for fee hike. Around 28 schools backed out because they understood they will be caught, he said. He said most schools were found to have surplus money and some even had Rs 5-crore surplus. Why are you charging so much if you have surplus money? We are not closing your schools or disturbing your functioning. We are only saying why charge so much money. We want to make the fee and admission process transparent, he said. Read more: Speeding BMW rams WagonR in south Delhi, Uber cab driver killed He said schools who were allotted land by the government on certain conditions will have to follow the rules. If private schools think they can take land worth crores of rupees from the government, and not follow terms and conditions given in the allotment letters, we will not allow that to happen, he said. He said the government did not give the private schools land to earn money. If you (schools) support us, the government will also support you, but if you continue with irregularities, the government will not support, he added. A man held for allegedly making a Rs 20 lakh ransom call for missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmeds release, was interrogated by police at length on Sunday. Even though Najeebs family had on Saturday denied receiving any ransom call, the missing JNU students cousin Sadaf Musharraf on Sunday claimed that her father had indeed received such a call around January 15 and had informed police about it. The accused Shameem (19) had allegedly committed a murder when he was under 18 and spent five months in a juvenile home, said a senior police officer. Even though he was giving different names, police managed to identify him and have seized one mobile phone and a SIM card which he allegedly used to make the ransom call, he said. He had used other numbers also to make the phone calls and police is trying it find out from where he procured the SIM cards. It is also being probed whether he was just making the calls for earning easy money or there was some ulterior motive, said the officer. Shameem was arrested from Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday and was brought to Delhi on Sunday and put through sustained interrogation by crime branch sleuths. We receive a lot of calls- some sympathising with us and some troubling us like these ones. There are some calls where people even ask us to search for his body. We inform police about each and every call we receive and they decide which call they have to investigate, Najeebs cousin said. Sadaf said that they try and attend every call and in case they miss a call, they call back because they dont know which call might be from Najeeb or a call that might lead them to Najeeb. Meanwhile, six students who were served notices seeking their consent for polygraph test, have still not agreed to it. Najeebs roommate, Mohd Qasim, has also not given his consent for the lie-detector test despite agreeing to it earlier. Last year, in November, a guard at JNUs Mahi Mandavi Hostel where Najeeb was staying had received a letter which claimed that the missing student was being held captive in Aligarh. However, on investigation, the letter was found to be bogus. Ahmed, an MSc Biotechnology student, went missing on October 15 after a scuffle allegedly with ABVP affiliated students at his hostel on the JNU campus. A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by Delhi Police on any information about him. In the two-year-long uneasy relationship between the Aam Aadmi Party-run Delhi government and the city police that reports to the Centre, the AAP has accused the police of launching a witch-hunt against it and harassing its MLAs. Thirteen The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs have been arrested for offences that include molestation, rioting, kidnapping, and forgery. Out of the 13 arrested legislators, one was acquitted even as the other cases are pending trial. Apart from MLA Sandeep Kumar (accused of rape) and MLA Jitender Tomar (allegedly forged educational degree), none of the 13 MLAs spent more than a week in jail before getting bail. Kumar spent over two months, while Tomar was in prison for about three weeks. Most MLAs got bail in the first or second hearing, with the court questioning police investigation and their decision to arrest the legislators in many cases. Sample this: In September last year, police arrested MLA Somnath Bharti for allegedly torturing his wife, Lipika Mitra, and setting his dog on her when she was pregnant. Within a week, Bharti was released on bail with the court noting that the dog did not respond to the MLAs commands during examination by a board of animal husbandry board officials. In police files, the court found no medical evidence to support his wifes allegations of the minister slitting her wrist. Another MLA, Gulab Singh, was arrested in a case of alleged extortion from Gujarat on the day he was to hold a rally in the state. A Delhi court pulled up the police for waiting to arrest Singh at that exact moment knowing well that he was addressing a rally. Singh was granted bail immediately. In at least two cases, the court observed that the complainants never named the MLAs. In one case, police arrested an MLA because the complainant blamed AML in her suicide note. Court released the legislator on bail, noting the police misinterpreted AML as MLA. AAP MLAs from the files of Delhi Police: A 22-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting his two minor sisters. The incident was reported from west Delhis Tilak Nagar on Sunday. The man, police said, had been assaulting the girls for the past one year. The father of the girls passed away two years ago and their mother, who has cancer, is bedridden. According to the police, he allegedly raped his 17-year-old sister in April last year and molested his 13-year-old sister around the same time. He allegedly sexually abused them whenever he got a chance. The mother had no idea about her son sexually abusing her daughters. She had given the 22-year-old the responsibility to take care of the two girls, a police officer said. When questioned, the mother told police that the girls would often refuse to go to the school or tuition with their brother but they never shared any details with her. DCP West, Vijay Kumar, confirmed the incident. We have registered a case of rape against the youth and have arrested him. He is being questioned. The investigation in the case is on, he said. The matter came to fore after the 13-year-old shared her ordeal with her friend, whose father works with an NGO. The friends father then approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. In her complaint, the 13-year-old said that the brother terrorized her and her sister. She alleged that he would always look for an opportunity to touch them inappropriately, sometimes outside the house and mostly late at night when everyone was asleep. He allegedly even threatened to throw them out of the house if they dared to complain. Luckily, the girl shared the episode with her friend who convinced her to narrate it to her father assuring that he would help. The girl said that she did not know who to approach as the 22-year-old claimed to be the owner of the house and she thought that if she complained to her mother, she would not believe her. Based on the complaint, a case was registered and the girls have been rescued. They will now record their statements before the magistrate under 164 CrPc, an investigator said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Private schools built on the land allotted by the Delhi Development Authority will have to seek the governments permission before hiking fee, the Supreme Court said on Monday, an order that brings relief to thousands of parents in the city. The schools were bound by the lease agreement with the DDA, the Capitals land developer, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar said, upholding a Delhi high court order challenged by the Action Committee of Unaided Private Schools. If the conditions say you need permission then you have to take it, the bench told the schools body, rejecting its argument that the Delhi state education law provided them complete autonomy. The order effects close to 400 private unaided schools, including some of the citys biggest and popular institutes, and comes as a relief to parents often forced to accept hefty fee hikes they are rarely consulted on. The order gives a boost to the Kejriwal government, which has tightened regulation of private schools and promised to crack down on indiscriminate fee hike. Terming the order as historic, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, warned of strict action against schools failing to comply with the judgment. Though these schools dont get funds from the government, they have been given land on discounted rates, with some conditions that require them to take the permission of the directorate of education before raising the fee and set aside seats for poor students, among others. Declaring that schools cannot indulge in profiteering and commercialisation of education, a high court bench of chief justice G Rohini and justice Jayant Nath had in January 2016 ordered DoE to ensure schools complied with the terms and conditions of their allotment regarding fee. Challenging the verdict, the school association talked about an SC judgment that said private institutions should have absolute autonomy in the admission process, including on fee. But, the top court found no merit in the argument. The DoE website lists Modern School, Barakhambha; DPS, RK Puram; Air Force Bal Bharti School, Lodhi Road, Amity International School, Saket and Sanskriti School, Chanakyapuri among the institutes built on DDA land. Fee hike by private schools is a contentious issue in Delhi and often a subject of litigation. In 2011, the HC set up a panel that identified hundreds of schools collecting excessive fee. In its latest report in December, the panel ordered 53 of them to refund parents. The panel found that these schools had failed to pay their teachers and staff salaries as per the sixth pay commission, despite charging hefty fees. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi Police on Monday told the high court that it has not been able to carry out lie-detector tests on nine suspect students, in connection with the disappearance of Jawaharlal Nehru University student Najeeb Ahmed, as none of them responded despite multiple notices. If lie-detector tests are done on them, we may get some clue. If not, we may investigate in some other direction, so that the boy is found, before its too late, Delhi government senior standing counsel, Rahul Mehra, told the court. Mehra said all students were served notices multiple times in January through the vice-chancellor Jagadesh Kumar. If these students have nothing to hide, they should come out and give their consent (to lie-detector test) and give their recording and come out unscathed. Their hostel rooms are locked. For us, they are absconding. There are not in their native place too, Mehra said. Najeebs roommate, Mohd Qasim is also not cooperating in the investigation, due to which a needle of suspicion also goes towards him, he said. Responding to Mehras submission, a bench of justice GS Sistani and justice Vinod Goel said, In a criminal investigation, they have to tell where they were on the fateful night, if not it is likely to draw an adverse inference. The bench said, These nine boys do not have any past history They should not feel apprehensive. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for one of the nine students, contended that the investigation was proceeding in a one-sided manner. Luthra said his client has been cooperating with the probe and was ready to appear before the agency, but the probe should be done in a fair manner. These nine boys cannot be assumed to be guilty, Luthra said. To this, Mehra said, They are suspects. They are neither accused nor guilty It is in their best interest to cooperate with the agency, otherwise we might have to go to the extent that we dont want to. Mehra also said that a man was arrested for allegedly making a ransom call to Najeebs relatives demanding Rs 20 lakh for his release. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Najeebs mother, said, VIP treatment is being given to these nine persons. Unless there is a custodial interrogation, there will not be a breakthrough to this case. The court was hearing habeas corpus plea moved by Najeebs mother, Fatima Nafees, who has sought direction to trace her son who has been missing since the intervening night of October 14-15. It has posted the case for further hearing on February 13. Najeeb, 27, a first year M.Sc. student, went missing from his Jawaharlal Nehru University hostel on the night of October 14-15, allegedly after a row with members of RSS student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The ABVP has denied any involvement in his disappearance. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nearly 14 hours after a speeding BMW rammed an Uber cab in south Delhi leaving its driver dead, the police arrested the 24-year-old who was allegedly at the wheel and had fled the spot after the accident. The accused, Shoaib Kohli, is a resident of Panchsheel Park and works as a food analyst at a multinational company in Gurgaon. Also read |3-year-old daughter of victim still waiting for father Kohli was reportedly on his way to Vasant Vihar when he lost control of his car near Munirka and rammed into the WagonR ahead of him. (Sushil Kumar / HT PHOTO) Kohli was reportedly on his way to Vasant Vihar when he lost control of his car near Munirka and rammed into the WagonR car ahead of him. According to the police, he was driving the car registered in Chandigarh in his mothers name. Kohlis father worked with a leading private hospital in the administration department and is now retired. According to eyewitnesses, the WagonR flung in the air and skid for at least 50 metres after landing on the road. The cab driver, Nazrul Islam, who was from West Bengal, sustained severe head injuries and died on the spot. We have arrested the driver and will soon produce him in the court. A case of rash and negligent driving causing death has been registered against the driver of the BMW, Ishwar Singh, DCP (South), said. Locals, who witnessed the accident, called it horrific. I was walking by the road when I saw a BMW zooming past. Within seconds, there was a loud noise, like that of a blast. I saw that the BMW had hit the WagonR ahead of it. The WagonR flung and its rear part was crunched. The locals gathered in no time and made the PCR call, he said. The police received the call at 11.30pm. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The new United States president, Donald Trump, used his inauguration day speech to repeat a large number of the divisive themes of his election campaign. Authenticity was one of Mr Trumps strengths during the campaign so it makes some sense that he has continued on this path. The less charitable would argue that his thin-skinned personality and prejudiced worldview does not allow him to communicate any other way. More so than most global leaders, Trump says what is on his mind and is largely unconcerned about the consequences. Read | Will Donald Trump listen to Ashley Tellis advice on India and China No surprise then that Trump has begun his presidency with a bizarre battle with the US media over the size of his inaugural crowd and a promise to fight them tooth and nail. Given that the president has struggled to bury the hatchet with another perceived enemy, the Central Intelligence Agency, the US media should not feel singled out. While part of this is the nature of Mr Trump and his inner circle, most of them who come from outside mainstream politics, it also reflects a broader dilution of the medias perceived role. The days of large media organisations acting as filters and interpreters of government policy for the wider public are coming to a close, thanks to the impact of social media and other communication technologies. Read | America First strategy can damage Indo-US ties, Trump should boost bilateral ties: Ashley Tellis Trump represents the most extreme example of this development with the deliberate use of fake news to mobilise support during his campaign and brazen hostility to mainstream media once in office. However, the Barack Obama administration was hardly the epitome of transparency. It implemented an Insider Threat Program within every government department to track down sources of journalistic sources and secretly subpoenaed and seized the telephone and switchboard records of over 100 Associated Press journalists. What the two presidents have in common is a sense that information power is today tilted in favour of officialdom, that social media gives the executive a means to go around and even confront newspapers and televisions with impunity. The real threat is less a President Trumps rants than the willingness of a wider public to believe whatever comes their way on instant messaging apps or obscure websites. In the US this partly reflects the deep-set class polarisation that afflicts that country and the belief that mainstream media reflects only the views of a metropolitan elite. Read | Ashley Tellis: From a Bandra boy to Trumps probable pick for US envoy to India But there is a broader issue of public gullibility. A Stanford University study of senior school and college students found over 80% were unable to tell the difference between sponsored content and real news and measured credibility by parameters other than sources. This indicates that a fundamental reorientation of education, both at home and in the classroom, towards the differentiating between fact and fiction is needed. Something, it can be argued, education used to be all about in the first place. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Sunday declared the results of Higher Secondary (Class 12) Part 2, Annual 2016 (Regular) Kashmir Division. Candidates can check their results on boards official website. Steps to check the results: 1) Go to the official website of JKBOSE 2) Click on the link Result of Higher Secondary Part Two, Annual 2016 (Regular) - Kashmir Div in the latest results section on the right 3) Key in your roll number and click on submit 4) The result will be displayed on the screen 5) Take a print-out The examinations were delayed last year due to unrest in the Valley. About 75% of over 53,000 students have passed the examination. Of the 53,159 students, 40,119 qualified the examinations with the total pass percentage of 75.46%, an official of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) told PTI. Of the 28,800 boys, 21,586 passed the examinations, securing a pass percentage of 74.95%, while of the total 24,359 girls, 18,533 qualified for the next level with a pass percentage of 76.08%, the official said. He said 13,155 students 6,849 boys and 6,306 girls - secured distinction i.e. above 755 marks. The annual examinations to Class 10 and 12 were held in November last year after being postponed due to the unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces along with two of his associates, on July 7. (With inputs from PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Girls stole the show at Uttar Pradeshs Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University on Monday as they walked away with 38 out of the 64 medals that were awarded to students graduating from various engineering colleges affiliated to it. This is a healthy sign of womens empowerment and how well they are doing in academics. Boys must watch out, Ram Naik, Uttar Pradesh governor and chancellor of the university, said in his address to the graduating students during the 14th convocation ceremony in Lucknow. Ayushi Agarwal shows first Chancellor Gold Medal she won. (Deepak Gupta/ HT Photo) Ayushi Agarwal, a student of Ghaziabads Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, bagged the chancellors gold medal instituted by the university for the first time. She received it for topping all BTech streams in the university examination. Im happy for Ayushi for winning the chancellor gold medal. Congratulations to others also, the governor said as girls clapped. Ayushi told Hindustan Times she wants to crack Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and pursue an MTech from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Experts said their success in engineering examinations that considered to be mens stronghold will push other girls to pursue a career in the field of science, engineering and mathematics. Naik also cautioned the boys, saying these numbers were a wake-up call for them. He added that it is easier to get to the top but to stay there one has to work hard continuously. The governor advised students not to lose heart if they do not succeed in life in the first attempt. Keep trying and whenever possible do something good for the society, he said. VK Saraswat, a member of the NITI Aayog and the chief guest at the convocation, was conferred with an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) degree by the AKTU in recognition of his services to the country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A new modern railway station and bus depot will be built at Garhi Harsaru and Narsinghpur village respectively, state cabinet minister Rao Narbir Singh said at a public gathering in Manesar on Monday. Narbir Singh claimed that the railway station will have facilities resembling those at the Indira Gandhi International Airport while the bus depot, which will be built on 10 acres, will serve as a model for other cities in the state to replicate. Gurgaon has an identity of its own on the world map and, hence, its public facilities should also be world-class. The state government has been formulating development projects to increase Gurgaons grandeur and these new facilities (railway station and bus stand) will be availed of by people across the state, Narbir Singh said. Narbir SIngh added that work on new roads being built using asphalt and concrete will commence from February 20. Acceding to residents demands, Narbir Singh also assured that a district civil hospital will be built in the near future. The Haryana government has been looking to develop the peripheral areas of Gurgaon for setting up residential and services sector under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). More than 1100 acres have been acquired by the state government last year in Garhi Harsau for development projects. Narsinghpur village falls under Khandsa, an industrial hub of the city. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Security has been stepped up in Gurgaon ahead of Republic Day and the police have intensified checking of vehicles at the borders the district shares with Delhi and Rajasthan. The police said that they are combing densely populated pockets, including villages, and have increased surveillance and night patrolling. Special measures have been taken to keep a check on anti-social elements to prevent any untoward incident. Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams have been deployed across the city, including the metro stations. Specially trained 200 commandos have been given the task to keep vigil across the city, including the entry and exit points near the Delhi and Rajasthan borders. The police have also imposed restrictions on plying heavy vehicles in Gurgaon for two days to make way for the Republic Day parade in the capital. A full dress rehearsal of the parade was held on Monday. Heavy vehicles, except those carrying milk, fruits, vegetables and other essential items, will not be allowed to enter Delhi through Gurgaon district, the police said. DCP(east) Deepak Saharan said, We want the commuters and residents to feel safe and secure in the city. The deployment will ensure that anti-social elements are not fruitful in executing their plans. The teams are also conducting checks at metro stations and have ensured that all platforms are covered with CCTV cameras. Also, the security guards deployed were asked to keep a check on all baggages and to focus more on frisking. We have also asked the mall management to ensure that frisking and checking at entry and exit points and to keep a tab on parking lots and to report any suspected package lying unattended, Saharan said. More than 200 personnel have been deployed in areas with heavy footfall, including MG Road and Sadar Bazar. The policemen have been instructed to continue at their new posts till January 26. Police patrolling has been increased on Sohna Road, MG Road and at borders. The bomb disposal squad and quick response teams are also patrolling the city. A team comprising four personnel each have been deployed at Sirhaul, Bajghera, and Dundahera. The teams are equipped with carbines, SLR, automatic pistols and AK47. According to the police, the restriction on plying heavy vehicles would remain in force from 8.30pm to 12:30pm on Wednesday and Thursday. The police have also been directed not to allow heavy vehicles to enter Gurgaon district and divert traffic through other routes or get them parked in designated places. Commissioner of police Sandeep Khirwar held a meeting with transporters on Monday to ensure that they corporate with the police. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For yoga enthusiasts, the options now seem endless. From Bikram yoga and Vipassana meditation to power yoga and mindfulness meditation (yes, thats a thing), anyone seeking to reflect while improving their flexibility and strength can find a proper outlet to do so. And now, theres a new type of yoga: one that caters to the beer-lovers of the fitness world. BierYoga, which was founded in Germany, is the marriage of two great loves: beer and yoga, according to the organizations website. Each class incorporates beer drinking into yoga poses, whether its by balancing the bottle on your head or taking a few sips while settling into a pose, so yogis are downing an adult beverage (or two) throughout the course of the session. Sounds pretty great, right? The genius founders make a darn compelling argument for why this is the next best fitness trend, stating, Both are centuries-old therapies for body, mind, and soul. The joy of drinking beer and the mindfulness of yoga compliment each other and make for an energizing experience. The practice isnt brand-new, Berlin-based Bier Yoga has been in existence since 2015. But thanks to publicity for events at a pub in Sydney, Australia last weekend, with more planned for Melbourne, it cant be long before more studios pour themselves a glass of this nifty combination. Before you fitness friends go shrugging off beer yoga because of the beverages reputation for a high calorie count, allow us to remind you that beer actually has some notable health benefits, from reducing your heart attack risk to protecting against diabetes. Highlights For the beer drinkers with a desire for yoga. For the yogis with a desire for beer. For those who are just curious and over 16 years old. BierYoga is supposed to be fun, yet it is not a joke. We combine the philosophy of yoga with the joy of the drinking of beer, in order to get to know, perhaps, even heard states of consciousness, the site notes. Photos on the site show practitioners doing familiar yoga poses, but sometimes its while sipping from a beer bottle or while carefully resting the bottle on a bent knee. And a talented few even manage to take poses while balancing beer bottles on their heads. Basically, beer yoga is a win-win situation. But not everyone is a fan. On the Facebook page for the Sydney event, Suma Narayanappa wrote, Doing proper yoga requires (an) empty stomach. That is 4 hours after having a simple meal and 8 hours after having any kind of alcohol. But were enthused. So where can we sign up? It turns out this genius class is available in Berlin, Germany, and recently spread to Australia. Were secretly hoping this stress-relieving workout trend makes it way to India, because the thought of cracking open a cold Carlsberg can while getting into adho mukha svanasana (or the Downward Dog pose) is oddly, oh so satisfying. Now see some photos from past BierYoga classes to see what the buzz is all about. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Every time we eat food, it may trigger an inflammatory response that acts as a protective mechanism to fight the bacteria consumed along with the food, a study has found. The findings showed that this inflammatory response, which acts as a protective mechanism, fails in overweight individuals leading to diabetes. On the other hand, in healthy individuals, short-term inflammatory responses play an important role in sugar uptake and the activation of the immune system. The study, led by researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland, showed that depending on the concentration of glucose in the blood, the number of macrophages -- a type of immune cell or scavenger cells -- around the intestines increases during meal times and produces the messenger substance Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). This stimulates insulin production in pancreatic beta cells and prompts the macrophages to increase IL-1beta production. Inflammatory response after food helps act as a protective mechanism. (Mohd Zakir/HT Photo) Insulin and IL-1beta work together to regulate blood sugar levels while IL-1beta ensures that the immune system is supplied with glucose and thus remains active. This mechanism of the metabolism and immune system is dependent on the bacteria and nutrients that are ingested during meals, the researchers said. With sufficient nutrients, the immune system is able to adequately combat foreign bacteria, said Erez Dror from the university. Conversely, when there is a lack of nutrients, the few remaining calories must be conserved for important life functions at the expense of an immune response, Dror added. The study was published in the journal Nature Immunology. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Amazon Studios has nabbed the US rights to the film The Big Sick, which co-stars Anupam Kher, and is led by Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan and Ray Romano, for $12 million (Rs 81 crore). The Michael Showalter-directed romantic comedy is the first big one on the ground at the 2017 Sundance film festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Finished shooting of my 500th film. Thank you entire unit of #TheBigSick.:) #NewYork #PureJoy A photo posted by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) on Jun 17, 2016 at 12:16pm PDT The movie made its world premiere at the Premieres section of the festival. The story is based on the real-life romance of writer Emily V Gordon (The Carmichael Show) and Pakistan-born comedian Nanjiani, who wrote the script together. Zoe Kazan (L) and Kumail Nanjiana star in The Big Sick. In addition to navigating their cultures clashing, the couple also endured a life-changing twist when Emily contracted a mysterious illness. Kher expressed his excitement over the deal by tweeting, And the Big and Better News for our film @TheBigSickMovie continues. #TheBigSickMovie is both proud and honored to now be a part of the @amazon family. https://t.co/jJGyfIxzEl via @thr The Big Sick (@TheBigSickMovie) January 22, 2017 Follow @htshowbiz for more It was the shocking, surreal, drug-fuelled movie that defined a generation. Two decades later, the ageing Scottish lowlifes of Trainspotting are back with a new sequel which premiered Sunday in Edinburgh. T2: Trainspotting reunites Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner with now Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle. Renton, the character that launched the career of Star Wars actor McGregor, returns to Edinburgh after years away -- and his friends Begbie, Sick Boy and Spud are waiting, as dysfunctional as ever. While the first movie was shot mostly in Glasgow, despite being set in the once heroin-blighted Edinburgh suburb of Leith, T2 sees the Scottish capital take on a central role. It was lovely to shoot here in Edinburgh, and you feel that Edinburgh is much more of a character in this film than it was in the first one, and its absolutely right that we are here for the premiere, McGregor told AFP on the red carpet. Actor Ewan McGregor walks off after posing at the world premiere of the film T2 Trainspotting in Edinburgh, Scotland. (REUTERS) Two decades on, Sick Boy (Miller) is a pimp exploiting the wave of gentrification that has swept the city, psycho Begbie (Carlyle) is an escaped convict and burglar, and Spud (Bremer) is still on the skag. Heroin has been relegated to a bit-part behind cocaine and Viagra, Begbie is even more foul-mouthed and menacing than ever, and there are plenty more gut-wrenching gross out scenes to match Spuds breakfast table surprise in the first movie. But despite the tough scenes, Bremer said the film has a lot of humour in it. Its based on the real struggle of what it is to get by, you know, why people fill their lives with something... whether it is heroin or whatever they find to fill the void and heal the pain, he told AFP. There are references throughout to the first movie, including to its hugely successful soundtrack with a remix of Iggy Pops Lust for Life. Irvine Welsh, author of the Trainspotting novel, said the inclusion of Edinburgh group Young Fathers gave the new film a distinctive Edinburgh feel. Theyre fantastic artists, and Danny very much saw them as being the voice of Trainspotting 2, he told AFP at the premiere. Scottish author Irvine Welsh walks along Princes Street as he leaves an interview with Reuters ahead of the premiere of the film T2 Trainspotting in Edinburgh. (REUTERS) While new voices appear on the soundtrack, Boyle said bringing the earlier cast back for T2 saw them add their two decades of experience. They stepped back into the roles... they factored in their own 20 years of experience into their characters and they were off and on their way, he told the Associated Press. Expectations are high after the first film, which was made for just $3 million in 1996, won critical acclaim and grossed over $70 million worldwide. Reviews so far have been largely positive -- The Guardian said it was not as good as the first, but has the same punchy energy, the same defiant pessimism, and theres nothing around like it. Director Danny Boyle poses as he arrives at the world premiere of the film T2 Trainspotting in Edinburgh, Scotland. (REUTERS) T2 is about betrayal and reconciliation, both in front and behind the camera. In Trainspotting, Renton ditched his friends and ran off to Amsterdam with the takings of a big drug deal. Boyle and McGregor, who worked together on Shallow Grave and A Life Less Ordinary, also fell out after the director cast Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach. Follow @htshowbiz for more Ten people are confirmed dead and about 30 missing after a boat believed to be carrying Indonesian illegal immigrants capsized in rough seas off Malaysia, officials said on Monday. The bodies of six women and four men were washed ashore at a beach near the east coast town of Mersing earlier on Monday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said. We believe there were about 40 Indonesians on the boat and we believe they were illegal immigrants, an agency spokesman said. The boat was headed from Indonesia to Malaysia when it capsized. Two passengers were rescued and taken to hospital but their condition was unknown. A search is underway for the missing. The agency said the craft probably sank because it was overloaded and hit by rough seas. No further details were provided but such accidents are common. Last November a speedboat believed to be carrying illegal Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia sank near Batam Island, south of Singapore. More than 40 people were missing. Social activist and researcher Bela Bhatia was allegedly threatened by a group of men in Bastar on Monday. The accused allegedly gheraoed her house at Parpa village and gave her 24 hours to vacate the house. The men also threatened to burn it down if she refused to comply. This comes only two days after Bhatia accompanied a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team to Bijapur to record statements of rape and assault victims. The NHRC recently released a report, accusing Bastar policemen of raping 16 tribal women in the area. The men came on bikes and a SUV car and threatened to set my house ablaze if I did not vacate it, Bhatia told reporters. The activist later called the collector for help, who sent police to control the crowd. Bhatia told HT that she would vacate the house as there was a lot of pressure on her landlord. but I will not leave Bastar. I have asked the collector for security, she said. This is not the first time that the activist, who has been working for the uplift of tribals over the last decade, has received threats. She had faced similar intimidation in 2015 when she had raised the issue of rape of tribal women by security personnel. According to superintendent of police, Jagdalpur, RN Dash, there were complaints about Bhatias alleged nexus with Maoist outfits. The academician recently gave an interview to a magazine supporting the Maoist ideology. The villagers were also angry with Bhatia after she named herself Bela Somari, which is insulting for local tribal massesPolice have been deployed (outside her house) to prevent any untoward incident, Dash added. Samajwadi Party (SP) national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Naresh Agarwal on Monday said chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will be the non-BJP alliances prime ministerial candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. He said the SP-Congress alliance will form the government after the assembly election. Akhilesh Yadav will become the chief minister of UP again and lead a majority government, he said at a press conference . I played an important role in the SP-Congress alliance. Our main aim is to form a secular alliance before the 2019 parliamentary election to prevent communal forces from grabbing power at the centre. The Lok Sabha election will be also fought under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav and he will be the PM candidate, he said. Agarwal demanded the resignation of Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Beni Prasad Verma from the party. Beni is hobnobbing with BJP leaders for a ticket for his son Rakesh Verma from Barabanki district. He has no moral right to continue in the SP. It was SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav who got Beni Prasad Verma to rejoin the party, he said. Agarwal denied that he was the joining BJP. Some BJP leaders hatched a conspiracy against me and spread rumour that I was joining the saffron brigade. The BJP leaders are jittery over anger among traders over demonetisation. They know that I have a hold over traders and (can) swing their support to the SP, he said. Lauding his own role in the SP, Agarwal said there is an old saying in UP: Naresh jahan sarakar wahan (the party that has the support of Naresh Agarwal forms the government). When asked about his meeting with union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on January 19, Agarwal said, I met Singh for some personal work and several senior BJP leaders were present when I visited his residence in the daytime. There was no discussion about joining the BJP. Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh have called for a rally in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam on January 26 to renew their demand for a special category status for the state, invoking massive protests against the ban on Jallikattu at Chennais Marina Beach in neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. They have said the people of Tamil Nadu have displayed unprecedented unity in fighting for Jallikattu, forcing the Centre to climb down to approve an ordinance revoking the ban on the traditional bull-taming game. They have called for a similar unity among the people of Andhra to fight for its special status and decided to mount similar pressure on the Centre after it yielded to the peoples demand in Tamil Nadu. Read: After Jallikattu success, opposition in Andhra demand special category status The Centre assured a special category status to the state during the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act in February, 2014. The Narendra Modi-led government, however, backtracked on its promise on technical grounds and instead, announced a special financial package in September last year. While chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had no option but to accept the special package, opposition parties in the state have been agitating for the status since then. Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao wrote to Naidu a couple of days ago, stating that the CM should take inspiration from the Tamilians, who have taken the Centre by its horns and got the ordinance approved to allow Jallikattu. He said the state could not achieve special category status as there was no unity among its people. Because we are fighting among ourselves, we have fallen down in the eyes of the Centre. It is time we fight unitedly and bring pressure on the Centre to achieve our demands, he wrote. The main opposition YSR Congress party has given a call to the people to participate in a rally at the Ramakrishna Beach on Republic Day to highlight their demand. We want this rally to be an eye-opener to the state and central governments. The youth should take part in the programme in a big way to make it a success, YSR Congress party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy said. Convener of Andhra Pradesh Prathyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi, a forum fighting for the special status, Chalasani Srinivas asked Telugu film actors to learn from the Jallikattu incident and take a lead in demanding the special status. People of Andhra Pradesh should choose either the Vizag beach or the Krishna River bed to launch peoples protest in achieving the special status, Srinivas said. It is time the film heroes showed real heroism, he said. The ban against Jallikattu got support from a large number of celebrities from the southern cinema. Actors Ajith Kumar, Suriya, Karthi and Trisha Krishnan were among the first ones to gather at Marina Beach for a day-long fast organised by Nadigar Sangam, the South Indian Artistes Association, to express solidarity with the protesting youngsters. Veteran actor Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay and Chiyaan Vikram too came out in support of the ongoing protests in the state. As the protest call started making a buzz on social media, popular Telugu actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan has come out in its in support. #APDemadsSpecialStatus, If youth of AP are planning to do a silent protest on 26th Jan at RK Beach, Vizag, #Janasena Supports them, Pawan, who heads Jana Sena, tweeted. He said the people of Andhra should also display the same spirit for achieving special category status to Andhra Pradesh. If the political class of Andhra Pradesh had shown this kind of solidarity, the state would have got its promised special category status long back, he said. Former defence minster and senior Congress leader A K Antony on Monday came down heavily on Keralas education sector, specially the aided and self-financing segment, saying such institutions have become centres of corruption in the state. The former Kerala chief minister also urged the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau to start its anti-corruption campaign from the campuses of such educational institutions. Education sector...whether it is aided or self-financing...these sectors have become centres of big corruption... Vigilance should start its anti-corruption drive from campuses of such institutions, Antony said. He was delivering the A C Jose memorial lecture, organised by Ernakulam District Congress Committee here. He alleged that managements of some educational institutions are engaged in snatching (money from students). Educational institutions have become centre of business activities, he said. Antony, who began his political career as a leader of Kerala Students Union, said lack of students politics in the campuses is one of the major reasons for corrupt practices in the campuses. He urged KSU and Youth Congress activists to launch strong protests against existing corrupt practices in states aided and self-financing education sectors. Antonys criticism against self financing/aided education sectors comes days after chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out against Christian managements, saying Church-run institutions, which had once strived for social service, have become part of the education business lobby in the state. Inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of St. Josephs College in Kozhikode, Vijayan had complained that most self-financing colleges had turned educational institutions into hubs for commercial activities. A 26-year-old army jawan was stabbed to death while another personnel and the latters sibling were seriously injured when a group of men attacked them in Banganga area in Indore, police said on Monday. The jawan, identified as Varun Chouhan, died on way to hospital after being injured by sharp edged weapons in the attack by around 10 men late last night, Banganga Police Station in-charge Vinod Dixit said. Chouhan, an army man posted in Pathankot, was on leave and had come to Indore to meet his family, he said. Another 25-year-old jawan and his younger brother were also injured in the attack, Dixit said. The three personnel were returning home after watching a wrestling completion when they were attacked. The injured jawan and his younger brother have been admitted to a private hospital. An old enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the attack, the police officer said adding that some of the accused have been identified. Further probe into the incident is on, police added. Days after the Election Commission censured him for exhorting voters in poll-bound Goa to accept bribes, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday told the poll panel that his remarks were aimed at containing graft and sought a review of its order to allow him to repeat the comments. Holding that the EC misinterpreted his comments, he also asked the poll panel to make him the brand ambassador to put an end to bribery in elections, alleging its order against him was encouraging corruption. By stopping me to say what I am saying, the Election Commission is not stopping corruption, but encouraging it. I hope you (the EC) will re-examine this. Through this comment, I am trying to stop bribery. In fact, the Election Commission should make me its brand ambassador, Kejriwal said in a letter to chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi. Read l After censure, Kejriwal hits out at EC, defends his statement On Saturday, Kejriwal was censured by the EC for his comment asking voters in Goa to take money from political parties, but vote only for AAP. The commission had also warned of strong action, including derecognition of AAP, if the Delhi chief minister repeated his comments. He claimed that he was trying to end corruption through his remarks and that the EC can publicise his statement to deal with bribery and corruption during elections. We have shown this in Delhi election. People took money from BJP and Congress, but voted for us. If the Election Commission uses my statement and propagates it then in two years, the political parties will stop distributing notes, Kejriwal said. He also said the EC has not been able to stop corruption in the last 70 years and if his remarks were used, then bribery during polls can be ended in two years. A court in Delhi had ruled that a similar statement I made earlier does not amount to bribery, he said in the letter. Observing that a mass movement and spontaneous outpouring of emotion paved the way for lifting of the ban on Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Monday said a bill to replace the ordinance would be placed by the state government in the Tamil Nadu assembly immediately. The unprecedented and spontaneous outpouring of emotion and sentiment in a completely orderly and peaceful manner by lakhs of youth, supported by common people across the state, has received the solidarity of Tamil people across the globe to conduct Jallikatu and preserve Tamil cultural heritage, he said, even as the opposition DMK staged a walkout. In his maiden address to the Assembly in its first session this calendar year, Rao said, This mass movement has paved the way for lifting the ban on Jallikattu. The state government, after receiving Centres assurance on its support for efforts to conduct the sport, had followed the constitutional route and issued an ordinance amending the relevant provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, he said. He expressed happiness over the sport being held yesterday in the state. The traditional sport, which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014, was organised in several parts of the state on Monday, following promulgation of the ordinance on Saturday for conducting the bull taming sport. As a permanent measure to allow the conduct of Jallikattu, a bill to replace the ordinance will be placed before this august House immediately, the governor said. Soon after Rao started his address, DMK members led by their leader MK Stalin rose and sought to raise some issue. With the Governor continuing to read out his address, they soon staged a walkout. The assembly is meeting for the first time after former chief minister J Jayalalithaas death on December 5, 2016. The BJP will rush a team to Kannur, the north Kerala district where a saffron activist was murdered by alleged CPI(M) workers, as the contentious issue may figure in talks between chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday. The north Kerala district, notorious for red-saffron clashes, had witnessed eight political murders in the last seven months, four in CMs constituency Dharmadam. Vijayan had, in November meeting, urged the Left cadre to maintain peace. Following this, RSS worker Santhosh (52) was hacked to death by an alleged gang of CPI(M) workers on Wednesday in Andalur near Dharmadam. Though the Left party had disowned the latest murder, all the arrested in connection with the killing are CPI(M) workers, prompting state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan to hold the CM accountable. With his own party ignoring the decision of the November 21 peace meeting, the CM cant wash off his hands now. The state is now witnessing a state-sponsored violence and the CM cant insist others to observe peace now, Rajasekharan said. He said a central team will visit the district in a couple of days and that the party was planning a day-long dharna in front of Kerala House in Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Tuesday. Vijayan is in Delhi on a two-day trip to discuss the states ration issue and other pending projects. The BJP has taken a serious note of recurring cycle of violence in Kannur. Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who was in the state last week, asked the CPI(M) to fight his party ideologically not through violence. He had warned the party of serious consequences if it continued to unleash political violence on its rivals. After the CM called a peace meeting on November 21, four RSS-BJP workers were killed in the state. The CPI(M) has scuttled the peace brokered by its own CM, Rajsekharan said, adding that the party would make it a national issue and observe a fast January 30, Martyrs Day, in all district headquarters of the state. He said eight stabbing incidents were reported in January and country-made bombs were thrown at the house of a BJP worker in Thalasserry on Sunday night. Senior party leaders admitted that they were finding it difficult to keep the agitated cadre on a leash. The party is planning a series of campaigns to get political mileage. As part of this, many central leaders will be paraded in Kannur in the coming days. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Several affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fount of the ruling BJP, want the government to allocate more funds for social welfare and support local businesses in the budget on February 1. That would be an ideological departure for an organisation known to be pro-capitalist. But it also probably betrays a sense of unease in the RSS about the impact a contentious ban on high-value banknotes last year might have on next months state elections. The RSS also wants the government to increase support to small and medium manufacturers, who are also seen badly hit by the demonetisation move along with workers in the informal sector. They have asked the Centre to enhance spending on schemes that incentivise farmers and domestic job creators, several leaders of the organisations affiliates told Hindustan Times. Over the past year, RSS affiliates such as the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharati and Swadeshi Jagran Manch have locked horns with the BJP-led NDA government over its economic policies. They criticised the government for opening up key sectors such as defence, civil aviation and pharmaceuticals for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), expressed concern over the demonetisation drive, and the proposed Goods and Services Tax. The budget will be a good time to push for big ticket reforms not just FIIs and FDI. The focus should be on how to develop economy on the basis of our own infrastructure and enterprise, said Ashwani Mahajan of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM). The SJM, seeking a review of Indias existing trade imbalance has been pushing for self-reliance in keys sectors of energy, telecom, agriculture and infrastructure. On his wish list is cutting what he says is dependence on foreign countries particularly China for the import of solar panels and giving a fillip to rural economy by incentivising farmers to grow more pulses and food crops. The SJM also wants the government to hand-hold local manufacturers. Schemes such as Make in India and the ease of doing business should mean more help to the domestic entrepreneurs, Mahajan said. The trade union arm of the RSS, the BMS, that dubbed the GST as an anti-consumer legislation wants the government to allocate more funds for MNREGA and for labour intensive sectors. Post demonetisation the small and medium enterprises have been hit and job losses reported across many sectors, there is need to create more avenues for earning, so the allocation for MNREGA must go up, said Vrijesh Upadhyay of the BMS. An overall increase in income tax exemption is also on their wish list. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over investigation in three cases of alleged murder and extortion, purportedly masterminded by gangster Chhota Rajan. The gangster, who is in custody here following his deportation from Indonesia in 2015, is being booked by CBI on the request of Maharashtra government and further notification from the Centre. The CBI had taken over a case of alleged murder and other two cases of extortion against Rajan, who is a former key aide of dreaded don and Bombay blasts main accused Dawood Ibrahim. Giving details of the case, CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said, the first case (of extortion) was earlier registered at Nirmal Nagar in Mumbai (Maharashtra) against unknown persons in April 1999. It was alleged in the complaint that during the period from March 2, 1999 to April 8, 1999, the unknown accused persons identifying themselves as Rohit, John, Ashok, etc of Chhota Rajan gang made telephonic calls to the complainant and threatened him with dire consequences to extort money to the tune of Rs 25 lakh (approx), he said. Gaur said, in this case, provisions of MCOC Act, 1999 were subsequently applied by the local police. In the second case registered at Police Station Tilak Nagar in Mumbai against two unknown persons, it was alleged that on October 7, 1998, when deceased Bala Kotiyan along with his friend was sitting at Navgrah Hotel, two unknown persons holding revolver and pistol entered the hotel shot him dead, he said. In the third case, Gaur said, it was alleged that on July 31, 2004 accused persons with common intention forcibly entered in the office of complainant at Mulund posing themselves as the gang members of Chota Rajan and assaulted complainant and his servant and demanded money at gun point. The accused also damaged mobile phone/remote of the complainant. In this case, provisions of MCOC Act, 1999 were subsequently applied by state police, he said. Rajan was detained by Indonesian Police in Bali on his arrival from Australia following a Red Corner Notice by the Interpol. He was later deported to India on November 6, 2015. The Delhi High Court put on hold a Central Information Commission (CIC) order on Monday, directing the Delhi University to allow the inspection of records of the students who had passed Bachelor of Arts in 1978, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also cleared the exam. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva issued a notice to RTI activist Neeraj and sought his response on DUs plea against the CIC order on December 21, 2016. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for DU, contended before the court the order has far-reaching adverse consequences for all universities , which hold degrees of crores of students in a fiduciary capacity. Justice Sachdeva has posted the case hearing on April 27, until then Neeraj will have to reply to the DUs plea. In its plea, the university has contended that the CIC order was passed in unexplainable haste as the information sought is third party personal information. It has argued if the order is not interfered with, all the universities and education bodies would be flooded with applications seeking information with regard to third parties. The CIC had directed the university to allow the inspection of the register containing complete information on the results of all the students who passed the BA exams in 1978, along with the roll number, candidates names, fathers name and marks. Neerajs plea to get details of all the examinees along with their results was previously denied by the Central Public Information Officer of the university, saying it was personal information of the students concerned, the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) probing the incident of an IndiGo flight aborting take off from Mumbai Airport due to an engine failure last week might handover the inquiry to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), sources said. AAIB, the apex probe body under the civil aviation ministry, has a mandate to investigate accidents and serious incidents involving Indian aircraft. We have started our probe into the incident. However, if the preliminary findings suggest some serious issue, we may ask the AAI to take over the investigation, DGCA sources said. Read: Technical snag grounds IndiGo Mumbai-Delhi flight, all passengers safe The commander of the flight 6E-248, which had 165 passengers and six crew members onboard, had to reject the take off at the last minute from Mumbais Chhtrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai for New Delhi on Saturday night after one of its engine failed with a loud noise and sparks. After opening take off power, the captain observed a technical snag. Hence rejected take-off and came back to bay due to precautionary reasons, IndiGo had said in the statement adding a loud noise was heard by crew and passengers, some passengers seemed to have observed a flash of light. This was the third time in last one week that an IndiGo plane suffered a technical glitch either midair or on the ground. Read: Passengers claim they saw sparks from engine, Mumbai-Delhi flight aborted On January 17, IndiGo flight 6E-5263 operating on Delhi -Bagdogra route was diverted to Varanasi and made an emergency landing there after one of its engines failed midway. A day later, another IndiGo aircraft which had flown from Delhi for Dibrugarh made an emergency landing at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport after being diverted to Kolkata for a technical snag. The Centre dispatched 35 tonnes of petroleum products to Manipur to tackle the crisis arising out of the 82-day economic blockade on a national highway which has crippled normal life in the state. While 35 tonnes of petroleum and diesel were sent through an Indian Airforce C-17 Globemaster plane, 70 tonnes of more petroleum products will be sent soon, official sources said. The move came two days after an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh and attended by petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reviewed the stock of food grains and petroleum products in Manipur and how to replenish the supply. Pradhan on Monday met Singh and briefed him about the supply position. The Central government has informed the election commission about the move as assembly elections are due in Manipur on March 4 and 8. Prices of all commodities, especially food grains, have skyrocketed while petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders are being sold at high prices in black markets, raising serious concerns in the Central government, they said. Since November 1, the United Naga Council has imposed the economic blockade on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) that serve as lifelines for the landlocked Manipur. While NH-37 was partially reopened, there is no traffic movement on NH-2. The ministry of home affairs has been making repeated efforts to find a way to have the NH-2 opened. On November 15, 2016, tripartite talks with government of Manipur and United Naga Council were called at New Delhi to discuss the economic blockade, which were not attended by government of Manipur. The end is coming, though admittedly it may not look that way at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, when dozens of young Indians have arrived for morning classes at Anand Type, Shorthand and Keypunch College, and every battered Remington is clattering away. Looking around the cramped classrooms, you might think that the typewriter still has a future in India. But in one of the last places in the world where it remains a part of everyday life, twilight is at hand. Even Sunil Chawla will tell you that, and hes kept Chawla Typewriters going long after the profits disappeared. We thought this business would go on forever and ever, said Chawla, a courtly man whose father founded the family company nearly 60 years ago, but whose own sons chose to avoid the typewriter business. Ill keep it alive as long as possible. But after me, I dont know whats going to happen. Theres no future in this business. For now, only one thing keeps him in the business: Im a typewriter man, he said. I still have a soft spot for them, and I dont want to let it go. Plus, people do continue to send him typewriters to fix, though most of his work these days is selling supplies for copiers and laminating machines. India still has a few thousand remaining professional typists. There are a handful of typewriter repairmen and stores selling spare parts. There are typing schools that, at least occasionally, are jammed with students. There are long-outdated government regulations that, for now, help the typewriter cling to life. But for how long? I come here only to pass the time, Satinder Kumar said on a recent afternoon at Tis Hizari, New Delhis main court complex, where 50 or so typists earn a few dollars a day preparing rent agreements, sales contracts and other legal documents. In this Jan. 16, 2017 photo, an old Remington 2000 typewriter lies covered in dust in New Delhi, India. In India, the typewriter was never just a piece of office equipment. (AP Photo) Kumar worked for 41 years at Tis Hizari, raising two children on his pay. It was such a good job. We were working from morning until night, he said, slouching in front of his manual Remington, a purple beret pulled down over his head to keep out the winter chill. S.K. Kumar (typist) it says on a hand-painted sign hanging above what counts as his office, a rusted metal desk in the complexs yard. Now, there are just 10-15 pages a day for the hundreds of lawyers scurrying through the maze of buildings and corridors. At 15 rupees a page, or about 20 cents, that barely pays for transportation to work, typewriter ribbons and an occasional tuneup from the complexs last typewriter repairman. For the typists, things only get busy when all the computers are in use, or theres an electricity outage. More than 20 years ago, Kumar realized that everything in the typing world would soon change dramatically. The first time I saw the computer, I knew the typewriter would be finished one day, he said. On a computer, letters and legal forms can be re-used endlessly, requiring only changes in dates and names. Often, typists arent needed at all. He laughs, but the bitterness is barely hidden: Now the time has come! In hindsight, he says he probably should have learned how to use a computer. But the typing business remained pretty good until about 10 years ago, as computers grew cheaper and more widely available, so he never bothered. Now, at age 65, he thinks its probably too late. I think its time I left all this behind, he said. Then he looked directly at me and squinted suspiciously: Why are you asking all these questions about typewriters? Its a valid question. Technology changes constantly. Jobs die out regularly. Did journalists write about the decline of the video store rental clerk? Did we mourn the end of the LED watch? But theres something different about the typewriter, which for more than a century was so important to how the world communicated. It was how presidents issued orders, how Hemingway wrote books, how reporters filed stories. Everything from painfully dull memos to deeply erotic love letters were crafted on typewriters. In India, the typewriter was never just a piece of office equipment. It was a sign of education, of professional achievement, of womens growing independence as they slowly entered the workforce. Its been a Bollywood plot line and a symbol of nationalism (The all-Indian Typewriter embodies the latest advances, read a 1950s advertisement for Bombay-based Godrej typewriters) Even today it can be a path to success. In a country where government jobs have long been tickets to the middle class, thousands of Indians will sometimes apply for a single clerical position. And while most government offices have shifted to computers for typing tests, some still require a typewriter. For Suresh Bansal, who for 40 years has managed and taught at Anand Type, Shorthand and Keypunch College, thats welcome news. In this Jan. 16, 2017 photo, a rusted billboard of a typewriter shop hangs in an alley of New Delhi, India. The country still has a few thousand remaining professional typists. (AP Photo) You cannot look down at the keys while you type! This is the most important thing on the tests, Bansal said. The school is little more than a few rooms in an old stone and brick building. Twenty years ago, every typewriter in the school would be in use almost constantly. One person would stand up and someone else would sit down, said Bansal, sitting beneath fluorescent tube lights in one of the two classrooms, his graying hair combed across his scalp. Back then there were hundreds of little typing schools in New Delhi, crowded with university students, aspiring clerks and young women hoping for jobs as secretaries. Around 2000, things started to slow down. Indias economy was started to grow then, and computers no longer seemed impossibly expensive. First the foreign companies Facet, Remington closed their Indian operations. Then, in 2009, the Indian firm Godrej and Boyce shut down the countrys last typewriter production line. The worlds few remaining typewriter manufacturers focus mostly on specialty lines, like clear plastic typewriters used in prisons to avoid smuggling. Chawlas office, like his business, seems stuck in another time. Theres a list of approved holidays on the bulletin board for 1983, a calendar from 1988. The rooms are piled high sometimes higher than you can see with old typewriters and metal keyboards and mysterious dusty boxes. He keeps it all, since spare parts are almost impossible to find anymore, and old typewriters are often cannibalized for their parts. Theres no computer in the office. Chawla has one at home, but feels there would be something disloyal about bringing it to the office. He does all his work on a portable Godrej Prima. Its more than a decade old. Its in perfect condition. General Bipin Rawat, who took over as army chief on December 31, on Monday visited Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir, the worlds highest and coldest militarised zone. In his first visit to Siachen, Leh and the Valley since taking charge, Rawat paid his respects to the soldiers killed in action at the Siachen war memorial. He was accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant, General D Anbu, an army spokesman said, adding he paid tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath and later interacted with troops at the Siachen base camp. Thereafter, the Army Chief moved to Leh where he was briefed on the overall security situation and operational preparedness by the Corps Commander. During his interaction, he appreciated the commitment, dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of all officers and men posted to the region and called up on them to continue to uphold the core values of the Indian Army, the army spokesman said. Rawat also visited Srinagar, Kashmirs summer capital, where he was briefed about the prevailing security scenario in Kashmir. Rawat was informed about the measures placed to integrate all government agencies for efficient intelligence generation and successful conduct of operations. While this was Rawats first visit to the Valley as army chief, he did visit the state earlier this month, taking a tour of the Udhampur-based Northern Command in Jammu province. General Rawat earlier served in Kashmir in various capacities including commanding the Dagger Division in 20112012 and an RR Sector in Sopore - Bandipora in 2006-2007. Read | Army chief Rawat warns Pak of more surgical strikes if it rejects peace overtures He is visually impaired, has formally studied up to Class 3 only. Yet, he is knowledgeable enough to give home tuitions to students of Class 12. No matter how you look at him, Niranjan Kumar Jha, 37, stands in a class of his own. A resident of Sardar Tola, Gulabbagh under Sadar police station, about 6 km from district headquarters town of Purnia, Jha was in Class 3 when he lost both his eyes owing to some disease and could not pursue classroom education any further. But he ensured that was not the end of the road for him so far as education was concerned. So, he persuaded a high school teacher Jitendra Singh to start teaching him physics and mathematics, orally. It was he (Singh) who inspired me and gave me a good understanding of physics and mathematics, Jha said. As there was no facility for Braille learning, I continued to learn by listening, he recalled. Such was his dedication that he learnt the two subjects well enough to give tuition to 50-odd Class 12 students in a room at the residence of his deceased elder brother where he lives and is looked after by his widowed sister-in-law. The classroom is painted in a burst of vibrant colours. Jha cannot see them but the colourful ambience does much to lift the mood of his students he has never seen but recognises each one of them by his/her footsteps. As Jha goes about teaching the properties of light to his students, he uses words to draw pictures that any other teacher would use a blackboard for. Yet, his students say his weave of words is so illustrative, they can easily understand the point he makes. Alisha Kumari and Sangeeta Kumari, both students of Class 10, said, Our sir is very good. He is adept at making us understand even the most complicated topics through his words. Jha earns Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 by teaching about 50 students. I never charge fees from the poor and differently abled students, he says and proudly adds, My students are doing better as I teach them with love and affection. The teacher and his students unite every morning from 6am to 9am. For the rest of the day, Jha either sits in front of television or listens to radio. Radio is a very good medium of learning things. I want the local radio station to commence educational programme for teachers, he said. Besides, the government should do something to break the monotony of the people like us who cant go anywhere on their own, he added. He gets just Rs 400 a month under a government scheme for visually impaired people and lives with the family of his elder brother who died about 10 years ago. My widow bhabhi is like my mother and she looks after me, said Jha, a bachelor. As there is no organisation here to cater to the needs of the visually impaired, they are left at the mercy of their families. The treatment given to them is not very good as they are often considered as a burden, Jha rued. India needs to move prudently to counter growing Chinese influence if the United States withdraws from the global stage under President Donald Trump, a clutch of policy experts said on Sunday, insisting that the Indo-American relations had enough momentum to not be disrupted. Speaking on the penultimate day of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the discussants also suggested that New Delhi needed to understand that it wasnt on Trumps priority list and needed to keep working on its national interest silently. Trump has said he will work on his national interest. We should work with ours, said academic C Rajamohan. Our skills of policy construction will be tested. The session coming two days after Trumps inauguration touched on the impact of the tumultuous election on the 3.5 million-strong Indian-American community, the impact of Trump on global order and whether his avowed policy of global disengagement would bring peace to strife-torn West Asia. There was frequent disagreement but all experts agreed on one thing that speculating on Trumps presidency was just guesswork. If there is weakening of the global American alliance, Chinese pressure will grow. This is bad for India, said former US ambassador Robert Blackwill. (L to R) Jyoti Malhotra, C Raja Mohan, Hardeep Singh, Shivshankar Menon, Devesh Kapur and Robert Blackwill speak at Passage to America session at the Jaipur Literature Fest 2017 in Jaipur on Thursday. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) Former security adviser Shiv Shankar Menon suggested strategic patience, saying that support for India in the US was bipartisan. Can we trust the US? You can trust them to follow their self interest. We should do the same for India. And we can negotiate. Blackwill said Trumps presidency could weaken four key things the current world order, the global American alliance, the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the anti-climate change initiatives. Trump is the first president to have neither served in government or military. So, he will use his business skills to drive global deal making or it will be like sending a businessman to do brain surgery. Either way, it is the biggest living experiment. Rajamohan sounded a sobering note, reminding the audience that Chinas GDP was five times that of India and military four times larger. Theres no parity. If the US withdraws, Chinas ability to influence the Indian Ocean and Eurasia will increase. On our own, we cannot deal with them. Menon agreed, saying India needed to deal with the reality of rising Chinese power. Either there will be a China-US deal or the relationship will deteriorate but we cannot predict. Either way, there is no reason to tie ourselves to one policy. All panelists recalled Chinese president Xi Jinpings recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he portrayed China as a rock of stability. Former permanent representative to the United Nations Hardeep Puri said if Trump could dissociate US foreign policy from its fixation with regime change, the ensuing change might halt violence in Syria. The country standing in Indias way is China and we need to work on it. Puri also said that Indian-origin Nikki Haleys appointment as the US ambassador to the UN wouldnt tilt the scales in New Delhis favour. She might be sensitive to India till a point but she is working as part of a set-up. But her views on Israel and Russia are more nuanced than Trumps. We dont know if it is a good-cop-bad-cop routine. Academic Devesh Puri said the Indian American community was somewhat apprehensive especially over fears of visa curbs and anti-immigration sentiment. But most of them are democrats, live in democratic states and their lives are shaped by local government. He also blamed political parties in India for destroying the higher-education system and handing the advantage to China. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Topping with an umbrella pact on comprehensive strategic partnership, India and the UAE are set to sign 13 agreements in various fields during the visit of Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the armed forces of the Gulf nation. The crown prince is the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, the second time a leader of the Gulf nation will be doing the honours after the king of Saudi Arabia in 2006. The comprehensive strategic partnership pact is expected to further consolidate the growing ties between the countries, which includes robust security cooperation. The pacts will be signed after the crown prince holds bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 25. Focus is expected to be on economic ties. We are expecting to sign around 13 agreements, which will be crowned by the main agreement that will be the strategic dialogue, said Ahmed Abdulrahman A AlBanna, the UAE ambassador to India. The two countries will hold annual strategic dialogue at the level of junior foreign ministers. The next dialogue will take place in September this year. The envoy said his country is willing to enhance cooperation with India on counter-terrorism, but refused to answer specific questions on whether his country would play any crucial role on Indias concerns over cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. We condemn terrorism and coordinate with any country to work on countering terrorism, the envoy said. He also refused to comment on reports that the UAE government has recently attached properties of Dawood Ibrahim. I dont actually like to talk about reports that have any firm source or foundation. I dont read it. It means nothing to me, the envoy said. The UAE leader is accompanied by a tolerance delegation and they would hold discussion with various stakeholders on issues such as religious tolerance and harmony. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tamil Nadu approved a proposed law to allow an ancient bull-taming festival on Monday, hoping to end week-long protests in support of a sport banned by the Supreme Court on grounds of animal cruelty. Hours before, police lobbed tear gas and clashed with stone-throwing protesters demanding the resumption of Jallikattu, a hazardous rite in which people wrestle rampaging bulls, sometimes leaving both men and animals fatally wounded. The protests turned violent after police began evicting thousands of protesters from the Marina Beach, the iconic Chennai seafront that was the epicentre of the unrest for six days. Authorities used riot police in armoured vehicles to disperse crowds after they attacked a police station with stones and set more than 30 vehicles on fire. About two dozen policemen were wounded in the rioting, and security was still tight at many police stations. Jallikattu will be celebrated. We urge the protesters to go back home immediately, said senior police officer PK Kannan in Chennai, as crowds started to disperse. The top court ruled the sport illegal in 2014 and refused to hear a challenge to that decision last week, leading to the protests which began peacefully but turned violent on Monday. The new legal cover, ratified by the assembly within minutes, amends a 57-year-old anti-animal cruelty law to bypass the court ban on Jallikattu. The bill has the blessing of the central government but remains open to judicial scrutiny. It is seen as a step to pacify Tamils, many of whom consider Jallikattu rituals an integral part of the communitys history and culture. The state is witnessing political churning after the death of its popular chief minister, J Jayalalithaa, and national parties such as the BJP, which are weak in the state, are keen to make an impression on its voters. Deciphering the proposed law, former judge Hari Parandhaman said it took into account concerns of animal rights activists as well. For one, bulls used for Jallikattu cannot be drugged or abused, and the event can only be held in the presence of a team of veterinarians. Earlier in the day top Tamil actors backed the Jallikattu fans and denounced the police. Actor Kamal Haasan came out in support of the protesters, saying aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results and urged protesters not to resort to violence. Opposition DMK working president MK Stalin demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged police action. City police chief V George said they would look into the claims. Chennai police had earlier said anti-national elements were involved in the violence, and that most of the students had peacefully dispersed. Jallikattu involves releasing a bull into a crowd of people who attempt to grab it and ride it. Animal rights activists call the sport cruel and unsafe to the animals, who often have chili powder rubbed into their eyes and have their tails broken as crowds try to grab them. The six-day largely peaceful stir over Jallikattu, the Tamil sport of bull taming, turned violent on Monday even as the Tamil Nadu assembly moved swiftly and passed a bill replacing an ordinance that worked around a ban on the sport. The situation became volatile after an early morning crackdown on protesters, which left close to 90 police personnel injured by day end. A senior police official told PTI that 90% of the protesters at Marina beach in Chennai, the epicentre of the agitation, predominantly by students and youth, had vacated the area by late evening and that normalcy was being restored. Reports said most protestors in other parts of the state like Madurai, Erode and Coimbatore were either evicted or had left on their own, heeding an appeal by police. However, the crackdown had a ripple effect in the city and elsewhere, where normal life was affected, with protesters staging road blocks and state transport buses being withdrawn at many places. The government moved quickly to get the amendment bill to replace the Jallikattu ordinance promulgated two days ago, passed in the assembly in the evening session. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017 or PCA Act piloted by chief minister O Panneerselvam, was passed by voice vote with the support of opposition DMK and other parties. It said the Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt Jallikattu from the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. On an eventful day, police set on an early morning crackdown at Marina beach after issuing an advisory asking students to leave. They said students protests had been successful as Jallikattu was held on Sunday following the state issuing the ordinance. Earlier in the day, protesters fought pitched battles with police at several areas, especially around Marina Beach from where thousands were evicted. They blocked roads at various parts of the city with the week-long agitation taking a violent turn. Traffic was thrown out of gear as the agitators took to the streets, with some attacking policemen and their vehicles. Two wheelers suspected to be set on fire by protestors go up in flames in Chennai on January 23, 2017. (PTI) Chennai police commissioner S George said that police had only targeted some miscreants in the crowd who were causing trouble. At a media briefing on Monday evening, the commissioner said, We could see some anti-social elements enter through the sea route to foment trouble at Marina beach. From early morning, we made appeals to the students to disperse, but to no avail. It was only after that the police began evicting them. Minimum force was used to evict the protesters, he added. The protesters tried to break police cordon and also indulged in stone pelting. Around 95 policemen were injured and 51 vehicles set afire in many parts of Chennai and the state. Police fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge at some places where protesters pelted stones. Sporadic protests were happening in different parts of Tamil Nadu and we are controlling them, the top cop said, adding that around 40 people have been held in Chennai. Protesters had gone on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire at a few places, including in front of Ice House Police Station near the beach. (With inputs from PTI) He is a confirmed maverick of Bihar politics - a horse-riding former wrestler to whom changing his surname comes as easily as switching parties. Dadan Singh aka Dadan Yadav aka Dadan Pehalwan aka Dadan Singh Yadav aka Dadan Yadav Pehalwan, the sitting JD (U) MLA from Dumraon in Buxar district of south central Bihar, is doing his fourth term in the Bihar assembly. During his stint in electoral politics, Pehalwan has changed parties so many times, he has given a new meaning to the term Aya Ram, Gaya Ram. Starting as an independent, he has been in RJD, Samajwadi Party, BSP and now, the JD (U). Dadan has been embroiled in several controversies over the years. He was once accused of forcibly occupying a government bungalow in Patna. He again hit controversy when he got a gigantic statute of the legendary wrestler Mahabali Vir Lorik Ahir installed on the premises of his official bungalow in Patna. Dadan is now in the news because the Bank of India (BoI) has attached the landed assets as well as defunct rice mill belonging to him and his son Kartar Singh, for defaulting on the repayment of a loan taken by son Kartar in which father Dadan was the guarantor. The MLAs son had taken loan from the bank for setting up the rice mill. The properties seized included the rice mill at Dumraon (Buxar) and one and a half katha of land at Saguna Mor in Danapur, which will be auctioned by the bank soon. The loan amount with interest accrued on it has gone up to Rs 1.5 crore. The Dumraon MLA, while confirming the seizure of land assets at Buxar and Danapur by the bank, was unable to recall the date and year of the loan his son had taken. I being the guarantor and my son defaulter in the case, it was natural for the bank to seize the property, said Pehalwan. Once a wrestler, who taught wrestling in Varanasi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Dadan plunged into politics and won as an Independent from Dumraon in 2000 Assembly poll. He was soon made commercial taxes minister in the Rabri Devi cabinet. Dadan set up the Prajatantrik Lok Ekta Dal before the 2010 Assembly polls. But he merged his outfit with HD Deve Gowdas JD (S) later. He subsequently joined forces with Mayawati after losing the poll. He contested the August 2014 Lok Sabha poll on BSP ticket but lost again. He was once the Bihar unit president of Samajwadi Party before being expelled from the party. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) is set to present gold ornaments worth Rs 5.5 crore, drawn from public exchequer, to the famed Tirumala temple of lord Venkateshwara as a thanksgiving gesture for the formation of the state. According to official sources, KCR is planning to visit Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh which is one of the richest shrines in the country, on January 30. K V Ramanachary, advisor to the Telangana government on culture, told HT that the Andhra Pradesh government has invited KCR for the inauguration of renovated Raja Gopuram (Royal Entrance) of Srikalahasti temple on January 29. From there, he is planning to visit Tirumala temple the following day to fulfil his long-pending vow. The tour programme is yet to be finalised, he said. KCR would present a Saligrama Haram (lotus model golden necklace), weighing about 14.9 kg and a five-row Kante (carcanet), weighing 4.65 kg to Lord Venkateshwara. At the current prices, the total value of the ornaments is said to be around Rs 5.5 crore. The ornaments are ready and in the custody of the TTD. Once KCR goes there, he would present them to the Lord, Ramanachary said. Known for his staunch religious faiths, KCR, during the days of movement for separate Telangana, sought to appease gods and goddesses by presenting them with gold ornaments. He had vowed to present a golden crown to goddess Bhadrakali of Warangal, Bangaru Meesalu (golden moustache) to lord Veerabhadra Swamy at Kuravi in Warangal, Mukku Pudaka (nose stud) to goddess Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada and goddess Padmavathi in Tiruchanur. Except Bhadrakali, KCR is yet to fulfil his vows to the gods and goddesses, two and a half years after Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh. Though he had made the vows in his individual capacity, KCR is drawing the funds from the state exchequerthe Common Good Fund of the Endowments Department (which is meant for renovation of dilapidated temples)to fulfil them, drawing ire from opposition. First of all, it is against the constitutional norms to spend public money on religious beliefs. Secondly, he had taken the vow in his individual capacity. When he took the vow, the formation of Telangana was not anticipated, let alone KCR becoming the chief minister. How would KCR have fulfilled his vow had he not become the chief minister? asked Telangana Congress spokesman Dasoju Sravan. Columnist and retired All India Radio official Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao said it was not correct on the part of KCR to spend public money on his personal beliefs. If he cannot afford to spend money from his pocket, he should have used the party fund, Rao said. However, Ramanachary said it was a collective decision of the cabinet, keeping in view the aspirations of the people of Telangana in achieving the separate state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Madras high court on Monday declined to hear a matter raised in open court about police action on pro-Jallikattu protesters at Marina Beach, epicentre of the stir for the past one week. A special mention was made before the first bench comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M Sundar about the police crackdown on protesters by advocates Sudha Ramalingam and George Williams. The advocates sought judicial intervention in the matter. Chief Justice Kaul declined to hear the matter saying, How can the court interfere in administrative matters. Police, in an early morning crackdown, started removing scores of protesters, mostly students and youths who were demonstrating at the Marina beach for the past one week, demanding a permanent solution for holding Jallikattu. Though an ordinance was promulgated on Saturday for holding Jallikattu, and the bull taming sport held in some parts of the state yesterday, the protesters had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure the sport was held annually without any hindrance. A Delhi resident was arrested on Monday for tearing pages of the holy book gutka inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The man, identified as Jatinder Chadha, was booked under section 295-A (hurting religious sentiments) of the Indian Penal Code. Amritsar police commissioner Nageshwar Rao said: The accused was doing a paath at the Golden Temple for the past few days. He told that he was disturbed due to his health condition. On Monday, he suddenly lost his temper and tore the gutka. Chadha was nabbed by the members of Task Force of SGPC when he was tearing the pages of Sukhmani Mani Sahib and was handed over to the police, Rao said. He said during investigation, it was found that the accused was a resident of Yamuna Vihar in New Delhi and was in Amritsar to pay obeisance as he was suffering from a skin disease psoriasis due to which he was also diagnosed a patient of depression. He said Chadha had arrived at Golden Temple on 29 December last year and started performing service to clean used utensils, brooming on marbled periphery of the holy place besides regular recitation of Sukhmani Sahib Paath with the belief that his disease would be cured. In a fit of depression on Monday, he started tearing the pages of the religious scripture, he said. (With inputs from PTI) People for Animals, an NGO of which Union minister Maneka Gandhi is the chairperson, on Monday said it had not challenged in court the Jallikattu ordinance promulgated by the Tamil Nadu government and termed as false and mischievous reports to the contrary. It is noticed that some news channels in Tamil Nadu have reported that the ordinance regarding Jallikattu issued by the state government has been challenged before the Supreme Court by the People for Animals. It is hereby clarified this news is not only false but also mischievous, People for Animals said in a release. Read: Jallikattu allowed, other states ramp up pressure for their outlawed sports It is being spread by some channels to mislead and misguide the people of Tamil Nadu, it said. Asserting that no such petition had been filed by it in the Supreme Court, the NGO said, All concerned are requested not to follow any rumours on this issue. The Tamil Nadu government has promulgated the ordinance for the conduct of Jallikattu after a three-year ban on the bull taming sport. Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday slammed film star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan over the latters call for a Jallikattu-style agitation for securing special category status for the state. Without taking Kalyans name at a press conference in Amravati, Naidu questioned: Why should we take up a Jallikattu-style agitation? What is the link between Jallikattu and SCS (securing special category)? Jallikattu is just a rural game. I am tactfully and strategically going ahead. Have I compromised on anything? We have got special economic package akin to SCS, then why this fight now, Chandrababu said. I will myself strongly fight if any injustice is done to the state, the chief minister added. Will Andhras ever learn? If the political class of AP had shown this kind of solidarity, AP would have got its promised special category status long back, Kalyan had said in a series of tweets two days before. But politicians, who are high on business interests and low on political commitment, have denied AP its promised special category status. But I strongly believe that its only politicians who have compromised and not the general public. Jana Sena is with them (people), Kalyan said, adding that the Jallikattu agitation should be an inspiration. #APDemadsSpecialStatus ,If youth of AP are planning to do a silent protest on 26th Jan at RK Beach , Vizag, #Janasena Supports them. Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) January 22, 2017 #APDemandsSpecialStatus ,"Youth of AP"should raise their voice through peaceful protests is the only remedy ,to achieve the promised "SCS" Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) January 23, 2017 Other opposition parties, too, echoed similar views. Congress member of Rajya Sabha KVP Ramachandra Rao wrote a letter to the CM, asking the latter to lead a movement for SCS. If a movement is launched under your leadership, all political parties, media, industry, film industry and other sectors and intellectuals besides students and youth will follow you, he said. Following Kalyans tweets, some youngsters announced that they would take up a protest programme on the Visakhapatnam beach on Republic Day and the actor promptly extended his support. Referring to this, Naidu appealed to them to stay away from such programmes and asked them to behave responsibly. Some people are trying to use you, he warned the youngsters. On the 120th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the revolutionary freedom fighter leader and made files related to him available on the Internet. Files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose are available on netajipapers.gov.in, Modi tweeted. In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister also hailed the iconic freedom fighter. I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism, he said. I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 In another tweet he said, Netaji Bose was a great intellectual who always thought about the interests & wellbeing of the marginalised sections of society. Netaji Bose was a great intellectual who always thought about the interests & wellbeing of the marginalised sections of society. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 Modi also patted his own government for declassifying files on Netaji. Honoured that our Government got the opportunity to declassify files relating to Netaji Bose & fulfil a popular demand pending for decade, another tweet said. Honoured that our Government got the opportunity to declassify files relating to Netaji Bose & fulfil a popular demand pending for decades. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 The first lot of 100 files relating to Bose were put in the public domain by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 January last year, on the occasion of the 119th birth anniversary of Netaji. Meanwhile, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also paid her tributes to Netaji on Twitter. Homage to Desh Nayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/h0FLwzERwk Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 23, 2017 Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Monday asked party members to launch a campaign on social media to expose the total failure of the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government, ahead of 2017 Punjab elections. Flagging off a motorcycle rally comprising 250 Bharatiya Yuva Janata Morcha (BJYM) activists for poll-bound Punjab from Delhi, Rathore said they will campaign against AAP in Punjab and tell people about Delhi being neglected and deceived by the party and Kejriwal. These youths will tell people of Punjab how Kejriwal has failed to fulfil his promises and deceived Delhi, Rathore said, adding that a special responsibility lies on the shoulders of the Delhi youth to share their experience of the AAP government with the other states. Youth of Delhi need to launch a strong campaign on social media to expose the Kejriwal governments total failure, he said. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari also joined Rathore in flagging off the rally. I have been touring unauthorised colonies and villages in Delhi and found that Kejriwal government has not been able to fulfil even one of its poll promises. They claim to provide free water but in unauthorised colonies, there is no water at all, Tiwari said, attacking the Kejriwal government. The Delhi BJYM activists will campaign in Punjab focusing on 23 constituencies where BJP candidates are contesting. Yuva Morcha is going on a Pol Khol Mission to Punjab to expose Arvind Kejriwal and his party, said Sunil Yadav, Delhi BJYM president leading the activists. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to replace after nine months the current practice of giving three dosages of medicine a week to tuberculosis patients, with daily doses. A bench, headed by chief justice JS Khehar, passed the order, saying all new patients should be administered daily dosage regimen of tuberculosis (TB) medicines after the expiry of a period of nine months. The current dosage of thrice a week should not remain in practice in any condition and as far as possible, the new drug regime be implemented, the bench, also comprising justices NV Ramana and DY Chandrachud, said. Read: India will witness 152% rise in TB cases in next 20 years: Study It asked additional solicitor general Maninder Singh, appearing for the Centre, to ensure that efforts are made so that the patients across the country are administered the new dosage regimen, recently approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to curb relapse of deadly disease and deaths during treatment. The apex court bench, while passing the directions, disposed of a PIL filed by doctor and TB specialist Raman Kakkar, seeking change in the protocol for treatment of TB in the country. Earlier this month, the apex court had asked the Centre to implement the new tuberculosis protocol saying if the drug combination is the same, then why can it not be given on a daily basis instead of thrice a week. The plea had claimed that the practice of giving three doses of medicine every week should be replaced with the traditional and time-tested daily dose regimen. Read: Use of Bedaquiline: Doctors say Delhi HC order will help more TB patients Terming the decision taken by the concerned department as unscientific and improper, Kakkar had said the present TB protocol stipulated only an inadequate medicine regime to cut costs, adding that it promoted relapses and generated a lethal drug-resistant strain in the body of the patient. He has claimed that over 10% of TB patients suffered relapse compared with the global average of 3%, noting that the relapsed cases were harder to treat than first-time infections. A category II patient (one whose disease has relapsed) in India is given only 24 injections (of the antibacterial streptomycin) while everywhere else in the world such a patient generally gets 60 injections, the petition said. It said more than 20 lakh TB cases are reported at government hospitals each year in the country, including between 3,500 and 4,000 in Faridabad each year. The Supreme Court ordered the CBI on Monday to inquire into allegations that its former chief, Ranjit Sinha, abused his office to scuttle investigations into a multi-crore corruption scandal involving allotment of coal blocks during the UPA-I government. The court asked CBI director Alok Verma, named the agencys new chief last week, to head a Special Investigation Team into the matter. It allowed Verma to hire two officers of his choice to carry out the probe. The court made no comments on the allegations against Sinha. Since there has been a change in guard in CBI, we will continue to repose our faith in CBI, the bench headed by Justice MB Lokur said, declining to entrust the task to outsiders. Prima facie, a case for a probe was made out against Sinha, the court said while refraining from ruling on the merits of the allegations. The court also told Verma take the Central Vigilance Commissioner into confidence during his probe and said RS Cheema, special public prosecutor in the case before the trial court, would provide legal assistance. The case is in public interest and we hope the director will investigate it earnestly, the top court said. The coal scam involved alleged corruption in the allocation of coalfields between 2004 and 2009. The Comptroller and Auditor General, in 2012, pegged the loss from the scam at around R1.86 lakh crore. That figure has often been contested by experts, but the public outcry over the scandal helped usher in certain small-bore reforms in the coal sector, including the introduction of e-auctions. In 2014, based on a PIL, the Supreme Court had ordered a court-monitored CBI probe and quashed the illegal and arbitrary allocation of 214 coal blocks made by the Centre between 1993 and 2010. A year later, a preliminary inquiry was ordered against Sinha on an application filed by NGO Common Cause who alleged that he, as the CBI head, had met several of the accused when the agency was investigating the scam. The visitors book at Sinhas official residence was submitted in support of the accusations. The inquiry was headed by former CBI special director ML Sharma. The meetings triggered suspicion that Sinha tried to influence the probe into the alleged collusion between government officials and private companies for under-priced sale of coalfields. In July last year, the Sharma panel informed the court that Sinhas meetings with the accused were completely inappropriate. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Taunting the Prime Minister on the birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray, ally Shiv Sena on Monday said the late leader never boasted of a 56-inch chest but the nations enemies were scared by his very name and he stood by Narendra Modi when BJP had plans to remove him as the Gujarat chief minister after Godhra riots. After the Godhra riots, (former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee was about to oust Modi from Gujarat CMs post but it was Balasaheb who staunchly backed him then. It was very courageous of Balasaheb to support Modi at the time, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said. The (late) Sena supremo never revealed the size of his chest but Pakistan and enemies of the nation got jittery by the mention of his mere name. He was an invisible force that kept extremist forces at bay, Sena said on Thackerays 91st birth anniversary. The Sena also said the country is in a pitiable state now with the ruling dispensation refusing to speak about the problems being faced by people and only keeps making new announcements. The (late) Sena supremo was firm on his ideals. He did not believe in duping people in the name of democracy, it said. Notably, Senas sarcastic comment against Modi and the Centre came at a time when the possibility of a tie-up with BJP for the Mumbai city polls hit a virtual deadend. Sena, despite being partner of BJP in Maharashtra and at the Centre, has been highly critical of the demonetisation decision, repeatedly attacking the government over the issue through its mouthpiece. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday termed a bunch of contradictions the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, and said the two parties got together in a bid to cover up their weaknesses. In the alliance 20 candidates belong to Samajwadi Party out of the 105 who would contest on Congress symbol, Owaisi claimed. The SP would contest 298 seats and the Congress 105, as per the seat-sharing formula clinched between the two parties yesterday for the UP polls. Basically, its bunch of contradictions, Owaisi, whose All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is also in the fray for the crucial assembly polls, told PTI in an interview. If the objective of the alliance was to consolidate the Muslim vote, why could not a single Muslim win in the 2014 Lok Sabha election (in Uttar Pradesh), he asked. What happened to your (SP and Congress) vote? So, the Congress and the SP are both trying to cover up their own weaknesses, he said, adding, (chief minister) Akhilesh Yadav is trying to cover up his mis-governance and he has failed to fulfil his promises. So the people of UP would remember the 2012 election manifesto (of SP) and the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and unfulfilled promises. Where is the promise of reservation to Muslims? Akhilesh did not form a single committee to take this forward. These are relevant questions people will ask, the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad said. Read l All you need to know about Indias political heartland Referring to SPs promise of giving pressure cooker to the poor women in the election manifesto released on Sunday, Owaisi said, He (Akhilesh) himself is in a pressure-cooker situation. Instead of distributing pressure cooker, SP itself is in a pressure cooker situation, he said, referring to the people questioning the achievements of the Akhilesh government. He alleged that during the Gujarat riots of 2002, the then Narendra Modi government in the state failed to protect life (of people) which is a constitutional duty of a government, and people will not forget the Gujarat riots. So, how can one forget Muzaffarnagar riots which happened under the Akhilesh government? So, this is the problem of all these so-called secular parties (Congress) that they want us to forget Muzaffarnagar because they have allied with the Samajwadi Party. So, people of Uttar Pradesh will never forget Muzaffarnagar, the AIMIM leader said. The Supreme Court dismissed on Monday a plea seeking postponement of Union budget presentation ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in five states, saying there was no illustration that it would influence voters. A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar refused to admit the plea saying there was not even a single concrete example that the presentation of Union budget would influence the minds of electorate in state elections. The bench, also comprising Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, did not grant opportunity to lawyer M L Sharma, who had filed the PIL in personal capacity, to come back to it if the Centre violated the model code of conduct in its budget, to be presented on February one. Referring to constitutional provisions, the court said there are clear divisions of subjects, Union, State and concurrent, in the Constitution and the presentation of Union budget cannot be dependant on state polls which keep happening. It was not impressed with the arguments that the Centre may announce sops for the voters of the states going for polls in the budget, saying Your argument is absurd. This way you will say the party in power at Centre should not contest state polls. The bench did not agree with the submission that in the past, Centre had postponed presentation of budget due to assembly polls. The PIL has said the Centre be directed to present the Budget in the financial year 2017-18 which would commence from April 1, instead of the proposed February 1 date. It has also said the government be restrained from declaring any relief, programme, financial budget until the states elections are over as they would violate the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission had on January 4 come out with the schedule of assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. The Centre has already decided to convene the Budget Session of Parliament from January 31 to present the Budget for 2017-18 fiscal the very next day. Read | What to expect from Union Budget 2017 The Tripura high court has punished a local court judge for drunken driving, a court notification said on Monday. After a thorough investigation, the full court of the Tripura high court led by Chief Justice T Vaiphei has decided to withhold two increments of salaries of Motom Debbarma for driving his private vehicle recklessly and dangerously in a drunken condition on the midnight of June 6, 2014, the notification said. The notification, issued by the high courts registrar general Satya Gopal Chattopadhyay said that Debbarma, the then civil judge-cum-judicial magistrate (first class) in Bishalgarh in Sepahijala district and now sub-divisional judicial magistrate-cum-civil judge in Kanchanpur in north Tripura district, has confessed to his guilt. A high court official said that after the drunken driving incident, the judge was arrested and was in police custody for about 10 hours. He said that Debbarma did not inform about the incident and his subsequent arrest by police to the higher authorities and that he also violated rules. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said truth should come out regarding the mysterious disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. We celebrate the birth anniversary of Netaji every year but we do not know about his disappearance. This is a tragedy, she said at a programme in Darjeeling on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji. We had declassified all Netaji files which were with the state government. Some files were there with the central government. Truth may come out if there was an investigation but unfortunately it did not happen, she said. Read: CIA believed as far back as 1948 that Subhas Chandra Bose was dead Netajis birthday is as important for us as Independence Day or Republic Day. Netaji was a leader of the country. A true leader does not discriminate, works for all, she said. Banerjee made subtle criticism of the abolition of the Planning Commission saying, Netaji had a very clear vision for the country. He thought of the Planning Commission even before the Independence. The chief minister said her government had allotted Rs 10 lakh for the renovation of the house where Netaji had stayed in the hills. Read: PM Modi pays tribute to Subhash Chandra Bose on 120th birth anniversary On the development of the hills, she said, Bengal is not complete without the hills. We have already allotted almost Rs 300 crore to the various development boards. We have formed three new development boards for the hills and allotted Rs 10 crore for them. We will fulfil the dream of Netaji. We will keep working for the common people, she said. From the library lawns of Aligarh Muslim University to the bazaars of Rampur, from the Muslim quarter of Varanasi to the Old City of Bareilly, there is, among Muslims, a wave building up in support of Akhilesh Yadav. But if instinct is pushing them towards the Uttar Pradesh chief ministers Samajwadi Party (SP), arithmetic is forcing them to keep the rival Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) option open. The Akhilesh appeal The CM does not pursue aggressive Muslim politics like his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, or Azam Khan. So what is working for him? For one, his language of vikas development appeals to the young across castes and Muslims are no exception. In Bareilly, a group of Muslim entrepreneurs list out Akhileshs achievements, especially electricity. In the 12 big cites of UP now, there is electricity for over 22 hours, says Farhan. Mohammed Yasir, an AMU student, praises the CM for giving them laptops, scholarships, and now promising smartphones. There is also an attraction for the moderation he brings to the political discourse. Mufti Syed Ahmed, a Bareilly maulana, points out, He is accommodative, he is polite to everyone, he has not said a single negative thing about any community be it Muslims or anyone else. And finally, Akhilesh has benefited from his partys high credibility among the Muslims who think of SP as their own and here he owes a huge debt to his father. In Muzaffanagar, Maulana Nazar Mohammed of the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind says, When the SP is in power, the Musalman feels it is his sarkar. We can walk proudly. This is both Netaji and Akhileshs legacy. We want them back. But in 2013, on the streets of the same city, there was enormous anger against the SP for its failure to protect Muslim lives and property. Mohammed claims that the SP government has given compensation to the families of the dead and injured, and arrested the accused. Many riots happen. At least this government has made some effort. Mayawati-Muslim distance But this does not mean that BSP chief Mayawati is not an option at all. In seats where she has put up Muslim candidates, where there is a substantial Dalit population, and where her candidates are best positioned to take on the BJP, Muslim voters may shift to the BSP. But this is largely tactical. Why has Mayawati, despite her better record on law and order and riots and public appeals to the community, not been able to strike a chord? Has Mayawati ever spoken for Muslims? Does she visit Muslims after riots? She is only focused on her own community. All she wants is money, parks, elephants and statues. Has she ever spoken for Muslims? Does she visit Muslims after riots? She is only focused on her own community. All she wants is money, parks, elephants and statues, says Mohammed Shadam, a worker in Aligarhs labour mandi. Mayawatis general political style inaccessibility, not doing movements and living primarily in Delhi while in opposition, not intervening forcefully on issues which matter to minorities seem to have cost her support. The fact that Mayawati was once with the BJP in does not help. Many suspect she could well have a post-poll understanding. But a former pradhan of a Muzaffanagar village says, SP is my first choice; but I dont think BSP can go to BJP now. All her Muslim MLAs will rebel. The third reason they are waiting before committing to Mayawati is because Muslims want to judge if her own base is completely with her. In the 2014 elections, a section of the Dalit vote had shifted to the BJP. She still has Jatavs but it is not like the past, where they were blindly loyal to her. We have to be first sure if they are with her, says Mohammed, a Moradabad local who drives a taxi back in Delhi and is home on a break. Over the next month, it will become clear if Muslims vote with their heart or allow more hard-headed calculations to prevail. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after her party sealed an alliance with Samajwadi Party for Uttar Pradesh polls, Sheila Dikshit said on Monday she has withdrawn herself as Congress chief ministerial candidate but would continue to campaign in the politically-crucial state if the party leadership wants. I am no longer the chief ministerial candidate of Congress in UP. I had said it before that I will be happy to withdraw myself as the CM nominee in case of an alliance with SP, she said. The three-time Delhi chief minister, however, said she was ready to campaign hard for Congress if the party high-command wants her to continue her involvement in Uttar Pradesh. I am happy that both SP and Congress finally came together. I think the poll outcome for Congress will be better than what we would have done while contesting the polls alone. Though things are not very clear now, I think SP-Congress alliance will get majority, Dikshit told PTI. In July last year, Congress had named 79-year-old Dikshit as the partys chief ministerial face and she had campaigned across the state in the last few months. Ending days of suspense, Congress and SP on Sunday finalised the alliance under which SP will contest 298 of 403 seats while Congress will fight in the remaining 105 constituencies. Congress had made Dikshit the partys CM face, thinking that her Brahmin background will help the party woo the community. Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of Congress veteran from UP late Uma Shankar Dikshit, a tall Brahmin leader who had served as a Union minister and governor for a long time. The Brahmin community, a traditional vote bank of Congress, had shifted allegiance to BJP in the aftermath of the Mandir-Mandal politics. The US was so concerned by the growth of the nuclear programmes of India and Pakistan in the 1980s that it toyed with the proposal of appointing a nuclear emissary to the two countries to help tamp down tensions. The proposal is analysed in a top secret memorandum dated September 6, 1985, part of about 13 million declassified documents from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which have been released online. A year before the memorandum was drafted by the CIAs Office of Near Eastern and South Asian Analysis, then US President Ronald Reagan had warned Pakistani dictator Zia-ul-Haq that India could take military action to pre-empt your nuclear programme, according to state department documents declassified in 2015. Though Gandhi probably will avoid anything approaching agreement to serious US involvement in the problem, the Pakistanis will welcome an emissary but will want assurances that the US can deliver India on any specific measures, the heavily redacted memo states in its summary. The memo states Gandhis personal style and priorities have provided impetus for warmer ties with the US but adds: We are not sanguine that even a meeting with Gandhi will produce positive results. The CIA also stated that, in its judgement, Gandhi doubted the US desire to deal evenhandedly with India and Pakistan. By the mid-1980s, India was becoming more and more aware of the Pakistan-China nuclear cooperation. The intelligence had been accumulating and Rajiv Gandhi got major inputs on the Pakistani programme, said Commodore (retired) C Uday Bhaskar,director of independent think-tank Society for Policy Studies. Besides, he had a very good visit to the US in 1985 and he had ambitious thoughts on nuclear issues. So there were political reasons for the US to look at the issue of an emissary. But Bhaskar said the US efforts were slightly misplaced because they were doubly aware of the Pakistani programme and even enabling it despite the Pressler Amendment of August 1985, which banned sales of military gear unless the US president certified that Pakistan did not possess a nuclear explosive device. The memo also provides a tantalising bit of information that Gandhi was apparently looking at alternative approaches to the India-Pakistan nuclear issue, including possibly arms control rather than non-proliferation. At the time, Gandhi had been making a major push with a six-nation grouping for nuclear disarmament, a pet topic for the late prime minister. These moves would culminate with Gandhis speech at the UN General Assembly in 1988, when he outlined an Action Plan for a nuclear weapon-free world. Highlights A trove of 930,000 declassified documents, running into more than 12 million pages, recently posted online by the CIA provides fascinating insights into the way the US spy service covered India. Hindustan Times did a deep dive into the documents to find out how the CIA tracked important events and personalities in India over a period of more than five decades beginning in the late 1940s. The CIA believed Gandhi would be more willing to consider US efforts aimed at non-proliferation if Washington acknowledged the right of non-aligned nations to increased participation in arms control for a. As for the Pakistanis, the CIA concluded they would play along and welcome any nuclear emissary Washington might send. It even states Zia, knowing Pakistan has little to lose, would, unlike the Indians, give a relatively low-level emissary a serious hearing. The specific Pakistani reaction to the emissary will hinge on the Indian response, the memo states. But the CIA had grave doubts that even a formal nuclear agreement would mean that Pakistan would end its quest for an atomic weapon. Less than 13 years later, India and Pakistan would both emerge as nuclear weapon states with a series of tests in May 1998. Read more: Revealed: How CIA tried to gather intel before 1971 India-Pakistan war From Subhas Chandra Bose to Sai Baba, how the CIA tracked India CIA files: Despite keeping tabs, US was unaware of Indira Gandhis Emergency plans The CIA believed as far back as 1948 that Subhas Chandra Bose was dead CIA thought Sathya Sai Babas movement would become a worldwide religion SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The CBI on Monday arrested former chairman and three ex-executives of IDBI Bank and four executives of Kingfisher Airlines in the loan default case involving liquor barron Vijay Mallya. Those arrested included former chairman of the IDBI Bank Yogesh Aggarwal and former CFO of now defunct Kingfisher Airlines A Raghunathan, agency sources told Hindustan Times. The arrests came after the agency sleuths conducted searches at 11 places including Vijay Mallyas residence in New Delhi, three floors of UB towers in Bengaluru, residence of Aggarwal and Raghunathan. The CBI has registered a case against Mallya and others alleging that the IDBI Bank extended loans worth Rs 900 crore to the Kingfisher Airlines and at that point in time the airline had negative credit ratings. Mallya was the director of the airline. The airline stopped operations in October 2012. The CBI had registered the case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. Following the CBI case, the Enforcement Directorate also launched probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the matter. After the multi-agency probe launched against Vijay Mallya in various loan-default cases, the liquor barron left India for London. The government has approached the British authorities asking them to send back Mallya to India to face the law here. The request of the Indian authorities is being scrutinised by the British authorities. Also read | Mallya to appeal against tribunals recovery order: Kingfisher official SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Karachi-based Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) smuggling kingpin, who is also a known agent of Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has emerged as a pivot to the conspiracy to derail trains in India by using local criminals, sources associated with the probe told HT. A multi-agency probe into three incidents - recovery of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Raxual - Sitamarhi railway track near Ghorasahan (October 1, 2016),derailment of the Indore-Patna Express near Kanpur last November that killed 148 passengers and derailment of Sealdah-Ajmer Express in December 2016 that injured more than 40 passengers - is underway and it has thrown up some startling facts. Saturdays derailment of Hirakhand Express is also being checked to see whether it was also an act of sabotage. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the site of the accident Monday to gather evidence of possible sabotage. Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), the countrys external intelligence agency, has informed the government that a Karachi-based FICN kingpin Shafi Shaikh was in regular touch with Nepalese national Shamsul Hoda who in turn hired criminals for subversive activities, said a central counter terror official who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to media. Hoda is believed to be in Dubai now. The official added that it was Hoda who contracted a Nepalese criminal Brij Kishore Giri for subversive activities in India. Giris bank accounts have been found to be unusually flush with money to the tune Rs 30 lakh. Giri further sub-contracted the job to local criminals in Bihars districts along the Nepalese border. Giri was arrested in Nepal in the first week of this month on the charges of murdering two Indians - Arun Ram and Deepak Ram - who worked for him. The two were murdered in the last week of December 2016. Giri had tried to escape but was shot in the leg. He is being treated in a hospital in Kathmandu and Indian sleuths are waiting to question him. But the Nepal police have told the Indian agencies that Giris phone call records show his regular interactions with Hoda. The money flow between Hoda and Giri is being looked into. Giri has also talked about toppling the Indore-Patna express, said the official. Rescue and relief works in progress after the Indore-Patna express derailed near Kanpur Dehat. (PTI) The official further said Arun Ram and Deepak Ram were involved in planting the IED in Ghorasahan. As per our information, Arun and Deepak along with another local criminal Umashankar Patel had gone to plant to the IED but it was detected and defused. They had been paid Rs 3 lakh by Giri and he was angry at their failure, says East Champaran Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana who was instrumental in arrest of Patel with two others - Moti Paswan and Mukesh Rai - in Raxual following the arrest of Giri in Nepal. According to Bihar police sources Umashankar Patel told investigators that when Giri started threatening him after their failure at Ghorasahan, he recorded his conversations on his mobile phone. In the conversations, recovered from Patels phone, Giri is heard threatening him to return his money as they could not do the job, said a Bihar police investigator who refused to be identified. Many such conversations were found recorded in Patels phone. They are being scrutinised. Another piece of evidence that nails the gang at least for the Ghorasahan incident, the Nepal police have found videos of murders of Arun Ram and Deepak Ram that Giri sent to Shamsul Hoda as proof of their killing. Sources in the Bihar police say, following the failure at Ghorasahan, Giri didnt use Patel for his other hits. For his next operation, Giri used Moti Paswan and others. It was Paswan who first told the Bihar police investigators that he had gone to Kanpur for the derailment of the Indore-Patna Express train, said the Bihar police investigator quoted above. Investigators say, according to the confession of Paswan, they again used pressure cooker-based IED in Kanpur incident and probably were also carrying a gas-cutter in a bag. The IEDs used by them was not a timer-based but a wired one in which one has to press the switch to blast the IED from a distance. Maoists have been using such IEDs for many years. What gives credence to Motis confession is fact that he was earlier associated with Maoists also. But it is quite possible that they might have done something with the track also with the gas-cutter as their October 1 operation with the IED only was failure, added the investigator. The NIA has been asked to take over the probe into the Ghorasahan and with that they will look into the two incidents of derailment in Kanpur also. Larger Conspiracy R&AW has reported linkages of Shamsul Hoda to the national capital also. Hodas nephew Zia-ul Haq is being interrogated by the Delhi Polices special cell. Haq had floated a travel agency with his associates in Delhi. He managed to illegally procure an Indian passport also. We suspect that his travel agency was a front to bring terror recruits to India, said a Delhi-based investigator involved in the probe. The investigator added that the R&AW suspects that Pakistan is now trying to send India its terror recruits by providing them fake Afghanistan identification documents and passports. A large number of Afghan nationals keep coming to India given the friendly ties between Kabul and New Delhi. It is quite possible that Haqs travel agency was to be used for such activities. This aspect is being probed now by the Delhi police special cell, said the investigator. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a move aimed at betterment and rehabilitation of the female prisoners, separate reformatories for women are being constructed at all the central jails in Rajasthan. The new buildings, likely to have all-woman staff, will have adequate infrastructural facilities for housing and providing humane living conditions to woman prisoners and undertrials. As per the National Crime Record Bureaus (NCRB) report on The Prison Statistics India-2015, central jails in Rajasthan had 212 women inmates in 2015 against the total capacity of 220. In the absence of separate reformatories, the woman inmates are housed in separate barracks inside the central jail building that also houses the barracks for the male prisoners. Two separate reformatories for women inmates have already been established at Jaipur and Jodhpur central jails. Undertrial inmates of concerned district and convict inmates of concerned region are kept at these reformatories. Construction work on to build reformatory for women at Kota central jail. (A H Zaidi/ HT Photo) Additional director general of jails, Rajathan, Sudhakar Johari said separate reformatories for women are being constructed at the remaining six central jails including Kota, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Udaipur and Ganganagar. The idea is to keep woman prisoners in a separate building, which will have its own superintendent and woman prison officers. It also help resolve the problem of overcrowding and ensure adequate space to woman inmates, he said. The state governments website says undertrial inmates of concerned district and convict inmates of concerned region would be kept at these reformatories. At Kota, the reformatory for women is coming up on 15,000 square metre area. The construction commenced in October last year and the structure is likely to be ready in September this year. As per the officials, the reformatories are coming up at a cots of 7.40 crore each. Jailor, Kota central jail, Yogesh Teji said that apart from housing the woman inmates, the reformatory would have adequate facilities for vocational training, a dispensary, and a creche. Four barracks with a capacity to house 25 prisoners each are being constructed at Kota central jail, Teji said. He said the existing womens cell has maximum capacity of 24 inmates but currently has 52 women. Earlier, the woman inmates of Kota division were sent to Jaipur central jail to ease overcrowding here. Due to this their family members had to travel to Jaipur to meet them, he added. Reform and rehabilitate All woman prison officers. Humane living conditions. Vocational training in trades as weaving, stitching, soft toy making. Elementary and higher education to interested inmates. Creche and primary school facility for children. Medical care to pregnant and lactating inmates. K N Ramachandran, the general secretary of the Naxalite outfit CPI(ML) (Red Star) which is spearheading the agitation against a power grid at Bhangar in West Bengal has gone missing after landing at Kolkata station in the city on Sunday evening. In a statement issued on Monday, the outfit has blamed the state administration for his disappearance. Com K N Ramachandran reached Kolkata railway station by around 5 pm on January 22. He is missing since then. All attempts to contact comrade K N Ramachandran over his mobile phone went in vain. The comrade travelled from Lucknow to Kolkata to declare solidarity with the people and the CPI (ML) Red Star comrades who are resisting installation of a power grid by Mamata Government at Bhangar, the central committee of the outfit stated in the statement. The disappearance holds significance in the wake of recent news that the administration has got arrest warrants issued against 36 persons, including the leaders of the Naxalite outfit, in seven cases related to violence at Bhangar, lodged at Kashipore police station in South 24-Parganas district. Ramachandran was scheduled to attend a rally at Bhangar on Monday. We suspect the involvement of Mamatas notorious Special Police in the comrades disappearance. We demand the Mamata government to unconditionally produce Com. K N Ramachandran immediately, the statement added. On Monday, while the leaders of the outfit remained busy over the disappearance of Ramachandran, villagers continued with the blockade of the area for the seventh consecutive day. The blockade had started on January 16 after the CID picked up some of the local leaders of the movement and clashes following police action the next day claimed two lives. CPI(ML)(Red Star), which contests elections, has presence in Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal. The septuagenarian Ramachandran hails from Kerala. Three of its leaders, politburo members Pradip Singh Thakur and Alik Chakraborty and central committee member Sharmishtha Choudhury are leading the agitation at Bhangar that has become a major embarrassment and headache for the Mamata Banerjee government. Talking to HT, Thakur, who is also the West Bengal secretary of the outfit, said that they had lodged a complaint at the city police headquarters at Lalbazar on Sunday night. We lodged another complaint at Bidhan Nagar police station on Monday. The police have so far failed to provide us with any information. Over the past 24 hours, his phones remained switched off for some time and remained unanswered for the rest of the time, Thakur said. The outfit is planning to hold a demonstration at College Square in the city on Tuesday. They are also planning to file a habeas corpus at some court in the city. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The smaller political parties, which have pockets of influence in the state, on Sunday announced the launch of a united front immediately after the Samajwadi Party-Congress sealed its alliance for the assembly election. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Ajit Singh, who launched an alliance of 15 political parties on Friday, played a pivotal role in bringing Janata Dal (U) president Nitish Kumar, Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar into the coalition. Mahan Dal chief Keshvdas Maurya and Bahujan Samaj Swabhiman Sangharsh Samiti (BS-4) president RK Chaudhary have also given their consent to join the front. Maurya met Ajit Singh at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday and discussed seat sharing. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) general secretary Triloki Tyagi told HT, Our front is the real grand alliance. We have brought the old Janata Dal and socialist leaders on a single platform. We will field candidates for 403 assembly seats. Terming the SP-Congress alliance opportunistic, Tyagi said, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and RLD chief Ajit Singh will do a Bihar in UP by ensuring the defeat of communal and casteist forces. The RLD released a list of 53 candidates on Sunday. The alliance partners have been told to release the list of candidates on the seats allotted to them, said RLD state unit president Dr Masood Ahmed. A senior JD (U) leader said, After the Election Commission settled the Samajwadi Party (SP) symbol dispute in favour of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, we hoped the warmth between the SP and Congress will pave the way for a grand alliance led by Akhilesh in which the smaller parties will get a place and have a say in ticket distribution, he said. Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav was not open to an alliance and he often criticised Akhilesh Yadavs efforts to rope in like-minded secular parties. We hoped that after taking the reins of his party, Akhilesh will let in smaller parties having secular credentials, an RLD leader said. The JD (U) that played a pivotal role in forming a grand alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar was surprised at its non-inclusion in the SP- Congress front. Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who prepared the plan of the grand alliance victory in Bihar, was on the centre stage of the SP-Congress alliance too. A JD (U) leader, who did not wish to be named, said, We fail to understand that Kishor, who is considered close to Nitish Kumar, failed to bring the JD (U) on board. Suresh Niranjan Bhaiyaji, the JD (U) UP president, told HT: We are waiting and watching. I hope that the SP-Congress leaders understand that without JD (U), RLD, JD (S) and NCP, the SP-Congress alliance will not be in position to stop communal forces from grabbing power. The Peace Party that counts the weavers community in Central and East UP among its supporters has already announced an alliance with the Nishad Party led by Sanjay Nishad. Peace Party chief Mohd Ayub said, My organisation will not merge with any party but it is ready to join an anti-BJP alliance. Veteran Dalit leader RK Chaudhary, the BS-4 chief who enjoys considerable influence over the Pasi community in central and east UP, said, I had spoken to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar about the launch of a grand alliance in UP. MK Mishra, a political observer, said the smaller political parties had a support base in the areas of their influence. They will cut into the votebank of the SP-Congress alliance. Among the smaller parties, only the RLD, Peace Party and Qaumi Ekta Dal won seats in the 2012 assembly election. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the leaders of smaller parties had launched the Ekta Manch but could make no impact due to the Modi wave. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The assembly constituency of Lucknow Cantt is all set to witness a battle royal this time, between Aparna Yadav (Samajwadi), who is daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, and Rita Bahuguna Joshi (BJP), daughter of former chief minister of UP Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna. Twenty six-year-old Aparna Yadav faces a seasoned Joshi, who last time as a Congress candidate defeated BJPs Suresh Chandra Tewari by a margin of over 21,000 votes . Talking to Hindustan Times, Joshi said, I have developed a personal relationship with Lucknow Cantt constituency; my biggest advantage is my personal relationship with the people of the area, then I have the charm of BJP which has bagged the constituency for last five terms. I think it would not be difficult for me to win. Over the question of Aparna Yadav contesting against her, she said, In fact, I want her to contest, people should realize just being member of the ruling family doesnt mean that you have an electoral presence and you can succeed. Aparna Yadav, however, said, Rita Bahuguna has not done any work for the constituency, since my party bestowed the responsibility of the constituency on me I have performed more work in the area than her. Ritaji wrote a letter of appreciation to me for raising voice in Nirbhaya case. Her tone changed when my party directed me to contest from here. I am sure to win as people have seen me working without being an MLA. Aparna Yadav termed the Congress and SP alliance as biggest alliance in the history of Indian politics. Read more: Mulayams wife leads campaign for Aparna Yadav SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As part of the ongoing efforts of Lucknow Municipal Corporation to Go Green, solar energy panels will be installed in about 15 city parks for lighting. This would not only help the environment, but also lower energy bills and generate some electricity for the city. The solar panels will be connected to the LESA grid system and the LMC will have a record of how many light bulbs were powered and how much power saved. The municipal corporation has already decided to promote solar power in the state capital under the smart city project. It has decided to give 5% rebate in tax to houses with solar power panels on their roof tops. An official of the corporation told HT on condition of anonymity, The corporation has decided to promote solar power in the city because it is one of the important components of smart city plan. Under the smart city project, our aim would be to light up all the government buildings with solar power and save energy for domestic and industrial use. The LMC would play its part in energy conservation and generation of solar energy. Now parks can also be turned into a place to generate solar power and promote green energy. The civic body has planned solar power units inside buildings like the high court, civil court, collectorate and all government buildings. With the help of the Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) and UPPCL, the corporation is ready with a plan under which households can produce solar energy and transfer it to the power grid. If this works well, the Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) and UPPCL would be big gainers. Officials say if 20 % of houses opt for solar panels on their roof tops, they can cater to 35% of households, which means LESA can save millions of units which can be used by other areas. Solar energy would also reduce load on LESA substations. While the government plans to reserve around 30% seats in first-year junior college (FYJC) online admissions for girl students from socially weak backgrounds, educators and activists are divided over whether this kind of positive discrimination is justified. The seats will be available in the form of compartmentalised reservation in the existing 50% quota for socially weaker sections followed in non-minority colleges, according to a recent government resolution (GR). It will not be compulsory for minority colleges. Currently, non-minority colleges have 19% quota for other backward classes (OBC), 13% for scheduled castes (SC), 7% for scheduled tribes (ST), 8% for nomadic tribes, 3% for de-notified tribes, and 2% for special backward classes (SBC). Within each of these quotas, 30% seats will be kept for girls, states the GR. This is the first time a special reservation is being made for girls in the FYJC admission process, said BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai region, which includes Thane, Palghar and Raigad. Chavan said the quota will not affect the general category seats. Even if girls from socially weak sections apply through the general category, we will admit them through the quota, so open category seats will not be touched, he said. Explaining how this will be done, Chavan said, If a college has 10 seats for girls, for instance, and seven of them are filled by open category students who belong to those groups, then only three more seats will be kept in the quota. Officials said the reservation is a step towards women empowerment, but activists and educators arent convinced. A Pune-based non-government organisation, SYSCOM, which filed a petition in the Bombay high court (HC) against the state government for conducting FYJC admissions in a slipshod manner, has written to the department objecting to the quota. One of their major objections is a separate reservation for girls is not needed because the number of girls applying passing the Class 10 board exams is more than boys. Last year, 93, 367 girls had applied for FYJC online admissions, compared to 91,607 boys. Girls are scoring much better than boys in board exams and bagging top seats in colleges. Giving them a reservation would be unfair on boys, said Vaishali Bafna, one of the petitioners from SYSCOM. College principals, too, said such a quota isnt needed in metros. Vidyadhar Joshi, vice-principal, VG Vaze Kelkar College, Mulund, said the quota will be more beneficial to girls from rural areas. The quota is justified in rural areas where girls dont get the same opportunities as boys. But thats hardly the case in Mumbai, said Joshi. Read more: Mumbai: New proposed changes to simplify FYJC admissions process SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a major jolt to the Congress, its former MLA Krishna Hegde joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday. Hegde blamed Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam for ignoring loyalists, which led to his exit. Those who worked against the party in the Assembly elections are being favoured, while loyalists are sidelined. If the party does not want my services, it is better that I quit, said Hegde. He was elected to the Assembly in 2009. He was defeated by BJP MLA Parag Alavni in the 2014 Assembly elections. He is the son-in-law of former Mumbai mayor the late Ramesh Prabhu, who was disqualified from elections for seeking votes in the name of religion. The Mumbai Congress is facing factionalism ahead of the civic polls. Senior leader Gurudas Kamat has withdrawn from the candidate selection committee. Read more: Can underdog Congress get its act together? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid uncertainty over a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for civic polls, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is likely to spell out the partys stand when he addresses the Sena cadre on Monday evening, on the 91st birth anniversary of the late Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are less than a month away, seat-sharing talks between the Shiv Sena and BJP have come to a standstill, with the former willing to give 60 seats and the latter asking for 114 of the 227 wards. The parties are simultaneously preparing to contest solo. Late on Sunday night, the Shiv Sena even indicated it might go separate ways, as Thackeray told his city-based office bearers to fight in a way that the party does not need anyone and the Sena gets a mayor on its own strength, party sources said. While the Sena has been holding the BMCs reins with the BJP for 20 consecutive years, this is the first BMC election that party chief Thackeray will lead alone, without the presence of his father, Bal Thackeray, who sowed the seeds of the Sena in Mumbai and deepened its roots. Speaking on the occasion of his fathers birth anniversary, Uddhav Thackeray is likely to elaborate on his plan for a victory, when he addresses Sena workers at Shanmukhananda auditorium in Sion. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece, Saamana, taunted its ally for forgetting the principle of alliance. The Shiv Sena chief 25 years ago took a strong stand that neither do I recognise the BJP, nor do I recognise the Shiv Sena. I recognise Hindutva. There is a dire need for it, the Shiv Sena quoted Bal Thackeray in an editorial in Saamana. The party added, Whoever has forgotten this stand has been a traitor to Hindutva in a way. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a tribute to Bal Thackeray with a tweet on Monday morning, saying, Balasaheb Thackeray personified courage and emerged as a voice for the aspirations of many people. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP Chief Amit Shah too tweeted their wishes. Balasaheb Thackeray personified courage & emerged as a voice for the aspirations of many people. Tributes to him on his birth anniversary. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017 The Sena also said that it was because of Bal Thackeray that the BJP did not oust Narendra Modi, now prime minister, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, after the communal riots following the Godhra carnage. After the Godhra riots, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was about to remove Modi from the post of the Gujarat chief minister, explaining what rajdharma (political religion) is supposed to mean. But Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray said in clear words that he should not make the mistake of removing Modi from Gujarat, and if Modi goes, then even Gujarat will go, the Sena said in the editorial. The party said the countrys current condition is depressing, and political administration has taken the meaning out of life. People do not find interest in anything. Fighting for life has remained to be their only national duty. Only the Shiv Sena chiefs [Bal Thackeray] teachings can give direction to the country now, the Sena said. Read more: Only Fadnavis, Uddhav can save BMC alliance talks Mumbai civic polls: No breakthrough after Round 3 of BJP-Sena talks SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After a CCTV camera captured footage of a young leopard crossing a street in Mulund (West) on Sunday morning, the forest department asked residents not to panic as the cats are known to frequent the area. The footage showed a leopard crossing the street near a residential colony located along boundary of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) around 2 am. Officials from the forest department said they had received a call from the residents after they saw the footage. If a leopard has been captured on camera, it doesnt mean the animal needs to be captured. Residents just have to be a little careful and vigilant during such encounters, said Sunil Limaye, chief conservator of forest, Thane forest range. We have already put together a team that works towards creating awareness about living with leopards. Locals also seemed relaxed about spotting the big cat in the area. There is no need for people to panic, as leopard movement happens during night and in the wee hours. All we need to do is be careful while driving or riding in the night, said Vaibhav Waghmode, resident of Silver Oaks society, Mulund. Leopards have been frequenting this area for years now. In 2012, a leopard had taken a dog from one of the complexes but there has been no untoward incidents of man-animal conflicts, said Krishna Tiwari, Mulund resident and founder of Forest and Wildlife Conservation Society. Since there is green cover in this area, the leopards move freely. Limaye added that a team will be visiting Mulund on Monday and Tuesday to conduct awareness drives in four residential complexes. Similar drives will be conducted along with SGNP forest officials on January 26. The idea is to create a network in such situations so that residents feel safe, but at the same time there should be no harm to the animal, said Limaye. In December, a male leopard was trapped at Mathai Pada near unit 25 in Aarey Milk by officials from Mumbai forest range that left wildlife activists furious. It was the second leopard trapping incident in two months after an eight-year-old male leopard was caught and shifted to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) from Hiranandani, Powai, by the forest department in November. Trapping a leopard and displacing it from its natural habitat is not the right thing to do. Leopards are only searching for stray dogs or other smaller animals for their food. They do not pose a threat to humans unless provoked, said Limaye. Also read: Forest dept traps Powai leopard, first since 2013 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Taking note of the factionalism in its Mumbai unit, the All India Congress Committee has appointed senior party leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupider Singh Hooda as observer for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The observer will interact with the city Congress leaders over various subjects, including joining hands with Nationalist Congress Party, partys senior leader Gurudas Kamats decision of opting out of the election process and selection of candidates. Hooda is expected to come to Mumbai in the next two days. The Congress leadership in Mumbai believes as the adjustment with the NCP on a few seats to avoid vote division is unlikely to happen due to lukewarm response from the ally, the observer will mainly focus on reconciliation between top leaders and selection of candidates. Hooda has been appointed as the party observer for the civic polls. He will focus on various issues by holding deliberations with leaders with responsibility of civic polls, said Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam. The rift among the warring groups of the city unit had come to the fore, once again, when former Mumbai chief and AICC general secretary Kamat announced on Friday he will not be part of the election process. He claimed Nirupam works with a negative attitude. Kamat tweeted on Monday morning that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi informed him that Hooda was being deputed as observer after his complaint about Nirupam. Discontent among various groups in the city unit has been evident over distribution of candidature. The party had started the procedure of selection of party candidates at district-level, with help from committees comprising internal observers, sitting and former MLAs and MPs and senior leaders. A committee headed by the city unit chief Nirupam and comprising other senior leaders will take a final call on the selection of candidates. Read more: Mumbai civic polls: Gurudas Kamat withdraws from campaign, blames Sanjay Nirupam SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Almost six months after attaching a third supplement to the charge sheet in the ephedrine drug haul case, the Thane police are set to submit a fourth one. The police said the it will be about 900 pages and will include the name of Vicky Goswami, international drug baron. Twelve people have been arrested in the case, while Goswami is absconding. In April last year, ephedrine worth Rs2,000 crore was seized from a Solapur pharma company. Assistant police commissioner from Thane commissionerate Bharat Shelkhe said, We will submit the charge sheet in a day. We have details on how the hawala money was transferred from other countries to India in parts. The police have gathered details of meetings held in Kenya, Dubai and other countries. Shelkhe said, We have records of the conversations between Vicky and the accused. We also have pictures of the two. The police filed the charge sheet in June last year. A police officer from Thane commissionerate said, We have mentioned Goswamis links to former Bollywood actor Mamta Kulkarni in the charge sheet. The officer said the people they arrested provided details about the profit-sharing ratio and Kulkarnis share. All the accused have confessed. We are looking for the main accused who had been running the drug racket for years. We have found how ephedrine was transferred from Solapur to Gujarat and then to Kenya and other places, he said.The police found out about the factory that was to be set up in Kenya. The police also came to know about the factory that was to be set up in Kenya. We are keeping a eye on Nigerian drug peddlers as we suspect them in connection with the case. Many Nigerians who used to stay on Thanes outskirts of Thane have fled, he added. Cops to bring Rathod to thane On January 9, Kishoresingh Rathod son of a former Gujarat MLA was arrested in connection with the case. A team from Thanes anti-narcotics cell has gone to Gujarat to take custody of him. He was in touch with Vicky Goswami. Their phone calls, messages, mails and online messages have been included in the charge sheet, said a cop. Read Nine months on, former MLAs son held in Ephedrine haul case Mumbai ephedrine haul accused earned more than Rs50L a month: Cops SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 45-year-old herbal seed dealer from Bandra was duped of Rs17 lakh by perpetrators who posed as buyers and suppliers of a rare seed. The crime dates back to the last week of September 2016, when the dealer was contacted by a London-based buyer, Good Health, seeking the rare danko seeds. Following this inquiry, the dealer sent out a word in the market that she was in urgent need of the seeds and got a call from a supplier a few days later. The two struck a deal and she purchased seeds worth Rs17 lakh. An officer from Bandra police station said, The availability of the seeds are low but the dealer somehow managed to procure danko seeds and sent samples to the address provided by the London-based accused, who had introduced themselves as Laxmi Shetty and Jayanti Akbar. However, the buyer claimed that the samples were inferior in quality. The complainant then sent a fresh batch of seeds worth Rs2.5 lakh, and this time the buyers asked her to supply 75 packets as they were satisfied with the quality. The dealer, however, asked for payment before the delivery but the accused refused to agree and cancelled the order. She then tired contacting the supplier, as he had assured a full refund if the deal went sour but could not get through as the suppliers phone was switched off. The dealer then realised that something was amiss and tried to contact the buyer in London but even their phones were switched off, claimed the police. The officer from Bandra police station said, The woman realised that she was duped and lodged a complaint after failing to get through to both the parties. A case was registered at Bandra police station last week under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and the police are on the lookout for the fraudsters. Help has also been sought from the Cyber Cell department to trace the accused. BOX Contact cyber police if you are a victim of cybercrime Any internet cheating or crime can be reported to Mumbai polices Cyber wing - 24x7 Helpline: 9820810007 - Phone: 022-26504008 - e-mail: cyberpst-mum@mahapolice.gov.in - Office: Cyber police station, first floor, Bandra-Kurla Complex police station, Bandra (E), Mumbai Tips to prevent credit/debit card fraud 1. Dont provide photocopies of both the sides of the credit card to anyone. The three-digit card verification value (CVV), which is required for online transactions, is printed on the backside of the card. Anyone can use the card to make online purchases with the help of your CVV. 2. Dont click links in e-mails seeking your bank account or card details, these could be phishing e-mails from fraudsters. Most reputed companies will ask you to visit their website directly. 3. While using a credit card for making online payments, check if the website is secure. 4. Dont give any information to persons seeking credit/debit card information over phone. 5. Notify your bank/credit card issuer if you do not receive monthly statement on time. If a credit/debit card is misplaced or lost, get it cancelled immediately. Also read: ATM fraud in Mumbai: Cops find Bulgarian man who stole Rs. 23 lakh SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the last three days, officials from Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Mumbai Customs have seized gold worth Rs2.29 crore at the international airport. But what makes this seizures unique are the methods deployed by smugglers trying to sneak in the precious metal. Officials said smugglers are now hiding their consignments in kitchen appliances, gadgets and portable car washers, so that it raises minimum suspicion. Bids have been foiled to sneak in gold concealed in mixer-grinder, microwave, portable car washer, oven and washing machine, following which the AIU officials arrested five fliers and a carrier. Sources claimed multiple gangs are involved in using innovative ways to smuggle gold into the country. In the first case, AIU intercepted Ahamed Thameez of Kasaragod district in Kerala and recovered gold worth Rs 61 lakh that was concealed in the motor of a portable car washer. We took risk of cutting open the car washer, as the passenger was found to be suspicious. We were ready to compensate if gold was not recovered, but we detected the yellow metal. Smugglers are now resorting to deep concealment methods to dodge the authorities, said a high-ranking AIU official. Following this seizure, a close watch was kept on passengers bringing in appliances from abroad, and it paid off. AIU detained Faisal Veerumbin Chalil, who had arrived from Abu Dhabi, and recovered gold collectively weighing 1.37kg (worth Rs 37.35 lakh) from a mixer grinder he was carrying. Similarly, Irfanbhai Parvatsingh Rana was caught carrying three pieces of gold weighing almost 2kg and valued at Rs 54.14 lakh. The consignment was cleverly hidden in a specially made hollow cylindrical iron shaft covered from both ends, which formed the central part of the motor of a portable car washer. Similarly AIU confiscated two pieces of gold, weighing 1kg, worth Rs27.33 lakh from Rashid Manikoth, which were concealed in the motor of a mixer-grinder. In the fifth interception, 13 gold bars weighing 1.6kg were recovered from Abdussaleem Mohammed Pallickal after his arrival from Dubai. The gold bars were pegged at Rs43.98 lakh. Pallickal had hidden them in the space between coils of the transformer of an electric oven. Also read: Mumbai Customs arrest duo for trying to smuggle out tobacco SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Five days after an elderly man was assaulted for allegedly disrespecting national anthem while watching Dangal at a suburban theatre on Wednesday evening, the Goregaon police have initiate an inquiry in the matter. The alleged incident took place at a movie theatre in Goregaon where Amalraj Peter Dasan, 59, was watching the movie with his wife. In his complaint, Dasan alleged that a fellow moviegoer started abusing the couple during a scene where national anthem was being played in the background. Dasan claimed the accused, later identified as Shirish Madhukar, was drunk and punched him in the face after alleging him of disrespecting the national anthem. In his statement, Dasan mentioned that he was one of the few who stood for the national anthem when it was played before the screening of the movie. There were not many people when the movie started. We stood up for the anthem in the beginning and then continued watching the movie until the man started abusing us, and then punched me, Dasan said in his statement. It was one of the audience members who informed the police about the ruckus the police, following which a team of Goregaon police rushed to the spot and took the accused in custody. Madhukar was detained at the police station for a few hours, after which a first information report (FIR) was registered against him under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal code both of which are non-cognisable offences. We received the complaint about the assault and have recorded statements. A non-cognisable complaint has been registered. Both the complainant and the accused are residents of Goregaon, said Bhaskar Jadhav, senior inspector from Goregaon police station. Also read: 59-year-old assaulted for not standing up during Dangals National Anthem scene SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than a year after gangster Chhota Rajan was deported to India, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over three more cases registered against him in Mumbai on the state governments request. Rajan was arrested from Bali and deported to India in October 2015. He is an accused in 70 cases in Maharashtra and other states, as police records say. The Maharashtra government has handed over all cases to the CBI. In the first of the latest cases that the central agency has taken over, is one where Chhota Rajan gang members Rohit, John, Ashok and others, at the behest of the gangster, made several telephone calls to Radheshyam Sukhai Gupta who resided in Khar (east) and extorted Rs25lakh, threatening him with dire consequences if he failed to pay up. The incident took place =between March 2, 1999 and April 8, 1999. A case was registered at Nirmal Nagar and one Jitendra Shah, also known as Jitu, was arrested. Later, provisions of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) were invoked against absconding accused identified as Sibu Paul, Jayesh Tripathi, Shriram Sawant and Chhota Rajan. The second case was registered at Tilak Nagar police station on October 7, 1998 for murder, where one Bala Kotiyan was shot dead by two people. Kotiyan was sitting with his friend at Navgrah Hotel in Tilak Nagar area when two people entered with revolvers and fired at him. His friend suffered injuries in the attack. The attack allegedly was carried out at the behest of Chhota Rajan. Investigations had led to the arrest of Vijay Harichandar Potdar, also known as Potya, and subsequently a charge sheet was filed at Vikhroli court. In a supplementary charge sheet, Chhota Rajan was named as an absconding accused. The third case, registered at Navgarh police station on November 16, 2004, was after Chhota Rajan gang members entered the office of Mahesh Thakkar in Mulund (east) and assaulted him and his servant Vikas More and demanded money at gun point. Mumbai police then arrested Sharad Khandekar, Laxman Dandawate, Thanaji Mane and Adimulan Raman, and a charge sheet was filed against them. But in 2005 all the accused were acquitted in the case. READ MORE Meetings were held in JJ Hospital to plan 2013 Gosalia firing, says witness Chhota Shakeels hitmans extradition turns into Indo-Pak contest SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The National Investigation Agency has objected to the plea of Amir Abdul Mannan Gazdar, a trustee of the now banned Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and a director with Harmony Media, seeking the cash that was seized from his house to be returned. Gazdars house were raided by the NIA on November 19, last year, after the agency registered a case against televangelist and IRF founder Zakir Naik. The agency had seized cash worth Rs9.80 lakhs and gold jewellery. In its reply to the plea, NIA said that the investigation on the possession of the huge amount of cash with him is under progress and they suspect that the money found with him in raid belonged to IRF. In their reply to Gazdars plea, NIA said, Investigation has revealed that Dr Zakir Naik has been operating a number of entities, including trusts and companies in India and abroad. All these entities are directly or indirectly related to the activities of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), and in most of these entities, Amir Gazdar has been one of the directors. The agency has stated that these companies include, Harmony Media Pvt. Ltd, Long Last Construction Pvt Ltd, Majestic Perfumes Pvt. Ltd, Alpha lubricants Pvt Ltd, Islamic Research Foundation International (UK), Universal Broadcasting Corporation Ltd (UK) Lord Inc. Corporation Ltd. (UK). After registering a case against Naik, the NIA carried out raids at 10 places in Mumbai, including Naiks home in Mazagaon and IRF office in Dongri. The office of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, which is associated with Naiks banned Peace TV channel, two studios in the building which edit shows for the TV channel, Global Education office and Islamic Books International, too, were raided. READ MORE Mumbai enforcement directorate summons televangelist Zakir Naik 78 bank accounts of Zakir Naik, his NGOs and associates under NIAs scanner SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Mumbai customs intercepted two passengers on Sunday who were allegedly attempting to smuggle tobacco to Republic of Congo. AIU intercepted Vijay Kumar Natvarlal Rupapara and Manish Kumar Mansukhlal Khambani, both holding Indian passports. The passengers have not been arrested but will be penalised. Illicit trade of tobacco is detrimental to public health and takes revenue away from the government, which could have otherwise been spent on public services. Instead, such funds are directed into the hands of offenders, said Pradnyasheel Jumle, deputy commissioner of customs, AIU. The duo was departing to Lubumbashi via Addis Ababa when they were intercepted on suspicion and their luggage was checked. The passengers were to export 5,869 pouches and 900 tins of tobacco products, 185.5kg of chopped betel nuts, 11 mobile phones and two tablets together valued at Rs5.12 lakh, said a senior AIU officer. Authorities said that the duo may be smuggling to cater to Indians in Congo as the quantity was huge 597 kilograms. The fliers were concealing the products in their 17 checked-in-baggages and four hand baggages, weighing 597kg. They were willing to pay for the extra baggage, said the officer. Investigations are on to check if the accused were involved in any such cases in the past as well. We are investigating the financial transactions that will take place and the method. A show cause notice will be issued to the accused. Such an export is prohibited by law, said the officer. The seized products will be destroyed as per the standard procedure, revealed AIU. AIU said that the passengers, in their statements recorded under Section 108 of the Customs Act, 1962, has admitted knowledge, possession, carriage, concealment and recovery of the goods that the accused tried to smuggle out of the country. Also read: Flier hides gold worth 2.2kg in gadget at Mumbai airport SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police arrested three persons for breaking into the house of a senior citizen at Mahim and running off with gold ornaments and cash worth Rs19 lakh on January 4. The accused were arrested from Kurla Terminus and Kandivli by the property cell of the Mumbai crime branch on Sunday night. The three Dhyanshekhar Shetty, 34, Ravi Shetty, 32, and Pawan Verma, 45 were part of a group called Shetty gang, which Dhyanshekhar used to operate. Dhyanshekhar, a resident of Diva, has been involved in house breaking cases for nearly a decade, and has more than 18 cases registered against him. While Ravi has been Dhyanshekhars associate, Verma who lives in Kandivli, is an expert in melting stolen gold, which used to be sold to jewellery shops, said police officials. Soon after the incident, the case was registered with the Mahim police station and the crime branch started conducting a parallel inquiry into the case. We started inquiring in jails like Arthur road, Thane and Taloja and investigated into recent bails in such cases. We found that Shetty, who was arrested in a house break-in in Vile Parle, was released from jail two months ago, said assistant police inspector Deep Bane of the property cell of the crime branch. He added, Informants were alerted to get leads about Shetty and we also started scanning CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity by traffic department. We checked 23 cameras till Bandra and found the movement of one car suspicious at Kalanagar junction in Bandra (East). We got details from the RTO office and later found that the car had been sold by a dealer in Vasai. We inquired with him, who had taken pictures of both Dhyanshekhar and Ravi Shetty before selling them the car. Both accused were on police records for previous cases and so the police alerted informers to learn that they would be going to Kurla terminus on January 21. Assistant police inspector Deep Bane along with his team laid a trap and nabbed them. During interrogation they confessed. The stolen booty was recovered. Also read: Mumbai woman arrested smuggling 6kg gold worked for Dubai gang, say cops SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the wake of demonetisation, 90% of angadiya service providers in the city a parallel banking system and cash courier service for businessmen have switched to regular courier services. Since Independence, the angadiyas have been involved in transacting money, jewellery, gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. Diamond traders and businessmen prefer angadiya services as it involves mutual trust. The angadiyas transfer money, diamonds and jewellery within 24 hours for a small fee. The trader lobby, which was already disturbed by demonetisation, feels the move will only add salt to their wounds. As soon as the ban on old notes was announced on November 8, we decided to support PM Narendra Modi. We stopped accepting cash couriers within a few days [of the announcement], said Ashok Raj, a Masjid resident, who changed his firm to Quick Couriers, from the earlier Ashok Raj Angadiya Services. If the PM, who belongs to the trading community is asking for it, we must respect his decision and trust his vision. While some angadiya service providers shifted to support a cashless economy, others switched seemingly out of fear. Arvind Kanti, a Malad-based angadiya service provider, is a case in point. It is better to retract the services now than to come under the scanner later, Kanti said, adding, We stopped cash courier service more than a month ago. We decided to quit it after November. There are no plans to resume the services anytime soon. Meanwhile, Ashok Patel, president, Fort Merchants Welfare Association president, said the business has been affected on a large scale after angadiyas stopped functioning. We were facing a lot of problems because of the note ban. To add to it, angadiyas have stopped accepting cash couriers, he said. Patel said there are a couple of angadiyas functioning discreetly. From last week, a couple of angadiyas have started accepting cash couriers. But they charge double or triple the original fee, Patel said. Many angadiyas no want to become just another courier service, dealing a blow to another part of the citys history, said Dharmesh Ojha, a trader in Malad. Read more: Mumbai : Angadias dispute led to fake alert It is grand to begin with. But the central hall of Asiatic Society Library an almost 200-year-old Mumbai landmark is set to get even grander thanks to some renovation that has been finally completed after a year of painstaking work. This is the first time since the town hall was built that the facade has been renovated, says Shrinivas G Sulge, managing director of Laxmi Hericon, the company executing the restoration work. The restoration of the central hall is part of the second phase of the entire project, which began in 2009. The first phase included the restoration of the library and the durbar hall. The central hall, which has been off limits to the public for the past year with a makeshift library built just outside the main building is expected to open very soon. The Town Hall, which is 200 feet long and 100 feet deep, has an entrance that is adorned with Ionic columns. The entire structure was built according to the neo-classical style. Restoration work on the buildings central hall began in February-March last year. Everything from the various statues of governors past and philanthropists, which adorn various nooks and corners of the library have been restored. The entire building is being restored at the cost of Rs9 crore. Historically, this is where the chief minister hosts high tea on Independence Day every year. The carvings, ornamental pillars and capitals that line the hall were all restored. Efforts were taken to ensure their original look was not lost. This included stripping the paint off the structures and repainting them with a protective coating. The cast iron pillars had been originally imported from England. So we had to make sure the materials used were as close to the original as possible, Sulge said. The restorers tested the original materials used to build the structure, in a laboratory and tried to match the contents. Limestone was sourced from quarries in Rajasthan The structural timber used, Burma Teak, to make the furniture in the hall as well as frames for the doors and windows was imported from Myanmar The librarys books, which for years were relegated to aesthetically unappealing stainless steel cupboards, have now been transferred into hand-carved wooden bookcases The entire hall is lit with chandeliers, among other ornamental light fittings. Earlier, pigeons would fly in and dirty the area. To avoid this, the ceilings have also been lined with pigeon nets to stop the birds from perching anywhere, Sulge said Laxmi Hericon, which is undertaking the work, is well-versed in the art of restoration. The firm has previously worked on restoring parts of Raj Bhavan, Mani Bhavan and is currently working on restoring Elphinstone College. According to Sulge, only one-third of the restoration work of the Town Hall now remains. Now that work on the Central Hall has been completed, the next area to be restored will be the librarys Grand Entrance SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The civic body elections will be crucial for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as it fights to retain its last bastion in urban Maharashtra through the municipal corporations of Pune (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC). Having lost power at the Centre and state in 2014, the Sharad Pawar-led party is in a make-or-break situation to maintain hold over the two civic bodies that have a total budget of Rs 9,200 crore. Besides PMC and PCMC, the NCP rules Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation although the control lies with Ganesh Naik, the local leader, while the party shares power in three smaller civic bodies as minor partner. Controlled single-handedly by party presidents nephew and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, the Pune corporation came to NCP in 2007 after the election results delivered fractured mandate. At neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad, the NCP has been in power for the past 15 years under Pawar juniors command. Read | NCP aims to be the small cog in large BMC wheel But BJP, which has won all the eight assembly seats from the city, is leaving no stone unturned to wrest PMC from NCP in the upcoming polls. This was evident from the inauguration of major projects such as Pune Metro rail and Smart City, for which the party is trying to claim credit. What has made matters difficult for NCP is its old guard switching loyalties to BJP. Among the prominent faces, senior NCP leader Karne Guruji, who was also standing committee chief, and Azam Pansare, an old associate of Pawars from Pimpri-Chinchwad, joined the saffron party. Their entry into BJP comes after two MLAs and Ajit Pawar associates, Laxman Jagtap and Mahesh Landge became CM Devendra Fadnaviss loyalists. The recent entries into BJP have given BJP an edge in the industrial town where it had only three corporators in 2012. Read | NCP war room goes digital to approach voters in Mumbai Well aware of the odds stacked against his party, Ajit Pawar is making maximum efforts in the twin cities trying to ensure that NCP retains power at PMC and PCMC. Ajit, along with his uncle, is attending every small event to boost the morale of party workers. In his attempt to contain the damage, he has managed to get seven Congress corporators on his side. Like every election, I am taking this fight too seriously. After all, big or small, I have never underestimated any rival, said Ajit Pawar at a recent press conference. The NCP leader has also expressed his willingness for an alliance with Congress though no deal has been signed so far. On one hand, as NCP fights one of the fiercest battles, other parties including Congress, MNS and Shiv Sena are battling with leadership issues at local level. While Suresh Kalamadis expulsion has created major leadership void in Congress at local level, several corporators have exited MNS in the last few days leaving the party leaderless in Pune. Read | Congress, NCP to tie up for all civic bodies but Mumbai SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It has been a fortnight since the two ruling partners, Shiv Sena and BJP, have been trying to work out an alliance for the Mumbai civic polls, which are crucial for both the parties. Like most election alliance talks, the bone of contention is sharing of seats. It includes the number of seats each of the two parties will contest and the claims staked by both sides on certain wards or constituencies. The drama may go on for a few more days before a decision is taken to forge an alliance or go separate ways. But then, this is hardly surprising. In the world of politics, negotiations have always been a tricky business, especially seat-sharing negotiations. It is considered a skilled job in political circles. They begin with making unrealistic claims with an intention to force the alliance partner to participate in tough negotiations. Posturing is a key element and often parties use it to put pressure on each other to give up claims on certain seats or certain numbers. Since politics in Maharashtra has been dominated by two alliances for past two decadesBJP and Shiv Sena as well as Congress and Nationalist Congress Partywe have seen such negotiations and bargaining at almost every major election. Among the two alliances, it is the BJP-Shiv Sena combine that has more experience of such negotiations since 1989 when they came together. Since then, every assembly and Mumbai civic elections would see bickering between the allies over seat-sharing. Shiv Sena used to assert its position of a big brother and BJP used to skillfully increase its share with each elections. Till the 2004 elections, the final word on the alliance used to be from Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. In fact, Mahajan was known for his skills to convince senior Thackeray to get a good deal for the BJP. Though some BJP leaders in the state used to opine that the BJP was not being able to expand its base due to the constraints of an alliance, nobody challenged Mahajan openly. During this period, too, there certain occasions when the relations were stretched to the extent of snapping ties, but mostly, the partners stuck to each other. (The two parties contested Mumbai civic polls separately too but stuck together in Lok Sabha and assembly elections). Thackeray would ensure that the Shiv Sena retained its upper hand. Things changed in 2014 when BJP won Lok Sabha with a landslide victory and both Thackeray and Mahajan were no more to salvage the alliance. The partys reins were in the hands of PM Modi and party chief Amit Shah. The duo has been particular about the growth of the party in Maharashtra and also winning power in the civic body that governs Indias financial capital. Which is why the two parties have been finding it tough to work out an alliance for the Mumbai civic polls. On the other hand, the Congress-NCP alliance is not getting much attention since the two parties are not in power now. However, since 1999, both the parties saw negotiations while forming the government or contesting 2004 and 2009 elections. NCP chief Sharad Pawar is known as a master negotiator in political circles. It reflected in 1999 when the two parties were forced to come together after contesting separately. Pawar ensured that NCP bargained well and got the majority of key departments of the state government in exchange of chief ministership. They included influential and politically important departments such as home, finance, irrigation, public works, rural development and energy. And all these departments stayed with the NCP till the two parties remained in an alliance. After the 2004 assembly elections when NCP won two assembly seats more than the Congress, he let the latter take the chief ministership but ensured that he had more ministers in the cabinet than the Congress. Often Congress leaders used to complain about NCP getting more than what they deserved but they could do little because the former used to negotiate well. In the current circumstances, the two parties have not worked out an alliance but if they had, there were chances of a hard bargain by the two parties. After all, politics is always about posturing and maintaining an upper hand over your rivals and friends. Read Sena-BJP talks: Uddhav hints at January 26 deadline Talk to Shiv Sena leaders on seat sharing, Fadnavis tells partymen SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With seat-sharing talks between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Mumbai civic polls reaching a stalemate, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has set a deadline of January 26 to decide the fate of the alliance. Addressing party workers on the birth anniversary of Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Thackeray said, Whatever I want to say I will on January 26. I will talk about it in detail then. As of now, we are still standing at the doorstep and we could go either ways, so it is better to stay silent today. Thackeray will address Sena workers at a gathering on Thursday, giving political direction a day before the process of filing nominations for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election begins. The BJP and the Sena have been locked in seat-sharing talks for a week, with discussions having now come to a standstill. The BJP has given a wish list of 114 of the 227 wards, while the Sena has categorically said it is willing to part with just 60, three less than what the BJP contested in 2012. Meanwhile, both parties are preparing ground to contest solo if need be, with the Sena having gone ahead and published its manifesto for the BMC polls. Till late on Monday night, the Sena had not given the BJP a renewed seat-sharing proposal for the BMC polls. Sources said formal talks have been suspended and discussion on the alliance will now be held through back channels or directly between the two top leaders Thackeray and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. While the local leadership of both the parties is in favour of contesting independently, Fadnavis and Thackeray have been of the opinion that a pre-poll alliance will ensure a more comfortable victory because without it the Sena and BJP might end up as each others biggest threats. The duo was expected to discuss the state of the alliance on Monday night, but there was no confirmation on this. While Thackeray did not make any direct political statements at Mondays function, he did not spare his partys ally from veiled barbs. The Sena chief said the cost of implementing all the promises listed in the partys manifesto released earlier on Monday will definitely be lower than the cost of the prime ministers advertisements. It is public money and should be used for their welfare. There is no point in printing your own face with it, Thackeray said. He said the atmosphere today is such that people are trying to divide castes and communities. All Maharashtrians and Hindus should give it a thought. In Tamil Nadu, an entire state came together to put up a tough fight before the Centre to celebrate Jallikattu. That is unity. If we dont stay united, the political administrators will pull us apart into small portions the Sena chief said, emphatically adding his party will not let anyone tear Mumbai apart. Meanwhile, BJP state president Raosaheb Danve said his party was still positive about an alliance with the Sena in the upcoming polls. We are waiting for a positive proposal from the Sena for Mumbai. So far, we have not got it. Wherever an alliance is possible we will go ahead with it, said Danve. He said there was no deadline for announcing an alliance or otherwise. When asked whether BJP had started preparations to contest the polls solo, he said, We have started our preparations and they have started theirs. In politics, nobody waits for anyone. The alliance will happen only on the 2014 (assembly results) formula. The BJP is insisting on the 2014 assembly polls formula in which the party got the maximum elected legislators from the city, 15 out of 36 legislators. The Sena won 14 seats in the 2014 polls. The party, however, claims that the 2012 civic corportation polls results should be taken as the baseline for the new formula. Read more: Shiv Sena manifesto: New sops, old promises SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON While the fate of the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance for the Mumbai civic polls hangs in the balance, the Sena on Monday went ahead and released its manifesto full of glossy promises, over a fifth of which are a repetition of its 2012 manifesto. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray maintained talks with the BJP for an alliance were still underway, but the Sena released its manifesto on Monday as it is an important day for the party, marking the birth anniversary of his father and party founder, the late Bal Thackeray. It is very important for us to reinforce our commitment to the people on this day, so we released our manifesto. If the alliance takes shape and they [the BJP] have good suggestions, we will incorporate them in the manifesto, said Thackeray, who has been indicating his party was prepared to fight on its own. In the last election, the Sena and BJP contested with a pre-poll alliance and released a common manifesto. At least 12 of the 55 points in the Senas manifesto are a repetition of its 2012 assurances. These include installing pumping stations at Mogra nullah and Mahul creek to prevent water logging during the monsoon, scientific treatment of waste at the Deonar dumping ground, concretising roads, among others. There are some things in the manifesto that people may feel are a repetition. For example, the Gargai and Pinjal dams or scientific treatment of waste at Deonar. It is not like we forgot about these works, but it takes a long time to get permissions from the state and central governments, Thackeray said. While the Sena promised to complete the Gargai and Pinjal dams, a major step towards round-the-clock water supply for Mumbai by 2017, the Pinjal project us still on paper. The civic body is drawing up a blueprint for Gargai. The civic bodys attempts at waste-to-energy conversion at the Deonar dumping ground has failed to attract bidders. The manifesto also mentions reserving Aarey colony as a green zone a bone of contention, as the BJP-led state government has set aside a section there to build a Metro carshed. The Sena also wants vacant land on the eastern sea-front, under the Union governments Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), to be handed over to BMC to create a tourist zone. This, despite the BJP-led Union government already picking a design consultant for MbPT itself to open up this area to the public, while incorporating residential and commercial construction that the Sena is against. The Senas manifesto is, however, silent on its pet projects of creating a theme park at Mahalaxmi race course and enhancing Mumbais nightlife, two points the Sena and BJP have constantly squabbled over. Thackeray, however, said the party is still insistent on both points. The Senas manifesto promises markets for farmers from across Maharashtra to sell produce directly to citizens - a proposal the BJP government has been advocating. The manifesto also lists a range of freebies property tax exemption for houses up to 500 sqft, regularising construction in the Coastal Regulation Zone in gaothans and koliwadas, and a dabbawala bhavan for the community. There is no point in the manifesto that we havent studied thoroughly. We are not making promises that fall under the purview of the Union or state. These are all works the civic body will do, Thackeray said. The opposition, slammed the manifesto and Thackerays statement that those who oppose the Sena were Mumbai drohis, calling the party dictatorial. State opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil from the Congress said, If those who speak out against the Senas manifesto are Mumbai drohis, what kind of a drohi is Thackeray for not completing the 2012 promises? Also read: Shiv Sena, BJP begin BMC alliance talks SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Even as the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are yet to take a final call on a pre-poll alliance for the Mumbai civic polls, the Shiv Sena on Monday went ahead and released its manifesto for the polls, raining freebies and promises related to roads, health, open spaces, solid waste and so on. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, however, maintained the party released its manifesto as it is former Sena chief Bal Thackerays birth anniversary, and it does not reflect any final decision on the alliance for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It is very important for us to reinforce our commitment to people on this day, so we have released our manifesto today. If the alliance takes shape and they [the BJP] have good suggestions, we will incorporate them in the manifesto, Thackeray said, adding the talks are on. Besides property tax rebates that the Sena had announced earlier, some other highlights of the full manifesto include e-libraries for the youth, a music academy, revamp of open spaces, finding solutions to potholes, a specialty hospital for diabetes, 24x7 water supply, electricity generation centre and a coastal road from Dahisar to Nariman Point, among others. Some of Senas promises such as reserving the entire Aarey colony as green zone in the citys new development plan, however, may go against the BJP-led state government, which has set aside a section to build a Metro car shed. The Shiv Sena also wants vacant land on the eastern seafront, currently under the Union governments Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), to be handed over to the BMC to create a tourist zone. The BJP-led Union government has already selected a design consultant to draw up a plan for MbPT to open up this area to the public, while incorporating residential and commercial construction the Sena is against. Eyeing the support of Mumbais dabbawalas and kolis, the Sena has promised a dabbawala bhavan for the community, and regularisation of construction in gaothans and koliwadas in the coastal regulatory zone. In a lighter vein, Thackeray also said the manifesto is in the interest of people and those who criticise the Senas manifesto are Mumbai drohi [traitors of Mumbai]. Read more: Will the Shiv Sena be fifth time lucky? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 1. Shiv Sena releases manifesto for Mumbai civic polls Even as the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are yet to take a final call on a pre-poll alliance for the Mumbai civic polls, the Shiv Sena on Monday went ahead and released its manifesto for the polls, raining freebies and promises related to roads, health, open spaces, solid waste and so on. Read 2. Wheelchair that lets you take a shower: Mumbai start-ups give tech support to differently-abled A walking stick that not only guides a visually challenged man through hurdles in his way, but also helps him overcome overhead obstructions, an automatic wheelchair that doubles up as a toilet and shower seat for the physically-challenged and a restaurant menu card that caters to low-vision and blind customers -- student start-ups displayed over the weekend how technology can help the differently-abled. Read 3. 30% Maha FYJC online seats for girls from socially weak backgrounds wont help much While the government plans to reserve around 30% seats in first-year junior college (FYJC) online admissions for girl students from socially weak backgrounds, educators and activists are divided over whether this kind of positive discrimination is justified. Read 4. Ahead of Mumbai civic polls, former Congress MLA Krishna Hegde joins BJP In a major jolt to the Congress, its former MLA Krishna Hegde joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday. Hegde blamed Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam for ignoring loyalists, which led to his exit. Read 5. Congress appoints former Haryana CM Hooda as observer for BMC elections Taking note of the factionalism in its Mumbai unit, the All India Congress Committee has appointed senior party leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupider Singh Hooda as observer for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The observer will interact with the city Congress leaders over various subjects. Read The Union government has set up a panel to review the subsidy given for the annual Haj the last pilgrimage was four months ago to the Muslim holy cities in Saudi Arabia. The subsidy, which covers the cost of air tickets, has been a divisive subject. Though every pilgrim travelling from India does not use the subsidy, the facility is often held up as an example of Muslim appeasement by the government. In 2012, the Supreme Court directed the government to phase out the subsidy over the next 10 years. The concession was introduced about 40 years ago to help pilgrims who could not afford air fares. Mufti A Rehman Mili, an expert on the pilgrimage, said till the 1970s most Indian pilgrims sailed from Mumbai to Jeddah. Only some pilgrims could afford to travel by air. Hajis from all over India would gather in Mumbai and the Musafirkhanas lodges and Mumbai was known as Bab-e-Mecca (Gateway to Mecca), said Mili. The pilgrimages association with a sea journey meant that the agency that helped pilgrims was called the Port Haj Committee till the 1950s. Sea travel started fading away when two of three ageing ships that ferried pilgrims were withdrawn from services, forcing more people to travel by air. In 1994, when the shipping services were discontinued, around 5,000 a fifth of the pilgrims took a ship. Air fares were expensive and, in response to demands for help, the government introduced the subsidy to cover the cost of air tickets. The Indira Gandhi government decided that pilgrims will continue to pay what would have been the ship fare. Air India (the national carrier) was paid to fly the pilgrims, said Mili. It is estimated that the subsidy per pilgrim is between Rs20,000 and Rs25,000 assuming that the return air fare to Jeddah costs Rs 42,000-Rs46,000. Recent reports said the airline gets around Rs700 crore annually from the government for the services. According to Mili, the subsidy helps the airline more than the pilgrims. Some Muslims want the subsidy to go. The government can discontinue it because the Supreme Court has said it should be phased out, said Salim Ansari, a former member of the Haj Committee of India. Ordinary Hajis do not get any major benefit from the subsidy. In May 2012, when Supreme Court asked the government to phase out the subsidy, the two- judge bench that gave the judgment had quoted the Quran to say that Muslims had to finance the pilgrimage themselves. The pilgrimage is compulsory only if a person has the wealth to spend on the travel, said Syed Zahid Ahmed, a finance consultant. If the subsidy goes it will make the pilgrimage easier for everyone. Many are of the opinion that if the tickets are booked in advance as it can be because pilgrimage plans are made months in advance, if not years it is possible to buy cheaper air tickets, doing away with the need for a subsidy. Muslims said instead of the subsidy, the government should ask the Saudi Arabians to increase the Indian quota for the pilgrimage. To manage the number of visitors, Saudi Arabia has created a quota system that allows countries to send pilgrims based on the Muslim population. India has a quota of around 1,20,000 a 20% increase over the earlier limit. Two-third of the pilgrims go through the Haj Committee, the rest use private tour companies to make their travel arrangements. Maulana Mustkim Azmi, a former member of the Haj Committee, is of the opinion that there should not be a sub-quota for tour operators. The travel and accommodation arrangements made through the Haj Committee are better and cheaper, said Azmi who suggested that, instead of relying only on Air India, the Haj Committee should book contracts with other airlines to fly charted flights for pilgrims. Also read Haj subsidy under examination by government once again SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Harikesh Singh, senior professor from Benaras Hindu University (BHU), was appointed the new vice-chancellor (VC) of the Jaya Prakash University (JPU), Chapra. Former pro-vice chancellor of the Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, Syed Mumtazuddin, was named the VC of the Veer Kunwar Singh University (VKSU), Ara. The governor-cum-chancellor of universities, Bihar, Ram Nath Kovind, made the appointments on Monday. Both the universities were without regular VCs for over a year following the unceremonious removal of their previous incumbents, mid-way through their tenure. A communique from the Raj Bhawan said the two VCs were appointed on the recommendations of the respective search committees of universities, subsequent meaningful and effective consultation with the state government and personal interaction with the shortlisted candidates. Singh was the senior most professor in the department of education, BHU, and had also worked as dean, faculty of education. His predecessor in JPU, Dwijendra Gupta, who was earlier a professor of biochemistry, University of Allahabad, was removed in December 2015, following charges of financial irregularities. Harikesh Singh (File photo) Earlier VC of VKSU and Mumtazuddins predecessor, Mohammad Azhar Hussain, was removed after his qualification was challenged in the Patna high court. The Supreme Court had also upheld the HC order. Mumtazuddin (File photo) Chief minister Nitish Kumar, along with education minister Ashok Choudhary, had called on the chancellor at Raj Bhawan on January 9, in what was dubbed as a mandatory consultation between the chancellor and the chief minister over VCs appointment. The candidates short-listed by search committees of the two universities were called for personal interaction with the chancellor on January 19 and 20. Acting on SC order, it was in 2014 that VCs were appointed through search committees for the first time in Bihar. The apex court had in 2013 quashed appointments of all VCs and pro-VCs, made during the tenure of former governor Devanand Konwar. Sources said screening of applications for VCs of nine other universities was also on. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A two-year-old girl, Nandini alias Ananya, was killed after falling into a 3-feet pond at the Dinousaur Park in Sector 49 on Sunday afternoon. The deceased went to the park, along with her mother, to play around 11am. The family resides in EWS Colony, Sector 49. After some time, when the woman failed to locate her child, she raised an alarm and informed her husband, Lakshman, a labourer. The father of the deceased conducted a search operation with his friends, relatives and local residents, but could not find Nandini. Eventually, the police was informed around 2.30pm. Policemen who reached the spot searched for the girl in the nearby area, including the jungle nearby, but failed to find her. Nandini and (right) the dinosaur pond park that has turned into a quagmire and became the death-bed for the two-year-old. (Sanjeev Sharma/HT Photo) The park where she was last seen playing was also searched. She was found unconscious in the pond and was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH)-32, where doctors declared her brought dead. Prima facie, we do not suspect any foul play in the case. Investigation is on and we are looking at all angles, said a senior police official at the Sector-49 police station. MC chief engineer NP Sharma said, Around the water body in the dinosaur park, there is a proper railing. Normally, we do not expect a two-year-old to enter it. We will inquire into how the child managed to enter the pond. Captions The grieving mother of the child; (inset) Nandini and the dinosaur pond park that has turned into a quagmire and became the death-bed for the two-year-old. The Punjab government will showcase its folk dance jago at the January 26 Republic Day parade in New Delhi. The state is sending its tableau for the R-Day after five years. Jago is a festive dance full of energy and celebrations. The word means to wake up and the ceremony usually happens the night before a Punjabi wedding and is a chance for friends and family to rejoice and dance together in celebration, said Senu Duggal, director public relations department. She said the department had finalised the theme to bring focus to the little known folk dances of the state. The front part of the tableau displays four women ladies in the traditional Punjabi dress performing the dance with decorated gaagars on their head. The rear portion of the tableau shows a traditionally decorated village house. Family members and friends are shown celebrating by performing jago. Side panels have been decorated with traditional folk motifs of a wedding house in the rural Punjab, she said. At three back-to-back rallies in Bassi Pathana, Sirhind and Amloh segments, deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal sought to prove that both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are anti-Sikh. Captain nu ta path vi nahi karna aunada, te raat nu pee ke saunde, said Sukhbir, declaring Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh a sharabi (alcoholic) and claiming that he does not even know how to pray, and consumes alcohol before going to bed). About AAP convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, he said, Eh Kejriwal nastik e (This Kejriwal is an atheist). He also listed out the religious buildings and memorials constructed by the SAD-BJP government, among them those dedicated to Sikh Panth and also to Hinduism, besides those for the Ravidassias (Dalit) community. He recounted the attacks on Sikhs in 1984 and blamed the AAP for Quran sacrilege in Malerkotla. Also Read | If Congress loses this time, it will cease to exist in Punjab: Sukhbir Badal Further lashing out at Amarinder, Sukhbir said Captain had ruled as an ahankaari raja (arrogant king) as CM (2002-07) and refused free electricity to farmers and stopped pension for at least two years. Kejriwal, according to Sukhbir, has lost control over Delhi and wants to shift base to Punjab as there is so much to loot here. He also declared that if the Congress loses for a third consecutive time in Punjab, it will never make a comeback. He cited examples of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Let us finish the Congress like we do to sundi (pests) in our crops. With police cracking down on pro-Jallikattu supporters, veteran cinema star Kamal Haasan on Monday came out in support of students and youth, saying aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results and urged protesters not to resort to violence. This is a mistake. Aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results, Haasan wrote on Twitter. This is a mistake. Aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results. Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 23, 2017 He also appealed to the students and youth not to resort to violence. Haasan insisted that the protesters take up the non-violent path and said neither students nor public should resort to violence. He also expressed concern over violence in Alanganallur, famous for holding the sport. Meanwhile, RJ-actor Balaji requested the protesters to go home, saying the Government promulgating an ordinance in itself was success to the peaceful protests conducted over the last week. The protest is over.Plz stop this. pic.twitter.com/VlPX5dpy9m RJ Balaji (@RJ_Balaji) January 23, 2017 Instead of celebrating the first success (of making the Government to promulgate an ordinance), why are you venturing into violent protests?, he asked in a video that was widely circulated in the social media. The protests which were held peacefully over the last week should not end like the way it is turning out now, he said. I appeal to the protesting students and public to go home. Protests are over. Please go home. he said. Police today evicted scores of pro-Jallikattu demonstrators from protest venues across Tamil Nadu, especially from Marina beach, amid incidents of stone-pelting, torching a car and mild lathicharge at a few places in Chennai. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Travel agencies are witnessing a spike in bookings for the next weekend the first long weekend of the year with Indian travellers shifting gear and taking shorter and more frequent holidays. Travellers are now taking short breaks through the year and not limiting themselves one or two big holidays as in the past, which experts believe will help the travel and tourism industry as it ensures that demand is well spread out. With this trend on the rise, and 11 long weekends coming up in 2017, we are expecting a great year ahead for the industry, Sharat Dhall, Chief Operating Officer (Business-to-Consumer), Yatra.com, said. Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head, Expedia in India, said: With Republic Day (on Thursday and taking a day off on Friday) heralding the first extended weekend of the year, it is getting travel enthusiasts to make the most of it. The number of bookings has risen by about 37 per cent year-on-year. Indians have been utilising long weekends for short breaks and exploring new local as well as international destinations, and in the past year we have seen a shift in the booking and research pattern, with consumers booking well in advance, he said. According to a forecast by The World Travel and Tourism Council, the Indian tourism sector will grow at an annual average growth rate of 7% over the next 10 years. While some domestic travellers are choosing short trips to destinations like the Rann of Kutch (for Rann Utsav), Mount Abu, Coorg, Vizag, Araku valley, Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar, a chunk of travellers have picked Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand for short-haul overseas vacations, industry stakeholders said. Popular hill stations in Darjeeling and the northeastern states, Nainital, Dalhousie, Dharamshala and Manali are also among the sought-after destinations. Wildlife enthusiasts are opting for Kaziranga National Park and Ranthambore as well. The main reason why people are travelling extensively for this weekend is that travelling is much cheaper than the peak seasons, such as New Year or summer. Hotels and airline bookings are available at cheaper rates, making their travel more economical, Karan Anand, Head, Relationships, Cox and Kings, said. People make their long weekend travel plans way in advance. This has also been fuelled by airlines in India offering discounted air fares throughout the year, he added. Despite the economy going through a tough period following demonetisation in November last year, experts pointed out that its impact was short-lived and the travel industry continued to grow with healthy momentum. There was a dip in traffic in the first couple of days post the demonetisation announcement, but things were back to normal after that, Dhall said. Moreover, domestic passenger traffic numbers in November and December showed continued growth momentum with over 23 per cent year-on-year growth. Clearly, there has been little or no impact of demonetisation on travel, he added. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Yoga guru Swami Ramdev made an appearance on Sony TVs The Kapil Sharma Show on Sunday nights episode. He had a few laughs, quite a bit of fun and in between all that, managed to teach Kapil and his crew some cool yoga moves. He did some mayurasanas (planks) and sirshasanas (headstands) but the craziest of them was when Navjot Singh Sidhu asked him to churn his stomach. Kapil joked about it and said that Baba ji doesnt even require a juicer-mixer to make lassi. Ramdev even talked about the time he was in Los Angeles and a woman approached him and said Main aapko apna sab kuch dena chahti hu (I want to give you my everything). Watch the clip: You can watch the entire episode here: Follow @htshowbiz for more Police have arrested 22 suspects in connection with producing illegal drugs and seized 550 kilogrammes of ketamine in southwest Chinas Guizhou Province, authorities said on Monday. In the largest haul of the drug in the province in recent years police have arrested 12 suspects in connection with producing illegal drugs, and seized 450 kilograms of ketamine in southwest Chinas Guizhou Province, authorities said. Police began investigating the case in December after a Guangdong native was reported to be purchasing raw materials and organising technicians to produce the drug in Guizhous Shiqian County, according to an official with Guizhou drug control office. Led by the Ministry of Public Security, police in Guizhou and Guangdong jointly carried out operations on January 11. The official said that two of the suspects were caught in Guangdong and the others in Guizhou. Police in central Chinas Hubei Province have seized 10 suspects involved in trafficking 100 kilogrammes of methamphetamine. Police in Hubeis Yicheng city said on Sunday that they started to investigate the traffickers in March last year. They spent nine months tracking the ten-member gang, who had brought drugs from Guangdong Province to Hubei. The main suspect, identified as Ma, said that he had bought the drugs from a person in Hong Kong for 2.1 million yuan (USD 300,000). All the suspects are in criminal detention, and further investigation is underway. What could an Indonesian volcanic eruption, a 200-year-old climate disaster and a surge in the consumption of mackerel tell us about todays era of global warming? Quite a bit, researchers say. A group of scientists and academics with the University of Massachusetts and other institutions made that assessment while conducting research about a long-ago calamity in New England that was caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora half a world away in 1815. A cooled climate led to deaths of livestock and changed fish patterns in New England, leaving many people dependent on the mackerel, an edible fish that was less affected than many animals. The researchers assert that bit of history gives clues about what food security could be like in the modern era of climate change. How we respond to these events is going to be critically important for how we come out of this in the long term, said Karen Alexander, the lead author of the study and a research fellow in environmental conservation. We can learn from the past how people dealt with the unanticipated. The research groups findings were published this month in the journal Science Advances . They looked at what the catastrophic Tambora eruption meant for the Gulf of Maine and nearby human food systems. The Tambora eruption was one of the most powerful in recorded history, and was followed by a short time of climate change specifically, global cooling and severe weather. Its impact on weather, food availability and human and animals deaths worldwide has been studied extensively. The year that followed the eruption, 1816, is often described as the Year Without a Summer. Read| Global warming could steal postcard-perfect weather days from you The researchers behind the Science Advances article found that alewives, a fish used for everything from fertilizer to food by 19th-century New Englanders, did not fare well. But mackerel had better survival rates and became a critical source of protein and jobs, Alexander said. As crops failed and famine began to spread, the little fish emerged as a staff of life, the report states. Its a scenario similar to what parts of the developing world are experiencing today as climate change affects food security. The study states there is a parallel between the need for immediate adaptation after Tambora and the challenges in coping with the climate-driven devastation caused by storms, floods and droughts today. It notes that the loss of food staples due to climate change caused people in the northeastern states to move something seen today in places such as Pakistan and Syria. Understanding how adaptive responses to extreme events can trigger unintended consequences may advance long-term planning for resilience in an uncertain future, the report states. How fisheries in the developing world will adapt to future climate change is an important contemporary food security issue, because fish are a vitally important protein resource worldwide. More than a billion of the worlds poor obtain most of their animal protein from fish, and 800 million depend on fisheries and aquaculture for livelihoods, according to the nonprofit research group WorldFish. The report illustrates how abrupt changes in climate can have unexpected consequences long after conditions moderate, said Andy Pershing, chief scientific officer and ecosystem modeler for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland. Good stewardship of our natural resources can help buffer against some climate impacts. Unlike the people in 1815, we have an idea of whats coming, and we need to make sure we are prepared, he said. Donald Trumps inauguration as American President after a bitterly divisive campaign where he lashed out at Muslims on many occasions and had even suggested banning their entry into the US has left the community jittery. There had been reports of more than 400 hate crimes in United States, including those against Muslims in the weeks following Trumps victory in November. However, the day after Trumps inauguration, one family in Cincinnati was left awestruck when they found a note of compassion and love on their door. The note was shared on Twitter by Hend Amry, who said it was left at her uncles door by a neighbour. The family had moved to the US from Libya. The note addressed, Dear Neighbors, today begins a new stage for our country. No matter what happens, please know there are still a lot of people who will fight for your right to practice your religion, to continue your lives without discrimination. You are welcome in our neighborhood and if you need anything - please knock on our door, the note read. After the Trump inauguration, some neighbors left this letter on my uncle's door in Cincinnati, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/jnlXewv7ej Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) January 21, 2017 The tweet featuring a photo of the note has been re-tweeted more than 167,000 times and liked over 500,000 times since it was posted on January 21. This is the America that took us in as political refugees, the America that gave us a new home, & the America that keeps my hope alive today, Ms Amry added on Twitter. This is the America that took us in as political refugees,the America that gave us a new home, & the America that keeps my hope alive today. Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) January 21, 2017 According to WCPO, Abubaker Amry said, He and his neighbors dont interact much beyond a cordial Hello, so the note someone left him Friday came as a surprise. Read | Hate crimes against Muslims in US up by 67%: FBI Authors twitter handle is @rizviuzair SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Clashes in Yemen killed at least 66 people in 24 hours, medics and security sources said, as pro-government forces pushed to oust rebels from a key stretch of coastline. Air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition and fighting near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait killed at least 52 fighters among Shia Houthi rebels and allied troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the sources said. Fourteen members of the pro-government forces were also killed. Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi launched a vast offensive on January 7 to retake the Dhubab district overlooking the Bab al-Mandab, a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Coalition warplanes and Apache attack helicopters have been pounding rebels in support of pro-Hadi forces advancing towards the Red Sea city of Mokha, military sources said. By Sunday, loyalist forces were within 10 kilometres (six miles) of Mokha, they said, but the offensive has been slowed by mines laid by rebels. The rebels took their dead to a military hospital in Hodeida, a major western port city they control, a medical source told AFP. Read | Yemens children starve as Saudi-led coalition drags the war The hospital received 14 dead on Saturday and 38 on Sunday, as well as 55 wounded rebels, the source said. On the pro-government side, 14 soldiers were killed and 22 wounded, according to medics in the southern port city of Aden where Hadis government is based. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 in support of the beleaguered president. But despite its massively superior firepower, the rebels and their allies still control the capital Sanaa and much of the central and northern highlands, as well as the 450-kilometre (280-mile) Red Sea coast. United Nations peace envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed arrived in Sanaa on Sunday for talks and to push a peace plan that would restore a ceasefire and lead to a political transition in the country. The plan would lead to a political transition under which Hadis powers would be significantly reduced. Read | 10,000 civilians killed in Yemens two-year conflict: Top UN official The World Health Organization says that more than 7,400 people have been killed since the coalition intervention began. A UN spokesman has said the civilian death toll alone could top 10,000. Pakistans army chief general Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday asked his troops to keep themselves fully trained and abreast of military tactics to defeat all types of threats. Our experience of counter terrorism operations has made us battle hardened which is a valued add-on in operational preparedness, he said while addressing soldiers of the elite Strike Corps at Multan Garrison. He directed officers and soldiers to keep themselves fully trained and abreast to defeat all types of threats, the armys information wing Inter Services Public Relations said in a press release. General Bajwa appreciated troops participation from Multan Corps in ongoing counter terrorism operations in FATA and KP. He especially praised them for concurrently keeping themselves fully trained and prepared to thwart challenges of conventional war. He said soldiers of the Pakistan Army were the best in the world. I am proud to be COAS of a brave and highly professional Army he said. General Bajwa took over as army chief in November last year after General Raheel Sharif retired. British Prime Minister Theresa May will stress the value of free trade and her support for the Iran nuclear deal when she meets US President Donald Trump later this week, her spokesperson said on Monday. Trumps election has raised questions over the future of the so-called special relationship that has underpinned close British-American ties for decades, but the new US leader has praised last years vote to leave the European Union and says he wants to arrange a swift bilateral trade deal with Britain. Supporters of Britains exit from the European Union have cheered these comments, but others have questioned how this will fit with his protectionist policies, including his inaugural speech promise to put America first. You can expect the Prime Minister to be very clear during her US visit on the benefits of free trade and championing them and wanting to look at what more can be done to increase that, Mays spokesperson told reporters on Monday. The spokesperson said she expected the Prime Minister would also make clear to Trump that Britain is a strong supporter of the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers, which the new US leader has threatened to either scrap or change. May is due to attend the annual Republican Retreat in Philadelphia on Thursday, becoming the first serving head of state to speak at the event, before holding bilateral talks with Trump in Washington on Friday. Thousands of women marched in London on Saturday to protest about Trumps attitude to women, joining demonstrations held in major cities across the globe. When asked during a BBC interview on Sunday about the controversy over Trumps comments on women, May, Britains second female premier, said she would not be afraid to challenge any unacceptable talk from Trump. She is also expected to discuss Nato with Trump, who has described the military alliance as obsolete. Ahead of her US visit, May spoke with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday. They discussed the continued importance of the alliance as the bulwark of our defence and agreed on the need for the alliance to continue to evolve to be able to effectively counter the biggest threats of the day, in particular terrorism and cyber attacks, a spokesperson for May said after the call. The Prime Minister said she would be taking these messages to Washington later this week. China last year saw its highest number of births this century, officials said, a baby bump that came after the country relaxed its family planning policies in 2015 to allow more families a second child. The country welcomed 17.86 million new children in 2016, an annual increase of 7.9 percent, with nearly half of the new births occurring in families which already had one child, Yang Wenzhuang, an official from the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), said Sunday. The figure was 1.31 million higher than in 2015, according to an article in the state-run China Daily. The proportion of newborns born to parents who already had a first child rose from around 30 percent in 2013 to 45 percent in 2016, Yang said, attributing the increase to the rule change. According to statistics released earlier, new births were concentrated in the first half of the year, before the policy could have had an effect. In addition, 2016 was the lunar year of the monkey -- considered a particularly auspicious zodiac sign to be born under. Since the late 1970s, strict measures in the worlds most populous country restricted most couples to only a single child, with violators facing fines and even forced abortions. The country loosened restrictions on the repressive one child policy a little over a year ago in response to concerns about an ageing population and shrinking workforce. While some parents had long been allowed more than one child, the change allowed every family a second. Nevertheless, the financial costs of a second child have stopped many parents from pursuing the option. Around 53 percent of one-child families have no desire for a second, according to a survey of 10,000 families with kids under 15 by the All-China Womens Federation. FBI director James Comey upset Democrats over the email drama that engulfed Democrat Hillary Clintons presidential campaign. On his second full day as president, President Donald Trump gave Comey a hug at a reception for law enforcement and security officials in the White House Blue Room. Trump saw Comey in the audience, blew him a kiss and called out to him. Comey then strode up to Trump, who shook his hand and gave him a hug. Hes become more famous than me, Trump said with a chuckle. WOW! LOVE IT ! @POTUS @realDonaldTrump just send kiss 2 FBI Director James Comey 2 Be Good Boy & Listen 2 Daddy #PresidentTrump otherwise.. pic.twitter.com/1BS23se8Zg TRUMP ANOMALY (@ANOMALY1) January 23, 2017 Comey sent a letter to the US Congress only days before the November 8 election announcing that he was reinstating an investigation into whether Clinton mishandled classified information when she used a private email server while secretary of state from 2009 to 2012. The FBI director announced a week later that he had reviewed a new batch of emails and decided there was no new indication that a prosecution was needed, but the political damage was already done. Days after the election, Clinton privately blamed Comey for her shock defeat, telling donors that Trump was able to seize on both of Comeys announcements and use them to attack her. A top military counsel to President Donald Trump is under scrutiny by US counter-intelligence agents who have probed the new national security advisers communications with Russian officials, the Wall Street Journal said Sunday. The paper reported that Michael Flynn, a retired three-star general who was among senior White House staff sworn in on Sunday, has come under investigation as part of a counter-intelligence examination of communications between Russian government members and Trumps inner circle. Inquiry findings and whether it was still underway remained unclear, the WSJ said. Flynn has raised eyebrows for receiving payment from the Russian broadcaster RT to join a gala celebration in Moscow last year, where he sat at a banquet table with President Vladimir Putin. US reports have also said Flynn telephoned Moscows ambassador to Washington, Sergey Kislyak, several times the day before Obama unveiled punitive measures over Russias alleged cyberattacks to influence the US election. Trumps press secretary Sean Spicer has said Flynn had spoken with the envoy on Christmas Day, sending him a text to wish him a merry Christmas and happy New Year. The national security adviser is not formally part of the cabinet but is usually one of the presidents most influential counsels. Flynn, a veteran of Americas wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has courted controversy with extreme statements that critics say border on Islamophobia, but has taken a more flexible line on Russia and China. Seeking to forge close ties with a crucial ally, US President Donald Trump on Sunday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House as they spoke over phone and discussed ways to ensure security and stability in the Middle East. The President emphasised on the importance the US places on US-Israel close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between the two countries, it said. Trump and Netanyahu agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran, the White House said. During the call, Trump invited Netanyahu to an early February meeting at the White House. The President affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israels security and stressed that countering ISIL and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be a priority for his Administration, it said. During the call, Trump emphasised that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between them and that the US will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Trump invited Netanyahu to an early February meeting at the White House. Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, called the conversation very warm. He said he had expressed his desire to work closely with the administration, with no daylight between the two countries. This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Trump was sworn in as the US President on Friday. A day earlier, he spoke over phone with the Mexican and Canadian leaders. Relations between Israel and the US were strained under former President Barack Obama and his administration abstained from a UN resolution in December that declared settlement construction in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank illegal. But the White House statement on the call did not mention Trumps suggestion to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump pledged during his campaign to move the US embassy, and his designated ambassador to Israel. No country in the world has its Israel embassy in Jerusalem, which is also claimed by the Palestinians as their capital. While Congress long ago passed a resolution ordering the move, both Republican and Democratic presidents have repeatedly waived the order on national security grounds. Newly-inaugurated US President Donald Trump thanked his predecessor Barack Obama for a letter for him in the Oval Office but said he will not be divulging its contents to the media. I just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama, Trump said on Sunday, addressing senior staff members before they were sworn-in. It was really very nice of him to do that and we will cherish that. We will keep that and we wont even tell the press whats in that letter. In the letter President George W Bush left for Obama, Bush said there would be trying moments during his presidency and warned Obama that critics will rage and said your friends will disappoint you, The Hill magazine reported. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me, Bush wrote. In the letter President Bill Clinton wrote to Bush in 2001, Clinton saluted and wished him success and much happiness. The burdens you now shoulder are great but often exaggerated. The sheer joy of doing what you believe is right is inexpressible, Clinton wrote. US President Donald Trump planned to hold meetings on Monday with business and labour leaders to discuss manufacturing and other matters as he starts his first full week in office. The republican, who took office on Friday after eight years of a Democratic White House, was scheduled to meet with business leaders at 9 am EST, followed by an afternoon meeting with labour leaders and US workers, according to his schedule. The White House, which announced the meetings in a daily schedule released late on Sunday, did not name specific company executives or union leaders. According to Bloomberg News, the meeting will include Dow Chemical co chief executive officer Andrew Liveris, whom Trump tapped last month to lead a private-sector advisory group on manufacturing. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report, which cited an administration official. Trump said on Twitter early on Monday that he planned to discuss US manufacturing with the executives but gave no other details. Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security, Trump said in a tweet. Top executives coming in at 9:00am to talk manufacturing in America. Before taking office, Trump hosted a number of US CEOs in meetings in New York, including those from defense, technology and other sectors. He also met with leaders of several unions, including the AFL-CIO. At least five policemen were killed after terrorists opened fire on their vehicle in central Sinai, security officials said on Sunday. The gunmen stopped the policemens taxi vehicle on Al-Hasna Road late yesterday, attacked them and escaped, they said. The policemen were returning from their vacation. No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Egypt has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak. The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule. Most of the attacks have taken place in the north of the Sinai Peninsula but assaults have also occurred in other parts of the country, including the capital Cairo. Meanwhile, the military has launched security campaigns in the North Sinai area, in which some terrorists are based. The security forces have arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip. Gulf Arab states are quietly applauding the arrival in the White House of a hawkish leader opposed to their adversary Iran, even if they suspect Donald Trumps short temper and abrasive Tweets may at times heighten tensions in the combustible Middle East. While many countries around the world listened with concern to his protectionist inaugural address, Gulf Arab officials appear optimistic. They see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washingtons role as their main strategic partner in a region central to US security and energy interests. Read: US Gulf allies look to Donald Trump with hope and uncertainty In Gulf Arab eyes, that involves above all checking what they see as a surge of Iranian support for paramilitary allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon and for fellow Shiite Muslims in Bahrain and Saudi Arabias oil-producing Eastern Province. It also means overlooking for now rhetoric about uniting the civilised world against radical Islamic terrorism in an address that critics said echoed George W Bushs crusade against terrorism, a phrase which, for Muslims, evokes barbarous campaigns by medieval Christians against Islam. Saudi Arabia in particular appears relieved at the departure of Barack Obama, who it felt considered Riyadhs alliance with Washington less important than negotiating a deal in 2015 to neutralise Irans nuclear programme. The relationship is a pillar of the Middle Easts security balance. But it has suffered since Riyadh took issue with what it saw as Obamas withdrawal from the region, and a perceived inclination towards Iran since the 2011 Arab uprisings. Read: From Iran nuke deal to Twitter, what Donald Trump said in his interviews ANOTHER RONALD REAGAN There have been tensions over Syria, where Obama dismissed Gulf Arab urgings to give more aid to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, who has survived thanks to Iranian and Russian backing. Perception is important: Trump does not look like the kind of guy who will bend towards Iran or anyone else, said Abdulrahman al-Rashed, a veteran Saudi commentator. If he behaves as he says, then we will see another Ronald Reagan, someone all the forces in the region will take seriously. Thats what we have missed in the past eight years, unfortunately. Some worry that Trumps Twitter habit - his rapid, unbridled messages of praise or blame - mean he is unsuited to handling the volatility of the Middle East. Faisal al-Yafai, a columnist with The National newspaper of Abu Dhabi, said that while his use of social media could be a problem, Trump was unlikely to change. At some point down the line something will happen in the world that will require a careful response, a careful policy, and Trump will react emotionally. That is always going to be the worry. But thats his attitude. Thats who he is. Those who like Trump like that aspect of his personality, he said. Some Arab commentators see a political resemblance between Trump and Reagan, who also campaigned on the slogan of making America great again. Reagan was also a strong backer of the military, although in the Middle East his 1981-89 presidency was marked by extended crises involving Iran, Lebanon and Libya. While few in the Gulf expect Trump to repudiate the Iran nuclear deal despite his threats to do so, most want Tehran pressured to roll back what Gulf Arabs see as subversion in fellow Arab states by a revolutionary theocracy. I think he is going to be very, very tough on Iran. He will be decisive, said a Gulf Arab businessman, noting he expected the deal-maker Trump would demand something in return. FOREIGN POLICY Moments after his speech, the White House website said the Trump administration would make defeating radical Islamic terror groups its top foreign policy goal and would develop a state of the art missile defence system to protect against attacks from Iran and North Korea. That will be the job in particular of secretary of defense James Mattis, Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, and CIA chief nominee Mike Pompeo, all well known to Saudi officials. In particular Mattis, a retired Marine general known for distrust of Iran, is a familiar figure to Gulf Arab rulers. A former leader of Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East and South Asia, Mattis said in Senate confirmation hearings this month that Iran was the biggest destabilising force in the Middle East and its policies are contrary to our interests. Such views play well with Gulf Arabs. We hope Trump can correct (Obamas) policy, and while we are not sure of that yet, his choices to run the administration all sound experienced, said al-Rashed. MILITARY BUILD UP On Syria, Yemen, Iran and Bahrain, arenas for a tussle for influence between Riyadh and Tehran, Obamas preference for dialogue appeared weak to some Gulf Arabs. Trumps own vision of peace through strength may change that perception of a passive Washington, and encourage Gulf Arabs to press on with a military build-up that relies heavily on US and European defence companies. Any number of issues could yet disturb ties - Jerusalem, oil policy, perceived anti-Muslim prejudice, and a US law allowing lawsuits against Riyadh over the Sept. 11 attacks. One of the most explosive appears to be Trumps vow to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would upend decades of US policy, and his appointment as ambassador a lawyer who raised money for a major Jewish settlement. Israel and the Palestinians, who are seeking a state of their own, both claim Jerusalem as their capital. POLARISING LANGUAGE It would create a lot of chaos, a new intifada maybe, a Gulf source with knowledge of official thinking said, adding Trump would think long and hard about a move that would be a huge burden on the peace process. Another issue is Trumps policy of seeking to destroy Islamic State. Gulf Arab states agree with him on the goal, but use of polarising language seen as demonising Muslims, and reliance solely on military force, would raise objections. Such language could also inflame militancy by hindering the hearts and minds effort needed to counter the thinking behind the violence. The worst part about the speech is that he will target Islam as a religion in the name of fighting what he called radical Islamic terrorism, a blank label that is meaningless, Tweeted Daham al-Qahtani, a Kuwaiti political analyst. If he goes back to the era of Bush, and you are either with us or with the terrorists, this polarised idea, and then also the idea that military forces can solve it, then I think we will find ourselves in a very difficult situation, with a war that is going to be unwinnable, al Yafai said. After apparently being hacked, a Twitter account belonging to the New York Times reported that Russia intended to launch a missile attack against the US. The newspaper has announced that it was investigating the situation. The gaffe affected the NYTs video account, @nytvideo, which tweeted out the hoax on Sunday at around 9.40 am, citing a leaked statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Though the alarming tweet was quickly deleted, others followed that were claimed by the hacker group OurMine, which has previously taken responsibility for hijacking a number of high-profile accounts on social media. OurMine said it had re-hacked the account in order to stem the spread of misinformation after noticing that it had been broken into by a third party. Their messages were eventually deleted too. The newspaper later confirmed that it had deleted a number of tweets published by @nytvideo without authorisation, saying, without elaboration, that it was investigating the situation. Islamic State blew up a landmark hotel in western Mosul on Friday in an apparent attempt to prevent advancing Iraqi forces from using it as a base in their offensive to capture the city, witnesses said on Sunday. The Mosul Hotel, shaped as a stepped pyramid, appeared to be leaning to one side after the explosions, two witnesses said by phone. They requested anonymity, saying the militants killed those they caught communicating with the outside world. The Mosul Hotel stands close to the Tigris river which divides the city. Iraqi forces appear about to take full control of the east and to be preparing to attack the western bank. A US-led coalition is providing air and ground support to the Iraqi forces in their campaign to take back Mosul from the hardline Sunni group, which captured the city in 2014 and declared a caliphate that also spanned parts of Syria. The Iraqi army announced on Sunday that all districts of Mosul east of the Tigris had been cleared of Islamic State militants except one, al-Rashidiya in the north. State TV said the army had set up several bridges across the Tigris, south of Mosul, to facilitate the movement of troops in preparation for the offensive on the western side of the city. Mosuls five bridges across the Tigris had already been partially damaged by US-led air strikes to slow the militants movement, before Islamic State blew up two of them. An army colonel died in Sundays fighting on the eastern bank, the highest-ranking officer killed since the offensive on Mosul started in October. Sabhan Hasan al-Jubouri commanded the 71st army brigade, a military statement said. Read| Islamic State destroys parts of 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre in Syrias Palmyra Malaysian police said on Monday they had arrested four people, among them three foreigners, with links to an Islamic State cell based out of the southern Philippines. Muslim-majority Malaysia has been on high alert since an attack last January by Islamic State-linked militants in Jakarta, the capital of neighbouring Indonesia. The cell, operating out of the province of Mindanao, was led by a former university lecturer, Mahmud Ahmad, who is known to be a Malaysian member of Islamic State, Malaysian inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement. The cell had planned to use the east Malaysian state of Sabah as a transit point for South Asian and Southeast Asian militant recruits looking to join Islamic State in the Philippines, Khalid said. He said one of the arrested suspects, a Philippine man, had been instructed to recruit new followers from Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, and arrange for their travel to Mindanao. The suspect, a watch-seller, was arrested in Sabah along with a Malaysian woman who was planning to marry and travel with him to the Philippines, Khalid said. Police also arrested two Bangladeshi men in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, who had allegedly been recruited by the Philippine suspect. The two are suspected of having links with Daesh groups in Bangladesh, Khalid said, using another name for Islamic State. Khalid said Mahmuds cell had joined up with the Philippine militant group, Abu Sayyaf, and pledged its allegiance to the groups leader and the countrys most-wanted man, Isnilon Hapilon. Last June, militants who claimed to be fighting for Islamic State said in a video they had chosen Isnilon to lead the groups Southeast Asian faction. The video, posted on social media, marked Islamic States acceptance of allegiance by Southeast Asian supporters and called for them to launch attacks in the region. Malaysia has arrested more than 250 people between 2013 and 2016 over militant activities linked to Islamic State. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday faced fresh woes over revelations in the Panama Papers leaks after a German newspaper tweeted documents purportedly linking his daughter Maryam Nawaz to offshore assets. The Suddeutsche Zeitung daily, which was the first recipient of leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, tweeted the documents that purportedly showed Maryams involvement in Minerva Financial Services, an offshore firm. For those in #Pakistan who doubt the role of the prime ministers daughter Mariam Safdar in #panamapapers - some of the docs. Judge yourself, it said. For those in #Pakistan who doubt the role of the prime ministers daughter Mariam Safdar in #panamapapers - some of the docs. Judge yourself. pic.twitter.com/DCd45aTxTK SZ Investigativ (@SZ_Investigativ) January 23, 2017 Minerva is the holding company for Nescoll and Nielson Enterprises, two offshore firms at the centre of the scandal. Nescoll and Nielson own four flats in central London that a recent BBC report said belonged to the Sharif family. Information minister Merriyum Aurangzeb described the linking of Maryam to the Panama Papers scandal as a conspiracy against the wives and daughters of Pakistan. At a hurriedly convened meeting of workers of the ruling PML-N party, Aurangzeb attacked opposition leader Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for the leaks and said any slur on the women of Pakistan would not be tolerated. The opposition has repeatedly attacked Sharif after the Panama Papers leaks showed his three children owned offshore assets worth millions of dollars. Sharif is also under pressure to disclose the source of fund used to acquire these assets. Though the documents posted by Suddeutsche Zeitung have already been submitted to the Supreme Court by the PTI, the German dailys tweet put more pressure on the Sharif family to come clean on the issue. A five-judge bench of the apex court is hearing several petitions on corruption allegations against the Sharif family. Legal quarters said the Sharif family had not disputed the ownership of the flats Nielsen and Nescoll during proceedings in the Supreme Court. The main focus of the petitioners has been to establish that Maryam Nawaz is the beneficiary owner of these companies. The BBC report also detailed the ownership of an apartment by yet another offshore company and a few other companies owned by Hasan Nawaz Sharif, the premiers son. Among those named in the Panama Papers are three of Sharifs four children Maryam, who has been tipped as his political successor, and sons Hasan and Hussain, with records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies. Imran Khan said on Monday that material released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists showed Maryam was the beneficiary of the luxury flats in London. PML-N leaders called for a ban on commentary in the media regarding the Panama Papers case. It is a matter which is being dealt with by the top court, then why is it being discussed in the media? minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said. Myanmars deputy defence chief on Monday urged the world to give his government time and space to solve a crisis involving the Rohingya Muslim minority amid concerns jihadists could exploit the situation. Rear Admiral Myint Nwe told a security forum in Singapore his government is fully aware of the growing concern about the widespread reports on (the) situation in Rakhine state where the Rohingya live, and was committed to address the issue and punish wrongdoers. Since October Myanmars army has carried out clearance operations in the north of the western state to root out insurgents accused of deadly raids on police border posts. At least 66,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, alleging rape, murder and torture at the hands of security forces. Myanmar has long faced international criticism over its treatment of the Rohingya. Most people in the majority Buddhist community consider them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The government does not condone rights abuses against innocent civilians. Legal action will be taken in response to any substantiated claim, Myint Nwe said. The admiral was responding to a keynote address by Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at th Fullerton Forum organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Read | Malaysia says Myanmar violence against Muslim Rohingya is ethnic cleansing Hishammuddin warned that the situation in Rakhine -- if not addressed properly -- could be exploited by the Islamic State group as it seeks a base in Southeast Asia. This horrific possibility has the potential to cause death and destruction well beyond the borders of ASEAN, he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Answering a delegates question, Hishammuddin said the Rohingya issue is going to test ASEAN solidarity... It needs to be resolved, we cannot sweep it under the carpet, it affects a lot of Muslims and its very emotional. Myint Nwe said both Yangon and the international community should focus on finding a lasting solution to the problem. Allowing time and space is essential for the governments efforts to bear fruit in finding a sustainable solution of this complex issue. Hishammuddin said ASEAN -- the regional bloc to which both Malaysia and Myanmar belong -- should play a key role in working out a solution with Myanmars leaders. A nine-year-old boy in a UK school was locked up in a cupboard for almost four hours as punishment after he was found caked in mud, his mother has alleged, prompting authorities to launch a probe into the shocking claim. The mother of the boy complained to Middlesbroughs Sunnyside Academy School over the alleged incident, which she claims has traumatised her son. She was quoted as saying that the alleged incident occurred last month at the Coulby Newham school. The schools acting head has denied the claims, but the furious mother insists she is taking her child out the school. Obviously we cant stop crying, said the mother, a 44-year-old business owner. I havent been able to sleep since and everyone who I have spoke about it with thinks it just wrong. Witness statements claim once the child was locked inside, a teacher sat on a chair which was blocking the door. Responding to the allegations, interim headteacher Ruth Parker confirmed an investigation was under way but added, We do not accept that the allegations that you say have been made against this school are true. However, you will appreciate that we cannot discuss our primary school pupils or allegations made in relation to them with the press, Parker said. Sunnyside Academy takes its legal obligations very seriously and deals with them through its usual formal channels. In a letter from Ofsted, the schools watchdog said the allegations it received raised concerns and that information will be passed to inspectors ahead of their next visit. A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council was quoted as saying, We were made aware by Ofsted of a complaint in relation to safeguarding at Sunnyside Academy and have investigated the matter. We have now referred our findings back to Ofsted. I have had a letter back saying they now need another week to look into it, but I am prepared to take my complaint all the way to the top if I have to, the mother said. I am appalled and disgusted, and I cant believe this has been allowed to happen, she said. Two tracts of land of 175 acres each have been provided to a Chinese company by the Pakistan government for the $1.57 billion Matiari-Lahore 660kV high voltage direct current transmission line power project. The China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company Ltd (CET), a company owned by the State Grid Corporation of China, has been given possession of the lands after the National Transmission Dispatch Company Limited (NTDCL) acquired it from landowners, reports Dawn. Of these lands, one is located about 50 kilometres from Lahore near Balloki, Bhaipheru, and the second one is situated within the jurisdiction of Matiari, a small town in countrys Hyderabad district. The Matiari-Lahore transmission line will have the capacity to transmit about 4,000MW of power and is the countrys first mega direct current (DC) project. The power project is a part of the $51 billion-worth China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The projects civil work is expected to be inaugurated in March this year. A ministry of water and power official said, We have completed the land acquisition for two mega converter stations of the project that will be built near Balloki (Bhaipheru, Lahore). We have also handed over control of the Lahore land to the Chinese firm. The possession of land in Hyderabad is likely to be completed soon. The alternate current (AC), received from the plants in AC mode, will be converted into DC (direct current) by the convertor station to be built in Hyderabad for the onward transmission in the same mode through the line. Electricity would be received in DC by the Lahore convertor station and then it will convert it into AC for its onward supply to consumers through other AC lines of 500kV and 220kV. The official added that the land acquisition for passing of the transmission line through various areas on the way such as Hyderabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Hasilpur, Vehari, Sahiwal, Kasur and Lahore is likely to start soon as agreements between Pakistan and China had almost finalised in the wake of respective memorandums of understandings. This project will be completed on a fast track basis. And initiation of civil work of the two convertor stations in the days to come hints that the project will be completed in October, 2019, as per deadline, the official said. (ANI) Rescuers recovered three puppies from under the rubble of Italys avalanche hotel Monday sparking fresh hopes some of the 23 people still missing after five days could be found alive. Fireman Fabio Jerman said the discovery of the three shaggy white Abruzzo sheepdog pups meant there were still air pockets in the collapsed luxury spa resort, an important sign of life, which gives us hope. A new route was being dug into the wreck in a last-ditch effort to find survivors, as questions mounted as to whether the disaster could have been avoided. A Carabinieri officer officer holds one of three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola. (AP Photo) Its a race against time, we know we need to go fast, but its not an easy working environment, fire service spokesman Luca Cari said as teams worked feverishly to reach the centre of the resort, where they believe the missing could be. An email sent by the hotel to local authorities pleading for help just hours before Wednesdays tragedy has gone viral. A firefighter kisses one of the three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday. (AP Photo) Although it did not mention fears of an avalanche it described the mounting panic of guests trapped in the hotel by snow as earthquakes shook the region. Five days after the huge avalanche hit the four-star resort with the force of 4,000 trucks, killing at least six people, the small, fresh sign of life within the concrete tomb spurred rescuers on. The puppies were born in December in the ill-fated Hotel Rigopiano to Lupo and Nuvola (Wolf and Cloud), who escaped when the avalanche hit and were found the following day in a nearby hamlet. Three puppies stay close to each other at the Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy. (AP Photo) Nine people pulled out alive on Friday had described being trapped in tiny spaces, eating dirty snow in the pitch black to survive. Burrowing through narrow holes in the snow and rubble, rescue workers have been painstakingly searching each room of the lodge. Sixth victim still underneath Late Sunday rescuers began attempting to access the wreckage from the left-hand side -- a riskier enterprise which could trigger snowfalls but would ultimately get them more quickly to new search zones. With shovels, drills and their bare hands, they were also working to recover the sixth victim, a task expected to take several hours yet. Volunteers and rescuers work in the area of the avalanche-struck Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Sunday. (AP Photo) Though the avalanche risk was lowered from four to three on a five-point scale, a special radar was installed on the slopes to warn rescue teams of any fresh slides as snow and rain continued to fall on the mountainous area of central Italy. Investigators in the nearby city of Pescara on the coast stepped up a probe into the disaster, which could lead to manslaughter charges if prosecutors find the luxury spa should not have been built in that area, or should have been evacuated. The hotel opened in 1972 and was transformed 10 years ago into a four-star hotel with a heated external swimming pool and sauna frequented by celebrities including US actor George Clooney, according to Italian media reports. Investigators had launched a probe into the number of building permits awarded in the vast Gran Sasso national park amid suspicions of corruption, but the case was dropped in November. The former mayor of Farindola, whose brother was killed in the hotel disaster, said no one had considered the risk of an avalanche. Scapegoat Francesco Peduto, head of the National Geologists Council, said it would have been difficult to predict the deadly combination of snowfall and earthquakes. The area was hit by four powerful quakes in the hours before the avalanche, potentially loosening the snow mantle. Rescue teams work at the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near the village of Farindola, on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain. (AFP Photo) The e-mail sent Wednesday to the authorities by the hotel manager said the situation has become worrying and called for help. With the electricity and phone signals down, guests spooked by the quakes were planning to sleep in their cars. But throughout the region the snow had blocked vulnerable people -- families with young children and the elderly -- in their homes, and local authorities were working with limited resources to clear roads and get people out of freezing cold and dark buildings. Nearly a week after the quake, some 10,000 homes were still without electricity on Monday. Italys Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Sunday urged Italians not to hunt for a scapegoat, but those still waiting to discover the fate of their loved ones have demanded the truth. Two suspects were taken into custody after a robbery inside a shopping mall ended in a shooting that left one man dead and several other people injured, San Antonio police said. Police chief William McManus said the two suspects robbed a jewellery store at the Rolling Oaks Mall on Sunday afternoon. After the suspects fled the store, a man described by McManus as a good Samaritan tried to stop the two men. Read: US: 1 dead, multiple injured in San Antonio shopping mall shooting One of the robbers fatally shot the man, McManus said. A second individual, who was carrying a licensed concealed handgun, then shot and wounded one robber. The second suspect, who initially fled the scene, was apprehended Sunday night after a car crash in nearby Converse, police said in a statement early Monday. Two weapons were recovered from the suspect. McManus called the fatal shooting absolutely senseless. The victims name was not immediately released by authorities. The second robber fired his weapon as he fled the mall, injuring a man and a woman. Those individuals, along with the wounded robber, were taken to a local hospital, said San Antonio fire chief Charles Hood. Two other people a woman who complained of chest pains and a pregnant woman who had labour pains were also taken to hospitals, Hood said. The condition of the people who were injured in the incident was not immediately available, but police said the wounded suspect was in a critical condition. Authorities said both suspects face preliminary charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police have not released the names of the suspects. A dangerous weekend weather system has killed at least 18 people in the U.S. South, as Georgia officials on Sunday reported more than a dozen deaths after severe thunderstorms and tornadoes buffeted several states. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared an emergency for seven counties in the south-central part of the state, warning that dangerous conditions persisted and could reach north to the Atlanta area. I urge all Georgians to exercise caution and vigilance in order to remain safe and prevent further loss of life or injuries, Deal said in a news release. Photos from the affected areas showed collapsed buildings, homes with roofs destroyed, toppled trees and fields littered with debris. Seven deaths occurred in Cook County, Georgia, state emergency managers said in a statement, with local reports that a mobile home park was particularly hard hit. Officials earlier reported eight deaths in the county. First Baptist Church Adel, located in the county seat near the Florida-Georgia state line, was sheltering more than 50 people, said pastor Bill Marlette, who had just helped inform a family that two of their relatives were among the dead. Theres a lot of hurting people right now, he said in a telephone interview. Theres just a sense of shock. The storms in Georgia, which killed a total of 14 people, followed a predawn tornado in Mississippi on Saturday that killed four people. Severe weather also injured more than 50 others and damaged about 480 homes in Mississippi, state officials said on Sunday. In Georgia, most of the storms had moved on by Sunday night, with a few still threatening coastal areas, said Mark McKinnon, a spokesman for the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. The system prompted U.S. weather forecasters to issue a rare, high risk warning of severe storms threatening parts of southern Georgia, north and central Florida and Alabama on Sunday, the first such warning since 2014. South Carolina could also see severe weather. These could be the kind of tornados you dont want to mess with, said Rich Thompson, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. The system toppled trees and power lines in Georgia, northern Florida and Alabama on Sunday, the agencys website reported. Hail was sighted in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. In Alabama, some 29,000 power outages were reported as of Sunday afternoon, Alabama Power tweeted. Several thousand had also been without power in Mississippi, where utilities were working to restore service. The severe weather was expected to last into Sunday evening. On the west coast, heavy rains from a separate system drenched parts of Southern California on Sunday. For the first time, a team of students in the US is planning to brew beer on the Moon by sending a canister aboard an Indian lunar lander that is set to launch this year. Engineering students at the University of California, San Diego are finalists in the Lab2Moon competition being held by TeamIndus, which will send a spacecraft to the Moon on December 28. The experiment will test the viability of yeast on the Moon - and result in a freshly brewed batch of beer, researchers said. Understanding how yeast behaves on the Moon is not just important for brewing beer in space, researchers said. It is also important for the development of pharmaceuticals and yeast-containing foods, like bread. The group, which call itself Team Original Gravity, is one of just 25 teams selected from a pool of 3,000 to compete for a spot aboard TeamIndus spacecraft. The idea started out with a few laughs among a group of friends. We all appreciate the craft of beer, and some of us own our own home-brewing kits, said Neeki Ashari, a student at UC San Diego. When we heard that there was an opportunity to design an experiment that would go up on Indias Moon lander, we thought we could combine our hobby with the competition by focusing on the viability of yeast in outer space, said Ashari. The team designed a unique system to accomplish this task. All of the prep work required before yeast is added will be done on Earth. Proposed experiments for the competition from all over the globe ranged from photosynthesis to electricity. They will be evaluated by an international jury in March when teams fly to Bangalore to showcase their final prototype. The spacecraft is owned by the Indian startup TeamIndus. The aerospace startup was one of four teams in the world to win a USD 1 million Milestone Prize for successfully simulating the landing technology concept of its spacecraft. TeamIndus hopes to accelerate a human transition into a sustainable multi-planetary species. To that end, TeamIndus came up with a global challenge issued to students under age 25 to imagine, design and build a project to help accomplish that mission. The yeast study is among the coolest experiments to be performed on the lunar surface, and I am sure they are one of the top contenders to win the Lab2Moon competition, said Siddhesh Naik, TeamIndus Ninja and mentor to Original Gravity. Our canister is designed based on actual fermenters, said Srivaths Kaylan, mechanical lead for the team. It contains three compartments - the top will be filled with the unfermented beer, and the second will contain the yeast, said Kaylan. When the rover lands on the Moon with our experiment, a valve will open between the two compartments, allowing the two to mix, he said. When the yeast has done its job, a second valve opens and the yeast sink to the bottom and separate from the now fermented beer, he added. US presidents have often struggled to transition to their new role and Donald Trump is no exception, bringing to the White House the same combativeness regarding the media and obsession with turnouts that he displayed as a candidate during the election. Standing at a wall honouring CIA men and women killed in line of duty, Trump spoke on Saturday about a running war with the media and accused it of wrongly reporting he had a feud with the intelligence community, when he was 1,000% with you. He then complained about media underreporting the turnout at his inauguration. Citing one network, he said: it said we drew 250,000 people. Now, that's not bad, but it's a lie. More than a million people had showed up, he falsely claimed. On Twitter later, he boasted about TV ratings for the inauguration. Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago! But the fact is that was President Barack Obamas second inauguration. His first, in 2009, was watched by 38 million people. Trump doesnt like inconvenient numbers. As a candidate he stopped touting his poll number whenever he was trailing. But continuing his campaign trail behaviour is worrying aides and advisers who had urged him to move on, according to news reports, but he did not and directed his press secretary, Sean Spicer, to double down on it, which he did. He complained angrily about an irresponsible and reckless tweet from a reporter, a photograph intentionally framed in a way, in one particular tweet, to minimise the turnout and tweets with Inaccurate numbers involving crowd size. Spicers diatribe was widely seen as a sign of things to come, of an administration constantly at odds with the press, not only published or aired reports but also about tweets and social media postings, with the White House closely tuned in. The press secretary had also sought to discredit reports about the massive turnout at the Womens March on Saturday that, by all accounts, had surpassed the inauguration from the previous day, arguing authorities had not put out a count. Trump invites Netanyahu President Trump spoke on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and invited him to a meeting early February, according to a White House statement. The two leaders discussed ways to advance and strengthen the US-Israel special relationship, and security and stability in the Middle East. The President emphasised that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between the two parties, and that the United States will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Trump has begun engaging with world leaders and is scheduled to receive his first foreign head of government, US Prime Minister Teresa May, this Friday, Sixty-five Islamic State militants were killed in operations by the Turkish army in support of rebels in northern Syria on Sunday, the Turkish military said on Monday. Turkey launched an operation to drive the jihadists away from the Syrian border five months ago and have been besieging the Islamic State controlled town of al-Bab for weeks. Officials say British Prime Minister Theresa May was told about the June test of Britains nuclear deterrent system when she took office last year. Downing Street did not confirm or deny a newspaper report that one of the unarmed missiles fired during the test of the submarine-based Trident system had malfunctioned. Read: UK govt accused of covering up failed nuclear missile test Opposition leaders have raised concerns about a possible cover-up because Parliament was not told about the test before it debated whether to renew the aging Trident missile system. Mays spokeswoman told reporters Monday that she had been briefed about the test. She said the government does not discuss operational details of tests. The Sunday Times said the missile fired off the coast of Florida went off course and may have veered toward the United States. The new US administration must fully understand the importance of the one China policy, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday. US President Donald Trump, who was inaugurated on Friday, broke with decades of precedent last month by taking a telephone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, and has subsequently suggested that the one China policy was up for negotiation. Beijing views the self-governed island as a wayward province, to be brought under its control by force if necessary. A US Air Force base in Arizona was placed briefly on lockdown Monday following reports of gunshots, a spokesperson said. All personnel at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base southwest of downtown Tucson were ordered to take shelter in early morning as the reports were investigated. All clear, the lockdown has been lifted, a message on the bases Twitter account said about an hour later. Base personnel are free to resume all normal operations. A Pentagon official told local media that it was likely a false alarm, prompted by two airmen who thought they heard gunshots. The base is home to the 355th Fighter Wing, responsible for training and deploying the finest attack pilots in the Combat Air Force, according to its website. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. T he former Mayfair office and studio of late restaurateur Peter Langan is now four fabulous flats. Actor Sir Michael Caine, a co-owner of Langans Brasserie in nearby Stratton Street, would visit the property as the pair set up their business venture in 1976. They let regular diners David Hockney, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Patrick Procktor store their work at the office in Maddox Street and in exchange the artists donated pieces for the walls of the restaurant, with Hockney designing the menu. Amazon Property has developed the premises, where the four-bedroom penthouse on the top two floors is listed at 5.25 million with Knight Frank. It has 2,142sq ft of plush living space and terraces with views on to historic Liberty department store. In the modern travel market, online travel agents have successfully retained the lion's share of online travel bookings made by users according to a 2016 Phocuswright study, 66% of British travellers booked their accommodation through an OTA, while only 28% used a hotel's own website. As frustrating as this is for a hotelier who is looking to increase direct bookings, is there something you can learn from their success? Here are five of the top reasons travellers chose to use OTAs, as identified in the Phocuswright study, and some ideas for how hoteliers can up their online games: OTA websites are easy to use The number one reason people gave for using OTAs is that the websites are easy to use. Because online travel agents don't have their own product to sell, the best way for them to differentiate themselves from the competition is to ensure that the way they sell their product (hotel rooms) is the best. OTA websites all make it plain and simple for a user to do what they are there to do find a hotel and book a room. Navigation on the homepage is usually minimal, important information is displayed above the fold (it is visible to the user without them having to scroll) and all the user's attention is directed towards calls to action to "search" and/or "book". OTAs are also easy to use on mobile devices, and indeed, according to eHotelier, more than 1 in 4 of the room nights booked via Expedia group sites are booked on a mobile device. What can you learn? As an hotelier, you need to decide what the ideal action you would like people to take on your site is, and steer them towards taking that action. If you want users to book a stay at your hotel, you will need a clear "book now" or "reserve your room" call to action, website users will need to be able to see your call to action and other important information without scrolling, and your navigation (while still being user-friendly) shouldn't distract users from the primary route you want them to take. Having a mobile-friendly website is also paramount if you want to attract direct bookings. Even if people do not make their final booking with you on a mobile device, you can be fairly certain that they have done some of their online travel browsing on a mobile phone or tablet. Online travel agents are excellent at reassuring their users that not only have they made the right decision with their bookings (think about the "best price" guarantees and social proof of so many people having provided good reviews for a particular property), but also that if they do change their minds, they won't find themselves at a loss. For instance, Booking.com prominently tells users "Book now, pay when you stay! With FREE cancellation on most rooms". What can you learn? Make sure that it is not more risky for your patrons to book through your website than via an OTA. Make it clear that your cancellations policy is at least the same as that of any OTAs you might be listed on, and if possible offer a more lenient policy for people who book direct. As important as having these policies in place is making sure that travellers know they are there make sure that the benefits of booking directly through your website are highly visible, and you have anticipated and put to rest any misgivings your prospective guests might have. Travellers believe OTAs offer better prices In 2014, 76% of leisure travellers who booked through an OTA told Google they did so because it offered lower prices or better deals, and the 2016 study by Phocuswright shows that this belief is still alive and well. In fact, when asked if they agreed or disagreed with the statement "OTAs have better prices than hotel or airlines own website", only 13% of British travellers disagreed, while 34% agreed that OTAs were cheaper than a brand's own site. In China, the number of people who believe that they can get a better price on an OTA is as high as 63%. What can you learn? Luckily, big hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott are putting massive amounts of money into campaigns like "stop clicking around" and "it pays to book direct", which are aimed at changing the public's mind about OTAs being the cheapest option, so they are fighting part of the awareness battle for you. However, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't be doing your part too. Make it clear on your website (and on social media and in your other marketing material) that guests will get the best price if they book direct and keep your word. If you can't offer better prices because of price parity agreements, you can still find ways to offer more value than OTAs, such as offering room upgrades or other freebies and service perks. People have become used to booking via OTAs When anyone thinks of booking a holiday online, they usually first imagine browsing and booking on an online travel agent website. Because online travel agents are so good at convincing people to book online through them, it has become habit for travellers to do so. Once a traveller lands on an OTA website, they will be greeted with a multitude of tactics that reassure them that they are making the right decision by booking right here, right now, and that if they tarry they may lose out. What can you learn? Your first tactic is to make sure that your prospective guest never ends up on an OTA in the first place by ensuring that they come across your own website rather than your OTA listing when they search for "accommodation in Bath", for example, or your hotel's own name. Keep your hotel at the top of search results by bidding on relevant keywords and your brand name using Google AdWords, and pay attention to your site's search engine optimisation so that you can get on top of the competition in organic results as well. Once you have your audience's attention, do your best to keep it. For example, OTAs often take advantage of traveller's natural fear of missing out by warning them that prices are likely to go up soon. People trust online travel agents One area in which OTAs have really excelled is in winning trust. This is not a coincidence either by showing new users everything from individual guest's reviews to how many room nights have been booked at a hotel for the coming month, OTAs use previous travellers' experiences (good and bad) to reassure new users that the services of the OTA can be trusted. Additionally, by providing prospective travellers with evidence of how much other people have enjoyed their trips, they influence current website users to imitate them. Reviews from past guests, the number of people who have already booked at a certain hotel or the number of people who have saved a property to their shortlist are all forms of "social proof" proof that one's social group approves of a certain course of action and it is extremely influential in gaining people's trust and influencing their behaviour. What can you learn? Online travel agents don't have exclusive rights to social proof you can, and should, share your own as widely and prominently as possible. Share positive reviews of your hotel on your website and social media accounts, count up how many good reviews you received over last holiday season and tell people about them, and share videos and pictures of real guests having a good time at your hotel. All of this works as social proof, and will convince other travellers that your hotel is the best one for them. GuestRevu helps hoteliers worldwide to listen to, learn and earn from their guests by enabling them to leverage the power of guest intelligence to build lasting loyalty and drive revenue. GuestRevu's mission is to give hoteliers tools they can use every day to develop a guest-centric culture in their hotels, enhance guest experience, optimise operations, and ultimately, to drive revenue using online surveys and reputation management. With their headquarters in the UK, GuestRevu is a TripAdvisor Platinum Review Collection Partner. For more information please visit www.guestrevu.com View source Brookfield, WI. Kinseth Hospitality Company (KHC) is pleased to announce the opening of the Home2 Suites by Hilton Brookfield, located at 650 Larry Court, Wausheka Wisconsin. An official grand opening celebration took place on January 19 to give everyone in the Brookfield/Waukesha community and the surrounding areas a glimpse of what this newly opened hotel has to offer. With 130 guests in attendance Keith Henderson - Town of Brookfield Chairman, Carol White Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Member, Lori Choinski Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Board Chair, Nancy Justman - Brookfield Convention & Visitor's Bureau, and Bruce Kinseth Kinseth Hospitality Vice President, shared their excitement about the now open Home2 Suites Brookfield. The extended stay hotel will be managed by Kinseth Hospitality Companies. According to Bruce Kinseth, President of Kinseth Hospitality Companies, "What an incredible way to celebrate the grand opening of the hotel! We feel that the Home2 Suites will provide the area with a truly first-class, medium-priced, hotel great for families and extended stays." The all suite extended stay hotel will provide guests with the amenities they need to enjoy life while traveling such as an outdoor walking trail, and saline pool. All Home2 Suites by Hilton hotels offer easy access to technology and inviting community spaces, as well as the trademark Home2 Suites amenities standard in all properties, such as the Oasis lobby area, the Home2 MKT for grab-and-go items, the Spin2 Cycle, a combined laundry and fitness area, and free continental breakfast at the Inspired Table that includes a variety of morning favorites like a hot breakfast sandwich. About Kinseth Hospitality Kinseth Hospitality is a leading hotel management, development and ownership company. KHC has a proven track record of developing and operating award-winning hotels, restaurant and meeting facilities. Kinseth Hospitality is based in North Liberty, Iowa, and currently operates over 65 hotels and 5 branded restaurants in 12 states. For more information regarding KHC please contact our Corporate Sales and Marketing Team at 319-626-5600 or visit www.kinseth.com. Jeff Schrader 847-202-7954 Kinseth View source It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home Last week, Atlanta police seized almost 6,000 pounds of weed worth an estimated $9 million after pinning down a cargo truck. It turns out that another huge marijuana seizure occurred around the same time in the border town of Pharr, Texas, located at the very bottom of the tip of the state. Upon stopping and searching a tractor trailer at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, authorities discovered 3,000 pounds of weed, reportedly worth around $600,000, according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Whats extraordinary about this case is the means by which the drugs were transported. The truck in question had been carrying a large shipment of fresh watermelons, and the individual packages containing the weed 390 in total were made to look like the rest of the large green fruits. Smugglers continue to be creative as they attempt to introduce illegal narcotics into our country, said Efrain Solis Jr., director of the Pharr point of entry. Looking up close, the packages in question are obviously not fruits of the earth. Still, if all the weed-melons were dispersed evenly, it could have been a decent ploy. Once the traffickers were met with Homeland Securitys non-intrusive inspection system and then the canines, though, they didnt stand a chance. Watermelons One of Kanye Wests favorite brands not named Adidas just dropped off a special U.S. capsule collection, and its about as minimal as you can expect from the French brand. Each piece features the companys A.P.C. lettering on the front along with U.S. Each item comes in grey melange, and the lettering is exclusively in navy blue. Everything in the collection was produced exclusively in the United States, explaining the name of the collection. A.P.C. creative director Jean Touitou described his rationale for the construction, saying, If you want to cook French cuisine, better to use French ingredients. Everything is available now from A.P.C.s web store and it doesnt come cheap so youd better have some cash on deck. Everything ranges from $75 to $166 USD. APCUS You probably remember the flammable 20-minute freestyle Rae Sremmurd laid down on Tim Westwood 13 months ago. Ebro had just asserted that the duo didnt write its own raps. As such, they came with the heat. Swae Lee and Jxmmi stopped by a Dutch radio show to deliver a freestyle Sunday morning. They were coming off a #1 single and a surprise Drake appearance at their show in Amsterdam the night before. They had less to prove than they did in the Westwood freestyle. Still, they delivered a potent performance rapping over Jay Zs 99 Problems. Im going to the coffee shops, Im blowing straight loud / Man, the neighbors like, keep that down!' Swae Lee rhymed, But I cant, Im hopping of the tour bus, less for yall and more for us. Watch the freestyle and interview below. Read Rae Sremmurds HNHH digital cover story here. Rae Sremmurd We'll be arriving early on June 25 to catch the divine Ms. H! If you were umm-ing and err-ing over buying Phil Collins tickets, the news that Blondie are taking care of Aviva Stadium support duties on June 25 may convince you to splash the cash. One of the all time great pop bands, Ms. Harry & Co. will be dipping into a back catalogue that includes such pearlers as Dreaming, Hanging On The Telephone, Union City Blue, One Way Or Another, Rapture, Atomic, Heart Of Glass and Maria. Towards Healing Counselling & Support Services is available to survivors of Church, Religious and Institutional abuse. The Towards Healing director is Mr Michael Lyons and the service provides lay independent and fully accredited counsellors to support survivors. Towards Healing may be contacted by: Freephone (UK & NI) 0800 096 3315 or (RoI) 1800 303 416 Mobile number for Hearing Impaired Clients +353 (0) 85-8022859 This article can only be read with a Premium Account Think about those who have been left behind in the economy, and you might picture the white working class. Much has been said since the election about the plight of many former manufacturing workers in the Rust Belt, who can no longer find jobs that pay well. The focus makes sense: President Donald Trump was lifted into office by white adults over 25 without four-year degrees, who favored him by a margin of 39 percentage points. Their economic frustration and suffering are real, and white working-class America is a large group - 42 percent of the country. Yet month after month, economic data show that African Americans and Hispanics in the United States are, on average, in a worse position. Jobs data released this month showed that the white un-employment rate in December was 4.3 percent, compared with 7.8 percent for African-Americans and 5.9 percent for Hispanics. "Even just looking at one month, we can say that the economy disproportionately has worse outcomes for workers of color," said Elise Gould, senior economist at a nonpartisan think tank, the Economic Policy Institute. While African-American workers maintain the highest unemployment rate overall, Hispanics have the dubious distinction of being the group that is still farthest from recovering from their pre-recession un-employment levels. Though these values can fluctuate month to month, the Hispanic unemployment rate remains more than a full percentage point above its pre-recession low in October 2006, a bigger difference than for Anglos and African-Americans. Data on worker earnings shows a similar story about racial inequality, Gould says. "If you were to look at worker wage data, you'd see that white workers make more by almost any measure than other groups, especially black and Hispanic workers." Gender study Recent reports have revealed troubling facts about the wage gap. Census data analyzed by the National Women's Law Center shows that, while women overall make only 80 cents for every dollar paid to a man, the wage gap yawns when race and ethnicity enter into the picture. Latina women make only 54 cents for every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man, while African-American women make 63 cents, the report says. Another report on the wage gap authored by Valerie Wilson and William M. Rodgers II of EPI in December showed that the black-white wage gap has actually grown in the United States compared with what it was in 1979. Inequality in general Wage gaps are increasing primarily due to discrimination, as well as growing inequality in general, Wilson and Rodgers say. As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, that exacerbates the difference in earnings between racial and ethnic groups. This wage gap is expanding even though African-Americans are attending college at higher rates, they write. Wilson and Rodgers calculate that a black male college graduate entering the workforce in the early 1980s had less than a 10 percent wage disadvantage relative to white college graduate, but that by 2014 the deficit had grown to 18 percent. The Slender Man craze swept the younger digerati while their unwitting elders occupied themselves online with Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Only in May 2014 did the general public hear of Slender Man when news erupted that two 12-year-old Wisconsin girls had lured a friend into the woods and stabbed her 19 times. Three years after the attack, the girls are set to be tried as adults for attempted murder. Why did they do it? Turns out, to appease and curry favor with the Slender Man. Slender Man, it turned out, was all the rage for youngsters worldwide. "He" was born with an online post in June 2009 as a mysterious specter photo-shopped into everyday images of children at play. From that tantalizing start, Slender Man (also known as Slenderman or just Slender) exploded as a crowdsourced canon of belief and fantasy. Slender Man typically was depicted as a spidery figure in a black suit with a featureless white face. He was regarded by his devotees as alternately a sinister force and an avenging angel. He flourished as a boogeyman in fan fiction and videos. Trevor J. Blank, a digital folklorist, declares in the film, "If there's one thing the cult of Slender Man is about, it's about making it all believable, especially by remaining unverifiable. And that's really how folk belief works. Because you can't prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Slender Man is fake or real." More Information 'Beware of the Slenderman' When: 9 p.m. Monday Where: HBO 'Beware the Slenderman' When: 9 p.m. Monday Network: HBO See More Collapse A film that explores the Slender Man effect would have been valuable for all non-initiates and, especially, parents. HBO's "Beware the Slenderman" isn't that film. Airing at 9 p.m. Monday, it promises to examine "how an urban myth could take root in impressionable young minds, leading to an unspeakable act." But its would-be murderers are not your everyday impressionable youths. One, Anissa Weier, is found to have a delusional disorder. The other, Morgan Geyser, is diagnosed with early childhood schizophrenia. As such, the case of Morgan and Anissa hardly seems representative of anything beyond a pair of already troubled young people who spun out tragically. For them, Slender Man just seems to have been the last straw. The film boasts of its access to these girls, their families and abundant home video, as well as courtroom testimony and interrogation footage, all of which grinds on for the film's two bloated hours. So sharply focused on the perpetrators is the film that it scarcely even acknowledges the victim. The film tries, but fails, to put the crime in a cultural context. Experts and other talking heads weigh in on the larger implications of the Slender Man mania. But the film prefers to savor more than probe, as if having fallen under Slender Man's spell. Not satisfied to provide an instructive sample of online Slender Man imagery, it becomes an exercise in macabre excess. Basking in Slender Man visuals and a creepy musical score, the documentary seems out to be its own horror flick. Morgan's mother, like the girls' other parents, seeks refuge in her happy recollections. Struggling to see her daughter in the best light possible, she recalls that Morgan "has always marched to the beat of her own drum." But is it really hers? Or was it Slender Man's? Expect no answers in this dreary documentary. Pat Nixon despises the East. In John Adams' 1987 opera, "Nixon in China," which has a 30th anniversary production at the Houston Grand Opera through Jan. 28, the First Lady, played by soprano Andriana Chuchman, struts around the austere Chinese countryside with an air of All-American superiority, her head whipping back like wheat caught in a monsoon when she sees an evil Chinese man - you can tell just how wily he is by the Fu Manchu that wears him - abusing a local peasant girl. Mrs. Nixon cries out, falling to the ground where the girl lies crumpled. "Just look at this," she says, her eyes trained upward, probably at God. "Poor thing! It's simply barbarous!" Her tears aren't just for all the oppressed women of China. Mrs. Nixon is speaking her mind as a civilized being, her lily-white skin and golden hair a symbol for the decent, Christian Americans that the opera encapsulates early on as a white, heterosexual nuclear family of four. Her sympathy toward the peasant girl belies an attitude about China that's so condescending it's almost colonialist. But Mrs. Nixon is more than just another annoying white savior trope whose arc recalls "The Last Samurai" (the 2003 film starring Tom Cruise as Japan's savior) and "The Great Wall" (the soon-to-be released movie starring Matt Damon as the heroic leader of the Chinese army). No, the way she views the Chinese - as savage, exotic and ripe for salvation - symbolizes demeaning treatment of Chinese culture throughout "Nixon in China," an opera featuring non-Western culture but directed, written and composed by all white people. More Information 'Nixon in China' When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Where: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. Tickets: $60-$195; 713-228-6737, houstongrandopera.org See More Collapse Instead of presenting Asians as human beings, we are offered a world of lazy stereotypes - tai chi, terracotta warriors, Fu Manchu facial hair, Kung Fu, conical rice hats, even white men in fat suits clowning around in Asian-style masks, evoking minstrel shows of the 1800s. Acts one and three of "Nixon" are too dreamily abstract to carry true cultural violence. The second act, however, features a scene in which the Nixons attend the Chinese ballet "The Red Detachment of Women," a representation of Asian people so nostalgic, so inaccurate and so out of touch with the way we talk about and view race in modern times that it at first evokes more confusion than disgust. Patrick Carfizzi plays an abusive landlord in a shameful display of yellowface that recalls Mickey Rooney's role as Mr. Yunioshi in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." More than that, it's an example of the way racism can worm its way into stories when it's conflated with other human rights issues. Carfizzi's role, taken at face value, is backwards enough, but here it's also used hypocritically as a plea for feminism. Evil Fu Manchu (that may as well be his character's name) calls a local girl a "slut," Mrs. Nixon cries her white tears and the opera seems to have absolved itself of its sexist themes of female victimization by pawning it off on the "barbarous" Chinese. After we see a girl repeatedly whipped and spat on by men, we're meant to direct our outrage not at the opera but at the metafictional setup it's laid out before us. When we see the minstrel show in act two, we're meant to discount it as a play-within-a-play. When we raise cultural, social and historic issue with the portrayals of the Chinese, we're meant to dismiss those issues in favor of appreciating its painterly stage, a masterwork of light and shadow that accentuates the elegantly modernist choreography, as well as John Adams' score, which rises and falls like an ocean wave with the plaintive circularity of Phillip Glass' "Einstein on the Beach" and the throbbing urgency of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." In fact, "Nixon in China" does a lot of hiding behind art to avoid social responsibility. Its compositions drown out the mind's objections, lulling it into an impressionistic dream by the third act. Tenor Chad Shelton, as Mao Zedong, has a stellar performance, his voice vivid and nuanced. Chuchman shines in her thankless role as Mrs. Nixon, her winding melodies carried out with purpose and ringing out like bells. There was a time when we would merely applaud all this. Perhaps we'd question the opera's decision to eschew narrative suspense for modernist portraiture, or wonder if the contemplative third act was more languid than bold. But that would be enough, and it'd be back to praising a well-executed, relatively new opera that included people of color - because, honestly, how many of those even exist? But that time has passed. The fact that Shelton is white is not a trivial one. It is at least worth asking questions about its historic symbolism - what does yellowface say about the erasure of history for people of color? What does yellowface say in 2017, considering its origins in a time when, because of racial discrimination, only Caucasians were allowed to play Asians in Hollywood? Sure, the image of yellowface stings on a personal level. They recall my childhood, when I saw again and again white kids in high school imitating Asian people by saying "ching chong ding dong," by pretending to be Bruce Lee, by bowing and saying "konichiwa" and by using their fingers to slant their eyes. I've seen white people pretend to be Asians many times in my life, and never once has it made me feel anything other than small, anything other than less than human. The case with "Nixon" is no different. But yellowface hurts more than one person or group of people. What "Nixon in China" says about Chinese people is ugly, but it says even more about what the Houston Grand Opera, not to mention Houston, and opera, stand for. While HGO looks back on 1987, I ask that the company consider the future, when the majority of Americans will be people of color. HGO has let down not just the Asian community but all people invested in the future of its art form. HGO has let down those who want to live in a society that celebrates different cultures and races rather than caricature them. The missteps in "Nixon" are so pronounced, awkward and nostalgic that its blunders stand out far more than its achievements. I wish only that, if nothing else, it were more aware of the strange contradictions that it embodies as a show performed today. The most ironic line in "Nixon," of which there are many, goes not to Pat Nixon or Evil Fu Manchu but to Mao, who expresses exasperation and talks about the erasure of identity: "I am no one. I am unknown," he says, from the libretto by Alice Goodman. "Give me a cigarette." And what a line. I'm sure he wasn't the only one that night who yearned for a sense of individuality and, of course, a break. I shook my head and chuckled. Finally, on a night filled with falsehoods, someone gave us a glimmer of the truth. Sam Houston, the long-dead 19th-century Texas governor and Bayou City's namesake, thinks a border wall is pointless. That's not to say that he would think that if he were alive, but rather that, currently, he believes this from the other side. I know this because Houston told me a couple months ago during a rambling - and exclusive - interview. This was all, of course, through a medium, because how else do you interview the dead? "It is too late," he said through Diane Gremmel, a Houston-based medium. "Evil lurks inside of many people and a wall cannot keep people out that are already in." Gremmel humored my bizarre request for contact, but she doesn't typically spend her days seeking out bygone celebs or historical figures; she's more often faced with the much more serious task of helping bereaved families. "I think the most important thing I can do in helping someone work through loss is confirm for them that their loved one still survives," she said. For some, Gremmel's work may seem like utter hogwash. For others, psychics and mediums - part of a steadily growing $2 billion-a-year psychic services industry - offer a reassurance that it's OK to let go and move on. --- Tucked in the bend of a winding hallway inside a corporate-looking building, Gremmel's Westchase office is full of muted tones and comfy armchairs. It feels as much like a therapist's workplace as a psychic's domain. But with bold red and black clothes and wearing a slightly steampunk heart pendant, Gremmel looks every bit the metaphysical part. Since new clients schedule online, Gremmel purposely doesn't get many details in advance. But at the start of the first appointment, she lays out the basics: This is not a seance. And it doesn't go against religion. "I relate to all religions," she tells clients. The Bible offers conflicting dictates on the supernatural, but 1 Corinthians 12:10 says the Spirit can give "miraculous powers" and "different kinds of gifts." Gremmel considers her abilities one of them. Still, she's not conjuring up spirits, so she can't guarantee who will talk during her sessions with clients - and she can't guarantee that whoever's talking is who they claim to be. "It's not a telephone where I can call people up. I'm a radio receiver and what gets broadcast to me is not my choice," she said. "Sometimes you want to talk to your mom and it's Uncle George that comes in." It's OK to cry during the readings, which is why there are tissues on the table. It's best to hold hands. And it's alright to ask questions and interrupt. The most important ground rule: Have an open mind. --- "I'm not a weirdo, I'm really not." This is a plea from Lois, a retired secretary and one of Gremmel's customers who reached out to the psychic after her son killed himself six years ago. Lois asked to be identified only by her first name because some of her friends are "not of the same mind" when it concerns the supernatural. "I've always been into the metaphysical so I just thought, 'I'll go to a psychic because if anybody can help me to communicate with him, I want to try it even if nothing comes of it,' " Lois said. "I was able to get a message through Diane and she was able to communicate with the spirits, and he said he was sorry and he loved me and he's fine." And that did it. After months of worry and regret, Lois was able to move on from her grief. She still had dreams about her departed son, but now they seemed imbued with a reassuring significance. She still saw things that reminded her of the 47-year-old she lost, but after her session with Gremmel, Lois took the time to stop and enjoy them. "That is basically what gave me peace," she said of her otherworldly communications. And in addition to hearing from her son, Lois believes she passed some words along to him. "I think the message I wanted to give him is don't worry about me, I'm fine, and I release you to be on the other side," she said. The 76-year-old is well aware that not everyone shares her belief in the power of psychics, but that doesn't take anything away from the relief it's brought her. "I know what's my truth and I don't need for anyone to agree with me," she said. --- Gremmel was 8 years old the first time she saw a spirit. It was her grandfather. He'd been sick in the hospital, but when he suddenly appeared in the corner of her bedroom, she knew he was gone. "I knew before either of my parents told me," she said. She continued to have metaphysical experiences while growing up in Houston, but Gremmel didn't share those otherworldy connections with her peers. "People didn't react well to it because this is the Bible belt," she said. As she grew up, she tried to fit in and eventually moved away from Houston and launched a career in marketing. But after 12 years in the Baltimore area, she decided to come home. "I needed to revisit the past," Gremmel said. So she returned to an old city to start a new life. After some hesitation, she decided to open up her own business "It suddenly struck me that I don't need to put my resume out and if I'm meant to do this I'll just ask for a sign," she said. "And someone contacted me almost immediately asking for a reading." She took that as the sign. For a time, Gremmel did readings on the phone and out of her apartment and then a little over a decade ago she found a home in the Houston branch of Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment. When the center announced its impending closure earlier this year, Gremmel struck out on her own in a Westchase office. --- Listen to 70-year-old Nancy Marlowe and the psychic will tell you there's a great demand for her ability. The former day trader turned psychic says that helping people work through grief is a big part of her job. "When I started this 20 years ago it wasn't on TV, it was hidden," Marlowe said. "If you talked about this, you were a screwball. The demand was there, but you couldn't talk about it." Over the years, mediumship has come out into the open, and turns out that it bears some similarities to traditional approaches, like grief counseling. Andrea Sams, a counselor and grief recovery specialist who heads up Explore Growth Counseling and Consulting in Houston, said she doesn't believe in psychics or mediums, but does see value in their work. "One of my approaches is somewhat similar, to the point where I could see how people could find some relief from that," she said. Sometimes, she said, counselors ask grieving clients to write letters or pretend to talk to family members who have died. "One major part of grief recovery is dealing with unresolved issues, communications that never got to happen," she said. "So having the opportunity to communicate with that person in some way indirectly can be therapeutic." For Marlowe, communicating with the dead can be about more than just closure. "When you do a mediumship reading with an authentic medium, it restores your belief in eternal life and it restores your belief in the goodness of life and of love," she said. --- Sometimes, though, it also can just restore belief in the completely bizarre. Sam Houston - or at least a spirit claiming to be him - offered only a vague take on modern-day politics. "Any politician who doesn't have their heart geared in a way toward what is best for all Americans he can't support," Gremmel said, paraphrasing the former Texan's message. But, specifically, would Houston be a Donald Trump supporter? "I didn't get a clear yes or no on that," Gremmel said. "I'm not gonna put words in his mouth." AUSTIN -- The Big Budget Brawl starts on Monday. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Jane Nelson, the Flower Mount Republican who said last week her motto is "Let's get to work," will get started at 11 a.m. on the Senate 's version of the state two-year spending blueprint. The 15-member panel will work every day through Friday in the coming weeks. Here's the agenda and you can watch the discussions about how they plan to spend your tax money live online. House biz The House returns at Austin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, live and online, and ready for committee assignments and to start legislating. Watch for the House Appropriations Committee to start work on its version of the budget. Its bill filed last week was as much as $8 billion more than the one proposed by the Senate, and how much should be spent on education, health care, mental health and border security is where the disagreements will begin. School choice School-choice advocates from across Texas are scheduled to rally at the Capitol Tuesday. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who supports the use of state money to pay for private schools, will hold an online news conference during the noon hour. Expect howls and subsequent rallies from public school supporters. Ethics, ethics, ethics State Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, is expected to announce the details of his ethics-reform bill and you can watch it live online. While this is one area where the public is always interested in finding out whether their local lawmakers are squeaky clean, you can bet all 181 Texas lawmakers will be watching this bill closely to make sure they don't make their lives tougher. Fetal tissue burials A ruling is expected from U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of Austin on whether a state rule requiring the burial or cremation of fetal remains is legal. Strong emotions on both sides of this abortion-issue case likely will make for some intense reaction, regardless of how Sparks rules. No heavy lifting The House and Senate will meet for at least a couple of days this week, but aren't expected to do much of anything meaningful. Committee hearings will quickly gin up to start reviewing bills and taking testimony. Every-day meetings of the full legislative chambers won't start until later this spring. Recommendations by the Editorial Board Recommendations by the Editorial Board See the Editorial Board's full list of recommendations for the 2022 midterm election This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Alexander Hicks sprang from the couch and sprinted up the stairs as soon as he heard the thump. It sounded like a stack of heavy books falling off a shelf. Maybe Alyssa, their 5-year-old, had jumped out of bed? She'd been cuddled up in the master bed with her baby sister and his wife, who was nine months pregnant. Hicks reached the bedroom and saw the girls sleeping peacefully. In the light of the master bathroom, he found his wife, Marlene Dominguez-Hicks, unconscious on the floor. She was 33 and nearly finished with her radiology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He pulled her into his arms. Her eyes were vacant. She was making a hissing noise. You're the doctor, Hicks thought. What am I supposed to do? "Alyssa! Alyssa! Go tell Grandma to call 911!" The dispatcher said to tilt her up and put her on her left side. Hicks did, but her teeth clenched, and her jaw locked up. Blood started pouring from her nose. "Stay with me, Mar! Stay with me!" Peripartum cardiomyopathy, or PPCM, is an uncommon form of heart failure during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth, according to the American Heart Association. It weakens and enlarges the heart chambers until, in the most serious cases, the left ventricle can no longer pump enough blood to vital organs. Doctors are trying to figure out what causes it. "It happens in women who are young and healthy during what is supposed to be a happy time in their lives," said Dr. Lili Ayala Barouch, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Texas leads the nation with its maternal mortality rate, which spiked from 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 35.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2014, according to a recent study in the medical journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. The state convened a task force in 2013 to investigate why the rates are so high and what can be done to address it. The task force reported in July that heart diseases were the top killer of pregnant women and new moms in 2011 through 2012, though its latest report did not break down what percentage of those were caused by PPCM. PPCM is relatively rare in the United States, with an estimated rate of 1 per 3,000 to 4,000 live births. Most mothers with the disease fully recover, but it kills about 6 to 10 percent. One of its biggest dangers, physicians said, is that its symptoms are deceptively similar to ordinary third-trimester problems: fatigue, swollen ankles and shortness of breath. If Dominguez-Hicks felt any symptoms, she never mentioned them. A few days before she collapsed, she stole a cookie from her husband and ran up the town home stairs with it. "Girl, you just ran up the stairs!" Hicks said, impressed. "Yeah," she said. "I feel great." Dominguez-Hicks had health insurance through her employer. She loved her OB-GYN, who was one of her former teachers. She went to all of her prenatal appointments. She didn't meet many of the American Heart Association's risk factors for PPCM. She was not obese. She did not have a history of heart problems or preeclampsia. She didn't take medication or smoke or drink. She was not malnourished. She was not African-American. She did meet one of the risk factors. She'd had two prior births, both healthy baby girls. Alyssa was born while Dominguez-Hicks was in her fourth year of medical school. It was a rough pregnancy, with bouts of first-trimester nausea and a long labor with a late epidural. She had little nausea and an early epidural the second time around. Moments after Alana was born, Dominguez-Hicks looked at her husband and said: "Let's do this again!" "Are you crazy?" said Hicks, a mechanical engineer. "We got another girl. I'm done. I'm good." But she was determined to have a boy. After they moved to Houston for her fellowship, they found out she was pregnant again. She was 38 weeks and four days into her pregnancy on Sept. 6. That night, she'd helped Alyssa with her homework. They'd put both girls into pajamas and watched cartoons on the laptop until they realized it was already 9 p.m. We trust you to know when it's your bedtime, Hicks said to Alyssa. Alyssa's reply caught him off-guard. She said she knew about trust. "My teacher says, 'Alyssa, when I leave the room and come back, I'm going to ask you who was talking because I trust you.' " For Hicks, it was one of those moments. They were doing something right as parents, he said, instilling good values. "I'm just so thankful for you," he told his wife. "I love you so much." She grinned up at him. Barouch, with Johns Hopkins, said there is no single test to screen for PPCM, which requires an echocardiogram for diagnosis. The main symptoms to watch out for, she said, are rapidly worsening swelling in the feet or an unusual amount of shortness of breath, particularly when lying down. "It's beyond just uncomfortable," she added. "You can't perform normal functions." When it is diagnosed early, the recovery rate is pretty good. At least 50 percent of patients have a complete recovery, she said. Another 20 percent to 30 percent will have a partial recovery. The remainder need heart transplants or don't make it. Hicks said his wife was always diagnosing herself. "Ask anybody in medicine - doctors are the worst patients," Hicks said. "She probably felt something and just brushed it off." After he found his wife on the bathroom floor, the paramedics did everything they could for her, he said. They did CPR upstairs, then downstairs, in the ambulance and at the hospital. He broke down and had to be taken into a separate room. The baby was delivered by emergency C-section. Alexander Hicks Jr. weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces. But he'd been without oxygen too long. There was no brainstem activity. They were buried together, mother and son, in one coffin. Hicks misses his wife's positivity, her relentless energy. He misses how she looked at the girls. He's moving back to Michigan to be closer to family in about a month, but before he goes, he plans to sit down with his wife's OB-GYN and a copy of the autopsy report. Researchers are trying to figure out if there is a genetic component to PPCM. And Hicks wants to better understand what killed her and their son, he said, so he can prevent this from happening to his daughters. "I need to know," he said, "for them." A Sunday ribbon-cutting event for a $30 million overpass at Harrisburg Boulevard marked a celebratory days for East End businesses and residents who have endured years of construction woes during Houston's $2.2 billion Metro rail expansion. Officials said they were excited and relieved to celebrate the last mile of the Green Line, which comes after years of political and construction setbacks complete with traffic detours that annoyed residents and beleaguered local shops in the neighborhoods east of downtown. Metropolitan Transit Authority chairwoman Carrin Patman said the agency's next step will be a $50,000 marketing campaign to show that the "East End is open for business." "This is our Super Bowl right here," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "As goes the East End, so will go the City of Houston." The neighborhood has waited for years for the expanded light rail to open after more than a decade of conversations about the importance of a rail line. But over the course of the project, residents have complained about lackluster community outreach and slow construction progress. The overpass opened to vehicle traffic in July and began rail service on Jan. 11, though the bulk of the Green Line opened more than a year prior. "It was a headache, but now it's a lot less stressful," said Efrain Bueno, a 23-year-old mechanic who lives near the overpass. He said family members have used the Green Line to commute and to spend time with their children elsewhere in the city, like Discovery Green. 'Nightmare' congestion Still, he said, he worries about how the developed area will handle heavy rains and flooding going forward. Changed traffic patterns are also frustrating for local residents. The construction was a "nightmare" for congestion, one man said as he took a break from mowing the lawn on Sunday. Blocks were closed, and he couldn't park on his own street. Diane Shenke, president of the Greater East End Management District, said that "there is a sense of relief - it's been very difficult for the local businesses." Still, she said, "Some of them I've talked with have already seen an upside." That's been the case for the Harrisburg Pawn Shop, said Paula Sauceda, a 29-year-old employee who's worked at the store for several years. "A lot of our customers don't have transportation that would allow them to get to us," she said, waiting on line to buy blueberry ice cream after the speeches concluded. 'A good service' Just this week, she said, a regular customer took the Green Line to the pawn shop and made a payment. She's hopeful more customers will come back. At Sunday's kickoff event, tables promoted East End cultural venues, parks and restaurants as a high school mariachi band sang and played tight harmonies. Every few minutes, the overpass would rumble slightly, urging the many dozens of attendees to look up. One Green Line passenger on Sunday was Peter Garcia, 78, who waited at the Lockwood/Eastwood stop with a metal cane. Garcia, who is retired, takes Metro's light rail and bus to Ben Taub hospital several times a week, he said. He took the Green Line to the nearby CVS Pharmacy to pick up medication on Sunday. "It's a good service," he said, sitting on a clean bench as he waited for the eastbound train to arrive. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A cornerstone of Rahman Nasir's faith, he says, is being loyal to his country. As a member of a local Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, the 22-year-old works in local food banks, volunteers at homes for the elderly and signs up for blood drives. "I don't know where I would be without this organization giving me purpose," he said. But over the weekend, 150 young members of the Muslim association gathered from across the country in Houston for a summit designed to foster better relationships between Muslim worshipers and their communities. The conversations gained particular significance after the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, who has campaigned for restrictions on Muslim immigrants and the possibility of a Muslim registry in the U.S., said Nasir, who helped organize the summit. "It's more important now perhaps than other times in our history," said Bilal Rana, the president of the national Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association chapter. Poorly portrayed With some 700 to 800 members across the greater Houston area, the association is just one segment of the nation's diverse Muslim population. Houston has been home to the largest Muslim-American population in Texas, with Muslims estimated to make up about 1.2 percent of the city's more than 2.2 million population. Nasir's youth association is part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, founded in 1889, with more than 70 chapters across the country. The pillar of the group that distinguishes it from others is an emphasis on community service, Rana said. The two-day summit, which ended Sunday, was part of an annual meeting held across the country for the Ahmadiyya youth association. Members of the association are between 7 and 40 years old. Nasir has been a member of the association since he was old enough to qualify. The friends he made growing up are the same ones he still has as a student at the University of Houston, studying pre-med and psychology. The Houston group has focused since its inception in the 1970s on such community service as blood drives and food banks. After a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, members of Nasir's group went to aid recovery efforts. Locally, they helped provide relief after the Greenspoint area was flooded during devastating storms last April. "Islam isn't the religion that is portrayed in the media," Nasir said. Yusuf Dosu, 27, arrended the conference from College Park, Maryland. A former wide receiver for Morgan State University, Dosu came to the Houston summit to emphasize that a big part of faith is also about taking care of one's body. In College Park, Dosu teaches other members of his congregation about weight and body fat. 'An uphill battle' Dosu said he learned at the summit about strategies other groups were using to combat drug use among their younger members. The summit also reinforced the difficulty of helping Americans understand the fundamental tenets of Islam, including peace and morality, often distorted by media portrayals of extremism. "It's going to be an uphill battle," Dosu said. OPEC and other oil producers agreed on a way to monitor their compliance with last month's historic supply deal, putting global markets on track to rebalance after more than two years of oversupply. The countries have already cut oil supply by 1.5 million barrels a day, more than 80 percent of their collective target, since the deal took effect on Jan. 1, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy and Industry Khalid Al-Falih told reporters in Vienna. "Compliance is great - it's been really fantastic," Al-Falih said Sunday. "Based on everything I know, I think it's been one of the best agreements we've had for a long time." Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Algeria and Venezuela met counterparts from non-OPEC nations Russia and Oman to find a way to verify that the 24 signatories to their Dec. 10 accord are fulfilling pledges to remove a combined 1.8 million barrels a day from the market for six months. They intended to prove the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is serious about eliminating a global glut and dispel skepticism stemming from previous unfulfilled promises. Monitoring mechanism Kuwaiti Oil Minister Essam Al-Marzouk, who chairs the five-member monitoring committee, emerged smiling from the hour-long meeting with a message of success: oil producers were in "total agreement" on the monitoring mechanism and wouldn't accept anything less than 100 percent compliance with the cuts. The committee, comprising ministers from Kuwait, Russia, Algeria, Venezuela and Oman, will meet next on March 17 in Kuwait and again in May. OPEC's secretariat will present it with a report on the 17th day of each month, the group said in a statement. A technical group, consisting of delegates from each of the five committee members along with OPEC president Saudi Arabia, will meet each month to prepare the report. The monitoring committee will assess data submitted by each producer country, along with information from agencies such as IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Argus Media Ltd. and the International Energy Agency, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said. The committee will evaluate compliance with production targets only, though the technical group may also look at export data to support its analysis, Novak said. Secondary sources Oil prices rose to an 18-month high of more than $58 a barrel after OPEC and several non-members agreed to end two years of unfettered production and instead cut output. Crude has since slipped about 5 percent from that peak as traders await proof that they will follow through. Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, has already exceeded its target with an output reduction of more than 500,000 barrels a day, Al-Falih said, while Algeria and Kuwait have also cut to levels beyond their targets, according to ministers from those nations. Other OPEC members such as Iraq and Venezuela have not yet reached their quotas but say they are more than half-way there. Al-Falih said he hoped all countries would reach full compliance with the deal next month and forecast that brimming global stockpiles of crude oil would return to normal levels by the middle of the year. The agreement expires at the end of June, though producers will discuss in May whether to extend it, Kuwait's Al-Marzouk said. Russia has pared production by an average of 100,000 barrels a day, a milestone it hadn't expected to reach until next month, Novak said. The largest producer involved in the agreement said it would make a daily reduction of 300,000 barrels by April or May. "We are starting to see a shift in the momentum and the emergence of more bullish sentiment on the market," Al-Marzouk said earlier Sunday. "These are all encouraging signs that we are on the right track." Calling the previous 48 hours "an amazing journey" for the country, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee summoned community leaders Sunday to pray for unity. The Houston Democrat, along with Bishop James Dixon II of The Community of Faith Church, convened the midday prayer vigil in north Houston to promote "spiritual uplift" to heal national divisions that were aggravated by the bruising 2016 election cycle. Flanked by scores of church members who packed the spacious pulpit and choir stand after morning service, Dixon and Jackson Lee led the room of religious, social and diplomatic leaders in song and prayer, peppered with short speeches urging people to pray for lawmakers to keep children's futures in mind and for world stability. "The world that we live in needs compassion. It needs more tolerance," Pakistani Consul General Aisha Farooqui told attendees. "The world that we live in needs more healing. And that's what we pray for, let there be more compassion, let there be healing in the world, let us all come together for prosperity, peace and for happiness for all faiths, for all people." Islamic Society of Greater Houston President and former city councilman M.J. Khan, Imam Mohammed Wasim Khan, poet A.J. McQueen and Michelle Moto, pastor of New Life Seventh Day Adventist Church, were among the speakers with Farooqui. Lee said she wanted Sunday's representation to reflect diversity. "What the world loves about America the most is they look to America as a place with a heart," Jackson Lee told attendees. "This new administration, working with Congress, cannot undermine what has been the definition of America from her birth - that she is a nation with a heart, ready to care not only about her citizens but ready to care about the world." Noted activist Jackson Lee is a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and a ranking member on the crime, terrorism, homeland security and investigations subcommittee. She was one of six Texas Democratic congressional representatives who did not attend Friday's inauguration of President Donald Trump. She participated Saturday in the Women's March in D.C. 'Join us peacefully' In a statement the day before the inauguration, Jackson Lee said her absence was not a boycott but a matter of conscience. She added in her statement that she will attend Trump's State of the Union address. After Sunday's vigil, she told reporters she'll listen closely to what Trump says in that address, his first major direct message to the country. The Houston Democrat expects some of the first issues will include repeal of the Affordable Care Act without a replacement insurance plan, immigration policy, revamping Medicare and Medicaid and the budget. Jackson Lee hopes to get bipartisan support for juvenile justice reform. People should view this past weekend's marches as "hope" and remain engaged with their members of Congress. "We'll fight what is wrong, and they should join us peacefully," Lee said. "There is hope by their very presence and their voices." Sunday's vigil was one of countless events around the country that have been organized during the weekend in response to Trump's inauguration. On Saturday, Women's Marches organized across the country drew more than 20,000 protesters to Houston's Hermann Square, according to estimates. More than 1 million people participated in similar events worldwide. If you judge a man by the company he keeps, what President Trump's proposed Cabinet says about him is mighty discouraging. His education secretary is devoted to pretty much destroying public education, his housing secretary has no experience in housing policy and his treasury secretary's key qualification seems to be that he led the fundraising effort for the president's campaign. But beneath the thin and questionable pile of resumes lies the stark fact that Trump's Cabinet will be the least diverse of any president in more than three decades. And most striking of all, it includes not a single Latino. That's right. Our nation's fastest-growing group of citizens, roughly 17 percent of the American people, will not be represented in Trump's Cabinet. Leave it to the president who launched his campaign by condemning Mexicans as rapists to form a Cabinet that excludes Hispanics. Every president in the last three decades has given Latinos a seat at that table, but not the Trump administration. President Ronald Reagan appointed the first Latino Cabinet member, Lauro Cavazos, as secretary of education. All told, a dozen Latinos have served in the Cabinet, including the highest-ranking of them all, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, appointed by President George W. Bush. And it's especially galling given how the president's spokesman responded when questioned about this lack of diversity. "The number one thing that I think Americans should focus on is, is he hiring the best and the brightest" said White House press secretary Sean Spicer. So it would seem the new president doesn't think any of this nation's more than 57 million Hispanic citizens are among the nation's best and brightest. If Trump couldn't find a single Cabinet nominee among that many people, he wasn't looking hard enough. Maybe we shouldn't be surprised, given anti-immigrant rhetoric flooding Trump's campaign. He didn't need Hispanic votes to win the presidency, so perhaps he thinks he doesn't need to make any overtures to Hispanic voters. But reaching out to the political opposition is a long and honorable tradition for newly elected presidents, and it's an especially important exercise in national unity after such a divisive campaign. In a representative democracy it's crucial that diverse population groups be represented at the top levels of government. Spicer indicated the new president may appoint some Hispanics to other high-ranking positions in his administration. Let's hope so. Considering how much Trump talked about border issues during his campaign, he needs to broaden his circle of advisers to reflect the nation's growing Latino population. CHICAGO - A new study by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights advocacy organization, says that more than two-thirds of 2,000 teachers surveyed reported students - mainly immigrants, children of immigrants and Muslims - expressing concerns or fears about what might happen to them or their families during a Trump presidency. Since the election, more than half of teachers have seen an increase in uncivil political discourse in their schools or classrooms, and more than one-third report having observed an increase in anti-Muslim or anti-immigrant sentiment. The study, titled "The Trump Effect: The impact of the presidential campaign on our nation's schools," cites a Virginia elementary school teacher who said that students are "crying in the classroom and having melt-downs at home." An Oregon primary-school teacher said her black students are "concerned for their safety because of what they see on TV at Trump rallies." In North Carolina, a high school teacher said she has "Latino students who carry their birth certificates and Social Security cards to school because they are afraid they will be deported." These are not outlier incidents cherry-picked for effect - Donald Trump-related anxiety was obvious when school started in late summer and ramped up on the day after the election. Both in the school building where I teach and in neighboring districts, not only were the kids keyed up on Nov. 9, a lot of teachers were in near hysterics. In my building, there were teachers who refused to even talk about the election and others who cried in front of students. At a nearby district, racist language was scrawled on a bathroom door and minority students staged a protest that went viral on social media, prompting my school's students to plan their own walkout. As the drama unfolded, it occurred to me that the students may not have been as likely to give in to hysteria if the adults in their school buildings had acted less like hyper-partisans and more like grown-ups who could keep their cool. Instead, some of those in charge were making an unpredictable situation even scarier with their emotionality. I wasn't completely off-base - the next day our administration sent out guidance from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) on how to reinforce safe, supportive and positive post-election school environments. Considering that the backlash to the anti-Trump sentiment has provoked even more taunting and sometimes vitriolic anti-immigrant and anti-minority language from his supporters, some tips from the psychologists continue to resonate and should be taken to heart by anyone with kids who are being confronted with politically motivated malice or bigotry: "Reinforce a sense of positive [school] community. ... We function as a nation only when we have that shared sense of relationship; helping children identify and develop those relationships is vital." In other words, don't reinforce "us vs. them" mentalities. "Model and teach desired behaviors. ... Adults can help children and youth manage their reactions to events in the news and their communities by understanding their feelings, modeling healthy coping strategies, and closely monitoring their own emotional states and that of those in their care." I interpret this with Michelle Obama's words from the campaign trail: "When they go low, we go high." Or more simply put - be the adult in the room. "Reassure children that they are and will be OK." This one is tough when children are actively facing bullying from other students or community members who are talking about building walls, deportations or making assertions about suspected terrorists. But as adults, it is our responsibility to provide comfort and a sense of stability instead of feeding fear in an attempt to empathize. "Encourage children to channel their views and feelings into positive action." After the school where the racist graffiti had appeared went through its cycle of anger and protest, a group of students uplifted the campus by posting 2,500 sticky notes with inspirational and positive messages. It seemed to help. This is but a small selection of the tips NASP provided for dealing with a transition of presidential power that is frightening so many, and its guidance deserves a thorough reading by anyone who interacts with kids. We are all entering a time of uncertainty and anxiety, but it is especially challenging for school-age kids who, as a cohort, are the most diverse portion of our population. Let us acknowledge that this uneasiness is real - and do all we can to help our kids through it. Cepeda's (@estherjcepeda) column is distributed by the Washington Post Writers Group. Her email address is estherjcepeda@washpost.com. Some call it a drafting error. Others call it a mistake. Regardless of how it happened, in December 2015, Congress passed a spending bill that extended tax credits for big wind and solar energy but left other clean energy technologies in the cold. As a result, residential and commercial tax credits for geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, microturbines, small wind and combined heat and power all expired on Dec. 31, 2016. The failure of Congress to right this wrong is having real consequences. Geothermal heat pump manufacturers project sales declines of 30-40 percent in 2017 and beyond. The entire geothermal heat pump supply chain, which is entirely U.S.-based, is at risk for loss of investment and jobs. This means distributors, dealers, contractors, installers, drillers - plus all the families and small businesses that they help support - will see job losses. Whether it is the homeowner looking to save money or the commercial project looking for the most efficient heating and cooling technology, geothermal heat pump projects across the country are being shelved. Take the Whisper Valley project near Austin as a prime example. Taurus Development Group is building 7,500 affordable net-zero energy homes and 2 million square feet of retail space. The developer planned to invest more than $100 million in geothermal heat pumps to service the community. But without the tax credits, the economics no longer work, and the project, along with hundreds of local jobs, may not go forward using geothermal heat pump technology. To be clear, our industry does not view the tax credits as key to our long-term survival. When Congress created the credits in 2008, the goal was to drive economies of scale to reduce installation costs. But as soon as the credits were enacted, the housing market cratered and commercial construction came to a halt. That's why we urged Congress to provide a short-term extension before phasing out the credits - the same glide path Congress provided for big wind and solar. If Congress wants to do away with all energy tax credits, we would be the first industry to sign up for that deal. As the most efficient heating and cooling technology, we are confident we can compete in a fair market. But we cannot compete on a playing field that is tilted against us and in favor of other technologies. The irony is that by not fixing the tax credit issue, Congress is not only destroying thousands of jobs, but subsidizing foreign competition! Only 25 percent of solar panels are made in America, and many wind developments are of foreign origin. Compare that to geothermal heat pumps, which are 100 percent "Made in the USA," with American-made components manufactured and installed by American workers. Some members of Congress suggest this will be addressed during the tax reform debate. But we can't wait. With thousands of jobs on the line, we urge House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, and his colleagues to take immediate action to fix the "error" and ensure equal tax treatment for all clean energy technologies. Dougherty is president and CEO of GEO, the Geothermal Exchange Organization, a nonprofit trade association based in Illinois. January 22nd marks the 44th anniversary of the Supreme Court Ruling that has left over 59 million and counting dead Roe v. Wade. On January 27th, thousands of people around the country will participate in the March for Life to serve as a voice for those who werent given a choice to live. This years theme, The Power of One, is centered around the idea that one person can make a difference in the world, whether in the life of one or the life of many. I admire the conviction of all of the advocates who have journeyed far and wide to our nations Capital to stand up for the belief that I share that life begins at conception. We are in a critical moment in our nations history where we have the opportunity to promote pro-life initiatives that are supported by millions of Americans. One of the reasons I supported President Trump during his run for the White House, and one of the reasons millions were overcome with emotion during his swearing in, was his commitment to lead in the fight for life and advancing policies that make America a place where unborn children and their mothers are treated with compassion and justice. During my time in Congress I have never wavered from my firm belief that life is precious and must be supported. I share this belief with President Trump and look forward to working along-side him to advance some of the pro-life goals he has outlined. One of our new Presidents early acts will be nominating a justice to replace the conservative stalwart, the late Justice Antonin Scalia. I support President Trumps commitment to nominating pro-life justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. Having pro-life justices that recognize the danger of abortion to both women and their babies is critical. President Trump must use his power of nomination to put forth the name of a conservative justice who will honor the legacy and balance to the court that Justice Scalia brought so that we can fight to make the court a place where the life of the unborn is fully protected. I share in President Trumps commitment to ending heinous late-term abortions nationwide through enactment of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This will ensure that no innocent child has to suffer the excruciating pain from dismemberment abortion. I share President Trumps commitment to ending taxpayer funding of the abortion industry. Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for places that kill over 320,000 babies every year. In addition, I have supported measures which ban abortions based on gender as well as supporting an Americans right to object to healthcare coverage that also covers abortion services. Working with our new President, we can accomplish our goals to protect the sanctity of life that thousands of people around the country will be marching for on Friday. Although we cannot bring back the nearly 59 million innocent lives that have been tragically taken over the past 44 years, we can fight to ensure that all children have a chance at life. Every child is a miracle from God and I am hopeful that with the advancement of the pro-life movement each and every one of these miracles will have a chance to live the life God has planned for them. Jason Smith represents Missouris 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Contact him at 573-335-0101 or visit https://jasonsmith.house.gov As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. 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If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. e last year, national retailer Noel Leeming was recognised as IBM Kenexa's most improved workplace here, the firms HR head explains how the company went from clutching at straws to winning awards.Weve been on a bit of a journey over the past four or five years and we went through some very tough times in terms of the global financial crisis, admits general manager of people support Matt Williams.The business was doing it hard for a number of years and right through that time, a lot of our focus was on the things which we needed to do just to continue to trade.However, Williams says everything began to change in 2012 when Noel Leeming was acquired by the Warehouse group in a deal worth $65 million.What that investment allowed us to do was really focus on some of the other things because we knew we had a strong backer, says Williams.It enabled us to develop a very clear and a much longer-term strategy than had typically been the case in the past and it gave us the ability to define things such as values and behaviours by which we expect our team members to work, he continues.Weve been able to become very clear about what were about, what we stand for and weve been able to communicate that effectively to team members and our team members have very much come along on the journey.Now, Noel Leeming can boast endless initiatives which benefit its people including its Aspire women in leadership program which identifies promising female leaders and supports their professional development in a bid to combat the gender imbalance which currently exists within the consumer electrical appliance industry.Another initiative is every member of our senior leadership team has a buddy store and they spend two days in the store initially and then one day every six months going in, says Williams.The idea is absolutely not to tell the store how to make improvements, the idea is to understand how things operate in-store so you can take that understanding and improve how we do things from a support stand-point which will make things easier for our team members.That visibility in-store makes a huge difference and theres appreciation from team members that senior leaders have taken time out to spend time away from the head office and it creates a great connection and better relations.Williams says a drive towards improving communication and connectivity across the entire business has also helped boost engagement.Weve got 75 stores and 1,700 team-members right across New Zealand but if youre a store in Invercargill or Greymouth, its quite easy to feel disconnected from the business so weve done a raft of things around getting more connected to our team members and making sure that any information cascades down to them, he says.Every year, the company organises a nation-wise roadshow where the executive team visits every team member in every store across the country, discussing strategy, taking questions and listening to feedback.We also produce a monthly video where our CEO or another member of the lead team provides the business with an update on trade and performance, whats new and whats going on.Williams says one of the most beneficial programs comes in the form of My Ideas, which not only makes employees feel more connected but also leads to meaningful business improvements.The system allows workers to submit their ideas and a lead team member is assigned to look at the suggestion and offer a response.Sometimes people think that the only team members with great ideas are senior managers but often its the employees at the store level, says Williams. Most often, theyre the ones who are best placed to see opportunities and they also feel like theyre able to have their voice heard by higher management. Ashley Judd's "I am a nasty woman" speech became one of the most defining moments at the Women's March on Washington on Jan. 21 thanks to a 19-year-old poet from Tennessee. My name is Ashley Judd and I am a feminist, the 48-year-old actress began her speech in Washington D.C., interrupting documentary filmmaker, Michael Moore. Advertisement I bring you words from Nina Donovan, a 19-year-old in middle Tennessee and she has given me the privilege of telling you what she has to say... I am a nasty woman, Judd yelled to the crowd, which, according to reports, reached at least half a million marchers protesting President Donald Trump. Ashley Judd attends the rally at the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage) Judd then performed a spoken word poem written by Donovan, which criticized Trump's history of bigotry against women, people of colour and immigrants, as well as the rise of extreme right-wing politics. Advertisement "Not as nasty as a man who looks like he bathes in Cheetoh dust," continued Judd. "A man whose words are a distract to America. Electoral college-sanctioned, hate-speech contaminating this national anthem. Im not as nasty as Confederate flags being tattooed across my city." "Maybe the South actually is going to rise again. Maybe for some it never really fell. Blacks are still in shackles and graves, just for being black. Slavery has been reinterpreted as the prison system in front of people who see melanin as animal skin. I am not as nasty as a swastika painted on a pride flag, and I didnt know devils could be resurrected but I feel Hitler in these streets." Watch the full speech below: The video of Judd's speech went viral, garnering millions of views from women and men who shared Judd and Donovan's anger and fear about Trump's new administration. According to News.com.au, Donovan, a sociology major at Nashvilles Columbia State Community College, said she is overwhelmed with the response her spoken word poem has received. Advertisement "The second [Trump] called Hillary a 'nasty woman,' I literally sat down that night and I wrote in my phone, 'I am a nasty woman,'" Donovan told news.com.au, referring to the final presidential debate last October. I kept coming back to those words and I thought 'I have to finish this poem.'" It honestly took me a good month to write," she continued. "I kept tweaking it and changing things. The more I dug into the issues I was speaking about, I couldnt stop writing." Ashley Judd attends the rally at the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage) Donovan recounted that she first performed her poem at a spoken word event late last year, and Judd happened to be in the audience. Advertisement [Judd] pulled a few of us aside and said 'I think your piece is going to be in the Washington D.C Womens March' and I was like What?! Is this a joke?'" Donovan said. She gave me her number and we texted back and forth. I gave her full permission to change anything and tweak anything and recite it how she wanted to. Donovan attended a Women's March in Nashville and said she watched Judd perform her poem on her phone in her car. I was just waiting for her to go on and when she started saying my words and I just burst into tears, she said. I was like Is this really happening? When am I going to wake up and this all be a dream? I really was surprised. Ashley is a famous actor. I knew it was going to get some attention, but I never anticipated it blowing up like it did, especially all over the world. I thought maybe have a little peak in D.C., but I did not think it would go international. Advertisement Last December, Judd shared a Facebook video of Donovan reciting her "I am a Nasty Woman" speech. Watch it below: Also on HuffPost Update: David Maracle has been arrested in Cornwall, Ont. after a citizen spotted him at a mall. He was taken into custody about 15 minutes later, according to CBC News. Police in Kingston, Ont. are searching for a serial rapist who escaped from a correctional centre. David Maracle, 52, was last seen at the minimum-security Henry Traill Community Correctional Centre Sunday night. He is described as aboriginal, 510 tall, 200 pounds, with short dark hair. He was last seen wearing green and grey cargo pants, a white T-shirt, and dark jacket/sweater, police said. Advertisement In the 1980s and 1990s, Maracle was convicted for a string of sex assaults, including raping a common-law partner, and kidnapping at 14-year-old girl at gunpoint in 1997, according to Global News. She was blindfolded and forced into an area near her school, where Maracle raped her, reported The Hamilton Spectator. His criminal history also includes weapons charges, break and enter, assault, and overcoming resistance by choking. Advertisement Police say Maracle completed his sentence in October 2015, but remained in police custody at the Henry Traill Community Correctional Centre because he is a high-risk offender. Ontario Provincial Police have teamed up with the city and correctional officers for the search. As it continues to lose market share to fast-casual chains and coffee shops, McDonalds is in ever greater need of a McMiracle. For a while it looked like maybe that miracle would be all-day breakfast, which has proven to be a hit in the U.S., and is now being tried out in Canada. Advertisement But Egg McMuffins for dinner may not be enough. On Monday, the company reported a 1.8-per-cent sales decline in established U.S. locations in the last quarter of 2016. As some observers have noted, McDonalds isnt getting as large a boost as other fast food chains have gotten with their new fast food products. Turning around the fast food giants long decline may take more changes in menu schedules. According to the companys own internal research, reported on by Bloomberg, only one-fifth of millennials has ever tried a Big Mac. Thats a clear sign that tastes in fast food are changing, and McDonalds hasnt been keeping up. Advertisement "We're on the right path as we pursue our goal of being recognized by our customers as the modern, progressive burger company." McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook These days, its not for lack of effort. The company announced last week two new versions of its iconic Big Mac: the Mac Jr., a small version of the sandwich with two instead of the usual three layers of bread; and the Grand Mac, an extra-large version. Besides expanding menu options, the company has been working to appeal to a younger generation that research shows is more health-conscious and ethically focused. It has announced its eliminating antibiotics in its chicken, and has a long-term plan to use cage-free eggs. I am confident that we're on the right path as we pursue our goal of being recognized by our customers as the modern, progressive burger company," McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook said in a statement accompanying the latest earnings. Advertisement But there are setbacks. The company's Canadian division came in for criticism after it announced its product line may no longer be nut-free, thanks to the production of its new Skor McFlurry. That has some observers saying the company's business could suffer in Canada. For 2016 as a whole, the companys currency-adjusted global revenue fell 3 per cent, to $6.03 billion, though thats still a little better than analysts had expected. And efficiencies helped it squeeze out more profit: Earnings rose 10 per cent to $1.44 per share for the year. So far, analysts are sounding positive about the new Big Macs. David Palmer of RBC Capital Markets said he expects U.S. sales to grow this year, thanks to the increased variety of menu options, and thanks to the chains value menu. The new Big Macs are a smart idea, because customers keep saying they want more choices, especially in portion size, NPD Group restaurant industry analyst Bonnie Riggs told Bloomberg. If this works, itll have a lot of implications for what McDonalds may try in the future. Advertisement With a file from The Associated Press Also on HuffPost UPDATE - Jan. 24, 2017: Edmonton police have charged a 34-year-old man named Jason Bews with assault and uttering threats. Edmonton police are investigating a claim by Rebel Media that a female reporter was assaulted by a male protester during a women's march this weekend. Two other protesters, however, have come forward to defend the man identified by the right-wing online publication. Advertisement Rebel posted a video of an altercation involving Alberta bureau chief Sheila Gunn Reid, who was covering the protest outside of the provincial legislature Saturday. Rebel later offered a $1,000 reward, on a website called FindTheThug.ca, for name of the man in the clip. The site now identifies the man as Dion Bews a name not yet verified by police. It's unclear if a cash prize has been claimed. In the clip, Reid tries to ask the protester a question, but he doesn't answer. "Go away," he says. "Get out of my f*cking face. I will break your f*cking camera." The protester then throws a punch that appears to connect with the camera. "With all the strength his weak little beta arms can muster up, he winds up and bashes it into my face," Reid says in the video. Advertisement The reporter is also shown calling out witnesses, who she says failed to protect a woman from assault. "This little loser, he just struck a woman at a women's rally, was able to escape justice and arrest," Reid says. One protester shown in the video says that is not the case. "I got in between them," Laura Mills told The Huffington Post Canada. "I said you have the right to be angry." Mills explained that she didn't feel comfortable going after the man by herself, but waited with Reid until security arrived. Advertisement The Rebel Media did not return HuffPost Canada's request for an interview before publication. Witnesses dispute claim Two witnesses, seen in Rebel Media's video, took to Facebook to dispute Reid's version of events on Sunday. Tiana Barnes and Ezra James say Reid wasn't hit. "He just hit the camera off the tripod," says Barnes in the Facebook video. "[He] didn't actually assault her in any way." "Had she been hit, there would have been a reaction," James adds. Both witnesses are hoping their video stops the spread of "false information," and brings attention back to women's rights. Ezra Levant on the incident Rebel Media's Ezra Levant spoke out on the organization's website and Twitter, calling the man a "NDP extremist." Advertisement Rachel Notley: one of your NDP extremists & supporter of @ProgressAlberta, punched your enemy @SheilaGunnReid in the face. Will you disavow? pic.twitter.com/XloIFBUSvN Ezra Levant (@ezralevant) January 23, 2017 The incident also caught the attention of Jason Kenney, currently running for the leadership of the Alberta PC party. "Very disturbing to see a woman punched in the face at Edmonton protest yesterday," he tweeted. Very disturbing to see a woman punched in the face at Edmonton protest yesterday. I condemn such hatred & violence. https://t.co/cXKnO2f1EK Jason Kenney (@jkenney) January 23, 2017 And Laureen Harper, wife of former prime minister Stephen Harper, took to Twitter to charge that the "sisters helped the guy slither away." Loved the part in the video where the women helped @SheilaGunnReid to safety. Oops, I meant where the sisters helped the guy slither away. https://t.co/1XlihEZytA Laureen Harper (@LaureenHarper) January 23, 2017 Advertisement The media organization is now collecting donations, citing security concerns. "Im sending her to public events with a professional security guard," wrote Levant on the site, saying it will cost $40 per hour, plus the cost of travel. Charges have not yet been laid in the case. The Canadian Press photographer on scene A news photographer working for The Canadian Press was on the scene of the alleged assault. Levant asked why none of his photos were published. "A photojournalist for Canadian Press, who caught the whole thing, buried the story." Canadian Press Editor-in-Chief Stephen Meurice said the wire service did not suppress the story. "The Canadian Press does not have any pictures of the alleged altercation between the protester and the Rebel Media reporter. The photographer who was covering the protest for us, Jason Franson, did not have a good view of the apparent altercation," he said in a statement. "CP did not publish those photos as they did not have any news value on their own. There was no 'suppression' of the story, as Rebel Media maintained." With files from The Canadian Press. Also on HuffPost: Mark Blinch / Reuters Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne speaks during an announcement from healthcare group Bayer, and venture capital firm Versant Ventures, that will have them partake in a $225 million joint venture to create a new stem cell therapy technology company, BlueRock Therapeutics, in Toronto, December 12, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Blinch Some decisions in politics are easy. It is not hard to oppose Trump and every vile thing he stands for. In general though political decisions are not often so clear cut. In 2017 -- sooner rather than later -- Premier Kathleen Wynne will have such a decision to make about her future, and in fact the future of the province. Advertisement New polling indicates there has been little change in her popularity, or lack there of to be specific. Her approval ratings sit barely into double digits, and show no sign of improving. The decision she faces is fairly obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of politics, or math for that matter. I'm known to hold unpopular opinions at times -- Friends is better than Seinfeld -- so I have no issues with sharing another one. Premier Wynne has by and large done an excellent job. She put forth a bold platform and won an unlikely majority, at a time when many counted her party out. She has gone about implementing many much needed changes in pressing social issues, education, transit, and the environment. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the electorate does not care. I believe a great deal of the negative -- at times visceral -- reactions to Premier Wynne stem in no small part from the fact that she is both a women and openly gay. Women in politics from across partisan divides, are subject to abuse and levels of contempt rarely experienced by their male counterparts. Such vitriol is occasionally even promoted by major media outlets. Advertisement However, her dismal approval ratings cannot be laid solely on the denizens of commentville or the local chapter of the "I hate lefties" club. It runs deeper than that. People in Ontario have seen life get progressively more expensive while their wages have stayed the same or vanished all together. Hydro costs in particular are often cited as what's driving up the cost of living, and driving down the premier's popularity. The Globe and Mail broke down hydro costs recently, showing how little of your hydro bill is actually Wynne's fault. Perception in politics being what it is, I doubt many people are open to that argument though. Premier Wynne should seriously consider what's at risk in 2018. In 2015 we saw Canadians embrace a progressive platform and elect a majority Liberal government. Clearly there is an audience for the progressive values Wynne has championed. The Liberal party polls better than the premier, suggesting another win is not out of the question. Particularly if mistrust of Patrick Brown grows, and if his party continues to pack their guns with feet seeking bullets. Premier Wynne should seriously consider what's at risk in 2018. With a radical conservative agenda taking hold in America, a slightly softer version here could seem palatable to the people of Ontario. Leaving Patrick Brown and his party to unwind much of the progress the Liberals have made. Hopefully, Premier Wynne has at least considered the option to step aside. She has worked hard to put forth programs meant to benefit all of the people of Ontario, and for that work to continue someone else may need to take the lead. Advertisement I suspect Premier Wynne already knows that because after all, that's essentially how she got the job in the first place. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Once in the winter Out on a lake In the heart of the north-land Far from the Fort And far from the hunters, A Chippewa woman With her sick baby, Crouched in the last hours Of a great storm, Frozen and hungry, She fished through the ice With a line of the twisted Bark of the cedar And a rabbit-boned hook Polished and barbed;" (The Forsaken) And yet in a subsequent poem Scott's disdain for aboriginal ways becomes all too apparent: "Now have the ages met in the Northern midnight, And on the lonely, loon-haunted Nipigon reaches Rises the hymn of triumph and courage and comfort, Adeste Fideles Tones that were fashioned when the faith brooded in darkness, Joined with sonorous vowels in the noble Latin, Now are married with the long-drawn Ojibwa, Uncouth and mournful." (Night Hymns on Lake Nipigon) CBC Two Canadian dramas are aiming to bring a bit of cable edge to mainstream networks. Pure (Mondays, CBC; back episodes available for streaming from the CBC website) is a crime-drama whose premise might sound like a joke: The Mennonite Mob! Apparently Mennonite crime is not entirely a filmmaker's fancy, the close nature of the communities, and literally the last people you'd suspect of criminality, making an ideal cover. In this Ontario Mennonite community, the mostly good citizens turn a blind eye to what is going on. But when an honest family man (Ryan Robbins) is appointed the new pastor he finds that willful ignorance is no longer an option -- especially when he is coerced into aiding the criminals. Advertisement The opening episode works well, setting up an array of characters (including the hedonistic cop who is only just discovering this criminal element right under his nose) and mostly blows past any initial snickering the premise might engender (though a scene where menacing Mennonites pull up in a black car teeters on the edge of parody). The series gets marks for trying something different within the exhausted mob/crime genre. Though there are ways it evokes some recent series, such as the critically acclaimed American series Breaking Bad (with its innocent-turned-gangster -- Robbins' even looks a bit like Bryan Cranston) or even Banshee, a violent American drama set in a town bordering an Amish community. It's atmospheric, delivering an unhurried pace without being turgid. The acting is solid throughout with Robbins, an engaging actors who's been skirting the edges of mainstream recognition for years, firmly in the centre seat. And the series wants us to respect the dignity of the characters. A scene of Robbins' character at a police station nicely conveys just how raucous the outside world would seem to him. Even though it's our world, we understand it from his perspective. At the same time, TV is cluttered with gritty crime dramas. Swap out the farm houses for tenements and this could be akin to any mob infested neighbourhood. A scene in the second episode where the cop tortures information out of a suspect shows the filmmakers are unprepared to break from modern narrative cliches (namely: torture is neat and all the cool kids do it). Still, it has that atmosphere, and there are enough characters and threads to be developed (the junkie Mennonite, the cop's son who is sweet on the pastor's daughter) that it promises twists and turns to come. Advertisement Mary Kills People (premiering Jan. 25, Global) is about a doctor (Caroline Dhavernas) who has an illegal side-line helping people commit suicide. A little bit Six Feet Under meets Weeds -- but without cable TV explicitness. But for those complaining Canadian TV is "safe" (a charge that has never been accurate) MKP boasts topical subject matter and the pilot's opening scene establishes the disparate tones: beginning with pathos, segueing into comedy, morphing into suspense, and then going darker -- all within six minutes! Yet it doesn't lose itself in hubris, remaining grounded as an accessible, mainstream TV drama. Based on the two episodes offered for advance viewing, it clips along at a brisk pace -- almost too much so. Maybe it's a result of a short season (I believe six episodes) but barely are we introduced to Mary's world than the danger of it unravelling rears its head (with cops, mobsters, and even her daughter all sniffing about her secret). A sexual tryst in the pilot seemed more driven by the needs of the plot than the needs of the characters (pun intended). A problem is that the "edgy" idea of the assisted suicide heroine is draped over familiar tropes. From the respectable suburbanite hiding a criminal life (drug dealer/spy/crooked cop) to the suspicious teenager (usually a daughter, usually eldest of two siblings) to even the erudite mobster (albeit mobsters come in a limited number of archetypes) -- all are staples of modern TV. Indeed, Pure riffs on some of them as well! But cliches are cliches because they often work (a truism that is itself a cliche) and MKP is slick and certainly well acted by Dhavernas (a veteran of film and TV in both French and English) and with a cast including Jay Ryan, a New Zealand-born actor who's already spent four years in Canada shooting Beauty & The Beast. But it's never quite as fresh in execution as it is in conception. It's an (admittedly) odd bit of nitpicking, but I was going to comment on a scene where characters are at a Drive-Thru -- and place their order at the same window where they receive their food. Isn't the set-up of Drive-Thrus that you place your order at one place and receive it at another? Hence drive thru. But the restaurant looks more like a food shack and maybe there are such "Drive-Thru" shacks...or maybe the script called for a drive thru but they couldn't afford to rent an appropriate locale. But odder was when the characters are handed their food before they pay for it. Um, pretty sure that's not the protocol. Advertisement So why-oh-why (I hear you ask) am I fixating on such an irrelevancy? Did it ruin the episode? Did it forever shatter my suspension of disbelief? Nyah. But it can feel a bit sloppy -- given the series is about technical issues involving medicine, law, and ethics. Related to this is my usual beef: in the first two episodes nothing is said to indicate where the series is set, while references to Portland, New York, etc. are crowbarred into the dialogue to imply it's the U.S. It's "dog whistle" culturalism -- the filmmakers can deny that's what they're doing even as everyone knows it is. Wrap your brain around that. They thought it'd be less controversial to make a series about a heroine who kills people than to set it in Canada. Kind of makes you think about what constitutes daring television doesn't it, eh? (And remember, kids: every time a Canadian program pretends it's American, Donald Trump grows another hair). Pure is stronger out-of-the-gate than Mary Kills People, but both shows are slick and worth a look-in, just to see if they grab you. When I heard about the Women's March happening on January 21, I instantly knew I would participate. So when Saturday made its appearance in Toronto -- complete with an ashy grey sky overhead -- I was there. Many of my friends asked me why I was going -- and what, exactly, we were protesting for. There seemed to be a lot of confusion around this Women's March, so I wanted to sit down and take a moment to clarify why we marched. Advertisement Shortly after arriving to the march here in Toronto, I went ahead and uploaded a picture of the gathering to my personal Instagram. With close to 60,000 followers, there are often a number of interesting comments -- often "ooh-ing" and "ahh-ing" remarks from men whenever I post a photo of myself with my makeup on and nails done (thank you filters!). This time, however, the comments were a little different. Actually, some of them were very different from what I usually get. Consider this gem -- one of the first comments to rear its ugly head: "you belong in the kitchen." Ah, yes -- there it was. A lustrous, shining example of why precisely I was at this march. So to this individual bursting at the seams, and the ones that followed, I say: "Thank you. You've made it easy for me to explain to my friends why I went to the Women's March." I marched because it is 2017 (2017, people!) and there are people in the world who still believe a woman's place is in the kitchen. Doubt it? Then you'll wince when you hear this. A recent peer-reviewed study compared data from 195 college students in 1983 to data from 191 adults in 2014 -- and found that gender stereotypes (like the sordid kitchen stereotype) are just as strongly rooted today as they were over 30 years ago. Advertisement Apparently, some people think that we should just be quiet, dainty females and accept things the way they are. I marched because although I make a mean banana bread, I also provide additional income to over 4000 individuals I staff across North America and full-time employment to over 20 (take that, patriarchy!). I marched because male-dominated political parties are still trying to exert control and power over women's bodies through stringent abortion laws. Another one of these eloquent commenters wrote: "women should be grateful that they have any rights and quit complaining." Advertisement I marched -- and over a million other people marched -- because there are still plenty of individuals who think that because other women in the world have virtually no rights, those of us who do have some rights should be submissive to a prejudiced patriarchal system that has always derived its power by silencing the voices of women. Apparently, some people think that we should just be quiet, dainty females and accept things the way they are. That's literally a recipe for social regression, but I guess some people don't get it. I guess because some women elsewhere are more oppressed, that I should just go back to the kitchen where "I belong" -- even though my companies raise tens of thousands of dollars for multiple charities every year. Let me dive one more time into my treasure trove of sexist Instagram comments. Here's this cute little comment: "Trump made one comment and then apologized, get over it." I marched because rape culture is still very much a thing, with women blamed and shamed for the sexual violence forced onto them by men (Stanford rape case, anyone?). I marched because there are people who actually believe that our bodies are not our own -- and should be under the subjugation of state power. They think they -- not us -- should dictate how we think and how we live. That we shouldn't speak out about how we feel. That we shouldn't be offended. That sexual assault victims should be silent and silenced. Advertisement This was not meant to be a political march, but a Girl Power march. They believe that sexual predators -- who think it's OK to grab women's vaginas -- should be made president. I marched because a man who has openly called women "dogs", "ugly", "fat," and "bimbos" is now not only the most powerful man in the United States, but also the most significant example of "leadership" for the next generation. I wanted to show the generation that comes after me that this is not something I support. That this is not OK, and we're not afraid to let everyone know. I marched to show minorities and all women around the world that you can do anything, the apparently iron grip of patriarchal social norms and political rules notwithstanding. From my beginnings with only $80 in my pocket, to owning several multi-million dollar corporations (run by an office filled with females I might add), I have learned that you can be and do anything. This was not meant to be a political march, but a Girl Power march. An opening salvo that reverberated around the world with this strident message: To any woman who has withstood the daily barrage of catcalling, sexual harassment, unjust pay, the stereotyping of who and what we should be, the pressure to submit our bodies to the tyranny of sexist political legislation, and just the plain rude comments from keyboard warriors. To the women who have no say whatsoever in countries like Saudi Arabia. To all of you: don't give up. We are making progress everyday, and we aren't stopping. We won't go backwards. There is hope. There is power. And there are a lot of us. Our voices will be heard. Advertisement I'm used to ridicule. We're used to ridicule. It's what shapes me and drives me. So to the women of colour, to the immigrant women, to the little girls and boys watching this world around you unfold in all its terrible and beautiful vicissitudes -- you can make it in the kitchen, and in the office. Be who, what, and where you want to be, and don't let anyone tell you "No, you can't." And to my Instagram commenter: your kitchen suggestion does sound tempting, but I don't think I'll quit my day job. I guess I'm just that nasty. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: National Child Day has been celebrated across Canada every November 20 since 1993 to commemorate the United Nations' adoption of two documents describing children's rights: The 1959 United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Unfortunately, National Child Day 2016 received very little media fanfare or comment in Canada. Judging from UNICEF's newly released Report Card 13: Fairness for Children, which measures the depths of inequality in children's well-being across the richest countries in the world, there is little to celebrate. Advertisement The UNICEF report card reveals how far rich countries like Canada have allowed their most disadvantaged children to fall behind the "average" child in health, education, income and life satisfaction. The report concludes that Canada is one of the more unequal societies for children and youth, ranking 26th of 35 rich nations. The report makes clear that as inequality goes up, child well-being goes down. Thirty-five per cent of children in low-income neighbourhoods are prone to poor development. UNICEF is not the only organization raising concern about child well-being in our country. A 2014 Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) report concluded that 26 per cent of Canadian children demonstrate a developmental problem in communication, language, cognition, social-emotional or physical health by the time they reach kindergarten. Of note, 35 per cent of children in low-income neighbourhoods are prone to poor development compared with 20 per cent of children from high-income neighbourhoods. Given that inequalities emerge early in life -- and seem to persist -- it is imperative and urgent that Canada invest, develop and sustain a high-quality early child development framework. While the federal government has committed to working with the provinces on early learning and child care, conversations are centred on additional daycare spaces and addressing daycare cost. These two accessibility factors are important, but we must remind our leaders in government and the community, that traditional daycare services alone only constitute one piece of the puzzle. Advertisement We suggest that Canada build upon the vision and words that both Dr. Fraser Mustard and the Honourable Margaret McCain articulated in their Understanding the Early Years reports, where they describe comprehensive approaches to early childhood development, care and learning that at the core recognize, foster and support parents and families in their role as children's first and most influential teachers. Their vision can be seen through the tremendous work and research conducted with early learning centres like Toronto First Duty and across several Early Childhood Development Centres in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, where universal models for integrating child care, kindergarten, family support and other services in school-based community hubs have been implemented. It's time we addressed inequities and not simply access to affordable child care. Unfortunately, many of these sites have not been sustained, or are not yet sustainable, without a national reframing of early childhood development as a critical social service worthy of our attention and investment. To achieve better developmental outcomes for children and youth, we also need to shift our thinking to equity from equality. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful while equality is treating everyone the same. Treating everyone the same is not working for Canada's children. One way to bridge the widening opportunity gap is to introduce early learning centres across the country that wrap services around young families and children. The goal would be to improve family functioning and promote healthy child development and learning pre- and postnatally, giving children and families, particularly those with low-income, the leg-up they need to be successful in school and in life. Advertisement The time is now. Record numbers of children in Canada are living in poverty in spite of an all-party resolution in 1989 to end child poverty by the year 2000. Let's encourage policy makers to invest in, develop and sustain a high-quality early child development framework that prioritizes child and family health, development, care and learning. It's time we addressed inequities and not simply access to affordable child care. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: In light of the prime minister's recent visit with the Aga Khan, a lot of people are asking questions about who the Aga Khan is and what his objectives are. I read with interest a recent piece here on Huffington Post by Riaz Charania, arguing that the Aga Khan's message is important, and also that the scandal surrounding the Trudeau vacation is "Much Trudeau About Nothing." I agree with the first part, but not the second. This is a real scandal which raises real questions about Justin Trudeau's ethics. It in no way detracts from the charitable work of the Aga Khan. This scandal is about the prime minister's actions, not the Aga Khan's. Advertisement By way of background, the Aga Khan is the leader of the worldwide Ismaili Muslim community. He advocates for peace, tolerance, and universal education, among other things. He has had a close relationship with successive Canadian governments. The previous Conservative government gave him honorary citizenship and invited him to address Parliament in 2014. During his address, he said the following: "I happily recall the establishment of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat here in 2008 and the Prime Minister's description that day of our collaborative efforts to make Canada 'the headquarters of the global effort to foster peace, prosperity, and equality through pluralism.'" In addition to praising Canada and the government in general terms, the Aga Khan explicitly praised the creation of the Office of Religious Freedom, since cancelled by the new Liberal government, saying: "Canada has responded in notable ways, including the establishment -- just one year ago -- of the Office of Religious Freedom. Its challenges, like those facing the Centre for Global Pluralism, are enormous and its contributions will be warmly welcomed. And surely it will also serve as a worthy model for other countries." The fact that the Aga Khan had a warm and positive relationship with the previous Canadian government should not suggest that the Aga Khan is partisan in any sense. Like virtually all major religious figures, he works with politicians but operates outside of party politics. Much of his praise for Canada was focused on those common Canadian values which are shared across party lines. So the first bottom line is that the Aga Khan is greatly admired across the political spectrum. When Justin Trudeau accepted the use of the Aga Khan's private aircraft, he chose to ignore his legal obligations under Canadian law. The second bottom line is that the important work of the Aga Khan, and his personal relationship with many Canadians and Canadian politicians, has no bearing on the prime minister's obligation to follow the law. Section 12 of the Conflict of Interest Act says the following: "No minister of the Crown, minister of state or parliamentary secretary, no member of his or her family and no ministerial adviser or ministerial staff shall accept travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft for any purpose unless required in his or her capacity as a public office holder or in exceptional circumstances or with the prior approval of the Commissioner." Importantly, this section of the act puts the onus on the prime minister not to accept non-commercial travel. For the purposes of preventing conflict of interest, the prime minister has unique legal obligations. It is not the obligation of someone who isn't the prime minister to know these rules -- responsibility for following these unique rules belongs to the prime minister. And these rules are important for ensuring that politicians are not subject to undo influence. Advertisement When Justin Trudeau accepted the use of the Aga Khan's private aircraft, he chose to ignore his legal obligations under Canadian law. The Aga Khan broke no rules; it was in accepting the flight that Trudeau broke the rules. Mr. Charania argued that it is important for political leaders to engage with the Aga Khan, and I agree. That is why the previous government brought the Aga Khan to Parliament, helping all Canadians to hear his message. Those who feel that this scandal is much ado about nothing could well propose that the law be changed -- but while the law is in force, the prime minister is legally obliged to follow it. If Justin Trudeau feels that this law cramps his style on vacation, then he should propose changes to it that the House of Commons can debate. In the meantime, the prime minister cannot simply behave as if the law does not exist. It is unfortunate that this scandal of Justin Trudeau's may be how the Aga Khan comes to be known to Canadians, as opposed to through his important charitable work. But this could be fixed if Justin Trudeau simply did the right thing and stood up to take personal responsibility for his own actions. It was his decision to break the rules, and it is up to him, not the Aga Khan, to make things right. Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Jason was in Grade 5 when he started having feelings for other boys. Because of those feelings he was called names, beaten up in school and even sexually assaulted. Since high school, Jason has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has also survived a suicide attempt. Through the Man-Up Against Suicide project at the University of British Columbia, Jason created an installation project that allowed him to open up about his experiences. In Canada, men account for three out of every four suicides -- with seven men dying by suicide every day. And the risk is even greater for gay and bisexual men. Advertisement Gay men are four times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual men. Which isn't surprising since they also experience higher levels of harassment, discrimination in the workplace and are more likely to be the victims of violent crime. Evidence suggests that interventions, like the Man-Up Against Suicide project, work to facilitate conversations around men's mental health. Art creates a space for men such as Jason to open up about mental illness and suicide. The process of creation can be therapeutic, and the product facilitates dialogue so others who are similarly challenged can speak out or seek help. These artistic methods help to destigmatize mental illness. Research has also shown that people are more likely to engage and participate in outreach programs and projects that are held in alternative spaces -- by getting away from the traditional clinic based therapeutic settings, programs can help combat self-stigma and shame. Advertisement In fact, when recruiting for the Man-Up Against Suicide project, there was so much interest the study had to be expanded to include everyone who was interested. It's not the only Canadian success story. Another project, a theatre piece featuring Canadian Armed Forces veterans who share their own stories, has been featured across Canada and internationally. The performances have resulted in several audience members coming forward and seeking help. Veteran suicides are well documented in the United States with approximately 20 veterans dying by suicide daily. The numbers in Canada are less transparent. A Globe and Mail investigation revealed that at least 71 veterans from the Afghanistan war have died by suicide. But the numbers don't reveal the true scale of the issue since Canada only releases data for Regular Force male suicides, which does not include veterans or the Reserve Force. However, we know among Canadian veterans it is estimated that nearly 50 per cent of all regular force personnel in Canada will experience symptoms associated with a mental and/or alcohol overuse disorder. "Government agencies across Canada need to support and scale up such targeted community-based programs which can advance the mental health of vulnerable subgroups of men." The performance piece, Contact! Unload, focuses on raising awareness about veteran mental illness, including suicide risk, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and substance and alcohol overuse. Through the performance, veterans are able to express the complexities of their experiences with war and coming home. These types of programs take a targeted approach to addressing male suicide -- they take into account diverse social factors that put men at higher risk for mental illness and suicide. They work within communities, and in collaboration with the men, to create programming that has an understanding of the unique lived experiences and efforts toward remedying the accompanying challenges. Community based approaches can also work well for Indigenous men, a sub-group who face disproportionately high rates of suicide. They are five to six times more likely to die by suicide than non-indigenous men, and are 25 times more likely to die by suicide than non-indigenous women. They are also at a higher risk for a multitude of mental illnesses including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance and alcohol overuse. Through the DUDES Club in British Columbia, a program that is expanding Canada-wide, men can get together, share stories and address their health issues with the support of other men. A recent documentary highlighting the work of the DUDES Club demonstrates the importance of community approaches to health care and highlights the need for culturally sensitive men's mental health services. Advertisement When Jason revealed his artwork for the first time he said he needed people to know the long-term effects of bullying and harassment. And the soldiers from the Contact! Unload play said that if they can prevent even just one more suicide then all of their hard work will have been worth it. Guys attending the DUDES club talk to the benefits of leaving their armour at the door and engaging in authentic conversations about their vulnerabilities and strategies for reducing suicide. Government agencies across Canada need to support and scale up such targeted community-based programs which can advance the mental health of vulnerable subgroups of men. The benefits from these investments will reach many women, children and other men by reducing male suicide. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Dear Premier Wynne, Thank you for your letter. I have been writing you for a while now and was getting worried you were never going to write back. I'm getting involved in the Conservative leadership race because I can't stand watching incompetent politicians destroy my country. You and Justin Trudeau are two of them. Rachel Notley would be the third. Advertisement Look at Ontario, if this province were a company it would have been forced to declare bankruptcy ages ago. Because of your neglectful actions, Ontario is the world's most in-debt jurisdiction. Do you understand how bad that is? You and your policies have all but bankrupted a province that was once an economic powerhouse in Canada. If you were the CEO of one of my companies, I would have fired you long ago. Your complete disregard for the people of Ontario has caused hydro prices to become completely unaffordable for families, sometimes forcing them to choose between groceries and heat. I am sure you saw the video where one homeowner recently broke down in tears as she tried to explain the current situation to Justin Trudeau. His response was to pass the buck and to say this is an Ontario problem. Your policies have all but bankrupted a province that was once an economic powerhouse. Premier, when you publicly took the blame and were forced to apologize to Ontarians because hydro prices have risen out of control, you admitted to "not paying close enough attention to some of the daily stresses facing Ontarians' lives." Advertisement What were you paying attention to? What exactly do you think your job is, if not to protect and support the people who elected you? How could you have let this happen? Do you really think Ontario is going to be competitive with Michigan and other northern states after Trump eliminates regulations and lowers taxes? You're dreaming. Admit it, you did not see him coming and now you are totally caught off guard. Your answer to everything is to raise taxes, take money from businesses that employ Ontarians and then try and re-invest it yourself. I'm sorry, but you are a terrible investor of taxpayers' money. That's why Ontario is $308 billion in debt. Premier, you are clearly out of touch. Harsh words? Sure, but it's the truth. Maybe you should consider leaving some money in the hands of Ontario business owners and entrepreneurs who can use it to grow our economy instead of taxing it all away. Advertisement Premier, you are clearly out of touch. But if you really think you are doing a good job, then prove it and call an election tomorrow. Unfortunately, we both know you won't do that, though, when you are sitting with a 16 per cent approval rating in the polls. But I promise it would be a very popular decision if you did. Sincerely. Kevin O'Leary Conservative Party of Canada Leadership Candidate, Ontario taxpayer and your employer until the next election. This blog originally appeared on Facebook. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Alina_Fedorova via Getty Images Human hands to create a concept of unity Honestly, I had not planned to attend the Toronto Women's March. I have an ethically difficult time justifying Canadian protests framed around American politics. So, I was not intending to march on Saturday -- that is, until I listened to the speech by Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards in Washington that morning. Richards' defiant commitment to keep her organization's doors open made tangible for me the reality in which Americans have now found themselves. And then I remembered how I felt on November 9th. I could never forgive myself for failing to do my utmost to prevent a moment like that in Canada. Advertisement It seems a lot of people had similar thoughts. On 21 January people participated in Women's Marches across 32 Canadian cities. Organizers estimate that 60 000 showed up in Toronto to march from Queen's Park to City Hall. There were creative signs and pussy hats. People brought their kids. Police were polite, but present. The crowd was energetic and defiant, yet in good spirits. What made the Toronto march all the more interesting was the theme around which it coalesced: intersectional resistance. Marchers pointed to Leitch and O'Leary, yes, but also the need to mobilize, even and perhaps especially in a situation of normal politics, for equality and compassion. Signs and speeches mentioned subjects from refugees to union rights, Black Lives Matter, the minimum wage, electoral reform, Idle No More, missing and murdered Indigenous women, social housing, the cost of childcare, climate change, public transit, and water rights -- all under the heading of intersectional feminism and solidarity. Advertisement Intersectionality means that different systems of discrimination are connected. Gender issues "intersect" with issues of class, sexuality, disability, and race. For instance, Indigenous women are much more likely than non-Indigenous women to be the victims of violent crime. Intersectional resistance, then, is about fighting inequality and oppression across identity lines. The Women's March emphasis on intersectionality was especially important in the Toronto context, just months after the Pride Parade was interrupted by Black Lives Matter activists, who argued that the LGBTQ movement gave too little attention to race issues. Saturday's march was an important step toward mending these cleavages amongst Toronto's activist communities. But questions have already been raised about whether the Women's Marches will become another Occupy Wall Street -- a moment of futile galvanization, rather than an historical watershed. Faced with the critique that the Occupy movement was simply too unfocused, many are beginning to wonder whether we are repeating past mistakes. Even if the Women's Marches have scored well on symbolism and ability to attract a broad coalition, are the movement's goals sufficiently clear -- especially for the imported Canadian variant? I think (hope) so. And here's why: an intersectional resistance movement, which is aimed at overcoming the competitive partitions between activist groups that undermine their collective power, is distributed but not unfocused. Advertisement "Equality, in all its forms, is the goal. Intersectional resistance and solidarity are the means." An intersectional resistance movement begins from a general orientation of solidarity. But it is distributed in the sense that it accommodates groups simultaneously agitating for distinct, yet complementary, goals. As trans activist Janet Mock, who spoke at the Women's March on Washington, said: "Our approach to freedom need not be identical, but it must be intersectional and inclusive. It must extend beyond ourselves. [...] I know with surpassing certainty that my liberation is directly linked to the undocumented trans Latina yearning for refuge, the disabled student seeking unequivocal access, the sex worker fighting to make her living safely." Intersectionality makes things more complicated, but that is not the same thing as being unfocused. Equality, in all its forms, is the goal. Intersectional resistance and solidarity are the means. And although we can imagine different policy goals under this heading, there is content to the stance that equality means beginning with the truth of intersectionality: success requires dismantling all sources of oppression, not just one. Black Lives Matter is about class as well as race. A Pride Parade cannot focus only on homophobia. A "Women's March" can never be just about women. Self-evident though the point may be, it requires that activists position themselves toward intersectionality not merely rhetorically, but in their strategic orientation as well. And that is a game-changer. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Bastiaan Slabbers via Getty Images Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States - November 19, 2016: Protesters carry signs during ongoing Anti-Trump protests, with more then a thousand participating, on Nov. 19, 2016, in Center City Philadelphia, PA. Throughout the week of January 16, 2017, I was riddled with contemplation about attending the Women's March in Toronto, which would start at Queen's Park and end at Nathan Phillips Square, the day after Donald Trump's inauguration. On January 18, I attended a panel discussion called Canada in a Trump World, where diverse leaders and prominent figures of influence shared their experiences and perspectives on the impact a Trump presidency would have on Canada. Advertisement They also pushed back against the idea that Trump is taking us back in time, reminding the audience that North America has always been plagued by discrimination and prejudice, the veil is just now coming off again, when really, the ideologies and senseless acts of white supremacists have always been there, have always been taking place. Now, these radicalists have someone in power to whom they credit their beliefs, actions and words. On January 20, I sat at my desk at work and hesitated to tune into the inauguration. I didn't want to listen at first, so I set my dial to CBC's The Current to hear host Anna Maria Tremonti speak to Canadians and Americans about what this means. I was more interested in the analysis. I also couldn't look at any more tiny hands. Soon, though, I fell into the trap of American television and gazed at a fuzzy online stream of the Obama-era coming to an end and the real-time first episode of the worst reality show to ever exist. Of course, in between strange biblical references and Michelle's well-timed side-eye, there was coverage of violent protests, windows being smashed, people being tackled to the ground. The nausea started here. Advertisement When I got home after work that day, I told the friend I had invited to Women's March Toronto that I probably wouldn't be going on January 21. I was exhausted. I was drained. I didn't want to talk about hate any more. I was really anxious, worried that I would get into trouble for walking down the street holding a sign celebrating hope and equality -- I mean, this is what I was so used to seeing in coverage of protests for years, and I didn't feel like getting pepper sprayed. I also feared the words, "Don't be a martyr." Though, a huge part of my inner self was telling me to bite the bullet, to follow my heart and to stand for what I know is right. I was torn, and still nauseous. Instead, I switched my perspective to baking muffins and making a hearty minestrone for the days to come. I went to bed after watching a few hours of Netflix, still feeling funny. I woke up on January 21 with a to-do list of chores and errands to run, but instead, inside me burned a different flame. It was a flame growing with compassion, strength, vibrance. History was being made for women, minorities and people from marginalized groups and I knew I had to be part of the conversation. A wave of excitement, and a bit of panic, came over me as I crafted a sign on a small piece of card stock. It read, "We are powerful. We are deserving. We are strong." I was inspired by these words in Hillary Clinton's concession speech: "To all the little girls watching...never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world." Advertisement I rushed to meet up with a friend who leads a coworking space for women in Toronto called Shecosystem, and her tribe of marchers, and we were off. "The Women's March was about bringing people together, showing that communities united are stronger than those divided." At first, I was nervous to hold my sign, and to be honest, for most of the Women's March, I stayed silent. I was taking it all in. There were families, there were husbands, there were 70-year-old men holding signs that said, "Human Rights aren't up for grabs," there were little kids asking their moms what Nasty Women meant, there were brothers holding signs for their sisters, there were daughters wearing pink hard hats, holding signs that read, "Love, not fear." At the Women's March, there were also people of different religions, different backgrounds, different genders. There were Americans, there were Canadians, there were immigrants. There was a sea of colours before my eyes - pink hair, blue eyes, thick hair, all thighs, young faces, old cries, dark skin and no lies. Everyone wore a smile and chanted strong words of might, but after marching for two hours, I didn't see one fight. Advertisement Sixty thousand people in Toronto, and millions of others around the world, marched in solidarity and committed to a future that will be better for generations now and those to come. The Women's March wasn't just about Donald Trump, one human being, and I think that's where many will find themselves confused. The Women's March wasn't about being scared the world was going to end. Instead, marchers believe in a future with less fear, more tasteful fury, more honest outrage. It was about being fed up with mistreatment and inequality, it was about standing strong in honour of those who marched before us and those who will march after us. It was about reminding women everywhere that we need to stop competing against each other, as we've been taught to do for centuries. Instead, we need to practice inclusivity and teamwork within ourselves. The Women's March wasn't about not accepting Hillary Clinton's loss, either. I didn't meet one sore loser. The Women's March was about bringing people together, showing that communities united are stronger than those divided. This powerful collective of change isn't about gaining social media impressions or increasing engagement scores for profit. It isn't about ratings. The Women's March was about respect and spreading good news. Advertisement The Women's March is a reminder that there are many ways to support a positive future. You don't have to make a sign or scream really loud or join 60,000 people on foot. You can educate yourself and others, you can donate to causes that support equality and the environment, you can volunteer for organizations that improve lives of people in your community and you can make small changes in your lifestyle to better the future of others. The word "march" symbolizes movement, progression and discussion. To march, you do not need to physically stomp your feet or wave your hands. All you have to do is believe that, yes, we can. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook On Saturday, it felt good to be one of thousands marching in B.C. to challenge the misogynist rhetoric of a narcissistic president. It was cathartic to walk with so many whose protest was displayed on signs philosophic and poetic all around the planet, from Alaska to Antarctica. But today, when I think about what is happening in our own province, I wonder when we will see thousands take to the streets to protest the egregious actions of the B.C. Liberal government and Christy Clark? Advertisement While big money gets to feast at her table, children with learning disabilities struggle to keep up with lessons in mouldy portables, waiting for the crumbs she was so "excited" to promise. While 914 dead bodies pile up in morgues, she ignores the health crisis in our streets, refusing the common sense solutions suggested. While people are turned away from clinics and waiting in emergency rooms starts at three hours, she flits around the province meeting with billionaires who benefit from tax cuts. There are over 146 examples of the B.C. Liberals' callous disregard for ordinary citizens in this province. While youth who have aged-out of care die alone on the street, and while teens in government care "fall" out of windows in hotel rooms, she grins at more funding-by-photo-op events. And lets never forget that there is an entire generation of students who were subjected to overcrowded classrooms and decreasing resources while, for 15 years, her government spent millions in attacks on the constitutional rights of teachers. This list could go on and on. There are over 146 examples of the B.C. Liberals' callous disregard for ordinary citizens in this province. But, where is the outrage? People around the planet are afraid that Trump will reverse all progress to mitigate the effects of climate change, while here in BC, alarm bells warning about increasing fossil fuel emissions with LNG are largely ignored. What words will it take to shake the citizens of B.C. out of their apathy? On Saturday, parents around the world marched with their children, future citizens, who will inherit the world we leave them, while here in B.C. the fact that one in five children lives in poverty seems to not be enough to demand more of a government whose "families first" campaign slogan rang hollow. Advertisement We seem to be dazzled by the ads promising us a world of opportunities while all around us the suffering of the sick, the poor, the disabled and the elderly at the hands of Christy Clark's crew barely registers acknowledgement. The seed for Saturday's march was planted by Teresa Shook, a grandmother who refused to allow her despair about Trump's election victory to lull her into apathy. She wrote on her Facebook page: I think we should march. What words will it take to shake the citizens of B.C. out of their apathy? Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States on Friday. His inaugural speech caused great gnashing of teeth and rending of garments in Ottawa and other national capitals around the world, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already shuffled his cabinet in anticipation of Trump's nationalist agenda -- but there's more he needs to do. Much more. The theme of Trump's inaugural speech, like the theme of his campaign and the theme of his administration, is simple: America First. Advertisement "From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it's going to be America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families." - President Donald J. Trump What does 'America First' mean for Canada? Well, first let's understand what it doesn't mean: it doesn't mean much change. The U.S. approach to foreign affairs and trade has always been "America First." Trump is just using very blunt language. The fact is, the North American Free Trade Agreement -- the agreement of greatest concern to Canada's government -- is a great deal for U.S. companies and workers. Under NAFTA, the U.S. economy has more than tripled and U.S. GDP has grown by $80 billion as a result of the agreement, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Advertisement The Wharton School of Business quotes the Peterson Institute for International Economics saying the U.S. is "$127 Billion 'richer' each year thanks to 'extra' trade growth fostered by NAFTA." NAFTA-enabled trade creates 200,000 U.S. export-related jobs each year -- jobs that pay on average 15 to 20 per cent more than the manufacturing jobs the U.S. lost under the same agreement, according to Wharton. In the years since NAFTA, U.S. trade with its North American neighbors has more than tripled, growing more rapidly than U.S. trade with the rest of the world. - Council on Foreign Relations Three things Trudeau must do now The reality is, the U.S. has always acted out of self-interest. As it should. If they don't have their own best interest at heart, who will? Well, probably, Canada. Canadian prime ministers often seem to spend more time worrying about the rest of the world than they do about Canadians. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, in his latter years as prime minister, appeared to grow bored with domestic politics and focused his energies on foreign affairs and global diplomacy. His son, too, has shown more interest in global statesmanship than Canadian economics. He's spent his first year in office announcing millions and billions of dollars in Canadian overseas investment on international aid and development initiatives. Canada should look after itself first. Now's the time. 1. Put Canada First. It's time for Trudeau to go beyond a cabinet shuffle and use Trump's brutally plain-spoken focus on U.S. self-interest as an opportunity to take a similarly honest and entirely self-interested approach to trade and diplomacy with the world's largest economy. Canada should look after itself first. Now's the time. Advertisement 2. Use the leverage we've got. Canada is not as big, rich or powerful as the U.S., but we're not without some leverage. We should use every ounce of it. Any protectionist move by the U.S. to throttle down trade between Canada and the U.S. will hurt the U.S. and cost it millions of jobs. Trudeau should make sure both he and Trump are thoroughly familiar with this leverage, and he shouldn't be afraid to use it. Trump respects tough. Eight million U.S. jobs depend on trade with Canada, according to the Wharton School of Business. (Nine million, according to the Canadian government.) Canada is the U.S.'s second largest goods trading partner, according to the U.S. Trade Representative, and its goods and services trade surplus with Canada was C$11.9 billion in 2015. Canada is the largest consumer of U.S. export goods in the world (C$280 billion in 2015). Exports to Canada account for 18.6 per cent of all U.S. exports in 2015. Canada is the top customer for 35 U.S. states. Even when the U.S. buys goods from Canada, 25 cents of every dollar it spends goes directly back to U.S. workers who helped produce those goods. 3. Prioritize non-U.S. trade growth. Not surprisingly, since we share an 8,900 km border, the U.S. is Canada's largest trading partner -- accounting for 75 per cent of our exports and two-thirds of our imports, according to the Fraser Institute. Our best interest, however, would be served by reducing our reliance on the U.S. economy where we can. The Harper government put a priority on developing international trade agreements to broaden our trading relationships. Trudeau should go even further, setting a target for non-U.S. trade and tuning his foreign and domestic policy to achieve it. Advertisement A crisis is a time of risk and opportunity. This is such a time. How Prime Minister Justin Trudeau handles this crisis will determine his political fate, his future legacy and Canada's economic well-being. He should seize this opportunity to deal with a U.S. president who speaks his mind, talks bluntly and prides himself on deal-making. This is the time to mirror that behaviour, earn Trump's respect, and improve Canada's economic position in North America and the world. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: The five things you need to know on Monday, January 23 1) STEPPING UP, NORTH Theresa May has undoubtedly scored something of a coup in becoming the first foreign leader to be invited to Washington for face-to-face talks with Donald Trump later this week. The Telegraph splashes on plans for a UK-US trade deal with lower or even zero tariffs, plus easier business travel. May is hoping to get some leverage in her Brexit talks with the EU, although quite how a new deal squares with America First remains to be seen. Maybe she could even offer some advice to the new snowflake-in-chief on how to be less thin-skinned about criticism? Advertisement But the real heavy lifting in getting Britain Brexit-ready lies perhaps more in tackling our poor productivity and in boosting skills, particularly in the north and midlands which voted Leave in big numbers. Thats why, as dull and unflashy as it sounds, todays modern Industrial Strategy matters (and the PM has written a piece for the i). A new international transport hub in Goole, a massive modernisation of Blackpool and 5,200 jobs at a new Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sunderland sound like smart policy - and smart politics. Lets see if it all stacks up. Of course, the Gordon Brown comparisons may resurface (fellow unelected PM Brown too had the gimmick of regional Cabinets). Yet as May holds her meeting in Warrington South - a very tight Tory marginal once held by Labour under Blair - her talk of stepping up not stepping back may strike a chord with Labour voters for whom state intervention is not a dirty word. Infrastructure spending, better skills and red tape cuts/taxbreaks is even a combo that D Trump is planning in the US. The Times also points out the other under-the-radar problem with business rate reforms (which are already causing uproar in London). It splashes on worries that rural small firms are being priced out of business with higher rateable value costs. On Today, Business Secretary Greg Clark sounded sanguine about the technical revaluation. As it happens today is the second reading of the Local Government Finance Bill, which will give local councils 100% of the take from business rates. Labour is already saying its an attempt to gerrymander to give richer Tory councils more cash. 2) LOOMIN MISSILE CRISIS Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is almost certain to face an Urgent Question in the Commons today on the misfiring of a Trident missile off the coast of Florida last June, as revealed by the excellent Sunday Times scoop. Theresa May refused four times on the Andrew Marr Show to say whether she knew of the incident when she addressed the Commons in the Trident renewal debate a few weeks later. Former Cabinet minister John Whittingdale was wonderfully dry on Radio 4s Westminster Hour last night: I suspect her apparent inability to answer was not the best answer. Advertisement Of course, No10 and the MoD have been hiding behind their old friend national security. But Admiral Lord West, the former head of the navy, was scathing yesterday as he pointed out the Russians would have tracked the misfire (we notify them in advance of such tests) - so Moscow knows more than our public. West said it was bizarre and stupid that ministers had chosen to keep quiet as doing so raises suspicions about a wider, systemic problem. Otherwise we are a bit rather like the Soviet Union used to be, or like North Korea or China, where they wont admit to things going wrong. Given the large number of Labour MPs who backed Trident in the Commons vote, the misfire wouldnt have affected the outcome. And all this talk about the deterrent could even provoke a possible political misfire - if Labour bangs on about the issue too much, and in the wrong way, Copeland voters may think its not on their side on defence and nuclear jobs. 3) DOUBLE TROUBLE Speaking of which, Labour will formally move the writ for the Copeland and Stoke-on-Trent by-elections today, with February 23 the expected date for both. With BAe and BNFL the two biggest employers in Copeland, Jeremy Corbyn is having to tread carefully. Will he agree to demands from candidate Gill Troughton for unequivocal support for the new Moorside nuclear power plant? Some of the early Labour canvass returns in the Cumbria seat have not been encouraging. Although Oldham had similar early problems, and were turned around, things may not be so smooth in Copeland. Im told that when Corbyns aide Katy Clark went canvassing on his secret trip there last weekend, not a single supposedly solid Labour promise voter told her they were definitely backing the party. Clark was so perplexed by the response she asked if the voter ID lists were wrong. She was told they were accurate. Maybe thats why John McDonnell took the highly unusual step on Marr yesterday of offering what sounded like a softening-up exercise for possible defeat in both Copeland and Stoke: Since Brexit you cant calculate by-election results on whats gone on in the past so what were going to do is fight for every vote, and thats what were going to do. Advertisement The Sunday Mirror reported that whips want every member of the PLP to visit each seat at least once. As Labour tries to make the NHS the key theme, the party at least has some new ammo against UKIP. Nigel Farage admitted late last week that NHS privatisation was a debate that were all going to have to return to. BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR Watch Trump aide Kellyanne Conway talk about the White Houses alternative facts on inauguration crowd numbers 4) ASK, DONT TELL With a short Brexit bill due soon after tomorrows Supreme Court verdict, Labours whipping arrangements remain unclear. I will ask all Labour MPs to respect the result of the referendum and allow article 50 to be opened, Corbyn told Skys Ridge on Sunday. Note he said ask, not tell. Does that mean a weak, one-line whip? On BBCs Westminster Hour, shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman was admirably candid. Whipping's an interesting concept on this vote because of the means by which we arrive where we are, she said. We got here through a referendum so it's very difficult for colleagues who have seats that voted strongly to remain and we have MPs who themselves feel passionately that we ought to remain and to ask them, to expect them to vote to trigger Article 50 is a big ask. The Labour Party is in a difficult position because we have supporters, members, voters on both sides of this debate. Her boss Keir Starmer was interesting too on the vote on a final Brexit deal, which is where the real action could yet come: I do not accept the proposition that on the second vote which is the one that really counts, the new relationship that we should have a vote that is a rock and a hard place. I dont accept that, and well be fighting that. Advertisement On that key issue, on Friday, barrister Jolyon Maugham brings his own Brexit case to a court in Dublin. He wants the European Court of Justice to rule on whether Article 50 is reversible (ie if there is a status quo option that is neither a rock nor a hard place). Note that May yesterday refused to give up the tax haven threat, though she refused to detail what it would look like. Whatever the arrangement is, whether weve had that good deal, whether we have had to say that its a bad deal which we wont sign up to, we will maintain the competitiveness of the British economy.. In other Brexit news, German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble says May would do well to copy Switzerland in adopting an EFTA model, which has a wise political solution on keeping migration controls while maximising trade with the EU. 5) HERO SUM GAME One key bit of the new industrial strategy is a 170 million package to establish Institutes of Technology and create a vocational alternative to universities. Separately, the UK needs to boost its engineering and other maths-related job skills, and Mays aides are talking about creating a specialist maths school in every British city. Turning maths teachers into heroes not zeros would be a start. However, as weve been pointing out recently, education cuts are rising up the political agenda. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has a new report out that school budgets are close to breaking point in England. The BBC reports that its survey of more than 1,000 schools by the shows the number in financial deficit has doubled since 2015. Some 71% of the heads polled were only able to balance their budgets by making cuts or dipping into reserves, even though the government said it had protected the core schools budget in real terms. Some 72% fear budgets will be unsustainable by 2019 and 85% save money by spending less on new equipment. Advertisement If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox. The number of people who died trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean has reached an all-time high and is becoming comparable to what Medecins Sans Frontieres is used to seeing in warzones, with the UN Migration Agency recording at least 5,079 deaths last year. The actual number of deaths is likely to be much higher. We have no idea how many dinghies overloaded with terrified passengers set sail from Libya in the direction of Italy each day and how many of them sink without trace before they reach busy shipping lanes in the Mediterranean or call for help. Under international maritime law, all vessels in the area whether commercial ships, military warships or rescue boats operated by charities such as Medecins Sans Frontieres must provide assistance and take people rescued to a place of safety. But if not spotted in time, people sink to the bottom of the sea along with their boats. Some of the bodies then wash up on the North African shore or get caught up in fishermen's nets weeks later. Advertisement A young child looks out across the rough seas of the Mediterranean from the deck of the MV Aquarius search and rescue ship after a nighttime rescue in appalling conditions. Credit: Kevin McElvaney One of the most horrific things our teams on rescue boats in the Mediterranean do is recovering the bodies of men, women and sometimes very young children who have drowned. Our doctors make absolutely sure that people are past the point of resuscitation, that there is no more than can be done. We bring the bodies on board, estimate the person's age and take photographs of every individual which are then handed over to the Italian authorities. Maritime regulations state that in the event of a death at sea, all possessions should be carefully kept with the deceased but often there are no possessions at all, not even a pair of shoes. We check in case there is a name or phone number scribbled in biro on their clothes but more often than not, the death certificates our doctors write are for persons unknown. Many of these individuals will remain nameless forever, their families at home waiting anxiously for a phone call that will never come. For those who are pulled from the sea alive, many need treatment for hypothermia, dehydration or chemical burns from petrol spills. The marks we see on people's bodies are testimony to the alarming level of violence and exploitation the vast majority have experienced while in Libya and along their journeys. I remember one woman whose front teeth had been knocked out, another with a perforated eardrum after she was beaten around the head. We see broken bones, malnourishment, scars from torture, survivors of sexual violence, infected gunshot wounds, unwanted pregnancies. Advertisement MSF and SOS Mediterannee search and rescue personnel transfer an infant child to their dinghy in appalling conditions in the Mediterranean sea, 28 December 2016. Credit: Kevin McElvaney Meanwhile inside Libya, the political instability, economic collapse and breakdown of law and order show no signs of improving. Fighting continues in several parts of the country. Many migrants are unable to return home. Refugees and asylum-seekers cannot receive protection due to the lack of a functioning asylum system, the limited role of the UN Refugee Agency and the lack of strong legislation within Libya to provide protection to refugees. Many people see no other option but to try and cross the Mediterranean in an attempt to reach safety in Europe. Efforts by the European Union to prevent loss of life at sea through strengthened border control, increasing militarization and a focus on disrupting smuggling networks has only resulted in more people drowning not fewer. Unscrupulous smuggling networks have been quick to adapt their way of operating, and the crossing by sea has only become even deadlier. Training the Libyan Coastguard, in spite of their chequered human rights record, to intercept people at sea and return them to Libya isn't the answer either. People who are returned to Libya face arbitrary detention in unsanitary and inhumane conditions for prolonged periods of time with no way to challenge the lawfulness of their detention, virtually no access to the outside world, ill-treatment and a lack of access to medical care. Any solution to stop people dying in the Mediterranean on such a huge scale must include offering people a feasible alternative. The European Union needs to take urgent action to provide safe and legal channels for people to seek asylum and create legal migration pathways that make wider use of legal entry schemes. Things such as family reunification, humanitarian visas, simplified visa requirements, resettlement and relocation packages. People looking for work or seeking safety in Europe would then be able to do so legally rather than having to turn to smugglers. Those with legitimate asylum claims or opportunities to work should be able to simply board a plane rather than having to undertake long and dangerous journeys or risk their lives at sea. Until a comprehensive solution is put in place, the mass drownings in the Mediterranean will continue. Advertisement dolgachov via Getty Images Classrooms should be safe havens. They are places of learning, discovery and newfound knowledge. The good ones embody other values too - inclusion, equality between students and the right to access education free of discrimination. But quietly at the end of last year the Department for Education moved to change all that. Without consultation, let alone a debate in the House of Commons, it demanded schools record the nationality and birthplace of every child. Advertisement It is a change which threatens the very essence of what our schools should be. The school gates should not be a border checkpoint and teachers should not act as immigration officers. But despite widespread opposition, the data is being shared with the Home Office for the purpose of immigration enforcement. The Government's explanation of how the information will be used has been murky at best. At worst it is deliberately deceptive. A Freedom of Information request revealed the Home Office's plan is to create a 'hostile environment' in schools in order to shrink the migrant population. Information about 1,500 children is now being handed over to the Home Office each month. Their names, addresses and other confidential, personal data are fair game it seems, if there's a chance 'undesirables' can be tracked down. It's already happening. In October last year, a response to an FOI revealed the Home Office had accessed the database 18 times, which included attempts to track down parents suspected of committing immigration offences. Advertisement And if that wasn't bad enough, leaked cabinet letters also revealed that under Theresa May, the Home Office wanted schools to carry out immigration checks with a plan to push the children of some migrants to the bottom of the list for school places. It's an insidious, damaging policy hidden behind the apparently innocuous school census. Examples of enforcement of the policy have already emerged across the country. In some cases, forms about the new nationality questions have not made it clear to parents they have the right to refuse to provide information. Children themselves have been asked for the information without their parents present and schools have used copies of ID already held to provide the data without asking parents. Schools have even been told to ascribe a nationality to a pupil if no information has been provided. This will subsequently be stored on the register, forever, even though it might be incorrect. At Garth Hill College in Bracknell, parents were sent different emails depending on their child's ethnicity. Those recorded as white British were asked to respond only if that was incorrect. Those with a different recorded ethnicity were told to send in birthplace data urgently. Elsewhere campaigners have discovered examples of only children with "foreign-sounding names" being asked for data. It is little wonder that human rights group Liberty and the National Union of Teachers have voiced their concern and opposition. Post-referendum Britain is already witnessing a growing climate of hostility towards migrants, with an upswing of hate crime incidents following the Brexit vote. This plan for schools comes hot on the heels of similar proposals that companies should also list foreign workers, which were widely opposed as toxic. Advertisement The latest moves on schools go further still. If xenophobic policies continue to push the boundaries of acceptability we could well end up with our own version of Marine Le Pen's proposal to bar children of jobless foreigners from state schools entirely, unless their parents pay. Education is a right, not a privilege. We need to let children be children, and support them to learn and grow in a safe and secure environment. Every parent should be able to send their child to school without fear. Please join us in opposing segregation by passport. No one should be discriminated against because of their nationality, and teaching such discrimination to children from an early age is a lesson in how to spread fear, hatred and division. We all deserve better. Photo: Jakkapan Some people see life as a journey. I like that metaphor because I feel the possibilities in it, don't you? You know where you come from and you can decide where you want to go, but ANYTHING can happen once you start going. And then all you can do is choose how you want to take it, really. You might have boarded a train for Stockholm, but then you find out that you've arrived in Warsaw. You just have to decide whether you want to get off, stay on the train to see where it's going after or start complaining to the railway company. A lot of people choose the latter option but I don't really like that one because you rarely get a refund and it just means that you've wasted your time going all the way to Warsaw for no reason. Might as well get out or see where the train will take you next Advertisement One thing you'll notice on life's journey is that some people just bring a backpack and others choose to bring several suitcases. Nothing wrong with the backpack approach and I'd say nothing wrong with the suitcase approach. Depends on who you are, doesn't it? But then some people have got an awful lot of suitcases and other luggage with them. They might have got SO much luggage that they can't even remember what's in it! Seriously. They packed their baggage years ago and they'd be stumped to say what's in it. Yet they keep lugging it around out of sheer habit. Or they stand still because they can no longer carry all their stuff! My point in all this is that these people MIGHT NOT NEED all this luggage anymore. They could perhaps benefit from looking all the way to the bottom of their suitcases and select the useful items. Then they could get rid of all the rest. They would be so much lighter and the journey might be easier without unneeded baggage to carry. So have YOU looked into the bottom layers of your suitcase recently? Have you found that you're carrying an awful lot of unnecessary items as baggage? Do you think it's time to at least open the lid to have look? There's not much point in bringing your skis if your going to the Bahamas! Carrying too much heavy luggage makes travel harder. You might have to book and pay for extra space on planes and trains but who cares, if you are careful to plan ahead? And if you've got nothing else to spend your money on. However, once you've tried traveling without extra suitcases you'll find out that it's so much more fun! Carrying only the luggage you need, you can easily change plans without notice, You can act on the spur of the moment. This is difficult if you feel weighed down by so much baggage that you can't even carry it yourself. So much stuff that you have to ask others to help you carry it off the platform to the taxi or go several times yourself. Asking for help is OK but if it gets to be a way of life, maybe you should consider taking measures to change this? Advertisement If you feel like it's time that you had a look at what you're carrying around, why don't you just leave a comment or send me an email? Together we can pry your suitcase open and have a peep in it together. It can be very difficult to get rid of the extra luggage and more often than not, the extra bits, the ones we don't need, were forced on us! We didn't necessarily choose these items but leaving them behind could cause hurt. Or at least that's what we think. But isn't it time to find out? Or are you worrying about how to separate what you need from what you don't? One thing's certain, worrying about it won't help. Action's what's called for. Just do it. Travelif via Getty Images In recent years there has been an increased public interest in ethical and sustainable fashion. Events such as the collapse of Rana Plaza, Bangladesh in 2013, causing the death of 1,120 garment workers, combined with growing awareness of the huge environmental impact of the global fashion industry, have led to greater concern about who, what, where and how of clothes production. Where consumers have led, manufacturers and retailers have followed, with a number of popular high street names producing so called 'sustainable' ranges, such as Zara's Join Life Collection. It is easy to dismiss such efforts as a cynical ploy to retain, or even grow, market shares, with initiatives around eco-friendly clothing providing an excuse to pedal new lines: something else for customers to buy, leaving everyone involved with a sense of piety. Advertisement This was certainly my initial attitude towards Selfridges' current 'Material World: Clothes with a Conscience' promotion. Last year, the company won the 'World's Best Sustainability Campaign by a Department Store Award' at the Global Department Store Summit and this promotion signals its intent to excel in this area again. Its stated vision is to encourage questions about the negative impact of eight popular materials, each of which is paired with a sustainable alternative - which of course are also stocked by the store. As I scrolled through the list, I saw examples that I was already pretty familiar with accompanied by illustrative comparisons. A pair of jeans, for example, 'requires 11,000 litres of water during its lifecycle - that's enough water to sustain a family of four for a month'. The answer, claim Selfridges, it to 'champion innovative new wash methods', which conscious consumers can do by purchasing Tortoise denim from the store (price range 280 to 480). However, while the damaging environmental effects of cotton, denim and leather are relatively well-known, the final material mentioned in Selfridges' initiative took me a little by surprise: cashmere. This soft wool, harvested from goats in the plains of Asia, has a long history of being a luxury fabric. The length of time taken to acquire a decent size fleece and the processes required to turn the raw product into the finished goods have meant it retained its premium even as the cost of other materials, such as cotton, declined in the twentieth century. Many of the items produced in cashmere, from hot water bottles to bed-socks to jumpers in the palest, most delicate shades, reinforce this association with luxury. It continues to be regarded as an investment choice, the antithesis of fast fashion. As such, it's easy to assume that cashmere is therefore a good sustainable choice. Advertisement Yet even this material has become much cheaper in recent decades. One can pick up a cashmere jumper from several different high street stores for around the 50 mark nowadays. These more easily affordable versions, particularly the pioneering range sold by Marks and Spencer, seemed revolutionary when they were released but we have quickly become accustomed to the lower price tag. Phrases like 'affordable luxury' abound in marketing literature. This change reflects some of the major developments that have shaped global markets in last thirty years or so. The collapse of the USSR meant Mongolian herders could more easily sell their fleeces to the outside world, while at the same time - as in so many other areas - China has become a major producer of cashmere. Increased supply and increased demand also feed upon one another: more Mongolians have turned to grazing goats as it is a profitable industry. Goats breed quickly too (who knew?). In a recent report for National Public Radio in the US, one nomadic herder complained that her twenty animals quickly became 150: 'I don't want that many', she said, 'They're just taking over.' Indeed cashmere goats are taking over much of Mongolia. The same report claimed that in the late 1980s, they made up 19% of all livestock in the country; that figure now stands at 60%. The impact of this is extremely damaging. Cashmere goats have sharp hooves that cut through the soil. They also rip the grass up by its roots when eating, meaning it cannot thrive. This, along with the effects of climate change, is annihilating the habitat. However there are solutions. The grasslands will flourish again if they are less intensely grazed by cashmere goats. Alternative livestock includes camels and yaks, both of whom have hair which is very similar to cashmere when processed but wreak less havoc on the ground. Western consumers (and the burgeoning Chinese middle class) can help by switching allegiance to these similar materials, making the market for yak and camel hair more lucrative and thus encouraging those at the other end of the chain in Mongolia to switch too. Channel 4 I've always found love a difficult thing and never got used to it. I wanted to see whether it would work if I took part in a dating programme. I wanted to combat my fears because I had been scared of women for years. Hi I'm Shaine and if you hadn't already guessed I'm a poet. I'm 36, from Bournemouth, and have a learning disability which means I'm often lost for words when it comes to members of the opposite sex. Advertisement I applied to take part in The Undateables back in 2011 because I wanted to see what love was all about. I wanted to be loved back. But after going on that first date I rushed in and although I thought it was going well I soon realised it was a bumpy road. I have since got used to being filmed - I've now been on three series. I treated the camera like a lovely little friend so I wouldn't feel nervous. The title can be a bit controversial, but when 'The Undateables' sign knocks off the 'Un' with cupid's arrow it shows we are all dateable. We all need love. Sometimes with a disability it's difficult, it's difficult for everybody. For the latest programme I was hooked up with an old school friend who I hadn't seen in yonks. I remember getting the call from the dating agency to say 'We've found you a date and we think you know her.' It was going to be my first date in over three years and I was nervous. Advertisement Beforehand I didn't know what to expect. Because it was somebody I knew from school, and there was a lot of bullying at school, I had to try to remember the good times. I got emotional and cried - it was like a writer's block but a mind-block. I didn't think I wanted to go through with the date at first, but my friends and family said 'you never know Shaine, this one could work'. On the actual date I was lost for words at the beginning. I didn't want to say the wrong thing, I just didn't want it to go good, then flopsy and pear shaped. But we soon got chatting. It had been 23 years since our school days. And ever since then we kept bumping into each other. I think she'd mentioned seeing a show or play, but never had time. I wanted to tell her how I felt, but I never could. I have a feeling she could have secretly liked me at school, because she always said 'oh Shaine, you're funny!' Since that first date in October last year we are now a couple. I've written Gemma loads of poems and we send love letters to each other every day. Advertisement Outside of dating I think being on TV has helped me - I've become a national treasure. I always thought life is a difficult thing, it's like a merry-go-round, you never know what's going to happen next. Its helped boost my confidence. Unexpected things have also happened to me. My career has a taken off really well. It's been quite overwhelming really, I didn't know it would go so well and I have had three poetry books published. Through the ups and downs I've learnt quite a bit about going on a first date. My advice is don't get too nervous, always give love a try because you never know. And if you get scared, keep trying, until you find the right one. Sometimes love is just around the corner. Poem 1 Dating finding a companionship, friendship and romance is a soul soothing twisted fate It's a magical fabulous of often ups and downs like plenty of yo yos; and a blows then it turns your tummy into knotted jitterbugs like fast friendly butterflies That sweep you under your feet and then the love bug; or love ladder, whistles through its funk, soul jazzy music and chocolate like a river of timeless soul Poem 2 Is love a chocolate? Is it sweet, like a chocolate fondue? Or is it like salted caramel? Sometimes love can be bitter, but it's not always that sweet, but it's always somebody's treat Is it lovely when you go have a pot of tea and slice of cake with your loved one? Yes! Is chocolate always everybody's friend? Did it help the Romans, did it help the Aztecs, did they have a proposal of the Kenco beans of chocolate and coffee? I think yes! But love is a funny, quirky, sometimes pretty sometimes funky What's your thing on love? How does it make you? Does it make you go up and down? Sideways? Or is love not everybody's cup of tea? But does it make you feel wanted, loved, someone to talk to, companionship. I wonder. Love is always there for everybody. But love is a very funny thing. Sometimes you get that soothing feeling when you know love is there, and it's always good to share. Advertisement The Undateables transmits tonight on Channel 4 and is also available on All 4 WASHINGTON, USA - JANUARY 21: Protesters attend the Women's March to protest President Donald Trump in Washington, USA on January 21, 2017. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Yesterday in DC, I had the honor of marching and protesting with hundreds of thousands of sisters and brothers from all over the country. Without a doubt, the event was feminist-centric, but as the people who attended knew, it carried an even broader theme: humanitarianism. When I first learned of the Women's March, I was instantly attracted to a protest that was built on "unifying our communities," "the spirit of democracy" and "honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice." In my mind, recognizing the importance of "stand[ing] together" and "defending the most marginalized among us" represented a soothing balm to the current separatist wounds of our nation. Advertisement I was well aware of several opinions swirling around before January 21st. Some saw it as nothing more than a march that pitted women of different races, political backgrounds, etc. against each other. I even had one friend who claimed she, "as a Republican woman, didn't feel comfortable attending." Ignoring the us-versus-them static surrounding the march, I told her to attend because everyone who upholds human rights, and believes they're synonymous with women's rights, is welcome. This all-inclusive mentality was demonstrated even before I arrived in DC. At every rest stop on my commute, I met buses of men and women from all over the country of different races, genders, backgrounds, religions, and political identities. I learned about these selfless people as I visited with them in the parking lots and waiting in line for the restrooms. Taking time to converse with these people helped me to understand their reasons for attending--and none had to do with the color of their skin, which God they prayed to, or which political party they identified with. As I waited to buy gasoline, one woman from Minnesota told me, "I'm marching, first of all, because I can. I feel completely compelled to do it. I was sponsored by a woman from my church who used to teach women's studies and she's older and she just can't attend. I'm representing many women. I want people to know you have to be visible to raise your voice and make change." Alongside women, many men attended the march to show their support for several causes--but to support women having a voice was one main reason. One man from Chicago made the trip solo, telling me that he felt it was "important to support women" and that "not going wasn't an option for him." This echoed passionate sentiments of a man who spoke out at the march and said, "As men, we must protect our women. We cannot let cowards disrespect our women. We must uplift our women...Today you will hear the voice of our women...It is because of our women that I am a man." Advertisement Other reasons for attending included "living out respect and kindness for everyone," "healthcare," "my friend who has a disability," "climate change," "racial disparities," "for the rights of my LBGTQ friends and family," "equal pay," "Planned Parenthood," "the people of Flint, Michigan," and "supporting women in their right to choose." One woman at the march explained to me, "If a woman decides to maintain a pregnancy, I will support her. If she falls on hard times, I want my tax dollars to help her raise her child. If a woman decides to get an abortion, I will hold her hand, and I hope my tax dollars will help her have access to safe and affordable healthcare." Another man said, "I want to let immigrants know that they are welcome here." As a first generation American, this struck a chord with me, just as it did when little Miss Sophie Cruz, a child advocating for protecting our immigrant families, took center stage. "Let us fight with love, faith, and courage so that our families will not be destroyed," she said in both English and Spanish. "I also want to tell the children not to be afraid because we are not alone. There are still many people that have their hearts filled with love." Several celebrities attended the march, but for me, the real stars were the leaders who are working tirelessly every day--both in and out of congress--to uphold our values and our rights, encouraging us to keep working together. "We stand with all of you," championed Melanie Campbell of the Black Women's Roundtable, an organization that works for just and equitable public policy on behalf of Black women. "We are here to declare that we are America. We march to send a message to the White House, congress, state and local politicians that we are united and that we will not be moved." Advertisement Senator Kamala Harris of California reminded us that "we are at an inflection point in the history of our country" where "we are collectively looking in a mirror with furrowed brow asking this question, 'who are we?'" J. Bob Alotta, Executive Director or the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, said, "Today we did choose to be here, to stand up, to gather together" but "we will have to make choices every single day in the days, weeks, months, and years to come--we will need to become our own collective moral compasses." In my experience, the Women's March opened the door for this opportunity to constantly check ourselves and hold each other accountable. In response to why she attended the march, one woman told me, "I'm tired of remaining silent." This deep-rooted need to no longer sit in the company of uncomfortable passivity is what brought millions of people together worldwide, peacefully protesting in over 60 countries. Within our country, the Women's March is now estimated to be one of the biggest protests in US history--a camaraderie I'm honored to be a part of. The Women's March was powerful because it represented many aspects of the human existence and, as global citizens, we understand that what affects one will affect us all. Quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." Not everyone has the same journey, but it's our responsibility to respect the choices and lives of others--no matter how differently they are from our own. We are the fabric of life. But once we stop seeing the world through a cohesive lens, we'll start to unravel. At the march, Scarlett Johansson spoke directly when she said, "President Trump, I did not vote for you. I want to be able to support you. But first I ask, will you support me?" I think millions are seeking an answer to the same question. And now I'm taking this moment to encourage the current administration to accept our actions, not solely on a basis of resistance, but as a chance to have open dialogue with your constituents about how you can represent and support every American. This is an opportunity to lead and uphold the constitutional rights of all, as well as provide a clear and accessible path to the pursuit of happiness for everyone equally--not only for those who you can identify with. Advertisement As I explored the many people who attended the march, I was lucky enough to meet a poet who free-styled her thoughts and beliefs for all who would listen. With the Washington Monument resting in the backdrop, she confidently recited, "We put the suffer in suffrage and then turned it into a movement. We are not easily broken. We put sacrifice back into perspective." I think I can speak for everyone who attended the march, whether in body or in mind, when I say that we won't back down, we will continue to work together for a better future that's inclusive of all. The question is, will you work with us? As an instructor of English, I'm in the business of helping college students become writers. In order to write well, they have to be able to think critically. To help facilitate the thinking process, I encourage attention to the appeals to rhetoric practiced by the ancient Greeks. I'm talking about the appeals to Logos (logic), Ethos (ethics/credibility) and Pathos (emotion). There's no official hierarchy in these appeals, but logic, well, leads us to recognize the premium on being logical. You know, of having an understanding of the evidence at hand in order to draw solid conclusions based on good reasons. It also seems logical to next defer to the importance of ethos since the credibility and intention of the source(s) of information should also be given great consideration. Simple enough. Finally, there's pathos, the appeal to emotion. This appeal is selectively employed, and it can be uplifting or manipulative, depending - of course - on the ethos of the source. I warn my students of the danger of emotions since it's most difficult - even for thinkers - to be reasonable when overly emotional. I ask them to recall times when they've behaved foolishly, and to question the role emotions played (my personal list is way long). I also advise them to be skeptical of anyone who tries to appeal primarily to their emotions - especially fear - without any appeal to logic and ethics. It happens. Now more than ever. In these remarkable times, it seems this scenario - of emotion besting logic and credibility - is happening all over at great cost to our country. I attribute much of the emotional chaos to technology. The first major casualty of the technological age appears to be logic. Think about the manner in which emotions - mostly negative ones - are fostered by the internet. Consider the ease in which the gangs of Chicago and elsewhere taunt each other on Social Media and how this explains the awful uptick in street violence. Or the teenagers who are mocked or ignored on popular apps and, as a result, suffer from profound issues with self-esteem that often manifest in mutilation and/or opioid use. It's not just our youth who are emotionally victimized by technology. The discourse that is supposed to be part of a functioning democracy has been reduced to comment box mudslinging and twitter feuds and ginned-up news stories intended to stoke anger through acrimony and misinformation. Look at the lives that are regularly ruined by hordes of virtual (and usually anonymous) vigilantes who have the means to directly threaten the safety of someone they deem an enemy. Or the utterly absurd things large swaths of our adult population actually believe. Online propaganda influenced our last election. I welcome the commutation of sentence of Chelsea Manning and her forthcoming release in May. There are, however, many whistleblowers who have served the cause of human rights and who are still in prison in many countries throughout the world. It is time to recognize the contribution of whistleblowers to democracy and the rule of law and to stop persecuting them. I call on Governments worldwide to put an end to multiple campaigns of defamation, mobbing and even prosecution of whistleblowers like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, the Luxleakers Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet and the tax corruption leaker Rafi Rotem, who have acted in good faith and who have given meaning to article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on freedom of expression. Whistleblowers who are serving prison sentences in many countries should be pardoned. I stayed home today because my balance is not yet all that good, but I mean to be involved. Today, January 21, 2017, is the day of women's marches all over the United States. There are different sets of urgencies--that of health care and the honoring of women's bodies and their/our choices, the deserving of dignity and equality of all kinds of diverse groups, including--including just about everyone. The ringing and quasi-melodious voice of Tamika D. Mallory, the young African American activist and organizer, touched me big time when she spoke of standing up for the most marginalized among us. There are diverse motivations for those who are attending these marches of today, and those who would have wanted to. But I suppose that although most of the issues resonate, the notion of "marginal" and "marginalized" for me rings a crucial bell. And that's because I have been noticing just how easy it is for a number of people, as individuals or as groups to become marginalized. "Marginalizing," means treating a person--a group or even concept--as insignificant or peripheral. To marginalize can mean to sideline or to trivialize. In an age where celebrity has meant importance and power to many of us, to be on the sidelines watching the strong and dominant people can feel like we have a marginal position. Any of us in families or groups where we have either not fit in, agreed not to fit in, or we have been ignored to the stronger beat of those who were louder or performed more dramatically, may know the feeling. Of course there is also marginalizing as in not rendering people important or deserving to be heard, and then there is marginalizing all the way down to making people subhuman, that is not even considering them worthy of attention or treatment that would include a modicum of dignity. Advertisement Over recent years, I have in my own way paid particular attention to American acts of torture, including the use of brutality that has yielded suicidal depressions and years of post-traumatic stress. To my regret, I have seen those victimized to be truly marginalized, in terms of their seeming not worthy of the basics of human respect, including the assumption of innocence before proven guilty. I have seen the issue marginalized, under the radar for most. Today, however, there is the face of much fear about the Presidency of Donald Trump, in terms of his "America First" rhetoric in which he has made our Allies, our poor people--many people feel excluded, disrespected and as such marginalized. There are of course immigrants, Muslims, Mexicans; the list goes on. And as important there are the warnings that Trump has uttered to and about the press, an entity that has already been subject to exaggerated editing by financial and corporate considerations. There are of course reasons for us to have our concerns about separate groups of marginalized people; for one reason or another we are either part of that group, or we identify personally and politically with a particular interest and a particular arena of racial injustice, as one example. At the same time, I am starting to see how this division seduces us to marginalizing certain people and even groups in our daily lives. Advertisement As someone in the mental health field, my pain over issues of torture also involves some of the planning and procedures having been empowered and led by actual psychologists. However when I read about the streets of Chicago and terrible racism--including brutality--enacted towards black citizens, I am appalled as well. And then I hear about the people in the Philippines murdered in the streets even if they are only suspected of merely using marijuana in a dictatorial terrorizing regime, and I am sickened. And then I realize how perhaps I'm becoming too limited in my focus. Finally I question my own role in marginalizing. It's a teeny bit like noticing all the pregnant women when one is a pregnant woman, noticing all the older people when one is a baby boomer and entering into that phase. Somehow we need to become more inclusive. And by this I mean truly learn to live the connection to the notion that we are connected to all people, and that human dignity can't be limited to our own enclaves. The human climate affects us all, and affects our capacity to experience emotional flexibility and empathy, as well as the admission of scientific knowledge about physical climate that too many people in power are trying to marginalize. I would also like to ask the organizers of today's marches to help us push ourselves to include issues and people that we sometimes, well yes--marginalize. I remember reading that Angela Davis had said that Bernie Sanders could have used a bit of coursework on blackness, the better for him to understand aspects of our population that he was perhaps less than literate enough about. She was not condemning, just right. Perhaps we need to recognize that to focus in one area alone is to forget, to perhaps even marginalize too many other important arenas and people. This might mean, and I suggest here, a group of issues being drawn up and added to, which would commit to helping us all to become better informed. We need more literacy without being humiliated for arenas of ignorance. I have, as one small example, told a number of psychologists about the role of the American Psychological Association in acts of torture. Rather than staying in a sort of shock about how they could not know, maybe we need to be teaching each other. Those of us, who are white, as Robin Di Angelo and Tim Wise advise us, need to learn more about our own racism, about how we have marginalized black people. The idea here is to open ourselves to the radical possibility of learning how and why we marginalize in our own lives. Advertisement The overwhelming turnout and passion of Saturday's anti-Trump marches around the country (and the world) should not come as much of a surprise. The marchers represent the majority of Americans. And they know they have been screwed. The majority of this country thinks climate change is real, supports a women's right to choose, a higher minimum wage, reasonable gun regulations, immigration reform and LGBT rights. The new president, cabinet and Congress are on the wrong side of all of these issues as well as many others supported by most Americans. Advertisement The majority of this country got screwed by the Russians, the FBI, the Electoral College, Congressional gerrymandering, state laws intended to reduce Democratic voting and a derelict media that provided Donald Trump with billions of dollars of mostly uncritical coverage and didn't ask a single question about climate change in four national debates. And the majority didn't help themselves with a mediocre candidate and unacceptably low voter turnout, spurred in part by a failure to appreciate what was at stake in this historical election. How could Obama leave office with nearly a 60 percent approval rating if the majority of Americans are experiencing the "carnage" that Trump described in his odious inauguration speech? Because they aren't. Americans approved Obama's job performance in large part because of those inconvenient, old fashioned things we call facts. Unemployment has been cut nearly in half, crime is down, the stock market nearly doubled, the auto industry was saved, climate change was finally addressed and the deficit was reduced dramatically. That's why Trump's inauguration speech was so off-key. Most Americans still think America has lots of work to do but also know that Trump's dystopian self-serving vision is fantasy. Advertisement So what's a majority to do? Vote in 2018. Get others to vote in 2018. Don't wait until 2020. Change can happen very quickly. Say what you want about the Tea Party but it started in 2009 and effectively took over the Republican congress in 2010. With Trump in power, the Tea Party is nearly indistinguishable from the Republican party. If yesterday's marchers bring their passion to the election of 2018, we will wake up in November 2018 to a very different world. Voting isn't enough, make Republicans feel pain for supporting Trump. His support is already thin and if politicians think they will pay a price for supporting him, they will turn on him quickly. Younger voters, who took to the streets in droves yesterday, are most opposed to Trump -- no surprise as they will have to deal with the long term consequences of his policies and pathological personality. Based on exit polls, If only 18-24 year olds had voted in the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton would have won in a landslide with over 500 electoral votes. While many younger adults are active and socially engaged, they don't care much for politics. With the Republicans in control of the White House, Congress and most state governments, younger voters do not have the option of passive participation in the political process.. Yesterday, January 20, I felt so extremely sad. I was in mourning. My country's future is now in the hands of greedy and hate-filled people who want to set us back a century. I cried as I watched Barack and Michelle leave the White House for the last time, although I harbor no resentment at their departure. They have walked a rough road for eight years and deserve all good things to come to them. But I was sad, and a little scared. Worst of all, I felt hopeless. But today... Today I watched as people in every one of our 50 states gathered to march peacefully, standing up for their rights -- and to state their intentions to stand up for EACH OTHER'S rights. Advertisement 150,000 people showed up to march in Chicago. They expected 30,000. It's the same in all the other cities where marchers are talking the talk and walking the walk. And they're marching all across the world. As far away as Sydney, Australia, and even Antarctica, people are speaking up and showing up in vast numbers in solidarity with Americans marching for human rights. I have never been prouder to be a woman: this movement was conceived and birthed by women. This movement was adopted by strong men, unafraid of strong women. This movement was accepted by LGBTQ folks, counting on us to embrace all. This movement has been nurtured and brought up by people of every color, every sex, every faith, every age; well-educated and not; lower, middle, and upper classes; abled and disabled; natural-born citizens and not. I have felt my patriotism stir again, because these are the same people who were in Grant Park and marching back down Michigan Avenue, singing-dancing- chanting, laughing and being together on that balmy November night 8 years ago in Chicago. The faces may be different, but WE THE PEOPLE still remember our country from that evening, and We the People care too much about All the People to give up. No position taken by President-elect Donald Trump more upsets leading Republican legislators than his desire to reconcile with Russia. GOP propagandists routinely assert that 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney was right when he declared Russia "without question our No. 1 geopolitical foe." Perhaps in Neoconservative nightmares. But not in terms of America's national interests. Vladimir Putin is not a nice fellow. He apparently profited greatly from his political ascent; worse, he left a trailed of ruined, imprisoned, and murdered critics. Not all of the latter were angels and he might not be responsible for all of the casualties attributed to him. But obviously he's no friend of liberal values. But then, neither are the Saudi royals. The leaders of the Central Asian states. Egypt's new pharaoh, General/President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Turkey's sultan-wannabe, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And plenty of other governments with which Washington routinely cooperates while complaining very little about their brutality at home. A lamentable lack of respect for human rights does not turn a state into a threat to the U.S. Advertisement Russia today is not engaged in a global ideological battle with America. However cynical the old Communist leadership, the Soviet Union posed an ideological and moral challenge to the U.S. Many people around the world were attracted to Communism for a time, at least, and even some Americans thought they saw the future at work. Eventually the facade was irrevocably broken and the crimes were too many and too grievous to hide or dismiss. The Russian remnant of Ronald Reagan's Evil Empire is no philosophical heir to the U.S.S.R. Moscow offers no alternative ideology with appeal around the globe. A paltry few Americans and others apparently find appeal in Alexandr Dugin's authoritarian nationalism, but an international movement they do not make. Marxist-Putinist thought is not the rage. Russian money may have rented some activists, politicians, and parties in Europe, but ultimately they will rise or fall on their own. Although Putin may have viewed the Soviet collapse as a geopolitical tragedy, he originally showed no particular animus toward the U.S. He did not enter office calling America the Great Satan. No doubt he was a committed Russian nationalist even then, but his views appear to have hardened in response to Washington's behavior. Denizens of America's imperial city have trouble recognizing that the rest of the world does not view their motives as pure as those of the Vestal Virgins of antiquity. Alas, from a Russian standpoint, ignoring Moscow's Balkan interests, dismantling Slavic friend Serbia, expanding NATO to Russia's borders, absorbing old Warsaw Pact members and Soviet republics, inviting Georgia and Ukraine to seek NATO membership, backing "color" revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine against Moscow's interests, encouraging a street revolution against an elected, Russia-friendly president in Ukraine, and seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, a long-time Soviet ally, are not friendly acts. Advertisement Moreover, the U.S. has routinely pursued regime change against weaker foes. Skepticism of Western intentions runs far beyond the Kremlin. Anti-Americanism, at least directed at the U.S. government, is both the popular and elite view. There is no reason to believe that Putin's fall would yield a compliant Russian government. However fondly Putin might remember the Soviet Union, there's no evidence he's trying to put it back together. He certainly is no Stalin. After some 17 years in power the Russian leader's only geopolitical booty is Crimea, long part of Russia. He also has gained influence over the largely forgettable Donbas, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. That's not much of a new empire. He has shown no interest in ruling over non-Russians. He apparently realizes that attempting to absorb large populations determined to resist Moscow's rule would certainly be a losing game and likely be a disaster. Russia does not offer the sort of global military threat posed by the Soviet Union. Moscow has reconstituted some of the former's military power, a quarter century after the dramatic Soviet collapse, but Russia remains far behind the U.S. With one decrepit carrier, the navy has limited power projection. The air force could not seize air superiority over North America. The army has been improving its capabilities, but has no invasion route to the U.S.: leaping the Bering Strait to grab Alaska would be a bad script for the next movie iteration of Red Dawn. Nothing suggests anyone in Moscow wants to go to war with America. Although Russia is capable of beating up on weaker neighbors, most notably Georgia and Ukraine, it has suggested no interest in general war with Europe. While Putin might be able to initially seize the Baltic States, Russia would face overwhelming odds with the U.S. and Europe against it. Europe alone is capable of defending itself, if it put real effort into the continent's defense. For Putin to act hoping the West would abandon these three NATO members would be a wild gamble. Moreover, mere capability doesn't provide motive. Even "victory" would benefit Russia little. The countries would be wrecked and conquest would spark irregular resistance. They don't have the same historical and security relationship to Moscow as does Ukraine. Yet Putin made no effort to seize the latter (or Georgia), which isn't a member of NATO; rather, he weakened it to effectively end its chance for NATO membership. Advertisement At the same time, the cost of conflict would be catastrophic. Moscow would lose a full-scale war. In anything more limited economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation would be almost total. Even China, which emphasizes noninterference with countries' internal affairs, would not back Moscow. It is hardly surprising that the Russian military is not deployed to launch a Blitzkrieg against the Baltics. Putin may be evil, but he does not appear to be stupid or reckless. Russia has behaved badly toward Georgia and Ukraine, but that poses no security issue for America or even Europe. Would Washington and Brussels prefer peace and tranquility? Of course. However, the U.S. and Europe remain prosperous and secure despite the hardship visited by Moscow upon its neighbors. The fact that Washington does not approve of Russia's behavior doesn't make Russia a security threat or turn Russia into America's number one enemy. Washington should not let its humanitarian sympathies dictate security policy. Which applies even more to Syria, a tragedy with less relevance to core U.S. interests. Damascus was a Soviet ally during the Cold War. Russia is attempting to maintain a military toehold in a region dominated by America: the U.S. is allied with Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Gulf States other than Yemen. Whatever state and government emerges from the ongoing civil war will be fractured and barely a shadow of Syria's past self. Russia's support for the Assad regime has resulted in appalling civilian casualties, but so did the U.S. invasion of Iraq and consequent sectarian war. And so does Washington's support for Saudi Arabia's aggressive, brutal war against Yemen. Moscow's Syrian role may be disreputable, but that does not mean it harms America's interests. It certainly poses no security threat to the U.S. Elsewhere Russia plays an independent role, with at least the possibility of being helpful. Washington has sought Moscow's cooperation on Iran and North Korea, for instance. Islamic terrorism concerns both countries. Russia provided logistical assistance for U.S. operations in Afghanistan; indeed, Moscow has a greater interest than America in the latter's stability. Absent sanctions, Americans would benefit from modernization of Russia's oil production capabilities. Advertisement Moscow's apparent cyber-attack on the Democrats--not the U.S. government--actually did Americans a favor, exposing wrong-doing by their own officials. And Washington officials, who routinely interfere in the elections of other nations, have no credibility claiming to be shocked, shocked to find another nation doing the same. The U.S. needs better cyber-security, but is no virgin in such challenges: Washington is thought to have used the Stuxnet virus to hinder Iran's nuclear research and listened in on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone. Washington should learn from the Democratic hack, not declare Russia to be an enemy. Mitt Romney was wrong about Russia in 2012 and he is wrong today. Leading Republican presidential contenders essentially lost their minds when they advocated that the Obama administration threaten to shoot down Russian aircraft in Syria. Maintaining sanctions against Russia without the prospect of achieving anything is senseless moral vanity. I would like to thank New York Senator Charles Schumer for his professionalism and grace in helping to move along the confirmations of General James Mattis for Secretary of Defense and General John Kelly as the head of Homeland Security. I realize that as the leader of Senate Democrats, Schumer could have attempted to flex his political muscle and filibustered either of these two Generals. This is especially true of Mattis, who needed a waiver since there was a seven-year moratorium in place on appointing a recent Veteran to the position. Thankfully, Senator Schumer chose country over party and now these two supremely qualified men will be able to lead in positions that are extremely well-suited for. Advertisement I have written in-depth about my admiration for both Generals and have given reasons why I think they will do a great job. And the fact that they were so easily confirmed is a testament not only to the judgment of President Trump, but also the judgment of Senator Schumer and his fellow Democrats. I know Senate Democrats don't agree with everything President Trump wants to do. I also know there will be many battles ahead between the two parties. But on these two confirmations, both sides of the aisle came together and did the right things and that is a beautiful thing to see. Advertisement A new era is upon us, one filled with uncertainty and lots of hostile rhetoric and harmful policy ideas directed at the most vulnerable in our society. For example, we know that President Trump is itching to fill a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court with a jurist as conservative as the late Justice Antonin Scalia. If the president succeeds, the landmark case Roe v. Wade will be endangered. On January 22, 1973 the high court in a 7-2 opinion concluded that a woman's right to obtain abortion care is a constitutional one - protected by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. So what happens if this landmark law is gutted or reversed? It means wealthy women will be able to afford to travel to states that do provide abortion care, and women struggling to make ends meet on limited or insufficient incomes will suffer and be denied access to quality health care. On this anniversary of Roe, in a month designated to raising awareness of the country's ongoing inability to defeat poverty, it is disturbing and disheartening that our nation, beset with festering inequalities, is facing an administration and Congress bent on pushing an agenda that will have the greatest adverse impacts on the lives of our most vulnerable. Advertisement There are millions of stories nationwide being told of the great need for women to access abortion care. See NARAL Pro-Choice America's "Our Stories," for a start. Sarah, 26, who discovered she was pregnant while she was working to earn a graduate degree, wrote that she "chose to have an abortion and it was undoubtedly the hardest decision I've made in my life. Deep down I knew that I could not consciously choose to keep a child in the position I was in and I couldn't do that to my partner either. And especially to a child. It wouldn't have been fair to anyone." Sarah notes she has finished her graduate degree, and is employed in a job she loves. These are decisions any woman should be able to make. Overturning Roe would eviscerate that right, and access to quality health care for women. Even before appointing an arch conservative Supreme Court justice, Congress and Trump are plotting action to roll back progress, thereby punishing - you guessed it - the people who can least afford to lose rights. The Trump administration wants to cut federal Medicaid funding in the guise of giving the states more "flexibility." Don't be fooled. This is about limiting health care spending on low income individuals and it will have a major impact on women. As the National Health Law Program's (NHeLP) Susan Berke Fogel and Catherine McKee write in a piece for Rewire, Medicaid is the "single largest provider of reproductive health services to women of childbearing age. The program accounts for 75 percent of all public funding for family planning services. In 2015, more than twenty percent of all women ages 15 to 44 were enrolled in the Medicaid program." Some Republican governors recognize what's at stake. For example, in a Jan. 11 letter to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican Massachusetts Governor Charles D. Baker, concluded that turning Medicaid into block grants or capping the funding would actually limit states' flexibility in operating Medicaid. "We are very concerned that a shift to block grants or per capita caps for Medicaid would remove flexibility from states as the result of reduced federal funding. States would most likely make decisions based mainly on fiscal reasons rather than the health care needs of vulnerable populations." Advertisement Republicans in Congress also have vowed to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood clinics that provide health care services, as Nancy K. Kaufman writes for All Above All, to "2.5 million people through Medicaid." This type of policy - excluding low-income women from vital health care services -- has been championed to devastating effect by ideologically driven state legislators, as Fogel and McKee note. They write that "motivations behind these laws have nothing do with women's health, and everything to do with further stigmatizing and punishing abortion providers and making abortion services unavailable." (It's not just abortion services that are being yanked from women; Planned Parenthood clinics provide myriad preventive care services, such as cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, contraception and health care education and information. Fogel and McKee note that in Indiana where state law effectively ended funding to Planned Parenthood, clinics were forced to close including "the only publicly funded clinic in Scott County, which later became the center of an HIV epidemic that erupted in the state. Ironically, the shuttered clinic did not perform abortions, but did offer HIV education and testing.") . The other Trump administration goal, repealing the Affordable Care Act, would also dramatically impact our nation's poorest. The ACA has expanded Medicaid in 32 states and D.C and added 30 million people to the rolls of the insured, 82 percent of whom are in working families and many of whom have gone without health care to put food on the table. It's estimated that repeal of the ACA would quickly strip those 30 million Americans of health care coverage. On both fronts, there is hope - especially if enough sensible lawmakers come together to defeat this austerity agenda that would increase profits for the super wealthy, while sending more people into poverty and driving up health care costs again. We are seeing some Republican governors expressing concern about the hasty effort to undo health care reform. Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, for example, said, "I don't want to see any Arizonan have the rug pulled out from underneath them in terms of changing this law." If sensible heads prevail and Congress rejects the effort to repeal the ACA without a replacement plan, then those pushing for repeal will have to face the challenge: come up with a system that protects access to quality health care for everyone, including those with challenging health conditions, that works better than what we have now. And as I wrote earlier this month with former U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verilli in a piece for The National Law Journal, those pushing to roll back health care reform have failed to answer the tough questions about destroying a popular reform law. It's also a just law - one that is improving the lives of millions of Americans and providing them opportunities to be full participants in our democracy. This is no time to regress. It is an era for liberals, progressives and all other Americans who care for this country, to come together and resist and agitate and defeat a wrongheaded, mean-spirited political and economic agenda. Advertisement The same rigorous analysis must be given to proposals to cut Medicaid funding. Per capita caps and block grants must be seen for what they would be: radical cuts in a program that, for fifty years, has effectively and efficiently provided health care to our nation's most vulnerable. States would no longer have the federal financial support they need to provide quality care to everyone entitled to that care. They would have to foot the bill themselves or skimp on care. One of the first things you see driving into Miami from the airport is a billboard advertising Beats Booty Paint. Yes body painting is alive and kicking in Miami. Can you purchase a brand especially created for the gluts? Or is it simply the culture talking? Miami is screaming sex. Hit the bar at the Mandarin Oriental. Who's that Asian woman in the tight purple dress raising her glass exuberantly? Cross the Bridge at Brickell Key and you'll find apartment complexes that are ripe for the remake of Rear Window--undulating bodies weaving to a silent beat. Hit the terrace at Truck's, the famous stoned crab place and you find yourself making long distance calls to adjoining tables. You're the avid and silent member of intimate conversations of which you aren't a part. The air is balmy and your Bulgarian waiter describes how he likes to chill down in the Keys. In the meanwhile the two Hispanic women in the spikey heels, who had been looking at themselves in hand mirrors as they applied blue lipstick, have finished their exotic mixed drinks and are now preparing to climb into the white BMW station wagon which has just been retrieved by a valet? Where to? You wonder about their fundaments and whether they have seen the Beats Booty paint ad. They say Miami is drowning and that parts of it are already underwater, but the condos and office buildings with their cosmopolitan clientele stand proud. It may not be Venice, but it's got the canals--and skyscrapers to boot. By Frank Browning and Steve Weissman David Horowitz, the Trotskyist radical turned far-right entrepreneur, has just published an instant best-seller, Big Agenda: President Trump's Plan to Save America. Only the agenda is not Trump's. It's Horowitz's, and shamelessly so. Little David, as we distinguished him from Big David at Ramparts magazine in the 1960s, is pushing his Goliath to be even more ideologically partisan and to more readily provoke extremist violence in the United States and Europe. "There can be no 'honeymoon' in the wake of this election the most divisive since America's Civil War," Horowitz writes. "Republicans must drop their attitude that these political conflicts are 'business as usual' and must begin to confront the fact that the progressive agenda is a dagger aimed at the heart of America's social contract and the security of the American people."Progressives are the mortal enemy," Horowitz warns, lumping together everyone from tough-minded Trots to wide-eyed Bernie bros to scheming Clintonistas. For Trump to save America, he says, Republicans need to eradicate this socialist threat. "The strategy is to go for the jugular." Big Agenda highlights how much Horowitz has tailored his pitch to meet changing times. Promoting himself in the 1980s as his generation's foremost ideological defector, he eagerly joined the neo-cons in the Reagan administration to fight the Contras in Nicaragua. He moved on to earn good money from billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife, the Bradley Foundation, and others on the far right by loudly warning how his lumped-together left threatened to subvert America. Then with GWOT, the Global War on Terror, he earned far more by adding an all-out attack on Muslims, creating a double whammy he celebrates promoting his online place of business: Advertisement "The David Horowitz Freedom Center combats the efforts of the radical left and its Islamist allies to destroy American values and disarm this country as it attempts to defend itself in a time of terror". The Freedom Center's funding continues to come from the Mellon Scaifes and other Clinton-bashers whom Hillary once called "the vast right-wing conspiracy." Adding Muslims to his hit list attracted added millions more from wealthy pro-Israel Jews, like tech mogul Dr. Bob Shillman, of the publicly-traded Cognex Corp. Diversifiying his appeal enabled Horowitz in 2013 to take home some $525,000. That's not chopped liver to a red-diaper baby who grew up in Queens in a puritanical family of Communist schoolteachers, and he openly revels in the glamorous Southern California lifestyle the big money buys him. But money isn't everything. Or is it? Either way, Horowitz has now gone all out to hitch himself onto the Trump train, determined to show them the way. Advertisement "The Democratic Party has never been comfortable with the war against radical Islam or willing to acknowledge its religious nature," he writes. "Democrats oppose the surveillance of mosques, which are mainly financed by Saudi Arabia, a fundamentalist Islamic state, and are centers of recruitment to jihadist agendas. Democrats were appalled when Donald Trump proposed a temporary moratorium on Muslim immigration until proper vetting procedures were instituted." Horowitz makes race and religion all-important, a sin for which he castigates his lumped-together progressives. "Unlike Christianity or Judaism, Islam is a supremacist religion that regards non-Muslims as infidels who must be eliminated or subdued," he writes. "In words that are holy writ today, its Prophet incites believers to behead unbelievers and pursue a war of terror against them: 'I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.'" "The effects of these beliefs are etched in Islam's 1,400-year history of bloody conquest," he goes on. "Sponsors of Islamic terrorism like the Muslim Brotherhood and powerful Islamic states, most notably Iran, are promoting a genocidal war against the Jews and openly seek to establish a global caliphate a world state under Islamic law that would abrogate all the constitutions that guarantee basic freedoms and individual rights." Ignore, if you will, Horowitz's hyperbolizing, his over-simpifying, and his McCarthyite lumping together of different players who are often in conflict rather than agreement. Ignore as well his quoting only the Koran's more bloodthirsty passages, which echoes vintage anti-Semites citing Old Testament passages calling on the Israelites to wipe out the Canaanites. David has the smarts to know better, but nuance is not his niche. In this screed, he is simply trying to push Trump to go beyond primitive Muslim-bashing and proclaim an all-out ideological crusade against the world's second largest religion. This counter-productive clash of civilizations is precisely what ISIS and al-Qaeda want, knowing it will only swell their ranks. But Horowitz, the ideological entrepreneur, could not care less. "God-father of the modern anti-Muslim movement," as the Southern Poverty Law Center described him in 2014, he has for years honed his call to unending global hatred. His Islamo-Fascism Awareness Weeks spread the hate on college campuses. His online Frontpage magazine spreads it on the Internet. And his Freedom Center offers Trump a diverse team that has been selling the ideological crusade on both sides of the Atlantic. Advertisement Robert Spencer runs the Freedom Center's Jihad Watch, where he aims to "track the attempts of radical Islam to subvert Western Culture." He has talked and written widely on "The Islamization of Europe," becoming a major inspiration to the neo-Nazi Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who in July 2011 killed 77 people to protest what he saw as the encroachments of Islam, feminism, and "Cultural Marxism." Spencer, a practicing Melkite Catholic whose grandparents immigrated from what is now Turkey, works closely with another Horowitz protege, the intensely Zionist Pamela Geller. The two agreed publicly that former President Obama may be a secret Moslem, that he waged a war on America, and that he was an anti-Semite who will bring "a second Holocaust." With backing from Horowitz, Spencer and Geller created the American Freedom Defense Initiative and Stop Islamization of America. They also led the fight against plans to build near the former World Trade Center a mosque and Islamic cultural center, which they smeared as "Ground Zero Mosque" and a continuation of the 9/11 attacks. Equally provocative was the "First Annual Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest," which Geller fronted in Garland, Texas in May, 2015. Defending their contest as an exercise of free speech, the Horowitz team offered a $10,000 reward for the best cartoon of the prophet. In response, two Islamist fools of god shot up the event and were themselves killed by police. "I watched Pam [Geller on Fox News] earlier, and it really looks like she's just taunting everybody," opined then presidential candidate Donald Trump. "They can't do something else? They have to be in the middle of Texas doing something on Muhammad and insulting everybody?" Advertisement Will this stop Trump from making Horowitz his Little David? Not likely, at least not if heeds the advice of Steve Bannon, the controversial mastermind of his presidential victory and now his Chief Strategist in the White House. Horowitz boasts that he convinced Bannon to feature school vouchers as the centerpiece of Trump's "New Deal for Black America," and he has steadfastly vouched for Bannon as being a friend of Israel and not at all an anti-Semite. "I have known Steve Bannon for many years," he wrote in the alt-right Breibart News, which Bannon used to run as a daily incitement to a new generation of neo-fascists. "This is a good man. He does not have an Anti-Semitic bone in his body." Much of the controversy erupted after Horowitz not Bannon accused the neocon leader William Kristol of being "a renegade Jew" for opposing the pro-Israel Trump. "I wrote the article, which was neither requested nor commissioned by Breitbart," declared Horowitz. "And I wrote the headline: 'Bill Kristol, Republican Spoiler, Renegade Jew.'" Bannon will surely want to reward such loyalty, and if he does, Horowitz stands ready to make the Trump hate machine against Muslims even nastier than the red baiting anti-semitic crusades were against his parents. That is Little David's Big Agenda. Advertisement Yesterday I participated with two friends in the Women's Rally in Miami . I have to confess that I was not sure what I had signed up for, and certainly didn't expect nor imagine what I was about to experience. What was called a rally became more like a march, which started at the train station, where the train was delayed for mechanical reasons for over one hour. We wanted to join the West Palm Beach rally, but lacking transportation, decided to go South instead, and join the Miami rally, about 24 miles away. At the platform we began to notice other people, men, women and children, who seemed to go to the same event. We shyly began to nod and smile at each other. Once on the train, a big strong man in his 60s sat next to us. After a few minutes a conversation started, and we learned that he too was joining the rally. He was a white man that grew up in NJ, and we were one Lebanese-American, one black Jamaican and me, from Argentina. In a very easy way we entered into dialogue about race in America, what it meant to be black, be white, and our diverse experiences. I mentally stepped out of the conversation for a moment, to notice and fully realize what was happening: a sample of Americans were listening to each other, sharing stories and experiences, in an appreciative, curious and respectful way. The train arrived at the transfer station, and over a hundred of us walked down the hall, discovering soon that we had to get a new ticket. It was clear that South Florida's public transportation is not very user friendly, nor frequented by the numbers who were using it today. The multitude lined up in front of four automated machines, and the lines didn't move very fast. However no one was impatient or complaining. Some people were spontaneously stepping to the front to help the puzzled users who were trying to figure out the system. At that point I started to observe that we had become a 'we'. Advertisement On the next train platform, we found out that our train was over half an hour away. I looked at my watch: it had been over 3 hours that I had left home, and I hadn't yet reached the event. Or had I? While standing and waiting, it became clear that we all were there for the same goal. Women of all ages, children and some men, dressed with intentionality: pink, strong colors, hats, wigs, T shirts with messages, bodies that became the message and the messenger at the same time. Homemade colorful and creative signs. My friend decided to call people together to take a picture. This initiative reinforced the reality: we were in this together. Her initiative launched the momentum and many began to take pictures of each other on their phones, grouping, smiling, laughing, and starting conversations. We definitely were no longer a group of strangers. Photo: I.Rimanoczy We had to get off the train once again, to connect with the Miami Metromover. The hundred plus of us walked, like exploring tourists, and found our way into the final stretch. Alas, the automated driverless Mover did not move. It stood still for some time, until a voice came through the speakers indicating it would not leave the station and we all had to get off. Puzzled, we looked at each other, and tried to find a human to explain what was going on. Some people pulled out their phones to find how far we were from the event as we started to walk down the stairs into the street to finalize the last mile -- walking. Interestingly, we started to exchange comments that this was already the event for us, connecting, walking, sorting through obstacles - 'nothing is stopping us', as we continued with laughter and excitement. Advertisement As we arrived at Bayfront Park the event was underway and the gates were closed. Thousands were outside the fence. Soon people started to lift up the fences and sneak under them, helping each other. From the stage, loud and passionate, speakers acknowledged the massive and peaceful audience. They encouraged us to "intelligently fight for whatever values we stand for". We raised our creative home-made signs: calling for climate action, respect, kindness, health rights, human rights, diversity, patriotic dissent, our future, equal pay, peace, solidarity, respect, respect, and love. I walked around asking for permission to take pictures and people proudly held up their signs. "All lives matter", was the sign of an elderly woman in a wheelchair, connected to her oxygen. "Equality is my right". "This 'nasty' female doctor won't be silent! Demanding respect and free healthcare for the indigent". So many causes, and so many personal stories behind each single sign. On our ride back in the train, people were smiling and greeting each other. All strangers, and yet it felt like a village. Later in the evening, as I saw the images of millions gathered around the globe, it was clear to me that this was not a rally against Trump. In a strange way, he seems to be a real catalyst for change, stirring up masses, who become more conscious of their values and of the world they want to shape, and realize that they have to stand up to make it happen. Trump has said repeatedly that it's not about him, that he is representing a movement of change. I am starting to see that this is indeed happening. Not as he imagined, but that makes no difference. The train of change has left the station, and it's moved not by an automated program nor by a person, or a few: it's the Zeitgeist in action. Daily satirical news items found on The Political Garbage Chute. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Donald Trump angrily lashed out at the media today when he was discussing the size of the crowd that gathered in Washington, D.C. last Friday to watch him being sworn-in as the 45th President of the United States of America. "You know, you people disgust me, okay," Trump said, "you're out here telling lies, pushing FAKE NEWS about the size of my crowd. Many people have told me crowd was huge. The hugest they'd seen. I cannot tell you how many who are in my employ and who I have direct control over that told me this. So I'm starting to re-think this whole freedom of the press thing and we'll see if I can do one them-there presidential execution orders or something about it." President Trump told reporters that he knew "for a fact" that the crowd he had for his inauguration was "every bit as big as the Kenyan guy's were." He said that it wasn't just his paid staff that told him this. His daughter Ivanka was very reassuring to him, he said. Advertisement "You lying press people can say what you want," Trump said,"but my daughter Ivanka -- who is hot as fuck, what fucking hotter than any Democratic first daughters have ever been. I'd never fuck one of them, but Ivanka? Shiiiitttt. Wait, what was I saying?" A reporter from Breitbart spoke up. "You were dealing us, my dear president," the reporter said, "that your amazing daughter Ivanaka told you something that was reassuring to you." "Oh yeah, right," Trump said, nodding, "Ivanka told me my crowd was a goods size! She said I had nothing to be ashamed about, and that for a man of my age, I should be very proud of how big it was. And you know what? Ivanka doesn't lie. Everyone else around me might funnel alternative facts to me, but not Ivanka. She gives it to me straight every time. I wouldn't wear this hair piece if she didn't convince me it looked totally real, you know." No one wants to be a Millennial, except for a few weird undergrads who write politically correct versions of dictionaries that offer simple alternative wordings for offensive phrases like "poor person" such as "person who lacks advantages that others have, low economic status related to a person's education, occupation and income." This, and a myriad of other reasons, is why Millennial became a dirty word like hipster. When I speak of Millennials, I mostly mean what the media portrays them as, Middle to Upper Class students and graduates of somewhat to highly prestigious universities and colleges. This infectious species that polices the appropriateness of Halloween costumes and takes off weeks from school to cope with the election of a person who doesn't share their values in "safe spaces" chockfull of art and dog therapy. Millennials are ill-equipped for the challenges of adult life. They cannot tolerate unfairness, are still shocked by ubiquitous hypocrisy other than their own and don't understand their voice doesn't necessarily matter. After being coddled by their parents and their universities, young people enter the job market with the expectation of a fair world where everything is taken care of for them. All the while, the pleasure centers in their brains are corrupted by social media and technology that gives validation in the form of likes and right swipes. Combined with the fact that most Millennials have the ability to distract themselves with every film, funny clip, porno clip, show, song and album ever made in minutes, it's not hard to see why my generation lacks motivation. Advertisement A video describing the workplace entitlement of Millennials by Simon Sinek has 140 million views and counting on Facebook. He describes that after leaving schools that protect Millennials in safe spaces, these young people find themselves in a fractured dog eat dog world. They were failed by the excessive praise of their parents, the participation trophies that "devalues the reward for those who actually work hard." Jesse Bogner's Reply To Simon Sinek's Millennial Question Even as employers go to great lengths to coddle this mass of snowflakes, they are still ineffective and depressed, with lower self-esteem than any generation in recent history. The cost of this is sure to be devastating to American society. Young adults are forced to lean on their parents when they come to find they have no ability to take care of themselves. Most overcome the trauma of this disappointment, but many do not. When the snowflakes come to an understanding that the world owes them nothing, in a marginally improving job market, they break down. They can't consider contrary opinions, let alone the voices of superiors that criticize their work. While they overwhelmingly search for work that impacts the world positively, personally wide swaths of Millennials have found no meaning to their existence, where they are unable to appreciate what they have, often because they understand deep down that they don't really deserve it in the first place. Advertisement One of my literary heroes Bret Easton Ellis famously dubbed Millennials as "Generation Wuss," noting their reactions to his provocations on Twitter by saying, "My huge generalities touch on their over-sensitivity, their insistence that they are right despite the overwhelming proof that suggests they are not, their lack of placing things within context, the overreacting, the passive-aggressive positivity, and, of course, all of this exacerbated by the meds they've been fed since childhood by over-protective "helicopter" parents mapping their every move." The irony is altogether lost on them when their oversensitivity blossoms in the face of Ellis' critiques of Millennial oversensitivity. Rather than acknowledge something is wrong with their worldview, I see the snowflakes drown out all voices that don't conform to their politically correct secular "everyone is special" belief system. When I harmlessly posted a satire Onion style piece entitled, "Hamas Endorses Sanders for President, Calls Him "Jew We Can Believe In"," a Millennial threatened to block me on Facebook. Though this isn't exclusively a problem with Millennials, the Trump supporters I know can tell you much worse stories of losing contact with people they were once close to. The sad reality is that Millennials who profess to care for the less fortunate are largely a generation of narcissists, who are too precious to encounter anything they disagree with, however poorly researched and formed their own views are. They profess to want to help Haiti, Syria and the Sudan, while obsessing over their petty problems to a degree that makes them incapable of considering another person's plight. A few years ago, Narcissistic Personality Disorder was removed from the psychiatric disorder manual known as the DSM, one could argue largely because the traits were too prevalent. Unlike the DSM, it is my belief we need to diagnose the sickness of narcissism that ails society and work together to create a world that values and rewards hard work, accomplishment and selflessness. In a time when people gravitate towards protected bubbles, entitled Millennials desperately need to connect with a diversity of values and opinions. To gather the strength to tackle the challenges the Baby Boomer and early Gen X generation of parents caused the Millennials with overpraise and helicopter parenting, a young person with intentions of success needs to decide to want to care about others, (This may shock some snowflakes) including the people with different beliefs and values. Essentially, Millennials need to learn to become human beings. How can a young person grow and mold his or her self without considering different views? Advertisement We will never be able to face the huge political divisions and the Millennial problem without truly learning lessons from the past. I share Obama's romanticism about America when he says in his farewell speech, "What a radical idea, the great gift that our Founders gave to us. The freedom to chase our individual dreams through our sweat, and toil, and imagination -- and the imperative to strive together as well, to achieve a common good, a greater good," and it angers me that our country is doing nothing of the sort. You may be wondering why a 29-year-old sounds so much like a middle-aged man. For the jaded few who recognized the writer of this article doth protest too much, there is a real reason. As a spoiled, overpraised Millennial, who put a lot of stock in my high IQ, with a history of drug and alcohol abuse, I was wired like a ticking time bomb. Like all the great Millennials, I had a rather large ego and very little self-confidence, a piss poor work ethic, and simultaneous fears of both success and failure. My first book, The Egotist, outlines the extent of my self-destructive narcissistic tendencies and how I overcame them by developing empathy for others and overcoming my fears by letting go of my Millennial victim mentality. Whatever uncertainty there is about Donald Trump's actual agenda as president -- or more fundamentally about the legitimacy of his presidency -- there can be no doubt about his hostility to environmental protection and progress. Don't be misled by the reassuring words in his "America First Energy Plan," released just after his swearing-in, that "protecting clean air and clean water ... will remain a high priority." Pay attention to what he does, not just what he says: With Trump's nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), the time to "wait and see" on the environment - to "give his Administration a chance to succeed" -- has quickly come and gone. Pruitt is no environmental watchdog. He's a polluter's dream, and he's the wrong person to run EPA. Fifty years ago, our cities were choking in smog, and our rivers and streams were fouled with poisons - a product of the misguided mantra "dilution is the solution to pollution." Climate change - now considered the greatest environmental threat to the planet -- was on no one's agenda. Beginning in 1969, we enacted a series of environmental laws to protect our water, air, species, health, and a host of other natural resources, and in 1970 we created the EPA to implement them. Now, two generations later, we've seen dramatic improvement in the quality of our air and water to an extent unsurpassed anywhere in the world. Advertisement None of this would have been possible without EPA's oversight and its singular focus on protecting the environment from the degradation that threatens our health, our natural resources, and our quality of life. Enter Scott Pruitt, Trump's choice to become the country's top environmental regulator. He appreciates none of this history, and he has no apparent environmental accomplishments of his own; indeed, he's renowned for attacking EPA and its work, through lobbying and litigation on behalf of the oil and gas industry and other big polluters. If he could be any less qualified to lead the EPA, it's difficult to see how. He's an outspoken climate change skeptic who, as Oklahoma's Attorney General, disbanded the office's Environmental Protection Unit and replaced it with a special "Federalism Unit" to challenge EPA pollution control measures. He's one of the leading opponents of President Obama's principal environmental initiative - the Clean Power Plan to address global warming -- including in litigation to block the regulation of power plants, the largest source of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Last year, he also sued to block EPA rules to protect rivers, streams, and wetlands under the Clean Water Act, including streams relied on for drinking water by one in three Americans. In fact, over the past five years as Oklahoma's top law enforcement officer, he has filed at least 14 lawsuits against EPA - also opposing federal actions to control mercury, arsenic, ozone, and other air toxics that poison our communities and especially our children. Among these cases, he has prevailed in only one. And when asked following his nomination to be EPA Administrator if he would recuse himself from an ongoing role in any of the legal challenges still pending against EPA, he declined to do so. Advertisement He's a longtime friend of the oil and gas industry, even allowing lawyers for one of the largest oil and gas producers in his state to draft a letter to EPA for his signature critiquing the agency's air pollution controls. Although in recent years his state has experienced a record number of earthquakes, he has done nothing as Attorney General to regulate the oil and gas fracking that scientists agree has caused them. Under questioning at his confirmation hearing, he expressed his concern but could cite no actions - indeed, no public statements at all - directed to fixing the problem. Of over 800 press releases issued by his office during his tenure, not one has been found that reflects action taken to protect the environment, while at least 50 focused on his actions against EPA. He defends his record by arguing that EPA's proper role is to delegate environmental regulation to the states, but his own record in Oklahoma discredits that view. While he has opposed EPA's efforts to regulate smog-causing ozone, for example, every single Oklahoma county surveyed has been rated an "F" for ozone problems by the American Lung Association. Soon after he assumed office as Attorney General, he took over a protracted legal challenge to manure pollution illegally caused by large-scale chicken production operations. In contrast to his predecessor's aggressive stance, Pruitt accepted a sweetheart settlement of the litigation for a commitment to study the problem. In fact, his argument about states' rights is a descendant of the discredited rationale used by southern states in the 1960's to justify local control of - and inaction to address - racial discrimination. In this context, "let the states handle it" is a transparent euphemism for allowing the continuation of illegal activity that is inimical to significant national interests. Civil rights, social security and medical care, immigration rights, and environmental protection, to name a few -- all have required federal intervention and oversight precisely because they involve national protections that the states have been unable or unwilling to secure. Similarly, his assurance that he simply intends to elevate "cooperation" by EPA over regulation shows his failure to appreciate why EPA was created in the first place - and why he deserves to be rejected. The agency was established - and our environmental regulatory structure enacted - because relying on the willingness of polluters to do their part wasn't getting the job done, resulting in rampant pollution and countless premature deaths and illnesses. As Mr. Pruitt surely knows, a strong EPA, focused on regulatory oversight, is the only way to secure meaningful polluter compliance. It's a truism as old as the hills that a fox should never be left to guard the henhouse. Don't let Scott Pruitt do to the country what he's done to the people of Oklahoma. He would be a disaster for our environment, and his nomination should be rejected by the Senate. Advertisement But whatever that Trump-controlled body decides, we need to recognize and communicate what this particular choice portends for the anti-environmental, anti-regulatory, anti-science, pro-polluter future of the Trump Administration. After a campaign that barely mentioned the environment, the electorate may be dismayed to find that undermining pollution and public health standards - a polluter's wish-list - lies at the heart of the new Administration's to do list. "Ignore climate change, roll back pollution controls, approve the Keystone XL pipeline, revive the Pebble Mine, abandon regulatory oversight" - and turn EPA over to Big Oil's best friend. Say what he will about prioritizing clean air and water, Donald Trump's inevitable impact - his true agenda - will be to "make America polluted again." The Natural Resources Defense Council will oppose any attempt by the Trump Administration to take us backward. Now, more than ever, it's time to stand together in defense of our environmental progress and fight relentlessly for the quality of life that all of us need and deserve. The massive women's marches around the globe this past weekend conveyed that message loud and clear. Stand up, speak out, and be heard. Baby's nursery Each time I go downstairs to our playroom I see it -- the cradle my father made for me when my first child was born 18 years ago. Soon after my husband and I announced we were expecting a baby, my dad started planning to build it for his first grandchild. Joe and I were thrilled. But our happiness was short lived when at 10 weeks we saw our baby, but no heartbeat. Advertisement I was beyond devastated. When I lay on the operating table to have the D&C that would remove the remains of the pregnancy I so wanted, all I could do was cry. My doctor told me to think of something good. The only place my mind wanted to go was to baby clothes and sweet nurseries. Seeing I was having trouble, he said, "Kathy, think of Hawaii." Then I fell asleep. For over a year, I prayed my father would have a reason to build my cradle. Yet each time it looked as if we were finally getting our happy ending, I would have another miscarriage. After four losses, I started to think a cradle just wasn't in the cards for us. Maybe I should have him build me a bench. Then one day out of the blue, I found out I was pregnant. This became the time that I could finally put my dad's handiwork to use. I don't know who was more excited, Joe and me or my parents. The four of us would pour over cradle designs and read articles about the safest mattresses and our best options for nontoxic finishes for the wood. My mom and I shopped for weeks to find the perfect bedding. After they brought it over to our house, Joe and I laid on our bed and stared at it, not quite believing our baby would soon be sleeping in it. Advertisement Before we knew it, Tom outgrew the cradle, and my father's masterpiece was soon sitting in my living room holding trucks, blocks and stuffed animals for a little boy who was on the move. I would occasionally glance at the beautiful piece of furniture and wonder if I would be lucky enough to get to use it again for a baby. After a year of trying for a second child, I started to doubt it. Once again, life surprised me, and my cradle was used for its original purpose, this time by our daughter. Tom was now three and loved watching his baby sister sleeping in it. A few months later, he gave her a thrill (and me a slight heart attack) by "rocking" her. She looked at him as if he was the best thing on the planet and could not stop giggling. I loved watching the two of them interact, but also knew it was time to retire the cradle again. Lizzy moved into her crib and then a big girl bed. Before I knew it, our baby days were over, and the cradle was now a perfect place to hold her ever-growing doll collection. I gave away a lot of my baby things and was excited to plan to decorate her room. Two days after I ordered Lizzy's pink wallpaper, I found out that the cradle would be used for a third time. Advertisement I still remember the first night we were home with a newborn Peter sleeping in the cradle. He was tiny and perfect. Since he was our third, Joe and I felt comfortable in a way we didn't our first two times around the baby block. I was filled with love for my husband and the three gorgeous children we were blessed to have. I was grateful that each of my babies spent their first few months in a cradle their grandfather built. It's been 11 years since a baby slept in the cradle. It now holds an odd collection of old dolls and stuffed animals that aren't played with anymore, but aren't ready to be parted with. The baby it was built for will be starting college next fall. There isn't really a need for me to keep it around, except for the fact that it is a daily reminder that life doesn't always work out the way you plan, and dreams can come true. Which is as good a reason to keep it around as any. Who's life? Let's start with mine. On December 16th, 2016 I was admitted to the emergency room of The Brooklyn Hospital Center in excruciating pain. Each time I breathed in it felt like someone took a chainsaw to my abdomen. The day before had been a normal one. I went to a meeting, shopping, yoga, had pasta at an old favorite cafe in Greenwich Village. Later that night I felt sick to my stomach. I never throw up. It happens once every five years as I don't really drink. However after hours of discomfort I forced myself to vomit once or twice. An hour later the excruciating pain began. I was in Brooklyn staying with friends Trevor and Emily Kammeyer Sumner as my apartment was being renovated with workers pulling up floors and demolishing walls. I woke Emily up who went to the pharmacy to get stomach medicine. After that didn't help I contacted my doctor who suggested more over the counter medicine and to wait a bit to see if it goes away. After hours of pain, I called 911 for an ambulance to take me to the nearest ER. I figured I'd get fluids, meds, and they would know what to do and I'd be home soon feeling normal again. Very quickly tests showed I had an Esophageal Perforation- a hole in my Esophagus (food tube) that would kill me in a matter of hours. Advertisement I was laying in the Emergency Room of Brooklyn Hospital medicated and wondering what comes next when suddenly a team of two dozen doctors and nurses surrounded me. They informed me I had a critical condition and they needed to operate immediately or I might die. I joke that having survived a lifetime of sex, drugs, and rock and roll that there was no way I was going to die that day. If there were a nuclear war the only survivors would be cockroaches, Keith Richards, and myself. These doctors and nurses explained it was exactly the golden hour when the surgery could be successful and started running down the hall with me on the gurney toward the operating room. I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about? Surely a tortellini wasn't going to do me in. I wasn't concerned until I met Dr. Alan Saber. Dr. Saber arrived and upon introducing himself as the lead surgeon who would perform the operation. He informed me there was a 50-50% chance I might not make it. It was only then that it dawned on me how serious the moment truly was. Dr. Saber came to New York from his native land of Egypt to study medicine. One of the first colleagues to befriend Dr. Saber who is Muslim, was Robert Rosenberg, a Jewish doctor at Cabrini Hospital. The friendship was about healing and saving others, not about religious beliefs or cultural differences. Advertisement Along the way a man named Rosenthal arrived at the hospital suffering from the same critical condition I had. A hole tore in his Esophagus allowing stomach acids to leak into his body. He was a rabbi and 95 years old. No one wanted to operate on the rabbi as he was so frail and elderly. Those in the hospital thought any surgery would result in his dying on the operating room table or shortly thereafter. Dr. Saber stepped up and volunteered to operate. To the delight and surprise of everyone he managed to save the rabbis life. I've been asked what is the feeling like to be told you might die tonight, it might be your last moments alive? I felt very calm. First, I simply didn't feel deep down that it was my time. Second, I was in expert hands and there was nothing I could do about it. Everyone else was channeling the serious concern of a life or death moment, allowing me along with the morphine to just relax and surrender. Saber had reviewed my tests and told the hospital staff to prepare for this very critical and complex surgery. Tubes were inserted to keep me breathing, getting fluids, going to bathroom, etc. Moments before I was wheeled into the OR I stopped everyone. I said "I want to let you all know who the person is you are about to operate on, so I'm not just a patient or number. My name is Larry Dvoskin. I have always done what I love which is to make music. I have worked with many of the world's most well known music stars but have also mentored many young people to follow their hearts desire and go for their dream. If tonight is my last night on Earth, I thank God for an amazing full life and I am ready to face what's next. However, I don't feel it's my time yet. I have more to give and would like to stick around to help more people, and make a difference in more people's lives. I pray that all of you gathered are empowered by God to be my healing angels, and that the surgery is a success." Advertisement This visibly touched and moved the medical team gathered. It made me into a person, not just a number. It showed depth and purpose and emotion in my life. In my imagination I feel it grounded the group with holy spirit. Right before going under in the OR I posted a photo and plea on Facebook for friends to send love, prayers, and healing thoughts. Pray for me, Im surprisingly in a life or death Surgery! Got sick last night and puked SO hard a small hole opened in Esophagus!! Food & air leaking dangerously close to heart, lungs!!!! Holy fuck!!! Please pray n send love, healing, see me in your minds eye happy n safe!!! Rolling to OR now!!! The next morning I awoke to gold streams of morning light, dancing with the silken window curtain overlooking Fort Greene Park. I was alive. Advertisement When I glanced online I saw that my plea moments before surgery motivated over 500 people from all chapters of my life to respond with messages of hope, healing, love, and enthusiasm for me to make it through to the other side. I felt wealthy beyond compare to have such an ocean of love break upon my shores. But what made me marvel at the mystery and beauty of life was the follow up with Dr. Alan Saber the next day. Beyond the medical stuff, we started talking and he told me of his early days as a Muslim coming to US and being taken under the wing of Jews. I explained that I too was Jewish, and despite all the ugly rhetoric and Islamophobia in our political discourse, I couldn't be more grateful for this Islamic man that saved the life of his Jewish patient. It gave me goose bumps, hope, a type of wisdom that we are indeed stronger together when we put aside our differences. We're all human. I am home recovering and it will take a good 6 months for me to potentially be back to full functionality. I welcome this healing period of rest. I will use it to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. I've been given a second chance. The US Capitol Building is pictured as media gather on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) Within hours of his taking office, The Leader and his minions were lying about the size of His crowds, and chastising the press for not being sufficiently deferential to their new ruler. In a fit of pique, the White House said that the press deliberately used unflattering camera angles to minimize the size of the crowds gathered in support of The Leader's inauguration. They claimed it was the biggest inauguration crowd in history (provably false but they repeated it over and over in an effort to bully the press into going along with it). Several days ago, presaging the bullying tactics of inauguration day, The Leader himself implied that he would hand-pick reporters allowed into the White House briefing room, presumably to winnow out the "dishonest media" and allow in only reporters and "news" outlets friendly to The Leader (i.e., friendly reporters who, like The Leader himself, reside in the alternate universe of Soviet America, or as some have taken to calling it: "Opposite Land.") Advertisement When confronted with the lies coming from the White House, Opposite Land spokesperson Kellyanne Conway flaunted her gigantic testicles on national television by insisting that The Leader's press secretary was simply using "alternate facts," and she chided reporter Chuck Todd for being "overly dramatic" when he called them lies. This, after telling a CNN reporter 10 days ago that no one should pay attention to anything The Leader says (i.e., "what comes out of his mouth") -- implying that all statements from The Leader cannot be reported until clarifying statements are dispensed from on high, by The Leader's private translation entourage. Case in point, at a meeting at CIA headquarters, The Leader himself repeated the lie about His crowd size, while also lying about his relationship with the U.S. intelligence community: as reported by the dishonest media (i.e., the Guardian), The Leader denied having a dispute with the intelligence community, blaming it on the dishonest media. Also according to the dishonest media (i.e., NBC) a former senior CIA official called The Leader's speech a free-wheeling, narcissistic diatribe." A spokesman from Opposite Land called the speech a "love fest." To enforce The Leader's version of reality, across the entire government, the U.S. Congressional Politburo may now single out any individual federal worker for punishment. According to the dishonest media (i.e., The Washington Post), the Congressional Politburo "revived an arcane procedural rule that enables lawmakers to reach deep into the budget and slash the pay of an individual federal worker -- down to $1 -- a move that threatens to upend the 130-year-old civil service." Imagine yourself, say, a lowly hydrologist working on water quality issues. And say you discover something dangerous about fracking, which threatens the business interests of one of the billionaire oligarchs now ruling the land. Moreover, let's say you have the audacity to put it in a memo. The full weight of the U.S. government may now come down on your head -- because the Congressional Politburo is micro-managing the federal workforce to root out and squelch any dissenting facts, let alone dissenting opinions. (e.g., Within hours of taking office, The Leader's minions disappeared White House web pages on climate change, civil rights and LGBT issues.) Advertisement This comes on the heels of an effort by The Leader's staff to identify federal workers who hold opinions contrary to The Leader himself, or those of the Politburo. Also recently, the U.S. Congressional Politburo failed in its attempt (in the dead of night) to gut the ethics office that oversaw the U.S. Congress prior to the Politburo takeover -- as reported at the time by the dishonest media (i.e., CNN). But those anti-ethics efforts may only be paused, as GOP Politburo members like Steven King are adamant that the ethics office should be abolished. In more related inaugural news, The Leader has installed his son-in-law Jared Kushner as a key White House staffer, just as Mr. Kushner is negotiating a deal with Chinese financiers to refurbish a New York City skyscraper owned by the Kushner family. Immediately upon His inauguration, The Leader was also in violation of His lease on a Washington D.C. hotel, leased from the General Services Administration (GSA). And yet, the GSA has taken no action against The Leader. A non-governmental group has a filed an ethics complaint against The Leader, but the GSA refuses to comment on the matter, presumably because they are trying to work out a solution with The Leader's family, who are also advisors to His government. So here's what we know so far in Soviet America: It is government policy that The Leader tells the truth and the press do not. The press must report what The Leader says, without questioning it. Only spokespeople from Opposite Land may interpret what The Leader means when he speaks. The Leader gets to decide which friendly "news" outlets may be represented at the White House. The purpose of the U.S. military is to glorify The Leader in public appearances. The Leader and His family may direct government policy while also pursuing personal financial interests. Advertisement Government agencies under the control of The Leader may not challenge The Leader or pursue any legal action against The Leader's interests. The Politburo may seek to purge individuals at any level of government, for actions deemed contrary to The Leader or Politburo policies. The night of November 4, 2008, when it became clear that Barack Obama had won the election, I remember sitting in front of a TV screen in a hotel room in Phoenix, Arizona, tears streaming down my face. I was in the United States on a visa and had lived in New York City for four years. Seeing this black man, who did not belong to a political dynasty, elected to the highest office in the country made me feel things that I didn't think I was capable of feeling. For an event that seemed largely to be happening far away from my life. My tears that night had a flavour of that guilty thrill you get from gatecrashing a party. I wasn't really American, not yet, but I was gay, brown and an immigrant - all identity markers that somehow made me feel personally invested in this event. This was well before the horrifying idea of building walls to keep immigrants away was considered okay as a topic of lively debate, or the equally appalling talk of making certain minorities have to register was on the table. If there ever was a time in recent history, when I, like countless other people in this country, believed in the linear arc of time mirroring the arcs of human progress and justice, it was then. Advertisement A black man was President, the iphone had been introduced just the previous year, and there was distant talk that gay people might someday be able to marry legally in more states than one could count on the fingers of one hand. If this wasn't steady human progress, then what was? In his book on climate change, Amitav Ghosh talks about how the "regularity of bourgeois life" has lulled us into a state of being where we no longer consider game-changing catastrophic events, especially negative ones, very likely. He attributes our largely lukewarm response to climate change to this anaesthetizing cocoon that modern life has surreptitiously enveloped us in. Eight years later, I am an American citizen. I am still gay, brown and an immigrant. And I now have the right to marry whoever I love, in all fifty states. However, I am stunned out of the regularity of my bourgeois life by an event that is clearly life-changing for our generation, and in many ways catastrophic for the planet. Trump's election spells "Game Over" for the climate in ways that I don't think we have grasped yet, in the short time we have had to come to terms with the election of this racist, misogynist, and grossly unprepared man as President. Advertisement That millions of us were so taken by shock and surprise when he was elected speaks to an aspect of the American experiment that we have been mostly blind to, but one that we must talk about urgently, if we do wish to continue living in a democracy. These are the walls that exist, and have existed for decades, if not centuries, in this country. The wall that separates, in opportunity and power, the Manhattan banker and the undocumented deli worker from El Salvador who makes his daily coffee. The wall that separates, in access to safety and justice, a black teenager in South Side, Chicago and the white police officer who patrols the area. Or, for that matter, the wall that separates a cis gay man living in West Hollywood from the trans woman of color who drinks at the same gay bar in WeHo as this man. Racism, misogyny, transphobia and crushing inequality are so pervasive that we pay attention to them only in the most extreme of events - when someone completely innocent gets shot on the street for "driving while black", for example. Otherwise, we have conditioned ourselves to navigate life in America through channels where we don't see these inconvenient, and ultimately uncomfortable, injustices at all. I do not know which is more horrifying - that we are doubting his will to build this one wall he talks about or that we are continuing to not see these other walls that keep getting fortified and made ever stronger. By our inaction. Or rather, by some of the things we do. Every time we choose to express our outrage for what is happening in our country merely within our social media echo chambers, temporarily filling that guilt-shaped hole in our conscience, we help create the building blocks to strengthen these walls. Every time we let global corporations and media conglomerates spoon-feed us those tasty bite-sized chunks of what passes for culture, and the news, effectively letting profit maximizing algorithms write the code for our desires and tastes, we ensure that the walls become even more sound-proof and bullet-proof. In fact, over time, we begin to even like the walls, perhaps think of them as something that protects us. Who doesn't want to believe the fairy tale that we live in a beautiful country where crushing injustice is but a thing of the past, after all? Advertisement If there is a silver lining here, it is this -- we are finally jolted awake from this fairy tale because many hard-won liberties that we had begun to take for granted, now seem in jeopardy. It was only a matter of minutes after the inauguration ceremony that the pages on the White House website on LGBT rights, civil rights and climate change disappeared. And how many of us don't secretly believe that even though climate change is very real, we will largely pass the majority of our lives unharmed, and that major climate-related catastrophes happen in faraway places and enter our lives mainly through our TV screens? The smartphone, and along with it the portable consumer internet, when invented, might have been markers of a certain kind of progress. No doubt they increased access to information, but along with many other subsequent techno-utopian inventions, also increased both the amount of misinformation and our access to it. We live in an age where half-truths and untruths can be propagated with unprecedented speed and in pithy 140-character chunks. That the man elected as President uses this as his primary means of communicating on even highly nuanced topics such as nuclear armament, should give us pause and make us reflect on what progress even means to us. We may not have to wait for Artificial Intelligence to annihilate us, Hollywood-style. It seems likely that we are capable of doing the job quicker ourselves. The history of our species is also a history of great civilizations that have keeled in the past. The Aztecs, the Romans and the Greeks all gave us ideas in philosophy, mathematics, literature and astrology, many of which we have not been able to surpass, or even match, in spite of all our technological advantages. And for varied reasons, these civilizations vanished. Only this time, thanks to globalization and this interconnectedness we are so exceptionally proud of, we will likely keel over together as a planet. When we do, we might be discovered by a more intelligent, more sophisticated and perhaps a more graceful form of life from another planet or galaxy. And when that happens, we might want to make sure that we don't go down in their records as a civilization that precipitated its own demise when they elected a certain ill-qualified orange-haired specimen of their species to a really powerful position, partly based on "fake news" that was intended to generate advertising revenue as millions of us scrolled numbly on these rectangular light-emitting screens. Ronald Tiersky January 2017 Book review: Sean Kay, "Rockin' the free world! How the rock & roll revolution changed American and the world" (Rowman & Littlefield Pubs., Lanham, Md., 2017, 277 pp.) Sean Kay is Robson Professor of Politics at Ohio Wesleyan University, director of the Arneson Institute for Practical Politics, an associate at the Mershon Center at Ohio State University and a non-resident fellow at the Eisenhower Institute in Washington, D.C. He's also (like the present writer) an erstwhile rock and roll musician. In college at Kent State, he played guitar with typically-named groups called the Good Rockers and the Flying Locomotives. And, he writes, he's still playing gigs around Central Ohio somehow in the midst of his day job(s), which recently included advising the Bernie Sanders election campaign on foreign policy. Advertisement In other words, Kay has street cred to write about the music and about its influence in society and politics. The book is based on dozens of interviews with musicians and journalists, but also some of the people running the business side of rock and roll, whose commercialization of the culture in general has inevitably affected rock and roll. Kay is an enthusiast of course. But his book is more than nostalgia for the good old days when it all began. "Rock and roll," he says, "is more than a music form--it is an idea, an attitude, a way of thinking about the world." He quotes the Irish rocker Sinead O'Connor on the influence of Little Richard: "The most powerful words in rock and roll (are), 'A whop-bop-a-lua--a whop bam boom.' Do you know what I mean?" We know what she means. If you were there and conscious at all in the 1950s, the explosion of rock and roll into the culture was more earthshaking than Beethoven (as Chuck Berry put it: "Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news.") It wasn't even close. (This writer has compassion for Sean Kay, who was born too late, in 1967.) Advertisement Kay's book stresses the upside of rock and roll: "Rock and roll affirms and spreads freedom, equality, human rights, and peace advanced via education and activism." Given the damage rock and roll did at the same time, this probably needs qualification. The overwhelming narcissism, disregard for others (including, and especially, women), the drugs and alcohol-fueled morality--live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse--needs to be taken into account as well. But even the downside of rock and roll had a dialectically uplifting message. Kay's conclusion quotes Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine. The enduring message of rock & roll is hope. "Hope. That's a good message." Hope in what sense? Rock music is nothing if not full of energy - which is the first element of hope. We're not dead, complacent or apathetic. It's worth getting up in the morning. The feeling that there's something to hope for, something to look for, something exciting. The message in Leonard Bernstein's song in West Side Story: "Something's coming. Could be! Who knows?" Rock music is more than pop music. If anything, pop music is rock and roll's dull child. It's the part of pop music that is original, alive and urgent. Indeed, a sense of joyous urgency: the reason jazz coalesced as a new music, the reason Dixieland developed into Big Band that developed into Be-bop. This urgency is the message of break dancing and hip-hop, with gymnastics added, still alive as anyone riding the New York subway sees every day. This is the creative urge, the urge to create. Which is of course another way of saying human freedom. Advertisement That feeling of freedom is what rock and roll reinvented in the 1950s. But it wasn't alone. There was be-bop and beatniks, our great generation of post-war novelists, the civil rights movement, the world's perception (true or false) of the Kennedy administration, Muhammad Ali. Rock and roll was America, but America was much more than rock and roll. Wordsworth said it: "Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive. But to be young was very heaven." WASHINGTON, DC - President Elect Donald Trump's pick for Attorney General Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC Tuesday January 10, 2017. (Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Before the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney general, senators should demand an explanation for the sudden bout of amnesia he had at his nomination hearing earlier this month. When Sen. Patrick Leahy asked him about his past support for imposing mandatory death sentences on people twice convicted of dealing marijuana, Sessions smiled and claimed to have a foggy memory. Advertisement "Well, I'm not sure under what circumstances I said that," he told the committee. Perhaps this will refresh Sessions' memory: In 1996, when serving as Alabama's attorney general, he promoted H.B. 242, S.B. 291, a state bill to establish mandatory death sentences for a second drug trafficking conviction, including for dealing marijuana. His support for the bill was reported at the time by several local newspapers, as well as The Alabama Lawyer, the Alabama State Bar's official publication. The Alabama Lawyer described the bill as part of a legislative package that Sessions and then-Governor Fob James proposed to "fix a broken system." On Feb. 29, 1996, for example, The Huntsville Times reported that the proposed package of bills to fight crime by "ending parole, eliminating part of the appeals in death penalty cases, and executing people twice convicted of being drug kingpins" had drawn "praise from Attorney General Jeff Sessions." The drug bill was advertised as targeting "kingpins," but to qualify for execution, the defendant merely needed to lead a group of five people and make the minimum wage in drug proceeds. Alabama's minimum wage was US$4.25 per hour in 1996. We teach and study death penalty law, but you didn't need to be an expert to know that the bill to execute drug dealers would "never pass constitutional muster," as The Huntsville Times then reported. That's because by 1987, the Supreme Court had completely banned mandatory death sentences. The court ruled that the individual circumstances of the crime and defendant must always be considered. Furthermore, in 1977, the high court had held that even in cases of rape, the death penalty is "grossly disproportionate," "excessive" and therefore unconstitutional. Advertisement Despite Sessions' support, the Alabama bill never passed. Presumably, the Alabama legislature had a better understanding of wise policy and the Constitution than their attorney general did. Making a broken system worse At his nomination hearing, Sessions said that he currently does not support mandatory executions for drug trafficking. But the fact that he once supported it in direct violation of established constitutional law is deeply troubling, especially in light of his direct knowledge, as Alabama attorney general, of the prosecutorial misconduct, racial bias and systematically weak defense lawyering that permeated the state's capital system. As the state's top attorney between 1995 and 1997, Sessions sought to uphold more than 40 death sentences, even in the most questionable circumstances. For example, Sessions knew that during trial, prosecutors had hidden DNA-related evidence from Larry Padgett that pointed to his innocence. Yet Sessions still tried to convince the Alabama Supreme Court to uphold Padgett's death sentence. Thankfully, Sessions was unable to persuade Alabama's highest court. Padgett was exonerated at his second trial. Sessions also worked to uphold the death penalty against defendants who'd received grossly inadequate legal representation, such as Jimmy Lee Dill. At the guilt phase of Dill's trial, his lawyers didn't call a single witness. They thus failed to present evidence that the victim died due to improper medical care, more than nine months after Dill shot him during a drug deal gone awry. The attorneys also failed to submit mitigating evidence at sentencing, telling the judge that "we were just blank on submitting it." Had they tried harder, the attorneys would have found powerful mitigating evidence: Dill was intellectually disabled and had been sexually abused as a child, according to Bryan Stevenson, the renowned public interest lawyer who took on his case a month before he was executed in 2009. Dill was represented at trial by court-appointed lawyers whose compensation for out-of-court preparation was capped at $1,000 by Alabama law. This is very low pay given the time-intensive nature of capital defense work. A study of federal capital trials in the 1990s found that defense attorneys spent an average of 1,480 out-of-court hours preparing death penalty cases. As Alabama attorney general, Sessions could have sought reforms to address the glaring flaws in his state's capital system. Instead, he chose to promote policies such as executing small-time drug dealers, and reducing death penalty appeals in a state where judges were already overriding jury decisions against the death penalty. Sessions' purported forgetfulness at his nomination hearing can be explained in two ways. One explanation is that he lied under oath and actually remembered supporting the bill. Indeed, Sessions also may have been reminded by a New York Times op-ed we published the day before his hearing, which highlighted his support for the bill. Alternatively, President Trump's pick for attorney general really did forget promoting the legislation. This possible explanation is perhaps more frightening: that Sessions couldn't recall advocating to kill drug dealers would suggest that he didn't give much thought to backing such an extreme and unlawful policy. At the end of the day, we need an attorney general who is trustworthy, understands the demands of the Constitution and respects them, and has good judgment on criminal justice enforcement policy. The record of Jeff Sessions as Alabama's attorney general and his current evasiveness about his prior support for a mandatory death penalty for marijuana dealers raises concerns on all these grounds. Advertisement As the Republican Congress begins to execute its latest attack on poor and middle class Americans (the repeal of the Affordable Care Act; cuts in education spending, Social Security and Medicare; attacks on worker rights, and, of course, more tax cuts for the rich), it's worth putting this assault into context. The United States is, by every reasonable measure, already and by far the most unequal of the world's rich countries. For decades, the U.S. has been suffering from a crisis of inequality, and it has only gotten worse over time. The Democrats have not taken this crisis seriously enough. The Republicans remain hell-bent on making it worse. And in the process (and in the service) of this massive redistribution, the GOP has enthusiastically stoked the fire of racial resentment, relentlessly blaming the victims in order to enrich the privileged. Evidence of extreme and rising economic inequality in the U.S. is quite overwhelming. In 1979, the top 1 percent captured about 9 percent of all income; in 2014, they grabbed 22 percent. The incomes of the top 0.1 percent have grown even faster. More than half of all economic growth since 1976 has ended up in the pockets of the top 1 percent. Meanwhile, the incomes of the shrinking middle class have stagnated, while the incomes of those with a high school education or less have fallen substantially. The purchasing power of the federal minimum wage is 15 percent lower than in 1979, despite a doubling of labor productivity. In the meanwhile, CEO pay has soared. In 1965, the typical CEO earned 20 times as much as the average production worker. In 2015, they earn 300 times more. One in five kids in the US lives in poverty. And the US is the only rich country in the world without universal health care. Advertisement And while much has been made of the (very real) hard times endured by the "white working class" in recent decades, profound racial inequality remains a defining feature of the US economy. The income of the median African American household is about 60% that of the median white household. The wealth of the median African American household is one thirteenth that of the median white household. 24% of African Americans live in poverty - nearly three times the rate for whites - and a third of African American children live in poverty. This racial inequality manifests itself in other realms of social life as well: education, health care, housing, employment, capital markets, the criminal justice system, exposure to toxins, and more. Despite this grim reality, the Republican Party's economic policy agenda has not changed for decades. Cut taxes for the 1 percent. Reduce corporate accountability ("deregulate") -- so that banks can run wild and corporations can pollute with impunity. Undermine the bargaining power of workers. And then blame the inevitable decline in workers' incomes on people of color - "illegal immigrants," "welfare queens," food stamp recipients, and those who've "cut the line" thanks to "quotas" and "special preferences." In reality, the lost income of workers of all sorts - union and non-union, black and white, male and female, public sector and private sector - can be found in the pockets of the 1 percent. Advertisement Over the past few decades, effective tax rates on U.S. corporations and the richest 1 percent have fallen by about a third. Among the world's rich countries, U.S. tax rates on the rich are near the very bottom. Since 1970, the percentage of private sector workers in unions has fallen from 29 percent to 7 percent. But isn't rising inequality inevitable in a capitalist economy? Nope. Between 1948 and 1975, the income of the median U.S. household doubled. Over this period, the incomes of the bottom 20 percent actually grew a little faster than the incomes of the top 20 percent. Between 1928 and 1950, the distribution of income in the US actually became dramatically more equal. Why should we be concerned about inequality? America is about opportunity, not guarantees -- right? Actually, no. Among the world's rich countries, the U.S. is tied for last in class mobility; an American's economic status is in fact highly correlated with his/her parents' wealth and status. Richard Wilkinson captures this sad reality perfectly: "If you want the American Dream, you'll have to go to Denmark." In this context - soaring inequality and declining economic security for almost everyone -- the GOP agenda is especially appalling. The Republican agenda calls for still deeper cuts in taxes for corporations and the top 1 percent, and a further easing of the "regulatory burden" on oil, coal and gas companies (including "frackers") and -- believe it or not -- Wall Street. A tax plan proposed by House Speaker Paul Ryan this summer would give an average annual tax cut of $137,780 to households in the top 1 percent. And we can expect the GOP to pursue deep cuts in spending on education, Head Start, environmental protection, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid because, um, "we can't afford it." Remarkably, the Republicans have concluded -- as they always do -- that the super-rich are getting too little while children, the elderly, the middle class, the poor, and people of color are getting too much. And all of this will be facilitated by an administration chock full of laissez-faire billionaires, racists, and libertarian nuts. Trump's administration is overflowing with Goldman Sachs alums - including Trump's top economic adviser (Gary Cohn), his Chief Strategist (Steve Bannon) and the Secretary of the Treasury (Steven Mnuchin). Trump's nominee for Labor Secretary -- Andrew Puzder, a fast food CEO -- opposes the minimum wage. Workers in his restaurants (Hardee's and Carl's Jr.) allege that "wage theft" and sexual harassment are common. Ben Carson, the prospective Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), believes that "poverty is a choice." Trump's nominee for Energy Secretary is Rick Perry, a lifelong lacky for Big Oil and, further, an idiot. Tump's nominee for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, is the CEO of ExxonMobil, where he has spent decades ravaging the planet for profit. Does this all sound familiar? After thirty-five years, it should. This is trickle-down economics. The "logic" here is that the economy will grow if we provide a better "business climate" -- lower taxes and fewer regulations will liberate corporations to create jobs. The problem is that it doesn't work. Decades of lower taxes and reckless deregulation have saddled us with slow growth, soaring inequality, the financial meltdown of 2008, a devastating recession, rising tuition at our public universities, and diminishing opportunities for millions of Americans. And yet -- like a zombie that will not die -- trickle-down economics is alive and well in the U.S., despite its long record of failure. William Blum has it just right: "The 'trickle-down' theory: the principle that the poor, who must subsist on table scraps dropped by the rich, can best be served by giving the rich bigger meals." The Trump/GOP agenda is appalling and immoral, and it is bad economics. Indeed, it is bad in every imaginable way. Trickle-down economics has failed to promote shared prosperity over and over again. But it does not follow that it has been a "mistake" or a "failure." This set of policies has gone a very long way toward achieving the objectives of its advocates: it has helped the rich to accumulate wealth and political power. Ha Joon Chang, author of 23 Things They Don't Tell You about Capitalism, hits this nail on the head: "Once you realize that trickle-down economics does not work, you will see the excessive tax cuts for the rich as what they are -- a simple upward redistribution of income, rather than a way to make all of us richer, as we were told." Advertisement The GOP economic agenda is about plunder. It's that simple. American politics has always been a full-contact sport. But it has crossed a line in recent years. It is now less like sport and more like war. I know, of course, that even in the late 18th century there were high-pitched political battles. In fact, in 1804, the most dramatic of these resulted in the death of Alexander Hamilton in a gun duel with his political enemy, Aaron Burr, right across the Hudson river in Weehawken. Despite our lax gun control laws, we no longer have gun duels to settle political battles. Instead, however, we have weaponized law enforcement and unleashed ambitious investigators and prosecutors to take down our elected leaders. Advertisement This has been evident both in our recent presidential election as well as in New York's city and state government. Think about it: wasn't the FBI director James Comey a key factor in the demise of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign? Didn't Trump and his hyped up rally audiences constantly chant: "Lock her up!"? We usually read about non-democratic and authoritarian governments that lock up political opponents. How did we sink so low into "Banana Republic" territory? Even in New York, a relatively progressive state, we are witnessing potential prosecutorial overreach. For the past few months, everyone on the inside of New York City politics has been buzzing about the potential indictment of Mayor DeBlasio and/or a number of his key aides. Many people in recent days have told me that the results of two grand juries that were empaneled for investigations of the administration's political activities is imminent. Although I am skeptical that any of this will be fatal to the mayor's re-election chances, there is still a dark cloud hanging over him and a few potential competitors are anxiously awaiting the U.S. and District Attorney's decision. Advertisement In our scandal-scarred state government in Albany, we have recently witnessed the indictments and convictions of two of the three most powerful elected leaders in the state -- Speaker Sheldon Silver and Majority Leader Dean Skelos. This came after a dozen convictions of legislators in the past decade in addition to the recent indictment of a close aide to the Governor. Does power corrupt, as the old saying goes, or have we criminalized politics to the point where every elected leader should wear a wire and be considered a prime suspect for some malfeasance? There's no easy way to answer this. Yes, absolute power corrupts absolutely as we saw in the case of the 20-year reign of Sheldon Silver. Yes, large campaign donations to elected leaders can lead to favoritism and quid pro quos that certainly cross a line too frequently. But. Houston, we have a big problem when Hillary Clinton's ill-advised use of a private server for privacy reasons results in calls for prosecution and jail time. When the mayor of New York City can't engage in partisan politics to aide Democratic candidates for the State Senate without being accused of campaign finance fraud. Don't get me wrong -- we need vigilance to keep politicians straight and bold prosecutors to pursue justice when they're not. Advertisement But we have reached a tipping point when almost every political action results in an investigation. When prosecutors leak to the press the empaneling of grand juries to investigate elected leaders. We are living in strange and dangerous times politically. It is high time we call off the political wars and weaponized investigations and let government focus on improving society and building for the future. Let's call a political ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony of White House senior staff in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Trump today mocked protesters who gathered for large demonstrations across the U.S. and the world on Saturday to signal discontent with his leadership, but later offered a more conciliatory tone, saying he recognized such marches as a hallmark of our democracy. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images The nation's last Republican President, George W. Bush, stated in his first month in office about people with disabilities, "Wherever any barrier stands between you and the full rights and dignity of citizenship, we must work to remove it, in the name of simple decency and simple justice." He was referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed into law by his father President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, prohibiting discrimination and guaranteeing that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life. His comment was also a nod to former President Bill Clinton's expansion of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that applied the same high academic standards for all children, including those with disabilities, as well as the bipartisan Work Incentives Improvement Act that allows people with disabilities to maintain their Medicare or Medicaid coverage when they go to work. Advertisement The disability rights movement made progress in previous Republican administrations, from the ADA to President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative to promote full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society and his first appointment to the Office of Disability Rights. President Clinton's executive orders requiring the federal government to increase opportunities for employment of people with disabilities and to provide accommodations for doing so, were continued through both Republican and Democratic administrations. Our movement made even more progress under President Barack Obama, whose commitment to full enforcement of the ADA made it even more impactful. The Obama administration exceeded its five-year goal of hiring 100,000 people with disabilities into the federal government, and ended with 14.41 percent of the overall full-time federal workforce doing their job with a disability. President Obama also created the first office within FEMA dedicated to disabilities -- so that if and when a disaster strikes we are prepared to help everyone -- and created the first special advisor for international disabilities at the State Department. While issues facing people with disabilities were front and center at the Democratic convention, historically our issues have achieved bipartisan support in Republican administrations. Unfortunately, we know President Trump is already going after the Affordable Care Act, which is a massive threat to people with disabilities whose pre-existing conditions would have otherwise made access to full coverage nearly impossible. We worry his proposed Secretary of Education would ease federal enforcement of IDEA and allow states to inconsistently enforce its provisions for disabled children despite it being a federal law. But we still demand a seat at the table as these issues are addressed by Congress and the new administration. In developing and implementing new policies, I expect President Trump to listen to us so he can fully consider our long fight for progress. Advertisement WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 23: (AFP-OUT) President Donald Trump speaks at a meeting with union leaders at the White House on January 23, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Trump held a listening session with business leaders earlier in the day. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) Author's note (1/23/2017). This blog was written and published before Trump's inauguration. Since then, we have seen every reference to climate change disappear from the White House's website and the launch of "An America First Energy Plan" which emphasizes shale oil and natural gas development, as well as plans to support "clean coal technology" and a revival of the American coal industry. The plan includes no mention of renewable energy. This blog was originally posted on the Green Alliance blog. Eight years ago, and again four years later, I stood on the US National Mall in the bitter cold to watch Barack Obama get sworn in for his respective first and second terms as president. Particularly at the dawn of his first term, the mood among progressives was one of joy, excitement and, yes, hope. To our great disappointment, his first term brought crushing setbacks on climate change: a failed climate bill in Congress and the collapse of the UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen. But with his re-election and a growing public climate movement, Obama championed climate issues in his second term. Constrained by uncooperative Republicans in Congress, Obama used his executive authority to introduce a comprehensive Climate Action Plan in 2013, to jointly announce with China new targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, to ratify the Paris Agreement, reject the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, and to introduce his landmark Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. Advertisement This week, as President-Elect Donald Trump is sworn in, the mood couldn't be more different. Even as we heed the advice of President Obama in his farewell address to not give in to fear, there is a feeling of nervous anticipation about what is to come. When it comes to climate change, Trump has given mixed signals about his personal views on the matter (see here and here). Unfortunately, since then, his picks for various cabinet positions have included many climate change deniers and friends of the fossil fuel industry, effectively eliminating hope that his administration will be reasonable on climate issues. Nonetheless, there are still some reasons why climate progress in the US will not stop during the next four years, including the likely continued success of renewables and emissions reductions at the state level. Trump's cabinet picks Let's start with the bad news about Trump's cabinet nominations. Climate change is touched by many agencies, but here are a few that are particularly significant. Environmental Protection Agency: This agency is charged with enforcing federal statutes relating to clean air and clean water, and regulating greenhouse gas emissions (as ruled by the Supreme Court's 2007 decision Massachusetts v EPA). Trump's nominee is Scott Pruitt who, as attorney general of Oklahoma, led dozens of lawsuits against the EPA on behalf of big polluters and has fought against its basic mission. A new EPA administrator cannot undo existing rules but could make them weaker, delay their implementation or have Congress cut funding for enforcement. Department of Energy: This agency runs initiatives such as Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), which researches clean energy. Trump's nominee is Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, who denies both that climate change is happening and that humans have caused it. He has even previously called for the Department of Energy to be eliminated. One of the most ominous moves from the Trump administration relating to the Department of Energy was a request in December asking the department to submit the names of employees who had worked on climate change; fortunately, the department refused to fulfill this request. And, early last week, outgoing Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz issued a new scientific integrity policy protecting scientists and engineers. Department of State: From a climate perspective, this agency is significant because it is responsible for negotiating the US position on the Paris Agreement, and for approving or rejecting international pipelines such as Keystone XL. Trump's nominee to lead this agency is former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson, who many are concerned will continue to support oil and gas industries. Under oath at his confirmation hearing, Tillerson denied the existence of subsidies to oil and gas industries, which Oil Change International estimates to be at least17 billion per year. While Exxon has expressed its support for a carbon price and the Paris Agreement, the company is currently under criminal investigation for misleading investors and the American public about climate change. At Tillerson's confirmation hearing, Republican US Senator Marco Rubio also questioned his potential conflicts of interest with regard to Russia, and expressed concern that Tillerson would give Russia preferential treatment. Lee Wasserman, director of the Rockefeller Family Fund, observed in the Los Angeles Times, "For the next four years a fossil fuel friendly Trump administration and Vladimir Putin's Russia could be aligned around one goal: sell as much oil and gas as possible, climate change be damned." Progress will continue On more than one occasion, Trump has talked about leaving the Paris Agreement, but there's a good chance he won't. Climate interests aside, leaving would certainly undermine US diplomatic credibility. There has also been pressure from the private sector for the US to stay in; 365 major corporations including Nike, Unilever and Starbucks signed a letter following Trump's election, urging him to stay in the Paris Agreement for the signal it sends for low carbon investments. Most importantly, as some have pointed out, Trump may simply find it to be too much of a time consuming, logistical hassle to leave or renegotiate US involvement, and he may find it makes more sense to stay in the non-binding agreement without putting much effort into ensuring the US achieves its goals. Fortunately, it is quite possible that the US will continue to make good progress on its commitments, even without a federal mandate. The credibility of the US while negotiating in Paris rested on the fact that it was making efforts to reduce emissions at home. The Clean Power Plan (CPP), a rule announced by Obama and the EPA in 2015, provided a great deal of negotiating leverage for the US in Paris. The CPP requires states to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, but it allows states a great deal of flexibility in how they can meet their individual state targets, including joining emissions trading schemes or multi-state compacts. There is currently an ongoing court case regarding the CPP which is likely to go to the Supreme Court, and Trump has vowed to kill it. Nonetheless, rather than wait in uncertainty, numerous states have already started implementing the CPP and will continue to shift to renewables because the economics make sense. In the US and around the world, renewables are competitive and getting cheaper, and investment continues to shift from coal to renewables. Renewables and natural gas will keep beating coal as the cheapest power source throughout most of the US, with or without the CPP. Battles in the US for the success of renewables, particularly solar, are playing out at the state level, and states such as California are showing incredible leadership. For example, the newly passed SB32 requires California to cut its emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. This ambition should be replicated throughout the country. Significantly, the solar economy is creating jobs at a rate twelve times faster than the rest of the US economy. Hunger for job creation, particularly creation of blue collar jobs, is a central concern that led to Trump's election. Creating high quality jobs through a large scale transition to renewable energy should be an aspiration that the Trump administration and progressives alike can get behind. A winning climate strategy in the US is one that helps renewable industries succeed, and allows working and middle class families to succeed along with it. Advertisement Building a successful brand is no easy feat. That's why it takes the skills of a determined leader to get there. A. The Wherewithal to Evolve As much as continuity is important when building and maintaining a brand, stagnancy or failure to meet the changing needs of the customer can mean death for a company. Branding attributes should evolve over time as more data and customer feedback are taken into account. Fight for the consistency of your brand, but know when to allow for wiggle room. - Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, AirPR A. Empathy Brand building is about how the world sees your brand, not how you see the brand. It's difficult to remove the context you already have and truly step back and evaluate a brand objectively as if you're seeing it for the first time, each time. The best brand builders can "reset" themselves frequently. - Roger Lee, Captain401 Advertisement A. Passion In my experience, those who are ready and willing to build a brand show an unrelenting passion for what they do. They're the type of people who are willing to travel non-stop to make their brand come to life. They sacrifice family and personal time to get their brand where it needs to be. This usually means that their brand has more potential for success. - John Hall, Influence & Co. A. Creativity Creativity is what helps a brand stand out -- even in a market where other brands offer the same product or service. It's this quality that makes a brand builder successful because they can put a spin on something or add a memorable touch to what they are developing. - Andrew O'Connor, American Addiction Centers A. Consistency Consistency matters. You don't get to be a successful brand without a constant drumbeat that says who you are, why you matter, and what you'll do next. - Tim Chaves, ZipBooks A. Energy Every successful brand builder I know has a positive energy about them, and that energy sticks to those they work with and partner with each and every day. Having energy leads to successful brands and relationships. - Jason Grill, JGrill Media | Sock 101 Advertisement A. Tenacity Every successful brand builder is tenacious. Often, it's not the most qualified, smartest or even the most well-funded person who wins, but the person with the most perseverance. If you are tenacious and believe enough in your vision to keep going when you hit a challenge or rejection, you can find success. - Beth Doane, Main & Rose A. Vision An effective brand builder envisions their plan three to five years down the road -- beyond what they see today. They understand that a brand takes time to build and present to the community. By having a vision in mind, the brand builder demonstrates curiosity, which can only help their plan turn into success. - Daisy Jing, Banish A. Courage Behind every successful brand is an entrepreneur who isn't afraid to take risks. A successful brand builder is aware of their competition and understands the need to stand out, be unconventional and create a unique voice. Being a risk-taker is taking action on what you believe will lead you to success. - Patrick Barnhill, Specialist ID, Inc. A. Faith Successful brand builders have faith in the expertise of their team. Longlasting brands are backed by founders who understand that even creatives experience burnout. Assembling a team of creatives who take turns re-strategizing allows the brand to continue grabbing people's attention and remain current (if not cutting edge). Unfortunately, very few brand builders do this, since they assume brands are driven by perception only. - Cody McLain, SupportNinja By Joanne Sydney Lessner, ZEALnyc Contributing Writer, January 23, 2017 With eighty concerts a year, a roster of impressive guest artists, a summer residency at Caramoor, and a sparkling new home at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, the Orchestra of St. Luke's has come a long way since its founding in 1974 as the resident chamber ensemble of The Church of St. Luke in the Fields in Greenwich Village. This season also marks the 30th anniversary of its annual subscription series at Carnegie Hall. To bring the festivities full circle, the twenty-one-member St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, still the nucleus of the larger Orchestra of St. Luke's, returns to its namesake church for the first time since 1997, with a two-program Baroque Series that includes additional performances at the Brooklyn Museum, a longtime partner. "We wanted to present our musicians in their core repertoire, in the place where the orchestra was born. Also, the acoustics are unrivaled," says Executive Director James Roe. "We're excited to reintroduce ourselves to the community of Greenwich Village, who first recognized and loved us. Because of their nurturing four decades ago, the orchestra went on to be noticed. For the players, it will feel like coming home." The two programs are designed to delight first-time concertgoers as well as aficionados. "Bach and Vivaldi" (January 29-30, 2017) showcases soprano Anna Dennis in Bach's Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten, BWV 202, aka the "Wedding Cantata," and the less well-known Vivaldi motet O qui coeli terraeque serenitas. Principal flutist Liz Mann provides the virtuoso fireworks in Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 2, and Vivaldi's "La Folia" Variations round out the program. Regarding the juxtaposition of the latter with the "Wedding Cantata," Roe says, "We wanted to open up that dialogue of connection between marriage and folly, but we'll leave it up to the audience to decide privately if there's a direct progression." Advertisement British soprano and celebrated Baroque interpreter, Anna Dennis, guest soloist. "Bach and Telemann's Coffeehouse" (April 2-3, 2017) conjures both a historical moment, when Baroque was still brand new, and a specific venue, the celebrated Cafe Zimmermann in Leipzig, where Georg Telemann founded his Collegium Musicum before passing its stewardship to Bach. Composers sought out Gottfried Zimmermann's coffee house for its inviting atmosphere and first-rate musicians. Bach premiered many of his secular cantatas there, including his famous "Coffee Cantata," a satirical jab at the audience, who were spared a cover charge, but were required to buy coffee. Women, normally verboten in a coffee house, were granted dispensation to attend the concerts. Another draw was the host's extensive collection of the most up-to-date musical instruments, which he made available to the players. As Roe points out, "Pre-electricity, musical instruments were the equivalent of high tech. Woodwinds and keyboards in particular were advancing year by year. Zimmermann's collection allowed composers to push the limits of music as far as they could." Celebrating this virtuosity, the St. Luke's program includes Telemann's Sonata a 4 in A Major and Gigue for Solo Violin, featuring concertmaster Krista Bennion Feeney, as well as Bach's Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1029, and W.F. Bach's Overture in G Minor. Advertisement Individual tickets are $40 and a two-concert subscription is $68 are available. For more information click here. Cover: Members of the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble; photo: courtesy of Orchestra of St. Luke's __________________________________ Read more from ZEALnyc: 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." Transcription 1 Grade level: 9 12 Estimated time: Two 45-minute class periods Introduction: Political representation, equality, education and autonomy are all important rights desired by the women of Afghanistan. In their post-taliban society, especially in the larger cities, many Afghan women have these rights and celebrate the changes that have taken place. Unfortunately, much of the country struggles with more basic needs obtaining food, water and shelter. In this lesson, students will view the film AFGHANISTAN UNVEILED and use several Web sites to explore women s issues in Afghanistan. During this exploration, they will begin to understand that changing laws is just a first step in securing a hopeful future for many of the women of Afghanistan. Lesson objectives: The students will: Compare and contrast the opportunities and obstacles for Afghan women in Kabul and outlying rural areas Describe several of the challenges that prevent women from taking advantage of the opportunities including lacking medical care, extreme poverty, cultural traditions, fear and intimidation Understand the significance of the addition of an equality clause to the Afghanistan constitution; Investigate the struggle of women in other developing countries and their progress Materials needed: TV and VCR Computers with Internet Access AFGHANISTAN UNVEILED video Page 1 of 6 2 Standards: National Standards for History Standard 2: The search for community, stability and peace in an interdependent world. 2C. The student understands how liberal democracy, market economies, and human rights movements have reshaped political and social life. Analyze how feminist movements and social conditions have affected the lives of women in different parts of the world and compare women s progress toward social equality, economic opportunity, and political rights in various countries. [Draw comparisons across regions.] Assess the success of democratic reform movements in challenging authoritarian governments in Africa, Asia and Latin America. [Formulate a position or course of action on an issue.] National Council of Teachers of English Standard 7: Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience. Standard 9: Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions and social roles. Page 2 of 6 3 Teaching Strategy: 1. Discuss with students that they will be investigating Afghan women and how their world is changing. To guide the investigation, they will be watching segments of the film AFGHANISTAN UNVEILED that was created by Afghan women. Begin by looking at the biographies of the filmmakers at independentlens/afghanistanunveiled/bios.html. Ask your students to read the biographies and identify some elements that stand out to them about the people who created AFGHANISTAN UNVEILED. Students should mention that they are all women, most have lived in Kabul most of their lives and they are a youthful group. They wear headscarves in their photos. They are all studying journalism, and they have traveled to other areas of Afghanistan for this project many for the first time. Ask students if they find anything unusual about that list of facts. Students may say they see nothing unusual about a group of students producing a film about their country. Others may recognize the significance of young Afghan women being allowed to travel, study, speak freely and film other women. 2. Ask students to brainstorm a list of what women need to achieve in order to gain equality after so many years of extreme oppression. Discuss the elements students generated. Students will most likely identify voting rights, education, legal protections against harassment and similar elements. After watching the video segments, you will return to this list as a group and add any new concepts the film helps students identify. 3. From the biography page, click on the link for The Journey. Select Follow the Journey at Orient students to where Afghanistan is geographically, and explore each of the cities or villages included in the film. 4. Explain to students that they are going to watch two of the four segments of the film. In the first segment, the journalists travel to Bamiyan. As the filmmakers embark on their trip, they are unsure of what they will find. As they are watching the first segment of the video, ask students to explain who the Hazara are and why they are in such a terrible position. CUE the video to the beginning and PLAY until 10:48 when you hear the journalist say, During recent years I was living with my own fears in Kabul, but I never imagined that the Taliban committed crimes like these. Ask students what difficulties Zinab and the Hazara face. How do they survive? Why do you think Zinab is so willing to share her life and the story of her people? You can see the journalists becoming visibly upset while filming Zinab. What do you think is going through their minds? Page 3 of 6 4 Reflect back on the list of needs the class generated earlier. Is there anything they would like to add or change? They should begin to realize that before equality can be achieved, the basic needs of all people must be addressed. 5. FAST FORWARD to 14:24 where you see a woman walk through a door into a television studio. Explain to students that in this segment they will meet Shekeba Adill and travel with her to Herat, a very conservative province of Afghanistan. Shekeba speaks about her expectations for this journey. As students watch this segment, ask them to identify if the journey is what Shekeba expected. PLAY the tape and PAUSE at 19:00 when you hear Shekeba say, It is very difficult for them. Ask students if Herat is what Shekeba expected. What did Shekeba s mother recommend she bring on the trip? What was her reaction? Why is Shekeba worried for women in this region? Shekeba finally finds some people willing to speak with her on film. While watching the next segment, ask students to identify some additional ways women in Herat are struggling. PLAY the tape and STOP at 24:25 when you hear Shekeba saying, The oppression that the Afghan people suffer seems to never end. What concerns for his patients does the doctor outline? Ask the class why it is so difficult for women to get medical care in Afghanistan. Shekeba finds one woman willing to talk with her about her struggles. What are her most significant concerns for herself and her family? Reflect again on the list of needs generated at the beginning of the class. Again ask students to add more items or change what they have listed. Students again should begin to understand that basic human needs or food, shelter, safety and health care must be addressed before the more political elements of equality can be achieved. 6. Read the BBC article Silence Over Afghan Women s Rights at news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/ stm. After students have read the article, discuss it with the class. What punishment is there in place for the men who abuse the women? What does it mean when the Minister of Women s Affairs says, We have to change the law but education is also very, very important. It s fundamental. Who are the people that need to be educated? Page 4 of 6 5 Assessment: After watching the film and investigating various Web sites, students should have an understanding that the process of improving conditions for Afghan women, as well as all of the Afghan people, is a very complex one that has no easy solution. Since the removal of the Taliban, there has been great change in Afghanistan, although there is still much progress to be made. The assessment activity will provide students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained as well as their ability to gain information from a variety of graphic sources. Explore the BBC s Web site Life in Afghanistan at in_depth/afghanistan_elections/html/1.stm. On this site various categories are represented to develop a more comprehensive understanding of Afghanistan. Ask students to explore each of the sections of the site and respond to the following questions for each. People: What are the major ethnic groups? What makes it difficult to determine populations with any accuracy? Why has it been difficult for the Afghan people to develop a strong national identity? Rural Life: What percent of the rural population is considered impoverished? How does that compare to rural households lead by women? What are some of the issues contributing to poverty? What areas have the highest rate of poverty? City Life: What are some of the greatest concerns for city dwellers? Why is the population expected to grow so rapidly in the next few years? What is the average wage for civil servants? Teachers? Unskilled workers? How does that wage compare to the cost of rent and food? Health: Investigate the rates for infant mortality, under five mortality and maternal mortality. Describe how Afghanistan compares to other less developed countries and to high income countries. What is the cause of the huge differences in health? Education: How has school enrollment changed since 2001? What area of education has seen the greatest change? Page 5 of 6 6 Economy: How does Afghanistan s economy compare to other countries? What difficulties are posed by the opium trade? Government: How does the structure of Afghanistan s government compare to the United States governmental structure? What are the similarities and differences? Extensions: Use the BBC s Web site at afghanistan/default.stm to learn more about the future of Afghanistan. Investigate women s organizations that provide aid to Afghan women. What organizations are involved and to what other areas of the world are they providing aid. Compare the struggle of Afghan women to women in other struggling nations. One reference is the Web site Women, War and Peace at Online resources: An extensive list of online resources is available in the Learn More section of the Independent Lens Web site for AFGHANISTAN UNVEILED at About the author: Traci Osterhagen-Brock is an educator in Portland, Oregon. She has taught English, language arts and global studies at the middle and high school levels. She was also a training specialist for the National Teacher Training Institute, helping teachers integrate technology and media into their instructional practices. Currently she is working as a freelance writer and trainer and supports teachers in creating applied learning projects. She earned a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in secondary education from the University of Florida. Page 6 of 6 How Netflix Can Turn A Profit While Spotify Has Not (Yet) Now in it's tenth year of streaming, Netflix had a bumper year for both subscriber growth and earnings. Spotify too has seen a steady rise in subscribers, but so far seems unable to turn a similar profit. _________________________ Guest post by Mark Mulligan of anaylyts MIDiA and the Music Industry Blog Having just celebrated its 10th (streaming) birthday, Netflix followed up with a strong earnings release, announcing 5.8 million net new paid subscribers in Q4, sending its share price up by 9%. This wraps up a stellar year for Netflix, one in which it doubled down on original programming and delivered acclaimed hits such as Stranger Things and The OA, shows that dont fit the traditional TV mould. In fact, Stranger Things was turned down by 15 TV networks before finding a home at Netflix and The OAs oscillating episode lengths (from 1 hour 11 mins to 31 mins) would have played havoc with a linear TV schedule (not even considering its mind bending plot). Netflix closed 2016 with 89.1 million subscribers and the temptation to benchmark against Spotifys equally strong year is too strong to resist. Spotify (which celebrated its decade in June 2016) closed the year with around 43 million subscribers, 48% the size of Netflix. But a closer look at the numbers tells another growth story. In terms of net new subscribers (i.e. how many more paid subscribers there were at the end of the year compared to the year before) Spotify added just under a million more subscribers than Netflix did in 2016. This is the first time that Spotifys growth has exceeded Netflixs (in absolute terms, not percentage terms). While Netflixs 5.8 million net new subscribers in Q4 2016 was impressive, it followed two much smaller quarters (2.2 million, 3.4 million) and its average quarterly growth for 2016 was 4.6 million. Spotifys growth by contrast was much more consistent, and higher, averaging 4.8 million. (Note that Netflix reported 7.1 million net new subscribers, however this includes 1.2 million trial subscriptions). In way of context, Netflixs core territory (the US) is nearing saturation, adding just 14 million net new subscribers in Q4 2016. The US now accounts for 54% of Netflixs growth. So Netflix has a more mature user base than Spotifys. However, Netflix is aggressively pursuing international growth and it has acquired debt to do so. It raised $400 million in 2014 (largely earmarked for European expansion) and a further $1 billion in 2016 (to fund originals and international growth including international originals and programming). When Spotify raised an additional $1 billion it sent shockwaves through the music industry. When Netflix did it, the TV industrys reaction more closely resembled gentle (albeit concerned) ripples. Another interesting music / video comparison: in response, Amazon announced it was expanding to 200+ additional markets to its existing 5 in December. Very reminiscent of Deezers 200+ markets roll out in response to an increasingly competitive Spotify back in 2011. One of the festering wounds of the streaming music business is commercial sustainability. All the key streaming services are either losing money or are part of a bigger company (which absorbs the losses). Netflix, by contrast, posted an 18.5% streaming margin for 2016. Content is the biggest cost for Spotify and co, but interestingly they are in line with Netflixs content costs. Looking at Netflix (FY 16), Spotify (FY 15) and Deezer (H1 15) content costs as a % of revenue is broadly similar. Deezers costs are lower as a share, reflecting the fact that so many of its subscribers were inactive during the period (53% of the total). So why can Netflix achieve an 18% streaming margin, yet Spotify -9% and Deezer -12%. (Note: Netflix reported a 20% overall margin, but this includes the much higher margin legacy DVD rental business). The reason for the difference between music and video streaming quite simply boils down to the way content costs are structured. Minimum Revenue Guarantees (MRGs) are a key factor for streaming music services, as this entails the services guaranteeing to pay for anticipated subscriber growth. If they miss the numbers they still pay, but even if they hit them it means they are always paying against tomorrows numbers, not todays, which is damaging on a cash flow basis. The variance can be highly unpredictable. Deezer wiped off 85% of its gross operating margin in 2014 (compared to 2013) with unused minimum guarantees on rights. Free users also add a significant rights burden to freemium music services and dilutes revenue. Thus Spotifys revenue subscriber is $75.73 compared to $99.03 for Netflix, despite it having a $9.99 price point compared to Netflixs $7.99. But the main reason for Netflixs stronger position is that it owns so much of its content, while Spotify and co rent their content. This means that Netflix is able to employ a series of sophisticated accounting techniques to make the company more profitable. Netflixs original shows are a balance sheet asset and so can have costs amortized and offset to help profitability. (eg Netflix has a cash flow line item Amortization of streaming content assets for +$4.8 billion). So where does this all leave us? Who is the winner? Music or video? Spotify or Netflix? Fundamentally both services are growing at impressive rates and have much to be proud of with regards to their respective 2016 performances. Overall, business dynamics are broadly similar, but Netflixs original content strategy is delivering it a competitive advantage, both in terms of being able to differentiate and in terms of accounting. Of course, the music and TV businesses are dramatically different and Spotify cannot simply do a Netflix. Nonetheless, Netflix builds a compelling case for original content strategy. The record labels are undoubtedly wary of streaming services becoming record labels themselves, but this might just be Spotifys route to profitability. Share on: 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 The fallout from the Florida workers compensation rate hike is only just beginning and the posturing early on from stakeholders will help shape the collective response.Already, a lawyer has directed criticism at a national data analyst, who has in turn directly contradicted that lawyer to Insurance Business.The Florida Supreme Court placed limits on attorney fees in workers compensation cases and changed how long term disability rates were calculated.The rulings prompted the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) to readjust the compensation rate and, following an unsuccessful court challenge, a 14.5% hike was approved.Business groups complain the cost of employment is too high, citing workers compensation as a major component, while labor organizations say employees arent being made whole for their injuries and theyre not returning to work.A workers compensation lawyer, Richard Chait, partner at Touby, Chait & Sicking P.L., wrote a column in the Tallahassee Democrat stating the NCCIs rate making process wasnt transparent.Ours is one of just four states using an antiquated system that allows a trade group of industry insiders, called the NCCI to have a formal role in setting workers comp rates, Chait wrote in the publication.NCCI files just one set of rates to be used by all insurance carriers, virtually eliminating market competition.The NCCI said the reason Florida is one of a handful of states that only accepts fully formed rates, including lost costs and expenses, is historical.The national researcher, however, also stated Chaits comments indicated he may not fully understand the situation.We operate in one of the most, if not the most, transparent states in the country for the workers comp line, Susan Donegan, the chief regulatory services officer at the NCCI said.Perhaps, he just doesnt understand the level of scrutiny, not only the process undergoes, but the kind of notice, hearing, public examination that happens during the rate process.Donegan said every rate and rule filing is available to the public, and there are open forum rate hearings where members of the public can speak and question the rate.Chait also wrote in his column that they (businesses) cant even get a break on their premiums by improving workplace safety. This is a seriously flawed system.Donegan again directly contradicted Chait.There are certainly discountssafety programs and training and ways to reduce risk is good for a business and a carrier because that impacts the rate, it makes a better rate, Donegan said.When youve got fewer claims and severity is lower, that data will ultimately flow through to what we collect. This is actually the 100anniversary of Rutherfoord, which started in Roanoke, Virginia. We have third- and fourth-generation descendants of the founders still involved in leadership and working in the business today. By the time we sold to Marsh & McLennan Agency [MMA] in March 2010, Rutherfoord was an $81 million diversified broker, operating from nine locations in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. We even had an international operation.Rutherfoord was the third acquisition by MMA. Today, MMA has over 4,000 colleagues operating from more than 70 locations throughout the United States. The Rutherfoord acquisition in 2010 actually created what is called the Mid-Atlantic hub, which today is a partnership of 10 agencies with over 600 employees generating over $150 million from 17 locations.This is a strategic initiative and strong area of focus for us. It is something we are very passionate about. We not only want to attract new talent, but we also want to develop and retain the talent we have.We launched a new program called GROW, which stands for Growth in Relationships and Opportunities for our Workforce. A large part of the initiative is a mentoring program where individuals are paired with mentors so they can grow their careers. There are also two key focus areas within GROW our Womens Initiative and Rising Professionals.We also have a well-being program in place, which focuses our colleagues on five key areas: career well-being, social wellbeing, financial well-being, physical wellbeing and community well-being. As we move our organization forward, we try to ensure there are initiatives and learning activities under each of these key areas so that our colleagues are truly focusing on their overall well-being. We believe if we take care of our colleagues and they take care of themselves, they will take care of our clients, and that is very important to us.Collectively as a company, we all participate in the United Way campaign. Another effort occurs every Friday called Jeans for Charity. Our colleagues nominate charities and can pay to wear jeans on Fridays.The proceeds go to a different charity every week. Each office has a charitable giving committee that puts together a calendar stating which organization will benefit each week. Our company also provides eight hours of community service time off to further encourage community involvement.The middle market is different from jumbo companies. The owners are sophisticated buyers, but they typically dont have a risk management staff, and that means they dont have the resources that jumbo companies have internally. They cant necessarily do all the data analytics with all the technology and tools needed to support their own analysis of their various insurance programs, whether its benefits or insurance and risk management.One of the big advantages of MMA is that we have built and invested in the people and the technologies and processes to deliver these analytics and technological tools to a middle-market buyer who expects a lot of information and data and wants to make informed decisions but cant afford the people or resources to do it on their own.I think that is spot on. The key point is that middle-market employers have every desire to manage their insurance programs effectively and really appreciate having the tools and resources that have historically only been available to jumbo accounts.Our agency model allows our team members to grab anything that is deployed in the jumbo sector and apply it to these middle-market companies, if itll help them manage their business. That in itself is significantly unique and empowers MMA colleagues to deliver optimal results for their customers.Our vision is to be a world-class leader in our industry, revolutionizing our clients experiences. We all focus on passionately delivering value-added services to our clients and providing world-class resources with a local touch. Developing our colleagues and serving our carrier partners and communities is our mission. Those relationships are incredibly important to us. The group worked on the new home during the Martin Luther King Day of Service. BCC President Ellen Kennedy. Dean Todd. State Sen. Adam Hinds. Chris Newhard and Alex Agliliga Benjamin Gips. PreviousNext Dozens Help Central Berkshire Habitat For Humanity On MLK Day of Service The volunteers handled an array of duties while working at 5 Hall Place. PITTSFIELD, Mass. More than 25 volunteers came out in the early morning hours Monday to help Habitat for Humanity get a new home ready for a local family. Ellen Kennedy, president of Berkshire Community College, arrived at the 5 Hall Place home with more than a dozen students and area residents to help clean and prep walls, floors and ceilings for painting and move building materials in the back yard to make way for Spring cleanup. Later in the morning, the newest state Sen. Adam Hinds joined the effort and took on cleaning duty, simultaneously answering questions on the minds of volunteers. Three Williams College students who are interning at Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity during the month of January with a program through the career center, gave up their day off to volunteer and painted closets and cleaned. Benjamin Gips, who grew up volunteering, was wearing his "Day on, not a day off" Day of Service t-shirt, wanted to do something productive and make a positive impact. Alejandra Patlan, is studying psychology and interested in a career in a nonprofit, while Chrisleine Temple is concentrating on public interest law are both dedicated to serving others. Chris Newhard and Alex Agliliga came from the Albany area to volunteer with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity because of lack of hands-on community service opportunities in New York State. Roslyn Broch, Interim Coordinator of Service-Learning at Berkshire Community College brought high energy enthusiasm to the day's project indicating the group would be interested in coming back to the building site which will continue construction in the coming months. CBHFH is also now accepting applications for another family to become homeowners. The efforts were part of the Martin Luther King Day of Service, in which dozens of residents throughout the county volunteered to help the community. Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program is looking for people who have the desire and commitment to becoming homeowners. For more information, call Libby Boissy, AmeriCorps National Family Services Coordinator at (413) 442-3181 or stop by the office at 314 Columbus Avenue. Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization that builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Founded in 1992, Central Berkshire Habitat is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Williams College is looking for 'books' for its upcoming Human Library event. Berkshires Beat: Human Library at Williams Seeks 'Books' Only human: Williams College is seeking "books" for its sixth annual Human Library, taking place on Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Paresky Center. Founded in 2001 in Denmark, The Human Library project aims to "promote human rights and social cohesion create greater understanding between people and provide a safe space where people can learn more about each other and work through stereotypes and discrimination present in our community in order to ultimately forge new connections between people." The Human Library event has been held at Williams annually since 2012. A Human Library has "books" and "readers," all of whom are, as the name suggests, human. Each book volunteers to share a personal story about a topic related to stereotypes and discrimination. Readers "check out" books with titles such as "Buddhist," "Growing up in the Jim Crow South," "Interracial Family" or "Recovering Alcoholic," for 30 minutes and participates in a one-on-one conversation about the books life and experiences. The book can also ask questions of the reader, prompting further discussion about shared experiences and differing perspectives. To engage in these discussions, each reader must sign a form agreeing to respect each book. Individuals with stories they would like to share are encouraged to volunteer. To volunteer as a book, fill out the Become a Book form online no later than Feb. 1. All for UNO: The UNO Community Center, located at 157 River St. in North Adams, is offering two new programs. The first is "4-H Wacky STEM Club," which is a free after-school group and will focus on interesting and interactive science experiments, as well as other great academic-based programming from the 4-H curriculum. The group will meet every other Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and will begin on Tuesday, January 24. Contact Geoff Pawlowski to register at 413-663-7588, ext. 22, or gpawlowski@nbccoalition.org. The second program offers free after-school tutoring for students grades four through eight. The program provides tutoring, homework assistance, creative activities, computer access and healthy snacks. Tutoring will be held Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and will be held throughout the remainder of the school year. Registration is not required for this program. Giving thanks: Clarksburg V.F.W. Post 9144 distributed its annual donations to several groups during its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in December. Monetary donations were given to Clarksburg eighth grade trip, Clarksburg Library, Clarksburg Fire Department, Clarksburg Playground Fund , Clarksburg School Bulletin Board Fund, Clarksburg Senior Center, Clarksburg School Band Pop's Care Cancer Fund and Friendship Food Pantry in North Adams. These donations are made possible by Peter Cook VFW Post 9144 fundraisers through the year. Checks were presented by Commander Ray Vachereau, Junior Vice Commander Ed Denault and Quartermaster Joe Bushika. Donations totaled more than $3,000. The write stuff: The Pittsfield Office of Cultural Development announces the release of The Mastheads writers' residency application. The inaugural month-long residency will take place in July and feature five writers. The studios are open-air and rustic in their amenities. They include electricity, and are each located within 300 feet walking distance from a host institution where restrooms are available. Go online to apply. The deadline is Feb. 15. Be counted: The 2017 annual census forms have been mailed. The census is mandated by Massachusetts General Law and is valuable to have a current and correct residential count. The population count is important to the Town to apply for state and federals aids and grants. Residents are asked to review, correct if necessary, sign and return to the Town Clerk's office in the provided envelope. Please make sure all who reside at the address who are not listed on the form are added with all pertinent information; this would include dependent children. Census returns may be mailed or dropped off at Town Hall. The form cannot be used to register to vote or to change party enrollment. Change in channels: Pittsfield Community Television's three community access channels were reassigned for local viewers who use "cable-ready" televisions to plug directly into their cable. Relocated from Channels 116-1, 116-2 and 116-3, Pittsfield Community Television may now be found on Channels 19-1, 19-2 and 19-3. In order for viewers to continue to tune into their local programming, they will need to reprogram their televisions. This is usually done through the menu button on their remote control, navigating to the section called "Antenna" or "Channels," and then selecting "Auto Program." This will allow cable-ready TVs to "find" all the channels that are available on cable, including the three PCTV channels. Viewers with cable boxes or smaller digital television adapters ("DTAs") are unaffected by this change; they will continue to see the channels on 16, 17 and 18. PCTV's primary concern is that every cable subscriber in Pittsfield, no matter what level of service they pay for and receive, should continue to receive their PEG access channels. If for some reason viewers have difficulty receiving these channels, please contact PCTV via phone at 413-445-4234, via email at info@pittsfieldtv.org, or on Facebook. Page Content ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu participated in the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos last week, contributing ICAO and aviation sector perspectives to panel discussions on the Future of Travel and the Roadmap to Clean Mobility. Dr. Liu was invited to join the inaugural WEF Board of Stewards meeting on the Shaping the Future of Mobility System Initiative, the objective of which was to accelerate the transformation to a clean, safe, secure, inclusive and smart global mobility system. ICAO perspectives were well reflected in the Boards recommendations on the design and implementation of a pilot trusted-traveller programme, one which would employ technology-based security solutions based on harmonized international standards and integrated digital identity principles. Regarding mobility, technology and employment challenges, the Board recommended integrating the unique skills requirements among various segments of mobility (e.g., advanced skilled trades and technicians in aerospace sector) to broader WEF skills and employment objectives. On the topic of clean mobility, the Davos Stewards Board specifically referenced the ICAO CORSIA agreement as a benchmark for further mobility climate initiatives globally. In collaboration with World Economic Forum Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution in San Francisco, the Board made further recommendations on convening public and private executives to explore the use of civil drones and new air transport modes, linked with the optimization of the current airspace (ATM systems), and a public-private workshop on global and regional aerospace certification processes for materials, drones and aircraft. It also recommended exploring improvements to the global supply chain through emerging technologies to address issues of speed, inconsistency in border services, excess costs and lack of visibility. The 2017 Davos World Economic Forum took place from 17-20 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. First everyone was mocking the size of his small... hands. Now they're mocking the size of the small turnout for his bleak inauguration. And this morning, on day two of the Age of Trump,viewers sat around pondering the relationship between "alternative facts" and lies. Trump and his sad-sack paid propagandists can claim there were a million or a million and a half people at his inauguration all they want but that won't make the pictures go away. Glaslighting generally doesn't work as well on people with 3 digit IQs as it does on Trump voters. And, as David Frum put it this morning , "the alt-right administration brings you the alt-fact." At least Kellyanne Con-Man admitted on ABC'sthis morning that presidents are not judged by "the crowd sizes at their inauguration; they're judged by their accomplishments." Trump's very first accomplishment, as we noted in real time , was to go immediately from reading Bannon's nice little phrase how "Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families" to signing an order to cancel a fee cut on mortgage costs for first-time and low-income home buyers, a move the National Association of Realtors predicted would result in pricing 40,000 would-be homebuyers out of the market in 2017 alone-- 40,000 families that won't be buying furniture made in North Carolina, carpets made Pennsylvania, refrigerators made in Ohio or the grills, toasters, griddles, popcorn makers and convection ovens made by Star Manufacturing mad in Missouri. All those Trumpanzee voters... This morning'stried helping its readers decals with the fact that the White House is now the country's biggest source of Fake News . Four more years to go. President Trump used his first full day in office on Saturday to unleash a remarkably bitter attack on the news media, falsely accusing journalists of both inventing a rift between him and intelligence agencies and deliberately understating the size of his inauguration crowd. In a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency intended to showcase his support for the intelligence community, Mr. Trump ignored his own repeated public statements criticizing the intelligence community, a group he compared to Nazis just over a week ago. He also called journalists among the most dishonest human beings on earth, and he said that up to 1.5 million people had attended his inauguration, a claim that photographs disproved. Later, at the White House, he dispatched Sean Spicer, the press secretary, to the briefing room in the West Wing, where Mr. Spicer scolded reporters and made a series of false statements. He said news organizations had deliberately misstated the size of the crowd at Mr. Trumps inauguration on Friday in an attempt to sow divisions at a time when Mr. Trump was trying to unify the country, warning that the new administration would hold them to account. The statements from the new president and his spokesman came as hundreds of thousands of people protested against Mr. Trump, a crowd that appeared to dwarf the one that gathered the day before when he was sworn in. It was a striking display of invective and grievance at the dawn of a presidency, usually a time when the White House works to set a tone of national unity and to build confidence in a new leader. Instead, the president and his team appeared embattled and defensive, signaling that the pugnacious style Mr. Trump employed as a candidate will persist now that he has ascended to the nations highest office. ...Trump also took issue with news reports about the number of people who attended his inauguration, complaining that the news media used photographs of an empty field to make it seem as if his inauguration did not draw many people. We caught them in a beauty, Mr. Trump said of the news media, and I think theyre going to pay a big price. Mr. Spicer said that Mr. Trump had drawn the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, a statement that photographs clearly show to be false. Mr. Spicer said photographs of the inaugural ceremonies were deliberately framed to minimize the enormous support that had gathered on the National Mall, although he provided no proof of either assertion. Photographs of Barack Obamas inauguration in 2009 and of Mr. Trumps plainly showed that the crowd on Friday was significantly smaller, but Mr. Spicer attributed that disparity to new white ground coverings he said had caused empty areas to stand out and to security measures that had blocked people from entering the Mall. ...And he incorrectly claimed that ridership on Washingtons subway system was higher than on Inauguration Day in 2013. In reality, there were 782,000 riders that year, compared with 571,000 riders this year, according to figures from the Washington-area transit authority. Mr. Spicer also said that security measures had been extended farther down the National Mall this year, preventing hundreds of thousands of people from viewing the ceremony. But the Secret Service said the measures were largely unchanged this year, and there were few reports of long lines or delays. Commentary about the size of his inauguration crowd made Mr. Trump increasingly angry on Friday, according to several people familiar with his thinking. On Saturday, Mr. Trump told his advisers that he wanted to push back hard on dishonest media coverage-- mostly referring to a Twitter post from a New York Times reporter showing side-by-side frames of Mr. Trumps crowd and Mr. Obamas in 2009. But most of Mr. Trumps advisers urged him to focus on the responsibilities of his office during his first full day as president. However, in his remarks at the C.I.A., he wandered off topic several times, at various points telling the crowd he felt no older than 39 (he is 70); reassuring anyone who questioned his intelligence by saying, Im, like, a smart person; and musing out loud about how many intelligence workers backed his candidacy. ...He has left the strong impression that he doesnt trust the intelligence community and that he doesnt have tremendous regard for their work, Mark M. Lowenthal, a retired C.I.A. analyst, said of Mr. Trump. The obvious thing to do is to counter that by saying, I value you. I look forward to working with you. He called them Nazis, Mr. Lowenthal added, referring to Mr. Trumps characterization of the intelligence community. Mr. Lowenthal said Saturdays visit should have been a stroking expedition. Eric Bauman is the chairman of the L.A. County Democratic Party and the state Democratic Party's Vice Chairman. Late yesterday, he caused the California party go haywire by publicly requesting that Party Chair John Burton call a special meeting to consider a state party endorsement for DNC chairman. In the incredible well-crafted letter below, Bauman laid out all his reasons for backing Keith Ellison. This comes right on top of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's ill-timed endorsement, just after dinner with Obama in Palm Springs, of the establishment pick: former Labor Secretary Tom Perez. Big misstep for Garcetti! With speculation about Garcetti running for governor going from a whisper to a scream , the fight over DNC chair can easily become a crucial intra-party issue for California Democrats. Bauman's letter: Fellow Democrats, I just got off the phone with Congressman Keith Ellison to let him know that I am proud to endorse him for Chair of the Democratic National Committee. Ellison is an extraordinary candidate to be the next Chair of the DNC, and I believe the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in require extraordinary measures. That is why I call upon California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton to call a special one-day meeting so that we can consider, and potentially endorse, a candidate for Chair of the DNC. We have an impressive array of candidates, each of whom bring needed strengths and perspectives as we rebuild the Democratic Party. I considered each candidate carefully, and have come to the conclusion that Congressman Keith Ellison is the right choice to lead us forward. My decision became ever so clear as I watched the clock count down the last moments of the Obama Presidency and recognized the sorrow I felt that our country will no longer have the hope that he provided to remind us of the potential that we have as a nation, and as I regained a little of that hope yesterday as millions of us took to the streets in protest. With this incoming era, it is not enough to be anti-Trump. It is not enough to point out the horrible policies of the racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, homophobic, incoming Administration. At this time, we need a leader at the national level who can unite our Party behind a truly progressive agenda and maintain the enthusiasm and passion of newly mobilized activists across our country. We are fortunate here in California to have a strong Democratic Party that is at the forefront of the fight for progressive policies. We have won every statewide race two cycles running, and even against last year's backdrop that was the Republican takeover across the country, California Democrats held every Congressional seat and even picked-up seats in our state legislature. But winning races is not the end goal-- these victories will enable California to continue to be a national leader on immigration, the environment, workers rights, criminal justice reform, supporting the middle-class, reducing poverty, ensuring fair taxation, and maintaining our commitment to the health and education of all of our people. The successes of the Democratic Party in California are a roadmap back to power for Democrats nationally. And Congressman Keith Ellison understands this dynamic. That is why one of his first official trips as a candidate for Chair was to the CDP Executive Board Meeting in San Diego last November. Our General Session was delighted to hear him deliver a powerful and impressive speech, and I personally had the chance to sit down with him for over an hour one-on-one to discuss how to move our Party forward. We discussed our backgrounds and our views on the challenges ahead. We discussed what kind of relationship he envisioned having with the State Parties across the country, and I impressed upon him my belief of the imperative need for a 50 State Strategy. For those of you who have been following the race, you know that he doesn't just have a 50 State Strategy, he has a 3,143 county strategy! Well, as someone who has worked in the trenches of the Democratic Party at the grassroots level as the Chair of a County Democratic Party for the last 16 years, and as a Democratic Club President for 7 years prior to that, I feel like that's almost reason enough to support him right there. Representative Ellison shares my belief that the power and the passion of our Party lies in the hands of our activists and volunteers. Only the most successful DNC Chairs we have seen understand why we dedicate our lives to the fight and keep in mind who we're fighting for. But there is one more reason I would like to share with you. Congressman Ellison is committed to making sure all of us have a place in the Democratic Party. He will be a Chair for all of us-- from veteran delegates first inspired by the presidential campaigns of John and Robert Kennedy to the energetic and enthusiastic new activists mobilized by the recent campaign of Bernie Sanders. I must admit I had concerns about media reports that attempted to create controversy and division amongst us about Congressman Ellison, most notably on his support for Israel, Palestine and the two-state solution, and for past relationships from his youth. But in my meeting with him and in follow-up calls over the last few weeks, he assured me in unequivocal terms that he supports the two-state solution, and has proven that he will be forceful and aggressive in pushing back against media distortions and attempts to create disunity within our Party. Right now what we need is to be united in the important work in front of us: resisting Trump and demanding a progressive way forward for the future. At the conclusion of our meeting, he and I stood together and hugged, me as a stoutly observant Jewish man, and he as a deeply religious Muslim man-- agreeing that the path to peace in the Middle East requires Jews and Muslims to be able to live side-by-side in peace, with their respective sovereignty. We both understand that only a perspective that embraces and lifts up all that is good in our world, and rejects the anger and hate tearing us apart, is able to one day bring an end to the pain and suffering gripping the region. I believe it's imperative that California Democrats unite to make our progressive voices heard-- and we must do so in a way that makes DNC members throughout the country take notice of our call to action. I ask you to join me in my call to Chairman Burton to request a special one-day endorsement meeting, and I sincerely hope you will join me in supporting Congressman Keith Ellison for Chair of the Democratic National Committee. The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers. To unlock this article: _______________________________ IF DINOS CONSTANTINIDESS life was made into a film, it would open with cctv footage dated July 14, 2014, 3.53am. This was the moment a still bar in the dead of the Nicosia night exploded into an inferno. The flames would fade out and, their significance unexplained, the timeline would jump back 10 years, to a 22-year-old student working shifts in a Cyprus bar. In 2004, Constantinides was studying e-business at Westminster university in London but bartended on his holidays back home in Cyprus. Constantinides had had no bar experience but, ever one for self-improvement, enlisted with the likes of shaker company in London to learn the classics, moving on to advanced training. He might not have known it then, but this marriage of bartending and business would form the foundation of his career. Once graduated, Constantinides faced a fork in the road. To either work behind a desk in Cyprus or follow his passion. He chose the latter and, upon returning to Nicosia, armed with his new skills, became known as the cocktail guy. He worked from bar to bar, creating menus and by 2008 started his own mobile cocktail service business. Constantinides was offering high-end drinks in the country of Ayia Napa, during a recession. To say the market wasnt ready is putting it mildly. Business was slow, but at one party he impressed his host, Theo Middleton, who saw something in Constantinides and pledged to invest. Middleton, partner Yiannis Gavrielides and Constantinides decided to open a bar school, found a premises, refurbished it with help from family and friends and by 2012 opened for business. The next day after opening the school, two major Cyprus banks went bankrupt we didnt know what would happen, says Constantinides. Indeed, Cyprus was in a state of economic emergency. Suddenly a cocktail school in a country that doesnt have a cocktail culture didnt seem so lucrative. we knew we had to find a new revenue stream or leave Cyprus, says Constantinides. The big idea was to turn the school into a bar, his school team into his bar team. It took eight months from inception to opening. The bar school was converted furnished with the kind of things you might find in a Lost & Found office, but with splashes of luxury, such as the copper bar top. It was an ambitious project but Constantinides had a clear vision. There had to be attention to detail in all areas quality of ice, glassware, cocktail-making techniques, spirits selection, service consistency and hospitality. In october 2013 the bar opened and sold 41,000 cocktails in its first year. Heads turned in Cyprus. I got the phone call from the police at 5am, says Constantinides, recalling the moment he found out his bar had been burned down. The cctv revealed an arson attack, one of a spate in nicosia at the time. The rumours were that it was the work of underworld figures but no one was found to be responsible. His business in ashes, Constantinides had only bought insurance on a hunch a month before. But still, he was only covered for 70% of the value of the contents, and not for loss of business while he rebuilt. Despite the smoke-damaged ruin, with the help of friends, family, business partners and even customers, it took just one month to reopen. The rest is history the good sort. In 2015 lost + found was the first bar from Cyprus to be voted by the drinks industry as one of the worlds 50 best bars. A year later it repeated the feat. Constantinides driven, business-savvy and forever optimistic believes in finding opportunity in misfortune. whatever happens, you can turn it to your favour, he says. we had the team, product, atmosphere, and now we had the story. I used the story to turn the bar industrys eyes on to us. This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free 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 The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hollywood just can't leave well alone. Despite attempting to bring superhero Green Lantern to the big screen - something Ryan Reynolds himself deemed a bit of a failure - the studio's set to give the DC character another go and have just revealed the shortlist of actors they want to play the role. According to The Wrap, top of the list to play Hal Jordan in Green Lantern Corps is none other than Mission: Impossible actor Tom Cruise. Also on the list are Joel McHale, Bradley Cooper, Armie Hammer and Jake Gyllenhaal. It seems the studio are hopeful they could coax Reynolds back to the role considering the same thing happened with his character Deadpool; following his disappointing initial appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Reynolds was granted the opportunity to bring the character to life in his own R-rated film - it was a critical and commercial smash. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Show all 34 1 /34 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 1. Captain America: Civil War Release date: 6 May 2016. Iron Man and Captain America are set to face off in this superhero blockbuster that will feature nearly all the Avengers but wont be an Avengers film. It will also mark the first time Spider-Man will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony having made a deal with Marvel Studios. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 2. X-Men: Apocalypse Release date: 27 May 2016. Following the success of Days of Future Past, Apocalypse will follow the young X-Men team as the battle against Oscar Isaacs titular villain as he gathers his four horsemen; Magneto (Fassbender), Angel (Hardy), Storm (Shipp), and Psylocke (Munn). Expect carnage and no Wolverine. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 3. Suicide Squad Release date: 5 August 2016. The first supervillain film, Suicide Squad is also based in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe, where Batman and Superman live) and will introduce the world to Margot Robbies Harley Quinn and Jared Letos Joker. One of the more exciting upcoming DC films thats for sure. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 4. Doctor Strange Release date: 4 November 2016. Benedict Cumberbatch will debut in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Captain America and Iron Man live) as the Sorcerer Supreme. The film already has an incredible cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachael McAdams and Tilda Swinton. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 5. Untitled Lego Batman film Release date: 20 February 2017. Kicking off 2017 is the Lego version of Batman, who will lead his own spin-off, having already featured in the amazing Lego Movie. Will Arnett voices the titular character, while Zach Garfianakis - from the Hangover - will voice The Joker. But will he better than Leto? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 6. Untitled Wolverine film Release date: 3 March 2017. Having not starred in X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine will return to the big screen in a solo film which was recently made R-Rated following the success of Deadpool. It is expected to be Hugh Jackmans last outing as the titular character. Fox 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release date: 5 May 2017. Chris Pratt and the crew are returning to space in the sequel to the surprisingly successful Guardians of the Galaxy. According to director James Gunn, the film will not feature Thanos, even though he will to play a major role in phase MCU Phase 3. Cast includes newcomers Kurt Russell and Pom Klementieff, as well as, rumour has it, Sylvester Stallone. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 8. Wonder Woman Release date: 23 June 2017. Gal Gadot is returning to the DCEU in her very own film, marking the first female-led superhero film on this list. Chris Pine is on board to play Wonder Womans love interest. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 9. Untitled Spider-Man reboot Release date: 7 July 2017. Yes, it is another Spider-Man reboot, having previously been redone with Andrew Garfield as the lead. However, this time it is part of the MCU, with Tom Holland as the titular character, and a heavily rumoured cameo by Iron Man could be in the pipeline. We can dream. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 10. Untitled Fox film Release date: 6 October 2017. In a strange announcement, Fox decided to withhold the release of Gambit until a future, as-yet unannounced date, which could be here, or this could be a completely separate project. Many suspect Deadpool 2 could nicely fit here, Fox capitalising on the success of the first film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 11. Thor: Ragnarok Release date: 3 November 2017. Chris Hemsworth will be returning as the Norse God in his third solo MCU film. Flight of the Conchords Taika Waititi is on board to direct, and promises a fun adventure that will likely lead into Marvels next project, Infinity War. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 12. Justice League Part One Release date: 17 November 2017. Hot on the heals of Thor comes Justice League Part One, the first DCEU team-up flick which will see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg work together to fight bad guys. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 13: Untitled Fox film Release date: 12 January 2018. Kicking off 2018 will likely be the second Deadpool film, but then again, this could very well be another X-Men team-up. Theres also talk of an X-Force film, with Deadpool and other mutants teaming up to fight evil. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 14. Black Panther Release date: 16 February 2018. The first non-white male-led superhero film in the MCU comes in the form of Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman reprising the titular role, having also starred as the Panther in Civil War. Creeds Ryan Coogler is on to direct what could be a very exciting film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 15. The Flash Release date: 16 March 2018. The Flash will be the first DCEU film since Justice League, and sees Ezra Miller take the lead. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were supposed to pen the film before Disney snapped them up for the Han Solo-film, leaving Seth Grahame-Smith to take charge. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 16. Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 Release date: 4 May 2018. And so, we finally get to the point of all these Infinity Stones! Thanos will be the big bad, with the Avengers needing to team up to defeat their biggest foe yet. It has previously been described as the end of the Avengers as we know it. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 17. Ant-Man and The Wasp Release date: 6 July 2018. Peyton Reed will be back to direct this surprise sequel to one of the better received MCU films. While the name is ridiculous, at least Marvel are finally having a leading female superhero. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 18. Untitled Fox film Release date: 13 July 2018. Again, not much word on this one except it is thought to be X-Men spin-off New Mutants, something Josh Boone has been hit up to write. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 19. Animated Spider-Man Film Release date: 20 July 2018. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Amy Pascal - the team behind the live-action Spider-Man films - are producing this unrelated animated adaptation of the hero. Because you can never have too much Spider-Man, right? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 20. Aquaman Release date: 27 July 2018. Another Justice League spin-off, Jason Momoa plays the leading man. Furious 7s James Wan is on to direct, but little else is known about the film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 21. Captain Marvel Release date: 8 March 2019. Weve hit 2019, and the first confirmed superhero film will be the first proper female-led MCU film. No-one is confirmed to be in the titular role of Carol Danvers just yet. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 22. Shazam Release date: 5 April 2019. Dwayne Johnson stars as the villain in this DCEU film which will be somewhat separate to the other DC films. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 23. Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. Release date: 3 May 2019. The conclusion to the long drawn MCU saga. Expect a big finish with at least a few planets being destroyed. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 24. Justice League Part Two Release date: 14 June 2019. Soon after the Infinity War story reaches its conclusion, so will the Justice Leagues. Not much is known, except Darkseid will likely be the villain for at least one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 25. Inhumans Release date: 12 July 2019. The concept of Inhumans (or Marvels mutants) has already been introduced in TV, through Marvels Agents of Shield, yet the film is expected to introduce the Royal Family who have yet to be seen in the show. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 26. Cyborg Release date: 3 April 2020. Having debuted in Justice League Part One three years previously, Cyborg will finally be making his own outing, with Ray Fisher as the titular character. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 27. Untitled MCU film Release date: 1 May 2020. The first of three untitled Marvel films. There are a couple of contenders, the first is a likely sequel to Spider-Man with Sony, or a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, thus finishing the trilogy. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 28. Green Lantern Corps. Release date: 19 June 2020. Before you start to worry, this has nothing to do with the Ryan Reynolds-starring flick that hit cinemas a little while ago. Instead, this will be another DCEU film that will likely spin-off from Justice League after the Green Lantern Corps cameo in one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 29. Untitled MCU film Release date: 10 July 2020. As well as Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, a Doctor Strange or Black Panther one could fit in nicely here. Or perhaps Black Widow may finally get the solo-film she deserves. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 30. Untitled MCU film Release date: 6 November 2020. Some speculators also think a Blade film could fit in here, marking over 20 years since the first Blade. But many believe the character may be better suited to a Netflix series, as with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Theres also talk of a Runaways film reaching cinemas at some stage. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 31. Untitled Ben Affleck Batman film Release date: TBA. Now were onto the TBA release dates, the first of which is a Batman solo film, written and directed by Ben Affleck. When this is due, no one is quite sure but expect it sooner rather than later if Batman v Superman is a success. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 32. Suicide Squad 2 Release date: TBA (rumoured 2017). A sequel to Suicide Squad is expected to come in 2017 according to recent reports, but nothing has been confirmed. If the first is successful, it should come as no surprise for Warner Bros to rearrange their schedule to fit in this surefire hit. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33. Venom Release date: TBA. This is an odd one, as it has been confirmed Sony are wanting to release a Venom film completely unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. Venom, as you may know, is a Spider-Man villain, intrinsically linked to Spider-Man, so it seems odd they would release a film unrelated to the rebooted project and not linked to the MCU. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Anything else? Well, now you mention it, theres also that sequel to Fantastic Four that has seemingly been dropped by Fox. Plus, theres the Gambit film which has been put on hold (but will likely fill an untitled Fox slot so we havent added it extra). Then again, it could be shoehorned in somehow Marvel Cooper was originally primed to play Jordan in the 2011 film before the role went to Reynolds. He currently voices Rocket Raccoon in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Cruise will next be seen heading up The Mummy remake, an attempt at beginning a successful Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe including Wolf Man, Van Helsing and Bride of Frankenstein. There is no word on when Green Lantern Corps - which expected to be released in 2020 - will begin shooting so don't go expecting casting news anytime soon. The film will tell the story of a group of humans who join the titular interstellar police force that protects the universe. Who knows, maybe more than one of the above names will be cast. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free 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 The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} While Russia is busy increasing its land mass through annexation and President Trump plots building walls to protect Americas, Norway is trying to actually give away some of its territory. For a while now, plans have been building to gift Finland a mountaintop as part of its 100 years of independence celebrations. I got the idea back in 1972 when I did a gravity survey in the border area, Bjrn Geirr Harsson, a retired Norwegian geophysicist, said in a new film about the proposed gift, Battle for Birthday Mountain. I saw that the highest point in Finland was on a hillside and for Norway on a mountain, so I wrote a letter to the foreign ministry and proposed that a gift from the Norwegian people to Finland should be a mountaintop. There is no real reason or need for the gift, but thats kind of the point. All over the world you find countries that fight or make war to enlarge their countries, but in this case Norway is willing to give away a small part without anyone asking for anything return, Geirr Harsson added. It is a gift from the heart of the Norwegians to Finland so we dont expect anything back; we just want to give them something really nice when they celebrate 100 years as a free nation. Svein Oddvar Leiros, mayor of the municipality of Kafjord where the mountaintop is located, is all for the idea and hopes that it might be an example for other countries that are battling over national borders. The border alteration would only encroach 31 metres into Norwegian land and most residents seem to like the idea it is only a few politicians holding up proceedings with debates about its constitutional repercussions. The Norway-Finland border skirts 'Birthday Mountain' (MEL Films) On the surface, this is a cute film about a very unique kind of gift between nations. But at its heart is something real and relevant, David Freid, director of Battle for Birthday Mountain, told The Local. While we witness the rising tumult along international borders from Ukraine and Russia, to the South China Sea, to Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico the idea behind Birthday Mountain is a rare international gesture worth admiring. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up The Norwegian prime minister welcomed the idea and sees it as "a clear sign that Norway and Finland have a close relationship" but says it contravenes Article 1 of Norways constitution which states the kingdom of Norway is indivisible and inalienable. This rejection in October 2016 is mentioned in the film and Geirr Harsson says he will not be backing down, hoping that the documentary might create a swell of support that the government can't ignore. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free 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 Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Killers have been announced as the final headline act for BST 2017, along with a huge line-up of support acts. The band will perform on Saturday 8 July in what is set to be their only UK festival date of 2017. They will be supported by Elbow, White Lies, and Tears for Fears (who are a huge influence on The Killlers) in the latter's first London gig in 12 years. The Killers join fellow headliners Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Kings of Leon, Green Day, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Got sweaty palms already? Check out our handy tips for dealing with the demand: 1) Make sure you are ready and waiting with the web page up at least five minutes before 9am. 2) Do not let your computer, phone or whatever device holds the key to your happiness run out of battery. 3) Register your details with the website you are booking from in advance, if you can, but dont panic if you havent left enough time as your tickets will be held while you fill out your information 4) Check how many tickets you are allowed to buy in one purchase. If you try to buy more than the limited number, your booking may be cancelled without notice, meaning no-one gets to go. 5) Get your friends to try too, but stay in contact in case you all succeed and end up with a bunch of tickets you didnt want. If you do need to sell any on, do so at face value. No-one likes a tout. 6) Be patient and avoid refreshing or switching between browsers. Stick with one tab and have some faith! Be prepared to wait for an hour to get tickets Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free 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 Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jaki Liebezeit, the drummer and founding member of krautrock band CAN, has died aged 78. CAN was formed in west Germany in 1968 and is regarded as one of the most influential krautrock bands of all time. The band confirmed his death in a post on their official Facebook page late on Sunday GMT. "It is with great sadness we have to announce that Jaki passed away this morning from sudden pneumonia," the unsigned post read. "He fell asleep peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. We will miss him hugely." English musician, original Public Image Ltd bassist and Liebezeit collaborator Jah Wobble paid tribute to him on Twitter. "Absolutely gutted to hear my dear friend Jaki Liebezeit has passed. Wonderful person and best European drummer. King of Saxony lebewohl!!!" he wrote. Liebezeit appeared on Brian Eno's Before and After Science in the 70s, and on solo records by Neu!'s Michael Rother, along with collaborations with Depeche Mode and Eurythmics. He recorded with CAN for all of the band's studio albums, performing with the band throughout his life. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Scientists have created what they say is a vaccine against the kind of fake and hyper-partisan news that is spreading quickly across Facebook. The researchers claim that by showing people lies, they can teach them to better see the truth. The solution works in a similar way to a real vaccine exposing people to a small amount of the problem to help them better respond to larger amounts of it. The solution could help social networks and news organisations battle against fake news, which has been credited with helping the vote for both Brexit and for Donald Trump. The study claims that if people are shown well-established facts about climate change and then lies about it, the latter will cancel out the former. But if the correct information is combined with a small "dose" of misinformation then it will have less resonance, according to the study. 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 Giving people a small piece of the data helps "inoculate" them against the kinds of tactics that people use to spread fake information and use it to political ends. Lead author Dr Sander van der Linden, from the University of Cambridge, said: "Misinformation can be sticky, spreading and replicating like a virus. "We wanted to see if we could find a 'vaccine' by pre-emptively exposing people to a small amount of the type of misinformation they might experience. A warning that helps preserve the facts. Recommended Fake news handed Brexiteers the referendum "The idea is to provide a cognitive repertoire that helps build up resistance to misinformation, so the next time people come across it they are less susceptible." A disguised experiment presented more than 2,000 US residents from a diverse range of backgrounds with two claims about global warming. The first was that the scientific community was rigidly divided over climate change; with one website alleging "over 31,000" scientists agreed there was no credence the phenomenon was accelerated by human CO2 release. Also shown was the accurate statement that "97% of scientists agree on man-made climate change". Participants were asked to guess the percentage of scientific consensus on the issue, with those shown the fact estimating agreement was around 90%, while those exposed to the myth around 63%. This was a jump of 20 percentage points (from 71%) in opinion difference based on what was believed beforehand among those who heard the scientific fact and a dip of nine percentage points (from 72%) on the opposite side. In a group shown both claims consecutively, however, there was barely any shift from what was thought by participants initially (a drop of 0.5% to 73%) - suggesting the myth neutralised the lie. A pair of groups were then shown the scientifically-supported fact, but with a caveat. One heard simply that "some politically-motivated groups use misleading tactics to try and convince the public that there is a lot of disagreement among scientists" while the other had the specific myth analysed. They were then presented with the misinformation. Despite exposure to fake facts, a jump in the direction of the true figure still followed - up 6.5 percentage points, to 80%, among the former group and up nearly 13 percentage points, to 84%, with the latter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 will not launch at technology tradeshow Mobile World Congress next month. The company has officially confirmed that Galaxy Note 7 handsets caught fire because of a range of battery issues, and says it will now focus on regaining consumer trust. We look forward to moving ahead with a renewed commitment to safety, the company said in a statement. The lessons of the past several months are now deeply reflected in our processes and in our culture. More than ever, we are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences. 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 S8 will arrive as Samsungs latest flagship smartphone, following in the footsteps of the S7, S6 and S5, which were all unveiled at pasts MWC events. Though Samsung has made no mention of a possible launch date, analysts expect it to be available to buy in April. A new virtual assistant called Bixby is rumoured to debut on the Galaxy S8, allowing consumers to make quick online purchases by analysing real-world objects through the camera app and tracking them down on the web. The phone has also been tipped to feature an enlarged display, slimmed-down bezels and no home button. Whether or not Samsung decides to drop the headphone jack, as Apple controversially did with the iPhone 7 last year, also remains to be seen. This World Politics in a Time of Populist Nationalism (WPTPN) guest post is written by Seckin Kostem, an assistant professor of International Relations at Bilkent University, Ankara, and managing editor of the Review of International Political Economy. Various sub-fields of International Relations, including IPE and security studies, have explored dynamics of cooperation and conflict in different regions of the world as well as regional integration and regionalism. Yet little has been done to investigate the role that regional powers, as economically preponderant states, play in fostering economic integration in their regions. In particular, two questions have been unexplored. First, why do the regional economic priorities of regional powers shift over time? Also, why do regional powers pursue different forms of leadership to exert economic influence over their neighbors? In my doctoral dissertation, I have tried to answer these two questions with a cross-case and within-case comparison of Russia and Turkey. Russia and Turkey have commonly pursued the goal of achieving hegemony in their respective regions under Putin and Erdogan. While Russia has invested in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC), Turkey has relied on enlarging its free trade agreement (FTA) network in the Middle East. I argue that objective economic/material factors cannot explain the foreign economic strategies of these two countries. Instead, it is elite national identity conceptions that primarily construct and define economic interests. In the age of populist nationalism, foreign economic strategy the set of policies that governments devise to maximize benefits in international markets will continue to be an essential issue area of international political economy (IPE) research. Brexit and Trumps rise to power are clear manifestations of how elite-driven populist projects might influence public opinion and peoples political and economic choices in advanced democratic societies. The interests of business groups, compatibility of goods produced, and market access conditions might become less relevant as populist leaders supported by nationalism re-orient their countries foreign policies and economic goals. The upcoming Trump presidency will test that. This anti-liberal populist trend in democratic Western societies has by no means been a novelty for Russia and Turkey, two countries led by strong leaders with ambitious foreign policy aspirations. Despite differences, there are remarkable similarities between the anti-establishment wind blowing in Western democracies and politics in Russia and Turkey. While Trump and right wing populism in Europe have emerged as anti-establishment movements, Putin and Erdogan have built their political power at the expense of Westernizers in their own societies. In other words, Westernizers, which held important bureaucratic and political positions in both countries in the 1990s, constituted the internal others, in a Hopfian sense, of the national identity conceptions of the current ruling elites in Russia and Turkey. The populist nationalism that Putin and Erdogan rest on today is very much rooted in the political instability and socioeconomic crises that both countries went through in the 1990s. National identity conceptions are elite understandings of the nations roles and purposes in international politics. They are historically shaped, and ever evolving. Different political elites attribute different roles to their nations, which predict varying foreign policy options. Neighbors are particularly important for national identity debates due to commonly shared historical legacies, enmities, alliances, etc. Different elite groups contestation over the roles and purposes of the nation with regard to other nations matters significantly in defining national economic interests and foreign economic policies. More importantly, in defining the interests of the nation, ruling elites do not only operate based on how the nation interprets its role in relation to external others, which, in my study, include neighboring countries. National identity conceptions of internal others rival political elites are equally important in shaping foreign economic strategy. This contestation over national identity not only shapes the political and economic purposes of a nation vis-a-vis others in a region or the world, but also the friends & enemies of the nation as well as its superiors and subordinates. Therefore, as explored by Abdelal previously, the domestic contestation over the nations roles and purposes outside national boundaries shape the prospects of conflict and cooperation in a region. I examine foreign economic strategy in two components, direction and form. Direction refers to geographic orientations of foreign economic relations. It is measured by trade and investment treaties that governments seek to sign with other governments. Typically, regional powers aim to exert economic influence over their neighbors through free trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties, which benefit the exporters and investors of firms in the regionally preponderant state. Form of foreign economic strategy, on the other hand, is measured by the tools that governments employ to exert economic influence over other governments. Based on the tools that a regional power use in its relations with neighboring countries, form can run the gamut from neo-imperialism to liberal multilateralism. In both Russia and Turkey, elites in power have defined national interests in opposition to the prevalent Westernizing conception and policies of the 1990s. From the 1990s to the 2000s, both countries changed the geographic orientations and forms of their regional foreign economic strategies. The shifting national identity conception in Russia from a Westernizing one under Yeltsins presidency to a great power nationalist one under Putins leadership led to a geographic reorientation of Russias foreign economic policies from the West to the post-Soviet region. While the Westernizers of the 1990s wanted integration into Western economic structures, great power nationalists have prioritized integration in Eurasia. Great power nationalism is a distinctive kind of nationalism, which places Russia at the top of the social hierarchy in the post-Soviet space. Great power nationalists believe that Russia is the legitimate authority to govern the economic and security order in the Eurasian pole of the multipolar world. Similarly, Turkish governments of the 1990s various coalitions of center-right and center-left parties pursued economic integration with the European Union and closer economic ties with the post-Soviet states, while economic integration with the Middle East has become a priority under the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP). JDPs conservative national identity conception embraced the Muslim Middle East, in contrast to the traditionally Western oriented and Kemalist national identity conception of the 1990s. While the Westernizers conceptualized the Middle East as a region of insecurity and instability, Turkeys conservatives saw it as a region with which to integrate thanks to a growing volume of Turkish exports and investments. Turkeys conservative ruling elites also think that Turkey is historically the superior country in the regions social hierarchy. That is why the former Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, himself a professor of International Relations, conceptualized Turkey as a central and an order-establishing country in the Middle East. In terms of the form of foreign economic policies, Putin and his allies great power nationalist identity conception has resulted in a coercive type of regional leadership towards establishing the Eurasian Economic Union. In order to attract small post-Soviet states into its orbit, Russia has systematically used its natural gas resources as leverage. The price of natural gas has been especially instrumental; Russia offered its gas for below the market levels to its allies such as Belarus and Armenia, while it played with the price for countries such as Ukraine, depending on how pro-Russian the Ukrainian government was. Similarly, Russia has applied economic sanctions on Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine to push them away from signing association agreements with the European Union by targeting their most important sectors (e.g. Moldovan and Georgian wine). Conversely, the JDPs conservative national identity conception has made Turkey a liberal economic leader in the Middle East. Ankara followed a liberal leadership strategy in the Middle East from 2002 when the JDP rose to power until 2012, when Ankara officially decided to topple down Syrias Assad regime. Turkeys liberal strategy was rooted in the conservatives elites opposition to the traditional, Westernist conception of the region as inherently conflict-ridden with various kinds of threats for Turkey. In opening up to Middle Eastern markets, Ankara relied on private actors such as business associations. Also, Ankaras key goal was to expand Turkeys FTA network throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The final link in the chain was the Levant Multilateral FTA Zone established by Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria in 2011. The Levant Zone aimed to achieve economic integration in the Eastern Mediterranean. The project failed before it bore fruit, as the Syrian government unilaterally withdrew from it in December 2011, and Turkey applied sanctions against the Assad regime. In both countries the process of the consolidation of political power at home constituted a critical juncture in that it eliminated the influence of alternative national identity conceptions and reinforced formerly set foreign economic goals. This took place in Russia in 2004 as Putin was elected the president for a second term, and in Turkey in 2007 as the ruling JDP gathered the majority of the votes in the general elections, which offered it the opportunity to form a single party government for the second time. Similarly, both Russias great power nationalists and Turkeys conservatives saw the global financial crisis of 2008-09 as a great opportunity to increase their economic influence in their neighborhoods. Both regional powers efforts towards regional hegemony intensified after the crisis, which from the eyes of Moscow and Ankara clearly indicated the economic fall of the West. Post-crisis developments have also strengthened the anti-Western rhetoric and the support for more independent foreign policy courses in both countries. Domestic contestation over national roles and purposes takes place in other regional and rising powers as well. Most recently, national identity debates have influenced foreign economic policies in the developed world. As British citizens voted to leave the EU, American citizens elected Trump due partly to his anti-globalization and anti-free trade discourse. In the future that lies ahead, Trump is highly likely to build on his discourse which blames his predecessors his internal others for Americas structural economic problems. If my argument is valid, it will not be a surprise for emerging populist leaders elsewhere in the world to change foreign economic or foreign policy course based on what their predecessors did. As the Russian-Turkish comparison demonstrates, populist nationalism does not predict a particular type of foreign economic strategy that favors protectionism over free markets. That echoes Helleiner & Pickles argument that the new economic nationalism is different from the conventional view based on erecting barriers to trade in order to protect infant industries. However, it predicts that economic relations between countries will depend more on domestic contestation over national identity in the age of populist nationalism. Anti-establishment ruling elites in Western societies will rely heavily on popular support to legitimize their foreign policy choices. By doing that, they might face a big dilemma that presents a choice between the optimal foreign policy course versus the obligation to please popular demands. The Duck of Minervas WPTPN group is still seeking guest contributions. If you are interested in writing a post and have research expertise in international relations, international political economy, foreign policy, comparative politics, or cognate fields please see this post for more information. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} WikiLeaks has requested that someone send it Donald Trump's tax returns so they can finally be made public. The call came soon after spokesperson for the Trump camp Kellyanne Conway appeared to suggest that the new president's tax history will never be released. Mr Trump had previously said that he could release the documents, but that he was waiting for them to be "audited". Ms Conway's statement broke with a 40-year tradition and suggested that Mr Trump will continue to be far more opaque about his tax and business dealings than any US president before. Kellyanne Conway says President Trump will not release his tax returns The statement came after a petition asking that Mr Trump release his tax returns was signed by hundreds of thousands of people. Breaking the promise to release the returns appears to have irritated WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, which had mostly released damaging information about Hillary Clinton throughout the electoral campaign. Now it has suggested that Mr Trump's lack of transparency about his tax returns is worse than the behaviour of Ms Clinton. Trumps breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts," the WikiLeaks account which is understood to be run primarily by Julian Assange tweeted. It then tweeted again to ask someone to send the returns to it so that they could be published. WikiLeaks posted a range of information throughout the election campaign, the most high-profile of which were emails sent by Clinton campaign manager John Podesta. Mr Trump tweeted approvingly about Julian Assange after those releases, in what appeared to be an admission of warming relations between the two men. Ms Conway said that the American public didn't care whether or not Mr Trump released his tax returns, despite numerous polls showing otherwise. Every president since 1976 has released the information, but Ms Conway said she does not believe Americans care whether Mr Trump follows suit. "He's not going to release his tax returns. We litigated this all through the election. People didn't care," she said on ABC's This Week. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter 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 Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Gwyneth Paltrow has once again found herself at the centre of a gynaecologists fury after her lifestyle website Goop advocated women putting stone eggs in their vagina. Goop, which Paltrow launched in 2008, has been the source of both bemusement and fascination ever since. From its step-by-step guide of how to yawn properly to its recommendation for a $15,000 gold-plated sex toy all in the name of health and wellness, it really does get people talking. The latest offering came in the form of an article titled: Better Sex: Jade Eggs for Your Yoni and discussed jade eggs - stone eggs made from rose quartz or jade. Why? Because apparently fans say regular use increases chi, orgasms, vaginal muscle tone, hormonal balance and feminine energy in general. The website interviewed Shiva Rose, an actress and beauty guru, who claims to have been using the eggs for seven years and says she has since noticed a more regular cycle, positives in her sex life and sometimes feeling people are more attracted to you when youre carrying a jade egg. However, the suggestion has already been condemned by one gynaecologist who lambasted the advice in an open letter addressed directly to Paltrow. Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes Show all 7 1 /7 Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On healthy eating 'I'd rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a can' Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NBC Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On hitting 40 You can still find yourself at a party at 3am, but you also know enough about who you are and how that informs the choices you make. Steven Henry/Getty Images Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On maintaining a close relationship with ex husband Chris Martin: Were still very much a family, even though we dont have a romantic relationship. Hes like my brother. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On her travel routine: When I land [from a flight] I try to find a sauna to sit in for 20 minutes to help me sweat out all the germs from the plane. Getty Images Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On the Hollywood Gender Pay Gap: Your salary is a way to quantify what youre worth. If men are paid a lot more for doing the same thing, it feels shitty. Getty Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On not caring what people think: I dont hold on to fear as much as I used to, because Ive learned a lot about genuinely not caring what strangers think about me. Its very liberating, Its very empowering. Getty Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On the Met Gala (2013): Im never going again. It was so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all. Getty Dr Jen Gunter, a California-based gynaecologist and obstetrician, began by criticising the fact that the practice is a heralded as way of keeping your male partner happy given that apparently queens and concubines used them to stay in shape for emperors and then ridiculed the idea the eggs can help re-balance hormones. The claim that they can balance hormones is, quite simply, biologically impossible, she furiously wrote. Pelvic floor exercises can help with incontinence and even give stronger orgasms for some women, but they cannot change hormones. As for female energy? Im a gynaecologist and I dont know what that is?! She then issued a health warning claiming that as jade is porous it could pave the way for a bacterial infection. She also criticised the suggestion from Rose on Goops website that you can sleep with the egg inside or that you could walk around with it in. I would like to point out that your pelvic floor muscles are not meant to contract continuously, she wrote [] Overenthusiastic Kegel exercises or incorrectly done Kegel exercises are a cause of pelvic pain and pain with sex in my practice. Imagine how your biceps muscle (and then your shoulders and back) might feel if you walked around all day flexed holding a barbell? Right, now imagine your pelvic floor muscles doing this. The doctor labelled the advice the biggest load of garbage I have read on your site since vaginal steaming. In 2015, Dr Gunter was an outspoken critic of another Goop article which suggested readers head to a Santa Monica spa for a Mugworth V-Steam: You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus et al. It is an energetic release not just a steam douche that balances female hormone levels. In response, Dr Gunter said: Steam is probably not good for the vagina. Herbal steam is no better and quite possibly worse. Paltrow later unashamedly defended the advice insisting it has real healing qualities. On their website, Goop post a disclaimer underneath articles written by experts reminding readers the point of such articles is to highlight alternative studies and induce conversation and to state that it is not necessarily representative of the views of Goop or Paltrow. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice, it says. Representatives for Paltrow did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter 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 Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sex for disabled people is an important aspect of life, just as it is it is for others. But there remains a taboo around sex and disabled people. Discrimination and marginalisation means disabled people often spend their lives denied the opportunity to explore their sexual identities. The scale is such that in Germany where prostitution has been legal since 2002 the Green Party recently proposed sex prescriptions for disabled people and the seriously ill. These would allow people to claim back the costs of paying for sex just as they might the cost of medicine. Prostitution has been legal in Germany since 2002. Under the Green Partys proposal, people would need only prove that they have a medical need and cannot pay to visit sex workers. In the Netherlands, it is already possible to claim back the cost of sexual services on medical grounds. But its not for everyone however comprehensive Britains NHS, its hard to imagine a law allowing the same in the UK. The Sunday Telegraph reported in 2010 that money earmarked for disabled people was spent on exotic holidays, internet dating subscriptions and adventure breaks, as well as visits to sex workers and lap-dancing clubs. These payments appear to have been ad hoc arrangements by individual local authorities rather than a national policy, and using taxpayer money in this way has been controversial. However, it isnt illegal for a disabled person to spend their benefits on sex in the UK. Benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) exist to cover the extra costs of disability such as personal care and transport. How it is spent is up to the recipient. Research conducted by the TLC Trust, an organisation that provides peer support and a dating club for disabled people, found that most local authorities do not have a policy on the use of sex workers by disabled people. So whether any particular local authority will condone payments for sex workers using money paid by them is a postcode lottery. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty It is well-documented that people with disabilities in the UK are losing their benefits to Government funding cuts and changes in assessment criteria for benefits such as PIP payments that are crucial for offering disabled people a life that is more than merely survival. Alongside the marginalisation and discrimination that people living with a disability face every day, any discussion of sex is still a taboo subject. But that has begun to change. Organisations such as the TLC Trust and Shada (the Sexual Health and Disability Alliance) are helping to change the publics perception of disabled peoples sexuality and to connect disabled people with sex workers who can help them. But the issue of whether benefits are used to pay for these services remains. Disability rights Discussions about sex and sexuality for people with disabilities have been sideline in the past. Focus has been on the fight against discrimination in the workplace. Despite the intimate rights of people with disabilities being a central part of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable healthcare and programmes as provided to other persons, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health, for the most part this doesnt happen. Sex and society Sexual imagery dominates our daily lives on film, television, through advertising and on the internet. The media is filled with images of perfect bodies and cultural rules concerning how or when you should date someone, what type of sex people enjoy, and all the rest. But the culturally dominant view of able-bodied, heterosexual lives does not align itself with the experiences, thoughts and perceptions of people with disabilities, or those with different sexual identities. Recommended The opera that shows what sex workers really think Those who identify as LGBTI and who are also disabled may experience additional stigma stemming from their disability and sexual identity, making it even more difficult for them to develop meaningful sexual relationships. So, for some, it may be necessary to engage with sex workers and if youre free to spend your benefits where you please, why not? The German Green Party is unlikely to be in a position to take forward its legislative proposal, but it raises valid points about a controversial issue relating to whether there should be restrictions on how benefits are used, and the enduring taboo around sex and disabled people. It doesnt seem conceivable that a British political party would ever make such a suggestion. But whether disabled or not, we all have sexual needs and if we are truly to strive to end the discrimination disabled people face, part of that is to understand and support their right to a sexual life. Michael Richards, lecturer in applied health and social care, Edge Hill University. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com) For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Well that didnt take long. On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal--a major reversal of Barack Obama's trade efforts. The President strongly opposed the 12-country trade pact a signature theme of his campaign but the agreement had not yet received Senate approval, so the executive order was more of a formality. Here's a look at what all the acronyms mean and what you need to know. First things first. What's the difference between the TTIP and the TPP? In simple terms, the TTIP, or Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, involves the US and the EU, while the TPP, or Trans-Pacific Partnership, binds the US, Canada, Mexico and several pacific rim states (including Japan, Malaysia, Singpore, Vitenam) into a free trading pact. In practice, they are regarded as sister agreements ensuring easier trade, but the TPP is further ahead in the negotiating process than the TTIP. It just hasnt been ratified and it now looks as if it will not be ratified. To all intents and purposes both the TTIP and the TPP you can argue that both are doomed. Even back in November, shortly after Mr Trumps election victory, Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, told German online magazine vorwaerts.de that "TTIP is history". Recommended Donald Trump signs executive order to withdraw from TPP trade deal What will be the economic impact of Mr Trump withdrawing from TPP or TTIP? Hard to say. You can easily find people who will say that the scrapping of these agreements will cost billions in terms of lost trade and jobs. You can just as easily find people to say that such claims are over stated and that the cost of such deals are under stated. And there are just as many opponents on the left as there are on the right. Issues raised by the former include, for example, the secrecy with which negotiations have been conducted, not to mention the Investor State Dispute Settlement apparatus, which has proved to be a major bugbear. The TUC describes it as unacceptable in TTIP and any trade deal because it gives foreign investors the right to a special international court system to sue countries for compensation if they believe public policy would endanger future profits. ISDS has been used on numerous occasions to overturn legitimate public policy, says the TUC. What about the geopolitical impact? Thats where it gets interesting as regards the TPP. This might yet be the most important and negative (for the US at least) consequence of Mr Trumps approach. The point about these deals is that the agenda has been set by the US, and the US is the driving force behind them. The TPP, in particular, exports the US version of free trade into one of the worlds most important and economically dynamic regions, with all those involved signing up to a peaceful trading pact. While Trump will likley now seek to do individual deals with at least some of the countries involved, there might very well be an opportunity for China to attempt to fill in the gap that has been created. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters And how does Nafta differ from these two? The final important acronym in the trio is Nafta, or the North American Free Trade Agreement. It came into effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton as a deal between the US, Canada and Mexico. It ensured that most tariff barriers between the three countries were scrapped and resulted in the creation of one of the worlds biggest free trade areas. On Sunday, Mr Trump (perhaps unsurprisingly) took aim at it and said that he would renegotiate the agreement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Quitting Nafta altogether would in theory be quite straightforward. The President in his speech last week actually cited Naftas Article 2205, a super short article which very simply states: A Party may withdraw from this Agreement six months after it provides written notice of withdrawal to the other Parties. If a Party withdraws, the Agreement shall remain in force for the remaining Parties". Naturally, however, pulling out of Nafta would likely raise a slew of questions, especially considering that the US has not withdrawn from a major trade agreement in around 20 years. So how might Nafta be reformed? Nobody is really very sure. Beyond stopping the export of blue collar jobs to Mexico, Mr Trump has really given very little indication of what he wants to see, beyond threatening potentially punitive tariffs on imports to the US from Mexico. That would effectively scupper Nafta given that its aim is tariff free trade. Critics say tariffs would not necessarily protect jobs anyway. The Michigan based Center for Automative Research has argued that they could instead lead to the loss of more than 30,000 automative jobs, with the impact disproportionately falling on blue collar workers. Why? Many of the parts, and much of the engineering work for Mexico's car plants comes from the US, and the centre of the country's auto industry Michigan in particular. Canada is, in many respects, a spectator while all this is going on. And finally, what does all this it mean for Britain? Well, so much for the Brexiteers fond notions of a Britain outside the EU joining Nafta. There may not be a Nafta to join after Mr Trump is finished, although if the US and Canada continue to trade on similar terms to those established by the agreement the UK could, in theory, try and join that party. The end of the TTIP negotiations also wont have much impact on the UK because a UK outside of the EU wont be part of it anyway. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter 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 Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two contrasting videos about life in the British Army are doing the rounds, both released this month. In the first, an Army recruitment advertisement, soldiers are trudging through miserable arctic conditions when one of them starts singing the Dirty Dancing song (Ive Had) the Time of My Life. Cue much ribbing and laughter from his comrades, instantly lightening the mood of their dreary slog through the snow. In the second video, released by campaign group Child Soldiers International (CSI), 27-year-old veteran Wayne Sharrocks talks about his experiences training and serving with the Army in Afghanistan, where he was wounded following an IED explosion. Against another backdrop of soldiers marching through snow, Sharrocks describes how members of his platoon were encouraged to beat up a comrade believed to be underperforming in a training exercise. I think he tried to kill himself in the toilets at some point, Sharrocks says to camera. Sharrocks joined the Army in 2006, aged 17. He left in 2013 and has since suffered mental health problems. The UK is the only country in Europe and one of only a handful in the world that recruits under-18s into its Armed Forces. Groups campaigning against the practice argue that the youngest recruits are most susceptible to developing mental health problems such as PTSD and dying in action. Sharrocks was enlisted while still at school. Such recruitment exacerbates the problem, say campaigners. The Armed Forces has more of a foothold in schools, says Emma Sangster of Forces Watch, a group which opposes militarist values in civilian society. In 2012, the Government launched a raft of schemes designed to promote a military ethos in schools. These included a programme to expand Combined Cadet Force activity in schools and opened up the possibility of military organisations sponsoring academies and free schools. It also enabled the provision of alternative education by external military-based groups, and the fast-tracking of ex-military personnel into teaching roles in the Troops to Teachers scheme. Reality is far removed from the Army of recruitment videos, say veterans (British Army) These measures, along with continued Armed Forces visits to classrooms around 11,000 a year constitute, according to campaigners, a worrying militarisation of our schools and an indirect means of recruiting under-18s. What we know from MoD documents is that recruitment is an aim of the Armed Forces going into schools, says Sangster. Schools provide a kind of captive audience of young people of recruitment age. Recruits at the Army training centre in Pirbright, Surrey many get a taste for military life at school (Rex) The military is not allowed to enlist anyone directly in schools and under-18 recruits need written parental consent before they can join. But the presence of military representatives in schools acts as a kind of indirect recruitment drive according to Ben Griffin, a veteran of the Iraq war and co-ordinator of campaign group, Veterans for Peace UK. Out of a thousand kids they only need to recruit one or two, says Griffin, but they also want to recruit the whole school to the ideas of the military. Griffin adds that if the Armed Forces have got one or two days in a school, theyre going to make the military seem very fun... a sort of public service for the greater good of humanity. Army Photographic Competition 2016 Show all 13 1 /13 Army Photographic Competition 2016 Army Photographic Competition 2016 Corporal Sean Neill, from Kilmarnock, kissing his daughter Madison in the streets of Glasgow after the 400 strong Homecoming Parade. The photo, by Mark Owens, has been named Winner of Best Online Image (voted by the public) in the Army Photographic Competition 2016 Mark Owens/Army HQ Scotland/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 This photograph shows Officer Cadets from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) on Exercise Dynamic Victory, Grafenwoehr & Hohenfels Training area, Bavaria Bombardier Murray Kerr RA/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 Great Men, by Bombardier Murray Kerr RA Bombardier Murray Kerr RA/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 The photograph shows the changing room buzzing 30 minutes before forming up Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 Prepping for the Worst, by Cpl Timothy Jones Cpl Timothy Jones/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 Y Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, conducting jungle warfare training in Brunei, learning to live, survive and fight in the unique training environment Cpl Timothy Jones/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 Right Hook, by Bombardier Murray Kerr RA Bdr Murray Kenneth Kerr, Royal Artillery/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 Army Photographic Competition 2016 The Climb, by Capt Ben Norfield, RGR Capt Ben Norfield, RGR/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 This photograph shows the TIGERS Freefall Parachute Display Team from the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) send a Birthday message to the Queen from 8,000 feet above Paderborn in Germany Dominic King AMC/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 Nightlife in Otterburn, by Cpl Timothy Jones Cpl Timothy Jones/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 The photograph shows Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew Stokes of the Coldstream Guards making inspections of the soldiers drill Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC/PA Wire Army Photographic Competition 2016 Y Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, conducting jungle warfare training in Brunei, learning to live, survive and fight in the unique training environment Cpl Timothy Jones/PA Wire The Combined Cadet Force is currently embedded in more than 350 secondary schools across the UK, with a target of 500 by 2020. Its presence is designed to instill qualities such as self-discipline, loyalty and respect, strong leadership, teamwork and resilience. But critics such as Sangster worry how the CCF will negatively impact the teaching of important of attributes like free thinking or criticism of authority. If youve got that in the school, are you going to be able to talk about non-military alternatives to conflict resolution, or promoting critical awareness around all the effects of warfare? she says. Under-18s have historically been an important source of Army recruitment, which has suffered from a continuing shortfall in recent years. The latest MoD figures show that it is currently delivering 10 to 15 per cent fewer recruits than is needed. Last year, the intake of under-18s rose to a quarter of all Army recruits, according to a report by CSI. And recruitment of 16-year-olds rose to 13 per cent of the total intake, making them the single largest age group entering the army. Its very disturbing from our perspective, says Rachel Taylor, programme manager at CSI. The army are taking more 16-year-olds than 17-year-olds so theyre recruiting more and younger. Younger recruits are more vulnerable on the battlefield, say campaign groups (Getty) (Getty Images) Taylor points out that a large proportion of under-18s are funnelled into frontline roles in the infantry, with the youngest recruits forced into combat roles due to lack of qualifications. From 2015 to 2016, the Army enlisted 8,020 soldiers of whom 1,790 were aged under 18, according to CSI. Even though the latter will not see battle until they come of age, the organisations study of Afghanistan suggests they will remain twice as likely to be killed once they do. The MoD denies that under-18s are being targeted in schools to make up for recruitment shortfalls. Colonel Johnny Blair-Tidewell, assistant head of manning for the Army, insists that conceptions about the recruitment of under-18s are often misrepresented. He points out that although the infantry takes the single largest proportion of under-18 recruits, the majority go into other units like the Royal Logistics Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He also stresses that such criticisms assume an outdated view of the infantry. Its a bit too simplistic, says Blair-Tidewell. The idea that the infantry are somehow just cannon fodder is a 1914-ism. Its not like that. Within the infantry youve got specialisms. So someone could go into the infantry and specialise as a signaller, or specialise as mortar fire controller. They could be a driver. They could be a radio operator. They could do all sorts of things. It just doesnt stand scrutiny. The Army has repeatedly refused to raise the age of enlistment to 18 despite calls from numerous campaign groups and critics, including the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The presence of the military in schools is also set to continue. One of the reasons is that the Army actually sees the recruitment of minors as a good thing. Theres an assumption that recruitment of 16- to 18-year-olds is somehow inherently bad, says Blair-Tidewell. Our response is that recruitment of 16- to 18-year-olds is beneficial to the individuals that do it and is also beneficial for society as a whole. To agree with this or the continued presence of the military in schools depends on how people regard terms such as military ethos or character. The Government promoted its military ethos programme as by highlighting the value of characteristics such as resilience, grit, self-discipline and teamwork. But critics see a negative side to the military mentality. Veterans for Peaces Ben Griffin claims the military ethos comprises a trio of rather more sinister characteristics. Actually the fundamental ethos of the military is to obey orders without question, he says. Some of the other things that are fundamental to military training are removing the barrier to kill a humans natural aversion to killing another human is removed so that it becomes easy. Also loyalty to the gang is promoted, so your loyalty to your family, to your country, to your community is erased. Your only loyalty is to the unit you serve with. Griffin, an ex-member of the Parachute Regiment, recounts how he was encouraged to hate all the other branches and units of the military and to hate civilians most of all. Recommended US military is trying to create bullets that will turn into flowers In the CSI video, Wayne Sharrocks speaks of how by the end of his training, he could have killed another person in front of him at the flick of a switch with an insane amount of aggression. He feels that apart from the things he saw and did in Afghanistan, infantry training alone changed his mind indelibly. Before you join the Army, you should have to sign another document saying youre about to be subjected to six months mental conditioning that could effectively change your mentality for life, he tells the camera. Sharrocks, who underwent his training at 17, now believes under-18s shouldnt be recruited because only adults should be allowed to make that kind of life-changing decision. It is the same reason Veterans for Peace UK wants all military activities in schools banned. We think that just as you cant advertise smoking and alcohol to children, says Griffin, you shouldnt be able to advertise a job where theres a good chance you could be killed or maimed or disabled for the rest of your life. Were back to the two videos: one advertising young men in the snow having the time of their lives, the other exposing a life that was almost lost. The message people identify with most will depend largely on their experience of the Armed Forces. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is planning to "reform" the way that the Environmental Protection Agency uses science, according to a new report. The new claim comes just days after the first thing on the new White House was an energy policy that called for the EPA to focus primarily on clean air and water, and not on its climate change activity. That same document didn't mention global warming at all and neither does any other post on the administration's website. That same approach appears to have carried on to the changes in the way that the EPA will use science in its work. A new document from inside the Trump camp says that the administration will seek to "reform" how the agency uses information. In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters "Unless major reforms of the agency's use of science and economics are achieved, EPA will be able to return to its bad old ways as soon as an establishment administration takes office," the document reads, according to the website Axios. The document was written by Myrion Ebell, the site claimed, who has aggressively opposed climate change activists and has been central in the Trump transition team. Recommended Every mention of global warming deleted from White House website It isn't clear what the reforms might include, or what the reference to "bad old ways" means. But it is likely to be a reference to the climate change work that the agency might do, and the scientific work that it undertakes in doing that. The EPA publishes detailed information and data on how the climate is changing, for instance. It also publishes work on factors that can contribute to climate change, such as using scientific methods to study greenhouse gas emissions, for instance. It uses that data to work on economic and scientific approaches to stemming the effects of climate change and to preventing further damage from global warming. The Trump team has already signalled that it will move away from any climate-focused work. It has done the same with Nasa suggesting that it will scrap the agency's work measuring climate change and instead force it to work on deep space travel. The same document calls for huge budget cuts, potentially worth nearly a billion dollars, the website claimed. That includes $513 million that could be raised from cuts to "states and tribal assistance grants" and a further $193 million that could be saved by cutting "climate programmes". Some of those climate programmes may relate to Mr Trump's intention to completely destroy the Climate Protection Plan. That landmark deal was announced by Barack Obama in 2013 and was intended as a way for the US to address climate change. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines 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 Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US had plans to give the Falkland Islands to Argentina and relocate the islanders to Scotland, secret CIA papers reveal. Titled "Solution to the Falkland Islands crisis," the paper appears to suggest the intelligence agency thought the UK would lose the 1982 conflict. It was written by Henry Rowen, then head of the National Intelligence Council, and are part of 12 million formerly-classified papers released by the CIA this week. For a period of three years the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands will be given a chance to consider whether they wish to remain on the Falkland Islands or whether they wish to relocate to an area of British jurisdiction, either in the UK or elsewhere under British sovereignty, with a relocation grant of $100,000 per person," Mr Rowen wrote. It is likely that many residents will find this sufficient inducement to relocate to some other area, perhaps in Scotland or elsewhere where conditions may be similar to the Falkland Islands. He adds: Any residents who do not wish to relocate will be free to remain and become Argentinian citizens at the end of three years. The cost of the relocation grants to be paid to any residents of the Falkland Islands wishing to relocate elsewhere will be borne fifty/fifty by the Argentinian and British governments. Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War Show all 7 1 /7 Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War Antelope.jpg Martin Cleaver/PA Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War 5364185.jpg PA Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War 5364186.jpg PA Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War 5364182.jpg PA Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War 5364180.jpg Rex Features Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War 5364183.jpg AFP/Getty Images Shots across the bows: The images that defined the Falklands War 5364189.jpg Rex Features The plans were addressed to Paul Wolfowitz, a Department of State advisor to President Ronald Reagan. They also called for "some appropriate penalty upon the Argentinians for having used armed force to seek to settle an international dispute." The United Kingdom retained the islands at a cost of the lives of more than 900 British, Argentine and Falkland Islander lives. The outcome of the war prompted large protests against Argentina's military junta, leading to its downfall. In 1994, Argentina's claim to the territories was added to its constitution. In a referendum on Falkland Islands sovereignty in 2013, 99.8 per cent voted to remain a British territory with only three votes against. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines 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 Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} GCHQ director Robert Hannigan has announced that he will step down from the spy agency after more than two years in the post. In a letter to the Foreign Secretary, Mr Hannigan said he would remain director of the surveillance agency until a successor was found. Without giving an explicit reason for standing down, he appeared to cite pressures on his personal life, saying the job "demanded a great deal of my ever-patient and understanding family, and now is the right time for a change in direction". GCHQ in Cheltenham (Getty) The memo to Boris Johnson read: "I have had the great privilege of leading the men and women of GCHQ since 2014. I am proud of what we have achieved in those years, not least setting up the National Cyber Security Centre and building greater public understanding of our intelligence work. "I am equally proud of the relentless 24-hour operational effort against terrorism, crime and many other national-security threats. "While this work must remain secret, you will know how many lives have been saved in this country and overseas by the work of GCHQ." The 24-hour Operations Room inside GCHQ, Cheltenham (Getty) He said he had overseen the "greatest internal change within GCHQ for 30 years", and said the agency was now "well on the way to being fit for the next generation of security challenges to the UK in the digital age". The letter continued: "After a good deal of thought I have decided that this is the right time to move on and to allow someone else to lead GCHQ through its next phase. "I am, like you, a great enthusiast for our history and I think it is right that a new director should be firmly embedded by our centenary in 2019. "I am very committed to GCHQs future and will of course be happy to stay in post until you have been able to appoint a successor. "I have been lucky enough to have some extraordinary roles in public service over the last 20 years, from Northern Ireland to Number 10, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign Office. But they have all demanded a great deal of my ever-patient and understanding family, and now is the right time for a change in direction." Mr Johnson responded: Following your successful tenure, and thanks to the work of thousands of excellent GCHQ staff, the organisation is well placed to play its part continuing to protect our nation. GCHQ said in a statement: In line with normal practice there will be an internal competition within Government to identify candidates to succeed Mr Hannigan, for onward recommendation to the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister. In the meantime the director and board will continue to oversee all the departments work. First footage from inside GCHQ Last April, Mr Hannigan apologised for the espionage service's "horrifying" treatment of Alan Turing and historic prejudice against LGBT people. Turing, the pioneering mathematician, whose code-breaking skills are said to have shortened World War Two by two to four years, lost his job with the secret service following a conviction for indecency and was forced to undergo chemical castration. Following demands for an apology, Mr Hannigan said: "I am happy to do so today and to say how sorry I am that he and so many others were treated in this way, right up until the 1990s when the policy was rightly changed. "The fact that it was common practice for decades reflected the intolerance of the times and the pressures of the Cold War, but it does not make it any less wrong and we should apologise for it. A year earlier he was caught up in an incident with Downing Street after a hoax caller was put through to David Cameron's phone after posing as the director of GCHQ. A call to Britain's eavesdropping agency, during which a mobile phone number for Mr Hannigan was disclosed to the caller, was followed by a hoax call to Downing Street, during which the caller was connected to Mr Cameron. The then-Prime Minister ended the call when it became clear it was a hoax and no sensitive information was disclosed, Downing Street said at the time. It is understood that the mobile number given out for Mr Hannigan was for an unclassified phone rather than one of the secure lines used for sensitive communications. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines 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 Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Vigils have been held across the world in support of transgender prisoners as part of the International Trans Prison Day of Action and Solidarity. In central London, a crowd of 100 people gathered in front of Pentonville Prison for a candle lit vigil. Organised by the Bent Bars Project, a collective which supports LGBT people in custody, the event paid tribute to those who have died by suicide in prisons due to distress caused after being denied medical healthcare related to transition while behind bars, or transphobic bullying from other inmates. Activists held candles in memory of transgender prisoners who have died while in custody in the UK, before releasing a lit lantern in front of the jail. Others read poetry and statements from transgender prisoners currently in custody explaining how they feel British prisons neglect their needs. Speakers called for prisons to develop a better understanding of transgender prisoners needs such as to be allowed to wear clothing which corresponds to their gender identity, to access hormone treatments if required and for greater psychological support as transgender people are more likely to experience mental health problems such as self-harm or suicidal ideation. They also highlighted that transphobic bullying or harassment from other prisoners or even staff can also add to mental and emotional distress, placing them at further risk. A member of the Bent Bars Project told the crowd: 2016 was the worst year for recorded deaths in the history of recorded deaths [of both transgender and non-transgender people] in custody in this country. Last year, there were 345 deaths in prison, 45 deaths in police custody and 3 in immigration detention centres. So far in 2017, barely three weeks in, there have already been 15 deaths in prison. These are not mere numbers, these are people from our communities, they are our friends, they are our family members, our lovers, our neighbours, our colleagues. Every single death is a death too many. It is always incredibly difficult to lose a loved one, but there is a particular pain in losing someone inside prison. There are many layers to that pain. It is the pain of being separated by prison walls. It is the pain of knowing in most cases your loved one died alone. That they died in a cage. In cases of suicide, the pain of knowing being locked up was too much to bear. It is difficult to ascertain precise numbers of how many transgender people are in prisons in the UK due to poor data collection as well as concern that many inmates will not be openly out in the jail environment for fear of prejudice. The vigil follows a high profile incident at HMP Doncaster where transgender woman Jenny Swift died by suicide on 30 December. She had been placed in an all male unit and reportedly denied hormone treatment associated with her gender transition. Ms Swifts death echoed two deaths the previous year when Joanne Latham died by suicide at HMP Woodhill and Vicky Thompson died by suicide at HMP Armley. Both had been held in all male prisons were said to have felt considerable distress at being misgendered by the prison service. Following Ms Latham and Ms Thompsons deaths, the Ministry of Justice announced it would issue new guidelines on the rights of transgender prisoners. The new policies came into effect on 1 January of this year, two days after Ms Swifts death. They stipulate that reasonable accommodations must be put in place in order to maintain transgender inmates dignity unless there is a clear safety issue to the contrary. The cases of transgender prisoners must also be reviewed within three days of their arrival in custody to determine which gender prison is most appropriate for them. Lonely road: Why school is hell for transgender pupils Show all 2 1 /2 Lonely road: Why school is hell for transgender pupils Lonely road: Why school is hell for transgender pupils 25255.bin Lonely road: Why school is hell for transgender pupils 25256.bin However, transgender rights activists fear the measures are not enough to protect the safety of transgender prisoners and have called for greater reform as well as a shift in cultural attitude within the criminal justice system. Speaking at the vigil outside Pentonville Prison, Kuchenga, a member of the Bent Bars Project told The Independent: With the passing of so many [transgender people], we need to honour their lives, we cant just be celebrated when were glamourous. When one of us passes its a really big, significant thing and we deserve to be mourned and to be missed. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May will be ready to publish the key piece of legislation that will set Britain on the road to Brexit by the end of this week, The Independent has learnt. Government sources said the hotly anticipated Bill will likely be completed just days after the Supreme Court makes a landmark ruling on the issue on Tuesday. The legislation is likely to be the centre of a major Commons wrangle, as it marks the last parliamentary hurdle for Theresa May as she moves to fire the starting gun on Brexit no later than March. At the weekend Labour signalled it is already planning at least two potential attempts to amend the Bill in a bid to give Parliament more grip on the Prime Ministers rush to the exit door. Even some Tories want their leader to be more accountable, suspecting she will allow MPs as little influence on her plans as she can. Ministers have expected for weeks that the Supreme Court will order Ms May to give Parliament a vote on triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, beginning a two-year countdown to Brexit. But a Government source said: The detail of the judgment is going to be very important in terms of the precise course of action the Government will be taking when it comes to any legislation and that needs to be digested very quickly. It will take a couple of days to fully digest the judgment and determine what the response will be. Officials can work quickly but they wont be able to work miracles to bring it out on the morning. Angela Merkel's senior economic adviser says May's Brexit plan is impossible The well-placed source added: We need to look at the issues that arise and after that we can make a decision pretty swiftly. I dont think its unreasonable to expect the Bill to be published later in the week. Ms May had originally wanted to use royal prerogative powers to invoke Article 50 herself. But after losing the initial case at the High Court, she tasked officials to prepare a range of possible options for legislation to be put before Parliament for a vote. Four separate drafts are said to have been primed, but which is chosen depends on what is necessary to adhere to the ruling. It is clear either way that ministers want the eventual Bill to be brief, ideally a few sentences, minimising the breadth of debate that would precede the vote and making it harder to amend by opposition MPs. The source went on: Its an advantage to have a short Bill, in a sense that it is clear and, of course, it makes it more difficult to amend. The disadvantages are, there may be other litigations going on, about the European Economic Area for example, and whether theres a possibility that case could cause complications for a narrow piece of legislation, with some believing it may mean you then need further legislation down the line. 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 overall, there are advantages in making it clear, straightforward and getting on with the job. The shadow Brexit Secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, said Labour was likely to seek to attach amendments to whatever piece of legislation ministers bring forward. He told The Independent on Sunday that one amendment would see Labour demand the Government publish the plan, laid out in Ms Mays speech, in a command document that can be scrutinised and debated by Parliament, something Downing Street has signalled it does not intend to do. Another potential Labour amendment would seek to set the terms of the vote in Parliament that Ms May has promised on the eventual Brexit deal she finally agrees. Former Tory Chancellor Ken Clarke and ex-business minister Anna Soubry both challenged the Prime Minister to allow the House of Commons a greater say in forming her plans last week. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Clarke demanded a vote on the Brexit approach set out in the Prime Ministers key speech, something he wants to happen before Article 50 negotiations are finished. Ms Soubry asked that the Prime Minister to consider publishing her 12 Brexit objectives in a White Paper, an official parliamentary document that would allow greater scrutiny, so that the Commons can debate them before Article 50 is triggered. Arrival: Xi Jinping, Davos man By: Scott Sumner Last night I saw the sci-fi film Arrival. (Spoiler alert.) At the beginning of the film, 12 alien spacecraft visit Earth, and there are attempts to communicate with the aliens. The film mostly takes place in Montana, where one of the ships is stationed, but there are occasional references to China, where a nationalistic general threatens to attack one of the spacecraft if they refuse to leave Chinese territory. In the end, the Chinese leader turns out to be a hero, and ushers in a new era of international cooperation and peace. Its one of those films that have the hokey message (common in sci-fi) of how from the perspective of 20,000 miles up the Earth is a single fragile planet and that nationalism is foolish. (Actually, the film is much better than I made it sound.) It felt slightly surreal seeing this film one day after the Trump inauguration, where the President struck an America First theme. Even more so, when I read the Financial Times this morning: Chinas president launched a robust defence of globalisation and free trade on Tuesday, drawing a line between himself and Donald Trump just three days before the US president-elects inaugural address in Washington. The problems troubling the world are not caused by globalisation, Xi Jinping said in an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. They are not the inevitable outcome of globalisation. The spectacle of a Chinese Communist party leader in the spiritual home of capitalism defending the liberal economic order against the dangers of protectionism from a new US president underscored the upheaval in global affairs brought about by the election of Donald Trump. Countries should view their own interest in the broader context and refrain from pursuing their own interests at the expense of others, Mr Xi said without mentioning Mr Trump by name. We should not retreat into the harbour whenever we encounter a storm or we will never reach the opposite shore. There was no need to mention Trump by name: As the Chinese saying goes: People with petty shrewdness attend to trivial matters while people with great vision attend to governance of institutions, Mr Xi said. Of course real life is not like a Hollywood film, and China falls far short of Xis lofty rhetoric, as for instance when it ignored the International Court of Justices ruling in favor of the Philippines sovereignty over some disputed islands. And America still has a far more open economy (and society) than China. Even so, one cant help noticing that the recent trajectories of these two countries are quite different from each other. China is gradually opening up its economy, while the US seems determined to move in the opposite direction. Mr Xi argued that Chinas economic growth had global benefits, with the worlds second-largest economy expected to import $8tn worth of goods and services over the next five years. He added that Chinese outbound investment over the same period would reach $750bn, exceeding expected foreign direct investments of $600bn. As he was speaking, Chinas State Council announced it would further open the countrys mining, infrastructure, services and technology sectors to foreign investment. China will keep its doors wide open, Mr Xi said. We hope that other countries will also keep their doors open to Chinese investors and maintain a level playing field for us. Despite recent trends, I predict that Trumps trade policies will not be successful, and that the current wave of protectionism will peter out after a few years. Still, it certainly feels like we are in a completely different world from what I grew up in. I never would have imagined a American inaugural address full of highly charged nationalistic rhetoric, followed a day later by the Chinese leader at Davos, vying with Angela Merkel for the title leading advocate of global economic liberalization. I feel like Im in a Twilight Zone episode. (Maybe I am.) Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Supreme Court will rule on Tuesday whether Theresa May has sufficient authority to withdraw the UK from the European Union, or if parliament must have a say in her plans. The judges, who are the most senior in the country, will deliver their verdict on whether MPs are entitled to a vote on whether the Prime Minister triggers Article 50, the formal mechanism by which EU withdrawal can commence. Speaking on behalf of Ms May, government lawyers have argued the referendum of 23 June, in which a slim majority voted for Brexit, means she has sufficient mandate to act. They also argued that Prime Ministers have traditionally acted to sign international treaties or agreements with other countries, without approval from parliament. However, those taking the case against the government have argued Ms May requires the approval of parliament before she can act. They have claimed that under constitutional law, only parliament can be responsible for taking away the rights of citizens. As cessation of EU membership would result in the loss of certain rights such as freedom of movement, or the right to vote in EU elections, British citizens will lose rights in this instance and so only parliament can enact Brexit, their lawyers told the court. The case is brought against the government by a number of parties, including Gina Miller, a philanthropist and former investment banker. She is also joined by a crowd-funded initiative known as the Peoples Challenge, comprised of pro-EU concerned citizens. The legal challenge first went to the High Court in November, where judges ruled against the government and found parliamentary approval must be sought. However, the government appealed the verdict, whereupon the case was referred to the Supreme Court. Upon appeal, applicants from Northern Ireland were also allowed to join the case in order to make their argument that leaving the EU without consulting the Stormont parliament may be a violation of the Good Friday Agreement, the peace treaty which ended the Troubles conflict. The government is widely expected to lose this case upon appeal too, with the Supreme Court anticipated to rule in favour of Ms Miller and the Peoples Challenge. However, as the new material from Northern Ireland has now been allowed to be considered, it is possible that the Supreme Court could also rule that the devolved parliaments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must also get a say on whether to trigger Article 50, by approving a Legislative Consent Motion. This raises the possibility that the devolved administrations could block or delay Brexit, as a majority of people in Northern Ireland and Scotland both voted Remain. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Politicians in Northern Ireland are preparing measures to block the UKs withdrawal from the European Union, if the Supreme Court rules that Stormont must be given a say on whether to trigger Article 50. Unlike the High Court hearing of the case, which considered only if MPs at Westminster would be entitled to a vote, the Supreme Court granted leave for arguments to be made on behalf of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, stating they must approve the Prime Ministers Brexit plans. Judges are due to give their verdict on Tuesday. Northern Ireland voted to Remain in the EU by a margin of 56 per cent and the overwhelming majority of local parties are pro-EU. As the only part of the UK which also shares a land border with another EU nation, in the form of the Republic of Ireland, concerns have been raised about how the border will be affected, and how this could undermine the peace process. Leading politicians at Stormont have told The Independent that if the Supreme Court rules they are entitled to vote on Article 50, they will move to block it. Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Colum Eastwood told The Independent: Well vote against it in Westminster and well vote against it here [at Stormont] if we get the opportunity. We wont vote for Article 50 to be triggered because I think it goes against everything that people in Northern Ireland want and have expressed at the ballot box. We think it would be hugely damaging to our people, our peace process and our economy. His concerns were echoed by Naomi Long, leader of the anti-sectarianism Alliance Party. She told The Independent her party would not seek to block Brexit outright, but that if they felt enough consideration was not being paid to Northern Ireland and concerns about the peace process, they may be forced to vote against it. Nick Clegg says government are due for Brexit 'collision' Ms Long said: At the moment our view is that the UK has decided to leave the EU, then the UK can leave the EU. But we need special arrangements to be made for Scotland and Northern Ireland to address those, so that we are protected. Im not going to use my vote and my mandate, which was clearly pro-European, to support anything that I believe is harmful to Northern Ireland, and I believe that leaving the EU is harmful to Northern Ireland. So I will not be using my vote and my mandate at any level to support something that I believe is damaging. So unless I am looking at a situation where there is a plan to protect Northern Ireland, I would not be wanting to use my mandate to permit Northern Ireland to be dragged out of the EU, in a hard Brexit which would be destructive to us not only socially and economically, but in terms of the peace process would be catastrophic in terms of what weve achieved. Sinn Fein, Northern Irelands largest Republican party, is also staunchly pro-EU and backed the Remain cause in the referendum. The party did not respond to requests for comment when approached by The Independent but it is expected the party is highly likely to also vote against triggering Article 50 if the motion goes to Stormont. 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 Deputy of the Northern Irish Green Party Claire Bailey, which also supported Remain, told The Independent her party would have to consider the Supreme Courts decision before deciding whether to block it. If the Northern Irish parliament votes to block Brexit, but the other parliaments in the UK support it, it is unclear whether EU withdrawal could proceed. The Supreme Court is currently considering whether Theresa May has enough authority to trigger Article 50, without consulting MPs. The case was originally heard in the High Court, where judges ruled against Ms May. The matter was subsequently referred to the Supreme Court after government lawyers appealed the case. At this stage, judges ruled that representatives of Northern Irish politicians could also be allowed to make the case that the Stormont parliament is entitled to a vote, as well as MPs at Westminster. They argued that to failure to consult local politicians could amount to a breach of the Good Friday Agreement, the peace treaty which ended the Troubles conflict. Concerns have been raised about whether a physical border would have to be erected between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after EU withdrawal. In addition, it is expected the region would also lose EU financial grants for post-conflict peace projects between nationalist and unionist communities, known locally as peace money. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics 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 Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sinn Fein have announced Michelle O'Neill is to replace Martin McGuinness as the party's leader in Northern Ireland. Mr McGuinness announced last week he is retiring from frontline politics, due to ongoing concerns about his health. Commenting on Ms O'Neill's selection by the party, he said he was "overjoyed" by the choice, and said she would have his "full support". Ms O'Neill, 40, currently serves as Northern Ireland's minister for health, and will be the party's first female leader. She represents the constituency of Mid Ulster at Stormont and is part of a new generation of Northern Irish politicians who have been elected in recent years. She has a relatively low profile in Northern Ireland compared to other politicians within the party. However, the recent collapse of power-sharing in the region has seen her take on a greater leadership role. Ms O'Neill is more commonly associated with the socialist aspects of Sinn Fein than the Republican aspects, suggesting a potential change of direction for the party. In a biography page listed on Sinn Fein's website, she is described as: "A formidable campaigner [championing] issues of equality, autism, disability, mental health and the rights of rural dwellers." Following the announcement, Ms O'Neill said: "To lead our party in the North is truly the biggest honour and privilege of my life. I feel a huge amount of responsibility on my shoulders, and while I don't underestimate my task, given the changing political world locally, nationally and internationally, I will not let you down." The all-island party has both a leader in the North and a party president, a position currently fulfilled by Gerry Adams who is a TD in the Dublin parliament. 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 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA Power-sharing collapsed for the first time in over a decade this month when Sinn Fein withdrew from the Stormont executive. The party were protesting what they described as "arrogance" from their power-sharing counterparts the Democratic Unionists, over how their leader Arlene Foster had handled allegations she was implicated in a major financial scandal. The parliament will now officially dissolve and new elections will be held on 2 March in a bid to elect a new government willing to return to power-sharing. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics 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 Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Senior Conservative MP has said whoever tried to "draw a veil" over an abnormal nuclear missile test should be sacked, as the scandal threatened to overshadow Theresa May's new industrial strategy. Commons Defence Committee chair Julian Lewis accused the Government of trying to "play both ways", in releasing footage of successful tests but refusing to discuss the one last June which saw a missile veer off course towards the United States. His comments came after cabinet minister Greg Clark tried to claim the Government had a longstanding approach for not commenting on missile tests, despite press releases having previously been distributed. Theresa May has also dodged questions on the test, which occurred just before a crucial vote in the Commons that saw ministers encourage MPs to support a successor nuclear deterrent programme. Conservative MP Mr Lewis said that while the decision to apparently cover up the problem was taken under David Cameron, the Government would at some point have to explain what happened. Mr Lewis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This sort of event is not one you can play both ways. These tests are routine but infrequent in this country. "Whenever they work, which is 99 per cent of the time, film is released of them working so whichever person decided they wanted to draw a veil over one that didn't work should have been sacked. "You have always got to assume that something like this will come out." Theresa May dodges question four times over Trident misfire Earlier in the day Business Secretary Mr Clark claimed it was the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on the tests of weapons systems, saying: "If that's the approach that you take, I think we have to abide by that approach." When he was later challenged on Sky News over the press releases and footage of successful tests that had been issued by the Government, the interview was disrupted by a poor signal, and despite being repeatedly asked he failed to provide a clear answer. The Sunday Times reported that a Trident II D5 missile test ended in failure after it was launched from the British submarine HMS Vengeance off the coast of Florida in last summer. The cause of the failure remains top secret, but the report quoted a senior naval source saying the missile, which was unarmed for the test, suffered an in-flight malfunction after launch. It was reportedly intended to be fired 5,600 miles to a sea target off the west coast of Africa but may have veered off towards America instead. Which countries have nuclear weapons? Show all 14 1 /14 Which countries have nuclear weapons? Which countries have nuclear weapons? USA Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Russia Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? UK Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? France Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? China Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? India Say they have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Pakistan Say they have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? North Korea Say they have nuclear weapons EPA/Rodong Sinmun Which countries have nuclear weapons? Israel Believed to have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Belgium Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Germany Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Italy Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Netherlands Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Turkey Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty In July, MPs voted by 472 to 117 to back the renewal of Britain's Trident nuclear deterrence. The overwhelming vote supported the Government's plans to spend up to 40 billion on four new Successor-class submarines. On The Andrew Marr Show, the Prime Minister refused to answer four separate questions on whether she knew about the incident prior to the parliamentary vote. She said: I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles. It was about whether or not we should renew Trident, whether we should look to the future and have a replacement Trident. I think we should defend our country, I think we should play our role in NATO with an independent nuclear deterrent. Jeremy Corbyn thinks differently. Opposition MPs were pushing for a government minister to come and explain the affair to the Commons today, as Ms May attempted to promote her new industrial strategy in Warrington. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics 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 Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May did know about last years controversial test firing of a Trident missile, but No.10 is refusing to confirm that it veered off course. Instead, the Prime Ministers spokeswoman insisted the operation had been successful because both the submarine and the crew were able to return to service. Her spokeswoman described repeated questions about allegations that the unarmed missile went astray as minutiae and specifics. Theresa May dodges question four times over Trident misfire The admission that Ms May was informed about the results of last Junes test comes 24 hours after she refused four times to say if she had been aware of it. She has been accused of covering up the test, which came just weeks before MPs backed the 40bn renewal of Trident by 472 votes to 117. Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, immediately tweeted: Absolutely no excuse now for Theresa May dodging Parliament on this. She must come in today, answer questions and apologise. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been hauled back to the Commons from a Cabinet trip to Lancashire and will face a grilling from MPs this afternoon. In the past, successful tests have been publicised by the Ministry of Defence, which has even released videos to show off Tridents effectiveness. According to the Sunday Times, the missile was intended to be fired 5,600 miles (9,012 km) from the coast of Florida to a sea target off the west coast of Africa - but veered towards the US. But, asked about the story by the BBCs Andrew Marr on Sunday, the Prime Minister repeatedly refused to say if she knew about the alleged malfunction. Today, No.10 changed course, telling journalists that Ms May had after becoming Prime Minister, in July been briefed about the test and that it had been successful. It was a demonstration and shakedown operation undertaken by HMS Vengeance following a refit and both submarine and crew had been certified to return to service. Asked if the Prime Minister was told the missile had veered off course, her official spokeswoman replied: I don't accept the premise of the question. She said: We have been clear that the submarine and the crew were successfully tested and certified. That was the purpose of the operation. What is also clear is that the capability and effectiveness of the Trident missile is unquestionable. Asked, again, if there had been a malfunction, the spokeswoman replied: Im not going to get into operational details. Labour and other senior MPs had been told about the test but the spokeswoman could not say if they were told the results of it. Earlier, Business Secretary Greg Clark told the BBC: It's been the longstanding policy not to comment on tests of weapons systems and I think if that's the approach you take we have to abide by that. Yet, in 2012, a Ministry of Defence press release referred to the successful firing of an unarmed Trident ballistic missile by HMS Vigilant during a test launch in the Atlantic Ocean last week. And, in 2014, another quoted then-defence minister Philip Dunne saying: Last week I was off the coast of Florida embarked on USS West Virginia to witness a test firing of 2 Trident 2 D5 missiles. This successful test demonstrated once again that that Trident remains a credible and reliable deterrent. Nia Griffith, Labour's shadow defence secretary, has demanded that the Government give a full explanation to MPs later. And Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, where the submarines are based, on the River Clyde, called the apparent misfire a hugely serious issue. Julian Lewis, the Conservative chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, has accused David Camerons media team of a cover-up because the test took place while has was still in office. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics 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 Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May is to set out plans for the Governments new industrial strategy, which she hopes will more equitably spread wealth across the country and enable the regions to take advantage of opportunities in new industries and sectors. On Monday morning the Prime Minister will attend her first regional cabinet meeting in the north west, and publish a green paper which will explain how the government can offer support, and potentially amend regulations to allow businesses to develop in new sectors and increase exports to the rest of the world. The plans involve a new 170 million investment to set up new institutes of technology, and a new approach to science and innovation. Recommended Why Theresa May is right to revive our industrial strategy Ms May said in a statement: The modern Industrial Strategy will back Britain for the long term: creating the conditions where successful businesses can emerge and grow, and backing them to invest in the long-term future of our country. It will be underpinned by a new approach to government, not just stepping back but stepping up to a new, active role that backs business and ensures more people in all corners of the country share in the benefits of its success. On Sunday the Prime Minister told the BBCs Andrew Marr: "It's about saying what are our strengths, as we come out of the European Union, we're coming together as a country, we're forging our shape, our future. What the modern industrial strategy will be about will be saying what is the shape of the economy that we want in the future. "Where are the successful sectors that we can help to encourage to grow, but also what are the sectors that we need to look at for the future too. The Prime Minister has set out ten distinct areas for the industrial strategy, including infrastructure investment and affordable, clean energy. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: This is an important step in building a modern, dynamic industrial strategy that will improve living standards and drive economic growth across the whole country. A modern British Industrial Strategy must - build on the UK's strengths and extend excellence into the future; close the gap between the the UK's most productive companies, industries, places and people and the rest; and ensure we are one of the most competitive places in the world to start and grow a business. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics 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 Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Trident missile did malfunction last year, a US official has confirmed as MPs were being told they were not allowed to know the truth. The rogue missile had to be ordered to self-destruct off the Florida coast, the American news channel CNN was told today. It did not veer towards the US as reported yesterday the official said, but was diverted into the sea under an automatic procedure when a fault is detected. To the embarrassment of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, the report emerged as he was insisting, in the Commons, that no details of the botched test could be revealed. Both Labour and Conservative MPs accused Sir Michael of a cover-up, demanding to know when he and then-prime minister David Cameron were told. One MP, Labours Kevin Brennan, said the secrecy undermined the Commons and was a don't tell him Pike strategy, after the Dads Army character. Sir Michael was summoned to the Commons after Theresa May finally admitted she had been aware of the test, but insisted it had been a successful. It was a demonstration and shakedown operation undertaken by HMS Vengeance following a refit and both submarine and crew had been certified to return to service, No.10 said. Asked if the Prime Minister was told the missile had veered off course, her official spokeswoman replied: I don't accept the premise of the question. That stance was then echoed by Mr Fallon, who insisted details of tests were never revealed despite videos of previous successes being posted on YouTube. But, even as he was speaking, CNN was reporting an explanation given by a US defence official with direct knowledge of the incident. According to the Sunday Times, the missile was meant to be fired 5,600 miles from the coast of Florida to a sea target off the west coast of Africa - but veered towards the US. However, the US official said the missile was diverted into the sea to self-destruct - an automatic procedure when missile electronics detect an anomaly. Carol Jordan, a senior CNN news editor, tweeted: A #Trident test did go wrong off the coast of #Florida but the missile self-destructed, a #US defense official has told #CNN. In the Commons, Sir Michael continued to state that the test had been successful and that decisions on publicity were made "on a case by case basis". But Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith said: The British public deserve the facts on a matter as important as Britain's nuclear deterrent and they deserve to hear those facts from their prime minister, not in allegations sprawled across a Sunday paper. At the heart of this issue is a worrying lack of transparency and a prime minister who has chosen to cover up a serious incident rather than coming clean with the British public. The admission that Ms May was informed about the results of last Junes test came 24 hours after she refused four times to say if she had been aware of it. She has been accused of keeping it quiet, just weeks before MPs backed the 40bn renewal of Trident by 472 votes to 117. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Richard Spencer has said he is worried the video of him being punched in the face after the inauguration of Donald Trump will become the meme to end all memes. Spencer, a white supremacist, was punched in the face in downtown Washington while being interviewed by a journalist at the anti-Trump protest. Prior to the punch, onlookers had started asking him questions such as: "Did he like black people and was he a member of the KKK?" The "alt-right" leader was explaining the meaning of his Pepe the Frog badge, a cartoon character who has become a symbol for white nationalism, when he was punched by a man dressed in black. The video of Spencer, who is credited with coining the term "alt-right", immediately prompted a torrent of jokes, memes and remixed videos on social media. Im afraid this is going to become the meme to end all memes, Spencer said in a periscope video. That Im going to hate watching this. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In the video titled The assault on me, he said he was left with a black eye on Saturday and was going to have to start considering operational security. He told viewers he was recording the video from what he called a safe space. I was planning to go out tomorrow during the Womens March to do some journalism but I cant do that anymore, Spencer told viewers. I have reached a stage of being a public figure where I am going to be recognised and then be attacked." The footage of Spencer being punched has been remixed to everything from Thin Lizzys The boys are back in town to Bruce Springsteens Born in the USA. Jon Fareau, a former speech-writer for Barack Obama, tweeted: I don't care how many different songs you set Richard Spencer being punched to, I'll laugh at every one. Recommended Richard Spencer was punched in the face twice at the inauguration Spencer is a leader and spokesperson for the so-called alt-right movement a political movement which has been accused of racism, antisemitism and misogyny and of sharing an ideology with far-right parties such as the French National Front. Spencer, who is president of the far-right National Policy Institute, has previously said he rejects the label of white supremacist and instead calls himself an identitarian. He supports a white homeland for a dispossessed white race and calls for peaceful ethnic cleansing to put a stop to the deconstruction of European culture. On Saturday, Spencer told the New York Times he was not a Nazi but was simply a member of the "alt-right" which he refers to as identity politics for white Americans and for Europeans around the world". He said Nazism was a historical term which was not able to "resonate today. German National Socialism is a historic movement of the past. It arose at a very particular time and had particular motives and ideas and policies and styles, and those arent mine, he said. Spencer sparked outrage when he made a number of allusions to Nazi ideology during a speech at a conference in Washington in November. Hail Trump! Hail our people! Hail victory! he declared, prompting audience members to leap to their feet in applause, with several appearing to make drawn-out Hitler salutes. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sean Spicers first official press briefing at the White House was much longer than the last one and, by most accounts, much better. Determined to put right his relationship with the press after a short and terse exchange on Saturday, he smiled and joked on Monday afternoon that he was prepared to stay longer than they would. He even took questions from reporters he had previously been in feuds with, including CNNs Jim Acosta. He said he would honour his pledge to never tell reporters lies. His podium was lowered on Monday, perhaps improving the visual of an open and transparent press secretary. The full list of questionable, unproven facts and untruths are available below. 1) The Inauguration crowd size was the largest in history The longest answer to a reporter's question was, by far, on how the press reported the crowd size of the Inauguration. He said on Saturday that it was the biggest crowd in American history and he insisted two days later that the statement was true, if one takes viewing figures on television and online into account. White House spokesman Sean Spicer lays into media for 'false' inauguration reporting 2) There were no Trump supporters at the CIA meeting A new report from CBS confirmed that there were Trump supporters in the audience who prompted the claps and cheers during the Presidents speech, which focused on the "dishonest media" and the crowd size on his big day, rather than celebrating the intelligence community. But Mr Spicer said there was only CIA members in the "front row" of the meeting, no supporters. The supporters may have been interspersed throughout the crowd or off-camera, found CBS, and the meeting only served to deepen the "unease" of intelligence officials about the President. 3) Theresa May is the head of state of the UK As Mr Trump would say - "wrong". The head of the state is the Queen and Ms May is the Prime Minister. Mr Spicer said the President was excited to meet her on Friday. Sean Spicer: "I think sometimes we can disagree with the facts" 4) There are several versions of the unemployment rate Asked directly what the unemployment rate was, Mr Spicer replied that there were "several versions" from the Bureau of Labour Statistics. Mr Spicer said the President was "not focused on statistics", rather he looked at whether "people are doing better off". For January, the national unemployment rate was 4.7 per cent. The labour force participation rate was 62.7 per cent. 5) Bilateral deals is most of what China has been engaging in Mr Trump vowed on Monday, as he abandoned TPP, that future trade deals would be "one on one". Mr Spicer provided a similar line, saying that China has "mostly been engaging in" bilateral trade deals. In truth, China has mostly engaged in non-bilateral trade deals, including negotiations with the European Union, the World Trade Organisation and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. 6) Michael Flynn only had two calls with the Russian ambassador "There's been one call. I talked to General Flynn about this again last night," said Mr Spicer. The press secretary said they discussed four topics: Christmas greetings, a plane crash, action in Syria and setting up future talks. He then added: "I don't believe that [talk] has been set up yet. They did follow up, I'm sorry, two days ago about how to facilitate that call, once again. So there have been a total of two calls with the ambassador and General Flynn." The Associate Press previously reported that the new national security adviser, retired general Michael Flynn, had been in frequent contact with Russias ambassador to the US, including on the day that former President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking. Mr Spicer made clear that all information had been given to him by Mr Flynn himself. The US intelligence community is reportedly investigating Mr Flynns communications with Russia. Mr Spicer said that the President had given no indication he would stop such an investigation. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The bakers behind the nine-tier stars-and-stripes cake made for President Donald Trumps inauguration celebrations have revealed they were commissioned to re-create a cake designed specifically for Barack Obamas celebrations four years ago. Duff Goldman, a TV chef and executive chef at the Charm City Cakes shop, tweeted a picture of the cake he created for Mr Obamas inauguration in 2013, next to one that was made for one of Mr Trumps inaugural balls. The side-by-side pictures of the two cakes show they are practically identical. The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obamas inauguration four years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didnt make it, he tweeted. Buttercream Bakeshop, situated in Washington D.C., posted a picture of its cake on Instagram explaining that it had been asked to replicate Mr Goldmans creation by Mr Trumps inauguration committee. The post said all profits will be donated to the Human Rights Campaign in America. The post read: Excited to share the cake we got to make for one of last nights inaugural balls. While we most love creating original designs, when we are asked to replicate someone elses work we are thrilled when it is a masterpiece like this one. @duff_goldman originally created this for Obamas inauguration four years ago and this years committee commissioned us to re-create it. "Best part is all the profits are being donated to @humanrightscampaign, one of our favourite charities who we have loved working with over the years. Because basic human rights are something every man, woman and child, straight, gay or the rainbow in between deserve! Mr Goldman and the people behind the Buttercream Bakeshop appear to have settled their differences however, as the TV chef later congratulated them on Twitter. Remembering a fantastic cake I made is awesome and the chef that re-created it for @POTUS Trump did a fantastic job. Group hug, yall, he wrote. Among the most brutal and blood-thirsty members of the violent terror group Daesh, also known as ISIL, are a handful of men who communicate among themselves in English. This group of four, dubbed The Beatles for their heavy British accents, was put in charge of foreign-born hostages held by Daesh. These men are markedly more brutal to the prisoners than other guards, using extreme methods to torture the prisoners. To date, they have also executed by decapitation at least two dozen prisoners. A number of these executions were videotaped and posted on the Internet by Daesh. Alexanda Amon Kotey has been identified as one of the members of this group of British terrorists. Born in London, United Kingdom in December 1983, Kotey converted to Islam as a teen. Kotey engaged in the groups executions and exceptionally cruel torture methods. Kotey has also acted as an ISIL recruiter and is responsible for recruiting several British nationals to join the terrorist organization. The United States periodically identifies certain individuals that are of particular significance to a terrorist organization. In all cases, these are people who have committed, or are deemed to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. Alexanda Amon Kotey has been identified by the U.S. Government as such an individual. As a result, the U.S. Department of State has placed his name on the Specially Designated Nationals List. His assets within U.S. reach have been frozen. No U.S. citizen or company may conduct business with Alexanda Kotey. This action notifies the international community that Alexanda Amon Kotey is actively engaged in terrorism. Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and assists or complements the law enforcement actions of U.S. agencies as well as other governments. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Chelsea Clinton and Barron Trump might come from families with polar opposite political perspectives but they do have one key thing in common: they are both the offspring of US Presidents. This might explain why the former First Daughter decided to come to the defence of Donald Trumps 10-year-old son. On inauguration day, the youngest Trump child was subject to a torrent of memes mocking his facial expressions and accusing him of looking bored. Chelsea, the only child of Hillary and Bill Clinton challenged those who mocked him, saying: Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does - to be a kid. Donald Trump: 11 things that have happened since he became US President But she also alluded to the fact some of Mr Trumps policies might have a detrimental effect on children. Standing up for every kid also means opposing @POTUS policies that hurt kids, she said on Twitter. The outrage against the mocking of Barron was sparked after Katie Rich, a Saturday Night Live writer said he would be the country's first homeschool shooter in a since deleted tweet. Trump Inauguration protests around the World Show all 14 1 /14 Trump Inauguration protests around the World Trump Inauguration protests around the World Activists from Greenpeace display a message reading "Mr President, walls divide. Build Bridges!" along the Berlin wall in Berlin on January 20, 2017 to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United State Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World An activist holds up a sign at the "We Stand United" rally on the eve of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York on January 19, 2017 in New York Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters burn a U.S. flag and a mock flag with pictures of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the U.S. embassy in metro Manila, Philippines Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Filipino protestors hold placcards during a protest rally in front of the US embassy in Manila, Philippines, 20 January 2017. On the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inaguration as the 45th president of the United States, Filipinos and Fil-Americans held a protest in front of the US embassy in Manila to denounce the incoming US president. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Hong Kong police officers and security guards look on as an anarchist protester belonging to the Disrupt J20 movement sits after using a heavy duty D-lock and motorcycle lock to chain himself to a railing at the entrance gate to the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong to protest the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump, Hong Kong, China, 20 January 2017. Two activists were arrested and taken away by Hong Kong police during the demonstration. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A banner is unfurled on London's Tower Bridge, organised by Bridges Not Walls - a partnership between grassroots activists and campaigners working on a range of issues, formed in the wake of Donald Trump's election, which aims to build bridges to a world free from hatred and oppression. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, DC, U.S. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Bridges Not Walls banner dropped from Molenbeek bridge in Brussels, Belgium, 20 January 2017, in an Greenpeace action part of protests Wolrd protest in solidarity with people in the US, the day Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds an anti-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump placard during a rally in Tokyo, Japan, Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Banners on North Bridge in Edinburgh as part of the Bridges Not Walls protest against US President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Russian artist Vasily Slonov (L) and his assistant carry a life-sized cutout, which is an artwork created by Slonov and titled "Siberian Inauguration", before its presentation on the occasion of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in a street in Krasnoyarsk, Russia Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds a banner during a march to thank outgoing President Barack Obama and reject US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration at a park in Tokyo, Japan, 20 January 2017. EPA Trump Inauguration protests around the World Palestinian demonstrators protesting this week against a promise by Donald Trump to re-locate the US embassy to Jerusalem Reuters Chelsea and Ivanka Trump, who is said to be the President's favourite child, are long-time friends despite the fact their parents have been fierce political opponents. Until recently, they were both based in Manhattan in New York and were introduced by their husbands a few years ago. On Thursday, Ivanka said while Chelsea is a very good friend of hers, the two havent talked since the presidential election. Recommended Chelsea Clinton takes on Ivanka Trump Shes been a friend of mine long before the campaign, of course will be a friend of mine after, the mother-of-three told ABC News. I havent spoken about the specific challenges about this next chapter with her just yet but I intend to. In July, Mr Trump said he wished his daughter did not like his rival candidate's daughter. My daughter likes Chelsea and Chelsea likes my daughter, what are you going to do, thats the way it is. Thats okay, he told the audience at a Colarado rally. I asked Ivanka, I said do you like Chelsea. I do dad. Really? No I really do. Ah I wish you didnt it would be a lot easier. Nevertheless, the real estate tycoon accepted that the pair liked each other and commended Chelsea for her performance at the Democratic convention. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Rights groups are calling for the US Senate to reject President Donald Trump's selection to head the CIA, who has said he would consider bringing back waterboarding. Human Rights Watch said there are "overriding concerns" Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo "would use the agencys surveillance and other powers in ways likely to violate rights on a broad scale." During his confirmation hearings, Mr Pompeo said he would "absolutely not" bring back harsh interrogation techniques like waterboarding if asked to do so by Mr Trump. Moreover, I cant imagine that I would be asked that, he added. However, in a series of written responses to questions from members of the Senate intelligence committee, he said he would back reviewing the ban on waterboarding if it was shown to impede the "gathering of vital intelligence". Donald Trump performs U-turn by praising the CIA "If confirmed, I will consult with experts at the Agency and at other organisations in the US government on whether the Army Field Manual uniform application is an impediment to gathering vital intelligence to protect the country," he wrote. While agreeing that waterboarding and other former CIA "enhanced interrogation techniques" are unlawful, he said he remained open to changes. "If experts believed current law was an impediment to gathering vital intelligence to protect the country," he wrote, "I would want to understand such impediments and whether any recommendations were appropriate for changing current law." Pompeos responses to questions about torture and mass surveillance are dangerously ambiguous about whether he would endorse abusive practices and seek to subvert existing legal protections, Maria McFarland Sanchez-Moreno, US program co-director at Human Rights Watch, said. Pompeos failure to unequivocally disavow torture and mass surveillance, coupled with his record of advocacy for surveillance of Americans and past endorsement of the shuttered CIA torture program, make clear that he should not be running the CIA. In a statement posted on his website in September 2014, Mr Pompeo criticised Mr Obama from prohibiting the use of waterboarding and other harsh techniques after he assumed office in 2009. President Obama has continually refused to take the war on radical Islamic terrorism seriously from ending our interrogation programme in 2009 to trying to close Guantanamo Bay, to even releasing top Taliban commanders back into the field in a prisoner exchange that violated American law, he wrote. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters During his election campaign, Mr Trump said he approved of reintroducing waterboarding. The method, widely considered torture by independent legal observers, involves placing a cloth over a shackled suspect's mouth and then pouring water over the cloth to simulate the sensation of drowning. Speaking in South Carolina in February, Mr Trump said: Dont tell me it doesnt work torture works. Half these guys say Torture doesnt work. Believe me, it works. In November 2015, he said: I think waterboarding is peanuts compared to what they do to us. "What theyre doing to us, what they did to James Foley when they chopped off his head, thats a whole different level and I would absolutely bring back interrogation and strong interrogation. The United Nations Convention Against Torture, ratified by the US in 1990, describes torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A writer for far-right news site Breitbart is set to become Donald Trumps special assistant, it has been reported. Julia Hahn, who covers US politics and immigration policy for Breitbart News, is expected to join the sites former chairman Steve Bannon at the White House. According to Politico, she is likely to work closely with Mr Bannon, who was appointed President Trumps chief strategist following the election. Ms Hahn was welcomed to the ultra-conservative site in July 2015 by its Political Editor Matthew Boyle. The following month, she wrote a piece titled Muslim immigration puts half a million US girls at risk of genital mutilation. Two of her articles published days before the election were titled Final warning from immigration officers: Clinton, open borders will unleash violence, countless preventable deaths in America and Under Hillary Clinton presidency, US Muslim population would exceed Frances by 2024. Before joining Breitbart, Ms Hahn worked as a producer for conservative talk show host and Trump supporter Laura Ingraham. While the White House and Ms Hahn have yet to confirm her new role, Ms Hahn's title is expected to be special assistant to the President, reported Politico. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters Earlier this month, German police condemned Breitbart's reporting of the events of New Years Eve in the city of Dortmund, which claimed a 1,000-man mob of Syrian refugees had set fire to Germanys oldest church. However, according to local journalists, there was no mob and the St Reinold Church which is not Germanys oldest did not catch fire. Local police said the night was rather average to quiet and the number of incidents in Dortmund on New Years Eve had decreased to 185, down from 421 in 2015/16. Recommended Donald Trump signs executive order to withdraw from TPP trade deal We shook our heads in disbelief when we saw how this operation was politicised [by Breitbart], said Dortmund police spokesman Gunnar Wortmann, according to The Washington Post. Despite Breitbarts exaggerations and lack of a reporter at the scene, the story was shared many thousands of times online. Much of the new Presidents inaugural speech is believed to have been written by Mr Bannon and aide Stephen Miller. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Falsehoods spread by President Donald Trump's White House could put "lives at risk" according to a senior congressman. Democrat Adam Schiff, of California, was speaking during the fallout from a number of false claims made by Mr Trump and his staff regarding the size of the crowd at his inauguration ceremony. Press secretary Sean Spicer made the demonstrably false claim that the crowd was the biggest ever, "period", while the President himself claimed between one and 1.5 million people had attended, which photographs disproved. Recommended The traditional way of reporting on a president is dead Mr Schiff, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told Politico: "It absolutely puts lives at risk. If the president claims that Iran is cheating on the nuclear accord, or that North Korea is about to test a nuclear device on an intercontinental missile, the public needs to believe him, and if he so undermines his credibility we cant build an international coalition it has the gravest consequences." Mr Trump's adviser Kellyanne Conway told an incredulous NBC anchor on Sunday that Mr Spicer was dealing in "alternative facts", not falsehoods. Lt. Gen. Patrick Hughes, the retired former director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, said "you should be absolutely factual" when discussing intelligence or foreign affairs, Politico reported. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Communications between President Donald Trumps national security advisor Michael Flynn and Russian officials are being investigated by counterintelligence agencies, according to the Wall Street Journal. The news came just hours after the retired Lieutenant General had been sworn in as Mr Trumps national security advisor on Sunday. The newspaper reported it is not clear when the inquiry began, whether it has produced any incriminating evidence, whether it is still underway or closing. The intelligence bodies reportedly investigating Mr Flynns ties with Russia are the Treasury Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Security Agency (NSA). People claiming to be close to the matter told the newspaper the inquiry is intended to understand the nature of the contact between Mr Flynn and Russian officials, and whether the contact may have broken the law. A key point is understood to be the examination of phone calls made by Mr Flynn to the Russian ambassador to America, Sergey Kislyak, on 29 December, the same day Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the country. The former President took the action, which included imposing sanctions on Russia, in response to the countrys alleged hacking of the Democratic National Committees (DNC) computers and interfering with the US presidential election. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (Ret) says islam is a political ideology and not a religion Last week Mr Trumps team denied Mr Flynn had been in contact with Mr Kislyak, but later admitted calls had been made between the two. The day before the inauguration, a senior US official told the Associated Press that the pair had been in very frequent" contact, while Reuters reported five calls had been made on 29 December. A White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, said: We have absolutely no knowledge of any investigation or even a basis for such an investigation. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} President Donald Trump will likely overturn a permit denial that prohibited the construction of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), which was the focus of months of massive protests by Native Americans and garnered global attention. Press Secretary Sean Spicer did not provide specifics about Mr Trump's plans regarding continuing construction of the DAPL and the Keystone XL Pipeline, but he gave first hints that the new administration would move forward with the project. Mr Trump launched his first working week as President of the United States carrying out his plans of dismantling many of Barack Obama's signature policies such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and portions of the Affordable Care Act. Pushing through the Dakota Access Pipeline would further Mr Trump's promise to work against his predecessor. Recommended Donald Trump signs executive order to withdraw from TPP trade deal "I'm not going to get in front of the President's executive actions," Mr Spicer said, "but I will tell you that areas like the Dakota and Keystone pipeline areas that we can increase jobs, increase economic grown, and tap into America's energy supply. That's something that he's been very clear about." He added that Mr Trump is "very, very keen in making sure we maximise use of our natural resources to America's benefit". Hundreds of thousands of people gathered near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation to protest the pipeline amid fears that it would contaminate the local water supply and destroy sacred sites in the area. Braving sub-freezing temperatures at times, demonstrators (who refer to themselves as "water protectors") held their ground in the area. Private security teams and area law enforcement mobilised against the activists with dogs, water cannons and tear gas. Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Show all 21 1 /21 Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Fireworks fill the night sky above Oceti Sakowin Camp as activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline near the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Fireworks fill the night sky above Oceti Sakowin Camp as activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline near the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Nation listens to speakers during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: An Native American activist rides down fom a ridge which overlooks Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Political activist Cornel West listen to speakers during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists hold hands during a prayer circle as they try to surround the entire camp at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country gather at the camp trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists celebrate at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota, after hearing that the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the current route for the Dakota Access pipeline. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Chief Arvol Looking Horse (L) of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Nation listens as political activist Cornel West speaks during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Military veterans from Southern California collect firewood for their campsite at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 03: Activists participate in an art project conceived by Cannupa Hunska Luger, from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 3, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Military veterans are briefed on cold-weather safety issues and their overall role at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists celebrate at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota, after hearing that the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the current route for the Dakota Access pipeline. The US Army Corps of Engineers on Sunday announced they will no longer allow the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota, marking a huge win for Native Americans and protesters who had long opposed the construction. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images In December, the US Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit to the Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners to complete the final leg of the $3.8bn pipeline. The project was planned to stretch across North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois. "Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it's clear that there's more work to do," Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Army's Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, said. "The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing." Standing Rock protests continue: 'Water is life' Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman David Archambault II quickly celebrated the decision when the announcement was made. "We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing," he said. However, North Dakota congressman Kevin Cramer said Mr Trump could easily overturn the Environmental Impact Study (EIS), ordered by Mr Obama, that prompted the denial of permit. With the Dakota Access Pipeline, I would expect ... that the EIS will be rescinded," he told a Fox radio affiliate in Fargo. "I expect [the EIS] will be rescinded quickly, that the easement [to drill under Lake Oahe] will be ordered and issued, you know, maybe as early as Monday. And I would expect that Dakota Access could begin finishing that line within a week. Thats my hope, and thats my expectation." Mr Trump previously owned between $500,000 and $1m in shares of Energy Transfer Partners in 2015, according to campaign disclosures. After selling off much of his shares, he still held a less than $50,000 stake in the company last summer. The Trump campaign had denied that Mr Trump's interest in Dakota Access Pipeline project had anything "to do with his personal investments and everything to do with promoting policies that benefit all Americans. "Those making such a claim are only attempting to distract from the fact that President-elect Trump has put forth serious policy proposals he plans to set in motion on Day One." Protests are still underway in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, but the Standing Rock Tribal Council has issued an evacuation order for people still camped at the construction site, Indian Country Today reported. "The main objective of the people of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe was to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which has been achieved to a degree," said Cannon Ball district representative Cody Two Bears. "All the individuals at all the camps in and around Cannon Ball need to leave." The decision to evacuate was made following recent clashes between water protectors and law enforcement. Since 16 January, about 35 protesters have been arrested for carrying out demonstrations and actions at the site of the pipeline. Mr Trump's first days as President have sparked the concerns of human rights advocates worldwide. On Saturday, nearly five million people took to the streets in countries around the globe to protest the new administration. The Women's March in the US drew 2.9 million participants, the largest mass protest in American history. But two days later, Mr Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the so-called Mexico City Policy. The rule, revoked by Barack Obama in 2009, forces NGOs to agree to "neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations" as a prerequisite for federal funds. The ACLU decried the action an "assault on women's health". Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order later on Monday that signals his intention to renegotiate the terms of Nafta, a free trade agreement between the US, Mexico and Canada. The controversial free trade deal has been criticised for allowing companies to move jobs abroad, but its supporters say it provides millions of jobs in the US. The President made it his first executive action on Monday to sign an order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a deal among 11 Pacific Rim countries that had yet to be ratified by Congress. Donald Trump meets business leaders on "Day One" of his presidency He had described the TPP as "a potential disaster for our country". In its place, he said he would "negotiate fair bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back". In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters On Sunday, Mr Trump revealed that he had set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with Nafta," he said of his meeting with Mr Pena Nieto. Mr Trump said he will also discuss immigration and security at the border with Mexico. He has previously promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and that Mexico will pay for it. His chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said on "Fox News Sunday" the President would spend his first full week in office undoing some of former President Barack Obama's agenda, including signing executive orders on immigration and trade. Mr Trump has pledged to scrap trade deals such as the pending Asia-Pacific agreement, as well as overturning Mr Obama's executive order deferring deportations for 700,000 people who were brought into the country illegally as minors. The Nafta deal allows multinational companies to produce everything from planes to household gadgets using labour from multiple countries. It was drafted by previous Republican administrations including President George H W Bush and signed through by President Bill Clinton in 1994. During the TV debates ahead of the 2016 election, Mr Trump called Nafta "the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country". Even supporters of keeping Nafta admit that it is in need of an upgrade. They would have it include elements of the TPP - somewhat ironically - such as rules covering digital trade and the movement of electronic business data. But few would go so far, as Mr Trump has, as suggesting the deal should be scrapped altogether. The National Association of Manufacturers calls the deal "a boost to US competitiveness". And in an interview with Fox News last year, the president of the US Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohue, said: You want to get rid of Nafta? Nafta is 14 million jobs in the United States. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Mr Trump kicked off his first full week in office by issuing the major reversal of Barack Obama's signature trade deal, pulling away from Asia. The President strongly opposed the 12-country trade pact a signature theme of his campaign but the agreement had not yet received Senate approval, so the executive order was more of a formality. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters The Senate was likely to scrap the agreement considering strong public anxiety over the deal. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders also campaigned against the TPP. "Great thing for the American worker what we just did," Mr Trump said while signing the order in the White House Oval Office. The order is a defection from Republicans in Congress who supported the trade deal, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. Mr Obama worked with the Republican leader to pass legislation to grant the President authority to negotiate the trade agreement. Ranking Senate Republicans were quick to criticise Mr Trump's decision to pull away from the TPP. Obama Tries to Sell TPP Trade Agreement at ASEAN "President Trumps decision to formally withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for Americas economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region," said Arizona Sen John McCain. Democrat Sen Sherrod Brown said Mr Trump had made the "wrong decision" and that it would ultimately give China more influence over the region. But Bernie Sanders, who was a vocal opponent of the TPP during his presidential campaign, praised Mr Trump for his actions, saying the deal was "dead and gone". Donald Trump: 11 things that have happened since he became US President "Now is the time to develop a new trade policy that helps working families, not just multi-national corporations," Mr Sanders said in a statement. "If President Trump is serious about a new policy to help American workers then I would be delighted to work with him." Democratic Rep Keith Ellison echoed Mr Sanders' sentiment, and called on President Trump to follow up on the action and work to benefit working class Americans, not fellow billionaires. "The activists, advocates, and American workers who have spent the past five years fighting this trade deal deserve the credit for bringing about the end of the TPP not President Trump," he said in a statement for the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "It is up to President Trump to stand up to his billionaire cabinet and corporate boardrooms to create trade policies that benefit American workers, instead of increasing the profits and power of big corporations." Mr Trump also plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, the pact between the US, Canada, and Mexico introduced by George HW Bush and pushed through Congress by Bill Clinton. On Sunday, he said he scheduled meetings with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to renegotiate the two-decade-old trade agreement. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with Nafta," he said of his meeting with Mr Pena Nieto. He said he would also discuss immigration and border security with Mr Pena Nieto. During the televised debates before the 2016 election, Mr Trump called Nafta "the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country". The President criticised such deals in his inaugural address, during which he promised an "America First" approach to foreign policy. The phrase is rooted in anti-Second World War rhetoric in the US, and has been criticised as being anti-Semitic. Bill Clinton signs Nafta on 8 December 1993 (AFP) (Bill Clinton signs Nafta on 8 December 1993) "We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs," Mr Trump said in his short, nationalistic speech on Inauguration Day. "Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength." The TPP withdrawal order was one of three actions taken by the President in his third full day in office. He also ordered a freeze in government hiring and re-imposed a ban on providing federal money to international groups that provide abortions. Mr Trump has criticised international free trade deals for rewarding companies for outsourcing work and has attributed the loss of US manufacturing to foreign labour. Earlier in the morning, Mr Trump met with US business leaders and said that he plans to penalise companies that ship their jobs overseas. "If you go to another country and you decide that you're going to close and get rid of 2,000 people or 5,000 people ... we are going to be imposing a very major border tax on the product when it comes in," he said in the meeting, which included Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank. President Trump is expected to devote his first week in office to undoing much of Mr Obama's work during his two terms in the White House, including the TPP, the global abortion "gag rule", and a reversal of his predecessor's executive order to defer deportation of some 700,000 undocumented people brought to the US as minors. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} We are just three days into the tenure of President Donald Trump and already the headlines are stacking up. Major developments include the new leader signing an executive order to begin the dismantling of Obamacare, and being named as the target of a lawsuit by ethics experts. Mr Trump has also begun a war with American journalists after press secretary Sean Spicer used his first press conference to decry reporters' alleged bias and make false claims about the size of the crowd at Friday's inauguration ceremony. Here are the 11 things that have already happened in Donald Trump's first three days in charge of the nuclear codes: 1. He's started the process of dismantling Obamacare Recommended The traditional way of reporting on a president is dead Mr Trump split away from his inauguration festivities on Friday to sign the first executive order of his presidency, which directed the federal government to begin dismantling Obamacare. The wide-ranging, single-page order instructs government agencies to "waive, defer, grant exemptions from or delay implementation of any provision or requirement" of the healthcare law that could pose a fiscal burden on state, drug companies, individuals and insurers. But since the Affordable Care Act has been set in regulation, Mr Trump cannot fully repeal it with executive action. 2. Hundreds of new Israeli settlements were announced On Sunday, the Jerusalem Municipality announced the building of 566 new settler homes in three areas in occupied East Jerusalem, adding that the permits had been delayed as the authorities waited for Barack Obamas term to end. The announcement had been delayed after the US declined to veto a UN Security Council resolution condemning construction. Mr Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a "very warm" phone call, and the White House said the new administration was in the "very early stages" of discussing moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalema suggestion which has angered Palestinians, who also claim the city as their capital. Benjamin Netanyahu, it appears, is very buoyed by the arrival of Mr Trump. 3. He's got a lawsuit running against him A group of constitutional scholars and legal experts, including former White House ethics lawyers, are filing a lawsuit accusing Mr Trump of violating the US Constitution by allowing his hotels and other business operations to accept payments from foreign governments. The legal action, brought by watchdog organisation Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, will seek a court order on Monday forbidding Trump from accepting such payments, which it will allege are forbidden by the Constitution's emoluments clause. In a statement, the watchdog alleged that since Mr Trump refused to divest from his businesses, he is now getting cash and favours from foreign governments through guests and events at his hotels, leases in his buildings, and valuable real estate deals abroad. In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters 4. He escalated his war on the media Mr Trump told the audience of his speech at CIA headquarters he was in a "running war" with the American news media while at the same time inflating the number of people who attended his inauguration ceremony. His press secretary, Sean Spicer, claimed the number present was the biggest ever, "period", though photographs showed that to be false, and criticised what he called "deliberate false reporting" on the subject. He also gave the hint of a threat that the new President may choose to bypass journalists entirely. Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway later told NBC's Chuck Todd that Mr Spicer had presented "alternative facts", rather than lies, and added: "If we're going to keep referring to our press secretary in those types of terms I think that we're going to have to rethink our relationship here." 5. Numerous pages disappeared from the White House website The White Houses webpage on civil rights appeared to have been deleted just hours after Mr Trump was inaugurated. Previously a page marking the history of civil rights in the US, it has now been removed. It appears to have been replaced by one entitled Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community which states there is a "dangerous anti-police atmosphere in America" as well as a "tide of lawlessness associated with illegal immigration". Mentions elsewhere about climate change were replaced by a new energy plan that makes no mention of global warming and commits only to helping reduce the prices paid by Americans for their energy. A page detailing Barack Obama's work with the LGBT community also disappeared. 6. We were told Trump will not release his tax returns after all Ms Conway gave the White House's official response to a 209,000-strong petition calling for Mr Trump to release his tax returnsa flat 'no'. She said: "We litigated this all through the election, people didnt care, they voted for him. He made this very clear. Most Americans are very focused on what their tax returns will look like while President Trump is in office, not what his look like." 7. The President bypassed anti-nepotism laws to hire his son-in-law One of the first acts taken by Mr Trumps administration was to rule that his son-in-law could become senior advisor without any conflict of interest under federal anti-nepotism laws. The Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel addressed Mr Trump in an official document published on the day of his inauguration. Its ruling enabled his daughter Ivankas husband, Jared Kushner, to be promoted to the role of senior advisor. Federal anti-nepotism laws in the US prevent relatives from being appointed to government positions but Mr Trump's transition team argued they only apply to jobs in federal agencies, and not for White House posts. 8. He made five claims that simply weren't true Mr Trump cemented his reputation for fabrication on the campaign trail, but ascending to the highest office in the land has not kept him from making false claims. The 45th President has offered his own "alternative facts" at least five times since being inaugurated. 9. National security adviser under investigation Communications between Mr Trumps national security advisor Michael Flynn and Russian officials are being investigated by counterintelligence agencies, according to the Wall Street Journal. The news came just hours after the retired Lieutenant General had been sworn in on Sunday. The newspaper reported it is not clear when the inquiry began, whether it has produced any incriminating evidence, whether it is still underway or closing. 10. Women staged a massive protest - including in Antarctica Mr Trump is so unpopular there were even women marching against him in Antarctica on Saturday. The day after the inauguration of a man who bragged about grabbing women by their genitals, thousands marched in Washington DC and around the world to "stand up for human rights, womens rights and against hate." 11. We found out Trump didn't write his speech after all Most of Donald Trumps inauguration speech was not written by himas he suggested in a tweetbut by two of his top advisors. Two days before his inauguration, Mr Trump tweeted a picture of himself seemingly writing his speech three weeks before at the Winter White House in Mar-a-Lago. But a White House official said much of the speech was actually written by Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Germany is concerned that it is being left on the sidelines by Donald Trump, with senior advisers unable to open communication channels with the new administration. The Merkel government is insisting the US honours existing trade agreements amid fears the country is in for a rough ride from President Trump, who has said the UK will be at the front of the queue for new deals. And, according to reports in German media, advisors to the Chancellor have "given up" hoping that the new President will act in a statesmanlike manner. None of us here believe that anymore, one of the Chancellors advisers told Handelsblatt. The Americans, and the world, will get the Trump they elected. German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said after Fridays inaugaration that Germany might need a new economic strategy geared towards Asia if the US government imposes protectionist policies. It comes amid concerns the Mr Trump will be far more protectionist than his predecessor with question marks hanging over the future of the hugely important Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal. I think we have to prepare for a rough ride, Mr Gabriel said in an interview with broadcaster ZDF, in the first official German reaction to Trump's inauguration. The leader of the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD), coalition partners of Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling Conservatives, dismissed suggestions President Trump may not pursue some of his controversial promises, such as imposing high tariffs on cars imported from Mexico. He means it extremely seriously, said Mr Gabriel. What we heard today were high nationalistic tones. President Trump has been critical of the European Union, labelling it a vehicle for Germany, and said the UK was so smart following the Brexit vote. And he emphasised his enthusiasm for the special relationship between the UK and the US, reportedly even referring to Prime Minister Theresa May as my Maggie. Ups and downs of the special relationship Show all 7 1 /7 Ups and downs of the special relationship Ups and downs of the special relationship 416664.bin KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGES Ups and downs of the special relationship 416663.bin KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGES Ups and downs of the special relationship 416662.bin CORBIS Ups and downs of the special relationship 416665.bin FOX PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES Ups and downs of the special relationship 416661.bin GETTY IMAGES Ups and downs of the special relationship 416666.bin GETTY IMAGES Ups and downs of the special relationship 416667.bin GETTY IMAGES He will meet Ms May in Washington this Friday, but has not yet scheduled a meeting with Ms Merkel, and has spoken to her only once since winning the election. As the longest serving leader in western Europe, Ms Merkel enjoyed good relations with former Presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush, but the German Govenment has reportedly struggled to contact the Trump team since he was elected. President Trump told The Times and Germany newspaper Der Bild in a joint interview that he has always had great respect for Ms Merkel, but described her decision to allow a million migrants into Germany as a catastrophic mistake that had opened the door to terrorism. Mr Trump criticised German car makers for not producing more cars in the US, and said he will impose a 35 per cent tax on imported vehicles as part of his pledge to put America first. German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble warned the President he will be bound by international trade agreements following concern from German industry. He told the German publication Der Spiegel: If Trump really wants to tell Americans which cars to buy, I wish him luck. The United States also signed international agreements. I dont think a big trade war will break out tomorrow, but we will naturally insist that agreements are upheld. Germany employs around 600,000 workers in the US and remains its biggest European trading partner. Sources claim that while the inauguration was happening in Washington DC on Friday, the German leader was attending the opening of an art museum in Potsdam. But speaking the day after the inaugeration at a news conference, Ms Merkel said she would always seek compromise with the President and that transatlantic relations would not be less important in the coming years. [Trump] made his convictions clear in his inauguration speech, she said. I say two things with regards to this: First, I believe firmly that it is best for all of us if we work together based on rules, common values and joint action in the international economic system, in the international trade system, and make our contributions to the military alliances. And second, the transatlantic relationship will not be less important in the coming years than it was in past years. And I will work on that, she added. Jan. 20 Jason W. Burroughs, 40, of Elko was arrested at 1276 Kimberly Ave. for domestic battery. Bail: $3,140 ------ William t. Fishel, 36, of Buhl, Idaho, was arrested at the Elko County Jail for violation of condition of bail release. Bail: $2,500 ------ Beau C. Graunke, 43, of Spring Creek was arrested at 456 Gypsum Drive for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor. No bail listed. ------ Ronald W. Haber, 57, of Elko was arrested at the Elko County Library on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor. Bail: $500 ------ Douglas B. Hegge, 30, of Elko was arrested at 6647 Johnson Ave. on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor. Bail: $655 ------ Tyson S. Hicks, 19, of Spring Creek was arrested at Schuckmans Field for criminal contempt, possession to sell a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to decrease speed or use due car. Bail: $12,235 ------ Darrly E. Horne, 35, of St. Louis, Missouri, was arrested at the Gold Country Casino for trespass not amounting to burglary, disturbing the peace and false statement to obstruct an officer. Bail: $1,687 ------ Brandi L. McNamara, 27, of Elko was arrested at 2050 Idaho St. on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor. Bail: $695 ------ Andrew M. Morris, 22, of Elko was arrested in Carlin City Park for lewdness with a child under 14, commit certain sex acts in public, and statutory sexual seduction by a person older than 21. Bail: $510,000 Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. It is one of his first acts as US President, and reverses Barack Obama's executive order that lifted the ban in 2009. What is the Mexico City Policy or Global Gag Rule? Recommended Trump reeinstates Mexico City policy Under the rule, no US government funding for family planning services can be given to clinics or groups that offer abortion services or counselling in other countries even if the funds for those activities come from non-US government sources. It has been called the Mexico City Policy because it was unveiled at a UN conference there in 1984 and became one of the centrepiece social policies of the conservative administration of President Ronald Reagan. Critics call it the "gag rule" because it also cuts funds to groups which advocate or lobby for the lifting of abortion restrictions, so they say it infringes on free speech. Barack Obama moves to protect funding for abortion clinics from attack by Donald Trump's Republicans What happened in the past? The policy has become a partisan "tit for tat" depending on which party occupies the White House. Support for abortion rights is a central plank of the Democratic Party while abortion rights opponents, many of whom are conservative Christians, comprise a key Republican base. Former President Bill Clinton rescinded the rule when he took office in January 1993. George W. Bush reinstated it on Jan 22, 2001, in one of his first policy moves as president, saying: "It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either here or abroad." Barack Obama then lifted it again on 23 January 2009. Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Show all 23 1 /23 Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions An abortion rights activist holds placards outside of the US Supreme Court before the Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Texas law placing a raft of restrictions on abortion clinics, handing a major victory to the "pro-choice" camp in the country's most important ruling on the divisive issue in a generation. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Pro-life activists pray on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Texas abortion provider Amy Hagstrom-Miller looks on as Nancy Northup, President of The Center for Reproductive Rights speaks to the media outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions An abortion rights activist holds placards outside of the US Supreme Court before the Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Texas law placing a raft of restrictions on abortion clinics, handing a major victory to the "pro-choice" camp in the country's most important ruling on the divisive issue in a generation. Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Texas abortion provider Amy Hagstrom-Miller wipes a tear as she walks down the steps of the United States Supreme Court with Nancy Northup, President of The Center for Reproductive Rights on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Abortion rights activists Morgan Hopkins of Boston, left, and Alison Turkos of New York City, celebrate on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Abortion rights activists Morgan Hopkins of Boston, left, and Alison Turkos of New York City, celebrate on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images) Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activist Morgan Hopkins of Boston, celebrates on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists embrace after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of a ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists embrace after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Pro-choice activist, Alissa Manzoeillo, of Washington, D.C. waits for rulings in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. A ruling is expected in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, a Texas case the places restrictions on abortion clinics, as well as rulings in the former Virginia Governor's corruption case and a gun rights case. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images What's at stake? The United States spends more than $400 million on overseas family planning assistance each year. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said as of September 2008 it provided family planning assistance to 53 developing countries. Critics argue that the anti-abortion restrictions have resulted in huge drops for funding worldwide to organisations that provide family-planning services and basic healthcare, leading to back alley abortions and even deaths. They say this means many women are deprived of contraception and other health services in poor countries. The Center for Reproductive Rights says, for example, that in Ethiopia and Lesotho, some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are no longer able to offer comprehensive and integrated healthcare services to patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. Abortion rights opponents and groups who support the Mexico City Policy contest the view that it has led to an increase of illegal abortions or deaths overseas. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Secret Service has confirmed it is investigating a woman from Kentucky who posted a tweet in which she suggested assassinating Donald Trump. A screen shot shows a post, apparently from the account of Heather Lowrey, from Louisville, which reads: If someone was cruel enough to assassinate MLK, maybe someone will be kind enough to assassinate Trump. #bekind #trump #lovetrumpshate. The Courier-Journal reported that Secret Service agents from the field office in Louisville, had spoken to Ms Lowrey. The agency declined to say when agents interviewed Ms Lowrey or provide any additional details. The tweet, and the account, has now been deleted (Twitter) Any time threatening communications like that are made, we always conduct an investigation, an agent told the newspaper. The tweet eventually disappeared, as did Ms Lowreys Twitter account. She described herself on the page as a Louisville Vixen & aspiring WWE Diva". A number of her former employers issued statements condemning her comment and cutting any ties with her. Donald Trump meets business leaders on "Day One" of his presidency The Louisville burlesque group Va Va Vixens said it had dismissed Mr Lowrey the moment we were informed of this incident. In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters We have a zero tolerance policy for such. Its no secret that we are in the midst of a divided nation. With so much hate and anger in the world, our hope is to be a sanctuary that welcomes all walks of life with open arms, the group said in a statement. The New York Daily News said that Ms Lowrey, who has yet to comment about the tweet, is the only the latest person to face a federal investigation for posting about Mr Trumps assassination. Since the New York tycoon won the presidential election in November, a Florida man was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation after saying he would kill Mr Trump at his inauguration, and an Ohio man faced federal charges after tweeting that it was his life goal to assassinate Trump. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Solar energy in the US employs more people than traditional coal, gas and oil combined, a report has found, in a revelation that could undermine Donald Trumps argument that green energy isnt good for the economy. The latest report from the US Department of Energy (DOE) reveals solar energy accounts for the largest proportion of employers in the Electric Power Generation sector, with wind energy the third largest, while the coal industries have declined in the past 10 years. Solar energy employed 374,000 people over the year 2015-2016, making up 43 per cent of the sectors workforce, while the traditional fossil fuels combined employed 187,117, making up just 22 per cent of the workforce, according to the report. Clinton and Trump Debate Trade, Taxes and Jobs Recommended Trump immediately calls for removal of climate protection plan Proportionally, solar employment accounts for the largest share of workers in the Electric Power Generation sector. This is largely due to the construction related to the significant build out of new solar generation capacity, the report states. It adds that this gap is growing, with net generation from coal sources declining by 53 per cent between 2006 and September 2016, while electricity generation from natural gas increased by 33 per cent and solar by over 5,000 per cent in the same period. In the past year alone, solar industry employment has increased by 25 per cent, adding 73,000 new jobs to the economy, while wind energy employment saw an even larger increase of 32 per cent. Data in the report shows the overall number of jobs in energy efficiency increased by 133,000 to a total of 2.2 million within that year. According to the report, 6.4 million Americans now work in the energy industry and 2016 added 300,000 new net jobs, which made up 14 per cent of the entire job growth of the US for that year. The electric generation mix in the United States is changing, driven by the transition of coal-fired power plants to natural gas and the increase in low carbon sources of energy, states the report. These shifts in electric generation source are mirrored in the sectors changing employment profile, as the share of natural gas, solar, and wind workers increases, while coal mining and other related employment is declining. 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 David Foster, DOE Senior Advisor on Industrial and Economic Policy, said: This report verifies the dynamic role that our energy technologies and infrastructure play in a 21st century economy. Whether producing natural gas or solar power at increasingly lower prices or reducing our consumption of energy through smart grids and fuel efficient vehicles, energy innovation is proving itself as the important driver of economic growth in America, producing 14 per cent of the new jobs in 2016. Mr Trump has made it clear he is not an advocate for renewable energy sources, and there are fears his presidency could be disastrous for the renewable energy industry. Trump takes credit for Sprint plan to add 5,000 jobs in U.S. The President's first post on the White House website indicated he would destroy the USs strategy to tackle climate change. Mr Trump suggested getting rid of burdensome regulations on our energy industry, including harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the US rule. The Climate Action Plan was landmark legislation introduced by Barack Obama in June 2013, serving as what the government described as a national plan for tackling climate change. Mr Trumps environmental document makes no mention of climate change or global warming something Mr Trump has said was just a Chinese hoax. The only mention of the environment calls for responsible stewardship of the environment, but that refers only to keeping water and air clean. Trump Inauguration protests around the World Show all 14 1 /14 Trump Inauguration protests around the World Trump Inauguration protests around the World Activists from Greenpeace display a message reading "Mr President, walls divide. Build Bridges!" along the Berlin wall in Berlin on January 20, 2017 to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United State Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World An activist holds up a sign at the "We Stand United" rally on the eve of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York on January 19, 2017 in New York Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters burn a U.S. flag and a mock flag with pictures of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the U.S. embassy in metro Manila, Philippines Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Filipino protestors hold placcards during a protest rally in front of the US embassy in Manila, Philippines, 20 January 2017. On the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inaguration as the 45th president of the United States, Filipinos and Fil-Americans held a protest in front of the US embassy in Manila to denounce the incoming US president. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Hong Kong police officers and security guards look on as an anarchist protester belonging to the Disrupt J20 movement sits after using a heavy duty D-lock and motorcycle lock to chain himself to a railing at the entrance gate to the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong to protest the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump, Hong Kong, China, 20 January 2017. Two activists were arrested and taken away by Hong Kong police during the demonstration. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A banner is unfurled on London's Tower Bridge, organised by Bridges Not Walls - a partnership between grassroots activists and campaigners working on a range of issues, formed in the wake of Donald Trump's election, which aims to build bridges to a world free from hatred and oppression. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, DC, U.S. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Bridges Not Walls banner dropped from Molenbeek bridge in Brussels, Belgium, 20 January 2017, in an Greenpeace action part of protests Wolrd protest in solidarity with people in the US, the day Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds an anti-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump placard during a rally in Tokyo, Japan, Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Banners on North Bridge in Edinburgh as part of the Bridges Not Walls protest against US President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Russian artist Vasily Slonov (L) and his assistant carry a life-sized cutout, which is an artwork created by Slonov and titled "Siberian Inauguration", before its presentation on the occasion of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in a street in Krasnoyarsk, Russia Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds a banner during a march to thank outgoing President Barack Obama and reject US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration at a park in Tokyo, Japan, 20 January 2017. EPA Trump Inauguration protests around the World Palestinian demonstrators protesting this week against a promise by Donald Trump to re-locate the US embassy to Jerusalem Reuters The new Presidents manifesto promised an energy revolution, which he said he would bring about by unleashing Americas $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, plus hundreds of years in clean coal reserves. It went on to say that Mr Trump would reduce all barriers to responsible energy production, leading to cheaper energy, citing as an example of these barriers Mr Obamas standards designed to reduce methane emissions. According to an Ernst & Young LLP survey published last month, the US stands to lose its position as the top-ranked renewable-energy market for investors under the Trump administration. The President made clear during his election campaign that he hates wind turbines and will do what he can to fight them, Jacob Pedersen, head of equity analysis at Sydbank, said in November. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Women's Marches which took place across the United States to protest Donald Trump's inauguration may have been the largest and most peaceful day of protest in US history. Somewhere between 3.3 million and 4.6 million marchers made their presence known across the United States, yet no arrests were reported at the largest protests across the nation in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York, Chicago or Seattle. That's according to political scientists from the Universities of Connecticut and Denver, who are compiling a mammoth spreadsheet listing march turnouts from the roughly half a million that demonstrated in Washington to the single protester who picketed Show Low, Arizona. The largest single demo was in Los Angeles, where as many as 750,000 women thronged the streets. Meanwhile, sister protests across the globe attracted nearly 300,000 more attendees. 100,000 of those were in London, and there were marches in solidarity from Iraq to Antarctica. Here's how the Women's March compares to some of history's largest protests (some in one city, some in thousands: some in Washington, some worldwide: some peaceful, some not): Estimating crowd size is always difficult: where several different figures are available, the chart above takes an average. The US National Park Service used to release estimates for US demos, but stopped doing so after Louis Farrakhan's 'Million Man March' in 1995, intended to unite the African-American community. Their released figure of 400,000 was far lower than Farrakhan and other organisers had hoped for, and lower than the eventual total of around 837,000 arrived at by independent researchers. It was seen as an attempt to censor the impact of the march, and lead to a bitter row which overshadowed the demo itself. Iraq War protests in 2003 hold the record for the largest demonstration both in a single city and across the globe: 3,000,000 are said to have marched in Rome, which has also been a flashpoint for labour demonstrations on a similar scale. In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters Organisers of an anti-corruption movement in India in 2012, meanwhile, claimed over 100,000,000 workers were involved in some capacity. The Women's March does seem to have been the largest day of protest in US history, though other individual marches have exceeded the tally from Los Angeles or Washington, and in proportion to the country's population then some historic demos may have attracted a larger turnout. But it's also remarkable for its peaceful nature. All these other major demos have, unsurprisingly, seen arrests. At a 1971 May Day action in Washington to protest the Vietnam War, protesters stopping traffic were subjected to the largest mass arrest in US history, as some 10,000 people were held by the National Guard. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The High Court in Mumbai has ordered the release of a woman charged with rape for not stopping her husband from molesting a child. The woman has been awaiting trial since August 2015 when she was charged along with her husband. According to The Times of India, Justice Sadhana Jadhav said: "[She] cannot be prosecuted for the offence punishable under Section 376 as she is a woman. "The only role attributed to her is that she had maintained silence in respect of the acts of her husband. She has been in custody for more than 16 months and deserves to be enlarged on bail." India protests against sexual violence Show all 20 1 /20 India protests against sexual violence India protests against sexual violence April 2015 School girls wear black bands on their faces during a protest rally against the rape case of a 16-year-old girl at Dhupguri town in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal Reuters India protests against sexual violence March 2015 Students of Convent of Jesus and Mary School participate in a protest against the alleged gang rape of a nun in her 70s AP India protests against sexual violence March 2015 Official figures for the number of women raped in India are often disputed by Women's Rights experts who claim the numbers are far higher SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images India protests against sexual violence March 2015 Women protest after the horrific rape and murder of Jyoti Singh in India BBC India protests against sexual violence June 2014 Women in India protest against rape and other attacks on women and girls in the country AP India protests against sexual violence June 2014 Indian activists from the Social Unity Center of India (SUCI) shout slogans against the state government in protest against the gang rape and murder of two girls in the district of Badaun in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and recent rapes in the eastern state of West Bengal, in Kolkata AFP/Getty India protests against sexual violence June 2014 Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were protesting against the rape and hanging of two girls Reuters India protests against sexual violence May 2014 Members of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union shout slogans during a protest against a gang rape of two teenage girls in Katra village, outside the Uttar Pradesh state house, in New Delhi. A top government official said the northern Uttar Pradesh state has sacked two police officers who failed to respond to a complaint by the father of the two teenage girls who went missing and were later found gang raped and killed. The placard at right reads, "Punish the culprits of gang-rape and murder of two Dalit girls" AP Photo/Manish Swarup India protests against sexual violence January 2014 Student protesters outside a Suri hospital where a rape victim is being treated Andrew Buncombe India protests against sexual violence January 2014 West Bengal Women's Forum activists walk a protest rally against a rape case in Calcutta, eastern India. A young girl was gang-raped on October 25 and afterwards repeatedly threatened by the accused, following which the disturbed girl set herself on fire December 23. She was admitted to the hospital with 40 percent burns and finally succumbed to her burn injuries on 31 December EPA India protests against sexual violence August 2013 Republican Party of India supporters protest in Mumbai against the rape of a female photographer Reuters India protests against sexual violence May 2013 Indian demonstrators shout slogans at the police during a protest calling for better safety for women AFP/Getty Images India protests against sexual violence April 2013 An Indian woman holds a poster as she protests with others against how Indian authorities handle sex crimes near the Parliament in New Delhi, after a second suspect was arrested in the rape of a 5-year-old girl. Child rights activists say the rape of the girl is just the latest case in which Indian police failed to take urgent action on a report of a missing child. Three days after the attack, the girl was found alone in locked room in the same New Delhi building where her family lives AP India protests against sexual violence March 2013 Indians protests against all-too-common gang-rapes in their country Getty Images India protests against sexual violence January 2013 Indian students of various organisations hold placards as they shout slogans during a demonstration in Hyderabad Getty Images India protests against sexual violence January 2013 A protester chants slogans as she braces herself against the spray fired from police water canons during a protest against the Indian government's reaction to recent rape incidents in India, in front of India Gate on December 23, 2012 in New Delhi Getty Images India protests against sexual violence January 2013 Indian children paint messages during a gathering to mourn the death of the 23-year old rape victim. Her statement was used in the trial AP India protests against sexual violence January 2013 Indians hold a candlelight vigil in Delhi in memory of a gang-rape victim. Five men have been charged with murder AP India protests against sexual violence December 2012 Indian protesters are escorted by police as they demonstrate against the brutal gang-rape of a woman AP India protests against sexual violence December 2012 Indian protesters destroy a police van during a violent demonstration near the India Gate against a gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus AP The girl's mother lodged a rape case against the woman and her husband in August 2015, claiming the man molested the girl while she slept next to her parents. The complaint alleged the man sometimes molested her in the presence of his wife. The couple were arrested and charged for the offences of rape, unnatural sex and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The prosecution claimed the man had molested the girl in his wife's presence and had not stopped him or retaliated, The Times of India reports. The woman has now been granted bail. Under Indian laws, the offence of rape is gender specific: it is defined as when a man has sexual intercourse with a woman against her will and without her consent. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A total of 27 Javan slow lorises have been rescued from illegal online traders in Indonesia, as part of ongoing efforts to save the critically endangered species. Two illegal traders in Indonesia were caught by police and forestry officials in two separate operations. The first involved a raid on an online trader in Cirebon, West Java, where 19 endangered Javan slow lorises were rescued. A day later, police in Majalengka, also in West Java, caught another online trader and rescued eight more of the animals as they were being packed into plastic boxes to be transported to Yogyakarta. Recommended Rihanna selfie with endangered slow loris leads to two arrests in The animals were taken to the International Animal Rescue (IAR) in Ciapus, where preliminary medical examinations showed many of them were dehydrated, with some suffering eye infections. Rescuers said the animals teeth remained intact, though these are usually clipped by traders without anaesthetic or after care. Twenty five adult animals and two juveniles were rescued in the operation, one of which was a newborn that died on the way to the rescue centre. Usually the mortality rates of trafficked slow lorises is high, with as many as 80% of the animals dying before they reach the markets or the buyers they are intended for, Christine Rattel, programme advisor at International Animal Rescue Indonesia (IAR), said. Traders load the lorises together in small, cramped crates after poaching them from the wild, and this causes them wounds, stress, and sometimes serious medical problems that may even result in death, she said. A Javan slow loris is given medical attention after being rescued (International Animal Rescue) Many of the animals were dehydrated, with some sustaining eye infections (International Animal Rescue) The animals teeth were found intact, but traffickers usually cut them without anaesthetic (International Animal Rescue) People discovered to be illegally trading wild animals in Indonesia risk a five year terms in jail (International Animal Rescue) Slow lorises are on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resourcess (IUCN) red list of threatened species, with authorities striving to prevent them being sold as pets.The animals have also been named by the organisation as one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world. Achmad Pribadi, head of the Sub-Directorate for the Protection and the Security of Forests, stressed the need to take immediate action against the illegal trade of slow lorises, or they could disappear within five years. We are sending a strong message to all online traders of wildlife that law enforcement does not tolerate such cases of illegal wildlife trade," he said. People caught illegally trading wild animals in Indonesia risk a five year terms in jail and a fine of 100 million Indonesian Rupiah (6,000). For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At the end of last year, China announced a complete ban on its ivory trade and processing activities by the end of 2017. The news, a late Christmas gift to many conservationists, was greeted as a game changer by groups including the World Wildlife Fund, which says around 20,000 African elephants are being killed every year for their ivory. As the worlds largest consumer of ivory products, Chinese demand has seen poaching increase and ivory prices rise. The country has had a seemingly insatiable appetite for so-called white gold. At a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora last September, a resolution was tabled which recommended that its 183 member states close their domestic markets for commercial trade in raw and worked ivory as a matter of urgency. Chinas support of the resolution surprised many and led to it being adopted by consensus. The country had taken a big step in re-evaluating its relationship with ivory and its effect on the worlds elephants. The subsequent announcement on 30 December 2016 saw China commit to closing up to 15 of its 34 ivory processing firms and 50 to 60 of its 130 licensed ivory retail shops by 31 March 2017. The second stage will see China phase out the countrys remaining registered legal processors and traders by the end of the year. China has a popular ivory carving industry with a history that stretches back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. To assist those who carry out this work, there will be schemes to assist ivory carvers with the transition into working with other mediums. Master carvers will be encouraged to work in museums and in the repair and maintenance of artistic and culturally significant ivory artefacts. The Chinese move effectively brings to an end the future of the countrys domestic ivory market. But there are millions of pieces of (currently) legally owned ivory artefacts all over China which will have to be dealt with through a strict new management system. Ivory products will only be displayed in museums and art galleries for non-commercial purposes or exhibition, and the giving and inheriting of ivory will still be allowed. The elephant in the sale More worryingly, the Chinese ban on trade specifically excludes items described as genuine antiques. This exemption raises concerns that elephants will continue to be poached to supply an increased trade in ghost ivory (illegal ivory sold as antique legal ivory) as the legitimate market closes. Another problem is that a large portion of Chinas ivory trade will simply shift to Hong Kong, which is not subject to the Chinese ban. Hong Kong is the worlds biggest legal retail market for elephant ivory and a major transit hub for illegal imports. Hong Kong has itself pledged to phase out its domestic ivory market by 2021 and it is hoped that the Chinese announcement will encourage Hong Kong to speed up the timescale. But there is no guarantee this will happen. Concerns over the sale of ghost ivory alongside legitimate legal ivory pieces are even greater in Hong Kong. Hong Kong ivory has even come to be a derogatory term to describe new ivory masquerading as old. Recommended Legalising international ivory trade ruled out after decade of talks This point was recently highlighted by British auctioneer James Lewis, who said of his experiences in Hong Kong: You see old ivory on the same shelf as new ivory. I realised then theres a major market in the Far East that looks at ivory as a commodity as well as an art form, and that the old ivory market is fuelling modern demand. But these concerns should not distract us from the positive aspects of Chinas plans. In terms of addressing the decline in wild elephant populations and Asias attitudes to ivory, the Chinese ban can only be a good thing. Provided Beijing is able to police and manage the changes effectively it could even be the game changer conservationists hope for. Just as importantly, the fact that China has gone so far and with such a strict time scale after years of negotiation could be the catalyst for other states such as Hong Kong, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to follow suit. Demand for white gold has taken the elephant to the brink of extinction. Chinese remorse could be the species salvation. Caroline Cox is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Portsmouth. This article was originally published on The Conversation (conversation.com) For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hungarys Viktor Orban has hailed the inauguration of Donald Trump as the end of multilateralism, suggesting his country and others around the world will now feel unabashed about putting their own interests before those of their neighbours and the wider good. The Eurosceptic nationalist, who was a vocal supporter of Mr Trump throughout his campaign, said the populist US Presidents move to the White House gave the green light for countries to prioritise narrow self-interests. "We have received permission from, if you like, the highest position in the world so we can now also put ourselves in first place," Mr Orban said. The controversial PM, who established himself as vehemently anti-immigration and praised the US Presidents hard-line policies on refugees and building a wall along the Mexican border, claimed the West was undergoing a change of character. Watch the moment Donald Trump is sworn in as President In his inauguration speech Mr Trump said Washington "will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world." "But we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. "We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example." Trump Inauguration protests around the World Show all 14 1 /14 Trump Inauguration protests around the World Trump Inauguration protests around the World Activists from Greenpeace display a message reading "Mr President, walls divide. Build Bridges!" along the Berlin wall in Berlin on January 20, 2017 to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United State Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World An activist holds up a sign at the "We Stand United" rally on the eve of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York on January 19, 2017 in New York Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters burn a U.S. flag and a mock flag with pictures of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the U.S. embassy in metro Manila, Philippines Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Filipino protestors hold placcards during a protest rally in front of the US embassy in Manila, Philippines, 20 January 2017. On the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inaguration as the 45th president of the United States, Filipinos and Fil-Americans held a protest in front of the US embassy in Manila to denounce the incoming US president. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Hong Kong police officers and security guards look on as an anarchist protester belonging to the Disrupt J20 movement sits after using a heavy duty D-lock and motorcycle lock to chain himself to a railing at the entrance gate to the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong to protest the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump, Hong Kong, China, 20 January 2017. Two activists were arrested and taken away by Hong Kong police during the demonstration. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A banner is unfurled on London's Tower Bridge, organised by Bridges Not Walls - a partnership between grassroots activists and campaigners working on a range of issues, formed in the wake of Donald Trump's election, which aims to build bridges to a world free from hatred and oppression. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, DC, U.S. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Bridges Not Walls banner dropped from Molenbeek bridge in Brussels, Belgium, 20 January 2017, in an Greenpeace action part of protests Wolrd protest in solidarity with people in the US, the day Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds an anti-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump placard during a rally in Tokyo, Japan, Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Banners on North Bridge in Edinburgh as part of the Bridges Not Walls protest against US President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Russian artist Vasily Slonov (L) and his assistant carry a life-sized cutout, which is an artwork created by Slonov and titled "Siberian Inauguration", before its presentation on the occasion of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in a street in Krasnoyarsk, Russia Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds a banner during a march to thank outgoing President Barack Obama and reject US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration at a park in Tokyo, Japan, 20 January 2017. EPA Trump Inauguration protests around the World Palestinian demonstrators protesting this week against a promise by Donald Trump to re-locate the US embassy to Jerusalem Reuters Responding, Mr Orban said the comments were a "great thing, a great freedom and a great gift. He also used a speech at an economic conference in Budapest to warn European leaders against lecturing China on human rights. He said improving trade links with Asia relied on respect rather than attempting to export Western values. And he said Europe should establish a military alliance to defend itself without having to rely on the US via the Nato bloc. "The key to the solution is really simple and it is called the French-German military cooperation, a joint army, a joint security system," Mr Orban said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} German police said on Sunday that they had arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of planning a militant attack, and linked his case to that of a second suspect in Vienna. Special forces police arrested the man and a woman during a raid on an apartment in the western city of Neuss on Saturday, a spokesman for the Criminal Investigation Office (LKA) said. The woman, identified in media reports as the man's wife, has been released. German authorities have been on high alert since a failed asylum seeker from Tunisia rammed a truck into a Christmas market last month in Berlin, killing 12 people. Dashcam footage captures the moment truck crashes into the Berlin Christmas market Germany's Focus magazine said the man arrested on Saturday was planning a bomb attack on police and soldiers. Both he and the suspect detained in Austria had experimented with materials to create explosives in the Neuss apartment, it said. The Neuss arrest followed a tip-off from Austrian authorities, said Frank Scheulen, spokesman for the LKA in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The man, whose nationality was not given, was arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out a "serious act of violent subversion," Mr Scheulen said. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office in Dusseldorf, in charge of the case, had no immediate comment. Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA The Vienna suspect, an 18-year-old with an Albanian background, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of having contacts to Islamist militants and planning an attack, Austrian police said. A spokesman for the German interior ministry said the German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere spoke about the case on Friday with his Austrian counterpart, Wolfgang Sobotka. Computers, mobile telephones and data storage devices were seized in the Neuss raid, Mr Scheulen said. Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Germany's foreign minister has said the inauguration of Donald Trump marks the end of the old world order, warning that there is a great deal at stake with the new President in power. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has served in Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet since 2005, said Mr Trump's election paved the way for troubled times ahead, but added that Germany would seek to cooperate with the new US administration. Writing in Bild on Sunday, Mr Steinmeier wrote: As always with all power changes there are uncertainties, doubts and question marks about the course of the new leadership. But in these times of a new global disorder, this is about more. Today there is a great deal at stake: by choosing Donald Trump, the old world of the 20th century is over. The order of the 21st century and the way the world of tomorrow will look is not settled; it is completely open [] I know we have to adjust to troubled times, to some unpredictability and new uncertainties," Mr Steinmeier added. But I would like to make sure that in Washington we find attentive listeners who know that even large countries need partners in this world, and who are willing to go their way together with good friends and tried and trusted Alliance partners. The relationship between the German government and the Trump administration is not yet clear, but both sides have been heard criticising the other. Germany's Vice Chancellor accused Mr Trump over the weekend of delivering an inauguration speech with high nationalistic tones, adding that the businessman had been elected as a result of bad radicalisation in the US. In an interview with the Sunday Times and Bild earlier this month, Mr Trump avoided saying who he trusts more out of Chancellor Merkel, a longtime US-ally, or Russian President Vladimir Putin. Well, I start off trusting both but lets see how long that lasts. It may not last long at all, he said. Trump Inauguration protests around the World Show all 14 1 /14 Trump Inauguration protests around the World Trump Inauguration protests around the World Activists from Greenpeace display a message reading "Mr President, walls divide. Build Bridges!" along the Berlin wall in Berlin on January 20, 2017 to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United State Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World An activist holds up a sign at the "We Stand United" rally on the eve of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York on January 19, 2017 in New York Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters burn a U.S. flag and a mock flag with pictures of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the U.S. embassy in metro Manila, Philippines Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Filipino protestors hold placcards during a protest rally in front of the US embassy in Manila, Philippines, 20 January 2017. On the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inaguration as the 45th president of the United States, Filipinos and Fil-Americans held a protest in front of the US embassy in Manila to denounce the incoming US president. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Hong Kong police officers and security guards look on as an anarchist protester belonging to the Disrupt J20 movement sits after using a heavy duty D-lock and motorcycle lock to chain himself to a railing at the entrance gate to the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong to protest the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump, Hong Kong, China, 20 January 2017. Two activists were arrested and taken away by Hong Kong police during the demonstration. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A banner is unfurled on London's Tower Bridge, organised by Bridges Not Walls - a partnership between grassroots activists and campaigners working on a range of issues, formed in the wake of Donald Trump's election, which aims to build bridges to a world free from hatred and oppression. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, DC, U.S. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Bridges Not Walls banner dropped from Molenbeek bridge in Brussels, Belgium, 20 January 2017, in an Greenpeace action part of protests Wolrd protest in solidarity with people in the US, the day Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds an anti-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump placard during a rally in Tokyo, Japan, Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Banners on North Bridge in Edinburgh as part of the Bridges Not Walls protest against US President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Russian artist Vasily Slonov (L) and his assistant carry a life-sized cutout, which is an artwork created by Slonov and titled "Siberian Inauguration", before its presentation on the occasion of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in a street in Krasnoyarsk, Russia Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds a banner during a march to thank outgoing President Barack Obama and reject US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration at a park in Tokyo, Japan, 20 January 2017. EPA Trump Inauguration protests around the World Palestinian demonstrators protesting this week against a promise by Donald Trump to re-locate the US embassy to Jerusalem Reuters In the same interview, Mr Trump criticised Ms Merkel, saying she had made a catastrophic mistake with her open door policy on refugees, and that the Christmas market attack by a Tunisian man in Berlin was one effect of her policies. The now-President's criticism of one of Europes most prominent leaders has been condemned by European leaders, who said it could not be accepted and would only encourage Europeans to close ranks. The German Chancellor has meanwhile only spoken publicly of Mr Trump once, when she said shortly after his election victory: We Europeans have our fate in our own hands." The glistening white salt of the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats is shrinking near the Utah-Nevada line. The prehistoric lakebed has long been a mecca for daredevil speed racers, as well as a backdrop for famous movie scenes and destination for selfie-seeking tourists. Concerns are mounting about the future of the treeless expanse of salt crystals and yet another study has been launched as researchers try to pinpoint the cause and solution. They know a century of mining a potassium-based salt called potash has played a role and are also trying to assess how racing, tourism and climate change factor in. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Women in Ireland are going on strike to protest the countrys abortion ban. Pro-choice women will refuse to attend work on 8 March, as part of direct action to make the government pay attention to growing frustration over lack of reproductive rights. It is a criminal offence to have an abortion in the Republic of Ireland, where women face up to 14 years in prison. This is the case for all pregnancies, including those conceived as a result of rape or incest, or where the foetus cannot survive outside the womb due to a fatal abnormality. It is estimated 12 women that travel from the country to Great Britain every day to access a safe and legal termination. Abortions are prohibited under a clause in the Irish Constitution known as the Eighth Amendment which grants a foetus the same citizenship and rights as a pregnant woman. Constitutional clauses in Ireland can only be removed if a referendum finds majority support to repeal it. The Irish government has previously pledged to hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment but repeatedly failed to do so, resulting in growing frustrations among feminists locally who say the government has failed to commit to clear action to reform the laws. The strike calls on women to book a day off work as annual leave and also wear a black armband or black clothing in protest. For women who do not work, the strike asks them to withdraw emotional or domestic labour, such as housework or caring duties, roles which are disproportionately performed by women. A statement released by organisers Strike 4 Repeal says: We are an ad-hoc, non-affiliated group of activists, academics, artists and trade unionists preparing a nationwide Strike for Repeal on the 8th of March 2017. "Our demand is that the Irish government call a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment by the 8th of March. If not, Ireland will strike. The strike will not be an industrial strike in the traditional sense but could include taking an annual leave day off work, refraining from domestic work for the day, wearing black in solidarity or staging a walkout during your lunch break. We also encourage any business owners in a position to close their services at no cost to workers, to do so for all or part of the day as a solidarity action. The action echoes that which was performed by women in Poland who organised an all out strike last year, in protest at attempts to tighten restrictive abortion laws even further. Following the strike, politicians agreed to drop attempts to introduce the restrictions. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Russian lawmakers are being urged to reject a "dangerous" law that could decriminalise all acts of domestic violence, with the exception of rape and serious bodily harm. If ultra-conservative politicians get their way, battering a spouse or child will become punishable by a fine of less than $500, a nominal 15 days of 'administrative arrest', or community service. Only broken bones or concussion, or repeated offences, would lead to criminal charges. Currently, domestic battery is punishable by two years' imprisonment, though this is rarely enforced. According to Russian interior ministry estimates, 40 women a day and 14,000 women a year die at the hands of their husbands or spouses, while 600,000 face violent domestic abuse each year. In a statement, Russian expert Yulia Gorbunova of Human Rights Watch (HRW) said: Passage of this law would be a huge step backward for Russia, where victims of domestic violence already face enormous obstacles to getting help or justice. The domestic violence bill would reduce penalties for abusers and put victims lives at even greater risk. The measure has passed one reading in the Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament), according to HRW, and if it's passed at a second reading on Wednesday it is likely to become law. A third reading in the Duma and a reading in the upper house are largely just formalities, and it will then land on Vladimir Putin's desk, ready to be passed. The new legislation marks a rapid volte-face by the Russian government. It was only in July 2016 that the Duma adopted new amendments to criminalise violence against relatives, following a recommendation by the Russian Supreme Court to decriminalise less-serious battery among general citizens but not among members of the same family. Those measures were contested bitterly by the Russian Orthodox Church and by right-wing politicians, with senator Yelena Mizulina stating that "a man beating his wife is less offensive than when a woman humiliates a man. Ms Mizulina, who was also behind a recent law banning 'gay propaganda', argued the new measures meant a stranger assaulting a child would be dealt with less severely than a parent disciplining their son or daughter. Philip Davies' filibuster on the domestic violence bill, fact-checked At the time, Ms Mizulina's attempts to reverse the amendments were thrown out by the government, but right-wing journalists and campaigners have since pressured President Putin to review domestic violence laws. Up to one in every three Russian women suffers physical abuse at the hands of her partner, and 40 per cent of all violent crimes or murders take place in the home, according to statistics cited by the Anna Centre, which runs the only domestic violence hotline in the country. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Russian government has abandoned plans to fine HIV-infected patients who refuse to register on a Kremlin-administered list of sufferers. Patients would have been forced to add their name to a Government-run registry under plans unveiled by Vladimir Putin on 1 January this year. Activists feared a national registry would lead to discrimination against HIV-positive Russians. Russia struggles to contain HIV/AIDS epidemic Deputy health minister Sergei Krayevoi said the aim was to assess and collect full information on how many HIV patients we have, what treatment plans have been arranged for them, what medicines have been prescribed to them. But those who refused to put their name to the list were threatened with having access to antiretroviral drugs withdrawn and fines imposed. The Health Ministry said 824,000 of the estimated 850,000 HIV-positive people in Russia have already been added to the registry. Following a meeting involving members of Russias health, foreign and justice ministries and universities, the plan to fine those who did not sign up was shelved. The Government acknowledged a compulsory register of patients would not contribute to the creation of trust and a partnership, which must be installed between the medical institution and the patient. (Statista (Statista) More than a million Russians now live with the virus and that number is expected to nearly double in the next decade. A report by the European Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation found 64 per cent of all new HIV cases in Europe in 2015 were registered in Russia. HIV diagnoses in Russia have more than doubled over the last ten years, up 133 per cent since 2006 and 15 per cent in just a year. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Iceland has been gripped by a rare murder case after a young womans body was found on a beach. The parents of 20-year-old Birna Brjansdottir contacted the police on the morning of Sunday 15 January when their daughter hadn't arrived home from a night out. She was last seen leaving a music venue called Hurra in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik at 4am that morning. Security cameras showed Ms Brjansdottir walking up Laugavegur, the main shopping street in Reykjavik at around 5am and buying a kebab. Her mobile phone was later traced to Flatahraun in Hafnarfjorur, a town just south of the capital. The complexity of the mission led officials to launch a missing person search with more man power and equipment than ever before in Iceland, a country with one of the lowest murder rates in the world. The mission, classed Iceland's most high-powered missing persons mission in history, required 57 super jeeps, 17 buses, 12 quadbikes, 15 drones, 11 dogs, four boats and two helicopters (Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue) Eight days later, on Sunday, the young womans body was found on a beach. Police said in a statement on Sunday they were treating the case as murder, but added that it was currently not possible to determine the cause of death. Two Greenlandic sailors aged 25 and 30 were being held in connection with her disappearance. The week-long search mission saw nearly 600 volunteers from Iceland's largest search and rescue team on the case to find the young woman. orsteinn G Gunnarsson, spokesman for the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, which led the search, told The Independent: Its very unique for a young woman to disappear in the middle of Reykjavik. It's very unusual. People do not just disappear here." The week-long search mission saw nearly 600 members of Iceland's largest search and search team on the case to find the young woman (Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue) The search mission, which started late on Sunday 15 January, began with a sniffer dog identifying a trail of the woman from the nightclub she had left. It led the team from the club up to Laugavegur, the main shopping street then it vanished. The police identified that her mobile had been switched off in Hallgrimskirkja [the country's largest church] on Sunday morning. We had about 130 members of our search team there at this point," said Mr Gunnarsson. Ms Brjansdottir's shoes a pair of Doctor Martins were found in the port of Hallgrimskirkja two days later. A member of the public had come across them and posted a photograph on Facebook in an appeal to find the owner. Police were quick to examine the footwear, and they were soon identified as those of the missing woman. Surveillance cameras showed a small red car, a Kia Rio, parked near to where the shoes were found at around 6.30am the morning Ms Brjansdottir went missing identical to a vehicle observed near the spot where she was last seen. Traces of Brjansdottirs blood were later said to be found in the red car that had been rented by the sailors. A call-out was then made to search and rescue volunteers across the country to carry out a major search across the region. At one stage, 750 volunteer members of the search team were searching the possible routes where the woman's potential abductor could have gone. Ms Brjansdottir was found by Selvogsviti Lighthouse, around 65 kilometres from where she went missing (Google Maps/screen grab) "It was very difficult land because it was a lot of rough land. We searched 100 metres on both sides of every road," said Mr Gunnarsson. "On Saturday, we saw the most man-power of any missing person search Iceland has ever seen, with 750 volunteer rescue workers out." "We have calculated that our people searched 7,000 kilometres of rough landscape in two days in. They found a lot of things, including six smartphones, but nothing that was connected to the case." But on Sunday afternoon, a week after the search began, one of the team's helicopters identified a body on a beach in Strandarkirkja, by the Selvogsviti lighthouse. Recommended Iceland knows how to stop teen substance abuse The two sailors arrested in connection with the murder had set sail on a Greenlandic trawler, the Polar Nanoq, a few hours after Ms Brjansdottir went missing. Members of Icelands elite police force flew out to the ship by helicopter to question the crew, and the ship returned to Reykjavik and two sailors were taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing. Iceland, a country of 330,000 people, has one of the worlds lowest crime rates, with a registered average of 1.8 murders per year since 2001. With just two recorded murders in the past three years, the tragedy has instilled a sense of shock and grief across the nation. Throughout the search, members of the public in Iceland shared social media posts to spread awareness, and tributes have been paid to Ms Brjansdottir and her family since the discovery of the body. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump appears to be making good on his inflammatory campaign trail promise to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Over the years several US presidential candidates have made the same pledge in an effort to reach out to Jewish American voters and assure Israel that strong relations with the country are a high priority for their administration, but none have followed through with the plan once reaching office. However, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer confirmed on Sunday that Mr Trumps team is indeed in the beginning stages of discussions that would precede such a symbolic decision. Relocating the embassy would be impossible to pull off smoothly: parts of Jerusalem were annexed by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War, and the city is claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians as their capital. The Trump administration appears to be moving forward far more cautiously than the presidents campaign trail rhetoric would have suggested. While several prominent Israeli politicians are delighted that Mr Trump appears to be sticking to his promise, other observers say issues such as peace with the Palestinians, the threat of Iran and the violence engulfing neighbouring Syria are much higher on Israels priority list. Israel: From independence to intifada Show all 7 1 /7 Israel: From independence to intifada Israel: From independence to intifada 26973.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26974.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26975.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26976.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26977.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26985.bin Robert Capa/Magnum Israel: From independence to intifada 26986.bin Robert Capa/Magnum The major departure from existing US policy could not only set back the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, but possibly trigger new violence in the already volatile region. While a full-blown intifada is unlikely over what is largely a symbolic move, Its not just moving the embassy and be done with it," Michael Koplaw, policy director of the Israel Policy Forum, told The Jerusalem Post. "People need to consider if its worth one Israeli, Palestinian or American life to move the embassy to Jerusalem. Destroying the peace process as good as a declaration of war Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has written to both President Trump and several other world leaders to warn that moving the embassy could massively derail the already deadlocked Israeli-Palestinian peace process. One senior Fatah official called the potential move as good as a declaration of war earlier this month. The relocation, which effectively would recognise Israels right to the city over Palestinian claims, could signal the US is not interested in pursuing a two-state solution, despite Mr Trumps claims that he will broker a successful peace deal in the intractable conflict. By moving the embassy, the United States risks losing any hope to portray itself an as honest broker or negotiator between Israel and Palestinians, and risks sending a message to the Palestinians that Washington is no longer interested [in their cause], Israeli journalist Anna Aronheim wrote on Friday. Scenarios of worsening violence in Israel Jerusalem has already seen an upswing in stabbings and shooting attacks in the last 18 months in what has been dubbed the Jerusalem intifada. Haaretz reported on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet has met for special consultations with police, security services and the Israel Defence Force (IDF) in preparedness for scenarios of worsening violence if the US does move its embassy to the city. Army officials warned they expected violence could also spread to the West Bank. Four killed as lorry rams group of Israeli soldiers Triggering an anti-Israel and anti-US explosion across the wider region Anti-Israel and anti-US riots in Muslim-majority countries across the world are a very real possibility since the the issue involves Jerusalem, where several Muslim holy sites are located. The Arab world has enormous interest in the Haram al-Sharif, as it is called, the Temple Mount, the Dome [of the Rock], and it is a holy site for the Arab world, former US Secretary of State John Kerry told CBS last week, saying that moving the US embassy could trigger an explosion across the region. A relocation would also have a profound impact on neighbouring allies Jordan and Egypt, Mr Kerry said, lowering their motivation to be as supportive and engaged with Israel as they are today. The Palestinian Authoritys Mahmoud Abbas has met with Jordans King Abdullah II to agree a list of steps the two countries would take if the US does indeed move its embassy. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A prominent Israeli politician has cancelled a visit to Belgium over fears she may be arrested on her arrival in Brussels over war crime allegations. Tzipi Livni, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2006 - 2009 under former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was due to arrive in the Belgian capital on Monday to unofficially attend a conference on tackling anti-Semitism in Europe and advancing the continents relations with the Jewish state. However, her trip was cancelled after the Brussels prosecutors office said last week that Ms Livni is the subject of a 2010 complaint to the federal prosecutor, and the authorities could detain or question her on arrival to try and advance the investigation. An arrest was a possible option, spokesperson Thierry Werts said. Ms Livni is named in a suit filed by a local pro-Palestinian group in relation to her role in the Israeli military's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 - January 2009. The suit names several Israeli civilian and military officials in connection to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the operation against Hamas, in which almost 1,400 Palestinians died. Thirteen Israelis, ten of them soldiers, also died. Both sides were accused of war crimes by the international community during the three-week conflict. A United Nations Fact Finding Mission into the war found that Israel had "at least in part" targeted the people of Gaza as a whole as collective punishment. Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack Show all 4 1 /4 Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216723.bin GETTY IMAGES Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216724.bin AFP/GETTY IMAGES Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216725.bin AP Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216726.bin AP Israel maintains that Hamas used civilians as human shields during the 2008-2009 offensive, placing them near buildings which were being targeted by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) missiles. Ms Livni, who is still a Zionist Union party member of the Knesset, told Israel Radio that she had pulled out of the trip for personal reasons. Since leaving a position in the Justice Ministry in 2014 Ms Livni is no longer entitled to diplomatic immunity, Le Monde reported. Under Belgian law, the authorities have the right to detain a suspect in its territory on crimes related to international law as one of the victims had Belgian citizenship. Gaza marks 10 years of Israeli blockade In a statement, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon criticised the prospect of Ms Livnis arrest overseas as a cynical abuse of the Belgian legal system. Ms Livni was previously forced to cancel a 2009 trip to London after a British court issued a warrant for her arrest following an application by UK lawyers acting for Palestinian victims of Cast Lead. European pro-Palestinian groups commonly file charges against Israeli officials, the Jerusalem Post says. In some cases, executive orders are issued to avert arrest warrants, or the subjects are warned ahead of their arrival not to visit. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A giant poster thanking US President Donald Trump for relocating the US Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv has appeared in Jerusalem. The sign on the side of a construction side is several storeys tall, and reads Mazeltov on your decision to move your Embassy to Jerusalem. It appears to have been paid for by a development company and appeared in middle class Baka neighbourhood a few days before the new president was sworn in on Friday. Mr Trump said several times during his election campaign that he would improve relations between the US and its Israeli allies, including moving the countrys embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The city is claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians as their capital, and as such has both angered and worried Palestinian representatives, who say such a move would derail the peace process and go against international law. Several US presidential candidates have made the same promise, but none have followed through with the plan once reaching office. However, the White House confirmed on Sunday that Mr Trumps team is indeed in the beginning stages of the necessary discussions that would prelude such a symbolic decision. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. The congratulatory message may still be somewhat premature, however. Israeli officials confirmed to Haaretz that they have recieved no solid information from the Trump administration that they intend to move the embassy. Haaretz also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet was in talks with the Israel Defence Force (IDF) and police to discuss possible violent scenarios that could occur in the wake of such a move. One compromise floated by Israeli Foreign Ministry sources would see Mr Trumps pick for Israel ambassador, the right-wing and pro-settlement David Friedman, live and work in Jerusalem, while the physical embassy building remains in Tel Aviv. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Russia has signed a long-term agreement with the Syrian government to greatly expand its military presence in the country, despite a recent statement from the Russian armys chief of staff that Moscow would begin a military exit from the Syrian conflict. Russia currently maintains two army bases in government-held Syria. The new agreement, signed on Friday, will double the amount of space available for Russian warships in the port city of Tartous, taking the number of berths available up to 11, and give Russian forces an airbase, which may be expanded to include a second runway. Tass, the Russian news agency, said that the agreed leases would last 49 years, and could be renewed for a further 25. Russian military power since September 2015 has been instrumental in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gain the upper hand in the almost six-year-long war and regain control of Aleppo, which was captured from rebel forces in December. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had agreed to reduce its military deployment in Syria under the terms of a 30 December ceasefire deal between Syrian opposition groups and the Syrian government, sending its only aircraft carrier and several other warships back to Murmansk last month. It is widely thought that Aleppos fall has strengthened Mr Assads position enough to allow Russia to begin a military exit, although many analysts pointed out at the time that Moscows revitalised influence in the region is not likely to wane. Russia: Russian Syria airstrike T-shirts go on sale in Moscow The news comes as delegations from Syrias government and Sunni rebel groups as well as Russia, Turkish and Iranian diplomats prepared for peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana on Monday. The new initiative, designed to restart the peace process, was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which has backed Syrias rebels in the conflict. On Saturday it emerged that although the new US administration of Donald Trump had belatedly been invited to the talks, the US would not be sending a delegation, a State Department statement said. Mr Trumps exact policy position on the complex Syrian civil war is unclear. Previously, the US has backed a broad coalition of Sunni rebels fighting against the Syrian regime, and maintained that President Assad must be removed from power. President Trump has previously stated that while he did not like [Mr Assad] at all, shoring up his regime is the best way to stem the growth of extremist groups such as Isis that have flourished in the chaos of the civil war to threaten the US. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Syrian peace talks arranged by Russia, Turkey and Iran that opened today in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, show that President Bashar al-Assad is winning the six-year-old war, but his final victory may be a long way off. Several participants in the conference have good reasons to fight on and Isis has recently made important advances. Representatives of some of the rebel armed groups sat on one side of a round table, while the Syrian government delegation sat on the other, but the rebels said there would be no face to face talks. The most positive likely outcome of the meeting would be a reinforcement of the shaky ceasefire that began on 29 December and has been only partly effective. The US is not taking part in the talks, in contrast to previous abortive negotiations, but has sent its ambassador to Kazakhstan indicating that it does not oppose them. The most important feature of the conference is that it proves that Russias military intervention in the civil war on the side of Mr Assad since 2015 has promoted it to being the most powerful foreign power engaged in the Syrian war. It signed a long-term agreement with Syria last Friday which will enable it to expand its naval base at Tartous on Syrias Mediterranean coast and to increase its use of an airbase at Latakia. The other big change from previous abortive peace talks is that Turkey, formerly the most important ally of the Syrian opposition, has in many respects changed sides. Up to last year, Syrian insurgents had relied on being able to move freely backwards and forwards across the Syrian-Turkish border. But Turkey now gives priority to limiting the political and military strength of the Syrian Kurds who have established a de facto state in northern Syria. The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, that Turkey was retreating from its long-term policy of displacing Mr Assad. We have to be pragmatic, realistic, he said. The facts on the ground have changed dramatically, and so Turkey can no longer insist on, you know, a settlement without Assad, and its not, you know, realistic. Chief opposition negotiator Mohammad Alloush (R) of the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel group listens to UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura prior to the first session of Syria peace talks at Astana's Rixos President Hotel (Getty) Turkey later said that Mr Simseks remarks had been misinterpreted, but in practice Turkish President Recep Erdogans lack of response while pro-government forces backed by Russia were recapturing rebel-held east Aleppo at the end of last year showed that Turkey had already changed its policy. Turkish soldiers are suffering heavy losses in a battle against Isis for the town of al-Bab, north-east of Aleppo. Russian planes have for the first time been offering air support to Turkish troops, but an Isis video showed its fighters destroying Turkish tanks and armoured vehicles. Turkey has ensured that the Syrian Kurds, who receive strong support from US air power, are not represented at Astana, though their Peoples Protection Units (YPG) are in the forefront of the fight against Isis in Syria. They supply the military punching power to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which are advancing towards Raqqa, Isiss de facto capital in Syria, and is only a few miles from the Tabqa Dam on the Euphrates, the largest dam in Syria. The Syrian Kurds, who number about two million out of 16 million Syrians still in the country, are not the only important players unrepresented at todays talks in Astana. Though 14 rebel factions are present, including the powerful Army of Islam based just east of Damascus, the two most powerful rebel armed groups are not there: Isis and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JNS) formerly known as al-Nusra and the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. JNS led the fight for east Aleppo, but was unable to put up the same sort of stiff resistance to the Syrian army and its allies as Isis has been able to do against the Iraqi security forces in Mosul. Isis has been demonstrating that it is still a powerful military force in Syria by capturing the ancient city of Palmyra for the second time in December; it has since blown up the Roman amphitheatre. On 15 January it launched a determined assault on the Syria government enclave at Deir Ezzor, a provincial capital on the Euphrates in eastern Syria, where 93,500 people have been long besieged by Isis, depending on supplies dropped by Russian aircraft to survive. The Isis assault partly succeeded in cutting the government-held part of Deir Ezzor in half on 17 January and captured the land on which relief supplies had previously been dropped. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that 6,000 people in east Deir Ezzor are running out of bread and food supplies. Russian aircraft have launched heavy air strikes to hold back the Isis offensive and an elite Republican Guard unit is being helicoptered in to hold the city, which remains under threat. Casasimarro, a small town deep in the countryside of the central region of Castilla-La Mancha, was described as extraordinarily Catholic and splendidly pious by priest and linguist Sebastian Cirac in a 1947 account of the killings of members of the clergy during the Spanish Civil War. He says the community began suffering persecution before the conflict, in 1931, when Marxist militias looted and set fire to their church. According to Ciracs account, four chapels were later burned down and the parish priest and two religious aides murdered. The entrance to Angel Rodriguez Leal Park in Casasimarro. CARLOS ROSILLO When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, Casasimarro was in territory held by the forces of the Second Republic. Leftist militias were active in the area and killed 19 townsfolk. All the victims were Catholic and right-wing. All of them were dragged from their homes and shot dead with hunting rifles. When the war ended in 1939, it was time for revenge. At least 22 residents were executed by supporters of General Francisco Francos regime after being charged with blood crimes and aiding opponents to the military uprising, leaving dozens more families in the village with bitter memories. This all happened at least 80 years ago, but bring the subject up today in Casasimarro, it feels as if it had happened yesterday. Its a recurring reality in thousands of villages and small towns across Spain. A post-war wound In Casasimarro, people are still very sensitive about the Civil War. The bad blood over what happened is still palpable today, and its caused a lot of hate and suffering, says Jose Luis Rodriguez, a resident. His brother Angel Rodriguez Leal was killed in a terrorist attack on January 24, 1977, when far-right terrorists burst into the office of leftist lawyers in Madrid, opening fire. People are still very sensitive about the Civil War. The bad blood over what happened is still palpable today Jose Luis Rodriguez, resident The attack, known as the Atocha massacre after the street where it took place, left five dead and four injured. It also reawakened animosity in Casasimarro, which had lost another of its sons to ideological violence. I remember that night I was watching the television show S.W.A.T. and I got a phone call. It was Macarena, a friend from the Communist Party, which at that time was still illegal. She told me that there had been a shooting in Atocha. I said Well, my brother will tell me all about it because hes just about to arrive. And she said No, we have to go there now. Its urgent, says Rodriguez. The next thing Rodriguez knew, he was jumping over the police tape and climbing up to the lawyers office two stairs at a time. I remember there was a trail of blood. When I was about to enter, a policeman grabbed me and took me downstairs, he tells EL PAIS 40 years later in a cafe in front of his brothers old office. His voice is shaking. The mayor of Casasimarro, Juan Sahuquillo. Carlos Rosillo Afterwards people told me that my brother had been having a beer at a bar downstairs, but hed forgotten his newspaper and went back up to get it. As soon as he got there the gunmen showed up. He opened the door, he says, now crying. Rodriguez says his brother was buried in Madrid but his remains were later transferred to Casasimarro, which is where he rests today under a gravestone that reads, Angel Rodriguez Leal, vilely assassinated by the extreme right. The death brought old tensions back to the surface. I went back to town a month later and there were people who knew me but wouldnt even come near me. Most of them did, but some of them didnt. Everything that had happened in the war and during the dictatorship came back with a vengeance. I think that those feelings never really disappeared in the first place. Whose feelings could be hurt by putting up a plaque for a victim? The feelings of the murderer? Esperanza, resident In 2001, the Socialist Party (PSOE) that led the town council at the time, decided to name a park after Angel Rodriguez Leal. Council members from the opposition Popular Party (PP) did not vote for the motion and some of them, including many of the towns residents, did not attend the inauguration. The wounds from 80 years before had not healed. The park retains its name, and so does the controversy around it. Andres Fernandez, the only town councilor linked to anti-austerity party Podemos, floated the idea of putting a plaque in the park to the memory of Angel Rodriguez Leal. However, the mayor and the eight city councilors from the PP opposed it, writing in a statement that the plaque could hurt feelings in the town. Hurt feelings Casasimarro, in the rural province of Cuenca, has a population of around 3,800. Its poorly paved streets are surrounded by old, low-lying houses. In the heart of the town sits a church, and in front of it is the Town Hall. On its main street theres a big supermarket, a few banks and a handful of bars and stores. Its January and a freezing wind whistles through the mainly empty streets. By evening there is hardly anybody out, although those who are, stop to talk and are polite and cordial. Pepe asks not to use his real name. He owns a hardware store here. Politics is behind this plaque business. Those people dont really care about the boy who died, they care about something else. In fact, they already have a park named after him, so whats the point? he asks, greeting neighbors who cross his path. They just want to stir things up and start a fight. The funeral for the victims of the Atocha killings. Asked if the plaque could hurt peoples feelings, he answers: Well, yes. Because 19 right-wing people were executed here and they dont get any kind of plaque. Why should this guy get one, but not them? Its going back to factions, says Pepe. Asked the same question, Angels brother has a clear answer: The plaque for my brother isnt because hes left-wing, its because he was a democratic victim of terrorism. We have to stand united against terrorism, and I could not care less whether the victims are on the left or the right. He pulls out a folder and produces the speech he wrote for the park inauguration. You see? Here I spoke about Miguel Angel Blanco [killed by ETA in 1997] and I didnt care that he was in the PP, because above all else, he was a victim of terrorism. Esperanza, 54, agrees with Rodriguez as she clutches the collar of her jacket to protect her from the cold. But whose feelings could be hurt by putting up a plaque for a victim? The feelings of the murderer? I think that we need to get over these things. If someone is annoyed by a tribute to a victim because theyre from the left or the right, they have a problem. Manuel runs a kiosk a few meters from the town hall. He sits inside, and with a cynical smile says he doesnt care about the plaque. Its fine by me whether they put it up or not, but what I can tell you is that there are people who would be very annoyed by it. Dont ask me if thats good or bad, but it would happen. Thats what people are like around here, so I understand the mayor. Juan Sahuquillo, aged 60, is the mayor of Casasimarro, which he has run with an absolute majority for the last six years. He bangs his desk with his fist and says he is Catholic and right-wing. Sahuquillo explains his decision to deny the motion for a plaque to Angel Rodriguez: We regret the assassination of that boy but... he already has a park, and right now the town is united and calm I dont think it would be prudent to put it up. Fernandez, the councilor with ties to Podemos, wanted to unveil the plaque on the 40th anniversary of the Atocha killings. Even though the town rejected his proposal, there will still be a series of events in the park that day, with left-wing politicians from elsewhere in the region in attendance. The mayor was invited too, but says he will not show up. Neither will half of the town. A plaque has also been ordered privately and will be inscribed, but will not make its appearance that day. They take everything that we propose as a personal attack Andres Fernandez, leftist councilor Our goal is to pay tribute to a victim of terrorism the only one in the democratic history of this town. And the mayor sees it as a provocation. They take everything that we propose as a personal attack, explains Fernandez in a cafe near the town hall. They think we want to relive the past. Its actually the opposite, we want to normalize it. This didnt even happen during the war, it happened under democracy! Rodriguez, Angels brother, accuses the mayor of lacking sensitivity. He still thinks along the lines of my dead people and their dead people or He was a communist, he was a whatever He does not make an effort to educate people on this subject. He maintains an equal distance between the victims and the executioners to preserve the towns unity. He doesnt know how to do it any other way. A group of 16-year-olds strolling through town provide a more detached vision of history in a community still haunted by the hatred of the Civil War. Of the four of them, three hadnt heard about the controversy surrounding the plaque. Only Ruben is aware of it and says, I dont understand the harm in putting up a plaque. Im sure they arent doing it because they dont have the money. Asked if they know anything about the 1977 Atocha Massacre, his friends turn to Ruben hopefully, but his only response is a shrug of the shoulders. English version by Alyssa McMurtry. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theyre probably there somewhere, quite far down on your reading list, saved for the rainiest of days if ever the Internet cuts out. But if you dont pick up the ancient classics some of Europes earliest and arguably best works in fiction, history, philosophy, and theatre now, you probably never will. From the words behind the Greek myths that mystified us as children to the inner sanctum of twisted emperors via proto-feminist political dissent, the Roman and Greek classics have it. These writings have played an important role in the development of English literature, which is nice, but to make this list they had to be genuinely interesting to read. You can broaden your horizons and be entertained, no suffering allowed. Or at least have something impressive to pose with on the bus to uni. We also have you covered with which edition to buy to avoid unreadable translations thank us later. 1. The Odyssey, by Homer Many people are more familiar with Homers Iliad - partly because of the film Troy, and the goings on of the Trojan War - than those of Odysseuss journey back to Ithaka. But this is so much more than another exciting and bloody adventure. Its characters blind a cyclops and get turned to pigs, but the poem also asks big questions about human motivation. What is it to come of age in ancient Greece, in the case of Odysseus son Telemachus? Does Odysseus even tell the truth when he narrates his successes? Is he justified in the brutal slaughter of the men courting the dutiful Penelope? The answers are up to us. Oxford Worlds Classics, 5.59, Amazon 2. Medea, by Euripides People have been divided for two and a half thousand years over the Greek Tragedy of Medea. Was she a heartless mother that killed her children without hesitation or an abused wife taking the only option open to her? Its a terrible situation and where in the middle she falls is impossible to fully justify. The confrontations in Euripides play crackle with sinister power. Its been often-copied but never paralleled. Oxford Worlds Classics, 5.59, Blackwells 3. Hippolytus, by Euripides A rarely performed Greek Tragedy that deals with topic of misogyny, guilt, and the bonds within families. Hippolytus the (anti-)hero is virginal and devoted to the hunter goddess Artemis but, it turns out at the very start with a chilling speech by the goddess of love, Aphrodite, he is due a terrible downfall for his rejection of her. The play is one of the best examinations of how people and actions can fit in a morally grey area, with everyone and no-one to blame at the same time. For edition, see Medea (above) 4. Antigone, by Sophocles The Greek Tragedy of Antigone sets up the family in conflict with the state, when Antigone buries her brothers, who are traitors to their city of Thebes, against the orders of the King. Civil disobedience, gender and familial ties are examined. Everyone loses everything. Another cheery day in the Athenian theatre, but a cracking read nonetheless. Its performance in 2014 by Syrian women in a refugee camp in Beirut is a testament to its ongoing power. Cambridge Translations from Greek Drama, 8.25, Blackwells 5. Lysistrata, by Aristophanes A particularly influential comedy from 5th C BC Athens foremost comic playwright, in which the hero Lysistrata leads the women of Athens in a protest that involves the women denying sex to the men until peace with Sparta is established. Throughout history this has actually been repeated, and it even reportedly influenced Spike Lees recent film Chi-Raq. It is true that Ancient Greek comedy is bizarre to read. Theres no getting around it. You have to ignore the political in-jokes (mostly about how male politicians are vulgar and/or effeminate). The wit of the story is powerful enough. Penguin, 9.99, Blackwells 6. Meno, by Plato Meno asks Socrates whether virtue can be taught. So starts a wide-ranging dialogue between the two men, brought to life with Platos imagination and characterisation. There are some odd bits. Particularly when a slave being able to intuit geometrical answers after leading questioning shows that he actually knew everything in past lives and just needs to recollect it. If you want to get into good, old-fashion, argumentative philosophy with enjoyable characterisation and the occasional dodgy argument you can feel good about disproving, this is a great dialogue to come to from an undisputed philosophical great. Oxford Worlds Classics, 5.59, Blackwells 7. The Histories, by Herodotus Dont go into this expecting it to be a clear, chronological and factual account of history. But it is all the better for it. Herodotus calls it the result of his inquiry into the war between Persia and Greece that happened early in the 5th Century BC. He is as likely to describe the eating habits of an Ethiopian tribe he has heard about as he is to describe what a statesman looked like. It adds up to an eccentric but fascinating account by a father of the history genre. Oxford Worlds Classics, 6.99, Blackwells 8. The Poetics, by Aristotle A short and easy way into literary criticism from one of Greeces finest polymaths. Some of it very out of fashion now, some of it brilliant. His accounts of tragic reversal and the tragic flaw have dominated discussions of theatre and are worth reading in the original, especially as theyre often misunderstood. Penguin, 8.99, Amazon 9. The Metamorphoses, by Ovid A real joy of interwoven stories about changes from a Roman poet. If you ever read Greek myths when you were young, this is probably where they were from. The Metamorphoses inspired a lot of the renaissance painters, so it comes in useful in multiple cultural areas. Some of the stories are dark, with daughters falling for fathers, and lover betraying lover. Oxford Worlds Classics, 8.99, Amazon 10. The Satyricon, by Petronius This work takes aim at all classes of Roman society, with the most famous part being Trimalchios Dinner, where a member of the nouveau riche is mercilessly mocked for his unrefined tastes. A deeper look at class divides in 1st C AD Rome, which bears some resemblance to modern Britain in the attitudes. The amount and types of food they consume is also both revolting and fascinating. The atmosphere is basically an adult Horrible Histories. Oxford Worlds Classics, 7.02, Amazon Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel 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 Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tauno Vintola is able to claim something no one else in the world can. For almost 17 years, he has visited Moominworld in Finland every day. Well, unless its raining. I try to go every day but of course, if its raining heavily, I dont go, Vintola, a photographer, admits. But I do go almost every day. The park is only 200 metres from my house and Im retired, so I have time. Its a nice place to visit, and new things happen there almost daily. In fact, not only does Vintola visit every day, but he takes photographs every time he goes, resulting in quite the art project. 17 years of Moominworld Show all 7 1 /7 17 years of Moominworld 17 years of Moominworld The Moomins in winter vintola.fi/Moomin Characters Theme Park created By Dennis Livson 17 years of Moominworld Moominworld winter vintola.fi/Moomin Characters Theme Park created By Dennis Livson 17 years of Moominworld Moominworld characters vintola.fi/Moomin Characters Theme Park created By Dennis Livson 17 years of Moominworld Meet the Moomins vintola.fi/Moomin Characters Theme Park created By Dennis Livson 17 years of Moominworld Moominworld revolves around the Moomin house vintola.fi/Moomin Characters Theme Park created By Dennis Livson 17 years of Moominworld On the water in Moominworld vintola.fi/Moomin Characters Theme Park created By Dennis Livson 17 years of Moominworld Tauno Vintola vintola.fi According to Vintola, most Finns are fans of the Moomins, the cute, hippo-like characters created by national heroine Tove Jansson. But what would lead someone to visit the theme park created in their honour every day? Well, Vintola had an invite from the owner of Moominworld himself. In the year 2000, Dennis Livson, knowing Vintola was a photographer who lived near the park in Naantali, asked if he would like free access to the park and the copyright to take photos. He wouldnt be paid, but hed be able to sell his Moomin pictures. Vintola said yes. Although there was no commitment as to how often he had to go or how many photos he had to take, Vintola has visited the park pretty much every single day that its been open. And though Moominworld isnt open year-round, Vintola even visits off-season. The park is open when its closed anyone can go in to walk around, he explains. His photos of the deserted park arent just a contrast to the busy summer pictures; they reassure Moomin superfans that everythings under control. Of course I miss them too [when the park is closed], he says of the Moomins. Theyre like a second family. That might explain why asking who his favourite character is seems akin to asking him to name his favourite child. They all are, I cant choose it would be rude, he protests. He gets to know the people behind the costumes at the park, but theyre mainly students, so tend to change every season. The park has changed, too. In the beginning there was only the Moominhouse and some kiosks; now there are lots of new places, different buildings for the different Moomin characters, and new restaurants. Its a very different place compared to when it started. In a way, Vintola is the most stable fixture in Moominworld. His modus operandi is to start at the Moominhouse the three-storey conical tower, painted sky-blue, where the Moomin family lives and improvise from there. Everything happens round the Moominhouse, he says. Vintola exhibits his Moomin photos annually in Naantali, as well as showing them on his website. He has about 5,000 photos of the park, he reckons not as many as you might think, but if he takes a better version of the same subject, he deletes the original. If youre planning a visit to Moominworld, Vintola suggests visiting in either June or August July is too hot and crowded, and younger visitors tend to get fractious and leaving ample time to explore. Youve paid the entrance fee, and everything inside is free, so take your time, he says. It takes easily one or two whole days to enjoy Moominworld. Dont expect Disney-style rides, though. One of the best things about Moominworld is that there are no carousels, he says. It leaves a lot of room for childrens and adults imagination, and almost every visitor seems thankful for that. Yes, adults too because Moominworld and the Moomins arent just for kids. Plenty of child-free grown-ups come to visit the theme park, and Vintola insists that the books arent just for children: You must read them again, and think about what they mean. The Moomins are about the whole of life. Let that be your reading resolution for 2017. Keep track of Tauno Vintolas Moominworld photos on his website. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel 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 Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Matthew Leeming might have spent five years taking intrepid tourists to Afghanistan, but above all, he believes in safety. The key to travelling in these kinds of places, he says, is who you go with. His biggest piece of advice is to never go without a guide, like the Polish-German couple he met in Kabul in 2015, whod hitchhiked from Tajikistan. I told them they were absolutely f***ing nuts, they didnt know how lucky they were, he says. They said they were planning to go to Talikan next it fell to the Taliban the following week, and if they were there, theyd definitely have been killed. Thats stupid. But if youre more sensible, you can go to these countries. That said, the first ever tour he organised to Afghanistan back in 2004 didnt quite go according to plan. He had 10 guests booked onto the trip. Just before the trip was scheduled to start, the minister of tourism whod helped set up everything up, was assassinated. Only two tourists made the trip in the end. But they had a great time, Leeming says. Travelling with a reputable local is most important when plotting a visit to such an extreme destination, according to Leeming. When he was running tours, his ground handler was Muqim Jamshady, who now runs his own Afghanistan tourism operation, Kabul-based Afghan Logistics. We never had any near-misses on our tours because Muqim always checked things out in advance hes very responsible and very good at what he does, Leeming insists. Once, we were up in Mazar-i-Sharif near the Oxus River and I thought itd be rather cool to take the group up to Hairatan and see the river something that travel writer Robert Byron tried but never managed but Muqim wouldnt let us. I think it actually would have been fine but he was very cautious. Working with the best people will cost you, he says but when it comes to extreme travel, you cant afford to skimp. Tourists en route to the Minaret of Jam, in western Afghanistan, in 2008. Seven tourists were injured when their bus was attacked last August (AFP/Getty Images) So why go to these places at all? For the sights, of course Leeming waxes lyrical about the beauty of Afghanistan, the pull of Herat and the warm culture of hospitality. But, he admits, it is also for the thrill. Its like Samuel Johnson said: Every man thinks meanly of himself for not being a soldier. Its unbelievably exciting going to places like this. I guess its the same reason that people jump out of aeroplanes you feel really alive. How did he end up in Afghanistan in the first place? Id been doing an MBA and got a signing bonus from a firm, and thought Id spend it on something utterly irresponsible. It was early September 2001, and next thing you know, he was in Afghanistan, sharing a B&B with two monosyllabic men from Morocco. I thought they were bloody rude, he says. A week later, he found out who theyd been, he says: two of Osama bin Ladens kamikaze fighters, whod blown themselves up to kill General Ahmad Shah Massoud, commander of the Afghan anti-Taliban forces, a few days before 9/11. It was an eventful start to what would become five years in Afghanistan for Leeming, during which as well as writing for The Spectator he began to run tours. But it wasnt exactly a huge income stream he had about 20 clients over a period of three years, from 2004-2006. Travelling to this kind of place sounds scarier than it actually is, he reckons. Most wars are very localised. Away from the front, youll almost always find areas that are totally safe to visit. His Afghanistan tours centred around Bamiyan and Herat two of the most interesting places in the country, he says, but also the safest. I dont think any of my guests were ever scared. If wed gone down to Kandahar, that would have been a different story. Herat is one of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan, says Leeming (Aref Karimi/Getty) Though Leeming admits he got into a couple of scrapes himself during his time in Afghanistan aside from kipping with suicide bombers and being shot at a few times, he once found himself stranded in the Blue Mountains, where lapis lazuli is mined, and had to hire a horse and ride himself back to Pakistan. Leeming left Afghanistan in 2006, and since then, he says, the situation has deteriorated a lot: I was in Kabul a year ago and everyone was very freaked out. But that hasnt put him off. Hes looking into a return to Afghanistan, teaming Herat with Mashhad, across the border in Iran. Depending on security, he may tack on a trip to western Afghanistan's Unesco-rated Minaret of Jam. Last year, seven tourists were wounded en route here when their minibus was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. But, in Leemings opinion, chartering a plane there would be much safer. Leeming now runs a luxury travel company called Globalista, taking tours to the Galapagos Islands with popular science author Steven Pinker and Indonesias Wallace Line with Richard Dawkins. But hes got plenty more extreme places lined up on his bucket list: first and foremost is Tibesti, in northern Chad, where there are coloured soda lakes like the ones he remembers in Afghanistan. Fifteen years ago, it was a warzone, but now local tour operators are springing up. Its on the border with Libya, but that wont deter him. There are, however, places even he wouldnt venture into: the Pashtun Belt (straddling Afghanistan and Pakistan) and Syria (I wouldnt go anywhere where Isis is) are on his no-go list. Matthew Leeming wears a Pashtun cloak in Afghanistan (Jonathan Boone) (Matthew Leeming) But hes more positive than negative (hed happily visit Sudan), and he isnt only interested in warzones now is the perfect time to visit Egypt, he reckons. Hes currently working with archaeologists to arrange a Globalista tour of as-yet-unseen parts of Luxor. There are very few places that really are too dangerous just to walk around in, Leeming claims. He calls the people who compile the Foreign Office guidelines a bunch of complete old women I wouldnt rely on in any circumstances and admits that some of his friends will only visit places on the FCO blacklist. I dont feel I should be encouraging people, but Id say it can be done if youre determined and are prepared to take a risk, he says. Providing youre careful, youll usually find a way of visiting. While wed certainly pause before recommending a holiday in Afghanistan, here are Leemings top tips for visiting more extreme countries. Filter out the loonies There are some loonies out there so use your common sense and go on instinct. Ask questions: how many tours have they taken to this particular place, what precautions do they take? Make a lot of enquiries There will usually be a local NGO security organisation, and seeing where journalists go is a good rule of thumb. Contact foreign correspondents and ask their advice. Be prepared to pay Visiting safely means being prepared to pay, whether thats for a good guide, security or transport. Money opens doors and solves most problems. Dont go it alone. Research local customs In Afghanistan, the country was divided into a patchwork of places controlled by local commanders. Every time you went to a new area, youd check in with him and hed give you a piece of paper with his approval, which youd take on to the next place. I always travelled like that always under the protection of a local commander. That was how it worked there, so Id always try to find the equivalent system for anywhere else. Check the lay of the land There are always safe parts of a destination for example I think Puntland in Somalia is absolutely fine. But, equally, plan the route as well as the destination. Most of the problems in Afghanistan are about the roads into places, not the places themselves. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel 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 Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Heathrow is warning passengers of more disruption on Tuesday after more than 100 flights to and from Europes busiest airport were cancelled because of fog. The airport says: "Foggy weather across London and the South East is expected on Tuesday 24 January, and some passengers may experience disruption to their journey as a result. Heathrow advises passengers to check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport." On Monday, British Airways cancelled almost 100 flights, mostly domestic services and short European hops - though links to and from Athens, Moscow and St Petersburg were also grounded by the fog. Other airlines cancelled around 20 short-haul flights, with Aer Lingus and KLM each grounding four flights to and from their hubs at Dublin and Amsterdam respectively. Passengers on Lufthansa, Swiss and SAS Scandinavian Airlines were also affected. Recommended Freezing fog causes rush hour travel chaos and flight delays More than 10,000 passengers have so far been affected. While long-haul schedules have so far been protected, the severe delays on many arriving flights meant thousands of connecting passengers had their journey plans wrecked. BA said: Following a second day of poor forecast weather, we have once again agreed with Heathrow Airport, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and other airlines to slightly reduce our flight schedules at Heathrow on Tuesday. "For safety reasons Air Traffic Control has to allow greater space between landing aircraft in fog and this will mean a reduced number of aircraft being allowed to land each hour at Heathrow. "We are also expecting further fog at Gatwick and London City airports to affect some flights on Tuesday, following some disruption to Mondays schedules. "We are sorry for the difficulties caused by the poor weather and will do all we can to minimise the effect it has on our operations." More than 30 flights serving London City airport were cancelled because of fog, with CityJet, Flybe, Luxair and Swiss among the airlines affected. BAs business-class-only arrival from New York was diverted to Gatwick, with flights from Bremen, Billund and Rotterdam also landing at other airports. Passengers whose journeys are seriously disrupted are entitled to meals and accommodation until the airline can get them to their destination. They are entitled to be flown on rival carriers services if that is the fastest way to complete their trip. But they will not be paid compensation under European rules. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} If the reader needs evidence that the White House is shifting towards a dictatorial, opaque administration, look no further than its own website. Peruse the site at your own leisure; no need to access this evidence via the dishonest media. In just one weekend, the website has posted false statistics about rising crime, when crime has actually gone down over the last eight years. It has ripped down sections about climate change, civil rights and LGBT rights. It has also failed to update its website in a timely fashion, including the executive order section, despite the President having already signed several, including easing the burden of Obamacare which threatens millions of Americans with no health care coverage. The President, his press secretary, senior adviser and chief of staff have all attacked the media in the last three days, saying they have been deliberately dishonest. Press secretary Sean Spicer walked out of his first press conference on Saturday after an angry speech about how the media reported the crowd size at Donald Trumps inauguration. He did not take a single question. The press briefing part of the website has not been updated. Senior adviser and former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway defended her colleague, saying he provided the media with alternative facts. The gaffes continue. On the White Houses official page of First Lady Melania Trump, staff added the name of her jewellery brand and then swiftly deleted it after they were accused of promoting her commercial venture. The same page also reads that Melania Trump paused her studies at university to pursue modelling, whereas the campaigns previous website said she had completed a degree in Slovenia. Selective curation to advance a right-wing agenda is also being carried out on the website of the US governments supposedly independent House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In the news section there is an article by right-wing outlet the Washington Examiner, which accuses the director of the Office of Government Ethics, Walter Shaub, for making negative comments about Trumps alleged conflicts of interest but failing to report alleged conflicts of interest under Obama. White House spokesman Sean Spicer threatens media, vowing to 'hold to account' 'dishonest' reporting It is no secret that the Republican chairman of the oversight committee, Jason Chaffetz, has been accused of bullying Shaub for his comments, hauling him in front of the committee to testify. No one is allowed to criticise Trump, and loyalty has so far proven to be more important to the President than experience or qualifications. Chaffetz is not keen on pursuing Trump; rather, he wants to investigate Hillary Clinton for her alleged misuse of her personal email server when she was secretary of state a position which ended four years ago. Yet almost 130,000 people have signed a petition demanding Chaffetz probe Trumps finances. So pleased she is not the President, he wrote in an ominous and childish message on social media alongside a picture of him shaking Clintons hand at the inauguration. I thanked her for her service and wished her luck. The investigation continues. Meanwhile, the loudest mouthpiece of this government, Trump, continues to tweet from his personal account, which is highly unusual. It is also a potential breach of the Presidential Records Act. Only the White Houses official Twitter account is archived, but Trump does not use that account to express most of his communications. He has tweeted negatively about the womens marches, said his talk to the CIA on the first day of his Presidency was a win and blamed the media again for making it seem like he had had a feud with the intelligence community. Truths become fake news. Lies become alternative facts. The chaos and haphazard nature of the last weekend can be partially attributed to the fact that this administration was simply not ready to serve. It has managed to bluff its way through the formalities, but it has not even appointed most of the 4,000 government jobs. But the lack of transparency, the citing of false statistics and the war against the media are all an omen of what is to come. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Having set a combative tone in his inauguration address last week, President Trump has wasted no time tackling his biggest bugbears. First up, Obamacare, diminished by executive order on Friday afternoon; then, over the weekend, an astonishing stepping-up of his war against the established media, with any hope of a ceasefire lost in a volley of falsehoods from the Trump press team. Now that the Donalds wand has been waved over America, will the Middle East be next in line for the sorcerers magic? When it comes to finding a resolution to the Israel-Palestine conundrum Trump evidently believes that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, will be the man to hit on a plan that is acceptable to all sides. He at least has the advantage that nobody else has managed it after decades of trying. Since Trump is a man who obviously likes a bit of symbolism, the suggestion that he might move the United States embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem might not come as a huge surprise. It would certainly provoke concern from much of the Arab world. The Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has suggested that the construction of a new embassy there would not help peace and would destroy the two-state solution. It would also be at odds with the United Nations continued refusal to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters The question of Jerusalems status is about as thorny as it gets and is at the heart of the wider Israeli-Palestinian riddle. The city is either the answer to a lasting peace or the reason for its impossibility. Both Israelis and Palestinians regard it as their capital; but Israels current administration, in line with most of its predecessors, has maintained that all of Jerusalem rather than a portion of it will remain eternally under Israeli sovereignty. So although the establishment of a foreign embassy in Jerusalem would not, in and of itself, be a definitive statement against a possible, future two-state solution, it would be perceived as supportive of the hardline position taken by Benjamin Netanyahus government. The fact that President Trumps pick as his ambassador to Israel is a longstanding opponent of the two-state proposition has convinced some commentators that the plan to shift Americas embassy will come to fruition. That Israeli authorities approved the construction of hundreds of new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem shortly after Trump took office is a further signal that Israel is confident it now has a firm friend in the White House. Still, Trump is hardly the first US President to raise the possibility of relocating Americas diplomatic HQ in Israel. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both pledged to make the move to Jerusalem when they were on the campaign trail. During Clintons first term, Congress even passed the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act. But ever since then, successive Presidents have signed a waiver every six months to block the legislations enforcement, convinced that the national security interests of the U.S. are better protected by keeping the embassy in Tel Aviv. Donald Trump: 11 things that have happened since he became US President So will Trump break from this cautious, prudent, approach? Sceptics suggest he and his advisers will come to realise that such a symbolic step would not only endanger the prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian accord, but would also incite such anger in Arab nations that it would effectively act as a recruitment drive for Isis and its ilk, fuelling precisely the kind of terrorism that Trump claims he wants to rid from the world. Some of Americas staunchest allies in the Middle-East (Saudi Arabia and Egypt to name just two) would be deeply opposed to the idea of the US Ambassador being based in Jerusalem and it is this disapproval which many believe will persuade Trumps team to hold back. Yet as Americas new President made plain when he took office, old assumptions about US policy-making no longer apply. With a putative friend in Moscow, chummy relations with Riyadh or Cairo may be of less significance to Americas approach to the wider Middle East, especially if Trump decides to focus on domestic affairs as closely as his inaugural address suggested he would. In that case, acting in a way which risks provoking violent anger from Palestinians in the occupied territories (and, who knows, a response in kind from Israel) may of little concern to him. Long-term peace for Israelis and Palestinians may be Trumps stated aim; but if he moves Americas embassy to Jerusalem, further conflict is the more likely outcome. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} No amount of wishful thinking, outrage, marches or demands for recounts could overturn the result of the American election, even if nearly 3 million more people did vote for Hilary Clinton. But, inevitable though it was that Trump would eventually take office after the results three months ago, there need not be anything inevitable about how our own Government should respond to him. Sitting thousands of miles away in the UK, I watched with a sense of powerlessness as the man who wished to ban members of my own faith from entering the United States took office. And alarmingly, Ive now witnessed politicians in the UK fall over themselves to put whatever hateful views Trump had behind them and carry on as though they would with any other incumbent of the White House. It shouldnt and cant be business as usual. There is no precedent for the man our politicians hope to continue a special relationship with, even if it is unrequited and Trump wishes to put only America first. For those hoping that assuming office would somehow magically alter Trumps mindset, his inauguration speech was further proof that he in no way intends to heal divisions or embrace a vision of tolerance and inclusiveness. If the government and MPs think that they can preach about the importance of tolerance, liberalism and the importance of social cohesion at home while conveniently ignoring Trumps record, they are deluding themselves. The two cannot be separated, however much we are told that we must respect the American president out of necessity, even if that necessity is given added impetus over the need for a trade deal following Brexit. Theresa May confirms upcoming meeting with President Trump Maybe Theresa May should heed her own warnings with the European Union that no deal is better than a bad deal when dealing with Trump. To me, watching people like Boris Johnson respond positively to Trump means that my own Government is not only happy to do business with a man that called for members of my faith to have their places of worship put under surveillance and to establish national registers for them, but is also more than happy to brush aside such issues for the sake of other competing priorities. Yet I'm expected to follow the advice of the same Government when it comes to integration and social cohesion at home. As a Muslim, for years Ive seen my own community held responsible for terrorist acts and told to apologise, integrate and change from within. To be told that Muslim communities must do more to integrate and subscribe to British values of tolerance and mutual respect for those who are different while watching Gove gleefully brush over Trumps inconsistencies upon interviewing him, focusing instead on whether were at the front of the queue for a trade deal, only adds to that sense of disbelief. Never mind Trumps disgraceful views, never mind that British Muslims could be barred from travelling to America: all that matters is that we're at the front of the queue. Boris Johnson went further than just asking for a trade deal but instead hoped for a strong bond. Theresa May simply congratulated him on his victory without any criticism whatsoever of his remarks. Thankfully Angela Merkel showed Theresa May how it should be done. Trump wouldn't and shouldn't given a blank cheque; instead, he was offered cooperation on the basis of shared values by Germany. 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 As Theresa May was pressed on whether she would challenge the comments made by Trump on women and minorities during her forthcoming meeting with him, she claimed the talks would focus on more pressing global issues. Never mind the fact that 2 million people across the world over the weekend marched and protested against him. Clearly, for our Prime Minister, that movement was not global enough. I'm not demanding our Government cut off relations with Trump, but at the very least all I ask is that they publicly recognise he is not a normal president. To offer a degree of measured criticism, as has already been done by other world leaders, would make Britain look strong rather than weakening our position and it would do wonders for our situation at home. Anything other sends out a clear message to myself and thousands of others that our elected representatives are happy to foster a strong bond with a president who has peddled fear, bigotry and misogyny, while using our special relationship to simply advance economic interests. That my rights, along with millions of others, do not matter as much as a few extra dollars. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The report that a Trident missile test went awry, veering not toward its intended target on the west coast of Africa, but toward Florida just weeks before parliament voted for its renewal has forced the question of Britains nuclear deterrent firmly back into the public agenda. Number 10 has confirmed that the Prime Minister, Theresa May, was aware of this malfunction before the vote, raising questions over whether she should have revealed information at the time. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, for one, believed there should have been full disclosure, whilst the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament suggested such information would have impacted the debate in parliament. The Times article reporting the incident, however, came at a curious moment, in the immediate aftermath of Trumps inauguration. The brave new world we find ourselves in calls for Britain to keep her head whilst all around are losing theirs. It may seem strange to use keep your head as justification for spending 42bn to renew a weapon capable of rendering the world a barren wasteland, but we have to take into consideration that the man holding the nuclear codes is known for firing off ill-thought out 3am tweets. 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 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA Worse still, Britains nuclear capabilities are hostage to this shot-gun social media enthusiasts goodwill. Britains Trident missiles are in a common pool shared with the US and maintained at Kings Bay, Georgia. Furthermore, our nuclear warheads are designed and maintained with the help of the US. As Trump beats the isolationist drum, and withdraws from Nato, we may be left militarily out in the cold. It isnt a stretch for him to withdraw US support for UK nuclear capabilities too. Without the cooperation of the Trump administration, Trident wouldn't last longer than a couple of months. Though not normally a fan of nuclear weapons, given these facts, I believe we need a fully independent nuclear weapon more than ever whatever the cost to the public purse. The UK has already blown any chance of sharing nuclear warheads with France, so increased spending may be our only option. With many other nuclear and nuclear-aspiring countries rattling sabres at each other, it would be negligent of the British government not to secure our borders somehow. A nuclear deterrent exists, through the horror of mutually assured destruction, to safeguard the future of a nation. Theresa May dodges question four times over Trident misfire One would hope that the UK could protect itself with conventional weapons and personnel, but recent spending cuts and planning failures have left our armed forces in a woeful condition. When Russia moved its sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, through the English Channel on its way to the Mediterranean, instead of sending destroyers to accompany her, the Royal Navy sent a tugboat, a jibe at the aging state of Russias fleet. Which would be funny, if it werent for the fact that Britain currently doesnt have any aircraft carriers. HMS Queen Elizabeth will enter service later this year, but is not deployable until 2021. And thats before we address the availability of the F-35 Joint Strike fighters meant to fly from her. The prospect of nuclear war terrifies us all, but following decades of military mismanagement, Brexit Britain finds herself between a European Union drifting through turbulent waters, and the Divided States of Trumpland. Sadly, renewing Trident, and ensuring the system answers to our government alone, is essential to ensuring Britannia can ride the waves, let alone rule them. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The new President of the United States sought to stamp his personality on the office from the start. Despite saying we are one nation, he used much of his inaugural address to attack an establishment that had betrayed the citizens of our country. Despite paying tribute to the Obamas, saying they had been magnificent, he implied that they were part of a small group in our nations capital, a group that has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Donald Trump even led an ovation for Hillary and Bill Clinton at a lunch after the inauguration, saying: I have a lot of respect for those two people. Yet instead of trying to bring a divided nation together, a nation more of whose citizens voted for his opponent than for him, he used his inaugural speech and his first actions to divide it further. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it, he said, appearing to confirm his disdain for the occupants of the two houses of Congress with whom he will have to work. One of the first actions of the new staff in the White House was to change the Presidents website. He did not take down the pages dealing with LGBT rights and climate change the Obama White House pages were preserved and archived but the changeover was certainly abrupt. Trump calls critics 'enemies' at inauguration ball as he vows to keep his Twitter account running Meanwhile, the new President signed a largely symbolic order giving federal authorities the power to delay or waive requirements of Obamacare, the previous administrations healthcare policy. And all US ambassadors were sacked with immediate effect, leaving the new administration unrepresented in many countries where a replacement has not yet been lined up. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans, Mr Trump said in his first speech as President. But the speech itself contained no attempt to reach out to or to reassure the 54 per cent of American voters who cast their ballots against him. Many of them will hear in the rhetoric of America First a version of the nation that excludes them. The world, and the American people, should be used to this pattern by now. Many people assumed that the vituperative, aggressive and divisive Mr Trump who campaigned in the Republican primaries would moderate his tone and his policies for the general election. Then it was thought that he might seek to build bridges with his opponents after he won the election on 8 November. He certainly gave a notably generous victory speech, and was almost meek when he visited the Obamas in the White House. But his combative spirit continued to assert itself, especially on his Twitter account, and now his inaugural speech read as if it had been compiled from a series of 140-character messages designed to provoke those who doubted him. This is bad news for those who believe that free trade enriches America and the world. But it is also bad politics. Mr Trump is in danger of raising expectations that he cannot possibly meet. He spoke of the problems afflicting America, poverty, poor education, crime and gangs and drugs. And he said, twice: That all changes starting right here, and right now. Signing a vague order about Obamacare that will make no immediate practical difference to a single American does not constitute all change. Governing a nation of 300m people is an immensely complex and difficult business. Significant change takes years of application to bring about. Most of Mr Trumps supporters know this, and are prepared to wait a while. But he is bound to disappoint them, not least because his espousal of protectionism is bad economics. Then he will find that he needs a wider circle of allies than he has acquired so far. Magnanimity in victory is not just good manners, it is good politics. Mr Trump is going to have to find that out the hard way. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The one central fact about British industrial strategy is that there is no strategy that can compensate for the loss of access to the European single market. This is not a mere remoan. It is about the facts. The ability of British firms to operate in such a vast market improved productivity, attracted investment at home and from abroad, and allowed British businesses and households to benefit from fair competition and a level playing field. Only the United States has a comparable scale, and we do not yet have anything like comparable arrangements (though we can only hope that the unique chemistry between the overbearing and misogynist Donald Trump and the nervously feminist Theresa May will help. Unlikely, on balance). No initiatives or subsidies that could conceivably be devised by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy could conceivably compensate for that. Greg Clark, the sixth man to head the department in a decade, is unlikely to succeed where his predecessors failed to make any significant difference. The reason, to use a high-profile example of success that the Government is fond of citing, that the motor industry is on the verge of reaching the peaks of production it last saw in 1972 is because of foreign investment. And one of the major reasons why the German, Indian, Japanese and American companies are operating in the UK is because it is an excellent base for exporting into the rest of Europe. Take that away, and substitute todays easy movement of managers, technicians and designers with a system of work permits and regulations, and no number of apprenticeships or industry panels or new motorways will compensate for the loss of that competitive edge. Under Peter Mandelson and Vince Cable, ministers did have some success in persuading Renault-Nissan to specialise in electric vehicle production in their flagship plant in Sunderland: but if there is no plant in Sunderland then there will be no technology cluster to make the UK a leader in this promising sector. Only a vast bribe could persuade Renault-Nissan to persevere, and that is hardly the point of industrial policy, or Brexit for that matter. It would make more sense to nationalise the British car industry (not a recommendation). Much the same goes for the City of London, aviation and the hi-tech sectors. For the most part, then, British industrial policy is even more irrelevant in the age of Brexit. What might be more relevant as we approach the possibility of Brexit is to reset the British economic model, something that has been hinted at obliquely by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor in recent weeks. There is little concrete here, but, if Britain is to become the sort of free-wheeling, free-trading beacon of the world, and be nimble enough to cope with tariff and non-tariff barriers in the EU, then it will indeed have to transform itself into the Singapore of Europe. But that does not entail much, if any, traditional industrial intervention. Nor does it call for new workers rights and employees on the boards of listed companies, as Theresa May is promising. Or unfunded, vague promises to assist just managing families. It means a far more market-oriented, low cost, high productivity and high profit economy than has hitherto been envisaged. It is about much more than slashing corporation tax. It is about a much more radical reduction in the burdens on industry and trade, including the bizarre and destructive system of business rates that is currently destroying businesses in high streets across the land. None of that bodes well for the future of public spending and public services, or the Jams who rely on them, at least in the short run. All that said, there is still a case for strong public intervention where markets cannot operate, such as building infrastructure. Here, the Government is to be congratulated in pushing new transport, power and other projects where market forces cannot deliver. These investments will, in all likelihood, help support the economy in the short term and, like the Victorian railways now, continue to deliver an economic dividend into the 22nd century. Still, it would be comforting to know that the 600m extra to be spent supporting the Northern Powerhouse and the 56bn due to be spent on HS2 had been subjected to a continuing analysis of their costs and benefits to the nation as a whole. After all, every penny of public money that goes into such projects has to come from taxing already successful and profitable enterprises. From Concord and the Humber bridge to the NHS IT project and the Millennium Dome, Britain has plenty of experience in wasting public money on a biblical scale. Broadly, the British economy has done rather better since the days of regional policies, industrial intervention, corporatism and nationalisation faded away in the 1980s. The two most important factors in the British economic revival since then were, first, membership of the European Union and, second, the liberalisation and marketisation of the British economy we now know as Thatcherism. Both pushed British industry and commerce into being more competitive; both contributed to a broadly sustained increase in living standards over several decades; both reduced labour costs and drove flexibility in industrial relations; both are now being questioned, even reversed, and oddly enough, by a Conservative government. As another female Conservative prime minister once said, its a funny old world. Spains diplomatic and cultural institutions have called on the Trump administration to restore Spanish-language links on the White House website that were removed over the weekend following the handover of power in Washington. Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis on Monday. LLUIS GENE (AFP) More information La Academia y los partidos piden que el espanol siga en la web de la Casa Blanca We dont think it is a good idea, said Alfonso Dastis, Spains new foreign minister on Monday. Managing the website is an internal matter for the White House, but we regret the removal of the Spanish version, he said at the opening of the latest Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum in Barcelona. Dario Villanueva, the head of the Spanish Royal Academy, the body that oversees the use of the Spanish language in Spain, described the move as a major setback, while Victor de la Concha, the director of the Instituto Cervantes, which promotes Spanish culture and language teaching around the world, called it a serious gesture, adding: Trump is president of all Americans and 18% of the population speaks Spanish and 95% of them consider that it is important for them, their children and their nephews to continue speaking Spanish. Responding to the international outcry and media coverage, Sean Spicer, the White Houses new spokesman, said during his first daily press briefing on Monday that no final decision had been made on a Spanish-language communication policy and that it would take a little longer to complete the website piece by piece. We are continuing to build out the website..., Spicer said. Weve got the IT folks working overtime on that now. After announcing a Cabinet with no Latinos in it, the first time this has happened in three decades, the new team at the White House has closed the governments Spanish-language accounts on social networks. Furthermore, nobody has yet been announced to replace the Obama administrations spokesperson for policies or topics relating to the countrys Latino community. Under the Barack Obama administration, the White House website not only provided a route to a Spanish-language version of the White House website, but also to topics of interest to the Hispanic community, such as Obamas executive decisions to temporarily regularize the situation of hundreds of thousands of undocumented minors through the Differed Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. There was also a Spanish-language blog that discussed topics of special interest to the countrys Hispanic community, ranging from immigration to normalizing relations with Cuba or the economic crisis in Puerto Rico. In a country where there are 52 million people who speak Spanish it is not a good idea to give up a communication tool, said Dastis. We are in favor of dialogue and the more means there are for doing this, the better, he added. Dastis has been very careful since Donald Trump was elected to avoid making any judgments about the new US president, calling for him to be given an opportunity. During the campaign trail, Trump highlighted immigration as one of the biggest problems facing the United States, promising to build a wall along the Mexican border and to punish US companies that continued to relocate to Mexico with high import tariffs. The only time Trump used a Spanish word while on the stump was during the last presidential debate with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, when he talked about bad hombres (men) in reference to the dangerous illegals he promised to deport. We are continuing to build the website Sean Spicer, White House spokesman Trump also criticized one of his rivals for the Republican nomination, Jeb Bush, for speaking Spanish during the campaign. We have a country where, if you want to assimilate, you have to speak English I am not the first to say thisThis is a country where we speak English, not Spanish, he said during a debate with other Republican hopefuls in September 2015. Spains opposition Socialists have pressured the Popular Party government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to respond to the White Houses move, suggesting a diplomatic initiative targeting Washington by Spanish-speaking countries. English version by Nick Lyne. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Non-disclosure of the details of military matters, such as a Trident launch failure, is reasonable. Security matters. Mays behaviour on Andrew Marr was pathetic and showed her as devious and untrustworthy. Why dont interviewees of all stripes realise that brazen evasion is damagingly counterproductive? May should have said something like: For self-evident security reasons no details have or will be released. True and understandable easy. The USA has a nuclear triad eggs in three classes of widely dispersed baskets. The errant Trident emphasises how vulnerable the UK is with all its eggs in one class of basket. The UK could have a nuclear triad, without the expense of the new Trident boats, with cruise missiles adaptable for launch from air, land, surface ships or the existing Astute class boats. A credible deterrent must be resilient. Even with four missile subs deployed in time for a crisis, itself unlikely if the aggressor is even modestly competent, the risk is obvious. The tactical problem created by widely dispersed nuclear assets is usually more complex. Steve Ford Haydon Bridge Britains independent nuclear deterrent consists of hugely expensive submarines, the construction of which has tied up our most skilled workers in unproductive labour for decades; and missiles, supplied under licence and controlled from the USA. The communications and targeting infrastructure that is essential for the delivery of these missiles is controlled by the USA. Who does this system actually deter from attacking our island? And could a British government deploy it without the sanction of, say, for arguments sake, Donald Trump? So far our MPs have been told that our Trident missiles are designed and manufactured in the United States by Lockheed Martin and that, apart from those actually on board the submarines, the remaining missiles are stored at Kings Bay, Georgia, USA where the maintenance and in-service support which keeps them operational takes place. Refitting and support of the submarines themselves takes place at Devonport, Plymouth by DML, a subsidiary majority owned by Halliburton. Thus British taxpayers continue to supplement the $39.5bn profit Dick Cheneys firm has already made from the Iraq war. Do we really need this stuff? Nick Wright Faversham Trident (Corbyn: Theresa May should come clean about what she knew about Trident missile misfiring, 22 January) Let's not be sidetracked by the misfiring of a Trident missile. Ponder, instead, the interesting history of our so-called independent nuclear deterrent. It would have been irresponsible of President Kennedy, having agreed to supply the UK with submarine-launched ballistic missiles, not to have ensured that they incorporated an electronic lock mechanism. After all, what is there to distinguish a British Polaris launch from an American one? A desperate Harold Macmillan, keen to acquire a deterrent on the cheap, was easily fobbed off. Bear in mind that the missile delivery system of Trident and its proposed successor has "Made in the USA" stamped all over it. They design and manufacture the delivery system. Missiles have to be sent back to the US for periodic overhaul and modifications. Even submarine-launched test firings are conducted in American waters near Cape Canaveral under, needless to say, US Navy supervision. Persisting with Trident and its proposed replacement in order to retain our permanent Security Council seat is to reject British pragmatism in favour of la gloire. At least the French, to their credit, went to the trouble of developing their own submarine launched missile delivery system. They own it, hence control it. Yugo Kovach Dorset British Citizen Ratcliffe needs to be brought home: an open letter to Tobias Ellwood MP I am not a constituent but someone who as a British citizen believes passionately in our role in defending human rights across the globe. Whatever party we are in, and I am a Liberal Democrat, we believe in a fair justice system and expect our citizens to be fairly treated when they are abroad. I am writing to you to express my disappointment that the UK government has not managed to persuade the Iranian government to free Nazanin Ratcliffe, a British citizen who has been put in prison on fabricated charges of spying. As you will have heard she has sadly lost her appeal and faces life without her husband and daughter for a period of five years.The charges against her are totally false and the Iranian government has gone as far as to accuse her husband of being a British spy. I fail to see how we can possibly allow this to continue. In my view the only way to deal with this issue is to exert extreme pressure on the Iranian government using economic means if necessary. My fear is that the UK government is too afraid of the impact on trade with Iran now that diplomatic relations have been restored and British Airways has resumed direct flights to the country. I hope by copying this letter to other MPs and to the media that you will start to consider what further action we can take to ensure one of our citizens is not held illegally. If we do not act then the Iranian government and others will feel emboldened to use illegal imprisonment of British subjects as a bargaining chip in negotiations. Enough is enough. Chris Key Twickenham Heating up The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Report claims that if we dont immediately reduce our emissions we will be inundated by endless floods, hurricanes, plagues of frogs, etc. In fact the report frequently confuses climate with climate change our natural maritime climate is unpredictable and no specific event has ever been linked to CO2 emissions. Any serious review of climate science will demonstrate that the impact of human-caused climate change on the behaviour of most types of extreme weather is poorly understood. A growing body of scientific evidence, based in observations rather than models, indicates any climate change will be much smaller than that suggested in the IPCCs alarmist reports. The idea that humanity will be overwhelmed by its endlessly negative predictions of climate catastrophe ignores our demonstrated ability to respond to environmental challenges. So to conclude that increasingly frequent and intense heat events lead to more heat-related deaths is not only a non sequitur it is a wholly unscientific and pejorative statement. Dr John Cameron St Andrews Climate change poses a looming threat to public health security. It diminishes our ability to think clearly and richly about the interweaving challenges that threaten our existence from burgeoning populations, deteriorating environments, consumption patterns, lifestyles to the surge of diseases, food insecurity and conflicts. This global menace cannot be tackled in isolationism. Its ramifications not only follow unpredictable paths but transcend geographic borders, races, creeds and social and economic stratification. Developing countries like Jordan are on the receiving end of mass migration, natural resources' scarcity, drought, decertification and terrorism. For example, Jordan is the second water poorest country on earth. It is the one of the biggest host of refugees per capita worldwide. It imports 90 per cent of its energy. Developed nations like the UK must shore up the resilience of such developing nations and work in a holistic, collective and coordinated matter towards building renewable energy, clean technology, water management and sustainable communities. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob London, NW2 The government "tried to bury" its own alarming report on climate change dangers but we shouldn't be surprised at the indifference shown to this recent report. After all this surely comes under the heading green crap coined by the last Tory government. Andrea Leadsom will be far to occupied with repealing the hunting ban and re starting the badger cull. G Forward Stirling Far-right gatherings worrying The news of a far right get-together in Europe over the weekend and the advance of hard edged populism is extremely worrying. These call for those on the left and centre left to consider resurrecting the Popular Front movement of the 1930s. This of course was and could be again the best answer to the serious threats now posed to basic civil liberties and a civilised political culture. In Britain one would expect such a grouping to comprise at the very least Lib Dems, Labour and the Green Party. Increasingly at home and abroad democrats are facing the challenge to "hang together" or "hang separately". Prized party identities should not stand in the way of united action to reassert the key political values so many of us have taken for granted. Andrew McLuskey Staines A bit rushed? I have been surprised by many aspects of Brexit, but to me the most curious continues to be this desire to drive the affair through as quickly as possible. If I decide to move house, I dont buy the first property I view. Given the possible developments in Europe later this year, many of which could be favourable to the Brexit cause, wouldnt a delay be of strategic advantage? Yet we have this mad rush to implement Article 50 by March. What are the Brexiteers and May so frightened of? Are they worried that as more details emerge of the possible post-Brexit settlement, the groundswell of public opinion will move against them? But surely if the idea of Brexit is as good as Johnson, Gove and Farage maintain, then it will stand up to rigorous scrutiny by Parliament? Why should the electorate ever wish to change its mind? Im afraid the whole business reminds me of someone who comes across something of great value lying in the street, pockets it, cant believe their luck and wants to get as far away as possible from the scene before anyone starts asking too many awkward questions. T Harris Grimsby Piers Morgan for PM? What Donald Trump will do as President is not my only concern. I am also very fearful that his friend, Piers Morgan, might decide to enter politics with a view to becoming our next Prime Minister! Sarah Pegg East Sussex We need to stand up for the oppressed First they came for the Communists/Socialists/TradeUnionists/Jews And I did not speak out because I was not a Communist/Socialist/Trade Unionist/Jew. Then they came for me, And there was no-one left to speak out for me. Martin Niemoeller's words are as pertinent today as they were when written over seventy years ago. We did speak out, in our tens of thousands, this weekend; let's hope Theresa May finds the courage to do likewise during her meeting with Trump. Or they might come for all of us. Sue Breadner Isle of Man Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} From this day forward, its going to be only America first, Donald Trump declared, setting down what is supposed to be the guiding principle of his administration in an inaugural speech bereft of statesmanship but full of threats and invectives. But what does America first mean when it comes to foreign and defence policy? The words are not new: they were much used by the isolationist movement which tried to keep the US out of the Second World War, with a pro-German and anti-Semitic stance taken by some like its poster boy, the aviator Charles Lindbergh. The former KKK leader, David Duke, whose support Trump had been slow in rejecting during the campaign, tweeted last Friday afternoon: Trump Inauguration Speech Declares War on the Neocons & Promotes Our Slogan America First! In the lexicon of the American racist hard-right, many of the neocons are tainted by being Jews as well as being interventionists. All the false claims Donald Trump made after his inauguration Isolationism is not, of course, new in the US. In the 1930s, as Europe moved towards war, Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts. This helped embolden the Nazis, and their sympathisers in the States made considerable effort to aid the isolationist movement. Even in 1939, as Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France declared war, a very careful President Roosevelt was having to say that he would do all he could to keep America out of the war in order not to antagonise Congress. But is Trump a nationalist rather than an isolationist? The attempt to spread liberal democracy, he has stated, will end under him. But, at the same time, he has repeatedly declared that he will expand the defence budget. There is no reason to do so for the sake of deterrence: Americas military might vastly surpasses those of every other country on earth. Lets take just one example: the US has 19 aircraft carriers, while Russia and China have one each. So, the only reason for ramping up this already massive force would be to project American power, through wars if necessary, for Americas self-interest. To do so, the US will have to maintain alliances; support friendly states and have bases abroad. But Trump has also castigated spending, including that related to the military aid, abroad, claiming We have spent trillions and trillions of dollars overseas. In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters The US spends $18bn on foreign aid which is less than one per cent of the national budget. Around $6bn (4.8bn) a year goes to military aid and around $10bn (8bn) on maintaining bases abroad, hardly a particularly significant proportion of an annual defence budget of nearly $600bn (480bn). The United States will no longer subsidise the armies of other countries while allowing the sad depletion of our military, said Trump. Most of the $6bn (4.8bn) military aid goes to Israel and Egypt. Trump has spoke of his fervent support for Israel, saying he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; backing settlements in occupied territories and saying he will dismantle the nuclear deal with Iran which Benjamin Netanyahus government has lobbied against vociferously. General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was one of the first leaders Trump spoke to on the phone after his elections victory and he has been fulsome in praise of Egypts leader ever since, pledging to stand-by him and speaking their mutual personal chemistry. Is the new President really going to undermine Israel and Egypt by cutting aid especially as that aid comes with a stipulation that money must be to spend on American military products, thus providing jobs in American factories? The $10bn spent on bases are mainly in Germany, South Korea and Japan, seen as necessary to keep a check on two adversaries, Russia and China and the rogue state of North Korea. Even if Trumps admiration for Vladimir Putin leads to him actually weaken the commitment to Nato, how will his desire to confront China, busy building military bases in disputed islands, and North Korea be squared with withdrawing troops from Japan and South Korea? Trump declared in his inaugural speech that he will eradicate radical Islamist terrorism from the face of the earth. Islam has been much in his sight during the election campaign, claiming that President Obama was soft on Muslim terrorists. Trump has been vocal in threatening to bomb the shit out of Isis. But the Americans have been doing that already: drone strikes, in particular, have vastly increased under the Obama administration, eliminating a large number of Islamist extremist leadership and US Special Forces have been in operations in swathe of countries. It was after all, under a Democrat president, Obama, and not George W Bushs war on terror that Osama Bin Laden was tracked down and killed. So what America First actually means remains unclear. The new Trump White House website has just 220 words on the foreign and defence policies of the worlds most powerful nation. What we can say, however, is that many of the assertions made by Trump and his team are, to use another set of words just coined by his administration, alternative facts, assertions which do not stand up to scrutiny. It is understood that two of three men arrested in an illegal immigration probe are Aer Lingus employees A suspected illegal immigration ring has been broken up at Dublin Airport. Three men, two of whom work for Aer Lingus, were arrested on Sunday night when gardai swooped on an alleged attempt to smuggle a man into Ireland using a catering truck. It is believed the ring operated for a number of years with passengers avoiding immigration checks at the airport by walking off a plane before being brought to a secure zone airside and being taken out in a vehicle. There are no security checks for vehicles or passengers leaving airports, only passport and customs inspections for passengers, staff and their bags, meaning some vehicles used by airlines could be driven out without being searched. Some airline and airport staff also have permits to give them access through the airport from air side to land side without having to clear passport control. Gardai said the arrested men, aged 61, 56 and 28, were detained at Ballymun and Coolock stations after an operation involving officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the special detective unit. It is understood the third man arrested is a suspected illegal immigrant. Assistant Garda Commissioner John O'Driscoll said the operation had prevented an attempt to bring someone into Ireland illegally. "There's always a danger, and this is worldwide, that employees who have the capacity to facilitate illegal immigration will do certain acts that may assist in that regard," he said. "It requires ongoing monitoring." A series of follow-up searches, including of vehicles suspected of being used by the group, were being carried out. Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: "We have a huge amount of contact with Interpol and Europol and I'm very confident that with the new arrangements now in place that database information is now being shared more effectively than before. "Extreme vigilance is needed on an ongoing basis at Dublin Airport and indeed every point of entry into the country." A spokesman for Aer Lingus said the airline is "co-operating fully" with gardai. A spokesman the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said: "Dublin Airport Authority has been in touch with the Garda National Immigration Bureau in relation to this matter and is assisting them with their inquiries." Some 3,300 people were refused entry to Ireland last year by immigration officials. In an unconnected incident last October, a three-year-old girl was among a group of five suspected Iraqi asylum seekers found in a refrigerated container in a haulage yard in Co Wexford. It is believed people-smugglers were paid 5,000 euro for each person to be trafficked out of France to Ireland through Rosslare Europort. It was the second incident of its kind in as many weeks last year. Dublin is hoping to reap the benefit of Brexit Ireland is set for an office-building boom to host financial services firms relocating due to Brexit. Almost 4.5 million square feet of commercial space is under construction or refurbishment and a further five million square feet of accommodation with full planning permission is available in the Greater Dublin area, a report from the Department of Finance said. The Republic's Central Bank has confirmed an increased interest in firms assessing Ireland as a location for financial services authorisation and investment. The Finance Department said: "While firms are making, and will continue to make, relocation and investment decisions in the short term, the implementation of those decisions will take place over a longer time frame. "In that regard, Ireland is well-positioned to address any additional domestic and commercial property demand that may arise." UK Chancellor Philip Hammond has said protecting financial services is a priority for Brexit negotiations amid warnings of job losses in the City. Barclays has said the bank is looking at routing some of its activities through Ireland and Germany, but that the "bulk" would remain in the UK. Ireland has attracted foreign direct investment using a low corporate tax rate which companies like Apple have taken advantage of. Dublin's junior finance minister Eoghan Murphy has already predicted a wave of UK-based financial services companies will announce full or partial relocations to the Irish capital over the coming months. An IFS 2020 action plan for 2017 published on Monday aims to attract thousands of new jobs. It said: "Since the UK EU referendum result, there has been an enhanced focus on international financial services across Government departments and agencies. "There will be some opportunities with Brexit - the Government is keen to maximise those where possible." Gerry Adams reiterated his claims about Brexit harming the Good Friday Agreement at a conference in Dublin on Saturday. Photo: Tom Burke Gerry Adams's claims that Brexit will destroy the Good Friday Agreement have been rubbished by the British government as well as legal advisers in the North. The Sinn Fein president alleged fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1998 accord to end violence could be undermined. "The British position also fails to take account of the fact that citizens in the North, under the agreement, have a right to Irish citizenship and therefore EU citizenship," Mr Adams said. But the top legal adviser to Stormont ministers has said not one word in the agreement would be affected. A statement from the UK government said none of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement, including those relating to human rights, is in any way undermined by the decision of the UK to leave the EU. It added: "These comments are totally without any basis in fact." The Sinn Fein leader said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status within the union of 27 states after Brexit, and claimed that would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of the UK. "The UK government is fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors, including Stormont House and Fresh Start. There will be no return to the borders of the past," said the UK government. "We are also working intensively to ensure that following the forthcoming election, strong and stable devolved government that works for everyone is re-established in Northern Ireland." Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie went further, accusing Mr Adams of using "inflammatory" words. Mr Adams addressed a conference on achieving a united Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. "The British government's intention to take the North out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action," he said. "Not just because of the implications of a hard border on this island, but also because of its negative impact on the Good Friday Agreement. "The British prime minister repeated her intention to bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court. "Along with her commitment to remove Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights this stand threatens to undermine the fundamental human rights elements of the Good Friday Agreement." Officials in Dame Street will be asked to 'reprioritise' applications by firms looking to move to Ireland ahead of the UKs departure from the EU single market. Stock Image The Central Bank will 'reprioritise' resources for firms looking to move their operations to Ireland under new Government plans to deal with a hard Brexit. Officials in Dame Street will be asked to "reprioritise" staff to deal with any increase in applications by companies due to the UK's departure from the EU single market. Expand Close The Junior Finance Minister Eoghan Murphy. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Junior Finance Minister Eoghan Murphy. Photo: Tom Burke The move, revealed in a new Government plan on the financial services industry, comes amid claims Ireland is not yet prepared for when Britain triggers Article 50. But the document vows to make Ireland more attractive and to ensure agencies step up their bid to lure banks and other institutions to our shores. There will be a further push to ensure Ireland is chosen as the new location for the European Banking Authority (EBA), which is currently based in London. The government's strategy for attracting financial service firms says both the Central Bank and IDA Ireland have reported increased interest in firms assessing Ireland as a location for investment. It adds that the Central Bank will "reprioritise where necessary to meet any increased level of demand..." while remaining "committed to providing a high quality, fair and transparent authorisation process for all applicants". "Since the UK's EU referendum result, there has been an enhanced focus on international financial services across Government departments and agencies," says the report. "There will be some opportunities with Brexit - the Government is keen to maximise those where possible." Almost 4.5 million square feet of commercial space is under construction or refurbishment, and a further five million square feet of accommodation with full planning permission is available in the Greater Dublin area, the report says. Read more: Brexit will bring US multinationals to Ireland - Ambassador Kevin O Malley The Central Bank has confirmed an increased interest in firms assessing Ireland as a location for financial services authorisation and investment. The bank is said to be ready and resourced to meet the level of demand from potential authorisation applicants "despite the significant increase in enquiries". School Another major component of the plan involves expanding the so-called "international school" system. This is aimed at attracting highly skilled foreign professionals who have children of schooling age. A raft of new degrees in areas such as aviation, finance and technology will also be rolled out to dovetail with sectors that may be attracted here post-Brexit. The publication of the strategy, outlining how the Government will seek to capitalise on any flight of big business from London, comes just days after a major speech by British Prime Minister Theresa May, who signalled plans for a 'hard Brexit'. Junior Finance Minister Eoghan Murphy last night said Ms May's approach to Brexit meant it was "increasingly likely that companies accessing the single market for financial services from the UK will need a new EU base". "Ireland is the obvious location for choice for relocation and the Government stands ready to help in any way it can," Mr Murphy added. The Dublin Bay South TD said the Government had taken a subtle approach, but "I think we must now be more assertive - it's time to enter a new phase of operations". According to the plan, Ireland is in a "very strong position to maximise opportunities arising from Brexit" due to the country's strong track record in relation to foreign direct investment. The strategy includes an event in Dublin before the end of June where senior executives from companies in the financial sector with offices around Ireland will address potential investors. The plan says focus on the regions is "critical" to growing employment in the International Financial Services (IFS) sector. Another key element is the Government's bid to secure the post-Brexit location for the EBA. Department of Finance officials view the securing of such a prestigious organisation as having the potential to result in a "clustering effect" and influencing other financial institutions to move here. The plan also includes the continued promotion of Ireland's financial sector by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and ministers during overseas trade missions. The report, from Social Justice Ireland, suggests the EUs lack of a response to long-term unemployment and growing wage inequality is having a negative impact. (Stock picture) Failure to address social challenges is "undermining confidence in the European Union", according to a new report on social justice from an independent think tank. The report, from Social Justice Ireland, suggests the EU's lack of a response to long-term unemployment and growing wage inequality is having a negative impact. "Inequalities in Europe's social situation bring risks of a breakdown in social cohesion both within and between countries," Michelle Murphy, of Social Justice Ireland, said. "Great disparities in wealth and power divide society into rich and poor, powerful and powerless. "This weakens the bonds between people and divides society between the lucky and the left out." Dr Sean Healy, director of Social Justice Ireland, said the new 110-page study showed that long-term unemployment was one of the most important challenges facing the EU. "Almost 11 million people in the EU are long-term unemployed and 6.6 million have been unemployed for more than two years. This is a very worrying trend," he said. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Dr Healy said the basic income system could be an effective way of tackling "the digital revolution", a term used to describe technology taking the place of traditional employment. "If you use the issue of driverless cars with hundreds of thousands of jobs to be lost in the future, there is going to be a need for change, with upskilling of people another important factor," he said. Dr Healy also said "the context of the report becomes more important in light of Brexit". Ms Murphy, who is the think tank's research and policy analyst, added: "The best performing member states in the EU in economic terms have ambitious and efficient social policies as a central part of their growth model. "These countries have a total tax take well above the EU average and provide more opportunities for every individual to participate broadly in things like education, health services and the labour market. "They are also some of the most competitive countries in the world, including Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands." Chief executive of the Dublin Port Company Eamonn O'Reilly is planning for the worst. If Brexit is as 'hard' as many fear, full border and customs controls may return, which will present an enormous headache for the port authority. The numbers are staggering. Around 250,000 tourist cars coming into the country every year - almost 700 a day - could be subject to screening. Another 204,000 goods containers will also undertake some form of checks. Currently, these cars and containers come straight off ships and drive on to the road network. Mr O'Reilly reckons that if his worst fears are realised, this traffic will need to undergo customs checks in the port on a site encompassing some three hectares. This will restrict development and utilisation of land for more productive uses. "None of this is good," he says. "It's back to the situation in place in the early 1990s (prior to the abolition of internal EU borders in January, 1993). "The absolutely essential thing is the ferries continue to discharge quickly. It would be a disaster for the port and country if they are delayed. "If all that stuff has to discharge into a yard, that yard has to be around three hectares. That's a big chunk of land. The port is already under pressure which is why we're redeveloping. That wouldn't be a good outcome, and is something we hope can be avoided." Business is growing, but it's a continuation of a long-term trend since the 1950s. "It's a long-run characteristic of the port," he says. "You have growth, on growth, on growth. From 1993 to 2007, every single year was a record year without exception. In the last four years, we've seen the re-emergence of a long-term trend. "I was born in 1959, when the population of Ireland hit its lowest, around 2.9 million. Today it's 4.7 million. People drive economies. If you have more people, you have a lot more economic activity. More people means more stuff." Some 26 million tonnes of goods passed through the port past year, along with 500,000 tourist vehicles. In the last four years, volumes have grown by 25pc, but Mr O'Reilly doesn't expect Brexit to impact on business. "When the Brexit vote happened everyone here would have been surprised and as disappointed as most people in the [UK]. The first thing we would have thought about in relation to Dublin Port was there could be a negative effect on economic growth. "But we've come through the worst recession in the history of the country, we've survived this enormous economic catastrophe. From 2007, we dropped for a couple of years but we're four million tonnes above where we were in 2007. It's hard to envisage Brexit having a bigger impact, given there's a couple of years before it happens and there's time to change and adapt. "I'm not trying to diminish the impact it will have on key sectors like agriculture and the other industries which depend on the UK markets. I wouldn't be overly concerned we're going to see an enormous drop-off in the business of Dublin Port." But customs checks will result in major disruption. Every year, 1.318 million units - containers and trailers - go through Dublin Port. Of this, 503,000 units come from continental Europe, of which 190,000 tonnes originate from outside the EU, and clear customs in the container terminals in the port. The remaining 1.128 million units pass through the port unhindered, of which 815,000 is UK business. But after a hard Brexit, the figures change. In the future, only the 313,000 units of goods arriving from continental Europe will not be subject to customs. The remaining 1,005 million - from the UK and outside the EU - will require some form of checks. In the case of the UK traffic, some 408,000 units of unaccompanied freight will have to be processed in container terminals, which will be "relatively straightforward", he says, but warns of an administrative cost and possible delays. The 'real' challenge is the 408,000 units of accompanied freight which arrive on trucks. Some 204,000 units coming into the country every year will have to be checked, along with 250,000 tourist cars. The "ideal" is that if these units and cars have to clear a new customs control, it happens before they board the ship in Holyhead. Traffic to the UK could clear customs in Dublin. This means that checks could occur in the waiting area prior to boarding, meaning no delays on either side. "These things will queue to get onto the ship anyway. It would be great for the port because you won't need to lose a chunk of land, and great for trade because it continues to move quickly. "There are models for this - in Dover-Calais, French security checks occur in Dover and UK security checks occur in Calais. "Everything suggests we're moving for a hard Brexit which could result in custom controls being reintroduced. We would hope such an arrangement is possible, but these are complex areas. From our perspective, this is what good would look like." There aren't a lot of opportunities for the port due to Brexit, because ships destined for the UK will still have to land there. The ports under most pressure will be Dublin and Rosslare, because so much of their trade is with the UK. "We are going to plan on the basis of what we consider is the worst-case scenario," he adds. "That is, there has to be customs in Dublin Port. In terms of preparedness we're in the best position we can be. "All we can do is create a worst-case scenario in our minds, and work out how to deal with that. But I'd be delighted if I went to a meeting and somebody said 'don't worry about that, it'll be much simpler'." Theresa May and Donald Trump are to discuss a US-UK trade deal that slashes tariffs and makes it easier for hundreds of thousands of workers to move between the two countries. The British prime minister will on Friday become the first foreign leader to hold talks with the new US president at the White House, following assurances by Mr Trump's team that he wants to do a major free trade deal with Britain that can be announced in the weeks after Brexit. One option understood to be under discussion in Whitehall is to agree to cut - or even drop - tariffs on items which Britain and America already export to one another. Sources believe any agreement on tariffs would give Ms May significant leverage in her negotiations with Brussels and allow her to demand that EU leaders give Britain a good deal. Government sources also said that Ms May wants to explore ways in which it can be made easier for US citizens to work in the UK and vice versa. There are currently about one million Americans working in Britain and about one million UK citizens in the United States. "We can grow those numbers," a senior UK government source said. Read more: Billionaire investor George Soros predicts Theresa May 'will not last' as UK Prime Minister The job creation plan in both countries would allow Mr Trump to stand by his "America first" pledge, whilst still agreeing to a deal that benefits both America and the UK. Ms May said yesterday that she would hold discussions with Mr Trump about trade, terrorism and the crisis in Syria. "There will be many issues for us to talk about, because obviously the special relationship between the UK and the US has been strong for many years," Ms May told BBC One's 'The Andrew Marr Show'. Trading "We'll have opportunity to talk about our possible future trading relationship, but also some of the world's challenges that we will face, issues like defeating terrorism, the conflict in Syria." Ms May added: "What I think is important is that when I sit down with Donald Trump I'm going to be able to talk about how we can build on that special relationship. He's already said to me that he wants to see a very strong relationship between the UK and the US going into the future. There are issues that we will work together on in the future." Government insiders said that as part of a working group designing a possible US-UK trade deal, officials will attempt to find goods which the two countries already export to each other to see if it is possible to agree "lower or even zero tariffs". Ms May made clear she will discuss the importance of the Nato defence alliance, an organisation that Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised. She said: "I've spoken to him about Nato. Nato is very important. Nato has been the bulwark of our security here in Europe and we work together in Nato. "We've both made the point before about contributions being made by countries. The United Kingdom is spending 2pc of its GDP on defence. I believe that's important." In a phone call yesterday with Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, Ms May repeated that she intended to emphasise the continued importance of the alliance in her meeting with Mr Trump. Read more: Britain's 'ambitious' path is not always understood, says May Ms May also told Andrew Marr that she would tell Mr Trump when she found his behaviour "unacceptable" - a criticism she had already levelled at him over comments he had made in the past about women. Asked if she would raise the issue at their White House meeting, Ms May said: "I have already said that some of the comments that Donald Trump has made in relation to women are unacceptable, some of those he himself has apologised for. "When I sit down, I think the biggest statement that will be made about the role of women is the fact that I will be there as a female prime minister, prime minister of the United Kingdom, directly talking to him about the interests that we share." ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] After an absence of four years, bullfighting returned to Bogota on Sunday but the event was not without controversy. Protests against the fiesta began a full three hours before it was due to start, with around a thousand people from animal rights and environmental groups, among others, turning out to voice their opposition to the event. Police and protestors clash on Sunday in Bogota. Fernando Vergara (AP) More information Las protestas marcan la vuelta de los toros a Bogota A previous mayor of the Colombian city, Gustavo Petro, had in effect prohibited bullfighting from taking place in the city, by refusing to lease out bullrings to bullfighting organizers, according to the Colombia Reports website. However, a Constitutional Court ruling paved the way for the activity to return to the city, on the basis that the de facto ban violated the right to expression of the bullfighters. Around 1,200 police officers were at the Santamaria bullring waiting for the protestors on Sunday morning, there to guarantee the constitutional right of [bullfighting] fans to see their heroes in the ring. They included El Juli, the most popular man of the moment, Luis Bolivar, seen as the best torero in Colombia, and Andres Roca Rey, who, aged just 20, was the sensation of the last bullfighting season. The representatives of the bullfighters choose the bulls for the afternoon. R. J. C. Tensions rose just before the action started in the ring, with several incidents between spectators and protestors, who were shouting Murderers! at those in attendance, as well as throwing red paint and other objects at those trying to get into the bullring. Faced with the skirmishes, riot police intervened, firing tear gas at the crowds in a bid to disperse them. Inside the bullring the crowd responded with an ole every time they heard a tear-gas round being fired, as if it was all part of the days action. Several arrests were made as a result of the scuffles between fans and protestors, with insults flying between the two sides. One public worker had to be taken from the scene on a stretcher for medical treatment within the bullring after being pelted with stones. While in the ring 20-year-old Roca Rey allowed the apprentice bullfighters, known as novilleros, to participate while he faced the sixth bull of the day. The gesture was to recognize their actions after bullfighting was banned in the city, when they chained themselves to the bullring and went on hunger strike in protest. English version by Simon Hunter. The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed has said he has no plans to provide farmers grants to install underpasses. Fianna Fail, Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minster recently if he will include eligibility under TAMS for the erection of underpasses to improve safety for farmers due to the increase in herd sizes and increase in traffic. The construction of underpasses is not currently available under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme suite of measures. Minister Creed said the introduction of such a measure would require a formal amendment to Irelands Rural Development Programme for 2014 2020 and approval by the EU Commission and said he has no plans to introduce this measure at this time. A former minister has described the cost of installing underpasses to improve road safety a crisis situation. Ned OKeeffe told the ICMSA AGM at Limerick that farmers face costs of up to 60,000 for an underpass because of the restrictions and bureaucracy. He was responding to a motion from ICMSA executives in Carlow and Macroom that underpasses should be grant aided under TAMS and that the planning system should promote rather than hinder their use in the interest of farm and road safety. Mr OKeeffe described the situation as ludicrous where farmers faced almost insurmountable difficulties with the NRA and the local authorities, despite the improvement it would achieve for the safety of both road users, the farmer and animal safety. Macroom ICMSAs Tim OCallaghan called for farmers to be allowed to carry out the work or engage a contractor which will reduce the local authority costings by more than 50pc. In my area the local authority wanted 30,000 for a small underpass where a dairy farmer has three-quarters of his land at the other side of a country road. The cost of the pre-cast underpass needed was 11,000 plus a few loads of filling and a couple of loads of concrete, he said. It is a nightmare for any farmer having to bring cows across the public road four times a day and there have been several accidents as a result. I know of several cases where farmers lost five to seven cows and risked their own lives where drivers collided with them. Farmers are constantly having to choose their times for crossing it is no way to have to farm and a lot could be resolved if there was a different approach by the local authorities and farmers were allowed to carry out the work to the required specifications, he stressed. Rural affairs chairman, Patrick Rohan, called for underpasses to be included under TAMS. Some 10,000 farmers in GLAS are still waiting on 2016 GLAS payments, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed. At end of December 2016 there were 37,500 active participants in the GLAS scheme of which 27,400 received 85% of their 2016 payment. Payment can only issue where all the required validation checks have been successfully passed. Some 10,100 cases did not pass all the checks. According to the Minster for Agriculture, Michael Creed work on processing these cases, including development of further IT functionality, is on-going with a view to effecting payment as quickly as possible. Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has criticised the Minister the ongoing delays in processing payments to farmers under the GLAS agri-environmental scheme. Farmers are rightly furious over the inexcusable delay in issuing the 2016 payments under the GLAS scheme. These farmers are at crisis point as a result of the delay in issuing payments. My colleagues and I are inundated with calls from frustrated farming families who are wondering when they will get their payments. Many of them are already under serious financial strain and urgently need these payments to ensure that bills are paid. Its important to note that the ongoing delays are a clear breach of the Farmers Charter of Rights which was agreed between the Department of Agriculture and farming organisations. Under this charter it was agreed that up to 75% of GLAS payments will commence by the third week of October, with the balancing payment being made in mid-December each year. Its deeply disappointing that the Minister is not sticking to this agreement. McConalogue said Minister Creeds failure to promptly fix the logjam in processing payments for various schemes warrants an immediate review of the IT system in operation in his department. It is simply unacceptable that farmers who have applied for the scheme on time are still waiting for 2016 payments. We cant allow this to simply become the norm for vital farm payments. It is a familiar pastoral scene - a family taking the dog out for a long walk in the countryside. But the practice is leading to an increasing number of attacks on sheep by dogs whose owners are ignorant of the risk to livestock. The problem has become so serious that a farming group has commissioned a report based on police statistics to understand for the first time the true scale of sheep deaths in the UK. Government officials and senior police officers were presented this week with findings indicating that around 15,000 sheep were killed by loose dogs in 2016, more than ten times higher than the number previously thought. Expand Close Photo: Lorraine Teevan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Photo: Lorraine Teevan In response, the National Police Chief Council have agreed to set up a group to investigate how well regional forces react to complaints of dog attacks. An expert advisor to the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Professor Tim Morris, told the Telegraph that the report may even underestimate the scale of the problem. Professor Morris said attacks were being allowed to continue partly because in large parts of the country police have no grasp of the issue and routinely fail to follow up complaints. He added that many forces simply dont understand the legal powers they have", adding that many dog owners were deluded about their pets and grossly underestimate the damage they can do. Experts and campaigners say the problem is being compounded by bans or restrictions placed on dogs in more than 3,300 parks and open spaces over the last two years forcing their owners to take them into the countryside more frequently. Last month the Kennel Club called for legislation forcing planning authorities to explicitly consider the impact on dog walking before nodding through new schemes which include such bans. Expand Close Gus Martyn disposes of the slaughtered ewes and lambs. Photo: Seamus Farrelly / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gus Martyn disposes of the slaughtered ewes and lambs. Photo: Seamus Farrelly Terena Plowright, a Hampshire farmer and founder of SheepWatch UK, who called for more prosecutions to deter irresponsible owners, said: More people are being forced into the countryside on a daily basis and that is what is pushing up the numbers of attacks. Sheep attacks are devastating for farmers, who lose the value of the livestock killed and future earnings from those animals and their offspring, as well as having to pay for the carcasses to be removed. Attacks on sheep by dogs were forcing some farmers out of business while others are having to sleep rough with their flocks to protect them, SheepWatch UK said. It Is an offence to allow a dog to worry sheep which includes both attacking and chasing them. Expand Close Dog Wardens Aisling Byrne of the Carlow branch and Michael Morrissey of Kilkenny Branch inspect the recent sheep kill near Goresbridge. Photo: Roger Jones. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dog Wardens Aisling Byrne of the Carlow branch and Michael Morrissey of Kilkenny Branch inspect the recent sheep kill near Goresbridge. Photo: Roger Jones. In some circumstances farmers are legally allowed to shoot dogs if they are endangering their sheep as long as they have lawful excuse. Last July a Labrador was shot by a farmer after it escaped from its owner and attacked a lamb in Llanllyfni in Gwynedd, North Wales. Sergeant Rob Taylor from the rural crime team said: I feel like a stuck record. People are not listening, ending up in court and getting fines, and dogs are being destroyed. Herefordshire farmer Tom Hadley lost all 56 of the sheep and lambs in his flock after two bull mastiffs enjoyed a seven-hour rampage in their field in September. The incident forced the 24-year-old to give up sheep farming and cost him more than 25,000. Mr Hadley told The Telegraph: It was soul destroying. We were finding dead lambs torn to bits, stuck in fences and drowned in the river for days after. Any dog is capable of doing it - its a game to them. North Wales police is currently the only force which achieves close to full reporting of dog attacks on sheep. Sheepwatch extrapolated the figures from that region for 2016 to estimate that 15,000 sheep were killed across the UK. The National Police Chiefs Council has now formed a new group which will investigate how well each of England and Waless police forces deals with dog attacks on sheep. Credit unions want a loosening of the rules that limit the amount of money they can lend for mortgages. Stock photo: Graham Moore Credit unions are gearing up to issue millions of euro worth of mortgages this year. They expect to loan out 400m worth of home loans, mainly to people who want to switch their home loan to their member-owned lender. The plans to expand mortgage lending come as credit union bodies continue to criticise strict rules that limit amounts that can be lent in mortgages. Credit unions want a loosening of the rules that limit the amount of money they can lend for mortgages. They collectively have around 5bn to loan out, but each one is restricted on the amount of money it can lend for more than 10 years. Despite the restrictions, a group of 32 credit unions is aiming to get the rules eased by showing they are capable of handling the complexities around homeloan lending. Participating credit unions include Tullamore, Co Offaly, St Anthony's & Claddagh in Galway, St Canice's in Kilkenny, and Dundrum, Dublin. The credit unions represent about one million members. Read more: Sinead Ryan: Things are looking up for first-time buyers - but policies and interest rates need a big review Trader-uppers, first-time buyers and people buying an affordable home will be among the targets for the lending. The initiative is being promoted by the Solutions Centre, a voluntary grouping of credit unions aimed at developing new financial products for consumers. The Solutions Centre is providing underwriting advice, essentially assessing the member's suitability to borrow, and legal advice to credit unions that have signed up to it. Kevin Johnson, of the Solution Centre, said there was huge member demand for mortgages. Loaning out mortgages would boost dividends for member savers, he said. "Given the demand, we have spent the last 10 months developing this mortgage framework, and see it as a significant framework for the credit union movement." Mr Johnson, who is chief executive of credit union representative body CUDA, said the Solution Centre would give credit unions access to specialist mortgage and legal expertise. He estimated that the State's 300 credit unions can loan out 400m of their collective 5bn in loans. Credit unions have already issued 105m in mortgages. Read more: First-time buyers to drive market growth countrywide in 2017 Chief executive of the largest credit union, St Raphael's, Clair Byrne hit out at the mortgage lending restrictions. The credit union, which has 34,000 members who are mainly gardai, launched a mortgage product last March, but hit its lending limit in just 13 weeks. "We have the capacity and the expertise to provide significantly more mortgages to members who can clearly afford to repay these loans, but the Central Bank regulations are preventing us from doing so," Ms Byrne said. The Central Bank said it broadly welcomed the Solution Centre shared service initiative. It might be a dreary midweek morning in January in a small village in the north of Donegal, but Cafe Arnou is buzzing. The brainchild of Aisling Arnold (30), the modern coffee house - which converts into a gourmet burger bar in the evenings - is a hit with locals and visitors alike in Dunfanaghy. A chartered accountant with Deloitte Touche in Dublin for eight years, Aisling decided to return home to help her parents rejuvenate the hotel after the downturn hit. "My plan was to stay 18 months, but the challenge was exciting - and with help from others we've managed to turn things around." The cafe, which originally doubled as a cocktail and wine bar during the summer months, flourished and last year, Aisling's parents asked if she'd take over the running of the hotel as well. She built a young team around her, assistant general manager Keallagh Doherty (29), food and beverage manager Ciaran McGarvey (25), and sales and marketing manager Cathy Cowan (33), and introduced jazz during the summer months, a DJ, live bands -and the old-style residents' bar was converted into a cocktail bar. Aisling and her colleagues were careful to cater for their loyal clientele, but knew if they were to succeed, they'd have to attract a younger customer, too. "I was trying to bring a new dimension to the hotel," explains Aisling. "Initially, there were fur and feathers flying from mom and dad, but last year bar sales were up by 80pc." And colleague Cowan, from Ramelton, who lived away from her home county for a decade, explains the challenge facing hotels: "We have to educate people that Donegal is not that far away, its three-and-a-half hours from here to Dublin and you can fly with Aer Lingus twice-a-day." Falcarragh native McGarvey adds: "It's only when you're away that you realise how cool your home place is." Foxconn Technology Group is considering building a US display-making facility for upwards of $7bn(6.5bn), a major investment for Apple's main manufacturer that may create tens of thousands of American jobs during President Donald Trumps first year in office. The company is considering a joint investment with Sharp, the Japanese display supplier it bought last year, but details have yet to be hammered out, Reuters cited Chairman Terry Gou as telling reporters in Taipei on the sidelines of a company event. Foxconn confirmed the report Monday. An investment by Foxconn, whose main listed unit is Hon Hai Precision, would mark a victory for Trump, whos repeatedly blasted China for stealing American jobs and devastating US manufacturing. But Foxconn is one of the single largest private employers in China and the government there has conveyed its concern over the possibility that it will shift investment away from the country. China is pivotal to Foxconns massive electronics assembly operation, which cranks out more iPhones and iPads than any other in the world. Foxconn has said its in preliminary discussions to broaden its investment in the US, without elaborating. Trump has often articulated his vision of bringing manufacturing jobs back to America from China, which became the worlds factory floor thanks to cheap labor and central policy support. And hes singled out Apple in the past. Read More A potential strategic shift by Foxconn unnerves Chinese authorities because the company employs roughly a million workers across the country. Major factory job cuts have been known to trigger protests in the past, even as maintaining social stability remains among the top priorities of the ruling Communist Party. For now, Foxconns prospective U.S. plans remain preliminary. The envisioned facility could cost more than $7bn and may create 30,000 to 50,000 jobs, according to Gou. It would also bring manufacturing closer to the largest market for iPhones and iPads, a potential boon for Apple, which yields about half Hon Hais revenue. The plant could be a joint investment with Apple, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. Apple didnt respond to a request for comment. The idea took shape after Gou spoke with Masayoshi Son, chairman of SoftBank and a close business partner Son, whos announced his own plan to invest $50 billion in the US, asked Gou for his views. A document Son held up for reporters after a December meeting with Trump included the w ords Foxconn and $7bn alongside SoftBanks numbers. Read More I thought it was a private conversation, but then the next morning it was exposed, Gou told reporters according to Reuters. There is such a plan, but it is not a promise. It is a wish. On Sunday, Gou also told reporters he sees American protectionism as inevitable and warned about the subsequent threat to economic development. A photo illustration shows a Yahoo logo on a smartphone in front of a displayed cyber code and keyboard. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Illustration The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating a previously disclosed data breach at Yahoo, the company said in a filing. Yahoo said in a November 2016 quarterly filing that it was cooperating with federal, state and foreign agencies, including the SEC, that were seeking information and documents about a "security incident and related matters." The SEC is investigating whether two massive data breaches at Yahoo should have been reported sooner to investors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter. An SEC spokesman declined to comment. A Yahoo spokesman directed Reuters to the company's November filing. Yahoo has faced pointed questions about exactly when it knew about a 2014 cyber attack it announced in September that exposed the email credentials of half a billion accounts. In December, Yahoo said it had uncovered yet another massive cyber attack, saying data from more than 1 billion user accounts was compromised in August 2013. The SEC issued requests for documents in December, as it probes whether the technology companys disclosures about the cyber attacks complied with civil securities laws, the people said, according to the Journal. Securities industry rules require companies to disclose cyber breaches to investors. Although the SEC has long-standing guidance on when publicly traded companies should report hacking incidents, companies that have experienced known breaches often omit those details in regulatory filings, according to a 2012 Reuters investigation. Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner asked the SEC in September to investigate whether Yahoo and its senior executives fulfilled obligations to inform investors and the public about the 2014 hacking attack. The disclosures from Yahoo about both breaches came after the company agreed to sell its main business to Verizon in July, triggering questions about whether the deal would still be viable and, if so, at what price. Other agencies looking into the data breach include the Federal Trade Commission, the US Attorneys Office in Manhattan and a number of State Attorneys General, Yahoo said in the November filing. The Way We Danced by Sophia Hillan Academic and author Sophia Hillan (pictured) won many plaudits for her debut novel The Friday Tree, set in 1950s Belfast. Her second novel moves forward in time and opens in post-ceasefire Northern Ireland in the summer of 1995. Ruth Deacon, a bored female historian, is at a crossroads in her life. There are rumours of potential change and restructuring in her university department. Mounting pressure to publish new papers adds to the existing tensions in her personal life, where she is juggling a difficult relative suffering from dementia with a philandering husband who refuses to leave the family home. A chance encounter with an old ex-teacher Edith Barratt offers the prospect of a possible project when she asks Ruth to be her literary executor. The papers she uncovers, Edith's 'memory book', form the story within Ruth's story and we travel between the recent Troubles in Northern Ireland to Second World War Berlin, where Edith spent one enchanted evening dancing in Clarchen's Ballroom with the dashing German officer Paul Herrold. Based on a true event about a Belfast woman falling in love with a German soldier, The Way We Danced recounts Ruth's efforts to get to the bottom of Edith's story and her fateful trip to Berlin. Hillan's writing sparkles with wit and erudition and her descriptions of pre-war Berlin, the ensuing atrocities in Nazi Germany and the Blitz on Belfast are wonderfully evocative. However the narrative jumps so frequently between different times and places that, like Edith's story itself, it is sometimes hard to follow. Finally, it is up to Ruth to uncover the truth and disentangle the mysteries, and we happily accompany her on that journey. Spains Civil Guard carried out more than 12,000 operations against animal abuse over the course of 2016, resulting in some 490 people being arrested or investigated, the force said in an annual summary. It said that it received 11,729 complaints relating to animal welfare, accommodation, hygiene, transportation and irregularities to do with health and other documentation that were mainly related to dogs, but also included cats, horses, cockerels and reptiles, as well as cows and sheep. Civil Guard officers rescue an Iberian lynx. Seprona Under Spanish law, mistreating or abandoning domestic animals is now punishable by an 18-month prison sentence for first offenses (sentences of less than two years rarely involve spending time behind bars) and prison terms of six months for a second offense. The 2016 edition of Attitudes of Europeans towards Animal Welfare Eurobarometer report points out that 94% of Spaniards consider it very important or important to ensure the welfare of farm animals, and 71% would like more information about the way they are treated. A prize Spanish fighting cock can fetch prices of up to 100,000 By comparison, these figures were 71% and 61% in 2006. The report also showcases that 86% of Spaniards want greater protection for pets, even though the Penal Code has already introduced tougher punishment for animal abuse in recent years. As part of the penal code reforms, the Popular Party (PP) government in 2015 approved stronger penalties for violations of animal protection laws. The Civil Guard report for 2016 highlighted an operation into cockfighting in the northern regions of Cantabria and Asturias, seizing 217 animals. A prize Spanish fighting cock can fetch prices of up to 100,000, says the Civil Guard. In the southwestern province of Huelva, the Civil Guard arrested 32 people, among them veterinarians, for cropping the ears and tails of hunting dogs. Meanwhile, in Zaragoza, in the northeast of the country, the force rescued 82 dogs that had been illegally imported from Eastern Europe. They also found 46 dead puppies. Five people were arrested for mistreatment, forging documents and fraud. In Guadalajara, in central Spain, the authorities detained somebody for stabbing a domestic cow to death. English version by Nick Lyne. Maureen Dowd is a veteran American journalist who has covered many presidential elections. However, that does not mean that her approach has become jaded or blase. In fact, she continues to bring an irreverent sense of humour, as well as a shrewd understanding of politics, to her reporting. She has described the most recent race for the White House as "transcendentally bizarre" and unlike any other. This stimulating collection of her articles spans 25 years, and helps to explain why Trump won, and also - perhaps, more importantly - why Clinton lost. For many observers, the result of this US election had seemed inevitable. On one side, there was a highly experienced politician, with a solid record of public service, who had already held one of the highest offices of State. Hillary Clinton's campaign was also able to draw upon massive financial resources. She enjoyed the overwhelming support of the mainstream media - with 56 of the 60 largest US newspapers backing her candidacy. And she was endorsed by a galaxy of A-list Hollywood movie stars. Donald Trump, on the other hand, had never held any elected office. He was detested by the leaders of his own party, and despised by most of the press. In its early stages, his campaign was almost entirely self-financed, and could not rely upon any organisation on the ground. The nearest Trump got to an A-list celebrity endorsement was one from the ageing musician Kid Rock. As the election got under way, Dowd noted the "nearly unanimous expectation" in Washington that Trump would not only lose, but that Clinton would win by a landslide. That level of complacency, on the part of both his political opponents and the mainstream press, was ultimately to work to Trump's advantage. He fought what has been described as an "asymmetrical" campaign against Clinton: using old-school rallies and his personal Twitter account to upstage Clinton's ultra-sophisticated media offensive, and her super-smart advisers. Dowd has known both candidates personally for decades. Over that time, she has clearly grown disillusioned with Clinton, whom she regards as "slippery and opportunistic". Her feelings for Trump's "peculiar combination of viciousness and playfulness" seem more ambivalent. That may be because he was prepared to talk to her without any of the constraints that career politicians like Clinton normally observe. Indeed, he provided her with copy that almost wrote itself. On one occasion, Dowd simply threw names at Trump over the phone while he was having lunch, and recorded his spontaneous reactions. These included his scathing assessments of leading figures in the Republican Party, such as Lindsey Graham ("totally irrelevant"), Mitt Romney ("a choker"), and Marco Rubio ("I have better hair than he does"). His remarks about Hillary Clinton were somewhat more nuanced: "a highly complex person who just can't stay true to herself". Some of these and other comments that Trump made to Dowd reveal his extraordinary narcissism. But they also show his killer instinct for identifying and exploiting the underlying weaknesses of his opponents. He destroyed Jeb Bush's $130m campaign, for example, by drawing attention to the candidate's "low energy". "That term just hit," he boasted to Dowd, "That was a one-day kill." Video of the Day At the same time, Trump outlined his own policies - such as they were - in a series of huge rallies where he used what he liked to call "truthful hyperboles" to whip up his audiences' emotions. He also seemed to delight in baiting journalists - even when that involved mocking their physical disabilities. Faced with such outrageous behaviour, Hillary Clinton seemed like a model of decorum. If Trump came across as the school bully, then Clinton acted like the school swot. In their first TV debate, it was clear that she had prepared to the point of madness. It was equally clear that Trump was winging the whole thing. The problem for Clinton was that she appeared over-rehearsed and too obviously scripted - while Trump's rambling and incoherent performance somehow seemed more authentic. In the aftermath of Trump's Presidential win, many in the Democratic Party seem in a state of denial. They have attributed Clinton's defeat to Russian conspiracies, misogyny, racism, anti-Semitism, Bernie Sanders, the FBI, and the imperfect nature of the US Electoral College. The truth is there was a palpable appetite for change among American voters, and Clinton represented continuity. She also displayed a most unappealing sense of entitlement to the job of President. This was shared by some of her showbiz fans. "It wasn't supposed to go this way", Lena Dunham wrote, "She worked her whole life for the job. It's her job." Maureen Dowd was astute enough to nail down some of the crucial flaws in Clinton's campaign well in advance of the result. The credibility of many American journalists has been damaged by their coverage of this election, but Dowd's has been enhanced. Fifteen years ago, I produced a documentary about Donald Trump. At that time, he described his political views to me as "libertarian". Nowadays, they seem to have become rather more conservative. However, his self-regard is on such an epic scale that I doubt if Trump is troubled by many deep-seated convictions. For that reason, I agree with Dowd that it is wrong to brand him as a fascist, or any other kind of political ideologue. All that is predictable about Trump is his unpredictability. Which means that the next four years are likely to prove a bumpy ride for the rest of us. The spark wasn't there between Richard McNeil and Timmy Murphy on First Dates Ireland. Credit: RTE One of the stars of last week's First Dates Ireland has been forced to defend his "horrible" date after fans of the show criticised him online. Richard McNeil has defended his date Timmie Murphy after fans of the show slated him for the way he rejected Richard. Both men had seemingly enjoyed a pleasant first date, despite the fact that Timmie said things like: "When people look at me they think they see an alpha male but what I actually am is a princess. When it came to the awkward question 'is a second date on the cards?', Timmie encouraged a visibly keen Richard to go first, only to let him down when it was his turn to speak. After the brutal rejection, a crushed Richard put his heads in his hands and appeared to cry on camera. It took a moment for the Donegal man to compose himself before he could speak. Fans of the show took to Twitter to slate Timmie for friend-zoning Richard in such a brutal way. "I'm sorry if you know you're going to turn someone down for a second date why would you make them go first? It's so mean," wrote one viewer. However, despite what happened on the show, the 43-year-old engineer insists that Timmie is a "nice guy". "He was very easy to get on with. He was very friendly, very sociable but there was just no spark," he told The Star newspaper. "How he dealt with it is just a different story, but at the end of the day, he is not a horrible person. "I was actually happy to go first because I have watched this so many times and if had went first and said no, I can't think what I would have done." Video of the Day Richard revealed on the show that he had been married for 10 years only to come out when he was 39. My went out to Richard. Any decent person would have spoken first if not interested ffs! Not cool Timmie. #FirstDatesIRL Elaine Sears (@illier) January 19, 2017 #FirstDatesIRL is breaking my heart! Poor Richard! What a crappy thing to happen to such a lovely man Emer Hough (@emerhough) January 19, 2017 Timmie on #FirstDatesIRL what a GOWL! He broke that poor guys heart #bawling Sean (@SeanCarroll191) January 19, 2017 Verdict of the night? That Timmie lad was an out and out prick, left Richard pay, made him talk first then crushed him #FirstDatesIRL johnny osullivan (@putlock) January 19, 2017 I'm sorry if you know you're going to turn someone down for a second date why would you make them go first? It's so mean #FirstDatesIRL lyd (@cherlookit) January 19, 2017 The unwritten rule of #FirstDatesIRL if you're not interested, you don't say to the other person 'you go first' to set them up for a fall Tom Flynn (@tomflynnphoto) January 19, 2017 That was so so cruel, WHY make him answer first if you're going to reject him!? Horrible #FirstDatesIRL rachel (@racheleustace) January 19, 2017 Aer Lingus is hitting headlines as it has been revealed two employees were arrested in relation to an international illegal immigrant smuggling network through Dublin Airport. Here is everything you need to know: 1. What is going on? Two Aer Lingus employees were among three men arrested by gardai last night in an investigation into international illegal immigrant smuggling network through Dublin Airport. The third man arrested is a "potential illegal immigrant who illegally entered the state" and was facilitated by the two suspects. The three men, aged 28, 56 and 61, were arrested at Dublin Airport and are being detained at Ballymun and Coolock garda stations. 2. What is the background? The employees are suspected of using catering vehicles to move illegal immigrants directly from planes that landed in Dublin Airport to a car-park outside the facility. Gardai believe that the scam has been ongoing for a number of years and more than 500 people have been smuggled into Ireland this way. It is believed that those involved in the smuggling operation could have been charging between 10,000 and 30,000 for illegal immigrants to be brought to Ireland. Immigrants from all over the world are believed to have arrived in Ireland illegally during its years in operation. 3. Have Aer Lingus responded? Yes. A spokesperson released a statement this morning, reading: "Aer Lingus can confirm that two of its employees have been arrested by an Garda Siochana at Dublin Airport. Aer Lingus is co-operating fully with an Garda Siochana in their investigation. "As this is an on-going criminal investigation we have no further comment to make." 4. Has there been any political reaction? Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald welcomed the arrests. "What's important is that it is fully investigated and any breaches, if there are breaches, are examined fully and that we get to the facts in relation to this," she said. "I welcome the work of An Garda Siochana in dealing with this issue but, as I say, this is an international issue. We work on this day-in, day-out in relation to our borders and our airports. "It's very early in the investigation. Let's see what facts emerge. Let's see what the lessons are from this. There's a full garda investigation underway and we have to wait the outcome of that to see where the facts lead us." 5. What was involved in the investigation? Gardai intensified their investigation during recent changes at Dublin Airport at the immigration desks. Assistant Garda Commissioner John O'Driscoll said the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration control booth provided information which it gleans through immigration control to An Garda Siochana. 6. What's next? Gardai are now searching safe houses and a number of homes in Dublin this afternoon. Detectives are also searching cars, trucks and airport vehicles and are attempting to follow the money trail by examining bank accounts. Commuters travelling through the city centre suffered delays on Monday evening as fire fighters attended the scene of a blaze. Units from the Dublin Fire Brigade rushed to the fire on Bishop Street shortly before 5pm. The street is located close to the Dublin Institute of Technology on Aungier Street. The area was partially obstructed and those travelling in the area have been warned to expect delays. Footage seen by independent.ie show firemen parked on the street, using a 100 foot turntable ladder to reach the fire. More to follow... Dozens of South Americans and Eastern Europeans are unlawfully being rented living space in a single Co Dublin house in dangerous, unhealthy and cramped conditions, a court heard today Monday. Barrister Liam OConnell told Judge Jacqueline Linnane that next Friday he would be asking her to order Richard Stanley to immediately end the use of his property at The Pines, Lehaunstown, Cabinteely, as what can only be described as an unauthorised hostel. Mr OConnell, who appeared in the Circuit Civil Court with Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown County Councils law agent Dorothy Kennedy, said the overcrowded private dwelling was considered a fire and health risk. It has come to the councils notice that the three-storey dwelling is being used as other than a private dwelling with up to 17 individuals in one room and about 36 people housed in the basement, Mr OConnell told the court. Aonghus O Neill, a planning inspector with the local authority, told the court in a sworn affidavit that the Lehaunstown house, on four levels, was registered at the Land Registry in the name of Richard Stanley as owner. It comprised a basement with two rooms, a ground floor, first floor and attic level. Mr OConnell told Judge Linnane that the County Council had become aware of reports that up to 70 people were being accommodated in the house and for health and safety reasons had carried out an inspection. He said Mr ONeill and another council inspector, Aidan Shannon, found that almost every room they could obtain access to had been filled with either double-beds or bunk beds. Loose electrical cord providing power to a washing machine and two tumble dryers at the top of a stairs leading to the basement had to be avoided. In a boiler room there were no smoke or heat detectors and flammable materials were scattered about the room. One room in the basement contained 11 bunk beds and a second room contained five bunk beds and two double beds. There were electrical extension cables across the floor. Each of the beds appeared to have been recently slept in. They had found a communal dining room and a living room which had been turned into dormitories. Three rooms on the first floor had been locked shut. Mr OConnell said the use of the property had changed from that of a private dwelling to one involving the provision of accommodation to paying customers in the course of commercial activity whereby occupants were accommodated in large communal dormitories. He said the County Council would be seeking an injunction restraining the continued use of the house as a multi-occupancy dormitory property. Mr OConnell said the council had sought undertakings from Mr Stanley to terminate multi-occupancy forthwith and to arrange for and provide suitable accommodation for those people currently accommodated there. Judge Linnane said that out of consideration for the plight of the people currently living in the property she would not grant immediate restraints or injunctions but would deal with the matter on Friday on notice to Mr Stanley. Independent.ie previously reported on this property and the matter is yet to be determined on by the court. A former Anglo Irish Bank director has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for fraudulently obtaining an 8.2m loan. The banks former finance director Willie McAteer (66), of Greenrath, Tipperary Town, Co Tipperary, had pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The sentence will be served concurrently with a three-and-a-half year prison term he is already serving for conspiring to mislead investors by using interbank loans to make Anglo appear 7.2bn more valuable than it was in 2008. Judge Martin Nolan described the latest offence as a serious crime which could not be excused by the pressure bank executives were under at the time. Mr McAteer was a very senior person and shouldnt have committed this crime, regardless of the pressure he was under, said Judge Nolan. Mr McAteer admitted fraudulently obtaining the loan so he could avoid having to sell 3.3 million shares he had in Anglo. The former banker had financed the purchase of the Anglo shares with borrowings from Bank of Ireland. But there was a clause in the agreement which meant Bank of Ireland could sell the shares without consulting Mr McAteer if they fell below a certain value. The shares fell under the value threshold in September 2008. The court previously heard an Anglo executive committee believed the sudden sale of so many shares would be catastrophic. It decided to lend Mr McAteer 8.2m so he could clear his debts with Bank of Ireland. But the court heard that not only had Mr McAteer committed a fraud in receiving the loan, it was never included on a register, as loans to directors of the bank should have been. Sentencing Mr McAteer, Judge Nolan said a plan was hatched to deal with the situation regarding his shares. It was to Mr McAteers discredit that he became involved in this plan, the judge said. Judge Nolan said banks were under pressure at the time and fighting for survival. Survival is not a reason to commit a crime, but is obviously a factor in this case, he said. The judge said that Mr McAteers circumstances had changed dramatically throughout his life. He had been a self made man who worked very hard to make it to the upper echelons of his profession and now had lost it all. It seems to me that when he is released from prison, he will be an impoverished man, the judge said. The court heard that the maximum sentence that could be imposed was one of seven years. Judge Nolan said that although it was a serious crime, he believed a two-and-a-half year sentence, running concurrent to Mr McAteers other sentence, was the appropriate one. He said he had to take into account Mr McAteers age, his guilty plea and his circumstances. He also said it was highly unlikely Mr McAteer would reoffend. Last week, another Anglo director, Pat Whelan, was fined 3,000 for failing to register Mr McAteers loan. A father who sexually abused his 10-year-old daughter has apologised for not admitting to his crimes and for putting her through the painful experience of a trial last month. The man (53), who can't be named for legal reasons, went on trial last December charged with sexually abusing and orally raping his daughter in their Offaly home when she was aged between 10 and 12 years old. He had pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting his daughter and three counts of orally raping her on three occasions between February 1994 and September 1996. He was found guilty by a jury of all six counts. The sexual abuse took place when the girl's mother was travelling for work, prosecuting counsel Tara Burns SC, told the Central Criminal Court on Monday. On one occasion, the man told his daughter: Don't ever let any man do this to you, the court heard. After each incident, he left a 50 note on her bedside locker, which she later returned. The girl's parents separated when she was 13 years old but she never told her mother about the abuse. She only came forward in 2014, when she learned her father had a new partner with young daughters and she feared the same thing would happen to them. The court heard the man now accepts responsibility for his actions, a concession Mr Justice Hunt said would have been so much better a month and a half ago. He remanded the man in custody for sentencing on March 27. In a victim impact statement read out in court, the woman, now aged 32, said her father took advantage of her and how close she was to her mother to ensure he would get away with these heinous crimes. I had to break my silence of 20 years in order to protect others, she said. She said even then, her father didn't do me the courtesy of pleading guilty. He forced me to stand up in a court room in front of my family and strangers and tell them in the most graphic way what he did to me, the woman said. She said the abuse had a profound effect on her and she found it hard to trust people. But she added she refused to be labelled a victim, and worked every day to ensure the abuse didn't impact her life or her relationship with her husband. I'm a fighter, not a survivor and I've still got a lot of fight left in me, she said. Defence barrister, Michael Delaney SC, said his client accepted the jury's guilty verdict and was now remorseful for what he did to his daughter. He has no previous convictions. In a letter read out in court and addressed directly to his daughter, the man said: I apologise from the bottom of my heart. I'm sorry for putting you through this court case, he added. My idea is to change history and I believe it I am changing it, Argentinean silversmith Juan Carlos Pallarols tells EL PAIS from his fascinating house-cum-workshop-cum museum in Buenos Aires. The artist, who is keeping alive a tradition of silversmithing that dates back to 1750, has received us to talk about his latest project Dos rosas por la paz (Two roses for peace), which aims to bring the people of Argentina and the United Kingdom closer and solve the Falkland Islands conflict an ongoing dispute between the two countries over sovereignty of the remote island group. Juan Carlos Pallarols with one of the roses in his workshop. Martin Di Maggio More information Dos rosas para terminar con anos de rencor de la guerra de Las Malvinas The project has seen 74-year-old Pallarols use military material to create flowers. The metal was first melted down at temperatures as high as 1,000C and then allowed to cool before being stretched out into thin sheets using a press. I started working on this project just over a year ago. It is a homage to the soldiers who died in the Falklands War English and Argentinean, explains the silversmith, who has created ceremonial batons for a number of presidents of Argentina. Pallarols is keen to stress that the project has nothing to do with politics The 10-week war between Britain and Argentina was sparked when the military government in Buenos Aires launched an invasion of the islands in April 1982. A total of 649 Argentinean military personnel were killed while 255 British soldiers lost their lives. The conflict ended on June 14, when the Argentinean forces were expelled from the islands. In the first meeting [about the project] there were about 40 people war veterans and families of the soldiers who died. They brought me bullets and shell casings which they had kept as souvenirs, explains the silversmith, whose home contains a poster with the words: Every successful enterprise requires a certain dose of madness. The rose is an act of love and reconciliation, a tribute to those who died there and which, today, are the only title to property that the people of Argentina have in the islands, Pallarols explains. One of the roses will rest on the wreckage of the General Belgrano, which sank with 323 people on board I started to collect together bullets found on the islands, he says as he scatters objects on a desk. There is a 50mm anti-aircraft shell casing and several small rifle shells. Over the course of 26 meetings with ex-combatants and their families, he has collected around 2,000 such items. The idea was to make two roses but in the end there were more, says Pallarols. The flowers will now go to the Falkland Islands. One will be taken to the Argentine Military Cemetery in Darwin in the hands of the widow of John Hamilton, a UK special forces captain killed in the Falklands War, while a second will be delivered to the British Blue Beach Military Cemetery by the mother of Argentinean soldier and school teacher Julio Cao, killed in the same conflict. A third flower will be placed on top of the Argentine Navy light cruiser the ARA General Belgrano, which sank with 323 people on board after being attacked by a British nuclear submarine. The rose will be placed inside a lead container weighing 50 kilograms to ensure it finds a home on top of the wreckage of the boat. The English asked us to place another at Bahia Agradable [Bluff Cove], which is where they suffered their heaviest losses, Pallarols explains. My idea is to change history and I believe it I am changing it Juan Carlos Pallarols Meanwhile, another rose was on display at the Fitur International Tourism Trade Fair, which was held last week in Madrid. It will later be handed by Spains Queen Letizia to Argentinas Minister for Tourism Gustavo Santos. But Pallarols is keen to stress that the project has nothing to do with politics. Wars are completely useless, the artist says. He is, however, quick to praise conflicts and the life stories they give rise to, calling the Falklands crisis the last romantic war. He also knows how the solution to the ongoing dispute will look. There have already been three weddings involving children of Argentinean fathers and English mothers. If we can manage to have 500 more mixed marriages, everything will be much easier, says Pallarols. English version by George Mills. The wife of a man jailed for life for the murder of their two young sons has obtained a High Court judgment of 77,690 against her husband over the deaths of the boys. Kathleen Chada, a clinic manager, of Ballinkillen, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, sued Sanjeev Chada (45), whose address was given as Arbour Hill Prison in Dublin. Mrs Chada sued him for assault, battery and trespass on the person causing the deaths of Eoghan (10) and Ruari (5) Chada at Skehanagh Lower, Ballintubber, Co Mayo, in late July 2013. He was jailed for life in October 2014 after pleading guilty to the murders. The Central Criminal Court heard the boys bodies were discovered in the boot of Chadas car on July 29, 2013, after it had crashed into a wall near Westport with him in the drivers seat. Chada, who had ran up gambling debts, told his wife he was taking their sons bowling in Carlow but instead drove to Mayo where he strangled the boys with a rope before trying to kill himself. The court also heard Chada had secretly mounted huge debts from online trading and had borrowed from family and friends and lost large amounts of money. He was 500,000 in debt at one stage from gambling other peoples money. In one note he wrote before the killings, Chada said: I could not let you bear the pain of being from a broken home. "Mammy is getting rid of me and I could not leave you behind. I have so much to teach you but I could not do that if I was not with you. We will be together now in some way in the most beautiful country, your mate and Daddy. He told gardai he killed them because I love them so much. On Monday, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan was told Chada was not contesting the judgment application. The judge said it was not necessary for Mrs Chada to give evidence. He told her he was "terribly sorry over the tragedy that has befallen your family. It was an unspeakable tragedy and you have my sympathy". Mrs Chada thanked the judge. The court was told the boys' maternal grandparents had waived any claim in relation to the case as had the paternal grandmother who lives in Romford, England. Mr Justice Noonan was also told a sum for the legal costs had also been agreed. A woman was arrested and cannabis plants worth over 30,000 were recovered after a grow house caught fire this morning. Independent.ie has learned that units from Dublin Fire Brigade were called to the scene in Westpark, Tallaght shortly before 9am after receiving reports of the blaze. Units from Tallaght are currently dealing with a fire in Westpark Tallaght Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) January 22, 2017 Firefighters put out the fire before uncovering a large number of cannabis plants. A non-national woman, in her mid 30s, was arrested at the scene and taken to Tallaght garda station where she was held under section 4 of the criminal justice act. She was released this afternoon without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). A garda spokesperson confirmed that drugs uncovered had an estimated street value of 31,000, subject to analysis. Gardai in Tallaght have appealed for anyone with information to contact them at Tallaght Garda Station on 01 6666000, The Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any Garda Station. A forensic investigator at the scene of the rape Picture: Gerry Mooney The scene of the attack on the Ninth Lock road, Clondalkin. Picture; Gerry Mooney GARDAI investigating the rape of a young mother in west Dublin are still hunting for the attacker after three chief suspects were ruled out following DNA tests. It is understood that officers will use the recently set-up DNA database in an attempt to identify the rapist. The attack was carried out last July in Clondalkin as the young woman was walking home from work in the early hours. Three men two brothers and a cousin were identified as chief suspects in the immediate aftermath, and two of them, aged in their early 20s, were arrested and interviewed. Another man, related to them, fled the area, sparking a manhunt. However, he has recently been tracked down and has formally been spoken to by investigating detectives. Expand Close A forensic investigator at the scene of the rape Picture: Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A forensic investigator at the scene of the rape Picture: Gerry Mooney DNA tests were carried out on all three men, which have now established that they were not involved. Detectives are trawling through the garda DNA database which stores the DNA of convicted criminals in an attempt to identify a chief suspect. There is major concern, of course, that a dangerous rapist is still on the streets, a senior source said. This was a random attack on a very decent woman who was savagely attacked in the most horrible way. Expand Close The scene in Clondalkin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The scene in Clondalkin DNA of a male was recovered at the scene of the crime, and this will be compared against other specimens in the database to try to determine a match. The attack happened on the Ninth Lock Road in Clondalkin near the junction with the Neilstown Road at around 3.20am last July 28. The victim did not know her attackers. After raising the alarm herself she was taken to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at Rotunda Hospital. She was pushing her bicycle along a footpath away from Clondalkin village when she was grabbed by three men, one of whom raped her. Although the woman was threatened at knifepoint during her ordeal, there is no indication that the weapon was used on her. The investigation is being led by officers from Lucan Garda Station, who received a massive response from the public after they issued an appeal for information. Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin previously described how people were outraged after the attack. My thoughts are with the victim. The local community are very shocked but also very angered, he said. A crime like this will create a significant amount of fear in the area. I would urge anyone with information to contact the investigating detectives. It is the third such attack in the area in recent times and we must do all we can to make sure that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice and that it doesnt happen again. Gardai are continuing to appeal for information. Officers have been able to use the DNA database since November. Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald signed the commencement order for the legislation officially enabling it on Friday. It is based at Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) in Phoenix Park. A crime scene index within the database contains DNA profiles generated from biological samples lifted from crime scenes whether before or after the legislation came into force. Gardai are investigating the two raids which occurred at Bouchon jewellers in the Diamond, Malahide Village. Staff at a Dublin jeweller were assaulted twice in the space of a week following two separate robberies at the same store. Gardai are investigating the two raids which occurred at Bouchon jewellers in the Diamond, Malahide Village. The first incident occurred last Wednesday while the second took place on Saturday afternoon. It has not yet been established if the two incidents are linked. On Saturday, two men entered the store shortly after 5pm and threatened a member of staff after jumping the counter. The raiders made off with a number of items including watches and necklaces. During the raid, a female worker was injured after being apparently slashed by a sharp implement. An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital. However, her injuries were described as non-life threatening. Members of the Armed Support Unit, who were in the area at the time, were dispatched to the scene. A number of housing estates near the scene of the robbery were searched but no arrests have yet been made. The first suspect is described as being 5ft 9in and around 50, pale, wearing glasses and a yellow jacket. The second man was wearing a black jacket and white hat. He was described as being much younger than the first. Gardai are in the process of establishing if the robbery over the weekend is linked to another raid at the store last Wednesday. During that incident a man, described as a young male, entered the premises at approximately 5pm with a knife and threatened staff. He managed to take an undisclosed quantity of jewellery and attempted to leave the premises but was approached by a worker. During the subsequent struggle the member of staff received what were described as minor injuries to his arm after being slashed with the weapon. The raider then escaped on foot. Officers from Malahide garda station are investigating both incidents but no arrests have yet been made. Sophie Stimpson (20), who lives near the scene, said: "Everyone knows everyone around here so I think they will definitely be caught. "It is such a public spot and there's so many cars, someone must have seen something. I'm shocked it happened." In a separate investigation, gardai arrested a 44-year-old man in connection with a robbery in Balrothery, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, on Saturday night. A lone male entered a shop and demanded cash from a female staff member, who was assaulted during the incident. The raider, who was wearing a balaclava, left the premises on foot with a sum of cash at around 9.20pm. The female employee who was assaulted did not require any medical attention. The man is being detained at Balbriggan garda station. The Mater Hospital has warned patients to go elsewhere unless it is an emergency, as the hospital deals with huge numbers. In a statement the hospital said they are asking the public to only attend the emergency department in the case of an emergency. For non-urgent queries patients are asked to contact their GP or the Mater Smithfield Rapid Injury Clinic. "At our Mater Smithfield Rapid Injury Clinic, you will be treated by Mater Hospital nurses and doctors who specialise in emergency care. "We offer fast assessment and treatment at the clinic and you do not need an appointment or a GP referral letter to attend." The Mater Smithfield Rapid Injury Clinic treat: Sinn Fein Health Minister Michelle O'Neill will succeed the retiring Martin McGuinness in leading the party's Stormont team, the party has announced. She was largely considered the front runner when the long-time leader took a step back from politics due to his ailing health. The party made the announcement this afternoon. The 40-year-old Mid Ulster Assembly member takes over as the republican party's figurehead north of the Irish border weeks before a snap Assembly election. Mr McGuinness's resignation as deputy first minister in protest at the Democratic Unionists' handling of a botched green energy scheme triggered the collapse of the powersharing administration. The Sinn Fein veteran later announced he would not seek re-election due to his ongoing battle against a serious illness. Ms O'Neill addressing the media today after the announcement said she was proud to be leading the party into the upcoming election. She also paid tribute to her predecessor and said his decision to stand down, while a "last resort", was the right thing to do. "I have worked with Marting McGuinness throughout all of my adult life... I have no doubt I am following in the footsteps of a political giant. The man is a legend," she said. The retiring leader said he was "overjoyed" to have Ms O'Neill step into his old job and that she would have his "whole-hearted., dedicated support for as long as she has this job". The new leader also used the announcement as a chance to have her own say on the cash-for-ash scandal which sparked Mr McGuinness's resignation as Deputy First Minister. Ms O'Neill said that Arlene Foster's refusal to step down "shows a total disregard to concerns and outrage of the public". Taoiseach Enda Kenny congratulated Michelle O'Neill on her appointment as the new leader of Sinn Fein in the Northern Ireland Assembly. "Her appointment comes at a critical time when it is ever more vital for us to work together North and South, to keep the peace process firmly on track," he said. "I wish Michelle every success in her new role and look forward to working with her and her colleagues, and all of the parties in Northern Ireland, to ensure the stability of the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions into the future." More to follow... There is no party quite like Fianna Fail for hanging dirty linen up in public and forgetting to wash it. Michael Martin One prominent Dublin member was quoted in the papers recently as saying that 'several people' had said to him over the years that party leader Micheal Martin was the "worst minister for health we ever had". A career in diplomacy beckons. For what it's worth, I'd certainly have him well up my list of poor health ministers. When the service needed radical surgery and the country was awash with borrowed money to do it, he chose a nip, tuck and a bit of Botox. The HSE is his legacy, and he left behind a health system far more dangerous than a smoky pub. Expand Close Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin Photo: Arthur Carron Dr James Reilly Dr James Reilly would be another major contender. Fine Gael excited the country with its plans for health insurance for all. But insurers simply jacked up premiums, Reilly's wheels came off, and we are all paying the cost today. Expand Close James Reilly at the count centre in Cloghran, Dublin, during the election. Photo: Stephen Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp James Reilly at the count centre in Cloghran, Dublin, during the election. Photo: Stephen Collins Dr Noel Browne Dr Noel Browne meant well and aimed high, but he was not an effective politician. His ministerial career lasted just three years. But he did have his finger on an important national pulse. He failed to understand why the State did not pay salaries to its doctors like they paid to postmen. As he put it succinctly, the doctor gets "a sweetener in the form of a fee", every time he drops in a letter. This he saw as a driving force behind the rising cost of health services without any improvement in efficiency. Expand Close Noel Browne / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Noel Browne Mary Harney I don't think Mary Harney met expectations in the health brief, but she did more for the health of the country as environment minister than any other, with her 1990 ban on Dublin's smoky coal. Her measure got only a fraction of the publicity showered on the smoking ban, yet saved as many as 100,000 lives in the last 25 years. Expand Close Mary Harney. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Harney. Photo: Steve Humphreys Barry Desmond For bravery, it's hard to beat Barry Desmond. He had to preside over dreadful cutbacks in the 1980s, but when then Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald tried to reshuffle him from office, Desmond stuck to his desk like a limpet. He was that rare health minister. He was blunt, too. In the first line of his memoir, he said that he merely did what all sensible Cork men do. He bought a one-way ticket to Dublin. Expand Close Former minister Barry Desmond / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former minister Barry Desmond I am interested in your views on the best and worst health ministers. There have been about 25 of them in all, and you can drop me a line at PO Box 5049, Dublin 6w, or email me at mgueret@imd.ie Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road as this silver Audi believed to be used by the shooters on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) A police officer is recovering after being shot and wounded in north Belfast. It happened on Sunday night at around 7.30pm at Edenderry filling station on the Crumlin Road. It is understood the PSNI officer was shot in the arm after a number of shots were fired from a car. He was rushed to hospital where and was last night undergoing emergency surgery. The Crumlin Road has been closed while officers investigate. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton said: "This was a very concerted attack on our officers - a very concerted attempt to murder them. "Our main line of enquiry at the minute is violent dissident republicans. "One arrest has already been made." The car that police believe was used in the attack was later photographed by the Belfast Telegraph. Expand Close Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road as this silver Audi believed to be used by the shooters on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road as this silver Audi believed to be used by the shooters on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) I condemn tonight's shooting in North Belfast & injury to PSNI officer. No excuse for such criminality. I wish the officer a full recovery. pic.twitter.com/MCLDjvhkbt Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) January 22, 2017 Utterly condemn the shooting of a police officer in North Belfast - the work of cowards. Praying they make a full recovery. Arlene Foster (@DUPleader) January 22, 2017 I appeal to anyone who has information about the shooting to contact the PSNI immediately. My thoughts are with the officer and his family. James Brokenshire (@JBrokenshire) January 22, 2017 Read More Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said there was "no excuse for such criminality" while Arlene Foster described it as "the work of cowards". Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: "I utterly condemn this outrageous and cowardly act. "Anyone with any relevant information should pass it on to the PSNI immediately. "I hope the officer involved makes a full and swift recovery." Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds said it was a despicable act. Mr Dodds said: "This is a deeply disturbing incident which echoes back to the kind of terrorism we used to face on a daily basis. "My thoughts are with the officer who has been injured and I pray that the injuries sustained are not life-threatening and they can make a full recovery. "These are scenes that we should all want to move away from in Northern Ireland. We must be mindful how a threat to the future of the political institutions can create a vacuum, which terrorists such as these will seek to fill. "We must all stand against those who wish to use threats, intimidation and violence to further their political ends. Expand Close Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police officers rush to the scene after an officer is shot on the Crumlin Road on 22th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) "It is vital we all stand against such activity and work to move Northern Ireland forward." Nationalist SDLP assembly member Nichola Mallon said those responsible were calculating criminals, intent on destabilising a community which continues to make strides toward reconciliation, who will be rejected by local people. She said: "Those responsible for this attack, not only on the individual involved, but on the progress that north Belfast has made must be brought to justice. "This community has rejected the men of violence before and it will do so again. There will be no cover given to those who seek to destabilise our progress and bring mayhem back to our streets." Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, confirmed the officer was shot in the arm during a terrorist gun attack. He said: "This is an appalling act, and I wish to condemn it in the strongest possible terms. "This attack on the life of an officer is a stark reminder of the determination on the part of terrorists to murder and maim police officers. "They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan. The wider community will be outraged by this attack on one of their police officers. "The police serve the entire community and wounding one individual is an attack on the entire community." He said the attack underlined the fragility of the peace. "It's one reason why the threat level here remains classed 'severe' which means a terrorist attack is highly likely. "Officers already exercise great vigilance and I would appeal to them to remain at high alert." Senior Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly said it was a drive-by shooting and the officer's injuries were not life-threatening. "I hope that the injured officer will make a full and speedy recovery," he said. "Those responsible for this attack are the same people who are attacking the local community. "They have absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately. "I would call on anyone with information on this incident to bring it forward to the PSNI." The attack comes as Northern Ireland prepares for fresh elections after the collapse of powersharing. Former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over a botched green energy scheme which is predicted to leave taxpayers millions out of pocket. Dissident republicans opposed to peace have killed police, prison officers and soldiers in the past. More than 250 disabled people protested against Ryanair at Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas Airport on Saturday afternoon. They accused the Irish airline of systematically and permanently discriminating against disabled travelers by adding unnecessary obstacles to their flights. The protest in Madrid on Saturday. The Spanish Committee of Representatives of Disabled People (CERMI) organized the protest after receiving numerous complaints against the low-cost airline for multiple cases of discrimination. The airline conjures up hare-brained security reasons and excludes disabled passengers directly Luis Cayo Perez Bueno, President of CERMI The airline conjures up hare-brained security reasons and, without any kind of social commitment, excludes disabled passengers directly, either by not allowing them to board, or by obliging them to bring a travel companion at their own expense, said Luis Cayo Perez Bueno, President of CERMI. It uses an abusive and discriminatory European rule to tell us, as passengers, that we arent welcome. The latest story to make news was that of Javier Garcia Pajares, a deaf and blind Spanish student who was studying abroad in London. According to his testimony, Ryanair did not allow him to travel last Christmas, citing security reasons. The case of our friend Javier Garcia Pajares is proof of something devastating that it wants us to accept as natural. It is the moment to tell them that low-cost cannot be translated into fewer human rights, said Cayo Perez. CERMI also said that the European Commission should urgently change a rule related to passengers with reduced mobility that has been in effect throughout Europe since 2006. This rule allows companies that dont have any social conscience to apply it in its worst version, said Cayo Perez. Ryanairs response Ryanair denied practicing any type of discrimination. Thousands of passengers who need special assistance choose to fly with us every week, a service that usually takes place with normality, a Ryanair spokesperson told the Servimedia news agency. The company also refuted the story of Garcia Pajares. The spokesperson said that a customer-service representative asked the disabled passenger for documentation to make sure he complied with the security requisites that allowed him to travel without a companion. Once those documents were received, more than a week later, we confirmed that he could travel alone, although in the end he decided not to, said the spokesperson. We are proud of the service we offer to all of our clients and we will continue to make an effort to improve our service every day, he added. English version by Alyssa McMurtry. Councillors are to receive a 1,000 pay hike as well as increases in their annual expenses under plans being introduced by Minister Simon Coveney, Independent.ie can reveal. In a significant move, Mr Coveney has agreed to introduce a new annual allowance of 1,000 for hundreds of elected members of so-called municipal districts. And in a surprise development, Mr Coveney has also agreed to more than double the annual expenses allowance for councillors who avail of the vouched system. Currently, councillors can avail of an annual unvouched sum of up to 2,667 to cover expenses other than travel and subsistence. But Mr Coveney is to increase this amount to 5,000, as long as it is vouched. This means that combined with the new 1,000 payment, some councillors are in line to receive an additional 3,500 per year. However, the new 1,000 payment will not be extended to the four Dublin local authorities as they are not classified as municipal districts. It's the expected the new rules, which require legislation, will come into effect in April. Mary Mitchell OConnor, right, with Orla Keane-Grant and baby Niamh at the opening of the Showcase Expo in Dublin yesterday. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall A former special adviser to John Bruton is to take up a role with Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor - who has seen a number of her key staff resign in recent weeks. Sources say Roy Dooney, who has close links to Fine Gael, will be formally unveiled as the minister's new policy adviser in the coming days. Mr Dooney spent more than seven years advising Mr Bruton, both while he served as taoiseach and later as the EU's ambassador to Washington. He has also served as commissioner of the League of Ireland and has more recently engaged in lobbying activity on behalf of the tobacco industry. Mr Dooney, whose new role has yet to be signed off on by the Government, declined to comment when contacted by the Irish Independent last night. He will replace Jim McGrath, who recently resigned from his post after just a few months. Mr McGrath previously served as adviser to former minister and Labour TD Alan Kelly, before taking up the role in the Department of Jobs. Former TV3 broadcaster Alan Cantwell resigned as Ms Mitchell O'Connor's media adviser in November, just weeks after taking up the post. As previously revealed by this newspaper, Mr Cantwell enjoyed a terse relationship with the Dun Laoghaire TD. The tensions were further highlighted in recently released emails sent between the pair before Mr Cantwell's departure. In one instance, Mr Cantwell was tasked with producing a short biography of Ms Mitchell O'Connor. She replied by asking him to include "something about: 1. Jobs; 2. Enterprise; 3. Innovation". The Jobs Minister has now appointed Ellen Lynch, formerly of the IDA, as her new press adviser following Mr Cantwell's resignation. Ms Lynch previously worked in print and broadcast media. Meanwhile, Ms Mitchell O'Connor came under fresh criticism from one of her own Fine Gael colleagues over the approach taken towards tackling ticket touts. Ms Mitchell O'Connor released a report on the issue on Friday, during the middle of Donald Trump's inauguration speech. The problem of ticket touting resurfaced recently after it emerged some U2 tickets for the act's concert in Croke Park in July were selling on the internet for almost 900 each. The Government is now considering the introduction of strict new laws aimed at tackling ticket touts amid fears the growing controversy could jeopardise Ireland's bid to land major sporting events. But Dublin North West TD Noel Rock, who is co-sponsoring his own bill with Independent deputy Stephen Donnelly, criticised the minister's approach. "It would have been appreciated had we been consulted in advance, given Deputy Donnelly and I currently have a bill - working across parties and supported by many - dealing with this. It will be before the House in the coming days, and the issue will be raised in the Dail tomorrow." "What we don't need are more reports, we need action," Mr Rock said. The plan will be launched by Minister for Rural Affairs Heather Humphreys, pictured at her family farm in Co Monaghan. Photo: Kyran OBrien The most comprehensive plan for rural Ireland in years has placed a major focus on protecting rural schools as well as tackling commercial rate bills that are crippling small businesses. The Government's 60m action plan, entitled 'Realising our Rural Potential', also proposes the increasing of flight connections at Cork and Shannon Airports, as well as a clampdown on so-called "mobile phone black-outs". And a scheme due to be rolled out by the autumn will see house buyers offered grants on a pilot basis to restore properties in rural towns and villages. Some 90 new public nursing home facilities and 18 primary care centres are to be established, while the Government has also pledged a grant scheme for CCTV and personal alarms for the elderly. And there is a significant focus on rural schools, according to the plan seen by the Irish Independent. It says that there will be new rules to ensure no small school closes against the wishes of parents. More amalgamations have been signalled in order to prevent schools closing due to capacity. And there will be new guidelines introduced to allow school buildings to be used for community purposes after school hours. Businesses have also been handed a boost by the plan. In cases whereby vacant commercial units are being changed into homes, an option for the planning process to be by-passed entirely will be introduced. The rolling-out of a new rural public banking system will be considered, while significant changes to the rates system will be introduced. Local authorities will introduce a new "rates alleviation scheme", in conjunction with moves to re-evaluate rates in nine rural counties. Meanwhile, a new training scheme will be aimed at getting women back into the workforce, and mobile phone blackspots will be tackled. The plan, a copy of which has been obtained by the Irish Independent, will be unveiled today by Taoiseach Enda Kenny the ministers in the Department of Rural Affairs, Heather Humphreys and Michael Ring. However, the Opposition is likely to accuse the Government of neglecting rural Ireland for too long. Overall, the plan aims to reinvigorate over 600 rural and regional towns, through an investment of around 60m over the next three years. The plan also pledges to develop an Atlantic Economic Corridor to drive jobs and investment along the western seaboard. Mr Kenny will tell a press conference in Longford that the Government intends to increase the number of tourists coming to Ireland by 12pc. And 135,000 new jobs in rural Ireland will be supported between now and 2020. "As I know well, there is huge untapped potential in rural Ireland. "These are strong communities with ideas and ambition for their futures," Mr Kenny is set to say in his speech. The ongoing implementation of the plan will be overseen by a monitoring committee, to be chaired by Ms Humphreys. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Ms Humphreys said another major part of the plan relates to broadband. She said she has asked every local authority to appoint a dedicated official to liaise with departments in relation to the roll-out of high-speed fibre broadband. "I think every shop has got to go online. Because what do you do when you want to find something, you Google it," Ms Humphreys said. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said she expects to see the plan for the roll-out of blanket broadband to begin in the autumn. Ms Humphreys said she believes there is too much negativity around rural Ireland. "Comments like 'rural Ireland is dying'. I don't want to hear that, because it's not," Ms Humphreys said. Patsy Murphy stands looking down on the little toy tractor that adorns her grandson's grave, but she will not be pictured doing so. She's talking to the press with her daughter's blessing, she says, and because her family were grateful for the media's help in the days when the children were missing. "But when I see an image of someone doing that it seems just like drama," she says with quiet dignity. "And everything that's gone on has already been dramatic enough." Scanning the scene around the graveyard it's easy to see what she means. Beside the fresh plot is the school Ruairi and Eoghan attended - as we speak, strains of children singing happy birthday to a classmate float over the gravestones. Beyond that is the little church where Eoghan served as an altar boy. And on the other side of the graveyard is the community centre from which their father, Sanjeev Chada, embezzled 56,000 to pay debts relating to online gambling. On Tuesday, he was jailed for two life sentences, to run concurrently, for the murder of his sons. Mrs Murphy says that the family were "satisfied to see justice done". "But then, what kind of justice is it?" she asks. "No prison sentence will bring the boys back, and that's the only justice we'd really be interested in." Mrs Murphy had always liked Sanjeev. "I would have considered that he was a very good son-in-law", she tells me. "They met out in Saudi Arabia, she was working in the bank out there. He was born in the north of Ireland. His family may have been quite traditional Indian but he never lived in India, as far as I know. [Sanjeev and Kathleen] came back to Ireland together approximately 18 years ago and got married 10 or 11 years ago. They lived in Dublin for a while and then they came down to live here [in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow]. When they boys were born that was an incredible joy for me and them." She has fond memories of the two boys: "If you could describe two boys as being perfect, well that was Eoghan and Ruairi. One wanted to be a farmer like his uncle. He had gotten a little calf from his uncle. The other wee chap wanted be a chef. They were happy-go-lucky, out here in the fields playing. Their father had them involved in the GAA, in pitch and putt, in bowling. I minded them a lot but the father was a home parent, I think you could call him. He worked on his home, on his computer. He was trading; gambling, at the end of the day." It would now appear that Sanjeev felt the pressure of his mounting debts and what he perceived as his marriage breaking down. In a note he wrote to his children, he told them: "I could not let you bear the pain of being from a broken home. Mammy is getting rid of me and I could not leave you behind. I have so much to teach you but I could not do that if I was not with you." Sanjeev had been panicking about a Garda investigation into the missing Community Centre funds - Mrs Murphy hints that there were more sums of money involved than just the Community Centre funds, however. In July, last year, after telling Kathleen that he was taking the boys bowling as a treat, he drove them hundreds of miles away, to Westport, Co Mayo, where he strangled both of them. On the night he failed to return home, Mrs Murphy was with her daughter in the house. "He phoned himself first, he said to her that he'd had a crash and that the boys were dead. She didn't believe him, maybe she didn't want to, she said they'd only been stunned. Of course, at that stage she didn't realise what he'd done, putting them in the boot of the car, driving around for hours afterwards. I can't remember how soon we heard that the boys had been killed beforehand. That night we sat around and just prayed and hoped that it wasn't true." When Kathleen appeared on The Late Late Show on Friday she disputed the idea that Sanjeev had been insane and said that she could not forgive him: "You can't, what he did to the boys will never ever . . . it's not forgiveable. He wasn't insane, he was totally 'with it'. He had a number of days to plan this." She added that the violent nature of the children's deaths meant he "does not deserve forgiveness". When asked whether she believed he was truly sorry for what he had done, Kathleen replied: "I don't know . . . it's probably the most sincere sorry that he has made in the last 14 months, whether it was truly sincere, I don't know." She said that she had not contacted Sanjeev since July of last year but spoke to him briefly in court. ""I wanted to see . . . was he a monster . . . but he was just himself, which is scary. He said he is sorry," she said. "It's difficult to say, whether he is sincere," agrees Mrs Murphy. "Only he can say what's inside his own heart and head. But it doesn't matter what he says now anyway, he has done all the damage and it can't be undone." Kathleen told Ryan Tubridy that she could never forgive her estranged husband. "I've been assured that that's okay," she said. "'Forgiveness is a gift', is how it was described to me, and it's God that forgives. If he forgives this, that's up to him," she said. Kathleen, Mrs Murphy says, "is a very strong girl as are all of my six children. She is the one who is suffering, she is the one who has suffered this terrible loss." Closure isn't something that will ever come for the Murphy family, but there was a small degree of catharsis in seeing Sanjeev jailed for life. "The case being over does bring some relief," Mrs Murphy says. "I was in court each day and it was very important for me to see it happen. I don't know how long he will be incarcerated for - what does 'life' even mean now? He'll be out at some point but he'll have the rest of his own life to face up to what he's done." On the Late Late Kathleen said that she still feels her sons' presence in her life. "There's a very strong sense of the boys. A light comes on in the bedroom occasionally, it's probably faulty wiring but for me it's the boys just checking in so we'll have a bit of a chat and I'll talk to them," she said. Mrs Murphy says that in the year since the double tragedy the community has rallied around the family. "Everyone in the local area has been fantastic. The guards have been great. The GAA club put down a seat for the two boys at the car park. We'll always be thinking about them and I miss them so much. We all do." Tributes have been paid to property developer Owen O'Callaghan who has died after a short illness. The Cork-based developer, who was in his 70s, ranked as one of the highest profile construction industry officials in the country and was responsible for major residential and commercial projects in both Cork and Dublin. The projects he developed over the years included the Liffey Valley Centre in Dublin, Mahon Point Shopping Centre in Cork and the Opera Lane complex in Cork. He had failed in a bid two years ago to develop a 70m new events centre in Cork. Over the past 40 years, he was responsible for some of the biggest residential developments in both Dublin and Cork, particularly around Ballincollig. However, Mr O'Callaghan was also at the centre of some of Ireland's highest profile political rows over the past two decades. Rival developer Tom Gilmartin had claimed Mr O'Callaghan paid former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern some IR80,000 for assistance with a project in Dublin. Both Mr Ahern and Mr O'Callaghan vehemently rejected the claim which later became a central aspect of the long-running Mahon planning tribunal in Dublin Castle. Mr O'Callaghan would go on to lodge numerous legal challenges to the planning tribunal and its findings. A key aspect of these was the work undertaken by former Government press secretary and lobbyist Frank Dunlop on behalf of Mr O'Callaghan. Mr O'Callaghan also became embroiled in a row with former Public Enterprise Minister Michael Lowry who claimed in 1995 that a "golden circle" was operating within Ireland. This followed claims about the strategic Horgan's Quay site in Cork which Mr O'Callaghan had intended to develop. The project was subsequently abandoned. Mr O'Callaghan later said that he utterly rejected the findings of the Mahon tribunal and claimed that they were biased, unjust and unfair. Over the past decade, Mr O'Callaghan had focussed most of his energies in his native Cork, firstly with a hospital project which did not proceed and latterly with his failed bid for the Cork events centre. His firm is currently developing the largest single site commercial office building ever built in Cork. A plan to expand the Mahon Point Shopping Centre was also being considered The developer was a staunch support of numerous charitable causes in Cork and was also deeply involved in the arts. Mr O'Callaghan is married to Sheelagh and has two children, Brian and Zelda. His youngster daughter, Hazel (22), died in a freak accident in July 2002 when she fell while loading a horse into a horse box. The young woman fell backwards off a ramp and struck her head, suffering fatal injuries. Anya Taylor-Joy, who at just 16 was discovered by a modeling scout 'I'm going to marry an Irishman," nine-year-old Anya Taylor-Joy announced to her father as they watched the film Titanic. It was the steerage passengers dancing below decks that did it for her. "Those are my people," she remembers telling her dad. "My soulmate is waiting for me in Ireland, I know it." It's somewhat humbling to realise that the conversation the 20-year-old star of Split is recalling happened just over a decade ago as she already has an impressive acting CV. In person, wearing a tight-fitting red Altuzarra dress and black Armani heels with an ankle strap, Taylor-Joy, who has just made six films back to back (including the critically acclaimed The Witch), is an odd mix. The actress sounds far older than her years yet she looks far younger than 20. While Taylor-Joy has Argentine, Spanish, English and Scottish ancestry through both her parents, her nine-year-old self was on to something when she thought her fate lay in Ireland as it was two Irishmen who got her into acting. Taylor-Joy, the youngest of six children, says she always wanted to act. At 16, she was 'discovered' by a modelling scout and signed to prestigious agency Storm the very next day. While reading a book of Seamus Heaney poems on a shoot, Taylor-Joy drew the attention of Irish actor Allen Leech (who played Branson, the chauffeur in Downton Abbey). Leech asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and when she revealed her acting ambitions, he asked her to recite some of the Heaney poems. "He took my name and number and said 'expect a call'," the actress recalls. "His agent is now my agent. She told me he was quite persistent about it, saying, 'have you called her yet, you need to call this girl'. "It's unbelievable because he had no reason to do that. He gave me my first shot in life, he opened up all of this. "The next time I saw him was on stage at the London Film Festival whilst he was presenting us an award for The Witch. "When I saw him I said 'you did this, you did this for me, thank you'. "He's lovely." The actor also has high praise for her Split co-star James McAvoy. "He's amazing. He's brilliant," she says. "He's so good. Take aside the fact that he is the nicest man," she says giving each word massive emphasis. "He's so nice and kind and really, really funny. Wickedly funny. On a movie like this it's important that you get along with your co-stars. "He's just so unbelievably talented. This performance to me is a moment in cinematic history. He's ah-mazing... He kills it in this movie." Now this might sound like typical Hollywood plamas, but having seen the film I can tell you that Taylor-Joy is not exaggerating. McAvoy always turns in wonderful performances but in Split he is quite simply astonishing as he plays a character with 24 different personalities (see review, on opposite page). Kevin, McAvoy's nominal character, suffers from dissociative identity disorder (DID) - what used to be called a 'split personality'. Although there is no use of make-up or prosthetics between character shifts in some of the 'alters', McAvoy is physically unrecognisable as himself. Taylor-Joy plays Casey, one of three teenage girls, kidnapped by Dennis, one of Kevin's 'alters', and held captive in a basement. Casey, unlike the other two girls, is an outsider, a loner, a misfit. Taylor-Joy tells me there are some crossovers between her and her character. "I never fit in with people my own age," she admits. "I never fitted in at school. Then all of a sudden, the first time I ever felt I belonged somewhere was on the set of The Witch." Taylor-Joy goes on to say there are plenty of differences between her and her latest character. "She's incredibly patient, I have no patience whatsoever. She's far more quiet than I am, I'm pretty loud and chatty." She is indeed very chatty, and great company, quick to laugh and not afraid to swear when it's warranted. Unfortunately, she's not chatty enough to confirm that she has been cast in the X-Men franchise. The actress filmed her second movie Morgan in Belfast, so did she meet her Irishman after all? Is there a romantic interest in her life? "Well, I am 20!" she replies, giving me a cheeky smile. When a restaurant opens after a whole lot of hype, expectations weigh heavy. I'd been hearing about Hang Dai for almost a year before it opened, first from restaurateur, John Farrell (he's the man behind 777, Dilllinger's, The Butcher Grill, Super Miss Sue, and Luna), who has been involved in the concept and interior design (the space is kitted out as a subway carriage), and latterly from co-owners, Will Dempsey and chef Karl Whelan. The idea was "to shake up authentic-contemporary Chinese cuisine to create an iconic institution in Dublin's restaurant landscape; where food meets art, design and fun", according to an early press release. There was to be a particular focus on Beijing duck. Whelan has most recently headed up the kitchen at Luna, and also has stints at Chapter One and Fade St Social on his resume, all of which augured well for the food. Of course, the idea of shaking up a cuisine and giving it a modern twist is nothing new. Farrell has done it at 777, where the contemporary Mexican food is accompanied by a bewildering selection of premium tequilas and thumping music. 777 (say 'triple seven' rather than 'seven, seven, seven' if you want to give the impression of being in the know) is about as far away from an old-school Mexican restaurant, with its endless permutations on the theme of guacamole, refried beans and enchilada/burrito, as it's possible to get. Expand Close Hang Dai on Camden Street / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hang Dai on Camden Street The successful Mission Chinese ("serving Americanised oriental food" according to its website), which started in San Francisco and now also has a branch in New York, is clearly the inspiration behind Hang Dai, and if you want to eat there next time you visit the US, be prepared either to book a long time in advance, or to be grateful when you're offered a table at midnight. Before Mission Chinese there was the Formosa in LA, established by prize fighter Jimmy Bernstein in the 1920s, and for many years a movie industry hangout thanks to its West Hollywood location, close to the Warner Brothers lot. Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner were regulars, and Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall all ate there. The Formosa cemented its legendary status when it featured in LA Confidential. I was beguiled by its Susie Wong-style decor and alluring combination of cocktails and Kung Pao chicken. Sadly, the Formosa did not survive a modernisation of its interior design and closed last month, which should be a salutary lesson to restaurateurs everywhere: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Anyway, Hang Dai eventually opened towards the end of last year. I went along in the first week of the new year, traditionally the deadest of dead weeks for restaurants, and the only booking that I could get, aside from a very early one, was at 9.30pm on Thursday evening. I'd heard that the music was loud, so I brought along my 20-something daughter so she could assure me that it wasn't and tell me not to be curmudgeonly. When you book online, you're told that parties of two will be seated at the bar, and that tables are reserved for parties of four or more; we were shown to a pair of stools at the far corner of the bar, which turned out to be both an excellent vantage point and a good position from which to be able to chat to the bartender and have her talk us through the cocktail options. Although there is an efficient and moderately priced wine list, I'd recommend drinking either beer or cocktails. We particularly enjoyed the Hang Dai Sour and Rum and Plum. As Hang Dai is all about the duck, we pre-ordered a half duck (40) when prompted during the booking process. The Skeaghanore duck comes as three courses: a broth with Chinese pickles, the leg roast on the bone, "drenched in Cantonese-style soy sauce and duck juice", and "Beijing-style thinly sliced duck with crisp skin, served with pancakes, cucumber and cherry hoi sin". Of the three, the third was by far the best, the tender, flavoursome duck presented fine-dining style and pink, rather than in the shredded, long-cooked style customarily associated with the dish. The skin could have been crisper though. We found the leg tough, and the soy sauce far too salty; the broth was fine. I'd have preferred not to have had half a duck's head on the plate. Where the food really shone for us was with the other dishes. Fried prawn toast with yuzu mayo should really not feature on any sensible January eating plan, but what the hell? It's too good to pass by. Oysters topped with chilli, soy, lime, coriander and prickly oil, whatever that is, are briny and vibrant, and pork dumplings with sweet soy, just perfect. Dry fried green beans with chilli and minced pork are spicy and sensational, and may just have been our favourite dish of the night. We vowed to return for the Typhoon Shelter soft shell crab which had sold out, and a half-dozen other dishes that are still winking at me from the online menu. Hang Dai does not offer dessert. Our bill for two, including two cocktails each, came to 110 before service. Our waitress offered to take the uneaten duck leg off the bill, and comped us two additional cocktails when we said that was unnecessary. THE RATING 8/10 food 9/10 ambience 8/10 value for money 25/30 ON A BUDGET The unmissable prawn toast is just 6, and those green beans are a tenner. If you just want to see what Hang Dai is like, share four small plates and two cocktails and it'll cost 50 for two. ON A BLOW OUT Typhoon Shelter crab to start, followed by main courses of steamed sea bass and beef hot pot, with a couple of sides, would come to around 100 for two before drinks. THE HIGH POINT Lip-smacking Chinese food presented in an exciting space that's something new for Dublin and lots of fun. THE LOW POINT The duck leg element of the three-course duck menu. U.S. Embassy Organizes a Dress Code Event Yerevan, Armenia On January 22, 2017, the Havana Restaurant-Complex hosted a Dress Code event to help young Armenian women navigate the world of workplace fashion. The Dress Code event was organized within the framework of the year-long Womens Mentoring Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, in partnership with the School of Political Science and International Affairs of the American University of Armenia and the Women and Youth Support Development Center. The event was opened by Ms. Leigh Carter, wife of U.S. Ambassador Richard M. Mills, Jr., and attended by dozens of the 62 mentees benefitting from this years mentoring program. The main objective of the event was to highlight dress code basics to the young mentees, helping them differentiate between casual, business/smart casual, and cocktail attire, ensuring that as future professionals they will understand official or implied dress code rules and be able to make appropriate fashion choices based on the occasion. During the event, models presented sample outfits illustrating each of these styles of dress, including cocktail dresses by Armenian designers Lilit Margaryan, Aram Nikolyan, Liana Sargsyan, and Lilit Melikyan. Three mentors participating in this years Womens Mentoring Program spearheaded the Dress Code event: Gohar Baghdasaryan, director of the Havana Restaurant-Complex; Karina Dnoyan, designer and stylist, director of ATEX Fashion Center; and Hranush Restakayan, production director for Levrim and Vanilla Cake Bakery. Also in attendance were U.S. Deputy Chief of Missions wife Nermine Mansour, as well as image-maker, deputy director of ATEX Fashion Center Olga Lavrienko. TV presenter Baz Ashmawy has opened up about the serious condition which caused his lung to collapse on a flight from London to Dublin, forcing him to undergo emergency double lung surgery. Baz (41) was travelling on a flight from London to Dublin in 2011, when he suddenly found it extremely difficult and painful to breathe. The 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy star had felt a build up of pressure in his chest prior to boarding his flight home. "I got an awful fright. I felt exhausted when I got home, and my missus, Tanja, was in Spain with the kids. She was saying: "Youre exhausted? Im exhausted minding six kids," to me on the phone. Then my mum, Nancy, happened to come by the house. She was a nurse for 50 years, and she took one look at me and knew that something was really wrong." Baz went to hospital, where tests revealed that 98pc of one lung had collapsed. Doctors told him that if the flight had been going any further than London, he would have died. He remembers being very agitated as they worked to relieve the pressure on his deflated lung. Expand Close Baz Ashmawy and partner Tanya Evans and their family / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Baz Ashmawy and partner Tanya Evans and their family "They were having difficulty trying to stab a tube through my breastplate, in a very Pulp Fiction-type of way. It was very painful and I started to go into shock. In the end, they punctured me through the ribs and I could breathe again. Tanja arrived and she was all apologies for not taking it seriously. I like to throw it up to her every now and again in an argument that I was dying and she didnt believe me." The Sky One presenter was given a very serious diagnosis of bullous lung disease, which occurs when bullae, or abnormally enlarged thin air sacs, form at the bottom of the lungs, which leads to a reduction in their ability to expand and contract. This adversely affects their role in passing oxygen into the bloodstream. Baz presumed that this problem occurred because he had been a smoker, but it turned out to be a hereditary condition. His late father had it, as does his sister and other family members. Doctors advised Baz to have surgery on the other lung as well as fix it in place, as if a lung collapses, it comes away from its position. The double lung surgery was severe, and Baz had to lie on his back for four months to recover, which was very difficult. He was filming Bazs Extreme World at the time and was due to go to Denver, and his doctors eyebrows raised when he asked him if he would be OK to wrestle alligators there. "I was quite blue and depressed about it for a long time, as it took me about two years to fully recover. Expand Close Nancy and Baz Ashmawy in '50 Ways To Kill Your Mammy' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nancy and Baz Ashmawy in '50 Ways To Kill Your Mammy' "Im nearly six foot three so Im a big guy, and I had prided myself on being strong and healthy. I love feeling alive, and I was afraid I wouldnt be able to run, climb or dive any more. Ive had to make changes in my lifestyle, like casual smoking is something I cant do now. I have a young family, and theyre a great motivation for me to want to be around as long as I can for them." A consequence of the surgery to fix Bazs lungs in place is that they dont have the same freedom to expand and contract as other peoples do, so he cant breathe as deeply. He trains hard to counteract this as he refuses to let it limit him. "I love diving and they told me I couldnt do it again, but Im a firm believer that anything is possible. Ive dived all over the world since the diagnosis, but Ive trained that little bit harder for it. "My personal trainer, Anthony Lynch, at EduFit was amazing and he helped me get out of the bed and back to fitness. Sometimes it just takes someone to believe in you and push you. It is tough though, as you cant take deep breaths to take in oxygen," said Baz. The problem with the bullae in Bazs lungs is that they will grow larger and the condition of his lungs will degenerate. "Its a deteriorating disease and theres nothing you can do to stop it, although you can work hard to maximise what you have. I dont really focus on that because thats the kind of stuff my missus would worry about, and theres nothing I can do as thats just the way it is. I dont smoke, dont drink much and try to take care of myself." Expand Close Baz Ashmawy and his mammy, Nancy Ashmawy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Baz Ashmawy and his mammy, Nancy Ashmawy Baz is conscious of his mortality as a lot of the men in his family died young, including his Egyptian dad, Mohammed Ussri Ismaill, who died at 52 of lung cancer. I feel great at the moment, but yeah long term, you would develop emphysema with this condition. You can maintain it as best you can, but it accelerates easily and theres no great outcome to it." Some people with Bazs condition have ended up having a double lung transplant. He says that the disease has fuelled his ambition to be more adventurous, and it has pushed him to try harder at things and take on new physical challenges. He doesnt dwell on the negatives and there is nothing he wont do, he says, as evidenced by his madcap adventures on 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy. "You can imagine what Id be like if I had lungs that worked at full efficiency. Look, everyone has a sad story, and you can either wallow in it and sit on your sofa getting fat and unhealthy, or you can get up off your arse and do the best with what you have. Its OK to feel sorry for yourself for a while, but then you have to snap out of it. The condition has changed my life in a positive way, because it has made me very mature about my health. The way I look at it is that you cant let obstacles in life beat you." Even though there is controversy surrounding the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, Heather Keating (26) is adamant that if she were offered it now, she would take it without a second's hesitation. The reason being, that even though she is so young, she has already survived the ravages of cervical cancer. Getting sick was the last thing Heather anticipated while she was happily growing up in a rural setting near Cashel, Co Tipperary. After school, she enrolled in Templemore College of Further Education to do hairdressing. Eventually, she came to the realisation that hairdressing wasn't for her, so she went back to college, and two years later, she qualified as a veterinary assistant. She then got a temporary position with Mo Chara Animal Rescue, in nearby Thurles. This was followed by a job with a chain of pet stores. Part of Heather's brief was to visit schools and youth centres as a pet-care advocate. Apart from her training as a veterinary nurse, Heather is well qualified to talk about pets, as she has a dog, a cat, a guinea pig and an aquarium at the home in Carlow she shares with Daniel, her partner for the past eight years. However, the fabric of her somewhat idyllic lifestyle started to unravel just over a year ago, when Heather noticed she was bleeding between periods. At first, she wasn't too concerned. But when she began to bleed after being intimate, she went to the doctor and was referred to a gynaecologist. "It was a public appointment and took four months," Heather explains. "So I got on with my life. But over time, the bleeding got worse, and by the time I saw the gynaecologist at South Tipperary General Hospital, I was already anaemic. Having examined me, the consultant realised something was wrong and arranged for me to have a colposcopy the following week. During this procedure, my cervix was examined in more detail." Following this investigation, Heather learned that a biopsy would have to be done. When she asked if she should be worried, she was told that many biopsies come back perfectly clear. So she was somewhat reassured. However, when Heather returned to the hospital four weeks later, she discovered that, unfortunately, the biopsy had been inconclusive, so she was referred on to St Finbarr's Hospital in Cork, where another colposcopy and biopsy were done. Eventually, Heather, with her mother by her side, was seen by a consultant at Cork University Hospital (CUH). "Two words came out of his mouth; two words you never, ever want to hear," Heather recounts, her voice trembling. "'It's cancer'. Then silence. I looked at my mother, her eyes filling with tears. My heart broke; not for me, but for my family; that they would have to go through this journey with me. Or they would be left to suffer if the worst happened." Further investigations, including an MRI scan, were undertaken to ascertain if the cancer had spread to any other part of Heather's body. If it had spread, surgery would not be advisable. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments would then be the only options; but they could in themselves threaten Heather's fertility. However, if the cancer was confined to the cervix, then a radical trachelectomy might be possible. During this procedure, the cervix and nearby tissue are removed, but the womb is left in place. Heather had to wait a week for the results of the scan. "That was the very worst week of my life," she says. "I was literally walking around in circles. I was shaking and I couldn't eat. Oddly, I was able to sleep for 12 to 14 hours a night. I think that was my body's way of coping." But finally, she got great news - the cancer hadn't spread. "I chose a radical trachelectomy in the hope of preserving my fertility," she explains. Read More Four weeks later, in November 2015, she had the surgery. "It was done robotically," Heather explains. "As far as I know, the consultant wasn't even in the same room. He was next door, managing the robot, using monitors. During surgery, they removed my cervix, lymph nodes and some surrounding tissue to test the margins. There was very little pain during my recovery. Two weeks later, the results came back clear, so I didn't need chemotherapy or radiation. It was the most unbelievable relief." Nonetheless, Heather has check-ups every three months, so the specialist, whom she praises unreservedly, can keep a close medical eye on things. The reason why Heather is talking about such a recent traumatic personal experience is to encourage other young women to go for free smear tests, which are available from the age of 25. "Cervical cancer is such a preventable disease," says Heather. "We now have a test to sound the alarm early, when the chances of recovery are high." Her other motivation is to promote a vaccine which helps prevent the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. There has been controversy surrounding this vaccine since it became available in 2010, to all girls, in their first year at secondary school in Ireland. A small number of those who were given the HPV vaccine, have reported that they now suffer from chronic-fatigue-type symptoms. However, Dr Rob O'Connor, head of research at the Irish Cancer Society says, "The HPV vaccination programme is safe. HPV causes a number of cancers in men and women. For women, ongoing HPV infections can lead to cervical cancer. The HPV has also been linked to other forms of cancers in men and women, including cancers of the anus, throat, mouth, tongue, tonsil, vagina and penis." Heather comments, "I've done a lot of research and I do believe the vaccination does prevent a lot of cancers. In Australia, they also give it to young boys, and since its introduction 10 years ago, the number of cancer cases has dropped." As far as her future is concerned, Heather is positive. She is now working for the Dogs Trust as an education officer, and loves her job. "I take Ted, my education dog, to work with me," she says enthusiastically. As to having a family, she says: "I have eight nieces and nephews, and I love every one of them dearly. But Daniel and I can't wait to have children of our own. And any child I have will get the HPV vaccine." Cervical Cancer Prevention week takes place from today, January 22. The Irish Cancer Society urges women between the ages of 25-60 to go to their GP for a free smear test. This is part of the CervicalCheck screening programme. See cancer.ie/cervical or cervicalcheck.ie Michael Gainey was first attracted to his wife Caroline because she is such a caring person. He didn't realise at the time that this caring quality would very much come to the fore when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014. Michael, 62, and Caroline, 57, met when she was 15 as they grew up on the same estate in Newbridge. They began dating a few years later. "Michael was fierce good-looking with lovely, thick black hair, and he has a fantastic sense of humour and makes me laugh," says Caroline. Michael thought Caroline was, and still is, "lovely-looking". They became engaged but the relationship ended when Caroline was 28 and Michael was 33. Michael later got married and has two daughters, Leah, 25, and Katie, 20. The marriage ended, and he and Caroline reconnected in the late 1990s and were married at Naas Register Office in 2004. "We were much more mature when we met again and knew what we wanted," says Caroline. "I didn't get married or have children in the years we were apart, as I never met anyone who measured up to Michael." Caroline is the second-youngest of Jimmy and the late Phyllis Burke's four children. After hotel and nursing home work, she spent 28 years at the Oral B plant, working in the planning and buying department for the final 10 years before taking voluntary redundancy in 2010. Michael is the second-youngest of the late Paddy and Brigid Gainey's six children. He studied English and History at Trinity College followed by a HDip. He taught at his alma mater, Patrician Secondary School, for 37 years, working as a guidance counsellor for the final 12 years. He retired a couple of years ago. When he turned 50, Michael got into the habit of having a general check-up every year. In August 2014, he went for his usual check-up, and the doctor did a rectal examination to check the prostate, the walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis that secretes fluid that nourishes and protects sperm. He noticed that Michael's PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level was elevated slightly at 3.7. There's no agreement on a 'normal' reading as it depends on age and family history, and even healthy men without cancer can have PSA in their blood. However, when Michael was tested again two weeks later, his level was 3.9, so the doctor suggested he went to hospital for further testing. The surgeon there decided to do a biopsy, and Michael and Caroline were shocked to hear that cancer had been discovered in one lobe of the prostate. "I was in shock and disbelief," says Michael. "I knew my dad had died of cancer in 1989, but what I hadn't realised was it was cancer of the prostate." The three-hour operation to remove the prostate took place on November 5 in the Mater hospital. "Caroline was the last person I saw before I went to theatre," says Michael. "She insisted on moving into a B&B beside the hospital to be near to me. I realised shortly after we met again that I trusted Caroline with my life, and that kind of support was incredible to me." Michael's beloved daughters, Leah and Katie, were a great support too, as were his siblings, to whom he is very close. As he lay in bed the next day hooked up to tubes and wearing compression boots, Michael decided that he and Caroline would climb Croagh Patrick again the following July, which they subsequently did. The hope was that the cancer would be contained within the gland. This, thankfully, proved to be the case, but when the surgeon examined the prostate under the microscope, cancer was actually present in both lobes. Michael didn't need further treatment, so it was a matter of taking it easy and recovering his strength. His advice to any man in his 50s or over is to have a full check-up yearly. He had no symptoms, so the outcome may have been different if he wasn't being regularly tested. "A lot of people underestimate prostate cancer and think it's curable, but it's only curable if it's detected early enough," Caroline points out. "I was absolutely amazed at how Michael handled the whole thing, as he was brilliant." Caroline had a very tough year as she lost her mother a few months earlier, and also had successful surgery herself for a brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation), which is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. Michael was there for her through all of that, and then came his brush with cancer. The diagnosis left them in a lonely place, despite all of the support around them. "Men's confidence can be knocked for six by cancer, and they really need support from the person they are closest to," says Caroline. They both pay tribute to the Irish Cancer Society for its help and support, and one of the most poignant moments for Michael was doing its Relay for Life at The Curragh. Cancer survivors wear purple tops to the event, and Michael walked the route with Caroline's 87-year-old dad Jimmy, who survived bowel cancer. Michael and Caroline say the illness has brought them even closer and made them stronger. Psychologically, Michael feels he is able to tap into a better part of himself as a result of the diagnosis. "I became conscious of my own mortality. which made me more compassionate and humble in general. I don't take things for granted any more, and am so thankful I have made a complete recovery." www.cancer.ie 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: The White House, where the president sleeps, attracts far more visitors than Capitol Hill It was about nine o'clock in the evening when I first arrived at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. I'd been riding a bicycle for about an hour at that point - touring, with a group, a selection of the most prominent sights and monuments in and around the National Mall. We were just leaving the Korean War Veterans Memorial when the sun set and our tour guide instructed us to turn on our headlights. The steps are never wanting for visitors after all and he'd rather we didn't take anyone by surprise. There are 87 steps all told. Four score & seven, if you will. Decked out across them that random Sunday evening were, as promised, easily 200 or so people. Locals and tourists alike. Such a gathering at such an hour apropos of nothing was a fairly impressive sight in its own right, I thought, however, when I headed into the summit temple I realised anything less would hardly have been fitting. Lincoln's statue is simply awe-inspiring. They say the camera adds 10lb but to compare the noble stone behemoth sitting proudly before me that night to the somewhat tepid figure I'd seen in brochures, I'd say the opposite is true and then some. Surrounded by epitaphs on each wall, deep marble carvings of choice quotes and even an entire reproduction of the famous Gettysburg Address, old honest Abe is a powerful and pertinent reminder of the true gravity of presidential office. In a time when the word president seems more closely associated with buffoonery and deception than prestige, here still and for 94 years and counting, Abe sits. The sight of him is a reaffirming one in this sense. Reaffirming of the power of politics. The power to move people en masse and change the course of history. I remember that beside the statue stood a man openly weeping at the sight in front of him. Had I been able to muster such a reaction it might have been more appropriate. In the temple as a whole there was a palpable sense of euphoria that manifested itself in the likes of a father quietly giving his son a small history lesson and telling him he was standing in front of a great man, or couples young and old posing merrily for photographs from every possible angle. As it was I made do with a stunned silence, leaning back against one of the 38 Doric columns and drinking the moment in. Later on that night my group would go out to explore the city nightlife. I, a cherub of only 19 years old, which is a whole two years below the legal drinking age in America, was certainly not permitted to take part in those festivities... However if I had been, allegedly, I most certainly wouldn't have been disappointed. DC is only the fifth city in the country to be honoured with an ultra-prestigious Michelin guide, meaning it boasts about as fine a selection of restaurants and bars as you'll find anywhere in the world. The Georgetown Waterfront was where we/they ended up going that night and it would also be the location of our kayaking expedition the next morning. Kayaking is a popular summer activity for residents of the Waterfront, and proved a riotous bit of fun for the hour or so we spent out there. I would also imagine it makes a great hangover cure but then who's to say really? After that I spent some time visiting a few of the many expos and museums located downtown. DC is home to the world famous Smithsonian Institution, a collection of 19 museums and a zoological park open free to the general public every day except Christmas. The range of subjects includes everything from African art and culture to air and space travel, and each museum is comprehensive and dynamic enough to easily spend the whole day in. Apart from the Smithsonian there is also the International Spy Museum and my own personal favourite, the Newseum which chronicles more than 200 years of American news media in fascinating detail and features a moving exhibit of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs that I got lost in for quite some time. Upon leaving I was struck with a new appreciation for photography as an art form and was cursing myself for having forgotten to pack my good DSLR camera before I got on the plane. As great as the museums and nightlife in DC are, however, they cannot distract from the fact that, at its core this is still a one industry city. Politics is woven into the fabric of this place, and the political machine is one that can sell itself far better than I or any other travel writer could ever hope to. The sights to see? Everybody already knows them. There's the White House, of course, which it turns out is a humble enough building for all of the attention it gets. It probably says something about the tabloid nature of our culture that the building where the president and his family sleeps at night receives easily twice as many visitors as the much bigger Capitol Building just down the road, where most of the tangible policy making gets done, but no matter. It is monuments like the Lincoln Memorial that speak most candidly of the true power of, well, power, in its most official public sense. After 10 or so minutes staring up at Lincoln that night I started hearing voices outside. "Oh my God! Look at the moon!" I turned around and started back down the steps. The moon was bigger than I'd ever seen it in my life, and perfectly blood red in colour. It was emerging from behind the Washington Monument a mile to the east, casting a strange but magnificent light across the entire scene. I tried to take a picture but it was too late for the colours to come out properly. This was one of those moments that would just have to live in the memory. I spent about another five minutes sitting on the steps of the memorial watching the moon move slowly out of sight before getting up to retrieve my bike. In the middle of doing so I stopped for a second, having stepped, by chance, on to something rather peculiar. It was a plaque, around which a small group of tourists was gathering patiently. I looked down and started reading. Four words, spoken by a man who was standing in this exact same spot 54 years ago when he said them. They read: "I have a dream." GETTING THERE Essentials: Get your tourist board info from www.VisitTheUSA.com www.washington.org Hotels: Go on, you know you want to stay at the Watergate Hotel, and from $425 per night Cinders might just go to the ball. Just dont steal the ashtrays. www.thewatergatehotel.com Activities: Bike & Roll Monuments bike tour (www.bikeandrolldc.com) Kayaking on Potomac River near Washington Harbour (www.boatingindc.com) Museums: International Spy Museum (www.spymuseum.org) The Smithsonian (www.si.edu) and dont miss the National Gallery of Art (www.nga.gov) The question has Jim searching. I asked for his 'favourite spot in Donegal' and he has so many that choosing one above another is tricky. But then he comes up with the perfect answer. The surfer, who competed for Ireland for over a decade, tells me: "The perfect place would be in the water looking back in on Bundoran, watching the sunset with the dolphins around me." A native of the popular tourist town in south Donegal, Jim now lives just outside Rossnowlagh with his wife Lorraine, who teaches English in the VEC in Donegal Town, and daughters Lily (6) and Anna (5). "We love everything about living here. Where we live, I can see the whole way from the Slieve League cliffs to Mullaghmore Head in Sligo," he tells me. "My local shop, Finnegans, is two minutes away, the national school is two minutes away and my place of work is 15 minutes away - things are so close. Realistically I can go out the front gate of my house, pedal four times on my bike and free-wheel the whole way down to a pub five minutes away." Training to be a teamlead with Abbott, Jim says the company was a shining light in the area during leaner times. "They're a wonderful employer and hundreds of families in Donegal depend on them and are so proud to be associated with the company. The work we do is serious, the schedules have to be adhered to but there's a great culture here too. Some of us might go surfing after work, we have team days where we might climb Mount Errigal or clean-up a local beach. The company puts a lot back into the community." Having competed for Ireland at home and abroad, in Brazil, America and Europe, Jim is well placed to judge the quality of surfing conditions off Donegal. "Really, they're second to none. When I started surfing, only three of us did it in Bundoran and people thought we were half-mad. Now you paddle out some days in the summer and there could be 350 people in the water waiting for that perfect wave." Premium Billy Keane Opinion Even a dash to the Croke Park toilet wasnt enough to get rid of space invader who gave me Covid I did the time, but there was no crime. Banged up I was, under house arrest after two red bars showed up on the Covid test. Im not too bad, thanks for asking. I have it down on a man who was nearly close enough to kiss me at the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Galway. A collision awaits President Donald Trump. Exactly when it will take place isn't clear, but it is almost certain to occur. The extravagance of the president's rhetoric is soon to meet the reality of governing. The president's inaugural address was perhaps the baldest example of the rhetorical bravado that marked his time as a New York developer, a reality TV star and, yes, as a candidate. Restraint is not in his vocabulary. Mr Trump's inaugural address has drawn considerable criticism for its overall tone, for the dark portrait he drew of the state of the country, for its inward and insular vision, and for the general absence of typical inaugural themes of unity and American exceptionalism. Those are all valid critiques of this most unusual of American inaugural addresses. But set them aside for the moment and take the address as a genuine expression of Mr Trump's vision and ambitions as president. He will soon be measured against the promises he's made, and he opened his presidency by setting an incredibly high bar for himself. Making good won't be easy. The opposition will come from many directions. The millions of people who took to the streets in cities around the country and around the world on Saturday speak to the resistance he will face as president. He will be opposed both for what he stands for and for who he is. Beyond that, he will have to prove he can translate the skills of a businessman to the messier process of legislating and presidential decision-making. The slow process of populating his new government should raise cautions. His inaugural speech was a call to arms, a renewed effort to summon the anger that exists in parts of the population against the economic and cultural elites. Rather than an address to bring the country together, it was an expression of the divisions he successfully exploited as a candidate. As in the campaign, it was a pitch-perfect rendering of the frustrations that have fuelled his rise with a message of nationalism, populism and dismissal of his critics. That alone won't suffice now that he is president. He will be expected to deliver on the promise of a fundamental shift in governing priorities. What would he do as president? Here are just a few actions, based on his Friday speech. He would build more roads and highways and bridges and tunnels and airports than any president in recent memory. He would bring back the millions of jobs that have moved overseas and/or prevent the continuation of that flow. He would reverse globalism in some form or fashion. He would seek to ensure products sold in America are made in America. He would set up new barriers to protect the country, whether a physical wall to impede illegal immigration or financial impediments in the form of tariffs or border fees. And he would do all that now. As he put it: "The American carnage stops right here and stops right now." Mr Trump can rail against the political establishment all he wants. It worked for him as a candidate, and he appears to believe it will work for him as president. Some of the first words out of his mouth as the 45th president were used to denigrate the sea of political humanity sitting behind him on the Capitol's West Front. He was in no mood to offer olive branches or promises of co-operation, whether to his presidential predecessors or the leaders of Congress. It wasn't just one poke in the eye but a series of broadsides against the established order as he charged those in attendance with being guilty of lining their own pockets at the expense of the people. "That all changes, starting right here and right now," he said, "because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you." There are, however, enough contradictions within Mr Trump's presidency and administration to call into question what he had to say in that speech. Strong and forceful rhetoric on the part of leaders can be valuable in rallying a nation in the face of adversity; Mr Trump apparently believes this is one of those moments. But over-promising and not delivering would leave him vulnerable to the charge that he is what he criticised: all talk and no action. By all indications, the inaugural address represented a fusion of the ideas and visions of Mr Trump, chief strategist Stephen Bannon and senior policy adviser Stephen Miller. But there's little to indicate that such a view of the world is shared widely in the new administration or whether it represents fully all of Mr Trump's views. White House chief of staff Reince Priebus has never been known for holding views like that. How much will he and other allies who are part of Mr Trump's White House team seek to temper the anti-globalist vision? However clearly Mr Trump spoke on Friday, turning those words into governing principles and then into presidential actions or legislative recommendations is likely to be a cumbersome and at times combative process. Outside the White House, Mr Trump faces potential pushback from members of his own cabinet. Just one example is Defence Secretary James Mattis, who has a more positive view of Nato than does the president, as well as a much more sceptical view of Russia. It's also important to remember that Mr Trump is the first president in history with neither experience in government nor service in the military. He's been a developer and a dealmaker and has a high opinion of his negotiating skills, perhaps for good reason. But he's never dealt with the legislative process, never gone through the sausage-making involved in turning a proposal into a law. He is getting an early lesson in how the machinery of government is designed to frustrate a president. Democrats in Congress ultimately cannot block his cabinet nominees; they don't have the votes. But they can slow things down, as they have done with several nominees already. Imagine what will happen with controversial legislation. Mr Trump could face resistance from Republicans as well as Democrats. House speaker Paul Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell have been nothing but co-operative and positive toward Mr Trump since the election. But Mr Ryan's conservative vision is not fully compatible with Mr Trump's outlook, and the two are likely to clash. Mr Trump has sent mixed signals about issues, another complicating factor. He's for repealing and replacing the affordable care act, but he told 'The Washington Post' that he wants everyone to be insured under a replacement. Some Republicans would like to repeal and eventually replace. Mr Trump has backed them off by saying the replacement will coincide with the repeal. That's just one example. "From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land," Mr Trump said in his address. "The time for empty talk is over." The question is, can he actually deliver? Dan Balz is chief correspondent at 'The Washington Post'. He has served as the paper's national editor, political editor, White House correspondent and southwest correspondent Actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe (R) pose as they arrive at the world premiere of the film "T2 Trainspotting" in Edinburgh, Scotland Actress Caitriona Balfe attends The Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globe Party, presented with FIJI Water, Grey Goose Vodka, Lindt Chocolate, and Moroccanoil at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images) Irish actress and model Caitriona Balfe (R) poses with British actor Sam Heughan (L) on the red carpet arriving to attend the world premiere of the film T2 Trainspotting in Edinburgh Sam Heughan (left) and Caitriona Balfe arriving at the world premiere of Trainspotting 2 at Cineworld in Edinburgh. Caitriona Balfe knows how to command a red carpet. The Outlander star (37) was joined by her co-star Sam Heughan (36) for the world premiere of T2 Trainspotting in Edinburgh, where the hit show is filmed. Never one for fads, the former model opted for understated elegance in a grey ribbed high neck dress, wearing minimal makeup with her hair slicked back into a tight bun. The Trainspotting sequel takes place 20 years later and the cast reunited with director Danny Boyle on the orange carpet on Sunday night. Expand Close Actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe (R) pose as they arrive at the world premiere of the film "T2 Trainspotting" in Edinburgh, Scotland / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe (R) pose as they arrive at the world premiere of the film "T2 Trainspotting" in Edinburgh, Scotland Next up for Balfe, during a brief break from filming the time-travelling romantic drama, will be an honour at the Oscar Wilde party, the Irish themed pre-Oscars bash in Los Angeles on February 23. She will be honoured by the US-Ireland Alliance for her contribution to television, the latest string to her bow - after landing her second consecutive Best Actress Golden Globe nomination for the show, as well as SAG and Emmy nominations. "It's been a great year for Irish actresses and we're delighted to honour one who is receiving well-deserved recognition for her success in Outlander," Trina Vargo, founder of the US-Ireland Alliance said. "Given Caitriona's intense schedule of time travel, and the cold and rainy Scottish weather, our event should be relaxing for her. The one thing Outlander and the awards have in common is whiskey." Expand Close Irish actress and model Caitriona Balfe (R) poses with British actor Sam Heughan (L) on the red carpet arriving to attend the world premiere of the film T2 Trainspotting in Edinburgh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Irish actress and model Caitriona Balfe (R) poses with British actor Sam Heughan (L) on the red carpet arriving to attend the world premiere of the film T2 Trainspotting in Edinburgh Henry Cavill will need all his superpowers to stop landing a worst actor Razzie Superman actor Henry Cavill's superpowers have not been able to save him from receiving a not-so-prestigious nomination for worst actor at the 37th Razzie Awards. British star Cavill will go up against his Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice co-star Ben Affleck for the dubious accolade at the forthcoming awards ceremony, which celebrates the worst film industry offerings of the previous year. The Razzies - otherwise known as the Golden Raspberry Awards - are the notorious antithesis to the Oscars, taking place in the midst of the Hollywood awards season. Man of Steel star Cavill reprised his role as Superman in 2016's Batman v Superman, opposite Affleck as the caped crusader, but the DC Comics film was a miss with the critics. Oscar-winner Robert De Niro is also nominated for worst actor for his part in comedy Dirty Grandpa. Gods of Egypt and London Has Fallen star Gerard Butler, Zoolander No. 2's Ben Stiller and Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party star Dinesh D'Souza complete the worst actor line-up. Batman v Superman has a total of eight nominations, with further nods in the worst picture, worst screenplay and worst director categories among others. In the worst picture category, Batman v Superman will compete against long-awaited but widely panned sequels Zoolander No. 2 and Independence Day: Resurgence, as well as Dirty Grandpa, Gods of Egypt and Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party. Zoolander No. 2 - the star-studded follow-up to 2001's Zoolander - has scored the most nominations, with one for each of the nine awards up for grabs. The worst actress category will see Oscar-winner and Mother's Day star Julia Roberts go up against Naomi Watts and Shailene Woodley (The Divergent Series), Megan Fox (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) and Becky Turner (Hillary's America). Actor Tyler Perry is also nominated for worst actress, for his role as a female character in Boo! A Madea Halloween. Worst supporting actor nominees include Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, Will Ferrell and Jared Leto, while the worst supporting actress category includes nods for Kate Hudson, Julianne Hough and Kristen Wiig. Video of the Day The winners of this year's Razzie Awards will be revealed at the ceremony on February 25, taking place in Los Angeles one day before the Oscars. Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT Google Ad The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh A man sits in what used to be his home after violent storms hit southern US states (AP Photo/Branden Camp) At least 20 people have died after violent storms and tornadoes tore through south-eastern US states. Fifteen died in south Georgia, including seven from an apparent winter tornado which devastated a trailer park before dawn on Sunday. Authorities reported four deaths on Saturday in Mississippi as the storm system intensified. The storm was so big parts of it threatened the Carolinas and north Florida. In south Georgia's Cook County, coroner Tim Purvis confirmed seven people died at the mobile home park in the rural community of Adel, where about half of the 40 homes were levelled. The 15 killed in south Georgia also included two deaths each in the counties of Berrien and Brooks. In northern Florida, Columbia County Emergency Management director Shayne Morgan said a storm passing through Lake City caused a tree to crash into a house. A woman was injured and later died in hospital. The National Weather Service in Miami said on social media that two tornadoes touched down early Monday morning in south Florida. A tornado with top wind speeds of 107mph hit Miami-Dade County, while a tornado reaching speeds of 80-85mph hit Palm Beach County. Minor flooding was reported across Florida's Panhandle. In South Carolina, the National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes struck over the weekend, injuring one woman who was trapped in a mobile home near Blackville. The weather service said a tornado touched down at about 3.45pm on Saturday in Barnwell County before moving into Bamberg County. The other occurred in Orangeburg County a few minutes later. Weather experts say tornadoes can hit any time of year in the US South - including in the dead of winter. While the central US has a well-defined tornado season - the spring - the risk of tornadoes "never really goes to zero" for most of the year in the south east, said Patrick Marsh of the Storm Prediction Centre in Norman, Oklahoma. He said 39 possible tornadoes were reported across the region from early on Saturday into Sunday evening - none immediately confirmed. Of those, 30 were reported in Georgia, four in Mississippi, and one each in Louisiana and South Carolina. January tornado outbreaks are rare but not unprecedented, particularly in the South. Data from the Storm Prediction Centre shows that, over the past decade, the nation has seen an average of 38 tornadoes in January, ranging from 84 in 2008 to four in 2014. AP Gambia's defeated leader Yahya Jammeh waves to supporters as he departs at Banjul airport. Image: AP Photo/Jerome Delay Exiled Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh stole millions of dollars in his final weeks in power, plundering state coffers and shipping luxury vehicles by plane, according to a special adviser for the new president. Mai Ahmad Fatty, an aide to new president Adama Barrow, claimed Jammeh made off with more than 10.5m during a two-week period alone. "The Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are virtually empty. That is a state of fact," Mr Fatty said. "It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia." Mr Fatty also confirmed that a Chadian cargo plane had transported luxury goods out of the country on Jammeh's behalf in his final hours in power, including an unknown number of expensive vehicles. Mr Fatty said officials with the new government would stop any additional belongings of Jammeh from leaving Gambia. It appeared, though, that the major damage had been done, leaving Gambia with little recourse to recoup the funds. Jammeh, who ruled the impoverished West African nation for more than 22 years, went into exile late on Saturday night under mounting international pressure. He is now in Equatorial Guinea, home to Africa's longest-serving ruler. Mr Barrow, who defeated Jammeh in December elections, remains in Senegal for safety reasons after being inaugurated at Gambia's embassy there on Thursday. He has said he would come home "soon". Shanise McMorris cries at the remains of her home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Image: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency in seven counties after 15 people were killed in violent tornado storms, with the prospect of more bad weather to come. A tornado blew through a mobile home park in rural Cook County in southern Georgia - sheering off siding, upending homes and killing seven people. The tornado "levelled" the park before dawn yesterday and emergency responders searched for survivors for hours after the twister struck, said coroner Tim Purvis. He said the park had about 40 mobile homes, and roughly half were destroyed. The area was cordoned off by police. Not far from the mobile home park, 19-year-old Jenny Bullard wore a sling on her injured arm as she combed through the rubble of her family's brick house. All that remained standing yesterday afternoon was the master bedroom and parts of the kitchen. "It's a horrible tragedy," Ms Bullard said. "But all this stuff can be replaced. We can't replace each other. We're extremely lucky." Two of yesterday's deaths occurred when a mobile home was struck by an apparent tornado in Brooks County, which moved the home roughly 100 yards. "A tornado hit a mobile home, picked it up and put it in the middle of Highway 122," said Brooks County Coroner Michael Miller. President Donald Trump said he had spoken to Georgia governor Nathan Deal and "expressed our sincere condolences for the lives taken". "Tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong, and they suffered greatly," Mr Trump said during a White House ceremony where he was swearing in aides. "So we'll be helping out the state of Georgia." Several homes appeared to be destroyed along on a road within about 3km of the mobile home park, with bricks scattered on the ground, and pine trees uprooted and snapped in half. The tops of broken utility poles lay alongside the road. Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency in seven southern Georgia counties, freeing up state resources to assist with recovery efforts. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm's impact," Mr Deal said. In addition to seven deaths in Cook County, four people were killed in adjoining counties yesterday. Another four people were killed in Mississippi by a tornado on Saturday, bringing the weekend death toll to 15. The National Weather Service said southern Georgia, northern Florida and the corner of southeastern Alabama were due to face more forceful tornadoes late last night, in addition to damaging winds and large hail. Benedict Cumberbatch is to feature in a new exhibition on selfies at the Saatchi Gallery Nigel Hurst, chief executive officer at the gallery, described the smartphone selfie as an example of a shift in society using technology as a means of self-expression A new exhibition at London's Saatchi Gallery plans to explore the importance of selfies as an art form. Opening in March, it will showcase a selection of well-known pieces as well as "selfies that have quickly become icons of the digital era". From Selfie To Self-Expression will feature self-portraits from artists through the ages, including Van Gogh, Tracey Emin, Rembrandt, Velazquez, June Calypso and Kutlug Ataman. More modern examples include a selfie taken by former president Barack Obama and former prime minister David Cameron, and the moment actor Benedict Cumberbatch "photobombed" a press shot at the Academy Awards. Nigel Hurst, chief executive officer at the gallery, described the smartphone selfie as an example of a shift in society using technology as a means of self-expression. He said: " In many ways, the selfie represents the epitome of contemporary culture's transition into a highly-digitalised and technologically-advanced age as mobile-phone technology has caught up with the camera. "The exhibition will present a compelling insight into the history and creative potential of the selfie." As part of the project, Saatchi is collaborating with technology company Huawei to commission 10 young British photographers to make their own creative contributions. It will also include the launch of the #SaatchieSelfie competition, asking people around the world to post their most interesting selfies for a chance to be featured in the exhibition. The winner will be picked out by a panel of artists and receive a Huawei smartphone as well as a "priceless photographic experience" yet to be announced. Glory Zhang, of Huawei, said: " The smartphone has become a tool of artistic expression. "The selfie generation is becoming the self-expression generation as each of us seeks to explore and share our inner creativity through the one artistic tool to which we all have access; the smartphone." ::The exhibition will be open from March 31 - May 30 and the competition will run from January 23 - March 19. More information is available at: www.saatchigallery.com/selfie Storms destroyed half of mobile homes in a park in south Georgia (AP Photo/Rogelio V Solis) More people have been killed as violent storms tear across southern Georgia, an emergency official has said. Sebon Burns said "fatalities and a lot of injuries" have been reported since an apparent tornado cut a path through the county on Sunday afternoon. Mr Burns, chief deputy emergency management director for Georgia's Dougherty County, said he could not give even an estimate for how many people died. Earlier the Georgia Emergency Management Agency reported 12 deaths had been confirmed in three other Georgia counties after storms hit before dawn on Sunday. A wide area of Georgia and parts of South Carolina and Florida remained under tornado watches on Sunday evening. Another four people were killed in Mississippi by a tornado on Saturday. President Donald Trump has said that he considers Monday to be his first real day in office (Alex Brandon/AP) Donald Trump has moved to pull the United States out of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, fulfilling a campaign promise as he began his first full week in office. As he signed a notice in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said: "Great thing for the American worker that we just did." The new US president also signed memorandums freezing most federal government hiring - though he noted an exception for the military - and reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups which perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the "Mexico City Policy", has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Following a tumultuous first weekend in office - consumed by Mr Trump's criticism of the media's inauguration coverage - the president sought to refocus on the sweeping, yet often vague, promises he made as a candidate. He campaigned as a fierce opponent of multilateral trade agreements, particularly the 12-nation Pacific Rim deal agreed upon by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Earlier, Mr Trump spoke with business leaders and warned that he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States. He also promised tax advantages to companies which produce products domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a busy day for the new president, including an evening reception with politicians from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. Mr Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul US trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he has targeted companies which have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the US. Mr Trump said: "Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now." The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25%". He also called for cutting 75% of federal regulations - and insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. The developments came after a first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organisations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Mr Trump also spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a "common vision" with the newly inaugurated US president which could include expanded Israeli settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Mr Trump also announced he has set up meetings with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the US and Canada. Mr Trump said he will also discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern US border, and has insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Later in the week, he will address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet UK Prime Minister Theresa May. Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders Google Ad PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT Google Ad The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Emergency services at the scene of an explosion at the Bridge Point building in Hornchurch in east London Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire Emergency services at the scene of an explosion at the Bridge Point building in Hornchurch in east London Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire Four people have been taken to hospital after a "massive" explosion at a block of flats. Emergency services were called to the Bridge Point building in Hornchurch, east London, just before 5.15pm on Monday where 10 fire engines tackled the resulting blaze. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to reports of an explosion but were unable to confirm the cause of the blast. London Ambulance Service (LAS) said four patients were treated at the scene and taken to hospital, one of whom was taken as a priority. We have treated three patients at the scene of a fire in #Hornchurch and so far have taken one man to hospital. London Ambulance (@Ldn_Ambulance) January 23, 2017 Police said another person went to hospital themselves, but LAS was unable to confirm a fifth person was dealt with. Jason Smedley, 46, managing director of Nail Harmony UK, close to the Bridge Point building, said he was in his office at the time. "We felt the whole building shake," he told the Press Association, adding that he could soon see "flames billowing". Mr Smedley said the front of the flats had been "blown out" across the road. "We pulled people back and told them to get out of the way," he said, adding that he and his staff brought people back to their office to give them shelter. "Unfortunately there was a woman and her daughter, that were in the flat above, that heard the explosion, ran out, and we brought them back ... had just their dressing gowns on, so we just gave them tea and blankets. They've got nowhere to live tonight," he said. Mr Smedley wrote on Facebook: "Carnage!! Never witnessed anything like that before. We all heard a massive explosion.. ran round to see the front of the house across the a127! Pray that no one was in the flats. Stomach churning!!" A spokesman for Havering Council said most residents went to a local McDonald's restaurant, adding that measures will be put in place to ensure they have somewhere to stay. The council spokesman said the explosion came from a ground floor corner flat, adding that 41 flats had been evacuated, with many residents staying with family and friends. Rescuers hold three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP) Emergency crews were cheered on Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow - giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the Italian avalanche disaster. The first human survivors, meanwhile, were released from the hospital as questions intensified into whether Italian authorities underestimated the risks facing the snowbound resort in the hours before a deadly avalanche. Five days after up to 60,000 tons of snow, rocks and uprooted trees ploughed into the Hotel Rigopiano in central Italy, rescue crews were still digging by hand or with shovels and chainsaws in hopes of finding alive some of the 23 people still buried. An excavator reached the site, north east of Rome, to speed up the search. Expand Close Three puppies stay close to each other at the Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, a day before an avalanche buried the hotel. Rescue crews say they have found three puppies alive in the rubble of an Italian mountain hotel slammed by an avalanche. (Marisa Basilavecchia via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Three puppies stay close to each other at the Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, a day before an avalanche buried the hotel. Rescue crews say they have found three puppies alive in the rubble of an Italian mountain hotel slammed by an avalanche. (Marisa Basilavecchia via AP) Read More Firefighter spokesman Fabio German said the three puppies showed conditions under the snow could still support life. Emergency crews have been hoping the missing may have found air pockets under the debris, and the snow itself had insulated them from the frigid temperatures. So far nine people have been rescued from the Hotel Rigopiano and six people have died. The first survivors were released on Monday from a hospital in the nearby city of Pescara, including Giorgia Galassi and her boyfriend, Vincenzo Forti. "Thank you, thank you everyone!" Ms Galassi said as she waved from the front door of her parents' home in Giulianova, on the Adriatic coast. Surrounded by her parents, she said she felt fine. More than two days have passed since anyone has been pulled out alive from the hotel, and rescue crews were still trying to recover the body of the sixth known victim from the rubble. Expand Close A firefighter kisses one of the three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Italian Firefighters via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A firefighter kisses one of the three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Italian Firefighters via AP) Conditions at the site were deteriorating, with the metres of heavy snow turning to ice. Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari said emergency crews were working with an "operational hypothesis" that people might still be alive, but he stressed "we are fighting against time". "We know we need to work fast, but in relation to an environment that doesn't allow for fast intervention," he said on Sky TG24. The investigation intensified, meanwhile, into whether local government officials underestimated the threat facing the hotel, which was already covered with two metres of snow, had no phone service and had dwindling gas supplies when a series of earthquakes rocked central Italy on the morning of January 18. Italian newspapers on Monday reproduced what they said was an email sent by the hotel owner to local and provincial authorities that afternoon asking for help because "the situation has become worrisome". "The hotel guests are terrorised by the earthquakes and have decided to stay out in the open," Bruno Di Tommaso wrote. "We've tried to do everything to keep them calm, but since they can't leave due to the blocked roads, they're prepared to spend the night in their cars." During the US election campaign, Donald Trump made a number of "Day One" promises that any president would find daunting. He declared that repealing and replacing his predecessor Barack Obama's signature healthcare law would be "one of his first acts as president". Mr Trump released an 18-point action plan which would push forward sweeping ethics reforms and potentially undo scores of regulations. And he promised to fundamentally change the nation's approach to immigration and begin work on an impenetrable wall along the southern border - all on his first day. Some proposals would require executive action or simply announcing his intention to do something. Others, however, require US congressional approval and would likely draw numerous legal challenges. Here is a list of everything Mr Trump promised to do on "Day One" of his administration: IMMIGRATION: :: Stop all federal funding for "sanctuary cities" - places where local officials do not arrest or detain immigrants living in the country illegally. :: Begin deporting what Mr Trump estimates to be more than two million criminal illegal immigrants living in America. :: Cancel visas for citizens of foreign countries which will not take those criminal illegal immigrants back. :: Immediately terminate former president Barack Obama's "two illegal executive amnesties". This would most likely include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), which protects people who were brought into the country illegally as children. :: Begin working on an "impenetrable physical wall" along the southern border. :: Ask US Congress to pass "Kate's Law," which would increase penalties on people who unlawfully re-enter the US after being removed. SECURITY AND DEFENCE: :: Immediately suspend the Syrian refugee programme. :: Convene his generals and inform them that they have 30 days to submit a new plan for defeating Islamic State. :: Suspend immigration from "terror-prone regions" where Mr Trump says vetting is too difficult. :: Implement new "extreme" immigration vetting techniques. TRADE: :: Announce his intention to renegotiate or withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. :: Formally withdraw from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership. :: Direct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. GOVERNMENT REFORM (dubbed "Draining the Swamp"): :: Propose a Constitutional amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress. :: Ban White House and congressional officials from becoming lobbyists for five years after they leave the government. :: Ban former White House officials from lobbying on behalf of foreign governments for the rest of their lives. :: Ban foreign lobbyists from raising money for US elections. :: Impose a hiring freeze on federal employees, excluding military, public safety, and public health staff. :: Impose a requirement that for every new federal regulation imposed, two existing regulations be eliminated. ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: :: Remove any Obama-era roadblocks to energy projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline. :: Lift restrictions on mining coal and drilling for oil and natural gas. :: Cancel payments to the UN's climate change programmes and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure. HEALTHCARE, GUN CONTROL AND OTHER ISSUES: :: Cancel "every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama". :: Ask Congress to send him a bill to repeal and replace Mr Obama's signature healthcare law. :: Begin the process of selecting a new Supreme Court justice. :: Get rid of gun-free zones in schools and military bases. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night delayed a vote on an explosive proposal to annex one of the West Bank's largest settlements. The move put on hold legislation that threatens to unleash fresh violence and damage faded hopes for Palestinian independence. Mr Netanyahu is waiting to meet new US President Donald Trump next month before allowing the controversial plan. After eight years of frosty relations with president Barack Obama, Mr Netanyahu has welcomed Mr Trump's election as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the nations. The two men spoke on the phone yesterday. Also yesterday, Jerusalem city officials granted building permits for 566 new homes in east Jerusalem. The permits had been put on hold for the final months of the Obama administration. "We've been through eight tough years with Obama pressuring to freeze construction," said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. "I hope that era is over and now we can build and develop Jerusalem for the welfare of its residents, Jews and Arabs alike." With Mr Trump signalling a more tolerant approach toward the much-maligned settlement movement, Israel's nationalist right now believes it has an ally in the White House, and Israeli hard-line leaders make no secret they will push for aggressive action in the occupied West Bank. Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, has been pushing Netanyahu to abandon the internationally backed idea of a Palestinian state and to annex the Maaleh Adumim settlement. But after convening his Security Cabinet yesterday, Mr Netanyahu said his Cabinet ministers, including Mr Bennett, had decided "unanimously" to delay action until he goes to Washington. Mr Netanyahu, a long-time supporter of the settlements, has nonetheless been cautious about expanding them in the face of strong opposition from the international community. In a final showdown with Israel last month, the Obama administration allowed the UN Security Council to pass a resolution condemning settlements as illegal. But Mr Bennett and other hard-liners believe there is no longer any reason for restraint. President Donald Trump has said that he considers Monday to be his first real day in office (Alex Brandon/AP) US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in in Washington DC on Friday. Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP A group including former White House ethics attorneys will file a lawsuit on Monday accusing President Donald Trump of allowing his businesses to accept payments from foreign governments, in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit, brought by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, will allege that the Constitution's emoluments clause forbids payments to Trump's businesses. It will seek a court order forbidding Trump from accepting such payments, said Deepak Gupta, one of the lawyers working on the case. Trump does business with countries like China, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, the group noted in a statement. "When Trump the president sits down to negotiate trade deals with these countries, the American people will have no way of knowing whether he will also be thinking about the profits of Trump the businessman," it said. A Trump representative referred questions to a law firm representing the president on ethics matters. "We do not comment on our clients or the work we do for them," said the representative of the firm, Morgan Lewis & Bockius. The case is part of a wave of litigation expected to be filed against Trump by liberal advocacy groups. It will be filed in a Manhattan federal court, Gupta said, and attorneys for the plaintiffs will include Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer in Republican President George W. Bush's White House. The impending lawsuit was earlier reported by the New York Times. Trump's son Eric Trump, an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, told the Times on Sunday that the company had taken more steps than required by law to avoid any possible legal exposure, such as agreeing to donate any profits collected at Trump-owned hotels that come from foreign government guests to the U.S. Treasury. "This is purely harassment for political gain," Trump told the newspaper. A combination of photos taken at the National Mall shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in US President Donald Trump last Friday (left) and former president Barack Obama in 2009 (right). Photo: Reuters Donald Trump launched an all-out war on the media yesterday, vowing to fight it "tooth and nail" after a row in which his press secretary made false claims about the crowds at his inauguration. The White House also declared that the president would not release his tax returns despite an earlier pledge that he would, saying that the American people "didn't care" about them. In his first briefing, Sean Spicer, Mr Trump's press secretary, accused journalists of "deliberately false reporting" after attendance at the inauguration was compared unfavourably with Barack Obama's in 2009. Mr Trump, in a speech at CIA headquarters, had accused the press of "lying" and called them "among the most dishonest human beings on Earth". The confrontation showed that, in office, Mr Trump intends to escalate his antagonistic relationship with the "mainstream media". Aerial photographs taken of Mr Trump's inauguration and Mr Obama's appear to show a significantly larger crowd in 2009. But Mr Spicer said: "This was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration. Period. Both in person and around the globe. These attempts to lessen the enthusiasm of the inauguration are shameful and wrong." He claimed the photographs were misleading, saying white flooring had been placed on the National Mall for the first time this year, which highlighted spaces in the crowd. It later transpired that similar covers were used four years ago. Read more: White House spokesman gave 'alternative facts' on inauguration crowd, Kellyane Conway Mr Spicer also said magnetometers - to measure magnetic forces - were used at the Mall for the first time, so the area filled up less quickly, but the Secret Service later said it had not used the devices. He cited figures that showed more people used the Washington train system on Friday than they did when Mr Obama was sworn in. But CNN cited figures showing that by 11am on Friday, 193,000 trips had been taken, compared with 513,000 eight years ago. A long war between the White House and the media looks likely, and advisers to Mr Trump went on the offensive. Kellyanne Conway, counsellor to the president, said: "We feel compelled to go out and clear the air and put alternative facts out there." Chuck Todd, the NBC 'Meet The Press' host interviewing Ms Conway, responded: "Wait a minute. Alternative facts? Alternative facts? Four of the five facts he [Mr Spicer] uttered were just not true. Alternative facts are not facts, they're falsehoods." Controversy The phrase "alternative facts" was mocked by several major media outlets and opponents of Mr Trump. But Reince Priebus, Mr Trump's chief of staff, said: "The point is not the crowd size. The point is the attacks and the attempt to delegitimise this president in one day. And we're not going to sit around and take it. We're going to fight back tooth and nail every day and twice on Sunday." Mr Priebus singled out an incorrect report that a bust of Martin Luther King Jr had been removed from the Oval Office. Major US media outlets hit back, with 'The New York Times' accusing Mr Trump's team of making "false claims". Amid the controversy, it was confirmed that Mr Trump will not release his tax returns. During the election campaign, he said he would release them once an audit was completed. Read more: 'We can whimper, whine, or we can fight back' - Hundreds of thousands march worldwide to protest Donald Trump's presidency A petition on the White House website calling for him to release the returns has been signed by more than 200,000 people. Every president since 1976 has released their returns. The president also appeared to do an about-face on his response to the women's march on Saturday, when hundreds of thousands of protesters worldwide took to the streets. He initially denounced the demonstrations, saying: "Why didn't these people vote? Celebrities hurt the cause badly." But less than two hours later he struck a more conciliatory tone. He said: "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognise the rights of people to express their views." ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] San Antonio police stand guard at the Rolling Oaks Mall after a fatal shooting on Sunday (AP Photo/Eric Gay) A robbery at a Texas shopping mall left one person who tried to intervene dead, three others shot and another two people in hospital. Police Chief William McManus said two suspects robbed a jewellery store at the Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio on Sunday. "What we have here is a robbery gone really, really bad," he said. After the suspects fled the store, a man, described by Mr McManus as a "good Samaritan" tried to stop the two men. One of the robbers then fatally shot the man. A second individual, who was carrying a licensed concealed weapon, then shot and wounded the robber who had killed the person who intervened, Mr McManus said. He called the fatal shooting "absolutely senseless". The victim's name was not immediately released by authorities. The other robber fled the mall, firing his weapon and injuring a man and a woman. A suspect was arrested later, Mr McManus said. The injured man and woman, along with the wounded robber, were taken to hospital, said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood. Two other people- a woman who complained of chest pains and a pregnant woman who had labour pains - were also taken to hospital. The condition of the people who were injured in the incident was not immediately available. AP Gagik Tsarukyan is a guarantor so that there be no regime change (video) Rating list will be a list of self-cleaning for the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), the NA HHK faction lawmaker Lernik Aleksanyan told journalists. According to his words, Republicans will fight for being included in the rating list. The lawmaker also touched upon the alliances, noting that most of them arent based on ideology: I can see that they are trying to create an imitation of ideological basis, but anyway individuals matter as well as resources. The process of formation of alliances is for coming to power, for receiving mandates. There are small parties, which prefer to join any alliance in order to have a place in the NA. SC former lawmaker Vigen Khachatryan thinks that the rating list is for the HHK to get votes, Without a rating list the HHK would receive 3 or 15 percent votes. But now those people will ensure the votes of the HHK. As we have an institution of ensuring votes and not voting. According to the words of Mr Khachatryan, Serzh Sargsyan resorted to the parliamentary elections for the reproduction of his authority, If the parliamentary system was such a good thing, he should have put down his powers, but he has been in power for already a year. As a result of the government of the recent 25 years, we have had a one mans authority, as they tried to strengthen their authority instead of strengthening the society and economy. There will be no quality changes after these elections, no atmosphere of trust will be established, he said. Political expert Karen Kocharyan added that as of now only two people have high rating in the political field; they are Karen Karapetyan and Gagik Tsarukyan, In terms of party, the HHK has real chances, but not because people like it, but it has serious human and financial resources. Tsarukyan alliance also has chances, but its voters, who were ready to resort to revolution or deep changes, do not stand by him anymore. In reply to this Vigen Khachatryan added that Gagik Tsarukyan is Serzh Sargsyans guarantor so that there be no regime change. Emperor Akihito would be the first to abdicate in 200 years (Koji Sasahara/AP) A government panel studying the possible abdication of Japanese Emperor Akihito is set to release a report that supports enacting special legislation that would apply to him but not to future monarchs. The panel is looking at how to accommodate Emperor Akihito's apparent abdication wish, which he expressed last August when he cited concerns that his age and health conditions may start limiting his ability to fulfil his duties. Emperor Akihito turned 83 last month. The report to be released on Monday evening will pave the way for a parliamentary discussion. Its primary positions were disclosed in media reports during the day, but the emperor's title, role and other details of his post-abdication life would be addressed later. The six-member panel, after interviewing constitutional and monarchy experts, agreed that allowing an abdication was the most appropriate way to meet Emperor Akihito's request, but that setting a permanent system covering all future emperors would be difficult. If legislation is enacted, Emperor Akihito would be the first to abdicate in 200 years since Emperor Kokaku. Panel members have said they planned to list both sides of the opinion. Some experts have said the Imperial House Law, the supreme law overseeing Japan's monarchy, needs to be revised. The current law, established in 1947, is largely inherited from a 19th century constitution that banned abdication as a risk to stability. But the experts said there was no such risk in today's political system. Throughout much of its history, Japan's monarchy served more of a ceremonial and religious function than a governing one. But late-19th century modernisers elevated the throne to use as a rallying point for the nation. Emperor Akihito's father was worshipped as a living god during Japan's wartime aggression in Asia before renouncing his divinity and becoming redefined as a symbolic figure under the postwar constitution. Emperor Akihito devoted himself to being a symbolic figure, while trying to soothe the wounds from his father's era. Many Japanese ultra-conservatives want greater status for the emperor and oppose abdication as a potential risk to a stable monarchy. The government panel in its report avoided some of the most heated issues, such as allowing females in the current male-only succession and concerns about a shortage of successors to the Chrysanthemum throne. Emperor Akihito has two sons but only one of his four grandchildren is male. Some experts say that Emperor Akihito's possible abdication wish is a wakeup call to the larger issues of ageing and shortage of successors in Japan's 2,000-year-old monarchy - issues that reflect overall concerns about the country's ageing society and declining population. AP Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will host several information sessions on available jobs as well as a training opportunity. Both the north and south campuses will offer Discovery Sessions with information on full-time job opportunities and local manufacturing companies that are looking for qualified candidates. N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis will hold one session in room 115 on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m., and Monday, April 17, at 4 p.m. The RCCC North campus in Salisbury will hold a session in room 4133 on Thursday, March 2, and Thursday, April 6, both at 5:30 p.m. The Rowan-Cabarrus Business and Technology Center in Concord will hold one session in room 9281 on Tuesday, April 11, at 3 p.m. To sign up, go to www.ncmanufacturinginstitute.com. RCCC will also offer a Certified Production Technician training class. South Campus in Concord will offer the course from Monday through Friday from Jan. 30 to April 5 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. North Campus in Salisbury will offer the program Monday through Friday from April 24 to June 16 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call 704-216-3668. The year has just begun, yet it feels as if someone pushed a big pause button within state government. Governor Cooper has been put on hold in having his cabinet secretaries take office, due to the legislatures December law requiring that the State Senate confirm all such appointments. The idea has some merit, but the legislature hasnt established guidelines for the process or timelines for approval. If legislators merely want to ensure appointees are qualified, have no professional, financial or ethical conflicts of interest and can pass routine background checks this confirmation makes sense. If, on the other hand, their intent is largely political and intended to ensure appointees espouse certain political or philosophical positions, confirmation could easily turn into witch-hunt. Governor Coopers administration is in somewhat of a holding pattern awaiting permanent leadership. The question as to whether or not there will be legislative elections this year also creates a pause on several levels. Legislators appealed a federal court ruling that ordered new legislative districts drawn by March 15th, with new legislative elections held in November. New elections require a certain prescribed amount of time time for newly drawn districts to be reviewed and approved, time to establish an appropriate candidate filing period, time for primary elections and sufficient time before a general election. Perhaps legislative leadership was hopeful of a lengthy procedural fight that would make legislative elections this year improbable. Maybe so, but the process will have an impact on this years legislative session. Traditionally, in years when legislators face re-election they do not attempt ambitious or controversial agendas. When lawmakers return to Raleigh next week their course is somewhat uncertain. Theres little question that education policymaking and administration are on pause. Decembers special session of the legislature gave the newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction more authority, while removing authority from the State Board of Education, changes that are on hold pending a court ruling on their constitutionality. The same can be said for the law that would merge the State Board of Elections with the Ethics Commission, actions also challenged in court and also on pause. It goes without saying other court cases over such issues as Medicaid expansion and transgender and voting rights also leave doubt as to future direction. It appears that North Carolina has become a state governed almost as much by court decisions as by legislative action, court cases that require time and prevent timely implementation. If these werent enough roadblocks, the fundamental relationship between the federal government and our state is hazy. During the 2016 campaign candidate Trump made many promises about programs and policies he would change. Donald Trump and Congress pledged to repeal The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), however it remains unclear when and what might happen, as well as the impact it might have on healthcare in our state. Further pledges to reform Medicaid, Medicare and mental health create more uncertainty, as do possible changes in the policies, funding and administration of immigration, education, federal regulations, foreign trade and the environment. Nobody knows what to expect in coming months. The old adage of when in doubt, dont was never more true than when applied to government. With so much uncertainty right now dont expect much action. State government is effectively on pause. Tom Campbell is former assistant North Carolina State Treasurer and is creator/host of NC SPIN, a weekly statewide television discussion of NC issues. Show airs in Charlotte on WCCB Sundays at 6:30 a.m. On the face of it, the Obama presidency is poised between two presidencies vastly divergent in both style and ideology. Only time will reveal if in fact Barack Obamas eight years are an anomaly or a high point. It hasnt been fun to be a liberal in America since the heady days when Lyndon Johnson pushed the more progressive programs born of the brain trust assembled by John Kennedy and of the ideals of human equality that came out of the Civil Rights movement. Most of those programs are still established law. But, more importantly, young people of each succeeding generation have taken it as a given that all human beings are worthy of the basic tenets of the rights implicit in the Constitution. Since then, the argument has centered on where and how to implement. Similarly, the first two years of the Obama presidency saw the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. There is pressure to undue what has been done. But, as the toothpaste cant be forced back into the tube, so measures such as coverage for pre-existing conditions may well prove inviolable. When push comes to shove, who among the Republicans is willing to take the heat from the family that loses a breadwinner to cancer if the ACA is summarily axed without backup provisions? And it remains true that few among us would be so sanguine about the end of Obamacare if they really understood the long-term budgetary effects of repeal. When measuring presidencies, the populace tends to focus on grandeur - transformative epochs such as the Civil War or World War II. What kind of president would Lincoln have been absent the violent upheaval of slaverys endgame? Would FDR be seen as the giant of the 20th Century if some early version of the 25th Amendment had ended his presidency in January of 1941? The convergence of the right person at a pivotal time is rare enough that measuring presidencies by that yardstick seems too much to ask. On the other hand, perhaps there are only three great presidencies out of 45. Another admittedly more modest, but more realistic, measurement might be the clean desk test. Lyndon Johnson left Richard Nixon the Viet Nam mess. Nixon left Jerry Ford an epic scandal; whereas Ronald Reagan left George H.W. Bush a relatively clear path. Bill Clinton passed a large budget surplus to George W. Bush. But then Barack Obama faced a financial crisis so pervasive it left little of what a new president needs most, time and discretion. Instead of setting out on his own agenda, President Obama was forced to deal with a fiscal crunch with little precedent. This he did with qualities that defined his entire presidency; poise, emotional maturity and an eye for the long game. He inherited a messy desk. Many critics of the Obama years point to Syria as the arena of his most apparent failure. Bashar el-Assads use of chemical weapons against his own countrys citizens triggered a crisis that many feel should have been met with a full boots-on-the-ground military response. But, few of those critics can muster the situational overview that a president, any president, has within his purview. And given the complexities on the ground, none of those critics has persuaded posterity that they had a path to a significantly better outcome. Its one thing to be a candidate making promises; quite another to face the plethora of blind alleys, false starts and labyrinthine alliances awaiting the new Chief Executive in that decimated part of the world. Too many of us have forgotten that, not so long ago, we all thought we were at the precipice of a shooting war with Iran. That had the potential to be the kind of war that could cross oceans to our shore. Some of our cities might well have been targets. President Obama was determined that a diplomatic solution could be found. Is Iran still an adversary? Yes. But, weve taken many steps away from that precipice, neutralizing a clear nuclear threat and allowing the next president to focus on Russia, North Korea and the crisis without end in Israel and the West Bank. Americans are notorious for discounting global warming as an issue, let alone a crisis. Im guessing that most of the people who voted for the new president would prefer he do exactly nothing in that area. And it is true that one glaring irony of the Obama presidency is that we surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia as the worlds leading producer of hydro-carbons in the last eight years, even as we signed the Paris Agreement, the most notable trophy of Mr. Obamas second term. True, we simply didnt know eight years ago all the negatives that encumber fracking, including the release of free methane. Still, the bottom-up incrementalism of the Paris Accord will hum along without much inconvenience to the American electorate. Chinas dirty air is so obvious, and is costing Beijing so dearly in healthcare expenditure, theyre persuaded to act unilaterally to reduce pollution without outside pressure. So, Obamas scandal-free tenure (including a squeaky-clean cabinet) leaves his successor a relatively clean desk. Not immaculate due to the Middle East; but in a complicated world, this is a higher level of achievement than that of the majority of his predecessors. Gerry Dionne is a New Hampshire native who has lived in the Concord area for nearly 50 years. Yall give him a break. Investors Eye Indias Agri-tech Startups Indias startup landscape is fast becoming highly diversified as specialized technology verticals emerge in respective areas of economic activity. This trend is visible in the countrys farming sector as well, where an increasing pool of agricultural technology (agri-tech) startups have emerged, focused on developing new data solutions to mitigate various risks. Some of these startups are innovating the use of available technology like drones and tractors to get data on field, weather, and specific agricultural datasets. Testament to the burgeoning value of agri-tech in India is the huge interest expressed by venture capital (VC) firms in investing in startups in this sector. Leading VC firms such as Accel India, SAIF Partners, and IDG Ventures and others have so far mobilized funding for various startups like farm equipment aggregator Goldfarm, raw material procurement platform for farmers Agrostar, or offer agricultural supply chain technology Crofarm. Omnivore Capital is currently backing three portfolio companies Stellapps Technologies (an Internet-of-Things platform in the dairy sector), Ecozen (solar solutions startup), and YCook (an organic, ready-to-cook processed foods startup) all of whom are in the market to raise funds. The agri-tech sector in India includes all the technology, modern products, and services used in agriculture to increase yield, efficiency, and profitability. This concentrated focus, scientific research, and industrial application collectively provide fertile ground to entrepreneurial ventures. The growth prospects are further boosted by the increase in smartphone penetration and internet connectivity as well as the governments Digital India push. India 10th Largest Business Travel Market As per the Global Business Travel Association, India is the 10th largest business travel market in the world, having spent US$29.6 billion in 2015. In a report released by consultancy firm KPMG and FCM Travel Solutions, business travel spending in India registered an increase of 15 percent in 2015. This is set to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 percent through 2020 to 6 percent by 2030. The report observes that about 80 percent of the business travel transactions were domestic, the rest being international, while the revenue was evenly split; 77 percent of the total travel spend was on air travel. Finally, IT and pharmaceutical companies dominated spending at US$2.93 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) in 2015, up from US$2.13 billion (Rs 14,500 crore) in 2013. The KPMG and FCM report assesses that this growth in Indias business travel segment will be greater than that projected for South Korea, Italy, and Brazil. In fact, by 2030, India could be among the top five countries in business travel spending. Ultimately, the report concludes that growth in the Indian business travel market will depend on political, economic, and demographic factors. Future growth will also be shaped by Indias macroeconomic status, regulatory policies, the national pace of industrial activity, and the continued digitization of travel booking tools. Indian IT firms Brace for New H-1B Norms Indian IT firms anticipate major changes in the American outsourcing policy as the new government takes charge in the US. Further, the US Congress introduced a new bill to tighten H-1B visa rules, earlier this month. The bill proposes an increase in the minimum salary requirement from US$60,000 to US$100,000 to target the misuse of visa issuance and eliminate the profit margins of outsourcing firms. The bill also aims to do away with the exemption on students holding a Masters degree. The implications of such a policy turnaround will be serious. To put the situation in context, in April 2016, the number of H-1B visa applications surpassed the years total cap of 85,000 in five days with almost two-thirds issued to the technology sector. Moreover, the US accounts for 60 percent of Indias IT exports. Keeping this in mind, the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) the trade association of the Indian Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing industry is planning to reach out to the new administration to highlight Indias IT contribution to the US economy. Indian Outsourcing firms have previously highlighted the lack of enough IT professionals in the US, which compels them to outsource work. Expecting the tightening of visa regulations, Indian IT firms have already started recruiting locally from US colleges, acquiring US based IT firms, and increasing offshore capabilities. 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. Fairytales have a reason for being called fairytales, for they are an imagination or a fantasy rather than reality. However, when it comes to actor Amit Dolawat , the case is completely different. The phrase, 'love is in the air' became quite literal for Amit, when he met his fiancee, Cheshta Sharma, on a flight. Yes! That's right. Not only that, she wasn't a co-passenger, but was in fact, an air hostess. Now three years later, the couple has had an amazing relationship and are all set to get married on February 14th, 2017. In one-of-a-kind instances, the couple's love story was always booming mid-air, as the actor would travel to different cities only to meet her. After facing a rocky road in an attempt to coax their parents for getting married, it was the couple's dream to have a Valentine's Day marriage. And not only that, the couple will not be taking seven pheras, but in fact, eight pheras, where Amit has to vow to handle her nakhras all his life just like in the past. Post an amazing wedding, the couple is planning to go on a honeymoon to Thailand. They plan to go out every month for a small vacation post their marriage. We wish the couple loads of congratulations! Prisoners, who injured themselves, had to move to a new cell (video) Prisoners of Nubarashen penitentiary institutions 2nd cell on the 1st floor willingly moved to the 89th cell of the 5th floor, Ministry of Justice informed A1+. They claimed no violence was used against them. One of the relatives of the inmates also confirmed the news and claimed that the prisoners had to make such a decision, Their bodies were wholly injured and they thought it is useless to continue fight for their rights, as the law doesnt protect them. The inmates think that in that way they harm their families and had to agree with the instruction on movement, one of the relatives of the inmates told A1+. The relative says that during the moving no violence was used against the prisoners. The relative also told about the condition in the 89th cell of the 5th floor, The authorities receive much money for repairing the prisons, but those cells are like pigsties. We, their families, keep them or else they are in such a situation that at any moment they can take critical steps. The prisoners are mainly concerned about the attitude of the authorities and institutions of human rights defense, They are neglected by everybody- the Ministry of Justice, HRD office and Criminal Executive Department. Instead of visiting them and inquiring about their problems, they say that they inquired and the prisoners are in a good condition. The prisoners requests addressed to the prisons leadership are also useless. Head of Nubarashen prison is Serob Harutyunyan, who has his methods of solving the requests of prisoners for meeting and discussing the problems. JMC Projects India secures new orders of Rs2,277 crore; Stock gains 2.6% JMC Projects (India) Limited (JMC), a leading Civil Engineering and EPC Company has secured new orders of Rs2,277 crores. The details are as follows: Water Projects in India of... November 04, 2022 | 04-11-2022 2:08 pm Lupin receives USFDA tentative approval for Drospirenone Tablets Global pharma major Lupin Limited (Lupin) has announced that it has received tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug ... November 04, 2022 | 04-11-2022 1:26 pm Bloomberg Report: Pegatron Corp starts production of iPhone 14 in India Pegatron Corp., a Taiwanese contract manufacturer for Apple Inc., has begun producing the most recent iPhone 14 model in India. Pegatron is now the second Apple supplier to manufacture th... November 04, 2022 | 04-11-2022 12:48 pm JMC Projects India allots NCDs for Rs100 crore; Stock rallies over 3.5% The Management Committee of the Board of Directors of JMC Projects (India) Limited at its meeting held on November 04, 2022 has allotted 1000 Repo Rate, Unsecured, Rated, Listed, Rede... November 04, 2022 | 04-11-2022 12:34 pm Nykaa receives shareholders' approval for bonus issue and ESOP; Stock down 1% The Board of the lifestyle retailer FSN E-Commerce Ventures Limited (Nykaa), on October 3, 2022, approved Bonus Issue of Equity Shares in the proportion of 5 (Five) fully paid-up Equity Sh... November 04, 2022 | 04-11-2022 12:03 pm Young dancers on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Photo: Neeta Lind Embracing Children on the Pine Ridge Reservation By Jim KentLakota Country Times Correspondent Pine Ridge Reservation, S.D. Theres no sense creating a group to solve a problem if youre not going to make the effort to seriously address the issue. At least thats the mindset of longtime successful businesswoman Patty Pourier. Thats one of the things that we said at our first meeting, Pourier recalled. Teddy Roosevelts motto was Action! Action! Action! You knowthere can be tons of meetings but if nothing ever happensits pretty useless. The first meeting Pourier referred to was the gathering of area Native Americans and non-Natives that took place in Rapid City last December in response to the November discovery of two severely malnourished and abused girls in the Potato Creek community on the Pine Ridge Reservation. By days end participants had formed the Embracing Our Childrens Health or EOCH group. Their focus is to empower, encourage, assist and support existing programs and organizations for children and families on Pine Ridge. In order to gain insight into formulating a strategy for success Pourier consulted with cultural anthropologist Dr. Albert Linderman regarding his work with Rapid City Collective Impact a group created to address specific social problems in the South Dakota city on a long-term basis resulting in creating a healthier environment which to live. So were carving out just a piece of that, explains Pourier, where were trying to simply focus on children and services on the Pine Ridge Reservation. As a result Embracing Our Childrens Health is establishing Collective Action Forums to bring Pine Ridge childrens services together and determine how actions by one impact actions by another. Safe Houses for children are being created in each of the reservations 9 districts. And a Caring For Relatives program is in the works with volunteers acting as local resources in communities for parents, programs and health services. Embracing Our Childrens Health is also about to start intensive training for foster parents in conjunction with the Oglala Sioux Tribes Child Protection Services. Patty Pourier admits that the Indian Child Welfare Act was created to protect Native children from being taken from the reservation and losing all identity with the culture. Having said that, Pourier continued, its also important for people to know that you can be a foster parent to a Native childas long as there is a community of Natives within the region or within the town or the area that youre fostering that child. Along that same mindset Embracing Our Childrens Health has a Lakota Spiritual Chairman to ensure that cultural traditions are a part of the groups programs and each childs development. That individual will also assist with the healing of historical trauma, which has been identified as a root to the symptoms in the breakdown of the family caused by alcohol and drug abuse, as well as the dysfunctional family structures created through generational entitlement. Visit the Lakota Country Times and subscribe today Pourier noted that EOCHs primary focus is on children between the ages of birth and 5 years old. Who can really get lost in the system, Pourier observed, because there is no system for them. Nobodys looking out for them. When a child gets to kindergartenif they miss kindergartensomebodys going to look into that. But the children that are zero to fivenobodys accounting for themnobodys missing themand they have no voice. But nowthey do. The bottom line, observed Pourier, is to make children feel comfortable with who they are, to be free of shame and to be proud that theyre Lakota. Individuals interested in donating to Embracing Our Childrens Health or a fund established to help the two girls abused at Potato Creek, and all those interested in becoming foster parents can contact the group at: facebook.com/embracingourchildrenshealth (Jim Kent is a freelance writer and radio producer who lives in Hot Springs. He is a contributing columnist to the Lakota Country Times and former editor of The New Lakota Times. He can be heard on South Dakota Public Radio, National Public Radio and National Native News Radio. Jim can be reached at kentvfte@gwtc.net) Join the Conversation An electronic billboard in Times Square in New York City promotes #DefundDAPL, a campaign to divest the Dakota Access Pipeline of its funding sources. Photo by Indianz.Com / Available for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License The largest #NoDAPL encampment is making plans to leave North Dakota as the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe focuses on the legal and political fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline Camp residents had been in talks with tribal leaders about moving Oceti Sakowin to the reservation in order to avoid expected flooding in the spring. But representatives from the Cannonball District voiced concerns about the presence of a large group of people in their community, prompting the council to reject the proposed relocation. "Councilmen from across the reservation, including Cannonball, described the hardships and strain on the citizens and resources of our nation," the tribe said in a statement posted on Facebook on Saturday. Organizers of the camp, which is located on federally-managed property near the Cannonball District, immediately heeded the directive and announced plans to evacuate "as soon as possible." Those remaining on site are being asked to help clean up an area that saw as many as 12,000 residents, visitors and supporters pass through since last summer. "We are calling you warriors to go in a good way now, and if you have the spirit to fight, turn it to clearing and cleaning the land we have defended, for the sacred act of protecting these waters from the materials left here," the camp said in a statement The tribe's action doesn't appear to affect the Sacred Stone Camp , which is located on land owned by LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, a Standing Rock citizen. She said people living on her property will remain as long as the pipeline remains a threat. "We stand for the water, we stand for healing, we will not back down until our people have healed from the abuse of this world that healing comes from the water," Allard said on Monday as she vowed to maintain the camp until the pipeline is officially defeated. Allard started the camp in April 2016 with just a handful of residents but with the help of youth and allies on social media, the #NoDAPL movement grew into an international cause in just a few months. The unprecedented level of support prompted the Obama administration to delay the controversial project amid concerns about sacred sites, burial grounds and water resources. A portion of the 1,172-mile pipeline runs through land that was promised to the Sioux Nation by treaty and Allard's ancestors and family members are among those who are buried within the corridor. The tribe's former historic preservation officer identified significant cultural sites in the area but most of those properties, which are now held by non-Indians, have already been bulldozed by Dakota Access construction crews. As a result, the firm has all but completed the pipeline except for the crossing at Lake Oahe along the Missouri River, less a half-mile from the Standing Rock reservation border. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers never issued a formal easement for the wealthy backers of the project to build on federally-managed land near the #NoDAPL campsites. The Department of the Army has since taken the lead on the matter and has initiated an environmental review of the pipeline crossing near Standing Rock. Public comments are now being solicited and meetings are expected in North Dakota as part of the process. "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is grateful to all who have stood with us during our efforts to secure a thorough review of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Because we worked together, the federal government will prepare an environmental impact statement," the tribe's statement on Saturday read. "Moving forward, our ultimate objective is best served by our elected officials, navigating strategically through the administrative and legal processes." The administrative front includes ensuring that Republican President Donald Trump , who was sworn into office on Friday, does not stop the environmental impact statement, or EIS. His new team, which includes a paid backer of the pipeline supports completion of the project, according to a spokesperson for the greatagain.gov transition It would be difficult, though not impossible, for the Trump administration to pull back the EIS. If that happens, it could open a new front in the ongoing #NoDAPL litigation in federal court. Dakota Access made a last-minute attempt to block the publication of an important government notice that announced the EIS. But a federal judge rejected the attempt and the document appeared in the Federal Register as scheduled last Wednesday, two days before Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. Trump has embraced large-scale infrastructure projects like Dakota Access and vowed to put Americans to work across the nation during his inaugural address on Friday. "We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation," Trump said in his remarks as the U.S. Capitol. "We will get our people off of welfare and back to work rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor." Regardless of the path Trump takes, Dakota Access insists it has already been granted approval to finish the pipeline. A federal judge is expected to convene a hearing in February for arguments on the firm's cross-claim regarding the easement at Lake Oahe. A decision could take weeks or longer but there is no timeline for action. Before Trump came on board, the Department of Justice filed papers dismiss the cross-claim. So did the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe , which has intervened as part of the ongoing lawsuit. The two tribes are preparing for additional legal actions in the event the Judge James E. Boasberg allows construction at Lake Oahe. And the firm is expected to fight if the decision doesn't go its way. The lawsuit already made one trip to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals as the tribe sought to halt construction on culturally significant sites. With the work all but finished in those areas, that legal battle is effectively over. The D.C. Circuit in fact dismissed the appeal in an order on Thursday but opened a different door for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. At issue is the Judge Boasberg's September 9, 2016, decision that denied the tribe's request for a preliminary injunction. The higher court said the tribe can seek to have that decision vacated, or removed from the record. Federal Register Notice: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in Connection With Dakota Access, LLC's Request for an Easement To Cross Lake Oahe, North Dakota (January 18, 2017) Join the Conversation Related Stories Overlooking Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo: Robin Zebrowski Notes from Indian Country Painting one people with the same racial brushBy Tim Giago (Nanwica Kciji Stands Up for Them) It seems that we have more than one politician blaming his problems on the media. Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender was swamped with downtown merchants about the homeless people and panhandlers that were invading their part of this fair city. After a clerk from a min-mart was stabbed to death outside of her store the cries of anger went out against the homeless and panhandlers. The stabbing was quite a distance from downtown, but that didnt seem to matter. In his infinite wisdom Mayor Allender told the local Rapid City Journal, These are not crazy white people downtown, these are not Mexicans, these are not all women, theyre not all men, the only pattern is that they are all Native American. Those selectively discriminating comments infuriated the Rapid City Indian Community. When confronted by some of the local Native Americans the mayor said that his comments were taken out of context. Say what? If that is the case then I am taking his exact words and quoting him out of context. He called on Native American leaders to step forward and help to solve this problem. Well, Mr. Mayor, there is not enough money in the Indian community to provide homes for the homeless and to find a solution to the panhandlers. There is a place called the Cornerstone Mission that houses and feeds many of the homeless, but even on cold winter days those homeless are forced to leave the warmth and confines of the mission and to find a place to shift for themselves and to try and find a place of warmth. Since the mission is so close to downtown Rapid City that is where they end up. They oftentimes head for the Hope Center which is on Kansas City Street and near the downtown area where they can wash their clothes and find a warm place to hang out. As Native Americans we accept the fact that we have members of our race with severe alcohol problems and they are looking for help. Rapid City needs a treatment center that will help cure these ills and as a city it has the opportunity to seek out federal funds to accomplish this. How many times over the past 10 to 20 years have Native American citizens asked the city to assist them in building a center or to get the funds to build the powwow grounds where they can find jobs and an opportunity to sell their art and crafts. Instead of whining about the presence of the panhandlers and homeless the caring business people of downtown Rapid City should be shouting at the mayor and city council to secure the funds to build an alcohol and drug treatment center. We are dealing with an illness that can be cured. Write letters to your representatives like John Thune, Mike Rounds and Kristi Noem and make them get off of their dead ends and make something good happen. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and so this city should have facilities geared to preventing drug and alcohol abuse especially if they see that as one of the citys major problems. When I started my first newspaper it was located right on the main street of Pine Ridge Village in the heart of the Pine Ridge Reservation. There were frequent visits by panhandlers looking for money. I had a policy that if they wanted a couple of dollars they would work for it. In the summer I put them to work pulling weeds around the building or cutting the grass. In the winter I had them shoveling snow and clearing the sidewalks around the newspaper office. They all learned that if they wanted a handout they would have to work for it. I had no fear of them because I knew many of them to be decent human being who just happened to have a drinking problem or were homeless. So Mr. Mayor, you and your city council must raise the money for a treatment center and allow some of the Native American leaders to have a hand in staffing it and working with the Indian community and we will all gladly pitch in to make it work. Build a place where they can hang out in the middle of the winter after the Cornerstone Mission kicks them out on to the streets. Well staff it and work with the homeless if given the chance. But please do not paint an entire race of people with the same racial brush because there are frustrated business people yelling at you. Mr. Mayor, pick up a phone and call some of the tribal leaders out there and ask them for their support. If you want a list of them call the office of the Native Sun News Today and we will gladly compile a list of good people for you. Join the Conversation 1. Guess Who Is Promoting SRK's 'Raees' In The Most Quirky Way? His 3-Year-Old Son AbRam Khan! twitter He then posted a picture of little AbRam wearing the same glasses. The caption of this picture was a popular dialogue from Raees. It read, And Bola Na Battery Nahi Bolne Ka. 2. The 'Molester' At Atif Aslam Concert Was Actually A Security Staff Being Beaten By The 'Victim' In an interesting turn of events, the other side of the tale has finally come to light. Daily Pakistan, has brought the guys version of the incident in front of everyone. This is his version of the story: My job was to ensure that nobody crosses over from the non-VIP section to the VIP section without a valid ticket. I saw two girls accompanied by a guy crossing over from the non-VIP section and forcing their way to the front row, like a lot of other people were also doing. There was a lot of rush in the front of the stage and these people were continuing to push through. I confronted these people and politely asked them to either show their VIP pass or go back to their own section, which they refused. That is when these girls started getting violent. They started scratching at my neck and face with their long nails, they slapped me on the face, punched me and incited a whole mob against me. It was exactly at this point when these girls were scratching at my face violently and the boy who accompanied them was punching my face and kicking me, Atif Aslam saw us. Instead of trying to understand the real story, Atif Aslam blamed me, the actual victim. nobody listens to men in our society especially when a woman has said anything against him it doesnt matter true or false. when atif aslam said rescue these girls, everyone thought i was molesting them and a huge mob started beating me up for no reason. i have never been beaten so badly in my entire life, and that too for just doing my job. Those girls were not the victims, they were vicious, violent and rude. Because of them I have scars on my face and neck that will stay with me forever. I was traumatized and everyone has refused to listen to me or understand my side of the story. 3. Its Not Just Fun & Games For Twinkle Khanna As She Is All Set To Help Educate Slum Children! twitter Twinkle is all set to extend support to the cause of education for slum children. Im planning to do a little bit of English reading. To me, a life that doesnt change things and touch peoples lives is pretty meaningless. Rather I would like to spend a little bit of my time doing something to make their life better. 4. Popular Indian Serial 'Kumkum Bhagya' Has Managed To Strike A Chord With People In West Africa! Guess what, this show doesnt just boast of a huge Indian fan base but its a super hit in West Africa as well! No, we are not making this up! Starring Sriti Jha and Shabbir Ahluwalia in lead roles, it has become quite popular in Ghana. So much so that it enjoys a 20 percent audience in Ghana! 5. Deepika Padukone's Hollywood Film xXx: Return Of Xander Cage Was Given 4 Cuts By CBFC! According to reports, the film was given 4 cuts before it passed with a U/A certificate. While one was a smoking disclaimer, the other three were the removal of cuss words like asshole, son of a bitch and balls. We knew it all along, didnt we? And now we have official confirmation from Samsung. Not mincing any words, the South Korean consumer electronics giant struck an apologetic tone while blaming last years exploding Galaxy Note 7 disaster on faulty battery. After finishing its internal months-long investigation into what caused the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone to explode the world over, Samsung released a statement late last night which blamed the unforgettable Galaxy Note 7 episode -- which wiped off US $5.3 billion in the companys operating profit -- on faulty batteries it sourced from two different suppliers. This finding from Samsung is inconsistent from what Hardware experts at Instrumental, a manufacturing process innovation company based in Palo Alto, California, uncovered last year. They heavily criticised Samsung for the Galaxy Note 7s design -- which they believe caused the infamous explosions of the doomed device throughout September 2016, eventually forcing the South Korean consumer electronics giant to pull the plug on the Galaxy Note 7 range in October 2016. INSTRUMENTAL TEARDOWN IMAGE EXPLAINING HOW THERE WAS NO SPACE AROUND THE GALAXY NOTE 7 BATTERY "The lessons of this incident are deeply reflected in our culture and process," Koh Dong-jin, Samsung mobile head, told reporters at a press briefing. "Samsung Electronics will be working hard to regain consumer trust." And looks like Samsung hasnt found an efficient way to work around the faulty Galaxy Note 7 battery supplier, because it made another unexpected announcement. Samsung was expected to showcase its next Android flagship, the Galaxy S8 later at next months Mobile World Congress 2017 event. But those plans are officially delayed now, as Samsungs Koh confirmed that the Galaxy S8 would not be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show in Barcelona, which begins on Feb. 27, and he did not comment on when the company planned to launch the highly-anticipated premium smartphone. This new Galaxy S8 delay has to be a big blow to Samsungs 2017 revenue forecasts, not to mention further cause for concern, frustration to its millions of fans spread across all over the world. With inputs from ET Two bull tamers died and 129 others suffered injuries during a jallikattu event at Rapoosal village in Tamil Nadu's Pudukkottai district on Sunday. The deceased have been identified as Raja, 26, and Mohan, 25, both of whom were from Rapoosal. TOI Pudukkottai superintendent of police J Loganathan said Raja and Mohan sustained serious injuries when the bulls gored them. One of the victims suffered an injury on his stomach when he attempted to hold the bull by its hump, and the other's ribs were pierced when he tried to tame the bull. They were rushed to Pudukkottai Government Hospital after being given first aid, but they died later. As many as 30 of the injured were taken to Pudukkottai Government Hospital. Others, who suffered minor injuries, were given first aid. wionews.com The jallikattu event in Rapoosal was flagged off by health and family welfare minister C Vijaya Baskar. More than 5,000 people were present in the village to watch it. There were 174 bull tamers at the event, and a total of 210 bulls were let loose. Jallikattu was organised in Tamil Nadu on Sunday after a gap of three years. The state government on Saturday promulgated an ordinance to allow the conduct of the sport. Jallikattu events were organised in a few villages in Trichy and Pudukottai districts. BCCL However, people in Alanganallur and a few other places foiled the state government's plan to hold jallikattu, as they wanted a permanent solution whereby the bull-taming sport can be held without any legal hindrances in future. As the dust begins to settle on demonetization and the taxman hunts for unexplained money, there is a lurking concern among practitioners and senior levels of the tax office as to how harshly the new law would be used. Screengrab Money borrowed from a friend, jewellery inherited from great grandmother, gifts, capital received by a small businessman, amount spent in daughter's wedding or in regular household expenditure can be questioned and taxed at a far higher rate if someone fails to offer a "satisfactory explanation" to the tax officer. Indeed, a person may have to cough up as high as 83% -- as against 35% in the past -- if the I-T department doubts such 'income' or 'expenses'. "We have discussed the matter among ourselves. It's a strong provision in the (Income Tax) Act and the department would find it handy in mobilising tax from black money. But there are chances that it may be misused," said a senior tax official in Mumbai which accounts for the highest direct tax collection. According to senior chartered accountant Dilip Lakhani, in a loan received the assessing officer can always question the credit worthiness of the lender or describe family jewellery (beyond 500 gms) as unexplained investment. Twitter The law to tax funds or investments whose source cannot be substantiated had always existed. But the law was changed post demonetization to empower the tax office to impose a significantly higher tax and penalty. Now, amid notices and searches by the department, fears are that the law may be misused. "Though the income tax amendment was bought in to penalize tax evaders who had deposited the demonetized currency to take shelter under section 115BBE of the Income-tax Act, 1961, in genuine cases, this section would become difficult to comply with. Unexplained deposits/credits can only turn into explained deposits/credits if source is clearly explained, which in several cases may become extremely difficult to do," said Amit Maheshwari, Partner Ashok Maheshwary & Associates LLP. Individuals rarely maintain regular books of account and may find tracing the source a very time consuming and difficult exercise, he said. BCCL The relevant parts of the I-T Act are: Section 68 (dealing with unexplained cash credit, which is applicable to loans, gifts and share capital); section 69A (unexplained money, jewellery or valuable items); 69B (unexplained investment); and section 69C (unexplained expenditure.) Once section 115BBE is invoked, then the income (which is under question) cannot be set off against any other loss for the year or carried forward. "The amendment prescribes penal rate of tax and is effective from April 1, 2016. The AO has been given wide subjective powers and the amendment could challenge the present government's objective to minimize harassment to taxpayers. The rate of tax should be brought down to 30%," said Lakhani. BCCL If one is able to establish unexplained deposits, loans, or investments, can the Assessing officer still not be satisfied, asks Mitil Chokshi Senior Partners Chokshi and Chokshi. "While every effort will be made by AO to determine identified credits as unexplained, assesses will try to prove otherwise by adequate evidences, by establishing the identity, capacity and genuineness," he said. Earlier, an assessing officer invoking Section 115BBE could impose a tax of 30% plus the surcharge; now, the tax payable will be 60%, along with 15% surcharge and 3% cess aggregating to 77.25%. In add, there could be a penalty of 10% of the tax - a total outgo of 83.25% for the assessee. Animal rights group People for the Ethical Teatment of Animals (PETA) should go ban bull-riding rodeos in Donald Trump's US instead of trying to get jallikattu banned, Kollywood legend Kamal Haasan said today. BCCL "You're not qualified to tackle our bulls. Empires have been made to quit India," the veteran actor tweeted. PETA go ban bull riding rodeos in Mr.Trump's U.S. You're not qualified to tackle our bulls. Empires have been made to quit India. Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 22, 2017 He said people are now "getting a taste of true democracy." People at long last are getting a taste of true democracy. Gone are the days of leaders. We need humble pathfinders & social reformers Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 22, 2017 His remarks come a day after the Tamil Nadu government promulgated an ordinance to allow the controversial bull-taming sport - which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014 - to be organised across the state. For many Tamils, the focus of the pro-jallikattu movement has now shifted to finding a solution that will remove all obstacles to the practice of the sport. Also Read: No Jallikattu This Pongal, Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Of Tamil Nadu Government To Lift The Ban AFP Kamal Haasan's "empire" comment comes amid calls made by jallikattu supporters for a ban on PETA, one of the organisations on whose petition the Supreme Court imposed the ban on the sport. Also Read: Jallikattu - A Blood-Soaked Chapter In Indian Traditional Sports, Wasn't Always That Way It's a demand that has been made both during on-the-ground protests and on social media - where some have alleged that organisations who're ostensibly against jallikattu are actually part of a international corporate conspiracy to wipe out Tamil Nadu's indigenous bulls. BCCL There have also been calls on social media for a boycott on Coke and Pepsi, and other foreign products. In fact, some Coimbatore hotel chains and restaurants have either implemented - or have promised to implement - a boycott on the two soft drinks. "Multinational companies have created a huge water scarcity and health issues among the citizens. To show our solidarity to the farmers and as well for the youngsters we wanted to ban it," HR Hotel director Gurusamy Sundaravel said. Also Read: RGV Goes On A Long Rant Against Tamil Nadu & South Celebs For Protesting Jallikattu Ban! And while all this happens, Kamal Haasan today tweeted this warning to his followers. Pakistan's two parliamentary committees in a joint resolution asked India to immediately suspend the ongoing construction of the Kishanganga and Ratle hydro power projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Dawn reported. The two projects are being constructed on the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. Reuters A resolution adopted by the National Assembly's foreign affairs and water and power committees also asked the World Bank to set up a Court of Arbitration to mediate the dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty between the two countries. It said that under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), it is the responsibility of the World Bank to play its role without further delay. Until the World Bank constitutes the court of arbitration, it must persuade India to put an immediate halt to ongoing construction of the Ratle dam till the issue is resolved, read the joint resolution adopted unanimously by both the government and opposition members of the committees. The construction of dams on the western rivers by India has brought the two countries at loggerheads and Pakistan has engaged the World Bank, a facilitator of the IWT, to stop India from going ahead with the construction. Reuters The committees were briefed on the agenda -- Indian threat on the Indus Waters Treaty and to chart out a course of action for Pakistan. The meeting was co-chaired by Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Muhammad Arshad Khan Leghari, members of the parliament and the chairmen of the two committees. Briefing the committees, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said all options were available with Pakistan in case India violated the IWT. "We will not let India violate the treaty," Chaudhry said, adding that Pakistan had already engaged the World Bank to look into the issue as guarantor. "We have already requested the World Bank to appoint chairman of the arbitration court," he said. The secretary said Islamabad would defend its right at any cost. New Delhi, he alleged, was using delaying tactics while "we want to resolve the issue at the earliest". Pakistan has serious reservations over an Indian move to construct 45 to 60 dams on the western rivers, he said. thirdpole Water and Power Secretary Younus Dagha said Pakistan was challenging the construction of Kishanganga and Ratle projects in the court of international arbitration. He, however, said India had not as yet started work on Ratle project. Former foreign minister and Tehrik-i-Insaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the water dispute with India had reached such alarming proportions that it could even dwarf the Kashmir issue. He suggested the government to evolve a clear roadmap, assuring his party's support on the issue. A Special Protection Force (SPF) head constable in Vijayawada died of a cardiac arrest on Sunday while swimming in the river Krishna, trying for a Guinness World Record with gunny bags tied to his legs and holding the National Flag in his hands. Doctors said constable Umamaheswara Rao (44) got a massive stroke a few minutes before reaching the shore on the other end and collapsed in the water. The Hindu Two professional swimmers accompanying him in the water tried to rescue him. But, by the time he was rushed to the nearest hospital, he breathed his last. He had got into the river at VIP Ghat opposite Kanaka Durga temple and was to reach the other side at Tadepalli, swimming about 7km. Pune Mirror A native of Oleru village in Bhattiprolu of Guntur district, Rao joined the SPF as constable in 1994. He is survived by his wife and two children and had many records to his credit. Amid the intense battle that's going on in Mosul, last stronghold of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, between Iraqi army and IS fighters, unknown assailants have killed IS Commander Abu Abdel Rahman in Western Mosul. Security sources in Nineveh province told that unidentified assailants killed senior Saudi commander of the ISIL terrorist group who was in charge of executing Iraqi women in the city of Mosul. Rahman was reportedly the incharge of executing Iraqi women who would defy IS dictates. "The unknown gunmen shot at Abu Abdel Rahman, ISIS's senior commander, in al-Askari region in the center of Mosul city, and he was killed right on the spot," a security source was quoted in American Herald Tribune. Lately, many IS'top commanders have been killed in the battle going on in Mosul and Iraqi army now thinks that soon Mosul will be free from the menace of IS. The fight to take the Western side of Mosul, which remains under the terrorists' control, should not be more difficult than the one on the Eastern side, said Lieutenant-General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, NRT reported. AFP "God willing, there will be a meeting in the next few days attended by all the commanders concerned with liberation operations," he said, replying to a question on when he expects a thrust into the Western side of Mosul to begin. Reuters Those who think that child marriage especially of the girls in India is a thing of past need to correct their belief as almost 71 percent of the girls married in Uttar Pradesh are minors. Nearly two million girls in UP are married in the age group of 10-19 years, forming 71% of the total married people in this age group in the state. In another appalling state, once married as minors, the majority of these girls becomes mother shortly much before they cross teens which make UP the state with the highest number of children born to children with the number at a staggering one million. Part of the research base of Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiatives (AALI) from 2015, the facts were raised in Lucknow on Friday as part of a colloquium organized on 'Accelerated Action for Prevention of Child Marriage in UP' to facilitate dialogue between commissions, government officials, academicians, law enforcers and human rights defender, working on the cause. Read more here Here are 5 more stories for you: 1. AAP Gets Busy And Sends All MLAs To Punjab And Goa, Leaves Only One Minister To Run Delhi BCCL With polls in Punjab and Goa just about two weeks away, Aam Aadmi Party wants to leave nothing to chance. Party convenor and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is campaigning in Goa at present, has asked all Delhi MLAs to make their way to Punjab. With health minister Satyendar Jain and transport minister Gopal Rai in Goa along with the CM and deputy CM Manish Sisodia and tourism minister Kapil Mishra in Punjab, only environment minister Imran Hussain was left in the city. Kejriwal, as the party's star campaigner in both Goa and Punjab, is unlikely to be seen in Delhi for more than a couple of days till February 4, the day of the election. "Work is not suffering in any way. The cabinet went out over the weekend and will be returning on Monday," said party sources. Read more here 2. Oxford University Sued By Indian Student For Hopelessly Bad And Boring Teaching Reuters Oxford University has been directed to face trial after an Indian-origin student sued the varsity for "hopelessly bad" and "boring" teaching which allegedly resulted in him getting a second class degree and in turn led to loss of earnings in his career as a lawyer. The world-famous university had applied to the High Court in London to dismiss the claim by Faiz Siddiqui but in an 18-page judgement by Justice Kerr last week the court ruled that Oxford does have a case to answer, 'The Sunday Times' reported. Siddiqui, who studied modern history at Brasenose College at the university, accuses its staff of "negligent" teaching of his specialist subject course on Indian imperial history, which led to him getting a 2:1 back in 2000. Read more here 3. Female Railway Clerk Refuses To Sing Duet With Manager, Gets Transfer Notice! india rail info/representational image Not ready to sing duet songs with your boss in the Railways? Then, be prepared to face the music. A woman clerk in Bilaspur Railway Zone has been shunted out and a show cause notice has been slapped on her for refusing to sing duet songs with general manager during a get-together. While Railways argue that the women employee, appointed under 'cultural quota' cannot refuse to obey instructions, Railway employees unions are all set to raise the issue with National Women's Commission. The issue came to light after women senior clerk was issued a show cause notice, stating that "on January 15, during the final rehearsal for cultural program, you failed to obey instructions of DRM, Raipur, in connection with preparations of a few duet songs to sing with general manager during a get-together function organised on January 16." Read more here 4. 75-Year-Old Booked For Sexually Abusing His Own 3-Year-Old Great Granddaughter s3.india.com/Representational Image A 75-year-old man has been booked for allegedly outraging modesty of his three-and-half year old great grand-daughter between January 21 and 22, when the minor was alone in the house, police said. The family stays at Shingave Bahula village near Devlali. The members of the family had gone out and the girl and her great grand-father were alone in the house, said an official release here. Read more here 5.Indian Transgender Activist Kalki Subramaniam Will Speak At Harvard! BCCL Transgender activist Kalki Subramaniam has been invited by Harvard University to speak at the India Conference 2017. To be held from February 11 to 12, the theme of this year's conference is 'India - The Global Growth Engine,' reflecting the opportunities presented by India's growth in the last decades and the challenges it must overcome in various areas to truly capitalise on the country's tremendous potential. Jointly organised by the students at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School with active contribution of students from across the Harvard community, it is the largest and most prestigious student-led conference in the US focussing on India. The conference will include a special panel discussion on the challenges faced by the TG community in India and the road ahead. Kalki will be speaking at the Harvard Kennedy School on February 11 to share her views on the topic. Read more here In a surprising revelation, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) released a statement on Sunday that says that the number of internet users in China is now equal to Europe;s population. Already the world's highest, the number of internet users in China were somewhere around 731 million in December. China now has as many internet users as Europe's entire population https://t.co/8xHJ3s1CV9 via @gadgetsnow pic.twitter.com/GjoLi7wbhT Times of India (@timesofindia) January 23, 2017 The total internet users have now risen to 6.2% from the end of December 2015 and equal the entire population of Europe, Authorities say that e-commerce is a vital part of the people's life and it is also one of the many government's efforts to nudge China into a consumer demand-driven economy, although Beijing also imposes strict controls on online content, barring citizens from accessing major websites including Facebook and Google. CNNIC: 731m Chinese netizens as of Dec 2016; % of mobile internet users overall up from 90.1% to 95.1%. https://t.co/QZpwIqJ0Wz pic.twitter.com/YP1aCh5xgS ChinaTechInsights (@CNTechInsights) January 23, 2017 wsj The government is pushing the so-called "internet plus" project that aims to expand the role of online technology in the economy. The number of people who go online through cell phones in China has reached 695 million, or 95.1%, as computers lose their appeal, according to the CNNIC. Online consumption has become so powerful in China that it is actually contributing to the GDP growth. As of December 12, the number of people in China who used online payments had reached 475 million, up 14.0% year on year, according to the CNNIC. By that standard, India too is not that far in the race. India has 462,124,989 active internet users in India, which is more than 34.8 %% of its total population. We are 13.5% of the world internet users. A US company known as Moon Express has officially become the world's first private firm to receive permission to land on the moon. The space exploration company will now be able to travel beyond the Earth's orbit once it sends it MX-1E spacecraft to the moon. Moon Express The firm has raised nearly $45 million in funding - both from individuals and venture funds - that will aid it in launching its craft to our planet's satellite. After months of government dealings, the firm won a green signal from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to launch its moon mission in 2017. It is indeed a historic moment for the company as up till now, all commercial space activities have been limited within the Earth's orbit. Bob Richards, co-founder and CEO of Moon Express, said in a statement, "We now have all the resources in place to shoot for the Moon. Our goal is to expand Earths social and economic sphere to the Moon, our largely unexplored eighth continent, and enable a new era of low-cost lunar exploration and development for students, scientists, space agencies and commercial interests." AP Moon Express is also hopeful of winning the prestigious Google Lunar X Prize which dispenses a significant amount of money to help private firms to develop technology for space explorations. If it succeeds, Moon Express will become the fourth establishment in the world to soft-land on the moon - after the U.S., the USSR, and China. Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. Dubais civil defence force showcased their futuristic new fire-fighting tools on January 20, which included a water-powered jetpack. The Dolphin system consists of a jet ski to provide easy access to shoreline fires, a jetpack to allow firefighters to hover up to 330m in the air and a fire hose. As a whole, the system is aimed at providing faster response times during rush hours in the city. Martin Jetpack has provided the force with 20 jetpacks in an alleged multi-million dollar deal. Troops of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) have been arrived Banjul, the capital of Gambia, to install the countrys new president Adama Barrow. According to reports, a Senegalese Army General led the joint force of troops from five African nations. He said soldiers had nonetheless entered The Gambia to control strategic points to ensure the safety of the population and facilitate Barrows assumption of his role. Marcel Alain de Souza, a top official with ECOWAS, said pro-Jammeh elements and mercenaries remained on the ground and had opened fire as troops crossed the border. They were neutralised, he said, without elaborating. De Souza said the country could not be left open for long, however, and that Barrow must be in place as soon as possible. A country must have a government, but the security conditions required the troops we have sent to secure Banjul and other towns, he said. Police in Pittsburgh, USA are searching for a man who bit the ear off another man as they argued about President Donald Trump. Officers responded to a gas station in the citys East Liberty neighborhood about 6:45 a.m. Monday, after the victim ran there for help. Police say they know who the ear-biting suspect is, but have declined to name him while they search for the suspect and continued to investigate. Police spokeswoman Emily Schaffer says shes unable to say at this point whether the victim was pro- or anti-Trump, or which position motivated the attacker. The 30-year-old victim was attacked at his apartment after a verbal argument turned physical. The suspect then left. Police say they recovered the victims ear in the apartment and he was taken to a nearby hospital. Having ruled since 1982, Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth has announced that he will step down and hand over power to a younger and more dynamic leader. He will hand over to his son, Pravind Jugnauth today who is the leader of the Militant Socialist Movement, the largest of the governing coalition parties. Curiously, Anerood Jugnauth cited the British Parliamentary system as the reason why elections would not be held and likened his countrys situation to the handover of power between David Cameron and Prime Minister Theresa May. Nigerian newspaper headlines today, January 23, 2017. Guardian The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) delegation that went on tour of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State has made public its observations. Thisday Nigerians need not worry about the health of President Muhammadu Buhari because he is fit and healthy, Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, told Arise TV yesterday in Abuja when he appeared on the global television networks programme, Thisday Live from Abuja. The Nation More details of the peaceful battle to restore democracy in The Gambia became known yesterday. Vanguard A six-man board commissioned by the Nigerian Air Force to investigate the misfire in Rann village, Borno State, has arrived the state. Punch The Police in Kaduna on Sunday confirmed that unknown gunmen attacked Zankan village, a Fulani settlement in Kaura Local Government of the state. Leadership The UN Security Council has tasked the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to prevent the destructive Boko Haram insurgents, recently dislodged from its safe haven in Sambisa Forest, from regrouping. The Sun The Federal Government has released over N375 million this year to feed almost 700,000 primary school pupils in five states in its Social Investment Programmes, the Presidency has disclosed. Premium Times As the Buhari administration proceeds with the implementation of its Social Investment Programmes, the Federal Government has now released over N375 million this year to feed almost 700,000 primary school pupils in 5 states, while virtually all states of the federation, except two, are now being processed for the payment of N30,000 monthly stipends to 200,000 graduates, the N-Power beneficiaries. Scores of commuters and motorists had raw deals at the hands of armed bandits suspected to be of Fulani extraction on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway yesterday afternoon. Many of them lost valuables and sustained injuries in two coordinated attacks by the robbers on the highway. The daylight attacks took place at two spots before and after the old Ogere toll plaza and they involved the robbers sneaking out of the surrounding bushes to take advantage of the bad portions of the road to rob the victims. The spokesman of the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed that some of the bandits were indeed Fulani, told The Guardian that one of them was eventually killed during an exchange of gunfire with the police. About 20 robbers with blackened faces, who betrayed their identities by their accent while asking their victims to cooperate with them by surrendering their valuables, carried out the attacks. A reporter of The Guardian who was a victim of the robbery said the bandits first laid ambush just before Ode-Remo intersection and had succeeded in robbing commuters in about six buses, mainly women suspected to be Lagos-bound traders, of their cash and other valuables. When other Lagos-bound vehicles got a hint of the robbery, several of them, including about 20 articulated vehicles that were said to be prime targets of the robbers because of the likelihood of cash on them, parked along the route waiting for the road to clear. A team of armed mobile policemen in a Hilux van with registration number PF 943 SPY that arrived at the scene however cleared the road leading other vehicles and shooting into the air to drive the bandits away. Many of the victims of the first set of bandits were seen mourning their losses while the women among them rolled on a ground littered with empty bags and wallets but nobody, even the policemen, had the courage to stop and help them to safety as the robbers were seen escaping into the bush. The bandits were to regroup about 20 kilometers ahead, just after Ogere. Brandishing guns, machetes and knives, the bandits appeared from the bush and stood in the middle of the road and ordered the confused drivers and their passengers to disembark and surrender their possessions. Many of the commercial bus drivers while attempting to reverse, to escape from the robbery scene hit other vehicles, creating a jam and blocking their escape. One after the other, the passengers, including The Guardian reporter, made a dash for their lives. Those who could not escape were robbed and many of them were dealt machete blows for not having enough cash. The robbers smashed the windscreens of three buses, a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Corolla, after they had been ransacked stealing handsets, computer laptops and other valuables left by the fleeing owners. Moments later, a team of policemen arrived at the scene and according to Oyeyemi, they were able to kill one of the robbers during a gunbattle. The police spokesman said the police were still combing the bushes for the escaped robbers as at 6: 00 p.m. yesterday. Source: Guardian In his first interveiw since joining Manchester City, Gabriel Jesus talks about his move to Manchester, Pep Guardiola, his career hopes and past experiences plus what he and Fernandinho spoke about on the phone. The forward is particularly excited to show the City faithful what he can do, and says he has been overwhelmed by their messages of support since his transfer was announced. Watch. You might think we make an awful lot of fuss about the cloud, considering that global public cloud spending amounts to a small fraction of IT spending overall roughly $100 billion of a $2.4 trillion pie, according to IDCs projections for 2016. But its all about momentum. IDC predicts public cloud spending will double by 2020, whereas overall IT spending will see something like a 13 percent increase by then. More importantly, as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google keep demonstrating, the cloud has become the place to go for the most interesting new enterprise tech. Case in point: Check out Peter Wayners 10 new AWS tools redefining the cloud, which walks through Amazons latest and greatest offerings. Yes, theres some cool machine learning and speech synthesis, but what strikes me most is Amazons increasingly granular understanding of app dev and deployment issues. Lambda@Edge, for example, distributes Node.js code the way a CDN distributes content to improve performance. X-Ray, which got a whoop from the crowd when it was announced at Amazon re:Invent, traces requests through complex distributed applications to isolate problems. The incredible catalogue of AWS products and services, along with those offered by Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and IBM Bluemix, has shifted the balance. For years Ive been saying that open source is the engine of innovation, as startups give away inventive new software to gain market share. That may still be the case. But as InfoWorlds Matt Asay has noted in several recent posts, the cloud is where the money based on that new functionality is being made. Last week, for example, Matt asked the question Whos cashing in on containers? and came back with the answer: the public cloud providers. Docker may have jump-started the container revolution, but most container deployments are in the cloud, and the public cloud services to manage containers are racking up the lions share of the revenue, not Docker the company. Matt applies the same argument to platform as a service, open source databases, and big data increasing proportions of the revenue for all of them are accruing to the public cloud. Standing up new software and infrastructure on-premises seems less attractive than it once did, particularly when you consider that obsolescence looms as soon as you unbox that new technology. In the public cloud, on the other hand, you can get the benefit of improvements as soon as theyre rolled out. Even VMware, whose SDDC (software-defined data center) stack actually delivers a viable private cloud, struck a deal with the devil last year with VMware Cloud on AWS. The resulting hybrid offering will make VMware private clouds more elastic, but once those workloads extend to AWS you have to wonder whether VMware can retain control. Andrew Oliver recently provided a great rundown of what you should do to prepare for the cloud in 9 steps to cloud readiness, which concludes with the most important point of all: Start thinking cloud first. It will be years before most enterprises initiate mass migrations of workloads to the cloud, but get your mindset straight now. Cotton Closes with another Triple Digit Gain Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Front month cotton futures added triple digits to the climb on Friday. Dec cotton closed up by another 4.73%, for a weekly gain of 20.5%. The December to December spread is now an 8.56 cent premium for... CTZ22 : 86.93s (+4.73%) CTH23 : 85.67s (+4.26%) CTK23 : 84.63s (+3.21%) Cattle Markets Fade into Weekend Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Live cattle futures ended the Friday session 10 to 50 weaker in the front months. For the week, Dec fats faded by $1.35. The weeks cash price was mostly near $150 in the South and mostly near $153 in... LEZ22 : 151.650s (-0.20%) LEG23 : 154.375s (-0.32%) LEJ23 : 158.000s (-0.19%) GFX22 : 177.825s (-0.10%) GFF23 : 179.625s (+0.11%) Mixed Close for Hog Futures Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Hogs went into the weekend mixed but mostly lower with 15 to 40 cent losses in the nearbys and 5 to 20 cent gains in the deferred contracts. For the week, December hogs ended with a $13.13 loss, while... HEZ22 : 82.975s (-0.48%) HEJ23 : 92.400s (-0.16%) KMZ22 : 93.875s (-0.13%) Soy Futures Rally into Weekend Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Soybean prices traded higher with 1.14% to 1.7% gains in the front months to go into the weekend in the black. Jan beans closed the week with 4.4% gains. Soy oil futures led the rally, closing the week... ZSX22 : 1451-4s (+1.73%) ZSPAUS.CM : 14.2554 (+1.92%) ZSF23 : 1462-2s (+1.76%) ZSH23 : 1469-0s (+1.73%) Wheat Futures Gain on Friday Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Fridays wheat trade worked higher after a re-balancing from the Russia related run-up to start the week, and subsequent collapse on Wednesday. On net, December SRWs 7 1/4 cent gain into the weekend... ZWZ22 : 847-6s (+0.86%) ZWH23 : 866-6s (+0.81%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.7988 (+0.94%) KEZ22 : 953-2s (+1.27%) KEPAWS.CM : 9.1129 (+1.33%) MWZ22 : 954-4s (+1.22%) Corn Closes Net Stronger Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT The week of corn trade saw strength out of the weekend on Russia pulling out of the grain export corridor, but quickly reversed midweek when Russia re-entered. On net, Fridays 1 3/4 to 3 1/4 cent gains... ZCZ22 : 681-0s (+0.26%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.7795 (+0.35%) ZCH23 : 686-6s (+0.29%) ZCK23 : 686-6s (+0.29%) An insurance consultant has been named among the dead after a man deliberately drove his car into pedestrians in Melbournes Bourke Street Mall on Friday.Jess Mudie, 22, an insurance consultant for Marsh in Sydney was named among the dead with four others killed and more than 30 people injured.We were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of our dear colleague, Jess Mudie, Scott Leney , chief executive officer of Marsh, said in a statement.Although with us for just under a year, she had already won the admiration and friendship of those she worked with and had a bright future ahead of her.Marsh colleagues across Australia join Jesss loved ones and friends in their grief and mourning. We will be providing all the support we can to her family and colleagues at this sad time.The attack saw the alleged driver, Dimitrious Garasoulas, shot in the arm by police before he was arrested.Police have said the incident was not terror-related, the BBC reports. Want the latest insurance industry news first? Sign up for our completely free newsletter service now. The start of every year brings with it some uncertainties but it seems as though 2017 brings more than most.From President Trump and Brexit to a closer than expected Australian election, the headlines of 2016 were peppered with themes of change and disruption. 2017 promises more of the same.Mark Mitchell, regional CEO Asia of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, said that businesses around the globe are trying to prepare themselves for the unknown.Companies worldwide are bracing for a year of uncertainty, Mitchell told Insurance Business.They are concerned about rather unpredictable changes in the legal, geopolitical and market environment around the world.For brokers, this could mean an increased relevance for clients. With a deep understanding of the emerging risks businesses or industries may face, brokers will be able to cement their place as more than transactional partners with clients.Mitchell noted that the global insurance industry is seeing a shift in terms of fear towards events that require no physical damage to property.The recently released Allianz Risk barometer found that business interruption is the biggest risk faced by businesses in Australia, throughout the Asia Pacific region and around the world in 2016. However, while business interruption is not a new risk, businesses are beginning to fear less traditional ways that business interruption can be brought about - an increasing cyber threat, the interconnectivity of supply chains around the world and terrorism demonstrate that the nature of the risk is shifting towards non-damage events, Mitchell said.A range of new risks are emerging beyond the perennial perils of fire and natural catastrophes and require re-thinking of current monitoring and risk management tools, Mitchell continued.Digital dilemmas such as the impact of new technologies on the risk profile of industries and cyber incidents are a rising concern as well.No-one knows what 2017 may hold but for brokers, now is the time to try and prepare clients for the unexpected. The Massachusetts Fire Marshal says the communications connection between the fire alarm system and the alarm monitoring company had broken two days before a New Years Day fire in a Holyoke apartment building that killed three. Peter Ostroskey said the reason for the communications loss is unknown. The monitoring company called property management several times to alert them to the lost connection. Authorities have said there was a substantial delay with the fire departments response because of the alarm malfunction. The buildings owner has received a non-criminal citation for failure to have the alarm system tested. The alarm within the building sounded, alerting residents, but the first the fire department heard of the blaze was from 911 calls. The Jan. 1 fire was blamed on an electrical outlet malfunction. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Massachusetts Open markets and global trade have been blamed for job losses over the last decade, but global CEOs say the real culprits are increasingly machines. And while business leaders gathered at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos relish the productivity gains technology can bring, they warned this week that the collateral damage to jobs needs to be addressed more seriously. From taxi drivers to healthcare professionals, technologies such as robotics, driverless cars, artificial intelligence and 3-D printing mean more and more types of jobs are at risk. Adidas, for example, aims to use 3-D printing in the manufacture of some running shoes. Jobs will be lost, jobs will evolve and this revolution is going to be ageless, its going to be classless and its going to affect everyone, said Meg Whitman, chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. So while some supporters of Donald Trump and Brexit may hope new government policies will bring lost jobs back to Americas Rust Belt or Britains industrial north, economists estimate 86 percent of U.S. manufacturing job losses are actually down to productivity, according to the WEFs annual risks report. Technology is the big issue and we dont acknowledge that, Mark Weinberger, chairman of consultancy EY, said on Thursday, arguing there was a tendency to always blame trading partners. The political backdrop is prompting CEOs to take more seriously the challenge of long-life training of workforces to keep up with the exponential growth of technological advances. I think what were reaching now is a time when we may have to find alternative careers through our lifetime, Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella told Reuters. Over the last decade, more jobs have been lost to technology than any other factor, and John Drzik, head of global risk at insurance broker Marsh, expects more of the same. That is going to raise challenges, particularly given the political context, Drzik, who helped compile the WEF report, said. Compared to clamping down on immigration by tightening borders, dealing with the impact of technology destroying jobs is something that is perhaps even less easily controlled. For while many advanced technologies remain more expensive than low- or medium-skilled labor in the near term, the shift is likely to accelerate as costs come down. Widening Gap Technological advancements require governments, businesses and academic institutions to develop more educated and highly skilled workforces, executives in Davos said. But this shift to skilled workers also widens the income gap and fuels growing inequality. Jonas Prising, CEO of staffing firm ManpowerGroup, noted that U.S. unemployment is only about 2 to 2.5 percent among college-educated people but 9 or 10 percent among those with low or no skills. The idea that we would ban automation as part of an evolution within the manufacturing industry, is not really part of the discussion, Prising said. He pointed to policies in countries like Denmark and Italy, where there is a focus on employability of workers. If we dont own responsibility (for the problem of displaced workers), its only going to get bigger, Procter & Gamble Chief Executive David Taylor said. Brawn and Brain The scope of the employment risk from what the WEF calls the fourth industrial revolution which blurs the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres is unclear. A University of Oxford study in 2013 said nearly half of U.S. jobs were at risk, while in 2015 Forrester Research predicted a net loss of only 7 percent by 2025, as some lost jobs will be replaced with new ones. Forrester predicts that by 2019, one-quarter of all job tasks will be offloaded to software robots, physical robots, or customer self-service automation. Even the corner office may not be safe. CEOs feel reasonably confident we are not going to be replaced by artificial intelligence, Inga Beale, CEO of the Lloyds of London insurance market, said. But Im sure there will be a time! (Editing by Alexander Smith) Topics USA InsurTech Tech Talent Leadership A federal jury in Nebraska has awarded a former BNSF Railway employee from Iowa more than $1 million by in a wrongful termination lawsuit. The Lincoln Journal Star says Daniel Monohon, of Ottumwa, Iowa, was fired from a Lincoln branch of Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF in 2014 for what the railroad said was insubordination. Monohon says he was fired after he questioned BNSFs policy of requiring employees to wear seatbelts while driving a vehicle that can operate both on rail tracks and a conventional road. Monohons attorneys, Corey Stull and Jeanette Stull of Lincoln, argued that his firing was a violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act. A federal jury in Iowa agreed and awarded Monohon $1,031,000 in lost pay and other damages. BNSF says it will ask the court to set aside the verdict and will appeal. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Iowa A former Missouri State University student who said he was the victim of a so-called knockout game attack outside a 2012 fraternity party has been awarded $1.63 million in damages, though he likely will only collect $630,000. The lawyers representing Trevor Godfrey, 25, said in a news release that the Omicron Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi didnt do enough to create a safe environment at the party before Godfrey was struck from behind and knocked unconscious, the Springfield News-Leader reports. The Omicron Kappa chapter was the sole defendant after Omega Psi Phi and several individuals were dismissed from the suit before the case went to trial last week. Godfreys attorney, Steve Garner, said $1 million in punitive damages arent covered by the fraternitys insurance and cant be collected, though insurance covers the $630,000 in actual damages. MSU has great rules to protect those who attend fraternity and sorority parties and those who come in contact with the party. In fact, I cannot imagine any rules that are better, Garner wrote in an email. This was an instance where the rules were not followed and there was no security to monitor this party. I have nothing negative to say about this fraternity. Hal Meltzer, an attorney for the Omicron Kappa chapter, didnt immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press. Springfield police said no charges were filed, and that the case is closed. A Springfield police report said people attending the party reported that they didnt see or know anything. A responding officer wrote in the report that besides finding Godfrey bloodied and very disoriented, another person reported that he also had been struck in the head. MSU President Clif Smart said around the time of the attack that the administration did everything it could to help find out who the assailant is but was unsuccessful. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Missouri The Trump administration may stop enforcing the Obamacare requirement that most Americans carry health insurance even before Congress repeals the law, Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to the new president, said in interviews broadcast on Sunday. Such a move would take the teeth out of former President Barack Obamas healthcare law and could destabilize insurance markets, analysts say. It was not clear from Conways remarks whether President Donald Trump would try to use his executive authority to make the change, which would be much faster than writing new regulations or waiting on lawmakers. What President Trump is doing is, he wants to get rid of that Obamacare penalty almost immediately because that is something that is really strangling a lot of Americans, to have to pay a penalty for not buying government-run health insurance, Conway, whose title is counselor to the president, said Sunday on ABC Newss This Week When host George Stephanopoulos asked her if Trump would stop enforcing that mandate, Conway responded: He may. Coverage Gains Trump campaigned on a pledge to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, a law he dubbed a disaster. The Obama administration estimated that it has led to about 20 million people who didnt previously have health insurance gaining coverage, and the Congressional Budget Office said in a report last week that repealing the law without enacting an alternative policy would cause 32 million people to lose their insurance. We want to make very clear to everyone that those who are relying upon coverage will not lose it, Conway told Stephanopoulos. On Friday, his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order declaring that his administration will seek prompt repeal of the law. The order also commanded federal agencies to try to waive or delay requirements of Obamacare that impose economic or regulatory burdens on states, families, the health-care industry and others. That may have been a reference to the so-called individual mandate that requires Americans to carry insurance. Conway, in an interview broadcast Sunday on NBC Newss Sunday Today With Willie Geist, appeared to indicate that the laws requirement that most employers offer coverage to their full-time workers would also end. Were doing away with this Obamacare penalty, she said in the NBC interview, which was conducted Thursday. This tax has been so such a burden on many Americans. And its also been a burden on many small business owners, many of whom complained to us that that Obamacare penalty, along with so many other draconian regulations, are just a stranglehold. Limits of Orders Presidents cant use executive orders to end laws unilaterally, so its unlikely that Trumps order would entirely end the Obamacare mandates, according to Timothy Jost, a professor with expertise in health law at Washington and Lee University School of Law and a contributor to Bloomberg View. But the administration could give more flexibility for people to avoid the requirement by saying it poses a hardship. Undoing the ACAs requirement that all people have coverage could destabilize the market. Thats because healthier people might choose not to buy health plans, leaving only sick people covered. If the administration doesnt enforce the mandate, that could be enough to push some insurers from the market, according to California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. This executive order is likely to destabilize health insurance markets across the United States, he said Saturday in a statement. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo provided an early indication of how some states may push back on Trumps pledge to undo the health law. On Saturday, he proposed rules requiring New Yorks health insurers to cover birth control and medically necessary abortions, even if the President Barack Obamas health-care overhaul is repealed. Repeal and Replace Ultimately, itll be up to Congress to repeal the health law and pass a replacement policy. Republican lawmakers have taken initial steps to begin repealing Obamacare using the congressional budget process, though they havent provided details on which pieces of the law will end or what theyll enact instead. Trump has said his administration will lay out its replacement plan once his nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, Representative Tom Price of Georgia, is confirmed. Price faces a hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Finance Committee, which will then vote on whether to put his nomination before the full Senate. Republicans have faced questions about whether their health policy will result in Americans losing insurance coverage, particularly those who buy plans with subsidies in the new markets created by Obamacare, and those who are covered in the laws expansion of Medicaid. Conway joined Trump in saying that people will keep their plans, though she qualified her remarks. President Trump has said that people will not go without coverage. And he means that, she said in the NBC interview. She later said that there will be ways for people to access affordable, quality health insurance if theyd like to get it. Taking Ownership Conway mentioned two features of Trumps Obamacare replacement. She said Medicaid funds will be provided to states in the form of block grants. And she said the plan will include health-savings accounts, which are a way for people to put aside money to pay for health expenses with tax advantages. Theyre typically linked to high-deductible health plans, and are already available under the Affordable Care Act. Conway said those accounts would lead to individuals taking more ownership over their health-care choices. Very few people take the car to the car wash before they return it to the rental station, she said. You dont have ownership of it. And this way you do. Its a great analogy, actually, so that people can understand what it means to have a health savings account. With assistance from Anna Edney and Justin Sink Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Legislation Soon after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, his administration undid one of Barack Obamas last-minute economic-policy actions: a mortgage-fee cut under a government program thats popular with first-time home buyers and low-income borrowers. The new administration on Friday said its canceling a reduction in the Federal Housing Administrations annual fee for most borrowers. The cut would have reduced the annual premium for someone borrowing $200,000 by $500 in the first year. The reversal comes after Trumps team criticized the Obama administration for adopting new policies as it prepared to leave office. In the waning days of the administration, the White House announced new Russia sanctions, a ban on drilling in parts of the Arctic and many other regulations. No Consultation Last week, Obamas Housing and Urban Development secretary, Julian Castro, said the FHA would cut its fees. The administration didnt consult Trumps team before the announcement. Republicans have argued in the past that reductions put taxpayers at risk by lowering the funds the FHA has to deal with mortgage defaults. Shares of private mortgage insurance companies, including MGIC Investment Corp. and Radian Group Inc., erased earlier losses, trading up about one percent as of mid-afternoon. They closed little changed from the day before. Private insurers, which back loans guaranteed by mortgage-finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, compete with the FHA for market share and have been critics of fee cuts in the past. A letter Friday from HUD to lenders and others in the real-estate industry said, more analysis and research are deemed necessary to assess future adjustments while also considering potential market conditions in an ever-changing global economy that could impact our efforts. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York took to the chambers floor to denounce the reversal. It took only an hour after his positive words on the inaugural platform for his actions to ring hollow, Schumer said. One hour after talking about helping working people and ending the cabal in Washington that hurts people, he signs a regulation that makes it more expensive for new homeowners to buy mortgages. Mark Calabria, director of financial regulation studies for the libertarian Cato Institute, said it was appropriate for the administration to examine last-minute decisions by its predecessor, especially when those decisions appear to be purely motivated by politics. Ben Carson, Trumps nominee to lead HUD, FHAs parent agency, said at his confirmation hearing last week that he was disappointed the cut was announced in Obamas final days in office. FHA Role The FHA sells insurance to protect against defaults and doesnt issue mortgages. It is a popular program among first-time home buyers because it allows borrowers to make a down payment of as low as 3.5 percent with a credit score of 580, on a scale of 300 to 850. The Obama administration announced last week it would cut the insurance premium by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.60 percent, effective on Jan. 27. Some housing industry groups lauded the change, saying it could increase home buying by offsetting recent rises in mortgage rates. Supporters of the reduction were disappointed that the Trump administration reversed course. Average People This action is completely out of alignment with President Trumps words about having the government work for the people, said John Taylor, president of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, through a spokesman. Exactly how does raising the cost of buying a home help average people? Sarah Edelman, director of housing policy for the left-leaning Center for American Progress, in an e-mail wrote, On Day 1, the president has turned his back on middle-class families this decision effectively takes $500 out of the pocketbooks of families that were planning to buy a home in 2017. This is not the way to build a strong economy. The FHA came under severe stress after the financial crisis. In 2013, it needed $1.7 billion from the U.S. Treasury, its first bailout in 79 years, due to a wave of defaults. To replenish the FHAs coffers, the Obama administration several times increased the fees the agency charges. The law requires the FHAs capital reserve ratio to stay above 2 percent, and the agency hit that level in 2015 for the first time since the bailout. It is important to ensure that the FHA fund remains strong to support homeownership in the future while minimizing taxpayer risk, Teresa Bryce Bazemore, president of Radian Group, said in a statement. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Legislation Politics President Donald Trump abruptly ended the decades-old U.S. tilt toward free trade by signing an executive order to withdraw from an Asia-Pacific accord that was never ratified and promising to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. Great thing for the American worker, what we just did, Trump said on Monday after signing an order withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership accord with 11 other nations. He didnt sign any actions to direct a renegotiation of the Nafta accord with Mexico and Canada, yet he said on Sunday he would begin talks with the two leaders on modifying the accord. Weve been talking about this a long time, Trump said. Trumps trade focus fulfills a campaign promise to rewrite Americas trade policy during his first days as president. In declaring his determination to renegotiate Nafta, Trump would rework an agreement that has governed commerce in much of the Western hemisphere for 22 years. By scrapping the Trans-Pacific Partnership accord negotiated by former President Barack Obama, Trump will delight many of his most fervent supporters as well as a good many Democrats, while opening an economic vacuum in Asia that China is eager to fill. Trump campaigned against the TPP and other trade deals, including Nafta, during his campaign for the White House. In a video released in November, Trump promised to exit TPP on day one, calling it a potential disaster for our country. The TPP, a 12-country deal that sought to liberalize trade between the U.S. and Pacific Rim nations including Japan, Mexico and Singapore, was a signature piece of former Obamas attempt to pivot U.S. global strategy to focus on the fast-growing economies of Asia. Trump said Sunday that hell meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to begin discussing Nafta, which he has routinely blamed for the loss of U.S. jobs. The newly sworn-in president praised Mexico for being terrific and signaled that hes willing to work with the U.S.s closest neighbors. Were going to start renegotiating on Nafta, on immigration, and on security at the border, Trump said at the start of a swearing-in ceremony for top White House staff. I think were going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, for everybody involved. Its really very important. Officials in Canada, which is the biggest buyer of U.S. exports, have indicated they want to avoid getting entangled with the Trump administrations targeting of imports from Mexico and China. The three countries are the biggest trading partners of the U.S. David MacNaughton, Canadas ambassador to the U.S., told reporters his focus is on avoiding Canada being collateral damage in trade actions. Trade Deals Targeted Trump repeatedly criticized the TPP and Nafta on the campaign trail, saying the U.S. manufacturing sector had been hollowed out by bad trade deals. Trump was meeting with business executives Monday morning and was scheduled to meet later with union leaders on a day the White House cast as focused on trade and job creation. He told the business leaders he intended to impose a substantial border tax on companies that move operations out of the U.S. During his campaign, Trump said he would rework the North American deal in order to improve trade conditions for the U.S. and prevent companies from shipping American jobs abroad. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the president will give notice of the United States intent to withdraw from Nafta, according to a statement on the White House website. After years of negotiations by both Republican and Democratic administrations, Nafta was signed by then-President Bill Clinton in 1993, and went into effect the following year. The pact sought to eliminate trade barriers between the North American countries, as well as protect intellectual property. American Jobs As far as the Trans-Pacific deal, despite Congresss approval of fast track authorization for the agreement in 2015, it was never formally authorized by the U.S. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle said they grew increasingly concerned it would result in a loss of American jobs. The future of the TPP is now in flux. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in November that TPP without the U.S. would be meaningless. Still, multiple signatory countries including Vietnam and Australia have said they would stick to the deal even without the leading party of the agreement. Insurers Say Trans-Pacific Pact Important for Industry Growth, Jobs Trump made trade one of the central issues of his campaign, which found success in the former industrial areas of states such as Wisconsin and Michigan. Both states were often considered strongly Democratic before they flipped to Trump in 2016. In a June speech in Pittsburgh, Trump attacked the deal, which he said would be the death blow for American factories. It would give up all of our economic leverage to an international commission that would put the interests of foreign countries above our own, he said. 11th-Hour Push In the final days of the Obama administration, six U.S. ambassadors in Asia attempted to push for a last-minute vote on the pact, which they said if abandoned would cede international leadership to China, which isnt a part of the TPP. Such an outcome would be cause for celebration among those who favor Asia for the Asians and state capitalism, the ambassadors wrote in a letter. Rather than support wide-ranging regional trade agreements, Trump has proposed negotiating bilateral trade agreements. He has also proposed enacting tariffs on imports to protect domestic manufacturing. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics USA China Canada Mexico Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon reports that insurance policyholders in Louisiana were able to collect an additional $7.6 million last year as a result of assistance provided by the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI). LDI Office of Consumer Services worked with company representatives to resolve consumer complaints that were filed with the office. These recovered funds are in addition to the original amounts offered to consumers by their insurance companies. In 2016 the LDI received 4,369 complaints and helped consumers recover $7,604,380 in additional payments from companies. In 2015 the LDI helped consumers recover $5,146,106 and there were 3,667 complaints filed. Funds recovered are from formal complaints regarding property and casualty, health, and life and annuities products. Information on complaints and funds by insurance product is as follows: Insurance Dispute Settlements (Jan. 1 Dec. 31, 2016) Insurance Product Complaints Filed Funds Recovered Health 1,250 $1,424,641.23 Life/Annuities 692 $591,272.48 Property/Casualty 2,427 $5,588,466.08 Total 4,369 $7,604,379.79 The LDI has launched a new web feature that allows consumers to search for and view complaints filed with the department against companies who write insurance in Louisiana. Consumers can visit www.ldi.la.gov/complaintdata to see complaints sorted by company name, premium written and the complaint index which measures complaints for a company relative to the amount of premium written. The average complaint takes 45 days to fully investigate, depending on the complexity of the case, the LDI said. Source: Louisiana Department of Insurance Topics Louisiana Louisianas flood recovery task force has agreed to Gov. John Bel Edwards proposal to spend $1.2 billion in federal aid allocated by Congress, with most of the money targeted for homeowners. Under the plan approved on Jan. 20, $938 million would pay for rebuilding and repairs for thousands of homeowners with damage from the March and August floods people who have major damage and didnt have flood insurance coverage. Others wont be eligible for the aid. Additional dollars would be earmarked for business, agriculture and rental housing assistance. A $105 million portion of the federal block grant would reimburse state and local governments for disaster response costs. The Restore Louisiana Task Force, appointed by Edwards, signed off on the proposals without objection. The proposal needs to go through a federally-required regulatory process of public comment and review and requires approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before dollars can be spent. The Edwards administration is asking HUD for a waiver of requirements that 70 percent of the money must go to low- to moderate-income households, seeking to lower that mandate to 50 percent. Also awaiting HUD approval is Louisianas plan to spend an earlier $438 million allocated by Congress. With both sets of funds, $1.3 billion would be set aside for homeowner aid, expected to help more than 36,000 households, those who had more than a foot of water or more than $8,000 in damage and no flood insurance. Thats only a fraction of the 112,000 homes estimated to have been damaged by last years floods. Edwards plans to return to Washington next month to lobby for additional assistance. Hes said the state is about $2 billion short of what it needs. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana Flood Nearly two years after a Louisiana truck driver caused a seven-car crash killing five Georgia Southern University nursing students, a jury has awarded a survivor $15 million in a civil suit. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports jurors deliberated for about four hours Friday before deciding on the amount that trucking company Total Transportation of Richland, Miss., and its parent company, U.S. Express, must pay Megan Richards. Richards, of Loganville, was released from the hospital the day after the April 22, 2015. Interstate 16 pileup that killed 20-year-old Emily Clark, of Powder Springs; 20-year-old Morgan Bass of Leesburg; 21-year-old Abbie Deloach of Savannah; 21-year-old Catherine McKay Pittman of Alpharetta and 21-year-old Caitlyn Baggett of Millen. The women were on their way to their last day of clinical rotations at a Savannah hospital. The truck driver, John Wayne Johnson, 56, of Shreveport, was sentenced to five years in prison in a plea deal after he pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree vehicular homicide and other crimes. Johnsons tractor-trailer smashed into traffic snarled by an unrelated wreck. The impact crushed two vehicles directly in front of Johnsons truck, killing the student nurses. The women were commuting from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro to their shifts at a Savannah hospital, a distance of about 55 miles. Last April, the trucking company settled lawsuits with the families of those who died and another survivor, Brittney McDaniel. In court Friday, Johnson apologized to Richards and her family. Richards lawyer Bob Cheeley had initially wanted no less than $25 million, but the trucking companys attorney David Dial argued for a fair amount. We said we would pay her medical expenses, Dial said. We dont dispute it. We owe her that. WSB-TV reports Richards testified that she still suffers from a traumatic brain injury. Not every day is the worst day of my life, but a lot of days are bad, she said in court, but its the good days that make it worth it. Perhaps the worst thing for Richards is knowing that shes one of the lucky ones. I stay hopeful. Im a Christian and I believe that maybe I did live for a reason and hell help me and Ill make a big difference as a nurse, she said, but sometimes I cant help but think about how its changed me and how hard it will be. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Georgia A Washington appeals court has ruled that a convicted arsonist must pay nearly $3 million in restitution and other legal costs when hes released from prison. The Seattle Times reports that the state Court of Appeals published an opinion on Jan. 17 that blocks Martin Pang from attempting to ignore his financial obligations. Pang is serving a 20-year prison sentence for setting a massive warehouse fire in 1995 that killed four firefighters. In his motion, Pang argued that the judge who sentenced him in 1998 never asked if he was able to pay restitution. The Court of Appeals ruled that Pangs motion was untimely. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Oregons workers comp insurance agency must reinstate the chief executive it improperly fired in 2014, a judge has ruled. The ruling was a stunning victory for fired CEO John Plotkin and an embarrassing setback for SAIF Corp. Marion County Judge Claudia Burton ruled the agencys board violated the states open meetings law when it considered whether to oust John Plotkin in two private meetings. She ordered to the agency to pay Plotkin more than 2.5 years of back pay, PERS benefits and legal fees and to bring Plotkin back as the quasi-public agencys top executive. That puts SAIF in the awkward position of having two chief executives. It hired Kerry Barnett in May 2015 to take the helm. Barnett did not work at SAIF during Plotkins short tenure. The ruling is a substantial setback for the agency, by far and away the states largest provider of workers comp insurance. The case, closely chronicled by The Oregonian/OregonLive, opened a rare and unflattering window into the organization. Legal documents and interviews with insiders revealed an operation rife with personal rivalries and power grabs. Within weeks of Plotkins start at SAIF, bureaucrats uncomfortable with his approach schemed to get him fired with largely discredited claims that he made off-color jokes and insensitive remarks. Plotkin, now practicing law in Arizona, said he was grateful for the judges ruling. He said his termination by the agency had made it difficult to find work. The SAIF board has to make a decision, he said. It obviously would be a little bit awkward for Kerry and I to share that chair. If the board wants me to come back as CEO of SAIF, I remain available. Agency officials said theyre still digesting Burtons decision. We recognize this ruling puts us in an unusual position, but we have confidence in our boards ability to make the best decision for SAIF, spokesman Mike Watters said. Regardless, we will continue to focus on workplace health and safety, and our core mission of taking care of injured workers and helping them get back to work. In the past few years, weve welcomed new board members and executive leadership, who have reaffirmed SAIFs historic role as Oregons leader in workers compensation. Plotkin took the job in February 2014, replacing longtime Chief Executive Brenda Rocklin. Ryan Fleming, then human resources executive for the agency, quickly began compiling an internal report detailing Plotkins alleged misbehavior. One of Plotkins reported gaffes was his warning to an agency employee while both were walking their dogs that his bulldog was likely to try and mount her dog. Plotkin said his dog liked to hump other dogs, particularly black ones, documents said. Fleming and some members of the SAIF board interpreted the remark as offensive to women and vaguely racist. Afterward, the woman involved in the bulldog episode and three other agency employees named as witnesses to Plotkins allegedly insensitive comments said the internal report had misquoted or misconstrued their accounts. But by then, Plotkin was long gone. SAIF boardmembers informed Plotkin on May 3, 2014 they wanted him to resign. If he didnt go willingly, he would be fired. It was the first Plotkin heard that anyone had any issues with his performance. He refused to quit and complained that he was being railroaded. At a dramatic meeting of the board on May 9, Plotkin pleaded his case. About a hundred SAIF employees attended, some spoke on his behalf. Nevertheless, the board fired him after just three months on the job. Plotkin lawyered up, hiring Dana Sullivan and Andrew Altschul, prominent Portland litigators specializing in employment cases. He sued claiming wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He also alleged that the SAIF board violated the states open meetings law when the board decided Plotkins fate on a private phone call and in executive session. Plotkin named Fleming and another agency executive Chris Davie, as individual defendants. He also named his agency predecessor, Brenda Rocklin, claiming Fleming and Davie spent hours conferring with Rocklin how best to oust Plotkin. Fleming and Davie were dismissed from the case and Rocklin argued she too should be dropped. Sullivan, Plotkins attorney, said the fight with Rocklin may be moot. Its unclear whether Plotkin will continue to pursue the case given Judge Burtons favorable ruling. The case will cost SAIF more than $800,000 just to cover Plotkins back salary. He was making $325,000 year. Add benefits and legal fees, both its own and Plotkins, and SAIFs total payout will be considerably higher. SAIF officials said its too early to determine whether the insurance agency will appeal. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Workers' Compensation Oregon (Bloomberg) -- Aetna Inc.s $37 billion deal to buy rival insurer Humana Inc. was blocked by a federal judge, thwarting one of two large mergers that would reshape the U.S. health-care landscape. Aetna said it was considering an appeal. The transaction would violate antitrust laws by reducing competition among insurers, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in Washington ruled on Monday. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Aetna owes Humana a $1 billion breakup fee. The ruling is a victory for antitrust enforcement efforts initiated by the Obama administration. It may bode poorly for the planned $48 billion merger between Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp., which was challenged by the Justice Department and is awaiting a ruling. Shares of all four companies declined. If the judge blocked this deal, there is very little, if any, chance that the Anthem-Cigna deal gets cleared, Jason McGorman, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, said by e-mail. Aetna lost 2.3 percent to $119.75 at 12:56 p.m. in New York. Humana fell less than 1 percent percent to $200.05. Molina Healthcare Inc., which planned to acquire assets divested by Aetna and Humana, slumped 2.9 percent. Anthem fell 1 percent, while Cigna lost 0.5 percent. Medicare Advantage The government case against the Humana takeover focused on the market for private health plans for the elderly, known as Medicare Advantage. The U.S. argued that the combination of Aetna and Humana would eliminate competition between the insurers in 364 counties in 21 states and probably would drive up seniors premiums for Medicare Advantage plans. Aetna countered that the Medicare market is much larger than the Justice Department claims because it includes both Medicare Advantage plans and government-administered Medicare, providing more choice for seniors than the government portrayed. The insurers also offered to sell assets to Molina Healthcare to guard against any risk to competition. Bates sided with the government, writing that data showed there are seniors who prefer Medicare Advantage and would be unlikely to switch to original Medicare if prices for Medicare Advantage plans rose. The head-to-head competition between Aetna and Humana benefits these seniors with broader networks and lower costs, Bates said. The companies proposal to restore competition by selling assets to Molina was insufficient, the judge said. Unpersuasive Rebuttal The companies rebuttal arguments are unpersuasive: Federal regulation would likely be insufficient to prevent the merged firm from raising prices or reducing benefits, and neither entry by new competitors nor the proposed divestiture to Molina would suffice to replace competition eliminated by the merger, Bates wrote. Aetna and Humana will probably turn to other deals to expand, said John Gorman the founder of the Gorman Health Group consultancy. They may look to acquire smaller rivals that specialize in Medicaid, such as Molina, Centene Corp. or WellCare Health Plans Inc. Both these companies have a ton of capital to deploy, he said. Medicaid is really where all the action is going to be. Thats because states are increasingly turning to private companies to help manage costs in the government health program for the poor, a trend that some of President Donald Trumps health-care proposals could accelerate. Merger Critic The American Medical Association, which opposed the merger, applauded the judges decision. Elderly patients were the big winners today, said Andrew Gurman, the groups president. Aetnas strategy to eliminate head-to-head competition with rival Humana posed a clear and present threat to the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care for millions of seniors. The other part of the governments case focused on lost competition on the insurance exchanges set up under Obamacare in 17 counties in three states: Florida, Georgia and Missouri. After being sued, Aetna withdrew from those exchanges, and the U.S. asserted that the pullout was meant to avoid scrutiny by the court. Aetnas lawyers said the withdrawal was prompted by financial losses. Bates ultimately accepted the governments claim, saying the pullout was designed to improve the companys litigation position. The judge said Aetna is likely to return to the Florida market and that the merger would reduce competition there. Aetna signaled that it may appeal. Were reviewing the opinion now and giving serious to consideration to an appeal after putting forward a compelling case, T.J. Crawford, an Aetna spokesman, said. A Humana spokesman didnt respond to a request for comment. The Obama Justice Department thwarted several mega-mergers, including Comcast Corp.s attempted takeover of Time Warner Cable Inc., Halliburton Co.s deal for Baker Hughes Inc. and AT&T Inc.s bid for T-Mobile US Inc. The Trump administration is taking over investigations into AT&Ts deal for Time Warner Inc. and Bayer AGs proposed combination with Monsanto Co. Presidential Debate Schedule Debate Date Moderator Location First Presidential Tuesday, Sept. 29 Chris Wallace Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Vice Presidential Wednesday, Oct. 7 Susan Page The University of Utah, Salt Lake City Second Presidential CANCELED Steve Scully Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami Third Presidential Thursday, Oct. 22 Kristen Welker Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn. On Oct. 2, six days before the vice presidential debate, the White House announced that President Donald Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tested negative. Both candidates are in their 70s and more vulnerable to the virus. The news intensified voters focus on the Oct. 7 vice presidential debate, where they got a chance to measure the leadership abilities of the two relatively younger candidates for vice president: Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Kamala Harris. First Presidential Debate The first presidential debate proceeded for 90 minutes without commercial interruptions. Commercials were the only type of interruptions not prominently featured throughout the evening. The debate on Sept. 29, 2020, was meant to be a discussion of six preannounced topics: The Trump and Biden Records, The Supreme Court, COVID-19, The Economy, Race and Violence in our Cities, and The Integrity of the Election. While these topics were introduced, little in the way of concrete policy was mentioned as Trump and Biden furiously chimed in with near-constant interruptions. Moderator Chris Wallace struggled to keep the candidates on topic and following the rules throughout the debate. Wallace had to remind Trump multiple times that his campaign had agreed that both candidates would get two minutes of uninterrupted speaking at the beginning of each topic, and at one point became so exasperated by both candidates interrupting that he exclaimed: Gentlemen, I hate to raise my voice, but ... why should I be different than the two of you? Wallace even lapsed into sarcasm at one point, saying to Trump, You know, sir, if you want to switch seats, we could very quickly can [sic] do that. While very little specific policy was proposed, the topics of the debate were addressed in broad strokes. Supreme Court: Biden argued that the 2020 voters should decide who should fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, while Trump said the 2016 election voters had already decided. Biden argued that the 2020 voters should decide who should fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, while Trump said the 2016 election voters had already decided. COVID-19: Biden said Trump had done a terrible and disorganized job handling the pandemic. Trump disagreed and said things would have been far worse under Biden. Biden said Trump had done a terrible and disorganized job handling the pandemic. Trump disagreed and said things would have been far worse under Biden. Economy: Wallace asked if the economy would have a V-shaped recovery or a K-shaped one. Trump argued that the economy has bounced back nicely and will continue to do so, while Biden argued that was not the case. Wallace asked if the economy would have a V-shaped recovery or a K-shaped one. Trump argued that the economy has bounced back nicely and will continue to do so, while Biden argued that was not the case. Race and Violence in our Cities: Trump believes he has united people and that the increase in crime in a number of cities throughout the U.S. is a result of the policies of Democratic mayors. Wallace pointed out that this increase happened even in cities with Republican mayors. Biden said that while he emphatically does not support defunding the police, he thinks the solution to crime and racial strife is community policing. Trump believes he has united people and that the increase in crime in a number of cities throughout the U.S. is a result of the policies of Democratic mayors. Wallace pointed out that this increase happened even in cities with Republican mayors. Biden said that while he emphatically does not support defunding the police, he thinks the solution to crime and racial strife is community policing. The Trump and Biden Records: Biden touted his plan to create jobs through investment in alternative energy. Trump said he was lying and that Biden was promoting the Green New Deal. Biden countered by saying he did not support it. Biden touted his plan to create jobs through investment in alternative energy. Trump said he was lying and that Biden was promoting the Green New Deal. Biden countered by saying he did not support it. Election Integrity: Biden encouraged people to vote and said that voting matters, while Trump alleged that there is widespread voter fraud through voting by mail without presenting proof. When asked if they will accept the election result, Biden said yes, while Trump did not give a definitive answer. Vice Presidential Debate Vice President Mike Pence and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris clashed on Oct. 7, 2020, over Trumps handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the management of the U.S. economy, taxes, race relations, and the Supreme Court. The debate, moderated by Susan Page of USA Today, was civil compared to the chaos of the first presidential debate, but it still was marked by scathing attacks from each candidate. The mood was lightened when an errant fly landed on Pences head and sat there for the first minutes. Here are the highlights. Coronavirus Pandemic: Harris called the management of the pandemic the greatest failure of any presidential administration in American history. She recounted COVID-19 statistics showing 210,000 Americans dead and millions infected. She outlined the pandemics economic fallout, and the fact that Trump knew about the potential severity of the disease and didnt tell you. Pence defended the presidents initial pandemic responses, including: suspending all travel to and from China, and using federal authority to accelerate the production of medical equipment and research to fight the virus. He said there will be a vaccine by years end. Harris called the management of the pandemic the greatest failure of any presidential administration in American history. She recounted COVID-19 statistics showing 210,000 Americans dead and millions infected. She outlined the pandemics economic fallout, and the fact that Trump knew about the potential severity of the disease and didnt tell you. Pence defended the presidents initial pandemic responses, including: suspending all travel to and from China, and using federal authority to accelerate the production of medical equipment and research to fight the virus. He said there will be a vaccine by years end. Economy: Pence credited Trump with cutting taxes and regulations to reignite an economy suffering from the weakest growth since the Great Depression. He said the economy today is poised for a rapid, V-shaped recovery. Pence claimed Biden will hike taxes if elected. Harris reiterated Bidens public statements that he would not raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year. Harris criticized Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, saying it gave major tax cuts (totaling $1.5 trillion) largely to wealthy Americans. She argued that the economy under Trump was benefiting from the rebound engineered during the Obama administration. She outlined several Biden proposals for renewable energy, infrastructure, and college education that would grow the economy. Pence credited Trump with cutting taxes and regulations to reignite an economy suffering from the weakest growth since the Great Depression. He said the economy today is poised for a rapid, V-shaped recovery. Pence claimed Biden will hike taxes if elected. Harris reiterated Bidens public statements that he would not raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year. Harris criticized Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, saying it gave major tax cuts (totaling $1.5 trillion) largely to wealthy Americans. She argued that the economy under Trump was benefiting from the rebound engineered during the Obama administration. She outlined several Biden proposals for renewable energy, infrastructure, and college education that would grow the economy. Supreme Court: Pence defended the right of Trump to select the next Supreme Court justice so close to the presidential election, while Harris said the Supreme Court choice should be decided by the next, newly elected president. Pence defended the right of Trump to select the next Supreme Court justice so close to the presidential election, while Harris said the Supreme Court choice should be decided by the next, newly elected president. China/Foreign Policy: Pence blamed the coronavirus pandemic on China and the World Health Organization, saying, We will hold China accountable for the coronavirus. Pence said Trumps trade war is crucial to cut the trade deficit and that electing Biden would be surrendering to China. Harris argued that the trade war had led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. In foreign policy, she said that Biden would collaborate with our allies, instead of betraying our friends and embracing dictators as she said Trump has done. Pence blamed the coronavirus pandemic on China and the World Health Organization, saying, We will hold China accountable for the coronavirus. Pence said Trumps trade war is crucial to cut the trade deficit and that electing Biden would be surrendering to China. Harris argued that the trade war had led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. In foreign policy, she said that Biden would collaborate with our allies, instead of betraying our friends and embracing dictators as she said Trump has done. Racism: Harris said Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker who was shot and killed by police in her home in Louisville, Ky., did not receive justice in a grand jurys recent decision. Harris said she supported peaceful protests for police reform and racial justice, and she proposed broad bias training for police officers. Pence defended the grand jury in the Taylor case and condemned riots and looting in the U.S. in recent months. Harris said Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker who was shot and killed by police in her home in Louisville, Ky., did not receive justice in a grand jurys recent decision. Harris said she supported peaceful protests for police reform and racial justice, and she proposed broad bias training for police officers. Pence defended the grand jury in the Taylor case and condemned riots and looting in the U.S. in recent months. Presidential Health and Succession: Though the vice president is first in line of succession if a president dies, neither Pence nor Harris would answer the moderators question about whether they have talked to their running mates about plans if they die or are unable to perform their duties. Second Scheduled Presidential Debate The second presidential debate was scheduled to be held on Oct. 15, 2020, in the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, but it was canceled after it had been changed to a virtual event. Trump said he would not participate in a virtual event. Bidens campaign said it would be available. Biden scheduled a town hall meeting that was broadcast on ABC News on Oct. 15, 2020, at 8 p.m. EDT. NBC News hosted a town hall event with Trump at the same time on the same day. Final Presidential Debate The second and final presidential debate on Oct. 22, 2020, was a stark contrast to the first, thanks in part to the addition of a mute button designed to prevent interruptions. The result was a more subdued and substantive exchange between the candidates. Topics presented by moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News included COVID-19, National Security, American Families and the Economy, Immigration, Race in America, Climate Change, and Leadership. In sharp contrast to the first debate, the candidates largely stayed on topic, with the exception being long digressions by Trump concerning a conspiracy theory about Bidens son, Hunter. Whether the debate will matter is an open question since at the time of the debate, 50 million voters had already cast their ballots. Fighting COVID-19: Trump, noting his recent recovery from the virus as a positive sign, praised his administrations response to the pandemic. He also said that further lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19 would cause more damage than the pandemic, saying, We cant close up our nation or youre not going to have a nation. He incorrectly claimed that the pandemic was going away. The number of new COVID-19 cases is rising, not falling. Biden said the president had no national strategy for dealing with the pandemic and had misled Americans about the danger of COVID-19. Biden then incorrectly stated that COVID-19 infection rates are predominantly rising in red states. Rates of COVID-19 infection are rising in most states, both Republican- and Democrat-run. Anyone whos responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America, Biden said. Biden also said that preventing COVID-19 deaths and helping the economy recover were not a tradeoff, and that businesses and schools could reopen and the spread of the virus could be halted given enough resources. National Security: Regarding foreign interference in U.S. elections, Biden said, I made it clear that any country, no matter who it is, that interferes in American elections will pay a price. Trump continuously raised a conspiracy theory alleging that Biden enriched himself through corruption in Russia and China. A report by Senate Republicans released in late September found that there was no evidence to substantiate any allegations of improper conduct by Biden. Trump then said that he had convinced North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations to pay more to guard against Russia. Biden responded by saying, I have not taken a penny from any foreign source ever in my life, then accused Trump of embracing guys like the thugs like in North Korea. Trump defended his attempts to deal with North Korea by saying it was important to have a good relationship with leaders of other countries. Biden retorted by saying, We had a good relationship with Hitler before he in fact invaded Europe, the rest of Europe. He also said he would meet with Kim Jong Un only on the condition that North Korea draw down its nuclear arsenal. American Families and the Economy: Trump, noting that he had gotten rid of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate, said the ACA was no good and that he would replace it with a much better plan. He declined to give details on what this plan was. He incorrectly said that Biden proposed ending private health insurance and implementing single-payer healthcare. Biden said that his plan would offer people the option to have public health insurance, not replace private insurance as under the Medicare for All plan. He promised that nobody would lose private insurance under his healthcare plan, which he called Bidencare. Each candidate accused the others party of being the one that was holding up further stimulus and relief. Biden argued that raising the minimum wage would not hurt small businesses and would be helpful to the economy. Trump said that the minimum wage ought to vary more on a state-by-state basis and that raising it on a federal level would hurt small businesses. Immigration: On immigration, Biden acknowledged that the Obama-Biden administration had been unable to pass immigration reform. Trump was asked what he would do to reunite 545 children whose parents cannot be located after his administration separated them under his now-reversed zero-tolerance policy. Trump said that his administration was trying very hard to find those parents. Biden called the situation criminal. Trump pointed out that the Obama administration had also used detention facilities with cages. Biden said that in his first 100 days as president, he would send a bill to Congress that would grant a pathway to citizenship for the Dreamers and recertify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Race in America: Biden discussed the talk that Black parents have with their children about relationships with police and other authorities, saying not enough progress had been made on combating racism. He then accused Trump of making racism in the U.S. worse. Trump said the former vice president had 47 years to make substantive policy changes to address racism and never did, adding that the 1994 crime bill did great harm to the Black community. Biden said that the crime bills he had supported in the past were mistakes, that mandatory minimum sentences should be eliminated, and that drug addiction should be treated with rehabilitation rather than jail time. Citing the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform law passed during his term, Trump claimed that Nobody has done more for the Black community than Donald Trumpadding the caveat with the exception of Abraham Lincoln. Climate Change: Trump incorrectly claimed that Biden had said he was going to ban fracking. Biden had previously advocated banning fracking on federal land, and restated that position during the debate. Biden also stated his support for natural gas as a transitional fuel source. At one point, Biden said he planned to transition from oil to renewable energy. Trump seized on that moment, saying, Will you remember that, Texas? Will you remember that, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma? Trump again said that Biden supports the Green New Deal, which Trump said would cost $100 trillion. Biden said that was incorrect and that he has his own environmental plan, which differs substantially from the Green New Deal. Leadership: Responding to a question about how he would address America following his inauguration, Trump said, We have to make our country totally successful, as it was prior to the plague coming in from China. Now were rebuilding it and were doing record numbers, 11.4 million jobs in a short period of time. He then discussed how he felt he had the ability to bring America together based on the fact that before the pandemic, I was getting calls from people that were not normally people that would call me. They wanted to get together. Bidens response to the same question was, Im the American president. I represent all of you whether you voted for me or against me. And Im going to make sure that youre represented. Im going to give you hope. Were going to move. Were going to choose science over fiction. Were going to choose hope over fear. Were going to choose to move forward because we have enormous opportunities, enormous opportunities to make things better. The joys of self-employment are many, but so are the stressors. High among those is the need to plan for retirement entirely on your own. You are in charge of creating a satisfying quality of life post-retirement. When it comes to building that life, the earlier you start, the better. Luckily, there are several retirement plans for those who are self-employed. Key Takeaways For self-employed workers, setting up a retirement plan is a do-it-yourself job. There are four available plans tailored for the self-employed: one-participant 401(k), SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and Keogh plan. Health savings plans (HSAs) and traditional and Roth IRAs are two more supplemental options. Growth in Self-Employment Upwork's 2021 Freelance Forward survey found that 36% of the U.S. workforce are freelancers, contributing $1.3 trillion to the U.S. economy. That's up from $100 million in 2020. The percent of workers has held steady for a year, but the type of work is changing. There was a drop in temporary workers and an increase in skilled freelancing. While this entrepreneurial spirit is to be applauded, less laudable is the fact that 30% of those who are self-employed save for retirement sporadically while 15% arent even saving at all. That is a problem. If you are self-employed, you are busy but retirement savings must be a priority. Why Saving Is Hard for the Self-Employed The reasons for not saving toward retirement wont be a surprise to any self-employed person. The most common include: Lack of steady income Paying off major debts Healthcare expenses Education expenses Costs of running the business Setting up a retirement plan is a do-it-yourself job, just like everything else an entrepreneur undertakes. No human resources (HR) staffer is going to walk you through the company-sponsored 401(k) plan application. There are no matching contributions, no shares of company stock, and no automatic payroll deductions. Youll have to be highly disciplined in contributing to the plan and, because the amount you can put in your retirement accounts depends on how much you earn, you wont know until the end of the year how much you can contribute. Still, if freelancers have unique challenges when saving for retirement, they have unique opportunities, too. Funding your retirement account can be considered part of your business expenses, as is any time or money you spend on establishing and administering the plan. Even more important, a retirement account allows you to make pretax contributions, which lowers your taxable income. Many retirement plans for the self-employed allow you, as a business owner, to contribute more money annually than you could to an individual IRA. Self-Employed Retirement Saving Plans There are four retirement savings options favored by the self-employed. Some are single-player 401(k) plans, while others are based on individual retirement accounts (IRAs). They are: One-participant 401(k) SEP IRA SIMPLE IRA Keogh plan With all four of these options, your contributions are tax-deductible, and you wont pay taxes as they grow over the years (until you cash out at retirement). Their complexity and suitability vary, depending on the size of your business, both in terms of personnel and earnings. Lets look at each in more depth. To avoid penalties with any of these plans, youll need to leave your savings in the account until you are 59. However, there are certain hardship exemptions. One-Participant 401(k) A one-participant 401(k), as its officially dubbed by the IRS, also goes by the names solo 401(k), solo-k, uni-k, or individual 401(k). It is reserved for sole proprietors with no employees, other than a spouse working for the business. How a Solo 401(k) Works The one-participant plan closely mirrors the 401(k)s offered by many larger companies, down to the amounts you can contribute each year. The big difference is that you get to contribute as the employee and the employer, giving you a higher limit than many other tax-advantaged plans. So if you participate in a standard corporate 401(k), you would make investments as a pretax payroll deduction from your paycheck, and your employer has the option of matching those contributions up to certain amounts. You get a tax break for your contribution, and the employer gets a tax break for its match. With a one-participant 401(k) plan, you can contribute in each capacity, as an employee (called an elective deferral) and as a business owner (an employee non-elective contribution). Elective deferrals for 2022 can be up to $20,500, or $27,000 if age 50 or older. Total contributions to the plan cannot exceed $61,000, or $67,500 for people age 50 or older as of 2022. If your spouse works for you, they can also make contributions up to the same amount, and then you can match those. So you see why the solo 401(k) offers the most generous contribution limits of the plans. Setting Up a Solo 401(k) Some paperwork is required, but its not too onerous. To establish an individual 401(k), a business owner has to work with a financial institution, which may impose fees and limits as to what investments are available in the plan. Some plans may limit you to a fixed list of mutual funds, but a little bit of shopping will turn up many reputable and well-known firms that offer low-cost plans with a great deal of flexibility. Generally, 401(k)s are complex plans, with significant accounting, administration, and filing requirements, says James B. Twining, CFP, founder and wealth manager of Financial Plan. However, a solo 401(k) is quite simple. Until the assets exceed $250,000, there is no filing required at all. Yet a solo 401(k) has all the major tax advantages of a multiple-participant 401(k) plan: The before-tax contribution limits and tax treatment are identical. Order your copy of the print edition of Investopedia's Retirement Guide for more assistance in building the best plan for your retirement. SEP IRA Officially known as a simplified employee pension, a SEP IRA is a variation on a traditional IRA. As the easiest plan to establish and operate, its an excellent option for sole proprietors, though it also allows for one or more employees. How a SEP IRA Works The employer alone contributes to a SEP IRAnot employees. So, unlike the solo 401(k), youd only contribute wearing your employer hat. You can contribute up to 25% of your net earnings (defined as your annual profit less half of your self-employment taxes), up to a maximum of $58,000 in 2021 (increasing to $61,000 in 2022). The plan also offers flexibility to vary contributions, make them in a lump sum at the end of the year, or skip them altogether. There is no annual funding requirement. Its simplicity and flexibility make the plan most desirable for one-person businesses, but theres a catch if you have people working for you. Although you do not have to contribute to the plan each year, when you do contribute, you need to do so for all of your eligible employeesup to 25% of their compensation, limited to $305,000 in 2022. While SEP IRAs are simple, they are not necessarily the most effective means of saving for retirement. You can contribute more to a SEP IRA than a solo 401(k), excluding the profit-sharing, but you must make enough money since its based on the percentage of profits, says Joseph Anderson, CFP, president of Pure Financial Advisors. Setting Up a SEP IRA The account is simpler to set up than a solo 401(k). You can easily open a SEP IRA online at brokerages such as TD Ameritrade or Fidelity Investments. SIMPLE IRA Officially known as the savings incentive match plan for employees, a SIMPLE IRA is a cross between an IRA and a 401(k) plan. Although available to sole proprietors, it works best for small businesses. Companies with 100 or fewer employees that might find other sorts of plans too expensive. How A SIMPLE IRA Works The SIMPLE IRA follows the same investment, rollover, and distribution rules as a traditional or SEP IRA, except for its lower contribution thresholds. You can put all your net earnings from self-employment in the plan, up to a maximum of $14,000 in 2022, plus an additional $3,000 if you are 50 or older. Employees can contribute along with employers in the same annual amounts. As the employer, however, you are required to contribute dollar for dollar up to 3% of each participating employee's income to the plan each year or a fixed 2% contribution to every eligible employee's income whether they contribute or not. Like a 401(k) plan, the SIMPLE IRA is funded by taxdeductible employer contributions and pretax employee contributions. In a way, the employer's obligation is less. That's because employees make contributions even though there is that mandated matching. And the amount you (as the employer) can contribute for yourself is subject to the same contribution limit as the employees. Early withdrawal penalties are hefty at 25% within the first two years of the plan. Setting Up a SIMPLE IRA As with other IRAs, you must open these plans with a financial institution, which have rules as to what kinds of investments can be purchased. They may also charge plan administration and participation fees. The process is similar to a SEP IRA, but the paperwork is more complicated. Keogh Plan The Keogh or HR 10 plan (more commonly referred to today as a qualified or profit-sharing plan) is arguably the most complex for self-employed workers. But it also allows for the most potential retirement savings. How a Keogh Works Keogh plans usually can take the form of a defined-contribution plan, in which a fixed sum or percentage is contributed every pay period. In 2022, you can contribute up to 25% of compensation or $61,000. Another option, though, allows them to be structured as defined-benefit plans. In 2022, the maximum annual benefit was set at $245,000 or 100% of the employees compensation, whichever is lower. A business must be unincorporated and set up as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or partnership to use a Keogh plan. Although all contributions are made on a pretax basis, there may be a vesting requirement. These plans benefit high earners, especially the defined-benefit version, which allows greater contributions than any other plan. Setting Up a Keogh Keogh Plans have federal filing requirements, which can mean complex paperwork. As a result, it's best to seek professional help from an accountant, investment advisor, or financial institution. Your options for custodians may be more limited than with other retirement plans, which means you'll probably need a brick-and-mortar institution rather than an online-only service. Charles Schwab is one brokerage that offers and services these plans. A Keogh is best suited for firms with a single high-earning boss or two and several lower-earning employeesas in the case of a medical or legal practice. Health Savings Account (HSA) As a freelancer, you may have to pay for your health insurance. The deductibles for individual medical plans tend to be high. If thats your situation, consider opening a health savings account (HSA). Though created for medical expenses rather than retirement years, an HSA can function as a de facto retirement account. How a Health Savings Account Works HSAs are funded with pretax dollars, and the money within them grows tax-deferred as with an IRA or a 401(k). While the funds are meant to be withdrawn for out-of-pocket medical costs, they dont have to be, so you can let them accumulate year after year. Once you reach age 65, you can withdraw them for any reason. If its a medical one (either current or to reimburse yourself for old costs), its still tax-free. If its a non-medical expense, you are taxed at your current rate. To open an HSA, you have to be covered by a high-deductible health insurance plan (HDHP). For 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) defines a high deductible as $1,400 per individual and $2,800 per family. Also, the annual out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles, co-payments, but not premiums, must not exceed $7,050 for self-only coverage or $14,100 for family coverage for 2022. The annual contribution limit for 2022 contribution limit is $3,650 for individuals and $7,300 for families. People age 55 and older are allowed a $1,000 catch-up contribution. Traditional or Roth IRA If none of the above plans seems a good fit, you can start your own individual IRA. Both Roth and traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are available to anyone with employment income, including freelancers. Roth IRAs let you contribute after-tax dollars, while traditional IRAs let you contribute pretax dollars. In 2022, the maximum annual contribution is $6,000, $7,000 if you are age 50 or older, or your total earned income, whichever is less. Most freelancers work for someone else before striking out on their own. If you had a retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) with a former employer, the best way to manage the accumulated savings is often to transfer them to a rollover IRA or a one-participant 401(k). Rolling over allows you to choose how to invest the money rather than being limited by the choices in an employer-sponsored plan. Also, the transferred sum can jump-start you into saving in your new entrepreneurial career. Managing Your Retirement Funds It's important to start saving for retirement as soon as you begin earning income, even if you can't afford to save that much at the beginning. The sooner you begin, the more you'll accumulate, thanks to the miracle of compounding. As your savings build, you may want to get the help of a financial advisor to determine the best way to apportion your funds. Some companies even offer free or low-cost retirement planning advice to clients. Robo-advisors such as Betterment and Wealthfront provide automated planning and portfolio building as a low-cost alternative to human financial advisors. The Bottom Line Creating a retirement strategy is vitally important when you are a freelancer because theres no one looking out for your retirement but you. Thats why your mantra should be pay yourself first. Many people think of retirement money as the money they put away if there is any cash left at the end of the month or year. Thats paying yourself last, says David Blaylock, CFP, head of advice and planner compliance at Origin. Paying yourself first means saving before you do anything else. Try and set aside a certain portion of your income the day you get paid before you spend any discretionary money. Key Takeaways Adjusted EPS of $0.76 vs. the $0.59 analysts expected. Revenue sharply exceeded consensus estimates. Vehicle production rose significantly YOY. What Happened Tesla's Q3 FY 2020 exceeded analyst expectations across multiple categories, as the company posted what it described as a "record quarter on many levels." Adjusted EPS of $0.76 shattered consensus estimates of $0.59; the actual figure marked an increase of 105.4% YOY. Revenue of $8.8 billion solidly beat analyst expectations of $8.2 billion for the quarter. Tesla released vehicle production figures prior to its October 21 earnings report, and this figure exceeded analyst predictions as well. With this quarter's strong earnings, Tesla seems poised to continue to grow and dominate the electric vehicle space going forward. S&P Dow Jones Indices. "Tesla Set to Join S&P 500 & 100; Apartment Income REIT to Join S&P MidCap 400." Click on the article title to open PDF. Accessed Dec. 11, 2020. (Below is Investopedia's original earnings preview, published October 16, 2020.) What to Look For Tesla Inc. (TSLA)'s stock has risen by nine-fold in the past year as its market value has soared to $420 billion amid growing optimism about the electric automaker's future. Tesla, the world's largest automaker by market value, also handsomely beat estimates for vehicle deliveries in Q2 FY 2020 as it posted its fourth consecutive profitable quarter. Investors will be watching to see if Tesla can continue its streak of profitability when it reports earnings on October 21, 2020 for Q3 FY 2020. Analysts estimate that Tesla will report sizable year-over-year (YOY) gains in revenue and adjusted earnings per share (EPS). In the upcoming report, investors also will look closely at Tesla's key metric of vehicle production, which fell in Q2 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic expanded in the U.S. and globally. This figure is an important indicator of the company's ability to scale up its production to meet surging customer demand. Tesla, which reports these numbers early, blew past analysts' estimates as it boosted production by 50.7% during the quarter. Tesla has dramatically outpaced the stock market, providing a 1-year trailing total return of 770.3%, about 47 times the S&P 500's total return for the same period. Source: TradingView. Tesla historically has posted highly erratic earnings performance, reporting mostly EPS declines or losses over the eight quarters through Q2 FY 2019. Tesla then produced four straight quarters of profits through Q2 FY 2020, further boosting its stock on investor optimism that Tesla would be included in the S&P 500 index. The company's shares plunged in September after the company was passed over for inclusion in the index, but the stock has since recovered nearly all of that decline. Analysts estimate adjusted EPS will rise 57.8% in Q3 2020. While that growth is strong, nonetheless it would mark a deceleration compared to Q1 and Q2 FY 2020, both of which swung back to positive EPS after quarterly losses a year prior. By contrast, Tesla's revenue performance has been more stable. In the past three years, the company has posted robust quarterly revenue growth in all but two quarters, when it posted modest YOY declines. One of those quarters was Q2 FY 2020, when revenue fell 4.9%. Analysts expect revenue to rebound in Q3 FY 2020, jumping 30.2% to $8.2 billion. That quarterly revenue for Q3 FY 2020 would be about 150% bigger than the same quarter in 2017, a reflection of the company's rapid growth. What Is an Emolument? An emolument is compensation, based on time and length of activity, for employment, services, or holding office, and is generally used in a legal context. Key Takeaways An emolument is compensation, based on time and length of activity, for employment, services, or holding office and is generally used in a legal context. Emolument is derived from the Latin term "emolumentum," which could mean either effort or labor, or benefit, gain, or profit. Article I, section 9 of the U.S. Constitution is often referred to as the "Emoluments Clause," since it forbids U.S. officeholders from accepting "any present, emolument, office, or title" from a foreign country. The Emoluments Clause in the U.S. Constitution seeks to prevent foreign influence, domestic influence, and influence of one branch of government on another. Understanding an Emolument The word "emolument" is derived from the Latin term "emolumentum," which had a dual meaning. On the one hand, it meant effort or labor. The other meaning was a benefit, gain, or profit. It may have originally meant the sum paid to a miller for grinding a customer's wheat. Emoluments can vary depending on the type and length of service being performed. The word is archaic and little used today, except in legal contexts, particularly when it pertains to the Emoluments Clause in the U.S. Constitution, which was established in order to safeguard the nation from corruption, foreign influence, and any other influence not in the best interest of the country. Emoluments Clause in the U.S. Constitution Emolument is commonly used in constitutional law, where it refers to Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution: "No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state." There is also a "Domestic Emoluments Clause" (Article II, Section 1) that states: "The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them." There's also a third clause that mentions emoluments, known as the "Ineligibility Clause" (Article 1, Section 6). "No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office." Purpose of the Emoluments Clause The idea behind the Emoluments Clause is to prevent certain individuals, primarily those in a government office, from personally profiting from their unique and elevated position in society. The Foreign Emoluments Clause is in place to prevent foreign influence in the U.S. government and any other corruption. It derives from the practice of gift-giving that European officials used to practice when visiting foreign leaders. In this manner, the prevention of receiving a gift or any other compensation removes any influence on the would-be recipient of the gift. The purpose of the Domestic Emoluments Clause is to preserve the independence of the President, and similarly, remove any influence on them by the ability to adjust their salary. The Ineligibility Emoluments Clause serves a similar function, primarily to separate the branches of power, and to prevent Presidential influence on the legislature. History of the Emoluments Clause St. George Tucker, a late 18th- and early 19th-century professor of law, traced the rationale behind the Emoluments Clause to the aftermath of the English Civil War (16421651), when "almost all [Charles II] officers of state were either actual pensioners of the court of France, or supposed to be under its influence, directly, or indirectly, from that cause." Alexander Hamilton expressed concern that the same situation could occur in the newly formed United States. He said, "One of the weak sides of republics, among their numerous advantages, is that they afford too easy an inlet to foreign corruption." Prior to the drafting of the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation contained a version of the Emoluments Clause (Article VI). But when the monarchs of Spain and France made lavish gifts to American diplomats, Congress approved the gifts after the fact, temporarily waiving the law. For example, Louis XVI gave a diamond-encrusted portrait of himself to Benjamin Franklin in 1785. Two years later, the Emoluments Clause explicitly mentioned Congress's ability to approve gifts, which the Articles of Confederation had not addressed. During World War II, Congress passed a law permitting members of the military to accept foreign donations. Denmark's King Christian X, for example, knighted Dwight D. Eisenhower and inducted him into the 600-year-old Order of the Elephant. Emoluments Clause Lawsuits Since 2016, three lawsuits have been filed against former President Donald Trump, alleging violations of the Foreign Emoluments clause related to payments by foreign governments for services at Trump-owned properties or licensing agreements with Trump business entities. On January 25, 2021, the United States Supreme Court brought an end to pending lawsuits over whether Trump illegally profited off his presidency. According to the Supreme Court, the cases are no longer relevant now that Trump is no longer in office. Based on our research, Donald Trump seems to be the only president to date who has faced accusations of violating the Foreign Emoluments Clause, making it an area of law that has rarely been explored in history. Top News - Investor Idea A Boat-full of Potential - Renewed Interest in the Cruise Industry Bolsters Luxury Markets (OTC: MASN) (NYSE: CCL) (NYSE: CUK) (NYSE: RCL) (NYSE: NCLH) Vancouver, Kelowna, Delta, BC - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering luxury goods and cruise ship stocks releases a special report featuring Maison Luxe, Inc. (OTC: MASN), a company that offers luxury retail consumer items. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) AI Driven Financial Technology Patent Application Received a Notice of Publication San Diego, CA - November 3, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) received a notice of publication for its financial software patent application. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea 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. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures $3.8M Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA from Italy CAVE CREEK, Az. - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-based, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured a new $3.8 million USD order for its newly acquired, non-nicotine based vape product, HYLA from customers in Italy. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire Wanting to help his girlfriend led to an invention with global possibilities, Dr Aonghus Shortt tells Trish Dromey. In a grand romantic gesture of a most unusual kind, Dublin entrepreneur Aonghus Shortt did much more than go get antacids for his girlfriend when she had digestive problems he invented the worlds first personal digestive tracker and set up a company to produce it. Three years on, the company called FoodMarble has a staff of four. It is taking pre-orders for the device which is scheduled for release in August, and Dr Shortt is working on raising 1m to develop the business internationally. In 2014, he was finishing a PhD in electrical engineering when his girlfriends concern about digestive issues led him to research digestive problems and the type of technology being used to diagnose them. I discovered that gastroenterologists were using large expensive machines which analysed breath to determine which food components individuals had difficulty digesting, said Dr Shortt, explaining that Aire, the handheld device he developed, is a miniature version of this. He began tinkering casually with the technology at the kitchen table but six months on, he realised that the project had commercial potential. Research showed him that one in eight people worldwide has highly disruptive digestive disorders caused by difficulties in digesting food components, mainly lactose and fructose. Dr Shortt identified huge global opportunities for a company able to develop the first handheld consumer device, which individuals could use to identify the foodstuffs causing their problems and reduce or eliminate them from their diet. By the end of 2015, he had a working prototype as well as an app which is used in conjunction with the device. Establishing FoodMarble in Dublin in early 2016, he recruited a team of five and secured a place on the HAX accelerator programme in China the largest hardware accelerator programme in the world. This allowed me to advance the prototype, build a business model, and think about routes to market. It also brought in $100,000 in funding,he said, adding that he carried out small-scale testing at the start of the year and had the Aire ready for market by July. In September, Dr Shortt launched the companys first pre-order campaign which lasted ten days. We pre-sold 500 units valued at 50,000 mainly in the US and also in Canada, the UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. To achieve this level of pre-sales, the company relied totally on social media advertising. Dr Shortt says that pre-sales were helped by the companys participation in the HAX Accelerator programme, as it gave an enormous boost to the companys credibility. In December, FoodMarble again opened up its website for pre-orders and is continuing to pre-sell them for 109 each and has since sold another 1,000 units with a value of 100,000. The company started this year with a visit to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas which has helped raise its profile. It also won the Dublin South Local Enterprise Office Best Start up award securing 15,000 in prize money and a place in the regional final of the Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur competition. Identified by Enterprise Ireland as a High Potential Start up, FoodMarble is now in discussions with manufacturers in Asia and Eastern Europe and will select one this month. In March, we will start large-scale user testing. In April, we plan to grow the team, and in August, we plan to start shipping out preorders, said Dr Shortt. In order to build the team and market Aire, the company has initiated discussions with a number of VC companies and private investors with a view to raising 1m. While the priority now is to get the devices manufactured and delivered on time, the company plans at the end of 2017 to seek recognition for Aire to be used as a medical device in the US. With the launch of the new device, Dr Shortt is aiming both to improve his girlfriends digestive problems and also to target an addressable market he estimates to be worth 8bn. Tullamore native, Dominic Doheny, who is joint managing director of John Flanagan Construction, was speaking at a meeting of Irelands leading construction executives. He said: The Government is turning to construction to deliver ambitious targets in the delivery of world-class infrastructure, housing, and the specialist buildings that attract and retain global companies to Ireland. They must set out, with industry, a growth strategy that builds our capacity to deliver the sustainable level of 25,000 housing output required annually, and the 43bn infrastructure set out in the Public Capital Programme. He added that DKM consultants estimated that achieving these targets would see the construction industry grow from 15bn to 20bn by 2020, generating 110,000 jobs. Supporting that would mean a transformative period for Ireland, he said. He warned that the price of inaction is a continuing housing and homelessness crisis, the decline of rural Ireland, and a congested capital choking under the weight of producing over 40% of Irish GDP. Mr Dohenys warnings came as engineering and consultancy firm, AECOMs 2017 review of the construction industry predicted the value of Irish construction industry output would grow by 20% in 2017, after 15% growth in 2015. John ORegan, AECOMs head of programme, cost, and consultancy in Ireland, said that Ireland needs significant infrastructure and residential spend, if it is to sustain economic growth. He said: It is clear that years of under-investment, by the private and public sectors, in physical and social infrastructure, will diminish the attractiveness of the island as an investment location, if spending is not accelerated. Construction spend should generally account for 12% of GNP, but, clearly, after the economic crash, investment fell well below that level. The investigation, undertaken by the Department of Social Protection, began with a consultation with interested parties. ICTU has estimated that around 80m a year has been lost to the exchequer from foregone tax and PRSI payments as a result of workers being wrongly classified as self-employed. In total, the estimated loss since the practice began to grow in popularity a decade ago is believed to be in excess of 650m. Many who opt to go self-employed are quite happy to do so, some eager to avail of some of the advantages. The self-employed pay their own tax, which opens up the possibility of availing of tax reliefs that are generally beyond the reach of PAYE workers, although many of these advantages have been tightened in recent years. However, there are also a large cohort that are not given a choice in the matter. Congress estimates that upwards of 30,000 sole traders are operating in the construction sector alone, with precious little checks as to whether their status is legitimate. A statement from the Department of Social Protection said the consultation closed last March and responses were received from groups representing employees, employers, professional bodies, and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, as well as individuals. These responses were fed into a draft report which is currently being discussed by the department along with the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, and which will be considered by relevant ministers in the near future. This draft looks at the broad issue of disguised employment, taking into account policy changes in Budget 2017 and how to tackle the loss to the exchequer. Noel Treanor hoped the report will help others who have been abused to find the strength and courage to come forward and report it to the authorities. The independent probe recommended compensation of up to 100,000 (115,000), funded by the state and voluntary institutions responsible for the residential homes where the harm occurred, with payments beginning later this year. Ms Mahon was employed by Henry Denny & Sons of the sausage fame, which was wholly owned by Kerry Foods in the early 1990s when she decided to find out whether or not she was an employee. Her job was to provide demonstrations of Denny products in supermarkets. She was one of 70 people employed on that basis. She had an employment contract with the company which stated: You will not be an employee of Kerry Foods, you will be providing it with your services as an independent contractor, as and when they are required, during the term of the contract. That contract included payment of 28.32 a day for her services, plus travel expenses of 27p a mile from her base in Tralee, Co Kerry. Denny provided all her equipment, food, and uniform, and if she arrived at a supermarket to find that her scheduled demonstration had been cancelled, she had to be available to work elsewhere. If there were no other demonstrations which she could attend that particular day, she only got paid for her mileage. The contract also stipulated that she had to be available for work at 24-hour notice. As far as Ms Mahon was concerned, she had been landed with all the negative aspects of self-employment and none of the positive features. She was working exclusively for Denny and was not in a position to increase her remuneration through working harder or more efficiently. She brought a case to the Department of Social Welfare (as it then was) claiming that she should be granted proper employee status. The deciding officer at the department agreed with her. Denny the appealed the ruling to the High Court, where the deciding officers decision was confirmed, and again to the Supreme Court, where the same result was returned. In his ruling, Judge Ronan Keane said that all circumstances of a contract had to be taken into account to determine whether somebody was an employee or genuine contractor. Among these were that each case should be decided with regard to the particular facts of that case. Another is that whether an individual is performing services for another person or for him or herself. He also listed some indicators that would point towards independent contractor status, including the provision of ones own premises or equipment, employing others to assist in the contract, and whether profit could be dependant on efficiency in doing the work. In light of all that, the judges ruled that in the case of Sandra Mahon versus Denny, the deciding officer at the Department of Social Welfare was perfectly entitled to rule that she was an employee. A more recent case involving veterinary inspectors went the opposite way. Five temporary veterinary inspectors were found by the Employment Appeals Tribunal to have been employees of the Department of Agriculture in their work which involved inspections at the Galtee meat plant in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. The men sought redundancy payments when Galtee closed, but the department claimed their contracts did not render them employees. In 2009, the High Court allowed an appeal by the department against the employment tribunal ruling. Judge John Edwards stated that the inspectors had not met the tests required to be classified as employees. Another recent case involves a completely different line of work, that of lapdancing. A dispute over whether lapdancers working in Stringfellows nightclub in London were employees or self-employed went all the way to the UK Court of Appeal. The dispute arose with Revenue in assessing how the dancers should be taxed. The contracts the dancers had stated that they were independent contractors responsible for their own taxes. In the end, the appeal court ruled that it is legitimate for a court to have regard to the way in which the parties have chosen to categorise the relationship, and in a case where the position is uncertain, it can be decisive. While the ruling has no effect in this jurisdiction, precedents set in the UK are often used by judges in formulating rulings. So there was general consternation on social media, and the colour certainly drained from his face, when the Big Brother runner-up was the first to be eliminated from RTEs dancing extravaganza last night, not least since his judges score of 17 was better than several others. So sad to go home but thankful for the opportunity, he managed to say as his dance partner, Emily Barker, struggled to hold back the tears. Then they took to the floor for one last turn before leaving the show forever. It had been quite a night. From Des Cahills groin confession to Des Bishops jacket, the shocks kept coming, not least for Aidan OMahony. Aidan OMahony The Kerry footballers relatively average quick-step only earned him 16 points. Maybe it had something to do with him getting a choreographed kick to the rear from his dance partner early in the performance. After all, it was rare for the All-Ireland winner to get his butt kicked by someone dressed in red and white. Speaking of colours, Des Bishops colourful jacket he seemed determined to immerse himself entirely in the music of George Michaels Club Tropicana may only have been matched by his language, with speculation rife on social media that at one point he let out an expletive when describing just how nervous he was. He neednt have been worried, scoring a very admirable 21 points from the judges. Des Bishop Namesake and sports expert Des Cahill, meanwhile, could have done with a cold sponge down the front of his shorts after admitted he had a pain in the groin after suffering a mishap in practice during the week. While judge Julian Benson said he needed to suck and tuck a little bit more, that was in reference to his abdominals rather than anything lower down and he still dubbed him Deserado. Fellow judge Brian Redmond compared Dess swinging cape to his own granny in the kitchen with a tea-towel trying to swat flies. Nonetheless, the commentator still scored an acceptable 18 for his paso doble. Perhaps the luckiest dancer was RTEs Teresa Mannion as she only got 15 points for her tango but lives to dance another day. The newsreader who famously strayed into weather forecasting did add to her public appeal when she explained that the lyrics in her song from Kelly Clarkson what doesnt kill you makes you stronger resonated with her as she sought to grasp every opportunity after her own cancer battle. Teresa Mannion Red Rock actress Denise McCormack was the star of the show, getting a standing ovation for her tango, for which she got a score of 26. Judge Lorraine Barry described it as masterclass, while Julian Benson said it was box office and described the actress as the queen of the tango. Hughies face must have fallen a little further to no longer even be monarch to the tangoed. Oran Nibbs from Trentagh in Co Donegal lost his battle with mitochondrial disease. The actor and Oran struck up a relationship when Colin took time out of promoting his film Lobster to spend an afternoon in Dublin with the seven-year-old and friends. Farrell was moved to tears after meeting the children, who all suffer from the rare and life-limiting illness. After the meeting, Farrell promised to do all he can to raise awareness of the genetic condition. He also signed up as an ambassador of the fledgling support group, The Katie Rose Foundation. During the meeting, Orans mum Ashling told how Farrell, whose own son James, suffers from neuro-genetic disorder Angelman syndrome, was so genuine. Ashling said: I couldnt believe how genuinely affected Colin was. He spent over two hours with us and was just brilliant with the children. Orans funeral mass takes place today at 11am in The Church of the Irish Marytrs, Letterkenny. The Government aims to create 135,000 jobs in rural Ireland and will focus on rural tourism with the development of greenways and blueways. Business will be encouraged through the roll-out of the Atlantic Economic Corridor to promote balanced regional development. A pilot scheme to help families and first-time buyers refurbish derelict buildings which blight rural towns and villages is also among the initiatives set out in the Governments action plan for rural development due to be launched in Ballymahon, Co Longford, today. Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who is due to unveil the plan with Minister Heather Humphreys this afternoon, said improving the lives of those living and working in rural communities is a Government priority. Our objective is to ensure the success of vibrant, rural communities across Ireland, he said. That means supporting the creation of 135,000 jobs in rural Ireland, bringing high-speed broadband to every home and business and revitalising towns and villages through 4,000 projects. The plan Realising our Rural Potential: The Action Plan for Rural Development is the first ever whole-government strategy aimed at delivering real change for people living and working in rural Ireland. Population has continued to decline in rural areas, with Census 2016 showing that Donegal saw a 1.5% fall. The plan focuses on improving job opportunities for young people in rural areas by increasing the number of apprenticeships and traineeships available locally. The accelerated roll-out of broadband is also named as a priority. An enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme, will also provide funding of around 60m in the coming year, while 50m will be pumped into sports and cultural facilities. Locals in the Oliver Plunkett Hill area warned of the risk of vehicular traffic now having access to the rear of Marian Square and St Josephs National School. Handing over a petition to Cork County Council officials, they demanded reinstatement of the bollards in the interests of health and safety, especially for schoolchildren. Cllr June Murphy presented the petition on behalf of residents to at a meeting of the Fermoy/Charleville municipal district council. Resident Anthony Fitzgerald said the bollards were provided by the council more than 20 years ago to protect children from traffic accessing a narrow road which runs up to the primary school. He admitted there had been no serious issues since the sturdy posts were removed recently but warned of a likely risk to children if vehicles resumed using the road. Assumpta Murphy, a member of the schools parents association, said when the bollards were put in place they had worked very effectively. About 90% of the parents are now walking their children to school down the laneway for safety reasons, Ms Murphy said, they want bollards re-installed. Cllr Murphy said on a visit to the area she was appalled by poor driver behaviour. She was supported by councillors Frank OFlynn and Noel McCarthy who also outlined concerns. Council engineers pointed out a pedestrian crossing and traffic calming measures were being put in place at the adjacent Beechfield Cross and the local situation would be re-examined after signalised lights go operational on this coming Thursday. The Governments International Financial Services (IFS) action plan, due to be launched today, contains numerous measures aimed at luring multinationals. Enterprise Ireland will also provide dedicated early stage investment for FinTech start-ups in Ireland of up to 500,000 in a bid to bolster the sector. Junior finance minister Eoghan Murphy said it is increasingly likely that companies accessing the single market for financial services from the UK will need a new EU base from which to do so. Ireland is the obvious location of choice for relocation and the Government stands ready to help in any way it can, he said. But its precisely because of our obvious strengths that weve suffered others talking us down, talking our capacity or our interest down. I think we must now be more assertive its time to enter a new phase of operations. The action plan includes details of third-level courses including diplomas and masters degrees in financial technology, a masters degree in international financial services law, and a diploma in aviation finance. Expanding the IFS apprenticeship programme will also be pushed by Government on in the coming year. The 2017 action plan is part of the wider IFS2020 Strategy which has an ambitious target of increasing employment in the sector by 10,000 in the coming years. Mr Murphy added: The strategys dynamic and evolving structures provide the toolkit to react to domestic and international challenges and opportunities arising over the next 12 months and beyond. The launch of the action plan comes as more than 600 delegates later in the week are due to to attend the European Financial Forum in Dublin Castle. The respected priest was censured by the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2012 for his liberal views on issues such as women priests, homosexuality, and contraception. This means he is forbidden by Church authorities to minister publicly. Yesterday marked his first public mass in five years, and the ceremony was attended by hundreds of people. It took place in a community centre near where he is now living in Athenry, Co Galway, and a marquee and large screen had to be erected outside to manage the crowds that came from around the country. Fr Flannery told the Irish Examiner: Its five years since Ive been out of ministry. I said: Why not? Theres a risk I know, there are consequences to doing something like this like excommunication and dismissal from my religious order. The Redemptorists wouldnt dismiss me but theyd be ordered to. He said while his homily was not particularly significant, the Mass and the community response to it were. Whats striking about this whole event is the response of the community, which is in a relatively traditional area, he said. The Churchs power over people, with their rules about how to behave and what to think, is gone. There are a lot of people with faith but with little respect for what the official church is doing. Commenting on his ban, Fr Flannery described it as difficult at the time but how he chose not to be silent. I never felt ashamed, he said. I chose not to be silent. It was difficult when it happened, I was 65 and spent 40 years in the Redemptorist order, to suddenly have it taken. Ive had more time to get involved in international reform groups and that has been very stimulating. The EU agency will have to leave Britain as a result of Brexit and the Government has made no secret of its desire to attract it to Ireland. Today, Mr Harris will meet with the agencys executive director, Professor Guido Rasi, and members of his team. The pursuit of happiness has preoccupied everyone from philosophers to your average wage-slave wondering how a better way of life can be achieved. Is more money the answer or more free time to focus on family, friends and hobbies? How can we improve our lives so that happiness is tangible? Chris Croft, an international freelance speaker and author of The Big Book of Happiness: 87 Practical Ideas, studied engineering at Cambridge and worked in management only to realise that it didnt make him happy. He discovered his lifes vocation as a university lecturer and then as a freelance trainer. While teaching and researching time management and assertiveness, he realised the importance of these subjects. He also discovered earning more money didnt make him any happier. This led to a fascination with happiness. Croft says human beings are probably the least happy animals even though were in charge of the world. We manage to have all this unhappiness from traffic jams to being pressurised by bosses. You just think, what are we doing? Croft is critical of much of the literature dealing with achieving success. It has been shown that money beyond a certain point wont make you any happier. I think we have forgotten that. Chris Croft wants people to think how they use their time every day. Take time to review your day by sitting back and reflecting on the good things that happened as that gives you a bit of extra happiness, he says. One of the reasons I wrote my book is because while theres books out there on happiness, theyre either very intellectual, trying to define happiness exactly. I just cant be bothered to think that hard. Then, there are the facile books, the ones that tell you to smile at the world and the world will smile at you. Im a time-management person. So I was thinking what you can do in terms of how you use your time every day. You can take time to review your day by sitting back and reflecting on the good things that happened. That gives you a bit of extra happiness. A father of two grown-up children, he says having children brings happiness because you love them. But they give you minus 40% for the grief they bring. Not having kids means you have extra time to yourself and extra money. Your body wont be so worn out. Having kids is surprisingly happiness neutral whereas having pets is happiness positive. Children are naturally happy, says Croft. But he says we reduce their happiness by the things we do to them. School, for example, is designed to break the spirit and make people ready for work and do what theyre told. Croft also looks at parenting. Parents arent trained. They just make it up as they go along. Quite often, we make mistakes bringing up kids and thats one of the reasons why people end up less happy. He points to personality drivers. Ive got one called be perfect. It means Im really fussy about things, focusing on the one thing that isnt right. I got that from my parents. Ive also got the hurry-up driver from my parents which Ive passed on to my kids. When my daughter was little and wanted me to read a story to her, I used to go: Ive got five minutes to read very quickly. So I was telling my kids that while time is important, I ended up not spending enough time on telling them bedtime stories. Passing on habits to children, good and bad, is inevitable. Croft warns against focusing on money rather than time well spent. We tell our kids theyve got to get well-paid jobs. We dont say that youve got to have a job where youre happy. My daughter, Louise (aged 25) is working in Thailand because she wants to be there. Shes not earning very much money but shes out in the sunshine on the beach a lot. Shes a digital nomad. "But my mum keeps asking, when is she going to get a proper career? Its really difficult. Theres a balance to be struck between the present and the future. Some people live completely for the present. In five or ten years, they can find themselves in a bit of difficulty. "But people who are always planning for the future forget to have fun. The thing is to find something sustainable and not to plan excessively for the future. Some peoples plan is to continue in a job they hate because theyre going to retire from it eventually. But what about their lives? Many people play out their lives on social media, but its often a fake version of reality. Its still early days with social media. It will evolve and people will become better at it. I dont really want to see constant pictures of my friends having a good time. I try to put up pictures of my life being fairly crap such as pictures of traffic jams Im sitting in. Its not about making your life look perfect. People havent realised this yet. This look at me Im so great isnt interesting. The Big Book of Happiness by Chris Croft costs 18 and 4 for the Kindle edition. Christ Crofts top happiness tips NO luggage limits, a comfy bed and plenty space to wander around a few of the highlights of taking the ferry to go on holidays. As a family weve clocked up eight summer trips to France on the ferry so weve got the planning and packing down fairly handy now. The ferry leaves Ringaskiddy in Cork on a Saturday afternoon for a weekly crossing. You arrive in Roscoff in north France the following morning around 6.30am. Return journeys leave France around 9pm on Friday evening and get to Cork on Saturday morning. Friends and colleagues have often asked some pretty odd questions about taking the ferry so Ill try to cover a few recurrent ones. No, you dont sit in your car for the journey. The cars are parked literally bumper to bumper in the lower decks and actually cannot be accessed for the duration of the journey so bring up your phone or book with you when you board. You can leave the bikes, boogieboards and all the other gear in the car. There are cabins on board these typically contain two or four-berth bunks. And theres a knack to fitting a party of five into these. The top two bunks are embedded in the ceiling to give headroom during the day and are pulled down at night. So what weve found works is to use the upper mattresses on the floor to create a double bed for three small children giving the adults the lower level bunks. Each cabin has a small toilet and shower its basic but absolutely clean and useable. Theres plenty to do on board so you might not spend too much time in the bunk room anyway. There are several bars and restaurants onboard and range from a cafeteria/buffet- style one to a fancy a-la-carte one with smoked salmon and langoustines, as well as a good wine selection. One of the restaurants links to a small soft-play area for younger children so a good few parents station themselves there for a few hours. Older children are typically keen to get into the gaming area or the cinema. There are plenty of high chairs and a microwave as well so parents of smaller kids can heat up meals. There will probably be hundreds of wildly excited children on board and every one of them knows that normal bedtime rules dont apply at sea so forget a romantic drink in a cosy bar. But there are many parents only too delighted to enjoy a beer together knowing that they have no driving to do until at least the next day. Think holidaycamp bar complete with a balloon sculptor or magician and youre on the right track. IT IS possible to get away from the bustle if you head to the spa treatment room for example and there are always plenty of people getting the haircut or nail polish they didnt have time for before leaving. There is free wi-fi on board and a shop as well. Pets can be brought on board the ferry too but not around the general area of the ship. Pet owners have a bit of organising to do beforehand due to EU regulations on pet passports but once onboard the dogs go up to the dog deck. You will feel a bit of a swell when the boat hits the open water but as someone who can feel seasick on a swing, Ive been pleasantly surprised with how gentle it is. Out of 16 crossings, weve only had one bad one. It was a return journey so I didnt really have a choice about getting on board. There was a storm in France and I expressed some reservation about taking to the ocean. My husband used words like thermals and isobars etc to reassure me that storms on land dont travel out to sea. As the waves splashed onto the windows and he saw the accusatory look on my green face, he laughed that he had to say that to get me on board. There was nothing for it but to send my husband and kids to the balloon magician and take to my bunk with a book. The ferry still arrived on time the next morning. In fact it always has and theres no Ryanair-style trumpet fanfare played either. Price You have to build your own fare so dont get too excited when you visit the website and see tickets for as little as 100. Thats the cost of a single person, one-way. You have to add in the cost of a car more for a bigger car. Then you pay to add a roof box or bike carrier. A cabin with a port-hole-style window is dearer than one without. And obviously, its cheaper to travel out of peak season. Once we got locked into travelling in school holidays it rose to around 1,500 for a family of five with a seven-seater car and five bicycles and a roof box. Disadvantages You lose a night abroad but kids typically go with the attitude that the holiday starts the moment they get out of the car onboard so maybe we should follow their lead. Some of the on-board snacks, breakfast cereals and treats are pricey but its easy enough to pack your own. Advantages You can bring as much luggage as your car can hold wetsuits, bikes, laptop, books, lego it all goes on holidays with us. And you can bring plenty wine home too. There are always dozens of Irish-reg cars at the wine merchants and at the French sports goods stores on the last day of holidays. One canny traveller hits the wine merchants on the first day and buys a selection of wines to be sampled throughout their hols they then pick up good-value cases of their favourites on the way home. For more information, go to www.brittanyferries.ie PLANE, train or automobile? Its a tough question: what is the best way to explore Europe? Well, unless your aim is to simply cross cities off a list, you can discount planes. And, unless you want to take your chances on the autobahn, you can discount the car too. That leaves us with the train. Long before a gap year in Thailand became the norm for students, interrailing was firmly enshrined as the best manner to mark an end to college life. As such, like many students in their early 20s, I opted to tackle the continent by rail, as thousands more had done before me. The journey was mapped out: Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Milan, and Nice. We allowed ourselves only one cheat flying from the southern tip of Croatia to Milan. One night on the floor of a Croatian train next to a toilet is more than enough, thank you very much. First stop, Amsterdam where the meandering canals offer a natural starting point for any Irish person tackling the wider world. Less than an hour from Cork Airport, it is a good one to tick off the bucket list for the seasoned traveller and the cautious rambler alike. And, for the latter, it eases you into the rough and tumble of life on the road (or rails), especially since most Dutch people have better English than you or I, making it nearly impossible to get lost. From there, the hedonism and history of Berlin is simply unmissable. The overnight train from the Netherlands is in a word hell, but that first taste of bratwurst and German beer after nine hours crammed into a single seat is unforgettable. As cities go, Berlin tops most others. The most unremarkable streets burst to life when you realise that a wall is, in fact, the wall. Graffiti artists tell tales of liberation, dotted between the haunts of Messrs Bowie, Pop, and Reed. From bullet-holed government buildings to unremarkable carparks, every inch of this city has a story to tell. There simply is never enough time to soak it all in. But, such is the joy of a whirlwind tour through the continent. In time-honoured tradition, most cities keep our attention for just a day or two. The German capital was the exception its sprawling streets held our gaze for five days and could have kept us 500 more, I expect. Berlin Naturally, 48 hours is not enough to so much as scratch the surface in most cities, yet the iconic haunts of Europe are more than capable of leaving an impression. You are compelled to draw a conclusion in a brief glimpse a lifetime isnt enough to take all this in, so a few days will have to do. Prague? A majestic, fairytale city. Bratislava? Soaking wet. But, our hostel was next to, of all things, a Tesco. And Slovakian beer is both cheap and strong. And so it went. City after city passing by in a muddied blur the only drawback of the sudden and continuous bombardment of different cultures which one can only get from interrailing. The overall highlights, however, are crystal clear. The landmarks from the bone chapel ruins at Kutna Hora near Prague to the Roman ruins of the Croatian coast are damn near unforgettable, as are the people. There are few more memorable experiences than arguing with German taxi drivers at 4am What do you mean you dont know where the Brandenburg Gate is? Were in Berlin! or struggling to explain that you need fresh towels to an octogenarian hostel owner in Nice without a shred of a common language. That may be the crux of the experience but, admittedly, its not a luxurious way to see the world. In fact, its often not very dignified at all, but you certainly learn some things about yourself when youre waist-deep in the Mediterranean after a 2 bottle of wine. Mainly, of course, just how strong a swimmer you are. But there is a certain romance to bouncing around Europe on a train almost in a nod to a bygone era. You dont get many other opportunities to make a thin wooden slab your bed for the night, or to peer curiously out the door of a cabin as hooded men climb aboard a train that has stopped in the Slovakian countryside. Another downside appears to be that roughing it around Europe isnt what it used to be. Currency, for one, makes it pretty easy to keep on top of things though nothing quite punches you in the stomach like realising that you underestimated an exchange rate in Croatia. And, of course, mobile phone signal, maps, the works, it can almost take the fun out of it all. Having said that, nothing quite tops the feeling of thumbing through a worn copy of Lonely Planets Europe on a Shoestring, especially when its followed by an Uh, lads, were going the wrong way... It is easy to see why a whistle-stop tour of Europe became a must-do for many over the years it is a richly rewarding journey. Tips and tricks For anyone thinking about railing through Europe, keep in mind it may not necessarily be cheaper to buy the InterRail pass, especially if you are over 26. Many countries require additional payments on top of the pass to use trains, and some limit the types of services you can access. In addition, some countries offer relatively cheap rail tickets if booked online in advance. So, if you are limiting the number of journeys you intend on taking, it would be wise to explore alternative booking options. If you do opt for the 30 country passes, it may be easier but monthly passes come at an eye-watering 479 for students and 626 for those aged 26 and up. Business Business Roundup (January 21) A view of the port area on the banks of the Hlaing River in Rangoon. Export growth in Burma saw a slowdown in 2016, according to The World Bank. / Reuters Burma Growth Rate Revised Downwards Burma is expected to see economic growth of 6.9 percent in 2017, down 1.5 points from a previous estimate, according to the World Banks Global Economic Prospects report released earlier this month. The report said that real-term growth in 2016 was estimated to be 6.5 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from an earlier estimate in June last year, the Nikkei Asia Review reported. Real-term growth in Burma declined for three straight years and fell below 7 percent in 2016 for the first time in five years, according to the World Bank. It attributed the falling growth rate to a slow real estate market, slower export expansion and reduced foreign investment. The new governments delay in announcing detailed economic policies was encouraging a cautious approach among potential foreign investors, the Nikkei report added. A delay in the start of operations of the reconstituted Myanmar Investment Commission after the new government came to power also contributed to a backlog in foreign investor applications last year, according to the Nikkei report. Thailand Delegation Seeks to Boost Trade Thailands deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak will lead a Thai business delegation to Burma at the beginning of February, the Bangkok Post reported. The visit by 40 delegates is scheduled for Feb. 2-3 and will seek to expand bilateral trade and investment, including border trade. Representatives will meet Burmese business people to discuss possible partnerships on investments as well as financial and capital market developments, according to Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. The visit is expected to include a meeting with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Bangkok Post reported. Also on the agenda will be discussion of a joint special economic zone between Mae Sot and Myawaddy on the Thailand-Burma border, and the improvement of roads between Dawei and Phu Nam Ron in Thailands Kanchanaburi Province, and between Myeik and Sing Khon in Thailands Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Burma-Nepal Air Link Set to Start Next Month Nepals Himalaya Airlines plans to expand to Burma with a twice-weekly service between Kathmandu and Rangoon due to start around the end of February, according to the Kathmandu Post. The return fare on an Airbus 320 will start at around US$320, the report said. Nepal is a popular destination for Burma travelers, the Post said. Last year more than 25,000 visitors from Burma visited the country, mainly overland from India. Some 15,000 of the total visited Lumpini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Himalaya Airlines will also start a service from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The launch of new destinations is part of Himalayas commitment to connect Nepal directly with Asia Pacific countries and boost tourism as well as trade opportunities, said Vijay Shrestha of Himalya Airlines, which currently operates flights to Doha and Colombo. SMI to Vigorously Refute Complaints Singapore Myanmar Investco (SMI), a company with retail, auto services, and logistics operations in Burma, said this week that it has been told of an intention to make a criminal complaint about the firm to the state courts of Singapore, the Straits Times reported. The complaint is reportedly related to SMIs divesting 97 percent of its stake in subsidiary telecoms tower firm the Myanmar Infrastructure Group, in a sale to Hong Kong-based Shining Star International Holdings. In a statement, SMI said that the complaint by German lawyers acting for Golden Infrastructure Group (GIG) was in regard to the alleged disregard of the rights of GIG under a joint venture agreement, and failure to make timely disclosure of allegations made by GIG. Singapore Myanmar Investco said it intends to vigorously refute the complaint if GIG were to proceed with lodging the complaint. Among other businesses, SMI operates a large amount of retail space at the new international terminal of Rangoon International Airport. Sembcorp Signs Gas-Fired Power Plant Deal Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries announced a new agreement this week with the Ministry of Electricity and Energy for its 225MW gas-fired power plant in Mandalay, the Straits Times reported. Under the agreement, Sembcorp Myingyan Power Company will build and operate the power plant for 22 years. The plant will then be transferred to the government of Burma. The US$300 million project is set to become one of Burmas largest gas-fired power plants. United Oil in Deal with Lighthouse Enterprise United Global, a unit of the United Oil Company, will form a joint venture with Burma-based Lighthouse Enterprise, Dealstreet Asia reported. The joint operation agreement is for a three-year period and covers marketing, distributing, and sales of specialized lubricant products in Burma. Both companies will make an initial capital contribution of US$90,000 in the deal. The deal will enable United Global to expand its presence in Burma, the company said in a filing to the Singapore stock exchange (SGX). Fast Food Chain Looks to Expand in Burma Malaysian fast food operator TCRS expects a local franchise holder to operate five chicken and rice outlets in Burma by the end of 2017, according to a statement. The company is projecting 19 percent overall sales growth in 2017, according to the statement. It operates a total of 88 outlets in Malaysia, two in Singapore and one in Brunei. TCRS was founded in 2000 and calls itself the largest chicken and rice restaurant chain in the world. Business CB Bank to Double the Size of its ATM Network in 2017 A man uses a CB Bank ATM in Yangon on May 27, 2012. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters RANGOON The locally-owned Co-Operative Bank Limited (CB Bank) plans to double its network of ATM machines in 2017, it announced on Friday. CB Bank will purchase both ATM machines and customer self-service machines from the company Diebold Nixdorf, which operates in North Canton, Ohio, United States and in Paderborn, Germany. Diebold Nixdorf has signed an extensive contract to provide the associated computer systems, software, and services. Weve set a fiscal yearly target to extend our service network, said U Zeyar Kyaw, CB Banks general manager. Our target is to install 850 ATM machines by the end of March. So far, weve installed 550 new machines across the country. On top of the 850 machines being installed now, the bank says it will add an additional 500 machines during the next fiscal year, 2017-18. We will install more customer self-service functions in our ATM machines which will make them easier to use, he said. The multi-function ATM machines will allow customers to perform withdrawals and deposits when the bank offices are closed. Were testing some of the new multi-function ATMs in Yangon right now, but we still have fewer than 10 of them, said U Zeyar Kyaw. We plan to expand the number of these machines within the year. In recent months, Diebold Nixdorf has assisted CB Bank in adapting all of its existing ATMs to use the more secure EMV chip card technology. CB Bank has received EMV certification from both VISA and MasterCard, the bank announced. EMV is a technical standard for smart payment cards that was introduced jointly by Europay, Mastercard, and VISA. Diebold Nixdorf was awarded the contract due to its superior product quality, flexible software, and ability to offer field service for both hardware and software within the country, said CB Bank CEO U Kyaw Lynn in a statement. With the help of their advanced technology and services, we aim to become one of Myanmars top banksoffering secure, innovative, and convenient cash services across our branch, online, and mobile channels, he added. Going forward, Diebold Nixdorf will service the full network of 1,000-plus CB Bank cash systems in its 180 branches. Together with our local partner, we are enabling CB Bank to extend the reach of its self-service offerings and win a greater share of Myanmars growing market for cash services, said Neil Emerson, Diebold Nixdorfs senior vice president. CB bank was first established in 1992. It is owned by U Khin Maung Aye, who was close to the former U Thein Sein government. Burma Burma Army Sues Students for Defamation Students perform a drama deemed to be defamatory by the Burma Army. / Salai Thant Zin / The Irrawaddy PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Division The Burma Army sued nine students for defamation last week after they staged a drama critical of military clashes with ethnic armed groups during a peace discussion at The Bassein Hotel in Pathein, Irrawaddy Division on Jan. 9. General staff officer Lt-Col Aung Myo Khaing, of the Burma Army South Western Command, filed the complaint with Pathein Township Court last Tuesday and the police begun questioning the students the next day, according to police. The South Western Command is suing under defamation charges for the drama played at Bassein Hotel, saying that it damaged the reputation of the army, township police captain Myo Thu told The Irrawaddy. We have been investigating the students at the order of the court and after we have established the case, we will send it back to the court, he added. Among the nine students, four are high school students who will sit their university matriculation examinations in March, three are university students of Bassein University, and two are distance-learning. The students performed a satirical comedy in which a news agency named oxygen interviewed the supporters of conflict in Burma. We did not want to harm either the military or ethnic armed groups, said lead organizer of the drama Ko Aung Khant Zaw, the message of our drama is that we dont want wars. We dont like that there are supporters of clashes while clashes have thrown so many into troubled waters, the distance learner at Pathein University added. We mimicked demonstrations which supported armed clashes. It seems they have found certain words [spoken during the drama] were insulting to them, so they sued us, added Ko Aung Khant. The peace discussion at the Bassein Hotel was joined by representatives of 52 local organizations including political activists, civil society organizations, farmers, and students from 26 townships in the division. After the discussion, they marched to the town hall in protest against armed clashes. Burma China Asks for a Halt to Fighting in Burma During Chinese New Year Chinas Special Envoy on Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang addresses the Mai JaYang summit of ethnic armed groups in Kachin State in July 2016. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy RANGOON In a meeting in Kunming on Thursday, Chinas Special Envoy for Asian Affairs reportedly asked the ethnic armed groups comprising the Northern Alliance to deescalate fighting with the Burma Army in time for the Chinese New Year, according to local sources. Chinese envoy Sun Guoxiangmet with leaders from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army(AA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). He told us to reduce fighting near the Chinese border or to stop fighting if it is possible. And especially, not to have fighting during the Chinese New Year, said the TNLAs Col Tar Phone Kyaw, who attended the meeting. Sun Guoxiang reportedly suggested that the Northern Alliance begin peace talks with Burma Army and government leaders. The Northern Alliance armed groups said they would like to have peace talks soon, but need some time to negotiate regarding the presence of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), whom they would also like in attendance at the talks. The government has reportedly disagreed on this point. We wanted to bring UWSA along with us to participate in the peace process. It should be all-inclusive participation. The country will not have peace if only the UWSA remains [excluded], said Col Tar Phone Kyaw. At the meeting, the Northern Alliance representatives also told China about escalated fighting near the Chinese border after the Burma Army reportedly launched an offensive in ethnic Kachin and Taang (Palaung) areas, which they said included the use of artillery shot in civilian areas. We told him at the meeting that it would be hard to have peace as the Burmese army has been carrying out ongoing attacks against our ethnic armed forces, the TNLA colonel said. Sun Guoxiang also met Burma Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing earlier this month. In the meeting, it was reported that the senior general maintained that Burma had transitioned to a democratic system in which rights are provided for ethnic minorities. Demanding rights through armed struggle, he said, would not succeed. Burma Civil Society Forum Calls For Greater Participation in Decision Making Maran Jaw Gun (standing) with other CSFoP working committee members holds a press conference about their 15th forum meeting results, in Rangoon, on Jan. 20, 2017. Civil society organizations called for the government to work towards ending fighting in order to achieve peace in the country, as well as to immediately respond to the needs of civilians trapped by fighting between the Burma Army and ethnic armed groups in the countrys northeast. Some 135 representatives from 79 civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as individuals working in peacebuilding, held the 15th Civil Society Forum for Peace (CSFoP) in Rangoon from Jan. 18-19, urging for a more effective peace process and for support for internally displaced people (IDPs). CSFoP members have held the quarterly meeting since August 2012. The government must respond urgently to the needs of the internally displaced people [in Kachin and northern Shan states], said Maran Jaw Gun, a CSFoP working committee member. The civilians are unprotected and had to flee from current fighting between the government army and the ethnic armed groups. They are in desperate need of food support, he told The Irrawaddy. The CSO representatives urged the Tatmadaw to call off the military offensives against the non-signatories of the countrys nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). They added that both sides involved in the armed struggle need to uphold to negotiations meant to resolve the conflict. Participants also highlighted their experiences and challenges regarding public consultations on the national dialogue, which were held in Tenasserim Division and Karen State. CSOs were able to participate in the consultations on short notice, but with a reported lack of collaboration with other participants. They also shared their concerns on the war, which has intensified since August 2016. One prominent issue of discussion was the move by the Shan State parliament to label the Northern Alliance armed groups as terrorists, as well as protests in Rangoon and elsewhere in support of the Tatmadaws actions as part of a just war. The government is planning to hold its own civil society forum at the end of the month, prior to the second 21st Century Panglong peace conference in February. Yet criticism remains regarding a lack of government acknowledgment of the CSOs proposed recommendations in convening such forums. CSO representatives have urged the inclusion of all stakeholders and experts in the national level political dialogue and for every participant to have equal space to speak. The government needs to ensure that those stakeholders of the peace process are able to participate in the upcoming 21st Century Panglong peace conference, read its recommendation from the two-day forum. Burma Civil Society Groups Highlight Continued Abuses During UN Visit Civil society groups met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma Yanghee Lee. / United Nations Information Center Rangoon / Facebook RANGOON During a meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Yanghee Lee, civil society groups highlighted the continuation of human rights abuses despite the countrys recent reforms The rapporteur met with around 20 civil society organizations at the UN office in Rangoon on Tuesday and discussed legislative and constitutional reform; the rights of women, children and ethnic minority groups; the peace process and humanitarian assistance in conflict areas; challenges facing human rights activists; freedom of expression; political prisoners; land issues, and the situation in Arakan State. Although the country has seen amendments to some outdated and controversial laws since the new government assumed power, there are still laws which restrict freedom of expression. This includes Article 66(d) of the Telecommunication Law, which has yet to be amended, said Equality Myanmar director U Aung Myo Min, who attended the meeting. Concerning the peace process, and women, children and ethnic minorities rights, the groups pointed out weaknesses in filing grievances regarding violence against women and children, and the lack of meaningful participation of women in the peace process, U Aung Myo Min added. Attendees talked with the UN envoy about the ongoing conflicts in Shan and Kachin states, which left thousands as refugees, and also spoke about two pastors who went missing after helping reporters cover a church bombing in Shan State. Though there are some reforms, human rights violations are ongoing, especially in ethnic areas, said Ma May Sabe Phyu, director of the Gender Equality Network. There is a rise in the number of refugees in conflict areas. The aid to IDP camps has been stopped, blocked, and also reduced, she added. Lee traveled to conflict-torn northern Shan and Kachin states where she expressed frustration at having her travel restricted by Burmese authorities. She also toured northern Arakan State during her official visit to Burma from Jan 9-20. She met with Burmas State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice President U Myint Swewho also heads the government investigation committee on Arakan Stateon Wednesday in Naypyidaw. Ma May Sabe Phyu said Burma still needs the UN special rapporteur or the international community to continue to monitor the human rights situation and provide support. The UN will discuss whether to extend the UN special rapporteur on Burmas duties in March at the UN general assembly. Burma Constitutional Tribunal Members Remain Despite USDP Objections Daw Khin Htay Kwe talks to fellow lawmakers in Parliament in 2016. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy NAYPYIDAW The Constitutional Tribunal of the Union on Thursday dismissed a proposal by 23 Upper House lawmakers to review the eligibility of two tribunal members. Lawmakers led by opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) members had earlier submitted a proposal to the tribunal to review if members Daw Khin Htay Kywe and U Twar Kyin Paung met the eligibility requirements for membership. The submission of the proposal violates the Constitution and was deemed to impact the presidential powers of the President U Htin Kyaw, said tribunal member U Khin Maung Cho, explaining the dismissal. The 2008 Constitution does not vest us with the power to handle such a matter. Our tribunal does not have the authority to further rule on something that has already been approved by the Union Parliament, he said. Under the 2008 Constitution, the constitutional tribunal is made of nine membersthree nominated by the President and speakers of Upper and Lower House, respectively, and approved by Parliament. Daw Khin Htay Kywe was nominated by the Lower House speaker and U Twar Kyin Paung was selected by the Upper House speaker. However, the constitutional tribunal viewed all nine members as accountable to the President. It does not have the authority to interfere in presidential appointments, according to the Constitution. When the list of nominees to the constitutional tribunal was submitted to the Union Parliament in March, military representatives opposed the appointment of Daw Khin Htay Kywe and U Twar Kyin Paung, saying they failed to submit sufficient personal documents to prove their eligibility for the post. However, the house speakers rejected their objection, quoting the 2008 Constitution that the Union Parliament shall not reject the persons collectively nominated by the president to be appointed to the constitutional tribunal unless there is strong evidence that they are not eligible. The appointment of the two was then put to vote and lawmakers voted in favor. Daw Khi Htay Kywe was elected in 2015 from Mon States Moulmein to represent the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the Lower House and she remained a lawmaker even after she was appointed to the constitutional tribunal. Last October, USDP lawmaker U Soe Thein filed a complaint against Daw Khin Htay Kywe with Parliament, calling for her removal from the constitutional tribunal, citing her dual roles. The Constitution does not allow a lawmaker to serve on the constitutional tribunal. She then resigned from Parliament. Burma Demonstration in Mandalay After Teachers Death Demonstrators lead by the Myanmar Teachers Federation in Mandalay. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Mandalay Some one hundred protestors led by the Myanmar Teachers Federation (MTF) gathered in Mandalay on Sunday to demand the government investigate the murder of schoolteacher U Aung Zin Tun who was found dead in Hpakant Township, Kachin State on Wednesday. Brutally killing a teacher is the worst thing one can do in this country, said vice president of the MTF U Thuta. We condemn whoever did this shameful action and threatens the peace and stability of the country. Holding photos of U Aung Zin Tun, teachers and supporters marched down the streets of Mandalay and demanded justice for his killers and security and safety for educators working in remote areas of the country. U Aung Zin Tuns body was found after he was abducted from his house in Nantmaphyit village on Wednesday last week. Unconfirmed sources said the teacher was abducted by three unidentified men. A police officer from Hpakant Township Police Station said that ten of U Aung Zin Tuns students were absent from U Aung Zin Tuns class on Jan. 10 without requesting leave. The next day, he hit each student twice with a wooden sheet. A demonstration also organized by MTF took place at Rangoons Maha Bandoola park on Sunday. Burma Freed Burmese Farmers Renew Fight Against Army over Land Farmers walk in a field outside Ye Bu village in Shan State. / Reuters RANGOON Farmers locked in a land dispute with Burmas armed forces pledged to renew their fight after being released from jail on Friday. Maw Maw Oo, a leader among the 55 villagers released, said they would seek government help to resolve the dispute in Ye Bu, a village in eastern Burmas Shan State. Daw Aung San Suu Kyis ruling National League for Democracy came to power in April after an election victory in part driven by rural anger over land seizures under military rule. But the Ye Bu case showed that farmers across the country were yet to see significant changes, despite hopes the civilian administration led by the Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would prioritize land issues. Ye Bu farmers say they were promised they could work the land near the village in perpetuity, before it was seized by soldiers in 2004. The military didnt make any profit for the country although they grabbed land, said Maw Maw Oo, who was among those released on Friday after serving their one-month prison sentences for trespassing. They just make profit for themselves and give the farmers trouble. Farmers told Reuters they were now reluctant to return to their farmland out of fear of being jailed again. But Maw Maw Oo said they would not give up. The armys Eastern Command controls a 4,000 acre (1,618 hectares) plot near Ye Bu and has sought to establish agri-businesses with private firms, including Asias largest agricultural conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Group of Thailand. An army official filed dozens of lawsuits against farmers for returning to work the land, leading to the jailing on Dec. 22 of 72 farmers, including Maw Maw Oo. Officials had attempted to broker a deal between the military and the farmers, but could not persuade the army to make concessions. Soe Nyunt Lwin, the state-level planning and finance minister, told Reuters he would press on with more negotiations. I dont want them in prison again, that would be nonsense, he said. Ye Bu farmer Myo Aung told Reuters the army had become more assertive over the land since last months court verdicts. The military now has the upper hand because they won the lawsuit, he said. The Eastern Commands Major Aung Htwe said 18 squatters whose homes are on military-controlled land in Ye Bu were served eviction notices on Jan. 13. Troops also began digging a boundary ditch to demarcate the 4,000 acres, Aung Twe added, promising that he would continue to use the courts to prevent farmers from returning to the land. Burma Imagined Urban Futures of Rangoon The corner of Strand Road and Pansodan Street in downtown Rangoon / Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy As a newcomer to the city earlier this year, I noticed that urban development and planning in Yangon was a topic that often came up in many discussions, be it with colleagues or during other informal encounters. The general sentiments among locals and foreigners were alike: the nearly undisputed consensus was that the old downtown should be preserved, that the traffic congestion and general infrastructure issues should be addressed, and that public space ought to be expanded. It was a consensus expressed with a sense of optimism that now is a key moment for the unprecedented development of Yangon after decades of military governance that lacked a vision for the city. Indeed, following Myanmars incremental transition since 2011, urban politics have received considerable attention due to the liberalization of the economy, leading to a rapid influx of the international community in forms of governments, the private sector, and NGOs, and an increase in the urban population, which in turn urged the need for a new era of development. Despite the widespread awareness that Yangon needs planning, the top-down urbanization process as it currently plays out suggests that it is one associated with a developmentalist vision of urbanism that has been well observed elsewhere in Asia over the last three decades or so. While it appears that the new regional authorities realize Yangons great potential, and are giving priority to planning, the urban development proposals for the city so far show limited understanding of actual demographic needs and the morphology of the city as a whole. While the development visions address issues in Yangon that are in great need of intervention, neither come without its set of urban problematiques. This is particularly evident in the vision that is presented in the Strategic Urban Development Plan of Greater Yangon, also called the Yangon 2040 Plan, developed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) together with the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). In their strategy published at the end of 2013, JICA presented ideas for large-scale infrastructure expansion and the construction of new satellite towns. The Yangon 2040 Plan projects broadly translate as the development of a downtown district geared towards commerce and finance, while strategically proposing the expansion of satellite towns in the greater metropolitan area (which in fact, the YCDC has already embarked on with their plans for new settlements known as New City). JICA and the YCDCs large-scale development is driven by projected population growth figures, an approach that is highly speculative in nature. This type of planning was an intrinsic part of several Southeast Asian cities early stages of rapid economic growth, but the long-term consequences have proven unsustainable and nowadays require re-management of governance and new ways of interpreting the urban fabric. According to a recent article in The Myanmar Times, the Yangon 2040 Plan has been undergoing revision since the middle of 2016 by the new YCDC under NLD leadership. In the revision the YCDC will also take into consideration the recommendations of other organizations before it will finalize the plan; it will certainly be interesting to observe the amendments. If the Yangon 2040 Plan takes precedence in the citys development, it seems like heavy implementation of transit systems will be required. At this stage the scale of this implementation is nevertheless in radical incongruity with the social-political and fiscal realities of the city. It is also worth noting that the existing new townships built in the late 1950s during the years of independence, and in the late 1980s onwards under the military junta, suffer poor transport links and long commutes into the city. Some scholars writing on the urban history of Yangon has argued that the latter was an act of displacement and demobilization to prevent civic protest. While the proposed satellite towns are supposed to accommodate the growing population in Yangon it can reinforce these previous patterns of sprawl. Addressing the daunting scope of urban preservation in the city, the Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT), a non-governmental heritage preservation organization, has proposed the Yangon Heritage Strategy. The document is according to the Trust not meant to be a comprehensive master plan, but puts forward a strategy for heritage conservation and development in the old downtown with general recommendations for the wider Central Business District area. The downtown contains an architectural landscape which seldom fails to impress visitors in Yangon, and thanks to the YHT, much attention in local and international media in recent years has been given to the importance of preserving its colonial buildings. While the work and mission of the Trust has yielded significant contributions to issues of preservation, the heritage strategy document is more contestable. There is no doubt that protecting the historical buildings is vital for socio-cultural reasons, but the current approach presented in the Yangon Heritage Strategy ultimately centers heritage conservation and planning as a principal force to boost the urban economy. In addition, the YHT strives in the document to project narratives of national, regional and global prominence, without giving enough discourse to Yangons complexities of identity and history. Interestingly, the new NLD government and regional authorities have, to date, not officially expressed or formulated any vision for what heritage will mean for Yangon or Myanmar, but it is an important part of the new national-identity-forging-process of which outcomes are yet unknown. At best the strategy presented by the YHT can contribute to the conservation of the citys unique architectural heritage, which seems to be the main focus. Yet it also aims to promote other aspects, such as waterfront revitalization, improving streetscapes and increasing public space. However, the urban planning implications that can be drawn from such an approach ought to be addressed in a different context. At worse the heritage conservation strategy will subscribe to what David Harvey has outlined as the logics of the neoliberal urban economy. In this case, there is little pretense that the spatial trickle down effects will cater to business interests and the financial elite, likely to preclude, over time, the vitality of old downtown markets, street vendors and the diversity of ethnic communities and their cultural practices. While different in scale, the Yangon 2040 Plan and the Yangon Heritage Strategy reflect approaches dominated by projected visions of various stakeholders that have an interest to transform Yangon according to political and economic rationales. This is of course not an uncommon scenario in tales of urban development across the globe. While the intention here is not to provide a polemical view, it is necessary to stress that the citys planning practice remains troubled by the limited capacities of governmental bodies to promptly enact necessary laws and policies. If these development plans and strategies are implemented there will be drastic changes, but there is currently a shortage of analytical tools to deeply understand the current transformations. For instance, a lot of work remains to be done when it comes to analysing and identifying the various needs of different townships. Broadly speaking, aspects that have the potential to truly improve the quality of life in this city are yet to be addressed. This can in part be explained by the countrys ongoing restructuring, which undoubtedly will take time, but a point of departure for Yangons urbanisation must be the adopting more critical and inclusive planning methods. This being said, Yangons future is not wholly subjected to the visions by the JICA and YHT documents per se. While more scholarship is required, there are also several actors that have been involved in offering their expertise on other aspects related to the urban development process. Several embassies, UN-Habitat, the European Commission, and the World Monuments Fund to mention a few have supported the YCDC on issues of planning and heritage, but it is critical that architectural and spatial, as well as environmental and social-cultural contexts are deeply embedded in the process. As such, historical understandings of Yangons urban transformation are also of great importance. Some attempts have been made to unravel urban Yangon during the latter part of the twentieth century, but the socio-political focus of they citys changes falls short in describing the morphological implications. While historical interpretations and analysis cannot offer direct solutions to urban development, they can enhance or identify patterns that will inform present planning; Myanmars cultural and economic center is not a case where the future should be envisioned independent of the past, and there is a lot unexamined in the case of Yangon. This article originally appeared in Tea Circle, a forum hosted at Oxford University for emerging research and perspectives on Burma/Myanmar. Burma Karen Armed Groups, Border Guard Force Invest in Hpa-an Cable Car Zwekabin Mountain in Karen State. / Zayar Htawe Burmas first cable car will be built at tourist hotspot Zwekabin Mountain in Karen State capital Hpa-an next month, according to state newspaper The Mirror. A total of 12 companiesincluding those with links to both Karen ethnic armed groups and Burma Army militia the Border Guard Force (BGF)signed an agreement on Jan. 12 to build the project with the help of Japanese and Australian engineers. Karen State BGF leader and owner of Chit Lin Myaing Toyota Company Col. Saw Chit Thu signed the deal with Zwekabin Myay Development Company at the Jan. 12 ceremony in Hpa-an. Col. Saw Chit Thu told The Mirror that the estimated total cost of the project was US$12 million and it will take 18 months to construct. We will sign a contract with Japanese and Australian engineers and technicians in February, Col. Saw Chit Thu told The Mirror. Twenty-five percent of the profits will go to Zwekabin Myay Development Company and 75 percent will go to Karen Armed Groups Unity Committee and our company [Chit Lin Myaing Toyota Company], The Karen Armed Groups Unity Committee is comprised of four Karen ethnic armed organizations including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council and the Karen State Border Guard Force. Zwekabin Mountain is Karen States premier tourist attraction and visited by both domestic Buddhist pilgrims and foreign tourists. The cable car project will be the first of its kind in Burma and is expected to boost tourism in the region. Burma Malaysian Food Flotilla to Arakan State Set to Go Ahead Foreign affairs spokesperson Daw Aye Aye Soe (middle) at a press conference in 2016. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy NAYPYIDAW The Malaysian food flotilla to Arakan State is set to go ahead after organizers made a formal request to President U Htin Kyaw and met with the foreign ministry in Rangoon on Wednesday. The aid plan would likely be permitted after requests were sent through appropriate official channels, foreign ministry spokesperson Daw Aye Aye Soe said. The food flotilla organized by the Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organization (MAPIM), Putera 1Malaysia Club (KP1M), and Turkiye Diyanet Vakfi is scheduled to leave Malaysia on Feb. 3. Representatives of the three groups met with Director General for International Organizations under the foreign ministry U Kyaw Moe Tun and Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye in Rangoon on Wednesday, according to Datok Farid, deputy president of KP1M and chairman of the food flotilla working committee. Datok Farid told the Irrawaddy on Wednesday that the group received verbal clearance, but not written approval, to deliver aid through Rangoon port. A request to deliver to Arakan State capital Sittwe was denied on security grounds, he added. Malaysias Ambassador to Burma Mohd Haniff Abd Rahman was also present at the meeting. A delegation of the three organizations also visited Dhaka and met with Bangladeshi authorities. The shipment to provide food and medicine for troubled Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships ruffled government feathers last month after it reportedly received no communication from either the Malaysian Embassy or the aid organization. Presidents Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy that the Burmese navy would warn the ship to return to Malaysia, or it would turn it back by force. The foreign ministry released a statement saying that aid proposals should be sent through proper diplomatic channels and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. The ministry outlined that cash or in-kind assistance are to be meant for both communities without any distinction, referring to Buddhist Arakanese and Muslim Rohingya. Burma Malaysian PM tells Burma to Stop the Killing in Arakan State Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Tokyo in November 2016. / Kimimasa Mayama / Reuters Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on Burma on Thursday to stop all discrimination and attacks on Rohingya Muslims, and urged the worlds Islamic countries to act to end an unfolding humanitarian tragedy. The killing must stop. The violation of women and girls must stop, Najib, the leader of Muslim-majority Malaysia told a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called by Malaysia to discuss the Rohingya. The persecution of your fellow men and women, simply on the grounds that they are Muslim, must stop, he said. Refugees, residents, and human rights groups say Burma forces have committed summary executions, raped women and burned homes. But the Burma government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated. It insists the strife in Arakan State, also known as Rakhine State, is an internal matter. Najib, who joined protesters in Kuala Lumpur last month calling for foreign intervention to stop genocide, said Burma must act. We call on the government of Burma to cease all discriminatory actions and attacks against the Rohingyas immediately, and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, he said. Malaysia summoned Burmas ambassador last year to protest against the treatment of Rohingya, breaking a tradition of non-intervention by members of the Association of South East Asian Nations in each others affairs. Najib said it would be a disgrace if the Southeast Asian group did not live up to it principles and do its utmost to avert the catastrophe that has been unfolding. He told the fellow Muslim countries of the OIC they could not stand by and do nothing. It is incumbent on us all to do what we can to save them from the humanitarian tragedy they are suffering, he said. The OIC represents 57 states with a population of more than 1.6 billion people, and acts as the collective voice of the Muslim world. Najib called on Burma to provide unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to the affected areas and to facilitate the return of refugees. He said Malaysia would give 10 million ringgit (US$2.25 million) for the humanitarian efforts, and send a food flotilla. No further details were made available. About 56,000 Rohingya live in Malaysia having fled and unrest and persecution in Burma. The OICs special envoy to Burma said this week the United Nations should intervene to avert genocide. OIC Secretary General Yousef Al Othaimeen said Burma must prevent ongoing discrimination and the unwarranted systematic abuse against the Rohingya. Malaysias top counter-terrorism official has said Burma faces a growing danger of attacks by foreign militants in support of Rohingyas. Burma Mon and Karen Armed Groups to Hold Talks Over Territory Clashes Leaders of the NMSP and KNU met in Three Pagodas Pass on Jan. 19. / Yekha Mon / Facebook RANGOON Two ethnic armed groups from Karen and Mon states will meet in Dawei Township on Jan. 25 to attempt to resolve a territorial conflict that has witnessed recent armed clashes and rising local tensions, according to local sources. The Tenasserim Division regional government will act as mediator for the meeting between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), according to spokesperson Nai Win Hla of the New Mon State Party (NMSP). The NMSP acts as the political wing of the MNLA. The Tenasserim regional government arranged to have a meeting between our two groups on Jan. 25, Nai Win Hla told The Irrawaddy on Monday. This meeting will only be for the district level authorities of each armed group. We have a plan to meet each other again later, the KNLA and MNLA, at the central committee level, Nai Win Hla said. He added that leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU), the political wing of the KNLA, were currently busy at a national political conference, but would arrange a future meeting with their Mon counterparts. The two armed groups have clashed at least four times in recent weeks over a territorial dispute in Dawei Township. Soldiers on both sides have been wounded in the fighting. Both sides have blamed the other for provoking the clashes. KNU and NMSP district-level leaders both issued statements, on Jan. 18 and Jan. 22 respectively, expressing a desire to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and to prevent its spread. Our intention now is to solve this conflict peacefully through dialogue, said Nai Win Hla. It is better to find a solution by sitting down together to have a dialogue, said Padoh Saw Maung Swe, a leader in KNLA Battalion 16, while speaking to the Karen news group in Mae Sot. We should not use confrontation with guns to solve this conflict. We dont want this conflict to spread to other areas. Leaders of the KNLA and MNLA held a preliminary meeting at Three Pagodas Pass on Jan. 19, where they agreed in their desire not to spread the armed conflict. Meanwhile, in recent days both armed groups have deployed additional soldiers to the conflict area, according to local sources. We will not go to attack them, said Nai Win Hla. But if KNLA troops come to fight us, then there will be fighting again. We will defend ourselves. The Karen and Mon peoples have historically clashed over territory. In 1989, both ethnic armed groups battled in Three Pagodas Pass. In its Jan. 22 statement, the NMSP asked both sides to remember the bitter battles of the past and to work to avoid a repeat. Burma Rangoon Bus Rollout Gets Mixed Reviews Rangoon commuters wait for buses near Sule pagoda, the hub of the city on Jan.19. / Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy RANGOON For residents of Rangoon, this week was full of excitement, dissatisfaction, and frustration as the city embraced a new bus network. Reform of the citys decades-old notorious public transit system is now five days in, but the shift has not been smooth. Volunteers and lawmakers have suggested modifying the system and considering new routes for the convenience of commuters. The new Yangon Bus Service (YBS) replaced the infamous 300 bus lines registered under the Rangoon Motor Vehicles Supervisory Committee known as Ma Hta Tha with 70 bus lines, which downsized the bus lines to eliminate overlap in a move to avoid races between busesa practice in which vehicles compete for passengers and make unscheduled stops. Since its launch, it has met with an insufficient number of buses, as not all bus owners had registered with the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) to continue under the new system and others were not ready to operate, which led to overcrowding, delays and short supply, especially late in the evenings. After five days, there is still a shortage of buses. The plan was to operate with more than 3,700 buses. But on the first day of service, only 2,900 buses were ready to serve commuters. On the second day, the number increased to 3,300 and on Friday, 3,600 buses ran, according to the YRTA. Regional lawmaker Ko Nay Phone Latt of Thingangyun Township, who is on the supervisory team overseeing the volunteers, said he observed long waits at some major bus stops and in the hub of the city due to insufficient or irregular buses that were not operating according to schedule. The official schedule for operation is until 9 p.m. But some buses didnt operate after 5 or 6 p.m., he said. However, Ko Nay Phone Latt said bus drivers and conductors have to work long hours starting in the early mornings, and that there should be two different shifts. From Saturday, there will not be volunteer groups assisting commuters and the transport authority body must prepare a mechanism to resolve issues during the transition, he added. There are many issues to iron out, he said. There should be more bus routes or existing ones should be modified. He added that the [regional] government should analyze recommendations and feedback received from commuters and volunteer groups this week to remodel the system. Dr. Maung Aung, secretary of the YRTA, told The Irrawaddy that the government would add additional buses soon and import more than 1,000 buses to fill the gap. We still have some difficulties. Some buses are still competing against each other and there are some complaints about misconduct and overcharging by bus drivers and conductors, he said. He added that the transport authority has taken immediate action this week to address more than 20 casesincluding a bus driver assaulting a commuter, destruction of a route directory at a bus stop, overcharging, and traffic violations. We wont relax the regulations, he said. We are working to fix the issues. Also, I hope commuters will soon become more familiar with the new routes. The YRTA has said it will consider extending or changing the routes based on commuter requests. The vehicles will be updated with new imported ones manufactured in 2006 or later next month and a digital payment system will be implemented in the next three-month phase. For now, vehicles manufactured after 1995 are currently allowed for temporary use and around 70 percent of the buses operating under the new system are old. We have concerns about what will happen next in this new system. Nothing is certain. Buses could be told to stop operating tomorrow or an order could be issued to install CCTV and air-conditioning the day after tomorrow, a bus owner who operates five buses under the new system told The Irrawaddy. Mine is just a small business. I cant take a risk which Im not sure will bring about profit or loss, he added. He said he does not think the new system will work if the bus fare remains at 200 kyats (US$0.15) and plans to operate new, air-conditioned buses with digital payment systems. When his line was operating from Hlaing Tharyar Township [on the Rangoon outskirts], he said he faced many unruly passengers and others who did not pay the fare. I will just go back to my native town and drive highway buses. I am getting tired of Yangons traffic and this system, he added. But Ko Ta Yote Lay, the owner of Power Eleven Co., who operates 69 buses, is optimistic about the new system a profit-sharing system among bus owners that is in place until a public-private partnership takes effect in the next phase of the transport authoritys reform plan. Well-established bus companies prefer this system to the old one that required bus owners to work for their own daily income, he said, commenting that the old system was not benefiting anyone. U Kyaw Myint, a 67-year-old volunteer assisting commuters in Lanmadaw Township, said buses should be running on schedule and that more shuttle buses are needed in the concentrated areas downtown. We need more new buses. With the old ones, there will be the same old system, he said. A passenger said, There are still many inconveniences with YBS. But I dont want to go back to the Ma Hta Tha era. Never again. Burma Rice Export Volume Drops A rice farmer walks through a paddy field in a village near Patheingyi, Irrawaddy Division. / J Paing / The Irrawaddy RANGOON The rice export volume has declined this fiscal year due to flooding and a slowdown in demand from China, rice traders said. The rice export volume for the 2016-17 fiscal year is expected to reach 1 million tons, which is less than the 2015-16 export volume of 1.3 million tons, said U Ye Min Aung, secretary-general of the Myanmar Rice Federation. From April-Dec. 2016, 800,000 tons of rice were exported, primarily to China, the EU and West African countries, according to the federation. We are now talking with the Sri Lankan government to send rice there, as they are facing a shortage due to weather problems, said U Ye Min Aung, adding that this would contribute to the 1 million-ton export estimate for this year. In Burma, monsoon season paddies are mainly planted between June and August, and harvested beginning in October. Dry season paddiescultivated in smaller quantities due to the lack of irrigation in many areasare planted largely between November and December and harvested beginning in April. U Chan Tha Oo, a rice trader in Shan States Muse Township, said there were a few particularly bad months for rice exports to China this year, particularly in April and October 2016. The average price fetched from trading to China is US$376 per ton, while overseas it is about $300 per ton, he said. The market with China is unstable, but it offers better prices than overseas trading, he added. Flooding last yearcaused by torrential rain that peaked in late July and early Augustinundated more than 1.3 million acres of rice paddies, out of 20 million acres being cultivated across the country. Burma Special Investigation Bureau Probes Theft of 2.8 Billion Kyats Former Magwe Division Chief Minister U Phone Maw Shwe. / Magwe News / Facebook NAYPYIDAW Burmas Bureau of Special Investigation is probing the alleged embezzlement of around 2.8 billion kyats (US$2.1 million) from Magwe Division regional development funds by authorities who served in the previous divisional government, according to the current division chief minister. The bureau is responding to an allegation that high-ranking officials misappropriated funds that were paid by crude oil producers into a regional foundation, and which were to be spent on Magwe Division development programs. The 2.8 billion kyats (US$2.1 million) allegedly disappeared while former chief minister U Phone Maw Shwe was in power. The Magwe division branch of the Bureau of Special Investigation is questioning the concerned departments, said Magwe Division Chief Minister U Aung Moe Nyo. The Bureau of Special Investigation has already questioned officials from the internal revenue department, from the government-operated Myanmar Economic Bank, and from the office of the divisional chief auditor, according to Dr. Aung Moe Nyo. I dont know if the former chief minister [U Phone Maw Shwe], or ministers, or directors, or deputy directors were questioned or not, said Dr. Aung Moe Nyo. But I know that there was an investigation, and the investigation report has already been submitted to the Union government. Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) official U Hsan Nyunt Aung, who serves as party secretary in Magwe Division, denied the allegation that USDPthe ex-ruling partywas involved in an embezzlement scheme. Lower House lawmaker U Tun Tun of Pwintbyu Township said the investigation was seeking to answer a question that he raised in Parliament in May 2016. He asked if 2.8 billion kyats that were collected for Magwe Division development funds were really used for that purpose. Energy Minister U Pe Zin Htun promised to look into it. The money was not transferred to another account, nor used for regional development, U Tun Tun told The Irrawaddy. With that amount of money, we could build many schools, clinics, roads, and bridges. The minister promised to investigate, and he did, said U Tun Tun. I learned that the Bureau of Special Investigation started probing the case two months ago. The Magwe government collected 385 million kyats (US$287,000) in taxes from oil producers in the first six months of the new governments term, said U Aung Moe Nyo, the current division chief minister. The money will be distributed to 25 townships in the division. I heard that we will soon receive 3 million kyats (US$2,200) for each township to spend on development, said U Tun Tun. The previous divisional government imposed a regional development tax of 5,000 kyats (US$4) per barrel of crude oil from individual oil producers. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko Burma UN Rapporteur on Burma Denounces Human Rights Failures Yanghee Lee at a press conference in Rangoon on Jan. 20, 2017. / The Irrawaddy RANGOON UN Special Rapporteur to Burma Yanghee Lee painted a bleak picture of the state of human rights in the country at the end of her 12-day tour of Kachin, Mon, and Arakan states as well as Rangoon and Naypyidaw, at a press conference in Rangoon on Friday. Lee said the governments kneejerk reaction to defend, dismiss, and deny allegations of human rights abuses was draining the hope that had swept the country following the election of a civilian government last year. She singled out the three legs of the governmentreferring to the military-controlled ministries of home, border, and defense affairsfor creating an uphill battle for human rights and noted that Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing had refused to meet her. The UN rapporteur expressed frustration with the military side of the government for blocking her from visiting Hpakant and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) stronghold Laiza on her tour of Kachin State. The situation in Kachin State is often overlooked and hope is starting to wane there, Lee said at the press conference. She said the situation had deterioratedeven in six months since her last visitand pointed out that in the relatively calm area of state capital Myitkyina, residents were still afraid to go outside after dark. She expressed disbelief over a state government denial of the existence of an IDP camp that she herself had visited. Lee stated a similar disbelief in government denial regarding northern Arakan State, where she spent four days visiting villages in Buthidaung, Rathedaung, and Maungdaw townshipsthe heart of an area under Burma Army lockdown for security operations after militants attacked border guard posts in October and mid-November. After witnessing burned houses in the area, she called government claims that the Muslim Rohingya community had torched their own homes in order to have better ones built by aid groups or as a smear campaign against the government incredible and far-fetched. Lee also visited Rathedaung Townships Koe Tan Kauk villagewhere footage of police beating Rohingya villagers in November went viral and prompted disciplinary action against the officers. She said the fact that the abuse was recorded suggests it might be common practice. While condemning the deplorable attacks on police posts by militants she told the press these attacks took place within the context of systematic and institutionalized discrimination against the Rohingya communities. Desperate individuals lead to desperate actions, she said, suggesting that if the population had felt that the new government had started addressing the situation and their grievances, then the attacks on the border guard posts may not have occurred. In visits to a hard labor camp in Mon State and Buthidaung Prison, she witnessed a dysfunctional justice system. She condemned the lack of transparency or a complaints procedure, and the use of shackles as a punitive measure in Mon State. There are currently 450 individuals who were detained after the October and November attacks at Buthidaung Prison, Lee confirmed, and lamented the fact that the majority had no legal representation, no knowledge of what they were charged with, and no way of contacting family members. She noted that more than 40 individuals were currently being charged under the controversial Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law and that she had spoken to lawyers who were harassed or prosecuted for speaking out against human rights abuses. Reprisal was the one word that Lee chose to sum up her trip, recalling that in every location she visited, people were afraid of speaking to her, and that the country had a long way to go before individuals were free to speak their minds and live without fear. This article was edited to correct the list of ministries controlled by the military to home, border and defense. Burma Workers Rally for Labor Rights in Mandalay Hundreds of workers assembled in Mandalay. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy MANDALAY Workers at Panda Textiles in Mandalays Sintgaing Township led a march around the city on Sunday to voice complaints about their labor situation and push the Union government to protect their rights. A resumed strike and renewed protestswhich first started in 2013were sparked by stalled negotiations between workers and owners at Panda Textiles. Hundreds of textile workers traveled into the city center to join Sundays protest, filling the streets with their motorbikes and listening to speeches at Manawyaman grounds. The textile workers were joined in solidarity by workers from factories in the Mandalay industrial zone. Despite the involvement of the regional government, the factory has refused to sign an agreement with us, said Ma Zar Chi Win, one of the protesters. That shows no respect for the government or us, the workers, which is why we are protesting here. The two sides came close to signing a new labor contract in early January, but the factory ownership said it needed to take another look at planned incremental raises in workers salaries, overtime earnings, and annual leave. Factory owners also refused to re-hire four labor leaders fired for organizing protests and further negotiations were canceled at the last minute. Weve been protesting for about eight months, and our demands have not been met, said Ma Zar Chi Win. We plead for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Htin Kyaw, and every responsible authority from Naypyidaw to assist our cause. Disputes at the factory began in 2013 when the private textile company Panda took over operations from the Ministry of Industry. At that time, the laborers staged a series of protests and complained that they were abused during the transition of ownership. In early 2015, two textile workers died and four labor leaders were fired during a protest in which 600 laborers camped in front of the factory. A negotiation team formed by the Mandalay regional government to mediate between owners and workers assembled a list of 28 specific demands in November 2016 but a major sticking point was that Panda refused to re-hire the four fired labor leaders. Protesters also said they were not satisfied with the regional governments efforts and the negotiation team could not persuade the two sides to sign a deal. We feel that the regional government is not standing firmly on the side of the laborers. So now we want President U Htin Kyaw and the authorities in Naypyidaw to help us, said Ko Thet Hnin Aung, another protesting worker. We also want to send a message that we will accept the consequences if our demands are not appropriate, or if we break the law, said protester Ko Thet Hnin Aung. But if the factory ownership breaks the law, the government must also discipline them. News US Womens Marches Draw Nearly 3 Million Protesters Protesters outside the Capitol Building in Washington DC on Jan. 21, 2017 / Seinenu Thein-Lemelson WASHINGTON DC The day after the US Presidential inauguration, an estimated 2.9 million demonstrators rallied in Washington DC and in cities all over the US, coming out against Donald Trump, his proposed policies, and the values expressed during his presidential campaign. The mass rallies were organized as part of a global Womens Marchwith hundreds of sister marches worldwidetransforming downtown Washington into a sea of wall-to-wall protestors from across the US. Participants expressed apprehension about the Trump administrations stance on immigration, healthcare, racial equity, reproductive rights, LGBT rights, climate change, income distribution, sexual assault, violence, corruption, and continued protection of basic constitutional rights such as freedom of speech, press, and assembly. I do not appreciate what the new administration stands for. I do not like his hateful rhetoric, xenophobia, his misogyny, said one 56-year-old social worker who attended the DC rally. The Womens March also brought to the surface long-standing issues about the power dynamics between white and minority women. Republican Donald Trump won votes from 53 percent of white women, outperforming Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in that demographic. Women of color expressed concern that the initial organizers of the march were entirely whitea criticism that led to a change in leadership and an effort to embrace the struggles of minority and immigrant women as a central theme in the rally on Saturday. Yet many demonstrators expressed concern about how Trumps policies will impact groups other than their own. Maria Clara Naranjo, a 26-year-old program coordinator who has worked with ethnic Karen refugees on the Thai-Burma border, said, It is important for young people to voice out and show that they are not happy with the way the administration has been communicating. Just because we are privileged in certain ways does not mean that we are not going to be standing up for people who are not privileged in other ways. Reverend Lois Artis, a 65-year old retired minister from Washington DC, spoke on the gap between the experiences of white women and women of color. We face similar issues, but they are much more extreme for women of color. I think because we do not have, very often, the access that other women do. Reverend Artis expressed particular concern about the lack of resolution on the issue of healthcare, highlighting the high number of single mothers, working women, who cannot afford to be without healthcare. Many protesters promised to maintain vigilance during the Trump Presidency, with many signs indicating that the public would be watching Trump, and promising to hold the President accountable. Ever since the election I feel like I am in mourning, said one protester. Every day I wake up and feel like I am living a bad nightmare, and unfortunately it is reality right now. News USDP Questions State Information Security chairman Than Htay gives speech at a discussion on state security and rule of law held on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 in Rangoon / Chan Son / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Citing October attacks on police outposts in Arakan State, U Than Htay, chairman of opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said in talks on Monday in Rangoon that the security of state information is at risk. USDP organized a discusion on state security and rule of law on Monday in the commercial capital, which was joined by representatives of around 10 political parties including the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), and the National Unity Party (NUP), the National Democratic Force (NDF) and ethnic Karen parties. The USDP chairman indirectly criticized the new NLD-led government for not summoning a meeting of National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) despite attacks on police outposts in October in Arakan States Maungdaw Township. The NDSC is an 11-member executive body responsible for security and defense affairs in Burma. The council includes the President, two vice presidents, speakers of the Upper and Lower Parliament houses, the armys commander in chief and deputy commander in chief, and the ministers of foreign affairs, defense, home, and border affairs. The new government has not yet summoned a full-member NDSC meeting, though Burma President U Htin Kyaw, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing did meet in the aftermath of the Maungdaw attacks. I want members of the public to be aware that information security is critically important for the country. Because of the breach of security, it has now become to difficult to differentiate between good guys and bad guys. When this is coupled with economic decline, there have been record high rates of crimes, which are the remarkable changes, said U Than Htay. He also criticized the revoking of the Emergency Provisions Act, and provisions in the ward and village-tract administration law that require citizens to report overnight guests to authorities. Laws were amended and annulled by the decision of the Parliament. There may be different views. I think the abolishment of the overnight guest registration that allows [authorities] to visit houses at night will provide better security for inidivdual citizens, said Dr Soe Win Oo, vice-chairman of NLDs Rangoon chapter. Some of the attendees stressed the need to form a new agency for national security despite the fact that there are a number of intelligence agencies like Office of the Military Security Affairs of Burma Army, and other agencies like the Bureau of Special Investigation under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Technical team leader for the Joint Monitoring Committee of the nationwide ceasefire agreement Dr. Min Zaw Oo, who discussed the topic of national security and the democratic transition, said: What we mainly need is a national security policy that the government, army and the Parliament can agree on. If we have that policy, we should have a national security strategy. Dr. Soe Win Oo of NLD said he was happy with the recommendations made at the discussion including the formation of a new national intelligence agency. Recommendations regarding the national security of Burma would be submitted to the government, according to the USDP central executive committee. News Wa State Suffers as Fewer Chinese Come to Party Women seen in massage shops as they wait for customers at Panghsang, Wa State. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters PANGHSANG, Shan State In a remote casino in northeastern Burma, Chinas pervasive campaign against graft has taken its toll. Hundreds of local traders and farmers place petty bets as low as 10 cents, outnumbering a few Chinese who were once the VIPs of a gambling hall decorated with chandeliers and Renaissance-style paintings. The business has been really bad since Chinese tourists stopped coming, said casino waitress Ling Ling who was considering leaving Panghsan, capital of the self-proclaimed Wa State that borders China, to look for better paying jobs. The three-story gambling parlor, with some 1,000 workers, offers games from jackpot slot machines to high-stakes VIP rooms featuring bets of up to $16,000. It is deep in the Wa hills in one of Asias poorest regions, where its majority ethnic Wa farmers earn an annual income of $115. In the statelet the size of Belgium controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Burmas strongest ethnic armed group, the once bustling gambling industry is not the only casualty from the falling number of high-roller mainland punters. From shopkeepers to moto-taxi drivers, local people said Beijings tightening of visas for Chinese gamblers traveling to the Wa in recent years part of the anti-corruption campaign launched by President Xi Jinping has cast a shadow on livelihoods in the reclusive territory. The Wa State is now trying to diversify its economy, which relies heavily on China as a market for its exports of rubber and metals such as tin. Reuters visited the rugged territory in October a rare trip by a major international news organization that offered a glimpse into the Chinese-speaking statelet of 600,000 people that is beyond the control of Burma leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyis government. Poppy Eradication The Wa State took shape in 1989, after the Communist Party of Burma disintegrated following a purge by Wa leaders. The 30,000-strong UWSA signed a ceasefire with the Burma army shortly afterwards and the two sides have not fought in years. Wa leaders say the region, which used to grow opium on a vast scale, underwent an eradication campaign against the plant used for production of heroin more than a decade ago. Poppy fields were replaced by plantations, mostly rubber, as well as coffee and tea, they say. Many plantations are backed by investors from China, alongside businessmen connected to the Wa State leadership. Their state-supported private companies, as described by several Wa leaders, control key businesses in the territory from gasoline to mining. I hope there is more foreign investment so that I can diversify my business, said C Yang, son of a UWSA commander who owns a rubber plantation of 132 acres. The stocky 25-year-old is typical of the wealthy, if narrow, Wa elite. The rubber plantation affords him a comfortable life in a mansion overlooking Panghsan, and fancy gadgets such as thebnewest model of iPhone and a fine-tuned Toyota Hilux truck. All these goods are unattainable for regular citizens in Wa, where life expectancy, at 60, is 5 years below Burma and 16 years behind neighboring China. Some Wa farmers rely on a World Food Programme (WFP) operation to supplement what they can produce. The agency, active throughout the area which has also experienced outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, had planned to deliver 152 metric tons of food last year through its community asset creation program. We dont have enough doctors and we are in need for medicines. We need help from the international community, said Tun Kyi, who oversees the Wa Healthcare Bureau. No Opportunities The Wa education program is in an equally poor state. The illiteracy rate stands at 90 percent, with 83 percent of adults having less than a year of schooling or none at all, according to a 2008 report by Health Poverty Action. That is in sharp contrast to Burmas illiteracy rate of less than 5 percent, based on data from the United Nations. Business owners and the Wa political elite send their children to China for schooling. Their parents want them to learn Chinese and to work in China, because children educated in Wa schools cant join the Chinese education system and have no opportunities, said Wa Wa Myint, a teacher at an elementary school of 700. Back in downtown Panghsan, bright, neon signs dangling from low-rise hotels, massage parlors and bars light up the main street a few minutes walk from a border crossing with China. A rowdy birthday party is under way in a two-story karaoke lounge that resembles a Roman temple, with life-size sculptures by its gate. In a VIP room with a giant screen playing Chinese pop songs, a Wa woman, wearing jade-dotted earrings and a ruby ring, offers her guests China-imported beer, red wine and locally-made liquor. The hostess challenges her guests to drink as much as they can. You cant go home without getting drunk, she says. This is how we party in Wa. Editorial NLD Government Needs to Shut Down Ma Ba Tha Affiliates A Ma Ba Tha supporter protesting the Rangoon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein upon his return from a trip to Singapore on July 6, 2016. During the trip, he announced at a meeting with the Burmese community there that Ma Ba Tha was not necessary. / The Irrawaddy It was a delight for many Burmese to see the fall of Ma Ba Tha, arguably the countrys most infamous ultranationalist group, after it was denounced by the state-backed leading Buddhist cleric council in July last year. The group is made up of Buddhist monks and thug-like followers, its sub-chapters spreading anti-Muslim rhetoric across the country since 2014. After the virtual demise of the group that tarnished Buddhisms reputation internationally, Burma saw a wane in the expression of such religious nationalism by and large for nearly six months. But the delight was short-lived. Last week, a Muslim religious ceremony in Pyay, Bago Division, which was commemorating the Prophet Muhammads birthday, was forced by nationalist protesters to cancel. The same thing also occurred in Rangoon. This time the government, in contrast to former President U Thein Seins administration, was quick to take action in Pyay. Police are now preparing to file a lawsuit against 12 members of the Rangoon division of the Nationalist Coalition Groupan association believed to be one of Ma Ba Thas sub-chaptersafter Union Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Ko instructed them to take legal measures against those involved in the disturbance. It could be said that fighting against rising nationalism, and particularly against anti-Muslim sentiment, is more important today than other times in modern Burmese history, particularly in the aftermath of attacks by Muslim militants on police outposts in Arakan State in October. A report published by the International Crisis Group about the incidents alleged that the perpetrators had international ties. It described the emergence of the insurgent group as a game changer in the Burmese governments effort to address Rakhine States complex challenges, including longstanding discrimination against the Muslim population. The recent actions carried out by nationalist groups intended to halt Muslim religious ceremonies is, quite simply, discrimination against Muslims rights. Such actions could be exploited by jihadist groups outside the country, leading to potential threats to stability and development in Burma. With the ongoing volatility of the situation in Arakan State, we reject any actions that could provoke intercommunal violence throughout in the country. After nearly six months of relative silence, perhaps the Buddhist nationalist groups were testing the waters in order to make a comeback. With no obligation to tolerate anyone trying to instigate interreligious violence, the government should not hesitate to quell them. Burma suffered enough of such tragedies in 2012, when, in Arakan State alone, Buddhist and Muslim communities experienced 100 deaths and around 140,000 people were displaceda disproportionate number of whom were Muslim. The Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy (NLD) government deserves praise for reining in nationalists by disowning Ma Ba Tha, which was founded before her administration came to office. But the NLD government needs to do more to shut down Ma Ba Tha affiliates across the country, making sure that there will be no resurrection of the organization in the future. The demise of these nationalists will not only bode well for more harmonious interfaith relations throughout Burma, but also for the continued survival of a compassionate Buddhism, in which much of the country believes. Guest Column Nickel and Dimed on Frog Mountain Phar Taung (Frog Mountain) on the border of Chin State and Sagaing Division. / Edith Mirante Our motorbikes crossed flimsy bamboo bridges in western Sagaing Division, a landscape still showing the devastation of 2015s floods. Shifting gears up a twisting, muddy hill trail took us over the border to Chin State. There, several villages are tucked into the forested slopes of Mwe Taung and Phar Taung (Snake Mountain and Frog Mountain). I was visiting Phar Taung with Chinland Natural Resources Watch Group (CNRWG), a small but resolute organization of young environmental ground-truthers. On reaching Dimzang village we were greeted with tea leaf salad and smoked venison. Dimzang is home to Zomi ethnic subsistence farmers who supplement their crops by hunting and gathering bamboo in Phar Taungs forests. Loggers from Sagaing Division often clear cut trees there. The logging is done illegally, but we cannot stop them. The government doesnt take action, a villager complained. Many of Dimzangs young people have left to work in Malaysia or Singapore. Since the 1960s,Mwe Taung and Phar Taung have been known to contain significant ferronickel (iron-nickel ore) deposits, distributed along the fault line where the India tectonic plate crashed into Southeast Asia. Nickel is used for stainless steel and rechargeable batteries and there are nickel mines in many countries, including Russia, Canada, Australia, and China. Ferronickel is mined with earthmoving equipment in a strip-mining mountaintop removal process. Risks include flooding from soil erosion and watershed destruction, waste tailings dumping, customary land use loss, and biodiversity degradation. Ferronickel mines have been besieged by violent protests over pollution in New Caledonia and several in the Philippines have had their operations suspended due to environmental damage. Burma currently has one ferronickel mine and processing factory: Tagaung Taung in eastern Sagaing Division, operated by China Nonferrous MetalMining Group. Tagaung Taung has been the target of protests over land grabbing, pollution, and exploitation of workers. Initial interest in mining Mwe Taung and Phar Taung came from Chinese investors. Pa Thang Khen Hap, a Dimzang village elder told us, the first time the Chinese came was in 2002 and 2003. The local people didnt know anything about it. The Chinese gave no explanation. Geological surveys conducted for Chinas North Mining Investment Co Ltd in 2013 found three significant ferronickel ore deposits at Mwe Taung and Phar Taung. The company drew up plans for processing the ore and shipping nickel via the Chindwin River for export to China. According to North Mining Investment materials, it was to be a $486.7 million project, with the nickel processing plant to run on coal power. In early 2013 attempts were made to sell the villagers on ferronickel minings benefits. From the government in Tedim [Chin State] they invited us to have a meeting at the school. They said if we have this mining project, do you agree with that? So we said no, definitely not, Dimzang resident Anthony U Go Za Khup recalled. Our first reason for rejecting it was because we love the land. That project is not beneficial for all of Chin State, Dimzang teacher Salai Kham Za Vungh commented, For the whole Chin State they said, you will get 5% of profit. So little! Pa Thang Khen Hap added: The impact would be very bad, because we could not farm the fields and then we cant live in this area. So many bad things will happen. Chin political parties and civil society groups including CNRWG conducted surveys of Mwe Taung and Phar Taung villagers and publicized their objections to the North Mining Investment project, particularly lack of transparency and fears of land grabbing. CNRWG made a formal complaint about the project to the government in Naypyidaw in late 2013. In June 2014 Than Tun Aung, Deputy Minister for Mines informed Parliament that North Mining Investments nickel mine project was still under review, pending approval. As there has been no activity on the project since then, North Mining Investment is believed to have withdrawn. With the large scale Chinese ferronickel project in limbo, some informal mining took place. Dimzang villagers told us that in 2014 people from Mandalay asked to buy rocks from Phar Taung and took them away in small quantities, a few kilos at a time, perhaps for samples. Neat stacks of heavy, rough-textured ferronickel ore can be spotted along the mountain trail, remnants of small-scale demand that apparently didnt last for long. A new investor appeared the next year. In October 2015, 3S Company, belonging to a man from Mizoram [India, neighboring Chin State] came. They forced local people to sign that they are in favor of the mining; some did, some didnt. We then learned this is not from the government. After that the government said they are stopped now, Salai Kham Za Vungh said. CNRWG is investigating a possible effort by 3S Company to have the border demarcation changed, in order to placethe ferronickel deposits under jurisdiction of more mining-friendly Sagaing Division instead of Chin State. The Zomis living near Mwe Taung and Phar Taung remain alert to signs of mining activity on their mountains: In November 2016 we saw Burmese people from outside coming to look at this mountain, to get information. People we dont know. From time to time people seem to come and check on it. This kind of grassroots monitoring is key to preventing mining companies incursions into Chin State and strengthening environmental protection in Sagaing Division. The forested mountains of Chin State must be preserved to protect Sagaings agricultural plains and towns from more massive floods. Mining and logging threaten this vital watershed. It has been clear since 2013 that ferronickel mining is not the type of development the Zomi villagers of Mwe Taung and Phar Taung are hoping for. Instead, Dimzangs villagers currently have a very simple wish: replacing their hand-hewn motorbike track with a road that could be used for taking goods to market and sick or injured people to the hospital, at all times of the year. Salai Kham Za Vungh made the plea: Even though this village was established 48 years ago, from the government we get nothing. We made that path ourselves. If theres any chance, any way to help, we want that very much. Edith Mirante is founder of Project Maje which distributes information on Burmas human rights and environmental issues, and author of The Wind in the Bamboo. Guest Column The Northern Alliance: Fight For a Fault Soldiers from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) gather at a military base in the Kokang region, on the Burma-China border, on March 11, 2015. / Reuters In the quiet and cool early morning of November 20, 2016, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), allied with three other relatively small Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) which branded themselves as the Northern Alliance-Burma (NAB), waged unprecedented cooperative attacks on Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) strongholds and police stations along the Sino-Myanmar border, in response to Tatmadaw offensives launched across the ethnic areas. Within less than 24 hours, the Chinese foreign mission in Yangon responded actively by releasing a brief and forceful statement: The Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has been watching the situation closely, urging all parties in the conflicts to exercise restraint by taking concrete and effective measures for an immediate ceasefire so as to resume peace in the China-Myanmar border area as soon as possible. it said. Understandably, some pundits would rather despise this kind of full-throated diplomatic jargon since they have long been overwhelmed by a more easy-to-remember narrative, the carrot-and-stick game played by Beijing, allegedly aimed at safeguarding and extending its considerable economic, commercial and strategic interests, while at the same time deterring any encroachment by Western or Japanese interests along its southwestern border. Even more explicitly, the likely brains behind the scheme has been designated to be Chinese military intelligence who have established long-standing links with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). The EAOs territories bordering Southwest Chinas Yunnan province are, without question, self-proclaimed autonomous regions inside the so-called Sinosphere. But the conjecture that China had tacitly called the shots is beyond the pale, even though the NAB had repeatedly called on interference by the Chinese side. A Fire in the City Gates Chinas after-the-event shock and genuine desire to end the conflict have been best illustrated by the first ever Myanmar-China (2+2) High Level Consultation, held five days after the conflict outbreak. The consultation brought high-ranking Chinese military officials together with senior diplomats to the negotiating table. Gen. Xu Fenlin, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department, as quoted by the press, expressed that the Chinese military will not let anyone to destroy the peace and stability in the border region or harm the lives and property of the Chinese people in border areas. Gen. Xus words have been widely read as an unambiguous and serious warning to the NAB. This brings to mind an old Chinese saying, that a fire in the city gates is also a calamity for the fish in the moat. The attacks by the NAB and the subsequent chaos in the border region are undoubtedly dangerous to Chinas interests and security. At least 3,000 locals were forced to flee into China, pushing the Chinese government and Army towards high alert. Bilateral trade has also been brought to a standstill, and Chinese citizens were wounded by stray bullets. Narrow Political Space There is no chance that the NAB could overpower the Tatmadaw going toe-to-toe. Then why did they still choose a highly risky way of military offensives? Obviously their political space has significantly shrank since Aung San Suu Kyis stances on the peace process have converged with those of the Tatmadaw. Civil-military relations in Myanmar have evolved into a form of patronage in that the Lady tries to strategically pull the military into her orbit around the democratic transition, while the Tatmadaw urgently needs her peerless legitimacy to fulfill the militarys self-claimed missions. Recently, in his message for the 69th anniversary celebration of the Independence Day, President U Htin Kyaw announced four national objectives, of which Tatmadaws long-held doctrine Three National Causesto safeguard non-disintegration of the union, non-disintegration of national unity, and perpetuation of sovereigntywas listed in the second place. Consequently, the NAB believed that they had no choice remaining other than combining together almost all the leverages at handthe porous Sino-Myanmar border, the joint armed operations, the sensitive bilateral trade hubs, and of course the most weighty Chinese cards. The 2015 Kokang conflict saw fighting that spilled over across the border, invoking ethno-nationalism in China, and some hardliners posting on social media that Beijing should support the MNDAA against Myanmar troops. China will not abandon its sway over border issues. The NAB was definitely correct about that. But neither will Beijing tolerate any damage to the Sino-Myanmar relationship, and the NAB unfortunately could not grasp that. On August 20, 2016, during a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to promote the China-Myanmar comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and to bring more tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Failing to appreciate the simple principles of interstate relations, the NAB has not only retreated from the battlefield, but has gotten lost in the path towards the Myanmar peace process. Liu Yun is an independent analyst based in China. He writes on Myanmar regularly. He can be reached at: [email protected]. This article was originally published on the website of Tea Circle, a forum hosted at Oxford University for emerging research and perspectives on Burma/Myanmar. Two years ago, I wrote about a study on the best metro areas for STEM professionals that found that Omaha and Oklahoma City were more attractive job-search locations for STEM pros than anywhere in Silicon Valley. If you read that and packed your bags for one of those two cities, I apologize. Apparently, in the span of just two years, things have kind of tanked out there. That 2015 study was conducted by WalletHub, an online personal finance resource based in Washington. I recently reviewed WalletHubs 2017 study, and was floored by how much things have changed. The findings are based on 17 factors that include job openings for STEM graduates per capita, share of the work force in STEM professions, projected demand for STEM jobs by 2020, and annual median wage for STEM workers. Omaha fell from No. 5 in 2015 to No. 64 in 2017, and Oklahoma City fell from No. 7 to No. 75. Houston, meanwhile, fell from No. 1 to No. 26, and Raleigh fell from No. 3 to No. 25. Houstons plunge was hardly a shock, given the woes of the oil industry, but Raleighs drop surprised me. I live in Greenville, about 85 miles east of the Raleigh metro area, home of the famed Research Triangle and such software heavyweights as SAS Institute and Red Hat. Locals Ive spoken with were equally surprised, and really didnt know what to make of WalletHubs findings. In any case, heres WalletHubs list of the 10 best metro areas for STEM professionals in 2017: Seattle San Jose San Francisco Boston Springfield, Mass. Austin Minneapolis Atlanta Washington Pittsburgh And here are the 10 worst in 2017: Birmingham, Ala. Lakeland, Fla. Bridgeport, Conn. North Port, Fla. Honolulu Cape Coral, Fla. Memphis Deltona, Fla. McAllen, Texas Jackson, Miss. I couldnt help but notice that in both 2015 and 2017, four of the 10 worst metro areas for STEM pros were in Florida. So at least some things are consistent. Here are some of the factoids that WalletHub found worthy of note: Atlanta has the most per-capita job openings for STEM graduates (108), which is 54 times more than in Deltona, Fla., the metro area with the fewest (2). San Jose has the highest percentage of workers in STEM occupations (22.2 percent), which is 13.1 times higher than in McAllen, Texas, the metro area with the lowest (1.7 percent). Washington has the highest projected number of STEM jobs per capita needed by 2020 (14.86 percent), which is 13.8 times higher than in Las Vegas, the metro area with the lowest (1.08 percent). Riverside, Calif., has the highest unemployment rate for residents with at least a bachelors degree (6.1 percent), which is 3.2 times greater than in Des Moines, the metro area with the lowest (1.9 percent). Houston has the highest annual median wage for STEM workers, adjusted by cost of living ($94,110), which is 2.3 times higher than in Honolulu, the metro area with the lowest ($40,223). Dayton, Ohio, has the highest housing-affordability index for STEM professionals (103.26), which is 2.1 times higher than in Honolulu, the metro area with the lowest (48.25). A contributing writer on IT management and career topics with IT Business Edge since 2009, Don Tennant began his technology journalism career in 1990 in Hong Kong, where he served as editor of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. After returning to the U.S. in 2000, he became Editor in Chief of the U.S. edition of Computerworld, and later assumed the editorial directorship of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. Follow him on Twitter @dontennant. The DJI Mavic Pro has had its fair share of customer criticisms when it first failed to ship on time. Right after DJI has unveiled this foldable drone, the company set a mid-October release for the early Mavic Pro pre-orders. However, DJI wasn't able to meet this goal thus frustrating a bunch of its buyers. Nevertheless, the company eventually apologized and they also stretched the release date to up to seven weeks. With that, DJI was able to get a handle on their massive orders as they put their production in full speed. When the holiday rush came to an end, the company was able to reduce the Mavic Pro delivery time to as short as 3-5 days. Needless to say, the big question that remains is whether or not all pending orders from the "critical days" were shipped or not. DJI Mavic Pro Pending Orders We have posted about DJI's new shipping schedules in the past weeks and our posts have seen quite a number of response from supposed Mavic Pro buyers who haven't received their orders yet. Most of these people ordered months ago and most of these orders were made from third-party sellers. There are people who ordered as far back as September and there are people who are seeing a shipment ETA as far away as March. With that said, while DJI seems to already have a handle on their own orders, their resellers are still in a rut. Hopefully, the company is able to ship enough units to their third-party vendors so as to avoid frustrations on the customers' ends. DJI Mavic Pro Current Orders Right now, DJI lists the Mavic Pro with a very short delivery schedule of 3-5 days. This is actually not the first time that the Mavic Pro's shipment ETA has been reduced. Within this month, the company has changed the drone's delivery date from 7-10 days to 5-7 days and now, it is listed with 3-5 days shipment. Google Pixel is one of the famous Android smartphones to date. With its impressive features and specifications, there is no doubt as to why everyone would want to have one of their own. Sources told that both the Pixel and Pixel XL are already sold out in Google Store. Will any online store take advantage of this situation? Where could one get a Google Pixel and Pixel XL? Pixel Already Sold Out In Google Store, Amazon Tries To Sell Device On A Higher Mark-up According to BGR, it is believed that Google has done its best effort to keep the Google Pixel and Pixel XL on its sold out position. Sources stated that according to estimates, there has been plenty of times that the carrier has sold too much. However, Amazon kept their site available for the Pixel selling but with a higher markup than the usual. It is believed that the 128GB Pixel XL purchased in Amazon could cost you more than $1.500, excluding the sales tax. It is believed that it is not an error as some online sellers are trying to sell the phone at a great markup as well. Prices range from $1,387 to $1,799.99, close enough to the price in Amazon. It is also reiterated that the Google Pixel XL will cost you $869, excluding tax, if it would not be available at Google or Verizon. Google Pixel Or XL Already Sold Out In Google Store, Users Currently In Waiting Game Publications suggested that it would be better if users would just wait at this point, considering the fact that its popularity could lessen any time now. Sources told that there would be a new wave of Android smartphones that would be available in the market real soon; this includes Galaxy S8 and LG G6 that would have its release this year. Scientists warn the world that there will be a new major virus outbreak this year 2017. Health organizations have already called for faster vaccine in advance as three new deadly diseases could cause the next global health emergency pandemic. Scientists Fear New Respiratory Tract Infection Diseases Scientists fear a widespread of Lassa, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) and Nipah virus. WHO has already added the three to its top 10 lists of priority diseases. Alarming as it sounds, but the governments and some charities have pledged $460 million for the development of vaccines to counter-act as soon as possible. But they still ask another $500 million from the World Economic Forum Davos to hasten the process. Progress of vaccines often take nearly a decade. But the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) said they want to see an effective vaccine against the three deadly viruses within the next five years. Immediate Response To Prevent Virus Outbreak 2017 The World Health Organizations aim to avoid the conditions during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the Zika epidemic in Latin America. They said many have suffered due to a "tragically unprepared" health world. "Before the 2014 outbreak we only had very small Ebola epidemics that were in isolated communities that we could control," said Jeremy Farrar, director of the WellCome Trust, reports the BBC. "But in the modern world with urbanization and travel, 21st Century epidemics possibly will start in a big cities and then it started spreading like the way Ebola did in West Africa." More than 11,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have died due to Ebola virus. While Zika virus left thousands of children with damaged shrink brains in Brazil. During both outbreaks, scientists can't provide exact treatment or vaccine to fight the diseases but they educate and immunize all citizens affected with the virus. To date, experts are still trying to find an effective remedy to end infections. Cepi wants governments, scientists, and officials to work together to avoid the potential occurrence virus outbreak 2017. Failure to act against the three new viruses could lead to greater harm across the world. WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Marie-Paule Kieny warned the viruses could transform faster before the vaccine and become riskier for individuals. In addition, there's still a lack of studies about the diseases. "Then there are the things that are completely unknown to us now," Kieny said. A California storm caused flood waters to sweep through California mountain communities, and residents evacuated below the hillsides. They are scared of the wildfires and in the latest series of storms causing mudslides Sunday. The National Weather Service cautioned that the storm could be the strongest in the last seven years. California has been overwhelmed with flood water and snow after years of drought. The San Lorenzo River spilled over its banks for the second time this month and residents watch helpless as the river sends muddy water and debris into their yards and homes. However, no injuries were reported. Paradise Park resident Tammy Grove told the Sentinel newspaper that it was the fastest he has ever seen the river move. Battalion Chief Aldo Gonzales with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the river is the highest level he has ever seen it. Rain fell at a rate of nearly three-quarters of an inch per hour. Rock slides, debris flows and flooding closed roads and snarled traffic up and down the state. Flash flood watches and warnings were in effect for swaths of greater Los Angeles. The third storm in four days dumped heavy rain and snow in the mountains. Mountain locations could see up to 6 inches of rain. According to the Yahoo, because of the California storm traffic was diverted 110 south of downtown Los Angeles because of water flowing across the lane to prevent more damages to travelers. While near wildfire burn areas in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Orange counties, authorities ordered evacuation. Authorities also said that the flow of debris could affect the access of emergency responders. According to the ABC, in Mendocino County, a woman died while lying on her bed as a massive oak toppled onto an apartment and crushed the building, on the city of Ukiah early Saturday. The womans boyfriend and a three year old child managed to escape. Capt. Pete Bushby of the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority said heavy rain apparently had undercut the 125-foot tree. The officials warned the high avalanche danger in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Sierra Avalanche Center advised Sunday warned travelers of the danger brought by intense snowfall rates and gale force winds. A California storm caused big surf rolled ashore, with a record 34-foot swells recorded Saturday in Monterey Bay. While in San Diego two women were swept from the shore, one woman was rescued, but the lifeguards took 40 minutes to save the other woman. The other one was hospitalized and is in critical condition. According to NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, it has been 125,000 years since the world was as warm as 2016. NOAA announced that at several points last year, individual months broke global temperature records. Temperature data from the UK Met Office and NASA reveals that 2016 is the hottest year ever recorded. Dr. Andrew King, a climate extremes researcher from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Sciences, University of Melbourne states that it is undoubtedly humans are driving this global warming. In contrast, absolute temperature depends on features and stations such as forests, mountains and cities that might not be covered by existing measurements. In spite of evidence that rising temperatures are responsible for severe weather conditions and forest fires, it is hard to apply action without data tha shows the severity of the situation. NASA figures reveal that the Artic is warming twice as fast as the global average. Artic warming is in large part due to human activity. Since the industrial revolution, a vast amount of carbon dioxide has been released into the atmosphere. Climate change scientists are concerned about the commitment of the U.S. in reducing carbon emissions and other greenhouse gasses, this comes after President Trump assumed office. The destruction of marine ecology is one of the symptoms of rising oceanic temperatures. Global warming is causing rise of sea level, coastal erosions and coral bleaching. Long term trends is the single most important thing that will give us information on the future. The planet is getting absolutely hotter. According to researchers, 57 degrees is NOAAs estimate but they cautioned that this number is much less accurate than the amount of change as reported in an article by Morochos. In December 2015, the U.K. Met office predicted a record warm for 2016. In early 2016, Gavin Schmidt from NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies stated that 2016 will be 1.3 degrees Celsius above late 19th century temperatures. The predication was remarkably close to the reported 1.2 degrees Celsius rise. For 2017, NOAA forecasts a slightly cooler year than 2016 but still among the hottest year as reported in an article by Scroll.In. Despite 2017 just being a few weeks in, it has already been dubbed as Nokia's comeback year. The company has just released its first handheld, the Nokia 6, which was exclusively sold in China. Surprisingly or unsurprisingly, the unit sold out within seconds of its online sale and more than a million individuals are waiting for their next chance at owning the smartphone. As RT notes, China has become known for quickly selling out on flash sale items, especially when it comes to tech gadgets. But while the brand like Xiaomi has started a following, Nokia and HMD Global are the newest members of that growing list. The first flash sale of the Nokia 6, which is being exclusively distributed via JD.com, was up and out in less than a minute. The handheld, which sells for about US$245, has another million individuals registered at the online retailer's website for a chance to get their hands on the device. The next flash sale is expected to come on Thursday, but it is not clear how much stock of the Nokia 6 the retailer will have. Furthermore, JD.com has been told not to sell the same outside of China, so any interested buyers from other countries will have a hard time getting the same. The Nokia 6 is definitely one of the cheaper choices to make in the market and the pricing does have its toll on the unit's specifications. According to NDTV Gadgets, the smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor and runs on 4GB of RAM. Its 5.5-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 1080 x 1920 or 403 pixels per inch. The device has a built-in storage space of 64GB, but this is expandable to 128GB via a microSD card. The rear and front camera of the Nokia 6 has 16 megapixels and 8 megapixels respectively. And when it comes to the battery life, the company is generous with its 3000 mAh removable battery. Straight out of the box, the Nokia 6 runs on Android 7.0 Nougat. It weighs about 167 grams and measures a comfortable 154 x 75.8x 7.85 mm all around. The device is simple and straightforward, much like the beloved cellphones of Nokia's stronger past. But since the time of the 3310 and the 3650, the company has been trailing along with its line of Lumia smartphones. In 2013, the company even sold its mobile division to Microsoft for US$7.2 billion. It was stated in the contract that Nokia could not sell handhelds under its brand name until the end of 2016. Then Microsoft sold the Nokia brand to HMD Global and Foxconn for US$350 million - a fraction of the price it was bought - due to a 46 percent dip in revenue. All these drags through the mud seems to be a thing of the past. The Nokia 6 looks like it will change things around, much like Nokia's CEO of HMD Global, Arto Nummela, previously stated. Nummela promised that with the company's most known aspects - simplicity, reliability, quality and ease of use - amazing new designs would surface. And it definitely seems to be the case with the Nokia 6. More excitingly, however, is that the company is expected to release more handhelds as the year continues to roll out. Motorola is likely to have a new Moto Z rolling out within the year and it will come with some of the latest features currently available. A Geekbench test was discovered indicating that Motorola is working on a new smartphone labeled as Motorola XT 1650. Rumormongers are already baptizing this mystery smartphone as the next Moto Z. If proven true, Motorola's next Moto Z handset will be one of the best from its stable as it will come with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset along with the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system. There is little else that can be picked up from the Geekbench listing. It does show, however, that it will be powered by the 1.9GHz Octa Core Qualcomm MSM8998 SoC chip or more popularly known as Snapdragon 835. The next Moto Z will also have 4GB of RAM which is less than some current high-end phones which have 6GB of RAM. To date, the Snapdragon 835 cannot be seen in any device currently in the market. The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8, however, is expected to come with the latest chip. The Galaxy S8 is expected to be announced late in February during the Mobile World Congress. Another highly anticipated smartphone, the Microsoft Surface, is also expected to have the Snapdragon 835 out of the box. However, it is supposed to come out during the latter part of 2017 so the Galaxy S8 and the Xiaomi Mi 6 will beat the Surface at the race. Motorola only launched the 2016 version of the Moto Z last June 2016. The 2016 Moto Z comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Suffice to say, this Moto Z is already outdated. It does come with other impressive features such as a 5.5-inch QHD display, 4GB of RAM, and a 13MP rear camera. The Microsoft Surface Pro 5, being one anticipated device, has been rumored for release many times in the past months. Considering that the last Surface Pro was released 2015, the new model has been expected since 2016. Nevertheless, with its absence last year, it already makes sense that it would get released this year. Rumor has it that the supposed Surface Pro 5 could make an appearance oin the 2017 Mobile World Congress event. Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumored For MWC Release The MWC 2017 is happening in less than two months and rumor has it that Microsoft could be unveiling the Surface Pro 5 in the said event. As per Inquisitr, this rumored release date seems to make sense considering that the Windows 10 update called Redstone 2 is also expected to be rolled out around April of this year. With that, a March unveiling of the Surface Pro 5 is a strategic step for the company. Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Specs Rumor Roundup So far, there have already been a number of rumors about the Pro 5's specs. However, Microsoft hasn't confirmed any of it yet. But if the said rumors are to be believed, then the Surface Pro 5 could come with 16 GB RAM and Intel's Kaby Lake processors. There are also vague talks about the possible LTE-capable Surface Pro 5 variant. Awireless chargingg stylus has also been mentioned many times alongside the possible use of a 4K display. As per Digitimes, Pegatron Technology will be the one to manufacture the device. Additionally, Microsoft has also considered Quanta Computer as an additional manufacturer for the Surface Pro 5, however, this plan hasn't been confirmed yet. Needless to say, the Pro 5 tablet could be coming in sometime soon. It's worth noting that the last Surface tablet will be two years old this year, so if it doesn't get a successor, the Surface Pro line will be pretty much outdated. The DJI Mavic Pro has been making headlines for different reasons. Apparently, the drone has been receiving praises for its amazingness as a drone but at the same time, DJI is also being criticized for the slow release of the DJI Mavic Pro. It's worth noting that the drone has been unveiled roughly four months ago and it was instantly met with some shipment problems. DJI Mavic Pro Shipment Recap When the Mavic Pro was launched, DJI has made it available for pre-orders. However, the company's initial shipment ETA to customers were not met, which made the Mavic Pro more talked-about than expected. Needless to say, DJI apologized and eventually changed the shipment schedule to about two months from purchase. Nevertheless, when the holiday rush ended, the company gradually shortened the shipment schedule for the said drone. First, DJI listed the Mavic Pro with a 7-10 days shipment and then they dropped it to 5-7 days. Right now, the drone is listed on DJI's website with a 3-5 days shipment. It's actually quite great news that the shipment schedule was dropped to as short as three days. However, there are still people who claim that their Mavic Pro orders from months ago are still pending. Most of these orders were said to have been made with third-party vendors. Needless to say, this still makes the Mavic Pro drone a little too infamous for its shipment issues. DJI Mavic Pro Third-party Purchase Rumored For March Release There has been an unverified rumor saying that DJI is withholding its production for the Mavic Pro to serve its direct clients from DJI.com. As per a source, the company has sent a message to its dealers saying that they will be withholding their Mavic Pro production until the end of January. However, the end of January will be the Chinese New Year and a 2-3 week production break can be expected, and as per what DJI allegedly said in the message "it doesn't look good for us". With that, the company allegedly asked their dealers to warn their own customers that the stocks for the Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro combo is extremely limited and that they hope that by March of this year, they will have sufficient stocks of the said products. A deadly Georgia storm claims several lives. The tornado leveled a southern Georgia mobile home park killing at least seven people in the park. Overall, the storm that raged through the weekend killed at least 18 people in the Southeast including 14 in Georgia. The names of the victims were not released by authorities. According to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, seven people died in Cook County and there were two deaths each in Brooks and Berrien counties and three in Dougherty. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal had declared a state of emergency in seven south Georgia counties. The state will seek federal assistance as well according to the governor. According to Deal, these storms have destroyed communities and homes in South Central Georgia and all resources will be made available to the impacted areas. Deal also urged all Georgians to exercise caution and vigilance in order to remain safe and prevent injuries and further loss of lives. According to Deal, the storm have resulted in numerous injuries, extensive property damage and loss of life. Thoughts and prayers are with Georgians who are suffering the effects of the storms impact. President Donald Trump have offered condolences to Deal and Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Trump had talked to Deal and would soon be speaking to Scott. He also acknowledged that Alabama was hit hard. The National Weather Service has issued a rare high risk alert for strong tornadoes and severe thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and evening for Northern Florida and Southern Georgia. The last time a high-risk alert was issued was in June of 2014. A tornado watch was issued for parts of Georgia, Florida and Alabama. The cities of Atlanta, Georgia, Tallahassee and Panama City in Florida were included in the watch. This remained in effect until Sunday night according to a report by CNN. In Cook County two shelters has been established, Adel First assembly of God at 1601 Massee Post Road and at the First Baptist Church of Adel at 200 East 5th Street. For families in Adel, Georgia who are seeking information regarding missing persons, they are urged to contact the Adel First Assembly at 229-896-3935 or 229-561-2875. They can also call the First Baptist Church of Adel at 229-561-1201. Residents of Florida were advised to have disaster kits ready. Residents were also reminded about the dangers of flash flood. They were advised to have their National Oceanic and Atmosphere Association weather radios programmed as reported in an article by News4Jax. Some college students are ready to throw in the towel after facing some difficulties in campus. But for 94-year-old Amy Craton, having an education should be a priority, no matter how old you are. According to ABC News, the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother finally graduated from college after putting her education on hold to look after her family. Craton graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelors degree in creative writing and English. In addition to that inspiring feat, the Honolulu, Hawaii resident finished college with an impressive 4.0 GPA. It was reported that Craton first went to college in 1962, but she put her education on hold to support her children. As shes now in a wheel chair and hard of hearing, attending college on campus wasnt an option, so she opted to complete her degree online. You have to learn as long as you can learn, said Craton. Go to college. Dont be afraid of it. And while Craton told the news outlet that shes happy to have her degree, the 94-year-old said that shes still looking forward to learn. Now, shes going for her Masters degree. Back in June, Craton spoke with NBC News and talked about why she gave up her studies in the 60s. The mother-of-four said that she decided to stop and get a full time job after she and her husband divorced. For years, she worked as an administrative assistant for a chemical plant, but always dreamed about finishing her degree. When her son suggested that she takes classes online, Craton decided to enroll in SNHUs virtual classes. She said that she chose the school because it brought back fond memories of vacationing in New Hampshire as a young girl. Cratons academic adviser, Chrisanda Bauer, said that she was impressed at how her student was so persistent and so dedicated, and that she rarely asks for help. Craton is the oldest student to ever get a degree at Southern New Hampshire University and is one of the oldest graduates in America. She joins the ranks of Nola Ochs and Doreetha Daniels, who are among the oldest US graduates in recent times. Ochs graduated at the age of 95 with a degree in general studies with an emphasis in history from Fort Hays University in 2007. She also earned her masters degree at the age of 98. Daniels was 99 years old when she graduated from College of Canyons in Santa Clarita, California in 2015. She has an associate degree in social sciences. For more, check out Jobs & Hires report on career lessons you can learn from Hidden Figures. DENVER Deb Szeman, a self-described homebody, had never participated in a demonstration before hopping on an overnight bus from her home in Charlotte, N.C., to attend the Womens March on Washington. She returned on another bus that pulled in at 4 a.m. Sunday, full of people buzzing about what might come next and quipping that they would see each other at the next march. I wouldnt have spent 18 hours in Washington, D.C., and taken the bus for seven hours both ways if I didnt believe there was going to be a part two, and three and four and five, said Szeman, 25, who works at a nonprofit and joined the National Organization for Women after Trump won the White House. I feel like theres been an awakening, she said. More than a million people turned out Saturday to nationwide demonstrations opposing President Donald Trumps agenda, a forceful showing that raised liberals hopes after the election denied them control of all branches of federal government. Now, the question is whether that energy can be sustained and turned into political impact. From marches against the Iraq War in 2003 to Occupy Wall Street, several big demonstrations have not directly translated into real-world results. In Wisconsin, for example, tens of thousands stormed the state Capitol in 2011 to protest Gov. Scott Walkers moves to weaken unions. Walker has since been re-elected. Trump also won the state in November as Republicans increased their hold on the statehouse, part of the GOPs domination of state-level elections in recent years. Organizers of Saturdays marches are promising 10 additional actions to take during the first 100 days of Trumps presidency. So far, the first and only is for supporters to write to their senators or representatives. Groups scrambled so fast to arrange the massive demonstrations in only a few weeks that they have had limited time to determine how to channel the energy into additional action. But, they promise, its coming. The left has really woken up and said, My gosh, weve been fighting the symbolic fight, but we havent been fighting the institutional fight, said Yong Jung-Cho of the activist group All of Us, which organized protests at the inauguration as well as the womens march. Theres still value in symbolism. Saturdays immense crowds ruffled the new president as his press secretary falsely contended that Trump had broken a record on inauguration attendance. Jamie Henn of the climate action group 350.org said that reaction is a hint on how to build the movement. Size matters to this guy, Henn said. Its like dealing with a schoolyard bully and some of us need to go back to middle school and revisit what thats like as they think up new tactics. Saudi Garcia, a 24-year-old anthropology student at New York University, is a veteran of Black Lives Matter protests in New York. She rode to Washington with longtime, largely minority activists to block checkpoints to the inauguration. She was heartened to find herself in a very different crowd Saturday, which she described as largely white women, many of whom brought young children to the womens march. Garcia hopes those women stay involved in fighting Trump. We need to be like the tea party was in 2009, Garcia said. Those people were relentless showing up at town council meetings, everywhere. Stan A. Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, co-authored a study of how the nationwide demonstrations that launched the tea party movement led to increased conservative political clout. Higher attendance at individual demonstrations correlated with more conservative voting by congressional members and a greater share of Republican votes in the 2010 election, when the GOP won back the House, he said. But, Veuger cautioned, it wasnt automatic. The tea party activists also went home and volunteered in local organizations that helped change the electoral results. Political protests can have an effect, he said. But theres nothing guaranteed. One positive sign for the left, he added, was that the womens marches seemed to draw an older crowd not deeply rooted in demonstrating people who are more likely to volunteer, donate and vote. Beth Andre is one of them. Before the election, the 29-year-old who works in crisis services at a college had bought a ticket from her home in Austin, Texas, to Washington to watch what she thought would be Hillary Clintons inauguration. After Trump won, she canceled the trip. She was heartbroken again when she realized that meant she could not attend the womens march. But a friend invited her to a meeting to plan a womens march in Austin instead. Andre has never been involved in a protest movement before. Still excited after Saturdays demonstration, shes planning to attend lobbying workshops by her local Democratic Party and is thinking of running for office. We want to be able to harness that energy and anger that we have right now and turn it into something good, she said. Halima hid under the bed and tried not to watch as the soldiers slit her brothers throat. It was 1999 in Sierra Leone and the country was in the middle of a bloody civil war. Halima waited until the killers left, then crawled out and ran to her brother Salim, who was not breathing. She held him, prayed for a moment, then ran from the house. Two days later, with a false passport, she flew to the United States. She was granted asylum and now lives here with her family, including four U.S. citizen children. I had known Halimas story for almost a decade since I was her immigration attorney. She is just one of the many people Ive met during a 20-year career practicing the type of law that exposes me to people who come from countries where politics is not as simple and sanitized as a panel discussion on CNN. There was Muhammad, who had once been a member of the Nawaz party in Pakistan and made the mistake of being a vocal district officer and opponent of the Taliban when they took over his northern town and ordered medical workers to stop dispensing free vaccines. He was beaten, his father was shot and he was forced to flee the only home hed ever known. The Taliban are still there. There was Javier from Guatemala, whose family had been attacked by rebels during the Civil War in the mid-80s because they refused to provide assistance, and then were persecuted by the government when, ironically, they wrongly thought his family had provided that guerrilla aid. There was Brahim from the Ivory Coast, who had been a vocal coordinator for college students in favor of a political candidate named Ouattara, and who had been imprisoned and tortured when the presidents men maintained their power by essentially putting the challenger under house arrest and disrupting the election. There was Ousmane, from Algeria, who had marched against the Armed Islamic Forces in his hometown of Medea, trying to protect the democratically elected president from an Islamic insurgency. His sister was raped, he was beaten, and the police were too afraid to arrest any of the attackers. There were more. Mohan from the Sudan. Isaias from El Salvador. Lassana from Guinea. Emanuel from the Congo. Every single one fled a country that was mired in a political maelstrom because one group of people could not accept the peaceful relinquishment of power. I tell you these stories as a reminder that even though you might not celebrate the man and the message in the ascendant in Washington, you have to honor the process. We transition from one person to the next, one party to the next, one mission to the next, without guns. We do it without force. We do it with votes and voices. The angry feminist marches in the streets, but is not forced to hide under her bed. The impassioned college student writes op-eds against the administration, but does not do it from a prison cell. The doctor who thinks birth control is a right, not a privilege, writes that prescription from an office and doesnt fear that police will break down his door and haul him away. To those who were angry, mournful, anxious and disgusted on inauguration day I say: celebrate the country you live in, that gives you the freedom to oppose Donald Trumps administration. To those who do celebrate unreservedly, remember that those on the other side of the divide are your fellow citizens. And to all, embrace the process that perpetuates a freedom and an individual dignity that, believe me, is the exception to a universal rule. President Trump delivered a campaign speech, not an inaugural address, Friday. That he and his staff do not understand the difference goes to the heart of his insufficiency as a leader. Addressing a shockingly sparse crowd, he painted a picture of a hellish America that can only be restored by turning inward, deciding the world is a burden and our allies are thieves. The speech was really two separate ones slammed together. In the first, he repeated in different ways, over and over again, that we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the people because, well, because anyone and everyone in government has turned America into a hellhole. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs. In other words, the establishment that he now sits atop has betrayed the country. He did not say they were shortsighted or mistaken. He did not say they made progress but left work to do. He attributes unvarnished malice to the entire establishment, dividing it from the people. He perfectly channels the resentment of the white working class. And in case you didnt know how rotten a country this is, he described, as he did on the campaign trail, a dystopia bearing little resemblance to the real United States. (Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities, rusted-out factories, scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation, an education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge. And the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.) You would not know that unemployment stands at 4.7 percent, crime is down and productivity up. He sees only blight. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now, he declared. Carnage. Take that in for a moment. Does he see America as a decimated, destroyed and weak country? Apparently yes or he would like us to believe so in order to, in a year or so, declare how everything has improved. The second part of the speech was a dark, ugly tribute to America First, the language of nationalism, nativism and protectionism. One cringes to hear the president use the phrase of the Charles Lindbergh, fascist-sympathizing set of the 1930s. He puts forth a demonstrably false narrative that we benefited other countries at the expense of our own. He sees no benefit from markets we have developed, from collective security, from the spread of democratic governments, from the prevention of violence on the scale of the two 20th-century world wars. Just as we are supposed to resent the establishment, he is telling America to resent the world. One would never know that we have continued to be the worlds only true superpower, that a couple billion people have been lifted from poverty and age expectancy has soared. He does not care to know. Theyre robbing us blind, got it? His language was the crude boasting of his campaign. (America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.) The overwhelming number of Americans are employed; the smokestack jobs are not coming back; wages are up; and Americans dream every day. Youd never know it listening to him. What was missing was virtually any vision of what he wants America to be. The most we got was a promise to build new roads and highways and bridges and airports and tunnels and railways all across our wonderful nation and to get people off of welfare and back to work, rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor. Beyond that he cannot describe a renewed America. More opportunities? More productive? More understanding between segments of America? There was one brief positive moment in the speech when he offered an olive branch to our allies. We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and reform the world against radical Islamic terrorism which we will eradicate from the face of the earth. He unfortunately followed it with a creepy statism in which we define our personal relationships through nationalistic loyalty. At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. We actually have relationships, loyalties and bonds with one another that are the fabric of society and do not need to be redefined as an outgrowth of a new sort of nationalism. Conservatives who value civil society free from government should be horrified if they have intellectual integrity. There has never been and will not be a better Trump. His vision is dark, false and frightening. He leads by stoking nativism, protectionism (which actually makes us poorer) and seething resentment. God help us all. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is conducting an investigation of a reported Nov. 2 shooting in Summerville that has left one person injured, according to local authorities. Read moreOne injured in Summerville shooting About 200 bags of diapers, hygiene essentials and other related products will be available free-of-charge to expecting moms, who register for the "Shower for Life" event being held on Nov. 5, from 1-3 p.m., at St. Paul's Anglican Church, located at 316 W. Carolina Ave in Summerville. Read more'Shower for Life' calls all expecting mothers Reddit Email 0 Shares By Bernard Haykel | (Project Syndicate) | In 2017, Saudi Arabia will continue to pursue two key goals: to reduce its economys dependence on oil revenues and government spending; and to position the Kingdom as a regional hegemon that can meet any threat. The countrys transformation will be difficult, but it is necessary, not least for regional stability. PRINCETON In 2017, Saudi Arabia will continue to pursue the two key goals that King Salman set when he acceded to the throne in January 2015: to reduce the economys dependence on oil revenues and government spending; and to position the Kingdom as a regional hegemon that can meet any threat, especially from Iran. Salmans 31-year-old son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who is also the defense minister and chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs is overseeing the countrys reforms. The prince is a charismatic and energetic figure, whose apparent commitment to meaningful reform has impressed the countrys youthful population (70% of Saudis are under 30), as well as many foreign observers. He has promised to make the government more accountable and transparent, and to deliver more economic opportunities for the Kingdoms citizens. But reform will be a Sisyphean struggle, because the state employs two-thirds of the population, and its decades-old entitlements system has created a culture of dependence. It will be exceedingly difficult to wean Saudis off of government handouts and benefits, and acclimate them to an economy in which the state is not the dominant player. To achieve its objectives, the government will have to cut spending on health care, education, and energy and utilities subsidies; institute new forms of taxation, such as value-added, sin, and land taxes; and create a competitive environment for private-sector firms to create most future jobs. Thus, the ruling Al Saud family will have to re-invent the social contract with its subjects. And, judging by social media the principal space where Saudis express themselves openly the Kingdoms people will be demanding more of a formal say in governance. Bernard Haykel is a professor in the Near Eastern Studies Department, Princeton University. Licensed from Project Syndicate Related video added by Juan Cole: World Economic Forum: Davos 2017 Saudi Arabias Path to 2030 Reddit Email 0 Shares TeleSur | Kurdish independence is a reality that will come true, said Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. Kurdish parties will meet with the Iraqi government to discuss independence, reported Kurdish media on Saturday. The delegation will include five Kurdish parties, who will meet with Turkmen, Chaldean and Assyrian delegates, reported Rudaw, which is funded by the Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP. We failed to live together, failed under federalism and autonomy, said KDP spokesperson Mahmood Mohammed. What will our coexistence look like now? The meeting, which came out of talks between the ruling KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, will focus on how to be good neighbors. The news comes on the heels of a Washington Post interview with Masoud Barzani, leader of the autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, where he said that Kurdish independence is a reality that will come true. He said he had already spoken with Baghdad on the issue and that we will continue until we exhaust the path of dialogue with Baghdad to reach a positive result, so we dont have to take other steps. But we will certainly take other steps if we lose hope in this. Related video added by Juan Cole: Euronews: Turkish PM meets Iraqi Kurdish leader in Erbil Reddit Email 180 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Donald Trump has had a contentious relationship with the US intelligence community, in part over their conviction that the Russian Federation attempted to use cyber tradecraft to interfere in the US election on behalf of Trump. His visit to the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters at Langley, Va., was probably intended by his handlers to begin the work of repairing that relationship. From all accounts it did not. The most alarming thing Trump said, however, regarded Iraq: THE OLD EXPRESSION TO THE VICTOR BELONG THE SPOILS. YOU REMEMBER, YOU ALWAYS SAY KEEP THE OIL. I WASNT A FAN OF IRAQ, I DIDNT WANT TO GO INTO IRAQ. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN WE WERE IN, WE GOT OUT WRONG. I ALWAYS SAID, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I SAID IT FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MIKE, IF WE KEPT THE OIL YOU PROBABLY WOULDNT HAVE ISIS BECAUSE THATS WHERE THEY MADE THEIR MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE SO WE HAVE KEPT THE OIL. BUT, OKAY. MAYBE WELL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. BUT THE FACT IS, WE SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE OIL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS GROUP IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GROUPS IN THIS COUNTRY TOWARD MAKING US SAFE, TOWARD MAKING US WINNERS AGAIN. TOWARD ENDING ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE INTERRELATED, THAT WE DONT EVEN THINK OF, BUT INTERRELATED, TO THE KIND OF HAVOC AND FEAR THAT THIS SICK GROUP OF PEOPLE HAS CAUSED. SO I CAN ONLY SAY THAT I AM WITH YOU A THOUSAND PERCENT. . . The United Nations Charter and other treaty instruments that are part of US law actually abolished the principle of to the victors go the spoils. Conquering states in a war are not allowed to annex territory from the vanquished as of 1945. Thats what is wrong with the Israeli creeping annexation of Palestine since 1967. Given that the US has 6000 troops in Iraq, as Thomas Doherty pointed out, this kind of talk puts them in danger from Iraqi nationalists who may begin seeing them not as allies against ISIL but as stalking horses for a sinister imperialism. Trump just painted a big red target on the backs of our troops. Thomas Doherty @dohertytjp: There are American troops in Iraq now, fighting Daesh. Talk like that increases risk to their lives, makes their mission harder. This isnt speculation: the great Borzou Daragahi reports that the Iraqis are indeed pissed and ready to fight for their oil. Trump is also wrong that Iraqi petroleum fueled Daesh (ISIS, ISIL), or that the US could have taken Iraqi petroleum. This is because he does not know Iraqi geography or political geography. Most oil in Iraq is either down in Shiite territory at Basra (the vast majority of what is pumped) or up in Kurdish-held territory at Kirkuk. Daesh in Iraq had relatively little access to petroleum revenues, and the experts on it believe that contributions from Gulf supporters and taxes and plunder from local people (including on agriculture) were much more important. The situation is perhaps a little different in Syria, but were talking about Iraq. Trump uses the phrase take the oil, apparently, to mean do a deal to handle the export of petroleum from a country. He said that Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, goes to a country and takes their oil. Im not sure whether he understands that this is typically a business deal negotiated by both sides rather than an act of coercion. Any attempt by the United States to occupy Iraqi petroleum fields militarily and unilaterally would have resulted in massive bombings of them by Shiite militias in Basra, including Muqtada al-Sadrs Mahdi Army (peace brigades). You cant export a flammable material like petroleum from a country nowadays against its peoples will. They have too many bombs. Any small garrison of US troops at Basra would have been constantly under attack. Moreover, the Iraqi government would never have permitted it, so youd have to overthrow that government and re-occupy Iraq. Likewise, if the US took Iraqi petroleum in any way that reduced profits for Iraqis, it would de-fund the Iraqi state and military, which are already woefully weak, and actually help Daesh attack an enfeebled Baghdad! Trump is arguing for a policy that enthrones Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as Caliph of Iraq! In any case, ExxonMobil passed on Iraqi oil bids because the Iraqi ministry of petroleum put too many conditions on them and made them relatively expensive. Chinas oil companies did some contracts, in contrast. If Dick Cheney really did overthrow Saddam Hussein to allow US petroleum companies to get at Iraqi oil, he may as well not have bothered. Chinas economy has slowed so much that world thirst for oil stopped growing so fast, which put enormous downward pressure on prices. Also, US petroleum companies pioneered hydraulic fracturing to get oil out of fields like Bakken. The fields are probably shallow but for the moment the US isnt importing as much petroleum as it used to. So the fact is, the US petroleum companies probably dont want to take Iraqi petroleum, dont need it, and wouldnt want all the massive security problems that would cause. There is another calculation here. Oil is only used for transportation in the US, not for electricity generation (except in Hawaii). There are already 500,000 electric vehicles on US roads, and the number is about to spike exponentially. These vehicles can be fueled by solar and wind power. US demand for petroleum is about to fall off of a cliff, over the next decade, even setting aside the fracking issue. Still, Trumps team is talking about swinging into military action against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and so are planning to add yet another war to all the overt and covert ones being fought by the United States (Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistans tribal belt, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, etc. etc.) This will be Trumps war for Oil and against Daesh. Such a war is quixotic. The Iraqi forces are near to finishing Daesh off in Mosul, its last major Iraqi stronghold, anyway. And the US doesnt need or want Iraqi petroleum. The problem with thinking about Daesh as primarily a military problem with a direct US military solution is that that strategy ignores the dual character of Daesh as also a terrorist organization, to which it will revert as it loses on the battlefield. How it is rolled up is important. Trump meandered all over the place at Langley, talking about how young he is at heart (his narcissism would not let him get past the phrase When I was younger and so he had to spend a lot of time dancing around being elderly). He talked at length about how he campaigned, how many rallies he held, all of this inappropriate in a room full of analysts and field officers. He unwisely stood in front of the wall at Langley HQ that lists the over 100 CIA field agents killed in the line of duty. He only acknowledged them in a sentence. Trump at one point said, BUT THE MILITARY GAVE US TREMENDOUS PERCENTAGES. WE WERE UNBELIEVABLY SUCCESSFUL IN THE ELECTION WITH GETTING THE VOTE OF THE MILITARY. PROBABLY ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM VOTED FOR ME, BUT ILL NOT ASK YOU TO RAISE YOUR HANDS. CIA personnel have standing instructions, like many US government employees, not to speak at the level of policy, only of analysis. Policy, they feel, is above their pay grade. Trump bringing up whether they voted for him, in this teasing way, apparently set off loud alarm bells inside the agency, according to ex-CIA chief John Brennan. The last time intelligence was highly politicized, the pressure came from Bush-Cheney and produced a faulty National Intelligence Estimate on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that the Agency has never lived down. - Related video: Fox 10 Phoenix: FULL SPEECH: Donald Trump CIA Headquarters Statement A Belgian court on Friday ordered the arrest of former Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Tzipi Livni [official profile], when she disembarks the plane on her scheduled trip to Belgium. Livni is accused [MEM report] of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during her time as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006-2009. She oversaw the Israeli military operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip from which the crimes allegedly stem. Livni was one of several Israeli officials named in the lawsuit filed by a group of victims in 2010 in response to the military activities in Gaza. Livni, who is a member of the Israeli parliament, was set to meet with Jewish leaders in Brussels, but canceled the trip before the report of the arrest order came out, citing personal reasons. It is not the first time that Livni has had to cancel a trip to Europe because of the fear of getting arrested. Livni was set to speak at the Jewish National Fund Vision 2010 conference in London, but cancelled her travel plans after a British court issued an arrest warrant [JURIST report] for her. In 2011 the UK avoided a similar situation, when they announced that Livni would enjoy diplomatic immunity [JURIST report] while in the country to discuss the UK-Israel relations. The practice of giving immunity to foreign officials who are accused of serious crimes under international law, in order for the host country to avoid having to arrest them, has received some criticism. The critics argue [JURIST op-ed] that the countries giving immunity are not living up to their responsibility under international law and is complicit in creating impunity for international crimes Of the more than 14,000 asylum seekers currently confined to five Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, many are facing dire circumstances due to irregularly harsh winter conditions, according to a statement [text] released today by Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website]. The migrants are fleeing conflict zones in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and many have been confined for more than ten months, according to the report. A hotspot was created in Moria on the island of Lesbos at the recommendation [text, PDF] of the European Commission [official website] to serve as a reception and registration area for refugees, as required by a deal the EU signed with Turkey [JURIST report] last March. The report from HRW says more needs to be done, saying the Greek government should immediately transfer vulnerable refugees to appropriate mainland accomodations. During a recent visit to the Moria camp, HRW staff reported seeing flimsy, snow-covered tents, and vulnerable refugees in life-threatening living conditions. The Greek government and the UN Refugee Agency [official website] have been accused of failing to use nearly $100 million in EU funding [EU press release] to winterize the camps, leaving thousands to sleep in freezing conditions. The Greek government has responded to the public outcry regarding the conditions at the camps by sending ships to temporarily house refugees, including a ship that was sent after a fire broke out [BBC report] in one of the camps in September. 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 HRW 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 former 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. [JURIST] Saudi Arabias Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) [Washington Institute backgrounder, PDF] in Riyadh on Monday handed down a seven-year sentence to a Saudi citizen as well as numerous other punitive measures for a Twitter post the court deemed insulting to the ruling Al Saud family [PBS backgrounder]. The SCC, which was established in 2008 to try cases linked to terrorist activity, concluded [PressTV report] that the defendant had a connection with two terror groups and was producing online materials that threatened the countrys security. Human Rights Watch [advocacy website], which has been calling for the abolishment of the SCC since 2012 [HRW report], has previously commented on the SCC being increasingly used to silence peaceful dissenters and human rights activists. Saudi Arabia has denied all allegations of arbitrary arrest, unfair detention, egregious prison conditions, and other human rights violations and has cited article 26 of the Kingdoms Basic Law of Governance [text] as the sole legal recourse of the human rights prisoners. Saudi Arabias justice system has drawn international criticism for perceived human rights abuses in recent years. In January 2015 a Saudi Arabia judge sentenced prominent human rights lawyer Walid Abu al-Khair to an additional five years in jail [JURIST report] after he refused to show remorse for showing disrespect to authorities and creating an unauthorized association. In December 2014 a Saudi Arabia court ordered [JURIST report] the criminal cases against two womens rights activists be transferred to a special tribunal for terrorism. The women were arrested for attempting to drive into the country from the UAE. In October 2014 a Saudi Arabia Court sentenced three lawyers to between five and eight years in prison for criticizing the justice system [JURIST report] on Twitter by accusing authorities of carrying out arbitrary detentions. Earlier that month Amnesty International issued a report claiming that Saudi Arabia persecutes rights activists and silences government critics [JURIST report], especially in the years since the Arab Spring in 2011. In July 2014 then-UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navy Pillay, expressed deep concern over the harsh sentences and detention of peaceful human rights advocates [JURIST report] in Saudi Arabia in recent months. In February 2014 JURIST Guest Columnist Adam Coogle of Human Rights Watch argued that a new Saudi Arabian terrorism law was a vague, catch-all document [JURIST op-ed] that canand probably willbe used to prosecute or jail anyone who criticizes the Saudi government and to violate their due process rights along the way. The Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday ruled that the South Korean government had broken the law by detaining prostitutes serving American soldiers and forcefully treating them for venereal diseases. The court ordered the government to pay [NYT report] the equivalent of $4,240 in compensation for physical and psychological damage to each of 57 plaintiffs who worked as prostitutes during the 1960s and 70s. The government had denied any involvement in organizing the prostitution, but the plaintiffs alleged they were forced or cheated into prostitution and forced to live in large camps, unable to get away. The plaintiffs were happy with Fridays ruling, as it was the first official recognition that the women in the camps had been treated illegally. The plaintiffs are, however, still planning to appeal the decision, in order to get higher compensation and to get compensation for all 120 plaintiffs, not just 57. Furthermore, the women are also looking for a formal apology and admission from the government that it had been partly responsible for creating and running the camps, something the government still denies. The issue of prostitution has long been controversial in South Korea, where most people have a very negative view of prostitutes. Prostitution is illegal in South Korea and in 2016 the Constitutional Court of South Korea upheld a 2004 law [JURIST report], under which the individual prostitute can also be punished, calling prostitution violent and exploitative in nature. Further complicating the issue of potential government organized prostitution is South Koreas condemnation of Japans use of Korean women as sex slaves during World War 2. The issue between the two countries was not resolved [JURIST report] until 2015, when Japan issued an apology and set up a fund to help the families of those who suffered. The apology came after years of denial from the Japanese government [JURIST report] that the women were coerced, saying they worked in the brothels by choice. [JURIST] South Koreas Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Cho Yoon-sun [official profile], was arrested on Saturday by Korean prosecutors after allegedly creating a blacklist of artists critical of South Koreas impeached president. Cho was arrested [Reuters report], along with a former chief of staff, for alleged abuse of power and perjury. Prosecutors say the blacklist was used by the government to punish and censor artists. Both Cho and the former chief of staff, Kim Ki-choon, publicly denied creating a blacklist. Cho is the first sitting minister to ever be arrested in South Korea. Cho resigned [WSJ report] from her position hours after her arrest. This is not the first arrest made relating to South Koreas impeached president, Park Geun-hye. In November, the Parliament of South Korea appointed a special prosecutor [JURIST report] to investigate President Park for allegedly allowing individuals to influence state affairs. In November two of the Parks former aides and a close friend of the President were indicted on corruption charges [JURIST report]. The investigation led to the impeachment of the president [JURIST report], accused of sharing confidential governmental information and extorting millions of dollars from large corporations. The investigation led to the donations made by Samsung Group and last week, the special prosecutor asked the court to grant an arrest order [JURIST report] for Samsungs executive. However, on Thursday, the South Korean court refused [JURIST report] to issue an arrest warrant for the executive. Although risks of trade friction have increased with Donald Trumps election as President in the US, a research note from investment bank Credit Suisse sees an all-out trade war between the US and China as unlikely. The note also suggests a proposal in Congress for a tax adjustment on export income might emerge as a viable compromise to assist US exporters while avoiding the risk of retaliation from import tariff hikes. Bjorn Eberhardt, Head of Global Macroeconomic Research at the investment bank, acknowledged in his note that Trump has been appointing protectionist individuals to leading trade-related positions and that it is highly likely that these nominees will also bring like-minded followers into crucial positions. The note also said that there are several laws that Mr Trump could use to impose tariffs and quotas without congressional approval. If he attempts to raise import tariffs, legal challenges in the US led by impacted firms are likely to follow and foreign countries could resort to the WTO to complain. However, Eberhardt notes that impacted foreign countries would likely resort to immediate retaliation with tariffs imposed on US goods. This, he says, would in effect herald the start of a trade war. However, he says that we continue to regard such an outcome as fairly unlikely, as it would clearly run counter to the wishes of a large part of the US population that relies heavily on cheap imports. Eberhardt also notes that the US Congress itself does not seem to be too eager to increase tariffs, according to statements from both House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell since the US elections. A preferred measure may be a general overhaul of the US tax code, including the introduction of a border adjustment. The latter, Eberhardt says, would exempt corporate income earned from exports from corporate taxes, while subjecting income earned from imports to corporate taxes. Such a policy would makes imports relatively more expensive and cheapen exports. Trump can cancel NAFTA Eberhardt says it can almost be taken for granted that the Trump administration will withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) but as the agreement is not yet in force, there will likely be little tangible damage done to existing trade relations. More damagingly, he notes that a wide range of executive powers of the US president allow Mr Trump to cancel treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with Congress largely unable to step in. With regard to NAFTA, Trump has vowed to renegotiate the agreement and secure a better deal for the US. However, it remains unclear what he actually means by that. Eberhardt concludes that Trumps apparent intention to deliver quick results and the appointment of protectionist individuals to key trade positions already signal a shift to more protectionism. Whether this does indeed lead to trade wars between the USA and other economies is difficult to project, but the risk is real. But he says Congresss border adjustment proposal as part of broader tax reform might be a way around an overt trade war by applying tariffs and quotas. The risk of a trade war between the US and China, that might extend to wider boycotts of US branded products inside China, would cause considerable concern for firms such as Ford and General Motors who are heavily dependent on earnings from joint venture operations in China. Competition authorities in South Africa have approved the acquisition of national honey producer Highveld Honey by South African multi-brand food group Real Foods. Free Report Whats the forecast for the food and grocery industry? Market drivers and inhibitors Five-year forecasts and the impact of COVID-19 The performance of the online channel versus offline Major trends in the market including rapid delivery, ambient retailing, supply chain disruption, and inflation Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. The food and grocery sector thrived during the pandemic, largely due to the shutdown of the food service industry and the sectors subsequent necessity, panic-induced bulk purchasing, and spending more time at home. The market has grown as a result of inflation. Consumer unwillingness to go out and socialize, and the reopening of several hospitality facilities, helped maintain the demand for groceries, particularly online, in 2021. As consumer behavior changes, we consume more food and drink at home, and inflation increases basket sizes. GlobalData predicts that the sector will continue to hold a higher share than had been predicted prior to the pandemic. This is true despite the fact that the food and grocery sector's share of overall retail will decline from its peak in 2020. This report will discuss market forecasts and key themes in the global food & grocery industry in 2022 and beyond. It covers:Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. by GlobalData Enter your details here to receive your free Report. 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Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address. Thank you.Please check your email to download the Report. The South African Competition Commission said the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, was unlikely to substantially prevent or lessen competition. A Real Foods spokesperson told just-food Highveld is the largest honey supplier in South Africa and provides honey for top South African retailers like Pick n Pay and Spar, as well as to the restaurant industry. Real Foods mission is to grow strong natural food brands across both the food and restaurant industries, the spokesperson said. Highveld Honey is a natural fit for our group, as honey is a natural, unprocessed food, and Highveld Honey has a strong market position in the South African honey category. We also have similar cultures, so we see Highveld Honey integrating well into the Real Foods group. We also predict strong growth in the honey category, as more and more customers substitute natural sweeteners like honey, for refined sugars. The spokesperson added: Highveld will continue to operate as a separate business within the Real Foods group and there will be no changes to the structure of either business following the acquisition. Real Foods was founded by CEO Dean Kowarski in 2013 and partnered with Johannesburg-based Genesis Capital Partners in 2014. Last August, Kleoss Capital Fund 1, managed by Kleoss Capital, acquired what Kowarski said was a significant minority shareholding in Real Foods to enable it to pursue exciting new acquisitions in the natural food industry. Kleoss Capital is a 100% black-owned South African private equity investment manager with a level one broad based black economic empowerment accreditation, investing in South African businesses. Highveld, established in the 1960s, runs around 5,000 beehives. The firm distributes a range of South African honey products as well as imported honey to wholesale and retail markets, both locally and abroad. Related Companies Donald Trump is a legitimate president. Sure, there are many questions about the way the election was conducted last fall, and he did lose the popular vote. But he clearly won under the Electoral College system, and the office if not the man deserves respect. There is a more important question hanging over Trumps inauguration, however: Does he have the judgment, temperament and self-discipline necessary to be an effective leader? If legitimacy is a settled issue, ability is not. And so far, the evidence has not been encouraging. Since the election, Trump has plunged into various battles with actress Meryl Streep, the casts of Hamilton and Saturday Night Live, Rep. John Lewis, CIA Director John Brennan, the entire intelligence community, many European leaders, and news outlets CNN and Buzzfeed. His behavior is so self-absorbed, so thin-skinned, so lacking in a sense of proportion that only one explanation makes any sense: He cannot help himself. He has to respond to every slight, every criticism, with the rhetorical equivalent of a cruise missile. That hypersensitivity is the last quality we need in a president. He will be bombarded by critics every single day for the next four years. And he should heed the advice of Barack Obama, who was asked on 60 Minutes what skills are required to be a good president. Thick skin helps, answered Obama immediately, and he should know. After all, he was subjected to years of painful accusations that he was not a legitimate president by none other than Donald Trump. The issue here is not just, well, skin-deep. The most important quality in a president is the ability to make sound decisions in the middle of a crisis. To keep his cool and his calm. To be a source of confidence, encouragement and yes, hope. In the wonderful documentary by Ken Burns about the Roosevelts, columnist George Will says that when FDR took office in the middle of the Great Depression, his most effective weapon was his smile: jaunty, magnetic, optimistic. Trumps face is marked by a scowl. He seems consumed by grievances. His slogan, Lock her up, was as popular as Make America Great Again. Qualms about Trumps personal qualities are not new, and the election did not erase them. Look at these astounding exit poll results: 61 percent of voters said Trump was unqualified to be president, yet 17 percent of those skeptics voted for him anyway. Sixty-three percent said he lacked the temperament to be president, but 19 percent chose him over Hillary Clinton. In the latest ABC/Washington Post poll, only 4 in 10 Americans view him favorably. As a candidate, Trump survived those widespread fears, but now that he is in office, those flaws become far more consequential. Start with Russia. Trump repeatedly attacked the intelligence agencies for reporting that Moscow had tried to tilt the election in his favor. Finally, grudgingly, he had to admit the charges were accurate. Then he assailed the intelligence community again. With our new president, everything is about Trump. Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. All were crippled by these emotional disabilities. Greenstein concludes: Beware the presidential contender who lacks emotional intelligence. In its absence, all else may turn to ashes. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The new route will commence operation on April 27, 2017, looking to meet the travel demand of individuals, tourists, and businessmen between the two well-known cities. The Hanoi-Singapore flight will operate daily with a flying time of 2 hours 55 minutes per leg. The flight from Hanoi takes off at 10:00 (local time) and arrives in Singapore at 13:55 (local time). The return flight departs at 14:55 and lands in Hanoi at 16:50. Tickets for the new route are now available for booking from 12h00 to 14h00 at www.vietjetair.com (also compatible with smartphones at https://m.vietjetair.com) or at www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam (just click the Booking tab), by calling the national call centre at 19001886 or at Vietjet ticketing offices nationwide. Hanoi is the second location connected with Singapore by Vietjet after Ho Chi Minh city. The carrier also plans to connect Da Lat and Da Nang with Singapore in the near future./. Congressman Henry Cuellar weighs in on President Trump's executive orders, calling them "disappointing moves." Cuellar tells KGNS he is standing his ground and representing countless communities in Texas who rely on international trade and benefit tremendously from this agreement. "I disagree on withdrawing from the trans-pacific partnership, because as a country, we ought to be the leaders in trade. If we don't do that, China is going to fill the vacuum," Cuellar said. Cuellar says he is currently visiting with state leaders to make sure trade between Mexico and the United States continues, otherwise the City of Laredo could be hit hard. 1 of 4 Hrithik-Sussanne spotted partying together Hrithik Roshan and his ex-wife Sussanne Khan were spotted by the paparazzi happy in each other's company. The actor had held a special screening of his soon-to-release film Kaabil and she was among the first ones to watch it. The former star wife also shared a cute picture with Hrithik on social media which spoke volumes about their great camaraderie and their fondness for each other. Off late, the parents of two have been seen partying more often than not which will surely give rise to rumours about their alleged makeup. Recently, Hrithik had spent time with his sons Hridhaan and Hrehaan along with Sussanne in Dubai. The former couple has been setting some serious parenting goals for all the separated couples. Read More... One of the best loved people ever to come out of Kilkenny will be buried this morning (Monday). Ann Bourke, formerly from Kennyswell, Kilkenny and a member of an old city family passed way over the weekend at her home in Durrow after a long and courageous battle against cancer. The 57-year-old was a well known actress in her day and will probably be best known as the founder of the South East Model Agency. Many will remember her in Brian Friels play, Winners where she played Mags opposite Brendan Corcoran in Kyteler's Inn many years ago. She also worked in Mount Juliet for a number of years. She was very proud of her efforts, along with her partner Michael Sheppard, to raise funds for the restoration of the Bell Tower at Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin. She had been cared for with great love and attention by her partner Michael over the last number of months at the home they shared at Mill Road, Durrow . She is survived by Michael, daughter Aimee, granddaughter Kiah and grandson Leon, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a wide circle of friends. She was a sister of former Mayor of Kilkenny, Betty Manning. Her funeral Mass will be held today at 11am at The Holy Trinity Church, Durrow with burial immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. It was a tender moment that warmed peoples hearts coming up to Christmas: A little girl marched up to a group of performing buskers, where Kilkenny drummer Jeremy Hickey handed her a drumstick and invited her to join in with them. For the seven-year-old girl, Kelly Jordan, it was a special moment and a chance to shine. Kelly has autism, and it meant a lot to her family to see her enjoy herself so much. When Kellys mother, Christine, tried to track down the generous musician on Facebook, she got a huge response from locals who recognised him. Jeremy since mentioned that he could give Kelly a lesson some time if she was interested, and naturally enough, she was. So, last Saturday, the pair met up at a place near Templebar and the session kicked off. Kellys grandfather, Pat Jordan, said Kelly was thrilled to be allowed to play with the buskers back in November, and was proud as punch when she learned that thousands of people had watched the video. He has thanked Jeremy for being so giving with his time. For a guy like that to take time out of his schedule to do this, it really says a lot about him, he said. From the video, she didnt do all that badly for a first-timer! Have a watch. HANOI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0119 GMT. Jan 23 Jan 20 USD/VND mid-point 22,191 22,193 USD/VND interbank 22,565/22,575 22,565/22,575 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.39/36.71 36.35/36.67 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 23 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0405 GMT. Jan 23 Jan 20 USD/VND mid-point 22,191 22,193 USD/VND interbank 22,550/22,555 22,565/22,575 USD/VND unofficial 22,680/22,730 22,720/22,770 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.42/36.81 36.35/36.67 Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.0-5.5 4.0-5.5 1 week 4.5-5.5 4.5-5.5 1 month 5.0-5.5 5.0-5.4 3 months 5.0-5.5 5.0-5.4 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; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) BEIJING, Jan 23 (Reuters) - China will auction about 30 oil and gas blocks in the northwestern region of Xinjiang this year to investors outside the top state energy firms, state media reported, as Beijing steps up efforts to boost private participation in the sector. Lack of private investment in oil and gas exploration has been a big stumbling block in Beijing's attempts to reform the sector, and it has picked the hydrocarbon-rich autonomous region of Xinjiang to try to break the grip of the big companies. China's top two energy giants China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) and Sinopec Group have been the dominant players onshore China, while China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) dominates offshore exploration and production. This will be the second such auction in Xinjiang, this time covering 30 oil and gas exploration blocks totaling 300,000 sq km (115,830 sq mi), Xinhua reported on Saturday, citing Xinjiang's land and resources agency. The blocks have been relinquished by the state-run oil giants, the report said, without providing further details. In July 2015, the Ministry of Land and Resources released five blocks in Xinjiang in its first tender to attract non-state investors. An independent Shandong-based company and state-owned Beijing Energy Investment Holdings were among the firms awarded four of the five blocks, Reuters has reported. Those companies had pledged to spend a total of nearly 8.5 billion yuan ($1.24 billion) over three years, the Xinhua report said. ($1 = 6.8498 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Chen Aizhu; Editing by Sonali Paul) By Rishika Sadam Jan 23 (Reuters) - Cloud-based private network provider Aryaka, which plans to go public in 2018 with a more than $1 billion valuation, raised $45 million in its latest funding round, a source close to the matter said. The funding was led by venture capital firm Third Point Ventures and included Germany's Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners as a new investor, the source said. Deutsche Telekom Capital, which is Deutsche Telekom AG's investment management group, is the first telecom company to invest in Aryaka. Milpitas, California-based Aryaka, which has about 500 customers across the globe including Skullcandy Inc and fashion house Gucci, helps businesses interconnect branches through its private network. With more businesses moving to cloud, demand for such services has been surging. Enterprises are ditching traditional public networking services provided by telecom companies and adopting private cloud-based networking systems from firms such as Aryaka. The service provided by Aryaka, which is a software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN), is faster and more stable compared to traditional public networking systems offered by telecom companies. Research firm Gartner has estimated that about 30 percent of businesses will deploy software-defined networking in their branches by the end of 2019. ( ) According to IDC, the market for software-defined networking is estimated to generate more than $6 billion in revenue by 2020. ( ) Aryaka, which was founded in 2009, gets more than 70 percent of its bookings through partners. The company said in October it was in talks with telecom companies to form partnerships. Aryaka, which aims to double its global customer base by the end of 2017, plans to invest the capital in R&D and sales to expand its global footprint, the source added. The company, worth between $400 million and $500 million, raised $16 million in March. (Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto) Jan 23 (Reuters) - Canadian gold miner Endeavour Mining Corp , which is in merger talks with Acacia Mining Plc , said on Monday that it expected its production to rise by as much as 10 percent in 2017. The company said its gold production is expected to range between 600,000 and 640,000 ounces in 2017. Endeavour's production was 584,000 ounces in 2016. The miner said it expected all-in-sustaining costs (AISC) of $860-$905 per ounce in 2017. For 2016, the company's costs were $895 per ounce. Endeavour's fourth-quarter production rose about 28 percent to 175,000 ounces from a year earlier. (Reporting by Vishaka George in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva) By Hanna Paul Jan 23 (Reuters) - Singapore stocks touched their highest in over 14 months on Monday after encouraging consumer price data, while the Philippines closed at its highest in three months on positive economic sentiment. Singapore stocks ended 0.5 percent up - their highest close since November 2015 - as the annual headline consumer price index in December gained for the first time in more than two years. ( ) The all-items CPI rose 0.2 percent from a year earlier to mark its first year on year rise since October 2014. Rig builder Sembcorp Industries climbed as much as 3.2 percent to hit a 10-month high and while Genting Singapore surged more than 2 percent. Philippine stocks ended up nearly 2 percent on upbeat investor sentiment after an agreement with China to co-operate on 30 projects worth $3.7 billion for poverty reduction. "People have become more rational in terms of their thoughts about the economy, plans of increased infrastructure spending, lower tax constraints for corporates, deals with China, and investments from China and Japan have increased the general optimism about this administration," said Richard Llaneda of Eagle Equities. Conglomerate SM Investments jumped as much as 5.4 percent to touch a more-than-five-month closing high. Philippines fourth-quarter GDP is due later this week. "Economists have been raising the growth target for the GDP, adding to the increasing optimism," said Llaneda. Malaysian stocks rose 0.4 percent, shrugging off a forecast of a decline in palm oil prices by nearly a quarter by June or July by leading analyst Dorab Mistry. Industrial giant Sime Darby rose 2.1 percent to close at its highest in nearly 15 months. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS; Change on the day Market Current Previous Pct Move Close Singapore 3025.48 3011.08 0.48 Bangkok 1570.79 1562.99 0.50 Manila 7374.35 7232.66 1.96 Jakarta 5250.968 5254.311 -0.06 Kuala Lumpur 1671.31 1664.89 0.39 Ho Chi Minh 687.15 686.26 0.13 Change this year Market Current End 2016 Pct Move Singapore 3025.48 2880.76 5.02 Bangkok 1570.79 1542.94 1.80 Manila 7374.35 6840.64 7.80 Jakarta 5250.968 5296.711 -0.86 Kuala Lumpur 1671.31 1641.73 1.80 Ho Chi Minh 687.15 664.87 3.40 (Reporting by Hanna Paul; Editing by Sunil Nair) LJUBLJANA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Slovenia's consumer confidence indicator rose to an all-time-high in January, the national statistics office said on Monday, supporting expectations that the business sentiment indicator, due out this week, will also show an advance. The consumer indicator - first calculated in 1996 - reached minus 3 points, 6 points up on December and 13 points on the same month last year. "The indicator has risen due to improved expectations regarding unemployment, the country's economy and households' finances while expectations regarding savings remained unchanged (versus the previous month)," the office said. The business indicator, due out on Wednesday, hit its highest ever level at 8.5 points in December. Slovenia, having narrowly avoided an international bailout in 2013, returned to growth in 2014, and the government expects the economy to grow 2.9 percent this year compared with 2.3 percent in 2016, lifted by exports and domestic spending. Over the past three months, Japan's Yaskawa Electric , France's Renault and Canadian car parts maker Magna International all announced they would create several hundred jobs in Slovenia in the next few years. (Reporting by Marja Novak; Editing by Louise Ireland) PRAGUE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The Czech Finance Ministry will offer up to 27 billion crowns ($1.07 billion)worth of domestic government bonds in six primary auctions taking place in February, the ministry said on Monday. The offer will include three new bonds: two zero coupon bonds due in 2020 and 2022 and one fixed-rate 10-year bond. The ministry also confirmed the maximum expected nominal value of bonds sold in auctions in the first quarter is planned at 60 billion crowns. The ministry added it would also offer up to 20 billion crowns worth of short-term Treasury bills through four auctions scheduled for February. It also confirmed the expected nominal value of T-bills sold in the first quarter is 50 billion crowns excluding roll-over. NOTE: For detail table see: ($1 = 25.1700 Czech crowns) (Reporting by Mirka Krufova; Editing by Jason Hovet) U.S. President Donald Trump met with a dozen American manufacturers at the White House on Monday, pledging to slash regulations and cut corporate taxes, but warning them he would impose taxes on imports if they move production outside the country. Trump, who took office on Friday, promised to bring manufacturing plants back to the United States - an issue he said helped him win the Nov. 8 election - and has not hesitated to call out by name companies that he thinks should bring outsourced production back home. He asked the group of chief executives from companies including Ford, Dell Technologies, Tesla and others to make recommendations in 30 days to stimulate manufacturing, Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris told reporters. Trump, a Republican who took over from former Democratic President Barack Obama, was expected to sign executive orders later on Monday to renegotiate the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, and to formally withdraw the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership. The new president told the CEOs that he would like to cut corporate taxes to the 15 percent to 20 percent range, down from current statutory levels of 35 percent - a pledge that will require cooperation from the Republican-led U.S. Congress. But he said business leaders have told him that reducing regulations is even more important. "We think we can cut regulations by 75 percent. Maybe more," Trump told business leaders. "When you want to expand your plant, or when Mark wants to come in and build a big massive plant, or when Dell wants to come in and do something monstrous and special you're going to have your approvals really fast, Trump said, referring to Mark Fields, CEO of Ford, who sat around the boardroom-style table in the Roosevelt Room. The meeting ran longer than expected. Trump left briefly to attend to a phone call, and then reconvened the CEOs in the Oval Office, Liveris said. Fields said he was encouraged by the tone. "I know I come out with a lot of confidence that the president is very, very serious on making sure that the United States economy is going to be strong and have policies - tax, regulatory or trade - to drive that," he said. Trump told the executives that companies were welcome to negotiate with governors to move production between states, but said those businesses that choose to move factories outside the country would pay a price. 'MAJOR BORDER TAX' "We are going to be imposing a very major border tax on the product when it comes in," Trump said. "A company that wants to fire all of its people in the United States, and build some factory someplace else, and then thinks that that product is going to just flow across the border into the United States - thats not going to happen," he said. Liveris said the CEOs discussed the border tax "quite a bit" with Trump, explaining "the sorts of industry that might be helped or hurt by that." "Look: I would take the president at his word here. He's not going to do anything to harm competitiveness. He's going to actually make us all more competitive," Liveris said. Trump was scheduled to hold a meeting later on Monday with labor leaders and U.S. workers, the White House said. Between winning the presidential election in November and taking office, Trump hosted a number of U.S. CEOs in meetings in New York, including business leaders from defense, technology and other sectors. He also met with leaders of several labor unions, including the AFL-CIO. Trump, a real estate developer who had never previously held elected office, has particularly focused on manufacturing, lamenting during his inaugural address on Friday about "rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation" and vowing to boost U.S. industries over foreign ones. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Roberta Rampton and David Shepardson; Editing by Frances Kerry) (Adds price per share target) MEXICO CITY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Jose Cuervo, the world's biggest tequila producer, is planning a Feb. 8 pricing for its delayed initial public offering (IPO) in a bid to raise up to $1 billion, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. The company put its IPO on hold twice last year after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump sent the peso to record lows and spurred fears of an economic slowdown in Latin America's second largest economy. One of the sources said the company is eyeing a price target of 30 to 34 pesos per share. The new IPO date was first reported by Bloomberg earlier on Monday. Cristobal Mariscal, general counsel and corporate affairs director for Jose Cuervo, declined to comment. Trump, who took office last week, has promised to renegotiate or scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement, and has threatened to slap hefty taxes on companies shipping products from Mexico to U.S. markets. In a prior IPO filing with regulators, Jose Cuervo warned the U.S. election could lead to renegotiation of trade deals, which could have a serious impact on its business. Started by Jose Antonio de Cuervo in the late 1700s before Mexican independence from Spain, Jose Cuervo says it is North America's oldest continuous producer of spirits. With origins in the picturesque town of Tequila in Jalisco state, the business is now controlled by the Beckmann family, which will remain the majority shareholder after the IPO. The company has said proceeds from the IPO will be used to fund growth, as well as broaden its portfolio. (Reporting by Christine Murray and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Tom Brown and Cynthia Osterman) (Adds details, analyst comments, share movement) Jan 23 (Reuters) - Oil-rig builder Lamprell Plc said it would continue to maintain a tight rein on costs as it stuck to its guidance of lower 2017 revenue and pointed to a "particularly cautious environment" for the year ahead. Shares in Lamprell were down 14.07 percent at 87.87 pence at 0812 GMT, underperforming the FTSE All Share Oil Equipment & Services Index . The company, which mainly focuses on contracts around the United Arab Emirates, said it expected 2017 revenue to be between $400-$500 million, with the current market pointing towards the lower half of the range. Analysts at Investec expect 2017 revenue to be $405 million. The rig builder said in a statement on Monday that while it recognises the likelihood of stronger product pricing in 2017, most of its customers already have their 2017 capital budgets in place, leaving "little expansive flexibility". "The company continues to believe that 2017 will prove a particularly cautious environment, and will continue to maintain tight control over expenditure and expenses," Executive Chairman John Kennedy said. Oil services and equipment companies have suffered from contract cancellations as explorers and producers fetched lower prices since the fall in oil prices in mid-2014. Lamprell also said it expected full-year 2016 revenue to be about $700 million, lower than the $871.1 million it reported in 2015. Analysts at Investec had expected 2016 revenue of $750 million, with the market consensus at $775 million. The brokerage, which has a "buy" rating on the stock said it expects full-year 2016 profit to fall broadly in line with the revenue shortfall. 2016 saw lower levels of walk-in work than a year earlier, Lamprell said adding that most of the rigs stacked in its facilities remained inactive, having generated only limited refurbishment revenue. Lamprell, which has taken on cost-reduction activities to address the expected fall in revenue for 2016 and 2017, cut its overall headcount by 4,000 people at the end of 2016. (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair) * Russia 2016 supplies averaged 1.05 mln bpd, +24 pct vs 2015 * Saudi 2016 supplies 1.02 mln bpd, +0.9 pct vs 2015 * Brazil, Venezuela recorded strong growth in 2016 (Adds details) By Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng BEIJING, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Russia overtook Saudi Arabia in 2016 to became China's biggest crude oil supplier for the first year ever, customs data showed on Monday, boosted by robust demand from independent Chinese "teapot" refineries. Russian shipments surged nearly a quarter over 2015 to about 1.05 million barrels per day (bpd), the data showed, with Saudi Arabia coming in a close second with 1.02 million bpd, up 0.9 percent in 2016 versus the previous year. China is the world's second-largest oil buyer and the fastest-growing major importer. While Saudi Arabia counts China's state oil firms as backbone clients over long-term supply contracts, China's independent refineries - nicknamed "teapots" due to their smaller processing capacity - saw Russia as a more flexible supplier. For the teapot plants, authorised to import crude oil importers for the first time in late 2015, shipments from Russia's eastern ports are easier to process, coming in smaller cargo sizes from closer proximity. For December, Russia also held the top spot with supplies up 4.8 percent from the same month a year earlier at 1.19 million bpd. Meanwhile Saudi December sales dropped nearly 20 percent from a year earlier to 841,820 bpd, data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed. Total crude oil imports in December hit a record as refiners stepped up purchases ahead of a deal by oil-producing countries to reduce supply and bolster prices. For the whole of 2016, imports gained nearly 910,000 bpd over 2015, the strongest annual growth on record. Third-largest supplier Angola shipped 13 percent more crude last year versus 2015, while No.4 seller Iraq recorded similar growth. China also boosted imports from South American producers last year, with growth of 37.6 percent from Brazil and 26 percent from Venezuela, the data showed. (Reporting by Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) Had an interesting chat to Mike Hosking on radio this morning about Simons decision to retire. Hosking said that it may be partly an age thing just as younger workers routinely swap jobs every five years or so, you also have younger MPs who dont want to spend their life in Parliament. They want to do 12 15 years and then go onto other things. The thought of doing a Phil Goff and joining a political party at age 15, standing for Parliament at age 28 and still being there when you are close to 60 is exactly what they dont want to do. Power became an MP at age 29 and is leaving at age 41. A big contrast. Hosking asked me if anyone other MP has got out when they so obviously had a Ministerial acreer ahead of them, and my answer was Katherine Rich a close friend of Simons. And it is quite possible that Simon has observed how absolutely happy Katherine has been since she left Parliament a theory shared by Duncan Garner. But there is one upside to Simons decision it does make rejuvenation easier for National, and indeed the decisions of both Simon and Wayne Mapp should serve as a wake-up call for other Ministers that no-one is there for ever. Soon after National won the 2008 election, I pondered what National needs to do to have a lengthy Government three or even four terms. Theres a lot of factors which are situational policies, economy, issues, response to scandals etc. But there are also some factors which tend to be almost always true that the public are loath to keep re-electing the same old people into Government. So a necessary (but not sufficient) condition for a long-term Government is to rejuvenate. And this has to happen not just in your third term, but throughout. Helen Clark did some useful rejuvenbation in her third term, but by then it was too little too late. National has 23 Ministers at present. For the sake of easy maths, well pretend they have 24. To maximise chances of a third or even the holy grail of a fourth term, one has to go into your third election with half your Ministry being new, and to get a fourth term, almost your entire Government needs to be new including arguably the Prime Minister. So in the rejuvenation plan I sketched in my head, one would have the following rejuvenations: Six Ministers retire at end of 1st term (2011), and new Ministers appointed at beginning of 2nd term Six Ministers retire around a year before end of 2nd term (2013), and six new Ministers appointed prior to general election Six Ministers (including most of the senior leadership) around halfway through the third term (2015), and six new Ministers appointed, plus more junior Ministers step up into the senior portfolios Helen Clark found out the hard way that NZers are reluctant to give a PM and an almost unchanged frontbench a fourth term. Likewise John Howard made the mistake of going for a fifth term, when he could have retired with greatness after four. It is important to stress that Ministers should retire and allow rejuvenation not because they are bad Ministers, or because their replacements will be necessairly better than them. Often a new Minister will take time to come up to speed. But without rejuvenation you burn off public support (and you end up with frustrated backbenchers). So far in this term, weve had two Ministers resign (Worth and Wong) and three Ministers announce their retirement (J Carter, Mapp and Power). I think there is a reasonable chance of one more retirement before the election, so by coincidence the number will be six. Of course two of the spots have already been claimed by Nathan Guy and Hekia Parata. Winning a second term doesnt tend to be about rejuvenation more about the performance of the Government (and Opposition) only. So that is why you tend to keep Ministers in office until the election and have their sucessors become Ministers after the election (if you win). In the second term, it is different. You want to go into that election for a third term with actual new faces around half the Ministers should be different from the beginning of the first term. So one would expect the PM to do a significant reshuffle around a year before the 2014 election. Leaving it until after the election is too late. What this means, is that most (that is not the same as saying all) of the Ministers who were also Ministers in the former National Government of the 1990s should be thinking seriously about retiring at the 2014 election, with a step down from the Ministry at the end of 2013. You will have had five years as a Minister and of course your previous ministerial experience. Your experience has been invaluable to stabilising this Government, but rejuvenation will be essential to maximise chances of a third term or beyond. And if National does manage to win a second and thrd term, then I do think that John Key could do what no other Prime Minister in NZs history has done and get out while on top. I dont think he wants to set a record for longest serving PM in power as Clark did. I think he will feel that 7.5 to 8 years as PM and 9 10 years as National Leader is a pretty good run, and hell let new leadership emerge for that elusive chase of the 4th term. And if people see the National Government seeking a 4th term as a very different beast to the National Government that came into power in 2008, it may be possible. Now you may think Im getting ahead of myself thinking about third and fourth terms, when a second term is yet to be won. Well as I said, the second term doesnt tend to be an issue of rejuvenation. But rejuvenation is an issue you have to be candid about well in advance. It is unfair on Ministers to have them think they will continue forever, and then after an election they find out theyre a backbencher again. Then you just get a surly backbencher for three years. It is important to make sure rejuvenation expectations are known well in advance. That way Ministers can announce that they will retire at the next election, before any reshuffle, so that they are seen as retiring, not as being forced out. One should always try to preserve dignity. So fow now, the level of retirements is about right. But if re-elected, some Ministers should give careful consideration (in my opinion) to retiring in 2014. Not because they are doing a bad job. Not because they are not valued. But because you dont win if you dont rejuvenate. The actions of both Power and Mapp in retiring long before they were due to be pushed, should serve as an example to others. Its also an example some Labour MPs could follow. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 34F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 34F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. By Yoon Ja-young An increasing number of Koreans are either preparing for jobs or working only a few hours a week. Including these people, the number of "virtually jobless" people surpassed 4.5 million last year. Job market conditions, however, aren't likely to improve amid ongoing corporate restructuring and an economic slump. According to data by Statistics Korea, 401,000 Koreans were preparing to get jobs without being enrolled at training or education facilities last year, marking a 7.21 percent increase from a year ago. There were also 227,000 enrolled at vocational training centers and hagwon, or private institutes who are preparing for the job market. Combining these two groups, the total is 628,000 people. However, they are not included in the official unemployment data as they are categorized as economically inactive. Statistics also show that there are 1.6 million Koreans who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). They are not included in the jobless figure either as they had no will to find jobs. Those who are employed but work less than 18 hours a week increased 4 percent to mark 1.3 million, but they are not counted in the unemployment rate either. Such part-time workers take 4.9 percent of the total number of Koreans with jobs. The number of people who are "virtually jobless" totaled 4.54 million, the highest ever. The figure rose by 141,000 last year, following a 275,000 increase in 2015. The virtually jobless figure is 4.5 times higher than the government's official unemployment data, which states slightly over 1 million people don't have jobs in the country despite their willingness to work. Export-Import Bank of (Eximbank) Korea Chairman Lee Duk-hoon speaks during a conference at the Korea Federation of Banks headquarters in Myeong-dong, Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Eximbank Korea By Nam Hyun-woo The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) said Monday that it would offer fewer loans this year but would focus more on prospective areas such as energy and IT as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The state-lender set this year's target of lending at 67 trillion won ($57.34 billion), marking the second consecutive year of downsizing its financing plan. But the total allotted for new growth industries and SMEs will increase. Eximbank Chairman Lee Duk-hoon said Eximbank will provide 53 trillion won in investments and loans, and set up 14 trillion won for a guarantee scheme this year. The combined amount is down 8 trillion won or 11 percent from 2016's lending target, which was 75 trillion won, a 6 percent downtick from 2015. "The year 2016 was full of difficulties and we expect this year could be another year full of challenges," Lee said at a press conference at the Korea Federation of Banks headquarters in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. "Against this backdrop, Eximbank is fully aware of its duty to contribute to the economic recovery. Though the entire volume of lending has decreased from that of last year, the bank placed more emphasis on supporting companies in new growth industries and SMEs." In a breakdown of the 2017 plan, Eximbank will lower the proportion of lending to the make-to-order industries, such as construction, plant and shipbuilding. It last year planned 31 trillion won in lending to such industries and executed 32.2 trillion won. This year, it plans to reduce the amount to 27.8 trillion won. Lee said it came to such a decision after witnessing huge drops in the construction and shipbuilding sectors. Last year, the value of contracts that construction firms here won for overseas projects stood at $28 billion, which was the lowest in the past decade. Also, shipbuilding orders dropped to $3.5 billion, the lowest since 1995. Instead, it increased this year's lending target for new growth industries, such as service, energy and ICT, to 6.5 trillion won, up 44 percent from last year's plan. Lee said the volume will increase to 7 trillion won in 2018 and 8 trillion won in 2019. When asked about his outlook on the shipbuilding and shipping industries, Lee said their business will likely improve slightly this year and show more progress down the road. About his successor, Lee said: "Whoever it is, the government should appoint the best expert in the field." Lee's term ends in March. Tong Yang Life Insurance headquarters in Seoul Tong Yang Life Insurance pursues another year of quantitative and qualitative growth to become a top-tier insurer here, according to its 2017 business plan, Monday. During the first three quarters of last year, the Seoul-based insurer netted 224 billion won ($191.9 million) in profit to surpass the 200 billion won mark for the first time in its January-to-September bottom line. Also, it rose by three notches last year to become the fifth-largest life insurer here by premium income last year. Adding to that, its major shareholder, Anbang Group Holdings, assisted Tong Yang in increasing its capital through a rights issue worth 600 billion won, so it can improve its readiness to the looming introduction of new accounting rules stressing capital adequacy ratio. By acquiring a stake in Woori Bank, the insurer also improved its yield on investments as well as garnering a new growth driver of bancassurance with the bank. The insurer said its 2017 business plan is aimed at carrying over last year's momentum to this year, under the four keywords of growth, innovation, execution and customer value. "By increasing endowment policies, the company could enjoy growth and improvement in its profitability," a Tong Yang official said. "However, we will not settle for the growth and put more emphasis on expanding life insurance policies." The company also seeks to take full advantage of Anbang Insurance Group's global network to improve its yields on asset management by making aggressive investments. In addition, by releasing innovative policies and linking them with internet and mobile platforms, it strives to diversify its business portfolio. To embrace meritocracy in its corporate culture, it will overhaul its key performance indicators system. For improvements in customer values, the insurer said it will try to reduce the number of complaints filed to it. In the first nine months of last year, it received 721 consumer complaints, down 52.6 percent from the same period of 2015. "This year, the company aims to further lower the number of complaints in line with the management philosophy of Anbang Insurance Group, which puts customer satisfaction and value on the front burner," the official said. Children from JUB Cultural Center, which is based in Virginia, performed Korean traditional doll dance at the Asian Pacific-American Inaugural Ball, January 19. / Courtesy of Yu-Ning Aileen Chuang By Yu-Ning Aileen Chuang WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Many Korean Americans are still upbeat about robust cooperation between Korea and the United States as well as Asia despite new U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to nullify the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact. On Jan. 19 (EST), some 1,000 people attended a gala hosted by the Trump-Pence Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee and the National Committee of Asian American Republicans (NCAAR). The event was held in the Mayflower Hotel here. "I want to represent my country. We are here for the new president," Theresa Nam, vice chair of the Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area who has lived in the U.S. for 40 years, told the Medill News Service during the event. Nam said the U.S. has been overly involved in the Middle East but needs to focus more specifically on Asia including Korea. While Trump is intending to bring factories back to the U.S., Nam believes the new U.S. president will also work with Asia -- particularly Korea and Indonesia. Major South Korean manufacturers, from Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics to Hyundai Motors, are seriously considering boosting their production capacity at their U.S. facilities in accordance with Trump's "America First" stance. Nam admires Trump's fearlessness toward China, which, in her opinion, is all about itself. "He's trying to play fair," Nam said. Small business owners and entrepreneurs at the ball viewed Trump as a successful businessman who will fix the economy. Peter Han, CEO of PK Property, a real estate company based in Pennsylvania, is a big fan of Trump. Han, a registered Republican, said he has been a loyal supporter of Trump since Trump expressed his intention of running for president three years ago. "I want him to take care of all communities, every minority," Han said when asked about his expectations for Trump's presidency. However, Trump's Cabinet selections lack diversity -- most are white males. Among the 15 Cabinet secretaries, there is only one Asian American, Secretary of Transportation nominee Elaine Chao. There is also only one African American, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development designate Ben Carson and two women: Chao and Betsy DeVos, nominee for the Department of Education. Han predicted Trump will start to listen to other opinions as president and may reconsider some of his positions. Herman Martir, chairman for communication at the NCAAR, stressed that the event was aimed at celebrating ethnicity and diversity. Martir added Trump is going to work very hard with all segments of Americans as he works to "put America first." The Trump administration's Asia policy is unclear, including the possibility of withdrawing from the TPP and growing concerns over Washington's trade disputes with China. Trump is expected to follow Obama's hard-line stance toward Beijing, while his recent decision to have a phone conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen raised geopolitical risks in East Asia. In the United States, however, Martir predicted, Trump "will work with the Asian community, the invisible minority and the biggest taxpayers in the nation." He said Trump told him during a private meeting before the election that he considered the Asian American community the most hard-working minority group in the country. But Martir didn't elaborate further. Kim Yoo-chul, assistant editor at The Korea Times' editorial desk, contributed to this report. The Korea Times has partnered with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Illinois, in the United States, under which graduate journalism students at Medill's newsroom in Washington, D.C. will write various articles related to Korea that will be published every two weeks. This is the second such piece under the partnership. By Yi Whan-woo Rumors are circulating here over who will become the U.S. ambassador to Korea under Donald Trump, while nominees for ambassadors to Japan and China have already been reported. Some analysts say this could be an indication that Korea has been pushed aside in the Trump administration's list of priorities for its foreign policies in East Asia. There have been no clues about who will replace former Ambassador Mark Lippert, who returned home on Trump's inauguration day, Friday. In stark contrast, Trump signed the formal nomination of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as the next ambassador to China on the same day he was sworn into office. Trump initially tapped Branstad, who has a close relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, for the post Dec. 7. The six-time Iowa governor can begin his new job immediately if approved by the Senate. Regarding the ambassadorship in Tokyo, the U.S. and Japanese media outlets have reported since Dec. 28 that Trump plans to pick William Hagerty. The founder of Hagerty Peterson and Company, a private equity investment firm in the U.S., has spent many years in Japan. He was also the director of presidential appointments in Trump's transition team. Analysts said Monday that South Korea's leadership vacuum is causing the delay in finding Lippert's successor in addition to Washington's greater interest toward Beijing and Tokyo over Seoul. "For the Trump administration, Japan is comparable to the United Kingdom and other powerful allies who can support the U.S. in handling regional affairs," said Kim Hyun-wook, a U.S. expert at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. "The relationship with China is also important especially at a time of escalating Washington-Beijing rivalry." Kim said the U.S. interest in South Korea is mainly limited to North Korea's military threats and this makes Seoul strategically less important than Beijing and Tokyo. "Given the circumstance, Trump may pay more attention to the countries whose governments are working normally than one whose president has been impeached," he added. Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University, agreed, claiming the U.S. ambassadors to China and Japan were traditionally "politically appointments." "The postings for the two countries were given to those who contributed to the new U.S. president winning the election, and their appointments usually came prior to those of career diplomats for new posts," he said. "The ambassadorship to South is usually given to career diplomats, although Lippert was an exceptional case." Lippert, the youngest U.S. ambassador to South Korea, was seen as one of former U.S. President Barack Obama's "politically appointed" ambassadors for their ties dating back to Obama's days as a senator in the 2000s. Meanwhile, a "soon-to-be" security advisor for U.S. Vice President Mike Pence recently visited South Korea, according to diplomatic sources. The official met with a wide range of officials and also stopped by the demilitarized zone. The sources said such a visit is seen as the White House's bid to directly deal with security on the Korean Peninsula in the absence of an ambassador. Warrant requested over favors to Choi's daughter By Jung Min-ho Choi Kyung-hee, former Ewha Womans University president Special investigators are seeking to arrest former Ewha Womans University President Choi Kyung-hee over allegations that she granted special treatment to Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil. Choi is the central figure of a massive corruption and influence-peddling scandal. The investigation team led by special prosecutor Park Young-soo has requested a warrant to put her behind bars for further investigation on charges of giving favors to Chung in admissions and grading, and giving false testimony at an Assembly hearing. Investigators believe Choi Kyung-hee was the de facto leader of a secret project to help Chung get through the school from admission to graduation. The school is suspected of receiving government subsidies for some projects in return. The Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing to determine the validity of the request at 10:30 a.m. , today. During an Assembly hearing on Dec. 15, Choi Kyung-hee claimed, "I have not met Choi Soon-sil personally," "I have not told anyone to give favors to Chung" and "I'm not aware of the special treatment given to her in the admissions process." None of the claims, investigators concluded, are true. Investigators have found that Choi Kyung-hee and Choi Soon-sil exchanged dozens of phone calls. Lee Sung-han, the former secretary general of the Mir Foundation which was controlled by Choi Soon-sil, also said during Friday's hearing on the scandal that the two and Cha Eun-taek had met privately in the 63 Building, Yeouido, citing inside sources. Chung, a dressage competitor, was allegedly ineligible for admission to Ewha in the first place. Exceptions were given in 2014 to athletes who won a medal in an individual event at a major competition. But the Asian Games gold medal she showed off at her admissions interview came from a team event on Sept. 20, 2014, after Ewha's deadline for application (Sept. 15). Over the favoritism allegations, three senior Ewha professors Kim Kyung-sook, Namkung-Gon and Lyou Chul-gyun, who is better known by his penname Lee In-hwa and former Vice Culture Minister Kim Chong have already been arrested. Investigators have also been looking into their bank accounts to see whether they received any suspicious payments. Prof. Ha Chung-hee at Soonchunhyang University has also been grilled over her alleged role over the matter. The longtime friend of Choi Soon-sil is known to be a link between her and Kim Chong. Meanwhile, investigators have been waiting for Danish prosecutors' response after sending an extradition request as well as legal documents about Chung's alleged crimes earlier this month. Yonhap, a local news agency, reported that investigators will likely receive the response as early as this week, citing a spokesman of the Danish prosecution. Hwang Kyo-ahn speaks at New Year's meeting with local reporters, his first press conference as an acting president, at Seoul Metropolitan Govenrment Office, Monday. / Yonhap Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday mounted a strong defense of the plan to deploy a U.S. missile defense system to the Korean Peninsula, saying it is a "necessary self-defense measure incomparable to any other." His remarks came amid mounting concerns over a series of recent steps China has taken against Korean businesses, entertainers and other sectors in apparent retaliation for the planned installment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the peninsula. "I would like to say again that the deployment plan is a definitely necessary self-defense measure that is a step incomparable to any other values," Hwang said during the New Year's meeting with local reporters. "I think the government has to do everything to protect the nation and citizens' lives, and THAAD is a necessary defense measure (whose deployment) can no longer be deferred," he added, stressing Seoul is in talks with Washington to deploy THAAD to Korea "as soon as possible." As for the rationale for the early deployment, Hwang stressed Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and missile threats as being "obvious and real." "North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are no longer (just) potential," he said, underscoring that last year alone, the unruly regime conducted two nuclear tests in January and September. "Its nuclear and missile capabilities are developing at an unprecedented rate," he stressed. Hwang has been serving as the acting president since Dec. 9 after President Park Geun-hye was impeached by parliament over a corruption scandal. Referring to THAAD's military efficacy, Hwang pointed out experts at home and abroad as well as officials in Seoul and Washington have concluded the stationing will "considerably" bolster defense. Asked if Hwang plans to run in the country's presidential election later this year, he remained noncommittal a subtle shift from his earlier stance that he would not throw his hat into the ring. "For now, I am not in a situation to think about various other matters," he said. "It is my duty to focus wholly on normalizing difficult state affairs quickly and preparing the nation for the future." Regarding the diplomatic tension between Seoul and Tokyo over the recently erected statue symbolizing South Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, Hwang vowed to strive hard to "overcome" the issue. "Given that it is basically an issue involving civilians, it is not something the government can meddle in," he said. "But we (with Tokyo) are in consultations through various channels as there is the need to gather our wisdom at the state level over how to deal with it for the future of our bilateral relationship." Asked about how he will deal with a possible demand from Washington to increase its share of the costs for the upkeep of the 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea, he said the two sides will have "sufficient consultations." Hwang, in addition, noted the new U.S administration will sufficiently carry out its review of what President Donald Trump said on his campaign trail last year in its actual policy implementation. In his opening remarks, Hwang reiterated his vow to push for seamless policy coordination with the U.S. administration on a set of key issues, including the nuclear standoff with the North. Hwang also reiterated that his government will establish a robust security posture based on its self-defense capabilities and the Seoul-Washington alliance to ward off Pyongyang's possible provocations. "(The Seoul government) will push in earnest for seamless policy coordination (with Washington) for the development of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the handling of North Korea's nuclear issue and the development of economic and trade relations," Hwang said. Over the past month or so, Seoul has been trying to establish ties with the new government in Washington by sending security and diplomatic officials to the U.S. for talks with Trump's high-level aides. The move came amid concerns about shifts in the bilateral alliance that have been spawned by a series of Trump's election-year remarks. His remarks highlighted general skepticism about America's security alliances with South Korea and other nations, and free trade deals. Hwang also renewed his pledge to apply "across-the-board" pressure to the recalcitrant regime in Pyongyang to induce its denuclearization. "(South Korea) will continue to induce North Korea's denuclearization through the framework of across-the-board sanctions on Pyongyang that has been established through cooperation between Seoul and Washington and with the international community," he said. On the economic front, Hwang said that the government, in tandem with the private sector, will mobilize "all available resources" to help local businesses make inroads into foreign markets so as to have them lead the country's economic recovery. He also called for national unity in overcoming a series of national challenges and made another proposal to hold a meeting with the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to strengthen communication with parliament. (Yonhap) Ukraine plans to boost defense and technical cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK). One of the key directions of the partnership on the new conditions will be cooperation in the imports replacement. The press service of Ukroboronprom State Concern has reported that the opportunities for expanding defense cooperation were discussed by the sides during a visit of UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon to Antonov State Enterprise (Kyiv) on January 20. Fallon studied the promising projects of Ukrainian aviation industry, including new transport aircraft An-132 being designed by Ukraine under the order of Saudi Arabia with participation of Britain's Dowty Propellers and Ipeco. Fallon positively assessed experience of bilateral cooperation under the An-132 program. He said that UK intends to deepen defense cooperation with Ukraine in the future. Antonov President Oleksandr Kotsiuba recalled about successful experience of Ukrainian-UK cooperation on the global heavy air transportation market and in the area of strategic air transportation using Ukrainian heavy transport aircraft An-124-100 Ruslan and An-225 Mriya. He said that starting January 2017 the representative office of Antonov Airlines Dreamlifts Ltd. is working in London suburbs. Antonov state enterprise is the leading Ukrainian developer and manufacturer of aircraft, the recognized world's leader in the niche of transport aircraft for wide purposes. The company cooperates with 76 countries. According to the government decision, Antonov has been part of Ukroboronprom state concern since April 2015. Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon looks pensive during a welcoming reception held at the official residence of Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap By Kim Hyo-jin Ban Ki-moon had been touted as the savior for the scandal-ravaged country by many people until he returned home Jan. 12 after eight years as the U.N. secretary general. That was mainly because he had a unique selling point as a presidential contender. His biggest asset is lengthy experience as a successful career diplomat and the leader of the global body. People thought this would benefit the country if he becomes the next president. However, what has been happening since his return is embarrassing. He is struggling to impress voters amid criticism that he has few ideas about how to revive the country and has ambiguous stances on politically sensitive issues. Bribery allegations surrounding him and his relatives especially grabbed the people's attention. Since his return, the gap between Ban and frontrunner Moon Jae-in in opinion polls has widened. With a series of slip-ups while on hectic tours around the country, the gap further widened with Moon from 3.9 percentage points in the second week of January, to 6.3 percentage points in the third week, according to local pollster Realmeter. Commentators say Ban's ambiguous political perspective, presumably stemming from the established diplomat's experience, is working against him in the burgeoning presidential race. "Strategic ambiguity only works in diplomacy, not in domestic politics," said Choi Chang-ryul, a professor of political science at Yongin University. "He needs to communicate his policy plans soon, or his potential to shake up the existing political arena could fizzle out." Ban has touted the need for "political reform" in a bid to present a contending slogan against Moon's "change of government" but he did not go into detail. His ambiguous political orientation makes it harder for voters to understand his philosophy, political analyst Hwang Tae-soon said. Ban has wavered between the liberal and conservative bastions in what is seen as a move to appeal to voters across the political spectrum. He visited the May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju and the fire-ravaged market in Daegu on the same day. "The move, despite being devised in line with his much-touted "grand integration" of the country, made him look like someone who is ill-prepared for politics or lacking his own perspective," Hwang said. Comfort women deal Ban has been particularly grilled for changing his position on a deal Seoul struck with Japan in December 2015 to settle issues related to Korean women forced into sexual service for Japanese soldiers during World War II. He expressed his support for the deal during a phone call with President Park Geun-hye on New Year's Day 2016, praising it as Park's "courageous decision" and a "move history will highly value." But during an interview on the way home in early January, he criticized the deal, saying, "If the 1 billion yen provided based on the deal has to do with removing a comfort woman statue, it is wrong." Now he views the deal as helping Korea and Japan resolve their differences. Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung with his mother Koo Ho-myung and wife Kim Hea-kyung before declaring his presidential bid at a watch factory where he worked in his teens in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Yonhap By Choi Ha-young Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung announced his bid for the presidency, Monday, with vows to reform family-controlled conglomerates. In an emotional press conference held at a watch factory where he worked in his teens, Lee said he will focus on enhancing workers' rights if elected. "I used to be a child worker, but I'm now dreaming of becoming the president. This place reminds me of bitter memories I had as a laborer," Lee said, drawing wild cheers from some 1,000 supporters. Lee is expected to join the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's primary to challenge the party's former Chairman Moon Jae-in, who has been leading polls. The outspoken mayor gained popularity rapidly through speeches against President Park Geun-hye and corporations during recent street rallies. He gained the nickname of "cider," a local brand similar to Sprite, because of his hawkish and hard-hitting speeches. He has emerged as the third-favorite presidential contender after Moon and Ban Ki-moon. While working at the watch factory, he suffered injuries to his arm and finger, he recalled. "They are still not normal," Lee said. "I will put a priority on establishing an equal society where workers can enjoy the treatment they deserve." Lee pledged to provide 1 million won to 28 million citizens a year by raising corporate taxes. Calling it his version of a "New Deal" policy, he said the measure will boost spending and thus reinvigorate the economy. Lee targeted the nation's largest conglomerate Samsung and corrupt political power. "Under the Lee Jae-myung administration, President Park Geun-hye and Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong will never be forgiven," he said. He also touched on President Park's diplomatic legacies and longstanding alliance between Seoul and Washington, stressing the rule of "equality." "We should dismiss the U.S. call to pay excessively for its troops, withdraw the decision to deploy its missile defense system, and retrieve wartime operational control from the U.S.," he said. Regarding Japan, he vowed to nullify the comfort women agreement made in late 2015 and General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), an intelligence-sharing deal signed last year. By Jun Ji-hye In Myung-jin, interim leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, is facing criticism for putting off a decision to take disciplinary action against scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye until her impeachment trial in the Constitutional Court is completed. In said the decision was made for party unity, but opposition parties and even some members from his own party claimed the governing party lacks the will to change amid a crisis caused by the high-profile corruption and influence-peddling scandal, which led to Park's impeachment last month. When announcing measures to renovate the party, Sunday, In said the procedure of expelling key Park loyalists has been finalized, citing that the ethics committee suspended membership of Reps. Suh Chung-won and Choi kyoung-hwan for three years, and Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun for one year. In said it was improper to discipline Park, saying "Unlike the three figures, Park has no influence in the party." On Monday, In also made it clear the party's measures to remove the pro-Park figures was completed, saying, "There are still figures left who need to take responsibility. I did not take disciplinary measures against them not because they were not guilty, but because some measures were also needed for party unity. I expect them to take time for self-examination and take responsibility voluntarily." But Kim Sung-eun, an emergency planning committee member, said In's decision provoked a great deal of criticism, urging the interim leader to show the public the party's willingness to make a clean breast of past wrongdoings. Kim also called on Park to voluntarily quit the party for "the unity of healthy conservatives." Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the chairwoman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, said, "In was deceiving the people when he was talking about the renovation of the party but not talking about disciplinary measures against Park." Meanwhile, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held a meeting, also on Monday, with nine first-term lawmakers of the Saenuri Party. According to the participants, the lawmakers asked Ban to become the pivotal figure to unify conservative figures, and Ban responded positively. Some observers speculated that the meeting may cause another exodus of Saenuri Party lawmakers, but the participants tried to remove the over-interpretation of the meeting, saying they just discussed various pending issues including measures to raise Ban's approval ratings. Not all Chinese breathe the same air and share the same destiny' By Zhuang Pinghui Spotting a rare blue sky after three days of choking smog, Sophie Gao took her two-year-old daughter outside to play in Beijing's Shunyi district early this month. Spotting a rare blue sky after three days of choking smog, Sophie Gao took her two-year-old daughter outside to play in Beijing's Shunyi district early this month. But around 11am she felt the wind howling from the south and looked up. The blue sky was grey once again and she rushed to take her daughter home as the air filled with the smell of burning coal. Their home is protected by air purifiers. At the same time, courier Lu Wei, 27, was riding his electric tricycle, making deliveries in the capital's Chaoyang district. He put on a face mask and continued his work, but after a while he took it off because it was hard to breathe under the mask. That half day, on January 2, was the only blue sky Beijing people saw from December 30 to January 7. For nine days the capital was blanketed by thick smog, with levels of cancer-causing respirable suspended particulates with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, known as PM2.5, exceeding 500 micrograms per cubic metre of air, well above China's national standard of 35mcg and the World Health Organisation guideline of 10mcg. As some internet users bitterly put, if there's one thing that all Chinese, rich or poor, cannot avoid it's the smog, as they "breathe the same air and share the same destiny". But do they? People wear "portable clean-air system" masks in Beijing's central business district on January 3. When affluent Chinese, and even members of the rising middle class, can afford to flee smog-hit areas by flying to cleaner coastal cities in the south or even abroad, seek shelter in office buildings and homes protected by air purifiers, and buy expensive masks designed to keep out PM2.5 particles, the underprivileged struggle to make a living, fully exposed to the poisonous air. A vital link in China's online shopping frenzy, Lu works six days a week, from 9am to 6pm, for around 5,000 yuan (HK$5,600) a month. He's fully exposed to the smog except when he enters a building to make a delivery. When he is off work he stays in his rented apartment outside the fifth ring road, far from downtown Beijing, which does not have an air purifier, not even a cheap one costing a few hundred yuan. "I deliver those purifiers and I know their price, but I only go back home to sleep," he said. "It is not worth it to buy one." Zhang Wenlian, 52, also works long hours outdoors, selling vegetables and fruit with her husband behind a residential building in Beijing's central business district. Their produce piled around a tree, the couple wear heavy overcoats but no masks on a freezing Beijing day as they weigh purchases and take cash from customers, many of whom work in nearby office buildings and wear N95 protective masks, capable of filtering out 95 per cent of airborne particles. "Of course I know I should wear a mask, but it is suffocating," she said. "I can't wear it for a whole day." Zhang and her husband arrived in Beijing three years ago. They live in a rented apartment and their two children attend a primary school near their open-air fruit stall. They're not exactly sure what's in the smog, but know they should avoid it. But when they did, they realised they could not afford to. The couple decided that on the worst days, when Beijing's air quality index hit 500 or more, they would suspend business, but their costs forced them to rethink that strategy. "What can I do? I open my eyes in the morning and know we have to pay hundreds of yuan of rent each day," she said. "If we don't open business, what do we eat? "What air purifier? I am content enough if we can eat well." Those who can afford to fight the smog are better protected. Gao has started looking for an air purifier for her car after getting air purifiers for her home. She's also bought facial masks and said she would spare no expense when it came to clearing up the air her family lived in. "I used to think about spending less on such equipment as long as the protection was sufficient because I wanted to save money for other spending on the child, but now I think staying alive is more important," she said. "I don't care how much money I spend as long as the air is clean. I don't set a budget now, as long as it buys health for my child and my family I can accept any price." Although money is not an issue for the middle class, they're troubled by other concerns, such as whether to leave the smoggy capital for good in search of better air quality. Lisa Yang, a full-time housewife and mother of an eight-year-old girl, has been trying to flee the capital since the winter of 2014, when the family all suffered severe reactions to the bad air, with sore throats, blocked up noses and constant coughs. After Christmas that year, the family boarded a plane to the Fujian coast city of Xiamen, which has one of China's best reputations for air quality. "An amazing thing happened," Yang said. "My daughter woke up the very next morning and she did not cough. She coughed again after we returned to Beijing." Her husband is a partner in a private company and they could afford to emigrate, but Yang, born in Beijing, hesitated because her parents were too old to follow her abroad and she could not bear to leave them behind. They thought about moving to another Chinese city with better air quality, but that threw up other problems. As the nation's capital, Beijing boasts unmatched educational resources, and the couple would also lose the social and business connections they've built up over the years. If they moved, their daughter could also face difficulties when sitting the university entrance exam, which is currently tied to a pupil's household registration and school registration. Yang worries her daughter might end up unable to sit the exam in Xiamen or Beijing. Before they make a final decision, the couple are taking their daughter to the countryside north of Beijing for better air on weekends and taking short breaks where "the air is much more fresh". They're taking the girl to a hot springs hotel in the north the day after her final examination and then to Phuket, in Thailand, after the Lunar New Year. "She had a very tough time when the smog lasted for a week in early January," Yang said. "She wanted to play outside but we stayed indoors except one time for her class. We ordered food and stuff online and my husband went out to pick them up." Frustrated and depressing by the smog, Yang said she read had read the transcript of environment minister Chen Jining's press conference on January 7 with interest but had stopped trusting the government. Chen said winter heating, industrial emissions and vehicle exhausts were the major contributers to smog, and that the low air quality was also caused by unfavourable weather conditions. "I am all for cutting emissions, but the government's got to make big improvements in cutting industrial pollution, or all my inconvenience from not driving is offset by those emissions from plants," she said. "Can they guarantee they have done all they could to tackle smog? The sky was blue when the government ordered plants in half the country to shut down for the Apec summit in Beijing in 2014 or the military parade in 2015, but now we can only count on a big wind to save us from smog." Marketing manager Jessica Xiong, who works in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, also thinks the government should shoulder more responsibility. Originally hailing from Yunnan, known for its fresh air, Xiong said the smog in Shijiazhuang meant her throat was always uncomfortable and she blamed the Hebei government, saying it had not ordered the closure of enough polluting factories. Shijiazhuang's air quality ranked third last in China between January and October last year, behind only Xingtai and Baoding, also in Hebei. Inconvenienced by orders to drive only on alternate days when the air quality is especially bad, Xiong shared a joke popular with motorists: "I drive a car that's passed the environmental protection assessment, use fuel that's licensed as clean and drive on roads approved by the government, is it the way I hit the brake pedal that causes the smog?" But those who have to work in the open air were much more understanding, either thinking it was too big a problem to solve or that there was no point in complaining. Lu said smog was caused by industrialisation and there was no way to avoid it. Security guard Huo Xinghua, who is exposed to the smog for nine hours a day at his post in front of an office building in Beijing's CBD, said he did not expect the air to improve much. "The government has spent a lot on treating smog but there are many restrictions on what it can do and some measures can't be fully implemented," he said. "When we can't change the environment, we need to adjust to it." Vegetable vendor Zhang was even less concerned. "Beijing is so much better than my home in Baoding," she said. "I feel I've already avoided the smog here." Shin Min-a, left, and Lee Je-hoon pose at a press conference for "Tomorrow With You," Monday. / Yonhap By Park Jin-hai "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," the much-hyped fantasy drama on tvN, concluded with grand fanfare last week. Time-traveling romantic comedy "Tomorrow with You" will take its slot, with viewers questioning if the new tvN drama could replicate the success of its predecessor. The 16-episode drama, starring actress Shin Min-a and actor Lee Je-hoon, tells the story of Yoo So-joon, played by Lee, a young CEO of a real estate company who has the ability to travel through time. It was penned by Heo Sung-hye who previously wrote the scenario of movie "All About My Wife (2012)" and directed by Yoo Je-won, whose works include "Oh My Ghostess (2015)" and "High School King of Savvy (2014)." The drama began filming in September and wrapped in mid-December. Actress Shin plays the role of Lee's love interest Song Ma-rin, an unknown shopping mall photographer who had once been a popular child actress. After Yoo sees his mysterious death in the future, together with Song, he decides to marry her to change his fate. Actor Lee, who has shown a strong presence on tvN's hit criminal action series "Signal" last year, will return to the time travel story again. In "Signal, Lee's character travels between the past and present through the medium of a walkie-talkie to solve criminal cold cases. This time, Lee goes between the present and the future by getting on a subway train. Actress Shin, who has played mostly lovely characters in many of her previous romantic dramas including "Oh My Venus (2015)," joins tvN's latest drama. Lee said he chose the drama since he wanted to get away from the "sharp and strong" image. "Except in the 2012 movie Architecture 101, I've always been portrayed as serious, strong and sharp on the screen. This time I wanted to do a romance comedy that viewers can feel close to and feel at ease," the 32-year-old actor said during a media event to promote the drama at Imperial Palace in southern Seoul, Monday. Shin said she tried to distance herself from her past roles by being more natural. "In previous fantasy romantic dramas, I had additional devices to establish the characters. I wore special makeup to be a fat woman or become a storybook nine-tailed fox. This time, although there are ample elements that make it a fantasy drama, I tried to act as natural as possible to portray an ordinary 31-year-old woman with agonies, who would be around you at any time," said Shin. "Playing a realistic character would come as fresh to viewers." Director Yoo said although the drama taps many genres _ romantic comedy, thriller and fantasy _ romance is the main one. "Instead of setting a certain genre, it should be said that the love story takes the center and many other elements are involved in the way of telling the romance. Viewers can follow the story without going through much hard thinking," he said. Since the drama is a follow-up to "Guardian," which posted 20.5 percent viewership, breaking a cable drama record, Yoo said it has been unavoidable to feel pressure. "Talk of Guardian makes me sweat. I feel enormous pressure, too. I would say that our drama is an entirely different drama that people will sit down and watch it comfortably, feeling warmth." TvN's latest Friday-Saturday drama "Tomorrow with You" premieres Feb. 3. at 8 p.m. Ballerina Lee Sang-eun of Germany's Semperoper Ballett performs in La Bayadere in this 2011 file photo. / Korea Times file By Yun Suh-young Kim Ki-min / Korea Times file photo Park Sae-eun / Korea Times file photo While the search for Korea's "Billy Elliot" is ongoing, as the eight-month-long audition to find the lead role of Billy in the famed musical is drawing to a close, there are many more real-life "Billys" that have already made it into the global ballet scene. Several of Korea's ballet dancers hold top positions within their dance groups overseas. Most recently, ballet dancer Jun Joon-hyuk who attends London's Royal Ballet School, was invited to join the Royal Ballet, one of the top ballet companies in the world. He will be joining the company in August this year. The 19 year-old won the grand prize last year at the Youth America Grand Prix, a prestigious international ballet competition and has since been noted as a rising Korean ballet dancer in the global scene. In the same competition, another ballet dancer, preceding Jun, had won the prize. Kim Ki-min, who is currently a member of the Mariinsky Ballet Company in Russia, won the grand prize in 2012. The 25-year-old became the principal dancer in the Russian ballet company in 2011, a notable achievement in just four years after joining the company. Last year, he won the best male dancer award by the Benois de la Dance, an award considered the Academy Award of dance. Kim was the third Korean to receive the prize following the world-renowned ballet dancers Kang Sue-jin in 1999 and Kim Ju-won in 2006. Before the Korean male ballet dancer made it onto the global stage, there had been many preceding ballerinas who paved the path. Starting with the legendary Kang Sue-jin who was the first Korean to join Germany's Stuttgart Ballet in 1986 and the first female Korean principal dancer in a foreign dance company, there had been many ballerinas following her path and gaining recognition overseas, notably second-generation ballerinas such as Kang Hyo-jung and Seo Hee. Thirty-two year-old Kang Hyo-jung is principal female dancer at Germany's Stuttgart Ballet, the second female Korean principal dancer, following Kang Sue-jin who held the position for 19 years from 1997 to 2016. The junior Kang joined the company in 2004 and became principal dancer in 2011. Seo Hee, who is principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, is another winner of the 2003 Grand Prix at the Youth American Grand Prix in New York. In 2012, seven years after joining the American Ballet Theatre, she was appointed as principal dancer. Most recently, a rookie ballerina Park Sae-eun who joined the Paris Opera Ballet in 2012, was promoted to "premier danseur," or first dancer, two years after performing as "sujet," or second dancer. By Michal B. Paradowski In the recent essay "Foreign language acquisition pays off" published in The Korea Times, Walt Gardner rightly emphasizes the benefits of learning foreign languages, but some of his claims are stereotypical or otherwise contentious. Emphasis in U.S language classes on reading literature in the original instead of genuine communication has long been a thing of the past. At the same time, the diligence of many American students who choose a foreign language major does not distinguish them from their Asian peers. While familiarity with the culture of a selected country becomes essential when one moves abroad or deals with its citizens, in contexts where the language (especially English, but also Spanish, French, Russian or Arabic) functions as a lingua franca, of higher importance is intercultural communicative competence a mindfulness of, sensitivity and openness to cultural differences one may not have learnt about, as well as a willingness to learn the pragmatic norms and conventions of the country of each prospective significant interlocutor/trade partner. These can vary immensely even among states speaking the same language (e.g. Canada vs. Australia, Brazil vs Portugal, Morocco vs Saudi Arabia). Also, official organizations' estimates regarding the number of class hours allegedly required to master a given language, such as the Foreign Service Institute's estimate (where Korean is expected to take about 88 weeks, or 2,200 class hours, to reach C1 level) ought to be taken with a pinch of salt. There is no universal scale of difficulty; these are "approximate" learning expectations for "native English-speaking" learners, and they rely on measurement in the form of language tests. Other organizations propose different times. For instance, the Defense Language Institute expects 26 weeks for Spanish and 64 for Korean or Chinese, while the Association of Language Testers of Europe suggests about 700-800 "guided learning hours" to reach the same level on average (without distinguishing among languages). Also, a tongue that may seem difficult for an English- speaker (e.g. Japanese or Mandarin Chinese) may be relatively unproblematic to a Korean. Importantly, there are several less immediately practical or observable benefits of learning a foreign language. Foreign language learners display consistent improved performance in core subject areas on standardized tests, particularly in problem-solving and math exercises, and develop better spatial abilities Individuals speaking more than one language also have a better ear for listening and sharper memories. Enhanced cognitive flexibility also means moderated perseveration, that is reduced difficulty in quickly switching between perspectives, tasks or task criteria and ignoring distractions, resulting in fewer problems with concentration, the capability to effectively monitor one's actions, or multitasking. The consistently better ability of multilingual speakers to deal with distractions may help offset age-related declines in mental dexterity. One of the most spectacular consequences has to do with long-term health benefits. Although bilingualism cannot act as a remedy against senile dementia or slow its progress, individuals who use multiple languages daily take more than four years longer for the first symptoms of dementia to show than do people who speak just one language. The speculative conclusion is that extra sustained complex mental effort expended in speaking another language, which means upkeep and exercise of different areas of the brain owing to boosted blood supply, may lead to biological changes, such as increased generation of healthy neurons, synapses and dendrites, or a more efficient functional reorganization of neural networks, which can more easily take over functions previously carried out by the cerebral regions already affected by dementia, thereby enabling the brain to better tolerate accumulated pathologies. Michal B. Paradowski is an assistant professor at the Institute of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw and visiting scholar at the Department of Second Language Studies, Indiana University Bloomington. A teacher and translator trainer, and ELT consultant for television, he has been invited to speak at more than 100 scientific events and universities in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia, including several in Korea. Dark horse candidate jolts rivals with realistic touch One potential candidate after another is declaring their official bid for presidency in the election that will likely come in the next few months. Against the backdrop of "candlelit protests" that forced President Park Geun-hye to face impeachment, the candidates are trying to lure voters to their side with populist pledges that sound very appealing but lack a sense of realism. Eclipsed amid the populist din by leading bidders is Ahn Hee-jung, South Chuncheong Province governor, who is catching the attention of voters with his blunt hard-headed message, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." Ahn's fresh approach strikes a contrast to the rest of the field. Moon Jae-in, the frontrunner in opinion polls, zigzagged, for instance, on the controversial deployment decision on a he U.S. missile interceptor system, calling for the cancelation of the plan through renegotiations. Then, Moon, the losing candidate to Park in the previous election, dropped the negotiation pledge in order to cater to centrist voters. Moon's proposal for creating 1.3 million new jobs was wobbly at best. Moon wants to increase jobs in the public sector, a perennial target of criticism for its bloated payroll. Also ringing hollow is his promise to raise the pay level of employees at small- and medium-sized firms to 80 percent of that in big firms and reduce the gap between regular and irregular workers. Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung also, who just declared his candidacy, remains truthful to his populist agenda that worked to raise his popularity in the recent anti-Park protests. His central platform is promoting the expansion of the universal basic income _ an initiative that he has implemented on a trial basis. Still, how to fund the program and reconcile the subsequent strife between haves and have-nots is a big hole in his proposal. Even, Rep. Yoo Seung-min, an economist from the Bareun Party which was formed by anti-Park forces and broke away from the ruling Saenuri Party, also suggested a too-good-to-be-true pledge on parental leave. Yoo is scheduled to declare his candidacy Wednesday. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon argued for the adoption of the French nomenclature to bring "equality" to colleges and universities as a resolution to address the fierce competition in college admissions. The risk of Park's proposal is that it kills a motive for the institutions of higher learning to improve their curriculum and faculty, and prepare the students for an ever-changing work environment. In contrast, Ahn, a liberal-minded former student activist, is making a new wave by saying that the missile interceptor deployment is irreversible in contrast to Moon's stance. He also ran a five-hour question and answer session to emulate the Obama-style politics on the basis of constant, inclusive communication with the people. Campaign pledges need a dose of reality and Ahn is providing it, although his popularity is still in single digits. Foxconn plan to build $7bn LCD factory there puts pressure on Korean IT giants By Lee Min-hyung Terry Gou, Foxconn Chairman Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are under growing pressure to build a manufacturing facility in the U.S., while Taiwanese rival Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker, planning to invest $7 billion (8.17 trillion won) to establish a liquid crystal diode (LCD) plant there. Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou confirmed that the company was considering the plan as part of its joint project with SoftBank. The Foxconn chief is known to have had in-depth talks with SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son over the latter's plan to invest $50 billion in the U.S., creating about 50,000 jobs. But the latest announcement also reflects lingering concerns about the Donald Trump administration which in recent months has threatened to raise tariffs on imported products. This has intensified market uncertainty for non-American firms such as Foxconn and the two Seoul-based consumer electronics firms all of which do not have manufacturing facilities there. "Korean companies in the manufacturing industry are under mounting pressure to make more investment in the U.S. by building plants there, as more and more global firms such as Foxconn and SoftBank respond to the Trump administration's Buy American and Hire American' pledge," a local electronics industry official said, asking for anonymity. "But once those Seoul-based firms relocate or establish plants in the U.S., consumer electronics prices there will inevitably increase by a large margin, which does no good for U.S. consumers. "The companies need to discuss details about such issues with the Trump administration, in a way that benefits both parties." Earlier this month, LG Electronics Vice Chairman Jo Seong-jin said the company was discussing a plan to build a washing machine plant in the U.S. He said LG would make a final decision no later than the first half of the year, with the company paying closer attention to how the Trump administration's protectionist policy will develop. The new U.S. president has so far pushed his "American First" policy, pledging to impose a 35 percent tax on goods from Mexico. At the moment, the two Korean firms export their electronics devices to the U.S. Another industry source said: "It is true that Samsung and LG are in a dilemma over whether they have to follow the same footsteps as Foxconn. "But it remains to be seen whether they can do the same thing, as they have already massive manufacturing facilities, mostly in Southeast Asian territories including Vietnam and China." Representatives of China have finished an inspection visit to Ukraine aimed at assessing the beet pulp production supervision system in the country. Ukraine's State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Rights Protection said in a press release last week that Ukrainian enterprises producing beet pulp were inspected. The inspection aims at permitting exports of beet pulp to China. The Chinese inspectors presented the preliminary results of its work to representatives of the Ukrainian authority. An official report will be later sent to Ukraine. The Ukrainian authority said that inspectors highly assessed public supervision and operations of the enterprises. They expressed their interest in a wide range of Ukrainian agricultural products. The International Renaissance Foundation (IRF) in an open letter to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman expressed support to acting Health Minister of Ukraine Ulana Suprun and reforms conducted by her team. "Let us address you with a request to take notice that the International Renaissance Foundation that invested over $500,000 in promotion of the healthcare reform in the past years expresses compete support to initiatives of acting [Minister] Ulana Suprun and her team aimed at stamping out corruption in the healthcare system, creating new principles of financing the sector, increasing the quality and contents of professional education of doctors," the foundation said in an open letter spread by its press service last week. The IRF said that efficiency, transparency and openness of current top managers of the Health Ministry headed by the acting minister makes possible the promotion of required reforms and the foundation is involved in this process, in particular, the medicine and medical products public procurement system reform, the introduction of the medicine reimbursement system and reformation of the primary care segment. The foundation said that recent statements about inactivity of the Health Ministry are a sign of resistance of the old system and its representatives. "We believe that positive changes that have been introduced and those that are started would not be sponged out under the pressure of medical society interested in retaining old forms and processes in the area," the foundation said in the letter. The letter was signed by International Renaissance Foundation CEO Yevhen Bystritsky. Some medicines procured by international organizations using budget funds were improperly distributed by clinics that received them, in particular, National Children's Specialized Hospital Okhmatdyt. The co-founder of Tabletochki international charity foundation Iryna Lytovchenko told Interfax-Ukraine that when the Health Ministry's commission worked in the clinic early January it was established that in November 2016 around 900 Zivox packages were supplied to Okhmatdyt under the public procurement program over 100% of the amount ordered by the clinic for the year. "On November 15 the medicine arrived to the hospital's warehouse. Okhmatdyt ordered 600 packages. More packages were supplied, taking into account the needs of children from Donetsk region. A month later the foundation started receiving information that the medicine is absent at the warehouse of the clinic," she said. Lytovchenko said that the commission unveiled that Chief of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Department of Okhmatdyt Oleh Ryzhak took around two thirds of the medicines for the needs of his department. Lytovchenko said that Okhmatdyt receives medicines for the needs of all patients with cancer treated in the hospital: three departments with 70 beds, while the medicines arrive almost in the full amount to the Bone Marrow Transplantation Department with 10 beds. The inspection of the hospital was started by the Health Ministry under a request of Tabletochki foundation and patients of the cancer center. Lytovchenko said that according to the hospital's system the departments do not have fixed quotas for medicines. Nurses from departments go to the warehouse and takes as many medicines as they need at the moment. "We caught them red-handed with Zivox. I think that there are more manipulations," she said. Commenting the fact that some medicines supplied by international organizations do not meet needs of Ukrainian patients, in particular, medicines with Phosphomycinum and Methotrexatum active fractions, Lytovchenko said that experts who were members of working groups that formed the range of procurement mainly accuse international organizations. As for procurement of Phosphomycinum with 3 gram dose instead of 2 grams, she said that the dose was procured due to technical mistake of the commission's secretary. All members of the group signed the list containing the wrong dose. As for the medicine with Methotrexatum active fraction that was supplied in the wrong presentation form, she said that the medicine was procured from a new manufacturer, and the working group did not add the detailed requirement to the presentation form of the medicine to the technical specifications. The Health Ministry said that the ministry intends to hold a tender to select chief doctor of National Children's Specialized Hospital Okhmatdyt. In response to critics of Chief of the Pediatric Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center Svitlana Donska about supplies of wrong forms of medicines, Ukrainian Health Minister Ulana Suprun said that Donska is a member of the expert commission that approves the list of medicines. "Mrs. Donska signed the list of medicines, as she is a member of the expert commission. She decided what medicines to procure. If unnecessary medicines were bought, it is possible that she could be involved in this, as she selected them herself," Suprun said. A 26-year-old woman who was shot outside her home on Sunday afternoon died at a hospital in Springfield shortly before 10 a.m. Monday. Her estranged husband, Matthew Bolen, 36, was charged on Monday afternoon with capital murder and kidnapping. Boone County sheriff's deputies and Harrison police officers were searching for Bolen on Monday in a wooded area near homes of his relatives off Arkansas 392 south of Harrison. Officers believe he still has the borrowed handgun that he used to kill his wife. Harrison Police Chief Paul Woodruff says his department was notified about the shooting at 1:19 p.m. Sunday. Officers found Heaven (pronounced hay-vin) Bolen lying face down in the street outside her home at 215 W. Prospect St. She ran a childcare center in her home. Heaven Bolen was shot once in her head. The kidnapping charge is because detectives believe Matthew Bolen forced her out of her home before he shot her. Paramedics took Heaven Bolen to the hospital in Harrison, from where she was transferred to a hospital in Springfield, where she died on Monday morning. Detectives learned Matthew Bolen told others that he shot his wife, from whom he'd been separated for a short time, Woodruff said. They found Matthew Bolen's vehicle about a block from her home; detectives think he walked to the home, and then left in Heaven Bolen's car. Officers found her silver Chevrolet Equinox, with "Heaven's Day Care" in pink letters on the rear window, outside Hotel Seville. Woodruff says the couple's two children -- an 8-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son -- are now in state protective custody. The chief said Heaven Bolen had primary custody of the children but Matthew Bolen had visitation rights. He says Matthew Bolen dropped off the children at his sister's home on Sunday before the shooting. "Obviously, we think, by taking the children to a safe location and then going back, this wasn't just something that was in the heat of the moment. This was very much planned and executed for whatever reasons he had," said Woodruff. Woodruff says the murder weapon appears to be a 9 mm handgun that Bolen borrowed from a friend on Saturday. He says detectives have interviewed multiple people who say Bolen told them what he did afterwards. Woodruff doesn't know exactly what time the shooting occurred. Capital murder and kidnapping are both Class Y felonies, which could result in life prison sentences or death penalties. Bolen is about 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds. He wears glasses and has dark hair. If you have any information about his whereabouts, you can call 9-1-1. We have to catch up with civilized world in ability to communicate our position to people, both inside our country and abroad Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Yuriy Stets has made a working visit to the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday, where he attended a meeting of NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of the Partnership and Cooperative Security Committee, the minister said on his Facebook page. "Apparently, Ukraine suffers the most from the latest methods of warfare, which Russia employs today. The weakness of public communications makes us extremely vulnerable and poses a threat to our partners. We have to catch up with the civilized world in the ability and capacity to communicate our position to the people, both inside the country and abroad. Ukraine's efforts are aimed at strategic communications system development. In this regard we need the help of the Alliance," Stets wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday evening. The minister said that he held a meeting with Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Tacan Ildem, Charge d'Affaires of the U.S., NATO, and the Permanent Representatives of Lithuania and Great Britain to NATO. Stets believes that "the world is confronted with a hybrid war, which completely changed the usual framework of cooperation in information space. Information component has become one of the most important in ensuring the safety and development of any country. We all have to make new rules and approaches, put them in new laws, form a fundamentally new framework of reality." A young womans romantic getaway with her partner was wrecked by bloody bed sheets, and horrific bites caused by a bed bug infestation. Nicola Stone, 20, was left covered head to toe in itchy bites that left her unable to even hold hands with other half Jerry during their trip to Lisbon, Portugal. The couple could not sleep and Nicola, from South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, was forced to ditch her summer clothes and flip-flops and cover up for the 10-day sunshine break. Two days in, she woke up at the Hello Lisbon Santos Apartments with a pin-prick rash on one arm but dismissed it, while the following morning, she awoke covered in the excruciating bites. A pharmacist told her they were bed bug bites and she was given antihistamines and cream to stop the itch. Nicola said It was itchy, painful and hot. It was only after we saw the chemist that we realised little black dots which kept appearing on the sheets was bed bug excrement. There was also blood on the sheets which they had dripped as they walked around the bed. We decided to check Tripadvisor to see if it had happened before. A guy who had been there a few weeks before us had the same problem. They had to wait until morning to alert the cleaner before being moved rooms. Hotel staff also washed all their clothes to try to kill the mites. Nicola said the rest of the trip in early November was ruined. She said: I had to buy long-sleeved tops and I couldnt wear flip flops because the bites were so bad so I had to wear trainers. I couldnt sleep because of the itching, so my partner couldnt sleep either. We couldnt even hold hands as I had bites all over my hands. Back in UK, Citizens Advice told them to contact booking agent Lastminute.com and the couple eventually got a 549 refund to cover the cost of the room and Nicolas medical supplies. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Sai baba!!!! Lol, but well, thats according to Vanguard Newspaper, we love some tinubu Agbara yipo. And yeah, we stay being the giant, despite the hard economy Indications have emerged that a plane belonging to the National Leader of All Progressives Congress ,APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was used to fly ex-Gambian President, Mr. Yahaya Jammeh out of the country. Vanguard learnt that the gesture was in furtherance of the reconciliatory efforts of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, in the country where Jammehs refusal to relinquish power led to political crisis. It was learnt that upon being contacted for the use of the aircraft, Tinubu, who was in Conakry at that time, agreed on condition that it should only be used for the purpose in order to restore peace and democracy in the country. The VP-CBT Falcon jet, which had been with Guinean President, Alpa Conde for days, was stationed in Banjul to ferry Jammeh out of the country after 22 years in power. Vanguard further gathered that Tinubu is a personal friend of President Conde. Conde and Mauritanias President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz had spent much of Friday in Banjul persuading Jammeh to leave power. A BBC report on Saturday at 10.30 pm said the plane had taken off for Guinea with Jammeh, his family and President Conde on board. The former Gambian leader was flown to Conakry where he would temporarily stay before leaving for Equatorial Guinea where he would live in exile. West African leaders did not agree to immunity for Jammeh during negotiations that convinced Gambias longtime ruler to flee into exile, Senegals foreign minister said on Sunday. Jammeh, who is accused of serious rights violations, led his country for 22 years but refused to accept defeat in a December election. He flew out of the capital Banjul late on Saturday as a regional military force was poised to remove him. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The authorities of the Umar Musa YarAdua University, Katsina, Katsina State, have outlawed any other religious or tribal associations on the institutions campus besides the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria. The institutions acting Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Sulaiman Kankara, conveyed the new directive to all students clubs and associations that were operating on its campus in an internal memorandum dated January 17, 2017. A copy of the memo, obtained by one of our correspondents, was captioned, Re: Registration of Students Clubs/Associations. Sulaiman said the new directive was part of the resolutions of the institutions management at its 59th meeting, which held on January 10, 2017. The memo read in part, The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria is the only religious association allowed to operate in the university. All tribal and local government associations are prohibited by the university. Duly registered departmental associations should be allowed to operate, but they should observe item (I) above. However, sources within the university told The Punch that that the new directive was unlikely to elicit any reaction from the students when the institution resumes its new academic session on January 30, 2017. The university has never hidden its posture to be an Islamic institution despite the fact that it is a public institution, one of the sources said. The state government had last week approved the construction of a new mosque for Fridays Jumat service at the state-owned Hassan Usman Polytechnic at the cost of N64m. The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Baddiya Mashi, in her contribution at a press briefing at the end of the state executive council meeting, made the disclosure. But a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Norrison Quakers, who is a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, described the directive by the UMYU authorities as unconstitutional and one that could fuel crisis in the country. Quakers, who argued that the directive was a specific affront to Section 10 of Nigerias constitution, called on the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to immediately, as the countrys chief law officer, take issues with the UMYU. Quakers said, By virtue of Section 10 of the Nigerian constitution, we have what is called a secular society, meaning that the state has no official religion. No component state of the federating unit is allowed to promote any particular religion or place any particular religion above another. What the university authorities have done, in this case, is to promote a particular religion or prefer one religion above the others and that is actually calling for chaos and unrest. My position is that the decision of the university authorities is one one-sided, and what this has clearly shown is that this particular administration seems to be promoting ethnicity and religion and that, we must avoid. The constitution of Nigeria is very clear concerning our unity. My position is that all right-thinking Nigerians must rise up to condemn this directive; it is not something that should be condoned, it is not something that is acceptable. The Attorney General of the Federation should take it up; that policy is an infraction on the constitution and the Attorney General of the Federation is the Chief Law Officer of the country. Also, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, who is a Muslim, said the directive by the university authorities had no foundation in the countrys constitution, stressing that it should be challenged immediately. Shittu said, Clearly, it is a violation of the constitutional provision, permitting freedom of association. There is no fundamental right that can derogate from that on grounds of public safety. The fundamental rights of the students to freely associate and express their views have been violated directly by that directive. By virtues of the constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, there is nothing to suggest that the directive can be accommodated in any of the exceptions or derogation from the fundamental rights as contained in the constitution. The directive is constitutional, null and void; it is ultra vires and it should be challenged. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The largest ammonia producer in Russia OJSC Togliattiazot has filed a lawsuit to the international commercial arbitration court of Ukraine's Chamber of Commerce and Industry asking to collect $11.5 million from state-run enterprise Ukrkhimtransammiak. "Togliattiazot believes that Ukrkhimtransammiak violated the contract liabilities in ammonia transit halting it unilaterally. The decision to appeal to court was made after top managers of Ukrkhimtransammiak refused to satisfy the Togliattiazot's claim sent on January 13, 2017 and settle the situation via talks," reads the report. According to Togliattiazot, the supplement proposed by the Ukrainian company foresees the groundless increase in the transportation cost. The Russian company does not want to sign it. "If Ukrkhimtransammiak does not start implementing its contract liabilities, losses would continue growing and Togliattiazot will try to collect them, including in international courts," Togliattiazot Director General Vyacheslav Suslov said. As reported, referring to Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Minister Stepan Kubiv, Ukrkhimtransammiak, the operator of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, will be able to resume pumping after signing the new agreement with the Russian company. The Individuals Deposit Guarantee Fund introduced temporary administration to Bank People's Capital on January 19. Earlier on January 19 the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) declared the bank insolvent. The fund said that temporary administration will work for one month until February 20 inclusively. The fund appointed Oleh Andronov temporary administrator of the bank. Andronov earlier was temporary administrator and later liquidator of Integral-Bank (Kyiv). As reported, the NBU declared the bank insolvent due to the incompliance of the bank's ownership structure with the requirements regarding transparency. According to the NBU, now more than 85% of the bank's shares are owned by the persons, none of whom holds a substantial stake in the bank. The sole owner of such a share is Valeriy Makarenko (owns 14.24% of the shares), who, however, has received a significant share violating the law - without NBU consent. In this connection, he had been deprived of the right to vote for a long time. The NBU noted he had not agreed self-liquidation of the bank, because the law on banks and banking activity provides that such consent may be granted only in case of non-availability of the signs, according to which the financial institution can be declared problem or insolvent. The NBU said in July 2016 Bank People's Capital was classified as troubled bank in connection with the incompliance of its ownership structure with the requirements of transparency. Bank People's Capital was founded in 1993. The bank ranked 86th among 100 operating banks as of October 1, 2016, in terms of total assets worth UAH 265.06 million, according to the NBU. GENEVA When it comes to how they feel about each other, it seems the town chairman candidates arent pulling any punches. Incumbent Chairman Joe Kopecky and Town Supervisor Gene Decker are vying for the position in the upcoming April 4 election, and they were emailed questions about their campaigns last week. On Jan. 11, Decker issued a statement which criticized Kopecky on how he makes appointments and accused him of avoiding controversial issues. Joes management style is to ignore the problem, or simply kick the can down the road, hoping it will all go away, said Decker. In an email Friday to the Regional News, Kopecky told Decker to stop lying and slandering my name and record. Act like a Catholic for once and start working for the good of all the town of Geneva residents, not just Gene Decker and your stooges, Kopecky said. When asked why he is seeking re-election, Kopecky said the town is in great shape, and he wants to keep it that way. The town paid off its one-year truck loan, its tax rate has returned to its previous level, and with a surplus for future projects in place, they will tackle what they can afford, he said. Decker said that Kopecky often stated everyone up for election should have an opponent, and Kopecky has been chairman for 14 of the last 18 years. Its time for change, Decker said. We need new ideas, someone who has the time and energy needed to do the job! The write-in campaign This isnt the first time Decker and Kopecky have faced each other in an election. In 2013, there was a write-in campaign to elect Decker over Kopecky to the town chairmans seat, but it was unsuccessful. Decker said his friends mounted the campaign, and at the time, he referred to it as a joke because he hadnt authorized it or filed a statement to serve. Having done neither, the write-ins were meaningless, even if I had received more votes, said Decker. In an April 2013 Regional News article, Kopecky called it foolish. He explained why on Friday. Deckers previous run was an idea which he and several friends hatched over drinks at a tavern, so my referring to the foolishness of it relates to the careless disrespect he showed the office by wasting everyones time with a half-hearted joke, said Kopecky. He also said Deckers current run was probably given as much serious consideration, since he filed to run for chairman at the last possible moment. Big town issues Decker said some of the bigger town issues are repairing the Lake Como dike, whether Rosen Dam should be replaced and the shoreline corridor becomes a road, stormwater drainage in parts of Lake Como subdivision, short-term rentals and an electrical substation on the south side of the lake. All of these issues need to be addressed, and soon, said Decker. Kopecky said the town needs fair compensation from local hospitals for police services. He said there are other important issues, such as the dike, Como subdivision drainage, bringing broadband internet access to rural town areas and fighting ATC, the power company which cut vegetation along a 5-mile stretch of Palmer Road without following town ordinances. Appointments Decker said every member of the planning, police and park commissions is appointed by Kopecky. You must be a member of Kopeckys inner circle to receive any town appointment, said Decker. Kopecky said town ordinances and commission bylaws give the chairman the authority to appoint members to the commissions except for the Park Commission, which requires a town board vote. He said he still discusses all appointments with the board, for advice before finalizing them. The reality, however, is that most of the park, plan and lake commissioners were already in place when I was re-elected to town chairman in 2011, Kopecky said. The Police Commission has had the greatest membership turnover, he said, but all new appointees have been presented to the town board before they joined the commission. Agendas Decker said Kopecky has absolute control over the town board agendas. (Kopecky) simply does not allow any controversial subjects on the agenda if he is fearful of losing a vote on a particular subject, he said. That needs to change! Kopecky said this is absolutely untrue, and that Decker is delusional. Kopecky also said he puts any serious issue on the agenda, everything and anything, for which I take a lot of heat for prolonged meetings. Editors note: More comments from the chairman candidates will appear in a future Regional News. Yanair airline (Zhytomyr) plans to boost passenger transportation to Georgia by 15-20% in 2017. Yanair Commercial Director Yevhen Pushenko said at a meeting of the Tourism Press Club of Ukraine that in 2016 Yanair carried over 37,000 passengers between Kyiv, Odesa and Batumi and around 23,000 passengers between Kyiv, Odesa and Tbilisi. Pushenko said that the airline opened sale of summer flights to Georgia from Kyiv and Odesa. The airline will fly from Kyiv Airport (Zhuliany). From April 2017 the airline will increase frequency of Kyiv-Tbilisi flights to three and from June to four a week. The smallest price of a round trip ticket is UAH 5,832. Up to 23 kg of luggage and food on board is included in the cost. From April 15 the airline starts flying from Kyiv to Batumi twice a week. From June it is planned to fly every day. The minimum price of the round trip ticket is UAH 5,944. "We see all preconditions for a rise in passenger flow between Ukraine and Georgia in 2017 this is tourism and business relations between our countries. We are going to increase frequency of flights between Kyiv and Tbilisi and start flying to Batumi every day," Pushenko said. In addition, from June 3, the airline will start flying from Odesa to Batumi on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the minimum price of UAH 4,797 for the round trip ticket and from June 4 Odesa-Tbilisi flights on Thursdays and Sundays at the minimum price of UAH 5,459 will be launched. Pushenko said that this year it is likely that the Lviv-Batumi route will be launched (twice a week). Yanair was registered in Zhytomyr on June 15, 2012. In July 2013 it received a certificate for operations. At present, the company's fleet consists of two Saab 340 planes, two Airbus A320 planes, one Airbus 321, two Boeing 737-300 planes and one Boeing 737-400 plane. PRESS RELEASE Objective of Astana Peace Talks: Syria Should Belong to Syrians Jan. 22, 2017 (EIRNS)On the eve of the Jan. 23 peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sputnik reports in its Turkish edition that "The principal goal of Turkey is to secure peace in Syria, and the territorial integrity of the country," quoting Foreign Affairs Commission member and Deputy Hasan Basri Kurt of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The war has been going on for five years, Kurt said, and "The meeting in Astana is the vital initiative of Russia and Turkey, aimed at reaching peace and stability in Syria. The whole world is treating this initiative with respect, and is watching the developments with anxiety." Kurt said Turkeys aim it to draw many more participants to the Syrian peace talks, and that the negotiations in Astana are going to become yet another step forward. "It is worth stressing that the countries of the region were eager to express their initiatives about the talks, unlike in Geneva. It is highly unlikely that it is going to be the only and the final meeting. However, we hope that the participants in the talks will be able to agree on the continuation of the cease-fire and restoration of peace in the country." Dr. Celalettin Yavuz, a former foreign policy advisor to the head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), told Sputnik about the goals of the Syrian opposition. He said one idea to be discussed in Astana would be to bring the unified opposition groups together with the government army to fight against terrorists groups in Syria, "The Syrian government armed forces remain the major power in the country, which is able to draw together various groups operating in the country." He said, "The major aim of the negotiations in Astana is to agree on the participation of Russian and Turkish officers in the continued fight against the jihadists." He said that Damascus should be the chief commander of the operations against Daesh (Islamic State). Aetna claimed this summer that it was pulling out of all but four of the 15 states where it was providing Obamacare individual insurance because of a business decision it was simply losing too much money on the Obamacare exchanges. Now a federal judge has ruled that that was a rank falsehood. In fact, says Judge John D. Bates, Aetna made its decision at least partially in response to a federal antitrust lawsuit blocking its proposed $34-billion merger with Humana. Aetna threatened federal officials with the pullout before the lawsuit was filed, and followed through on its threat once it was filed. Bates made the observations in the course of a ruling he issued Monday blocking the merger. Aetna executives had moved heaven and earth to conceal their decision-making process from the court, in part by discussing the matter on the phone rather than in emails, and by shielding what did get put in writing with the cloak of attorney-client privilege, a practice Bates found came close to malfeasance. Advertisement Aetna tried to leverage its participation in the exchanges for favorable treatment from DOJ regarding the proposed merger. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates The judges conclusions about Aetnas real reasons for pulling out of Obamacare as opposed to the rationalization the company made in public are crucial for the debate over the fate of the Affordable Care Act. Thats because the companys withdrawal has been exploited by Republicans to justify repealing the act. Just last week, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) cited Aetnas action on the Charlie Rose show, saying that it proved how shaky the exchanges were. Bates found that this rationalization was largely untrue. In fact, he noted, Aetna pulled out of some states and counties that were actually profitable to make a point in its lawsuit defense and then misled the public about its motivations. Bates analysis relies in part on a smoking gun letter to the Justice Department in which Chief Executive Mark Bertolini explicitly ties Aetnas participation in Obamacare to the DOJs actions on the merger, which we reported in August. But it goes much further. Among the locations where Aetna withdrew were 17 counties in three states where the Department of Justice asserted that the merger would produce unlawfully low levels of competition on the individual exchanges. By pulling out, Aetna could say that it wasnt competing in those counties exchanges anyway, rendering the governments point moot: The evidence provides persuasive support for the conclusion that Aetna withdrew from the on-exchange markets in the 17 complaint counties to improve its litigation position, Bates wrote. The Court does not credit the minimal efforts of Aetna executives to claim otherwise. Indeed, he wrote, Aetnas decision to pull out of the exchange business in Florida was so far outside of normal business practice that it perplexed the companys top executive in Florida, who was not in the decision loop. I just cant make sense out of the Florida dec[ision], the executive, Christopher Ciano, wrote to Jonathan Mayhew, the head of Aetnas national exchange business. Based on the latest run rate data . . . we are making money from the on-exchange business. Was Floridas performance ever debated? Mayhew told him to discuss the matter by phone, not email, to avoid leaving a paper trail, Bates found. As it happens, Bates found reason to believe that Aetna soon will be selling exchange plans in Florida again. As for Aetnas claimed rationale for withdrawing from all but four states, Bates accepted that the company could credibly call it a business decision, since the overall exchange business was losing money; he just didnt buy that that was its sole reason. He observed that the failings in the marketplace existed before Aetna decided to withdraw, but that as late as July 19, the company was still planning to expand its footprint to as many as 20 states. In April, top executives had told investors that Aetna had a solid cost structure in Florida and Georgia, two states it dropped. While the Department of Justice was conducting its investigation of the merger plans but before the DOJ lawsuit was filed, Aetna tried to leverage its participation in the exchanges for favorable treatment from DOJ regarding the proposed merger, Bates observed. During a May 11 deposition of Bertolini, an Aetna lawyer said that if the company was not happy with the results of an upcoming meeting regarding the merger, were just going to pull out of all the exchanges. In private talks with the DOJ, Aetna executives continually linked the two issues, even while they were telling Wall Street that the merger was a separate conversation from the exchange business. Bertolini seemed almost to take the DOJs hostility to the merger personally: Our feeling was that we were doing good things for the administration and the administration is suing us, he said in a deposition. Bates found persuasive evidence that when Aetna later withdrew from the 17 counties, it did not do so for business reasons, but instead to follow through on the threat that it made earlier. The threat certainly was effective in terms of its impact on the Affordable Care Act, since Aetnas withdrawal has become part of the Republican brief against the law. That it says so much more about Aetna executives honesty and integrity probably wont get cited much by GOP functionaries trying to repeal the law. Aetna is at least partially responsible for placing the health coverage of more than 20 million Americans in jeopardy; that it did so at least partially to promote a merger that would bring few benefits, if any, to its customers is an additional black mark. If theres a saving grace in this episode, its that the companys goal to protect the merger hasnt worked, so far. The DOJ brought suit, and Bates has now thrown a wrench into the plan. Aetna has said its considering an appeal, but the merger is plainly in trouble, as it should be. 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. MORE FROM HILTZIK Donald Trumps executive order on Obamacare will cripple the health insurance market Paul Ryan continues his assault on Obamacare and Medicare this time on the Charlie Rose show Donald Trump, Rand Paul and the myth of a cheap Obamacare replacement UPDATES: 8:22 p,.m.: This article has been updated to clarify that in the 17 counties at issue in the lawsuit, the Dept. of Justice asserted that the merger would reduce competition to unlawful levels on the Obamacare insurance exchanges. Hollywood had been backing the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, which President Trump formally withdrew from Monday. The presidents action was not a surprise: Trump railed against trade deals throughout his campaign, blaming them for an exodus of jobs from the U.S. Twelve nations had signed onto the treaty: the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Japan and Vietnam. China, the worlds second-largest film market, was not part of the agreement. The TPP already was on life support; Congress had not ratified it. Though the agreement wasnt all that Hollywood hoped, its lobbying arm, the Motion Picture Assn. of America, supported the deal because it felt the deal would further open Asian markets to film distribution and combat piracy. The MPAA said the deal would: Advertisement Strengthen copyright protections The treaty ensured that copyright owners of digital material had the exclusive right to make their works available online. It extended the length of copyright protection to the life of the creator plus 70 years, which protected film studios. Forbid governments from requiring companies to turn over encryption keys This measure was seen in Hollywood as a breakthrough to maintain security and curtail digital theft. Eliminate tariffs on DVDs and other film storage products For movie studios, the trade deal was seen as helpful because it would remove tariffs on digital cinema packs and 35-millimeter film. Remove local partnership requirement The agreement would prevent governments from requiring that a company or person, as a condition for importing movies or television shows, establish a contractual relationship with a local distributor. We look forward to working with the Trump administration to advance fair and economically beneficial trade negotiations that protect the interests of American businesses and workers, said Joanna McIntosh, MPAAs executive vice president of global policy. Specifically, she said, future trade agreements should include provisions that expand market access and protect copyright. meg.james@latimes.com @MegJamesLAT ALSO Trumps team suspended a mortgage insurance rate cut. Heres what that means Judge blocks Aetna-Humana health insurance merger Tidal announces partnership with Sprint On Friday, the Trump administration suspended a pending rate cut to FHA mortgage insurance that the outgoing Obama administration announced just a week earlier. The decision to indefinitely suspend the planned cut was one of the new administrations first acts. As a result, a decision over insurance premiums for home loans backed by the federal government received outsized attention from both the media and politicians. Confused? Well try to help sort it out. What is the FHA? Advertisement The Federal Housing Administration is a government agency that insures home loans and collects fees from borrowers to reimburse lenders in the case of default. It is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the loans FHA insures are aimed at first-time homebuyers and those with poor to fair credit. Borrowers can qualify for an FHA-backed mortgage with down payments as small as 3.5%, even with a credit score as low as 580, which could signal a past bankruptcy or debts sent to collection. The average credit score of an FHA borrower in the third quarter of last year was 679, a credit worthiness considered to be fair. There are limits on the price of a home loan the FHA will back. In Los Angeles and Orange counties that limit is $636,150. What did the Trump administration do? The administration on Friday stopped a rate cut that the Obama administration had announced just a week earlier. The rate cut was supposed to take effect Jan. 27, and thus no one received a loan with the new, lower insurance rates. What does this mean for me? If you are shopping for a home and planned to use an FHA-backed loan, it means you will be paying the same premium rate for required mortgage insurance that you would have since January 2015. For most borrowers getting an FHA-backed loan that means that after paying an upfront insurance fee, you will pay 0.85% of your loan amount for premiums each year. The Obama administration had planned to drop that rate to 0.60%. In 2014, the rate was 1.35%, after several increases to shore up FHA finances after the housing crash. If the recent cut had gone into effect as expected Jan. 27, the California Assn. of Realtors estimates borrowers in the state using FHA loans would have saved an average of $860 a year. How many people use FHA-backed loans? During the federal governments 2016 fiscal year, the FHA insured 1.26 million purchase loans and refinances for single-family homes. Nearly 880,000 of those were purchases, worth more than $171 billion. In the second quarter of 2016, FHA-backed loans accounted for 16.6% of single-family home loans, according to HUD. Why did the Obama administration cut rates? It argued that FHA could easily withstand a cut to premiums, saying the agencys finances had vastly improved since it received its first-ever bailout in 2013. The $1.7-billion bailout from the U.S. Treasury was given to cover potential losses on the huge volume of low-down-payment mortgages FHA insured from 2007 to 2009 after the collapse of the subprime industry. The administration also noted that FHAs Mutual Mortgage Insurance Funds capital reserve ratio exceeded requirements for two consecutive years. With sufficient reserves on hand to meet future claims, its time for FHA to pass along some modest savings to working families, former HUD Secretary Julian Castro said at the time. Why did the Trump administration suspend the rate cut? Some Republicans had expressed concern that the rate cut could cost taxpayers if the loans started to go sour and the Federal Housing Administration was unable to cover the losses with less money coming in from premiums. In a letter to those in the real estate industry shortly after Trump was sworn in, HUD said that more analysis and research was needed to assess any future changes in mortgage insurance premiums. FHA is committed to ensuring its mortgage insurance programs remains viable and effective in the long term for all parties involved, especially our taxpayers, the letter said. Could the Trump administration change its mind? The administration said the rate cut was being suspended indefinitely. In his confirmation hearing to be Trumps HUD Secretary, Ben Carson said the rate cut announced by the Obama administration had surprised him. If confirmed, Carson pledged to work with the FHA administrator and other financial experts to really examine that policy. andrew.khouri@latimes.com Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter ALSO Obamas last airline regulation proposal: Disclose bag fees at all points of sale As Trump pushes for U.S. manufacturing, Made in America is losing its luster in the fashion world Spectacles might get the buzz, but for investors Snapchat is all about the advertising President Trump on Monday designated Ajit Pai, a Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission and an outspoken opponent of new net neutrality rules, to be the agencys new chairman. Pai, 44, would take over for Tom Wheeler, a Democrat who stepped down on Friday. Wheelers term had not expired but Trump gets to designate a new chairman as Republicans gain the FCC majority. I look forward to working with the new administration, my colleagues at the commission, members of Congress, and the American public to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, Pai said. Advertisement A telecommunications lawyer who has served on the FCC since May 2012, Pai is a free-market advocate who has been sharply critical of new regulations adopted by Democrats in recent years. He takes the chairmans office amid reports that Trumps advisors want to scale back the FCCs authority. We need to fire up the weed whacker and remove those rules that are holding back investment, innovation and job creation, Pai said in a speech last month looking ahead to Republican control of the FCC. Pai, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from India, was associate general counsel of Verizon Communications Inc. from 2001-03 before working as a staffer at the U.S. Senate, the Justice Department and the FCC. He sprinkles his speeches with pop-culture references and is adept at social media. During the net neutrality debate, he tweeted a photo of himself with the 332-page proposal and lamented that FCC rules didnt allow him to make it public. Pai has pushed for FCC proposals to be released before commissioners vote on them. Andrew Jay Schwartzman, a Georgetown University law professor and longtime consumer advocate, said Pai would be a formidable opponent for public interest groups. He is not only an outspoken detractor from many of the important advances we obtained under Chairman Wheeler, but he is also extremely smart and knowledgeable, Schwartzman said. Chief among Pais targets will be the net neutrality online traffic rules the FCC adopted on a partisan 3-2 vote in 2015. The regulations are designed to ensure the free flow of online data by barring Internet service providers from discriminating against legal content flowing through their networks. To do that, the FCC imposed utility-like oversight of broadband providers. Former President Obama, his fellow Democrats and consumer activists pushed for the tough regulations. But the move was strongly opposed by Pai and the FCCs other Republican, Michael ORielly, as well as GOP lawmakers and broadband providers. Trump also spoke out against the rules, tweeting in November 2014, Obamas attack on the Internet is another top-down power grab. A federal appeals court upheld the rules last year after a legal challenge from AT&T Inc., other telecom companies and industry trade groups. But in a Dec. 7 speech to the Free State Foundation, a free-market think tank, Pai said he was more confident than ever that the days are numbered for the net neutrality regulations. Craig Aaron, president of Free Press, a digital rights group, said Pai looks out for the corporate interests he used to represent in the private sector. Millions of Americans from across the political spectrum have looked to the FCC to protect their rights to connect and communicate and cheered decisions like the historic net neutrality ruling, and Pai threatens to undo all of that important work, Aaron said. Those millions will rise up again to oppose his reactionary agenda. Removing the net neutrality regulations could take a while as the FCC probably would have to go through a formal rule-making process. We made a decision on the record. The court supported that decision rather convincingly, Wheeler said in an interview this week. I think its going to be difficult to just waltz in and say, Were going to overturn everything. Trump met with Pai at Trump Tower last week, fueling speculation that the new president would choose him to lead the agency. The five-member commission has two vacancies after the departures of Wheeler and Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel. jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com Follow @JimPuzzanghera on Twitter ALSO Trump has vowed to slash regulations. Where he might start and the hurdles he faces Trump hammered the Federal Reserve as a candidate. As president, he could quickly reshape it Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief says Trump wont change his agencys aggressive efforts Steven Sugarman, who built Banc of California into a prominent regional lender, resigned as chief executive and chairman Monday the same day the Irvine bank announced it is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The bank offered no explanation for Sugarmans resignation, but the move and the SEC investigation could be continued fallout from questions about connections between bank insiders and a convicted fraudster. The bank said it has received a formal investigative order and a subpoena from the SEC. It said the agency is demanding information related to an October press release that laid out a response to a bloggers allegations that the bank was connected to and possibly controlled by Jason Galanis, an L.A. financier who pleaded guilty to securities fraud charges over the summer. Advertisement In the Oct. 18 release, the bank reported that members of its board of directors had hired a law firm to conduct an independent investigation of the bloggers allegations. But the bank on Monday acknowledged that release was inaccurate and that the investigation had been initiated and overseen by the banks management, not its board. The bank also noted that the Oct. 18 release did not disclose that the law firm hired to conduct that investigation had previously represented the bank and Sugarman himself facts noted in a Nov. 1 article by the Los Angeles Times as well as by PL Capital, a major Banc of California shareholder that urged that bank to hire a firm with no ties to the institution. The bank later hired an outside firm, WilmerHale to conduct an investigation into the bloggers claims. That investigation is almost complete and has found no evidence that the bank broke any laws or that Galanis had any control over the bank, according to the banks Monday news release. Sugarman, through a spokesman, declined to comment beyond his statements in a company press release in which he said he was proud of the banks growth over the past several years. He had been a board member since 2010 and chief executive since 2012. During his tenure, Banc of California acquired a handful of banks and grew its assets from about $1 billion to more than $11 billion. As the bank grew, Sugarman sought to raise its profile, including through a stadium naming-rights deal with the Los Angeles Football Club. The MLS expansion team is part owned by Sugarmans brother, Jason, and is building an Exposition Park venue. A team spokeswoman said the club does not intend to withdraw from the naming rights deal, which was reportedly worth $100 million. The bank also signed a sponsorship deal with USC athletics and hired former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as a consultant. The bank has started a search for a new chief executive and named Hugh Boyle, its chief risk officer, interim CEO. Robert D. Sznewajs, a Banc of California board member who took over the chairmanship Monday, was not immediately available for comment, a spokesman said. Shares of the bank closed at $14.65 Monday, down more than 9% from Fridays close. Timur Braziler, an analyst at Wells Fargo Securities, said Sugarmans resignation is not surprising, seeing it as a way for the bank to attempt to distance itself from any allegations of impropriety. Whenever theres a reputation risk, the easiest thing to do is to eliminate the primary person causing the risk in this case, Sugarman, Braziler said. At issue are connections between Galanis and bank insiders including board member Chad Brownstein and Sugarmans brother Jason, who not only is a part-owner of the MLS team but was an adviser to the bank. In October, an anonymous blogger and short-seller posted a lengthy article on financial blog Seeking Alpha alleging that Galanis might have secretly gained control of Banc of California. The bank rejected that claim, and PL Capitals Richard Lashley wrote in a letter that he did not believe Galanis controlled the bank. But Lashley also noted that there appears to be a significant amount of interconnectedness between bank insiders and entities named in various fraud cases brought against Galanis. In 2015, the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice filed civil and criminal fraud charges against Galanis, his father John Galanis and others, accusing them of manipulating the stock of publicly traded insurer Gerova Financial. Galanis and his father pleaded guilty to the criminal charges last summer. The SEC alleged that some of the gains from that scheme were transferred to firms owned, controlled or associated with Galanis, including mining company Prospect Global Resources Inc. Brownstein, a Banc of California board member, was an investor and board member at that company. In 2014, real estate firm Stillwater claimed in a bankruptcy case that Gerova and another firm bilked it out of numerous real estate holdings, and that a firm run by Jason Sugarman was one of the entities that benefited. Jason Sugarman and his firm, Camden Real Estate Opportunity Fund I LLC, settled with Stillwater last year. In its statement Monday, the bank said the SECs investigative order is focused on some of the same issues that are the subject of the internal investigation now being completed by WilmerHale. The agencys subpoena, however, sought documents related primarily to the banks Oct. 18 press release, according to the banks statement. That could indicate that the agencys investigation is focused on whether the bank misled investors. The bank said it expects WilmerHale to make a final report on its investigation in the coming weeks, but Braziler said the SEC investigation will likely take much longer. I think theyre going to get into the nitty gritty, he said. Its not going to be a quick process. It may go well into next year. The SEC declined to comment. james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren UPDATES: 5:00 p.m.: This article was updated with a comments from Wells Fargo Securities analyst Timur Braziler and the Los Angeles Football Club. 3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with information about Steven Sugarmans tenure at Banc of California, bank insiders alleged connections to Jason Galanis and Galanis legal history. 1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Banc of California CEO Steven Sugarman on his resignation. This article was originally published at 1:15 p.m. Ukraine becomes second in imports of Georgian wine in 2016 Ukraine in 2016 imported around 5.8 million bottles of Georgian wine, and this was over 70% more than in 2015. Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikheil Ukleba said at a meeting of the Tourism Press Club of Ukraine that thanks to this figure Ukraine was second in imports of Georgian wine after Russia being ahead of China in 2016. In general, imports of goods from Georgia to Ukraine totaled $72 million in 2016, and this was 24% more than in 2015, Ukleba said. "Exports of goods from Ukraine unfortunately slightly fell," the ambassador said. Ukleba said that growth of imports of citrus fruit by Ukraine from Georgia was seen. Marina Zenovich holds up a glass and looks hard at the clear liquid inside. Water is right there, we see it every day. Its something we all need, but we dont necessarily know where it comes from. Rory Kennedy looks out a window at a snowy mountain and talks about seeing Laird Hamilton surf these avalanches of water. It was really incredible, there is some awe and wonder that I will admit to. California may be the Golden State, but given how important water is both to our survival living in a desert and to our image as home to surfer culture, maybe the Aqua State would be a more fitting name. Advertisement In one of those only-in-Sundance coincidences, two excellent documentaries dealing with different aspects of that essential liquid are debuting here: Zenovichs Water & Power: A California Heist, a scalding investigation of the politics of water, and Kennedys Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton, a compelling look at the remarkable achievements and unbending personality of a legendary surfing innovator. In another coincidence, both documentaries are departures from their directors usual focuses. Kennedy (Last Days in Vietnam, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib) smiles and says most would agree that this is an unusual pairing to say the least for a filmmaker whose passion is pretty hard-hitting documentaries about social issues, paying attention to people who dont have a voice. This was not that. Zenovich, best known for Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired and Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic, grins as well when she jokes maybe Rory should have made my movie and I should have made hers. Yet not only do both documentaries turn out exceptionally well, both have factors that connect to the filmmakers life and work in an essential way. Zenovich for her part says I make films about difficult men, which includes the water barons who are at the heart of her investigation into a situation so suspicious that when executive producer Alex Gibney pitched it to her he called it Chinatown, the Documentary. More than that, Zenovich turns out to have a strong connection to both politics and Californias Central Valley, the documentarys ground zero. Not only was she born and raised in Fresno, her father, George N. Zenovich, represented the area in both the states Assembly and Senate and now has a courthouse in the city named after him. As a kid I went to Sacramento every other summer, she remembers. I know how the sausage is made. Though she started out knowing nothing about California water issues, Zenovich quickly got up to speed while investigating why people in places like East Porterville in Tulare County have no water they can drink while wealthy agricultural interests have all they need to grow high-profit, water-intensive crops. The answer, she found, was in a little-known 1994 agreement called the Monterey Amendments, negotiated under the radar, which resulted in private companies having control over a big chunk of Californias water, a situation that infuriates Zenovich for more than one reason. Director Maria Zenovich, from the film Water & Power: A California Heist. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times ) How did it happen that this precious resource, which should have been kept for the people, has been privatized? she asks. And it happened behind closed doors, there should have been transparency and there wasnt. No one wants to tell you about it, no one is shouting it from the mountaintops. I wanted to tell the story of greed and the little guy. Never underestimate the power of greed, water attorney Tony Rossman told me. If youre not a greedy person you dont really comprehend. Like Zenovich, Kennedy did not originate the idea for her documentary; it was the brainchild of producer Paul Speaker. Honestly, initially I said no, she remembers. With the world falling apart, why would I be doing a film about a surfer? But to her surprise, Kennedy found I couldnt let go of it. The challenge was to come to terms with the fact that I was making a surf film. I had to give myself permission to do that. But just as Hamilton is hardly the average surfer, Take Every Wave has little in common with the standard surfing movie. A visionary pioneer in both tow-in, big-wave surfing and foil boarding, someone who never took part in competitions because he was hungry for pure experience, Hamilton has had some spectacular ocean rides, and Take Every Wave has the dazzling archival footage to prove it. But Kennedy has seen to it that the film is first and foremost an exploration of Hamiltons dynamic, contrarian personality as revealed through conversations with the man himself, his oldest friends (even those he is estranged from) and his wife, world-class volleyball player Gabrielle Reece. Laird doesnt really sit, and I needed 12 hours of sit-down interviews, Kennedy says. But the thing about him that is amazing is that when hes uncomfortable he dives in. Just like in surfing, if he is fearful or scared in a situation, thats where he goes. What Kennedy saw in Hamilton, what she finally felt was of value exploring, was a person pushing his own limits, what happens in that space. Laird is someone who really followed his dream, who made his life what it is today. But there is a cost to being spectacular at what you do. Laird is not easy hes a hero but a flawed hero. Hes always kept going because he still had work to do. What does it take to create a Sundance Film Festival sensation? The alchemy depends on such a specific and unpredictable combination of factors the buzz, the talent, the mood of the industry and, yes, the quality of the movie that its a fools errand to try to replicate them. That hasnt stopped any number of filmmakers from attempting to make the next Little Miss Sunshine, the next Precious, the next Beasts of the Southern Wild. Nor has it kept the journalists and buyers in attendance from trying to lay claim to the same discoveries. This years festival has produced a rare reversal of this phenomenon: No film here wants to be the next The Birth of a Nation. Writer-director-star Nate Parkers powerful, problematic slave drama drew a rapturous reception at last years Sundance (full disclosure: I was a contributor to that reception), where it was lauded as a breakthrough for an industry still reeling from the #OscarSoWhite controversy. It opened months later to more mixed reviews and intense controversy over the rape accusations leveled against Parker during his college days. This years festival-goers will almost certainly be more cautious about anointing a new favorite. Still, that didnt keep a tide of critical hosannas and wretchedly premature Oscar predictions from streaming out of Saturday nights Premieres screening of Mudbound, an ambitious, superbly acted epic of racial discord from the director Dee Rees, whose accomplished feature debut, Pariah, screened at Sundance in 2011. Advertisement FULL COVERAGE: Sundance 2017 Adapted from Hillary Jordans novel, Mudbound sketches a vivid, dirt-under-the-nails panorama of 1940s Mississippi farm country, centered on the tightly bound interactions between a white couple, the McAllans (Jason Clarke and Carey Mulligan), and the Jacksons, a family of black sharecroppers (played by actors including Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan and Jason Mitchell) who work on their farmland. Rees intersperses the voice-overs of multiple characters throughout, a technique that takes some getting used to. But it also pays off with a richly nuanced understanding of the sheer pervasiveness and variety of racist attitudes in the Jim Crow era. However it fares from here, critically and commercially, Mudbound will not be this years The Birth of a Nation a reductive comparison that says more about the dearth of black stories told by black filmmakers than it does about either movie. As in The Birth of a Nation, the anger surging beneath Mudbound is palpable, but if Rees film is a richer achievement than Parkers, its because she knows how to modulate and complicate that anger. The chief complication here is World War II, and if theres something schematic about the way Rees cuts between Jamie McAllan (Garrett Hedlund) and Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell) serving their country abroad, her point could hardly be more bracing: In a world where not all men are deemed equal, war is the great equalizer. So, too, is post-traumatic stress disorder an affliction that, as both Ronsel and Jamie can attest, is entirely colorblind. The toll of war on the male psyche also figures heavily in The Yellow Birds, a somber, harrowing Iraq War drama that premiered Saturday in the festivals U.S. dramatic competition. While there are innumerable echoes here of American war films, from Full Metal Jacket to The Hurt Locker and The Messenger, perhaps the most direct analogue here is Paul Haggis In the Valley of Elah, which used a soldiers sudden disappearance to deliver a withering assessment of Americas motivations for invading Iraq in the first place. 1 / 193 John Lithgow and Salma Hayek from the film Beatriz at Dinner. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 193 Director and actress Michelle Morgan from the film L.A. Times. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 193 Director Dan Sickles, left, director Antonio Santini and director of photography Adam Uhl from the film Dina. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 193 Director of photography Adam Uhl from the film Dina. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 193 Director Danny Strong, left, actor Nicholas Hoult and actress Zoey Deutch from the film Rebel in the Rye. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 193 Actress Lois Smith from the film Marjorie Prime. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 193 Actor Jon Hamm from the film Marjorie Prime. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 193 Actor Mark Hamill from the film Brigsby Bear. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 193 Actor Nick Offerman from the film The Hero. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 193 Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film, XX. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 193 Actress India Menuez from the Amazon series I Love Dick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 193 Actress Laura Prepon from the film The Hero. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 193 Actor Sam Elliott from the film The Hero. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 193 Director Annie Clark (also known as the musician, St. Vincent) from the film XX. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 193 Director Joshua Z. Weinstein, left, and Menashe Lustig from Menashe at the Sundance Film Festial in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 23. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 193 Actress Zoe Chao, left, co-director Celia Rowlson-Hall, co-director Mia Lidofsky and actress Meredith Hagne from the television movie Strangers. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 193 Actor Martin Donovan, left, actress Julia Ordmond, director Mark Palansky and actor Peter Dinklage from the film Rememory. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 193 Actress Madeline Weinstein from the film Beach Rats. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 193 Ryan Horrigan, left, Paul Raphael, Felix Jajeunesse and Sebastian Sylvan from the film Miyubi. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 193 Actor Harris Dickinson from the film Beach Rats. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 193 Director Eliza Hittman from Beach Rats. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 193 Actresses Nefessa Williams, left, Adriyan Rae, Steve Harris, Seryah and Imani Hakim from the film Burning Sands. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 193 Actor Jon Daly, left, director Janicza Bravo, actress Judy Greer, actress Shiri Appelby and actor Brett Gelman of Lemon. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 193 Director Julia Ducournau from the film Raw. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 193 Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, director Cory Finley and actress Olivia Cooke from the film Thoroughbred. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 193 Director Matt Heineman, second from right, and citizen journalists Mohamad Almusari, left, Hamoud Almousa and Abdalaziz from the documentary film City of Ghosts. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 193 Subjects Raj Majethia and Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film The Mars Generation. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 193 Subject Raj Majethia, left, director Michael Barnett and subject Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film The Mars Generation. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 193 Actor Adam Horowitz, left, actress Emily Browning, director Alex Ross Perry and actress Analeigh Tipton from the film Golden Exits. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 193 Director Wally Wolodarsky, left, actor Jack Black, actress Jenny Slate, director Maya Forbes, actress Jacki Weaver and actor Willie Garson from the film The Polka King. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 193 Director Rory Kennedy and surfer Laird Hamilton, from the documentary film Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 193 Actress Julia Jones from the film Wind River. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 193 Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film Wind River. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 193 Director Kogonada from the film Columbus. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 193 Actor Rory Culkin, left, actor John Cho, actress Michelle Forbes, actress Haley Lu Richardson and actor Parker Posey from the film, Columbus. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 193 Director Taylor Sheridan from the film Wind River. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 193 Actress Gigi Gorgeous and director Barbara Kopple from the film This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 193 Actress Gigi Gorgeous, from This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 193 Executive Producer Danny Glover, left, and director Yance Ford from the documentary film Strong Island. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 193 Actor Sam Elliott, left, actor Nick Offerman, director Brett Haley, actress Katharine Ross and actress Laura Prepon from the film The Hero. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 193 Co-Executive Producer Sarah Gubbins, left, actor Griffin Dunne, actress India Menuez (kneeling), actress Roberta Colindrez, actor Kevin Bacon, director Jill Soloway, actress Kathryn Hahn and Lily Mojekwu from the Amazon series I Love Dick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 193 Actress Kathryn Hahn, actress Roberta Colindrez and director Jill Soloway from the Amazon series I Love Dick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 193 Actor Jason Isaacs and Crash from the film Red Dog: True Blue. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 193 Actor Sasheer Zamata, director Sydney Freeland, actress Danielle Nicolet, actor David Sullivan, actress Rachel Crow and actress Ashleigh Murray, from the film Diedra and Laney Rob a Train. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 193 Actor Daniel Houck and director Stefan Avalos from the documentary film Strad Style. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 193 Actor Jeremy Renner from the film Wind River,. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 193 Director/actor Zoe Lister-Jones from the film Band Aid. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 193 Actress Chloe Sevigny from the film Golden Exits. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 193 Actor Jack Black from the film The Polka King. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 193 Surfer Laird Hamilton, subject of the documentary film Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 193 Actress Julia Jones from the film Wind River. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 193 Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film Wind River. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 193 Actress America Ferrera from the new Web series Gente-fied. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 193 Director Miguel Arteta from the film Beatriz at Dinner. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 193 Actress Connie Britton from the film Beatriz at Dinner. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 193 Actress Salma Hayek from the film Beatriz at Dinner. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 193 Actor Jay Duplass jumps behind writer-director Gillian Robespierre, actress Jenny Slate, actress Edie Falco and actress Abby Quinn from the film Landline. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 193 Actor Blake Jenner, actor Logan Lerman, actress Elle Fanning and actress Michelle Monaghan from the film Sidney Hall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 193 Actress Natalie Paul, left, actor Lakeith Stanfield, screenwriter Matt Ruskin and actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film Crown Heights. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 193 Actress Judy Greer, left, actor Woody Harrelson and actress Laura Dein, from the film Wilson. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 193 Actress Isabella Amara, from the film Wilson. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 193 Actor Josh OConnor, left, director Francis Lee and actor Alec Secareanu, from the film Gods Own Country. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 193 Jaque Fragua, director Michelle Latimer, center, and Sarain Carson-Fox, from the documentary film Rise. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 64 / 193 Director Amir Bar-Lev, left, Steve Parrish and Trixie Garcia, from the documentary film Long Strange Trip. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 193 Actress Connie Britton, from the film Beatriz at Dinner. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 193 Actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film Crown Heights. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 193 Director Andrew Dosunmu from the film Where Is Kyra. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 193 Actor John Lithgow, from the film Beatriz at Dinner. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 193 Director Shawn Christensen from the film Sidney Hall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 193 Actor Garrett Hedlund, director Dee Rees, actor Rob Morgan, musician Mary J. Blige, and actress Cary Mulligan from the film Mudbound. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 193 Geremy Jasper, director and writer of the film Patti Cake$. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 193 Actress Danielle Macdonald from the film Patti Cake$. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 193 Actress Laia Costa from the film Newness. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 193 Actor Mamoudou Athie from the film Patti Cake$. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 193 Actor Nicholas Hoult from the film Newness. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 193 Actor Siddharth Dhananjay from the film Patti Cake$. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 193 Actor Mamoudou Athie, left, actress Cathy Moriarty, actor Siddharth Dhananjay, director-writer Geremy Jasper, actress Bridget Everett and actress Danielle Macdonald from the film Patti Cake$. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 193 Director Evgeny Afineevsky and subject Kholoud Helmi from the HBO documentary film Cries From Syria. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 193 Subject Marli Renfro and director Alexandre O. Philippe from the documentary film 78/52. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 193 Actress Cathy Moriarty from the film Patti Cake$. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 193 Actress Bridget Everett from the film Patti Cake$. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 82 / 193 Actor Nicholas Hoult and director Drake Doremus from the film Newness. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 83 / 193 Ben York Jones, screenwriter of the film Newness. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 84 / 193 Actress Aisha Tyler, who participated in the Womens March through Park City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 85 / 193 Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer, and Ronna Gradus of the film, Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 86 / 193 Co-writer Justin Lader, Director Charlie McDowell, and Alex Orlovsky of the film, The Discovery. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 87 / 193 Actor David So of the film, Gook. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 88 / 193 Actress Hania Amar of the film The Nile Hilton Incident. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 89 / 193 Actor Fares Fares of the film The Nile Hilton Incident. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 90 / 193 Director Tarik Saleh of the film, The Nile Hilton Incident. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 91 / 193 Director Dee Rees of the film Mudbound. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 92 / 193 Director Jim Strouse of the film The Incredible Jessica James. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 93 / 193 Actor Tye Sheridan of the film, Yellow Birds. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 94 / 193 Actress Pom Klementieff of the film, Ingrid Goes West and Newness. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 95 / 193 Actor Jack Huston of the film, Yellow Birds. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 96 / 193 Director Matt Spicer of the film Ingrid Goes West. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 97 / 193 Directors Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott of the film, Bushwick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 98 / 193 Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer and Director Helene Hegemann of the film Axolotl Overkil. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 99 / 193 Co-Director Sabbah Folyan, Kayla Reed, Tef Poe, Co-director Damon Davis of the documentary film, Whose Streets. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 100 / 193 Actress Elizabeth Arjok, actor Fares Fares, director Tarik Saleh, actress Hania Amar, and actress Mari Malek of the film, The Nile Hilton Incident. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 101 / 193 Roxanne Shante, and actress Nia Long of the film Roxanne, Roxanne. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 102 / 193 Actor Michael Larnell, actress Chante Adams, Roxanne Shante, actor Elvis Nolasco, and actress Nia Long of the film Roxanne, Roxanne. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 103 / 193 Director Morgan Neville, Cristoph Neimann, Tinker Hatfield, and Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, Abstract: Art of Design. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 104 / 193 Cristoph Neimann of the Netflix series, Abstract: Art of Design. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 105 / 193 Director Morgan Neville of the Netflix series, Abstract: Art of Design. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 106 / 193 Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, Abstract: Art of Design. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 107 / 193 Actress Omono Okojie of the film Gook. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 108 / 193 Actor Curtiss Cook Jr., and actress Simone Baker of the film Gook. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 109 / 193 Actress Brittny Snow and actor Dave Bautista of the film, Bushwick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 110 / 193 Director Austin Peter of the documentary film Give Me Future. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 111 / 193 Actress Cary Mulligan of the film Mudbound. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 112 / 193 Director and actor Justin Chon of the film, Gook. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 113 / 193 Director Lone Scherfig of the film Their Finest. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 114 / 193 Actress Pom Klementieff of the film Ingrid Goes West. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 115 / 193 Director Alexandre Moors of the film, Yellow Birds. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 116 / 193 Actor OShea Jackson Jr., actress Aubrey Plaza, director Matt Spicer, and actress Pom Klementieff of the film Ingrid Goes West. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 117 / 193 Richard Vevers, Director Jeff Orlowski and Zackery Rago of he film, Chasing Coral. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 118 / 193 Actress Chelsea Handler. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 119 / 193 Director Austin Peters, musician Jillionare, and singer/songwriter Diplo, of the documentary film Give Me Future. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 120 / 193 Singer/songwriter Diplo, Thomas Wesley Pentz of the documentary film Give Me Future. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 121 / 193 Musician Jillionaire of the documentary film Give Me Future. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 122 / 193 Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film The Incredible Jessica James. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 123 / 193 Actor Chris ODowd of the film The Incredible Jessica James. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 124 / 193 Actress Jessica Williams of the film The Incredible Jessica James. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 125 / 193 Actress Aubrey Plaza of the film, Ingrid Goes West. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 126 / 193 Actor OShea Jackson Jr. of the film Ingrid Goes West. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 127 / 193 Actress Jessica Williams of the film The Incredible Jessica James. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 128 / 193 Actress Mari Malek of the film The Nile Hilton Incident. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 129 / 193 Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film Axolotl Overkil. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 130 / 193 Executive Producer Tim Robbins and his son, Director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 131 / 193 Actor Michael Larnell of the film Roxanne, Roxanne. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 132 / 193 Actor Garrett Hedlund of the film Mudbound. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 133 / 193 Executive Producers Christopher Cohen, Sean Hayes, Mark Herzog (kneeling) and Todd Milliner of the CNN series, History of Comedy. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 134 / 193 Executive Producer Sean Hayes of the television series, History of Comedy. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 135 / 193 Actress Melanie Lynskey of the film, I Dont Feel at Home in This World Anymore. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 136 / 193 Actress Nia Long of the film Roxanne, Roxanne. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 137 / 193 Actress Simone Baker of the film, Gook. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 138 / 193 Actress Elizabeth Arjok of the film, The Nile Hilton Incident. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 139 / 193 Roxanne Shante of the film Roxanne, Roxanne. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 140 / 193 Actor Elvis Nolasco of the film Roxanne, Roxanne. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 141 / 193 Jack Henry Robbins, from the short, Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 142 / 193 Actress Mari Malek of the film The Nile Hilton Incident. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 143 / 193 Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film Axolotl Overkil. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 144 / 193 Actress Maya Stange, director Damien Power and actor Aaron Glenna from the film Killing Ground. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 145 / 193 Actress Tavi Gevinson with the film Person to Person. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 146 / 193 Dolores Huerta from the documentary Dolores. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 147 / 193 Director (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 148 / 193 Actor Jorma Taccone from the film L.A. Times. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 149 / 193 Actor Aaron Glenane from the film Killing Ground. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 150 / 193 Actress Kate Micucci with the film The Little Hours. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 151 / 193 Dree Hemingway with the film L.A. Times. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 152 / 193 Directors Andrew Smith and Alex Smith with the film Walking Out. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 153 / 193 Actress Molly Shannon from the film The Little Hours. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 154 / 193 Actor Jason Ritter with the film Bitch. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 155 / 193 Lauren Weedman, actor Jon Gabrus, actress Kate Micucci, director Jeff Baena, actress Alison Brie, actor Dave Franco, Adam Pally and actress Molly Shannon with the film The Little Hours. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 156 / 193 Actor Dave Franco with the film The Little Hours. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 157 / 193 Actress/director Michelle Morgan and actors Jorma Taccone and Dree Hemingway from the film L.A. Times. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 158 / 193 Director Marina Zenovich of the film Water and Power. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 159 / 193 Actress Abbi Jacobson with the film Person to Person. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 160 / 193 Actress Florence Pugh and director William Oldroyd from the film Lady MacBeth. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 161 / 193 Producer Ryland Aldrich, from the film L.A. Times. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 162 / 193 Actress Maya Stange with the film Killing Ground. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 163 / 193 Front: Actors Kingston Foster and Jason Maybaum; back: actors Rio Mangini Jason Ritter and Brighton Sharbino from the film Bitch. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 164 / 193 Actress Kingston Foster, director Marianna Palka, actress Brighton Sharbino, actor Rio Mangini, actor Jason Ritter, actor Jason Maybaum, actress Jaime King and actor Zac Clark with the film Bitch. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 165 / 193 Director Marianna Palka with the film Bitch. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 166 / 193 Actress Brighton Sharbino mingles with the rest of the cast of the film Bitch. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 167 / 193 Director Amanda Lipitz, center, and step team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary Step. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 168 / 193 Directors Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen with the film Follow Up to An Inconvenient Truth. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 169 / 193 Producer Carlos Santana with the film Dolores. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 170 / 193 Team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary Step. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 171 / 193 Director Kristen Stewart and actor Josh Kaye with the film Come Swim. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 172 / 193 Actress Zoe Kazan with the film The Big Sick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 173 / 193 Joshua Wong and director Joe Piscatella with the documentary Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 174 / 193 From left, producer Barry Mendel, actress Holly Hunter, director Michael Showalter, actress Zoe Karan, writer Emily V. Gordon, writer Kumail Nanjiani, and producer Judd Apatow with the film The Big Sick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 175 / 193 Husband and wife co-writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon from The Big Sick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 176 / 193 Consulting Producer Benjamin Bratt of the film Dolores. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 177 / 193 Director Kristen Stewart of the film Come Swim. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 178 / 193 Actress Holly Hunter with the film The Big Sick. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 179 / 193 Actor Logan Miller, actress Cynthy Wu, director Ry-Russo Young and actresses Zoey Deutch, Elena Kampouris, Medalion Rahimi and Jennifer Beals, from the film Before I Fall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 180 / 193 Actress Zoey Deutch, from the film Before I Fall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 181 / 193 Actress Medalion Rahimi, from the film Before I Fall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 182 / 193 Actress Elena Kampouris, from the film Before I Fall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 183 / 193 Actress Jennifer Beals, from the film Before I Fall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 184 / 193 Actress Cynthy Wu, from the film Before I Fall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 185 / 193 Actor Logan Miller, from Before I Fall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 186 / 193 Actor Miles Fischer, from the television show Playdates. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 187 / 193 Composer Dan Romer, from the films The Little Hours and Chasing Coral. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 188 / 193 Director Jamie Greenberg, whos at Sundance with the film Future 38. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 189 / 193 Directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau, with the documentary Trophy. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 190 / 193 Peter Nicks director of the documentary film The Force. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 191 / 193 Composer Dan Romer, attending Sundance with the films The Little Hours and Chasing Coral. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 192 / 193 Actors Paul Scheer and Carla Gallo, from the television show Playdates. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 193 / 193 Actors Paul Scheer, left, Carla Gallo and Miles Fisher, from the television show Playdates. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Although not as politically charged as Elah, The Yellow Birds also takes the form of a detective story, albeit one in which the mystery is as drearily protracted as it is ultimately unpersuasive. A soldier named Daniel Murphy (Tye Sheridan) has gone missing in Iraq, to the despair of his mother (Jennifer Aniston, who also served as executive producer). Only Brandon Bartle (a fine Alden Ehrenreich), Daniels closest Army buddy and the movies protagonist, knows what really happened. He reveals it in a series of sluggish, calculated flashbacks that are meant to explain Brandons own hopeless descent into PTSD, but instead wind up stalling the movies momentum. The Yellow Birds is the latest feature directed by the French filmmaker Alexandre Moors, whose superior debut, Blue Caprice, screened in Sundances Next section several years ago. In both films he displays an artful eye and a keen fascination with process, showing how a seemingly ordinary chain of events can precipitate terrible acts of violence. What worked so harrowingly well in his first film causes him to falter in his second: a principled urge to explain the inexplicable. justin.chang@latimes.com | Twitter: @JustinCChang Theres a scene in The Founder, the new film about how Ray Kroc established the McDonalds fast-food empire, during which Kroc explains his business philosophy. Business is war, he says. Its dog eat dog, rat eat rat. If my competitor were drowning, Id walk over and put a hose right in his mouth. Although that sounds harsh, the film doesnt really make Kroc played by Michael Keaton look like the poster child for rapacious, uncaring capitalism. The Founder is actually a rather nuanced look at how Kroc recognized the brilliance of the fast-food concept established by the McDonald brothers of San Bernardino, went into the franchise business with them and, dissatisfied with the partnership, essentially stole the business out from under them legally. Theres this dichotomy that hes a visionary and a leech, says Robert D. Siegel, who wrote the screenplay for director John Lee Hancocks film. Is he a genius, or mooching off someone elses genius? You can say he didnt have an original thought, but he had the idea to go big. What he wanted to do with McDonalds was as revolutionary as the brothers idea in changing the way food is produced. Advertisement The Founder is the latest example of how business people and business in general have been portrayed in the movies. And from Citizen Kane to Wall Street, Margin Call to Steve Jobs, it has not, for the most part, been a pretty picture. Its a mixed bag, but more on the negative side, says Josh Eliashberg, a professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business. You hear a lot of negative views in the media Enron, BP, VW, all sorts of scandals, so people associate big business with something negative. The portrayal is often quite precise and pointed, adds Jennifer Chatman, who teaches at UC Berkeleys Haas School of Business. The attributes that are familiar to us are a kind of self-interest, a drive for wealth, a questionable ethical stance and a willingness to sacrifice values for financial gain. Most Hollywood depictions of business leaders, and this is particularly true of women leaders, are fairly intense and not flattering. Its not that Hollywood creative types are out to tear down the capitalist system; they are, after all, working in a multi-billion dollar, profit-driven industry. Its just that in their search for a good story, the kind that will attract audiences, tales of driven, often unlikable, individuals are simply deemed more dramatic and filmable. People are interested in story, says Glenn Williamson, co-head of the producers program at UCLAs School of Theater, TV and Film. Its all about finding the specific story and world that are cinematic. I dont think theres a blanket disdain for capitalism; it just might be easier to portray ambitious and single-minded people in a negative light. Adds Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine: Theres no movie to make if theres no complex figure, and thats what makes for interesting storytelling. The people who get movieized are the ones who have stark sides to them. Like Charles Foster Kane, the media mogul in Citizen Kane. Or the self-centered visionary and difficult real-life character Steve Jobs. Mr. Greed Is Good Gordon Gekko in Wall Street. And the desperate real estate salesmen in Glengarry Glen Ross. In these and many other cases its the combination of narcissism, greed and a lust for power that attracts filmmakers. And if theres one segment of the business world that seems to combine these traits into one big, filmable bundle almost a genre unto itself it is movies about banking and the financial services industries. Films like The Wolf of Wall Street, The Big Short, Equity, Margin Call, several projects about Bernie Madoff, and many more, are catnip for filmmakers. The financial markets are such an easy target, says Chatman. Its so obvious that the main goal is making money; its the epitome of the business orientation. And we have seen the most abuse and unseemly behavior in the financial services industry; there are a lot of stories there. Entrepreneur Magazines Feifer also feels that the tobacco (The Insider, Thank You for Smoking) and oil industries (There Will Be Blood, Giant) along with Wall Street, are prime topics for film treatment because they are businesses that operate with some level of secrecy, and industries that feel untouchable and have access to levers of power, which makes them easy villains. It all depends on how easy it is to humanize or dehumanize a business. What this all means is that when it comes to positive business portrayals, it is the individual entrepreneur or business owner who is easiest to empathize with. Think Joy, the story of the New York housewife who invented a revolutionary new mop. Or the 1988 film Tucker: The Man and His Dream, about a man who took on the Big Three auto giants. Its a Wonderful Life, whose George Bailey, the altruistic head of a family-owned, small-town building and loan, is probably the most sympathetic portrayal of a banker ever filmed. A small person starting a business, starting something from nothing, thats more accessible, says UCLAs Williamson. As a country we celebrate small business, and its easier to root for someone in that context. Conflict has to come from somewhere, adds Feifer. If youre really big and successful, that conflict has to be internal. If you are an entrepreneur, the conflict can be external, because you are going up against a difficult world, and people want to root for you. And thats what the audience wants, they want to root for the underdog. So just as its not necessary to be a self-centered jerk to be successful in business, ruthlessness is not an essential element of the business movie genre. But it sure doesnt hurt. The stereotype of the business vantage point, this is the version Hollywood has focused on, says Chatman. CEOs are more likely to be high on narcissism, they are more apt to be self-interested, but thats not the whole story. The idea these are only self-interested folks is a bit shortsighted. And yet, adds The Founders Siegel, The essence of any movie is drama. If there are wonderful businessmen who are not polarizing and difficult, they wouldnt make a good movie subject. [Business] attracts a certain type of person, and to succeed you have to make fairly ruthless, cold decisions a lot of the time. It practically demands that personality type. calendar@latimes.com CBS and the Television Academy announced Monday that The Late Show host Stephen Colbert will host the 69th Emmy Awards this fall. Colbert was an Emmy winner himself for his work on his Comedy Central series The Colbert Report. The announcement continues a run of TV late night hosts acting as award show masters of ceremony. Last years Emmy Awards, which aired on ABC, were hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and Kimmel will host the Academy Awards next month. Jimmy Fallon, of NBCs Tonight Show, hosted the Golden Globes earlier this month. Advertisement Stephen is the ultimate master of ceremonies with award-winning creative talents, and as weve seen the past few months, he has a fearless passion for live television, said CBS Jack Sussman in a statement. We look forward to honoring televisions best while entertaining audiences with the creative energy and sharp comedy of Stephen Colbert. Colbert also hosted the 39th Kennedy Center honors on CBS last year, along with a live election night special on the networks premium cable sibling Showtime, a show that ended up offering more consolation to supporters of Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton than in-the-moment comedy. The news of Colberts gig may also point to a continued exploration of political topics during awards telecasts. Last years Emmys found Kimmel making numerous jokes at the expense of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, and this years Golden Globes featured pointed commentary from Meryl Streep as she accepted the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.s Cecil Be. DeMille Award . Colbert has been a frequent critic of Trump. This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period. Both in person and around the globe, Colbert said in the same statement, which offered a hint of the same assured satire of the pundit Stephen Colbert character on The Colbert Report. The Emmys are scheduled to air live from the Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17. Nominations for this years awards will be revealed July 13. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour chris.barton@latimes.com Follow me over here @chrisbarton. ALSO: Charles Lloyd greets Trumps inauguration with cover of Masters of War Miguel Ferrer, star of RoboCop, NCIS: Los Angeles and Twin Peaks, dies at 61 Overrated/Underrated: Sherlock stuck around too long; Brian Eno offers calm in a storm Airbnb hit the nail on the experiential head with its recently launched Trips platform and, in doing so, shines a spotlight on some of Los Angeles indie fashion community. The company, known for its app that connects travelers with lodging, in November launched Trips as it seeks to broaden its reach beyond being the intermediary between tourists and homeowners and now a place to facilitate and recommend local activities and places to go for travelers and locals alike. Trips is also eventually expected to add flights and other services to its platform. In Los Angeles, that means teaming with designers Jill Aiko Yee of her namesake clothing line and Jordana Howard of Echo + Air on a weekend offering, named The Cutting Edge. The programming provides a deep dive into different facets of the local fashion industry. The two-day experience is being offered through mid-March. Advertisement The main thing that Jordana and I want to do is welcome people to the fashion design process and let them know its really thriving and growing, Yee said. We just think for fashion in Los Angeles to grow, we need to put a face to it. We want to help get the word out that theres quality happening in Los Angeles and that theres ethical production here. Airbnb connected with Howard through a crafting event, enlisting her to help develop a tour around her lifestyle and interests. She teamed with Yee, who she has worked with in the past on the Open Saturdays small boutique market held at Yees downtown Los Angeles showroom and various design events. Jordana and I really care about the independent design community thats happening in Los Angeles, Yee said. We think its rich. We wanted to build a program around what was specific to Los Angeles, specific to local production and eco-friendly production. The first day begins with coffee at the Ace Hotel followed by a visit to the fabric showroom of JM International Group, which sells to Rodarte, Monique Lhuillier and St. John among other companies. Thats followed with a visit on the second day to Graham Keegans Silver Lake dye studio. Its a great idea and theyre [Airbnb] expanding obviously and I like the fact that theyre including fashion because thats a big part of the West Coast, said John Marshall of JM International Group. For the fashion people, theyve always considered New York, but really L.A. has a lot of up-and-coming designers and its not a trend. Its something that will continue to grow. The tour caps with visits to the studios of Howard and Yee where participants are walked through each designers lines and theres discussion about what goes into a collection and trend forecasting. Each tour group is small, limited to eight people, with a price tag of $195 per person. Its aimed at aspiring designers or other creatives with an interest in the industry. I love the idea of mentoring people and meeting new people, especially people who are young, aspiring designers, Yee said. This is a great way to give back and meet people and possibly mentor them because you never know what might happen out of meeting someone on the tour. ALSO With her red carpet moment, Minnie Mouse takes that whole polka-dot look to the max L.A. designer Bethany Yellowtail creates a silk scarf for Womens March on Washington Lisa Edelstein on dressing for Girlfriends Guide to Divorce and the Womens March in Washington As the vegan lifestyle merges into the mainstream, fashion designers who appeal to that market strive to grow their business to the next level with venture capital and an organized supply chain. At a panel hosted by PETA on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, designers from Vaute Couture, Delikate Rayne, Nicora Shoes and Susi Studio shared their strategies for sticking to their ethos of eschewing animal-based products while tapping into conventional business practices adopted by the apparel industry. For Vautes Leanne Mai-lay Hilgart and Nicoras Stephanie Nicora, meeting with venture capitalists for their respective Series A funding is a new routine. Susis Bianca Moran is initiating research and development in Pinatex, a leather made of pineapple, to supplement the recycled plastic she uses in her shoes. Until Pinatex is available in a grade appropriate for apparel, Delikate Rayne prefers mushroom leather as a water-repellant and biodegradable alternative to suede. Innovative technology is elevating not only the materials supporting their designs but also their appeal to a mainstream audience, in particular investors. Advertisement You lead with the beautiful product but you lean on the high tech if you want money, said Nicora, who sources recycled textiles for her Los Angeles-made footwear from the same Massachusetts-based factory that sells to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The regular fashion industry is like your grandmas Buick. But this is Tesla. Hilgart, who opened an early round of funding to her customers, aims to attract institutional investors who can fund a factory dedicated to manufacturing her clothes in the Midwest. The New York designer has channeled the potential of vegan fashion, offering swimwear made of fibers from recycled carpets and exploring bridal gowns in satin spun from recycled plastic bottles. Luxury is innovation, she said. Owning stock in 50 companies across various industries, PETA has realized that gaining access to the annual shareholder meetings of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Hermes International, Prada SpA and Lululemon is an effective strategy to push corporations toward animal-friendly practices. Moreover, it has begun pouring resources into studying the global supply chain from a vegan designers perspective. For the first time, it compiled a guide of vegan materials, along with a list of textile vendors such as EcoSimple from Brazil and Sommers Plastic Products in Clifton, N.J., made available to the few dozen attendees at its event, several of whom were fashion design students. PETA plans to round up more designers who use Pinatex and feature them in a runway show highlighting spring 2018 collections at New York Fashion Week next September. As Delikate Rayne cofounder Komi Vora reminded the crowd, You can still be equally fashionable and compassionate at the same time. ALSO PETA seeks to pressure LVMH on using reptile skins for bags, other goods Indie beauty brands make strides on the Golden Globes red carpet Sean Penn and celebrity friends help raise a record $37 million for Haitian relief efforts Storm waves destroy famed cement ship in Northern California Storm-fueled waves in the Monterey Bay this weekend smashed the remains of the Palo Alto, a famed World War I-era vessel dubbed the Cement Ship, which is moored in the town of Aptos, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. According to the National Weather Service, monster surf on Saturday set a new wave height record for Monterey Bay: 34.12 feet. The previous record was 32.8 feet, set in 2008. The Palo Alto, whose stern was connected to a pier at Seacliff State Beach, was no match for the oceans might. The waves snapped the stern section of the ship and flipped it over. Last February, El Nino waves severely fractured the ship, which has been crumbling for years and was already split into several pieces before the massive waves this weekend accelerated its demise. Weve seen very large surf, with very little break in between, and its that repeated beating down by the ocean that seems to be having the biggest effect on the ship this year, Bill Wolcott, a California State Parks public safety superintendent, told ABC 7 News. The Palo Alto was built in 1919 for use as a tanker in World War I, but was not completed in time, according to the Aptos History Museum. It was stripped, then rebuilt to include a ballroom that hosted musicians including Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman and Tommy Dorsey. The ship has been moored at Seacliff Beach since 1930 and has remained a popular tourist attraction for the town. Everybody is running down to check it out, because its a significant change in the way the ship looks after this weekends storm, Aptos History Museum curator John Hibble told ABC 7. The Ukrainian Sea Port Authority took liabilities to carry out dredging works in the project to build a grain terminal by Cargill and the authority will implement them in full amount and in accordance with the project terms. M.V. Cargo LLC said on its Facebook page that Head of the Ukrainian Sea Port Authority Raivis Veckagans gave the information on January 22 during his visit to the construction site of the grain terminal. He said that the successful implementation of the Ukrainian-U.S. project to build the grain terminal with a capacity of 5 million tonnes would become not only the important step in developing infrastructure of the Yuzhny seaport and the port sector in general, but it would also give a signal to large international investors that Ukraine is ready to cooperate and implement similar projects. Representatives of M.V. Cargo said that they support the initiative of the authority's head to have as transparent dialog with representatives of large investors as possible. "The provision of financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the launch of the project before the 2018 grain season depends on transparency of conditions and observation of terms of the tender for dredging works near berth No.25 at Yuzhny port," reads the report. The company said that the tender is to be held in February. Delay of the tender would result in freezing of financing, suspension of construction and lost profit of the Ukrainian Sea Port Authority and the budget due to port dues the authority could receive and the absence of tax payments to the budgets of all levels from the operation of the terminal. U.S. Cargill, the Sea Port Authority of Ukraine and M.V. Cargo in August 2015 signed a trilateral memorandum of intent to implement an investment project at the Yuzhny seaport. Cargill signed an investment agreement with M.V. Cargo LLC operating at the port. The U.S. company decided to invest $100 million in construction of the grain terminal. Authorities have launched a hate crime investigation after a woman shattered half a dozen windows and placed strips of bacon on a door handle of a Davis, Calif., mosque. The vandalism was discovered on Sunday at the Islamic Center of Davis in the 500 block of Russell Boulevard, according to the Davis Police Department. The woman used a device to smash six window panes on the outside of the building and destroy two bicycles, police said. The suspect also placed strips of uncooked bacon on the handle of a door. Advertisement Muslims are prohibited from eating pork products, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley chapter. The council said bigots often use pigs or pork to offend Muslim sensibilities. Surveillance video, according to the council, shows the woman placing the bacon on the door handle. Photographs on the councils Facebook page show bacon resting across the handle. Police said the vandalism occurred between 3:45 and 4 a.m. The council chapter has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. The chapters executive director Basim Elkarra is also calling on the FBI to investigate the incident. We ask state law enforcement authorities and the FBI to investigate the apparent bias motive for this vandalism and to bring the perpetrator to justice, Elkarra said in a statement. The swift apprehension and punishment of those responsible for this act of religious intimidation will send the message that the growing Islamophobia we are witnessing in our nation will not be tolerated or ignored. According to U.S. Department of Justice hate crime statistics, reports of anti-Muslim crimes have increased 9.5 percentage points from 2010 to 2015. Of the 1,354 religious hate crimes reported to the FBI in 2015 the most recent year of reporting available just over 22% targeted Muslims. The majority of religiously motivated hate crimes that year, or just over 51%, were described as being anti-Jewish. The suspect in the Davis mosque incident was described as a white female, between 25 and 35 years old, 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 160 to 180 pounds. She has red and brown wavy hair. The woman was last seen wearing beige high-top shoes, gray or blue tight-fitting pants, an off-white vest and shirt with a unknown logo. She also wore a black hat with a unknown logo. Anyone with details about the vandalism is urged to call police department at (530) 747-5400. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Drenched: How L.A. went from bone-dry to 216% above average rainfall in four months No bullets or body counts: How Insecure creator Issa Rae is portraying the sexy side of South L.A. San Diego Sheriffs Department begins using drones to find missing people, document crime scenes UPDATES: 11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with national hate crime statistics. This article was originally published at 9:35 a.m. Long Beach police shot and killed a man armed with a handgun who broke into a home in Carson while trying to evade capture on Sunday, sparking an hours-long standoff, officials said Monday. The man, whose identity was not immediately released, was wanted in connection with a Saturday night shooting in the Carmelitos housing projects that left one man critically injured, police said in a news release. Detectives from the departments Gang Enforcement Division were able to identify the suspect the next morning and tracked him to a home in the 2700 block of East 220th Place in Carson, investigators said. Advertisement SWAT officers were called to the scene in Carson, but the suspect fled on foot, hopping over several fences, police said. The man then broke into a nearby home, causing some of the occupants to rush outside. Police quickly discovered there were two juveniles inside the home with the suspect, and SWAT officers entered the residence to attempt a rescue. The suspect fled again, this time barricading himself inside a utility shed. The children were not injured, police said. Detectives negotiated with the man for several hours, repeatedly asking him to surrender, but he refused. Police also fired rubber bullets and tear gas into the shed, hoping to flush him out. At 5:10 p.m., police said the suspect exited the shed while still armed.The man threatened the officers, according to Police Chief Robert Luna, and was shot and killed. His identity is being withheld until police can notify his next of kin, according to Luna. james.queally@latimes.com For more breaking crime and cops news in Southern California, follow me on Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT Its official, read the text message from his lawyers son. Confused about what had happened, Raymond Lee Jennings rushed to his laptop Monday morning, opened his email and found a court document. He scrolled to Page 13 and burst into tears. Finally, his fight to clear his name was over a judge had thrown out his murder conviction. Superior Court Judge William Ryan wrote that new evidence seemed to undermine the entire prosecution case and point unerringly to innocence or reduced culpability. Advertisement Jennings had served 11 years behind bars in the slaying of Michelle OKeefe, a college student shot inside her Mustang in a Palmdale parking lot in February 2000. He was released from prison last year after the district attorneys office said prosecutors had lost confidence in the conviction, but the murder charge hung over him until Ryans ruling on Monday. No reasonable jurors, the judge wrote, would have convicted Jennings a security guard patrolling the area the night of the killing if theyd been told at trial that gang members were also in the parking lot at the time of the shooting. In addition, sheriffs investigators recently discovered new evidence that excludes Jennings as the killer. Ryan said that the victims mother, Patricia OKeefe, had recently addressed the court, saying that 32 jurors over the course of three trials, a judge and a panel of appellate justices had felt there was enough evidence to convict Jennings. But justice is not measured by the number of people who support the conviction, Ryan wrote, adding that he hadnt made the decision lightly and was mindful of the feelings of the victims family and friends. While to the OKeefes and others it may feel it is unjust to now grant Jennings relief, he wrote, it is even more unjust to keep a man in prison who has been excluded by the lawful authorities. At the end of his ruling, Ryan included an ancient adage of common law jurisprudence: Let justice be done, though the heavens may fall. OKeefes slaying shocked the Antelope Valley community where she lived. The TV show Americas Most Wanted featured the killing, and billboards in the area showed her picture along with the message, Can you help catch my killer? Meanwhile, investigators were zeroing in on Jennings. After initially deciding there wasnt enough evidence against him, prosecutors charged Jennings with murder in December 2005. At trial, Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Blake told jurors that the $111 found in OKeefes wallet proved it wasnt a botched robbery. Instead, he argued, it was flirtation gone wrong. There is a sexual component to this crime, he said. That is the motive, and thats how it began. Blake argued that Jennings told detectives and lawyers things that he couldnt have known if he wasnt the killer. He appeared to know the order of shots fired at the victim and that only one gun was used, Blake contended. The prosecutor also highlighted inconsistencies in the accounts Jennings gave authorities in several interviews about the night of the shooting. Initially, Jennings said no one else had been in the parking lot. Later, after prompting, he recalled another car leaving soon after the shooting. After two downtown L.A. juries deadlocked, the case was moved to the Antelope Valley for a third trial in 2009, where he was convicted. Jennings swore he was innocent and begged a judge to release him a plea that went unanswered until the summer of 2016, when prosecutors sent Ryan a letter saying they doubted his conviction based on new evidence. After a request from prosecutors, Ryan ordered Jennings release last year, but he didnt throw out the conviction until Monday. In his ruling, Ryan said that no blood or gunpowder had been found on Jennings uniform and that male DNA found under the victims fingernails didnt match Jennings DNA. The judge also noted that a prosecution expert who testified at trial about the sexual motive the cornerstone of the case, the judge said had since changed his stance. Without that testimony, Ryan ruled, the prosecutions case would have been decidedly different. In a written statement Monday, Blake, the trial prosecutor, said hes aware of additional facts that were not available to me at the time I tried Raymond Lee Jennings. As a result, he said, I understand why my office has lost confidence in the conviction. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said in a statement that the case shows her office is dedicated to serving justice, even when it means reopening a closed case. Asking a judge to throw out the conviction in Jennings case one of more than 1,000 that prosecutors have been asked to look into marked the first big move by the district attorneys unit dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions. The victims family couldnt be reached for comment, but R. Rex Parris, who represented the family in a civil suit against Jennings, said he had read the D.A.s letter laying out some of the new evidence in the case. Had we known that at the time, we wouldve made different decisions, he said, adding: Its not that hes innocent, its that hes now not guilty because this judge raised a reasonable doubt. In an interview Monday, Jennings said he felt a final weight come off his shoulders. Its something Ive been waiting for for a very long time, he said. Im totally free. His pastor gave a sermon on Sunday about remembering past suffering and how it molds us. Jennings said he cant stop thinking about that message or about one of his favorite Bible passages, which he discovered while confined in L.A. County Jail. Now, he knows the verses from Psalm 27 by heart. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, Jennings recited. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. marisa.gerber@latimes.com For more news from the Los Angeles County courts, follow me on Twitter: @marisagerber ALSO Bacon strips and broken windows at Davis Islamic Center investigated as hate crime Rapper Soulja Boy charged with possessing gun stolen from Huntington Beach police Drenched: How L.A. went from bone-dry to 216% above average rainfall in four months UPDATES: 6:05 p.m.: This article was updated with details from the judges ruling and comments from Jennings, the district attorneys office and a civil attorney who represented the victims family. This article was originally published at 12:40 p.m. A Sunday protest over Mexicos gasoline price hike prompted authorities to block freeway access into Mexico from San Ysidro for the third weekend in a row. Customs and Border Protection and California Highway Patrol officials closed south Interstate 5 at State Route 905 about 11:15 a.m. and south Interstate 805 at Route 905 about 1:30 p.m., a CHP official said. Northbound traffic from Mexico remained open. Motorists headed into Mexico were told to use the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, which was also clear. Advertisement Its unclear how many protesters were present Sunday, but thousands had attended previous demonstrations. Participants, who have been largely peaceful, have railed against Mexicos recent gas price hike but have also used the forum to demand broad political and economic change. Winkley writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. ALSO One for the books: Here are some records this storm has blown past Widespread flooding, mudslides, evacuations as biggest storm in years batters California San Diego Sheriffs Department begins using drones to find missing people, document crime scenes Rapper Soulja Boy was charged Monday with illegally possessing a military-style pistol and a handgun that was stolen from a Huntington Beach Police Department vehicle, officials said. Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, is facing felony counts of possession of an assault weapon, a Mini Draco AR-IS, and possession of a firearm in violation of probation, a .45-caliber Glock 21, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. He is also charged with one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property, the police departments stolen Glock, prosecutors said. Advertisement The entertainer pleaded not guilty Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. If the rapper is convicted, he faces more than four years in prison. The 26-year-old Studio City resident was arrested Dec. 15 at his home in the 3200 block of Dos Palos Drive after police found the firearms, according to Officer Jenny Houser, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. It was unclear why police were called to the residence, Houser said. The entertainer has had several run-ins with law enforcement over the years. In 2011, he was arrested on felony drug and weapons charges after a traffic stop in Georgia. Three years later, he was arrested in Granada Hills. He was a passenger in a car when police pulled the driver over for allegedly running a stop sign in 2014. During the traffic stop, police found a concealed weapon, the LAPD said. The rapper was convicted of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle and sentenced to two years probation, according to Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorneys office. The probation sentence was scheduled to end in December. He is best known for his song Crank That, which later inspired a popular dance. He is currently starring in VH1s reality drama Love and Hip Hop Hollywood, which follows the lives of several aspiring rappers, recording artists and their significant others. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Submachine gun, magazines, bulletproof vest stolen from FBI agents car in Bay Area Bacon strips and broken windows at Davis Islamic Center investigated as hate crime Drenched: How L.A. went from bone-dry to 216% above average rainfall in four months UPDATES: 1:15 p.m.: This article was updated with Soulja Boy pleading not guilty and new details on the charges. This article was originally published at 10:45 p.m. Los Angeles will pay $5.2 million to end a legal battle with a man whose murder conviction was tossed out. The settlement with Reggie Cole is the latest in a string of legal payouts that are spurring the city to borrow at least $50 million to avoid dipping into its emergency reserve funds. Cole and his friend Obie Anthony were convicted in the murder of Felipe Gonzales Angeles, who was shot to death outside a South L.A. brothel in 1994. Advertisement At trial they insisted they were innocent, and no physical evidence connected the pair to the crime. The two were later freed and both sued the city for wrongful imprisonment. Attorneys alleged that LAPD detectives had used illegal methods and concealed crucial evidence in the case. Two years ago, the city agreed to pay more than $8 million to Anthony, though it admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement. Last week, the City Council backed a proposed offer from a mediator in the Cole case, according to city staff. A council committee then voted Monday in favor of authorizing the $5.2-million payment. Attorney Dale Galipo, who is representing Cole, said in a statement that he was hopeful the settlement would help Cole start the closure process. Mr. Cole was deprived of his liberty for 16 long and excruciatingly difficult years. While the settlement of $5.2 million cannot give Mr. Cole back the years he lost while in prison, it will hopefully help him to move on from the injustice he has suffered, a joint statement from attorneys Galipo and Vicki I. Sarmiento said. Budget officials have projected that legal payouts will total at least $135 million this fiscal year. The city usually budgets about $60 million annually for its legal liability fund, but it has seen a surge of costly settlements this year: In August, the City Council agreed to pay more than $200 million over the course of a decade to settle claims that it failed to provide enough apartments for people with disabilities in its publicly funded housing developments. Last month, the council agreed to pay more than $8 million to settle lawsuits tied to fatal police shootings of unarmed men. And under a settlement reached two years ago, the city is also paying out $1.2 billion over the next three decades to resolve claims that its broken sidewalks made the city impassable to people with disabilities. Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report. emily.alpert@latimes.com Twitter: @LATimesEmily Sheriffs homicide detectives showed up at the house first. Next came the drone. As detectives began investigating the fatal shooting of a Pala woman last week, two deputies flew the drone over the outdoor homicide scene, taking aerial photos and videos that would become evidence. The remote-controlled aircraft is one of four the Sheriffs Department is using to document crime scenes, search for missing people, aid SWAT teams during their operations and for other reasons in dangerous or unfavorable scenarios. Two other drones are used for training. Advertisement Its an extremely valuable tool, and potentially lifesaving, Sheriffs Lt. Jason Vickery said. We can save a missing person or we can keep a deputy out of harms way. Thats invaluable. The first law enforcement agency in the county to own drones, the Sheriffs Department used one for the first time in October. Since then, the off-the-shelf models have been deployed nine times, Vickery said. Rollout of the yearlong pilot program did not fly with the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties. Christie Hill, senior policy strategist, criticized the Sheriffs Department for not holding public meetings before purchasing or using the drones, ignoring her organizations advice last spring. Civil liberties advocates have long expressed concern that misusing drones could lead to unwarranted surveillance or violation of privacy rights. Law enforcement agencies statewide have faced public opposition to the drone use. After the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department announced this month that it acquired a drone, a small group of protesters turned out in downtown Los Angeles to object. Can they be misused? Yes, but so can so many other tools at the Sheriffs Department, Vickery said. If we dont follow the rules for using them, there will ultimately be repercussions. He said the departments policy prohibits using drones for mass or random surveillance. So far, four deputies are trained and certified to fly the drones; five are being trained. To become licensed, deputies must pass a test by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Sheriffs Department budget allocated $125,000 for the program, with training representing the bulk of the costs, Vickery said. The drones cost $500 to $2,000. Police departments in Oceanside, Carlsbad, Escondido and Chula Vista said they are interested in the technology. david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Former President George H.W. Bush was being transferred out of intensive care Monday, and his wife, Barbara, was being discharged from the same hospital, according to their doctors. The former president was transferred to the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital.on Wednesday to address an acute respirator problem stemming from pneumonia, family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement. Bush, 92, had been admitted to the hospital Jan. 14 after suffering shortness of breath. McGrath said the former first lady, who is 91, was hospitalized as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing. She was treated for viral bronchitis. Advertisement At a Monday briefing at the hospital, Dr. Clint Doerr said the former president could be discharged as soon as Friday in time to help host the Super Bowl. He is sitting up watching TV joking and laughing with the doctors, said Dr. Amy Mynderse. 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. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, speaks to former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, before the presidential inauguration in Washington on Friday. (Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images ) Bushs office announced earlier this month that he and his wife would not attend Donald Trumps inauguration because of the former presidents age and health. But Bush watched it on television, making occasional comments, Doerr said. Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were on the dais. He commented on seeing his son there, Doerr said of the senior Bush, but made no political comments. Barbara Bush had been a constant presence at her husbands bedside and planned to return to visit him after being discharged Monday, Doerr said. ALSO What to expect in Trumps first 100 days I reported on Obama longer than anyone else. Heres what I learned The latest battlefront in the abortion wars: Some states want to require burial or cremation for fetuses 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As Hollywood gathered at the SAG Awards, some entertainers joined LAX protest Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Protests begin again at LAX on Sunday morning By Genaro Molina Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Yanair has submitted an application to the commission of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine on the rights to operate air routes for obtaining permits for regular flights to Israel. The commission at a meeting scheduled for January 31 will consider the airline's appeal for the Zaporizhia-Tel Aviv route with a frequency of seven flights per week, as well as the application for increasing frequency of flights on the Lviv-Tel Aviv route (from two to three flights a week) and Kyiv-Tel Aviv (from one to seven flights). In addition, the company asks for permits for Kyiv-Athens regular flights with a frequency of seven flights per week. The commission will also consider a request from Windrose for permits for Lviv-Brescia regular flights and that from Bravo company for Kyiv-Antalya charter flights. President Obamas 2016 national monument designations have prompted Republican critics from Nevada to Maine to suggest that, under cover of the Antiquities Act of 1906, he exceeded his authority, orchestrating a massive federal land grab. These critics are ignoring the history and scope of the act and the positive effects of monument designations on nearby communities. The Antiquities Act gives presidents broad authority to protect objects and surrounding public lands with historical, cultural and scientific value to the nation. Sixteen presidents have used the statute since Theodore Roosevelt signed it into law and created the first national monument at Devils Tower in Wyoming. In the short term, their actions have frequently generated controversy. For the record: This op-ed article incorrectly states the location of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was incorrect. It is in Oregon and California, not Oregon and Washington. One of the most significant battles arose in 1943. During a rancorous tug of war over the preservation of the valley at the foot of the Teton Range in Wyoming, President Franklin Roosevelt stepped in and established the Jackson Hole National Monument. It included 35,000 acres of ranchland purchased secretly, for the sake of preservation, by John D. Rockefeller Jr. FDR meant to resolve the situation, but the monument designation only intensified local anger over outsider interference, worries about lost tax revenues and ranchers concerns about their future. Advertisement Numerous congressional revocation efforts by Wyoming Republicans followed, and a lawsuit challenged the use of the Antiquities Act itself, but the monument survived. In 1950, it was incorporated into Grand Teton National Park, which now welcomes around 3 million visitors annually. Roosevelts controversial action is now credited with bolstering, rather than destroying, Teton County. Although the Antiquities Act does not require it, the Obama administration engaged in substantial public involvement before the recent designations. A similar story has been repeated elsewhere. In southern Utah in the late 1990s, President Clinton designated the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument against the wishes of many in Utah who cited fears that locking up these lands would depress local economies. In fact, a recent study of the region by Headwaters Economics found that after the designation, the population grew by 8%, jobs by 38% and real per capita income by 30%. The lengthy legal history of monument designations also informs the debate over presidential overreach. No monument proclamation has ever been revoked; federal courts have dismissed all legal challenges. And the U.S. attorney general long ago concluded that presidents lack the authority to undo designations made by other presidents. Since the Antiquities Act applies only to lands that already are federal, no private property rights are affected. Monument opponents claim that designation will curtail grazing, mining and vehicular recreation, yet existing multiple uses that do not threaten the areas historic and scientific value are preserved. In Grand Staircase, pre-designation livestock grazing continues. The same will be true in Bears Ears National Monument, in Utah, which was designated by Obama in December. Monuments are neither wilderness areas nor national parks, both of which are created under more stringent criteria. All national monuments are managed according to plans that, by law, must be revisited over time. Although one president creates a monument, subsequent presidents often implement the management objectives. Opponents have labeled Obamas 2016 monuments as midnight regulations, although most of the recent designations have been a long time in the making. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes proposed Bears Ears in 1936. Gold Butte National Monument, added in southern Nevada in December, was first proposed by local tribes in 2008. The expanded Cascade-Siskiyou monument in Oregon and Washington was first established two decades ago, and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which Obama enlarged in August, was established in 2006 by President George W. Bush. Designations are accompanied by detailed rationales that explain the nationally significant resources the monument will protect. The rationales take months, often years, to develop. They are hardly the result of midnight whims. Tellingly, presidents from both parties have defended prior monument designations. George W. Bushs Justice Department successfully defended monuments designated by President Clinton in court. President Wilsons lawyers won Supreme Court approval of the Grand Canyon monument in 1920, proclaimed by Wilsons predecessor, Teddy Roosevelt, in 1908. Although the Antiquities Act does not require it, the Obama administration engaged in substantial public discussions before the recent designations. Those discussions led to scaling down the size of Bears Ears monument and eliminating several areas that might be mined or used for vehicular recreation in the future. Bears Ears and Gold Butte are particularly fitting national monuments, since they include many sites sacred to local tribes. One of Congress principal purposes behind enacting the statute in 1906 was to protect such sites from pot hunters and looters, to protect the important cultural legacy of Native Americans on public lands. The often ephemeral local opposition to monument status should not persuade Congress or the Trump administration to attempt to revoke the Obama designations. Todays protesting voices represent a decided minority of the wider public that benefits from public lands conservation, including future generations. Short-term political expediency has not predominated in the past and should not prevail in the future. Michael Blumm, a professor at Lewis and Clark Law School, specializes in public lands and natural resources law. Hillary Hoffmann, a professor at Vermont Law School, focuses on natural and cultural resources, and tribal lands. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The California state Senate is poised to confirm Xavier Becerra, a congressman and son of Mexican immigrants, as Californias next attorney general. Becerras appointment is a forceful rebuke to President Donald Trumps politics of racial division and an inspiration to many. Becerras rise comes as battle fever sweeps Californias progressives, who have urged him to be the tip of the spear in the anti-Trump resistance. Some have encouraged him to lead a long, legal war by suing the Trump administration early and often. Becerra even caught the spirit for a moment, calling for Trump to come at us. This is a trap. It is unfair and unwise for progressives to back Becerra into a corner. In this right-wing political moment, a major legal case on our climate change laws or our policies benefiting Dreamers may well lead to a Trump White House victory, establishing precedents that far outlast this presidency. In fact, the cases Becerra chooses not to bring may be among his most important achievements. Courts cant rule on whats not before them. Advertisement [Becerras] goals should be attrition and delay an endless loop of litigation and red tape, gumming up Trumps deportation machine. Those who want Becerra to adopt Texas opposition to Obama as a template are mistaken. Texas had the ideological wind at its back in repeatedly suing Obama: Its suits against him were brought before conservative judges and an evenly divided, fairly predictable Supreme Court. California, by contrast, will face a Supreme Court remade in Trumps image, with at least one and possibly two new justices, depending on the year. As it concerns immigration, we suspect many will advise Becerra to immediately file lawsuits challenging Trumps proposals, assuming that Becerra will be able to block or nullify such proposals. But, with few exceptions, our Constitution assigns exclusive authority over immigration policy to the federal government. Indeed, progressives relied on this principle in petitioning the Supreme Court to invalidate Arizonas anti-immigrant law SB 1070, and to block Californias Proposition 187, which aimed to prevent immigrants in the country illegally from accessing state-funded health and education programs. Asking a federal court to overturn federal immigration policies could be a fools errand. Becerra still holds the power to confront Trump. However, progressives need to manage their expectations and adjust their tactics. Becerra will need to box, not brawl. For example, he should exploit gaps created by lax federal oversight. Under Trumps deeply conservative nominees for attorney general and Labor secretary, we may see egregious lapses in civil rights protection, prosecution of police abuse, and accountability for unfair labor practices. Becerra should bring enforcement actions whenever federal agencies ignore serious abuses. He should also look beyond the courts. As attorney general, he can build a statewide coalition of police chiefs and sheriffs who refuse to deputize cops as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. He can also instruct state prosecutors to consider immigration consequences in plea bargaining, and ensure local law enforcements compliance with the states TRUST Act, which limits the circumstances under which local jails can turn over arrestees to ICE. These strategies dont require litigation. Becerra can, furthermore, build national support for California initiatives among his fellow state attorneys general. One can easily envision him building a formal, nationwide coalition of progressive top cops. They could barnstorm the Hill to oppose attempts to limit the enforcement authority of state attorneys general and defend state efforts to decriminalize marijuana. This same group could advocate stronger penalties for police abuse, labor violations and environmental degradation. Legal showdowns may be inevitable if the federal government attempts to invalidate California laws or if Trump issues an executive order revoking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections from hundreds of thousands of California citizens. Becerra will need to ferociously defend Californians in such cases. But his goals should be attrition and delay an endless loop of litigation and red tape, gumming up Trumps deportation machine. A clean legal victory over Trump in a hostile forum is not the most likely outcome. Progressives are rightly thrilled with Becerra as our next attorney general. But they shouldnt expect him to wage battles he cannot win. To read the article in Spanish, click here Michael Troncoso is a former chief counsel and chief of public policy in the California Attorney Generals office. Debbie Mesloh is a former senior advisor to the California attorney general and a former White House appointee under President Obama. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The new Trump administration got off to a phenomenally bad start over the weekend, with the president delivering a bizarre speech before CIA employees in which he lied about the size of the crowd at his inauguration, claiming up to 1.5 million people were on the National Mall. Then two top aides counselor Kellyanne Conway and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer doubled down with even more inane or verifiably false statements. Conway, in what could well become a defining phrase of the administration, argued that Spicer, in testily defending Trumps count Saturday, was simply using alternative facts which Meet the Press host Chuck Todd immediately termed falsehoods. Quite the spat, that. And it was an entirely self-inflicted controversy, which is what should be the biggest concern here. The new administration either engaged in a Machiavellian plan to create a parallel world of facts, or displayed significant incompetence coming out of the blocks. Neither is particularly reassuring. Advertisement To his credit, Spicer did a more professional job Monday during his first full press briefing, opening with a joke about Saturdays blow-up then moving on to an overview of Trumps actions to date, and promising to never knowingly lie to the White House press corps. But then Spicer got combative over viewership numbers for the inauguration, and made it clear the administration intends to be aggressive in dealing with media reports. We can disagree with the facts, he said, then added later: There are points at which we have a right to correct the record. An hour into the briefing, Spicer turned defensive when asked again why Trump raised the crowd issue during the CIA speech. He took on the tone of an aggrieved teenager begging to be better understood. Its not just about a crowd size, Spicer said, then ticked off a list of media skepticism about Trump dating back to before he announced he would run. There is this constant theme to undercut the enormous support that he has. [Polls say otherwise.] And I think its just unbelievably frustrating when youre continually told its not big enough, its not good enough, you cant win. That the size of the inauguration crowd became a significant issue, though, began with Trump himself. He set that agenda on his own. In addressing the CIA workers, Trump squandered an opportunity to lay out his vision of the spy agencys role in eradicating Islamic State, a key campaign and inauguration speech promise. He also didnt seek to mend fences after his initial refusal to accept the intelligence communitys conclusion that Russia hacked Democratic emails during the campaign, and comparing them with Nazis. Trump did mention the importance of the CIA in fighting Islamic State, pledged his support for the agency workers (notably not mentioning its leadership), talked a bit more about the nations military defense, but otherwise focused on himself and lied in front of a crowd of professional lie detectors about the size of the inauguration turnout. Then he sent Spicer out for his first press briefing to add fuel to the fire by scolding the media without taking any questions. He took on the tone of an aggrieved teenager begging to be better understood. In defending that debacle, chief of staff Reince Priebus on Sunday accused the media of trying to delegitimize Trumps presidency, extending one of the more bizarre themes of Trumps campaign, and now administration. He repeated the lie that the media distorted the crowd size photos from the National Mall, and zeroed in on an error by a Time reporter about the removal of a Martin Luther King Jr. bust from the Oval Office. (The reporter had simply missed seeing it, and retracted soon after.) Priebus sought to frame that as part of an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president, and we are not going to sit around and let it happen. Were going to fight back tooth and nail every day, and twice on Sunday. Remember, this whole brouhaha began with Trumps focus on reporting about the size of his inauguration crowd, and devolved from there into bunker-defense by top communications staffers and his chief of staff. This is, at best, amateurish. Trumps infamous thin skin exposes a petty core, and he has surrounded himself with communications advisors who are campaign attack dogs. And in their first White House engagements with the media, they responded as if they were still in the hurly-burly of an election. Which presumably is just what Trump wants them to do. The nation has watched Trump for too long now to hope that he might have the maturity and common sense to effect a fast reboot and recognize that serving as president is a much different thing than running for president. Or, for that matter, to recognize that the leader of the United States of America can only ride a lie so far. Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter One by one, just hours after President Trumps inauguration, some of his most senior aides made the short journey from their new West Wing offices to the press briefing room. Press Secretary Sean Spicer stood for a moment behind the lectern where he will conduct news briefings. Stephen Bannon, chief strategist, took note of the cramped quarters many correspondents worked in. And Kellyanne Conway exchanged pleasantries with the reporters and photographers who will document the administration. Within 48 hours, what had seemed to be a goodwill tour instead appeared to have been a reconnaissance mission, the new administration sizing up a prominent adversary. Advertisement As you know, I have a running war with the media, Trump later said to CIA employees. The presidential campaign is over, but Trump aides stuck to their election-year tactics in their first weekend in the White House. Over and over, aides laid down markers that they would continue to unapologetically present their version of events and challenge any perceived slights. On Sunday, the day many were formally installed to their positions as assistants to the president, Trump advisors defended the White Houses attacks on the media and its incorrect claims about the size of the crowd at the inauguration, accusing news organizations of trying to undermine the presidents legitimacy. Challenged by Meet The Press host Chuck Todd about why Spicer had been dispatched a day earlier to deliver a statement with provably false crowd data, Conway made a startling characterization, that Spicer had offered alternative facts. Youre saying its a falsehood. And Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts to that, Conway told the NBC host, who immediately interjected with his disbelief over her description. Conway eventually backed off Spicers claims. I dont think you can prove those numbers one way or the another, she said. Theres no way to really quantify crowds. Police and cities do use statistical methods to estimate crowd sizes to protect public safety during large events. And scientists used available evidence to tally Fridays attendance on the National Mall. When news outlets presented comparisons of Trumps inauguration crowds with ones for former President Obamas inaugurals, whether by airing broadcast footage or publishing side-by-side photographs, Trump advisors saw, as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus characterized it, an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president. And we are not going to sit around and let it happen, he told Fox News Sunday. In his Saturday evening press statement, Spicer also accused reporters of seeking to sow division. Priebus and Conway made a supplemental argument Sunday: that by reporting on and fact-checking the grievances expressed by the president and his aides, journalists were overlooking more substantive matters. Their point was undermined by Trump tweeting hours earlier about television ratings for his inaugural 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago! His emphasis on Obamas second inaugural ignored that first inaugurations historically draw more viewers. Every new White House experiments with different approaches for communicating its message. Obama, in an interview with former aides just before the end of his presidency, said that if he could offer advice to himself eight years earlier, it would be to spend more time thinking about new ways of communicating with the American people. You cant be so intimidated by the way things have been done in the White House because the communications landscape is shifting, he said on the Pod Save America podcast. But Trump aides risked damaging the administrations credibility with such public admonitions over provably false claims. That could impede their efforts to build support for Trumps agenda beyond his most committed backers. Indeed, Trump was dismissive of the massive public protests in Washington and around the world Saturday that grew out of opposition to his election. Was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didnt these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly, he tweeted. He acknowledged in a follow-up message the marchers right to demonstrate, saying, Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Later Sunday, in his first appearance in the White Houses grand East Room as president, Trump turned to the more sober governing tasks ahead. He offered condolences to storm victims in the Southeast before highlighting conversations with foreign leaders. British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to visit Friday, followed by a summit next week with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss, among other issues, the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump campaigned extensively on renegotiating free-trade deals. Anybody ever hear of NAFTA? he asked in jest. I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA. Trump also spoke of a very nice conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone, amid speculation that among his first foreign policy acts would be to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, long a goal of many influential Jewish Republicans in the U.S. Both Israel and the Palestinians lay claim to Jerusalem. Spicer said in a statement that the administration was at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject. The White House later said that the two leaders discussed the threat posed by Iran, and that Trump emphasized that peace between Israel and the Palestinians could only be negotiated directly between the two sides an affirmation of longstanding U.S. policy. In the East Room, Trump also made note of a graceful letter from Obama that he had found waiting for him in the Oval Office. Holding it up, he added: We wont even tell the press whats in that letter. michael.memoli@latimes.com, brian.bennett@latimes.com Twitter: @mikememoli, @bybrianbennett ALSO: Trump boasts and attacks the media in solemn CIA setting Trump is sworn in as president, a divisive, singular figure promising to lift up the forgotten Massive marches and a cranky new president. Were certainly off to a colorful start President Trump signaled Monday through a flurry of directives and pronouncements that he will put a priority on remaking U.S. trade and tax policy, even as he quietly backed away from a pledge to end protections for nearly 750,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. The moves punctuated a busy first weekday for Trumps White House. He also banned funding for groups overseas that refer women to abortion clinics and froze most federal hiring, in between meeting with business leaders and lawmakers. For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said British Prime Minister Theresa May was elected to the post. She was appointed as leader of the governing Conservative Party, not popularly elected. Altogether, Trump underscored his populist bent and previewed his anti-globalization agenda. Trumps immediate shift away from multinational trade agreements in favor of bilateral talks evoked his campaign promise to pull back from deals that he said had left U.S. workers behind. Advertisement Weve been talking about this for a long time, Trump told reporters as he signed a memo withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade pact among 12 Pacific Rim nations. Trump called his move a great thing for the American worker. Trump left it to Press Secretary Sean Spicer to indicate the administration has put off ending a controversial program that temporarily shields from deportation more than 742,000 young people who came to the U.S. illegally as children, despite promising during the campaign to immediately terminate it. Officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that issues the work permits, were still accepting applications Monday for two-year permits and protections from removal under the program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, said agency spokesman Steve Blando. Trump, who made enforcement of immigration law a centerpiece of his campaign, will concentrate on deporting more people who threaten public safety, Spicer said, in a continuation of the Obama administrations policy on prioritizing deportations. The presidents been very, very clear, that we need to direct agencies to focus on those who are in this country illegally and have a record a criminal record [or pose] a threat to the American people, Spicer said. Thats where the prioritys going to be and then were going to continue to work through the entire number of folks that are here illegally. Asked about it again later, Spicer said, Give us a little bit of time; well see what Congress moves forward with. Trump aides have signaled in recent days that the president is also looking at ways to punish so-called sanctuary cities for not cooperating with immigration officials trying to deport people who have been booked into local jails. But the centerpiece of what the White House called the presidents first working day was the economy. He met with business leaders, organized labor and members of Congress and will will have breakfast Tuesday with representatives of the auto industry, including executives from GM, Chrysler and Ford. Aides portrayed his schedule as emblematic of how this listening president will develop policy. Trump told CEOs he will seek a more business-friendly climate, cutting taxes massively and cutting regulation massively. Of the corporate tax rate, currently 35%, were trying to get it down to anywhere from 15 to 20%, he said. Regulations could be cut by 75%, he said without explaining how that would work or be measured. He also warned that companies will face consequences if they move their workforce out of the U.S. If that happens, we are going to be imposing a very major border tax on the products when it comes in, he said. Trump aides also indicated that they would measure economic success not just through unemployment data, long the standard for administrations of both parties. They did not detail what benchmarks they were considering. Often in Washington, we get our heads wrapped around a number and a statistic, Spicer said. And we look at and we forget the faces and the families and the businesses that are behind those numbers. Scuttling the TPP was also a rebuke of former President Obama, who made the pact a priority during his second term while both Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton campaigned against it. Failure to ratify TPP, whose death knell was sounded by Trumps election, could pave the way for China to seek its own regional agreement, at the expense of U.S. interests. Obama had pushed for the deal in part to serve as a check on growing Chinese influence in Asia. Trump instead signaled a new approach to Americas trade relationships with key global allies, focused more narrowly on economic benefits for American workers and on individual relationships with trading partners, rather than the multinational pacts that administrations of both parties have pursued in recent decades. On Friday, Trump will welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May, who took office last year as part of a populist wave herself, to the White House for his first meeting with a foreign leader. The agenda is expected to include the possibility of a bilateral trade agreement as Britain looks to realign its own economy after voting last year to exit the European Union. Trump also signed memos ordering the reinstatement of a Reagan-era ban on contributing to nongovernmental groups that perform or actively promote abortion, which reverses another Obama policy, and a freeze in government hiring except in key national security positions. Spicer also indicated the White House would move at a deliberate pace on Trumps pledge to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which is disputed territory claimed by both the Israelis and Palestinians. Moving the embassy to the city, where no other country has its embassy, would be a de facto declaration that the U.S. sees it as the capital of Israel and would thus inflame the Arab world. The administration is at the beginning stages of this decision-making process, Spicer said Monday. The frenetic pace of activity at the White House followed a weekend of celebration and then grievance-airing over the medias accurate reporting on the size of inaugural crowds and other perceived slights. A Gallup tracking poll showed Trump began his presidency with just a 45% job approval rating, making him the first to begin his tenure in the Oval Office below 50% since Gallup began asking the question. Aides seemed eager to pivot from the negative tenor established in Trumps early hours. Spicer, whose first foray in the briefing room over the weekend included an angry, five-minute rebuke of what he considered deliberately false reporting about the administrations earliest hours, more amicably asked Monday to be afforded the same opportunity to correct the record when he sees the need. michael.memoli@latimes.com Twitter: @mikememoli brian.bennett@latimes.com Twitter: @ByBrianBennett ALSO: Trumps White House sets an unapologetically aggressive tone in its first days Heres what Trumps executive order really means for Obamacare What to expect in Trumps first 100 days UPDATES: 5 p.m.: This story was updated with comments from Press Secretary Sean Spicer and details on Trumps meetings. This story was originally published at 9 a.m. With his swearing-in over, Donald Trump is the president now and he moved quickly over the weekend to start work on his priorities. Im Sarah Wire. Welcome to the Monday edition of Essential Politics. Here are the important things that happened during Trumps first three days in office: In his first Oval Office appearance after the inauguration, Trump took a step aimed at President Obamas signature achievement by signing an executive order directing federal agencies to take steps to ease the burden of Obamacare. Advertisement And Trumps top aides showed they will continue to present their version of events and fight any perceived slights. That included, but was not limited to, the startling characterization from Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway that White House spokesman Sean Spicer offered alternative facts when he incorrectly said on Saturday that Trumps swearing-in ceremony drew the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration. Also on Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of women and men streamed past the White House in protest, Trump visited the CIA to try to extend a hand after months of deriding the intelligence community for talking about Russian attempts to influence the election. Looking beyond the weekend, Michael Memoli has a look at what to expect in Trumps first 100 days. Get the latest about the new Trump administration and its first 100 days on Trail Guide and follow @latimespolitics. And dont forget to keep an eye on our Essential Politics news feed. CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINATION CHUGS ALONG The Senate Rules Committee voted 3-1 Wednesday to recommend Rep. Xavier Becerras confirmation as the states next attorney general, and if the state Senate approves Becerra in time, Gov. Jerry Brown wants to install the Los Angeles Democrat during the governors State of the State speech tomorrow. The special election to fill Becerras House seat still hasnt been called because Becerra hasnt actually resigned yet, but the list of people interested in the seat grew to 17 with the addition of a model and L.A. neighborhood council member who says hes a former mixed martial arts fighter. Meanwhile, Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez received the endorsement of the nations largest public employee union in his bid for the seat. MASS MARCHES Millions of women and men marched in cities across the country Saturday, sending a defiant message to Trump that promised stiff resistance to any curtailment of rights for women and minorities. Hundreds of thousands turned out for the march in Los Angeles. Cathleen Decker writes that while a chief executive hasnt faced such visible opposition in decades, time will tell if the movement can maintain its momentum going forward. For his part, Trump was dismissive of the womens marches but acknowledged the right to protest. OBAMA IS IN RAINY PALM SPRINGS After weather diverted his flight, former President Obama and his family are ensconced in Palm Springs for a vacation of undetermined length. Christi Parsons has the story on the man she covered for 20 years, starting when Obama was an Illinois state senator and she was a statehouse reporter, and ending with her asking the final question in the departing presidents final press conference last week. DRIVING HOME THE EFFECT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT Democratic state lawmakers traveled from the Capitol to the Central Valley late last week to examine the potential effects of Obamacare repeal. Holding the hearing in Bakersfield was a pointed political choice, bringing the healthcare debate to GOP Majority Leader Kevin McCarthys backyard. Melanie Mason reports how legislators and panelists emphasized how the Republican congressmans home turf would be harmed by rolling back the landmark healthcare law. In a meeting with reporters in the Times Sacramento bureau, Senate leader Kevin de Leon said last week that people will die if GOP lawmakers in Congress repeal the federal Affordable Care Act without replacing those who will lose healthcare coverage. CALIFORNIA PREPARES FOR BATTLE Trumps inauguration speech promised to transfer the power from Washington back to the people, but many Californians tuning in may have found little solace in those words, George Skelton writes in his Monday column. Trumps idea of states rights appears to be limited, Skelton says, and California is correct to gird for battle with a lot on the line including its policies on the environment, immigration and access to healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. Christine Mai-Duc spent Inauguration Day with de Leon, who has positioned himself at the forefront of Californias resistance to Trump. I cant say that our country is united on this historic day, de Leon said. Meanwhile, Chris Megerian writes about the 4-year-old lawsuit challenging the states cap-and-trade program that could be a bigger threat to the states landmark climate change policies. PODCAST: THE RACE TO FIGHT TRUMP One thing thats worth keeping an eye on over the coming weeks and months: How the Democrats angling for a statewide job in 2018 -- most notably, governor -- work to keep themselves in the headlines as the foil to Trump. On this weeks California Politics Podcast, John Myers leads a discussion on where the states most prominent politicians take the fight next. TODAYS ESSENTIALS Trump will hold his first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader when British Prime Minister Theresa May visits the White House on Friday. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) threw an inaugural ball to celebrate the new Republican president Friday at the Library of Congress. Assemblywoman Susan Talamentes Eggman will reintroduce a bill Monday that aims to shield immigrants charged with minor drug offenses from deportation, so long as they seek treatment. Lawmakers in Sacramento have surprisingly few choices about how to use tax revenue, thanks to an array of autopilot choices made through the years by voters. This California lawmaker wants the state to make sure marijuana candy isnt marketed to children. Candidates in the race to replace Becerra were among those speaking and marching at womens marches in Los Angeles and Washington. A Los Angeles-area lawmaker wants voters to decide if the state should tax candy, potato chips and other snacks. Police officers ability to handle disciplinary issues in public schools could be limited under two bills proposed in Sacramento. LOGISTICS Essential Politics is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Miss Fridays newsletter? Here you go. Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox. If you want to snag one of Californias 53 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, start saving: The average winner in 2016 spent $1.5 million to be a part of the countrys largest congressional delegation. While some races were cheap, sleepy contests where incumbents strolled past the opposition, others were bitter partisan fights that ended up costing millions. Heres a look at who got the most bang for their buck and who had to pay through the nose to win votes. Updates on California politics Californias big dollar-per-vote spenders On the high end, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) spent about $37.49 per vote to beat his surprisingly strong and up until June, relatively unknown Democratic challenger, retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate. Issas campaign spent $5.8 million on operating expenditures to Applegates $1.5 million. The list of top spenders per vote includes members of Congress who won pricey and partisan reelection battles. Central Valley Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) spent $33.64 per vote for a total of $4.2 million and won reelection by three points over beekeeper Michael Eggman, a Democrat. Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) spent $3.9 million toward another term and won an even narrower victory over Republican Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones. Bera spent $25.46 per vote compared with Jones, who spent $8.87 per vote. The 10 House candidates who spent the most per vote These congressional candidates spent the most per vote. Mike Honda and Isadore Hall lost. Search the full list >> Candidate District Total votes Percent Operating expenditures Cost per vote Darrell Issa (R) CD 49 155,888 50.3% $5,843,931.83 $37.49 David Valadao (R) CD 21 75,126 56.7% $2,807,639.13 $37.37 Jeff Denham (R) CD 10 124,671 51.7% $4,194,093.23 $33.64 Mike Honda (D) CD 17 90,924 39% $3,013,758.12 $33.15 Kevin McCarthy (R) CD 23 167,116 69.2% $4,620,518.68 $27.65 Ro Khanna (D) CD 17 142,268 61% $3,641,413.88 $25.60 Ami Bera (D) CD 07 152,133 51.2% $3,873,699.82 $25.46 Ed Royce (R) CD 39 150,777 57.2% $3,299,814.35 $21.89 Isadore Hall (D) CD 44 85,289 47.8% $1,862,463.99 $21.84 Nanette Barragan (D) CD 44 93,124 52.2% $1,740,102.87 $18.69 The biggest losers *Note: Spending figures are based on the latest reports campaigns filed with the Federal Election Commission. To calculate the cost per vote, The Times looked at a campaign's operating expenditures instead of its total overall spending, which can include money given to other campaigns or charities. The cycles biggest loser in regard to dollars spent per vote was longtime Democratic Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose), who spent $33.15 per vote in a loss to fellow Democrat Ro Khanna. Hondas campaign shelled out $3 million and came away with just 39% of the vote when the polls closed. Khanna, who came close to ousting Honda in 2014, also made the list of top spenders, with $25.60 spent per vote. He spent about $600,000 more than Honda but came away with 51,000 more votes. Another big campaign defeat was felt by former Compton state Sen. Isadore Hall III, who spent $21.84 per vote in a narrow loss to attorney and former Hermosa Beach City Councilwoman Nanette Barragan, who spent $18.69 per vote after a bruising campaign to replace outgoing Rep. Janice Hahn (D-San Pedro). Neither spent lavishly in the race, but because so few voters came to the polls in November, the cost-per-vote figure is inflated. Voter turnout in the district was around 60%. Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) has the second highest cost per vote for the election at $37.37, also thanks to the low turnout in his Central Valley district. His campaign spent $2.8 million to wallop Democrat Emilio Huerta with 56.7% of the vote. Around 60% of registered voters cast ballots in that district, according to the nonpartisan election guide California Target Book. Other relatively expensive losses include Republican Justin Fareed, who spent $15.10 a vote, but lost by more than six percentage points to Democrat Salud Carbajal who spent $16.95 a vote to represent Santa Barbara in Congress. Democrat Bryan Caforio spent $13.42 a vote in his six-point loss to Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Knight spent $11.77 a vote, the most efficient spending of any winning candidate in a close race. Spending big, but not in close races Not everyone on the list of top spenders had a competitive race. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) landed in the number five spot for spending $27.65 per vote. He won 69% of the vote in an easy contest against Democrat Wendy Reed. McCarthy lands high because his campaign doled out $4.6 million in operating expenditures. His campaign racked up over half a million dollars in catering and meal costs, as well as $229,000 in airfare over the last two-year election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission records. His campaign also spent $525,000 on fundraising consultants to bring in money. To calculate the cost per vote, The Times looked at a campaigns operating expenditures instead of its total overall spending, which can include money given to other campaigns or charities. McCarthys committee, for example, gave over $2.5 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the group that helps get Republicans around the country elected. Spending small and losing big Candidates who spend little in California congressional races sometimes find that they lose big. Six candidates reported no federal expenditures at all. One candidate, Adrienne Edwards, who challenged Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), reported spending just $1.80 for the entire campaign cycle. Most established members of Congress who represent safe districts meaning their party has an overwhelming advantage when it comes to the number of registered votes faced off against people who didnt run competitive campaigns. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis opponent in 2016 was public school teacher Preston Picus, who appeared on ballots without a party affiliation, but called himself a progressive independent. He reported spending $3,000 during the campaign good for about a nickel a vote. He won 19% of the vote. Spending a lot of money seems to have a pretty direct correlation to your outcome, with a few exceptions, said Jessica Levinson, a professor and election law expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Some candidates can spend little and still win because they are in safe seats. Bay Area Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) had the most cost-efficient campaign. The freshman congressman spent just over $312,000 on operating expenditures and won 214,868 votes 72% of the vote. DeSaulniers cost per vote: $1.47. javier.panzar@latimes.com Twitter: jpanzar ALSO: Scandals, surprise squeakers and the 'Trump effect': What worked and what flopped in California's five most expensive House races How does a 28-year-old raise more than $1 million for a congressional bid? 'Dark money' funds flood of political canvassers in heated Los Angeles County congressional race This congressman will sleep in his office, and other tales from the incoming California freshmen Updates on California politics 10:30 23.01.2017 Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Political Leaders of Ukrainian Donbas' 1 min read On Monday, January 23, at 11.00, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference entitled "Political Leaders of Ukrainian Donbas." The participants will include director of the Center for Civil Society Studies Vitaliy Kulyk and expert of the Center for Civil Society Studies Dmytro Vozny. Results of the expert survey on the state of the political leadership in Donbas will be presented (8/5a Reitarska Street). Accreditation is required by phone: (066) 110 0006. President Donald Trump began his inaugural address with words that might have heartened nervous California Democrats. But then he warmed up and reverted to the familiar campaigner-in-chief. Like many Republican leaders, Trump preached states rights or seemed to. Today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, he said. But we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people. Advertisement Did that mean the federal government under Trump would butt out of Californias affairs and let its citizens determine, for example, the states own environmental policies? As it has pretty much for nearly half a century, back to the Nixon presidency, when the state began aggressively fighting deadly smog? Raw, angry and aggrieved, President Trumps inaugural speech does little to heal political wounds No, apparently not. Frankly, it wasnt real clear what he was talking about except the old people rule, throw-away stuff every politician spouts. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now, he said, using fighting words while lamenting inner-city poverty, rusted factories, incompetent schools, gangs and drugs. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining, but never doing anything about it. No argument there. This certainly is not a time for timid politicians. And thats what California Democrats are saying as they prepare as best they can to resist the conservative policies of the Trump administration and Republican Congress. But theyre being urged by many, including some in their own party, to relax, be nice and see what happens. Gov. Jerry Brown, for one, has told Democratic legislative leaders he wont be joining their outspoken resistance movement. Telling a new president to pound sand is not smart when youre hoping to negotiate with him over such issues as healthcare and environmental protection, the governor has said privately. That isnt calming down Democratic legislators, however especially the two Latinos who head both houses: Senate leader Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon of Paramount. Ive lost a lot of sleep wondering what will happen to the people of California, De Leon said last week, speaking to Times reporters in the Sacramento bureau. De Leon repeatedly held up the front page of last Thursdays Times, like a street corner newspaper hawker from yesteryear. The top story reported that Trump planned to immediately crack down on illegal immigration, including ordering workplace raids. You have children in elementary school who are crying, De Leon said. Thats not healthy. An adjacent Times front-page story reported that Trumps oil-friendly nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency had cast doubts on whether California should be allowed to keep imposing its own emission rules for cars and trucks. If not, it would hamper Californias nation-leading efforts to fight climate change. It had a real physical impact on me reading this, De Leon said, again holding up the newspaper. Normally soft-spoken Rendon has called Trump a very dangerous person with totalitarian fascist tendencies. Thats pretty much the tone among Sacramento Democrats. Updates from Sacramento Trump and Congress have the power to mess with a lot of California policy. But the three issues that most concern state Democrats are illegal immigration, environmental protection and Obamacare. They can fight back like guerrillas on immigration and the environment. But on costly Obamacare, theyre essentially helpless because without federal funding, the state cant afford the former presidents signature program. Its estimated that one-tenth of California workers including professionals are here illegally. Up to 85% of farmworkers are. San Joaquin Valley farmers may have supported Trump for president, but theyre afraid of his immigration policies. Democrats hope to rush some bills through the Legislature to thwart Trump on aggressive deportations. One bill would require the federal government to use its own officers and facilities to round up immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally no more using local cops or stashing the suspects in county jails. And no barging into courtrooms, hospitals or schools searching for immigration lawbreakers. Obamas policy forbade that, but theres no telling what Trump might try. Another bill would provide state money for lawyers who represent immigrants in deportation cases. On the environment, if the Trump administration and Congress weaken protections for endangered species long a GOP and agriculture dream the Democratic Legislature would attempt to replace those federal safeguards with Californias own. Were in a dramatically new environment with a hostile administration that does not believe in science, De Leon said. Most vulnerable is Californias version of Obamacare. About 5 million Californians benefit from the Affordable Care Act, including 4 million who are on Medi-Cal, the states healthcare program for the poor. California receives roughly $22 billion in federal money for Obamacare, and theres no politically feasible way the state could replace it. A repeal without replacement would lead to a level of chaos that would be hard to recover from, says Anthony Wright, who heads Health Access California, an activist group. Well fight to preserve key elements of the act. Ironically, the San Joaquin Valley benefits hugely from Obamacare, despite being largely represented in Congress by Republicans vowing to scuttle it. Half of Fresno Countys residents are on Medi-Cal, 45% of Kern Countys are and 55% of Tulares. California Democrats are right to fight any Trump assaults on state policy. His notion of states rights clearly is limited. george.skelton@latimes.com Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter ALSO Trumps inauguration is a reminder that rebelling against the ruling class is in Americas DNA Eric Holder could be Californias MVP, or he could be a bust Updates from Sacramento Just five more breaths, says the yoga teacher to students as they fit themselves into a position perpendicular to the floor. Bring your hands to your heart, he says. Thats it youre almost there. Tim Senesi, a 32-year-old, toned and cheerful leader, is teaching poses and breathing techniques designed to quiet the mind to a full vinyasa flow during a Tuesday morning class at YogaWorks in Laguna Beach. The 60 students are participating in the yoga style that coordinates movement with breath to flow from one pose to the next. Great class, as always, Senesi says while walking between mats. Youve got it, he tells a woman who is maintaining her balance through a handstand. Theres a reason Senesis class is packed to capacity. Senesis rise in popularity owes not only to his engaging teaching methods but also his yoga videos. The one for stress and anxiety was recently named a top yoga video by Healthline.com. His YouTube channel, YogaWithTim, boasts nearly 90,000 subscribers, his Instagram account attracts more than 6,500 followers and more than 10,000 people visit his professional website a month. I never want to miss his class, said student Sean Byerly, a Laguna Beach resident who has attended Senesis classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the past three years. Hes very dedicated to helping you grow in your practice, has this great energy, intensifies his work and, you know, all the women find him good-looking. If his guidance can change a life, Senesi is the first to say yoga saved his. Growing up in Huntington Beach, Senesi was overweight and he lacked confidence and had little self-esteem. A poor outlook on life manifested in bad posture, leaving him with a sore neck and shoulders. In his first year of college, he became addicted to drugs and alcohol. Then he attended a lecture given by a health enthusiast as a requirement for his psychology class at San Diego State University. The man leading the class was the Bert Morrow, a world-record track and field hurdler who landed a three-year stint on national television as the Chiquita Banana Man, running hurdles and breaking records in his 80s after starting every morning with his grains topped with a banana. Morrow explained to the college students that a secret to health and longevity was to stretch every morning. With that, Senesi enrolled in a college yoga class and began his journey in wellness though it was hardly smooth-going. I sucked, he said with a laugh. I was shaking and falling, but I felt like I had a great workout, and I felt more balanced and less anxious. It taught me the importance of self-discipline and that if I continued coming back, Id get better at it. Soon, Senesi was practicing yoga every day. He stayed away from junk food and late-night drinking, and he found supportive friends who encouraged him to grow in his practice. After graduation, having taught yoga classes in college, Senesi embarked on a path to becoming a master yoga teacher by training with Megan Bello from Orange County Yoga Studio. He apprenticed with yoga instructors, took workshops and studied with Iyengar teachers who are held to an unusually rigorous standard of knowledge and training which helped foster his own blend of vinyasa flow. In 2015, he became part of a Yoga Journal Conference, where he was asked to share his vinyasa flow classes. The conferences are held annually in different cities. Senesi, who has taught yoga for the past five years in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach, said he enjoys practicing yoga at home, and this inspired him to create his own YouTube channel, so that viewers of all experience levels could practice for free. Viewers from all over the world have sent him messages, thanking him for his outreach. A group of women in Iran wrote that they watch his videos in secret because the subject matter is censored in their country. Hes amazing and one of the best, said student Huty Contractor. Every class is like a workshop and he recognizes you. His life is making a difference. Senesi, an avid surfer and skateboarder, said he also hosts seven-day retreats every year so students can practice yoga and find a path to inner peace. His next retreat will be held in Fiji in March. I hope people get stoked on yoga and feel how a regular practice can help them be the best version of themselves, Senesi said. I hope to help them feel healthy, strong, balanced and grounded. Class times and prices vary. For more information, visit yogawithtim.com. kathleen.luppi@latimes.com Twitter: @KathleenLuppi It all started with a movie supposedly shot in California and culminated in a museum a continent away. Supposedly because, well, when youre dealing with mythical or not creatures, you just never know for sure. Or do you? A different film this one clearly fiction spurred a vocation for Loren Coleman. When he was a boy in 1960 in Decatur, Ill., he watched a movie titled Half Human about an abominable snowman. Advertisement The film has affected his life ever since. At 69, Coleman is one of the worlds leading authorities on cryptozoology, the study of hidden (crypto) or rumored-to-exist animals, such as yeti (the Abominable Snowman), Sasquatch and the Loch Ness Monster. In 2003 he set up what is thought to be the worlds only International Cryptozoology Museum. The 10,000-item nonprofit, which focuses on these legendary creatures, called cryptids, moved in the summer into new digs in a restored industrial landmark in Portland, about 115 miles north of Boston. Coleman, who has written or contributed to more than 100 books on cryptozoology, natural history mysteries and suicide prevention, has collected a trove of specimens and artifacts, such as foot casts and native art. As I began prowling the two-story museum, I soon came face to face with an 8-foot-tall, supposedly life-size rendering of Bigfoot. Selfie, anyone? For decades, the hairy, long-armed Bigfoot (a.k.a. Sasquatch) has been a marquee cryptid because, Coleman told me, its the cryptid closest to humans. It is thought to live in the northwestern United States and Canada. California is a rich place for cryptids, Coleman said. There is, he said, a historical depth of California sightings. He cited examples such as sea serpents, the Abominable Sandman (a desert Bigfoot) and the giant salamander, A long list of other cryptids have been encountered in the state They have been seen there, he said. Moreover, the term Bigfoot originated in Northern California, he said. There has been at least one claim of a Bigfoot sighting in Humboldt County, Calif., about 40 miles south of the Oregon border. It is perhaps the most famous imagery of the creature. In 1967 Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin said they encountered an immense ape-like creature walking along Bluff Creek. Their encounter allegedly produced nearly a minute of footage that included the figure glancing toward the camera before vanishing into the woods. The footage is part of the museums Bigfoot exhibit. Nearby, another exhibit shows footcasts said to be taken of the tracks of the star of the 1967 movie. I am quite convinced they point to the existence of an unrecognized relict hominoid in North America, scientist Jeff Meldrum said in an email. (A relict hominoid is a surviving species of an otherwise extinct group.) Meldrum is a professor of anatomy and anthropology at Idaho State University in Pocatello and is an expert in primate locomotion and biomechanics. Apparently, Bigfoot gets around. California is a rich place for cryptids Loren Coleman The numerous footprints photographed and cast throughout the Pacific Northwest and Inter-mountain West indicate the existence of a rare and elusive hominoid referred to as Bigfoot or Sasquatch, Meldrum said. His scholarly research can be seen in the Relict Hominoid Inquiry. Meldrum, the editor, described this as an online scholarly journal with the support of an editorial board of fellow academics and professionals with pertinent expertise. Not everyone is a believer in Sasquatch or any other cryptid. There are plenty of mainstream scientists as well as laypeople who claim science fails to prove conclusively the existence of these creatures. On the other hand, cryptozoologists point to formerly mythical animals that have turned out to exist, such as the giant squid, the okapi (a member of the giraffe family) and the coelacanth, a fish thought to be extinct for 65 million years thats the museums logo. A whole skin and skull of the okapi was discovered in 1901 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa (formerly Zaire). The animals can now be found in some zoos. A coelacanth was found to be alive and well in 1938 when one was found in the Indian Ocean near Africas southern coast. Colemans approach to the subject? Im an open-minded skeptic and Im skeptically open-minded, he said. We support critical thinking. Near the Bigfoot exhibits, theres a 1989 letter from actor Jimmy Stewart to Coleman about the hand of a yeti that Stewart received in 1959 from a member of a yeti expedition in Nepal. Stewart packed the hand in his luggage. But on the way home, his luggage was lost. When his bag was later found, The yeti [hand] was gone. In an adjacent display, I found the first item collected by Coleman as a teenager: a flag from Sir Edmund Hillarys 1960 expedition to search for a yeti in Nepal. The museum is more than Bigfoot, yeti and other hairy hominoids. Plenty of exhibits deal with other hidden creatures: lake monsters, sea serpents, the Tatzelwurm, a 2- to 6-foot-long lizard-like reptile said to exist in the European Alps. You cant talk about cryptozoology without addressing hoaxes, and the museum does. Displays show fakes ranging from the jackalope (jack rabbit with antelope horns, made famous on postcards), a furry trout and a replica of P.T. Barnums mummified FeeJee mermaid, the head and torso of an ape sewn to a fish tail. You may not believe in cryptids, but you cant deny their effect on popular culture. Curio cabinets abound with Bigfoot dolls, film props and even beverages sporting cryptid names. How about a Loch Ness Scotch Whiskey or a Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale? Skeptic or believer? No matter. The museum is fun. And it might make you ponder the idea that hidden beasts could be out there. Plus, youll get one heck of a selfie. If you go THE BEST WAY TO PORTLAND, MAINE From LAX, American, Southwest, Jet Blue, Delta and United offer connecting service (change of planes) to Portland. Restricted round-trip fares from $375, including fees and taxes International Cryptozoology Museum, 4 Thompsons Point Road. Open 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Mondays; beginning Feb. 10 open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $10 for adults; seniors, $8; $5 for children 12 and younger. The last act of a dictator who ruled his country for 22 years was massive embezzlement, according to the new government of Gambia, where Yahya Jammeh was forced to give up power under West African military and diplomatic pressure. Jammeh tried to cling to power after losing elections last month, but neighboring West African leaders wouldnt allow it. Their intervention represented a significant boost for democracy on a continent where many presidents try to rule for life. But Mai Ahmed Fatty, advisor to the new president, Adama Barrow, said at a news conference Sunday that experts in the ministry of finance had determined that Jammeh withdrew more than $11.4 million from banks in the past two weeks before fleeing to exile in Equatorial Guinea. Advertisement As we take over the new government, the Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are virtually empty, he said. Fatty said Jammeh also managed to squeeze numerous luxury cars onto his plane. With Jammeh out of the country, the chances of Gambia recovering the money seem remote. In theory, the United States could use the 2015 Magnitsky Act, which enables U.S. authorities to seize the property of any foreign government official responsible for stealing public money or human rights abuses, to confiscate Jammehs multimillion-dollar mansion in Potomac, Md. In addition to being implicated in the theft of state funds, Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, has also been accused by human rights groups of serious human rights abuses, including jailing and disappearing political opponents and critics without trial. In recent years, African governments have pressed Western governments and banks with some success to help recover billions in public funds looted by dictators. In March last year for example, Switzerland reached agreement with the Nigerian government to return $321 million of the billions looted by former military dictator Sani Abacha. It had previously repatriated more than $720 million of money stolen by corrupt officials to Nigeria. In comparison, Jammehs purported last-minute withdrawals may seem modest but they amount to more than 1.2% of his countrys annual gross domestic product. The Magnitsky Act named after a Russian lawyer who died in prison after he was jailed for exposing a $230 million tax scam by Russian officials was one of many irritants that saw relations between the U.S. and Russian governments deteriorate sharply. But the law requires a decision by the U.S. president on any seizure of foreigners property. Although its too early to tell, President Trump has shown little interest in African affairs, and may see little reason to help out a tiny West African country of no strategic interest. Like Jammeh, President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea has ruled his country for decades and has been accused of jailing opponents, crushing dissent and ruling by fear. His son, Teodorin Nguema Obiang, is on trial for corruption and money laundering in absentia in France, where he owns a Paris mansion and numerous luxury cars. In 2014, Teodorin Obiang had to forfeit his Malibu mansion, a Ferrari and items in his collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia, valued at $34 million, after the U.S. Department of Justice took action to seize his assets, alleging corruption. Equatorial Guineas opposition attacked the decision to shelter Jammeh, saying he didnt qualify for asylum because he triggered Gambias crisis when he refused to step down, the Associated Press reported. We are not against Pan-Africanism, but we are in favor of a more objective Pan-Africanism that does not consist in just bringing over the waste of Africa, the Democratic Opposition Front said in a statement. ECOWAS, the leadership group of West African nations, offered Jammeh immunity from prosecution and exile if he agreed to leave power. When he rejected the deal, the group sent in a military force late Thursday. Mediators finally persuaded Jammeh to agree to step down Friday and he flew out Saturday. Barrow remains in neighboring Senegal, while West African troops stabilize the country, ensuring it is safe for him to return. Senegalese forces, part of the West African force, have taken control of the presidential residence in the Gambian capital, Banjul. Fatty told journalists Barrow would return to Gambia as soon as possible. robyn.dixon@latimes.com Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT ALSO Gambian leader who once said only God could remove him cedes power under military pressure Can Chinas ban on ivory sales save Africas elephants, or will people keep on buying ivory trinkets? Its a bird! Its a plane! Therein lies the problem at Lebanons international airport After stealing a short nap in a police van, the veteran officer was back on the streets early Sunday morning to kick off what would likely be his second consecutive 17-hour shift. Eyes puffy with fatigue, he kept his distance from the swarm of pro-democracy demonstrators occupying a typically busy intersection of Hong Kongs Mong Kok district. We just want this to be over, said the officer, 40, who declined to give his name because he was not authorized to speak to the media. This is not the real Hong Kong. This is a peaceful city. Advertisement Indeed, Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world, with a crime rate about half that of Los Angeles and New York. But these are trying times for one of Asias most well-regarded police forces as it faces Hong Kongs greatest social crisis in recent memory. Police are facing an unprecedented challenge, Steve Hui, a department spokesman, said Sunday at a press conference aimed at winning back public support. We have exercised maximum tolerance, he added. The goal is to not provoke even more resentment and negative emotion among demonstrators. Heavy scrutiny of the 37,000-member department began eight days ago when police deployed tear gas on Hong Kong Island to push back demonstrators. It was the first time tear gas had been used in Hong Kong since 2005, when protesters amassed against a World Trade Organization summit. Many Hong Kong residents were stunned by what they thought was excessive force for a department that rarely has to deal with violent crime in a city of 7 million. Police defended the move, saying the tear gas prevented a repeat of a 1992 stampede in a popular bar district on Hong Kong Island that left 21 people dead. Anger intensified Friday when police were accused of deliberately choosing not to protect democracy demonstrators from violent mobs in Mong Kok, resulting in scuffles and bloodied occupiers. A few of the assailants were proved to be members of organized criminal gangs, or triads. Demonstrators have accused the police of working in concert with the gangs to pressure them to abandon their sit-ins. They also say officers did not arrest men who had assaulted and even groped some of the protesters. These cops have lost their minds, said Oscar Ng, a 23-year-old university student at the Mong Kok sit-in. Im really disappointed in them. It seems like theyre arbitrarily choosing when to step in and enforce the law. Paul Edmiston, a Hong Kong police commander, said morale remained high on the force despite the long hours and mounting criticism. Its all rubbish, Edmiston said Sunday about speculation police chose not to protect the protesters. No matter what we do, were criticized for doing too little or too much. We cant win. Pressure is growing on the local police to resolve the standoff with protesters in key parts of the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Demonstrators are calling for free elections to choose Hong Kongs next chief executive, the citys top post. Theyre also demanding that the current leader, Leung Chun-ying, step down. Official state media in China has attacked the democracy movement, warning of dire consequences if it continues. Thats prompted fears of a Tiananmen Square-style crackdown from Peoples Liberation Army troops stationed in the former British colony. But Edmiston, who joined the force nine years before the British handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, said the impasse with protesters would be solved internally. I cannot envision any situation in which the PLA would be called in, he said. The Hong Kong police force can handle anything. Police maintained a significantly larger presence in Mong Kok on Sunday than days past. Officers regularly intervened to separate demonstrators and counter-demonstrators throughout the day. Police, clear the way, chanted opponents of the democracy protesters. Demonstrators were preparing for a major confrontation Sunday, the day before the citys chief executive said roads had to be cleared to allow residents to get back to school and work. In the early afternoon, Edmiston said he still had not received an order to remove the blockade in Mong Kok, a highly dense commercial and residential neighborhood. But when he does, he said demonstrators would be given ample time to leave before police would again use tactics such as tear gas. If you see police with masks on, youve got a problem, he said. Staff writer Julie Makinen contributed to this report. Follow @dhpierson for news from Hong Kong. All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. The CDC Links Pet Rats In Illinois and Wisconsin To Seoul Virus Outbreak staff@latinoshealth.com By Aboki Basira Jan 23, 2017 12:38 AM EST The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a virus which is not common in the U.S. recently infected eight people in Illinois and Wisconsin. They confirmed on Friday that pet rats are the source of an outbreak of Seoul virus infections and has also confirmed it in eight patients in an ongoing investigation. The infected persons work in facilities where pet rats are bred. "There was an outbreak reported in Europe previously associated with pet rats, so it is not the first time this has been associated with pets worldwide," a veterinarian and deputy division director for CDC's division of high consequent pathogens and pathology, Dr. Jennifer McQuiston said. The agencies first became aware of the infections following the illness of two people in Wisconsin who ran a home-based rat-breeding facility in December 2016. One of the patients in the current outbreak visited a hospital with flu-like symptoms, says Stephanie Smiley, director of the bureau of communicable disease with Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The doctor had a hunch to test for Hantavirus giving the patient's exposure to rodents. Following a positive test result in late December, Wisconsin health officials sent a sample from the patient to the CDC as well as a separate sample from the second patient. The CDC confirmed infections with Seoul virus in both patients, on January 11. The CDC says the virus is a part of the Hantavirus family - a group of viruses that typically infect rodents. Though related, Seoul virus is different from Hantavirus and it is not typically common in the US. The recent cases are the first reported human cases in the United States associated with pet rats, as several previous outbreaks occurred mainly in wild rats. The Seoul virus is accompanied by virus such as chills, fever, pink eye-type eye infection, nausea, abdominal pain, and even though it rarely occurs, an infection can lead to Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which includes fever, severe aches, fatigue and may turn critical. Symptoms usually manifest between one to two weeks after exposure to the infection, but can sometimes take as long as eight weeks to manifest. The Wisconsin patients have recovered, according to the CNN. The discovery of their infection led to an investigation into several rat suppliers, which revealed an additional six cases of Seoul virus among workers at two Illinois breeding facilities. The cases were confirmed by the CDC on January 18. Five of the Six people who tested positive showed no symptoms of the virus, which cannot be transmitted from one person to another, "therefore, the general public is at extremely low risk," from these cases, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Dr. Nirav Shah said. The one patient who became sick has also recovered. Infected rats do not appear sick and the virus can be contracted when bitten by infected rats or through contact with infectious fluids like blood, saliva and urine, according to Live Science. The Seoul virus is carried by wild Norway rats also known as the brown rat, which first arrive America during the late 1700s and then began to dominate urban centers across the country. Most infections in humans have been reported in Asia. The state's health department is currently working with both the CDC and the Wisconsin Department of Public Health to try to identify the origin of the rats, clients and people who may have been exposed to the virus, but the total numbers are not known. People who recently purchased rats in the affected areas and experiences Seoul virus symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately. Those who have purchased or come in contact with rats from the affected breeders should contact their local or state health departments. To prevent diseases or infections carried by rats, people are advised to wash their hands with soap and water after touching, feeding, or cleaning their rat cages. They should also be rats are properly secured in a cage due to their tendency to spread disease causing germs. It is better to If clean cages and pet supplies outside the house, and never in the kitchen or bathroom. Breeders should avoid bites and scratches from rodents and Take them to a veterinarian for routine care to keep the animal healthy and disease-free. They should also wear gloves to avoid contact with droppings or urine. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko intends to complete the pretrial investigation into criminal proceedings on treason of ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych during February 2017. "We do not plan to extend the terms of the pretrial investigation. We will hold the final necessary interrogations and examinations during February. After that, the case will be referred to the court and I am sure that it is the Ukrainian court that will put a period to this matter [...] I count on the integrity of lawyers, that is in February we finish the investigation, a short introduction and the start of the trial. We will do everything not to make it faster, but in order to make it qualitatively," he said in an interview with 1 plus 1 TV channel on Sunday night. He also reminded that the Ukrainian law enforcers obtained a photocopy of an appeal by former disgraced president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych dated March 1, 2014, to Russia to bring its troops into Ukraine, which, in his opinion, is conclusive evidence of treason. Kate Middleton With New Workload: London Will Witness A New Royal Beginning staff@latinoshealth.com By partha das Jan 23, 2017 05:14 AM EST New update on Kate Middleton has already flooded the key part of the discussion. Recently the Kensington Palace has released an update regarding the move of Prince William and Kate Middleton from Anmer Hall to London. It is revealed that before moving to the new place the Duke of Cambridge has to complete his two-year commitment to the East Anglia Air Ambulance. The recent press release reveals some important facts. According to the Kensington Palace press release, Kate Middleton and Prince William will continue their official work on behalf of Queen Elizabeth. The royal couple has to handle the increased workload. Even they also have to perform their important charitable works. Kate Middleton has to handle more workload than she previously handled. Even her regular schedule of work includes more engagement. From now on she has to attend three engagements on a regular basis. The day must begin with a breakfast on behalf of a charity. Kate Middleton has to attend another charity while taking her lunch. Even she has to attend the third one while taking her dinner. On the other hand, Prince William's two-year commitment to the East Anglia Air Ambulance will end this summer. It is a true fact that working as a pilot is a stressful job. But after completing the two-year commitment, Kate Middleton's husband will deal with the easier job. According to Celeb Dirty Laundry, Prince William's new workload includes the visit of hospices, important official visit on behalf of Queen Elizabeth and speeches on the mental health awareness. Even in the recent press release, the better half of Kate Middleton thanked the East Anglia Air Ambulance for having a great opportunity to serve as a pilot. He uttered that working as a pilot was a great experience. He even mentioned that this work must add a valuable perspective to his Royal work. From September Princess Charlotte and Prince George will also enjoy a new beginning with the Royal couple. Kate Middleton and Prince William will enjoy the life in London with the new increased workload. The royal couple must enjoy the new workload that includes key official engagements. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! With the current trend in innovation and gaming requesting exceptional speed and proficiency, it is no surprise that organizations dependably think of new achievements to dependably beat themselves. Nonetheless, for tech goliath NVIDIA, it would seem that the race is at a standstill. Amid the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), members were expecting the uncover of NVIDIA's most recent GeForce GTX 1080 Ti design card, which pretty much has top of the line PC gamers as a main priority. In any case, when it was absent at the said occasion, everybody was left with a biting taste in their tongue, disillusioned and troubled. Everybody was left asking why NVIDIA remained mum about the most recent graphics card, and why it didn't dispatch it amid the CES 2017. The occasion was ostensibly one of the best stages to declare the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, and individuals rush to theorize why it didn't snatch the open door reports, Extremetech. As per Fox Business, NVIDIA might watch the requests for graphic cards. With the request seemingly slowing, it might be an awful thought to present the new graphic card right now, as it is expected to cannibalize the income from its antecedent, the GTX 1080. On the off chance that NVIDIA dispatches the GTX 1080 Ti with poor gathering, it can be seen as a fizzled endeavor to present it. In view of this, it might take some time before NVIDIA formally releases the powerful graphic card. Everything will rely on the market's temperature with regards to the request of such items. It obviously won't take long, according to hunches flowing. As per reports, NVIDIA might focus on the current year's PAX East 2017 occasion in Boston, Massachusetts, which will be at some point in March. In the event that it holds ground, then this could presumably be the time that eager gamers can at last affirm the force of the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti reports, Foxbusiness. These are hypotheses, however until further notice gamers should sit and hold up. A storm that destroys the region overnight left with no less 18 individuals dead in the Southeast, which includes 14 in Georgia. Moreover, in southern Georgia no less than 23 individuals injured, and four individuals passed on after the tornado tore through several homes in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on Saturday. Now, the fatal weather is presently headed towards Florida as the authorities say. According to Mail Online, the legislative head of Georgia announced a state of emergency in seven regions that have gone through deaths, injuries and serious harm from the weekend storms. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency said that seven individuals have died in Cook County, and there are two deaths each in Berrien and Brooks regions, in a great extent in the rural region between the Florida-Georgia line, and three deaths in Dougherty County. CNN reported that the residents who survived encountered a couple of minutes of terror and compared it to the "Elm Street." As they rose up out of their hiding places, they saw this overturned cars, debris, and scores of a casualty of mobile homes. In southeast Georgia, there is uncommon 'high risk' notification of serious weather, with these areas perhaps will be encountering more stronger and longer track of tornadoes. The National Weather Service said that the northern Florida and some portion of Alabama could confront some serious tornadoes, winds, and substantial hail. On the other hand, the county coroner Tim Purvis said that seven individuals that were confirmed dead after an evident tornado leveled in an approximately 20 mobile homes that are nearby Adel, Georgia, in Cook County. He added that the emergency responders were hunting down victims that are still trapped. Reports said that south Georgia Motorsports Park was likewise seriously damaged and the grandstand was torn apart. As indicated by Brooks County Coroner Michael Miller, there are two individuals were killed after their mobile home was hit by a tornado and moved about 100 yards onto a Georgia expressway. Miller was not sure if the houses were being rolled or was lifted up, yet it was blocking the whole highway. The other authorities examining have attributed the deaths and destruction to an apparent tornado. Throughout of the week, there have been 30 initial reports of tornados in the South, with no less than 11 reported in Georgia alone. The National Weather Service in Jacksonville, Florida, has issued tornado notices for districts in southeastern Georgia and an extreme storm warning for the Florida panhandle. More than 10,000 people have marched through the capital of Romania and other cities to protest against the government's proposal of pardoning thousands of prisoners in the country. The protesters gathered on Sunday at University Square in Bucharest, while a thousand others protested in the western city of Cluj and in Iasi in the north. Among them were the elderly people and parents who were carrying their children on their shoulders or in their arms. They later broke through the police lines, heading towards the government headquarters. The prime minister of Romania, Sorin Grindeanu, wants to pass an emergency ordinance to pardon prisoners, which he believes would essentially help ease overcrowding in prisons. But critics say that it would surely reverse the anti-corruption fight in the country, and more towards, setting free government allies convicted of corruption without the fullest justice. They also added that the proposal should be debated in the parliament. In Bucharest, protesters exclaimed saying, "We want democracy, with thieves in prison." They also named the ruling Social Democratic party "the red plague". The crowd began cheering after Klaus Johannis, the current president of Romania, who turned up at the protest. He is a government critic who strongly supports the anti-corruption fight of the nation. Iohannis said regarding the proposal, "A gang of politicians who have problems with the law want to change the legislation system and weaken the state of law... Romanians are rightly indignant." Donald Simionoiu, an art director who shares the same view, puts it in his own words - that the ulterior motive of the proposal "hides other things". Its worth noticing how such ordinance would benefit politician-turned-offenders like Liviu Dragnea, the Social Democratic party chairman who was given a two-year suspension of prison for electoral fraud; and media mogul Dan Voiculescu, who is currently serving a 10-year imprisonment over money laundering. The justice ministry of Romania published a detailed draft of the proposal on Wednesday, which was widely criticised by Romania's top prosecutors, magistrates and politicians from the opposition parties. Excluding those convicted of sexual crimes, violence or corruption, the proposal would primarily affect those with less than five years sentence. Prisoners over 60, pregnant women and people with young children would see their sentences halved regardless of their convictions. The government estimates 2,500 prisoners would be freed. The prisoners, including elderly men, pregnant women and juveniles would see their sentences halved regardless of their convictions. Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo is pushing to make Rhode Island the first state to have free tuition for all students who want to go to college. The idea sparked on the Rhode Island governor during the presidential race. During the campaign, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont raised the idea of a free tuition for all students at public colleges and Universities. Following Sanders' proposal, Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged earlier this month to cover tuition costs to college students who have been accepted to a state or city university in New York, provided that they or their family earns at least $125,000 per year. Seemingly, this idea can now be tested in the smallest state. Raimondo's proposal would give in-state residents two years of free tuition at public colleges. For the cost, she described it as a $30 million "drop in the bucket" of the state's $9 billion budget. On Thursday, Raimondo submitted her annual spending plan to state lawmakers. Awaiting the approval of the legislature, it seems like the Rhode Island governor need not worry as the former has the nation's second-largest Democratic majority. According to the Associated Press, the Rhode Island governor's plan would cover free tuition for all students at the Community College or the final two years of a 4-year degree at the University of Rhode Island or Rhode Island College. Noteworthy, the program doesn't include room and board. But Raimondo explained that the aim is to create an incentive for students to graduate on time. It came out of conversations with university students who had to drop out or delay their schooling due to financial problems. In comparison, the Rhode Island governor claimed that this differs from Cuomo's proposal since she didn't include an income cap which would exclude middle-class families. For the first year, the allotted budget is $10 million. Only $3 million would go to pay for students' tuition at the Community College and more than half of them have benefited from scholarships and enjoyed a free tuition. Further, another $6 million will be invested in higher education institutions and later on budget will expand to $30 million so to include students at the College. Raimondo is optimistic of the plan and said that with this people will consider studying at URI and eventually stick around in the state. News of the free tuition for all spread like wildfire among high school students and "people are excited," said 18-year-old Rachel Berson. Leicester City's Islam Slimani bagged a brace as Algeria exited the Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-2 draw with Group B winners Senegal in Gabon on Monday night. - Islam Slimani scored twice as Algeria exited the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday night - A 2-2 draw with Senegal was not enough to see the Desert Foxes through to the last-eight - Slimani's brace gave Algeria hope but Tunisia's 4-2 win against Zimbabwe proved decisive - Foxes team-mate Daniel Amartey will be in action for Ghana against Egypt on Wednesday Leicester City's Islam Slimani bagged a brace as Algeria exited the Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-2 draw with Group B winners Senegal in Gabon on Monday night. The City striker gave the Desert Foxes, with a solitary point to their name before kick-off, a chance of pulling off an unlikely turnaround but Tunisias 4-2 win over Zimbabwe rendered the result immaterial. Slimani, playing alongside Club team-mate Riyad Mahrez, opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a close-range finish before putting Algeria back into a 2-1 lead after the break with a scuffed half-volley from six yards out. But two strikes by Papa Diop and Moussa Sow - either side of Slimanis second effort for the one-time AFCON winners - meant they missed out on the three points required to prolong their stay. Also needing Zimbabwe to defeat Tunisia, a feat which ultimately proved beyond them, it was always likely to be a tough night for Georges Leekens' men after a modest return from their opening two matches. Following a 2-2 draw with Zimbabwe at the Stade de Franceville, , and a , the Foxes duo will now return to action for Claudio Ranieris men this month. For all the latest on the progress of City midfielder and Ghana international Daniel Amartey, check back into LCFC.com over the coming days. Advisor to Ukraine's Interior Ministry Zorian Shkiriak has confirmed plans to assassinate Verkhovna Rada deputy Anton Gerashchenko (People's Front faction). "Today we can say that we are talking about an attempted murder of our friend and ally, People's Deputy of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko. The assassin's paymaster was Russia's special services," Shkiriak wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday morning. He also noted that the main motive of an attempt is the activity of Mirotvorets (Peacemaker) website and the public anti-Russian activities of Gerashchenko. "The pattern of the assassin's paymasters is similar to the planning and implementation of terrorist attack with the murder of Pavel Sheremet," the head Interior minister advisor said. As reported, on Friday, SBU prevented an assassination attempt on a Ukrainian deputy, saying Russian intelligence agencies were involved in it. People's deputy from People's Front faction, a member of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement, Anton Gerashchenko, hopes that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will abolish the so-called Savchenko's law in February. "I hope, we will cancel the so-called Savchenko's law in February," he said in the air of Hard Talk program at 112.ua Ukraine TV channel on Sunday night. Gerashchenko noted that according to this law, fraudsters and corrupt officials were released in advance. "We need to correct the mistake, and this law will be canceled in February," the MP said. As reported, Savchenko's law came into force on December 24, 2015. According to the document, every day of a pretrial detention should be credited as two days of the main punishment. According to this law, in particular, former head of the Lviv Administrative Court of Appeal Ihor Zvarych and former MP of Ukraine Viktor Lozynsky were released. Jan 23, 2017, 2:17pm ET Trump meets Ford, Tesla execs, promises 75 percent fewer regulations Ford chief Mark Fields described the meeting as \"very, very positive.\" President Donald Trump has convened with a group of top executives, including automotive industry CEOs from Ford and Tesla, to kick off regular meetings aimed at creating a more pro-business regulatory environment. The revised WhiteHouse.gov website claims federal regulations cost the American economy more than $2 trillion in 2015 alone. "That is why the President has proposed a moratorium on new federal regulations and is ordering the heads of federal agencies and departments to identify job-killing regulations that should be repealed," it says. Trump elaborated in his talks with the executives, promising to eliminate around 75 percent of federal regulations without any increasing risk to the environment or worker safety. He also aims to cut the top corporate tax rate in half, down to as low as 15 percent from its current rate of 35 percent. The meeting reportedly carried forward Trump's carrot-and-stick approach, promising concessions to help increase profits but threatening punishment for businesses that move jobs away from US factories. "A company that wants to fire all of its people in the United Sates and build some factory someplace else, and then thinks that that product is just going to flow across the border into the United States, that's not going to happen," he said, as quoted by NPR. "What we want to do is bring manufacturing back to our country." Ford CEO Mark Fields appears to have gained even more enthusiasm for the plan after attending the latest gathering. "Walking out of the meeting today, I know I come out with a lot of confidence that the president is very, very serious on making sure that the United States economy is going to be strong and have policies, tax, regulatory or trade to drive that," he said, according to quotes published by The Detroit News. Trump's threats of 35-percent tariffs on made-in-Mexico products are widely believed to have inspired Ford's decision to cancel a factory expansion plan south of the US border. GM has also announced a shift away from Mexico-sourced axle components and promised to create more than 7,000 new US jobs in the coming years. The Martin Tower property is starting to see a flurry of activity after years of dormancy. On Monday morning, crews worked to surround the 53-acre site at Eighth and Eaton Avenues in West Bethlehem with temporary fencing in anticipation of demolition work. Owners Lewis Ronca and Norton Herrick have applied to the city for permits to begin remediation and selective interior demolition of the iconic 21-story tower that was headquarters for Bethlehem Steel. The developers bought the property in 2007 but its redevelopment has been stalled for years and the landmark building's fate is unknown. The tower itself is filled with asbestos, which must be removed whether Ronca and Herrick decide to bring the tower down or remodel it. No permits have been pulled to demolish the tower or any of the surrounding outbuildings, said Craig B. Hynes, Bethlehem's chief code official. Efforts to reach Ronca and a representative were unsuccessful. Ronca told The Morning Call that no decision has been made on the future of the Lehigh Valley's tallest building but he plans to decide its fate in the next year. The tower itself is polarizing. Some view it as a historic landmark worth preserving, while others see its cruciform shape -- designed to maximize the number of corner offices -- as a monument to the greed that brought about Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s demise. Over the next eight months, construction crews will remove ceiling tiles, flooring and walls in the tower, annex, printery and another small building, The Morning Call reported. Ronca told the newspaper that the outbuildings, including the annex, will be razed to make way for retailers. Ronca's interview was a rare one. The developers have been tight-lipped about their plans for the property in recent years, refusing to weigh in during contentious 2015 hearings about the property's rezoning. The rezoning allows for the tower to be torn down and allows greater retail uses on the site. City officials argued it was necessary to jump-start the redevelopment of the property into a mixed-use. But they later came under fire when it was revealed that the city and developers discussed plans for the site months before they became public. Ronca said that he likely will hold community meetings down the line to discuss the future plans for the property. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 2-month-old baby would have shown immediate symptoms of shaken baby syndrome, and in the hours before the trauma the child was only with her father, a doctor testified Monday. Matthew Wolfe is on trial in Lehigh County, accused of fatally abusing his baby daughter Quinn in 2013. Testimony is expected to continue on Tuesday, with the case possibly heading to the jury by Wednesday. The 32-year-old Wolfe's charges of third-degree murder and child endangerment followed a county grand jury investigation; he was arrested and charged in the case in December 2015. Wolfe's attorney, Scott Wilhelm, has said it was the baby's mother, Cristen Sanchez, who caused the child's death. Quinn Wolfe was brought to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill on Nov. 12, 2013, with multiple traumatic injuries to her body including brain hemorrhages, multiple rib fractures and leg fractures, prosecutors previously said. The baby was near death, and immediately taken to St. Christopher's Hospital in Philadelphia, Martin said. She was pronounced dead on Nov. 18, 2013. An investigation found the baby was in Wolfe's care for most of the day at the family's home in the 1200 block of Forrest Road in Whitehall Township. On Monday, jurors heard from Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, a pediatrician with Lehigh Valley Health Network and a child abuse expert. Esernio-Jenssen said the baby would have shown immediate symptoms following the "severe, lethal episode of head trauma" she suffered. Wolfe was alone with the child, and he told several medical professionals that he fed the baby and she was fine, he took a shower and, when he checked on Quinn, her pupils were different and she was lethargic, according to Esernio-Jenssen. The baby was seen by a pediatrician the day before and had no signs of injuries, prosecutors previously said, and the child's mother had fed her in the early morning the day she was injured and noticed no problems. When Wolfe took the baby to see Sanchez at St. Luke's, she was lethargic, her skin was mottled and cold, and her temperature was low, Esernio-Jenssen testified. Doctors found Quinn suffering from two skull fractures, consistent with her head coming into contact with a surface, and rib fractures consistent with the baby being grabbed around her torso and squeezed, the doctor said. She had "significant brain damage" and "severe neurological devastation," Esernio-Jenssen said. Sanchez, sitting in a front row of the courtroom audience, began crying during the doctor's testimony, and was comforted by friends. Wilhelm asked the doctor what records she looked at, and she said she reviewed medical reports, notes and X-rays. Esernio-Jenssen did not review police records, or the parents' recorded statements to police, but the doctor said she would not rely on those records to make a medical opinion about what happened to Quinn. The parents gave medical histories to doctors and staff, Esernio-Jenssen said, and "we assume they are telling the truth." The couple were living together at the time the baby girl died, but separated soon after and did not have contact since then, Wilhelm said. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. FLEMINGTON -- Four corrections officers at New Jersey's only women's prison were indicted last week over claims they sexually abused inmates, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony Kearns announced on Monday. At least eight inmates at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for women were abused by the officers over a period of two years, the prosecutor alleged at a press conference at the Superior Courthouse in Hunterdon County. "In these cases, the victims were particularly vulnerable as inmates," Kearns told reporters. "The corrections officers had complete power and control over every aspect of their lives behind bars." The indictments were handed up by a Hunterdon County grand jury on January 19, authorities said. The indicted officers include Brian Y. Ambroise, 33, and Thomas Seguine, 34, of Phillipsburg, against whom the prosecutor's office publicly announced charges last year. They also include two others, Jason Mays, 43, and Ahnwar Dixon, 38, whose arrests had not been previously disclosed publicly. All four men have been released on bail, authorities said. They could not immediately be reached for comment and it wasn't clear whether they had retained attorneys. The prosecutor would not say whether any of the cases were related, but said there appeared to be "some crossover" between the defendants and some of their victims. Kearns also announced that a fifth man, civilian employee Joel Herscap, 55, of Alpha, had been sentenced to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to official misconduct charges related to claims of sexual abuse last fall. Herscap was an institutional trade instructor for the Department of Corrections from September 2003 until his arrest in May 2016. He pleaded guilty last Oct. 31. The prosecutor said the charges were part of an "ongoing investigation" his office was conducting into sexual abuse at the Union Township facility. According to the state Department of Corrections, six employees were fired last year over claims of sexual abuse, five of them from Edna Mahan. That came after several years in which the department reported no cases of sexual abuse behind bars. In a statement, Commissioner Gary Lanigan said prisoners and their families "have every reason to trust" that inmates "appropriately treated" behind bars. "Violators of that trust should not and will not be taken lightly," he said. Mays, of Hillside, was indicted on five counts of official misconduct, one count of a pattern of misconduct and three counts of sexual assault. Dixon, of East Orange, was indicted on two counts of official misconduct, one count of a pattern of misconduct and one count of sexual assault. Ambroise, of Union, and Seguine, 34, a senior corrections officer since December 2008, were each indicted on one count of official misconduct and sexual assault. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A Hackettstown woman found herself in a sticky situation when she decided to use black tape to change letters on her license plate to avid arrest, police said. Charged during a traffic stop was Mariuca Johnson, 29, of Hackettstown, and her passenger, Michael E. Pelliccio, 30, of Jersey City. Washington Township, Morris County police at 11:33 a.m. Friday stopped Johnson driving along Route 46. Johnson's New Jersey license plate had black tape over the letter "E" to make it appear to be a "B," which returned a different vehicle in the database, according to police. Johnson had in her possession during the stop drug paraphernalia and various stolen merchandise, including baby formula, brass pipes and connectors. Pelliccio, a passenger, had an active warrant by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Both were arrested. Johnson was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and various motor vehicle and traffic violations. She was released pending a municipal court date. Pelliccio was turned over to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and later taken to the Morris County jail. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. No Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the Donbas Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) zone in the past 24 hours, yet four soldiers were wounded, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk said. "The hostilities did not kill any Ukrainian servicemen over the past day, but four soldiers of ours were wounded," he told a press briefing in Kyiv on Monday. According to Motuzianyk, the Ukrainian army suffered casualties in the Donetsk sector during attacks mounted by the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Ten shelling incidents were observed in the Luhansk sector over the past day, the ministry spokesman said, adding that the hostiles were bombarding Ukrainian army positions in Stanytsia Luhanska for 40 minutes, and sniper activity was observed. Besides, militants shelled Ukrainian positions in Novozvanivka. In the Donetsk sector, the hostiles fired mortars on Ukrainian positions in Pisky and marred the truce in Luhanske, Zaitseve and Novhorodske. A sniper was active near Avdiyivka. In all, seven shelling incidents, including one by use of heavy weapons, were seen in this area over the past day, he said. The Mariupol sector saw intense sniper activity along the frontline, including Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, Novotroyitske and Shyrokyne. Hostilities continued on the Pavlopil-Shyrokyne frontline. In all, the hostiles mounted 23 attacks, including one by use of mortars, in that area, he said. A man who stole a car after going off the rails when a relationship ended has had an appeal against a prison sentence struck out at the recent Portlaoise Circuit Court. Jason Mahony, with addresses listed at Crumlin, Dublin, was given an eight-month sentence in the district court, for the unauthorised taking of an MPV, at Westpark Fitness Centre, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on June 24, 2015. He appealed the severity of this sentence at the circuit court in February of last year, where Judge Keenan Johnson agreed to adjourn the case, on condition the appellant take up work and donate 1,500 to the Block Project in Portlaoise. The judge said this was so Mahony could give something back to th e community. When the case returned to the circuit court last November, the accused failed to appear. Judge Johnson struck out the appeal and affirmed the district court sentence. Details of the offence are that the gardai observed the stolen vehicle parked in Kilminchy, Portlaoise, and confirmed it had been stolen. Mahony was found asleep in the vehicle, and he made admissions to stealing it. He had a number of previous convictions, including thefts. During the original appeal in February, defence, Mr Philip Meagher said that the vehicle had the keys in the ignition and the doors were open, meaning no damage had to be caused. It was an opportunistic offence, said Mr Meagher. Defence explained that Mahonys relationship had broken down in December 2014 and he went off the rails, drinking a lot and making very poor decisions. He was then in a brief relationship with another woman and he had belongings moved to her house, but this relationship ended and he had to move his items. Laois TD and Government Minister Charlie Flanagan says the new Action Plan for Rural Ireland will bring tangible benefits to people in his constituency In a statement Minister Flanagan said his party, Fine Gael, is using the resources created by the economy to deliver 'real benefits' to people and communities all across the country. The new Action Plan for Rural Ireland contains over 270 targeted actions. It contains measures intended to support the revitalisation of over 600 rural towns and villages across Ireland, which will see investment of up to 37 million per annum in rural development schemes such as the Town and Village renewal Scheme, the CLAR Programme and the Rural Recreation Programme. A number of towns and villages across Laois were badly affected by the recession of recent year and part of Fine Gaels Action Plan will review planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial properties in rural towns and villages. "I hope to see this having an impact in towns such as Portlaoise, Portarlington, Rathdowney, Mountmellick, and Mountrath to name a few. There will also be a new pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in towns and villages," he said. Minister Flanagan said he was pleased that the Government is allocating an initial 275 million to implement the National Broadband Plan and will be implementing the recommendations of Report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. Every Local Authority in the country will have a Local Digital Strategy and broadband officers to see this through. Muintir na Tire, the National Association for Community Development, gave the new plan a cautious welcome. Its CEO Niall Garvey said the association has been lobbying for many years on the need for a comprehensive Government policy for Rural Ireland. We therefore welcome the issuing of this comprehensive action plan. It still does not include an overall policy - we envisaged this including a vision of future Rural Ireland what it would be like to live and work in, what essential services would be required for this, and what baseline commitment would be given on the provision of these services, he said. Women aged 25-60 and living in Laois, are being called upon to support the Pearl of Wisdom campaign run by the National Cervical Screening Programme and the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA). The campaign officially launched by campaign ambassador, RTE broadcaster Maura Derrane, just ahead of European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which runs from 22nd 28th January. The campaign aims to raise awareness on the importance of regular smear testing for women across Ireland. Throughout the week, CervicalCheck will distribute 22,000 free Pearl of Wisdom pins, which are a symbol of cervical cancer prevention. The campaign also aims to encourage women aged 25-60 to check that they are registered for free cervical screening and to ensure that they attend regular screening appointments. The call for the women of Laois to support the campaign, follows a recently published report by CervicalCheck which identified Laois, as one of a small number of counties in Ireland, where women are least likely to attend a smear test appointment. Nationally, screening rates are generally good and Ireland has one of the most successful cervical screening programmes in the Europe, but there is always more we can do. CervicalCheck offers screening to women aged 25-60 in Ireland. Its free, only takes a few minutes and it could save your life. This is the message from Clinical Director for CervicalCheck, Dr Grainne Flannelly who spoke at the launch. Each year in Ireland, around 300 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer and over 90 women die from the disease. With the HPV vaccination programme and regular cervical screening provided by CervicalCheck, we have the opportunity to significantly reduce these rates. Over 79% of the eligible 1.2 million women have taken part in CervicalCheck and we aim to increase this even further. Since the programme started, over 50,000 women have been treated for precancerous changes, reducing their risk of cervical cancer by 90%. This week, we are calling on all women aged 25 to 60 to check when their next smear test is due, or arrange their first test if they have never done so. We also want those who have had their test to share the wisdom with other women. Women aged between 25 and 60 can check when their next smear test is due, if they are on the register and can change their address online at www.cervicalcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55. SIPTU Health representatives will begin a ballot of support staff for strike action in Sligo University Hospital and Cavan General Hospital today in a dispute concerning breaches of the national public service agreements and the exclusion of staff from concessions provided to other emergency department workers. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: Our members are fully committed to winning fair and equal treatment in the workplace. The failure of the HSE and Department of Health to resolve our concerns has put our members in an intolerable and inequitable situation. These issues include a failure by management to adhere to the fully binding provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and Haddington Road Agreement. The most crucial elements that have not been adhered to include the reintroduction of a job evaluation scheme and the application of incremental credit to interns. The other central issue in this dispute involves the granting of concessions by the HSE and the Department of Health to nurses working in emergency departments which have not been extended to other workers. He added: After 15 months of engagement with management on the issues in dispute, our members believe enough is enough and they have been left with no option but to take action if they are to achieve justice from the employer." The balloting process will commence today with the result scheduled to be announced on Monday, 13th February. Two of Co Leitrim's fastest growing urban centres and our most northerly village are at the centre of an ongoing campaign to reunite Leitrim under the Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) initiative. While the rest of the county has been divided into three REDZ areas the villages of Dromahair, Kinlough and Tullaghan have been linked in with areas outside of the county boundary, something which has angered local communities and local representatives alike. The REDZ initiative was originally piloted in 2015 and subsequently launched nationwide in 2016. Under it the country is split into over 150 REDZ based on functional rather than administrative geographic areas. In Co Leitrim there are three main REDZ areas, Carrick-on-Shannon, Ballinamore and Manorhamilton. After initial confusion it emerged that Dromahair, Kinlough and Tullaghan were not included in these areas. Dromahair is now linked into a majority Sligo REDZ area while Kinlough and Tullaghan are included in the Bundoran REDZ area of Co Donegal. While this may appear, on paper, to make sense, after all Sligo is a town that many people from Dromahair shop and work in and likewise, Bundoran is a hub for many living in the far reaches of north Leitrim, councillors say the reality is that the main driver for REDZ projects in Co Leitrim is Leitrim County Council, a body governed, not by the REDZ defined areas, but rather by the actual county borders. And that appears to be the crux of the issue. Under REDZ there are numerous examples where counties are split. For example the Blacklion area of Co Cavan has found itself linked with a Co Leitrim REDZ area. The argument has been made that approaches can be made to neighbouring local authorities to highlight proposed funding opportunities in areas like Dromahair or Kinlough, but local councillors say they don't believe that this will ensure a fair spread of funding. What incentive is there for other local authorities and, indeed, councillors with no political interest, and let's be blunt, no votes, in a community, to support a REDZ project from outside their borders? North Leitrim's councillors have appealed to the Department to change the REDZ areas to incorporate Kinlough, Tullaghan and Dromahair into Co Leitrim. However in a response received by the Council a spokesperson for the Department indicated that they were not for turning on REDZ areas. "You may be in a position to build links with other relevant Local Authorities and, as such, include the areas of Kinlough, Dromahair and Tullaghan in future combined applications, should such funding opportunities become available, suggested the Department in it's letter, revealed to Manorhamilton Municipal District councillors on Monday. Cathaoirleach of Manorhamilton MD, Cllr Justin Warnock, said there is still deep unhappiness with the current REDZ areas in Co Leitrim. These locations are close to Manorhamilton but they are in a different REDZ area and that isn't good enough, he said. His words were echoed by Cllr Padraig Fallon who said that the response from the Department was very disappointing. The concern would be that if you are on the periphery of an area, generally you will lose out, he observed. While Leitrim County Council has been proactive in contacting areas of Co Cavan included in Leitrim REDZ, this would not appear to be a universal approach and Cllr Warnock said that his local community had never been contacted about meetings for the Bundoran REDZ area. Cllr Felim Gurn said it simply wasn't realistic to think that Sligo County Council will help Dromahair and Donegal County Council will help areas like Kinlough and Tullaghan, just because they fall into their REDZ areas. Cllr Sean McDermott proposed that Leitrim County Council get in touch with Sligo and Donegal Councils to make them aware of the situation facing the three Leitrim villages. Councillors say they do not doubt the benefits that can be drawn from the REDZ initiative. Already Leitrim has seen the development of the impressive Blueway tourist initiative and they recently received a detailed report on the REDZ plan for the development of the Manorhamilton area. But as Cllr Justin Warnock put it, areas like Kinlough and Dromahair have "been left homeless" within the current REDZ scheme. Party colleague, Cllr Mary Bohan said that unless these communities are incorporated back into Co Leitrim REDZ areas, it's hard to see how they will benefit. Regardless of how well intentioned the scheme is, in the end county borders still matter. Patrick OSullivan from Dublin, along with his father and some other members of his family, set out on the O Suilleabhain Beara Way over a three-day period from Thursday, January 12 to Saturday, January 14, and arrived at O'Rourke's Castle in Leitrim exactly 414 years after Donal Cam OSuilleabhain! This is his story: Having completed our initial odyssey across Ireland, from Dollymount to Dursey Island in 2010, my father and I wondered what we should do next. We looked at various options for continuing our annual walking holiday that had begun in 2005. But, now in the Beara peninsula and exposed to the stories and sights of our clan (we are both Patrick O'Sullivan), we were left with no choice. Our new adventure was to consist of us walking the OSuilleabhain Beara Way from West Cork to Leitrim. One week per year. It would be another epic trip for us. It also had a crucial additional ingredient my parents-in-law, Michael and Pauline Meehan, who had been such an essential part of our trek to Dursey, would be continuing to walk with us, and their family name hails from the hinterland of Leitrim! It seemed that destiny itself was urging us on. Along with my wife Linda and my 3-year old daughter Thuy Vinh, the travelling party was complete. When I first researched the OSuilleabhain Beara Way back in 2010, I discovered that the entirety of the route was much less known than any of the walks we had previously attempted. Indeed it wasnt (and still isnt) even mapped out in some areas. It struck me then that such a state of affairs was a modest legacy, to say the least, for a moment in Irish history of such heroic proportions. Having been besieged by Crown forces and facing certain starvation, O'Suilleabhain Beara left Glengarriff on New Year's Eve in 1602 with 1000 of his people. With minimal provisions, and in horrendous mid-winter conditions, they attempted to march north to the safety of the O'Rourkes in Leitrim. Despite a lack of food and under almost constant attack from other Irish chiefs along the way, the 500km journey was completed in two weeks and the last of the Gaelic Chieftains, Donal Cam O'Suilleabhain Beara, reached the O'Rourke castle. Only 35 of the original party made it. And so to our somewhat less arduous trek. Using a variety of books and whatever information we could glean from Beara Tourism, we set off from Glengarriff in the summer of 2011. On that holiday we rented a house in Ballingeary and hiked across the beautiful Cork countryside, via Gougane Barra and Ballyvourney, as far as the slopes of Clara Mountain, south of Millstreet. In 2012 we rented a lodge in Ballyorgan in the Ballyhoura Hills and took up our trek again where we had left off the previous year, hiking north via Newmarket, Liscarrol and the Ballyhoura Hills, to Kilfinane in County Limerick. In 2013 we based ourselves in the Glen of Aherlow and marched into County Tipperary, passing Cappawhite and Hollyford before finishing that year in the alluring village of Upperchurch. In 2014 we based ourselves in Ballingarry in North Tipperary. That was the year we crossed the Shannon but we did so in a manner that was special beyond words. Intending to cross at Portumna, as per the publicised route, we got talking to David Broderick, a local historian, and Lil and Denis who ran the local pub, and to say they were kind and hospitable isn't the half of it. They were as intrigued, it seemed, with us pursuing the walk as we were impressed with their historical knowledge of it. Denis and some of his friends arranged to take us across the Shannon on their boat and not only that but at the very spot where O'Suilleabhain Beara himself had crossed more than four hundred years previously! They even treated us to an impromptu poetry recital as we crossed the hallowed water. They told us that we were the first walkers they had met to be following the route as an independent, as opposed to an organised group. That evening, as we munched through the crab claws and shell fish provided free gratis by Lil, washed down with a pint and a heap of sunshine, we were simply floating on air! A tragic burden and a wonderful blessing both visited our family in 2015. In February, over a 6-week period, Michael lost his sight. There was no accident, no forewarning - the doctors said it was akin to a stroke on his optic nerve. Sadly it was irreversible. Yet despite this awful shock, Michael was as determined as ever to carry on, and with the support of the rest of the party, but especially his wife Pauline, he continued bravely north. Our blessing arrived in November of that year when Linda and I adopted our second child from Vietnam - a 2-year old boy named Huy - and our marching party now had another warrior in tow. In 2015 we stayed in Mount Talbot in Roscommon and walked from Melick on the banks of the Shannon, through East Galway via Ballygar, as far as the slopes of Mount Mary. And in 2016, we based ourselves in Williamstown and walked from Mount Mary, across to Sliabh O'Flynn and Lough Gara and on to the foot of the Curlews. And so to the present day. We estimate we have about 35km left to do and are allowing ourselves 3 days to comfortably achieve this. Our route will take us across the Miners Trail to Ballinafad and on to Knockvicar before making the last stretch to Leitrim Village. When we finally get to Leitrim on Saturday, there will be a quiet moment to take it all in and then no doubt a bit of a hooley. So as we conclude our travels we have a lot to reflect on. The challenges of the walk along with the wonder of what we have enjoyed, together, on each and every day of our journey, have mirrored our lives over the period. With each rising hill, with each bend in the road, we have learned a little bit more about ourselves and our place in this universe. Unlike Donal Cam, this O'Sullivan party grew in number over the course of our journey. This time around, 414 years later, the pleasure has been all ours. Donal Cam eventually set sail for Coruna in Galicia in North-West Spain. Around 800 of his people also travelled to Galicia and O'Suilleabhain became the head of this Irish community. He received a title and a royal pension from King Philip III of Spain, and his princely status was thus reconfirmed. And with his work in helping found the Irish College in Santiago de Compostella, he was central to establishing an enduring link between Ireland and Galicia. I have often thought about the cultural and historical links between Gailica and Ireland. Galicia is of course the end-point for one of the most famous long distance walks in the world - the Camino de Santiago - tracing as it does northern Spain, 'til it reaches its final destination of Santiago de Compostela, a town and a region with direct links to OSuillabhain Beara. Official statistics from the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago confirm that literally hundreds of thousands of walkers make their way along the Camino each year. Yet the long march of O'Suilleabhain across Ireland is hardly known, even within Ireland! With a little imagination and will surely the powers that be could harness the resources needed to develop the huge potential of this walk, potential it has in its own right but also as a prospective companion trail to the Camino. It is a source of frustration that we in Ireland often do not recognise and value that which we have; the OSuilleabhain Beara Way is one such example. But for now we seven pilgrims will zip up and march on, smiling. Estonia supports the extension of sanctions against Russia to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, president of this country Kersti Kaljulaid has said. "We have also discussed the issues concerning the situation in eastern Ukraine and the need to respect the Minsk agreements, and that the sanctions against Russia need to be maintained as long as Minsk agreements are not fully met, and while Russia does not fulfill all its international obligations," Kaljulaid said at a press conference with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Tallinn on Monday. She also expressed confidence that the change of the U.S. administration should not lead to a change in this policy, because "international policy rules do not change depending on the elections." In turn, the president of Ukraine thanked Estonia for a strong stance. "I can only support the position of the Estonian president. Our position is as follows: first - Ukraine is afraid of nothing; second we are ready to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country from the invading aggressor, including the Russian aggressor; and the third - the international, European and transatlantic solidarity is based not on the positions of influence zones, but on the values," Poroshenko said, noting that the same values are followed both by the U.S. and the European Union. In these circumstances, he said, when Ukraine is the object of aggression on the part of the Russian Federation, we need global, European and transatlantic solidarity, "until the liberation of the Ukrainian territory from the Russian aggressor, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and transfer of uncontrolled part of the Ukrainian-Russian border under Ukrainian control." Irish Water has issued an apology to customers connected to a 'troublesome' water line in Mohill after it burst twice in just 48 hours last week. The Ussaun-Kildoo water line has experienced 27 bursts over the last 30 months according to figures provided to the Leitrim Observer by Irish Water. On Saturday, January 14 the water line burst just outside of Mohill town and supply was turned off from midnight on to 12 noon on Sunday, January 15 to allow repairs to be carried out. However, a second burst occurred on the same water line on Monday, January 16 morning resulting in a small number of houses experiencing water outages between 6am and 12 noon. Cllr Seadhna Logan contacted the Leitrim Observer to express the anger and frustration experienced by residents living along this water main. This is an ongoing problem, said the Sinn Fein councillor, people are absolutely disgusted. Residents are getting seriously annoyed about the consistency of the bursts. There is a large number of houses affected and I don't believe it would be allowed to happen anywhere else in the county. Irish water need to act on this. A spokesperson for Irish Water stressed that during the two incidents over January 14- 16, the reservoir in Mohill was full and ensured the majority of houses in the area had a continuous supply of water. The spokesperson, however, acknowledged that the water supply in this area was problematic. Over a 30 month period, Irish Water, working in partnership with Leitrim County Council has repaired 27 bursts on this line, she noted. A tender was advertised to replace this line last September and Irish Water expects to have a contractor on site early this year with an estimated completion date set for the third quarter of the year. Irish Water and Leitrim County Council would like to apologise to anyone affected by these bursts and thank the local community for their continued patience and reassure them that a solution will be in place in the coming months putting an end to the continuous disruption to supply that has affected local households, businesses and the farming community, added the spokesperson. However Cllr Seadhna Logan said that the situation was far from satisfactory for the people affected by the water line bursts. Something has to be done now. It is simply unacceptable, he said. As we know, on Friday Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States. This was in a carefully choreographed handover of power, laid down by the Founding Fathers of the nation a couple of centuries ago. This is a country of 319 million people with a GDP per capita (PPP) of $53,750. Trump was elected in a process which took two years in total. Controversial but smooth. Just a few hours before, election winner Adama Barrow was sworn in as President of The Gambia, one of Africas smallest states. It is smaller, in land area, than Yorkshire. It has 1.9 million people. The equivalent GDP figure here is 3% of that of the USA. This Presidential inauguration was rather different to the one in Washington DC. Barrow took his oath of office in a different country Senegal in the Gambian embassy. This was because the previous President Jammeh refused to shift from the State House in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. He had originally conceded defeat in a remarkable TV performance which is worth watching. That extravagant concession was made all the more remarkable by its emphatic revocation a few days later. However, forces from ECOMIG, the military arm of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), emboldened by a UN resolution, moved into The Gambia and were met with, in the words of The Gambian Army head, a cup of tea. While they circled their tanks around Banjul, two African Presidents went in to have a cosy chat with former President Jammeh and managed to eventually persuade him to leave for exile in Equatorial Guinea. This is The Gambian Way a peaceful transition (eventually) to only the third President in the countrys history of independence since 1965. I have followed Gambian politics in a very small way for a couple of decades. I never thought Id see the day when Jammeh left power without a shot being fired. The new President Barrow now promises a truth and reconciliation commission to look at human rights abuses of the past. It is a day to be optimistic about The Gambia, but also about Africa. The way the West African nations came together to help democracy along in The Gambia is very heartening. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings. Tim Farron has written an article in The New European. He starts: If 2016 felt like a never-ending cycle of shocks and surprises, then 2017 already shows no sign of relenting. I, like all other Remoaners, get constantly criticised for being too negative about the prospects of Brexit Britain. Yet right now, it is not my confidence in the governments direction that is significant, it is the markets, displayed so clearly in the pound slumping to a fresh 31-year low on Monday. The prompt for this had been the impending sense of gloom in anticipation of Theresa Mays Brexit speech on Tuesday, which outlined her plans for the UK to quit the single market, before even entering into negotiations with the EU. Staggeringly, the PM, increasingly characterised as Theresa Maybe, has chosen her only act of decisiveness to be on leaving the single market a British invention that she and her own cabinet have spent their careers recognising as being so fundamental to our public life and economic wellbeing. He continues: A Hard Brexit was not on the ballot paper and therefore it is right that the Liberal Democrats, in the complete absence of a coherent Labour Party, stand up and say: this was not the democratic choice of the electorate. This is why it is so important that the public is given a choice at the end of this process. And concludes: It has been reported this week that May sent a speech by Winston Churchill to Trump as a Christmas present. In such a defining week for both these figures, they would do well to learn from the great European and liberal values of putting faith in our global institutions and partnerships that Churchill represented. It will be the challenge, not just for liberal parties around the world, but for all those who believe in the liberal vales of openness, tolerance and unity to demand their place in our society throughout 2017. You can read the full article here. * Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems. AS fresh plans are presented for the Northern Distributor Road through Lisnagry and Annacotty, Cllr Seighin O Ceallaigh has said the issue of flooding must not stand in the way of the link. New council proposals will see the 150m road link to the National Technology Park, the Mackey Roundabout, and the old Dublin Road. The Mountshannon Road, under the proposals would be less affected than under previous plans, with a flyover being built. But concerns remain about flooding on a thoroughfare frequently left underwater when extreme weather hits. However, Cllr O Ceallaigh, who topped the poll in the area at the local elections, says fears of flooding mustnt prevent this essential piece of infrastructure. Protests from the residents of the Mountshannon Road in part led to the defeat of a previous proposal by 27 votes to three in August 2015. The issue of flooding, in particular on the Mountshannon Road, has become a sticking point for many councillors when it comes to this new ring road. But the truth is that even if this new road isnt built, that particular area will continue to flood, he claimed. Councillors need to open their eyes and realise that flooding has happened in this area for many years, even though this road has never existed. What needs to happen is that both flood defences and the Northern Distributor Road need to be developed. Members of Limerick City and County Council were shown proposals for the new link at a meeting in the Castletroy Park Hotel in recent weeks, along with representatives from the University of Limerick (UL) and Johnson and Johnson, a major employer in the National Technology Park. But Fine Gaels Michael Sheahan feels it is undemocratic that residents affected by the proposals were not briefed at the same time. We are talking about them inside private rooms - about their property, their community. The council has to come out and talk to the residents. The council officials have to appraise residents of the alterations to the route, he said. The former metropolitan mayor believes that the reformed route will actually cause bigger disruption than the initial proposal. Up to now, it was a straight road going from the Cappamore Junction all the way over Mountshannon and on into Clare. "In the new proposals, there is an area between the Cappamore Junction and the Mountshannon Road with additional infrastructure around the world incorporating a wider area than previously. This wider area is going to impose on access to Annacotty and other businesses, he explained. But Cllr O Ceallaigh said: This road will facilitate the expansion of Limerick City, and attract major investment. It will significantly reduce the travel times to UL and the National Technology Park, as well as reducing traffic across the city. In order to tackle the problem of flooding in the Mountshannon Road, Lisnagry and Castleconnell areas, however, he called on the government to immediately build flood defences. Although he voted against the initial route presented to councillors in 2015, he insisted flooding was not a factor. I voted against the original plans for this road due to bad design, not flooding. "The road was supposed to dock at a junction, that engineers are now saying isnt fit for that level of traffic, and due to a lack of connectivity with the National Technology Park, and the M7, and these new designs have proven that I was right to vote against it on those grounds, he added. It is understood the council will put on public display the revised route in early February. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has dismissed Oleksandr Levchenko from the post of the Ukrainian ambassador to Croatia with concurrent accreditation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vasyl Marmazov from the post of Ukraine's ambassador to the Republic of Korea. Poroshenko signed corresponding decrees No.13/2017 and No.14/2017 on Monday, January 23, the president's official website reported. There is still no information about the appointment of any other diplomats to the vacated ambassador posts, as well as about the appointment of Levchenko and Marmazov to any other positions. As reported, Levchenko was appointed Ukrainian ambassador to Croatia on September 1, 2010 by then President Viktor Yanukovych after in May of the same year the mandate of the previous Ambassador Borys Zaichuk ended. In a year, Levchenko was concurrently appointed ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina. On September 1, 2011, Yanukovych signed a decree appointing Marmazov as ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Korea. Marmazov, born in 1962, earlier served as deputy minister of economy (2010-2011), deputy interior minister (2006-2010), and deputy justice minister (2003-2005). Levchenko, born in 1963, worked in the diplomatic service since 1992, in 2006-2007 he was deputy permanent representative of the president in Crimea, in 2007-2010 he served as deputy director and acting director of the Ukrainian foreign ministry's fourth territorial department. THREE whistleblowers in the University of Limerick's finance department are continuing their sit-in at the Department of Education and Skills in Dublin this Monday afternoon. One of the whistleblowers, Leona O'Callaghan, said she was prepared to be escorted out of the offices on Marlborough Street by gardai, unless a meeting is facilitated with the Minister for Education, Richard Bruton in the coming hours. Ms O'Callaghan told the Limerick Leader that they have waited more than a year to have their issues with UL aired and addressed with the Minister, and are not prepared to wait any longer. Two whistleblowers from UL's finance department currently remain suspended for 19 months with pay. Referred to as Persons B and C in the Mazars report, which was commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to examine a number of issues in UL, they said: "We want to speak directly with the Minister. We haven't received a fair response to date and all we are seeking is that all the issues be dealt with in a fair, open and transparent manner." Suspended on June 12, 2015, the women said they continue to be placed under "chronic stress" as a result of the inability of any authority to resolve their case. "We would be happy to meet with the incoming UL president, Professor Desmond Fitzgerald, and we would hope that he would listen to everything as a whole, in an impartial manner," they said of the former vice-president of UCD, who takes up his 10-year term as UL president in May. "We're here and we're saying we haven't gone away," added Ms O'Callaghan. "We have met with senior officials in the department, who have offered us a commitment in writing that a meeting with the Minister will be facilitated within a certain time-frame, but we have heard that before. "I don't want to be escorted out by gardai, but I'm prepared for that, or to sleep here if I have to. We are holding strong now," she said. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Sean Fleming, has also confirmed that UL will be among a number of universities set to be questioned on a number of financial and governance issues in the coming months. While three Dublin institutions will also be examined, he said Limerick has specifically come up as a big issue. Deputy Fleming said that among the financial issues at UL which may be examined will be the high severance packages to a number of staff members, which were not sanctioned with the Department of Education and Skills. A report by the office Comptroller and Auditor General last year highlighted that UL did not comply with good practice in offering two employees severance packages amounting to over 450,000 between them, following a review of high-value discretionary severance payments. Following this, the Department of Education confirmed to the Limerick Leader that UL did not seek prior written approval in relation to an additional 150,000 severance payment to a staff member. A spokesperson for the department said that it was only informed of this severance package, made in 2014, subsequent to it being paid. The claims by all three women who say they were put under undue pressure by their superiors regarding expenses and other financial matters in UL first aired in the Limerick Leader in September 2015 gave rise to the HEA commissioning a report into processes and procedures, which found a number of shortcomings. Ms OCallaghan, who has left that department, originally brought her concerns regarding expense claims she was asked to process to the Public Accounts Committee in 2012. She signed a compromise agreement with UL in June 2012 after being out on sick leave, while the two suspended employees were presented with severance agreements by Arthur Cox solicitors, on behalf of UL, offering them nearly 60,000 each if they signed a confidentiality clause. Both of those contracts have been seen and printed by the Limerick Leader. UL continues to maintain that both suspended employees have been subject to a number of disciplinary hearings, including making a malicious complaint against a colleague, which the whistleblowers strongly reject. The HEA, which has dealt with the case for more than a year, particularly under its former chief executive Tom Boland, said it has exhausted all its efforts on this case, and has passed the matter to the Department for resolution. A support group for other 'distressed' former staff of UL was later established by Dr Niall Cahill, who was director of medical services on the campus for 15 years, and Jeremy Callaghan, a former director of student affairs at the university. Both parties weren't in a position to be in Dublin today for the sit-in, though the group still meets regularly as there appears to be no resolution in sight regarding the employment status of the two suspended women. In May last, UL terminated its legal proceedings for defamation against the Limerick Leader newspaper and its now former editor, Alan English, arising from that initial front-page story regarding the claims of two whistleblowers in the finance department. BEST-SELLING authors Cecelia Ahern and Donal Ryan are among a 20-strong line up of speakers announced for the 33rd Limerick Literary Festival, in honour of Limericks most famous female writer Kate OBrien. Running from February 23 to 26, the four-day festival, formerly known as Kate OBrien Weekend, continues to honour the life and works of OBrien, while attracting prominent participants from all over the world. As well as well-known Irish names, participants will travel from England, Italy and the US, to speak in six different venues across the city, with the theme this year being City of Bridges. The festival will officially be opened on Friday, February 24, at 6pm in Limerick City Gallery of Art in Pery Square by journalist Olivia OLeary. It will be followed by the As Music and Splendour recital, a nod to her last novel which was published by Penguin in 1958. On Thursday, February 23, in conjunction with Chez le Fab at Arthurs Quay Park, University of Limerick professor and author Eoin Devereux will deliver an illustrated talk on Oscar Wilde and Morrissey. On Friday, February 24, in association with the City Library, The Granary, Martin Dyer and Donal Ryan will discuss their work at a free event. On Saturday, in Limerick City Gallery of Art, poet Doireann ni Ghriofa, novelist Mary Lawson, historian Thomas Packenham, prize-winning writer Mike McCormack, and Italian novelist Francesca Melandri will be in conversation with Limerick playwright Mary Coll and esteemed poet Richard Blanco. Marie Hackett, Honorary French Consul in Limerick, will also pay tribute to the late French author Michel Deon. On Saturday morning, in Ormston house, Patrick Street, Christopher Lloyd and Limerick author Roisin Meaney will entertain a younger audience in a free public event. Renowned musician Bill Whelan and broadcaster Liz Nolan will reveal their choice of books in Desert Island slot, including the book I would never lend, in the Lime Tree theatre on Sunday. Cecilia Ahern will be in conversation with fellow novelist Donal Ryan. The Kate OBrien Award will be presented to the best novel/short story collection by a debut Irish female writer. The festival has been sponsored by local businesses, Limerick City and Council and the Arts Council. For more, see www.limerickliteraryfestival.com. A man has been jailed for life after launching a three-hour attack on a woman by slashing her, pouring bleach on her face and urinating on her before trying to set her on fire. Christopher Magee hit his victim with an iron and a pair of stiletto heels before punching her and putting his shoes on to stamp on her face. The 31-year-old then poured bleach on her face, tried to set her on fire, urinated on her and then "snapped out of" the drug-fuelled rampage and dialled 999. Later, two men from Lincolnshire were involved in a plan to attack her with acid to stop her from giving evidence. (Image: SWNS) The bleach attack was so brutal when emergency services arrived at the address in Sinfin, Derby, they could not tell if the victim was a man or a woman. Astonishingly, after his arrest in February 2015 Magee planned an arson and acid with friends to stop the woman from giving evidence. Magee, formerly of Chaddesden in Derby, admitted attempted murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to commit arson. He was jailed for life at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (20/1), of which he must serve a minimum of 13-and-a-half years. Magee's seven friends who conspired in the acid attack to keep his victim quiet were sentenced alongside him. (Image: SWNS) Sara Bennet, 25, of Chaddesden, Magee's girlfriend at the time, was found guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and jailed for two years. Martin Clarke, 33, of HMP Dovegate, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson and jailed for ten years. Michael Holmes, 42, of Grantham, Lincolnshire, was found guilty of being involved in both the acid and arson attack conspiracies and was jailed for seven years. Robert Wyatt, 39, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson and jailed for two-and-a-half year. Liam Curtis, 27, of Grantham, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson and jailed for four years. Zakree Williams, 22 of of Ebdon Close, Littleover, Derbyshire, admitted perverting the course of justice and was jailed for two years, suspended for two years. Stephen Dolan, 50 of of Sanderson Road, Derby admitted possession with intent to supply class A drugs and was handed a suspended two-year jail sentence. Judge Stuart Rafferty said: "In this case there are eight people and the reason there is such a number all stems from the obsession of one man - Christopher Magee. (Image: SWNS) "A drug dealer, a gangster, a significant figure in the city of Derby, someone everyone agrees is dangerous. "It is undoubtedly the case that Christopher Magee was a powerful and influential man to many. "He subjected the victim to a near three-hour attack that was an attempt to kill. "He brandished an iron and stuck it down so hard on her face it broke. He attacked her with the stiletto heels of her own shoes and with parts of a vacuum cleaner. "He put on shoes and stamped on her face and then, as he boasted later, urinated on her. "What he did was an absolute disgrace and how she did not die is unknown." Addressing Bennet, Judge Rafferty added: "Undoubtedly you were besotted with him. "How can any woman condone an acid attack on another woman? "It shows how far you had strayed from the path. You lost your own children because of your relationship with Mr Magee because you were neglecting them." Twisted Magee laughed and smiled from the dock as he was sent down. The court heard how when he had knocked his victim unconscious he began to slash her with a knife before pouring bleach over her. He then put a blanket around her and tried to set her alight before "snapping out of it". He tried to dispose of 27g of cocaine and attempted to get rid of the evidence of the horrific attack before dialling 999. (Image: SWNS) After sentencing, prosecutor Michelle Mannion said: "In 13 years working with the CPS, I can honestly say that Christopher Magee is the most dangerous man I know. "I hope that his victim now feels safe that it is going to be a long time before he will be released. "If one woman, who is the subject of domestic abuse, reads this article and comes forward, then I will feel something good has come from this horrific case. "The sentence is an important conclusion to this case. "In addition to the extreme violence Christopher Magee used towards this victim, we have presented evidence to the court of the danger he poses to women. "He has a prolific record of violence and, despite serving sentences for these offences, his attitude and behaviour have not changed. "If anything, it has escalated. "He pursued his agenda against this victim to the point of obsession - with his intentions towards her and her family becoming increasingly violent, as he involved his accomplices in his schemes. "Martin Clarke and the other defendants in this case have followed Magee's violent agenda without question and without thought for the consequences to those they targeted. "The severity of the sentences handed down to them reflects the relentlessness and the lack of remorse in their actions towards the victim. "Given what she was subjected to and the risk posed by Magee, the victim has demonstrated a huge amount of courage throughout this process. "I hope that the sentence and the restraining order imposed indefinitely will give her and her family confidence in the Criminal Justice System, so they can move forward." Andrew Espley, for Magee, said his client had been assessed by a psychiatrist while in custody and is arguing why Judge Stuart Rafferty should not impose a life sentence on him. He said: "This was a spontaneous attempt to kill. "It was not planned. If it had been he would have started earlier and arose out of a combination of drink and drugs. "I would submit there is no evidence of any serious long-term physical or psychological harm. "It is plain that Mr Magee will not be at liberty to try to contact the victim for some considerable time and he has no intention of doing so whatsoever. "He has written a letter (to the judge) which I submit indicates some element of remorse. "Given the psychological report and the probation report it is plain that it is difficult to argue against a finding of dangerousness. "The bulk of violent male offenders stop offending by the time they reach 30 and finally grow up. "He is someone who is going to be in early middle-age when his sentence is complete. The foreign ministers from the countries involved in the Normandy format of negotiations on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine, i.e. France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine, have not yet discussed a possible date of their next meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said. "As concerns a meeting between the foreign ministers, we have not yet discussed a next meeting. We'll discuss it when there is an opportunity to move ahead in this issue," Klimkin told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday when asked about prospects for a Normandy format meeting. Ukraine is still trying to make the Normandy format countries aware of its vision of a roadmap for implementing the Minsk Agreements, he said. "As concerns the roadmap, we are trying to promote our vision so that there should be consistency, and second, clear guarantees that Russia will implement what it is supposed to subscribe to. This work is still ongoing," he said. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. On Tuesday, January 24, at 12.00, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference "Medicines Market - Results of 2016, Expectations of 2017." Experts will present the results of research of pharmacy sales and drugs market in 2016. The participants will include director of development marketing company Business Credit Andriy Tsurkan, Business Credit marketing consultant Olena Karchevska. Representatives of the European Business Association, Association of Ukrainian producers of medicines, American Chamber of Commerce are invited (8/5a Reitarska Street). Admission requires press accreditation. USA Urges South Korea To Arrest Ban Ki-Moon's Brother For Corruption The US Government has asked South Korea to arrest Ban Ki-sang, the brother of former secretary-general of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, for corruption charges as reported by Reuters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Noble has said the United Stated intends to request the extradition of Ban Ki-sang but has not able to effectuate Sang's detainment as of now. On 10 January, a Court of Manhattan, New York (USA) filed charges against the brother and nephew of Ban Ki-moon for several cases of bribery. According to the indictment, the brother of Ban Ki-moon and his nephew Joo Hyun 'Dennis' Bahn (son of Ban Ki-sang), have conspired to bribe senior officials from countries in the Middle East in connection with the sale of a building complex in Vietnam for about $ 800 million in a real estate company run by Keangnam Enterprises Co Ltd based in New York, led by Ban Ki-sang operation. Last December, South Korean media accused the own Ban Ki-moon of accepting bribes of $ 200,000 while serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea, in 2005 and 30,000 in 2007, while serving as secretary General of the UN. Advertisement During a hearing in a federal court in New York this Friday, the prosecutor's assistant said that the brother of Ban, who had not yet been arrested, has been requested. The two relatives of former UN chief are accused of corruption, money laundering, and conspiracy, crimes committed between March 2013 and May 2015. The plot intended that an official from an unidentified Middle Eastern kingdom buy the building in Hanoi using a sovereign investment fund. Presumably, there was an attempt to contact the head of that state when he was in New York for the UN General Assembly. Ban Ki-moon was succeeded on January 1 by the Portuguese Antonio Guterres. Advertisement Advertisement Like us and Follow us Follow @Koreaportal and 2022 Korea Portal, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When freedom is a cup of tea The 37-year-old North Korean defector Hyeonseo Lee on her fleeting tryst with freedom /news/talking-point/when-freedom-is-a-cup-of-tea-111646908686531.html 111646908686531 story Hyeonseo Lee, in her 37 years, has lived an extraordinarily courageous life that would have broken many people a long time ago. She grew up in the closed and regimented society of North Korea, and at 17, escaped into China, living there illegally for a decade, always under the fear of being reported to the Chinese authorities and being sent back to North Korea. She did get caught by the police once, but by then her Mandarin was so good that she convinced the police that she was not a North Korean. She made her second escape to South Korea, but had to return to China to facilitate her familys escape from North Korea. She has recorded her story in the book The Girl With Seven Names, and has now started an organization, Tongil, that primarily works towards preventing the rampant trafficking of female North Korean defectors living in China. Edited excerpts from an interview: When did you decide that you wanted to write the book? After I gave a TED talk (on my life story) in the US in 2013, I got an offer from a publisher. But in the beginning I thought I would not write a book. I thought I (would feel) naked revealing my story in a book; I wanted to keep my privacy. Most importantly, by writing this book, I didnt want my relatives inside North Korea to have a problem. In the end I changed my mind. My life is not only mine. I am telling the story of all North Korean people, it is my responsibility to tell it. But I had to tell the true story but at the same time protect (my relatives) identity. I am happy about the outcome. It became a New York Times bestseller last August. I feel the decision to write the book was right. Because of this book, so many people know whats going on in North Korea. After escaping from North Korea, you lived in China for 10 years constantly under the fear of being discovered. What did that do to you? The title of my book, The Girl With Seven Names, means that I had seven different lives. For a North Korean defector, life in China is difficult. If we are repatriated to North Korea, (we face) torture, imprisonment and sometimes, even public execution. This is not a joke. But the Chinese government continues to do this favour to the craziest dictator in the world (Kim Jong-un). I did my best to hide by changing my name many times. But I was captured by the Chinese police. But because my Chinese was so good, they thought I was Chinese and released me. That was a miracle. As North Korean defectors, once we cross the border, we dont know where to go, and we dont know how to speak Mandarin. Most women defectors are sold as sex slaves. In China the gender imbalance has driven up the demand for trafficked brides. It happens even today. We have no ID card in China, we have no voice. We are suffering the most abuses in China even at this moment. That is what I am fighting against. When I was 19, I escaped an arranged marriage". And the first time I found a job, I thought it was a decent job. Then I found out it was a brothel and escaped. Until I saw that, I didnt realize such a job even existed in this world. In North Korea, we dont have (such) a job. So, as a female North Korean defector, as a woman who experienced that tragedy, the sex slavery in China, thats why I started the organisation Tongil (meaning unification in Korean), to bring this issue to the world, to put pressure on the Chinese government. You lived 17 years in North Korea, then a decade in China and now you are in South Korea. What is home to you, where do you have a sense of belonging? If you asked me that question last year, I would consider the world as my home, as vague as that sounds. But more and more, I am accepting South Korea as my home. I had a horrible experience last year in China. As a North Korean defector, I had gone to China to give a public speech at Bookworm (a literature festival). It was really dangerous, literally (stepping on) a bomb. The Chinese government will still not accept me as person who has received a South Korean passport. They still look at me as a North Korean defector. I knew that but I went to China. I had to escape China (because of the enormous media attention) the tension was growing so fast. The moment I arrived in South Korea, I realized this is my home, where I dont have to worry about being repatriated to North Korea, I dont have to worry about the police, or hide every day. I was completely free, the country was embracing me, accepting me. That reality I realised only last April after the experience in China. That moment I felt South Korea is becoming my home. But I dont want to verify whether I am from North or South Korean. I just want to say I am Korean. Thats all what I hope to say in the future. You recently helped your mother and younger brother escape North Korea. How is their experience of life in South Korea different from yours? At least I experienced some form of capitalism in China for 10 years. My family lived under communism their entire lives. When they arrived in South Korea, they didnt even know how to use the bank system and ATM, or the subway, nothing. It was a completely alien (life). Then understanding about democracy and freedom, or just earning money, that is really difficult for North Korean defectors. Thats why so many North Korean defectors living in South Korea suffer, and some people even commit suicide. In communism, we never had any freedom, of movement, of speech, of press. We didnt even make own decisions for our lives, our future. We were human robots. After we come to South Korea, you have to make own decision about every single thing. For those never used to this society, (they were) completely lost. That decreased their courage, (increased their sense of) alienation, made them depressed. We North Koreans never got proper education, what we learned was propaganda praising the leaders, and fake history. We didnt learn any important skills to survive in real life. What is freedom to you? I lost everything in the past. So sometimes, for me, the very little things are precious. For example, once when I was sitting at a coffee shop in South Korea and having a cup of tea and looking out of the window to the blue sky, I feel this is freedom, I am so happy. I feel did I ever imagine this moment when I was living in North Korea for 17 years? Or when I was hiding in China for 10 years? Did I ever imagine or expect that I would have this cup of tea in South Korea today? Many people will be shocked that having a cup of tea is freedom for me, because many people take it for granted. To me, these simple things are precious. This freedom I have right now is surreal. I am going to be 37, and I have only had my freedom for eight years. I am more used to the other side of life. So the life I have right now is surreal and I hope it lasts forever. My work, its political, against North Korea and China. I have a security problem. I hope I am okay until I die, but who knows? You cant appreciate the greatest book if the translation is rubbish: Deborah Smith Man Booker Prize International 2015 winner Deborah Smith on how she chose to be a translator six years ago, and whether she could ever write her own novel /how-to-lounge/books/you-can-t-appreciate-the-greatest-book-if-the-translation-is-rubbish-deborah-smith-111646908671415.html 111646908671415 story Jaipur: Deborah Smith was 22 when she first started learning a new language. Like most Britishers, she was monolingual till she picked up Korean in 2010 with a view to become a translator. A couple years on, she got her first book assignment: a 2007 book by an author called Han Kang. Smith started working on it, she says, with extensive help from a dictionary app on her phone. This book, which was later titled The Vegetarian, went on to win Man Booker Prize International Prize in 2016. For the unacquainted, this seems like a magical beginning, but over a conversation with Mint at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Smith strips down the dream run, speaks about what its like translating three books each by two very different Korean authors, and more. Edited excerpts: The first thing that seems to be common about translations, at least in the mainstream view in India, is that you pick up a text thats written in whats called your second language and translate it into your first language, your mother tongue. But with your career, and with The Vegetarian, what youve done seems quite extraordinary. In the sense that you picked up a language only as late as your 20s, and you did so with a focussed view to be a translator. So I suppose Im wondering why Korean? Well Korean was slightly random in the sense that I had no connection with Korean. I hadnt read a Korean book, I hadnt met a Korean person, I didnt eat Korean food because I didnt grow up in London, and this was six years ago. Its different in England because more people tend to be monolingual, so you do just pick a language sometimes. And I had no connection really with any language, or culture or country so I had to just choose one. And because I wanted to be a translator, I thought it made sense to choose one where almost nobody in the UK did study and there werent lots of books already available in English. So unlike something like Japanese or Chinese, which say, Id already read literature of in translation, Id never read anything in Korean. Also, Korean has a phonetic alphabet. You can learn to read it in a couple of hours, as opposed to Japanese or Chinese where you spend years learning the many characters. So yeah, in that sense it was easier than maybe some other languages that Id chosen. And if you ask why translation, then its because well, reading and writing was all I ever did or was interested in. I read literature, and I mainly read (contemporary) books in translation. And I think partly again that was because I didnt have a sort of cultural upbringing and I lived in a boring, ugly town and didnt really travelour family holidays were inside England every year and so I guess it was just curiosity about the rest of the world and wanting to travel, I suppose. You say you find yourself mostly reading books in translation. Was this also the case in your under graduation, when you actually studied literature? Oh no, in my undergrad course of English literature, we had to only read writers from England. I hated that. Because otherwise, back at that time I was reading (Gabriel Garcia) Marquez from Colombia, (Umberto) Eco from Italy, (Haruki) Murakami from Japan, or even some great Russian classics. But at university, it was none of that. From the 1300s we were slowly crawling our way and pretending that English literature was not incredibly influenced by translations of other languages. So I guess all this was kind of a reaction against that, that I wanted to then learn a language Im sure a lot of people have brought this up before that youre so young (she was 28 when The Vegetarian was published in the UK, and 29 when she won the Booker) and youve won one of the highest literary honours. Did this age bit ever play up in your head in the context of literary prizes or honours? No, I mean Im almost 30 now, so I dont feel so young. And youth is in the eye of the beholder. In fact of the six of us who were shortlisted, I was only the second youngest. So at least as regards the shortlist I wasnt the youngest. And actually three out of the six of us, it was our first booktranslated as well. So among translators its not really probably that special or that odd to be young or to be old, or for it to be your first book for it to be your (any other number) book. You mentioned at a panel earlier that as a translator youre trying to get the best equivalence of what the author has written, does it feel like there is sometimes the inevitable process of dilution? No, not at all. Its very difficult to talk about translation. Because you dont think about it when youre doing it. And if you did think about it, you couldnt do it. One of the things you get asked is what you stay faithful to as a translator. I try to stay faithful to the effect on the reader and the experience they had, and so Im not consciously diluting anything, no, because youre writing the book again in English and it has to live as a work of literature on its own terms. Otherwise people will not be able to appreciate it like they did the original. And the best thing for mewhere you feel like yes, youve done a successful translation, or a translation that was goodis when the critics or the ordinary readers are saying very similar things about the book in translation that they are saying about it in Korean. Most of those things for The Vegetarian are praising her (Kang) for her psychological insight, emotional restraint, controlled styleespecially when talking about extreme topics like sex and violencebut not becoming sort of hysterical about it; bravery in addressing certain issues and the powerful imagery that she uses. And none of that is meits all her. But Ive enabled people to appreciate that again. Even if it is the greatest book in the world, people wont be able to appreciate it, if it is in a rubbish translation; but by the same equivalence, the best translation in the world is not going to make a mediocre book read like genius. In one of the sessions earlier (Academy Award nominated screenwriter and playwright) David Hare said something very similar to what youd said in one of your previous interviews. He said to be faithful, you have to promiscuous. Youll only achieve ultimate faithfulness through infidelity." And youd said that you have to be unfaithful to some aspects in order to be faithful to the others. Could a translation in that sense, be a sort of an adaptation? No, a translation is not an adaptation. There are translations that are experimental, or translations especially of plays that are adaptations. But an adaptation is choosing different things (from within the original), plots and all kinds of things, that translators dont do. The only thing we are doing isevery word is different because its in Korean and not English. Youre not making creative choices and finding creating solutions but its the solution to a problem that the original text is setting and to develop it into English. Youre not just being creative for the sake of it. And youre never any more unfaithful than you absolutely have to be to still be faithful to something else in it. You started off with Han Kang, but youre now also working with another Korean author Bae Suah. Is working with each author a whole immersive experience in themselves? Also what is the difference in the dynamics likeboth with the text, and with the authors? Ive mainly chosen to translate only two authors so farHan Kang and Bae Suah. Ive actually translated three books by each of them now. I definitely find that translating just a small number of authors, and translating more than one book by them is incredibly useful for me to find that (particular) voice and that style and to understand it better. I feel like every book that I translate by either one of them makes me better qualified to translate them. And working with Bae Suah is different because she doesnt read English (while Han Kang does). But shes (Suah) is a translator herself. She translates German into Korean. So she has a very, sort of, free idea about translation. Her books are mostly always set aboard and read like a translation in Korean already. Do you think youll ever be able to write a novel of your own, and not just translate one? I used to say no, and I thought that was what could maybe make me a good translatorthat Ive tried and I have no style of my own. I just automatically write in the style of the last author I read. And so youd think that sort of a sponge-like quality would be useful for translations, to not impose your own style on something. But now that Im older and that Ive read more avant garde or experimental works, I think that yeah, maybe I could write something in the future. But Im good at writing sentences, Im not good at plots, or characters, or structures. So translating is writing in that sense. I get to write sentences and I get to work with languages that I love and I dont have to think about where the hell this is going and whos this person, or how do I sell this ... why would I want to put myself through that? The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) will conduct regular inspections of local government management of marine resources and protection of the marine environment. The SOA, on behalf of the State Council, China's cabinet, will inspect the work of coastal provincial governments and their marine agencies, including marine law enforcement agencies, said a plan approved by the State Council recently and published by the SOA on Sunday. Inspections will focus on local governments' implementation of the central leadership's major decisions and arrangements regarding marine resources and environment, as well as relevant laws and regulations. The establishment of a national inspection system will contribute to the cost-effective utilization of marine resources, protection of marine environment and handling of relevant issues, said SOA spokesperson Gao Zhongwen. It will also facilitate the development of a mechanism that can effectively regulate development activities and promote green development, Gao added. (Xinhua) 11:08, January 23, 2017 New Zealand is working on a "Plan B" to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal and China's involvement is possible, Prime Minister Bill English said Monday. United StatesPresident Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the still-unratified TPP would not necessarily stop the other 11 nations working on a modified version of the deal, English told Radio New Zealand. New Zealand passed legislation late last year allowing the government to ratify the agreement, which was signed in Auckland in February last year. English said the Trump administration's "America first" trade policy was "not in our interests and we would argue it's not in America's interests in the long run either, but they've made a pretty clear policy decision." "So we're working on Plan B. It was promising that last week the Prime Minister of Japan, when he was in Australia, made quite a positive statement about trying to proceed with a version of the TPP without the U.S. in it, if it comes to that," said English. "We don't believe it's dead, but Plan B could be a bit tricky." Asked if it was possible the TPP could be scrapped and replaced with something else, possibly involving China, English said, "That's possible." "There are other vehicles for China if they've got an interest in free trade in the Asia-Pacific, but the TPP's a fairly original, a fairly unique kind of trade agreement and there are real benefits in it for New Zealand if we can just get everybody organized," said English. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay would probably visit Washington "before too long" and begin talks with his counterparts in other TPP countries over the next couple of months about an alternative to the current agreement. Australian man pleading guilty to rape was promoted at university job (Xinhua) 12:58, January 23, 2017 An Australian University in North Queensland was under fire Monday for promoting a man, Douglas David Steel, who pleaded guilty to the digital rape of a woman in her Townsville home. In September 2016, during court proceedings, James Cook University promoted the 33-year-old from project officer to an academic adviser at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre before he eventually resigned three months later. "There has been a failure of our internal processes," Vice Chancellor of James Cook University Chris Cocklin said. "Those who knew did not report the information to the appropriate staff." The university's student association's president Edward Harriage has made comments, saying "the university should have picked this up sooner, it'll cast concern on the campus that shouldn't be here." A wave of criticism on social media has also been aimed at the university with the site's Facebook page receiving hundreds of angry commenters. Steel received a two-year jail sentence which was suspended after four months. Located at the site of Huqoq, near the Sea of Galilee, the recently uncovered medieval structure was created during the 12th to 13th centuries. A medieval building that may have been used as a synagogue has been uncovered at the site of Huqoq, a village near the Sea of Galilee in Israel. Constructed during the 12th to 13thcenturies, the building is located on top of the ruins of a fifth-century Roman synagogue known to contain fantastic mosaics, including one depicting the story of Noah's Ark. The medieval builders put to use some of the remains from the fifth-century synagogue. "A monumental public building was erected on the same spot as the late Roman synagogue, reusing some of the earlier structure's architectural elements, but expanding it in size," said Jodi Magness, the director of the Huqoq excavation project, during a presentation of the research in Toronto at the joint annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America and the Society for Classical Studies this month. [Photos: Unusual Mosaics Decorated Ancient Synagogue in Israel] The medieval builders reused the north and east walls of the ancient synagogue, as well as ancient columns and pedestals (a base that a column can be placed on), placing them on top of low walls called stylobates, Magness said. The recently found medieval structure (north at right) and a synagogue, which are located in virtually the same spot; the medieval structure reused some of the architectural elements from the fifth-century synagogue. (Image credit: Paschal Partouche, Skyview) The floors of the medieval building were decorated with mosaics showing images of flowers and geometric designs. "Small patches of mosaics with geometric and floral designs were preserved on top of the floor," on the east side of the medieval building, Magness said. What was it used for? It's not known what the medieval building was used for, Magness said. As it was clearly a public building, Magness said she believes that it likely served as a church, a mosque or a synagogue. Historical accounts say that during the 12th and 13thcenturies, the Crusaders and Mamluks (a Muslim people) battled for control of the area around Huqoq. Though the identity of the building is uncertain, one clue suggests that the building is a synagogue. Archaeologists found that the medieval building has benches lining the east, north and west walls, something that "suggests it must be a synagogue," said Magness, who noted such benches are commonly seen in synagogues. However, there is no historical information about a Jewish population in the area at the time, Magness said. The team has been searching for evidence in medieval records for a Jewish people, but has not come up with much in the surviving texts. "So far, I've found very little evidence of a Jewish presence in the area, which makes this structure both extremely exciting and frustrating," study researcher Arnold Franklin, a history professor at Queens College of the City University of New York, told Live Science in an email. One of the few textual references comes from an early 14th-century traveler named Ishtori Haparchi (also spelled Ishtori Ha-Parchi), who "visited Huqoq then called Yakuk and reported seeing a 'synagogue with a very old floor.' We speculate that perhaps our building is that synagogue," Magness said. Original article on Live Science. Nearly one in eight Americans who think that they have normal blood pressure may have a type of high blood pressure that doesn't show up at the doctor's office, a new study finds. The phenomenon, called "masked hypertension," refers to a condition in which a person's blood pressure measurements are normal when taken in a doctor's office but elevated outside the office, during the individual's day-to-day activities, the study said. People with masked hypertension may be at increased risk for heart disease, according to the study, published Jan. 18 in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Masked hypertension is not the only condition in which people's blood pressure measurements appear to change between their doctor's office and the real world, the researchers wrote. Another phenomenon, known as "white-coat hypertension," also exists, but is the opposite of masked hypertension: People with this condition have high blood pressure when it is measured in the doctor's office, but normal blood pressure at other times. Unlike masked hypertension, however, white-coat hypertension is not typically linked to an increased risk for heart disease, the study said. [Blood Pressure: Highs, Lows & What's Normal] To figure out how many Americans have masked hypertension, the researchers looked at two datasets. The first came from a study called the Masked Hypertension Study, and included more than 800 adults who did not have high blood pressure when it was measured in a doctor's office. At the beginning of the study, nurses or technicians manually measured each participant's blood pressure three times. Then, to measure blood pressure outside of the doctors' offices, the participants wore 24-hour blood pressure monitors, the study said. These devices took blood pressure readings every 28 minutes over a 24-hour period. Data from the 24-hour blood pressure monitors showed that about 14 percent of these participants had masked hypertension, the study said. But the participants in the Masked Hypertension Study weren't representative of the entire U.S., so the researchers used data from that study along with data from large-scale survey: an ongoing national survey called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES). The data from NHANES includes information on demographics and blood pressure levels for people from across the U.S. From this, the researchers estimated that out of the nearly 140 million U.S. adults who are thought to have normal blood pressure, about 12 percent, or 17 million people, actually have masked hypertension. This means that doctors may fail to recognize that this large group of adults has an increased risk for heart disease, the researchers wrote in the study. The research was led by Dr. Claire Wang, an associate professor of health policy and management at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City. In addition, these individuals could benefit from treatments aimed at lowering blood pressure, the researchers said. To properly diagnose masked hypertension, the researchers suggested using 24-hour blood pressure monitors. Similarly, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently recommended that doctors use these monitors to better identify patients who have white-coat hypertension, the researchers noted. The USPSTF organization makes recommendations regarding the effectiveness of preventive health services and also considers whether the benefits of treatments outweigh the risks. The investigators in the new study noted that their research aims to provide only an "interim estimate" of the number of Americans who have masked hypertension. More research is needed to confirm the findings, the researchers wrote. Originally published on Live Science. A military helicopter crashed during a nighttime training mission in Fujian province on Jan. 19, killing two pilots on board, according to a post on the official Weibo of Military Daily. Shortly after the accident, military and civilian authorities conducted a joint search and rescue operation to recover the pilots' bodies. The army has declared the two pilots martyrs. Zhang Hao, captain of the helicopter, was born in April 1983 in Guanyun, Jiangsu province. He entered the army in September 2001, and went on to receive many awards. Zhang was an experienced pilot capable of commanding a variety of aircraft. Wang Xiaodong, Zhang's co-pilot, was born in February 1989 in Suining, Jiangsu province. He entered the army in September 2008. Wang was able to fly two types of aircraft. Exporters from Spain and the Iberian Peninsula will be able to transport their goods directly to markets in mainland Britain via a single booking thanks to a new co-operation between P&O Ferries and Finnlines, which offers ferry services from Zeebrugge to Bilbao and Santander. P&O Ferries runs 98 sailings a week from the British east coast ports of Tilbury, Hull and Teesport respectively to its main continental hub at Zeebrugge. By connecting with these routes, Finnlines' ferries from Zeebrugge to the Spanish ports of Bilbao and Santander will provide a seamless service spanning the 1,100 miles between northern Spain and north-eastern England and Scotland, the two companies said. Nick Pank, P&O Ferries' head of sales development for the North Sea, said: " The reliability and punctuality of our inter-connecting sea routes will make a compelling alternative to more expensive road or rail transport. Anyone who needs to transport freight between Spain and Britain will now be able to make a single booking and take advantage of a maximum transit time of five days between the Spanish port from which goods depart and the British port at which they arrive, or vice versa. The ferry and logistics company said it expected to see strong volumes of project cargo, machinery and machine parts, packaging, aluminium, car parts, fruit and vegetables, batteries and paper being transported between Spain and Britain. P&O Ferries is a leading pan-European ferry and logistics company, sailing on eight major routes between Britain, France, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Belgium. It operates 20 vessels that carry more than 2.2 million freight units every year. Together with its logistics division, P&O Ferrymasters, the company also operates integrated road and rail links to countries across the continent including Italy, Poland and Romania. A P&O Ferrymasters-owned rail terminal in the northern Romanian city of Oradea, which will facilitate the onward movement of goods to Britain from the Silk Road, became operational last year. Brightwood College in Laredo will host a Community Health Fair on Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The fair is free and open to the public with giveaways for free prizes including a Fitbit Zip Wireless Activity Tracker. The event is part of Brightwood College parent company Education Corporation of America's national Community Health Fairs being held simultaneously at 64 other Brightwood College, Brightwood Career Institute and Virginia College locations throughout 17 states. Attendees are invited to enjoy activities for all ages including: campus tours, program demonstrations, health screenings, blood pressure checks, and finger printing for children. Additional activities include, face painting, bingo, musical chairs, and a door decorating contest. Brightwood College in Laredo is located at 6410 McPherson Road. "We are delighted to provide our community with an opportunity to learn more about their health by providing free health checks and activities to get their New Year started off right. Participants can use this information to stay up to date and make positive lifestyle changes if needed," said campus President Jorge Hinojosa. The event will also allow attendees to explore the programs offered through Brightwood College, including: business administration, computer support technician, criminal justice, medical assistant, medical billing and coding specialist, patient care technician and pharmacy technician programs and a variety of continuing education courses. For more information about Brightwood College in Laredo, visit www.brightwood.edu/laredo-tx. Congressman Henry Cuellar, (D-TX-28), will host a two-day international meeting with the Federal Railroad Administration, state and federal agencies and their Mexican counterparts to discuss standards and protocols for rail service from the United States to Mexico. The meetings, brought together as a result of appropriations language passed by Cuellar, will take place from Monday to Tuesday at Texas A&M International University. Groups from both the United States and Mexico are studying the harmonization of rail speed, safety and infrastructure regulation and rail standards in both countries. The study would help support projects like the proposed higher-speed rail project from San Antonio to Monterrey via Laredo. The proposed route for the high-speed passenger rail would begin in San Antonio at the VIA Transit Center Station, stop northwest of Laredo at a new railway bridge near the Laredo Colombia Solidarity Bridge, and continue on a new rail line approved for construction in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon with final destination to Monterrey, Mexico. "This proposed route for passenger rail between San Antonio, Laredo and Monterrey would increase tourism and boost development and growth in our area while strengthening our cities' centuries-old relationships," Cuellar said. "I thank the City of Laredo, Webb County, the City of Monterrey and representatives from the state and federal governments in both countries for their dedication and support to this exciting project that will benefit our communities." This route proposal was added as a result of stakeholder meetings in Laredo, at which attendees expressed a desire for direct service from San Antonio to Monterrey, Mexico, with a new stop northwest of Laredo at LCSB. A feasibility study was conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to examine the U.S. component of this new line while considering the ridership impact of such a connection. Cuellar was successful in adding language in the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus House Appropriations bill for a feasibility study for a passenger rail between San Antonio and Monterrey through Laredo: "Passenger Rail between Mexico & United States.--The Committee understands that standards or protocols for passenger rail between the United States and Mexico do not currently exist. The Committee encourages FRA to work with all relevant state and federal agencies and their Mexican counterparts to study what standards and protocols are needed to facilitate a passenger and freight rail line between the U.S. and Mexico, in Texas, and other international land crossings." Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. are the biggest listed Chinese Internet companies, taking over 50 percent of total market share of listed Chinese Internet companies, according to China's online industry overseer, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). Listed Chinese Internet companies now total 91, and are worth more than 5.4 trillion yuan (785.3 billion US dollars), a report published by the CNNIC said Sunday. Among these Internet companies, those listed in America had the highest market share, accounting for 55.7 percent, while Hong Kong made up 29.7 percent, and Shenzhen and Shanghai bourses took up 14.6 percent. Not only Internet companies Tencent and e-commerce giant Alibaba took up a large percentage of market share, their main Internet platforms such as QQ, WeChat and Taobao were also the most popular APPs among Chinese people. The report said the most popular type of mobile APP for Chinese online mobile users was instant messaging, and among that, the most popular APP was WeChat, followed by QQ. Online shopping application Alibaba's Taobao came third, with China's dominant search engine Baidu and Alibaba's mobile wallet Alipay following that. Hao Liyang, analyst of CNNIC said he thought that both opportunities and challenges lay ahead for China's Internet market. As Chinese Internet development shifts into a "maturity phase," the rate of increase is now remaining at rather saturated phase, because the advantage of gaining users due to a large population is actually making an exit, Hao said. More developing countries such as India are breaking out and their netizens are increasing rapidly. "The development of China's Internet industry still needs to find a breaking point in order to grasp the opportunity of globalization," Hao said. Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: January 23 2017 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo urged New Yorkers to prepare for a coastal storm which will impact most of New York State, especially New York City and Long Island. New York / Long Island, NY - January 22, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged New Yorkers to prepare for a coastal storm which will impact most of New York State, especially New York City and Long Island. Heavy rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain along with strong gusting winds are forecast with the biggest impacts forecast for downstate with high winds and the potential for coastal shoreline flooding. As this storm could cause power outages across downstate and flooding for communities near the coastline, I am directing all relevant state agencies to be on alert and ready to respond to whatever Mother Nature throws our way, said Governor Cuomo. We will be closely monitoring storm conditions and deploying resources and equipment as necessary. I encourage all New Yorkers in these areas to plan ahead, avoid unnecessary travel, and above all else stay safe. Lower Hudson Valley, NYC & Long Island Area Heavy rain should move into the area Monday morning with the heaviest rain falling Monday evening. One to three inches of rain is likely, but three to four inches is possible. Minor urban flooding should be expected with the likely rainfall totals, but more serious urban and small stream flooding is possible with rainfall amounts over four inches. Coastal flooding will likely be minor for multiple high tide cycles Monday into Tuesday morning. If the surges coincide with the heaviest rain and strongest wind, moderate coastal flooding could occur. Widespread dune erosion and localized wash overs are possible along the Atlantic Ocean coast. Sea levels may be between 16 and 22 feet on the ocean and 6 to 12 feet on the sound. Strong winds are expected throughout Monday with winds between 30 and 40 mph with gusts as high at 60 mph and 70 mph on the Island. There is a high wind warning in effect for New York City and Long Island. A coastal flood watch/advisory is in effect for the western Long Island, Long Island coastline, and portions of NY Harbor. Central and Northern New York A major winter storm could affect a large part of central and northern New York. The potential exists for heavy wet snow which could accumulate enough to produce power outages and very difficult travel conditions Monday afternoon and night. Accumulations of 3 to 7 inches are possible depending on location, mainly in higher elevations. High winds could also exacerbate power outages as the storm moves through the region. State Agency Preparations The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Emergency Management is coordinating preparations and resource allocations with state agencies and local governments in anticipation of the storm. The State Emergency Operations and Watch Centers will be staffed for enhanced monitoring through the day tomorrow. The stockpile in Guilderland, Albany County is prepared with two High Axle Vehicles, each equipped with an inflatable raft, adult and child Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), blankets, hand tools and foldable ladders, four zodiac style boats with outboards on 2 trailers, spare PFDs, spare outboards on two trailers; several PWC on trailers; three enclosed and tracked Utility Tracked Vehicles, and one tracked Sport Utility Vehicle. The Brentwood stockpile in Nassau County has staged two High Axle Vehicles each equipped with an inflatable raft, adult and child Personal Flotation Devices, blankets, hand tools and foldable ladders and the Brentwood & JFK Stockpiles each have one Sandbagger and there are 195,000 sandbags; various generators, light towers and pumps ready to deploy if necessary. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has 29 park police, nine 4x4 vehicles, and nine ATVs on Long Island and New York City. State Park personnel and New York State Park Police continue to monitor the storm and continue to prepare and test equipment in anticipation for the mix of weather conditions that are expected throughout the state. State Park Regions in the downstate area (LI, NYC, Taconic and Palisades) are securing facilities against high winds and heavy rainfall, ensuring drainages are clear and (Palisades Park) maintaining lowered lake levels in preparation for increased runoff. Specific to the Long Island State Park Region where we expect the greatest impact: facilities, are being secured for strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge. Equipment is being prepped and moved to higher elevations as appropriate. Also, LI Parks are preparing for possible staging of PSE&G equipment at some facilities if necessary. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are readying downstate regions for coastal flooding and has prepared assets in the region that consist of 77 4x4 utility vehicles, 13 ATVs, 4 snowmobiles, and 25 boats in the water and on trailers that range in size form 16 feet to 44 feet and are ready for deployment if necessary. The New York State Thruway Authority has 129 operators ready to deploy 44 Large Snow Plows, 40 Medium Snow Plows and 10 Loaders in the region. The Thruway Authority has more than 26,908 tons of road salt on hand in the lower Hudson Valley. Additional resources from other regions of the state are ready for reallocation as necessary. The following measures have been taken for downstate bridges: New New York Bridge (NNYB) Wind Storm Preparation All project related cranes, barges, equipment, and material have been secured Tug Boat patrol are in effect in the Hudson River near the New New York Bridge and the Tappan Zee with a second patrol available if needed Mooring equipment and material barges have been moved away from bridge structures Activate additional GPS Geo-Fence boundary limits to increase tracking of barges. Tappan Zee Bridge Wind Storm Preparations Wind speeds being monitored by TZB Personnel Will implement TZB High Wind Restrictions for Tractor Trailers based on wind speeds as detected by electronic monitors on the Bridge Wrecker tow truck crews are on standby to address any accidents / disabled vehicles Vehicular diversion plans are in place if needed Motorists are encouraged to sign up for TRANSalerts e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway. Thruway travelers can also get real-time updates by following @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter or by visiting thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways. The New York State Department of Transportation has more than 3,820 operators and supervisors throughout the state and are ready to respond with 1,487 large plow/dump trucks, 210 medium plow/dump trucks, 343 loaders, 45 truck/loader mounted snow blowers, 61 tow plows, 14 pickup trucks with plows. The Department of Transportation also has more than 430,000 tons of road salt on hand. To address the potential of high winds and coastal flooding on Long Island and the Hudson Valley, the Department also has 15 vacuum trucks with sewer jets, 77 chippers, 12 tree crew Bucket Trucks, 13 large water pumps, and 56 traffic signal trucks. Motorists are reminded to check 511NY by calling 511 or by accessing www.511ny.org before traveling. The free service allows users to check road conditions and transit information. Mobile users can download the updated, free 511NY mobile app from the iTunes or Google Play stores. The app now features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction. Users can set a destination prior to departing and receive information on up to three routes. All New Yorkers can obtain emergency information through NY-ALERT, the States free, all-hazards, web-based alert and notification system. To subscribe, visit nyalert.gov . If you do not own or have access to a computer, call toll-free 1-888-697-6972 or download the app on your smartphone at ialertz.com . Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges & Tunnels (B&T) has inspected roadway surfaces and drainage systems at all MTA bridges and tunnels. All Emergency supplies - facility generators, fuel, hand held anemometers have been checked. Construction zones have been checked and equipment and work areas are secured. These construction areas will also be monitored closely during the storm. METRO-NORTH has ordered extra buses as a precaution to deploy at the following locations: Wassaic, Danbury, South Norwalk and Waterbury. LIRR is deploying extra staff to deal with potential any track and power issues. New York City Transit (NYCT) is deploying pump trains and inspecting and clearing any potential problem area drains. Also have debris trains ready for quick response to downed trees. Approximately 1,000 extra maintenance personnel are being deployed to terminal inter-locking and yards for Monday morning service. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has made extensive preparations for personnel and equipment at all of its facilities. Operations are in place to ensure that facilities can be operated safely. The airports, bridges, tunnels and PATH also have weather desks where key personnel analyze weather reports and deploy staff and equipment. The Port Authority also is in contact with other local, state and federal officials and agencies to discuss regional preparations for the upcoming storm. Depending on the severity of the airlines may cancel flights in advance, so travelers should check with their carriers to make sure their flight will be taking off before going to the airport. The Port Authority also will have supplies of cots and other essential items ready to accommodate passengers who may become stranded at the airports. The Port Authority also urges bus travelers to check with their carriers before going to the bus terminals since many public and private carriers may cancel service if conditions warrant. The agency also may impose speed restrictions on its crossings, or close them entirely, if weather conditions warrant. For up-to-the-minute updates on Port Authority crossings, airports and the P ATH system, travelers are encouraged to sign up for Port Authority alerts at http://www.paalerts.com/ . Travelers may also call 511 or visit 511NY.org or 511NJ.org for further information on highway conditions. Act Now To Be Prepared for Coastal Flooding Learn the safest route from your home or business to high, safe ground should you have to leave in a hurry. Develop and practice a 'family escape' plan and identify a meeting place if family members become separated. Make an itemized list of all valuables including furnishings, clothing and other personal property. Keep the list in a safe place. Stockpile emergency supplies of canned food, medicine and first aid supplies and drinking water. Store drinking water in clean, closed containers. Plan what to do with your pets. Have a portable radio, flashlights, extra batteries and emergency cooking equipment available. Keep your automobile fueled. If electric power is cut off, gasoline stations may not be able to pump fuel for several days. Have a small disaster supply kit in the trunk of your car. Find out how many feet your property is above and below possible flood levels. When predicted flood levels are broadcast, you can determine if you may be flooded. Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency water-proofing. Safe Travel It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time. Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Some of the most important tips for safe winter driving include: When winter storms strike, do not drive unless necessary. If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly-colored cloth to use as a distress flag. Keep your gas tank full to prevent gasoline freeze-up. If you have a cell phone or two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location. Make sure someone knows your travel plans. Winterize Your Vehicle Preparing your vehicle for the winter season now will help ensure your vehicle is in good working order when you need it most Have a mechanic check the following items on your vehicle: o Battery o Wipers and windshield washer fluid o Antifreeze o Ignition system o Thermostat o Lights o Exhaust system o Flashing hazard lights o Heater o Brakes o Defroster o Oil level Install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. You may also want to carry a set of tire chains in your vehicle for heavy snow conditions. Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal and maintain at least a half tank of gas throughout the winter season. Finally, plan long trips carefully. Listen to the local media report or call law enforcement agencies for the latest road conditions. Drive Safely The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: January 23 2017 Proposed SEQR updates complement NYS Lean initiative to improve DEC responsiveness and cut government waste. First update to SEQR in 20 years would encourage smart growth and sustainable development, support New York's clean energy goals, and preserve integrity of model program. Albany, NY - January 20, 2017 - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that DEC is releasing for public comment a draft rulemaking package that, if adopted, would make the first update to New York's State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations in more than two decades, preserving the integrity of the program while streamlining the environmental review process. The update is designed to encourage smart growth and sustainable development across the state. In addition to the proposed SEQR update, DEC announced the success of the agency's implementation of the New York State Lean Initiative. The Lean management method has improved public responsiveness and performance at DEC while maintaining high standards of environmental and natural resource protection. "New York is leading the way in efficient and responsive government, and DEC is always looking for ways to make our agency more efficient, more accessible, and more effective," said DEC Commissioner Seggos. "DEC's proposed SEQR updates will strengthen the integrity of the review process and help achieve Governor Cuomo's nation-leading clean energy goals and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change while streamlining environmental reviews across the state. DEC's implementation of the Lean initiative is making us more efficient and cost-effective, reinvigorating the work we do, and cutting--sometimes in half--the time it takes for us to deliver products and information to the public." The proposed amendments to SEQR will both streamline and strengthen the State's environmental review process by expanding the actions not subject to further review, known as Type II actions, modifying certain thresholds for actions deemed more likely to require the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS), making scoping of an EIS mandatory rather than optional, and making the acceptance procedures for a draft EIS more consistent. A notable addition to the Type II list is the installation of broadband within an existing right-of-way, which will accelerate the buildout of broadband infrastructure and help the state meet the goal of "broadband for all" under the New NY Broadband Program. Other examples of proposed Type II actions to be added include: green infrastructure upgrades or retrofits; installing 5 MW or less of solar arrays on landfills, cleaned-up brownfield sites, wastewater treatment facilities, sites zoned for industrial use, or solar canopies on residential and commercial parking facilities; installation of 5 MW or less of solar arrays on an existing structure not listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places; sustainable development of disturbed sites; acquisition and dedication of parkland; land transfers for affordable housing; and construction and operation of certain anaerobic digesters or composters at public wastewater treatment facilities or municipal solid waste landfills. The SEQR updates were vetted through one of the most extensive stakeholder outreach campaigns in DEC history and designed to address the concerns of myriad stakeholders while maintaining their strength of purpose-to protect the public and the environment. In addition to a full public scoping process for the draft EIS, 11 stakeholder meetings with representatives from the business community, environmental groups, and local governments were held over two years. The proposed update builds on the modernization of the environmental assessment forms to include web-based forms and workbooks and a spatial mapping tool that became effective on October 7, 2013. DEC's proposed agency rulemaking for SEQR updates will include a 90-day public comment period and hearing, as required by the State Administrative Procedures Act (SAPA). DEC has already prepared a Draft EIS to support this rulemaking, and the SEQR process will run concurrently with the SAPA process. Additional information and the proposed amendments will be available on the DEC website on January 23. The draft regulations will be noticed in both the Environmental Notice Bulletin and the State Register on February 8. Additional efforts to bolster DEC's efficiency and effectiveness include the agency's implementation of the New York State Lean Initiative. DEC has applied Lean to 17 public service processes, including license sales, permits reviews, registrations and inspections, communications, and outreach. For each project, staff teams analyzed an existing process and identified and implemented improvements. Many of these projects have resulted in more efficient processes. Benefits include more than two dozen updated and new guidance documents to the public and approximately 35 revamped website pages. In excess of 50 updated internal guidance documents have better organized staff work for more streamlined public services. DEC's Lean projects have cut the length of time necessary to complete several agency processes, or "cycle times," by 50 percent or more. As of December 2016, Lean has: reduced the time needed to schedule and conduct Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Inspections by 41 days; cut cycle time for Fish and Wildlife special licenses by 47 days; and reduced cycle time for Pesticide Product Registration Routines by 76 days. In 2013, Governor Cuomo introduced the New York State Lean Initiative at the suggestion of his Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission. Agencies, businesses and other institutions implementing Lean optimize efficiency and effectiveness while improving customer satisfaction. DEC has several Lean projects underway, and is continuing to streamline and improve efficiencies within the agency. On a government scale, Lean is implemented by coordinated teams of front line state employees who examine existing agency delivery systems and carefully consider each phase of a process and eliminate duplicative and/or unnecessary steps. Their work improves the public's experience with State agencies including DEC, by streamlining time-consuming methods to thereby increase the efficiency of government functions. Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: January 23 2017 A Hampton Bays man who is a former Navy Seal was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse. Hampton Bays, NY - January 20, 2017 - A Hampton Bays man who is a former Navy Seal was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree, a class D violent felony after a two week trial and fifty five minutes of deliberation by a Suffolk County jury. Dylan Flynn, 24, of Hampton Bays, was an active duty member of the United States Navy. Flynn was under investigation by the Navy, specifically NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) for an unrelated matter in Florida. As part of that investigation Flynn turned over his personnel cell phone to investigators there. Upon reviewing the contents of his phone NCIS investigators discovered five video clips from June 30, 2014 depicting Flynn and a codefendant Timothy Wheeler inserting two screw drivers into the intimate parts of a naked and obviously unconscious woman lying in bed. Flynn and Wheeler identified the victim by name on camera and described her as vulnerable. They sexually abused her while filming her, laughing and joking about what they were doing. After determining where the video had been made NCIS immediately contacted authorities in Suffolk County who along with investigators from the District Attorneys Office and the New York State Police located the crime scene at a private home in Hampton Bays. They were also able to speak to the victim who was unaware of what the defendants had done to her until she was shown the video from defendant Flynns cell phone. District Attorney Spota praised NCIS investigators for their quick action in identifying the jurisdiction where the video was made and notifying local authorities and prosecutors for making sure the defendant was held accountable for his role in this despicable crime. NCSPCA Pet Safe Program: Remember Your Pets in Your Preparation, Keep Them Inside Pets & Animal, Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: January 23 2017 In anticipation of the approaching Nor'easter the Nassau County SPCA urges pet owners to make preparations ahead of the storm to keep their families and pets safe. The most important thing pet owners should do is to bring their pets indoors, if conditions are unsafe for humans, they are also unsafe for pets. Nassau County, NY - January 23, 2017 - The National Weather Service in Upton has issued... high wind warning in effect until 1 AM EST Tuesday... Coastal Flood Advisory in effect until 3 PM EST this afternoon... Flood Watch in effect from 1 PM EST this afternoon through late tonight... Coastal flood warning in effect from 3 PM this afternoon to 11 PM EST this evening to 1 AM EST Tuesday... Coastal Flood Watch in effect from late tonight through Tuesday morning. Nor'easter the In anticipation of the approachingthe Nassau County SPCA urges pet owners to make preparations ahead of the storm to keep their families and pets safe. The most important thing pet owners should do is to bring their pets indoors, if conditions are unsafe for humans, they are also unsafe for pets. Always bring pets, indoors, including outdoor cats, at the first sign or warning of a storm. A Nor'easter s no place a pet. Don't let your dog off the leash. Dogs can lose their scent during storms and easily become lost. Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Stock up ahead of time on all pet food and medicine your animals may need-travel may be much more difficult or impossible. Prepare for a power outage, especially if your family includes fish, reptiles or pocket pets. Keep a pet emergency kit and supplies handy with items such as medical records, water, pet food and medications, and pet first aid supplies. Have a coat and booties ready for any dog that needs them. Be ready to protect your pets from very strong wind and cold. The Nassau County SPCA Pet Safe urges pet owners to develop an emergency plan that accounts for the safety of their animals and to stay up to date on storm warnings in their area. Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. Do not leave your pets behind. To Report Animal Cruelty call 516-THE-SPCA, email or use our online form China established a 100-billion-RMB internet investment fund in Beijing on Jan. 22. The first 30 billion RMB has already been raised, and the fund has reached cooperation agreements with many enterprises and financial institutions, China News Service reported. China Internet Investment Fund was approved by the countrys State Council and jointly initiated by the State Internet Information Office and Ministry of Finance. Focusing on internet investment, the fund will aid outstanding internet companies, offer internet power strategies and promote the use of the internet to benefit the country and its people. A number of strategic cooperation agreements were signed at the launching ceremony. The fund signed partnership agreements with six enterprises: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), CITIC Guo'an Group, China Post Insurance, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. The first 30 billion in investments have already been raised. In addition, the fund reached investment and loan agreements with three financial institutions--ICBC, China Development Bank and Agriculture Bank of China--to provide supportive measures covering credit and financial services. The line of credit is up to 150 billion RMB. On Jan. 15, the Islamic State launched a new offensive in Deir Ezzor. The eastern Syrian city has been divided between the so-called caliphate and Bashar al Assads regime since July 2014. In the two and half years since, the jihadists and Assads loyalists have regularly clashed, leading to an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The situation has become even more dire in recent days. Despite fighting on multiple fronts throughout Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State was able to muster enough forces for a significant push into the city. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Abu Bakr al Baghdadis men have effectively cut the besieged enclave in two. Deir Ezzors airport and two neighborhoods in the east have been cut off from the citys more populous western neighborhoods. An OCHA map of the current situation in Deir Ezzor can be seen above. An estimated 93,500 people, including over 40,000 children, live in the parts of the city controlled by the Assad regime. The Islamic States prolonged siege has deprived them of regular access to food, medicines and other essentials since mid-2014. For months, humanitarian organizations delivered provisions and foodstuffs through high altitude air drops. But the Islamic States new assault on Deir Ezzor has made that impossible, according to OCHA, as the jihadis have taken control of the drop-zone which is located three kilometers west of the airport. The offensive has only exacerbated the ongoing crisis, with regular shortages in the supply of food, water, medicines, electricity and other necessary items. Islamic State propaganda from the offensive The Islamic State frequently clashes with the Assad regime, as well as allied militias and conscripts, in Deir Ezzor. Amaq News Agency, one of the Islamic States chief propaganda outlets, has eagerly advertised the exchanges, using captured regime fighters and militiamen in its videos. The captives are often made to renounce the Assad regime. Amaq has also provided a steady stream of other videos and images, including clips of the jihadis using anti-tank weapons against regime tanks and other assets. An infographic produced by Amaq in early January listed 1,112 martyrdom operations (suicide attacks) in Iraq and Syria throughout 2016. Thirty-six (36) of these bombings supposedly took place in Deir Ezzor province. Although suicide bombers are deployed more regularly in other areas of Syria, Deir Ezzor was still tied with Raqqa for the third most frequently targeted province. Only the Aleppo (150) and Hasakah (49) provinces witnessed more suicide bombings, according to Amaq. Amaq has published numerous videos and photos from the recent offensive. On Jan. 16, the propaganda outlet said that the jihadis had captured key positions west of the Deir Ezzor airbase, destroying a bus that was transporting troops and three other vehicles during the battle. The airbase quickly came under siege from all sides, according to Amaq, and approximately 40 Syrian troops were killed during the early hours of the fighting. On Jan. 18, Amaq announced that Islamic State fighters had captured the electrical substation, its checkpoint and a plaza northwest of the airbase. This was reportedly followed by advances on the Syrian army field hospital, and other key points. An Amaq video contained footage from inside the hospital, a crude facility with pockmarks from mortar shells and other ammunition scattered throughout the walls. Other Amaq statements on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 claimed that the jihadis have destroyed a field artillery piece and a tank belonging to the Syrian regime. Russian warplanes have run bombing missions over the city in support of the Syrian Army, as well as the irregulars who have been pressed into service. An Amaq video released on Jan. 21 purportedly showed the destruction caused by the Russian bombings, with buildings reduced to rubble. A screen shot from the video can be seen above. Continuous fighting between Islamic State, Assad regime in Deir Ezzor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has published regular reports on the fighting in and around Deir Ezzor since 2014. But the Islamic States offensive in the city appears to be its most significant effort in the area since early 2016. During a press briefing on Jan. 29, 2016, Colonel Steve Warren, who was then the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), discussed the Islamic States operations in Deir Ezzor. Col. Warren said that the city was split between the Islamic State and the regime, with each controlling about 50 percent. The jihadists had been battling regime forces for some time, Warren noted, but used the cover a sandstorm to gain ground in single neighborhood. This temporarily increased the Islamic States control from 50 percent to maybe 56 percent, but the Assad regime gained some of it back when the weather cleared and they were able to bring some air power to bear. In Warrens view, the Islamic States short-lived gains did not amount to a major tactical event. Other accounts claimed that the jihadis massacred civilians and Syrian forces during the Jan. 2016 raid. The two sides continued to clash in and around Deir Ezzor in the year since. During a press briefing on Aug. 16, 2016, Colonel Christopher Garver, another OIR spokesman, confirmed that the city was still divided. The Islamic State had been in the city for many months at that point, with the US flying missions against the group both inside Deir Ezzor and in the area around it. The US and its allies had certainly attacked a lot of the oil infrastructureoutside of Deir Ezzor and in that area, Garver said. Meanwhile, the Islamic State and the Syrian Army had been fighting over that city for quite a long time. The Islamic State has earned significant oil revenues from wells outside of Deir Ezzor city. And as Garver explained, the oil fields have been a frequent American target. The US has continued to bomb oil wells and related infrastructure even as the jihadis surged in the city this month. The US air campaign in Deir Ezzor led to an international incident in Sept. 2016, when American bombers mistakenly struck fighters allied with the Syrian regime. According to the Defense Department, the Americans believed they were bombing Islamic State positions, an indication of just how close the front lines between the two sides were at the time. Indeed, the two foes have been at each others throats in Deir Ezzor for two and a half years. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The Internet of Things (IoT) has a bad rap these days. As billions of devices, like DVRs and webcams, ship to consumers worldwide, no government or industry organization has any real power to ensure that the devices have proper security and an upgrade path to patch flaws. Thats not new in the computer and consumer electronics worlds. But the IoT makes hackable devices in fixed locations attached to high-speed broadband an incredibly desirable target for security agencies and criminal gangs to use as armies of bots. While some IoT devices are expensive, like a $200 Nest camera, those are outliers. The vast majority of gear being shipped is already deep in a race to the bottom. The makers of cheap hardware dont typically put security at the top of their priority list, nor have much compulsion to offer software upgrades for security indefinitelyor even at all. So what can shift that balance, making consumer privacy and Internet security valuable to makers? Putting teeth into the consequences of failure to meet a basic bar. In some segments of the electronics industry, trade groups have this power through certification and sometimes through encryption. If you want to sell a device thats labeled Wi-Fi (without having your products blocked and you being sued), you have to pay for testing and to use the Wi-Fi trademarks. Sell it with that label and mark and without approval, and you can wind up sued, have your imports blocked, and find retailers refusing to sell your product. The IoT has no such group thats providing branding and certification. This leaves all the biting to government agencies. In the U.S., Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cant act ahead of harm. Despite having released best-practices guidelines and pursued some limited complaints and threats of action, it cannot force any maker in the U.S. or any that exports its products to sell in America to comply to any standards before it identifies a consumer wrong. But the FTC can take action. Thats what happened on January 6 to D-Link, a Taiwanese firm with a long history of making networking equipment, and more recently a broad array of devices that fit the IoT rubric. The FTCs action is welcomebased on its allegations, which remain to be proven in court or through a settlementbut under a Trump administration, its unclear whether well see anything similar happen. Deliberate overpromising The FTC lacks the power to sue over features. Its enforcement efforts have to do with whether promises to consumers were fulfilledthat is, fraud and deception. (Safety issues relating to injury or property damage, such as the recall of Samsungs Note7, are handled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, though the FTC can get involved if they allege fraud as well.) D-Link The FTC alleged that D-Link failed to take reasonable steps to secure its routers and IP cameras. The FTC alleges that D-Link had a number of security flaws that defy industry standard practices and sense, while advertising its products as easy to secure and advanced network security. D-Link issued a statement, posted on its website, that says the charges are unwarranted and baseless, and notes, The FTC does not allege any breach of any product sold by D-Link Systems. That latter item will be a sticking point if this goes to trial. While this columnist is not a lawyer, the FTC routinely proceeds against companies that advertise what they do not deliver without having to prove a specific harm besides a consumer paying for a product. If D-Link had never advertised security features in any fashion, the FTC would have more limited ability to respond. For consumers, the most important aspect is that almost nothing the FTC alleges D-Link did or failed to do could be fixed by better education or configuration options. For instance, the FTC says D-Link left a private key used for code signing was left on a public website for six months. That meant any party that obtained the key could cryptographically sign an update destined for a D-Link product that examined the signature before installing it. I write about security and privacy issues constantly, and a regular bit of feedback from veteran tech users is a wagging of the finger at people who dont learn enough about the products they use to secure them properly. Many of the IoT failures documented to date, along with the D-Link charges, involve hard-coded behavior and settings that cant be changed or dont change even if the interface says they do. In other cases, its server-side stuff that only a manufacturer can fix, and a user would need packet-sniffing software and networking expertise to begin to suss out. One hopes the FTCs complaint, whatever its outcome, will put a finger on the scale of manufacturers that had given too little thought to security. But theres a fly in the ointment: a change of administration. An unregulated future? Its still too early to know what a Trump appointees view of the FTCs role will be. Trump and the Republican Party have said many times that businesses are encumbered by too many regulations, and that markets sort out problems by causing companies to fail that dont meet the needs of customers. The IoT realm is a good counterexample. Given that theres no regulation that covers security and privacy, consumers have had imperfect knowledge and there has been no countervailing consequence that made less well-made IoT products sell less well. So many companies manufacture IoT products and most are imported. Amazon, Alibaba, and other online retailers let manufacturers sell directly without vetting or rejecting products unless theyre reported for illegality or dysfunction. In that space, the FTC mends a broken market. In a new administration, this may still be seen as meddling, but we dont know. Its possible that in these areas that lack specific regulation, the administration will advocate for consumers in just this fashion. The D-Link complaint could be the last of this sort we see in a long while, or the first in a long line. Well find out soon. Li Jing, a 54-year-old Chinese-Russian, arrived in Xian, Shaanxi province on Jan. 20, prepared to ride from the mouth of the Yellow River to its source in Qinghai province, Hsw.cn reported on Jan. 22. Li has been fond of horses since he was young. Working at the library of Shenzhen University offered Li a chance to read many books about travel, and he dreamed of traveling around the world on horseback. With support of his wife, Li rode to Beijing from Russia in 2009--a trip that took more than 600 days to complete. Upon arrival, I planned to continue riding to London, together with an Englishman, but we had to stop halfway through, said Li. Li added that after riding along the Great Wall, he decided to trace the source of the Yellow River, as it is the mother river of China and represents traditional Chinese culture. Li rode during the daytime and put up a tent to sleep at night, sometimes playing a cornet that he had brough with him. As for his next trip, Li says he may take on the Yangtze River. The great Gold Rush Music Festival returns to the township of Waihi, with the first nuggets of gold dropping for the highly anticipated return of the 2023 festival. (Photo/China News Service) Despite the huge need for masks due to frequent and severe smog, China has been slow to take advantage of the mask market, which is currently dominated by U.S. company 3M. 3M ranked as the top mask manufacturer in 2015, followed by Sinotextiles Corporation Limited in Shanghai and Honeywell. Sinotextiles was the only Chinese brand in the top five. An industry insider revealed that 3M may possess up to 90 percent of the market share, leaving Sinotextiles with just 5 percent of the final 10, according to National Business Daily (NBD). 3M's prominence is hardly unexpected, as the manufacturer is already a well-known brand, explained Zhao Danqing, CEO of Sinotextiles CEO. Currently, there are over 1,000 mask manufacturers in China, double the 500 that existed in 2013. Annual mask production is currently estimated at 600 million, though estimates show that China has a demand for 800 million masks every year, some 200 million of which are for civilian use. However, more market players have come price competition, which has led to many poor-quality products, leaving the industry vulnerable to quality control issues. Quite a few small factories are incapable of making professional-grade masks, as doing so requires precise techniques and molds. A single mistakes could mean the failure of a whole batch of products, according to Cui Guoyu, a manager with a Suzhou-based mask manufacturer. A recent check by a quality inspection bureau in Jiangsu province showed that 99 out of 166 batches of inspected masks were found in some way faulty, NBD reported. In two decisions rendered by the Romanian Trade Mark Office (TMO) in June 2016, the examiners found that two national applications depicting fictional characters were lacking distinctive character and therefore rejected their registration in Romania for the generic class headings of the goods and services in classes 7, 9, 28, 35, 37 and 42 of the International Nice Classification. The applicant, Skin Media SRL, contested both decisions in an attempt to convince the Appeals Committee of the Romanian authority that they fulfil the conditions prescribed by the Romanian Trade Marks Law 84/1998, republished for being accepted at registration. Both appeals continue to be pending. The applications, Capcaunul, national filing number M 2015 05895 (the Romanian version for the Ogre), and Fat Frumos!, national filing number M 2015 05893 (the Romanian version of Prince Charming) were refused by the TMO examiners by invoking ex officio the absolute grounds for refusal pursuant to article 5 (1) b) of the Trade Marks Law providing that applications lacking distinctive character will be refused at registration or, if registered, they are liable to be cancelled. TMO's Examination Committee expalined its decisions by stating that the signs are each composed of the name of a mythological character adjoined by its corresponding graphical representation. The examiners identified both characters to be defined in the Romanian language official dictionary (Capcaunul representing in popular Romanian fairy tales a fabulous creature a dog's head on a human body, sometimes, with two heads which was said to eat people, while Fat Frumos! represents a hero endowed with essential qualities, such as courage, virtue, purity, beauty, both physical and spiritual force, passion and faithfulness in love) and considered this aspect to confirm the lack of distinctive character for the designated goods and services. No other motivation was provided in the refusal decisions. In the initial responses in defence filed by the applicant in reply to the official notices that preceded the refusal decisions, arguments detailed that the complex figurative signs applied for protection do not represent the usual, normal way to refer to or in any way identify or describe the goods and services at issue. More so, the signs will not allow an average consumer, with a reasonable degree of attention, to establish a direct connection between the signs and the goods/services requested. The applicant also argued that the signs are not mere word elements identifying the characters but feature specific graphic devices which were particularly created to be featured in the applications and are not customarily used on the Romanian market in relation to the goods/services relevant for in the cases. Even if they do have a place among the Romanian fictional folklore characters, as also revealed by the EUIPO guidelines on trade mark practice, they could be regarded as lacking a distinctive character when referring to goods/services deriving from the actual tales to which such characters pertain, due to their familiarity among the average audience. However, this would not be the case at issue, in view of the particularities of the goods/services requested in the applications. The refusal decisions also show an inconsistent practice among the examiners of the Romanian TMO. This because, in addition to the applications identified above, other applications featuring fictional, fairy tale characters with devices were filed for protection by the applicant at the same time and for the same class headings. All such additional applications, although also provisionally refused, were ultimately accepted at registration by the examiners, finding that the (same) arguments in response are pertinent for overcoming their initial refusals on the same absolute grounds. Among these additional applications we mention Ileana Cosanzeana, filing number M 2015 05891, registration number 144482, Muma Padurii filing number M 2015 05885, registration number 144481 (the Romanian version of the Witch of the Forest) and Pasarila filing number M 2015 05886, registration number 144484 (the Romanian version of Birdman), all accepted for registration in Romania in the name of the applicant for the class headings in classes 7, 9, 28, 35, 37 and 42. The refusal decisions therefore show that the practice of the Romanian TMO is not aligned when analysing the same absolute grounds for refusal invoked ex officio by examiners against the same type of applications referring to identical goods and services and it remains to be seen whether the Appeals Committee of the Romanian TMO will overturn these refusals. Andreea Bende Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Bucuresti-Ploiesti 1A, Sector 1Bucharest 013681, Romania+40 21 201 1200office@nndkp.ro www.nndkp.ro 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 Stock Market New Highs For 2017? Yes, But When Do I Enter? When the SPX breaks out above its current resistance level, it will be the next leg up in this bull market. We are currently in a consolidation period. The SPX seems to be resting for now! The Bollinger Bands Squeeze is now taking hold and will result in a powerful move in either direction once broken. I do have a new BULLISH trigger for members to enter into during this amazing melt up that will only be shared with my elite members. I can assure you that you will want to be invested in this next BULLISH leg of the SPX! The Next Move UP! Bollinger Bands are one of my most preferred tools of technical indicators: The Squeeze,(http://www.investopedia.com/articles/technical/04/030304.asp?lgl=bt1tn-baseline-below-textnote) occurs during low levels of volatility as the Bollinger Bands narrow. These periods of low volatility are followed by periods of high volatility. Therefore, a volatility contraction of the bands can foreshadow a significant advance or decline. This is one of my best kept secrets of technical analysis, until now! Financial markets are now awaiting what the new Trump Administration has in store. These markets do not like uncertainty. So far, President-elect Trump has announced a direction of deregulation and lowering the tax bracket for corporations and repatriation of all corporate money (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/repatriation.asp) that is held overseas in foreign bank accounts. The ISI Research Study revealed that the U.S. S&P 500 companies now have $1.9 trillion parked outside the country. Most likely, said funds will be applied so as to continue the stock buyback program thereby pushing the SPX to new levels that are ridiculously overpriced. Hot money continues to be supporting the rise in equity markets. I share some of these hot money sectors and stock on my StockCharts.com public list! Trumps Victory Speech on November 9th, 2016: We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. Were going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it. We will also finally take care of our great veterans. Chart of the SPX melt-up: Are there too many happy investors? The U.S. stock markets have been on a run since the U.S. Presidential election last November 9th, 2016. U.S. stocks continue to see signs of optimistic extremes. The risk of buying on emotional decisions is still currently high. There is no interest in shorting. The number of shares sold short, in hopes of buying them back at a lower price, has collapsed. The SPY fund (https://us.spdrs.com/en/product/fund.seam?ticker=SPY), short interest is the lowest since the summer of 2007. Individual stocks are also showing a lack of short sales which, in turn, removes a pool of potential buying interest. A de-trended version of the short interest ratio has dropped to a level that has led to negative returns for stocks which will happen, but likely not for many month yet. The market is likely to grinding higher before a big correction takes place. A new high presented itself on a day that the jobs report missed expectations. On January 6th, 2017, the jobs report came in less than what economists expectations were. However, the SPX powered to a new high of 2276.06. This may seem like good news, but during prior times that this occurred, stocks usually pulled back over the following weeks. Stocks have drifted higher even after optimism reached an extreme. Dumb Money Confidence exceeded 80% but the SPX has added on more gains without any kind of pullback. This type of buying pressure, after an extreme optimism sentiment, has previously occurred only a handful of times. It has usually led to losses as the late buyers became exhausted. Investor confidence is so High they see no need to hedge their positions: The Equity Hedging Index has declined to its lowest level in nearly two years, showing a lack of interest in the various ways that investors use to protect themselves from possible market declines. This chart is a contrary indicator. The higher the Equity Hedging Index, the more likely it is that stocks will rally going forward. The lower the Equity Hedging Index, the less likely that stocks will rally. Conclusion: Hopefully, Trumps business experience will translate well into his new position. It is certainly my hope that he is as successful as possible. Even during the campaign Trump spoke about how stocks were in a giant bubble. This euphoria that we have felt, since his election victory, has made that bubble even larger. Throughout U.S. history, every giant financial bubble has always ended very badly, and this time around will not be an exception. Trump may get the blame for it when it bursts, but the truth is that the conditions for the coming crisis have been building for a very, very long time. I expect the stock market to stall out mid way this year in June/July at which point things could turn south. If you want to follow me live at StockTwits.com Join my free trading newsletter at www.TheGoldAndOilGuy.com Chris Vermeulen www.TheGoldAndOilGuy.com Chris Vermeulen is Founder of the popular trading site TheGoldAndOilGuy.com. There he shares his highly successful, low-risk trading method. For 7 years Chris has been a leader in teaching others to skillfully trade in gold, oil, and silver in both bull and bear markets. Subscribers to his service depend on Chris' uniquely consistent investment opportunities that carry exceptionally low risk and high return. Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. On Jan. 18, Mao Yinmei, the last South Korean "comfort woman" in China, passed away at the age of 95 in Xiaogan, Hubei province. Mao was forced into servitude at the age of 18 in a Japanese military brothel in Wuchang. Mao was transferred from Korea to the north of China, and then to Nanjing in 1945. In July 1945, Mao came to Wuhan and was imprisoned in so-called comfort stations in Hankou and Wuchang with 10 other Korean women, Mao explained in a past interview. After Japan's surrender, Mao fled the comfort station. Ever since, she has been reticent to speak about that dark period of her life. "Comfort women victims tried to forget the suffering," said Guo Ke, director of the film "Twenty Two," which portrays the lives of the last surviving comfort women. Guo interviewed over 20 former comfort women before he made the film. When talking about their families, most of the victims couldn't help but cry, Guo said. Mao chose not to return to South Korea because all her family members were dead. Instead, she married a Chinese man. Formerly known as Piao Eji, Mao renamed herself Mao Yinmei after her husband's beloved white plum blossoms ("yinmei" in Mandarin), and chose the surname "Mao" in gratitude to Chairman Mao Zedong. Mao was buried in Xiaogan in accordance with her wishes. Trumping World Trade After the inauguration, President Trump has begun to reset the White House trade policies. But the consequences of America First stance in world trade are wrought with threats. Recently, President Xi Jinping gave a strong speech about the need for more inclusive globalization at Davos. World trade is a case in point. In 2015, world export volumes reached a plateau. World trade is no longer growing. Any major protectionist initiative has potential to make a bad situation a lot worse. Trumps trade appointments and tariff plans In the early 2010s, the Obama administration touted the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which excluded China. On his inauguration day, Trump announced US withdrawal from the TPP and promised to renegotiate NAFTA; if Mexico and Canada would refuse a negotiation, he would have US withdraw also from NAFTA. Trump has promised to renegotiate or reject other US international commitments. And he has threatened to use 35-45% import tariffs, while his team has floated 10% tariffs. The goal is to force some countries, particularly Mexico and China, to change their trade practices, which he has vowed to challenge with cease and desist letters and greater pressure for intellectual property rights (IPRs). Trump's appointments suggest potential for serious trade friction. He selected Peter Navarro, the author of sensationalist China-bashing books (The Coming China Wars, 2005; 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. Navarro's anti-China buddy Dan DiMicco, former CEO of largest US steel company Nucor and vocal free trade critic, became Trump's trade advisor and former Reagan administration trade hawk Robert Lighthizer, his US Trade Representative. The three will work with Secretary of Commerce, billionaire Wilbur Ross, who made a fortune by offshoring American jobs and as bankruptcy expert. He calls China "the world's most protectionist country." Targeting US deficit Targeting the US deficit Trump has also named Japan as one of the deficit contributors, which Japans Finance Minister Taro Aso has considered inappropriate. In terms of trade imbalances, China is No 1, Aso says. In protectionist initiatives, the blame is in the eye of the beholder because one country's deficit is another's surplus. Trumps trade warriors will begin by singling out nations that have large trade surplus with the US. That makes big trading economies obvious targets. In 2015, the list was topped by China ($367 billion), Japan ($69) and Mexico ($61 billion), and Germany ($60 billion) However, they are likely to ignore the size of these surpluses on a per capita basis. If we take into account the population size, Germany ($720) is the deficit leader followed by Japan ($543), Mexico ($488), but China ($262) is far behind. Now, if the Trump administration really is serious about targeting deficit leaders, it should probably consider a trade war with Ireland. After all, US has a deficit of $30 billion with Ireland, which translates to $6,380 in per capita terms - that's 9 times the German and 24 times the Chinese figure, respectively. In reality, trade deficits are likely to serve as pretexts for protectionism even if such policies penalize the rest of the world. Regional trade deficits, nationalist tariffs Trump's goals may well be dictated by realpolitik. Deficit criticism serves largely as an effort to undermine European unity (hence his anti-Merkel tirade), the rise of China and Mexico, and Japanese reforms. In such a win-lose world, "America First" is not possible through cooperation or even competition, but only by winning and harming perceived adversaries. And yet, historically, US trade deficits did not start with China, or any other single country. Rather, they are regional and have prevailed for more than 41 years with Asia first with Japan, then with newly-industrialized Asian tigers and recently with China and emerging Asia. A single-minded focus on trade deficits ignores the fact that global economic cooperation is not just about trade in goods, but about trade in services and high-technology. It also includes investment, which Trump would like to attract from the very same countries that he risks alienating with his trade policy. And it includes migration flows, which Trump would like to restrict dramatically, which would hurt US long-term growth, reduce remittances to poorer nations and boost anti-US resentment particularly in the Middle East. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act Deja vu Trumps stated protectionism does have a historical precedent. In 1930, the US Congress passed the notorious Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which sharply raised the cost of foreign imports. While the Tariff Act seemed to work initially, it soon caused other nations to retaliate. As rounds of tit-for-tat retaliation contributed to the Great Depression, the way was soon paved for another world war. Trumping world trade is a bad idea, but its timing is even worse. 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 2017 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. Trump's Foreign Policy An Unwise Inconsistency? Throughout the presidential campaign, Donald Trump's foreign policy positions have been anything but consistent. One day we heard that NATO was obsolete and the US needs to pursue better relations with Russia. But the next time he spoke, these sensible positions were abandoned or an opposite position was taken. Trump's inconsistent rhetoric left us wondering exactly what kind of foreign policy he would pursue if elected. The President's inaugural speech was no different. On the one hand it was very encouraging when he said that under his Administration the US would "seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world," and that he understands the "right of all nations to put their own interests first." He sounded even better when he said that under Trump the US would "not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example. We will shine for everyone to follow." That truly would be a first step toward peace and prosperity. However in the very next line he promised a worldwide war against not a country, but an ideology, when he said he would, "unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth." This inconsistent and dangerous hawkishess will not defeat "radical Islamic terrorism," but rather it will increase it. Terrorism is not a place, it is a tactic in reaction to invasion and occupation by outsiders, as Professor Robert Pape explained in his important book, Dying to Win. The neocons repeat the lie that ISIS was formed because the US military pulled out of Iraq instead of continuing its occupation. But where was ISIS before the US attack on Iraq? Nowhere. ISIS was a reaction to the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. The same phenomenon has been repeated wherever US interventionist actions have destabilized countries and societies. Radical Islamic terrorism is for the most part a reaction to foreign interventionism. It will never be defeated until this simple truth is understood. We also heard reassuring reports that President Trump was planning a major shake-up of the US intelligence community. With a budget probably approaching $100 billion, the intelligence community is the secret arm of the US empire. The CIA and other US agencies subvert elections and overthrow governments overseas, while billions are spent spying on American citizens at home. Neither of these make us safer or more prosperous. But all the talk about a major shake up at the CIA under Trump was quickly dispelled when the President visited the CIA on his first full working day in office. Did he tell them a new sheriff was in town and that they would face a major and long-overdue reform? No. He merely said he was with them "1000 percent." One reason Trump sounds so inconsistent in his policy positions is that he does not have a governing philosophy. He is not philosophically opposed to a US military empire so sometimes he sounds in favor of more war and sometimes he sounds like he opposes it. Will President Trump in this case be more influenced by those he has chosen to serve him in senior positions? We can hope not, judging from their hawkishness in recent Senate hearings. Trump cannot be for war and against war simultaneously. Let us hope that once the weight of the office settles on him he will understand that the prosperity he is promising can only come about through a consistently peaceful foreign policy. Buy Ron Paul's latest book, Swords into Plowshares, here. Dr. Ron Paul Project Freedom Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill. Dr. Ron Paul Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Combining new technology and new ideas, a group of farmers has come up with a fresh idea to bring their products to consumers. On Dec. 1, Huang Zeyi, a farmer in Xiushan County, Chongqing, hosted a webcast on Taobao.com, Chinas largest online shopping platform. Broadcast from his chicken farm, Huang's webcast introduced viewers to a range of activities on the farm, from feeding chickens to collecting eggs. "Place your order online; I will weigh the chicken and ship it to you right now," Huang said into the camera. Five seconds later, he received his first order for organic eggs from downtown Chongqing. The webcast team then turned the camera onto the eggs to be shipped. After farmers stuck QR codes on the eggs, they were loaded onto a truck and transported into the city. Growing up in a village, Huang knows very well the difficulties farmers face. On the one hand, they have limited channels through which to sell their products. On the other hand, urban consumers who prefer to eat organic find it hard to obtain truly organic foods. Moreover, they have to be vigilant about food quality. "Through the webcast, we bring consumers directly into our fields, and show them the true state of our produce so they can order free of worry," said Huang. On the day of the webcast, the county's e-commerce department and Taobao partners in the village mobilized 27 types of agricultural products to be sold online, including smoked meat, tea and tofu. By the end of the day, all the products were sold out, generating sales totaling 650,000 RMB. One week after the webcast, the sales volume climbed to 2 million RMB. Taobao data showed that a total of 160,000 people watched the webcast. In the five seconds after the webcast began, 40,000 organic eggs were sold; 300,000 were sold over the course of the day. Minnesota plans to join Salt Lake City in a novel approach to paying for public education: using "social bonds" to fund early childhood learning. These bonds raise money in private capital markets, just as bonds for a new power plant or a high school do. Whats unusual is the use of bonds to fund educational or social programs, not buildings or infrastructure. Ed Lotterman Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/article127521474.html#storylink=cpy Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: By S. Rob Sobhani for Wahington Times, History will judge whether former President Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize he was awarded shortly after being elected the 44th president of the United States. President Trump has the historic opportunity to truly earn this prestigious award by using his self-proclaimed mastery of deal-making to resolve one of the worlds intractable conflicts of the former Soviet Union; namely, the frozen conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1991, full-scale war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan and despite a cease-fire in 1994, border skirmishes and fighting has continued. Over one million people have been displaced as a result of the conflict and today close to 20 percent of Azerbaijans territory is occupied by Armenian forces. The United States, along with Russia and France, is the co-chair of the Minsk Group tasked with resolving this conflict. Russia has not only sabotaged numerous attempts at resolution of the conflict but has provided military support to Armenia thus prolonging the conflict. And sadly, Washington has been too busy with distractions in the Middle East to take a lead role in establishing a lasting peace between Yerevan and Baku. And yet, both Armenia and Azerbaijan deserve a permanent peace. Mr. Trump can deliver this dream of a new beginning to the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan by leading a robust diplomatic initiative resulting in a permanent solution that is fair to both sides. Mr. Trumps success would signal to the world that America is back in the business of policing the world to maintain global stability. It is important to note that within the broader Middle East, Mr. Trump will not find a more reliable and trusted partner than Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. In fact, during his recent visit to Baku, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu singled out Azerbaijan as one of the very few Muslim countries in the world that deserves Washingtons immediate and unequivocal attention. The challenge for Mr. Trump is to persuade Mr. Putin to accept the following outline of a peace agreement. First, the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from territories occupied within Azerbaijan. Second and in exchange for this withdrawal, Azerbaijan agrees to build an extension to its gas export pipeline to Europe through Armenia. Third, getting both sides to agree to the highest level of autonomy for the region of Nagorno-Karabakh: short of independence, Armenians within Nagorno-Karabakh would enjoy full autonomy. U.S., French and Russian troops would be deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh as peacekeepers, the cost of which would be paid by cash-rich Azerbaijan. Fourth, the creation of an Armenia-Azerbaijan Reconciliation and Reconstruction Fund that would invest in infrastructure projects between the two countries such a bullet train from Baku via Armenia to Nakhchivan. And finally, the creation of a U.S.-Franco-Russian partnership to build a safe and reliable nuclear plant in Armenia that would replace the old Soviet-era Metsamor nuclear plant. The European Union has expressed serious concerns over the safety of Metsamor. Mr. Aliyev is riding a wave of popular support domestically and can deliver on a peace that is fair to both sides. The key is Armenia and Mr. Trumps ability to persuade Mr. Putin to get Armenian President Sargsyan to agree to a permanent peace settlement. In view of Armenias tragic past, both Russia and the U.S. must make it clear to the people of Armenia that they will never turn their back on Yerevan. By presenting a clear, concise and fully funded post-conflict economic reconstruction package, Mr. Trump can show a road-map to Mr. Putin that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is in everyones best interest. Another Nobel prize recipient and Holocaust survivor Elie Weisel once said that peace is not Gods gift to his creatures; peace is our gift to each other. By once again acting like the leader of the free world, Mr. Trump can give the gift of peace to Armenia and Azerbaijan, and earn a well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize along the way. S. Rob Sobhani, is the CEO of Caspian Group Holdings. When Donald Trump took the oath of office Friday as the 45th president of the United States, Old Fort Mayor Rick Hensley and his wife, McDowell Register of Deeds Tonia Hampton, were there in the nations capital to proudly represent the local community and witness this historic event. We were there to see history being made, said Hampton to The McDowell News. We had a wonderful weekend. Through a friend, Hensley and Hampton were able to get an invitation to Fridays inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C. and they had been planning this trip for a couple of months. On Wednesday, they left Old Fort and drove to the nations capital to see Trump get sworn in as the nations new chief executive. Hampton said she and her husband had a smooth trip to the District of Columbia area. They stayed in Bethesda, Md. and took the Metro into Washington. Everybody was so nice and helpful, said Hampton of the people in and around the nations capital. On Thursday, the couple went to Arlington National Cemetery where they got a brief glimpse of Trump as his limousine went by. Hampton even got a picture of the president-elect waving from his car window. Later in the weekend, she also took a picture of Willie Robertson from Duck Dynasty. Like all the others who wanted to witness the inauguration, they had to get up extra early at 3:30 a.m. on Friday. They took the Metro into Washington and like all the others had to go past metal detectors and what Hampton called extreme security. It was raining and everybody had to throw their umbrellas away because of the security measures, said Hampton. They were able to find a great spot to witness the inauguration. Hampton said she and her husband ended up right above the memorial to President Ulysses S. Grant, which is located at the base of Capitol Hill on the west front. There, they waited with hundreds of thousands of other spectators for the historic event to take place. In the rainy weather, Fox News Chief National Correspondent Ed Henry came around and interviewed folks in the crowd who were waiting for the inauguration to begin. When he got to Hensley and Hampton, he asked them for their town or city. Old Fort, North Carolina! said Hensley loudly. Henry then asked the Old Fort mayor How excited are you to see history? Fantastic! Exciting! said Hensley to Fox News. Henry then turned to Hampton and asked her to talk about this moment in history for you. I am so excited, ready for some change, she said on Fox News. We just need some new blood, new generation coming in. We are very pumped and excited. They happened to be standing next to two men who came all the way from Anchorage, Alaska. Hampton said to The McDowell News she and her husband had no idea they would end up on national TV during this event. I was trying to be incognito but how can you be when youve got Fox News in front of your face? she said. We had no idea we would be interviewed. Apparently, some people back home saw them on TV and have made many positive and supportive comments on social media about their brief interview since then. Hampton said as the ceremony began some people in the crowd booed when Hillary Clinton and President Obama came on the platform. She said this kind of behavior was not appropriate. Regardless of your affiliation, you are still an elected official and respect should be shown, said Hampton. And as for those who were angry about Trump taking over, Hampton said she and her husband did not see very many people who were protesting and rioting on Inauguration Day. We were not there for the negative part, said Hampton. We did not see very many rioters. Since Friday, there has been a controversy about the national medias reporting concerning the size of the crowd at the inauguration. The Trump Administration has already accused national news outlets of underestimating the number of people who came to witness the event. From where we were standing, we could see all the way to the Washington Monument and the whole place was a sea of red, said Hampton, referring to the red Make America Great Again caps. Hensley himself wore a National Rifle Association cap on Friday while his wife got herself a souvenir Trump toboggan. He also proudly held up a handwritten Old Fort sign at the inauguration. It was a wonderful experience but I dont know if I would do it again, said Hampton, adding that she and her husband were on their feet for nine and a half hours that day. Although they were happy and excited about the inauguration, the couple was less than proud of what happened the next day during the Womens March on Washington. This event drew an estimated 1 million to people to march in the streets of Washington and protest for equal rights for women, reproductive rights, affordable health care and other causes. Back here in western North Carolina, sister marches were held in Asheville, Black Mountain, Burnsville and Morganton. I personally was embarrassed mostly for the women who had their children there because of the vulgarity and the way the ladies were acting out, said Hampton of the protestors during the march. I totally believe that people have the right to protest and voice their opinion but we should do so without the violence and the vulgarity, she added. Hensley was at work on Monday and was not available for comment. But Hampton said she and her husband are proud of President Trump and what he will do as our new leader. She also hopes the American public will become more civil and respectful when it comes to our political differences. Im very proud we have a president whos going to represent the common core people, she said. I think he gets it that we need jobs and most of all, we need to put God back in our country. I hope that regardless of party people realize we need to be kind to each other. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenias Armed Forces have 36 times violated the ceasefire in different directions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops by using grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Jan. 23. The Azerbaijani army positions located in Qaymaqli and Gizilhajili villages of the Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in Barekamavan village of Armenias Noyemberyan district and Berkaber village of the Ijevan district. The Azerbaijani army positions located in Aghdam and Aghbulag villages of the Tovuz district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in Mosesqekh, Chinari villages of Armenias Berd district. Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt village of the Tartar district, Sarijali, Bash Garvand, Shuraabad villages of the Aghdam district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of the Fuzuli district, Mehdili village of Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on the nameless heights of the Goranboy, Tartar, Khojavand, Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: The OSCE is expected to monitor the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops Jan. 24, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Jan. 23. The monitoring will be held under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative along the line of contact in the direction of Qapanli village of Azerbaijans Tartar district, said the ministry. On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be held by field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Hristo Hristov, Simon Tiller and Peter Svedberg. On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring will be carried out by field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Jiri Aberle and Gennady Petrica. 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. by Chase Martin , January 22, 2017 The U.S. government seems to have its eye on the Internet of Things, as another report on the role of IoT regulation was just issued. The report by the FCC addresses cybersecurity, including the Internet of Things as a driving force and the need for regulatory bodies to step in. Specifically, the more than 50-page document proposes that there is a gap between the consumer expectation of IoT device security and the security that is actually built into those devices by the brands making them. The large and diverse number of IoT vendors, who are driven by competition to keep prices low, hinders coordinated efforts to build security by design into the IoT on a voluntary basis, the report says. Left unchecked, the growing IoT widens the gap between the ideal investment from the commercial point of view and from societys view. As a result, the FCC is closely monitoring the market, as other parts of the government have already begun doing to create the various sets of recently-released standards and guidelines. For example, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently developed a set of guiding principles to secure the Internet of Things, as the IoT Daily reported (U.S. Issues Guidelines For IoT Security). The growing dependency on network-connected technologies is outpacing the means to secure them, Jeh Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security said at the time. Securing the Internet of Things has become a matter of homeland security. The principles include enabling security by default in IoT devices by using unique usernames and passwords and advancing security updates and vulnerability management, among others. Another set of IoT security guidelines was developed for consumer IoT devices by the Broadband Internet Technical Advisory (BITAG), as the IoT Daily reported (Internet Industry Group Issues IoT Security Guidelines). Using already established software security best-practices and building security into IoT devices from the beginning are some of the recommendations seen in the DHS and BITAG guidelines, both of which are referenced in the FCC report. The Department of Commerce also recently developed a set of principles to guide its own initiatives, including a plan to be a leading IoT consumer, as the IoT Daily recently reported (Commerce Dept. Sets Guiding Principles For Internet Of Things). Although those principles seem to be internally-facing, the Department of Commerce appears to be focused on the growth of the Internet of Things in general. The Internet of Things promises to revolutionize our world from increasing efficiency and convenience for industry, consumers, and government to improving safety, Penny Pritzker, secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, said at the time. Todays report affirms the departments commitment to creating the conditions for emerging technologies to thrive, and it identifies future actions necessary to support the evolution and expansion of the IoT, Pritzker said. However, some government agencies have a targeted approach, rather than creating guidelines or regulations for the Internet of Things as a whole. For example, the FTC is focusing on in-home IoT device security with a recently launched $25,000 challenge for consumers, as the IoT Daily reported (FTC Challenge: $25,000 To Create IoT Security Solution). The IoT Home Inspector Challenge is tapping consumers to develop a technical solution for the security risks created by IoT devices with outdated software in their homes. The goal is to develop a technical solution that can identify which devices in a consumers home need a software update and, if needed, help facilitate the updates. If the FCC determines that the risks identified within the Internet of Things wont be naturally addressed by the market adequately, it plans to take action. Such action could include updating the FCCs equipment certification process to protect networks from security risks in IoT devices or create a task force to assess the risk to critical infrastructure, which would lead to potential new laws, according to the FCC. by Thom Forbes @tforbes, January 23, 2017 In a press conference this morning, Samsung blamed two unnamed suppliers for the batteries that overheated and exploded in its subsequently recalled Galaxy Note 7 smartphone last year while admitting that it should have done more testing before the phones went on the market. Samsungs initial reaction to the problem last fall was heavily criticized. We are taking responsibility for our failure to ultimately identify and verify the issues arising out of the battery design and manufacturing process prior to the launch of the Note 7, Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsungs mobile communications business, said during the presentation. It indirectly indicated that the phones overall design, rushed production decisions, and quality assurance carelessness had an adverse impact on the phone, writes Chris Smith for BGR. advertisement advertisement Koh also said procedures had been put in place to avoid a repeat of the fires as the South Korean firm prepares to launch the Galaxy S8, its first premium handset since the Note 7's demise, report Reuters Hyunjoo Jin and Se Young Lee. He did not comment on when the company planned to launch the handset, though analysts expect it to start selling by April, they write, pointing out that it will not be part of the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona late next month. The lessons of this incident are deeply reflected in our culture and process, Koh said. Samsung Electronics will be working hard to regain consumer trust. Early reactions to the mea culpa were mixed. During the almost hourlong presentation, Samsung offered an extensive technical explanation of the problems with the battery but little insight into the breakdowns that caused the company to fail to identify the problems, Paul Mozur writes for the New York Times. Koh said the lessons the company had learned had been integrated into its processes and culture, yet offered no explanation of how the culture would change or what the problems with the culture were. The hed on Forbes contributor Maribel Lopez piece, however, asserts that Samsung is turning the crisis into an opportunity. Going forward, Samsung has a new quality assurance process that both Samsung and its component manufacturers must follow. It has implemented a multi-layer safety measures protocol at the product planning and a new 8-point battery safety system, which she bullet-points. Lopez, a marker researcher, points out that Samsung will also contribute its learnings and processes for testing Lithium Ion batteries to various global standardization bodies so other vendors can also conduct tests on their products. While its been a difficult time for Samsung, the company took ownership of the issues, acted quickly and worked diligently to fix its problems, she concludes, predicting a strong comeback. The Wall Street Journals Geoffrey A. Fowler and Joanna Stern give Samsung a gentlepersons C for now after having had personal sessions with the Samsung team prior to yesterdays event. Samsung is on an apology tour for the gobsmacking screwup that led to two successive recalls of the Note 7. In interviews with us, Samsungs mobile chief, DJ Koh, and other executives shared stacks of testing photos, results of its investigation and its plans to improve quality control, they write after pointing out that having two different sets of batteries by two different manufacturers catch fire is like a meteor striking your house twice. And Samsungs 8-point battery check leaves them perplexed: We dont have a clear sense of whether these tests will raise the bar on safety, or simply catch Samsung up to other premium smartphone makers, they say. The biggest task for Samsung this year will be regaining consumer trust, showing customers and potential customers that its devices are safe and that the company won't make the same mistakes again. Its top executives, speaking with CNET, said Samsung hoped the transparency would mark a good first step, write Shara Tibken and Roger Cheng for CNET, whose office was also a stop on the apology tour. When companies do this right, on average 18 months is the time period for turning around a reputation, Thomas Cooke, a professor at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business, tells them. Samsung is on the way to recovery. I think it can be done. The quickest way to get off consumers probation list, of course, would be to deliver an A+ effort with the S8. by Philip Rosenstein , January 23, 2017 During Fridays inauguration, inquisitive citizens went to Google to gather more information about attendees and proceedings. The top trending attendees across the Google ecosystem were: Chuck Schumer, Jimmy Carter, Mike Pence, Barron Trump and Ivanka Trump. The most-asked question on Google during the inauguration was: How old is Trumps youngest son? Lynchburg, Virginia was the top town search for the inauguration during the proceedings worldwide, followed by Hyattsville, Maryland; Tysons, Virginia; Provo, Utah; and Mobile, Alabama. The countries, excluding the United States, where citizens were most interested in Donald Trumps inauguration were: Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. During the ceremony, searches for President Trump increased by 1,300%. Note: Trending searches are the top accelerating searches on Google in a given time frame and location. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Seba Agayeva Trend: Those who talk about non-use of force in the context of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict settlement, first of all, must eliminate the factor of military occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the OSCE said in a message Jan. 23. According to the message, non-implementation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council by Armenia remains an open challenge to the conflict settlement process and a serious threat to international and regional peace and security. In its resolutions, the UN Security Council condemned the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, reaffirmed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, with the Nagorno-Karabakh region as part of it, specifically reaffirmed the principle of inviolability of international borders and the inadmissibility of the use of force for the acquisition of territory, the message said. In its resolutions, the UN Security Council also demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying Armenian forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the mission said. Thus, the primary objective of Azerbaijan's participation in the peace process is to ensure the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the message said. According to the message, the peace must restore Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Deviation by the OSCE Minsk Group and its co-chairmen from this framework defined by the UN Security Council undermines the mandate entrusted to it and could have a serious impact on conflict resolution process, the mission said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, January 23, 2017 DeepMind, an Alphabet company that Google acquired in 2014, plans to build closer ties with academia in an effort to advance research and use of artificial intelligence (AI). "This alignment with academia has always been important to us personally, given how many of our team come from that background, as well as the fact that many of the core ideas behind machine learning were invented and developed by academic pioneers including the likes of Geoff Hinton and Rich Sutton," wrote DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis, who explained the company's collaboration with academia to advance artificial intelligence in a blog post. Starting this month, DeepMind will begin running a state-of-the-art Masters level training sessions called Advanced Topics in Machine Learning with University College Londons (UCL) Department of Computer Science. advertisement advertisement Led by DeepMinds Thore Graepel, other invited speakers include researchers in areas spanning deep learning, reinforcement learning, natural language understanding and others. Hado van Hasselt, Joseph Modayil, Koray Kavukcuoglu, Raia Hadsell, James Martens, Oriol Vinyals, Simon Osindero, Ed Grefenstette and Karen Simonyan will be joined by Volodymyr Mnih, David Silver and Alex Graves, who are also some of the first authors of DeepMinds three Nature papers. Hassabis said the company has published about 100 peer-reviewed papers and regularly present at industry-wide gatherings such as NIPS, a conference and workshop on neural information processing systems held each December. Last month in Barcelona, DeepMind published 20 papers, participated in 42 poster sessions, gave 21 talks, and open-sourced its flagship DeepMind Lab research platform, Hassabis wrote. DeepMind in December also joined Microsoft and individuals like Elon Musk to participate in OpenAI, which would make their technology available to researchers and developers or anyone else wishing to use it. Medical cannabis and cannabis as a whole was illegal in Germany until after a court ruling in 2005, which granted people with specific health conditions such as chronic pain permission to use the drug for self-therapy. Even after then, each as was assessed on an individual basis, according to the Local. In a poll by infratest dimap in 2014 on behalf of the German Hemp Association (DHV), it showed that 80% were in favor of legalizing cannabis as medicine. The continued fight to legalize the drug for medical use has hiked and since then, there has been a rise in the number of patients being able to access medical marijuana. 647 patients were given permission to use medical cannabis products from pharmacies in 2016 alone. As of December 21, 2016, only 900 out of 5,000 cannabis patients had an exception permission to purchase cannabis flowers. According to the Federal Institute of Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), the rest were subjected to pharmaceutical marijuana products such as sativex or dronabinol. In Germany, two patients have fought successfully for their right to cultivate their own marijuana for medical use. The new law keeps patients from growing their own cannabis and currently only allows those who won their lawsuits before the law was implemented. It is for this reason that the law is called cannabis cultivation prevention act among patients. Germany Produces Cannabis With the patients denied liberty to grow their own cannabis, the good news is that the Federal Republic will be letting companies grow medical cannabis on domestic soils in the near future. Initially, the oldest and most popular strain common in Germany was Bedrocan imported from a Dutch company of the same name, deriving from Jack Herer (Sensi seeds) which explains the limited strain variety. However, the new law provides for the establishment of a German Cannabis Agency which will issue state licenses for cultivation and monitor production and distribution channels. Although the agency has not yet been established, many companies have already applied for a license through the BfArM. One of these is said to be the Germany-Austrian company, Bionorica which already cultivates cannabis in Vienna for Dronabinol production together with the Austrian Agency for Health and Nutrition Safety (AGES). Cannabis offered in Germany Bedrocan (Jack Herer 22%, CBD<1%) Bedrobinol (Jack Herer x Afghaan, THC 14.5%, CBD<1%) Bedica (Afghani x Herijuana, THC 14%, CBD <1%) Bediol (Strain unknown*, THC 6.5%, CBD 8%) Bedrolite (Strain unknown*, THC 1%, CBD 9%) Tweed varieties from Canadas state cannabis program: Argyle (Nordle, THC: 6.31%, CBD: 8.92%) Princeton (Ghost Train Haze, THC: 14.00%, CBD<1%) Tweed varieties from Ontario-based producer Peacenaturals: Pedanios 22/1 (Strain unknown*, THC 22%, CBD 1%) Pedanios 14/1 (Strain unknown*, THC 14%, CBD 1%) Set backs Truth is, the different varieties offered are more expensive than high-quality cannabis on the black market and hence many patients still buy or grow their own despite their lack of permission. More to this, the pharmaceutical products offered in pharmacies are still much more expensive than the herbal cannabis they also sell yet most German cannabis patients must pay for medicine out of their own pocket. However, Sativex is paid by health insurance for patients with a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Dronabinol or buds on the other hand are only covered by insurance companies in very rare and exceptional cases. The amount of cannabis that an individual can possess without being prosecuted varies across the 16 states in Germany. In the capital city Berlin, the rules are much more liberal, with the possession limit being 15 grams in most cases while in many other states, the limit is six grams. Conclusion Countries with established medical cannabis programs have testified that a medical cannabis program works a lot better with the help of growers and patients. In Canada, patients were asked to provide the producers with their home-bred strains and these were then taken over by the cannabis companies and certified by Health Canada. Fact is strain knowledge by growers and patients encourages more research and provides a much wider variety for the patients. Hopefully, the Germany government will be able to see the importance of this and allow patients to cultivate their own cannabis. Since the request in May 2016 by Health Minister Hermann Grohe from Chancellor Angela Merkels conservative CDU to formally legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes by 2017, the proposal awaits formal approval. Over the past 4 decades, deaths from cervical cancer in the United States have more than halved. However, new research suggests that previous estimates may have underestimated womens risk of death from disease. Share on Pinterest A new analysis suggests that death rates from cervical cancer may be higher than previously thought. Study co-author Anne Rositch, Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD, and colleagues report their findings in the journal Cancer. Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in cells that line the cervix. This year, it is estimated that there will be around 12,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in the U.S., as well as approximately 4,210 deaths from the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, deaths from cervical cancer have reduced by more than 50 percent over the past 40 years, which is largely due to an increase in cervical screening. The new study, however, suggests that in the U.S., womens risk of dying from cervical cancer may be significantly higher than previously estimated, particularly for black women. Cervical cancer mortality up to 77 percent higher than previous estimates Rositch and colleagues used 2002-2012 data from the National Center for Health Statistics and the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Mortality Database to estimate cancer mortality rates. The team notes that previous estimates of cervical cancer mortality using this data included women who had undergone a hysterectomy and who were, therefore, no longer at risk for cervical cancer. For the new analysis, the researchers used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to pinpoint the number of women who had undergone a hysterectomy in the U.S. between 2002-2012, and these women were excluded from the final estimates. The new estimates revealed that the cervical cancer mortality rate for white women in the U.S. stood at 4.7 per 100,000 between 2000-2012, which is 47 percent higher than the 3.2 per 100,000 previously estimated. Among black women, the team estimated the cervical cancer mortality rate to be 10.1 per 100,000 77 percent higher than the previous estimate of 5.7 per 100,000. The researchers also found that the previous estimates of differences in cervical cancer mortality between black and white women were underestimated by 44 percent. Furthermore, the new analysis revealed that cervical cancer mortality rates among white women had fallen by 0.8 percent annually between 2002-2012, while rates among black women fell by 3.6 percent annually. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects millions of children in the United States every year. While it is not yet known what causes the condition, scientists have pointed to a variety of risk factors. New research suggests that a childs birth date may affect the chances of being diagnosed with the condition. Share on Pinterest A new study suggests that ADHD may be overdiagnosed and overmedicated in younger schoolchildren. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which all interfere with daily functioning in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that as of 2011, ADHD has been diagnosed in around 6.4 million U.S. children between 4-17 years of age. While scientists do not currently know what causes ADHD, research has indicated a variety of risk factors. The disease seems to be more common among males than females, with boys being more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Other risk factors include genetics, brain injuries, low weight at birth, tobacco or alcohol intake during pregnancy, as well as gestational exposure to some environmental toxins. New research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, suggests that there might also be a connection between childrens birth date and the risk of receiving an ADHD diagnosis. 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. Article: Statins and Diabetes: Current Perspectives and Implications for Clinicians, Charles H. Hennekens, MD, DrPH, Bettina Teng, BA in Biochemistry, Marc A. Pfeffer, MD, PhD, American Journal of Medicine, doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.12.022, published online 14 January 2017. A "smart" needle with an embedded camera is helping doctors perform safer brain surgery. The device was developed by researchers at the University of Adelaide in South Australia and uses a tiny camera to identify at-risk blood vessels. The probe, which is the size of a human hair, uses an infrared light to look through the brain. It then uses the Internet of Things to send the information to a computer in real-time and alerts doctors of any abnormalities. The project was a collaboration with the University of Western Australia and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where a six-month pilot trial of the smart needle was run. Research leader and Chair of the University of Adelaide's Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics Robert McLaughlin said researchers were also looking at other surgery applications for the device including minimally invasive surgery. He said surgeons previously relied on scans taken prior to surgery to avoid hitting blood vessels but the smart needle was a more accurate method that highlighted their locations in real-time. "There are about 256,000 cases of brain cancer a year and about 2.3 per cent of the time you can make a significant impact that could end in a stroke or death," he said. "This (smart needle) would help that ... it works sort of like an ultrasound but with light instead. "It also has smart software that takes the picture, analyses it and it can determine if what it is seeing is a blood vessel or tissue." The trial at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital involved 12 patients who were undergoing craniotomies. The needle with a 200-micron wide camera was successfully able to identify blood vessels during the surgery. Professor Christopher Lind, who led the trial, said having a needle that could see blood vessels as surgeons proceeded through the brain was a medical breakthrough. "It will open the way for safer surgery, allowing us to do things we've not been able to do before," he said. The smart needle will be ready for formal clinical trials in 2018. Professor McLaughlin said he hoped manufacturing of the smart needle would begin within five years. The project was partially funded by the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council and the South Australian Government. New research from Vanderbilt eavesdrops on gene expression in human immune system cells before and after vaccination against bird flu. Reported in the journal PLOS One, the study exposes cellular responses associated with a vaccine constituent called AS03, short for adjuvant system 03. Using massive computation, the investigators pursue a systems biology approach, providing a new wealth of detail about vaccine responses and data for the generation of new hypotheses. "This study signifies a new and different way to study vaccines. We've established that it can be done; it's complex but it's feasible. I think in the future this is the way vaccines will be studied," said one of the authors, Leigh Howard, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics. The type of bird flu the team studied, subtype H5N1, is far more lethal in humans than seasonal flu. AS03 is known to markedly boost the protection afforded by pandemic flu vaccines, including those for swine flu and bird flu, but its molecular mechanisms aren't understood. Howard, immunologist Kristen Hoek, Ph.D., and colleagues report gene expression signals arising as early as the first day after vaccination that strongly predict the eventual generation of protective antibodies against H5N1. They also find that neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, appear to have a hitherto unobserved role in vaccine response. (We've all seen evidence of neutrophils: pooled at an infection site, they're the main constituent of pus.) Part of the human immune system's first-line defenses, neutrophils appear to be the first responders to the adjuvated version of the vaccine. According to gene expression profiles revealed in the study, neutrophils may also function as antigen-presenting cells (APC) in response to AS03-adjuvated vaccine. APCs fine-tune the immune response by retrieving and processing foreign antigens and presenting them to B cells and T cells in order to mount an immune response. The investigators randomized 20 participants, half to receive AS03-adjuvated vaccine and half to receive unadjuvated vaccine - two doses each, one month apart. Blood was drawn from each participant at eight time points over a 12-week period (including three time points before vaccination). Using a cell sorting method devised at Vanderbilt by Hoek and colleagues, samples of six immune system cell types were extracted from each blood draw, and a method called RNA-Seq was used to sequence the entire transcriptome of each cell sample. Conventional serum antibody testing was also performed to gauge protection provided by the vaccine. Reflecting results from epidemiological studies, both vaccine formulations were well tolerated, and two months after initial vaccination no recipients of unadjuvated vaccine and nine of the 10 recipients of AS03-adjuvated vaccine achieved serum antibody concentrations associated with protection. From painstaking cell sorting to full RNA sequencing and data analysis, it's an especially exacting and thorough way to study vaccine response. "Boiling down 850 pages of data, we focused on three patterns of gene expression that give clues to the adjuvant's mechanism of action," said Hoek, research assistant professor in Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. Among the sequenced cell types, neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells were the most expressive at early time points after immunization. These cells are known to jumpstart the immune response. "At day one [after vaccination] there were 80 genes similarly upregulated or downregulated in those three cell types. Many of these genes have known involvement with innate immune responses, including antigen processing and presentation," Hoek said. "A second result was that the neutrophils highly express the genes involved in antigen processing and presentation. That's something new in vaccine immunology. "And a third striking pattern was gene expression at day three in NKs [natural killer cells, another type of white blood cell] that indicated increased cell proliferation." This timing appeared puzzling to the team, not fitting any known function of NK cells. "We don't yet know what to make of the NK story," Hoek said. Howard believes the study is a harbinger. "Using this approach will open new opportunities to understand vaccine responses better than ever before. For example, we may someday be able to personalize vaccine schedules based on what we know about recipients' genetic makeup and predicted response. Eventually the field of vaccine development will move toward personalized vaccines," Howard said. An upcoming study from the team will examine proteomic signatures of H5N1 vaccine, and similar studies are planned to evaluate vaccines that protect against other avian influenza strains. This multidisciplinary study drew contributions from 13 additional authors, including biostatistician Johannes Goll, MS, of the Emmes Corporation in Rockville, Maryland, who ran the RNA-Seq data analysis. At Vanderbilt, other collaborators included the study's two principal investigators, Kathryn Edwards, M.D., and Andrew Link, Ph.D., along with Allison Galassie, Tara Allos, Parimal Samir, Xinnan Niu, M.D., Laura Gordy, Ph.D., Buddy Creech, M.D., and Sebastian Joyce, Ph.D. The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (GM64779, RR024975, AI095202), among other sources. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Anakhanum Hidayatova Trend: President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt expressed regret over PACEs inability to visibly contribute to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement in 2016. He was addressing a PACE winter plenary part-session that kicked off in Strasbourg Jan. 23. Agramunt also reminded about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts escalation in April 2016, adding that the situation remains explosive. 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. 23 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of a newly built military camp of a military unit of the Ministry of Defense in Pirekeshkul settlement of Absheron district Jan. 23. Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov reported to Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev. The president first laid flowers at a bust of national leader Heydar Aliyev who made exceptional contributions to the development of the Azerbaijani Army. Supreme Commander Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the military camp. President Aliyev reviewed the conditions created there, and then met with the servicemen. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: The Nagorno-Karabakh will never be independent, said Azerbaijans President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. The president made the remarks in the opening of the Defense Ministrys new military camp that has been built in the Absheron district. The solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very simple. Firstly, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored, said President Aliyev. We will never allow the second, fictitious, Armenian state to be created on Azerbaijans territory. Independence will never be granted to Nagorno-Karabakh. If someone waits for that, it wont happen. The head of state noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh is an Azerbaijani land and history and the world community recognize it. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: Azerbaijani Parliaments Committee for Human Rights sent a statement to international organizations with regard to returning the body of the soldier killed in an Armenian provocation on Dec. 29, 2016 at the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. The statement says that Armenians, along with increasing their provocation attempts, continue to violate the international law, the Geneva Convention, and put forward groundless demands. For more than 25 years, Armenia has held 20 percent of Azerbaijans territory under occupation and continues to grossly violate the international law, says the statement. The failure to return the body of the Azerbaijani armed forces soldier, Chingiz Gurbanov, who was killed while preventing provocative and subversive acts of a reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces, which tried to violate the state border on Dec. 29, 2016, is a striking example of that, says the statement. We believe the international community, which has resolutely and clearly expressed its opinion on the inhuman acts of Armenia, which ignores norms of international law, including the requirements of the Geneva Convention and other international documents, should find the problems solution, says the statement. The Azerbaijani Parliaments Committee for Human Rights urges the relevant international organizations to take necessary and urgent measures to return the body of the Azerbaijani soldier and increase pressure on the Armenian leadership, according to the statement. The statement was sent to all the relevant international organizations, including the OSCE, Council of Europe and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). On Dec. 29, 2016, a reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces tried to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. Chingiz Gurbanov, a serviceman of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, went missing during the fight. It was later found out that Armenia kept the soldiers body. 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. Alternate Foreign Minister G. Katrougalos had a courtesy meeting on 20 January with the Australian Ambassador to Athens, Mr. Griffin. The meeting underscored the very strong ties of friendship between Greece and Australia -- ties that are further strengthened by the presence of a large Greek community in Australia -- and there was an exchange of views on, among other things, issues of European interest, with particular emphasis on the discussions within the EU on the future of Europe. Alternate Foreign Minister G. Katrougalos had a courtesy meeting on 18 January with the Head of the FYROM Liaison Office in Athens, Mr. Angelov. The meeting focused on exploring the potential for further enhancing the bilateral cooperation. Alternate Foreign Minister G. Katrougalos had a courtesy meeting on 20 January with the Venezuelan Ambassador to Athens, Mr. Fernandez. During the meeting they exchanged views on, among other things, the situation in Venezuela and developments in the EU. Moreover, strong interest was expressed in further promoting the bilateral political and economic cooperation. (Details added, first version posted at 16:47) Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: Baku will host a forum devoted to the strategic and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the first half of 2017, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The purpose of the forum is to develop the mutually beneficial cooperation in economy, trade, investment, energy, tourism, agriculture, food security, transport, culture, as well to create and promote joint projects in these spheres. High-ranking officials of various ministries of the Gulf countries, representatives of private companies, financial institutions and funds are expected to participate in the forum. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and the GCC Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2013. The Gulf Cooperation Council was formed on May 25, 1981. The GCC mainly aims at cooperation and integration in economy, culture, as well as in the social sphere. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: Armenia is forced to admit its bitter defeat, said Azerbaijans president, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. The president made the remarks at the opening of the Defense Ministrys new military town in the Absheron District. The April battles are our big military victory, said President Aliyev. For many years, Armenia was creating myths about its army, disseminating fabrications that allegedly they have an invincible army. The April battles showed whose army is invincible. Many high-ranking military officials, including defense minister of Armenia, were dismissed right after the April battles, noted the president. This was a result of the April battles. Our soldiers, officers showed heroism. We had martyrs. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace! However, we defended our lands, and we liberated a part of our lands from invaders. The April battles should be included into military books. The Azerbaijani army showed both military professionalism and heroism, added President Aliyev. The president said that a well thought-out policy stands at the foundations of this success. Azerbaijan is consistently conducting the army building process. Provision, supply and acquisition of modern technology, increasing the combat capability, as well as our military success are complemented by political success. We have proved ourselves on international arena as a very reliable partner, added President Aliyev. The number of our friends all over the world is increasing. The world community is getting more detailed information about our just cause. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: The Azerbaijan-France cooperation is multifaceted and covers many areas, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told the French magazine La Lettre Diplomatique. Political ties between the two countries are at a high level, which creates additional opportunities for the development of the bilateral economic cooperation, Mammadyarov said, according to the Foreign Ministrys press service. More than 50 French companies operate in Azerbaijan and their activities diversify the countrys economy. We achieved great success in various areas of the Azerbaijan-France bilateral relations, in the inter-parliamentary cooperation as well. At the same time, France is one of the OSCE Minsk Groups co-chairs and it is making efforts to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Mammadyarov said. The foreign minister noted that Azerbaijan and France have various successful joint projects in energy, transportation, agriculture, tourism, as well as in construction and space industry. I am sure the cooperation in various spheres that meets the two countries common interests will continue to successfully develop the friendship between Azerbaijan and France, he added. MOORE TOWNSHIP A 48-year-old Moore Township man was arrested on multiple felony charges following an incident that resulted in him fleeing his home and leading authorities on a vehicle chase throughout the county on Saturday. According to the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched around 9:35 a.m. to the 2500 block of W. Sanilac Road, after a 20--year--old Snover man advised dispatch he had gotten into an argument with his 48--year--old roommate, who at one point pulled a knife on him. After arriving on scene, deputies attempted to speak to the suspect, but he refused to comply with verbal commands to exit his vehicle. He then reversed the vehicle, directing it toward one of the deputies. However, the deputy was able to safely find cover. The suspect then left his residence and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The pursuit was called off about 10 miles north of where it began due to poor weather conditions. At that time, deputies continued to canvass the area and around 2:55 p.m., they located the suspect traveling near Mills and Banner roads in Wheatland Township. Deputies then attempted to initiate a traffic stop and the suspect refused to stop, continuing on multiple roads in Marion and Delaware townships. At one point, he ran a deputy's patrol vehicle off of the road in an attempt to further evade arrest. At that point, the suspect called Sanilac Central Dispatch and requested to speak to a deputy. While on the phone with dispatch, the suspect said he was on Patz Road near Goetze Road and stopped to speak to a bystander that was walking their dog. Multiple deputies soon arrived on scene and the suspect was taken into custody at about 3:20 p.m. without further incident. No one was injured during either incident. The sheriff's office's Personally Assigned Vehicle program, including the Sanilac County K9 Unit, were used in the apprehension of the suspect. Deputies were also assisted by the Sanilac County Prosecutor's Office. Here are five news stories and events to start your week, from the editors at Military.com: 1. Mattis Returns to Pentagon as Defense Secretary Hours after he was sworn in, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis arrived at the Pentagon on Saturday as the nation's 26th defense secretary. The historic moment of his arrival passed without fanfare, as Mattis, carrying two briefcases, stepped out of a black sport-utility vehicle and at noon and was greeted on the steps of the Pentagon's River Entrance by Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, who served under Mattis as a regimental commander in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Mattis is only the second defense secretary since World War II who needed a special waiver from Congress to get around a law designed to preserve civilian control of the military by requiring a leader to be out of uniform for seven years before holding the top job. In a letter to Pentagon employees, he said "it's good to be back" and called department and intelligence officials "the sentinels and guardians of our nation." 2. In CIA Visit, Trump Praises Intel Analysts, Berates Media President Donald Trump spent part of his first full day in office visiting the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where he praised intel officials and decried journalists as "dishonest" for comparing the size of his inauguration crowd to that of his predecessor, the Associated Press reported. While some, including former CIA Director John Brennan, criticized Trump for making the remarks in the lobby in front of the hallowed "Memorial Wall" that depicts stars for agency employees killed in the line of duty, "some of the roughly 400 other officers in attendance cheered on the president during his remarks," the AP reported. Also Saturday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in his first press briefing took a similarly combative tone with reporters and falsely claimed that Trump drew "the largest inaugural crowd ever." The brazen inaccuracy led some on social media to compare Spicer to "Baghdad Bob," the nickname of the former Iraqi information minister known for propaganda. 3. Senate Panel to Review Future Defense Spending The Senate Armed Services Committee, headed by Sen. John McCain, the Republican from Arizona, will hold a hearing 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on future defense spending. The hearing, "Defense Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 and Onwards," will feature a trio of independent defense budget analysts, including Dakota Wood, senior research fellow for defense programs at the right-leaning The Heritage Foundation; Dr. Thomas Mahnken, president and chief executive officer of the centrist Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments; and Dr. Lawrence Korb, senior fellow at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, according to the agenda. In a white paper seen as a budgetary blueprint for the Trump administration, McCain proposed spending $430 billion more on defense over the next five years in part so the military can acquire a better mix of weaponry. 4. Sig Sauer Wins Army's Modular Handgun System Competition The U.S. Army on Thursday awarded Sig Sauer a contract worth $580 million to make the next service pistol based on the company's P320 handgun. The news broke toward the end of SHOT Show, the gun show held in Las Vegas and came as a surprise to most competitors -- including the winner. Sig beat out Glock Inc., FN America and Beretta USA, maker of the current M9 9mm service pistol, in the competition for the Modular Handgun System (MHS) program. "We are both humbled and proud that the P320 was selected by the U.S. Army as its weapon of choice," Ron Cohen, CEO of Sig Sauer, said in a statement. The 10-year agreement calls for Sig to supply the Army with full-size and compact versions of the gun that can be outfitted with silencers and accommodate standard and extended capacity magazines. The firearms will be manufactured in New Hampshire. Watch for losing bidders to protest the decision. 5. Miss SHOT Show? We've Got You Covered If you couldn't make it to last week's SHOT Show, we've got you covered. See Military.com's full coverage. We had a three-person team on the ground to chronicle the latest firearms and gear at the show, including range day. While the Army announcing a winner of its Modular Handgun System program dominated the news, the show generated a number of other headlines: Hudson Mfg. created a lot excitement with its new 1911-inspired H9 pistol, a fresh departure from the world of Glock-style, striker-fired handguns; Beretta unveiled the new Tikka T3X TAC A1 tactical bolt-action rifle with higher precision and a two-stage trigger that can be adjusted to between 2-4 pounds; and the Battle Rifle Co. showed off its new BR-4 Cutlass maritime rifle designed for SEALs and Coasties by submerging it in a fishtank. -- Richard Sisk, Hope Hodge Seck and Matthew Cox contributed to this report. -- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry. Marine Corps leaders badly want their troops aboard an amphibious ship patrolling the African coast -- even if that ship isn't American. Senior officials are in talks with multiple NATO nations about the logistics of putting a company-sized element of Marines aboard an allied ship to provide presence, patrol hot spots and conduct theater security cooperation missions with African militaries, Military.com has learned. It's part of the Allied Maritime Basing Initiative, launched in 2015 as a stopgap measure to maintain presence in the European theater amid a shortage of U.S. amphibious ships. In tests, Marines spent time aboard Dutch, Spanish and French ships, and an MV-22 Osprey crew embarked aboard a Spanish amphib. In an interview, the commander of Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, Maj. Gen. Niel Nelson, said the command is working through a cost analysis for putting Marines aboard an allied ship for a lengthy mission -- 30 to 60 days -- for bilateral and theater security cooperation exercises. Another senior official, Col. Martin Wetterauer, commander of the 8th Marine Regiment, said the likely destination of the deployment would be the Gulf of Guinea, a region off the coast of West Africa known as a hotbed for piracy. "There are willing partners in NATO that have available amphibious shipping as long as we can partner with them on the cost to put Marines along with their marines on that ship," Nelson told Military.com. "There are opportunities along the African coast to do bilateral engagements. We already fly down and do these engagements, but this would be a more economical way to sustain ourselves down there for a longer period of time." With U.S. amphibious ships committed around the globe, military officials have been pondering creative ways to fill the shipping gap in the Gulf of Guinea. In February 2015, Navy acquisition chief Sean Stackley said the service's new seabasing platform, the Expeditionary Mobile Base Lewis B. Puller, might be stationed in the region. And in 2016, Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told Military.com that other ship classes, including logistics ships and seabasing platforms, were being assessed for retrofit to carry Marines for Africa patrols. The Corps' rotating crisis response task force for Africa, a land-based force created in part to close the amphibious shipping gap in the region, is an imperfect solution to the problem, officials have said. "The Marine Corps is designed as a maritime force. We're Marines. We belong on ships," Lt. Col. Bradford Carr, then an operations officer for the task force, told a think tank audience during a post-deployment debrief. "So being able to have that is essential." Nelson was positive: The Africa allied deployment will happen, though both the U.S. and the partner nation have to work through variables of cost, timing, ship class and country. "I think once we solve the money piece, we have to work with the other variables to come up with a solution," he said. "But I tell you, we have a lot of good people working it, both with the Marines and the countries. They're all enthusiastic; we're just working through those variables now." And if all goes well, a deployment this year could lay the groundwork for others to follow, should the shortage of U.S. amphibious ships persist. There are now 31 amphibious ships; Navy and Marine Corps leaders have called for at least 38, and as many as 50 amphibs to fulfill current missions. "Our U.S. Navy, if the ships were available right now, we'd definitely use them. But they're committed throughout the world," Nelson said. "But in lieu of that, this is a great opportunity to get after it." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck. New Defense Secretary James Mattis picked top aides and made his first phone call to a foreign counterpart Monday as he began his first full week in the Pentagon's top job. Mattis named retired Navy Rear Adm. Kevin Sweeney, who served with him previously at U.S. Central Command, to be his chief of staff. Two-star Navy Rear Adm. Craig Faller, currently the service's chief of legislative affairs, was chosen to serve as Mattis' senior military assistant, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. Mattis, who arrived at the Pentagon on Saturday shortly after he was sworn in, also made the traditional first phone call to a foreign counterpart to Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, Davis said, but the retired Marine general is mostly focused on preliminary intelligence briefings and filling out his staff to "hit the ground running." Mattis is also expected to make a series of calls or hold meetings with the heads of the combatant commands later this week, Davis said. Before beginning his first work week, Mattis also had to undergo "initial entry urinalysis like everybody else" employed at the DoD, Davis said. Mattis' arrival at the Pentagon coincided with a flurry of military activity, but Davis said the stepped-up missions just before and after Mattis arrived were a continuation of ongoing operational efforts and were not influenced by the presence of the new secretary of defense. The U.S. sent drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, to attack Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula targets in Yemen for three consecutive days over the weekend, killing one fighter on Friday, three on Saturday and one on Sunday, Davis said. Last Friday, when Mattis received the waiver from Congress permitting him to succeed Ashton Carter as defense secretary, precision airstrikes carried out by manned and unmanned U.S. aircraft against a training camp in Syria's Idlib province killed more than 100 al-Qaida fighters, Davis said. In Iraq, U.S. airstrikes were stepped up to attack boats on the Tigris River in Mosul used by fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria to flee the eastern sector of the city now under control of the Iraqi Security Forces. Davis said 10 more boats were destroyed Monday, to bring the total of ISIS watercraft destroyed to 143. Among the "10 Things To Know" about Mattis put up on the department website is this: Although President Donald Trump calls him "Mad Dog" Mattis and did so again at the Armed Forces Ball last Friday following the inauguration, the bachelor "Mattis is nicknamed 'the Warrior Monk,' due to his intense love and study of military history, leadership and the art of war." In his call with the Canadian defense minister, Mattis and Sajjan "reinforced the vital importance of U.S. and Canadian commitment to North American defense and NORAD [North American Aerospace and Defense Command]," the Pentagon said in a readout of the phone call. Mattis later placed calls to British Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Both Fallon and Stoltenberg have expressed concerns about Trump's comments before the inauguration about the possibility of closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his remark that the NATO alliance was "obsolete." In his call with Fallon, Mattis "emphasized the United States' unshakeable commitment to NATO and he thanked Secretary Fallon for his country's commitment of two percent of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] to defense and contributions to international security." Trump has often complained that only five of 28 NATO members -- the U.S., Britain, Greece, Poland and Estonia -- devote at least two percent of GDP to defense. Mattis called Stoltenberg "to reconnect and discuss the key role NATO plays in trans-Atlantic security," the Pentagon said. Mattis, who previously served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, wanted to place the call to Stoltenberg on his first full day in office "to reinforce the importance he places on the alliance," the Pentagon said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Camp Lejeune Town Halls Aim to Help Those Exposed to Toxic Water. Heres How You Can Go. Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune... Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: Azerbaijans president, supreme commander-in-chief, Ilham Aliyev has said that the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh can only be possible within the Azerbaijani state. This is the resolution of the conflict, and the sooner the Armenian leadership understands this, the better it will be for them, President Aliyev said as he was addressing the opening of a newly built military town of the Ministry of Defense in Pirekeshkul Settlement of Absheron District. The president noted that territorial integrity and putting an end to the occupation are the key factors for the conflict settlement. We must be even stronger to achieve these goals, and we are building a powerful Azerbaijani state which is being met with great appreciation on a global scale. We are building our free future; we have already built our independent life. Azerbaijan has been an independent state for 25 years already, and I want to reiterate that we have achieved this without any help from anyone, as other countries do, President Aliyev added. Today we must say frankly that Armenia just formally exists on the world map as an independent state. Armenia is a dependent country which is not able to determine its future itself. Armenias aggressive policy has led it to such a situation. Its only way out of the situation is to restore relations with its neighbors. To that end, the occupation must be ended, said the president. Depending on your PT test, the order of swimming may best be determined by where it is in the order of events of that test. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.23 Trend: On Friday 13 January, EY Azerbaijan held its annual Tax & Legal Update seminar for clients at the Boulevard Hotel Baku, Autograph Collection. The seminar was led by recognized EY tax & law professionals, including Arzu Hajiyeva, EY Tax & Law Partner; Zaur Gurbanov, EY Tax Senior Manager; Zaur Mammadov, EY Tax Manager; and Nargiz Balakishiyeva, EY Tax & Law Senior. Around 150 participants from major companies operating in various sectors of the economy attended. The seminar opened with a welcoming speech by Arzu. This was followed by presentations on tax and legal updates and their practical implementation. Zaur Mammadov commented in his speech on recent amendments made to the Tax Code of the Azerbaijan Republic in respect of the conduct of electronic tax audits, desk audit limitations, the issuance of e-invoices), cash withdrawals by legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, and other issues. During the presentation, he highlighted: To summarize the discussions, along with the new desk audit limitation period of no more than 30 business days after the submission of tax returns, the current amendments introduce the definition of an electronic audit. Thus, according to the new provision, an electronic audit is a tax inspection conducted through remote or direct access to the taxpayers financial (accounting) data using special software. Apart from these items, other new provisions of the Tax Code stipulate the rules for the mandatory issuance of e-invoices to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. In particular, e-invoices should be provided in respect of the sale of goods and provision of services/ works to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. The presentations and discussions provided insights into recent changes in tax legislation, focusing on global trends such as transfer pricing, advance tax rulings, anti-avoidance rules, and other issues. The seminar then continued with a focus on recent market trends that impact various areas of business, including cashless payments, e-invoices, and e-commerce. Seminar participants asked questions throughout the seminar and gave positive feedback about the presentation, showing appreciation for the work EY did as host of the event. Considering the huge number of changes made to legislation, it was very important for us to participate in this training held by EY. As a Tax Manager at Huawei, I would say that the scope and structure of the presentation were of a very high quality and covered all the major areas. Huge thanks go to Arzu for inviting me and to Zaur for an interesting presentation, shared Farid Najafov, Tax Manager at Huawei Technologies Azerbaijan. The whole tax seminar was organized to a high quality, covering all the required explanations of the new amendments made to the TCA effective from 1 January 2017. I believe that this presentation was very helpful to taxpayers who participated in it to help them understand the changes and interpret them correctly. The invitation to the seminar is highly appreciated by myself and I wish you success in your further activities, said Hamid Aghahuseynov, Tax Accountant at Topaz Marine. EY was delighted to see all the participants at the seminar and would like to thank each of them for their enthusiastic participation! About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and economies around the world. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In doing so, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY works together with companies across the CIS and assists them in realizing their business goals. 5,000 professionals work at 20 CIS offices (in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Togliatti, Vladivostok, Almaty, Astana, Bishkek, Baku, Kyiv, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Minsk, and other locations). EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. EY in Azerbaijan EY made a major commitment to the development of Azerbaijan and the region by opening the office in Baku 22 years ago. Today, in addition to being the leading audit and consulting firm in Azerbaijan, we are the leading firm in the region. As a result of our experience and competence, we have been able to assist both domestic and international companies as well as state-owned entities to develop and manage the challenges of the international economy. There are currently 170 people working in our Baku office that serve our clients in Azerbaijan. EY's strength in the Caspian Region and the firm's commitment of resources are important to the entities operating in the region. It means that as we grow, EY will continue to demonstrate a tradition of hiring and training local professionals to be leaders in our practice. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: SOCARs annual activity reports for 2016 are being prepared, Rovnag Abdullayev, president of the Azerbaijani State Oil Company (SOCAR), said in an interview with Trend. He stressed that the oil prices on the world market increased twofold in 2016 compared to 2015 and that factor along with others also had a positive impact on SOCARs economic situation. He added that along with that, the companys financial condition became more stable and sound as a result of certain changes and actions taken by both the country and the company. Abdullayev said that the release of SOCARs bonds is very important for the company. He added that financial part aside, the partnership between the country's citizens and SOCAR was established. We made the first interest payment on SOCARs bonds, he added. Some $1.25 million was transferred to the bondholders accounts. This is a very important step for the Azerbaijani financial market. Abdullayev said that the investors are pleased with the conditions and the profitability level of SOCARs bonds, otherwise, there would not have been twice as much demand for the companys bonds. Demand for the bonds released in the amount of $100 million exceeded $200 million, he said. The bonds were issued on very favorable terms, in US dollars, for 5 years and 5-percent-yield per annum, he said. The bond interest is paid 4 times a year, every 3 months," he said. First of all, the funds acquired through the sale of bonds are used to buy back the Eurobonds issued by SOCAR abroad, Abdullayev said. By issuing bonds, at first, we prevent payment of annual interest worth millions of US dollars abroad, so the interest is paid by Azerbaijani citizens, and the currency remains in the country. Second, the interest costs of SOCAR are reduced. Third, as we know, Azerbaijani citizens currently keep 80 percent, and perhaps even more of their savings, in US dollars, he added. These are passive savings because they are kept by citizens at home and in vaults. These savings dont bring any profit either to economy or their owners. Issuance of SOCAR bonds creates conditions for this money, which doesnt bring any benefit, to get involved in active economy, he noted. Abdullayev said that SOCAR issued these bonds in the first place for Azerbaijani citizens, so that they can receive income. Therefore, only local natural and legal persons can tentatively subscribe to get these bonds, he noted. Both local and foreign individuals, as well as companies can buy these bonds on the secondary market, he said. Also, given the situation on the capital markets of Europe and the countries of the region, I would say that SOCAR bonds can become a source of income at a high level for foreign investors as well, the president of SOCAR said. Many European banks operate with negative interest, that is, people who have invested funds in these banks get no interest, and even pay them money, Abdullayev added. In this regard, SOCAR bonds with a yield of five percent per year may become big source of income for these people. William Melendez, a former police officer imprisoned for his involvement in a violent, videotaped assault of a motorist, is set to be released on parole this week. Jailed since his conviction on a charge of assault with intent to cause great bodily harm in November 2015 -- a jury found him not guilty of strangulation -- Melendez, 48, will no longer be able to work in law enforcement or possess a gun. Melendez, who earned the nickname "Robocop" for his aggressive policing, choked and punched motorist Floyd Dent 16 times after ripping Dent out of his car during a traffic stop on Jan. 28, 2015. Several months later, dash-cam video of the arrest emerged and led to Melendez being suspended and later fired. Police accused Dent, who was bloodied and later hospitalized for his injuries, of cocaine possession and resisting arrest. All of the charges were eventually dismissed. Dent's attorney, Gregory Rohl, and Dent claimed Melendez planted cocaine after the traffic stop; however, tests following the arrest showed Dent had cocaine in his system. In an unusual move, Inkster quickly settled the civil lawsuit with Dent for nearly $1.4 million, well before the criminal case involving Melendez had been resolved. Michigan Department of Corrections records obtained by MLive through a Freedom of Information Act request indicate Melendez owns a cleaning business and a private security company in Novi that he plans to return to after his release. Numerous people submitted letters of support for Melendez when he came up for a Parole Board review last August. Supporters included retired Detroit Police Commander Charles Barbieri; who offered Melendez employment at his bar, Pappy's Pub, in Lachine upon his release; friend and Detroit Police Officer Association union President Mark Diaz; and Inkster Police Officer Phillip Randazzo, who is seen kicking Dent in the police video that helped convict Melendez. The Michigan Parole Board reviewed dozens of awards Melendez received throughout his career, including for saving the lives of multiple elderly residents carried from a burning apartment in 2015. MDOC records obtained by MLive indicate Melendez committed no violations while in jail and was considered a good prisoner who followed the rules with respect, but case summaries indicate he was still trying to justify his actions against Dent. "Mr. Melendez has no idea why he assaulted and seriously injured a citizen that posed no threat to him or his partner," says a report from last August. "His lack of understanding of his criminal behavior leads me to doubt his statement that something like this will never happen again." William Melendez OTIS Melendez received a sentence of 13 months to 10 years. He's expected to be released Tuesday, at which time he'll have served more than 14 months. Melendez last year was placed in a boot-camp program that upon completion would have allowed for the his early release, but Wayne Circuit Judge Vonda Evans, after learning he'd been placed in the program, intervened to have Melendez removed. For his protection, Melendez spent the majority of his prison time at Ionia's Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in protective custody segregated from the general prison population. Reports say Melendez expressed remorse for injuring Dent and admitted to conducting himself "poorly," but also include reasons Melendez gave for his action. He said Dent had his hand under the seat, leading him to believe there could be weapon, and threatened to kill Melendez once the struggle began. "He claims he assaulted the victim because he was trying to protect fellow officers and in accordance with Inkster police protocol," a case summary report from October says. Upon release, Melendez plans to live with his wife, whom he married in June 2015, and her son, according to MDOC records. His security business generates nearly $100,000 per year, and Melendez has a fully vested Detroit Police Department pension that will begin paying out when he turns 62. Melendez has been involved in numerous prior lawsuits alleging civil rights violations. In an open federal lawsuit stemming from a July 26, 2011 raid in Inkster, DeShawn Acklin sued the city and seven officers, including Melendez. Acklin claims he visited a home targeted in a raid conducted by police. Acklin was using the bathroom when police "barged into the house," the complaint says. The lawsuit says Acklin complied with officers' orders, dropped to the floor and was subsequently choked and beaten unconscious. Inkster police detained Acklin for three days before releasing him from jail. He was never charged with any crimes. According to a consent agreement, the city planned to tax Inkster residents to raise $100,000 for a settlement in that case. DeShawn Acklin V. Inkster, Melendez.pdf Another lawsuit naming Melendez involved the killing of Ernest Crutchfield II. The lawsuit, filed by the victim's son and eventually settled by Detroit for $50,000, claimed Melendez and other officers raided Crutchfield's home in November 2003 without a warrant and fatally shot the man. Melendez was indicted along with 16 fellow Detroit police officers in 2003 stemming from claims they planted evidence, falsified reports and stole cash and property from suspects. A jury acquitted the officers in that case. See Melendez's MDOC file that was released to MLive: William Melendez MDOC docs by MLive.com on Scribd FLINT, MI -- Former Flint emergency manager Gerald Ambrose, who defended the quality of city water even after testing showed rising lead levels, told a congressional committee he never talked to Gov. Rick Snyder about water issues -- or about anything else. In a closed-door, transcribed interview with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in March 2016, Ambrose said he never directly approached the man who appointed him to run Flint about the defining issue he faced on the job. Instead, the former emergency manager said he dealt primarily with employees in the Michigan Department of Treasury during his four months on the job, the same office that the Flint Water Advisory Task Force blamed for making decisions in the best interest of the budget rather than city residents. In his brief time on the job, Ambrose became the chief defender of water pulled from the Flint River, a practice that was expected to give the city a one-time financial boost but that ended after 17 months because of elevated levels of lead and other safety questions. Critics have pointed to the narrow focus of Michigan's emergency manager system on finances as a core weakness, including two reports by government task forces in 2016. An October report by the Joint Select Committee on the Flint Water Emergency included 36 proposals and recommendations for changes in state government, including five specific changes to how emergency managers operate in Michigan. Ambrose, 67, who faces charges of criminal wrongdoing for his role in the water crisis, was one of three witnesses who gave transcribed statements to Congress' Oversight Committee. MLive-The Flint Journal requested excerpts from the testimony from the committee, which suspended its investigation of Flint water last month -- a decision Democrats on the committee have objected to. In the transcript, Ambrose appeared to surprise his questioners when he told them, "I've never really met Governor Snyder." "You've never met Governor Snyder?" he was asked again. "No," Ambrose answered. "Have you ever had any conversations with him?" he was asked. "No," he answered. The committee also took transcribed testimony from former state Department of Environmental Quality director Dan Wyant and Ed Kurtz, another former Flint emergency manager. Flint is one of just 13 financial emergencies declared since Snyder took office in 2011 and one of the largest municipalities to suffer that fate. In April 2015, the governor declared the financial emergency in Flint was over and he appointed a Receivership Transition Advisory Board to continue working with the city mayor and council. But even during the 41 months of direct state control, Snyder has maintained that while some of his top advisors were aware of possible ties between Flint's use of the Flint River and lead as well as a suspected connection between the water and a deadly outbreak of Legionnaries' disease, he didn't learn so serious the problems were for 17 months -- until October 2015. Anna Heaton, Snyder's press secretary, said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal that Ambrose is correct -- the governor never met the man he appointed to turn around Flint's financial fortunes. "Emergency managers report to the Treasury Department while they function as part of the local government," Heaton's statement says. That arrangement clearly didn't work, said State Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint. Ambrose was "an appointee of the governor -- not the treasurer," Ananich said. "It's unfortunate but it kind of makes sense (considering) the indifference this administration showed to Flint." Ambrose faces criminal charges of false pretenses, conspiracy to commit false pretenses, willful neglect of duty and misconduct in office. Prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office claim Ambrose was involved in a scheme to enter into a contract based on false pretenses and was aware that Flint's treatment plant was not able to produce safe water. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His attorney -- William Swor of Detroit -- declined to comment on Ambrose's testimony before the Oversight Committee. In addition to his comments about his relationship with Snyder, Ambrose told congressional investigators that former emergency manager Darnell Earley "had some communications with Harvey Hollins" about water-related complaints "from different folks in Flint" before Ambrose was appointed to the job. Before he was named to succeed Earley, who has also been charged with crimes related to the water crisis, Ambrose served as Flint's finance director. "Toward late (2014) there were clearly complaints about the discoloration of the water and they had come not only to the mayor and the emergency manager and been looked at by the city, but there were folks that were having conversations with the Governor's Office, and I think that they were -- you know, as one might expect, if that happens there would be calls from, you know, Mr. Hollins to Mr. Earley to say, 'What's going on?' Ambrose told committee investigators. Hollins, who works inside the Governor's Office as director of the Office of Urban initiatives, remains directly involved in the recovery efforts in Flint. He told the Detroit Free Press in February 2016 that he was aware of reports of Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area in March 2015, but did not report it to Snyder until January 2016. In addition to never having spoken to Snyder, Ambrose told the Oversight Committee he was never evaluated as finance director or emergency manager of the city. Ambrose said Flint leaders were told by "water quality experts" that the Flint River could safely be used for drinking water. "You know, the long and shot of it is, they came back and said, yes, we can make this work for a short period of time ... We realized that that would generate some financial savings for us over the next couple years ... And so we said, I mean, why would we not try it?" Snyder eventually recognized the Flint water crisis later in 2015 after DEQ officials acknowledged they should have required Flint to treat river water to make it less corrosive to lead in pipes and home plumbing. Since that time, local, state and federal officials have advised Flint residents not to drink city water unless it is filtered. Thirteen former and current local and state officials, including Ambrose and Earley, have since been charged with criminal wrongdoing in relation to the water crisis. Just this month, Elijah Cummings, ranking Democratic member of the Oversight Committee, suggested the committee refer Ambrose, Earley and Kurtz to the U.S. Department of Justice for potential federal criminal prosecution for potentially having misled the committee. Heaton said Snyder is "open to working with the Legislature on possible reforms to the emergency management law." GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- What better way to celebrate National Pie Day than with a free slice? On Monday, Jan. 23, customers of Grand Traverse Pie Company will be awarded a free piece of pie with any purchase at one of their 15 Michigan locations. Customers will have the choice of apple crumb or cherry crumb dessert on this unofficial holiday. Grand Traverse Pie Company has locations in Ann Arbor, Brighton, East Lansing, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Midland, Norton Shores, Okemos, Petoskey, Plymouth, Portage, Rochester Hills, Terre Haute (Ind.), Traverse City, and Troy. The pie shop will share some customer-posted National Pie Day photos on its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts using #LovePeacePie. In 2014, MLive named Grand Traverse Pie Company No. 5 on its Michigan's Best Pie list. bushome13510408-mmmain.jpg There are 89 of schools, including eight in Kent and Ottawa counties, that have earned their way off Focus School status this year, as a result of having above average improvement or achievement by the lowest-performing 30 percent of their students in math and English language arts. (MLive File Photo) GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Of the 89 schools in Michigan whose lowest performing students have shown enough academic improvement to escape state scrutiny, eight are in Kent and Ottawa counties. The schools, designated as Focus Schools by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), are those with the largest achievement gaps between the top performing 30 percent of students and the bottom performing 30 percent of students. The Focus Schools were among data the state released Friday, Jan. 20, as part of the Michigan School Score Cards. There are 124 schools retained on the list, including five in Kent and Ottawa. "These schools have shown tremendous results in raising the academic achievement and improvement of their most struggling students," said state Superintendent Brian Whiston. "To have this many schools removing themselves from Focus Schools' designations, on the heels of 96 schools exiting last year's list, shows sustained progress statewide. I commend the teachers, students, principals, and parents for their hard work and improvement." The schools earned their way off the list as a result of having above average improvement or achievement by the lowest-performing 30 percent of their students in math and English language arts, compared to statewide averages in the lowest-performing 30 percent group of students in those two subjects over two years. The local schools released as Focus Schools, assigned in either 2013 or 2014, include: Cedar Springs' Beach Elementary, Grandville High School, Kentwood's Meadowlawn Elementary, Lowell Senior High School, Jenison High School, West Ottawa's Woodside Elementary, Grand Haven's Lake Hills Elementary, and the charter high school, West Michigan Aviation Academy. Last March, six Kent and Ottawa county schools made academic strides to be removed from the list: forest Hills Northern High School, Allendale's Oakwood Intermediate, Hamilton High School, West Ottawa's North Holland Elementary, and two Grand Rapids charter schools - Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center and Ridge Park Charter Academy. Schools retained on the current Focus Schools list include: Holland Public Schools' East Elementary, Holland High and Jefferson K-7, Grand Rapids Montessori and Thornapple Kellogg Middle School. The MDE supports Title I Focus Schools by supplying them with a District Improvement Facilitator under the MI Excel program. The facilitator is supplied by a local district's Intermediate School District and funded through MDE Regional Assistance Grants. According to the state, improvements to Title I Focus Schools typically include district resource allocation, problem-solving, student support networks and talent management. MI Excel supports the alignment of reading and math instruction with state curriculum standards. HOLLAND, MI - Kids' Food Basket will serve more students in Ottawa County beginning today, Monday, Jan. 23, with the addition of Holland Public Schools' Jefferson K-7 program. The nonprofit organization works to attack childhood hunger by providing well-balanced evening meals that fill a gap that schools and families in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties can't meet. With the addition of Jefferson, located at 282 W 30th St, the organization says it will deliver Sack Suppers to nearly 700 kids at three schools in the greater Holland area. In April 2015, the organization announced it would service Holland Heights and Woodside elementary schools. "Teachers can't teach and kids learn when they're hungry," said KFB Executive Director Bridget Clark Whitney. "When given a consistent, nutritious evening meal, we are meeting an immediate need and making a long term impact," said Bridget Clark, who said because of this caring "can-do" community 200 kids at Jefferson will have the nutrition they need to thrive. Jefferson, which has 409 students and 79 percent who qualify for free or reduced cost meals at school, was on KFB's waiting list. In order to take a school off the waiting list, the nonprofit required an increase in volunteerism, an increase in food donations, and financial capacity for three years. Through the Sack Supper program, Kids' Food Basket serves 7,500 kids at 42 schools - 36 in the Grand Rapids area. More than one million sack suppers were distributed last school year. There are five schools in Ottawa County still on the waiting list. All have at least 70 percent of their student population qualified for free and reduced cost breakfast and lunch. Sack Suppers contain items from each of the five food groups, officials say help kids stay on track in school and concentrate on learning, which leads to greater academic achievement and more opportunities. Jefferson Principal Maria Yoder said the school is excited to kick off of the program today. "This food will help provide the nourishment that our students need to be healthy and ready to learn," said Yoder, who said all students have been invited to participate. Citing Kids Count data, Kids' Food Basket officials say more than 15,000 children in the Holland area qualify for free or reduced meals. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - More than 500,000 women marched on Washington D.C. Saturday to challenge President Donald Trump's agenda - and more than one million more rallied in solidarity in cities across the U.S. and the world. Though West Michigan's Congressmen were on social media throughout the inauguration weekend, they chose not to directly address the acts of protest with statements, or in their social media posts. The Women's March occurred the day after Trump's inauguration. Sister events occurred across the country and in Michigan -- including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, who has joined Trump's conservative wave, alluded to the event in one tweet on Saturday. He retweeted a retweet from The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis, who called attention to comments Madonna made during the Women's March, that she has thought about "blowing up the White House." "Try to imagine the media reaction if a prominent Republican said this the day after Barack Obama was inaugurated," Davis tweeted. And later Saturday evening, Huizenga tweeted out a picture of the Capitol building at night with the caption "Yup ... Our proud republic still stands." Yup... our proud Republic still stands. pic.twitter.com/cpYujIl4jQ Rep. Bill Huizenga (@RepHuizenga) January 22, 2017 That tweet drew a number of responses from Twitter users, who mostly felt the Congressman was ignoring their views and refusing to acknowledge the dissent. 2.5mill of us marched yesterday (10x the # at inauguration) for the people of the republic. You sent a smug tweet. Try harder. Kate Kooyman (@katekooyman) January 22, 2017 did you hear us today? #nastywomanmakehistory Lisa (@rinkrat345) January 22, 2017 Well, I'm proud of what I saw today. Were you listening? Phil McCauley (@Meridian410) January 22, 2017 U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, who has been unrestrained in his criticism of Trump on Twitter, refrained from tweeting about the Women's March activities. He did retweet a picture Saturday from Wayne Bradley, the deputy state director and African-American engagement director for the Michigan Republican Party, of the two of them at an event. Always good seeing one of the few men in DC who puts our Liberty first, my friend @justinamash pic.twitter.com/zvWGRczvpL Wayne Bradley (@ConservativeBro) January 21, 2017 Huizenga and Amash did not respond to requests for comment on the marches and their tweets for this story. Part of Michigan's Congressional contingent -- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. -- publicly acknowledged the marchers. Today, Colleen and I were proud to join so many Michigan women who traveled to Washington, DC to make their voices heard and stand united in defense of our values. #WomensMarch Posted by Senator Gary Peters on Saturday, January 21, 2017 The day has begun. So excited to see so many from Michigan! #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/G4pt94zN44 Debbie Stabenow (@stabenow) January 21, 2017 Many Michigan residents -- men and women -- posted updates from the march in D.C. and from local sister marches on their social media accounts throughout the day Saturday, sharing how they valued the experience. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The average weighted rate of the Azerbaijani manat against the US dollar was set at 1.8559 AZN/USD for Jan. 24 after a currency auction held by the countrys Central Bank (CBA) on Jan. 23, said the CBA. The currency auction was held with participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ). Under the new mechanism, the official rate of manat is set, based on the weighted average rate in accordance with the transactions concluded with commercial banks in the interbank foreign exchange market and in auctions. The auctions are held in the format of the unilateral sale of currency. Auctions are held three times in a week. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Member of the Board of Directors of Kazakh House Construction Savings Bank Lyazzat Ibragimova was appointed to the post of Chairman of the Board of this bank, the message of the bank said Jan. 23. Ibragimova earlier served as deputy chairman of Kazakh national holding Baiterek. Former Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan Housing Construction Savings Bank Aybatyr Zhumagulov was appointed as Vice-Minister of National Economy in late Dec. 2016. House Construction Savings Bank is the only one bank in Kazakhstan implementing housing construction savings system. The system is intended for improvement of housing conditions of people through attracting funds of depositors to housing construction deposits and granting them with housing loans. The sole shareholder of the bank is Kazakh government through Baiterek National Management Holding. Bank organizational structure includes headquarters in Almaty city and 17 regional subsidiaries. Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Azad Hasanli Trend: One of the key objectives of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is to further promote cooperation between its member countries, Sayed Aqa, IDB vice president, who was in Baku Jan. 17-20, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. As part of this cooperation, increasing the volume of trade and investment between OIC member countries, between the members of IDB is one of our key, strategy priorities, he said. We are engaged with the government of Azerbaijan to achieve that. For example, Islamic Corporation for Development of the Private Sector (ICD, a multilateral development financial institution and part of the IDB Group) held a very successful investment forum in Baku in December 2016, and more than 70 investors and companies took part in this forum, IDB vice president said. We believe that it will provide positive results to attract investors, especially from the Gulf countries and other member countries of IDB, he said. We also have an insurance arm [Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, ICIEC], they can provide assurances to the investors. This is how IDB will be able to help, also we can provide trade financing for the investors and traders in Azerbaijan. Regarding the results of his visit to Baku, IDB vice president said that they were quite positive. He added that he was quite pleased to be in Azerbaijan, a country that had made a lot of development achievements. While in Baku, Aqa discussed cooperation between the IDB and the government of Azerbaijan at a policy level, he held meetings with the countrys ministers of economy, finance, agriculture, the water authority, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov. The sides discussed how IDB can continue to be a strong partner of Azerbaijan in its development, Aqa said. IDB discussed a number of programs and railway projects in Azerbaijan, as well as the Southern Gas Corridor project, he added. IDB has a regional program for Central Asia and Azerbaijan, and this program focuses on trade, agriculture, energy and transport, IDB vice president noted. The government of Azerbaijan has contributed to this program, so we discussed how we can promote for the regional cooperation in this area, he said. IDB also discussed with Azerbaijan cooperation in terms of capacity development and taking some of its experiences, like ASAN (state agency for government services to citizens in Azerbaijan) or other achievements to other countries or bring some best practices in agriculture and water management from other countries to Azerbaijan, IDB vice president said. Azerbaijan became a member of IDB in 1992. The bank has invested about $1.3 billion in Azerbaijan for the implementation of projects in various spheres of economy. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.23 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Israel will be facing an increasing competition on the European gas market, especially if Egypt and/or Cyprus would be joining the supply, Cyril Widdershoven, a Middle East geopolitical specialist and energy analyst, a partner at Dutch risk consultancy VEROCY and SVP MEA-Risk, told Trend Jan.23. The expert believes that the opportunities for Israeli gas export to Europe are based on two issues. First, Israeli gas could, if done via LNG projects, be an addition to possible requirements in Europe in case of a lack of supply, he said, adding that secondly, European markets would be interested in this, based on possible geopolitical considerations, as Israeli gas can also substitute possible Arab North African gas options. Regarding Europes need for Israeli gas, Widdershoven noted that at present, gas markets are even more oversupplied than oil markets. Additional gas supplies from Iran to Europe also would be a dent in the options for Israel. A better way to address this would be to link up to the Turkish gas grid, bringing Israeli gas to Turkey, while at same time have access to Southern European options, he added. All in all, competition is high, but geopolitics and regional security issues could propone Israeli supplies into several markets, according to Widdershoven. Earlier, senior officials from Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Israel agreed to advance talks on a pipeline from Israel to Europe after an EU-sponsored study showed the project would be very feasible. The study showed the pipeline, which would traverse Cyprus and Greece before reaching Italy, would cost about 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion). A pipeline to Greece would have to go deep underwater and would be the worlds longest undersea connection, said previously Israels Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz. He said that the idea of exporting gas to Turkey, with which Israel has held talks about a pipeline, is still on the table. This would not be instead of Turkey, he said. Ive always said we need at least two pipelines. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn you are here: business Daiichi case: HC asks Singh bros to declare value of total stake In the long drawn court battle between Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo and the former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, the Delhi High Court today ordered the Singh brothers to declare the value of their debt free shareholdings in various group companies by February 8. business Subbarao: Note ban may be akin to Iraq WMD fiasco if results not tangible The government had anticipated 15-20 percent of black money will be destroyed via its demonetisation move, which actually has not happened, believes the former governor of Reserve Bank D Subbarao. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: UN's Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed the negotiations on Syria which will be held in Astana on Jan. 23 24, the presidential press-service reported. We want this meeting to be successful. Since Kazakhstan has trust-based relations with all the participants of the meeting, I think it will create all the conditions for normal negotiations, Kazakh president said. He noted that the entire world is concerned with Syria's problem and expressed hoped that is will be resolved peacefully. Staffan de Mistura, in turn, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked Nazarbayev for the opportunity to hold talks on Syria in Astana. Your country has already shown a lot of experience and an example in the resolution of the most difficult situations in the international arena. Non-permanent membership of Kazakhstan in the UN Security Council would be an additional opportunity for resolving the Syrian conflict, de Mistura said. Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova business Bharti Q3 profit may dip 28% on pricing pressure, demonetisation Telecom operator Bharti Airtel's third quarter earnings are expected to be hit by sharp pricing pressure led by Reliance Jios free offer and negative impact of demonetisation. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.23 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Tajik government is considering the initiative of releasing a new banknote of 1,000 somoni with portrait of the countrys President Emomali Rahmon. A special working group has been created at the countrys Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to study the issue, Asia-Plus news agency quoted chairman of Tajikistans National Bank Jamshed Nurmahmadzoda as saying during the press conference in Dushanbe Jan.23. He pointed out that the government will take the final decision on this issue based on the conclusion of the working group. Earlier, Sharif Karim, head of local branch of Tajiksugurt state unitary enterprise in the town of Shahrinav put forward an initiative to release a banknote of 1,000 somoni with Rahmons portrait. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn 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,... Morganton resident Joan Cole is leaving a legacy one stitch at a time. Cole, 85, moved to a cottage at the Grace Ridge Retirement Community in 2013 to be closer to her daughter, Melissa Shaw. The two share a decades-long passion for quilting and get together at Coles house to work on their projects. Coles house is bursting with nearly 90 quilts she has made over the years featuring numerous designs, sizes and techniques. The quilts cover beds, tables, furniture cushions, pillows, quilt racks and numerous spaces on the walls of each room, even the kitchen. It looks like a museum, Shaw said. Cole has had a lifelong artistic impulse that has fueled her creative endeavors. She started hand-embroidering and sewing clothes from a young age. She said wanted to go to art school after she graduated from high school, but at the urging of her parents, pursued a career in drafting instead. She married her husband, John, and his engineering job took them and eventually their four children all over the country. In the mid-eighties, she found herself in an unusual place. From Connecticut, we went to Puerto Rico, so that was a big change, Cole said. Some wives wouldnt do it, but I did. She said while she was there, a friend gave her a book about quilting, and she became excited about diving into this new art form. As Puerto Rico didnt offer a lot of cotton fabric for sale, she had to wait until the next move to start experimenting. When we moved to New Jersey, thats when I started quilting, Cole said. There were (quilters) guilds everywhere. I met other quilters and started making things. While Cole was in Puerto Rico, Shaw, then in her mid-twenties, discovered the joy of quilting hundreds of miles away in Oklahoma, when her local cross-stitch shop offered a quilting class. She (Cole) taught me how to hand-sew and do hand-embroidery, but I actually started to quilt a little bit before she did, Shaw said. We were living worlds apart, but I had that foundation from her from when I was younger. She still has the squirrel I hand-embroidered when I was 8. After the first quilting class, Shaw was hooked. I thought over the years I might go back to cross-stitching, but I love quilting so much, I havent, Shaw said. But I still love to do hand-embroidery. I find it very relaxing and therapeutic. You can sit and do it wherever you are. I always have a hand-project thats one of the things Ive learned from her (Cole). Cole said she has continued to focus on hand-quilting and embroidery techniques, and is particularly drawn to working with colors. I like to work with color and put colors together, Cole said. And I like to sit in the evening and do hand-work. Hand-quilting is a dying art. Shaw said she and her mother now get together every Monday evening at Coles house to work on projects together, a bonding activity that holds even more meaning since John Cole passed away last spring. We both can appreciate the other ones art, Shaw said. Well help each other if we get stuck on something. She was working on a project recently, and she couldnt figure out how to lay it out, so we talked about it and she figured it out through that. And I appreciate her color choices. Sometimes I have a hard time picking colors, so if do, Ill ask her, and I respect her color choices a lot. Cole is a member of the Burke Quilters Guild and sometimes teaches workshops and presents trunk shows there featuring her vast collection of quilts. Cole and Shaw both belong to the Catawba Valley Quilters Guild in Hickory and go to the meetings together. In addition to all the quilts in her house, Cole makes many quilts to give away to family, friends and various charities. She said this year, she gave 20 quilts to the local hospital, police department and a battered womens shelter in Hickory. Most of her charity quilts are throw-sized pieces made with a sewing machine. She is currently making a Quilt of Valor, which is a national project that organizes quilters to make quilts to honor veterans. Shes very giving of her time and talents, Shaw said. She likes to do for others and give things away. Its therapeutic for her since my dad passed away. Shaw said she appreciates sharing her time and talents with her mother. Since shes lived in North Carolina, its drawn us closer together, because its kind of that common bond that she and I have, Shaw said. Tammie Gercken can be reached at tgercken@morganton.com. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 23 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Bayram Annameredov has been appointed co-chairman of the Joint Uzbek-Turkmen Commission on trade-economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation, according to the document released by the Turkmen president. Energy sphere is one of the strategic directions of the Uzbek-Turkmen partnership. Turkmenistan has been supplying natural gas to China through Uzbekistan since 2009. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are currently discussing the project to create Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman transport route. This will make it possible to greatly increase international transit cargo flows and create a new communication corridor to the global markets. Templeton Emerging Markets Bond The $4 billion fund is managed by the experienced managers Michael Hasenstab and Laura Burakreis, who implement a very high-conviction approach. The managers are known for sometimes building quite large stakes in unloved sovereign credits and being highly active in managing duration and currency exposure. They are backed by a well-resourced team of economist and country analysts. The fund has a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze. Pictet Global Emerging Debt At $7 billion in assets under management, the fund is one of the largest in the category. The strategy is managed by Simon Lue-Fong, who has over 20 years of experience in emerging markets debt and has been Head of GEM Bonds at Pictet since 2005. The fund is managed with an emphasis on limiting downside risk by establishing profit-loss thresholds for each active position taken. The fund invests mainly in hard currency debt, but may hold up to 30% in local currency bonds. The fund has a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze. Julius Baer Local Emerging Bond Far from its $8 billion peak in 2013, the funds assets under management are still significant at near $5 billion. This fund is managed by one of the more experienced and stable teams in the category. Lead manager Paul McNamara took over the strategy at its inception in 2000. His two co-managers, Denise Prime and Caroline Gorman--both of whom boast almost two decades emerging markets debt investing experience--have been with the strategy for six and 10 years, respectively. The local debt strategy in place here is benchmark-aware but quite flexible. The managers may have exposure to markets not represented in the benchmark, as evidenced by the funds roughly 10% stake in Indian government bonds in 2015. The fund has a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze. 3 Best Performing Emerging Market Bond Funds The November sell-off in emerging markets debt was more severe for the local currency part of the market, as such it is no surprise that hard currency debt funds are among the top performers through November 2016. Neuberger Berman EM Debt Hard Currency The fund was launched in May 2013 and has a focus on hard currency debt, primarily sovereign, in order to limit currency risk. The team focus on bottom-up country selection, with top-down beta management, duration positioning, and corporate allocation playing a secondary role. The lead portfolio manager here, Bart van der Made, is very experienced and together with his co-manager, Mike Reyes, focus on country selection and they rely on the team co-heads, Rob Drijkoningen and Gorky Urquieta, for top-down positioning. Since inception, the strategy has had a solid performance in comparison with its peers. The fund has a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver. Ashmore SICAV EM Sovereign Debt The fund invests predominantly in hard currency emerging market sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt. The strategy is managed by Ashmores large emerging markets debt team. The process here is driven by the investment committees views with portfolio managers also having analytical responsibilities. They employ a high conviction approach, which is evident in portfolio positioning. For instance, as at the end of October 2016, the fund had 11.3% in Venezuela against 1.9% for the benchmark. T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Michael Cornelius has managed the fund since its inception at in 2004. He boasts almost three decades of experience. The fund mainly invests in USD-denominated sovereign emerging markets debt but may also hold quasi-sovereign and corporate debt. As at the end of October 2016, the portfolio had 17% in corporate debt versus 0.09% for the JP Morgan Emerging Market Bbond Global Diversified index. The manager placed emphasis on countries that are following reform agendas to improve economic growth. In his view, Brazil the largest overweighting as at October 2016, Jamaica and Venezuela fit this description. A version of this article appeared in International Adviser magazine Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Jan. 23 By Demir Azizov Trend: As many as 39,748 people have been pardoned in Uzbekistan within the execution of the decision on amnesty by the Senate (upper house) of the Uzbek Parliament, the countrys Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a message. It was previously reported that the upper house of the Uzbek Parliament approved a resolution On amnesty due to 24th anniversary of adoption of Uzbek Constitution at the plenary session Oct.12, 2016. In order to ensure transparency of the execution of the amnesty act in Uzbekistan, special commissions were set up, which included employees of the government bodies in the sphere of labor, social protection, health care and public organizations, alongside with law enforcement officials. In Uzbekistan, the right to make a decision on granting amnesty was handed over to the countrys Senate since the bicameral parliament of the republic started operating in January 2005. Previously, deciding on amnesty was the exclusive prerogative of the Uzbek president. The Senate of Uzbekistan approved a resolution on amnesty for the first time in 2005 in connection with the 13th anniversary of the adoption of the countrys constitution. Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive. To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research. Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process. Strong 2016 numbers foreshadow Monctons steady performance in the year ahead, according to the citys real estate association.Late last week, the Greater Moncton Real Estate Board announced that home sales volume in the Southeastern New Brunswick area (Kent, Westmorland, and Albert Counties) for the whole of last year grew 11 per cent annually, up to 2,886 transactions. Meanwhile, the regions total sales value for 2016 reached a record high of $458,152,237, a 13 per cent increase from the year before that.Once the train started, for the most part, we saw year over year records when comparing monthly stats into the end of the year, board president Trent Wilkins told Huddle Today. Our market is definitely moving more towards a balanced market over the past few years and that is positive news for 2017.When we compare the HPI (House Price Index) to our average sale price, it paints a picture that represents an incremental pricing trend increase of 1.87 per cent versus an average sale price that is up 2.3 per cent from 2015. Regardless of the statistic we use, the overall pricing trends saw positive movement upwards in 2016, he added.Wilkins cited data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which showed that Moncton is exhibiting a higher growth rate than either Fredericton or Saint John.With the numbers going in the right directions, we are anticipating that the more balanced approach to our market will result in positive things for 2017, Wilkins said.Greater Moncton has been seeing economic activity that supports the direction our market is going in. The economic development officials are all painting a picture to say this trend will continue in the Greater Moncton area and our realtors are ready to serve consumers to get them the property of their dreams.The Canadian Real Estate Associations final data release for 2016 revealed that total sales in New Brunswick increased by 7.3 per cent over the year, with the average selling price pegged at $163,793 (up by 2.1 per cent over the year). Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Irans gas pipeline to Iraq will be inaugurated on Jan. 23, spokesman of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Majid Boujarzadeh, said. However gas export to Iraq will not start in the coming days, Boujarzadeh said, Mehr news agency reported. Iran has injected gas to the pipeline and is ready to start exporting gas to the neighboring country, but Iraqi side is not yet ready to receive gas, he added. Earlier, Amir Hossein Zamaninia, Irans deputy oil minister for International and Commercial Affairs said that as soon as financial issues are settled, gas will be transmitted to Iraq. Under the existing contract, Iran is expected to export 35 million cubic meters of gas per day to Iraq in a period of six years. The two neighboring countries also have agreed on a deal for exporting 25 mcm of gas to Iraqs Basra. However, no pipelines have been laid so far for exporting gas to Basra City. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 81F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Wells Fargo says its found evidence that whistleblowers faced retaliation for trying to stop illegal sales tactics within the company. Wells Fargo has been at the center of controversy since last fall, when it was revealed that bank employees opened 2 million fake accounts in order to meet sales goals. At the time, several former employees came forward to say they were retaliated against for trying to bring the issue to light. Since then, Wells Fargo has faced congressional scrutiny and the ouster of CEO John Stumpf. The banks board also started an independent inquiry into the fake accounts scandal. Its that investigation thats turned up evidence that the whistleblowers retaliation claims may have merit, according to a CNN Money report. Wells Fargos current CEO, Tim Sloan, said last week that the bank has reviewed reports made by its employees to a confidential ethics line over the last five years. According to CNN Money, Wells Fargo hired a third-party investigator to look into cases where employees were fired within a year of making a call to that line. Wells Fargo also looked into retaliation claims by former employees who spoke to the media about the scandal. A few cases out of the hundreds reviewed raised questions, and we are following up on each of them, Sloan said. A Wells Fargo spokesperson, asked if that meant there were signs of retaliation, told CNN Money, Yes, that is how I would read it. We have cause for concern. Were going to keep looking at these cases further. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.23 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Irans gas export to Turkey decreased from 6.853 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 11 months of 2015 to 6.846 bcm in the same period of 2016, the statistics of official website of Turkey Energy Market Regulatory indicate. Turkey is Irans only gas client. Iran also swaps gas with Azerbaijan and barters it with Armenian power in restricted volume as well. Iran delivered about 8.6 bcm of gas to Turkey in 2015. Turkeys gas import: Veteran radio personality Kris Moore took over the controls of the Morning Drive talk radio program earlier this month. She has been on the air waves in Midland for around 18 years, spending most of that time on FM stations. Here is a question-and-answer with the new host of one of the most-listened-to radio shows in the region. MRT: What was right about the opportunity to take over the Morning Drive program? MOORE: I have always done morning show radio until I came to work at ICA Radio Group where I started on My Country 96.1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., then to 103.3 KISS FM 10 a.m.-2 p.m. I love the morning show because I love mornings and it gives me the ability to talk about important issues to the community. MRT: Have you been a fan of talk radio? MOORE: I am a fan of radio ... period. Music and talk radio. Radio is a mainstay in our world. You can take it anywhere now. Online, on your phone and of course on the radio. MRT: What are the changes you expect to happen over the long term in the program? MOORE: We are still and will always be your Morning Drive concentrating on local and national news, politics, local events and charitable events. The difference now is that a woman is in the drivers seat with a little different perspective of life. MRT: Whats the best advice you have received about hosting the Morning Drive? MOORE: Robert Hallmark is the best teacher and advice giver. His main advice is to let the callers talk ... hear what they have to say and respond accordingly. Everyones thoughts matter even if you dont agree. MRT: Have you decided on a partner? MOORE: We have. Jeremy Jones of Midland has just been named my co-host and will be sitting in the news chair. MRT: After years on FM stations, any thoughts about moving to an AM station? MOORE: I have worked on a AM station before in Big Spring at KBST AM where I hosted a Program called Talk to the Dr with Dr. John Farquhar and I have been the fill-in host for both Kurt Verlei and Robert Hallmark when they were not able to be there. So I have experience on the AM. Obviously there is a huge difference from a music station and a talk station, such as ... no voice tracking like at the FM stations it is completely live and no four-minute breaks for a song with only a few seconds of talk time in between. On AM, you are live for 20 to 30 minutes at a time and with me running the board to make sure Fox and TSN news are hitting the air at the corSrect times not a lot of time for a break. Its straight through from arriving at 4:15 each morning until I turn the microphone off at 9 a.m. MRT: Are you an early riser? MOORE: Yes, I have always been a early-to-bed and early-to-rise kinda girl ... BUT not this early. My day starts at 2:30 a.m.! MRT: How many years have you been on the radio in Midland-Odessa? MOORE: I started radio in Midland doing the Morning Show for KTex 104.7 when it was located in the ClayDesta Building and owned by the Graham Brothers back in 1999 -- I believe it was -- so 18 years. Wow! How time flies. MRT: What is your favorite topic so far? MOORE: Thats a tough one. I havent been in the drivers seat of the Morning Drive long enough to make a good comparison, but my recent interview with Mayor Jerry Morales and Congressman Mike Conaway were both very educational on what to expect in 2017 for Midland and Texas. MRT: Anything else people need to know? MOORE: I love the Permian Basin and the people. The callers are what make our show. I plan to highlight all the things that make our community what it is. Looking forward to sharing it all on the airwaves of Newstalk 550 AM, 95.5 FM, 97.5 FM, online www.newstalkkcrs.com and on MY 16 TV. WASHINGTON -- One of the Obama administrations signature efforts in education, which pumped billions of federal dollars into overhauling the nations worst schools, failed to produce meaningful results, according to a federal analysis. Test scores, graduation rates and college enrollment were no different in schools that received money through the School Improvement Grants program - the largest federal investment ever targeted to failing schools - than in schools that did not. The Education Department published the findings on the website of its research division on Wednesday, hours before President Barack Obamas political appointees walked out the door. Were talking about millions of kids who are assigned to these failing schools, and we just spent several billion dollars promising them things were going to get better, said Andy Smarick, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who has long been skeptical that the Obama administrations strategy would work. Think of what all that money could have been spent on instead. The School Improvement Grants program has been around since the administration of President George W. Bush, but it received an enormous boost under Obama. The administration funneled $7 billion into the program between 2010 and 2015 - far exceeding the $4 billion it spent on Race to the Top grants. The money went to states to distribute to their poorest-performing schools - those with exceedingly low graduation rates, or poor math and reading test scores, or both. Individual schools could receive up to $2 million per year for three years, on the condition that they adopt one of the Obama administrations four preferred measures: replacing the principal and at least half the teachers, converting into a charter school, closing altogether, or undergoing a transformation, including hiring a new principal and adopting new instructional strategies, new teacher evaluations and a longer school day. The Education Department did not track how the money was spent, other than to note which of the four strategies schools chose. Arne Duncan, Obamas education secretary from 2009 to 2016, said his aim was to turn around 1,000 schools every year for five years. We could really move the needle, lift the bottom and change the lives of tens of millions of underserved children, Duncan said in 2009. Duncan often said that the administrations school improvement efforts did not get the attention they deserved, overshadowed by more-controversial efforts to encourage states to adopt new standards and teacher evaluations tied to tests. The school turnaround effort, he said days before he left office in 2016, was arguably the administrations biggest bet. He and other administration officials sought to highlight individual schools that made dramatic improvements after receiving the money. But the new study released last week shows that, as a large-scale effort, School Improvement Grants failed. Just a tiny fraction of schools chose the most dramatic measures, according to the new study. Three percent became charter schools, and 1 percent closed. Half the schools chose transformation, arguably the least intrusive option available to them. This outcome reminds us that turning around our lowest-performing schools is some of the hardest, most complex work in education and that we dont yet have solid evidence on effective, replicable, comprehensive school improvement strategies, said Dorie Nolt, an Education Department spokeswoman. Nolt emphasized that the study focused on schools that received School Improvement Grants money between 2010 and 2013. The administration awarded a total of $3.5 billion to those schools, most of it stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Since then, she said, the program has evolved toward greater flexibility in the selection of school improvement models and the use of evidence-based interventions. Some education experts say that the administration closed its eyes to mounting evidence about the programs problems in its own interim evaluations, which were released in the years after the first big infusion of cash. The latest interim evaluation, released in 2015, found mixed results, with students at one-third of the schools showing no improvement or even sliding backward. Even then, Duncan remained optimistic about the School Improvement Grants, which he said had - along with the Race to the Top grants - unleashed innovation across the country. Speaking about the two grant programs at a fast-improving high school in Boston in 2015, he argued that it would take time to see and measure their full effects. Here in Massachusetts, it actually took several years to see real improvement in some areas, Duncan said at the time. Scores were flat or even down in some subjects and grades for a while. Many people questioned whether the state should hit the brakes on change. But you had the courage to stick with it, and the results are clear to all. Smarick said he had never seen such a huge investment produce zero results. That could end up being a gift, he said, from Duncan to Betsy DeVos, President Trumps nominee for education secretary and a proponent of taxpayer-supported vouchers for private and religious schools. Results from the School Improvement Grants have shored up previous research showing that pouring money into dysfunctional schools and systems does not work, Smarick said: I can imagine Betsy DeVos and Donald Trump saying this is exactly why kids need school choice. Editors note: This is the fifth and final story in a series about what U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway of Midland foresees for the nation, issues it faces and solutions that could be implemented. --- The nations budget for 2016 was $4 trillion while its debt is $19 trillion and rising. With such seemingly unbalanced books, the remedy might be electing more accountants to office. Rep. Mike Conaway of Midland is one of a handful of accountants in Congress and is part of the Congressional CPA and Accountants Caucus. He spoke with the Reporter-Telegram on Jan. 16 about a variety of issues, including what more lawmakers with accounting backgrounds might bring to the nation. The thing about accounting disciplines is were driven to complete stuff, to balance the books right down to the penny. Were driving to finish, Conaway said. Were also appreciative of the timeframe in which to get it done. People in public and private accounting are affected by delays in tax law. My colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee dont appreciate that if they wait until the middle of December to fix a tax law, that jams everybody. The classic example is the Section 179 depreciation deduction, which, according to the IRS, is when a qualifying taxpayer can choose to treat the cost of certain property as an expense and deduct it in the year the property is placed in service instead of depreciating it over several years. In years past, the most a business could deduct in one year was $500,000, but congressional indecision recently threatened to reduce that figure to $25,000 with the possibility of reverting back to a half million dollars. The government waited until late in the year to make up its mind, which made life very difficult for accountants because it tied up money that could have been spent on the business. So we wait until Dec. 15 to move it to $500,000 thinking weve done something, Conaway said. Well, youve lost that year of purchasing because not a lot of guys can react and get it in service by the end of the month. That helps me out next year, but I needed to spend that money this year. The lawmaker said accountants appreciate the fact that businesses like certainty. There are risks in business that you cant do anything about; you just have to absorb those. But the uncertainty of how youre taxed and regulated hurts businesses, and you ought to do your best to keep that at a minimum. I think someone with an accounting discipline would bring those kinds of appreciations to the fight. He cited the Farm Bill, which he is spearheading as chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Theres no reason to not get the 2018 Farm Bill done on time except people wont make final decisions. There wont be any piece of information in October or November 2017 that will be different than July or August. Were going to know the facts, know its there. Its going to force people to get off of dead center and make a decision. While he said Congress wouldnt want to be made up entirely of accountants, having more would be helpful. One agency he wants to audit is the Department of Defense. Despite spending more than $600 billion a year, there isnt an audit mechanism. But Conaway is working on it. Were getting close, and theres momentum moving, but Im on a multi-year quest maybe Don Quixote-like but Im on a quest to continue to force that there, he said. Im one of the few in Congress to have audited big companies and who understands the complexity of what were asking these guys to do. It is stunning how hard getting this job done is going to be. Weve got great people in the trenches at the Department of Defense trying to make it happen, but I dont think it will happen if I dont keep pushing on it. A good audit is like a seal of approval, which is going to be essential because weve got budget struggles ahead of us, he said. We want more money to spend on national defense. It will be important for the taxpayer to understand whats going on at the biggest and most important agency weve got. The Constitution says to provide for national defense. Well, we need to do that and do it well, and having books and records that are auditable are a part of doing it well. Conaway said defense dollars should only be used in circumstances where national interests see benefit, such as keeping troops in South Korea to prevent North Koreans from doing something stupid or keeping troops in Europe to look (Russian President Vladimir) Putin in the eye and say you cant do what you think you can do. Were not the policemen of the world, but we have national interests broader than just inside our borders, he said. The U.S. has to get other nations involved. Thats what (President Donald) Trump brings to the table. Hes going to look to look them in the eye and say, You need to pony up. Like Trevor on Facebook and follow him on Twitter at @HowdyHawes. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: The total volume of oil products loaded and unloaded at Iranian ports surged by 24 percent over the last Iranian month (Dec. 21, 2016-Jan. 19, 2017) as compared to the same period of last year. According to the countrys Ports and Maritime Organization, 14.2 million tons of oil products were loaded and unloaded at ports across Iran during the period. In the mentioned period, the country unloaded about 1.8 million tons and loaded about 12.4 million tons of oil products at its ports. New members inducted into Institute of ... Tehran, Iran, Jan. 23 By Mehdi Sepahvand, Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran hasnt held any secret talks with the new US administration, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said responding to a reporters question at a press conference in Tehran Jan. 23. We have no contacts with US administration and no messages have been communicated between the two sides, Qasemi said, Trend correspondent reported from the press conference. The comments come weeks after Javad Karimi Ghoddousi, a member of Iranian Parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is attempting to contact Donald Trumps team. Karimi Ghoddousi said that after Trump won the presidential election, Zarif unsuccessfully made efforts to connect his team, in particular Trumps secretary of state nominee, Mehr news agency reported. During the press conference, Qasemi also said that it is too early to make an assessment about the US President Donald Trumps policies. Unlike the previous presidents, whose situation was partly clear during the presidential campaigns, it is not possible to make a detailed evaluation about Trump, he said. However, Qasemi said Iran doesnt have much hope for a fundamental change in the US policies. Earlier, Irans President Hassan Rouhani, speaking about Trumps negative comments on the nuclear deal between Tehran and the six world powers, said those are more slogans than to happen in practice when Trump takes office. The nuclear deal is beneficial to the US as well, but Trump doesn't understand that, Rouhani said. Iran and P5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany) reached a nuclear deal, which came into force in January 2016. Tehran, Iran, Jan. 23 By Mehdi Sepahvand, Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran is ready to resume ties with Saudi Arabia if Riyadh makes a serious change in its behavior, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said. Our policy is not abandoning diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia forever, Qasemi said in a press conference in Tehran on Jan. 23 while commenting about the future of the two regional countries relations, Trend correspondent reported. 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. Elsewhere in his remarks Qasemi said that a Kuwaiti delegation headed by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad Al-Sabah will visit Tehran in coming days. Regional issues as well as mutual ties will be discussed during the visit, the Iranian diplomat said, adding that it is not clear that the Kuwaiti official will convey any message from third parties to Iran. Qasemi continued that French Foreign Minister JeanMarc Ayrault is also scheduled to visit Iran in a week. Iran-France Joint economic commission will also convene in Tehran during the French diplomat visit, Qasemi added. The two sides also will discuss regional issues including the ongoing crisis in Syria, he said. The Iranian official expressed hope that economic and political agreements will be achieved between Tehran and Paris. While responding to a question about ties with Canada, Qasemi said that obstacles in Iran and Canada relations have not yet been removed. We are waiting for Canada government to remove financial and political hurdles, he said, adding that if it does, the representative offices will be opened to take care of the consular affairs. Jamestown, CA-The Mother Lode had a surprise visitor over the weekend. Jordanian King Abdullah II and his 16-year-old son, Crown Prince Hussein bin Al Abdullah had lunch at the National Hotel in Jamestown Saturday. Preparation began last Tuesday when a group of five men were having lunch out on the restaurants patio area. After spending approximately two hours, one of the men asked Restaurant Manager Heather Parkhurst if she could serve a group of 12 Saturday afternoon. I said yes, of course we can, says Parkhurst. She was then notified that approximately 20 security personnel would be stationed inside the restaurant, and an additional nine outside, but was not told who was coming for lunch. At around 12:15pm Saturday, the King of Jordan came riding into town on a Harley style motorcycle, and his son followed in a Ford Mustang. They were escorted by Jordanian officials and Secret Service personnel. During most of the lunch service, we still didnt realize it was the King of Jordan, says Parkhurst. We knew they were important people and associated with the Royal Court of Jordan, but it wasnt until the end that we learned that we had the King of Jordan on our patio, and his son, the Crown Prince. The King and his entourage were dressed in motorcycle gear, and were very casual. Abdullah II made a similar motorcycle trip across portions of California around two years ago. He seemed like a really nice guy, says Parkhurst. The Kings choice of food while visiting the Mother Lode: Veal Piccata with no capers. Written by bjhansen@mlode.com. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched military drills in the countrys western regions. Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the ground forces of the IRGC, has said that Najaf-e Ashraf, an IRGC division that participated in the 1980-1988 war between Iran and Iraq, will take part in the military exercises codenamed Imam Ali, Fars news agency reported. Pakpour added that the four-day exercises are aimed at improving combat skills and modern warfare techniques. Iran has held a number of major military drills over the past several years to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces. The Islamic Republic maintains that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence. Five people were in custody in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday on charges involving an alleged scheme to distribute cocaine and marijuana from the Houston area to Memphis. Rodney McChristian and brothers Ronnie R. Woods, Bernard Woods, Steve Woods and Donnell Woods were among 10 people named in an indictment unsealed in Lufkin. The names of the other five were not released Thursday. In the first count of a nine-count indictment, Ronnie R. Woods, Bernard Woods, Steve Woods, Donnell Woods and Rodney McChristian are accused of conspiracy to possess and distribute five kilograms of cocaine and distributing and possessing with intent to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana. The indictment alleges the conspiracy occurred from early 2000 through the fall of 2003. Ronnie Woods, Bernard Woods and Steve Woods are also accused of transporting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Memphis to Houston to buy cocaine in 2002. McChristian is accused in two counts of traveling in interstate commerce to distribute a mixture containing cocaine. The men made an initial court appearance in Memphis on Thursday and were being held in jail there Thursday night. The Commercial Appeal in Memphis reported in its Friday editions that Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched a Memphis nightclub in connection with the investigation. US President Donald Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with him in Washington in February during a phone call held earlier in the day, Netanyahu's press office said in a statement, Sputnik reported. "President Trump has invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to come meet him in Washington in February," the statement, issued on Sunday, read. In September 2016, Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that under his administration, the United States would recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel and move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Earlier on Sunday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the discussion of the move of the embassy was at the early stage. OPECs two biggest suppliers to the U.S. shrugged off a vow by President Donald Trump to end dependence on the groups oil, saying the worlds biggest economy would continue to need crude from abroad. The U.S. is closely integrated in the global energy market, Saudi Arabias Energy and Industry Minister Khalid Al-Falih said, while his Venezuelan counterpart Nelson Martinez said he expects his countrys crude exports to the worlds top consumer to remain stable. The positions that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia take in global energy are very important for global economic stability, Al-Falih said at a meeting of producing countries in Vienna. He added that Saudi Arabia was looking forward to working with the Trump administration. Just after his inauguration on Friday, Trump said he was committed to achieving energy independence from the OPEC cartel and any nations hostile to our interests, by exploiting vast untapped domestic energy reserves, according to a plan posted on the White House website. The U.S. imported about 3 million barrels a day from the organization last year, with Saudi Arabia and Venezuela accounting for 1.81 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. This isnt the first time a U.S. president promises to end the countrys reliance on supplies from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Former President George W. Bush promised to cut imports from the Middle East when he said in 2006 the nation was addicted to oil. Shipments from OPEC rose 10 percent during Bushs time in office. Every U.S. president going back to Richard Nixon has pledged to reduce the countrys reliance on foreign oil. --- Venezuelas Martinez played down any concern that his countrys shipments to the U.S. might dwindle under a Trump administration. The export volumes will be maintained, he said. There is a lot of interdependence in the world of energy. Its good to maintain it for everyones good. Saudi Arabia exported an average of 1.08 million barrels a day of crude to the U.S. in 2016, while Venezuela shipped about 733,000 barrels a day and Iraq some 400,000 barrels a day, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. OPEC is waiting for a new U.S. energy secretary to take office to learn more about Trumps energy policies, Mohammad Barkindo, the groups secretary-general, said in the Austrian capital on Sunday. The U.S. is benefiting from the price increase following OPECs December agreement with other producers to reduce oil output, according to Algeria, another member of the group. OPEC is currently helping the U.S., Noureddine Boutarfa said Saturday in an interview with Bloomberg in Vienna. The price recovery is helping U.S. companies, the U.S. industry, the U.S. economy. Crude prices rose to an 18-month high of more than $58 a barrel after OPEC and several non-members agreed to end two years of unlimited production and instead cut output. Prices have since slipped about 5 percent from that peak as traders await proof that the producers will follow through. Even as Trump commits to ending U.S. reliance on OPECs oil, the new administration said it would work with our Gulf allies to develop a positive energy relationship as part of our anti-terrorism strategy. Al-Falih suggested Saudi Arabia could always export its oil somewhere else, if the U.S. stopped buying. Oil is fungible, so it flows around -- what doesnt get sold in one market can be sold in another, he said. Darling Homes Darling Homes is expanding in Woodforest with patio homes priced from $380,000 in the gated Russet Peak neighborhood. The builder will offer seven home designs with features as covered patios, outdoor fireplaces and media rooms. Darling Homes now builds in five neighborhoods of Montgomery County's Woodforest community north of The Woodlands. The number of people missing after an avalanche buried a hotel in central Italy has increased to 24, while there is still a hope to find more survivors, head of the Italian Civil Protection Department Fabrizio Curcio said Sunday, Sputnik reported. The province authorities said earlier in the day that one more person was included in the list of those missing, with the total number reaching 24. The Prosecutor's office said in a statement that it could be a Senegalese man, who worked at the hotel. "Those who work in such difficult conditions are doing everything to find more people who are still alive So there is always a hope," Curcio told Rai3 TV channel. The rescue operation is still ongoing. On Wednesday, central Italy was shaken by a series of earthquakes, with the biggest jolts ranging from 5.1 to 5.7 in magnitude and felt in Rome. On the same day, the avalanche in the region of Abruzzo buried the Rigopiano di Farindola hotel with dozens of guests and staff inside, killing at least five people. Some of the citys most cherished jazz musicians bid a musical farewell Monday to jazz violinist Sebastian Campesi, who died Jan. 13. Campesi is being celebrated with a musical memorial at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which included friends and contemporaries. The famed jazz musician and music teacher died from complications of emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 95. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Local and state officials discussed Monday the recent spate of bomb threats to Jewish community centers throughout the country. The community meeting came after a series of bomb threats on Jan. 9 to 16 Jewish community centers across the U.S., followed by more than two dozen additional threats on Wednesday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Mayor David Martin met with local Jewish faith leaders at the Stamford Jewish Community Center to address the anti-Semitism. The increase in incidents, both in number and severity, is alarming, Blumenthal said of threats against Jewish community centers and similar hate crimes across the U.S. in recent weeks. My hope is that this spate of hate crimes is a passing phenomenon, but we are ready for battle. Blumenthal told JCC leaders that he is trying to push through new legislation this session that would strengthen hate-crime penalties and sanctions, enhance the reporting of these crimes and protect the rights of people who report the incidents. While Blumenthal fights for legislation, Martin said hes focused on two initiatives in the city. His first priority is to have Stamford Public Schools to take a second look at what he calls hateful bullying. We have to be extremely vigilant right now, Martin said. I know that theres already a lot of antibullying initiatives in Stamford schools, but I want everyone to feel safe. Martins other initiative is to start a conversation with local law enforcement and religious and immigration advocacy groups, like the JCC and Building One Community formerly Neighbors Link. We want to have those groups in and make certain that were all working together to make sure everyone in this very diverse community is safe, Martin said. We live in a world of uncertainty right now, said Eric Koehler, CEO of the Stamford JCC. Its good to see leaders meeting with people in the Jewish community it makes us feel more supported. Koehler said the Stamford JCC community appreciates the strong security support from the city. Our police department does a great job of making synagogues and Jewish organizations feel safe and supported, he said. We train our staff (for emergencies), and when things happen, the police will come and let us know what we need to know. nnaughton@stamfordadvocate.com; @noranaughton This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy Honoring deceased veterans has become a monthly tradition for Capital Region counties and politicians, but some say finding people to salute isn't always easy. Rensselaer County postponed its January ceremony and, after February, has no one lined up, Legislature Chairman Stan Brownell, R-Hoosick, told his fellow legislators at their January meeting. Brownell urged legislators to reach out to their communities to make sure the 25-year-old program gets back in step. Capital Region counties rely on nominations and finding families willing and available locally to participate. On Saturday, Schenectady County held its first Honor A Deceased Veteran at the American Legion Post in Niskayuna. The pool of deceased veterans for the honor was not as large as William Frank, director of the Schenectady County Veterans Service Agency, said he expected it would be. Schenectady County's program is quarterly at this time, Frank said. "We're just taking baby steps." That means getting the county's veterans groups more aware of the new program in order to expand the number of nominees. Frank said he expects the program to gain momentum. Typical ceremonies involve recalling the deceased veteran's military service and community ties. Politicians from the local to the federal level and veterans groups make a presentation with family members. More Information Honoring those who serve Here's where to look for information on counties' programs to honor veterans. Albany County: www.albanycounty.com Rensselaer County: www.rensco.com Saratoga County: www.saratogacountyny.gov Schenectady County: www.schenectadycounty.com See More Collapse Both Albany and Saratoga county take a long view in planning their monthly events. Albany has its honorees selected 12 months out, while Saratoga works 24 to 48 months out. "We're not having a problem finding people," Frank McClement, director of the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency, said. Saratoga County called off its December salute, but that was due to an illness in the family of the veteran to be honored, McClement said. The county rotates its monthly program among its 19 towns and two cities. The town and city supervisors work with local veterans organizations and historians to select an honoree. Mary Rozak, a spokeswoman for Albany County executive Dan McCoy, a veteran, said planning ahead eliminates logistical problems. She said the county has found it more difficult to find living veterans to honor twice a year. Rensselaer County is renewing its efforts to get its program going. "This is one of the most important ceremonies and services performed by Rensselaer County," Brownell said. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe Paul T. Lunny of Waterford was promoted to sergeant major in the New York Army National Guard during a ceremony at the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters in Latham. Lunny, a Gulf War veteran, is the senior Army inspector general for the New York National Guard assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters. He enlisted in the active Army in 1988 and served in Germany and with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., as well as Operation Desert Storm. Lunny left the Army in 1996 and became a police officer in New Haven, Conn. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, inspired him to re-enlist in the Army. He served as an instructor at the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School's Infantry Training Company, Jericho, Vt. In 2004, Lunny accepted a full-time position with the New York Army National Guard's 2nd Civil Support Team, where he worked for 8 1/2 years. The Army Sergeants Major Academy graduate has worked in the Inspector General's Office for three years. He has earned a Meritorious Service, six Army Commendation and six Army Achievement medals. Other Guard soldiers promoted include: Sergeant: Kenneth Allen, Delmar, 1427th Transportation Company; Taj Coleman, Colonie, Joint Force Headquarters; Thomas Rinaldi, Stillwater, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry; Katie Sullivan, Headquarters and Headquarters Combat Aviation Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division; and Thomas Wickham, Niskayuna, Joint Force Headquarters. Specialist: Dylan Cronin, Selkirk, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation; Jesse Frankoski, West Sand Lake, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation; Charles Hodge, Hoosick Falls, 206th Military Police Company; Jordan Perez, Albany, 206th Military Police Company; Liam Serviss, Loudonville, 204th Engineer Detachment. "Love & War" author to read letters book Author and photographer Diane Smook will read excerpts from her book "Love & War: The World War II Letters of Arthur Smook" at 3 p.m. Saturday at Chatham Public Library, 11 Woodbridge Ave. Smook edited and organized 450 letters that her mother, Sylvia Smook, received from her father, Army 1st Lt. Arthur Smook during World War II. What began as joshing correspondence between the college pals turned passionate and the couple became engaged when he was home on leave. The lieutenant fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was one of the few in his unit to survive. His letters describe the everyday life in foxholes and the details of battles. These are interwoven with his heartfelt feelings and yearning for the woman he loved. Smook's final assignment before he was shipped back to the United States was as the commander of German prisoner of war camps. Clifton Park cadet marches at inaugural Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Sawyer Martin of Clifton Park marched with more than 80 members of Cadet Squadron 38 in the 58th inaugural parade. Martin, a 2013 graduate of Shenendehowa High School, and the other cadets marched the 1.7-mile route from the Capitol to the White House on Friday. "One of the first pictures I ever saw relating to the Air Force Academy was of the 100 or so cadets marching in the 56th inaugural parade," Martin said. "The professionalism and composure of the cadet formation in their sharp uniforms was truly inspiring to me. It was an honor to now be a part of the same formation that inspired me many years ago." New airman U.S. Air Force Airman Matthew J. La Fave of Ravena graduated from basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. News of your troops and units may be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com. Contributed / Contributed Legrand North America, the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures, has made a $112,500 donation to the American Red Cross disaster relief fund. Headquartered in West Hartford, Legrand initially made a $50,000 pledge in the fall of 2016 and with a match of an additional $50,000 through an employee giving campaign. Legrands donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief was inspired by the relentless disasters the Red Cross had responded to in 2016, in particular the devastating flooding in Louisiana in August of last year. Legrands donation to Red Cross disaster relief will be used to help the Red Cross prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters. STAMFORD When the Western Connecticut Council of Governments formed in 2015, Stamford joined an agency comprised of towns as small as Bridgewater and as far north as New Milford. WestCOG serves as a forum for 18 municipal leaders to collaborate on projects and services. The councils administrative office advises on land use, economic, emergency and environmental planning. With a membership that spans Connecticuts southwestern border including towns and cities such as Greenwich, Norwalk, New Canaan, Darien, Ridgefield and Danbury WestCOG is among the states largest regional councils. The group formed in response to state legislation requiring regional planning agencies to consolidate, resulting in the merger of the Housatonic Valley and southwestern Connecticut planning agencies. While the mergers were met with some criticism, towns and cities were for the most part on board. However, Stamford officials say the arrangement in southwestern Connecticut isnt well suited for WestCOGs largest member. This COG structure is not one that is beneficial to or consistent with our natural connection with the other cities down here, said Mayor David Martin, who favors a COG that groups Stamford with other municipalities along Interstate 95, rather than Interstate 84. The towns (in WestCOG) are I-84-oriented and a majority are small, he said, and that sets a general tone for its direction. Compounding the mayors concern, last summer WestCOG vacated its offices at the Stamford Government Center and in Brookfield and moved its operations to Newtown, costing the city $45,000 a year in lost revenue. The move was a cost-saving measure approved by members that positions the COGs administrative staff closer to Hartford, WestCOG Executive Director Francis Pickering said. It puts us within an easy drive of the state capitol and state agencies, he said. That has been a huge challenge for our part of the state, getting from Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk up to Hartford. Much of the COGs affairs are conducted in Hartford, where it works on behalf of member towns and cities. The group holds meetings in Ridgefield for elected officials. Legislation The legislation that formed WestCOG came in 2013, when lawmakers voted to consolidate 15 regional planning agencies into nine government councils. To comply with the legislation, Stamfords South Western Regional Planning Agency voluntarily merged with Housatonic Valley rather than let the state decide which group it would join, said Daniel Morley, assistant director for transportation, conservation and development policy with the state Office of Policy & Management. The legislation only afforded the old SWRPA region (the ability to merge with) Housatonic or Greater Bridgeport, Morley said. They could voluntarily merge or be designated a COG by the state. In SWRPA, a municipalitys population determined its number of voting members. WestCOGs membership is comprised of only the chief elected officials from each town or city and their votes are weighed equally. Therefore Stamford, with a population that exceeds 128,000, shares an equal vote with Bridgewater and its 1,700 residents. However, WestCOG members are considering whether fees should be based on land area and population, which would raise Stamfords dues to $42,000 from $34,000. We dont agree with the governance, but we appreciate the fact that theyre supportive of the projects that have been brought forth, said Michael Pollard, Martins chief of staff. In Stamford, WestCOG is working on studies that examine bicyclist and pedestrian issues and bus and shuttle congestion. This is a new enterprise for the state, and as such, the rules arent clear, Pollard said. This is an evolving type of structure. Towns vs. cities For Darien and New Canaan, each with populations of around 20,000, neither the move nor lack of proportional voting are cause for concern. There will always be a fundamental ideological difference between those of us in small towns and those in cities, Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said. If you base voting power on population, then you will have an urban-centric administration of the COG and wishes of the small towns will go unheard. New Canaan First Selectman Robert Mallozzi III agreed. Ive been involved in SWRPA and other regional planning groups for as long as Ive been doing this and its usually one town, one vote, Mallozzi said. I think if we got into areas where larger towns had more of a vote, smaller towns would be disenfranchised. Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe said WestCOGs move makes financial sense. The cost of leasing space is much less costly in Newtown than somewhere closer to Westport, he said. So it saves money in the WestCOG budget, which is passed back to the towns. Justin Papp and Christopher Marquette contributed to this story. eskalka@stamfordadvocate.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD The Bridgeport Dioceses 16-month study of under-enrolled and financially struggling Catholic elementary schools is expected to bring changes in as soon as a few weeks. A preliminary proposal calls for Stamfords four elementary and middle Catholic schools to be combined into one pre-K to eighth-grade flagship school. Bishop Frank Caggiano sent a letter Friday to parents of the affected schools Holy Spirit, Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Cecilia and Trinity Catholic Middle School to announce Imagine 2020, a multiphase vision for Catholic education in the city of Stamford. The plan will be presented at a meeting Feb. 1 at Trinity Catholic High School. These are changes that are overdue, said Brian Wallace, a spokesman for the diocese. It's not about closing schools. Its about moving forward. If the diocese accepts the proposal, developed by a working group established last year to study ways to stabilize and increase enrollment, the new school would operate from one or two campuses. The four Stamford schools have less than 600 students combined. Trinity Catholic High School is not included in the plan. Some of these demographic and financial challenges transcend the ability of one school to overcome them, so a number of these schools have to look to work together, Caggiano said. Catholic elementary school enrollment in Fairfield County has dropped to 6,400 students from 7,770 in 2009. The declining enrollment is a function of competition from public schools, the cost of Catholic school tuition, and a decrease in young families participating in parish life and its taking its toll on diocesan finances. It has cost the diocese $21 million to cover school budget deficits since it took over the management of parochial schools in 2000. But the diocese has more in mind than saving money. However we reshuffle the cards, we are still planning on educating the same number of students, Wallace said. And the systems and resources we put in place will put us in a position to grow. Caggiano could decide as soon as February about diocesan schools in Stamford, Danbury and the Shelton-Monroe area. In Danbury and neighboring Brookfield, the solution likely is not to shut schools, but to change the way they are managed and to invest in them. Changes could include consolidating schools into a single academy with multiple campuses, following models in Greenwich, Norwalk and Bridgeport. Wallace said the working group that studied Stamfords Catholic schools determined the pre-K-8 model is gaining new adherents nationwide and the continuous system is now viewed as more supportive of children than the middle-school experience. Janet Fletcher, who has two children at St. Cecilia and one at Trinity Middle School, said she would welcome the change as long as the potential new location is at a reasonable distance. It's a good thing, she said. Fletcher is convinced children perform better when they remain on the same campus through elementary and middle school. She also sees it as a way for the diocese to sustain itself. They probably lose people when students have to change schools, Fletcher said. Most of Stamfords Catholic schools are losing money. Wallace believes the single-school model would lead to the lowest cost per pupil and a budgetary surplus. The working group also found a great deal of deferred maintenance needs in the four buildings. The one-school model would be the best, and less costly, way to upgrade facilities, Wallace said. Tony Pavia, former principal and now an adviser at Trinity Catholic High School, said the changes will lead to a much better school system. Overall, this plan is going to lead to a huge improvement in the quality of the education we provide, he said. I totally understand the importance of intimacy, of having the small-school feel, but its important to combine all the assets, Pavia said. Youre not only gaining great efficiencies in the way you operate, but you end up getting the best of each school. The possibility of some Fairfield County Catholic schools closing or consolidating has caused anxiety in parishes. Registration is way down you cant deny that, said Fred Visconti, chairman of the Parish Council at Saint Peter Church in Danbury. But we would hope that any major decision about the school would be done by the parish itself. The bishop said everyone involved in studying solutions is on the same side. Catholic education needs to be preserved and needs to have the resources to innovate in a changing world, Caggiano said. My goal is to get back to full enrollment in all our schools. We have about 3,000 empty seats. The future The challenges facing Catholic schools come at a time of increasing budgetary and demographic pressure on public schools. Many of Western Connecticuts public school districts are feeling the effects of decreasing enrollment, and the billion-dollar fiscal crisis in Hartford means less state aid is coming their way. Catholic elementary schools are struggling not only because of competition from quality public schools and the diminished numbers of young adults with active faith lives in Fairfield County. The model many Catholic schools were founded on, when they were built by immigrants and staffed by nuns, is outdated, the diocese said. Todays Catholic schools are staffed by lay teachers with masters degrees, and can no longer afford to charge parents a nominal tuition. The average tuition of $6,400 doesnt cover the $7,300 it costs to educate each child. Even so, the dioceses per-pupil spending is considerably lower than the $15,400 state average for public schools. The dioceses five high schools, on the other hand, give reason for hope, Caggiano said. Catholic high school enrollment in Fairfield County is up by 75 students since 2009. Once the bishop decides about the shape Catholic schools will take in Danbury, Shelton and Stamford, parents can expect to hear more about an investment initiative launched by Caggiano called the Education Foundation. The foundations purpose is to enhance the diocesan scholarship fund, to establish a professional development program for teachers and to update technology and curriculum in classrooms. This is what it means to be good stewards of the faith, Caggiano said. There is a financial piece to it of course, but we also need to engage in strategic planning so that we can be faithful to our mission and meet the changing needs of our world. rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342 CORINTH -- A woman allegedly drove drunk to find her husband and, when she did, she assaulted him, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said. And she brought along their 9-year-old child for the ride, police said. At 3:40 a.m. Sunday, deputies were called to Holmes Road where Rynay L. Nelson, 48, of 12 Wiley Way allegedly injured her husband's face, neck and chest, Lt. Patrick Maswich said. She also resisted arrest, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A pair of fires on Sunday displaced 19 people from their homes, the Troy and Albany fire departments reported. In Troy, a house on Fourth Street was seriously damaged after a fire started on the second floor, the fire department said. Fifteen people were left homeless after the two-alarm fire at 631 Fourth St. Firefighters responded to the blaze at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday and put it out quickly, according to Troy Fire Department Chief Tom Garrett. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Northeastern New York chapter of the American Red Cross provided financial assistance for shelter, food and clothing to nine adults and six children, ranging in age from 2 to 15. In Albany, a resident of Third Street was sent to the hospital Sunday suffering from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a downstairs apartment. Flames were coming out of the windows of 181 Third St. when firefighters arrived at 10:46 a.m., Albany Battalion Chief Daniel Coleman said. All occupants got out before firefighters arrived, Coleman said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. While the structure is sound, there is heavy damage to the first floor and smoke damage on the second floor, he said. Next door, some siding on 183 Third St. melted. The blaze displaced four people, Coleman said. One person was sent to Albany Medical Center Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The terrorist attack in the Egyptian North Sinai Governorate led to the death of five policemen, Sputnik reported. According to Masrawy news outlet, the law enforcement workers were attacked on Sunday evening when they were about to leave for a vacation. The law enforcement reportedly believes that the attackers were linked to Ansar Bait al-Maqdis terrorist group, which in 2014 pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, an extremist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. On January 11, four policemen were killed in an attack on a police station in North Sinai, carried out by the same terrorist group. Ansar Bait al-Maqdis emerged after the 2011 Egyptian revolution, which forced then President Hosni Mubarak out of power after an over 30-year rule. The militants aim to topple Egypts current government. The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce welcomed Capital Title of Texas as its newest member, holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 19 to commemorate the occasion. Like other title companies, Capital Title insures an individual's title on their property in order to make certain that when an owner purchases their property they don't have to worry about it being contested. "We do the closing for you," said Business Development Manager Bryant Clark. "We're the people who write up your contract for you." Capital Title is owned by CEO Bill Shaddock and is the largest independently owned title company in the state of Texas, serving 32 counties with their title needs. Their areas of expertise include residential services, reverse mortgages, foreclosure and REO services, commercial services and lender services. "The Houston division started five years ago," said Clark. "The Houston division has 18 locations." The office in Cleveland opened up in the middle of 2016 at 211 S. Bonham, across from the Austin Memorial Library. According to Clark, there are very few title companies in the city. "The real estate community was asking us to come in here and start another title company," he said. Clark says Capital Title strives to work one-on-one with their clients and realtors and develop more personal working relationships. "It's more good old boy advertising," he said. As an independently owned title company, Capital Title strives to keep from a corporate environment. "We're not a corporation," said Clark. "We pretty much resist anything corporate." For more information on Capital Title, call 281-593-2699. To learn more about joining the chamber, call 281-592-8786. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Following an unprecedented 45-year career at the same bank, a rare feat in any industry, First Liberty National Bank CEO Paul Henry will walk away from his beloved second home to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Henry made the board aware of his intentions a year ago, and a search commenced to find his successor in Kelly Stretcher of Gilmer, Texas. A lifelong resident of Liberty and 1967 graduate of Liberty High School, Henry found his niche early in life when he worked two summers at First Liberty National Bank (FLNB) in the summers of 1969 and 1970 as a teller and bookkeeper. "I found that I really enjoyed it," he said. Following graduation from the University of Houston as a finance major in 1971, he found work in Houston, but returned to his hometown of Liberty to work for FLNB as a mortgage loan officer. Henry quit the bank to seek greener pastures, or so he thought, but soon discovered he was wrong. "It just was not me. I was able to come back and take over operations as a loan officer," he said. He worked his way up the ladder and in 1990 was named the president of the bank. "Charles Wiggins was Chairman of the Board and CEO and in 2000 he retired and I was named as the CEO and president of the bank," he said. Last year he relinquished the daily operations as president when they hired Stretcher. He became CEO alone to oversee the transition, and on Friday, he will walk away and hand the keys of the bank over to Stretcher. Henry will remain active with the bank as a board member. "I think Kelly will take the bank further than I was able to do," he said. The young Henry started off working on a posting machine. "At that time, it took two of us per posting machine and we had four and that was when the bank had holdings around $15 million. Now, at $300 million, we have one person who does it all using a scanner," he said. He recalled the monotonous duty of filing checks. "They all had to be in order and prepared to go out with bank statements," he said. Technology has changed the business of banking, including the hours. "We consider ourselves more of a retailer," he said, "to serve the needs of our customers." Bankers were the center of jokes for years because they kept such short hours, open at 9 a.m. and closed by 2 p.m. "Now we have 24-hour ATMs that allow you to withdraw or deposit money," he said. Banking hours now accommodate the working public with earlier and later weekday hours and weekend drive-through hours. Henry said the worst time of his career came in the 1980s. "The Texas economy plummeted with oil prices crashing and companies were going out of business. Real estate had been overbuilt and dipped. Banks and savings and loans were closing." He joked he couldn't jump out of the window because the window wasn't that high. "I would have only broken an ankle and still been around," he laughed. He's able to smile about it now, but at the time it was bittersweet. "Customers who you had known for years and worked with walked in and would hand you the keys to their home. All I could say was I was sorry," he said. The privately-owned bank survived mainly because Henry said they made good loans and had enough capital. "No banker will ever tell you they made a bad loan, they just get that way," he smiled. "But we had enough capital to manage those loans, took the hits where we had to and remarkably, we still made money every year we've been in business." His best times? Taking care of customers. "It was such a joy to take care of young couples coming in wanting to buy their first home," he said. Henry said in those days, they acted as counselor, appraiser, just about everything to help them. "That's how we built those relationships," he said. "That was so satisfying." Instead of receiving keys from families because they couldn't afford it, he was giving keys to deserving families. On Sept. 24, 2005, the Gulf Coast between Texas and Louisiana took the brunt of a Category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Rita delivered a severe punch to the area, forcing the largest evacuation in U.S. history at that time with over 3 million evacuating inland. At one point during the storm, more than a million energy customers were without power. FLNB was one of those customers and many in the area as well. "There was no power in the city of Liberty for a week," Henry recalled. "We were fortunate enough to have a generator. That Monday we opened our doors for half a day," he said. The rest of the day was given to employees to go home and do work at their own homes. "During that time, we were the only bank open," he said. The bank president and CEO said it was satisfying for him to know that they had been able to get cash for their customers who were desperate to buy food and gas to make it through the hardship. The one thing he will not miss is all the regulations that came down through Dodd-Frank. "It has taken the fun out of helping people," he said. The regulations were intended to reign in large renegade banks but the effects trickled down to small, independent banks and credit unions. "It makes it much more difficult to make the loans," he said. "We used to have two loan officers with a secretary. We just can't do that anymore with the volume we have and the amount of paperwork." Because of his job, Henry found himself out in the community quite a bit. These last few days have given him cause to look back on his career. "I'll miss the relationships that I have formed and working with people," he said. He said he's been like the dog that showed up a couple of times at your house. "You fed me, and I stayed," he smiled. "I've enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to retirement. He'll continue to serve on the hospital board and the board of the bank and take time to travel with his wife. On Friday, Jan. 27, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be a reception in Henry's honor at the bank and the public is invited to attend and share their memories with Henry. At 5:01 p.m., he will give out his last set of keys - his own to his successor, Kelly Stretcher. Next week, more about Stretcher. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The year 2017 started off on a high note for Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital when Robert and Lindsay McClellan welcomed triplets into their family on Jan. 6, 2017. "We already have one son, Rory, but we knew we always wanted one more child. When Dr. (Catherine) Corovessis said I was pregnant with triplets, we were shocked! We're so excited for our new, big family," says Lindsay McClellan. Baby boys Conor and Kelly and baby girl Remi are the first triplets born in the new expansion of Memorial Hermann Katy, which includes a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. As designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Level III NICU is capable of caring for babies born as young as 28 weeks or those who are critically ill. According to the March of Dimes, more than 90 percent of triplets are born prematurely, or before 37 weeks. "Any pregnancy with multiples increases the risk for complications. Before Memorial Hermann Katy had the Level III NICU, we would have recommended mothers like Lindsay deliver their babies in the Texas Medical Center in order to have access to that level of care," says Catherine Corovessis, M.D., an OB/GYN affiliated with Memorial Hermann Katy. "While the McClellan triplets were very healthy overall, they were born a few weeks premature and did need to spend a little time in the NICU. It's important that expecting parents ask about the levels of care that are offered at a facility, should complications arise." The McClellans say all three babies are now at home in Katy and doing well. "It was such a comfort to be able to deliver my babies close to home, knowing Memorial Hermann Katy was able to provide a higher level of care, had we needed it. Now our biggest concern is keeping up with our growing diaper needs!" jokes McClellan. Memorial Hermann Katy also has a dedicated pediatric unit and a special children's transport team with specially-trained nurses and neonatal and pediatric intensive care physicians should a child need to be taken to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Memorial Hermann Katy also recently received the Texas Ten Step designation for the fifth year in a row. The designation is awarded to facilities that encourage breastfeeding as the preferred method of feeding for newborns and infants. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Thousands of women, men and children wound through the trails and sidewalks near Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway on Saturday as they made their way to Hermann Square for the Houston version of the Women's March playing out all over the nation that day. Hundreds carried signs conveying disapproval for newly inaugurated President Donald Trump, some pushed baby strollers or held children on their hips as they picked up momentum and turned onto Sabine Street for the main push toward City Hall. An estimated 20,000 people, mostly dressed in black as a show of unity, gathered in front of the building on Bagby Street to hear Houston City Council members, Mayor Sylvester Turner, state representatives and other speakers address issues that affect the rights of women, immigrants, LGBT people, the disabled and African Americans. The march was put together roughly 10 days ago said one organizer, but still drew what Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo called the largest public gathering of people in Houston's history. Many who joined the march that started about 11 a.m. talked about how President Trump made disrespectful comments about each of these groups during his campaign, and has intimated he will try to infringe on abortion rights. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was met with raucous applause throughout his speech. "No other city is more diverse than the city of Houston, I wouldn't have it any other way," said Turner. "Many have sacrificed to make this city what it is and we are not going back. We have to demand that love will triumph over hate." City Council Member Ellen Cohen, District C, took the podium for an impassioned speech and advocated for more women in government and elected positions. "How in the hell are we here again?" said Cohen. "It's been 100 years since my grandmother was here fighting for her right to vote and be seen as equal in the eyes of the government. How can we stop this cycle of insanity?" When she affirmed, "Let's make sure we're here to finally shatter the glass ceiling!," thousands broke into cheers. Acevedo followed her in plain clothes and was met with similar applause when he called for more cooperation between the public and law enforcement. He asked Houstonians to "lift up the good cops." But protestations of Trump didn't stop at his comments about minority groups, some in the crowd carried signs in support of more environmental regulations and showing support for abortion rights. Supriva, a 30-year-old pediatric gastroenterologist said that she is not willing to stand for the things President Trump has said. "All the comments in the trailer about women," she said of tapes that surfaced during the campaign where Trump is heard making lewd comments about a woman. "When people bring it up, he tries to normalize it." Supriya and her friends have never participated in a demonstration before. She said they always told each other it would take a lot for them to do something like that. "It's 2017, we're not going backwards. If we appreciate our freedom, we should use our voice to speak," she said. Kiesha Jones said she had special reason to be concerned about the president's public comments, she attended the rally with friends and brought her grade-school age daughter with her. "She's heard all that stuff about Trump grabbing things," said the mother. "I have to show her you have to be respected." Phyllis Randolph Frye, the country's first openly transgender judge from Houston, spoke about Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's Senate Bill 6, the "bathroom bill," urging constituents to oppose the bill and asking the crowd, "Who is going to hold Texas accountable?"; to which the throng responded in unison: "We will, we will!" Afterwards, State Rep. Gene Wu, District 137 recalled defeated Senate Bill 5 in 2013 that would have placed further restrictions on abortion in the state. Sen. Wendy Davis garnered national fame for her 11-hour filibuster until the clock ran out on the vote. There were protests in Austin at the time in support of Davis. "People say demonstrations don't matter, that protests don't matter - bull****," said Wu. "That day we saw the power of women." After the speakers closed the podium around 1 p.m., a deejay played music and people were invited to stay and dance in Hermann Square. Houston Police Department Houston police are reportedly investigating an incident in which an off-duty Houston police officer fired his duty weapon at a suspect at 15950 Southwest Freeway about 2:35 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 23. Officer D. Turner, who discharged his weapon, was not injured in this incident. Turner is assigned to the Robbery Division and was sworn in as an officer in April 2008. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK A split Board of Education is moving forward with plans to build a new South Norwalk school and to renovate and expand several others in the district despite reservations from several community leaders, including Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling. Under the 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 current Columbus Magnet School building will be renovated to house a K-5 intradistrict magnet school with an International Baccalaureate Early Years Programme. Ponus Ridge Middle School will be transformed from a middle grades 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 plans, as recommended by Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski, were passed last week with a 5 to 0 vote, with four members abstaining. Rilling, along with several community members and state Rep. Bruce V. Morris, D-Norwalk, have shared concerns about the plans. Although the Board of Education has held public meetings, conducted a survey and encouraged participation at board of ed meetings, the recommendation on the types of schools has been rushed and lacked significant public engagement, said Laoise King, chief of staff for the mayors office, in a statement on behalf of the mayor who was out of town during the latest Board of Education meeting. ... A deeper and more robust engagement must be undertaken to ensure parents and community voice has an opportunity to shape the direction of these new schools. The mayor said in the statement that he supported the Board of Educations proposal to build and expand the schools, but asked that a vote on the themes and corresponding building needs to be delayed until further engagement is undertaken with the community and with parents. Those sentiments were echoed by several board members at the meeting. Board Member Yvel Crevecoeur attempted to get the board to vote individually on the plans for each school and its prospective program for the finalized version of the districts facilities master plans. He also asked for some programming decisions to be tabled for a few weeks while gathering community input. Board members Shirley Mosby, Sherelle Harris and Artie Kassimis supported that idea. The effort to gain more community input stems from what some say has been a rushed process to develop the school plans all along and from new details that surfaced in December that shifted plans from building a new neighborhood school in South Norwalk to building an intradistrict magnet school in the area in order to meet state-mandated racial balance requirements. The updated plans, proposed by Adamowski in mid-Decemeber, were to move the Columbus Magnet School into the to-be-constructed building at the Ely site and make the current Columbus Magnet School building into a a K-5 intradistrict magnet school with an International Baccalaureate Early Years Programme. Both schools would have neighborhood preference in a lottery enrollment process. Opponents to the plans passed Tuesday said the mere weeks of notice given to the public of the magnet school theme was not enough time to garner community input or support. Crevecoeurs motion to vote on each school plan and program individually and to allow more time to consider the program was shot down though by a 5 to 4 vote. Board members Mike Barbis, Heidi Keyes, Mike Lyons, Erik Anderson and Bryan Meek then voted to approve the plans as they stood, with the other four board members abstaining. The effort to act swiftly 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. The board last week also approved the $245.5 million capital budget developed on the premise that the proposed school plans would be approved to cover facilities costs. The bulk of that budget, at $70.91 million, would go toward the Ponus Ridge Middle School project. Roughly $45.88 million would go toward the Nathaniel Ely project. Another $36.61 million would go toward the Columbus Magnet School building project. And $32.06 million would go toward the Jefferson Science Magnet School project. A total of $50.69 million of that budget allotment would be requested to be covered by state grant reimbursement. An additional $60 million was requested to cover everything from curriculum materials and textbooks to paving and concrete for the new, expanded or renovated school sites. The mayor said, despite his request for more time given for public input on the program plans, he recognized the need for additional classrooms and would include the requested funding in his capital budget proposal. KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate IN EDUCATION Elementary, middle school, high school - Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School senior Sarah Hale was recently selected to perform in the Texas All-State Music Choir during a Feb. 11 performance in San Antonio. More than 90,000 students auditioned for the All-State honor and 700 were selected to perform. All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. - Several Little Cypress Junior High students recently won ribbons and awards for artwork entered in the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Art Contest. Raeleigh Underwood's piece earned a gold medal and is being exhibited at the show in Houston. Other students winning ribbons include: Allyson Campbell, Justin Nealy, Braylee Freeman, and Grace Gossard Erika Aviles, Lauren Tinsley, KJ Derouen, Jonah Courtier, and Colby Ortego. The students' art teacher is Donna Cole. - In honor of School Board Recognition Month, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD has joined other districts across the state in thanking local leaders for their dedication and willingness to serve as advocates for students and public schools. The LC-M CISD Board was honored earlier this year as the "Region 5 Board of the Year." Board Members are Tammy Rountree President, Marlene Courmier Vice-President, Randy McIlwain Secretary, Rex Peveto, David Jones, Ray Rogers, and Aubrey Milstead. The board oversees a $33.8 million budget, 3,375 students, 545 employees, and six campuses. - Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School band members Juliette Murphy and Abigail Drago performed on Jan. 14 at the ATSSB Region 10 All-Region Band Concert at Silsbee High School. Murphy, a senior, has participated in the All-Region Band Clinic and Concert for three consecutive years. Drago, a junior, has participated for two years and has advanced to the All-Area competition for the second consecutive year. College - Lamar University's Jane Liu was selected a 2017 Texas State University System (TSUS) Chancellor's Faculty Fellow and will pursue a study of first-year programs at Lamar University that are focused on student success. Liu will engage in activities that focus on freshmen in the College of Arts and Science at Lamar University in academic departments related to STEM disciplines that is science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Liu will seek to effectively integrate academic success and academic engagement to tackle the challenge of freshman success, focusing on student advising and mentoring and student engagement, among other issues. Have an item for Applause? Email LocalNews@BeaumontEnterprise.com. Deadline for submissions in noon on Wednesdays. Peace talks aimed at ending the Syria conflict began Monday at a luxury hotel in Kazakhstans capital Astana, Anadolu reported. Fourteen representatives of armed opposition groups gathered at the Rixos Hotel for indirect negotiations with delegates representing the Syrian government. The discussions, which will focus on extending the cease-fire that came into effect on Dec. 30, have been brokered by Turkey, which backs the opposition, and Russia and Iran, who support Bashar al-Assads regime. They will discuss violations of the cease-fire as well as improving security within Syria in a bid to pave the way for a political solution to the six-year conflict. The UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, attended the talks that began at around 1 p.m. local time (0700GMT). UN-brokered talks between representatives of Bashar al-Assad and civilian opposition figures broke down early last year when Russian support turned the war in the Syrian regimes favor. Syrias UN Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari heads the regime side. The Turkish delegation is led by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Sedat Onal while Special Envoy Alexander Lavrentiev and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov will lead the Russian team. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol are also participating. The meeting is due to last until Tuesday evening, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said. More than 400 journalists are attending. Groups such as Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, are excluded from the cease-fire and the talks. Cease-fire and aid deliveries A Turkish diplomatic source said it was "significant" for the Assad regime and an opposition delegation to gather in Astana. "Since the beginning, Turkey has said there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis," the source said after the first session of talks, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media. The source said the participants should focus on strengthening the cease-fire. "We want the Astana talks to take steps in this regard and help put an end to cease-fire violations," it added. The source said the delivery of humanitarian aid is also "highly" important. "We believe that confidence-building measures from Astana will contribute to the political process in Geneva," the source added. According to the Assad regime media, al-Jaafari said they expect that at the meeting, conflict will be stopped for a "certain" period of time and the groups who signed onto the cease-fire agreement will be distinguished from terrorist groups like Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and Daesh. Make it permanent De Mistura said chances of success will be "greater" if the parties can agree on a mechanism to control the cease-fire. "Let's today and tomorrow overcome the problems related to the cease-fire and let's try to make it permanent. Let's see what can be done to build trust between the parties," he said. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow that de Mistura will meet the representatives of the armed opposition with the help of Turkish diplomats. Lavrov said the aim of Astana is a "direct" meeting between the regime and the opposition. Mohamed Alloush, who heads the Syrian opposition delegation, said the cease-fire needs to be strengthened before a political solution can be reached in Syria. Speaking to reporters after the first session of talks, Alloush said: "We will not move on to the second step unless a cease-fire is ensured. He called for an improvement of the humanitarian situation in besieged areas. He also insisted that Assad must leave Syria. A real political solution will actualize when Assad and his supporters leave the country," he added. Meanwhile, President Nursultan Nazarbayev met de Mistura before the talks, according to a statement from the Kazakh presidency. We want the negotiations to be successful, Nazarbayev said. He said the situation in Syria is a concern for not only the Middle East but for the whole world. He assured de Mistura the meeting in Astana will make a "significant" contribution to peace talks in Geneva. De Mistura thanked Nazarbayev for hosting the talks. "Your country sets a great example for the solution of the most difficult problems in the world." He said Kazakhstan's non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council would provide additional opportunities to resolve the Syrian crisis. Opposition urges withdrawal of Iranian forces, release of female prisoners Under the framework of the indirect talks, the opposition delegation held a joint press conference with officials from Turkey, Russia, and the United Nations. Representatives from the opposition groups stipulated certain conditions for reaching a lasting deal. They submitted a detailed report on the crisis in the war-torn country, including a map showing areas hit by regime forces despite the truce. Hezbollah militias, backed by Iran and Syrian regime, should withdraw from the territories they have captured since the cease-fire came into force, the opposition groups said. They also called for access to humanitarian aid for areas surrounded by government forces. The Syria regime was also accused of imprisoning as many as 13,000 women, and the opposition delegation demanded their immediate release. They also insisted that Iranian forces and the foreign groups in Syria supported by Tehran should leave the country. An estimated 400,000 people have been killed and 11 million displaced since the start of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, according to the UN. 'Productive' meeting Yahya al-Aridi, a Syrian opposition delegation spokesman at the talks, told a press conference Monday evening, After the opening session, we held a productive meeting with the Russian and the Turkish sides, with the presence and coordination of the UN Special Envoy De Mistora. We talked about specific things, basically trying to achieve a real verifiable cease-fire all over the country, and on humanitarian dimension of lifting of the siege, and also signs of good will, like the release of hostages, he said. Now the work is on developing the mechanisms and standards for achieving cease-fire in Syria, in accordance with that agreement signed on 30th of December 2016, he added. Al-Aridi also said, The main problem actually that there could be certain people who are not interested in achieving cease-fire right now, because their projects are not yet completed. He added, If anyone wants to achieve a cease-fire, he wouldnt be bombarding certain areas hours ago, [as] two hours ago many areas in Syria were bombarded. Exactly one week before Donald J. Trumps presidential inauguration, Delta Colleges Alison Ginter had the honor of being an invited guest of the White House. Ginter, the community colleges campus life and student engagement coordinator, joined representatives from nearly 60 campuses across the country. They traveled to the nations capital to be recognized for their exemplary efforts in the White Houses Healthy Campus Challenge. Launched by the Obama administration in September as part of its ongoing efforts to reach the uninsured and get them signed up for insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, Ginter spearheaded a wide range of strategies at Delta aimed at getting students and the community at large informed about the enrollment effort. The Ginter-led campaign saw the college partner with outside agencies, post information on its website, email students and faculty, as well as offer open enrollment sessions in the student and civic engagement office. Ginter and other college officials also made their presence felt at campus activities, where they distributed information on how the uninsured can find affordable health insurance. Ginter said federal regulations prevent the school from divulging how many families they got to sign up, but we excelled. We really pushed this initiative For all the different methods they used to reach people, Ginter thinks personal contact was the most effective. A lot of times people will simply delete an email or not bother to read a newsletter, she said. But if you reach out to them one-on-one theyre more apt to listen. Ginter can now count herself among select company. Not only was she one of some 60 leaders whose institutions made the cut from the more than 350 schools nationwide who took the Healthy Campus Challenge, the former Midland resident was part of a group of citizens to be guests of President Obama just before he left office. They told us we really made an impact, Ginter said. We were the only community college from Michigan to receive the honor. It was an amazing trip. I was honored to be there. The 2016 White House Healthy Campus Challenge built on the successful 2015 White House Healthy Community Challenge in which Milwaukee the challenge winner saw about 38,000 people sign up for insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. After being deemed a White House-endorsed healthy campus, Jonathan Miller, Deltas dean of students, said, I want to applaud Alisons efforts with the Healthy Campus Challenge. I think it is great that Delta had the opportunity to increase awareness about affordable insurance opportunities for our students and surrounding communities by participating in the White Houses Healthy Campus Challenge. Not only did we participate and complete the objectives of this initiative but we excelled. I saw the invite to the White House as another way to applaud the great work happening in student engagement and at Delta College. When Ginter touched down in D.C. on Thursday, Jan. 12, it was 69 degrees, ideal weather for a walk to take in the sights and sounds. We did a lot of walking, she said. You can walk for blocks and blocks and see all kinds of fantastic architecture and historical monuments. There were a lot of groups there protesting Trump. They were peaceful but quite angry. One thing she didnt see in abundance was restaurants. We must have walked about 28 blocks in town without coming across a restaurant, Ginter, a Michigan State University graduate, said. Dont these people eat? The group, though, did eventually enjoy some fine cuisine, including an Ethiopian dish that provided a cultural lesson for Ginter. We sat down to eat and I was wondering where the utensils were, she said. It was bread that looks like a pancake. My traveling partner, Zekiye Salman, is an AmeriCorp Vista member who helped us get some information out. She kind of laughed and said you dont use utensils with this dish. I didnt know. The awards ceremony took place in the Eisenhower Building. Valerie Jarrett, special advisor to the president, delivered opening remarks. Kristie Canegallo, assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for implementation, presented Ginter and the other award winners with certificates. After the ceremony, the recipients got to meet Michelle Obama in the White House. The first lady spoke to the group for about 15 minutes. Im not real political but it was a tremendous privilege to meet the first lady, Ginter said. Shes just a classy, remarkable woman. She was funny and sarcastic. Added Ginter, I had been to D.C. once before but to be able to hang around there for three days this time in an awesome environment was special. It was a great trip. One of the top five experiences Ive had. On his third full day in office, President Donald Trump met in the White House with The Dow Chemical Co. Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris and other business leaders for a discussion on job creation and growing the manufacturing base, Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at a White House daily briefing. There was a really great exchange of ideas, Spicer said. The intent was for Trump to hear suggestions from leaders of Dow, Dell Inc., Whirpool Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin Corp., U.S. Steel Corp., Tesla Motors Inc., Under Armour, International Paper Co., Arconic Inc. and other companies on challenges they face and policies that could help create jobs and grow our manufacturing base, Spicer said. The group will reconvene in a month and meet on a quarterly basis. Trump on Monday said there would be a very major border tax imposed on companies that move jobs outside the U.S. and that hed cut regulations by 75 percent. If you go to another country and you decide that youre going to close and get rid of 2,000 people or 5,000 people if that happens, we are going to be imposing a very major border tax on the product when it comes in, which I think is fair, Trump said. He elaborated: So, a company that wants to fire all of its people in the United States and build some factory someplace else and then thinks that that product is going to just flow across the border into the United States, thats not going to happen. Theyre going to have a border tax to pay, a substantial border tax. Bloomberg reports ( http://bloom.bg/2jTXI7D ) Liveris told reporters that the corporate executives and Trump team talked about the proposed border tax quite a bit and, in particular, about the sorts of industries that would be helped or hurt by that. I would take the president at his word here: Hes not going to do anything to harm competitiveness, Liveris said. Hes going to actually make us all more competitive. Liveris added that Trump listened very carefully about how to actually get some action around fixing some of the issues that are embedded in creating American manufacturing jobs. Also on Monday, Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Spicer told reporters the action ushers in a new era of U.S. trade policy and is a strong signal that the Trump administration wants free and fair trade throughout the world. The presidents vision, Spicer said, is to negotiate fair trade deals that create jobs, increase American wages and reduce the trade deficit. Trump has appointed a tough and smart number of trade experts who will fight on behalf of American workers, according to Spicer. At a Dec. 9 event in Grand Rapids, Trump named Liveris to head the American Manufacturing Council. The two spoke fondly of each other at the event. Were finding ways to bring industry back to America, Trump said at the time, adding nobody can do it like Andrew. Dow on Dec. 9 revealed a plan to build a new research center in Midland that would create 100 new jobs in the state and bring another 100 from other global Dow facilities back to Midland. This decision is because of this man and these policies, Liveris said of Trump. I tingle with pride listening to you. Search crews may have pinpointed the spot where a Tracy woman plunged into Alameda Creek over the weekend along Niles Canyon Road between Fremont and Sunol, officials said Monday. But due to the swift water streaming down the muddy creek, searchers were unable to find the 18-year-old Tracy woman who is presumed to still be in the car. They plan to resume the search of the creek on Wednesday, when they hope the water will be safer for divers to enter. With seven prospects in the industrial development pipeline and construction on two major projects starting before the end of the first quarter, 2017 should be a good year for Plainview and Hale County. Plainview/Hale County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Mike Fox, making his fourth-quarter report to Hale County commissioners Friday, said he routinely makes follow-up calls to current pipeline prospects which could potentially employ between 10 and 500. Their fields range from food processing and distribution to fertilizer manufacturing. You can honestly say that we are one day closer to a major announcement, Fox told commissioners. We follow-up on the leads we receive from the governors office and other sources, while stay in contact with the prospects we already have. Although the unemployment rate in Hale County rose from 5.0 percent in November to 5.3 percent in December, its still well-below the unemployment rate in the months leading up to closure of the Cargill beef backing plant four years ago. While sales tax revenues in 2016 were down from 2015s torrid pace, Januarys sale tax report shows improvement from the year before. During October, Fox said the EDC responded to a request for proposal (RFP) that was forwarded by the High Ground of Texas coalition. The prospect is seeking 100 acres of irrigated land with highway access and would employ 100 initially with a potential to increase to 250. The PHCEDC also attended the Ports-to-Plains annual conference in San Angelo and facilitated conference calls between the City of Plainview and General Electric which ultimately resulted in property tax abatements for GEs wind turbine components. Those abatements were granted by both the City of Plainview and Hale County. During November, the EDC responded to a RFP from the Governors Office of Economic Development. A food processing company was seeking a 15-acre site for a plant that would employ 150 workers. After submitting the RFP, the EDC received word that the entire state was eliminated from consideration after the prospect indicated a desire to locate its new plant within 100 miles of an existing facility for logistical reasons. Also during November, Fox joined representatives from the City of Plainview and Parkhill Smith and Cooper representatives attending a rail strategy meeting with BNSF and WALCO. During that month, PHCEDC conducted a membership drive which added 16 new members. As a result, EDC membership currently stands at 195. Fox accompanied two site selection groups on tours of the vacant Cargill facility during November, he reported. He also joined with members of the Plainview Building Park committee on tours of business and rail parks in Lubbock and Levelland. In December, Fox attended the High Grounds Austin Allies meeting and had face-to-face visits with the staffs of the areas legislative delegation and state agencies, including the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Film Commission, Governors Office of Economic Development and Texas Workforce Commission. Last month, Fox also met with the owner of Andalucia Nuts. He learned that the local nut processor is in production with 12 fulltime employees. They hope to ramp up operations to full production for both nuts and nut butter processing by years end, with between 50 and 70 fulltime employees. During November PHCEDC was represented at FABTEC 2016, an annual Las Vegas conference for the metal framing and fabricating industry, by Site Location Partnership. They identified 14 prospects with expansion or relocation plans, and each have been sent information packets on Plainview and Hale County. Upcoming events include the Advanced Manufacturing Expo in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 7-9, where PHCEDC will again be represented by Site Location Partnership, and the American Wind Energy Associations Owners and Manufacturers and Safety Conference on Feb. 28-March 1 in San Diego, Calif., with the High Ground of Texas. Reviewing highlights from 2016, Fox listed: --$1 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Association for the Plainview Business Park. --Hale Countys economic development agreement with Hale Community Wind developer NextEra. --City of Plainview and Hale County economic development agreements with General Electric on tax abatements for wind turbine components. --MRE Capital receiving approval to use tax credits to finance the Conrad Lofts project. Construction is scheduled to begin sometime this quarter at the Hilton Hotel. --$100,000 PHCEDC economic development grant to Covenant Health Plainview for hospital expansion and renovation. --Wal-Mart Distribution Centers 30th anniversary celebration. --New construction projects, including Bill Wells Chevrolet, Reagor-Dykes Toyota, Plainview Dodge, Stripes, Royal Splash and Hitchin Post RV Park. PHCEDC will host its annual membership meeting Thursday with V.O. Ortega being installed as president. Highlight of the meeting will be presentation of the Jack Morris Economic Development and Leadership Award to Norman Wright. ADS ADS The total of 38 articles published on WorldTempus, for the most part in English and French, from Monday to Friday last week is proof enough that there was plenty to talk about at the SIHH last week. There are lots more to come from our internal and external contributors, beyond our initial reactions in the form of our favourite watches each day. The easiest way to keep up to date and see what you missed is to bookmark the link to our SIHH 2017 dossier which will be constantly updated with the latest news and reviews. The GMT/WorldTempus party on Wednesday night, held in partnership with Propaganda Live, TimeCrafters, AsiaTatler and Vontobel, was once again the talk of the town and brought together around 500 people from the industry who were only too happy to let their hair down and shake off the stress of the week on the dancefloor. Dont forget that you can also sign up for our forthcoming newsletter for industry insiders by sending an e-mail to pro@worldtempus.com. As the SIHH week drew to a close, a representative of one brand reminded that Baselworld is only eight weeks away. We are already seeing a trickle of news coming in, so expect the post-SIHH news to merge with the pre-Basel news as usual. But we wont forget to leave room for the watches launched for the Chinese New Year (later this week). SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER TO GET ALL THE WATCH NEWS RIGHT IN YOUR MAIL BOX. Granny looks out of the window patiently waiting for her husband and daughter to come home. (Photo : Getty Images) A 65-year-old grandmother from Zhejiang Province is looking for a young girl who is willing to accompany her on an all-expense-paid trip to Hainan Province. The offer, which has gone viral in the news, was posted via WeChat adding that any girl willing to come with her will have an iPhone 7 as a bonus. The girl has to be like her daughter--someone she can talk to and can take pictures with. Advertisement Although she has a family, the granny revealed she lives alone. Her husband is actively pursuing his passion for hiking thus is always away; while her only daughter has migrated overseas. In 2015, China's growing elderly population was estimated to be at 220 million based on the National Health and Family Planning Commission. Loneliness in the elderly has become prevalent with the one-child policy of China, leaving no one to take care of their parents. To ease their loneliness, elders, particularly the parents, can now sue their children if they feel being neglected under the Elder Rights Law, which was passed in 2012. Respect for one's parents is one of the foundations of the Chinese culture; however, elders have been at that stage, too where they leave their parents and homes to pursue their dreams and careers. Parents must know and understand this well enough to let their children go so they can spread their wings and be independent. Everyone feels lonely sometimes, even younger people, it's only a matter of how you manage it. Aging is one of the stages of life, but it's not always easy. But rather than seeing it as a hindrance, one needs to accept it, find meaningful activities, and look at it as an opportunity to enjoy and live life to fullest. While running for governor, Greg Abbott faced a charge that he wanted to mandate standardized testing of 4-year-olds enrolled in half-day prekindergarten classes. Not quite, we found in a 2014 fact-check that gave a Mostly False rating to Abbotts opponent, Wendy Davis. But Abbott did call for changing state law to offer more money to school districts that agree to implement a gold standard program consisting of a rigorous curriculum and staff requirements -- with student progress in such classes to be gauged and widely reported. Generally, Abbott said, all districts with pre-K classes should be required to administer assessments at the beginning and end of the school year by picking from a list of approved assessments to be spelled out by the Texas Education Agency. Abbott said assessment methods could include norm-referenced standardized tests, teachers checklisting each childs mastery of materials within the classs daily routine, or teacher portfolio reviews of each childs accumulated work. Most states employ one or both of the first two assessment methods, he said in his October 2013 compendium of campaign vows. Texas is one of only four states not to require any assessment. Thats not going to be the case any longer. We put Abbotts campaign promise on pre-K accountability to our Abbott-O-Meter, which tracks the status of his promises on our website, PolitiFact.com/texas. As Abbott noted in a June 2015 document distributed to reporters, the 2015 Legislature included in House Bill 4, which Abbott signed into law, a requirement that districts offering pre-K classes assess students in those classes and publicize the outcomes. Per that measure, authored by state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, each school district must select and implement appropriate methods for evaluating its pre-K classes by measuring student progress and make related data available to parents. Under the law, a district may administer diagnostic tests to evaluate student progress, but cannot employ a state standardized assessment instrument. In keeping with Abbotts campaign vow, the law says the student assessment must be selected from a list of appropriate tests identified by the education commissioner. To our inquiry about these changes, a Huberty aide, Ben Melson, agreed that the law doesnt require student testing twice a year as Abbott proposed. Melson also pointed out the proposal was amended on the motion of state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, to require districts assessing student progress to report results to the state and describe the materials used in classes. Also, under her amendment, the state is required to post such data online. Were marking this Abbott promise a compromise. --- Distributed by Tribune Content Agency Brauer and his partner focused the study on deaths related to fine particulates, which are deeply embedded in Chinese-made goods. (Photo : Getty Images) Are any good products or services still made in China? Of course, there are! China is good at making a lot of things, from toys to ships to clothes to computers to shoes and mobile phones. Name it, they can do it. In fact, five countries--United States, United Kingdom, Ecuador, Brazil and Japan--have gone beyond their borders to use products and services that are made in China. Advertisement 1. United States San Francisco Bridge is a two-way, 12-lane bridge spanning 2.88 kilometers in length. The bridge's 45,000 tons of steel were manufactured in China and is resistant to magnitude-8 earthquakes. It carries about 300,000 vehicles a day. Run by Chinese entrepreneur Cao Dewang, Fuyao Glass America Company is located in Ohio, United States. It is the biggest auto glass manufacturer in the world, and provides over 2,000 jobs to locals. It plans to increase production and make more than 4.5 million sets of glass products annually. It is said to meet 25 percent of the demand of the American auto market. Believe it or not, most of the Victoria Secret products are made in China. The annual turnover of Victoria Secret, a world-famous American brand specializing in women's premium lingerie, currently amounts at around $50 billion. 2. Ecuador (Emergency Command Center) Its building and command system were both constructed by Chinese companies. The center is resistant to 7.8-magnitude earthquakes and incorporates relief and emergency functions, and alarms. 3. Britain (Red Electric Buses) Also made in China, these ecological vehicles can drive for 16 hours after a full charge. It can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 4. Brazil (Rio Olympic Mascot) All mascots used during the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were made by China. The design of Vinicius, Rio Olympic mascot, represents Brazilian wildlife, which combines "the agility of cats, the sway of monkeys, and grace of birds," while the design of Tom, Paralympic mascot, represents the plants of Brazilian forests that scatter nutrients to the human world. 5. Japan (Firefighting Facility) The relief task was undertaken by a concrete pump truck made in China, after Japanese fire services did not meet the demands of cooling down the number one unit nuclear plant during the Fukushima power plant disaster. The truck worth $1 million measures 67 meters in length and weighs 51.8 tons. Many buyers and corporations from Western countries are drawn to China because of its extreme relative low labor cost and very low-cost materials. By selling and making things for foreigners, China has definitely transformed itself, and the world economy with it. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Beaumont ISD Board President Jimmy Simmons said that though he would like the state to appoint new managers at least six weeks before the current board resigns in May, the head of the Texas Education Agency has largely kept his transition plans a secret. Announcements about the process should be coming "fairly soon," while the agency is still working with the current board to determine the best plan, said TEA Communications Director Gene Acuna. "We will make an announcement and open an application period for anyone in the community to apply for a spot on the Board of Managers," Acuna said. In other districts where Education Commissioner Mike Morath has installed managers, "there is some type of community workshop and training for those who might be interested in serving on the board," Acuna said. Beaumont's current managers, who announced their intent this past July to step down at the end of May, were appointed by former commissioner Michael Williams in July 2014. Williams did not use an open application process. TEA officials will likely review and select a number of applicants for interviews, Acuna said, before making the appointments. According to Simmons, the replacement board could have five or seven managers. Acuna said the number has not yet been decided. The current board of managers is seven. Although new trustees will be elected by voters on May 6, Morath is not required to announce when they will begin to replace managers until July 2018, when the managers' terms are currently scheduled to expire. Four candidates filed paperwork to run for a trustee position during the first week of the filing period, which began Wednesday and ends Feb. 17. The two board processes are separate, so "there is nothing that would prevent someone running for a board of trustees spot from applying for a board of managers spot," Acuna said. "We're working with the entire board on what they would like the timing to be... to determine how can we do our process that coincides with the things they still need to do and want to do," Acuna said. Simmons said Thursday that he hopes the board of managers will be named six to eight weeks before the current board resigns to ensure a smooth transition. LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO A 42- year-old Good Samaritan who was shot and killed in Sundays deadly Rolling Oaks Mall shooting has been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office. The medical examiners office confirmed Jonathan Murphy died Sunday, but did not have a cause and manner of death available. SAPD Chief William McManus told mySA.com Sunday that a fatality occurred at the Kay Jewelers at the Rolling Oaks Mall after two men entered the store with guns and tried to rob the store. "There was a fatality," McManus said. "One of the citizens who tried to intervene and stop the robbery, the robbers from escaping, was shot by one of the suspects." RELATED: San Antonio PD: Escaped suspect in deadly attempted robbery caught in Converse McManus and SAPD spokesman Sgt. Jesse Salame said that two citizens intervened in the robbery and one of the suspects was shot by one of those citizens, a man with a concealed carry license. Police have yet to identify whether Murphy was one of those citizens, but they were called good Samaritans. According to a GoFundMe page set up to rally funds for Murphys family, Murphy and his wife Aimee went to the store to get their wedding rings cleaned. While there, the shooting occurred and threaten the safety of Jons wife and everyone else. Jon, the protector, lost his life making sure nobody else did, the GoFundMe page said. Murphy loved Harley Davidson motorcycles, the Marine Corps, and being a good man. RELATED: Area teen recounts tale of fear during fatal shooting at Northeast Side mall Three other people were injured from gunshot wounds during the attempted robbery, according to previous reports. Those gunshot victims, along with one of the alleged armed robbers, were transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center for treatment. The alleged shooter was taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to a previous report. A second alleged armed robber was caught by Converse Police late Sunday. He has been identified as 35-year-old Jason Matthew Prieto. The man faces charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery, and is being held on a $1.7 million bond, police said. RELATED: SAPD: 3 armed men dressed in black rob diamond store at South Park Mall Police have yet to release more details on the incident but this story will be updated as soon as more information is available. Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite AUSTIN The Senate Finance Committee will make an aggressive move toward overhauling the public school funding system, its chair said Monday, even though the state is facing a tight revenue picture. No more Band-Aids. We need to start over, Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said in naming a committee workgroup on the issue. Customers shop at a Walmart store in Skokie, Illinois. (Photo : Getty Images) Millions of people working in U.S. retail stores are at risk of losing their jobs if Amazon continues with its plan to expand to other sectors, according to an article by marketwatch.com. Advertisement Most of these workers work in retail stores in malls, groceries and shopping malls selling furniture, appliance and electronics, clothing, sporting goods, bookstores, and general merchandise or the so-called GAFO (General Merchandise, Apparel and Accessories, Furniture and Other Sales). According to the article, for every job created at Amazon, two or three other jobs are destroyed. Although Amazon has revolutionized the way American consumers shop, for retail workers, the company poses a threat to the security of their jobs. Over the past two years, about 125,000 retail workers have been laid off as a result of the sales decline in stores at malls and shopping centers across the U.S. as revenues increases for Amazon and other online sellers, the article said. Since 2012, employment at department stores dropped 250, 000 or about 14 percent, while those at clothing and electronics stores also plunged drastically as online sales grew. "Consumers' affinity for digital shopping felt like it hit a tipping point in Holiday 2014 and has rapidly accelerated this year," Ken Perkins, the president of Retail Metrics, wrote in a research note in December. Perkins was referring to Amazon when he said "digital shopping." The company's share of online purchases rose from about 10 percent from five years ago to about 40 percent during the holiday season in 2016. The article said that Amazon's online sales will go higher as it expands to other sectors such as groceries and restaurants with delivery services for meals. On the other hand, Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, believes that artificial intelligence may help to create jobs for people and a "symbiotic relationship" between the clients and AI may be established. As of 2016, about 16.5 million workers are employed in the retail sector and another 11.4 million are in the restaurant industry. Combined, this accounts for one out of every American workers, the same share that the manufacturing sector had in 1982. The report however, said that some jobs are safe from competition with online sellers. These include the 11.4 million restaurant jobs, 1.3 million workers at car dealership, 925,000 workers at gas stations and the 1.1 million workers at building materials stores. Amazon is giving about 12 million jobs competition, particularly 6.2 million people who work in retail stores or GAFO trade. GAFO store sales declined at $1.8 billion or 0.6 percent from the previous year, although the rest of retail posted 4 percent growth. Meanwhile, Amazon accounted for most of the online sales in the third quarter of 2016, which increased by about $13.7 billion. Amazon is expected to surpass Macy's to become the top retailer of apparel this year. In addition to this, Amazon's interest in groceries is giving Wal-Mart serious competition. It is projected that with its current growth rate, Amazon's annual revenue will reach $500 billion in five years, while many traditional retail stores will close and more workers will be dismissed or laid off. But even Amazon will be hiring fewer workers as it is also planning to automate. It plans to use robots in its warehouses and also thinks of using flying drones to deliver packages. The company will also sell groceries to customers who will check themselves out and robots will replenish the stocks in the shelves. In addition to this, the company is also planning to go into warehousing and package delivery services, which could affect 2 million workers, including 600,000 post office workers. According to the report, Amazon could actually destroy more jobs than China did. China's manufacturing exports to the U.S. have cost as many as 2 million jobs, according to economists David Autor, David Dorn and Gordon Hanson. Within five years, if 40 percent of the GAFO market is captured by Amazon, about 1.5 million jobs will be lost. Add to this the jobs at grocery stores, drugstores, delivery services and warehouses and the total would sum up to more than 2 million. However, unlike the loss of manufacturing jobs to China which affected only a few places or counties, the loss of retail jobs may affect every town, city and hamlet in the U.S. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two suspected armed robbers are in custody after they fatally shot one man and injured two other citizens in a botched robbery attempt at a diamond store in the Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio. Here's what we know so far: 1. Second suspect arrested Police identified Jose Luis Rojas, 34, as the second suspect in the Rolling Oaks Mall shooting. He remains in critical condition at San Antonio Military Medical Center Tuesday morning after being shot several times during the robbery. 2. Threat hits S.A. stores hard San Antonio jewelers have been on 'high alert' after the Rolling Oaks Mall shooting. On average, U.S. jewelers lose about $100 million each year from robberies, according to the most recent FBI statistics. RELATED: Social media posts give first-hand accounts of mall shooting 3. One 'Good Samaritan' was killed San Antonio police have called the two citizens who intervened in the robbery "Good Samaritans." Jonathan Murphy, 42, has been identified as the citizen who was fatally shot. According to a GoFundMe page, he and his wife, Aimee, had gone to Kay Jewelers to have their wedding rings cleaned. The second citizen, who has yet to be identified, was not injured in the shooting. It is unclear if he was acquainted with Murphy. Police declined to say which citizen had the concealed handgun license. But Aimee Murphy, the wife of the man killed, said on Monday her husband was not the one with the firearm. And that he was shot as he stood in front of her as a shield. 4. Suspect identities and statuses The first suspect has been identified as 35-year-old Jason Matthew Prieto. Converse police arrested him near the intersection of Loop 1604 and Coppergate after he apparently wrecked a stolen getaway car. He was found with two guns on his person. He is charged with capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He remains in jail on a $1.7 million bond. RELATED: 'Careless' foreman crushes woman, 19, with backhoe at Bexar County construction site 5. What went wrong Police have not given the official order of gunfire exchange, yet, but at some point the suspects encountered two citizens who attempted to intervene. What is known is that one of those suspects fatally shot one of the citizens, and one of the citizens shot and critically injured one of the suspects. The uninjured suspect then fled, shooting at least two other citizens as he exited the mall, according to police. 6. Four in all were transported to the hospital and one was treated at the scene Not counting the victim who died, there were three other people hospitalized with gunshot wounds, including a suspect in the robbery. Two victims suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds. The suspect is listed as critical. One man was also hospitalized for chest pains because of the incident, and a pregnant woman was treated at the scene. 7. One suspect has an extensive criminal history According to the Bexar County district clerk, Jason Prieto, the suspected robber who fled, has an extensive criminal history dating back to at least 2000, when he was 19. He has previously faced one aggravated assault charge, one assault charge, eight charges of drug possession, two charges of burglary of a vehicle, two theft charges and two charges of evading detention. RELATED: Killed 'Good Samaritan' was getting wedding rings cleaned 8. Police believe the suspects may have committed similar robbery on Jan. 20 Three armed robbers described as Hispanic men dressed in all black robbed the Exotic Diamonds jewelry store in the South Park Mall on Jan. 20 around 11:15 a.m. "We are looking at the possibility that these are the same suspects in a smash-and-grab robbery that occurred Friday at South Park Mall," police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Salame said on Sunday. "They are very similar incidents, the way the store was targeted, and two Hispanic males with the same clothing description." The suspects in the South Park Mall robbery stole several pieces of jewelry, but no one was injured, police said. 9. Responses from elected officials San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor arrived responded to the Rolling Oaks shooting, as did District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher. Both officials congratulated the multiple law enforcement agencies who responded to the shooting on their efficient coordination and rapid apprehension of the second suspect in the shooting. But Taylor also commented on the rising crime rates San Antonio, and other major cities, have seen in the past year. "I know here in San Antonio we often feel insulated because we have such a great community, but we've seen an uptick in crime in big cities across the country and unfortunately we're not immune to that," she said. 10. When and where it happened Police responded around 3:30 p.m. to the Kay Jewelers inside the Rolling Oaks Mall in the 6900 block of North Loop 1604. The Live Oak Police Department confirmed a shooting had occurred around 4:15 p.m. Staff writer Silvia Foster-Frau contributed to this report SAN ANTONIO Police searching for a suspect who robbed a bank on the West Side Wednesday and fled on a bicycle ended up making two arrests in connection with a separate incident. According to San Antonio Police Department Sgt. Daniel Alonzo, the bank robbery suspect walked into the BBVA Compass bank in the 200 block of South Zarzamora Street around 1:30 p.m. and handed the clerk a note demanding money. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A West Texas police department has made an arrest in the disappearance of Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old Sul Ross State University student who went missing in October of last year. Christopher Estrada was arrested Sunday and charged with driving while intoxicated and evading arrest by the Alpine Police Department, according to a news release. Alpine police Capt. Darrell Losoya confirmed to mySA.com that Estrada is a person of interest in Verk's disappearance. He could not provide additional information. RELATED: Missing Texas college student's boyfriend named a suspect, drones used to search Verk was last seen on a date with her boyfriend, Robert Fabian, 25, on Oct. 11, 2016, and was reported missing three days later. Fabian, who reported Verk missing, was named a suspect in her case in October, but at the time was being uncooperative with authorities. Estrada was driving a 2016 white Ford Mustang at the time of his arrest, the same vehicle Fabian borrowed Oct. 12, 2016. On that day, Fabian made two phone calls to Estrada, according to news archives. Estrada had his car cleaned three times after Verk disappeared, said Josh Cobos, who works at a local auto shop in the Alpine area, in October. "Something in my gut says I think he knows something," Cobos said at the time. A petition to deny bail for Estrada has accumulated 436 signatures on change.org. RELATED: Reward grows to $200k for missing Texas college student Zuzu Verk "The community requests that Christopher Estrada only be granted bail on the condition that he cooperate fully with the police department's investigation of Zuzu Verk's disappearance. No bail should be considered until Christopher Estrada discloses any and all information regarding the disappearance of Zuzu Verk, her current whereabouts, and the involvement of any persons, including, but not limited to, suspect Robert Fabian," the petition says. The reward for information leading to Verk was raised to $200,000 in October. Those with information are asked to call the Alpine Police Department at: 432-837-3486. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 WASHINGTON - True to his campaign promise, President Trump ordered a federal hiring freeze on Monday. His Contract with the American Voter said a freeze would be part of his "100-day action plan to Make America Great Again," but Trump issued it on the first Monday of his presidency. What does this mean for federal employees? Here are a few questions and answers: Q. Are all federal employees affected? A. No. During the campaign, Trump said he would exclude those in "military, public safety, and public health" positions. As he signed the document in the Oval Office, however, he only mentioned the military. So far those haven't been defined, but if by "military" he means civilian employees of the Defense Department supporting the military, that alone would exclude about a third of the workforce. Exempting public safety and health positions could wall off much of other large agencies such as the Veterans Affairs Department and Department of Homeland Security, as well as parts of other agencies that deal with such issues. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that a freeze exempting such occupations would exclude about two-thirds of the federal workforce. But again, that is to be defined. Q. Why did he freeze federal hiring? The contract says it is one of six measures "to clean up the corruption and special interest collusion in Washington, DC." Q. How will the freeze clean up corruption and collusion when it would apply to job applicants who don't yet have federal jobs? A. Trump's contract didn't say. Q. How would a freeze be implemented? A. Trump's contract said the freeze would be achieved through attrition of the federal workforce. That could be done in the form of slowing hiring. For example, two new employees could be hired for every three who leave government until the workforce was cut by 10 percent, as a bipartisan commission on fiscal responsibility suggested in 2010. House Republicans endorsed a 10 percent cut over three years in their 2012 fiscal year budget. Q. What have we learned from previous hiring freezes? A. In 1982, the Government Accountability Office said freezes under former president Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter were "ineffective in managing federal employment." That report said the previous freezes "disrupted agency operations, and in some cases, increased costs to the Government." Q. Would a freeze on federal employment mean agencies would hire more government contractors? A. Federal labor leaders fear that could be the case. American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox Sr. said "President Trump's federal hiring freeze will result in more government waste as agencies are forced to hire high-priced contractors to do the work that federal employees can and should be doing." Q. Has federal employment grown over the years? A. While the absolute number of federal employees has increased, the per capita number has decreased. There are fewer federal staffers now compared to the size of the population they serve. "Since the 1960s, the U.S. population increased by 67 percent, the private sector workforce increased by 136 percent," according to President Obama's fiscal 2017 budget document, "while the size of the Federal workforce rose about 10 percent." Q. Trump said the freeze would use attrition to cut jobs. How much turnover is there in federal jobs? A. Government data show that turnover has averaged about 210,000 jobs a year over the last five years, out of a workforce of just under 2.1 million. There are various ways of counting federal employment, and thus, turnover. Those figures include executive branch employees outside the U.S. Postal Service and intelligence agencies, but they include part-time, seasonal and temporary employees. Of those who leave each year, about 75,000 on average quit, another 65,000 retire and another 55,000 leave because their appointments expire, which is common among temporary employees. About 10,000 are fired and the other separations are due to various reasons, including layoffs and deaths. China Keeps Yuan Afloat by Selling $194 Billion US Treasury Bonds for Six Straight Months An employee counts 100 yuan banknotes at the Korea Exchange Bank headquarters in Seoul. (Photo : Getty Images) China has kept the yuan from further decline and prevented capital outflows by selling U.S. government bonds at a record pace for six months. CNBC said that China sold about $194.66 billion of U.S. Treasury bonds in six months and sold a total of 215.11 billion in the previous 12 months, both at record levels. Advertisement According to Benn Steil, senior fellow and director of international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, the People's Bank of China "is intervening in this particular case for a very specific reason, that they want to mitigate the downside pressure on the RMB [Chinese yuan] coming from capital flows." "They are very concerned unless the RMB is stable there will be a self-perpetuating acceleration of outflows," Steil said. Although there was no exact amount or details about the money leaving China, reports said that the movement was significant. But despite a weakening yuan and other political issues, Chinese companies continue with acquisitions of U.S. and European firms. In the U.S., some Chinese individuals have reportedly made investments in real estate. The yuan is currently suffering from an eight-year low while the U.S. dollar is on its 14-year high. To support the yuan, China has been selling dollars and buying yuan. Unfortunately, its continued selling of Treasury bonds coincided with the decline of its foreign exchange reserves in December. China's selling of Treasury bonds can be used as an indicator on capital outlfows, according to Michael Pettis, a professor at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management and author of "The Great Rebalancing." "Because Chinese residents are buying an amount of foreign assets that exceeds the current account surplus, the PBoC must sell enough foreign assets that makes net purchase of foreign assets equal to the Chinese current account surplus," Pettis was quoted as saying. The current account is the difference between a country's savings and investments. Since it exports more than it imports, China has a surplus. According to the report, a weaker yuan may trigger further devaluation and more capital outflows, driving the government to tighter scrutiny of overseas cash transfers and restrict companies from foreign purchases which do not involve their core business. If the government can maintain the yuan's depreciation and strengthen it in a short period, it could prevent speculative bet on the currency. "Selling Treasurys will temporarily boost the yuan versus the U.S. dollar and that might please sentiment directly," Lucy Qiu, a strategist at UBS Wealth Management, said. On the other hand, some analysts said that the capital outflow is not a grave issue as data would suggest. "The biggest reason for the decline in reserves is China's corporations paying down U.S. debt," Nicholas Lardy of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said, citing a report by Bank for International Settlements. "When the pressure is big from inflows and when the pressure is big from outflows, we have a series of contingency plans," SAFE spokeswoman Wang Chunying said at a news briefing on Thursday, Jan. 18. Among the great joys of spending a life as a journalist and author has been the number of truly extraordinary people I have been privileged to meet, interview, and, in some cases, spend time with. Of course, that included my fortuitous first major journalistic assignment coverage of the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott during which time I had the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Martin Luther King and, subsequently, other true American heroes who put their lives on the line and in some cases died in the pursuit of equal justice for all. Among those heroes, none stands taller than John Lewis, who has now represented Georgias fifth congressional district in the U. S. House of Representatives for three decades. Time and again, John Lewis has risked his life to gain freedom from racism and discrimination for African-Americans; he was an organizer and participant in 1964s Freedom Summer to register black Mississippians to vote; he was a leader among the freedom riders to desegregate interstate transportation and was among those who were beaten and, in Anniston, Alabama, nearly burned alive while J. Edgar Hoovers FBI agents stood by taking notes as directed by their racist leader. Most famously, Lewis suffered a fractured skull and nearly died when an Alabama state trooper beat him with a billy club on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in what became known as Bloody Sunday. A new study by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights advocacy organization, says that more than two-thirds of 2,000 teachers surveyed reported students mainly immigrants, children of immigrants and Muslims expressing concerns or fears about what might happen to them or their families during a Trump presidency. Since the election, more than half of teachers have seen an increase in uncivil political discourse in their schools or classrooms, and more than one-third report having observed an increase in anti-Muslim or anti-immigrant sentiment. The study, titled The Trump Effect: The impact of the presidential campaign on our nations schools, cites a Virginia elementary school teacher who said that students are crying in the classroom and having melt-downs at home. An Oregon primary-school teacher said her black students are concerned for their safety because of what they see on TV at Trump rallies. These are not outlier incidents cherry-picked for effect. Both in the school building where I teach and in neighboring districts, not only were the kids keyed up on Nov. 9, a lot of teachers were in near hysterics. In my building, there were teachers who refused to even talk about the election and others who cried in front of students. At a nearby district, racist language was scrawled on a bathroom door and minority students staged a protest that went viral on social media, prompting my schools students to plan their own walkout. As the drama unfolded, it occurred to me that the students may not have been as likely to give in to hysteria if the adults in their school buildings had acted less like hyperpartisans and more like grown-ups who could keep their cool. Instead, some of those in charge were making an unpredictable situation even scarier with their emotionality. I wasnt completely off-base the next day our administration sent out guidance from the National Association of School Psychologists, or NASP, on how to reinforce safe, supportive and positive postelection school environments. Some tips from the psychologists continue to resonate and should be taken to heart by anyone with kids who are confronted with politically motivated malice or bigotry: Reinforce a sense of positive (school) community. We function as a nation only when we have that shared sense of relationship; helping children identify and develop those relationships is vital. In other words, dont reinforce us vs. them mentalities. Model and teach desired behaviors. Adults can help children and youth manage their reactions to events in the news and their communities by understanding their feelings, modeling healthy coping strategies, and closely monitoring their own emotional states and that of those in their care. Reassure children that they are and will be OK. This one is tough when children are actively facing bullying from other students or community members who are talking about building walls, deportations or making assertions about suspected terrorists. But as adults, it is our responsibility to provide comfort and a sense of stability instead of feeding fear in an attempt to empathize. Encourage children to channel their views and feelings into positive action. After the school where the racist graffiti had appeared went through its cycle of anger and protest, a group of students uplifted the campus by posting 2,500 sticky notes with inspirational and positive messages. This is but a small selection of the tips NASP provided for dealing with a transition of presidential power that is frightening so many, and its guidance deserves a thorough reading by anyone who interacts with kids. We are all entering a time of uncertainty and anxiety, but it is especially challenging for school-age kids who, as a cohort, are the most diverse portion of our population. Let us acknowledge that this uneasiness is real and do all we can to help our kids through it. estherjcepeda@washpost.com During my years as senior rabbi of Temple Beth-El, I worked closely with Archbishop Patrick Flores on a number of community causes and greatly admired his humility, compassion and passion for social justice. As one who experienced the agony of poverty and prejudice, he devoted his distinguished ministry to improving the lot of the Mexican-American community. I will never forget the time when my wife, Lynn, and I invited the archbishop to our home for our Sabbath dinner on a Friday night, prior to our going to temple, where he delivered the sermon. Our two daughters were then very little girls, and he related to them with such love, sensitivity and humor. During dinner, one of our daughters crawled under the table and tied the laces of his two shoes together. When he arose from the table and discovered that he couldnt walk, he let out a roar of laughter. Later, a dear friend who was an official at Childrens Hospital mentioned how eagerly the young patients awaited his visits because of his remarkable rapport with children. Archbishop Flores leaves a sterling legacy as Gods messenger of healing, and our community is much richer because of his devoted service to us. May his memory be a blessing. Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl, emeritus, Temple Beth-El A taxing problem Re: Texas shorting public schools in funding, Brian T. Woods, Other Views, Jan. 16: The commentary by the superintendent of Northside ISD is an excellent explanation of where so-called school taxes end up. As most of us who own a home or commercial property know, the taxing authorities have pushed up values an incredible amount the last couple of years. This has caused hardships for both types of property owners as these huge increases are hard to absorb in such short time frames. When we pay our taxes, most of the money is shown for school taxes. But, as Woods points out, $5 billion of this money winds up in the general fund. No wonder our school taxes are so high and yet Texas schools rate poorly in the U.S. Reform is needed. If all this money went where it is supposed to go, school would be better and taxes lower. Perry Donop Jr. NISD incoherence Re: Texas shorting public schools in funding, Brian T. Woods, Other Views, Jan. 16: After reading this commentary, it was difficult to ascertain for what exactly Woods was accountable. While he complained about state accountability standards, he had no clear vision for any results. Upon reviewing the NISD organization chart, I could tell why (the chart is available on NISD website). No one is directly responsible for any of the goals he laid out in his column. And none of these goals is measurable. If Woods want to successfully educate his students, he should quit shorting them with an organization design that has no relationship to his goals. Richard Park, Boerne Nuke waste solution Re: Feds should stop dithering on nuke waste, Bruce Davidson, Other Views, Jan. 15: I agree with Mr. Davidson. However, I would like to point out that there is no storage on the planet that would be safe. Why not send the waste to the sun? Im sure that a one-way trip to the sun would solve any storage problems forever. Craig Welch Hollywood bullies Many entertainers denounce bullying. To bully means to intimidate. Isnt that what they are doing to those who wanted to perform at Donald Trumps inauguration? How do they justify blacklisting their peers for not joining their flock? Do they not understand tolerance means the capacity to allow or respect the beliefs of others? Some in Hollywood should be embarrassed by their lack of knowledge of the English language. Hollywood needs to stick with acting and leave the preaching to the real heroes who practice true tolerance. Get out of the way, Hollywood. Move on for the good of the country and fake a smile! Monica McClusky Trumps promises Even though Donald Trump did not win the popular vote, heres hoping that he will do as much for the little people as he does for the upper crust. Maybe he will. Heres hoping well have a thriving economy, plenty of jobs, prosperity, a budget surplus and peace as we did under Bill Clintons presidency combined with Newt Gingrichs Congress. When saying little people, we mean the working class, the veterans, the elderly and the poor. When we say upper crust, we mean the wealthy and big corporations. J.W. Holmes Alamo proposals My first view of the Alamo was in 1960, and I was underimpressed because of the proximity of street traffic and tacky gift shops. Now, as a longtime San Antonio resident, I still overhear almost without fail visitors from afar with similar comments, disappointed with the setting. My advice to local planners is to realign the local traffic pattern and streets; surround the Alamo with grass and paths leading to the main and a rear entrance. Add statues in the grassy surroundings of Crockett, Bowie, Seguin and Santa Anna. Have the existing businesses reverse themselves by 180 degrees and face the opposite direction, so their rear walls face the shrine and can be made suitable for appropriate murals. Ron Jenkins SAWS home run Re: SAWS customers flood rain barrel event, Business, Jan. 15: As one who purchased barrels, I must commend everyone who worked to make the SAWS rain barrel pick-up event a great success. The plan was well-orchestrated, and the men and women working were most kind and efficient. SAWS really hit a home run! Marianne Shields After an election cycle filled with claims of misogyny and female-unfriendly policies, millions of women across the U.S. marched in protest this weekend against newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump. From Washington D.C. to Houston to San Francisco and many places in between, protesters took to the streets to show their disapproval of Trump, his policies and the direction they believe the U.S. would go under his leadership. Pearlesque Box 4.9 overall rating 15 Ratings | 7 Reviews We have spoilers for the February 2017 Pearlesque Box! (Box is $39.95 a month; use coupon code PEARL5 to save $5 off your first month). Each box will include: Red Flower Organic Skincare products! More info from Pearlesque Box: Red Flower is a New York City based skincare brand that sources their ingredients from Finland. It is a natural lifestyle company, known for creating botanical beauty that transforms simple moments into deeply therapeutic experiences through the power of aromatherapy, rich textures and the finest potent, pure certified organic and all-natural ingredients and formulations. Red Flower practices sustainable sourcing direct from farmers and produces in micro-batches at a privately owned facility to ensure freshness and the highest quality. With exuberant, multi-sensory benefits and a focus on environmental responsibility, each red flower product is designed to reconnect one to nature and to be a source of health, empowered beauty and connectedness. From the rich heritage of its three global bath-house inspired treatments to the delicate, ephemeral petals on every candle, red flower is intensely luxurious and generously healing. There will be 1 Full Size Product and 3 Travel Size Products over $107 in retail value! Subscribe by February 5th (4pm PST) to receive this box. Here is the new spoiler: Lymphatic Phytopower Sea Cleanser and Mask Transform the texture and tone of the skin through the regenerative powers of vitamin-rich marine plants, arctic white peat, organic mushrooms and sun-filled berries for a complete therapeutic experience. Gently cleanse using a blend of aloe and sea algae that balances and repairs environmentally damaged skin. Applied as a masque, it delivers a surge of moisture that replenishes the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines. In case you missed the previous spoilers: Active Organic Milk Forest Purifier Gently cleanse and replenish the skin with the raw potency of cold-pressed arctic cloudberry seeds. A powerful concentration of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and intense antioxidants, these potent berries actively nourish the skin to reduce inflammation, diminish age spots and improve overall skin tone. An abundant source of anti-aging benefits, cold-pressed cloudberry oil is rich in nutrients that protect skin from free radical damage and enhance regeneration. Illuminating Rose Collagen Renewal Face Serum With this serum, you can instantly boost circulation. It's packed with omega 3, 6, and 9 and is rich in antioxidants. It's great to awaken your skin in the morning, to wear under makeup, or for a replenishing boost at night. What do you think of the February Pearlesque Box spoilers? Check out our Pearlesque Box reviews to learn more about this natural beauty subscription box! Anheuser-Busch InBev products are offered for sale on Sept. 15, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo : Getty Images) "Who's had your back this past year?" The world-renowned beer brand has just released an ad in the country just in time for the Chinese New Year, one that celebrates the people behind our victories. The four-minute long video campaign comes from Anomaly Shanghai, which tells the story of a graduate who fights with her dad over her solo bike trip in the rural Sichuan Province. Advertisement With an unexpected twist at the end, the video clearly delivered Budweiser's message of acknowledging the people behind our personal successes because "no one achieves anything without the help and support of others." According to Anomaly's statement, holiday homecomings and traditions "seemed to be losing their meaningfulness in contemporary culture, juxtaposed against the backdrop of a generation that is all about 'me' versus 'us.'" It seems that China's one child policy created a generation of "spoiled youth" who grew up with the undivided attention of their parents and grandparents from both sides. Budweiser, together with Anomaly, came up with the video campaign in order to counter the dominant thinking of individuality among the youth. Budweiser has also released the holiday edition of its product, with bottles containing the Pinyin characters of 'thank you' (which reads xie xie ni). Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world's largest brewery, is behind brands such as Budweiser, Harbin and Sedrin. The company acquired four breweries in China in April 2013, which had a net beer capacity of roughly 9 million hectoliters. The company is at a premium position in China, with brands such as Budweiser and Harbin Ice being marketed as more upscale brands of beer. AB InBev has also done other interesting Chinese New Year campaigns with Anomaly in the past such as sending its Clydesdales on a trip around China during the celebration of the Year of the Horse in 2014. With this video campaign, Budweiser encourages the citizens all over the country to celebrate the true meaning of the lunar new year. Barry Po, director of product management at Ngrain Canada Corp., and Tim Hayes, software engineer at Ngrain Canada Corp., control Epson BT-200 augmented reality headsets. (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese tech titan Alibaba took a better position in the augmented reality (AR) field with $6 million investment in Israeli AR firm Lumus, an AR lens maker. Advertisement A report by geektime.com said that Alibaba's investment came a month after Lumus received a $30 million Series C round from HTC and Taiwan-based electronics firm Quanta Computer. In June, the company also got $15 million in their Series B financing round, bringing in a total of $45 million in funding for 2016. Lumus started as a company that supplies military hardware used by pilots in their helmets for navigation and other flight needs. The company has now moved to providing lenses for the B2B AR market. Now, it produces optical engines, a component of the AR glasses and headsets. The optical engine has two parts: a micro projected and a waveguide embedded in it. These parts are needed to enable the glasses to function. The projector sends the image to the lens while the waveguide directs it back to the eye. It was not the first time that Alibaba made an investment in the AR field. In February, the Chinese tech giant contributed $6 million to Magic Leap's Series C round, which took a total of $250,000 funding. The company also invested $15 million in InfinityAR in November, to support the company's effort to get back on track. Alibaba's investment in Lumus is seen as part of efforts to set up a supply chain with other associated companies. Alibaba is intent on becoming a leader in the AR field as the technology can be used in a range of shopping-related applications. For instance, a customer can try how a pair of pants would look even without trying them on. At the same time, Alibaba wants to position itself as a major player in the field as AR has potential use for home devices such as Microsoft's Hololens. According to the report, Alibaba can make use Lumus technology on other devices such as mobile phones. Lumus could display direction, weather updates and other advisories, which can be handy when driving. 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... SPRINGFIELD, Ill. The Illinois Senate has revived a tax on sugary beverages as part of its plan to okay a state budget, the State Journal-Register reports. Senate Bill 9 would apply a tax on any drink with five grams or more of sugar, which would affect soft drinks and some juices. The bill would mandate distributors add a penny-per-ounce tax on retailers. The tax would generate around $560 million. Health advocates support such a tax as good for state residents. Mark Peysakhovich, senior director of government relations at the American Heart Association, sees the bill as a positive step forward for Illinois. As far as the state's budget goes, the fact this was part of the bipartisan proposal gives this issue a seat at the table, he said. "We're applauding folks in raising this taxa sugary tax is the healthiest revenue option. However, the beverage industry notes that such a tax isnt the answer for the states budget crisis. Nothing in the proposed bill links it to health, or funding any health initiative, Claudia Rodriguez, acting executive director for the Illinois Beverage Association, pointed out. It's deceiving to say it's going to solve the budget crisis and help health issues. It's not even projecting how it's going to affect the state. Rodriguez also said that approval of the bill could potentially put some of the 90,000 jobs directly and indirectly related to the beverage industry in jeopardy. This will directly affect consumers, and all people that depend on the beverages, she said. People will automatically see it when they go to the cash register: 68 cents added on your typical 2-liter bottle that costs 99 cents. Soda will be taxed at a higher level than beer. WASHINGTON Last week, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case involving tip sharing with cooks and dishwashers, Nations Restaurant News reports. National Restaurant Association et al. v. U.S. Department of Labor et al. also has the Alaska, Oregon and Washington state restaurant associations included in the case. The request comes as a result of a continuing court battle in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals over the U.S. Department of Labors prohibition against sharing tips with employees who dont usually receive them, such as chefs, dishwashers and cooks. In the NRAs view, that is discriminatory. The Department of Labor has completely overstepped its regulatory authority and is unfairly discriminating against those restaurant employees who work in the back of the house, said Angelo Amador, the NRAs senior vice president and regulatory counsel. The law here is clear: Employees who earn above minimum wage should be able to share their tips with fellow employees, no matter where they work. The Department of Labor cannot continue to trample on the rights of restaurant workers. Theres no guarantee the Supreme Court will agree to hear the case, but Amador is seeking clarification on a matter that has become contentious and complicated. This petition is one of the first cases by the new Restaurant Law Center, an advocacy group created by the association to help them defend the industry from government overregulation on all levels. By Alen Mulabdic, Analyst, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank, Alberto Osnago, Trade Policy Analyst, WTO, and Michele Ruta, Lead Economist, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice of the World Bank. Originally published at VoxEU. The British government and the EU face a difficult negotiation over the terms of Brexit. This column uses new data on the content of trade agreements to assess the trade impact of Brexit, identifying a tradeoff between the depth of the post-Brexit agreement and the intensity of future UK-EU trade. A harder Brexit may have a stronger negative impact on the UKs services trade and supply chain integration, which have relied more on the depth of the EU. This tradeoff will likely delimit future policy choices. What will be the impact of Brexit on UK-EU trade? A problem researchers face in addressing this question is the lack of systematic information on the content of trade agreements, which makes it difficult to precisely assess the impact that a set of common rules have on trade flows. A way around this problem is to make assumptions on how different scenarios will lower trade costs (Dinghra et al. 2016) or to use dummies to identify trade agreements that have diverse content (Baier et al. 2008, 2014). In a recent paper, we take a different approach and use new information on the content of trade agreements to assess the impact of Brexit on goods, services, and value added trade (Mulabdic et al. 2017). Specifically, we augment a standard gravity model to quantify the effect that the depth of EU agreements had on UK trade and then use the estimates from this analysis to evaluate the future of UK-EU trade relations under different post-Brexit scenarios. Deep Agreements The landscape of trade and trade agreements has radically changed in the last 25 years. First, we have seen a surge in the number of preferential arrangements from 51 in 1990 to 279 in 2015. In addition, modern trade agreements are increasingly deeper in the sense that they cover many regulatory issues and policy areas that go beyond tariffs such as services, investment, competition, and intellectual property rights protection. Along with the change in trade institutions, the nature of trade has also dramatically changed since the early 1990s, particularly as a result of the growing internationalisation of production and the rise of global value chains (GVCs). The letter sent by the Japanese government to the UK and the EU in the aftermath of the June referendum outlining a number of requests by Japanese businesses operating in the UK on the content of a future UK-EU trade agreement illustrates the importance of a finer understanding of what Brexit entails, beyond a focus on changes in tariffs and gross goods trade flows. The EU has been a precursor of deep integration. We use new information on the content of trade agreements from the World Bank (Hofmann et al. 2017) to build a measure of depth based on the number of provisions covered by the agreement. The data indicate that the EU is the deepest trade agreement among the 279 currently in force covering 44 policy areas ranging from standards to movements of capital, to labour mobility (Figure 1).1 Figure 1 Average depth of trade agreements, 2015 Note: The figure shows the average depth of all the agreements signed by a country weighted by the number of partners. Trade Impact of EU Membership We first investigate the extent to which the depth of the EU contributed to boosting UK trade. We use data from the World Input Output Database (WIOD) on goods, services and value added trade and the World Bank data on the content of deep agreements to estimate a gravity equation augmented with a measure of depth for the period 1995-2011. By interacting the depth of trade agreements with dummies identifying the UK, we can quantify the effect of common trade rules on UK imports and exports of goods, services and value added. Deep trade agreements are found to increase goods, services and value added trade -this impact has been even stronger for the UK (Figure 2). In particular, the depth of UKs trade agreements strongly increased trade in services: as a result of its EU membership, UK services trade more than doubled. EU membership also increased domestic value added in gross exports of the UK and boosted its integration in global value chains: UK intermediates value added in gross exports (forward linkages) increased by 31%, while foreign value added in UK exports (backward linkages) increased by 37%. Figure 2 Trade impacts of deep agreements Note: The estimator is PPML. All specifications include bilateral fixed effects and country-time fixed effects. 90% Confidence intervals are constructed using robust standard errors, clustered by country-pair. Hard versus Soft Disintegration We then analyse the impact that Brexit can have on UK-EU trade relations going forward. We consider three distinct scenarios, with decreasing depth of the post-Brexit agreement between the UK and the rest of the EU. The first scenario is a soft Brexit, assuming that the post-Brexit arrangement between the UK and the EU will be as deep as the agreement the EU has with Norway. In the second scenario, the UK and the EU will sign an agreement as deep as the average agreement the EU currently has with third countries. Finally, the third scenario has no agreement at all. We find that bilateral UK-EU trade declines under all scenarios and that this drop is sharper the lower the depth of the post-Brexit arrangement relative to the depth of the EU agreement. In terms of value added trade, the decline ranges from 6% under the softer Brexit scenario to 28% under the harder scenario. The largest declines are for UK services and GVC trade (backward and forward linkages). Table 1 offers a summary of results. These predictions should be seen as average effects an initial weak response is not a sign that bilateral trade will not change much. As it takes time for trade flows to respond to changes in trade costs, we expect the impact in the short run to be smaller than in the longer term. Table 1 Changes in the UKs bilateral trade with the EU under different scenarios Notes: Depth decreases from 44 to 36 in the Norway scenario, to 14 in the average PTA, and to 0 in the no-agreement scenario. Conclusions The data point to a tradeoff between the depth of trade agreements and trade intensity. Reasons might be that deep agreements influence trade relations directly, as with services commitments that guarantee market access to the members, or indirectly as with investment, competition, and other deep provisions that make it easier to operate economic activities that span multiple borders. This tradeoff will likely delimit future policy choices. Policymakers can either choose to undertake more binding commitments in deep agreements (a soft Brexit) that will support more trade integration, or opt for weaker commitments (hard Brexit) and less trade. Our analysis also indicates that a shallower agreement may have a stronger negative impact on the UKs services and GVC trade, which have relied more on the deep arrangements of the EU. Many questions on the future of UK-EU trade relations remain open. First, the analysis does not account for the possibility that after Brexit, the UK may choose to sign new trade agreements with other trade partners, and for the EU continuing its process of ever closer union by further deepening its integration. How these divergent processes would impact UK-EU trade going forward is difficult to predict. Finally, while our focus has been on the complementarity between deep trade institutions and trade flows, it could be argued that a high level of trade integration requires some form of political integration (Brou and Ruta 2008, Campos et al. 2015). Indeed, this complementarity between economic and political integration has been at the core of the European project (Padoa-Schioppa 1999). It is possible that the deepest forms of agreement may be difficult to sustain outside the Union. References at original. Ultrasound pulses activate release of drugs from nanoparticles (Nanowerk News) Biomedical engineers at Johns Hopkins report they have worked out a noninvasive way to release and deliver concentrated amounts of a drug to the brain of rats in a temporary, localized manner using ultrasound. The method first "cages" a drug inside tiny, biodegradable "nanoparticles," then activates its release through precisely targeted sound waves, such as those used to painlessly and noninvasively create images of internal organs. Because most psychoactive drugs could be delivered this way, as well as many other types of drugs, the researchers say their method has the potential to advance many therapies and research studies inside and outside the brain. They also say that their method should minimize a drug's side effects because the drug's release is concentrated in a small area of the body, so the total amount of drug administered can be much lower. And because the individual components of the technology -- including the use of the specific biomaterials, ultrasound and FDA-approved drugs -- have already been tested in people and found to be safe, the researchers believe their method could be brought into clinical use more quickly than usual: They hope to start the regulatory approval process within the next year or two. "If further testing of our combination method works in humans, it will not only give us a way to direct medications to specific areas of the brain, but will also let us learn a lot more about the function of each brain area," says Jordan Green, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering, who is also a member of the Kimmel Cancer Center and the Institute for Nanobiotechnology. Details of the research are published on Jan. 23 in the journal Nano Letters ("Noninvasive Targeted Transcranial Neuromodulation via Focused Ultrasound Gated Drug Release from Nanoemulsions"). When drug-laden nanoparticles (left) absorb energy from ultrasound waves, their liquid center (green) turns to gas and expands the particles (right), loosening their exterior and releasing the drug (blue). The new research, Green says, was designed to further advance means of getting drugs safely to the brain, a delicate and challenging organ to treat. To protect itself from infectious agents -- and from swelling that can be caused by the immune system, for example -- the brain is surrounded by a molecular fence, called the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which lines the surface of every blood vessel feeding the brain. Only very small drug molecules that dissolve in oil can get through the fence, along with gases. Because of this, most drugs developed for treating brain disorders fit those criteria but are dispersed to all parts of the brain -- and the rest of the body, where they may be unneeded and unwanted. Raag Airan, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of radiology at Stanford University Medical Center and co-author of the paper, says: "When working with a patient who has post-traumatic stress disorder, for example, it would be nice to quiet down the overactive part of the brain -- for instance, the amygdala -- during talk therapy sessions. Current technologies can at best quiet down half of the brain at a time, so they are too nonspecific to be useful in this setting." In the new study, the researchers took a cue from previous use of nanoparticles and ultrasound to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs to tumors under the skin. In their latest experiments, Green's group designed nanoparticles with an outer expandable "cage" made of a biodegradable plastic, whose molecular building blocks are oil-loving at one end and water-loving at the other. The oil-loving ends cling together and form an expandable sphere with the water-loving ends on the outside. The oil-loving ends bind the drug to be delivered, which in this case was propofol, an anesthetic commonly used to treat seizures in people. The center of the cage was filled with the liquid perfluoropentane. When the sound waves of ultrasound -- delivered noninvasively across the scalp and skull with FDA-approved devices -- strike perfluoropentane in the center of the nanoparticles, the liquid transforms to a gas, expanding the surrounding cage and letting the propofol escape. Before testing their idea on animals, Green and his colleagues fine-tuned their ultrasound protocol by testing nanoparticles in plastic tubes, seeking to pinpoint pulses of the right power and frequency to release adequate amounts of the drug without being strong enough to damage the BBB, a known effect of high-powered ultrasound. They also tested the distribution of the nanoparticles in rats by adding a fluorescent dye to the particles and measuring the amount of dye found in blood and organ samples over time. The majority of the particles ended up in the spleen and liver, which are important housekeeping organs in the body. As expected, particles were not found in the brain because they are too big to pass through the BBB. Instead, the researchers were relying on propofol's own ability to pass through the BBB once released locally from the nanoparticles. To see whether their method could provide medical relief to live animals, they then gave rats a drug that causes seizures, followed by the propofol-laden nanoparticles. They used MRI to guide their application of the ultrasound to the rat brain and thus release the drug from nanoparticles floating through infiltrating blood vessels. As soon as they applied the ultrasound, the seizure activity of the rats calmed down. "These experiments show the effectiveness of this method to manipulate the function of brain cells through the precise delivery of drugs," says Green. "In humans, ultrasound machines can target a volume as small as a few millimeters cubed, less than one ten-thousandth of the brain." Airan, who was doing his fellowship and residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital during the study, says that one of the most promising, immediate applications of the new technology could be for the "brain mapping" required before many neurosurgeries. Before a surgeon cuts into the brain to remove a tumor, for example, he or she needs to know where not to cut. "Currently, that requires keeping the patient awake, while the surgeon exposes the brain and probes it with electrodes while assessing responses. The ultrasound method would allow us to use a drug like propofol to briefly 'turn off' specific areas of the brain one at a time, prior to the surgery, with nothing more invasive than a needle stick," he says. Because ultrasound, MRI and each component of the nanoparticles have been approved for other uses in humans, the researchers expect a short timeline to get their idea to patients, but they acknowledge that its applications will be somewhat limited by the cost and accessibility of MRI scans -- at least in the short term. "Our current model requires real-time imaging of the brain while the ultrasound is being applied," says Airan. "Based on similar procedures I already do, that could cost up to $30,000 to $50,000. But we're working on software that would allow us to synchronize a single MRI image with the ultrasound guidance system to decrease the cost significantly." Nokia 6 is the brand's first Android smartphone and will be launched by HMD during the first half of 2017. (Photo : YouTube/AndroidPure) Nokia's first Android handset since its failed partnership with Microsoft Corp. has sold out in China just seconds after its Thursday launch, GB Times reported. The Nokia 6, designed and manufactured by Finnish company HMD Global, went on sale exclusively on JD.com last Thursday with more than 9,000 units. Each handset was sold for 1,699 yuan ($248). Advertisement The Nokia 6, which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, features a 5.5in full-HD display and runs the latest Android 7.0 Nougat. It also employs a Snapdragon 430 processor, and has 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Its rear camera shoots at 16MP while the front at 8MP. Sold only in China, the Nokia 6 was seen by analysts to bank on nostalgia and gauge customers' perception toward an old brand while minimizing the risks. In a statement, HMD CEO Arto Nummela said via China Daily that the decision to limit the availability of the phone to China for now is due to the company's "in-depth understanding of the Chinese market." He also said that Chinese buyers are "very well-educated and know what they are demanding." This is Nokia's first smartphone launched since its botched partnership with Microsoft. Despite all the hype that surrounded the venture, the Microsoft-Nokia team-up did not really pan out well, prompting the Redmond, Washington-based tech giant to write off $950 million and lay off 1,850 employees. The deal was even tagged as one of the "worst tech acquisitions" by news and analysis website ZDNet, saying that Microsoft "could have saved itself a huge amount of money and heartache if it did the work in-house, rather than by a failed and costly acquisition." After this initial success, it remains to be seen whether Nokia will head on to release its new handset in other markets outside China. An efficient way to convert renewable resources into energy (Nanowerk News) As Europe strives to position itself as a world leader in renewable energy, one challenge it must solve is the often inefficient process of converting renewable resources into energy. For example, due to a mismatch between the solar spectrum and the spectral response of solar cells, the process of converting solar radiation into electricity is highly inefficient. In fact, conventional solar cells have an upward limit of 30 % efficiency for converting radiation into electricity meaning that 70 % of the potential energy is lost. It is inefficiencies like this that the EU-funded NLO for PV project set out to address. According to project leader Carmel Rotschild, the researchers initially aimed to use conventional methods in nonlinear optics to convert the inefficient parts of the solar spectrum to wavelengths that are more suitable for photovoltaics. But this proved to be a very difficult task that produced little improvements in efficiency. So it was back to the drawing board. A year after the beginning of the project, we reached a breakthrough in both fundamental science and engineering, says Rotschild. The team discovered that, because they can extract heat without generating additional photons, photoluminescence works as an ideal heat pump. From our experiments, we realised that one can harvest the heat losses of photovoltaics, thereby doubling their maximum possible efficiency to 70 %, adds Rotschild. New methods, same objective Based on these new understandings, the project had to shift its methods in order to achieve its original objective. However, even this change in methods was not without challenges. Although we had the experimental evidence, it was very hard to convince high-level scientific journals to publish such unexpected claims, explains Rotschild. However, in part due to the level of credibility, networking and knowledge exchange that comes with this project being funded under the EUs Career Integration Grant (CIG) scheme, the breakthrough in optical energy conversion was ultimately validated by the scientific community. The project produced the first proof of principle of an energy conversion device which was accepted for publication in Nature magazine. In addition, a provisional application to patent a process for combining photonic and thermal excitation to create electricity has been submitted. A disruptive approach The project continues its efforts to build a full-scale conversion device, with the support of a new European Research Council grant. Research is primarily focused on gaining a fundamental understanding of the thermodynamics of photoluminescence and its transition to thermal emissions and, based on this understanding, demonstrate a full-scale efficient device. A nanotechnology approach to purifying liquid crystals (Nanowerk Spotlight) Liquid crystals used in modern devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones typically contain a small fraction of ionic contaminants. These ion contaminants can originate from multiple sources during the chemical synthesis of materials, in the process of assembling the device, and in its daily use. In the case of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), mobile ions in liquid crystals lead to such undesirable effects as image sticking, image flickering, and slow response. That is why ions in liquid crystals are not desirable and their concentration should be kept as low as possible. A promising solution to reduce the concentration of mobile ions in liquid crystal devices can be found by merging liquid crystals and nanotechnology. Nanomaterials dispersed in liquid crystals can trap and immobilize ions thus providing a permanent purification of liquid crystals from ions. This concept of the ion capturing effect in liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles was verified by numerous research groups around the globe (see this review for more details: Crystals, "Nano-Objects and Ions in Liquid Crystals: Ion Trapping Effect and Related Phenomena"). "An interesting and practically important question is what happens to the ion capturing effects if the temperature changes. Does the ion capturing efficiency of nanomaterials remain the same at low and high temperatures?" Yuriy Garbovskiy, PhD, a researcher at the UCCS BioFrontiers Center & Department of Physics, University of Colorado, tells Nanowerk. "This is very important and practical question. For example, on a sunny day, you decided to take your lap top, go to the park and work on your project there. Will ions in liquid crystals and their sensitivity to temperature ruin your day?" A recently published paper in Liquid Crystals ("Nanoparticle enabled thermal control of ions in liquid crystals") provides an answer to some of these questions (unfortunately, you and your laptop in the park were not discussed) by modeling the temperature dependence of the concentration of mobile ions in liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles. The basic idea of this work is the use of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm in conjunction with the Arrhenius equation, and the quantification of the contamination of nanoparticles by means of the dimensionless contamination factor. An interesting aspect of this paper is the consideration of both 100% pure and contaminated with ions nanoparticles. Garbovskiy explains: "Typically, ionic species in thermotropic liquid crystals are nearly fully ionized. As a result, the concentration of mobile ions practically does not depend on the temperature (Figure 1 solid curve). Interestingly, the same liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles exhibit totally different behavior. The concentration of mobile ions exhibits strong temperature dependence (Figure 1, dashed and dotted curves)." Figure 1. The temperature dependence of the concentration of mobile ions in pristine liquid crystals (solid curve), and liquid crystals doped with 100% pure nanoparticles (dashed and dotted curves). (Image: Dr. Yuriy Garbovskiy, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) He points out that a very important aspect is that 100% pure nanoparticles dispersed in liquid crystals lower the concentration of mobile ions in liquid crystals (Figure 1, dashed and dotted curves are below the solid curve). This ion capturing effect results in the permanent purification of liquid crystals from ions. However, this effect depends on the temperature as is evidenced by Figure 1, dashed and dotted curves. The use of nanoparticles contaminated with ions prior to their dispersion in liquid crystals results in more complicated behavior shown in Figure 2. In this case, depending on the temperature, both ion trapping (the purification of liquid crystal from ions) and ion releasing regimes (the contamination of liquid crystals with ions) are possible. The purification regime is observed if the temperature of liquid crystals T is below the temperature T c . The contamination regime holds true above this temperature (T > T c ). Figure 2. The temperature dependence of the concentration of mobile ions in pristine liquid crystals (solid curve), and liquid crystals doped with contaminated pure nanoparticles (dashed and dotted curves). (Image: Dr. Yuriy Garbovskiy, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) "The key finding here is that, while the dispersion of 100% pure nanoparticles in liquid crystals leads to the temperature dependent purification only (Figure 1), the use of contaminated nanoparticles results in the temperature-driven switching between the purification and contamination regimes enabling thermal control of ions (Figure 2)," Garbovskiy says. He adds that, regardless the ionic purity of nanodopants, the concentration of mobile ions in liquid crystal nanocolloids increases towards the saturation level as their temperature goes up. In the case of 100% pure nanoparticles, the magnitude of this saturation level equals the concentration of ions in pristine liquid crystals (Figure 1, dashed and dotted curves approach solid curve at higher temperatures). The temperature induced release of ions by contaminated nanoparticles in liquid crystals increases the above-mentioned saturation level. In this case the magnitude of the saturation level is proportional to the concentration of contaminated nanoparticles in liquid crystals (Figure 2, dashed and dotted curves). "These results add to our understanding of physics of liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles," notes Garbovskiy. "An important practical implication is the dependence of the ion trapping efficiency of nanomaterials on the temperature. This dependence should be considered by R&D engineers using liquid crystal / nanoparticle colloids in their devices." For example, the operating temperature of the device should be set below the temperature T c to ensure nanoparticles act as ion capturing agents. This fact is also important for the design of electro-optical devices utilizing nanoparticles and liquid crystals. It should be noted that ions in liquid crystals are not always a bad thing. For example, some devices such as optical switches utilizing the effects of light scattering rely on ions in liquid crystals. This type of applications could benefit from the use of contaminated nanoparticles and temperatures T > T c . Thus, nanoparticle enabled thermal control of ions in liquid crystals can be used for a variety of display and non-display applications of liquid crystals. "We obtained the results temperature induced increase in the concentration of mobile ions in liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles assuming certain conditions naturally expected for the ion trapping nanomaterials," says Garbovskiy. "These conditions can be expressed by the positive value of the parameter E defined as a difference between desorption activation energy and adsorption activation energy (for example, in the cases shown in Figures 1 and 2 this parameter equals 0.3 eV)." "However" he adds, we can also expect an opposite case characterized by the negative value of this parameter." This scenario was analyzed in another paper in Liquid Crystals ("Ions in liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles: Conventional and counter intuitive temperature effects"). According to this work, liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles characterized by the negative value of the parameter E exhibit a temperature induced decrease in the concentration of mobile ions. This paper also provides a guidance on the selection of suitable nanomaterials exhibiting the scenario E < 0. "Research on ions and nano-objects in liquid crystals is very diverse; it can go different ways by exploring various nanoparticles and liquid crystals," concludes Garbovskiy. "Practically important is an exploration of nanoparticles in high resistivity liquid crystals. In our work, we suggest the use of polymer nanoparticles as possible candidates to observe the temperature induced decrease in the concentration of mobile ions in liquid crystal nanocolloids. It could be very interesting to test this prediction experimentally." Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. The Tony Ryan Fund for Tipperary, a donor advised fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland has announced a new funding opportunity of 100,000 for Tipperary. The Tony Ryan Trust was established in December 2009 by the estate of the late Tony Ryan, a Tipperary native, successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. The Tony Ryan Fund for Tipperary was established by the Trust under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Ireland. The Trust has provided 1million in funding over a two year period to organisations that seek to improve the life experience of Children and Young People from birth to age 26 living in County Tipperary. The fund awards grants to initiatives that support children and young people to reach their potential, with a focus on community programmes that have proven evidence behind them and putting a large emphasis on training local trainers in implementing and extending these programmes, ensuring the benefit of The Tony Ryan Fund for Tipperary will be maximized and continued into the future. Tina Roche, CEO of The Community Foundation for Ireland, paying homage to Tony Ryans legacy commented: Tony Ryan loved Tipperary and was active and innovative in his approach to supporting his native county. The Community Foundation for Ireland is delighted to continue facilitating these grants and congratulates the Tony Ryan Trust for making this great investment in the children and young people of County Tipperary. This year marks the third wave of grant making by the Tony Ryan Fund. The Fund is inviting applications from community and voluntary organisations undertaking community initiatives promoting a sense of belonging within the community. As the funds focus is on children and young people, priority will be given to projects that seek to engage youth in the community and increase their overall sense of belonging. The fund is now open for applications and will close at the end of January 2017. Full criteria and the online application form are available at www.coomunityfoundation.ie Monday, January 23, 2017 by: JD Heyes Tags: Big Pharma , Collusion , fake studies This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author (Natural News) If you ever wanted to know why it is vital that the incoming Trump administration implement dramatic reforms of the pharmaceutical industry, this should answer that question comprehensively. To say that Big Pharma is corrupt is an understatement, especially after a shocking new study published in the British Medical Journal found that drug makers actually purchase positive field trial results so that it will be easier, cheaper and quicker to get new drugs approved. As reported by The Daily Sheeple, financial ties between researchers and Big Pharma firms are independently associated with positive trial results, suggesting bias in the evidence base, according to the new study. For their study, which was published in the BMJ, researchers analyzed results from 195 drug trials that were reported in 2013. Led by experts from the University of California-San Francisco, the research team discovered that in more than half of clinical trials 58 percent the lead scientist in the study had at least some level of financial ties to the company that made the drug under testing. (RELATED: Keep current with the most recent medical scandals at Medicine.news) Included in the cozy relationships were direct payments to researchers, honorariums, paid travel expenses, stock ownership and payment for advisory work. In an accompanying editorial, entitled, The Ties That Bind, the BMJ noted: Substantial evidence shows that sponsorship or funding of trials of drugs and devices by companies producing the drug or device results in publications that tend to favour the sponsors product. Personal financial tiesincluding travel expenses, honorariums, payment for advisory work, or stock ownershipbetween commercial companies and authors of reviews, meta-analyses, editorials, and letters are also associated with conclusions favourable to the sponsor. The fraudulent nature of clinical trials involving Big Pharma has been known to insiders for quite some time, including Dr. Marcia Angell, a physician and longtime Editor in Chief of the New England Medical Journal. It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine, she has said. Natural News founder/editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has also tracked the issue of faking drug trial results so that pharmaceutical firms can get their flawed products to market faster. Theres no question whatsoever that the bulk of drug company-funded clinical trials are rooted in scientific fraud, he said. Much of the entire body of so-called scientific evidence cited by the FDA to justify the granting of prescription drug monopolies is nothing more than pharmaceutical voodoo and quackery disguised to look like legitimate science. (RELATED: The most recent discoveries can be found at Scientific.news) In a separate news release, Andreas Lundh of the University of Southern Denmark, and Lisa Bero of the University of Sydney, said that more studies, and more transparency, are needed for clinical trials: 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, EurkAlert reported. President Trump has vowed to clean out the cesspool that is Big Pharmas power lock in the nations capital. Pharma has a lot of lobbyists and a lot of power, he said during his first press conference as president-elect recently. Theres very little bidding on drugs. Were the largest drug buyer in the world, and were going to start bidding. Were going to start saving billions of dollars on drugs. In addition to implementing a bidding process and making other changes to how Big Pharma does business, Trump is considering appointing vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to a special panel to look into their safety. J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for Natural News and News Target, as well as editor of The National Sentinel. Sources: Trump.news TheDailySheeple.com NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov (Natural News) In one of the least surprising announcements of the year, the National Academy of Sciences has declared that marijuana can be used as a medicine in order to improve ones health naturally. Despite the fact that anyone who has done any significant amount of research on the subject could have told you the same thing, racking up data from numerous reputable sources is always a good thing, as it eventually reaches the point where nobody can deny the truth any longer. Even the staunchest critics of marijuana will have to accept defeat at some point and that is when true liberty will be achieved. Marijuana advocates all over the world rejoiced at the news, and for good reason, since it is yet another piece of scientific evidence that helps prove to naysayers that cannabis has considerable health benefits. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano stated, The National Academy of Sciences conclusions that marijuana possesses established therapeutic utility for certain patients and that it possesses an acceptable safety profile when compared to those of other medications or recreational intoxicants are not surprising. This evidence has been available for some time, yet for decades marijuana policy in this country has largely been driven by rhetoric and emotion, not science and evidence. It continues to become more and more obvious that the only reason that cannabis hasnt been legalized from coast to coast, all across the United States, is because the powers that be are benefiting heavily from the pharmaceutical drugs that are being peddled in its place. Should cannabis be legalized, Big Pharma will take a drastic hit, which is guaranteed to leave them scrambling. Considering the fact that President Donald Trump has already waged a culture war against the pharmaceutical industry, it should come as no great surprise that they dont want their brand to be damaged any further. The bottom line is that cannabis is a natural, healthy and effective alternative to chemical drugs that are created in a lab somewhere. Opioid addiction in America is through the roof, and few have the courage to address that fact because they are afraid of the wrath of those controlling the pharmaceutical industry. Thankfully, the truth is always on the side of justice and there is no way to keep the truth from coming out. Though the powers that be did their best to keep Americans in the dark on the health benefits of cannabis for as long as possible, that time is long gone. We are all waking up, and its only a matter of time before everyone knows that marijuana is actually considerably healthier than the drugs peddled at the pharmacy. (RELATED: Find more news about medical marijuana at MedicalMarijuanaUpdate.com) This is going to be a year that welcomes many changes to the United States. With the inauguration of Donald Trump comes a lot of new ideas regarding freedom and liberty within our country. One of the issues that our politicians need to address immediately is the archaic manner in which the federal government views cannabis. If they are truly in the business of improving the lives of the American people, they need to stop banning a plant that is guaranteed to help many. Should they choose to continue living in the past, denying the truth and waging a war on reality, they will be preventing many from reaching their full potential. Read more censored science news at Censored.news. Sources: TheDailySheeple.com OpposingViews.com WeedNews.co Owner of Unlicensed Drone That Flew Dangerously Near Airport Condemned by Authorities After Footage Went Viral Visitors look at a demonstration of the SZ DJI Technology Co. DJI Mavic Pro drone in the SZ DJI booth at the Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (CEATEC) show. (Photo : Getty Images) The civil aviation authority warned an unlicensed drone hobbyist that filmed airplanes landing at an airport in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, after his footage went viral. The aviation authority stated on their official Weibo account: "It violated laws, and such a close distance constituted a substantial threat to the safety of the passengers and the civil plane." Advertisement The hobbyist was identified as a 23-year-old Hangzhou resident named Yuan. His drone was estimated to be about 8.5 kilometers from Hangzhou International Airport and flew 450 meters above the ground. According to the police, it has recorded more than one aircraft landing in the 10-minute flight of his lightweight DJI Mavic Pro. DJI is a Chinese drone manufacturing giant based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The investigation is still ongoing. There is still no punishment announced for Yuan. "We strongly condemn the use of this technology in areas that conflict with the safe and normal operation of manned air traffic," DJI stated. According to Ke Yubao, the secretary-general of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of China, only have of the estimated 20,000 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in China have driving licenses. The AOPA is the only authorized body allowed to distribute Civil Unmanned Aircraft System Pilot Certificates. Their interim provisions indicated that drones that weigh less than 7 kilograms are not required to have the certificate, but are required to submit flight plans to relevant authorities. Wang Zifeng, a UAV expert said: "Most recreational drones are used for leisure and are tricky to regulate. One cannot expect users to always do the right thing without being told what a right thing is, and therefore a regulatory framework for flying locations and heights is necessary." According to a report from thepaper.cn, there were approximately 327 incidents all over the world where drones comes dangerously close to civil planes from Dec. 2013 to Sept. 2015. The report also indicates that any future law or policy should be in accordance to China's own situation, and the standards should be well discussed to avoid excessive strictures.. (Natural News) When talk radio icon Rush Limbaugh said in 2008, shortly after Barack Obama was elected president, that he hoped Obama failed, the perpetually angry Left exploded with rage. How dare Limbaugh say something like that about the president of the United States? Gasp! What a racist! What Limbaugh meant was that he hoped Obama failed to enact his far-Left political agenda, because the host believed that it was wrong for the country (and it turns out that most of it was). However, the hypocritical, angry Left is completely silent now that one of its icons, billionaire socialist George Soros, has made a similar statement about President Donald Trump, though his comment comes in a completely different context. More on that in a moment. (RELATED: Keep track of the Trump administration at WhiteHouse.news) Addressing globalists in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum recently, Soros spoke with Bloomberg correspondent Francine Lacqua. During the interview, he called Trump an imposter and con man and would-be dictator, Breitbart reported. Thats almost hysterical, considering that our recently-departed president was known to say that, as long as hes got a pen and a phone, he doesnt need Congress. That actually sounds dictatorial. But Soros wasnt done. Ive described him as an imposter [sic] and con man and would-be dictator, but he is only a would-be dictator. The Constitution and institutions of the United States are strong enough, the division of power is in operation. He would be a dictator if he could get away with it. But he wont be able to. Again, see comments on dictator above. As for Trump, he has surrounded himself with genuine constitutionalists as well as men who have actually put their lives on the line to protect and defend it. So theres that. When asked to assess how a Trump administration will affect global markets, Soros was uncertain though he himself has already lost $1 billion since Election Day. It is impossible to predict exactly how Trump is going to act because he hasnt actually thought it through, Soros opined. He didnt expect to win. Except that his son, Eric, had this talk with his father before the billionaire real estate mogul ever threw his hat into the ring; he said he knew that his father wouldnt get into the race to lose it. Soros continued: He was engaged in building his brand and improving it by his success in attracting crowds. It is really only when he got elected that he started seriously to think about what he is going to do. I personally am convinced that he is going to fail, not because of people like me who would like him to fail, but because the ideas that guide him are inherently self-contradictory. And the contradictions are actually already embodied by his advisors. First of all, crowds flocked to see Trump at his campaign events of their own free will; he didnt force anyone. In fact, at most of them, he had to turn people away something that never happened at a Clinton event. Secondly, Trumps brand was not what he was offering the American people; he was selling a political, social and economic vision that the vast majority of Americans outside of California agreed with. Lastly, if Trump fails, then our country fails and thats precisely what Soros wants. Through his various non-governmental organizations, Soros has been inciting riots and violence around the country, bankrolling groups and paying protesters to target cops, destroy private property and generally make the country as ungovernable as possible. (RELATED: What has the angry Left done lately to civil society? Find out at Collapse.news) So, suffice it to say that this is a man who ought not to be attending globalist economic events in Switzerland; he ought to be standing trial and fighting for his own freedom. And with any luck, maybe the incoming Trump administration will do what Soros own home country of Hungary is doing: put him out of business, politically speaking. J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for Natural News and News Target, as well as editor of The National Sentinel. Sources: Bugout.news Breitbart.com CBSNews.com TheNationalSentinel.com Astronomers have located the habitable zone of Wolf 1061, a planetary system just 14 light-years away from Earth. This is the region where water could exist on the surface of a planet -- have we hit the exoplanet jackpot? This is the question that puzzled biologist and physicists from all around the globe. It's also the same question motivating San Francisco State University astronomer Stephen Kane's research on exoplanets. Kane, a "planet hunter," focuses on finding habitable zones or areas where water could exist in a liquid state on a planet's surface. This could only happen if the planet has enough atmospheric pressure. His team, including undergraduate Miranda Waters, has been examining the habitable zone of Wolf 1061. Kane said the system is important in exoplanet studies because it's so close. Meaning, there's a lot of opportunities for follow-up studies. According to Science Daily, there are currently three planets in the system. One of them, Wolf 1061c, is in the habitable zone of the system. The scientists, with the help of collaborators from Tennessee State University and in Geneva, Switzerland, were able to measure the star the planets are orbiting. Kane explained that "planet hunters" look for planets inside the Goldilocks Zone, a sweet spot where planets like Earth could exist. It cannot be too close or too far from its parent star. Too far, and water will freeze. Too near, and it will be like Earth's twin Venus. According to New Indian Express, since Wolf 1061c is closer to the inner edge of its habitable zone, it may have an atmosphere similar to Venus. However, Wolf 1061c's orbit changes at a much faster rate, which means that the climate may be chaotic. However, the question still stands: are the orbit changes enough to cool off the planet? Kane said this is a possibility, but more research is needed. Telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble's successor, may hopefully detect atmospheric components of exoplanets such as Wolf 1061c. When it comes to casual promiscuity or one-night stands, females are more sensitive to the issue than males. Although feminists have striven to emancipate women sexuality, this time, evolution may be blamed. A study suggests that women are "evolutionary programmed" to regret one-night stands. Meanwhile, men have evolved to regret "not having" more of them. According to Telegraph, a study by Leif Edward Kennair at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology said women regret agreeing to one-night stands while men regret passing up the chances more. His study asked 263 Norwegians, aged between 19 and 37, how they felt about recent one-night stands. Results show that onlly one in three women said they were happy about their experiences, compared to more than 50 percent of men. Although far more men regret saying no to one-night stands than women. Around 80 percent of women were glad they said no to such an opportunity, versus only 43 percent of the male participants. Kennair said it's not that there aren't men who regret casual sex, but it is far more common for women to regret agreeing to them. There may also be a ton of other reasons that may make women more unhappy about the encounters. Women tend to worry more in general about making spontaneous decisions and mostly do not engage in risky decisions. Women also worry about getting pregnant, getting diseases and even bad reputation. Male participants in the study said they also achieved more orgasm than women and got to enjoy more. However, according to their study published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology, evolutionary psychology may be to blame. For thousands of years, men and women have adopted "opposing strategies" because women have to carry and care for children. Men and women tend to regret different aspects of the decision: having casual sex with the wrong partner versus missing the opportunity per se. In theory, men can father thousands of children and are only limited by the "supply" of wiling and fertile women. This "scatter-gun" strategy means the quality of a sexual partner for men isn't as high than that of women. Men who moved from woman to woman would have scored "best" in the evolutionary race of the time. David Buss of University of Texas, a collaborator in the study, said women and men differ in their sexual psychology. Primarily on a key limitation on a man's reproductive success, which has historically been access to fertile women. For women, quality of the partner is more important. What does it look like to land one of the farthest known objects on the edge of the Solar System? NASA just released stunning images of Pluto landing that present the dwarf planet in a new light. The images show the detailed surface of Pluto as the New Horizons draw near the object. The move was done before the spacecraft proceeded further into space to observe another mysterious object location in the Kuiper belt. NASA rendered about 100 images taken by the New Horizons spacecraft and turned it into a video, according to Space.Com. The video was colorized to highlight the surface of Pluto. Watching the video is the closest thing humans could get to the object. It took the spacecraft about six weeks to capture the images of Pluto landing. Although the images were originally black and while, scientists manage to reveal the colors by calculating the best possible combination of hues to come up with what was perceived to be the actual colors of Pluto. In the final output, the dwarf planet appears to be a combination of red, brown, and copper colors. Pluto's moon Charon was also seen in the beginning of the video. The trip ends with what is called a "landing" on Pluto's icy heart called Sputnik Planitia. "Just over a year ago, Pluto was a dot in the distance," New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern, of the Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado said in a statement. "This video shows what it would be like to ride aboard an approaching spacecraft and see Pluto grow to become the world, and then to swoop down over its spectacular terrains as if we were approaching some future landing on them!" Although it says "landing", the spacecraft did not actually touch the surface of the dwarf planet. The scientists who rendered the video only made it appear that it was landing in Pluto. "The challenge in creating this movie is to make it feel like you're diving into Pluto," Constantine Tsang, a New Horizons scientist at SwRI who worked with Stern to create the movie said. "We had to interpolate some of the frames based on we know Pluto looks like to make it as smooth and seamless as possible. It's certainly fun to see this and think what it would feel like to approach a landing on Pluto!" Despite now having touched the surface, the video showed stunning details that almost looked like New Horizons really did reach the surface. A famous beached concrete ship suffered the latest in a long line of casualties over the weekend as explosive surf, brutal storms and record-setting waves lashed at its core. The stern of the S.S. Palo Alto was eaten by the ocean on Saturday off Seacliff State Beach, located east of Santa Cruz in Capitola, on Park Avenue off of Highway 1. While the ship is still there, it's broken almost in half and it's no longer possible to walk from the end of the pier to the tip of the ship. The Cement Ship "took quite a beating," as the Twitter account for Santa Cruz County's travel bureau put it. Today the #SSPaloAlto aka #CementShip took quite a beating. Share your memories w/ us of this iconic & beloved relic! : marissahushaw pic.twitter.com/Az0ennrcVl Santa Cruz County (@visitsantacruz) January 22, 2017 "It's an icon," Aptos resident Chris White told NBC Bay Area on Monday. He grabbed his camera and took a photo of the "amazing" ship on Saturday. He was one of many photographers, including Gabriel DeVault, who wanted to document the ongoing destruction of the historic ship. Devault's drone video (above) shows ocean waves spewing through the holes in the boat. Nicknamed "the Cement Ship," the 99-year-old SS Palo Alto really was made of concrete, but it's been beached on the California shore for many years. Long deterioriating, it's been used as an artificial reef and, until about a decade ago, as a fishing pier. "It's sad to see it go," DeVault said, "but it was a vastly superior option than to just sink it. Even now it is still a tourist attraction and will provide a happy home to the fish for years to come." [NATL-LA 2017 GALLERY] Winter 2017: Strongest Storms in Years Soak California Even as it decayed, the hulking ship was a favorite for beach photo backdrops. People came out on the weekend to take more pictures of their childhood memories. Waves in that area on Saturday reached records heights of 34 feet, according to the National Weather Service, and they were too much for the oil tanker built in 1919. The S.S. Palo Alto is the most famous concrete ship on the West Coast, according to the website concreteships.org, and was built by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company in Oakland. The ship remained docked in San Francisco Bay for over 10 years until it was purchased by a private company and towed to Seacliff State Beach in Santa Cruz County, according to the website. The ship was grounded in the bay and connected to the shore by a long pier. It was initially a party boat complete with arcade, dining room, dance hall and even a swimming pool. James Delgado knows the S.S. Palo Alto well. He is a maritime archaeologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who also used to fish off the end of the ship and camp alongside it on the beach as a kid. [NATL] Extreme Weather Photos: Record Heat Threatens Europe He described it as a "local product of the government's program" to built a fleet of merchant vessels with different materials to offset losses to the German U-boats during World War I. He told NBC Bay Area there was a deep need to build ships as fast as possible, so U.S. ship builders used any materials they could: steel, wood and concrete. The S.S. Palo Alto, was part of the "emergency fleet" during and after the end of the war. Delgado remembered the hull first cracked about 1950, and it continued to break up, most significantly starting in 2005. As odd a ship made of concrete sounds, the California Department of Parks and Recreation says the idea came from a Norwegian inventor. Anything can float if the weight of the water it displaces is more than its own weight. When the concrete is formed into the shape of a ship, much of the interior space contains empty air, which is less dense than water, the Museum of Unnatural Mystery notes. Since the total ship is a combination of air and concrete, the density for the whole ship becomes less than the water, allowing it to float. The California State Parks says on its website that the ship is unsafe and closed to the public indefinitely, as is the fishing pier until repairs can be made. An 18-year-old Tracy woman is still missing after a vehicle went off the roadway and plunged into Alameda Creek, near Fremont, on Saturday, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and the CHP on Monday. According to a California Highway Patrol report, the car, a 2000 silver Honda Accord, crossed the center divide on Niles Canyon Road, collided with a white Honda Accord and went into the creek. Initial reports indicated it had been a solo vehicle crash. Emergency crews responded to the scene, about a quarter-mile east of Palomares Road, on reports of a crash into the creek at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The car is believed to be submerged in the creek, and the driver is unaccounted for, sheriff's officials said. Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said Sunday the driver is an 18-year-old woman, and while it's likely she did not survive the crash, officials were hoping for a miracle. Rescue team divers as of Monday morning had not entered the water and commenced a thorough search because of unsafe water conditions. They were working with the state water resource agency to reduce the volume of water being released into the creek. Crews cannot begin recovery until the water level and current subside, Kelly said. An update on Monday indicated that divers will enter the water on Tuesday morning at the earliest, but that could be pushed back to Wednesday depending on the conditions. Drones were deployed Sunday to search the area, Kelly said, and the CHP assisted with the search. "Today, we searched the area by air with helicopters, planes and drones trying to find the car but we were not able to see where it went into the water," CHP Officer Derek Reed said. Drones on Monday were lifted once again to explore the scene. Witnesses were also back at the scene of the crash to help give authorities a clearer picture of what exactly happened. Reed said even before CHP officers responded to the scene, the woman's family had reported her missing to the Tracy police. Some of them came to the crash scene to assist in the search, he said. Kelly did not say how soon recovery crews would be able to enter the water. Alameda County Sheriff's deputies and Dublin CHP were working with Fremont Fire, Fremont Police, Alameda County Fire and other state, county and city agencies in the recovery effort. Niles Canyon Road, also known as Highway 84, was closed for hours Sunday due to an unrelated rock and mudslide, which further hampered recovery efforts, Kelly said. It reopened Sunday evening. A small robot at the 2016 Global Mobile Internet Conference. (Photo : Getty Images) In what seemed like a plot straight from a sci-fi movie, a robot has reportedly written an article for a Guangzhou-based tabloid paper. According to China Daily, a robot named Xiao Nan wrote a 300-word article about the Spring Festival travel rush for the Southern Metropolis Daily. Advertisement The robot took only "a second" to complete the write-up. It was also able to finish longer articles, per Wan Xiaojun, a professor at Peking University, who headed the team studying intelligent robots. "When compared with the staff reporters, Xiao Nan has a stronger data analysis capacity and is quicker at writing stories," Wan said. "But it does not mean intelligent robots will soon be able to completely replace reporters." One of the limitations of robots such as Xiao Nan is their inability to handle face-to-face interviews and make follow-up questions. They are also not equipped to choose story angles, noted Wan. "But robots will be able to act as a supplement, helping newspapers and related media, as well as editors and reporters," he said. Wan is currently working with the Southern Metropolis Daily to create a laboratory that will further study such robots. Media robots are not quite as common as service robots, which have been present in many restaurants in and outside China. Last year, Pizza Hut used SoftBank's humanoid robot named Pepper to serve customers in Japan. The order-taking robot adopted artificial intelligence to interact with people, The Wall Street Journal reported. According to the International Federation of Robotics, global turnover of service robots, which include the likes of Pepper, is predicted to balloon to $46 billion throughout 2019, from $7 billion in 2015. In the manufacturing sector, meanwhile, several companies have long started replacing human workers with such smart machines as they try to grapple with the rising manpower costs. Watch Pepper interact with humans in the video below. Emergency crews rescued a man on the BART tracks near the Powell Street station in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon; he was in stable condition and being evaluated at the scene, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. The Fire Department tweeted at 4:22 p.m. an active rescue of a man on the tracks was taking place. The man managed to roll out of the way of oncoming trains before rescue crews arrived and pulled him to safety, officials said. The rescue caused a major delay on BART for about an hour, the agency said. BART reported as of 5 p.m. Sunday all trains were back on schedule. The man was conscious and taken to San Francisco General Hospital, officials said. They were not clear how the man ended up on the tracks, but said foul play is not suspected. Crews rescued a driver and passenger from a truck stuck in a river of water in San Bernardino and freeways and roads were shut down as a major storm ripped through Southern California on Sunday. A rescue crew hoisted to safety a driver and passenger in a pick-up truck that was stuck on a flooded road in the Cajon Pass. Freeways and roads elsewhere were shut as heavy rains hit. The southern end of the Long Beach (710) Freeway flooded, south of Willow Street, and the Harbor (110) Freeway was underwater at 223rd Street, according to CHP reports. All southbound lanes were closed for an unknown duration due to flooding on the San Diego (405) Freeway at Cherry Avenue in Signal Hill, the CHP said. Miles of stopped cars clogged the 110 Freeway heading towards San Pedro. Fire crews were dispatched to reports of people trapped in flooded vehicles on Vermont Avenue, and people were reported to be in need of rescue at a homeless encampment in a park was flooded on Pacific Coast Highway west of the Harbor (110) Freeway. County weather gauges measured 3.4 inches of rain at Lomita, 2.9 inches at Signal Hill and 2.6 inches on the Palos Verdes peninsula. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the Long Beach and South Bay area, and said its radar and gauges detected rain falling at the rate of 3/4-inch per hour. Los Angeles police said they were watching the Sepulveda Basin, where busy Burbank Boulevard by midmorning was already covered in standing water on two of the three eastbound lanes. A police sergeant said officers were ready to declare the road closed as more rain arrives. County geologists said Saturday that the cliffs in Malibu Canyon were unsafe, and boulders might fall on the narrow two-lane linking Calabasas and Malibu. That road might be closed through the end of the week, Malibu officials said. Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Old Topanga Canyon was closed around 7 p.m. due to a landslide, Caltrans tweeted. It may take two to three days to clear the large landslide, the agency added. Residents along Kanan-Dume Road said county road scrapers were working to keep mud off that route starting at 4:30 a.m. At Zuma Beach, fire department bulldozer drivers worked in the surfline Saturday to bolster sand berms in front of the lifeguard headquarters and restroom buildings. At high tide, waves were observed hitting the seawall. Former President George H.W. Bush is still suffering from pneumonia, but is well enough to leave the intensive care unit at a Houston hospital, doctors said Monday. His wife, Barbara, has been discharged from the same facility after completing treatment for bronchitis. The 92-year-old former president was struggling to breathe when he was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital Jan. 14. Last week, he was breathing with the aid of a ventilator in the ICU, but doctors removed the breathing tube on Friday and by Monday were talking about the possibility that he could return home soon. Dr. Amy Mynderse said at a news conference that the former president is "sitting up, watching TV and is waiting anxiously for his favorite oyster stew for lunch." "He's on minimal oxygen, joking and laughing with the nurses and doctors," she said. Dr. Clint Doerr said Bush was still coughing "a fair amount" but that if he continues to improve, he could be discharged from the hospital by Friday or over the weekend. "He's excited to get home and he's feeling well," Mynderse said, describing Bush as "not your average 92-year-old." Mynderse said when she told Bush he was being released from intensive care, he asked her: "Can I just go home?" President and Mrs @GeorgeHWBush thank their fellow Americans and friends from around the world for their prayers and good wishes. pic.twitter.com/PhpXXGKl6p Jim McGrath (@jgm41) January 23, 2017 Meanwhile, former first lady Barbara Bush, 91, who was admitted to the facility for treatment of bronchitis on Wednesday, is "back to her normal self," Mynderse said. Mrs. Bush was told she could return home Sunday but she opted to stay one more night to fully recover and remain close to her husband, according to family spokesman Jim McGrath. The couple's 72-year marriage is the longest of any presidential couple in American history, and the doctors said they have been a great support to each other. "They truly do have just such an amazing love for each other and that really came across here," Mynderse said, adding that Barbara Bush spent much her hospital stay by her husband's side. "Part of why she ended up, I think, in the hospital was because even though she was ill, she was trying to be by his bedside all the time." Doerr said: "They're essentially therapy for each other. They help and are compliant in terms of when one of them doesn't want to take a breathing treatment, the other says, `Get on that.' It helps our cause." Bush, who served as 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 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. The former president and his wife appear to have touched the medical staff with their humility. Mynderse told reporters that when she informed the former president she would be speaking at a news conference Monday, he replied: "About what?" "I said, `About you!' And he said, `People want to know about me?"' she said. "They're so humble. They truly are the most humble people," Mynderse said. Former President George H.W. Bush's health continues to improve and his wife, who is also recovering from illness, has chosen to remain hospitalized one more night to be "closer to her husband," a family spokesman said Sunday. The 92-year-old former president and his wife Barbara remained at Houston Methodist Hospital. He has been receiving treatment for breathing difficulties from pneumonia while she is recovering from bronchitis. The 41st president's vital signs are normal and doctors hope he can be moved out of intensive care in the next day or two, said Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath. Bush has been in the Houston hospital now for a week. Doctors on Wednesday inserted a breathing tube, and a ventilator was employed to assist his breathing. The tube was removed Friday. Physicians are scheduled to provide an update on the Bushes' conditions from Houston Methodist Hospital at 10 a.m. Monday. The update will be streamed live atop this story. Barbara Bush, 91, entered the hospital Wednesday after feeling run down and coughing for the past few weeks. Doctors determined she had bronchitis. Her health has improved since receiving treatment. "Mrs. Bush was given the option of being discharged today, but has elected to remain at Houston Methodist Hospital one more evening to continue her recovery and to be closer to her husband," McGrath said. McGrath added the Bushes wanted to make sure "they thank their well-wishers for their kindness, and especially their prayers." In a tweet on Saturday, McGrath said the couple's spirits were up, they were very interested "in inauguration doings" and were "very happy" that President Donald Trump went to see the men and women of the CIA. On Saturday, Trump traveled to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and spoke to a group of about 400 people in attendance. Bush served as CIA director from 1976 to 1977. The couple's 72-year marriage is the longest of any presidential couple in American history. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a "very warm" conversation with President Donald Trump on Sunday, NBC News reported. Netanyahu's office said the two leaders discussed Iran and the Palestinian peace process. However, they did not discuss Trump's campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city of Jerusalem. "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told NBC News. In a statement, the White House said that peace between Israel and the Palestinians could be achieved only through direct negotiation. Trump and Netanyahu agreed to a White House visit next month. Illinois Democrats marched alongside millions of Americans this weekend at womens marches across the country. Ald. Ameya Pawar, the first Democrat to announce his candidacy in the 2018 governors race, marched in Chicago Saturday as did businessman Chris Kennedy, another Democrat reportedly mulling a run for governor, Another prospective Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Cheri Bustos, also marched in Chicago, one day after she attended President Donald Trumps inauguration despite vehement disagreement with the Republican's behavior and billionaires-first agenda. Meanwhile, Sen. Tammy Duckworth delivered a passionate speech at the Womens March on Washington Saturday. This is about our country, Duckworth said Saturday, I didnt shed blood to defend this nation I didnt give up literally parts of my body to have the Constitution trampled on. Duckworth lost both legs piloting a Black Hawk Army helicopter over Iraq in 2004. Duckworth also attended Trumps swearing-in Friday, stressing the importance of a peaceful transition of presidential power. Nevertheless, the senator criticized Trump Saturday, claiming his nominees for top government positions comprise a swamp cabinet. Over the course of Trumps campaign, he promised to drain the swamp of lobbyists, corruption and corporate money in Washington, D.C. Sen. Dick Durbin joined a march in Springfield that backed the Womens March on Washington Saturday, according to the Chicago Tribune. He was joined by state Rep. Carol Ammons, state Sen. Andy Manar, as well as members of Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the AFSCME union. Durbin attended Trumps inaugural Friday, but criticized his address during a speech at Saturdays march, according to the report. It was an inaugural address, with the exception of two or three sentences, which really appealed to the divisions and resentments of America, Durbin said. Instead of asking us to look up together to make a better nation, he gave people reasons to fear and to hate. That is not what the leader of the United States of America should be saying to people, he added. During his speech, Durbin slammed Trumps proposed policies on immigration and health care, claiming he would stand up to Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, the Tribune reports. He also reportedly encouraged attendees to organize to oppose the incoming Trump administration and its policies. Chicago police says more than 100 people were arrested over the weekend during citywide raids focusing on what they called the main source of violence in the city illegal guns and narcotics. A total of 120 arrests were made during the raids that began late last week. These arrests were targeting the guys that were driving the violence, said Chief Tony Riccio. Riccio noted that 40 of the arrests that were made came from the citys 11th District, one of the most violent. In addition, 19 guns were recovered, including three shot guns and four rifles, police said. These guns are guns that were going to be used on the street, Riccio said. The arrests come amid a particularly violent weekend and start to the year in Chicago, though Superintendent Eddie Johnson said he did not believe any of the weekend arrests were connected to the latest round of shootings. Six people were killed and at least 47 others were wounded in shootings across the city between Friday evening and Monday morning, according to authorities. Still, Johnson said he believes the gun recoveries made over the weekend underscores a very real problem. Johnson noted that the department continues to implement new procedures as a result of the U.S. Department of Justice report released earlier this month, but this weekends raids were in addition to those initiatives. We cannot wait to act, he said, continuing his call for stiffer penalties for repeat gun offenders. Johnson added that while police arrests for gun offenders are on the rise, more change is needed on a legislative level. Its frustrating for [officers] to see these same individuals back on the street time and time again after they arrest them, he said. Six people were killed and at least 47 others were wounded in shootings across the city between Friday evening and Monday morning, according to Chicago Police. The weekends latest homicide happened at 1:54 a.m. Monday outside Spencer Elementary Technology Academy in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side. Officers responded to a call of a person shot and found the woman, thought to be 25 years old, lying on the sidewalk in the 5000 block of West Maypole, police said. She was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. The Cook County medical examiners office did not provide information on the fatality. About 11:15 p.m. Saturday, a 23-year-old man was gunned down in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side. He was sitting in a parked vehicle in the first block of North Sacramento when someone in another vehicle fired shots. He was shot in the left thigh and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced. His name has not been released. Earlier Saturday, 21-year-old Tremayne Henderson was shot to death in the Fernwood neighborhood on the Far South Side, police and the medical examiners office said. At 4:53 p.m., he was in the first block of West 104th Place when someone walked up and fired shots. Henderson was shot in the chest and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 9:16 p.m. He lived in the same block as the shooting. At 1:42 p.m. Saturday, a 24-year-old man was sitting in a vehicle in the 2600 block of West Monroe on the West Side, when someone walked up and shot him in the neck. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 2:09 p.m., authorities said. He has not been identified. A 20-year-old man was killed in a shooting that also left two other men wounded about 3:15 a.m. Saturday in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side. Officers responding to a call of shots fired found two men lying in the street with gunshot wounds to the head in the 3900 block of West Thomas, police said. Armani Pickett, of the 5700 block of North Talman, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:05 a.m., authorities said. A 36-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. Another man, 42, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and later showed up at Norwegian American Hospital, where he was listed in good condition. About the same time, nearly 6 miles away in the Brighton Park neighborhood, a woman was killed in a shooting that also wounded two men on the Southwest Side. They were all inside a vehicle parked in the 3800 block of South St. Louis when another car pulled up, and a gunman got out to fire at least 16 shots before driving away, authorities said. Natalia Ramirez, 27, was shot in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she died at 4:02 a.m. A 22-year-old man who was shot in the back was also taken to Mount Sinai, police said. A 28-year-old man was shot in the hip and taken to Stroger Hospital. The conditions of both men had stabilized. The weekends latest nonfatal shooting left a man wounded on the North Side early Monday. The 24-year-old was walking at 1:23 a.m. in the 2000 block of West Diversey when someone in a gray vehicle fired shots, police said. He suffered a graze wound to the right side of his face and was taken by a friend to Swedish Covenant Hospital, where his condition was stabilized. At least 42 other people were wounded in shootings across Chicago between 4 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Monday. Last weekend, 39 people were shot in Chicago, 10 of them fatally. Police in Chicagos west suburbs are searching for the driver in a hit-and-run accident that left a man seriously hurt. Witnesses say a man with serious injuries was left lying in the middle of Roosevelt Road near the intersection of Desplaines Avenue in Forest Park around 10 p.m. Sunday after being struck by a car that then kept on driving, according to police. The victim was reportedly taken to Loyola University Medical Center, but further information on his condition was no immediately made available. Roosevelt Road was closed until early Monday morning as authorities spent several hours gathering evidence and hosing down the roadway after what witnesses described as a disturbing scene. Forest Park police are expected to release additional information on the findings of their investigation, as well as who was involved in the accident, on Monday. Fans of Kings of Leon will have to wait a few more weeks to see the band in Chicago after Monday nights show at the United Center was canceled. Kings of Leon announced in a post on Facebook that the show was postponed until March 8 as the band's drummer recovers from pneumonia. Nathan Followill has been diagnosed with pneumonia and is being advised by doctors to take three days of rest, the band wrote on its Facebook page Sunday. Therefore tonights show in Detroit will be postponed until March 9. Additionally, the Monday January 23rd show in Chicago will be postponed until March 8. The United Center said tickets for Mondays show will be honored on March 8 or refunded at point of purchase. (1/2) @KingsOfLeon drummer Nathan Followill has been diagnosed with pneumonia. Therefore, our Jan. 23 show will be postponed until March 8. United Center (@UnitedCenter) January 22, 2017 Premier Li Keqiang speaks at a press conference. (Photo : Getty Images) The State Council has just announced an upgrade to its mobile app. With this new version, the app aims to help not only Chinese citizens, but foreigners and returning Chinese can now get government information and important updates as well. The State Council app is now available in Chinese and English, enabling anyone to access information and updates from the Chinese government. Users could access State Council documents, government policies, ministries' guidelines and economic data. Advertisement The government planned to launch an English version of the app since last year. Managed by the General Office of the State Council, the app provides information about updates and initiatives of State Councils leaders which include the premier, vice-premier and state councilors. Aside from this, the app also serves as an online government affairs service center. Users would be able to get a glimpse into the world of the Chinese government as the app has a special section on State Council executive meetings, ministries' response to public concerns, and the premier's trips overseas. The app also features a feedback mechanism, which enables its users to make suggestions or ask questions through the message function and might be used by policymakers. The first version of the app was launched February last year. The development and launch of the app reflected the government's desire to be innovative in releasing information and to improve the interaction of the constituency in the decision-making process. The new version of the State Council app is now available for download via Google Play and the App Store. By upgrading its mobile app, the State Council recognizes the need to innovate the method of engaging with its citizens and foreigners with affairs in China, especially in this internet age. Though it may seem like a minor change, breaking down the language barrier will certainly go a long way in improving and providing services for everyone. Rex Tillerson's bid to be secretary of state narrowly won approval Monday from the Republican-led Foreign Relations Committee, a move that all but assures the full Senate will confirm President Donald Trump's pick for the key Cabinet post. Members of the panel voted along party lines, 11-10, to back Tillerson following a contentious confirmation hearing nearly two weeks ago that stoked concerns he might not win the panel's recommendation. But just hours before members cast their votes, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., declared his support for Tillerson, backing off from a challenge to the new president. Rubio said that despite serious reservations about Tillerson, particularly over his views on Russia, he believed a president was entitled to significant deference in assembling his Cabinet. None of the committee's 10 Democrats voted for Tillerson. They cited concerns Tillerson would continue to view the world through the lens of a corporate executive and not the nation's chief diplomat. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panel's top Democrat, said Tillerson "equivocated" during his confirmation hearing on questions about human rights, civil society and press and religious freedoms, and repeatedly prioritized "narrow business interests ahead of these core national security interests." Every nominee for the job going back at least four decades has been approved by overwhelming votes from both sides in the Foreign Relations Committee, as senators have traditionally wanted to deliver a bipartisan display of confidence to the nation's top diplomat. No other nominee since 1977 has received more than two "no" votes from the committee. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the committee's Republican chairman, said he has "no doubt" Tillerson is well-qualified, citing his leadership of the energy giant. Corker chided his colleagues who had demanded information about Tillerson's personal taxes, saying the material had been used to ask "silly, silly questions." Corker also criticized unnamed lawmakers who held Tillerson responsible for comments Trump made during the presidential campaign or during his inauguration speech. "To me, Mr. Tillerson is an adult who's been around," said Corker, adding that Tillerson can be a "very good anchor" on issues that Congress cares about. Rubio announced he would vote for Tillerson in a statement posted on Facebook. "Despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillerson's nomination in committee and in the full Senate," said Rubio, who'd come under strong pressure from fellow Republicans to back the nomination and avoid dealing Trump an embarrassing setback in the early days of his presidency. Rubio had clashed with Tillerson at a committee hearing earlier this month, bridling at his refusal to label Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" and his failure to condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. He chided Tillerson over the need for "moral clarity." But in the end, after unsuccessfully opposing Trump for the GOP nomination last year before coming around to support him, Rubio decided to fall in line this time, too. His statement came after the nomination got a boost Sunday from two influential Republican senators, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who also offered tepid endorsements for Tillerson. Like Rubio, McCain and Graham had voiced concerns in light of Tillerson's long history of personal dealings with Putin, his record of doing oil deals in Russia and his questioning of the U.S. sanctions on that country. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he was encouraged by several of Tillerson's public stances, including "his clear-eyed understanding of the threat posed by Putin's Russia" and his commitment to NATO. But Coons said the differences on key issues between himself and Tillerson outweighed the similarities. "I believe that climate change is a pressing national security threat," Coons said. "I believe that advocating for human rights, a free press, and democracy around the world advances our own security and economic interests here at home." Further roiling the debate is U.S. intelligence's assessment that Russia meddled in the presidential election to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. Even while announcing his support for Tillerson, Rubio laid out a series of concerns in his statement Monday. "Despite his extensive experience in Russia and his personal relationship with many of its leaders, he claimed he did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists and political opponents," Rubio said of Tillerson. "He indicated he would support sanctions on Putin for meddling in our elections only if they met the impossible condition that they not affect U.S. businesses operating in Russia." Plainfield police have arrested three people accused of stealing dirt bikes from a home and a motorcycle dealership and said they could also be behind thefts in several eastern Connecticut towns. The residential burglary happened in the overnight hours of May 16 on Weston Road. The burglars forced their way into the garage through a back door and stole two dirt bikes, as well as other items, according to police, who said they found tire marks and shoe impressions in a nearby cornfield. The burglary at MotorSports Nation happened overnight on May 23. Police determined that the burglars forced their way into the building and stole several motorcycles and other property and said surveillance footage showed two people who concealed their identity. Investigators said they found shoe and tire impressions along a trail behind the business and located several items stolen in Groton, New London, Montville, Norwich and Ledyard. Plainfield police arrested 25-year-old Jonathan Zadora, of North Windham, on Jan. 6. He was charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit larceny. Zadora was initially held on a court-set $35,000 cash bond and was arraigned in Danielson Superior Court on Jan. 3. Mariah Ellison, 24, of Norwich, was arrested on Jan. 9 and charged with third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and third-degree conspiracy to commit larceny. She was initially held on a court-set $15,000 cash bond and was arraigned in Danielson Superior Court on Jan. 10. Jordan Lanphear, 21, of Norwich, was arrested on Jan. 21 and charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit larceny. He is being held on a court-set $35,000 cash bond and will be arraigned in Danielson Superior Court on Jan. 23. Several airlines have announced they will offer fee waivers ahead of a storm expected to bring high winds and a mix of rain sleet and snow to New England. Delta, Southwest, American Airlines, Jet Blue, and United have all offered the waivers, which will allow flyers to change flights for free. Most airlines require travelers stay in the same cabin and fly to the same airport. Check with your airline for specific details. Monday morning things were running smoothly at Bradley International Airport, with only two cancellations and a handful of delays. But as the storm gains steam that may change. Travelers should check their flight status with the airline before heading to the airport. Darryl Mosher of East Haddam showed up at Bradley only to find out his flight to Atlanta had been canceled. We got here to the airport to find out the flight was canceled due to weather. I guess the planes didnt make it up this morning. I guess everything is stuck on the ground down there. They rescheduled the flight for me for 4 p.m. today, but depending on the weather, Im not sure if were going to get out of here today. The NBC Connecticut meteorologists are forecasting rain, sleet, and snow across the state, with some accumulation expected in the northwest hills. There is a high wind warning out for the shoreline and minor coastal flooding is possible. Police are looking for a 53-year-old Bristol man who has been missing for more than a month and they are asking for help to find him. Craig Calverts family lives East Granby and reported him missing to state police there on Jan. 12. Calvert was last in touch with them on Dec. 17 and police said the circumstances of Calverts disappearance are unknown. He has blue eyes, scars on his cheeks, no teeth or dentures and short brown hair, but is almost bald. He is slender, 5-feet-9 and around 160 pounds. Police said he is known to frequent the Hartford area and might be driving his yellow 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup with Connecticut registration C051181 or his yellow 2008 Honda VTX1300C motorcycle with Connecticut plates 00DVKG. He might be wearing a black jacket, dirty blue jeans and work boots. He is known to work odd jobs sheet rocking. Anyone who sees Calvert or his vehicles should call the Bristol Police Department at 860-584-3011. A judge might soon rule on whether to dismiss corruption charges against former Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez. Perez is set to return to Hartford Superior Court on Tuesday, when Judge Juliett Crawford may decide on Perez's motions to dismiss. Lawyers for the Democratic former mayor argue that retrials on the charges would violate the Fifth Amendment's double jeopardy clause against being prosecuted for the same crimes more than once. Prosecutors disagree. The state Supreme Court last year overturned Perez's 2010 convictions for taking a bribe and attempted extortion, saying two cases were improperly combined into one trial. Perez was sentenced to three years in prison, but has remained free on appeal. Perez was Hartford's first Hispanic mayor and served from 2001 to 2010, when he resigned after being convicted. Two state lawmakers are looking to crack down on opioid drug dealers and increase the punishment if the overdose results in death. The two separate bills -- proposed by Republican Rep. Kurt Vail, of Stafford, Republican Rep. Devin Carney, of Old Saybrook -- have a common denominator: to hold drug dealers responsible for homicide if a person who buys those drugs, dies from an overdose. "We have people in my district, many have passed away from overdoses. I want to deter people from selling people and taking advantage," Rep. Vail said. According to Vail's bill, he wants to "establish a new crime for homicide in the case of a drug overdose." "Because (dealers are) the ones bringing it into the streets. And then maybe when we get one dealer, we can get someone above them," he said. Rep. Carney also wants to establish a new, harsher crime. His bill proposes "To hold drug dealers criminally liable for the sale of drugs that result in the death of a person who purchased the drugs from the dealer." According to Carney, part of his motivation for the bill is having a very close family member affected by addiction. "Dealers are knowingly cutting drugs with fentanyl and need to be stopped," Carney said. The Town of Groton police chief agrees. "The people that we're arresting, in many cases, are using other alternates and adulterants in the heroin. They're strengthening it. They know the product they're putting out there is dangerous and in many cases lethal," Chief L.J. Fusaro said. Connecticut has been plagued by an opioid epidemic. Over the past few years the southeastern part of the state has seen an uptick in drug activity. Last year there were 20 overdoses in the Town of Groton. Six resulted in death investigations. All six involved opioids, according to Fusaro. He said he's in favor of looking into the two proposed bills. Currently, many cases have been handled on the federal level, because those charges have stiffer penalties for relatively similar crimes, according to Fusaro. Some have concerns about the proposed legislation, including Tammy de la Cruz, who co-founded Community Speaks Out, a group that supports families facing addiction. "Legislation like this scares me personally. The money involved in arresting, investigating and proving that an individual intended or held back what was in the drug is hard to prove," de la Cruz said in a statement. "This is a disease of the brain and needs to be treated like one. The only way to turn this around is not on the supply side but on the demand side." Rep. Vail is in favor of increasing available treatment for addicts. He said his bill is based off of a similar one proposed in New York. Both lawmakers say they've spoken to one another about their proposals. Both bills have been referred to the Joint Committee on Judiciary. A 23-year-old woman from Waterbury was killed in an accident in Massachusetts Sunday, according to police in Methuen, Mass. The Eagle-Tribune reports that Jennifer Montanez was killed when the car she was riding in struck a pole in Methuen, Mass. around 3 a.m. Sunday. Another passenger was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver and another passenger were taken to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries, police said. The Eagle-Tribune reports that police believe alcohol was a factor in the crash. A former employee of a Connecticut real estate management and development business has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing more than $700,000 from the company. Federal prosecutors say 50-year-old Debra Biagi, a former Greenwich woman who now lives in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, was also sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to repay all the money. She pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud for stealing the money from the HB Nitkin Group from February 2014 until December 2015. She was an assistant to the chairman of the company with responsibilities that included managing accounts payable. Prosecutors said she created fraudulent invoices made out to fictitious companies for masonry, carpentry, electrical and plumbing work. She then used the victims' checks to the fake companies and deposited the money into her personal bank account. The Supreme Court said Monday it won't hear an appeal from the family on TV's "Sister Wives" challenging Utah's law banning polygamy. The justices left in place a lower court ruling that said Kody Brown and his four wives can't sue over the law because they weren't charged under it. A federal judge sided with the Browns and overturned key parts of the state's bigamy law in 2013, but an appeals court overturned that decision last year. The Browns claim the law infringes on their right to freedom of speech and religion. The family said they should be able to challenge the law because the threat of prosecution forced them to flee to Nevada and still looms over them when they return to Utah. Police investigated the family after their show premiered in 2010, but closed the case without filing any charges. The family argued in legal briefs that the state should not be able to thwart a constitutional challenge to the law "by changing its enforcement policy during the pendency of litigation." Utah's law forbids married people from living with a second purported "spouse," making it stricter than anti-bigamy laws in other states and creating a threat of arrest for plural families. But state officials have followed a long tradition of not prosecuting polygamists unless they commit some other crime, such as child or spousal abuse, domestic violence or fraud. The state says only 10 people were charged with violating the law between 2001 and 2011. Utah officials argue that the ban is important to protect vulnerable people from exploitation and abuse. Kody Brown is legally married to Meri Brown, but says he is "spiritually married" to three other women. They live together in a plural relationship and belong to a religious group that believes in polygamy as a core religious practice. About 30,000 polygamists live in Utah, according to court documents. The mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abandoned the practice in 1890 and strictly prohibits it today. An attorney for a TV's "Sister Wives" family says the U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear an appeal of Utah's law banning polygamy won't end the larger fight by plural and unconventional families for equal status. Lawyer Jonathan Turley said Monday in a statement posted on his blog that he and the Brown family are disappointed but not surprised by the decision that was issued by the high court without comment. Turley emphasized that an appeals court ruling that stands wasn't made based on the merits of the Browns' assertion that Utah's law violates their rights of speech and religion. That court found Kody Brown and his four wives can't sue over the law because they weren't charged under it. The family says it wanted to challenge the law because the threat of prosecution still looms over them. Utah's law forbids married people from living with a second purported "spouse," making it stricter than anti-bigamy laws in other states. The Utah Attorney General's Office declined comment. The high court is on a pace to hear less than 1 percent of the 7,500 appeals it is likely to receive this term. A group of North Texas firefighters went above and beyond the call of duty Sunday by helping clean up and repair a church wall damaged by a driver. Firefighters from Waxahachie Fire-Rescue's Station 2 responded after a congregant accidentally crashed into the Graham Street Church of Christ, according to John Rodgers, a battalion chief with the fire department. Rodgers said the driver was trying to back up but accidentally put the car in drive and crashed through the wall. The collision happened at 4:53 p.m., just after a service had ended, Rodgers said, and several people were still inside. [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More After making sure no one was injured, the firefighters stayed and got to work fixing some of the damage. Photos posted on the department's Facebook page showed firefighters sweeping inside the church, installing new framing and putting up plywood. [[411480715,C]] The church is located in the 300 block of Graham Street. The damage is estimated at $20,000. The facade of Village 127 French Bakery and Cafe (Photo : www.shanghaiyoungbakers.com) The Village 127 French Bakery and Cafe in downtown Shanghai suffered a decline in business after a Shanghai Observer report revealed that its employees were born to families affected by HIV/AIDS. Yu Fengjiang, a manager at the cafe that sells French bread, coffee and simple set meals, said that they made about 5,000 yuan ($719) a day before the report was published on World AIDS Day last Dec. 1, but now sales are down to just 3,000 yuan. Advertisement He added that the cafe used to sell 40 to 50 set lunches a day, but it is now down to 30 or fewer. The report was intended to combat HIV/AIDS-related stigma and stressed that the employees were healthy. However, it ignited unfavorable comments online with people even complaining about its existence of the cafe. Yu added that the staff has also been receiving threatening phone calls. The profits go to the Chi Heng Foundation which helps AIDS orphans in rural areas, most born to parents who died from infection via transfusions of contaminated blood. Chi Heng, or "wisdom in action," is registered as a charity in Hong Kong, and since 2002, it has helped more than 20,000 students from HIV/AIDS-affected families. The cafe is named for the 127 children who made up the first group of AIDS orphans to receive an education in the first year of Chi Heng's charitable work. The cafe's owner, To Chung, said that while he kept employees from being stigmatized, he had never deliberately concealed their condition. He lamented that people who are AIDS-impacted, irrespective of whether they or their parents are HIV-positive, are still stigmatized. The joint has been dubbed "the cafe of love" by workers nearby who frequent it. Shen Jie, a customer who works nearby, said that the food rarely differs from other restaurants, but chose to support it because the stories behind their food are very different. Love the handwritten note? The look and feel of a new pen? Monday, Jan. 23, is your day -- it's National Handwriting Day. The date was chosen in honor of the birthday of John Hancock the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. While text and email are easy alternatives, there are still plenty of people picking up a pen. "Pens, pencils, markers and highlighters will soon have a higher value than the gross domestic product of nearly half the countries in the world," reports Promo Marketing Magazine. The article goes on to say that "a report from research firm Global Industry Analysts shows that the global market for writing instruments is set to reach $21.6 billion by 2017." One of the businesses taking a slice of that profit is right here in North Texas. RiteLine Pens makes promotional pens like the ones you get from businesses with their names on it. Kim Lehere, vice president of marketing at RiteLine, said the Dallas-based company is growing very rapidly. Lehere said RiteLine uses Italian machines to print company logos, brands or messages on pens. "Writing may take longer, but it's good for you," Lehere said. "Studies show students who write their notes do better than those who type them." Lehere also points to a recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that supporting handwriting over typing. "Connecting your fingers to pen and paper engages your brain and connects your heart and soul as well," wrote Regina Brett. "It's a feeling no laptop can match. The president of the Dallas Builders Association says there's a vicious cycle of competition for skilled workers, and it won't end unless vacancies are filled. "A build cycle is typically six months, now we're at eight months," said Michael Turner, president of the association. "What we're seeing is smaller crews because of the demand on subcontractors." Turner, who builds custom homes in Dallas, said an aging workforce is close to retirement. "The average age of an electrician is about 58 years old. The average age of a plumbing contractor is about 58 years old," Turner said. "We're not replacing skilled laborers as fast as we should." A limited workforce, prices for building materials, and labor rates are driving prices up, the Dallas Builders Association said. In a recent survey, the DBA found that increased costs and delays attributed to the labor shortage have added more than $4,000 per home in additional costs. "We're building like crazy out here and still can't keep up with the demand," said Joseph Nixon, a Keller Williams realtor. "When there's high demand for a product, the price naturally rises." Turner believes vocational training in North Texas schools will help alleviate the labor shortage. "For those kids where college is not an option or not the direction they want to pursue, I want them to know there's great careers in this industry," Turner said. "We're not trying to sway anybody out of college, but we want to let these people know there are alternatives." The Dallas Builders Association says it will encourage school districts, including Dallas ISD, to offer more vocational training. It's a big initiative for the DBA this year, Turner said. Police arrested a man accused of wounding one woman and killing her daughter in an attack at a Dallas apartment complex early Monday morning. [[411498125,C]] Dallas police said they responded to a stabbing call at The Madison Apartments in the 12800 block of Jupiter Road at 1:34 a.m. and found the two women. Police said the daughter was transported to a hospital where she died from her injuries. The mother was also transported to a hospital in serious condition, according to authorities. Police say the suspect, 33-year-old Antonio Townsley, fled the location and was later captured. Townsley was booked into the Dallas County Jail on a murder charge. His bond is $150,000. A Los Angeles judge Monday overturned a former security guard's conviction for an 18-year-old woman's shooting death in a Palmdale park-and-ride lot nearly 17 years ago. Citing new evidence in the case, Los Angeles County prosecutors earlier this month asked that Raymond Lee Jennings' conviction for the Feb. 22, 2000, shooting death of Antelope Valley College student Michelle O'Keefe be thrown out. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan took the matter under submission following a hearing Jan. 5. In a court filing in early January, Los Angeles County Chief Deputy District Attorney John K. Spillane wrote that the District Attorney's Office agrees that Jennings is entitled to relief "based on newly discovered evidence pointing to his factual innocence.'' O'Keefe was shot four times after she returned to her blue Ford Mustang, which she left at the park-and-ride lot so she could carpool with a friend to a Kid Rock video shoot in Los Angeles, where they worked as paid extras. Jennings was a security guard at the parking lot where O'Keefe was killed. Jennings, now 42, was convicted in December 2009 of second-degree murder by the third jury to hear the case against him. The first two juries deadlocked in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom and the case was eventually returned to Lancaster, where he was found guilty. The case is the first in which the district attorney's new Conviction Review Unit has asked a judge to overturn a conviction. "The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has lost confidence in the validity of the conviction and requests that this court grant the habeas corpus petition and set aside Jennings' conviction,'' Spillane wrote in the letter to the judge. "Additionally, based upon the current state of the evidence known to us, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will not seek to retry Raymond Jennings for the murder of Michelle O'Keefe,'' Spillane also noted that the facts uncovered in the ongoing investigation meet "the burden of proof required for a finding of factual innocence'' for Jennings. Jennings, a father of five and an Iraq war veteran, told reporters after the Jan. 5 court hearing he was confident the judge would rule in his favor. "You know, my heart goes out to the O'Keefes ... No matter what's told to the O'Keefes they're always going to be under the impression that I'm the one that took their daughter's life,'' Jennings said. "It's a sad reality. But I hope that they find peace and I hope that this new investigation leads to the conviction of the real perpetrator or perpetrators.'' Jennings -- who had been behind bars since his December 2005 arrest and was serving a 40-year-to-life term in state prison -- was released from custody on electronic monitoring June 23 at the request of the D.A.'s office while law enforcement completed a new investigation into O'Keefe's killing. The victim's parents said outside court that it was still hard for them to believe that Jennings wasn't involved in their daughter's killing. "As far as I'm concerned, he's still guilty,'' Patricia O'Keefe said, noting that she didn't know anything about the new evidence authorities say they have uncovered. Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions got off to a rocky start Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in Kazakhstan that marked a major shift in the war's dynamics and confirmed Russia's role as regional heavyweight. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly 6-year-old civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syria's population. The talks are focused on shoring up a shaky cease-fire declared Dec. 30, not on reaching a larger political settlement. Syria's bitter divide was on vivid display as the delegates emerged from a closed, hour-long session marked by cold glances and sharp exchanges. Syria's U.N. envoy Bashar Ja'afari said the opposition delegation represented "terrorist armed groups," and denounced the opening address delivered by the chief rebel negotiator, calling it "provocative" and "insolent." The head of the rebel delegation, Mohammad Alloush, had described Syrian President Bashar Assad's government as a "terrorist" entity. He called for armed groups fighting alongside it, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, to be placed on a global list of terrorist organizations, according to a video leaked by opposition delegates. "The presence of foreign militias invited by the regime, most notably the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Hezbollah ... contributes to the continuation of bloodshed and obstructs any opportunity for a cease-fire," Alloush said. Such outfits were no different, he added, than the Islamic State group, which is excluded from the cease-fire. After an opening ceremony, both sides split and did not meet face-to-face again. The meeting later concluded until Tuesday. Still, it was a significant departure from past meetings, given the fact that Syria's government delegation sat opposite representatives of more than a dozen armed factions it describes as terrorists. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura mediated the talks, which are to be followed by more negotiations in Geneva next month. A year ago, he was shuttling between government and opposition delegations in separate rooms in Geneva, in talks brokered by the U.S. and Russia that led nowhere. The talks in Astana, a former Soviet republic, reflected the shifting dynamics in Syria since then, with Russia emerging as the main power broker and the U.S. relegated to the role of observer. The Trump administration is not directly involved because of the "immediate demands of the transition," the State Department said Saturday. The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, attended Monday's session at the luxury Rixos President Hotel, a Turkish-owned chain. The two sides were brought to the table by Russia and Iran, which have provided crucial support to Assad, and Turkey, a leading sponsor of the opposition. Turkey, whose president is embroiled in troubles at home, has recently improved ties with Moscow, raising hopes for a breakthrough. A political figure from the Army of Islam, a Saudi-backed group once singled out by Moscow as a terrorist group, leads the opposition delegation made up heavily of rebel factions, also a first. But the Syrian parties remain deeply divided on almost everything, including who is to blame for repeated cease-fire violations, and whether it should apply to the al-Qaida-linked Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside mainstream rebel factions. Ja'afari accused the opposition of "misinterpreting the idea of the cessation of hostilities," and defended a government offensive in the Barada Valley outside Damascus. The fighting there has cut off water to millions of the capital's residents for a month. The government, which has always portrayed the conflict as a war on terrorism, is hoping to win international support and potentially recruit rebel factions to help it battle extremist groups. Cabinet minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press in Damascus that the talks would "test intentions" on the cease-fire. The rebels are bitter over a string of territorial losses, including last month's defeat in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and former commercial center. Russia, with its massive air power, and Iran, with thousands of Shiite militiamen in Syria, turned the war unequivocally in Assad's favor. With little room to maneuver, rebel groups, particularly those beholden to Turkish assistance and those operating in northern Syria, agreed to send representatives to Astana. The opposition delegation accused the government of undermining the talks to pre-empt any discussion of a political transition. Issam al-Rais, a representative of a rebel faction in southern Syria, said there would be "no need to go further (to discuss) a political transition" if the cease-fire could not be strengthened. He said opposition factions were discussing mechanisms to verify cease-fire violations with Turkey and Russia. Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the rebel delegation, said the opposition had a "productive" meeting with Russian and Turkish representatives in Astana, in the presence of de Mistura. He said the talks would conclude Tuesday. Russia's official news agency Tass said the final document for the talks is to call on Syria's rebels to distance themselves from Fatah al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria. Tass added the three countries would confirm their determination to jointly fight the Islamic State group and Fatah al-Sham. The group works closely with other rebels and has called the meeting a "conspiracy" designed to divide the insurgents. Syria's conflict began with an Arab Spring-inspired uprising against the Assad family's four-decade rule and escalated into a civil war after the government violently cracked down on dissent and the opposition took up arms. The fighting is estimated to have killed more than 400,000 people since March 2011. In past talks, the rebels have insisted Assad step down as part of any peace plan, but his fate is not up for negotiation in Astana. In another departure, the opposition delegation is mainly drawn from armed groups, not civilian organizations. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said preserving the cease-fire will be "the most important issue" on the agenda, and that Tehran hopes the talks can pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Bahram Ghasemi suggested that discussions of a larger political settlement would have to wait. "Let's wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced Tuesday." As the Astana talks continued, Moscow and Washington engaged in a public dispute Monday over whether the U.S.-led coalition was now working with the Russian military in Syria. A Russian Defense Ministry statement said that its warplanes had flown a joint mission with coalition aircraft, attacking IS targets near the city of al-Bab. The statement said that Russian forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday "from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters." That claim was almost immediately denied by the U.S. military. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, labeled the Russian claim as propaganda. U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. does have routine "deconfliction" talks with Russia to avoid unintended aerial incidents in Syria's crowded skies. But Davis says there have been no changes to that arrangement, and the U.S. has insisted for months that it has no coordination or sharing of targets with Russia. Later in the day on Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said new U.S. President Donald Trump was willing to work "with Russia or anybody else" to defeat IS. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, Vitnija Saldava in Astana, Kazakhstan, Bassem Mroue in Damascus, Syria, Bradley Klapper in Washington and Zeina Karam and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report. President Donald Trump moved to pull the United States out of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact Monday, fulfilling a campaign promise as he began his first full week in office. "Great thing for the American worker that we just did," Trump said as he signed a notice in the Oval Office. The president also signed memorandums freezing most federal government hiring, though he noted an exception for the military, and reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the "Mexico City Policy," has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Following a tumultuous first weekend in office consumed by Trump's criticism of the media's inauguration coverage followed by pushback against his comments the president was seeking to refocus on the sweeping, yet often vague, promises he made as a candidate. He campaigned as a fierce opponent of multilateral trade agreements, particularly the 12-nation Pacific Rim deal agreed to by President Barack Obama. Earlier Monday, Trump huddled with business leaders and warned that he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States. He also promised tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he's aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. "Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," Trump said Monday. In a meeting with union leaders at the White House Monday afternoon, Trump told the dozen or so labor leaders that he's redoing the nation's trade deals "to put a lot of people back to work." The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25 percent." He also called for cutting 75 percent of federal regulations and insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. During a bipartisan gathering of congressional leaders at the White House Monday evening, leadership addressed Trump's proposed infrastructure plan. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the president that the plan needs to be paid for not added to the debt. According to No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn of Texas, infrastructure was raised at the meeting as "an area maybe to find common ground and then Sen. McConnell made the important point it needs to be paid for because we've got $20 trillion in debt." At the same gathering Monday evening, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he pressed Trump about "the reasons we needed discussions on nominations and a lot of debate and discussion. Fairly detailed and carefully." The White House has complained Senate Democrats are stalling Trump's Cabinet picks. A third Cabinet official, Mike Pompeo to head the CIA, was being approved Monday evening. Democrats, in turn, have accused Republicans of rushing through the picks. Monday's developments came after a first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges. "But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done," he said. "We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history." Trump said his staff was in the White House not to "help ourselves" but to "devote ourselves to the national good." "This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. It's about serving the American people," he said. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests, first sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending the right to demonstrate a short time later. "Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly," Trump tweeted. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views," the president tweeted, still using his personal account. Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a "common vision" with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded Israeli settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that he's set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern U.S. border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Later in the week, he'll address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire and Lisa Lerer contributed to this report. Officials in Broward County are on alert after a tornado watch was issued as a strong storm system headed to South Florida. Broward County has not activated its Emergency Operation Center, however, officials say they are at the ready in the event severe weather impacts the county. The system is expected to bring strong wind gusts in the overnight hours. Officials told NBC 6 that county leaders and emergency response teams, including the Red Cross are prepared to respond. "We definitely need to keep our guard and ensure all of our warning systems are in place," said Miguel Ascarrunz, Director of Broward County Emergency Management. Florida Power & Light said it anticipates outages and said it is also prepared to respond to damage from potential severe weather. The company tweeted that 1,800 workers were on stand by to respond to outages. Ascarrunz says it's important residents make sure their cell phones are fully charged to receive any emergency alerts. In the event of a tornado, he suggests you seek shelter immediately. "First of all, you want to ensure your family goes to an interior part of the house away from windows, preferably on a lower floor," advised Ascarrunz. The possible storm system is forecast to hit Broward County as the county participates in Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week Jan. 23rd to Jan. 27th. During the week, the Broward County Emergency Management Division will stress to all residents to always be prepared because hazardous weather can occur at any time. Each day of the week, the county plans to release educational messages that on different types of severe weather hazard and how residents can protect themselves. For Broward County's family storm plan, click here. A tractor-trailer and some box trucks overturned in northwest Miami-Dade early Monday as strong storms swept through the area. The 18-wheeler and at least two box trucks overturned in the area of Northwest 74th Avenue and 50th Street. Two trucks flipped onto its side during the overnight storm in this industrial area in NW #MiamiDade 74 ave 50 st @nbc6 #StormDamage #FLwx pic.twitter.com/19qPiVIevD Melissa Adan (@MelissaNBC7) January 23, 2017 The owner of a nearby company said the trailer flew from a nearby yard onto some employee cars. Shipping containers appeared to have been toppled over in another section of the industrial area. #StormDamage Miami-Dade police on scene of an overturned truck trailer at NW 74 Ave & 50 st. @nbc6 LIVE report coming up #FLwx pic.twitter.com/OZIFRgWb27 Melissa Adan (@MelissaNBC7) January 23, 2017 Cars were damaged and part of an office building's roof was ripped off nearby after heavy wind and rain moved through the area. Power in the area was out and one witness said he saw a 10-foot piece of metal fly off a warehouse and hit the power lines. "You see this thing, it just comes from the sky, it hits the fence, goes over the car, misses completely my car and then it lands right smack on the front property," the witness said. Miami-Dade Police were at the scene early Monday. Crews were working to clean up after the storms and restore power to the area. Asus X00GD (Photo : Twitter / AndroidHeadlines) Fresh information suggests that the Asus ZenFone 4 series smartphones will be released in May this year. The Asus ZenFone 4 specifications are not available yet. However, it is pegged to come with better specs than ZenFone 3. It is also expected to come with better average selling points, Digitimes reported. Advertisement The ZenFone 4 is expected to get announced at MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2017 that will be held from Feb. 27 to March 2. Since the ZenFone 4 rumors suggest its release date in May, it is likely that it will get an MWC announcement and enough time to make it available for buying by May. Asus had announced ZenFone 3 Zoom and ZenFone AR, a Google Tango and Daydream enabled smartphone, at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2017 that was held earlier in this month. An unnamed Asus smartphone with model number X00GD was spotted on TENAA, a Chinese regulatory body, NDTV reported. The smartphone comes with a 5.2-indh display that offers an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. It is powered by MediaTek MT6750 chipset that includes a 1.5 GHz octa-core processor. The SoC is coupled with 2 GB of RAM for its 16 GB model and 3 GB of RAM for its 32 GB model. There is a 64 GB model of Asus X00GD that supports 4 GB of RAM. The main camera of the mysterious Asus phone is 13-megapixel and its front-facing camera is of 8-megapixel. It has a front-facing fingerprint scanner embedded under is Home button. It measures 149.5 x 73.7 x 8.85 mm and its weight is 169.5 grams. It is packed with a mammoth battery of 4,850 mAh capacity. In 2016, Asus sold various editions of ZenFone 3 such as ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Laser, ZenFone 3 Deluxe, and ZenFone 3 Ultra. Still, the company ended up with losses in Q1, Q2 and Q3 in 2016. The company recorded profits in Q4 and it weighs less compared to the losses it incurred last year. With the announcement of ZenFone 3 Zoom and ZenFone AR, the company is expected to continue to achieve profits from the start of this year. Here is a review of Asus ZenFone 3: Mario DiGiovanni lives in Brickell, but it wasnt too long ago that he too was a student protesting against the Venezuelan government. "We're basically here giving all the support possible to what's going on in Venezuela, DiGiovanni said. Our country is facing some really tough times right now and we need to communicate to the world and let the know what's going on. But as the latest protests in Venezuela continue, DiGiovanni fears for his family's safety. Where my house is there were over 200 people [on] motorcycles shooting around, so you see how this violence, even though you're not present in the protests, can spread throughout the city. So its something that really stays on your mind all the time, I know I fear for my family, he said. Meantime a Venezuelan opposition leader who was wanted by authorities, Leopoldo Lopez, surrendered to police Tuesday. He was sought on an arrest order for allegedly inciting violence that broke out during protests last week in which three people were killed. But Lopez who wore white Tuesday to symbolize nonviolence said he didnt fear going to jail to defend his beliefs and constitutional right to peacefully protest against the countrys president, Nicolas Maduro. In South Florida, in a gathering in the city of Doral, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was getting involved in efforts to curtail violence and stand with the student protesters. And she is also calling for a reduction of Venezuelan oil imports into the U.S. and more awareness of the situation. "When we had the Arab Spring there was a great clamor from the international press and from the community to say we're with you, but for the Venezuelan people not so much. So we want leaders to say we are with the Venezuelan people, she said. On Monday Maduros government gave three U.S. Embassy officials 48 hours to leave, alleging that they were aiding the unrest. The U.S. State Department responded Tuesday in part, "The allegations against our diplomats by the Venezuelan government are baseless and false. Our Consular Officers were conducting normal outreach activities at universities on student visas." Pope Francis has expressed concern over the growing populist movement in Europe, saying it could result in the rise of leaders like Germany's Adolf Hitler, NBC News reported. "In times of crisis, we lack judgment, and that is a constant reference for me," the pope said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais. "Hitler didn't steal the power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people." Angry with traditional political elites, voters across Europe are throwing support towards nationalist, anti-immigrant leaders. The pontiff, who sent President Donald Trump his best wishes Friday, also told El Pais that he is reserving judgment on Trump: "We will see how he acts, what he does, and then I will have an opinion." Shia LaBeouf has been captured screaming in a man's face on a live stream protest in New York just days after the stream launched. On Friday, the day of Donald Trump's inauguration, the actor and performance artist launched a four-year protest against the new president. The protest consists of a live-streaming camera outside the Museum of the Moving Image where people are invited to deliver the words "He will not divide us" into the camera as many times as they wish. Since it launched at 9 a.m. Friday, the camera has seen a mixed crowd. Actor Jaden Smith was seen at the protest on Friday, and LaBeouf himself has led a number of chants at the site. However, it didn't take long for the stream to get ugly. In a feed captured over the weekend, a man walks up to the camera while LaBeouf and other anti-Trump protesters are chanting and tries to deliver his own message. "We must secure the existence of white people," he begins, before LaBeouf interjects with the chant 'He will not divide us'. The rest of the man's message is inaudible as the actor yells the phrase repeatedly into his face, going chest-to-chest with the man. The confrontation was broadcast live on the feed and recorded by some people watching. There have been other incidents cropping up on the feed that oppose LaBeouf's intended message of unity. For example, one man used the platform at night to repeat a line in support of Hitler, while another group used to the feed to challenge the actor, using derogatory language. The feed is currently planned to stay in place either for four years or until Donald Trump's term as president ends. A lawsuit Monday alleged that President Donald Trump is violating the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments. The president dismissed the suit as "totally without merit." According to the suit filed by a legal watchdog group, Trump is violating the so-called emoluments clause in the Constitution that prohibits him from receiving money from diplomats for stays at his hotels or foreign governments for leases of office space in his buildings. The language in the clause is disputed by some legal scholars, setting the stage for a court fight with the White House. The liberal-funded watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. CREW is being represented in the lawsuit by two former White House chief ethics lawyers: Norman Eisen, who advised Barack Obama, and Richard Painter, who worked under George W. Bush. The two have expressed frustration that Trump has refused to take their recommendation and divest from his business, and feel they had no choice but to take legal action. "These violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause pose a grave threat to the United States and its citizens," according to the lawsuit. "As the Framers were aware, private financial interests can subtly sway even the most virtuous leaders, and entanglements between American officials and foreign powers could pose a creeping, insidious threat to the Republic." Asked at the Oval Office Monday for his comment on the lawsuit after he signed some of his first executive orders, Trump called it "without merit, totally without merit." White House Director of Strategic Communications Hope Hicks earlier said that "the president has no conflicts," and referred to arguments made by Trump lawyer Sheri Dillon at the president's news conference earlier this month. Dillon has said the framers did not intend for the Constitutional prohibition to apply to fair-value exchanges, such as paying for a hotel room or venue space at a hotel. "No one would have thought the Constitution was written that paying your hotel bill was an emolument," Dillon said at a news conference. CREW faces several legal hurdles, including making the case that it even has standing to bring the lawsuit. "We have never had a president who has in a significant way accepted foreign payments." CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said. "There are a lot of issues that have to be litigated for the first time." Bookbinder said his group will argue it has standing because the president's violation has forced his organization to divert all it is resources to this fight rather than other issues, and therefore is harming it. That line drew criticism from some legal experts. "CREW's argument for how it has standing to bring this lawsuit barely passes the laugh test," said Robert Kelner, chairman of the election and political law group of the firm Covington & Burling and an experienced Republican attorney. "The courts will toss this one out." Edwin Williamson, a former State Department legal adviser, said that CREW will struggle to prove its case. He said the emoluments clause does not apply the payment of a "market price" for a stay at a hotel. "I don't expect it to succeed," Williamson, said, "and that doesn't even get to the standing issue." In his news conference, Trump said that he would not sell his ownership in his company, but instead hand over control of his company to his two adult sons. He announced several other measures in an attempt to mollify critics who contend that his financial interest as head of a global real estate company could conflict with his pursuit of the public good. He also vowed, for instance, that his company would strike no more deals abroad. Trump also pledged to donate any profits from foreign governments using his hotels to the U.S. Treasury. Trump has repeatedly said federal rules on conflicts do not apply to the president. His lawyer, Dillon, a partner a Morgan Lewis and Brockius, has called his moves to limit conflicts "extraordinary." But the steps have been widely panned by government ethics lawyers as insufficient. Eisen and Painter have urged Trump to sell his holdings and put the cash in a blind trust, following the example of recent presidents. Trump has also defied the long tradition of presidential candidates making public their tax returns, saying he would be happy to do so after the completion of an Internal Revenue Service audit. However, the first public petition to the new White House called for the immediate release of Trump's tax documents, and it quickly amassed more than 250,000 signatures - well over the 100,000 needed to trigger an official response. The petition claims the returns are necessary to ensure Trump is not violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution. Senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said over the weekend it's not happening. "The White House response is that he's not going to release his tax returns," Conway said on ABC's This Week. "We litigated this all through the election. People didn't care." Eisen and Painter are joined in the CREW lawsuit by Constitutional law scholars Erwin Chemerinsky, Laurence H. Tribe, Zephyr Teachout, and Deepak Gupta of the law firm Gupta Wessler. There's been little public word about what has happened to an American college student detained in North Korea, as a new administration takes over one year later amid deep U.S. concerns about the hostile country's nuclear and missile development. North Korea announced last Jan. 22 it had detained Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, earlier that month for alleged anti-state crime. Warmbier, who had visited North Korea with a tour group, was sentenced in March to 15 years in prison at hard labor after a televised tearful public confession to trying to steal a propaganda banner. Such North Korean detentions of U.S. citizens for offenses that might seem minor to outsiders Warmbier said he wanted to take the banner home for a woman in Ohio who wanted to hang it in her church are seen in Washington as having political motives, and Warmbier's has come during a time of worsening tensions. The State Department calls the sentence "unduly harsh," and spokesman John Kirby said in a statement last week in response to an Associated Press query that the department continues to work for Warmbier's "earliest possible release." Noting that he has gone through North Korea's criminal process and been detained more than year, he said: "We continue to urge the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of North Korea) to pardon him and grant him special amnesty and immediate release on humanitarian grounds." Another U.S. tourist from Ohio, Jeffrey Fowle, was arrested in 2014 for leaving a Bible in a nightclub and was freed after six months. Already at odds over its nuclear tests and missile launches, North Korea in July called new U.S. sanctions aimed directly at Kim Jong Un and other top leaders for human rights abuses the equivalent of declaring war, and diplomats inquiring about Warmbier and a Korean-American also being held have been told they were being treated under "wartime law." It's not clear what that means, although it could imply tougher treatment. The United States doesn't have diplomatic relations with North Korea. North Korea has refused repeated Associated Press requests in Pyongyang to speak with Warmbier. The Warmbier family and people in contact with them have been cautious about commenting on the sensitive situation. A spokeswoman for Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich said he continues to be "very concerned" about Warmbier and discussed him during a White House visit in late 2016. The spokeswoman, Emmalee Kalmbach, said Kasich has encouraged U.S. authorities to keep the Warmbier family informed. Warmbier's parents said after his public confession last February that they hadn't been able to communicate with him, and his father, Fred, expressed hope his son's "sincere apology" would persuade North Korea to allow him to come home. The statement was released through the University of Virginia. Although there has been scant news on Warmbier since his sentencing, his situation could re-emerge as Donald Trump's administration begins dealing with North Korea. He has said he will push China to exert its influence on North Korea to bring it into line, but Trump also said during his presidential campaign that he would be willing to meet with Kim Jong Un. There's little doubt North Korea would like to use Warmbier to get a U.S. president to travel to "kowtow and ask for him back," said Boston University Professor Emeritus Walter Clemens, whose extensive writings on North Korea include two books. But there's always the hope that such a meeting could open a way to improving current tensions, he said. "It's obviously very terrible for the family and for Mr. Warmbier," said Clemens, a Cincinnati native. "But he could conceivably be the bridge for establishing a rapprochement between the United States and North Korea." University spokesman Anthony P. de Bruyn said he wasn't aware of any recent family statements, adding that he's not a spokesman for them. "The university continues to closely follow the unfortunate situation involving Otto Warmbier and remains in regular contact with the Warmbier family," he said by email. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, of the Cincinnati area, said: "I continue to stay in close touch with the family as well as the administration, and hope that Otto will be released soon." For President Trump, the inauguration should have been his Super Bowl the kind of spectacle everybody talks about at work all day Monday and beyond. But for once Trump, the self-styled showman who upended media and politics to become chief executive, got upstaged. The Women's March on Saturday, a day after the inauguration, gave the world a far bigger and better show. The event packed all the elements of a yuge spectacular: epic scale (a cast of hundreds of thousands spread across the globe); family drama (emotional moments shared by multiple generations); humor (creative signs and chants, the cleverest of which can't be repeated here); colorful costumes (most prominently those pink hats); celebrities (Scarlett Johansson, among many others); songs (Alicia Keys sang Girl on Fire); and high stakes (the future of women's rights). It marked a defiant, raucous and joyful display of force by masses angry about Trump's taped vulgar comments declaring his carte blanche to accost women and fearful of life under his leadership. As comedian Aziz Ansari put it on "Saturday Night Live," a program Trump went from hosting to regularly decrying: Yesterday, Trump was inaugurated. Today, an entire gender protested against him. Wow." The New York Times reported three times as many people participated in the main march in Washington than attended Trump's inauguration. The rookie president, though, wasn't only behind in the in-person audience category. In another sense, the marchers, all performers of a sort for the day, outnumbered him on the world stage. That seemed to unnerve the now officially powerful Trump, who vastly exaggerated inauguration attendance Saturday and scapegoated journalists for using photographic evidence to show Obama attracted a far larger crowd to the National Mall eight years ago. Meanwhile, Trumps spokesman, Sean Spicer, made the demonstrably erroneous claim that his boss commanded the "largest audience ever to witness an inauguration period both in person and around the globe." On Sunday morning, Trump tweeted that his inauguration ratings were bigger than President Obamas 2013 numbers (true, though Trumps viewership tally landed well below that of Obamas history-making 2009 festivities). The new president said he watched march coverage and suggested something that he could not possibly know: that the protesters hadnt cast ballots: Why didn't these people vote? He later posted a tweet that most would recognize as presidential: Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views. Still, the overall tone Trump set in his first weekend as star of the biggest reality show of them all echoed his attention-at-all-costs campaigning style. The point of Trump's sore-winner act remains unclear. The inauguration, despite a lack of major performers (Toby Keith, Sam Moore and the Rockettes were among the bigger names), offered some memorable moments. The limited dancing prowess Trump exhibited while shuffling to "My Way" with his wife, Melania, actually helped humanize him. The stylish new first lady showed signs of becoming a fashion leader (unlike his counselor, Kellyanne Conway, whose Paddington Bear-like outfit inspired mocking memes). Some folks, on both sides of the political aisle, likely found something comforting and elegant in the pageantry and tradition surrounding the peaceful transfer of power, even amid Trump's speech, with its jarring "American carnage" declaration. His strong words, like his attempts to steal back the show from the marchers (and just perhaps deflect attention from the major challenges facing his administration), defy presidential precedent. But it's not unprecedented behavior for Trump. After Arnold Schwarzenegger debuted Jan. 2 as the new ringmaster of "Celebrity Apprentice," then-President-elect Trump taunted his successor via Twitter. "Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got 'swamped' (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine, DJT," read the tweet, written in the third-person with Trump referring to himself by his initials. This weekend, President Donald J. Trump got swamped, if not in the ratings, then in the race for notice that appears to drive him. The throngs from around the world who marched grabbed the spotlight and beat him at his own game. Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter. Yoo Jae Suk, Jung Joon Ha, and Park Myung Soo in the "Your Name" segment aired during the Jan. 21 episode of "Infinite Challenge." (Photo : YouTube/MBC Entertainment) The reality-variety television program, "Infinite Challenge," recently came under fire for violating traffic rules during a recent episode. The show's production has now issued an official apology in the wake of the controversial driving incident. During the "Your Name" segment of the Jan. 21, Saturday, episode of the show, cast members were shown driving in the opposite direction on a one-way street, which is a serious offence in South Korea. The traffic violation did not go unnoticed and sparked backlash from viewers, one of whom also filed a complaint with the Korean Communications Commission. Advertisement In the statement obtained by All Kpop, "Infinite Challenge" producers confirmed the traffic violation after reviewing footage from the episode. The production also provided an explanation about the events leading up to the offence. "After checking the original footage, we checked that the car with the members entered the street in the blue direction as in the map below from the Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park, and then left the road in the opposite direction of the one-way road as marked by the red arrow," the production said in the statement. "Only the car with the members went up to the upper parking lot of the Imjingak and all the other cars stayed in the lower parking lot, so the staff did not realize that the car with the members in it had driven in the opposite direction." The producers' pointed out that the concept of the "Your Name" segment was to find new locations by improvising. Because of this, the driver made the mistake of reversing as he was not familiar with the location. While the producers did explain the reason behind the driving incident, they said that there was no excuse for what happened and it was entirely their fault. The production also apologized to the viewers and vowed to be more careful henceforth. This comes nearly two weeks after "Infinite Challenge" PD confirmed via a statement obtained by Soompi that the show would be going on a seven-week hiatus. The popular variety-reality show will be replaced by the new variety special "Forty's Spring" and the "Best of 'Infinite Challenge'" specials during that time. Watch the controversial driving incident in the video clip below: Police say two convenience store robberies in eastern Pennsylvania involved a machete to threaten clerks. Allentown police say the first robbery targeted a 7-Eleven about 3:45 a.m. Saturday. That incident involved a single suspect whose face was covered when he ran away with an unspecified amount of cash. At almost the same time Sunday, two men with their faces covered robbed a Speedway store. One of those suspects also had a machete before the suspects got away with cash. Assistant Police Chief Gail Struss says police say the similar weapon and time frame of both robberies make investigators think they may be related. Nobody's been arrested in either heist. A teenager died after the ladder was holding came in connect with live electrical wires over the weekend. The 16-year-old accidentally electrocuted himself when the aluminum extension ladder he was working with at a home along Seagull Drive in the Farmington section of Egg Harbor Township Saturday morning came in contact with power lines, said township police. Medics rushed the boy to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus in Galloway Township where he later died, said police. Investigators didnt immediately identify the boy. They called the incident an accident. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors has tips on how to avoid a deadly incident on a ladder. [[238427591, C]] Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia on Monday said it has launched a new gender affirmation program for transgender patients. Hahnemann will offer both female-to-male and male-to-female gender confirming surgeries. The launch of the Gender Reassignment Surgical Program, according to Hahnemann, represents a first for an academic medical center in the region. Were extremely proud to offer gender confirming surgery at Hahnemann University Hospital because it is in line with our focus on providing all patients with leading-edge, high-quality care, said CEO Michael P. Halter. To read more about the program, click here. For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal. Part of a 12,500-square-foot mural collapsed onto two cars in a Philadelphia parking lot as rain and wind hit the region Monday morning. The chunk of the "Independence Starts Here" mural -- part of Philadelphia Mural Arts program -- collapsed onto cars parked at the Hahnemann University Hospital Feinstein Lot at Broad and Race streets. Some sections of the seven-story-tall mural that faces Race Street could be seen flapping in the wind around 10:30 a.m. A short time later, crews could be seen ripping the dangling pieces off the wall. No one was hurt. Hahnemann blamed "strong winds affecting the region" for helping bring down the mural, which is affixed to the building. "The parking lot and sidewalk adjacent to the hospital have been closed to protect pedestrians while we assess and clean the damage," said the hospital. Artist Donald Gensler installed the mural featuring various people with disabilities -- on the side of the Hahnemann University Hospital building from 2006 to 2008, according to the artists website. [[238427591, C]] In a prepared statement, the Mural Arts program expressed its gratitude that no one was hurt and also explained how this failure of a "parachute cloth" mural is a first: "Mural Arts Philadelphia learned today about the damage to our 'Independence Starts Here' mural at Broad and Race and immediately sent our crew to assess the damage and aid in any needed immediate work. We are extremely grateful that nobody was hurt. Mural Arts is working with Hahnemann University Hospital to assess the damage and figure out next steps. "Mural Arts Philadelphia has created over 4,000 murals in the last 30-plus years, over half of which were created using woven panels known as 'parachute cloth.' Of the over 2,000 murals created by Mural Arts using this method, this is the first time that pieces have ever fallen off the wall to which it was adhered. The first mural using parachute cloth was created in Philadelphia in 1989. "Mural Arts Philadelphia dedicated Independence Starts Here by artist Donald Gensler in October 2008 after three years of creating the project. Also known as the Disabilities Awareness Mural, it is on Hahnemann Hospital, Broad and Race Streets. The project was created in collaboration with the Mayor's Office on People with Disabilities, ArtReach, Kardon Institute and others, the mural is 12,500 square feet and celebrates the disabilities community. The mural was painted in part with the help of people with disabilities, features disabled Philadelphians in a monumental representation of this strong and diverse community. "Once the mural and wall are stabilized, Mural Arts will work with Hahnemann to figure out next steps for repairing the mural or assessing other options." Three masked robbers tied a woman up and pistol-whipped a man while two children slept during a home invasion in Southwest Philadelphia, according to investigators. Police said the three suspects broke into a home on the 6400 block of Garman Street early Sunday morning. They tied a woman up with zip-ties and then pistol-whipped a man inside the home, according to officials. Police also say two children were sleeping inside the house at the time. The three suspects took a safe from the house that contained $7,000 in cash and then fled the scene, investigators said. No arrests have been made. Police continue to investigate. Pittsburgh police are searching for a man who bit the ear off another man as they argued about President Donald Trump. Officers responded to a gas station in the city's East Liberty neighborhood about 6:45 a.m. Monday, after the victim ran there for help. Police say they know who the ear-biting suspect is, but have declined to name him while they search for the suspect and continued to investigate. Police spokeswoman Emily Schaffer says she's unable to say at this point whether the victim was pro- or anti-Trump, or which position motivated the attacker. The 30-year-old victim was attacked at his apartment after a verbal argument turned physical. The suspect then left. Police say they recovered the victim's ear in the apartment and he was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital. A mysterious Skittles spill on a rural highway in Wisconsin is taking another twist, with Mars Inc. saying it doesn't know why the discarded candy might have been headed to become cattle feed. The case began when a Wisconsin sheriff posted on Facebook this week that "hundreds of thousands of Skittles" had been found spilled on a highway. Later, he updated the post to say the candy had fallen off a truck on its way to be cattle feed. Only red Skittles had spilled out, and Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt joked in the post that it would be difficult to "Taste the Rainbow" in its entirety. The incident gained attention after CNN wrote about it, citing a report from a local affiliate. A variety of food byproducts are commonly used for animal feed, and Mars says it has procedures for discarding foods for that purpose. However, the company says the Skittles in question came from a factory that doesn't sell unused products for feed. "We don't know how it ended up as it did and we are investigating," Mars said. Schmidt said one of his deputies came across the spill and sent him photos, which he posted on Facebook. He said the Skittles spilled from a box that started to disintegrate in the rain, and about half of them got out. The Skittles on the ground did not have the standard letter "S'' on them, he said. The sheriff said he spoke with the farmer, but declined to immediately give the farmer's name and did not respond when asked by email how the office connected the Skittles with the farmer. Mars spokeswoman Denise Young said the Skittles were supposed to be destroyed because a power outage prevented the signature "S'' from being placed on the candies. She said Mars planned to contact the sheriff's office and the farmer to find out more. Linda Kurtz, a corporate environmental manager at Mars, said the company sells unused candies and ingredients to processors that incorporate them with other materials to make animal feed. She said Mars does not sell directly to farmers, and its procedures follow Food and Drug Administration regulations. Kurtz said Mars determined the spilled Skittles came from its plant in Yorkville, Illinois, which does not sell products for animal feed. The other U.S. plant that makes Skittles, in Waco, Texas, sells to a local processor that melts them down into syrup. Josh Cribbs, a cattle nutritionist and director of commercial development for the American Maine-Anjou Association, which promotes a particular cattle breed, said that the food byproducts that get used for cattle feed vary depending on what's available in the region and particular time of year. Cribbs said specific byproducts would be mixed with other ingredients to achieve a particular nutritional profile. "You might think, 'Oh my gosh, they might be eating a Skittle.' In reality, that piece of candy is being broken down," he said. In the days following international demonstrations for women's rights, Russia is looking to advance legislation that would decriminalize domestic violence, NBC News reported. The bill would remove criminal liability for assaults against family members, assaults that are first-time offenses and assaults that caused no hospitalizations and excluded rape. Instead of jail sentences, assaults would result in fines. Earlier this month, Russian lawmakers gave almost unanimous approval for the legislation. The second reading is set for Jan. 25. President Vladimir Putin has also voiced support for the decriminalization of domestic violence. In December, Putin told a journalist that punishment "should not go overboard" for some assault. An online petition against the legislation has garnered more than 180,000 signatures, but there have not been any significant protests in Russia against the bill so far. San Diego police are searching for a suspect who robbed a US Bank in Point Loma Heights at gunpoint Sunday afternoon. The man, in his 30s, walked up to the teller, displayed a gun and received an undisclosed amount of money. He was last seen leaving on foot northbound through the parking lot. He is described as 6 foot, 170 pounds, unshaven, wearing a red beanie, sunglasses, a dark hoodie and black shorts. The robbery happened around 12:14 p.m. in the 3600 block of Midway Drive. Robbery detectives are investigating. Actors Ben Savage, August Maturo, Rowan Blanchard, Peyton Meyer, Sabrina Carpenter, and Corey Fogelmanis attended the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 12, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Jason Kempin) "Girl Meets World" creator and "Boy Meets World" co-creator Michael Jacobs hopes for Season 4 at a new network. The show ended its run on Disney Channel with an episode that felt like a series finale and was titled similarly "Girl Meets Goodbye." According to Deadline, the "Girl Meets World" finale staged major "Boy Meets World" reunion. It included both actresses who played Cory Matthews' ("Criminal Minds" actor Ben Savage) sister Morgan, namely, "The Negotiator" actress Lily Nicksay for Seasons 1 and 2 and "Totally Spies" voice actress Lindsay Ridgeway for Seasons 3-7. Advertisement Joining "Girl Meets World" finale stars "Spy Kids" actor Rowan Blanchard (Riley Matthews), "Adventures in Babysitting" actress Sabrina Carpenter (Maya Hart), "Gravity Falls" actress Danielle Fishel (Topanga Matthews), "Bones" newcomer August Maturo (Auggie Matthews), "Gibby" actor Peyton Meyer (Lucas Friar), and "Partners" alum Corey Fogelmanis (Farkle Minkus) are some familiar faces, Variety reported. "Grey's Anatomy" veteran actor William Daniels (Mr. George Feeny), "Chosen" writer-actor Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter), "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy" actor Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), "Drift" actor Anthony Tyler Quinn (Mr. Turner), "The Maestro" actor William Russ (Alan Matthews), "Dirty 30" actress Betsy Randle (Amy Matthews), "Gone Girl" alum Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus), and "John The Thief" actor Danny McNulty (Harley Keiner) will also give a final performance as their respective characters from "Boy Meets World." "Girl Meets World" is a sequel to ABC's popular sitcom "Boy Meets World" and was canceled after Season 3 earlier this month. It brought Cory and Topanga back together as parents of student Riley. Throughout its 70-episode run, it tackled the issues of adolescence and family for young teens with the key theme of friendship at the drama lead. One of Disney Channel's best-received series is "Girl Meets World," with the devoted fan base, strong reviews, two consecutive best children's program Emmy nominations, as well as WGA and PGA nominations. However, it may have been enough to prevent the show from a premature conclusion. In the "Girl Meets World" Season 3 episode last week, Topanga had received a job offer and was considering moving the whole family to London. However, she opted to stay, calling her coffee house her bay window, with a group of "Boy Meets World" alums making an appearance. "Girl Meets World" finale was aired on Jan. 20 at 6/5c. Watch the video about "Girl Meets World" not moving to Netflix for more seasons: The most powerful storm in a series of three pummeled into San Diego Sunday evening, leaving behind toppled trees, flooded streets, damaged cars and lots of debris. In University City, a large tree fell on five cars, destroying four of the vehicles, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said. The 7900 block of Camino Huerta has been shut down as crews work, and no one was injured. The Poway Road grade, between Espola Road and Highway 67, was closed just after 6:30 p.m. after a large boulder fell on the road, the City of Poway said. Crews were able to move the boulder to the side of the road until around 7:45 p.m. when a bulldozer was brought in to remove it. Astrid Solorzano/NBC 7 In Mira Mesa, a 50-foot tree came toppling down onto two cars on the 9500 block of Carroll Canyon Road. [G] Rain, Wind Descend on San Diego County Seventeen residents were displaced in National City when a 45-foot Eucalutpus tree uprooted and started leaning heavily on an apartment building. San Diego Police and city offices warned that heavy rain and uprooted trees closed multiple roads, including: Del Poniente Road (tree) 7474 Charmant Dr. (tree) 5705 Ferber St. (tree) 7900 Camino Huerta (tree) 10818 San Diego Mission Road (flooding) 2318 Upas St. (tree) 5000 Niagra Av. (OB Pier-high surf) Avenida Del Rio at Riverwalk (flooding) Fashion Valley Road at Riverwalk Dr. (flooding) La Media at Airway (flooding) 2000 Saturn Blvd. (flooding) 5600 Carroll Canyon Road (debris) Reedley Tr. at Sword Way (tree) Half Mile Dr. at El Camino Real (tree) Via Vera Cruz between San Marcos Blvd. and Discovery St. (flooding) Bent Ave. between San Marcos Blvd. and Discovery St. (flooding) Foxhall Dr. (flooding) Refresh this page for the latest updates. The manager of an apartment building that was hit with a heavy tree, forcing the evacuation of 17 residents, says the tree will be removed Monday. This will allow the eleven adults and six children who were displaced to return home, according to the building manager. A 45-foot Eucalyptus tree started heavily leaning on an apartment building in National City on Sunday amid a heavy storm, officials said. The incident happened at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the National City Parks Apartments on the 300 block of E 24th Street, police and fire officials said. Sarai Arteaga, who lives in one of the units, said she heard a loud thud when the tree toppled onto the building. When authorities got to the scene, they found the 45-foot tree leaning on the four unit property. The tree is partially uprooted and is supporting itself on the roof of the complex. The San Diego Red Cross is assisting the families while they are waiting to move back into their apartments. Public works and City officials have given approval to help remove the branches, but they need a crane to take down the actual tree trunk itself. The property manager will contact a tree removal service to assist with that. No other information was immediately available. As Seen On Prince George's County Police released a new composite sketch of a homicide victim they have not been able to identify. The woman was found shot multiple times in the parking lot of the Lynnhill condo building in the 3100 block of Good Hope Avenue in Temple Hills, Maryland, about 10 p.m. Jan. 15. She died at the scene. She didn't have identification, a cellphone, a purse or a wallet. Police released a new composite sketch of the woman and one of her tattoos Monday. The victim was between 25 and 30 years old, weighed 125 pounds and stood 5 feet 6-inches tall, police said. She had several tattoos on her body, saying "just love," "no lies," "peace," "JMS" and "Crybaby RIP Jalen." "She's someone's child," Prince George's County police Assistant Chief Sammy Patel said. "There's no other way we can start this investigation truly without identifying who she is." Investigators said they are working with law enforcement agencies nationwide in an effort to identify her. They entered everything they collected about her into the National Crime Information Center database to see if she matches the description of any missing person from across the country. Anyone with any information about her identity is asked to call 301-772-4925. A driver fleeing a traffic stop shot at the officer chasing him, striking the police cruiser at least twice, and Fairfax County Police are looking for that driver. The officer tried to make a traffic stop on Georgetown Pike after seeing a white, four-door sedan run a red light at Walker Road in the Great Falls area about 11:45 p.m. Sunday. The driver did not stop until after making a left turn on Rossmore Court. A passenger jumped out and ran, police said, and the driver continue to flee. The driver then turned around in a cul-de-sac, drove straight at the police cruiser and opened fired, police said. The cruiser was struck at least twice -- once in the hood near the windshield on the driver's side and one in the right rear quarter panel. The officer was not injured. "Anybody that's willing to shoot at a marked police car knowing it's a police officer is a danger not only to the brave men and women of the Fairfax County Police Department but to each and every member of our community," Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. said. "We need to bring the suspect to justice." The officer continued to follow the suspect but lost sight of the vehicle in a hilly and wooded area. The car was last seen traveling westbound on Georgetown Pike, police said. Police searched the area for the vehicle and the passenger who jumped out of the vehicle but failed to locate anyone. I am grateful that our officer went home safe last night Their actions are not only dangerous and deadly to law enforcement but they are a threat to the entire community," Roessler said in a department-wide message Monday. The vehicle may have been a white Toyota or Mazda from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The car had black molding on the doors and the passenger side window may have been shattered. Investigators are reviewing video from the police car to learn as much as possible about the suspect vehicle, police said. Although the officer is unharmed, he's not allowed back on patrol duty yet. Police must conduct a threat assessment to determine whether he was targeted, the chief said. "These suspects attempted to murder a police officer, and I beg for your help," Roessler said. Anyone with information that can help police is asked to call police at 703-691-2131. President Donald Trump has signed an order that freezes hiring by the federal government, with the exception of the military. And while some praised the move, the decision has many federal workers feeling disappointed. Trump signed the order Monday morning as a way to reduce payrolls and rein in the size of the federal workforce. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus handed Trump the document -- one of three executive orders the new president signed Monday -- in the Oval Office as aides and reporters looked on. "A federal government employee hiring freeze," Priebus said. "Except for the military," Trump said twice, looking around the room pointedly. White House press secretary Sean Spicer spoke about the executive order at a news conference Monday afternoon. "I think what the president is showing through the hiring freeze, first and foremost today, is that we've got to respect the American taxpayer," he said. "They're sending us a ton of money and they're working real hard -- some people are working two, three jobs just to get by -- and to see money get wasted in Washington on a job that is duplicative is insulting to the hard work they do to pay their taxes." House Speaker Paul Ryan praised Trump's move. "[By] instituting a hiring freeze, he has taken a critical first step toward reining in Washington bureaucracy," he said in a statement. Statistics from the Office of Personnel Management, though, show that the number of executive branch employees hasn't been this low since 1965, and that the number of employees has stayed more or less steady in the last 15 years. Federal worker Greg Guthrie, who is also union officer with the National Federation of Federal Employees, said he didn't understand how Trump could conclude that a hiring freeze was a good idea even before his Cabinet nominees have been approved. "As a federal worker, it's kind of deflating to be felt like you're unnecessary,'' he said. The union's president, Randy Erwin, said in a statement Monday that a hiring freeze is a "terrible idea.'' "Freezing federal hiring sounds good on the campaign trail, but it does not make government smaller like some people think it does,'' he said. "All it does is lead to the hiring of more federal contractors which tend to cost taxpayers more than federal employees and are less accountable.'' The full effect of a hiring freeze is unclear. According to OPM, the federal government hired 221,000 workers in fiscal 2015, the most recent year for which data is available. The number excludes uniformed military personnel. But roughly a third of those hired were military veterans, who enjoy hiring preferences in the federal government. Erwin also pointed out that the Department of Veterans Affairs currently has 2,000 vacancies and said "it is the American veteran that is going to suffer'' because the agency is now barred from filling those vacancies. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, whose district includes many federal workers, said Monday that the government actually needs to increase its capacity to handle certain issues, like cybersecurity. "This Executive Order ... will have a depressing effect on our ability to recruit and retain the next generation of federal workers,'' he said in a statement. "This is a far cry from President Kennedy's effort to inspire a new generation to enter public service.'' Republican Barbra Comstock, who also represents parts of northern Virginia in Congress, announced her own opposition to the hiring freeze and said "past hiring freezes in both Republican and Democrat administrations have cost the federal government money in the long run.'' About 85 percent of all federal employees live outside the D.C. area, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Trump vowed during his campaign that he would take on the federal bureaucracy. The other two executive orders he signed Monday ended U.S. participation in the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and reinstated a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the procedure. Amazon says it will collect sales tax on items sold to customers in Vermont starting next month. The internet e-commerce giant announced last week that it will begin collecting the state's 6 percent sales tax on Feb. 1. Officials with the state's tax department say they're happy with the change. They say it will create more equity between local stores and online retailers. It wasn't immediately known how much additional money the state will receive due to the new sales tax. A state statute concerning internet sales tax goes into effect in July. A company spokeswoman declined to comment on why Amazon chose to begin collecting the tax before then. Amazon's website says it already collects sales tax on purchases in more than 30 other states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut. Police in Vermont have issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in a fatal shooting in Montpelier. Jayveron Caballero, 29, of Barre, is wanted for second degree murder. Bail has been set at $500,000. Officers responded to the shooting at an apartment complex on Barre Street at 4:34 a.m. Saturday, where they found the victim outside of a vehicle in the parking lot. Authorities said the victim, 33-year-old Markus Austin, was suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe Caballero fled the scene in a vehicle. They say Caballero and Austin were involved in an altercation outside Gustos bar earlier in the morning. They say at some point during the fight Caballeros girlfriend, Desiree Cary, 22, was assaulted by Austin. Cary was taken into custody Sunday night on charges of sale of crack cocaine, and three counts of sale of heroin. Officials knew she was the target of an ongoing drug distribution investigation. Officials learned the two share an apartment in Barre. On Monday morning state police searched the apartment for Caballero and evidence. Caballero was no located. Police believe he may have fled the state sometime Sunday. It is not known if he is in a vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police in Middlesex at 802-229-9191 or the Montpelier Police Department at 802-223-3445. Members of the Maine House of Representatives may soon give constituents a live look inside their session, on Facebook. Rep. Matt Pouliot (R-Augusta) is proposing a rule change to give legislators more latitude on social media while in session. I think its another way to connect with our constituents, said Rep. Pouliot. Currently, House rules prohibit lawmakers from taking photos or transmitting video. Pouliot is pushing the Rules Committee, which takes up the issue on Wednesday, to allow for photos and live video. Facebook, the most popular social networking website in the world, has a feature that allows users to record live video, and broadcast it out to followers. It has become a popular feature for journalists sharing breaking news, and was utilized by members of Congress last year to broadcast a sit-in. Why shouldnt people at home know exactly what were doing here? said Rep. Karl Ward (R-Dedham), who supports the rule change. Opponents worry about the ways lawmakers could use the technology to mislead. This is looking like trouble, said Rep. John Martin (D-Eagle Lake), a longtime lawmaker who served as Speaker of the House for 20 years. He said he supports transparency in the State House but worries this will cause lawmakers to bypass traditional media, and give their followers only part of the story. [Viewers] will only get what that particular legislator wants you to see, and not what is really going on, he said. The House Chamber already has cameras set up to record sessions in full, and broadcast them live on the legislature website. A lot of people dont know where to access that information or how to find it on a timely basis, said Pouliot. [Facebook] is a platform people are comfortable using. Pouliot has been working with a Facebook liaison to update the House Rules, and said the liaison believes other states are considering similar measures, but Maine could be among the first leading the charge. Bike to work (Photo : Getty Images) Biking is a way of life in China. In fact, there are half a billion bicycles in China--about 1 bicycle per household. In Beijing, registered bicycle riders are 7 million, and in Shanghai, 6.5 million. In most places, these bicycles outnumber cars at least 10 to 1. Advertisement Chinese people bike to run errands, commute to work, as a form of leisure, and a means of exercise. However, bicycles growing popularity, resulting in ride-share bicycles parked randomly across Beijing, has been causing problems for pedestrians and public transportation. In a report by China Travel & Tourism News, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport is planning to regulate the parking of these bikes, which are owned by bike-sharing companies. Authorities in Shanghai, Shenzhen, other cities in China, including Beijing, have reportedly expressed their desire to impose stricter regulations regarding bicycles rented out by Mobike and Ofo. Mobike and Ofo pioneered this service globally. In 2016, they launched their services in Beijing, but their services have drawn many complaints such as random parking of ride-share bikes. Accordingly, this random parking is causing disorder around the entrance of many subway stations in the city and high-traffic areas since that time. A Chinese bicycle-sharing start-up backed by tech giant Tencent Holdings, Mobike has become popular among daily commuters due to its low rental fee. Users are required to deposit 299 yuan (HK$342), and then they can rent a bike at 1 yuan per hour. Ofo, on the other hand, is also a Chinese bike-sharing start-up, but it runs via iPhone and Android apps, so basically, it is easy to use. To encourage users to park their bicycles in areas designated by these two companies, they are reportedly considering giving discounts. In the past, they have already tried solving or reducing the problems with the help from local officials in Beijing. Recently, they met with transport officials and have agreed to help again in renovating transportation facilities, including parking areas for bicycles by providing data. A Massachusetts State Police Trooper is under arrest for allegedly operating under the influence. Angela Guerrera, 41, was pulled over by an Acton Police officer on Main Street just before 1:20 a.m. Guerrera was off-duty at the time when police say she was seen driving erratically in Maynard earlier. After further observation, the officer determined Guerrera was "impaired," and took her into custody, Massachusetts State Police report. Guerrera was charged with operating under the influence of liquor and failure to stop at a red light. She was relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave pending a formal hearing. A man charged with leaving an explosive device next to a Boston police cruiser has been held on $750,000 bail, but his attorney says his client is the victim of a witch hunt who's been framed by unreliable witnesses. Not-guilty pleas were entered on behalf of 42-year-old Asim Kieta at his arraignment Monday on charges including possession of an explosive device and assault with intent to murder. The improvised bomb that included a propane tank exploded Friday morning outside a police substation in South Boston. Two officers received minor injuries. Kieta's attorney questioned whether a bomb was involved, saying some trash caught fire. Police have not disclosed a motive but say Kieta was spotted on surveillance video. He was arrested Saturday at his job as a cook. Mike Pompeo was sworn in Monday night as director of the CIA at a crucial time for U.S. national security as intelligence traditionally a nonpartisan issue has been thrust into the political arena. "You are stepping up to lead the finest intelligence-gathering operation the world has ever seen," Vice President Mike Pence said during the nighttime swearing-in ceremony. "The men and women serving under your command give true meaning to the word courage." The Senate earlier Monday confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee to run the CIA despite some Democratic objections that the Kansas congressman has been less than transparent about his positions on torture, surveillance and Russia's meddling in the U.S. election. The vote was 66-32. Trump has been critical of intelligence agencies since their assessment of Russian involvement to help him win the election, but the new president also has said he is fully behind them. Senate Republicans had hoped to vote on Pompeo's nomination Friday, after Trump's inauguration. But Democrats succeeded in stalling action until they could debate. Democratic Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden on Monday said Pompeo was the "wrong man for the job." "He has endorsed extreme policies that would fundamentally erode liberties and freedoms of our people without making us safer," Wyden said. He said Pompeo's answers to questions from some senators have been "vague" and "contradictory," making it impossible to know what Pompeo believes. "I see no real commitment to transparency and his views on the most fundamental analysis of the day - the involvement of Russia in our election - seemed to shift with those of the president," Wyden said. In written responses to questions from the Senate, on Jan. 3, Pompeo said only that intelligence agency assessments in general should be taken seriously. After Trump conceded Russia was behind the campaign hacks, Pompeo on Jan. 12 told the Senate intelligence committee that particular assessment was "solid." "We need a CIA director who is direct about his beliefs and his assessments," Wyden said. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said Democrats were playing politics in its efforts to delay and derail Trump's choice to run the CIA. One of Trump's first stops as president was Saturday at the CIA's headquarters in Northern Virginia, where he made a speech that focused more on falsely accusing the media of lying about how many people attended his inauguration than on the role the CIA plays protecting the U.S. Standing in front of a memorial for fallen CIA agents Saturday, Trump assured intelligence officials, "I am so behind you." He made no mention of his repeated criticism of the intelligence agencies following the election, including his public challenges of their high-confidence assessment that Russia meddled in the White House race to help him win. In its final days, President Barack Obama's administration announced intelligence findings that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election with the goal of getting Trump elected. Trump himself has denied most of the assessment, though eventually conceded Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic emails during the campaign. Pompeo, a conservative Republican from Kansas and a member of the House intelligence committee, faced a mostly friendly confirmation hearing Jan. 12. He enrolled as a teenager at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated first in his class in 1986. He served in the Army at a time when the Soviet Union was America's No. 1 adversary. Bishop welcomes news of first Norfolk Syrian refugees Bishop welcomes news of first Norfolk Syrian refugees The Bishop of Norwich has welcomed news that the first five Syrian refugee families will arrive in Norwich at the start of February. Dereham thanksgiving service held for Dan Lawrence Dereham thanksgiving service held for Dan Lawrence A service of thanksgiving for the life of Christian youthworker Daniel Lawrence, who died in November, took place yesterday (Sunday) in Dereham with tributes given by his wife Kim, his dad Paul, Youth for Christ colleagues and some of the many people impacted by his life and work. Jenny Seal reports. Ecumenical Canons installed at Norwich Cathedral During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Bishop of Norwich welcomed three new ecumenical canons to Norwichs Anglican Cathedral. Bishop of Norwich, Rt Rev Graham James, was delighted to install the Very Rev David Paul, Dean of St Johns Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Rev Julian Pursehouse, Chair of the East Anglia Methodist District and Pastor Jon Norman of Soul Church, as ecumenical canons in front of a full Cathedral on Sunday January 22. Joined with clergy from around the diocese, a congregation from a range of Christian traditions and by the choirs of Norwich Cathedral and of St John's RC Cathedral, Bishop Graham underlined the importance of Christian unity and that the appointments of these ecumenical canons further illustrate the deepening relationships between the different churches in Norwich and more widely in the Diocese. Bishop Graham said: I am delighted that Fr David Paul and The Rev Julian Pursehouse accepted my invitation to become ecumenical canons of our cathedral church, illustrating the partnership in the gospel we enjoy with the Roman Catholic and Methodist churches. "I am delighted too that Jon Norman from Soul Church accepted my invitation to become an ecumenical canon. Along with his wife Chantel, he leads a very large and growing community church and has quickly become a significant church leader in our city." Rev Julian Pursehouse said: "Its a very gracious invitation on behalf of the Bishop and the Diocese and an indication of the extent of the friendship and the cooperation between the different traditions and churches. Ive always felt that the cathedral has a role to play in enriching the Christian community in the widest sense. I am very keen for many of our folk to come and share in the activities here when there are things on, things that they can benefit from and I think the denomination is immaterial really. I think it is such a significant place and community to resource; for not just the diocese, but other Christians too." Fr David Paul said: "This is a very tangible expression of our friendship, co-operation and working together. Because we are a two-cathedral city it seems to make sense to work together and participate in lots of good works that we can do - and have joint services such as were having on Good Friday for example. I was very pleased to accept the invitation as a sign of our friendship and working together for the service of the gospel." When asked about why he accept the invitation to be an ecumenical canon, Pastor John said: I think this is a step towards unity and were going stronger in our relationships and links in organisations and churches in the city and this a step towards that. Im honoured to be a part of that, and I think we all play a part in that." The Very Rev Jane Hedges, Dean of Norwich, said: The Dean and Chapter are delighted that Bishop Graham has appointed three new Ecumenical Canons for the Cathedral. We hope through these appointments to continue to strengthen our good relationships with our brothers and sisters at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, in the Methodist District and in the Independent Free Churches. We have so much to give and to receive from each other and most important of all this gives us the opportunity to think further about our joint witness to Christ." Pictured above are, from the left, Pastor Jon Norman, the Very Rev David Paul, Rev Julian Pursehouse, Very Rev Jane Hedges and Bishop Graham James. Mmm...Nougat. What better way to start a new year than with a fresh flavor for your favorite Android phone? Google's latest major Android release may have officially launched last fall, but if you're like most folks, you'll probably be getting your first taste of Nougat -- also known as Android 7 -- in 2017. If you want timely Android updates, Google's own Nexus and Pixel phones are the only way to go -- all other devices depend on third-party manufacturers to prepare and provide rollouts. And as we see time and time again, that tends to result in slow and uncertain progress. Once you've got the software, though, there's plenty to be learned about Google's most recent mobile efforts. Here are some practical tips to help you get the most out of Android's newest features -- both the marquee additions and the less obvious little touches. (Note that these tips are written specifically as they apply to Google's core Android 7.0 and 7.1 software. Many device manufacturers modify the operating system to put their own spin on the features and interface, which could result in some elements looking different or even being absent altogether on certain devices.) Nougat 101 1. Nougat makes it easier than ever to move between apps: Just double-tap your device's Overview key (the typically square-shaped icon next to Home) to snap between your two most recently used processes. Think of it like Alt-Tab for Android. 2. Speaking of the Overview key, it gains a new function in Nougat: The native-to-Android ability to split your screen in half and view two apps on-screen at the same time. While you have an app actively open, press and hold the Overview key -- or alternatively, tap it once to view your most recently used apps, and then press and hold any app and drag it to the top of the screen to initiate the split-screen view. When you're ready to go back to a regular single-app view, press and hold the Overview key to exit. 3. Want to copy text from one app to another while using Nougat's split-screen mode? Select the text you want, then press and hold your finger on the screen for a second and drag it to the other window. As long as the apps you're using allow it, the text will automatically paste over. 4. Little-known fact: You can use Nougat's split-screen mode to view two different Chrome tabs side by side. Open a new tab in Chrome, press and hold the Overview key and then tap Chrome's three-dot menu icon (in the upper-right corner of the screen). Look for the option labeled "Move to other window." IDG You can use Nougat's split-screen mode to view two different Chrome tabs side by side. 5. One more Overview-related tip: You probably already know you can remove any recently used app from the list by swiping it to the left or right. As of Nougat, Android also has a native command for clearing all of the apps away at once (something many third-party manufacturers have implemented in their versions of Android for some time now). Scroll all the way up to the top of the Overview list to find it. 6. If your device has Android 7.1, try pressing and holding an icon on your home screen. That'll cause compatible apps to pop up shortcuts to commonly used functions -- like calling a favorite contact in the Phone app or opening a new tab in Chrome. (If you have Android 7.1 and aren't having any luck, try installing and using the Google Now Launcher.) 7. Need to jump between sections in your system settings? Nougat has a new quick-navigation menu for that very purpose. Swipe inward from the left of the screen or look for the three-line "hamburger" icon in the upper-left corner to find it. IDG Nougat has a new quick-navigation menu. 8. If you ever find yourself in the Apps section of your system settings, take note: As of Nougat, you can quickly scroll through the list of installed apps by moving your finger downward on the very rightmost edge of the screen. That'll cause a letter-driven fast-scroll interface to appear. Quick Settings 9. The Quick Settings panel on Nougat has some subtle but significant new features. First: When you swipe down once from the top of your screen, you'll now see a series of quick-access icons for things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and airplane mode. Tapping any of the icons in that area will toggle the associated function on or off. 10. When you swipe down twice from the top of the screen -- or swipe down once with two fingers -- you'll see an expanded list of larger tiles. Tapping an icon in that area will open more detailed controls for the associated function (if such controls are available). 11. In either section of the Quick Settings panel, you can long-press any icon to go directly to the associated area of your full system settings. 12. Nougat's Quick Settings tiles are fully customizable. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice, then tap the edit command -- which may be either the word "Edit" in the lower-right corner or a pencil icon in the upper-right corner -- to rearrange the icons and add or remove functions from the list. IDG Nougat's Quick Settings tiles are fully customizable. 13. When editing your Quick Settings, pay careful attention to which icons you place in the first six positions. The icons in those spots will appear as the quick-access toggles in the smaller (single-swipe-down) view. 14. If your phone is managed by a workplace, look for a tile in your Quick Settings called "Work Mode." Tapping it will switch between a work profile -- with work-related apps and settings -- and a personal profile that has your own personal apps and none of the company stuff. 15. You can add even more tiles into your Quick Settings by way of third-party apps. Weather Quick Settings Tile, for example, will put the latest local conditions into your panel, while Ringer Modes will give you a simple one-touch toggle for changing your phone's sound profile. (Want even more options? I assembled a detailed list of Android's best Quick Settings add-ons.) 16. Android 7.1 supports a new native night mode, but it's available only on select devices with compatible hardware. If your device has it, you'll see a tile called Night Light in your Quick Settings area. Tapping that tile will tint your screen to make it easier on the eyes in dim lighting. 17. Save yourself a tap and tell your device to activate Night Light on its own when needed. Just navigate to the Display section of your system settings and tap the item labeled "Night Light," then tap "Turn on automatically" and select either "Sunset to sunrise" or "Custom schedule." (As you'd expect, this setting will show up only on devices where Night Light is supported.) Notifications 18. Notifications in Nougat are bundled by app -- so if you have, say, three new email alerts from Gmail, they'll all appear within a single card in your notification panel. You can tap any such card to fan it out into individual mini-cards with more detailed info, and you can tap on any of those mini-cards to expand it and gain access to action-performing buttons (like commands for archiving or replying right then and there). IDG Notifications in Nougat are now bundled by app. 19. Feel like an app is pinging your phone a little too frequently? Press and hold one of its notifications (or slide the notification slightly to either side and tap the gear icon that appears). That'll give you controls for silencing all future notifications from the app or even blocking them entirely. 20. Android's Do Not Disturb mode scores a handy new trick in Nougat: The ability to keep your phone quiet at night and then automatically turn your sound back to normal when your alarm goes off in the morning. To set it up, go into the Sound section of your system settings and tap "Do not disturb" followed by "Automatic rules." Use the on-screen command to add a new rule, then select "Time rule" and name it whatever you'd like. Set up the days and times for whenever you want your phone to stay silent, then be sure to set the "Do not disturb" setting to either "Alarms only" or "Priority only" and activate the "Alarm can override end time" option. Advanced options 21. Stop squinting! For the farsighted folks among us, Nougat introduces a long overdue option to increase the size of everything on your screen. Look for the "Display size" line in the Display section of your system settings. IDG For the farsighted folks among us, Nougat introduces a long overdue option to increase the size of everything on your screen. 22. Prefer to enlarge just the words on your screen without affecting anything else? The Display section of your device's settings has a second option called "Font size." 23. If mobile data usage is a worry for you, check out Nougat's new Data Saver mode, which limits how much data apps can send and receive (both in the background and when they're actively being used). Go to the "Data usage" section of your system settings and then tap "Data Saver" to get started. 24. Parlez-vous plusieurs langues? Android 7.0 and 7.1 allow you to set multiple languages as your system default so you can move between different dialects seamlessly. Just look in the Languages & Input section of your system settings. Select "Languages" and then follow the on-screen prompts to add new dialects into your list. 25. In case you're ever in an emergency, make sure first responders have the info they need by filling in Nougat's new emergency info section -- which puts everything from your blood type to allergies and emergency contacts onto your phone's lock screen. Look under the Users section of your system settings to find the form. 26. Nougat lets you morph your device's system voice into a Harvey-Fierstein-esque growl or a helium-infused squeak (which are equally amusing to hear). Open your system settings, then look under Accessibility for the "Text-to-speech output" option. 27. Ever find yourself wearing a single earbud and wishing you could hear both channels of audio from your phone? Wish no more, for Nougat makes it possible: You'll find the command, called "Mono audio playback," in the Accessibility section of your system settings. Hidden extras 28. You might never know it from looking, but Nougat lets you customize the order of apps in Android's system-level Share menu. The next time you share something from anywhere on your phone, press and hold any app in the list and select the "Pin" option that pops up. That app will now always appear at the top of your Share list. (You can pin multiple apps, too, and they'll appear in alphabetical order at the start of the list.) 29. If you ever need to browse through your phone's storage or manually move and copy files, check out Nougat's newly enhanced native file manager. Open the Storage section of your system settings, then scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list and tap the unassuming option labeled "Explore" to launch it. 30. Feeling especially adventurous? Unlock Android's secret System UI Tuner by pressing and holding the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Quick Settings screen for several seconds. When you let go, you should be able to scroll to the bottom of your system settings to find a new section called System UI Tuner. There, you'll see power-user tools for tweaking things like the appearance of your status bar along with an intricate five-point system for controlling how different types of notifications behave. This story, "30 tasty tips for Android Nougat" was originally published by Computerworld . IBM Security plans to buy San Francisco-based Agile 3 Solutions, which makes software for visualizing data risk for analysis by senior executives. The deal is expected to close within weeks, but the financial terms were not released. It will include the purchase of Ravy Technologies, an Agile 3 subcontractor based in India. Agile 3s software identifies risks to business programs and assets, and enables actions to head off possible exploits that could affect business processes. It provides a dashboard for measuring compliance with regulations and legislation. IBM Security customers will be able to buy Agile 3 technology as a service through IBM Data Security Services or as features rolled into IBM Guardian, the companys data-protection software. The company says the addition of the software will help identify and protect critical data. Agile 3 was founded by Raghu Varadan, who once worked for IBM and helped invent its SOA Governance and Management Method (SGMM) and Service Integration Maturity Model (SIMM) as part of IBMs service oriented architecture portfolio. He is also the founder of Ravy, and is managing director of both Agile 3 and Ravy. Although Chang'e-5 is not the first orbiter to fly to the moon, it will be the first one to land, rove, and retrieve samples from the lunar surface. (Photo : Getty Images) China has set its sights on the moon. The nation just recently announced the country's first sampling and return mission, slated for launch late Nov. 2017, according to an article by gbtimes.com. Advertisement Chang'e-5, an 8.2-tonne probe, will embark on the momentous journey. It will be launched on a Long March 5 rocket situated on Hainan Island's Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre. Soviet Union was the last nation to attempt a lunar sample return through the Luna 24 mission back in 1976. Chang'e-5 will be equipped with high-end technology, some of which can be used for a Mars sample return mission and eventual crewed journeys to the moon by China. "The lunar probe is comprised of four parts: an orbiter, a return module, an ascender, and a lander," Ye Peijian, one of the country's leading aerospace experts, said in a report by state media Xinhua. Once Chang'e-5 has landed on the chosen spot, it will drill holes into the soil and collect samples. An ascent module, together with an orbiter, will then perform an automated docking around the lunar orbit approximately 380,000 kilometers away from Earth. Once the automated docking is complete, the orbiter will start its journey back home. The return module will detach itself once close to the Earth for a 'skip' reentry. The orbiter is planned to land in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia. "Once the samples are back, we can begin our analysis right away," Ouyang Ziyuan told the press back in October. Ouyang is one of China's Lunar Exploration Project's (CLEP) cosmochemists and chief scientists. Although Chang'e-5 is not the first orbiter to fly the moon, it will be the first one to land, rove, and retrieve samples from the lunar surface. The mission marks the third phase of a Chinese project that began nearly 10 years ago. Newbury marketing agency claims national accolade at ceremony in London A NEWBURY-based marketing agency has won a prestigious Amazon Growing Business Award at a national ceremony in London. The London Road company saw off competition from hundreds of entrepreneurs and businesses from across the UK to claim the top prize. Gekko won the Employer of the Year award after competing against names including Celfone Trading, Brainlabs and Simply Business. Created by and backed by the CBI, the Amazon Growing Business Awards are the most established and respected national recognition programme for SMEs and entrepreneurial success, with previous VIP guests including Bill Gates, Gordon Brown and Stelios Haji-Ioannou. The event was hosted by Rob Beckett, stand-up comedian and regular on television panel shows, and . The 2016 event, held at The Brewery in London, received nominations from more than 500 SMEs from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Speaking after picking up the award, Gekko managing director David Todaro said: 2016 has been a fantastic year for Gekko and to win this award is a huge testament to the talent, dedication, and team-spirit of our staff. Specialising in the branding and field marketing sector ourselves, we know the importance of gaining this type of recognition, so were over the moon to win Employer of the Year, especially with backing from leaders like Amazon, the CBI and . Doug Gurr, UK country manager at Amazon, said: We would like to offer our congratulations to all the winners and businesses highly commended. Small businesses are the backbone of Britain, and so its immensely inspiring to hear such a number of success stories, showing that creative ideas and relentless drive is found around the country. Speaking in support of the Amazon Growing Business Awards, Tom Thackray, CBI director of innovation, said: The CBI is delighted to support the Amazon Growing Business Awards, championing the vibrant network of SMEs as they undergo their scale-up journey. We wish all those who have taken part the greatest of success for the years ahead. Hunter Ruthven, editor of , said: This years winning and highly-commended businesses deserve huge recognition for their success in seeing off a record level of competition across every award category. On behalf of everyone at , we would like to thank all those who entered this years Amazon Growing Business Awards and we look forward to hearing even more inspiring stories in next years entries. Since its launch in 1999, the awards have celebrated exceptional growing businesses with past winners including Innocent Drinks, Betfair, Lovefilm and Fever-Tree. Concerns over access, air quality and traffic remain NEWBURY Town Council has objected to fresh plans to build up to 1,000 homes and a new primary school at Sandleford Park, due to concerns over access, traffic and air pollution. The town council agrees with West Berkshire Councils view that the site can only be served by four access roads from the A339, Monks Lane and the A343 Warren Road despite developer Bloor Homes insistence it can be delivered with two. This was just one of a number of issues raised by councillors during a recent Newbury Town Council planning and highways committee meeting. At the meeting, councillors spent an hour quizzing representatives from Bloor about the plans, which the developer says have been submitted to facilitate early delivery of this important allocated site. John Gardner (Lib Dem, St Johns) said: As you know, certain parts of Newbury have been exposed to unsafe levels of pollution. Any increase in traffic is going to make that worse. He added: Im also a little bit surprised you can say two access roads are okay for 1,000 homes. Anthony Pick (Con, St Johns) shared that view, saying: Can you state why, in your view, two access points will adequately serve 1,000 homes? To which Daniel Hayman, representing Bloor, replied: Our traffic surveys show this is the case. Plans to build homes on the land, off Monks Lane in south Newbury, have been in the pipeline for years. In December 2015, Bloor submitted a masterplan application to build up to 2,000 homes and two primary schools on the site. However, it has been unable to work with other landowners to come up with a single application, so has decided to submit the new application for just the land it owns instead. But there lies the problem - it goes against West Berkshire Councils request for one single application for the entire site. West Berkshire Council officers will make a recommendation on whether to approve or refuse the plans for 2,000 homes by February 11. The councils highways team said it was more than happy to refuse the application due to Bloors reluctance to help fund an access road on to the A339. A hotel in Hubei crumbled after being hit by a landslide. (Photo : Facebook) Chinese state media reported that the hotel was hit by a landslide of 3,000 cubic meters of debris that rolled behind the three-story hotel. Rescuers estimated the largest rock to weigh 150 tons last Sunday. Rescuers were also apprehensive to proceed with operations as they feared that more debris might slide further. They were able to pull out five people initially but two of them died in a hospital. Advertisement By Sunday, state media confirmed that the rescuers were able to retrieve 12 bodies and all are dead. The victims were eating at the restaurant at the ground floor when the disaster struck. The hotel guests were estimated to have an age range of 17 to 61 years old. Landslides are a common occurrence in China because of heavy rainfall. Another landslide caused a tragedy when Typhoon Megi devastated the country. Typhoon Megi brought in enormous amounts of rain. In Fujian Province, there were 8 inches of rain in 24 hours. The nonstop rain triggered the landslide. The landslide buried the builders' temporary shed at a construction site of a hydropower station and damaged its offices, killing almost 40 people. The disaster prompted President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to instruct Fujian local officials to implement "maximum efforts" in rescue and caring for the victims. At the same time, Premier Li called on the Ministry of Land and Resources to assist. Because of the frequency of geological disasters, the National Meteorological Council established a four-level warning system at times of heavy rain. The Council would raise the red alert if heavy rains are incessant and would call for an evacuation. By Reuters BEIJING: Hugo Barra, the most prominent global executive at China's Xiaomi Inc and the face of the smartphone maker's global expansion, has left the company citing health concerns and a new role. In a social media post on Monday, Barra, Xiaomi's vice president in charge of global operations, said he was leaving the company after three-and-a-half years for a new project based in Silicon Valley. Xiaomi was briefly the world's most valuable startup and had hopes to be China's equivalent of Apple Inc. But the firm has recently grappled with slowing smartphone sales and fell out of the top five in China for smartphone vendors in 2016, after reaching No. 2 in 2015. "The last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health," Barra said in the statement on Facebook. "Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return." Barra, who became synonymous with the company's international expansion efforts, was based in Beijing, though often traveled to other strategically important markets including India and his home country of Brazil. In a letter released to employees earlier this month, Xiaomi Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun said "the worst is over", referring to the company's recent struggles to keep up with an ever increasing number of local competitors. For Barra, the role has involved many roadblocks, including a halt of production in Brazil due to the country's economic instability, and a temporary ban in India in 2014 over patent infringements. Barra said he would officially leave the role after Lunar New Year, which runs until Feb. 2, and take time off before embarking on a new role. He did not specify the role. A company spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that Barra has a new role lined up in Silicon Valley, and that Senior Vice President Xiang Wang will lead the company's global efforts going forward. BEIJING: Hugo Barra, the most prominent global executive at China's Xiaomi Inc and the face of the smartphone maker's global expansion, has left the company citing health concerns and a new role. In a social media post on Monday, Barra, Xiaomi's vice president in charge of global operations, said he was leaving the company after three-and-a-half years for a new project based in Silicon Valley. Xiaomi was briefly the world's most valuable startup and had hopes to be China's equivalent of Apple Inc. But the firm has recently grappled with slowing smartphone sales and fell out of the top five in China for smartphone vendors in 2016, after reaching No. 2 in 2015. "The last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health," Barra said in the statement on Facebook. "Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return." Barra, who became synonymous with the company's international expansion efforts, was based in Beijing, though often traveled to other strategically important markets including India and his home country of Brazil. In a letter released to employees earlier this month, Xiaomi Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun said "the worst is over", referring to the company's recent struggles to keep up with an ever increasing number of local competitors. For Barra, the role has involved many roadblocks, including a halt of production in Brazil due to the country's economic instability, and a temporary ban in India in 2014 over patent infringements. Barra said he would officially leave the role after Lunar New Year, which runs until Feb. 2, and take time off before embarking on a new role. He did not specify the role. A company spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that Barra has a new role lined up in Silicon Valley, and that Senior Vice President Xiang Wang will lead the company's global efforts going forward. By Online Desk CHENNAI: With the Tamil Nadu assembly passing the Jallikattu in a special session, and the assembled protesters deciding to withdraw their protest, normalcy, slowly and steadily, was getting restored in the city. The crowds at Tamukkam in Madurai also began to shrink. According to the Southern Railways, all the south-bound trains will run as per schedule on normal routes with immediate effect. Amid intense protests and police backlash, the Tamil Nadu assembly unanimously passed the Jallikattu Bill, tabled by chief minister O Panneerselvam on Monday evening. With efforts of police quelling the protests at Marina Beach failing, the Jallikattu agitation earlier in the day took a violent route. Incidents of sporadic violence have been reported from cities like Madurai, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, with state police taking action against the protesters. The police in an early morning crackdown at Marina started removing scores of protesters who were demonstrating at the epicentre of the beach for the past one week, demanding a permanent solution for holding Jallikattu. ALSO READ: Bill to replace ordinance on Jallikattu to be placed in Assembly: Governor Following an advisory, the crackdown comes on a day when the state Assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary Governor's address. Here are the live updates: Protestors at SRP Tools signal block vehicles freed at OMR opposite MGR Nagar petrol bunk @NewIndianXpress @gopumohan_TNIE #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/fPKI9MwR74 Ram M Sundaram (@Ram_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Agitators assembled at Marina have agreed to withdraw protests. They asked for half an hour more to celebrate the "victory". A police vehicle was set on fire by unidentified miscreants at Vadapalani, say TV reports. Police drag agitators after they refused at VOC Ground in Coimbatore on Monday (EPS | Prakash Chellamuthu) Several women explain how a young boy was hauled by the police during the jallikattu clashes. They question the quality of Chennai police's duty as women who talk to TNIE have claimed that they have been beaten up and show proof for the same, reports Sushmita Ramakrishnan. TNIE reporter Sushmitha Ramakrishnan via Facebook Live reports how citizens claim about houses being broken during the jallikattu clashes and complained about police atrocities. Several vehicles and buildings burned or broken in this area. Meanwhile, reporting from Bharati Salai in Chennai, TNIE reporter Sushmitha Ramakrishnan tells how the clashes between protestors and the police, leading to tear gases being hurled to disperse the public. She further says, how certain policemen have been injured as well. Jallikattu Bill passed unanimously in TN Assembly. AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao addresses the state assembly regarding Jallikattu bill. The State Assembly session has begun with speaker Dhanapal presiding over it, according to TV reports. The agitators have called off their protest at the overbridge in Sellur of Madurai. The halted Coimbatore - Nagercoil passenger train allowed to move. Protesters set vehicles on fire at Nadukuppam near Marina beach in Chennai - Photo - P Jawahar pic.twitter.com/E8J1PrWIBZ gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Actor Rajinikanth takes to Twitter to express displeasure about the prevailing situation in Tamil Nadu. READ MORE Retired High Court judge Hari Paranthaman reaches Marina to speak with the protesters. RJ Balaji speaks to protesters at Marina urging them give up protests. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/J7YMdEhdgw J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam holds a discussion with DGP, Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of the state regarding the current situation across the state. Protesters block traffic at GN Chetty Road in Chennai. (Express / Romani Agarwal) Meanwhile, amid protests, Jallikattu will be held in Alanganallur on February 1, the village committee head told local media, according to TV reports. Yesterday, Jallikattu was conducted in most places, except in Alanganallur. READ MORE Several police vehicles set on fire in Chennai today. This is said to be a senior police officer's vehicle. @NewIndianXpress #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/C5moBr4OAY J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 With police continuing their crackdown, actor Kamal Hassan has come out in support of the youth and asked them to "not take to violence". READ MORE According to the latest information, a retired High Court judge is expected to reach Marina to speak with the protesters, say sources. The buses, as reported earlier were asked to be rerouted to the respective depots. The buses by afternoon had completely stopped services from areas like Thrivanmiyur. The Coimbatore police DC (Law and order) Lakshmi has reportedly suffered injuries as people pelted stones on cops during lathi chargee. TNIE reporter Sushmita Ramakrishnan is reporting live from Marina Beach, the main site of protest. Watch below: Youngsters take to the street condemning police action against the peaceful protests in Chennai's Marina beach and other parts of the state. Gathered on Velachery flyover, they are also voicing out the demand for a permanent act for jallikattu. Watch video: Stone pelting and violence between police and public at Peter's Road. Police ready with bullet proof shields and vests. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/WcbsMA7IKz Sushmitha Ram (@SushmithaRam) January 23, 2017 Few schools in Chennai have declared a holiday after the lunch break with a possibility of roads turning into choc-a-block. City buses have been stopped at various places, and have been rerouted to respective depots. Very few city buses functioning. Shops down shutters at places like Peters Road in Chennai. Roads at Teynampet blocked as protesters hold up the traffic | (EPS/Romani Agarwal) #jallikattu protests: Few Chennai schools declare holiday after lunch break but it will be a struggle to get home in the severe traffic jam gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Special session of Tamilnadu Assembly this evening will pass Jallikattu Bill replacing the Ordinance @NewIndianXpress T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) January 23, 2017 #jallikattu protest is over, we have won, please go home, says RJ Balaji, one of those who brought the young crowd to Marina. https://t.co/67xpPAQ7vU gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Special session of Tamil Nadu Assembly at 5 pm for #jallikattu Ordinance gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 After lathi charge, protesters were also tear-gassed at Marina beach. Police say petrol bombs were hurled at the ice house police station to set it on fire. Firemen trying to put off fire at Ice house police station. Dozens of vehicles and a portion of station gutted #jallikattu @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Smokes from the vehicles near ice house police station that were reportedly set on fire. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/teeiWXe51D J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Vehicles near Ice house police station set on fire. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Food packets reach the protesters at Marina via sea with fishermen help. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/gsHx4H5m0g J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 A police boat chasing a fishermen boat apparently to prevent it from reaching Marina. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/zG9k8oveTW J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Madurai: A protester climbing the Sellur bridge to reach the spot where a train is stranded on it. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/QDvWylHb1E J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 "The Chief Minister should immediately meet the protesters and give an assurance that they would not allow jallikattu to be banned any time in the future", said Stalin It's highly condemnable that the government with a totalitarian attitude is using police forces to quell the protesters: Stalin Crowd participating in jallikattu protest assembled Tiruchy court premises in Tiruchy | EPS The police are removing barricades from Thamukkam grounds at Madurai on Monday . | EPS Madurai Sellur railway bridge where the students are staging a protest | EPS TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing the protesters, most of them clad in black, from the sands of the famous beach here, signalling the end of the week-long protests that had been backed by political parties including ruling AIADMK and DMK. ALSO READ: Two youth gored to death, 27 hurt in Pudukkottai jallikattu A large posse of cops was deployed at Marina. The protesters, mostly students and youth, had not bought the government decision to issue an ordinance for holding Jallikattu, which was done on Saturday, and the bull taming sport held in some parts of the state. They had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure the sport was held annually without any hindrance. ALSO READ: Go home, take rest, the struggle is over, say pro-jallikattu supporters Senior police officials could not be reached. The protesters criticised the police crackdown at the beach. The police action, however, came following an early morning 'advisory' asking the agitators to end their 'disciplined and peaceful' protest as their "purpose has been fully achieved." Traffic comes to near standstill on roads in & around Marina. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 # Marina and Triplicane tense as police plan to use force to disperse Jallikattu protesters @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/posG9ZZRQJ Shivakumar C (@shivakumar_tnie) January 23, 2017 A few injured protesters at Marina taken to rotapettah hospital. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 The advisory, released to the media, said that tens of thousands of youth, students and general public had been protesting in Marina since January 17 urging to lift the ban on the conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and that it had been "staged in a disciplined and peaceful manner without causing inconvenience to the general public and hindrance to the traffic." "In fact, the participants have been assisting the police throughout and have cooperated well in the maintenance of Law and Order and regulation of traffic. "The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken every initiative and has conducted Jallikattu yesterday at various places all over Tamil Nadu to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu," it said. "Through an exemplary display of unity and discipline, the purpose of the protest has been fully achieved. Hence the participants are requested to leave the Marina in the same peaceful and disciplined manner and co-operate with the Chennai City Police," it said. # Standoff begins between police and Jallikattu protesters in Marina. Police cordon the area @NewIndianXpress Shivakumar C (@shivakumar_tnie) January 23, 2017 A few enter sea waters putting police in a fix. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/UB9xWk6Oxc J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 A senior police officer addressing the protesters at Marina & ask them to disperse. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/LVEYnBNEWI J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Protesters assemble dangerously close to sea waters. Police stay away from them. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/r210cdbVU3 J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 The crowd is visibly angry at police action. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/Yrr4l7LDK8 J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Roads leading to Marina blocked. Vehicles not allowed to bear the beach. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/kp6eZfgCgv J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Chennai city police advisory asking people at Marina to leave. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/WSs8PqIH2B J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 After the Governor's address to the Assembly today, the government is expected to move a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. In Coimbatore also, students and other protesters were forcibly evicted from VOC Park Ground where they were protesting for the last six days. Political party members made road roko in Gandhipuram condemning the police brutal attack on people @NewIndianXpress @gopumohan_TNIE pic.twitter.com/idVK5OCmRX Prabhakar T (@PrabhakarT26) January 23, 2017 Police were bodily lifting and shifting them outside the ground but they were immediately returning and occupying the earlier place. As they were being lifted the students were chanting 'Vande Mataram' in chorous. (With inputs from agency) CHENNAI: With the Tamil Nadu assembly passing the Jallikattu in a special session, and the assembled protesters deciding to withdraw their protest, normalcy, slowly and steadily, was getting restored in the city. The crowds at Tamukkam in Madurai also began to shrink. According to the Southern Railways, all the south-bound trains will run as per schedule on normal routes with immediate effect. Amid intense protests and police backlash, the Tamil Nadu assembly unanimously passed the Jallikattu Bill, tabled by chief minister O Panneerselvam on Monday evening. With efforts of police quelling the protests at Marina Beach failing, the Jallikattu agitation earlier in the day took a violent route. Incidents of sporadic violence have been reported from cities like Madurai, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, with state police taking action against the protesters. The police in an early morning crackdown at Marina started removing scores of protesters who were demonstrating at the epicentre of the beach for the past one week, demanding a permanent solution for holding Jallikattu. ALSO READ: Bill to replace ordinance on Jallikattu to be placed in Assembly: Governor Following an advisory, the crackdown comes on a day when the state Assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary Governor's address. Here are the live updates: Protestors at SRP Tools signal block vehicles freed at OMR opposite MGR Nagar petrol bunk @NewIndianXpress @gopumohan_TNIE #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/fPKI9MwR74 Ram M Sundaram (@Ram_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Agitators assembled at Marina have agreed to withdraw protests. They asked for half an hour more to celebrate the "victory". A police vehicle was set on fire by unidentified miscreants at Vadapalani, say TV reports. Police asking protestors at #OMR to leave #Jallikattu @NewIndianXpress @gopumohan_TNIE pic.twitter.com/5kAUVii3NA Ram M Sundaram (@Ram_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Police drag agitators after they refused at VOC Ground in Coimbatore on Monday (EPS | Prakash Chellamuthu) Several women explain how a young boy was hauled by the police during the jallikattu clashes. They question the quality of Chennai police's duty as women who talk to TNIE have claimed that they have been beaten up and show proof for the same, reports Sushmita Ramakrishnan. TNIE reporter Sushmitha Ramakrishnan via Facebook Live reports how citizens claim about houses being broken during the jallikattu clashes and complained about police atrocities. Several vehicles and buildings burned or broken in this area. Meanwhile, reporting from Bharati Salai in Chennai, TNIE reporter Sushmitha Ramakrishnan tells how the clashes between protestors and the police, leading to tear gases being hurled to disperse the public. She further says, how certain policemen have been injured as well. Jallikattu Bill passed unanimously in TN Assembly. AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao addresses the state assembly regarding Jallikattu bill. The State Assembly session has begun with speaker Dhanapal presiding over it, according to TV reports. The agitators have called off their protest at the overbridge in Sellur of Madurai. The halted Coimbatore - Nagercoil passenger train allowed to move. Protesters set vehicles on fire at Nadukuppam near Marina beach in Chennai - Photo - P Jawahar pic.twitter.com/E8J1PrWIBZ gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Actor Rajinikanth takes to Twitter to express displeasure about the prevailing situation in Tamil Nadu. READ MORE pic.twitter.com/twjA7TNPLA Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) January 23, 2017 Retired High Court judge Hari Paranthaman reaches Marina to speak with the protesters. RJ Balaji speaks to protesters at Marina urging them give up protests. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/J7YMdEhdgw J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam holds a discussion with DGP, Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of the state regarding the current situation across the state. Protesters block traffic at GN Chetty Road in Chennai. (Express / Romani Agarwal) Meanwhile, amid protests, Jallikattu will be held in Alanganallur on February 1, the village committee head told local media, according to TV reports. Yesterday, Jallikattu was conducted in most places, except in Alanganallur. READ MORE Several police vehicles set on fire in Chennai today. This is said to be a senior police officer's vehicle. @NewIndianXpress #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/C5moBr4OAY J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 With police continuing their crackdown, actor Kamal Hassan has come out in support of the youth and asked them to "not take to violence". READ MORE According to the latest information, a retired High Court judge is expected to reach Marina to speak with the protesters, say sources. The buses, as reported earlier were asked to be rerouted to the respective depots. The buses by afternoon had completely stopped services from areas like Thrivanmiyur. Some of the marks of violence in Chennai today. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/q3CM2ClRmG J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 The Coimbatore police DC (Law and order) Lakshmi has reportedly suffered injuries as people pelted stones on cops during lathi chargee. TNIE reporter Sushmita Ramakrishnan is reporting live from Marina Beach, the main site of protest. Watch below: Youngsters take to the street condemning police action against the peaceful protests in Chennai's Marina beach and other parts of the state. Gathered on Velachery flyover, they are also voicing out the demand for a permanent act for jallikattu. Watch video: Stone pelting and violence between police and public at Peter's Road. Police ready with bullet proof shields and vests. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/WcbsMA7IKz Sushmitha Ram (@SushmithaRam) January 23, 2017 Few schools in Chennai have declared a holiday after the lunch break with a possibility of roads turning into choc-a-block. City buses have been stopped at various places, and have been rerouted to respective depots. Very few city buses functioning. Shops down shutters at places like Peters Road in Chennai. Roads at Teynampet blocked as protesters hold up the traffic | (EPS/Romani Agarwal) #jallikattu protests: Few Chennai schools declare holiday after lunch break but it will be a struggle to get home in the severe traffic jam gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Special session of Tamilnadu Assembly this evening will pass Jallikattu Bill replacing the Ordinance @NewIndianXpress T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) January 23, 2017 #jallikattu protest is over, we have won, please go home, says RJ Balaji, one of those who brought the young crowd to Marina. https://t.co/67xpPAQ7vU gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Special session of Tamil Nadu Assembly at 5 pm for #jallikattu Ordinance gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 23, 2017 The restless crowd at Marina #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/g0HWsRXxbS J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 After lathi charge, protesters were also tear-gassed at Marina beach. Lathi charge at Marina. Situation turn chaos. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Police say petrol bombs were hurled at the ice house police station to set it on fire. Firemen trying to put off fire at Ice house police station. Dozens of vehicles and a portion of station gutted #jallikattu @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Smokes from the vehicles near ice house police station that were reportedly set on fire. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/teeiWXe51D J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Vehicles near Ice house police station set on fire. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Fishermen join protests at Marina. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/2Gd9qfOb60 J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Food packets reach the protesters at Marina via sea with fishermen help. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/gsHx4H5m0g J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 A police boat chasing a fishermen boat apparently to prevent it from reaching Marina. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/zG9k8oveTW J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Madurai: A protester climbing the Sellur bridge to reach the spot where a train is stranded on it. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/QDvWylHb1E J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 "The Chief Minister should immediately meet the protesters and give an assurance that they would not allow jallikattu to be banned any time in the future", said Stalin #jallikattu M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) January 23, 2017 It's highly condemnable that the government with a totalitarian attitude is using police forces to quell the protesters: Stalin #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/8HcnMS1l25 M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) January 23, 2017 Crowd participating in jallikattu protest assembled Tiruchy court premises in Tiruchy | EPS The police are removing barricades from Thamukkam grounds at Madurai on Monday . | EPS Madurai Sellur railway bridge where the students are staging a protest | EPS TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing the protesters, most of them clad in black, from the sands of the famous beach here, signalling the end of the week-long protests that had been backed by political parties including ruling AIADMK and DMK. ALSO READ: Two youth gored to death, 27 hurt in Pudukkottai jallikattu A large posse of cops was deployed at Marina. The protesters, mostly students and youth, had not bought the government decision to issue an ordinance for holding Jallikattu, which was done on Saturday, and the bull taming sport held in some parts of the state. They had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure the sport was held annually without any hindrance. ALSO READ: Go home, take rest, the struggle is over, say pro-jallikattu supporters Senior police officials could not be reached. The protesters criticised the police crackdown at the beach. The police action, however, came following an early morning 'advisory' asking the agitators to end their 'disciplined and peaceful' protest as their "purpose has been fully achieved." Traffic comes to near standstill on roads in & around Marina. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 # Marina and Triplicane tense as police plan to use force to disperse Jallikattu protesters @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/posG9ZZRQJ Shivakumar C (@shivakumar_tnie) January 23, 2017 A few injured protesters at Marina taken to rotapettah hospital. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 #Jallikattu protesters pushed to sea @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/YX9snJcUB4 Shivakumar C (@shivakumar_tnie) January 23, 2017 The advisory, released to the media, said that tens of thousands of youth, students and general public had been protesting in Marina since January 17 urging to lift the ban on the conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and that it had been "staged in a disciplined and peaceful manner without causing inconvenience to the general public and hindrance to the traffic." "In fact, the participants have been assisting the police throughout and have cooperated well in the maintenance of Law and Order and regulation of traffic. "The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken every initiative and has conducted Jallikattu yesterday at various places all over Tamil Nadu to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu," it said. "Through an exemplary display of unity and discipline, the purpose of the protest has been fully achieved. Hence the participants are requested to leave the Marina in the same peaceful and disciplined manner and co-operate with the Chennai City Police," it said. # Standoff begins between police and Jallikattu protesters in Marina. Police cordon the area @NewIndianXpress Shivakumar C (@shivakumar_tnie) January 23, 2017 A few enter sea waters putting police in a fix. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/UB9xWk6Oxc J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 A senior police officer addressing the protesters at Marina & ask them to disperse. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/LVEYnBNEWI J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Protesters assemble dangerously close to sea waters. Police stay away from them. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/r210cdbVU3 J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 The crowd is visibly angry at police action. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/Yrr4l7LDK8 J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 A large section removed from beach. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/4TD4oW3rkw J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Roads leading to Marina blocked. Vehicles not allowed to bear the beach. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/kp6eZfgCgv J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Chennai city police advisory asking people at Marina to leave. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/WSs8PqIH2B J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 Police surround protesters at Marina. #jallikattu. @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/JJr1wa8kVY J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 23, 2017 After the Governor's address to the Assembly today, the government is expected to move a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. In Coimbatore also, students and other protesters were forcibly evicted from VOC Park Ground where they were protesting for the last six days. Political party members made road roko in Gandhipuram condemning the police brutal attack on people @NewIndianXpress @gopumohan_TNIE pic.twitter.com/idVK5OCmRX Prabhakar T (@PrabhakarT26) January 23, 2017 Police were bodily lifting and shifting them outside the ground but they were immediately returning and occupying the earlier place. As they were being lifted the students were chanting 'Vande Mataram' in chorous. (With inputs from agency) By ANI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the plea filed by December 16 gang rape convicts Mukesh, Akshay, Pawan and Vinay, challenging the Delhi High court order which had sentenced the four convicts to the gallows after keeping in view the fact that it was a rarest of the rare case. The appeal, which is being heard by the Apex Court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, is at the fag end in the case. Earlier, the apex court had declined the request by two amici curiae - senior counsel Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay R Hegde to withdraw from assisting the court in hearing of appeals by the convicts in the gang rape case. Asking both to continue assisting the court in hearing of the appeals by the four accused convicted and sentenced to death, the three judge bench comprising of justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan said: "We can appreciate the anguish expressed by the learned amici curiae". Six people gang-raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus and thrashed her and her male friend. They then violently raped and attacked her, and threw both of them from the moving bus on Dec 16. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. The incident led to large scale protests across the country, forcing the government of the day to make strict and punitive laws related to harassment of women. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another man, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home. Meanwhile, on December 3, amicus curiae Sanjay Hegde questioned the evidence produced by the prosecution in the gang-rape case, and came out with certain points putting a question on the merit of evidence. According to Hegde, one of the convicts, Mukesh, was not with the prime culprit Ram Singh when the offence was committed, since their mobile locations were found to be different on that night. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the plea filed by December 16 gang rape convicts Mukesh, Akshay, Pawan and Vinay, challenging the Delhi High court order which had sentenced the four convicts to the gallows after keeping in view the fact that it was a rarest of the rare case. The appeal, which is being heard by the Apex Court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, is at the fag end in the case. Earlier, the apex court had declined the request by two amici curiae - senior counsel Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay R Hegde to withdraw from assisting the court in hearing of appeals by the convicts in the gang rape case. Asking both to continue assisting the court in hearing of the appeals by the four accused convicted and sentenced to death, the three judge bench comprising of justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan said: "We can appreciate the anguish expressed by the learned amici curiae". Six people gang-raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus and thrashed her and her male friend. They then violently raped and attacked her, and threw both of them from the moving bus on Dec 16. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. The incident led to large scale protests across the country, forcing the government of the day to make strict and punitive laws related to harassment of women. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another man, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home. Meanwhile, on December 3, amicus curiae Sanjay Hegde questioned the evidence produced by the prosecution in the gang-rape case, and came out with certain points putting a question on the merit of evidence. According to Hegde, one of the convicts, Mukesh, was not with the prime culprit Ram Singh when the offence was committed, since their mobile locations were found to be different on that night. By Express News Service KOCHI: There seems to be no let up to the tension at Eloor where environmental activists waded into the water to protest against the opening of the shutters of Pathalam bund. The greens have also been protesting the discolouration of the water and drop in the chloride level in the drinking water. The environmental activists held a meeting with District Collector Muhammed Y Safeerullah on Sunday to apprise him of the situation and seek favourable action. It was decided at the meeting that a committee would be formed to study the matter. The committee will submit its report in a month. The Collector said that he is aware of the problems raised by us. He gave us a patient hearing. However, considering that he has only been in office for a few months, he told us that he needs the advice of a committee to take appropriate decisions. The five-member committee will have one member each from Kerala Water Authority, Department of Irrigation, Department of Factories and Boilers, Centre for Water Resources Development and management and Chandramohan, a member of the samara samithi, said Purushan Eloor, an environmental activist. However, Purushan said that the greens are not satisfied with the decision. We urged the Collector to come and visit the bund. He has said that the deputy collector (disaster management) will visit the bund in the evening on Sunday, he said. The activists said that they will not withdraw the strike until the deputy collector visits the place and a favourable decision has been reached upon. Tension gripped Pathalam area last week after water in Periyar river turned black. The lower reaches of Periyar is often referred to as a cesspool of toxins. Lack of oxygen in water has led to an increase in fish deaths by more than 25 times in the last two years. Sources said that when the water turns black, it means that the biological oxygen demand has gone up and this, in turn, leads to a drop in dissolved oxygen content in the water. Drop in dissolved oxygen will severely impact the ecology of the stream. KOCHI: There seems to be no let up to the tension at Eloor where environmental activists waded into the water to protest against the opening of the shutters of Pathalam bund. The greens have also been protesting the discolouration of the water and drop in the chloride level in the drinking water. The environmental activists held a meeting with District Collector Muhammed Y Safeerullah on Sunday to apprise him of the situation and seek favourable action. It was decided at the meeting that a committee would be formed to study the matter. The committee will submit its report in a month. The Collector said that he is aware of the problems raised by us. He gave us a patient hearing. However, considering that he has only been in office for a few months, he told us that he needs the advice of a committee to take appropriate decisions. The five-member committee will have one member each from Kerala Water Authority, Department of Irrigation, Department of Factories and Boilers, Centre for Water Resources Development and management and Chandramohan, a member of the samara samithi, said Purushan Eloor, an environmental activist. However, Purushan said that the greens are not satisfied with the decision. We urged the Collector to come and visit the bund. He has said that the deputy collector (disaster management) will visit the bund in the evening on Sunday, he said. The activists said that they will not withdraw the strike until the deputy collector visits the place and a favourable decision has been reached upon. Tension gripped Pathalam area last week after water in Periyar river turned black. The lower reaches of Periyar is often referred to as a cesspool of toxins. Lack of oxygen in water has led to an increase in fish deaths by more than 25 times in the last two years. Sources said that when the water turns black, it means that the biological oxygen demand has gone up and this, in turn, leads to a drop in dissolved oxygen content in the water. Drop in dissolved oxygen will severely impact the ecology of the stream. By Express News Service KOCHI: If the BJP leadership and Sangh propagandists continue to ask free-thinking intellectuals and artists to leave India, Pakistan would soon become Asias cultural capital, said poet K Satchidanandan. He was speaking at the 24th national conference of the All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) on Monday. Reacting to the recent remarks by some BJP leaders against director Kamal and writer M T Vasudevan Nair, Satchidanandan said the Sangh Parivar wanted artists who dared to say the truth to go to Pakistan. The threat that began with M F Hussain and U R Ananthamurthy, has outgrown and now targets Shahrukh Khan, Nandita Das and Kamal. The Sangh agendas are based on the Goebbelsian fascist attitude, which should be resisted, he said. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Satchidanandan said even great freedom fighters like Gandhiji and Patel were facing threat from the BJP. I think the Indian currency would soon have Modis picture on it, he said. The Constitution itself is facing threat from the Sangh Parivar. The Hindutva agenda, along with the policies of globalisation, is posing a challenge to the countrys diversity. The government at the Centre is surviving by feeding fear and insecurity among the people on a communal basis. KOCHI: If the BJP leadership and Sangh propagandists continue to ask free-thinking intellectuals and artists to leave India, Pakistan would soon become Asias cultural capital, said poet K Satchidanandan. He was speaking at the 24th national conference of the All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) on Monday. Reacting to the recent remarks by some BJP leaders against director Kamal and writer M T Vasudevan Nair, Satchidanandan said the Sangh Parivar wanted artists who dared to say the truth to go to Pakistan. The threat that began with M F Hussain and U R Ananthamurthy, has outgrown and now targets Shahrukh Khan, Nandita Das and Kamal. The Sangh agendas are based on the Goebbelsian fascist attitude, which should be resisted, he said. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Satchidanandan said even great freedom fighters like Gandhiji and Patel were facing threat from the BJP. I think the Indian currency would soon have Modis picture on it, he said. The Constitution itself is facing threat from the Sangh Parivar. The Hindutva agenda, along with the policies of globalisation, is posing a challenge to the countrys diversity. The government at the Centre is surviving by feeding fear and insecurity among the people on a communal basis. By Express News Service After Vin Deisel visited India for the promotion of xXx, Jackie Chan will be visiting the country soon to promote his film, Kung Fu Yoga. Recently a video was posted by actor Sonu Sood featuring both him and Jackie Chan which said that, Jackie is excited to come to India and also willing to meet Salman Khan. Just a few days back when the trailer was released Salman was all praises for his co-actor Sonu and thanked Jackie for giving him this film. Thank you @EyeofJackieChan for giving this film to my Chedi Singh @sonusood. This the coolest. (Sic) The film Kung Fu Yoga also stars Disha Patani and Amyra Dastur along with the star and it is directed by Stanely Tong. The film is a multi-lingual and action-adventure comedy film which is set to release on 3rd February in India. After Vin Deisel visited India for the promotion of xXx, Jackie Chan will be visiting the country soon to promote his film, Kung Fu Yoga. Recently a video was posted by actor Sonu Sood featuring both him and Jackie Chan which said that, Jackie is excited to come to India and also willing to meet Salman Khan. Just a few days back when the trailer was released Salman was all praises for his co-actor Sonu and thanked Jackie for giving him this film. Thank you @EyeofJackieChan for giving this film to my Chedi Singh @sonusood. This the coolest. (Sic) The film Kung Fu Yoga also stars Disha Patani and Amyra Dastur along with the star and it is directed by Stanely Tong. The film is a multi-lingual and action-adventure comedy film which is set to release on 3rd February in India. By PTI INDORE: A 26-year-old army jawan was stabbed to death while another personnel and the latter's sibling were seriously injured when a group of men attacked them in Banganga area here, police said today. "The jawan, identified as Varun Chouhan, died on way to hospital after being injured by sharp edged weapons in the attack by around 10 men late last night," Banganga Police Station in-charge Vinod Dixit said. "Chouhan, an army man posted in Pathankot, was on leave and had come to Indore to meet his family," he said. Another 25-year-old jawan and his younger brother were also injured in the attack, Dixit said. The three personnel were returning home after watching a wrestling completion when they were attacked. The injured jawan and his younger brother have been admitted to a private hospital. An old enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the attack, the police officer said adding that some of the accused have been identified. Further probe into the incident is on, police added. INDORE: A 26-year-old army jawan was stabbed to death while another personnel and the latter's sibling were seriously injured when a group of men attacked them in Banganga area here, police said today. "The jawan, identified as Varun Chouhan, died on way to hospital after being injured by sharp edged weapons in the attack by around 10 men late last night," Banganga Police Station in-charge Vinod Dixit said. "Chouhan, an army man posted in Pathankot, was on leave and had come to Indore to meet his family," he said. Another 25-year-old jawan and his younger brother were also injured in the attack, Dixit said. The three personnel were returning home after watching a wrestling completion when they were attacked. The injured jawan and his younger brother have been admitted to a private hospital. An old enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the attack, the police officer said adding that some of the accused have been identified. Further probe into the incident is on, police added. Aishik Chanda By Express News Service KOLKATA: Like crores of residents at Nadia and Burdwan districts in West Bengal, 16-year-old Rini Banerjee is afraid to go out of her house alone, even in broad daylight. The residents live in fear of terror unleashed by angry mobs over rumours spread through social media about child and women traffickers lurking in the two districts. The rumours spread through WhatsApp and Facebook have led to one person being lynched and over 13 injured in instances of mob violence over the past one week. Rumours have been doing the rounds on Facebook and WhatsApp that several woman and child traffickers are lurking in the area and they need to be 'taught lessons wherever and whenever found'. "Don't spare the women as they are the agents," read one message in Facebook inciting mob violence. Accordingly, innocent women with their children, salesmen and even mentally-challenged persons have come under attack in Ranagahat, Shantipur, Krishnanagar, Kalyani and Habibpur areas of Nadia district and Kalna area of Burdwan district. One such mob incident sparked reprisals when a Habibpur resident was lynched by a mob in Kalna on Thursday and four others critically injured when they came there to sprinkle pesticide over plants. Even though the victims showed their voter ID cards to prove they were residents of neighbouring Nadia district, the mob refused to listen. Sources revealed that the five persons were beaten up with sticks and bricks for over an hour and a half, which resulted in severe blood loss of the victims. The victims Anil Biswas, Byanjan Biswas, Narayan Das, Manik Sarkar and Madhumangal Talukdar were first admitted to Kalna hospital and then shifted to Burdwan. Anil Biswas (48) was brought dead to Burdwan Medical College, where the four other severely injured men are recovering. Kalna police said that 12 persons have been arrested in the incident. As news of the Kalna lynching reached the victims' native villages, angry mobs in Habibpur burnt a Kalna-bound bus on Friday before getting the passengers out. However, even as Habibpur burnt, two salesmen were beaten, tied and locked up in a primary school in rural Kalna and two mentally-challenged persons were thrashed by a mob in Shantipur in Nadia district on Friday on suspicions of being child traffickers. Police had to lob teargas shells and fire rubber bullets to rescue the salesmen, whom the stone-pelting mob refused to hand over. Four persons were pulled out of a car and beaten up on Wednesday near Nadia district headquarters Krishnanagar on suspicions of being child traffickers. "Even women are not being spared. I am unable to attend school or evening tuitions. I urge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to put an end to these 'mob justices'," Rini said. A mob of women rounded up a car and beat up a woman whom they accused to be a child trafficking agent on Saturday. Later, it was found that the woman, who was with her daughter, had come to the area in Burdwan district to visit her relatives. Nobody knows who is spreading the rumours or to what extent they are true but we are very scared to venture out of our locality for fear of being attacked without any justification, Rana Haldar, a resident of Shantipur said. Meanwhile, state director general of police Surajit Kar Purakayastha on Monday in a joint presser with Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and joint commissioner of Kolkata Police (Special Task Force) Vishal Garg, urged the people of the affected districts not to pay any heed to the rumours, which he said were being spread by some anti-social elements with motive to spread unrest in the state. "Over 25 people involved in the mob violence have been arrested and police is investigating the incidents over the past one week. I urge people not to lend an ear to the rumours that child and woman traffickers are lurking in their areas and not to take law into your hands," Kar Purakayastha said. KOLKATA: Like crores of residents at Nadia and Burdwan districts in West Bengal, 16-year-old Rini Banerjee is afraid to go out of her house alone, even in broad daylight. The residents live in fear of terror unleashed by angry mobs over rumours spread through social media about child and women traffickers lurking in the two districts. The rumours spread through WhatsApp and Facebook have led to one person being lynched and over 13 injured in instances of mob violence over the past one week. Rumours have been doing the rounds on Facebook and WhatsApp that several woman and child traffickers are lurking in the area and they need to be 'taught lessons wherever and whenever found'. "Don't spare the women as they are the agents," read one message in Facebook inciting mob violence. Accordingly, innocent women with their children, salesmen and even mentally-challenged persons have come under attack in Ranagahat, Shantipur, Krishnanagar, Kalyani and Habibpur areas of Nadia district and Kalna area of Burdwan district. One such mob incident sparked reprisals when a Habibpur resident was lynched by a mob in Kalna on Thursday and four others critically injured when they came there to sprinkle pesticide over plants. Even though the victims showed their voter ID cards to prove they were residents of neighbouring Nadia district, the mob refused to listen. Sources revealed that the five persons were beaten up with sticks and bricks for over an hour and a half, which resulted in severe blood loss of the victims. The victims Anil Biswas, Byanjan Biswas, Narayan Das, Manik Sarkar and Madhumangal Talukdar were first admitted to Kalna hospital and then shifted to Burdwan. Anil Biswas (48) was brought dead to Burdwan Medical College, where the four other severely injured men are recovering. Kalna police said that 12 persons have been arrested in the incident. As news of the Kalna lynching reached the victims' native villages, angry mobs in Habibpur burnt a Kalna-bound bus on Friday before getting the passengers out. However, even as Habibpur burnt, two salesmen were beaten, tied and locked up in a primary school in rural Kalna and two mentally-challenged persons were thrashed by a mob in Shantipur in Nadia district on Friday on suspicions of being child traffickers. Police had to lob teargas shells and fire rubber bullets to rescue the salesmen, whom the stone-pelting mob refused to hand over. Four persons were pulled out of a car and beaten up on Wednesday near Nadia district headquarters Krishnanagar on suspicions of being child traffickers. "Even women are not being spared. I am unable to attend school or evening tuitions. I urge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to put an end to these 'mob justices'," Rini said. A mob of women rounded up a car and beat up a woman whom they accused to be a child trafficking agent on Saturday. Later, it was found that the woman, who was with her daughter, had come to the area in Burdwan district to visit her relatives. Nobody knows who is spreading the rumours or to what extent they are true but we are very scared to venture out of our locality for fear of being attacked without any justification, Rana Haldar, a resident of Shantipur said. Meanwhile, state director general of police Surajit Kar Purakayastha on Monday in a joint presser with Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and joint commissioner of Kolkata Police (Special Task Force) Vishal Garg, urged the people of the affected districts not to pay any heed to the rumours, which he said were being spread by some anti-social elements with motive to spread unrest in the state. "Over 25 people involved in the mob violence have been arrested and police is investigating the incidents over the past one week. I urge people not to lend an ear to the rumours that child and woman traffickers are lurking in their areas and not to take law into your hands," Kar Purakayastha said. Actress Darby Stanchfield attends the Environmental Media Association 26th Annual EMA Awards Presented By Toyota, Lexus And Calvert at Warner Bros. Studios on October 22, 2016 in Burbank, California. (Photo : Getty Image/ Rich Polk) There is a surprise treat for all Gladiators fans. Shondaland and ABC Studios are offering "Scandal" spin-off "Gladiator: Wanted" ahead of the ABC drama's Season 6. "Gladiator: Wanted" is a six-episode web series that follows the story of Olivia Pope's (Kerry Washington) and Gladiators Quinn (Katie Lowes), Huck (Guillermo Diaz) and Marcus (Cornelius Smith Jr). Fans were given a chance to see all the six webisodes released on Jan. 19, Thursday. In the web series, the Gladiators were tasked to find an intern for Olivia Pope & Associates. Advertisement It is Darby Stanchfield's, who plays Abby Whelan, directorial debut. She revealed that she got her inspiration to create and direct from her co-star and seasonal "Scandal" director Tony Goldwyn. "This huge lightbulb went off and I thought, 'On this Shondaland show, why aren't any women actresses directing on "Scandal?'" Stanchfield told The Hollywood Reporter. "Shondaland is a very supportive company for women, for diversity, for you name it." "Gladiator: Wanted" was written by Juan Carlos Fernandez, who was promoted from his earlier position as "Scandal's" script coordinator. It could be noted that the people, who worked behind the web series were all promoted from their previous "Scandal" positions. Shondaland is known for giving its people an opportunity to grow in their respective careers. In fact, some cast members such as Goldwyn and Scott Foley were directing. Ellen Pompeo, Kerry Washington and Viola Davis were all producing, while Dan Bucatinsky and Foley also serve as developers. The "Scandal" spin-off served as a bridge between Season 5 and Season 6, according to TV Guide. The premiere of "Scandal" Season 6 was pushed back a week to air on Jan. 26, Thursday, to provide ABC a chance to feature a "20/20" Inauguration Special. For Stanchfield, "Gladiator: Wanted" is a tribute and shoutout to the "Original Gladiators." The spin-off is nostalgia to the classic days. Gladiator fans would definitely remember the old Gladiator humor and jokes, which were seen since the beginning of the series. The ABC drama spin-off is available on ABC app and ABC.com. "Scandal" Season 6, episode 1 titled "Survival of the Fittest" premieres at 9/8c on ABC. The initial episode is set to reveal a shocking result of the election. Watch more details about the spin-off directed by Stanchfield below: By IANS NEW DELHI: A court here on Monday granted more time to the CBI to file its final report in the coal block allocation case against former Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal and others. Special Judge Bharat Parashar granted the extra time to the probe agency after CBI Investigating officer sought the time informing the court that it has finalised the report, forwarded it to senior authorities and was awaiting approval. The court has now fixed the matter for next hearing on February 3. In the last hearing, the court had pulled up the Central Bureau of Investigation for not filing the final report in the case in a proper manner. The final investigation report has to be filed on the basis of the statement given by prosecution witness, Chartered Accountant and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd Director Suresh Singhal, who has turned approver in the case. The court was hearing the case related to the allocation of Jharkhand's Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge. Besides the industrialist, former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta were also accused in the case. The CBI in April 2015 filed a chargesheet against Jindal, Koda, Rao and Gupta. The others accused in the case include Jindal Realty Director Rajeev Jain, Gagan Sponge Directors Girish Kumar Juneja and R.K. Saraf and Sowbhagya Media's Managing Director K. Ramakrishna. Of the five private companies named in the chargesheet -- four are based in Delhi and one in Hyderabad. The accused have denied the charges. NEW DELHI: A court here on Monday granted more time to the CBI to file its final report in the coal block allocation case against former Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal and others. Special Judge Bharat Parashar granted the extra time to the probe agency after CBI Investigating officer sought the time informing the court that it has finalised the report, forwarded it to senior authorities and was awaiting approval. The court has now fixed the matter for next hearing on February 3. In the last hearing, the court had pulled up the Central Bureau of Investigation for not filing the final report in the case in a proper manner. The final investigation report has to be filed on the basis of the statement given by prosecution witness, Chartered Accountant and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd Director Suresh Singhal, who has turned approver in the case. The court was hearing the case related to the allocation of Jharkhand's Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge. Besides the industrialist, former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta were also accused in the case. The CBI in April 2015 filed a chargesheet against Jindal, Koda, Rao and Gupta. The others accused in the case include Jindal Realty Director Rajeev Jain, Gagan Sponge Directors Girish Kumar Juneja and R.K. Saraf and Sowbhagya Media's Managing Director K. Ramakrishna. Of the five private companies named in the chargesheet -- four are based in Delhi and one in Hyderabad. The accused have denied the charges. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: As the Jats in Haryana have decided to resume their agitation for reservation from January 29, the Haryana Government has sent a requisition for 55 companies of Central Security Forces and has also issued call out notice to depute 7,000 Home Guards in the State, to avert any untoward incidents. The Jat-dominated districts of Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad are likely to be the centre of agitations and one could anticipate violence, as was seen last year. The Jats of Haryana have also been garnering support from 250 Jat dominant villages of Delhi. Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS), President Yashpal Malik has announced resuming dharnas in 19 districts of the state from January 29. The government had assured to give reservation to Jats, withdraw criminal cases and release Jat youth lodged in jails, provide compensation and free medical treatment to those injured during the stir and action against officials guilty of excesses. The government paid compensation to the kin of those killed, but no other demand has been met, he said. He also said Jats were willing to wait for reservation since the matter was sub judice. Malik further said that they will oppose the BJP during assembly polls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas said that although the leaders of various agitating organisations have assured to hold Dharnas in a peaceful manner, yet the administration is fully geared up to maintain law and order. He said that District Magistrates have been appointed and all the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been directed to ensure that highways and railway tracks are not obstructed and no damage is caused to property. All the proposed Dharnas would be videographed. He said that he has urged these agitating leaders to make their protest in a peaceful manner as the government is always prepared for talks. Every citizen has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, he added. Meanwhile, in view of the assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh the Crisis Coordination Committee, which met under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Haryana, Keshni Anand Arora has stressed the need to follow the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India and carry out coordination exercise by the adjacent district administration with other districts in the neighboring states. The government has also decided that in view of the call for a Jat Agitation, officers holding certain positions will not be granted leave till further orders. These included Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Sub Divisional Officers (Civil), Tehsildars, District Development and Panchayat Officers, Block Development and Panchayat Officers, and Naib Tehsildars. CHANDIGARH: As the Jats in Haryana have decided to resume their agitation for reservation from January 29, the Haryana Government has sent a requisition for 55 companies of Central Security Forces and has also issued call out notice to depute 7,000 Home Guards in the State, to avert any untoward incidents. The Jat-dominated districts of Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad are likely to be the centre of agitations and one could anticipate violence, as was seen last year. The Jats of Haryana have also been garnering support from 250 Jat dominant villages of Delhi. Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS), President Yashpal Malik has announced resuming dharnas in 19 districts of the state from January 29. The government had assured to give reservation to Jats, withdraw criminal cases and release Jat youth lodged in jails, provide compensation and free medical treatment to those injured during the stir and action against officials guilty of excesses. The government paid compensation to the kin of those killed, but no other demand has been met, he said. He also said Jats were willing to wait for reservation since the matter was sub judice. Malik further said that they will oppose the BJP during assembly polls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas said that although the leaders of various agitating organisations have assured to hold Dharnas in a peaceful manner, yet the administration is fully geared up to maintain law and order. He said that District Magistrates have been appointed and all the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been directed to ensure that highways and railway tracks are not obstructed and no damage is caused to property. All the proposed Dharnas would be videographed. He said that he has urged these agitating leaders to make their protest in a peaceful manner as the government is always prepared for talks. Every citizen has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, he added. Meanwhile, in view of the assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh the Crisis Coordination Committee, which met under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Haryana, Keshni Anand Arora has stressed the need to follow the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India and carry out coordination exercise by the adjacent district administration with other districts in the neighboring states. The government has also decided that in view of the call for a Jat Agitation, officers holding certain positions will not be granted leave till further orders. These included Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Sub Divisional Officers (Civil), Tehsildars, District Development and Panchayat Officers, Block Development and Panchayat Officers, and Naib Tehsildars. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry is actively considering a plea from the National Investigation Agency to handover the Ghorasahan (Motihari) case from Bihar Police to it for investigation even as the agency team on Monday inspected the accident site of Hirakhand Express in Vizianagaram, in which 39 people lost their lives on Saturday, to ascertain if it was a terror act. Agency sources said the NIA team comprising officials from Delhi and Hyderabad is probing if the accident occurred due to a terror angle or was merely a result of technical failure or human error. The NIA teams visit was intended to draw preliminary inferences and decide whether the case should be taken up by the agency, the sources further said, a report on the findings will be handed over to the Ministry. Following suspicion of sabotage in the Hirakhand Express, the Union Home Ministry is mulling over to hand over the probe to the Central anti-terror investigation agency. A senior North Block official said the Ministry is examining the NIA request for taking over the Ghorasahan probe and the Hirakhand Express derailment case. However, a final decision is yet to be taken. Three persons arrested by the Bihar police earlier this month---Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav---had claimed that derailment of Indore-Patna train on November 20 last year near Kanpur was caused due to sabotage by Pakistan's ISI. As many as 150 passengers lost their lives due to the derailment of the Indore-Patna Express train and 39 persons were killed in the Hirakhand Express train derailment at Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry is actively considering a plea from the National Investigation Agency to handover the Ghorasahan (Motihari) case from Bihar Police to it for investigation even as the agency team on Monday inspected the accident site of Hirakhand Express in Vizianagaram, in which 39 people lost their lives on Saturday, to ascertain if it was a terror act. Agency sources said the NIA team comprising officials from Delhi and Hyderabad is probing if the accident occurred due to a terror angle or was merely a result of technical failure or human error. The NIA teams visit was intended to draw preliminary inferences and decide whether the case should be taken up by the agency, the sources further said, a report on the findings will be handed over to the Ministry. Following suspicion of sabotage in the Hirakhand Express, the Union Home Ministry is mulling over to hand over the probe to the Central anti-terror investigation agency. A senior North Block official said the Ministry is examining the NIA request for taking over the Ghorasahan probe and the Hirakhand Express derailment case. However, a final decision is yet to be taken. Three persons arrested by the Bihar police earlier this month---Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav---had claimed that derailment of Indore-Patna train on November 20 last year near Kanpur was caused due to sabotage by Pakistan's ISI. As many as 150 passengers lost their lives due to the derailment of the Indore-Patna Express train and 39 persons were killed in the Hirakhand Express train derailment at Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Several insurgent outfits of the Northeast gave a joint call for the boycott of Republic Day celebrations in the region and urged people to stay indoors even as the Assam Police said they were all charged up to take on the militants and thwart any subversive activities. As Indias celebration of Republic Day is a stark reminder of colonisation of the region by India, we ought to dissociate ourselves from itWe, the fraternal organisations, have decided that the region should collectively boycott the Indian Republic Day, a joint statement of the outfits said. They include United Liberation Front of Assam (Paresh Baruah faction), Coordination Committee (CorCom), which is a conglomerate of some Manipuri insurgent groups, and two other outfits of Meghalaya. They appealed to people to boycott the celebrations by staying at home to ensure a total shutdown. The insurgents are known to carry out subversive activities in the lead upto R-Day and Independence Day celebrations. But the police in Assam are least perturbed. We are trained to fight, prepared to fight; we live to fight and love to fight. We accept their challenge. We have done so for the last 32 years. So, we are ready to fight them, Assams director general of police Mukesh Sahay asserted. Asked about the operations along Assam-Arunachal border following Sundays ambush by the militants that claimed the lives of two Assam Rifles jawans and the subsequent gunning down of two militants by the security forces in a firefight, he said the operations were continuing on both sides of the border. The operations are going on intensively in the deep jungles of Assam as well as Arunachal. In Arunachal, they are being carried out by police and Assam Rifles. In Assam, police, paramilitary forces and army are conducting the operations, Sahay said. The two insurgents, gunned down by the security forces on Sunday, were Manipuris. This was for the first time that insurgents from Manipur died in a firefight with the security forces in Assam. Sahay said militants belonging to CorCom had carried out Sundays ambush on a road opening party (ROP) of Assam Rifles and they were possibly backed by the SS Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) and the Paresh Baruah faction of ULFA. GUWAHATI: Several insurgent outfits of the Northeast gave a joint call for the boycott of Republic Day celebrations in the region and urged people to stay indoors even as the Assam Police said they were all charged up to take on the militants and thwart any subversive activities. As Indias celebration of Republic Day is a stark reminder of colonisation of the region by India, we ought to dissociate ourselves from itWe, the fraternal organisations, have decided that the region should collectively boycott the Indian Republic Day, a joint statement of the outfits said. They include United Liberation Front of Assam (Paresh Baruah faction), Coordination Committee (CorCom), which is a conglomerate of some Manipuri insurgent groups, and two other outfits of Meghalaya. They appealed to people to boycott the celebrations by staying at home to ensure a total shutdown. The insurgents are known to carry out subversive activities in the lead upto R-Day and Independence Day celebrations. But the police in Assam are least perturbed. We are trained to fight, prepared to fight; we live to fight and love to fight. We accept their challenge. We have done so for the last 32 years. So, we are ready to fight them, Assams director general of police Mukesh Sahay asserted. Asked about the operations along Assam-Arunachal border following Sundays ambush by the militants that claimed the lives of two Assam Rifles jawans and the subsequent gunning down of two militants by the security forces in a firefight, he said the operations were continuing on both sides of the border. The operations are going on intensively in the deep jungles of Assam as well as Arunachal. In Arunachal, they are being carried out by police and Assam Rifles. In Assam, police, paramilitary forces and army are conducting the operations, Sahay said. The two insurgents, gunned down by the security forces on Sunday, were Manipuris. This was for the first time that insurgents from Manipur died in a firefight with the security forces in Assam. Sahay said militants belonging to CorCom had carried out Sundays ambush on a road opening party (ROP) of Assam Rifles and they were possibly backed by the SS Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) and the Paresh Baruah faction of ULFA. By PTI RAIPUR: Activist Bela Bhatia was today allegedly asked to vacate her house in Pandripani village in Bastar district by the villagers who held a protest outside it accusing her of being a 'Maoist sympathiser', police said. Bhatia claimed that she was allegedly threatened by a group of men who asked her to vacate immediately, failing which they will set the house ablaze. The incident occurred in Pandripani village under Parpa police station limits. "After getting the information of demonstration by local villagers in front of Bhatia's house in Pandripani village under Parpa police station limits, a police team was rushed to the spot," Bastar SP RN Dash told PTI. He said the villagers left the spot after police pacified them. "Enough security has been provided to Bhatia to prevent any untoward incident," Dash added. In a complaint to police, villagers alleged Bhatia had named herself as "Somari Naag or Bela Somari" (to use tribal identity) which they feel is an insult to tribal masses, the SP said. Besides, the villagers have also complained that Bhatia encourages their children to support Maoists and tries to mislead them by saying that ultras are fighting for the country and not the police, he said. Bhatia, who has been working in the region for several years, claimed that her house was gheraoed by a group of unidentified people this morning, who asked her to vacate her rented accommodation. "A group of 30 or so men came on motorbikes and a SUV and threatened their way inside the house. They said I would have to vacate this place immediately or they will set the house ablaze. I went inside the house and called the collector who then sent the police," Bhatia told media persons. She said the mob was agitated even after the police reached the spot. "I have assured them to vacate the house by tomorrow. I will leave this house only since my landlord had been pressurised, but I will not leave Bastar. I have requested the collector to provide a safe place for me," Bhatia added. Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh police said in a statement that 15 police personnel, including four women, led by sub-inspector Kripal Singh Gautam have been deputed for Bhatia's security. Notably, Bhatia was among a group of people who had accompanied a National Human Rights Commission team to villages of Bijapur two days ago to record the statements of alleged rape victims. Early this month, the NHRC had sent a notice to the state government over alleged rape, sexual and physical assault of 16 women by the state police personnel in Bastar division (in October 2015 and January 2016), observing that the government is "vicariously liable" for it. RAIPUR: Activist Bela Bhatia was today allegedly asked to vacate her house in Pandripani village in Bastar district by the villagers who held a protest outside it accusing her of being a 'Maoist sympathiser', police said. Bhatia claimed that she was allegedly threatened by a group of men who asked her to vacate immediately, failing which they will set the house ablaze. The incident occurred in Pandripani village under Parpa police station limits. "After getting the information of demonstration by local villagers in front of Bhatia's house in Pandripani village under Parpa police station limits, a police team was rushed to the spot," Bastar SP RN Dash told PTI. He said the villagers left the spot after police pacified them. "Enough security has been provided to Bhatia to prevent any untoward incident," Dash added. In a complaint to police, villagers alleged Bhatia had named herself as "Somari Naag or Bela Somari" (to use tribal identity) which they feel is an insult to tribal masses, the SP said. Besides, the villagers have also complained that Bhatia encourages their children to support Maoists and tries to mislead them by saying that ultras are fighting for the country and not the police, he said. Bhatia, who has been working in the region for several years, claimed that her house was gheraoed by a group of unidentified people this morning, who asked her to vacate her rented accommodation. "A group of 30 or so men came on motorbikes and a SUV and threatened their way inside the house. They said I would have to vacate this place immediately or they will set the house ablaze. I went inside the house and called the collector who then sent the police," Bhatia told media persons. She said the mob was agitated even after the police reached the spot. "I have assured them to vacate the house by tomorrow. I will leave this house only since my landlord had been pressurised, but I will not leave Bastar. I have requested the collector to provide a safe place for me," Bhatia added. Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh police said in a statement that 15 police personnel, including four women, led by sub-inspector Kripal Singh Gautam have been deputed for Bhatia's security. Notably, Bhatia was among a group of people who had accompanied a National Human Rights Commission team to villages of Bijapur two days ago to record the statements of alleged rape victims. Early this month, the NHRC had sent a notice to the state government over alleged rape, sexual and physical assault of 16 women by the state police personnel in Bastar division (in October 2015 and January 2016), observing that the government is "vicariously liable" for it. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday visited Siachen the worlds highest battlefield and Kashmir to review the operational preparedness of the troops. Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General D Anbu visited Siachen today, defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. After reaching the Siachen base camp, the Army Chief paid tributes to the martyrs by placing a wreath at the Siachen War Memorial and then interacted with troops posted there. He lauded the soldiers for the high morale and state of preparedness. Siachen had witnessed avalanche storms in January and February last year in which a dozen soldiers were killed. After reviewing the preparedness of troops, the army chief visited Leh, where he was briefed on the overall security situation and operational preparedness by the Corps Commander. General Rawat later interacted with officers and men at the Leh Garrison. During his interaction, he appreciated the commitment, dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of all officers and men posted to the region and asked them to continue to uphold the core values of the Indian Army, the spokesman said. Rawat later visited Srinagar to review the security situation and the measures taken to prevent infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC). After taking over as army chief, it was his first visit to the Valley where militancy has witnessed surge following the death of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 last year. Burhans killing triggered over five months-long unrest in the Valley during which 94 people including two civilians were killed and over 13,000 injured. The army chief chaired a high-level security meeting at army headquarters in Srinagar during which he was briefed about the prevailing security scenario in Kashmir and the measures instituted to integrate all government agencies for efficient intelligence generation and successful conduct of operations, Colonel Kalia said. The Army Chief has served in various capacities in Kashmir including commanding the Dagger Division in 20112012 and RR Sector in Sopore - Bandipora in 2006-2007. SRINAGAR: Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday visited Siachen the worlds highest battlefield and Kashmir to review the operational preparedness of the troops. Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General D Anbu visited Siachen today, defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. After reaching the Siachen base camp, the Army Chief paid tributes to the martyrs by placing a wreath at the Siachen War Memorial and then interacted with troops posted there. He lauded the soldiers for the high morale and state of preparedness. Siachen had witnessed avalanche storms in January and February last year in which a dozen soldiers were killed. After reviewing the preparedness of troops, the army chief visited Leh, where he was briefed on the overall security situation and operational preparedness by the Corps Commander. General Rawat later interacted with officers and men at the Leh Garrison. During his interaction, he appreciated the commitment, dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of all officers and men posted to the region and asked them to continue to uphold the core values of the Indian Army, the spokesman said. Rawat later visited Srinagar to review the security situation and the measures taken to prevent infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC). After taking over as army chief, it was his first visit to the Valley where militancy has witnessed surge following the death of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 last year. Burhans killing triggered over five months-long unrest in the Valley during which 94 people including two civilians were killed and over 13,000 injured. The army chief chaired a high-level security meeting at army headquarters in Srinagar during which he was briefed about the prevailing security scenario in Kashmir and the measures instituted to integrate all government agencies for efficient intelligence generation and successful conduct of operations, Colonel Kalia said. The Army Chief has served in various capacities in Kashmir including commanding the Dagger Division in 20112012 and RR Sector in Sopore - Bandipora in 2006-2007. C S Sundaresan By Democracy, for many, is dead or just about to be. The outgoing US president has reflected on the fragility of this fabric to hold the weight of the mass. No doubt, democracy was one of the best ideas of the 20th century which took it for granted that people will speak their minds and shape their future. But it turned out quite on the contrary not only in the postcolonial democracies but also in developed ones as well. As a public enterprise model of politics, 120 countries and 63 per cent of the world population is currently living under the democratic shield. If the 20th century could hold the democratic fabric intact, the 21st century witnesses its setbacks as nominal establishments with autocratic and kleptocratic elements largely ruining the institutions and systems. The founders of modern democracy (say like John Stuart Mill and James Madison) regarded it as a powerful, but imperfect tool for governance. The imperfect element proved powerful for its way forward in many of the under-developed, newly independent and post colonial nations. Michel Kalecki used the term intermediate regimes to the governing establishments in these countries, where the lower middle class and the rich peasantry were identified to perform the role of the ruling class. Accordingly, whenever social upheavals brought the representatives of the lower middle class to power, they invariably served the interests of the big business often aligned with the remnants of the feudal system. By virtue of their numerical size, the lower middle class (in a democratic frame of elections) succeeded in coming to power. The state under these regimes was expected to play the role of dynamic enterprises and undertake investments to maintain and improve economic growth and ensure development and distribution. They tried to deliver to the interests of the lower middle class (stake holders) with state capitalism as a special purpose vehicle. Kaleckian theory found that to fulfil these requirements, the ruling regimes had to gain a measure of independence from the foreign capital and carry out land reforms to ensure social equity and establish upward growth of the economy. The regimes however, faced severe resistance from the imperial capitalists and the feudal landlords to achieve these essential and enabling requisites. This recognised them of the imperative to compromise with the upper middle class and international capital. The compromise levels reached the extent of reckoning them as forces capable of threatening the existence of the regime itself. To remain in power, obviously the regimes had to identify other routeskleptocratic and collaborative. Incompatible partners in this route added to the imperfection of governing tool. The relevance of this pattern in the Indian context has been debated in the 70s. In 1973, K N Raj by relating the sequence of political events and administrative patterns, established its relevance. However, it was rejected by E M S Nampoothirppad through a different logic: Comparing the nature of power transmission from the imperialistic hands to their local loyalists. He argued further that the very description of the alignment of class forces makes it clear that the concept does not apply to India. This gave birth to new appreciative theoretical debates. One inference from these debates is: If the power is acquired by the recipient regime in a dominating position, then the political power can be consolidated systematically in collaboration with the interest groups. It is not meant here to argue that democracy has deteriorated only in the post-colonial countries. Rather, there is an aversion to this governance tool across the spectrum by virtue of the imperfection it inherited en-route. This prompted to pin point the elements that were (probably) instrumental in deteriorating the democracy. The two prominent causes identified in this context are the financial crisis (recession of 2007-08) and (2) the rise of China as a global power. The Chinese communist party is said to have broken the democratic worlds claim of establishing economic well being. For instance, if the US was doubling living standards every 30 years, China could do it in 10 years (The Economist, 2014) Further, the democracies in the global space have reoriented its approach and outlook. It has become a rewarding operation for the loyalists making the democratic political establishments become self-serving. Platos worry about democracy turned out for rightcitizens would live from day to day, indulging in the pleasure of the moment. Democratic governments got into the habit of borrowing to meet the short term needs of the people while evading the long run investments required for improving living standards. For sure, they are uncertain of their long term power position. This got into a vicious cycle and resulted in the decline of visible political loyalists, thus increasing occurrences of concentration of power and wealth with few. It is interesting to note that the share of political party memberships are on the decline across developed democracies. For instance, only one per cent of the British population are members of political parties in 2014 as compared to 20 per cent in 1950 (The Economist, 2014). If one observed, the big debate in the 2015 British elections had been on the inequalities and the economic biases facing the peoplethe growing inequalities and the failures of the capitalist system to hold democracy straight. It is estimated that the collective wealth of Britains richest has more than doubled in ten years. Worldwide studies further confirm that more than half of the voters do not have trust in their governments. If kleptocracy potentially can deliver and replace democracy, should we let it fade away? C S SUNDARESAN President of Alliance for Advanced Research and Development Initiatives, an independent think tank Email: cs.sundaresan@hotmail.com Democracy, for many, is dead or just about to be. The outgoing US president has reflected on the fragility of this fabric to hold the weight of the mass. No doubt, democracy was one of the best ideas of the 20th century which took it for granted that people will speak their minds and shape their future. But it turned out quite on the contrary not only in the postcolonial democracies but also in developed ones as well. As a public enterprise model of politics, 120 countries and 63 per cent of the world population is currently living under the democratic shield. If the 20th century could hold the democratic fabric intact, the 21st century witnesses its setbacks as nominal establishments with autocratic and kleptocratic elements largely ruining the institutions and systems. The founders of modern democracy (say like John Stuart Mill and James Madison) regarded it as a powerful, but imperfect tool for governance. The imperfect element proved powerful for its way forward in many of the under-developed, newly independent and post colonial nations. Michel Kalecki used the term intermediate regimes to the governing establishments in these countries, where the lower middle class and the rich peasantry were identified to perform the role of the ruling class. Accordingly, whenever social upheavals brought the representatives of the lower middle class to power, they invariably served the interests of the big business often aligned with the remnants of the feudal system. By virtue of their numerical size, the lower middle class (in a democratic frame of elections) succeeded in coming to power. The state under these regimes was expected to play the role of dynamic enterprises and undertake investments to maintain and improve economic growth and ensure development and distribution. They tried to deliver to the interests of the lower middle class (stake holders) with state capitalism as a special purpose vehicle. Kaleckian theory found that to fulfil these requirements, the ruling regimes had to gain a measure of independence from the foreign capital and carry out land reforms to ensure social equity and establish upward growth of the economy. The regimes however, faced severe resistance from the imperial capitalists and the feudal landlords to achieve these essential and enabling requisites. This recognised them of the imperative to compromise with the upper middle class and international capital. The compromise levels reached the extent of reckoning them as forces capable of threatening the existence of the regime itself. To remain in power, obviously the regimes had to identify other routeskleptocratic and collaborative. Incompatible partners in this route added to the imperfection of governing tool. The relevance of this pattern in the Indian context has been debated in the 70s. In 1973, K N Raj by relating the sequence of political events and administrative patterns, established its relevance. However, it was rejected by E M S Nampoothirppad through a different logic: Comparing the nature of power transmission from the imperialistic hands to their local loyalists. He argued further that the very description of the alignment of class forces makes it clear that the concept does not apply to India. This gave birth to new appreciative theoretical debates. One inference from these debates is: If the power is acquired by the recipient regime in a dominating position, then the political power can be consolidated systematically in collaboration with the interest groups. It is not meant here to argue that democracy has deteriorated only in the post-colonial countries. Rather, there is an aversion to this governance tool across the spectrum by virtue of the imperfection it inherited en-route. This prompted to pin point the elements that were (probably) instrumental in deteriorating the democracy. The two prominent causes identified in this context are the financial crisis (recession of 2007-08) and (2) the rise of China as a global power. The Chinese communist party is said to have broken the democratic worlds claim of establishing economic well being. For instance, if the US was doubling living standards every 30 years, China could do it in 10 years (The Economist, 2014) Further, the democracies in the global space have reoriented its approach and outlook. It has become a rewarding operation for the loyalists making the democratic political establishments become self-serving. Platos worry about democracy turned out for rightcitizens would live from day to day, indulging in the pleasure of the moment. Democratic governments got into the habit of borrowing to meet the short term needs of the people while evading the long run investments required for improving living standards. For sure, they are uncertain of their long term power position. This got into a vicious cycle and resulted in the decline of visible political loyalists, thus increasing occurrences of concentration of power and wealth with few. It is interesting to note that the share of political party memberships are on the decline across developed democracies. For instance, only one per cent of the British population are members of political parties in 2014 as compared to 20 per cent in 1950 (The Economist, 2014). If one observed, the big debate in the 2015 British elections had been on the inequalities and the economic biases facing the peoplethe growing inequalities and the failures of the capitalist system to hold democracy straight. It is estimated that the collective wealth of Britains richest has more than doubled in ten years. Worldwide studies further confirm that more than half of the voters do not have trust in their governments. If kleptocracy potentially can deliver and replace democracy, should we let it fade away? C S SUNDARESAN President of Alliance for Advanced Research and Development Initiatives, an independent think tank Email: cs.sundaresan@hotmail.com By Express News Service DELHI/ VISAKHAPATNAM: While investigators are looking into the possible role of Pakistans spy agency ISI in the Kanpur train derailment last year, the Railways suspects sabotage in the Hirakhand derailment too. There is a possibility of the Centre asking the National Investigation Agency to look into the accident. Bihar Police has recently arrested three people and they claimed to have received money to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on tracks. The explosives have been recovered. The NIA is investigating the matter after the trio confessed to having ISI links. The Hirakhand tragedy has come against this backdrop. The Home Ministry may ask the NIA to investigate the Hirakhand Express derailment, sources confirmed. DELHI/ VISAKHAPATNAM: While investigators are looking into the possible role of Pakistans spy agency ISI in the Kanpur train derailment last year, the Railways suspects sabotage in the Hirakhand derailment too. There is a possibility of the Centre asking the National Investigation Agency to look into the accident. Bihar Police has recently arrested three people and they claimed to have received money to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on tracks. The explosives have been recovered. The NIA is investigating the matter after the trio confessed to having ISI links. The Hirakhand tragedy has come against this backdrop. The Home Ministry may ask the NIA to investigate the Hirakhand Express derailment, sources confirmed. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu fumed at the Opposition parties for comparing Jallikattu with Special Category Status (SCS). For the past a couple of days, the leaders from Congress, YSRC, Left Parties and even the actor-turned-politician and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan are lauding the massive protests by Tamilians in favour of Jallikattu and demanding that the State government should learn lessons from Tamil Nadu for achieving SCS. However, the chief minister took strong exception to the comparison. "What is the need for a movement for SCS when the Centre announced a special financial package and assured to extend all benefits that will be secured through SCS. Why should we fight for just the name - SCS," Chandrababu Naidu argued, while addressing a press conference at the Interim Government Complex at Velagapudi on Monday. Reiterating that he is not scared of anything, Naidu said the state government is sailing with the Centre in the best interests of Andhra Pradesh and its people. He found fault with the proposed protest by opposition parties at Visakhapatnam beach and urged them not to ruin the Port City's reputation. On the occasion, he also appealed the youth not to participate in such protests. VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu fumed at the Opposition parties for comparing Jallikattu with Special Category Status (SCS). For the past a couple of days, the leaders from Congress, YSRC, Left Parties and even the actor-turned-politician and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan are lauding the massive protests by Tamilians in favour of Jallikattu and demanding that the State government should learn lessons from Tamil Nadu for achieving SCS. However, the chief minister took strong exception to the comparison. "What is the need for a movement for SCS when the Centre announced a special financial package and assured to extend all benefits that will be secured through SCS. Why should we fight for just the name - SCS," Chandrababu Naidu argued, while addressing a press conference at the Interim Government Complex at Velagapudi on Monday. Reiterating that he is not scared of anything, Naidu said the state government is sailing with the Centre in the best interests of Andhra Pradesh and its people. He found fault with the proposed protest by opposition parties at Visakhapatnam beach and urged them not to ruin the Port City's reputation. On the occasion, he also appealed the youth not to participate in such protests. President and CEO of Sony Mobile Communication Hiroki Totoki presents the new Sony Xperia X device on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex on Feb. 22, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo : Getty Images/ David Ramos) Sony Mobile has started rolling out its new firmware update on its Concept program for Android Nougat. The said new Concept update runs on the Experimental track, which will include an improved display setting that will ease reading contents at night and other bug fixes. Sony's Concept for Android program released a new recent update on Xperia X users in the form of build number 38.3.A.0.66. The said update brings security patches, new version of Xperia Home Launcher, and the new display feature called "Night Light." Advertisement According to Xperia Blog, the "Night Light" option makes it easier for users to view their phones at night. This feature can be activated through the Xperia X's display settings, which will then tint the screen with a pink-ish amber color during night time. The company claimed that this specific color variant enables users to read contents at night and to aid in good sleeping time as it reduces exposure to blue light. In addition, the "Night Light" also allows users to switch the feature on from sunset to sunrise, or the option to customize the exact timing of its activation. Besides the "Night Light" option, the latest update adds the latest January 2017 Google security patches and a new version of the Xperia Home launcher (10.2.A.1.18), as well as enhancements in network handling, according to UH. The said update also offers Xperia's Transfer Mobile app. Users who have previously raised concerns with noise cancellation and fingerprint tests should witness an improvement on their experience after installing the said update. After installing the new update, the Sony Xperia X smartphones will be offered with the build N4F26I9, which will be based on the Android 7.1.1 Nougat firmware. The Concept for Android program of Sony Mobile is still under continual improvement on the Xperia X smartphone. Users running the experimental update will soon expect the OTA update rolling out soon since Sony Mobile still remained mum on its release date. As for now, this update is only meant for those taking part in the Xperia X Concept program and its download size will be 47.4MB. By Express News Service HUBBALLI: Farmers took out a huge protest rally in Navalgund seeking the implementation to Mahadayi River Diversion project on Monday. The rally started at Lingaraj Circle and went through major streets of the town before culminating at the same project. Huge police bandobast was made to prevent any untoward incidents. Police from eight districts deployed in the town for security. Bus services were stopped to the town and shops remained closed. Farmers from Kiresur, Padesur, Gobbaragumpi, Algavadi and other surrounding villages who were on their way to Navalgund for the demonstration were detained by the police on the outskirts of Navalgund town. Inspector general of police, Northern Range, Ramachandra Rao said that elaborate security arrangements were made ahead of the demonstration. We had held peace meeting five times in last few days to ensure safety for public property during the protest, he said. The long-standing protest demanding implementation of project entered its 544th day on Monday. Navalgund and surrounding villages, in the month of July last year, had witnessed intense protest after Water Disputes Tribunal rejected Karnatakas plea to utilise 7.5 TMC water from River Mahadayi. The Tribunal's direction to resolve the issue through negotiation - Karnataka, Goa and Maharastra - has not gone anywhere After a long gap, the farmers of the town have now decided to intensify the agitation. Various farmer organisations have extended their support for the same. HUBBALLI: Farmers took out a huge protest rally in Navalgund seeking the implementation to Mahadayi River Diversion project on Monday. The rally started at Lingaraj Circle and went through major streets of the town before culminating at the same project. Huge police bandobast was made to prevent any untoward incidents. Police from eight districts deployed in the town for security. Bus services were stopped to the town and shops remained closed. Farmers from Kiresur, Padesur, Gobbaragumpi, Algavadi and other surrounding villages who were on their way to Navalgund for the demonstration were detained by the police on the outskirts of Navalgund town. Inspector general of police, Northern Range, Ramachandra Rao said that elaborate security arrangements were made ahead of the demonstration. We had held peace meeting five times in last few days to ensure safety for public property during the protest, he said. The long-standing protest demanding implementation of project entered its 544th day on Monday. Navalgund and surrounding villages, in the month of July last year, had witnessed intense protest after Water Disputes Tribunal rejected Karnatakas plea to utilise 7.5 TMC water from River Mahadayi. The Tribunal's direction to resolve the issue through negotiation - Karnataka, Goa and Maharastra - has not gone anywhere After a long gap, the farmers of the town have now decided to intensify the agitation. Various farmer organisations have extended their support for the same. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Musician Hip Hop Tamizha Adhi whose 'Takkaru Takkaru' song is said to be one of the main triggers to this massive protest for Jallikattu distanced himself from the protests saying that it has lost direction. After much buzz in social media about Adhi's whereabouts, since he was not seen after first three days of the protest, the 27-year-old musician on Sunday posted a video in his Facebook page. In this 14-minute video, he clarified that he was safe and rejected claims that he was taken into police custody. He also said that he left the protests at the VOC Park in Coimbatore as he was 'emotionally hurt' on seeing posters, pamphlets and speeches in the crowd trying to arouse anti-national feelings by abusing politicians including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said some even tried to create a communal divide among volunteers, showed disrespect towards the national flag and placed demand for a separate country, while the state police continued to supporting them by providing protection. "The protest predominantly by student community was travelling in the right direction for the first three days towards revoking ban on Jallikattu, but now it has lost track. Some instances have pushed me to an extent where I do not want to be a part of the protest any longer," he added. However, he was optimistic that Jallikattu would get a "permanent solution" with the government issuing an ordinance. Expressing displeasure over having his photos with a few other personalities, who call themselves as the future leaders, he claimed that he was only working on creating awareness among people and has no interest in politics. CHENNAI: Musician Hip Hop Tamizha Adhi whose 'Takkaru Takkaru' song is said to be one of the main triggers to this massive protest for Jallikattu distanced himself from the protests saying that it has lost direction. After much buzz in social media about Adhi's whereabouts, since he was not seen after first three days of the protest, the 27-year-old musician on Sunday posted a video in his Facebook page. In this 14-minute video, he clarified that he was safe and rejected claims that he was taken into police custody. He also said that he left the protests at the VOC Park in Coimbatore as he was 'emotionally hurt' on seeing posters, pamphlets and speeches in the crowd trying to arouse anti-national feelings by abusing politicians including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said some even tried to create a communal divide among volunteers, showed disrespect towards the national flag and placed demand for a separate country, while the state police continued to supporting them by providing protection. "The protest predominantly by student community was travelling in the right direction for the first three days towards revoking ban on Jallikattu, but now it has lost track. Some instances have pushed me to an extent where I do not want to be a part of the protest any longer," he added. However, he was optimistic that Jallikattu would get a "permanent solution" with the government issuing an ordinance. Expressing displeasure over having his photos with a few other personalities, who call themselves as the future leaders, he claimed that he was only working on creating awareness among people and has no interest in politics. Rajasekaran RK By Express News Service MADURAI: The protests in Alanganallur turned hotter on Sunday when the State governments hastily-arranged jallikattu event was met with a strong opposition from the local residents. 5. Protestors blocking a train in Madurai; 6. A rekla race in Coimbatore | romani agarwal, martin louis, p jawahar, KK Sundar & prakash chellamuthu Demanding a permanent solution, aficionados blocked all four roads leading to Alanganallur. Even collector K Veera Raghava Raos efforts to enter the village by riding pillion on a motorbike failed. Soon after the State government passed an ordinance to allow the bull-hugging sport, the district authorities went into an overdrive to prepare the groundwork for the sport at Alanganallur. Chief Minister O Pannerselvam landed in Madurai, en route to Alanganallur, to inaugurate the event. As the news spread, the people, blocked the vadivaasal, demanding a permanent solution. They clamoured for removing bulls off the list of performing animals. On Saturday evening, a section of protestors proceeded from Kettu Kadai to the vaadi vasal, which was under the control of the rural police for the past one week. Though the district administration tried to make arrangements, including erecting galleries and temporary pathway for bulls at the vadivaasal, it was foiled by the people. They stopped the trucks with wooden poles and coconut coir shells in the wee hours. Police, it was alleged, lathi charged a few protestors at a place located a few kilometres away from Alanganallur. Collector and Superintendent of Police Vijayendra S Bidari were sent back on Saturday when they reached the protest spot to hold talks. The collector went again in midnight and urged them to call off the stir in vain. MADURAI: The protests in Alanganallur turned hotter on Sunday when the State governments hastily-arranged jallikattu event was met with a strong opposition from the local residents. 5. Protestors blocking a train in Madurai; 6. A rekla race in Coimbatore | romani agarwal, martin louis, p jawahar, KK Sundar & prakash chellamuthu Demanding a permanent solution, aficionados blocked all four roads leading to Alanganallur. Even collector K Veera Raghava Raos efforts to enter the village by riding pillion on a motorbike failed. Soon after the State government passed an ordinance to allow the bull-hugging sport, the district authorities went into an overdrive to prepare the groundwork for the sport at Alanganallur. Chief Minister O Pannerselvam landed in Madurai, en route to Alanganallur, to inaugurate the event. As the news spread, the people, blocked the vadivaasal, demanding a permanent solution. They clamoured for removing bulls off the list of performing animals. On Saturday evening, a section of protestors proceeded from Kettu Kadai to the vaadi vasal, which was under the control of the rural police for the past one week. Though the district administration tried to make arrangements, including erecting galleries and temporary pathway for bulls at the vadivaasal, it was foiled by the people. They stopped the trucks with wooden poles and coconut coir shells in the wee hours. Police, it was alleged, lathi charged a few protestors at a place located a few kilometres away from Alanganallur. Collector and Superintendent of Police Vijayendra S Bidari were sent back on Saturday when they reached the protest spot to hold talks. The collector went again in midnight and urged them to call off the stir in vain. By Express News Service CHENNAI: After six days of widespread protests across the State against the jallikattu ban, prominent pro-jallikattu activists on Sunday appealed to the youth to call off the protests. However, they did specify that the supporters could regroup and come back together after three months, in case their demands were not met by then. Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, managing trustee of Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, Rajsekhar of Jallikattu Peravai, Rajesh, general secretary of Veeravellaiyatu Kazagam, Umbalathu Arasu, founder of Veeravellaiyatu Kazagam and Aadhi alias Hiphop Tamizha, music composer, together addressed a press conference on Sunday appealing to people to suspend the protests. Ever since the ordinance was announced, there has been an air of uncertainty as the protestors showed no sign of budging unless a permanent law was enacted for jallikattu. Whilst repeatedly claiming that the protest was in fact completely people-led, the speakers at the press conference stressed that it would be best if the protestors withdrew now. We are in no way responsible for what has happened over the last few days; it was completely a movement of the people. So we have no right to tell them to end the protests but we can only request them to do so, said Sivasenapathy. But he also said that in case there was trouble in the future in conducting jallikattu, then the protesters could regroup on social media and come together to fight again on March 31. The speakers, though, said that they believed that they had achieved 99 percent success, There has been confusion among the protestors as to what the ordinance means. We have also had our own queries but we have spoken to the CM and he has fully assured that the ordinance will be made into an act as soon as possible, said Rajesh. He also added that the CM assured them that the act that would be put together would be completely thought out and secure enough to stand legal scrutiny. When asked if they did believe that the solution would be permanent, Rajesh said that they believed that from tomorrow jallikattu will become legal. Rajesh also said that the draft had made clear rules on how to maintain safety during jallikattu. We are going to take more precaution so that there are no injury or casualty and we also asked the government that they fund us for the safety gear. However, the team stressed again the fact that their demand continues to be that the PCA be amended. We have won the battle by 99 per cent, but of course we are not naysayers; so we cannot assure you that PETA wont approach the court again. There is a chance but for now we accept this as a victory, said Sivasenapathy. The team repeatedly claimed that they were in no way responsible for the protests and that it was a faceless movement. So it was unsure as to whether the protestors would take their word and disperse. We did try speaking to them but some individuals also asked us who we were to call off the protest, which is why we are holding this press meet, said Aadhi. When questioned why jallikattu didnt take place on Sunday when the ordinance was passed, they said the youth probably feared they might be cheated again, as they were in 2014. In his Facebook post earlier in the day, the music composer had said that he was upset over the fact that a lot of anti-social groups had started mixing with the original supporters. He also added that there were different groups making demands of all kinds, like banning Coke and Pepsi. Those protestors who have been there from the start only campaigned for jallikattu. That is our primary aim and now we have won. So its best that the youngsters go home and be proud of their efforts, he said. CHENNAI: After six days of widespread protests across the State against the jallikattu ban, prominent pro-jallikattu activists on Sunday appealed to the youth to call off the protests. However, they did specify that the supporters could regroup and come back together after three months, in case their demands were not met by then. Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, managing trustee of Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, Rajsekhar of Jallikattu Peravai, Rajesh, general secretary of Veeravellaiyatu Kazagam, Umbalathu Arasu, founder of Veeravellaiyatu Kazagam and Aadhi alias Hiphop Tamizha, music composer, together addressed a press conference on Sunday appealing to people to suspend the protests. Ever since the ordinance was announced, there has been an air of uncertainty as the protestors showed no sign of budging unless a permanent law was enacted for jallikattu. Whilst repeatedly claiming that the protest was in fact completely people-led, the speakers at the press conference stressed that it would be best if the protestors withdrew now. We are in no way responsible for what has happened over the last few days; it was completely a movement of the people. So we have no right to tell them to end the protests but we can only request them to do so, said Sivasenapathy. But he also said that in case there was trouble in the future in conducting jallikattu, then the protesters could regroup on social media and come together to fight again on March 31. The speakers, though, said that they believed that they had achieved 99 percent success, There has been confusion among the protestors as to what the ordinance means. We have also had our own queries but we have spoken to the CM and he has fully assured that the ordinance will be made into an act as soon as possible, said Rajesh. He also added that the CM assured them that the act that would be put together would be completely thought out and secure enough to stand legal scrutiny. When asked if they did believe that the solution would be permanent, Rajesh said that they believed that from tomorrow jallikattu will become legal. Rajesh also said that the draft had made clear rules on how to maintain safety during jallikattu. We are going to take more precaution so that there are no injury or casualty and we also asked the government that they fund us for the safety gear. However, the team stressed again the fact that their demand continues to be that the PCA be amended. We have won the battle by 99 per cent, but of course we are not naysayers; so we cannot assure you that PETA wont approach the court again. There is a chance but for now we accept this as a victory, said Sivasenapathy. The team repeatedly claimed that they were in no way responsible for the protests and that it was a faceless movement. So it was unsure as to whether the protestors would take their word and disperse. We did try speaking to them but some individuals also asked us who we were to call off the protest, which is why we are holding this press meet, said Aadhi. When questioned why jallikattu didnt take place on Sunday when the ordinance was passed, they said the youth probably feared they might be cheated again, as they were in 2014. In his Facebook post earlier in the day, the music composer had said that he was upset over the fact that a lot of anti-social groups had started mixing with the original supporters. He also added that there were different groups making demands of all kinds, like banning Coke and Pepsi. Those protestors who have been there from the start only campaigned for jallikattu. That is our primary aim and now we have won. So its best that the youngsters go home and be proud of their efforts, he said. By PTI CHENNAI: Violence broke out today 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 lathi-charge to disperse the large crowds. There were incidents of stone throwing 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 lathi-charge 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 lathi charged 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 protesters 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 February 2. Yesterday, 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 lathi-charge 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. CHENNAI: Violence broke out today 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 lathi-charge to disperse the large crowds. There were incidents of stone throwing 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 lathi-charge 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 lathi charged 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 protesters 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 February 2. Yesterday, 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 lathi-charge 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. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Over the past one week, jallikattu became the focal point of political and social discourse. But did it manage to become a representative motif of the Tamil identity? Even as the protests raged across the State, a few dissenting voices, especially a section of Dalit intellectuals, pointed to the casteist underpinnings of jallikattu. In fact, demands voiced in early 2000s to ban jallikattu were over the casteist tensions it wreaked in villages, since Dalit youth were hardly allowed to join the sport. Would this massive support and the display of brotherhood during the six-day-long protest would put an end to the casteist divisions in holding the sport? Analysts and intellectuals say it would take more such movements to blur the casteist differences in the villages. A few of them remained sceptical of attempt to erasing the issue under the gloss of Tamil pride. The history of Dalit struggle for participation in the jallikattu is at least three decades old. It started in the early post-liberalisation period of the 1990s, when the Dalit uprising started questioning the practise of untouchability. The protests mainly centred around the question of Dalit participation in temples, festivals, traditions and land ownership. Justice Mohan Commission, appointed in 1997 to study the pattern of clashes between Dalits and Backward Castes, listed jallikattu as one of the main reasons. Dalit voices continued to fight for their rights in this sport. The struggle reached its peak in 2002 when Dalits at the famed Alanganallur village near Madurai refused to play parai drums to incite the bull, if they were not given equal rights in participating in the event. However, the caste Hindus just replaced the parai drums with loudspeakers. This escalated the opposition for the jallikattu among Dalits further and in 2004, Puthiya Tamizhagam leader K Krishnaswamy sought a ban on the sport openly. The recent protests have toned down the opposition of Dalit political leaders to jallikattu. Thol Thirumavalavan, leader of the largest Dalit party in Tamil Nadu, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, has already expressed solidarity for the jallikattu protests. It was sickening to see some casteist forces questioning Dalit participation in the protest when they (Dalit) had no connection (to jallikattu), Thirumavalavan told Express. This uprising (for jallikattu) is against the Central government, which has been continuously disrespecting Tamils over the Cauvery, fishermen and several other issues. Staying away from this citing caste discrimination will not help Dalits in merging with mainstream politics, he says, citing his reason for the support. Professor Ramu Manivannan of Political Sciences Department, University of Madras, said that the landed-caste with bulls can no longer establish control over the sport after such social and historic movements and once centrality of ownership gets removed, social changes happen. However, some Dalit intellectuals are not ready to buy this narrative and say that these protests are the expression of dominant castes anger over temple festivals in many villages in Madurai and Nagapattinam being put on hold after a clash with Dalits. Dalit researcher Anbuselvan from Puducherry said, We never questioned the sport, but the authority established by certain caste groups based on the sport. Even if the ban was revoked, can there been an assurance that no atrocities will be perpetrated on Dalits during jallikattu? Media reports came out that even as protests were going on, Dalits were attacked at Singampunari in Sivaganga district while bulls were let loose. When Express questioned the local police officers, they denied such incidents and said no FIR was filed. Anbuselvan added that it was not just allowing Dalits to enter inside the arena for the 10-15 minutes when bulls were let loose, but equal rights over various issues during the entire 12-day Pongal festival period. Researchers point out to various references in Tamil films including Rajnikanth-starrer Murattukalai, Kamal Hassans Virumandi to support their arguments on caste Hindus dominance when it comes to jallikattu. Be it the people who made these films or who formed groups to fight against the ban, it was evident from their caste that it was always the tradition of a particular community, Anbuselvan added. Though people of dominant castes might still conduct jallikattu, they cant prevent the Dalit community from organising jallikattu, said Manivannan. However, Thirumavalavan lays stress on the need for the government to organise such events so that discrimination will get eliminated through similar protests in the longer run. CHENNAI: Over the past one week, jallikattu became the focal point of political and social discourse. But did it manage to become a representative motif of the Tamil identity? Even as the protests raged across the State, a few dissenting voices, especially a section of Dalit intellectuals, pointed to the casteist underpinnings of jallikattu. In fact, demands voiced in early 2000s to ban jallikattu were over the casteist tensions it wreaked in villages, since Dalit youth were hardly allowed to join the sport. Would this massive support and the display of brotherhood during the six-day-long protest would put an end to the casteist divisions in holding the sport? Analysts and intellectuals say it would take more such movements to blur the casteist differences in the villages. A few of them remained sceptical of attempt to erasing the issue under the gloss of Tamil pride. The history of Dalit struggle for participation in the jallikattu is at least three decades old. It started in the early post-liberalisation period of the 1990s, when the Dalit uprising started questioning the practise of untouchability. The protests mainly centred around the question of Dalit participation in temples, festivals, traditions and land ownership. Justice Mohan Commission, appointed in 1997 to study the pattern of clashes between Dalits and Backward Castes, listed jallikattu as one of the main reasons. Dalit voices continued to fight for their rights in this sport. The struggle reached its peak in 2002 when Dalits at the famed Alanganallur village near Madurai refused to play parai drums to incite the bull, if they were not given equal rights in participating in the event. However, the caste Hindus just replaced the parai drums with loudspeakers. This escalated the opposition for the jallikattu among Dalits further and in 2004, Puthiya Tamizhagam leader K Krishnaswamy sought a ban on the sport openly. The recent protests have toned down the opposition of Dalit political leaders to jallikattu. Thol Thirumavalavan, leader of the largest Dalit party in Tamil Nadu, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, has already expressed solidarity for the jallikattu protests. It was sickening to see some casteist forces questioning Dalit participation in the protest when they (Dalit) had no connection (to jallikattu), Thirumavalavan told Express. This uprising (for jallikattu) is against the Central government, which has been continuously disrespecting Tamils over the Cauvery, fishermen and several other issues. Staying away from this citing caste discrimination will not help Dalits in merging with mainstream politics, he says, citing his reason for the support. Professor Ramu Manivannan of Political Sciences Department, University of Madras, said that the landed-caste with bulls can no longer establish control over the sport after such social and historic movements and once centrality of ownership gets removed, social changes happen. However, some Dalit intellectuals are not ready to buy this narrative and say that these protests are the expression of dominant castes anger over temple festivals in many villages in Madurai and Nagapattinam being put on hold after a clash with Dalits. Dalit researcher Anbuselvan from Puducherry said, We never questioned the sport, but the authority established by certain caste groups based on the sport. Even if the ban was revoked, can there been an assurance that no atrocities will be perpetrated on Dalits during jallikattu? Media reports came out that even as protests were going on, Dalits were attacked at Singampunari in Sivaganga district while bulls were let loose. When Express questioned the local police officers, they denied such incidents and said no FIR was filed. Anbuselvan added that it was not just allowing Dalits to enter inside the arena for the 10-15 minutes when bulls were let loose, but equal rights over various issues during the entire 12-day Pongal festival period. Researchers point out to various references in Tamil films including Rajnikanth-starrer Murattukalai, Kamal Hassans Virumandi to support their arguments on caste Hindus dominance when it comes to jallikattu. Be it the people who made these films or who formed groups to fight against the ban, it was evident from their caste that it was always the tradition of a particular community, Anbuselvan added. Though people of dominant castes might still conduct jallikattu, they cant prevent the Dalit community from organising jallikattu, said Manivannan. However, Thirumavalavan lays stress on the need for the government to organise such events so that discrimination will get eliminated through similar protests in the longer run. R Sivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: Amid tumultuous conditions prevailing in the State, particularly the unrelenting protests spilling over several places in connection with jallikattu, the Tamil Nadu Assemblys first session of the year begins today. An address by the Governor (in-charge) Ch Vidyasagar Rao will mark the first days business of the House which will lose the imposing presence of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. It will be the maiden address of the Governor. Going by the statement of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, the government will introduce the draft bill on jallikattu to replace the ordinance. The House will take up a resolution to pay condolence to the late Chief Minister on the second day of the session and subsequently disperse without transacting any other business, sources told. The debate on the motion to thank Governor will be held on the subsequent days. The sources stated that the draft bill on jallikattu is likely to come up for discussion on Wednesday and it is expected to be passed unanimously as all the stakeholders are supporting the governments move. The Assembly may witness fireworks as the Treasury and the Opposition benches are expected to cross swords on an array of issues. DMK, is likely to raise the prevailing acute drought conditions, agrarian crisis and suicide of farmers due to distress over crop loss to garner the government. But the Treasury side is also gearing up to encounter any eventual attacks from the Opposition side. Whether the DMK would change its strategy of raising issues in a vociferous manner and subsequent walkout is yet to be known in the changing political circumstances. The party may lower the decibel level in the Assembly given the prevailing political conditions, a senior DMK legislator told Express. Formation of the mandatory Assembly committees will also be raised by the DMK as the party had taken legal recourse which went in vain. The last session of the Assembly stretched between July 21 and September 2, 2016, witnessed uproar and pandemonium almost on all days. The climax was the en masse eviction of Opposition members. High drama ensued after the eviction as the irate DMK members held a mock Assembly at the premises of Fort St George much to the chagrin of the ruling party. DMK members led by Opposition Leader MK Stalin created huge din on the last day of the session over a remark made by the late CM over housing facilities for policemen. CHENNAI: Amid tumultuous conditions prevailing in the State, particularly the unrelenting protests spilling over several places in connection with jallikattu, the Tamil Nadu Assemblys first session of the year begins today. An address by the Governor (in-charge) Ch Vidyasagar Rao will mark the first days business of the House which will lose the imposing presence of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. It will be the maiden address of the Governor. Going by the statement of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, the government will introduce the draft bill on jallikattu to replace the ordinance. The House will take up a resolution to pay condolence to the late Chief Minister on the second day of the session and subsequently disperse without transacting any other business, sources told. The debate on the motion to thank Governor will be held on the subsequent days. The sources stated that the draft bill on jallikattu is likely to come up for discussion on Wednesday and it is expected to be passed unanimously as all the stakeholders are supporting the governments move. The Assembly may witness fireworks as the Treasury and the Opposition benches are expected to cross swords on an array of issues. DMK, is likely to raise the prevailing acute drought conditions, agrarian crisis and suicide of farmers due to distress over crop loss to garner the government. But the Treasury side is also gearing up to encounter any eventual attacks from the Opposition side. Whether the DMK would change its strategy of raising issues in a vociferous manner and subsequent walkout is yet to be known in the changing political circumstances. The party may lower the decibel level in the Assembly given the prevailing political conditions, a senior DMK legislator told Express. Formation of the mandatory Assembly committees will also be raised by the DMK as the party had taken legal recourse which went in vain. The last session of the Assembly stretched between July 21 and September 2, 2016, witnessed uproar and pandemonium almost on all days. The climax was the en masse eviction of Opposition members. High drama ensued after the eviction as the irate DMK members held a mock Assembly at the premises of Fort St George much to the chagrin of the ruling party. DMK members led by Opposition Leader MK Stalin created huge din on the last day of the session over a remark made by the late CM over housing facilities for policemen. By IANS LONDON: The British government rejected on Sunday a claim by Gerry Adams, President of the Sinn Fein political party, that taking Northern Ireland out of the EU will destroy the agreement that restored peace to the island. Adams made his remarks during a speech on Saturday in Dublin, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement was issued in London following Adams' comments, suggesting Britain leaving the European Union will destroy the Belfast Agreement. An official spokesman for the British government said Adams' comments are totally without any basis in fact. "None of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement ... are in any way undermined by the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU," said the spokesman. Britain is "fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors," he said. The Belfast Agreement, a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s, ended three decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland. In his speech earlier, Adams said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status after Brexit, claiming it would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of Britain. He told his audience at a conference on achieving a united Ireland: "The British government's intention to take the north out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action. Adams is regarded as one of the most important people to be part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Britain's departure from the 28-nation trading bloc will mean the Northern Ireland border with the Irish republic being the only EU border within Britain. In a treaty going back to the 1920s people from both sides of the border have had free passage between each other. Ireland joined the EU at the same time as Britain, meaning there was no change in the border arrangements. Earlier this week, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny reiterated his wish for "a preservation of the seamless border that is there now". LONDON: The British government rejected on Sunday a claim by Gerry Adams, President of the Sinn Fein political party, that taking Northern Ireland out of the EU will destroy the agreement that restored peace to the island. Adams made his remarks during a speech on Saturday in Dublin, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement was issued in London following Adams' comments, suggesting Britain leaving the European Union will destroy the Belfast Agreement. An official spokesman for the British government said Adams' comments are totally without any basis in fact. "None of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement ... are in any way undermined by the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU," said the spokesman. Britain is "fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors," he said. The Belfast Agreement, a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s, ended three decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland. In his speech earlier, Adams said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status after Brexit, claiming it would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of Britain. He told his audience at a conference on achieving a united Ireland: "The British government's intention to take the north out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action. Adams is regarded as one of the most important people to be part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Britain's departure from the 28-nation trading bloc will mean the Northern Ireland border with the Irish republic being the only EU border within Britain. In a treaty going back to the 1920s people from both sides of the border have had free passage between each other. Ireland joined the EU at the same time as Britain, meaning there was no change in the border arrangements. Earlier this week, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny reiterated his wish for "a preservation of the seamless border that is there now". By AFP DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli to take action against the network of an exiled cleric he blames for last year's failed coup. The Hizmet movement run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, is linked to a network of schools across the world, including in Africa, and the Turkish president is rallying leaders on the continent to help him fight the influence of his longtime rival. "The party that wants to overthrow me isn't only in Turkey... I am convinced that Tanzania will from now on take measures against this terrorist organisation," Erdogan said after meeting Magufuli. It was not clear what action he had asked Tanzania to take against the schools, which are believed to be affiliated with Gulen's movement. They are extremely popular among the country's middle class and often among the best performing schools. Turkish officials accuse Gulen of using his vast private education network to build influence and of running a "parallel state" inside Turkey. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally, vehemently denies the allegations. A reclusive figure, he has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Hizmet describes itself as promoting Islam through charity efforts and educational work in countries stretching from Turkey to Africa and Central Asia to the United States. - Rail loan - Erdogan, whose five-day tour will also take him to Mozambique and Madagascar, also discussed business and trade. Magufuli said he had asked Erdogan for a loan to help build a planned railway to link Dar es Salaam with neighbouring countries including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. A Turkish firm is set to win a tender to build the $7.6 billion (7.1-billion-euro) railway. The contract had initially been awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies, which had already built five kilometres of the railway. But it was cancelled due to irregularities in the tender process shortly after Magufuli was elected. The tender being awarded to a non-Chinese company has cast doubts over whether China's Exim bank, which finances external development projects, will still put up the money. Erdogan's visit also comes as Tanzania looks to new sources for budgetary support and concessional loans, after several donor countries in 2015 withdrew their support over a high-level corruption scandal. "The government is turning to Turkey as a possible source of concessional loans and investments," the government official said. The Tanzanian government said earlier this month it would have to turn to India and China to borrow $939-million. DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli to take action against the network of an exiled cleric he blames for last year's failed coup. The Hizmet movement run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, is linked to a network of schools across the world, including in Africa, and the Turkish president is rallying leaders on the continent to help him fight the influence of his longtime rival. "The party that wants to overthrow me isn't only in Turkey... I am convinced that Tanzania will from now on take measures against this terrorist organisation," Erdogan said after meeting Magufuli. It was not clear what action he had asked Tanzania to take against the schools, which are believed to be affiliated with Gulen's movement. They are extremely popular among the country's middle class and often among the best performing schools. Turkish officials accuse Gulen of using his vast private education network to build influence and of running a "parallel state" inside Turkey. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally, vehemently denies the allegations. A reclusive figure, he has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Hizmet describes itself as promoting Islam through charity efforts and educational work in countries stretching from Turkey to Africa and Central Asia to the United States. - Rail loan - Erdogan, whose five-day tour will also take him to Mozambique and Madagascar, also discussed business and trade. Magufuli said he had asked Erdogan for a loan to help build a planned railway to link Dar es Salaam with neighbouring countries including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. A Turkish firm is set to win a tender to build the $7.6 billion (7.1-billion-euro) railway. The contract had initially been awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies, which had already built five kilometres of the railway. But it was cancelled due to irregularities in the tender process shortly after Magufuli was elected. The tender being awarded to a non-Chinese company has cast doubts over whether China's Exim bank, which finances external development projects, will still put up the money. Erdogan's visit also comes as Tanzania looks to new sources for budgetary support and concessional loans, after several donor countries in 2015 withdrew their support over a high-level corruption scandal. "The government is turning to Turkey as a possible source of concessional loans and investments," the government official said. The Tanzanian government said earlier this month it would have to turn to India and China to borrow $939-million. By IANS WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Renegotiating the pact, signed two decades ago, was one of Trump's primary campaign promises, EFE news reported. At a White House event to swear in several top officials he had named, the President confirmed his intention to renegotiate NAFTA with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whom he will welcome in Washington on January 31, and with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he intends to meet soon. Trump blames NAFTA for killing US jobs and for the closing of companies in the United States and the shifting of their operations to Mexico to lower costs. The President said that he would discuss NAFTA with Pena Nieto along with "immigration" and "border security." On Saturday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that Pena Nieto, whom he mistakenly referred to as the Mexican "Prime Minister", will visit the White House on January 31. The Mexican President's Office, meanwhile, said in a statement that on Saturday Pena Nieto telephoned Trump to congratulate him on his inauguration and express the willingness to "work on an agenda that benefits both countries." One of Trump's key campaign promises was to build a wall along the US-Mexican border to halt illegal immigration to the United States, a wall that -- he said -- Mexico will pay for. Spicer said that Trump also spoke on Saturday by phone with Trudeau, with whom he held a "constructive" conversation. WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Renegotiating the pact, signed two decades ago, was one of Trump's primary campaign promises, EFE news reported. At a White House event to swear in several top officials he had named, the President confirmed his intention to renegotiate NAFTA with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whom he will welcome in Washington on January 31, and with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he intends to meet soon. Trump blames NAFTA for killing US jobs and for the closing of companies in the United States and the shifting of their operations to Mexico to lower costs. The President said that he would discuss NAFTA with Pena Nieto along with "immigration" and "border security." On Saturday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that Pena Nieto, whom he mistakenly referred to as the Mexican "Prime Minister", will visit the White House on January 31. The Mexican President's Office, meanwhile, said in a statement that on Saturday Pena Nieto telephoned Trump to congratulate him on his inauguration and express the willingness to "work on an agenda that benefits both countries." One of Trump's key campaign promises was to build a wall along the US-Mexican border to halt illegal immigration to the United States, a wall that -- he said -- Mexico will pay for. Spicer said that Trump also spoke on Saturday by phone with Trudeau, with whom he held a "constructive" conversation. Two smartphones placed on top a table, which depict the speculated look of the upcoming Nokia Edge Android smartphone. (Photo : YouTube/ GONE IN 180) Nokia 6 specs, price and release date were totally successful. With the device sale skyrocketing in just a minute, Nokia's future with HMD Global is indeed promising. Nokia hopes to regain its dominance in the mobile industry, which it lost following the introduction of iPhone and Android devices. Such goal of a successful comeback may soon be realized as the market response in China was impressive. Nokia's first ever Android smartphone received over a 1 million registrations ahead of the flash sales, according to GSM Arena. Advertisement The move of HMD Global to release their first-ever Android phone in China was quite strategic and daring. It is considered as strategic for Nokia's brand awareness in China still remains, and daring on the other hand, for mobile giants like Apple and Samsung already dominate the Chinese market along with homegrown brands such as Oppo, Vivo, Huawei and Xiaomi. However, despite the known challenges ahead, Nokia managed to have a strong start with their latest Android introduction. Nokia 6 that features Snapdragon 430 CPU, , 4GB/64GB memory configuration, 5.5" 1080p screen with curved 2.5D Gorilla Glass sheet, 16MP/8MP camera combo, and 3,000mAh battery, managed to attract massive local audiences. Moreover, another Nokia product hopes receive a similar welcome in the market. The highly speculated Nokia 8 aims to attract more consumers with its latest SnapDragon 835 processor, 6GB of RAM and 24MP camera equipped with electronic and optical image stabilization, according to Forbes. On the other hand, apart from mobile devices, Nokia has been reported to be developing a massive Nokia tablet to boost its sales. Based on a separate report, the said tablet boasts of an 18.4 inch display, with Snapdragon 835 chipset and Adreno 540 GPU powering the said device. Together with Nokia 8, the 18 inch Nokia tablet is a testament of a challenge against currently dominating brands in the market. The Finnish company hopes to replicate its initial success with its succeeding launch and release. Watch here below Nokia 8 specs and other details: By AFP MOSUL: The Islamic State group expelled civilians from their homes along the Tigris on Mosul's west bank, apparently bracing for a cross-river attack on their bastion by Iraqi forces, residents said Monday. "The group forced us to leave our homes... without allowing us to take our belongings," a resident of Al-Maidan, a neighbourhood on the city's jihadist-held west bank, told AFP. "It deployed gun positions and posted snipers on roofs and at windows," the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal by the IS gunmen ruling his neighbourhood. "We were forced to leave the area because it will become a battlefield and so we moved in with relatives in other parts of the city," he said. Iraqi forces have all but completed their reconquest of Mosul's east bank and commanders are turning their sights to the western side of the city, which is expected to see bitter street battles. Sufian al-Mashhadani, a civil society activist from Mosul, confirmed that IS had deployed fighters in buildings along the river front. "Daesh prevented the inhabitants and owners of those homes and shops from taking their belongings and their food, claiming those were now the property of the mujahideen (holy warriors)," he said. All the bridges above the Tigris in central Mosul have been either bombed by IS or dropped in air strikes by the US-led coalition. Mosul residents who lived on the eastern side but owned property or businesses on the west bank have seen their homes and shops seized by IS in recent days, said Abdulkarim al-Obeidi, another civil activist. He said others have been expelled on the grounds that they did not have valid permits and licences. "Daesh has been distributing those confiscated shops and homes to its fighters on the west bank, especially since their financial resources started decreasing sharply," Obeidi said. Iraqi forces launched the offensive to retake Mosul, the jihadists' last major urban hub in Iraq, on October 17. IS fighters on the city's west bank are almost completely surrounded and will be largely unable to resupply but the narrow streets of the old city will make for a lethal terrain when federal forces move in. Baghdad's top fighting units have taken casualties in more than three months of what is Iraq's largest military operation in years. Some of them will redeploy to areas south, north and west of the city, while others could attempt to throw bridges across the Tigris to attack from recently retaken areas on the east bank. MOSUL: The Islamic State group expelled civilians from their homes along the Tigris on Mosul's west bank, apparently bracing for a cross-river attack on their bastion by Iraqi forces, residents said Monday. "The group forced us to leave our homes... without allowing us to take our belongings," a resident of Al-Maidan, a neighbourhood on the city's jihadist-held west bank, told AFP. "It deployed gun positions and posted snipers on roofs and at windows," the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal by the IS gunmen ruling his neighbourhood. "We were forced to leave the area because it will become a battlefield and so we moved in with relatives in other parts of the city," he said. Iraqi forces have all but completed their reconquest of Mosul's east bank and commanders are turning their sights to the western side of the city, which is expected to see bitter street battles. Sufian al-Mashhadani, a civil society activist from Mosul, confirmed that IS had deployed fighters in buildings along the river front. "Daesh prevented the inhabitants and owners of those homes and shops from taking their belongings and their food, claiming those were now the property of the mujahideen (holy warriors)," he said. All the bridges above the Tigris in central Mosul have been either bombed by IS or dropped in air strikes by the US-led coalition. Mosul residents who lived on the eastern side but owned property or businesses on the west bank have seen their homes and shops seized by IS in recent days, said Abdulkarim al-Obeidi, another civil activist. He said others have been expelled on the grounds that they did not have valid permits and licences. "Daesh has been distributing those confiscated shops and homes to its fighters on the west bank, especially since their financial resources started decreasing sharply," Obeidi said. Iraqi forces launched the offensive to retake Mosul, the jihadists' last major urban hub in Iraq, on October 17. IS fighters on the city's west bank are almost completely surrounded and will be largely unable to resupply but the narrow streets of the old city will make for a lethal terrain when federal forces move in. Baghdad's top fighting units have taken casualties in more than three months of what is Iraq's largest military operation in years. Some of them will redeploy to areas south, north and west of the city, while others could attempt to throw bridges across the Tigris to attack from recently retaken areas on the east bank. By Associated Press FARINDOLA, ITALY: Italian emergency crews pulled three wiggling, white sheepdog puppies out Monday from under tons of snow and rubble at an avalanche-struck hotel, lifting spirits even as the search for 22 people still missing dragged on five days after the disaster. One more body was located, raising the death toll to seven, and the first survivors of the deadly avalanche were released from the hospital. Questions intensified, however, into whether Italian authorities underestimated the risks facing the snowbound resort in the hours before the deadly avalanche. Five days after up to 60,000 tons of snow, rocks and uprooted trees plowed into the Hotel Rigopiano in central Italy, rescue crews were still digging by hand or with shovels and chainsaws in hopes of finding more survivors. An excavator reached the site, northeast of Rome, to speed up the search. The discovery of the three Abruzzo sheepdog puppies in the boiler room raised spirits, even as rescuers located a seventh body. Jubilant emergency crews carried the pups out in their arms, with one firefighter burying his face in the fluffy white fur to give the dog a kiss. The puppies were born last month to the hotel's resident sheepdogs, Nuvola and Lupo, and were prominently featured on the hotel's Facebook page. Their parents had found their own way out after the Wednesday afternoon avalanche. "They just started barking very softly," said Sonia Marini, a member of the Forestry Corps. "In fact, it was hard to find them right away because they were hidden. Then we heard this very tiny bark and we saw them from a little hole the firefighters had opened in the wall. Then we expanded the hole and we pulled them out." Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari, however, stressed that the puppies were found in an isolated part of the hotel and didn't necessarily signal any new hope for finding human survivors. "We're happy to have saved them, and these are important moments in a dramatic situation," he said. "But I don't think there's much correlation with finding other people." Emergency crews have been hoping that the 22 missing people may have found air pockets under the debris, and that the snow would insulate them from the frigid temperatures. But more than two days have passed since anyone has been pulled out alive from the hotel, and rescue crews were still trying to recover one victim from the rubble. Conditions at the site were deteriorating, with the heavy snow turning to ice. So far nine people have been rescued from the Hotel Rigopiano. The first survivors released Monday from a hospital in the nearby city of Pescara included Giorgia Galassi and her boyfriend, Vincenzo Forti. "Thank you, thank you everyone!" Galassi said as she waved from the front door of her parents' home in Giulianova, on the Adriatic coast. Flanked by her parents, she said she felt fine. Hotel guests Giampiero Parete, his wife and two children were also home. It was Parete who had first sounded the alarm after he by chance left the hotel to go to his car moments before the avalanche hit. Still hospitalized were one adult and two youngsters, Samuel Di Michelangelo and Edoardo Di Carlo. Officials have confirmed that Edoardo's parents were killed, while Samuel's are still unaccounted for. "Edoardo has an adult brother, so the brother will be given custody of him," Pescara hospital Dr. Rossano Di Luzio told reporters. "Samuel has his close relatives, grandparents at the moment, but we hope we can give him back to his parents." Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari said emergency crews were working with an "operational hypothesis" that people might still be alive, but he stressed "we are fighting against time." The investigation intensified, meanwhile, into whether local government officials underestimated the threat facing the hotel, which was covered with two meters (six feet) of snow, had no phone service and dwindling gas supplies when a series of earthquakes rocked central Italy on the morning of Jan. 18. Italian newspapers on Monday reproduced what they said was an email sent by the hotel owner to local and provincial authorities that afternoon asking for help. "The hotel guests are terrorized by the earthquakes and have decided to stay out in the open," Bruno Di Tommaso wrote. "We've tried to do everything to keep them calm, but since they can't leave due to the blocked roads, they're prepared to spend the night in their cars." The Pescara prefect's office already has faced criticism after a local restaurant owner said his calls reporting the avalanche were ignored. Quintino Marcella said he called the office after receiving word from Parete, one of his chefs who was vacationing at the hotel. Chief prosecutor Cristina Tedeschini confirmed her investigation was looking into a host of issues, including the timing and content of communications, where the snowplows were deployed, who was alerted when about the risks of avalanches and how authorities responded when the avalanche hit the hotel. She said there were "incongruities" between when communications were received and when they were acted on. But she stressed they may not have had a significant effect on the search effort, given that five days had passed and still the search was ongoing. She said "at most" the delay in launching the avalanche response was an hour or two. "I don't see it as being highly relevant," she said. The president of the province, Antonio Di Marco, has confirmed he saw an email from Di Tommaso and had arranged for a snowplow to clear the road that night, the ANSA news agency reported. The avalanche hit sometime before 5:40 p.m., when Marcella received the call from his chef. FARINDOLA, ITALY: Italian emergency crews pulled three wiggling, white sheepdog puppies out Monday from under tons of snow and rubble at an avalanche-struck hotel, lifting spirits even as the search for 22 people still missing dragged on five days after the disaster. One more body was located, raising the death toll to seven, and the first survivors of the deadly avalanche were released from the hospital. Questions intensified, however, into whether Italian authorities underestimated the risks facing the snowbound resort in the hours before the deadly avalanche. Five days after up to 60,000 tons of snow, rocks and uprooted trees plowed into the Hotel Rigopiano in central Italy, rescue crews were still digging by hand or with shovels and chainsaws in hopes of finding more survivors. An excavator reached the site, northeast of Rome, to speed up the search. The discovery of the three Abruzzo sheepdog puppies in the boiler room raised spirits, even as rescuers located a seventh body. Jubilant emergency crews carried the pups out in their arms, with one firefighter burying his face in the fluffy white fur to give the dog a kiss. The puppies were born last month to the hotel's resident sheepdogs, Nuvola and Lupo, and were prominently featured on the hotel's Facebook page. Their parents had found their own way out after the Wednesday afternoon avalanche. "They just started barking very softly," said Sonia Marini, a member of the Forestry Corps. "In fact, it was hard to find them right away because they were hidden. Then we heard this very tiny bark and we saw them from a little hole the firefighters had opened in the wall. Then we expanded the hole and we pulled them out." Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari, however, stressed that the puppies were found in an isolated part of the hotel and didn't necessarily signal any new hope for finding human survivors. "We're happy to have saved them, and these are important moments in a dramatic situation," he said. "But I don't think there's much correlation with finding other people." Emergency crews have been hoping that the 22 missing people may have found air pockets under the debris, and that the snow would insulate them from the frigid temperatures. But more than two days have passed since anyone has been pulled out alive from the hotel, and rescue crews were still trying to recover one victim from the rubble. Conditions at the site were deteriorating, with the heavy snow turning to ice. So far nine people have been rescued from the Hotel Rigopiano. The first survivors released Monday from a hospital in the nearby city of Pescara included Giorgia Galassi and her boyfriend, Vincenzo Forti. "Thank you, thank you everyone!" Galassi said as she waved from the front door of her parents' home in Giulianova, on the Adriatic coast. Flanked by her parents, she said she felt fine. Hotel guests Giampiero Parete, his wife and two children were also home. It was Parete who had first sounded the alarm after he by chance left the hotel to go to his car moments before the avalanche hit. Still hospitalized were one adult and two youngsters, Samuel Di Michelangelo and Edoardo Di Carlo. Officials have confirmed that Edoardo's parents were killed, while Samuel's are still unaccounted for. "Edoardo has an adult brother, so the brother will be given custody of him," Pescara hospital Dr. Rossano Di Luzio told reporters. "Samuel has his close relatives, grandparents at the moment, but we hope we can give him back to his parents." Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari said emergency crews were working with an "operational hypothesis" that people might still be alive, but he stressed "we are fighting against time." The investigation intensified, meanwhile, into whether local government officials underestimated the threat facing the hotel, which was covered with two meters (six feet) of snow, had no phone service and dwindling gas supplies when a series of earthquakes rocked central Italy on the morning of Jan. 18. Italian newspapers on Monday reproduced what they said was an email sent by the hotel owner to local and provincial authorities that afternoon asking for help. "The hotel guests are terrorized by the earthquakes and have decided to stay out in the open," Bruno Di Tommaso wrote. "We've tried to do everything to keep them calm, but since they can't leave due to the blocked roads, they're prepared to spend the night in their cars." The Pescara prefect's office already has faced criticism after a local restaurant owner said his calls reporting the avalanche were ignored. Quintino Marcella said he called the office after receiving word from Parete, one of his chefs who was vacationing at the hotel. Chief prosecutor Cristina Tedeschini confirmed her investigation was looking into a host of issues, including the timing and content of communications, where the snowplows were deployed, who was alerted when about the risks of avalanches and how authorities responded when the avalanche hit the hotel. She said there were "incongruities" between when communications were received and when they were acted on. But she stressed they may not have had a significant effect on the search effort, given that five days had passed and still the search was ongoing. She said "at most" the delay in launching the avalanche response was an hour or two. "I don't see it as being highly relevant," she said. The president of the province, Antonio Di Marco, has confirmed he saw an email from Di Tommaso and had arranged for a snowplow to clear the road that night, the ANSA news agency reported. The avalanche hit sometime before 5:40 p.m., when Marcella received the call from his chef. By IANS WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the "threats" posed by Iran. The new leader on Sunday told Netanyahu over phone that peace between Israel and Palestine can only be "directly" negotiated by the two parties, Efe news cited a White House statement as saying. Trump invited the Israeli leader to visit Washington early next month, Netanyahu's office said. The President also reiterated his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security", the White House statement said. Meanwhile, the Israeli premier's office said "the two leaders discussed the nuclear deal with Iran, the peace process with the Palestinians and other issues". A statement from Netanyahu's office said the Israeli Prime Minister "expressed his desire to work closely with Trump to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region". The two leaders agreed to keep in close consultation about a series of regional matters, and Trump told Netanyahu that the fight against the Islamic State militant group and other "radical Islamist" groups will be a priority of his government, the White House said. WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the "threats" posed by Iran. The new leader on Sunday told Netanyahu over phone that peace between Israel and Palestine can only be "directly" negotiated by the two parties, Efe news cited a White House statement as saying. Trump invited the Israeli leader to visit Washington early next month, Netanyahu's office said. The President also reiterated his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security", the White House statement said. Meanwhile, the Israeli premier's office said "the two leaders discussed the nuclear deal with Iran, the peace process with the Palestinians and other issues". A statement from Netanyahu's office said the Israeli Prime Minister "expressed his desire to work closely with Trump to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region". The two leaders agreed to keep in close consultation about a series of regional matters, and Trump told Netanyahu that the fight against the Islamic State militant group and other "radical Islamist" groups will be a priority of his government, the White House said. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: Opening his first official week in office, President Donald Trump warned business leaders Monday that he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States, while promising tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a morning meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. The president also planned to sign multiple executive orders in the Oval Office. Trump had pledged to quickly use his executive authority to withdraw the U.S. from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration. He's also expected to sign an order implementing a federal government hiring freeze. Conservatives are also eager for Trump to sign an order reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the "Mexico City Policy" or, by critics, the "global gag rule," has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he's aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. "Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," Trump said Monday. The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25 percent." He also called for cutting 75 percent of regulations, though he insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Trump's outreach effort comes after a tumultuous first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead but declared he believed they were ready. "But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done," he said. "We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history." Trump said his staff was in the White House not to "help ourselves" but to "devote ourselves to the national good." "This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. It's about serving the American people," he said. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests, first sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending the right to demonstrate a short time later. "Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly," Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views," the president tweeted, still using his personal account. Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a "common vision" with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that he's set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Later in the week, he'll address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. WASHINGTON: Opening his first official week in office, President Donald Trump warned business leaders Monday that he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States, while promising tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. "All you have to do is stay," he said during a morning meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. The president also planned to sign multiple executive orders in the Oval Office. Trump had pledged to quickly use his executive authority to withdraw the U.S. from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration. He's also expected to sign an order implementing a federal government hiring freeze. Conservatives are also eager for Trump to sign an order reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the "Mexico City Policy" or, by critics, the "global gag rule," has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he's aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. "Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," Trump said Monday. The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25 percent." He also called for cutting 75 percent of regulations, though he insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Trump's outreach effort comes after a tumultuous first weekend in the White House that included lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead but declared he believed they were ready. "But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done," he said. "We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history." Trump said his staff was in the White House not to "help ourselves" but to "devote ourselves to the national good." "This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. It's about serving the American people," he said. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests, first sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending the right to demonstrate a short time later. "Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly," Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views," the president tweeted, still using his personal account. Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a "common vision" with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that he's set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Later in the week, he'll address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. By Associated Press MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Monday his government is prepared to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump if Mexico's national sovereignty is respected. Pena Nieto gave a speech detailing what Mexico's baseline negotiating points would be, including economic integration, respect for the rights of migrants and the money they send home. Those remittances amount to about $25 billion annually and have become a major source of foreign revenue for the country. Trump had originally suggested that the U.S. might retain some of that money to help pay for a wall between the two countries, a project he says Mexico will pay for but which Mexico opposes. Pena Nieto sought to chart a middle course. "Neither confrontation nor submission. Dialogue is the solution," he said. Pena Nieto said over the weekend that he has talked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the North American Free Trade Agreement ahead of a planned Jan. 31 meeting Trump. Trump has pledged to renegotiate the three-nation trade agreement and slap tariffs on imports. Pena Nieto's office said that during Sunday's conversation, Trudeau and the Mexican president "spoke about the importance of the United States for both countries, and agreed to join forces to continue promoting the economic integration of North America." Trump announced Monday that he's set up meetings with Trudeau and Pena Nieto, saying "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA." Mexico's manufacturing sector has benefited from NAFTA, but Trump claims it has displaced U.S. jobs. MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Monday his government is prepared to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump if Mexico's national sovereignty is respected. Pena Nieto gave a speech detailing what Mexico's baseline negotiating points would be, including economic integration, respect for the rights of migrants and the money they send home. Those remittances amount to about $25 billion annually and have become a major source of foreign revenue for the country. Trump had originally suggested that the U.S. might retain some of that money to help pay for a wall between the two countries, a project he says Mexico will pay for but which Mexico opposes. Pena Nieto sought to chart a middle course. "Neither confrontation nor submission. Dialogue is the solution," he said. Pena Nieto said over the weekend that he has talked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the North American Free Trade Agreement ahead of a planned Jan. 31 meeting Trump. Trump has pledged to renegotiate the three-nation trade agreement and slap tariffs on imports. Pena Nieto's office said that during Sunday's conversation, Trudeau and the Mexican president "spoke about the importance of the United States for both countries, and agreed to join forces to continue promoting the economic integration of North America." Trump announced Monday that he's set up meetings with Trudeau and Pena Nieto, saying "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA." Mexico's manufacturing sector has benefited from NAFTA, but Trump claims it has displaced U.S. jobs. By Associated Press ASTANA: Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions got off to a rocky start Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in Kazakhstan that marked a major shift in the war's dynamics and confirmed Russia's role as regional heavyweight. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly 6-year-old civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syria's population. The talks are focused on shoring up a shaky cease-fire declared Dec. 30, not on reaching a larger political settlement. Syria's bitter divide was on vivid display as the delegates emerged from a closed, hour-long session marked by cold glances and sharp exchanges. Syria's U.N. envoy Bashar Ja'afari said the opposition delegation represented "terrorist armed groups," and denounced the opening address delivered by the chief rebel negotiator, calling it "provocative" and "insolent." The head of the rebel delegation, Mohammad Alloush, had described Syrian President Bashar Assad's government as a "terrorist" entity. He called for armed groups fighting alongside it, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, to be placed on a global list of terrorist organizations, according to a video leaked by opposition delegates. "The presence of foreign militias invited by the regime, most notably the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Hezbollah ... contributes to the continuation of bloodshed and obstructs any opportunity for a cease-fire," Alloush said. Such outfits were no different, he added, than the Islamic State group, which is excluded from the cease-fire. After an opening ceremony, both sides split and did not meet face-to-face again. The meeting later concluded until Tuesday. Still, it was a significant departure from past meetings, given the fact that Syria's government delegation sat opposite representatives of more than a dozen armed factions it describes as terrorists. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura mediated the talks, which are to be followed by more negotiations in Geneva next month. A year ago, he was shuttling between government and opposition delegations in separate rooms in Geneva, in talks brokered by the U.S. and Russia that led nowhere. The talks in Astana, a former Soviet republic, reflected the shifting dynamics in Syria since then, with Russia emerging as the main power broker and the U.S. relegated to the role of observer. The Trump administration is not directly involved because of the "immediate demands of the transition," the State Department said Saturday. The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, attended Monday's session at the luxury Rixos President Hotel, a Turkish-owned chain. The two sides were brought to the table by Russia and Iran, which have provided crucial support to Assad, and Turkey, a leading sponsor of the opposition. Turkey, whose president is embroiled in troubles at home, has recently improved ties with Moscow, raising hopes for a breakthrough. A political figure from the Army of Islam, a Saudi-backed group once singled out by Moscow as a terrorist group, leads the opposition delegation made up heavily of rebel factions, also a first. But the Syrian parties remain deeply divided on almost everything, including who is to blame for repeated cease-fire violations, and whether it should apply to the al-Qaida-linked Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside mainstream rebel factions. Ja'afari accused the opposition of "misinterpreting the idea of the cessation of hostilities," and defended a government offensive in the Barada Valley outside Damascus. The fighting there has cut off water to millions of the capital's residents for a month. The government, which has always portrayed the conflict as a war on terrorism, is hoping to win international support and potentially recruit rebel factions to help it battle extremist groups. Cabinet minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press in Damascus that the talks would "test intentions" on the cease-fire. The rebels are bitter over a string of territorial losses, including last month's defeat in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and former commercial center. Russia, with its massive air power, and Iran, with thousands of Shiite militiamen in Syria, turned the war unequivocally in Assad's favor. With little room to maneuver, rebel groups, particularly those beholden to Turkish assistance and those operating in northern Syria, agreed to send representatives to Astana. The opposition delegation accused the government of undermining the talks to pre-empt any discussion of a political transition. Issam al-Rais, a representative of a rebel faction in southern Syria, said there would be "no need to go further (to discuss) a political transition" if the cease-fire could not be strengthened. He said opposition factions were discussing mechanisms to verify cease-fire violations with Turkey and Russia. Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the rebel delegation, said the opposition had a "productive" meeting with Russian and Turkish representatives in Astana, in the presence of de Mistura. He said the talks would conclude Tuesday. Russia's official news agency Tass said the final document for the talks is to call on Syria's rebels to distance themselves from Fatah al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria. Tass added the three countries would confirm their determination to jointly fight the Islamic State group and Fatah al-Sham. The group works closely with other rebels and has called the meeting a "conspiracy" designed to divide the insurgents. Syria's conflict began with an Arab Spring-inspired uprising against the Assad family's four-decade rule and escalated into a civil war after the government violently cracked down on dissent and the opposition took up arms. The fighting is estimated to have killed more than 400,000 people since March 2011. In past talks, the rebels have insisted Assad step down as part of any peace plan, but his fate is not up for negotiation in Astana. In another departure, the opposition delegation is mainly drawn from armed groups, not civilian organizations. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said preserving the cease-fire will be "the most important issue" on the agenda, and that Tehran hopes the talks can pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Bahram Ghasemi suggested that discussions of a larger political settlement would have to wait. "Let's wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced Tuesday." As the Astana talks continued, Moscow and Washington engaged in a public dispute Monday over whether the U.S.-led coalition was now working with the Russian military in Syria. A Russian Defense Ministry statement said that its warplanes had flown a joint mission with coalition aircraft, attacking IS targets near the city of al-Bab. The statement said that Russian forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday "from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters." That claim was almost immediately denied by the U.S. military. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, labeled the Russian claim as propaganda. U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. does have routine "deconfliction" talks with Russia to avoid unintended aerial incidents in Syria's crowded skies. But Davis says there have been no changes to that arrangement, and the U.S. has insisted for months that it has no coordination or sharing of targets with Russia. Later in the day on Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said new U.S. President Donald Trump was willing to work "with Russia or anybody else" to defeat IS. ASTANA: Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions got off to a rocky start Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in Kazakhstan that marked a major shift in the war's dynamics and confirmed Russia's role as regional heavyweight. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly 6-year-old civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syria's population. The talks are focused on shoring up a shaky cease-fire declared Dec. 30, not on reaching a larger political settlement. Syria's bitter divide was on vivid display as the delegates emerged from a closed, hour-long session marked by cold glances and sharp exchanges. Syria's U.N. envoy Bashar Ja'afari said the opposition delegation represented "terrorist armed groups," and denounced the opening address delivered by the chief rebel negotiator, calling it "provocative" and "insolent." The head of the rebel delegation, Mohammad Alloush, had described Syrian President Bashar Assad's government as a "terrorist" entity. He called for armed groups fighting alongside it, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, to be placed on a global list of terrorist organizations, according to a video leaked by opposition delegates. "The presence of foreign militias invited by the regime, most notably the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Hezbollah ... contributes to the continuation of bloodshed and obstructs any opportunity for a cease-fire," Alloush said. Such outfits were no different, he added, than the Islamic State group, which is excluded from the cease-fire. After an opening ceremony, both sides split and did not meet face-to-face again. The meeting later concluded until Tuesday. Still, it was a significant departure from past meetings, given the fact that Syria's government delegation sat opposite representatives of more than a dozen armed factions it describes as terrorists. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura mediated the talks, which are to be followed by more negotiations in Geneva next month. A year ago, he was shuttling between government and opposition delegations in separate rooms in Geneva, in talks brokered by the U.S. and Russia that led nowhere. The talks in Astana, a former Soviet republic, reflected the shifting dynamics in Syria since then, with Russia emerging as the main power broker and the U.S. relegated to the role of observer. The Trump administration is not directly involved because of the "immediate demands of the transition," the State Department said Saturday. The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, attended Monday's session at the luxury Rixos President Hotel, a Turkish-owned chain. The two sides were brought to the table by Russia and Iran, which have provided crucial support to Assad, and Turkey, a leading sponsor of the opposition. Turkey, whose president is embroiled in troubles at home, has recently improved ties with Moscow, raising hopes for a breakthrough. A political figure from the Army of Islam, a Saudi-backed group once singled out by Moscow as a terrorist group, leads the opposition delegation made up heavily of rebel factions, also a first. But the Syrian parties remain deeply divided on almost everything, including who is to blame for repeated cease-fire violations, and whether it should apply to the al-Qaida-linked Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside mainstream rebel factions. Ja'afari accused the opposition of "misinterpreting the idea of the cessation of hostilities," and defended a government offensive in the Barada Valley outside Damascus. The fighting there has cut off water to millions of the capital's residents for a month. The government, which has always portrayed the conflict as a war on terrorism, is hoping to win international support and potentially recruit rebel factions to help it battle extremist groups. Cabinet minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press in Damascus that the talks would "test intentions" on the cease-fire. The rebels are bitter over a string of territorial losses, including last month's defeat in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and former commercial center. Russia, with its massive air power, and Iran, with thousands of Shiite militiamen in Syria, turned the war unequivocally in Assad's favor. With little room to maneuver, rebel groups, particularly those beholden to Turkish assistance and those operating in northern Syria, agreed to send representatives to Astana. The opposition delegation accused the government of undermining the talks to pre-empt any discussion of a political transition. Issam al-Rais, a representative of a rebel faction in southern Syria, said there would be "no need to go further (to discuss) a political transition" if the cease-fire could not be strengthened. He said opposition factions were discussing mechanisms to verify cease-fire violations with Turkey and Russia. Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the rebel delegation, said the opposition had a "productive" meeting with Russian and Turkish representatives in Astana, in the presence of de Mistura. He said the talks would conclude Tuesday. Russia's official news agency Tass said the final document for the talks is to call on Syria's rebels to distance themselves from Fatah al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria. Tass added the three countries would confirm their determination to jointly fight the Islamic State group and Fatah al-Sham. The group works closely with other rebels and has called the meeting a "conspiracy" designed to divide the insurgents. Syria's conflict began with an Arab Spring-inspired uprising against the Assad family's four-decade rule and escalated into a civil war after the government violently cracked down on dissent and the opposition took up arms. The fighting is estimated to have killed more than 400,000 people since March 2011. In past talks, the rebels have insisted Assad step down as part of any peace plan, but his fate is not up for negotiation in Astana. In another departure, the opposition delegation is mainly drawn from armed groups, not civilian organizations. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said preserving the cease-fire will be "the most important issue" on the agenda, and that Tehran hopes the talks can pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Bahram Ghasemi suggested that discussions of a larger political settlement would have to wait. "Let's wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced Tuesday." As the Astana talks continued, Moscow and Washington engaged in a public dispute Monday over whether the U.S.-led coalition was now working with the Russian military in Syria. A Russian Defense Ministry statement said that its warplanes had flown a joint mission with coalition aircraft, attacking IS targets near the city of al-Bab. The statement said that Russian forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday "from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters." That claim was almost immediately denied by the U.S. military. U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, labeled the Russian claim as propaganda. U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. does have routine "deconfliction" talks with Russia to avoid unintended aerial incidents in Syria's crowded skies. But Davis says there have been no changes to that arrangement, and the U.S. has insisted for months that it has no coordination or sharing of targets with Russia. Later in the day on Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said new U.S. President Donald Trump was willing to work "with Russia or anybody else" to defeat IS. Military statement said the attack happened on Sunday but gave few details Five army personnel were killed late Sunday in a terrorist attack in Sinai, a brief army spokesman statement posted on his official Facebook page read. [The martyred] were killed by the hands of treacherous takfirists, who are the enemy of the nation and religion, the statement added. No further details were given on the location or details of the attack. Egypts army and police forces have been waging a war over the past three years against an Islamist militant insurgency in North Sinai; hundreds of security personnel and many militants have been killed in the violence. Search Keywords: Short link: The Bengal Global Business Summit has drawn an overwhelming response: Mamata Banerjee Kolkata, Jan 21 : Announcing the dates of next year's The Bengal Global Business Summit, 2017, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said this year's edition has drawn an 'overwhelming response' from 'industry freinds' from across the globe. (Posted on 21 January 2017, 1667621900 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/west-bengal-news.php (Posted on 21 January 2017, 1667621900 173O212O198O32) The Bengal Global Business Summit, 2017 has drawn an overwhelming response from my industry friends from all over the world.29 countries, 4000 business leaders, 2 days of hectic collaborations - it has really been great, Banerjee posted on Facebook.She said: We have received new investment proposals of Rs. 2 lakh 35 thousand 290 Crore, nearly 35 Billion US dollars, in this year summit across major sectors like manufacturing, MSME, urban development and transport.{image_2}She said: Foreign countries like China, Korea have also announced major investments and collaborations in areas like elevated mass transport systems and green cities.Announcing next years dates, Banerjee posted: The next Bengal Global Business Summit will be held on 16-17 January, 2018.Images:Mamata Banerjee Facebook page Dropping Advani, Varun from star campaigners' list shows dictatorship of BJP: Congress Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) , Jan. 22 : A day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released the list of 'star campaigners' for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, dropping Varun Gandhi and senior leader LK Advani, the Congress on Sunday said the decision clearly shows the dictatorship prevailing in the saffron party. (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621900 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/more-news.php (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621900 173O212O198O32) "This is BJP's decision to decide whom to make the star campaigners and whom not, but people will criticize. Dropping senior leaders like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who were considered as game changer, from the list shows the dictatorship of the BJP," Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI.Punia further said that the veteran leaders, who have been carrying on the tradition of the party, were neglected and Varun Gandhi, who always raises his voice independently, was also excluded from the list.Punia further questioned the BJP as why it removed senior and young leaders from the star campaigners list."The BJP should be questioned as why it dropped them? Are they not beneficial for BJP anymore? They can only explain this," he addedThe BJP yesterday released its list of 'star campaigners' for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls which sported the names of several party heavyweights like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah and other Union Ministers, but BJP MP from Sultanpur, Varun Gandhi found his name missing from the list.Joining Varun is BJP MP Vinay Katiyar, the face of the Ram temple movement in early 1990s, who was also dropped from the list by the party.Senior mentors of BJP, Murli Manohar Joshi and Advani have also not been mentioned in the list of star campaigners.However, Varun's mother Maneka Gandhi is in the list and so is controversial party MP Yogi Adityanath.Earlier, reports had emerged that Varun was reportedly upset with his party for being neglected and sidelined ahead of the UP Polls.Contesting his maiden election from Pilibhit in 2009, Varun landed in Etah prison for three weeks for a purported hate speech.UP being the electoral state of Prime Minister Modi, who contested and won from Varanasi, a loss of this state will be a blow for the BJP. Pope Tawadros II, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, said Monday during a memorial service for the victims of December's St. Peter and St. Paul's Church bombing that the terrorist attack targeted all Egyptians not only the Coptic Church or the Christian community. Monday's service was held at the church where the attack took place to mark 40 days of mourning for the victims. In his remarks, the religious leader expressed gratitude for the condolences and solidarity of all Egyptians for the victims and the Church, emphasising that all citizens felt the devastation of the attack. He also thanked Egypt's president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and state officials for their condolences to the families of the victims. Cairo's St. Peter and St. Paul's Church reported earlier this month that the death toll from the bombing had risen to 28, following the death of a 60-year-old woman injured in the blast. On 11 December, A suicide bomber, identified as 22-year-old Egyptian national Mahmoud Shafiq Mohamed Mostafa, set off explosives in the womens section of St. Peter and St. Paul's church in Cairo, killing 23 people instantly, mostly women and children, and wounding over 40 others. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, whereas Egypt's interior ministry accused members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood organisation residing in Qatar of plotting the bombing. BJP would gain if SP-Congress alliance fails: NCP New Delhi , Jan. 22 : As the Congress and Samajwadi Party alliance seems to be on the brink of collapse ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday said both the parties should not break the tie-up, adding that if they do not agree and alliance fails then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would gain from the development. (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621902 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/more-news.php (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621902 173O212O198O32) "The question of alliance between SP and Congress in Uttar Pradesh is under consideration for very long time and in fact there was news that alliance is on and seat have been already declared. But now we are hearing that it is likely to break. It should not happen when they have come so close to some kind of political adjustment. They should not go back and keep the alliance alive," NCP leader Majid Memon told ANI.Memon further said that forming alliance would be in the interest of all secular votes and secular parties.Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav said that it was a personal matter of both the parties and he was not aware of anything regarding it."This was their internal matter. I am not aware of anything regarding this alliance," Yadav told ANI.The speculation has been rife that the alliance between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party failed to take place over the matter of seat distribution, as the former was demanding more seats than the latter.Speaking to ANI, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was offering 100 seats, but the Congress was not ready for less than 120 seats.The Congress, however, did not confirm the breakup and continued to remain vague over an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.According to sources, the main bone of contention between the two parties emerged when the Congress wanted more seats in Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies, the stronghold of the Gandhi family, whereas the Samajwadi Party was unwilling to field their 'failed' candidates on the same.Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will release the party's manifesto at 11 a.m. today in Lucknow. Sorry, that page not found! Please visit our Home Page for latest updates Congress releases first list of candidates for Uttarakhand Assembly elections Dehradun (Uttarakhand) , Jan. 22 : The Congress Party on Sunday released its first list of 63 candidates for the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly elections. (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621904 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621904 173O212O198O32) Chief Minister Harish Rawat will contest the election from Hardwar Rural and Kichha area.Apart from Rawat, prominent leaders like Kishore Upadhyay will fight from Sahaspur and Prashad Naithani will fight from Deoprayag.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already released its name of nominees for the legislative assembly elections.Uttarakhand will vote for 70 assembly constituencies in a single-phase on February 15. The counting of votes will take place on March 11. 'Scared' oppn is disturbed by our unity: SP New Delhi, , Jan. 22 : The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Sunday said the opposition parties are extremely disturbed by the unity of the first family of Uttar Pradesh and therefore spreading rumours against the party. (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621904 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/more-news.php (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621904 173O212O198O32) "Mulayam Singh Yadav's blessings are always there with us. Everything in the party is absolutely fine. The opposition is in fear and that's why they want that rumours about us are spread," Samajwadi Party leader Gaurav Bhatia told ANI.He further said that the Samajwadi Party would form the government soon and would win more seats in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls."There is something for everyone be it farmers, labourers, youth. Rs. 1,000 pension will be given to one crore people. We are also trying to make metros available in other cities," he added.Appreciating Akhilesh Yadav, Bhatia said that the Chief Minister has a clean and pure image."Infrastructure, heath and education are our main priority. All of these points fall under our manifesto. Mulayam Singh Yadav is such a leader which none of the parties have," he added.Reacting on the absence of Mulayam Singh Yadav in the manifesto function, Bhatia said that for some unforeseen reason the former (Mulayam Singh Yadav) could not attend the function, adding that that the Samajwadi Party supremo would be campaigning for the party.Putting all speculations to rest, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party has finally forged an alliance for the high-voltage Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.The Congress, which wanted to contest as many as 121 seats, has reportedly now settled for 105 seats.Uttar Pradesh will vote in seven phases beginning February 11 and results will be announced on March 11. Victory in UP a 'dream' for SP, Congress: BSP New Delhi, , Jan. 22 : Downplaying the freshly forged alliance between the Samajwadi Party and Congress for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Bahujan Samaja Party (BSP) on Sunday said the people will never vote for them as the state witnessed communal riots under both parties, adding their dream will never come true. (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621905 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 22 January 2017, 1667621905 173O212O198O32) BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadoria said that the Samajwadi Party and Congress would be of the opinion that this alliance will be a game changer but the fact is that their dream will never be fulfilled."Akhlaq was lynched in Dadri (during the Samajwadi Party regime). Similarly, during the Congress rule we saw that when Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, the Babri Masjid was demolished. We also saw the opening of the doors of Babri Masjid during the reign of Rajiv Gandhi. We also saw that there were rights like Bhagalpur, Bhiwandi, Nasik, Meerut, Maliana and so many other riots took place during the reign of the Congress Party and now these forces have come together," Bhadoria told ANI."We are hopeful and sure that the people of Uttar Pradesh will stand by Mayawati and give her absolute majority and Mayawati will be the Chief Minister for the fifth time" he added.In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party and Congress have finally agreed to forge alliance for the upcoming assembly elections.The Samajwadi Party will field 298 candidates and the Congress 105, the Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh chief Naresh Uttam said at a joint conference in Lucknow.Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit president Raj Babbar said the alliance will set an example, adding both parties will strive for development of the state and upliftment of the poor.Uttar Pradesh will vote in seven phases beginning February 11 and results will be announced on March 11. The Gambia: UN, ECOWAS, AU hail 'goodwill' of former President Jammeh; commit to work for his dignity and security New York, Jan 23 : The United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have commended the goodwill and the statesmanship of the former President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, who decided to facilitate an immediate and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621906 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/world-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621906 173O212O198O32) In a joint declaration late yesterday, UN, ECOWAS and AU pledged to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it assures and ensures the dignity, respect, security and rights of former President Jammeh, as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.The same also extended to the former Presidents immediate family, cabinet members, government and security officials, and party supporters and loyalists.The declaration noted that former President Jammeh will temporarily leave the country, without any prejudice to his rights, to assist the peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power and the establishment of a new government.Furthermore, the three organizations also said that they would work with the Government to ensure that no legislative action is taken against the former President and his entourage, as well as to prevent seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to them, and urged the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that there is no intimidation or harassment of former regime members and supporters.They also pledged to work with Gambian authorities on national reconciliation to cement social, cultural and national cohesion.The joint declaration further noted that the UN, ECOWAS and AU will work to ensure that host countries that offer African hospitality to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.It added that the three organizations would also work the Government to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of The Gambia and a former head of state.The joint declaration further noted that ECOWAS will halt any military operations in the country and will continue to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.Photo: OCHA/Ivo BrandauSource: www.justearthnews.com UN agency urges support for small farmers to help them not just get by, but thrive and feed others New York, Jan 23 : Highlighting growing challenges, such as climate change and natural resource scarcity, facing small farmers in developing countries, the head of the United Nations agricultural agency called for information technology tools that can help boost their resilience as well as feed a growing world population. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621906 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/world-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621906 173O212O198O32) Millions of small family farmers need technical and financial assistance to be more resilient and adapt to the impacts of climate change, said Jos Graziano da Silva, the Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).They must be able to stay on their land, produce their own food and also have access to markets, he added.In his remarks at the G20 agricultural ministers meeting in the German capital, Berlin, Director-General Graziano da Silva noted that rural areas around the world will also be key in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development given that this where poverty and hunger are most concentrated.At the same time, increases in agricultural yields in these regions are required to feed a world population set to cross the 9-billion mark by 2050, and this will greatly depend on small family farmers, according to FAO studies.Turning to the importance of information and communication technologies to build efficiency, resilience and inclusion of poor family farmers, the FAO Director-General spoke about the agencys digital strategy that aims to support them through knowledge sharing and bottom-up learning.As part of the strategy, the UN agency is working with Google to make high-resolution satellite data an everyday tool to monitor and manage natural resources, promote sustainable agriculture and strengthen food security. It is also engaging with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) the UN systems weather agency to improve weather forecasts for farmers, as well as exploring ways to provide small farmers with microclimate forecasts.Graziano da Silva said that these efforts would be aimed at countries that do not have national meteorological services established and urged for support so that meteorological data, available at global level, can be translated at the local level to benefit farmers, pastoralists and fisherfolks.Also in his remarks, the senior UN official hailed the G20 for its continuing focus on the issue of water scarcity and on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).According to FAO estimates, almost 2.1 billion people live in the dry areas of the world and that some 260 million people, most of them in rural areas, lack access to safe drinking water.Inviting G20 Members to participate in the Global Framework for Water Scarcity launched by FAO and its partners at the recent UN Climate Conference in Marrakech, Morocco that seeks to help countries and communities improve the efficiency of their water use and increase their resilience to drought.On antimicrobial resistance, the head of FAO called on G20 support to the UN agencys efforts to promote responsible use of antibiotics in the agricultural sector to prevent the spread of resistance.Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) change, developing resistance, as they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials and anthelmintics) used to treat the infections they cause. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist, become harder to treat and increase the risk of spreading.Photo: FAO/Saliendra KharelSource: www.justearthnews.com Egypts parliamentary ethics committee recommended on Monday that MP Osama Sharshar be banned from attending house sessions until the current term ends over allegedly "sending sex videos of another MP on Whatsapp," Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. The case dates back to June 2016 when Sharshar reportedly posted a sex video allegedly involving another MP on the parliament's Whatsapp group. Members of the parliament expressed anger over Sharshar's actions. Sharshar explained that his "Whatsapp was hacked and the inappropriate videos were sent to instigate conflicts with other MPs," according to media reports. Sources told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that other punishments against the independent MP could include a reprimand, or a ban on participating in parliamentary delegations until the term ends with the approval of the majority of the parliaments members. These punishments require the approval of majority of members. Sharshar could also be expelled from the parliament if two thirds of MPs deem such a punishment necessary. Search Keywords: Short link: Goa polls: 250 candidates in fray for 40 seats Panaji , Jan. 23 : After scrutiny and withdrawal of nominations, 250 candidates are left in fray for Goa's 40 assembly seats, where elections are going to be held on fourth of February. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621907 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621907 173O212O198O32) 22 candidates have withdrawn their nominations. Out of 405 nominations, 272 had withstood the scrutiny earlier.There is significant increase in the number of contestants compared to 215 of the last assembly elections in 2012.The Congress is contesting on 37 seats, NCP on 16 and the MGP-GSM-Shiv Sena alliance has fielded 26 candidates.The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded the maximum candidates in 39 constituencies.A total of over 11 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise at 1,649 polling stations spread over the state.Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Nasim Zaidi and his team reviewed overall preparedness for the polls. I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary: Modi New Delhi, Jan 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid homage to freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621908 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621908 173O212O198O32) I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism, Modi tweeted.Netaji Bose was a great intellectual who always thought about the interests wellbeing of the marginalised sections of society, he said.Modi said it was an honour for his government to declassify the files related to Netaji.Honoured that our Government got the opportunity to declassify files relating to Netaji Bose fulfil a popular demand pending for decades, he said. Xiaomi's VP Barra quits, hints at new adventure in Silicon Valley New Delhi , Jan. 23 : Hugo Barra, Vice President, Global Operations at Xiaomi Inc., has quit the company citing 'a new adventure back in Silicon Valley'. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621910 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621910 173O212O198O32) The global executive on Monday announced his decision in a social media post."What I've realised is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return," Barra wrote in a long Facebook post.He added, "We now have a team of some of the most remarkable and enthusiastic people I have ever worked with, and leaving them all behind is without doubt the most difficult part of stepping away. At the same time, I know I'll be leaving them in very good hands. Xiaomi now has a strong, globally-minded executive team who will continue to drive the momentum we began together."Barra also informed that he will soon be taking up a job in the Silicon Valley of the United States."For me, as for many people in China, the Spring Festival brings new beginnings, and I will be transitioning out of my role at Xiaomi in February after Chinese New Year. I will take some much-needed time off before embarking on a new adventure back in Silicon Valley," he wrote.In his post, Barra also thanked the Xiaomi founders.He wrote, "I want to thank the Xiaomi founders, and particularly our CEO Lei Jun, who has been a mentor and a friend. It has been both humbling and uplifting to work with a man whose vision is redefining the role technology plays in all of our lives, and the role the China tech industry plays in the world. As a friend and shareholder of the company, I am honored that he has been very supportive of my transition and has asked me to remain an advisor to Xiaomi indefinitely, as we continue to extend our reach around the world."During Barra's tenure, Xiaomi made great strides in business outside China too. It first launched in countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia and then eventually in India.The sales, however, with the emergence of competitors like Huawei, Vivo and the likes, nosedived in India and China. It was also recently reported that Xiaomi failed to achieve its yearly targets and, therefore, it decided not to disclose any sales targets for the upcoming years.Apart from smart phones, Xiaomi has established itself in segments belonging to power banks, air purifiers, rice cookers and smart bikes among others. Start-ups in India: Border security startup CRON System gets funding from YourNest New Delhi, Jan 23 : YourNest, an early stage venture capital firm, has invested an undisclosed amount in defence Internet-of-Things (IoT) start-up CRON Systems, according to media reports. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621910 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621910 173O212O198O32) The border security start up will receive a pre-series A round funding for research and development and hiring of talent, from the investing firms new fund, YourNest India VC Fund, which was launched in Sep with a Rs 300-crore corpus., media reported.The firm develops Internet-of-things (IoT) based intrusion detection systems and perimeter protection solutions including laser walls, surveillance drones, and a command-and-control dashboard connected by an independent and encrypted communication network for defence, reported ET Tech.Our initial product line and first line of defence - the KV product line powered by Infrared and Laser - offers all terrain all weather breach notification, has already been implemented in the Indo - Pak border and is receiving high praises from the Border Security Forces. Currently, CRON System is working on its next product line - Automated Drones and Smart Fencing - that will add an additional layer of defence to our boarders and critical facilities. the company said in its website.Image: CRON Systems website More road safety: Bosch India prepared to meet increased demand for ABS Bengaluru/Pune, Jan 23 : Pune is gaining increasing significance, both as an auto and industrial hub. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621911 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621911 173O212O198O32) Todays visit of Winfried Kretschmann, Minister President of the Southwest German federal state of Baden-Wrttemberg, and his delegation at Bosch Indias Pune plant, underlines this. Background of the visit is the sister-state relationship the Indian state of Maharashtra and Baden-Wurttemberg share.Minister President Kretschmann stated: Smart cities, smart mobility, and innovative solutions for engineering and automobile production are the focus of our trip. And this is why I am especially pleased that we are beginning our trip here in Pune at Bosch a company that is ensuring that cities and mobility systems worldwide become smart.The delegation members got an overview of Boschs development and manufacturing capabilities driver assistance and safety systems domain, primarily the Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS), the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hydraulic Actuation Products.Spread over seven hectares of land, Boschs plant in Pune commenced operations in 1997 (formerly was Kalyani Brakes, the Group acquired the company in 2005). Bosch currently employs around 1,000 associates at two manufacturing facilities and one development center in Pune. US President Donald Trump discussed on Monday in a phone conversation with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi the war against terrorism and extremism, and applauded El-Sisi's efforts on those fronts, Egyptian presidential spokesman said. The White House said Trump told El-Sisi his administration is committed to maintaining the US's annual military aid to Egypt. El-Sisi stressed to Trump Egypt's commitment in the fight against terrorism despite economic burdens the country faced in the past three years. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated to the Egyptian president his appreciation for the difficulties Egypt endured in the fight against terrorism, and commended El-Sisi on the country's economic reform program. The two presidents affirmed their belief in the strategic nature of the relationship between Cairo and Washington. Egypt annually receives $1.3 billion in military aid from the United States. Trump told El-Sisi he was looking forward to the Egyptian president's visit to Washington, which is in the planning stages, the spokesman said. Donald Trump assumed office as the 45th president of the United States of America on Friday. Egypt's president is the second world leader to be called by the newly inaugurated US President after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. El-Sisi was the first Arab leader to congratulate Trump on the phone after he was elected on 9 November, inviting him to visit Cairo. Search Keywords: Short link: Kapture CRM unveils free trial for Business Automation Suite with free support Bengaluru (Karnataka) , Jan. 23 : Kapture CRM has recently rolled out a fully loaded Free Trial version of their popular Sales and Service CRM Suite with free support. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621912 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621912 173O212O198O32) It is packed with all the required features for business automation. A user can simply register for the 30 days free trial online and log into the system effortlessly. The fully mobile nature of this CRM software increases the productivity of a business by 20 percent.Kapture CRM Free Trial module focuses on being a launch pad for successful integration of the CRM app for the users. The free trial comes with free support to help businesses get onboard with training, implementation and migration.Vikas Garg, CTO said, "Post sign-up, most of the users usually get clueless since there is no help on offer. We are working to change that with all the implementation relatedhelp via phone, email, chat and Skype during the entire 30 days free trial period, at no extra cost."With the launch of the Free Trial module, Kapture CRM intends to bank on their expertise in Customisation and watertight CRM integrations.Kapture CRM gives one of the best automation experiences for businesses.Kapture CRM also provides custom APIs to suit the requirements of different industry verticals such as Hospitality, Customer Service, FMCG, Real Estate etc. (ANI-NewsVoir) Tata Steel's Noamundi Iron Mine wins award at 5th FICCI Quality Systems Excellence Awards for Industry New Delhi, Jan 23 : Tata Steel's Noamundi Iron Mine bagged the Platinum (First) Prize in the Mining Sector at the 5th FICCI Quality Systems Excellence Awards for Industry 2017. (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621912 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 23 January 2017, 1667621912 173O212O198O32) The award ceremony was organized on the sidelines of a conference on Sustainable Industry Growth through Quality Systems in New Delhi on Monday.On behalf of Tata Steel, the award was received by Manish Mishra, Chief (Regulatory Affairs), Tata Steel and Rajesh Mukherjee, Principal Geologist, OMQ (Ore, Mines Quarries), Tata Steel from Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, Quality Council of India.On receiving the award, Pankaj Satija, General Manager (OMQ), Tata Steel said, We are delighted to win the Quality Systems Excellence Awards. In view of the expanding economy and substantial increase in demand, it is imperative to be sensitive towards customers expectations, which is integral part of our business philosophy. The award recognises the hard work our team puts in every day to create value for our key stakeholders by continually standardizing, improving and innovating our offerings, systems and processes.Every year Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organizes an award ceremony across sectors with a purpose to recognize organizations having high performance quality system leading to a systematic improvement in organizational performance thereby making them globally competitive. Thank you for visiting us! But, the requested page is currently unavailable. Kindly start browsing from our Home Page 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 with heavy thunderstorms late. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Windy with heavy thunderstorms late. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Higher wind gusts possible. Parliament said the renewal is necessary to continue safeguarding Egypt's national security and the Suez Canal against any foreign threats Egypts parliament approved on Monday the country's National Defence Council's Sunday decision to extend the deployment of the Egyptian Armed Forces in the Arab Gulf area, the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait. Egypt's National Defence Council decided that the participation of Egyptian Armed Forces Units in fighting missions aiming to defend Egyptian and Arab national security in the Arab Gulf area, the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab strait, be extended for another six months. The parliaments speaker, Ali Abdel-Aal, told MPs in a plenary session on Monday that the National Defence Council's decision goes in line with article 152 of the constitution. "This article states that the president of the republic is the supreme leader of the armed forces and that he can declare war and send the armed forces on fighting missions in foreign land only after seeking a prior approval from the National Defence Council and two thirds of the members of the House of Representatives," Abdel-Aal explained. Abdel-Aal said the continued participation of Egyptian Armed Forces in the Arab Gulf area and the Red Sea are necessary to stand up to the rising threats coming from this area and which are vital to Egypt's national security. In its report on the decision, parliament's national security committee said the renewal of the troop mission in the Red Sea should send a signal to all Arab Gulf countries that Egypt is committed to its obligations on Arab national security and defending these countries against any foreign threats. In a meeting held on Sunday, the National Defence Council, headed by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday, and attended by the ministers of defence, military production, foreign affairs, interior, as well as commanders of Egypt's Armed Force along with the chiefs of intelligence agencies, approved the renewal decision. Egypts has been participating in the Saudi-led military operation in Yemen against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels since March 2015. Egypt has sent air force units to participate in fighting the Houthis and naval units to safeguard navigation in Bab Al-Mandab strait. The house also approved on Monday extending the state of emergency in North Sinai for an additional period of three months, beginning on 31 October 2016 and ending on 30 January 2017. Abdel-Aal said that in line with article 154 of the constitution, two thirds of MPs have approved extending the state of emergency in some parts of North Sinai governorate. "There was a kind of consensus among MPs that the state of emergency should be declared in North Sinai for another three months," said Abdel-Aal. The house's general committee said in a report that terrorist and militant groups in North Sinai are still constituting a big danger to the country's national security. Alaa Abed, head of parliament's human rights committee, said the Egyptian army is waging a war against terrorists in North Sinai and that troops there are determined to eradicate all terrorist elements from the northern part of the peninsula. "These terrorist elements receive support from foreign intelligence agencies to remain a thorn in the side of Egypt, but the army will finally achieve victory in its battle against terrorists," said Abed, adding "voices which call for army withdrawal from Sinai and the repeal of the state of the emergency there are reflecting a kind of treason to the nation." An MP representing the governorate of North Sinai said the people of the peninsula are keen to show every kind of support to the army's mission there. "I also have no doubts that while fighting terrorists, the army will be keen that the constitutional and legal rights of the people of North Sinai are observed in accordance with the constitution and the law," said MP Salama Al-Roqaie. MP Ibrahim Abu Shiira from North Sinai also said "the armed forces was able to obliterate 90 percent of terrorists in all of Sinai and that the two border cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zuwayed have become completely safe." "Terrorism in North Sinai now is just limited to one percent of Egypt's overall size," said Abu Shiira. Speaker Abdel-Aal said "the army's mission in both the Arab Gulf and North Sinai seek one objective that is defending the national security of Egypt and maintaining the integrity of its land against all threats." "But there is a high price for this mission I mean those army and police forces who lose their lives to defend their country by day and night," said Abdel-Aal. MPs observed one minute of silence to mourn five army soldiers who were killed in North Sinai yesterday. Search Keywords: Short link: Quest Diagnostics, the worlds leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced the launch of a new test service that helps physicians evaluate a patients response to drug therapies used to treat infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The first test of its kind available in the United States, the test is significant because it may help physicians tailor more effective treatments for the up to 2.2 million individuals infected with HBV. Currently, the HBsAg qualitative test is used to aid in diagnosis of patients with HBV. However, this new quantitative test service from Quest measures the quantity, not just the presence, of viral antigen in blood to help determine if the immune system of an individual infected with HBV is responding to treatment. With this insight, physicians are better positioned to monitor response to antiviral medications, and may enable them to modify or adjust treatment to help minimize the likelihood of progression and reactivation. In a 2016 study published by the European Association for the Study of the Livers Journal of Hepatology, researchers noted that, HBsAg is essential to monitor the response to new therapeutic concepts. The widespread availability of quantitative HBsAg testing through Quest for use by hepatologists, gastroenterologists and other specialists will advance the care of HBV-infected patients, said Robert G. Gish, M.D., Robert G Gish Consultants LLC. The ability to reliably quantify surface antigen will enhance clinicians ability to stage patients disease state, provide prognostic information and help guide care with current antivirals and new therapies that are in the development pipeline. Chronic hepatitis B infection is currently treated with antiviral therapies or interferon alpha (PEG-IFN). Unlike hepatitis C virus infection, in which direct acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) have high success rates, cure rates are lower for HBV due to the persistent nature of the virus and the low compliance rate with long-term therapies. Because viral load may be suppressed during treatment, it cannot be solely considered a sign of viral clearance; resolved chronic HBV is defined by clearance of HBsAg, according to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). An estimated 850,000 to 2.2 million persons in the U.S. are infected with chronic hepatitis B. While there are effective therapies that can functionally cure HBV infection, physicians in the U.S. have lacked tools that help predict individualized patient response to those treatments. With this new test capability, physicians can better develop tailored treatment plans and monitor HBV-infected patients to help prevent progression and better their chance for long-term immunity. Rick L. Pesano, M.D., Ph.D., vice president, research and development, Quest Diagnostics. The hepatitis B virus can be transmitted by blood, semen, or other body fluid from a person infected with the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic Hepatitis B can lead to serious health issues, including cirrhosis or liver cancer. In a study to be presented Thursday, Jan. 26, in the oral concurrent session at 1:15 p.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York, will present their findings in a study titled, Comparison of subcuticular suture type in post-cesarean wound complications: a randomized controlled trial. In the study researchers tested two types of sutures--poliglecaprone 25 (monocryl suture) and polyglactin 910 (vicryl suture). Monocryl is an absorbable, single filament suture with low tissue reactivity which dissolves slowly and loses strength. Vicryl is an absorbable, braided suture with low tissue reactivity which dissolves quickly but maintains strength. Over the course of 14 months, 550 patients were randomized with 275 receiving monocryl suture and 275 receiving vicryl. Patients studied were those undergoing non-emergency cesarean deliveries at 37 weeks gestation or longer and there was no significant difference in demographic information (age, body mass index, ethnicity, gestational age, gravidity, parity) between the two study groups. Patients were followed for complications until their six-week postpartum visit. The primary outcome was wound complications within the first 30 days following delivery. Complications included the incision reopening, hematoma, swelling, fluid gathering around the incision and/or infection. Arin Buresch, M.D., with Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the presenter of the study at the SMFM annual meeting, said, "We found that monocryl suture had a significantly decreased rate of wound complications compared to the vicryl suture." She went on to explain, "The difference in wound complications may occur due to the braiding in vicryl suture which conceivably allows bacterial growth in small nooks and crevices. In the future, we hope our study will help guide the decision-making on which suture type is used when closing the skin in cesarean births." OBJECTIVE: To compare poliglecaprone 25 (Monocryl) and polyglactin 910 (coated Vicryl) for cesarean incision closure to determine rates of wound complication. STUDY DESIGN: Patients undergoing non-emergent cesarean delivery > 37 weeks of gestation were randomized to receive poliglecaprone 25 or polyglactin 910 for subcuticular skin closure of Pfannenstiel incisions. The primary outcome was wound complication within the first 30 days postpartum. Wound complication was defined as wound separation of > 1 cm in length, hematoma or seroma (at least moderate serous fluid collection or subcutaneous blood collection), and surgical site infection as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Standard statistical methods were employed. RESULTS: In 14 months, 383 patients were randomized; poliglecaprone (n=192) and polyglactin (n=191). Poliglecaprone (n=186) and polyglactin (n=175) patients completed 30-day follow-up. There was no significant difference found in demographic information (age, BMI, ethnicity, gestational age, gravidity, parity) between study groups. The overall cohort composite wound complication rate was 10.0% (n=36). The composite wound complication rate for poliglecaprone vs. polyglactin was 6.5% vs. 13.7%, respectively (p=.02). The overall rate of surgical site infection was 6.7% (n=24) with 4.3% in the poliglecaprone group compared to 9.1% in the polyglactin group (p=.09). CONCLUSION: In this first randomized controlled trial in the literature specifically focused on the use of absorbable suture for abdominal wound closure at cesarean, we found that polyglactin suture significantly increases risk for wound complications when compared to poliglecaprone suture in a large, diverse, and high risk population. We believe the use of poliglecaprone resulted in fewer wound complications because it is a monofilament suture with a longer absorption time. Source: https://www.smfm.org In a study to be presented Friday, Jan. 27, in the oral concurrent session at 1:15 p.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers with the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, presented the study titled Association between day and month of delivery with maternal-fetal mortality: weekend effect and July phenomenon in current obstetric practice. Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States maternal mortality ratio is three to four times higher than that of most other developed nations. The maternal mortality ratio is increasing, reaching 21-22 per 100,000 live births in 2014 (more than double from 1990.) Although much has been written about this problem, few solutions have been forthcoming. The researchers of this study wanted to know if maternal and fetal death ratios were higher on weekends versus weekdays or during different months of the year. "We were interested in this study because we believe this data provides a valuable window into the problems with the U.S. system of obstetric care delivery," said Amirhossein Moaddab, M.D., with the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine and the presenter of the study at the SMFM annual meeting. The researchers analyzed more than 45 million pregnancies in the U.S. between 2004 and 2014 to determine if there are significant differences in ratios of both maternal deaths and stillborn deliveries depending on the day they occurred. Weekend delivery is also associated with differential maternal and neonatal morbidity, including increased ratios of perineal lacerations, maternal transfusions, neonatal intensive care admissions, immediate neonatal ventilation requirements, neonatal seizures and antibiotic use. "We were able to control for pregnancy complications, and found that most women with pregnancy complications known to lead to death actually deliver on weekdays, suggesting that the actual problem with weekend deliveries is even greater," Steven L. Clark, M.D., senior author of the study explained. Researchers also looked at months of the year including "July phenomenon," the month of the year that is associated with an increased risk of medical errors and surgical complications that occurs in association with the time of year in which United States medical school graduates begin residencies. The researchers found no association between maternal-fetal mortality and July. Clark continued, "Any system that shows this sort of variation in the most important of all system outcomes is, by definition, badly broken. Our data suggest that a part of the overall dismal U.S. obstetric performance may be related to this systems issue, that is, there may be a 'spill over' effect that is demonstrably worse on weekends but is also present on weekdays to a lesser extent. Our data does not allow us to go any further than this in terms of specifying what the problem is. However, we believe it is likely due to the fact that rarely is care of the pregnant inpatient the primary concern of the treating physician - it is almost always a distraction from office, surgery or personal activities." The researchers determined that by addressing this study and improving the obstetric quality of care on weekends by different methods, such as expanded use of the hospitalist or laborist model, will be one important component of addressing this issue. In a study to be presented Friday, Jan. 27, in the oral concurrent session at 1:15 p.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, based at Stanford University, Palo Alto, Ca., will present Reduction of Severe Maternal Morbidity from Hemorrhage (SMM-HEM) Using a State-Wide Perinatal Collaborative. The California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative is comprised of multi stakeholder professional organizations (obstetricians, nurses, midwives and family practitioners), hospitals, public health department and public representatives working together to end preventable mortality and morbidity in maternity care. The CMQCC drives improvement in maternal and infant outcomes through rapid-cycle data analytics and collaborative action. The organization has developed a series of maternal safety toolkits aimed at responding to the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality including reducing complications from obstetric hemorrhage, severe hypertension and early elective delivery. The California Partnership for Maternal Safety project focused on scaling up safety initiatives to engage 126 California hospitals (with over 250,000 annual births) to improve outcomes from obstetric hemorrhage. While small studies have demonstrated the value of safety toolkits and quality improvement projects to reduce complications, this is the first project to scale to a population level showing the generalizability of this approach. Obstetric hemorrhage is the most common cause of maternal death worldwide and the leading cause of severe maternal morbidity and preventable maternal mortality in the U.S. Among U.S. women, postpartum hemorrhage is diagnosed between 2-5% of all births with 0.5 to 1.5% considered severe (requiring transfusion or other intensive treatments.) In this project, researchers focused on 99 hospitals that participated in the California Maternal Data Center, using rapid-cycle data that enabled access to immediate results. These hospitals had a reduction of severe hemorrhage by 21 percent after the first year of participation. Twenty-five hospitals that participated in an earlier quality collaborative and were in their second year did even better with a 28 percent reduction, illustrating that quality improvement is a continuous process. Elliott Main, M.D. who is the medical director of the CMQCC and the presenter of the study at the SMFM annual meeting, explained, "The keys for success were (1) multi-partner engagement, (2) rapid cycle data and (3) use of a novel quality improvement model involving pairing physician and nurse mentors working with five to eight hospitals at a time, all within the construct of a large statewide project." Improvement was seen in all sizes and types of hospitals. Small hospitals showed the greatest improvement underscoring the quality improvement opportunities represented by their more limited resources. State perinatal quality collaboratives are now being established in most states with the support of state departments of health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maternal Child Health Bureau. California had a head start with the Perinatal/Neonatal Collaborative established in 1996 and the related Maternal Collaborative in 2006. Main added, "The rapid-cycle California Maternal Data Center can serve as a model for using current state collected data such as birth certificates to help drive quality improvement projects and minimize data collection burden on the hospitals." In France it slipped into legend after delighting long-haired teenagers in the seventies and eighties, but in Morocco the tireless moped spurts on despite an invasion of cheaper Chinese scooters. The Peugeot 103 has been around for so long in the North African country that most Moroccans do not notice it. But with its rounded handlebars, spluttering engine and signature exhaust cloud of blue smoke, the Peugeot 103 is to Morocco what the Renault 4L is to Madagascar: almost a national emblem. "We adore the 103," says Mohammed Ngaire, a salesman at a used motorbike and moped market in the capital Rabat, showcasing the most beautiful specimens of the Peugeot 103 still in circulation. "Come and see, we have them all," calls the 63-year-old, a popular character at the seaside venue who says he was once a "400-metre champion" in running. "The Fox, named after its headlight that makes it look like a fox. The Ninja with its black coat and steel hubcaps. The safe Vogue, and the unmissable 103" Sport Prestige, he adds. Passersby can also admire the Ramzey, a Turkey-made knockoff. They can even find the antique "Motobecane", whose clumsy appearance and large saddlebags today inspire love in grandfathers France-wide. That one's "a real Rolls Royce. When you have one, it's for life. But nowadays good deals are rare," Ngaire says. The first models of the Peugeot 103 were made in France in 1971, intended for older people living in the countryside. But the model caught on fast, overtaking its predecessors the 101 and 102, becoming a must-have among youth and blue-collar workers. In Morocco, "they started arriving in the eighties," says a mechanic in central Rabat who gave his name as Habachi. The model "became popular among the working class and low-ranking public servants," says the man in his fifties. "Today it's become a bit outdated. But it's so solid, it still has a lot of followers." Pimped mopeds No permit is required to drive the moped, which can be spotted at virtually every street corner in Morocco. They scoot around in all their legendary glory -- starting pedals, 49cm3 engine, miraculous petrol tank back-up, 45-kilometre-per-hour (28-mile-per-hour) speed limit and all. Some models have been customised in new chrome colours. But the must-have item is a special kit to boost the engine's carburator. Urban legend has it that all thieves in the southern city of Marrakesh once pimped their mopeds like this, so police were ordered to arrest anyone riding one at more than 80 kilometres an hour. In amateur videos shared online, moped fanatics from all over North Africa appear lying flat over their handlebars as they overtake cars at lightning speed on the motorway. France stopped producing the 103 in 2011 and Morocco followed suit three years later when it shuttered its DIMAC-Peugeot plant in Casablanca. Nostalgic moped lovers are now forced to make do with an obsolete if beautiful catalogue of seven models priced from 7,400 dirhams ($740) for the orange 103 Classic to 10,600 dirhams for a Fox with a pointy nose. Fans can also sign up to a one-week road trip from Essaouira to Agadir along the Atlantic coast for "an adventure behind the handlebars of a moped... between friends", according to the French organisers. But at the Rabat motorbike market, worries are high over a new arrival in town. For about a decade, cheap Chinese scooters have invaded the country, says Ngaire, with "that aggressive look youth like so much". The Asian two-wheelers zip all over the capital, but at the used bike market, vendors are unanimous. "Chinese bikes work, but they're not quality. They're like disposable razors." The charisma of ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival regular Shashi Tharoor and the passion of Dr Jon Wilson, author of India Conquered: Britains Raj and the Chaos of Empire, are a potent combination for any panel. When the discussion centres on colonial legacies, the magnetism is amplified a hundredfold. The thousand-strong crowd waiting for the session, expected a fiery debate and that is precisely what the speakers delivered.The Empire, said Tharoor, was an exercise in serving its own perpetuation. It was utterly self-serving and ruthless, and all the good that came of it was happenstance rather than intentional systemic change. What the British Raj has deprived us of is our self respect, said Tharoor, to enormous applause. That, ultimately, is the key issue of colonisation.Both Roberto Calasso and Devdutt Partaniak have helped to re-connect modern audiences to the ancient world of myths, and both have shown a laudable cosmopolitanism and interest in the myths and stories of other cultures. The two great mythologists sat together on the morning of the penultimate day of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival to make an impassioned case for the relevance of the Brahmanas, a collection of commentaries on the Vedas, written in the eighth century, which are rarely read or discussed today indeed, the last recent translation of the Brahmanas was written over a century ago.Its a big mistake to dismiss the Brahmanas as obscure texts focused on abstruse rituals, said Calasso. Firstly, theyre the first great example of prose in the world. Secondly, they are fascinating philosophical explorations of consciousness. Modern scientists still know practically nothing about consciousness if they read the Vedas they would have a shock.With increasing discussion on the significance of world literature and the need for giving marginalized voices a bigger platform, the role of literary translators has gained more importance than ever. However, opinions differ on whether translation does a service to the original work by taking it to a wider readership, or destroys its very essence in the process. In Lost in Translation the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival welcomed a diverse panel of translators from around the world as they shared their experience and opinion. Radha Chakravarty shared the joy of connecting readers of one language to a foreign culture through translation. Iranian-American poet and translator Sholeh Wolpe seconded the thought: Only literature, art and music can bridge the gap between cultures. To that effect, it is our moral duty to translate. But literature does not enjoy the same universality as art and music. The essence of literature is language, which is usually specific to nations, making literature from a foreign culture much harder to appreciate, observed British novelist Adam Thirlwell.India should do more to support the emergence of a South Asian free trade zone, according to Binod Chaudhary, the richest man in Nepal.Speaking at the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival in The Colour of Money, Chaudhary spoke of his efforts over several years to promote such a zone, and his disappointment at the lack of progress. It hurts that this is the worlds poorest economic bloc. India is an economic powerhouse, it has a responsibility to pull up its neighbours.In a panel on money, it was inevitable the panelists would discuss demonetization. Suhel Seth, managing partner of Counselage India, was a vocal advocate: I think Prime Minister Modi has done a splendid job. No pain, no gain. In two quarters the pain will be over. To hell with the IMFs predictions of a loss of 1% of GDP. Im delighted that people are being raided for not paying taxes. Lock them up! Hindol Sengupta, editor-at-large of Fortune India and the author of books including Recasting India: How Entrepreneurship is Changing the Worlds Largest Democracy, thought the move was necessary to reduce the black economy, which he suggested was funding extremist groups: Its noticeable that the intifada in Kashmir has suddenly disappeared.Prasoon Joshi defies categorization: an award-winning lyricist, a poet, an advertising executive who has won numerous awards in each of the fields he works in. In an insightful session at the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, Joshi talked about the trajectory of his career and the position of art in todays society.What gives meaning to life cant be peddled as a product, he said, referring to poetry and peoples hesitancy to pay for it. Yuva Ekta Foundation trustee Puneeta Roy enquired what that said about his advertising career, to which Joshi replied, There is a transparency to advertising: it never tries to hide its intent. But look at the media instead, who in the name of news, print paid things.The moral imbalances one can sometimes see in advertising is also a prominent feature of Bollywood. Joshi remarked on his disappointment with the Bollywood songs that demean women. He added that he was just as disappointed with ordinary people normalizing these songs by dancing to them or singing them. The audience has to reject bad work so that good work can be promoted.The day continued with fascinating sessions from writers including Prasoon Joshi, Ashwin Sanghi, Paul Beatty, and Sebastian Smee. Indias leading teen authors Anusha Subramanian and Zuni Chopra gathered with Ira Trivedi to discuss their commitment to writing and the rewards and challenges of being teen authors. Historian Suzannah Lipscomb delved into the passionate relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Javek Akhtar examined the heart of Bollywood cinema and looks at how the iconic figures are that personify our present day morality.Philip A Lutgendorf and Shubha Vilas joined Arshia Sattar in a conversation about Lord Hanuman to discuss the deeper aspects of the revered monkey god. Photographer Christopher Sykes got the job of a lifetime commissioned by The Rolling Stones, the biggest rock band in the world at the time to photograph backstage through their monumental tour of America in 1975, he shares an intimate picture of his time with the band.Historical fiction came under examination in Rewriting History: The Art of Historical Fiction looking at how you write a novel set in a period of history long before you were alive with some of the best in the world, Adam Thirlwell, Alan Hollinghurst, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Shazia Omar and Namita Gokhale. The days sessions were rounding off with Mallika Dua, a one woman band and viral internet sensation who stepped out to talk about her life as a full-time nautanki. New Delhi: Finance minister Arun Jaitley may announce several measures to revamp farm infrastructure and support farmers, an official familiar with the matter, told Mint. The measures may include continuing with a scheme to give concessional loans to farmers, incentives for states to computerize primary agricultural credit societies (PACSs) and higher allocations to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the official told Mint, requesting anonymity. The measures are likely to provide relief to farmers, especially those engaged in floriculture and the cultivation of vegetables and plantations, who have had to face disruptions in the supply chain and depressed prices for their produce following Prime Minister Narendra Modis 8 November surprise announcement to withdraw high-value banknotes. Mumbai: BSE will hit the capital market on Monday with its much-awaited initial public offer, the first by a domestic stock exchange, to raise up to Rs 1,243 crore. The IPO opens on January 23 and closes on January 25. The stock exchange aims to raise up to Rs 1,243 crore from the IPO, which is priced at Rs 805-806 per share. During the initial share sale which is also a first by any company this year shareholders will sell 15.43 million shares estimated to be around Rs 1,243.44 crore at the higher end of the price band. The IPO of 15,427,197 shares of face value of Rs 2 each will constitute up to 28.26 per cent of the fully-diluted post offer issued share capital of BSE. Bids for the issue can be made for a minimum of 18 shares and in multiples of 18 thereafter. Meanwhile, BSE on Friday raised Rs 373 crore by allotting shares to anchor investors. BSE shares will be listed on NSE as Sebi rules do not allow self-listing for an exchange. Capital market regulator Sebi had given its final go- ahead to the draft prospectus for the IPO on December 30. Meanwhile, rival NSE too has filed draft papers with the Sebi last month for an estimated Rs 10,000 crore IPO. Among the existing BSE shareholders are Bajaj Holdings Investment, Caldwell India Holdings, Acacia Banyan Partners, Singapore Exchange, Mauritius-based arm of American investor George Soros' Quantum Fund and foreign fund Atticus. There are an estimated 9,000 shareholders in BSE, where originally mostly brokers held shares. However, a host of foreign investors and domestic financial institutions have acquired shares over the years and the IPO will provide some of them an exit window to monetise their investments. The issue is being managed by Edelweiss Financial Services, Axis Capital, Jefferies India, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Pvt, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, SBI Capital Markets and SMC Capitals. BSE is the world's largest exchange by number of listed companies. It is India's largest and the world's 10th largest exchange by market capitalisation. The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies stands at Rs 1,10,23,189 crore. Multi Commodity Exchange of India is the only listed bourse in the country. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a PIL which sought the postponement of the Union Budget in view of Assembly elections in five states. The Budget will be presented as scheduled on February 1. There is no illustration to support that the presentation of Union Budget would influence voters' mind in state elections, the top court said while disposing of the PIL filed by advocate ML Sharma. The PIL had sought a direction to the Centre for the Budget to be presented in financial year 2017-18 which would commence from April 1, instead of February 1. It had also asked for the central government be restrained from declaring "any relief, programme, financial budget until the states' elections are over" as they would violate the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission had on January 4 come out with the schedule of Assembly elections to be held in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. The first states to go to polls will be Goa and Punjab on February 4, three days after Budget presentation. The last phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur will be held on March 8. Counting of votes will be held on March 11. The Budget Session of Parliament has already been convened from January 31 when the President will address the joint sitting of the two Houses. The Union Budget and the Economic Survey are slated to be presented the next day. The Opposition parties had written to the President and the Election Commission objecting to the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1 ahead of the Assembly elections and demanded that the government be asked to defer the annual exercise. (With PTI inputs) Italian media outlets released Monday afternoon a different version of the 'exclusive' video Egypt's state TV aired on Monday morning showing murdered Italian student Giulio Regeni in a conversation with a representative of a street vendors' union in the period leading up to his disappearance on 25 January 2016. The Egypt State TV's three minutes and 46 seconds video was reportedly recorded by the representative of the Independent Vendors Union Mohamed Abdallah. It shows Abdallah asking Regeni to help him secure funds by an unnamed British foundation for a personal emergency while Regeni explains why he could not do so. It is not clear where and when the video released by state TV was shot. The Italian-released version of the video, which was carried by media outlets and runs four minutes and 29 seconds, covers the same topic of conversation but includes segments of the conversation left out or edited in a different timeline in the Egyptian version. "You may think that I have a huge say but in reality I have no power in the program in Britain; I do not know the people inside the institution responsible for money issues, Regeni explains to Abdallah. "What shall I do? Shall I just write an email saying we need the money now because 25 January [revolution anniversary] is after two weeks!" "Is it possible?" Abdallah asks. Regeni answers that it was not possible. "It is unprofessional for me," he says. "Can it be done just between the two of us and without their knowledge?" Abdallah suggests. "I do not have any power. I am a foreigner who is conducting a research in Egypt; for me what is important is my research project. I want your vendors union to get the money in an official way as mandated by the British. I do not want anything else." "I hope the Egyptian Centre wants the same thing," Regini adds. The identity of the British foundation or the Egyptian Centre is not clear from the dealogue. The money won't be much in any case, Regeni adds. "Are we going to use the money in projects for kiosks for street vendors or are we going to use it for freedom projects?" asks Abdallah. "Money for political projects is a hard thing now, Regeni replies. Egypt state TV released the Regini video less than 24 hours after Egypt's General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek agreed on Sunday to a request from Italy to allow Italian experts to take part in the retrieval of CCTV footage, which could reveal the circumstances surrounding Regeni's murder in early 2016. Giulio Regeni, a PhD student at Cambridge University, had been in Cairo conducting research on independent trade unions for several weeks, when he went missing on 25 January 2016, the fifth anniversary of Egypts 2011 Revolution. Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera on Monday quoted Italian investigators as saying on the video was shot - allegedly at the request of Egyptian security - using a micro-camera placed on a button worn by Abdallah during a meeting with Regeni on 6 January 2016. The newspaper added that the Italian investigators obtained the complete version of the video-taped conversation, which runs for a total of 1 hour and 55 minutes, on 6 December 2016 from Egyptian authorities. The uncertainties surrounding the murder of Regeni and the length of the investigation carried out by Egyptian authorities into his case has strained relationships between Cairo and Rome. Egypt has strongly denied accusations by some that Egyptian security forces were involved in Regeni's murder. In recent months, Egyptian and Italian prosecutors have been cooperating closely in the investigation. The CCTV footage to be retrieved is that captured by security cameras at Dokki Metro station, and which reportedly recorded the last images of the Italian student before his disappearance on 25 January, 2016. According to security sources, Abdallah reported Regeni to authorities in early January. Authorities placed the Italian student under surveillance for three days before suspending investigations into his activities. In December, Egypt's Sadek visited Rome to discuss developments in the investigation, the fifth such meeting between Egyptian prosecutors and their Italian counterparts since the murder. Sadek assured the parents of Regeni of Egypt's commitment to achieving justice in the case during his visit. Search Keywords: Short link: Fixed Betsy DeVos's tweet. She can thank the _public_ elementary school, middle school, high school, and universities where I was educated. pic.twitter.com/A9fmIXRVlB Yael Rice (@Yael_Rice) January 20, 2017 Honored to witness the historic Inauguration and swearing-in ceremony for the 45th President of the United States! pic.twitter.com/jjWEgMTSov Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) January 20, 2017 Apologies for the earlier error, everyone. Proof our staff members are only human! :) Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) January 20, 2017 @BetsyDeVos At least you tried to fix it after deleting the old tweet, but it's still wrong :D pic.twitter.com/wuvcmJbQaA Barnacules (@Barnacules) January 22, 2017 @BetsyDeVos Even after you corrected the tweet, it's still grammatically incorrect. But please, tell us how to teach our kids... David Duran (@mrdavidduran) January 22, 2017 @BetsyDeVos Your grammar is atrocious. Mark Graham (@unclegrambo) January 22, 2017 @AViski @sunnysk206 How about someone with actual teaching experience Brian Kinghorn (@LionKinghorn) January 21, 2017 FYI: @BetsyDeVos has no education degree, she's never been a teacher, and she never attended a public school. #Disqualified #DeVosHearing Andy Alexander (@Andy_Dont_Tweet) January 18, 2017 On January 20, Donald Trump took oath as the 45th President of the United States of America and a host of VIPs, members of Trump's cabinet with thousands of people, attended the grand event in Washington DC.And one among the many present at the event was Betsy DeVos, Trump's Education Secretary pick.DaVos took to Twitter to send a congratulatory message to Trump and talk about witnessing the historic inauguration, and made a grammatical error in her tweet.The 58-year-old immediately received a lot of backlash for her grammatically incorrect post. Netizens were unforgiving, keeping in mind that she is the nominee for Secretary of Education. They bashed her on Twitter, corrected her tweet and slammed her for incorrect use of words.Soon after, DaVos deleted the tweet and posted a corrected version. And in yet another tweet, she acknowledged that there was indeed an error in the previously written tweet.But netizens were quick to point out that even after she corrected her tweet, it was still grammatically incorrect.And then she got slammed again.DeVos is married to Dick DeVos, who ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the governorship in Michigan. After Rajasthan tourism, this has to be the best ad created by any state tourism board. cc @_Namita_ https://t.co/zxZ4TxpBuq Kunal (@kcunal) January 22, 2017 The sweetest part of India with probably the sweetest Ad in India. West Bengal Tourism Ad. https://t.co/HyVjJdXpO3 Emil Mathew (@emilmathewjohn) January 22, 2017 Lovely lovely Bengal Tourism ad makes me want to visit. Been a while anyway. https://t.co/YX1Ymh2jk5 Raheel Khursheed (@Raheelk) January 22, 2017 What a spectacularly breathtaking new ad by @TourismBengal featuring #Bengal brand amb @iamsrk! Much needed change https://t.co/wkffhR5qgp Indrajit Kundu (@iindrojit) January 21, 2017 West Bengal Tourisms new ad is winning the internet with its sweetness and rightly so. Ever since the ad released on Friday, it has crossed a million views and been shared by more than 30, 000 people on Facebook alone. The video is through a foreigners eyes who embarks on a journey through West Bengal and soaks in the culture, the food and the ambience of the state.From the busy college streets and yellow cabs in Kolkata, to devouring bhetki paturis, to visiting architecturally rich temples of Bishnupur, to the haunting music of the Bauls, to Rabidra Sangeet- the video captures all things beautiful about the state.From the mystic valleys in Darjeeling, to the breathtaking sea beach of Mandarmani, the video is a visual delight. For a lot of Bengalis living outside the state, the video has struck a chord for its authenticity and made them crave for a trip back home. What more, the video ends with Shah Rukh Khan, the states brand ambassador, crooning Tagores song and serenading the young girl on Kolkatas tram.Conceptualized by Ogilvy &Mather Kolkata, the video aimed at highlighting the lesser known places of Bengal. We wanted to stay away from the stereotypes. Every West Bengal Tourism ad in the past has highlighted Sundarbans, Darjeeling, Howrah Bridge- the idea was to showcase the hidden gems of the state, says Sujoy Roy, Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather. The video has been shot by production house Nirvana who have in the past worked on ad campaigns of Incredible India.Sumanto Chattopadhyay, Executive Creative Director (South Asia) of Ogilvy & Mather, said, In Bengal, sweetness finds different manifestations. It is in the language we speak, the hospitality we extend to our guests and our cuisine. Thus, when we were entrusted with the responsibility of creating communication for Bengal Tourism, we worked on a campaign that would identify Bengal as the sweetest part of India.People have been praising the ad on social media, calling it a fitting tribute to the state. A manufacturer of Chinese liqueurs, Chen Chao wanders through the bamboo-covered mountains of southwestern China's Sichuan province to his 'cellar', where he will check on this year's prize blend. In the absence of an oak barrel, the 30-year-old uses live bamboo trunks to age his spirit, a method reputed to confer a unique aroma and even medicinal benefits. The cereal liqueur is introduced into bamboo trunks "via high-pressure injection techniques", he said. Young bamboos are preferred, he said, because they "heal" within days, allowing the spirit to mature before the trunk is finally cut in early April, in time for the annual Qingming, or tomb-sweeping, festival when many Chinese honour their ancestors. During the ageing process, "the liqueur mingles with the flavone (the liquid released by the trunk) and the sap of bamboo", Chen said, referring to two ingredients renowned for their "detoxifying" effect and contribution towards healthy lungs, according to traditional Chinese medicine. This method also reduces the alcohol content of the beverage, since the bamboo absorbs it. "Our production is fairly limited, roughly 50,000 to 60,000 bottles per year, each containing between 500 and 550 millilitres," Chen said, with a total annual output of at least 25,000 litres. But he now hopes to increase that amount by using a "less invasive" and more efficient injection technique, in a bid to fend off competition. "Previously, few people knew about bamboo alcohol, because the production was kept confidential. This is changing," he said. Chen learned the traditional technique in the eastern province of Fujian -- where it originated. He then launched his own brewing business in 2015 in Sichuan, in the heart of the famous Shunan Bamboo Sea, a vast forest known for the production of Wuliangye, a white spirit made with sorghum, sticky rice, maize, and wheat. But his business has suffered since China launched a much-publicised anti-corruption campaign after President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012. The anti-graft drive has included a ban on giving extravagant gifts like expensive wines and spirits to public officials and "sent our business plunging", Chen said. During the last Tuen Ng, or Dragon Boat, Festival in 2016, his sales collapsed by two thirds compared to the previous year. But recovery may be in sight. Wuliangye -- the brand behind the eponymous spirit -- has reported an 18 percent increase in its turnover and net income during the first half of 2016. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered further investigation into allegations that former CBI director Ranjit Sinha attempted to influence probe into the coal scam case. The court has directed the CBI to set up a special investigation team (SIT) to look into prima facie charges against Sinha. The SIT will be headed by its current director and Special Public Prosecutor RS Cheema will assist the team on legal issues in the matter, the court said. The court pronounced its order on the action to be taken on a report of its panel which has held that prima facie there was an attempt to influence investigation in the coal block allocation scam cases by former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha. The apex court had on July 12 last year reserved the order on the issue after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the bench that the panel headed by former CBI special director ML Sharma has held that Sinha's meetings with some high-profile accused in the scam, prima facie indicated that there was an attempt to influence the investigation. Rohtagi, who had only received an initial report of the panel for perusal on condition of confidentiality, had said he had gone through the report which has found that the visitors' diary at Sinha's residence was genuine. However, he had said the correctness of entries in that diary can only be ascertained in the court through evidence. The apex court-appointed panel was probing the alleged scuttling of probe into coal block allocation scam cases by Sinha, whose meetings with the accused persons were held as "completely inappropriate". Earlier, the court had given the initial report of the Sharma committee to the Attorney General for his perusal, as the bench wanted his assistance after the panel had sought a direction for supply of documents relating to preliminary enquiry into some of the matters in which the probe was closed. On December 7, 2015, the court had ordered handing over the original visitors' diary of the official residence of the former CBI director to the Sharma-led panel. (With PTI agency) Jaipur: US President Donald Trump, who has virulently called the nuclear agreement with Iran the "worst deal ever negotiated", may come around to supporting it, says an American expert on the Middle East. "There may be some uncertainty... Trump, who had said it is a bad deal, may be persuaded not to junk it. He may be persuaded by the economic opportunities it may offer... after all he is a businessman," Robert F. Worth, The New York Times' former Beirut bureau chief, told IANS on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017. During his presidential campaign, Trump, assailing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached by Iran and six world powers in 2015 placing significant restrictions on Iran's nuclear activity, declared that his "number 1 priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal". He claimed Iran had outmanoeuvred Washington into concessions and could still develop nuclear arms when the pact's restrictions expire in 15 years. However, there has been strong support for the deal and over three dozen top American scientists, including Nobel laureates, veteran nuclear weapon scientists, former White House science advisers and head of the world's largest general society of scientists, wrote to the new President on Monday, urging him to "preserve this critical US strategic asset" which curbed any Iranian bid for nuclear weaponisation. On the situation in Iran itself, Worth, the author of "A Rage for Order: The Middle East in Turmoil, from Tahrir Square to ISIS", said "there was little hope for reformers" in the country and further since the death earlier this month of former President Ayatollah Rafsanjani, who was seen as a moderate and pragmatic leader. "It will also depends on how the nuclear deal plays out. Even in Iran, there has been great scepticism over it... that the Europe and the US have not come through, there has been little of the promised investment, and all," he said. Noting that though there is a presidential election coming up this year, Worth said the future situation also depends on how long the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei remains in power. "Some of these Ayatollahs can be very long-lived," he quipped. The Jallikattu Bill, tabled by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, has been passed unanimously by the Assembly on a day when protests took a violent turn. After six days of peaceful protests, pro-Jallikattu demonstrations at Chennais Marina Beach turned violent when police tried to evict protesters from the area. Several vehicles and the citys Ice House Police Station were set on fire allegedly by protesters. The protesters want a permanent change in law to replace the Ordinance promulgated by the Governor on Saturday and have refused to abandon post till then. The Centre said it was monitoring the situation and that forces were on standby. Stay tuned for live updates: Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. With Jats threatening to launch a fresh quota agitation from January 29, the Haryana Government has sent a requisition for 55 Companies of Central paramilitary forces and has also issued call out notice to depute 7,000 Home Guards in the State."Although the leaders of various agitating organisations have assured to hold dharnas in a peaceful manner, yet the administration is fully geared up to maintain law and order," Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Ram Niwas said in Chandigarh on Monday.He said all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been directed to ensure that highways and railway tracks are not obstructed and no damage is caused to property.All the proposed dharnas would be videographed, Niwas said, adding that he has urged these agitating leaders to protest in a peaceful manner as the government is always prepared for talks."Every citizen has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, but it should be in a peaceful manner," he added.Accusing the Manohar Lal Khattar government of not "fulfilling" their demands for reservation, Jat outfits in Haryana have threatened to launch a fresh agitation in the State that witnessed massive protests over the issue in February last year.Thirty people were killed and massive damage was caused to property, particularly in worst-affected districts of Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonipat.Jat leaders claim support of people from as many as 250 villages in Haryana and Delhi.In view of the protest threat by the community leaders, the police have stepped up efforts to avoid any untoward incident and damage to public property as in the last agitation.Meanwhile, in view of the assembly elections in neighbouring Punjab, the Crisis Coordination Committee, which met under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, (Revenue and Disaster Management), Haryana, Keshni Anand Arora here, has stressed the need for following the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India and carrying out coordination exercise by the district administration with their counterpart districts in the neighbouring States, an official release said. Chennai: The Jallikattu protests, for the past six days, have been grabbing attention for being peaceful so far. But things took a turn for worse when, in the early hours on Monday, police personnel were seen driving away protestors from the place. Subsequent talks with the agitators yielded no results, and the police had to resort to lathicharge to evict the protestors. The roads leading to Marina were blocked by the police resulting in altercations between the protestors and the police. With the agitators indulging in stone pelting to clear the barricades, police had to use force to restore law and order. The lathicharge incident was met with strong criticism and anger by the public in Chennai, and many staged road blocks in various parts of the city. Traffic came to a standstill and protestors were urged by police and various members of the protesting committee itself to disperse and celebrate the victory of Jallikattu. Major roads of the city have been blocked, with the Old Mahabalipuram road experiencing no movement of traffic for more than five hours. A police station at Icehouse, Triplicane and vehicles parked in front of the station were set on fire with the use of petrol bombs. It is not officially confirmed as to who is behind the arson, and protestors are pointing fingers at various fringe political parties that had reportedly infiltrated the protests at Marina. There have also been various incidents of violence and vandalism at three other police stations at Triplicane, which is situated close to Marina. Police also lathicharged protestors at Gandhipuram, Coimbatore. The Tamil Nadu Assembly has planned a special session at 5 pm in order to pass a bill to make the ordinance a permanent feature of law. The Governor, on Monday, asserted that a state bill will be passed to replace the ordinance. DMK, Congress and IUML walked out of the assembly. The situation in the city is palpably tense and the police is on high alert throughout the city. The protestors, who have been demanding an amendment to the PCA act and for a permanent solution to the Jallikattu issue, refused to budge from Marina beach even when supporters of Jallikattu like Hip Hop Thamizha Adhi, Raghava Lawrence and Siva Senapathy requested the agitators to call off the protests. The protests in other parts of the state have been mostly called off. The village of Alanganallur also witnessed lathicharge by police forces and the protestors have decided to call off protests. The Jallikattu committee at Alanganallur has confirmed that the sport will be conducted on Feb 1. With the police using pipes, sticks and teargas shells to disperse the protestors, the size of the protesting crowd has reduced considerably. Prakash Ambedkar on Sunday dared the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to do away with the reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.The grandson of architect of the Indian Constitution B.R. Ambedkar alleged that the BJP-led NDA government is trying to create division in the society.Addressing a public meeting on the rights of Dalits, he was reacting to the remarks made by a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader calling for a review of the reservation policy."They are in power and have majority in Parliament. They can do away with the reservations. I challenge them to do it," said Prakash Ambedkar, who heads Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM).He said by making statements calling for removing reservations, those in power want to create rift in the society.RSS publicity chief Manmohan Vaidya had on Friday said that even B.R. Ambedkar was not in favour of perpetual continuance of reservations, and called for a review of the reservation policy.Prakash Ambedkar alleged that demonetisation was aimed at targeting the poor, Dalits, tribals, minorities and other oppressed sections of the society, as they alone can fight "Manuwad". He pointed out that the move affected only the poor.He said the government looted the poor to fill the coffers of the rich. While the poor and other oppressed sections of the society may be bankrupt and hungry, they have the biggest asset of freedom, equal rights and brotherhood given by B.R. Ambedkar, he added.CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri voiced concern over increasing atrocities on Dalits in the country. He alleged that the BJP-led government was officially patronising caste oppression.Stating that the BJP is a political arm of the RSS, he said the RSS leader made the statement on reservations to unite upper castes in Uttar Pradesh and garner their votes. He pointed out that the RSS had made similar statements before the Bihar assembly elections.CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said the attacks on Dalits had increased after the BJP came to power at the Centre.He said the government was suppressing the facts about the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula of the Hyderabad Central University. Jaipur: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen on Monday waded into the Uniform Civil Code debate, saying it was a necessity for India. Uniform Civil Code is necessary to protect womens rights, irrespective of religion, she said during a surprise session at the Jaipur Literature Festival. The session was kept confidential by the organisers till the last minute. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against a uniform civil law? Is not having a uniform civil law democratic?" she asked. Members of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum staged a protest against the author at the festival venue. They also shouted slogans against the organisers for inviting her discretely and hurting their sentiments. Nasreen rose to fame after her 1993 novel Lajja, which garnered severe criticism in Bangladesh and forced her to leave the country. She escaped to Sweden in 1994 and spent the next 10 years in exile in Europe and America. Coming to India in 2004, she settled in Kolkata where she lived till November 2007 and then moved to New Delhi. She again moved to Sweden in 2008 and later worked as a research scholar at New York University. The controversial writer also said that criticism of Islam is the only way to establish secularism in Islamic countries. In conversation with Salil Tripathi, the chair of the Writers-in-Prison Committee of PEN International, Nasreen said: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life. The 55-year-old writer was quite critical of the clergy. "They issue fatwas against you and they want to kill you. But why do they need to do so? If they disagree with me, they can write against me, share their views like we do. They can have conversations rather than fatwas," she said. "A uniform civil law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why they are not ready to accept criticism, she said further. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she added. (With agency inputs) Clothing can give a sense of a persons physical presence. It helps make even the most distant historical figure feel closer. Clothing and accessories illustrate the personal style of a first lady or the official style of a presidential administration. And they can represent the events to which they were wornfrom inaugural balls, state dinners, and public appearances to everyday life in the White House. The ladies of the First Family never lacked in the fashion department. So, here's an ode to the 50 years of inaugural fashion.John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy arrive at the National Guard Armory for the inaugural ball in, January 1961. Ethel Frankau of Bergdorf Custom Salon designed the first lady's sleeveless gown and matching cape.Lady Bird Johnson in her inaugural gown designed by John Moore, January 1965. She ordered the dress through Neiman Marcus.Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter dance at the inaugural ball, January 1977. Rosalynn Carter's gold-trimmed dress was the same she wore to her husband's gubernatorial inauguration six years earlier, designed by Mary Matisse.Ronald and Nancy Reagan pose in the White House red room before attending their inaugural balls in 1981 (L) and 1985. Nancy Reagan wore John Galanos-designed gowns for both occasions.First lady Laura Bush waves as she arrives on stage with President George W. Bush at theTexas Ball, January 2001. Laura chose a gown by Texas designer Michael Faircloth, and adorned the outfit with a pearl necklacePresident Clinton takes the oath of office as daughter Chelsea Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton look on, January 1997.President Barack Obama walks with his wife Michelle after he was sworn in as the 44th President, January 2009. Michelle is wearing a custom-made ensemble by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo.Arriving at the 58th presidential pre-inauguration candlelight dinner, first lady Melania Trump stepped out on the stage wearing a stunning sparkling-gold gown created exclusively for her from Lebanese-born New York-based designer Reem Acra. Although as many as 7 in 10 of us will experience a one-night stand at some point in our lives, new research from Norway suggests how women and men feel about it the morning after can vary greatly.After a previous US study found that women more often regret agreeing to a one-night stand than men, whereas men regret passing up the chance more than women, a team of researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Psychology along with the University of Texas at Austin, wanted to see if the same held true in Norway, a supposedly more sexually liberal and egalitarian country.For their research the team recruited 263 male and female students aged 19 to 37 years who had all experienced at least one one-night stand.The team found the same pattern in Norway as in the US, with around 35 percent of women and only 20 percent of men regretting the experience to some degree.Women were also more likely to feel unhappier about the experience, with just 30 percent of women reporting that they were happy about their most recent casual sex experience -- compared to over 50 percent of the men.The results also showed that when it came to turning down the offer of a one night stand, nearly 80 percent of women were happy that they had said no, however only 43 percent of men felt the same.When explaining possible reasons for the differences, the team suggested that it could be that women worry more and are less likely to partake in risky behavior that men.However this theory doesn't explain the differences in reactions after the event.Further questioning ruled out the idea that women feel more regretful because they do not get as much sexual pleasure out of a one-night stand as men do, with the team also suggesting that pregnancy concerns, STD infections and getting a bad reputation could instead help explain the patterns.Evolutionary psychology could also be a reason. Dr. Buss, one of the co-authors on the study, explained that, "Women and men differ fundamentally in their sexual psychology. A key limitation on men's reproductive success, historically, has been sexual access to fertile women. These evolutionary selection pressures have created a male sexual mind that is attentive to sexual opportunities."So for men, continued researcher Professor Kennear, it's a case of quantity not quality so he can improve his reproductive success by having as many fertile mates as possible.Because women are restricted in how many children they can have, they instead go for quality over quantity to pass good genes on to their children and produce a good environment in which to raise them.And although society, culture, and attitudes change, our basic biological function does not, with Dr. Buss adding that, "Many social scientists expect that in sexually egalitarian cultures such as Norway, these sex differences would disappear. They do not. This fact makes the findings on sex differences in sexual regret in modern Norwegian people so fascinating scientifically."The results can be found online published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology Arun Jaitley is busier than usual these days. Adding to the responsibilities of a Union Finance Minister, he is also the BJPs star campaigner in Punjab, which goes to polls on February 4. This weekend he was campaigning in Jalandhar and Amritsar. CNN-News18 Deputy Political Editor Marya Shakil caught up with him in the city of the Golden Temple. When your candidature was announced from Amritsar in 2014, you had written a blog talking about your association with the city. You said that your mother belongs to the city. Your sister was born here, your wife was born here and your association is largely because of food. In many ways, you are Amritsars prodigal son. So what brings you back? I have been coming here since my childhood. Notwithstanding the fact that I didn't succeed in the last election. I have been coming here for a long time and have been trying to do a lot for the city. It is not necessarily for any political ambitions that I have. Certainly I have a lot of attachment for the city and Im here for one day as part of the campaign. I am going to almost every constituency that the BJP is contesting. Im going to be here in two rounds. I am covering 13 constituencies in the first round and 10 constituencies in the next one. So, I will be visiting every constituency whether it be in Amritsar or outside. Ten days to go for the first joint Budget that combines both the General Budget and the Railway Budget. This is a quarantine period in the Finance Ministry. What is playing on your mind when you are campaigning here? Are you in touch with your officers in New Delhi? I am deliberately choosing the weekends to campaign. I am here this weekend. I have taken one Friday off. We have been working on the Budget and have made sufficient headway. For the whole of next week, Im going to be locked up, giving it finishing touches. I cant tell you anything more. Yes, you are right. This is prime time as far as the Finance Ministry is concerned. Therefore, Im preoccupied, but then elections are a part of democracy. In a state like Punjab, because I am in the central team of the BJP, I am one of the few Punjabi-speaking (members). So I can't really say I won't be able to come to the state. How will you respond to those who are saying that these elections are a referendum on demonetisation? Every election is called a referendum and no election is ever a referendum. These are all nice media headlines. These are state Assembly elections and are contested on a lot of state issues. Demonetisation is an important issue, which concerns the country. And if these elections are only on the issue of demonetisation, I will be too happy. Because then we will sweep straight away. This will be the fourth Budget that you will be presenting. Will it be a popular one or populist one? I wont go close to answering that question because you will have to wait for the 1st of February before that question is answered. Who is your principal opponent in Punjab? Is it the Congress or the AAP? AAP had gained a considerable amount of strength till early 2016, and I think a combination of mis-governance in Delhi, irresponsible political behaviour and a couple of huge mistakes in Punjab has exposed AAP. Therefore, its popularity has significantly declined. I dont see AAP coming close to forming a government in Punjab. Its a more marginal player now. Its certainly relevant in some seats, particularly in Malwa. In Majha and Doaba, I don't see them relevant at all. This is for the first time that in a state Assembly election drugs have become the central issue. As someone who is from the state and has seen the state closely, do you acknowledge the drug problem? I do. I think its exaggerated, but nonetheless its still there and it's significantly there. I do believe its a huge social problem, and the society instead of politicising the issue and finding answers to this in politics has to find the solution within the law and order mechanism, the law enforcement machinery and the social structure of the society. We have to establish more rehabilitation centres, we have to come down very harshly on the availability of drugs; police and families will have a role to play. Some parties think that political slogans are a solution to this. I am afraid they are not. The Badals have been accused of being responsible for the proliferation of drugs in the state, destroying generations of youth That's a slogan. I am yet to come across a single piece of evidence identifying individuals with this problem. Of course, those who are involved in this illicit trade, some of them do get arrested. But then when such allegations are made in the public space, and you allow media to be lent to it, media should ask for evidence. You just cannot believe in slogans. I have been travelling across the Malwa region and there are a number of families that I have met in drug villages who suggest there is a nexus between the police and the government? There could be some perceptions. Perceptions may emerge out of anger and frustration. It has to be built on facts, somebody has to give us evidence. Let me assure you, as far as the central government is concerned, please bring the evidence. Irrespective of who the person is, the law and order machinery will proceed against them. What will happen on March 11 as far as Punjab is concerned? I think we have certain distinct advantages. We have advantages in terms of a popular central government, and the state government has performed extremely well on the development front. We also have the advantage of our opponents being split up into many camps. Therefore, both the arithmetic and the political environment are in our favour. Navjot Singh Sidhu says he is a born Congressman. How much of a setback is it for the BJP? I think he realised the truth of his birth few years too late. Do you think Sidhu is a factor in this election? Well, he is contesting on one assembly seat. So he will campaign in his seat. He is a factor in his own seat. You have earlier criticised him as someone who is completely missing in Parliament For the last 12.5 years, Amritsar has had absentee MPs, absent in constituency and absent in Lok Sabha. Last 12.5 years have seen two MPs from the same constituency who never attended the Lok Sabha, who never raised Amritsar or Punjab issues in the Lok Sabha. If drug abuse was such an important issue, they should have raised it in the Lok Sabha. If development of Punjab was an issue, they should have raised it in the Lok Sabha. Being absent both in Parliament and in your constituency is something extraordinary. It's a fact that people of Punjab, particularly Amritsar, will keep in mind. You have been in politics for over four decades now. What is it that worries you about Indian politics? I think the declining standards of credibility. How do you believe a certain set of people, how do you believe certain people who convert constituencies into bargaining counters? How do you believe people who keep switching on parties? Let me give you a few examples. Here, you have the Congress being led by an individual who and who's family is now being accused with evidence in a court of law by the government of possessing accounts in HSBC in Geneva. You have been caught red-handed with those accounts and you have made corruption into an issue. Then you accuse others. Do you think bipolar Punjab has become triangular now? It was traditionally bipolar, but today it has partly become triangular with smaller parties getting some votes. So, I can't say AAP doesn't exit. It exits in patches as far as Punjab is concerned. Arvind Kejriwal says your government is demolishing institutions and the CBI is targeting his party because he is taking on the BJP here? CBI can only arrest a man and produce him in court. It's for the court to peruse the evidence. If the court finds there is no evidence, then the person gets bail or is acquitted. There is a limit to which the CBI can be used or misused. If that's the only illustration he (Kejriwal) has, then it's a very poor one. After all, when his official got arrested it took him weeks to get him released. Talking about Uttar Pradesh, there has been a significant generational shift that has happened within the Samajwadi Party. How is the BJP viewing it? A generational shift is a natural process. Nobody is immortal in politics, and nobody continues indefinitely. As one generation phases out, the next takes over. There is nothing extraordinary. It's the rule of nature. What do you think about Akhilesh Yadav? He has to do a lot more to establish credibility. Because the last five years saw the rule of gangsters in Uttar Pradesh. It's only when the family battle broke out that he took up this position that other members of the family are responsible for these gangsters and I am not. And then the (candidates) list after a compromise is released and you find every wretched gangster in that list. That's why I think he will have to do a lot more to establish his credibility. Will the BJP be projecting a CM face in UP? At the moment, we are not. The party is contesting under a collective leadership and we will decide when the MLAs get elected. The optimism of the Muslim community in western Uttar Pradesh rose several notches higher on the back of the much anticipated Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance ahead of the state elections in February 2017.Falling in the first phase of elections, the region, which has a higher percentage of Muslim population (26%) than the rest of Uttar Pradesh as a whole (18%), is likely to influence electoral outcomes as the polls move from west to east.In an earlier interview to News 18, Maulana Khalid Rasheed, Firangi Mahali had said that Muslims will support the SP-Congress alliance as it had the potential to defeat fascist forces Exactly the way the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) had done for Bihar in the elections of 2015, he had said. Now that the alliance has been sealed, Muslims are thinking of throwing their weight behind the two merged parties.In Deoband, there was much anxiety and anticipation when alliance talks hit a roadblock. Faheem Akhter Siddiqui of the Muslim Fund Trust in Deoband said, We were disappointed on hearing about the pact falling off but the moment it was sealed, it spread like good news. We were sure of our options.The pact is believed to reign in communal troubles in future that became the order of the day since the Muzaffarnagar riots. Recently, Sardhana MLA Sangeet Som tried to stir tensions by using a controversial documentary depicting the Muzaffarnagar riot scenes in his election campaign. BJP MP Hukum Singh raised the issue of Hindu exodus from Kairana and continues to raise the pitch against the state government and the crumbling law and order situation in the region.In the face of this divisive politics, Muslims are very interested in this alliance, social activist Akram Akhtar told News 18 from Shamli, which goes to polls in first phase along with Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Agra, Firozabad, Etah and Kasganj.As per the 2001 Census, there are 72.69% Hindus and 25.89% Muslims in western UP. Even though Hindus are in a majority, the percentage of Muslims is higher here than in Uttar Pradesh as a whole.Akhtar said, I am not denying the split in Muslim votes in this election because some parties will field Muslim candidates and some will show their secular credentials, but the split will not be anything big in comparison to the consolidation of Muslim votes behind this alliance. I can see a lot interest in the community since the alliance was formed.The buzz in the region is about defeating the BJP and who can do that, he said. The idea will be to vote for a winnable option over other things and the alliance appears to be a good option.But there are some constituencies where the consolidation of votes might not happen in favour of the gathbandhan (alliance). The community is expected to cast votes tactically to defeat the BJP in some of the regions and go for strong popular candidates. A case in point is Shamlis Thana Bhawan, from where BJPs Suresh Rana is contesting against Abdul Waris Rao of the BSP, who won in 2007 from the RLD. Also in fray are Sudhir Panwar from the Samajwadi Party and Javed Rao from RLD.There is support for the BSP candidate here as compared to others as he is in direct fight with BJPs Suresh Rana. Similarly, Muhammad Iqbal, an MLC from BSP, now party candidate from Saharanpurs Behat constituency for state elections is much likely to get Muslim votes over other candidates like Naresh Saini, a Congress candidate. They will be in fight with BJP candidate Mahavir Rana, a BSP MLA who was suspended from the party last year.CSDS co-ordinator in UP and Aligarh Muslim University professor Asmer Beg said, If there is a Muslim vote, there is also a Brahmin or Bania vote. The different social groups vote depending on their local conditions and candidates.Though there is Akhilesh Yadavs wave in the state, and the big alliance is being seen as a Bihar redux, Sudha Pai, national fellow at the Indian Council of Social Sciences, said, It is too early to say anything. There is Mayawati also and the BJP might not be as weak as it seems to be. Somehow, their party has been able to use social media and very aggressive campaigning as they did in 2014. But what remains to be seen is if it will hold this time too for them. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have asked his party members to desist from nepotism, but the BJP, while releasing the second list of candidates for UP Assembly polls, seems to have done otherwise. Please don't put pressure for securing tickets for your family members, whether a brother, a sister or children. Party will do justice to all. We have to work unitedly to win all the five states, the PM had said during the BJP National Executive on Jan 7. The party list of candidate for Assembly polls in UP and Uttarakhand feature many husbands, wives, sons and daughters sparking off rebellion from other ticket-hopefuls. In Noida, Sanjay Bali, tipped to be close to Union Minister Mahesh Sharma, quit from his post as general secretary of the district BJP unit. In Kairana, supporters of BJP leader Anil Chauhan protested against the party on Sunday. The most high-profile name on the list is that of Pankaj Singh, the son of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is contesting from the Noida seat on a BJP ticket. This prompted Sanjay Bali to lash out at the BJP for resorting to dynastic politics and said there was no difference left between the BJP and other parties. Pankaj Singh later hit back by saying, I have been working for the party and I am ready to work more. Im not in politics just to be a candidate but also work for the society and the people. I have been associated with the BJP for the last 15 years and going forward with the same mentality of a worker in the coming election. Singh is not the only one from a political family to get a ticket. Gopal Tandon, son of BJP veteran Lalji Tandon, is contesting from Lucknow East, and Sunil Dutt Dwivedi, the son of Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, is contesting from the Farrukhabad seat. Prateek Sharan Singh, son of Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh, will contest on a BJP ticket from Gonda and Nilima Katiyar, daughter of Prem Lata Katiyar from Kalyanpur. Sandeep Singh, the grandson of former chief minister Kalyan Singh, also received a party ticket from Atrauli. Another controversial name on the list is that of Mriganka Singh, the daughter of Kairana MP Hukum Singh. In June last year, Singh had grabbed headlines after he claimed that 250 Hindu families had fled the town of Kairana in a mass exodus. The BJP leadership had thrown its weight behind Singhs claims. BJP sources said Singh had been lobbying for over a year for his daughter to get a BJP ticket. In 2014, when Singh vacated the Kairana assembly seat after winning the Lok Sabha election, Anil Chauhan fought the bypoll and lost by less than 1,100 votes. Chauhan, who will now fight from Kairana on a Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ticket, said he blamed Hukum Singh for his 2014 loss. It is an open secret that Hukum Singh has wanted the seat for his daughter. He has been lobbying for it since he fought the Lok Sabha polls. He was let down when I got the ticket so he sabotaged my chances so that his daughter would get the ticket in 2017. I can assure you that far from winning the seat, she will not even be second. I knew about this sabotage for a while and that is why I decided to quit the party and contest from the RLD. I am the son of a farmer so my views are consistent with those of the RLD, Chauhan told News 18. In Uttarakhand, while the BJP faces infighting over rebel Congress MLAs being given tickets, they are also coming under fire for giving tickets to children of politicians. Rebel Congress leader Vijay Bahugunas son Saurabh Bahuguna, a third-generation politician, has been given a BJP ticket from Sitarganj and former Uttarakhand CM BC Khanduris daughter Ritu Khanduri Bhushan will contest from the Yamkeshwar seat. Vinod Khandari, the son of former state cabinet minister Matuhar Singh, will contest from the Devprayag assembly constituency. Congress, which has faced criticism for promoting nepotism in politics, wasted no time in hitting back at the BJP. All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Naseeb Singh said, This has made it clear that there is a huge difference between the Kathni (words) and Karni (deeds) of the BJP. Theirs is a party full of liars. Besides, it is wrong to compare BJPs political families to the Gandhi family, which has sacrificed a lot for the country. The Gandhi family is in politics for national service while BJP leaders are in politics for personal gain. The BJP, however, maintained that the family of a potential candidate can be neither a qualification nor a disqualification. Union minister Sanjeev Balyan said,People have not been given tickets based on which family they belong to. Take Pankaj Singh, for example. He has been a party worker for the last 15 years and has worked hard. He is popular in Noida and his chances of winning are high. All these factors are looked into. While we cannot promote someone because they belong to a certain family, the opposite is also true. We cant disqualify someone on grounds of who their parents may be. Lucknow: Aparna Yadav, wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav's second son Prateek, was on Monday fielded by Samajwadi Party from Lucknow Cantt constituency, making it a high profile contest as she will take on BJP's Rita Bahuguna, who had won the seat in the last Assembly polls. 26-year-old Aparna, the latest entrant from the Yadav clan, figured in Samajwadi Party's fourth list of 37 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. The wife of the step-brother of SP president and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will cross swords with 67-year-old Rita, former state Congress chief who had won the seat in the 2012 Assembly polls. Daughter of Congress stalwart and former state Chief Minister H.N. Bahuguna, Rita quit Congress in October last year to join BJP, after which she resigned as the legislator. Aparna, a political greenhorn who has the backing of the ruling SP, has been nurturing the constituency under the banner of an NGO. Although Aparna's candidature was announced much earlier, the internecine tussle in Samajwadi Party and emergence of Akhilesh Yadav as the new party president had made her ticket unsure till it was announced on Sunday. BSP has fielded Yogesh Dixit making the fight triangular in the constituency which will go to polls in the third phase on February 19. In the last polls, Rita, contesting on Congress ticket, had defeated BJP's Suresh Chandra Tewari by a margin of over 21,000 votes. She remained active in the constituency all along. Aparna, whose husband is a businessman with big real estate interests, feels that since she is the joint candidate of SP-Congress coalition, it will give her added strength. "People of the constituency know what work has been done there by their representative till now...they have seen how I have been working ever since I was given the responsibility of the seat by my party," Aparna said. She said her contribution has also been lauded even by her adversaries. "Ritaji herself wrote a letter of appreciation to me for raising voice in Nirbhaya case. Her tone changed when my party directed me to contest from here. I am sure to win as people have seen me working without being an MLA," Aparna said. On the other hand, Rita said people understand the difference between personal contribution and what it meant to be just a member of a particular family. "In fact, I want her to contest, people should realise being just member of the ruling family does not mean you have an electoral presence and you can succeed," she said. "I have struck a personal relationship with the constituency and with the people of the area over these years and they know as to how I have been with them all through," she said, hoping that her personal rapport with the voters would see her through. This time round, she has the additional advantage of BJP's organisational network which will help in pipping her opponent to the post. "Lucknow as a whole has been loyal to BJP all along, electing its nominee for last five terms. I think it should not be difficult for me to win," she stressed. In its fourth list released by SP state president Naresh Uttam, candidates were also declared for Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Ballia, Kannauj, Lucknow, Fatehpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur and Azamgarh. The party gave ticket to Rajesh Kushwaha from Ghazipur in place of sitting MLA and minister Vijay Mishra. Former minister Shadab Fatima, close to SP leader Shivpal Yadav who was sacked by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was also denied ticket from Jahurabad seat (Ghazipur) and Mahendra Chauhan replaced her from the seat. The party also changed its candidate from Gopalpur seat (Azamgarh) and gave ticket to Nafis Ahmad in place of sitting MLA and state minister Wasim Ahmad. Capping days of feverish parleys, Congress and Samajwadi Party forged an alliance to contest the UP Assembly polls together, with the ruling party leaving 105 of the 403 seats for its alliance partner. Though SP has so far given tickets to 324 candidates, it will ask its nominees to withdraw from those constituencies it has offered to Congress as part of seat-sharing agreement. SP will contest 298 seats under the arrangement. With Xiaomi VP Hugo Barra hanging up his boots by end of February, senior vice president Xiang Wang is all set to replace him to lead Xiaomis global efforts going ahead.Xiang Wang, Xiaomi Senior Vice President, will lead our entire global efforts moving forward. We have ambitious expansion plans for 2017 and are confident in Xiang's leadership to take our global business to even greater heights, announced Bin Lin, Xiaomi co-founder and president in a Facebook post.Xiang Wang joined Xiaomi in June 2015 as the senior vice president of strategic cooperation and had worked as the president of Qualcomm Greater China since April 2010.Hugo Barra, the most prominent global executive at China's Xiaomi Inc and the face of the smartphone maker's global expansion, has left the company citing health concerns and a new role.In a Facebook post on Monday, Barra, Xiaomi's vice president in charge of global operations, said he was leaving the company after three-and-a-half years for a new project based in Silicon Valley.Xiaomi was briefly the world's most valuable startup and had hopes to be China's equivalent of Apple Inc. But the firm has recently grappled with slowing smartphone sales and fell out of the top five in China for smartphone vendors in 2016, after reaching No. 2 in 2015.(With Reuters inputs) Samsung Electronics has said that faulty battery caused its flagship Galaxy Note 7 to catch fire after discontinuing the fire-prone device more than three months ago. A mix of thin separators between the positive and negative layers, abnormal squeeze in battery corners, abnormal bump in battery surface and absent insulating tape caused the Note 7s to explode and set on fire, Samsung was quoted as saying. The findings are based on two investigations by US-based firms UL and Exponent, which examined batteries and one supply-chain analysis by a German company TUV Rheinland. Samsung had to recall 3.06 million Note 7 phones that began in September after reports the phones were overheating and catching fire. The company had blamed a flaw in lithium batteries from one of its two suppliers. It was only after replacement Notes started to catch fire, the company decided to kill the Note 7 for good. The travel sector is jazzing up its offer for gay tourists, who tend to spend more than most when away from home, taking it beyond parties in sunny hubs like Ibiza. The trend was underscored at the Fitur tourism fair in Madrid, one of the world's largest, which wraps up on Sunday, where tourism boards plugged cultural attractions and nature activities to this market. Spain's western region of Extremadura for example featured posters promoting annual gay pride festivities in the city of Badajoz which began in response to homophobic comments made by a local politician. But it also promoted bird watching trips, local architecture and rural tourism to gay and lesbian travellers at a special section of the fair dedicated to the market segment. The goal is to appeal to the growing number of gay and lesbian couples who are having children, said Hugo Alonso of the Extremadura's tourism promotion agency at the fair. "We are interested in volume," he said. Gay and lesbians make up around 10 percent of all tourists, he said. But for most destinations this segment is attractive because gays travel all year round since they are rarely tied down by school holidays, and spend more on trips. "The have more disposable income" since there are fewer couples with children, said Juan Pedro Tudeal, the director of Diversity Consulting International, a Spanish firm which advises firms targeting the gay and lesbian market. Thomas Bomkes of Diversity Tourism, a German consultancy, said gay tourists spend "even more when they know they're accepted". 'Dynamic segment' While it is difficult to estimate how much gay travellers spend, the United Nations World Tourism Organization said in a recent report that "there is no denying" that they "are a dynamic and influential segment within the tourism sector". The Spanish capital generated about 150 million euros ($160 million) from its annual gay-pride festivities last summer which feature one of the world's biggest pride marches. The windfall is expected to be even higher this year as Madrid will host World Pride in late June and early July. Some three million people are expected to take part in the event. Spanish airline Iberia as well as several hotels have launched special offers for this time of the year to appeal to gay travellers. Pride festivities are used by many Spanish coastal destinations to attract gay travellers outside of their high season. The beach resort of Maspalomas on Spain's Canary Islands stages three pride events each year, which generate up to 20 million euros each, said the organiser of the event, Fernando Ilarduya. There has also been a boom in the number of cruises, vacation clubs and bungalows geared specifically at the gay market. "Certain details make the trip more enjoyable, like for example a hotel that does not provide separate beds to two women who book a room together," said Marion Couturier of event management agency Hansen&Partner. 'Difficult to target' While destinations like Spain - which was one of the first nations to legalise gay marriage- , Thailand and Bali are already well established as "gay friendly", others are seeking to follow their example. At Fitur, Argentina's tourism board highlighted in its brochures that it was the first nation in Latin America to approve gay marriage while Colombia promoted several destinations specifically for gays. But Bomkes warned that some gay people may actually be turned off by special offers and package tours that openly target the gay community. "It can be difficult to reach the target group: some people don't want these special offers," he said. "Most of them are very educated. They know how to book everything by themselves." The "gay friendly" reputation of a hotel trails location and the price-quality relationship as the most important factor when a gay tourists books accommodation, according to Community Marketing, a US gay marketing firm. Some firms have begun to focus exclusively on the lesbian segment, which is now "booming" after initially lagging behind the gay male segment, according to Couturier. "Men prefer urban tourism, while women are looking for outdoor activities, culture, gastronomy," added Sylvia Lacosta who runs a travel agency in Tenerife that focuses on the lesbian market. A Syrian opposition delegation to peace talks set to open in the Kazakh capital on Monday said it would only discuss ways to salvage a fragile Russian-Turkish ceasefire it sees as having been violated chiefly by Iranian-backed militias in Syria. The Syrian government considers most of the rebel groups attending the conference to be foreign-backed "terrorists", but says it is ready to engage in talks with armed groups that surrender their arms and enter reconciliation deals. Mainstream rebel groups under the banner of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) have rejected these terms, saying their goal is to end President Bashar al Assad's rule through a U.N. backed political transition process. "We will not enter into any political discussions and everything revolves over abiding by the ceasefire and the humanitarian dimension of easing the suffering of Syrians under siege and release of detainees and delivery of aid," Yahya al Aridi, a spokesman for the opposition delegation, told Reuters. "The Syrian regime has an interest in diverting attention from these issues. If the Syrian regime thinks our presence in Astana is a surrender by us, this is a delusion," he added. The 14-member team has taken no decision on holding face-to-face talks with the government delegation after the start of the conference, he said, adding that it was likely to be via intermediaries like the previous U.N.-backed Geneva conferences. "There are complications when you are going to face those who entered your country and continue to kill you, and a regime that has not abided by a ceasefire and continues with its policy of destruction and killing its people," he said. The Syrian government has long denied using its aerial superiority to bomb civilians in rebel-held areas in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands. U.N. investigators have also accused both government and rebels of committing war crimes during the conflict. The delegation, which faced enormous pressure from regional backer Turkey to attend the talks branded a sellout by other rebel groups, was meeting round the clock to decide whether to attend the opening session, where it would be in the same room as Syrian government representatives. A senior opposition negotiator, Osama Abu Zaid, told Reuters the opposition hoped Russia would play a role in reining in Iranian-backed militias whom it blames for trying to help the Syrian army. "Either Russia succeeds in this task and becomes a real guarantor and curbs these militias, or else the ceasefire deal will collapse with the continued Iranian-backed attacks led by Hezbollah and Shiite militias on Syrian territory," he added. The opposition has been disappointed by what it calls Moscow's inability to fulfill its role as deal guarantor and put pressure on militias led by Lebanon's Hezbollah group, saying this threatens to wreck the ceasefire deal brokered in December. Search Keywords: Short link: Cairo: At least five policemen were killed after terrorists opened fire on their vehicle in central Sinai, security officials said on Monday. The gunmen stopped the police vehicle late yesterday, attacked them and escaped, they said. Egypt has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak. The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule. Most of the attacks have taken place in the north of the Sinai Peninsula but assaults have also occurred in other parts of the country, including the capital Cairo. Meanwhile, the military has launched security campaigns in the North Sinai area, in which some terrorists are based. The security forces have arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip. Singapore: Myanmar's deputy defence chief on Monday urged the world to give his government "time and space" to solve a crisis involving the Rohingya Muslim minority amid concerns jihadists could exploit the situation. Rear Admiral Myint Nwe told a security forum in Singapore his government is "fully aware of the growing concern about the widespread reports on (the) situation in Rakhine state" where the Rohingya live, and was committed to address the issue and punish wrongdoers. Since October Myanmar's army has carried out "clearance operations" in the north of the western state to root out insurgents accused of deadly raids on police border posts. At least 66,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, alleging rape, murder and torture at the hands of security forces. Myanmar has long faced international criticism over its treatment of the Rohingya. Most people in the majority Buddhist community consider them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. "The government does not condone rights abuses against innocent civilians. Legal action will be taken in response to any substantiated claim," Myint Nwe said. The admiral was responding to a keynote address by Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at th Fullerton Forum organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Hishammuddin warned that the situation in Rakhine -- if not addressed properly -- could be exploited by the Islamic State group as it seeks a base in Southeast Asia. "This horrific possibility has the potential to cause death and destruction well beyond the borders of ASEAN," he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Answering a delegate's question, Hishammuddin said the Rohingya issue "is going to test ASEAN solidarity... It needs to be resolved, we cannot sweep it under the carpet, it affects a lot of Muslims and it's very emotional". Myint Nwe said both Yangon and the international community should focus on finding a "lasting solution" to the problem. "Allowing time and space is essential for the government's efforts to bear fruit in finding a sustainable solution of this complex issue." Hishammuddin said ASEAN -- the regional bloc to which both Malaysia and Myanmar belong -- should play a key role in working out a solution with Myanmar's leaders. Washington: The White House on Monday appeared to play down suggestions that a controversial decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was imminent. "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," White House press secretary Sean Spicer told AFP. President Donald Trump had promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem "fairly quickly" after coming to office, prompting speculation that a decision could come as soon as Monday. Like other major powers, the US has put its embassy in Tel Aviv. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has warned that moving the embassy would deal a huge blow to hopes for Middle East peace. The UN and EU have voiced deep concern over the proposal. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to speak by phone on Sunday, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said. Reports that President Donald Trump is planning to eliminate federal endowments for the arts and humanities have some in Charlottesville concerned that a source of funding for research and teaching could disappear. The Hill, a political trade publication, reported Thursday that two members of the presidents transition team are laying out a plan to reduce federal spending by $10.5 trillion over the next decade. Among the most dramatic changes proposed, according to The Hill, is the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The proposal hits close to home in Charlottesville, which hosted the NEHs 50th anniversary with a four-day celebration last September. The city is also home to the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, which received 21 percent of its $6.2 million budget from the NEH last year. The state provided 19 percent of the foundations funding, while UVa provided another 10 percent. UVa received about $2.24 million from NEH and NEA last year. President Teresa A. Sullivan who was a sociologist before moving to the administrative side of academia said the agencies are important to the country as a whole. The great value of the NEH and the NEA is that they help us preserve the best of our past while envisioning and creating the future, Sullivan said. Both agencies are valuable to American life. Rob Vaughn, director of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, said hes not yet worried. The Trump administration has not officially announced plans to cut or eliminate the agencies, he said, and they have received bipartisan support in Congress in recent years. We are optimistic that the incoming Trump administration will also see the value of the NEHs work with communities around the country, Vaughn said. The NEH and NEA fund a variety of arts and humanities projects around the country, including documentaries, symposia and research. Libraries, museums and archives all benefit from the grants given out by the two organizations. Each agency is asking Congress for about $150 million in the upcoming budgetary year. Even before the election of Trump and rumors of the NEHs demise, people in the humanities were aware that they have a public relations problem. Shortly before the NEHs 50th anniversary celebration, William Adams, the agencys director, said that he senses that many Americans do not see the value of the humanities because of a deep tendency in American culture to lean hard in the direction of technical disciplines and technical knowledge. Increases in student debt and falling revenues have caused many people to question the utility of such programs, Adams told The Daily Progress in September. The crushing experience of the recession in 2008 and beyond certainly caused students and parents to question the vocational and economic value of the humanities in their academic forms, Adams said. Lisa Reilly, chairwoman of UVas Department of Architectural History, has received two NEH grants. Last year, she directed an NEH-funded symposium for 60 teachers at Monticello and UVa, detailing life on a 19th-century plantation and the world inhabited by Thomas Jefferson, his family and the enslaved laborers who worked for them. The symposium also showed teachers how to use historic sites in their own towns to teach their students about history in a more engaging way, Reilly said. The grant provided a stipend of $1,200 to each attendee to cover travel expenses and books. Most of the attendees were social studies teachers, Reilly said, who shared what they learned with colleagues and students. Often people think its fairly esoteric work that only affects a small group of people, she said. By the time you multiply 60 teachers by the students theyre teaching, I would think its in the thousands. I think that kind of broadness in how it serves so much of the country thats lost on a lot of people, she added. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy A small bed in a lower level room of Poplar Forest is a reminder of a man whose story is far less known than the Founding Father he helped bolster. For the third year the retreat home of Thomas Jefferson has hosted Winter Weekend Reflections: At Home with Mr. Jefferson, which debuted this weekend and will continue into March. A new exhibit in the lower level of the attraction pays homage to Burwell Colbert, Jeffersons enslaved manservant. Unlike the rest of the year, when guided tours are the norm, visitors during Winter Weekend Reflections or allowed to roam the grounds of the Bedford County plantation at his or her leisure while docents are available to answer questions. The theme for this years Winter Weekend Reflections brings light to multiple families that have called Poplar Forest home and adjustments made to the house through the years. On Sunday, Docent Evan Dorman said he hopes the open access to the house and the theme of how it has changed will lead to a more complete understanding of Poplar Forest. Jefferson inherited the property, consisting at the time of around 4,800 acres, in 1773. Construction on the house began in 1806 and was completed six years later. Poplar Forest was a working plantation and Jeffersons retreat, during which time he visited the property only occasionally each year. The plantation passed out of the familys ownership in 1828, and the property went through subsequent owners until it was acquired by the nonprofit Corporation for Jeffersons Poplar Forest in 1984. Items present in the house during Winter Weekend Reflections, and not normally during the year, are photographs showing the homes evolution, such as one depicting it with dormers that were installed to accommodate a second story that did not exist in Jeffersons time. A display case in one room contains a variety of objects uncovered during archeological digs on the grounds, such as an 1847 penny, which was found among the wooden joists and appears to have been left there deliberately as a good luck charm, Dorman said. Also on display was a pair of books published in the time of Jefferson, although not personally owned by him; visitors are able to thumb through the pages by wearing a pair of white gloves available for use. A family tree of the enslaved Hubbard family hanging in one room shows the moral dichotomy of a president who declared all men are created equal. At the time of Jeffersons inheritance of the property, there were 11 slaves at Poplar Forest. Jefferson began moving slaves there from Monticello and his other holdings and at its peak, the plantation was home to 94 enslaved individuals, Dorman said. Of that number, 27 were members of the Hubbard family. Among those who visited the retreat Sunday was Karen and George Mosebrook of Culpeper. The couple has visited Monticello numerous times but Sunday marked their first visit to Poplar Forest. The owners of a nursery, the couple said they were drawn to Jefferson because of his love of horticulture. Jefferson, was always into experimenting, always trying to find the newest and the best and the latest, Karen Mosebrook said. During the tour, George Mosebrook questioned what became of the slaves when a Jefferson descendent sold the property. So all of these people were dispersed? he asked. In response, Dorman said there was an appraisement in December 1826 and an auction was held, and the people here were sold off across Virginia and across the south. The bottom level of the house served as a wine cellar and appeared to be used as sleeping area for both the free and enslaved who worked on the house, Dorman said. One of the slaves who may have used the space as sleeping quarters was Colbert, who was responsible for overseeing the smooth operations of Jeffersons plantations and handled his accounts. A reconstructed bed and an informational graphic provides details of Colberts life. Colbert was so esteemed by Jefferson that he gave written instructions that Colbert be categorically spared the lash. Colbert also was one of five slaves Jefferson freed in his will, although Colberts children remained enslaved. Colbert was at Jeffersons side almost constantly, and in some cases, that cost him pretty dearly, Dorman said, such as when Colbert learned that his wife had fallen ill and died in his absence. Colberts exhibit at Poplar Forest was finished a few weeks ago, and will remain as a permanent exhibit. Burrell was such an important part of both Poplar Forest and Jeffersons life in general, Dorman said. We talk about him on the tour upstairs, but having something concrete to demonstrate the physical presence of his life is pretty important. Albemarle County authorities are standing behind a bipartisan-backed bill that would examine the effectiveness of expanding the number of misdemeanor crimes that require the collection of DNA from offenders. Bill H.J. 711, sponsored by House Minority Leader David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, and cosigned by Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Weyers Cave, asks the Virginia Crime Commission to take a look at data from other states that have expanded their own DNA databases by collecting DNA from a wider range of misdemeanor offenders. The bill follows efforts from local delegates to expand Virginias own database. In early 2015, Toscano and Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, pushed a bill through the House of Delegates that added a slew of serious, Class One misdemeanors to the list of convictions for which the state requires offenders to submit a DNA sample to the states data bank. Those misdemeanor charges included stalking, sexual battery and attempted rape. The effort was inspired by the high-profile murder case of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, who was abducted from the Downtown Mall in September 2014; her body was found in Albemarle County weeks later. The man convicted in her death and a series of other violent crimes, Jesse Matthew Jr., had a prior misdemeanor conviction for trespassing in 2010. Toscano believes that if Matthew had provided a DNA sample at that time, he could have been caught before he ever met Hannah Graham. That bill and the latest efforts have received ardent support from Albemarle County Sheriff J.E. Chip Harding, who has championed DNA database expansion for years. While Harding and others would like to add more misdemeanor offenses to the list, doing so would create additional costs that likely wouldnt sit well with the General Assembly at this juncture. From what we were hearing, there was a strong feeling ... that there would be a very small chance of moving anything forward that would require any additional funding this year because of budget concerns, Harding said. So we got to thinking about asking for a study would actually be a better way. The study would take a look at DNA database models from New York and Wisconsin, two states that have a broader range of misdemeanor convictions that require DNA collection. According to data collected by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services since the state expanded its misdemeanor list in 2012, the average first-time felon had three previous misdemeanor convictions, and 89 percent of New Yorks 3,547 offenders linked to sexual assault were in the database for non-sex crimes, such as petty larceny and trespassing. Harding believes stats like those should help convince skeptics that the expansion can help save lives and exonerate those falsely convicted. Thats why he and county prosecutor Robert Tracci penned a letter to the General Assembly on Friday, citing the figures and urging their support for the bill. If we just get enough folks to look at how powerful it is, I dont think well have a problem, Harding said. The letter notes that the expansion is not a partisan issue; while Toscano is a Democrat and Landes is a Republican, each has espoused similar sentiments about what the expansion could do for crime prevention. While DNA collections can be pricey, the study proposed in H.J. 711 also would allow for an examination of best fiscal practices when it comes to expanding the collection requirements, Landes said. They might be able to find options for the legislature to consider that would accomplish what the goal is and, at the same time, do it in a more cost-effective manner, Landes said. But thats what the study is intended to do, is to get more details, get more specifics on what the impact would be and find out what the costs are. While the bill itself is only calling for a study, the concept of actually expanding the database is not without its detractors. John Whitehead, a civil liberties lawyer and founder of The Rutherford Institute in Albemarle County, has raised concerns about the efficacy of DNA testing and its ability to predict future criminal activity. Whitehead objects to the crime commission performing a study, and he instead believes that an independent study should be conducted by scientists and other experts in the field. We really need think this out, and it should not be a rushed job, Whitehead said. I would want some independent experts in there that really understand the science of DNA, not just crime folks. Toscano agrees that there are civil liberties issues in play when it comes to DNA collection, but he said the crime commissions study would explore those risks and formulate a game plan for avoiding them. The proposal is that we approach this prudently and carefully to make sure that were not going to be violating peoples rights, Toscano said. There are some people who dont believe you should ever be able to take the DNA. Were never going to convince them. But for people who believe that there is an appropriate role, we have to address the legitimate concerns of the civil libertarians. Toscano predicts that the bill will be taken up by the General Assembly sometime this week. Peace talks gathering the Syrian regime and rebel groups began Monday in the Kazakh capital Astana, although rebels said they would not negotiate face-to-face with the government in the first session. Representatives from the two sides sat at the same round table as Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov delivered an opening speech, an AFP correspondent saw. Rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told AFP earlier Monday that the opposition was backing out of the first direct talks because of the regime's continued bombardment and attacks on a flashpoint area near Damascus. It remains unclear whether rebels could negotiate directly with the regime at a later session. Rebels have said the talks would be focused on strengthening a frail nationwide ceasefire that was brokered last month by Russia and Turkey. Damascus has meanwhile pushed for a "comprehensive" political solution to the conflict and insisted that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal. The Astana talks were organised by regime backers Iran and Russia and rebel ally Turkey. Several rounds of failed negotiations in Geneva saw political opposition figures take the lead in negotiating with the regime. But in Astana, the 14-member opposition delegation is composed solely of rebels leading the armed uprising, backed by nearly two dozen legal and political advisers. More than 310,000 people have been killed and more than half of Syria's population displaced since the conflict erupted in 2011 after protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Search Keywords: Short link: After months of meetings and planning, the town of Appomattox will reveal a draft of its downtown revitalization plan next week. The Region 2000 Local Government Council and the town will host a public community meeting to release the draft at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Appomattox Visitor Information Center on Main Street in Appomattox. The revitalization plan is focused on the towns Central Business District along Main Street up to Court Street, Highland Avenue and back down Church Street. The plan was paid for with a $35,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. It will be used to apply for a community development construction grant for beautification, building facade improvements and marketing from VDHCD to be submitted by the end of March. We looked at marketing, what are opportunities that are not met by other areas, niche markets to be developed and a beautification plan, said Kelly Hitchcock, senior planner with Region 2000 LGC and the lead organizer of the grant application. The plan includes a detailed marketing and branding document, a streetscape improvement plan, a downtown building facade improvement plan and a beautification plan. Hitchcock said the plan was based on findings from a local market analysis, business and resident surveys, and goals and strategies to enhance the economic vitality of the towns business district. The business owners survey revealed many owners thought the attractiveness of the downtown buildings, the condition of those buildings, and identity or branding of the town needs to be addressed. We think [if] we can improve the look of downtown, it will bring more people downtown, Mayor Paul Harvey said Friday. He added it will certainly help the businesses if the town is able to improve the look of downtown. Many of the buildings in the district area are fairly old and need a fresh look, he said. A beautification plan includes improving and adding street lights, benches and more plantings into the business district area. The intent of the building facade improvements is to improve the front of some buildings so there is some architectural uniformity but without looking cookie cutter, he said. Town council has not been shown the draft plans as of yet, he said. Region 2000 Local Government Council was hired by the town to organize and submit the grant applications. The revitalization ties into another ongoing project to bring the towns train depot, which houses the Appomattox Visitors' Center downtown, back to its original state. Harvey said the town currently is pursuing grant funding for the project. At Thursdays meeting, attendees also will be given an opportunity to view and comment on proposed streetscape and public space improvements, according to a news release from Region 2000. Paige Drinkard owns The Little Things in Life, a childrens consignment store on Main Street. She co-owns the store with her sister-in-law Millie Drinkard. They decided to locate their store downtown because of the higher traffic flow compared to other parts of town. There are a lot of small businesses down here that offer a variety, Paige Drinkard said. She was aware of the towns downtown revitalization project and said it has potential future benefit for her business. As far as Main Street, there needs to be more advertisement directing people to this part of town, she said. Drinkard added improvements to parking also are needed. Her store shares a small parking lot with the Appomattox Visitors Center. The draft was developed by Community Planning Partners, a Richmond-based firm, hired by the town in 2015. The city of Danville commissioned the same group to create a plan to revitalize its Monument-Berry rental district in 2014. Most retirement advice has a flaw: Its being given by people who havent yet retired. So I asked money experts who have quit the 9-to-5 for their best advice on how to prepare for retirement. They still faced curveballs when it was their turn. Making the right financial moves is important, they said, but so is getting ready mentally, emotionally and socially. You cant plan for everything A central retirement decision is when to do it. Working longer can reduce the odds of running out of money, but delaying retirement too long could mean missing out on the good health or companionship to fully enjoy it. That trade-off came home to financial planner Ahouva Steinhaus of San Diego when her life partner, Albert, died suddenly last year, just before she was scheduled to hand over her business. Steinhaus, 69, says shes grateful shes not working now, while grieving the loss, but still wonders what might have been if shed started the process of selling her practice earlier. You cant know those things, Steinhaus says. Its a balance between wanting to make sure that you have enough socked away that you feel confident that youre going to be OK, and not wanting to spend the rest of your life working. What helps, Steinhaus says, is having many supportive friends and projects. Shes remodeling her kitchen after wanting to do so for 18 years, and shes active in various causes, including San Diego EarthWorks . She also knows from having watched her clients and friends that adjusting to retired life can take a while. It does seem like a lot of people do cast around a bit after they retire to figure out what their life is going to look like, Steinhaus says. Get your retirement house in order Theoretically, you can get a better return investing your money than paying off a mortgage. In reality, your biggest asset in retirement could be a paid-off, appropriately remodeled home that allows you to age in place, says financial literacy expert Lewis Mandell, emeritus professor of finance at the State University of New York, Buffalo. Not having a mortgage allows you to withdraw less from your retirement accounts, which could make them last longer, and your equity could be a source of income later through a reverse mortgage, says Mandell, 73, who wrote his latest book, What to Do When I Get Stupid, after moving to Bainbridge Island in Washington. If you plan to relocate, spending time in your new community before you retire can help you acclimate. Financial planner Bill Bengen and his wife, Joyce, at first divided their time between their home in San Diego and their vacation house in La Quinta, California. They wound up moving five years before they retired. We feel plugged into the community now, says Bengen, 69. When moving to a new area, he says, its strange: You dont know anybody, you dont know the ropes. Now were part of the ropes. Find an objective adviser Bengen has not one but two advisers: an investment manager and a financial planner. He appreciates their objectivity and the fact that he doesnt have to fret over the details. An objective review of your retirement plans is crucial before you retire, since the decisions you make in the years immediately before and after may have irreversible consequences, planners say. A too-large withdrawal rate, for example, can increase the chances of running out of money. (Bengen should know: His research led to the 4 percent rule widely used in financial planning to determine sustainable withdrawal rates.) Find ways to stay connected Peggy Cabaniss of Moraga, California, learned from retired clients that staying active in a field where youre recognized can help prevent the feeling that youve lost part of your identity. Its really easy to become a nobody, says Cabaniss, 72. Cabaniss counsels other planners about selling their businesses, serves on the boards of three nonprofits and works on a committee that encourages more women to become financial planners. Cabaniss big surprise is how much shes enjoying her new life. Before she retired, Cabaniss thought her work wasnt stressful, because she loved it. Within a few months of selling her practice, though, she noticed her shoulders were in a new position down where they should be, instead of tensed up around her ears. I didnt realize that I felt such a great deal of responsibility, Cabaniss said. Now my kids say, Mom, you look so happy. This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a certified financial planner and columnist at NerdWallet. Email her at lweston@nerdwallet.com or find her on Twitter: @lizweston. Revisit the founding of the JSA and foreshadow its future in The New Golden Age #1 preview And see what lies ahead in the future of the DC Universe Syria's government envoy at the peace talks in Astana has denounced as "provocative" and "insolent" a speech delivered by the head of the rebel factions attending the gathering in Kazakhstan. Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's U.N. ambassador, says rebel leader Mohammad Alloush's speech in Astana did not rise to the level of the gathering of diplomats attending the conference. Ja'afari in remarks to reporters in Astana repeatedly referred to the rebel delegation as representatives of "terrorist armed groups." He also said that the agenda for the talks, which are sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran, is "not ready yet." The harsh and uncompromising tone of Ja'afari's remarks was a bad omen for the talks, which had barely started with an opening ceremony and speeches by various representatives. Search Keywords: Short link: A story that must be told Author: Tamika Felina and Pommellls Williams STREAMS of sorrow flow through our lives leaving shattered dreams and forlorn faces. No one is immune to the ravages of time. Tales of doom abound and we do hear many but a handful compel us to listen. Such is Unearthing The Diamond: A story of Struggle and Strife to a Successful Life. It draws a line, swearing never to claim victimhood as some twisted badge of honour. Throughout this narrative anger and calumny never quite settle in and there is never an attempt to reshape the world into hostile camps of good and evil. The story of Tamika Felina and Pommells Williams unveiled by the former is unlike the look at me authorship that is nothing more than well veiled narcissism. Tamikas delivery is void of eloquence, colour and flow but it was meant to be that way. A literary showcase it is not. So why is her story so impactful? Tamika is as authentic as it gets. From her entrails she bares all. And we tag along. That compelling she is. Her storyline is unforgiving but no more than the many horror stories we hear daily. But hers is ineffably different. Maybe its her candour and her enormous capacity to endure emotional pain. And of her triumph and redemption we can only marvel. We journey with her every step of the way and hearken to her every word. Gospel. There are moments when we want to disembark but with a mere nudge she abruptly pulls us back. Her gang rape by fellow high school students, including her boyfriend Phillip, is brutal and terrifying. We share her alarm, disgust, anger, and anguish. In the face of this unrestrained evil we question Gods existence. Reliving this haunting experience, Tamika writes, I stopped counting when the 13th one entered me. With each one, I just kept wishing I was dead. When they were all done, Phillip tossed my underwear at me. With them snickering and muttering themselves they left me alone. Somehow they were careful not to hit me in my face...I was now dirty and bloody, not just from my clothes but I was dirty and could not get clean. But no one believes her. She is expelled. The integrity of the school must be preserved. Her aunt also rejects her. On her own she meets Ian, a man to whom she is indebted to this day. They both sustain each other in the most arid of times. Then out of sheer desperation, we decided to go up in the hills of May Mountains and start a farm...We would walk each morning for at least four miles to get to our farm up on the mountains, Tamika recalls. She later describes a time when exhaustion drained her last ounce of will. About three quarters of a mile from home I couldnt carry my load any further. I just sat then down and started crying telling Ian this life was too hard. I had reached my breaking point. And when Tamika approaches motherhood there are times of levity - tender and reassuring. That night as we lay in bed, Ian was stroking my belly as the baby kicked. That night he said, If you are a boy kick once, if you are a girl kick twice. I laughed and asked why the girl got the hardest task but before I could finish the question, sure enough the baby kicked once again and settled down. Ian was now convinced we were having a boy. And they did. But good times never seem to hang around. Ayale is prematurely born and sickly - a prelude to a rattling experience that would test the faith of any parent. Their baby boy is cancer stricken, given little hope of survival. But Tamika and Ian summon their faith...and with an infinite outpouring of love for Ayale, the incredulous occurs. A miracle. Their baby makes a recovery although it is discovered that he is hearing impaired; but he beats the odds and eventually excels at art design. And throughout there are instructive lessons. We learn that a name does bear energy. Yes, a seemingly inconsequential name can be weighty, significant. Ayale means life; and life he is granted. But they are still touched by distress. Hardship continually mounts. And days of hunger begin to take its toll. Ian becomes irritable even verbally abusive at times. At that point Ian delivers the most poignantly significant statement. I am not God, he tells Tamika, advising her to find salvation in the Creator. He gives her a bible. It is a revolutionary moment that reshapes Tamikas life. She writes, I believed in God but I didnt have the kind of faith Ian had. I told him I didnt know where to start...and he told me to start at the beginning - Genesis 1. That began my personal walk with God as I began reading a chapter a day. They move from Portland to Montego Bay to easy the burden, in search of plentitude. Their lot gradually improves as Tamikas knitting skills start to pay dividends. Volunteering at a school leads to a pretrained teaching post and eventually to a fully credentialled position that she has proudly held for more than two decades. And in exercising a keen sense for business there is ease. Their construction of a wondrous home in the mountains overlooking Montego Bay lends a Cinderella-like ending to a story that must be told. Unearthing the Diamond is a riveting, existential commentary that captures the vicissitudes of life. We just cannot capitulate when Providence turns against us. We just cannot capitulate when poor choices leave us harangued and literally left for dead. And as Ian once told Tamika, You cant just run away when the battle is heating up. We are called upon to be patient and faithful; industrious and hopeful; accepting and forgiving. And for sure a heavenly meed awaits us. Feedback: glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby Unearthing the Diamond by Tamika Felina and Pommellls Williams 2016 Publisher: Baobad Tree Books Available at Amazon/tamikafelina@ gmail.com Ratings:Highly recommended Growing a culture of criticism It can be argued that of these three, the arts remain the regions most under-exploited opportunity for generating revenue. This is evidenced both quantitatively and qualitatively in the allocation of resources and in reporting on the sector. Mindful of this constraint, the British Council worked in partnership with the Bocas Lit Fest and the Department of Literatures in English at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, Jamaica, to host a comprehensive workshop in reviewing books/literature and visual arts aimed at Anglophone Caribbean arts writers and culture journalists. From January 9 to 13, and based at UWIs Mona campus in the Faculty of Humanities and Education, the workshop brought together a mix of 11 early- career and mid-level professional arts writers from Jamaica, Bahamas, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago for five days of high-level, hands-on training. A thriving arts sector requires culture journalists writing about and reviewing the arts for mass media. Across the Anglophone Caribbean, there is a shortage of trained, experienced arts writers able to instigate interest in our creative forms in the public sphere, said a media release from the Bocas Lit Fest. This workshop was designed to help emerging arts writers improve the quality of their coverage and contribute to enhanced attention to arts and culture in the media and broader society. The workshop covered key issues common to writing about all cultural forms while focusing on specific issues relevant to two key areas of the arts: books and literature, visual arts. For example, the role of arts journalism in the cultural ecosystem, the critics responsibilities to the writer or artist, subjectivity vs objectivity; opinions vs fact, ethical and legal issues, and more. In an effort to expand the NGOs mandate as a literary development agency, Bocas Lit Fest made its first intervention of this kind in September 2016 with its Food Matters food writing workshop held in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. Were very grateful to the British Council for making this development opportunity a reality because we need to enhance our cultural environment by giving our critics the tools of the trade. In the maze of information and misinformation, we need some hand-holding in helping make sense of it all, the riches and the nonsense, states Marina Salandy-Brown, founder and director of the Bocas Lit Fest. The writing workshops form part of an ongoing Bocas workshop series dedicated to covering the local and regional creative landscape; future instalments will focus on film, music, the performing arts and fashion. The website: www. bocaslitfest.com offers on-going information on training opportunities. Help us find Nicole Nicole Lezamas parents told Newsday yesterday that they fear their daughter, a form three student of the San Fernando East Secondary School, may have been abducted. Reports are that Lezama left her Picton Street home shortly after 11am to go to a cyber caf? a short distance away from where she lives. She had gone there to complete a school project she had been working on. When some hours had passed and she did not return home, her parents, Lydia Hinds and Neil Lezama, became worried and reported the matter to officers of the San Fernando Police Station. Calls to the teenagers cellular phone have since been directed to a voicemail. Her disappearance comes two weeks after the body of 16 year-old schoolgirl Rachael Ramkissoon was discovered in a track along Balata Trace, San Raphael. She was still dressed in her North Eastern College school uniform. An autopsy revealed that she was strangled. Police are also searching for 17-year-old Kimberly Ferdinand of Demerara, Wallerfield who was last seen on January 11 leaving her mothers workplace at Agape Training Centre, Pro Queen Street, Arima. Speaking to Newsday at the familys home yesterday, Lezamas mother was hoping that her daughter did not fall victim to some kind of crime. I know how things are happening in this country and people are just disappearing, Hinds said. Little girls leave their homes and never return. A mother of four other children, Hinds wiped away tears as she spoke about Nicole, saying, It really hurts as a mother to know your little girl is out there all alone and you are not there to protect her. My daughter is not the type of person to run away from home. Hinds said that she and her husband are very protective of all their children and her husband makes it a habit to drop off and pick them up from school. Nicole, the mother said, was working on a school project and she needed to print some pictures from the internet. Wiping tears, Hinds said when Nicole did not return home, she went to the cyber caf?. I immediately called her cell phone but it went to voice mail. I called her friends and close relatives and no one has seen her. It is really hard. I am not doing good at all. These are incidents you read about on the newspapers. I did not know it would happen to us. Describing Nicole as an obedient girl, Hinds said that it was customary for she and her husband to lecture to their children about the need to be careful, especially going into strange cars. If Nicole enters a car, it has to be someone she knows. She would not just enter a strange car. Saying that she would continue to pray for her daughters safe return home, Hinds pleaded, I am begging whoever has my little girl, please let her come home to us. Her twin brothers need her. They are inseparable. Please dont harm her. Nicole was last seen wearing a pink and white sleeveless top, black jeans and grey sandals. Anyone with information about her whereabouts, can contact the San Fernando Police Station on 652-2564. Caribbean finance ministers to attend IDB meeting in Paraguay Several Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Jamaica, are among the 48 member countries of the Washington-based financial institutions expected to attend the March 30 to April 2 meeting. The IDB said that the 58th annual meeting of the Groups Board of Directors will be attended by ministers of finance or the economy, or central bank presidents. The IDB Group is made up of the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), which provides resources and financing for public sector, the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), which focuses on private sector operations, and the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), which provides donations and resources to foster innovative small-scale projects in the region. During the event the IDB Group will release its annual macroeconomic assessment of the region amidst a difficult global economic, political and trade environment. The findings of the macroeconomic report will be released during the Annual Meeting and panels will discuss fiscal, trade, investment and monetary challenges. During the meeting the IDB and Paraguay will host the Latin America and the Caribbean: An agenda of growth and development Business Forum. The event will gather close to 500 private sector leaders and high-level government representatives from the Americas, who will discuss key issues to promote sustained economic growth rooted in rising productivity, the IDB added. It said the panellists will discuss the opportunities and challenges for the region in areas including the promotion of food security and the growth of agribusiness, how to foster the development of qualified human capital and an environment that promotes innovation and the investment in infrastructure that the region requires to be a more competitive player in the global economy. At the investment forum, the IICs CEO James P. Scriven will reflect on the IICs first year of operations since the IDB Group consolidated its private sector. He will focus on regional private sector trends and how the IIC is best positioned to tackle its clients evolving needs in key economic sectors such as renewable energy, transport, water and sanitation, agribusiness and telecommunications. The Annual Meeting will feature the 8th edition of Demand Solutions event featuring big and original thinkers and entrepreneurs. Demand Solutions is designed to inspire creativity and innovation and will highlight the role of women as an engine of innovation and transformation in the past, present and future of Latin America and the Caribbean. Trump: 'I'll Very, Very, Very Probably Do It Again' Syrian rebels have vowed to continue fighting if talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in the Kazakh capital Astana fail, a rebel spokesman said Monday. "If the negotiations succeed, then we are with the negotiations," rebel spokesman Osama Abu Zeid told AFP. "If they don't succeed, unfortunately we'll have no choice but to continue fighting." The comment comes after the rebels refused to take part in face-to-face negotiations in a first session of talks with the regime. It was unclear whether the rebels could take part in direct negotiations with the regime at a later session in Astana. The opening session of the Astana talks could have marked the first time the armed rebel groups engaged in direct negotiations with Assad's regime since the conflict erupted in 2011. Rebels have said that the talks -- organised by regime backers Iran and Russia and rebel ally Turkey -- are meant to bolster a frail truce brokered by Moscow and Ankara last month. The regime meanwhile has pushed for a "comprehensive" political solution to the conflict, with Assad insisting that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal. More than 310,000 people have been killed and more than half of Syria's population displaced since the start of the nearly six-year conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: US President Donald Trump pledged Sunday to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement in upcoming talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. "We're meeting with the prime minister of Canada and we will be meeting with the president of Mexico, who I know, and we're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said while addressing White House staff on his second full day in office. Trump will receive his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on January 31. No date has been given for a meeting with Canada's Justin Trudeau, but it is expected "soon," according to a readout from a call between the two leaders on Saturday. Trump praised the Mexican leader, saying: "The president has been really very amazing and I think we are going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, for everybody involved. It's very important." As a candidate Trump made a surprise visit to Mexico in a bid to portray himself as a capable statesman on the international stage. The meeting turned controversial after Pena Nieto and Trump contradicted each other's accounts of the encounter. Trump told reporters that the pair did not discuss who would pay for the hotly contested border wall he has promised to build, while Pena Nieto said he "made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall". The real estate magnate vowed throughout his campaign to construct a massive wall along the US-Mexican border to stem illegal immigration, promising that Mexico would foot the bill. Concerning NAFTA, the White House website was updated immediately after Trump's swearing-in to reflect his campaign commitment to renegotiate the free trade agreement that has linked Canada, the United States and Mexico since 1994. On the campaign trail, Trump called NAFTA the worst trade deal the United States has ever signed and vowed to renegotiate or rip it up. The rules governing the free trade agreement allow any country to withdraw simply by notifying other parties. This would start a 180-day clock to allow for new negotiations. If no new deal is reached by then, the accord would be dissolved. Since Trump's November victory, both Canada and Mexico have announced that they are willing to sit down with the new US administration to reexamine the free trade agreement. Canada has said it expects to keep its 1989 bilateral free trade agreement with the US even if Trump withdraws from NAFTA. Pena Nieto, meanwhile, spoke with Trudeau by phone on Sunday to coordinate efforts to protect an economically integrated North America, the Mexican leader's office said. In the call, Pena Nieto "stressed how important Mexico's relationship with Canada is, as well as (the importance of) the free trade agreement and free flow of investment capital". The Mexican and Canadian leaders "agreed to redouble efforts to continue fostering economic integration in North America," the Mexican president's office statement said. Search Keywords: Short link: "I stabbed an innocent woman to death earlier today ... It was absolutely fantastic." If that sounds to you like the diary entry of Charles Manson and not a teenage girl, you'd be very wrong. It is that of Pearl Moen, now 19, who will serve 15 years in prison after taking a plea deal Friday for stabbing a stranger 21 times on Nov. 14, 2015. Moen goes on to describe the early morning attack, at a park near her home in Austin, Texas, as "a high unlike any otherit feels like this crisp unreality, flashing and sparkling, adrenaline and shock, fight or flight mode." The victim survived, reports the Austin American-Statesman, and told police that her attacker was smiling. The victim tells KXAN that her medical background as a nurse saved her life. She'd been relaxing on a blanket with a friend and closed her eyes when the friend went into an apartment; and seconds later she was attacked. She lost a lot of blood and suffered a collapsed right lung. "I always thought she would walk around with guilt, but knowing she had this joy and this pride is very unsettling," she says. KVUE reports that Moen made several drawings depicting the attack, which her mother found and gave to police. In March of 2016, KVUE interviewed a former classmate of Moen's, who expressed shock that a shy, sweet girl who'd left school to be homeschooled had turned so violent. Moen apparently fell in with a rough crowd and had a history of drug use and psychological issues, though no criminal record. (America's smallest state capital is investigating a rare murder.) Advocating the assassination of President Trump appears to have seriously derailed a Kentucky woman's life. "If someone was cruel enough to assassinate MLK, maybe someone will be kind enough to assassinate Trump. #bekind #trump #lovetrumpshate," Heather Lowrey tweeted between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Trump's inauguration last week, the Courier-Journal reports. The 26-year-old's social media accounts have now been deleted, the Secret Service has confirmed that she is being investigated, and more than one employer says they fired her after people informed them about the offending tweet. The Va Va Vixens burlesque group says they fired Lowrey as soon as they heard about the tweet, WAVE3 reports. "With so much hate and anger in the world, our hope is to be a sanctuary that welcomes all walks of life with open arms. We do not condone hate by any party and will not partake in it," the group said in a statement. American Income LifeTravis Moody Offices also issued a statement saying it has a "zero tolerance" policy and that Lowrey is no longer an employee. The Heyman Talent Agency issued a similar statement, saying: "Our company does not share the same views, nor opinions as Heather Lowrey." (Read more Donald Trump stories.) The largest search and rescue operation in Iceland's history met a grim end Sunday with the discovery of a 20-year-old's body on a beach on the south coast. Birna Brjansdottir had been missing for 8 days, and the AFP notes the country reported on little else during that time. Officials are treating it as murder, and a murder most rare: Iceland has averaged just 1.8 murders per year (among a population of 330,000) since 2001. Brjansdottir was last seen early on Jan. 14, after a night of bar-hopping in Reykjavik. Surveillance footage showed her buying a kebab around 5am, and two sailors from Greenland, ages 25 and 30, were on Wednesday arrested. Police believe she was murdered by the sailors and tossed into the water, reports Iceland Magazine, which flags two pieces of evidence. Brjansdottir's shoes were found in the port of Hafnarfjordur near where the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq had been moored at the time she disappeared. Traces of her blood were found in a Kia Rio rented by the two sailors from the ship and parked near the dock. The car matched one spotted on surveillance footage near the last known sighting of Brjansdottir, per AFP. Members of the elite Viking Squad intercepted the trawler at sea and interrogated the crew. The ship returned to Reykjavik and the men were arrested. A third man was released and a fourth remains in custody after cops found a cache of drugs aboard, per Maritime Executive. Some 725 people participated in the search for Brjansdottir, whose cause of death has not been determined. (In other crime news, the "single worst case" of child murder in Miami remains in flux.) An ethics watchdog group has filed a lawsuit against President Trump on his first full weekday in office, the AP reports. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal advocacy group that includes constitutional scholars and former White House ethics lawyers, says Trump is in violation of the constitution's Emoluments Clause, which bans accepting compensation from foreign governments, reports Reuters. "President Trump has made his slogan 'America First,'" CREW director Noah Bookbinder said in a statement. "So you would think he would want to strictly follow the Constitutions foreign emoluments clause, since it was written to ensure our government officials are thinking of Americans first, and not foreign governments." The group says that since Trump has refused to divest from his businesses, he will be accepting payment from foreign governments when they do things like book rooms at his hotelsand when he negotiates trade deals with countries like China, "the American people will have no way of knowing whether he will also be thinking about the profits of Trump the businessman." Trump's lawyers argue that the clause was never meant to apply to things like standard hotel bills. Eric Trump says the Trump Organization has already taken steps to address this, including pledging to donate hotel profits from foreign government guests to the Treasury. "This is purely harassment for political gain, and, frankly, I find it very, very sad," he tells the New York Times. President Trump called the lawsuit "without merit, totally without merit" after he signed some of his first executive actions Monday in the Oval Office. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) Defeated Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh flew into exile in Equatorial Guinea over the weekend, giving his country's political crisis a peaceful end but apparently taking much of the country's wealth with him. A spokesman for President Adama Barrow says it appears Jammeh, who ruled the West African nation for 22 years, looted the nation's coffers in his final weeks in power, leaving the country in "financial distress," the BBC reports. The Washington Post quotes a rep for new president Adama Barrow as alleging Jammeh stole $11.4 million over the last two weeks. Luxury cars and other items were seen being loaded onto a cargo plane the night Jammeh flew out of the country. Jammeh, who refused to accept the results of December's election until troops from other West African countries stepped in, left the country under what critics are calling an overly generous deal that promises "no seizure of his assets, no witch-hunts, and he can be back to the country at any time," Al Jazeera reports. Despite the apparent looting, people outside the State House in the capital, Banjul, celebrated and took selfies with Senegalese troops as they secured the area. "We are free," 35-year-old food seller Isatou Toure tells Reuters. "Everyone is so happy that man is gone." (Read more Gambia stories.) One of the worst fiascos in smartphone history was caused not by faulty hardware or software, but by faulty batteries from two different manufacturers, Samsung says. In a Monday press conference in Seoul, the company said early Galaxy Note 7 fires were caused by ill-fitting battery components, the BBC reports. In replacement phones, defects including welding issues and a lack of insulation were to blame, the company said. Samsung issued a recall last year after widely reported cases of the phone catching fire and exploding. It ended up axing its answer to the iPhone and losing around $5.3 billion. "The lessons of this incident are deeply reflected in our culture and process," Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jing told reporters. "Samsung Electronics will be working hard to regain consumer trust," Koh said. Samsung says that to verify the cause of the fires, 700 researchers tested more than 200,000 phones and 30,000 batteries, the AP reports. Koh told reporters that there was no sign that the very high energy density of the Note 7 batteries had made them prone to overheating, but the episode provides a "chance to strengthen the safety of lithium-ion batteries for the entire industry, not only us." Samsung says it has recovered 96% of the 3 million Note 7s that were sold, and it hasn't decided yet whether it is going to reuse parts. Analysts tell Reuters that Samsung has probably done enough to reassure consumers, but it will be a different story if there are any problems with its Galaxy S8, which is expected to be in stores by April. (Read more Galaxy Note stories.) A coastal landmark in California didn't survive this weekend's storms intact. Record-high waves in Monterey Bay smashed up the SS Palo Alto, better known to locals by its nickname of the "Cement Ship," reports KSBW. The ship, actually made of concrete, was built as a tanker for World War I but didn't launch until 1919 and thus saw no military service. Instead, it turned into "a historic symbol in Santa Cruz County," explains the San Jose Mercury News. An amusement company bought the mothballed ship and towed it to Seacliff State Beach around 1930, retrofitting it with a dance floor and even a swimming pool. That venture lasted just a few years before the ship, connected to land by a pier, became nothing more than a curiosity and a state-owned fishing spot. Decades of storms took their toll, but it wasn't until this weekend that waves finally ripped the ship's stern off and flipped it on its side. Its just an unusual January with this active weather," a National Weather Service forecaster tells the Santa Cruz Sentinel, noting that a buoy recorded a record-high wave in the bay of 34 feet. "With the Cement Ship, were starting to see the ramifications." (The Coast Guard ship that saved lives in the "perfect storm" is still above water, for now.) A man who was shot to death while trying to stop a robbery inside a mall jewelry store was there with his wife to have their wedding rings cleaned. Police say Jon Murphy, 42, was killed at San Antonio's Rolling Oaks Mall during Sunday's robbery of a Kay's Jewelers, reports MySanAntonio.com. "One of the citizens who tried to intervene and stop the robbery, (keep) the robbers from escaping, was shot by one of the suspects," says police chief William McManus. A friend fills in the details at a GoFundMe page for Murphy's family. "Jon and his wife Aimee used their rare day off to go to the mall together and get their wedding rings cleaned," the page reads. When the robbery took place, "Jon, the protector, lost his life making sure nobody else did." Police say that when the two robbers tried to leave the store, two "Good Samaritans" attempted to stop them. After one of the robbers shot and killed Murphy, a second, unidentified person shot and wounded that robber. The other robber then ran through the mall firing his weapon, police say. Two people were injured by his gunfire, another woman suffered chest pains, and a fourth person, a pregnant woman, had labor pains. Both suspects are now in custody, reports the AP, with the one who was shot in critical condition. The conditions of the injured bystanders were not known. (Read more mall shooting stories.) Sen. Marco Rubio will support Rex Tillerson as secretary of State "despite my reservations," reports the AP, backing away from any challenge to the new president. In a Facebook statement Monday, Rubio said he was troubled by Tillerson's refusal to acknowledge that Vladimir Putin has committed war crimes in Syria. "Despite his extensive experience in Russia and his personal relationship with many of its leaders, he claimed he did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists, and political opponents," Rubio wrote. "He indicated he would support sanctions on Putin for meddling in our elections only if they met the impossible condition that they not affect US businesses operating in Russia." But Rubio said a president is entitled to "significant deference" in assembling his Cabinet. The statement came just hours before the Foreign Relations Committee was slated to vote on Tillerson's nomination. Rubio's support virtually assures that the nominee will sail through the committee and win full Senate confirmation. Tillerson got a boost on Sunday after John McCain and Lindsey Graham offered tepid endorsements of the former Exxon Mobil chief. Rubio clashed with Tillerson at a committee hearing, bridling at his refusal to label Putin a "war criminal" or condemn human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in strong enough terms. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the committee's top Democrat, said in a statement Monday he won't vote for Tillerson. (Read more Marco Rubio stories.) We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy The most senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Monday he would not support President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson. Senator Ben Cardin said he was not persuaded to support Tillerson's nomination even after the former Exxon Mobil chief executive spent an hours-long hearing earlier this month seeking to assure lawmakers that he was fit for the job. Cardin said Tillerson should have described recent Russian and Syrian military actions in the Middle East as "war crimes" when he was asked about those countries during his conformation hearing. "The power of the Secretary of State to call out wrong, to name and shame, and to fight each day on behalf of the American people and freedom-seeking people the world over is an enduring symbol," Cardin said in a prepared statement. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has relied on Russian help to try to suppress rebel opposition to his rule that sprang up in 2011. During his Jan. 11 confirmation hearing, Tillerson deplored military action in Syria but stopped short of calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal. Despite opposition from Democrats, Tillerson is expected to win confirmation. Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said in a statement on Sunday they would vote to approve Tillerson despite their concerns over his relationship with Putin. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who grilled Tillerson during the hearing, has not said yet how he will vote. The committee is to vote on Tillerson later on Monday. A vote in the full, Republican-controlled Senate is expected shortly afterward. Search Keywords: Short link: Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl faces an Army court-martial on charges of desertion and misbehavior for allegedly walking out on his post in Afghanistan in 2009, and now that Donald Trump is president, the 30-year-old says he won't get a fair trial. His attorneys filed a motion to dismiss shortly after Trump's inauguration, in which they document 156 times Trump has used the word "traitor" to describe Bergdahl; the president has also referred to Bergdahl as a "son of a bitch" and said he should have been executed. According to Courthouse News, Trump has even said he would be willing to execute Bergdahl himself. Bergdahl's attorneys argue in their filing that Trump has violated their client's right to due process as well as a military law against the unlawful influence of command by publicly deciding that Bergdahl is guilty, before he's faced trial, and calling for unauthorized cruel and unusual punishment. They believe a potential military jury panel could be unfairly prejudiced by Trump's comments, Military.com reports. Bergdahl, who was captured after leaving his post and held as a Taliban prisoner for five years before five Guantanamo detainees were freed in exchange for his freedom, sought a pardon from Barack Obama before he left office, but the White House did not respond. Should Bergdahl's charges not be dismissed, Politico reports that his lawyers are considering calling Trump as a witness during the court-martial, which is scheduled to start in April. (Read more Bowe Bergdahl stories.) A fifth experiment by the University of Hawaii and is funded by NASA is set to happen. There are six people to enter a dome at a volcano in Hawaii for an 8 month simulation for a future mission to Mars. According to a report, the last mission on a simulation has ended in August 2016. This mission lasted for a full year. This mission is called the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation or HI-SEAS. This is done so to let those who sets out to a mission to Mars gets used to being with the group and is far away from other people. This simulation also will let the explorers get used to living in Mars. This new crew that is set out for the simulation is composed of four men and two women. They are made up of five engineers and scientists from America and a British researcher. They have been carefully chosen from a pool of candidates. A report indicates that the team to undergo the simulation will avoid physical contact with people. They will not be able to meet with anybody else in the outside world. They are set to work each day with a communication that is delayed for 20 minutes. This is the exact time that an email can reach from Earth to Mars. This project will set the individual on how it is living in Mars. This also is a preparation for further travel to Mars in the 2030's. The simulation is set to start and it is led by mission commander James Bevington. He is a freelance space scientist. He also visited and did research for the International Space University. Meanwhile, the crew has been carefully chosen from 700 applicants. They have been subjected to personality tests and background checks. They also did a series of intensive interviews. The six individuals will live in the dome that has a kitchen, small sleeping quarters for each member, a laboratory and a bathroom. The crew will travel into space and to Mars in the future. Centamin Plc, which runs Egypt's only commercial gold mine, said it would not bid in the country's new gold exploration tender because the terms are not commercially viable. Egypt, which is hoping that gold production can be a future source of growth for its struggling economy, began accepting bids last week for five concessions in its first tender for new gold exploration since 2009. The deadline for bids is 20 April. Centamin, which last year produced 551,036 ounces from its Egyptian Sukari mine, said the terms were less attractive than previous rounds. "Whilst Egypt contains many areas that are highly prospective for gold, Centamin will not bid for further ground under the latest terms proposed by EMRA (Egypt's mining agency) in the 2017 bid round," Centamin chairman Josef El-Raghy told Reuters. The bid round's terms have not been made public but were seen by Reuters. They include a 6 percent royalty payment, an at least 50 percent production share, partial cost recovery before the start of production sharing, and three bonus payments to EMRA, including one of at least $1 million. "The proposed 6 percent royalty rate... is one of the highest globally... Furthermore, the onerous production-sharing terms, the partial cost recovery and the various bonuses due to EMRA create a non-commercial operating environment for any mining investor," said Raghy. "Combined, the proposed terms result in an effective tax rate that is by far one of the highest for mining globally." Mining companies have long called for Egypt to abandon its production-sharing agreement model, which has garnered little interest in past bid rounds, in favour of a more streamlined royalty and tax regime common in mining jurisdictions worldwide. Centamin said it stands ready to reinvest if a modern mining law is introduced. "Egypt needs a modern and competitive mining law and then there will be many mines like Sukari, which was created after over $1bn of investment and now employs directly and indirectly approximately 5,000 people," said Raghi. "This bid round should be cancelled otherwise ground will be held by small companies for many years with no significant investment as was the case with all areas offered in 2006 and 2008." EMRA said it expects high turnout for the latest tender based on early indications but did not provide further details. "Egypt's potential will put it, in under 10 years, among the biggest producers of gold in the world based on our level of gold reserves and the studies and expertise we have," EMRA head Omar Teama told Reuters. Search Keywords: Short link: Sorry! This content is not available in your region Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. President Donald Trump moved Monday to pull the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, making good on a pledge to scrap a deal he denounced as a "job killer" and a "rape" of US interests. Embarking on his first full week in office, the 45th US president began rolling out his policy agenda after a tumultuous first weekend for his administration by signing a series of executive orders. Among the first was a memo on withdrawing from the vast TPP trade pact, which aimed to set trade rules for the 21st century and bind US allies against growing Chinese economic clout. "We've been talking about this for a long time," Trump said as he signed the executive order in the Oval Office. "Great thing for the American worker what we just did." Promoted by Washington and signed by 12 countries in 2015, the TPP had yet to go into effect and US withdrawal is likely to sound its death knell. Its signatories -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Brunei -- together represent 40 percent of the world economy. The real estate mogul's White House bid was fuelled in part by a pledge to overturn trade deals -- such as TPP and the North American Free Trade Agreement -- that he says have drained US jobs and destroyed its industrial heartlands. Trump also signed two other orders, on freezing the hiring of federal workers and hitting foreign NGOs that help with abortion. The Republican leader is looking to shift attention firmly back onto his policy agenda after a first few days that put his incoming administration on the back foot. "Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security," he tweeted early Monday. Since he was sworn in on Friday, Trump's White House has been pilloried for lying to the public about inaugural crowds and over a campaign-style speech by the president before a memorial to fallen CIA officers. On Saturday several million Americans poured onto the streets for women-led demonstrations against Trump, the scale of which were unseen in a generation, in a potent rebuke to the president. Trump has upbraided top aides over unfavorable media coverage on everything from crowd sizes to suggestions he has ruled out releasing his taxes. He is the first presidential candidate in recent memory not to do so. On Sunday the president vowed to swiftly start renegotiating NAFTA in upcoming talks with the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Trump has already moved to curb Obama's health care reforms and more quick legal tweaks -- in the form of executive orders -- are expected on immigration and limiting environmental legislation. But more substantive changes will need buy-in from the Republican controlled Congress. On Monday, Trump was hosting separate meetings with business leaders, unions and members of both houses of Congress. He will also meet the speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan. Tax reform is likely to be high on the agenda. "What we're doing is we are going to be cutting taxes massively for both the middle class and for companies, and that's massively," he said. "A bigger thing, and that surprised me, is the fact that we're going to be cutting regulation massively." Reform of Obama's health care laws is also likely to be on the menu. Trump has publicly promised that none of the tens of millions of Americans who obtained health insurance under Obama will lose it. That makes any meaningful changes difficult to pay for. But the more urgent task for Trump may be to keep always skeptical establishment Republicans on board the "Trump train." Trump's approval rating is around 40 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics average, low for a president just starting out. That could make legislators think twice about toeing the line with an unpopular leader. But Trump's bareknuckle style has also kept dissent in check, with some terrified they will become the object of a presidential tweet that sets off a world of political pain. Senator Ben Sasse was among the few who had mild criticism for Trump's decision on the trans-Pacific trade deal. "It's clear that those of us who believe trade is good for American families have done a terrible job defending trade's historic successes and celebrating its future potential," he said. "We have to make the arguments and we have to start now." On Thursday, Trump will travel to a Republican Congressional retreat in Philadelphia to further build ties. The following day, he will host British Prime Minister Theresa May -- the first White House visit of a foreign leader under the new administration. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: A man, who was arrested for allegedly making a ransom call to missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmeds relatives demanding Rs 20 lakh for his release, was interrogated by police at length on Monday. Even though Najeebs family had on Sunday denied receiving any ransom call, the missing JNU students cousin Sadaf Musharraf today claimed that her father had indeed received such a call around January 15 and had informed police about it. The accused Shameem (19) had allegedly committed a murder when he was under 18 and spent five months in a juvenile home, said a senior police officer. Even though he was giving different names, police managed to identify him and have seized one mobile phone and a SIM card which he allegedly used to make the ransom call, he said. He had used other numbers also to make the phone calls and police is trying it find out from where he procured the SIM cards. It is also being probed whether he was just making the calls for earning easy money or there was some ulterior motive, said the officer. Shameem was arrested yesterday from Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh and was brought to Delhi today and put through sustained interrogation by Crime Branch sleuths. We receive a lot of calls- some sympathising with us and some troubling us like these ones. There are some calls where people even ask us to search for his body. We inform police about each and every call we receive and they decide which call they have to investigate, Najeebs cousin said. Sadaf said that they try and attend every call and in case they miss a call, they call back because they dont know which call might be from Najeeb or a call that might lead them to Najeeb. Meanwhile, six students who were served notices seeking their consent for polygraph test, have still not agreed to it. Najeebs roommate, Mohd Qasim, has also not given his consent for the lie-detector test despite agreeing to it earlier. ALSO READ | Police arrests man who sought ransom of Rs 20 lakh from Najeeb Ahmed's family Last year, in November, a guard at JNUs Mahi Mandavi Hostel where Najeeb was staying had received a letter which claimed that the missing student was being held captive in Aligarh. However, on investigation, the letter was found to be bogus. Ahmed, an MSc Biotechnology student, went missing on October 15 after a scuffle allegedly with ABVP affiliated students at his hostel on the JNU campus. A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by Delhi Police on any information about him. New Delhi: Bigg Boss season 10 has been full of twists and turns and Monday was no different. Housemates woke up to the lyrics of 'Baazigar' thinking about the road to the finale. Let's have a look at some of the excerpts from the house: # Lopamudra tried to justify her actions while Manveer Gurjar blamed her for not following the rules # Bigg Boss reduced the prize money to 40 Lakh Rupees after housemates failed in the given challenge! # Bigg Boss cancelled the entire task because of Rohan & Lopamudra's actions during the task! # Bigg Boss told the housemates about the entire task of increasing the prize money! # Lopa suggested to Rohan that they should leave the finale room together! # Rohan & Lopamudra seemed to be confused as to who should come out next, while the rest took Lopa's name! # VJ Bani, Manu Punjabi & Manveer Gurjar were given a chance to guess who'll come out next & add 5 lakh to the prize money # Bigg Boss told Manveer Gurjar about the secret task given to VJ Bani & Manu Punjabi # Manveer Gurjar left the finale room after Lopa & Rohan remained adamant on their decision # VJ Bani & Manu Punjabi felt that Rohan will be the next one to leave the finale room! # Bigg Boss called Manu Punjabi & VJ Bani into the confession room and told Bani about the secret task given to Manu! # Manu Punjabi tried to comfort VJ Bani after she broke down and became emotional! # VJ Bani lost her cool, cried and created tantrums in the house. # VJ Bani was upset with Rohan and Lopamudra's opinions about her! # Despite repeated warnings from Bigg Boss and the bell going off, none of the housemates left the room! # Manu Punjabi felt that VJ Bani would be the first one to come out because of her short temper! Do you feel so too? # Bigg Boss gave Manu Punjabi a task to guess the order of elimination decided by the housemates. # The 4 housemates had to evaluate each other's game and decide the order in which each of them would get eliminated! # Bigg Boss called VJ Bani, Rohan, Rohan & Manveer Gurjar into the finale room! # While Manu Punjabi & Manveer Gurjar felt that the viewers love VJ Bani, Lopa felt that they love Rohan more! # ManveerGurjar & Manu Punjabi applauded VJ Bani for always thinking about herself first! # Manu Punjabi comforted VJ Bani after she turned emotional. # Manu Punjabi & Manveer Gurjar sang 'Yeh Kaha Aa Gaye Hum' and looked back at their journey in the house! New Delhi: The Congress Party on Monday released manifesto for upcoming elections in Goa. Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia released the manifesto in Goa. Earlier, All India Congress Committee Secretary Girish Chodankar said that the manifesto committee was constituted after inviting suggestions from public in writing and also through social media and It was completely people-centric," The party is contesting in 37 out of 40 assembly constituencies in Goa had begun an exercise to get inputs from the people before drafting the manifesto, Chodankar said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Gold worth rupees more than thirty-seven lakhs has been seized at Mumbai airport on Monday. Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers intercepted a passenger holding Indian passport form Mumbai Airport, who was trying to illegal smuggle gold weighing 1379 grams. The total worth of the two gold blocks recovered is around Rs 37,353,25. The passenger was attempting surreptitious removal of 2 pieces of gold by concealing the same in housing of copper winding of Mixer/ Grinder which was recovered and seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. AIU officers intercepted a passenger holding Indian passport at Mumbai airport,2 pieces of gold weighing 1379gms valued at Rs 3735325 seized pic.twitter.com/k7fxB7ZQre a ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chennai: Amid violent protests against the ban on Jallikattu, superstar Rajinikath on Monday appealed for calm and peace. In a letter, Rajinikanth appealed the protesters to end their protest and said that miscreants are trying to hijack the protest and bring bad name to them. We have not seen such peaceful protests in the country so far. The peaceful protests have gone waste. The only way now is to put an end to violence, Rajini said in his letter he tweeted on Monday. Rajinikanth had come out in support of the bull taming sport saying the ban on Jallikattu must be lifted as it is a Tamil culture. Last week, he was also seen taking part in a silent protest with other stars in Chennai. Meanwhile, with police cracking down on pro jallikattu supporters, veteran cinema star Kamal Haasan on Monday came out in support of students and youth, saying aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results and urged protesters not to resort to violence. This is a mistake. Aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results, Haasan wrote on Twitter. ALSO READ | Jallikattu row: Fire at Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach in Chennai, violence erupts in various parts Meanwhile, RJ-actor Balaji requested the protesters to go home, saying the Government promulgating an ordinance in itself was success to the peaceful protests conducted over the last week.Instead of celebrating the first success (of making the Government to promulgate an ordinance), why are you venturing into violent protests?, he asked in a video that was widely circulated in the social media. The protests which were held peacefully over the last week should not end like the way it is turning out now, he said. I appeal to the protesting students and public to go home. Protests are over. Please go home. he said. Police on Monday evicted scores of pro-jallikattu demonstrators from protest venues across Tamil Nadu, especially from Marina beach, amid incidents of stone-pelting, torching a car and mild lathicharge at a few places in the city. (With inputs from PTI) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kochi : A world-class metro system to enhance the quality of life for people living in Greater Kochi area is expected to be operational by the end of this March. According to officials, E Sreedharan, principal advisor, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday inspected stations between Aluva and Palarivattom section of the Kochi Metro Rail Project. Sreedharan, who undertook a motor trolley inspection in the viaduct between Aluva and Palarivattom, had detailed inspections at various stations and instructed the officials to speed up various works connected with civil electrical and signal and telecommunication, a DMRC release said here. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and KMRL are working together to complete the work between Aluva and Palarivattom and to commission the section by the end of March 2017. He expressed satisfaction about the progress of work, the release said. Signal testing trial will continue between Aluva and Palarivattom for the next one month, it added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Hearing a plea, the Supreme Court has refused to resume the toll tax on the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) highway for the time being. On Monday, the apex court has said that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has asked for eight weeks to submit a reply in the case. Notably, the Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited (NTBCL) had filed a plea in SC in relation to waiving off the toll tax being collected on the DND flyway. Earlier in October 2016, the top court had denied putting a stay on Allahabad High Courts order which said that no-till will be collected from commuters plying on DND till further orders. Passengers commuting from Delhi to Noida or from East Delhi were given a major sigh of relief after they were exempted from paying Rs 56 (Rs 28 each way) to and from as toll tax every day to ply smoothly while entering or leaving Delhi-NCR region. The DND expressway which started operation for public in 2001 provides commuters with a convenient route and reduces a considerable amount of time while travelling between Delhi and Noida. Currently, about 1.5 vehicles ply on DND daily. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: Ruling Samajwadi Party on Sunday released its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections promising a bunch of schemes for all round development of the state at a function which SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal gave a miss. With an eye on development, Akhilesh riding on the crest of kaam bolta hai (work speaks) slogan, announced schemes which prioritise development of the state. The manifesto announced distribution of laptops, Kanya Vidya Dhan, Samajwadi Pension, laying of Purvanchal Expressway, and establishing Janeshwar Mishra model villages besides improving helplines for police and women. He said the model villages in the name of Janeshwar Mishra would be a tribute to the Samajwadi leader on his death anniversary on Sunday. The Chief Minister, in his new role as the Samajwadi Party national president, directed all candidates to prepare a road map for development of their respective Assembly constituencies. A highlight of the manifesto was Samajwadi Kisan Kosh for farmers to purchase seeds and fertilisers, perhaps to match the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Bima Yojana. As Mulayam and Shivpal, the warring uncle of Akhilesh, were conspicuous by their absence, senior SP leader Azam Khan rushed to the SP patriarchs bungalow to bring him to the event. But even then Mulayam did not grace the occasion where senior party leaders and Dimple Yadav, MP and wife of the chief minister were present. In an impassioned appeal to the electorate to vote SP back to power, Akhilesh said, We got support on 2012 manifesto, we also fulfilled promises made in it. The manifesto is a sankalp (promise) to form future government. Its clear that we all want to form Samajwadi Party government. If you work for 5 years, you will get government of five years, he said. The chief minister asked party workers to go to the masses and make them aware of the schemes implemented by his government during the past five years. A lot of work has been done in a big way. We have to work more in future. I tried for the past five years not to leave path of socialism and also ensure balanced development to improve rural economics, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. This years Sudan Independent Film Festival, which is currently underway, will showcase five Egyptian feature films and two Egyptian short documentaries. The opening film was Kawthar Younis 2015 documentary film A Present from the Past, which was screened on 21 January. The film follows the young Egyptian directors trip to Italy with her father, a professor, Mokhtar Younis, in search for his long-lost Italian lover, Patrizia. Professor Younis is unknowingly filmed with hidden cameras throughout his journey: his quest, natural reactions and relationship with his daughter make up the footage. The film is set to screen again on 23 January. Kamla Abouzekris A Day for Women will be screened on 24 January. The 2016 film takes place at a youth centre in a working class neighbourhood which allocates a day at the pool for womens use only. Viewers witness the social and psychological repercussions of the event on the women and their private lives. The film is Abouzekris return to the screen following a seven-year hiatus since her last film, Wahed Sefr (One-Zero). Tamer El Saids film In the Last Days of the City is set to screen on 24 and 25 January. The 2016 drama film follows El Said himself as he tries to create a documentary, but cannot decide how to do so. When other filmmakers come to visit from Beirut, Baghdad and Berlin, the artists discuss the impact of their cities on their creativity. The film is an elegy to the city of Cairo and a trip back to the final years of former president Hosni Mubaraks regime. Mahmoud Solimans film We Have Ever Been Kids is set to screen on 25 January. The 2016 documentary follows the subjects of Solimans earlier documentary Living among Us (2003), and traces their daily lives in the context of the declining social, political and economic situation in the country. The film shows a womans attempt to raise and care for her four children after her divorce from their father. Mohamed Diabs controversial film Clash will be shown on 26 January. The 2016 film is entirely set inside a police van, following the events of June 2013. Inside the van are several prisoners, each one of whom represents a different aspect of Egyptian society. The violence and clashes between Muslim Brotherhood opponents and supporters can be witnessed through the bars of the van, thus viewers are truly watching the events through the prisoners eyes. Two short documentary films will also be screened between 24 and 26 January, Ahmed Nabils 2014 film 17 Fouad Street, and Mohamed Adel El Saftys 2015 film My Father. Launched in 2014 as the first ever film festival in Sudan, the Sudan Independent Film Festival is a week-long annual event of screenings, discussion forums and networking events organised by the Sudan Film Factory and focused on independent cinema. This years edition, the fourth, runs from 21 to 27 January. 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 Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party on Monday released fourth list of candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. As per reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Mubarakpur and Aparna Yadav to contest from Lucknow Cantt. Earlier on Sunday, Samajwadi Party released the list of candidates for 77 seats in UP Assembly election. Samajwadi Party is contesting UP Assembly polls in alliance with Indian National Congress. Congress had agreed on 105 seats whereas SP is fighting elections on 298 seats. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Thomas Pesquet, an International Space Station (ISS) astronaut has shared breathtaking images of earth from space on social media. The French astronaut recently completed his spacewalk, outside of ISS and it was during this visit that he clicked some pictures of earth, one of which he recently shared on his Twitter account. Pesquet has shared a spectacular view of Geneva, the amazing Switzerland city, and its lake. He has been sharing spectacular images from the space of different regions. One of the photos is of Ukraine and the Black Sea as seen from ISS. ALSO READ | Dark, contorted centre of sunspot; other invisible details of Sun unveiled by scientists He shared the image with caption Geneva and its lake seem calm on this winter day. You can see their famous water fountain in this picture. What is noteworthy about this sharing is the fact that the sightings of Geneva are found to be pretty blurred but its lake is clearly notable. About Thomas Pesquet He is a veteran French astronomer, an aerospace engineer, pilot, and the cosmonaut of European Space Agency (ESA). Since 19th November 2016, he is part of ISS and currently is on onboard it YZ#Dallas ton univers impitoyable! YZ Il ny a pas de raison que je sois le seul a avoir le generique en tete apres avoir pris la photo ;) YY pic.twitter.com/RJD00bhrjs Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) January 22, 2017 Whats up @CityOfDallas? A few clouds dont veil your dynamism hoping for a good game LA @Lakers vs @dallasmavs this afternoon! pic.twitter.com/X0cL9v1uIo Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) January 22, 2017 A veil of clouds creeps ominously over a snowy plain. Not a poem for #Sunday, but a common sight over #Earth! https://t.co/3kktQnqR02 pic.twitter.com/FTM5JJfdXd Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) January 22, 2017 For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: US President Donald Trump pledged on Sunday to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement in upcoming talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Were meeting with the prime minister of Canada and we will be meeting with the president of Mexico, who I know, and were going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA, Trump said while addressing White House staff on his second full day in office. Trump will receive his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on January 31. No date has been given for a meeting with Canadas Justin Trudeau, but it is expected soon according to a readout from a call between the two leaders on Saturday. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: Several hundred Tamil-Americans have gathered at the Gandhi status in Washington to hold a rally in support of the ongoing Jallikattu movement demanding lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport which is an integral part of Tamilian culture. Several dozens of them also held a protest demonstration outside the PETA headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Laced with posters and banners, Tamil-Americans including a large number of children and women raised slogans in support of Jallikattu and vented out their anger against animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which is leading in supporting the ban on the grounds that it is a torture to animal. We love our animals. We know how to treat our animal. This is part of our tradition and culture, said Babu Vinayagam, one of the anti-PETA protestors at the Gandhi Statue in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington. Todays rally is to show our solidarity with our people back home fighting against ban on Jallikattu, he said. Majority of the slogans were in Tamil, but at times they shouted Down Down PETA, venting their anger at the animal rights group. ALSO READ | Jallikattu row: Fire at Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach in Chennai, Police disperse protesters They also shouted We want Jallikattu. Vinod Kumar, an IT professional from Tamil Nadu, said adding, expatriate Tamilians want a permanent solution and an ordinance route to lift the ban on Jallikattu. We want legislative measures, so that this age-old tradition could be continued, he said. This was one of the largest protest rally and demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy in recent years. We may be away from home, but home is always with us. We are Tamil people and we are proud of our heritage, it is our pride that is being taken away from us, said Nalini Britto speaking on behalf of the Greater Washington Tamil Diaspora, which had organised the anti-PETA, pro-Jallikattu rally in Washington. Meanwhile, an ABC-affiliate local news channel in Virginia reported a protest outside PETA headquarters here in Norfolk. ALSO READ | Jallikattu row: Stalin criticizes police action on protesters at Marina Beach, dubs it anti-democratic Dozens of people travelled to Hampton Roads from all across the world to protest outside of the PETA headquarters, the news channel said. Protesters stood outside of PETA headquarters?in Norfolk, telling 13News Now they are protesting the organisations influence on the court decisions, it said. What PETA has done is that there is a prevention of cruelity act in India, which was backdoor amended, through the lobbying that PETA did, Karthik Rangarajan, a protest organiser said. In a statement, PETA alleged that these protesters are anxious to overturn the court ruling and preserve a culture as heinous as fox hunting was in the UK and bullfighting is in Spain, one now outlawed the other being banned, city by city. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The festival will open on 1 February and run for 9 days, travelling through three cities in Egypt's Nile Delta Egypt's Cinedelta Documentary Film Festival will open on 1 February, screening films for three days each in Alexandria, Tanta and Rosetta. Cinedelta is an education program for documentary filmmaking that takes place over the course of a year, providing 20 students from the Delta region with workshops, lectures, master classes and support for production. The festival is comprised of three sections: Instant Egypt, Euro Doc Focus, and Cinedelta Showcase. Instant Egypt is the competition section of the festival, and will feature recent documentaries produced by Egyptian filmmakers. Euro Doc Focus will screen a selection of European documentaries, with a special guest in attendance. Cinedelta Showcase will present four short documentaries produced by Egyptian students in the Cinedelta workshops. The winner of the festival's competition will be awarded a two-week filmmaking residency in Europe. The festival will open in Tanta from 1 to 3 February, followed by screenings in Alexandria from 4 to 6 February, and closing in Rosetta with screenings from 7 to 9 February. The Cinedelta program and festival is organised by Alexandria-based Fig Leaf Studios, with the financial support of the European Union, and in collaboration with Italian NGO Ricerca e Cooperazione, and the Swedish, Goethe and French institutes in Alexandria. Check the full programme below: 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 Search Keywords: Short link: Two Chhau Indian folk dance performances will be held in Cairo to celebrate Indian Republic Day To celebrate Indias Republic Day, two Chhau Indian folk dance performances organized by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) will be held at Dandy Mall, 6th of October on 27 January, and at Cairo Opera House on 28 January. The Chhau folk dance is a traditional Indian dance which originated in the eastern Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The dance tells stories derived from ancient Indian folk tales surrounding deities, and does so using elements of martial arts and acrobatic movements. The dance is traditionally performed by all male troupes, to predominantly instrumental percussive music, and mainly as a form of celebration in times of festivities in its states of origin. Dancers often wear traditional masks during their performance, and the art of mask-making as well as that of dance is transmitted orally from one generation to the next. Aside from the two performances, the troupe will also conduct a workshop at the Faculty of Music Education, Helwan University on 28 January. Programme: 27 January, 1pm Dandy Mall, Cairo-Alex desert road, 6th of October 28 January, 8pm Cairo Opera House, Zamalek Workshop: 28 January, 1pm Faculty of Music, Helwan University, Zamalek 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 Search Keywords: Short link: Cincinnati, OH (45221) Today Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Showers in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 47F. SW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW MILFORD Union Savings Bank announced it will close its branch at 100 Park Lane Road, effective April 28, but keep its call center and other operations at the location, bank officials said. The Danbury-based bank notified the Connecticut Department of Banking through a letter last week. It also sent letters to its New Milford customers, stressing that the bank remains committed to the city. Union Savings Bank has two other locations in New Milford, on East Street and Danbury Road in Litchfield Crossing. The East Street location is about a mile and a half south along Route 202 from the branch that is closing. In addition, the bank has a location at 253 New Milford Turnpike in Washington, about four and a half miles north on Route 202 from the closing branch. A bank spokeswoman said the bank can effectively serve its New Milford customers with its other nearby branches. The ATM will remain open at the Park Lane Road location. All employees of the branch that is closing will be moved to other Union Savings Bank locations, the spokeswoman said. Union Savings Bank expanded its reach in the area in 2010 when it merged with First National Bank of Litchfield. The decision to close the branch on Park Lane Road was based on the results of a lengthy analysis, but specific reasons were not provided, other than that the bank could effectively serve its New Milford customer base with the other branches in the city, the spokeswoman said. It was the second bank branch closure in the greater Danbury area announced in as many weeks. Last week, Webster Bank announced it will be closing its branch at 105 Mill Plain Road in Danbury on April 10. The location is one of eight throughout the state Webster is closing. Webster Bank cited an increase in online banking and less demand for teller transactions as the reasons for the closures. It said teller transactions decreased almost 40 percent from 2010 to 2016. Union Savings Bank owns the red-brick building at 100 Park Lane Road and about 40 employees will continue to work there at the call center. The bank renovated the building in 2011. It was unclear what the bank will do with the retail banking space once the branch closes, the spokeswoman said. Union Savings Bank does not have immediate plans to close or open other branches. At the end of 2016, however, Union Savings Bank President and CEO Cynthia Merkle hinted at the potential for expansion. Our Solutions Team programs have been especially effective in supporting several of our local branches, she said. This presents a great opportunity for expansion next year and beyond. Union Savings Bank was established in 1866 and is a $2.3 billion mutual bank. It has 24 branches in western Connecticut. cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338 HARTFORD Energized by Saturdays nationwide outpouring of support and concern for womens health issues, lawmakers on Monday announced a legislative agenda aimed at strengthening abortion rights and continuing access to contraceptives. But abortion opponents, pointing to recent Republican gains in the state House of Representatives and a virtual tie in the state Senate, said they want a public debate this year on legislation that would require pregnant teens to obtain the consent of their parents before seeking abortions. Led by state Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, the lawmakers highlighted five bills, including free breast pumps available under the embattled Affordable Care Act; improving workplace rights for pregnant women; and preventing false advertising on pregnancy and contraception from companies that do not have medical licenses. Were going to protect womens constitutional rights to health care no matter what the federal threats are, Flexer said. As weve seen with the energy this weekend and the tremendous support here this morning, Connecticut will be at the forefront of protecting womens health care. I feel very confident in saying that these packages of bills are very good and I hope to see votes for each and every one of them, said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. But I feel even more confident in saying that we wont allow any anti-choice, anti-women bills to be voted on and passed in the state Senate. In the Senate we will not take those up for a vote and we are not letting there be an assault on womens rights this year. More than a dozen lawmakers, including at least two Republicans, attended the news conference in a legislative meeting room crowded with supporters. Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, D-Fairfield, said she joined hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, both men and women, in Washington on Saturday. We were all marching together for women, she said. As a woman, as a social worker, I was trained in prevention and I am here today to build on whats been done. Promoting welfare and prevention saves lives. Rep. Caroline Simmons, D-Stamford, said the issues are important to men and women alike. Because issues that affect womens health and family planning affect all of our families, Simmons said. This is not just an issue of fairness and health care rights. Its also an economic issue for our state. While primarily Democratic women are promoting the womens agenda, they were supported in a morning news conference by male legislators, as well as some Republicans, including Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton. President Donald J. Trump on Monday signed a so-called gag rule that prevents international groups that receive federal funding from even discussing abortion. NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut Executive Director, Sarah Croucher, said rallies such as Saturdays, which attracted 10,000 people at the Capitol, clearly indicate that state residents support reproductive rights. Connecticut has a history of bipartisan support for reproductive rights, and we look forward to politicians from all sides of the political spectrum standing up to say that womens rights are human rights, and to trust and support individuals to make whatever personal decisions are right for them, Croucher said in a statement. But Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the conservative Family Institute of Connecticut, told reporters after the news conference that lobbyists have continually succeeded in killing off open debates on reproductive issues, and that one proposed bill would make it hard for several organizations to provide consulting services for pregnant women throughout the state. Im thrilled that this is happening at all, Wolfgang said of the pending bill that would require parental notification. There has not been a serious discussion of abortion in this building for many many years. Connecticut is one of only a handful of states in the entire country that do not require a minor girl to at least notify her parents before having an abortion, he said. It would be a success if we even had a debate. I mean thats whats been going on for years here in this state, is that the pro-abortion lobbyists have shut down the possibility of even a discussion at the state Capitol here in Connecticut. The last major debate in the General Assembly was in 2007, over the so-called Plan B contraceptive administered in hospital emergency rooms. KDixon@ctpost.com; Twitter: @KenDixonCT This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW MILFORD Veterans and civilians Sunday honored prisoners of war and the missing in action. The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Connecticut Forget-Me-Nots held its 32nd annual bell-ringing ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Church to honor the 43rd anniversary of the Paris peace accords, which ended the Vietnam War. Under this agreement, all prisoners of war were to be sent home within 90 days, but Kathy Shemeley, president of the New Milford group, said they were not. From Connecticut alone, more than 100 soldiers have not been recovered from the Korean and Vietnam wars, she said. During the ceremony, the group prayed, and Kat Wells, one of the organizations leaders, read the soldiers names as a crowd of about 20 rang individual bells. Wells said some of the Vietnam soldiers had been missing since 1967. Its crazy to think of the lives weve lived in that time frame, she said to the crowd. After the Vietnam War, American prisoners were sent home, but not as many as expected, Shemeley said. Of the returning soldiers, few were seriously injured or suffered severe mental health issues, she said. She said the Vietnamese likely kept badly injured soldiers to avoid questioning about their treatment and kept others for slave labor. Others, she suspects, were taken to Russia for questioning. In one case, authorities have proven Russia took a plane shot down in Vietnam in December 1972. Shemeley said the soldiers were likely taken, as well. If youre going to take the plane, youre certainly going to take the soldiers who know how to operate that plane, she said. Shemeley said some of these soldiers could still be alive. She told one story of a Hungarian soldier who was taken prisoner in another country in World War II. Thought to be insane because no one understood his language, he was put in a mental institution. Years later, a Hungarian doctor recognized his language and the soldier was brought home. Over the years, reports have surfaced about 200 soldiers who were alive and kept underground in Vietnam, she said. The questions are there and until you can actually bring back remains ... it is possible they could be alive, Shemeley said. Doris Maitland, of Winsted, attended the ceremony in honor of her brother, Andre Guillet, who was shot down in Vietnam in 1966. Maitland and her family spent years trying to find her brothers remains. Not until 2003 did they learn he was buried in Vietnam. Maitland and her husband want to visit the site, but bombs surround it, so it is too dangerous. The couple had been told a team would clear the site to recover the remains this month, but that plan has been delayed. For Maitland, having her brothers remains would mean closure. I could sleep better, although it doesnt keep me awake as much as it used to she said. And I would stop looking at his picture and crying. Every once in a while it pops up. Shemeley encouraged the crowd to write to the president and Congress to work to recover soldiers. In the meantime, Shemeley said organization will continue to raise awareness for prisoners of war and those missing in action. People (need to) realize that at the end of war not everyone is returned, she said. And that government should think twice, that other options are considered, before you send soldiers into war. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD In the coming weeks, the Board of Representatives will fill a vacancy created on the 40-member legislative body after a member moved from her district. Valerie McNeils resignation last month is one of several that occurs in between the boards four-year election cycle, which coincides with the mayoral election. Since Mayor David Martin took office in 2014, the board has seen nine resignations more than 20 percent of its membership. Board President Randall Skigen said this is fairly standard. Members often resign for uncontroversial reasons. McNeil, a Democrat, moved from District 9, but remains in Stamford. Democrat Jay Fountain left his District 7 post in 2015 to head the citys Office of Policy & Management. The same month, Democrat David Kooris resigned from District 6 after elected to the Board of Finance. But an amicable parting of ways doesnt always happen. In 2014, Republican Mary Uva resigned her District 1 seat, saying at the time she was tired of fighting a broken government. Resigning members usually work with their party leader and co-representative to find a replacement from their district, who fills the vacancy until the next election. The new member must be from the same political party and will need to run for re-election within two years. When a person knows well in advance theyre going to be leaving, they generally start looking for their replacement, Skigen said. If they had a job change that took them out of the area, or a family emergency, then generally its not the person leaving who finds the replacement. Unpaid membership on the Board of Representatives requires several night meetings a month. Members attend full board meetings as well as committee meetings. There are certain situations where a person, before they resign, already has identified someone to fill their seat, Skigen said. Other times, its harder to find a person whos willing to dedicate the time. Transient young people may also be more likely to move on after a short stint on the board. Twenty-something Brien Buckman, who served for about three years, moved to Florida last year for a job, Skigen said. Its a diverse group, he said. Weve got people from their early- to mid-20s, into their mid-80s. This past election we did better at getting some new, younger people on the board. It brings a different perspective than someone who has been in town 30 years. eskalka@scni.com TSXV: ACB VANCOUVER, Jan. 23, 2017 /CNW/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the "Company" or "Aurora") (TSXV: ACB) (OTCQB: ACBFF) (Frankfurt: 21P; WKN: A1C4WM) is pleased to announce that on January 20, 2017, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc., a licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis, was licensed by Health Canada for the sale of cannabis oils. The Company received its cannabis oils production license in February 2016, and in anticipation of receiving its selling license, has since dedicated a portion of its production output towards the stockpiling of cannabis oils and concentrates. The granting of the license allows the company to sell oil products to registered patients under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). "Obtaining our license to sell cannabis oils is another major milestone for Aurora, and we can now participate in the derivative cannabis market by further expanding our product line for patients, and offer prescribing physicians a high-quality alternative to inhaled products," said Terry Booth, CEO. "We have made key capital investments that now enable us to rapidly deploy our differentiating extraction methods that rank among the most consistent and efficient in the sector. With the combined capacity from our existing production site, as well as from our planned 800,000 square foot Aurora Sky facility now under construction at Edmonton International Airport, we believe Aurora is well positioned to become one of the largest producers and distributors of cannabis oil products, which remains a key element of our developing business strategy." Aurora operates best-in-class pharmaceutical grade CGMP compliant supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SFE) equipment, designed for solvent-free extraction of the active compounds of the cannabis plant, while preserving its full terpene profile. Recently, the Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Radient Technologies Inc. ("RTI") to evaluate an exclusive partnership for the Canadian market with regards to the joint development and commercialization of superior and standardized cannabinoid extracts. Currently the companies are exploring the technical feasibility and commercial opportunities to deploy RTI's high throughput, terpene-preserving extraction technology. Employee Stock Option Grants On January 19, 2017, the Company granted stock options to acquire an aggregate of 1,700,000 common shares to management and key personnel under the company's stock option plan. These options, exercisable at a price of $2.56 per share and expiring on January 19, 2022, will vest evenly on a quarterly basis over a period of two years. About Aurora Aurora's wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc., is a licensed producer of medical cannabis pursuant to Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) and operates a 55,200 square foot, expandable, state-of-the-art production facility in Mountain View County, Alberta, Canada. Aurora trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ACB". On behalf of the Board of Directors, AURORA CANNABIS INC. Terry Booth CEO This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and 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 expressly required by applicable law. The TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc. For further information: Cam Battley, Executive Vice President, +1.905.864.5525, [email protected], www.auroramj.com; Marc Lakmaaker, NATIONAL Equicom, [email protected], +1.416.848.1397 A pro-democracy coalition has told President Muhammadu Buhari that the delay in submitting the name of Justice Nkanu Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria is a big test on the unity of Nigeria. The group, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, CDNDC, expressed concern that this suspicious and deliberate action of the President in delaying the confirmation process has effectively put the unity of Nigeria on trial. President Buhari elected to appoint Justice Onnoghen as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 10, 2016 for a period of three months; the first to be so appointed in acting capacity and he currently has less than 20 days to the expiration of the duration. The coalition had previously accused the Nigerian Presidency of trying to ethnicise and politicise the judiciary, by denying Onnoghen, the first Southerner in 30 years, an opportunity to enjoy confirmation like all his predecessors to serve as the CJN. The coalition in a latest statement by its Co-Convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, warned that the established precedence and processes for appointing a substantive CJN must not be compromised to suit ethnic and political interest. We are not unaware that they have been combing the whole universe to look for something incriminating which they could use as a cover to stop this courageous judge from becoming our substantive CJN. This same Justice Onnoghen was among the three Justices that gave a fearless judgement in favour of General Muhammadu Buhari as the then Presidential candidate of the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007. This is a pedigree that should automatically endear him to Mr. President. If he did that, so what could then be the reason for undermining his confirmation process as the CJN like his predecessors? We make bold to say that we have gotten to a point where we must tell ourselves the bitter truth and speak wisdom to leadership no matter how fragile or sensitive the situation is. If Mr. President thinks a Justice from the South of Nigeria does not deserve to be the CJN, he should quickly let us go for a referendum and decide the membership of this nation. We must stop living in denial and under false pretense of national unity, the statement said. CDNDC urged eminent Nigerians to prevail on the President not to jeopardise the unity of the country. Justice Onnoghen is a Nigerian and he should be allowed to serve like his predecessors, the group said. More than $11m (8.8m) is missing from The Gambias state coffers following the departure of long-time leader Yahya Jammeh, an adviser to President Adama Barrow has said.Mai Ahmad Fatty said financial experts were trying to evaluate the exact loss.Luxury cars and other items were seen being loaded on to a Chadian cargo plane on the night Mr Jammeh left the country.Jammeh flew into exile on Saturday, ending his 22 years in power.He had refused to accept election results but finally left after mediation by regional leaders and the threat of military intervention.President Barrow remains in neighbouring Senegal and it is not clear when he will return.However, West African troops have entered the Gambian capital, Banjul, on Sunday to prepare for his arrival.Cheering crowds gathered outside the State House to watch soldiers secure the building.The Senegalese general leading the joint force from five African nations said they were controlling strategic points to ensure the safety of the population and facilitate Mr Barrows assumption of his role.Fatty told reporters in the Senegalese capital Dakar that The Gambia was in financial distress.The coffers are virtually empty, he said. It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia.He said Jammeh had made off with more than $11m in the past two weeks alone. The BBC is unable to independently verify the claims.Fatty said officials at The Gambias main airport had been told not to let any of Jammehs belongings leave the country, reports the BBC.Reports said some of the former leaders goods were in Guinea where Jammeh had stopped on his journey into exile.Jammeh is reported to now be in Equatorial Guinea, although authorities there have not confirmed it.The former leader had initially accepted Barrows election win on 1 December, but later alleged irregularities and called for a fresh vote.The move was internationally condemned and the UN-backed Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) issued an ultimatum for him to quit or be removed by force. Exiled Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh has been accused of stealing millions of dollars in his final weeks in power, plundering the country's state coffers and shipping luxury vehicles by cargo plane, a special adviser for the new president said on Sunday. Mai Ahmad Fatty told journalists in neighbouring Senegal that already they have determined Jammeh made off with more than $11.4m during a two-week period alone.Prominent Gambian media house, The Gambia Today -has shared photos of cars purportedly stolen by Yahya Jammeh before stepping down.Jammeh, who ruled this west African nation for more than 22 years, went into exile late on Saturday under mounting international pressure. He is now in Equatorial Guinea, home to Africa's longest-serving ruler. Fresh facts about the plane used to carry disgraced former President of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh from Banjul to Malabo have been revealed.The Nigerian newspaper, The Nation said today that the Falcon jet belongs to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress.Earlier reports had said the plane belongs to Mauritanian president.Jammeh was flown in the dark to Malabo after two days of talks with Guinean President Alpha Conde and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz.After agreeing to leave and save The Gambia from a major crisis, Jammeh was confronted by big challenge how to fly out.The leaders, The Nation learnt, reached out to All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who authorised his private aircraft to be used to fly Jammeh out of Banjul, sources said.Tinubus VP-CBT Falcon Jet had been with President Conde, who is a close friend of the leading politician. Sources said Tinubu was contacted to allow the use of his jet to fly Jammeh out of Banjul.He reportedly gave a condition: it should only be used if it will facilitate the quick exit of Jammeh and lead to the restoration of peace and democracy in The Gambia.The plane eventually flew out with Jammeh, his wife, mother and President Conde on board.Senegal, it was learnt, insisted on knowing those on board before allowing it to overfly its airspace. This wish was granted. Jammeh was flown to Equatorial Guinea where he will be on exile, The Nation reported. Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Nigerian, who is the new President-General of the World Youth Organisation (WYO), will assume duty at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday.The spokesperson to the President General, Mr. Adeola Badru, said in Ibadan WYO was the youth organ of the United Nations Organisation (UN).Adeyemi, who would lead the affairs of youths across the globe for the next five years, would be received by diplomats, government officials, heads of missions as well as Civil Societies and NGOsBadru stated the first assignment of the President General would be to seek the approval of the Security Council to appoint 967 nominees that would work with him across the globe.He had commenced official duty upon election by establishing five organs for the organisationGeneral Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship and Secretariat, the spokesperson said. The 967 nominees will work with my office across the globe. This will enable the organisation to function effectively and bring coordination across the world, he said.Among the positions to be occupied are the Chief of Staff to the President- General, Principal Secretary, Envoys, Special Representatives and Senior Special Advisers.Others are Senior Special Assistant, Personal Assistant, Head of Parastatals and Agencies.He said the listed officers would enable the president General to touch lives across the world to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) before 2030.NAN reports that Adeyemi recently won the admiration of UN workers and leaders, when he spearheaded the passage of the Youth Empowerment Schemes bill into law.The scheme would make provision for adequate compensation to all categories of youth workers in the public and private sectors and their dependants.It will cater for incidence of injury, sickness, disability or death arising in the course of employment.Adeyemi was elected as the new WYO chief at a World Youth Conference held on Nov. 12, 2016, in New Delhi, India.He had contested the election with nine others and won with 1,679 votes, while the first runner up from the U.S. secured 501 votes.Adeyemi was a former aide to former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, before his new position.The new WYO President is a graduate of Agronomy from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in Nigeria, and Accounting from the Western University of Ontario in Canada.Adeyemi, a Chartered Accountant, was the former Accounting Officer to the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sanctioned University of Ilorin (Unilorin) and directed its members to boycott acade... The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sanctioned University of Ilorin (Unilorin) and directed its members to boycott academic and allied activities at the school.ASUU wielded the big stick following what it described as Unilorin managements persistent lawless, arbitrariness, violation of human and trade union rights and persecution of loyal members.No academic staff of the university will be allowed to carry out any academic activity in any other university.This was part of resolutions reached at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Awka. A copy of the sanctions was made available to reporters in Ibadan by Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr Deji Omole.The union noted that despite efforts at resolving the crisis in the institution, the management and its sponsored groups were fuelling the crisis, alleging that it forcefully deducts check-off dues without remitting same to the national body.Omole added that the union also directed its members to boycott all Unilorin-based journals, quarterlies, newsletters, while articles from academic staff of the university will not be accepted by journals for peer review and/or publication in other universities.He said: Despite ASUUs intervention, since 2001, the University of Ilorin administration has persisted in acts of lawlessness, arbitrariness, violation of human and trade union rights, and persecution of loyal members.Contrary to the law and despite the ruling of the National Industrial Court, the university has continued to prevent ASUU from functioning on its campus. It has also continued to forcefully collect check-off money from its academic staff without remitting it to the union.The union is, therefore, bound to protect the principles of democracy and the exercise of freedom in the academia, and also insist on the right to function through its own accredited representatives.NEC, at its meeting at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, recognised distinct groups that have emerged in creating and prolonging the crisis at unilorin.For the avoidance of doubt, academic staff of the university shall not participate in any academic activities of other public universities and vice versa.All members of the union, including those serving in private universities during the period of the sanction, shall comply, he added. Nigerias President, Muhammadu Buhari, has again given an endorsement to Channels Television, as his favourite. Nigerias President, Muhammadu Buhari, has again given an endorsement to Channels Television, as his favourite.This is the second time the President will be giving such an endorsement on Channels TV.The first was in a goodwill message to the station on its 21st anniversary.The Presidents picture was posted in a tweet, as he was watching Sunday Politics on Channels Television in London.The photograph of the President, was apparently released to douse rumours that he was ill in London.He said: Wherever I am, I keep up with news from home. Channels TV is one of my favorites. Im proud of what the Nigerian media are achieving. The immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Joel Ikenya has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (P... The immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Joel Ikenya has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Ikenya hails from Taraba and served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.He told newsmen on Monday in Jalingo that his defection was informed by the numerous achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari- led administration.He urged Nigerians especially those from the North-East, to key into the policies and programmes of the President for the socio-economic development of the country.My reasons for decamping from the PDP to pitched tent with the ruling party are based on the many achievements the president has recorded within his first one year in office.The success he achieved in restoring peace to the troublesome North-East zone alone is something we cannot shy away from no matter our political party differences.Buharis fight against corrupt practices is also one of the major factors that motivated me to dump my former political party to the ruling APC, Ikenya said.The former minister pledged the `unflinching support of his and his supporters to the President to enable him (Buhari) lead the nation to greater heights. Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola in this piece, highlights what the world stands to gain in the ... Donald Trump, who was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America last Friday, is undoubtedly a very outspoken man who does not bother about how anyone receives his comment. Indeed, why this trait in Trump offends the establishment, it appeals to the vast majority of the forgotten Americans who voted him into power.During the 18-month campaign, I was the only one in my family and among all my friends and associates that saw victory coming the way of Trump because I believed in his campaign strategy. So, when the news filtered out that he won, I immediately issued a press statement to celebrate the man of the moment and the new policeman of the world.I must say for the umpteenth time that Trumps victory did not come to me as a surprise bearing in mind the thrust of his campaign to make America great again, that he disagrees with the Nuclear Treaty signed by United Nations (UN) with Iran and that he will change Americas immigration policy to ensure that only those who have genuine business in America are allowed into America, which angered and infuriated many.Others are that he would address the situation whereby America funds the UN so heavily and yet has become a toothless bull dog, a voiceless entity because some people enjoy the power of Veto and that he would raise the living standard of workers.In all, Trumps unexpected victory was the result of his appeal to nationalism and patriotism and I acknowledge his courage, doggedness and audacity to take on the drug barons, illegal immigrants and minorities, even when some of his party leaders developed cold feet and vowed not to campaign for him.To those of us who believe in him, the victory is for the better while to those who do not believe in him, his victory is for the worse. Those who do not believe in him see him as a racist; a showman with little substance; a sexist; uneducated; a man lacking in experience; judgment and temperament and therefore unfit to rule America.I hold the firm belief that he will make an extra-ordinary change. What is happening reminds me of the prophetic statement of UK Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, in South Africa Parliament in February 1960, when he said: The wind of change is blowing through this continent, and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact. We must all accept it as a fact and our national policies must take account of it. Those remarks were the harbinger of African Nationalism sweeping irresistibly from the North. The wind of change started in Britain in 2015 and has had dramatic effect in France, Philippines, USA and The Gambia.Contrary to expectation, the pattern of voting shows that almost two to one voters cared most about who could change the status quo in the United States of America (U.S.A.) in the November 8, last year election. His major focus was the forgotten millions of American workers who get paid by the hour. Unlike the previous Presidents and his opponent, Hillary Clinton, he did not paint a bright vision for the future. What he did was to emphasize the divisions of the present, arouse anger and fears within the country and promise opportunities for the millions of forgotten Americans who he has now promised to reintegrate.Although he is now the President of the most powerful nation in the world, Trump has to appreciate that the world is now a global village where nations complement one another. I agree that he should cure the problems of the American nation, but then, he cannot be an isolationist or a protectionist as any of these concepts will do severe damage to American interests generally.Although during his 18-month campaign, he looked like an unpredictable person, but now that he is at the drivers seat, his perception and appreciation of the situation is bound to be different and perhaps he will find out that it will be pretty difficult for him to carry out some of his tough election talks as governance is a different ball game from election campaign rhetorics. And that may already have started, for soon after his victory, he travelled to Indiana to announce that United Technologies, the 45th largest company in the country had agreed to his demands and would retain 800 career manufacturing jobs in Indiana.And in any case, Trump seems to have back-pedalled on some of his statements since his victory. For instance, during the campaign, he was hostile to Mexicans. Now he said I am for everybody. He also appointed a Nigerian as one of his Advisers.But, can Trump do without Nigeria like he boasted during his election campaigns and can Nigeria do without America? The answer is obvious: America can do without Nigeria, but Nigeria cannot do without America. Neither can he carry out his threat to drive away Nigerians and Muslims, many of whom are already American citizens, or barricade Mexico away from America. Indeed, the institutional framework of America will not allow him to carry out those threats.In any case, Trumps unpredictability may turn out to be an advantage to Nigeria because peradventure Trump carries out his threat to withdraw from Nigeria; Nigeria will have no choice than to turn to countries like China, the emerging economic lord of the world. Besides, Americas withdrawal from Nigeria will teach the latter a lesson in self-reliance and turn it from a country of mere consumers to start thinking of being producers of what it had hitherto been relying on others for.Again, if Trumps makes good his threat of driving away Nigerians, highly qualified Nigerians will come home with their expertise and relocate their investment back home, thereby boosting the Nigerias economy. Besides, such a move will prevent people from investing stolen money in America while such already invested money will be returned home. Another bright side of the threat is that it will address the issue of brain drain and get our best brains to return home and boost our education sector. After all, the Yorubas say Adaniloro fi agbara koni meaning the one who denies the other assistance or help teaches the latter to work harder.On the whole, Trump is a man who has the benefit of practical and business approach to issues. He is a man who has distanced himself from national establishment ways of doing things, a man who has never held any public office before emerging the President of the U.S. The world, including Nigeria, will benefit from these qualities inherent in the new occupant of the White House. The change he has promised may begin from himself without the support of anybody. He has done it before when he courageously and doggedly took on the drug barons, illegal immigrants and minorities even when some of his Party Leaders developed cold feet and vowed not to campaign for him. His audacity shows that he is a man who can really show the way. I wish him well. Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, says he will soon embark on a 10-day vacation. Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, says he will soon embark on a 10-day vacation.Dismissing the reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is ill, Amaechi told Arise TV that he did not believe that Buharis medical history should be discussed.Buhari is currently holidaying in the UK, where he is also expected to undergo medical checkups, and this has raised concerns on the presidents health.But Amaechi said when he commences his own vacation, he will also undergo medical checkups.Last Sunday, the president stood for one hour; if he was not fit, he would have collapsed, he said.I do not think we should discuss presidents medical history. What are we worrying about? I will soon go for 10 days vacation, during which I will go for medical check-up.He said the current administration has the plans to develop the Niger Delta, and that it would not be done by sharing money to political elite as was done in the past.The conversation on Niger Delta is ongoing; recently, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was in Niger Delta to continue with the dialogue. And President Buhari is committed to resolving the issues, he said.But, unlike in the past, where the political elite were interfacing with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Presidential Amnesty Office and sharing money met for the development of the region, we will invest in infrastructure development and capacity building in the area.Amaechi also gave reason for the present economic recession in the country, saying it was largely caused by the corruption of the past government.We are in recession because when former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, was leaving office, he left $68 billion in foreign reserve, he said.What happened to the $68 billion? Dont forget we were in recession in 2009; we have forgotten that the then President YarAdua had to go to excess crude account to take a billion dollars every month to fund the economy.By the time YarAdua died, about $48 billion was left in the excess crude account. They said the Governors Forum said they should share the money; fine. They should also ask why the governors said they should share the money.At that time we used to hold monthly economic council meeting. The constitution says there must be at least one economic council meeting every month. Under the watch of former President Goodluck Jonathan, they stopped the meeting.Do you know why they stopped it? Because any time we come for the meeting, $48 billion will come down to $47 billion and when we ask, they will tell us the President said they should use it. Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, and Claudio Descalzi, the CEO of Eni, met on Monday in Rome, Italy, to further st... Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, and Claudio Descalzi, the CEO of Eni, met on Monday in Rome, Italy, to further strengthen the oil and gas companys longstanding and fruitful partnership with Nigeria.A statement by Eni said the deal with Kachikwu, who is also the chairman of the board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), would double power generation in its Okpai plant in Delta state.NNPC and Eni, through its subsidiaries Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote new activities that can significantly boost Nigerias social and economic development, the statement read.Regarding the upstream sector, oil and gas production operations will intensify with an increased focus on development and exploration activities in the onshore, offshore and Ultra Deep Water operated areas.Concerning the refining sector, the parties agreed to cooperate for the rehabilitation and enhancement of Port Harcourt refinery.Concerning power generation, access to energy will be further enhanced by doubling the power generation capacity in Okpai IPP through the fast track development of its Phase II, making it one of the largest combined cycle power plants in Africa.The MoU also sets the basis for the assessment of the electrical national grid reliability and of most efficient renewable energy projects, to secure energy accessibility in the countrys most remote areas. Distraught parents and relatives of the kidnapped Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) are wondering what next after their hop... Distraught parents and relatives of the kidnapped Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) are wondering what next after their hope of reuniting with their loved ones was dashed at the weekend.The kidnappers, who stormed the school premises, snatching away three children and five members of the staff, were said to have promised to release the victims on Friday night.Their promise, it was gathered, was sequel to the over N10million ransom the kidnappers allegedly collected from the victims relatives.It was learnt that the kidnappers had ordered the relatives to drop the ransom at designated points on Friday. They were later told where to pick up their relatives.But the kidnappers reneged on the agreement on allegation that some of the relatives brought security operatives to the designated places.While some were asked to go to certain locations in Ogun and Ondo states, others were directed to wait at Agboju, on the Badagry Expressway around 9pm on Friday.They were also warned not to receive any telephone call, except theirs while at the designated points.Having disappointed them on Friday, it was gathered that the kidnappers told the parents the children would be returned on Saturday night.The parents, it was gathered, pleaded with the police to stay off the matter, insisting that since they had paid the ransom, they were only interested in having their children back.A woman, who pleaded not to be named for security reasons, said her family paid N5million on Friday.She said: What else do they want us to do? We paid N5 million and yet they have refused to release my little girl. This is the ninth day and the longest of all such incidents in schools ever witnessed. Is this a repeat of Chibok girls abduction?The most annoying part is that the Ogun State government seems to be adamant over this. Apart from the day the Deputy Governor visited the school and assured us that they would be released, nothing has been heard from the government.One would have expected that such kidnap in a foreign school should be given the needed attention, so as to redeem our image internationally, but no! They have left us to our fate because it is not their children that are involved.The police keep assuring us that they would release them. How long do they want us to wait, for eternity?The police said they were hopeful the girls would be rescued in a few days time.According to the spokesman for Ogun command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), security forces are closing in the kidnappers.He said: We are very optimistic. We believe that we would rescue the girls soon. It is not true that we have not been talking with the parents. How can we abandon them? It will be unfair for any parent to say so because it is far from the truth. The only thing is that we can not reveal the strategy we are taking because that may jeopardise our efforts. The Presidency yesterday said more states are benefiting from the Federal Governments school feeding programme. The Presidency yesterday said more states are benefiting from the Federal Governments school feeding programme.A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said the Federal Government had so far released over N375 million to feed almost 700,000 primary school pupils in five states.He said almost all the states except two, are now being processed for the payment of N30,000 monthly stipends to 200,000 graduates who are N-Power beneficiaries.Akande said Buharis Social Investment Programme is on-going.He said the Federal Government last week released money for this year, to Anambra, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ebony states to cover the feeding for 10 school days under the Homegrown School Feeding Programme.He also said N375, 434, 870 had been paid to 7909 cooks in those states for the feeding of 677, 476 primary school pupils.Other breakdowns released by Akande are: Ogun State got N119, 648, 900 paid to 1381 cooks to feed 170, 927 pupils.Ebonyi State got N115, 218, 600 paid to 1466 cooks to feed 164, 598 pupils.Anambra State got N67.5m paid to 937 cooks to feed 96,489 pupils.Oyo State got N72.2m paid to 1437 cooks to feed 103, 269 pupils.Osun State got N867,370 paid to 2688 to feed 142, 193 pupils.According to him, the monies were paid directly to the cooks for ten days of school.He said the figures would go up this week when Zamfara and Enugu States are paid N188.7 million and N67.2 million.He said: In Zamfara, the money would be paid to 2738 cooks to feed 269, 665 pupils. And in Enugu, the money would be paid to 1128 cooks to feed 96, 064 pupils.By then, over N631 million would have been released so far in 2017 for school feeding in 7 states, paid to 11,775 cooks and meant to feed over one million primary school pupils-exact number of pupils by then would be 1, 043, 205. The Federal Government has said the National Automotive Policy, when fully implemented, will not only revolutionalise auto sector in the... The Federal Government has said the National Automotive Policy, when fully implemented, will not only revolutionalise auto sector in the country, but also generate millions of jobs, alleviate poverty and create wealth.Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who spoke at the Automobile, Boatyards, Transport Equipment, Allied Senior Staff Association, AUTOBATE, Extra Triennial National Delegate Conference in Lagos, tagged The National Automobile Policy: What does the future hold for workers? Ngige said the policy will boost backward integration, diversification and revitalisation of the automotive industry.Represented by Wole Shadow, Lagos Zonal Controller, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ngige said the automobile industry played both strategic and catalytic roles in economic development, particularly in employment creation and wealth generation.Earlier, President of AUTOBATE, Edeki Osumah, said: The first is to dedicate a large trunk of our budget to programmatic education. We will make sure that in every major meeting of the union, an educative programme is ensued. This will help in arming the leaders of the union in intellectual and programmatic approach to labour and political education. Also, we will decentralize our education programmes to the branch and factory levels to make sure our educational policy is robust and grassrooted.Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion and Deputy President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Mr. Sunday Salako, represented by Yekeen Shittu, said automotive industry would create significant employment and a wide range of technologically advanced manufacturing opportunities. President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government may have expended not lesser than N500 million towards the deployment of 200 troops to t... President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government may have expended not lesser than N500 million towards the deployment of 200 troops to the ECOWAS operations and resolving political impasse in The Gambia.Despite complaints of paucity of funds and economic recession in Nigeria, informed military sources disclosed to Nigerian Tribune that the Federal Government had to source for funds to enable Nigeria, seen as a power bloc in the sub-region to participate in the operation.The Federal Government had to dip its hands into Nigerian foreign operations fund domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tribune gathered.The source said further that the over N500 million fund was meant for airlifting the troops, fueling the alpha jets on a daily basis and feeding.Nigeria led the ECOWAS group by contributing 200 troops and two alpha jets including other countries like Senegal, Ghana and Mali.Source: Nigerian Tribune The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in totality the statement credited to the Senior Special Adviser to the President on M... The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in totality the statement credited to the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, saying the killings in Southern Kaduna were partly the fault of the PDP because it is the only Senatorial District in the North West with PDP senator.Shehu spoke during a live programme on Channels Television Monday.In a reaction by the PDP spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party described the statement as sad, baffling and shameful.The statement said, We are baffled that such a callous, irresponsible and insensitive statement could come from a person who speaks for the President of Nigeria.This shows the extent to which every issue in the country today is viewed from the APCs and the Presidencys extremely narrow and jaundiced partisan political prism.Is Garba Shehu inferring that the hapless people of southern Kaduna were singled out for genocide because they elected a PDP senator?Or that the people invited such mindless violence upon themselves by choosing to be different in a sea of APC domination?Or is the Southern Kaduna massacre really an action to teach the people a bitter lesson for voting PDP and not APC? It is really unimaginable that any reasonable person can make such a reckless statement.One really wonders when the APC would finally accept responsibility for its incompetence and maladministration and end the blame game.They have spent the last two years doing nothing but blame the PDP for their woes. They will from all indications, spend the next two years doing the same. Wherever I am, I keep up with news from home. Channels TV is one of my favorites. I'm proud of what the Nigerian media are achieving.... Wherever I am, I keep up with news from home. Channels TV is one of my favorites. I'm proud of what the Nigerian media are achieving. pic.twitter.com/LciLrzyaxT January 22, 2017 The pictures below shows Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari sitted in a sofa and making a phone call while relaxing in a well-furnished room on his vacation. President Buhari had told Nigerians he was going to Germany for a medical check-up.Also in the room show the President watching a Channels Sunday Politics programme where his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and the Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose had spoken on the state of the nation. Police in Nigeria on Sunday said they had arrested 65 people at a demonstration of support for US President Donald Trump organised by pro-... Police in Nigeria on Sunday said they had arrested 65 people at a demonstration of support for US President Donald Trump organised by pro-independence activists in the countrys south.The rally, which took place on Friday in the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt, was organised to coincide with the billionaire businessmans inauguration as the 45th US president.It was organised by a pro-Biafra group advocating an independent state in southeastern Nigeria and was held on the eve of massive demonstrations against Trump across the globe.Some suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) staged an unlawful protest in the Port Harcourt metropolis, said Rivers States deputy police chief Ahmed Magaji.He said the march was not authorised and had disturbed the public order, with police using tear gas to disperse them.About 65 of them were arrested on suspicion of belonging to the IPOB, and were found to be carrying the movements flag, he said.The IPOB is part of a wider secessionist movement that advocates an independent state of Biafra, a region in southeast Nigeria that unsuccessfully fought for independence in a brutal three-year civil war that ended in 1970.Posting on Twitter, several pro-Biafra activists claimed police had brutally attacked the unarmed demonstrators and even killed several of them but there was no way of independently verifying the reports.Early on in the US presidential race, IPOB threw its support behind Trump in the belief he would recognise their independence movement.Soon after Britain voted in a referendum in June to leave the European Union, the group pushed for its own version of Brexit from Nigeria that it dubbed Biafrexit.Separatist sentiment has grown over the past 15 months since the arrest of the brother of the IPOBs leader, with activists engaging in bloody clashes with the security forces that have been condemned by human rights groups. Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, says President Muhammadu Buhari is succeeding in his mission to transform Nigeria. Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, says President Muhammadu Buhari is succeeding in his mission to transform Nigeria.Tambuwal spoke in Sokoto at a reception which the state government organised in honour of Aliyu Wamakko, his predecessor.Wamakko was also among the 12 recipients of the 2016 Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio Merit Award organised by the Gwandu Emirate Council of Kebbi state.The president has succeeded in tackling the problem of insurgency in the north-east while other security challenges are receiving the necessary attention, he said.The once dreadful Sambisa forest has now been cleared of insurgents and the happy story goes on.President Buhari is also doing his best to doggedly fight corruption, diversify the economy and reduce poverty and unemployment.The president therefore needs the support and fervent prayers of all Nigerians, irrespective of creed, religion or ethnicity.Tambuwal extolled the invaluable contributions of the five former governors of the defunct new PDP, saying their efforts saved democracy.He said the efforts led to the merger of the legacy political parties that culminated in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).That singular patriotic and bold move greatly helped in salvaging Nigeria sequel to the election of President Buhari, he said.Nigerians will not in anyway regret reposing tremendous confidence in the APC at all levels.He said the award was for the entire people of the state, noting that Wamakko is a father to all and he is worthy of emulation.Tambuwal commended the Gwandu Emirate Council for the gesture, urging Wamakko not to be complacent.Also speaking, Murtala Nyako, a former governor of Adamawa, commended the existing cordial relationship between Wamakko and his successor.I am urging leaders at all levels to emulate the duo for peace, unity and progress of the country, he said.Fervent prayers should also be sustained for the president and the nation at large.Responding, Wamakko dedicated the award to Tambuwal and the people of the state.We will continue to strive to defend the dignity and honour of the APC, Sokoto state, Sultanate Council of Sokoto and Nigeria.The award will spur me to do more and let me caution political smugglers in the state that my existing relationship with Tambuwal remains solid and cordial.We will continue to shame the doubting Thomases, APC in the state is one and all acts of sabotage from within and without would amount to naught. President of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Pastor Abraham Akinosun at the weekend assured Nigerians that the recession will end soon. President of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Pastor Abraham Akinosun at the weekend assured Nigerians that the recession will end soon.The cleric said the present hardship would become a blessing in disguise.Akinosun, who spoke with reporters shortly after inaugurating the CAC staff guest house at Babalola Memorial Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji, said Nigeria would emerge stronger after its economic crisis.His words: Things cannot be smooth forever in any country. There is time for everything under heaven.This is a time we as a nation must pass through for us to receive blessings from God and appreciate Him.There was a time in the history of Ghana and India when they had this kind of problem,but today the story of these nations have changed. Very soon we will also laugh in Nigeria and the time is near.He urged political leaders to rely solely on God as the solution to all problems and stop looking unto men.Akinosun warned leaders not to promote the worship of idols.On the killings in Southern Kaduna, the CAC president warned the government against promoting and placing one religion over the other. Ex Special Adviser to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Electronic Media, Reno Omokri has replied Garba Shehus diatribe at the former ... He is alive and well! President Buhari is not magical. He cannot be holidaying in the UK & be in Germany, dead or alive at the same time. Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) January 21, 2017 He is unlike a past President who was at Ota, w/ Chief Obj & attending the Trump inauguration in D.C, being in two places at the same time! Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) January 21, 2017 @GarShehu We know that your boss has reduced the Naira to its lowest level ever but you do not have to go this low! pic.twitter.com/H6AjyDNehq January 21, 2017 Ex Special Adviser to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Electronic Media, Reno Omokri has replied Garba Shehus diatribe at the former President where Shehu, the current Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari had, while reacting to the rumour making the rounds that President Buhari is dead, said that Buhari is not like Jonathan who could be at Ota in Ogun state and at the same time be in the United States for President Trumps inauguration as claimed by many platforms on social media. specifically, Shehu had while debunking the death rumour said, The president cannot be holidaying in the United Kingdom and be in Germany, dead or alive at the same time. He added that Buhari was unlike a past president who was at Ota with Chief Obasanjo and attending the Trump inauguration in Washington DC, being in two places at the same time.However, in response, Jonathans aide, Omokri said, We know that your boss has reduced the Naira to its lowest level ever but you do not have to go this low!It can be recalled that rumoured speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari was in a terrible health condition that could lead to his death left the social media abuzz Friday.This was after the presidency announced that the President would be travelling to Germany for medical check-up. Also in his reaction to the speculations, the Special Adviser to the President om Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina also thanked all those who wished the president well while asking for the Grace of God for repentance on all those who carried the rumors.He said: Best wishes to all who wish PMB well. As for those who carry evil rumours, may they receive grace to repent.Recall also that the Ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan had gone for a closed-door meeting with the equally Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo at Ota in Ogun state the same day that the U.S was inaugurating the new President, Donald Trump as the 45th U.S President. Many speculations filled the social media that the U.S invited Jonathan for the inauguration but snubbed President Buhari. A claim both quarters have come out to debunk. Nigeria, Senegalese, Malian and Ghanaian troops mobilised to The Gambia were yesterday approaching the capital, Banjul, to secure the cit... Nigeria, Senegalese, Malian and Ghanaian troops mobilised to The Gambia were yesterday approaching the capital, Banjul, to secure the city ahead of President Adama Barrows return.Barrow is due to move into the Presidential Villa this week following Saturday nights departure by Yahya Jammeh.Witnesses told reporters that troops were seen in Barra, a town on the opposite bank of the Gambia River from Banjul, massing near a ferry terminal.I saw a lot of them. Too many to count, said Pamadou Joof, 26, who operates a pirogue, a type of small boat. They had vehicles and a lot of guns.A Reuters witness saw war planes flying over Banjul, which remained calm despite some concern over how the army, a pillar of Jammehs regime, would react to his departure.Jammeh, who refused to accept defeat in a December election, flew out of Banjul late on Saturday en route to Equatorial Guinea to begin an asylum as the regional force was poised to remove him.The regional operation was launched late on Thursday after Barrow was sworn in as president at Gambias embassy in neighbouring Senegal, but it was then halted to give Jammeh one last chance to leave peacefully.There were speculations about whether Conde and Aziz had any agreement with Jammeh.Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye told Reuters that while Jammeh had sought a promise of immunity from prosecution, no such guarantee was made.President Jammeh and his team concocted a declaration to be endorsed by (regional bloc) ECOWAS, the United Nations and the African Union that gave him every guarantee, essentially impunity, Ndiaye saidThis declaration was signed by no one.Jammehs loss in a Dec. 1 poll and his initial acceptance of the result were celebrated across the tiny nation by Gambians grown weary of his increasingly authoritarian rule. But he reversed his position a week later, creating a stand-off with regional neighbours who demanded he step down.We will look for arms caches and detect mercenaries, so that we can restore calm, said Marcel de Souza, president of the ECOWAS commission, explaining to reporters overnight the new phase of the military operation.Adama Barrow hopes to go back as quickly as possible.Rights groups accuse Jammeh of jailing, torturing and killing his political opponents while acquiring a vast fortune including luxury cars and an estate in the United States as most of his people remained impoverished.The repression has forced thousands of Gambians to seek asylum abroad over the years. An additional 45,000 people fled to Senegal amid growing fears of unrest in the wake of last months election, according to the United Nations.Hundreds of Gambians carrying sacks, suitcases and cooking pots began returning by ferry from Senegals Casamance region yesterday.Hawa Jagne, 22, a cloth trader, hugged her sister Fama as she stepped off the boat.Im so relieved to see her, Jagne said. Everyone is free. You can do whatever you want, because this is a democratic country. You can express yourself. No one can kill you.President Barrow has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and other West African leaders for ensuring a successful transfer of power in his country.He also promised Gambians he was ready to operate a transparent and all-inclusive administration.He told reporters in Dakar, Senegal that it was about time the country was repositioned to achieve greatness and development.The time is now. There cannot be a better time because Gambians had waited for too long for this opportunity to come.This government would involve all well-meaning citizens, irrespective of political leanings and religion to build the country.We shall together do this in order to redeem the good image of the country and move it to greater height, the President said.Barrow said Gambians were very happy that the change they yearned for had finally come, adding that all hands must be on deck to develop the country.He promised to unite all the warring factions for the good and development of the country.With unity of purpose a lot can be achieved within the space of little time that everybody can be proud of anytime anywhere.With everybody on board, Gambia can become one of the great countries of the world, going by its potential and human resources, he said.He called on Gambians to support the government, adding that he was ready and willing to deliver dividends of democracy to the good people.We shall embark on robust policies and programmes where everybody will have equal chance as that is key in democracy.We are going to redeem all items in our manifesto for the benefit of the people. Gambia is back and we are ready to move it forward.We are also going to encourage people, especially Nigerians, to invest in the country and create more employment.We will encourage them and other foreign investors to go into production.We do not want the idea of buying and selling because your life will depend on others. So, we will encourage people to go into production, the President said.He also assured the people of adequate security, promising to leave a good legacy.Barrow expressed delight for the support extended to him during the trying time, adding that the people must remain dogged and resilient for the government to deliver dividends of democracy.He specially appreciated the role played by President Muhammadu Buhari and ECOWAS and other international bodies that ensured that his mandate became a reality.There was a breakdown of security in Banjul, the Gambian capital, yesterday leading to a massive looting of public property.It was reported that some security chiefs who were supposed to maintain security of lives and properties were behind the looting.There is massive looting taking place at the State House, a Gambian newspaper reported.It said Jammehs exit created a gap which is expected to be filled with the arrival of ECOWAS troops in the capital. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that he spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari who is on medical vacation in London. Spoke tonight on phone with President @MBuhari who's on vacation, reviewing local and other developments including Gambia's situation. January 22, 2017 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that he spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari who is on medical vacation in London.Osinbajo on his twitter handle said he briefed the President on many issues such as the local and other developments including Gambias situation West Bromwich Albion have apparently lost interest in signing Odion Ighalo, because of the high price Watford are demanding for the player.The Baggies manager, Tony Pulis, is hoping to use the 12million received for Saido Berahino to strengthen his squad in the final days of the window.Last week, they reportedly bid 17million for Ighalo, but it seems that will not be enough to land the Nigerian striker.Pulis said: Ive spoken to the chairman John Williams about it and John is keen on us to get a couple in.The squad is quite thin and we need to do that.But in respect of us getting him (Ighalo), no. I think Watford want too much so I dont think well be in that one.Ighalo has endured a miserable season so far with the Hornets and has only scored twice in all competition this season, after netting 17 times last season.Several weeks ago, the 27-year-old was rumoured to be close to joining compatriot John Obi Mikel, in the Chinese Super League.Ighalo has long been linked with a big-money transfer to China and Watford rejected a 38million pounds bid for him from Shangai SIPG last year .Yes, its a possibility he could move to China, a source disclosed to journalists at the time.There should be an update in this regard this week.Ighalo only signed a new five-year contract with The Hornets last summer.Nwankwo Kanu, Brown Ideye and Osaze Odemwingie are other Nigerian strikers who have played for West Brom in the past. President Muhammadu Buharis decision to seek medical attention abroad was based on prior appointment with his doctors who have treated ... President Muhammadu Buharis decision to seek medical attention abroad was based on prior appointment with his doctors who have treated him over the years, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina said.Speaking in an interview Sunday, Adesina said Buhari was well informed of the difficulties Nigerians are passing through even as he said that the ensuing economic recession which he described as inevitable would soon end.Mr. Adesina who spoke in an interview on Channels Television Sunday night also rebuffed claims of a media clampdown even as he affirmed that the president had received the report on the Attorney Generals investigations into the allegations levelled against some high-profile administration officials.Against the background of outrage in some sections of the public that President Buhari resorted to foreign doctors despite the N3 billion provisions for the State House Clinic in the 2017 budget, Adesina said that the president needed a consistency in his medical evaluation which he said he could only get from the United Kingdom based doctors he said had been attending to him over the years. Asked if the president was conscious of the difficulties in the land, he recounted an encounter he had with the president when he, Adesina told him of difficulties in the land.I know because I have people coming to visit me here and they tell me what they are passing through, Adesina quoted President Buhari as saying even as he said the administration was forging policies to address the issue. He promised that before the end of the year that things will begin to change noting optimistic predictions for the economy by global economic institutions.Recession was inevitable the way Nigeria had been run and three, four years ago it was known that it was bound to happen, he said. Mr. Adesina, himself a former president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE rebuffed claims that the Buhari administration had embarked on a clampdown on the media noting that journalists as everyone else were not above the law.He also said that the president would in due course take action on the report on the investigation into allegations of corruption levelled against some high-level officials of the administration. Zachary Gibson, 22, will serve 25 years in prison for his part in a Gentilly high school graduation shootout that left 15-year-old Tremaine Robinson dead and five others wounded in the 6200 block of Eads Street on May 23, 2014. More than a year after French Quarter fatal hit and run, NOPD has 'person of interest' image The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts. 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. Today Cloudy skies early, then thunderstorms developing late. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then thunderstorms developing late. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Tomorrow Thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Welcome to non league daily news now - your number one spot for all things relating to the National League System. Our dedicated reporters have come straight from the sidelines to bring you news fresh from the dugout - but not before theyve stopped off at the burger van first! We know that non league football fans are full of heart, passion, and belief. You trust the manager, you believe in the team, and, for some strange reason, you trust those rickety stands, too! Here at Non League Daily, we hope we can become your trusted non league news resource - a platform thats just as passionate about non league daily news now as you. Come rain or shine, well be out reporting on the latest non league fixtures. Well also be scouring the news, refreshing social media, and sourcing information from team websites in the hopes of finding the latest breaking non league daily news for our readers. As youll soon see, weve got exclusive match reports on the Vanarama National League, weve got transfer speculation thatll affect the National League South, weve found great stories thatll spice up the National League North, and weve even got news on the latest giant killers of the FA Cup. We may not be able to agree on who is going up this year, but we can all agree that any news on the NLS worth knowing will be published here, at Non League Daily. DENISON Each day when law enforcement officers, firefighters and other volunteers assemble to resume the search along the Boyer River for a missing accident victim, a prayer is said over them, asking that they remain safe and that their search is successful. Each evening when they return, a prayer is said over them again, giving thanks that everyone returned to the command center safely. The search for the missing 15-year-old girl entered day four on Sunday. She has been missing since the early morning on Thursday. The Crawford County Sheriffs Office was paged to the scene of a one-vehicle about three miles north of Denison at 3:06 a.m. on Thursday. A car, occupied by five individuals, left a farm field and crashed in the Boyer River. One of the occupants was able to swim to shore and walked to a trailer house directly east of the accident site. The owner of the house called the dispatch center, said Crawford County Sheriff James Steinkuehler. He added the page said there were no injuries. The individual who swam to shore and three individuals who were rescued from the river were taken to Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison to be checked for hypothermia. The missing girl was last seen standing in the water. On Sunday, the family of the missing teenager and their friends gathered at the command center in the Western Iowa Expo Building at the county fairgrounds. Many asked if they could join the search. With Lorena Lopez, of Denison, translating, Steinkuehler explained to them that the search should be left to the officials and volunteers. He said the river banks are high, steep and soft. They understood, he said. Dad and mom are with me 100 percent. Im afraid wed have injuries," Steinkuehler added. We need the people out there who have done this type of work. We need them helping by praying. I understand that they want to help. Im from a big family myself. Tears and hugs followed the meeting with Steinkuehler, and the family and friends took part in a short church service comprised of Scripture readings, a brief sermon, prayers and singing. Family members were given comfort and those that gathered sat down to eat the food they had brought. When it was lunch time, those searching the river banks preferred to grab a sandwich taken to them so they could continue to search while they ate. They dont want to stop, Steinkuehler told family and friends at the command center. Along with an outpouring of prayers, the command center has been the site of an outpouring of community support. An abundance of food and beverages has been brought in for those in the search party and willing hands prepare the food that needs to be warmed or cooked. Supplies have also been donated by stores. For Sundays search efforts, two boats from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) towing drag lines searched a stretch of the Boyer River north of Denison, and volunteer firefighters conducted another search of the river banks and were also able to search along the shallow edges of the river. The river has dropped 12 inches, maybe a little more, Steinkuehler said, and now theyre able to stand along the edge. If they see any ripple effects and are not sure what they are, even if its the top of a log thats visible, the firefighters can go to them and go around them with their rakes to double check those spots. He said the firefighters were able to search six to seven feet out from the edges of the river. Steinkuehler added that where the water has undercut the banks, the firefighters were checking those pockets. The river had previously dropped about three feet since the accident. Sundays search was unsuccessful. On Monday, dive team members will search "hot spots" along the river, areas more likely than others where the girls body might be found. A number of firefighters volunteered to continue the search on Monday. If Monday's search is not successful, members of the Crawford County Sheriffs Office and the Denison Police Department make frequent checks of the river a part of their patrols. Firefighters in the county will also check the rivers repeatedly. Steinkuehler said law enforcement and firefighters in Harrison County will do the same. The sheriff continued to ask everyone to pray for the family, that their daughter might be found quickly to give them some closure. Alisa Roth, owner of Bloom Works Floral in Council Bluffs, has been named the winner of the 2017 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneurial Award presented by Americas Small Business Development Centers Iowa. The award will be presented during a special ceremony on March 14 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Americas SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State Universitys College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Americas SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance center located across the state. Since the programs inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable workshops. Sue Pitts, regional director of the Iowa Western Community College Small Business Development Center in Council Bluffs, nominated Roth for the Deb Dalziel Award because, Alisa has become a respected entrepreneur and is very involved in the Council Bluffs Community. She has been through many trying times with her business and in her personal life but has trudged through it all and has never stopped working her business and putting her heart and soul into making Council Bluffs the best place it can be. Pitts said Roth was the first client she worked with when she started the SBDC position at Iowa Western in 2004. Pitts offered the following comments and insights in her nomination of Roth for the Dalziel award: Alisa had a dream to start and run her own business in 2004 and stopped into the SBDC to see how we could help her. She was in her early 20s with two very young children. Within six months, Alisa and her key employee, Susan Enewald, were gracing the 100 block in downtown Council Bluffs. They quickly became a household name in the community and a mainstay presence in downtown Council Bluffs. Alisa has become a respected entrepreneur in the community and is a top influencer in this region in her industry. She has participated in many mentor activities through the SBDC and other organizations to help and support other entrepreneurs as well as future entrepreneurs. She is not only passionate about her industry but is passionate about sharing her dream for running her own business with others. Alisa is also extremely involved in the community and uses her business as a means to raise awareness and dollars for issues important to her. One example of this is Bloom Works Annual Good Neighbor Day event. Every year on the designated national Good Neighbor Day, Bloom Works gives away 10,000 free roses. They open their doors at 8 a.m. and, while supplies last, give away 12 roses to each person. They ask that each person keeps one rose and give 11 roses away to 11 people to create many, many, random acts of kindness in Council Bluffs. Alisa has been through many trying times with her business and in her personal life including the loss of her husband, Council Bluffs Police Lt. Ben Roth, to a short and devastating battle with cancer but has trudged through it all and has never stopped working her business and putting her heart and soul into making Council Bluffs the best place it can be. Its been an honor to work with her and see her grow and become a part of the community, Pitts said. Roth, who had worked for other local florists before deciding to open her own shop in 2004, said she began working with Pitts before opening her shop. Working with the Sue at the SBDC made me feel comfortable with things, Roth said. You look at things realistically. Roth opened Bloom Works Floral in 2004 at 106 W. Broadway, now the home of Glory Days. She moved the shop to its current location at 138 W. Broadway eight years ago and currently employs four part-time designers with lots of family help. Changes in technology have been very influential, she said. Its not like it was when I started 20 years ago. Its really important to keep up with social media, current communication methods, to keep up with customers. Roth is active in a variety of Chamber of Commerce activities as well as CB Business Connections. Shes also active in her kids school activities. The Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur Achievement Award is awarded annually to women who have significantly improved or changed their own personal situation, thus having an impact on others around them. The award was established in 1999 by Americas SBDC Iowa to help highlight the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs in Iowa. Roth is the first winner from southwest Iowa in the awards 18 year history.. The purpose of the Deb Dalziel award is not only to honor Dalziel, a long-time advocate of women entrepreneurs, but also to ensure that the groundwork is in place to assure women equal advantages in the business world. As director of Americas SBDC Iowa at Southeastern Community College from 1987 to 1999, Dalziel served as a mentor for women developing business projects. Ron Manning, former state director of the Iowa SBDC, said Dalziel was a resourceful consultant and advisor who served as an excellent example for her clients, showing how women can achieve success in the business world. Dalziel died of cancer at the age of 44. GARY The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority on Monday agreed to pay local accounting firm Whittaker & Company $75,000 to perform the annual audit required by state law. The accounting firm will begin work next week, said owner and certified public accountant Curtis Whittaker. It will complete a draft by the end of March and submit a final version of the audit to the State Board of Accounts by the end of April. This year's audit will include a more rigorous appraisal of the airport's fixed assets. The airport authority hired Duff & Phelps Corp. in October to perform the appraisal. Whittaker said his firm will review the appraisal as part of the audit. Board member James Cooper expressed concern about the $75,000 fee, noting it had risen from $60,000 two years ago. "I do understand there's extra work that needs to be done, especially regarding fixed assets," he said, but, "I'm concerned about the upward trend." The four board members at Monday's meeting unanimously approved a letter of engagement with Whittaker. CROWN POINT A 38-year-old woman is alleged to have shot her ex-boyfriend last week at a Gary gas station. Christi Harrop-Haywood was charged Thursday in Lake Criminal Court with three counts of felony battery. Police allege Harrop-Haywood shot her boyfriend from a vehicle about 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Speedway gas station at 750 S. Lake St., according to a probable cause affidavit. Harrop-Haywood then allegedly fled and parked at the Mosley Motel, 6200 Melton Road, the affidavit states. The boyfriend, who was shot in the arm, walked to the motel, where Harrop-Haywood allegedly told him: I told you I don't play. I should've shot you in the head, the affidavit states. Harrop-Haywood then allegedly led the man into her room and called an ambulance, according to the affidavit. The boyfriend was treated at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus for a broken arm before being transported to a Chicago hospital, the affidavit states. Harrop-Haywood is jailed on a $30,000 bond, according to court records. CROWN POINT Two more state contractors were charged Friday with felony theft on allegations they over-billed the Indiana Department of Child Services. Yolanda R. Williams, 46, and Wanda R. Royal-Torres, 52, are alleged to have billed the department thousands of dollars of court-ordered caregiver services the department said neither woman could have provided, according to probable cause affidavits. The Indiana Office of Inspector General alleges Royal-Torres unlawfully charged the department for 253 hours of service between Jan. 9, 2013, and Jan. 23, 2014, the affidavit states. Williams is alleged to have unlawfully charged the department for more than 130 hours of services between Jan. 8, 2013, and March 19, 2014. the affidavit states. Royal-Torres was paid $5,600 by the department for those services. Williams was paid $3,800. Tanya L. Oliver-Johnson, 50, and Rhonda J. Glasper, 35, were charged Thursday with felony theft on similar allegations. The women provided services on behalf of Family First, of Gary; Family Focus, of Valparaiso; Capitol City Family Education Services, of Merrillville; and Dockside Services, of Highland, according to the affidavit. Representatives for the companies did not respond to requests for comment. Inspector General Lori Torres said in an email Monday she would need to consult with the investigator on the cases before she could comment. EAST CHICAGO A 17-year-old boy was robbed of a book bag Friday near a bridge on East Columbus Drive at Kennedy Avenue, police said. East Chicago police responded about 6 p.m. to the New Addition area and spoke with the teen, who told police he was robbed by four men in a silver four-door vehicle, police Lt. Marguerite Wilder said. The boy told police he was walking down stairs onto Kennedy Avenue when the vehicle pulled up, two people got out and one of them pointed a gun at him. The man told the boy not to run. The suspects took the boy's book bag and headed toward Michigan Avenue, police said. The man with the gun was described as black, about 18 years old with short hair and a black hoodie. The second suspect was described as black, about 30 to 40 years old with thick braids. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Angelo Machuca at 219-391-8318. To remain anonymous, call 219-391-8500. VALPARAISO An Aug. 8 trial has been scheduled for a former Hammond and Gary police officer charged with murdering the mother of three of his children. The trial involving Kevin Campbell was scheduled out over three weeks after Porter County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Matt Frost said it could go for as long as 10 days. Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford hears trials on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday so as not to interfere with the routine court call. Campbell, 32, is charged with killing Tiara Thomas, 30, who was found covered in blood about 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18, 2015, in her unit at Park Place Apartments, 5970 Old Porter Road in Portage. She died later at the hospital. Court records allege Campbell shot Thomas sometime between 4:37 a.m. and 5:55 a.m., then took their three children to school. The couple's oldest child, a middle school student, reportedly told investigators that on the way to school that morning, they stopped at Columbus Park in Lake Station, where Campbell dumped a bag the child believed contained shoes and other unknown items at the park. Police have not recovered the bag. Campbell kept the three children overnight the night before Thomas was killed, which was unusual, according to court records. He allegedly requested his oldest child bring him a key to the apartment nearly two weeks before the killing. There was no forced entry into Thomas' apartment the morning she was killed, according to the court document. The affidavit states Campbell paid Thomas nearly $1,500 per month in child support and the two often argued about the money and how it was spent. The charges indicate Campbell was in debt and his vehicle had been repossessed. Campbell made an unsuccessful attempt this past summer to be released on bond while his case proceeds. While Bradford agreed with the defense that there may not be a lot of physical evidence linking him to the crime, he said the presumption of his guilt is strong based on circumstantial evidence and that is enough to justify continuing to hold Campbell without bond. A status hearing in the case was scheduled for April 24, with a pre-trial conference July 10. EAST CHICAGO Residents living in the contaminated USS Lead Superfund site said they are solidifying plans to launch a bottled water drive in light of EPA test results showing high lead levels in a batch of homes drinking water. Veronica Eskew, principal at East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy, said during a Saturday meeting of a community advisory group she can organize a schoolwide competition to encourage her students to bring in cases of bottled water for distribution in the Superfund site. The school is just north of the site, with Chicago Avenue separating the two. Maritza Lopez said they are eyeing two churches in the Calumet neighborhoods as storage locations, and Juan Fernandez, organizer of the annual Peoples Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, said his group would help deliver bottled water to senior citizens. "We'll need volunteers," Lopez said. Residents are pushing for bottled water despite statements from the city that it provides clean drinking water and complies with EPAs 1991 Lead and Copper Rule, which set guidelines for safeguarding against lead levels. The Community Advisory Group formed last year to advocate on behalf of residents during EPA cleanup of properties also is pushing for water testing in more homes and occupied units at the West Calumet Housing Complex, said Lopez, of the 4900 block of Euclid Avenue. About half of the nearly 350 families have moved out due to the highly contaminated soil, she said, but many others remain with a March 31 move-out deadline. We still have families living there. We have to safeguard everyone and look out for each other, Lopez said. EPA earlier this year agreed to test a handful of basements for contaminants as part of a pilot study, but residents on Saturday said they want additional testing. They also want EPA to disclose any and all contaminants found during indoor and outdoor testing. Lopez urged Superfund residents to attend Mondays East Chicago City Council meeting at 6 p.m., when they plan to urge members to become more involved and help lobby local, state and federal agencies to better address residents' concerns. Residents said they plan to meet in early February with Lake County Assessor Jerome Prince to discuss property values. Residents have asked the city to consider a voluntary buyout for homes at pre-Superfund prices. Upcoming dates EPA is hosting a multiagency open house about the USS Lead site from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the old Carrie Gosch Elementary School, 455 E. 148th St., East Chicago EPA is hosting a Superfund 101 class from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at the East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy, 1402 E. Chicago Ave., according to the school's principal. The Shared Ethics Advisory Commission recently re-elected Calvin Bellamy as president and elected Dr. Steve Grandfield, of Ogden Dunes, as vice president. This will be my tenth year as SEACs president. I am as excited about the commissions work as I was on day one. Ethics in local government continues to be an important element in our areas quality of life and can be a potent factor in economic development," Bellamy said. Even though I represent one of the smallest SEAC communities, I see the benefit to my town and all of Northwest Indiana in approaching ethics training on a regional basis," said Grandfield. "We recently surveyed public employees and found that by a wide margin, they highly valued the opportunity to have ethics training. The Shared Ethics Advisory Commission was formed in 2005 to provide ethics training for employees of towns, cities, and counties in Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties. Commission members are appointed by their respective communities and serve without compensation. Currently, 23 communities have joined, committing to provide ethics training for their employees, including the counties of: Lake, LaPorte and Porter; cities: Crown Point, East Chicago, Gary, Hobart, Lake Station, Portage, Valparaiso and Whiting; towns: Burns Harbor, Cedar Lake, Chesterton, Dyer, Hebron, Highland, Lowell, Merrillville, Munster, Ogden Dunes, Schererville and Westville. WASHINGTON The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local): 12:30 p.m. The Pentagon has held its first news briefing since Defense Secretary James Mattis was sworn in on Friday. A spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, on Monday described several of Mattis' first activities as Pentagon chief but declined to discuss any policy issues. That includes potential changes in the U.S. approach to fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, which President Donald Trump has singled out as a priority. Davis said Mattis has made retired Navy Rear Adm. Kevin M. Sweeney his chief of staff and Rear Adm. Craig S. Faller his senior military assistant. The spokesman said Mattis would be meeting with the military service chiefs and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Joseph Dunford, on Tuesday, and had conducted a phone conversation with his Canadian counterpart. ___ 12: 15 p.m. President Donald Trump calls a lawsuit filed Monday against him "without merit, totally without merit." Ethics attorneys are suing him for allowing his businesses to accept payments from foreign governments in violation of the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit was filed Monday in the Southern District of New York by the liberal-funded watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Trump says he has handed over control of his global real estate and licensing empire to his two adult sons. But he is retaining his financial stake in the business even while in the White House, a break from the tradition of previous presidents to divest. Trump made the comments in response to a reporter's question after he signed his first few executive orders in the Oval Office. __ 11:59 a.m. President Donald Trump is signing a memorandum that freezes hiring for some federal government workers as a way to reduce payrolls and rein in the size of the federal workforce. Trump's directive is fulfilling one of his campaign promises. He tells reporters that members of the military will be exempted from the hiring freeze. The new president has vowed to take on the federal bureaucracy and the action could be the first step in an attempt to curtail government employment. The memorandum signed by Trump's is similar to one that President George W. Bush signed at the start of his administration in 2001. __ 11:55 a.m. President Donald Trump is reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation has been something of a political football, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Most recently, President Barack Obama ended the ban in 2009. Trump signed it one day after the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States, the date which is traditionally when presidents take action on the policy. The policy also prohibits taxpayer funding for groups that lobby to legalize abortion or promote it as a family planning method. __ 11:50 a.m. President Donald Trump is signing a memorandum to leave the proposed Pacific Rim trade pact known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The move is basically a formality, since the agreement had yet to receive required Senate ratification. Trade experts say that approval was unlikely to happen given voters' anxiety about trade deals and the potential for job losses. Trump called the move "a great thing for the American workers" It remains unclear if Trump would seek individual deals with the 11 other nations in TPP a group that represents roughly 13.5 percent of the global economy, according to World Bank figures. Trump has blamed past trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and China's entrance into the World Trade Organization for a decline in U.S. factory jobs. __ 11:05 a.m. President Donald Trump has tasked a group of top business leaders with coming up with a series of actions to help stimulate the American manufacturing sector. Andrew Liveris, the CEO of Dow Chemical, says Trump has given them 30 days to come up a plan. Trump met Monday morning with a group of top manufacturing leaders, including Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, and the executives from Dell, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, among others. Mark Fields of the Ford Motor Company says he left the meeting confident Trump will work to create jobs. ___ 10:30 a.m. President Donald Trump is planning to nominate Heather Wilson as secretary of the Air Force. A White House statement said Monday that Wilson, a former New Mexico congresswoman and president of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, would be the first Air Force Academy graduate to hold the position, if confirmed. Wilson served in Congress from 1998 to 2009, where she was a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chaired the House Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence. She also served on the House Armed Services Committee. __ 10:20 a.m. President Donald Trump is speaking with the Egyptian president. Trump and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi were scheduled to speak Monday morning. The details of the call have not yet been made public. Trump and el-Sissi have already shown a certain bond. Trump said there was "good chemistry" when they met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September. El-Sissi said Trump would "without a doubt" make a strong leader and said he believes Trump will be "vigorously engaged" with issues in the Middle East. __ 9:35 a.m. President Donald Trump is vowing to cut taxes on his first official business day in office. The newly-inaugurated president told business leaders Monday that he wants to lower taxes for the middle class and for companies to "anywhere from 15 to 25 percent," down from 35 percent. He told the business leaders that the deal is contingent upon keeping business operations inside the United States: "All you have to do is stay. Don't leave. Don't fire your people in the United States." One of the campaign promises Trump listed on his website was to "reform the entire regulatory code to ensure that we keep jobs and wealth in America." __ 9:30 a.m. President Donald Trump is opening what his team has dubbed "Day One" of his presidency by meeting with business leaders in the White House. Trump said Monday there will "be advantages" to companies that make their products in the United States and suggested he will impose a "substantial border tax" on foreign goods entering the country. The president also repeated a campaign promise to cut regulations "by 75 percent, maybe more." Trump hosted the breakfast with about a dozen leaders in the Roosevelt Room. Among those in attendance were Kevin Plank of Under Armour, Elon Musk of Tesla, Marilyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin and Mario Longhi of US Steel. Trump suggested he wanted to hold these meetings quarterly. ___ 3:20 a.m. President Donald Trump is meeting with congressional leaders from both parties to discuss his agenda, as he enters his first official week in the White House and works to begin delivering on his ambitious campaign promises. Trump says he considers Monday to be his first real day in office. And he's packing it with meetings that suggest he's keeping an open ear. There's a breakfast and what the White House calls a listening session with business leaders in the morning; another listening session with union leaders and workers in the afternoon; and a reception later on with members of Congress he'll need on board to overhaul the nation's health care system, among other goals. He'll also hold his first meeting as president with the speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. NATIONWIDE Sierra Nevada is recalling 8 of its 12-ounce beers after a glass packaging flaw. The voluntary recall was issued after a brewery in North Carolina noticed some bottles had a flaw that could result in loss of carbonation which could lead to glass breaking off and falling into the bottle. The recall applies to 36 states including AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI and WV. Eight different types of its craft beers are impacted: Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale, Torpedo Extra IPA, Tropical Torpedo, Sidecar Orange Pale Ale, Beer Camp Golden IPA, Otra Vez, Nooner, Hop Hunter IPA. All the recalled bottles were packaged in six-pack case. Beer that is NOT impacted by recall is all Sierra Nevada canned beer, all Sierra Nevada draught beer, all Sierra Nevada variety packs, all 24-ounce bottled beer, all 750ml bottled beer, all Chico-produced Sierra Nevada beer, Mills River Beer packaged before Dec. 5, 2016, Mills River Pale Ale packaged after Jan. 8, 2017 and all other Mills River brands packaged after Jan. 13, 2017. Sierra Nevada has stopped distributing all impacted beer. If you decide to return your beer, you'll receive a full refund. Call 800-596-7835 for more information or visit sierranevada.com/qualitymatters. The page you are looking for was not found. ''One of the hypotheses,'' said Mr. Groat, ''would be that affluent blacks have left San Francisco as the real estate market in the suburbs has opened up.'' Reasons for White Flight Housing expenses, problems in the schools and a rising rate of violent crime in the city - the rate of reported rape in San Francisco in 1980 was nearly three times that of Chicago, and the robbery rate almost equal to Detroit - are all cited as contributors to white flight. The data from the 1980 census have not been analyzed completely. But preliminary theories are that the major population loss has been among the middle class, particularly children. ''What is happening is that San Francisco is losing people, but it is gaining households,'' observed William Witte, deputy director for housing in the city's Office of Community Development. ''It's a net loss of people, a net gain in households, so there is more pressure on the housing market and more pressure on the people who can least afford it. The nationwide trend is to smaller households, and more households per capita, and that is exaggerated here, greater than the national trend. According to the latest figures, the size of the household decreased in the past decade from about 2.7 persons per household to 2.1, something like that. And the incomes went up.'' Exodus Linked to Housing Costs A major reason for the exodus of the middle class from San Francisco, demographers say, is the high cost of housing, the highest in the mainland United States. Last month, the median cost of a dwelling in the San Francisco Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area was $129,000, according to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board in Washington, D.C. The comparable figure for New York, Newark and Jersey City was $90,400, and for Los Angeles, the second most expensive city, $118,400. ''This city dwarfs anything I've ever seen in terms of housing prices,'' said Mr. Witte. Among factors contributing to high housing cost, according to Mr. Witte and others, is its relative scarcity, since the number of housing units has not grown significantly in a decade; the influx of Asians, whose first priority is usually to buy a home; the high incidence of adults with good incomes and no children, particularly homosexuals who pool their incomes to buy homes, and the desirability of San Francisco as a place to live. ''What you have is a sharp drop in the birth rate, and what we've really lost is children under 15,'' said Dr. Rosen. ''We can't demonstrate it without the numbers, which we'll get in six months to a year, but it has happened in many cities. It's not people moving out of the cities. The number of households has gone up so the number of adults has gone up. People are not having kids, and there is the nontraditional life style. Traditional families are not being formed, people are not getting married and having children.'' More 'Nontraditional' People May is to meet Trump in Washington Friday and said she would use the opportunity to discuss the future trading relationship between the United States and Britain, as well as NATO and challenges such as defeating terrorism. British Prime Minister Theresa May said Sunday she would not be afraid to tell U.S. President Donald Trump when she finds something he has said unacceptable. Thousands of women took to the streets of European capitals on Saturday to protest against Trump, particularly comments he has made which were seen as demeaning of women. "I've already said that some of the comments that Donald Trump has made in relation to women are unacceptable, some of those he himself has apologized for," May told the BBC. "When I sit down (with Trump) I think the biggest statement that will be made about the role of women is the fact that I will be there as a female prime minister... Whenever there is something that I find unacceptable I wont be afraid to say that to Donald Trump." European nationalist leaders met in Germany Saturday in a show of strength at the start of a year of big election tests, celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration as the U.S. president and declaring themselves a realistic alternative to the continents governments. The Koblenz Congress brought together French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen of the National Front party, the Netherlands' Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party (PVV), Matteo Salvini of Italy's Northern League, Frauke Petry of the 4-year-old Alternative for Germany (AfG), Harald Vilimsky, the general-secretary of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party, which last year narrowly failed to win the country's presidency, and other like-minded European leaders. "I believe we are witnessing historic times," Dutch anti-Islam leader Wilders told reporters. "The world is changing. America is changing. Europe is changing. And the people start getting in charge again." NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico She spent weeks hiking through the Amazon, crossing a crocodile-filled river. She scaled border walls, escaped from immigration detention in Panama and slept in a church. Broke, hungry and exhausted, she found refuge with indigenous people in the jungle who took her in and fed her for a week. Finally, six months after fleeing Cuba on a tortuous journey to the United States, Marleni Barbier, a dental assistant from Havana, made it to the border with Texas about 12 hours too late. More than 1,000 Cuban migrants who endured monthslong treks across as many as 10 countries to reach the United States are marooned in Mexico, halted by the Obama administrations decision this month to end special immigration privileges for Cubans who make it to the U.S. border. The abrupt change is profound for Cubans, who fled their country by the tens of thousands in the past year to take advantage of a decades old policy that permitted them to enter the United States. Now, the many Cubans stranded in Mexico and potentially thousands more plodding up the migrant trail through the Americas are hoping for a reprieve: that President Donald Trump, who was elected on a promise to build a wall along the Mexican border, will let them through. I have faith that Trump will change it, said Barbier, 44, who arrived at the Texas border right after President Barack Obama announced the end of special rights for Cubans. To take away a law at the last minute like that, its so unjust. Some of the Cubans stuck in limbo at the Texas border arrived Jan. 12, the day the Obama administration eliminated the wet foot, dry foot rule. The rule, which dated to 1995, allowed Cubans who reached the United States to enter the country. About 150 Cubans are parked only 50 steps from the pedestrian bridge that connects Nuevo Laredo, in Mexico, to Laredo, Texas. Bewildered and deflated, they are being fed by Mexican strangers, and they pray. Everybody was racing to get here before the inauguration on the 20th, said Yamila Gonzalez Cabeza, 44, a teacher from Cuba, saying that many migrants thought the Trump administration would be the one to shut the border. The reverse was true. We did not expect this surprise on the 12th. The Cuban government has long abhorred the special immigration privileges, saying the policy bleeds the island of its citizens and lures waves of migrants into dangerous journeys by land and sea. In striking down the rule, Obama said it was designed for a different era during a period of hostilities before the U.S. restored diplomatic relations with the Cuban government. By taking away their privilege to enter, Obama said, the United States would treat Cuban migrants the same way we treat migrants from other countries. That decision could put Trump in an awkward position: He campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, vowing not to let migrants slip through U.S. borders. But Trump has also threatened to overturn Obamas executive orders and get tough on the Cuban government. Trump has said the wet foot, dry foot policy, which sent back Cubans caught at sea but allowed those who reached land to enter, was unfair. Still, the Cubans in Nuevo Laredo hope he will show humanitarian compassion for people who undertook arduous voyages to escape communism and extreme poverty. Barbier said she had spent all of the $8,000 she made from the sale of her house in Cuba to make it this far. That money is gone, gone, gone, she said. About 41,000 Cubans made similar trips across the Americas last year. But because she got to the border a little too late, Barbier and other Cubans like her may be sent back unless they can prove they endured individual persecution, not just poverty or lack of opportunity, on the island. I certainly have sympathy for them, but the policy has been changed and the moment they changed it, the policy was eliminated, said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat who represents Laredo. They didnt say anyone in the pipeline can come in. By luck, some got in and some did not. Eliannes Matos Salazar, 32, said she had been at the border station in Nuevo Laredo all day Jan. 12, and had been photographed and fingerprinted, when she was forced to leave after the announcement. Yet her husband got through and is in Las Vegas, she said. They can check their surveillance camera footage, because they will see me on it, said Matos, who came from Guantanamo, the Cuban city where the U.S. naval base is. Alberto Ramirez Balmaseda said he had turned back because border agents told him that he would face long periods of incarceration for a chance at presenting proof of persecution to a judge. What evidence do we have? That theres been a Castro regime in power for about 60 years? Ramirez said. If you are a political prisoner in Cuba, they dont put political prisoner on your criminal record. They say you stole a pig. Several of the Cubans interviewed said even if they had not had political problems before they left, they would if they were sent back. Yenier Echevarria Gonzalez, 31, who worked as a baker in the tourism industry, said that state security agents had seen a photo he posted from Brazil on Facebook, so they showed up at his house in Cuba and demanded that his wife sign his employment resignation papers. He had been gone just a week and had not officially emigrated. First of all, if Im deported I will probably have to serve two months in jail, Echevarria said. And I will never again have a job, a car, or a house ever. The Cuban government promised in the 1995 migration accords with Washington not to retaliate against Cubans who were turned back, said Holly Ackerman, a Duke University librarian who studies Cuban migration. To qualify for residency in the United States, Cubans will have to show they would be personally persecuted back home. Being pinched and limited and controlled by the Cuban government isnt enough to satisfy the U.S. authorities any more, she said. Cubans who are thinking about exiting will undergo a profound reframing of their identity as a result of these changes. Silvia Pedraza, a sociology professor at the University of Michigan, argued that while the prior policy had been flawed, it was naive to treat Cubans as economic immigrants. One has to distinguish people who leave totalitarian countries, she said. For sure, the weight of the economic circumstances is very strong in their lives, because the daily stuff of life in Cuba is so difficult that when Cubans talk, thats what they begin talking about. But it does not seem right not to recognize the political nature of this. Jose Martin Carmona Flores, who runs a state agency in Mexico that offers humanitarian assistance to migrants, said about 200 Cubans were in Nuevo Laredo, and an additional 1,100 were waiting in other cities until they decided what to do. According to the International Office of Migration, about 250 Cubans were being processed at the southern Mexico border when the announcement was made. Scores who arrived since then are being sent back to Cuba. More than 11,000 Cubans arrived in Mexico in just the last three months of 2016, meaning that thousands more along the migrant route across the Americas could flood Mexico in the weeks to come. On Friday morning, the Mexican government deported 91 of them who had entered along the southern border. The regions biggest rainstorm in seven years slammed Orange County on Sunday, flooding roads, triggering mudslides, submerging vehicles and causing dozens of traffic accidents. The series of torrential downpours prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning at around 3 p.m. Its an impressive storm, said forecaster Alex Tardy of the National Weather Service. Everywhere in Orange County even the coast saw 2 to 3 inches of rain in less than six hours. That is as much as 50 to 60 percent of what we saw for yearly totals each of the past three years. RELATED: Hail rains down in some areas of Orange County on Monday Upper Harding Canyon, near Modjeska, reported 4.44 inches of rain, Upper Silverado Canyon 3.7 inches, Stanton 3.55 inches and Huntington Beach 3.22 inches. Southern California Edison reported nearly 4,500 in Orange County were without power. Edison said power would be restored to the affected customers, including nearly 2,200 in Irvine, about 200 in Huntington Beach and 500 in Santa Ana. Rainfall should continue off and on through Monday, with the chance of an isolated shower Tuesday, said Brandt Maxwell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. MUDSLIDES, FLOODING Mudslides caused road closures in Brea and Laguna Beach and displaced two residents of an apartment building in Fullerton. In Brea, a mudslide closed Carbon Canyon Road, isolating the Olinda Village community. Both sides are closed, the Brea side and the Chino Hills side, Police Lt. Darrin Devereux said Sunday night. Police were running escorts so residents could access their homes. Caltrans was clearing the mud off the road. Devereux said it was possible the road could reopen on Monday. Brea also reported that Birch Street was closed in both directions near the Brea Sports Park due to flooding. In Fullerton, an earthslide reported at 8:30 p.m. Sunday sent mud from a hill up against an apartment building on the 1300 block of Shadow Lane. Officials said two residents were displaced. No other information was available. In Laguna Beach, a slope slippage reported at around 2 p.m. prompted police to close a section of Park Avenue between Wendt Terrace and Tahiti Avenue. Sgt. Tim Kleiser said there was no apparent danger to any structures, but a geologist was being summoned the evaluate the slippage. Two Chapman students had to be rescued from a Santa Ana riverbed after they were inner-tubing and couldnt get out, according to the Orange Police Department. RAIN IN THE CANYONS Joanne Hubble, a longtime resident of Modjeska Canyon in east Orange County, still remembers how awful the last big storm in 2010 was and how many questions she had about her safety and that of her neighbors. We were just drowning in our cereal then, she recalled. Sundays storm though not as intense as the one seven years ago rekindled those memories. Hubble said it rained horses and cows, forget about the dogs and cats. On Sunday morning, she warned about 1,700 people on her emergency email list of the stormy conditions. I do what I do to help everybody, Hubble said. These people are my family. Ive lived in the area 38 years now. It means a lot to be able to help them. FLOODING, CRASHES ON THE ROADS Countywide, the California Highway Patrol responded to more than 40 collisions, most non-injury, on Orange County roads and freeways from 1 p.m. into the evening. In Garden Grove, several cars were submerged in water. At least one car in the parking lot of Garden Groves Next Level Sports Complex was completely submerged, police said. The eastbound 91 off-ramp to Tustin Avenue was reported closed due to flooding. In Fullerton, a vehicle struck a power pole along Bastanchury Road near Associated Road, toppling the pole and leaving wires in the street, authorities said. Crews were working to clear the scene. Meanwhile, the drenching, windy weather prompted Mission San Juan Capistrano to close early, citing safety considerations. Mechelle Lawrence Adams, executive director at the historic site, said on Facebook that this was only the second time in 14 years that had happened. MEANWHILE, ON THE COAST In San Clemente, lifeguards reported that 6- to 10-foot waves were shaking the citys 1,300-foot-long pier and eroding beaches. Heavy rains buffeted by 35 mph winds from the south were gusting to 40 mph, and Marine Safety Officer Nick Giugni said no one was out on the beach, on the pier or in the surf in the afternoon. Surfing conditions in the morning had attracted dozens of surfers, but they left as the winds picked up, turning the ocean into washing-machine like conditions. There were concerns that San Clementes North Beach might lose some of the 12,000 cubic yards of sand that the city imported in November from the countys dredging of the Santa Ana River bottom. The sand is piled high onto the back of the beach, but storm surf was threatening to eat away at it, Giugni said. The county offered beach cities the sand for free, but the city had to spend $626,000 to truck it to San Clemente and spread it across the beach. The two storms saturated soil, which allowed strong gusts to uproot trees. Sundays downpour exacerbated the problem, Maxwell said, adding that the county has lots of eucalyptus trees that are top heavy and prone to being blown over. We dont get a lot of rain down here, so it was fun, said Jessica Hearn of Seal Beach, who took her 6-year-old daughter, Isabella Busse, puddle jumping near the pier. Im happy it was on a weekend so I didnt have to drive to work. (Mondays) not going to be very fun, but its nice to get a little change than the weather were used to. City News Service contributed to this report. Contact the writer: bwhitehead@scng.comor fswegles@scng.com WASHINGTON After a combative start to his presidency, Donald Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead, as he turned to the business of government. Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of future challenges but declared he believed they were ready. But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done, the president said. We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history. Trumps reassurance came after a day marked by global protests against his presidency and his own complaints about media coverage of his inauguration. He said his staff was in the White House not to help ourselves but to devote ourselves to the national good. Trump held up the letter left to him by his predecessor, Barack Obama a White House tradition. It was really very nice of him to do that, Trump said. We will cherish that. He said the contents will remain private. Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a scattershot response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests a day earlier, sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending demonstrators rights a short time later. Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didnt these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly, Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone. Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I dont always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views, the president tweeted, still using his personal account. The dueling tweets marked his administrations first response to the more than 1 million people who rallied at womens marches in Washington and cities across the world. Hundreds of protesters lined the street as Trumps motorcade drove past on Saturday afternoon, with many screaming and chanting. The Washington rally appeared to attract more people than attended Trumps inauguration on Friday, but there were no completely comparable numbers. Regional transportation officials tweeted on Sunday that 1,001,616 trips were taken on the rail system on Saturday. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel had said that on Friday, the day of Donald Trumps inauguration, just over 570,000 trips were taken on the rail system. Even suggestions of weak enthusiasm for his inauguration clearly irked the new president, and appeared to knock the White House off its footing as it took its earliest steps. On Sunday, Trumps spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told his Cabinet that the call would cover the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria, Iran and other issues. Trump said the call was very nice but provided no details. Trump also announced that hes set up meetings with the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto. Were going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA, he said of his meeting with Mexico, along with immigration and security at the border. Trump has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it. Trump had no plans to sign any executive orders on Sunday. But his chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said on Fox News Sunday the president would spend his first full week in office undoing some of his predecessors agenda and planned to sign executive orders on immigration and trade. Trump has pledged to scuttle trade deals such as a pending Asia-Pacific agreement and overturn Obamas executive order deferring deportations for 700,000 people who were brought into the country illegally as minors. Trump plans to meet Monday with a bipartisan group congressional leaders to discuss his agenda. Later in the week, hell address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. In talk show interviews Sunday, Trumps advisers defended his criticism of journalists for correctly reporting that his inauguration drew a smaller crowd President Barack Obama did eight years ago, saying the Trump administration was supplying alternative facts. Theres no way to really quantify crowds. We all know that. You can laugh at me all you want, Kellyanne Conway told NBCs Meet The Press. She added: I think its actually symbolic of the way were treated by the press. Aides also made clear that Trump will not release his tax returns now that hes taken office, breaking with a decades-long tradition of transparency. Every president since 1976 has released the information, but Trump has said he doesnt believe Americans care whether he follows suit. Throughout the campaign, Trump refused to make his filings public, saying theyre under audit by the Internal Revenue Service and hed release them only once that review is complete. Tax experts and IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said such audits dont bar taxpayers from releasing returns. Hes not going to release his tax returns. We litigated this all through the election. People didnt care, Conway said on ABCs This Week. Trump, whose 12th wedding anniversary was Sunday, also attended a reception for law enforcement officers and first responders who helped with his inauguration. He singled out the work of FBI Director James Comey, whom he offered a handshake and hug. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report. Reach Lerer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@llerer and Lemire at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire Heres an idea: Lets use the ocean to create an endless supply of pure water, no matter the amount of rain and snow that falls (or doesnt) on California. If it sounds like something out of the future, consider: As of today, seven ocean desalination plants are under consideration along the coast from Dana Point to Monterey Bay. By the mid 2020s, those plants could be using the Pacific to produce about 10 percent of the fresh water needed in parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Another project, in Carlsbad, opened about a year ago and is on track to produce about 8 percent of San Diegos water. Desalination, long considered something out of The Jetsons, is real. But also consider this: Though the promise of desalination is appealing fresh, clean water that can outlast any drought critics and water experts have many questions. Some believe the desalination process can inflict permanent environmental harm on the ocean and sea life. Others argue that the technology is relatively new and expensive, and that investing in new plants today will mean sunk costs that might look wasteful in the near future. Still others believe enough isnt being done to conserve water we already have. Among the local projects under consideration, two face particularly stiff opposition a $380 million plant in El Segundo that could churn out 20 million gallons each day and a $1 billion plant in Huntington Beach that would generate 50 million gallons a day. By summer, the State Lands Commission could issue a new environmental report on the Huntington Beach plant and renew a lease with the company behind the plant, Poseidon Water. If state and regional approvals come this year, the project could go online by 2021. The El Segundo project also needs various approvals and could open by 2023. Here are some commonly asked questions about desalination. 1. How does it work? Seawater is drawn from the ocean through intake pipes set out in the open ocean or below the seafloor. That water is filtered for bigger contaminants (and some essential tiny sea creatures) before it is sent through a reverse osmosis system that pressurizes the water through membranes, separating out the salt. The remaining product is drinkable water, though minerals are added to reduce its corrosive qualities and for taste. Another desalination technology involves freezing water, but thats not being considered for Southern California. 2. I hear water produced through desalination is more expensive than groundwater or imported water from the Colorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Is that true? At current prices, yes. According to John Kennedy, the executive director of engineering and water resources at the Orange County Water District, groundwater costs $402 per acre-foot (an acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, about enough for two average American families per year). Imported water costs $1,059 per acre-foot in Southern California. Desalinated ocean water costs $1,900 to $2,100 per acre-foot. If proposed desalination projects go forward, the average household bill is expected to increase by $3 to $6 each month. So whats the upshot? Well, as the states population grows and natural resources dwindle, the cost of locally sourced groundwater or imported water could rise, while the cost of making desalted water with improving technology could decline so that the difference might not be as staggering as it appears now. Proponents are quick to note that over time, those other sources will become more expensive as well, said David Feldman, the director of Water UCI, which analyzes water science and policy. Risks or cost of other sources it may be the kind of thing where the differentials arent as significant as they first appear. 3. Does it hurt the environment? The jury is still out on this one. One of the biggest criticisms of desalination is that its energy-intensive. Thats also what makes it expensive. Backers of desalination point to mitigation measures they take to lessen a plants carbon footprint, and they say the process of moving water from sources as distant as the Colorado River to Southern California also is energy-intensive. The company behind the proposed plant in Huntington Beach, Poseidon Water, has pledged to be carbon-neutral by buying carbon offsets and investing in projects such as reforestation. It is energy-intensive, but so is the alternative, said Scott Maloni, Poseidon Waters vice president of project development. Other concerns for the environment are focused on the discharged water that returns to the ocean, which is twice as salty as the ocean water drawn into the plant. Seawater is naturally about 3 percent salt, and the brine or salty discharge is about 6 percent salt. No marine life can live in that area, said Ray Hiemstra, the associate director of programs for Orange County Coastkeeper, an environmental group that has opposed the Poseidon plant. If we have this desal plant (all day, every day) theres going to be this salt plume. 4. Can sea creatures get sucked into the intake pipes? They might, though not the biggest marine animals, such as dolphins, turtles, seals or whales. Instead, the sea life that could be affected by desalination is microscopic think fish larvae and plankton. When we think of ocean life, we think of all that big stuff, but the reality is the vast majority of ocean life is really tiny, Hiemstra said. The State Water Resources Control Board established rules for intake pipes in the ocean, calling for them to be outfitted with screens that have openings as thin as a credit card and suck in water at a half foot per second so sea life doesnt get stuck on the pipes. But environmental groups argue those measures arent enough. Those screens wont protect it at all, Hiemstra said. Ninety-nine percent of everything out there is smaller than 1 millimeter. Poseidon has said that its intake pipe will minimize the impact on ocean life and that the screens reduce the harm even more. There will be some minimizing effects, Maloni said. Our impacts are already very manageable and mitigable without the screens. 5. Where is desalination popular? Desalination is concentrated mostly in arid, drought-stricken countries, with more than 18,000 desalting plants in 150 countries, according to the trade organization International Desalination Association. Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer of fresh water through desalination, with 27 plants, many near the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. In the early 2000s, Israel turned to desalination in response to severe drought conditions, according to Feldman. Now the country is flush with fresh water. Other places that use desal include Singapore and Australia. 6. Why are some plants more controversial than others? A lot of it comes down to how the water gets into the plant. In south Orange County, a desalination plant is proposed near San Juan Creek in Dana Point. So far, environmental groups havent opposed it mainly because the Doheny project would use slant wells far below the ocean floor to extract saltwater. This process makes the likelihood of hurting marine life virtually nonexistent. Most small marine life to larger animals and even contaminants are filtered through the sand and dont wind up getting sucked into the plant. That being said, less water can go through these wells than can be extracted through an underwater pipe. The big argument for it is that there is less of an impact on marine life, Hiemstra said. They can also reduce the need for pretreatment, so there can be some savings there. Poseidon has investigated using slant wells in Huntington Beach but says it cant use that technology without affecting the huge aquifer under north Orange County, which provides north Orange County with about 75 percent of its drinkable water. South Orange County doesnt have such an aquifer and imports about 90 percent of its drinkable water. Environmental groups argue that the technology is feasible for the Huntington Beach plant. 7. Can these plants adapt with new technology? Much of the advances in desalination are in membrane technology, which is becoming more efficient, lasting longer and requiring less energy to create fresh water, Maloni said. Poseidons plants are modular and automated, making it easier and cost-effective to switch in new membrane technology when it becomes available. We have an incentive to keep the plant modern and operational, Maloni said. 8. Where does the state stand on all of this? Overall, the State Water Resources Control Board, one of three regulatory agencies that oversee desalination plants, supports desalination as a complement to a broader portfolio of clean water resources. However, there are more affordable and energy-free alternatives to desal, such as conservation, said board Vice Chairwoman Frances Spivy-Weber. Desalination, Spivy-Weber said, should be considered an alternative when other options have been exhausted. If youre a water agency or a community that is considering these things, you would want to make sure your agency looks at cost-effectiveness and reliability before they take that leap, before they go straight to desal. 9. Would desalination ensure clean water during droughts? Yes. From government agencies to environmental groups, there seems to be some consensus that some desalination is needed, though when such plants should come online and what technology they should use are at the heart of most of the controversy. Desal is going to be part of our mix, said Hiemstra. Its a matter of doing it right. 10. How much of our water supply will come from desal if its approved? About 8 percent of Orange Countys water supply could come from Poseidon. In southwest Los Angeles County, the proposed desalination plant in El Segundo could provide 10 percent of the water supply to West Basin water districts 1 million customers across 17 cities, from Inglewood to Malibu. Staff writers Megan Barnes and Sandy Mazza contributed to this report. Scott Cannon has been appointed president and chief operating officer at BigRentz in Irvine. Cannon comes to BigRentz, an equipment rental chain, with more than 15 years of experience, most recently serving as CEO of MNX Global Logistics, a provider of transportation and logistics services. Cannon will be responsible for driving the day-to-day operations of the business. He has served on BigRentz advisory board since September 2016. Chris Cox, former SEC chairman and a longtime Orange County congressman, has joined the advisory board of wealth management firm Creative Planning in Irvine as director of Regulatory Governance. The new role for Cox comes as Creative Planning also announced the promotion of Andrew Fuller to managing director at the companys new office in Orange County. After leaving the SEC in 2009, Cox returned to Orange County and is a partner at the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Costa Mesa. Cox also served for 16 years as a U.S. representative, representing what became Californias 48th Congressional District. Dr. Tonmoy Sharma, CEO at Sovereign Health in San Clemente, has been elected to the board of directors at the National Alliance on Mental Illness Orange County (NAMI OC). Irvine Valley College has appointed Bill Kerwin to a newly created position as director of Economic and Workforce Development. Kerwin will serve as the colleges primary external workforce and training representative to regional agencies, consortia, partnerships, and workforce groups. He comes to IVC from Coast Community College District, where he worked in a variety of capacities for over 25 years. The Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees has re-elected three trustees and one new trustee to serve four-year terms. They include: Claudia C. Alvarez, representing Area 5; Arianna P. Barrios, representing Area 7; Zeke Hernandez, representing Area 1; and Nelida Mendoza representing Area 3. AIP Aerospace in Santa Ana, which includes Ascent Aerospace and Texstars, has appointed Jonathon Levine as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Levine will assume help develop plans to enhance long-term growth. Paul Sherman has joined Burns & McDonnell to lead the Brea firms national mitigation bank acquisition and planning effort. As project manager, Sherman will be responsible for project acquisition and coordinating large-scale restoration initiatives. New ventures Modulated Imaging in Irvine has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its Ox-Imager CS technology, a device that helps clinicians identify lower limb vascular issues. With FDA authorization, Modulated Imaging can now launch the technology at clinical centers throughout the U.S. The noninvasive Ox-Imager CS system is the only technology to provide both surface and subsurface views in one system. Kumon, the after-school education franchise, has opened a learning center in Buena Park. Address: 7896 Orangethorpe Ave. Good works Leila Keating, a longtime Disney cast member, presented on Wednesday a check for $5,000 on behalf of the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund to Michelle Wulfestieg, executive director of Southern California Hospice Foundation. The funds will help SCHF continue the shared mission of adding magic to the lives of the terminally ill. Keating and the Disney community fund has raised $37,000 for SCHF over seven years. Founded by Companion Hospice, and now in its 15th year of operation, the SCHF helps patients with needs that lie outside of the hospice benefit, such food, transportation, utility bills and granting final wishes. Project Independence, a nonprofit in Costa Mesa that supports people with developmental disabilities, was recently awarded a grant for $175,000 from the Weingart Foundation in Los Angeles. The grant will be funded over two years and will enable Project Independence to strengthen its organizational capacity and effectiveness and to underwrite administrative infrastructure and/or to maintain core programs. Coming up The Risk Management Association, Orange County Chapter, will present the 2017 Annual Economic Forecast by Dr. Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdayat The Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. The cost is $95 for associate RMA members and $115 for non-members. Table of 10 is $950. Parking will be validated. Register online at rmaoc.org or call Vicki Phillipy at 714- 267-5281. Status Update is compiled by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items of interest to sgowen@scng.com. Korea is unlikely to be able to forge vital ties with new U.S. President Donald Trump amid the power vacuum here until at least July. "Even if a presidential election is held in April or May, the new president wouldn't be able to visit Washington in the first half of the year," a government source here said Sunday. A diplomatic source said it would take considerable time to arrange a summit schedule after President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial, even if it is rejected by the Constitutional Court, since Trump's summit schedule is already filling up fast. Weve seen fire used as a way to cut hair before, but one hairstylist in Pakistan is literally setting his clients heads on fire just to make their hear easier to comb. Its an impressive, albeit shocking, display, that has recently made him famous around the world. Shafqat Rajput, was just another barber in the city of Bahawalpur, Pakistans Punjab province, but after a patron recorded a video of him practicing his unique fire treatment on a customer and posted it on Facebook, he instantly became an overnight internet celebrity. The short clip shows the young hairstylist sprinkling powder on the patrons hair, followed by a healthy dose of an unknown flammable fluid before casually setting his head ablaze with a lighter. He proceeds to comb the hair while its burning, using a comb and brush. After putting the fire out with his fast brushing, Rajput repeats the procedure. All this time, the client sits calmly in the barbers chair, looking at his burning hair in the mirror. The video has been shared on multiple social networks and has been watched millions of times in the past week, drawing mixed reactions from the public. While some people declared himself impressed by the technique, most called it dangerous and harmful to the hair, claiming that the high temperature does more harm than good. Omar Quaraishi, the Pakistani journalist who happened to be in Shafqat Rajput barber shop and recorded the original video, recently said that the eccentric hairstylist calls this unconventional technique fire cutting, adding that it is actually popular in various parts of the world. As far as I know, that is only partially true. Fire cutting is indeed a thing, but it usually involves using an open flame to actually cut hair, not setting a persons hair on fire and then brushing the heck out of it. This is something else entirely, and Rajput himself admitted that it is used to to give the hair a straightened polished look. A simple Google search reveals that Shafqat Rajput became somewhat of a celebrity in Pakistan a year ago, after several national news networks featured his hot new hair-styling technique. He has now achieved international fame. If youre into unconventional hair-styling techniques, you might want to check out this guy who cuts hair with hot tongs, this Vietnamese samurai stylist, or this claw-wielding hairdresser. All I can say is dont try this at home! I can now confirm that the Hair Stylist here is Shafqat Rajpoot from the Pakistani city of Bahawalpur- calls it Fire Cutting technique pic.twitter.com/VJzy3CGUCm omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 15, 2017 via Dawn.com What is Cultural Competency? BerlinRosen Shares Why Brands Need It Tue., Oct. 25, 2022 Americas consumers and employees have never been more mission-driven when it comes to the brands they support and where they choose to work. BerlinRosens Cultural Competency division offers guidance to organizations seeking to convey their values and impact. The Million Women March Jan. 21 (actually several million across the nation) made its point and signals increased use of public demonstrations to get attention. Lots of other messages are going to be drowned out since a kind of hysterical oppositionalism has surfaced in the press to combat President Trumps own tabloid style, wrote New York Times columnist Ross Douthat Jan. 22. Photos by O'Dwyer's Associate Publisher Jane Landers (L). Something pretty amazing happened this weekend. All around the world women banded together to peacefully protest an election. Whatever your political values or your personal beliefs, this weekend it was hard to look away from the sight of so many voices raised as one. So many women (and men) from different races, cultures and countries coming together with a shared purpose. The fact that you and I live in a country and in a world where peaceful opposition to political leadership is possible is something to cherish and hold dear. Because whether you agree with the cause or not, this right is precious to us all. -- Cathleen O'Connor Women, Democrat's alike either told they are not doing enough or they need to do more. I participated and I'm proud of it. Those who call it a temper tantrum or baby killers or sore losers just don't understand what is at stake here. I marched for my 85 yr old Mom's Social Security & Medicare; for my college daughter's health insurance (pre-existing condition) & future, for public education, for the environment, for wage equality, for jobs, for marginalized individuals/groups, for the disabled, for children, for the elderly, for my constitutional rights, for the USA! #WHYIMARCH #STRONGERTOGETHERAZ Happy, empowered, strong, unity, hopeful, and peaceful. Many were impressed by the number of marchers for AZ, a red state. Some were disappointed more democrat legislators didn't speak at the event. -- Mary Keyes Slamming Media, Trump Advances Two Falsehoods, screamed a NYT front page headline Jan. 22. At issue are the size of the D.C. crowd as estimated by the Trump team and whether there is a Trump rift with the Central Intelligence Agency. When not only reporters but average citizens find they cant get through to officials or company reps on the phone or via emails, the only recourse is to take to the streets, which is what the Million Women March did. Women do not want to lose their right to have abortions. They want many other things, along with all Americas, such as healthcare that is affordable. Theyre disappointed that Hillary Clinton lost the election on a technicality (the Electoral College) since she won the popular vote by 2.8 million. Theres a lot of rage that charges of email abuse by Clinton were made twice by the FBI and twice withdrawn. What the Electoral College did was legal but that does not make it fair, critics feel. This rage is bound to manifest itself in many ways and its a phenomenon that reporters and communicators must be aware of. PR Has Role as Mediator PR people must not shrink from this battlefield but must try to insert their historic role of being mediators. Their role has diminished in recent years as companies, institutions and trade associations relied more and more on lawyers for advice. Marketers have been emphasizing direct contact with customers and potential customers, bypassing media. Media are going to win more attention from the public if they can do a good job of documenting what are flaws in proposed changes in programs such as healthcare. Women organized to deliver a powerful message to the Trump Administration and the nation over the weekend. Women Control PRSA; Key Policies Set in 1980 Women should show the same organizational skills in the PR industry since about 80% of working PR people are women. The board of the largest PR group, the 22,000-member PR Society of America, is comprised of nine women and eight men. The women are 2017 chair Jane Dvorak, Lakewood, Colo., counselor; treasurer Debra Peterson, CenturyLink, Kan.; Michelle Olson, Fingerpaint, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jo Ann LeSage Nelson, Pierce Comms., Albany; Amy Coward, Palmetto Health Foundation, Columbia, S.C; Bonnie Upright, Olympus Foundation Mgmt., Orange Park, Fla.; Joyce Lofstrom, HIMSS, Chicago, and Ronele Dotson, RAD Strategies, Reno. Pat Jackson Key policies that still dominate the Society, including having an abrasive relationship with the media and limiting the flow of information were set by 1980 president Patrick Jackson. The Epping, N.H., counselor rode to president on a tide of anti-New York fever. He and others found there was too much influence by New York members and said power was flowing out of New York never to return. He was right. He was a major influence in PRSA affairs until his death in 2001 and his influence continues. Current offices of the Jackson firm are in Rye, N.H. Jackson, editor of the weekly PR Reporter newsletter, dismissed press friendly executive director Rea Smith, who had invited reporters to be Silver Anvil judges and let reporters use the library. A 22-year staff veteran, she was transferred to the PRSA Foundation in another office. A staffer found her dead in her bathtub a year later with a plastic bag on her head. Assn. Pros Became Staff Jackson, showing a distrust of PR pros at Society h.q., felt the staff should be association professionals rather than PR people. About ten staffers with press and PR backgrounds were either fired or quit. Association executive Betsy Kovacs became staff head and kept her distance from the press. Reporters were no longer welcome at h.q. Donna Peltier, who joined as PR director in 1984, only went to lunch with this reporter three times during her nine years there and Kovacs was present each time. From 1980 to 2017, a span of 37 years, only one PR careerist, Catherine Bolton, headed the staff (2001-2006). Kovacs was succeeded as staff head by Ray Gaulke in 1993. He received a five-year contract in 1999 but quit suddenly in 2000, for reasons never told, to make way for Bolton who had joined in a PR post. Bill Murray headed the staff from 2007 to 2014 and was succeeded by Joseph Truncale. The seven highest paid staffers in 2015 collected $1,654,006 in pay. None has PR background. One NYC Conference in 24 Years Jackson told Morley Safer of 60 Minutes in 1994 that his advice to clients on the press was duck em, find ways to go direct, and screw em. Consuelo Mack, anchor of the Wall Street Journal Report, was moderator of the Center for Communication panel. PR people must be "meticulous" in revealing any information about their employers, he said. They should not "get into the trap of just layng it all out there because you can do a great deal of harm to an organization on an issue that has nothing to do with the public interest..." This conflicts with a main tenet of PRSA which calls for the "free flow of information." Organizarions have "every right" to keep details of their "interior workings" to themselves, Jackson also said. The women who control the board of PRSA can change the dysfunctional relationship the Society has with members as well as the media. The Society has too many undemocratic and anti-informational practices. Rule by the small minority of APR members should be ended. A similar abrasive relationship has now unfortunately gripped national government/media to the detriment of both and the public. One result of the anti-New York sentiment is that only one national conference has been held in the city since 1992a period of 24 years. None are planned. Agricultural News Dr. Derrell Peel Examines the Dynamics Between the Major Players on the World Beef Trade Scene Mondays, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically by Dr. Peel and Dr. Glenn Selk. Today, Dr. Peel examines the various situations among leading beef exporting nations that he believes will contribute to a dynamic international marketplace for some time to come. "Global beef exports are expected to increase year over year in 2017 with growth in several major beef exporting countries supported by growing production in most cases. However, the situations vary among beef exporting countries and market conditions will keep international markets dynamic for the foreseeable future. Beef exports from the top four exporting countries (Brazil, India, Australia and the U.S.) are projected in 2017 to account for 73 percent of total exports from the top ten beef exporting countries. "Brazil and India, with roughly equal beef export totals, are projected to lead the world in beef exports in 2017. Both countries are experiencing growing production and growing international market demand and access. Brazil, which has a dominant position in European and Middle Eastern markets is seeing increased access to China as well as the U.S. Late in 2016, the U.S. and Brazil announced an agreement that would allow Brazil to export fresh or frozen beef to the U.S. along with cooked product. Brazilian exports have also been boosted by the currency weakness of the Real. India has also seen growing production and international demand for Indian beef, much of which is carabeef (water buffalo). Recent announcements indicate that India has an agreement with China for direct access to the Chinese market. Previous Indian beef shipments to China were transshipped through other countries such as Vietnam. "Australia has slipped to the number three beef exporting country as the extended herd liquidation through 2015 (which resulted in temporarily higher exports in 2014 and 2015) is now resulting in reduced beef production and exports. Low cattle inventories, combined with herd rebuilding on better forage conditions, will suppress beef production and exports in 2017 and beyond. Australia has enjoyed expanded beef market access in China and most recently began shipping live cattle to China as well. "The U.S. will maintain its rank as the number four beef exporting country in 2017. Beef exports increased in 2016 (after dropping in 2015) as production increased and beef prices dropped from record levels. Improved beef exports are projected for 2017 despite the headwind of a continued strong dollar. However, considerable uncertainty surrounds potential changes in trade policy that may accompany the Trump administration. Renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) exposes the beef industry to less favorable trade conditions while the apparent demise of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will maintain restricted U.S. access or less favorable tariffs in some markets, most notably Japan. The U.S. does not currently have direct access to the rapidly growing Chinese beef market. Unofficial U.S. beef exports to China have occurred in recent years as transshipments through Hong Kong and Vietnam. In the fall of 2016, China announced a willingness to move forward with an agreement for the U.S. to export beef to China. However, no agreement is in place at this time and the current status of these discussions is unclear given the political changes in the U.S. and the confrontational posture of the Trump administration towards China. "The next tier of beef exporting countries are significantly smaller in export volume compared to the top four beef exporting countries. These include, in descending order based on projected 2017 exports: New Zealand, Canada, Paraguay and Uruguay. Combined beef exports from these four countries are smaller than the total of either Brazil or India. Each of these countries is expected to maintain or expand beef exports in 2017. Mexico, with beef exports that have expanded sharply in recent years, ranks as the number ten beef exporting country just behind the European Union. Mexican beef exports are expected to continue growing in 2017 with significant expansion of Mexican feedlot and beef packing infrastructure in 2016. The majority of Mexican beef exports are imported by the U.S." WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News posted by , , If you are learning Python or interested in learning Python, either for data analysis use or general programming use, you should join Python Nigeria Community Make sure you click on the "Join us on SLACK". It is the biggest community of Python enthusiasts and veterans in Nigeria. They also organise events you can be a part of. Lots of valuable discussions. And they share opportunities you can take advantage of. I got to meet the President of Python Nigeria at the Data Science Nigeria bootcamp and got a feel of how deeply integrated the community is with both the outside Python expert world and the professional/corporate space in Nigeria. I have joined and even downloaded the Slack app on my phone so I can easily keep tab on happenings and participate in the discussions that interest me Independent counsel Park Young-soo on Sunday sought an arrest warrant for President Park Geun-hye's longtime crony Choi Soon-sil on Sunday because she continues to dodge questioning. The counsel is taking the unusual step of applying for an arrest warrant for a woman who is already in remand prison because she refused to obey six summons for questioning. Lee Kyu-chul, a spokesman for the independent counsel, said, "Choi has refused to be summoned for a litany of reasons like bad health or obligations to appear at trials, but on Sunday she claimed she can't appear because questioning is 'coercive,' and that is clearly nonsense." Supernatural rom-com "Guardian" has become the first soap on a cable channel to draw viewer ratings of over 20 percent. The series achieved the milestone with its final episode on tvN on Saturday, which kept an unprecedented 20.5 percent of viewers glued to their screens. Last year the nostalgic soap "Reply 1988" just missed the mark with 19.6 percent. It seems that viewers in the new media landscape no longer care whether a show is on a terrestrial network or cable. HAVANA (AP) Two days before Christmas, Luis Gonzalez received a little Chinese modem from Cubas state-owned telecommunications company. The 55-year-old theater producer connected the device to his phone and his laptop computer, which instantly lit up with a service unimaginable in the Cuba of just a few years ago relatively fast home Internet. Its really easy to sit and find whatever you need, Gonzalez said as he sat in his living room updating his Facebook account, listening to Uruguayan radio online and checking an arriving tourists landing time for a neighbor who rents rooms in their building in historic Old Havana. Most Cubans arent used to this convenience. Home Internet came to Cuba last month in a pilot program thats part of the most dramatic change in daily life here since the declaration of detente with the United States on Dec. 17, 2014. While Cuba remains one of the worlds least Internet-connected societies, ordinary citizens access to the Internet has exploded over the last two years. Since the summer of 2015, the Cuban government has opened 240 public Wi-Fi spots in parks and on street corners. Cubans were previously restricted to decrepit state Internet clubs and hotels that charged $6 to $8 for an hour of slow Internet. In a country with an average monthly salary of around $25, the price of an hour online has dropped to $1.50, still steep but now within the range of many Cubans with private income or financial help from relatives abroad. The government estimates that 100,000 Cubans connect to the Internet daily. A new feature of urban life in Cuba is the sight of people sitting at all hours on street corners or park benches, their faces illuminated by the screen of smartphones. Connections are made mostly through access cards sold by the state monopoly and often resold on street corners for higher prices. The spread of connectivity has remotely reunited families separated for years. Its fueled the spread of Airbnb and other booking services that have funneled millions in business to private bed-and-breakfasts owners. And its exposed Cubans to a faster flow of news and cultural developments from the outside world. Cuban ingenuity has spread Internet far beyond those public places: thousands of people grab the public signals through commercially available repeaters, imported illegally into Cuba and often sold for about $100 double the original price. Mounted on rooftops, the repeaters grab the public signals and create a form of home Internet increasingly available in private rentals for tourists and restaurants for Cubans and visitors alike. On the official front, Google and Cubas state-run telecoms monopoly Etecsa struck a deal last month to store Google content like YouTube video on servers inside Cuba, giving people on the island faster, smoother access. For many Cubans, the start of home Internet in December is potentially even more significant, breaking a longstanding barrier against private Internet access in a country whose communist government remains deeply wary about information technology undermining its near-total control of media, political life and most of the economy. The home Internet test program selected some 2,000 residents of Old Havana to receive free connections for two months before a planned expansion and the start of billing for the service. Gonzalez said he would be able to receive 30 hours of his 128 kilobyte-per-second connection for $15. Thats slower and more expensive than Internet in most of the rest of the world. Many young people hope the spread of access is the start of Cuba seeing Internet more as a necessity and a right, like the free education and health care guaranteed by Cubas socialist system. In my dreams, Id like for the Internet to be seen like arts and culture, and, as such, to be free for the whole population, just like access to education has been for the last 50 years, said David Vasquez, 27, an online magazine director. Copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) Ohios agriculture leaders say thousands of farmers have completed training that will be required for putting fertilizer on fields, but many more face a September deadline to finish the program aimed at combating the toxic algae fouling Lake Erie. The first-of-its-kind requirement is one of several steps Ohio has taken to reduce the farm runoff that feeds algae in the states lakes and rivers. State lawmakers put the measure in place in 2014, just months before algae in Lake Erie contaminated the drinking water for more than 400,000 people in northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan. They gave farmers three years to be certified for commercial fertilizer use on more than 50 acres of farmland. So far about 12,000 farmers and workers who apply commercial fertilizer mainly phosphorus and nitrogen have been certified, said Dave Daniels, director of the State Department of Agriculture. He said 6,000 to 10,000 still need to finish the three-hour course; an exact number is difficult to pin down because some farmers hire contractors to apply their fertilizer. Ohio State University Extension said it will offer training in nearly every county this year about 200 training sessions in all. Daniels, who attended one of the first sessions a few years ago, said he found almost no one wanted to be there. But surveys of participants show that almost all say they learned something that will help them save money and improve the environment, he said. Research has shown that about one-third of farmland doesnt need additional fertilizer and that farmers could save thousands, Daniels said. They may walk in with a bad attitude, but they walk out with something they can go home with that will really help them with their operation, said Greg LaBarge, a field specialist with Ohio State University who helps oversee the training. Copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The family smartphones? An assortment of Samsung Galaxies. The flat-screen TV that illuminates the living room? A Samsung SUHD, with the brand name sparkling on the nameplate. The maker of the digital toilet seat? You guessed it: Samsung. Its difficult for people outside South Korea to fully grasp what Samsung, a truly global brand, means inside its home country, where it is far more than just another big company. It is seen variously as both a talisman and a millstone, as national savior and greedy business behemoth. Those diverse views only intensified last week when a court rejected prosecutors request to arrest Samsung heir and Vice Chairman Lee Jae Yong in the corruption scandal surrounding impeached South Korean President Park Geun Hye. Samsung is inextricably woven into the psychological fabric of this small, proud country, where a reverence for wealth, power and prestige is linked to rapid economic growth after the Korean War, when authoritarian government policies favored big businesses. A complex mix of admiration and resentment was on full display when Lee, held by authorities for more than 12 hours, was released Thursday after a court said there was not enough justification for a (formal) arrest at this stage. Prosecutors said Lee gave 43 billion won ($36 million) in bribes to Park and Choi Soon Sil, her confidante, seeking support for a contentious merger. Many South Koreans flooded social media with complaints that the court decision showed their country remains in thrall to Samsung and other big chaebol, the conglomerates that dominate the nations economy, jobs and investment. But the prospect of the Samsung heirs arrest also stirred anger and worries that it could harm the countrys economy. Samsung feeds about 30 percent of our people, said Han Hyo Jung, 72, a self-described patriot. I think its too much to put him in detention. ... We must not humiliate Samsung internationally. Samsung played a major role as South Korea, formally known as the Republic of Korea, rose from the rubble of war and the anguish of dictatorship and colonization into an Asian powerhouse. This is reflected in a longtime nickname that mixes the joking and the bitter: The Republic of Samsung. Its still the nameplate company of the nation, and its the ideal place to get a job. It brings joy, prestige and wealth to graduates and their families, Geoffrey Cain, a Seoul-based journalist writing a book on Samsung, wrote in an email. But this is where the problems start. Since its indispensable to the nation, in this Republic of Samsung, theres a lot of resentment over its power. Lee, 48, who has been de facto Samsung chief since his fathers 2014 heart attack, embodies the love-hate relationship. In a country where many young people struggle to find jobs, Lee controls a fortune estimated at nearly $6 billion, thanks to his father, who ordered Samsung companies to sell his son shares at illegally cheap prices whose value skyrocketed later, giving him massive, quick wealth without having to pay big inheritance taxes. Lees management skills remain unproven, though he was groomed to lead the jewel of the family dynasty, Samsung Electronics, which, along with its affiliated companies, accounts for about a third of the market value in South Koreas main stock market. He is the public face of a company that, in a familiar refrain, can hover over a South Korean from cradle to grave. You can be born in a Samsung hospital and live in a Samsung-built apartment with a Samsung washing machine, Samsung fridge, Samsung TV and Samsung vacuum cleaner. You can take a Samsung-powered laptop to school on your Samsung scholarship. Dont have a Samsung smartphone? Even iPhones have Samsung memory chips. You can go to a Samsung amusement park and stay at a Samsung hotel. You can buy gifts at Samsung duty-free shops, wear Samsung clothes and protect yourself with Samsung insurance. Even if you dont get a coveted job at Samsung, your employer is likely to rely on the conglomerate for advertising, say, or to cater the food in the company cafeteria, or as a crucial customer. Even if a South Korean somehow avoided all of those ties, the national pension fund, the worlds third-largest, is a huge investor in Samsung companies. What would happen if Samsung collapsed? A Seoul National University professor estimates it would trigger a 7 percentage point rise in the nations unemployment rate, collapse of its insurance industry and overall economic woes not seen in South Korea since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. Your first car, totaled and long gone. Your first email address? Deleted. But your first cellphone number and area code? Still yours. The cellphone number and area code you acquired as a kid, in college or at the start of your career may not reflect your current home sweet home. In fact, some local residents say thats the way they like it, even if some human resources types say having a local number could boost your chances of getting a job. And even though Nebraska has the second-highest tax take on mobile phone numbers, keeping that old 315 from your college days isnt going to save you any money: Mobile phone providers charge tax based on your home address, not your area code. Still, people who say they keep cellphone numbers that no longer reflect their current home say the numbers add a little mystery to their lives. They add panache, even a bit of playful pretension. It illuminates the past: I lived in New York (917), San Francisco (415) or Cleveland (216). Still, its kind of funny imagining an Omaha resident with a Los Angeles area code calling his wife, a couple of blocks away, at her 402 cellphone number. Ben Vu, who grew up in Nebraska, got a 310 (Los Angeles) area code and cellphone number when he began the California Institute of the Arts animation program in 2003. He moved to Omaha in 2007. Vu, the founder of Places VR, an Omaha technology company, has kept his L.A. number. Lots of my classmates still have my number, Vu said. Its good to stay in that network. He uses his phone for work and home. Around town, he said, its a conversation starter. People want to know when I was in L.A. that leads to another story. To avoid confusion, his wife has a mobile phone with a 402 area code for the local things. Some people hang up their license plates or diplomas. My area code is a reminder of a significant chapter in my life, Vu said. Dusty Davidsons 515 area code (Des Moines) is his one and only. Its my first and only (personal) phone number. I got it when I went to college in Ames, Iowa, in 1999, said Davidson, the co-founder of Flywheel, an Omaha technology startup. In 2004, Davidson, who grew up in Iowa, moved to Nebraska with his 515 cellphone number in tow. Ive never felt compelled to change it, he said. Locally, there are drawbacks. It can get a bit dicey ordering pizza. As in Whats that number again? or We dont deliver to Des Moines. I dont dial phone numbers anymore, I dial names, said Davidson, who has no plans to switch. John Manning, senior director of the North American Numbering Plan Administration, agrees. The folks who grew up on wireless phones they just know you as a name. They dont know you as a number. The association is the regulator thats in charge of distributing and overseeing the telephone numbers in the U.S., Canada and some Caribbean countries, among other areas. There are no laws or rules against toting a foreign number to a new place a New York number to Omaha, or an Omaha number to, say, Paris, where a native Nebraskan was last week while attending a fashion event for his New York employer. (Its not just a one-way street, after all: Some people tote their Nebraska 402s elsewhere.) Im in Paris now, said Tanner Graham, who grew up near Hyannis, Nebraska, but now lives in New York and works as an executive at a fashion-focused advertising firm. The World-Herald reached him on his 402-based mobile phone number the same one he got when he was a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the same one he now uses in the Big Apple, where hes lived for 11 years. Its part of my identity, Graham said of his 402-based mobile. I will always be a Nebraskan at heart. My number serves as an everyday emblem of that. Said Manning, at the numbering association: People associate a number with themselves and dont want to go through the pain of changing their numbers, he said. Area codes were developed to sidestep real live operators. In the late 1940s AT&T and the old Bell System came up with the North American Numbering Plan, which attached a three-digit code ahead of a persons seven-digit phone number to indicate where you were calling from, Manning said. It gave individuals the ability to call long distance without having to contact an operator. And it gave carriers the ability to bill a long-distance call made from point A to point B. It made sense to change your landline number when you moved from New York to Nebraska. That way you wouldnt incur long-distance charges. But the development of mobile phones changed that. Wireless carriers began offering packages that no longer charged extra for long distance calls. It didnt matter where you were and where you were calling from, Manning said. Except when it comes to federal, state and local taxes: Keeping your out-of-state area code wont help you dodge state and local taxes that are part of your monthly wireless bill. AT&T, Verizon and U.S. Cellular each said that the state and local fees and taxes they collect on behalf of government are tied to a physical address, not your mobile phones area code. Sprint and T-Mobile did not reply to inquiries. Jon Wood, an Omaha native, changed his cellphone number after he sold the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based business he started while in college, a pooper-scooper service. Hed gotten tired of getting phone calls related to his former business people calling me up and trying to sell me stuff, he said. So when he moved to California in 2015, he swapped the 918 (Tulsa) number for a 661 (Bakersfield) mobile phone number. His Golden State stint, however, didnt work out, so Wood recently returned to Nebraska. Last week he obtained a new cellphone number with a 402 area code. I dont want anything to do with Bakersfield, he said. I moved to Omaha with the intent of starting fresh, and part of starting fresh was getting a 402 number. Some Omaha-area employment consultants say thats a good plan; if youre job hunting locally, you might consider acquiring a local area code. Josh Boesch, director of Lutz Talent, said acquiring a 402 area code is one way, a local address is another, to show employers that youre targeting Omaha. There are times when it can be difficult for candidates to get a second look if theyre not local, he said. The Omaha recruiting agency focuses on accounting, information technology and financial hires. Bob Bednar, president of InSearch Recruiting, an Omaha recruiting company, said that although a local area code may help some job candidates, its more important to get rid of your inappropriate college email. Your area code is less important. Rebecca Cashman, the assistant conservator for objects at the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center, has had her 301 (Silver Spring, Maryland) area code since 2002. I got the number right out of college, she said. Her personal cellphone number followed her as she moved to internships in New Hampshire, Maryland, New York and other cities. Ive been in Omaha nine years, she said. I dont feel the need to change it. It adds a bit of mystery to my life! In 2004, Nebraska native Jill Anderson moved to New York City to pursue a career in theater. I ended up getting a New York number, she said. In 2007 she returned to the Cornhusker State. Her business cards and resume still carry the number. Anderson admits an emotional attachment to the 917 area code. Its associated with the most expansive time of my life. Its still my only telephone number, she said. I jokingly call it my little affectation, my little pretension. Someone used a forklift to push a crane into the lake at Newport Landing in Bennington over the weekend, and the Douglas County Sheriffs Office is investigating. A forklift belonging to Carder Construction was taken Friday from a home near the lake at 168th Street and Nebraska Highway 36, said Capt. Eric Sellers of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. It was used to knock over a John Deere crane owned by Inland Marine of Nebraska City. The forklift was recovered at the site, but the crane remained in the lake on Monday, said Brian Carder of Carder Construction. A message left with Inland Marine was not immediately returned. A person who answered the phone for the Newport Landing Homeowners Association said the crane was parked near the fishing pier. It is used to place docks in the water. The lake covers about 280 acres and includes 84 acres for residential development. Homes there cost from about $400,000 to more than $1 million, according to the homeowners association website. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Douglas County Sheriffs Office Crime Stoppers at 402-444-6000. Leaders of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will travel to 11 communities today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The three leaders who will participate are UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green, Executive Vice Chancellor Donde Plowman and Mike Boehm, vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. All three will attend some gatherings, and one or two will attend others. They will discuss UNLs achievements and goals. The gatherings are free and open to the public. Registration is recommended to attend the sessions. You may register and obtain the precise locations of meetings on UNL's website. The tour schedule and leaders attending: Today: Fremont, noon, all three will attend West Point, 2 p.m., all three South Sioux City, 6 p.m., all three Tuesday: Norfolk, 8:30 a.m., all three Albion, noon, Plowman and Boehm ONeill, noon, Green Columbus, 2:30 p.m., Plowman and Boehm North Platte, 5:30 p.m., Green Wednesday: McCook, 8:15 a.m., Green Holdrege, noon, Green Aurora, 3 p.m., Green New MCC courses focus on fashion, upholstery Metropolitan Community College will offer three new non-credit courses in northeast Omaha in techniques in fashion and upholstery. The courses will be offered at 1141 N. 11th St. in Omahas new makers district. The courses are: Couture Techniques: Making a Vintage Two-Piece, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 4; Upholstery 101, 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday from Feb. 11 through March 25; and Vintage Couture Apron, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 18. For more information and to sign up, go to MCC's website or call 531-622-2620. Hastings College to stage play written by professor The Hastings College theater department will put on a play written by Jim Fritzler, chairman of the department. The play is titled The Famous and Original Bar Room Smasher and is about Carry A. Nation (sometimes spelled Carrie), a radical member of the Womans Christian Temperance Union. Nation appeared in Hastings in 1902. The play involves that appearance. Fritzler combined Nations biography with the temperance hymns of Flora Cassell, a Hastings native, to create a theatrical interpretation of the era and political climate of the times. The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2, 3 and 4 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 4. Performances are in Scott Studio Theatre, 806 N. Turner Ave. Tickets are $8 for the public and $5 for seniors and students. The show is free to Hastings College students, faculty members and staffers. Seats can be reserved by emailing tickets@hastings.edu. DENISON, Iowa The prayers continue. Each day when law enforcement officers, firefighters and other volunteers assemble to search the Boyer River for a missing teenager, a prayer is said that they remain safe and that their search is successful. Each evening when they come back Sunday was the fourth such evening thanks are given for their safe return. The search resumes today for the body of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared when a car with five people in it plunged into the river about 3 a.m. Thursday. The group had been driving in a farm field at the time. Four of the five made it to safety. The missing girl was last seen standing in the water. The Boyer, with its steep banks, murky waters and fallen trees, is treacherous to search this time of year. The January thaw and dropping water levels have made its muddy banks exceedingly slippery, authorities say. On Sunday, the family of the missing teenager and their friends gathered at the command center in the Western Iowa Expo Building at the county fairgrounds and asked to assist in the search. Crawford County Sheriff James Steinkuehler told the family through an interpreter that the search should be left to the officials and volunteers. Im afraid wed have injuries, Steinkuehler said. We need the people out there who have done this type of work. We need them helping by praying. I understand that they want to help. Im from a big family myself. The names of the girl and the others in the car havent been released. The community of 8,500 has embraced the family and friends of the girl. An abundance of food has been brought to the command center for the search party, and supplies have also been donated. On Sunday, a church service was held there with the girls family and friends. For Sundays search, two boats from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources towing drag lines searched a stretch of the Boyer River north of Denison, and volunteer firefighters conducted another search of the riverbanks. The river has dropped as much as 4 feet from when the car went into it, Steinkuehler said. He said the firefighters have been able to search 6 to 7 feet out from the rivers edge. WALNUT, Iowa Boarded storefronts line downtown Walnut, but the eastern Pottawattamie County community isnt becoming a ghost town. Its getting a face-lift. A facade renovation and streetscape project is underway as Iowas Antique City works to restore buildings to their former glory. Small towns unless you have some big industry, the big companies, unless you have something like that you have to find something thatll keep your community thriving, Walnut Mayor Gene Larsen said. In our case a big part of that is our downtown area. Were trying to maintain the vitality of the antique trade. Construction started in November, with 16 storefronts set for facade upgrades, said Walnut City Clerk Terri Abel. Plans call for renovating City Hall after the main street project, Larsen said. The facade work should wrap up in the spring before the 35th annual Walnut Antique Show on Fathers Day weekend from June 16 to 18. Once construction is complete the streetscape portion of the project will begin: upgrading the sidewalks, curbs and gutters, while also straightening and leveling the cobblestone downtown road. Crews also will make the sidewalks handicapped-accessible. The $1.09 million project is funded in part by a $400,000 Iowa West Foundation grant and a $300,000 revitalization grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Business owners are contributing funds as well, while the City of Walnut is putting up $335,000 in local option sales tax dollars. Weve been saving for this the past few years, Abel said. Itll give us a new, fresh look. An old fresh look. The city will start looking for bids on the sidewalk renovations in April. City officials hope the streetscape work is complete before the Walnut Antique Fall Festival in September. Its a great deal, putting the buildings back to their original architectural fronts, said Jerry Glenn, who owns Glenns bar on Antique City Drive. Glenn moved to Walnut, his parents hometown, after growing up in the Kansas City area. He has owned the bar for 17 years and has seen businesses come and go. The school district closed in spring 2016, with Walnut students now part of the Avoca-based AHSTW school district. The population, however, has remained somewhat steady. The U.S. Census listed 778 residents in 2000 and 785 in 2010, with an estimate of 773 in 2014. A big reason business owners stay and visitors come from Interstate 80: antiques. The antiques definitely save the town, Glenn said. At B Restored, co-owner Doreen Knop worked the counter. Knop and her daughter Pam Schirm used to run one of the first antiques shops in town, Heart of Country, which they opened in the 1980s. Schirm opened B Restored with her husband, Neal Schirm, and Heather Becerra in March 2016. Knop said the facade upgrades and streetscape are going to benefit Walnut. Its going to be great, she said. Mark Petersen, who has run Forget Me Nots with his wife, Susie Sievers, since 1993, said the project should increase foot traffic. All of our buildings needed some improvements on the front, he said. This is going to be a good thing, hopefully bring people to town to see whats going on. We need a little boost. A City of Omaha employee was struck by a vehicle and critically injured Monday morning in southwest Omaha. Salvatore Fidone III, 48, of Council Bluffs, was hit about 9:50 a.m. at 144th and U Streets, said Sgt. Douglas Klein of the Omaha Police Department. He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center in critical condition with a head injury, Klein said. Fidone remained in critical condition Monday afternoon, a hospital spokesman said. Investigators determined that a city truck and its crew were preparing to fill potholes, and Fidone was standing on the drivers side of the truck. A 2012 Toyota Camry driven by Alan R. Solarana, 53, of Omaha, was northbound on 144th in the inside lane. Witnesses told police the Camry drifted over and struck Fidone. Neither excessive speed nor alcohol use was a factor in the crash, Klein said. An Omaha City Council member wants the city to formally oppose a legislative bill that would restrict local gun regulations, including an Omaha ordinance that prohibits someone younger than 21 from possessing a handgun. A resolution from Garry Gernandt, a former Omaha police officer, would allow the citys lobbyist to work against the proposal. Legislative Bill 68, sponsored by Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, is this years version of a proposal thats come up in the past. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has supported previous versions of the legislation; four council members and the Omaha Police Officers Association have opposed it. The citys proposed resolution says the state legislation would prohibit Omaha and other Nebraska municipalities from adopting common sense firearm regulations that affect public safety. The resolution also says that the registration requirement is a practical and reasonable requirement and does not infringe on firearm ownership rights. Gernandt said the legislation would make it harder for police officers to investigate crimes. Taking away local control is like stripping a mechanic of one of his tools, he said. Law enforcement has a limited toolkit as it is. The council is set to vote Tuesday on the resolution. Stothert was out of the office Friday and not available to speak on the bill. Last year a version of the proposal failed to overcome a filibuster by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha. That year Stothert told lawmakers that she doubted the effectiveness of the local gun rules in reducing gun violence. John Wells, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, on the other hand, sent a letter to lawmakers saying the bill would give a free pass to teenage gang members who can now be arrested for illegal possession of a handgun. Omaha isnt the only city that is grinding up roads rather than repaving or upgrading them. As infrastructure budgets have been hit hard by dwindling gasoline tax revenue that typically funds transportation projects, cities and counties across the nation have abandoned plans to repave crumbling roads. Instead, the thoroughfares are getting ground up and their remains combined with gravel and other products to create what essentially become dirt roads. Less often, public works departments are allowing the roads to deteriorate to an unpaved surface. Both types of deconstructed roads can require more routine maintenance than asphalt or concrete, such as regular grading and treatments to minimize dust and runoff. But they generally are much cheaper than paved roads to install and maintain. There have been about 70 such conversions across the country, stretching along 550 miles of road in at least 27 states, according to a 2015 review of the projects produced by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. The list includes projects in four Nebraska counties outside the Omaha area and six Iowa counties. Not every conversion has gone smoothly. In Omaha, people who live along South 113th Street a quarter-mile dead-end stretch lined by ranch-style homes said the city caught them off guard when it ground up their asphalt road, leaving it unpaved, in early 2016. Joseph Skradski, a dentist who lives there, said the road was last paved 35 years ago, and large potholes had begun to form in the asphalt. But he wasnt happy with a dirt road, and along with other residents of the street, he complained to the city. Ultimately the city agreed to pay half the cost of repaving South 113th Street. Streets with minimal traffic dont require the more durable concrete, as the city prefers, Skradski said. They may be like my street a dead end or kind of off the beaten path and asphalt works perfect. Residents in other parts of the city also complained. In the summer, Omaha officials stopped converting paved streets to dirt and pledged to prioritize funding for road upkeep. In December, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert named a committee to review a new policy for dealing with unimproved city streets. But in some areas the change has been accepted by residents. In the past decade a little more than a mile of the streets in Montpelier, Vermont, have been converted, said Thomas McArdle, that citys public works director. Residents largely have embraced the change, he said, and its projected to save Montpelier at least half of what it would have spent to pave and maintain the roads over the next 20 years. The conversions in Montpelier began when a couple living on a deteriorating paved road approached McArdle and suggested he convert their street to gravel. He took the proposal to their neighbors, sending letters that explained the City Council might be willing to green-light a move to gravel sooner than it would be able to repave the road. Laura Fay, a research scientist with the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University, and co-author of the report, said localities need to use grading, dust control and other maintenance, potentially several times a year, to ensure the newly unpaved roads are safe and long-lasting. The cost of paving roads varies by size, condition and location, and can be significantly higher than converting to dirt. For example, resurfacing a paved road in Allamakee County, Iowa, was estimated to cost $100,000 a mile in 2011, but getting rid of the pavement and adding gravel would set the county back only $5,000 a mile. Fays report found that converting a paved road to an unpaved one can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 a mile. The disparity is so wide because jurisdictions use different methods to track what they spend on costs, she said. In more than half the states, some roads have been converted to unpaved surfaces, adding to the countrys 1.4 million miles of unpaved roads. But the trend isnt widely discussed among transportation officials, Fay said. A federal appeals court has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a Florida man against doctors at Nebraskas psychiatric hospital, where he was held for 20 years on a misdiagnosis. John Maxwell Montin, 54, sued after being released in 2013 from the Lincoln Regional Center, where he had been held since being found not guilty by reason of insanity of false imprisonment and a weapons count. Police had said Montin, who lived in Florida at the time, was delusional when he was arrested after he walked up to a rural house in 1993 and declared that it had belonged to his ancestors and that he was taking it back. Psychiatrists relied on that police report for the next 20 years in keeping Montin committed, even as he insisted he was not psychotic. On Thursday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal said Montins malpractice claim was based on state law and, therefore, improperly filed in federal court. The appeals court also said that the doctors he sued are entitled to qualified immunity because they worked for the state. For years Montins doctors said his denials that he was mentally ill was evidence that he was when they made annual reports to a judge, who ultimately decided that Montin was mentally ill and dangerous. In 2012 an attorney for Montin persuaded a psychiatrist at the center to read a transcript of Montins trial, which differed from the police arrest report. A year later, another psychiatrist at the center concluded that medication Montin was taking for back pain had led to temporary psychosis and the incident. He said that when Montin stopped taking the medicine, before his 1993 trial began, the psychosis was gone. Copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump began recasting Americas role in the global economy Monday, canceling an agreement for a sweeping trade deal with Asia that he once called a potential disaster. Trump signed the executive order formally ending U.S. participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership in the Oval Office after discussing American manufacturing with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room. The order was largely symbolic the deal was already essentially dead in Congress but served to signal that Trumps tough talk on trade during the campaign will carry over to his new administration. Trump had repeatedly cast the 12-nation trade pact which was eagerly sought by U.S. allies in Asia as detrimental to American businesses. Great thing for the American worker that we just did, Trump said in brief remarks as he signed the notice. The Obama administration spent years negotiating the Pacific Rim pact, though the mood in Washington on trade soured over time. Barack Obama never sent the accord to Congress for ratification. Trump spent his first full day of business bounding from one ornate room of the White House to another for meetings, often ordering aides to summon journalists from their West Wing workspace at a moments notice for unscheduled statements and photo opportunities. In addition to his executive action on TPP, Trump signed memorandums freezing most federal government hiring and reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The actions were among the long list of steps candidate Trump pledged to take on his opening day as president. But other Day One promises were going unfulfilled Monday, including plans to propose a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress. Several of the executives Trump met with Monday initially had supported the trade agreement. The chief architect of the administrations trade policy, commerce secretary nominee Wilbur Ross, was also once a booster for the deal. Trump has expressed his preference for bilateral trade agreements rather than the multinational pacts that administrations of both parties have pursued in recent decades. On Friday, Trump will welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May, elected last year on a populist wave, to the White House for his first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader. The agenda is expected to include the possibility of a bilateral trade agreement as Britain looks to realign its own economy after voting to leave the European Union. Next week Trump will welcome Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to the White House. Trump said they will discuss terms of a new North American Free Trade Agreement. Failure to ratify TPP probably paves the way for China to seek its own regional agreement, at the expense of U.S. interests. In making the case for TPP, the Obama administration had cited several major factors: It would open new markets for U.S.-made goods, raise environmental and labor standards in member nations, make the U.S. a more attractive place for investment and serve a check on growing Chinese influence in Asia. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona blasted Trumps TPP decision, calling it a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for Americas economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region. It will create an opening for China to rewrite the economic rules of the road at the expense of American workers. And it will send a troubling signal of American disengagement in the Asia-Pacific region at a time we can least afford it, McCain said Monday. Nebraska and Iowa lawmakers took a more diplomatic tack. Its clear that those of us who believe trade is good for American families have done a terrible job defending trades historic successes and celebrating its future potential, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said in a press release. We have to make the arguments and we have to start now. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she was disappointed with Trumps action. With one in five jobs in Iowa dependent on trade, access to new markets is critical to our states economy, Ernst said in a press release. However, we must not let this stop our country from pursuing increased trade opportunities for our exporters. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., said TPP was not a perfect agreement but established a framework for U.S. exporters pursuing economic opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region. Moving forward, I hope we can pursue bilateral agreements with these TPP countries to open more markets to U.S. agriculture producers and manufacturers, Smith said in a statement. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday that he thought TPP would have expanded markets for Nebraskas commodities, increasing ag cash receipts by a projected $378 million a year. President Trump has pledged to take a new approach to trade negotiations through bilateral trade agreements. I urge him to take swift action in the first 100 days of his administration to substantially expand markets for ag exports, the governor said in a statement. World-Herald staff writers Joseph Morton and Emily Nohr contributed to this report, which includes material from the Associated Press and Tribune Washington Bureau. Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments New tax laws post demonetisation has left citizens baffled Business oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer With the country slowly returning to normalcy post demonetisation and cash crunch seeming to have eased, the speculations are now rife over how new tax laws on unaccounted cash would be implemented. What amounts to taxable inflow of money and how much would be the tax rates for gifts recieved has left the citizens baffled. Inherited jewellery, gifts recieved at a wedding or cash borrowed could be questioned and taxed at a far higher rate if someone fails to offer a 'satisfactory explanation', reported the Economic Times. If the I-T department doubts with the explanation offered over certain sources of income or expenditure, then a person could be taxed by as much as 83%, against 35% in the past. A senior tax official in Mumbai said the provisions in the I-T act will help the department 'in mobilising tax from black money'. But, he also remained apprehensive that it could be misused. Post demonetisation, the tax laws have undergone significant changes to empower the tax department to penalise those funds or investments whose source is unclear. Under section 115BBE, the income under question cannot be set off against any other loss for the year or carried forward. Earlier, if the assessing officer was not satisfied with the explanation for cash inflow, he could invoke section 115BBE and impose a tax of 30% plus the surcharge. But now, it could be as high as 60%, along with 15% surcharge and 3% cess aggregating to 77.25%, an ET report said. OneIndia News Blow to Nitish Kumar as 5 of 6 MLAs from JD(U) join BJP in Manipur Blow to Congress in Manipur, 2 MLAs and state VP resign India oi-PTI Imphal, Jan 23: In a major blow to the Congress party in poll bound Manipur, its state vice-president and two MLAs resigned from the party's primary membership on Monday. Legislators Nemcha Kipgen and Vungzagin Valte submitted their resignation letters to party president TN Haokip as well as to speaker Th Lokeshwor, they said. With the resignation, the strength of Congress has gone down to 45 seats in the 60-member Manipur assembly. Kipgen had been elected in the last assembly polls from Kangpokpi constituency which had recently been upgraded into Kangpokpi district. Valte was elected from Thanlon assembly constituency. Vice-president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee S Achouba also resigned from the primary membership of the party. Incidentally, the state's move to carve out seven new districts has triggered protests by Manipur's apex Naga organisation United Naga Council. Last year, three veteran Congress heavyweights N Biren, Y Erabot and Francis Ngajokpa had resigned and joined the BJP. Elections for the 60-member Manipur assembly will be held in two phases, on March 4 and March 8. BJP, which is in direct fight with the Congress in the state, is unlikely to project any chief ministerial candidate. PTI Delhi road rage: Speeding BMW rams into Uber cab killing driver India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer In yet another case of rash driving gone wrong in Delhi, a speeding BMW rammed into a WagonR on Sunday night killing the driver on the spot. The vehicle belonged to the Uber cab service. The incident took place at around 11.30 pm near the Munirka flyover on Outer Ring Road in south Delhi. The Uber driver, Nazirul Islam, had joined the cab fleet a day before. The Delhi police arrested the accused, 24-year-old Shoib Kohli, who fled the spot after the incident. Kohli is a resident of Panchsheel Park and works in a multi-national company in Gurgaon. One dead as two cars rammed into each other near Delhi's Munirka area in early morning hours. pic.twitter.com/dHkVNtszTK ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 The cars were going towards Vasant Vihar from Kalkaji, the police said. Eyewitnesses told the cops that the speeding BMW hit the WagonR from behind completely crushing the hatchback. "We have arrested the driver of the car and will soon produce him in the court. A case of rash and negligent driving causing death has been registered against the driver of the BMW," Ishwar Singh, DCP (South), told mediapersons. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 16:58 [IST] Goa: Congress manifesto says it would ban casinos in state India oi-PTI Panaji, Jan 23: The Congress party on Monday released it's manifesto for the upcoming Goa polls in which it has assured banning all the casinos in the coastal state including the floating vessels mounted with gambling dens. "Floating casinos in Goa's river will be closed permanently," reads the manifesto of Congress that was released by Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia in Panaji. "Those on the shore too will be closed at a later stage," Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro told reporters in the presence of Scindia. He said in the first phase, offshore casinos which are currently in river Mandovi would be shut and in the second phase, onshore casinos would be banned. Responding to a question, Faleiro ruled out that such an action would affect employment prospects in the state. "I dont think that there are much Goans working at these casinos," he said. Goa has six offshore casino vessels besides around a dozen of onshore casinos operating in five star resorts. The party in its manifesto also opposed holding of Defence Expo in Goa. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee strongly opposes holding defence expo in Goa or give permanent rights to the Defence Ministry to hold the land on lease or on ownership basis anywhere in the state," the manifesto read. It has also assured investigations into all the permissions granted by Investment Promotion Board to set up industry in the state. "All permissions granted under Investment Promotion Act would be inquired as soon as the party comes to the power after elections," the manifesto read. "We will declare an all out war on drugs and drug peddling in the state. The anti-narcotic cell will be upgraded and strengthened to take the fight to beaches and every corner of Goa," the Congress manifesto has said. In one of the prominent promise, Congress has assured free five litres of petrol per month for every college student having valid driving licence. The Congress party has also assured to restore mining immediately incorporating the entire recommendation of the Supreme Court. "The loan of one truck or tanker per family would be waived off," he said. PTI Haryana: Jats threaten of fresh agitation over reservation India oi-PTI Gurgaon, Jan 23: Jat outfits in Haryana have threatened to launch a fresh agitation across the state, alleging the Manohar Lal Khattar-led government of not fulfilling their demands of reservation. Haryana had witnessed massive protests over the issue last year. Police have braced up for the protests and also conducted a mock drill for this purpose on Sunday, Gurgaon Police PRO Manish Sehgal said. The agitation is planned to begin from next week with the Jat leaders claiming support of people from as many as 250 villages in Haryana and Delhi. The leaders have blamed Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of not fulfilling their quota demands for which they launched a massive stir last year. "We have been holding panchayats from the last 11 months in many villages on individual level to achieve the eventual goal of getting Other Backward Class (OBC) status," Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti chief Yashpal Malik told PTI. He said the community is prepared to face any challenge to seek reservation, accusing the BJP government in Haryana of having cheated them last time. "The BJP government in Haryana and Centre cheated us last time and assured us by giving fake promises to end our protest. They also targeted youths in fake cases for damaging private and government properties," Malik charged. He further claimed that the Jats in UP's Muzaffarnagar, Baraut and Baghpat districts have decided not to vote for BJP in the state Assembly polls next month. In view of the threat of protests by the community leaders, the police have stepped up efforts to avoid any untoward incident and damage to public property. "I have directed every districts top police officials to prepare to deal with any kind of situation and make sure that road and rail routes would not get blocked. Keeping law and order intact in the state is our prime objective and we will deploy adequate police force in vulnerable districts to deal with eventualities," Haryana Police ADGP (law and order) Mohammad Akil told PTI. Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar has also directed senior police officers to be prepared for the Jat agitation. The agitation is planned in 19 districts which by and large have a rural background. These include Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Fatehabad. Last year's agitation had largely affected Delhi as the protesters cut down water supply to the national capital and caused massive damage to public property in Haryana. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 16:18 [IST] Horror on the tracks: Mr Suresh Prabhu, it's time to pull up your socks India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Jan 23: At least 39 people lost their lives and scores injured after the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express went off tracks between Rayagada and Vizianagaram section of Waltair on January 21. The railways was quick to suspect a sabotage, but a recent investigation conducted by the Bihar police has suggested that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence had a role to play in recent train derailments across India. [Also Read: Hirakhand Express mishap: Rusted track or sabotage?] While the National Investigation Agency is yet to reveal its findings in the alleged role of the ISI in train sabotage cases, rail accidents have been on the rise. From 53 in 2013-14 to 68 in 2016-17, statistics give a grim picture about rail safety. A Parliamentary panel had recently pulled up the railways for failing to establish the cause behind the rising accidents on tracks. Going by various reports and statistics, it becomes clear that the railway ministry needs to pull up its socks. Pull up your socks: The Standing Committee on Railways said that the Railways had failed in maintaining safety standards of rail tracks. Ideally, 4,500 kilometres of the rail tracks should have been renewed annually, out of the total track length of 1.14 lakh kilometres. Out of the 5,000-km track length due for renewal at present, only 2,700 km track was targetted to be renewed, the committee had noted. The railways has failed to address the human error involved in accidents. In 2015-16, 70 per cent of the accidents took place due to the fault of the railway staff such as poor maintenance, not adhering to safety rules and also adopting to shortcuts, the committee noted. These statistics and observations show that there is a lot of work that needs to be done. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who is quite popular on Twitter and speaks about the future of the railways, was quick to announce compensation following Saturday's incident. However, the question is whether announcing compensation and ordering an in-depth probe is sufficient to compensate human lives that are at risk. Speaking to several employees in the railways, it is clear that most of them are a demoralised lot due to poor payment of salaries. Political parties continue to use this ministry as a vote bank and refuse to hike prices. It may be recalled that Dinesh Trivedi had lost his job as railway minister when he had proposed a hike in prices. The railways is facing huge losses on a daily basis and this has led to poor payment of salaries. Because of the huge losses, the railways is unable to adhere to safety standards and this has led to a rise in train accidents. There is no doubt that the ISI link to such accidents needs to be probed. The question is whether blaming the ISI will solve the problem. OneIndia News Leave in 24 hours: Jean Dreze's wife attacked, threatened at home in Ch'garh India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Bastar: Activist Bela Bhatia was threatened in Chhattisgarh's Bastar on Monday and was warned to leave the area within 24 hours. Around 30 men barged inside Bhatia's home where she was allegedly threatened by death and told to leave immediately. The assailants also threatened to burn down her home is she refused to leave. Bhatia's husband, renowned economist Dr Jean Dreze, said that the attackers came in an SUV and several bikes. "They threatened to burn the house, kill her dog etc, and also threatened the landlady," he told NDTV. Dreze added that although Bhatia contacted the cops, their arrival did little to deter the mob. "Bela agreed to leave and pleaded for time - a few days. They refused and wanted her to leave immediately. Eventually they agreed to give her 24 hours to leave," he said. The Bastar region is a part of Chhattisgarh that is severely affected by Maoist violence. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 18:54 [IST] Praises and brickbats for Mamata Banerjee's video playing drums in Chennai Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth! Madras HC permits RSS to conduct rallies at 44 places in Tamil Nadu Jallikattu protests LIVE: Paneerselvam holds meetings with top cops India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Chennai, Jan 23: All local channels have been blacked out across Tamil Nadu. A few moments ago, protesters were lathi-charged and tear gas was used. According to reports, those most affected by this were women and children. After the police started evicting the protestors at the Marina Beach, angry protestors started pelting stones. There are reports of police vehicles being burnt near the Marina Beach. The Tamil Nadu assembly will meet at 5 pm to table the bill. Stay tuned for latest updates on protest in support of Jallikattu: 4:20: Chief Minister O Paneerselvam is holding a meeting with top cops over the law and order situation. 3:15: Protesters are now blocking roads at various locations in Chennai. 3: 10 pm: All local channels have been blacked out across Tamil Nadu 1: 10 pm: Section 144 has been imposed in Allanganallur 12.05 pm: An elderly man and a woman severely injured in Police lathi charge 11.55 am: Protesters forcefully evicted from Alanganallur, Madurai 11.50 am: Jallikattu protests turn violent: Vehicles were set on fire by miscreants in Chennai's Ice house police station 11.45 am: Using tear gas and lathicharge is atrocious: Anbumani Ramadoss 11.45 am: Condemn police brutalities across TN on democratically protesting people: Anbumani Ramdoss 11.40 am: PETA to move SC against ordinance allowing Jallikattu 11.30 am: Police detain more than 100 protesting students near Meenakshi Hall in Coimbatore. 10.52 am: Jallikattu to be held in Alanganallur on February 1. Sundararajan, Chairman, Jallikattu committee confirms event at Alanganallur. 10.42 am: The state Govt has totally mismanaged the situation and have failed to engage with students: MK Stalin. 10.30 am: Police lathi charge Jallikattu protesters at Madurai 10.20 am: Jallikattu: Tear gas used to disperse protesters at various locations 10.14 am: Jallikattu supporters form human chain at Chennai's Marina Beach. 10.07 am: DMK walks out from the assembly as Tamil Nadu Governor speaks. 10.01 am: Tamil Nadu assembly session begins, Jallikattu bill to be tabled. 9.39 am: Its highly condemnable for using force to disperse the crowd who were fighting democratically- DMK Working president MK Stalin. 9.30 am: Jallikattu supporters being forcefully evicted by police from the protesting site in Madurai's Tamukkam. 9.20 am: Heavy police force deployment in Madurai's Alanganallur. 9.10 am: Police forcefully evict protesters assembled at Coimbatore's VOC Ground. We urge all students to kindly support us, we are not a separate country but a state of India. Police beating us: Protester,Marina Beach pic.twitter.com/35BxuJBHKm ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Police partially clear Chennai's Marina Beach, protesters forcefully evicted #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/hS1XqzZNGC ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 8.30 am: Fishermen come out in support of the protesters at Chennai's Marina Beach. 8.20 am: Bill to replace ordinance on Jallikattu to be tabled in Tamil Nadu Assembly today. 7.44 am: Protesters threaten police, saying that they will commit suicide at Marina beach if forcefully removed from the site. Heavy police force deployment near Chennai's Marina Beach #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/PXAnRhjVLp ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu: Protesters at Chennai's Marina Beach refuse to move away from the site #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/NTRE4kLTB3 ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu: Protest being held in Madurai's Alanganallur, protesters seek a permanent solution for organising #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/Ym2yCoEsVg ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Routes leading to Chennai's Marina Beach closed, barricading put up by police to prevent people from assembling there. #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/X9z9kd3VlJ ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Tamil Nadu: Protesters sing national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' as police try to remove them from Chennai's Marina Beach #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/TFkzvKtKkP ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Police at Chennai's Marina Beach begin removing protesters forcefully #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/xZyrWNucX9 ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 Police at Chennai's Marina Beach begin removing protesters forcefully #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/vkZCpJCwSA ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 6.50 am: Police at Chennai's Marina Beach begin removing protesters. 6.47 am: Protesters at Chennai's Marina Beach say they believe in police but they need time to discuss about the ordinance, demand half day time. 6.43 am: Chennai: Your goal is achieved, says police requesting Marina Beach protesters to end and move. 6.40 am: SC stayed Jallikattu so lawmakers got ordinance. Bull removed from exhibition animal list according to ordinance so no stay for Jallikattu: Police 6.35 am: It will be introduced and regularised, now itself the law is in act. Ordinance is for jallikattu permanent solution says police 6.30 am: Its wrong that ordinance will dissolve after 6 months, fact is that after introduction of ordinance, it will be introduced in assembly: Police Heavy police force deployed at Chennai's Marina Beach, talks on between police and protesters #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/0Cr8sXiWSr ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017 OneIndia News No schemes for poll-bound states in Budget: EC tells govt India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Jan 24: The Election Commission on Monday cleared the decks for the central government to present the Budget 2017 on February 1, but barred it from announcing any schemes for the five poll-bound states. The poll panel also specified that the Finance Minister's speech should not refer to the government's achievements in these states either. In a letter addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, the EC said that "in the interest of free and fair elections" and in order to maintain "level playing field", no state-specific schemes shall be announced "which may have the effect of influencing the electors" of the five states where assembly elections have been announced. The EC mentioned a 2009 advisory which said vote-on-account in place of a full fledged budget is presented ahead of elections as per convention. Assembly elections in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur are scheduled to be held between February 4 and March 8. IANS Punjab elections: Sidhu-Amarinder infighting could hurt Congress India oi-Vicky By Vicky Although the Congress may have roped in Navjot Singh Sidhu with an eye on winning the Punjab assembly elections, the big question that looms political circles is whether the party will remain united after the polls are concluded. There is already a section within the Congress which has been demanding that Sidhu be made the chief minister if the the party wins the ballot. In Amritsar, which is Sidhu's stronghold, cries to make him the CM are the loudest. The campaign is yet to hit top gear and political analysts already say that the rift between Captain Amrinder Singh and Sidhu is likely to play out poorly for the party. It is an open secret that the relationship between the two men is nothing to go to town about. There has been an uneasy calm between the two and it is only thanks to the high command that the fight has spilled out into the open. While the Congress has not officially announced a CM candidate for Punjab as yet, sources say that Sidhu during the negotiations was promised the deputy chief minister's post. However, going by the campaign in Amritsar, it appears that Sidhu's followers would want their candidate to be the CM if the Congress wins the elections. There are already slogans being raised in Punjab saying that Sidhu should be made the CM if the Congress wins the polls. The Congress should be worried about this development. Among the five states that go to polls, the Congress feels its best chance is in Punjab. There is a good chance that rival camps within the Congress will campaign against each other which in the long run could hurt the party. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 13:25 [IST] Highlights of BJPs Punjab manifesto: Land to Dalits, financial help to families hit by militancy India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Jalandhar, Jan 22: The Bharatiya Janata Party in its manifesto for Punjab Assembly elections 2017, scheduled on February 4, promised a slew of populist schemes like providing sugar and ghee at low prices, houses to the poor, land to Dalits and backwards, besides assuring Rs five lakh assistance to the families affected by militancy. Punjab: Arun Jaitley releases BJP's manifesto for Punjab elections in Jalandhar #PunjabPolls pic.twitter.com/TWjzG9IWMi ANI (@ANI_news) January 22, 2017 Union Minister Arun Jaitley released the manifesto document in Jalandhar on Sunday. Jaitley said that the BJP's manifesto was particularly aimed at improving the social infrastructure in Punjab. The finance minister slammed the Congress for its policies which he alleged paved the way for militancy in Punjab in 1980s and termed its 2002-2007 tenure in power as "most dishonest and corrupt". The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance has been in power in Punjab since 2007. Jaitley said the SAD-BJP government in Punjab is already running atta-dal scheme. The BJP manifesto has promised providing 2 kg ghee for Rs 25 per kilo and 5 kg sugar at Rs 10 a kilo to the blue card holders in the state. Here we bring you the highlights of BJP manifesto: Land, housing and job sops: In its 16-page manifesto, the BJP has assured a house to every poor family besides promising a 5-8 marla plot of land to Dalits and those belonging to backward class. The SAD ally has also promised a job to at least one member from each family. Financial aid to militancy-affected families: The BJP manifesto has also announced Rs five lakh in financial assistance to the families which were affected by militancy in Punjab. It also talks of setting up of a 'Farmers Income Commission' which will provide an assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the families of traders or farmers in the event of their sudden death. Education for girl students: On the education front, the manifesto assures making free the studies of girls till doctorate degree level. Sops for retired people, journalists: It also talks of implementing the seventh pay commission, raising the age of retirement to 60 years and group housing for journalists, among others. OneIndia News Why Punjab farmers burn stubble at this scale when others do not Punjab STILL drug capital of India: Here is why India oi-Vicky By Vicky Punjab continues to live up to its reputation as the drug capital of the country. After the dates for the Punjab assembly elections 2017 were announced earlier this month, there has been a seizure of 1,134 kilograms of drugs from the state. Official data that has been compiled since the election dates were announced for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab, suggests that drugs worth Rs 10.30 crore have been seized. The total seizure of drugs from the 5 poll bound states was at 1,485 kilograms worth Rs 10.30 crore. Out of this seizures in Punjab alone was at 1,134 kgs worth Rs 9.06 crore. In UP, Rs 286.65 kg worth Rs 83.58 lakh was seized, while in Goa it was drugs worth Rs 17.22 lakh. Seizures worth Rs 15.36 lakh and Rs 7.62 lakh were reported in Uttarakhand and Manipur respectively. When it comes to liquor, UP tops the list. 3.95 lakh litres worth Rs 10.7 crore. In Punjab, the seizure was worth Rs 1.14 crore while in Uttarakhand and Manipur the seizures were worth Rs 72.91 lakh and 7.5 lakh respectively. In Goa the seizure was worth Rs 1.35 lakh. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 13:15 [IST] SC dismisses plea to defer Union Budget, calls it 'absurd' India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Supreme Court has rejected a plea seeking to delay the Union Budget to be presented on February 1. The plea had sought postponement of the Budget on the ground that five state were going to polls. Chief Justice of India J S Khehar, who headed the bench termed the petition as absurd. "Your argument is absurd. This way you will say that a party at the centre should not contest the state polls," the CJI observed while junking the plea. The petition had sought postponement of the budget date citing elections in five states. The SC had earlier refused to accord urgent hearing on the plea. The PIL had asked the court to direct the centre to present the Union Budget in the financial year 2017-18 which would commence from 1 April, instead of the proposed date of February 1. The petitioner, advocate Manohar Lal Sharma, also sought that the Central government be restrained from declaring any relief, programme, financial budget until elections conclude as they would violate the Model Code of Conduct. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 15:48 [IST] Makkal power: Tamil Nadu legalises Jallikattu India oi-Anusha The Tamil Nadu government on Monday passed the bill legalising the bull-taming sport, Jallikattu. The bill was passed in a matter of minutes following a unanimous vote. The bill was introduced by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam at a special session of the legislative assembly in Chennai. The bill invokes the state's power to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. It effectively replaces the ordinance that was promulgated on Saturday. The assembly, which was convened earlier on Monday had to be postponed as the opposition DMK staged a walk out of the assembly. The bill effectively legalises the conduct of Jallikattu in the state which had been banned by an order of the Supreme Court. The SC is currently seized off a matter relating to Jallikattu and had stayed a notification by the Centre allowing the sport. After hearing arguments advanced at length, the court had reserved orders. What the bill states: Conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu is legal Events would be recorded Events will take place under the supervision of district government officials. The bill will come into force starting January 21. This is being allowed to ensure survival and continuance of native breed of bulls. Protests turn violent: Student groups, celebrities and others have called off their protests. The groups said that they had called off the protest as their goal had been achieved. They also said that they had nothing to do with the violence that broke out on Monday morning after the police reached the Marina Beach in Chennai and tried to evict the protesters. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the mob. Several persons have been taken into preventive custody by the police across the state. OneIndia News UAE contingent to lead the Republic Day parade India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 23: A contingent of 179 United Arab Emirates soldiers will lead the Republic Day parade this year. The UAE has sent 195 jawans, 15 officers and 15 support staff. Of these, 144 jawans and 35 band members will be part of the parade, said Major General Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff, Delhi area and also second-in -command of the parade. "Because they are guests, they will lead the parade," he said. The UAE is the second country after France to send its troops to participate in the Republic-Day parade of India, a tradition which started last year. Speaking to reporters, Brigadier Obaid Al-Zahumi, who will be leading the UAE contingent, said they were excited to be a part of the event. "We got an invitation from the Indian Army some three weeks back and since then we have been busy in getting ready for the parade. We have a nice mix of soldiers from the army, navy and the air force," Zahumi said. The troops from the Arab country also participated in the full dress rehearsal, which commenced from Monday at Rajpath. They will lead the march after customary parade commander, his second-in-command and Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra Award winners walk past the Rajpath after paying respect to the President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The Indian Army will showcase its T-90 and BMP tanks, two Bramhos missiles, Dhanush gun system along with Weapon Locating Radars Swati at the R-Day parade. Fifty-one horses of 61st Cavalry Regiment and BSF's camel contingent will be a part of the show. [Commandos, camels and missiles march as India gears up for R-Day bash] Marching contingents of Mechanised Infantry, Madras Engineer Group, Bihar Regiment, 39 Gorkha Training Centre and Territorial Army will also participate in the parade, apart from contingents of Coast Guard and National Security Guard. The Defence Research and Development Organisation will showcase its Advanced Towed Artillery System and Medium Power Radar Arudha at the parade. UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be the chief guest at the 68th Republic Day. PTI When CIA kept tabs on Puttaparthis Sathya Sai Baba India oi-Vicky By Vicky Among the 13 million declassified documents by the Central Intelligence Agency is one relating to philanthropist and guru, Sathya Sai Baba. One report titled Cultural Trends Study: India's Sai Baba Movement was marked as 'secret' and was not meant to be released to any foreign national. [Also read: Rich and Influential Spiritual Gurus of India] The 16-page report says that the Sai Baba movement would have helped provide stability to a troubled country and his influence could also counterbalance the appeal of Hindu chauvinists and ethnic separatists. "Sai Baba's well organised and financed movement probably will continue to grow and even become another worldwide religion," the report states. Referring to the Baba's claim that he was Kalki (the 10th avatar of Lord Vishnu), the CIA likens it to the messianic return of Jesus Christ in Christianity or the Mahdi in Islam. "In fact, he says he is the Biblical second coming. While such claims may be incredible, most of his devotees believe him," the report says. The report also speaks about the miracles by the Baba. It speaks about his ability to change his shape, read minds among other miracles. "Such claims have not been scientifically verified in a laboratory, although a team of western parapsychologists observed some of these events in a field study. While the scientific paradigm may reject the possibility of such capabilities, traditional Hindus accept them as entirely plausible," the report states. The CIA does go into the various allegations made against the Baba. However it also adds that he has the potential widespread appeal in a society driven by communal violence. "Since Sai Baba's message supports the concept of a harmonious, multi-religious and multi-ethnic India, it has the potential to counterbalance the appeal of Hindu chauvinists and ethnic separatists," it says. The report concludes thus, "The Sai Baba movement is likely to eventually become another worldwide religion with its ample wealth, free healthcare and political influence allowing it to expand even after the guru's death.". The author of the report however adds that there is always a possibility that the movement will collapse if the Baba is convincingly demonstrated as a fraud. Read the full report HERE British Government says Brexit will not destroy peace in Ireland International oi-IANS By Ians English London, Jan 23: The British government rejected on Sunday a claim by Gerry Adams, President of the Sinn Fein political party, that taking Northern Ireland out of the EU will destroy the agreement that restored peace to the island. Adams made his remarks during a speech on Saturday in Dublin, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement was issued in London following Adams' comments, suggesting Britain leaving the European Union will destroy the Belfast Agreement. An official spokesman for the British government said Adams' comments are totally without any basis in fact. "None of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement ... are in any way undermined by the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU," said the spokesman. Britain is "fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors," he said. The Belfast Agreement, a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s, ended three decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland. In his speech earlier, Adams said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status after Brexit, claiming it would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of Britain. He told his audience at a conference on achieving a united Ireland: "The British government's intention to take the north out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action. Adams is regarded as one of the most important people to be part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Britain's departure from the 28-nation trading bloc will mean the Northern Ireland border with the Irish republic being the only EU border within Britain. In a treaty going back to the 1920s people from both sides of the border have had free passage between each other. Ireland joined the EU at the same time as Britain, meaning there was no change in the border arrangements. Earlier this week, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny reiterated his wish for "a preservation of the seamless border that is there now". IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 9:18 [IST] Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu discuss threats posed by Iran International oi-IANS By Ians English Washington, Jan 23: US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the "threats" posed by Iran. The new leader on Sunday told Netanyahu over phone that peace between Israel and Palestine can only be "directly" negotiated by the two parties, Efe news cited a White House statement as saying. Trump invited the Israeli leader to visit Washington early next month, Netanyahu's office said. The President also reiterated his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security", the White House statement said. Meanwhile, the Israeli premier's office said "the two leaders discussed the nuclear deal with Iran, the peace process with the Palestinians and other issues". A statement from Netanyahu's office said the Israeli Prime Minister "expressed his desire to work closely with Trump to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region". The two leaders agreed to keep in close consultation about a series of regional matters, and Trump told Netanyahu that the fight against the Islamic State militant group and other "radical Islamist" groups will be a priority of his government, the White House said. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 9:36 [IST] Donald Trump to renegotiate trade agreement with Mexico, Canada International oi-IANS By Ians English Washington, Jan 23: US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Re-negotiating the pact, signed two decades ago, was one of Trump's primary campaign promises, EFE news reported. At a White House event to swear in several top officials he had named, the President confirmed his intention to renegotiate NAFTA with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whom he will welcome in Washington on January 31, and with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he intends to meet soon. Trump blames NAFTA for killing US jobs and for the closing of companies in the United States and the shifting of their operations to Mexico to lower costs. The President said that he would discuss NAFTA with Pena Nieto along with "immigration" and "border security". On Saturday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that Pena Nieto, whom he mistakenly referred to as the Mexican "Prime Minister", will visit the White House on January 31. The Mexican President's Office, meanwhile, said in a statement that on Saturday Pena Nieto telephoned Trump to congratulate him on his inauguration and express the willingness to "work on an agenda that benefits both countries". One of Trump's key campaign promises was to build a wall along the US-Mexican border to halt illegal immigration to the United States, a wall that -- he said -- Mexico will pay for. Spicer said that Trump also spoke on Saturday by phone with Trudeau, with whom he held a "constructive" conversation. IANS Xi Jinping meets Kazakh leader on first trip since pandemic Want to watch NASA scientists aboard Soyuz rocket to Space Station? Here's how Kazakhstan's balancing act between the EU and Russia Peace talks between Syrian government, rebels begin in Astana International oi-IANS By Ians English Astana, Jan 23: The peace talks between the Syrian government and armed rebel forces began on Monday in the Kazakhstan's capital Astana. The talks between President Bashar Al Assad and representatives of the armed factions opposed to his regime started 40 minutes later than scheduled. Osama Abu Zeid, a representative of the Free Syrian Army rebel delegation attending the talks, told Efe news that the conversations would be conducted indirectly and behind closed doors. Zeid said Russia and Turkey had "reached that decision on Monday". The vice-president of the Syrian National Coalition, the main Syrian opposition political group, Abdul Hakim Bashar, told Efe news that the opposition delegation was "not against direct talks with a UN mediator or the two guarantor countries, Russia and Turkey." Russia's special envoy Alexander Lavrentiev was optimistic about the outcome of the talks in Astana. "There is no simple solution to the conflict, but we spare no effort to try to bring the parties' positions closer to the Syrian conflict, that is to say, the government and armed opposition groups," said Lavrentiev, who heads the Russian delegation at the talks. An Iranian delegation, headed by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Hossein Ansari, and the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, would also participate in the two-day closed-door talks. De Mistura thanked President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for hosting the discussions. The Syrian civil war, which is heading into its sixth year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee the Middle Eastern nation. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 16:03 [IST] Trump administration hits out at media for coverage International oi-PTI Washington, Jan 23: The Trump administration will rethink its ties with the media if the obsessed press tries to delegetimise Donald Trump's presidency by false reporting, his top aides warned, saying they will fight such coverage "tooth and nail every day". "There's an obsession by the media to delegitimise this President, and we are not going to sit around and let it happen. We're going to fight back tooth and nail every day," the White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said, triggering a fresh round of war of words with the media mainly sparked by the number of people attending Trump's inauguration. "The point is not the crowd size, the point is that the attacks and the attempts to delegitimise this President in one day -- and we're not going to sit around and take it," Priebus told Fox News on Monday. Earlier, unhappy over media reports on the crowd size at presidential inauguration on Friday, Trump has described journalists as the most "dishonest human beings on Earth". Priebus said that President Trump was trying to unify the country from day one in office, but the media was resorting to false reporting to delegitimise him. "The media, from day one, has been talking about delegitimising the election, talking about the Russians, talking about everything you can imagine, except the fact that we need to move this country forward," Priebus said. Meanwhile, another top aide, Kellylanne Conway, Counselor to the President, told ABC News that the Trump administration can "rethink" its relationship with the media if false reporting continues. Conway said that it is completely irresponsible for the media to be calling the White House press secretary a "liar" on Twitter and Facebook and elsewhere in articles. "That is not the way to start relationships," she said. "We have not been treated very well. This man (Trump) is the President of the United States. If people would just go back, and listen to and watch his inaugural address again, that goes for everybody, calling for unification, being aspirational, talking about giving power back to the people. "We can't invite a press pool on the first day of the Oval Office with the President of the United States signing executive orders and then a big lie told about the bust of Martin Luther King Jr, days after our President Trump met with Martin Luther King III in New York and had an incredibly powerful and constructive conversation with Martin Luther King Jr.'s son saying that he wants to support this President, that he believes he must unify and heal the nation," Conway said. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, January 23, 2017, 18:47 [IST] 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. NYTimes.com 02 Nov 2022 For years, the government has warned travelers they will need security-enhanced identification to board domestic flights, and for.. Eurasia Review 19 Jul 2022 When the U.S. Government at the highest level criticized Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, because she.. Rumble 25 Oct 2022 RT visits a town where two people were killed in a Kiev shelling of a shopping mall as Ukraine intensifies attacks on civilian.. Al Jazeera STUDIO 16 Mar 2021 Since the 2011 uprising turned into war, more than half a million people have been killed and millions more forced to flee their.. Nasty winter tornadoes like the deadly ones last week that hit five states are likely to be stronger and stay on the ground.. PIX 11 13 Dec 2021 For They Are Two but One: Gibraltar Dealt Uppercut in UK Tax Challenge Published January 23, 2017 by Lee R The EU Advocate General has refused to recognize the Gibraltar gaming authoritys right to full protection. Gibraltar has suffered a potentially fatal setback in its ongoing legal battle against a key EU tax. UK Tax Touches All The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association has been contesting a requirement introduced by the UK government of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act in 2014 for UK-facing operators of online poker sites, online casinos and online sportsbooks to acquire a UK license before continuing to provide any more service to online gamblers in the UK. Tax Ticking Gibraltar The new licensing conditions called for remote (foreign UK-facing) operators from all over the world to pay a 15% Point of Consumption tax on the proceeds of gambling transactions with UK residents, including those with the least restrictive iGaming markets such as in the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. Reducing Appeal Favourable tax rates in Gibraltar originally attracted the likes of 888Poker, Party Poker, Ladbrokes Poker and William Hill Poker to base operations out of Gibraltar, making them all members of the GBGA. Invoking Right to Protection The GBGA launched its legal challenge against the new Act on the basis that the Act was in conflict with EU member states free trade laws. The EU Process After a rejection and then successful appeal, the EU process calls for a final review before the European Court of Justice hears the case--from an Advocate General. Though not binding, the Advocate Generals review of the merits of the case provides what amounts to a recommended verdict to the EU court. Part of the UK And the finding of Advocate General Maciej Szpunar in the GBGA case is this: as a dependent territory of the United Kingdom, regardless of the legal merits of effectiveness of the GBGA argument, Gibraltar is not even a full member of the EU. The Trial Prospects The GBGAs challenge still will be heard by the European Union Courts of Justice, but absent recognition of full EU member state status, convincing EU judges that Gibraltar should be included in any EU free trade protections for participating states is going to be a tough sell. Fun While It Lasted The GBGA may ultimately have to just grin and bear it, so the tax breaks all members have enjoyed looks close to being reduced substantially if not eliminated altogether as an outcrop of the greater EU consolidation. Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: Hedge funds serviced by South African prime brokerage firm Peregrine achieved moderate positive gains for the final month of the year, a pleasant change from the recent set of consecutive drawdowns. Peregrine said in its monthly report, "We touched briefly on the complexities of a (new) world which sees US President Donald Trump at the helm and a European Union facing a future sans Britain; both these political events continue to dominate headlines but with the initial shock receding as Trump selects his cabinet and Theresa May starting to outline her strategy for Brexit, and the markets begin to digest the likely impact. "Locally, the All Share Index had a rather topsy-turvy month, starting out on the back foot but surging ahead mid-month, only to then fall back somewhat to end the month on a positive note at +1.0% to the good." Looking closer at sectoral indices, Peregrine said that financials lead the way with a strong +3.2% gain for the final month of the year, pushing the sector's YTD to end the year up +3.6%. Next up were industrials who also posted a good set of results, +1.8% added for the month which at least allowed the sector to end the year slightly better off for the YTD but still well in the red at -8.5%. Finally resources, who have been the standout performer for the year, shed a substantial -3.7% for the month of December but do however manage to retain wha...................... To view our full article Click here From Consortium News Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressing the AIPAC conference in Washington D.C. on March 21, 2016. (Image by (Photo credit: AIPAC)) Details DMCA A new coalition of US-based organizations is pushing for a more aggressive U.S. intervention against the Assad regime. But both the war in Syria and politics in the United States have shifted dramatically against this objective. When it was formed last July, the coalition hoped that a Hillary Clinton administration would pick up its proposals for a more forward stance in support of the anti-Assad armed groups. But with Donald Trump in office instead, the supporters of a U.S. war in Syria now have little or no chance of selling the idea. One of the ways the group is adjusting to the new political reality is to package its proposal for deeper U.S. military engagement on behalf of U.S.-supported armed groups as part of a plan to counter Al Qaeda, now calling itself Jabhat Fateh al Sham. But that rationale depends on a highly distorted presentation of the problematic relations between Syria's supposedly "moderate" rebel groups and Al Qaeda's Syrian offshoot. The "Combating al-Qaeda in Syria Strategy Group" was formed last July by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), according to the policy paper distributed at an event at the Atlantic Council on Jan. 12. The "Strategy Group" also includes Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute and Jennifer Cafarella of the Institute for the Study of War, both of whom have advocated direct U.S. military force against the Syrian regime in support of the armed opposition. But it was CNAS that had the political clout to bring the coalition together under what appeared to be very favorable circumstances. Michele Flournoy, the founder and CEO of CNAS and a former third-ranking Pentagon official, was reported to be Clinton's likely choice for Secretary of Defense during the 2016 presidential primaries. And the June 2016 report of a CNAS "study group" co-chaired by Flournoy was in line with Clinton's openly declared support for a more muscular US intervention in Syria. That report had called for a U.S.-declared "no bombing zone" to protect armed opposition groups, vetted by the CIA, from Syrian and Russian attacks. Flournoy had then described the policy in an interview as telling the Russian and Syrian governments: "If you bomb the folks we support, we will retaliate using standoff means to destroy [Russian] proxy forces, or, in this case, Syrian assets." Expecting a Clinton Victory The new coalition of think tanks began meeting last summer when the politics in the United States seemed favorable for a political campaign for U.S. military intervention in Syria. On Sept. 30, Lister published a lengthy essay calling on the United States to provide shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to "moderate" opposition groups as well as to threaten attacks on the Syrian army if it violated the ceasefire. Lister was obviously hoping that President Clinton would adopt that policy option a few months later. Now the new strategy group is trying to sell the same proposal to Trump, calling it "a holistic, preventative counter-terrorism policy that empowers moderate Syrians ... to overcome extremists in Syria." It argues that Al Qaeda is seeking to gain control over areas now controlled by "moderate" forces in order to establish "an enduring Sunni extremist order in Syria." But the argument that these armed groups, which the U.S. has supported in the past, would be prepared to resist Al Qaeda's long-term caliphate with more money and arms and U.S. bombing of Assad's air force, is too divorced from reality to have traction in Washington now. In fact, the so-called "moderate" armed groups have never been truly independent of Al Qaeda in Syria. They have depended on the highly disciplined troops of Al Qaeda and its closest allies and the military strategy devised by Al Qaeda commanders to pressure the Assad regime. Lister himself has been clear on this point. Under his proposed plan for the United States to use the threat of military force against the regime, the CIA-vetted "moderate" armed opposition groups were not expected to end their military cooperation with Al Qaeda's Fateh al-Sham or to separate themselves physically from its forces, as had been provided in both the February and September ceasefire agreements. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). I watched 13,000 beautiful, joyful, and angry people march down Santa Fe's busiest street, San Francisco St., for one entire hour, and I I will steadfastly guarantee that not one single one of them, including our Mayor and two City Councilors, was paid a dime by Soros or the CIA or anyone else to be there. I was so moved by this, hearkening back to the Peace Marches I walked in in San Francisco in 1967 and 68, to end the Vietnam War that I wrote an OEN article: click here The President tweeted twice about the Marches, the first at 5:47 AM the day after the Marches: "Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly." Later, at 7:23 AM, a more dignified almost egalitarian tweet: "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy," he said. "Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views." Some aspiring author should call the Soros Foundation and the new Director of the CIA, really soon, to update such absurd stories with a new one reporting on their comments, if they were able and willing to comment. I did call them after posting this article and this is one clarification; I am waiting for one more detailed: "There have been many false reports about George Soros and the Open Society Foundations funding protests in the wake of the U.S. presidential elections. There is no truth to these reports. We support a wide range of organizations -- including those that support women and minorities who have historically been denied equal rights. Many of whom are concerned about what policy changes may lie ahead. We are proud of their work. We of course support the right of all Americans to peaceably assemble and petition their government--a vital, and constitutionally safeguarded, pillar of a functioning democracy." The mere supposition that this was all or even part paid for makes very little sense to me, and it denigrates the real ethos behind the Women's March on Washington. Such bizarre hypotheses open the door to some dubious speculation, an interesting can of worms, but still nonetheless a can of worms that has little place in serious accurate political analysis. Soros is a mercurial and quirky guy, and do remember that he owns millions of voting machines, that he supported Hillary Clinton to the tune of about $6 million in campaign contributions, and yet was one of the Founders of the most egalitarian petition organization in America, Moveon.org. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Stressed? Oppressed? Isolated? Kall's Bottom-Up offers a lifeline for connecting with yourself, with others, and with your whole community or organization so that everyone thrives. He offers compelling science, stories, and insights from business, government, the arts, and more to make visible an unabashedly hopeful bottom-up revolution towards cooperation, compassion, and meaning. Join him." Peggy Holman, author of Engagement Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity and coauthor of The Change Handbook Franklin Lamb, Damascus. Not for at least three quarters of a century have the American people elected a president who so disparages, discards and seemingly abhors the principles, standards, policies, ideas, and institutions at the center of post-WW II US foreign policy. Trump seems to dismiss human rights even as a foreign policy principle, much less a standard, while focusing rather on deal-making, diplomatic and economic, and championing the fight against Islamic terrorism. No one knows, least of all this observer, how the foreign policy of the Trump administration will take shape. Or how his priorities may twist and turn as he encounters the assured torrent of events and mayhem from a plethora of crises just around the corner that will wreak havoc. What is known is that the Mideast expects big changes under Trump. They may well happen. President Trump is reported, by two US Senate Foreign Relations staffers among others, to be considering a broad new U.S. partnership with Russia, starting with Syria. Trump allies have also hinted at possible White House acceptance of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which would amount to a dramatic reversal from years of the Obama administration calls for Assad's ouster. Trump's cozying up to Putin is being reciprocated via an emerging Russian "Trumpomania" and love fest directed toward the American public, since election result, which in Russia was greeted by the issuance of commemorative coins and Trump matryoshka dolls. An all-night party in Moscow was endorsed by the Kremlin to celebrate Trump taking over the White House. The festivities were attended by thousands and even televised live on Tsargrad TV, a pro-Putin Russian Orthodox TV channel. And some Moscow shops have offered 10% discounts to "American guests." Why such new-found good will? Russian Nesting Dolls (Image by Open Source) Details DMCA [10% discount on Trump & Putin matryoshka dolls dolls for Americans visiting Moscow] Trump not only has labeled NATO obsolete, words which coming from the President of the country that created NATO doubtless were music to Putin. Trump has also signaled that he will lift US sanctions imposed following Russia's annexation of Crimea if Russia cooperates on a nuclear disarmament deal. Putin will presumably keep his cards to his chest while he studies this offer, but following more than a decade of frustrated ego, Putin appears to be seeking the role of senior partner with Trump. With or without the leverage of "golden shower' videos, Putin is in a strong position to defend Trump's weak reputation and he can defend Trumps widely questioned legitimacy while serving in a sense as Trump's mediator, advocate and protector. Thus shoring up Trumps presidency globally if not among the more than one million US citizens who the day after his inauguration took to the streets across America in protest Trumps announced agenda and even his election. As Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has frequently reminded John Kerry who reportedly agreed with him and before him Hillary Clinton who reportedly did not, Moscow has some legitimate grievances of its own. Since the collapsed of the Soviet Union a quarter century ago US presidents and congress have broken several agreements with Russia. Clinton enlarged NATO by adding former Soviet republics which violated a U.S. commitment not to do so. The Bush administration pledged that if the Soviets pulled nearly 400,000 military forces out of East Germany, the United States would not "leapfrog" over East Germany to assert itself in Eastern Europe. But it did by expanding NATO to include the three former soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Bush's abrogation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM), which served as the cornerstone of strategic deterrence and the arms control relationship between Russia and the United States, was another example of the United States taking advantage of Russia's geostrategic weakness angering Moscow and many Russian citizens to this day. Trump has also been signaling Russia's ally, Syria's President Assad, claiming in the media that while Assad may not be America's first choice to lead Syria, it's for the Syrian people to decide and that the rebels fighting to topple Assad "could be worse." Trump regularly insists that the U.S. has no idea who its allies in Syria are, implying that Assad's Syria might turn out to be one. Assad, who gives high praise for Putin's help since its major 2015 involvement reiterated this week his hope that Trump will join with them and become a partner going forward. Said Syria's President on Trump's inauguration day: "We hope that they are genuine to forge a real and realistic alliance to fight the terrorists in the region, and that of course will include Syria first of all." Turkey appears on board with officials now saying there can be no settlement without President Assad. If Assad now seriously takes on IS in Northwestern Syria one could imagine that Trump might accept a tacit if informal partnership. The Trump offer to Moscow and Damascus, being pushed by the Israel lobby in Washington has a price tag. The Trump team wants Iran out of the six countries it is currently accused of occupying and insists on the dismantling of the Shia militia crescent Iran has methodically put in place the past several years which funnels weapons and explosive devices as well as cash and militia from Iraq, Yemen, the Fatemiyoun Division" of the IRGC organized from Afghanistan, Pakistan's Zaynabiyun Brigade, Lebanon's Hezbollah, and elsewhere. The Shia militia "highway" runs from Iraq into and across Syria, north of Aleppo, westward to the Mediterranean and turns south into Lebanon and on down yet further south and along the Naquora-Maron el Ras border with Palestine/Israel The US Congress and the six GCC countries also want the end to Iran's reported ethnic cleansing and population transfers in Syria and the Four Villages Agreement which they claim Iran's militia have not honored as its continues to besiege Madaya and 16 other towns. All actions Congress claims are designed to increase Shia domination of strategic Sunni areas including the regions oil reserves and eviscerate Syria's heretofore secularism and its tolerance for all religions and ethnicities. Trump is about to be heavily lobbied by Israel and Congress to accept this view and act accordingly. Israeli officials claim that Obama and his team adopted a policy of slowly bleeding Iran and Hezbollah in Syria and arming Syrian rebels just enough not to lose the war, but not to win either unless those who would assumed power were properly vetted. A prolonged fight in Syria, according to this rationale, would not only weaken the Syrian army so that it is no longer a threat to Israel, both directly and indirectly, it would also increase the growing opposition within Iran's regime and especially Iran's restive civilian population and weaken the Iranian regime. Many in Tel Aviv and Washington are advocating that with prolonged economic sanctions against Iran, this will likely lead to the collapse of the Iranian regime, or at least weaken it to the point that it is no longer a threat and can be forced to accept international legal norms. These views have also been voiced by Trumps choice for US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman who told Congressmen on the sideline of his Confirmation hearing that the simplest way to destroy Hezbollah is to stop the Iranian arms shipments traversing Syria. Israel is also seeking permission from the Trump White House for a green light to destroy Hezbollah bases in Lebanon and if necessary to neuter Iran's air force and armed forces. To some, Trump appears to be listening. President Putin is reported to be interested in the prospect of working with Trump in Syria as are the current Sunni Ottoman revanche inspired Ankara government, the eleven Arab states in the region, NATO, the EU among others. All have expressed varying degrees of frustration with what they viewed as Obama's moralizing rhetoric, confused signals and unfulfilled red lines, and favoring a Trump pivot to counterterrorism and security. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). What are the grounds for impeachment? They will likely be piling up rapidly. President Trump did use Day 1 to advise the CIA that the United States should have stolen all of Iraq's oil. But here is a place to start. We already have a president who is violating two clauses in the U.S. Constitution, one forbidding any gifts or benefits from foreign governments, the other forbidding the same from the U.S. government or any U.S. state. This is the result of Donald Trump refusing to separate himself from major business interests as past presidents have done. Those interests will also inevitably involve Trump in violating the STOCK Act which forbids the use of non-public government information to make a private profit. Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states: "The President ... shall not receive ... any other emolument from the United States, or any of them." This means that the President cannot receive personal financial gains from the United States government or from the governments of any of the 50 states while he is president. This restriction is absolute and cannot be waived by Congress. Trump is already in violation of it and will be more so with every law, rule, regulation, enforcement, or lack thereof that his subordinates, Congress, or any agency of the federal government enacts to the benefit of Trump's businesses and possessions. For example, Trump's lease of the Old Post Office Building violates an explicit clause in the General Services Administration lease contract which states: "No ... elected official of the Government of the United States ... shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom." The GSA's failure to enforce that contract is an unconstitutional benefit to Trump. Or, to take a state-level example: since 1980 Trump and his businesses have garnered "$885 million in tax breaks, grants and other subsidies for luxury apartments, hotels and office buildings in New York." Continuing or increasing those subsidies puts Trump in violation of the Constitution. Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution says that "no person holding any office of profit or trust under [the United States government], shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state." This is essentially the same ban as above, but applied to foreign governments. The Trump Organization has licensing deals with two Trump Towers in Istanbul. Trump himself says, "I have a little conflict of interest, because I have a major, major building in Istanbul." China's state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is the largest tenant in Trump Tower. It is also a major lender to Trump. Its rent payments and its loans put Trump in violation of the Constitution. Foreign diplomats have begun shifting their D.C. hotel and event reservations to Trump International Hotel. The Embassy of Kuwait was reportedly pressured by the Trump Organization to do so. Pressured or not, Kuwait's business at a Trump hotel puts Trump in violation of the highest law of the land. In November, there were reports (denied by Trump) that Trump had asked the president of Argentina for help with a building permit in Buenos Aires. Whether he did or not, and whether he receives that help or not, President Trump will be frequently granted or denied similar approval for his business ventures from numerous foreign and domestic governments. Why punish a successful business man? We can set aside the legality and morality of Trump's business success, and the question of how successful he has been. A campaign to impeach him for his violations of the Constitution can hold the position that Trump is perfectly welcome to keep all of his businesses and loans. He just cannot simultaneously hold an office in which they create gross violations of the U.S. Constitution. Past presidents have sold off their assets or placed them in a blind trust. A blind trust would not, however, be blind for Trump who would inevitably learn of the approval of new towers or the sale of properties. Selling (and using a truly blind trust to do so) was Trump's only option other than not being president. He chose not to take his only Constitutional choice. Is this partisanship? A great many people do anything political for partisan reasons. As I'm unable to put an end to that, it is inevitable that people will favor or oppose impeaching Trump for partisan reasons. But they need not. The above charges against Trump are unprecedented. They should apply to him and any future presidents who engage in the same abuses, regardless of party. Someone who voted for Trump as a way out of corruption should want him impeached as much as someone who voted against him for the same reason. Trump is now the worst possible "insider" -- using public office for personal greed. Is this morally worse than Secretary of State Hillary Clinton taking Saudi government and Boeing funds into her family foundation, and then working to waive legal restrictions on Boeing selling weapons to Saudi Arabia -- weapons now being used to slaughter innocents? Some will think so and others not, largely along partisan lines. Personally I'm in favor of impeaching Clinton, Obama, and George W. Bush right now and imposing the penalties of a bar on holding future office and a denial of retirement benefits. But those efforts are simply not the same priority today as halting the presidency of the current president. When I advocated for impeaching Bush I explained that if he was not held accountable his successors would expand further the abusive powers he had expanded. When I argued that Obama was in fact doing this and should be impeached, I was generally called worse things than partisan. But the longer presidents are allowed to act without a check on their powers, the more they will expand and abuse them. Numerous government officials and members of Congress would best serve the world by resigning. But the place to start is with an unprecedented and unique form and level of corruption in the single highest office in the land. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "There's no dispute that we now live in a hyper-connected, globalized world--but plenty of argument over the type of globalization that's best for our collective future. In this timely work, Rob Kall makes a persuasive case for 'trickle-up' globalization from below and that the truest, best, and most long-lasting fundamental change always comes from the bottom up. Read this bookthen act on it!" Rory O'Connor, award-winning filmmaker and author of Friends, Followers, and the Future: How Social Media are Changing Politics, Threatening Big Brands, and Killing Traditional Media Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "You have something special and important here. Somehow you manage to teach and suggest and introduce the reader to concepts in a way that feels inclusive. Like, we're thinking about it together. Partly it might be because the subject, bottom-up, is innately understood by all of us and so it feels like you're stirring up stuff we already know. But also I think it's because you truly are practiced at connection consciousness and so it's natural for you (I'm guessing) to write about it with a desire to include us. As a reader I was learning more because it feels like you're inviting me to think with you." Tsara Shelton, author Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob explores the difference between a natural, organic, bottom-up connection consciousness and our corporately imposed top-down hierarchical collective consciousness. What Rob is speaking about is the difference between an artificial and ultimately stagnate way of organizing the world and a natural, organic growth, which starts with a seed, sends downs roots and sends up shoots which blossom. By returning to a Nature-based theory of connection, the Bottom-Up revolution brings us back into alignment with Earths laws, returning humanity to its place in creation. Like a good gardener, Rob works into the soil of his thesis different voices that exemplify how this Bottom-Up revolution is expanding in politics, business, religion, personal self-awareness and story. And he places technology where it belongsas a tool to further our connection consciousness, not an end in itself. The bottom-up revolution is about democracy finally living up to its original ideals, where we the people decide what we need from our society." Cathy Pagano, author of Wisdoms Daughters: How Women Can Change the World Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall is tapping in, exploring, assessing, and clarifying this important new way of thinking that has been influenced by the civil rights movement; women's movement; and new, more effective ways of doing business. This will be an important book that can make changes in our world." Dr. Linda Seger, author of twelve books, including the best-selling Making a Good Script Great, Spiritual Steps on the Road to Success and The Better Way to Win. Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. From Consortium News Russian President Vladimir Putin, following his address to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 28, 2015. (Image by (UN Photo)) Details DMCA Last week as Donald Trump was preparing to take office, The New York Times -- reeling from Trump's interview in which he said he didn't "really care" if the European Union holds together and described NATO as "obsolete" -- declared that "the big winner" of the change in U.S. presidents was Vladimir Putin. Why? Because Putin "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 Union's collapse." And based on what Trump has been saying about the alliance and the EU, it appears that, as of noon on Friday, Putin has a co-thinker in the White House. The Times may be right about Putin coming out on top, but its bill of indictment against him is over the top. The Russian president is not working to delegitimize America democracy -- the U.S. is doing the job just fine on its own -- and he's not destabilizing Europe either since the forces undermining the E.U. are essentially generated by the West (traceable to the austerity medicine administered after the 2008 financial collapse and to the refugee flows created by the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya and the "regime change" project in Syria, none of which were initiated by Putin). But the Times is entirely correct in pointing out that Putin is now riding high. He has a friend in Washington, he's calling the shots in the Middle East, and it looks like he'll soon be in a position to hammer out a rapprochement with Europe. So the big question facing the world is: how did he do it? The answer is not by blackmailing Trump, hacking the Democratic National Committee, or any other such nonsense put out by disappointed Clintonites. Rather, Putin prevailed through a combination of skill and luck. He played his cards well. But he also had the good fortune of having an opponent who played his own hand extremely poorly. Russia won because America lost. Years from now, as historians gather to discuss the great U.S. foreign-policy debacles of the early Twenty-first Century, they'll have much to debate -- the role of oil, Zionism and Islam; the destabilizing effects of the 2008 financial meltdown; and so forth. But one thing they'll agree on will be the impact of hubris. The U.S. emerged after the fall of the Berlin Wall as history's first "hyperpower," a country whose military strength dwarfed that of the rest of the world combined. It celebrated by engaging in a series of jolly little wars in Panama, the Balkans, and the Persian Gulf that seemed to confirm its invincibility. But then it made the mistake of invading Afghanistan and Iraq and found itself in serious trouble. What Went Wrong? Historians of the future will also no doubt agree that Obama might have averted catastrophe if he had decisively broken with Washington's pro-war foreign-policy establishment. Plainly, a change of course was urgent if catastrophe was to be avoided. But the more realistic among them will note that any such correction would have been both difficult and disruptive. It would have meant abandoning some allies and hammering out new relationships with others, changes that would have elicited howls of protest from Washington to Riyadh. So Obama, an ardent compromiser by nature, decided to fine-tune the existing policy instead by shifting from the direct military intervention of the George W. Bush era to more indirect means. This was an understandable reaction to the excesses of the previous administration, but it only made matters worse. Exhibit A is Syria, the great bleeding wound in the side of the Middle East. After calling on Bashar al-Assad to step down in August 2011, Obama could conceivably have followed up by sending in hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops to throw out the Baathists and install a pro-American regime in their place. None of Washington's allies would have objected. But since any such adventure was unthinkable in the wake of Afghanistan and Iraq, he opted for something more oblique. He ordered the CIA to begin working in secret to support the anti-Assad forces and sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to persuade such "Friends of Syria" as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to back up the insurgency with money and arms. Most of the foreign policy establishment agreed. After all, Israel, Turkey and the Gulf kingdoms were of one mind that Assad should go, as were the intelligence agencies back home in Washington. As long-time Syria watcher Joshua Landis of the University of Oklahoma observed, the Assad government had long been in America's crosshairs: Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Women's March 2017 Jan 21, 2017 (Image by Rob Kall) Details DMCA Cut the bullshit about Jill Stein or Bernie supporters being to blame for Trump being the White House, the Senate being controlled by Republicans and the Supreme Court about to be loaded with Republican appointees. There are people and groups to blame. The truth is that if the people and groups named below had not operated as they did, Bernie Sanders would have won the Democratic primary, then would have won the general election with his coattails sweeping the Democrats to a victory in the senate and maybe even the house, with Democrats picking up seats and power in state government as well. The nation's repudiation of Hillary didn't have to happen. It could have enthusiastically embraced Bernie Sanders, as repeated polls have shown. Here's my list of who to blame and why: Let's start with Obama. As leader of the Democratic party President of Obama could have spoken out about the disgusting, unethical, undemocratic influencing of the election by the DNC and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Obama could have spoken up and said that it was inappropriate for super delegates to commit to back anyone fifteen months out from the primary. Further, Obama knew that Hillary was a terrible candidate and leader, that she was more mistrusted and disliked than any Democratic candidate in recent history. Worse, he said his worst mistake as president was related to Libya, which was totally based on Clinton's role as Secretary of State. Elizabeth Warren Next, and this one will probably meet some disagreement from progressives, I put Elizabeth Warren on the list. It was outrageous that purported progressive Elizabeth Warren held back her endorsement of Bernie Sanders. She should have endorsed him, as the only real progressive running, before the first Super Tuesday. Her decision not to endorse Bernie helped Clinton, a neoliberal who should never have received Warren's support. Her actions in the primary have taken her off my list of progressives to trust and respect, and certainly has removed her from the top of my list of presidential candidates. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Truthdig Presidential Inauguration 2017 (Image by us.blastingnews.com) Details DMCA This is a transcript of a talk Chris Hedges gave at the Inaugurate the Resistance rally in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. The ruling elites, terrified by the mobilization of the left in the 1960s, or by what [political scientist] Samuel P. Huntington called America's "excess of democracy," built counter-institutions to delegitimize and marginalize critics of corporate capitalism and imperialism. They bought the allegiances of the two main political parties. They imposed ... obedience to the neoliberal ideology within academia and the press. This campaign, laid out by Lewis Powell in his 1971 memorandum titled "Attack on American Free Enterprise System," was the blueprint for the creeping corporate coup d'e'tat that 45 years later is complete. The destruction of democratic institutions, places where the citizen has agency and a voice, is far graver than the ascendancy to the White House of the demagogue Donald Trump. The coup destroyed our two-party system. It destroyed labor unions. It destroyed public education. It destroyed the judiciary. It destroyed the press. It destroyed academia. It destroyed consumer and environmental protection. It destroyed our industrial base. It destroyed communities and cities. And it destroyed the lives of tens of millions of Americans no longer able to find work that provides a living wage, cursed to live in chronic poverty or locked in cages in our monstrous system of mass incarceration. This coup also destroyed the credibility of liberal democracy. Self-identified liberals such as the Clintons and Barack Obama mouthed the words of liberal democratic values while making war on these values in the service of corporate power. The revolt we see rippling across the country is a revolt not only against a corporate system that has betrayed workers, but also, for many, liberal democracy itself. This is very dangerous. It will allow the radical right under a Trump administration to cement into place an Americanized fascism. "Ignorance allied with power," James Baldwin wrote, "is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." It turns out, 45 years later, that those who truly hate us for our freedoms are not the array of dehumanized enemies cooked up by the war machine -- the Vietnamese, Cambodians, Afghans, Iraqis, Iranians or even the Taliban, al-Qaida and ISIS. They are the financiers, bankers, politicians, public intellectuals and pundits, lawyers, journalists and business people cultivated in the elite universities and business schools who sold us the utopian dream of neoliberalism. We are entering the twilight phase of capitalism. Wealth is no longer created by producing or manufacturing. It is created by manipulating the prices of stocks and commodities and imposing a crippling debt peonage on the public. Our casino capitalism has merged with the gambling industry. The entire system is parasitic. It is designed to prey on the desperate -- young men and women burdened by student loans, underpaid workers burdened by credit card debt and mortgages, towns and cities forced to borrow to maintain municipal services. Casino magnates such as Sheldon Adelson and hedge fund managers such as Robert Mercer add nothing of value to society. They do not generate money but instead redistribute it upwards to the 1 percent. They use lobbyists and campaign contributions to build monopolies -- this is how the drug company Mylan raised the price of an "EpiPen," used to treat allergy reactions, from $57 in 2007 to about $500 -- and to rewrite laws and regulations. They have given themselves the legal power to carry out a tax boycott, loot the U.S. Treasury, close factories and send the jobs overseas, gut social service programs and impose austerity. They have, at the same time, militarized our police, built the most sophisticated security and surveillance apparatus in human history and used judicial fiat to strip us of our civil liberties. They are ready should we rise up in defiance. These mandarins are, if we speak in the language of God and country, traitors. They are parasites. Financial speculation in 17th-century England was a crime. Speculators were hanged. The heads of most of [today's] banks and hedge funds and the executives of large corporations, such as Walmart and Gap, that run sweatshop death traps for impoverished workers overseas deserve prison far more than most of the poor students of color I teach within the prison system, people who never had a fair trial or a chance in life. When a tiny cabal seizes power -- monarchist, communist, fascist or corporate--it creates a mafia economy and a mafia state. Donald Trump is not an anomaly. He is the grotesque visage of a collapsed democracy. Trump and his coterie of billionaires, generals, half-wits, Christian fascists, criminals, racists and deviants play the role of the Snopes clan in some of William Faulkner's novels. The Snopeses filled the power vacuum of the decayed South and ruthlessly seized control from the degenerated, former slave-holding aristocratic elites. Flem Snopes and his extended family -- which includes a killer, a pedophile, a bigamist, an arsonist, a mentally disabled man who copulates with a cow, and a relative who sells tickets to witness the bestiality -- are fictional representations of the scum now elevated to the highest level of the federal government. They embody the moral rot unleashed by unfettered capitalism. "The usual reference to 'amorality,' while accurate, is not sufficiently distinctive and by itself does not allow us to place them, as they should be placed, in a historical moment," the critic Irving Howe wrote of the Snopeses. "Perhaps the most important thing to be said is that they are what comes afterwards: the creatures that emerge from the devastation, with the slime still upon their lips." "Let a world collapse, in the South or Russia, and there appear figures of coarse ambition driving their way up from beneath the social bottom, men to whom moral claims are not so much absurd as incomprehensible, sons of bushwhackers or muzhiks drifting in from nowhere and taking over through the sheer outrageousness of their monolithic force," Howe wrote. "They become presidents of local banks and chairmen of party regional committees, and later, a trifle slicked up, they muscle their way into Congress or the Politburo. Scavengers without inhibition, they need not believe in the crumbling official code of their society; they need only learn to mimic its sounds." What comes next, history has shown, will not be pleasant. A corrupt and inept ruling elite, backed by the organs of state security and law enforcement, will unleash a naked kleptocracy. Workers will become serfs. The most benign dissent will be criminalized. The ravaging of the ecosystem propels us towards extinction. Hate talk will call for attacks against Muslims, undocumented workers, African-Americans, feminists, intellectuals, artists and dissidents, all of whom will be scapegoated for the country's stagnation. Magical thinking will dominate our airwaves and be taught in our public schools. Art and culture will be degraded to nationalist kitsch. All the cultural and intellectual disciplines that allow us to view the world from the perspective of the other, that foster empathy, understanding and compassion, will be replaced by a grotesque and cruel hyper-masculinity and hyper-militarism. Those in power will validate racism, bigotry, misogyny and homophobia. Our only hope now is an unwavering noncooperation with the systems of corporate control. We must rebuild ... democratic institutions from the ground up. We must not be seduced into trusting the power elites, including the Democratic Party, whose seven leading candidates to be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee demonstrated the other night at George Washington University that they have no interest in defying corporate power or backing democratic populism. We must also acknowledge our own failures on the left, our elitism, arrogance and refusal to root our politics locally in our communities. Rosa Luxemburg understood that unless we first address the most pressing economic and physical needs of the destitute we will never gain credibility or build a resistance movement. Revolt, she said, is achieved only by building genuine relationships, including with people who do not think like us. Revolt surges up from below, exemplified by the water protectors at Standing Rock. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "The bottom-up revolution is fueling tremendous change in politics, commerce, and how people relate to each other. Rob Kall's book Bottom-Up provides a powerful guide to how organizations can understand and tap bottom-up's power. " Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist Lena Dunham drafted a host of well known friends for The History Of 100 Years Of Womens Health Care At Planned Parenthood, the short film (above) she co-directed with animator Kirsten Lepore. Others taking part in the production include comedians Mindy Kaling and Amy Schumer, actors Meryl Streep, America Ferrera, Hari Nef, Jennifer Lawrence, and Constance Wu, and producer J.J. Abrams. But the real stars of this show are the female trailblazers who fought (and continue to fight) for access to safe and affordable reproductive care for all women, regardless of age, race, or ability to pay. In the words of founder Margaret Sanger, a controversial figure who seems to share quite a few traits with Dunham, from her deft leverage of her celebrity on behalf of her chosen cause to her capacity for alienating fans with some of her less savory views and statements: No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother. Women like Rosie Jimenez, a single mother who died from complications of a back alley abortion following the passage of the Hyde Amendment, were victimized by laws regarding reproductive choice. Others, like Estelle Griswold, executive director of the Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut, flouted the laws to bring about change. More recently Faye Wattleton, Planned Parenthoods first African American president and its current president, Cecile Richards, have worked to promote awareness of both the publics rights and any impending dangers to those rights. (Vice President Mike Pences inadvertent fundraising efforts go unheralded, appropriately enough. The millions of womenand menwho made small donations to Planned Parenthood in his name are the true heroes here.) For more of Dunhams highly visible support of Planned Parenthood, read her 2015 interview with President Cecile Richards or check out the t-shirt she designed to benefit the California Planned Parenthood Education Fund. via Kottke Related Content: The Birth Control Handbook: The Underground Student Publication That Let Women Take Control of Their Bodies (1968) Download Images From Rad American Women A-Z: A New Picture Book on the History of Feminism An Animated Introduction to the Feminist Philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir (on Her 109th Birthday) Download All 239 Issues of Landmark UK Feminist Magazine Spare Rib Free Online Ayun Halliday is an author, illustrator, theater maker and Chief Primatologist of the East Village Inky zine. Her play Zamboni Godot is opening in New York City in March 2017. Follow her @AyunHalliday. Systech Illinois exhibit Rapid Bottle Oxygen Permeation Analyser at ICE 2017 www.systechillinois.com Rapid Bottle Oxygen Permeation Analyser will be displayed at ICE 2017Our Technical Sales Managers are looking forward to participating at ICE 2017, the 10th International Exhibition for Paper, Film & Foil Converting and showcasing our range of permeation and headspace gas analysers to the many visitors attending. Amongst our displays will be the new DualPerm oxygen / water vapour permeation station and our 8700, multiple bottle oxygen permeation analyser.The 8700 oxygen permeation analyser offers an exceptionally fast Turbopurge feature which allows up to 11 bottles to be tested in 3 to 12 hours providing much greater production throughput. It has the ability to test a variety of samples; bottles, packages and films and the software capability to allow individual packages to be started, stopped or delayed during testing. Custom made adaptors are available for a wide range of applications such as complete package testing, including bottles with closures. The 8700 is ideal for use in applications such as beer bottle manufacturing, where testing oxygen permeability is key, as permeation of oxygen through the bottle will have a significant influence on the products shelf life.Systech have been designing and manufacturing oxygen and water vapour permeation analysers for many years offering reliable and versatile testing of all films, packages and bottles. Our leading permeation instruments deliver: the fastest permeation results; extremely fast purge down time; accurate readings at the lowest levels and the highest quality sensor on the market.Please come and visit us at Hall A5, Stand 1160.Hall/Stand No.: A5/1160Systech Illinois specialises in online, portable and laboratory gas analysis equipment. With 30 years as one of the leading experts in gas and moisture measurement, Systech Illinois' application and technology knowledge provides efficient gas analysis solutions in many industry sectors worldwide.For the packaging industry, Systechs oxygen permeation and water vapour permeation analysers offer testing of all packaging film, finished package and PET bottles. Systechs headspace range provides fast, easy to use, accurate gas analysis of gas flushed food packages and headspace analysis of food and pharmaceutical packaging.For the process industry, Systech offer a wide range of gas analysis solutions including measurement of moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and many other gases. In addition, Systech manufacture intrinsically safe units for use in hazardous areas.Systech Illinois is a multinational company with offices and gas analysis equipment manufacturing facilities in the UK and the U.S. Systech is very proud of its well developed and well trained workforce, which enables it to offer customers a continuing high level of service, and become known globally as a leading supplier of gas analysis instrumentation.Systech IllinoisBeth FaulknerPhone: +44 01844 216838Web:Systech Illinois17 Thame Park Business CentreWenman RoadThameOX9 3XA Illinois College Awarded $60,000 Grant by Campus Consortium to Improve Security and Single Sign-On www.campusconsortium.org www.ic.edu www.ic.edu Illinois, Illinois December 1, 2016: Illinois College, a private, independent liberal arts college located in Illinois, Illinois that has been uniquely empowering students to realize their full potential for over 150 years, announced today that it is a recipient of a $60,000 Grant from Campus Consortium for security and single sign-on."We are pleased to receive a Grant from the Campus Consortium. This Grant will help fund our new single sign-on platform to improve security and login process to critical applications for students faculty and staff," states Patrick Brown, CIO at Illinois College.Illinois College will use the grant to acquire the QuickLaunch software provide security and single sign-on to enterprise applications including JICS, eRezLife (housing), Moodle, TMS, lynda.com, Terra Dotta, echo360, Adobe Creative Cloud, Jenzabar, G-mail ."The Campus Consortium Grant Committee is proud to present this award to Illinois College for security and single sign-on states Anjli Jain, Chairman of the Campus Consortium. "We congratulate them on receiving a Campus Consortium Grant.To learn about and apply for a Campus Consortium Grant, please visit campusconsortium.org/grant-programsAbout Campus ConsortiumCampus Consortium is the largest, global association of higher education institutions that helps make IT manageable, affordable and accessible to small/mid-sized institutions and helping its members improve enrollment, retention, and IT services by providing lessons learned iseminars, conferences, consulting services, and grants on areas such as cloud hosting, enterprise portal, web content management, single sign-on & identity management, mobile apps, and service desk. For more information, please visitor contact Annie Hugh.About Illinois CollegeIllinois College is a private, liberal arts college, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA), and located in Jacksonville, Illinois. Illinois College, the first college in the state to conduct classes and grant a baccalaureate degree, sustains a 180-year heritage of excellence in the liberal arts. For more information, please visitor contact Bryan Leonard.All Trade Names Are Trademarks Or Registered Trademarks Of Their Respective Holders. Campus Consortium Is Not A Partner, Affiliate Nor Does An Agency Relationship Exist Between Ellucian Banner, Ios, Android, Windows, Windows Phone 8, Moodle, Blackberry, Facebook, Twitter, Ellucian Colleague, Oracle Peoplesoft, Desire2learn, Blackboard, Canvas And Kryptos Mobile. Kryptos Mobile Does Not Develop, Market Or Distribute Ellucian Banner, Ios, Android, Windows Phone 8, Blackberry, Facebook, Twitter, Ellucian Colleague, Oracle Peoplesoft, Desire2learn, Blackboard, Moodle Or Canvas Solutions Or Services. Ellucian Banner, Ios, Android, Windows Phone 8, Blackberry, Facebook, Twitter, Ellucian Colleague, Moodle, Oracle Peoplesoft, Desire2learn, Blackboard, And Canvas Do Not Endorse The Products Or Services Of Kryptos Mobile.Kryptos Mobile DoesNot Endorse The Products Or Services Ellucian Banner, Ios, Android, Windows Phone 8, Blackberry, Facebook, Twitter, Ellucian Colleague, Moodle, Oracle Peoplesoft, Desire2learn, Blackboard, Or Canvas.About Illinois CollegeIllinois College is a private, liberal arts college, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA), and located in Jacksonville, Illinois. Illinois College, the first college in the state to conduct classes and grant a baccalaureate degree, sustains a 180-year heritage of excellence in the liberal arts. For more information, please visitor contact Bryan Leonard.Administrative Office:Campus Consortium600 Superior Avenue, Suite 1300,Cleveland, OH 44114, USARoger MillsEmail: roger_mills@campusconsortium.orgPhone: 216.589.9626 ext 425Fax: 216-245-5776Email: info@campusconsortium.org China Spinal Fusion Market Shares, Strategies and Forecast Worldwide, 2015 to 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-cn-877 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-cn-877 www.futuremarketinsights.com There are several huge aspects impacting medical device technology field nowadays. A number of trends including consolidation, research and developments, and international strategies and alliances are driving the market for china spinal fusion market. The spinal fusion is one of the most common surgeries suggested for back problems. With the increasing spinal fusion surgery volumes in china due to the favourable reimbursement levels and patients willingness to undergo surgery with minimal invasive techniques is expected to foster the china spinal fusion market. Spinal fusion is surgical process are done to the patients suffering from a number of conditions such asdeformity, scoliosis, disc disease and fracture.The China Spinal Fusion Market is expected to register a double digit growth holding the fact that there is an increasing number of surgeries due to advancement in the technologies and use of minimal invasive techniques that benefits reduced cost. The procedures are highly benefited with the investment in the new technologies and their clinical success which are gaining more and more importance in the recent days and causing the China spinal fusion market to grow.The emerging China spinal fusion market has been experiencing a phase of new product development and technological advancements due to greater demand. The manufacturing companies are raising their respective market share with aggressive marketing activities and increased R&D activities.China Spinal Fusion Market: Drivers & RestraintsSome of the major factors subsidizing the growth of China spinal fusion market are increasing rate of aging population with spine related diseases & related injuries coupled with the rising incomes of the Chinese populace ensuring the patients capability to pay for the treatment. On the other hand the price sensitive population of china is very responsive to the treatment price that are anticipated to drip considerably in near future due to the increasing competition in the market.Request Free Report Sample@Due to existing and upcoming advance technologies such as minimal invasive surgery and better implant materials are making it more widely accepted including the younger adult populace and thereby increasing the China spinal fusion market.The economic growth and additional initiatives taken by the Chinese government had resulted in treatment of a large number of previously untreated spinal disease patients in China's rural populace who are now undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery due to increased access.Despite of being widely used procedure for curing extremely debilitating disease related to spine, and spinal deformities, such as scoliosis and kyphosis, the China spinal fusion market is facing some challenges such as reimbursement cuts and heavy government regulations, high surgery cost, risk factors involved in the surgery etc.Due to high competition in the market, prices for bone graft substitutes and spinal implants are expected to come down in the Asia Pacific market, even when demand and expenditure on them has become greater than before, thus restraining the China spinal fusion market from growing. Some of the other growth restraining factors of the China spinal infusion market can be growing awareness for some other treatment methods such as IDET, artificial disc, posterior dynamic stabilization, disc regeneration.Request For TOC@China Spinal Fusion Market: SegmentationBy spine fusion device types is segmented as follows:Spinal Plating SystemsPedicle Screw SystemsInterbody CagesBy procedure, the china spinal fusion market is segmented as follows:Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)Anterior/Posterior Spinal FusionTransforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)The developing region of China is projected to be potentially growing in market with reference to the increasing demand for spinal fusion holding the fact that increased number of technological advancements have made the devices and surgeries cost-effective.China Spinal Fusion Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the China spinal fusion market are Trauson, Depuy Synthes Companies, Biomet, Inc., Medtronic, Inc, Nuvasive Inc, Stryker Corporation, Zimmer Holding, Inc., Orthofix International N.V, B. Braun Aesculap and Weigao Orthopaedic Device Co., Ltd.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: Smart Meter Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1045 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1045 www.futuremarketinsights.com On a global scale, many countries are facing challenges to meet the growing demand for energy. Thus utilities are looking for innovative and efficient ways to manage generation, transmission and worldwide distribution of energy. Global smart meter market consists of digital electronic devices for measuring and two-way information sharing to manage and control power consumption by customers. Customers also have the advantage of tracking their energy consumption and billing through internet. Global smart meter market demand is more in residential areas as compared to commercial areas and electric smart meter is prominently used among the types of smart meters. Environmental concerns for reducing carbon and energy wastage and for regulating supply of energy, are major factors driving global smart meter market. Global smart meter market is anticipated to grow with a single digit compound annual growth rate during the forecast period.Smart Meter Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe major driving factor for the growth of global smart meter market is government support and incentives, as utilities are initially reluctant to make huge investment in new technology without their support. Technological advancements such as smart grid development, infrastructure development, growing population and rise in economic developments are some of the other factors boosting the growth of global smart meter market. The successful deployment of global smart meter market is dependent on logistics which influences the delivery, installation and performance of smart meter. The health effects concerning wireless signals in smart meter, security concerns, regulatory constraints and stiff competition are some of the challenges faced by global smart meter market.Request Free Report Sample@Smart Meter Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, global smart meter market can be segmented into following segments:Smart electric meterSmart gas meterSmart water meterOn the basis of application, global smart meter market can be segmented into:Residential applicationCommercial applicationOn the basis of technology, global smart meter market can be segmented into:Radio Frequency (RF)Power Line Carrier (PLC)Smart Meter Market: Region-wise OutlookGlobal smart meter market is expected to exhibit healthy growth in Asia-Pacific and Western Europe regions which is either due to increasing installation of new smart meters as well as upgradation of the existing smart meters. China is expected to display substantial progress of global smart meter market, as incorporated in its five-year nationwide plan to upgrade its grid infrastructure. In Japan, large scale installation by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) started on 2014 which is expected to last during the forecast period leading to increase in demand for global smart meter market. In North, America, the growth of global smart meter market is expected to slower down as infrastructure for energy is well developed and funding for the new projects has become limited. In Latin America, global smart meter is set to exhibit steady growth of global smart meter market, as compared to Middle East and Africa.Request For TOC@Smart Meter Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in global smart meter market are: Aclara Technologies LLC., Echelon Corporation, Elster Group GmbH, General Electric, Holley Metering Limited, Iskraemeco d.d., Itron, Kamstrup A/S, Landis+Gyr and Sensus.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: Drug Delivery Technology Market Dynamics, Forecast, Analysis and Supply Demand 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1166 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1166 www.futuremarketinsights.com Drug delivery system is the process of administering therapeutic substance through common route of administration to achieve a therapeutic effect in humans or animals. Drugs release the active ingredients in the target area so that in the period of time it controls though its formulation. The most important driving factor for drug delivery technology market is the increasing demand for effective delivery mechanisms of novel biopharmaceuticals.Recently, AstraZeneca signed a licensing agreement with Starpharma for the use of its DEP drug delivery technology aiming to enhancing the dosing and efficacy characteristics of pharmaceuticals. AstraZeneca agreed to fund all development and commercialization costs, including ongoing and future collaborative work conducted with Starpharma.Drug Delivery Technology Market: Drivers & RestraintsGrowing incidence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, technological advancement, innovation, the growing focus on pediatric and geriatric patients, change in lifestyle due to growing urbanization, the increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries, are the most important driving factors in drug delivery technology market. Since growth of biopharmaceutical market is fast, the demand for drug delivery technology market has increased.With so many advantages and splendid features of drug delivery technology, it has few disadvantages too. Side-effects related to drugs, patents expiry and regulatory hurdles are acting as key barrier for drug delivery technology.Request Free Report Sample@Drug Delivery Technology Market: SegmentationDrug delivery technology market is broadly classified on the basis of the following segments By Route of Administration :Oral RouteParenteral RouteIntramuscularIntravenousIntra-arterialSubcutaneous routeTransdermal RouteInhalation RouteNasal Drug DeliveryBy End User:HospitalsClinicsDiagnostic CentresHome care settingsOthersDrug Delivery Technology Market: OverviewThe drug delivery technology market has grown substantially at a healthy CAGR due to growing incidence of chronic diseases and change in lifestyle. With rapid technological advancement and innovation, drug delivery technology market is expected to grow globally. North America is the largest market for drug delivery technology and Asia Pacific would be the fastest growing market in the forecast period.Request For TOC@Drug Delivery Technology Market: Region-wise OutlookThe drug delivery technology market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, drug delivery technology is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America is the largest market for drug delivery technology market and is contributing the most as compare to other regions. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the forecast period.Drug Delivery Technology Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in drug delivery technology market are Johnson and Johnson Pvt Ltd, 3M, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc, Glaxosmithkline PLC, Merck & Co., Inc, Antares Pharma, Generex Biotechnology, pSivida Corppration, Alkermes, Aradigm Corp., Vectura Group plc, NanoPass Technologies Ltd.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: Farm Management Software Market | By Farming Type, Service, Applications, Delivery Model & Geography Research Report Upto 2022 http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-8320 http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/8320-farm-management-software-market-report http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-8320 https://www.linkedin.com/company/decisiondatabases-com www.decisiondatabases.com The new research report on Farm Management Software Market offered by DecisionDatabases.com provides Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2022.Get FREE Sample Report Copy @The report on global farm management software market evaluates the growth trends of the industry through historical study and estimates future prospects based on comprehensive research done by the analysts. The study extensively provides the market share, growth, trends and forecasts for the period 2016-2022. The market size in terms of revenue (USD MN) is calculated for the study period along with the details of the factors affecting the market growth (drivers and restraints).Highlighted below are some prominent market drivers and restraints:A. Market Drivers> Increasing demand for smart or precision farming> Increased demand for automatic computing (AUTO-COM)> Availability of the internet connectivity> Increased demand for precise farming systemsB. Market Restraints> Lack of technical expertise> High price of devices and equipment used for precision farming> Farm management software solutions are expensive and complex to use.C. Leading SegmentsBy Farming Type Crop FarmingBy Service Managed ServicesApplication Record KeepingDelivery Model Cloud BasedThe report covers following company profiles (can be customized as per requirement):> SST Development Group, Inc.> The Climate Corp.> Iteris, Inc.> Deere & Co.> Trimble Navigation Ltd.> Conservis Corp.> Granular, Inc.> Agrivi Ltd.> FarmerEdge> New Science Technologies Ltd.See the complete TOC and segmentations @Table Of Contents - Overview1. INTRODUCTION2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3. FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET ANALYSIS4. FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET ANALYSIS BY FARMING TYPE5. FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET ANALYSIS BY SERVICE6. FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET ANALYSIS BY APPLICATION7. FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET ANALYSIS BY DELIVERY MODEL8. FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET ANALYSIS BY GEOGRAPHY9. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET COMPANIES10. COMPANY PROFILES OF FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE MARKET INDUSTRYPurchase Complete Global Farm Management Software Market Research Report At:DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.Follow us on LinkedIn for our latest upcoming reports -3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web: 3G & 4G Business Reports & Governments National Broadband Plan Revenue Growth Market Research Hub http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=928294 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=928294 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/panama-4g-network-expansion-and-governments-national-broadband-plan-to-drive-data-revenue-growth-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Albany, New York, January 23, 2017: Market Research Hub has recently announced the addition of a new report to it broad database titled as Panama: 4G Network Expansion and Governments National Broadband Plan to Drive Data Revenue Growth. The latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the Telecommunications market in Panama.Request for Sample Report:In 2016, Panama was the third largest telecom services market in Central America, behind Guatemala and Costa Rica, with estimated revenue of $1.3bn or 2.4% of GDP. This represents a 2.4% increase relative to 2015, mainly driven by fixed broadband, pay-TV and mobile data segments.Key FindingsThe fixed/mobile revenue split will continue to be inclined toward the mobile segment throughout the forecast period. Nevertheless, fixed services revenue share will increase, driven by governments national Internet network initiative for expanding Internet penetration in the country and attractive double and triple play services from operators such as Cable &Wireless Panama (CWP) and Cable Onda.The top two operators, CWP which provides fixed, mobile and pay-TV services and Digicel Panama, which provide mobile services, accounted for 57.7% of overall service revenue in 2016. CWP will continue to lead the Panamanian telecom market, throughout the forecast period, supported by strong investments in 4G network expansion and network modernization of its fixed infrastructure.LTE network expansion along with the rising demand for high-speed mobile data and increased availability of LTE-enabled smartphones will boost LTE subscriptions in Panama over the forecast period.SynopsisPanama: 4G Network Expansion and Governments National Broadband Plan to Drive Data Revenue Growth a new Country Intelligence Report, provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Panama today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile and pay-TV sectors, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.Make an Enquiry:The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Panama compared with other countries in the region.Economic, demographic and political context in Panama.The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony (including VoIP), broadband, mobile voice, mobile data and pay-TV markets.Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed/pay-TV and mobile sectors and between voice, data and video from 2016 to 2021.The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, mobile data and pay-TV services: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in Panamas telecommunications and pay-TV markets.Browse Full Info with TOC:Reasons To BuyThis Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Panamas telecommunications and pay-TV 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 Panamas mobile communications, fixed telephony/VoIP, broadband and pay-TV markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in Panamas telecommunications and pay-TV markets.The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Panama.About Market Research HubMarket 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.Contact90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite: Business Rules Management System Market to Reach US$ 1.5 Billion By 2021 Business Rules Management System Market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/business-rules-management-system-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/business-rules-management-system-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/ New York, January 23: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Global Business Rules Management System (BRMS) Market Trends & Forecast, 2015-2020.The Global Business Rules Management System (BRMS) market is estimated to reach $636.7 million in 2015 to $1,443.9 million by 2020 at an estimated CAGR of 17.8% from 2015 to 2020.Download Free Sample Report:As a rule, technologies that entered in the other software market such as business process management (BPM) and service oriented architecture (SOA), began to compromise with the advantages of BRMS.Enterprises have become increasingly comfortable with the open source model for developing and deploying mission-critical applications. Depending on the operating environment, open source has the highest market growth, which is estimated at a CAGR of 31.2% from 2015 to 2020.The Business Rules Management System market has seen moderate growth in North America and Europe regions where North America had the largest share in 2014, but few regions such as Latin America, Middle East & Africa are expected to be the fastest growing markets in 2020 as compared to 2015.The BRMS adoption has been increasing every year in all verticals, such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, retail and manufacturing, contributing a positive growth in 2015 and expected the same growth by 2020 as well. The BRMS market penetration in BFSI and healthcare is more compared to the other verticals. Retail and manufacturing are the most emerging verticals in this market.The small and medium enterprise (SMEs), and enterprises are expected to contribute a huge market share for BRMS over the year 20152020. The BRMS is a very strong tool for modern enterprises. It allows the organizations to incorporate complex decision logic into line of business application and quickly updates underlying business rules as market conditions change.Browse Full Report:Essential Takeaways: The Windows operating system market share is expected to contribute $259.8 million in 2015 to $519.8% million by 2020 at an estimated CAGR of 14.9% from 2015 to 2020. North America market is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 14.7% from 2015 to 2020. The BRMS market penetration in BFSI and healthcare is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 16.5% and 15.9%, respectively from 2015 to 2020. Logistic vertical is an emerging sector of BRMS market and it is estimated to reach at CAGR of 24.8% by 2020.About MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States Forensic Products Market Analysis and Value Forecast Snapshot by End-use Industry 2016-2020 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Forensic-Products-and-Technologies-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2016---2020/up18 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Forensic-Products-and-Technologies-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2016---2020/upcomingdetail18 www.sa-brc.com Forensics deals with the science of gathering and examination of evidence in order to present the validity of an argument in order to reach a solution or conclusion to the real scenario that could have occurred. Modern forensics offer path breaking technologies such as genetics technologies, bio-instrumentation and biometrics and informatics. Forensics deals with the science of tracing a person through unique genetic patterns against crimes they may have committed that include physical abuse, narcotics and fire-arms and terrorism. Forensics also includes products and technologies used for detecting minute and trace elements and biological that may be used in poisons and biological warfare. Since crime cannot reach a true nil value, forensic technologies will be required constantly. Advancing technologies have also helped individuals commit crimes that are very difficult to pinpoint with evidence, hence forensic technologies are constantly being innovated and advanced further. Forensic evidence also plays crucial role in international court of law for crimes against humanity, environment and animals.Free Sample Report@Forensic science can be applied across various industries and is an amalgamation of various sciences such as chemistry, physics and biology. In forensic biology methods such as DNA fingerprinting is a boon since advancements in technologies such as polymerase chain reaction and genome sequencing have reduced the time required by judicial systems in countries to make a judgement on crimes or resolve disputes. Biosensors, DNA fingerprinting & amplification and biometrics are among the top technologies in demand today in this field. Early techniques in DNA forensics included Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism or RFLP, human leococyte antigen analysis - HLA DQA1, and amplification fragment length polymorphism or AFLP, however current techniques include mitochondrial DNA mtDNA, short tandem repeats STRs, Y chromosome YSTR and single nucleotide polymorphisms. The market is also observing the rising demand for digital and soft analytical tools and software which can actually predict the most logical outcomes and forecast several different scenarios under a variety of factors.Click For Request TOC@The market is driven by the demand for greater success in domestic cases such as disputed parentage. It is also being driven by overall rise in crime over the world. This modelling has greatly reduced the amount of time necessary to close a forensic study. Along with this portable and compact devices and kits have also helped collect forensic evidence for law enforcement departments and are crucial to the solving of such crimes. In many instances, the evidence can be unstable, deteriorate, lose integrity and may not be in a condition to be packed and transported to laboratories. In such cases portable forensic products and kits are an excellent option to preserve the conditions and evidence. Lab-on-Chip technologies are revolutionizing the landscape of forensics with the ability to provide point testing. Modern forensic technologies continue to be out of reach of developing and under-developed regions in Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. North America and Europe lead the global market followed by market of Asia-Pacific.About UsSpearhead Acuity Business Research & Consulting Private Limited (SA-BRC) is a premium Life Science business intelligence and data analytics firm. SA-BRC team offers a wide range of business intelligence services to multiple stakeholders such as Medical Device Manufacturers, Service Providers (Hospitals, Payers, etc.), Suppliers, Group Purchase Organizations, Distributors and all other individuals in the entire value chain of healthcare industry. Our research and consulting capabilities extend across several sub-domains within the sphere of Life Sciences such as Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Medical Devices, Veterinary Sciences, Wellness Products and Pharmaceuticals.Contact UsJohn Whitmore10685-B Hazelhurst Drive,Suite 17411Houston, Texas 77043,United StatesPhone: +1(832)-426-3701Email: sales@sa-brc.comWebsite: Aviation Fuel Market to Market Research and Investment Strategy in China 2016-2021 Market Research Hub http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=928266 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/market-research-and-investment-strategy-of-aviation-kerosene-industry-in-china-2016-2021-proposal-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Albany, New York, January 23, 2017: Market Research Hub has recently announced the addition of a new report to it broad database titled as Market Research and Investment Strategy of Aviation Kerosene Industry in China 2016-2021 Proposal. The latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the Pharmaceutical market.Request for Sample Report:From 2011 to 2015, the output of aviation kerosene in China increased from 17 million tonnes to 34 million tonnes, with the average growth rate of more than 10%. In 2015, the output reached around 35 million tonnes. In recent years, with rapid development of the national economy and more international and domestic incorporations, aviation industry in China grows rapidly, leading to increasing of aviation kerosene, apparent consumption of which reached over 25 million tonnes.From the perspective of regional distribution of aviation kerosene consumption, the three top regions are east China, north China and south China, taking 80% in the total consumption. Thereinto, consumption in east China ranks the top, with the proportion of 40%. The three hub airports in China, Shanghai Pudong Airport in east China, Capital Airport in north China and Baiyun Airport in south China, consumes 50% of the total aviation kerosene in the country.In the future, China will open aviation fuel market step by step, which will lead to the situation where suppliers of aviation fuel meet requirements of domestic aviation industry development by reducing their cost and lowering their prices.In this report, AskCI will further disclose market potential and commercial opportunities for aviation kerosene industry in China. Recommendations will be given at the end of the report to describe the prospect and provide suggestions for strategy making.Browse Full Info with TOC:1)The Aim of ReportTo provide readers with comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Chinese aviation kerosene industry;To analyze current development of the industry;To analyze import and export of the industry;To discover drivers and barriers of the industry;To reveal opportunities for aviation kerosene industry in China.2)Benefit from the ReportObtain latest info of aviation kerosene, such as import and export, supply and demand, key players, etc.;Find out how Chinese aviation kerosene market will change and how your business can be involved in;Keep informed of your competitors/their activities in the globe and in China;Learn about key market drivers and barriers;Share this information within your organization using free global intranet license.2. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATIONThe report will investigate Chinese aviation kerosene industry from the following aspects:General situationImport and exportSupply and demandKey players;Future trend;Commercial opportunity.3. Time NeededFive work days neededAbout Market Research HubMarket 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.Contact90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite: 2016 Global and Chinese Methyl acetoacetate Investment Opportunities 2021 Proposal Market Research Hub http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=928267 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/market-research-and-investment-opportunities-of-methyl-acetoacetate-in-china-2016-2021-proposal-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Albany, New York, January 23, 2017: Market Research Hub has recently announced the addition of a new report to it broad database titled as Market Research and Investment Opportunities of Methyl Acetoacetate in China 2016-2021 Proposal. This report provides top line data relating to the Opportunities of Methyl Acetoacetate.Request for Sample Report:For manufacturing of methyl acetoacetate, there are LONZA in Switzerland and Eastman in US internationally. While in China, there are Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Tiancheng biochemical products Co., Ltd. and Wanglong Science and Technology Co., Ltd., in which, Jiangsu Tiancheng is the largest manufacture of methyl acetoacetate and its production capability is 300 thousand tonnes, taking 40% domestic market shares. Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical has the production capability of 200 thousand tonnes and Ningbo Wanglong has the capability of 120 thousand tonnes.In 2014, the production capability of methyl acetoacetate of China was around 740 thousand tonnes and the output reached about 680 thousand tonnes. According to construction plans and under-construction plans of China methyl acetoacetate enterprises, in 2021, the production capability is predicted to break 140 thousand tonnes and the output will reach about 136 thousand tonnes.In this report, AskCI will further disclose market potential and commercial opportunities for methyl acetoacetate industry in China. Recommendations will be given at the end of the report to provide suggestions for strategy making.1)The Aim of ReportTo provide readers with comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Chinese methyl acetoacetate industry;To analyze current development of the industry;To analyze industrial chains of the industry;To discover drivers and barriers of the industry;To reveal opportunities for methyl acetoacetate industry in China.2)Benefit from the ReportObtain latest info of methyl acetoacetate industry, such as status, supply and demand, key players, etc.;Find out how Chinese methyl acetoacetate market will change and how your business can be involved in;Keep informed of your competitors/their activities in the globe and in China;Learn about key market drivers and barriers;Share this information within your organization using free global intranet license.Browse Full Info with TOC:2. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATIONThe report will investigate Chinese methyl acetoacetate industry from the following aspects:General situationSupply and demandKey players;Future trend;Commercial opportunity.3. Time NeededFive work days neededAbout Market Research HubMarket 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.Contact90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite: Beer Market - Europe Industry Analysis 2021 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4415 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The beer industry has majorly been a local industry, with only a few companies having a substantial international presence. The development of the beer industry started off in Western Europe and later spread in Eastern Europe as well. However, the consumption pattern is witnessed to be high in Eastern Europe as the region covers the growing markets of Ukraine and Russia and several other emerging beer markets and therefore, the growth rate in this region seems optimistic. On the other hand, Northern and Western Europe consist of mature markets, thereby limiting the growth rate in these regions. Beer consumption in Europe is high with beer being the most preferred alcoholic beverage in the region. Moreover, beer offers several health benefits, such as it keeps the kidney healthy, lowers cholesterol, and cures insomnia.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Europe is one of the major markets for beer globally. Increasing preference of consumers for beer as an alcoholic beverage is one of the major factors boosting the demand for beer in Europe. All the major brewing companies operating in the beer market hail from Europe. Western and Northern Europe with high market penetration is expected to have stable growth throughout the forecast period. Ukraine and Russia are the major countries fueling the demand for beer in Eastern Europe. Owing to this factor, the manufacturers are trying to capture maximum market share by providing product differentiation.Europe is the market leader in the beer industry because of the high consumption rate of beer and also due to the high disposable income of the consumers in the region. However, the markets in Northern and Western Europe are mature, thus, restricting the growth rate in these regions. The growth rates in countries such as Germany, Italy, and France is expected to be flat or slightly declining during the forecast period. The growth rate in Eastern Europe seems to be high currently, because it covers the growing markets of Russia and Ukraine and several other emerging markets.Large number of health benefits associated with consumption of beer in stipulated limits is the major factor driving the demand for beer in Europe. The consumption of beer limits cholesterol levels and prevents kidney stones. In addition, increasing disposable income of consumers post economic slowdown is also expected to fuel the demand for beer in Europe. Availability of internal and external substitutes is restraining the demand for beer. The internal substitutes of beer include wine, vodka, rum and whiskey among others. Apart from this, there are external substitutes such as non-alcoholic drinks including dairy drinks, carbonated drinks, energy drinks and RTD tea and coffee among others.The Europe beer market has been segmented on the basis of product types into Ale Beer, Lager Beer and Stout Beer. Lager beer held the largest market share in Europe beer market valued at USD 17.01 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 20.05 billion by 2021 expanding at a CAGR of 2.4% from 2015 to 2021.The market has been further classified on the basis of country into Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Rest of Europe. Germany held the largest market share in Europe beer market. In terms of revenue beer market in Germany was valued at USD 36.22 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 40.65 by 2021 expanding at a CAGR of 1.7% from 2015 to 2021. However, France is the fastest growing market for beer valued at USD 11.71 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 15.59 billion expanding at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2015 to 2021.The beer market in Europe is dominated by some major players operating in this market. Product innovations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships are some of the key strategies adopted by these players to sustain in the beer market. Anheuser-Busch InBev, SAB Miller PLC, Diageo, Heineken N.V and Carlsberg Group among others are the key players operating in the Europe beer 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. 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: Ian Darrah provides the professional yoga classes in Florida http://iandarrah.com/ United States 23-01-2017. Ian Darrah is the highly professional and skilled yoga instructor who provides highest level of yoga classes in Florida. Yoga has endless benefits to human and they can enjoy it while having a lot of peace to mind. If you are passionate for yoga practice and want to join yoga classes then the first thing you need to do is to find the reliable yoga instructor. A yoga instructor can provide you the required guidance to perform any practice or can give you the great experience.In order to take benefits of yoga practice, you need right guidance and right instructions. It is proved that yoga is helpful to improve health, heal aches, pains, and also keep sickness to bay. If you are new to yoga and are unaware of its importance then here are few of the points will let you understand its significance to human being: Improve the Health Improve your Flexibility Build Muscle Strength Perfects the Posture Prevents from body pain Empower the bones Increase the blood flow Boost the immunity system etc.If we talk about the benefits of yoga then they are impossible to count and discuss as they are endless. The most important thing is yoga is good for all age groups but type may vary depending upon the health condition of a person. All the things are possible, if you have right instructor to guide or assist. And for best yoga teacher training program, you should trust on Ian Darrah who is Experienced Registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance.So, if you are looking for the skilled, trained and experienced yoga teacher to attain fitness in body then only remember Ian Darrah.For more information on yoga training programs you can visit at:Ian Darrah is the experienced yoga teacher with many years of experience as yoga trainer. It has achieved the great experience and knowledge by providing yoga training to people passionate for health and fitness. With right kind of yoga teacher training Program, it will be easy for you to get the desired fitness in body.When it comes to health and fitness then you can join yoga classes in Florida with Ian Darrah the expert yoga instructor.2829 Bird Ave., Suite 5, #242 Coconut Grove, Miami, FL 33133 USA Unblu gains market share in Austrian Banking scene www.unblu.com unblu and ARZ will together, enable Austrian banking customers with bespoke and secure live collaboration tools.Sarnen, Switzerland 23. January 2017With the growing demand for online services, comes the need to foster outstanding collaborative relations between companies who excel at what they do and can work together to offer their clientele the very best of digital experiences.Swiss-based live engagement software company unblu, and ARZ a leading ITO champion providing a managed solution portfolio for financial services institutions in Austria, are working together to offer their clients exactly this.ARZ run the banking infrastructure for over 20 Austrian banks, supporting their clients in the development and roll out of software solutions designed to modernise daily banking services. With solutions incorporating both standard software and in-house developments based on the most contemporary technologies available, their aim is to meet the requirements of international banking groups as well as those of smaller local banks.Enter unblu, whose software can be seamlessly and securely integrated into existing banking structures of any dimension. Under the cooperation of the two companies, ARZ will offer the unblu live collaboration suite as a standard component within its infrastructure stack, making the offering available to all of its customers.With the integration of unblu collaboration, clients will have access to a range of engagement solutions including chat, video, document sharing and co-browsing, said Markus Brejla of ARZ.Our engagement solution offers limitless applications, added Luc Haldimann, CEO of unblu. End users can open a bank account online, assisted by a bank agent through all the necessary steps. They can receive advice in real time from personal wealth managers, or simply get assistance with everyday online transfers.About unblu:unblu provides web customer engagement software with a vision to bring personal online guidance and interaction to every website. With hundreds of organizations already using unblus co-browsing solutions, the company is helping its customers to transform the way online business is done. unblus products are available on premise and in the cloud. To learn more about unblu, please visitNicola Rosenthal, Product Marketingunblu inc.Kernserstrasse 176060Switzerland+41 (61) 551 11 68nicola.rosenthal@unblu.com Global Content Authoring Tools Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/global-content-authoring-tools-market-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=3657 ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Global Content Authoring Tools Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.Content Authoring Tools are software applications used to develop eLearning products. They generally include the capabilities to create, edit, review, test, and configure eLearning. These tools support learning, education, and training by enabling using distributed eLearning that is cost-efficient to produce, and that facilitates incorporating effective learning strategies and delivery technologies into the eLearning.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Content Authoring Tools 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 coversArticulate, TechSmith, Trivantis, Adobe.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 Rapid Application Development (RAD) tools ELearning development tools Web-based eLearning development tools Simulation development toolsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Virtual classroom systems Mobile learning Social learningThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Content Authoring Tools market.Chapter 1, to describe Content Authoring Tools Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Content Authoring Tools, with sales, revenue, and price of Content Authoring Tools, 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 Content Authoring Tools, 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, Content Authoring Tools market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Content Authoring Tools 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 South Africa Lens Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/south-africa-lens-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=3658 ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title South Africa Lens Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Lens in South Africa market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversESSILOR (FRANCE), Carl Zeiss Vision, HOYA, Rodenstock, TOG, Daemyung Optical, Shamir, Transitions Optical, Vision-Ease, AUGEN, SOMO, YOUNGER, SEIKO, TOKAI, CORNING, GKB HI-TECH, INDO, ASAHI LITE, NORVILLE, POLYCORE, MingyueTo view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Market Segment by Type, covers Natural Material Glass Lens Resin Lens Special LensMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Myopia Glasses Farsightedness Glasses Sun Glasses OthersThere are 16 Chapters to deeply display the South Africa Lens market.Chapter 1, to describe Lens Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by Region (Province), market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Lens, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 4, to show the South Africa market by States, covering In The North South Africa, In The South Africa, In The East South Africa, In The West South Africa and 5, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Lens, for each state, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key States by Type and Application, covering In The North South Africa, In The South Africa, In The East South Africa, In The West South Africa with sales, revenue and market share by types and applications;Chapter 12, Lens market forecast, by States, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2016 to 2021;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16, to describe Lens Appendix, methodology and data source.To 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 Dental Bone Graft Substitutes Market worth 664.3 Million USD by 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=159678690 The report "Dental Bone Graft Substitutes Market by Type (Synthetic Bone Grafts, Xenografts, Allografts, and Demineralized Allografts), by Application (Sinus Lift, Ridge Augmentation, Socket Preservation, Periodontal Defect Regeneration, and Implant Bone Regeneration), by Product (Biooss, Osteograf, Grafton, and Others) - Forecast to 2021", The global dental bone graft substitutes market is expected to reach USD 664.3 Million by 2021, at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2016 to 2021. Factors such as technological advancements in the field of dental bone grafts and increase in the number of bone grafting procedures are expected to drive the growth of the global dental bone grafts substitutes market. Several insurance providers in the U.S. and various countries in the European region have assisted the medical sector to introduce and encourage the usage of latest synthetic bone grafts and demineralized allografts.Download PDF Brochure @This report mainly considers four types of dental bone graft substitutes xenograft, synthetic bone grafts, allograft, and demineralized allograft. Using patients own bone (autograft) has traditionally been the most preferred method of bone grafting; however, increasing technological advancements have increased the number of synthetic graft options. The benefits of synthetic grafts include availability, sterility, and reduced morbidity. Also, the synthetic bone grafts have a longer shelf life and there is no risk of any disease. Because of these benefits, synthetic bone graft is the fastest-growing type in the dental bone graft substitutes market.In this report, the dental bone graft substitutes market is segmented into four major geographic segments, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. Europe is estimated to account for the largest share of the overall dental bone graft substitutes market in 2016. Europe is the region of origin of implant dentistry; therefore, the penetration rate of dental bone graft substitutes is very high in this region. The main factors driving the growth of the European dental market are the increase in aging population, governmental expenditure on oral healthcare across Europe, and the high reimbursement rate although limited to Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands.This research study is aimed at identifying emerging trends and opportunities in the global dental bone graft substitutes market. It provides comprehensive competitive landscape and identifies the key players with respect to market size and market share. The research study also includes a detailed segmentation of the global dental bone graft substitutes market on the basis of type, application, product, and region.Apart from the market segmentation, this report also makes use of the Porters five forces analysis, which provides an in-depth analysis of the market by providing market dynamics, such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global dental bone graft substitutes market.Prominent players in this market include Institut Straumann AG (Switzerland), Geistlich (Switzerland) DENTSPLY International (U.S.), Zimmer Biomet (U.S.), Medtronic (Ireland), BioHorizons IPH, Inc. (U.S.), ACE Surgical Supply Company, Inc. (U.S.), RTI Surgical, Inc. (U.S.), LifeNet Health (U.S.), and Dentium (Korea).About MarketsandMarketsMarketsandMarkets is the worlds No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.M&Ms flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.Contact:Mr. RohanMarkets and MarketsUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, HadapsarPune, Maharashtra 411013, India1-888-600-6441Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Global Wound Closure Device Market Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2001 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/wound-closure-device-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2001 Market HighlightsThe Global Wound Closure Device Market has been growing rapidly and is expected to grow further. Effective and instant healers and also, these are useful when wound healing is difficult with traditional methods producing high risk of infection, these wound closer option are quick, easy to apply and remove and also had minimum cost associated with them has increased The Global Wound Closure Device Market globally. Other factors which restraint the growth of global wound closer market includes avoidance in highly visible areas such as face to minimize scarring, medical glues used as a wound closer device has less efficiency and is normally only one fifth as effective as sutures decreasing its demand for many procedures and injuries.Wound Closure Device Market will grow at a CAGR of 5% from 2013 to 2019 and reaching a value of 13 billion by 2019 and 21 billion by the end of the forecasted period, 2016-2022.Stapling devices are expected to witness high growth due to increased efficiency, safety and reduced recovery time with the cost effectiveness of the devices.Request a Sample Report @Key Players: Adhezion Biomedical Aesculap, Inc. Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc Arthrex, Inc B. Braun Melsungen AG Baxter CollPlant Ltd. Connexicon Medical ConvaTec Group PLCTaste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread over 85 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Wound Closure Device Market Research Report Global Forecast to 2022Segmentation:The Global Wound Closure Device Market is majorly segmented on the basis of types of wounds, device, application and end users. Based on the type of wound the market is further segmented into chronic, acute and more. . On the basis of type of devices the market is again classified into sutures, wound closure strips, wound closure adhesive, staplers, tissue sealants, hemostats and more. Further depending on the type of wound the market is again classified into surgical wounds, ulcers, burn, trauma and others. Similar on the basis of end-users the market is again classified into hospitals, clinics, trauma centers and others etc.Access Report Details @Brief TOC of Wound Closure Device Market1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations1.2.2.1 Assumptions1.2.2.2 Limitations1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3 Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Macroeconomic Indicators4 Market Factor AnalysisContinued..Make an Enquiry for 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.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.ContactAkash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Worldwide Saudi Arabia Cement Market reach CAGR of 5.1% and USD 5.27 billion in 2020 http://bit.ly/2d09OHz http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/cement-market-for-residential-commercial-infrastructure-and-other-35998 http://bit.ly/2cyvrf6 http://www.marketresearchstore.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Cement Market for Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure and Other Applications: Saudi Arabia Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 2020 According to the report, Saudi arabia region demand for cement was valued at USD 3.90 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 5.27 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of slightly above 5.1% between 2014 and 2020. In terms of volume, the cement market in the Saudi Arabia stood at 61,000 kilo tons in 2014.Request Sample Report:Cement is a one of the key binding material used in construction industry. Cements acts as a binding agent for mortar, concrete, non-specialty grouts and stucco, etc. Cement is manufactured from raw materials such as limestone, sand and clay. These kinds of raw materials are widely available in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, cheap and widely available petroleum fuel has been resulted into cost effective manufacturing of cement in the region. Various physical and chemical properties of cement such as high durability, high dependability, cost-effectiveness and versatility are favorable for construction applications.Browse the full "Cement Market for Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure and Other Applications: Saudi Arabia Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast 2014 2020" report atKey factors driving the demand for cement market in Saudi Arabia is increasing the construction activity in different segments such as commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure. Rapidly growing population has been resulted into growing demand for residential & commercial buildings as well as infrastructure. Residential application market for cement in Saudi Arabia is expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period. Infrastructure is one of the largest segment, which accounted for around 50% share of the total market in 2014. Infrastructure refers to the construction that includes roads, bridges, canals and dams. The increasing number of airports and road construction projects are anticipated to boost the cement market in Saudi Arabia. Commercial application is the second largest application segment of the market in 2014, which include construction of walls, floors, exterior walkways and pavements of commercial buildings.The cement market was dominated by Central region of Saudi Arabia, which accounted for slightly above 32% share of the Saudi Arabia market in 2014. Saudi Arabia was followed by the Western, Eastern, Southern and northern regions respectively. Cement market in central region is also expected to witness rapid growth as compared to other regions. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in construction activities in the Saudi Arabia, especially in the eastern and central provinces. Various cities in the Kingdom have initiated infrastructure projects, thereby fuelling demand for cement. Strong economic growth in the Saudi Arabia is expected to fuel growth of the cement market in various cities of the Saudi Arabia.Do Inquiry before buying:The manufacturing companies of cement have a significant impact on the value chain through a higher degree of vertical integration. These companies manufacture raw materials as well as the final product. Some of the key players operating in the Saudi Arabia cement market include Saudi Cement Company, Riyadh Cement Company, Yamama Cement Company, and Najran Cement Company. This report segments the global market as follows:Saudi Arabia Cement Market: Application Segment AnalysisResidentialCommercialInfrastructureOthers (including cement bricks and farm construction)Saudi Arabia Cement Market: Regional Segment AnalysisCentralEasternNorthernSouthernWesternAbout UsZion Research 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. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses 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.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@marketresearchstore.comWebsite: Global Piston Pin Market 2017 - Ruia, Ryteching Enterprise, OM INTERNATIONALS, WIN ENGINE Co, . Ltd, P.R.Components Pvt. Ltd., HKM Machinery http://www.marketsnresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?repid=962 http://www.marketsnresearch.com/inquiry-for-buying.html?repid=962 The Global Piston Pin Market 2017 report has accounted Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in terms of percentage (%) for specific period for Piston Pin market, which would help users to conclude decision based on futuristic chart. The report provided by Markets N Research is a comprehensive study of current trends in the Global Piston Pin market with the reports main focus on the global market. The report provides with in-depth knowledge of forecasts, historical data, company profiles, market drivers, technologies, and market trends. The report comprises precise and detailed analysis on the Global Piston Pin market, which would aid our customers to take superior decisions and make positive moves for our customers overall growth. The report covers various sectors in the Piston Pin market.Major Manufacturers Analysis of Piston Pin :-1 Ruian GuGao Piston Manufacture Co, .TLD2 Shandong Zhenting Jinggong Piston Co., Ltd3 Shanghai Wanhui Motor Telecom Fittings Co., Ltd.4 MINGYANG COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD5 Talsons & Valsons6 Shijiazhuang Kincon Internal Combustion Engine Parts Group Ltd7 SHANDONG LIAOCHENG DERUN EMT DEVELOPING CO., LTD8 Pismon Diesel Parts Inc9 Hebei Kaidi Piston Manufacturing Co., Ltd10 Xiamen Pogine Import &Export Co., Ltd11 Dps Piston Ltd. Sti.12 YENMAK CYLINDER LINER PISTON RING MANUFACTURING CO.13 Ryteching Enterprise14 OM INTERNATIONALS15 WIN ENGINE Co, . Ltd16 P.R.Components Pvt. Ltd.17 HKM MachineryRequest For Report Sample Here :The initial part of the report provides an overview of the Piston Pin industry covering products, technology, definition, applications, its end-user, and so on. Further, the report gives detailed information of the major players in the Piston Pin market covering product stipulation, company profiles, competitors strategies, latest trends, variable product dynamics from the point of view of consumers, and market shares for each company. The report represents statistic data, production capacity, generated revenue, supply and demand, import and export, profit and loss, and many more related information.Do Enquiry Before Purchasing Here :The Global Piston Pin report anticipates Piston Pin market recent trends for Piston Pin industry. Our aim is to provide in-depth and perfect analysis concerning different topics related to Piston Pin market. The report also highlights various other topics such as upstream and downstream demand, quantitative forecasting, market dynamics, and future insight of the market. Concluding the report, it uses systematic research methodology for the overall analysis of the Piston Pin report. The report has attempted to provide the necessary and currently available data on the Global Piston Pin industry. It covers all imperative and significant parameters to uphold in a competitive edge.About Us:Markets N Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. Markets N Research 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. Markets N Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, Global Automotive Accelerator Pedal Market 2017 - CTS, BWD, KSR, Dura, Lokar, ComeSys, MPS, KEMPF, M.C.S., Volmac, Lifan, Chenho, HaoXiang, Kanxisi, Xinder http://www.marketsnresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?repid=963 http://www.marketsnresearch.com/inquiry-for-buying.html?repid=963 The Automotive Accelerator Pedal report created by Markets N Research includes in-depth study of variable market trends and statistics by dynamic team of researchers. The report provides detailed information about the definition and specification, and focuses on overall analysis of the manufacturing process along with in-depth classification of segments based on applications, end-users, and products physical properties. The report delivers precise data relevant to competitive analysis based on regional insight along with future forecasts.Major Manufacturers Analysis of Automotive Accelerator Pedal :-1 CTS2 BWD3 KSR4 Dura5 Lokar6 ComeSys7 MPS8 KEMPF9 M.C.S.10 Volmac11 Lifan12 Chenho13 HaoXiang14 Kanxisi15 XinderRequest For Report Sample Here :The Automotive Accelerator Pedal report provides exhaustive information of overall manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers with complete summary of specification, future trends of the company, and historical data along with statistics. In order to present the analyzed data for better clarity related to the latest trends, the report comprises number of pictorial represented data in the form of figures, tables graphs, and diagrams. The Global Automotive Accelerator Pedal Market 2017 report has also accounted Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in % value for specific period for Automotive Accelerator Pedal market, which would help users to conclude decision based on futuristic chart.The Automotive Accelerator Pedal report also includes the review of developmental factors implemented by the key players in terms of mergers and acquisitions, product developments, expansions, and contracts. It contains judgmental data collated using set of assumptions and certain methodologies to give a simple, elaborated depiction about the forecast period. Moreover, the report also includes the strategic evaluation of Automotive Accelerator Pedal market by considering the development trends, future predictions, and segmental contribution to the market.Do Enquiry Before Purchasing Here :The report is developed based on collated data from secondary sources, databases, and directories to widen the information based on technical terms, market orientation, and commercial characteristics related to the Automotive Accelerator Pedal market. In addition, the report also highlights the driving factors and arising opportunities for the development of the global market as well as emphasizes on factors responsible for the growth restrains.About Us:Markets N Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. Markets N Research 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. Markets N Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, Japan Infant Formula Foods Market 2016 - Kabrita, Dumex, Mead Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Wyeth, Nestle, Danone http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/6594/request-sample https://goo.gl/HLNHRQ www.fiormarkets.com The report Japan Infant Formula Foods Industry presents an executive-level overview of the Japan Infant Formula Foods market. The Japan Infant Formula Foods market is expected to demonstrate a positive growth trend in the coming years. The market forces that will shape the growth of this market have been scrutinized in detail in this report.Download for Sample Report @Comprehensive data related to the market trends has been included in this report. The market drivers that will fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period are mentioned in this report. Furthermore, the regulatory environment in the Japan Infant Formula Foods market and its impact on the Japan Infant Formula Foods industry performance has been assessed in this report. The restraining factors that will result in decline in popularity of certain product segments have also been covered in this report. The potential opportunities and their impact on the Japan Infant Formula Foods market is also evaluated in the report.The key players are expected to tap onto these market opportunities to penetrate the market. Furthermore, the untapped opportunities in emerging economies will provide a considerable impetus to the small, medium, and large companies operating in the Japan Infant Formula Foods market. These opportunities in turn are projected to have positive impact on the Japan Infant Formula Foods market. Players in the market are focusing on innovation, which has resulted in a lot of mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships. The prominent market players are also focusing to offer a broader range of products. Competitors often are competing on the basis of the cost of the products in the Japan Infant Formula Foods market.Access Full Report With TOC @Around the world, industries are focusing on incorporating green practices in their manufacturing processes. Moreover, products that are manufactured using these green practices or include more eco-friendly ingredients are popular among consumers. This consumer preference will help companies operating in the Japan Infant Formula Foods market to include greener products and services to their offering.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.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb: Emerging Demand of Starch Derivatives Market by 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4093 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4093 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Asia Pacific is the leading starch derivatives market and is likely to achieve the highest growth rate in the near future. This is due to the emerging economies of the two most populated countries in the world, namely, China and India. The starch derivatives market in North America and Europe is saturated. The demand for starch derivatives is increasing in Brazil and Argentina as these two countries have the fastest growth rate in the world.Starch derivatives, also known as modified starch, are prepared by enzymatically, physically or chemically treating native starch to alter its properties. Starch derivatives are used in a number of industries for various functions. They are used as thickeners and stabilizers in the food and beverage industry, as a tablet binder in the pharmaceutical industry, as an emulsifier in cosmetics, and fiber additive in the animal feed. Some of the other functions of starch derivatives are flocculation, adhesiveness, film-forming, pH stability improvement, and shear stability, acid stability, and process tolerance enhancement.It is possible to modify starches to increase their stability against excessive heat, cooling, acid, time, shear or freezing; to change their texture; and to increase or decrease their viscosity, depending on the application. The different stakeholders in the industry are product manufacturers, raw material suppliers, and processors.Based on type, the market is classified into various segments such as Maltodextrin, Cyclodextrin, Glucose Syrup, Hydrolysates, and Modified Starch. Among these, glucose syrup holds a major market share, whereas Maltodextrin has the highest demand in the market. Glucose syrup finds its applications in various industries such as paper, feeds, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Glucose syrup is often employed as a flavor enhancer, texture agent, volume-adding agent, and inhibitor of sugar from crystallizing in drinks. On the basis of application, the starch derivatives market is classified as Food & Beverages, Feed, Paper, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, Bio-Ethanol, and other industrial applications. Among these, starch derivatives find their key application in food and beverages.A sample of this report is available upon request @Increasing demand for convenience food and beverages in developing countries, rise in population, and increasing per-capita income are some of the key factors propelling the growth of starch derivatives market. Companies are investing large amounts of their capital on research and development. These developments are bettering the prospects of starch derivative products in the global market. In addition, starch plays an important role in the bio-fuel, glue production, textile weaving and finishing, and the fermentation industries. However, implementation of bio-fuel policies and increasing raw material prices are some of the factors hindering the growth of the starch derivatives market.Request to view table of content @Key players operating in the starch derivatives market include AGRANA Investment Corp., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill Incorporated, and AVEBE.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: Blind Spot Detection (BSD) System and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) System Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth | Trends, Forecast 2020 http://bit.ly/2jhgkx5 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Blind Spot Detection (BSD) system is a sensor based detection system implemented in automobiles that is used for monitoring vehicles at the rear and side of the driver/vehicle. Such systems generate tactile, audible, vibrating or visual form of warnings. They also assist the driver at the parking lots when there are other vehicles approaching from the sides. Blind spots are caused due to various objects such as passengers, headrests and window pillars. Mirrors are generally used to remove the blind spots but the disadvantage being that they leave huge dead on all the sides of the vehicle. BSD systems, with the help of cameras and sensor systems generate information about various objects that are outside the range of drivers vision.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system is a sensor based cruise control system that automatically adjusts the speed of the vehicle in maintaining safe distances from the vehicles ahead. Such a system is integrated with pre-crash systems and automatically applies brakes after generating alerts. BSD and ACC systems have become efficient, sophisticated and advanced over a period of time and play an important role in reducing the number of accidents.The rising number of accidents due to increase in traffic flow is one of the prime reason that is contributing to the growth of BSD and ACC system market. The implementation of such safety systems by the automobile industry has rapidly increased. Since BSD and ACC systems ensure safety of the passengers, customers are frequently looking for such advanced safety features and are also willing to pay. Another factor that is contributing to the growth of this market is the stiff competition among the automobile manufacturers. The manufacturers are continuously upgrading their models so as to cater to the huge demand of innovative safety features that can be used for various applications.Organizations such as New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), are investing in research and development to design automobiles possessing various safety features. The increasing use of sensors due to the advancements in technology is another factor that is contributing to the growth of this market. Sensors are integrated with BSD and ACC systems to increase the performance of engines by reducing carbon emissions. Government initiatives for fuel efficiencies and safety attributes of the vehicle are encouraging manufacturers to implement such integrated systems that can ensure safety as well as comply with such regulations.However, BSD and ACC systems are not efficient in regions with adverse weather conditions. Regions with continuous snowfall and rainfall make such safety systems inefficient in tracking and monitoring the surrounding objects. This makes the owners of such regions reluctant in implementing these systems. Another challenge to the growth of this market is the standardization of such systems. Since every manufacturer competes for offering unique safety features, each manufacturer integrates high-tech sensors having different applications. Such integrations make car owners difficult and confusing to understand the exact operating procedures for different car models. Hence, due to the technicality involved, the car owners are reluctant to install innovative safety systems.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Medical Tourism Market to Reach US$32.5 bn in 2019, Availability of Cost-effective Treatments in Emerging Nations Encourages Medical Tourism http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/medical-tourism.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=900 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A market study on the global tourism market, recently published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) estimates this market to rise at an exceptional CAGR of 17.90% over the period from 2013 to 2019 and reach a value US$32.5 bn by the end of the forecast period.The research report, titled Medical Tourism Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, states that the worldwide medical tourism market attained a value of US$10.5 bn in 2012.Browse the full Medical Tourism Market (India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Turkey, South Korea, Costa Rica, Poland, Dubai and Philippines) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019 report atMedical tourism is defined as traveling from one location to another with a purpose to gain medical assistance. Generally, people from developing nations travel to developed countries for medical treatments that are unavailable in their own countries due to poor medical and healthcare infrastructure. However, in recent years, people residing in developed economies have also begun travelling to lesser developed countries in order to gain cost-efficient medical assistance.According to this study, the falling cost of medical procedures in the Philippines, India, Singapore, Thailand, Mexico, Malaysia, Brazil, Turkey, Taiwan, South Korea, Poland, Costa Rica, and Dubai is encouraging people to travel to these countries for their treatment and, in turn, is propelling the global medical tourism market significantly.In addition, the widening range of medical treatments available in these nations, coupled with technical advancements in the field of medical and healthcare, is likely to boost this market greatly during the forecast period, states the market report.In this study, the global medical tourism market is analyzed on the basis of its regional spread. India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Taiwan, and South Korea are the major medical tourism markets across the world.Thailand has emerged as the most popular destination for cosmetic surgeries among the medical tourists from Western Europe. In 2012, this country had welcomed around 2.5 million foreign patients, accounting for approximately 45% of the overall number of foreign medical tourists arrived in Asia. However, Malaysia is likely to dominate the global medical tourism market in the coming years.Almost 0.7 million patients were treated in this nation in 2012. Analysts expect around 2 mn patients to gain medical assistance in Malaysia by the end of the forecast period, notes the research report.The report further states that India and Singapore are the most preferred destinations in case of complex medical procedures. India has attracted a large number of patients due to its increasing popularity in the field of cardiac treatments. Costa Rica, Dubai, Poland, and the Philippines have been identified as the prospective countries for medical tourism in this market study.Samitivej Sukhumvit, Raffles Medical Group, Fortis Healthcare Ltd., Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, Asian Heart Institute, Bumrungrad International Hospital, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Min-Sheng General Hospital, and Prince Court Medical Center are some of the major organizations operating in the global medical tourism market.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :The global medical tourism market is segmented into:By RegionIndiaThailandSingaporeMalaysiaMexicoBrazilTurkeySouth KoreaTaiwanProspective CountriesCosta RicaPolandDubaiPhilippinesAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.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.ContactMr.Sudip S90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Bovine Respiratory Disease Treatment Market: Valuation to Nearly Double by 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13700 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/bovine-respiratory-disease-treatment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The global market for bovine respiratory disease treatment features a highly consolidated competitive landscape despite the presence of a large number of regional players, observes a recent report by Transparency Market Research. Owing to the small duration of product exclusivity in the animal health care industry about three to five years - competition from generics and over-the-counter (OTC) products is a big threat.The rising consumption of bovine products in emerging economies such as India, China, and Brazil, the demand for effective treatment methods for respiratory disease has considerably increased. To exploit the vast growth potential, an increasing number of companies are establishing operations in these countries. A recent example is the 2016 collaboration between Merial and Zoetis, Inc., which is expected to allow the former to effectively market and distribute its product in India. Some of the other key companies in the market are Merck & Co., Inc., Bayer AG, Elanco, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, and Virbac Group.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample :TMR estimates that the global bovine respiratory disease treatment market will exhibit a promising 7.6% CAGR from 2016 through 2024. At this rate, the market, which had a valuation of US$805.9 mn in 2015 is projected to reach US$1,543.9 mn by 2024.Asia Pacific to Lead to Lucrative Growth OpportunitiesIn terms of distribution channel, the segment of veterinary hospitals dominated, accounting for nearly 35% of the global market in terms of revenue in 2015. From a geographic perspective, North America which held nearly 37% of the market in 2015, dominated the global market and is expected to easily retain its dominance over the forecast period as well. However, owing to the rising population of cattle and the rising incidences of bovine respiratory diseases, the Asia Pacific market will emerge as one of the most lucrative regional markets for bovine respiratory disease treatment methods.Rising Consumption of Animal Protein to Remain High-impact DriverOf the key factors driving the market, the rising consumption of beef is expected to have a prominent impact on the overall development of the market over the forecast period. According to a World Bank Group survey (2016), global human population is estimated to be 7.4 billion in 2016 and is growing at a rate of 1.8% per year. To sustain the ever rising demand for beef as well as other animal products from this mounting global population, there would be a vast rise in the worlds cattle population in the near future. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global cattle population will increase by 73% between 2015 and 2050, from nearly 936 mn in 2015 to nearly 2.6 bn in 2050.As bovine respiratory diseases account for 65% to 80% of morbidity and 45% to 75% mortality rate in livestock animals, the rising cattle population will also intensify the need for effective treatment modalities for these diseases. This will have a significant positive impact on the global bovine respiratory disease treatment market.Strict Government Regulations to Restrain MarketSeveral studies have demonstrated that bovine antibiotics can have a highly negative impact on human health. Issues such as induction of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and disruption of normal human intestinal flora are commonly observed in individuals who consume animal products with excessive amount of antibiotics. According to The New York Times, around 2 million people in the U.S. fall sick every year and about 23,000 of them die from antibiotic-resistant infections induced due to consumption of such products.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :These factors have urged government bodies to regulate the use of antibiotic therapeutics in animals too. In December 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforced a new policy related to the limited use of antibiotics in production animals. This is likely to hamper the growth of the bovine respiratory disease treatment market over the forecast period.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Europe CM & CRM Devices Market Report 2017 CM & CRM Devices https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/898411-europe-cm-crm-devices-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/898411-europe-cm-crm-devices-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=898411 CM & CRM DevicesSummerySales, means the sales volume of CM & CRM DevicesRevenue, means the sales value of CM & CRM DevicesThis report studies sales (consumption) of CM & CRM Devices in Europe market, especially in Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain and Benelux, focuses on top players in these countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these Countries, coveringMedtronic PLCSt. Jude Medical, Inc.Boston Scientific CorporationGE HealthcarePhilips HealthcareBiotronik Se & Co., KgCardiac Science CorporationLivanova PLCMortara Instrument, Inc.Schiller AGMarket Segment by Countries, this report splits Europe into several key Countries, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of CM & CRM Devices in these countries, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeGermanyFranceUKRussiaItalySpainBeneluxRequest for Sample Report @Split by product type, with sales, revenue, price, and market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoECG devicesEvent MonitorsImplantable Loop Recorder (ILR)Cardiac Output Monitoring (COM)Split by application, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of CM & CRM Devices in each application, can be divided intoHomeAmbulatory CareHospitalsOthersComplete Report @Table of content:Europe CM & CRM Devices Market Report 20171 CM & CRM Devices Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of CM & CRM Devices1.2 Classification of CM & CRM Devices1.2.1 ECG devices1.2.2 Event Monitors1.2.3 Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR)1.2.4 Cardiac Output Monitoring (COM)1.3 Application of CM & CRM Devices1.3.1 Home1.3.2 Ambulatory Care1.3.3 Hospitals1.3.4 Others1.4 CM & CRM Devices Market by Countries1.4.1 Germany Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 France Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 UK Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Russia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Italy Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Spain Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.7 Benelux Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Europe Market Size (Value and Volume) of CM & CRM Devices (2011-2021)1.5.1 Europe CM & CRM Devices Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Europe CM & CRM Devices Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Europe CM & CRM Devices by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Europe CM & CRM Devices Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Europe CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Europe CM & CRM Devices Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Europe CM & CRM Devices (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Europe CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Europe CM & CRM Devices Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Europe CM & CRM Devices (Volume and Value) by Countries2.3.1 Europe CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.3.2 Europe CM & CRM Devices Revenue and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.4 Europe CM & CRM Devices (Volume) by Application3 Germany CM & CRM Devices (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 Germany CM & CRM Devices Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 Germany CM & CRM Devices Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 Germany CM & CRM Devices Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 Germany CM & CRM Devices Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 Germany CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 Germany CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 Germany CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Application8 Spain CM & CRM Devices (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8.1 Spain CM & CRM Devices Sales and Value (2011-2016)8.1.1 Spain CM & CRM Devices Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.2 Spain CM & CRM Devices Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.8 Spain CM & CRM Devices Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)8.2 Spain CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers8.3 Spain CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Type8.4 Spain CM & CRM Devices Sales and Market Share by Application11 CM & CRM Devices Manufacturing Cost Analysis11.1 CM & CRM Devices Key Raw Materials Analysis11.1.1 Key Raw Materials11.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials11.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials11.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials11.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure11.2.1 Raw Materials11.2.2 Labor Cost11.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses11.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of CM & CRM DevicesBuy now @Tables and Figures:Table Classification of CM & CRM DevicesFigure Europe Sales Market Share of CM & CRM Devices by Type in 2015Figure ECG devices PictureFigure Event Monitors PictureFigure Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR) PictureFigure Cardiac Output Monitoring (COM) PictureTable Application of CM & CRM DevicesFigure Europe Sales Market Share of CM & CRM Devices by Application in 2015Figure Home ExamplesContinued...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 Korea Tablet Display Set to Grow Exponentially during the Forecast 2016-2021 Tablet Display https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/210753-korea-tablet-display-industry-2015-market-research-report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/210753-korea-tablet-display-industry-2015-market-research-report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=210753 www.wiseguyreports.com The Korea Tablet Display Industry 2015 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Tablet Display industry.The report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Tablet Display market analysis is provided for the Korea markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Request for Sample Report@Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and Bill of Materials cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.The report focuses on Korea major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Tablet Display industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With 146 tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Leave a Query @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview1.1 Definition and Specifications of Tablet Display1.2 Classification of Tablet Display1.2.1 LCD-based displays1.2.2 OLED-based displays1.3 Applications of Tablet Display1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Tablet Display1.5 Industry Overview of Tablet Display1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Tablet Display1.7 Industry News Analysis of Tablet Display7 Analysis of Tablet Display Industry Key Manufacturers7.1 Samsung7.1.1 Company Profile7.1.2 Product Picture and Specification7.1.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue7.1.4 Samsung SWOT Analysis7.2 LG7.2.1 Company Profile7.2.2 Product Picture and Specification7.2.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue7.2.4 LG SWOT Analysis;.ContinuedBuy Now@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.Pune, India Detergent LABSA Market - Europe Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis And Forecast, 2017 2021 DETERGENT LABSA https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/898438-europe-detergent-labsa-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/898438-europe-detergent-labsa-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=898438 https://www.linkedin.com/company/wise-guy-research-consultants-pvt-ltd-?trk=biz-companies-cym https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEGrh5nnB7C6Vg4CgpuzBPw DETERGENT LABSARead Sample Report@This report studies sales (consumption) of Detergent LABSA in Europe market, especially in Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain and Benelux, focuses on top players in these countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these Countries, coveringStepanCEPSASasolKAPACHIMSKFogla GroupNew India Detergents Ltd.Market Segment by Countries, this report splits Europe into several key Countries, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Detergent LABSA in these countries, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeGermanyFranceUKRussiaItalySpainBeneluxComplete Report Details @Split by product type, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided into0.960.9Split by application, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Detergent LABSA in each application, can be divided intoIndustryFamilyOthersTable Of ContentEurope Detergent LABSA Market Report 20171 Detergent LABSA Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Detergent LABSA1.2 Classification of Detergent LABSA1.2.1 0.961.2.2 0.91.3 Application of Detergent LABSA1.3.1 Industry1.3.2 Family1.3.3 Others1.4 Detergent LABSA Market by Countries1.4.1 Germany Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 France Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 UK Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Russia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Italy Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Spain Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.7 Benelux Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Europe Market Size (Value and Volume) of Detergent LABSA (2011-2021)1.5.1 Europe Detergent LABSA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Europe Detergent LABSA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Europe Detergent LABSA by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Europe Detergent LABSA Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Europe Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Europe Detergent LABSA Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Europe Detergent LABSA (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Europe Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Europe Detergent LABSA Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Europe Detergent LABSA (Volume and Value) by Countries2.3.1 Europe Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.3.2 Europe Detergent LABSA Revenue and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.4 Europe Detergent LABSA (Volume) by Application3 Germany Detergent LABSA (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 Germany Detergent LABSA Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 Germany Detergent LABSA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 Germany Detergent LABSA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 Germany Detergent LABSA Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 Germany Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 Germany Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 Germany Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Application4 France Detergent LABSA (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 France Detergent LABSA Sales and Value (2011-2016)4.1.1 France Detergent LABSA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.2 France Detergent LABSA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.4 France Detergent LABSA Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)4.2 France Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 France Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 France Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Application5 UK Detergent LABSA (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 UK Detergent LABSA Sales and Value (2011-2016)5.1.1 UK Detergent LABSA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.2 UK Detergent LABSA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.5 UK Detergent LABSA Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)5.2 UK Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 UK Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 UK Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Application6 Russia Detergent LABSA (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Russia Detergent LABSA Sales and Value (2011-2016)6.1.1 Russia Detergent LABSA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.2 Russia Detergent LABSA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.6 Russia Detergent LABSA Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)6.2 Russia Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Russia Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Russia Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Application7 Italy Detergent LABSA (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7.1 Italy Detergent LABSA Sales and Value (2011-2016)7.1.1 Italy Detergent LABSA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.2 Italy Detergent LABSA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.7 Italy Detergent LABSA Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)7.2 Italy Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers7.3 Italy Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Type7.4 Italy Detergent LABSA Sales and Market Share by Application...... ContinuePurchase Report @Contact Us:Norah TrentPartner Relations & Marketing ManagerSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Follow on LinkedIn:Please Subscribe Our YouTube Channel @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 U.S. Uterine Fibroids Market: Rising Prevalence Of Fibroid To Ensure Uptake & Will Rise US$273.6 mn By The End Of 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16775 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/us-uterine-fibroid-treatment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The U.S. uterine fibroids market shows a strong presence of players. The top three players in the market are Boston Scientific Corporation, Smith & Nephew, and Hologic, Inc., who hold a share of nearly 50% in the overall market. The players are focused mergers and acquisitions to broaden their product portfolio and integration of knowledge base. To remain dominant players are anticipated to lay emphasis on product differentiation. The report published by Transparency Market Research states that the U.S. uterine fibroid treatment market was valued at US$211.6 mn in 2015 and is expected to be worth US$273.6 mn by the end of 2024. During the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the overall market is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 2.9%.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample :Hysterectomy Segment to Lead Global MarketOut of all the procedures, the hysterectomy segment is showing a promise of good growth rate in the near future. This segment is projected to account for a share of 79.6% by the end of 2016. The benefits of hysterectomy such as alleviation of pelvic pain, excessive menstrual bleeding, and physical morbidity are driving this segment. Furthermore, hospitals will emerge as the leading end users of uterine fibroid treatment options in the coming years. By the end of 2016, the hospitals segment is projected to account for a share of 67.1% in the U.S. uterine fibroids treatment market.Technological Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgeries Augurs Well for MarketThe introduction of a minimally invasive surgeries to treat the excruciatingly painful uterine fibroids is expected boost the markets growth in the coming years. Advantages of such procedures such as minimal recovery time, reduced chances of infections, and shorter hospital stays are also encouraging patients and hospitals to choose these treatments, states the lead author of this research report. The market is also benefitting from the regulatory approvals being granted to newer types of treatment and surgeries. Thus, the introduction of newer technologies that offer efficient results is creating a positive influence on the U.S. uterine fibroids market. The remarkable changes in technology have also played their supportive part in the growth of the market over the past few years. For instance, Halt Medical, Inc. introduced Acessa Guidance System in 2016. This technology enhances the radiofrequency ablation and electromagnetic tracking technology to treat uterine myomas laparoscopically.The supportive reimbursement policies are also expected to augment the demand for uterine fibroids treatment in the near future. Favorable policies are helping the patients to cover their expenses in hospitals as well the ones incurred in ambulatory surgical centers. Statistics state that there are 20% to 40% chances of development of uterine fibroids in women around the age of 35. Thus, the high prevalence of uterine fibroids amongst women in the reproductive age bracket has become the very basis of the growth of this market. Furthermore, African American women are more likely to develop fibroids, which is also a key population base contributing to the steady rise in the revenue of the U.S. uterine fibroids market.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :Possibility of Complications due to Procedures Tugs at Market in Opposite DirectionThe uterine fibroids treatment market is likely to be hampered by the announcement made by the FDA that power morcellators can lead to complications such as spreading metastatic leiomyosarcoma cancer tissue. Availability of wide range of alternative treatments is also anticipated to hinder the markets growth in the near future. The market is also being restrained by the possibility of urinary tract injury while performing minimally invasive procedures.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Positive Airway Pressure Devices Market : Emergence Of Advanced Technologies And Global Industry Analysis 2024!! http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16337 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/positive-airway-pressure-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Positive airway pressure devices keep pressured air flowing through the airways of the throat and is one of the common treatments for sleep apnea. The patient wears a face mask which is attached with a tube and a machine that blows pressurized air through the mask into the airway to keep it open. The air acts like a balloon holding the relaxed muscles of the throat open. Positive airway pressure (PAP) is a treatment method that uses mild air pressure to keep the airways sufficiently open. PAP devices are specially used by patients that have breathing issues, such as sleep apnea. These devices are broadly categorized as continuous positive airway pressure devices (CPAP), bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), and automatic positive airway pressure devices (APAP). The growing prevalence of sleep apnea and co-morbidities related to PAP have propelled the use of positive airway pressure devices. The global positive airway pressure devices is anticipated to witness a trend of devices that are compact and comfortable through 2024.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample :Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic medical condition requiring night application of therapy to efficiently limit the number of apneas and hypopneas that would occur without intervention. The gold-standard treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure therapy (PAP), which offers a pneumatic splint of the soft tissue in the upper airway. PAP devices can measure and record airflow and pressure levels whenever the device is worn. They contain internal, proprietary algorithms that identify breathing disturbances and whether these disturbances are due to persistent obstructive or non-obstructive events. Generally, the average duration of CPAP use is approximately five hours per night across numerous studies. Studies indicate that greater than six hours per night results in normal levels of objectively measured and self-reported daytime sleepiness, as well as significantly improved memory and daily functioning.Variable positive airway pressure (VPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), is a newer type of machine that reduces the amount of pressure when a person breathes out. The device uses an electronic circuit to monitor the person's breathing. Having less pressure in the moment when a person is exhaling may make it more comfortable for the person with sleep apnea. This type of machine is used for people who have other breathing problems or who can't sleep if they have to breathe out against a stream of air.The U.S. accounted for the largest market share in positive airway pressure devices market. This is due to the increasing healthcare awareness for sleep apnea, improving healthcare infrastructure, rising disposable incomes, increasing obesity adding to the pool of sleep apnea patients and economic growth favored by broadening insurance coverage. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides cover for sleep apnea products, including a capped rental on CPAP/BiPAP equipment and other supplies. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 36% of the adults in the U.S. were obese in 2010, and nearly 42% will be obese by the year 2030. Furthermore, according to National Sleep Foundation, in 2012, around 40 Mn Americans were reported to suffer from chronic sleep disorder.Geographically, North America occupies the substantially larger market share, which is followed by Europe. The high attentiveness level in this region will lead the expansion of positive airway pressure devices market significantly. However, affordability has become a restraining factor for the global market in developing regions such as, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Asia Pacific is expected to demonstrate healthy CAGR in the global positive airway devices market. Increase in disposable income, rising aging population, and growing awareness level are some of the key factors driving the Asia Pacific market. The Asian market is expected to witness entry of higher number of new players compared to those in developed regions.Some of the market players who are competing to bring new technologically advanced products in the market are CareFusion Corporation, GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, ResMed, Inc., Teleflex, Inc., and othersView exclusive Global strategic Business report :The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Cardiac Holter Monitor Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16346 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cardiac-holter-monitor-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ A cardiac holter monitor is a battery operated device which continuously monitors the heart rhythm of the patient, for a period of 24-48 hours. The duration of measuring the activity of heart depends upon the type of device used, and the patients condition. In certain cases, the patients condition may be severe, and the patient may suffer from irregular heartbeats, which may require longer duration of monitoring. A cardiac holter monitor is with electrodes that are attached to the chest of patient, and records the ECG of the heart, as the patient goes around doing his daily activities. The information from the cardiac holter monitor is then analyzed to evaluate the heart condition of the patient and determine key parameters such as slow, irregular or fast heartbeats.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample :The global cardiac holter monitor market is segmented on the basis of product type, end users and region. Based on product type, the global cardiac holter monitor market can be further segmented into, cardiac holter monitoring systems (holter monitors (wired holter monitors, and wireless holter monitors), and digital holter ECG recorders), and cardiac holter monitoring software. Based on the end users, global cardiac holter monitor market can be further segmented into, hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, and ambulatory care centers. Among the product type segments, cardiac holter monitoring systems segment accounted for the largest market share in 2015. Increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, technological advancements in monitoring devices, and patient preference towards minimally invasive devices have been some driving factors for the growth of cardiac holter monitoring systems market. The cardiac holter monitoring software segment is expected to register lower CAGR during the forecast period of 2016-2024, due to increasing advancements in the holter monitoring systems, which are now already equipped with integrated software.Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) burden is increasing gradually which is one of the major health concern worldwide. According to the American Heart Association, in 2015, cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of deaths, with around 17.3 Mn million deaths per year globally. The proportion of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases, is more in women (51%), than in men (42%). In Europe, coronary heart diseases account for approximately 1.8 million (20%) deaths annually. This factor propels the need of technological advanced cardiac devices to ensure better treatment and better patient monitoring to avoid risk associated with CVD. Based on geography, the global cardiac holter monitor market is segmented into five key regions, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America accounted for the largest share of the cardiac holter monitor market in 2015 followed by Europe. Cardiac holter monitoring systems are non-invasive devices which is effective in safe patient monitoring and this factor has increased the adoption of these devices among end users which ultimately drives the growth of global cardiac holter monitoring devices. Also, there is a growing trend of home and point of care testing, and a shift towards preventive care, which is driving the cardiac holter monitor market in North America & Europe. Asia Pacific is expected to witness remarkable CAGR during forecast period, due to large population base, and high prevalence of target and lifestyle diseases. However, healthcare facilities in underdeveloped and emerging countries which lack appropriate healthcare infrastructure and trained staff is anticipated to affect the adoption in these countries.Some of the major players in the global cardiac holter monitor market include, GE healthcare, iRhythm Technologies, Morata Instruments, Philips Healthcare, QSR Diagnostics, SCHILLER, and Welch Allyn, among others. The global cardiac holter monitor market is fragmented with presence of many small scale vendors which impacts the growth opportunities for international players.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :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 global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: United States Vietnam Citronella Oil Market 2017- The Essential Oil Company, Phoenix Herb Company, Kanta Group, Bhoomi https://goo.gl/JWhF87 http://marketinsights.biz/united-states-vietnam-citronella-oil-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022/ http://marketinsights.biz/ The United States Vietnam Citronella Oil Market 2017 Industry Research Report focused on major manufacturers, regions, type as well as application of the United States Vietnam Citronella Oil industry. Currently, The industry concentration is not high, the technical barriers and financial barriers of Citronella Oil are low. The companies in the world that produce Citronella Oil mainly concentrate in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka. Raw materials are also concentrated in these regions. In particular, as the market leader in Citronella Oil, Anhui Great Nation Essential Oils Co., Ltd. take the global market share of about 8.73%, other key manufacturers include Jiangxi Hengcheng Natural Flavor Oil Co., Ltd, Nanchang Yang Pu Natural, Essence & Spice Co., EOAS, Van Aroma, Yunnan Aroma Source, Yunnan Tian Lake Essential Oil Company Ltd, Karimun Kencana Aromatics, Manohar, Botanical Extracts Pvt. Ltd, Reho Natural Ingredients, VIETNAM, ESSENTIAL OIL., JSC, The Essential Oil Company, Phoenix Herb Company, Kanta Group, Bhoomi, Aromatic & Allied Chemicals, Jiangxi Kang Shengtang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The production of Citronella Oil increased from 3315 Tonnes in 2011 to 4215 Tonnes in 2016, with an average growth rate of 5.43%. Global Citronella Oil capacity utilization rate remained at around 76.05% in 2016.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Vietnam Citronella Oil in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.For Request Sample Visit atMarket Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAnhui Great Nation Essential Oils Co., Ltd.Jiangxi Hengcheng Natural Flavor Oil Co., LtdNanchang Yang Pu Natural Essence & Spice Co.EOASVan AromaYunnan Aroma SourceYunnan Tian Lake Essential Oil Company LtdKarimun Kencana AromaticsManohar Botanical Extracts Pvt. LtdReho Natural IngredientsVIETNAM ESSENTIAL OIL., JSCThe Essential Oil CompanyPhoenix Herb CompanyKanta GroupBhoomiAromatic & Allied ChemicalsJiangxi Kang Shengtang Pharmaceutical Co., LtdMarket Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisFor Detail Report Visit atMarket Segment by Type, coversCeylonJavaMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood & DrinkDaily Chemical ProductOthersThis United States Vietnam Citronella Oil Industry report also states Company Profile, sales, United States Vietnam Citronella Oil Market revenue, and price, market share, Contact Information and gross margin by regions.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and methodology of the report are offered.About Us:"MarketInsights.Biz offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact US:Frank ValadezDirector of Business DevelopmentWebsite:Email:sales@marketinsights.biz Radiopharmaceutical Market Upside by 2024: Rise in Demand for Diagnostic Procedures and Devices Bolsters Need for Radioisotopes http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=213 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/radiopharmaceuticals-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The radiopharmaceutical market is highly consolidated, wherein the top two players Siemens Healthineers and GE Healthcare jointly accounted for over 70% of the global market in 2015. Transparency Market Research has observed that the degree of competition is rather high in the market owing to the presence of key players with the availability of advanced technologies and potential productive sources and a high product manufacturing capacity.Get the Future Analysis of Radiopharmaceutical Market at:Acquisitions play an important role among established organizations because they support sales, product development, and new methods of production, the author of the report finds. An excellent example would be AAA. The company acquired GE Healthcare S.r.Ls FDG-PET business as well as the 100% shares of Imaging Equipment Ltd. (IEL) in 2014. These moves have enabled the company in strengthening its presence across Italy, the U.K., and Ireland.The global radiopharmaceutical market was valued at US$4.7 bn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$7.4 bn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2016 to 2024.Nuclear Reactors Emerge as Key Source of RadiopharmaceuticalsBy radioisotope, technetium-99 held the major share in the global radiopharmaceuticals market, accounting for 50.3% in 2016. The 18F segment, on the other hand, is projected to expand at a 5.5% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, higher than any other radioisotope.Based on source, nuclear reactors lead the overall market in terms of revenue and the segment is also poised to exhibit a strong growth rate through 2024. Accounting for the dominant share in the radiopharmaceuticals market by end use, hospitals are likely to contribute significantly toward the growth of this market in the coming years. The others segment, which covers laboratories and universities, is anticipated to expand at the fastest pace despite being restricted to only the MEA and Asia Pacific regions.Based on application, oncology took the lead owing to the growing use of various radioisotopes in the treatment of different cancers. On the basis of geography, North America is the clear leader and is slated to achieve a 60.3% share in the global radiopharmaceuticals market by 2024. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, will register a 6.3% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, emerging as the fastest expanding regional market in terms of revenue.Rising Incidence of Chronic Diseases Propelling Demand for RadiopharmaceuticalsThe growing incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases brought on by the rise in aging population, unhealthy food habits, prevalence of obesity is one of the primary factors driving the radiopharmaceuticals market.The rising incidence of chronic diseases translates into the demand for diagnostic tests such as SPECT and PET, two of the latest systems used for the treatment of various cardiovascular and neurological diseases as well as cancer, the TMR analyst states. According to the American Nuclear Society, 90% of the radioisotopes produced is used in gamma cameras or PET scan nuclear diagnostics. The remaining 10% is used in radioactive therapeutics drugs. This growing demand for diagnostic tests has a positive impact on the demand for radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals.Read the Present Market Status of Radiopharmaceutical at:In addition to this, the rapid advancement in radiotracers and surging awareness regarding the effectiveness of radiopharmaceuticals will support the growth of the global market. On the other hand, stringent regulatory guidelines, a shortage in the supply of radioisotopes, and a shorter half-life of radiopharmaceuticals acts as impediments for the market.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: Advancements in Digital Infrastructure and Communication Technology to Empower Global Teleradiology Market, says TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/teleradiology-technology-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1132 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The highly fragmented market for teleradiology features the presence of a large number of regional players, with the exception of some large companies with international presence, such as vRad, Inc., Radiology Reporting Online, and USA Rad. North America and Europe, the regions with some of the largest vendors in the global teleradiology market, will be the key enablers of teleradiology practices across the world and play a central role in the overall development of the global market, notes a recent report by Transparency Market Research (TMR).Acquisitions of small, regional players, and long-term contracts with remotely located community hospitals and other healthcare service providers, especially across emerging markets such as Asia Pacific and Latin America, will allow teleradiology companies to expand their global footprint. Although less in number than in the European market, teleradiology companies in North America will contribute the largest share in the overall revenues of the global teleradiology market from 2015 through 2023, thanks to their global presence.teleradiology-marketRise in Healthcare Expenditure and Improved Healthcare Infrastructure to Enable Widespread Adoption of TeleradiologyThe vast improvement in telecommunication networks, enhanced data transfer speeds, and improved digital infrastructure of remote parts of the world has revolutionized the global teleradiology market in the past few years. In the next few years as well, developments across the data transmission field will be prove to be a major driver of the global teleradiology market, allowing its evolution from an ancillary radiology discipline to a mainstream practice.Radiology is a cost-intensive diagnostic modality owing to the high prices of the technologically advanced medical imaging machines central to the field. This factor, in combination with the factor of unavailability of broadband networks in urban dwellings has remained one of the toughest challenges for the teleradiology market in the past years. However, substantial rise in healthcare expenditures and widened broadband networks in the past few years have enabled the widespread expansion of teleradiology practices on a global front. These factors have especially allowed the teleradiology market in extending its reach to emerging economies such as Latin America and Asia Pacific, considered to be the regional markets with the most lucrative growth opportunities.Asia Pacific to Provide Most Attractive Growth OpportunitiesNorth America is currently the leading regional market for teleradiology and is expected to provide considerable growth opportunities over the next few years as well. The market in the region will be driven by the digitally advanced healthcare infrastructures, integration of teleradiology services in the workflow of a vast number of medical imaging service providers, and high healthcare awareness among the population. The rising prevalence of a number of cancers in the region has also led to an increased need for effective teleradiology services in the region.Nevertheless, Asia Pacific will provide the most lucrative growth opportunities for the global teleradiology market in the coming years. Factors fueling demand for teleradiology services in the region will be the rising expenditure on health and wellbeing, improving healthcare infrastructure, and widening network of high-speed broadband services.The global teleradiology market is expected to expand at a favorable 11.3% CAGR over the period between 2015 and 2023, and rise from a valuation of US$1,354.6 mn in 2014 to US$3,632.6 mn in 2023.The review is based on a recent market research report published by Transparency Market Research, titled Teleradiology Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:The market has been segmented as follows:Teleradiology Market, by ModalityX-RayUltrasoundComputed TomographyMagnetic Resonance ImagingNuclear ImagingTeleradiology Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeU.K.GermanyRest of EuropeAsia-PacificAustraliaMalaysiaPhilippinesRest of Asia PacificMiddle EastSaudi ArabiaQatarRest of Middle EastAfricaNigeriaGhanaRest of AfricaRest of the WorldDownload 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 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Market to Benefit from Government Initiatives to Adopt EHR Systems http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/electronic-health-records-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/electronic-health-records-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4153 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A new market research report has been recently published by Transparency Market Research. The report analyzes the scope of the global electronic health records (EHR) market. The research report, titled Electronic Health Records (EHR) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, provides an overview of the EHR market coupled with the market drivers, restraints, product segmentation, and the competitive landscape.According to the TMR research study, in 2013, the global market for electronic health records was worth US$15.56 bn and is anticipated to reach US$23.98 bn by the end of 2020. This market is expected to exhibit a 6.4% CAGR between 2014 and 2020.Browse the full Electronic Health Records (EHR) Market (Installation Types: Web-based EHR System and Client Server-based EHR System; End-users: Hospitals and Ambulatory Centers) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020 report atEHR systems have encouraged many physicians around the world to adopt information technology for their routine work. The use of EHR systems helps in maintaining updated information of patients, reduce healthcare costs, improve accuracy and efficiency, and reduce medical errors. The growing government initiatives to encourage the adoption of EHR systems for healthcare facilities has driven the growth of this market. On the other hand, the absence of skilled healthcare IT professionals and high installation costs of EHR systems are some of the major factors that are expected to hamper the growth of this market in the forecast period.On the basis of installation type, the global EHR market has been divided into client server-based EHR systems and web-based EHR systems. In 2013, the client server-based EHR systems segment held the largest share in the global EHR market; however, the web-based EHR system segment is expected to grow significantly throughout the forecast period. The high growth of this segment can be attributed to the nominal upfront prices of these systems. By end-user, the global EHR market has been classified into ambulatory centers and hospitals. In 2013, the hospitals segment accounted for the largest share in comparison to the ambulatory centers segment.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Geographically, the global EHR market has been segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Among all these regions, in 2013, the North America region dominated the global market in terms of revenue, accounting for 42.6% in the global EHR market. This region is anticipated to continue with its dominant position, exhibiting a 5.8% CAGR throughout the forecast period, owing to the rising government funding for the implementation of EHR systems.The North America EHR market is followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The prominent players operating in the global EHR market have set their focus on developing markets such as India, Mexico, China, Brazil, and South Africa, where most of the hospitals are adopting digital technology. Apart from these, countries such as Australia and Japan are considered as the most promising markets throughout the forecast period. In Rest of the World, the EHR market is projected to exhibit healthy growth due to the growing market penetration by multinational companies.In the last section, the research study analyzes the competitive landscape of the global EHR market. The analysis includes company overview, contact information, financial overview, business strategies, SWOT analysis, mergers and acquisitions, and recent developments. Some of the key players operating in the global EHR market are Epic Systems, Cerner Corporation, GE Healthcare, McKesson Corporation, Medical Information Technology, Inc. (MEDITECH), NextGen Healthcare (Quality Systems, Inc.), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., eClinicalWorks, and Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.Key segments of the Global EHR marketGlobal EHR Market, by Installation TypeWeb-based EHR SystemClient Server-based EHR SystemGlobal EHR Market, by End-userHospitalsAmbulatory CentersGlobal EHR Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldDownload Exclusive Brochure of This Report :About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.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.ContactMr.Sudip S90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Demand for Cost-effective Products to Intensify Cost War among Vendors in Asia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market, states TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/asia-pacific-endoscopy-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=488 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market features a moderate level of consolidation, with the top four vendors collectively accounting for over 60% of the overall market in 2015, states Transparency Market Research in a recent report. These companies, including Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus Corporation, and Stryker Corporation, compete with a large number of small- and medium-sized companies operating across specialty segments, giving rise to an intense level of price competition.The rising demand for technologically advanced products across developing economies in Asia Pacific could further fuel rivalry among key vendors in the market. So as to stay ahead of the competition in the market, key vendors are adopting the course of innovation and introduction of technologically advanced products. Most of countries in the region being developing economies and having a large base of cost-conscious consumers, focusing on ways of reducing product costs could also enable vendors to reach-out to a larger consumer base.Transparency Market Research states that the endoscopy devices market in Asia Pacific will expand at a healthy pace of 7.6% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024. The market, which had a valuation of US$7.76 bn in 2015, is expected to rise to US$14.8 bn by 2024.Rise in Investments and Mergers and Acquisitions to Have Far-reaching Impact on Markets TrajectoryOn a global scale, the endoscopy devices market has witnessed a vast rise in investment in companies already operating in the endoscopy devices business and acquisition of a large number of specialty medical device makers by many global medical device giants. A recent instance is the April 2016 acquisition of Stanmore Implants Worldwide Limited by Stryker Corporation. The vast numbers of mergers and acquisitions have helped the market gain notable level of maturation. This has also allowed global players to increase their scope for market expansion and pay more focus on lucrative regional markets such as Asia Pacific.The Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market is also driven by the vast rise in the regions geriatric population, rising disposable incomes, increased emphasis on minimally invasive surgeries, increased healthcare expenditures. With the vast rise in geriatric population, especially in countries such as Japan and China, the number of surgeries employing a variety of endoscopy devices has also skyrocketed.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:High Costs of Treatment and Dearth of Trained Surgeons Still Key Challenges for MarketA vast share of population in Asia Pacific still belong to middle class or lower middle class income group. The relatively higher costs of endoscopy devices and inevitably the surgeries and diagnostic methods involving these devices is a huge setback when it comes to serving this demographic. The factor is a key restraint to the overall development of the Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market presently and is expected to remain a key-impact factor for the market for the next few years as well.Along with this, the factor of lack of adequate specialist surgeons and physicians trained and qualified for using complex medical devices such as endoscopes is also a prominent restraint for the Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market. According to the World Bank, China, India, and Indonesia had 1.8, 0.6, and 0.3 physicians per 1,000 people, including general and specialist medical practitioners.Nevertheless, factors such as the rising awareness regarding the availability of effective medical devices for treating complex health conditions and rising prevalence of a number of chronic conditions will continue to drive the increased demand for endoscopy devices in Asia Pacific in the next few years. On the basis of geography, Japan led the market in 2015, accounting for a 35% share in markets overall revenues. The product segment of endoscopy visualization systems dominated, accounting for over 46% of markets overall revenues in 2015.This review of the Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market is based on a recent report published by Transparency Market Research, titled Endoscopy Devices Market - Asia Pacific Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20162024.For this study, the market has been segmented as follows:Asia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market, by DevicesEndoscopic DevicesRigid EndoscopeFlexible EndoscopeCapsule EndoscopeRobot Assisted EndoscopeEndoscopic Operative DevicesEnergy SystemsSuction/Irrigation SystemsAccess DevicesOperative Hand InstrumentsOther Endoscopic Operative DevicesVisualization SystemsEndoscopic Ultrasound DevicesStandard Definition (SD) Visualization SystemsStandard Definition (SD) Two Dimensional (2D) Visualization SystemsStandard Definition (SD) Three Dimensional (3D) Visualization SystemsHigh Definition (HD) Visualization SystemsHigh Definition (HD) Two Dimensional (2D) Visualization SystemsHigh Definition (HD) Three Dimensional (3D) Visualization SystemsAsia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market, by ApplicationUrology/Gynecology SurgeriesENT SurgeriesNeuro/Spinal SurgeriesLaparoscopy SurgeriesOthersAsia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market, by GeographyAustraliaChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaNew ZealandSingaporeRest of Asia PacificDownload Exclusive Sample 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 Demand for Contact Lenses to Rise to 2,135.0 mn units by 2024, reports TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/contact-lens-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1787 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global market for contact lenses features a consolidated competitive landscape, with the top four companies, including Johnson & Johnson, The Cooper Companies, Alcona Inc. and Bausch and Lomb, accounting for a share of nearly 68% in the global market in 2015, states Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new report. Johnson & Johnson, the largest vendor in the market, held nearly 31% share in the global market in the same year.Volume-wise, the market is expected to rise to 2,135.0 mn units by 2024. TMR also estimates that the global contact lens market, which had a valuation of US$9.74 bn in 2015 in terms of revenue, is expected to expand at a 7.6% CAGR from 2016 through 2024, and rise to US$18.70 bn by 2024. Of the key technologies used for manufacturing contact lenses, the cast molding technology is presently the most preferred, accounting for a share of over 80% of the markets overall revenues in 2015.contact-lens-marketRising Prevalence of Ophthalmic Disorders and Rising Popularity as Fashion Accessory Boost Global Sales of Contact LensesThe vast rise in the worlds population that suffers from a variety of ophthalmic disorders has emerged as the primary growth driver of the global contact lens market lately. The rise in younger population with issues such as refractory errors and weakened eyesight have especially increased the global consumption of contact lenses, which are being increasingly preferred for their comfort, convenience, and aesthetics.The easy availability of colored, disposable, and affordable varieties of contact lenses have also led to the vast rise in their usage as fashion accessories globally. Attempts made by contact lens manufacturers to educate masses about the proper and safe use of contact lenses and the availability of vast product varieties across distant corners of the globe have also helped stimulate the growth of the global contact lens market in the past few years.Concerns Regarding Damage from Careless Usage Continue to Limit Large-scale AdoptionBrowse Global Strategic Business Report:Owing to the fact that contact lenses are worn directly on the cornea of the eye, they are required to be handled with exceptional care to prevent eye infections, ulcerations and other eye diseases. It is thus a widely known fact that careless handling or storage of contact lenses, or sleeping with the lenses on can have severe implications after the lenses are worn and remains a key challenge hindering the large-scale usage of contact lenses among skeptical consumers.Along with this, the fact that practitioners are not well equipped to prescribe contact lenses in certain developing economies across regions such as Asia Pacific and Middle East also threatens to limit the overall growth prospects of the global contact lens market to a certain extent.Emerging Economies to Present Excellent Growth OpportunitiesNevertheless, the vast untapped opportunities in developing regions can allow vendors in the market to gain substantial traction in the next few years. Expansion across these regions will require innovative marketing strategies and ways of educating the masses about the proper usage of contact lenses will have to be adopted. Over the period between 2016 and 2024, the market for contact lenses in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a considerable CAGR. The APAC market is expected to reach US$4.76 bn by 2024.Prominent vendors in the market, including Novartis International AG, Menicon Group, STAAR Surgical, Carl Zeiss AG, SynergEyes Inc., Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Essilor International S.A., Valeant Pharmaceuticals, and Bausch and Lomb have strengthened their hold in regional markets with these approaches. Strategies such as innovation and new product development, high investments in research and development, and exploitation of novel marketing and sales channels have also helped key companies hold sway in the market in the past years. Incorporation of new technologies for upgradation of products and strategic acquisitions entered-in with the aim of expanding product portfolios and market position across regional markets will help companies in beating competition in the next few years.This review of the global contact lens market is based on a recent market research report published by Transparency Market Research, titled Contact Lens Market -Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024.For this report, the market has been segmented as follows:Global Contact Lens Market, by Product TypeSoft LensGas Permeable (GP)Global Contact Lens Market, by Design TypeSphericalToricMultifocalOthersGlobal Contact Lens Market, by Technology TypeSpin CastingCast MoldingLathe CuttingGlobal Contact Lens Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeU.K.GermanyFranceRussiaItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaRest of APACLatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaDownload Exclusive Sample 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: Ambulatory Surgical Centers Growing Popularity Stimulates Demand for Operating Room Equipment, says TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/operating-room-equipment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1674 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com About 42% of the global operating room equipment market was in the hands of a large number of regional players in 2014, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. This highly fragmented market witnesses a towering presence of about five key players including Siemens Healthcare, Stryker Corporation, and GE Healthcare that hold significant shares from the remainder. GE Healthcare, for instance, held close to 19% of the operating room equipment revenues in 2014, which was the single largest in that year.According to Transparency Market Research, all key players are showing a common trait of heavy investments in research and development in operating room equipment innovations. Successful innovations have allowed these players to maintain major revenue shares for the time being.Push for Ambulatory Surgical Centers Expected to Propel Operating Room Equipment DemandAmbulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are a relatively modern approach towards out-patient surgical solutions. They cater specifically to those surgical procedures that do not require a patient to stay overnight in a hospital.In the U.S., in 2012, there were more than 5,000 Medicare-approved ASCs, as the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services had revealed. There was a rise in 24% for the Medicare payments made to ASCs between 2007 and 2012, explains a TMR analyst. This establishes the already set importance of ASCs in developed economies, and the demand for ASCs is only expected to grow even further over the coming years, she adds. As a result, vendors of operating room equipment are expected to find a high scope of growth in similar regions.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Players Can Look to APAC and LATAM for Bigger OpportunitiesHigh population density and rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure are the two biggest reasons for globally present companies for operating room equipment to find sustainable options in the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions. This applies especially to India, where the rapid growth of multispecialty hospitals is creating a high demand for hybrid operating rooms. Fortis Healthcare, Wockhardt Hospitals, and Apollo Hospitals, to name a few, are where entrants to Asia Pacific can look to, says the analyst.Additionally, the massive presence of an overseas patient pool due to the rise of medical tourism is creating an optimistic scope of growth for both hospitals and operating room equipment sales. In the case of Brazil, Mexico, and other Latin American countries hold a high percentage of unmet medical needs. This gap in supply and demand, coupled with the growing healthcare expenditure through improved disposable incomes of patients will be beneficial for the proliferation of operating room equipment providers in the region.The global operating room equipment market is expanding at a CAGR of 6.68% within a forecast period from 2015 to 2023. This market will be valued above US$42 bn in 2023, after being recorded around US$24 bn in 2014. A major contribution to this growth rate is made by the movable imaging products segment, which is progressing at a CAGR of 8.20% within the same forecast period.The above data is collated from a research report released by TMR, titled Operating Room Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20152023.Key Segments of the Global Operating Room Equipment MarketGlobal Operating Room Equipment Market, by Product TypeMovable Imaging SystemsBiomedical SystemsEndoscopesAnesthesia SystemsOperating TablesOperating Room LightsSurgical Imaging DisplaysOperating Room Integration SystemsSurgical BoomsMicroscopesGlobal Operating Room Equipment Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.Rest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaRest of Asia PacificRest of the WorldLatin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaDownload Exclusive Sample 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 Hemophilia Treatment Drugs Market: FDA Approvals for Testing Novel Drugs Opens up Opportunities, says TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/hemophilia-treatment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1900 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global hemophilia market is quite consolidated with about ten players holding a significant share. Of these, Shire Plc., Novo Nordisk A/S, and Pfizer Inc. held lions share of 48.8% in the overall market in 2015. Strategic acquisitions to enhance the product portfolio and improve the research and development base has been the key strategy of these players to remain dominant.According to the research report, the global hemophilia treatment drugs market is expected to be worth US$25.1 bn in 2024 as compared to US$15.8 bn in 2015. During the forecast period of 2016 and 2024, the overall market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 5.4%.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:North America Moves Forward with Well-established Healthcare InfrastructureThe various products available in the global hemophilia treatment drugs market are recombinant coagulation factor concentrates, plasma derived coagulation factor concentrates, desmopressin, and antifibrinolytic agents. Of these, the recombinant coagulation factor concentrates are poised to lead the global market as the segment estimated to acquire a share of 46.9% by the end of 2024. The growing preference for recombinant factor therapies due to the low risk of blood-related infections is expected to fuel the growth of this segment.Geographically, this market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, North America is likely to dominate the global market in the coming years due to the well-established healthcare infrastructure and the rising disposable incomes. The growing awareness amongst citizens about the various treatments available to treat diseases is also likely to boost the growth of the overall market. The report suggests that the North America hemophilia treatment drugs market is expected to lead the global market with a share of 40.6% by the end of 2024.Investments in Developing Breakthrough Products to Augment Demand for DrugsThe global hemophilia treatment drugs market is on the cusp of a major revolution as a large number of new drugs are expected to create a wave of change, states the lead author of this research report. These drugs come with a promise of long-lasting clotting factors. For instance, emicizumab being developed by Roche has shown possibility of prophylactic efficiency in people who suffer from severe Hemophilia A. The growing focus on prophylaxis treatment to manage bleeding episodes by regularly infusing clotting factor concentrates is expected to propel the overall market. Demand for this type of treatment is expected to spike as the regular infusion of clotting factors can transform severe hemophilia to moderate hemophilia over time.The market is also thriving due to the increasing investments in developing breakthrough products. For instance, in July 2016, Pfizer and Spark Therapeutics received FDA approval for SPK-9001, a drug that is being tested for being a one-time therapy for treating Hemophilia B. Furthermore, incentives by the FDA for orphan drugs such as tax credits, market exclusivity, and grants are expected to propel the market in the positive direction in the coming years as well.Low Rate of Diagnosis Restrains Sale of DrugsThe biggest challenge in the global hemophilia treatment drugs market is the low rate of diagnosis amongst patients. Though genetic testing is available for this disease, several patients remain unaware of it due to lack of awareness, especially in the remote regions of the world. The market is also being restrained due to the high cost of drugs and even costlier rate of therapy to treat the disease.This review is based on Transparency Market Researchs report, titled Hemophilia Treatment Drugs Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024.The global hemophilia treatment drugs market is segmented as follows:Global Hemophilia Treatment Drugs Market Revenue, by Product typeRecombinant coagulation factor concentratesFactor VIIIFactor IXCombinationPlasma derived coagulation factor concentratesFactor VIIIFactor IXCombinationDesmopressinAntifibrinolytic agentsGlobal Hemophilia Treatment Drugs Market Revenue, by Disease indicationHemophilia AHemophilia BOthersGlobal Hemophilia Treatment Drugs Market Revenue, by Distribution ChannelHospital PharmaciesRetail PharmaciesE-commerceGlobal Hemophilia Treatment Drugs Market Revenue, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyFranceItalySpainU.K.Rest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaAustralia & New ZealandRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaSaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaDownload Exclusive Sample 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: Curved Televisions Market - Increasing demand for these devices from commercial as well as residential sectors http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2897 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Innovative design and enhanced features of curved television have led to the increasing demand for these devices from commercial as well as residential sectors.These televisions attract the customers attention; as a result, advertisers use these televisions to display their offerings in various retail outlets and exclusive showrooms.Enhanced features of curved televisions include surround view, auto depth enhancer, uniform viewing distance, amazing real colors and high resolution (Full HD and Ultra HD) among others. Additionally, the use of LED and OLED technologies in curved television ensures long life, energy efficiency, environment friendliness and low operational cost.Request A Sample Of This Report-These features encourage customers to purchase curved televisions to improve the viewing experience. Presently, there are a limited number of manufacturers of curved television in the market; however, over the forecast period more players are expected to enter into the market.Manufacturers such as Toshiba, Panasonic and Hisense Co. Ltd. among others who are leaders in television industry are expected to enter into the market with curved televisions in their product portfolio.The large-sized curved televisions include screens with standard sizes such as 105 inches, 85 inches and 78 inches. In 2013, the market for large-sized curved television was small as compared to mid-sized and small-sized curved televisions.However, with increasing promotional activities by companies such as Samsung and LG across the globe and alteration in prices, the market for large-sized curved television is expected to grow in coming years. Additionally, customers in commercial sector such as hotel industry and shopping malls offer tremendous opportunities for the curved televisions manufacturers to market their large-sized curved televisions.The mid-sized curved televisions are available with screen sizes such as 65 inches and 55 inches. The mid-sized curved televisions market is leading in terms of revenue share across all the geographies.This dominance attributed to the demand of such televisions in commercial sector. The small-sized curved televisions include television with screen sizes less than 55 inches. Generally, the standard small-sized curved televisions are available with screen size of 48 inches. The demand for such television is expected to increase over the forecast period.This demand is attributed to reduction in prices of curved televisions. For instance, in July, 2013 Samsung launched its 55 inches curved televisions for USD 15,000 and in August 2013 the company reduced its price to USD 9,000. Due to high prices, customers chose flat screen television with similar features at fewer prices over curved televisions.In 2013, North America was the largest market in terms of revenue followed by Europe. However, the Asia-Pacific and RoW are expected to show high growth over the forecast period.This is due to the tremendous opportunities in these regional markets owing to low penetration compared to North America and Europe. Rising disposable income and increasing living standards in emerging economies of Asia-Pacific and RoW are some important factors supporting the growth of curved television market in these regions.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: Vinyl Acetate Monomer Market Size, Share | Industry Trends Analysis Report, 2020 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2962 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020 According to the report, global vinyl acetate monomer market was valued at USD 6.82 billion in 2013 and is anticipated to reach USD 9.26 billion in 2020, expanding at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2014 and 2020.The market for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) is driven by high demand for adhesives from end-user industries such as construction, automotives and furniture. Moreover, the global vinyl acetate monomer market is driven by increasing demand for VAM copolymers from paints and coatings industry.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical insights :Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) is one of the key polymers used in manufacture of adhesives and emulsions. Increasing demand for ethylene-vinyl acetate and ethylene-vinyl alcohol from solar PV cells and the food packaging industry respectively are likely to provide better opportunities for the vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) market over the forecast period. However, highly volatility of raw material prices, limited technology and over production in the market is anticipated to hinder the growth of the market in near future.Application segments such as polyvinyl acetate (PVA/PVAc) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) exhibited the highest demand for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) in 2013. Both polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol are commonly used in the production of adhesives, paints and coatings and also in the paper industry. Ethylene-vinyl acetate demand accounted for around 7% in the vinyl acetate monomer market in 2013. The demand for ethylene-vinyl acetate is likely to grow in the near future owing to demand from the packaging and energy industry segments. Ethylene-vinyl acetate, which is required in manufacturing of food packaging films, is estimated to be the fastest growing application in the vinyl acetate monomer market in the next few years.With over 40% share in total demand, Asia Pacific dominated the demand for vinyl acetate monomer in 2013. The region is projected to demonstrate latent growth for the vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) market during the forecast period. In terms of market share, Asia Pacific was followed by Europe and North America, both of which are projected to exhibit relatively slower growth numbers for the vinyl acetate monomer market during the forecast period. The demand for vinyl acetate monomer is increasing slightly in North America region due to an increasing demand from the adhesives and packaging industries. Rest of the World is anticipated to witness stable demand for vinyl acetate monomer between 2014 and 2020.The report provides a comprehensive view of the vinyl acetate monomer market in terms of volume and revenue. Additionally, the report includes current demand analysis and forecast for applications in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. The report comprises the following segments:Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Market - Application AnalysisPolyvinyl acetate (PVA/PVAc)Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)Ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH)Others (Including vinyl acetate ethylene, etc.)Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Market - Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the WorldAbout 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 UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: The Genomics Market is chiefly driven by the intensifying level of competition in the global pharmaceutical industry and the increased use of genomics in research and development of new drug classes :2024 Global Genomics Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1147 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2768+1-518-618-1030 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.in/ Global Genomics Market: OverviewGenomics, the science of studying genomes and their interaction with a variety of stimuli, has been the focus of extensive research and development activities in the few years. The field has witnessed a significant rise in technologies that promise a better understanding of genomes and their interaction with the environment and tools that use research results to understand the role played by genomes in the growth and survival of all organisms.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :This report on the global genomics market presents a thorough overview of the present state of the market and its segments, with projections estimating the future dynamics of markets growth trajectory. Predictions about the market are formed based on a detailed analysis of factors such as drivers, restraints, popular trends of past and present times, regulatory scenario, recent developments in terms of technology and products, level of competition in the market.The market has been examined on regional and global levels and vast qualitative and quantitative details pertaining to key aspects of the market have been included in the study. The report also presents a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape of the market, wherein details for aspects such as profiles of key vendors, recent developments, financial data (wherever available), growth strategies, and association with activities such as mergers and acquisitions are covered.Global Genomics Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe global genomics market is chiefly driven by the intensifying level of competition in the global pharmaceutical industry and the increased use of genomics in research and development of new drug classes. An increased demand for genetically modified animals and plants and the constantly reducing prices of genetic procedures are also leading to significant developments in the global genomics market through a rising scope for research and innovation.The use of genomics concepts in the field of synthetic biology, to study gene sequences of plants and living organisms, is expected to leverage the progress made in the field of synthetic cells and DNAs in the near future. Such rise in applications is also expected to lead to vast traction to the global genomics market in the future.Global Genomics Market: Geographical DynamicsThe report presents an overview of the market for genomics across regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa. Developed regions such as North America and Europe presently lead the global genomics market owing to the availability of abundant funds and the presence of a large number of companies undertaking research in the field of molecular biology. In Europe, vast initiatives undertaken by the European Union to encourage research in the field of genomics has spurred the rate of growth of the market.In the next few years, the market is expected to witness the most significant development across Asia Pacific owing to strengthening economies of developing countries such as India and China and the increased focus of the respective governments on encouraging research in the field of genomics. Furthermore, the fact that China hosts the worlds largest genomic research institute, the Beijing Genomics Institute, is also helping the Asia Pacific genomics market to sustain its growth rate.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe global genomics market features a vast number of companies from the healthcare industry and several educational institutions, which are enriching the field through their research activities and innovative technologies that could present a more efficient analysis of genomes. Some of the key companies operating in the market are Bayer AG, Affymetrix Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Genomatix Software Inc., Navigenics, Inc., Roche Diagnostics, Myriad Genetics, Inc., QIAGEN, Inc., Illumina, Inc., and GE Healthcare.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:USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas Market - Global Industry Analysis 2020 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2975 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Escalating demand for energy along with the need for oil and gas monitoring in underwater application is expected to drive growth in global underwater monitoring systems for oil and gas market. Rising application of underwater monitoring system in deepwater monitoring is likely to augment the growth in the global underwater monitoring systems market. Complexity in the operation and maintenance of the subsea pipelines is anticipated to further boost the demand for underwater monitoring system for oil and gas market.The global market for underwater monitoring system can be segmented on the basis of application and geography. On the basis of application, the global market for underwater monitoring system can be fragmented as: deepwater monitoring and subsea pipeline monitoring. The global market for underwater monitoring system for oil and gas on the basis of product type can be fragmented as: underwater environmental monitoring devices, underwater robots, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). The unmanned underwater vehicles can be further sub-segmented into remotely operated vehicles or autonomous underwater vehicles.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical insights :The global market for the underwater monitoring system for oil and gas is likely to increase at moderate rates. Following underlying factors are the key drivers of growth in the global underwater monitoring system market. Market growth in the global underwater monitoring system is driven by the increasing global energy demand. Rapid rise in offshore deepwater and ultra deepwater is expected to increase the demand for global underwater monitoring system market. The increased economic viability of deepwater developments is likely to drive growth in the deepwater monitoring market and thus increase the global demand for underwater monitoring system market.Emerging application of underwater robots in oil and gas market is expected to augment the markets growth. The increasing application of underwater monitoring system, including harbor defense and tracking of illegal underwater activities is estimated to propel the global demand for underwater monitoring systems. Furthermore, the application of underwater monitoring system for hurricane monitoring for oil platforms is likely to boost the demand for global underwater monitoring system in the future.The global market for underwater monitoring system is rising steadily and is likely to register moderate growth in the future. North America is anticipated to play an important role in the growth of the global underwater monitoring system market. North America is expected to hold a considerable share in the global market for underwater monitoring system. Application of underwater robots to monitor gulf oil spill is likely to boost growth of the underwater monitoring system market in the Gulf of Mexico and globally.Increasing application of unmanned underwater vehicles for inspection, maintenance and repair is likely to further boost growth of the underwater monitoring systems market. Asia Pacific is one of the key markets for the growth of the global underwater monitoring systems. Europe, and the Middle East and Africa are relatively in the nascent or development phase in the global underwater monitoring system market.The global market players in the underwater monitoring system market are adopting strategies of increasing their global presence, research and development and advent of new technologies. There is also a presence of a large number of players at country level or regional level. Some of the key players in the global underwater monitoring system market include: Bowtech Products Limited, OceanServer Technology, Inc., DSPComm, and Kongsberg Maritime AS.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 PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsAbout 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 UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Laugh out loud anecdotes, tales of controlled chaos and what author Joel Vernier refers to as episodic insanity line each page of his newly-released book, The Guinea Pig in the Freezer. Author Vernier, of Gladwin County, has written his signature humor column, A View From The Comfy Chair, for six years for various Michigan newspapers. I literally had tears streaming down my face from laughter as I read it, said Carol Jacobs, of Midland, who deemed the book an easy read. It is very funny and showcases the many experiences and inadequacies parents go through. Vernier dedicates the book to his daughter Chris and to all of the animals that have enriched our lives. To all parents who have, will, or are raising children and to everyone that enjoys a little humor. The book highlights his daughters Oct. 2, 1990 arrival into the world and life with her and her many, and various types of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and a guinea pig. Although the rodent died 20 years ago, Verniers then 6-year-old daughter couldnt face burying it. So, they put it in a basement freezer, where it still rests. Vernier expects a spring burial. Like I said, episodic insanity, Vernier said. And you know, small furry animals dont get freezer burned! The author lives life with his positive, logical and funny style, and this has led to careers in sales and sales management, consulting and writing. He currently is a management consultant and keynote speaker. Life throws many things at all of us, he said. We can shape our attitude through the prism of laughter, its all in your perspective! While parents can relate to the book, it lends many laughs to non-parents alike. I was hooked on this book when (Vernier) wrote about trying to use the Lamaze instructions while his wife was in labor, said Alex Sperry, of Gladwin, who doesnt have children. Sperry was referring to the passage where Vernier writes: Birthing was reality, and (wife) Carol was having a tough go at it. I tried talking to her, sharing the instructions we learned at Lamaze classes and her comments to me sounded a lot like something a burly street fighter might come up with in a dark alley when asking for your wallet. The nurses told me this was completely normal; unfortunately, I didnt have a dictionary to look up some of the utterances, although they might not have even been in the dictionary. Vernier began scripting the Guinea Pig pages six years ago. He wrote most of the book in his year off after falling victim to downsizing at the pharmaceutical company where he worked in sales. He continued to write the book while battling leukemia. Vernier said writing the book was a fun experience, reliving the many funny moments and learning instances. It was fun for me. I dont necessarily have the best memory for names, the author said. But the clarity of the instances, it was like I had a photographic memory. My wife asked me how I remembered and I told her it was just a gift, he added. The author shared many of his stories with friends and family through the years and they told him he should write down the stories. Everything in the book did occur, Vernier said. Its a positive book, written for all ages. He said one of the nice things about the book is there is no bad language, no sex and no violence. There are tons of anecdotal humor, Vernier said. Such as when he compares his wifes contractions to Wile E. Coyotes experience. You know the one where Wile E. Coyote has a bottle of ACME Earthquake Pills? He accidentally swallows some pills and he has an earthquake in his body. In addition to the episodic insanity that his daughter brought to his life, Vernier also shares his successful parenting moments, his blunders and mixed moments. Along the way, I made some mistakes, did some things right, but loved all of it, more than I anticipated, Vernier said of raising his daughter. I hope people reading this book will smile a little, laugh a little and enjoy many of the situations that happened along the journey, he added Many people have thought about writing a book, but Vernier found the inner discipline to complete the task and use his life as an illustration for the comedic book with a few serious moments in the Guinea Pig in the Freezer. Many people have great ideas, great expectations the challenge is to do the daily discipline of writing, Vernier said. Lots of people are great story tellers. The book is for sale on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. It is selling briskly, Vernier said. To learn more, visit www.theguineapiginthefreezer.com Mark Litten, the Ohio native who was hired by Bay Future, Inc. to take the agencys job-creating endeavors to a new level, is no longer president of the organization. The public-private economic development agency has announced that Litten, 57, has resigned from his post after two years on the job and the successful completion of The Future is Now fundraising campaign that raised more than $1.2 million. According to Bay Future, Litten is pursuing other opportunities in economic development. His sudden resignation caught officials by surprise. I, too, was surprised when I heard, said Auburn Mayor Lee Kilbourn, a member of Bay Futures board of directors. I last talked to Mark in late November, early December, and thought he was doing a good job. A little sudden, a little premature, said Trevor Keyes, Bay Future vice president, noting Litten had one year remaining on a three-year contract. But that doesnt stop the investment, the projects and the job creation that is occurring in Bay County. During the past two years, Bay Future has helped bring more than 600 new jobs and $150 million in investment to Bay County, officials said. These projects include Tri-City Brewery, F.P. Horak and ATS Screen Printing, Keyes said. Bay Futures board has begun a search for Littens replacement. Keyes, who served as interim CEO and president while the organization conducted a national search that resulted in Littens selection for the top job in January 2015, will be the point of contact during the recruitment process. When he accepted the job, Litten, an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan, said, I was born and raised in Ohio, so the decision to apply and ultimately accept the position was not one that I took lightly. But the opportunity to live, work and play in Bay County and the Great Lakes Bay Region and be part of a growing community was a huge factor in that decision. Litten did not return messages seeking comment. Tim Rokosz, chairman of the Bay Future board, declined, through a spokesperson, to comment. Bay Future officials, in a statement, credited Litten for helping define the future direction of the organization through development of a strategic plan. Keyes said the agency remains well-positioned to continue strengthening its partnerships with local governments, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, private investors, as well as the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance. Kilbourn, who has promoted Auburn as a desirable place to set up shop in his role as the citys mayor, is a staunch advocate of Bay Futures efforts. The organization has people from all walks of life coming together to make Bay County better, he said. Were talking about bringing in industry that pays workers a living wage on which they can buy a home and raise a family. Need a lift from the lingering fog and rain? At least two Midland bakeries will have pies in the oven most of the day, and you can get a slice free with any purchase in observance of National Pie Day. Grand Traverse Pie Co. at its 2600 North Saginaw Road site is serving its Michigan fruit pie in apple crumb or cherry crumb varieties free all day with any purchase. Grand Traverse Pie Co. is open until 9 p.m. To the editor: Does anyone recall the last time Republican Congressman John Moolenaar conducted an official district office hours gathering or held a public town hall meeting with his disenfranchised and underserved constituents in Midland County? Lately it seems Michigans 4th District U.S. House representative only takes/makes time to show up at member-only Midland Area Chamber of Commerce business groups, invitation-only Republican Party 4th District Roundups, his $45/plate Picnic at the Tridge fundraisers or at A(lmost) G(overnor) Bill Schuettes annual $50/family Mid-Michigan BBQ at the Midland County Fairgrounds. When, where and how is Congressman Moolenaar planning to explain to upset citizens right here in his hometown why he voted to repeal the healthcare coverage of 6,500 Midlanders and 887,000 Michiganders? Has anyone actually received an official copy of the patient-friendly, private sector, market-based healthcare replacement plan their Republican House representative and his office staff have been publicly bragging about for almost three years? Contact Rep. John Moolenaar at either his district office in Midland at (989) 631-2552 or at his congressional office in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-3561. Ask him why he no longer feels it necessary to communicate his personal political agenda with you and your family. Please take the time to share his explanation with your partner, parents, friends, neighbors and co-workers since their conservative congressional representative doesnt feel its necessary to do so. ERIC ANDERS Midland BLOOMINGTON Twin City residents should check their enthusiasm about President Donald Trump's pledge to lower taxes, says an Illinois State University economics professor. "Most of them are not going to notice a difference in their paychecks, and I dont think were going to see big changes in the overall (local) economy," said associate professor Oguzhan Dincer. The more important level of government (for taxation) is the state. That affects us on a daily basis." Dincer and J.D. Foster, chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have offered differing views of the potential impact of the new president's tax plans, which, according to the Tax Policy Center, include lowering the corporate tax rate, cutting personal income tax rates, increasing standard deduction amounts, repealing personal exemptions and capping itemized deductions. "The income tax part is really scary," Dincer said, because "the revenue loss is really scary. That might affect how much Illinois gets from the federal government, he said. I really dont see a big change in the Bloomington-Normal economy, but when it comes to our personal lives, especially services provided to the poor at the state level, we will feel it. Foster painted a different picture when he visited Bloomington-Normal last month, suggesting a big economic boost from cutting the federal corporate tax. Its really a testament to how great our businesses are in this country that they can compete on a global scale with this kind of handicap, said Foster, who has also worked at a conservative research organization in Washington, D.C., and for several Republican congressmen. Imagine how great they would be if we got the (federal corporate tax) rate down. Both agreed on some points, however, including that Trump will attempt to cut the corporate income tax rate but could struggle to implement aggressive changes over the next four years. Reduction in the corporate tax rate is good, and this is going to help some small or medium-(sized) businesses, but I dont know if its going to have a big effect for the community as a whole," Dincer said. "Even during the recession, you didnt see a lot of businesses going bankrupt in Bloomington-Normal, and were not going to see an employment boom." Dincer also said changes in corporate tax loopholes likely will have little impact in the Twin Cities because they are exploited primarily by bigger corporations, especially in the financial sector. He said he's more concerned that Trump's trade policies could negatively affect Central Illinois businesses. If the U.S. goes into a trade war, and say, we piss the Chinese off, China buys Caterpillar products, he said. Suppose China cuts ties with Caterpillar and starts getting big machinery from Korea. Whats going to happen to Illinois? ... If I were an executive at Caterpillar, I would be freaking out today. Trump's tax plan may benefit the rich while slashing tax revenue. "His proposal would cut taxes at all income levels, although the largest benefits, in dollar and percentage terms, would go to the highest-income households," according to the Tax Policy Center. "Revenues would fall by $6.2 trillion over the first decade before accounting for added interest costs and macroeconomic effects." He added giving the wealthy the biggest tax cuts could worsen conflict between socioeconomic classes, which "is bad for everything, including growth. The idea of the tax cut is that it will be translated into more investment, which will be translated into more employment. That did not happen with the Bush tax cut, and it will not happen after these tax cuts, Dincer said. To me, its a bad plan. Foster said large-scale individual tax reform is unlikely. SPRINGFIELD A decision by a McLean County judge to seal court records in the murder case against Kirk Zimmerman has been appealed by The Pantagraph. The newspaper is challenging a move by the defense to seal two motions from public access. Zimmerman, 58, is charged with the November 2015 shooting death of his former wife Pam Zimmerman, 53, at her Bloomington office. Judge Scott Drazewski granted a motion from defense lawyer John Rogers on Dec. 22 to keep two motions to suppress certain potential evidence under seal until after a jury is chosen in Zimmerman's case. Prosecutors told the judge they do not intend to use the information in their case. Media lawyer Don Craven said the appeal filed with the 4th District Appellate Court seeks to provide public access to court records that are presumably open. WGLT radio and the Illinois Press Association also are part of the challenge to the judge's ruling. "What you have in this case is a court ruling based on motions that you can't see and documents you can't review with no public discussion on what is sealed and why it's sealed. That's not how the public court system works," said Craven, of Springfield. Craven argues in the appeal that Drazewski failed to follow a 2005 4th District Court decision that reversed the sealing of records and proceedings in the Maurice LaGrone Jr. murder case in DeWitt County. The appellate court reversed a judge's decision in that case to close the courtroom and records related to potential evidence against LaGrone, who was convicted in 2007 of killing his girlfriend's three children. "The trial court is bound to follow the decisions of the 4th District, and its decision to attempt to supersede those decisions must be reversed," states Craven's appeal. In his arguments to keep the material secret, Rogers told the judge in December that release "would result in the publication of inflammatory, prejudicial, irrelevant materials that could contaminate the jury pool and make it difficult to pick a jury in this matter." The state took no position on the defense requests and suggested that the decision to exclude the material from its case may be a matter of trial strategy rather than what the defense considers prejudicial, according to First Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist. Rogers dropped his motion to close the courtroom for a hearing on the potential evidence after the judge ruled to keep the information sealed. Craven has asked for an expedited hearing on the appeal. BLOOMINGTON The City Council will hear the latest results of a west Bloomington residents' survey before voting Monday on having a "community house" in their neighborhood for use by police. In a survey conducted by Mid Central Community Action in the last month, 81.7 percent of respondents living in the neighborhood immediately surrounding the house at 828 W. Jefferson St. said increased police engagement would make the neighborhood safer, and 91.5 percent said they want a "police engagement center i.e. substation" in the neighborhood. The measure, if approved by the council, would include the city funding $5,000 to $10,000 for improvements to the house to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The council tabled a vote on Dec. 12 for one month after members of Black Lives Matter asked for more time to allow the community to have input on the issue. When the proposal was announced in December it was described as a police substation, a term the city no longer uses. Community Action acquired and rehabbed the house with Illinois attorney general grant money and has offered to lease the house to the city for $1 a month. It has called the facility the Jefferson Street Community House since beginning the project along with the West Bloomington Housing Collaborative (WBHC). Based on discussions during several public forums and community meetings in the past month, the proposed lease has been changed to clarify how the building would be used. The revisions include no longer referring to the premises as a police substation, but rather as a "community house" to reflect that it will be used "as a place for community engagement rather than a place where detention, suspect interviews or surveillance will take place," according to a staff memo prepared for the council. The revised lease requires the Bloomington Police Department to report to Community Action how frequently it uses the building, and the police department must host, with the WBHC, a minimum of four community events there annually. The WBHC will be able to host one community event at the house each month. The day after the city announced its plans to open a police substation there, Black Lives Matter issued a statement raising concerns about an increased police presence in the neighborhood. At Police Chief Brendan Heffner's focus group meeting Jan. 4 several residents said it might ease some people's concerns if it were not called a substation, said Heffner, adding, "I am fine with that." The site was offered to the police department after Community Action and WBHC questionnaires given earlier to neighbors revealed that some respondents saw a need for more police presence. Other neighbors disagreed or said they were not asked for their opinion. Matthew Drat, the director of resource development and community engagement for Community Action, will present the latest feedback obtained from door-to-door conversations and surveys collected from people who live in the immediate area of the site. In the latest survey, conducted since the substation plan was tabled Dec. 12, Community Action contacted 82 of 189 households in the immediate neighborhood. Of those who responded, 54.9 percent said they do not feel safe walking around the neighborhood at night; 57.3 percent said they do not feel their children were safe while playing or walking in the neighborhood; and 79.3 percent said they feel crime is an issue in the neighborhood. NORMAL President Donald Trump's ability to appoint one and potentially several more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court provides the new president the opportunity to shape the high court for decades to come. If Trump's campaign statements become reality, the first Supreme Court appointment to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia will be a traditional conservative in the fashion of the former justice who died almost a year ago. "Trump has said he's looking to replace Scalia with another Scalia," said Meghan Leonard, associate professor of politics and government at Illinois State University. Defense lawyer Jeff Brown said Trump's appointments to the high court could have long-lasting implications. "For a generation, his Supreme Court nominees will interpret issues like search and seizure, right to counsel and the death penalty," said Brown. Noting that Scalia interpreted the Constitution through the lens of its original authors, Brown said the nomination of a Scalia-type justice "is of obvious concern for minorities, considering the original document was written only by white men, many of whom were slave owners, with outdated ideas of human equality as it related to minorities and women." A number of important issues could be brought before the high court, including abortion rights and immigration reform, affording a Trump appointee the chance to vote in favor of decisions that support a more conservative agenda. At the top of the list of 21 potential picks is Judge William Pryor of Alabama, considered a favorite because of his ties to Jeff Sessions, Trump's attorney general designate, who also hails from Alabama. Pryor has criticized Supreme Court decisions on gay rights, abortion and the Miranda warning. If Trump chooses to name another woman to the Supreme Court, Wisconsin's federal appeals court Judge Diane Sykes may be on the short list. Naming a conservative woman to the bench "could be a politically savvy move," said Leonard, and offer a sharp contrast to the current three liberal-leaning female jurists. The movement to reform some of the more costly consequences of the criminal justice system could take a hit under a Trump administration, said Leonard. Neither the billions spent on incarcerating two million people nor the human cost that comes when families are separated is likely to decline after the inauguration, according to the professor. "As a society, we have to do a better job in our discussion of what crime is. We need a better balance so that people understand there's a difference between the people we are actually putting in prison and what they see on the news. More than anything what we criminalize is poverty," said Leonard. Two areas immigration and drug laws are likely to see tougher enforcement under a Trump administration. The threat of deportation for millions of undocumented immigrants will translate to more people detained many of them in private prisons that saw a more than 40 percent jump in stock prices after the November election. A reversal of former President Obama's executive order that allowed more than a million young immigrants to work and attend school without fear of deportation also could have dire consequences for the immigrant population. The move by 21 states to decriminalize marijuana possession could hit a roadblock if newly arriving Justice Department officials decide to enforce federal laws against the drug. A current federal provision allows states to enact marijuana laws without federal interference. If Sessions' nomination for attorney general is approved, the number of federal investigations into police misconduct, including officer-involved shootings, is likely to decrease, said Leonard. "Now these cases are civil rights issues. You won't see as many prosecutions of police officers," predicted Leonard, pointing out that police unions were among the biggest contributors to Trump's campaign. McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage said he does not agree with Trump's positions on every issue, but he welcomes the new president's support of law enforcement. "I appreciate his plans to provide more funding. We can use more (Critical Incident Team) training and training for diversity and communication," said Sandage. Criticism of law enforcement by some members of the previous administration has had a negative impact, added the sheriff. EUREKA The head of the White House Historical Association will be the guest speaker at a Feb. 3 dinner at Eureka College in honor of the birth of the school's most famous graduate, former President Ronald Reagan. Stewart McLaurin has been president of the association since May 2014. The non-profit organization was founded in 1961 by then-first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to protect, preserve and provide public access to the history of the U.S. Executive Mansion. McLaurin has served in executive positions with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, the Motion Picture Association, Georgetown University and the federal government. The dinner is sponsored by the Ronald W. Reagan Society of Eureka College with support from the PNC. Tickets are $50 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 309-467-6319. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Cerf Center on campus, preceded by a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932 and served as president from 1981 to 1989. The Reagan Society is dedicated to helping the college study, teach and share the lessons and values Reagan learned at Eureka College and used in his leadership roles. A student from Detroit has delivered a passionate and powerful speech narrating why Betsy DeVos is not an ideal Secretary of Education. The American Federation of Teachers posted the video of the speech on Facebook. Dannah Wilson, the student featured in that video, went to Washington, D.C. along with her fellow students, organizers and 119 parents, for DeVos' confirmation hearing and now she wishes to be heard. Wilson said the policies being promoted by DeVos, especially the privatization of the public education system, would be disadvantageous to students. Moreover, Wilson blamed these policies for the stress she and her siblings have experienced while getting an education. The student also noted the difficulty faced by her parents, who drive 165 miles every week just to allow them to have access to quality education, as per Huffington Post. It was Wilson's statement when she concluded her speech that got the interest of millions of Facebook users, noting the fact it was viewed more than six million times. Wilson said, "the search for this satisfaction does not start with Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education for the United States of America." DeVos has no classroom experience and has been identified for her efforts to privatize education, according to Education Votes. Steven Cook, president of the Michigan Education Association, said the billionaire has wielded her money for the destruction of public education. Those in the education sector believed DeVos has not supported students but has instead undermined public education every opportunity she got. The confirmation hearing of DeVos has opened new criticisms against her including her ignorance about federal education policies, according to the New York Times. Detractors from various sectors said her inexperience in the public school system and the K-12 public education makes her a bad fit for the position. Despite the challenges she is up against, many believed DeVos will still get confirmation considering that the Senate is controlled by the Republicans. Do you think Betsy DeVos is an ideal education secretary? Share your thoughts below. Every January, politicians, academic and business leaders from around the globe converge for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to discuss initiatives and projects. For Davos 2017, the forum's agenda centered on the theme of empathy and education in light of the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, Brexit and other shocking world issues that are changing lives in huge ways. Discussing empathy might be unusual for such a forum. The Davos meet, after all, is composed of the world's elites whose life experiences are different from the ordinary people. Yale president Peter Salovey, however, believes this is the best venue for the leaders to understand why populist sentiment is rising. "We live in a complex world, a world where our fellow citizens are telling us that they feel left out," Salovey said, according to BBC. Smithsonian director Lonnie Bunch agrees with Salovey in that economic leaders should learn from what's really happening among the lowliest sectors of society. "You can't be a good businessman without understanding the societal issues that have shaped the moment you are in," he told the forum's attendees. Businesses are apparently worried about a Donald Trump presidency, according to the Holmes Report. As a leader, Trump's manner of communicating his ideas often draws criticisms, especially when his tweets ignite more hate and confusion from the public. Then there are certain policies that Trump could introduce or remove that could shift the system that could affect marginalized low-income families further. Business leaders in Davos, however, commit to drawing a hard line on its moral obligation towards its employees. They said that this time, along the lines of empathy, the workers or those in the lowest rank of the business should be treated like the most valuable assets of the company. Salovey, meanwhile, believes that Yale's commitment to education diversity helps push the agenda of empathy. Universities can stimulate the consciousness and welcoming different students, even children of undocumented immigrants, sends out a strong message against those who say they don't belong in America. Human Trafficking Awareness Month is observed every January. In line with this, the United Nations, through its United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has recently adopted new resolutions to fight the problem, reduce child trafficking and help the victims. In its official statement condemning child trafficking, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked world leaders to pursue its investigations and prosecution of terrorist activities that recruit children to their cause. Migration also raises the risks of human trafficking and the U.N. head said that countries should set up sound policies to ensure the safety of women and children. The United States has heeded to the U.N. call by releasing the very first report on human trafficking based on stories from survivors. UNICEF USA has also unleashed its #ChangeTheWorld campaign to raise awareness on child trafficking and educate American parents. A Forbes piece, for instance, ran the testimony of the mom of a 17-year-old girl who was forced into the sex trade. Jamie Chesman said that parents should watch out for the warning signs and not ignore teenagers when they begin behaving indifferently. Young women and children are vulnerable and easily persuaded, especially when traffickers present themselves as non-threatening and not violent in the beginning. The common belief is that those coming from dysfunctional families or in the foster system are most likely victimized but Chesman disagrees. "It can happen to kids with good upbringings with nothing bad going on in the household," the mom said. Aside from the government, private companies in the U.S. are also helping in the fight against human trafficking and child trafficking. Made In A Free World, for instance, is a private agency that's working with big corporations in establishing risk assessment programs. At least 300,000 American children become victims of child trafficking every year. Recognize the signs of a victim of human trafficking in the video below. Claire Danes, the multi-awarded actress of the hit drama series "Homeland," is a mom to a 4-year-old boy named Cyrus. Her son is growing up with a different childhood experience than his mom and the actress expressed that she wishes she were less conservative at parenting. Danes talked about her childhood and parenting as the latest cover girl of the February 2017 issue of Harper's Bazaar, revealed The Fashion Spot. In it, the actress said that she wishes she were more like her mother and father when it comes to raising Cyrus. "[We had lots of] serious play," Danes said, according to Female First. "I'm really grateful [to my parents] for that. I got to have a lot of fun." The actress described her parenting style as "much more conservative." Her first-born with husband Hugh Dancy is growing up to be the "science guy" who loves learning about germs and this isn't something a typical 4-year-old obsesses with. "He likes good bacteria and he wants to be a doctor. That's his jam," the proud mom said. Cyrus might have started his young life traveling with his mother for location shoots and has to be enrolled in a German preschool at one point. That has changed, however, now that Danes has filmed "Homeland's" new season in New York. According to New York Times, this was a request from the actress so that her family can finally settle full time in her hometown. "Claire has been so game over the course of this show," showrunner Alex Gansa told the news outlet, citing that Danes has filmed her series in South Africa, Germany, Israel and Morocco for the last six years. "But she really wanted to come home, so we fashioned a story around that desire," Gansa said. "Homeland" has nearly wrapped up work as the latest season started airing on Showtime this January. Meanwhile, watch Danes talk about her growing son in the video below. On December 5, 2017 Patently Apple posted a report titled "A new Report Claims that Samsung's Aggressive Note7 Design Caused its Battery Explosions." Tonight in a live conference, Samsung noted that in their own investigation they found that the cause of the Note7 fires were caused by a short circuit in both batteries. The second investigative body, the UL, concluded in their report that, "In summary, design and manufacture issues with the batteries led to field failures of the Note 7 devices. A third investigative body was Exponent led by Dr. Kevin who noted that "The important take home message was that electronics did not contribute to the failure of either manufacturer's cells." Our December report provided as much or more of an explanation of the battery problem with the Note7. Considering that only Samsung's Note7 was hit by the battery problem, it seems highly suspect that it was solely the fault of the two different batteries from two different companies and not with a design flaw in the design of the phone. With that said, the Korea Herald reports tonight: "Samsung's mobile chief and President Koh Dong-jin apologized again and pledged to come up with follow-up measures, including launching a Battery Advisory Group consisting of external experts, to improve battery safety and innovation. 'Today, more than ever, we are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences,' Koh said in a press conference held at the Seoul headquarters. Since the phone's global recall issued on Oct. 11, 2016, Samsung has poured all-out efforts to find the exact cause of several fires. About 700 Samsung researchers and engineers replicated the incidents by testing more than 200,000 devices and 30,000 batteries, the company said. The probe was also joined by several independent expert organizations, including UL, Exponent and TUV Rheinland. The joint investigation team pinpointed faulty batteries as the cause of the accidents. The Note phone used batteries from two manufacturers -- Korea's Samsung SDI and China's ATL -- that showed different defects. The graphics below are from the live conference held earlier this evening covering various points made in the Exponent presentation. Samsung's Mobile Chief DJ Koh Video replay may be available on this site in the future. During Koh's opening statement he had noted that 96% of all Note7's have been returned to Samsung to date. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. Earlier this month Patently Apple posted a report titled "Xiaomi, Another Apple Hater Stumbles and refuses to announce their Horrible Smartphone Sales Figures." Hugo Barra, Vice President of International, told Bloomberg in 2015 that they, little Xiaomi, couldn't allow Apple to take ownership of smartphone design. Xiaomi is just the latest to fall off the map of relevancy as they embarrassingly stated that they weren't going to stand by tradition and reveal how many smartphones they sold in 2016. A Xiaomi rep confirmed to TechCrunch that the company would not be disclosing its 2016 sales numbers. Today we learn that Xiaomi's devastating quarter has led to Hugo Barra's sudden departure at Xiaomi. To save face Barra said it was time to return to the U.S. Today's Reuters report noted that "Xiaomi was briefly the world's most valuable startup with a valuation two years ago of $45 billion and had hopes to be China's equivalent of Apple Inc. But the firm has grappled with slowing smartphone sales and fell out of the top five in China for smartphone vendors in 2016, after reaching No. 2 in 2015." They were replaced by Oppo and Vivo as shown in Patently Apple's Q1 2016 smartphone report. While Barra's sudden departure was announced quite unprofessionally on his own Facebook account, Xiaomi was announcing his replacement formally. The company announced that senior vice president Xiang Wang will oversee the company's global efforts going forward. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. Select a Category About Me Anti-Catholicism Atheism & Agnosticism Baptism and Sacramentalism Bible and Tradition Blessed Virgin Mary Books by Dave Armstrong C. S. 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Anti-abortion groups are moving quickly to take credit for these declines. According to World Magazine: Pro-life leaders attribute the overall decline in abortions to an increase in pro-life legislation and changing hearts. One element that may not be getting its due is the increasing sense among Americans that abortion is no real solution for mothers, for their babies, or for society in general, National Right to Lifes Randall OBannon told me. When they see the child moving in the womb on an ultrasound, when they hear the heartbeat of the unborn child, when they know there are people and programs available to help them with a new baby and new circumstances, when they see what dismemberment abortion does to these precious children, the pain and agony that is involved in every chemical abortion, they look for life-preserving solutions that are better for everyone involved. Clarke Forsythe, acting president of Americans United for Life, told me the use of ultrasound imaging has been key to the success of life-affirming laws passed in the last six years. Such pictures are worth more than a thousand words when it comes to helping people understand whose lives are on the line, Forsythe said. But all of this does not change the fact that we need a more complete picture of the impact of abortion on women, through verifiable tracking. Abortion isnt about womens health, its all about population control. And, according to Christianity Today: 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, said Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). The pro-life movement advances by calling out to consciences with the truth of what unborn human life is and matching that call with real ministry to women in crisis. Americans United for Life (AUL), the countrys leader in helping state legislators pass pro-life laws, cited such policies, as well as technology, in explaining the trend. Research has shown that life-affirming laws do have an impact on lowering the number of abortions, and with all the life-affirming laws passed since 2010, we have a reason to celebrate the number of lives saved and women protected as legislators worked to defend them from a predatory and rarely accountable abortion industry, AUL Acting President Clark Forsythe said in a written statement. But another factor in lower[ing] the number of abortions is the power of beautiful pictures of life inside the womb, through ultrasound, he said. Such pictures are worth more than a thousand words when it comes to helping people understand whose lives are on the line. Thats rightnone of the anti-abortion leaders quoted in these articles reference birth control as a factor in declining rates of abortion. None. Lets talk about this, shall we? The Number of Live Births Is Also Falling Let me ask you somethingif the decline in abortion is the result of laws restricting abortion access, and through persuading pregnant women who might otherwise abort not to do so, what would you expect to see accompany a decrease in the number of abortions performed? An equivalent increase in overall birthrate, right? Well guess what? We dont see that. We see the opposite. Fewer women are having babies today than at any time in the past. The birthrate in the United States is at an all-time low. There were almost 100,000 fewer live births in 2013 than there were in 2000. At the same time, the number of abortions performed is also falling. There were almost 200,000 fewer abortions in 2013 than there in 2000. You cannot look at these numbers and not see that there is another variable herenamely, that fewer women are getting pregnant. Have a look at this super handy chart (by yours truly): The blue is the number of live births. As you can see, it was just above four million per year in 2000, then rose from 2006-2008 when the economy was good, then fell to just under four million by 2013 (the last year for which the CDC data on abortions). Bear in mind that the United States population grew by 12% between 2000 and 2013, so the drop in birth rate when comparing 2000 to 2013 is actually more significant than it looks in the above chart. The total height of each bar represents the combined total live births and induced abortions for each year, which is shorthand for the total number of pregnancies each year (less miscarriages, which presumably occur at a constant rather than variable rate). Despite the 12% increase in population over this period, the total number of pregnancies per year (less miscarriages) fell by close to half a million between 2000 and 2013. In 2000, there were 17.4 pregnancies per 1,000 people; in 2013, there were 14.6 pregnancies per 1,000 people. Why are fewer women becoming pregnant? It is theoretically possible that fewer women are having sex, and there are indeed studies that suggest teens are having less sex today than in the past. However, teen births and teen abortions were only ever a small fraction of the overall number. A likelier explanation is improved use of birth control, including longterm contraceptives, which are more reliable than other, more common methods. According to Guttmacher: In 2012, about 12% of women using contraceptives relied on a long-acting reversible contraceptive method, or LARC (slightly more than 10% used the IUD and just over 1% used the implant). The proportion using LARCs has risen over the past decade, from 2% in 2002 to 6% in 2007 and 9% in 2009. The percentage of contracepting women who use longterm birth control methods such as the IUD or the implant increased from 2% in 2002 to 12% in 2012. This jump in use of longterm birth control methods is substantial and has been much talked about. Having these devices implanted can be pricyas much as $900and before the ACA women with insurance frequently had to pay part or all of this fee (and Medicaid did not always cover IUDs). The ACA granted millions more women access to these methods, which are more effective than condoms or the birth control pill. The rate of unplanned pregnancy is falling Its not just the overall number of abortions being performed that is falling, its also the number of abortions performed per live birth. A woman who gets pregnant today is less likely to abort than was a woman who got pregnant in, say, 2000. Could that be the result of abortion restrictions, or of successes in persuading women not to abort? Theoretically, yes, but there are other points to considerfor example, the rate of unintended pregnancy rate. Have a look at this from Guttmacher: Following a long period of minimal change, the overall unintended pregnancy rate (the number of unintended pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 1544) decreased substantially from 54 in 2008 to 45 in 2011, a decline of 18%. This is the lowest rate since at least 1981 and is likely due to an overall increase in contraceptive use and the use of highly effective methods. An 18% drop in the rate of unintended pregnancies alone goes a long way toward explaining the 12% drop in abortions we saw between 2008 and 2011. We shouldnt be surprised to see the rate of unintended pregnancy fall given the increased access women have to birth controland especially the most effective but most expensive forms of birth controldue to the ACA. And it is in no way surprising that the abortion rate would drop alongside the unintended pregnancy rate. Is there a way to test whether restrictions like mandatory waiting periods and clinic closures have prevented women from obtaining abortions they would have obtained in the absence of these laws? Curious, I compared state-level abortion rates from 2009 and with those from 2013 (the most recent year for which we have data) and found the rate of change in each state. That is the question, rightwhat is causing the change? If the drop in abortion rates is being driven by restrictions on abortion, we would expect to see the steepest declines in the states with the greatest restrictions. So I looked at which states received F ratings from NARAL in 2013, and which received A ratings. I found that the F-rated states averaged a 13.1% decrease in abortion rate from 2009 to 2013. In contrast, the A-rated states averaged a 21.3% decrease in abortion rate over the same period. Yes, you read that right. I found that states with F ratings from NARAL saw lower declines in abortion rates than did the states with A ratings. That the decline in abortion rates may be driven by states with low levels of abortion restrictions rather than by those with high levels of restrictions flies directly in the face of any claim that this decrease is the direct result of longer waiting periods or clinic closures. Conclusion Just run for office, they said. Stop whining, get elected, make change. But even when women get elected, even when they work to bring change, some things dont change. Check out this image and caption, by way of example: Getty Images published this picture with the caption A woman takes a selfie with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) (R) on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. The image was quickly shared on Facebook and even the Minnesota Star Tribune weighed in. The issue? The woman, who was presented as a random selfie-taker, is no less than Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The individual who created this caption, and the individual who approved it, assumed the woman must be a random selfie-taker. They didnt consider it worth their time to determine who she wasand doing so shouldnt have been difficult. Some would likely contend that this was a random case that meant nothingMcCain and Sanders have both run for president, and have held office for far longer than Klobuchar, who was elected to the Senate in 2006. The trouble is that women are far too familiar with this experience. We know what its like to have people assume that the men around us are the ones doing the important things, that were just along for the ride, or that we hold positions far below those we do. This is especially true for women of color (which Klobuchar is not). So no, Im not going to write this off as random and unrelated to the sexist assumptions still all too common in our society. Its been nearly fifty years since the advent of second wave feminism, and still were dealing with this nonsense. The irony, perhaps, is that Ive heard so very many people proclaiming that the need for feminism is over, and that everything has been fixed and weve achieved equality. We very clearly havent. Were not done yet. I have a Patreon! Please support my writing! Teaching Shinto, the ancient religion of Japan? Here are some very short clips that help explain it.The first is a basic overview from Khan academy and runs about four minutes. The second clip explains the three types of kami, or gods. These include ancestors, spirits, and souls of great people, all of whom coexist with us in the natural world. The third clip explains the importance of the torii gate and the Shinto shrine. And finally, a professor explains the great myth of the Japanese sun god, Amaterasu who is the daughter of Izanami and Izanagi. She was born from Izanagis left eye! Shinto overview form Khan Academy The gods of Shinto A Japanese Shrine Explained The goddess Amaterasu News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani notified of his death sentence 01/23/17 Source: Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 22, IRNA - Oil billionaire Babak Zanjani has been notified of his death sentence, a court rule confirmed by Supreme Court of Iran on Dec 4, Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said. Mohseni Ejei made the remarks at a news conference on Sunday. Babak Zanjani on cover of Seda magazine artwork by Bozorgmehr Hosseinpur Zanjani was faced with charges of embezzlement, money laundering, and fraud. His trial sessions in the past three years have been in the spotlight. Zanjani, 41, was arrested on Dec 30, 2013. He is one of Iran's wealthiest businessmen, with a fortune worth estimated 14 billion dollars. Zanjani was jailed when charges were brought up against him for misappropriating two billion euros belonging to the Ministry of Petroleum. mSecure password manager review TechRadar Pro Updated In our mSecure password manager review, we take an in-depth look at this password manager to help you decide if its the most secure way to handle your sensitive data. Hugo Barra is returning to Silicon Valley, just over three years after he left Google to help turn Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi into a global company. During Barras time in Beijing, Xiaomi has grown far beyond its home market with its strategy of selling stylish Android phones on thin profit margins. In January, it made a splash at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, capping a series of international launches that had taken the company into over 20 countries, including India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Mexico and Poland. Barra, once Googles vice president for Android product management, announced in a Facebook post Monday that he planned to return to the U.S. for personal reasons. He had concluded it was time to leave Xiaomi, now that the companys global business is no longer just an in-house startup, he wrote. But Barras real motivation for leaving Beijing and returning to Silicon Valley now is personal, he said. The last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. He also said he wanted to be closer to friends, family and what he considered to be his home. (Barra lists Belo Horizonte, Brazil, rather than Silicon Valley as his home town.) Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has asked him to remain an advisor to Xiaomi indefinitely, Barra wrote. He will remain with the company until after the Lunar New Year, which will be celebrated at the beginning of February this year. Barra announced his move on Twitter and Facebook, a contrast with his departure from Google, which he announced on Google Plus. His public profile there appears not to have been updated in 18 months. If youre buying a Chromebook released in 2017 or later youll no longer need to worry about whether or not it will run Android apps. Google recently added a note saying as much to its Android apps for Chrome OS support page, as first spotted by Android Police. All Chromebooks launching in 2017 and afterwill work with Android apps in the coming future, the note says. That was pretty much expected to be the case, but its nice to see Google guarantee this for buyers of new devices. Even though Google is saying Chromebooks from here on out are getting Android support, it still plans to extend support to older devices. Chromebooks designated for Android support are still listed as they were before, and Google says they will still get Android support. The impact on you at home: Even with this new policy, its not going to get any simpler figuring out if that Chromebook you want to buy is getting Android app support. New Chromebooks for 2017 have yet to appear, and even when they do there will likely be a glut of older Chromebooks availableespecially if you buy online. Be sure to check Googles support page (link above) to see whether or not the Chromebook youre interested in will support Android apps. Chromebooks for Home in 2017? Chromebooks have always found a home in the education market but theyve yet to become popular with home users. With Android apps coming to Chromebooks, at least some computer makers are hoping that will change. Fresh battles lines between Chromebooks and Windows PCs were drawn at CES 2017 in January. Asus introduced the next iteration of the Chromebook Flip. Samsung, meanwhile, unveiled the Chromebook Plus and Pro, two premium touchscreen devices that aim to make the most of Chromebook Android integration. After heavy snow fell Sunday, Jan. 22, in the San Bernardino Mountains, the Bear Valley Unified School District announced all its schools would close Monday. Big Bear Elementary School, Baldwin Lane Elementary School, Fallsvale Elementary School, North Shore Elementary School, Chautauqua High School and Big Bear middle and high schools will be closed Monday, according to a news release issued by the school district. Our decision to close schools is made on a day-to-day basis as we follow conditions and weather reports, said school district spokeswoman Shelley Black. The schools were also closed Thursday and Friday as a series of storms dumped snow in the area. The National Weather Service predicts that all told, the series of storms will bring several feet of to the mountains by Tuesday. They were warned Dont go into business with relatives. But after eight years, Adam Murvine and his brother, Kent, and their father, Tracy, are doing just fine, thank you, running KM Patio Covers, a fast-growing Lake Elsinore contractor specializing in aluminum patio covers. The trio can thank, in part, the HERO Program by Renovate America. Since becoming registered within the companys network of contractors two years ago, HERO-financed projects have come to account for a fair chunk of their business. Adam Murvine, 36, said more than 10 percent of the 250 patio covers KM installed in 2016 were financed through the HERO Program, the nations leading provider of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. Since 2011, the HERO Program has been partnering with municipalities to offer innovative financing to homeowners for energy-efficient, renewable energy and water-saving home improvement projects. Patio covers dont immediately come to mind when thinking of making a home more energy efficient. Most homeowners have patio covers installed to expand their outdoor living space. But patio covers the higher-end ones have insulation built in can reduce ones electricity bill by reducing the amount of sun that blasts into a house through windows and ray-baked walls, thus lowering the need to flip on the air conditioner. For eligible regions, the HERO Program provides for financing of patio covers under the category of Exterior Window Shading Devices, allowing homeowners to have them installed with no money upfront and to pay for them over time through voluntary assessments to their property tax bill. Since its inception, HERO has financed $2.11 billion in home energy and efficiency improvements in 87,600 homes. A total of 442 communities within 49 of Californias 58 counties have adopted HERO. Two years ago, Adam Murvine hadnt even heard about the HERO Program. Potential customers would ask him about the financing, so Adam, who handles KMs paperwork and is the contractors main salesperson, did some homework. He was impressed, and KM immediately signed up to get HERO-approved, and now the company is part of Renovate Americas network of home improvement contractors who are approved to offer HERO Program financing to customers. It made sense for us to do, Adam said, and our customers loved it, too. The HERO Program has opened us up to new customers. Some have searched out us specifically because we offer HERO financing. Kent Murvine, 34, got into building patio covers right out of high school, and he is KMs main patio expert who does the hands-on stuff. Adam, who earned an MBA from California Baptist University in Riverside, joined his brother shortly after Kent launched the company in 2008. Adam was looking for work after he was laid off from his human resources job for the City of Riverside when the economy began to tank. Their father, Tracy, 62, who spent years in construction, joined KM soon after that. He had been managing apartment buildings and was looking for something new to do and the chance to work with his sons. In addition to the trio, KM employs three installers who are like family, Adam said. KM Patio Covers is a second-tier player in the patio cover business, smaller than some larger competitors but bigger than many other contractors who specialize in this field. The company has a solid reputation and relies on strong word-of-mouth referrals. Someone shot a teenager in the forehead and left her in a frigid cornfield in Caledonia, N.Y. Her body was found Nov. 10, 1979. She had tan lines suggesting she was from a warmer climate. She wore a red and black windbreaker. Hooked inside a belt loop on her pants was a key chain with a locket that read, He who holds the key can open my heart. There wasnt much for investigators to chase. For 36 years, she was known as Caledonia Jane Doe or Cali Doe. She was buried in Dansville, a neighboring town in Livingston County. Her headstone read, Lest we forget, unidentified girl. For 36 years, the Livingston County Sheriffs Department led a national search for not only the killer, but also for the identity of the girl in the cornfield. In 2015, a guy recently laid off from his accounting job at Disney Studios in Burbank and taking care of his elderly mother in El Segundo figured out who she was. Once he found her, the Sheriffs Department had her name chiseled into what had been the back side of her headstone: Tammy Jo Alexander. And his name, the sleuth who became an Internet hero? He was Carl Koppelman, which doesnt mean anything to you unless you dabble in the creepy world of unidentified decedents. YOUNG SHERLOCK Ask Koppelman, 54, about significant memories in his childhood, and hell tell you about the murders. He said he began noticing how horrible people can be during the 1972 Olympics when terrorists killed 11 Israeli athletes. Horror got very close to home in 1977 when his brothers friend, John LaMay, 17, was murdered by serial killer Patrick Kearney, known as the Trash Bag Killer for the method in which he disposed of body parts. In 1979, Lucinda Lynn Schaefer, 16, was killed by Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris, known as the Tool Box Killers, in the nearby city of Redondo Beach. Koppelman didnt know her, but he followed the case in the newspapers. Ive always been intrigued by the evil that people can do to each other, Koppelman said. Koppelman worked construction, meat room cleanup at a grocery store and in the aerospace industry. He didnt much like anything he did, so he went to Long Beach State to study accounting. After college, he worked as an accountant for Princess Cruises, based in Santa Clarita. Then he worked at Disney Studios until his mothers illness made the drive to Burbank impossible. He began taking care of his mother, now 94, full-time. His precise bookkeeping skills were about to become very important. DUGARD CASE SPARKS INTEREST On Aug. 26, 2009, longtime kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard was discovered by a parole officer in Concord. She had been held captive since 1991. Koppelman remembers sitting in his mothers house clicking around the web looking for photos of Dugard. He came across websleuths.com and his life changed. Suddenly, he was on the site so much, especially a forum called The Unidentified, that he became an unpaid administrator. He started a spreadsheet that now has 17,000 names of unidentified and presumed dead victims. Related: A woman was found dead in Huntington Beach in 1968. Who was this Jane Doe? Today, websleuths.com has almost 115,000 members and more than 12 million posts. The website has matched more than 20 unidentified bodies with missing people none that got more notoriety than the work Koppelman did on Cali Doe. People like Carl are one-in-a-billion, said Tricia Griffith, the owner of websleuths.com. Carl starting to work for us was a great addition. In 2009, Koppelman posted as CarlK90245 a combination of his name and his ZIP code. And the more he looked around at the photos, the more he noticed something the police sketches of missing and murdered people didnt match what they really looked like if they were ever found. Koppelman began looking at coroner photos and using a Corel Photo Paint graphics program to make dead and missing people into pictures. He did a drawing of an unidentified body found in an abandoned Philadelphia hotel. I opened his eyes, put an Eagles jersey on him and straightened his mouth, Koppelman said. A website based in Pennsylvania saw the drawing and asked if they could use it. That was all the feedback Koppelman needed. Hes now done 200 drawings of dead people. In 2010, one of those drawings was Cali Doe. FINDING TAMMY JO Koppelmans drawing didnt solve the Cali Doe case immediately. He re-drew it many times over a four-year period. He worked on it so much that Koppelman believed he would recognize her anywhere. So he started on an almost maniacal quest going through high school yearbooks from Florida, Arizona and Southern California in 1979. (A pollen expert had examined Calis clothing and narrowed her search to those three states). But he couldnt find a match. He stopped looking. Then, in 2014, a woman in Arizona called the Hernando County Sheriffs Office in Florida to say she believed her high school friend Tammy Jo Alexander appeared to be missing. Until that time, Tammy Jos family believed she had run away from home and started a new life. The sheriffs office, without making the connection to the missing girl in the cornfield in 1979, posted a picture of Tammy Jo Alexander. As soon as the case file came up, Koppelman said, I said, Thats Cali. The eyebrows were the same. The teeth were the same. He put his drawing next to Tammy Jos picture and posted it on websleuths.com. He sent copies to the Livingston County Sheriff in New York. Bingo, Koppelman posted, I think this is Cali Doe. Later DNA tests in the Alexander family proved Koppelman was right. In the hit true crime podcast Finding Tammy Jo, produced by WXXI Radio and the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper in upstate New York, Koppelman is (spoiler alert) one of the surprise twists in the story. Tammy Jos name was officially announced Jan. 26, 2015. Koppelman was in the cemetery when Tammy Jo was officially laid to rest. John York, the retired sheriff who had been working on the case for more than three decades, thanked websleuths.com. We are so indebted to them, I cant even tell you, York said. Carl Koppelman knew, just like I did, when he saw her face who that was Its hard to imagine somebody could just throw a child away. Its a great day to give her a name. Koppelman, inspired by the Tammy Jo case, didnt rest. As of today, he has matched five previously unsolved missing persons with dead bodies. He has found two other people who were presumed dead until he found them. He said he was asked recently to help with drawings of two missing persons cases in Spokane, Wash. Its still just a hobby, Koppelman said. His new obsession is Walker County Jane Doe, whose body was found on Halloween night in 1980. This is a very similar situation to Tammy Jo, Koppelman said. Will he find a match? Its a 50-50 proposition, he said. Contact the writer: ksharon@scng.com A vehicle got stuck in a flooded wash west of the Cajon Pass on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, requiring a harrowing swift-water rescue to get out two trapped occupants, authorities said. Television footage showed rushing brown water halfway up the side of the pickup truck, and rescuers using a raft so the trapped occupants could climb out the passenger-side window. The incident was reported near North Cajon Boulevard and Swarthout Canyon Road at 2:28 p.m., as a storm hitting Southern California was intensifying, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log. The driver of the Ford F-150 pickup tried to drive through the wash, the log states. Caltrans said via Twitter that two people were trapped inside the truck and that a sheriffs helicopter requested to assist couldnt proceed because of the weather. Authorities have been warning people not to drive or walk through running water. Six inches of rushing water is enough to knock over an adult, while rushing water thats a foot deep is enough to carry away most vehicles and 2 feet of water can sweep away almost any vehicle, according to the National Weather Service. Do not drive through moving water. Our swift water rescue teams @SBCountyFire are well trained but would rather not use their skills on you https://t.co/pyu57R9MQ2 Mark A. Hartwig (@YourFireChief) January 22, 2017 http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Police are looking for three men they believe were involved in a Sunday morning shooting that might have been gang related. The shooting happened about 11:05 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, in the 100 block of East De Anza Circle in Ontario, according to an Ontario police news release. The three men reportedly forced their way into the victims home and started an altercation, the news release states. One of the men fired multiple shots from a handgun into the residence, striking a mother and her adult son. The two victims were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, the news release states. Police describe the alleged shooters as 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches in height, 18 to 25 years of age, and wearing dark colored hooded sweatshirts or hats. Investigators believe the incident may be gang related. Police ask that anyone with information about the suspected shooters or who witnessed the shooting to call Detective Larry Bonomo at 909-395-2869 or 909-986-6711 or the anonymous WeTip hotline at 800-782-7463. Tipster can also leave information anonymously at www.wetip.com. The debate was based on BJP leader PS Sreedharan Pillai's work, 'Punnapra-Vayalar Samarathinte Kaanappurangal' (The Unseen Dimensions of the Punnapra Vayalar Agitation). More than a year ago, retailer Big Bear Sporting Goods ordered snowshoes for the much-anticipated El Nino. Yet few sold during a winter that didnt match expectations of abundant precipitation. We decided to roll the inventory into this year and its burning down fast, manager Stephen Raphael said. What a difference a year makes. Across the high country of the San Bernardino and Angeles national forests, visitors are flocking to the mountains for the best winter experience in years. On weekdays, the wait for a breakfast table in parts of Big Bear Lake can be as long as an hour. Full-occupancy signs are lighted at some motels by early afternoon. And the slopes are packed with skiers and snowboarders. Mother Nature has been very kind to us, said entrepreneur David Stone, who owns two Big Bear Lake lodging businesses, a microbrewery and restaurant and is planning to open an upscale restaurant within the next two months. This is 100 percent better than last year, said Ian Myers, 22, from Long Beach, who left home at 6 a.m. for a morning of snowboarding at Bear Mountain ski resort. Unlike last year, San Diego snowboarder Brandon Medeiros and a friend were able to take their boards Wednesday into the backcountry of the forest because of the abundance of nature-made snow. They plan many more trips to the San Bernardino Mountains this winter season. After a dusting of 4 to 6 inches Wednesday night into Thursday morning, the area was inundated with snow over the weekend, bringing Big Bear Mountain Resort up to a 10-foot base (the resort was closed Monday due to wind). Executives are hoping this year will exceed last year in terms of visitors. The action at Southern Californias highest ski and snowboarding operations lasted until mid-April last year, and there is hope it will go as long or longer this year, providing robust employment for a workforce of about 1,200, said Justin Kanton, marketing director for Bear Mountain, on Thursday. Big Bear Mountain Resort also operates nearby Snow Summit. Martin Luther King weekend was the best one in over five years, said Robby Ellingson, general manager of Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts. All four chairlifts were operating, something that happened on only one afternoon in the 2015-2016 ski season, he said. The operation employs 175, up nearly 46 percent from the 120 employed at the peak of last season, he said. Mountain High, in Wrightwood, is also enjoying a strong ski season. We got off to a fine start right after Thanksgiving, said John McColly, a Mountain High ski resort spokesman. Last snow season, we closed down in January because of heat. This year the conditions were great for the Christmas-New Years holidays, and the MLK weekend was the biggest in six years or so, he said. Mountain High could be operational through March, he said. Snow Valley Mountain Resort in Running Springs is hoping for an even longer run. This season looks similar to 2009-2010. We were open into May, said Kevin Somes, vice president and general manger of Snow Valley. It started later than we would have liked, but since then it has been just fantastic. The Snow Valley resort has about 15 percent more employees than last year and is looking for more, Somes said. Entrepreneur Stone said his lodges, the Wolfe Creek Resort and the Fireside Lodge, have been very full and the performance of his Big Bear Lake Brewery has exceeded all expectations. A new upscale restaurant, called the Black Cat, is set to open within two months and will seat 170, he said. Among those drawn to the restaurants, shops and views of the snow-covered mountains are people just looking to relax in an alpine environment. This is a good place to get away, relax and breathe clean air, said Rick Espinosa, 44, of Huntington Beach, who was among the many tourists Wednesday who strolled down Pine Knot Avenue in Big Bear Lake Village. Coming up here gets us a chance to experience winter, said Holly Gregory, 22, of Anaheim, another pedestrian on Pine Knot Avenue. RELATED Murrieta firefighters rescue family trapped in rising floodwater The end of Californias drought is much closer after recent rain No winter wonderland when visitors trash SoCals mountains Contact the writer: jsteinberg@scng.comTwitter: @JamesDSteinberg A first year student of the Ghana Senior High School in Koforidua was killed last Saturday after a tree fell on him. The deceased, Frempong Mposu, was a general arts student of the school. Six other students were injured and are receiving treatment at the St Josephs Roman Hospital. According to a student who witnessed the incident, The tree just fell and about six people got injured. There were a lot of people there, but most of them managed to run away so they were not affected. The Effiduase District Police Commander, ASP Dan Yaaro, confirmed the incident and said the police were investigating the matter. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah, has said it is "morally reprehensible" and an "immoral act" for a small and relatively poor country like Ghana to be giving state properties to former state officials including presidents as part of their retirement package. Did Americans do that: give their presidents a place to live? Obama I am told was buying a house in Washington. But is America obliged to give him a place of residence? Why should we do it? I mean if America, which is ten times richer than us, is not giving their presidents [state houses, then why should we do it?] Brig Gen Nunoo-Mensah told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FMs Executive Breakfast Show on Monday, 23 January. His comments come in the wake of a recent controversy regarding former president John Mahamas request to keep the state property he occupied while in office, as part of his retirement package. Im sure that if President Mills had lived and finished the eight years, I know him very well, he wont go and get a state house, he will go and live in some small house at Spintex road. So, it depends on the integrity of the people we are talking about, Brig Gen Nunoo-Mensah said. He said instead of politicians grabbing state properties for themselves, they should rather empathise with the poor, ordinary taxpayer by being moderate. We should have sympathy for our suffering people; the elections we just had told us many things. Those who are coming shouldnt think that they can come and do whatever they like. Ghanaians have changed and they will change again if they dont meet their needs, which are plenty he urged. Source: Classfmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Friday, January 20, 2017, Gambia's ex-president, Yahya Jammeh accepted the December election by announcing that he was finally stepping down for his successor President Adama Barrow after weeks of Political crisis. After stepping down from power, the former leader was flown into political exile to Equatorial Guinea. He traveled with mediator Alpha Conde, the president of Guinea. Check out his last photos in Gambia taken at the airport... 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 The Minister of Trade-designate, Alan Kyerematen has reaffirmed Ghanas commitment to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), insisting that Ghana would have to impress on Nigeria to also sign the agreement. He noted that the partnership would hugely be disadvantaged if Nigeria, a powerhouse within the sub-region, refuses to sign the EPA. Ghana signed the interim agreement in July, 2016, and Mr. Kyerematen told Parliaments Appointments Committee on Monday that he would advise Ghanas president to use quiet diplomacy to ensure that Nigeria becomes part of the agreement. We will encourage our brothers in Nigeria, because we were negotiating as an economic bloc; also to be able to do what is necessary, to enable all of us come together, as a regional bloc to be able to complete the process, the Trade Minister-designate said. He also noted that ECOWAS without Nigeria would not be strong enough to go into the agreement, and would also destroy its fundamentals because the agreement was to be negotiated and signed as a regional bloc. The contract would be frustrated if Nigeria refused to sign, then other members may have to find other trade arrangements with the European Union, he pointed out. The Economic Partnership Agreement will ensure that businesses and industries in Ghana can export to the EU market quota-free and without paying for any duties on their products. Also, firms in the EU in return can also export goods and services to the Ghanaian market, quota-free, duty-free. Under the agreement, ECOWAS countries will get 100 percent access to the European market, while the EU gets about 75 percent access to countries that have signed the agreement. Civil society and local manufacturers have kicked against the agreement, saying it will collapse local businesses and impoverish the country. But Mr. Kyerematen underscored, while there are disadvantages and positives about the EPA, we also know that it provides some advantages which we can harvest if we take the EPAs seriously. He therefore advocated for the enhancement of the capacity of local manufacturers to take advantage of the European market. Source: 3news.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Twenty-nine-year-old Johanna Watkins from Minnesota cannot kiss her husband Scott, or even spend time in the same room as him. She suffers from Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, a rare disorder of the immune system, which means she is allergic to almost everything, including her husband's scent. Johanna and Scott Watkins's date nights are very different from other couple's. "Scott and I will try to watch a show together. We can't be in the room together, because I'm allergic to him, but he will be three floors below me in a room on his laptop and I will be on mine and we'll watch the show at the same time and then text about it as we're watching it," says Johanna. Johanna lives in an attic room all by herself with sealed windows and doors, and air filters to purify the air. She has a severe form of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) in which the cells that are meant to protect her from outside threats mutate and start attacking her body instead. The symptoms and severity of the disease can vary from patient to patient, but it makes Johanna allergic to virtually everything and can trigger life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Before she married her husband Scott in 2013 Johanna did not expect her condition to become so severe. She worked as a teacher and the couple used to love hiking together. Even then she struggled with unusual rashes, irritable bowel syndrome and migraines, but these ailments became much worse after the couple married. "There were times three and four years ago, before we got the diagnosis, that if I was extra close to my wife, specifically if my face was close to Johanna's face, she would cough," says Scott. But it was only last year that the couple realised they had become unable to physically share their life together. "We had noticed that when Scott would come in [to the room] I would start feeling worse and worse. My normal daily symptoms would just be aggravated," says Johanna. "And then at one point he went to get his haircut and came back in the room and within two minutes I had started my anaphylactic symptoms and he had to leave." A week later Scott tried to see his wife again, but the same thing happened, and they realised their lives would have to change dramatically. "It was this horrible reality that it wasn't going to work," says Johanna. "I was now reacting strongly to my husband. Before this I had reacted to my parents, to many, many other people, but it was horrific when it became Scott." The treatment and medication that is usually given to MCAS sufferers does not help Johanna, so at the moment the couple do not know when - if ever - their situation will change. "There's not an easy way around this problem. I want to keep Johanna safe and me going to see her compromises her safety," says Scott. "One of the ways I can take care of her now is by not going to see her. I'm not going to endanger her life. We're absolutely committed to one another and we're going to wait as long as it takes to see if there is some kind of healing." Doctors are trying different treatments, but none so far have helped. "They don't know if I will get well, and so we hope and we pray that I will," says Johanna. "I have had anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction, more times than we can keep track of. My life could end quickly. Life is frail - it can end." But Scott will be part of her life for as long as it continues, she says. "On our wedding day we made vows to each other that till death do us part. No matter what life brought. "I can tell you that even if I have this until I'm 90 years old, I would be committed to my husband with that vow and still love him." Scott says they do sometimes get angry and frustrated about their situation. "I've had to release a lot of what I expected for myself and I've had to accept what has been given to us," says Scott. He adds: "Johanna and I are good at talking, we talk a lot, we try to communicate a lot, so one thing that we've found that's helpful is just bringing each other into what's going on in our lives as best we can because we're not able to be together." Scott works full-time as a teacher and then returns home every evening to cook Johanna's food. "It's one of the ways that I can care for her, and every other day for the past year I've had one of my dear friends come and they help [me] cook for Johanna," he says. "She can only eat two meals, so she's been eating the same two meals for over a year." Johanna can only tolerate 15 different foods, including spices, so she eats either beef chuck roast (beef stew) with organic celery, carrot and parsnip or organic lamb with turmeric, cinnamon and cucumber. The couple are currently living in the family home of their friends, the Olsons, while their own home is renovated to make it a safe living space for Johanna. The Olson family have given up using all scented products and do not cook in their house at all. "I have had severe reactions to someone smoking a cigarette down the block," says Johanna. "I have had severe reactions to the pizza place that's a mile down the street, and all my windows are closed and sealed in the room with special filters. "But just if the wind blows it on the right direction that day and I get even a whiff I can have a severe reaction. The house is quite large and I'm at the top level, and if an onion were to be cut in the kitchen I have had a severe reaction." Johanna has not left the attic room for more than a year, except to visit the hospital in an emergency or to see her doctor. Every morning she listens to a playlist of songs and then might write or answer an email to a friend, or video-call her young nieces. The only people she does not have a life-threatening reaction to are her siblings, who help take care of her. Before they enter her room, they have to avoid eating strongly spiced food, shower with a special soap and strip down to their underwear. As soon as they walk in, they put on masks and special clothes that have never left Johanna's room. Despite all these precautions, Johanna's symptoms still become worse after their visit. "I think growing up in America, it's common for us to just think, 'Oh OK if there's a disease there'll be a medical solution, it will be fixed and I'll move on with my life,'" says Johanna. "So being diagnosed and becoming this ill, [there was] definitely a grieving process that I went through." But the fact that Scott is downstairs in the same house and that she can talk to him on the phone is a huge comfort, says Johanna. "I have many gifts in my life, many blessings that I have to be thankful for," she says. "And that reminds me to not become selfish and just make it all about me." 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 The Founder of Independent Peoples Party (IPP) Kofi Akpaloo has envisaged that an Akufo-Addo government will perform far better than the former Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration. He stated that he has no doubt that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPPs) government will change the fortunes of the country to inure to the benefit of the many Ghanaians who voted for the party. Speaking on Ultimate Breakfast Show hosted by Lantam Papanko, he expressed optimism that the calibre of ministers designates assembled by the President will deliver on their mandate. He admitted the former President John Mahama did his best to turn things around, but believes the current President will not disappoint Ghanaians for reposing confidence in him. Mr Akpaloo called on the ministers who will be approved by Parliament to help push the vision of the President forward. I believe in Nana Addos government. Mahama did his best but an Akufo-Addo government will do far better than former President Mahama that is what am expecting. Because if you look at what Akufo-Addo has started, it means he is going to do well. One, look at the kind of people he has assembled, and this was done within one week of climbing the presidency, he has the best brains to help him execute the job. And I know they are all poised to do the best for this country. I know they are ready to work for this government. I am expecting Akufo Addo to deliver, he expressed hope. He stated that he will work hard to see the President succeed if he is appointed to either head the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) or Security and Exchanges Commission (SEC). He doubted if the NPP will fail Ghanaians asking do you think Alan Kyeremanteng, Kan Dapaah, Ken Ofori Atta, Otiko Djaba, will not deliver?, these are men and women with lots of experiences, they have gone through the mill. Mr Akpaloo indicated that any appointee who fails will be booted out to pave for others. Nana Addo wants to leave a legacy, so he will not allow anybody to joke with his government, he emphasised. Source: Ultimatefmonline 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 Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer Buckle, Bishop of the Accra Diocese of the Catholic Church, has expressed optimism about the prospects of Ghanas development agenda being catapulted into a higher pedestal to deliver prosperity to the citizenry. He, however, adds that this can only be achieved in the present generation if the leadership of the country and the entire citizenry allow the virtues of honesty, hard work and humility to guide them in the discharge of the duties they owe the nation. Ghana has a huge potential to become a great nation which can deliver prosperity to its people; but this can be achieved if all of us adopt the virtues of honesty, hard work and humility in our daily lives, Archbishop Palmer Buckle stated in an exclusive interview with the Daily Statesman. He explained: The first thing we need as a country is honesty. Honesty means respect for the rule of law and doing the right thing; we should always act within the confines of the law. That is one thing we need as a nation if we want to develop for it to give all of us the prosperity we have long been aspiring for. The renowned Catholic Archbishop added: The second thing we need is hard work. Ghanaians must work hard wherever we find ourselves to earn our daily bread. When you are engaged in genuine work, you know you are doing it to earn your living; you know you are doing it to support the development agenda of the country. He continued: And the third thing we need is humility. Lets have the spirit of humility and demonstrate it in our daily lives so that everybody will be able to engage us in healthy interactions; so that everybody can tell us what is on their minds. We should not be angry when people tell us their piece of mind; we must listen to them in good faith and work with their positive suggestions. Archbishop Palmer Buckle believes the virtues of honesty, hard work and humility are the three pillars upon which Ghana can lean to catapult its development agenda into the higher level. He particularly believes all Ghanaians must take inspiration from the inaugural speech of the new president of the country, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I was personally inspired by the inaugural speech of the president, especially the last part where he talks about the fact that it is time to redefine who a Ghanaian is. And he gives us a lot of things to think about and be inspired by. President Nana Akufo-Addo, in his inaugural speech, said the time had come for the nation to redefine who a Ghanaians is. Being a Ghanaian must stand for something more than the holder of a birth certificate or a certain passport. Being a Ghanaian must put certain responsibilities on each one of us. Calling yourself a Ghanaian must mean you have signed up to a certain definable code and conduct. Being a Ghanaian puts an obligation on each one of us to work at building a fair, prosperous and happy nation. And calling yourself a Ghanaian must mean we look out for each other. There should be no higher praise than to be able to say I AM A GHANAIAN, the president stated. For Archbishop Palmer Buckle, That should be the programme for us. He wants us to redefine who a Ghanaian is: we should be proud that the Ghanaian is someone who has respect for the rule of law; a Ghanaian is someone who is hardworking; a Ghanaian is someone who loves his neighbour; a Ghanaian is somebody who is honest and loves his country. Source: Daily Statesman 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 The man fatally shot this afternoon on the Brisbane set of a Bliss n Eso music video has been identified as Johann Ofner. Ofner, a 28-year-old Gold Coast stuntman and father of one, was on set in CBD bar Brooklyn Standard when he suffered wounds to his chest after several firearms were discharged at around 2pm today. He died at the scene. A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed that the wounds were the result of the use of firearms on set: Several firearms were discharged during a scene by several actors. I cant tell you whether they were live or real firearms, the type of ammunition being used, that will be subject to the investigation. No other persons who were present were injured. A criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing. Source: Brisbane Times. Image: Facebook. More details are emerging about the shooting that occurred at Brooklyn Standard, a bar in Brisbanes CBD, earlier this afternoon. Queensland Police told reporters at a press conference this afternoon that the shooting occurred at about 1:55pm today in relation to an Australian bands music video, but wouldnt confirm which group. It has since emerged that the band involved was Sydney hip-hop outfit Bliss n Eso. Bliss n Esos management have confirmed that the shooting took place during the filming of an upcoming music video for the band. We are able to confirm the death of a person occurred today at the filming of a Bliss n Eso music clip. The band were not on site at the time. The video production crew and our team are currently working with the police in their investigation and we are unable to provide further comment at this time. @ShaeMcDonald @atomicsecretspy I work in that laneway can confirm it was a Bliss N Eso music video shoot, not pacific rim. nordacious (@nordacious) January 23, 2017 Twitter user @nordacious, who works in the building where the shooting took place, explained to PEDESTRIAN.TV via phone that the people who worked on the ground floor told him that Bliss n Eso were filming that day. We found out that it was a Bliss n Eso film clip, that it was a man in his mid-20s whod been accidentally shot. A spokesperson for Queensland Police elaborated on the events that occurred early this afternoon, saying that a criminal investigation is now underway. During the filming of that scene several firearms were used, as a result of the use of those firearms one of the actors has received wounds to the chest and has subsequently died from those injuries. At this point in time Queensland Police are conducting a criminal investigation. We do not know specifically how those injuries have occurred at this point in time and that will be the subject of our investigation. We are working hand in hand with Queensland Workplace Health and Safety in conducting our investigations. Brooklyn Standard, the bar in which the filming was taking place, have released a statement regarding the incident on their Facebook. Information is still emerging about the man who died. 9NEWS Brisbane has reported that Bliss n Eso recently advertised for a range of actors to take part in the shoot for their single Friend Like You, including roles for an Asian male aged 11-16, two white males aged in their 30s and a homeless man. Source: 9NEWS Brisbane. Image: Twitter / @JoshBavas Sydney hip-hop group Bliss n Eso have issued a statement on via Facebook addressing the tragic fatal shooting that occurred this afternoon on the set of their forthcoming music video. In the statement, the trio express their grief and shock at the death of one of the professionals working on the clip, and extend their condolences to his friends and family. Hi guys, We are incredibly saddened that a tragic incident has occurred today where a professional stunt person involved in filming our latest music video has passed away this afternoon in Brisbane. We were not on set at the time and our management team are currently working with the police and the production company filming the video to get more details. The three of us are extremely upset and shaken up by this and our hearts and prayers go out to the victims family and friends as well as the cast and crew who were involved in the clip today. Much love, Bliss, Eso and Izm The accident happened at around 2pm today in Brisbane city bar Brooklyn Standard, where filming was taking place for Bliss n Esos Friend Like You film clip. According to a police statement, several firearms were discharged on set. The victim of the shooting, 28-year-old stuntman Johann Ofner, suffered chest wounds and died at the scene. Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Source and image: Facebook. Ah no. The NSW Liberal Party today elected a new party leader in Gladys Berejiklian. In the coming days, shell be sworn in as the Premier of NSW, following the shock resignation of Mike Baird. Berejiklian whos been representing Willoughby for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003 was previously the NSW Treasurer. Shes also chalked up stints as the Minister for Transport and the Minister for the Hunter. She was wildly expected to win to the vote for party leader, and when push came to shove, stood unopposed. Essentially, shes got this. And yet, within minutes of her first press conference, Berejiklian was asked about being an unmarried, childless woman. Australia has seen this before: when Julia Gillard became our first female prime minister in 2010, and certain factions of the media / political commentators became weirdly obsessed by her unmarried, childless state. Like, how could a WOMAN who is not a MOTHER fill the greatest role of all: being mother to all her Australian citizens/babies? Truly, the mind boggles. That particular brand of sexism has lain fairly dormant in the subsequent AbbottTurnbull years, but with Berejiklian voted the first female party leader of the NSW Libs, its reared its ugly head again today. During her first press conference as Premier-elect, a journalist asked if she was prepared for questions about her marriage status and her child status a la Julia Gillard. I have been in public life for a long time, Berejiklian replied. I have been a senior member for six years. I am ready for anything. But the journalists persisted regardless. Are you prepared for those questions? To which Berejiklian replied, Sure, ask me one. So the journalist did, inexplicably comparing her with former Premier Morris Iemma, who hasnt served in that role since 2008. Weve had four Premiers since then. The obvious question is, do you think this is a disadvantage politically because people have kids and they have families and people identify with that like they did with Morris Iemma Berejiklian cut in: Take me as you see me. [Deputy Premier-elect] Dominic Perrottet has made up for me, he has four kids. I am someone who has always been myself. Not all of us can plan how our life turns out. I am a very happy person. If you asked me 20 years ago would my life look like this? It probably wouldnt be how it looks like. But I am grateful for the opportunities I have had. I also want to say again, not because I have to but because I want to, the closest people in my life are my family. I am not going to judge anybody on their personal circumstances. I am here to govern for everybody and I hope that people judge me on my merits and what I can do. Heres everything else you need to know about NSWs new Premier. Photo: Getty / Daniel Munoz. Thousands of Melburnians gathered at Federation Square this afternoon to honour the victims of Fridays Bourke Street attack, and to reflect on the citys immediate response to the tragedy. Melburnians have gathered in Federation Square to pay tribute to the victims of the Bourke Street tragedy. #weloveyouMelbourne A photo posted by Whats On Melbourne (@whatsonmelb) on Jan 22, 2017 at 10:47pm PST A photo posted by Onya Magazine | Australia (@onyamag) on Jan 22, 2017 at 10:48pm PST Victorian Governor Linda Dessau opened proceedings by remembering the five people killed during the senseless incident, and those affected by the tragedy: This evening, we think too of those for whom the wounds of other losses have been reopened, and of those who, even from a distance, feel overwhelmed by a deep sense of sadness. We come together to show, and to say, that none of you are alone. We talk often about the need for unity amongst us, and will do so again this coming Thursday, on Australia Day. But it really is at a difficult time such as this that we so keenly feel why unity matters. Dessau went on to reiterate her focus on human decency, saying last Friday, tragedy did not distinguish on the basis of age, gender, culture, religion, or background, but importantly, neither did goodness. She also honoured the exemplary efforts of police, paramedics, emergency workers and medical professionals in the aftermath of the attack. Similarly, Henry Dow the student whose Facebook post in the aftermath of the attack went viral was invited to share his experience of camaraderie immediately after the incident. Dows recollection of helping an injured woman alongside taxi driver Lou, a man as great and courageous you have seen, heard or read, rolled into one authentically humble bloke, amplified Dessaus sentiment. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle saw proceedings out, saying Im often asked what is the secret of Melbourne, and I tell people we come from more than 200 different nations, we speak 250 different languages and dialects, we practice more than 110 different faiths, but we are one Melbourne. You can catch the entire ceremony below: Source: 9 News Melbourne. Photo: City Of Melbourne / Instagram. Gladys Berejiklian will replace Mike Baird as the Premier of New South Wales, making her the first female Liberal Premier, after the partyroom unanimously endorsed her for the top job. (Yes, the ACT has had a female Liberal chief minister but I aint counting it because its not a state.) It was strongly anticipated that Berejiklian would be the pick, despite some weak rumbling from the conservative wing of the NSW Liberals. Berejiklian is currently Treasurer and is considered a moderate. Her deputy will be Dominic Perrottet, the current Finance Minister. The two challengers, Rob Stokes and Andrew Constance, pulled out on Friday. Baird, who announced he was leaving politics last week in large party due to family health issues, posted a photo on Facebook congratulating Berejiklian on her new role. Therell be keen eyes on what Gladys leaership will look like and whether there will be any change to Bairds more controversial policies, like Sydneys lockout laws and the wildly unpopular council amalgamations. Source: The Guardian. Photo: Getty Images. Its been years since Australia began indefinitely detaining innocent people on Manus Island and Nauru, and, as to finding a permanent location, weve since invited refugees to either stay there until they died from treatable diseases/suicide, go back to wherever theyd risked their lives escaping from, or move to noted human rights wonderland, Cambodia. So when Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced a one-off refugee deal with the US in November, the future looked suspiciously bright for the 1,262 folks weve been categorically torturing. And while the general consensus has been that Donald Trumps election win would doom the plan to obscurity, reports that US officials have visited Manus Island to speak with refugees suggest that, at least superficially, its still on track. Along with Australian immigration officers, a US official visited the detention centre on Friday, mere hours before Trumps inauguration, and told refugees that interviews for potential resettlement would begin in February. Officials had already visited refugees on Nauru, but that was over a month ago and well before Trumps official era. Naturally, refugees on Manus are hopeful about the proposed deal but wary of how realistic itll play out. Presumably because of all that torture theyve endured. Speaking to The Guardian, Rohingyan refugee Imran Mohammad Fazal Hoque said: It is extremely hard to believe anything in this forsaken prison, as we have always been used as pawns in political games. Although we have been told all of this, we will not believe anything until we see some kind of action. All we have is hope and we pray that we will be able to experience our freedom soon. And while the apparent confirmation of the deal is heartening, we absolutely do need to take the news with a grain of salt. For starters, Sky News cited US officials in November saying that the country would only accept 400 refugees, which is about a third of current detainee estimates. And while the Australian government rejects Skys report, theyve since provided no guarantee on numbers. Members from the Republican party have also denied that the deal will happen at all, and Trump himself has yet to speak on it. Earlier this month, US congressman Brian Babin said: I am confident President-elect Trump will do everything in his power to put an immediate stop to this secret Australian-US refugee deal that should have simply never happened in the first place. It was made behind doors without any input from Congress. In fact, when Congress asked for details on the agreement and the refugees, the Obama administration refused to share the information. This secret deal to import dangerous refugees into the US is exactly what the American people soundly rejected in November with the election of Donald Trump. While Babin is absolutely wrong in describing these people as dangerous (the vast majority have been proven to be refugees), hes right that its against Trumps special brand of nationalism to accept them. Especially when Australian politicians have worked so hard to paint refugees as both illiterate dole bludgers and job-theives. Still, dare to dream eh? Source: The Guardian. Photo: Getty / Handout. A man has died after being shot in the chest in Brisbanes CBD in an incident police are calling accidental. The shooting occurred during the filming of a movie in Brooklyn Standard, a bar near Eagle Street. The man, in his 20s, has not been identified. The producers of Pacific Rim 2: Uprising, which shut down a part of Brisbanes CBD over the weekend of January 13 and 14, have said that while they were filming in the area yesterday afternoon, the shooting is not related to their production. Police have said that the shooting was a workplace incident. Residents of the area are being advised to avoid Eagle Lane, where police have cordoned off the crime scene. We will update this story as it develops. Source: ABC. Image: Twitter / @JoshBavas. In an equally unexpected and welcome turnaround, Melbourne Lord mayor Robert Doyle has apparently distanced himself from earlier statements implying he wanted to criminalise rough sleeping on the citys streets. That being said, his reported clarification still seems like cold comfort for Melbournes homeless. Last week, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said many who appear homeless are looking to shake down tourists amid the Australian Open. Subsequently, Doyle appeared to back a stronger police response to the issue, saying police already have powers to arrest for obstruction, for drug use, for threatening or aggressive behaviour, and for begging, and I would like to see them make full use of those powers as well. Doyle also said he supported any move by police to bring an end to what has become a blight on our city, and it was believed hed propose a ban on sleeping rough at the next council meeting. According to Kate Colvin of Council to Homeless Persons, who met with Doyle today for a crisis meeting, its now understood the lord mayor is not imposing move on powers, or introducing summary offences to criminalise homelessness. Instead, she said Doyle is specifically worried about mattresses and other bulky items being present on the streets. Hes looking at bylaws to resolve that particular problem potentially enabling council officers to remove those belongings. According to Colvin, Doyle said he never had a plan to introduce move on laws. Its currently unclear if Doyle walked back from an original stance of tough police action on the matter, or if his earlier (and very unfortunate) statement was simply misinterpreted that way. While the confiscation of personal belongings is hardly something to celebrate, it is a drastic change from outright criminalising homelessness, which would only serve to make life that much more difficult for the citys rough sleepers. The current furore around Melbournes homeless population has been stoked by intensified media coverage of homeless people encamped near Flinders Street Station. The Herald Sun is openly campaigning against homeless people pic.twitter.com/oFWckK3cmO Ben Eltham (@beneltham) January 18, 2017 Expect this one to play out long after the Open wraps up. Source: The Age. Photo: Scott Barbour / Getty. In what sounds very nearly like a cold open from one of Netflixs newer, edgier shows, a surfer was mysteriously picked up six kilometres off the coast of Wollongong by a container ship at 9am Friday morning, after having been at sea for 16 hours. The 37-year-old Japanese tourist was spotted and rescued by the 300-metre-long MCS Damla, a container ship registered in Panama, after crew members spotted him and pulled him aboard. The man was reportedly unfazed by the ordeal, surprising police, who reckoned things could have gone a lot worse for him: The crew were able to lower the gangway, he was able to paddle over and they basically just plucked him out of the water. We couldnt believe it. Hes out there on a surfboard, adrift, at nighttime. The risk would be hypothermia from exposure to the elements, and drowning, should he have become separated from the board. Also pretty surprising is the fact that he was out that far in the first place; as surf news website Swellnet reported, its very unlikely that the current could have pulled him out that far unless he was paddling in the wrong direction, and he should have easily been able to see the lights on the shore, allowing him to paddle back in. This mystery might have stayed just that (a mystery) if it werent for a chance encounter by Swellnets Stu Nettle with the surfer himself, who is apparently named Toru. Nettle had just finished surfing Sandon Point in Wollongong when he recognised Toru and his board next to a make-shift shelter beneath the points cliffs. Despite being shy at first, Toru explained that he was out there, essentially, because he wanted to get out amongst nature: The surf was very small, and I paddled out late. It was going to be a full moon that night. I stayed out to watch the moon rise and then the wind died off and it was still. I much like being in nature, and it was very nice out there. I wanted to feel it. I could see the lights [from the land] and I watched the full moon and I relaxed. I wanted to see the sunrise while the moon was still in the sky. Toru reckons he wasnt doing that bad and wasnt even trying to be rescued when he swam towards the ship: I paddled near it because I liked the shape of it. But then someone appeared on the rail and saw me. I was tired, a bit cold, but I was OK. It was very embarrassing. Well fair enough, sometimes a man just has to go risk death to be out at sea by himself on his surfboard I guess. You can read the full article here, which waxes more lyrical than you would expect given the topic. Source and photo: Swellnet. In case you missed it in amongst all the other events of the weekend, the administration of President Trump (thats never going to feel right to type) had its first burst of outward batshit insanity all of a day into their inglorious reign. New White House press secretary Sean Spicer used his very first media address to put all media on blast for accurately reporting the number of people who attended Trumps inauguration ceremony on Saturday morning Aus time. The extraordinary tirade, which had all the hallmarks of a Trump-standard Twitter tantrum, contained multiple flat-out lies and the extremely odd contradiction where on the one hand hand Spicer stated the media couldnt possibly be reporting correct attendance numbers because those numbers dont exist, but then mere seconds later he asserted that this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period. .@seanspicers presser yesterday IN FULL: Were going to hold the press accountable. pic.twitter.com/T0dx6pMGvM Fox News (@FoxNews) January 22, 2017 Theres a lot going on there thats blatantly incorrect, but by-and-large the biggest glaring false claims were: That the crowd stretched out to the Washington Monument when Trump took the oath of office (it didnt). That more trips were taken on the Washington Metro rail system on Trumps inauguration day (420k, their claim) than for President Obamas second inaugural in 2013 (317k). The reality being that Washington Metro doesnt count individual users, rather individual trips (meaning people taking more than one trip in a day are counted multiple times), and that Trumps inauguration day actually drew in a demand of 570,557 trips on the metro, versus the 782,000 in the 20 hour period around Obamas last inauguration. That the reason the crowds looked thin in photos is because white covering was used on the National Mall grass, making gaps more apparent (fucking what?) For the very first address of a White House Press Secretary to be little more than a dressing down of the media for reporting facts is not just extraordinary, its completely batshit insane. For reference, the crowd comparison looks a little like this, from the back of the crowd at its peak. Trumps Press Secretary @seanspicer just made a statement about crowd sizes and was so mad, he was sputtering. Sounded a little triggered. pic.twitter.com/G9oe2Y5ipI shauna (@goldengateblond) January 21, 2017 Pro-Trump media has come out swinging for the fences, and even Fox News is having a hard time getting straight answers from Trump staffers. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (still not convinced that name isnt a spoonerism, frankly) deflected the issue when Fox News host Chris Wallace attempted to ascertain just why in the blue hell a White House Press Secretarys first media briefing would be dedicated almost exclusively to petty lying. Its really not about crowd size. What its about is honesty in the media. What its about is on Day One after winning this election and President Trump talking about bringing America together however, the media from Day One has been talking about delegitimising the election, talking about the Russians, talking about everything you can imagine except for the fact that we need to move this country forward. But the real kicker, the bloody piece de resistance, came from Trump Counselor, Kellyanne Conway, who on Meet The Press insisted that Spicer was absolutely not lying and was, instead, merely presenting alternative facts. Alternative. Facts. Alternative facts are not facts. Theyre falsehoods. @chucktodd goes after Kellyanne Conway here, rightfully. pic.twitter.com/grPzKUXC3R Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) January 22, 2017 Alternative facts. Facts that are alternative to your standard, provable facts. Now, obviously, the point isnt about the actual numbers at the inauguration, because honestly who even gives a remote shit other than some tiny-handed orange person. The point is that Trumps White House is establishing a dialogue of falsehoods and quite blatant lies on Day One. Theres two ways to look at something like that. Theres the hilarious, petty, internet jokey way: keep it up mang, I got all night pic.twitter.com/Jzi1TA2H6p Patricia Lockwood (@TriciaLockwood) January 22, 2017 And then theres the far more serious analysis of what such a dialogue from the office of President can achieve: Re Spicers lies, this is from someone who worked in a past administration. Important read. pic.twitter.com/XrjLJHRAGL Anna Rascouet-Paz (@rascouet) January 22, 2017 That, truthfully, should terrify everyone. Source: Twitter. Photo: The Washington Post/Getty. Donald Trump is making good on his promise to use executive orders to dismantle as much of Obamas policy legacy as quickly as he possibly can. He has formally canned the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade deal between 11 Pacific nations including Australia. The TPP is controversial on both left and right. Trump believes eradicating multilateral trade deals is key to bringing manufacturing back to America, whereas critics on the left argue that the TPP prioritises corporate interests. On the other side of the court, the Obama administration argued it would provide a way of matching Chinas competitiveness in the region. Press Secretary Sean Spicer talked about Trumps move in the administrations first official press briefing, which followed the weekends exceedingly weird one about inauguration attendance numbers: Press Sec. on withdrawal from TPP: The Trump administration will pursue bilateral trade opportunities with allies around the globe. pic.twitter.com/ZZWYHEW12P ABC News (@ABC) January 23, 2017 The other members of the TPP include Canada, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Chile, Vietnam, Peru, Brunei and Malaysia. Everyone knows what that means, right? Trump said at the signing ceremony in the White House. Weve been talking about this for a long time. Its a great thing for the American worker. Bernie Sanders, who was Hillary Clintons challenger during the Democratic primaries and an opponent of the TPP from the left, praised Trumps move: I am glad the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead and gone. For the last 30 years, we have had a series of trade deals including the North American Free Trade Agreement, permanent normal trade relations with China and others which have cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and caused a race to the bottom which has lowered wages for American workers. Now is the time to develop a new trade policy that helps working families, not just multinational corporations. If President Trump is serious about a new policy to help American workers, then I would be delighted to work with him. Sanders has previously said he is willing to work with Trump on trade policy reform, but would fight him on anything which falls back on racism, xenophobia and sexism. Despite Trumps constant drumbeat during the campaign that he would axe the TPP, the Australian government has remained hopeful, with Malcolm Turnbull remaining a cheerleader of the treaty. Trade minister Steve Ciobo, obviously aware that Trump was likely to rip America out of the agreement, said over the weekend that he has been speaking to the other member states to see how they can secure the benefits of the TPP without the United States. Thatll be a tough one. China is expected to move into the vacuum created by the USs departure from the agreement, but what that will look like is unclear. Source: The Guardian. Photo: Getty Images / Pool. One of the few silver linings to come out of the horrific Bourke St Mall rampage has been the mass outpouring of support from what looks to be every corner of the Melbourne and broader Australian community. Whether it was bystanders jumping in to perform emergency CPR or the seemingly endless tributes pouring in for victims, its crucial in the wake of tragedies to remember that, when push comes to shove, most people are instinctively selfless. Dont focus on the crime, focus on the 100s of Victorians today who helped fellow strangers in need. This is what #Melbourne is. #bourkest Andrew Wang (@itsandyw97) January 20, 2017 But, because some people can be equally, instinctively selfish, we also get absolute fuckheads like this bloke stealing flowers from a makeshift memorial. Now, theres almost always economic factors associated with stealing. Things like poverty, trauma, and other socio-economic issues can, to various levels, justify the actions of certain criminals. And sure, theres a chance he wasnt of sound body and mind. There might yet be some hidden justification for all this. But with all that in mind, fuck this guy. No one needs flowers enough to steal them from memorials to recently-killed pedestrians, full fucking stop. As much as we can judge anyone for their actions, these actions are 100%, decidedly fucked. And its honestly unlikely he didnt have at least some awareness of the situation; the 24-year-old who witnessed the incident, Joshua John Arnett, said the unnamed thief had taken flowers from the main Bourke St memorial before running across the street to steal another bunch from the smaller site. So it wasnt some spur of the moment crime. Arnett, who captured the footage around 8am yesterday morning after making a two-hour trip from regional Victoria to visit the memorial (on ya Arnett), said it felt soul crushing to watch. But luckily, after the thief tried to hop on a nearby tram, police officers whod also witnessed the attempted-robbery forced him to return the flowers. From the looks of things, they didnt mince words about how shitty the guys actions were. The second video, which Arnett also captured, therefore makes for some extremely cathartic viewing; it ends, fittingly, with the tram driving away from the unnamed dud. So yeah, thats another one point for human selfishness, couple more for human decency/schadenfreude . Source: News.com.au. Photo: Facebook. The thing about scoring a new state premier is that the general public isnt usually quite across what theyre all about. On a federal level we generally know whats going on. We knew what Turnbulls deal was. We definitely knew what Abbotts deal was. But much of New South Wales is probably scratching their head and wondering what Gladys Berejiklian will be all about. Berejiklian, prior to being unanimously elected as the new Premier by the Liberal partyroom, has been the member for Willoughby since 2003, and Treasurer since 2015. Shes Armenian-Australian, and her parents were orphaned by the Armenian Genocide. She spoke only Armenian until she was five years old. Despite her role as NSW Treasurer, Berejiklian is perhaps best known in New South Wales for her substantial work as Transport Minister. NSWs massive influx of transport projects since Barry OFarrells tenure were largely run by Gladys including the Opal card and the eternally controversial Westconnex. So what do we know about Gladys stances? TRANSPORT As we said, transport is a huge area of interest for Gladys, and as Premier shell be shepherding a lot of the projects begun by her and her successor Andrew Constance as Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. WestConnex, which has caused a great deal of annoyance to environmentalists, public transport advocates and a lot of people living in inner-city Sydney but is generally desired by drivers out west, is without question a pet project for Gladys. Dont expect a backdown on that one. Many of the extensive light rail and metro projects around Sydney were rubber-stamped during her tenure as Transport Minister. LOCKOUTS Yes, we know thats what you care about. The Facebook comments on our post about Bairds resignation were singularly united on that front even though the lockouts were Barry OFarrells initiative initially. Well, bad news: weve got no idea. Even when she was deputy leader, it wasnt something she ever talked about. As much as itd be lovely to see a brand new approach, I doubt we will in the near future Bairds slight relaxation of the terms of the lockouts notwithstanding. Keep fighting for your right to party. LOCAL GOVERNMENT One of the big and divisive issues in NSW is council amalgamations. In fact, its a huge, bubbling issue. Lots of the media went absolutely wild about the cratering popularity of the Coalition in regional seats and blamed it solely on greyhounds, but thats only part of the story. The council amalgamations, where several smaller councils are united into one big megacouncil. Lots of people hate it. Well, Berejiklian hasnt staked her position on it. Given that the Nationals have said they will no longer support amalgamations in regional areas, and several municipalities are fighting the process tooth and nail in court, Gladys will have to do something about it, quickly. Bairdy has left a mess for Gladys to clean up. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Dont get too excited, cos Berejiklian isnt a federal pollie, but she does support same-sex marriage, and made a statement to that effect back in 2015 to the North Shore Times: I get a sense that as far as my electorates concerned that the majority while I do know there are people who dont support it and I want to acknowledge theyve got a right to express those views I would think the silent majority would support it, I personally do. Mike Baird didnt support same-sex marriage, so theres a plus. REFUGEES Baird, like his father Bruce Baird who once occupied the seat now held by Scott Morrison was curiously progressive on refugees and asylum seekers for a Liberal. He offered free transport for refugees in New South Wales, and pled for the federal government to do more to respond to the crisis. Berejiklian looks to continue a generally pro-refugee stance which wont do much for our federal detention regime, but certainly flags her approach to resettlement and so on. Im a fan of making sure our community grows and that we are always compassionate and remember our place in the world, she said. We are a lucky country and its about making sure we are compassionate for people in desperate need of a home. This is what we know right now. Given the enormous turnover over NSW premiers no one has served a full term since Bob Carr well have to see if Berejiklian can break the curse. Photo: Facebook / Mike Baird. Melbourne is still reeling from the aftermath of last Fridays horrific Bourke Street attack, which claimed the lives of five people and injured another 30. The response from the city and Australia at large has been phenomenal, with Bourke Street being turning into a floral memorial to the victims and the Andrews government launching a Bourke Street Fund to assist the victims families. But on a much smaller scale, a Melbourne local known only as Lou is being praised as a hero for stepping up in the immediate aftermath of the attack. According to a viral Facebook post from local Henry Dow, Lou a taxi driver who happened to be driving past leapt out of his car and ran to help, taking charge of the situation and organising bystanders to attend to the injured. I write this not for sympathy (Im fine); I just wanted to share a story that otherwise might be lost, Dow said, posting a screenshot from Seven News coverage. Administering first aid with me, under that skinny little tree, is a man named Lou: he is everything great and courageous you have seen, heard or read, rolled into one authentically humble bloke. Having seen the car fly past, my legs carried me across the street almost on auto-pilot, swearing under my breath repeatedly as it sunk in what had just happened. Some basic Surf Life Saving training got me through the first stages of helping this poor woman: role her on her side, support her neck, we talked kindly and as calmly as we could to her. Then the gunshots. Holding her head, my hand was, for want of a better word, shaking. It was more like bouncing, moving several inches up and down as the fear and thoughts of what had happened, what could happen, raced through my head. Lou grabbed my hand and firmly told me to keep it together, that I was ok and that we needed to keep strong for this woman. In a level and loud voice, Lou barked orders at other pedestrians standing by, having not fled, but still too stunned to think or move. He directed assistance to several of the victims laying on the pavement around us, all whilst keeping me calm and speaking lovingly to this woman: I am Lou, you are going to be ok, we are looking after you. It kept going through my head, thank f**k I lucked out and have an emergency services veteran here with me. Surely Lou was Ambulance, Police or SAS. Lou was not. Lou, in his white shirt and neat dark tie, was a taxi driver. In our small story, of this much bigger tragedy, Lou took command and was a genuine hero. Dow called on Australians to see the love and kindness shown by Melbourne in the wake of the incident, instead of the horrific attack itself. There was no evil on Bourke street yesterday; one sick young man did a terrible thing, and hundreds responded with the love and sense of community that makes Melbourne such a beautiful city, and Victoria such a great State. There was only kindness in the voices of the police who came to relieve us. I felt only love when an older man hugged me, having just told a father he had lost a daughter. Many images and sounds will stay with me much longer than I might like, but I am glad to have seen, and hope I never forget, just how brave and loving strangers can be. At the time of publishing, Dows Facebook post had been shared 14,000 times. You can read it in full below. A vigil will be held at Bourke Street tonight at 5:30pm in honour of the victims. Photo: Seven News / Facebook. Aziz Ansari set Saturday Night Live stage on fire the day following the inauguration, using his first ever turn guest hosting the show to send a clear message to President Trump: stop tweeting and start trying to fix the nation he so successfully divided. Wow. I cant believe this. Im here hosting Saturday Night Live, he said. Yeah! The day after Trumps inauguration. Mmmmm. Pretty cool to know, though, hes probably at home right now watching a brown guy make fun of him though, right? In all probability, yes. The Master Of None creator + star went in on the rise of Islamophobia and hate crimes since Trump won the election, and gave us the phrase lower case KKK to describe the actual white nationalists (or so-called alt-right) that are gaining alarming traction and legitimacy under the Trump administration. You know who Im talking about, he said. Theres like this new, lower-case K.K.K. movement that started this kind of casual white supremacy. Oh, let me put my foot in the pool and see how cold this water really is. No! No! Im talking about these people that are running around saying stuff like, Trump won! Go back to Africa! Trump won! Go back to Mexico!' Is that the plan, by the way? Were all going to move? All the minorities? Forty-some percent of the country? Every minoritys going to move? Beyonces going to move? Beyonce aint moving. He called on Trump to pull a George W. Bush and make a speech denouncing Islamophobia, similar to how the 43rd POTUS did after 9/11. George W. Bush made a speech after 9/11, and it really helped. Things changed. This what he said in his speech, and Im paraphrasing slightly. He said, Islam is peace. The perpetrators of these attacks, they dont represent Islam. They represent war and violence. Our enemies are not our Muslim brothers and sisters. Our enemies are a network of radical terrorists. And everyone applauded. Democrats, Republicans, it didnt matter. Because its not about politics. Its about basic human decency and remembering why the country was founded in the first place. Yeah, its weird for left-leaning types to get nostalgic for George W. Bush, but here we bloody are. Ansari ended his powerful opener on a v. inspiring note, in light of the millions of people who attended Womens Marches across the globe yesterday. If youre excited about Trump, great. Hes president. Lets hope he does a great job, he said. If youre scared about Trump and youre very worried, youre going to be O.K., too. Because if you look at our countrys history, change doesnt come from presidents. Change comes from large groups of angry people. And if Day 1 is any indication, you are part of the largest group of angry people I have ever seen. Watch his full opener below: Photo: SNL. Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers. As students in Pennsylvania's largest city returned to class this Monday morning, a group of city school teachers kicked off six days' worth of action, encouraging their colleagues to teach a 'Black Lives Matter' curriculum. As our colleagues at The Inquirer report this morning, the activities run the gamut from "The Revolution is Always Now" coloring sheets for the youngest students to the science of skin color for older students. "This is a critical issue of our time - in our society, but also in our students' lives," Charlie McGeehan, an English and history teacher and a member of the Caucus of Working Educators, an activist wing of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, told the newspaper. "It's important for us to dive in." Unsurprisingly, not everyone feels the same way. "It challenges nuclear families, and our justice system. I don't think kids should be taught that Western society is perpetrating a war on black people," Christopher Paslay, an English teacher at Swenson Arts and Technology High School, told The Inquirer. Paslay said he's all for equal rights and justice - no matter his students' race. But he doesn't think the controversial protest movement has a place in city classrooms, the newspaper reported. McGeehan acknowledged that the movement is controversial, but rejected the contention of some that it's anti-police. "We all deserve fair but critical treatment," McGeehan he told the newspaper."I don't think that Black Lives Matter is anti-police." As you might imagine, John McNesby, president of FOP Lodge 5 in Philadelphia, doesn't quite see it that way. "We don't agree with it," he told The Inquirer. "We think there's a lot better subjects that could be taught." The rest of the day's news starts now. The state Supreme Court has given state lawmakers more time to draft a new casino tax, The Tribune-Review reports. PhillyMag wonders whether the Brothers Boyle - state Rep. Kevin and U.S. Rep. Brendan - can save the Democratic Party. The Philly FOP has taken its feud with DA Seth Williams to billboards around the city, The Inquirer also reports. Here's your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day: State Sen. Larry Farnese's, D-Philadelphia, trial on bribery charges is set to get underway, NewsWorks/WHYY-FM reports. Allentown City Council President Ray O'Connor has kicked off his mayoral campaign, The Morning Call reports. State lawmakers will review a plan today to close two Pa. state prisons, our Capitol colleague, Wallace McKelvey, reports. Some Republican-controlled states are looking to customize - not eliminate - the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, Stateline.org reports. There's a new sheriff at PoliticsPA. Say adieu to Managing Editor Nick Field and bienvenue to new editor Paul Engelkemier, who was most recently a deputy spokesman for the state GOP. Beware the 'Revenge of the Bureaucrats,' Politico reports. Shockah ... even with a shortened schedule the U.S. House has managed to fit in a bill attacking abortion rights, Roll Call reports. What Goes On. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and new state Treasurer Joe Torsella hold a 10:45 a.m. newser in the Capitol Media Center to talk about the state-level impact of repealing the Obamacare Medicaid expansion. What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition). 5:30 p.m.: Reception for Dauphin County judicial candidate John McNally. 6 p.m.: Kickoff fundraiser for the House Republican Campaign Committee. Heavy Rotation. Here's an old favorite from The Cure that popped up on the way to work this morning. It's "Pictures of You." This one's a live version from 2013. Monday's Gratuitous Football Link. We hate to gloat but ... no, who are we kidding ... we totally love to gloat. How about them Patriots? And now you're up to date. See you all back here in a bit. It appears to be a fatal case of mistaken identity. A man in western Pennsylvania is dead after he and his wife awoke to an intruder in their bedroom around 4 a.m. Sunday. The man went after the burglar with a gun, while the wife called 911 and hid. As responding Pittsburgh Police attempted to enter the home in Larimer, Allegheny County, Pa., the officers says the came under gun fire, so they fired back, according to TribLive.com and multiple Pittsburgh media outlets. Shot dead in the exchange was the 57-year-old homeowner, Christopher Thompkins. "They shot the wrong guy," said his ex-wife Brenda Thompkins, 51, of Penn Hills, told TribLive.com. "He didn't want to hurt no cops. He was trying to save his mother." The man's mother was in a room downstairs. Brenda Thompkins told TribLive.com she carries a licensed pistol, which her ex-husband asked her for after the intruder left the second-floor bedroom where the couple was sleeping. Christopher Thompkins retrieved the gun from her purse and left the room to pursue the burglar and safeguard his mother, who was sleeping downstairs. The Post-Gazette newspaper is reporting the burglary suspect as Juan Clark, 23, who has been arrested and charged with trespassing. The two Pittsburgh Police officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, pending an ongoing investigation overseen by the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, TribLive.com reports. When a friend is involved in a bar fight, the first instinct is to get him or her out of there to prevent further injury or the risk of criminal charges. According to NBC-10 in Philly, this is precisely what a group of friends did for one of their own after a bar fight broke out in West Philadelphia in the wee hours of Monday morning. Only, none of them realized that the man, whose name was yet to be released, had been shot in his left side and mortally wounded, apparently during the melee in the bar. The friends headed for a house in South Philly following the incident at the bar, which was not identified in initial reports. But by the time they arrived at the house, the friend whom they thought they rescued from the bar fight was unconscious and unresponsive. Police and first-responders arrived to find the 35-year-old victim shot once in his left side. Medics rushed the victim to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, but he died a short time later early Monday morning. The investigation continues, but there was no immediate word on any suspects in the case. The words penned by a grieving western Pennsylvania mother for her endearing 20-year-old daughter, who just happened to be a heroin addict and who died of an overdose last week, are at once devastating and uplifting. As described by her mother, Casey Schwartzmier, 20, of Allegheny County, was "funny and full of life and she was a drug addict." As WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh reports, her mother, Michelle Schwartzmier, wrote these and many other words to describe both the warmth of her daughter and the unbreakable grip of her heroin addiction that ultimately robbed her young, promising life. Here is an excerpt of the obituary: As described by her mother in the brutally honest obituary she penned for her daughter following a fatal overdose, Casey Schwartzmier, 20, of Allegheny County, was "funny and full of life -- and she was a drug addict." Casey believed that hiding her cause of death would help no one, but if her story could help just one addict push even harder for another day of sobriety, encourage an active user to choose recovery or shine a light on this horrible epidemic, then it would be worth coming out of the shadows. She was very open about her struggles and now is not the time to change that. This strong attitude with a fierce drive and loving beautiful heart that wanted to help other addicts even in death is one of the many things that she can be defined by, not her addiction. Casey wanted to live. She had dreams of a future career, children of her own and fought hard all the way until the end, one day away from entering rehab, but couldn't break the chains of this demon that's wiping out a generation. Addiction doesn't discriminate, it will take hold and destroy anyone in its path, including the families and people who love them. Addiction hides in the faces of everyday people all around us. Casey isn't just another statistic or just 'another one gone too soon,' she was a great heart with a bright future and a gift that the world lost and can never be replaced. So the best way to honor Casey, is for people who read this or knew her to think twice before you judge an addict. Casey's mother tells WPXI that Casey overdosed the day before she was scheduled to travel to rehab in California: "Her suitcase is still packed. She really was driving hard for this. She meant it," Michelle Schwartzmier told WPXI, adding: "She wasn't enjoying this life. She wanted out of it. She just couldn't figure out how to get out." Casey was laid to rest Saturday. Her full obituary, as written by her mother, can be found here. Pope Francis expressed concerns over things including erecting barriers to keep out foreigners and the populism that lead to the election of Adolf Hitler. said it was too early to judge Trump. But regarding populism in the U.S. and Europe, he said: "Crises provoke fear, alarm. In my opinion, the most obvious example of European populism is Germany in 1933... Germany is broken, it needs to get up, to find its identity, a leader, someone capable of restoring its character, and there is a young man named Adolf Hitler who says: 'I can, I can'.. And all Germans vote for Hitler. Hitler didn't steal the power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people." According to BBC, the Pope also "condemned the use of walls and barbed-wire to keep foreigners out." Donald Trump,Mike Pence,Reice Priebus Vice President Mike Pence, left, and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as President Donald Trump shows off an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump began recasting America's role in the global economy Monday, canceling an agreement for a sweeping trade deal with Asia as one of his first official White House actions. After meeting with business executives to discuss the U.S. manufacturing industry, Trump headed to the Oval Office to sign an executive order formally ending the United States' participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The move was largely symbolic -- the deal was unlikely to make it through Congress -- but served to signal that Trump's tough talk on trade during the campaign will carry over to his new administration. That could point to contentious negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement down the road. Trump repeatedly promised to reopen the 22-year-old deal with Mexico and Canada while on the campaign trail, and he reiterated his threat to punish U.S. companies that build factories abroad in brief remarks on Monday. Trump's protectionist rhetoric is part of a global backlash against the drive toward greater internationalization that has existed since the end of World War II. British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is in the midst of navigating her country's own break from established trading partners, is slated to visit with Trump later this week. A White House spokesman said meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican Prime Minister Enrique Pena Nieto are in the works. "What we want is fair trade," Trump said during his meeting with executives. "And we're gonna treat countries fairly, but they have to treat us fairly." Among the business leaders Trump met with Monday was Dow Chemical Chief Executive Andrew Liveris, who said the the president tasked the executives to return in 30 days with a plan to shore up the manufacturing industry. He said there was extensive discussion of Trump's threat to impose border tax on U.S. companies that build factories in other countries and ship the goods back home -- a proposal that is shaping up to be a centerpiece of Trump's trade policy. "I would take the president at his word here," Liveris said. "He's not going to do anything to harm competitiveness. He's going to actually make us all more competitive." Still, it remains unclear exactly how the tax would be implemented. Testifying before the Senate finance committee last week, Trump's nominee to lead the Treasury Department said any border tax would be targeted at specific businesses. However, the president does not have the power to levy taxes, and international trade experts have warned singling out companies could violate existing treaties. House Speaker Paul Ryan has proposed allowing businesses that export goods to deduct many of their expenses, while those that import would not receive the same benefit. But in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump dismissed the plan, known as border adjustment, as "too complicated." Economists have warned that many of Trump's proposals -- including suggestions that he would impose blanket double-digit tariffs on goods from Mexico and China -- could backfire on the American economy by causing prices to rise or igniting a trade war. And business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had lobbied extensively for passage of TPP, touting the deal as an engine of job growth and an important check on China's growing ambitions. "TPP withdrawal will slow US [economic] growth, cost American jobs, & weaken US standing in Asia/world," said Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said in a tweet early Monday. "China could well be principal beneficiary." But other industry groups argued that Trump's approach would better leverage America's status as the world's largest economy. Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said his group is hoping that opening up NAFTA could provide more leeway to combat currency manipulation in countries outside the agreement. His group, which represents both industry and unions, is also seeking more stringent rules of origin that dictate how much production must occur with member countries to qualify for free trade status. "The details are going to matter a lot," Paul said. "Renegotiating NAFTA obviously entails some risks and some rewards." Popular Harrisburg reporter and television news anchor Dave Marcheskie is leaving ABC27 at the end of the month, PennLive has learned. Marcheskie has accepted a job as the senior site communications manager for Three Mile Island, replacing the retiring Ralph DeSantis. Marcheskie's last day at the station will be Jan. 29. He expects to start his new role in mid-February. Marcheskie has worked for ABC since 2010, after previous gigs in Greenville, North Carolina and Comcast SportsNet. He fought to return to the Harrisburg area after his father was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009, Marcheskie said. "Turns out it was the best thing I ever could've done," said the Ursinus College graduate. "Not many people know the true reason why I wanted to come to the Midstate so bad. I'm not a native, but I feel Harrisburg has adopted me as a son. I am forever grateful." While working in the capital city, Marcheskie established a reputation as a fierce competitor for scoops and a social-media master all while being the best-dressed guy in the room. "Dave was always a class act and fun to swap gossip with before and after press conferences," said Paul Barker, a former award winning reporter from The Burg magazine who now lives in New York City. "He paid attention to other reporters' work and went out of his way to compliment it when he thought you'd done a good job. I think he genuinely cared about the city and put in the extra effort to find creative angles on stories that mattered to its residents." Marcheskie acted as a leader of sorts of the city reporters, always prepared to ask tough questions at news conferences and ready to fight for information. He supported PennLive after Mayor Eric Papenfuse stopped talking to its reporters. For all his hard work, however, it was a photobombed lived shot that may have gained him the most national publicity. Marcheskie was reporting at a 2014 election party when an employee from a competing TV station walked behind him and started to drink from a flower vase. The clip was picked up by Jimmy Kimmel's show. The decision to leave TV news was difficult, Marcheskie said. "But, I saw a life-changing opportunity for a career in professional communications," he said. "I want to challenge myself and grow my professional experience as well as spend more time with my family." The thing Marcheskie said he will miss the most is the newsroom. "TV news can be a tough beast on families and personal life," he said. "I've missed many holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings over the years working nights. weekends. and holidays. That's why you become so tight with others in a newsroom." While Marcheskie will miss his co-workers, he said there's one thing he won't miss. "I will not miss 10-12 hour days standing out in the snow and cold trying to come up with snow terms other than 'white stuff,'" he said. "It's Central Pennsylvania....it snows...deal with it! I tried to make it fun, however." In his career, Marcheskie covered the Penn State scandal, Harrisburg's financial crisis, the raid of former Mayor Stephen Reed's home and Tropical Storm Lee. But one story stands out in his memory: the story of Don Farrell, a military veteran who was battling ALS. Marcheskie interviewed Don and his wife Joan for a story on Veteran's Day in 2013 about a possible link between military service and the disease. "Don's ALS progressed to where he would speak through a device by typing words with his eyes," Marcheskie said. "Despite his disease, he wrote an inspiration book. And mustered up enough energy to say he never regretted serving his country. I cried that night. I felt so touched by his outlook on life. I was honored to tell his story." In his new job in the energy industry, Marcheskie said he looks forward to continuing the community outreach TMI and this position historically has done. "TV news gives you so many valuable skills in time management with deadlines, public speaking through charity events, and handling high-stress situations," he said. Although Marcheskie won't appear regularly on the nightly news anymore, there will still be sightings in Harrisburg. "I'll still be going to the Broad Street Market on Saturdays, Senators games, and riding my bike along the Susquehanna River," he said. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone for playing a part in my news career. Even that stupid flower vase!" Does downtown Harrisburg need more new apartments? David Maracle is shown in a Kingston Police handout photo. Kingston police and the Ontario Provincial Police are searching for Maracle, repeat sexual offender who walked away from the Henry Trail Correctional Facility. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Kingston Police MANDATORY CREDIT President Donald Trump signs an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact agreed to under the Obama administration, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) FILE - In this Nov. 6, 1997, file photo, former President George H.W. Bush hugs his wife, Barbara, after speaking at the dedication of the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas. The Bushes were married Jan. 6, 1945, and have had the longest marriage of any presidential couple in American history. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File) Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Charlevoix closes the door to J-L comeback, earns third straight D3 district title HARBOR SPRINGS When the Charlevoix volleyball team took a two-set lead over Johannesburg-Lewiston in their Division 3 district final match Friday, there was no way the Rayders would be celebrating Let's get started with the top news of the day, Hugo Barra quitting Xiaomi. The current Vice President of Xiaomi Global will be stepping down after working with the company for more than 3 years. He will be leaving Xiaomi in February and move back to the Silicon valley in the US. Barra was responsible for the rapid growth of the company outside China, including tough markets like India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil and other regions. He will be staying on as an Advisor, for an indefinite period. Xiaomi SVP Xiang Wang will be taking over his duties. Barra cited being away from home as the reason for the change. Now, moving on to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. One of the most high-profile launches was converted into one of the biggest disasters in consumer electronics industry. Samsung today finally revealed the cause for the Galaxy Note 7 blowing up. There were two separate battery issues with the device, first was a manufacturing defect with the original Samsung SDI battery of the Note 7 where the upper corners were deformed, there was very thin separation inside the battery and this combined with stress of regular charging caused the aluminum and copper foil at the ends to short circuit. The second defect with the batteries of the replacement units was possibly due to rushed manufacturing, Samsung says missing insulation tape, larger protrusion of welding points causing more pressure on the battery could have been a possible issue. All in all, it was an aggressive battery design that led to the demise of the Note 7. If you are still holding on to one, it's time to send it back. Last year, we also heard about the death of Cyanogen Inc. and CyanogenMod which found it's rebirth as LineageOS. Now, we are hearing the active developer community behind LineageOS have started rolling out builds for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Moto G4/G4 Plus, Nextbit Robin and the Xiaomi Redmi 1S. You can download them from the LineageOS website right here. If you were on CM earlier, you would have to upgrade to a LineageOS build, it wouldn't remove any user-data. From software to hardware, Apple has just sued Qualcomm for $1 Billion over royalties. Apple says that they are charged up to 5 times as much for cellular patents when compared with other companies. The lawsuit claims that "Qualcomm illegally enhances and strengthens its monopoly in each market and eliminates competition. Then, Qualcomm leverages its market power to extract exorbitant royalties, later agreeing to reduce those somewhat only in exchange for additional anticompetitive advantages and restrictions on challenging Qualcomms power, further solidifying its stranglehold on the industry. All of this has been forced on Apple because the iPhone and the iPad have required Qualcomm chips." While Qualcomm just called the complaint baseless, and said that Apple has been actively taking on regulatory attacks on the company. Just keep some popcorn ready, this is just the beginning. Talking about food, Uber now wants to deliver food online in India. UberEATS, the company's latest initiative launched in the US in 2014 is making its way to India. It will be partnering with local restaurants to deliver food that you want to eat. Restaurant owners would be able to make use of Uber's vast coverage and increase their reach. The service will start in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata soon. Two men, one of them a Waldoboro, ME, police officer, were shot in an exchange of gunfire in Waldoboro overnight, resulting in the death of River Bend Road resident Jon Alspaugh. In a press release Sunday morning, Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde said that Sgt. Jamie Wilson and Officer John Lash responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence on River Bend Road. The call came in at approximately 1 a.m. on Jan. 22. When Wilson and Lash arrived at the home, there was an exchange of gunfire between the officers and 57-year-old Alspaugh. Lash was shot and saved by his body armor, and Alspaugh was fatally wounded, according to Labombarde in the release, the PennBayPilot reports. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* Every American that has to work with or around children has, at one time or another, witnessed a moody child throw a screaming fit if they dont win a contest, are not considered special by the entire world, or are caught in a blatant lie. Although it is always a mammoth annoyance, one can excuse a bratty childs tantrums and most people chalk it up to poor parenting, incessant and unwarranted praise, and the child being surrounded by sycophants. However, there is no excuse for a grown adult acting like a whiny brat and yet that is precisely what is sitting in the Oval Office. On most adults first day of a new job, their focus is on humbly performing their duties exceptionally well and then letting the accolades come according to the merits of their work. Not so with Donald Trump. No, the petulant child spent his first full day on the job complaining that he is not getting the human-turned-god treatment he feels he deserves; probably what he is used to receiving from his family starting at birth. Perhaps it was because of the historical record-setting protests against the Trump around the country, and the world, or because his inauguration crowd was pathetic and about 1/7th the size of President Obamas, but Trump and his press secretary spent Saturday whining and crying like sulking brats who realize everyone doesnt think theyre special. It is not exactly what any sane human being would call being an adult, and behavior that no-one in America would regard as presidential. Trump was incensed over the preponderance of truthful and accurate news reports, and honest-to-dog real images showing the number of people attending his inauguration was woefully lacking for an incoming White House occupant, much less a self-proclaimed demigod. Trump complained bitterly that the media use photographs of an empty field to make it seem like no-one came to see him inaugurated. He said, We caught them in a beauty, and I think theyre going to pay a big price. There it is again; threats against the media for doing something completely foreign to deceitful Donny reporting the truth. Trumps press secretary, sad Sean Spicer summoned an emergency press meeting, sans reporters questions, and lied in the White House briefing room claiming that his childish boss had drawn the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration. It is a claim that, as the New York Times noted, photographs clearly show to be false. Why not be blunt and call Spicers claim a filthy lie? Just asking. Spicer had a another lie prepared to dispute the many, many images from many, many locations and said that any photographs of the inaugural ceremonies that showed a less than a packed to overflowing Washington D.C. were deliberately framed to minimize the enormous support that had gathered on the National Mall. Again the NYT failed to call Spicer or Trump liars, but in a very tepid journalistic defense one has to admit that they did say that Spicer or Trump provided no proof of either assertion. Why not just call Trump and Spicer liars? Oh, thats right; because Trumps ego wasnt stroked by the press so he threatened that the media is going to pay a big price for being accurate in reporting the truth. Earlier in the day the Trump had taken his petulance to the CIA where, after boasting about his self-deification, intelligence, self-importance, fame and historically humongous inauguration turnout, he complained about the media. Then he did what Trump does innately; he lied that they [the media] sort of made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community. Trump said: I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on earth, and they sort of made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community. The reason youre the No. 1 stop is, it is exactly the opposite. I love you, I respect you, theres nobody I respect more. It is too bad for Trump that the fine folks at the CIA do not live a vacuum and have the same access to Trumps ramblings as the media he hates or the rest of the population that doesnt find the Internets or computers complicated. The CIA folks, at least those this author has met, are also renowned for possessing substantially more than above average intelligence and can tell when they are being played and lied to. As far as the media making it sound like he had a feud with the intelligence community, the media was not lying. As is always the case, Donald Trump was lying. It is unclear what Trump considers a feud, but less than a week ago he compared the intelligence community to German Nazis; something that outraged outgoing CIA Director John Brennan and should have infuriated every American alive. Mr. Brennan said, What I do find outrageous is equating intelligence community with Nazi Germany. I do take great umbrage at that. In fact, Mr. Brennan also made a prescient statement that, although lost on the likes of any Trump, punctuates exactly what is wrong with the spoiled child living in the White House. Mr. Brennan said what any patriotic American already knows; Its more than just about Mr. Trump. Its about the United States of America. That remark from Brennan is precisely what any member of the intelligence community, armed services, or average American for that matter, believes is why they serve their country. The intelligence community, like our fine military, serves the best interests of the United States of America, not any president and certainly not a lying spoiled brat like the real Donald J. Trump. When he realizes that fact, his ego will be hurt and he will again attack the intelligence community for not worshipping the ground he walks on. Look, there are myriad reasons to detest Donald Trump and this column intends on spending no small amount of words elucidating each and every reason on every occasion possible. However, one reason should not be because there he is a petulant and spoiled rotten child crying like a baby that nobody likes him on his first full day sitting in the Oval Office; a place he, like any snot-nosed little rich kid, has no right even visiting without strict adult supervision much less working in alone. Every person in America, and the world, likely comprehends that poor Donald Trump needs constant adulation and acts of obeisance even when he is being a cruel and inhumane liar; even if it is false praise. Every human being needs some sense of self-worth or there would be no reason for living; unless they are an enlightened Buddhist. However, the preponderance of human beings actually accomplish something, no matter how insignificant, that gives them a personal sense of worth. But they damn sure dont cry like spoiled rich kids when the world fails to hang on their every utterance and cheer wildly even when they are being cruel or pathetically incompetent. It is telling that for all the dire problems Trump spent a Friday morning speech claiming are plaguing America, instead of actually doing some work to help the people he said are living in a god-forsaken Hell-hole called America, he spent his first full day on the job complaining that the media makes it look like not everyone in the nation believes in his deity. Based on the record millions turning out to protest his existence, there are substantial millions of Americans who not only reject Trumps greatness, they have rapidly learned to clearly loathe everything about the self-important bloviate; and who can blame them? Certainly not this author. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print After spending his first days in office bashing the press and expressing his insecurities about his inauguration day crowd, Donald Trump tweeted this morning that he will focus on jobs and national security. Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security. Top executives coming in at 9:00 A.M. to talk manufacturing in America. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2017 He is still pushing the claim that he will bring manufacturing jobs back to America. Other than his inauguration hats, apparently, which were made in China, meaning his job creation efforts are not off to a great job. In other words, that promise is already broken. And it isnt an aberration. His MAGA hats werent made here either, nor are his or his daughter Ivankas lines of clothing. Trump will not, of course, begin by bringing his own jobs back to the US. Those will remain profitably outsourced to China and Mexico. The biggest problem for Trump is not that Republican orthodoxy claims government cant create jobs but that President Obama already created 15 million of them. As USAToday put it, President Trump promised to bring back jobs but inherits an economy that gained jobs for a record 75 straight months. So what, precisely, is Trump doing today? Bloomberg reports, Trump will hold a breakfast meeting with the business leaders he named to an advisory panel on manufacturing, led by Andrew Liveris, chief executive officer of Dow Chemical Co., according to an administration official who asked not to be identified because the meeting participants hadnt been announced. The private-sector group will advise the Commerce Department. Trump will then meet in the afternoon with a group of labor leaders and U.S. workers, according to his public schedule. Trump promises to create 25 million jobs but how he will do that is anyones guess. It is possible, even likely, he will claim credit for every job created by anyone anywhere. There should probably be real questions asked about how Trump defines the word jobs given his embrace of alternate facts. The Daily Edge pokes some fun at his claims: Trump promises to create 25M jobs, more than any other President ever, which @seanspicer calls "totally doable if we redefine 'million'" The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) January 23, 2017 One thing is certain: Trump will have to show a great deal more ability to focus than he has to date, with every little thing said or reported about him sends him rushing off to tweet a bundle of lies and forget that his most important job is not dwelling on his manifest insecurities, but actually governing this great nation. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Trump administration has confirmed as part of their plan to repeal and replace Obamacare they will be cutting for 7.4 million poor, seniors, and disabled Americans by converting Medicaid into a block grant program. Kellyanne Conway tried to sell the block grants as a good thing, Those who are closest to the people in need will be administering it. You really cut out the fraud, waste and abuse, and you get the help directly to them. Block grants do give more power to the states, but they also cap what federal government spends, and will allow many to provide the bare minimum of health care coverage for nations most vulnerable citizens. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) explained that the Republican block grant argument is a disguise that conservates use to cover up funding cuts, Medicaid provides vital medical assistance to 74 million people nationwide, including more than 2.2 million in Michigan covering nursing care for seniors, community-based services for Americans living with disabilities, and everything from immunizations to critical care for low-income children and families. History tells us that turning this program into a block grant, under the guise of increasing state flexibility, is just another way to cut Medicaids funding. This not only threatens states like Michigan that have increased Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, but it also jeopardizes the entire programs long-time support for vulnerable populations. We cannot allow this assault on our values to prevail. The consequences of the Medicaid program being turned into a block grant is that some people will lose their healthcare, while others will have less health care. A 2014 Center for Budget and Policy Priorities report on the Ryan Medicaid block grant plan concluded funding would be cut by 26%. A 2012 Urban Institute study of block granting Medicaid found that states would drop 14.3 million to 20.5 million people from Medicaid by the tenth year of the block grant. This number does not include the millions who lose their health insurance when the ACA is repealed, and the Medicaid expansion is gone. Millions of people highly concentrated in red states will lose their health care in the first year of block granting. At best, these people will have less healthcare. Historically, programs that are turned into block grants get their funding cut by 25%-51%. The block grant is not a good thing because it will result in millions of poor, disabled, and elder Americans losing access to their healthcare on top of the tens of millions who are going to be harmed by Obamacare repeal. President Trump continues to find new ways to hurt those Americans who at the bottom of the economic ladder. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print As The Plum Lines Greg Sargent says, Conservative victimization routine is so tiresome. Raise your hand if you agree. And it isnt just the sense of persecution but that its all because we reject their blatantly false claims. Even some conservatives have grown tired of Trumps whining specifically, like Chuck Todd when having Kellyanne Conways alternative facts inflicted on him, or Fox News Chris Wallace when Reince Priebus said Trump had the larger crowd and Were not gonna sit around and take it. Wallace, no stranger to slinging lies himself, actually acted like a journalist and when Priebus insisted there was Wallace shot back with There wasnt, and said, You know what? Lets put up the picture again. Trump not only claimed a bigger crowd than Obama but better inauguration ratings too: Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017 Of course, he only compared himself to Obamas 2013 ratings, not his first (as The Hollywood Reporter tells us, Second-term festivities, quite predictably, never have as much appeal as the first go around) and for very good reason: There are no "alternative facts." pic.twitter.com/Q7JB1dZnAx Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 22, 2017 That is the number that really mattered, not 2013, just as it is the 2009 photos that matter when we speak of Trumps inauguration. In the wake of Sean Spicers bizarre statement yesterday on crowd size, Margaret Sullivan observed that the traditional way of reporting on a president is dead. And Trumps press secretary killed it. No longer able to rely on statements from the White House, other means must be found: White House press briefings are access journalism, in which official statements achieved by closeness to the source are taken at face value and breathlessly reported as news. And that is over. Dead. Spicers statement should be seen for what it is: Remarks made over the casket at the funeral of access journalism. As Jessica Huseman of ProPublica put it: Journalists arent going to get answers from Spicer. We are going to get answers by digging. By getting our hands dirty. So lets all do that. Shes right. And by and large, that is how the media has reacted to Trumps whining about crowd size and it is most definitely not what Trump wants the media to do: dig. As Media Matters Eric Boehlert points out, negative attention is not always good attention: Trump aides not very bright; by bitching abt crowd size they made made sure TV news plastered screens w/ MORE pics of protesters. (viai CNN) pic.twitter.com/ClXuu4oMsk Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) January 23, 2017 CNNs Jim Acosta tweeted photos of workers installing coverings on the grass for Obamas 2013 inauguration Spicer said in his statement didnt exist, and another contradicting Spicers claims about the use of magnetometers somehow obscuring crowd size, when in fact, the Secret Service says no magnetometers were used. This kind of thing can be expected to happen when you declare war on the press, and on CNN and Jim Acosta, in particular, (remember, Acosta was the guy Trump did not allow to ask a question) at his first press conference as president. The New York Times even used the word false in their headline: With False Claims, Trump Hits Media on Crowd Turnout. Trump, of course, would like that to read With Alternative Facts. Not happening. Trump wants to delegitimize the press, to press his alternate facts as a replacement for actual facts and to bully the media into accepting this, a not unreasonable expectation given how well he has managed the media so far, but he seems to have miscalculated just how much bullying they are willing to take. He can attempt to throw Sean Spicer under the bus and has, but the media understood immediately what was taking place and who had put those words in Spicers mouth. That damage is done. Sullivan wrote that Some journalists, afterward, sounded stunned at what had transpired and that such a reaction was understandable but the press should not have been surprised. If they had reported honestly about Donald Trump in the first place, they would have understood this was the logical next step of his war on the press. They ignored Trumps totalitarianism in favor of treating him with kid gloves and obediently attacking Hillary Clinton. It is to be hoped theirs are no longer eyes wide stupid, but wide open, seeing Trumps lies as the authoritarian propaganda that it is. Matthew Yglesias of Vox puts it like this: The genius of defining the media as your administrations political adversary is the media wont fight back. Dont fall for it. Trump did fall for it, and he paid for doing so this weekend. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* Over the weekend there was an event that demonstrated a rare feature inherent in the American population that is so foreign to most conservatives they will likely never understand it. In fact, it turns out that the rarity that was exposed by millions of Americans is actually a feature of people from around the world. Of course the record-setting Womens Protest was phenomenal, and it was a powerful pussy grabbing back message to the Trump. But it was also a beautiful thing because the millions of people involved were all working in concert for the benefit of all Americans, and not just women. It was something that occurred by design of the women who organized the protest and decent Americans delivered the goods. It has to be stated that, although it appeared the millions of people around the world were protesting Trump, and that certainly was the case, they were also protesting the monsters supporting Trump. It was a protest against Republicans in Congress who will pass legislation targeting every demographic in America save the filthy rich and fanatically religious. White supremacist people may think they are exempt from the Republican atrocity about to befall the nation, but unless they are extremely rich religious white folk, they are going to be hurt with the same Republican intent as decent Americans. What was an amazing sight at the protests was the inclusion and participation of every possible demographic and interest group being targeted for rape by a conservative government with a Trump rubber stamp. Yes, there were plenty of women advocating for equality and the right to be free of religious men controlling their bodies, but there were also good Americans representing immigrants, the elderly, veterans, the poor, youth, Muslims, the disabled, environmentalists, men of all ages, educators, students and all manner of non-white people. What happened on Saturday was a demonstration of humanity working together as one body to protest the inhumanity inherent in the conservative movement and exposed by Donald Trumps hateful rhetoric. It is unclear how many of the protest attendees were aware there was actually a platform released by the movements organizers, but they did all seem to get the message intuitively; likely because they are good human beings and not cruel conservatives. The platform demands a broad range of reforms to address much more than gender inequity and that was glaringly apparent to anyone at any protest location. Just as importantly, and because it was created by decent human beings (women), it demands addressing racial and economic inequality and everything that entails including protecting the environment. The platform calls for and supports, among other things, paid family leave; anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans; access to affordable reproductive health care, including contraception and abortion; an end to the use of military-style weapons and tactics by the police in minority communities; a living minimum wage; immigration reform, with a path to citizenship; and protection of the environment and public lands. It is noteworthy that all of those demands target Republicans in Congress and not just corrupt Trump. Remember, Trump is nothing if not a typical conservative barbarian and a fine representation of cruel Republicans in Congress. Now and throughout the presidential campaign, Trump just said out loud what every Republican in Congress and the states believes in their icy-cold hearts. The protests organizers, as well as the attendees, are aware that no president is capable of enacting all of the atrocities about to come out of Washington without a congressional majority passing legislation attacking the mass of American citizens. It is worth reiterating ad nauseam that this protest was not solely against Trump, and that the demands and easily achievable goals are not radical in any sense because they are founded on basic humanity, equality and civil rights; all ensconced within the U.S. Constitution. Those goals may be radical to conservatives and their bloviate leader Trump, but they are goals decent human beings have been calling for in America and worldwide since the Christian Jesus advocated them in Christian mythology. As noted in a New York Times (NYT) editorial board commentary, nearly all of the Womens Protest goals appeared as recently as July in the Democratic National Committee (DNC) platform. In fact, they are considered to be mainstream proposals in a free and equal nation including protecting constitutional rights for all Americans, promote economic equality through broad-based prosperity for all Americans, and improving safety net programs so no American ever falls through the cracks. It is a sad state of affairs that in the richest, and allegedly most equal nation on Earth, these basic goals have to be the subjects of a protest manifesto and not achievements that were exceeded generations ago. It is a horribly pathetic indication of how far afield America has drifted from its own Constitution and a humanitarian society that millions of diverse Americans have to protest for their fellow Americans basic human rights because a group of Republican savages serve the rich, the racist and the religious; and now they control the entire government. There is a meme that makes the rounds on social media from time to time that was apparent in the diversity of groups participating in the so-called Womens Protest. There are a few variants, but the meme goes something like: A conservative says, if it hasnt happened to me, I dont care. A liberal says, This should never happen to anyone, and thats why I care. Whether everyone among the millions of Americans participating in Saturdays protests were liberals is unknowable. However, what was glaringly apparent was that everyone was protesting in predominately inclement weather and demanding that what is about to happen to any American at the hands of Trump Republicans should never happen to anyone; whether they are immigrants, the elderly, veterans, youth, disabled, Muslims, the poor, environmentalists, men of all ages, educators, students and all manner of non-white people. What the protests revealed about America is that there are still Americans who consider their fellow citizens their actual fellow humans worthy of equal, civil, constitutional and basic human rights. It was a protest for humanity and it was a beautiful thing in an increasingly ugly nation, and of course it was organized by women. Although the likes of Trump, his Republican facilitators, or their religious and rich backers will never comprehend what that beautiful protest revealed about the real America, it sent a powerful message to the world and Republicans. Decent Americans are not going to sit quietly or idly and allow them barbaric conservatives to intimidate or injure any of us humanitarian Americans without a ferocious fight; it was a beautiful thing to behold and gave many demoralized Americans a reason to be proud to be an American now that Barack Obama is not here to protect us. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 80F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. LANESBORO Native American activist Lyla June will present a program, "Water is Life," at 5 p.m. Feb. 4 at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center near Lanesboro. The program combines poetry and music. Lyla June, who is of Navajo and Cheyenne lineage, is described as a "voice for prayer, peaceful resistance and spiritual action." She has been involved in the anti-pipeline demonstrations on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. The program will include a dinner. The cost is $25 for early reservations, or $30 the week prior to the event. On Feb. 5, she will lead a breakfast discussion, also at Eagle Bluff, on how people of every color and heritage can move forward together. The cost is $15. Overnight rooms are available at Eagle Bluff for $80 and $60. For reservations for rooms, or for the Lyla June events, call 507-467-2437, or go to eagle-bluff.org. ADVERTISEMENT Lyla June will also speak at 1 p.m. Feb. 3 at People of Hope Church 3703 Country Club Road SW, Rochester. Admission is free. Rochester police are investigating the report of a robbery Saturday in the parking lot of a local business. Officers responded to the Holiday Stationstore at 1851 Assisi Drive NW about 6:10 p.m. after dispatchers received a call about a struggle, possibly including a gun, said Capt. John Sherwin. When they arrived, they found the 18-year-old victim, who told police he'd been approached by the suspect described only as a black man, about 24 years old, dressed entirely in black who asked him for a ride. The man got into the backseat of the teenager's vehicle, the report says, and pulled out a gun. The teen "thought he was being robbed," Sherwin said, "so he threw his wallet at the guy." The suspect got out and ran; the alleged victim chased him and found his wallet on the ground, apparently dropped by the suspect. ADVERTISEMENT There's "some video to corroborate the story," Sherwin said, "but we're still investigating." A witness at the scene told officers the suspect had asked him for a ride, as well. WATERLOO, Iowa A Wanamingo man was arrested as part of a drug sting in Waterloo, Iowa, on Sunday. Paul Greseth, 31, of Wanamingo, and Dylan Purdy, 24, of Upper Minneapolis are both being held in the Blackhawk County Jail for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class B felony in Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. According to a report from the Iowa DPS, two suspects met undercover law enforcement officers for a narcotics transaction at 7:20 a.m. Sunday at the Awesome Car Wash in Waterloo. During the transaction, several marked and unmarked law enforcement vehicles approached the suspects, at which point a Division of Narcotics Enforcement agent entered the driver's side door of the suspects' vehicle and attempted to handcuff the driver. An altercation ensued and the agent eventually fired two rounds at the suspect. Neither suspect nor any officers were injured during the shooting, and the suspects were placed under arrest, the report states. The officer-involved shooting is under investigation by the Iowa DPS Division of Criminal Investigation, the report states. More than 1,100 miles from home, Jerry Tufly secretly plotted a life-saving surprise for his best friend. Last month, that dream became a reality within the walls of Mayo Clinic. Tufly, a 55-year-old oil and gas company executive , stunned his supplier-turned-best friend Fred Pierce by offering to be his living liver donor, a rare procedure that requires weeks of testing to find a perfect match. When the Colorado man happened to get the green light, he took the leap of faith in hopes of helping his friend. Pierce, 54, lost 60 pounds within the first 45 days of being diagnosed with liver disease in 2015. The situation was considered so dire that doctors said it's unlikely Pierce would have survived to see 2017 without Tufly's trip to Rochester to get tested. Friends and family in Grand Junction, Colo., are eagerly awaiting the return of the popular small business owner, who started Tisco Inc. in 1994 . He was discharged from the hospital last week, six weeks after surgery, but must remain in Rochester for at least another few weeks for additional testing. Doctors are hopeful that he'll to make a full recovery but don't expect a mushy reunion with Tufly when he's finally allowed to return home. ADVERTISEMENT "I'm not going to thank (Tufly) for saving my life," Pierce quipped Thursday from a hospital bed at Mayo. "He'd gloat about that forever." That response won't surprise any who know the two friends, who met more than 30 years ago during a routine business deal. After Pierce began selling equipment to Tufly's company, they began meeting for lunch at Wendy's. Their friendship quickly progressed to the point where their families were vacationing together. When Pierce fell ill during one of those trips, Tufly took it upon himself to make things right no matter the cost. He used a week of vacation time to get tested in Rochester without consulting his buddy. "There's a risk for death and all that, but as far as I'm concerned, it wasn't near as bad as I had mapped it out to be in my head," said Tufly, who is currently recovering from the surgery at his home just west of Grand Junction while his own liver regenerates. "I'm hoping he'll be able to come out and live a normal life so we can go camping again. He's not my brother, we're not related, but our paths crossed and I might have saved his life. More people ought to be on donor lists." The United Network for Organ Sharing reports that 22 people die each day while awaiting a donor and that one organ donation can save up to eight lives. Pierce's mother is among those who passed away before finding a liver donor. Mayo steps up An unusual series of events led to Pierce being treated in Rochester. Upon falling ill in July 2015, Pierce's wife, Gretchen, says she was unable to secure an appointment for her husband at the local health care facilities. Panicked, Pierce's sister in Nevada took a shot in the dark she reached out to a neighbor who works at Mayo for assistance. ADVERTISEMENT Within days, Pierce was being treated in Rochester by Mayo specialists. "It was a miracle," Gretchen said. "We had been struggling for two months to get doctors to call us back. They wouldn't budge from (an appointment in October), but there's no way he would have made it until then." Pierce's liver condition was causing liters of fluid to build up internally, which required constant draining. However, Mayo happened to be starting a new trial aimed at helping patients excrete excess fluid as urine. The study was already full, but Mayo received funding to include Pierce in the trial, which extended his donor window. "Mayo is so awesome," Pierce said. "They were only supposed to give out five of these pumps. They petitioned the FDA for more funding to get a sixth pump, which came to me." Tufly's big decision Despite the pump, Pierce's condition continued to deteriorate. He'd lost 80 pounds and was in need of a liver from a living donor, but was still putting on a brave face. When Pierce became evasive with Tufly, his longtime buddy says he knew things were serious. The last time something similar happened was when alcohol treatment resulted in Pierce cutting off contact from Tufly for about two years, per orders to sever connections with past associates; he's now approaching 11 years of sobriety. Unwilling to suffer that heartbreak again, Tufly submitted a blood test to Mayo and soon began four days of intensive testing in Rochester. This time, he was the one who cut off all contact to maintain the surprise. ADVERTISEMENT However, plans changed when Tufly's mother suffered a severe stroke and soon died. The secret was spilled a few days after her funeral. It prompted immediate waterworks. "He broke down," Tufly said of the revelation. "We just talked and hugged each other, then had our lunch. I wanted to keep it low key until we got it done, but he went and told everybody right away." "I just sat there and cried," Gretchen said of hearing the news. "The relief to know that Fred would be OK was just overwhelming." Long road to recovery Surgery was performed Dec. 7 to replace Pierce's liver with more than 50 percent of Tufly's healthy one. Tufly recovered relatively quickly, but Pierce has been forced to battle through a series of complications, as is often the case for live donor recipients. One disturbing sequence actually saw him flatline for 18 minutes. Gretchen said nurses whooped with joy and doctors exchanged a high-five when her husband's heart resumed beating. "He has been given a tremendous gift," Gretchen said. "Through everything we go through now, there will always be this gift." Though still weak and needing time to recover, Colorado eagerly awaits Pierce's return. A GoFundMe raised nearly $20,000 to help cover their travel and lodging, while a spaghetti feed further supplemented those funds. The two men have been communicating constantly since the surgery. They initially drove nurses nuts with their shenanigans, but now use their phones to bridge the distance. A celebration has tentatively been planned for Dec. 7 to commemorate the surgery. During quieter moments, Pierce often finds himself reflecting on a photo sent by Tufly. A sign posted outside a rural church tugs at both of their hearts: "You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." "That's what Jerry's done for me," Pierce said. "That's what he gets out of this. It's intertwined our families. They have four daughters and we have two kids, and they're calling each other cousins now." Gov. Mark Dayton will deliver his seventh State of the State address on Monday night in the newly restored Minnesota House chamber. The DFL governor will be outlining his vision to members of the Republican-led Legislature. The speech comes with two years left in his term as governor. Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, said she will be listening carefully to the speech. "It will just be interesting to hear what kind of tone he sets, whether he lays out a grand vision or whether he reels it back thinking he won't get much of what he wants," Liebling said. House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids said he will be doing what he does at every State of the State address. He takes out a legal pad and makes two columns pros and concerns. He takes careful notes throughout the speech. The Preston Republican said he would like to hear the governor talk more about his specific ideas for tax cuts and for improving the state's health care system. ADVERTISEMENT "I hope he leaves his 'my way or the highway' attitude at the door," Davids said. If last year's speech is any indication, it is likely Dayton will talk about the importance of preserving the state's fiscal health and avoiding passage of large tax cuts that could lead to future budget shortfalls. Last year he also talked about the need to make key investments in early childhood education, transportation, water quality and broadband infrastructure. Dayton is also likely to talk about his ideas for improving the state's individual insurance market and getting premium relief to residents. Dayton will deliver his speech at 7 p.m. To watch the speech, go to the governor's website at mn.gov/governor . A bonding bill do-over A $1 billion construction borrowing bill that died last year is getting resurrected thanks to a Republican senator. Sen. Dave Senjem, chairman of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, introduced a bill last week that is virtually identical to last year's failed bonding bill. Senjem said his hope is that lawmakers will pass the measure early in the session. "Let's get some shovels in the ground this summer if we can," Senjem said. Funding for several local projects are in the bill. It includes $5 million for upgrades at Rochester International Airport, $4.5 million for Red Wing's River Town Renaissance, $16.8 million for Winona State University's Education Village, $3.6 million to repair the historic Lanesboro Dam, $1.5 million to expand the Rochester Reading Center/Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota and $500,000 for a study of Oronoco's wastewater needs. There is also $200 million set aside for the state's Corridors of Commerce program, including money to help expand U.S. 14 from Dodge Center to Owatonna. ADVERTISEMENT Some local projects are not included in the bill, including a $14.5 million request to renovate Rochester Community and Technical College. Senjem said he decided he was going to push forward last year's bill without making any changes. "If we change the bill, then I've got 100 new people knocking at my office door saying, 'Me, too,'" Senjem said. Last year, a disagreement over funding for the proposed Southwest Light Rail Transit project scuttled the bonding bill in the final moments. Senjem said that issue has since been addressed by the Metropolitan Council, allowing the bonding bill to move ahead. It remains to be seen whether House Republicans will be open to passing a large bonding bill this year. In order to pass, bonding bills need to win a supermajority of votes. That means Republicans and Democrats need to be on board. Senjem said there is strong support for the bill from members of his Republican caucus. And since the bill was put together last year by Senate Democrats, Senjem said he expects DFLers will rally behind the bill, too. Senjem added, "Let's show the people of Minnesota we can do something, that we can get something done." In other words In the summer of 1858, Abraham Lincoln stood before his state convention and warned, "a house divided against itself cannot stand." The apt re Read moreThe danger of an island divided Two young women from Hong Kong are heading to federal prison for transporting 7 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, with a street value of $1 million, more than a year ago. Yau Li, 20, and Tsz Kei Lee, 21, were arrested at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport on Dec. 29, 2015, and have been in custody since. Authorities noticed their unusually baggy winter clothing and pulled the pair for secondary inspection, according to court documents. Li will serve two years in prison after she gets credit for time spent in jail. Lee will serve one year in prison after getting credit for time spent in jail. Both women have been held in custody for 320 days. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Request for leniency During a sentencing hearing on Monday before Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood of the District Court of Guam, the defendants attorneys asked for leniency. The defendants also said they feared for the safety of their families in Hong Kong. Reading letters to the court on Monday, Li and Lee said they were coerced into bringing the drugs to Guam by a recruiter and another individual who helped conceal the drugs on their bodies. Both women last year pleaded guilty to importation of methamphetamine and admitted that they agreed to transport the drugs from Hong Kong to Guam in exchange for 70,000 Hong Kong dollars, or approximately $9,000. Assistant Federal Public Defender Leilani Lujan represented Lee and defense attorney Jeffrey Moots was the attorney for Li. Investigation into drug 'kingpin' Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic David confirmed that the two women provided substantial assistance to the government for an ongoing investigation. David mentioned that there is an ongoing investigation into a kingpin in Hong Kong. However, David opposed the defenses request for a significantly lower sentence. Lee also provided information to the court about alleged incidents of abuse and mistreatment by guards and inmates at the Hagatna Detention Facility, which houses federal detainees. The details of the pairs cooperation and the allegations of abuse at the detention facility were filed as a confidential matter in court. U.S. Marshal Frank Leon Guerrero had no official comment. Li was found in possession of about 4 pounds of meth with a purity level of 98 percent, and Lee was found in possession of about 3 pounds of meth with a purity level of 95 percent. President Trump is fond of saying of almost any problem he identifies this stops right now. Unfortunately, many of the problems in question are not so tractable. But theres one problem Trump has stopped already the bad blood between the U.S. and its great ally Israel. The Washington Post reports that the president talked by phone today with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump described the conversation as very nice. Netanyahus office called it very warm. According to the White House, Trump and Netanyahu agreed to consult closely on regional issues, including the threats posed by Iran. Trump emphasized the close relationship between the two countries, promised to work toward Israeli-Palestinian peace, and stressed that countering the Islamic State and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be an administration priority. Netanyahu expressed his desire to work closely with the Trump administration so that there is no daylight between the two countries. In addition, Trump invited Netanyahu to visit him at the White House in early February. We can be confident that Netanyahu wont have to cool his heels in a conference room while the president has dinner with his family, as he did when Barack Obama had him at the White House. Netanyahu wont be the first foreign leader to meet with Trump. That honor will go to Theresa May, the prime minister of Great Britain. This is as it should be. Like Israel, Britain is a special ally. Unlike Israel, it needs our immediate help on a trade deal as a result of Brexit. Trump will also have early meetings with Canadas Justin Trudeau and Mexicos Enrique Pena Nieto. He spoke with both by phone on Saturday. These talks will pertain to renegotiating NAFTA and, particularly in the case of Mexico, immigration and border security. This is a president who appears to have his foreign policy priorities straight. What about Russia? According to the Post, Trump hasnt yet made contact with Vladimir Putin. A meeting appears to be months away. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that it would be a big mistake to think that U.S.-Russian relations under Trump would be free from controversy. The Democratic Party and its media pals notwithstanding, it looks like Trump has correctly identified which nations are our friends and which are not. Our friends are the ones whose leaders hes talking to and setting up meeting with right out of the gate. It was Barack Obama who struggled to identify our friends. Or maybe, Groucho Marx style, he couldnt form a bond with any nation that had a high regard for ours. This stops right now. National Reviews Jim Geraghty argues in his NR Morning Jolt today that the Wymyns March on Saturday is the nucleus of a potentially effective Tea Party of the left for the Trump years. Even though the march was an incoherent stew of contradictory and fringe-y causes, it is united by the simple impulse to oppose Donald Trump, which Geraghty thinks will be sufficient to hold it all together. Maybe so, and certainly Henry Adamss great line that politics is the systematic organization of hatreds comes to mind, as the left has hatreds in abundance. But we already went through what was supposed to be the Tea Party of the left: it was called Occupy Wall Street, and it fizzled totally because of its incoherence. Will the presence of Trump cure the various civil wars within the left that we have been tracking here on Power Line? Take in James Hohmann of the Washington Post today on the same idea: THE BIG IDEA: The massive marches this weekend will be remembered as the starting point of a massive protest movement against President Trump, but what will become of the sleeping giant that has awakened? If the extraordinary energy that was on display across the country is effectively channeled into electoral politics, some of the long-term demographic trends that Trumps victory obscured will accelerate. He could be the last Republican elected president for a long time. But a new protest movement could also upend the Democratic establishment, just like the tea party movement did eight years ago. With the president viewed as illegitimate by so many progressive activists, even small compromises will be viewed as apostasy. This could fuel nasty primary challenges, without a president in the White House to stop them, and prompt a lurch to the left that would make it harder to topple Trump in 2020. In other words, Hohmanns Big Idea is that he has no idea what will happen. But his last paragraph seems more likely to me. Since the anti-Vietnam War movement disrupted and transformed the Democratic Party 45 years ago into what it is today, what would a new round of further-left, super-charged identity-politics disruption do to the Democratic Party now? Probably just blow a bigger bubble for themselves. I think it is more likely that Democrats will have trouble electing another president for a long time, just as Republicans floundered in 2012. Especially if they nominate Elizabeth Warren, who makes George McGovern look like Patrick Henry and John Paul Jones. (Much will depend, of course, on conditions in the nation under Trump. Remember always the Harold MacMillan rule: Events, dear boy, events. . .) Pro tip: If the left version of the Tea Party wants to be as potent as the Tea Party, maybe they could start by cleaning up after themselves as the Tea Party did, instead of leaving their signs and trash for someone else to clean up after theyre done shouting: Elizabeth Warren is doing her damnedest to become a liberal hero. Her obnoxiousness during Senate confirmation hearings is only the latest example. One might expect that, however this act is viewed in America as a whole, it plays well in liberal Massachusetts. Actually, not so much. A poll by WBUR in Boston finds that 51 percent of Massachusetts voters view her favorably. Thats not bad. At the same time, though, only 44 percent believe that Warren deserves reelection and 46 percent believe its time to give someone else a chance. Steve Koczela, president of the polling group that conducts surveys for WBUR says: No ones going to look at a 44 percent reelect number and think that thats a good number. No ones going to look at it being close to even between reelect and give someone else a chance and think that thats reassuring. Charlie Baker, the Republican governor of Massachusetts, fared much better in the WBUR survey. His favorability rating is 59 percent, and only 29 percent think someone else should get a chance at being the Commonwealths governor. What explains the lukewarm sentiment towards Warren? America Rising suggests that it may be due to the Senators excessive partisanship. Just after her election in 2012, CBS News reported: [Warren] extended an olive branch to her opponents supporters, tempering her feisty middle-class populism with a dose of conciliation: I understand that there was a message for people who voted for Senator Brown. I think a lot of them were saying, youve got to be willing to reach across the aisle, explained Warren. I want them to know I heard that loud and clear, and its what I want to do. Its not possible to reconcile this statement with Warrens behavior, which seems designed to ensure she has no enemies on the left if she seeks the presidency in 2020. Massachusetts voters have taken note. Many are not pleased. It seems that, depending on the overall political landscape in 2018, a strong center-right candidate could present a stiff challenge to Warren if she seeks reelection. NOTE: This post has been updated to fix a slight inaccuracy in the original account of Warrens poll numbers. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have announced that they will vote to confirm Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. With these two votes, Tillesons confirmation becomes a near certainty. Among Republicans, Senator Marco Rubio appears to be the only holdout. The Florida man tore into Tillerson at the confirmation hearing but has not said how he will vote. Even if Rubio votes no, Tillerson should receive 51 votes. With confirmation virtually assured, Rubio can now vote against Tillersons nomination without sinking it, if thats what he wants to do. A no vote certainly wont endear Rubio to President Trump, but if Tillerson is confirmed, the vote might not make Rubio a pariah. Then again, it might. Without Rubios support, Tillerson is unlikely to get a favorable vote from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He will still be confirmed, but the unfavorable committee vote would carry some symbolism. McCain says he based his decision in part on a desire to defer to the new president and in part based on private conversations with Tillerson: He talked to me a lot about his views with Russia, a lot about the events that have taken place, about. . .what his duties were as a head of one of the worlds largest corporations. Listen, this wasnt an easy call, but I also believe that when theres doubt, the incoming president gets the benefit of doubt, and thats the way Ive treated every president. In my view, voting for Tilleson should be a pretty easy call. His posture towards Russia as head of Exxon was intended to serve the interests of the company. His committee testimony shows that, within the confines of what the president wants, his posture towards Russia in the entirely different role of Secretary of State will likely be quite different. And any Secretary of State must operate within the confines of what the president wants. Insofar as Russia is concerned, the main difference between Tillerson and some other nominee is that Tillerson understands how Putin thinks and how he negotiates. This seems like a plus to me. UPDATE by JOHN: Marco Rubio announced today that he will support Tillerson, too. That means he is in, which is great. I think Tillerson could be a superb Secretary of State. In terms of competence alone, the upgrade over John Kerry and Hillary Clinton is immense. Asra Nomani describes herself as a liberal Muslim, Trump voter, and former Wall Street Journal reporter. She wondered what the common denominator among the various groups participating in the Womens March on Washington over the weekend might be. Nomanis interesting if unsurprising findings are posted under the heading Billionaire George Soros has ties to more than 50 partners of the Womens March on Washington on a New York Times site, no less. Following the money, Nomani states, I pored through documents of billionaire George Soros and his Open Society philanthropy, because I wondered: What is the link between one of Hillary Clintons largest donors and the Womens March? Plot spoiler: I found out: plenty. Nomanis unsurprising findings are worth a look: By my draft research, which Im opening up for crowd-sourcing on GoogleDocs, Soros has funded, or has close relationships with, at least 56 of the marchs partners, including key partners Planned Parenthood, which opposes Trumps anti-abortion policy, and the National Resource Defense Council, which opposes Trumps environmental policies. The other Soros ties with Womens March organizations include the partisan MoveOn.org (which was fiercely pro-Clinton), the National Action Network (which has a former executive director lauded by Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett as a leader of tomorrow as a march co-chair and another official as the head of logistics). Other Soros grantees who are partners in the march are the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Constitutional Rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. March organizers and the organizations identified here havent yet returned queries for comment. On the issues I care about as a Muslim, the Womens March, unfortunately, has taken a stand on the side of partisan politics that has obfuscated the issues of Islamic extremism over the eight years of the Obama administration. Womens March partners include the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has not only deflected on issues of Islamic extremism post-9/11, but opposes Muslim reforms that would allow women to be prayer leaders and pray in the front of mosques, without wearing headscarves as symbols of chastity. Partners also include the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which wrongly designated Maajid Nawaz, a Muslim reformer, an anti-Muslim extremist in a biased report released before the election. The SPLC confirmed to me that Soros funded its anti-Muslim extremists report targeting Nawaz. (Ironically, CAIR also opposes abortions, but its leader still has a key speaking role.) Another Soros grantee and march partner is the Arab-American Association of New York, whose executive director, Linda Sarsour, is a march co-chair. When I co-wrote a piece, arguing that Muslim women dont have to wear headscarves as a symbol of modesty, she attacked the coauthor and me as fringe. Earlier, at least 33 of the 100 women of color, who initially protested the Trump election in street protests, worked at organizations that receive Soros funding, in part for black-brown activism. Of course, Soros is an ideological philanthropist, whose interests align with many of these groups, but he is also a significant political donor. In Davos, he told reporters that Trump is a would-be dictator. Nomani updated her report to include this statement from Soross Open Society Foundation to the effect that the common denominator is just a coincidence. Theyre not intimate in the matter of the so-called Womens March; theyre just friends, so to speak: A spokeswoman for Soross Open Society Foundations, said in a statement, There have been many false reports about George Soros and the Open Society Foundations funding protests in the wake of the U.S. presidential elections. There is no truth to these reports. She added, We support a wide range of organizations including those that support women and minorities who have historically been denied equal rights. Many of whom are concerned about what policy changes may lie ahead. We are proud of their work. We of course support the right of all Americans to peaceably assemble and petition their governmenta vital, and constitutionally safeguarded, pillar of a functioning democracy. The statement is somewhat credible. The Soros foundations support many groups seeking to undermine the United States, and these are just a few. Their marching together under a common banner for ulterior purposes makes perfect sense. Nomani concludes on a personal note: Much like post-election protests, which included a sign, Kill Trump, were not spontaneous, as reported by some media outlets, the Womens March is an extension of strategic identity politics that has so fractured America today, from campuses to communities. On the left or the right, its wrong. But, with the inauguration, we know the politics. With the march, women have been appropriated for a clearly anti-Trump day. When I shared my thoughts with her, my yoga studio owner said it was sad the marchs organizers masked their politics. I want love for everyone, she said. The lefts fierce identity politics and its failure on Islamic extremism lost my vote this past election, and so, as the dawns first light breaks through the darkness of the morning as I write, I make my decision: Ill lace up my pink Nikes and head to the inauguration, skipping the Womens March that doesnt have a place for women like me. Nomani includes links and more in her post here. PAUL ADDS: Asra Nomani has been ferociously attacked on social media by C. Christine Fair, an associate professor at Georgetown University. Fair has told Nomani to f**k off and go to hell; accused her of pimping herself for media coverage; attacked her for having no job, and thus needing Obamacare; and denied that she is a true Muslim. I wrote about this in a post called Freakout at Georgetown. Its good to see that Nomani, far from being intimidated, is fighting name-calling with research. Moscow, January 23, 2017 Last year the Serbian National Council in Croatia received statements of 180 attacks on Serbs, information of which the Holy Synod has in Belgrade. There is evidence that the victimsour fellow believers and countrymen, publicly declare only every third our fourth such incident. The suffering has not ceased even in time of peace. How many of our parishes have been desecrated in recent years? said the patriarch. According to him, Croatian officials pay no attention to such incidents, saying, I havent seen that over the past twenty years, in that time since the end, glory to God, of the war [the Serbo-Croatian conflict lasted from 1991 to 1995], any of the religious leaders in Croatian have publicly condemned attacks on the Serbian Church, or any Orthodox person. The Serbian primate also noted that when he visited Jasenovac memorial complex in September he noticed on the walls words of welcome to Croatian nazis-ustasha. In conclusion, His Holiness expressed the hope that Serbia and Croatia could work together for peace, despite their historical and contemporary hardships: In Serbia there are no citizens of first and second order. I hope the same will be soon in Croatia: that the problem of refugees and exiles will be solved that the threats and denigration and desecration of Orthodox churches with derogatory graffiti will stop. Moscow, January 23, 2017 Agionoros.ru has published extracts from a topical article from Abbot Archimandrite Gregory (Zumis) of Mt. Athos Dochariou Monastery in which he recounts Greeces glorious past, contrasting it with its lamentable present, and calls them to return to their former glory. The elder begins: Glorious and illustrious Greece! Coastal rock against which many centuries of waves have broken, but without moving it from its place High mountain, showing mankind how to think and live; Hearth around which people gathered to enjoy the warmth; At your table all the nations drinking wine. He notes that Greek culture has long been an object of plunder, museums and houses throughout Europe being filled with the fruits of the Greek genius. The antique period of the Orthodox Christian civilization of the Romans continued with the same mastery and efficiency. When civilized Europeans were still eating with their hands, our ancestors were carving iconostases and painting holy icons. This ship of our fathers has undergone abuse and today is tilting. The hatred, envy, and ill-will of the demons has descended upon this beautiful vessel and today we already hear clearly the words of the captain from the bridge: The ship is about to die. All those who can swim, jump into the water and swim away so as not to drown together with it. But who, in Fr. Gregorys view, is to blame for this current situation? Let me tell you that we ourselves are to blame in this catastrophe, as we invited atheists and anti-Christian captains to guide our vessel. Our ancestors survived with a cross in their hands, and we bear it. When our children burn the Greek flag with impunity, under what flag will the ship Greece move forward? The answer, the Athonite proclaims, is of course a strict adherence to Christ and His Orthodox Church: We need Christ and Greece! Greeks should start a holy war and banish everyone who does the devils work in our bleeding country. It can no longer continue this way. If the nation should not turn back in force to the fullness of the Orthodox faith, Archimandrite Gregory sees destruction ahead: Be watchful, do not sleep, because the end is near and it is not the end of the world, but the end of our Greece. Dear Abby: My mother-in-law has begun doing the pop-in. My husband passive-aggressively hinted that he wished he had known she was coming over. Her response was, Im your mother; I dont need to let you know when Im coming over. I regard this as total disrespect. She has done this plenty of times including popping in when I was having a dinner with my parents and children, which made her mad because she and my father-in-law hadnt been invited. She did the pop-in again last week. My husband, four children and I were about to sit down to a family dinner when she rang the doorbell. I didnt have enough food for her and my father-in-law, which made us all uncomfortable. She made a sarcastic comment, Gee, I guess I shouldnt have come over, then she sat in the living room staring at us as we ate. I have begged my husband to say something, but he says it would be disrespectful. I said it is disrespectful that she comes over without checking with us first. Whats your take on this? No Pop-Ins, Please Dear No Pop-Ins: You have my sympathy. Your mother-in-law is a handful. Your husband may be so cowed by his mother that hes afraid to assert himself. You are under no obligation to entertain anyone who pops in, including her. The next time she shows up unannounced, remind her to call first and suggest that she come back some other time. Dear Abby: My fiancee has a 15-year-old son, Jason, who spends countless hours in his room playing Xbox with his buddies. He is loud and obviously has fun, by the sound of it. However, when he comes out for meals, he doesnt communicate or answer questions like, How was school? or What do you think of that? My fiancee and I dont live together. We see each other three times a year for two to three weeks at a time. My fiancee says Jason acts the same way whether Im here or not. He isnt close with his dad, either. Is this a phase that he will grow out of, or does he need professional help? We get along, but there is never much conversation. I ask questions to encourage interaction, but it hasnt been successful. Frustrated in Montana Dear Frustrated: Whether Jasons going through a phase or not depends on whether he has always had poor verbal skills and ignored questions he was asked. He might be reluctant to answer because hes having problems socially or academically in school, or because the opinions youre asking for concern things he has never given much thought to. Boys that age are sometimes less verbal than when they are older, and their dependence on social media has contributed to it. Teens who spend most of their time in the virtual world tend to have lower verbal abilities than those who spend less. If you and your fiancee are truly concerned, she should talk about this with a counselor at Jasons school and ask if counseling or intervention of any kind is needed. Write to Dear Abby at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or at dearabby.com. The B.L. England plant has sent a deactivation notice to wholesale electric coordinator PJM, saying it plans to shut down temporarily as of April 30, pending repowering. It was sent to meet PJMs requirement to provide 90-day prior notice, as required in the Administrative Consent Order with the state Department of Environmental Protection, owner R.C. Cape May Holdings said in a statement. This notice has nothing to do with whether the plant is still required for reliability, the statement said. The deactivation notice does not mean that the unit must retire by a specific date and the notice can be withdrawn at any time. South Jersey Gas is pursuing construction of a 22-mile transmission pipeline to the plant in the Beesleys Point section of Upper Township to allow it to convert to natural gas. The Administrative Consent Order between the DEP and the plants owner calls for shut down of the remaining coal unit unless PJM instructs otherwise, said State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna. The DEP is requiring the plant to either convert to natural gas or shut down, over concerns about air quality from burning of coal. PJM is the regional organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of New Jersey, 12 other states and the District of Columbia. PJM spokeswoman Paula DuPont said B.L. England has requested to deactivate two units, but PJM is studying the impact of those closings and has drawn no conclusions yet. New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel, whose organization has long opposed the pipeline, has said B.L. Englands electricity is not needed. Since the Christie Administration extended the ACO three times, there has been 20,000 megawatts of electricity added to the PJM grid in the last four years, which is 50 times this plant, Tittel said. The state has five other power plants online in New Jersey, a power plant sitting empty in Atlantic City, which is another reason why B.L. England is not needed. A strong coastal storm brought windswept downpours, wind gusts over 60 miles-per-hour, and three successive rounds of tidal flooding to South Jersey on Monday. Pedestrians struggled to walk against the wind while power lines and trees fell to the ground across South Jersey Monday during the powerful nor'easter, which struck on the one year anniversary of Winter Storm Jonas. Route 40 was shutdown in West Atlantic City and Route 30 westbound was shutdown as well. Route 9 in Absecon also saw flooding. Unlike Jonas, Monday's storm came with no snow and ice, and only minor to moderate tidal flooding, not the major to record flooding that Jonas brought last January. The powerful winds were the main impact from Monday's coastal storm, with winds gusting over 60 miles-per-hour throughout the day. Cape May gusted as high as 63. Ocean City and Atlantic City gusted to 61. The winds were strong enough to cause the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to cancel all departures on Monday, citing strong winds and rough seas. A buoy east of Long Beach Island measured waves as high as 20 feet early Monday afternoon. Around 9:30 a.m. at Connecticut and Pacific avenues in Atlantic City, a traffic light fell to the ground. The wind was so strong that workers had to hold onto railings and the doors of their trucks, and it took about three workers to pull the light up onto a truck to wheel it away. Doors opened and closed from the wind on their own on the side of House of Blues along the boardwalk, and sand blew with the wind and the rain. Street lights, traffic lights and signs were also shaking all over the city Monday. Ron Hayward, of Atlantic City, was trying to walk along the boardwalk to go home after going to the store Monday morning. He was struggling to walk against the wind, and said he anticipates it to get worse once high tide hit on Monday's late afternoon. "It gets worse as you get to the end," he said, pausing midway down the boardwalk. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority authorized the Wave Parking Garage for area residents and visitors to use for free overnight to park their cars Monday. The garage, located at the corner of Mississippi and Fairmount avenues, was open to area residents in preparation for the impending flooding conditions. Minor tidal flooding was reported during the Monday morning high tide. A four foot storm surge Monday afternoon brought moderate flooding to coastal communities during the early Monday evening high tide. One more round of minor to moderate flooding was expected to occur during the early Tuesday morning high tide, which occurs just before sunrise Tuesday. The Ocean City and North Wildwood Senior Centers were closed Monday because of the high winds, tidal flooding and heavy rain. The Cape May County Park and Zoo was also closed Monday. Vineland Police said traffic lights in center city were out on Monday due to the high winds and falling tree limbs. Lisa Lucena, administrative analyst at Vineland Municipal Utilities said an estimated 1,650 customers are without service in areas near Landis Avenue. "Our focus is to get power restored as quickly as possible," Lucena said. Thousands of Atlantic City Electric customers lost power throughout the day on Monday from hundreds of scattered, smaller outages, according to Atlantic City Electric's outage map. The first outage was reported just before 6 a.m, and outages peaked at about 6,800 customers around mid-afternoon on Monday. The cause listed for the outages was due to high winds and heavy rain from the storm. Atlantic City Electric issued a statement Sunday that said the company is prepared for the storm and outages, but residents should also be prepared and mindful for the storm ahead. Any customer that witnesses an outage or downed wires should report it at 1-800-833-7476, follow the phone prompts and ask for a call back to confirm power is restored. Outages can also be reported on the Atlantic City Electric app or at atlanticcityelectric.com/storm. Occasional rain showers and brisk winds are expected to continue on Tuesday, but not be nearly as intense as Monday. The sunshine is expected to return to the skies over South Jersey on Wednesday. 4:45 p.m. Route 30 westbound is closed. Police are asking drivers to use the Expressway to leave the city. Route 9 in Absecon has also been closed due to flooding. 4:05 p.m. Route 40 in West Atlantic City is shutdown in both directions due to flooding. Westbound traffic is being diverted on to the Atlantic City Expressway at Exit 2. Police blocking Rt. 40 east for flooding pic.twitter.com/N1Mc31XSSc Lauren Carroll (@ACPress_LC) January 23, 2017 George Redding Bridge currently open with one lane clear in each direction. pic.twitter.com/BXONL8Mrmf Wildwood Police Dept (@WildwoodPD) January 23, 2017 Ah, my view so far in Little Egg Harbor. And it's not even high tide yet. pic.twitter.com/7UIg7rQDVn Erin Serpico (@ACPressSerpico) January 23, 2017 3:28 p.m. Ocean Heights has re-opened. Twp of Hamilton PD say Ocean Heights Ave has been cleared, however, many fallen trees in surrounding woods - be careful https://t.co/86BcFsKDg2 Lauren Carroll (@ACPress_LC) January 23, 2017 3:00 p.m. Ocean Heights Avenue in Mays Landing near Harbor Avenue is closed due to a tree in the road. Emergency crews are on scene and working to clear the area. 1:30 p.m.: The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has authorized the Wave Parking Garage, located at the corner of Mississippi and Fairmount avenues, to provide free overnight parking for all area residents and visitors beginning 1:00 p.m. on Monday in preparation for the impending high tide flooding conditions. Parking will only be permitted between the second and top floors of the garage during this time. Parking on the first floor will be prohibited due to the possibility of flooding. Standard Parking personnel will be on duty through the overnight hours. The Wave Garages gates will remain open until 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday. After 6:00 a.m. attendants will resume charging new vehicles entering the garage. 12:30 p.m.: Pedestrians struggled to walk against the wind on the boardwalk and a traffic light fell to the ground in the city Monday during what's expected to be a Nor'easter hitting South Jersey. At Connecticut and Pacific avenues in Atlantic City around 9:30 a.m., a traffic light fell to the ground. The wind was so strong that workers had to hold onto railings and the doors of their trucks, and it took about three workers to pull the light up onto a truck to wheel it away. I've never experienced wind like this. Workers successfully removed the down light a job for several people. pic.twitter.com/ABW0h5V0FV Erin Serpico (@ACPressSerpico) January 23, 2017 The Pinelands Commission could approve a controversial natural gas pipeline as early as Feb. 10, after denying an environmental groups request Monday for more time as it fights the commission in court. Commissioners voted 8-5 against agreeing to a stay of the process, so the commission will go ahead with a meeting Tuesday morning to take public comment on the pipeline. But the gas transmission line to allow the B.L. England power plant in Upper Township to remain open by converting from coal and oil to natural gas is anything but a done deal. After the public-comment session and another vote by the commission, it still faces court challenges. Mondays vote happened during a hastily called telephone meeting. Commissioners discussed in executive session a re-quest for a stay by the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, then voted in public, spokesman Paul Leakan said. It wasnt a surprise to me, PPA Executive Director Carleton Montgomery said about the commissions vote. South Jersey Gas wants to build a 22-mile pipeline from Maurice River Township to the power plant. The pipeline would travel along roadsides through about 10 miles of protected Pinelands Forest Area. PPA has filed a legal challenge in the Appellate Division of Superior Court to the commissions procedures for handling the pipeline application, as well as requesting a stay from the court to stop the process. The court has not ruled on those requests, Montgomery said. PPAs position is rather than the commission following procedures in its Comprehensive Management Plan before taking a vote, the commission cobbled together a quick procedure to get to a vote as soon as possible. Montgomery said the commissions CMP requires a public hearing with testimony taken from both sides before the commissioners can vote. Last November a three-judge appellate panel said the commissioners must vote on the application, rejecting Executive Director Nancy Wittenbergs unilateral opinion that the pipeline met the requirements of the CMP. The commissions stance is that the court only instructed it to come up with a procedure for public comment and taking a vote. It says it has testimony from both sides from previous hearings, including before the Board of Public Utilities, and doesnt need another public hearing. New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said it shows the Christie administration is determined to ram through the pipeline. If the court does not issue a stay or rule on the commissions procedures, a vote on the pipeline could happen as soon as the commissions Feb. 10 meeting. The commissioners voted 7-7 against allowing the project to proceed as a public development in 2014, then the gas company came back with an application as a private development in 2015. The makeup of the commission has changed significantly since the 2014 no vote. Several former governors and Pinelands Commission staff have written letters opposing the pipeline, including Terrence D. Moore, the commissions founding executive director. AVALON Borough officials say additional federal money may alleviate most of the local financial burden and create one of the biggest beach fills in Avalons history. Business Administrator Scott Wahl said the borough is eligible for emergency funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in response to Hurricane Matthew in October to cover the beach fill scheduled to start this winter. How much funding is not yet clear, Wahl said. Initially, Avalons share of the project was projected to cost $763,876 for 395,000 cubic yards of sand. The state would pay $1.2 million and the federal government $3.7 million. Wahl said there is now the potential of 940,000 cubic yards of sand for Avalon. This is a completely moving target, Wahl said. The additional funding comes from an unlikely source an October hurricane that largely skirted South Jersey. But the federal money is available to towns such as Avalon that sustained damage from prior storms, Wahl said. A $9.8 million base contract was awarded in December to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co., of Illinois, for up to 650,000 cubic yards of sand between Stone Harbor and Avalon. As part of a 50-year agreement with the Army Corps for periodic renourishment, Avalon will split the cost of the project with the federal and state government. Stone Harbor, which also has a 50-year agreement, is splitting the cost only with the state due to a conflict with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over where the borough can draw sand for the fill. Army Corps spokesman Steve Rochette said the emergency funds will completely cover additional sand being pumped into Avalon, but the base of the contract is still cost-shared. Were still working out the details as far as Stone Harbor, given the limitations for expending federal funds, Rochette said. As of December, Stone Harbors share for 210,000 cubic yards of sand was $787,977, with the state providing $1.6 million. The borough also approved $666,000 for an additional 180,000 cubic yards of sand. The project was anticipated to begin in Stone Harbor on Jan. 27, but delays on the availability of the dredge Texas may push that back to the beginning of February, Rochette said. Stone Harbor Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour said the later the start the better, as winter storms often cause erosion. As you know, the noreasters come through and beat us up, she said. The beach is our lifes blood, so (the beach fill) its very important. Wahl said Avalons beach fill is likely to begin in early March and last three weeks. Meanwhile, Avalon continues to pursue its lawsuit against Fish and Wildlife over its application of the Coastal Barriers Resource Act, prohibiting Stone Harbor from using federal funds to draw sand from a protected area for its beach fill. Wahl said a hearing scheduled for Jan. 12 did not happen because Avalon sought a mandatory injunction on the CBRA issue, which was ultimately not needed. Now Avalon is seeking a declaratory judgment on what the borough believes is a misapplication of the CBRA as it relates to this and future beach fill projects, Wahl said. WASHINGTON In a global exclamation of defiance and solidarity, more than 1 million people including some locals from South Jersey rallied at womens marches in the nations capital and cities around the world Saturday to send President Donald Trump an emphatic message on his first full day in office that they wont let his agenda go unchallenged. Welcome to your first day, we will not go away! marchers in Washington chanted. Many of the women came wearing pink, pointy-eared pussyhats to mock the new president. Plenty of men joined in, too, contributing to surprising numbers everywhere from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles to Mexico City, Paris, Berlin, London, Prague and Sydney. The Washington rally alone attracted more than 500,000 people, according to city officials apparently more than Trumps inauguration drew Friday. It was easily one of the biggest demonstrations in the citys history, and as night fell, not a single arrest was reported. The international outpouring served to underscore the degree to which Trump has unsettled people in both hemispheres. We march today for the moral core of this nation, against which our new president is waging a war, actress America Ferrera told the Washington crowd. Our dignity, our character, our rights have all been under attack, and a platform of hate and division assumed power yesterday. But the president is not America. ... We are America, and we are here to stay. Yomaris Acosta, a Stockton University student from Mays Landing, said Saturday afternoon she attended the march for the women who came before me, for the strong women who have inspired me in my growth and my journey in life, and for myself. Acosta passed up a chance to join other Stockton people at Fridays inauguration ceremony and went Saturday instead with a friend from Hofstra University. We went 2 miles. We started in front of the Capitol, went to the Lincoln Memorial and turned around, she said. This place is packed. Acosta added she didnt run into any friends or Stockton classmates in Washington, but I heard Madonna was here. Stephenine Dixon, of Galloway Township, was one of the leaders of a busload of 56 women from the South Jersey Democratic Womens Forum who left Pleasantville at 6 a.m. to get to the march. I wanted to go because of health care, and I was working as an organizer for Hillary (Clinton) in New Jersey, and then in Virginia, said Dixon, a former city councilwoman in Atlantic City who said the best volunteers for the Clinton campaign were women. Now, I dont have health insurance, so I have to keep fighting, she said, adding her reason for organizing the trip really wasnt about Trump, it was about women. They always count on us, but they never count us in. Janis Quiggle, of Cape May, said she had a very long day and a very long march. But both were good experiences. We left at quarter of 5 (a.m.) and never got here until 10:30, she said from Washington. And we had to put at least 10 miles on. The Metro was so jammed that we had to get off early and walk to the start of the march. But everyone was there for a common cause, and everyone was so nice, she added. It went really well. Turnout in the capital was so heavy that the designated march route alongside the National Mall was impassable. Protesters were told to make their way to the Ellipse near the White House by way of other streets, triggering a chaotic scene that snarled downtown Washington. Long after the program had ended, groups of demonstrators were still marching and chanting in different parts of the city. White House press secretary Sean Spicer had no comment on the march except to note that there were no firm numbers for turnout because the National Park Service no longer provides crowd estimates. Around the world, women brandished signs with slogans such as Women wont back down and Less fear more love. They decried Trumps stand on such issues as abortion, health care, diversity and climate change. And they branded him a sexist, a bully, a bigot and more. We want a leader, not a creepy tweeter, some marchers chanted in Washington. Others: Welcome to your first day, we will not go away! In Chicago, organizers canceled the march portion of their event for safety reasons because of an overflow crowd that reached an estimated 250,000. People made their way through the streets on their own anyway. In New York, well over 100,000 marched past Trumps home at glittering Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. More than 100,000 also gathered on Boston Common, and a similar number demonstrated in Los Angeles. In Miami, real estate agent Regina Vasquez, 51, brought a sign saying Repeal and Replace Trump. I believe that strength is in the numbers, and that we should all come out and not make Trump the new normal, she said. All told, more than 600 sister marches were planned worldwide. Crowd estimates from police and organizers around the globe added up to more than a million. I feel very optimistic even though its a miserable moment, said Madeline Schwartzman of New York City, who brought her twin 13-year-old daughters to the Washington rally. I feel power. Retired teacher Linda Lastella, 69, who came to Washington from Metuchen, New Jersey, said she had never marched before but felt the need to speak out when many nations are experiencing this same kind of pullback and hateful, hateful attitudes. It just seemed like we needed to make a very firm stand of where we were, she said. As the demonstrators rallied alongside the National Mall, Trump opened his first full day as president by attending a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, a tradition for the day after inauguration, and later visited the CIA. As he traveled around town, his motorcade passed large groups of protesters that would have been hard to miss. The Womens March on Washington appeared to accomplish the historic feat of drawing more people to protest the inauguration than the ceremony itself attracted. It far surpassed the 60,000 people who protested the Vietnam War at Richard Nixons inauguration in 1973. Before Saturday, that was thought to be the largest such demonstration in inaugural history. Christopher Geldart, Washingtons homeland security director, said the crowd exceeded the 500,000 that organizers told city officials to expect. The largest-ever demonstration in Washington, according to National Park Service crowd estimates, was an anti-Vietnam protest in 1969 that drew 600,000. The Million Man March in 1995 drew 400,000, according to the park service, which no longer estimates crowd sizes, in part because the organizers of that event accused the agency of lowballing the number and threatened to sue. The Washington rally was a peaceful counterpoint to the window-smashing unrest that unfolded on Friday when self-described anarchists tried to disrupt the inauguration. Police used pepper spray and stun grenades against the demonstrators. More than 200 people were arrested. Marlita Gogan, who came to Washington from Houston for the inauguration, said police advised her family not to wear their Make America Great Again Hats as they walked through crowds of protesters while playing tourist on Saturday. I think its very oppressive, she said of the march atmosphere. They can have their day, but I dont get it. Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump, took to Twitter to thank the participants for standing, speaking and marching for our values. The marches displayed a level of enthusiasm that Clinton herself was largely unable to generate during her campaign against Trump, when she won the popular vote but he outdistanced her in the electoral vote. The hand-knit pussyhats worn by many women served as a message of female empowerment, inspired by Trumps crude boast about grabbing womens genitals. They aint for grabbing, actress Ashley Judd told the Washington crowd. The marches were a magnet for A-list celebrities, unlike Trumps inauguration, which had a deficit of top performers. Alicia Keys sang Girl on Fire for the Washington crowd. Madonna gave a fiery, profanity-laced address to the gathering. Cher, also in the nations capital, said Trumps ascendance has people more frightened maybe than theyre ever been. In Park City, Utah, it was Charlize Theron leading demonstrators in a chant of Love, not hate, makes America great. Actresses Helen Mirren and Cynthia Nixon and Whoopi Goldberg joined the crowd of protesters in New York. Tens of thousands of protesters squeezed into Londons Trafalgar Square. In Paris, thousands rallied in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood in a joyful atmosphere, singing and carrying posters reading We have our eyes on you Mr. Trump and With our sisters in Washington. Hundreds gathered in Pragues Wenceslas Square in freezing weather, mockingly waving portraits of Trump and Russias Vladimir Putin. In Sydney, thousands of Australians gathered in solidarity in Hyde Park. One organizer said hatred, bigotry and racism are not only Americas problems. South Jersey hospitals in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean counties contributed more than $1.2 billion to the state economy in 2015, a new report shows. This years New Jersey Hospital Association Economic Impact Report showed the hospital industry in New Jersey is growing, with economic contributions increasing from the previous year. Officials say hospitals are just one piece of a health-care system that makes up an important part of the states infrastructure. The shift to population health and care in the right setting might mean that the physical hospital might not be the economic centerpiece, but the health-care ecosystem associated with a hospital will continue to create value for their hometowns, said Betsy Ryan, NJHA CEO and president.(tncms-asset)7de4d170-e015-11e6-b6a8-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) AtlantiCares two hospitals, Cape Regional Medical Center, Inspira Medical Center Vineland, Shore Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center all are part of that growing economic health care engine. The hospitals spent money on employee payroll, purchased services, state income taxes and payments, pharmaceutical drugs, building supplies, charity care and other operating costs in 2015. Ryan said there was an overall economic increase of $1.1 billion among all state hospitals between 2014 and 2015. The largest expenditure increases were in employee payroll, contracted labor and pharmaceutical drugs. Taxes and fees paid by hospitals, a majority nonprofit, also increased from $145 million to $153 million, according to the report. AtlantiCare, which has hospitals in Atlantic City and Galloway Township, served as one of the largest employers in Atlantic County with a combined 3,306 full-time jobs at the hospitals alone, not including employees who work at outpatient sites, urgent-care centers and other remote services.(tncms-asset)e6cc2860-e028-11e6-b212-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) Walter Greiner, chief financial officer of AtlantiCare, said expenses in 2015 included renovation and expansion of the 40-year-old hospital in Galloway, health care programs for the homeless and uninsured, and community outreach programs. Most of our providers and staff live in the Atlantic County region, contributing to the economy, Greiner said. In addition to expenses and payroll, hospitals treat uninsured patients and get charity-care subsidies from the state to cover expenses. But charity-care funding was slashed in 2015, leaving many hospitals to make up the difference. Inspira Medical Center Vineland treated uninsured patients 23,328 times in 2015 at a cost of more than $14.8 million. The hospitals charity-care reimbursement that year was only $2.4 million. Thomas Baldosaro, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Inspira Health Network, said low reimbursement rates have made it challenging to care for these patients in Cumberland County, but the hospitals do so. Coming changes to the Affordable Care Act may result in more costs.(tncms-asset)2fe638c6-e00e-11e6-8b13-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) Clare Sapienza-Eck, vice president of Business Development, Planning and Physician Recruitment at Inspira Health Network, said the network will look to expand emergency services in Vineland and Bridgeton and assess adding more inpatient beds at the hospital in Vineland. Cape Regional Medical Center serves as the primary emergency services and health procedures site for residents in Cape May County. The hospital contributed $115 million into the economy in 2015, which was about $5 million more than the previous year. Mark Gill, chief financial officer of Cape Regional Health System, said additional expenses came from new programs and services, such as the Concussion Care Center, an inpatient peritoneal dialysis unit and a Center for Wound Healing with two hyperbaric oxygen units, among other expansions.(tncms-asset)44918d6c-df5e-11e6-8147-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) The hospital also saw a 2.5 percent growth in staff, Gill said, and purchased more than $2.5 million in goods and services from vendors in Cape May County. Ryan said the largest concern among health experts and officials is the fate of the Affordable Care Act. Since it was enacted, New Jersey sustained $1.5 billion in cuts to funding in exchange for more than 700,000 newly insured patients. Hospitals would likely be impacted should people lose any newfound health insurance they got through the ACA, she said. We are watching closely to see if Congress and the administration will pass a simultaneous replacement plan if the ACA is repealed, Ryan said. Barring that, we hope these deep funding cuts are returned to providers to allow them to care for the people who face the loss of newfound coverage. TUCKERTON Shannon Sobiech teaches history at Pinelands Regional High School. But this year, she is sharing her classroom with Spanish teacher Hiram Ortiz, who lost his classroom last year when the school had to close nine rooms due to structural damage near an exit stairwell. Its a challenge, said Sobiech, who also shares her desk with Ortiz. One day, he accidentally picked up some her students essays with his own work. We try to respect each others space, she said. In November voters narrowly defeated a $53.6 million bond referendum that would have fixed the high school and made other upgrades and repairs to both the high school and junior high school. On Tuesday, the district will try again, asking the same three questions and hoping they have done a better job explaining why all the work is necessary. School Business Administrator Stephen Brennan said they are trying to reach out to people who may not have realized the severity of the situation. They held a forum at the high school so visitors could see the scaffolding at the entrance and fencing that closes off the damaged wing. The scope of the work goes beyond the damaged wing and reflects maintenance due since the high school was built in 1979. The roof leaks, and tiles are peeling on the upper floors near leaky windows. Doors are scheduled to be replaced. Brennan had a hard time getting one unlocked during a tour. The roof is at the end of its useful life, he said. Water is starting to penetrate. It is a clash of everything happening at once. The junior high school has similar issues. During a recent storm, it rained in the shop class. High school Assistant Principal Darren Hickman said the loss of nine classrooms resulted in some creative restructuring of classes, including having some teachers share classrooms. He said no classes were canceled, but teachers will have to use multiple classrooms during the day, depending on what room is open. Teachers have been team players, he said. But they cant do the same things as when they are in their own rooms. Ortiz and Sobiech said they are making their arrangement work. They said the arrangement does affect their teaching. During prep periods the affected teachers have to roam around looking for an open spot to work since their classroom is being used by another teacher. If they forget something in the classroom, they typically do without rather than disturb the other class. I teach in two different classrooms and keep all of my stuff in a third, said Ortiz, who has taught in the district since 2007. I have to take time to get set up and then shut down in each classroom, because it is not mine. Students are great, but they are losing several minutes of class each day. It is disorienting. The bond referendum is divided into three questions. The first, which includes the major repairs at both schools, will cost $46.8 million, with about 40 percent, or $18 million, coming from state aid. That question must pass for any work to be done on the second two questions. Other work includes a new HVAC system at both schools that will add air conditioning, something now only available in select rooms. Brennan said with allergies and other health issues, the air conditioning is now more of a necessity than a luxury, especially since the schools are used almost year-round by students and the community. These really are community schools, he said. We have adult schools here, and community meetings. The high school was a major evacuation site during Hurricane Sandy. The district has posted a video made by students on its website, along with detailed information on the work to be done at both schools, the cost and the impact on the tax rate in the four affected communities that make up the regional district Bass River, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor townships and Tuckerton. The polls will be open from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Details of all three questions, the cost and impact on property taxes are online at pinelands regional.org/copy-of-ref erendum-information. EGG HARBOR CITY Assemblyman and gubernatorial candidate John Wisniewski condemned the state takeover of Atlantic City and instead pointed to the citys remaining assets as a way to fix the resorts financial problems. Wisniewski took aim at a proposal that would cut the number of first responders to save money. If this takes effect, the state will essentially take Atlantic Citys fire department and make it unable to send a full complement of firefighters to a large structure fire, he said. If you have a fire at a casino hotel, they wont have enough manpower to bring to that casino hotel. The comments came during a campaign town hall meeting Sunday in Egg Harbor City. Wisniewski, who led the fight against Gov. Chris Christie in the Bridgegate scandal while chairing the transportation committee, said the state should be assisting the city and giving it the resources to thrive instead of taking it over. He believes this because state takeovers of school districts around the state have failed to help the struggling schools, he said. We stranded the city, and we ignored its natural assets, he said. When people started building casinos in other states. Trenton did nothing. Wisniewski said he believes the city can be a cruise-ship destination and a hub for marine science research. He also pointed to the upcoming Stockton University campus as another asset the city will have. Beyond the takeover, Wisniewski said, he would like to see the Atlantic City International Airport and New Jersey Transit expanded. Weve toyed with legislation that would put a rail station at the airport, but thats not enough, he said. Atlantic City International Airport has one of the worlds five longest runways. It has the FAA Technical Center. It can be a center of aeronautical innovation. Wisniewski said too few state Assembly members are interested in developing Atlantic City as a regional area. Around the state, he said, as governor he would work to make state colleges free for any family that makes less than $125,000 a year. He also supports raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Ardente , Randi Lyn , - 45, It is the family's heartfelt sympathy to announce the sudden passing of Randi Lyn Ardente, March 2, 1971 January 16, 2017. Growing up in Absecon Randi formed friendships that lasted throughout her life. Her stimulating, exciting personality resonated through everyone she knew. Upon graduating Holy Spirit High School, Randi became a beautician and owned and operated Hot Heads Salon in Northfield. Randi left the Jersey coast for the warm weather of Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. where she also owned and operated a successful salon, Hot Heads at the Beach. Randi was very active in the community fund raising and charitable events. Randi will be deeply missed by parents Ron and Rosemary (Falco) Ardente, sister Gina Budd and her husband Marshall, nieces Cristin and Courtney , nephew Marshall, Grand Mom Falco, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Randi is now resting in heaven with her brother, Ronnie, Grand Pop and Grand Mom Ardente, and Grand Pop Falco all by her side. A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday 1-25-17, 11:00 am @ St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Absecon. N.J. kestrel found in Fla. Regarding the Dec. 30 story, Christmas Bird Count shows trends in avian numbers: A friend sent me this article on the CBC in New Jersey, which mentioned the decline of American kestrels. I thought readers there might find it interesting that I spotted a kestrel on Sept. 29 with a wing tag and reported the sighting. It was tagged in New Jersey in June and arrived here in the early fall. I participated in the Palm Beach County CBC and did include three kestrels I counted, but could not tell if one was the New Jersey kestrel. Im glad to see the interest in Christmas Bird Counts. Gael Silverblatt Lake Worth, Fla. Stop endless appeals approve, build pipeline The proposed natural gas pipeline from Maurice River Township to the B.L. England generating station in Beesleys Point would traverse 22 miles, including through some protected pinelands areas. Opponents allege it will cause habitat loss and excessive road runoff. But construction would dig up the road shoulder, nothing else. How does that create loss of habitat or increase runoff? I am a lifelong area resident and as environmentally supportive as anyone. It appears that converting the facility from coal and oil to gas would greatly improve air quality and keep the station open. South Jersey needs the plant for electricity and as a protection against regional power outages. In the arguments against the pipeline, I have never read specific facts citing how or why the environment could be harmed. The road already exists, so construction doesnt disturb protected areas. Statements that permitting the pipeline sets a bad precedent for other projects are bogus. The Pinelands Commission and regulatory agencies can prevent that, and they have spent two years of hearings studying the details of this project. Both the Pinelands Commission and Board of Public Utilities have found no viable threat and that the pipelines benefits warrant its approval. The pipeline has another public hearing Tuesday, Jan. 24. We need electricity. We need cleaner air. And we need to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on endless appeals. If there is no valid reason why the pipeline is a threat, the Pinelands Commission should again approve the project and let construction begin. Blair W. Learn Galloway Township Renewables needed, not pines gas pipeline Regarding the pinelands pipeline to the B.L. England power plant to switch from coal to natural gas, I would agree that burning gas is cleaner then burning coal. However, if we include the methane emissions from the production, refinement, transportation and storage of gas, this transition is not safer for the environment. Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Its true that more jobs would be produced with the pipeline construction, but even more jobs would be produced by creation of clean renewables (solar and wind) for a safer alternative energy supply. My main concern about construction of the pipeline is the possibility of a leak that would harm the pristine water aquifer under the pinelands. Stuff happens. Pipeline breaks and/or leaks carrying gas or oil occur at an alarming rate (dozens a year since 2010). A solar leak is a sunny day. I agree with four former N.J. governors who object to the pipeline. Nothing has changed since the commission failed to approve it in 2014 except the commission membership, which has been reloaded with like-minded Gov. Christie appointees in association with more South Jersey Gas lobbying. Christie is done. Its time to start making New Jersey cleaner and safer for all of us. Dr. Mario L. Maiese Ventnor 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. MIAMI, DUBLIN and SINGAPORE, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 10 years of investment in Ireland Follows momentous year with fleet growth of 64%, AUM increase of 42% Apollo Aviation Group (together with its affiliates, "Apollo Aviation"), a multi-strategy aviation investment manager, announced today that it held a celebratory luncheon on Friday 20 January to mark its 15th anniversary as a business and its tenth anniversary in Ireland. William Hoffman, Apollo Aviation's Chairman said, "We're thrilled to be celebrating such important milestones following a critical time in our development where we have, in the last twelve months, completed two asset backed securitizations, grown our fleet by 64 percent and increased our assets under management by 42 percent. From starting out as an aircraft teardown and part-out specialist, we have evolved into a $3.5 billion[1] boutique aviation asset manager with a fast-growing aircraft leasing business and a fleet of over 130 commercial mid-life aircraft." Apollo Aviation was founded in the U.S. by Mr. Hoffman and its President, Robert Korn, in 2002. They went on to establish the Irish subsidiary in 2007, basing the firm's leasing and origination activities out of Dublin. Robert Korn explained, "With its long history in aircraft leasing, Ireland has developed a deep pool of knowledge, expertise and supporting infrastructure which creates a highly favorable base for Apollo Aviation's platform. Its political stability and geographic location means Ireland continues to attract new investment while driving value for the companies already located here, reaffirming its position as the leading aviation hub globally." Alan Dukes, the former Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in the Republic of Ireland said, "The aviation sector is incredibly important to the Irish economy contributing just over 4 billion to Ireland's GDP.[2] Firms like Apollo Aviation that have based their operations here and invested in Ireland for the long-term are highly valuable to the Irish economy. Such firms are responsible in the aggregate for creating thousands of jobs and for generating business opportunities for other companies here in Ireland." About Apollo Aviation Group Apollo Aviation is a multi-strategy aviation investment manager that seeks to capitalize on its extensive technical knowledge, in-depth industry expertise and long-standing presence in the mid-life commercial aviation sector. Founded in 2002, Apollo Aviation has grown to $3.5 billion[1] of aviation assets under management, representing 131 aircraft owned or committed to purchase, and 30 aircraft engines. It has offices in the U.S., Ireland and Singapore. For further information, please visit Apollo Aviation at http://www.apollo.aero or contact us directly. 1. As of December 31, 2016; including invested capital, indebtedness and available capital. 2. Figure obtained from the Irish Aviation Authority as reported in the Irish Times January 21, 2016. About Apollo Aviation Management Limited Apollo Aviation Management is the Irish-based subsidiary of Apollo Aviation Group. Founded in 2007, Apollo Aviation runs its aircraft leasing business and origination activities from its base in Dublin where it employs 25 staff. SOURCE Apollo Aviation Group SAN FRANCISCO, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global bioresorbable polymer market is anticipated to reach USD 2.26 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing demand in the medical sector, owing to its hydrolytically degrading property in the body is projected to increase the global market growth. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 ) The increasing health awareness, improving healthcare facilities worldwide and growing surgery procedures across the globe will have a positive impact on the bioresorbable polymers industry growth in the overcoming years. The increasing product demand for drug delivery application is another key factor for market development over the forecast period. The harmless decomposition and its chemically neutral nature in the body make them suitable for drug delivery segment. The PLA-based product demand exceeded 89 tons in 2015, which is projected to remain as the largest and fastest growing segment over the upcoming years. The PLA market is growing dramatically in the pharmaceutical sector owing to its distinctive feature of being biodegradable and biocompatible. Browse full research report with TOC on "Bioresorbable Polymers Market Analysis By Product (Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyglycolic Acid (PGA), Polycaprolactone, Polysaccharides, Proteins), By Application (Drug Delivery, Orthopedics), Competitive Landscape, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/bioresorbable-polymers-market Further Key Findings from the Study Suggest: The global bioresorbable polymers demand was over 298 tons in 2015 and is expected to grow at an estimated CAGR of 14.3% over the projected period The PCL-based product market accounted for over 13% of the total revenue in 2015 Orthopedics was the leading application segment with demand exceeding 45% in 2015 The bioresorbable polymer market in drug delivery application is estimated to have the highest growth at a CAGR of over 14% from 2016 to 2025 The U.S. polyglycolic acid product market generated revenue worth of USD 31.5 million in 2015 and is expected to reach a total revenue of over USD 110 million by 2025 in 2015 and is expected to reach a total revenue of over by 2025 Polysaccharides demand in Europe is estimated to exceed a total revenue of USD 470 million by the end of forecast period is estimated to exceed a total revenue of by the end of forecast period Factors such as changing consumption patterns, technological advancements, and rising government initiatives, are anticipated to influence the market in the overcoming years Influential companies operating in this market include Carbion NV, Evonik Industries AG, Poly-Med, Inc., Foster Corporation and KLS Martin Group Evonik and Carbion dominated the global market together accounting for over 50% of the total revenue in 2015 Browse related reports by Grand View Research: Malic Acid Downstream Potential Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/malic-acid-downstream-potential-market Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Rebars Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/fiber-reinforced-polymer-frp-rebars-market Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polyvinylidene-fluoride-pvdf-market Fluoroelastomer Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/fluoroelastomer-market Grand View Research has segmented the bioresorbable polymer market on the basis of product, application and region: Bioresorbable Polymers Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Polysaccharides Proteins Polylactic acid Polyglycolic acid Polycaprolactone Others Bioresorbable Polymers Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Drug Delivery Orthopedics Others Bioresorbable Polymers Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Asia Pacific China India Japan Middle East and Africa Central & South America Read Our Blog - Bioresorbable polymer market: Transfer of technology benefits the pharmaceutical industry About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Catella's investment management team in Spain has closed the acquisitions of two residential properties located in Pinto's Teneria neighbourhood in Madrid. The transactions were conducted on behalf of the Catella Wohnen Europa residential fund. The acquired twin buildings have a total floor area of 18,092 square metres, distributed over 216 apartments, 216 parking spaces and 216 storerooms. The occupancy rate of the buildings at present is 93%. The properties were acquired on behalf of one of Catella's residential funds, Catella Wohnen Europa, which is a new pan-European residential fund with a broad-based investment strategy offering a unique risk/return profile. Catella's Spanish investment management team sourced the deal, acted as advisor in the acquisition process and will remain as strategic asset manager for the property. "After this transaction our newly established investment management operation in Spain has a portfolio of EUR 100 million under management in its first year of activity. Two months ago, our Spanish team closed four transactions, with the acquisitions of three residential buildings located in Madrid and Barcelona, and the acquisition of a retail park in Vinaroz. The transactions prove the interest and commitment of the team for the Spanish market," says Javier Hortelano de la Lastra, Head of Investment Management in Spain. In Spain, Catella offers both corporate finance and investment management within the property sector. Catella manages all phases of the value creation process in property, for both cross-border and local investors from analysis through transaction, acquisition, financing, strategic management and, finally, exit. The focus is acquisition and development of residential and commercial properties. For more information, please contact: Javier Hortelano de la Lastra Head of Investment Management in Spain Tel: +34-629-14-08-65 E-mail: javier.hortelano@catella.es Press contact: Ann Charlotte Svensson Head of Group Communications Tel: +46-8-463-32-55, +46-72-510-11-61 E-mail: anncharlotte.svensson@catella.se This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/catella---property-investment-management/r/catella-investment-management-completes-two-property-acquisitions-in-spain-worth-eur-24-million,c2171290 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/9880/2171290/617539.pdf Press release http://news.cision.com/catella---property-investment-management/i/javier-hortelano-catella,c2060920 JAVIER HORTELANO CATELLA SOURCE Catella - Property Investment Management STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Monthly information on debtor composition in Nordea Kredit published in order to comply with the Transparency Directive's disclosure requirements. Nordea Kredit hereby publishes monthly data on debtor composition of all callable bond series. The information is subject to disclosure requirements in the Securities Trading Act 27a section 1.The information is also published in the usual way via the Copenhagen Stock Exchange / OMX. Nordea Kredit Realkreditaktieselskab Terese Dissing Phone : +45 55 47 31 56 CONTACT: This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/nordea-kredit/r/company-announcement-no--9--2017---debtor-composition-in-nordea-kredit--ck-92-,c2171781 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Nordea Kredit "The Fluke Networks DSX-8000 CableAnalyzer has been confirmed by Intertek to meet the ANSI/TIA-1152-A Level 2G requirements for measurement accuracy," said Antoine Pelletier, Project Engineer ICT Cabling Products Testing, Intertek. "The availability of testers that meet this standard is an essential milestone in the evolution of Cat 8 and means customers can ensure their installations are standards compliant." With the launch of a field tester, designers and installers now have the tools they need to deploy Cat 8 in support of 25 and 40 gigabit Ethernet networks. In reaching the milestone of the first Cat 8 field tester, the DSX Series has achieved a number of breakthroughs, including: The first Permanent Link and Channel adapters with a full 2 GHz range, allowing field certification of TIA Cat 5 through 8 and ISO/IEC Class C through F A and I/II (Class II adapters available Summer 2017) and I/II (Class II adapters available Summer 2017) The fastest test time: eight-second Cat 6A certification The first tester to be endorsed by manufacturers of Cat 8 solutions. The only tester able to test screen continuity along the path of the cabling as required for Level 2G testers. The only tester capable of testing the optional resistance unbalance measurements critical for guaranteeing operation of advanced Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems "While Versiv owners report a fast payback on their investment, contractors expect their testers to last for years", said Eric Conley, vice president and general manager of Fluke Networks. "By purchasing the DSX-8000, they can ensure they will be ready when their customers deploy Cat 8 technology. The combination of strong ROI and future proofing make this the smart buy." Panduit, a leading network solutions provider, has also endorsed the DSX-8000 CableAnalyzer and verified that it is the only field tester to meet all the Cat 8 requirements. "Category 8 will offer the promise of smooth migration to higher bandwidths in the data center, with ease of deployment and significant cost saving," stated Marc Naese, Vice President, Data Center Business Unit, Panduit Corporation. "To realize these benefits, customers will need to ensure their installation meets all Cat 8 specifications. Panduit Labs have evaluated and endorse the Fluke Networks DSX-8000 for certification of our installations." Availability The Fluke Networks DSX-8000 CableAnalyzer is available to order now from resellers of Fluke Networks' industry leading Versiv Certification Family. For more information, please visit www.flukenetworks.com/versiv. Resources For more resources on the Cat 8 standard, Fluke Networks certification programs and products, please turn to www.flukenetworks.com/cat8. About Fluke Networks Fluke Networks is the worldwide leader in certification, troubleshooting, and installation tools for professionals who install and maintain critical network cabling infrastructure. From installing the most advanced data centers to restoring service in the worst weather, our combination of legendary reliability and unmatched performance ensure jobs are done efficiently. The company's flagship products include the innovative LinkWare Live -- the world's first cloud-connected cable certification capability introduced in late 2014. For more information, call 1-800-283-5853 (US, Canada), 1-425-446-5500 (International) or visit www.flukenetworks.com. For additional information and updates, follow Fluke Networks on social media. Twitter: https://twitter.com/flukenetdci Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/flukenetworks LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/fluke-networks Related Links http://www.flukenetworks.com SOURCE Fluke Networks NEW YORK, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recently published market research report titled "Global Market Study on Glycol Ether: MEA Region Projected to Grow at a Moderate CAGR over the Forecast Period," a Persistence Market Research analyst concludes, "The US$ 6 Bn glycol ether market is slated to exceed a value of US$ 10 Bn by the end of 2024, expanding at a CAGR of over 6%. Volume-wise, the market will witness a moderate CAGR of 5.4% over the eight-year period. Asia Pacific and Europe will remain the key markets." (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161114/438683LOGO ) Key Driver Insights Growing consumption by various end-use industries will remain the primary factors driving the sales of glycol ether. Rising introduction of new variant products with the help of a wide variety of eco-friendly and renewable technologies will be another key driver to market growth. Development of innovative, cost-effective products is anticipated to further boost the market for glycol ether. PCE is widely used in degreasing and dry cleaning but is not eco-friendly and is hazardous to human health. Some forms of glycol ether on the market are identified to be the relatively decent alternatives to PCE, eventually fueling their demand in the market over the next few years. View Full Glycol Ether Market Report Overview@ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/glycol-ethers-market.asp Key Trend & Opportunity Insights Several governments are increasingly promoting the use of P-series glycol ethers over the use of E-series glycol ethers. This trend is likely to present new opportunities for leading players. In addition to paints, coatings & adhesives, cleaners, printing inks, and cosmetic sectors are also registering significant consumption of glycol ethers. Flourishing cleaners, printing inks and electronics & semiconductor sectors will also continue to bring in new growth opportunities. Moreover, as manufacturing and healthcare industries continue to thrive at pace, the demand for cleaning chemicals will also remain on the rise through 2024. Manufacturers are likely to capitalize over such end-use opportunities in near future. Key Segment Insights By product type, E-series glycol ether segment will witness a decline by 470 BPS over 2016-2024. P-series glycol ether segment will however exhibit significant growth, accounting for a whopping 71.6% revenue share in 2024. Based on application, paints, coatings & adhesives segment will remain dominant throughout the forecast period, capturing a value share of over 53% by 2024 end. With a gain of over 100 BPS, cleaners will represent the second largest segment, reaching beyond US$ 1.8 Bn in 2024. Other application segments are likely to witness a drop in terms of BPS. View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and Tables@ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/glycol-ethers-market/toc Regional Insights By region, APAC will retain the leading regional market position and expand at the fastest CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period. Accounting for over 40% share of the market value in 2024, this segment will experience a massive boost in BPS. This growth is attributed to substantial consumption by paints and printing ink sectors within this region, especially by water-based flexo inks manufacturing companies. Europe, despite a slight decline over the assessment period, will remain the second largest market for glycol ether. A sample of this report is available upon request@ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4429 Key Vendor Insights The Persistence Market Research report profiles some of the top companies competing in the global glycol ether marketplace. A few of the key players are The Dow Chemical Company, BASF SE, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., Royal Dutch Shell plc., Eastman Chemical Company, Sasol Limited, HANNONG CHEMICALS INC., Dynamic International Enterprises Limited, and Jiangsu Ruijia Chemistry Co., Ltd. A few prominent trends among leading manufacturers include increased focus on P-series glycol ethers production. Companies are also seeking inorganic expansion. Through vertical or horizontal expansions and acquisitions, a majority manufacturers are aspiring strong partnerships and long-term contracts with raw material distributors. Buy now single user license @ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/4429 PMR Overview Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes. Contact Persistence Market Research U.S. Sales Office: 305 Broadway, 7th Floor New York City, NY 10007 United States USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd. PARIS, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Guerlain Parfumeur, the French beauty brand since 1828, is honored to announce that Angelina Jolie is the icon of its new fragrance for women. "We create perfumes for the women we admire" said Jacques Guerlain, creator of mythical fragrances such as Shalimar, L'Heure Bleue and Mitsouko. Thierry Wasser, Guerlain's Master Perfumer, drew his inspiration from Angelina Jolie to create a fragrance expressing the idea of the "notes of a woman": the choices, emotions and dreams that embody modern femininity. The partnership between Angelina and Guerlain was agreed in Cambodia in December 2015, where she was directing her film First They Killed My Father. It has its roots, however, in Angelina's childhood memory of her own mother's love of a Guerlain powder. Angelina Jolie is a filmmaker, Special Envoy of the UN Refugee Agency and co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. She has donated her entire salary from the Guerlain campaign to charity. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/459955/Guerlain_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/459957/Angelina_Jolie.jpg ) Available on March 2017 - Press Contact : Halima Regragui - Guerlain International Press & Public Relations Department - 125 rue du President Wilson - F-92300 Levallois-Perret - Tel. +33(0)1 41-27-31-00 - Fax +33(0)1-41-27-32-29 SOURCE Guerlain Parfumeur New York, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Growing medical, wellness and adventure tourism, improvement in connectivity to and from India, along with rising middle class population base to drive India travel & tourism market during the forecast period According to TechSci Research report, 'India Travel & Tourism Market, By Type, By Purpose of Visit, By Tourist Profile, By Average Duration of Stay, By Mode of Travel, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021', travel & tourism market in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 7%, during 2016-2021, on account of increasing foreign tourist footfall in the country, robust medical infrastructure development, rising government initiatives and diversified service offerings by major companies. As per the Ministry of Tourism, in 2015, foreign tourist footfall in India was over 8 million, which was 4.5% higher than the previous year and this is projected to increase through 2017, on account of rising infrastructural developments, increasing trend towards recreational tourism and growing regional and central government's focus on promoting tourism sector. Over 1,430 million domestic tourists visited different states/union territories of India in 2015. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 ) Browse 11 market data Tables and 94 Figures spread through 137 Pages and an in-depth TOC on "India Travel & Tourism Market" https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-travel-tourism-market-by-product-service-offering-by-type-domestic-inbound-etc-by-purpose-of-visit-by-tourist-profile-by-average-duration-of-stay-by-mode-of-travel-competition-forecast-and-opportunities/883.html South region dominated India travel & tourism market in 2015 and the region is anticipated to continue dominating the market through 2021, on account of growing domestic and foreign tourist footfall, and increasing number of religious and leisure trips to the region. Moreover, south region of the country is also emerging as a key hub for medical and wellness tourism. Leisure & recreation segment dominated India travel & tourism market in 2015, on the back of increasing number of people visiting families and friends for various occasions and tour operators offering cheap packages. Medical tourism is a small, but a robustly growing segment in India travel & tourism market. Fast growth in India medical travel & tourism market can be attributed to availability of cost-effective and high medical treatment procedures at internationally renowned facilities. Download Sample Report @ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=883 Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report. "Indian travel & tourism industry has emerged as a key driver for the growth of the services sector in India. Travel & tourism is also a large employment generator besides serving as a significant source of generating foreign exchange for the country. Increasing disposable income along with rising middle class has continued to support growth of domestic and outbound tourism in the country. Furthermore, Ministry of Tourism in India has been proactively engaged in designing national policies for promotion and development of travel & tourism sector in the country. The Ministry is also collaborating with other stakeholders in the industry including state governments, various central ministries/agencies, representatives of the private sector and union territories. Of late, with advent of online booking for travel services, increasing number of people prefer to use internet to book flight tickets, hotel accommodation, etc., instead traditional travel agents, as it offers convenience and ability to compare various prices and deals.", said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm. "India Travel & Tourism Market, By Type, By Purpose of Visit, By Tourist Profile, By Average Duration of Stay, By Mode of Travel, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021" has evaluated the future growth potential of travel & tourism market in India and provides statistics and information on market structure, size, share and future growth. The report is intended to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities present in India travel & tourism market. Browse Related Reports India Food Services Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2020 https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-food-services-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2020/417.html India E-Commerce Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2020 https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-e-commerce-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2020/460.html India Foodtech Market By Operation Type (Food Aggregators & Restaurant Based), By Source of Order (Web Vs Mobile App), By Payment Method (Cash on Delivery, Mobile Wallet, etc.), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021 https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-foodtech-market-by-operation-type-food-aggregators-restaurant-based-by-source-of-order-web-vs-mobile-app-by-payment-method-cash-on-delivery-mobile-wallet-etc-competition-forecast-and-opportunities-2011-2021/626.html About TechSci Research TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends. Contact Mr. Ken Mathews 708 Third Avenue, Manhattan, NY, New York - 10017 Tel: +1-646-360-1656 Email: sales@techsciresearch.com Connect with us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TechSciResearch Connect with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsci-research SOURCE TechSci Research (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/459940/Lingerie_Mon_Amour_1219.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/459941/Lingerie_Mon_Amour_1532.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/459942/Lingerie_Mon_Amour_2603.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/459943/Lingerie_Mon_Amour_3062.jpg ) For the first time ever, fourteen prestigious French brands have come together to present their collections at an exceptional fashion show in tribute to this know-how and creativity. These luxury houses, which share the same values and heritage as renown corsetiers, express themselves with one and the same voice: "Lingerie, Mon Amour"! These brands have always been "in the air du temps", synonymous with elegance "a la Francaise": ANTIGEL, ANTINEA, AUBADE, CHANTELLE, EMPREINTE, EPRISE, EPURE, IMPLICITE, LISE CHARMEL, LOU, LOUISA BRACQ, MAISON LEJABY, PASSIONATA, and SIMONE PERELE. We have also invited five emerging French Lingerie designers to join us in presenting their creations: ELISE ANDEREGG, MADAME AIME, MAUD & MARJORIE, PALOMA CASILE and YSE. Organized by "Promincor - Lingerie Francaise" (the Association for the Promotion of Corsetry Industries) and supported by the "DEFI - La Mode de France" (the Committee for the Development and Promotion of Clothing), this poetic and captivating show highlighted the savoir-faire of french corsetiers. In the magnificent Pavillon Cambon, the show presented the iconic Parisian Woman : Marie-Antoinette version 2017, a mysterious ballerina, a Lady New Look and Dandy Girl in smoking jacket. The orchestra was conducted by the talented founder of the group Prequell, Thomas Roussel, and comprised of fourteen musicians. Together, they will play unique and unusual live music : electro symphonia. It was an amazing show appreciated by more 500 guests : international buyers, influencers, VIP, French actress (Emilie Duquenne, Deborah Francois, Marilou Berry), Olympic Champions (Camille Lacourt, Elodie Clouvel) Key figures 2016 Key French export markets for lingerie and nightwear Period: January - October 2016, in euros. Source: Eurostat. The French exports of lingerie and nightwear for women represent 514 million euros for the first 10 months of 2016, an increase of +3.5% compared to the same period in 2015. From January to October 2016, France saw its exports increase for all lingerie items: corsetry +3.49%. The flagship product of France remains corsetry, which, for the period concerned, generated 324 million euros of worldwide exports. SOURCE Promincor-Lingerie Francaise CAESAREA, Israel, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lampados launches Next-Gen sweetener to hit the hot drinks market Lampados International Ltd. will launch Liteez, a next-gen sweetener, at the ISM show in Cologne, 29.01- 01.02.2017. This dual-purpose meringue kiss sweetener that can melt in your coffee/hot drink as well as be enjoyed as an ultra-low calorie sweet treat. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/459828/3D_sweetener.jpg ) This new sweetener delivery system, shaped like a meringue, is egg-free, sugar-free, and vegan. Put two meringue kisses in your coffee, stir, and enjoy all the sweetness of sugar. Two Liteez contain about two calories instead of 20 calories in one teaspoon of table sugar. "The idea was to craft a whole new concept for a healthier, tasty, and indulgent sweetener--to simply create a new experience for coffee and tea or as a casual snack," says Noam Kaplan, CEO of Lampados. This patent-pending vegan meringue kiss is a plant-based snack, free from allergens such as eggs, gluten, lactose, or nuts, and contains only six simple ingredients. "Many consumers crave something sweet both in and with their coffee," notes Kaplan. "Our new kiss fulfills both needs for a delicious, low-cal sweetener or as an indulgent dessert, without compromising on taste and while helping with weight management." "The real challenge was to create a tasty meringue kiss without eggs or sugar - two common indispensable ingredients for making a baked meringue, and that provide its texture, shape and taste," explains Kaplan. "In Liteez, the fibers create the texture, yet it is stable and crunchy with great flavor." Liteez was developed in collaboration with Practical Innovation, Israel, an award-winning global innovation company. "Our mission was to help a traditional sweetener company make a completely novel product that takes the concept of sweet indulgence to a unique level," explains Tal Laizer, CEO of Practical Innovation. "This is not just a new sweetener but an entirely new look & feel-a complete 3D flavor experience." Liteez uses a vegetable protein that has the ability to foam like eggs to help create the desired kiss texture and form. Sugar's functionality is replaced with prebiotic fibers to form a stable foam and maintain the kiss shape, while being highly soluble in hot drinks, such as coffee or tea. "We hear a lot about sugar tax and sugar reduction. At the end of the day, consumers seek healthier sweetening choices, but they don't want to skip indulgent experience," adds Kaplan. Lampados Ltd., a family-owned company, was founded in 1975 by Menny Kaplan. The manufacturing plant traditionally specializes in tabletop sweeteners and health products such as sugar-free syrups. CEO Noam Kaplan joined the company in 2009. Following substantial technology development and investment in plant facilities, including new equipment and automatic packaging systems. The manufacturing site has BRC Grade A certification. Visit us at ISM show in Cologne, Hall 2.2 booth no. H048 and taste the innovation Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL2hOiofsLA&feature=youtu.be Company contact: Lampados International Ltd. Mr. Noam Kaplan CEO Tel: +972-4-6231515 E-mail: info@liteezsweeteners.com Web: http://www.liteezsweeteners.com Press Contact: NutriPR Ms. Liat Simha Tel: +972-9-9742893 E-mail: liat@nutripr.com Twitter: @LiatSimha http://www.nutripr.com SOURCE Lampados International Ltd. NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwell Health, one of the largest integrated health systems in the United States, is featured at Arab Health Exhibition and Conference in Dubai and invites you to meet Dr. Souhel Najjar, Professor and Chairman, Neurology Services at the Hofstra Northwell Health School of Medicine. Dr. Najjar is an Arab-American neurologist and the man who saved Susannah Cahalan, a New York Post journalist, whose life was featured in The New York Times best selling book, Brain on Fire My Month of Madness. Dr. Najjar will be speaking at three breakout sessions in the Sharjah Room A (on the upper level above halls 5 & 6) on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 11:45am, 2:30pm & 4:00pm. During each session Dr. Najjar will explore the fascinating and mysterious field of neurology, a branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all conditions and diseases of the central nervous system from the spinal cord to the peripheral nervous systems and subsystems. He will focus on emerging neuropsychiatric disorders, common misdiagnosed signs/conditions and the link between depression, cerebrovascular disease and inflammation. Two Northwell senior executives, Thomas Thornton, Senior Vice President of Northwell Ventures, and Wayne Keathley, Special Consultant to the CEO, will be sharing their perspectives on the future of the global healthcare industry and how Northwell is well-positioned to deliver innovative care models to meet the changing environment. For more information about Northwell Health and Dr. Najjar, please visit Northwell Health at their hall stand 6.A.10 or at Northwell.edu. About Northwell Health Northwell Health is New York State's largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals and over 500 outpatient practices. We care for more than 1.8 million people annually in the metro New York area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 61,000 employees including 15,000+ nurses and 2,500+ doctors within Northwell Health Physician Partners are working to change health care for the better. We're making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu. Media Contact: Alexander Radke (+1-516-497-6523) Related Links http://northwell.edu SOURCE Northwell Health DALLAS, Jan. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Most insured Americans with chronic disease say they are not getting much guidance from their health plan sponsors. Approximately one out of two Americans has a chronic condition (CDC), and chronic conditions are the biggest driver of the United States' $3.2 Trillion healthcare bill. Fifty-two percent of consumers with chronic conditions hear from their plan just once or less per year -- comprised of 26% hearing from their plan once per year; 21% never hearing from their plan; and 5% saying their plan does not even know about their disease. The data comes from a January 2017 HealthMine survey of 750 consumers with sponsored health insurance. Forty-six percent of respondents said they had one or more chronic conditions. Does Your Health Plan Communicate With You About Your Chronic Condition? Answer Percent My plan does not know about my condition 5% Yes, every month or more frequently 14% No, never 21% Yes, one time per year 26% Yes, 2-6 times per year 35% All respondents were enrolled in a wellness program through their health plan, but three quarters (75%) said they were not receiving any reminders or recommendations about their chronic condition. Does your health plan send you any reminders or recommendations about your chronic condition? Answer Percent Yes 25% No 75% Brennan Collins, vice president of product at HealthMine said, "People with chronic conditions spend 99% of their time outside of the doctor's office. What they do in that time determines the quality of their healthand the cost of their healthcare. Plan sponsors must step up and play a bigger role here." He continued, "Members can be equipped with health intelligence and tools to help themselves. If plan sponsors communicate strategically, they can help teach members how to manage their own conditions. That will help them become better users of healthcare dollars, too." About the Survey The HealthMine Health Plan Intelligence Survey queried 750 insured consumers who are enrolled in a wellness program. The survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) in January 2017. Data were collected via an opt-in panel. The margin of error is 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 37 years. About HealthMine HealthMine is a leading healthcare technology company that delivers Health Intelligence for plan members and plan sponsors. HealthMine's cloud-based Health Intelligence Solution facilitates better health outcomes and lowers healthcare costs by providing: 1) insight into health status and risk, 2) clinical guidance on necessary health actions, 3) personalized motivation to close gaps in care and 4) measurement of outcomes. The Health Intelligence Solution derives business value from all clinical and lifestyle health data, including data from existing wellness programs. HealthMine has more than 1 million users and has saved health plan sponsors more than $100 million in healthcare costs. HealthMine is on the web at www.healthmine.com. SOURCE HealthMine Related Links http://www.healthmine.com "The AFSP Arizona State Capitol Day is a special day for all Arizonians who have dealt with a personal story of suicide. This day allows us to stand up and spread the word about the great work AFSP does in creating education programs and providing tools and resources to help save lives. Our volunteers share their stories about why they participate in this advocacy effort with their state legislators to give a human face to this important health problem. We hope that by sharing our stories, we will help the legislators understand and prioritize suicide prevention. This will make a long-term difference in our communities and hopefully save lives," said April Kelly , volunteer with the AFSP Arizona chapter . This is the fourth annual State Capitol Day in Arizona. Ms. Kelly is part of a larger national contingent of AFSP volunteer advocates who will be visiting 35 state capitols across the United States in the spring of 2017 to bring best practices in suicide prevention to state legislators and their staff. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. AFSP celebrates 30 years of service to the suicide prevention movement. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Related Links http://www.afsp.org SAN CARLOS, Calif., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alkahest Inc. ("Alkahest"), a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and other age-related conditions, announced today that Sam Jackson, MD, MBA, has joined the company as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Jackson will lead the translational and clinical development activities at Alkahest and serve on the Executive Leadership Team. Dr. Jackson most recently served as Executive Director at Dynavax, where he led the Drug Safety Group and designed and conducted clinical trials supporting the development of prophylactic vaccines and of therapeutic agents in asthma. Sam brings more than a decade of experience in drug development across multiple therapeutic areas including neurology. "Sam is an outstanding physician and drug developer with an excellent track record of industry leadership," said Dr. Karoly Nikolich, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Alkahest. "Sam brings extensive clinical development expertise to Alkahest and shares our dedication to discover and develop effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases." "I am thrilled to join Alkahest's leadership team, to contribute to the company's focus on translational medicine and to advance its clinical pipeline. I share the team's conviction that we are entering into an unprecedented period of productivity in the development of therapies aimed at age-related diseases," said Dr. Jackson. Sam has extensive experience in drug development. Prior to his time at Dynavax, Sam led drug-development teams at Genentech in diverse therapeutic areas including immunology, hepatology and ophthalmology. He started his career in industry at Amgen where he was responsible for the safety for a broad array of molecules in various stages of development. Sam has an undergraduate degree from Stanford University and is a graduate of the combined MD/MBA program at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania & The Wharton School of Business. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at UC Davis in Sacramento, California and his fellowship in Medical Toxicology at the Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. About Alkahest Alkahest is developing therapies derived from blood and plasma to treat age-related diseases, with an emphasis on cognitive dysfunction and dementia -- key medical challenges of our generation. The company's breakthrough research has demonstrated that factors in blood plasma of young animals are able to reverse brain deficits in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease models in animals. Clinical studies are being conducted in patients with different types of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Alkahest is a private company based in San Carlos, CA, with investors including Barcelona, Spain-based Grifols, a global healthcare company and leading producer of plasma therapies, as well as a collaboration and commercialization partner. For further information, see www.alkahest.com. Contact Information: Joe McCracken Vice President Business Development Alkahest, Inc. 650-801-0471 [email protected] SOURCE Alkahest, Inc. Related Links http://www.alkahest.com DUBLIN, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc, (NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, today announced its continued support of the International Headache Academy (IHA). Designed to inspire a long-term commitment to Headache Medicine in young neurologists and research scientists, IHA offers a three-day, intensive overview on research and treatment options. This is the fourth year that Allergan has been the sole sponsor since the inception of IHA in North America in 2013, and iHEAD in Europe in 2014. "Allergan is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by headache disorders. Beyond advancing research and treatment options, we share a similar goal with IHA to raise the level of education among headache experts and improve patient care," said David Nicholson, Chief R&D Officer at Allergan. "The more knowledge and support neurologists have, the better equipped they will be to help patients make critical decisions about their health." The recent 2017 IHA at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles, CA offered a highly interactive educational program including future research priorities, validating potential drug targets, emerging new treatments, and the importance of patient advocacy. "IHA is committed to developing and nurturing future leaders in headache medicine," said Dr. David Dodick, Chair of the American Migraine Foundation and President of the International Headache Society. "We are inspired by our attendees' commitment to raising their level of education and improving patient care and are grateful to Allergan for their involvement." Allergan, a leader in the Chronic Migraine space, has offered Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) the first and only FDA-approved, preventive treatment for adult Chronic Migraine patients since it was approved in 2010. Allergan is advancing its migraine program with two investigational small molecule oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists, which are being developed for the treatment and prevention of migraine. Allergan's CGRPs, ubrogepant in Phase III for the acute treatment of migraine and atogepant in Phase II for the prevention of migraine, are expected to be the first oral CGRP receptor antagonists to market. Allergan's Commitment to People with Migraine Allergan is committed to advancing the science of migraine through ongoing research and clinical investment, while providing innovative treatment approaches, educational opportunities, and support services that improve the lives of patients. Allergan tirelessly pursues freedom from migraine in partnership with the entire migraine community. About Allergan Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceuticals, devices and biologic products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories. Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. This approach has led to Allergan building one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with 70+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development. Our Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right. With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day. For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.allergan.com. Forward-Looking Statement Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 (certain of such periodic public filings having been filed under the "Actavis plc" name). Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Indication BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription medicine that is injected to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine who have 15 or more days each month with headache lasting 4 or more hours each day in people 18 years or older. It is not known whether BOTOX is safe or effective to prevent headaches in patients with migraine who have 14 or fewer headache days each month (episodic migraine). IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION BOTOX may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX: Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months. Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing. There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX has been used at the recommended dose to treat chronic migraine. BOTOX may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities. Do not take BOTOX if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site. The dose of BOTOX is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product. Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you experience symptoms; further injection of BOTOX should be discontinued. Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions such as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you: have or have had bleeding problems; have plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles; trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX can harm your unborn baby); are breastfeeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX passes into breast milk). Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Using BOTOX with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX in the past. Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc, Dysport, or Xeomin in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners. Other side effects of BOTOX include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes. For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see BOTOX full Product Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide. CONTACTS: ALLERGAN Investors: Lisa DeFrancesco (862) 261-7152 Media: Mark Marmur (862) 261-7558 Lisa Kim (714) 246-3843 SOURCE Allergan plc Related Links http://www.allergan.com ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards at its Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. A list of all the 2017 award winners follows: John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: "The Girl Who Drank the Moon," written by Kelly Barnhill, is the 2017 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; "The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog," written by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; and "Wolf Hollow," written by Lauren Wolk and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: "Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat," illustrated by Javaka Steptoe is the 2017 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: "Leave Me Alone!" illustrated and written by Vera Brosgol and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; "Freedom in Congo Square," illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Du Iz Tak?" illustrated and written by Carson Ellis, and published by Candlewick Press; and "They All Saw a Cat," illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Corretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: "March: Book Three," written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by Nate Powell and published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Two King Author Honor Books were selected: "As Brave as You," written by Jason Reynolds, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division. Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award: "Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat," illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Three King Illustrator Honor Book were selected: "Freedom in Congo Square," illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "In Plain Sight," illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, written by Richard Jackson, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: "The Sun Is Also a Star," written by Nicola Yoon, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop is the winner of the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children's author Virginia Hamilton. Dr. Bishop is a winner of numerous awards and has served as a respected member of many book awards committees over the course of her long and distinguished career. Her influential writing, speaking, and teaching articulates the history and cultural significance of African-American children's literature. Her globally cited work, "Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors," has inspired movements for increased diversity in books for young people, and provides the basis for the best multicultural practice and inquiry for students, teachers, writers and publishing houses. Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: "March: Book Three," created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: "Asking for It," by Louise O'Neill and published by Quercus, a Hachette Company; "The Passion of Dolssa," by Julie Berry and published by Viking Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers; "Scythe," by Neal Shusterman and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing; and "The Sun Is Also a Star," by Nicola Yoon and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: "Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille," written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 10). "as brave as you," written by Jason Reynolds and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13). "When We Collided," written by Emery Lord and published by Bloomsbury Children's Books is the winner for teens (ages 13-18). Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences: "The Queen of Blood," by Sarah Beth Durst, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. "The Regional Office is Under Attack!" by Manuel Gonzales, published by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided," by Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford, published by Henry Holt and Co. "Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded," by Hannah Hart, published by Dey Street, an imprint of William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. "Arena," by Holly Jennings, published by Ace Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "Every Heart a Doorway," by Seanan McGuire, a Tor Book published by Tom Doherty Associates. "Romeo and/or Juliet: A Choosable-Path Adventure," by Ryan North, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "Die Young with Me: A Memoir," by Rob Rufus, published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. "The Wasp that Brainwashed the Caterpillar," by Matt Simon, published by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko," by Scott Stambach, published by St. Martin's Press. Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video: Ryan Swenar of Dreamscape Media, LLC, producer of "Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music" is the Carnegie Medal winner. Adapted from Margarita Engle's book, a girl in 1930s Cuba aspires to play the drums, a privilege afforded only to boys. Based on the life of Chinese-African-Cuban Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, this story demonstrates how the power of persistence can break barriers, shatter expectations, and make one's dreams a reality. Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. The 2017 winner is Nikki Grimes, whose award-winning works include "Bronx Masquerade," which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2003, and "Words with Wings," the recipient of a Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2014. In addition, Grimes received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in 2016 and the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 2006. Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: The 2017 winner is Sarah Dessen. Her books include: "Dreamland," "Keeping the Moon," "Just Listen," "The Truth about Forever," "Along for the Ride," "What Happened to Goodbye?" and "This Lullaby," all published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a Penguin Random House Company. 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site. Naomi Shihab Nye will deliver the 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. The daughter of a Palestinian father and an American mother, Naomi Shihab Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San Antonio, Texas. The author and/or editor of more than 30 books for adults and children, her latest for young people, "The Turtle of Oman," was chosen as a 2015 Notable Children's Book by the ALA. She has received four Pushcart Prizes, was a National Book Award finalist, and has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, amongst her many honors. Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States: "Cry, Heart, But Never Break" is the 2017 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Danish in 2001 as "Grd blot hjerte," the book was written by Glenn Ringtved, illustrated by Charolotte Pardi, translated by Robert Moulthrop and published by Enchanted Lion Books. Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: "Over the Ocean," published by Chronicle Books LLC, written and illustrated by Taro Gomi and translated from the Japanese by Taylor Norman; "As Time Went By," published by NorthSouth Books, Inc., written and illustrated by Jose Sanabria and translated from the German by Audrey Hall; and "The Ballad of a Broken Nose," published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, written by Arne Svingen and translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson. Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: "Anna and the Swallow Man," produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Groups, is the 2017 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Gavriel Savit and narrated by Allan Corduner. Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks also were selected: "Ghost" produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written by Jason Reynolds and narrated by Guy Lockard; "Dream On, Amber," produced by Recorded Books, written by Emma Shevah and narrated by Laura Kirman; and "Nimona," produced by HarperAudio, written by Noelle Stevenson and narrated by Rebecca Soler, Jonathan Davis, Marc Thompson, January LaVoy, Natalie Gold, Peter Bradbury and David Pittu. Pura Belpre Awards honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: "Lowriders to the Center of the Earth," illustrated by Raul Gonzalez, is the Belpre Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Cathy Camper and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Two Belpre Illustrator Honor Books were named: "Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist," illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, written by Susan Wood and published by Charlesbridge. "The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes," illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. "Juana & Lucas," written by Juana Medina, is the Pura Belpre Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Juana Medina and published by Candlewick Press. One Belpre Author Honor Book was named: "The Only Road," written by Alexandra Diaz and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/A Paula Wiseman Book. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: "March: Book Three," written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Four Sibert Honor Books were named: "Giant Squid," written by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; "Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story," written by Caren Stelson and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.; "Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II," written by Albert Marrin and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and "We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler," written by Russell Freedman and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children's and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience: "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor," written by Rick Riordan and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, and "If I Was Your Girl" written by Meredith Russo and published by Flatiron Books, are the 2017 recipients of the Stonewall Book Awards Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award, respectively. Three Honor Books were selected: "When the Moon Was Ours," written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press; "Unbecoming," written by Jenny Downham and published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with David Fickling Books; and "Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community," written by Robin Stevenson and published by Orca Book Publishers. Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book: "We Are Growing: A Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! Book," written by Laurie Keller. The book is published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. Four Geisel Honor Books were named: "Good Night Owl," written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; "Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper," written and illustrated by Mike Twohy and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; "Go Otto Go!" written and illustrated by David Milgrim and published by Simon Spotlight, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "The Infamous Ratsos," written by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers and published by Candlewick Press. William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: "The Serpent King," written by Jeff Zentner, is the 2017 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a Penguin Random House Company. Four other books were finalists for the award: "Girl Mans Up," written by M-E Girard, published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; "Rani Patel in Full Effect," written by Sonia Patel, published by Cinco Puntos Press; The Smell of Other People's Houses," written by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a Penguin Random House Company; and "Tell Me Something Real," written by Calla Devlin, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: "March: Book Three," created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Excellence winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. Four other books were finalists for the award: "Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History," by Karen Blumenthal and published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives," by Kenneth C. Davis, and published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; "Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune," written by Pamela S. Turner, illustrated by Gareth Hinds and published by Charlesbridge; and "This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration," written by Linda Barrett Osborne and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children's experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma . Book cover artwork available at - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y68l44xpepvs9i3/AABvsaKYdkF_Unwyo_8Ya934a?dl=0 SOURCE American Library Association Related Links http://www.ala.org WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Significant majorities of Americans oppose the use of tax dollars to fund abortions and want the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of abortion restrictions, according to a new Marist Poll sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Americans overwhelmingly oppose the use of tax dollars to support abortion in other countries (83 percent). More than six in 10 Americans (61 percent) also oppose the use of tax dollars to fund abortions in the United States. This includes almost nine in 10 Trump supporters (87 percent) and even nearly four in 10 Clinton supporters (39 percent). The poll demonstrates that there is a clear bi-partisan consensus on limiting abortion to at most the first trimester, with a majority of Clinton supporters (55 percent) and more than nine in 10 Trump supporters (91 percent) saying they support such limits. Among Americans overall, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) want abortion restricted to, at most, the first trimester. Among those who want restrictions, 74 percent want the Supreme Court to rule in favor of those restrictions. This equates to about 55 percent of Americans who support such action by the court. In fact, nearly six in 10 (59 percent) say it is either an immediate priority (34 percent), or is an important one (25 percent), to limit abortion to the first trimester. This includes 78 percent of Republicans and almost half of Democrats (47 percent). Even among those who identify as pro-choice, more than four in 10 say restricting abortion is an immediate priority or important (44 percent). "There is a consensus in America in favor of significant abortion restrictions, and this common ground exists across party lines, and even among significant numbers of those who are pro-choice," said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. "This poll shows that large percentages of Americans, on both sides of the aisle, are united in their opposition to the status quo as it relates to abortion on demand. This is heartening and can help start a new national conversation on abortion." Regardless of their views on whether abortion should remain legal, almost six in 10 Americans (59 percent) believe that abortion is morally wrong. This includes eight in 10 Trump supporters and nearly four in 10 Clinton supporters (37 percent). Nearly eight in 10 Americans (78 percent) think laws can protect both the well-being of a woman and the life of her unborn child. The survey of 2,729 adults was conducted Dec. 12-19, 2016, by the Marist Poll and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the continental United States were interviewed in English or Spanish by telephone using live interviewers. The results are statistically significant at 1.9 percentage points. SOURCE Knights of Columbus FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ), a global provider of galvanizing services, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services, today announced the appointment of Mr. Ed McGough, age 56, to serve as a new member of AZZ's Board of Directors. Mr. McGough will serve as a director until he stands for election at AZZ's next annual shareholders meeting in 2017. Mr. McGough has served as the Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Technical Operations at Alcon Laboratories, Inc. ("Alcon"), a division of Novartis AG, since 2008. Mr. McGough joined Alcon in 1991 as a Manager of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs in Alcon's Pennsylvania facility. He has held various other leadership positions at Alcon in both Fort Worth,Texas and Puerto Rico, including: Director of Quality Assurance, Director of Operations, Director of Manufacturing, and Vice President and General Manager of Manufacturing in both Fort Worth and Houston, Texas. Prior to these roles, he served as Vice President, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Operations, responsible for Alcon's pharmaceutical plants in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Belgium and France. Prior to joining Alcon, Mr. McGough served in various quality engineering and management roles with Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Mr. McGough earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Louisiana Tech University and is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program. Mr. Kevern Joyce, Chairman of AZZ's Board of Directors, said, "We are pleased Ed McGough has agreed to join AZZ's Board of Directors. Ed has built a distinguished career holding leadership positions in quality assurance, global manufacturing, supply chain, distribution network and customer service operations. His international expertise will add additional depth to the Board's broad scope of professional backgrounds." Mr. Joyce further noted, "Over the past few years we have implemented several Board succession initiatives, and the addition of Ed McGough is yet another step in our continuing strategic Board refreshing process." AZZ Inc. is a global provider of galvanizing services, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services to the markets of power generation, transmission, distribution and industrial in protecting metal and electrical systems used to build and enhance the world's infrastructure. AZZ Galvanizing is a leading provider of metal finishing solutions for corrosion protection, including hot dip galvanizing to the North American steel fabrication industry. AZZ Energy is dedicated to delivering safe and reliable transmission of power from generation sources to end customers, and automated weld overlay solutions for corrosion and erosion mitigation to critical infrastructure in the energy markets worldwide. Contact: Paul Fehlman, Senior Vice President - Finance and CFO AZZ Inc. 817-810-0095 Internet: www.azz.com Lytham Partners 602-889-9700 Joe Dorame, Robert Blum or Joe Diaz Internet: www.lythampartners.com SOURCE AZZ Inc. Related Links http://www.azz.com In this updated study, Philips and Banner examined 128 3 patients who had at least one year pre-IAC and one year post-IAC follow up to see the prolonged impact of the IAC program on patient outcomes. The analysis of patient results over the first full year of the program revealed that the IAC program helped: Reduce overall costs of care by 34.5 percent. This cost saving was driven primarily by a reduction in hospitalization rates and days in the hospital, as well as a reduction in professional service and outpatient costs. This cost saving was driven primarily by a reduction in hospitalization rates and days in the hospital, as well as a reduction in professional service and outpatient costs. Reduce hospitalizations by 49.5 percent. Prior to enrollment in the IAC program, there were 10.9 hospitalizations per 100 patients per month; after enrollment, the acute and long-term hospitalization rate dropped to 5.5 hospitalizations per 100 patients per month. Prior to enrollment in the IAC program, there were 10.9 hospitalizations per 100 patients per month; after enrollment, the acute and long-term hospitalization rate dropped to 5.5 hospitalizations per 100 patients per month. Reduce the number of days in hospital by 50 percent. Prior to enrollment, the average number of days in the hospital was 60 days per 100 patients per month, compared to 30 days after enrollment. Prior to enrollment, the average number of days in the hospital was 60 days per 100 patients per month, compared to 30 days after enrollment. Reduce the 30-day readmission rate by 75 percent. The 30-day readmission rate went from 20 percent prior to enrollment to 5 percent after enrollment. "This updated data of our telehealth program shows that we were able to achieve even more significant cost savings and reduced hospitalization rates by continuing to leverage Philips' powerful telehealth solution," said Deb Dahl, Vice President, Patient Care Innovation, Banner Health. "We have been able to make significant improvements with our most complex patients over long periods of time, and the results can potentially be applied to better manage the health of other patient populations." The one year post-IAC follow up results presented in this study are significant as they provide an even more accurate picture of day-to-day patient outcomes of the IAC program. The longer patients with chronic conditions are monitored, the more difficult it is to sustain or improve outcomes due to multiple factors, including the increased chances of chronic conditions worsening and the Hawthorne effect, in which research participants alter their natural behavior in the short-term due to their awareness of being evaluated4. As time passes with this psychological phenomenon, participants are gradually more likely to forget they are being evaluated and act natural, instead of trying to put forth their best behaviors. "Connected care technology can be a powerful tool in improving care while reducing costs, and having data that demonstrates its long-term success is critical to driving wider adoption by both patients and care providers," said Manu Varma, General Manager and Head of Philips, Hospital to Home. "We applaud Banner for the dedicated investments and inventive processes they have put in place allowing them to achieve these substantial results." The Philips IAC program is part of a suite of integrated enterprise telehealth solutions powered by Philips to help improve outcomes, provide better value and expand access to quality care. These programs help address multiple cohorts within a population ranging from highest cost patients with intensive ambulatory care and acute needs, to discharge transition and chronic patient management, to prevention and wellness for the general population. Philips telehealth programs are designed to leverage a proactive care model to clinically transform the delivery of care to address growing clinician shortages while improving patient outcomes. For more information on the full suite of Philips clinical telehealth programs, visit www.hospitaltohome.philips.com. For further information, please contact: Kathy O'Reilly Philips Group Communications (o) 978-659-2638 (m) 978-221-8919 [email protected] Twitter: @kathyoreilly About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. About Banner Health: Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the United States, managing 28 acute care hospitals, the Banner Health Network and Banner Medical Group, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services, and a nursing registry. Banner Health operates in seven states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com. 1 Dahl, D., Khurana MD, H. (2015). Impact of an intensive ambulatory program on both financial and clinical outcomes in Banner Health, revisit the initial cohort with extended follow-up. Unpublished internal study. 2 Department of Health and Human Services, AHRQ, The Concentration and Persistence in the Level of Health Expenditures over Time: Estimates for the U.S. Population, 2008-2009. 3 This number represents the patients enrolled in the IAC program who had data available beginning one year prior to entering the IAC program, and one year of data after entering the program. 4 Campbell, Jack P et al. Hawthorne Effect: Implications for Prehospital Research. Annals of Emergency Medicine, Volume 26, Issue 5, 590 594. SOURCE Royal Philips Related Links http://www.philips.com PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger & Montague Managing Shareholder Eric L. Cramer will speak at the 2nd International Conference on Dispute Resolution of Consumer Mass Disputes, which will be held in Haifa, Israel from March 16 17, 2017. The conference is co-sponsored by Berger & Montague. Mr. Cramer will chair a panel titled "The Role of Lead Counsel in Consumer Class Actions." Mr. Cramer is a managing shareholder of Berger & Montague, P.C. in Philadelphia, and Co-Chair of the firm's antitrust department. He has repeatedly been selected by Chambers & Partners as a top tier antitrust lawyer; highlighted by The Legal 500 as one of the country's top lawyers in the field of complex antitrust litigation; and been deemed one of the "Best Lawyers in America." In 2014, he was selected by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the top 100 lawyers in Philadelphia and, also in 2014, received an "Honorable Mention" for Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law from the American Antitrust Institute for his work in the Marchbanks v. Comdata matter, in which as co-lead counsel, he achieved a $130 million settlement on behalf of a class of independent truck stops. He is currently co-lead counsel in multiple antitrust class actions, and is responsible for winning numerous significant settlements totaling well over $2 billion. He is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the American Antitrust Institute; was a past President of COSAL (Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws), a leading industry group; serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Consumer Antitrust Studies of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law; and is member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Public Justice, a leading trial lawyer organization and public interest law firm. Additionally, Mr. Cramer has written widely relating to class certification and antitrust law, including co-authoring The Puzzle of Class Actions with Uninjured Members, 82 G.W. L. Rev. 858, 859 (May 2014), which the First Circuit cited in In re Nexium Antitrust Litigation, 777 F.3d 9, 27 (1st Cir. 2015), and Antitrust, Class Certification, and the Politics of Procedure, 17 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 4 (2010) (http://ssrn.com/abstract=1578459), which was also cited in Nexium as well as in the Third Circuit's decision in Behrend v. Comcast Corp., 655 F.3d 182, 200, n.10 (3d Cir. 2011), rev'd, 133 S. Ct. 1426 (2013). Mr. Cramer is a summa cum laude graduate of Princeton University (1989), where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School with a J.D. in 1993. Hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Haifa, the 2nd International Conference on Dispute Resolution of Consumer Mass Disputes is jointly organized with the European Institute in Florence and the City University of Hong Kong. The conference will primarily focus on international consumer disputes and host a number of distinguished scholars and practitioners from various jurisdictions. For more information or to register for the conference, please visit https://lawers.club/. Berger & Montague is a full-spectrum class action and complex civil litigation firm, with nationally known attorneys highly sought after for their legal skills. The firm has been recognized by courts throughout the country for its ability and experience in handling major complex litigation, particularly in the fields of antitrust, securities, mass torts, civil and human rights, whistleblower cases, employment, and consumer litigation. In numerous precedent-setting cases, the firm has played a principal or lead role. Please contact: Eric L. Cramer Berger & Montague, P.C. 1622 Locust Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Telephone: (215) 875-3009 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bergermontague.com SOURCE Berger & Montague, P.C. Related Links http://www.bergermontague.com CHICAGO, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Best College Values is a website that releases monthly rankings, along with other resources, highlighting colleges that provide great value through a balance of reputation for quality, low tuition rates, and a high return on investment. This month Best College Values has released the 10 Best Value Online Master's of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering (http://www.bestcollegevalues.com/rankings/online/best-online-masters-nuclear-engineering/). The ranking consists of ten regionally accredited colleges and universities with good reputations for offering high quality academic programs in engineering according to one or more national publications such as U.S. News & World Report. The ranking also compares tuition rates, return on investment according to Payscale.com, graduation rates, and cohort default rates to produce an overall score of 1-100. Placing first in this ranking is Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, placed second and the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, placed third. Other colleges and universities that made the ranking are listed below in alphabetical order. Iowa State UniversityAmes, Iowa Northeastern UniversityBoston, Massachusetts Pennsylvania State UniversityWorld Campus Thomas Edison State UniversityTrenton, New Jersey University Engineering Alliance University of TexasAustin, Texas Worcester Polytechnic UniversityWorcester Massachusetts "The need for qualified nuclear engineers is expected to increase as energy consumption grows," says Brett Gershon, site editor at Best College Values. He adds, "Because nuclear power reduces the environmental impacts of fossil fuels, as well as fossil fuel dependency, many countries around the world are relying more on nuclear power plants for their energy needs. In the United States alone, hundreds of additional nuclear scientists and engineers will be needed each year to fill the demand in a variety of fields such as medicine, manufacturing, agriculture, and security." Gershon also notes that besides offering fantastic job security, a career in engineering is widely considered to be one of the most lucrative and fulfilling available. A master's degree provides the necessary training for professionals to move into advanced level positions in areas such as nuclear power equipment manufacturing, utility industries, engineering consulting firms, and government, making this a valuable degree on multiple levels. Moreover, an online degree in engineering-- in contrast to an on site degree-- is a particularly convenient way for students to make a career advancement without having to disrupt their already busy professional lives. This ranking hopes to serve as a useful guide for students who are in the process of making this important choice. BestCollegeValues.com is an online resource for prospective college students seeking an education worth its cost. Best College Values strives to provide the most comprehensive and rigorously researched set of online resources on the intersections of college affordability, educational quality, and educational outcomes so that individuals pursuing higher education can find the best college at the best price. Contact: Brett Gershon Editor, Best College Values http://www.bestcollegevalues.com [email protected] 763.503.0162 SOURCE Best College Values Related Links http://www.bestcollegevalues.com BOSTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- C Space, a global customer agency, today announced that Jessica DeVlieger, the company's senior vice president of sales and marketing, has been named President of C Space in the Americas, effective January 1, 2017. DeVlieger assumed the role previously held by Howard Kogan, who has taken on the role of global Chief Operating Officer of C Space. Kogan will be responsible for global product innovation, technology development and acquisition strategy. He will accelerate the development of new products and capabilities around the world, allowing C Space's clients to more effectively co-create with their consumers. As President, DeVlieger will be responsible for the overall leadership of C Space in the Americas, where she has driven the transformation of the company's go-to-market strategies over the last two years through her bold leadership of the sales and marketing teams. "Both Jessica and Howard have important qualities as we continue scaling globally," said Charles Trevail, CEO of C Space. "Jessica has a proven track record of developing long-term relationships with new and existing clients, and Howard has led the charge in moving our business forward, ensuring that C Space's financial performance and unique culture remain at the forefront along the way." Kogan joined C Space in 2010, and has successfully led the business in the Americas as President for the last three years. During this time, he aided the company in the rebrand from Communispace to C Space; assisted in launching Hatch, a mobile app that connects people and brands to create products that enhance the lives of consumers; and reorganized C Space into smaller and more entrepreneurial portfolio teams. Outside of C Space, Howard serves on the Board of Advisors of AnswerLab, a UX consultancy based in San Francisco; the Board of Directors of America SCORES Boston, which empowers Boston Public School students to create positive change in their lives, communities and around the world; and is a mentor for entrepreneurs at MassChallenge, a start-up accelerator. "Working through reorganizations, rebranding and new product launches has been such an incredible opportunity," said Kogan. "I'm looking forward to scaling this growth on a global level to further help our clients partner with their customers to gain insight and improved business results." DeVlieger, assuming the role previously held by Kogan, has been a key leader for the company since joining C Space as Director of Strategic Accounts in 2007. During the last nine years, DeVlieger has served as vice president, director of strategic accounts and senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas. With more than 15 years of experience, she has worked in business development and management for a range of marketing organizations prior to joining C Space, from boutique consulting firms to The Oprah Show. "Brands must contend with a new reality: brand loyalty and consumer trust are more elusive, as consumers have seemingly limitless choices and options," said DeVlieger. "At C Space, we're helping brands forge bonds with consumers in relevant, honest and emotion-driven ways. Designing customers into a brand's DNA spurs different ways of thinking, reveals new possibilities, and strengthens the customer-company relationship." Outside of client work, DeVlieger spends her time focused on understanding how companies are successfully achieving growth, and translating that learning into the solutions she creates for her clients. Her industry insights have been featured in Chief Marketer and Ad Age. Additionally, she serves on the board for MITX, a digital technology and marketing association, and Positive Tracks, a national youth development organization. About C Space C Space is the global customer agency. Through private online communities, co-creation and innovation programs, C Space builds and strengthens connections between brands and their customers. This allows brands to design better products, create more relevant marketing, improve customer experiences and drive customer loyalty. Headquartered in Boston, London and Shanghai, C Space also has offices in New York, San Francisco and Mexico City. To learn more, visit www.cspace.com or follow us on Twitter @CSpaceGlobal. To learn more about CQ specifically, visit www.cspace.com/cq. C Space is a part of the DAS Group of Companies. About the DAS Group of Companies The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries. SOURCE C Space Related Links http://www.cspace.com LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual Cursive is Cool contests are presented by the Campaign for Cursive, a committee of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation on National Handwriting Day. Each year, National Handwriting Day is celebrated on Jan. 23, the date associated with the birth of John Hancock. Following National Handwriting Day, National Handwriting Week is celebrated around the world. Legend has it that Hancock, known for his large and showy signature on the U.S. Declaration of Independence, purposely enlarged his signature so "King George can see it without his spectacles." Campaign for Cursive offers three contests: In the U.S. and in Canada (one for English writers, one for French). Grade 1-6 students have the chance to test their cursive skills. The Canada contest opened on January 11 with a deadline of March 3. The USA contest deadline is March 17, 2017. Exciting new writing instruments, workbooks, learning methods and accessories will be awarded to winners. Supporters of the contest include Amsterdam Printing, CursiveLogic, eeBoo, Dixon Ticonderoga, Domtar, Fahrney's Pens, Laywine's, New American Cursive Penmanship, PaperPal, Pelikan, PEN World, Staedtler, and ThinkBoard. Contest judges are handwriting specialists and educators. Entries will be scored for legibility plus quality. Awards will be given for most creative answers. Winners will be notified in April and posted to the organization's social media channels. Theresa Ortega, Communications Chair for AHAF, says the social media channels get a lot of traffic: "People across the globe were amazed at the entries we received last year. It's wonderful to see positive comments on social media about the great work these students are doing. The cognitive benefits of learning cursive make for a perfect partner to today's technology as children go on to higher education or enter the workforce." "Last year entries we received entries from 13 states and this year we hope to increase the reach across the country. We love hearing from the kids about why they like to write in cursive," said Gayna Scott, Campaign for Cursive chair. "Having our kids learn this lifelong skill is worth the 15 minutes a day to learn modern cursive. Research indicates that there are benefits for our children to learn cursive. Technology is important, too, one skill does not replace the other. So, have your kids enter the contest and tell us why they like to write in cursive, we think you will learn something too!" For more information, please contact Gayna Scott, Chair of Campaign for Cursive at [email protected]. More information: http://www.cursiveiscool.com/. http://www.ahafhandwriting.org/sites/default/pdf/white-paper.pdf. About the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation: The American Handwriting Analysis Foundation is a 501-(c)6 non-profit business organization, chartered and incorporated in California. Dedicated to the advancement of the handwriting sciences, AHAF promotes education for handwriting examiners at all levels of expertise and from all schools of thought. Information: http://www.ahafhandwriting.org/. *LOGO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0120s2p-cursive-cool-300dpi.jpg This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE American Handwriting Analysis Foundation Related Links http://www.ahafhandwriting.org In her new role, Ms. Hassan will be responsible for developing a global marketing strategy and a best-in-class team to drive growth for the toy and baby businesses. She will also lead the efforts to position and enhance the relevancy of the brand, leveraging relationships with vendors and licensing partners to increase positive consumer perception of the company. "Creative and effective Marketing will play a critical role in building our brand and business, not only here in the U.S. but around the world," said Mr. Brandon. "Carla not only has exceptional experience from both a global brand and leadership perspective, she brings with her a passion and reputation for change. I expect to see her immediate positive impact on our Marketing programs and ability to connect with today's consumers and drive traffic into our bricks and mortar stores and our web store." During her thirteen years with PepsiCo, Ms. Hassan held a number of strategic Marketing leadership roles for Quaker and Gatorade in the U.S., and was CMO for the company's Middle East/Africa food and beverage business. Prior to that she held a variety of marketing roles at The Kellogg Company overseeing well-known brands including Keebler and Eggo. "I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to steward another iconic brand. As a marketer, a mom and a kid at heart, I see endless opportunities to make this brand even more magical and inspiring," said Ms. Hassan. Ms. Hassan has an MBA from the Thunderbird Graduation School of International Management and a bachelor's degree in International Affairs, Business, Economics and Political Science from the University of Colorado. In 2016, she was named one of Ad Age's Women to Watch. In addition to Ms. Hassan's appointment, the company announced two additional leadership changes. Diane Preston was promoted to Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and Kevin Macnab was promoted to President, International. About Toys"R"Us, Inc. Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 885 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, and in more than 795 international stores and over 259 licensed stores in 38 countries and jurisdictions. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, the company provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Toys"R"Us, Inc. is headquartered in Wayne, NJ, and has an annual workforce of approximately 62,000 employees worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Since 1992, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys"R"Us, Inc., has donated more than $125 million in grants to children's charities. For more information, visit Toysrusinc.com or follow @ToysRUsNews on Twitter. Follow Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus and Facebook.com/Babiesrus and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus. SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc. Related Links http://www.toysrus.com SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Chiropractic Association (CCA) will host chiropractic students on January 24, 2017 at the California State Capitol for CCA's inaugural "ChiroCon." The one-day summit is focused on connecting future doctors of chiropractic to the legislative process. "With healthcare at the forefront of everyone's minds, it's important that we create an opportunity for the future of chiropractic to be introduced to our lawmakers and the governing process," says CCA Board President, Dr. Leslie Hewitt. Students from the three California chiropractic colleges Life West, Palmer West and Southern California University of Health Sciences - will convene at the Capitol to meet with lawmakers and also to provide their perspective on the importance of chiropractic in health care. With more than 14,000 licensed California chiropractors and approximately 1,500 students currently studying chiropractic in California; the profession is evolving to meet the demands of people seeking effective, drug-free pain management, a key benefit especially when the opioid epidemic continues to climb. The media is invited to attend and meet with students at any point during the day. The schedule is as follows: Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Location: Citizen Hotel, 7th Floor, Metropolitan Terrace, Sacramento, CA Morning Session: 10:00am -1:00pm Afternoon With Legislators: 1:30pm 3:00pm at the California State Capitol About California Chiropractic Association: Established in1928, the California Chiropractic Association (CCA) is a nonprofit organization that supports thousands of chiropractors and students across California. For more information about CCA, visit www.calchiro.org or call 916-648-2727. SOURCE California Chiropractic Association Related Links http://www.calchiro.org PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Workspace Property Trust (WPT) welcomes industry expert, Tony Nichols, to their executive team as Senior Vice President. Nichols brings with him years of fundamental knowledge in asset management, development and leasing. He joins Workspace Property Trust from Liberty Property Trust where he held the position of Vice President & Market Officer for suburban Philadelphia. "We are extremely fortunate to have Tony become a senior member of our team," said Roger Thomas, WPT President and COO. "Tony has decades of knowledge and experience in the commercial real estate industry in general, and with much of our portfolio in particular. He is a well-respected executive throughout our industry, with an esteemed record of success, and is the perfect complement to our team of progressive professionals. Tom Rizk and I are extremely excited to have Tony join us." Nichols' professional footprint includes prominent positions and groundbreaking involvements within the industry. From 1989-1996, he was Vice President of Marketing and Property Management for the Nichols Company, a private commercial real estate developer. Nichols played an instrumental role in the Nichols Company before and during its merger with Brandywine Realty Trust in 1996. Nichols has 19 years of NYSE publicly traded REIT experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from East Carolina University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. An active member in the Philadelphia CRE community, he is both a former president of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) and a past member of NAIOP's National Board of Directors. In 2016, Workspace Property Trust acquired 108 office and flex buildings, plus 26.7 acres of land in PA, MN, FL, MN and AZ in a $969 million-dollar deal with Liberty Property Trust. This deal added to their preexisting 2.3 million square-feet, 41 building portfolio in Horsham, PA; bringing their total to 149 buildings and 10 million square-feet of office and office-flex properties throughout the United States. The acquisition has put Workspace Property Trust at the forefront of suburban commercial real estate and positioned the company as a leading suburban landlord. For more information, contact Diana Vilares at [email protected] or call 215.328.2746. About Workspace Property Trust Workspace Property Trust owns and operates 149 buildings consisting of approximately 10 million square feet of office and office-flex properties in the United States. Founded and led by Thomas A. Rizk and Roger W. Thomas, Workspace Property Trust is a privately held, vertically integrated, full-service commercial real estate company specializing in the development, management, and operation of office and flex space in large metropolitan suburbs. Workspace Property Trust is a partnership among Rizk Ventures, Safanad, Square Mile Capital, Forum Partners, JMP Group, and EverWatch Capital. www.workspaceproperty.com Contact: Diana Vilares, Marketing Director [email protected] SOURCE Workspace Property Trust Related Links http://www.workspaceproperty.com HOBOKEN, N.J., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Context Summits, the preeminent producer of investment summits for the alternative asset management industry, is kicking off Context Summits Miami 2017 with a fireside chat featuring Edward O. Thorp, a pioneer in quantitative investing and author of "A Man for all Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market." Taking place Feb. 1-3 at The Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, Context Summits Miami 2017 will convene more than 2,000 qualified allocators and managers for more than two days of highly targeted and productive one-on-one meetings. In total, managers, institutional allocators and family offices representing over $3.1 trillion in cumulative assets under management are registered to attend Miami 2017. On Feb. 1, the evening before the meetings begin, Context Summits will host a "Fireside Chat with Edward O. Thorp," where "the first true quant manager" will offer personal experiences and insights from his decades as an innovative mathematician and pioneer in developing new quantitative-analysis techniques. Putting these techniques to the test, Thorp outsmarted dealers from Las Vegas to Wall Street and ushered in a revolution in the world of finance. Context Capital Partners' chief executive officer Ron Biscardi and its chief investment officer John Culbertson will moderate the fireside chat with Thorp, followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing. "Thorp is an industry pioneer and visionary in the fast-growing world of quantitative trading," said Mark Salameh, co-founder and chief executive officer of Context Summits. "We expect his participation to diversify and expand our proven format, which both entertains and educates our attendees with insights from the father of the quant revolution." To learn more about the line-up at Context Summits Miami 2017, please visit https://www.contextsummits.com/miami. Context Summits hosts five events a year around the world. Following Miami 2017, Context Summits will host the inaugural Context Summits Europe 2017, scheduled for May 7-9 at the Hotel W Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. About Context Summits As the preeminent producer of events for the alternative asset management industry, Context Summits focuses on elevating the conference experience through an innovative format and structure where relationship building leads to unmatched results. A pioneer of the one-on-one 'summit' format, Context Summits utilizes an innovative approach to deliver effective and transparent networking events that elevate the conference experience for managers, allocators and investors. Through its systematic approach, Context Summits is able to attract high quality attendees, making meetings efficient and productive. For more details, please visit: http://www.contextsummits.com. About Context Capital Partners Context Capital Partners, LP is an alternative specialist company that allocates its capital to talented investment managers and whose subsidiaries offer a diverse range of investment strategies, including hedge funds, liquid alternative mutual funds, and private equity funds. Through its unique approach to evaluating and overseeing highly-differentiated and specialized funds, Context seeks to identify opportunities in both liquid and illiquid markets and serves as a full financial and operational partner for its subsidiaries. Since inception, Context led seed deals totaling more than $400 million in aggregate. The firm's subsidiary businesses include Context Asset Management, Context Summits, Context BH Capital Management, Context Liberty Bell, Context Jensen Partners, and Context Business Credit. Context Capital Partners is headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, PA. For more information about Context Capital Partners, visit www.contextcp.com. Contact: Nick Rust 212.279.3115 ext. 252 [email protected] SOURCE Context Summits Related Links https://www.contextsummits.com "'Think Next. Now.' represents CSRA's ongoing commitment to the future - to deliver imaginative ideas and flawless execution that are vital to the safety, security, health and well-being of the nation," said CSRA CEO Larry Prior. "CSRA's mission is to make America stronger through bigger ideas and better delivery. 'Think Next. Now.' imagines a better future and delivers it today for our customers, our partners, and, ultimately, all of the people our mission touches." CSRA also unveiled a redesigned website, www.csra.com, aligned with the new brand and featuring expanded content on CSRA's solutions. The website has more robust information on its expertise in cybersecurity, data & analytics, digital platforms, digital services, enterprise business services, and intelligent business process services, and on its main service areas: civil, defense, health, homeland security and intelligence. CSRA develops relationships with companies that complement and enhance its broad range of information technology services and solutions; as a result the website highlights CSRA's Strategic Alliance Partners: Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and ServiceNow. A new blog called Thinking Next showcases articles on a variety of technical and industry topics from CSRA's thought leaders. The site also provides a self-service library of collateral and information on CSRA's various offerings. The new brand introduces a bold visual identify which reflects CSRA's innovative spirit and continuing commitment to delivering tomorrow's thinking, today. It also conveys CSRA's energetic approach to attracting and cultivating top talent and building brilliant teams that power ingenious ideas for our customers' missions. Learn more about CSRA at www.csra.com. About CSRA Inc. CSRA (NYSE: CSRA) solves our nation's hardest mission problems as a bridge from mission and enterprise IT to Next Gen, from government to technology partners, and from agency to agency. CSRA is tomorrow's thinking, today. For our customers, our partners, and ultimately, all the people our mission touches, CSRA is realizing the promise of technology to change the world through next-generation thinking and meaningful results. CSRA is driving towards achieving sustainable, industry-leading organic growth across federal and state/local markets through customer intimacy, rapid innovation and outcome-based experience. CSRA has over 18,000 employees and is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. To learn more about CSRA, visit www.csra.com. Think Next. Now. Forward-looking Statements All statements in this press release and in all future press releases that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements represent CSRA's intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, including statements about network and asset protection and improving mission-critical functions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of CSRA. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements. For a written description of these factors, see the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in CSRA's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updating information in subsequent SEC filings. CSRA disclaims any intention or obligation to update these forward-looking statements whether as a result of subsequent event or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE CSRA Inc. Related Links http://www.sra.com ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CompetitorPro, the first competitive intelligence software built specifically for auto dealerships, announced today exclusive territory protection for the first 200 dealers who visit Booth 5607 at the NADA Convention & Expo next week and subscribe. "Until now, dealers haven't had a product like CompetitorPro that provides accurate and real-time benchmarks comparing their performance to top competitors, including inventory, sales, pricing, web metrics, and advertising," said Founder and CEO Steve Greenfield. "We want the first 200 early adopter dealers who sign up with CompetitorPro at Booth 5607 at NADA '17 to enjoy unique and distinctive exclusivity over their top two competitors," he said. CompetitorPro analyzes competitive dealerships and shows subscribers: How their store is performing vs. specific, local competitors. Insights into which specific vehicles their competitors are stocking and selling that they are not. Which competitors are driving more (and higher quality) website traffic, and what they can do about it. The U.S. automotive landscape is very competitive: 2,500 dealerships have more than 10 same-brand competitors within a 20-mile radius. Except for very rural operators, most dealerships have many local competitors. They compete aggressively, whether with same-brand stores or with other make retailers. "Having clear visibility into competitors' metrics has always challenged dealers' success at benchmarking the performance of their stores against their main competition," Greenfield said. "Now CompetitorPro gives dealers actionable insights for outmaneuvering their competition." Dealers should drop by CompetitorPro's booth at NADA for a complimentary analysis that will reveal: New vehicle sales and inventory vs. specific local competitors Used vehicle sales and inventory vs. competitors Website traffic vs. competitors The first 200 visitors to Booth 5607 at NADA and who subscribe will block CompetitorPro from selling the product to two competitors of their choice. Visit www.CompetitorPro.com now for a demo. For more information, contact Steve Greenfield at (470) 223-0227. Media Contact: Jim Leman 847-840-0784 [email protected] SOURCE CompetitorPro Related Links http://www.competitorpro.com SINGAPORE, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Enrich, Malaysia Airlines' Frequent Flyer programme, in partnership with Kaligo Travel Solutions, the leading innovator in travel rewards technology, is rewarding its members with even more benefits this year with the launch of a new loyalty hotel platform. Powered by Kaligo's TravelEdge technology, the new platform enables Enrich members to redeem their miles for hotel stays. Enrich members can then book from over 100,000 hotels and resorts worldwide including major chains and boutique hotels in just a few simple steps. For more information about the platform, please visit www.malaysiaairlines.com. "Kaligo Travel Solutions is excited to partner with Malaysia Airlines to provide its Enrich members travel redemption options that are proven to increase customer engagement," said Kyle Armstrong, CEO of Kaligo. "Through our constantly evolving TravelEdge technology, we will continue to design valuable and delightful experiences for Enrich members." According to Malaysia Airlines' Head of Loyalty, Khairul Nisa Ismail, "We are excited to roll out hotel rewards for Enrich members, our first online hotel redemption offering with our partner Kaligo Travel Solutions. Enrich is constantly looking for ways to reward our loyal customers and as part our 30 years of frequent flyer programme celebration, members can look forward to bigger and better rewards in the year ahead. As our members matter to us, we're offering them more options to redeem their Miles. We are enabling them to turn their Miles into memorable hotel stays. Enrich members can also take advantage of Malaysia Airlines offers to plan for their vacation." The most celebrated loyalty programmes around the world turn to Kaligo's TravelEdge technology to accelerate revenue growth and delight customers. Across hotels, cars, cruises and activities, the TravelEdge accrual & redemption suite can be quickly integrated into a brand's web or mobile presence. Using the latest e-commerce design principles and a localized experience across 22 languages, the platform consistently achieves market-leading conversion rates for its partners. With no up-front integration costs and deployment timeframes averaging 4-8 weeks, TravelEdge has set the standard when it comes to risk-free commercials and speed-to-market. About Kaligo Travel Solutions Kaligo Travel Solutions is operated by Kaligo Pte Ltd., the global leader for innovative travel and loyalty technology. Established in Singapore in 2014 with offices across APAC, Europe and the Americas, Kaligo Travel Solutions enables 50+ of the world's leading loyalty programs to drive engagement through rewarding travel experiences. With core product lines and expertise in e-commerce, small business, financial services, white label accrual & redemption platforms and cutting-edge API solutions, Kaligo enables the world's leading loyalty programs to drive spend, engagement and retention. For more information about Kaligo Travel Solutions and the TravelEdge suite, please visit www.kaligosolutions.com or contact media relations at [email protected]. About Enrich Enrich, Malaysia Airlines Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) brings you a world of privileges and preferential treatment. Earn Enrich Miles when you fly with Malaysia Airlines, oneworld member airlines and Enrich partner airlines. Also earn Enrich Miles with your credit card spending, when you rent a car, shop, indulge in recreational activity with our lifestyle partners, and so much more. To sign up for Enrich, visit www.malaysiaairlines.com or download MHmobile app and start enjoying a world of benefits and privileges on Malaysia Airlines. Media contact: Cris Huang [email protected] +6591813240 SOURCE Kaligo Travel Solutions Related Links http://www.kaligosolutions.com SAO PAULO and GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Espacolaser ("Espacolaser"), Brazil's leader in laser hair removal, today announced a significant growth capital investment by L Catterton, the largest consumer-focused private equity firm in the world. The investment will be used to support and accelerate Espacolaser's continued growth in Brazil. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2002 by Dr. Ygor Moura in partnership with Tito Veiga Pinto and Paulo Iasz de Morais, Espacolaser strives to improve the quality of life of women and men that value health, beauty and wellness with the Alexandrite laser, the most sophisticated and effective hair removal technology available. Espacolaser is the largest laser hair removal company in Brazil, and currently has 130 company-owned and franchised locations across the country. In 2015, the Company partnered with Xuxa Meneghel and Jose Carlos Semenzato to further develop and grow its network of franchises. Espacolaser will continue to be led by Dr. Moura and Mr. Iasz de Morais, with Dr. Moura serving as CEO. "With the partnership of L Catterton, we are well-positioned to drive significant growth and enhance Espacolaser's industry leadership," said Dr. Moura. "L Catterton brings the expertise of a global consumer investor, combined with vast experience elevating strong brands with enormous appeal. Moreover, L Catterton has a deep understanding of our industry through its investment in Ideal Image, the largest laser hair removal company in North America. We are confident that together, we will unlock Espacolaser's untapped potential to bring our unique value proposition to more men and women across Brazil." Mr. lasz de Morais added, "L Catterton's unparalleled experience building leading consumer brands around the world and deep understanding of the consumer market makes them the ideal partner for Espacolaser. L Catterton supports our commitment to being the largest and best laser hair removal company in Brazil, and we know their financial and operational capabilities will be indispensable during our next phase of growth. With L Catterton, we look forward to expanding our footprint and diversifying our business as we continue our path of innovation in the Brazilian market." "Espacolaser has experienced rapid growth and today is the clear market leader in Brazil," said Julio Babecki, Partner, L Catterton Latin America. "With a loyal and growing customer base, high brand awareness, strong fundamentals and ample runway to expand in Brazil and beyond, Espacolaser's value proposition is unmatched. Ygor, Paulo and the entire management team have done an incredible job establishing a strong foothold in the market, and we look forward to working with them to build on their winning position." "We see a great opportunity in Espacolaser, which holds a strong position in a large, growing and highly underpenetrated market," said Farah Khan, Partner, L Catterton Latin America. "With locations in almost every state, Espacolaser has become the premier laser hair removal company in Brazil. Differentiated by its unique technology, effective service offerings and broad presence, we are confident Espacolaser will be another great success story in the attractive beauty and aesthetics category." Espacolaser is the third investment by the L Catterton Latin America fund ("LCLA II"). The fund has offices in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and New York and has made previous investments in Bodytech, a leading health and fitness player in Latin America, and Grupo St. Marche, one of the most innovative food retailers in Brazil. About Espacolaser Espacolaser was founded in 2002 by Ygor Moura, Tito Veiga Pinto and Paulo Iasz de Morais with the opening of a store in the Moema neighborhood of Sao Paulo. Currently, the company has 130 stores spread across the states of Sao Paulo, Parana and Brasilia, and it has also developed an important network of franchise stores across Brazil. Espacolaser's mission is to provide health and wellness through the use of the best technique for the removal of unwanted hairs in women and men. The Company utilizes the most sophisticated and effective technology available, the Alexandrite laser. The technology is also embedded with a cooling cryogen solution which makes the treatments quicker and more comfortable compared to other hair removal methods. Espacolaser has become the largest laser hair removal company in the country with over 1,000,000 treatments completed. About L Catterton L Catterton, formed in 2016 through the partnership of Catterton, LVMH and Groupe Arnault, is the largest consumer-focused private equity firm in the world, operating multiple funds out of seventeen offices across five continents. Since its founding in 1989, Catterton has leveraged its category insight, strategic and operating skills, and network of industry contacts to establish one of the strongest private equity investment track records in the middle market. L Catterton builds on this heritage and the strong track record of LVMH and Groupe Arnault's existing European and Asian private equity and real estate operations, conducted under the L Capital and L Real Estate franchises. L Catterton invests in all major consumer segments, including: Food and Beverage, Retail and Restaurants, Beauty and Wellness, Fashion and Accessories, Consumer Products and Services, Consumer Health, and Media and Marketing Services, as well as real estate projects anchored by luxury retail. L Catterton's investments include: Steiner Leisure, Groupo St. Marche, Bodytech, El Ganso, Hopdoddy, PIADA Italian Street Food, Mendocino Farms, CHOPT Creative Salad Company, Bruxie, Protein Bar, Snap Kitchen, Peloton, Restoration Hardware, CorePower Yoga, Sweaty Betty, Outback Steakhouse, Plum Organics, Noodles & Company, Vroom, Frederic Fekkai, PIRCH, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Wellness pet food, Nature's Variety pet food, Kettle Foods, Odwalla, P.F. Chang's, Ba&sh, Sandro & Maje, CellularLine, Vicini / Zanotti, Cigierre, Gant, Nutrition and Sante, Pepe Jeans & Hackett, 2XU, Charles & Keith, Marubi, Bateel, Sasseur, Emperor Watch and Jewelry, Miami Design District and G6 in Ginza - Tokyo, to name a few. More information about L Catterton can be found at www.lcatterton.com. Espacolaser Contacts: Clarissa Toscano Danthi Comunicacoes Tel: +55-11-3812-7393 L Catterton Contacts: Andi Rose / Andrew Squire / Julie Oakes Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 212-355-4449 SOURCE L Catterton; Espacolaser Related Links http://www.lcatterton.com LONDON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Evaporcool Solutions will present at CleanEquity Monaco 2017 on March 9th & 10th at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. CleanEquity is an annual invitation-only event hosted by Innovator Capital, the London based specialist investment bank. The conference provides an intimate and collegiate setting for inventors and entrepreneurs to share their stories with delegates - key decision makers looking to assist them with reaching their commercial and strategic goals. Other partners and sponsors include Prince Albert II of Monaco's Foundation, Covington & Burling, Cisco EIR, Cision, Cranfield University, Hobbs & Towne, the Monaco Economic Board, Parkview and the Social Stock Exchange. Evaporcool Solutions has been identified by an expert panel as one of the world's most innovative sustainable technology companies and has been selected to present to senior financial and strategic cleantech investors, policy makers, legislators, end users and media. Evaporcool Solutions ("Evaporcool") manufactures the Evaporcool System, a proprietary aftermarket HVAC retrofit that significantly improves the energy efficiency of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The company is based in Memphis, TN and was founded in 2004. The leading edge Evaporcool System attaches non-invasively to virtually any air-cooled HVAC unit, and using the principle of evaporative cooling, improves efficiency, reduces peak demand, and lowers maintenance costs. Evaporcool also provides a performance monitoring system, which enables real-time, cloud-based measurement and verification, controls, and fault detection and diagnostics. Ben Taube, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development will represent Evaporcool at CleanEquity Monaco. Evaporcool was selected in 2014 to implement the largest HVAC energy efficiency contract in history in Southern California which will reduce over 70 megawatts of grid energy usage. Ben Taube Evaporcool Solutions, LLC | Senior VP Corporate & Strategic Development Phone: 404.931.1518 [email protected] http://www.evaporcool.com About Innovator Capital Innovator Capital, established in 2003, is a specialist investment bank advising emerging technology companies on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. Its expertise includes intellectual property and multi national strategic partnering. www.cleanequitymonaco.com SOURCE Innovator Capital Related Links http://www.innovator-capital.com Phase II will be adjacent to Fox River Estates. Phase II will be identical to Fox River Estates; consisting of 48 units which will be comprised of 32 two bedroom/two bath units and 16 three bedroom/two bath units. Fox River Estates, the original phase, leased to 100% occupancy within six weeks of construction completion. By intentional design, the 1,760 square foot Community Building is a place to engage and foster a neighborhood feeling within this planned community. A kitchenette, along with meeting room space and computer stations will be the invitation to provide a gathering place for residents; the imagination may be the only limit to the possibilities. Board games, crafting night, quilting, charades, homework, studying for career advancement, finance understanding, or simply a place for anyone seeking interaction with another human outside of their core family unit would find this space comforting. This building will also provide a neutral environment for tutoring. Those parents that lead by example may even choose to plan their exercise workout in conjunction with a tutoring session showing support by choosing to be with them but not interfere with their learning, and not a means to 'get them out of the house'. This 'neutral zone' may also provide a quiet environment for a parent; reading a book while doing laundry or letting a child exert energy on the playground, just beyond the door, but within plain site. The 48-unit community will consist of 32 two-bedroom/two-bath apartments and 16 three-bedroom/two-bath duplexes. All apartments will be furnished with a washer/dryer hook-up, ceiling fans and Energy Star rated appliances. The Community Building will include Community/Gathering Spaces (indoor and outdoor), kitchen, exercise area, Computer Work room and Library/Activity room for use by the parents and their children. About Four Corners Development, LLC Four Corners Development, L.L.C. brings together a partnership of four individuals who have been very active in the real estate market and presents a capable, well-rounded team that is focused on serving the housing needs of seniors and low to moderate income working families. We identify communities with a strong need for housing and work together with community leaders to provide not only housing solutions to meet the city's needs, but also jobs to the local economy. Our philosophy focuses on building efficient and sustainable quality housing with useful amenities, which in turn, provide a foundation for strong communities. Four Corners Development, L.L.C. encourages the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses. Visit www.4cornersdevelopmentllc.com for more information. Contact: Ryan Hamilton, Presiding Manager Company: Four Corners Development, LLC Tel: 417-883-7887 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Four Corners Development, LLC Related Links http://www.4cornersdevelopmentllc.com TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What's a parathyroid? This tiny gland can cause big problems Are you feeling tired? Depressed? Suffering from joint pain? The symptoms may seem hard to pin down, but they can give you a general sense of feeling "unwell" all over and they may all be caused by a tumor in a tiny gland about the size of a grain of rice. Many people have never heard of the parathyroid glands, but they regulate your body's calcium levels, and thus affect your entire body. A short 15-minute surgery can make patients feel dramatically better within a day, as this Tampa dentist learned when she had her tumor removed. AVAILABLE: Interview with surgeon Dr. Jim Norman MORE INFO: https://www.tgh.org/news/tgh-news/whats-parathyroid-tiny-gland-can-cause-big-problems or http://bit.ly/tghparathyroid Clearing the smoke on medical marijuana Now that Florida's new medical marijuana law has gone into effectwhat do you know about how medical marijuana works? Are doctors giving patients a green light to fire up a joint and get high? How effective is medical marijuana for the additional conditions under the new law, and is it any better than FDA-approved drugs? We have an expert who can clear up some of the medical myths surrounding this controversial drug. AVAILABLE: Interview with Dr. Selim Benbadis, a neurologist and epilepsy specialist MORE INFO: https://www.tgh.org/news/tgh-news/clearing-smoke-medical-marijuana Lower your blood pressure, boost your health Almost 900 million people around the world suffer from high blood pressure, says a new international analysis released this month. In the U.S. that's 75 million people roughly 1 in 3 adults. With this "silent killer" putting more people at risk for heart disease and stroke, doctors are weighing the benefits of more aggressive treatment. After this Inverness woman nearly died from a stroke, she changed her lifestyle to lower her blood pressure. AVAILABLE: Interview with Dr. Karna Patel, a primary care physician with the Tampa General Medical Group MORE INFO: https://www.tgh.org/news/tgh-news/lower-your-blood-pressure-boost-your-health For more information or to interview our experts on these or other stories, contact Ellen Fiss, [email protected] or (813) 844-6397. Looking for health story ideas? Check out TGH Health News at www.tgh.org/news or sign up for our e-newsletter here. SOURCE Tampa General Hospital Related Links http://www.tgh.org MIAMI, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The internationally significant Jay I. Kislak Foundation collection will now have two permanent homes in South Florida in the Special Collections Division of the University of Miami's Otto G. Richter Library, in Coral Gables, and at Miami Dade College's Freedom Tower, in downtown Miami. Assembled over the course of many decades, the Kislak collection includes some of the most important original source materials related to the history of the early Americas, such as two of the earliest published editions of the famous 1493 letter of Christopher Columbus. The Jay I. Kislak Foundation, University of Miami (UM) and Miami Dade College (MDC) jointly announced the landmark donation of rare books, maps, manuscripts and other historic materials. Jay Kislak, prominent collector, philanthropist and Miami resident for more than 60 years, has been a lifelong collector of rare books and historic artifacts focused particularly on Florida and the Caribbean, exploration, navigation and the early Americas. In 2004, he and the Jay I. Kislak Foundation donated more than 3,000 rare books, maps, manuscripts and objects to the Library of Congress, whose Kislak Collection now forms the basis of a major exhibition and extensive scholarly and public programs in Washington, D.C. In UM and MDC, Kislak identified two local partners with the ability and desire to create similarly extensive educational and cultural programming in South Florida. The Kislak-MDC-UM partnership will encompass exhibitions, research, education and public outreach, all designed to serve MDC and UM students and faculty, residents of the local community, and a global scholarly network engaged in the study of Florida, early American history, and the cultures of the Caribbean and Latin America. Through an operating agreement, MDC and UM will collaborate on exhibits, collections care, and events and activities open to the public. "I think this is an ideal partnership. We have the opportunity to combine the special resources of each institution and create exhibitions and programs that will be enjoyed by Miami-Dade residents and the millions of people who visit here from all over the world," said Kislak. "Miami Dade College is the largest and most diverse institution of higher education in the country, and is central to the educational, social, cultural and economic life of our community. Under the leadership of Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, Miami Dade has emerged as a globally recognized institution," he said. "The University of Miami is among the nation's top 50 research institutions, with a library that draws scholars from around the world. With the recent inauguration of Dr. Julio Frenk, this is an ideal time to establish the permanent repository in South Florida to conserve our collections and make them available to scholars and students for generations to come," Kislak added. The Kislak gift, representing a combined valuation of approximately $30 million, includes more than 2,300 rare books, maps, manuscripts, pre-Columbian artifacts and other historic materials. UM and MDC will each receive a selection of important items. Each institution will receive a first edition of the famous 1493 letter of Christopher Columbus, in which the explorer described his New World discoveries to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Other Kislak gift highlights include: A 1486 edition of Ptolemy's Cosmographia , among the most influential works in the history of cartography. A copy of this atlas was known to have been owned by Columbus. , among the most influential works in the history of cartography. A copy of this atlas was known to have been owned by Columbus. A 1521 volume describing Cuba , by Italian historian Peter Martyr d'Anghiera, who wrote the first accounts of Spanish explorations in the Caribbean and Central and South America . , by Italian historian d'Anghiera, who wrote the first accounts of Spanish explorations in the and Central and . A 1589 volume, The Principal Navigations, Voiages and Discoveries of the English Nation, by English writer Richard Hakluyt, who was known for promoting the British colonization of North America . by English writer Richard Hakluyt, who was known for promoting the British colonization of . A two-volume account of the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase. The University of Miami's share of the Kislak materials will become part of the Richter Library's Special Collections Division, enhancing a collection highly regarded for its holdings of rare books and archives related to the cultural and political history of South Florida, the Caribbean Basin and South America, as well as its Cuban Heritage Collection of materials related to Cuba and the Cuban diaspora from colonial times to the present. The university is currently renovating its special collections center, which will be renamed the Kislak Center, envisioned as a hub of expanded educational and cultural programming, with lectures, fellowships, undergraduate and graduate courses utilizing the collection resources, and a new exhibit gallery featuring a broad range of materials from the Kislak collection. "We are grateful to Jay Kislak for his extraordinary vision and lifelong devotion to creating a scholarly and culturally significant collection that showcases the rich history of Florida and the Caribbean," said UM President Julio Frenk. "Our Special Collections will be home to these unique and exceptionally important materials from the Kislak Collection, and working with our partners at Miami Dade College, the University of Miami will have an unparalleled opportunity to engage our community in the history and culture of our hemisphere." Miami Dade College plans to create a permanent 2,600-square-foot public exhibition gallery in the Freedom Tower. The exhibit space will be located in the building's main public area, adjacent to its ballroom and historic New World Mural, which celebrates Ponce de Leon's 1513 discovery and naming of Florida. "We are honored and privileged to receive such a significant gift and to work with such great partners. In a community as diverse as ours, we feel the responsibility to embrace and share the arts, culture and history with our students, faculty and residents," said MDC's President, Dr. Eduardo J. Padron. The two Miami institutions also expect to collaborate with the Library of Congress in studying and promoting all Kislak collections and making them accessible to audiences throughout Florida and the region. "For 500 years, Florida has been a focal point of global exploration and cultural exchange," Kislak said. "I'm thrilled that Miami's top two institutions of higher education, along with the Library of Congress, will now be using our collections to reveal the fascinating and important role of our community in world history." About University of Miami A private research university with nearly 17,000 students from around the world, the University of Miami is a vibrant and diverse academic community focused on teaching and learning, the discovery of new knowledge, and service to the South Florida region and beyond. The University comprises 11 schools and colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. Established in 1925 during the region's famous real estate boom, UM is a major research university engaged in $324 million in research and sponsored program expenditures annually. SOURCE University of Miami DUBLIN, Jan 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Iran Smart Grid: Market Forecast (2016-2026)" report to their offering. The end of Iranian sanctions from the European Union is corresponding with the conclusion of the first phases of smart meter pilot demonstration projects. Combined, these two factors will lead Iran to follow through with a long-planned smart metering program. The national program will follow initial deployments with a nationwide rollout. Even if the program's ambitious goals are not met, it will still create one of the largest smart meter markets in the region. Apart from the country's national smart metering program, there are several other drivers contributing to the expansion of Iran's smart meter market. Iran is emerging from exclusion from international markets and will be the recipient of increased foreign investment over the coming years, boosting the economy. Subsidized electricity prices are expected to rise as a result of subsidy reform policies. Meanwhile, transmission and distribution (T&D) losses are high, a key motive for the national smart metering program. Along with the policy and business drivers, there are inherent risks involved in the Iranian smart meter market, stemming mostly from potential instability, both economic and political. Relations between Iran and the West have improved, but US sanctions continue and the threat of future economic sanctions remains. Newly opened for European investment, access to Iran's smart meter market is, for the time being, still unavailable to US vendors. Key questions answered in this study: - How will Iran's recent re-entry into the global marketplace affect its smart grid markets? - How large will the smart metering market in Iran be over the next ten years? - How is Iran's power industry prepared to implement the national smart metering program? - Which vendors are already active in Iran and which are eying investment in the near future? Key Topics Covered: 1. Iran power sector industry structure 2. Regulatory framework 3. Drivers and barriers 4. Market forecast 5. Smart grid activity 6. Vendor Activity 7. Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/82c95c/iran_smart_grid Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] 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 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) recently received the school's highest ranking in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding since the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research began its annual ranking of medical schools in 2006. The rankings represent total NIH funding granted from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. Keck School of Medicine of USC received more than $140.8 million in NIH grants during this time. In addition to overall funding to medical schools, the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings also break down funding by academic discipline. The USC Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC both ranked No. 2 nationally among the nation's ophthalmology and preventive medicine departments receiving NIH funds. Overall, seven Keck School of Medicine of USC departments ranked within the top-20 NIH-funded in their respective departments: Department Ranking Total NIH Funding Ophthalmology 2 $12,347,629 Preventive Medicine 2 $33,223,457 Otolaryngology 11 $2,943,382 Microbiology 17 $12,570,057 Neurology 18 $10,803,331 Urology 18 $1,111,928 Physiology 20 $6,896,225 "Keck School of Medicine's current positioning represents the most impressive ranking of NIH funding the school has received to date," said Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, dean of the Keck School of Medicine and director of the USC Roski Eye Institute. "Our strong performance and rise in rankings reflect the ground-breaking work of our world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff and committed researchers, including the addition of 19 new principal investigators in the last year." The Keck School of Medicine of USC also ranked No. 1 in NIH funds received per principal investigator. A total of 158 principal investigators received an average of more than $891,000, securing the school's place in that top spot. "The Keck School of Medicine of USC No. 1 ranking in NIH funds received per principal investigator demonstrates the strength of researchers that we attract at the Keck School," said Thomas A. Buchanan, MD, vice dean for research, Keck School of Medicine. "These competitive grants allow us to further innovate and support our mission to improve the quality of life for individuals and society by promoting health, preventing and curing disease, advancing biomedical research and educating tomorrow's physicians and scientists." Several large grants contributed to the Keck School's increase in NIH funding, including the renewal of the Clinical & Translational Science Award and several significant new grants in the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and the departments of preventive medicine, neurology, medicine and pathology. The full 2016 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research NIH rankings can be found at www.brimr.org. ABOUT THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USC Founded in 1885, the Keck School of Medicine of USC is among the nation's leaders in innovative patient care, scientific discovery, education, and community service. It is part of Keck Medicine of USC, the University of Southern California's medical enterprise, one of only two university-owned academic medical centers in the Los Angeles area. This includes the Keck Medical Center of USC, composed of the Keck Hospital of USC and the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. The two world-class, USC-owned hospitals are staffed by more than 500 physicians who are faculty at the Keck School. The school today has more than 1,500 full-time faculty members and voluntary faculty of more than 2,400 physicians. These faculty direct the education of approximately 700 medical students and 1,000 students pursuing graduate and post-graduate degrees. The school trains more than 900 resident physicians in more than 50 specialty or subspecialty programs and is the largest educator of physicians practicing in Southern California. Together, the school's faculty and residents serve more than 1.5 million patients each year at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, as well as USC-affiliated hospitals Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Keck School faculty also conduct research and teach at several research centers and institutes, including the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at USC, the USC Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute, the USC Roski Eye Institute and the USC Institute of Urology. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Keck School of Medicine among the Top 40 medical schools in the country. For more information, go to keck.usc.edu. SOURCE Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Related Links http://www.keck.usc.edu WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Kevin J. Wolf, a former senior U.S. Department of Commerce official who served for the past seven years as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, has joined Akin Gump as a partner in its international trade practice in Washington, D.C., the firm announced today. He is accompanied by Steve Emme, who served for five years as Senior Advisor to Assistant Secretary Wolf. In his role as Assistant Secretary, Mr. Wolf was the senior official overseeing the regulation of export controls and the intersection of technology and national security issues. He brings to Akin Gump substantial experiencegained during his tenure in public service as well as nearly two decades spent in private practicein the laws, regulations, policies and international arrangements surrounding U.S. export controls. Working closely with his colleagues at the Departments of Defense and State and the National Security Council, Mr. Wolf was a central strategist, negotiator and implementer of the President's Export Control Reform (ECR) Initiative, the unique and unprecedented effort to overhaul the U.S. government's export control system. He also served as the primary Commerce Department senior official responsible for working with the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Mr. Wolf is the latest top-tier practitioner to join Akin Gump's global international trade practice, which also saw the recent arrival of EU trade partner Jasper Helder to the firm's London office. "Building on Jasper Helder's arrival to our London office last November, Kevin represents another tremendous addition to our market-leading international trade team," stated Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. "A great many of our clients are affected by U.S. export controls and sanctions rules, and it's hard to overstate the benefit of having someone of the caliber of Kevin, who wrote the book on U.S. export control regulations, available to advise them. His arrival to our trade team further cements our ability to provide services to clients around the world, and I'm delighted to welcome him to Akin Gump." Added Akin Gump international trade head Tom McCarthy, "What Kevin achieved in the field of export controls while serving as Assistant Secretary is truly remarkable: He took an area of law greatly in need of reform and led its transformation into the dynamic regime that exists today. He also brings a truly global outlook, having cultivated substantial experience working with businesses and organizations with operations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The opportunity to welcome someone with that track record and depth of knowledge to our team was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I couldn't be more excited that he is joining us." In addition to his efforts with the ECR Initiative, during his tenure at the Department of Commerce, Mr. Wolf was responsible for, among other things: administering a licensing system that processes nearly 40,000 license applications and other submissions a year; resolving an array of disputes with other government agencies and exporters; working with law enforcement officials on investigations and enforcement matters and policy; setting licensing and other policies covering an array of countries, end users and end uses; and working with industry representatives and foreign governments on various U.S. and multilateral policy, regulatory and enforcement issues. Mr. Wolf also brings considerable policy experience to the firm, having spent significant time informing and educating members of Congress on crucial issues and working to ensure the passage of laws affecting sectors that have substantial export controls provisions. "Following my seven years in public service, Akin Gump represents an ideal fit for my return to private practice," stated Mr. Wolf. "It has not only a client base that spans the globe and includes many of the industries most heavily affected by U.S. export control laws, but also a renowned reputation for its government-facing practices and one of the broadest and most expansive international trade platforms of any major global law firm. I am thrilled to join such a top-tier team and look forward to putting my skills and background to work on behalf of Akin Gump's clients." Mr. Wolf's practice will include advising clients around the world on international trade regulatory and related matters involving primarily the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regulations and process. About Kevin J. Wolf Kevin J. Wolf is a highly regarded practitioner focused on the laws, regulations, policies and international arrangements pertaining to national security, foreign policy and other controls over the export, reexport and transfer of military, dual-use and other commodities, technologies, software and services to various destinations, end uses and end users. Working closely with his colleagues at the departments of Defense and State and the National Security Council, Mr. Wolf was a central strategist, negotiator and implementer of the President's Export Control Reform (ECR) Initiative, the unique and unprecedented effort to overhaul the U.S. government's export control system. He consulted with domestic and international industry groups, trade associations and technical advisory committees to assess the impact of export controls and sanctions on industry and explore how the regulations could be improved. In addition, he led the communication efforts involved in rolling out and implementing the new system, which included outreach to U.S. and foreign companies, foreign governments and other U.S. government departments and agencies. As part of his position, he was also responsible for coordination with OFAC on export regulations and licensing policies pertaining to the countries subject to economic sanctions, principally Russia, Iran and Cuba. Prior to his tenure at the Department of Commerce, Mr. Wolf was a partner with another large law firm. There, he focused on an array of international trade law issues, including those pertaining to international sanctions and the FCPA. In addition to routinely conducting internal investigations, audits and due diligence investigations pertaining to export control and sanctions issues, Mr. Wolf also handled high-profile, multiyear white collar corporate and civil defense matters pertaining to export control, sanctions and other areas. Mr. Wolf is a prolific speaker on the topic of export control reform, having given hundreds of speeches and presentations on the effort and related export control and sanctions issues. Mr. Wolf received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1992, his M.A. in public affairs from the University of Minnesota in 1992 and his B.A. in economics and political science, with honors, from the University of Missouri in 1988. About Akin Gump's International Trade Practice and Regulatory Work Akin Gump's international trade practice offers an array of services designed to optimize clients' ability to engage in the cost-efficient and timely exchange of goods and services across borders, in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The firm's lawyers and advisors assist clients with issues before the World Trade Organization; the EU Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union; the EU Directorate General for Trade; EU member states' national customs, export controls, sanctions and foreign trade administrations, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; the International Trade Commission; the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce and Justice and affiliated agencies such as the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Bureau for Industry and Security; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the World Bank and other multinational development banks; the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies and offices that deal with international trade regulation. The firm's broader regulatory section has more than 100 professionals covering antitrust, communications, cyber security, financial services, environmental, government procurement, health care, international trade, privacy and transportation issues. Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. SOURCE Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP CINCINNATI, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that its family of stores is hiring to fill an estimated 10,000 permanent positions in its supermarket divisions. The company also announced that its total active workforce grew by more than 12,000 associates in 2016. Over the last eight years, Kroger has created more than 86,000 permanent, new jobs. These figures do not include jobs created as a result of capital investment, such as temporary construction jobs, nor do they include increases due to the company's mergers. Kroger and its subsidiaries today employ more than 443,000 associates. "Kroger's growth trajectory continues to create opportunities for our people to advance their careers and to do that in a fun, team environment with great benefits," said Tim Massa, Kroger's group vice president of human resources and labor relations. "We're looking for associates who are passionate about people and about food, and who want to make a difference for our customers, communities and each other." "Kroger is a place where you can come for a job and stay for a career," he added, noting that about 70 percent of Kroger's store managers started as part-time clerks. Kroger also hired more than 9,000 veterans in 2016, and has hired more than 44,000 veterans since 2009 as part of its commitment to active duty troops and the nation's 23 million veterans through "Honoring Our Heroes," a multi-faceted program the company designed to show the company's deep gratitude to military service men and women and their families. In addition, Kroger is proud to have helped the "100,000 Jobs Mission" surpass its original goal in January 2014, seven years early. The "100,000 Jobs Mission" is a coalition of more than 130 companies with the common goal of hiring more than 100,000 transitioning service members and military veterans by 2020. Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 443,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,796 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service in addition to 2,253 pharmacies, 787 convenience stores, 324 fine jewelry stores, 1,439 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable. SOURCE The Kroger Co. Related Links http://www.kroger.com VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Who: The Wine and Food Society of Clark County, (WFSCC). Clark College President Robert Knight gets dressed for scholarship fundraiser Jan. 28 in honor of Scottish poet Robert Burns. What: Robert Burns birthday fundraiser (Burns was born Jan. 25, 1759). This celebration of Scottish culture includes a welcome cocktail, full dinner including beer and wine and a Scotch toast. No host bar available. The event includes live and silent auction items, a dessert dash, and the traditional Bag-piping in of the Haggis by the Fort Vancouver Pipe Band. Proceeds will be divided between the Clark College Foundation and the Wood and Wine Society scholarship fund. Where: Clark College at Columbia Tech Center 18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, Washington. When & How: 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, individual tickets are $75; tables of 8, $550. Seating is limited, advance purchases recommended: www.wfscc.org. "In keeping with a long tradition, we are doing a Robert Burns birthday scholarship fundraiser. I am proud to honor my Scottish heritage through this event. On this night, everyone is Scottish," say Clark College President Robert B. Knight. For tickets and more information: www.wfscc.org. About the Wine and Food Society of Clark County WFSCC was started in 2006 to gather together people who shared a common joy in discovering great wines paired with culinary foods while raising much needed funds for the advancement of the food and wine education and research in SW Washington. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit the Wine and Food Society of Clark County is committed to raising funds and supporting an on-going scholarship and grant foundation. PRESS CONTACTS: Brian F. Cleys, 360-907-1702, [email protected] or Russell Brent, 503-312-1704, [email protected]. SOURCE Wine & Food Society of Clark County Related Links http://www.wfscc.org MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. or MAA (NYSE: MAA) today announces the taxable composition of Post Properties, Inc. 2016 distributions paid to shareholders. The company does not expect any portion of the 2016 distributions paid to shareholders to represent a return of capital. The company did not incur any foreign taxes. The composition presented is applicable to all dividend distributions during 2016. The classifications for 2016 are as follows: Common Stock (PPS) (CUSIP 737464107) Record Date Payable Date Cash Distribution Per Share Ordinary Taxable Distribution Long Term Capital Gain Unrecaptured Sec. 1250 Gain AMT Adjustment 1/04/2016 1/15/2016 $0.4400 59.94554% 29.97520% 10.07926% 4.39553% 3/31/2016 4/15/2016 $0.4700 59.94554% 29.97520% 10.07926% 4.39553% 6/30/2016 7/15/2016 $0.4700 59.94554% 29.97520% 10.07926% 4.39553% 9/30/2016 10/14/2016 $0.4700 59.94554% 29.97520% 10.07926% 4.39553% 8.5% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred (PPS-PA) (CUSIP 737464206) Record Date Payable Date Cash Distribution Per Share Ordinary Taxable Distribution Long Term Capital Gain Unrecaptured Sec. 1250 Gain AMT Adjustment 3/15/2016 3/31/2016 $1.0625 59.94554% 29.97520% 10.07926% 4.39553% 6/15/2016 6/30/2016 $1.0625 59.94554% 29.97520% 10.07926% 4.39553% 9/20/2016 9/30/2016 $1.0625 59.94554% 29.97520% 10.07926% 4.39553% Alternative Minimum Tax Adjustment the company has apportioned certain 2016 alternative minimum tax adjustments to its shareholders. Each shareholder's portion of these positive alternative minimum tax adjustments can be determined by multiplying the shareholder's distributions by the respective AMT Adjustment percentages listed above. Individual taxpayers should refer to Internal Revenue Service Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax Individuals. Corporate taxpayers should refer to Internal Revenue Service Form 4626, Alternative Minimum Tax Corporations. This release is based on the preliminary work the company has performed on its filings and is subject to correction or adjustment based on the completion of those filings. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of these Post Properties, Inc. distributions. The company is releasing information at this time to aid those required to distribute 1099s on the company's dividends. No material change in the taxable composition is expected. On December 1, 2016 MAA and Post Properties completed the merger of the two companies, forming a combined company. The transaction was previously approved by both companies' shareholders at their respective meetings held on November 10, 2016. The combined company, headquartered in Memphis, TN, retains the MAA name and trades under the existing ticker symbol MAA on the New York Stock Exchange. About MAA MAA, an S&P 500 company, is a real estate investment trust focused on delivering full-cycle and superior investment performance for shareholders through the ownership, management, acquisition, development and redevelopment of quality apartment communities throughout the United States. As of December 1, 2016, MAA had ownership interest in 101,207 apartment units, including communities currently in development, across 17 states and the District of Columbia. For further details, please visit the MAA website at www.maac.com or contact Investor Relations at [email protected]. Certain matters in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include those made about the expectation that the company will have no material change in taxable composition of its 2016 distributions. The expectation is based on preliminary work the company has performed on its year end filings and on information currently available. Unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those on which these calculations were based. Reference is hereby made to the filings of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K, and its annual report on Form 10-K, particularly including the risk factors contained in the latter filing. SOURCE Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. Related Links http://www.maac.com Subhi has more than 20 years of experience in Canada and internationally, and is known in the industry as an expert in sustainable, Net Zero, resilient buildings, and as a driver of innovation in technology adoption, marketing strategy and finance models. "Throughout his career, Subhi has focused on building strong business cases for change, and finding innovative ways of introducing and 'de-risking' new methods and technologies," says Peter Gilgan, Founder & CEO of Mattamy Homes. "His extensive technical and business skills and varied background will serve Mattamy well as we embark on an exciting journey to position ourselves as an innovator and industry leader in sustainable development." Most recently Subhi was the Innovation Manager with Tridel Corporation, one of the largest high-rise residential real estate groups in Canada. He was also the Director of Projects with Tower Labs @ MaRS, Tridel's non-profit for accelerating the adoption of green-building technologies and practices, where he initiated and led pilot and demonstration projects in high-rise buildings. Subhi also co-founded netZED, net zero energy dwelling, the first branded net zero energy concept in high-rise living. Before Tridel, Subhi held a variety of roles with engineering and construction firms in Canada and internationally. Subhi is a Professional Engineer, LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified Energy Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Jordan and an MBA from the Ivey Business School. "I am excited to join Mattamy Homes, the North American leader in developing quality homes and communities," says Subhi. "What's unique about this opportunity is it allows me to work under supportive, dedicated leadership with the vision and determination to transform the industry while keeping customers' best interests at heart." About Mattamy Homes Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with operations across the United States and Canada. Mattamy has sold more than 75,000 homes in hundreds of communities. In the United States, the company is represented in nine metropolitan areas Minneapolis-St. Paul, Charlotte, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota and Naples and in Canada, those communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area, as well as in Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information. SOURCE Mattamy Homes Limited Related Links http://www.mattamyhomes.com/ HILLSDALE, Mich., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillsdale College is pleased to name Matthew Spalding as the first endowed chair for its Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship. Sponsored by the namesake of the Kirby Center, the Kirby Chair will focus on Hillsdale College's various academic and educational programs with the goal of advancing the principles and practices of American constitutionalism in the nation's capital. Matthew Spalding is the first endowed chair of Hillsdale College's Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C. "I am deeply honored by Allan Kirby's great commitment to Hillsdale College and his ongoing support of the recovery of constitutionalism in America," Spalding said. "The work of supporting and communicating the ideas and purposes of constitutional self-government is needed now more than ever, throughout our country but especially in the nation's capital. This endowment will allow Hillsdale to have that voice permanently." Matthew Spalding is associate vice president and dean of educational programs and an associate professor of politics at Hillsdale College in Washington, D.C., where for the past three years he has overseen the operations of the Kirby Center and Hillsdale's various academic and educational programs. He leads the Kirby Center's James Madison Fellows Program, which has taught more than 200 senior-level congressional staff about constitutional first principles and how to apply them in public policy. Spalding received his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in government from the Claremont Graduate School. More information about Hillsdale College's Kirby Center can be found at kirbycenter.hillsdale.edu. More information about Hillsdale College is available at www.hillsdale.edu. About The Kirby Center The Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship supports Hillsdale College's mission in Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to teach the Constitution and the principles that give it meaning. To that end, the Kirby Center offers a variety of programs for students and policy makers. The Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program and George Washington Fellowship Program give students a semester-long opportunity to gain practical and academic experience in our nation's capitol. About Hillsdale College Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an educational outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 3.5 million. SOURCE Hillsdale College Related Links http://www.hillsdale.edu NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- McGlinchey Stafford PLLC is pleased to announce the addition of three Associate attorneys in the firm's Louisiana offices: "My colleagues and I are very pleased to welcome these three talented lawyers to McGlinchey Stafford," said Rudy Aguilar, Managing Member of McGlinchey Stafford. "They each have remarkable academic experience and credentials. We look forward to their bright future with us and working with them to serve our clients across the country." Cannon's practice includes commercial litigation and consumer financial services litigation. She received her J.D. in 2016 from Tulane University Law School, where she was Senior Managing Editor of the Tulane Law Review. She received her B.A. in Political Science and History, cum laude, from Tulane University in 2012. Cox practices in the areas of commercial litigation and consumer financial services litigation. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Southern University Law Center in 2016, and graduated first in her class. She received her M.A. in Literary Studies, Literature and Culture, in 2013 from the Universiteit van Amsterdam and is a 2011 graduate of Louisiana State University Shreveport. Joiner has practiced law since 2005 and has extensive experience in a variety of state and federal litigation matters at the pre-trial and appellate levels in the areas of banking and financial services, real estate, commercial litigation, and consumer litigation. Her work has also included multistate high-volume litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and client counseling. She is a 2005 graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, and a 2002 graduate of Loyola University Chicago. ABOUT MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD McGlinchey Stafford is a full-service law firm providing innovative legal counsel to business clients nationwide. Guiding clients wherever business and law intersect, McGlinchey Stafford's 200 attorneys are based in 13 offices in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Washington, DC. To learn more about McGlinchey Stafford, visit www.mcglinchey.com. SOURCE McGlinchey Stafford PLLC Related Links http://www.mcglinchey.com NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesothelioma Victims Center is appealing to the family of an auto, marine, or factory mechanic who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and they are asking them to call 800-714-0303 for the nation's most honest advice on dealing directly with the nation's top mesothelioma attorneys as getting the best possible financial compensation depends on it. Mechanic Asbestos Warning Sign There is a direct correlation between having the nation's most skilled mesothelioma attorneys and receiving the best possible financial compensation for a person like an auto, maritime, or factory mechanic; the skill of the lawyer matters as the Center would like to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com The Mesothelioma Victims Center specializes in assisting the following types of people with mesothelioma: US Navy Veterans who were exposed to asbestos in an engine room or as a mechanic Auto mechanics Heavy vehicle mechanics Marine mechanics A factory worker who served as a mechanic or maintenance repair person to keep the manufacturing facility operational The Mesothelioma Victims Center is focused on making certain that people with mesothelioma receive the very best possible financial compensation. If the group had only one incredibly vital tip for a person with mesothelioma or their family members it would be: "Please don't think locally when it comes to hiring a lawyer to advance a financial compensation claim for mesothelioma. In most instances, the nation's top mesothelioma attorneys will travel to the home of a diagnosed person to get the specific information about how/where they were exposed to asbestos. The specific lawyers we suggest typically get the best financial compensation settlements for their clients nationwide as we would like to explain anytime at 800-714-0303. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com Each year about 3000 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. High risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, steel mill workers, miners, manufacturing workers, pulp or paper mill workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, construction workers, rail road workers, and firemen. Typically, the exposure to asbestos for these types of workers occurred in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's. The average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is about 70 years old. Frequently victims of mesothelioma are initially misdiagnosed with pneumonia. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com 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, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a Navy Veteran, a former auto or marine mechanic with confirmed mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "As we would like to explain anytime at 800-714-0303 if a person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma wants the best possible compensation it is vital they have the nation's most skilled, and experienced mesothelioma lawyers." http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.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 [email protected] 800-714-0303 SOURCE Mesothelioma Victims Center Related Links http://mesotheliomavictimscenter.com MIAMI, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Miami International Airport experienced another record-breaking year in 2016, serving nearly 44.6 million travelers an increase of 234,000 over 2015 that also secured the airport's seventh-consecutive year of passenger growth. The busiest U.S. airport for international freight broke its 2015 record for annual freight traffic as well, growing 0.37 percent to 2.18 million tons in 2016, according to final audited statistics from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD). Despite a large downturn in travel between MIA and top South American markets with struggling economies, in addition to the presence of Zika in South Florida, the global gateway's annual passenger traffic still increased by 0.53 percent. While travel between MIA and Brazil alone the airport's top international market - fell 600,000 passengers in 2016, increases in other countries and domestically kept the global gateway on an upward trend. Domestic passengers rose by 0.26 percent to 23.2 million, while international traffic grew by 0.82 percent to nearly 21.4 million passengers. MIA continues to be among the world's top 10 hubs for international freight, with 1.9 million tons of international shipments and 287,953 tons of domestic freight. "MIA's continued growth in 2016, especially in the face of severe challenges to tourism locally and throughout our world region, is very encouraging," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "I thank the Board of County Commissioners for their continued support of MIA, and MIA's leaders for the work they do to keep our County's top economic engine moving forward." Adding to MIA's growth were the launches of 10 new entrant airlines: AeroUnion, Dominican Wings; Eurowings; KF Cargo; Northern Air Cargo; Pan American World Airways Dominicana; Scandinavian Airlines; Silver Airways; Surinam Airways; and 21 Air. MIA is now home to 109 carriers, the most of any U.S. airport. MIA also welcomed six new international nonstop routes: Bimini, Bahamas; Cologne, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; Oslo, Norway; Paramaribo, Suriname; and Varadero, Cuba. "I join our community in being incredibly proud of another record-breaking year at MIA," said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, Chairperson of the County's Economic Development and Tourism Committee. "MDAD continues to be one of our community's strongest economic engines by bolstering tourism and creating local jobs for our residents. I wish the Aviation Department continued success in 2017." MIA's airline roster will expand further in 2017 with the addition of four more carriers, all of which will serve international destinations. Low-cost Mexican carrier Volaris will fly daily to Mexico City and four times a week to Guadalajara, Mexico, beginning on February 1. Following Volaris three days later will be First Air, which will begin weekly charter service to Mount Hope, Ontario in February 4, on behalf of Celebrity Cruises. Low-cost European carrier WOW Air will begin flying to Reykjavik, Iceland three times a week in April, and Aer Lingus will begin three weekly flights to Dublin, Ireland in September. "We had a 30-percent decrease from our busiest international market, and we still ended 2016 better than 2015," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. "With sustained growth by hub carrier American Airlines, more international carriers on the way, and new business opportunities for our cargo airlines, we expect another prosperous year in 2017." MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Chin 305.876.7017 [email protected] www.miami-airport.com SOURCE Miami International Airport Related Links http://www.miami-airport.com MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Military.com and the Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) announced today that they are teaming up to enhance existing NCOA job fairs through the addition of workshops and access to Military.com's extensive network of employers seeking to hire veterans. The NCOA will host 25 career expos across the country and in Europe in 2017. "The NCOA continues its commitment to connecting America's heroes with America's companies," said Vince Patton, President of NCOA and retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. "The ability to leverage Military.com's extensive audience of veterans and their network of employers seeking to hire veterans improves the quality of these events and will result in more job offers for our attendees." The collaboration enables Military.com to offer space at the NCOA job events to companies who would like to participate, increasing the number of employers at each event. Military.com has been a leader in the veteran employment space for several years and works with employers to institute substantive veteran recruitment and retention programs across the country. Military.com also offers tools like their Transition Center and app, Military Skills Translator, and resources on finding a post-military career. "We have worked with the NCOA in the past and respect their commitment to putting veterans in post-military careers. We are honored to be able to build on that relationship and add what we can to these valuable hiring events in the form of increased employer participation," said Greg Smith, President of Military.com and retired Navy admiral. A full list of the 2017 career expos is available on Military.com, or through the NCOA website. About Military.com Military.com is the nation's largest military and veteran online news and membership organization serving active duty personnel, reservists, guard members, retirees, veterans, family members, defense workers and those considering military careers. Military.com enables Americans with military affinity to access their benefits, advance their careers, enjoy military discounts, and stay connected for life. Military.com is a business unit of Monster Worldwide, Inc. More information is available at www.military.com. About NCOA The NCOA was established in 1960 to enhance and maintain the quality of life for noncommissioned and petty officers in all branches of the Armed Forces, Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves, Veterans (separated and retired), widows, and their families. The NCOA offers its members a wide range of benefits and services designed especially for enlisted service members and their families. Links: Military.com Facebook Military.com Twitter Military.com Google+ Military.com Press Center SOURCE Military.com Related Links http://www.military.com TRAINER, Pa., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Monroe Energy, LLC announced today that Paul Eisman and Dale Emanuel would be joining the Monroe Board of Managers as its newest members, effective immediately. Mr. Eisman most recently served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Alon USA & Alon USA Partners, and Mr. Emanuel most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of HSB Solomon Associates LLC. "Paul has nearly 40 years of experience in the petroleum refining industry, during which time he consistently demonstrated his strong abilities as a leader in the areas of operations, commercial markets, and long-term strategy," said Graeme Burnett, Chairman of the Monroe board. At Alon, Mr. Eisman was responsible for managing a $5 billion publicly-traded corporation which owns and operates two refineries, an extensive wholesale marketing network serving approximately 650 sites and over 300 retail marketing locations. During this time Mr. Eisman led the company to several years of record profitability and helped to achieve stellar performance in the areas of safety, environmental compliance, and operations. Prior to serving as Alon's Chief Executive Officer, Eisman served as Vice President of Refining & Marketing Operations for Frontier Oil Corporation. Mr. Eisman also serves on the Board of Directors of AZZ Corporation, a global leader of galvanizing, welding, and other highly engineered industrial services. Mr. Eisman received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Texas Tech University and also attended Harvard University's Advanced Management Program. When speaking of Mr. Emanuel, Burnett said, "Dale has been a driving force behind HSB Solomon Associates; the undisputed industry leader in refinery performance benchmarking. His broad knowledge of the refining industry, and in particular, his knowledge of what truly makes a refinery stand out amongst its peers will be an invaluable benefit to us." With business operations in over 70 countries, HSB Solomon specializes in helping refineries achieve operational excellence across the entire energy value chain. During his 40-plus years in the industry, Mr. Emanuel has worked at multiple refineries around the globe, serving in many roles, including President, Vice President of Health-Safety-Environmental (HSE), and Refinery Manager. Mr. Emanuel received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas. "Paul and Dale are highly respected throughout the industry. We are excited that they are adding their talent, knowledge, experience, and vision to Monroe's strong and independent board of managers," said Jeff Warmann, CEO and President of Monroe Energy. About Monroe Energy: Monroe Energy, LLC owns and operates an 185,000 barrel per day petroleum refinery located along the banks of the Delaware River in Trainer, Pennsylvania. As one of the oldest operational refineries in the United States, Monroe employs nearly 500 team members from around the tri-state region. Products produced by Monroe include jet fuel, gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, and more. Monroe also owns a subsidiary company, MIPC, which operates two tank farms, a truck terminal, and over 50 miles of pipeline in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. SOURCE Monroe Energy, LLC DALLAS, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following highly successful conferences in Copenhagen and Krakow, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) promises to deliver more industry-leading education with evocative sessions and exciting formats at its upcoming European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC). The conference will be held 5-7 March 2017, at the Granada Congress Centre, and in partnership with the Granada Convention Bureau and the MPI Spain Chapter. MPI's lineup of distinguished yet unconventional keynote speakers for EMEC 2017 include Monica Deza, David Beckett, Claus Raasted and Paul Bulencea. Deza, founder and CEO of the innovation and marketing firm Bendit Thinking, will present during EMEC's opening general session. She will discuss the new wave of innovation that is transforming societies, cultures and businesses, and how to successfully navigate within the "Maverick Economy." Beckett, creator of The Pitch Canvas and author of Three Minute Presentation, will deliver an engaging session on how to develop the perfect pitch followed by several live pitches where the audience will vote and determine the winning pitch. Co-presenters Raasted and Bulencea will shake up EMEC 2017 with a unique and transformational learning experience during the closing general session where they will share tips on how to thrive in the "Experience Economy" and challenge the audience to learn by actually doing. Raasted and Bulencea are two of five founders of the College of Extraordinary Experiences, which produces conferences that teach participants how to design memorable experiences as an alternative method to traditional business development and whose teaching staff has included creative leaders from Walt Disney Imagineering R&D, Google and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. "Each year we strive to take our signature conferences, EMEC and WEC, to new heights, experimenting with innovative design elements and embracing the charm of the host destination. At EMEC 2017, our passion for connecting the meeting and event community will be showcased at every touchpoint from the engaging education to our hosted buyer programme and networking events that celebrate Granada's cultural heritage. This year's conference programme was designed to refocus on the human side of events and also inspire attendees to think outside the ballroom," said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. In addition to the general sessions, EMEC 2017 will offer nearly 30 education sessions, including master classes, immersive experiences, meet-ups, and innovative learning sessions called EduLabs many of which are eligible for clock hours or continuing education units. Session topics include event design, experiential marketing, slow meetings, technology and more. Following is a sample listing of the sessions scheduled. Quiet Influence Cities, Experiences and Social Innovation Event Design: From Thinking to Doing 5 Steps to Master to WIN BIG in the Conference Market Going Local: Granada Culinary Scavenger Hunt The Wine Making Challenge Other programme highlights include a brief demonstration from Dr. Boris Nikolai Konrad a neuroscientist and the current Guinness World Record holder for memory on how to remember anything and anyone, a private tour of the Alhambra Palaces, the Welcome Reception at an authentic Andalusian farmhouse and the MPI Foundation Rendezvous fundraiser and networking event. Rendezvous is scheduled for the evening of Monday, 6 March at Aliatar, and proceeds from event will go toward the MPI Foundation Education Endowment to fund chapter grants and scholarships. To learn more or to register for EMEC 2017, visit www.mpiweb.org/emec. ***Editorial Note: Programme details mentioned in this press release will be published online soon.*** About MPI Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. The organization provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges, and acts as a prominent voice for the promotion and growth of the industry. MPI has a global community of 60,000 meeting and event professionals including more than 17,000 engaged members and its Plan Your Meetings audience. It has more than 90 chapters and clubs in 24 countries. "When we meet, we change the word." www.mpiweb.org CONTACT: Sonya Thorpe-Cobb, [email protected] SOURCE Meeting Professionals International Related Links http://www.mpiweb.org MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is proud to join the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in celebrating the contributions of nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists across the country during "National CRNA Week" and "Physician Anesthesiologists Week." To honor the contributions of its 1,400+ anesthesia providers for their accomplishments, professionalism and unwavering commitment to patient care, clinical sites at which NAPA serves will be holding local celebrations. In addition, NAPA will be highlighting its anesthesia providers on its social media platforms over the course of the celebratory weeks, which will take place January 23 February 4, 2017. "At NAPA, our anesthesia providers are at the heart of our organization," said John Di Capua, MD, CEO of NAPA. "Their outstanding dedication to patient care, and commitment to excellence and patient safety brings tremendous value to our organization. It is through their efforts that we are able to enhance the service experience provided to our patients and partners, and continue to enhance the way we practice medicine." Below are some highlights of our anesthesia providers' recent achievements: To follow our celebration on social media, follow NAPA on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. About North American Partners in Anesthesia As a clinician-led organization, North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is redefining healthcare, delivering unsurpassed excellence to its partners and patients every day. In three decades, NAPA has grown to become the nation's leading single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management company, serving more than one million patients annually in more than 200 healthcare facilities throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast. For more information, please visit NAPAanesthesia.com. Media Contact Jill Hoenigmann, Marketing Manager North American Partners in Anesthesia P: (516) 945-3030 E: [email protected] SOURCE North American Partners in Anesthesia Related Links http://www.napaanesthesia.com #NCT 127 K-pop group NCT 127's concert in Jakarta ends early for safety reasons A concert by K-pop boy group NCT 127 in Jakarta ended early on Friday after some excited fans caused chaos to get closer to the stage, a local event agency said. "An unexpected ... NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OnlineSchoolsCenter.com has recently released their list of the Top 20 Online Schools for Medical Assisting Programs, a comprehensive index of the finest distance educations certificate and degree programs in the field. You may view the list, along with a description of the benefits of each institution, by clicking the link below: http://www.onlineschoolscenter.com/top-online-schools-medical-assisting-programs/ There are two basic forms of medical assistingadministrative and direct patient care. These types of professionals provide an incredibly crucial service to nurses, surgeons, and doctors, streamlining the efficiency of medical environments everywhere. Whether students are interested in working in offices or more patient care based environments, there are state-of-the-art online resources available to help them achieve their career goals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job outlook for medical assistants at 22% over the next 8-10 years, which makes this the perfect time for students to earn an online degree and enter into a new path. These Top 20 Online Schools for Medical Assisting Programs provide students with personalized advising and academic opportunities, as well as, some of the finest faculty members in the country. Individuals have fabulous financial aid and internship opportunities as well. Upon exiting any one of these programs, alumni are prepared to work in numerous medical and health care environments across the entire globe. According to lead researcher and writer, Rowan Jones, "Medical assisting is an incredibly wise career path. Students graduating from these programs have fantastic prospects, and provide a fulfilling service to one of the most critical industries in the world." Below we have listed the schools that have made the Top 20 Online Schools for Medical Assisting Programs: Keiser University Fort Lauderdale, FL Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Kaplan University Davenport, IA Herzing University Milwaukee, WI Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater, FL Charter College Anchorage, AK Daymar College Owensboro, KY Harrison College Indianapolis, IN Olney Central College Olney, IL Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH College of Health Care Professionals Austin, TX Minnesota State Community College Fergus Falls, MN Laramie County Community College Cheyenne, WY U.S. Career Institute Fort Collins, CO Minnesota West Community and Technical College Worthington, MN National American University Rapid City, SD Penn Foster Career Schools Scranton, PA Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls, MN Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Alexandria Technical and Community College Alexandria, MN These Top 20 Online Schools for Medical Assisting Programs were chosen for several factors that put them ahead of other online graduate programs, due to the: nature of the coursework, degree of thoroughness and complexity of the curriculum, 100% online availability, sufficient financial aid availability, and an education that give students more than just classroom experience. OnlineSchoolsCenter.com is an online web publication that is committed to enhancing the information available to students when choosing an academic institution. The editors of OnlineSchoolsCenter.com collect the most important and relevant data about colleges, universities, and campus facilities from various highly respected sources and offer them in a simple format that is easy to understand. In developing this list, OnlineSchoolsCenter.com, chose not to list the schools in an ordered way, but instead highlighted twenty of the very best programs, all of which have their own unique strengths. Contact: Rowan Jones Researcher/Writer OnlineSchoolsCenter.com Email: [email protected] Cell: (931) 636-4286 SOURCE OnlineSchoolsCenter.com Related Links http://www.onlineschoolscenter.com HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) set new sales records in the last several weeks of 2016, achieving the highest one-day sales, highest single-month sales, and highest sales through the first half of a fiscal year in Pennsylvania history. Sales on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, totaled $27.4 million (including sales and liquor taxes), $1 million or 3.9 percent higher than the previous one-day sales record set on Dec. 31, 2015. "While New Year's Eve is often our busiest wine and spirit sales day, the 2016 calendar put both Christmas and New Year's Day on Sundays, allowing customers to spread out their holiday buying," said PLCB Chairman Tim Holden. "But as we've seen in past years, holiday celebrations that began in November built into a December sales crescendo." December 2016 achieved a new record for highest monthly sales in PLCB history $327.3 million in total sales, including taxes. This is an increase of $17.1 million, or 5.5 percent, more than the previous monthly sales record set in December 2015. Sales for the first six months of fiscal year 2016-17 totaled $1.35 billion including taxes, surpassing sales for the same period the prior year by $58.6 million, or 4.5 percent. During that time, the PLCB remitted more than $273.9 million in sales and liquor taxes to the commonwealth, an increase of $12.7 million, or 4.8 percent, over the first six months of 2015-16. The top three sales days in 2016 and 2015 are compared below. Sales figures include taxes. 2016 2015 Top sales day Dec. 23, $27.4 million Dec. 31, $26.3 million Second-highest sales day Nov. 23, $24 million Dec. 23, $23.2 million Third-highest sales day Dec. 31, $19.8 million Nov. 25, $23.1 million Sales and tax figures are preliminary until audited. The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates more than 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits totaling $15.1 billion since the agency's inception are returned to Pennsylvania's General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania's schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit www.lcb.pa.gov. MEDIA CONTACT: Elizabeth Brassell, 717.783.8864 SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Related Links http://www.lcb.pa.gov WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross is on the ground providing shelter, food, relief supplies and other support to help people across the country after a tumultuous weekend of severe weather. Dozens of tornadoes and severe weather left a path of destruction in areas of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida over the weekend. In addition, southern California has been hit with another storm, bringing heavy rains, increased risk for landslides and leaving thousands without power. "Red Cross disaster volunteers across the country are responding to severe weather with comfort and support for people whose lives have been interrupted and turned upside-down," said Brad Kieserman, Red Cross vice president of disaster operations and logistics. "Families are just beginning to cope with the devastation, and that means our work is just beginning. We will be there, in multiple affected states, standing alongside our partners as these communities recover." Sunday night, Red Cross and community shelters provided refuge to more than 100 people in Mississippi, Georgia and California. In Mississippi alone, preliminary damage reports show nearly 500 homes were damaged. Throughout the affected areas, volunteers are also providing emotional support and helping to replace medicines and things like eyeglasses. MAKE A DONATION The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Help people affected by disasters like tornadoes, floods and other crises by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP With the threat of more severe weather, people should download the free Red Cross Emergency App to receive emergency alerts and information about what to do in case of flooding and other disasters, as well as locations of shelters. The App also includes emergency first aid information and a Family Safe feature which allows people to instantly see if loved ones are okay. The Emergency App is available for free in app stores for smartphones and tablets, by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/apps. CORPORATIONS HELP The generous donations from members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and the Disaster Responder Program enable the American Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process. ADGP $1 Million members are: American Airlines; Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Anthem Foundation; Caterpillar Foundation; Costco Wholesale; Delta Air Lines; Disney; Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation; FedEx; Grainger; The Home Depot Foundation; Humble Bundle; LDS Charities; Lowe's Companies, Inc.; Mazda North American Operations; Nationwide Foundation; State Farm; Target; UPS; VSP Vision care for life; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; and The Wawa Foundation. ADGP $500,000 members are: 3M; Altria Group; American Express; Aon; Bank of America; Boise Paper; Capital One; Cisco Foundation; Citi Foundation; Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation; Discover; Edison International; Farmers Insurance; Ford Motor Company; John Deere Foundation; Johnson Controls; McDonald's Corporation; Medtronic Foundation; Meijer; Merck Foundation; Mondelez International Foundation; National Grid; PepsiCo Foundation; Procter & Gamble Company; Ryder; Southwest Airlines; Sprint; Sunoco; The TJX Companies, Inc.; United Airlines; United Technologies Corporation; and Wells Fargo. Disaster Responder Program members are: Alcoa; Almost Family; Astellas USA Foundation; AT&T; AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; AXA; Ball Foundation; BNY Mellon; CarMax; The Clorox Company; Cox Automotive; DTE Energy Foundation; Duke Energy; Entergy Corporation; General Motors Foundation; Harbor Freight Tools; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation; Hi-Rez Studios; HP Foundation; IBM Corporation; IHG Foundation; IKEA; Ingersoll Rand Foundation; Land O'Lakes, Inc.; Morgan Stanley; Neiman Marcus Group; New Balance Foundation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Northwestern Mutual and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation; Prudential Foundation; PuroClean Disaster Recovery; Red Heart Yarns; SC Johnson; ScriptRelief; SERVPRO; Southeastern Grocers Home of BI-LO Harveys Winn Dixie; T O Y O T A; U-Haul International; U.S. Bank; The USAA Foundation; and Visa. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. SOURCE American Red Cross Related Links http://www.redcross.org MILWAUKEE, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- River Run is proud to host seventh-grade students from the Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented on Thursday, January 26, 2017 as part of the Be the Spark initiative. As a sponsor of Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce's (MMAC) Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE), the Be the Spark business tour initiative gives students a chance to explore different opportunities and businesses throughout the Milwaukee area. "Students today are far more aware of the technology that exists, and how it gets used. We are happy to get this chance to show them the insides of devices and how River Run keeps these devices up and running," states Joe Skotarzak, President of River Run. "We hope that by providing these students with a hands-on approach to technology they will be encouraged and excited to explore the field of Information Technology." "The 'Be the Spark' program gives students a chance to learn not only what a company makes and does, but also what it takes to get those jobs," said Stephanie Hall, COSBE executive director. "COSBE is dedicated to helping our region ensure a strong and sustainable workforce. The key to the success of our businesses and the entire region is building a pipeline of future talent." "Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to ensuring that all graduates are college and career ready and a key component of that is showcasing career pathways," MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver said. "We are grateful to the 50 COSBE companies for opening their doors to our students. This experience gives students the opportunity to see the different pathways available at these local businesses firsthand -- and it gives them the opportunity to see how those pathways connect with what they're learning in the classroom." ABOUT RIVER RUN Founded in 1993, River Run is a full-service Information Technology and Applications firm whose mission is to "Keep You Up and Running." Their goal is to partner with clients to maximize the positive effects technology can have on their organization for them to grow their business. River Run supports a wide variety of clientele in Wisconsin, including manufacturers, CPA firms, law firms, auto dealerships, schools, non-profits, municipalities and financial institutions. For information on River Run, visit www.river-run.com or contact River Run at 414-228-7474. SOURCE River Run Related Links http://www.river-run.com CINCINNATI, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At Frank West Elementary in Bakersfield, California, students in grades pre-K through second grade enjoyed a big surprise on this National Reading Day. In celebration of the occasion, students appreciated story time with journalists from KERO, the Scripps ABC affiliate in Bakersfield, they met Clifford the Big Red Dog, and received a free book to begin creating their own home library. It's also an important day for Scripps Howard Foundation as it is the culmination of months of work to coordinate, launch and execute a literacy campaign with employees of The E.W. Scripps Company. Employees at each of the company's television and radio stations around the country pledged money to buy books for children in need. Each station chose a local nonprofit working with children and families to distribute the books. The "If You Give a Child a Book" campaign raised donations from employees and matching dollars from members of the Scripps family and a friend of the Foundation for a grand total of nearly $143,000. Every dollar will go directly for the purchase of books for children in need. The employees are sending the message to thousands of children experiencing poverty that reading can empower them to dream big and achieve their full potential. "We are overwhelmed by the generosity we have witnessed with this campaign," said Liz Carter, president and CEO of Scripps Howard Foundation. "Now thousands of books will go out from our employees across the country and into the hands of children. This campaign is helping to make the Scripps vision of creating a better informed world accessible to even the most disadvantaged children in our communities." In Bakersfield , 23ABC journalists will read to students at several area schools, and the station will donate books to Kern Literacy Council to improve the local literacy level. , 23ABC journalists will read to students at several area schools, and the station will donate books to Kern Literacy Council to improve the local literacy level. In Indianapolis , WRTV6 is continuing its support of School on Wheels. The organization is powered by volunteers who tutor children experiencing homelessness. , WRTV6 is continuing its support of School on Wheels. The organization is powered by volunteers who tutor children experiencing homelessness. In Tampa , WFTS ABC Action News is partnering with the Junior League of Tampa to give books to children at local schools in need. , WFTS ABC Action News is partnering with the Junior League of to give books to children at local schools in need. In Phoenix , KNXV ABC15 is continuing its commitment to Arizona's 19,000 children in foster care by partnering with Arizona's Children Association to give books to children entering foster care. , KNXV ABC15 is continuing its commitment to 19,000 children in foster care by partnering with Children Association to give books to children entering foster care. In Tucson, Arizona , the Scripps TV and radio stations are teaming up with Literacy Connects to provide books for people of all ages. , the Scripps TV and radio stations are teaming up with Literacy Connects to provide books for people of all ages. In Baltimore , WMAR-ABC2News is working with the Maryland Book Bank, which sends out a mobile library for children to select up to five books to keep. , WMAR-ABC2News is working with the Maryland Book Bank, which sends out a mobile library for children to select up to five books to keep. In Springfield, Missouri , Scripps radio stations are supporting Ozarks Literacy Council and on-air talent will read to children and deliver 250 books. "At Scholastic, we know providing children with access to books helps open a world of greater opportunities for them," said Alan Boyko, president of Scholastic Book Fairs. "By working with organizations like Scripps Howard Foundation, we are able to ensure more children experience the power and joy of reading, not just today but every day." Also today, Scripps Howard Foundation is awarding literacy grants worth $10,000 each to five partner organizations in Scripps markets selected through a competitive application process. These grants were made possible by another generous gift from a member of the Scripps family. About the Foundation Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation educates, empowers and honors extraordinary journalists who illuminate community issues, and partners with impactful organizations to drive change and improve lives. As the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company, the Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development, literacy and First Amendment causes. With a special commitment to the regions where Scripps does business, the Foundation helps build thriving communities. SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company Related Links http://www.scripps.com NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LendIt, the world's largest show in lending and fintech, announced that they have selected Sean Murray of deBanked as a finalist in the Best Journalist Coverage category for the first annual LendIt Awards. The Best Journalist Coverage finalists were awarded to the journalists who have provided the most insightful and original coverage about lending innovation and fintech. Murray was selected as a finalist out of hundreds of applicants worldwide and by more than 30 industry experts who judged finalists representing innovation, emerging talent and top performers. Murray will compete for top honors within his award category at The LendIt Awards Ceremony on March 7 at the LendIt conference in New York City. "Having been on the front lines of emerging and later stage FinTech companies for the past five years, we wanted to unveil our own best of the best industry accolades," said Jason Jones, Co-Founder, LendIt. "We were positively overwhelmed with the high number and high caliber of entrees. These finalists represent some of the most innovative companies that are radically improving financial services through technology." "I launched deBanked in 2010 to originally cover innovations taking place in alternative finance and payments," Murray said. "A lot has changed since then. I'm truly honored and humbled to be named a finalist for best journalist coverage," he added. "deBanked's stories are read by hundreds of thousands of people each year, suggesting that lending innovation and fintech have become mainstream." For more information about deBanked, visit http://debanked.com. To view all LendIt Award finalists, visit http://www.lendit.com/usa/2017/awards. About deBanked deBanked is a registered trademark of Raharney Capital, LLC. Launched in 2010, the company publishes a print magazine, email newsletters and an online blog. In conjunction with CounselorLibrary, deBanked introduced the merchant cash advance industry's first training and certification course, Merchant Cash Advance Basics. Through joint surveys conducted with investment bank Bryant Park Capital, deBanked also publishes a quarterly confidence index of small business financing CEOs. About LendIt LendIt is the world's largest event series dedicated to connecting the fintech and lending community. Our conferences bring together the leading lending platforms, investors, and service providers in our industry for unparalleled educational, networking, and business development opportunities. LendIt hosts three conferences annually: our flagship conference LendIt USA as well as LendIt Europe in London and LendIt China in Shanghai. LendIt USA 2017 will be held in New York from March 6 - 7. Learn more at http://www.lendit.com/. Media contact: Sean Murray deBanked 212-618-1440 http://debanked.com SOURCE deBanked Related Links http://debanked.com DALLAS, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Securus Technologies, a leading provider of civil and criminal justice technology solutions for public safety, investigation, corrections and monitoring, announced today that it has offered a challenge to its main competitor, GTL, to have an independent technology judge determine who has the largest and best product set, the most modern high tech/sophisticated telephone calling platform, the most capital and expense efficient platform, and the best customer service and related metrics. "GTL has 'spun facts' to try to say that their technology and customer service are comparable to ours," said Richard A. ("Rick") Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Securus Technologies. "So I want an independent judge to evaluate both product sets, both calling platforms, and both customer service models it really isn't a fair comparison to GTL because of what we have invested here at Securus in the last four (4) years. We have invested over $700 million back in our business including the acquisition of companies, technologies, and product development along with a state of the art Technology Center and US Customer Service Center, and GTL has invested a small fraction of what we have." "We know GTL's technology platforms because we used to use older, less efficient, less feature-rich, primarily premise-based systems, not fully centralized processing and storage systems, and have these comments when comparing the two (2) platforms: Securus owns a larger product set of useful services for the corrections sector; Securus has its own domestic based call center staffed by Securus employees GTL previously indicated that it outsources a significant part of its customer service. Our testing has indicated that Securus has call answer performance 600% better than GTL's. That's 600%! Securus uses its own trained field technicians versus GTL contracting most of that work out to non-employees who do not have the same vested interest in serving customers well; Securus has created the largest Voice Over Internet Protocol Corrections calling platform in the world. This VOIP Platform provides facility customers with routine software upgrades that enable new products/services to be seamlessly distributed to customers at a lower cost and much quicker versus GTL's premise-based older platforms; Of the former GTL facility customers that have converted to Securus many have indicated that Securus' technology and customer service is superior to that offered by GTL. This is straight from customers who have direct knowledge of both." GTL can't match what we have built and acquired here with these technological capabilities: Securus Calling Platform (SCP) Single State of the Art Inmate Calling Platform Primonics Video Visitation DirectHit Data Analytics CellBlox Managed Access Systems Vanu Tactical Managed Access Systems Location Based Services (LBS) Text to Connect Payment Facilitation JLG Technologies Voice Biometrics Archonix/Pamet Jail Management Systems JPay Media, Communications, and Money Transfer Services Inmate Tablet Applications S-Phone Cottonwood Creek JobView Securing Inmate Jobs Satellite Tracking of People Parolee Monitoring GSSC Full Service STOP Operation Securus Field Services (not outsourced) Domestic Call Center Securus Patent Portfolio Largest in the Industry Cara Clinicals Electronic Medical Records Guarded Exchange Outsources Investigations and Forensics PHD Medical Inmate telemedicine "We have talked with customers that have left GTL and converted to Securus and their message is clear they prefer Securus' technology, customer service, and economics," said Smith. "I also see that same messaging in the win/loss ratios that we maintain, i.e., we take +$4.00 in revenue from GTL versus the $1.00 that we lose to GTL over the last five (5) years another good data point and a great ratio for me. Customer decisions are clear they prefer Securus almost 3 to 1." "So my offer to Global Tel Link stands take the technology challenge bake off? It's almost a rhetorical question if I was them I would politely decline and to date, that is exactly what they have done. You have to look in detail at both platforms in an independent way to compare technologies, calling platforms, robustness of the IT work, scalability, investments made, IT resources, and product capabilities," Smith stressed. "If you do good diligence, we prevail on all attributes that matter. We put money behind our words," concluded Smith. ABOUT SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and serving more than 3,450 public safety, law enforcement and corrections agencies and over 1,200,000 inmates across North America, Securus Technologies is committed to serve and connect by providing emergency response, incident management, public information, investigation, biometric analysis, communication, information management, inmate self-service, and monitoring products and services in order to make our world a safer place to live. Securus Technologies focuses on connecting what matters. To learn more about our full suite of civil and criminal justice technology solutions, please visit SecurusTechnologies.com. SOURCE Securus Technologies, Inc. Related Links http://www.securustech.net SAN FRANCISCO and LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Duane Dennis has joined the firm as a senior consultant and principal in the firm's Southern California Employee Benefits Consulting Practice. Dennis will be responsible for business development, strategy, program design, implementation and management of employee benefits programs for EPIC clients. In addition to his regional responsibilities, Dennis will also work with EPIC's National Benefits Consulting Practice leadership on several key growth and client support initiatives. Dennis will be based in EPIC's Los Angeles office and report to Southern California managing principal Jim Gillette. A highly experienced consultant whose career spans more than 20 years, Dennis joins EPIC from benefit consulting technology company HIXME, where he was executive vice president, sales and marketing. Dennis previously spent 11 years at Mercer Human Resource Consulting, where he held the positions of Partner Chair of U.S. and Global Sales Leadership Teams and Member of U.S. and Pacific Southwest Market Leadership Teams; and Client Manager/Business Development Executive. As one of the nation's fastest growing private insurance brokerage firms, EPIC has been on an aggressive national growth trajectory, successfully competing against the large, institutional brokers with an entrepreneurial, client-focused business model and "people first" culture. "Duane is a tremendous addition to our team," said EPIC's Jim Gillette. "His ability to grow revenue and build long term business partnerships will add significant value to the firm. We are thrilled to have him join our Benefits Consulting Practice in Southern California and across the country." "I am very excited to join EPIC," said Dennis. "They are an innovative, fast-growing firm with a great national team and strong, experienced leadership. With so much change taking place in our country and around the world, I can most effectively serve my own clients as part of a leading-edge, flexible, responsive organization that puts the needs and best interests of clients ahead of all else. This is what I have found in EPIC." Duane Dennis can be reached at: EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants 601 South Figueroa Street, Suite 3950, Los Angeles, CA 90017 duane.dennis [at] epicbrokers.com Office: 213-629-8921 About EPIC: EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally. EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients. With more than $250 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Supported 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 *LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0308-epic-insurance-300dpi.jpg This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants Related Links http://www.epicbrokers.com LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Native, a marketplace for connecting brands with global content creators to create high quality, low cost content on demand, today announced the appointments of Jeff Ragovin, co-founder of Buddy Media, acquired by Salesforce for $745M, as Chief Growth Officer and Eytan Elbaz, co-creator of AdSense, acquired by Google for $104M, as Chief Strategy Officer. Jeff Ragovin, Chief Growth Officer Eytan Elbaz, Chief Strategy Officer "Jeff and Eytan joining the company as operators serves as a true testament to the power of our technology and growth opportunity ahead," said David Shadpour, CEO of Social Native. "Both Jeff and Eytan have incredible track records of disrupting old standards with technology. Creative is one of the last industries to be merged with technology and under their leadership we will take on the challenge of giving brands the ability to create personalized content on demand." Ragovin, a Social Native investor since early 2016, will play an important part in developing the scalable and aggressive growth trajectory for Social Native. In his previous role as co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Buddy Media, a SaaS platform for brands and agencies to organize and control their social marketing programs, Jeff played a central role in guiding the company from a start-up into the largest enterprise social marketing suite in the world. "Brands are struggling to create and deliver integrated, personalized customer experiences," said Ragovin. "As an investor, I was very impressed by working with the team. I'm excited to join the company full time and look forward to the challenge of making great creative available at scale for brands." According to Social Native research, there are 396 human touch points required in the creative development process. The company automated this process and can now scale the creation of highly personalized, quality creative content. Elbaz drives strategies to maintain market leadership and innovation as Social Native's Chief Strategy Officer. Eytan's track record includes, co-founder and former Chief Strategy Officer of Scopely, a mobile game producer and 2nd fastest growing company in the United States. In addition, Elbaz served as Google's Head of Domain Channel, where he grew the business from $13 million to $600 million annually over four years. Elbaz is a founding Member of Applied Semantics, where he conceived and product designed AdSense, DomainPark, and DomainSense. "Social Native is changing the way brands make content," said Elbaz. "Creating custom content from the lens of consumers, for consumers helps to drive powerful results. I look forward to working with Social Native to allow brands to realize a future where content is an enabler, not a constraint." Social Native has seen impressive momentum since inception. Partnering with over 50 brands, the technology profiles content creators based on content quality, demographics, brand affinities and interests to create authentic and relevant branded content. The result, a content engine that produces a wide array of personalized content, on demand. About Social Native Social Native is the technology platform for creating high performing branded content. Social Native connects brands with over 14 million content creators, globally, to create custom content on demand. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Social Native is backed by veterans of Google, Salesforce, Scopely, Applied Semantics, and Buddy Media whose past startups have created over $6B in equity value. Visit socialnative.com to learn more. Media contact: David Bray [email protected] 917-685-2841 SOURCE Social Native ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SEDC (Southeastern Data Cooperative, Inc.) and ATS (Applied Technology Solutions, Inc.) are pleased to announce both organizations will join forces in early 2017. ATS, a leader of innovative, reliable and competitively priced software solutions to utilities since 1996, will become a new business unit within SEDC, a leader in the development of innovative utility software solutions for the last 40 years. Together, SEDC and ATS will form a combined team of nearly 500 professionals focused on delivering software that makes our customers' jobs easier through enhanced customer service, data security, and information analysis solutions. Customers of both companies will have the advantage of the industry's leading advanced visual analytics tool, and cybersecurity solutions and services. "We look forward to joining the SEDC family," said Scott Woodward, CEO of ATS. "Having access to their solutions and services will be a great benefit to our customers, and will make us an even better best-in-class software solution. The economies of scale we will gain will be impactful to our software solutions and our pricing model." "We believe ATS is a great cultural fit for SEDC," said RB Sloan, president and CEO of SEDC. "As innovative solution providers, we share the same values, focus and priorities as ATS. Both companies have experienced tremendous growth over the past several years, and we look forward to continuing that growth as a team." Over the years, SEDC has extended its reach from its Southeastern roots to serving utilities all across the nation, while gaining industry recognition for its innovative offerings; UtilityPOWERnet (UPN) software for business (BIS), consumer (CIS), analytics intelligence (IQ), and Cyber Resilience Initiative (CRI). Joining forces with ATS continues this strong expansion of innovative product offerings. Both companies will continue to offer a fully functional FIS/CIS/GIS product suite. About SEDC SEDC, a leader in the development of innovative utility software solutions for four decades, provides CIS/Billing, accounting, capital credits, engineering and operations, data analytics and cybersecurity applications and services configured to meet the unique needs of utilities. The SEDC enterprise software suite provides the most advanced tools available across a wide range of applications, including meter data management, prepaid metering, mobile workforce management, mobile apps, IVR, document imaging, work management and more. https://www.sedata.com/ Follow SEDC on Twitter at @SEDC_UPN. About ATS Headquartered in Castle Hayne, North Carolina, Applied Technology Solutions (ATS), is a leading provider of integrated software solutions for the utility industry. The ATS OpenOne suite of solutions has revolutionized the way utilities function through integration -- enter data only once through an easy-to-use web interface and share it throughout the entire organization. The ATS team is built upon leading edge technologists and utility business experts with extensive experience in software development, implementation and systems integration. For more information, visit www.ats.coop. SOURCE SEDC Related Links https://www.sedata.com NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Executives representing the world's top aerospace and automotive manufacturers and suppliers will come together in the U.S. manufacturing hub of Dearborn, Michigan for the SpeedNews AeroAuto Conference, to be held May 4, 2017. The event is presented by SpeedNews Conferences, the premier Conference organizer in the global aerospace and defense industry in collaboration with Ward's Automotive, the leading provider of information and data to the automotive manufacturing industry. Both SpeedNews and WardsAuto are part of the Penton Transportation Information Group. The SpeedNews AeroAuto Conference, to be held at The Henry, will explore the many synergies between the massive global aerospace and automotive manufacturing industries. "The aerospace and automotive manufacturing industries share opportunities and challenges in areas including innovation and design, automation and software, supply chain modeling and technological advancement," said Joanna Speed, Managing Director, A&D and SpeedNews Conferences. "The SpeedNews AeroAuto Conference is the first event to bring these industries into the same room with leading manufacturing executives and decision-makers face-to-face, helping them to network, share information and discover each other's best practices, with a goal of improving operations and efficiency." In a series of presentations and panel discussions, including representatives from both industries, the SpeedNews AeroAuto Conference will assess the current situation, key issues, enabling technologies and outlook for the aerospace and automotive manufacturing industries; vehicle light weighting; emerging developments and coping with security requirements; supply chain best practices and lessons learned; additive manufacturing/3D printing and nanomaterials; vehicle health management systems and prognostics; passenger infotainment; and carbon emissions regulation. Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a tour of aerospace and automotive manufacturing facilities. "It should be fascinating to see how the automotive and aerospace industries have approached these common challenges in some similar or completely different manners," said Larry Schlagheck, Managing Director, WardsAuto. "These two industries already benchmark and learn from each other from their own vantage points, and this event will bring them even closer for a vibrant exchange of ideas. WardsAuto is proud to help present the AeroAuto Conference in our own backyard, giving our audience of auto professionals a perspective they rarely get to see." "There is no better place in the country, or world for that matter, where these two industries converge in a more meaningful way than in Michigan," said Tony Vernaci, Vice President, Global Business Development for Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). "Our automotive history goes back 100 years, as does the University of Michigan's aerospace engineering program. Michigan has been in aircraft production since WWII, when the automotive industry demonstrated how B24 bombers could be built on an assembly line at the rate of one an hour. The journey continues today as advancements in technology for both industries are changing the world at a pace never seen before in areas such as light weighting, connectivity, infotainment and cyber security." The SpeedNews AeroAuto Conference is preceded by and co-located with the SpeedNews 5th Annual Aerospace Manufacturing Conference on May 2-3, at which the leaders of major manufacturers and suppliers in the aerospace industry will discuss manufacturing capabilities and processes, best practices, advancements and innovations, automation, and industry trends. The SpeedNews AeroAuto Conference is produced in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, along with KPMG as the event's Knowledge Partner. For information about registering, promotional and advertising opportunities, contact Joanna Speed at +1-424-465-6501 or [email protected]. On Twitter, follow @speednewsconf (https://twitter.com/speednewsconf). For information about all SpeedNews events, visit http://speednews.com/all/conference. ABOUT SPEEDNEWS CONFERENCES SpeedNews Conferences, the leader in global executive events, provides targeted information and professional networking opportunities for senior level aerospace industry leaders, decision makers, financial institutions, economic development organizations, and industry analysts. These Conferences deliver an array of information and data for commercial, defense, business and general aviation, aerospace manufacturing, raw materials, and M&A developments. SpeedNews Conferences offer an unmatched depth of market data and innovative ways to present organizations' materials. Meet with distinguished experts in the aerospace industry, learn about current trends, new products and developments, hear forecasts, and network with customers and peers. From aircraft and engine manufacturing to current financial reports and data, you will walk away with timely, crucial knowledge from these experts to help guide your business plans. ABOUT WARDSAUTO WardsAuto is a world-leading provider of automotive insights and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for more than 90 years. Based in Southfield, MI, WardsAuto provides a forward-looking perspective on all aspects of the automotive business, from the tech center to the plant floor to the showroom. Its services include the premium WardsAuto.com resource and suite of customizable data reporting tools, the WardsAuto Interiors, WardsAuto UX and WardsAuto Outlook Conferences, and digital newsletters and magazines. ABOUT AVIATION WEEK NETWORK The Aviation Week Network is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries that has a database of 1.2 million professionals around the world. Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week for analysis, marketing and intelligence. Customers include the world's leading manufacturers, suppliers, airlines, business aviation operators, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this global market. The product portfolio includes Aviation Week & Space Technology, AC-U-KWIK, Aircraft Blue Book, Airportdata.com, Air Charter Guide, Air Transport World, AviationWeek.com, Aviation Week Intelligence Network, Business & Commercial Aviation, ShowNews, SpeedNews, Fleet and MRO forecasts, global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) tradeshows and aerospace & defense conferences. ABOUT INFORMA SpeedNews is part of Informa, the international business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events group. Informa serves commercial, professional and academic communities, helping them connect and learn, and creating and providing access to content and intelligence that helps people and businesses work smarter and make better decisions faster. Informa has over 7,500 colleagues in more than 20 countries and a presence in all major geographies. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100. MEDIA CONTACT: Joanna Speed SpeedNews +1-424-465-6501 [email protected] @speednewsconf Facebook.com/SpeedNews linkedin.com/company/speednews SOURCE SpeedNews Conferences Related Links http://speednews.com/aero-auto-conference/information ST. LOUIS, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) will webcast its 2017 annual shareholders' meeting on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 10 a.m. CST. The live webcast will be available and will be archived on our website at www.SpireEnergy.com. The webcast does not constitute attendance. In order to vote at the annual meeting, shareholders must either authorize a valid proxy or attend the annual meeting and vote in person. About Spire At Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) we believe energy exists to help make people's lives better. It's a simple idea, but one that's at the heart of our company. Every day we serve 1.7 million customers making us the fifth largest publicly traded natural gas company in the country. We help families and business owners fuel their daily lives through our gas utilities - Laclede Gas, Missouri Gas Energy, Alagasco, Mobile Gas and Willmut Gas. Our non-utility businesses, Spire Marketing and Spire Natural Gas Fueling Solutions, provide energy solutions to other natural gas users. We are committed to transforming our business and pursuing growth by 1) growing our gas utility business through prudent infrastructure upgrades and organic growth initiatives, 2) acquiring and integrating gas utilities, 3) modernizing our gas supply assets, and 4) investing in innovation. Learn more at SpireEnergy.com. Media Contact: Jessica B. Willingham [email protected] 314-342-3300 SOURCE Spire Inc. Related Links http://www.spireenergy.com WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Steward Partners Global Advisory LLC, an employee-owned, full service independent partnership associated with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. (member FINRA/SIPC), announced today that Alexandra Koch and Brandon Haase, both senior vice presidents and wealth managers, have joined the New York City and Albany, New York offices respectively. While last year was a banner year for Steward Partners, 2017 is anticipated to be just as successful. With additional partners scheduled to join the firm in the first four months of the year, Steward is expanding beyond its eight locations across the northeast. "We are seeing increased interest in our model, but also in the 'culture of caring' theme of our company," says Steward Partners CEO, Jim Gold. "Every employee at Steward is a partner and we listen to what they have to say. As our firm evolves and grows, it will be because we listened to our partners. They just don't have a voice in the company - they have a vested interest in our overall success." CULTURE AND PARTNERSHIP MOTIVATING FACTORS Alexandra Koch, Senior Vice President, Wealth Manager and international advisor in the New York City office joined earlier this month. She brings with her over 22 years of international and wealth management experience, focused primarily in Germany and Austria. "At the time I was introduced to Steward Partners," says Koch, "I wasn't interested in leaving Morgan Stanley, but when I saw first-hand how they treated wealth managers as partners and owners in the organization, it warranted a closer look. So when I had the opportunity to understand what Steward could offer me and my clients, it was an easy decision to join them. Their model is really unique." Last week in the Albany, NY office, Steward Partners welcomed Brandon Haase from RBC Wealth Management. Haase has over 11 years of wealth management experience and focuses primarily on financial planning and high new worth families. "When I heard Steward Partners opened a location in Albany last September, I wanted to know more," says Haase. "This is a small town and those of us in the wealth management community all grew up together. When a new firm with legacy local management ties launches a top floor office in the center of town, we all notice." "With Jeff Gonyo as the divisional president in Maryland and DC and the recent addition of Jim Connors, divisional president in New England, we now have leadership and bandwidth to build on our 2016 success," say Steward Partners President, Hy Saporta. "We're extremely busy doing what's necessary to create a place for our partners, but we're also having a lot of fun along the way." About Steward Partners Global Advisory Headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Keene, Portsmouth and Manchester, NH, Albany, NY, Andover, MA, Bethesda, MD and New York City, Steward Partners Global Advisory, LLC is an employee owned, full service independent partnership catering to family, institutional and multi-generational wealth. For more information, visit us at www.stewardpartners.com. About Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. About Raymond James Financial Services Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is a financial services firm supporting more than 3,700 independent financial advisors nationwide. Since 1974, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, has provided a wide range of investment and wealth planning related services through its affiliate, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Both broker/dealers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF) a leading diversified financial services company with approximately 7,100 financial advisors serving in excess of 2.9 million client accounts in more than 2,800 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $608 billion. Steward Partners Holdings and Steward Partners Global Advisory, LLC maintains a separate professional business relationship with, and our professionals offer securities through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington D.C. 20006 - Toll Free: (844) 801-8268. Press Contact: Gregory Banasz 202-930-6008 [email protected] SOURCE Steward Partners Global Advisory LLC Related Links http://www.stewardpartners.com Arrivals accounted for 50.6 percent of U-Haul traffic in Arkansas in 2016 thanks to locations such as Hot Springs Village, Fayetteville, Bella Vista, Centerton and Bentonville, the cities to pace Arkansas in its net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks. Follow the Top 10 Growth States daily countdown through Feb. 3 on Twitter @uhaul and view other migration trends reports, including the U.S. Growth Cities release, at myuhaulstory.com. Growth States are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul truck rentals entering a state versus leaving a state during a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rental transactions that occur annually. While migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, U-Haul growth data is an effective gauge of how well cities are attracting and maintaining residents. "Northwest Arkansas is growing by leaps and bounds," said U-Haul Company of Tulsa president Jim Smith, whose area includes the northwest corner of Arkansas. "I call it God's Country. You have Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, the University of Arkansas, J.B. Hunt Transport Services all the major employers are based out of the Northwest Arkansas region. "Last I read, the northwest region was growing by 30 residents a day. I can see that because of the inbound activity of U-Haul trucks per day. The region's overall population has grown nearly 70 percent in the last 15 years." U-Haul has stores in Springdale and Rogers (opened August 2015) and added roughly 20 new neighborhood dealers over the past two years to serve the northwest region. But the Company's reach is growing across Arkansas to make moving services more convenient for everyone. "We have new stores in Pine Bluff, Little Rock and Texarkana, which is on the border and will serve Arkansas customers with more self-storage units," said Ken Vadnais, U-Haul Company of Arkansas president. Find U-Haul stores and neighborhood dealers in Arkansas at uhaul.com/locations. U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from more than 21,000 U-Haul locations, including neighborhood dealers and Company-owned and -operated stores, provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry. About U-Haul Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 21,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to more than 139,000 trucks, 108,000 trailers and 38,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 536,000 rooms and more than 50 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S. www.uhaul.com Contact Jeff Lockridge Sebastien Reyes E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-760-4941 Website: uhaul.com SOURCE U-Haul BERKELEY, Calif. and WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EnChroma the company bringing color to the color blind has received the 2016 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for its exemplary innovative spirit and economic achievements in developing glasses for the color blind. EnChroma's early stage research into optical assistive devices for color vision deficiency (CVD) was supported by three Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the direction of principle investigator Dr. Don McPherson. "We are celebrating the critically important technological advances pioneered by these small high-tech firms, from breakthroughs in additive manufacturing, to genomic research, to novel cancer therapeutics. These innovators are creating jobs and creating new industries while helping to address many of the nation's most pressing challenges," said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. "The EnChroma story would not have been possible without the support of the SBIR program," said Andy Schmeder, CEO of EnChroma. "SBIR funding in our formative years gave us the latitude to foster a company culture laser-focused on creativity, collaboration and developing the right solution for the color blind. This award acknowledges the years of intense effort by our team and will inspire us going forward." EnChroma glasses contain a proprietary spectral filtering technology that is designed to help people with red-green color blindness see an enriched spectrum of color without compromising color accuracy or balance. Numerous videos of color blind people trying EnChroma's life-changing glasses for the first time have gone viral. One in 12 men (8%), and one in 200 women (.05%), are color blind an estimated 300 million worldwide. While color blindness is often considered a mild disability, many color blind people feel it is a significant handicap. John Williams, Director of Innovation and Technology, SBA, presented the award to EnChroma co-founders Andy Schmeder, CEO, and Don McPherson, Ph.D., Chief Scientist. The awards ceremony was held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House on January 10, 2017. Video: http://enchroma.com/wp-content/uploads/media-kit/1317_Enchroma_Marketing_093016_Final.mp4 About the Small Business Administration (SBA) The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012, has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov. About EnChroma EnChroma is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of the estimated 300 million people worldwide with color vision deficiency. EnChroma has developed a robust line of innovative eyewear products with cutting-edge optical technology for men, women and children. To reach us please call 510-497-0048, email [email protected] or visit enchroma.com. SOURCE EnChroma Related Links http://www.enchroma.com OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- vAuto announces three enhancements to its industry-leading Provision system to help dealers more efficiently manage their used vehicle inventories. "The Provision enhancements reflect our shared mission with Cox Automotive to ensure our solutions provide our dealer clients maximum ease and efficiency as they contend with an ever-evolving used vehicle market," says Randy Kobat, senior vice president of Inventory Software Solutions for Cox Automotive's Retail Solutions Group. "In the end, if we help our dealers save effort and time on day-to-day tasks, they have more bandwidth to be better retailers." The enhancements, which will be featured at the upcoming National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in New Orleans (vAuto booth #1719), include: DealerTrack DMS Integrations: Two Dealertrack DMS integrations help dealers eliminate duplicate, manual data entry. The first integration allows dealers to "push" vehicle-specific data on auction-purchased and trade-in units to the Dealertrack DMS directly from the Provision Appraising tool. The second integration "writes back" price change information from the Provision Pricing tool to the DMS. "In the past, dealers entered vehicle and pricing data into vAuto, and then the DMS," Kobat says. "These integrations, which come at no additional cost for dealers, help them save time while avoiding the risk of data entry mistakes." Automatic Vehicle Description-Writing: vAuto's enhanced AutoWriter tool eliminates the need for Provision dealers to manually write a description for every used vehicle in their inventories. The tool automatically creates compelling descriptions based on a dealer's preferences, and automatically refreshes them as dealers change prices or make other updates. "With the enhanced AutoWriter, it's a matter of seconds, not minutes, for Provision dealers to consistently feature accurate, well-crafted descriptions online for every vehicle," Kobat says. Recall Management: Through an integration with CARFAX, Provision dealers can more easily identify vehicles with open recalls while they are appraising or purchasing a vehicle, or managing current stock in their inventories. The enhancement also allows dealers to designate vehicles with dealer- or factory-ordered stop sales, and remove these vehicles from online listings as appropriate. "With recalls on the rise, Provision helps dealers handle these vehicles, and their associated risks, in a more efficient and transparent manner," Kobat says. About vAuto vAuto provides innovative technology, tools and business intelligence to thousands of dealerships across the United States and Canada, helping them compete more effectively and increase new/used vehicle sales volumes and profits. Founded in 2005, vAuto revolutionized dealers' used vehicle operations with the groundbreaking Provision suite of tools. Leveraging The Velocity Method of Management, pioneered by vAuto's visionary founder, Dale Pollak, the Provision suite guides used vehicle acquisition, appraisals, pricing, merchandising and more based on real-time, local market supply-and-demand data. In 2014, vAuto combined the Velocity method with the power of incentive management to create the Conquest new vehicle inventory management and pricing tool. In 2016, vAuto launched Stockwave to serve as the foundation for a suite of wholesale inventory acquisition solutions. Headquartered near Chicago, Illinois, vAuto is a Cox Automotive brand. About Cox Automotive Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, vAuto, Xtime and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues of $18 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com. SOURCE vAuto Related Links http://www.coxautoinc.com WEBSTERVILLE, Vt., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second time in two years, Vermont Creamery was recognized for superlative quality and responsible cheesemaking with a Good Food Award for its flagship aged goat cheese, Bonne Bouche. "It's a tremendous honor to be a Good Food Award recipient," said Allison Hooper, Co-Founder of Vermont Creamery. "It is a true testament to our entire team's commitment to transparency and innovation as we continue to grow our business and perfect our craft." The 2017 Good Food Awards winners were announced on Friday, January 20 at a gala awards ceremony at the historic Herbst Theater in San Francisco, California. From the 2,059 entries from nearly every state, 193 winners passed rigorous vetting to confirm they met specific Good Food Awards standards around sound agricultural practices, sourcing transparency and good animal husbandry. Introduced in 2001, Bonne Bouche quickly won acclaim. Made with fresh pasteurized goats' milk from family farms, the curd is carefully hand ladled, lightly sprinkled with ash and aged just long enough to develop a rind. After about ten days, the cheeses are packaged in their crates and sent to market where it will continue to age up to eighty days. Vermont Creamery was one of eight Vermont food producers to win the coveted Good Food Award in 2017. Big Picture Farm won for their Farmstead Chocolate Covered Caramels; Spring Brook Farm for their Reading cheese; Grafton Village Cheese for their Bear Hill cheese; Green Jam Man for their Honey Sage Pear Jam; Sumptuous Syrups of Vermont for their Sumptuous Farm to Bar Tart Cherry Rich Simple Syrup; Vermont Amber Organic Toffee for their Fennel Seed Toffee and Fat Toad Farm for their Vanilla Bean Goats' Milk Caramel Sauce. About Vermont Creamery Vermont Creamery's line of fresh and aged goat cheeses, cultured butter, and creme fraiche have won over 100 national and international awards. Founded in 1984 by Bob Reese and Allison Hooper, Vermont Creamery supports a network of more than 15 family farms, promoting sustainable agriculture in the region. B Corp Certified since 2014, Vermont Creamery is the founder of Ayers Brook Goat Dairy, the country's first demonstration goat dairy. For more information, visit www.vermontcreamery.com. Media Contact: Kara Herlihy 802.479.937 [email protected] SOURCE Vermont Creamery Related Links http://www.vermontcreamery.com SILVER LAKE, Calif., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Los Angeles Web Agency Websites Depot will be hosting the next Google Partners Connect event on February 8 at its Sunset Boulevard headquarters in Silver Lake. The event is a free educational workshop and is open to all members of the public who RSVP before the event. Attendees will learn about some of the inner-mechanisms of Google and the latest digital marketing trends. Jeff Montgomery and Kevin Cho of Google Marketing Solutions will be two main keynote speakers transmitting live into the Websites Depot offices. The event is especially-tailored to key decision makers and marketing representatives of businesses. Key topics covered will be pinpoint-targeting of new customers based on where they spend the most time online as well as management of multi-device and multi-platform advertising campaigns. Businesses can gain valuable insight into how to drive at key decision points among their customer base. Montgomery, Director of Mid-Market Sales at Google, will take participants through new trends in the evolving mobile landscape. As there has been a shift towards mobile devices and new online platforms, Montgomery will share insight into how get found and get contacted during micro-moments when consumers choose to seek out a product or service. Cho, Agency Accounting Strategist, will give insightful tutorials on how to decipher metrics and adequately bid on digital advertising campaigns in order to "leverage the most successful touch points." By using constantly-evolving analytic tools that are easily available to most marketers, business owners can learn how to gauge feedback from web traffic and new customers in real time. Since their previous Google Partners Connect events hosted in 2016, Websites Depot has upgraded its offices to include more seating accommodations to the boardroom conference-style event. In the last event, Google's Tim Reis showed participants techniques for generating "intent, context and immediacy" when interacting with customers. Websites Depot will be providing complimentary refreshments such as coffee, bagels, fruits and other snacks for the enjoyment of attendees during their visit. Those who call the office in advance can receive a technical marketing audit of their website that will be prepared for them when they arrive. Bringing a laptop to the event is encouraged. The event starts at 9:30am on February 8, and should run no longer than two hours. Websites Depot is located at 4343 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The office is in suite 201 on the second floor. For more information, or to make a press inquiry, please call (323) 912-1105 or e-mail [email protected]. Related Images image1.png image2.png image3.png Related Links Event RSVP Information Websites Depot Blog This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com. SOURCE Websites Depot Inc. Related Links https://websitesdepot.com Enter RISE Movement, the newest wave in politics. (www.risemvmt.org). A group aimed at rebuilding the broken political system in America, RISE is strategically coordinating the ground efforts of the left side to win again. "At RISE, we've created a series of quarterly reports to explain how we lost, and what we can do to win again," states RISE co-founder Genevieve Thiers. The first RISE report launches today at www.riseparty.org/quarterly_report. The report is paired to a high-level dashboard to coordinate all the armies and individuals on the ground. "There's no reason that this information should be in some DNC corner office somewhere," states Thiers. "Everyone's a general." The report is 32 pages, and explains how the left side lost, and an approach that can help it win again in 2020. The RISE dashboard, referenced in the report, is in beta, but a template can be seen at www.riseparty.org/dashboard. The interactive version is in progress. The dashboard is powered by RISE and a number of other tech-savvy entities including flippable, ballot-ready, popvox and re:act. It coordinates over six critical pieces of how to win back the White House in 2020everything from winning open seats to fighting bills to protesting executive actions and appointments to flipping Republican-held states to getting non-voters back to the polls and non-registered voters registered. It also contains a countdown to the 2020 elections, daily action items, a 30-day forecast, and a 4-year elections calendar. Activists can zoom into details or stay high-level and just stick to daily activities...it's their choice. "On the left side, we tend to be super intelligent, but uncoordinated," states Thiers. "We can be a bit like ping-pong balls flying around in an empty room. We need to work as a coordinated unit, and the RISE dashboard lets us do that." RISE is approaching left-leaning groups now about how to best use the dashboard to coordinate their armies, and the RISE report also includes a breakout of progressive groups for readers by function, so activists can easily figure out how to manage their time. As events unfold in politics, the report will "react" in real time, designing new plans to win based on how current factors are playing out. RISE members include former OFA-ers, Hillary team members, workers from Google, Microsoft, Apple, entrepreneurs, activists, artists, designers, developers, writers, immigrants, economists and more. "We're sort of like a tech startup jammed into a political action group," states co-founder Ellie Bahrmasel. The group is determined not only to resist the Trump agenda, but to change politics as well. They are targeting four critical races in 2017NC, NJ, VA and LA municipalsand building on-the-ground armies to head door to door and ask people who they want to see running, and what they want solved. "We're going back to basics," states Bahrmasel. "People need to be a part of the process again." The goal of the RISE field organization is to crowdsource the right candidate and solution set for an area, then galvanize local efforts around both in combination. They theorize that if people are part of making something, they will care about promoting it. So...if you have some free time post the march, consider letting your voice RISE. ABOUT RISE: RISE movement is the next wave in political disruption offering a new narrative. By showing how we are more united than divided, we will make America stronger and future focused. With a focus on interpartisan communication, voter outreach and education, real actionable economic policy and an irrefutable-fact-based narrative RISE will get all Americans back to voting for their own best interests and the best interests of this great nation as a whole. The group has 5-full-time hires, over 10,000 volunteers in 34 states, and is a 527 PAC format. Welcome to the Re-United States of America. Welcome to RISE. www.riseparty.org SOURCE RISE Movement Related Links http://www.riseparty.org New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Punjab government's plea for deferring the hearing on Haryana's challenge to the de-notification of land acquired for the SYL canal till a new state government was formed after the February 4 Punjab assembly elections. Directing for the next hearing on February 15, the apex court told Punjab it could not escape the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal as ordered by the court in 2002 and 2004. A bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy instead asked Punjab to file its response within three weeks to the Haryana government's plea that challenged Punjab's November 16 notification to de-notify the land acquired for the SYL construction and restoring the same to the original owners. The Punjab government issued the notification after the assembly passed a resolution that directed the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government not to release land for the SYL canal and a subsequent Cabinet decision on the matter. The court also gave Haryana one week to file its rejoinder to Punjab's response. Assembly elections in Punjab will be held along with those in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. The counting of votes will take place in the five states on March 11. Haryana told the court that Punjab's decision to de-notify the land and return it to the original owners was in violation of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act of 1956 and the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966. The bench said Punjab could not escape its responsibility of completing the construction of the SYL canal falling in its territory. The apex court made it clear that it would ensure compliance with its 2002 and 2004 orders. Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said the top court's 2002 and 2004 decrees could be implemented only if the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act of 2004, which was passed by the state assembly, was struck down. The Centre has not taken any position on the issue, leaving the two feuding states to go ahead with the legal battle. Appearing for Punjab, senior counsel Ram Jethmalani said the Centre should demonstrate statesmanship by resolving the water sharing dispute. In a hearing on the matter on November 30, 2016, the court had ordered status quo on the SYL land in Punjab and appointed the Union Home Secretary and Punjab's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police as receivers. The court had said that the "status quo, as of today, shall be maintained by the parties, subject to further orders of this court". Appointing the receivers for the lands, works, property and portions of the SYL canal stretch falling in Punjab, the court had asked them to file a report on the ground situation on the said property. The bench was on Wednesday told that there was no deliberate damage to the property, which was contested by Haryana. On November 10, 2016, the top court's Constitution Bench had, in its advisory opinion on a Presidential reference, held as unconstitutional the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004. Following this, the Punjab government de-notified 5,376 acres of land acquired from 4,980 owners for the canal. On November 16, 2016, the Punjab assembly passed a resolution to direct the state government, its Council of Ministers and government officers and officials not to hand over land to any agency for the canal's construction. The assembly resolved that the Punjab government should levy a cost on Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi for the water supplied to non-riparian states over the past many years. New Delhi, Jan 19 : Observing that Asean has evolved into a role model for regional cooperation, India on Thursday said it was working closely with it for building regional cooperation. Addressing the second edition of the international conference on 'Asean-India Cultural and Civilisational Links' in Jakarta, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh said that to mark the 25th anniversary of the Asean-India Dialogue Partnership, a host of events including a Commemorative Foreign Ministers' Meeting and a Commemorative Summit will be held, an official release here said. "Asean has evolved into a role model for regional cooperation. Today, it is appreciated for the stability it has brought to the region and its immediate neighbourhood. We look forward to working closely with Asean to weave a mutually beneficial legacy which would be cherished by future generations," Singh added. Other than Commemorative Summit and Commemorative Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Singh said a Youth Summit and a host of other events including Asean-India Cultural Festivals, business events, policy seminars, public competitions, a car rally and sailing expedition across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states will be held. Singh said India's Act East Policy lays significant focus on Asean-India relationship aimed at building a deeper engagement with South East Asia by expanding and comprehensively documenting India's civilisational links with Asean countries. Singh also hailed the Asean India Centre in New Delhi for contributing towards Asean-India Strategic Partnership through its studies in areas of mutual interest. "Another major project underway is the re-establishment of the Nalanda University, once a world-renowned knowledge hub where scholars from around the world, including South East Asia and India, exchanged knowledge and ideas. "India is working to recreate a similar world class university in the 21st century, with the support of its South East Asian partners, and has offered scholarships to students from CLMV countries to study there," Singh said. "Contemporary popular culture in the form of music, Bollywood movies and TV soap operas, is forging a new understanding between us. The human element is vital in contemporary discourse. Our youth, our future generation, must engage and bond in a more systematic way and at a deeper level," Singh added. New Delhi, Jan 19 : Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday felicitated the winners of National Bravery Awards, an official said. "Interacting with the children at the Ministry of Defence, the Army chief exhorted them to continue doing well in life, work hard and be a role model for others. Many of the children expressed their desire to join the Army," a Defence Ministry statement said. This year, 11 girls and 14 boys, including four posthumous awardees, will be presented the awards on Republic Day eve by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they will also take part in the Republic Day parade riding gaily caparisoned elephants. The National Bravery Award Scheme was initiated by the Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW) to felicitate children who perform outstanding acts of bravery and meritorious service. Since their inception in 1957, the awards have been given to 945 children, including 276 girls. New Delhi, Jan 19 : Four members of a robbers' gang have been arrested in connection with a double-murder here, police said on Thursday. Police identified the accused as Akbar, 22, Mohammad Azad (the gang's kingpin), 23, Samshad, 23 and their associate, Sonu, 28. They are residents of JJ cluster area of Zakhira and Shakarpur in Delhi. According to the police, Azad and his associates had, on January 9, killed Guljar and Anil over some personal animosity. "Police on Wednesday night arrested Azad and other gang members from their hideout in west Delhi in a raid. Azad and other gang members initially used to snatch the luggage of passengers for Guljar at bus stands and railway stations," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vijay Kumar said. Police teams, on the basis of local intelligence and sources, established the role of Azad's gang behind the double-murder, the police officer said. The unclothed bodies of Guljar and Anil were found near Zakhira bus stop on January 12, a senior police officer said. The gang members used to rob passengers' luggage after pretending to assist them for arranging their confirmed tickets and Guljar used to take the robbed money from them, DCP Kumar said. Azad told police that he, along with his associates, planned to eliminate Guljar on January 9 and called him at a deserted place. When Guljar came along with his associate Anil, Azad took them to a forest area where they strangulated them after offering them alcoholic drinks. Later, they crushed their face with a heavy stone to hide their identity, the police officer said. Mumbai, Jan 21 : Employees of the Khadi Village Industries Commissioner (KVIC) have threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike from January 26 demanding "corruption-free KVIC" and to ensure that Mahatma Gandhi's pictures always appear on its annual calendars and diaries. The Shiv Sena-led Khadi Gramodyog Karmachari Sena (KGKS) employees union has also taken strong umbrage at KVIC management's attempt to penalize the workers who took part in a silent lunch-hour demonstration on January 12. The employees were protesting the abrupt decision of KVIC to replace Gandhi's photos with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's on the 2017 wall calendar and table diaries - sparking off a huge controversy "We are ready to sacrifice ourselves to the cause of upholding Gandhiji's ideals for which the whole world reveres him. It will be an honour to die for Gandhiji, whose death anniversary falls on January 30 and ensure KVIC is made 'bhrashtachar-mukt' (corruption-free)," a union leader told IANS today. The KVIC decision has been vociferously condemned by all political parties, including ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ally, Shiv Sena, besides the masses, prominent Gandhians and celebs. "This is now our party issuea We shall take it up accordingly," said senior Shiv Sena leader and spokesperson Anil Desai here late Friday. Earlier this week, KGKS President and MP Anandrao Adsul said he has already asked the KVIC management to desist from punishing the employees who had staged a peaceful, Gandhian form of protest. He also asked whether the KVIC had taken official permission from the PMO to dump Gandhi's pictures and replace them with Modi's. After certain media reports claiming the PMO had distanced itself from the Khadi fracas, the KVIC struck back at the employees and served a showcause notice to KGKS on January 16 asking whether it had taken aceprior written permission" to stage the silent protest on its premises. "The show-cause notice tantamounts to a dictatorial attitude of the management in a democratic country," Adsul told IANS that evening, warning KVIC of an all-India strike. Mumbai, Jan 21 : Superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be Bollywood's first Khan to travel to Delhi from Mumbai for a promotional visit for "Raees" in a train. The makers of "Raees" along with Shah Rukh will ditch a flight for the visit. "The team is in the process of packing their luggage and assuring that the trip is going to be an ideal combination of work and play," said a source in the know of developments. Set against the backdrop of prohibition in Gujarat, "Raees" touches upon the way the alcohol industry crumbled and several illegal activities followed. Its trailer gives a glimpse of the story backed by heavy duty action sequences, and many thrilling moments. In the film, the "Chennai Express" star essays the title role of Raees, a bootlegger. It also marks Pakistani actress Mahira Khan's foray into Bollywood. The move comes in sync with SRK's character in the movie. According to the source, the entire team -- including producer Ritesh Sidhwani and director Rahul Dholakia -- will also be taking the train. "The train is an August Kranti which will leave from Bombay Central at evening 5 p.m. and reach Hazrat Nizamuddin at 10.55 a.m. in the morning. The train has several stopovers like Andheri, Borivili, Wapi, Walsad, Surat, Baruch, Baroda, Ratlam, Kota, Savai Modhopur and Mathura," added the source. As of now, Shah Rukh is in Dubai to promote the movie, which also features Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan. The movie is releasing on January 25. Tinsukia (Assam), Jan 22 : Two soldiers of the Assam Rifles were killed and two others injured on Sunday when militants ambushed a convoy near Jairampur on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, police said. The security forces, however, launched a counter-insurgency operation immediately in the area and killed two of the militants involved in the ambush. The attackers belonged to the United Liberation Front of West Eastern South East Asia (UNLFW), a joint platform of most of the northeastern militant outfits, including the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Socialist Council of Nagaland led by Khaplang (NSCN-K) and Coordination Committee (CorCom) of Manipur. Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Sahay said security forces had launched a counter-insurgency operation against the militants. "Two of the militants involved in the ambush were neutralised later. The forces also recovered two weapons from their possession," said the DGP. Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said 15 to 20 militants caried out the ambush. Unofficial sources said the militants fled with some arms and ammunition of the Assam Rifles personnel after the attack. The ULFA and NSCN-K had ambushed an army convoy in Tinsukia district in November last year and killed three soldiers. Following the incident, the security forces had restricted the movement of vehicles on Jagun-Jairampur Road and intensified mobile check-posts. The Inter-state border between the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and Assam-Nagaland border has also been put under intensified vigil. Meanwhile, a joint statement by the CorCom and the ULFA faction claimed responsibility for the attack and that they undertook a joint attack on the security forces, code-named "Operation BARAK". "A joint team attacked the 13 Assam Rifles at Warabasti area on Jagun-Jairampur Road and killed three soldiers and injured two or more and were able to recover three weapons, including two AK Rifles and one INSAS Rifle," said the statement signed by ULFA faction commander-in-chief Paresh Asom. Washington, Jan 23 : US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Renegotiating the pact, signed two decades ago, was one of Trump's primary campaign promises, EFE news reported. At a White House event to swear in several top officials he had named, the President confirmed his intention to renegotiate NAFTA with Mexican President Enrique PeAa Nieto, whom he will welcome in Washington on January 31, and with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he intends to meet soon. Trump blames NAFTA for killing US jobs and for the closing of companies in the United States and the shifting of their operations to Mexico to lower costs. The President said that he would discuss NAFTA with PeAa Nieto along with "immigration" and "border security". On Saturday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that PeAa Nieto, whom he mistakenly referred to as the Mexican "Prime Minister", will visit the White House on January 31. The Mexican President's Office, meanwhile, said in a statement that on Saturday PeAa Nieto telephoned Trump to congratulate him on his inauguration and express the willingness to "work on an agenda that benefits both countries". One of Trump's key campaign promises was to build a wall along the US-Mexican border to halt illegal immigration to the United States, a wall that -- he said -- Mexico will pay for. Spicer said that Trump also spoke on Saturday by phone with Trudeau, with whom he held a "constructive" conversation. Atlanta, Jan 23 : Storms lashing the southern United States have killed 11 persons in the state of Georgia, local authorities reported on Sunday. After severe storms hit the southern part of the state, 11 people have been confirmed dead and 23 more injured, EFE news cited Emergency management authorities. Authorities, who early in the day issued tornado warnings for towns in southern Georgia, said that seven of the fatalities occurred in Cook County, while four others were reported in Brooks and Berrien Counties. On Saturday, four persons died in Mississippi when a powerful tornado left a swath of destruction 40 kilometres (25 miles) long through the southern part of that state. The southern US has been on storm alert over the weekend and that alert will extend into the evening hours on Sunday in parts of Alabama, southern Georgia and northern Florida, according to a bulletin from the National Weather Service. London, Jan 23 : The British government rejected on Sunday a claim by Gerry Adams, President of the Sinn Fein political party, that taking Northern Ireland out of the EU will destroy the agreement that restored peace to the island. Adams made his remarks during a speech on Saturday in Dublin, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement was issued in London following Adams' comments, suggesting Britain leaving the European Union will destroy the Belfast Agreement. An official spokesman for the British government said Adams' comments are totally without any basis in fact. "None of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement ... are in any way undermined by the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU," said the spokesman. Britain is "fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors," he said. The Belfast Agreement, a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s, ended three decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland. In his speech earlier, Adams said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status after Brexit, claiming it would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of Britain. He told his audience at a conference on achieving a united Ireland: "The British government's intention to take the north out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action. Adams is regarded as one of the most important people to be part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Britain's departure from the 28-nation trading bloc will mean the Northern Ireland border with the Irish republic being the only EU border within Britain. In a treaty going back to the 1920s people from both sides of the border have had free passage between each other. Ireland joined the EU at the same time as Britain, meaning there was no change in the border arrangements. Earlier this week, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny reiterated his wish for "a preservation of the seamless border that is there now". Chennai, Jan 23 : Nearly a week after watching on the sidelines the Jallikattu protest on the Marina Beach and in other places in the state, the Tamil Nadu Police on Monday morning started evicting the protesters. Jallikattu is a popular bull-taming sport of Tamil Nadu. The police action came on the day when the state assembly was set to meet here. The police physically pulled out the protesters who were sitting at the protest venue. The scene reminded of a 'tug-of-war' game but without ropes as protesters held back the colleagues who were being pulled out by the police. In Coimbatore, police-women and -men, pounced on a protestor who stood up with a kerosene canister and threatened to self-immolate. They were successful in taking away the inflammable liquid. The eviction comes a day after the state government organised Jallikattu in several places following the promulgation of an ordinance enabling the same. Not satisfied with that, the protesters demanded a "permanent" solution, that is, amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by the central government taking out bulls from the list of performing animals. The police arrived at the Marina Beach on Sunday night. On Monday morning they urged the protesters to vacate Marina which was not heeded to. Following that the police started their eviction process by physically lifting the protesters. The police also baton charged the crowd. However, women and children were spared and removed safely. The protesters ran towards the sea, stood there holding hands and shouted slogans. The routes to Marina Beach have now been cordoned off. The police has asked the protesters in other parts of the state to disperse. Agreeing to the request protesters in Tirunelveli district have decided to call off the protests. In Madurai, however, the protesters have decided to continue with their agitations. Although, talks are still on between them and the police. After the promulgation of the ordinance P. Rajasekhar, president of the Jallikattu Pathukaapu Peravai appealed to the protesters to call off their agitation. 'Hip-Hop Tamizha' Adhi a rap musician whose song support of Jallikattu attracted the protesters also distanced himself from the protest as it was progressing in a different direction, he said. While the protesters anger is severe against the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) across the state, in most of the protest venues there were slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. Some of the placards held by few protesters were vulgar and indecent and there were also placards demanding separate Tamil land. Further, thousands of regular commuters have been facing inconvenience due to cancellation of trains and termination ahead of destination owing to protests on rail tracks. On Monday the Southern Railways announced full cancellation of 16 trains and partial cancellation of seven trains. "Around 40,000 passengers are affected daily due to disruption in train services. Many passengers may be travelling to attend interviews, join duty or even for health reasons," a senior Southern Railway official preferring anonymity told IANS. Panaji, Jan 23 : Days after a spokesperson for Goa's archbishop denied allegations that the influential Roman Catholic Church was indulging in politics ahead of theFebruary 4 assembly polls, its social arm has taken direct pot shots at the ruling BJP, accusing it of misgovernance and corruption and calling the nationwide digitalisation initiative a "disturbing development". Quoting Pope Francis liberally, the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has officially released fliers that slam several policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government and accuses the media of being a "mouthpiece of the government and corporates". "The shift from the social policy of roti, kapda aur makaan for uplifting the poor sections of society to an emphasis on digital and cashless policy involving smart phones, ATM cards and Paytm apps as the basic requirement for every citizen to avail of government benefits and purchase their basic needs is a worrisome phenomenon," the flier says. "Selective private business interests being promoted through government policies under the pretext of fostering economic growth, tackling corruption and ensuring transparency through digitalisation are a disturbing development," it adds. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India push, the BJP state leadership had repeatedly expressed its ambition of making Goa India's first cashless state. Headed by a Roman Catholic priest, the CSJP works under the aegis of Goa Church and has in the past been vocal about misgovernance, social inequities and the like. Catholics account for nearly 26 per cent of the state's 1.5 million population. "The undue intrusion and interference of governments in the judiciary or educational and financial institutions cannot be a sign of good governance. The terror unleashed by state and non-state actors to silence dissent or diverse opinions about governance by labelling them as anti-national or unpatriotic cannot be ignored by responsible citizens," the CSJP says, adding that efforts were being made nationally to "undo the sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic fabric of our nation as enshrined in our constitution". Alleging "wanton destruction of Goa's environment and culture" and that voters often elect "insensitive and unscrupulous political representatives" due to "material and formal" cooperation, the flier quotes Pope Francis' 2013 homily that the people are responsible for the quality of governance. "None can say... I have nothing to do with this, they govern. No, no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so that they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in politics according to my ability," the flier says, quoting the Pope. Slamming the outgoing state government for setting up an Investment Promotion Board to "push projects in villages and towns by undermining the constitutional powers of the (local) self-governments and accusing the central government of forcefully nationalising Goa's natural resources, the CSJP also said that politicians exploited the vulnerability of the unemployed, displaced and economically backward voters by "luring them with freebies and unrealistic promises of jobs". Asking citizens to "access other sources of alternative and reliable political information", the Council also accused the media of being seen as the mouthpiece of the government and corporates. "The print and electronic media, which is considered the fourth pillar of a democracy and is ethically required to maintain autonomy and report factual and unbiased news to the public, is now increasingly seen to be the mouthpiece of the government and corporates, and driven by competition," the flier says. On January 18, in a statement issued by the Archbishop's House, a spokesperson had denied indulging in politics ahead of state assembly elections, following accusations made by a local politician, which went viral on social media. (Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted atmayabhushan.n@ians.in) Agartala, Jan 23 : Around 2,000 school students and tableaux depicting prevailing issues were part of a huge colourful procession here in Tripura on Monday to mark the 121th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. As many as 26 groups of students from the 68-year-old Netaji Subhash Vidyaniketan highlighted terror strikes across the world, September 29, 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian troops, demonetisation of high value currency notes, bad effect of fast food, consumption of nutritious foods, traditional culture of tribal people, drug menace, crimes against women, earthquakes and incidents related to India's freedom struggle. The groups also depicted the terror attacks in India, sacrifice of life of revolutionary Bhagat Singh and Indian soldiers, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, national integration and Tripura's achievements in different fields. Thousands of spectators gathered by the roadside to watch the procession that was flagged off by state Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty. Government departments and NGOs also took out tableaux illustrating various national and regional issues. "We have been organising the procession on the occasion of Netaji's birthday for the past 66 years to highlight the role, sacrifice and dedication of this great freedom fighter," said school teacher Monimoy Roy. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday led the nation in paying tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 120th birth anniversary and saluted his valour during the freedom struggle. "I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism," Modi said after paying homage to India's iconic leader in parliament. "Bose was a great intellectual who always thought about the interests and well-being of the marginalised sections of society," said the Prime Minister. He also expressed his gratitude for getting the opportunity to fulfil people's decades long demand of declassifying files related to Bose's life. Beginning January 23 last year, the Modi government has so far released over 303 classified files on Netaji. The declassified files are available on http://www.netajipapers.gov.in. Paying tribute, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said Netaji was an "icon of the freedom struggle, and his courage, sacrifice and indomitable spirit remain an inspiration". Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah said: "I bow to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a phenomenal freedom fighter, an exceptional leader and a brave son of Mother India on his anniversary." Among others who paid tributes were union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Jaipur, Jan 23 : Bangladeshi author and freedom of expression advocate Taslima Nasrin, who has been living in exile since 1994 after facing the ire of fundamentalists, said on Monday India urgently needed a uniform civil law. During a surprise session at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the controversial writer also said that criticism of Islam is the only way to establish secularism in Islamic countries. In conversation with Salil Tripathi, the chair of the Writers-in-Prison Committee of PEN International, Nasrin said: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life. "They issue fatwas against you and they want to kill you. But why do they need to do so? If they disagree with me, they can write against me, share their views like we do. They can have conversations rather than fatwas," the 55-year-old writer contended. Nasrin said that Muslim women are "oppressed" and that uniform civil law is the need of the hour to protect their rights. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against a uniform civil law? Is not having a uniform civil law democratic," she asked. From a poet in the late 1980s, Nasrin rose to global attention by the end of the 20th century owing to her essays and novels from the feminist viewppoint and severe criticism of Islam. Her 1993 novel "Lajja" garnered severe criticism in Bangladesh, forcing her to leave the country. "A uniform civil law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why are they not ready to accept criticism. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she maintained. After multiple threats and attacks against her in the backdrop of "Lajja", Nasrin escaped to Sweden in 1994 and spent the next 10 years in exile in Europe and America. Coming to India in 2004, she settled in Kolkata, where she lived till November 2007 and then moved to New Delhi. she again moved to Sweden in 2008 and later worked as a research scholar at New York University. "Why shouldn't Muslim women have the same rights? Is it democracy? Encouraging fundamentalists and misogynists from any side is neither democratic nor secular. I am against all kinds of fundamentalists. "Without serious criticism of Islam, you will not be able to make Islamic countries secular. The women will continue to suffer and be oppressed," she said. Nasrin also said that without freedom of expression, secularism is meaningless. Nasrin is now a Swedish citizen. She has been continuously getting Indian visas since 2004 and currently lives in New Delhi. The session was themed around her latest memoir "Exile" a" a cumulative chronicle of her days in Kolkata and the circumstances under which she was, in her own words, "hurriedly shifted, first to Jaipur and then to Delhi, confined to an obscure safe houses, and faced incessant pressure from senior officials and politicians to leave India" and is replete with dark imageries and repeated provocations. (Saket Suman is in Jaipur at the invitation of Teamwork arts. He can be contacted atAsaket.s@ians.in) Jammu, Jan 23 : Jammu and Kashmir state assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta on Monday ordered an inquiry into the detention of a minor under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The Speaker's order came after Independent MLA Engineer Rashid waved copies of the school record in the assembly indicating that Sahil Ahmad Sheikh, detained under PSA during last year's unrest, was a minor. CPI-M leader M.Y. Tarigami also intervened saying that the matter was serious and all such cases concerning detention of minors under PSA needed to be thoroughly probed. Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan asked Rashid to hand over the school record to the government. Under PSA, a law applicable only in Jammu and Kashmir, a person can be detained without trial for a period of two years by an order of the District Magistrate. Panaji, Jan 23 : For a state known for its casinos, the February 4 assembly elections are shaping up like a game of poker, with more than 10 political parties in the fray and all of them holding their cards close to their chests. While the 2012 election was an obvious affair, with the two groupings -- the Congress and its then alliance partner, the Nationalist Congress Party; and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its then ally, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) -- going at each other like a freestyle wrestling tag team, in 2017, the contest has a tentative edge to it. With political leaders across the spectrum freely claiming, off the record, that a clear majority for any of the major parties seems unlikely, the need for a pre-poll coalition seemed like an obvious choice in 2017. While the late-off-the-blocks Congress appears eager to assert itself, the BJP on the other hand appears to have more faith in Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's fire-power over the MGP, which has a track-record of being a slippery ally, especially when it comes to maneuvering in tight spots. When after days of suspense, the Congress eventually announced its decision to ditch the Goa Forward regional party and go it alone and contest 37 of the 40 seats at stake, this is what Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh had to offer: "We were discussing seat-sharing but it hasn't really matured due to certain reasons." The party has entered into a strategic seat-sharing arrangement with the United Goans party led by outgoing MLA Atanasio Monserrate. While an alliance with the NCP was never on the cards, the Congress said that the proposed alliance with Goa Forward and its ambitious leader Vijai Sardesai fell through because the party's state leadership wanted to nip the Sardesai threat in the bud, especially in view of a possible fractured mandate, where every MLA would literally be worth his weight in gold. "Sardesai has a track record of engineering defections. The aim is to clip his wings rightaway and block his chances of being MLA," a senior state Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity. The Congress has now fielded Scheduled Tribe (ST) leader Joseph D'Silva against Sardesai, who won the 2012 elections largely thanks to the ST vote in the Fatorda constituency. Sardesai has, however, now accused the Congress of acting on the bidding of the BJP, especially Parrikar. "The Congress is the B-team of the BJP in Goa. It is a circus, with Parrikar as its ringmaster, and a toy in the hands of BJP leaders," a spurned Sardesai has said. The tale of how the BJP-MGP alliance came a cropper is also protracted. The contours of the tattered confidence in the two alliance partners however became obvious when two MGP ministers were sacked by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar last month. "They were working against coalition dharma and were even planning to field candidates against the BJP in these elections. We were forced to act against them," Parsekar had maintained. Over the last two decades, the MGP has been part of coalition governments headed by both the BJP as well as the Congress, switching sides as many as thrice. While the MGP has always been the junior partner in these coalitions, the party which gave Goa its first Chief Minister, is now keen on a bigger role, something its leadership hopes to ascend to, especially with a projected fractured mandate. The MGP is contesting 26 assembly seats, the most it has contested in recent times. "We are going in to win. We want Sudin Dhavalikar (former PWD minister in the BJP-led coalition government) to be the next Chief Minister," MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar told IANS. While the MGP is in coalition with the Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), which is mentored by former RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar, and the Shiv Sena, it has kept its options open vis-a-vis a post-poll alliance with the BJP. "I cannot tell you that now... Sometimes in politics you have to adopt Chanakyaniti," Dhavalikar has said, keeping his cards close to his chest. Among other major political parties, the AAP is going into the polls alone contesting all 40 seats. (Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in) Astana, Jan 23 : Peace talks between the Syrian government and armed rebel forces began on Monday in the Kazakh capital Astana. The talks between President Bashar Al Assad and representatives of the armed factions opposed to his regime started at 1.40 p.m., some 40 minutes later than scheduled. Osama Abu Zeid, a representative of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel delegation attending the talks at a hotel in Astana, told Efe news that the conversations would be conducted indirectly and behind closed doors. Zeid said Russia and Turkey had "reached that decision today (Monday)". The vice-president of the Syrian National Coalition, the main Syrian opposition political group, Abdul Hakim Bashar, told Efe news that the opposition delegation was "not against direct talks with a UN mediator or the two guarantor countries, Russia and Turkey." Russia's special envoy Alexander Lavrentiev was optimistic about the outcome of the talks in Astana. "There is no simple solution to the conflict, but we spare no effort to try to bring the parties' positions closer to the Syrian conflict, that is to say, the government and armed opposition groups," said Lavrentiev, who heads of the Russian delegation at the talks. An Iranian delegation, headed by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Hossein Ansari, and the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, would also participate in the two-day closed-door talks. De Mistura thanked President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for hosting the discussions. The Syrian civil war, which is heading into its sixth year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee the Middle Eastern nation. New York, Jan 23 : After apparently being hacked, a Twitter account belonging to the New York Times reported that Russia intended to launch a missile attack against the US. The newspaper has announced that it was investigating the situation. The gaffe affected the NYT's video account, @nytvideo, which tweeted out the hoax on Sunday at around 9.40 a.m, citing a "leaked statement" from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Though the alarming tweet was quickly deleted, others followed that were claimed by the hacker group OurMine, which has previously taken responsibility for hijacking a number of high-profile accounts on social media. OurMine said it had "re-hacked" the account in order to stem the spread of misinformation after noticing that it had been broken into by a third party. Their messages were eventually deleted too. The newspaper later confirmed that it had deleted a number of tweets published by @nytvideo "without authorisation", saying, without elaboration, that it was investigating the situation. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Avoid using chairs with rollers and rubber chair legs can be purchased specifically for the bottoms of chair legs to prevent scratches on your hardwood floor. Suresh Kumar Mansukhani, expert on hardwood flooring, Junckers -- a Denmark-based flooring brand, suggests how to protect your hardwood floor: Astana, Jan 23 : Negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition groups, which include Jaysh al-Islam, a major armed group, kicked off on Monday in the Kazakh capital here as part of an initiative led by Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev opened the talks, stressing that the Syrian conflict could only be solved "via negotiations". "The current difficult situation in Syria has drawn the attention of the entire world. I have to admit that the bloody conflict, which has continued for about six years, has brought nothing but misery and sorrow to the holy land where different civilizations and cultures lived," Nazarbayev was quoted by RT online. According to Nazarbayev , Kazakhstan has allocated "more than $700,000 to alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees," with Astana recently sending 500 tons of humanitarian aid to the war-stricken country. The live broadcast from the opening remarks showed the presence of Abdullah Mohammed Alloush, the leader of Jaysh al-Islam, which is a coalition of Islamist and Salafist units operating in Damascus. The head of the Russian delegation in Astana and the Russian President's special envoy to Syria, Aleksandr Lavrentiev, confirmed on Sunday that the negotiations would be attended by delegations of the host nations -- Russia, Iran, and Turkey -- as well a UN delegation headed by the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and the US ambassador to Kazakhstan, who has been granted observer status in Astana. The Syrian government side will be presented by Bashar Jaafari, the current Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the UN. In his opening remarks Jaafari said that terrorists should not be included into the ceasefire agreement. The two-day event is being held at the Rixos hotel in Astana, with the hosting Kazakh government providing additional security. Some 300 journalists from around the world were covering the high-profile gathering, which hopes to cement a lasting ceasefire in Syria. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov thanked Kazakhstan for accepting to host the event, saying Astana's assistance was highly appreciated. "Kazakhstan has been supporting the Syrian reconciliation process from the very beginning. Everyone, the [Syrian] government and the opposition groups, would find this place perfect," Lavrov said on Sunday after meeting his Kazakh counterpart Kairat Abdrakhmanov. The negotiations came to fruition after the three nations -- Russia, Turkey and Iran -- brokered a partial ceasefire between the Syrian government and some opposition groups last month. The deal managed to significantly restrain the intensity of hostilities in Syria, but both the government and the rebels regularly complain of violations. The truce however, does not include such terrorist groups as Al Nusra Front or Islamic State, with IS currently engaged in a massive offensive against government forces in the Deir ez-Zor province. Washington, Jan 23 : Newly-inaugurated US President Donald Trump thanked his predecessor Barack Obama for a letter for him in the Oval Office but said he will not be divulging its contents to the media. "I just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama," Trump said on Sunday, addressing senior staff members before they were sworn-in. "It was really very nice of him to do that and we will cherish that. We will keep that and we won't even tell the press what's in that letter." In the letter President George W. Bush left for Obama, Bush said there would be "trying moments" during his presidency and warned Obama that "critics will rage" and said your "'friends' will disappoint you", The Hill magazine reported. "But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me," Bush wrote. In the letter President Bill Clinton wrote to Bush in 2001, Clinton saluted and wished him "success and much happiness". "The burdens you now shoulder are great but often exaggerated. The sheer joy of doing what you believe is right is inexpressible," Clinton wrote. Ankara, Jan 23 : The Turkish government on Monday issued a decree closing down two television channels and dismissed 367 officials for endangering national security. The decree also announced the creation of a commission of investigation as part of the state of emergency in force since July 2016, to deal with cases of officials dismissed by this measure, Efe news reported. In addition, 124 other public employees, expelled in previous decrees, were re-admitted in the new decree. The majority of the dismissed employees come mainly from the ministry of the interior, municipal governments and the department of religious affairs. Kanal 12 and On4 TV, two local television channels, were closed for "working against the national security" and their ownership was transferred to the state treasury. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday dismissed allegations made by Congress leader Anand Sharma of discrepancies in its political funding and challenged him to a debate over funding received by the Congress. Talking to reporters here, AAP national treasurer Raghav Chadha said 100 per cent of AAP's funding comes from Indian citizens and the funding process is completely transparent. Chadha's remarks came after former Union Minister Anand Sharma alleged AAP was receiving funds from foreign sources. "The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government gave clean chit to AAP on its funding when Anand Sharma was a central minister. And today, he is raising questions against our funding," Chadha said. "In May 2014, when the Congress was in power, the central government filed an affidavit in Delhi High Court and said the government investigated allegations against the AAP funding and found nothing wrong," he added. The AAP leader also said instead, it was the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which were found guilty by the Delhi High Court of accepting "illegal foreign funding". "When it came to cancellation of their political registrations, both Congress and BJP joined hands in Parliament to change the law with retrospective effect," he said. Charging Congress of receiving 80 per cent of its funding in cash and from unknown sources, Chadha said 92 per cent of AAP's funding comes from banking channels and even the rest eight percent is deposited in banks. "I challenge Anand Sharma to choose a place of his liking where he or his party's treasurer should come with Congress' financial records and debate with me on our respective parties' funding," he said. "It will make clear how much of Congress' funding comes in cash, from foreign sources, in black money and how much of it is clean," he added. Vijayawada, Jan 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday hit out at opposition parties for planning Jallikattu style protests to demand special category status for the state and said they were planning to create disturbances. Naidu took strong exception to the opposition parties comparing the issue of Special Category Status (SCS) promised to Andhra Pradesh to the the Jallikattu campaign in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. "Some parties are trying to provoke people and create disturbances but we will not allow this. We will be very firm," he told reporters. Popular actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has announced his party will support the youths if they plan a silent protest in Visakhapatnam on January 26. "If youth of Andhra Pradesh are planning to do a silent protest at R.K. Beach, Jana Sena will support them," he tweeted. Opposition leader and YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday said he would welcome any such protest. "Any programme or event demanding special status is welcome. I request all supporters especially youths to come forward, support and make these events a big success," he tweeted. In a series of tweets, the actor said youths should raise their voice peacefully. He said this was the only way to achieve the promised SCS in Andhra Pradesh. The opposition parties and other groups have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of betraying the state by backtracking from its poll promise of according SCS. They also targeted the ruling Telugu Desam Party for "compromising" on the issue. Pawan Kalyan, who had been targeting the BJP and TDP for months, continued his attacks. "The muscle called courage and the qualities -- self respect, integrity and accountability are lacking in the political class of Andhra Pradesh," he tweeted. "We love Gandhi, we adore Ambedkar, we salute Sardar Patel, we respect our Constitution but not the snobbish leadership of north India. If they go on humiliating people of south India and hurting their self-respect... we know how to bring down their snobbishness. "Does the north Indian political elites know how many languages are there in the South? For them we are all Madrasis," Pawan added. The Congress has said it was ready to join hands with any party to achieve SCS. The Prathekya Hoda Sadhana Samithi, which is fighting for SCS, has asked the Telugu actor to learn a lesson from the Jallikattu protest and take a lead in achieving SCS. Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019 Islamabad, Jan 23 : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide $196.9 million to Pakistan for improving its roads, the media reported on Monday. The agreement for Post-Flood National Highways Rehabilitation Project was signed here by Tariq Bajwa, Secretary in the Economic Affairs Division, and Werner Liepach, the ADB country director, said Radio Pakistan. The project will contribute to the economic recovery of flood-affected areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces. Under this project, the NHA will rehabilitate 212 km of roads and 33 bridges of the national highways network. The project will be completed in three years. The total cost of the project is $218.8 million dollars. Patna, Jan 23 : In a show of unity by Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance, its top leaders, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, senior JD-U leader Sharad Yadav and state Congress President Ashok Choudhary, on Monday attended a 'Lok Samvad' here. Seeking to lay at rest speculations of differences within, they claimed that the alliance stands united. This is the first-ever show of unity since the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress came together to form the Grand Alliance and the government led by Nitish Kumar came to power in November 2015. The Lok Samvad participants included MLAs of the three parties, district presidents and block-level leaders and workers. "Nitish Kumar has stressed the need for smooth coordination among leaders and workers of the three parties right from block to the district level to monitor governance and implementation of development works," a JD-U leader said. Nitish Kumar has informed the leaders and workers of the Grand Alliance that committees at district and block levels will be formed soon for the implementation of 20-point programme. "Leaders of the Grand Alliance from district to block level will get place in the committee," he said. Lalu Prasad has praised the functioning of Nitish-led government and announced that a "Darbar" will be held for workers of the alliance on fourth Monday of every month here to listen to their grievances. "Laluji has assured the leaders and workers of the Grand Alliance that officers cannot ignore them and the government will look into it," a RJD leader said. Ashok Choudhary, who is the Bihar Education Minister, said there is no rift in the Grand Alliance government and everything is well. Shimla, Jan 23 : Patient care in over 700 government hospitals and dispensaries in Himachal Pradesh were badly hit as more than 3,000 doctors went on a day-long strike on Monday. Only casualty services and emergency surgeries worked in the state's major hospitals. The strike followed the Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association's call for an agitation over its demands including safety of doctors and pay parity. Most patients who turned up at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla and the Rajendra Prasad Medical College at Tanda town in Kangra district were caught unawares. Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association President Jiwanand Chauhan said the government's failure to ensure safety of doctors in the hospitals forced them to go on strike. "For the past four years we have been demanding safety of doctors on duty but the government is silent," he said. The association has claimed that a doctor after facing humiliation from politically connected people in a hospital in Una suffered a heart attack. Congress legislator Bambar Thakur is also accused of misbehaviour with a government doctor last month over issuing a handicap certificate. Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh said the government was concerned over the safety of doctors. He said the government was bringing a bill in the ensuing budget session in this regard. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The National Human Rights Commission on Monday issued notice to the Delhi government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) following reports of families who are yet to be rehabilitated nine years after being evicted during the expansion of Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-3 (T3). During the expansion of IGI (T3), 122 Dalit families residing in the Nangal Dewat village of Delhi were 'forcefully' evicted. Though as part of rehabilitation, 63 families got alternate accommodations, 59 families are still waiting to be rehabilitated. "The 59 Dalit families have been facing discrimination due to their caste. One such family, who re-allocated into another locality, was not allowed to cremate their dead as he was a Dalit from a different village. Expenditure on rented accommodation has put on them lot of financial burden in addition to other expenses related to the school fee of children etc," said a statement from the NHRC. The commission has issued notice to the Delhi government and the AAI, calling for reports within six weeks on the steps taken -- or proposed to be taken -- for relief and rehabilitation of these families. The commission noted that these families have knocked the doors of almost every concerned authority in the Centre and the government of Delhi but to no avail. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Delhi Police have arrested a 27-year-old gangster in connection with the daylight murder of a rival gang member here, police said on Monday. Deepak, a member of Gaurav Jharera gang, along with his nine associates had on July 17, 2016 killed 22-year-old Akash, a member of a rival group, after beating him with iron rods. "On the day of the crime, one of the accused Gaurav, along with three other juvenile gang members, was apprehended by local police, while their associates Laxman, Vishal, Vijay, Bunty and Deepak managed to escape," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said. Police teams arrested Deepak on Friday night when he came to meet one of his associates at Kargil Chowk in Dwarka, Yadav said. On questioning, Deepak told police that he belongs to a middle-class family and resided in government quarters in Delhi Cantonment area. After passing Class 12 from a government school, he got a job in an event management company. Later, he came in contact with gangster Gaurav Jharera through his cousin. "Deepak joined Gaurav's gang in order to get fame in the locality and started committing crimes. Gaurav is previously involved in 45 cases of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and others and is lodged in jail for the murder of Kalu Jharera during a gang war in Delhi Cantonment area," the officer said. Deepak told interrogators he hid in different areas of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand and Jammu for six months after murdering Akash and had came back to Delhi as he was in need of money from other gang members, he added. Kolkata, Jan 23 : West Bengal Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkaystha on Monday warned of "strict action" against those spreading rumours to cause unrest in the state. "Some people are spreading rumours about instances of robbery, molestation and child abduction by a group of armed and masked men in different districts and bordering areas of West Bengal. We are very much aware of this. Police will take strictest action against these mischief mongers who are spreading these rumours," Purkaystha said in a press conference. "The rumours are being spread just to create a sense of restlessness in the state. We have already arrested 25 people for spreading rumours and assaulting people," he said. Rumours were spread in villages across West Bengal's Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Burdwan districts that a large group of masked men are roaming around in the area and resorting to violence, robbery, child abduction and molestation. Some social media posts also accused the police of inactivity and asked the villagers to take action against the miscreants. Amid mass intimidation, several instances of mass beatings have taken place in the last one week. A mob in Burdwan district's Kalna lynched a man and severely injured four others suspecting them of child trafficking. A woman and his mother from Nadia district's Kalyani were also beaten up by a crowd in Ranaghat based on those rumours on Saturday. Both women had to be hospitalised. "We do not want any innocent people to be unnecessarily targeted. They should not be victimised because of such rumours," the State Police Chief said. New Delhi, Jan 23 : With Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, who is widely known to have the ear of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, set to retire on January 28, the grapevine in South Block and foreign policy circles is abuzz about whether he is going to get another extension. Jaishankar was appointed Foreign Secretary on January 29, 2015, a couple of days before his retirement, replacing Sujatha Singh who resigned in protest seven months before her date of superannuation. Jaishankar is known for his proximity to both Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his experience of having served as Ambassador in China and the US stands him in good stead. With Donald Trump taking over as the US President, Jaishankar's experience will be invaluable in dealing with the new administration. He has already been to Washington and met key members of the Trump transition team prior to the US presidential inauguration on January 20. The other immediate contenders by seniority for the position would have been Secretary (West) Sujatha Mehta, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha and Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna, who was shifted from London to Washington after only seven months, Ambassador to Italy Anil Wadhwa and Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae. But with all of them set to retire at various times this year, it is unlikely for them to be considered and then be given an extension. Ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale was at one time talked about to replace Jaishankar. If Jaishankar is given a one-year extension, then Gokhale can even make it for one year. However, a two-year extension will nix Gokhale's chances. "The Foreign Secretary's post is given to someone who has the best diplomatic accomplishments to his or her credit. If this criterion is followed, then Jaishankar stands head and shoulders above the others," said a former colleague of Jaishankar who retired as an ambassador last year. Jaishankar, a known workaholic who, according to insiders, often sleeps nights on his office couch, has been an astute articulator of the Modi foreign policy vision. If he is replaced, it has to be by someone who Modi -- and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Doval -- know well and would be ideologically comfortable working with him or her, particularly in such challenging times for international relations. And that person may be hard to find. Beijing, Jan 23 : China on Monday said it was "highly" sensitive about Taiwan and the US must understand that. Beijing also said "One China Policy" was the basis of Sino-US ties, urging the new American administration under the President Donald Trump to honour the pact. "We urge the new administration to fully understand the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and to continue pursuing the one China policy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here. "The One-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. Any US administration has the responsibility to honour the bipartisan commitment of successive US governments to continue to uphold the one-China principle," she added. After his election as US President, Trump took phone call by Taiwan President Tsai Ing- Wen, angering China. This was the first time any US President spoke to Tawain's head of state since 1979. Trump, in media interviews, said Beijing's "One China Policy" was negotiable. This riled up Beijing further. This has led to strain between the the two-largest economies of the world with China' state-controlled media threatening war if Washington meddled with Taiwan. China considers Taiwan as a breakaway island, which it has threatened to take back forcibly if necessary. Mumbai, Jan 23 : A massive fire near the Central Railway (CR) tracks at Masjid Bunder station severely disrupted evening peak hour traffic hitting tens of thousands of home-bound commuters here on Monday. A fire brigade official said the blaze broke out in around two dozen hutments adjacent to the seventh railway line near the station around 6 p.m., injuring six persons, including one seriously. "The fire is confined to the hutments only but the place is very congested and surrounded by buildings and railway lines, making the approach difficult," an official said. At least 12 fire tenders and eight water tankers were pressed into service to battle the blaze and was brought under control after nearly three hours, a BMC Disaster Control Cell official said. Six persons, mostly teenagers, sustained minor burn injuries in the blaze while one Ramjan I. Shaikh suffered severe burns. All the victims have been rushed to Sir J.J. Hospital for treatment, the official said. The CR's suburban and long-distance services were badly hit as the up and down fast tracks were closed for operations owing to the proximity of the fire to railway assets including high-tension electric cables and overhead wires. While several local trains services were cancelled, others moved in and out slowly and certain long-distance trains awaiting departure were delayed on Mumbai's local trains, which caters to over eight million commuters daily. The delays and disruptions extended to suburbs in north Mumbai, Thane and Raigad and the consequent spillover of commuters affected even the Western Railway (WR) services. Huge crowds of stranded commuters were witnessed at major CR stations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Byculla, Dadar, Ghatkopar, Mulund and WR's Dadar, Bandra and Andheri till late Monday night. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea by unaided recognised private schools, challenging a Delhi High Court order making it a must for them to take the Delhi government's prior sanction before hiking tuition fee. On January 19, 2016, the Delhi High Court had made it clear that private unaided schools, which were allotted land by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), shall not hike fees without prior sanction of the Delhi government's Education Department even if was during the mid-session. The bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud dismissed the plea by the Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools and the Association of Public Schools. The school bodies had contended that the Delhi government's permission is necessary if the proposed hike is before the start of an academic session and not if it was during mid-session. The two petitioners' associations had relied on top court's constitution bench judgment that had said that private unaided and minority institutions have full autonomy in the matters of their administration and the admissions. Finding no merit, the bench dismissed their plea, thereby upholding the January 19, 2016, Delhi High Court order. The High Court had also on July 27, 2016, dismissed the plea by the private schools, seeking the recall of January 19 order. With top court upholding the High Court order, now the Delhi government is likely to have a greater footprint on the administration of these schools. Washington, Jan 23 : An angry US media has lashed out at Donald Trump for terming the media "dishonest", as the unapologetic new US President entered his third day in office. Both The New York Times and Washington Post, among others, slammed Trump's "false claims" on the inauguration-day crowd, which he put at around 1.5 million, and also slammed his Press Secretary Sean Spicer for making "false statements". Kellyanne Conway, counselor to Trump, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the White House had put forth "alternative facts" to ones reported by the news media about the size of Friday's inauguration crowd. To Trump saying about the inauguration crowd, "It looked honestly like a million and a half people, whatever it was, it was, but it went all the way back to the Washington Monument" -- The New York Times said Trump's crowd was "significantly smaller and less than the 1.5 million people he claimed". "Aerial photographs clearly show that the crowd did not stretch to the Washington Monument," said NYT, adding "An expert hired by The Times found that Mr. Trump's crowd on the National Mall was about a third of the size of Mr. Obama's in 2009." Spicer also came in for criticism for stating on Sunday that: "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration A period A both in person and around the globe". NYT made a point-by-point rebuttal of Trump's claims on crowd size, TV viewership of the event, and also ridership on the Washington Metro System on Friday -- as compared to the crowds that thronged during the 2009 and 2013 inauguration of Barack Obama as President. Washington Post columnist Margaret Sullivan, in a piece titled 'The traditional way of reporting on a president is dead. And Trump's press secretary killed it' - wrote caustically: "The presidency is not a reality show, but President Trump on his first full day in office made clear that he's still obsessed with being what he once proudly called "a ratings machine." "He cares enough about it to send his press secretary, Sean Spicer, out to brazenly lie to the media in his first official briefing." Rebutting the new President's claims on crowd size and other issues, she writes: "Trump wants a flat-out war with the nation's media for one well-calculated reason: Because he believes it will continue to serve his political purposes, as it has for months. "Journalists should respond by doing their jobs responsibly, fairly and fearlessly, in service of the public good. "Somebody has to be the grown-up in the room. We've just been reminded of who it won't be.' The White House has launched an all-out war on the media, vowing to fight it "tooth and nail". Spicer's assertion that "this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - period" was lampooned on social media as well. President Trump's chief of staff also accused the media of attempting to "delegitimize" Trump on his first days in office and vowed to "fight back" against slanted coverage. "I'm saying there is an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president, and we are not going to sit around and let it happen," Reince Priebus said on Fox News Sunday. Tensions flared anew when Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump's top advisers, told CBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" that Spicer had merely presented "alternative facts" about the inauguration. She also accused Todd of laughing at her and said he symbolizes how Trump has been treated by the media. Kellyanne Conway has also said that the president would not be releasing his tax returns, reversing months of repeated campaign-trail promises to do so after an audit is completed. Conway's comments came in response to a Whitehouse.gov petition with more than 200,000 signatures calling on Trump to release his tax returns. Any petition on the site that receives 100,000 signatures in 30 days receives a response from the White House; this petition reached twice that in two days, said nbcnews. "The White House response is that he's not going to release his tax returns," Conway said in an interview on ABC's "This Week." In another development, President Trump faces a lawsuit accusing him of violating the US Constitution. A group comprised of former White House ethics lawyers and constitutional law scholars are alleging that Trump has contravened the Emoluments Clause by accepting payments to his many businesses from foreign governments, reports the New York Times. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the group behind the legal effort, seeks to block Trump from receiving such payments to his businesses without Congressional approval. Meanwhile, the new President reiterated that he will soon renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and discuss immigration when he meets the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Trump in his campaign last year promised to renegotiate the 22-year-old trade deal and provide more favourable terms to the US. The new President will meet his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on January 31. A meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected soon, according to the White House. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said. Trump has termed the NFTA the worst trade deal in history and blames it for the losses of many manufacturing jobs in the United States. Pena Nieto and Trudeau in a phone conversation on Sunday agreed to join forces to encourage economic integration in North America, according to a statement from the Mexican President's office. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, created one of the world's largest free trade zones by reducing or eliminating tariffs on most products. Trump also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and discussed the "threats" posed by Iran. The new leader told Netanyahu over phone that peace between Israel and Palestine can only be "directly" negotiated by the two parties, according to a White House statement. Trump also invited the Israeli leader to visit Washington early next month. Port Louis, Jan 23 : Pravind Jugnauth, son of Indian-origin Anerood Jugnauth, took over as Mauritius Prime Minister on Monday after the 86-year-old former premier resigned in favour of his son. Anerood Jugnauth, who has been in his post since 2014, announced in a televised address on Saturday that he was resigning in favour of a "younger and more dynamic leader", reported news channel Africanews. The move prompted accusations of nepotism and calls for refrendum from opponents, according to reports. Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is the leader of the main political party Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), and had already formed his ministerial cabinet after receiving an appointment letter from President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The main opposition Labour Party protested against the appointment which it termed as a "Father-Son Deal". The police rejected a request from the Labour Party to hold a sit-in protest. Labour leaders urged their supporters to wear black to denounce the move. "This is a black day for Mauritius. The Jugnauth family is turning the Island into a 'Banana Republic'. This is great treason in history as the population never voted for this dynastic arrangement," former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Navin Ramgoolam said. Pravind Jugnauth also holds the post of Finance Minister and his party has the majority of seats in the National Assembly since December 2014. The younger Jugnauth has studied Law at University of Buckingham and later joined the Lincoln's Inn in central London and became a Barrister. He then joined Aix-Marseille University in France where he graduated with an LLM, according to the government of Mauritius portal. Pravind is married and has three daughters. His father, Anerood, had served as both the President and Prime Minister of Mauritius and held various ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Rodrigues, Defence, Home Affairs and National Development Unit. His mother, Sarojini Ballah, is a primary school teacher by profession. She had actively participated in several political and social activities and was also the patron of various charitable organisations. A central figure of Mauritian politics in the 1980s and 1990s, the older Jugnauth continuously (except for the periods 1995-2000 and 2012-2014) held a constitutional office since 1976. Pravind Jugnauth had visited India in September last year as Finance Minister and held talks with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Sushma had appreciated Pravind Jugnauth for visiting India on his first tour abroad which was said to be in keeping with the "very special blood relationship" between India and Mauritius. Both sides had decided to extend their collaboration to areas of defence and security, and also restarted talks on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement (CECPA). Anerood Jugnauth had visited India in November last year as Prime Minister and had expressed support for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to demonetise higher value currency. Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is a middle-income country of some 1.3 million people, with a per capita GDP of just over $9,000. People of Indian origin comprise around 68 percent of Mauritius's total population of over 1.3 million. Most of them are descendants of Indian labourers who were brought in the 19th century and early 20th century to work in the sugarcane plantations. Panaji, Jan 23 : Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday accused the central government of insulting the country's soldiers. Scindia also claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to interfere with the autonomous institutions and attempts were being made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replace Mahatma Gandhi with himself. "It pains me that today we have in place in our country a Defence Minister, that has shown scant respect for our defence forces. The very fact that he mentions that Indian army has only realised its strength like that of 'Lord Hanuman' after the surgical strikes," Scindia said in Panaji. The Congress leader was in Goa to release the party's poll manifesto in Panaji. "The fact that he mentions that 30 years of steam was left off after September 29, is that not besmirching the many sacrifices that our army jawans have given through the last 50-55 years to keep the integrity of our motherland intact," Scindia said. Scindia also blamed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for not implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for all soldiers. "Today, when videos come out about the quality of rations and food that is given to jawans, people who give their lives to keep us safe at home, all of those facts are conveniently ignored," Scindia also said. He also accused the BJP-led central government of attacking the autonomy of institutions, including educations institutions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Neeti Ayog. "As the very fulcrum of our economic framework, the RBI today has become a puppet in the hands of the government. Diktats are beign sent from Delhi about how policies are to be made and those are turned around in a matter of hours without application of mind," Scindia said, adding that the demonetisation of currency was a result of one such decision. He also said the manner in which the photo of Mahatma Gandhi was replaced by that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Khadi Village Gramudyog advertisements was "shocking". "So key is the centralisation of one image in our country that today, even the Father of Nation has been replaced. This is something the people of Goa must also rise against," Scindia said. Mumbai, Jan 23 : Hospitality major EIH on Monday reported a rise of 8.29 per cent in its stand alone net profit for the third quarter (Q3) of 2016-17. The company which was formerly known as the 'East India Hotels'. It operates hotels and resorts under the Oberoi and Trident brands. The hospitality major's standalone Q3 net profit grew to Rs 54.31 crore from Rs 50.15 crore reported in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. However, the company's total income from operations declined by 6.39 per cent to Rs 375.38 crore from Rs 401.02 crore. "The Oberoi, New Delhi was closed on 1st April, 2016 for major renovations. The hotel is expected to be ready for commercial operations by 1st April, 2018," the company said in a regulatory filing to the BSE. The company's scrip at the BSE gained by 1.12 per cent during Monday's trade to close at Rs 99.15 from its previous close of Rs 98.05. Vasco (Goa), Jan 23 : The decision on whether Manohar Parrikar will continue as Defence Minister or return to state politics in Goa will be taken only after the assembly elections, BJP president Amit Shah said on Monday. "We will decide where Parrikar will work after elections," the Bharatiya Janata Party president said, in a way continuing the suspense over Parrikar's return to state politics. Parrikar was the Goa Chief Minister, when he was elevated to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government cabinet in 2014. "Manohar Parrikar is Defence Minster and Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he (Parrikar) is the jewel of my government," Shah told a poll rally in the port town of Vasco, 35 km from Panaji. "There is a lot of demand for Parrikar in Delhi, and here too. Hundreds of people from here (Goa) too say, send him here. There, PM Modi needs him," he added. "But I want to say one thing. Wherever Parrikar is, the government in Goa will be under his leadership. Goans should be assured of that," the BJP president said. Rabat (Morocco), Jan 23 : The Kingdom of Morocco on Friday announced to establish a multi-specialty field hospital in Juba, the capital of the conflict-ridden east-central African nation, South Sudan. Moroccan King Mohammed VI, who will be visiting the Republic of South Sudan, gave his instruction as part of a humanitarian mission for the people, an official statement said. "This field hospital has a capacity of 30 beds that can be extended to 60. It comprises 20 specialist doctors, 18 nurses and will provide medical services in various specialties including pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, traumatology, dentistry, ophthalmology and ENT medicine," said an official statement. According to a United Nations report, South Sudan is facing Africa's largest displacement crisis as conflict between government and opposition forces entered fourth year in 2017. The report adds that South Sudan is one of the most logistically challenging countries in the world. Morocco's Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan held a meeting in Juba with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Alor, in this regard. The Moroccan ministry statement added that the hospital will also have a medical laboratory and a pharmacy. "This action is part of the pan-African humanitarian tradition of the Kingdom. It is also part of the active solidarity of Morocco with the brotherly people of the Republic of South Sudan," a statement said. The UN refugee agency has said that over 6.1 million South Sudanese need urgent humanitarian assistance as disease and escalation of violence among other reasons have triggered food insecurity. New Delhi, Jan 23 : India has opposed an informal proposal by the EU and Canada for a global investment pact with an investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism at the WTO by which corporates can take governments to international arbitration for resolution of disputes, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. "We rejected it completely. We want investments to be a bilateral thing...we do not believe in making investments a subject of multilateral disputes," Sitharaman told reporters here. The issue came up at an informal meeting of key World Trade Organisation (WTO) members on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. Sitharaman opined against the "contentious" ISDS mechanism, which is part of a bilateral agreement between the EU and Canada. EU nations and Canada want other WTO countries to agree to this multilateral mechanism to resolve investor disputes. "There is no way, we will have investment treaty in which companies can take the sovereign or even the regional governments to court. Anything with regard to investments, we wanted to be settled by the domestic laws and courts, and only after that appeal outside," she said. Noting other WTO members, including Argentina and Brazil, are also opposed to ISDS, the minister said: "So at this stage, to have this template for a multi-lateral approach to investment may be immature." In this connection, at a BRICS arbitration conference here last year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had urged the group of emerging economies to engage for exploring the setting up of arbitration centres for use by the grouping as well as by non-BRICS countries. Pointing to how some centres, particularly in the developed world, had monopolised the international arbitration process, he said: "Many countries felt that the awards in these arbitrations are loaded against the emerging economies. "It is, therefore, is important to develop arbitration capabilities, capacity building and our own jurisdiction centre." Sithraman on Monday said that India asked the members for detailed discussions on WTO issues among the groups before they meet in Paris in June. India wants a resolution on providing safeguards to poor farmers and a permanent solution to the public food stock holding issue, she added. Vasco (Goa), Jan 23 : Indian's smallest state Goa enhances the country's beauty in the same way a mole enhances the charm of a beautiful face, BJP National President Amit Shah said on Monday. "Goa is a small state. In such a big country, it is located along the western shores. Goa may be a small state, but it is a beautiful state," Shah told a poll rally in South Goa's Vasco assembly constituency, located 35 km from Panaji. "God sometimes places a mole on a beautiful face, which enhances the beauty of the face. The same way, because of Goa's beauty and culture, the beauty of India is enhanced," he added. Goa is one of the five states, along with Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur, which are going to polls. Goa and Punjab will feature in the first round of elections on February 4. Kolkata, Jan 23 : West Bengal on Monday celebrated legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 120th birth anniversary with floral tributes, devotional songs, meetings and rallies. The main function, organised by the state government was held in northern Bengal's picturesque Darjeeling hill station. Attended by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the function commenced with blowing of a siren alarm at 12.15 p.m. sharp to mark the exact time of Bose's birth in 1897. Paying homage to Bose, Banerjee pledged to fulfil his dreams by working for all sections of people without discrimination. "We will fulfil the dream of Netaji. We will keep working for the common people. Netaji was a leader of the country. A true leader does not discriminate and works for all," she said. The Banerjee government has been observing the legendary revolutionary's birth anniversary in the hills for the last three years. Banerjee announced that Rs 10 lakh has been allotted for the renovation of the house in the hills where Netaji resided. "We celebrate the birth anniversary of Netaji every year but we do not know about his death. This is a tragedy," she said. In another function held at Netaji Bhavan, the ancestral house of Bose in South Kolkata, Governor K.N. Tripathi paid glowing tributes to the freedom fighter. Netaji's family members were present on the occasion. The programme concluded with the Netaji Birthday concert where Meeryung Hall, the wife of the present US consul general to Kolkata Craig Hall, took part. Political leaders conveyed the message of communal harmony on the occasion and Left parties took out a rally in the city. "Let us take an oath to maintain communal harmony which will be a true homage on Netaji's birth anniversary. He believed in Indian nationalism," CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said here. School children, local clubs and social organisations across the districts garlanded the freedom fighter's statues and sung patriotic songs. Exhibitions, sit-and-draw competitions, debates and quizzes on Netaji's life and works were organised throughout the state to mark the occasion. New Delhi, Jan 23 : All departmental inquiries against officers of the All-India Services will now have to be completed within six months, the government said on Monday as it tweaked the service rules. Giving details about the decision, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said that the AIS (D&A) Rules, 1969 have been amended to provide specific time-lines at different stages of the enquiry, with a view to complete the disciplinary proceedings against the members of All-India Services in a time-bound manner. As per the amended rules, a time limit of six months has been fixed for completion of departmental enquiry and submission of report. "In case it is not possible to complete the enquiry within six months for justifiable reasons to be recorded in writing, additional time limit not exceeding six months at one time can be granted by the Disciplinary Authority, thereby ensuring accountability for completion of enquiry," the Minister said. The accused will get 30 days time to give their response to the chargesheet which can be extended to not more than 30 days by the Disciplinary Authority. But in no case the extension will be provided beyond 90 days, Singh said. "Similarly, a period of 15 days has been provided to send a representation on the advice of UPSC regarding the penalty to be imposed on the delinquent officer and for such representation also, no extension will be provided beyond 45 days," he added. Singh said that the amendment in the All India Service Rules has been brought in keeping with the spirit of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to "bring in more accountability and time-bound completion of every exercise in the course of governance". The new amendment in the Rules, he said, will "strengthen the culture of working within deadlines". New Delhi, Jan 23 : The Union Environment Ministry on Monday challenged the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stating that it does not have jurisdiction to quash its notification exempting certain construction projects from obtaining the environment clearance. The tribunal on January 5, said that the Union environment's notification -- a subordinate legislation -- shall not be adhered until further orders The Environment Ministry on December 9, 2016 issued a notification exempting big buildings and real estate projects spanning an area of 20,000 sq. m. to 1,50,000 sq. m. from getting environment clearance. The ministry however challenged the NGT, stating that the green court has no power there. "We have taken the preliminary objection as the notification was a subordinate legislation issued by Environment Minister to which the NGT has no jurisdiction to quash. Now its for the tribunal to decide," Divya Prakash Pandey, Union Environment Ministry's counsel told IANS. The ministry's notification rejected by the Tribunal also replaced the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) authority from the state of centre to the local urban authorities like municipalities or development authority. The green court made the observation following the petition of an NGO Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity. New Delhi, Jan 23 : CBI Director-designate Alok Kumar Verma is likely to take over as chief of the premier investigation agency on January 27, a day after the Republic Day. Sources said that Verma would continue in his position as Delhi Police Chief till January 26 to oversee security arrangements. Delhi Police has a critical role in ensuring security for the Republic Day and deploys over 40,000 of its personnel to guard the national capital. Verma is expected to take up his new assignment on January 27. The government has so far not named a successor to Verma. "He is likely to take over as CBI chief on January 27," a Home Ministry official told IANS. Asked about the appointment of a new Delhi Police chief, he said that the central government would decide by January 27. Verma, who was appointed as the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on January 19, is a 1979 batch officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. He was appointed to the post almost one-and-a-half months after the superannuation of previous incumbent Anil Sinha on December 2. Verma's appointment will be for a period of two years from the date of assumption of the charge of his office. Although he is due to retire in July, the government could give him an extension. His appointment as the CBI director was his 24th posting in his 36-year career as a police officer. Verma, who started his career as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (under training) in Delhi Police in December 24, 1979, was one of the front runners for the CBI Director's post and has been the Delhi Police chief for the last 11 months. Shillong, Jan 23 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday said it had extended support to the Congress during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The RSS took out its 'Path Sanchalan' (procession) here in the capital of Christian-majority state Meghalaya with a mission to unite India. The Sangh also appealed to the people in the state not to believe media reports or allegations made by "divisive forces" about the organization. "The RSS is a nationalist organisation. We had also supported then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 in the interest of India," RSS pracharak Sunil Mohanty in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh told journalists here in Meghalaya. "Any political party or any social organisation which is contributing towards the nationalistic cause, definitely the RSS will help. But for instance, if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does anything which harms the national integration, how can we support?" he said. Recently, a Meghalaya Congress minister Zenith M. Sangma had alleged that the RSS is helping the BJP in Meghalaya keeping in mind the 2018 Assembly polls. Nearly 800 RSS cadres -- mostly from the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities from 41 villages in 10 districts across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills areas -- donning its new uniform - brownish trousers and white shirts and armed with sticks marched from Madan Iewrynghep to Gorkha Pathshala Higher Secondary School playground. For the second consecutive year, the RSS cadres took out a march in Shillong to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 120th birth anniversary "People should not judge the RSS without understanding its work. You should not develop any 'fear' about the 'socio-cultural' body," Mohanty told the gathering. Exhorting the tribesmen in northeastern states not to judge the RSS without understanding its work, Mohanty said, "There are a lot of misgivings about the RSS. But the RSS aims to unite the country. You may belong to any group or any religion, but we are all brothers and sisters of India." He said the RSS works for character building of the individual, and through these, to build up a strong organisation in order to take the country to the pinnacle of development. "Development should be all-round. A developed India will bring peace in the world, and India has tremendous quality to lead the world," Mohanty said. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Eyeing a comeback in Delhi's civic bodies, the Congress on Monday said that it will decide on its candidates after taking feedback from party workers in each ward. "Congress will select the candidates for the civic elections after taking feedback from booth-level party workers of prospective candidates in each ward," Delhi Congress unit chief Ajay Maken told reporters here. "The candidates will have to submit their applications, along with with their bio-data, at the control room to be set up at the Delhi party office, and the candidates would be selected after talking to booth-level workers and leaders," the Congress leader said. He also said that the last date for submission of applications would be a week from the final declaration of seats to be reserved. "The party will mostly field clean and youth candidates," he said. Maken also launched "Toot gayi vikas ki dor, Vapas Chalo Congress ki aur" (Development has come to a halt, Let's return to Congress) as the party's slogan. He said, "The people of Delhi are fed up with the 10-year rule of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in the civic bodies, while on the other hand, the two-year rule of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has witnessed a total stagnation in development works." Hitting out at the AAP, Maken said, "AAP has been in power for over two years, but not a single brick has been laid for the development of unauthorised colonies." He also accused the Delhi government of locking horns with the central government and the Lt. Governor on each and every issue, leaving little time to concentrate on development. "When chikungunya and dengue took epidemic proportions in Delhi, all the ministers of Delhi were touring outside the city," he alleged. The Congress would prepare a charge-sheet against the AAP government in Delhi and the BJP-ruled civic bodies, which will be published on January 31, he said. "Two committees have been formed under Farhad Suri, leader of the Opposition in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), and chief spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee to prepare the charge-sheets," he added. He also said that the party will hold conventions in all districts of the city from February 4 to 16, in which the charge-sheets will be prepared, so that Congress workers can go around the houses to explain the failures of the AAP and the BJP. "We will explain how the Congress government carried out all-round developments for the regularisation of unauthorised colonies. Mumbai, Jan 23 : A doctor from Thane resuscitated, gave first-aid and helped save the life of a passenger at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here early on Monday. Anaesthesiologist Gayatri Patankar had arrived from Dubai and just cleared customs when she saw an obese man in his mid-50s slumped on a wheelchair with a crowd gathered around him, around 11.30 p.m. "The onlookers informed that he suddenly fell and lost consciousness, I checked and he was cyanosed, limp and pulseless," Patankar told IANS. As the Mumbai International Airport Ltd. medical emergency team was summoned, she wasted no time and placed him on the floor and gave him a cardiac massage. A medical team arrived with an emergency kit and they continued CPR on the patient, giving shocks with a defibrillator. After the third shock, the patient started breathing and the airport medical team also reached by then at the spot. The patient, said to be from Mumbai, who arrived by an international flight, was administered certain injections and medicines. As he showed gradual signs of improvement, he was shifted to the Seven Hills Hospital at Marol, early Monday. Patankar said the hospital authorities informed her this evening that the patient was fine and recovering well. "It was the most fulfilling experience of my life as all the passengers around watched me. Later people clapped and saluted, one little girl even touched my feet. This is my greatest reward," Patankar said. A Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) official said another person who suffered a cardiac arrest had been similarly resuscitated at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on January 19 by the airport medical team. Mumbai, Jan 23 : Iconic actor and filmmaker Jackie Chan, who arrived here on Monday for promoting his upcoming Sino-Indian film "Kung Fu Yoga", says he would like to act in Bollywood films and loves Indian culture, food and people. "I want to do a Bollywood film, is there any director to hire me," quipped Jackie Chan at the press conference here. "I do not want to do any action-comedy films. I am interested in doing romantic Indian films! You know 11 years ago, I tried to do a Bollywood film but that was so melodramatic and I could not fit into that. But now I think I can," he added. The film also features actor Sonu Sood, who said: "I think during the shooting of the film, Jackie used to get excited whenever we shot for the dance sequences, he would get ready wearing Indian clothes and would start dancing even before the camera rolled." Directed by Stanley Tong, the film "Kung Fu Yoga" also features Bollywood actors Amyra Dastur, Disha Patani along with Sonu, who is also the distributor of the film. The cast of the film was present at the JW Marriot along with the director Stanley Tong. Actor Shilpa Shetty introduced Jackie on stage. As it was a very emotional moment for Shilpa when Jackie entered the stage with his arms folded in 'Namaste' the actress touched his feet saying, "Being an actress I never had this kind of a fan-girl moment. I am feeling blessed to share the stage with Jackie sir." Asked if he watched Bollywood cinema before this collaboration, Jackie said: "I started watching Sonu Sood's movie after meeting him as I wanted to know him." "Honestly, as a kid though I used to watch Bollywood movies, neither I understood the language nor those dance music scenes that never interest me. But I think in last 15 years, things have changed a lot. There is good technology, great fight sequences, actions and lot more. I think it is probably one of the best in the world," Jackie answered on being asked if he likes Bollywood films. Jackie Chan is playing the character of a renowned professor of archaeology at the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xi'an, China, who teams up with young Indian professor Ashmita (played by Amyra Dastur) and assistant Kyra (played by Disha Patani) to locate the lost Magadha treasure of India in Tibet. The film "Kung Fu Yoga" is scheduled for release in China on January 28 and in India on February 3. Chennai, Jan 23 : DMK Working President and the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly M.K. Stalin on Monday said the party has demanded a probe by a sitting judge of High Court into the police action against the Jallikattu protestors and the violence. Speaking to reporters here after meeting Governor C.H. Vidyasagar Rao the DMK leader said the party has urged the former for a probe into the police action against the protestors in support of Jallikattu and the violence. Jallikattu is the famous bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu held during the Pongal festivities. He also said policemen themselves had put on fire auto rickshaws based on video clippings and hence there is a need for probe. Meanwhile speaking to reporters Commissioner of Police Chennai S.George said the police had explained to the protestors about the provisions of the ordinance that enabled conduct of Jallikattu. He said the police had repeatedly requested the protestors at Marina to disperse. George also said some anti-national elements were among the protestors at Marina. According to him all the protestors have vacated Marina. United Nations, Jan 23 : India has contributed $100,000 to a UN fund to help Haiti recover from the ravages of a 2010 cholera epidemic that claimed more than 10,000 lives and was blamed on peacekeepers from Nepal. Ashish Sinha, first secretary in India's UN, mission handed over the cheque last week to Jennifer Topping, the executive coordinator of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), which administers the Haiti fund. The UN Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund was set up last year in response to criticism about the organisation's failure to quickly take responsibility for the cholera outbreak attributed to Nepali peacekeepers and improper disposal of human waste that polluted the water supply. The fund has a target of $200 million to be raised through donations. The fund says that its aim is to "significantly improve access to care and treatment in short term and also to address issues of water and sanitation and health systems in long term". India's contribution comes after recent disclosures that a contingent sent by India to Haiti peacekeeping operations had not been properly inoculated against cholera, a serious lapse because of the earlier history with Nepali troops. The Indians are participating in the peacekeeping operations as police. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters earlier this month that the peacekeepers who had not been vaccinated against cholera were being inoculated in the field and the country that sent them would be charged for the procedure. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) Aligarh, Jan 23 : Noted theatre and film personality M.K. Raina on Monday said a university is a safety valve for a democratic system "where there is a space for youngsters to create ideas and work on innovations". He added that folk music, theatre and other cultural activities are symbolic of a composite society and these arts need to be researched. Raina was speaking at the inaugural function of the three-day international conference of Indian Society for Theatre Research (ISTR) on "travelling performance and theatre cultures: Assessing Praxis, Paradigms and Perspectives" at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Raina also delivered a plenary address on "Theatre in Conflict: A Case of Kashmir". He urged the AMU administration to start a separate department for theatre studies. Presiding over the function, AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah (retd) said it is imperative for theatre professionals and researchers to accept necessary changes, which are taking place in today's world. He added that the existing cinema world in India and other countries has a huge contribution from theatre personalities. Shah further said that there is, however, a need for theatre to become more versatile. Ravi Chaturvedi, Founder President, ISTR addressed the gathering by providing insights on travelling performances and its evolution in India. David Whitton of Lancaster University in Britain said theatre performances and plays have always been a part of mainstream education and humans have the tendency to these cultural activities in their daily lives. Boris Dausa Pastor of Intitut Del Teater at Barcelona in Spain said Indian folk cultural activities including the street plays and theatre has a huge impact on him and he is particularly interested in exploring more from the folk theatre. Delivering the key-note address, Dattatreya Dutt of Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkata talked about the history of theatre culture and the obstacles faced. Vibha Sharma, Organising Secretary of the Conference, talked about the focus areas of the Conference, which included deliberations on Jatra, Nautanki, Chaon and Sufi folk, among other topics. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated new Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth who assumed office on Monday after his father Anerood Jugnauth, 86, stepped down from the post. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the telephone with Pravind Kumar Jugnauth a short while ago to congratulate him on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Mauritius," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Monday. It said Modi and Pravind Jugnauth, a person of Indian origin, affirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen the time-tested and unique relationship between India and Mauritius. "The Prime Minister also appreciated the leadership and contribution of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to strengthening the strong bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius," the statement said. Pravind Jugnauth thanked Modi for the telephone call. Anerood Jugnauth, who has been in his post since 2014, announced in a televised address on Saturday that he was resigning in favour of a "younger and more dynamic leader", reported news channel Africanews. The move prompted accusations of nepotism and calls for referendum from opponents, according to reports. Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is the leader of the main political party Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), and had already formed his ministerial cabinet after receiving an appointment letter from President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The main opposition Labour Party protested against the appointment which it termed as a "father-son deal". Pravind Jugnauth also holds the post of Finance Minister and his party has the majority of seats in the National Assembly since December 2014. The younger Jugnauth has studied Law at University of Buckingham and later joined the Lincoln's Inn in central London and became a Barrister. He then joined Aix-Marseille University in France where he graduated with an LLM, according to the government of Mauritius portal. Pravind is married and has three daughters. His father, Anerood, had served as both the President and Prime Minister of Mauritius and held various ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Rodrigues, Defence, Home Affairs and National Development Unit. His mother, Sarojini Ballah, is a primary school teacher by profession. She had actively participated in several political and social activities and was also the patron of various charitable organisations. A central figure of Mauritian politics in the 1980s and 1990s, the older Jugnauth continuously (except for the periods 1995-2000 and 2012-2014) held a constitutional office since 1976. Pravind Jugnauth had visited India in September last year as Finance Minister and held talks with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Sushma had appreciated Pravind Jugnauth for visiting India on his first tour abroad which was said to be in keeping with the "very special blood relationship" between India and Mauritius. Both sides had decided to extend their collaboration to areas of defence and security, and also restarted talks on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement (CECPA). Anerood Jugnauth had visited India in November last year as Prime Minister and had expressed support for Modi's move to demonetise higher value currency. Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is a middle-income country of some 1.3 million people, with a per capita GDP of just over $9,000. People of Indian origin comprise around 68 per cent of Mauritius's total population of over 1.3 million. Most of them are descendants of Indian labourers who were brought in the 19th century and early 20th century to work in the sugarcane plantations. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday demanded President's rule in Tamil Nadu to redeem the state from the "Naxals, Jehadis and Porkis", after the protests over Jallikattu at Marina Beach in Chennai turned violent. "President's Rule necessary. CRPF, BSF and Army must be mobilised for strike. It is now or never to recover TN from Naxals & Jehadis & Porkis," Sawmy wrote in Twitter. In this tweet, he contradicted his earlier position where he asked for Sasikala Natarajan to be made the Chief Minister of the state in place of incumbent O. Panneerselvam. "Sasikala should take over. NRH Natarajan be kept far away from power. Panneer (O. Panneerselvam) is a good man but the road to hell is paved with good intentions," Swamy, a Tamil himself, had tweeted earlier. Later, speaking with India Today, Swamy said that the sudden violence in Chennai was actually triggered by Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. "Genuine agitators have dispersed. The main organiser said he is leaving Marina. Today there are people with Prabhakaran's and Hafiz Sayeed's posters. This is now an ISI-financed agitation," Swamy said. Earlier in the day, the peaceful protest at Marina Beach turned violent as large posse of police personnel swooped on the huge crowd which had massed at the sprawling beach since January 17 and began to drag away the young protesters. The state government on Sunday had organised Jallikattu at several places, but the protesters asked for a "permanent solution". A group torched several vehicles parked at the Ice House police station. At most protest venues across Tamil Nadu, slogans were raised against both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Panneerselvam, and there were random calls too demanding an independent Tamil state. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, whose tenure was scheduled to end on January 28, has been given a second extension of his term by one year, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet said in a notification on Monday. According to the notification, Jaishankar's term has been extended from January 29, 2017 until January 28, 2018. Jaishankar, a 1977-batch IFS officer and who is widely known to have the ear of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was appointed Foreign Secretary on January 29, 2015, a couple of days before his retirement, replacing Sujatha Singh, who resigned in protest seven months before her date of superannuation. Jaishankar is known for his proximity to both Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his experience of having served as Ambassador in China and the US stands him in good stead. With Donald Trump taking over as the US President, Jaishankar's experience will be invaluable in dealing with the new administration. He has already been to Washington and met key members of the Trump transition team prior to the US presidential inauguration on January 20. Jaishankar, a known workaholic who, according to insiders, often sleeps in night on his office couch, has been an astute articulator of the Modi foreign policy vision. Jaipur, Jan 24 : After a protest by a Muslim group here against the participation of controversial writer Taslima Nasreen at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the organisers on Monday said they will consider their request not to invite her again. Festival producer Sanjoy Roy said in a statement: "They expressed their anger... I heard them out. Explained we supported minorities in every way. Underscored that we are a platform for all points of view." Around 25-30 persons staged a protest outside Diggi Palace, saying that the writings of Taslima Nasrin denigrates Islam and that the organisers should not have invited her. Taslima's presence at the festival was not revealed earlier. The session was themed around her latest memoir "Exile" -- a cumulative chronicle of her days in Kolkata and the circumstances under which she was, in her own words, "hurriedly shifted, first to Jaipur and then to Delhi, confined to an obscure safe house, and facing incessant pressure from senior officials and politicians to leave India" and is replete with dark imageries and repeated provocations. In conversation with Salil Tripathi, the chair of the writers-in-prison committee of PEN International, the controversial writer said: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life." "They issue fatwas against you and they want to kill you. But why do they need to do so? If they disagree with me, they can write against me, share their views like we do. They can have conversations rather than fatwas." Nasreen said Muslim women are "oppressed" and that Uniform Civil Law is the need of the hour to protect the rights of women. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against Uniform Civil Law. Is not having Uniform Civil Law democratic?" she asked. From a poet in the late 1980s, Nasrin rose to global attention by the end of the 20th century owing to her essays and novels with feminist views and severe criticism of Islam. Her 1993 novel "Lajja" garnered severe criticism in Bangladesh. "Uniform Civil Law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why are they not ready to accept criticism. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she said. After multiple threats and attacks against her in the backdrop of her novel Lajja, Taslima escaped to Sweden in 1994 and spent the next 10 years in exile in Europe and America. Coming to India in 2004, she settled in Kolkata, where she lived till November 2007, followed by a move to New Delhi. she again moved to Sweden in 2008 and later worked as a research scholar at New York University. "Why shouldn't the Muslim women have the same rights? Is it democracy? Encouraging fundamentalists and misogynists from any side is neither democratic nor secular. I am against all kinds of fundamentalists. "Without serious criticism of Islam, you will not be able to make Islamic countries secular. The women will continue to suffer and be oppressed," said the 55-year-old writer. Nasreen also said that without freedom of expression, secularism has no meaning. Taslima is now a citizen of Sweden. She has been continuously getting Indian visas since 2004 and currently lives in New Delhi. Jaipur, Jan 24 : Internet and mobile phones, smart and otherwise, may have made communications and information access to information instant but also left users vulnerable to surveillance from state agencies, warns a British journalist who had a role in publicising both Julian Assange and Edward Snowden's explosive revelations of US government secrets. But Guardian journalist Luke Harding admits that while openness and transparency by governments is laudable and needed for accountability, there is some information needed to be kept confidential for national security, citing how the Wikileaks trove fell into the hands of the Russians, who purportedly used it to influence the 2016 US Presidential Elections. Part of a team of international journalists who published the leaked files of Snowden, a former contractor of US' National Security Agency and the "biggest whistle-blower in history", Harding, author of "The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World's Most Wanted Man", in a session on the Jaipur Literary Festival 2017's final day on Monday, related the intrigue-laden story. Noting Snowden, who had in 2013 become disillusioned with the US intelligence services' massive operation to spy on its own citizens, via the internet and smartphones "without democratic discussion, approval, or consent", he said that the American gathered evidence and fled the US for Hong Kong from where arranged a meeting with Guardian journalists. After examining the files he took from the NSA, they texted their editor a succinct message: "The Guinness is good", pre-arranged to mean that the material was legitimate. A Guardian team, including Harding, then confined themselves themselves up in a "bunker" in London to pore over the thousands of leaked documents and found the surveillance operation, which had included German Chancellor Angela Merkel as a target, also involved other intelligence services, including the British. "You Brits are the worst of the lot", he recalled Snowden as saying. Harding went on to describe the inept attempts by the British government to stop the leak, after the Guardian had published several explosive stories with Prime Minister David Cameron ordering several Guardian computers to be destroyed, despite the fact the material was also held by the New York Times, and by Snowden himself. Asked about the ethical implications of leaks such as those of Snowden and Assange, which had also been published by the Guardian, Harding, who has also written "Wikileaks: Inside Julian Assange's War on Secrecy" said: "Julian's view is that if you release all information, governments can be made accountable. My view is that there are times when some messages and sources need to be confidential, for national security. "We fell out over that," he said, adding that lately "Wikileaks has been captured by the Kremlin and used to undermine the US election". But he went on to warn the audience of state snooping and steps they could take. "Governments are listening to all of us, here and around the world. They can remotely activate the microphones on your phones, they can track you using the location GPS on your phone," he said. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) Were beyond thrilled to be a part of Infocomm again and to unveil our new digital signage solutions, said Lisa Schneider, VP of Marketing & Sales. Videotel Digital is excited to announce their appearance at this years Infocomm in Orlando, Florida. A part of the event in 2011, Southern Californias leading manufacturer of industrial digital signage products and solutions will join nearly 1,000 other exhibitors representing all facets of audiovisual technology. At the pro-AV industrys largest trade show in the US, Videotel Digital will display their new HD2600XD industrial grade DVD player and new network player along with their newest interactive solutions, SENSE, MOVE, PUSH, and ELEVATE. In addition to these signage solutions, they will highlight the industrial digital media players theyre well known for. A once-a-year opportunity for the 40,000 attendees expected to attend, the latest audiovisual technologies for display, projection, lighting and staging, digital signage, conferencing, digital content creation, networking, and signal distribution will be on tap. The audiovisual conference floor will display over 500,000 square feet of audiovisual technology solutions for attendees from 110 countries to peruse. High-level executives and decision makers from the commercial AV and installation markets recognize InfoComm as its premier marketplace. Were beyond thrilled to be a part of it again said Lisa Schneider, VP of Marketing & Sales. For more information about Videotel Digital visit http://www.videoteldigital.com. About Videotel Digital: Videotel Digital is a leading manufacturer of Industrial Digital Signage Media Players, Industrial DVD Players, and Interactive Digital Signage Solutions. The industry leader services numerous industries from retail to healthcare, federal and educational concerns, hospitality, events, and museums among others. Videotel Digital Industrial Audio/Video products provide convenience with features such as Auto Start, Auto Play and Auto Loop. The products also seamlessly Auto Repeat for continuous play without manual interaction. About InfoComm: InfoComm is at the center of the pro-AV industry and happily supplies technology managers the products they need to deliver today's exceptional communications experiences. The conference serves those who create multimillion dollar installations. These industry pros include Fortune 500 corporations, AV professionals from major universities, design consultants, and systems integrators, among others. Nonprofit launches initiative to build brain injury support network using the Power of Acknowledgement to combat silence and stigma. At the age of eighteen, Edward Devitt IIs life changed, as is often the case, in the space of an instant. The car his friend was driving, in which he was the front-seat passenger, crashed into a toll barrier, knocking him into a coma that lasted several days. The brain trauma resulting from the accident forced him to undergo extensive physical and cognitive therapy. Moreover, due to the many common but false perceptions surrounding such injuries, and lack of resources for those who have sustained them, he experienced a profound feeling of isolation, leading him into a vortex of depression and addiction. Now age thirty-six, addiction-free, and with virtually no residual physical impairment, he is the founder of Talking Brains Initiative (TBI), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to address the issues surrounding various forms of brain trauma. He seeks to fill a unique niche by focusing on addiction problems among veterans with PTS (Post-Traumatic Stress). Recently, TBI announced an aggressive campaign to expand the number of support groups for those affected by severe brain injuries. Outreach has been a major focus of the organizations efforts since its inception. A member of the National Speakers Organization, Mr. Devitt has, over the past three years, given talks at numerous schools, civic organizations, and conferences. Through his web site, he has set up an interactive blog, http://www.brainnewday.com/. But he feels the time has come to augment these efforts with a more personal, hands-on forum, where those afflicted with traumatic brain injuries, and their loved ones, can share and discuss their experiences in the presence of others. Two chapters have already been established, in Newburgh and Middletown, New York. Mr. Devitt acts as facilitator at the latter's meetings, which is offered in affiliation with the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS). I was silent for fifteen years, and thinking I was the only one dealing with these problems is Im sure what most contributed to my struggle with addiction, says the soft-spoken yet fiercely committed Mr. Devitt. Whats important is to open up a dialog, impress upon people that addiction isnt a weakness, and having a brain injury isnt a character flaw. For further information on Brain New Day, Talking Brains Initiative, and TBIs support group initiative, or to book Ed Devitt II for speaking engagements, please visit the Brain New Day website, http://www.BrainNewDay.com Mr. Devitt can also be contacted directly, at 845.341.3809, or Ed(at)BrainNewDay.com. Media Contact: Ed Devitt II 845.341.3809 Ed(at)BrainNewDay.com Hillers breadth of experience will usher in a new era for our customers by expanding available resources and offerings. The Hiller Companies is pleased to announce that American Fire Equipment Sales and Service Corporation will be joining its team. The Hiller Companies offers fire protection and security products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Hiller, headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, has branch offices from Houston to Boston and purchased American Fire on January 3, 2017. Hiller prides itself on a strong foundation of experience steeped in almost 100 years in the fire protection industry coupled with the most modern service technology. By combining Hillers experience with the expertise of American Fire, Hiller is looking forward to expanding their service area in the western United States throughout Arizona, Utah, Nevada and surrounding areas. American Fire has been a leader in the Fire Protection Industry for 25 years, Hiller Companies CEO Patrick Lynch said. As a veteran-owned business, we respect the ideals and integrity on which American Fire was founded. We welcome the American Fire employees to the Hiller team and look forward to leveraging the strengths of these two premier organizations to deliver even more value for our customers. American Fire serves customers in Phoenix, Yuma, Tucson, Show-Low, Pinetop and Lakeside, Arizona as well as in Reno, Nevada, Price Utah and surrounding areas. With a focus on mining, telecommunication, power generation, data centers and the health care industry, American Fire serves clients such as Go Daddy, Banner Hospitals, and Verizon. We are very confident that Hiller will continue the tradition of excellence we are known for in the fire protection industry, former owner Ann Papuga said. Hillers breadth of experience will usher in a new era for our customers by expanding available resources and offerings. John Papuga, former owner of American Fire, will continue as General Manager under Hillers ownership. The team at American Fire has committed themselves not only to quality products and services but also to a progressive perspective in fire protection, John Papuga said. We have worked to create an environmentally friendly, sustainable company. We know Hiller shares that goal, and we look forward to continuing to implement green solutions for the company and our customers. This is a really great time to be on the Hiller team, and we look forward to continued growth and expansion. For more information about Hiller, please visit our website at http://www.hillerfire.com. The Hiller Companies offer fire protection products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. We are proud to safeguard everything from small businesses to nuclear testing facilities, yachts to aircraft carriers, and gas stations to offshore platforms. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact John Mackey at 251-661-1275 or email at jmackey(at)hillercompanies(dot)com. The Everly Lobby (Kimpton Hotels) Were excited to offer guests a variety of great locations while introducing some extraordinary hotel and restaurant offerings that are unlike anything else out there. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants today announced two new hotels opening in Los Angeles in spring 2017, doubling the brands presence in the city. Los Angeles is home to two existing Kimpton properties Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills and Hotel Wilshire and will soon welcome The Everly, situated at the base of the Hollywood Hills with 360-degree views, and La Peer Hotel, the first hotel in West Hollywoods renowned Design District, which will reflect the neighborhoods incomparable harmony of art, architecture, and fashion. Kimptons Southern California expansion will continue later in 2017 with the launch of a new property in Palm Springs. This is as very exciting time for us as we expand our Southern California influence, said Ed Virtue, Kimpton Hotels Area Director of Operations, SoCal Los Angeles & Orange County. LA is an important region for Kimpton, and we will be uniquely positioned with four different hotels and restaurants throughout town offering the same uncompromising service our guests know and love. As Kimpton continues to position itself as a key player in the Southern California marketplace, were excited to offer guests a variety of great locations while introducing some extraordinary hotel and restaurant offerings that are unlike anything else out there. The Everly, slated to open late April 2017, will feature 216 rooms, relaxed communal spaces and effortlessly cool design. With its light-filled interiors, thoughtfully designed for comfort and ease, The Everly is a true celebration of its Beachwood Canyon neighborhood and the laidback California lifestyle. The hotel is steps away from the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Vine and the Capitol Records building with unbeatable panoramic views of the nearby Hollywood sign, downtown Los Angeles skyline and the Pacific Coast. The lobby, featuring 28-foot ceilings and a 12-seat bar, will serve as the social center and heartbeat of the hotel while the adjacent library room offers a quiet respite. The street-level cafe will attract guests and locals with its lively, radiant vibe and menu honoring the California Italian-based slow food movement with freshly sourced ingredients. Guests can relax on the fifth-floor pool deck and recharge with well-crafted cocktails and light bites from day to night. With expansive views from downtown to the coast, the pool deck offers an unparalleled respite from the bustling city below. The Everly will also offer creative meeting and event spaces, a fitness center, in-room spa treatments and more. With the May arrival of La Peer, Kimpton will take its portfolio to the next level and expand the brands offering and signature ability to create one-of-a-kind hotels that are truly indigenous to its location. La Peer is an elegant and intimate enclave anchored between the famed streets of West Hollywoods Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. The design-forward hotel evokes a cool style that is quintessential West Hollywood. The locale will appeal to the aesthetics and sensibilities of the Design District while also being its own oasis amidst the City of Angels where locals and hotel guests alike can find their place. La Peer Hotel will feature 105 guest rooms and suites, a rooftop event space, poolside fitness center and more than 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining and lounge spaces. In addition, the propertys pool while in the center of the bustling city is an escape in and of itself accented by lush landscaping and handcrafted lanterns hanging from above that set the tone for an urban retreat. Rounding out the project is a new restaurant concept created by Casey Lane, chef/owner of the Tasting Kitchen in Venice, Calif. and Casa Apicii in New York City. Please click here to see model room shots for both The Everly and La Peer. Additional renderings for The Everly and La Peer are also available. For more information, please visit http://www.everlyhotelhollywood.com and http://www.lapeerhotel.com. About Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is a leading brand of boutique hotels and restaurants and the acknowledged industry pioneer that first introduced the boutique hotel concept to the United States. In 1981, Bill Kimpton founded the company that today is renowned for making travelers feel genuinely cared for through thoughtful perks and amenities, bold, playful design and a sincerely personal style of guest service. Out to help people live full, balanced lives, Kimpton aims to inspire with touches like yoga mats in every room, complimentary coffee and tea to start the day, hosted evening Wine Hour, in-room fitness programming and complimentary bike rentals. The award-winning restaurants and bars are led by talented chefs and bartenders that offer guests a chance to dine like a local. CONTACT: Ellie Stain C&R Communications +1 310 664 8839 estain(at)discovercrc.com By using new digital technologies, AG Insurance can drastically reduce the time required to complete claims. In many cases, home damage appraisals can be handled remotely via an app on the customers smartphone or tablet. And, this makes it possible to process a claim in just a few days. After the successful completion of the trial, the deployment contract with SightCall has just been signed. A crucial step The rapid and accurate settlement of claims is the core business of all insurers. At this moment of truth the expertise the phase during which a company expert visits the site to assess the extent of the damage and assign the compensation due is a crucial step which strongly influences processing times and customer satisfaction. From now on, in many cases which involve damage to a dwelling (following a fire, storm, water damage, etc.), AG Insurance can apply the video-expertise technique. The expert no longer needs to visit the site and can get in contact with the client via an app installed on their smartphone or tablet. The camera of their mobile device enables the expert to visualize and estimate the damage. The app offers the expert the ability to make photo or video recordings and control the flash in darker spaces (e.g., a cellar). By integrating this technique of video-expertise into a highly simplified workflow, the duration of claims processing is drastically reduced, going from 3 to 4 weeks on average to only a few days. 90% of claims settled the same day The test period demonstrated that a video-expertise takes an average of 20 minutes. By reducing the duration of the intervention and removing travel, it becomes easier to coordinate the calendars of the expert and the client and to schedule an appointment more quickly. Another time saver: the customer no longer has to ask for a quote from a repairman, a formality that requires on average almost 3 weeks. Indeed, the experience of the expert and a calculation tool developed by AG Insurance (with a database containing the most current prices in the construction sector) make it possible in most cases to immediately calculate the appropriate compensation. If the client agrees, the expert can then close the file and pay the compensation to the customers account on the same day. Test phase demonstrated that this was the case in about 90% of all video-expertises. The video-expertise applies to all clients, whether they are insured at AG Insurance via BNP Paribas Fortis or through a broker. In the latter case, it goes without saying that the broker can also be involved in the video-expertise process. If he wishes, he can attend the remote appraisal via the same app. AG Insurance estimates that only 20% of all claims that require an expertise cant be settled by video-expertise. Edwin Klaps, Administrator Non-life & Brokerage Channel Director: Whether they are mild or more serious, damage to your home is always a source of concern. Customers want repairs to take place as quickly as possible. Thanks to video-expertise, we can ensure a much faster, more transparent and user-friendly treatment for the client. One of our goals is to increase customer satisfaction. The test phase showed us that this objective is clearly achieved and that both the client and the broker and AG Insurance take advantage of this new process. The video-expertise illustrates perfectly how the introduction of digital techniques in the treatment of claims can exert a positive influence on the client experience. Thomas Cottereau CEO SightCall: SightCall is the leader in video assistance solutions and actively participates in the digital transformation of companies around the world, especially insurers. We are particularly pleased to participate in the transformation of the interactions between AG Insurance and its customers by enabling them to benefit from immediate expertise and optimized damage resolution. During the test phase, AG Insurance has paid particular attention to the subjects of the customer experience, the optimization of the claims processing chain and the position of the broker. The result is a very fine digital transformation that benefits all the players involved in claims management. About AG Insurance: With a total market share of 21.4% in 2015 (27.9% life insurance and 16.1% non-life insurance), AG Insurance is the leader of the insurance market in Belgium. The company tailors the delivery of its products in order to fit the specific needs its customers: via independant borkers, Fintro agents, BNP Paribas Fortis agencies, the bpost bank and group insurances for large enterprises. AG Insurance has a network of more than 4,000 experts. aginsurance.be About SightCall: SightCall is the leading global Software-as-a-Service Cloud platform delivering live rich interactions between business and customers. The live video support offered through SightCall is transforming the way companies are interacting with their customers. In a connected mobile-first world, businesses leveraging SightCall have the ability to see what their customers see and guide them remotely. The advantages for companies include getting a better view of the problem or the damage leads to a better and faster resolution. SightCall provides connectors that can be easily plugged into business applications such as Salesforce and mobile apps. Sightcall.com Taqnia TAQNIAs adoption of Simularity's solution puts them at the forefront of the rapidly evolving remote sensing industry. Simularity Inc., a Silicon Valley based leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI), today announced a partnership with TAQNIA, the technology development company owned by the investment arm of the Saudi Arabian government. Eng. Abdulaziz S. Aljowair, CEO of TAQNIA SERVICES Engineering and Technology Services Co., said "Our remote sensing clients need timely alerts regarding whats happening on the ground. The increasing volume of satellite imagery data is driving the need for an AI-assisted solution. Simularitys technology solves this problem." Satellite constellations are now providing huge volumes of high-cadence images. Using these near-daily images, Simularitys AI software can automatically detect and monitor unusual activities across vast amounts of terrain. It is designed to instantly compare incoming data and images to historical information about the same location or asset, using machine learning to determine if changes are unusual or predictive of problems. We are excited to be chosen by TAQNIA to provide our Artificial Intelligence technology to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said Liz Derr, Simularity CEO. TAQNIAs adoption of our solution puts them at the forefront of the rapidly evolving remote sensing industry. About TAQNIA Services TAQNIA promotes technology and knowledge transfer in Saudi Arabia by partnering with leaders in industry to add strategic value to the Kingdom. TAQNIA Services is a professional organization that plays a leading role in advancing the national strategic technology development plans of Saudi Arabia. About Simularity Inc. Simularity is an Artificial Intelligence software company based in Richmond, California, and is a world leader in using AI to rapidly create dynamic predictive models based on massive amounts of time series data. Simularitys international customers in the telecommunications, healthcare, retail, and finance sectors use Simularitys predictive analytics to model normal behavior, predict propensities, detect anomalies, and predict critical incidents before they happen. In the energy and industrial IoT sectors, Simularitys predictive maintenance solution uses data collected from condition-based monitoring systems to provide early warnings, helping customers avoid costly machine failures. In earth observation, Simularitys Automatic Image Anomaly Detection System (AI-ADS) has been proven to rapidly identify high priority anomalies on the ground, and can support imagery from multiple providers, at any resolution, anywhere on the planet. Mestel & Company, a leading national attorney placement firm established in 1987, announces the appointment of Arthur F. (Woody) Woodard as Executive Director to specialize in the placement of partners, development of attorney groups, and facilitation of law firm mergers for the New York region. Woody has had an extensive legal career with some of the most highly regarded law firms. Before joining Mestel & Company, Woody was a partner and the chair of the employee benefits/executive compensation group at Kaye Scholer LLP for 28 years. Previously, he was an associate at Coudert Brothers and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Woody earned his J.D. from New York Law School and B.A. from the City College of New York. Woody adds significant value to our dynamic team of industry-recognized placement consultants, who are dedicated to candor, integrity, and the highest quality of service, stated Lynn Mestel, CEO and Chairman. With his experience as a partner at an Am Law 100 firm and the strong professional network he has built over the course of his career, Woody brings to us deep insight and knowledge that will be very helpful to our clients and candidates. For nearly 30 years, our company has developed the careers of attorneys, built best in class legal teams, and effectuated law firm mergers. At Mestel, its who you know. About Mestel & Company Mestel & Company, a leading national attorney placement company established in 1987, specializes in assisting the careers of individual associates, partners and in-house counsel as well as effectuating the movement of legal teams and law firm mergers. Our experienced recruiters have first-hand knowledge of the practices and cultures of law firms and in-house legal departments, making us the acknowledged leader in our field. Mestel & Company is only 100% employee owned company in the attorney placement industry, ensuring that each of our recruiters, as an owner, provides best in class service and is committed to the needs and sensitivity of our attorneys. For more information, visit http://www.mestel.com or follow us on Twitter@Mestel. The Aurora-based Fitzsimons Credit Union was honored with two community service awards in 2016. They were awarded the Juntos Avanzamos designation earlier this year and received second place in Colorado for The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for their work with the Hispanic community. Fitzsimons Credit Union is dedicated to helping everyone with their financial needs and especially enjoys helping the Hispanic populations have access to affordable banking products and services. The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award is a CUNA Award (Credit Union National Association) that is given to a credit union for its social responsibility projects within the community. Fitzsimons Credit Union received the award for their work to better and enrich the lives of the Hispanic community. The Juntos Avanzamos designation is reserved for credit unions committed to serving and helping the Hispanic community. Originally developed by the Cornerstone Credit Union League, Juntos Avanzamos was used to recognize credit unions serving Hispanic consumers in Texas and Oklahoma. The Juntos Avanzamos designation helps assure that credit unions are truly friendly to the Hispanic market, Scott Earl, President and CEO of the Mountain West Credit Union Association said. Fitzsimons has proven itself to be a strong advocate for its Hispanic members by providing lifeline and expanded services that help improve their lives. We applaud them for this achievement. Qualifying credit unions must demonstrate that they have flexible loan underwriting and customer identification acceptance policies, offer affordable credit, savings and transaction services, and make their products, services and financial education accessible to Spanish-speakers. Fitzsimons Credit Union is located in Aurora, CO which is 28% Hispanic or Latino. Fitzsimons Credit Union re-focused its efforts to be a valued partner to the Hispanic community beginning in 2011 with research, educating the staff about Latino culture, and adjusting products and services to meet this demographics needs. The credit union began to see the positive effects of its efforts towards this underserved population in 2014 and is continuing to develop and fine-tune products and services to better serve this community. The credit union offers accounts for those with alternative forms of ID, loans for those with ITINs, credit building loans for those with no or low credit, financial literacy in Spanish for those that could use a little guidance, and a 0%-interest loan for those looking to pay for citizenship expenses. About Fitzsimons Credit Union Fitzsimons Credit Union has three locations based out of Aurora, CO and primarily serves the communities of Aurora, Strasburg, Watkins, Bennett and parts of Centennial. Fitzsimons Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative committed to providing for the financial success of all members. Fitzsimons Credit Union has served its members and the community since 1955 and offers competitive products such as checking accounts, loans, mortgages, online banking and more. For more information, visit Fitzsimonscu.com. About Juntamos Avanzamos Juntos Avanzamos, Together We Advance, is a designation for credit unions committed to serving and empowering Hispanic consumers, and was developed by the Cornerstone Credit Union League, which represents Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, working with the Cornerstone League and Coopera, Iowa-based consultants to the industry on the Hispanic market, the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals (NLCUP), the Mountain West Credit Union Association and other industry partners, work together to bring the program to a national credit union audience. Visit http://www.cdcu.coop/initiatives/serving-underserved-markets/immigrants/juntos-avanzamos Dan Chung, Alger CEO and CIO Algers research team has increasingly identified more companies solving economic, social, and environmental challenges that are benefitting from positive dynamic change. Fred Alger Management, Inc. (Alger) is pleased to announce the introduction of the Alger Responsible Investing Fund. Formerly the Alger Green Fund, the Alger Responsible Investing Fund is broadening its investment criteria and has added Gregory S. Adams, CFA as Portfolio Manager alongside existing portfolio manager, Christopher Walsh, CFA. Both managers draw upon Algers fifty-plus year-old investment philosophy based upon Algers in-depth proprietary research process. Greg and Chris augment this process by identifying dynamic, growth-oriented companies that conduct their business in a responsible manner reflecting positive Environmental, Social or Governance (ESG) characteristics. We think innovative companies that embrace sustainable ESG practices can improve the bottom line for shareholders and broader society as well, said Chris Walsh. These companies can have a positive impact across a range of factors, including climate change, resource depletion, corporate board diversity, and a long-term orientation to sustainable growth. The Fund has the flexibility to invest across all U.S. industries, sectors, and market caps, whereas, under its previous mandate, the Fund maintained a more singular focus on environmental sustainability. By expanding its criteria to include the full spectrum of ESG factors, the Fund now offers investors the potential for a more diversified exposure to Algers fundamental investment analysis. The demand for ESG investing has increased in recent years, with many of our clients asking for ESG options. Coincidental with this changing dynamic, Algers research team has increasingly identified more companies solving economic, social, and environmental challenges that are benefitting from positive dynamic change. Algers investment approach is a natural fit for many investors seeking a mutual fund which identifies companies that are striving to achieve stronger ESG recognition said Alger Chief Investment Officer and CEO Dan Chung, CFA. The Fund remains grounded in Algers philosophy that companies embracing Positive Dynamic Change as a competitive advantage can make attractive investments. Positive Dynamic Change can refer to innovative market leaders in a particular niche realizing High Unit Volume Growth, or companies undergoing Positive Life-cycle Change brought about by a regulatory change, a new product, or a management change. Alger continues to provide socially responsible offerings that use negative ESG screens for investors wishing to adhere to specific ESG restrictions. Alger has been managing socially responsible investments since 1987. About Fred Alger Management, Inc. Alger was founded in 1964 and as of December 31, 2016, managed more than $19.5 billion. Alger's investment philosophy is focused on discovering companies undergoing Positive Dynamic Change, which we believe offer the best investment opportunities. Alger investment strategies are available to institutional investors through separate accounts and mutual funds and to retail investors through Alger mutual funds. Fred Alger & Company, Incorporated, a broker-dealer and the parent company of Fred Alger Management, Inc., offers mutual funds as well as institutional funds for defined benefit and defined contribution plans. For more information, please visit http://www.alger.com. Before investing, carefully consider the Funds investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. For a prospectus or summary prospectus containing this and other information about the Fund, call (800) 992-3863, visit http://www.alger.com, or consult your financial advisor. Read it carefully before investing. Distributor: Fred Alger & Company, Incorporated. Member NYSE Euronext, SIPC. NOT FDIC INSURED. NOT BANK GUARANTEED MAY LOSE VALUE. For the first time since the inception of Pathbuilders Percepta, two Percepta programs will run concurrently in a program year. This is due to overwhelming client demand and a sold out class last year. Pathbuilders Percepta kicked-off the 2017 Spring Class with 50 women from more than 30 companies on Friday, January 13, 2017, after successfully launching the Fall 2016 Percepta Class with over 100 mentees from more than 40 organizations in October 2016. We are thrilled with our clients dedication to moving women forward in their organizations, stated Helene Lollis, president and chief executive officer of Pathbuilders. As organizations continue to grow and change, we are pleased to see so many companies invest in their talent in unique ways. Percepta is the program to help shape high-performing women, both strong individual contributors and new managers, into future leaders. Percepta is Pathbuilders six-month cross-company mentoring program for women with proven track records of professional success who have mastered the technical aspects of their jobs and are ready to have greater impact on their companies. Percepta prepares new and aspiring managers to deliver results in complex work environments through an integrated and proven methodology that combines mentoring, interactive workshops, and peer networking. We really enjoyed the Pathbuilders Percepta kick-off and are looking forward to the next six months, where we can focus on developing a personal brand, improving as managers and taking a deliberate look at our career plans, stated participants Jessica Carruth, Sr. Marketing & PR Manager, Publicis Media, Carolina Quintero, Payroll Operations Manager, ADP and Erica Stanley, Engineering Manager, SalesLoft. Pathbuilders leverages the continuum of mentoring to include past Achieva graduates as Percepta mentors. Achieva is Pathbuilders year-long one-on-one mentoring program focused on mid-level female leaders positioned for senior leadership responsibilities in their organizations. Volunteer mentors come from diverse roles, functions and organizational backgrounds, and these women value the mentoring experience and want to give back to those who are following behind them. "I am excited to begin my fifth year as a mentor in Pathbuilders' Percepta program. Percepta gives me the opportunity to share my career experiences with a group of high-performing women while learning from each of their unique perspectives," stated Alvia Brown, Director, Internal Audit, The Coca-Cola Company. The 2017 program will run for six months concluding with graduation in June 2017. Core program curriculum includes developing a corporate image and persona, mapping career paths, giving and receiving feedback, managing results, and understanding the unwritten rules that guide an organization. Upon graduation, Percepta alumnae are ready to take on additional challenges and manage more significant key initiatives, projects, and teams within their companies. Over the last 13 years, Pathbuilders has graduated more than 800 mentees through the Percepta program, many of whom have demonstrated a solid track record of improved performance upon completion. Mentees and mentors from companies such as Turner Broadcasting System, Cox Communications, Holder Construction Company, Comcast Corporation, Solvay, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and The Home Depot have shared professional successes and continue to send their top female talent through the Pathbuilders programs year after year. Participants in the 2017 Spring Percepta program are from the following organizations: ADP Atlanta Business Chronicle CenterState Bank of Florida, N.A. Cisco Systems, Inc. Cobb EMC Fallon Benefits Group Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Gas South, LLC Graphic Packaging International International Screening Solutions, Inc. Junior Achievement of Georgia Kimberly-Clark Corporation KPMG LLP Lendmark Financial Services McKesson Corporation Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC Mission to the World Morehouse School of Medicine Moxie Novelis, Inc. OFS Fitel, LLC Rollins, Inc. SalesLoft Southern Patio Tennessee Valley Authority The High Museum The Kroger Company The Woodruff Arts Center Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Turner Sports Viasat, Inc. Additional information about Percepta and the other mentoring programs offered by Pathbuilders for different career stages may be found at http://www.pathbuilders.com or by calling 770-261-6570. About Pathbuilders, Inc. Pathbuilders transforms top talent into high-impact leaders who move business forward. Through customized programming, Pathbuilders leverages a model that effectively combines mentoring, educational workshops, and interactive peer exchange to accelerate the career growth of individuals and directly contribute to the bottom-line success of client organizations. Pathbuilders was founded in 1995 with a unique focus on developing the potential of high-performing women and creating gender-diverse leadership teams. Today, Pathbuilders leverages the corporate experience of its team to develop impactful developmental experiences for high-potential women and men in forward-thinking organizations. Pathbuilders has worked with nearly 4,000 professionals from more than 400 client organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities, and government agencies. More information can be found at http://www.Pathbuilders.com on LinkedIn and Twitter. Jalil Sadool will represent Steamroller Studios as the day two keynote speaker at the 2017 Carolina Games Summit. The Steamroller Studios keynote will take place on February 5 at 1:00 pm in the Paramount Theater. Jalil brings a wide range of experience in film, animation, and game design to the Carolina Games Summit, Michael Everett Creative Director of the Carolina Games Summit states, attendees of this keynote will see how Jalil must transition his workflow when creating similar animations across both AAA games and feature films. The keynote presentation, A Study of Creature Animation in Films and Games will explore several pieces of creature animation from films and games and share the variety of workflows behind creating each animation. Sadool will explain that even though there are similarities between VFX, feature animated films, and games, there are limitations and rules that each category carries. Attendees will leave the session with new knowledge of the varied workflows required to achieve a similar result in animation. Tickets are available to the public and may be purchased online or at the door. Visit the official web site,http://www.carolinagamessummit.com, for a full listing of all the speakers, exhibitors, and additional details. Contact the event organizers at info(at)carolinagamessummit(dot)com for more information on attending, exhibiting or speaking at the Carolina Games Summit. About Jalil Sadool Jalil Sadool is currently the CEO/Co-Founder at Steamroller Studios as well as Co-Founder of CGTarian Online Animation School. He has worked in the Film and Game industry as a professional Animator for over a decade. He was a Lead Animator on Rise of the Planet of the Apes at Weta Digital as well as How to Train Your Dragon 2 at Dreamworks Animation. His resume also includes Avatar, Rise of the Guardians, The Chronicles of Narnia, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. About Steamroller Studios Steamroller Studios is a full service production house with a family friendly atmosphere. Our personal backgrounds are in film, having worked on such titles as Avatar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and The Hobbit Trilogy. Our studio offers animation, programming, concept art, and more. We have worked on projects such as Rise of the Tomb Raider, Worms W.M.D., Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Prey, Agents of Mayhem and many others, including our own original IP, Deadwood: The Forgotten Curse. About Carolina Games Summit Carolina Games Summit will be held Saturday, February 4, 10AM 8:30PM and Sunday, February 5, 2017 10AM - 6:00PM in downtown Goldsboro, NC. This hybrid event will once again delivers industry speakers, video game tournaments, concerts, exhibition booths, cosplay, educational sessions, and trading card games. Attendees will be able to compete against gamers from all over the country in a variety of popular tournaments. Enjoy all your favorite platforms including arcade, computer, and console games with both tournament and free-play options available. Additional information can be found on the official web site: http://www.CarolinaGamesSummit.com Our industry leading, Skype native solution is ideal for any organization that has invested in Microsoft Office 365 and wants to expand with enterprise voice, contact center and various other enterprise UC features Past News Releases RSS CallTower Gains Cisco... CallTower Named Channel Partners... CallTower Acquires Appia... CallTower is proud to announce that their hosted Skype for Business solution has been named an INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year Award winner for 2017. For three consecutive years, CallTower has been recognized by INTERNET TELEPHONY as an industry leader in unified communications solutions. In 2016, CallTower was awarded with the hosted VoIP Excellence award and in 2015, they received the Skype for Business Pioneer award, the Communication Solutions Product award, as well as the Internet Telephony Excellence award. CallTower delivers the worlds most advanced hosted Microsoft Skype for Business and Cisco unified communications solutions. CallTower's Skype for Business solution provides growing companies with global, enterprise-class reliability, productivity enhancing features and 24/7 US based customer support. Over the past year, CallTowers hosted Skype for Business, has seen remarkable growth in the telecommunication channel, VAR channel and through wholesale distribution. It is a great honor to be distinguished with the 2017 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year award, says CallTower Chief Product Officer, Shaun Chambers. As a result of being one of the first hosting providers to launch enterprise voice capabilities and feature set on a Skype for Business platform, we have been able to further enhance the product offering with deep integration with contact center, CRM and workforce optimization. Our industry leading, Skype native solution is ideal for any organization that has invested in Microsoft Office 365 and wants to expand with enterprise voice, contact center and various other enterprise UC features. It gives me great pleasure to recognize CallTower with a Product of the Year Award for 2017. I have always been impressed with their commitment to excellence and innovation, said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. In the opinion of our distinguished judges, CallTowers Skype for Business solution has proven to be among the best IP communications solutions available on the market. I look forward to continued innovation from CallTower. The winners of the 2017 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year will be published in the January edition of INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. About CallTower CallTower exists to enable people to easily connect to transact business communications. Since its inception in 2002, CallTower has become a leading provider of cloud-based, enterprise-class Unified Communications solutions for growing organizations worldwide. CallTower provides, integrates and supports industry-leading, cloud-based, Unified Communications and Collaboration solutions, including Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Microsoft Skype for Business, Office 365 and Adobe Connect services for business customers. CallTower enhances clients strategic and operational capabilities by integrating VoIP service, mobile applications, email hosting, unified messaging, instant messaging, audio, web and video conferencing, collaboration tools, contact center, cloud services and global networks solutions into one reliable platform. About INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine INTERNET TELEPHONY has been the IP Communications Authority since 1998. Beginning with the first issue, INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has been providing unbiased views of the complicated converged communications space. About TMC Global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers. TMCs Marketplaces: Unique, turnkey Online Communities boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking. Custom Lead Programs uncover sales opportunities and build databases. In-Person and Online Events boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads. Publications, Display Advertising and Newsletters bolster brand reputations. Custom Content provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. Comprehensive Event and Road Show Management Services help companies meet potential clients and generate leads face-to-face. This expansion earmarks an important milestone within ClimeCos continued growth, commented ClimeCo Corporation President and CEO, Bill Flederbach. ClimeCo Corporation (ClimeCo), recipient of the 2015 California Climate Action Reserve Project Developer of the Year award, announces the establishment of ClimeCo Canada, ULC, and the hire of Ms. Chelsea Bryant as Vice President of Canadian Operations, located in our new Calgary, Alberta office. ClimeCo has maintained a strong presence within Alberta as a key advisor around the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) and the transaction of Alberta compliance instruments. ClimeCo is currently managing the largest offset project in the Province, which will generate approximately 700,000 tonnes of offsets in 2017 alone. In addition, ClimeCo has been expanding rapidly in the Ontario carbon market as a lead advisor, helping our clients to prepare for the Ontario cap-and-trade program in 2017 and for future linkage with California and Quebec in 2018. Recent progression of these environmental regulatory landscapes has accelerated the need for ClimeCos full-time presence in Canada. The Canadian office will be headed by Chelsea Bryant, Vice President of ClimeCo Canada, and will be headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Ms. Bryants most recent position was with TransCanada, a well-recognized provider of energy infrastructure and power generation throughout North America. In her role at TransCanada, Ms. Bryant managed a large portfolio of environmental instruments and brought leadership not only to the Alberta market, but also to the joint California / Quebec and RGGI markets. As part of her previous role, Ms. Bryant has transacted over 6 million Alberta SGER eligible offsets and emission performance credits (EPCs) which, when combined with ClimeCos transactions, squarely puts ClimeCo as the leader in this market. This expansion earmarks an important milestone within ClimeCos continued growth, commented ClimeCo Corporation President and CEO, Bill Flederbach. Ms. Bryants experience in managing a diverse portfolio of environmental assets in North American markets, accompanied by her experience with and appreciation for the interconnection of regulatory market dynamics, policy movement and individual investment behavior, enables her to optimize opportunities for market participants that return significant compliance cost savings and encourages market participation. Ms. Bryant will elevate ClimeCos expansion into other jurisdictions of the Western Climate Initiative, including Toronto, Ontario, which is also slated for a second ClimeCo Canada, ULC office. ClimeCo Corporation is a respected project developer, advisor and trader of environmental commodity market products. Specialized expertise in regional criteria pollutant trading programs, California cap-and-trade, voluntary markets, and project development and financing of internal CO2 abatement systems, complement ClimeCos diverse commodity portfolio. Within the Climate Action Reserve, ClimeCo is the largest developer of U.S. GHG-offset projects and producer of U.S. voluntary carbon offsets, managing projects that reduce more than four million tonnes of CO2e per year. For information, contact 484-415-0501 or mfinneran(at)climeco(dot)com. ### Karl Johnson, New MD of US Im honored to be chosen and couldnt be more excited to join the accomplished and respected EXLRT team. In support of its successful global expansion, Netherlands-based customer experience technology agency EXLRT is excited to announce that Karl Johnson has been named Managing Director of US operations. Johnson, who most recently lead Washington, DC based customer experience agency, experienceDigital as Managing Director, will report to Marc Vieleers, global CEO of EXLRT. Vieleers shared Karls technological background, combined with his entrepreneurial skills, make him the ideal managing director for our US operation. As we are already servicing several US customers, we are now able to build on those existing relationships with a local presence while we continue to grow our US footprint. Effective immediately, Johnson will assume responsibility for all commercial and operational activities in the US market as well as oversee the growing team. Johnson will be responsible for the alignment and prioritization of US office investments while ensuring operational and customer service excellence across the office and the company. Im honored to be chosen and couldnt be more excited to join the accomplished and respected EXLRT team. The US market offers immense opportunities for growth as transforming large enterprises all aspire to deliver phenomenal, personalized customer experiences (CX) over digital. Very few technology agencies are as well positioned as EXLRT to make that happen, Johnson said. Over his more than 16-year career, Johnson has held technology and consulting leadership roles with Microsoft, Booz Allen, and Accenture. He has also held senior executive roles as CTO of big data SaaS firm Venga and as SVP of Technology for customer experience agency Tahzoo Worldwide. ABOUT EXLRT EXLRT is a digital technology agency based in The Netherlands, USA and Serbia. Our mission is to help large enterprises transform their digital marketing strategies into effective customer experiences by applying the best technology foundation from platforms such as SDL Web, Sitecore, Kentico and ADAM. PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, the nations 26th largest accounting and advisory firm, announced today that John J. Nelson, a senior accountant at the Firm, will participate in the 40th Annual "Empire State Building Run Up" on Feb. 1 on behalf of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. Over 200 runners will race up 1,576 steps, a vertical distance equal to about a fifth of a mile, to reach the iconic buildings famed observatory tower. Its an honor to be participating in this marquee tower race on behalf of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley, said Nelson. At PKF OConnor Davies, giving back is baked into our culture -- its fundamental to who we are as a firm. Every pledge we earn in support of the important work of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley is going to push me to get up those stairs faster. Both Nelson and PKF OConnor Davies are longtime supporters of the organizations efforts. Nelson has helped to raise thousands of dollars as a participant in the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Annual "5K Walk/Run for Wishes." The Firm regularly contributes to the chapter and made the initial contribution to Nelsons pledge drive for the "Empire State Building Run Up." On behalf of our Wish kids and their families, we thank John Nelson and PKF OConnor Davies for their continued commitment to our special mission, said Thomas J. Conklin, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. For each and every step he takes toward reaching the goal, he will be making a difference in the lives of the Wish Kids and their families. Pledges can be made in support of Make-A-Wish on Johns fundraising page. About PKF OConnor Davies, LLP PKF OConnor Davies, LLP is a full service Certified Public Accounting and advisory firm with a long history of serving clients both domestically and internationally. With roots tracing to 1891, nine offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland, and more than 600 professionals, led by over 100 partners, the Firm provides a complete range of accounting, auditing, tax and management advisory services. PKF OConnor Davies is ranked number 26 in Accounting Todays 2016 Top 100 Firms list and the Firm is also recognized as a Leader in Audit and Accounting, a Pacesetter in Growth and one of the Top Firms in the Mid-Atlantic. PKF OConnor Davies is ranked number 29 in INSIDE Public Accountings 2015 Top 100 Firms list and recognized as one of the Top Ten Fastest-Growing Firms." In 2016, PKF O'Connor Davies was named one of Vault's Accounting 50, a ranking of the 50 best accounting employers to work for in North America, and ranked among the top 50 most prestigious accounting firms in America in a complementary Vault survey. The Firm is the 11th largest accounting firm in the New York Metropolitan area, according to Crains New York Business, and was named the 10th top accounting firm in New Jersey according to NJBizs 2016 rankings. By consistently delivering proactive, thorough and efficient service, PKF O'Connor Davies has built long-lasting, valuable relationships with its clients. Partners are intimately involved in the day-to-day management of engagements, ensuring a high degree of client service and cost effectiveness. The Firms seasoned professional staff members employ a team approach to all engagements to provide clients with the utmost quality and timely services aimed at helping them succeed. Continuity of staffing and attention to detail in all client engagements make the Firm stand out among its competitors. PKF OConnor Davies is the lead North American representative of the international association of PKF member firms. PKF International is a network of legally independent member firms providing accounting and business advisory services in 440 locations in 150 countries around the world. With its tradition, experience and focus on the future, PKF OConnor Davies is ready to help clients meet todays ever-changing economic conditions and manage the growing complexities of the regulatory environment. For more information, visit http://www.PKFOD.com. About Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The wish experience is a community effort involving volunteers, staff, donors and medical professionals working in tandem to make each wish come true. Since its inception in 1986, the Hudson Valley Chapter has granted wishes to over 2,500 children in the community it serves. The Chapters territory spans eight counties of the Hudson Valley, including Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. The Chapter is a proud participant of the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal Program, which indicates that the organization has met the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Additionally, a recent independent audit of the chapter reported that 80% of all funds raised goes to program services. For more information about the Hudson Valley Chapter visit http://www.hudson.wish.org. Van Dyk Health Care Having an experienced administrator with a nursing background is a huge advantage to our staff, our patients and our families. Van Dyk Health Care has hired Afrika Parks as Administrator of its Ridgewood facility, which has spanned three generations of family ownership and was recently named one of Americas Best Nursing Homes by U.S. News & World Report for the fourth consecutive year. Our Ridgewood community deserves a proven leader like Afrika Parks, who understands the emerging challenges facing our industry and who embraces our reputation of Family Caring For Family, said Robert Van Dyk, President & CEO of Van Dyk Health Care and former chairman of the American Health Care Association. Afrika will immediately add to the warmth and compassion of our dedicated staff while using her unique clinical background toward skillful problem-solving and team-building. Throughout her career, Parks has managed to use her RN, BSN and MSN degrees in diverse settings of skilled nursing and post-acute care. She served as an administrator of a 154-bed skilled nursing facility, lifting it to five-star status. She has direct experience in recruiting physicians for specialty programs in pulmonary, infection control and palliative care. As a director of nursing, she successfully managed clinical operations that have led to safe discharges and high patient satisfaction. Having an experienced administrator with a nursing background is a huge advantage to our staff, our patients and our families, Van Dyk added. Our community looks to us to find solutions for those in need. Thats the responsibility of being named one of the top nursing homes in the country. We need to earn that distinction everyday with our commitment to quality care. As one of Americas Best Nursing Homes for the fourth straight year, Van Dyk Health Care at Ridgewood was one of only 9 percent of providers nationwide to receive a perfect five out of five stars from U.S. News & World Report. The award-winning staff in Ridgewood has also secured such prestigious awards as Caregiver of the Year by the Health Care Association of New Jersey in 2013, 2014 and 2016, as well as Key to Quality from the National Association of Health Care Assistants from 2013 to 2016. Van Dyk Health Care has implemented several innovative specialty programs to provide personalized care, improve overall health outcomes and teach patients how to sustain wellness and quality of life within their own homes. HeartWays is a unique cardiac clinical pathway program, originally launched in Ridgewood, under the direction of a certified cardiologist and an advanced nurse practitioner to serve patients with Congestive Heart Failure. Van Dyks rehab company provides physical therapy and occupational therapy to help patients regain muscle strength and flexibility, improve coordination and endurance, and provide alternative measures to cope with physical restrictions. About Van Dyk Health Care Van Dyk Health Care, founded in 1953, has built an unsurpassed reputation for excellence in senior care, spanning three generations of family caring for family. Under the leadership of CEO Robert Van Dyk for over 20 years and an award-winning staff, Van Dyk Health Care remains one of the top care providers in the nation, dedicated to its mission of finding solutions to better health and quality of life throughout New Jersey. Van Dyk Health Care offers the full continuum of care services with two nursing and post-acute care facilities in Ridgewood and Montclair, an assisted living community in Hawthorne, a home care company and a soon-to-open memory day care center. The company works closely with partnering hospitals and physicians to ensure its short-stay patients return home quickly and safely. Learn more at vandykhealthcare.com. Bucks County family law firm Williams Family Law, P.C. is pleased to announce that Lynelle A. Gleason has joined the firm, bringing her experience in Pennsylvania family law and estate law. Lynelle is a terrific addition to our team, said Jeffrey M. Williams, Founder and Managing Partner of Williams Family Law. The depth and breadth of her experience in family law and estate law in Bucks County and the surrounding area will bring significant benefits to our clients. Gleason has spent her legal career in Bucks County, representing local families during some of the most trying times of their lives. She concentrates her practice primarily on Pennsylvania family law and estate law. In her domestic relations practice, she handles a variety of family law matters, including divorce, child support, alimony, spousal support, equitable distribution and child custody. Gleason works closely with her clients through all phases of negotiation and, if necessary, litigation to resolve their family law-related matters. She also is experienced in estate law, where her practice includes the drafting of wills and trusts, as well as the administration of estates. She is a member of the Attorney Psychologist Group, a select group of child custody evaluators and domestic relations attorneys in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and the greater-Philadelphia area. The organization focuses on best practices regarding important child custody issues such as the use of a psychologist and therapist during the family law process. Gleason is an active member of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, Bucks County Bar Association, Bucks County American Inn of Court and Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section. She earned a bachelors degree from Temple University and her law degree from Widener University School of Law. She lives in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. Williams Family Law, P.C. Williams Family Law, P.C., is a premier family law firm based in Bucks County, Pa. The firm provides individuals with matrimonial and family law legal counsel and representation in alimony, child support, child custody, divorce, domestic partnership and cohabitation, grandparents custody rights, equitable distribution, marital settlement agreements, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, separation agreements, spousal support, matrimonial taxation and related matters, primarily in Bucks County and Montgomery County, Pa. The family law attorneys also provide guidance and representation in alternative dispute resolution forums, handling mediation, arbitration and custody dispute resolution. The practice at Williams Family Law centers on four core principles: experienced guidance, compassionate advice, powerful advocacy and knowledge of the local courts and counsel. The firm prides itself on leadership within the profession and a strong record of success. To learn more, visit http://www.bucksfamilylawyers.com or email questions(at)bucksfamilylawyers(dot)com. # # # Institutions like Ivy Tech play an essential role in attracting, educating and training the caregivers in skilled nursing and assisted living centers, now and in the future. Zachary Cattell, President of the Indiana Health Care Association/Indiana Center for Assisted Living (IHCA/INCAL), will serve as a healthcare industry expert at the 2017 Sector Summit hosted by Ivy Tech Community College on Monday, January 23. The panel discussion, moderated by Inside Indiana Business host Gerry Dick, will feature an employer and an association representative from five of Indianas priority now economic sectors. The goal of the event is to help Ivy Tech leaders and partners as they develop strategic plans to attract and educate the states workforce and meet employer needs. Cattell will speak specifically to current and projected job demand in the post-acute care setting, and the challenges Hoosier providers face in attracting qualified staff. IHCA/INCAL represents more than 350 skilled nursing and assisted living members statewide. I am honored to participate in this years Sector Summit and to represent the healthcare sector in this discussion, said Cattell. Skilled nursing and assisted living centers provide a vital service to the states elderly population and those in need of rehabilitation. Institutions like Ivy Tech play an essential role in attracting, educating and training the caregivers in those centers, now and in the future. Ivy Tech remains committed to its mission and is happy to partner with the healthcare sector to meet our states workforce demands," said Calvin Thomas, Ivy Tech's Vice President for Healthcare, Public & Social Services. Cattell will also highlight the associations workforce efforts including a new website aimed at helping job seekers find careers in skilled nursing and assisted living. Carefortheaging.org provides information on a range of careers available at facilities throughout Indiana, including education requirements, salaries and paths for career advancement. The site also links individuals seeking educational opportunities, internships or job placements with facilities looking to fill those roles. Bonomi two-way and three-way high-pressure ball valve packages simplify automation of hydraulic systems. Rated working pressures range from 5145 to 7350 PSI. Bonomi North America is introducing a new line of high-pressure carbon steel ball valves for use in hydraulic applications. The new valves come in two-way and three-way configurations with a choice of NPT or SAE thread end connections. Both the two-way valves (3200 Series NPT/3300 Series SAE) and the three-way valves (3400 Series NPT/3500 Series SAE) are available in 3/8-inch through 1-inch sizes. Rated working pressures range from 5145 to 7350 PSI. Like all Bonomi valves, they are 100% tested to rated pressure in the open and closed position before shipping. While a lever handle is standard, an integral ISO 5211 mounting pad simplifies actuation on the new valves. They are also available in factory-assembled automated valve packages with Bonomis Valbia brand electric or pneumatic actuators. Valbia electric actuators have dual 100VAC 240VAC or dual 24 AC/DC reversing motors with torque limiters, thermal protection, auxiliary limit switch, NEMA 4X indoor use enclosure, manual override, and position indicator as standard. Options include a 4-20mA positioner, battery backup and 180 rotation. Both technopolymer and powder-coated cast aluminum enclosures are available. Valbia pneumatic rack-and-pinion actuators for the new hydraulic valve packages feature anodized aluminum bodies. They are designed for 80 PSI control air pressure and are operable using air, water, nitrogen or other compatible hydraulic fluids from 40 to 120 PSI. Dual travel stops are standard. For more information on Bonomi hydraulic ball valves or other Bonomi products, contact Bonomi North America at (704) 412-9031 or visit online at http://www.bonominorthamerica.com. About Bonomi North America Bonomi North America has served the U.S. and Canada since 2003 and is part of the Bonomi Group of Brescia, Italy. Bonomi Group brands include Rubinetterie Bresciane Bonomi (RB) brass ball valves and check valves; Valpres carbon and stainless steel ball valves; and Valbia pneumatic and electric industrial actuators. Bonomi North America maintains an extensive distribution network for these products from its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. and a facility in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. [end] Native people look forward to working with the new administration on healthcare reform. The American Indian Chamber of Commerce addressed members concerns about healthcare reform by hosting Robert Weaver as their guest speaker on the eve of the presidential inauguration. Weavers message was one of unification and new opportunity for Indian Country. Weaver, an enrolled member of the Quapaw Tribe, is a nationally respected expert on health insurance and employee benefits. He spoke about the partisan division within the country, but urged everyone, especially native people, to unite behind the office of the President. Some people act like the sky is falling but this actually is a very exciting time, especially for Indian Country. The sun is still shining and it will shine very brightly on Oklahoma and native people due the Presidents nominees from our state, Weaver said. He believes the new administration could bring opportunity to Indian Country due to the presidents selection of Oklahoma Congressman MarkWayne Mullin, who is Cherokee, to chair his Native American Coalition. Weaver, one of Mullins constituents, told the group he looked forward to working with him and encouraged the other business leaders to reach out to him as well. Since Americas inception, our native ancestors have searched for common ground with the federal government. Now, its our responsibility to continue that dialogue with this administration. Tribal leadership and members must unite and advocate for quality healthcare for our people, Weaver said. Weaver is well-known and respected throughout Indian Country as a staunch advocate for natives health and wellness. His motivation comes from his own familys devastating experiences with the death and destruction caused by substance abuse, untreated mental health issues, addiction and preventable illnesses. He has chosen to honor the memories of his friends and relatives by working at the federal, tribal and state levels to improve access and affordability to quality healthcare for American Indians through employee and tribal member benefit plans. Although Weaver has been honored with numerous national awards and featured in many publications for his innovative approach to health benefits, he says he is most humbled by the individual stories he hears from tribes and tribal members. These are the stories that drive his passion to change healthcare for all of Indian Country. For example, the Quapaw Tribe saved nearly $5 million the first year they contracted with his company to provide their employee benefits. Weaver says he hears countless stories of members whose lives are improved thanks to the services included in the health plans that employees and members could not otherwise afford, such as early cancer detection and diabetes screenings. Weavers companies are 100% native owned and managed and include: RWI Benefits, LLC, specializing in all lines of insurance, including employee benefits, property and casualty, workers compensation, and all forms of insurance management consulting. NATIVECare, LLC, a third-party benefit administration company. MedCase, LLC, a medical utilization review firm. Robert Weaver Consulting, LLC, providing certified consultants to assist companies with audits and other compliance issues. (30) Employment in the computer and information technology fields is projected to grow 22 percent by 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To equip the Arizona workforce for this growing need, TTY Career College now offers the Computer Service Technician program online. (1) This diploma program, available to all Arizona residents, prepares students for several certification exams, including CompTIA IT Fundamentals, A+, Network+ and Microsoft Certified Professional. The course also covers the industry-standard material needed to become a desktop support technician or various other entry-level IT positions. We believe certification-prep training is what our workforce needs to keep up with the growing demand for skilled workers in the IT sector, said Tim Smith, CEO of TTY Career College. By making this unique and interactive program available online, we are excited to expand our mission of advancing careers statewide to all Arizonians. Alexandre Matte, Training and Development Manager at TTY Career College, described the online format as supportive of multiple learning styles, incorporating hands on and social learning elements in addition to the traditional visual and text based instruction. Students gain access to virtual environments that allow them the opportunity to explore and work with computers in a multitude of ways from hardware installation to software troubleshooting. This gives them the vital hands-on experience they need to succeed without putting their own system at risk. Program courses operate on a 28-day module system, and the average program completion time is 20 weeks. As with all programs offered at TTY Career College, this program is covered by the TTY Certification Pass Pledge at no additional cost; for up to six months after graduation, TTY pledges to issue additional exam vouchers, permit course retakes, and offer exam-prep tutoring for all students. For more information, visit http://www.ttycareercollege.edu or call 602-343-1500. About Training To You Career College TTY Career College advances client success through relevant, verifiable learning that enhances and sustains individual and organizational performance. They offer professional diploma and certificate programs designed to help students elevate their skills in information technology or project management. TTY Career College is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The college admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. (1) Not awarded by the college. May require additional study and/or cost. D.L. Newslow & Associates, Inc. and Australia-based certification body HACCP International have employed the services of Mr. Ronald D. Mathis, CMS as Executive Vice President. His role will provide strategic planning and business development for the HACCP International certification and mark in the Americas. The HACCP International mark conveys the fact that the equipment or service has been evaluated by a food safety expert, and deemed safe for its intended use in and around food manufacturing environments. HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, and it is a system used to proactively avoid food safety hazards during the manufacturing process. Now more than ever, companies appreciate this type of proactivity. HACCP International is proud to have brands such as 3M, Kimberly Clark and Dyson among its clients. The evaluation process, which determines whether a piece of equipment or a food safety related service (i.e. pest control) is fit for use in food manufacturing environments, is coordinated from the home office in North Sydney, Australia. Clive Withinshaw, president of HACCP International, is in the process of overseeing the expansion of the HACCP International certification and mark through strategic partnerships and relationship building. With satellite offices in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and now the Americas (Orlando, FL USA), HACCP International is expanding with a focus on steady and sustainable growth. Ronald D. Mathis, CMS brings years of experience with certification systems from certification management companies such as the British Standards Institute (BSI) and SGS North America. Rons experience, connections and expertise make him a natural fit for this opportunity. Communication and relationship building are his specialties, and his wealth of knowledge built through years of experience allows him to hit the ground running and expand the brand recognition and market presence of the only certification that can tell you if your non-food grade product(s) meet a defined standard of safety (food safety hazard-free). About D.L. Newslow & Associates, Inc.: Founded in 1997, D.L. Newslow & Associates, Inc, is proud to be celebrating our 20th year in business this year. Debby Newslow is well-known in food safety and quality management circles as being the foremost authority on quality and food safety management standards and schemes, as well as FSMA, internal auditing, corrective and preventive action, and much more. Visit us on the web at http://www.newslow.com to learn more about Debby and her team along with information on our workshops, services and our proud partnership with HACCP International (since 2014). About HACCP International: HACCP International is a leading food science organization with a strong presence worldwide. HACCP International operates a world-renowned product certification scheme - certification of food safe equipment, materials and services - confirming a product's or services suitability for use within food businesses that operate to the world's highest standards. Visit us on the web at http://www.haccp-international.com to learn more including what doors the mark could open for your products. Cleveland Brown, CEO of Payscout, Inc. advises merchants to expand their businesses cross-border eCommerce merchants who are not looking beyond the domestic market are missing a tremendous opportunity. Online shopping has become a mainstay for consumers. In 2016, ecommerce spending reached over $22 trillion.1 By 2025, an additional 1.8 billion consumers will enter the market, spending an estimated $30 trillion.2 Moreover, online purchases are not solely relegated to holiday shopping any morepeople are turning to sites such as Amazon Prime to purchase everyday items for their closets and pantries.3 Because the internet is a borderless world, international ecommerce is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. In fact, just 40 percent of ecommerce sales in the United States were domestic in 2016.1 By 2018, the number of cross-border shoppers is predicted to grow by 50 percent.3 eCommerce merchants who are not looking beyond the domestic market are missing a tremendous opportunity, said Cleveland Brown, CEO of leading global payment processing provider Payscout, Inc. Consumers are looking for the best deals and products onlineregardless of where in the world that search takes them. According to Brown, flexibility, research and top-notch security will improve a business chances of successfully migrating to a global business model. The following are some areas to consider when laying the groundwork for a global expansion plan: 1. Research new markets thoroughly. What countriesand, more specifically, what demographiccurrently buy your type of product? Is there an unmet demand in your product area? What kind of culture does this new market have (e.g. gift-giving holidays, cultural taboos, etc.)? Cultural empathy is key. What language does the market prefer to use and, if necessary, can you translate your site to accommodate? 2. Determine what must be customized to the local market. Different cultures are comfortable with different currencies and even different payment methods. For example, 46 percent of Germans prefer to pay by online bank transfers, while in some parts of the world, cash on delivery is the standard.2,3 3. Test a new marketplace first. It may be a good idea to start with a small investment to test the demand for your product. Major marketplace sites, such as Alibaba, Amazon or eBay, can provide a virtual storefront with little upfront investment. Once you determine what the level of demand is, you can scale up or down to accommodate. Consumers across the globe expect a highly secure shopping environment and the ability to access it on their mobile devices.4 For four years running, respondents to the annual KEY BUSINESS DRIVERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN CROSS-BORDER ECOMMERCE survey have named mobile commerce as the biggest international ecommerce trend.4 Most shoppers will purchase from an ecommerce site if they believe their payment information will be handled securely, added Brown. When choosing a payment processing provider, ecommerce businesses should look for companies that can provide security and flexibility across multiple platforms. He explained that a payment provider should be able to seamlessly operate across borders by providing access to local funding methods, and additionally, they should be compliant with security standards such as PCI. About Payscout, Inc.: Payscout Supports the Entrepreneurial Dream One Transaction at a Time. Payscout is a global payment processing provider covering six continents by connecting merchants and consumers via credit, debit, ATM and alternative payment networks. What differentiates Payscout is its mission to support the entrepreneurial dream one transaction at a time. Payscout achieves this by being a thought leader in the payments industry. Its Go Global Now technology platform gives merchants instant access to 100+ countries, billions of consumers and trillions of dollars. Payscout offers payment processing solutions for brick-and-mortar and ecommerce transactions, and has earned acclaim as a new-generation provider of merchant banking services, specializing in online/ecommerce retailers with a predominant proportion of card-not-present (CNP) transactions; it is one of the few providers to deliver a true global payment solution that encompasses all merchant risk verticals. Customers can access Payscouts credit card processing services via a state-of-the-art, web-based user portal and through direct interactions with highly-trained experts. In addition to supporting thousands of clients across a multitude of industries and all 50 U.S. states, Payscout maintains global partnerships with VISA USA, Bank of America Merchant Services, VISA Europe, VISA Latin America, VISA Asia Pacific, MasterCard Worldwide, China Union Pay, Deutsche Bank, First Data and Payscout Brazil. Payscout was recognized as one of Americas fastest-growing privately-held companies in 2014, 2015 and 2016, ranking #2,416 in 2014, #434 in 2015 and #383 in 2016 on Inc. Magazines Inc. 500/5000 list. Within the financial services industry, Payscout placed #140 in 2014 and #24 in 2015. For more information, visit http://www.payscout.com. 1. Padia, Keval. 6 Trends to Dominate Ecommerce in 2017. BrainSINSSmart ecommerce. N.p., 03 Jan. 2017. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. 2. Jones, Chase. International Ecommerce: 3 Steps to Global Expansion. Big Commerce. N.p., 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. 3. Labrien, Dianna. How To Expand Your Ecommerce Venture Internationally. Tech.co. N.p., 13 Dec. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. 4. Global Uncertainty Weighs on Cross-Border E-Commerce: Report. CardNotPresent.com. N.p., 20 Dec. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. For companies looking to achieve greater business efficiency, AFCO Systems emphasizes LEAN manufacturing, a process that strives to reduce or eliminate waste. Since the company puts a high priority on helping its clients become more efficient, every hire is a "quality assurance inspector" who contributes to new ideas for creating enhanced quality processes that cut costs. We are proud to announce the following new members to the AFCO team. Rich Filonuk joins the inside sales department. He will be responsible for managing transactional sales for small and medium business clients. Rick DePalma is a sales account executive who will focus on design/build construction and contractors. William Chung will serve as sales engineer for the Western USA. Aram Ovasian is a new customer service representative. Eddie Gleason will fill a new role as Sales Manager, EU. All the new hires will report to John Consoli, who rejoins AFCO Systems as Vice President of Sales and Marketing after spending six years working in the DCIM market. Consoli was VP of Global Sales for AFCO Systems from 2000-2008. It is great to be back at AFCO Systems. It feels like coming home. I will be working side by side with our CEO, Mike Mallia and the rest of the senior management team to guide AFCO Systems towards re-establishing our prominence in the Data Center Industry. The financial crash of 2008 set us back a bit, but we are back stronger than ever. Lean, mean and ready to roll., said Consoli. About AFCO Systems Founded in 1971 by the company, which holds numerous patents, has pioneered cutting edge designs that accommodate cabling, cooling, power, integration services and on-site end-user usability challenges and requirements. Its core areas of focus are customer service, engineering, innovation and manufacturing. AFCO Systems is based in Farmingdale, New York in its 100,000sq ft manufacturing facility. In an effort to support the expanding EU market, AFCO has expanded to an additional 100,000 sq ft facility in Galway, Ireland where Eddie Gleason is based. January 23, 2017 Kount, a leading provider of fraud detection and sales boosting technology today announced a newly released integration with Whitepages Pro, a leading source of global digital identity data. Kounts Data Orchestration Hub will now include Whitepages Pros vast data from their Identity Graph, enhancing merchants ability to fight fraud and increase online and mobile sales through Kounts comprehensive fraud solution platform. We continue to innovate and sign new integrations with leading technology providers to equip our merchants with best-in-class solutions that stop fraud and increase sales and revenue, said Rich Stuppy, COO, Kount. As identity verification plays a critical role in card-not-present transactions, Whitepages Pro is a welcomed addition to our Data Orchestration Hub, and the seamless integration into our platform allows merchants to be up and running from day one. Whitepages Pro offers global identity verification data and tools to help companies recognize legitimate customers and get good orders out the door faster. With a single Identity Check query, Kount clients can conduct up to five different searches across five billion global contact records in the Whitepages Identity Graph, where over a million new linkages among people, addresses, emails, phones, and IPs are created daily. Combining this data with Kounts real-time fraud detection provides merchants access to a larger and more powerful identity verification network for rule-building and manual review. The Whitepages Pro integration is now available to all users of the Kount Complete fraud mitigation platform, following successful beta tests with a number of leading merchants. Through the integration, merchants now have an automated, all-in-one fraud prevention solution that combines Kounts patented technology and advanced machine learning techniques with Whitepages Pros leading source of identity information. Key features of the partnership include: Zero integration cost for merchants Seamless integration into the Kount Complete platform Access to Kounts strategically augmented rich data set with dozens of built-in data points A streamlined and automated manual review process Our integration with Kount provides customers with additional levels of protection and control in their fight against fraud, says Kushal Shah, VP of Product, Whitepages Inc. Empowered with more data and resources, merchants using a combination of Whitepages Pro and Kount will have access to award-winning solutions through one simple platform that helps increase sales and reduce fraud losses and chargeback costs. Kount and Whitepages Pro are demonstrating the powerful integration through a series of webinars and at Kounts Fraud 360 Seminar series. For details, visit http://www.fraud360events.com or contact a Kount or Whitepages Pro representative. To register for the upcoming webinar on January 25th, click here. About Kount Kount helps businesses boost sales by reducing fraud. Our all-in-one, SaaS platform simplifies fraud detection and helps online businesses accept more orders. Kounts turnkey fraud platform is easy-to-implement and easy-to-use. Kounts proprietary technology reviews billions of data points and provides maximum protection for some of the worlds best-known brands. Merchants using Kount can accept more orders from more people in more places than ever before. For more information about Kount, visit http://www.kount.com. Kount on Twitter: @Kountinc About Whitepages Pro Whitepages Pro provides businesses with global identity verification solutions via enterprise-scale APIs and web tools to help companies identify legitimate customers, prevent fraudulent transactions, and smooth new customer account creation. Our real-time data integrates into existing platforms, authentication workflows, and data models to help your business confidently assess and verify consumer identities worldwide. Our foundation is data at massive scale. As a leader in identity data, Whitepages developed our own fully-integrated, high-availability Identity Graph database which houses more than 5 billion global identity records. These records have been curated and corroborated from hundreds of different sources to deliver unparalleled coverage, accuracy, and performance in identity verification. Businesses of all sizes including use Whitepages Pro data to mitigate risk and improve the customer experience. https://pro.whitepages.com/about/ Kount Contact: Don Bush, VP Marketing Telephone: +1 208.489. 3346 http://www.kount.com Whitepages Pro Contact: Tom Donlea, VP Marketing Telephone: +1 206.228.3156 email: tdonlea(at)whitepages(dot)com http://www.pro.whitepages.com Working closely with Sigfox operators around the world, M2COMM has proven to be a valuable partner of our global ecosystem, said Tony Francesca, Vice President of Global Ecosystem Partners at Sigfox M2COMM, a leading Internet of Things (IoT) provider, today announced that its flagship Uplynx SoC had been certified by Sigfox. Now the Uplynx SoC and Sigfox verified wireless modules for Europe, MEA, Americas and Asia Pacific are available to device makers. Uplynx targets device makers that require a cost-effective, low power, small form factor solution. The demand for cost-effective BOM is also reflected in the certified reference design; no expensive TCXO (uses standard crystals); capable of delivering 22dBm transmission power without using an external amplifier; a 32-bit processor, 128 KB flash and 24K SRAM built-in provides all the computational power and flexibility developers need and removes the requirement for an external MCU. In addition, device makers are able to design one PCB suitable for multiple regions using Uplynx, saving significant engineering effort and management hassles. To speed up the development cycle for simple applications, M2COMM provides an SDK and a unique compiler-free EasyAT design environment for developers. Whilst the SDK provides access to all of the features on the Uplynx SoC, the EasyAT allows simple application developers to finish their designs in much shorter timeframes. M2COMMs Uplynx is a powerful SoC platform that enabled us to develop a prototype in less than 2 months. The quality of support we received from M2COMM speeded up our teams development drastically, said Philippe Chiu, Managing Director of UnaBiz, SIGFOX operator in Singapore and Taiwan. I am very happy to see M2COMM joining the SIGFOX ecosystem, bringing a one-of-a-kind multi region platform. Increasing numbers of LPWAN appliance developers are turning to the Uplynx SoC for their designs, with its highly integrated, multi region design. Developers are seeing economic benefits through reductions in design spins and cycles, said CK Tseng, VP of Worldwide Sales & Marketing at M2COMM. We believe that total cost of ownership will be the main driver to design adoption and with that in mind we set about designing and manufacturing our Uplynx SoC in a way that reduced the dependency for additional components and saved the BOM cost for our customers. The LPWAN market is still in its infancy, but with the M2COMM Uplynx at the forefront, its going to grow quickly. Working closely with Sigfox operators around the world, M2COMM has proven to be a valuable partner of our global ecosystem, said Tony Francesca, Vice President of Global Ecosystem Partners at Sigfox. With M2COMMs Uplynx SoC providing a compelling, reliable and multiregional solution, we look forward to enabling many IoT use cases and millions of connected devices over Sigfoxs global network. Pricing and Availability Samples and production quantities of the M2COMM Uplynx SoC and Sigfox verified wireless modules for Europe, MEA, Americas and Asia Pacific are available now. To simplify application development, M2COMM offers the Uplynx evaluation kit at USD $49.99. To purchase product samples and developments tools, visit http://www.m2comm.co/portfolio-view/m2c8001/. About M2COMM M2Communcation Inc. (M2COMM) is a pioneering Internet-of-Things (IoT) communication system and chipset solutions provider. Founded in 2012 by a group of like-minded individuals with years of experience in wireless communication, M2COMM creates innovative products for ultra-low-power wireless networking. Our mission, to focus on providing the best fitting solutions for IoT applications through continued technological advancement resulting in a refreshing user experience. For more information about M2COMM, please visit http://www.m2comm.co/. Contact: M2COMM Evelyn Chen PR & Marketing E-mail: info(at)m2comm(dot)co Telephone: +886-3-657-8939 Each of Califia Farms creamer flavors Unsweetened, Vanilla, Hazelnut and Pecan Caramel will come in the new 750ml curvy, grippable PET bottle ..at Califia Farms, we are constantly innovating to ensure that consumers can go plant-powered and live dairy-free without ever compromising taste. Califia Farms leapt ahead in 2016 achieving 77% sales growth across all channels and the number one sales position for its Almondmilks and ready-to-drink Cold Brew Coffees in Natural according to SPINS data(1). Continuing on a dramatic upward trajectory, sales of Califias innovative nut milk creamers grew 138% in 2016 making them the fastest growing non-dairy creamer brand in the refrigerator case(2). This trend is set to continue with the introduction of a new 750ml creamer bottle design in Califias signature curvy form at the Specialty Food Associations Winter Fancy Food Show today. Califia Farms innovative packaging design has already won multiple awards(3), helping to spark the plant-powered beverage revolution in the dairy case. With the new creamer bottle, the company aims to continue its leadership in revolutionizing the non-dairy creamer category, just as it drove change and growth in the nut milk category. Unlike anything else in the market, our new creamer bottle signals to consumers that they are about to have a Califia experience meaning delicious, premium, plant-powered, clean labeled and pleasing to both the eye and the palate, said Califia Farms CEO and Founder Greg Steltenpohl. Plus, it gives retailers a fresh way to appeal to their health-conscious and millennial-minded customers, while also helping the millions of Americans who put cream in their coffee move away from the unhealthy artificially flavored, oil-based non-dairy creamers of the past. Each of Califia Farms creamer flavors Unsweetened, Vanilla, Hazelnut and Pecan Caramel will come in the new 750ml curvy, grippable PET bottle, designed with a spout that solves the problem of drippage and over/under pouring that comes with less precise packaging formats. A real win for consumers seeking to create that perfect cup of coffee. And, like all Califia products, the creamers are Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan, BPA Free, Carrageenan Free, Gluten Free, and Kosher. Consumers are increasingly turning to Califia Farms over other brands when it comes to choosing the dairy-free beverage that is right for them, continued Steltenpohl. We believe that moving the needle in the direction of a plant-based food supply is something that benefits us all and, at Califia Farms, we are constantly innovating to ensure that consumers can go plant-powered and live dairy-free without ever compromising taste. Since its introduction in 2011, sales of Califia Farms Almondmilk have grown rapidly, helping drive overall growth in the nut milk category, while its delicious artisan recipe and distinctive carafe also helped pioneer the premiumization of the non-dairy refrigerated case. As the company has expanded its plant-powered innovations into cold brew coffees and creamers, it has consistently achieved double-digit YOY revenue growth. Expanding along with the growing demand for Califia Farms plant-based creamers and milks is overall consumer adoption of non-dairy milks, and the decline in consumption of dairy milk. According to Mintel, non-dairy penetration is exploding, with household penetration growing from 27.3% in 2013, to 55% in 2016(4) and the Almondmilk category projected to grow 36% by 2020, while dairy milk sales are projected to decline 8% by 2020.(5) About Califia Farms (pronounced Cal-ah-FEE-yuh) Founded in 2010 and headed by beverage visionary Greg Steltenpohl, Los Angeles-based Califia Farms is one of the fastest-growing natural beverage companies in the U.S. The company is leading the way in the plant-based food and beverage revolution, creating innovative, healthy and great-tasting premium beverages that make it easy for consumers to go plant-powered and live dairy-free, without compromise. The company also leads the next wave of coffee innovation and is the best-selling cold brew coffee brand in the natural channel. In 2015, Califia Farms was named Brand of the Year by BevNet, and a Breakout Brand by Beverage World. Join the conversation with @CalifiaFarms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Califia Farms Media Relations mWEBB Communications Melanie Webber, (424) 603-4340, melanie(at)mwebbcom(dot)com (1) SPINS/IRI 52 weeks ending 12/25/16 (2) SPINS/IRI 52 weeks ending 12/25/16 all channels combined (3)Top 10 Challenger Brand by consultancy firm Seurat Group for its unique bottle that is reshaping todays dairy case. Top honors in Beverage Worlds 2015 Global Packaging Design Award. Cleanest Packaged Foods award from Prevention Magazine. (4) 2013 Data: Milk, Creamers and Non Dairy Milk Mintel Report US April 2014; 2016 Data: Dairy and Non-Dairy Milk: Spotlight on Non-Dairy Mintel Report US April 2016) MINTEL DAIRY & NON-DAIRY MILK US - APRIL 2016 (5) MINTEL DAIRY & NON-DAIRY MILK US - APRIL 2016 We urgently need bright, creative thinkers dedicating their scientific careers to food and agriculture." The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a nonprofit organization that supports innovative science through unique partnerships, seeks outstanding early career nominees for the 2017 New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award. Continued scientific innovation is critical to meeting the needs of a world in which one in nine people suffers from hunger. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research created the New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award to help support the next generation of food and agriculture scientists. The New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award funds promising individuals pursuing research with potential to sustainably enhance agricultural production or improve health through food. Nominees will compete for up to 10 awards, with each awardee receiving up to $600,000 over three years. Institutions of higher education, other nonprofit research institutions and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are encouraged to nominate up to two candidates for the Award. Nominees must be within the first three years of tenure-track or equivalent faculty careers. We urgently need bright, creative thinkers dedicating their scientific careers to food and agriculture, whether that means developing methods to grow more food with fewer resources, uncovering nutritional knowledge that leads to better health, or identifying ways for crops to thrive under conditions like drought or a changing climate, said Dr. Sally Rockey, the Foundations executive director. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research is proud to play a part in developing talent today to help tackle food and agriculture challenges now and in the future. Eligible nominees will be invited to apply for an award within one of seven research categories and will be evaluated on their research program proposals as well as a demonstrated commitment to mentoring. In November 2016, the nine inaugural recipients of the New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award were awarded a total of $4.95 million from FFAR and the recipients respective institutions. Learn more about the nomination process and the 2016 winners of the New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award at http://www.foundationfar.org/new-innovator. About the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research: The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, builds unique partnerships to support innovative and actionable science addressing todays food and agriculture challenges. Leveraging public and private resources, FFAR will increase the scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to enhancing sustainable production of nutritious food for a growing global population. Established by the 2014 Farm Bill, FFAR is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman and with ex officio representation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation. Learn more: http://www.foundationfar.org | bit.ly/FFARNews. Connect: @FoundationFAR This year, Chinese New Year is celebrated by PhoneClub.com community with a Facebook contest called The Red Envelope Challenge. Starting January 23 until January 26, customers are invited to guess what is hidden in the red envelope on PhoneClub.com Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PhoneClubMembers. The winner will be selected on January 27. The prize consists of $10 Voice Credit that can be used by the winner to call anyone in the world. For Chinese, it is traditional to give red envelopes after the New Year's Feast. Also, red envelopes can be put under children's pillows when they fall asleep, to be opened in the morning. Giving red envelopes wishes good luck, and putting money in the envelopes is to bring happiness. In Chinese culture, the colour red symbolises energy, good fortune and chases away evil spirits. PhoneClub.com, a telecommunication website dedicated to ethnic groups living outside their mother countries, can be used when calling from any landline, mobile or even payphone in the world, through local or toll free access numbers. Calls may also be placed through PhoneClub free app. The iOS and Android applications may be used to call without having to dial any access number, and even any phone number at all. Once logged in, customers can use their phone contact list to call. The mechanism PhoneClub.com proposes is simple and intuitive: become a PhoneClub.com member for free, buy Voice Credit and start calling internationally at the lowest rates in the world, no matter the destination. The most important advantage PhoneClub.com offers is the access to amazing rates. Once subscribed to PhoneClub, customers have access to the lowest calling rates that allows them to make long calls to whatever destination they need to reach. Either back home is in Canada, UK, India, Nigeria or Mexico, calling family and friends more often may be a good idea to feel closer to home. Calling Canada? Sure, for hours on end. For $10, customers may talk for 5,000 minutes, as the rate is as low as 0.2/min. Crossing the ocean to UK? The same rule applies here: long calls are most appreciated. The rates for calling UK vary from 0.3/min for landlines to 3 /min for mobiles. So with PhoneClub.com customers get 3,333 minutes for calls to landlines for only $10, and 333 minutes if they call mobiles. India and Nigeria are also expecting calls from their citizens living abroad: calls to India mobiles are as low as 1.1/min, for both landlines and mobiles. If home is Mexico, for $10 spent, customers receive 5,000 minutes to call landlines or mobiles. The 100% transaction security, the 24/7 Customer Service available by email, phone and chat in both English and Spanish, plus the comprehensive Help Center are key elements PhoneClub.com focuses on, in order to make the service reliable and secure. All PhoneClub.com promotions and contests can be found on their Facebook page: Facebook.com/PhoneClubMembers About PhoneClub.com PhoneClub.com is an interactive website designed by KeepCalling, a global telecommunications company registered in 2002 in USA. Presently, KeepCalling provides its services to hundreds of thousands of consumers and businesses, with a focus on customer satisfaction. In 2014, Inc. 5000 listed KeepCalling as the 18th fastest growing company in the telecommunications industry in USA. I would like to thank my staff and students who did what they were trained to do today, which was to follow the ALICE protocols. Kraig Hissong, Superintendent West Liberty-Salem School District On Jan 18, 2017, a student in a classroom of a high school in Monterrey Mexico pulled out a .22 caliber handgun and began shooting at his teacher and classmates. Everyone in the room stayed seated in their chairs or went to the floor in an attempt to hide from the gunman. In less than a minute, 4 people were wounded, 3 critically with head wounds, and the shooter killed himself. Nobody attempted to leave the room until the shooting was over. Greg Crane, President and CEO of the ALICE Training Institute, says This response is similar to the actions taken by those trained only in Lockdown protocols, where people are told to be passive, remain static and wait for Law Enforcement response. Two days later on January 20, a shooting occurred at West Liberty-Salem High School in Ohio just before school was starting. Upon hearing the shotgun blast, many students ran into rooms and barricaded the doors. Others broke out windows in order to facilitate an evacuation of the building to safety. Staff in the vicinity of the shooter rushed him, took him to the ground, and held him until the police arrived five minutes later. The targeted student suffered gunshot wounds. None of the other students who evacuated the building or the staff who subdued the shooter reportedly were injured. Kraig Hissong, Superintendent of West Liberty-Salem School District said in his press conference: I would like to thank my staff and students who did what they were trained to do today, which was to follow the ALICE protocols. Champaign County Sheriff Michael Melvin said, "more people would have been wounded at the West Liberty school building on Friday morning without the intervention because the shooter's intent was to harm more people." Crane praised the actions of the school. This is the value of preparation. But to be prepared, we have to spend the time and effort to train everyone in their survival options, and then practice those skills. The ALICE Training Institute prays for the swift recovery of the victim and expresses extreme gratitude and pride for the staff, students. Staff and students' quick thinking and actions at West Liberty-Salem High School saved lives. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) is the nations first training program for citizens to increase their survival chances and save lives, if faced with a Violent Intruder. The ALICE Training Institute has trained thousands of police departments, K-12 school districts, higher education, businesses, hospitals, and houses of worship in the ALICE protocols over the last 15 years. The Institute is located in Medina, Ohio. For further information, please go to http://www.alicetraining.com. zpizza, the first artisan-inspired pizza chain, today announced the debut of the zpizza Tap Room in East Sacramento. The restaurant will have a grand opening celebration on January 29th and the first 100 guests to arrive when the doors open at 12:00 pm will receive Free Pizza For a Year* with any purchase. The restaurant will feature zpizzas signature artisan brick-oven baked pizzas made with premium ingredients and the franchises new self-serve tap wall with 26 local craft beers and 4 taps serving wine. Customers will pour their own beer or wine by using wristbands they scan at the taps that also track the amount poured. The restaurant has modern and industrial design elements that are friendly and inviting, as well as a large outdoor dog-friendly patio that will have water bowls and complimentary house-made treats. We wanted to open a zpizza Tap Room because its the kind of place we would be proud to take our family and friends. We have created a very warm, casual environment with plenty of big screen TVs for game nights, said Chris Bright, President of zpizza International. Were excited to bring this unique dining experience to the East Sacramento community and look forward to serving the many residents, travelers and businesses that surround us. The new zpizza Tap Room is located at 6601 Folsom Blvd., neighboring Sacramento State University. Hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Friday 11:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight), Saturday 12:00 pm to 12:00 am, and Sunday 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Like all zpizza locations, the zpizza Tap Room offers the choice of delivery, dine-in, take-out and catering, in addition to easy online ordering so patrons can customize orders with ease from the comfort of their home or office. For more information, please call (916) 330-3973. For those looking for special discounts and offers year round, the new restaurant will also offer zTribe memberships. zpizza Tap Room East Sacramento is the sixth location in the U.S., with other locations in Raleigh, NC, Tucson and Phoenix, AZ, and Los Angeles and Rancho Cucamonga, CA. zpizza restaurants are located across the globe, with 70 locations in the United States and 6 additional international stores. zpizza Tap Rooms serve zpizzas signature brick oven baked pizzas made with premium ingredients, including fresh produce, award-winning skim mozzarella, certified organic tomato sauce and non-GMO flour. In addition to its award winning brick oven pizza, the zpizza Tap Room offers sharebles including garlic artichoke dip, zwings and truffle fries, as well as salads like the popular chopped cobb salad or the avocado arugula salad, and delicious sandwiches served on fresh store-baked baguette bread. For more information, please visit http://www.zpizza.com. Free small pizza each month ABOUT ZPIZZA Founded in 1986 in the heart of an art colony in Laguna Beach, California, zpizza is the first artisan-inspired pizza chain that appeals to traditional pizza lovers, health-conscious consumers and gourmet palates alike. For more information on zpizza and store locations, visit http://www.zpizza.com Hugh F. Kelly, PhD, CRE, has been named Special Advisor to the Fordham Real Estate Institute at Lincoln Center. I am thrilled to be joining the Fordham Real Estate Institute and look forward to working with the administration and adjunct faculty to create a world-class educational environment for seasoned and up-and-coming real estate professionals. The Fordham Real Estate Institute at Lincoln Center which will provide professional real estate certificate programs starting next month is proud to announce that Hugh F. Kelly, PhD, CRE has been named Special Advisor to the program, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Kelly will be responsible for guiding the direction of academic programs, developing content, recruiting faculty and performing industry outreach. He will report directly to Anthony R. Davidson, PhD, MBA, dean of Fordhams School of Professional and Continuing Studies. The appointment of Hugh Kelly as Special Advisor further positions the Fordham Real Estate Institute as the leader in professional certificate programs in the real estate arena, says Dr. Davidson. He has a proven track record in business and academics, and we are pleased to have him join us as we launch this new endeavor. In addition to his work with the Fordham Real Estate Institute at Lincoln Center, Mr. Kelly also heads his own consulting practice, Hugh F. Kelly Real Estate Economics. He previously served as Clinical Professor in New York Universitys Schack Institute of Real Estate, where he taught for more than 30 years. Prior to 2001, he was chief economist for Landauer Associates, one of the nations most prominent commercial property consulting firms. I am thrilled to be joining the Fordham Real Estate Institute and look forward to working with the administration and adjunct faculty to create a world-class educational environment for seasoned and up-and-coming real estate professionals, said Mr. Kelly. A member of the Counselors of Real Estate (serving as Chairman in 2014), Mr. Kelly has published more than 300 articles in industry and academic journals. He is author of the book 24-hour Cities: Performance Beyond Promises, published by Routledge in 2016. He holds a PhD from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland in Urban Economics and the Built Environment, and a B.A. in Philosophy (magna cum laude) from Cathedral College, Douglaston. The Fordham Real Estate Institute at Lincoln Center provides practical and world-class real estate certificate programs to industry professionals and owners/investors. Beginning in spring 2017, enrollees will have access to four specialized tracks: Finance and Investment, Financial Modeling, Development, and Construction Project Management. Classes can be taken either in-person at the centrally-located Lincoln Center Campus, or online from anywhere in the world. In addition to the six-week in-person and online courses, students also have the option to take an intensive, one-week certificate track at Lincoln Center. Housed in Fordham Universitys School of Professional and Continuing Studies, the new real estate certificate programs underscore its mission of enabling people to develop and maximize their potential. For a full list and description of courses, and to register, visit fordham.edu/realestate ABOUT FORDHAM REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE AT LINCOLN CENTER The Fordham Real Estate Institute at Lincoln Center is an innovative, practical, and world-class professional certificate program based in the real estate capital of the world. Serving professionals and owners/investors of all stripes, the program has four specialized tracks: Finance and Investment, Financial Modeling, Development, and Construction Project Management. Program curriculum is centered on real-world skill sets and taught by talented industry insiders. Flexibility and convenience are program hallmarks: classes can be taken in-person, online, and at various paces. For more information, visit fordham.edu/realestate. Angela Davis Salt Lake Community College will host the Women In Freedom Movement forum Feb. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Grand Theatre, located at Center for Arts & Media on the SLCC South City Campus, 1575 S. State Street in Salt Lake City. The Women In Freedom Movement forum examines the black freedom struggle in America from the female perspective. Panelists for this free public event include Angela Davis, Kathleen Cleaver and Margaret Burnham, with Michele Goodwin moderating the evenings discussion that will cover the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 70s in America and around the world. This is a rare opportunity to hear these prominent scholars and activists who have been influential to changing both the nation and the world. The trail-blazing contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Huey Newton are widely known, but equally strong black female activists like these featured panelists worked to educate and motivate people to embrace civil action. Davis is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of California Santa Cruz, and she has authored eight books and lectures throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. Cleaver is the co-director of the Atlanta-based Human Rights Research Fund, part of a network of anti-racist organizations engaged in documenting violations of the human rights of U.S. citizens who challenge the racist and military policies in this country. Burnham is a law professor specializing in civil and human rights, comparative constitutional rights and international criminal law. Goodwin is a Chancellors Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine and is the founder and director of the Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy at UC Irvine School of Law. Salt Lake Community College is an accredited, student-focused, comprehensive community college meeting the diverse needs of the Salt Lake community. Home to more than 61,000 students each year, the College is Utahs leading provider of workforce development programs. SLCC is also the largest supplier of transfer students to Utahs four-year institutions and a perennial Top 10 college nationally for total associate degrees awarded. The College is the sole provider of applied technology courses in the Salt Lake area, with multiple locations, an eCampus, and nearly 1,000 continuing education sites located throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Personal attention from an excellent faculty is paramount at the College, which maintains an average class size of 20. We are thrilled with the enthusiastic response we are receiving from hoteliers interested in opening a SureStay hotel, said David Kong, President and Chief Executive Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. Best Western Hotels & Resorts is advancing its position as an innovative leader in the hospitality industry, as its revolutionary new white label franchise model SureStay Hotel Group gains significant momentum only a few months after being introduced into the marketplace. The brand has approved 30 hotels in North America and one in Bangkok, Thailand and is projecting to open 100 hotels by the end of 2017. With significant interest in the brand in North America and around the world, particularly in Europe, SureStay Hotel Group is among the fastest growing hotel brands in the industry. Announced in late 2016, SureStay Hotel Group operates as a separate subsidiary while plugging hotel owners into Best Westerns comprehensive infrastructure and distribution channels. The white label approach allows Best Western to leverage its existing framework to create a new revenue stream and tap into the vast opportunities in the economy space without compromising the companys established position in its current markets. We are thrilled with the enthusiastic response we are receiving from hoteliers interested in opening a SureStay hotel, said David Kong, President and Chief Executive Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. The introduction of SureStay has not only brought an innovative solution to franchisees in the economy and midscale segments, but with Best Western as its backbone and driving force, SureStay will play an integral role in shaping the future of hospitality. Powered by Best Western Hotels & Resorts, SureStay Hotel Group has brought many firsts for the brand as it was the first time Best Western entered into a franchise structure; the first time Best Western tapped into the economy segment; and most notably, it was the first ever white label hotel brand introduced into the marketplace. Under the SureStay umbrella, there are three distinctive brands SureStay, SureStay Plus, and SureStay Signature Collection. With the support of Best Western and access to award-winning resources, SureStay enables its franchisees to optimize their return on investment (ROI). With a commitment to quality customer service, guests are assured of a comfortable and pleasant stay at any of the SureStay branded hotels across the country. # # # About Best Western Hotels & Resorts: Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers seven hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, Executive Residency by Best Western, Vib, BW Premier Collection and GLoSM. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including nearly sixty percent of the brands North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award in 2016, Business Travel News ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western in the top three upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands for three years in a row, and Best Western receiving five consecutive Dynatrace Best of the Web gold awards for best hotel website. Best Western has also won eight AAA/CAA Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brands commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAAs 56 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Nearly 30 million travelers are members of the brands award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. Best Westerns partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels. United Nations Foundation President and CEO Kathy Calvin today issued the following statement on the imposition of the Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule, last enacted in 2001. The policy, enacted again today through Executive action, prohibits foreign non-governmental organizations from receiving any U.S. foreign assistance for family planning if they provide information, referrals, or services for legal abortion or lobby for abortion. U.S. law already prohibits the use of U.S. foreign assistance to pay for abortion information and services as a method of family planning. Therefore, organizations that provide abortion information or services do so with non-U.S. government funding. The enactment of the Global Gag Rule means organizations that provide abortion information or services or lobby for abortion cannot receive any U.S. foreign assistance, even for their non-abortion work, including providing voluntary family planning services and reproductive health care. Calvin said: The United Nations Foundation does not support the Global Gag Rule, which jeopardizes the health and well-being of the worlds most vulnerable girls and women. This action will do more than change policy; it will make it more difficult for millions of girls and women to access the contraception and health care they need to determine their futures. When the policy was last enacted, health care clinics in many countries were forced to close and outreach services for the hardest to reach populations were eliminated, leaving many of the worlds poorest people without access to critical services, such as maternal and child health care, HIV testing and counseling, and contraceptives, including condoms. Without these life-saving services, more women and infants died due to pregnancy-related complications. In some countries, the Global Gag Rule led to increases in abortions as women had more unintended pregnancies. The Global Gag Rule also runs counter to long-standing bipartisan support in Congress and in the American public for U.S. leadership in providing voluntary family planning services to women and couples around the world who want it. U.S. funding for voluntary family planning programs globally has allowed girls to stay in school, pursue jobs, and have children if and when they are ready. It has helped to improve maternal and child health, decrease unintended pregnancies, lower HIV infection rates, and reduce poverty. Still, more than 225 million women worldwide who want to delay or avoid pregnancy are not using modern contraception and need our support. Now is the time to build on progress, not reverse it. The United Nations Foundation stands ready to work with the new U.S. Administration to continue Americas leadership in improving health around the world. Access to reproductive health care, including contraception, is a human right and enables girls and women to plan their lives, climb out of poverty, and achieve a more sustainable future. ### About the United Nations Foundation The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the worlds most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: http://www.unfoundation.org. Katarzyna Mycka, Founder of IKMMA Arcata, California is a beautiful area for my Academy, and a very special point on the global marimba map: it's where the best marimbas in the world are crafted. World-renowned musician Katarzyna Mycka will host her IKMMA Marimba Academy at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California from June 2-11 this summer. The Academy is the brainchild of Mycka, long-time marimba soloist originally from Poland and now living in Germany. "My aim is to create an environment in which students have a chance to play with people who are active in the field," explains Mycka. "Rather than do a masterclass where you have a group listening to one person, I set up a schedule so that every single student gets an individual lesson every day." The faculty reflects the international exchange fostered during the Academy. In 2017, the faculty includes Katarzyna Mycka, Jean Geoffroy (France), Andreas Boettger (Germany), Juan Forero (Colombia) as well as composer Arkadiusz Katny (Poland). Staff includes Conrado Moya (Spain) and Filip Mercep (Croatia). Of special note is Vibraphone specialist and IKMMA Guest David Friedman (American, living in Germany). Friedman will offer private lessons and a vibraphone masterclass during IKMMA. The participants' schedule is packed with private lessons, open lessons, several hours of daily private practice on 5-octave marimbas and two hours daily of chamber music rehearsal, as well as participation in eight concerts. But there will also be a day of sight-seeing the extraordinary giant Redwoods that are unique to Northern California. The excitement continues with a tour of Marimba One, maker of the world's finest marimbas and vibraphones. Marimba One, founded by Ron Samuels in 1986, crafts its instruments with a passion for acoustic perfection. "I'm super-excited that IKMMA will be in California for the first time. I can't wait to meet all these marimba and vibraphone players! It's the passion of musicians like these that inspires my work." Humboldt State University (HSU) is please to host the Academy on its campus. "We are so happy to be hosting the International Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy at Humboldt State University this summer! says Dr. Eugene Novotney, Professor of Music at HSU. This will be the first time that IKMMA is held outside of Europe, and we are honored that the festival will take place on our beautiful campus in the Redwoods! Katarzyna Mycka has put together an all-star faculty of artists, and I am very excited about all of the fantastic concerts and recitals that will be taking place every day. It will be a wonderful time to study marimba, and a wonderful time to visit the north coast of California! Both consumers and businesses alike are changing the way they look for goods and services, and it is largely taking place on the web. The DDC Groups North American divisions (DDC) launch a suite of solutions to empower companies with a sturdier digital marketing presence. Companies today must look to effectively portray a clear online presence in the ever-changing digital world. They need a quality brand image, a contemporary website and a strategy to continually optimize their online platforms. As a global business process outsourcing (BPO) provider focused on reducing costs and increasing efficiencies for companies, DDC recognized this critical issue and knew that they could solve the need for companies who are looking to strengthen their digital marketing performance and ultimately boost sales. The solution to this issue: DDC Digital Solutions (DS). This service focuses on building and optimizing company websites for advertisements and SEO functionality. DDC DS spearheads effective company branding and pinpoints application development for mobile and tablet-friendly website functionality. We understand how a vigorous digital marketing strategy can transform your business in todays busy world. Both consumers and businesses alike are changing the way they look for goods and services, and it is largely taking place on the web. This means that companies need to change the way they market to potential customers. Whether our customers are looking to rebuild their website, create a mobile app, or develop a strategy that offers measurable results, DDC DS is a powerful solution set that adds tremendous value to your marketing and sales enablement efforts. noted Chad Crotty, Vice President of DDC FPO & DDC USA. DDC DS is the one-stop shop for your companys digital marketing needs. To learn more about how you can take a load off, visit http://www.ddcfpo.com or http://www.theddcgroup.com. About DDC FPO & DDC USA DDC FPO and DDC USA are the North American divisions of The DDC Group, a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) experts and solutions. With operations across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, DDCs 3500-strong staff delivers services in more than 40 languages with cutting edge technology using ahead-of-the curve industry standards. DDC continually strives to develop custom systems that meet clients needs, while enhancing the quality, cost containment and labor elasticity of their back office operations. John Comegys, left, is congratulated by Rick Davis, Delaware Soybean Yield Contest coordinator and Jay Baxter, chairman of the Delaware Soybean Board and farmer from Georgetown, Del. John Comegys of Hartly in Kent County had the states top 2016 soybean yield with 80.74 bushels per acre of full season soybeans. Comegys planted Pioneer P36T86R. Kevin Evans of Bridgeville in Sussex County won the statewide double crop competition with 73.51 bushels per acre. Evans planted Pioneer 42T71, a Plenish bean which produces high-oleic soybean oil. Both men received a check for $1,000. The awards were announced by Delaware Soybean Board chairman James Jay Baxter, a farmer from Georgetown, at the annual Ag Week education program in Harrington. The Delaware Soybean Board is funded by the national soybean checkoff program, which assesses one-half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans at the first point of sale. The funds are collected for soybean research, marketing and education projects. County winners for full season soybeans included Robert Garey of Sussex County with 73.52 bushels per acre; Dale Scuse of Kent County with 80.10 bushels per acre; and Robbie Emerson of New Castle County with 66.84 bushels per acre. County winners for double crop beans included David Smoker of Sussex County with 69.13 bushels per acre and Dale Scuse of Kent County with 62.94 bushels. There was no entry from New Castle County for double crop beans. County level winners received $250. All entries in the contest were irrigated beans. 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. The Delaware Soybean Board consists of nine farmer-directors and the Secretary of Agriculture, and administers the federal soybean checkoff programs in the state. 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. New Diversity Abroad Online Community Diversity Abroad, is proud to announce the launch of its new online community, DiversityAbroad.com. The newly redesigned platform was developed to assist diverse and underrepresented students gain equitable access to global education opportunities and scholarships that will prepare them for academic and career success. Students can join the community and connect with other students, share their abroad stories with peers, and attend private events with companies that career opportunities that match their professional interests. Most importantly, they can use the Match Me feature to search for international, graduate, and career opportunities that aligns with their area of study and interest. Students overwhelmingly say that they want to participate in global programs during college. Too many students, especially from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, unfortunately never get the opportunity to make this a reality. The DiversityAbroad.com community creates a one of a kind space where diverse and underrepresented students can learn from experts and each other about global education programs and how to leverage them for graduate school and carver opportunities and success. Andrew Gordon, CEO & Founder of Diversity Abroad. While the new Diversity Abroad online community is designed to be more responsive and allow student direct access to quality resources, the organization has also partnered with various U.S. and international higher education institutions, employers, and government agencies to develop opportunities that resonates with ethnically, culturally and economically diverse students. With this platform now live, Diversity Abroad is reinforcing its powerful mission: to ensure that students from diverse economic, educational, ethnic and social backgrounds are aware, have equal access and take advantage of the benefits and opportunities afforded through global education exchanges. About Diversity Abroad: Diversity Abroad is the leading global education organization dedicated to increasing international mobility among students and young professionals. Diversity Abroad strives to equip the next generation of young people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds with the skills and experiences to compete in the 21st century global marketplace by having equitable access to meaningful global education opportunities. Learn more at http://www.diversityabroad.com. Ernesto L. Luna Ernesto brings nearly two decades experience to the firm. Graves Thomas Injury Law Group today announced Ernesto L. Luna has joined the firm as an associate attorney in its Vero Beach, Florida office. He represents injury victims and their families in matters of personal injury, social security disability, immigration and criminal law. Ernesto brings nearly two decades experience to the firm, Founding Attorney Joseph H. Graves commented. His client-focused approach, combined with our practice expansion to consumer fraud, immigration and ethical criminal defense, greatly increase our ability to meet the legal needs of the Treasure and Space Coasts. For more than 18 years, Mr. Luna has been providing a broad range of high quality legal services to a wide range of clients, including government, businesses and individuals. He has extensive trial experience, which he gained as a Coast Guard attorney during his eight years with the Coast Guard Judge Advocate General Corps. Mr. Luna also prosecuted and defended criminal cases at the state level, working as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Rhode Island, an Assistant Public Defender for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, and Assistant Regional Conflict Counsel for the 4th district. Mr. Luna is a member of the Florida Bar Association. He earned his Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island and is fluent in Spanish. About Graves Thomas Injury Law Group Graves Thomas Injury Law Group is an injury law firm dedicated to representing individuals and family members impacted by a serious injury, illness or disability. For more information about Graves Thomas Injury Law Group, visit gravesthomas.com or call 772.569.8155. Recorded Books Inc. is the audio publisher of this years Newbery Medal winner. Recorded Books also published audio titles honored with numerous other awards, including Honor Books. The 2017 Youth Media Award winners were announced this morning by the American Library Association (ALA) during a presentation at ALAs Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia. 2017 Award Winners with Audio Editions from Recorded Books: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill Winner of the 2017 John Newbery Medal They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel 2017 Caldecott Honor Book Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan 2017 Newbery Honor Book 2017 Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor Book 2017 Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Honor Book Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah, narrated by Laura Kirman 2017 Odyssey Honor Audiobook Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by Pamela S. Turner 2017 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist In addition, Recorded Books author Nikki Grimes won the 2017 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, which honors an author or illustrator whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children, and Recorded Books author Sarah Dessen won the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. Recorded Books prides itself on both the quality of its production and the excellence and diversity of the childrens titles we record. What a pleasure and privilege it is to work with so many of the talented people honored at the 2017 ALA Youth Media Awards! said Melanie Donovan, Recorded Books Director, Childrens Acquisitions. Each year the ALA honors books, videos and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in choosing the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other childrens experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA Youth Media Awards and Notables, please visit http://www.ala.org/yma. ### To purchase any of the above award winners on audio, visit the Recorded Books website. To view a complete list of the 2017 Youth Media Award winners, visit ala.unikron.com/2017. 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. Patricia M Colgan, Partner "Patricia's expertise as a CPA & Attorney is a powerful combination. We're very excited to welcome her into the firm." Anthony Acampora SilvermanAcampora LLP continues its expansion with its Trusts & Estates Group, bringing Patricia M Colgan on board as Partner and Chair of the Group. This expansion is a natural evolution of the both the firm and Practice group offering significant synergies across their Business Law, Bankruptcy and corporate restructuring groups. Patricia, who is both an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) joined SilvermanAcampora on December 1st, 2016. Were very excited to welcome Pat to our team. Shes an exceptional attorney and her 25 years experience in Trust & Estates greatly enhances our already solid team in this area. Her approach is the perfect balance of legal finesse and compassion. Its our job to get the work done, but we strive to make that journey as painless as possible for our clients, commented Anthony Acampora, Partner-in-Charge SilvermanAcampora LLP. Our diverse practice groups span a huge range of legal disciplines, but our approach is consistent; honest and compassionate. Pats expertise as a CPA and an attorney is a powerful combination that enables Pat to not only work through the many technical legal issues of trust and estate planning, but navigate the many financial and tax related issues. We have significant financial expertise in our Firm, with a long-established reputation in Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring, as well as Corporate law. There is very real overlap in terms of expertise across our groups particularly when considering succession planning as part of an individuals long term fiscal plan for their estate. We take a holistic approach to problem solving and consequently we develop strategies that very few firms can deliver, said Anthony Acampora. Pats diverse background enables her to assist clients in all aspects of estate planning and administration, including: Wills, asset titling, probate, Estate/Fiduciary/Personal tax issues, lifetime transfers, and gifting. On September 8th, 2016 Estate Taxation celebrated its 100th birthday. It always has been, and probably always will be a controversial subject, but its here to stay. The reality is that ensuring you have a sustainable (regularly updated) plan in place is essential. Without it the value of your estate could be decimated after your death or incapacitation leaving your heirs with both a financial and bureaucratic nightmare, commented Patricia Colgan, Partner SilvermanAcampora LLP. Patricia draws on her prior work experience starting with her career at Coopers & Lybrand. She left as a Supervisor to attend St. Johns University Law School, which led her to a position as Senior Associate at Macri, Greenspan & Moramarco. In addition to her current work at Silverman Acampora, Pat serves as a Trustee for the Frank J. Antun Foundation, gives lectures on a variety of topics in estate planning, and finds time to volunteer at her local church and Our Lady of Mercy Academy, where she is an alumna. SilvermanAcampora LLP is a full-service law firm, based in Jericho, NY (Long Island) serving the entire tristate (New York, Connecticut, New Jersey) region. Founded in 1999 by Kenneth Silverman and Anthony Acampora the firm quickly established itself as one of the premier law firms in New York state. Practice groups include; Corporate, Litigation, Employment & Labor, Real Estate, Government & Compliance, Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy. Cookies What are cookies ? How do we use cookies? How to control cookies? Managing cookies in your browser see what cookies you have got and delete them on an individual basis block third party cookies block cookies from particular sites block all cookies from being set delete all cookies when you close your browser X A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer or mobile device when you visit the site. Cookies are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.Website use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google") to help analyse the use of this website. 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Anyone can nominate a publisher, which the IPA defines as an individual, collective or organization that provides others with the means to share their ideas in written form, including via digital platforms. The IPA is putting a renewed focus on the organizations mission to support Freedom to Publish since the organization voted in Saudi Arabia and China as full members in 2015, a move which prompted several critics to question the organizations integrity. Underscoring the IPAs commitment to free specch, it awarded the 2016 Freedom to Publish prize to jailed Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi. Prior winners include Belarusian publisher Ihar Lohvinau (2014), and South African cartoonist Zapiro (2012). Nominations are open until April 7 and can be made by filling out a downloadable form and emailing it to the IPA director of communications & freedom to publish, Ben Steward. Sponsors of the prize include Albert Bonniers Forlag, Elsevier, HarperCollins, Kodansha, Oxford University Press, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster and Springer Nature. Booksellers move to amend California autograph law; a new bookstore for Missouri; Harvard Bookstore commemorates Obamas' farewell; and more. Efforts Move Forward to Amend California Law AB 1570: The NCIBA reports that a California Assembly member has agreed to submit the NCIBA'a language to the legislature's legal counsel in preparation to introduce a bill to amend the law, which requires certificates of authenticity and ownership for the sale of autographed items valued at over $5. Booksellers have argued that the law would make it impossible to hold author signings and other events. A Change.org petition calling for a repeal of the law, created by antiquarian bookseller Brad Johnson at The Book Shop in Covina, CA, has already garnered more than 1,500 signatures. New Bookstore, Neighborhood Reads, to Open in Washington, Mo.: Dawn Kitchell, educational services director for The Missourian newspaper, is opening the a new independent bookstore this summer in the town of 15,000, an hour west of St. Louis. Initially, the store will initially carry 3,000 titles and plans are afoot to make space for it to host events. Milford, Oh. Coffee Shop to Add a Bookstore: The Main Cup coffee shop in suburban Cincinnati will reopen soon under new owners, who plan to add a bookstore to the existing space. "With the addition of a bookstore, wed like for guests to linger, discover and relax, said the new owners. How Two Detroit Area Indie Bookstores Thrive: Crain's Detroit Business profiles 11-year-old Source Booksellers in Detroit and Pages Booksellers in Rosedale Park, emphasizing the the stores' "personal touch." Harvard Book Store Publishes the Obamas Farewell Speeches: Using the store's in-house POD machine, the bookstore published 20 copies of the Obamas' farewell speeches to commemorate the end of the Obama presidency. Alex Meriwether, the stores marketing manager, said the books were produced by the staff, with the cover design done by the store manager. Carol Troxell, owner of New Dominion Bookshop, Dies: Carol Troxell, owner of New Dominion Bookshop on Charlottesville, Va. died unexpectedly last Wednesday. She was 68. She bought the bookstore, which opened in 1924 and is considered the oldest in Virginia, in the mid-1980s and was influential in running the Virginia Festival of the Book. The staff say the store will continue as normal until further notice. The Bookshop in Chapel Hill to Close: The store, which specializes in used and rare books, will close when its lease runs out on July 31. It had been opened since 1985, after the merging of two other bookstores, Bookends in The Courtyard and the Keith Martin Bookshop. Ottawas Kaleidoscope Kids Books Up for Sale: The Canadian capitol's only dedicated children's bookstore is up for sale and will close unless a buyer is found. The three owners decided to make the change after struggle with flat sales and finding themselves unable to pay themselves any salary after 11 years in business. As an estimated 500,000 men, women, and children descended upon Washington, D.C. for the Womens March on Saturday, including four charter buses full of book people from New York City spearheaded by Riverhead Books associate publicity director Katie Freeman, indie booksellers in the nations capitol welcomed book industry professionals and other booklovers with open arms. One bookseller, Laurie Gillman of East City Bookshop, went so far as to collaborate with bookstore consultant Donna Paz Kaufman of Paz & Associates to organize a meet-up on Saturday morning in front of the Library of Congress for people in the book industry who wanted to march together. While the group that gathered ended up being fewer than 20, Paz Kaufman told PW, it was outsized in their advocacy for freedom of expression. Participating in the Womens March on Washington was an important statement about our future in so many ways," she told PW later. "With the massive crowd, we were dispersed, but still fully present." Several D.C. indies held events throughout the weekend, both in-store and offsite, that drew crowds of people. Busboys and Poets threw a star-studded Peace Ball at the National Museum for African American History and Culture on the night before Donald Trumps inauguration that was co-hosted by a slate of 31 prominent activists and other celebrities, including authors Cheryl Strayed and Alice Walker. In its report, NBC News called the Peace Ball equal parts rally and therapy session for thousands of attendees, who jammed the museum, which first opened its doors in September. The following evening, while a long line of elites in black tie and ball gowns stood on Massachusetts Avenue waiting to gain entrance to an inaugural ball taking place at the National Building Museum, a few blocks away, approximately 200 people packed Busboys and Poets 5th & K Streets outletone of several events held that evening at three of the four Busboys and Poets District bookstore/cafes. The event at 5th & K, billed as an evening of the poetry of rising and resistance, was more like a prep rally for the Womens March, with playwright Eve Ensler denouncing President Donald Trump's misogyny, and author and film-maker Michael Moore delivering his customary barn-burner of a speech, comparing the Womens March participants to the early 20th-century suffragettes and 1960s-era Civil Rights activists. Politics and Prose Bookstore also held in-store events throughout the weekend that kept the store packed with customers. On January 19 New York Magazine columnist Jonathan Chait spoke to a full house about his recent release, Audacity: How Barack Obama Defied His Critics and Transformed America and urged the audience to get involved to protect civil rights. The following evening, the store held the second in its new Teach In series of panel discussions led by experts on topical issues, with National Womens Law Center program vp Fatima Goss Graves, Georgetown law professor Jennifer Klein, and New York Magazine writer Rebecca Traister discussing womens rights under the Trump administration. Co-owner Lissa Muscatine explained to the standing-room-only crowd that the stores teach-in programming, which was launched on January 8 with a program on civil liberties, was inspired by feedback from store customers who repeatedly told staff that the store had become a place of refuge for them since the election. What more can we do, she explained of the stores decision to hold the teach-ins, and promised that the store would continue to hold the panel discussions as long as necessary to accommodate customers wanting to be educated about the ramifications of the 2016 election. East City Books, which opened in April, hosted a sign-making party the day that Trump was inaugurated that was supposed to last for two hours but went on for four hours. It wound up the weekend with an evening of womens poetry following the Womens March that began with booksellers passing out copies of Lucille Clintons poem, wont you celebrate with me, the last line, something has tried to kill me and has failed highlighted in yellow. Poets reciting their own poems as well as those of other poets included editor and poet Carolyn Forche, and the poets Samantha Thornhill, Lauren Alleyne, and Danielle Chapman. It was just something people needed, East City Bookshop's Gillman said of the stores weekend programming as some of the marchers streaming down Pennsylvania Avenue after the march officially ended stopped by the store for refreshments and poetry. The American Library Association has awarded the 2017 Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction to Colson Whitehead for The Underground Railroad," and Matthew Desmond for Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. The selections were announced on Sunday, January 22, at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, with an official award ceremony to come this summer, at the ALA annual conference, set for Chicago. On the fiction side, Whiteheads, The Underground Railroad (Doubleday) tells the story of a young third-generation slave who escapes the brutality of a Georgia cotton plantation and seeks sanctuary throughout the terrorized South. A starred PW review called the book literature at its finest and history at its most barbaric, and required reading for every American citizen. On the nonfiction side, Desmonds Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City shares the stories of eight families who find themselves facing home evictions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A starred PW review call the book an outstanding ethnographic study girded by gripping storytelling and meticulous research. EAST MOLINE -- Union employees, including teachers, will hold an "intent to strike" vote at 3:30 p.m. today after negotiations with school board members over the terms of a new contract broke down on Friday. It was the 11th bargaining session since April, the fourth using a federal mediator. Teachers have been working under the expired contract since June 30. We never wished to reach this point. Weve tried to demonstrate to the district our resolve for a fair contract. It is too bad that we are being forced in this direction," wrote EMEA co-president Gina Cone in a news release issued after Friday's meeting. If EMEA members vote to strike, they must give 10 days' notice to the school district, as mandated by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. The school board may continue negotiations during that 10-day period in an effort to avoid a strike. According to a 'frequently asked questions' posting on the district's website, teachers will not be paid in the event of a strike, and classes most likely will be canceled because of the burden and cost of finding enough substitute teachers. A decision to close schools will require a vote by the school board. Students who miss school because of a strike are not required by the state to make up lost days. EMEA membership includes about 260 teachers, paraprofessionals and secretaries. The final offers from the EMEA and school district were published in a news release on the district's website, emsd37.org. Board members on Friday changed their offer from a four-year contract to two years. Licensed staff are being offered 1 percent raises on the base salary schedule, step and lane advancement, and 3 percent raises for those off the salary schedule over the course of the two-year agreement. According to the district's website, a longevity step reflects a teacher's additional year of experience, and educational lanes are an annual raise based on further education by licensed employees. Board members offered also to remove the first two steps on the base salary schedule for licensed and certified employees, effectively raising starting salaries for new employees. In its offer on Friday, the EMEA agreed to a two-year contract, but wants a 1.75 percent raise on the base salary schedule, step and lane advancement, and a 2.5 percent raise for those off the salary schedule during the 2016-17 school year, increasing to a 3 percent raise for the 2017-18 school year. EMEA spokesperson Rich Palmer said the latest offer from the school board is not "a fair contract," noting EMEA members delayed a strike vote last Tuesday hoping the offer would change. "A strike vote is not something our members desire. However, we have exhausted all other options and still have not been taken seriously by the board of education," Mr. Palmer said. "We question whether they recognize and value unity in this district." Superintendent Kristin Humphries said he felt Friday's bargaining session was productive and was disappointed to read the release issued by the EMEA indicating otherwise. He expressed concern EMEA leaders will not share the district's full offer with its members prior to the strike vote. "The board's offer keeps our teachers in the top four school districts in terms of average pay for the entire Quad-Cities region. We accepted every language proposal as presented that the EMEA requested," he said. Mr. Humphries said the district already has implemented changes the EMEA brought up during past bargaining sessions, "including cost-saving measures, increased crisis training for all staff and a pool of funding for each school to use for professional development for our teachers and aides. "The Board of Education has great respect for our employees and is committed to coming to a resolution so we can focus on what is truly important -- our students." ALBANY, Ga. (AP) A tornado warning on television sent Anthony Mitchell, his pregnant wife and their three children scrambling for what little shelter their mobile home could provide. They crouched in a hallway as the twister started taking their home apart piece by piece. "The windows exploded, the doors flew off the hinges, the sheet rock started to rip off the walls and fly out the windows," Mitchell said. "The trailer started to lift up. And about that time a tree fell on the trailer, and I think that's what held the trailer in place from flying away." An unusual midwinter barrage of tornadoes and thunderstorms over the weekend was blamed for at least 20 deaths across the Deep South. Among them were three people killed at Big Pine Estates, the mobile home park in Albany where the Williams family lives. A twister slammed into the southwestern Georgia city of 76,000 people on Sunday afternoon, carving a path of destruction a half-mile wide in places and leaving the landscape strewn with broken trees and mangled sheet metal. Few of the roughly 200 homes at the trailer park escaped damage from the tornado, which was rated by forecasters as at least an EF-2, meaning it packed winds of 111 to 135 mph. In addition to the three dead at Big Pine Estates, a fourth body was discovered at a home just outside the trailer park. Mitchell lost his home and marveled that he didn't lose his life, too. "Something helped us walk out the front door of the house," he said. "There's some people who weren't fortunate enough to have a front door to walk out of." Georgia reported 15 deaths Sunday, and four people died Saturday in Mississippi. In northern Florida, a woman died after a tree crashed into her home in Lake City as a storm passed through. The National Weather Service said 39 possible tornadoes were reported over the weekend. The agency sent out teams to examine the damage and confirm how many of the storms were twisters, which can happen any time of year but are far more common in the spring and early summer. A day after the violent weather passed, search crews looked for people and pets in the Albany trailer park, stepping over tree limbs and ducking under splintered pine trunks as they went from home to home. One team discovered a terrified dog in a smashed-in trailer, where it had spent the night. Authorities said the pet owner's fate was unknown. In rural Cook County, about 60 miles southeast of Albany, Aretha Allen prayed aloud in front of the First Baptist Church, where a shelter was set up after a possible tornado destroyed about half the homes at the Sunshine Acres mobile home park. Allen said her niece, 41-year-old Lawansa Perry, and the niece's brother both lived there, and she drove out to try to help them after hearing the park had been hit. "We were looking, looking," Allen said, "but couldn't find them." The coroner later confirmed seven people were found dead at Sunshine Acres. Authorities said the victims included the niece and her brother. "They died in the storm trying to save her grandchildren," she said, adding the children survived. "I know they've gone on to Jesus." At Sunshine Acres on Monday, crews with cadaver dogs checked the wreckage a second day for anyone dead or alive. But the dogs found nothing, and authorities said owners would finally be allowed back Tuesday on those destroyed and damaged lots deemed safe. Devocheo Williams, 29, said his home was demolished the day after he moved in. "The whole trailer park was gone in 15 seconds," Williams said, describing a funnel cloud that appeared to loop back around and hit the neighborhood a second time. "It looked like a ball of fire was going 100 mph." Williams said he saw a little girl picked up by the winds and tossed into a ditch. Nearby, the girl's mother and a baby were trapped in rubble. He said he helped dig them out. Not everyone could be saved. "I was walking by dead bodies of little kids and grown people," Williams said Williams and others left homeless by the storm huddled Monday at the First Baptist Church in Adel, a rural community of about 5,300. Residents turned out in force to help the victims. The church quickly collected an abundance of donated clothing and toiletries. Volunteers cooked free meals for survivors and emergency workers. "We have turned away more people that just wanted to help because we just can't put them down here," said Brent Exum, chief investigator for the sheriff's department. Dennis VanBrackle, 75, and his wife, Sylvia, stopped by the church with a checkbook in hand. "Both of us physically can't do a lot," VanBrackle said. "We want to do what we can." "These tournaments are about getting better and building into the big game, so we'd like to think that we'll see more improvement tomorrow," Gardiner said. 20 minutes ago ARN has partnered with the City of Sydney, kicking off a huge year of events, celebrations and experiences that celebrate the best of Sydney. As the exclusive FM commercial radio partner, ARNs KIIS 1065, WSFM101.7 and The Edge will play key roles in supporting major events on Sydneys calendar. Under this new deal, the network will support the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival, Sydney Cycleways, Sydney Christmas, and Sydneys premiere global event, Sydney New Years Eve which will be presented exclusively with KIIS 1065. ARN CEO Tony Kendall said: ARN are extremely proud to be partnering with the City of Sydney and contribute to a calendar of great events across the year. KIIS 1065, WSFM and The Edge are made for Sydney we love the citys diversity, spirit of adventure and culture. The program of events is the epitome of So Sydney and the energy that is our #1 station, KIIS 1065 in particular. From the vibrant celebrations of Chinese New Year Festival, Cycleways and of course, Christmas and Sydney New Years Eve, ARN is excited to partner with the City to create memorable experiences for whole of Sydney and its community. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the partnership with ARN would open up more opportunities to promote some of Australias biggest events. Were delighted to join with ARN for the next three years. This partnership will capitalise on ARNs capacity to reach large audiences across the nation through their top-rating programs to promote our fantastic city and brilliant events, she said. The project involves the construction of a third track, modification or renewal of 47 of the lines 53 bridges, and the elimination of 53 level crossings. The line will be resignalled with shorter block sections to increase capacity and noise mitigation measures will be implemented to reduce the impact of frequent heavy freight trains on communities near the line. The project is being implemented within the framework of the Dutch-German agreement on the Betuweroute dedicated rail freight corridor between port of Rotterdam and Germanys Ruhr region. The German federal government is contributing 750m to the project, with 450m coming from the state of North Rhine Westphalia. The new-build Dutch section of the Betuweroute opened in 2007, but additional measures have become necessary on the German side of the border to cope with increasing traffic. The five-section bidirectional vehicles will be equipped with permanent magnet motors and Alstoms Citadis Ecopack onboard storage system for catenary-free operation, which draws current from the catenary via the pantograph in a 20-second charging cycle during stops at stations. The vehicles will be assembled at Alstoms plant at La Rochelle, France. Sesto, Italy, will supply traction equipment for the project. The initial 8.7km phase of the Circular Line opened in 2015 and serves 14 stations. Services are operated by a fleet of CAF Urbos LRVs. The 13.4km Stage 2 will complete the circle, adding 23 stations, and is due to be completed in 2019. For detailed data on orders for light rail vehicles around the globe, subscribe to IRJ Pro. The five-car type 45WE trains are due to be delivered at the end of this year. KD already operates a fleet of 16 three and four-car Impuls sets. News item: Republican Ann Dawn Begeman, 52, was confirmed by the Senate in December to a second termexpiring Dec. 31, 2020on the five-person Surface Transportation Board (STB). Expect her to be named STB Chairman by President Trump, succeeding Democrat Dan Elliott, who was President Obamas choice as Chairman. Elliott, whose second term expires Dec. 31, 2018, remains a voting member, as does Democrat Deb Miller, whose first term expires Dec. 31, 2017. By statute, STB members are limited to two terms. Two vacant seats, created by the 2015 Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act, have yet to be filled. The nominees will be Republicans, giving the STB a 3-2 Republican majority. A pregnant question is whether Begeman, with an eventual Republican majority whose orthodoxy is less government intrusion in private sector affairs, will embark on a more rail-friendly course than did Elliott. Three cases are progressing toward final decisions under Begemans chairmanship. None has a voting deadline, meaning she could hold each in abeyance, pending a majority vote for her position. One is a shipper request that, at certain points and under certain conditions, a sole-serving railroad be required to carry traffic to an interchange with a competitor (reciprocal switching). In preliminary votes, Begeman expressed skepticism as to the practical effect of so doing. A second case considers whether to implement a rate cap or other mechanism for limiting rate increases on railroads meeting a revenue adequacy means test determining the ability of railroads to attract sufficient capital to assure normalized maintenance and facilities renewal. In a third pending case, and to the displeasure of railroads, Begeman is opponent-in-chief of the STBs complex, time-consuming and expensive stand-alone-cost test by which captive shippers dispute rate reasonableness. The difficulty is formulating an equitable alternative standard. During her first term that began in 2011, Begeman was meticulous in parsing Elliott-written decisions, issuing a bevy of dissentsoften harsh in toneto the Elliott-Miller majority. In personal letters and public comments to congressional leaders, she has expressed frustration that Elliott engages in regulatory overreach. A fiercely independent thinker, and sphinx-like in collegial settings, Begeman sometimes shunts aside Republican tenets of less government involvement, alternatively expressing empathy with shipper concerns. A South Dakota farm upbringing exposed her to recurrent prairie populist distrust of railroads. Indeed, her childhood home of Humboldt, whose population has never exceeded 600, lost its rail service to abandonment a generation ago. That left three local grain elevators less competitive with those enjoying direct rail service in a state where half the grain and oil seeds move by rail, and 45% of the states some 2,000 rail miles are owned and operated by BNSF. Much of Begemans work history has been in the employ of two similarly independent thinking U.S. senatorsHumboldt native Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), now in private law practice; and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Both chaired the Senate Commerce Committee and looked to Begeman for expert counsel on rail policy issues. In 2008, she worked on McCains presidential campaign. Begeman also is professionally close to current Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), principal author of the 2015 Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act. During the 1990snotable for rail mergers and line abandonments that contributed to rural America losing some 70% of its rail competition since the 1970sThune was South Dakotas state rail director, and later a lobbyist for Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (now Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad, a Genesee & Wyoming short line). Other professional friends of Begeman include Amy Hawkins, a BNSF lobbyist who was an aide to former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.); and Mary Phillips, a former freight railroad policy analyst and McCain aide, now a rail adviser to House Republicans. The Association of American Railroads reacted to Begemans reconfirmation by praising her appreciation of the importance of empirical data in the decision-making process. An attorney for captive shippers, asking not to be identified, said she becomes most interesting when her heart and head go in different directions. Transit industry veteran Richard Bacigalupo has joined Cardinal Infrastructure, LLC as a partner, creating a quartet with founding partners Sherry E. Little, Anja Graves, and Severn E. S. Miller. Bacigalupo brings a wealth of national transit and transportation experience to the firm, having most recently served as the federal legislative affairs manager and federal transportation liaison at the Orange County Transportation Authority. Prior to that, he was the General Counsel, and later CEO, of Chicagos Regional Transportation Authority. He began his career in Washington, D.C. as a transit litigation attorney at the United States Department of Transportation and went on to serve as the Federal Transit Administrations Regional Counsel in Chicago. Bacigalupo twice served on the Executive Committee of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and as chair of APTAs Legislative and Legal Affairs Committees. He has also participated on the Executive and Legislative Committees of the California Transit Association and served for six years as Chair of the Legal Research Panel of the Transportation Research Board. In my past executive and counsel positions, I have been able to assist numerous transit systems to navigate the federal transportation funding and regulatory process, said Bacigalupo. I now look forward to using that expertise to benefit an even greater range public and private entities in the transportation industry nationwide. Richard White, Acting President and CEO of APTA, said, Rick has been an exceptional and knowledgeable addition to the Executive and Legislative Committees with APTA. His superior skills as a transportation policy expert and federal legislative affairs professional will serve Cardinal Infrastructure and its clients well. Bacigalupo resides in Orange County, Calif., with his wife Carol. His two married daughters live in San Luis Obispo, Calif. and Fairfax, Va. He is also the grandfather of two Virginian granddaughters. Cardinal Infrastructure was founded in August 2016 to provide transportation consulting services to public and private entities nationwide. Rick is a valuable addition to the founders of Cardinal Infrastructures combined 75-plus years experience and knowledge to address the conditions of todays business and Federal climate while also looking down the road, the firm said. We advise public and private entities on a full spectrum of necessary services, from initial policy and planning considerations, to financing and risk assessment, contracting, procurement, project delivery methods, public-private partnership strategies, the construction and operation of infrastructure projects, and assistance in navigating the complex regulations and procedures of the Federal Government and opportunities and successful solutions to challenging issues. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK The suicide bombing Wednesday morning in Gao, which killed dozens and injured more, underscores not just the fragility of the Malian state but also the steady growth of instability and radicalism that threatens the entire region. The French invasion in 2013 and ongoing military operations by the French and the United Nations help but clearly are woefully insufficient. What is needed is greater international engagement, as well as serious pressure on the Malian state to strengthen its hold on the country. Mali does not only need more assistance: It needs different kinds of assistance. Gao is the largest city in northern Mali and a major bridge between north and south because of its location on the Niger River, the roads that connect it to the capital and its airport, which today serves the Malians along with the French and the U.N. as the principal operating base and regional hub. Gao also has a strikingly diverse population, one that brings together nearly all of Mali's sometimes-fractious communities. At its best, Gao is a symbol of a Mali that works. Increasingly, however, it is a symbol of a Mali that does not work. Indeed, the physical evidence of Mali's downward slide is Gao. The airport, for example, is ringed by fortified military bases, where one finds broken aircraft and vehicles, as well as the shattered remains of buildings the French Army built during the colonial period but then bombed in 2013 to chase out Islamists who had occupied them. The French succeeded in rolling back the Islamist tide, for a while, and together with the U.N. force in Mali (MINUSMA) France has given the Malians a chance to sort themselves out, build and rebuild. The Malians have done some of that, including at the Gao army base, where Malian forces were busy implementing a new program to conduct "mixed" patrols involving fighters from various armed factions, with the purpose of building confidence and improving security. Yesterday's bombing, which targeted the participants in the mixed patrols, is a direct blow to that effort. But the French in Mali and MINUSMA are too few and too weak to do much more than slow Mali's downward spiral. The main problem is that the Malian government has done too little, too slowly and often with too much bad faith to reverse the country's fortunes. The evidence can be seen in a rising tide of attacks and the steady radicalization of various ethnic communities not just in the north, but throughout central Mali and even deep into Mali's south and into neighboring Burkina Faso. Often those reports come with observations of the absence of the Malian state and the lack of governance. While there was never much to the Malian state, which, like many post-colonial governments, had little time and few resources to grow and expand or even just to maintain the colonial administrations they inherited, Mali had in its favor a strong national identity and a consensus among nearly everyone to make a go of it, together. That consensus appears to be unraveling, as centrifugal forces pulling at the nation overwhelm the weak centripetal forces being applied by the international community and the oddly passive Malian state. Malian officials understand the problems but appear powerless to act effectively to solve them. Mali's strategy in general appears to be to focus on security matters in the hope of someday being able to defeat the country's enemiesa day that appears no closer than it was when Islamists defeated Mali's military in 2012while appearing to take political development and nation building only as seriously as required to satisfy international donors. Given the nature of Mali's problems, Mali's partners must provide more assistance all the while understanding that it will never be sufficient. The key will be broadening the kind of assistance to go well beyond security force assistance and conventional economic development aid, which together make up the lion's share of foreign help. Mali needs help governing. In any case, the United States cannot afford to be indifferent. Nothing that is happening in Mali is limited to within the country's borders, and its weakness drags down the entire region. The French invaded in 2013 in part because they saw northern Mali becoming the next Afghanistan. They were wrong: The problem was never just northern Mali. Michael Shurkin is a senior political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. This commentary originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report on January 19, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Cablevision has selected Ciena to lay the groundwork to meet the surging demand for video offerings, including the IPTV, video-on-demand (VOD) platform Flow. Utilising Cienas optical solutions, the network enhancements will also provide the scalable bandwidth needed to support Grupo Clarins Internet service provider division, Fibertel, from which Cablevision recently broke free As Cablevisions customers have migrated from analogue cable TV to HD digital packages, the demand on its metro network has increased by 50% annually. Cienas 200G solution adds flexibility and increased capacity to not only meet this demand, but also to future-proof Cablevision Argentinas network assets.Over-the-top (OTT) and multiscreen services like Flow are driving more traffic to the network and creating unpredictable demands. With Cienas 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, Cablevisions network can react as needed, allowing customers to access the programming they desire.In order to launch our new IPTV Project Flow and give our customers anytime and anywhere access to the programming they want, it was crucial to have the right infrastructure in place. Cienas solutions give us the flexibility, scale and confidence to know we can seamlessly deliver this new service to our customers and meet the growing demand for years to come, said Guillermo Fiorenza, head of transport and network solutions at Cablevision Argentina As carriers like Cablevision Argentina evolve their offerings and introduce new innovative applications, it puts significant pressure on their networks. Our converged packet optical solutions give Cablevision Argentina a reliable and modernised infrastructure that can keep up with their customers growing expectations for the latest on-demand services, added Fabio Medina, VP of sales and general manager, Latin America, Ciena Paving the way for the full glitz of the Oscars ceremony on 27 February 2017, the nominations for the 89th Academy Awards will be aired live on the HBO Asia pay-TV network on 24 January. Oscar-winning and nominated Academy members including Jennifer Hudson, Brie Larson, Emmanuel Lubezki, Jason Reitman and Ken Watanabe will join Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs to reveal the 24 award categories at the 89th Oscars Nominations on 24 January. The action will be available to subscribers on both HBO and HBO Go across Asia at 9.18pm (Singapore time).Then, on 27 February (at 9.30am Singapore time), talk show host, producer and comedian Jimmy Kimmel (pictured) will host the 89th Academy Awards from the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Centre. Ahead of the ceremony, HBO Asia will broadcast the Oscars Red Carpet Live (from 8am). Both programmes will be repeated on HBO Asia that evening.To get viewers in the mood, HBO will add a host of previous Oscar-winning movies to its programming schedule starting 24 January. These include the Argo, Inglourious Basterds, Big Hero 6, A Girl In the River: The Price of Forgiveness, The Danish Girl (except in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia), Dreamgirls, Shrek, American Sniper, and Mad Max: Fury Road. Probe opened into Russian nationals allegedly associated with Ukrainian nationalists MOSCOW, January 23 (RAPSI) The Russian Investigative Committee has opened criminal cases against five Russian nationals on suspicion of their association with Right Sector, a far-right Ukrainian nationalist group banned in Russia, RIA Novosti reported on Monday. Acting spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee Svetlana Petrenko said that cases were launched against Igor Chudinov, Gennady Khamrayev, Georgy Stotsky, Roman Strigunkov and Alexander Valov. Investigators believe that these people have radical beliefs supporting fascism and nationalism. Allegedly in different periods of time they left Russia for Ukraine where they joined ranks of the Right Sector. According to Petrenko, Chudinov was a deputy commander in one of the organizations combat divisions while Khamrayev was actively involved in raids against civil population of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic. Petrenko claimed that Stocky, Strigunkov and Valov systematically participated in Right Sectors rallies, marches and other similar activities. They were also allegedly involved in propaganda of organizations ideology. Right Sector is a Ukrainian association of radical nationalist organizations. In January and February 2014, its members clashed with police and seized administrative buildings in Kiev. Since April 2014, Right Sector has been involved in fighting the protest movement in eastern Ukraine. In November 2014, Russias Supreme Court declared Right Sector an extremist group and banned its activity in Russia. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Right Sector leader Dmitry Yarosh for the alleged incitement of terrorism. In January 2015, Right Sector was added to the Russian register of prohibited organizations. Foreign insurer appeals against ruling on Superjet crash in Indonesia MOSCOW, January 23 (RAPSI) - QBE Corporate has filed an appeal against courts refusal to collect over $4 million from Kapital Strakhovaniye Company in favor of six foreign insurers in connection with the 2012 Sukhoi Superjet-100 crash in Indonesia that left 45 dead, RAPSI learnt in the Moscow Commercial Court. In the fall of 2016, the court dismissed a lawsuit lodged by six foreign companies against Russian insurer. The case was reconsidered. On February 29, 2016, the Supreme Court of Russia overturned all rulings in this dispute and remanded the case for a new trial. The plane crashed on its first ever demonstration tour, across six Asian countries, over Indonesia on May 9, 2012. All people on board the plane, including eight Russian nationals, were killed. The plane crashed into Mount Salak at an altitude of 1.6 km. The investigation found that the disaster was caused by human error. The airplane was insured by Kapital Strakhovaniye, which later reinsured 95% of its risks on the foreign market. The plaintiffs QBE Corporate, Starr Syndicate, Starr Insurance and Reinsurance, Muenchener Rueckversicherungrs-Gesellchaft AG, Dornoch and Catlin Insurance Company (UK) reinsured the risks in line with Lloyd's of London terms. After the crash, the plaintiffs transferred $3.5 million to Kapital Strakhovaniye, which was to compensate the relatives of deceased passengers. After conducting an investigation, the foreign companies decided that this was not an insured accident because the plane had crashed during a demonstration flight and because the insurance policy covered only test flights. In September 2014, the reinsurers sued the Russian company at the Moscow Commercial Court, demanding a refund, plus interest. Three court instances upheld their lawsuit. Kapital Strakhovaniye has filed a cassational appeal seeking reversal of the rulings. Russias Supreme Court granted the appeak and remanded the case for a new trial. Thus, the Moscow Commercial Court reconsidered the case on Monday and rejected foreign insurers claim in full. The ruling will take effect within a month if not appealed. Human rights group Memorial's appeal against $5,000 fine set for March 10 MOSCOW, January 23 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court will consider on March 10 an appeal against a 300,000-ruble fine (nearly $5,000) imposed on human rights organization Memorial, which was earlier declared foreign agent, RIA Novosti reported Monday citing Memorials executive director Yelena Zhemkova. In December, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow fined Memorial for violating an operation procedure of an NGO recognized as foreign agent. The organization appealed the ruling. The international historical, educational, human rights and charitable society Memorial was created to help rehabilitate the victims of Stalinist persecution campaigns. Memorial currently comprises 62 organizations from Russia, Belarus, Germany, Italy, France, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Ukraine. It also includes the Memorial Center, which monitors the human rights situation in the North Caucasus and is on the foreign agents register. A federal law adopted in November 2012 requires that all NGOs engaged in political activity and receiving foreign funding register as foreign agents or face fines. In June 2013, the Justice Ministry was granted authority to classify NGOs as foreign agents at its own discretion and included a number of organizations in its register. Memorial was declared foreign agent by the Justice Ministry on July 21, 2014. Global Voices, January 18, 2017 By Zarghona Salihi Campaigners are calling for the Afghan government to follow through on promises to change parts of Afghanistans penal code that they argue actually serves to legimitise violence against women. Article 398 of the Afghan penal code states that a man who sees his wife or other family members in a compromising position and kills or injures one or both of them in order to defend his dignity and respect will not be prosecuted for violent assault or murder. Instead, he may be liable to a term of imprisonment of no longer than two years. We can see that Afghan law gives men freedoms regarding domestic violence and the killing of women which they misuse, said Latifa Sultani, head of the department of womens rights at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). Quite apart from the human rights implications, Clause 398 showed clear gender bias, she continued. Women can already be imprisoned under the loose category of moral crimes, which encompasses actions such as running away from home, and face prison sentences of up to five years if convicted of adultery. If a man discovers his wife committing adultery with another man and kills her, he will be imprisoned for two years. However, if a woman finds her husband committing adultery with another woman and kills him, she will face the most serious punishment possible, and this is clearly discrimination and a problem with the laws of Afghanistan, Sultani said. Clause 398 was also being exploited to punish victims of sexual violence, too. Feb. 24, 2008: 22-y old Fatima who has been abused and injured by her cruel husband in Herat - Western Afghanistan. Her toes were cut off by her husband, she was burnt by hot water, he hair were pulled, and according to a doctor of a local hospital in Herat: "The 22-y old woman claims to be beaten up by her husband around two months ago, according to our investigation, signs of beatings and injuries are seen all over the body. Now she is hospitalized in the women's ward." (Photo: RAWA.org) Feb. 24, 2008: 22-y old Fatima who has been abused and injured by her cruel husband in Herat - Western Afghanistan. Her toes were cut off by her husband, she was burnt by hot water, he hair were pulled, and according to a doctor of a local hospital in Herat: "The 22-y old woman claims to be beaten up by her husband around two months ago, according to our investigation, signs of beatings and injuries are seen all over the body. Now she is hospitalized in the women's ward." (Photo: RAWA.org) Unfortunately, there are some cases there have some cases that have come before the courts in which rape has been deemed to be adultery, so that the woman ends up being imprisoned because of our male-dominated society that doesnt believe in womens rights, she said. Parwin Rahimi is in charge of the department to combat violence against women at the attorney generals office. She said that suspects often tried to exploit Clause 398 in order to minimize their sentence. Our investigations have shown that most murders and perpetrators of violence against women are not [related to honour killings], but there are some people who try to change their cases into ones of domestic violence in order to decrease their punishment, she said. Officials say that action is planned to amend the controversial clause. The ministry of justice is planning to bring changes in the criminal law of Afghanistan, Sayed Mohammad Hashimi, a deputy minister at the ministry, told IWPR. He said that Clause 398 would be removed from the statute books and that all cases of murder would be treated as such. Photo: PAN Photo: PAN However, international and Afghan human rights groups have long campaigned for the penal code to be brought into line with the international norms and the government has previously made such assurances without making any amendments to the law. There were high hopes for the implementation of the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which was enacted by presidential decree in 2009 and prohibited a range of abuses from assault and rape to marriages that were coercive, involve minors or amount to a transaction between two families. However, the law was rejected by parliament in May 2013, and has been shelved ever since. A culture of impunity had thus effectively encouraged sexual abuse and other forms of violence, Sultani explained, adding said that nearly 600 instances of so-called honour killings had been registered with the commission over the last five years. Most perpetrators had either evaded justice or received a lenient sentence at trial. She said that the real figure was likely to be much higher, because of the culture of shame surrounding such cases. When we hear about a case, we go to the families, to the hospitals, and speak to witnesses and document the case because honour killings are not often reported, she said. Shahla Farid, a lecturer of law and political science at Kabul university, said, There are many reasons for domestic violence and women being killed; men consider women their property. She said that quite apart from the problems with Afghan criminal law, conservative traditions, poverty, illiteracy, and ignorance of Islamic precepts of human rights lay behind such murders. Observers note that murders of this kind were often the result of men resorting to murder on the merest suspicions about female relatives, without even trying to establish whether their fears had any basis. In a recent case in September 2016, 18-year-old Fariba - a resident of Dahan Zara in Takhar province - was shot dead by her husband on her wedding night. He then escaped. One of Faribas neighbours, Mirwais, said that she had not consented to the marriage. This girl wanted to marry another boy but was forced to marry this man, and when the groom and bride were carried home, she was immediately shot by her husband, he said. Razm Ara Hawash, head of the provincial womens affairs department, said that the husband should have handed his new wife over to the courts if he believed a crime such as adultery had been committed. Calling for the suspects arrest, she said that men had no right to take the law into their own hands. In a similar case, lawyer Masoma Haidari said that she was currently working on a case in which a man living in the Kampany area of Kabul city who had killed his wife in September 2016. Having been married for 13 years, the couple had no children and the husband recently took another wife. But when the new wife conceived, he suspected her of sleeping with another man and killed her. MISUSE OF AUTHORITY Officials insist that action is being taken to address domestic abuse. Spozhmai Wardak, a deputy minister at the ministry of womens affairs, condemned all extra-judicial violence against women. As well as running awareness programmes regarding womens rights, the ministry also works together with relevant organisations and departments to arrest and punish those who violate womens rights, she said. Serious action must be taken against domestic violence. Sidiq Sidiqi, spokesman of ministry of interior affairs, said, Arresting those who violate womens right is one of the priorities of the police. Rahimi added that the attorney generals office was working hard to prosecute those suspected of domestic violence. Over 926 cases of violence against women have been registered with our office so far and 30 out of 926 cases are related to the killings of women, she said, adding that 545 cases have been successfully investigated and 342 were still ongoing. But others argue that a culture of impunity surrounding those who committed so-called honour crimes meant there was no deterrent to stop others following their example. The reason that women are killed or raped in families is that the criminals are not seriously punished; most of them avoid any punishment, Sultani said, adding that corruption and the intervention of powerful people also had an impact on cases of domestic violence. There are persistent complaints of widespread graft in the judicial system. Women are at a particular disadvantage as, without financial resources or influential connections, they have little protection. Corruption and the misuse of authority means the people who murder or rape women and have connections to a [militia] commander, a lawyer or a judge are not punished, she said. They know that they are free from punishment and so feel free to murder and rape with impunity. Sultani added, It is vital to increase public awareness of this issue and punish criminals in order to lower rates of domestic violence and the murder of women in our country. Karim Mezran is resident senior Fellow at the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Elissa Miller is assistant director at the Hariri Center. This piece is part of a special RCW series on Americas role in the world during the Trump administration. The views expressed are the authors own. There has been much speculation across the Middle East and North Africa regarding what U.S. foreign policy in the region will look like under the Trump administration. We can infer some insights from Trumps comments during the 2016 campaign, from his character, and from the personalities of his recent cabinet appointments. For the Maghreb region of North Africa, the Trump administration will likely continue the same level of engagement as the previous administration, although it will emphasize different policy priorities. Several of the new presidents cabinet appointments, such as retired generals Michael Flynn and James Mattis, have at times articulated a non-interventionist foreign policy, except in cases that directly involve U.S. national security interests. This worldview has parallels with the Obama administration, which had endeavored to pull the United States out of quagmires in the Middle East. However, this global outlook will likely be motivated by a strong security first emphasis that prioritizes the realization of order and stability in foreign countries over support for pluralism and democratization. It could also reflect Trumps presumed preference for strongmen and authoritative personalities in the region and elsewhere. Flynn, Trumps choice for national security adviser, is an outspoken and well-documented critic not only of Muslim extremism, but also of the religion itself. In an August 2016 speech, the retired three-star general stated that Islam is not a religion but a political ideology, and that Islam is like a malignant cancer. Such rhetoric from Trumps inner circle suggests that the new administration might paint international Islamist organizations with a much broader brush than previous administrations, and in policy terms this could lead to the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood movement as a foreign terrorist organization. North Africa will certainly not be a regional priority for Trump. The only instances in which the real estate mogul mentioned the region during the campaign were in reference to Libya, and then only in regard to the fight against the Islamic State. Still, there is no doubt that the policies of the new administration will have consequences for the countries of the Maghreb. Variation in policy toward Morocco and Algeria will probably be minimal. The Trump administration will likely maintain and strengthen U.S. ties with Rabat even though an Islamist party holds the majority in parliament. This favorable approach to the country is due to the stability of the Moroccan monarchy and the relatively wide consensus that it enjoys. The Trump administration may also strengthen relations with Algeria, which plays a critical role in the maintenance of security and counterterrorism operations in North Africa. President Trumps focus on stability will be well received by leaders in both countries. For Algeria in particular, this will likely mean more support for cooperation on counterterrorism, which has been a longstanding priority for Algerian policymakers. While U.S. support for Tunisias stability will continue in the political development and economic fields, it will be designed through a security lens rather than a focus on democratic development. A security-focused foreign policy will push Trump to emphasize support for the army and the security forces and to aid the countrys counterterrorism efforts. Therefore, even though there is a clear recognition of the importance of economic development for the countrys stability, security assistance will be the main avenue through which the latter is pursued. This will not carry immediate consequences for the foreign policy of Tunisia, which has relied heavily on Western security support, especially since terror attacks in 2015. A strong relationship with the United States benefits the countrys standing in the region and in the international community overall. However, Trumps policies could have an impact on Tunisian domestic policy. The U.S. administrations anti-Islamist line may make it difficult for it to work with a Tunisian government in which an Islamist party, Ennahda, plays a strong role. But like in the case of the Moroccan Islamist party, Tunisias Ennahda has shown itself able to act in a pluralistic environment and respect the rules of the democratization process. At the same time, Ennahda could have a difficult time in dealing with an openly anti-Islamist administration, but it has made a number of critical compromises in recent years and the partys leaders recognize the utility of a strong relationship with Trumps administration. Trumps foreign policy will likely have the most critical effect on Libya. Trumps stated support for strongmen and the administrations anti-Islamist views will likely push the United States, and possibly its key European allies, to support Egypt and its proxy Gen. Khalifa Haftar, whose Libyan National Army has been waging a war against Islamists in Libyas east. Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and his counterterrorism efforts against Islamist extremists. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry recently met with Vice President Mike Pence to discuss shared U.S.-Egypt security efforts. Strong ties between Trump and Sissi could push the administration to throw its support behind Haftar and his anti-Islamist fight and to abandon support for the U.N.-backed process that produced a weak unity government. This could have dire consequences for the situation in Libya. A shift by the international community, led by the United States, could empower and embolden Haftar to expand his authority throughout the country and pursue his hegemonic plans. This could divide the country into two or more zones of influence, or worse, leading to an all-out war between Haftars Libyan National Army and its western opponents. This would have a lasting and dangerous effect on the Libyan population, which is already reeling from an economic crisis and sustained turmoil. Trumps shift in emphasis toward stability and security, while not constituting a wholesale reordering of U.S. policy in the region, will be perceived differently by different stakeholders in each country. Civil society activists, human rights defenders, and democratization supporters will react negatively to what they will perceive as a pro-authoritarian shift, while the middle classes and entrepreneurs will likely welcome the U.S. administrations support of their own governments stabilization efforts. 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Regulations restrict one entity from being a sponsor of more than one asset management company (AMC). A sponsor is an entity that, acting alone or with another body, establishes an AMC. Amundi said it had not yet taken a decision on the Indian market. "We are still reviewing the regulatory framework," the asset manager said in an email to Business Standard. Emails to SBI MF and Baroda Pioneer MF did not get a response. Amundi, which manages over $1 trillion of assets worldwide, announced it had agreed to buy Pioneer Investments for an all-cash consideration of $3.7 billion in December 2016. Pioneer Investments is part of the UniCredit Group, headquartered in Italy, and has assets of $245 billion globally and $65.8 billion in the US as of June 30, 2016. Amundi's buyout of Pioneer Investments could lead to three scenarios, experts said. One, Pioneer Investments could exit Baroda Pioneer MF by divesting its 51 per cent stake to either Bank of Baroda or another investor. Two, Baroda Pioneer MF could merge with SBI MF, with State Bank of India, Amundi, and Bank of Baroda holding stakes in different capacities. A merger would consolidate SBI MF's position as the country's fifth-largest fund house in terms of assets it manages. For the quarter ended December 2016, the fund house had assets under management of Rs 1,40,997 crore, while Baroda Pioneer managed Rs 10,785 crore, data from Association of Mutual Funds in India show. For financial year 2016, SBI MF had posted a net profit of Rs 165 crore, while Baroda Pioneer MF posted losses of Rs 5 crore. "A merger with Baroda Pioneer will not benefit SBI MF much, as the former has mostly debt assets, which are less sticky than equity assets," said an industry official. Equity assets contributed less than 10 per cent to Baroda Pioneer MF's assets as on December 2016, Value Research data show. SBI MF had last acquired Daiwa MF's schemes worth Rs 260 crore in 2013. The third possibility is of Bank of Baroda selling its 49 per cent stake in Baroda Pioneer MF to Amundi, and there is a subsequent merger of the entity with SBI MF. Experts widely believe that the diktat to focus on core operations and the surging strain on their balance sheets may compel a few public sector banks to reduce or sell their stake in their mutual funds. In 2014, the finance ministry had asked public sector banks to review their exposure towards non-core operations such as mutual funds and insurance. The move was aimed at conserving capital at a time when stricter Basel-III norms were to be implemented. An email to Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India went unanswered. Interestingly, the issue of sponsors in mutual funds was one of the discussion points at a recent board meeting of the market regulator. An email to the regulator in this regard did not get a response. UTI AMC Promoted by public sector financial institutions State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Bank of Baroda, and Punjab National Bank, it is the only fund house where the market regulator has made an exception to the one-sponsor rule. NITI Aayog wants the prime minister's flagship initiative should focus on labour-intensive sectors and policies that impede their growth to get special attention. In its appraisal of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-13 to 2016-17), the government's key think tank said the Make in India programme was focussed on sectors such as automobiles, automobile components, aviation, biotechnology, chemicals, defence manufacturing, electrical machinery, electronics, food processing, leather, pharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, sources said. The majority of these areas, it said, were those in which India was strong already. Sectors in which India lagged were electronics, food processing, leather, textiles and garments. These are all labour-intensive sectors and policies that impeded their growth deserve special attention in the reform programme of the government, it added. Labour market rigidities arising from wide-ranging and complex laws and regulation have been identified as perhaps the most important impediment to the rapid growth of these sectors, it said. Labour being a concurrent subject, the Centre and state governments can legislate on it. Both have done so with the result that there are more than 40 central and many more state labour laws, officials said. Broadly speaking, labour laws become stringent as the number of workers employed by a firm rises. The Trade Union Act becomes operative at seven workers. A firm with 10 workers, if using power, or with 20 workers, if not using power, comes under the purview of the Factories Act, 1948. A firm with 50 or more finds it very difficult to assign a worker from one task to the other. A firm with 100 workers or more is not allowed to lay off workers under any circumstances. The profit margin of a worker in labour-intensive industries is relatively smaller than those in capital-intensive industries. As a result, labour laws get stringent as a firm's work increases. This encourages firms in the labour-intensive sectors to remain small. But as small firms typically lack the incentive to look for and develop export markets, they end up operating in localised markets. NITI Aayog cited the example of the apparel sector to buttress its points. Research shows that firms in the apparel sector in India are usually smaller than those in other countries. For instance, over 80 per cent of workers in the apparel industry were employed by firms employing less than eight in 2005, whereas China employed less than even one per cent workers. Photograph: Reuters. The five key components, which are indispensable for any smartphone, cost more than Rs 2,000 even for a budget 3G-enabled 3.5-inch handset, reports Arnab Dutta/Business Standard from New Delhi. Waiting for a smartphone with standard features, packed with all basic applications (apps) and costs less than Rs 2,000? You may have to wait a bit longer than you probably had expected, because manufacturing standard smartphones priced below Rs 2,000 is not yet feasible in India. As the Union government is betting big on cashless transactions to put a break on growing black money, it is trying to rope in mobile handset makers to come up with smartphones that cost less than Rs 2,000, thereby enabling more consumers to make online payments. In a meeting recently held by the NITI Aayog, the think-tank had asked handset manufacturers such as Micromax, Intex, Lava and Karbonn to come up with cheaper phones. Industry executives, however, say the cost of making a smartphone is still way above the threshold. Most of the key components for producing a smartphone are imported, and thus, bringing the price of a handset below a certain level is not possible. The prices of smartphones depend on their size and features. On average, the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), which is the heart of a smart device, accounts for more than 54 per cent of the cost of making a handset. Other key components like the display panel, rear camera, battery and charger make up more than 28 per cent of a smartphone by value. Put together, these five key components, which are indispensable for any smartphone, cost more than Rs 2,000 even for a budget 3G-enabled 3.5-inch handset, whose total cost of manufacturing is Rs 2,500. The operating system (OS) and other patented applications inflate the cost further by at least Rs 500. As the smartphones that the government is willing to promote are expected to have the scanner and security features and software, the cost could be way beyond Rs 3,500. According to Vikash Aggarwal, chairman and managing director of Indian handset firm M-tech Mobiles, 4G-enabled handsets cost more. 4G LTE smartphones, at sub-Rs 2,000 price, are still at a developmental stage. The industry is also trying to procure 4G-enabled feature phones, which can help in increasing online transactions, he said. According to industry experts, digital transactions through smartphones can be made popular at the mass level only when the connectivity of telecom services improves and faster technology-enabled handsets (like 4G LTE) are affordable. During the past few quarters, the growth of smartphone sales has been muted and sales of feature phones remained high, contrary to expectations of analysts. Higher prices of smartphones (3G and 4G) are a key factor that has kept new consumers away from buying them. Although the assembly of mobile handsets has gained pace in the country since 2014 as the government started incentivising manufacturers that assemble devices locally, all key components continue to be imported from China, Taiwan and Vietnam and local value-addition in them remains low. Local value-addition in the PCBA, for example, is at two per cent and for display panels and cameras it's nil. Value-addition for some of the components like the battery (eight per cent), charger (six per cent) and housing (18 per cent) has begun in India. Poor value-addition means greater dependence on imports. We don't have much control over the price of components as they are imported. So, our control over cost of a smartphone is also very little at present, a senior executive of a top handset maker said. At present, the industry is looking at China to revise the prices of components, which it expects to happen in the coming months. Fierce competition in the market has put pressure on the profit margins of firms and any further price cut is currently not feasible for them. Companies, at present, are lobbying for more tax sops and benefits from the government. The goods and services tax (GST), when it comes into effect, will nullify the benefits that they receive because value-addition remains low. According to Syed Tajuddin, chief executive of Coolpad India, the prices of handsets sold online could go up by eight per cent once the GST comes into effect. According to senior executives of major smartphone-manufacturing firms, the initiative could be successful under current circumstances, if the government procures in bulk from private players and distributes handsets after subsidising them, like it did in the case of light-emitting diode bulbs. A similar initiative in tablets, however, failed when it launched the Akash tablet at Rs 4,000, which did not gain much popularity among consumers. They should try to promote feature phones which are much cheaper and are capable of making transactions through messaging (SMS), another industry veteran said. Photograph: Reuters According to sources in the aviation ministry, only State-owned Air India and private carrier AirAsia India have agreed to pay the surcharge. IMAGE: The proposed UDAN scheme will bring about much increased regional connectivity through aviation. Photograph:(WT-en) Guffawer/Wikimedia Commons. Even as uncertainty looms over the proposed levy for funding the ambitious regional connectivity project in aviation Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik or, simply, UDAN the government says the scheme would see its first flight next month and put 43 new airports on the map. According to sources in the aviation ministry, only State-owned Air India and private carrier AirAsia India have agreed to pay the surcharge. "They have started levying the surcharge on their air tickets. Other airlines are yet to do, as the case is sub judice," said an official. Minister of state Jayant Sinha said the ministry was in discussion with the airlines. Funding by other means could also be considered. "The government is firmly behind this scheme, which is market-driven and will promote air travel," he said, describing it as a 'game-changer' in Indian aviation. Bids have been received for 190 routes under the scheme, for several new airports, including Bhavnagar, Cooch Behar, Jamshedpur and Jalandhar. The scheme aims to promote low-cost flying between these cities, capping the fare at Rs 2,500 for an hour's flight by subsidising airline loss through a regional connectivity fund. The Federation of Indian Airlines IndiGo, GoAir, SpiceJet and Jet Airways are members, with 80 per cent combined market share says the government has no authority to impose a levy in the nature of a tax on air services. The case's next hearing is on February 1. The government has decided on a levy of up to Rs 8,500 per flight on major routes to fund the scheme. The levy amount would be for an entire flight and the price of each ticket could go up depending on the number of seats in a flight. The levy for up to 1,000 km of a scheduled flight will be Rs 7,500 and Rs 8,000 for a 1,000 to 1,500-km flight and Rs 8,500 for more than 1,500 km. The proceeds go to a regional connectivity fund, to provide viability gap funding for flights under the UDAN scheme. The levy would be applicable on routes connecting major cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. 'What is Tamil pride?' 'Pride has to be over something substantial.' IMAGE: The protest to lift the ban on Jallikattu and impose a ban on PETA at Kamarajar Salai, Marina beach, Chennai, January 20, 2017. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo Nityanand Jayaraman, a former journalist and visiting faculty at the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, was at the forefront of the campaign against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in southern Tamil Nadu. Jayaraman, left, speaks to Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier about the unprecedented agitation in Tamil Nadu over the ban on Jallikattu. Do you feel Jallikattu was just a trigger that resulted for the mobilisation of people in such large numbers at Marina beach and other places in the state? We see different people bringing different resentments and we feel this is the result of the deprivation on an identity because of the reintroduction of Hindi, the Hindutva overtones in the national discourse, the betrayal of the Dravidian parties and even small things like the Devanagiri script in the Rs 2,000 note. All these things might have resulted in resentment over being denied a cultural identity. Like many say, do you feel Tamil pride has been hurt? Tamil sentiments have been hurt. That is very evident from the fact that people are out in large numbers. We see different people bringing different resentments and we feel this is the result of the deprivation of an identity because of the reintroduction of Hindi, the Hindutva overtones in the national discourse, the betrayal of the Dravidian parties and even small things like the Devanagiri script in the Rs 2,000 note. What is Tamil pride? Pride has to be over something substantial. We have to be proud of our economy, our natural resources, our country side, our beautiful rivers.. but we are allowing all these to go waste. If I have a state where water flowed clean in all the rivers, agriculture is healthy and alive and farmers are doing well, then I have something to be proud of. What pride are you talking about when close to 100 farmers have committed suicide? When there is a wholesale dacoity of sand-mining mafia taking over the state's resources, the city is heavily polluted, what is there to be proud of? What do you think the people are angry about? A lot of things are going bad in my homeland and I am angry. Farmers are killing themselves. Rivers are running dry. The political establishment is looting the state. These are the things that affect my homeland. I would like to feel that all those coming together are those with similar sentiments, of being upset with the state of things. The Centre also has a big part in it. So do the local Dravidian parties. You must have noticed that the political parties were not allowed in. In many earlier occasions also, they have shown that they don't trust politicians. Without any leader, how do you think the people have come together? The spontaneous uprising and coming together of people have always happened in history. The youth are particularly inclined to such spontaneous coming together. So, it does not surprise me, but this could have happened for demonetisation, this could have happened for imposing Hindi. It is very difficult to tell what could trigger an uprising of this sort. In 2014 also, there was this ban, but nothing of this sort happened then. What we see now is an anger against a system that does not acknowledge your identity. Unfortunately, the movement has not articulated its vision. Such a huge uprising should have broadened into a larger vision. That is a disappointment. If Jallikattu is seen in its true light, it's not just about the desire of people to chase bulls, but about the culture where it is located, which is the agrarian culture. That agrarian culture and agrarian economy is in a state of crisis. Another criticism is that when so many farmers have committed suicide, this protest has been to reinstate a sport... This has been my disappointment also. If Jallikattu is seen in its true light, it's not just about the desire of people to chase bulls, but about the culture where it is located, which is the agrarian culture. That agrarian culture and agrarian economy is in a state of crisis. That is why I am disappointed that the movement has not broadened its demands. Do you feel they think that Jallikattu is a part of their culture and identity, which is not understood by the rest of India? That is what is being said, but a lot of people who are protesting have not seen Jallikattu. They are talking about a notion. I think there are a lot of shallow arguments and very strident positions on both sides; the pro-Jallikattu group and the animal activists. Both sides have no intent to accommodate different points of view. Do you support Jallikattu? When the answer is going to be a yes or no, I do not want to answer it. I am against cruelty to animals. I have a problem with Jallikattu primarily because it is exclusive and has not changed to the modern context. How can a festival or celebration be exclusive and not accommodate all communities? This one keeps certain communities out. If the festival is going to reintroduce caste divisions, justify or celebrate caste discrimination and does not have a secular fabric, such a festival is not required. Environmentally it might make sense, agrarian economy-wise it might make sense, but in terms of social relations, it extremely discriminatory. I hear people at Marina and other places saying, remove the ban on Jallikattu. I don't hear them saying, remove the exclusion. Maybe they are not aware... In today's age when WhatsApp messages are passed every minute, it is not possible they are not aware. There are many people who are aware and they are not doing a good job. Do you see a new leader emerging out of this kind of mobilisation? Not one leader, but I see leaders emerging. There will be people who will position themselves as leaders. With social movements, why they start and why they fizzle out will only be guessed or estimated post-facto. 'The whole idea is to intimidate lawyers like me and others who are helping the Adivasi women seek justice and file FIRs against the security personnel for raping them.' Shaken but unmoved by the consistent attacks on her, Bela Bhatia, pictured, below, of the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group, tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore that she will not let down the people of Bastar, who she is helping file FIRs and seek justice against the police atrocities on them. Who were the people who threatened you early this (monday) morning and then later in the afternoon and threatened to burn down your house at your home in Jagdalpur? At around 1.30 am on the intervening night of January 21 and 22 there was a big knock on the gate of the outer door where I live in Parpa village, Jagdalpur. My landlord, his wife and I went there and opened the door and there were these two persons who identified themselves to be from a neighbouring village. One of them said he was a son of so and so, but a person with that name does not exist in the neighbouring village. My landlord, who is a born tribal, knows everybody from this village very well. The two people who knocked on the door said they have come from Mauliguda. It was pitch dark outside and there are no street lamps. 200 metres away from where I stay is a pucca road and in the darkness we could see a large group of people waiting there. Did you see these people in the darkness? Later we heard the sound of the vehicle and in the morning villagers told us that they were in a jeep and a Bolero. There were a few motorctycles also. There could be at least 10, 11 people in these vehicles. Who do you think is behind the threats to your life? This incident happened at 1.30 am. And this was immediately after I came back from Bijapur where I was assisting the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) officials on January 19 and the 20 in Pedagallur and Bellam Lendra taking testimonies from 14 Adivasi women whom they had not been able to take testimonies from in March 2016. The NHRC team was constituted post the NHRC order of January 6 (Read the order here (external link). This incident (what happened on the intervening night of January 21-22) happened immediately afterwards. I feel it is related with my helping the NHRC record the testimonies of these 14 Adivasi women. I returned from Pedagallur and Bellam Lendra on the morning of January 21 and on the morning of January 22 they were here. What happened this afternoon (January 23) is again an extension of that. Yesterday, my landlord and his sons were called to the thana (the local police station) and it was made very clear to them indirectly that they should ask me to leave. In October (2016) you must be knowing that effigies of lawyers were burnt in Jagdalpur and other places; my effigy was also burnt. In November there was a fake letter from six persons in the village against me, but that was not the case. All these six people denied writing this letter. On January 14, there was another letter stating that I had claimed that villagers were brewing liquor here, which was also wrong. Who do you think is behind these attacks on you and why? I think this is the continuation of an effort by the higher authorities here. You mean the state administration that includes the police, the bureaucrats and the state government? I would not include everybody, but certainly there are persons in authority who favour a certain kind of counter insurgency which doesn't respect the rule of law. That is why they attack persons like us who are saying that 'you should respect the rule of law.' Why does the Samajik Ekta Manch want you out of Chhattisgarh? The Samajik Ekta Manch has now transformed into Agni. They are working very closely with the police and in some ways they are plainclothes people (policemen), but they are working on their (the Chhattisgarh police) behalf. Because even from the way the mob was acting today (on the afternoon of January 23) it was very clear they had some kind of protection from the higher authorities. How many people attacked your house this afternoon? Around 30. Were they all from the Samajik Ekta Manch or Agni? I don't know which organisation they were part of, but they were doing acts which were illegal in nature and they were doing it with the confidence which comes from them enjoying a certain kind of protection. They continue to behave in the same way even after the police came from the local thana. Have these attacks shaken you? The whole idea is to intimidate lawyers like me and others who are helping the Adivasi women seek justice and file FIRs against the security personnel for raping them. That is their whole objective. Are you planning to leave Jagdalpur? They (the mob who entered the house on the afternoon of January 23) took it in writing from my landlord, my landlady and myself... they took it in writing that by tomorrow evening 6 o'clock I will leave (Jagdalpur). Are you leaving Jagdalpur, then? I am not leaving Bastar. What is the next course of action for you? Right now I have requested the collector (Amit Kataria) to accommodate me at a safe place because I have to move tomorrow evening. But I have no intention of leaving Bastar at all. But you will be leaving Jagdalpur? I will decide where I want to live; whether it is Jagdalpur or any other place. But I will not leave Bastar. I am leaving Jagdalpur because I have promised I will leave this village and I do not want my landlord and their family to be troubled. I will leave this village, but it doesn't mean that I am going to be leaving this area. I am not leaving this area or its people. Did the collector assure you of protection? Collector Amit Kataria was very helpful today because as soon as I called him up (after the attack on the afternoon of January 23), he informed and sent the police here. I do not have police protection right now, but they were there when all this was happening. LEAD IMAGE: A camp run by the Salwa Judum in Dornapal, Chhattisgarh. Days after Union minister Nitin Gadkari fired up speculations about the Chief Ministerial candidate in poll-bound Goa, Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah on Monday said the next government in the state will function under Parrikars leadership, irrespective of his posting. Goa has given a big asset to the country in Manohar Parrikar. There is a huge demand for Parrikar in Delhi and also here in Goa. The people of Goa demand that we should send Parrikar back to the state, Shah said addressing a public meeting in Vasco town. Goa will go to polls to elect the 40-member House on February 4. (Prime Minister) Narendrabhai (Modi) needs him (Parrikar) at the Centre as well. We will decide after elections where Parrikar will be working. But let me assure you that wherever Parrikar may be working, the Goa government will function under his leadership, the BJP president said. Speculations on who will don the mantle of CM of the coastal state reached feverish pitch after Gadkari, the election in-charge of Goa, had said the CM candidate will either be chosen by the elected representatives or a leader could be sent from the Centre, perceived as a reference to Parrikar. Parrikar, the former CM of Goa before he was elevated as defence minister, had recently said, Let us cross the bridge when we come to it. In his address, Shah also took a dig at BJPs erstwhile ruling partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which had severed its ties ahead of the state polls. Those who worked with the BJP for five years have now separated themselves for the lust of power. I want to ask them what is your demand? Have you separated for power or for development. If you wanted development, we were already doing it. But if you have taken the step to gain power, you will have to reply to the people of Goa, the BJP chief said without naming the MGP. The MGP is now a part of the alliance where other constituents are Shiv Sena and the Goa Suraksha Manch, floated by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh rebel Subhash Velingkar. ....Goa has to decide whether it wants instability or development. Whether you want to see unemployment rising or you want a stable government. If we get a chance to rule for next five years, we will create 41,000 jobs in Goa which would be highest in the country. We are going to make Goas infrastructure world class, he told the gathering. Taking a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Shah said he was enacting a family drama to divert the attention from his failure to govern the state. He alleged that the UP government has been involved in scams worth crores of rupees during last five years. Law and order has collapsed(in the state). They are acquiring land of every poor. Women are not safe. Infrastructure is not created. Farmers are in distress, Shah said. I want to tell Akhileshji that he cannot hide his illegal land acquisition, goonda mafia, corruption, corruption in mining, in the garb of family drama, the BJP chief said. The BJP is going to form government in Uttar Pradesh with two-third majority under the leadership of Narendra Modi, he said. He also exuded confidence that his party will form governments in all the five poll-bound states with a clear majority. The elections are being held in five states -- Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. I have come here to tell you that in all the five states, the BJP will form the government with a clear majority, Shah said. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, whose tenure was to end on January 28, on Monday got a one-year extension. The nod for the extension of his tenure till January 28, 2018 was given by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, official sources said. A 1977-IFS batch officer, Jaishankar was appointed foreign secretary on January 29, 2015 just few days before his retirement replacing Sujata Singh, whose term was abruptly curtailed by the government. With Jaishankar getting the extension, many senior diplomats including Indias ambassador to Italy Anil Wadhwa (1979-batch) and Secretary (West) Sujata Mehta (1980-batch) will retire without getting a shot at the top position. Indias ambassador to China, Vijay Gokhale, seen as one of the main contenders to replace Jaishankar, is retiring in the end of January 2019. And with Jaishankar getting a one-year term, it leaves Gokhale in the race for the top diplomatic position in the external affairs ministry. The coming month will also see a number of key appointments in the external affairs ministry with Vikas Swarup, additional secretary and spokesperson in the ministry, on his way to Canada as high commissioner. He is waiting for his official agreement to come from Ottawa which is likely by the month end. The post is lying vacant after Vishnu Prakash retired in October. Swarup is expected to be replaced by Gopal Baglay, currently looking after (Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan) in the ministry. Baglay has earlier also had a stint in the XP division of the MEA as Director from 2008 to 2010. In first half of 2017, ambassadorial positions will also open up in several key countries including Germany and Nepal. Tamil stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan on Monday expressed concern over the violence that erupted in the backdrop of the Jallikattu protests and called for restraint by the agitating students. Rajinikanth said the protests by the students should be etched in golden letters in Indian history and has drawn wide attention as people from various walks of life like youth and women had supported them and carried forward the dignified and peaceful protests. At this juncture, I am grieved to see certain incidents, he said in an apparent reference to the violence and the police crackdown. He said some anti-social elements were now trying to bring disrepute to the students movement and the goodwill earned by them and asked them not to allow this. You should not allow them to bring disrepute to your movement and goodwill, besides the police who have been supportive of your protests, he said. I humbly request you to immediately end this protest, he said in a statement. With the Centre and state government assuring for a permanent solution for the conduct of the sport, we have to respect that, he said. Responding to the developments, Haasan came out in support of students and youth, saying aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results and also urged the protesters not to resort to violence. This is a mistake. Aggressive police action on students passive resistance will not bear good results, he tweeted. He urged students and youth not to resort to violence. He also took up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while appealing to the protesters to maintain calm. Have informed our Honble PM through the best of my connections. The Honble Justice seekers (who are protesting for Jallikattu) will have to maintain peace, he tweeted. Spoke to Honble CM of TN (O Panneerselvam). The looming question has been asked of him. He will answer soon. They are eager to satisfy you. Stay calm, he told the protesters. -- 'What Tamil pride when close to 100 farmers have committed suicide?' The 62-year-old actor also sought to know why police took action when the students were waiting to see what decision the Tamil Nadu assembly took on the matter. A looming question. When the students were calmly waiting to see what decision the assembly takes, why preempt with police action, he said. He requested police to stop harassing the peaceful protesters. Let the CM offer solutions arrived at the assembly, he added. Actor and Radio Jockey Balaji urged protesters to go home, saying the government promulgating an ordinance in itself was success to the peaceful protests conducted over the last week. Instead of celebrating the first success (of making the government to promulgate an ordinance), why are you venturing into violent protests? he asked in a video that was widely circulated in the social media. The protests which were held peacefully over the last week should not end like the way it is turning out now, he said. I appeal to the protesting students and public to go home. Protests are over. Please go home. he said. Police on Monday evicted scores of pro-Jallikattu protesters from protest venues across Tamil Nadu,especially Marina beach, amid incidents of stone-pelting, torching a car and mild lathicharge at a few places in the city. Image: Policemen detain students who were holding a protest demanding a permanent solution for holding Jallikattu. Photograph: PTI Photo In the midst of the Jallikattu agitation the 62-year-old southern superstar trained in karate dealt a strike straight in the stomach. There is anger in Tamil Nadu and at the centre of it is Jallikattu, the centuries-old tradition of taming the bull that is unique to the state. Vociferous calls for revoking the Supreme Court ban on the sport reached a crescendo following which Chief Minister O Paneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last week to secure the Centres support for a state ordinance allowing the conduct of Jallikattu. All seemed to have ended well with the Tamil Nadu government issuing an ordinance over the weekend allowing for Jallikattu and the sport conducted across the state on Sunday, but protestors have refused to call off their agitation till a permanent solution is found. On Monday, as was feared, violence broke out in Chennai and elsewhere. In the midst of all this turbulence, the ubiquitous biryani suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, had the spotlight briefly turned on it by none other than Southern superstar Kamal Haasan. Making a case for Jallikattu, which Haasan said he has participated in during his youth, the actor argued: If you want a ban on Jallikattu, lets also ban biryani. His point is that while Jallikattu is about taming the bull, and not harming it, for biryani animals have to be slaughtered. Thats a strike straight in the stomach from the 62-year-old actor who is trained in karate. The impact of a ban on biryani, hypothetical as the thought is, would be felt across India, given that the biryani economy is spread from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Why, there is even a Naga version of the classical biryani. The sceptic can look up peri peri Naga chicken biryani that is cooked with very spicy Naga pickle. History, politics and geography, if there is one dish that has been impacted by it all it is the biryani. The origin of the biryani in India remains a subject of debate. A legend goes that Shah Jahans wife, Mumtaz Mahal, came up with the dish in the 1600s to feed the undernourished Mughal army. Another theory is that it came to India with Turco-Mongol conqueror Timurs invasion in 1398. Some say the Mughals brought it here from Persia. Others insist that it came to South India first with the Arab traders. Today, the dish prepared with long-grain aromatic rice and a variety of spices is found across the country: from the bylanes of Lucknow and Old Delhi to the kitchens of five-star hotels. During the course of its journey to different parts of India, it has adapted to local flavours -- and circumstances. For example, when Awadhs last nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled in 1856 to a Kolkata suburb, his personal chef gave it a humble twist with potatoes as the poor households could not afford meat. It is today a Kolkata specialty prepared primarily with potatoes and eggs. Then there is the Hyderabadi biryani that developed under Asaf Jah I, one of Aurangzebs governors, and which originally used only goat meat. There is also the Bohri biryani that is rich in tomatoes. Popular in Haasans state Tamil Nadu is Dindigul biryani that uses curd and lemon juice to give it a tangy touch. And though there is also the vegetarian biryani, purists will insist it doesnt count. Such is the biryanis popularity that even a coffee chain like Cafe Coffee Day couldnt help but include it in its menu. So now, it has chicken biryani sitting alongside its range of coffee. The extent of Indias biryani economy is anybodys guess -- perhaps even unfathomable, just like the idea of banning it. Haasans office turned down a request for an interview with him on the subject. The actor, his office said, has already expressed his views and is not willing to discuss the matter further. For the moment, then, the biryani survives. Aparna Yadav, wife of Mulayam Singh Yadavs second son Prateek, was on Monday fielded by Samajwadi Party from Lucknow Cantt constituency, making it a high profile contest as she will take on the Bharatiya Janata Partys Rita Bahuguna, who had won the seat in the last assembly polls. Aparna, 26, the latest entrant from the Yadav clan, figured in Samajwadi Partys fourth list of 37 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. The wife of the step-brother of SP president and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will cross swords with 67-year-old Rita, former state Congress chief who had won the seat in the 2012 assembly polls. Daughter of Congress stalwart and former state Chief Minister H N Bahuguna, Rita quit Congress in October last year to join the BJP, after which she resigned as the legislator. Aparna, a political greenhorn who has the backing of the ruling SP, has been nurturing the constituency under the banner of a non-governmental organisation. Although Aparnas candidature was announced much earlier, the internecine tussle in Samajwadi Party and emergence of Akhilesh Yadav as the new party president had made her ticket unsure till it was announced on Monday. The Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded Yogesh Dixit making the fight triangular in the constituency which will go to polls in the third phase on February 19. In the last polls, Bahuguna, contesting on Congress ticket, had defeated BJPs Suresh Chandra Tewari by a margin of over 21,000 votes. She remained active in the constituency all along. Aparna, whose husband is a businessman with big real estate interests, feels that since she is the joint candidate of SP-Congress coalition, it will give her added strength. People of the constituency know what work has been done there by their representative till now...they have seen how I have been working ever since I was given the responsibility of the seat by my party, Aparna said. She said her contribution has also been lauded even by her adversaries. Ritaji herself wrote a letter of appreciation to me for raising voice in Nirbhaya case. Her tone changed when my party directed me to contest from here. I am sure to win as people have seen me working without being an MLA, Aparna said. On the other hand, Rita said people understand the difference between personal contribution and what it meant to be just a member of a particular family. In fact, I want her to contest, people should realise being just member of the ruling family does not mean you have an electoral presence and you can succeed, she said. I have struck a personal relationship with the constituency and with the people of the area over these years and they know as to how I have been with them all through, she said, hoping that her personal rapport with the voters would see her through. This time round, she has the additional advantage of BJPs organisational network which will help in pipping her opponent to the post. Lucknow as a whole has been loyal to BJP all along, electing its nominee for last five terms. I think it should not be difficult for me to win, she stressed. In its fourth list released by SP state president Naresh Uttam, candidates were also declared for Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Ballia, Kannauj, Lucknow, Fatehpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur and Azamgarh. The party gave ticket to Rajesh Kushwaha from Ghazipur in place of sitting MLA and minister Vijay Mishra. Former minister Shadab Fatima, close to SP leader Shivpal Yadav who was sacked by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was also denied ticket from Jahurabad seat (Ghazipur) and Mahendra Chauhan replaced her from the seat. The party also changed its candidate from Gopalpur seat (Azamgarh) and gave ticket to Nafis Ahmad in place of sitting MLA and state minister Wasim Ahmad. Capping days of feverish parleys, Congress and Samajwadi Party forged an alliance to contest the UP assembly polls together, with the ruling party leaving 105 of the 403 seats for its alliance partner. Though SP has so far given tickets to 324 candidates, it will ask its nominees to withdraw from those constituencies it has offered to Congress as part of seat-sharing agreement. The SP will contest 298 seats under the arrangement. Meanwhile, Akhilesh, in his new role as SP national president, will kick off his partys election campaign from Sultanpur on Tuesday, enthused after his victory in the power game within the Yadav clan. Akhileshji will address a rally in Sultanpur tomorrow (on Tuesday), SP Spokesperson Rajendra Choudhury said. This will be the chief ministers first election rally in the state after he was coroneted as the head of the ruling party, replacing father Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has been made SP patron. As Sultanpur figures in the fifth phase of polling on February 27, Akhileshs decision to start the campaign from there left party workers wondering as to why he ignored the places going to polls in the first or second phase. Senior party leaders also did not say anything on this. Choudhury said Akhilesh will address another rally in Lakhimpur on January 25 and added that detailed tour programmes of the CM would be announced very soon. Five constituencies in Sultanpur district will go to polls in the fifth phase on February 27. Akhilesh released the please all SP manifesto on Sunday with focus on women and youth empowerment and has been busy finalising list of candidates after forging an alliance with Congress to keep communal forces at bay. IMAGE: Aparna and Prateek Yadav. Photograph: Kind courtesy Aparna Bisht Yadav/Facebook.com Actor Gorden Kaye, known for his role as Rene in hit British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo has died in a care home this morning, his agent told BBC news. Kaye played the iconic role of cafe owner Rene throughout the show's run from 1982 to 1992. The comedy was set during the Nazi occupation in France and was written by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd. Kaye rarely appeared on screen after the sitcom finished up after he was seriously injured in a car accident, although he did appear on stage versions of the show. "Gorden Kaye was a terrific comic actor whose signature role, Rene Artois, earned his place in the comedy hall of fame," Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning said. "He was instrumental in making 'Allo 'Allo! such a long running and well-loved series. "His work lives on and thoughts are with friends and loved ones at this sad time." In a gaffe, Donald Trump has misspelled 'honour' in one of his first tweets as United States President, evoking both amused and critical responses from netizens. Trump, an avid Twitter user, may have become the leader of the free world but moving to the White House does not seem to have helped his spelling. "I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!", he tweeted shortly after assuming his office. Instead of using the US spelling of 'honored' or even the British spelling 'honoured', Trump decided to spell it in a completely different (and incorrect) way. The tweet was quickly deleted and re-posted with the correct spelling, but not before a number of people had replied querying the President's spelling. "Good grief. Four more years of this," wrote one on Twitter. Another accused the Republican of being "the most illiterate president ever". "Its kinda fitting that he doesn't know how to spell "honor" lol." The New York Times reported that the 70-year-old Trump swapped out his phone for a 'secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess.' In December, Trump tweeted that China had ripped a research drone out of international waters in an 'unpresidented' act. It was soon corrected to 'unprecedented.' In February, he also boasted about his performance at CNN's Republican debate in Houston, tweeting, "Wow, every poll said I won the debate last night. Great honer!" United States President Donald Trump has fulfilled a campaign pledge by signing an executive order to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The trade deal, a linchpin of ex-President Barack Obamas Asia policy, was signed by 12 nations. Great thing for the American worker what we just did, said Trump as he dumped the pact with a stroke of a pen. He also cut funding for international groups that provide abortions, and froze hiring of some federal workers. The TPP was negotiated under former President Barack Obama, but never ratified by Congress, so withdrawing from it will not have an immediate, real effect on US economic policies, although it does signal a new and very different US outlook on trade under Trump. The Trans-Pacific Partnership brought together the United States and 11 other nations along the Pacific Rim, including Canada, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia, creating a free-trade zone for about 40 percent of the worlds economy. It was intended to lower tariffs while setting rules for resolving trade disputes, setting patents and protecting intellectual property. Image: US President Donald Trump holds up the executive order on withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership after signing it. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Just 21 then, a young air force officer looks back at the 1971 war, which was like a baptism by fire in the fauj. IMAGE: Indian soldiers fire on Pakistani positions during the 1971 War. Photograph: Getty Images. 'Our tank took a direct bull's eye hit. When I came back to my senses I called for the driver, loader, subedar -- nobody answered. Three men from my tank died that night.' Wing Commander Kuldip Shiva (retd) tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih about days spent along the Ravi river on the border with Pakistan as a forward air controller attached to an armoured brigade. Earlier in the Oral History series on the 1971 War: I was 21 when the war broke out. I had just been commissioned in June 1971 and was flying the Hunters. I was attached to the army unit in Jalandhar with the 1 Tactical Air Centre that coordinated the air effort with the corps headquarters. I along with a few others was trained as a forward air controller. The job of the FAC was to direct fighter aircraft onto the enemy target as required by the army. Around September-October, we were moved to our forward location. I was moved to Amritsar. We had dinner in the Officers Mess and three of us were put in a jeep to go to the brigade where we were to be deployed with the army. As luck would have it, among us, one was my senior, the other was my coursemate -- Syed Muqarram Ali and A Azmi -- very dear friends of mine. The three of us were sitting in the back of a jonga, it was raining and the ride continued endlessly. Finally, we landed up in Fatehgarh Churiyan, which is on the east of Dera Baba Nanak. Azmi and myself were deputed in the 14 Armoured Brigade (part of the 71 Armoured Regiment) and Syed Muqarram Ali was sent somewhere else. We were close to a forward location. Soldiers were living in tents. I was given a tube well hut with a cot. In the day I used to be up and about and only came there to sleep. IMAGE: Wing Commander Kuldip Shiva (retd) served the Indian Air Force for 31 years. Photograph: Archana Masih/Rediff.com Towards the end of November, we moved into our ops location, just outside Dera Baba Nanak. There was a BSF camp in the field where the tanks were deployed under camouflage. The wireless vehicle was there and instruction was given by the commanding officer that whenever 'Cactus-Lily' (the name of the IAF's operation in the War) was heard, he was to be informed immediately. The third evening, we suddenly heard shelling south-west of us. We saw the flares and artillery fire from both sides. 'Cactus-Lily' was heard. It had been planned earlier that when we moved into Dera Baba Nanak, we were meant to go into a mango orchard and park ourselves there to launch the attack. On the night of December 4, the regiment moved across the Ravi to go across the Dera Baba Nanak bridge to capture the bridge on the Pakistan end. Intelligence personnel from armoured regiment had been sent across to check whether the Ravi could be crossed in tanks. They had a probe to determine the strength of the soil. I was in the tank with the cupola open with this firing going on and we moved further down. The shelling came close by and we closed the cupola. There were ditch and tank bunds -- we were able to even them out on our side and go across. But in getting across to the Ravi, three tanks got bogged down -- so the orders were for two squadrons of tanks to change their directions. Now instead of the northern end, the plan changed to the southern end of the bridge. On the tanks was the Gorkha paltan -- the infantry that was to go and hold the place. In the shuffle of change in plan, I came 2nd or 3rd in the leading troops. We fired the shell, but it got stuck. Two of us were trying to take out the shell manually -- it is supposed to eject automatically. We came under a direct bull's eye hit on the base. The driver's head fell on the side. The subedar sahib was killed and his pistol was left in the dummy barrel in the back. It was dark. When I came back to my senses I called for the driver, loader, subedar -- nobody answered. The loader was crying out in pain so the first thing we did was get out of the tank. I opened the capola, came out and realised I had left my call sign which was a wireless set. I did not want the enemy to get hold of it. I jumped in and got it out. Our flying overalls also had the first aid kit which had morphine injections. I gave the loader a shot of morphine and came to the next tank and found that the tracks of that tank had come off. I then went to the next tank, the officer said he could take only one chap, I told him to take the loader and then got inside the next tank. We were ordered to get back to the mango orchard. This was the morning of December 5. That night, three people in my tank had died. Two or three tanks were knocked off in the firing. In the evening the commanding officer said you have a good life because not only did you get out alive from that tank, but when you moved from one tank to another you had walked over minefields. The battle had stagnated in Dera Baba Nanak and it was now air to air combat where my actual job came up. We had targets that were identified by the army and you informed the tactical air centre about the location of the target. Across the Dera Baba Nanak bridge there was a watch tower where the Pakistanis had an artillery observation post, from where they were knocking over our positions. Our Sukhoi 7 knocked it down and that tower kept blazing for a long time like a torch. After that we had peace as far as enemy artillery was concerned. When I was coming back after December 16 -- the sub divisional magistrate of Batala and his wife had come to see where the battle had taken place. The misfortune of the lady was that she stepped on a mine and her leg got blown off. After the war I went to Jamnagar to finish flying on the Hunters. There was so much of wisdom in the judgement of Sam Manekshaw who had the guts to go to the prime minister that we could not attack in April-May. He was an outstanding leader. Elegant and with a sense of humour. He commanded respect. I remember him once telling the men, "Yeh mooch dekhte ho, mooch neechi nahi honi chahiye (See this moustache. It should not droop)." No unnecessary bhashan. Simple words, driven home. After the war, he went to a PoW camp in Meerut. A subedar came and saluted him. General Manekshaw asked his permission to see the camp. He went to the toilets and shook hands with the sweeper. He asked the soldiers if there were bed bugs/mosquitoes and how the food was. When he was leaving, the subedar told him that today he had realised how the Hindustani fauj defeated the Pakistani fauj. Here the army chief came to the see the jawan, while over there, the officers of the paltan could not be found. He was a role model. Three months after General Manekshaw retired, the government decided to lower the soldier's pension from 70% of the last drawn salary to 50%, and increased the civilian officials to 50% from 30%. It was 70% earlier because the soldier retires at an earlier age. This is how Indira Gandhi rewarded him for the victory after he retired. Wing Commander Kuldip Shiva served the Indian Air Force for 31 years. Six years ago, a Mumbai college student stumped the most powerful man in the world with her question. After Barack Obama stepped down as America's president on Friday, Afsheen Irani looks back at that moment with a smile and says it will stay with her all her life. IMAGE: Then US president Barack Obama addresses students at St Xavier's College, Mumbai, November 7, 2010. Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters On Friday, he left the White House after eight memorable, tumultuous, years in office. For Afsheen Irani, Barack Obama left a legacy that will be etched in the world's memories for a long time. More than six years ago, Afsheen, then a college student, stumped Obama when she asked him: 'Why is Pakistan so important an ally to America so far as America has never called it a terrorist State?' The American president was addressing students at a town hall meeting on November 7, 2010 at St Xavier's College during his visit to Mumbai. "It was a big day for us," recalls Afsheen, now a lawyer. "We were given the opportunity to question the most influential world leader on this planet, a thought that had me bursting with curiosity and excitement." Her question wasn't the one she had planned to ask. "I wanted to know his views on education, visa processes and the like." Minutes before she walked into the venue, a chance conversation with a friend changed her mind and as they say, the rest is history. As soon as she asked the question, there were collective gasps from the crowd. Her mother Taubon, who was watching the event on television at the Iranis' suburban Mumbai home, said, 'Oh my god! Did she just leave the most powerful man in the world speechless?' After Afsheen's question, the famously cerebral Obama took about 15 seconds before he started to respond. And the first relevant thing he had to say was this: 'Er... Pakistan is an enormous country!' IMAGE: Afsheen Irani now works as a lawyer. After asking the question, Afsheen became something of a celebrity, hopping from one television news channel studio to another that Sunday. "As the first black president," Afsheen says more than six years later, "Obama already had claimed his place in history in January 2009. What intrigued me more than his power was his story." "A man who defied the odds and endeavoured through unprecedented struggles to become not just a president, but a symbol," she adds. "His victory was an answer to the 400 years of slavery, segregation and institutional racism faced by the people of his community." "Any presidential term is marred with controversies, alliances and treaties, judgments and policies that alter the course of future in a good or a bad way," says the lawyer about the most famous lawyer of our time. "Obama too had his fair share of the same. But then again, with Obama, it wasn't just about the politics." "It was the dignity and grace that he possessed, the unblemished civility that was fitting of his stature, an aura of generosity and acceptance that were the founding pillars of American values." "His success as a president will always be a roaring debate," she says, "but no one can question the legacy that he leaves behind." "Mr Obama," Afsheen adds, "you will be dearly missed!" 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. Thailand: Activist Unjustly Jailed for 'Insulting Monarchy' Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 January 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Thailand: Activist Unjustly Jailed for 'Insulting Monarchy', 22 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885be7d4.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. Thai authorities should immediately release a prominent pro-democracy activist charged for a Facebook posting under laws intended to protect Thailand's monarchy, Human Rights Watch said today. Jatupat (Pai) Boonphatthararaksa faces up to 15 years in prison for lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) charges initiated by the military. "The charges against Jatupat show the Thai junta's misuse of lese majeste laws to persecute dissenters against military rule," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "Thailand's military rulers have aggressively clamped down on any speech they find objectionable, including what they arbitrarily deem is critical of the monarchy." Jatupat was charged with lese majeste offenses under article 112 of the Criminal Code and violation of the Computer Crimes Act for posting on his Facebook page a profile of Thailand's new monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, published by the BBC Thai language service on December 2, 2016. Thai authorities deemed the article to be critical of the monarchy and blocked it from viewing in Thailand. Jatupat, who is a 25-year-old student activist affiliated with the Dao Din Movement and the New Democracy Movement (NDM), was arrested on December 3. Although more than 2,800 people had "shared" the article on the internet at the time of Jatupat's arrest, he was the only person Thai authorities charged with lese majeste. The case against Jatupat was triggered by a complaint filed by an army officer from the 23rd Military Circle in Khon Kaen Province. That military unit has arrested him many times for holding public protests and other peaceful activities to oppose the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta and demand a transition to democratic civilian rule. After his arrest, Jatupat was initially released on 400,000 Baht (US$11,000) bail on December 4. On December 22, the Khon Kaen provincial court revoked his bail, ruling that he had made other Facebook comments satirizing the authorities, and failed to delete his original post of the king's profile. The court has since repeatedly denied Jatupat's bail requests. On January 20, the court held a closed-door hearing without Jatupat's lawyer's participation and extended his pre-trial detention 12 days, the fifth such extension. He is currently detained at the Khon Kaen provincial correctional institution and subjected to abusive cavity searches every time he returns from a court hearing. Because of his detention, Jatupat has been prevented from taking exams that he needs to graduate from Khon Kaen University's Faculty of Law. The Thai junta has repeatedly prosecuted critics of the monarchy in violation of the right to freedom of expression. Since the May 2014 coup, authorities have charged at least 68 persons with lese majeste, mostly for posting or sharing comments online. Some have been convicted and sentenced to decades of imprisonment. The right to freedom of expression is protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Thailand is party. General Comment 34 of the Human Rights Committee, the international expert body that monitors compliance with the covenant, has stated that laws such as those for lese majeste "should not provide for more severe penalties solely on the basis of the identity of the person that may have been impugned" and that governments "should not prohibit criticism of institutions, such as the army or the administration." In addition, the routine refusal to provide bail in lese majeste cases violates the covenant's provision that it "shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody." Thai laws regarding lese majeste should bar private actions, including by the military, which have been routinely used for political purposes, Human Rights Watch said. Past practice has shown that the authorities have difficulty rejecting allegations filed by private individuals for fear of themselves being accused of disloyalty to the monarchy. "The glaring injustice of Jatupat's lese majeste case has been made even worse by his prolonged pre-trial detention," Adams said. "Instead of punishing him before trial, the charges against him should be dropped immediately." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Bahrain: 2 Face Execution Despite Torture Allegations Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 23 January 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Bahrain: 2 Face Execution Despite Torture Allegations, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885bee34.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. Two Bahrainis appear to be at imminent risk of execution despite the authorities' failure to properly investigate their allegations of torture, Human Rights Watch said today. Both Mohamed Ramadan and Husain Ali Moosa have disavowed confessions that they allege were the result of torture and that were used as evidence in a trial that violated international due process standards. The January 15, 2017 executions of three other Bahrainis in a similar case have raised concerns that King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will approve the executions of Ramadan and Moosa, who face the death penalty for a February 2014 bombing that resulted in the death of a policeman. Human Rights Watch analysis of their trial and appeal judgments found that their convictions were based almost exclusively on their confessions, which both men retracted. "Bahrain should not under any circumstances execute two more young men, especially where there is credible evidence of confessions obtained through torture and unsound convictions," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. On December 29, 2014, Bahrain's fourth superior criminal court convicted Ramadan and Moosa of the premeditated murder of `Abd al-Wahid Sayyid Muhammad Faqir, a policeman who died from injuries caused by an improvised explosive device in Muharraq on February 14, 2014. The court convicted 10 other Bahrainis of involvement in the bombing and sentenced them to between six years and life in prison. Ramadan and Moosa's lawyer, Mohamed al-Tajer, told Human Rights Watch that he was unable to speak with his clients during pretrial detention. The first time he was able to speak with them was on the first day of their trial on July 24, 2014, he said. An examination of the trial record indicates that the key evidence used to convict Ramadan and Moosa was their confessions, which their lawyer argued in court should have been inadmissible because the court did not thoroughly investigate the men's torture allegations. The trial court dismissed this argument, stating that "the defendant's [Moosa's] confession is overall consistent, which confirms and proves that his confession is consistent with the truth and facts of the case." On May 27, 2015, Bahrain's First Supreme Criminal High Appellate Court upheld the death sentences, saying that it was "persuaded that these confessions and statements were free of any taint of coercion of any kind, using in this its discretionary authority." Human Rights Watch reviewed copies of the reports from Dr. Mohamed Nour Fowda, the forensic doctor employed by Bahrain's public prosecutor's office, who examined Ramadan and Moosa on March 2, 2014. The reports do not refer to the men's allegations of torture, stating only that their purpose is to assess the nature and cause of any injuries. The report on Ramadan concludes that the bruising on his legs was the result of "collision with an object," and the report on Moosa concludes that marks on his wrists were "the result of handcuffs." The trial court judgment makes no reference to either forensic report. Al-Tajer, who has defended many prominent opposition figures and rights activists, told Human Rights Watch that their absence probably relates to the considerable evidentiary weight that judges in Bahrain place on confessions. United Kingdom-based human rights organization Reprieve provided copies of these reports to Dr. Brock Chisholm, an honorary lecturer at St Georges Medical Hospital Medical School, University of London, and an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of torture victims. Chisholm wrote that the report on Ramadan "fails in almost all aspects of what is required in a forensic investigation of possible torture. is in complete violation of the internationally recognised Istanbul Protocol and should therefore be completely disregarded." Chisholm listed a range of failures, including the absence of details of the report's author's qualifications or independence, the presence of a police officer during the investigation, the absence of a lawyer during the investigation, the failure to document full details of Ramadan's injuries, and the fact that "no causation is explored or rationale given for the injuries within the report and no attempt was made to obtain any elaboration from the individual concerned." Chisholm said of the Bahraini authorities' forensic report on Husain Moosa that, "there are clear violations of the Istanbul Protocol and compelling reasons to suspect that sufficient independence was lacking." The Istanbul Protocol is the United Nations manual detailing best practices on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Ramadan's wife, Zainab, told Human Rights Watch that her husband looked "pale, skinny, weak, and shaken" when she met with him at what she described as a strictly monitored visit approximately 10 days after his arrest on February 18, 2014. She said that after his transfer to Jau prison month after his arrest, he told his family that officers at the Criminal Investigations Directorate and Riffa police station tortured him to make him confess to his involvement in the bombing. The trial court judgment says the case against the defendants "was also proven" in reports from the Crime Scene Division and Criminal Investigations Lab, but it cites no physical or other evidence linking any of the defendants to the bomb or to the two devices a Nokia mobile phone and a remote control that the judgments says "could have been used" to detonate the bomb. On January 17, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "appalled" by the January 15 execution of Sami Mushaima, Ali al-Singace, and Abbas al-Sameea, charged with the murder of three police officers, citing their alleged torture and the fact that "their lawyers were not given access to all the hearings against them nor allowed to cross-examine prosecution witnesses during court hearings." France condemned the executions, while the UK and the European Union issued statements reiterating their opposition to the death penalty. The UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Bahrain has ratified, has said that "in cases of trials leading to the imposition of the death penalty scrupulous respect of the guarantees of fair trial is particularly important" and that any death penalty imposed after an unfair trial would be a violation of the right to life. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty. On April 11, 2016, Tobias Ellwood, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister for the Middle East and Africa, wrote in response to a question by UK Member of Parliament Tom Brake about Ramadan's alleged torture that UK embassy officials had been in contact with Bahrain's Interior Ministry ombudsman over the case, adding that the ombudsman's office had said that, "whilst there have been a number of complaints raised with his office in the case of Mr. Ramadan, there have been no allegations of mistreatment or torture." On July 14, 2016, Ellwood acknowledged in a letter to Reprieve that this was incorrect and that there had been "some confusion over the nature of the complaints made to the Ombudsman." He attached to his letter a June 15, 2016 memo from Bahraini Ombudsman Nawaf al-Ma'awda which states: "Given ongoing concerns, I plan to initiate a full, independent investigation into the treatment both Mohamed Ramadan and Hussain al-Moosa from the point of their arrest to throughout their detention." On December 7, 2016, Ellwood informed Reprieve that the complaint had been passed to Bahrain's Special Investigations Unit, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting the criminal liability of security or other government officials allegedly involved in the torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of detainees. It is unclear what stage the investigation is at. Based on information in the ombudsman's three annual reports, it has referred 138 cases to the SIU since July 2013. Of these, the Special Investigations Unit has successfully prosecuted only one torture case. "Investigations into torture should be conducted before trials not after them," Stork said. "Similarly, the UK, France, Germany, and the EU should publicly condemn this unfair trial and oppose these sentences before Bahrain assembles its firing squad." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Alarmed at destruction in Syria's Palmyra, UN Security Council reiterates need to stamp out hatred and violence espoused by ISIL Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 20 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Alarmed at destruction in Syria's Palmyra, UN Security Council reiterates need to stamp out hatred and violence espoused by ISIL, 20 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885d44940d.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. 20 January 2017 - Amid the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria, including that of the famed tetrapylon and parts of the Roman theatre in Palmyra by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), the United Nations Security Council has reiterated that the terrorist group must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence, and hatred it espouses must be stamped out. In a statement today, the 15-member Council also expressed alarm at reports of executions in the historic theater of Palmyra and expressed deep concern for the safety of thousands of residents inside the city as well as for the protection of the World Heritage site of Palmyra. It also expressed concern that ISIL and other entities associated with Al-Qaida have generated income from engaging directly or indirectly in the looting and smuggling of cultural heritage items from archaeological sites, museums, libraries, archives, and other sites in Syria, which is being used to support their recruitment efforts and to strengthen their operational capability to organize and carry out terrorist attacks. The Security Council also underlined the need to bring perpetrators of these acts to justice. [Destruction in Palmyra is] a new war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova Earlier today, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had also condemned the destruction in the Syrian city and called on the international community to stand united against cultural cleansing. The agency along with the Operational Satellite Programme (UNOSAT) at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) had confirmed the destruction. An oasis in the Syrian desert, northeast of Damascus, Palmyra contains monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. Palmyra, however, has been on the list of World Heritage in Danger since 2013. Satalite image analysis of damage to Palmyra's Roman Tetrapylon and theatre. Image: UNITAR Operational Satellite Application Programme Calling the destruction a new war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova underlined that the protection of heritage is inseparable from the protection of human lives, and we must all unite to put this at the center of all efforts to build peace. This new blow against cultural heritage, just a few hours after [] reports of mass executions in the theatre, shows that cultural cleansing led by violent extremists is seeking to destroy both human lives and historical monuments in order to deprive the Syrian people of its past and its future, she added. The tetrapylon was a monument marking a major road intersection along the colonnaded street of Palmyra. According to the UN cultural agency, it was a testimony to the grandeur of the era around 270 AD, during which Queen Zenobia had reached the height of her power. Recalling its significance, Ms. Bokova said the tetrapylon was an architectural symbol of the spirit of the encounter and openness of Palmyra and this is also one of the reasons why it has been destroyed. Its position and shape are unique in ancient architecture and testified to the specificity of Palmyrene identity, as a source of pride and dignity for all Syrians today. UNESCO further noted that according to satellite images, Palmyra's theatre dating from the 2nd century AD and built in the center of a semicircular colonnaded piazza, to the southwest of the main colonnaded street also suffered damage at its formerly well-preserved proscenium wall, decorated with ten curved and nine rectangular niches placed alternately. In 2015, condemning the destruction and smuggling of cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq by ISIL and the Al-Nusrah Front, Security Council adopted a resolution that, among others, banned all trade in looted antiquities from those countries. It also encouraged steps to ensure such items are returned to their homelands, and called on UNESCO, Interpol, and other international organizations to assist in such efforts. AUDIO: Mechtild Rossler, head of UNESCO's Heritage Division, speaking to UN News on damage in Palmyra. Political uncertainty forces tens of thousands people to flee The Gambia for Senegal: UN Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 20 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Political uncertainty forces tens of thousands people to flee The Gambia for Senegal: UN, 20 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885d48040d.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. 20 January 2017 - At least 45,000 people mostly women and children have arrived in Senegal from The Gambia after former President Yahya Jammeh's decided to not step down, United Nations agencies today said warning that more people may leave if the political situation is not resolved peacefully. Over 75 per cent of arrivals are children, accompanied mainly by women. They are staying with family members, host families or in hotels. Some families are hosting up to 40 to 50 people and will soon need support as they may quickly run out of resources, said Babar Baloch, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Briefing journalists in Geneva, Mr. Baloch said UNHCR and humanitarian partners are working to support authorities in Senegal, which surrounds The Gambia. The support includes distribution of food and relief items ranging from mattresses to sheets and soap. As the situation continues, UN officials are voicing particular concern about children, and their access to health care, water, sanitation and education. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is setting up support for about 40,000 people for three months, and is locating host communities in the border areas to provide shelter to families and potentially provide temporary schooling. VIDEO: Political crisis in The Gambia: UNHCR says already 45,000 people have fled to Senegal. Credit: UN News The agency is also working with partners to supply water and sanitation services to the most affected areas on the border. Our teams in Senegal and The Gambia are on standby to ensure that children's needs are at the centre of any response as the situation evolves, said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF's Regional Director for West and Central Africa. Some 40 tons of food aid arrived in the Ziguinchor region of Senegal on Thursday 19 January 2017 for distribution to recent arrivals from Gambia and host families. Photo: UNHCR/Helene Caux The UN agencies have separately voiced concern about the long-term impact of the crisis, if it is not resolved peacefully. Some families are hosting up to 50 people and will soon need support as they may run out of resources, Ms. Baloch said. In addition to people from The Gambia fleeing, the country had hosted some 8,000 refugees who are anxious and worried about the political situation, the spokesperson noted. Backlogs and brutal weather put refugee and migrant children at risk in Europe UNICEF Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 20 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Backlogs and brutal weather put refugee and migrant children at risk in Europe UNICEF, 20 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885d4d040d.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. 20 January 2017 - As the extreme cold weather and storms continue to sweep Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, refugee and migrant children are threatened by respiratory and other serious illnesses, according to the United Nations Children's Fund. "Without proper shelter and warm clothing, young children are in real danger because of the severe weather," said Basil Rodriques, UNICEF Regional Health Advisor for Central and Eastern Europe, in a news release. The UN agency pointed out that in Greece and the Balkans, an estimated 23,700 refugee and migrant children - including infants and newborns mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan - remain stranded. Many are being housed in shelters that are ill-equipped for winter, even as temperatures fall below freezing. Some parts of Greece, especially the islands sheltering thousands of refugees in flimsy tents, have experienced heavy snowfall for the first time in years. UNICEF continues to call for refugees and migrants currently living in overcrowded and underserviced camps on the islands to be moved to more appropriate and safe accommodations on the mainland. "Infants and the very young generally have less body fat to insulate them against the cold, making them more susceptible to respiratory problems and potentially fatal viral and bacterial infections such as pneumonia and influenza," Mr. Rodriques pointed out. Overcrowding and poor insulation make the shelters particularly unhealthy, allowing respiratory diseases to spread quickly when cold weather hits. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe's influenza season is already underway. "Apart from the cold weather, the health risks children are facing are a consequence of their plight as refugees and migrants, the victims of uncertainty and of backlogs in processing their claims to asylum," stressed Mr. Rodriques, adding "This state of limbo impacts on children's health, compounding their hardship." UNICEF's ongoing winterization efforts throughout Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are helping women and children stay warm by distributing winter clothing and other essential items. In Bulgaria, UNICEF has supported 1,100 children in reception centres with winter clothes and boots. Since late 2015-2016 in the Balkans child and family support hubs, child-friendly spaces and mother and baby corners were transformed from the initial light structures into winterized and heated pre-fab and container structures, or have since moved into hard/permanent structures. Denouncing terrorist attacks in West Africa, Security Council stresses need to address root causes Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 20 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Denouncing terrorist attacks in West Africa, Security Council stresses need to address root causes, 20 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885d576412.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. 20 January 2017 - Strongly condemning all terrorist attacks in West Africa, particularly those carried out by Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad Basin, the United Nations Security Council today stressed the need to combat terrorism in all its forms and to address the conditions conducive to its spread. In a Presidential Statement read out in a formal meeting, the 15-member body reiterated its deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation caused by the activities of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region. "In this regard," the statement read, "the Security Council calls upon the international community to immediately support the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance for the people most affected by the crisis in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, including by fulfilling the UN appeal for the Lake Chad Basin region." The Council also called on Governments in the region to facilitate access for humanitarian organizations, and to work with the UN and international partners to develop viable options for delivering aid and urged the Multinational Joint Task Force participating countries to further enhance regional military cooperation and coordination, deny safe haven to Boko Haram, and facilitate the restoration of civilian security and the rule of law in areas liberated from the militant group. Further, welcoming subregional, regional and international efforts to mitigate the security, humanitarian and development impact of Boko Haram's activities, the Security Council underlined that the UN Member States must ensure that any counter-terrorism measures are in compliance with all obligations under international law, particularly international human rights, humanitarian and refugee laws. The statement also noted that the Council was encouraged by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) authority's decision concerning the political situation in Gambia, as well as decisions by the African Union Peace and Security Council that the regional bloc would cease to recognize outgoing President Yahya Jammeh as the legitimate President of that country. The Council went on to welcome recent positive political developments in several West African countries, in particular the holding of free and peaceful elections in Cabo Verde and Ghana, and the outcome of the political dialogue in Guinea, as well as welcomed steps taken to develop and institute political, institutional and constitutional reforms in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Also in the statement, the Security Council expressed deep regret over bombing of the camp for displaced persons in Rann, north-eastern Nigeria, on 17 January, which had resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including internally displaced persons and humanitarian workers. The Council also urged the Government of Nigeria to investigate the incident swiftly. The Gambia: UN, ECOWAS, AU hail 'goodwill' of former President Jammeh; commit to work for his dignity and security Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, The Gambia: UN, ECOWAS, AU hail 'goodwill' of former President Jammeh; commit to work for his dignity and security, 22 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885d58c40c.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. 22 January 2017 - The United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have commended the goodwill and the statesmanship of the former President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, who decided to facilitate an immediate and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow. Former President Jammeh's decision comes after concerted mediation efforts by a number of African leaders since December last year to help resolve the crisis in the country following the presidential elections. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also congratulated the African leaders for their success. The rule of law has prevailed in The Gambia. I congratulate African leadership for this success in restoring democracy, noted the Secretary-General in a tweet posted on his account, @antonioguterres. Furthermore, in a joint declaration late yesterday, UN, ECOWAS and AU pledged to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it assures and ensures the dignity, respect, security and rights of former President Jammeh, as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia. The same also extended to the former President's immediate family, cabinet members, government and security officials, and party supporters and loyalists. The declaration noted that former President Jammeh will temporarily leave the country, without any prejudice to his rights, to assist the peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power and the establishment of a new government. Furthermore, the three organizations also said that they would work with the Government to ensure that no legislative action is taken against the former President and his entourage, as well as to prevent seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to them, and urged the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that there is no intimidation or harassment of former regime members and supporters. They also pledged to work with Gambian authorities on national reconciliation to cement social, cultural and national cohesion. The joint declaration further noted that the UN, ECOWAS and AU will work to ensure that host countries that offer African hospitality to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions. It added that the three organizations would also work the Government to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of The Gambia and a former head of state. The joint declaration further noted that ECOWAS will halt any military operations in the country and will continue to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis. Gambia: Response to the departure of Yahya Jammeh Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 22 January 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Gambia: Response to the departure of Yahya Jammeh, 22 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885d5ea4.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. Following the departure of Gambia's former leader, Yahya Jammeh, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for West and Central Africa, Steve Cockburn said: "After 22 years of fear, Gambians now have a unique opportunity to become a model for human rights in West Africa, in which no one need to be afraid to stand up or speak out. We hope the international community will support the new government and the Gambian people in this journey." Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Cite as UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), How Can Children Survive Torture?, January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885d9b94.html [accessed 5 November 2022] CSOs call for the immediate implementation of the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention #FREETHE5KH Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 23 January 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, CSOs call for the immediate implementation of the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention #FREETHE5KH, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885da314.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. On the occasion of the two-month anniversary of the adoption of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's ("WGAD") ruling that the ongoing detention of ADHOC staff members Lim Mony, Ny Sokha, Nay Vanda, and Yi Soksan, and NEC Deputy Secretary-General, Ny Chakrya (jointly "the five") is arbitrary [1], we, the undersigned civil society organizations ("CSOs"), reiterate our call upon the Cambodian authorities to implement the decision of the WGAD and immediately release them. Nearly nine months after the five were first detained, Cambodia has taken no action to cease or remedy its unlawful treatment of the five, and remains in a continuing state of non-compliance with its binding legal obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ("ICCPR"). Our organizations condemn in the strongest terms the failure of the Cambodian authorities to implement the recommendations of the WGAD. On 21 November 2016, the WGAD declared the continued detention of the NEC official and four ADHOC staff members to be arbitrary, and in violation of their right to freedom of association and fair trial rights under international human rights law and Cambodian domestic law [2]. In addition, the WGAD ruled that the five had been discriminated against based on their status as human rights defenders. The treatment of the five detainees is demonstrative of the Royal Government of Cambodia's (the "RGC") manipulation of the judicial system to harass, intimidate and silence dissenting voices ahead of the upcoming commune and national elections. The RGC's response to the damning decision of the WGAD has, up to this point, ranged from total non-engagement to outright dismissal. The WGAD first contacted the RGC with regard to their findings in June 2016, without receiving a response [3]. Since then, Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin has stated that the decision of the WGAD is "not acceptable in a country with a rule of law." He continued: "the fact is that the courts have investigated [] and found that the five people have bad intentions to commit a crime." [4] This blatant disregard for both the ruling of an international body and for the presumption of innocence - underscores the need for the international community to step up their efforts to call out violations of international human rights law in Cambodia, and reject the RGC's cynical invocation of the "rule of law" to defend the harassment and imprisonment of its political opponents and civil society. While reports emerged in December 2016 suggesting that the release of all five human rights defenders was imminent, they remain in prison [5]. Meanwhile, the five have essentially been reduced to little more than political bargaining chips in an inherently political case. The Anti-Corruption Unit ("ACU"), whose jurisdiction over the case has been questioned by many observers, including the WGAD, first questioned the five from 27 to 29 April 2016. The WGAD found the pre-trial procedure to violate a number of fair trial rights and criticized the ongoing and legally unjustified pre-trial detention. All five human rights defenders have been unsuccessful in a series of bail applications, despite no supporting evidence justifying their continued detention under Cambodian law. Based on the procedural and investigatory failings outlined in its decision, the WGAD recommended the immediate release of the five, payment of compensation as a remedy for the human rights violations they have suffered, the initiation of an investigation into the various violations of their rights, and legislative amendments with a view to bringing Cambodia's laws and practices into compliance with its international obligations. We, the undersigned CSOs, condemn the failure of the Cambodian authorities to adhere to the recommendations of the WGAD to date. We reiterate our call for Cambodia to comply with its obligations under international human rights law through the prompt implementation of the WAGD's recommendations, including ensuring the immediate release of the five human rights defenders. Further, we urge the international community to use all available opportunities to advocate for the implementation of the decision in their interactions with the RGC. Court decision on human rights defender Azimjan Askarov expected on January 24 Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 20 January 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Court decision on human rights defender Azimjan Askarov expected on January 24, 20 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885da8d4.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. On January 24,the Chuy Regional Court of Kyrgyzstan is expected to issue a new appeal verdict on Mr. Azimjan Askarov's case. The verdict will be issued after nearly 4 months of retrial in appeal starting from October 2016, following a United Nations (UN)'s request for his release, and for quashing of his conviction. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) calls on the Chuy Regional Court to comply with the UN decision, to acquit and unconditionally release Mr. Askarov. Charged with complicity in the murder of a policeman, inciting violence and mass disorder, Mr. Azimjan Askarov, an ethnic Uzbek, founder of human rights NGO Vozduh (Air), was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010 in a trial that was marred by allegations of torture, intimidation, due process violations and violations of the right to a fair trial. Azimjan Askarov and his lawyers have repeatedly claimed the innocence of the defendant, providing proof that he was not even present at the crime scene. In March 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR) ordered the quashing of Mr. Askarov's conviction, as well as his immediate release. However, Mr. Askarov was not released as requested in the UN decision. During the appeal retrial hearings, six other co-accused admitted having been tortured, ill-treated and threatened with further violence in case they did not testify against the defendant. The failure by the court to neither investigate claims of torture nor the pressure exerted on defence witnesses demonstrated that the retrial fell short of a number of internationally-recognised fair trial standards. The principle of equality of arms was violated: Mr. Askarov was placed in a metal cage during all hearings, his lawyers and supporters were intimidated and slandered throughout the process. "Azimjan Askarov is not a criminal. He is a human rights defender. The verdict of January 24 will be a test case on Kyrgyzstan's willingness to comply with United Nations decisions, andlive up with its human rights commitments ", our organisations said today. Prior to his arrest in June 2010, Mr. Azimjan Askarov was investigating police brutality as well as detention conditions in Kyrgyz prisons. He notably documented violence in Bazar Korgon during ethnic clashes that sparked in June 2010 in southern Kyrgyzstan, resulting in the death of nearly 500 Uzbeks and the displacement of hundreds of thousands. The Observatory calls on the Kyrgyz authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Askarov, and to ensure an enabling environment for human rights defenders in the country. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and OMCT. The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. Armenia: Boosting Female Presence in Army Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 4 January 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Armenia: Boosting Female Presence in Army, 4 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885de444.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. It took some time for Lusine Poghosian's male classmates to adapt to studying alongside her and several other young women at Armenia's main military academy. They were the first-ever group of female cadets admitted to the Vazgen Sarkisian Military University two and a half years ago. "In the beginning, it was very hard for the boys to take us seriously. Now they can't imagine their service without us," Poghosian says with a grin. The 20-year-old future artillery officer, clad in camouflage fatigues, exemplifies a growing number and role of women in Armenia's armed forces, a trend that the recently reshuffled government in Yerevan wants to accelerate. Government officials say the effort is aimed at promoting gender equality, and making more efficient use of the human resources in the small South Caucasus state. In its wide-ranging policy program approved by the Armenian parliament in October, the government pledged to "expand opportunities" for women who serve in the military, or want to join. As newly appointed Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian told lawmakers, it will facilitate their military education and promotion, and strive to ensure their "equal rights" with men. "I think that women can play a pretty serious role in the army, especially in officer positions," Sargsian told Armenian media on November 16. "It would be wrong to underuse their potential." According to Armenian Defense Ministry officials, the military currently employs more than 2,000 women, compared with roughly 1,400 in 2012. The Armenian army is thought to have between 40,000-60,000 soldiers. The vast majority of women holds clerical positions or serves in medical services and communication units. But there seem to be more and more women in combat roles too, notably snipers and sappers. Defense officials decline to discuss specific numbers. Some female soldiers have been allowed to speak to Armenian media outlets in recent years. "The more girls serve in the army, the more disciplined it gets," one female sniper wearing a dark green balaclava told the A1+ TV station in 2013. The Armenian army's chief parachute jump instructor, Capt. Kristina Ilikchian, is a woman. A recent special report by Armenian Public Television showed her and another female officer training mainly male paratroopers. "There have been many cases of guys approaching me right after descending in parachutes and saying [jokingly], 'Had you not been a woman, I would have never jumped,'" Ilikchian told the state-run broadcaster. Women's recruitment was encouraged by Seyran Ohanian, the former defense minister replaced by Sargsian in October. "Women's involvement in the army is growing every year," Ohanian said during an August 2016 visit to a pro-government youth camp. This process gained momentum in June 2013 when the Defense Ministry opened the country's two military academies to women. As a ministry spokesman explained at the time, a larger number of female officers will "make the atmosphere in the armed forces more civilized." The Marshal Khanperiants Aviation Institute, which trains military pilots and air-defense officers, was the first academy to admit five young women in 2013. More than 30 female cadets are currently enrolled in this and the other academy in Yerevan. Perhaps counter-intuitively, many female cadets come from rural areas where patriarchal attitudes towards women are particularly entrenched. Armenia is a socially conservative society where housekeeping and childcare are still regarded by many as women's primary task. The Armenian military challenged traditional gender stereotypes in a 2014 TV ad appealing to women: "Break the stereotypes! Join our ranks!" Mariam Vartanian faced little opposition from her father when she told her family in Voskevaz, a village in central Armenia, that she wanted to pursue a military career. "My mother and my friends were categorically against," Vartanian, now a third-year student at the Vazgen Sarkisian Military University, tells EurasiaNet. "But everyone eventually came to terms with my choice." The 19-year-old rejects the notion that women are unfit for combat duty. "When it comes to military service, everyone speaks of physical burden and difficulties, but mental preparedness is much more important here," she says. Quite a few women from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh participated in the 1991-1994 war with Azerbaijan. At least 18 of them were killed in action, and 115 others had the official status of war veterans as of 2012. It is not clear to what extent women are directly involved in ongoing Armenian military operations along "the line of contact" around Karabakh, and along Armenia's long border with Azerbaijan. Armenia's defense ministry claimed in January 2015 that a female Armenian soldier had killed an Azerbaijani sniper on the line of contact. Defense Minister Sargsian made clear that the Armenian military's efforts to attract more women do not mean that frontline troops will heavily rely on them anytime soon. At the same time, he vowed to put in place "equal promotion opportunities" for female personnel. The existing Defense Ministry regulations place strict limits on the military ranks and positions of female officers serving in non-medical units. They are likely to be revised soon, according to Alik Avetisian, head of the ministry's Center for Human Rights and Integrity Building. "We may decide not to have such a list of positions, and to allow instead every woman to aspire to any military position," Avetisian tells EurasiaNet. "There are many skilled women with good knowledge of various [military] fields. We can't leave them out." Ohanian already approved in February 2016 a ministry "roadmap" that calls for "expanding the circle of positions to be held by women" and "increasing their participation in decision making." Neighboring Georgia also has been trying to increase the role of women in its military, and while women's combat roles there are limited, some have been deployed to Afghanistan where they patrol alongside men. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry has said that about 1,000 women serve in the country's armed forces, but none in a combat role. Neither the Armenian government nor society as a whole is yet prepared for a more radical solution favored by some public figures and inspired by the example of Israel: making military service compulsory for women as well as for men. Tevan Poghosian, an opposition parliamentarian and a father of four young daughters, has repeatedly made a case for drafting women. Poghosian, 44, welcomed the government plans to increase the number of women in uniform, saying that this is good not only for national security, but also broader women's rights in the country. "Hopefully, gender equality will step-by-step take hold in the military," he said. Editor's note: Emil Danielyan is a Yerevan-based journalist. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute Turkmenistan, Iran Gas Dispute Serves as Ill Omen for New Year Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 2 January 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Turkmenistan, Iran Gas Dispute Serves as Ill Omen for New Year, 2 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885dee74.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. In the dying days of 1997, the leaders of Turkmenistan and Iran inaugurated a 200-kilometer natural gas pipeline joining their two countries. They called it the Friendship pipeline. Bilateral relations have been anything but harmonious since then. In recent years, ties seemed stretched to the snapping point, and by late 2016, a cutoff loomed for Turkmen gas supplies to Iran. For a brief moment, Turkmenistan's relationship with Iran appeared poised for a rebound. Negotiations during the waning days of 2016 reportedly produced a deal that, according to Iranian officials, would enable Tehran to continue receiving gas from Turkmenistan for the next five years. Iranian media cited unnamed officials as saying the Turkmen were so desperate to reach a compromise with the visiting Iranian delegation that they persuaded the Iranians to return to the negotiating table from the airport in Ashgabat. After three days of talks, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Hamid Reza Araqi, was quoted by Fars news agency's English-language service as saying that a memorandum of understanding on gas imports and swaps had been drawn up. This news was seized upon by media in Iran as confirmation that gas would continue to flow. Those illusions were abruptly shattered on January 1, when Turkmengaz suspended deliveries all the same. An NIGC spokesman told the Iranian news agency Tasnim on January 2 that attempts by Iranian officials to seek clarification over what happened were proving unsuccessful, as Turkmen officials had gone on their New Year holidays and were not answering the phone. At the heart of this dispute is the roughly $2 billion that Turkmenistan says it is owed by Iran for gas deliveries. That figure began circulating around the middle of December and elicited intemperate reactions from Tehran, which warned that it would refuse to renew the supply contract. Back in 1997, Turkmenistan's leader at the time, Saparmurat Niyazov, announced that he and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami had agreed on a 25-year deal, but this arrangement has been serially revised, much to Tehran's chagrin. NIGC responded to the Turkmengaz cutoff with another angry statement. The statement, translated by the Shana news agency, accuses Turkmenistan of routinely behaving in an un-neighborly manner in its energy dealings. Bitterness lingers over the cold winter of 2007-2008, when NIGC claims Turkmenistan took advantage of Iranian shortages by hiking its gas prices nine-fold, reportedly to $360 per 1,000 cubic meters, up from the previous rate of $40. According to Turkmen officials, Iran accumulated the bulk of its debt during this period. Araqi, the NIGC head, was quoted by Fars as saying that Iran and Turkmenistan's national gas companies had agreed to form a joint commission to study their differences. But such an agreement evidently was not enough to head off a cutoff in gas supplies. The secretive natures of these two countries mean that discerning the details of the dispute is tricky. The NIGC said in its muddled statement that it has already settled its debts for that 2007-2008 period. Azerbaijan's Trend news agency, however, has cited an interview in August with Iran's deputy oil minister for international affairs, Amir Hossein Zamaninia, in which he reportedly acknowledged Tehran's debt to Turkmenistan. Zamaninia estimated that the debt stood somewhere between $600 million and $1.5 billion, emphasizing that the definitive sum was subject to negotiations. State media in Turkmenistan have made no reference whatsoever to the unfolding episode. Tehran has, as it did prior to these abortive negotiations, restated its intent to reduce its dependence on Turkmen gas. Iran produces substantial quantities of its own natural gas, but is reliant on Turkmenistan to supply isolated northeastern regions not connected to the national grid. In 2010, the Friendship pipeline was supplemented with the opening of another pipeline - Dauletabad-Sarakhs-Khangiran - which runs from the Dauletabad gas field in southeastern Turkmenistan to Iran. That second route had an initial annual capacity to carry 6 billion cubic meters, around the same as Friendship. Judging by the available figures, those pipelines may already be more than enough to meet Iranian requirements. The Trend news agency report cited above last month noted that in the year-long period running up to March 2016 (which marked the close of the year under the Persian calendar), Iran imported 9 billion cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan, a two-fold increase on the year before. But, significantly, import volumes have been dropping since that time. Trend this week cited Araqi as saying that while Turkmenistan was exporting 25 million cubic meters of gas daily to Iran in 2015, the amount had dropped to 12 million cubic meters per day in recent months. While Iran looks to join up its internal network, the NIGC has boldly declared its intent to weather the short-term crisis. "Our colleagues in the petroleum industry and the NIGC have made arrangements to prevent any gas cuts in the household sector so that with the help of God and people's cooperation, this cold will be passed behind with minimum problems," the company said this week. "Lack of supply in the cold could be met by conservation of gas in power plants, industries and the household sector," NIGC said. The AFP news agency cited an Iranian oil ministry official as saying that Iran now produces 700 million cubic meters of gas daily and that imports from Turkmenistan account for just 1.5 percent of its domestic needs. Interruptions in supplies from Turkmenistan to Iran have occurred several times before, usually only for brief periods. In November 2012, Turkmengaz cut Iran off following what it claimed was an Iranian request to do so - supposedly for maintenance operations. That explanation was contradicted at the time by Iran's oil minister, who said that the impasse had been provoked by a pricing dispute. By demanding prompt repayment of a massive claimed debt, Turkmenistan is playing a high-stakes game. News trickling out of the country makes it clear that Ashgabat is struggling to cope with a deepening economic crisis. Thus, the government's apparent determination to wring money out of Iran may be motivated as much by desperate need as it is by any contractual grievance. With Iran now cut off, Turkmenistan seems to be in a vulnerable position. It is now a one-customer gas supplier - a situation at odds with Ashgabat's long-stated objective of diversifying its export markets. To complicate matters, Turkmenistan's sole customer is China, a country with resources and strategic heft that allows it to drive hard bargains. While the amount China pays for its gas from Ashgabat is not known for certain, media reports suggest the sum may be very small indeed. There is a broader international background to this story. Back in 1997, the largely Iranian-financed Friendship route was hailed by Niyazov as a breakthrough project that would reduce Ashgabat's dependence on exports to Russia. While Turkmenistan has achieved that goal, it has merely replaced Russia with China as the major purchaser of Ashgabat's gas, which is virtually the sole source of revenue for the government. Meanwhile, Turkmen and Iranian interests seem to be diverging. At the time the 200-kilometer Friendship pipeline began pumping gas, Turkmenistan and Iran were speaking enthusiastically about teaming up with Turkey to commission a project design from Royal Dutch Shell for a route that would carry their gas exports all the way to Western Europe. Commercial imperatives, and Tehran's steady emergence from international isolation, likely diminishes any incentive for Iran to partner with Turkmenistan, as Annette Bohr noted in a report for Chatham House in 2016. "Iran has no real interest in re-exporting Turkmen gas, given its own huge reserves located in its southern regions. Consequently, in the long term, Turkmenistan is more likely to view Iran as a competitor for the same gas markets than as a trade facilitator," Bohr wrote. Tehran's export ambitions are huge. NIGC's director for international affairs, Azizollah Ramezani, declared in July that Iran plans to up its annual gas export capacity to 80 billion cubic meters by 2021. Of that, up to 30 billion cubic meters could be earmarked for Europe, Ramezani said. Such figures would mark a vertiginous jump from the current export level. And Iran also has designs on selling its gas to Asian markets, such as India. That would greatly undermine Turkmenistan, which is pinning its hopes of creating a new market on the trans-Afghan TAPI pipeline, which would run up to the border of India and Pakistan. Proposals to build an Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline have also faltered across the years, but the fact that Iran's pipeline would not cross Afghanistan seems to give it a natural advantage. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute Tajikistan: Asylum Seekers Stranded in Limbo on Polish Border Publisher EurasiaNet Author Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska Publication Date 17 January 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Tajikistan: Asylum Seekers Stranded in Limbo on Polish Border, 17 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885e0794.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. On the 8.28 a.m. train to Terespol, a Polish town at the border with Belarus, Ali watches the barely changing landscape with indifference. This might be the twentieth time he has taken this train with his wife and three kids. Or maybe the twenty-first, he cannot quite remember. Ali, a well-built young man with dark eyes and a doleful smile, is a member of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT). He is also one of countless Tajiks forced to flee his homeland due to a wave of political repression, including a ban of the IRPT in September 2015. Escape from Tajikistan has taken people like Ali through Belarus and up to the edge of the European Union, where they have found the door slammed in their face. The unwritten rule for those without visas and hoping to claim asylum in Poland is to travel in the crowded final sleeper carriage. Some of the passengers chat in the dark, others are frozen, anxiously waiting. Maybe this will be the time they are allowed into Poland. Ali's children play and misbehave. They have taken this route so often it has almost become a daily routine. Ali and his family spend their days in Brest, a Belarusian city whose outskirts push up against the western Polish border. The kids do not play outside, nor do they go out much at all. For reasons of security, they live, play, sleep and eat in a hotel room rented out by their parents. According to data provided by Poland's Office for Foreigners, a growing number of Tajik nationals began claiming asylum toward the end of 2015, as the crackdown back home was picking up steam. Most chose the border crossing at Terespol, as it is easily accessed by train from Moscow or Minsk. The number of claims peaked last May, when 129 individuals applied for international protection - compared with 18 the same month a year earlier. In recent months, the number has been declining. Only four asylum applications were registered in November. At the same time, according to data provided by the Polish Border Guard, between January and October 2016, 5,503 Tajik nationals were denied entry into Poland, a surge from 1,896 over the same period in 2015. The figure covering Russian nationals, mostly of Chechen origin, is even greater, standing at more than 68,000 in 2016. Since the summer of 2016, Poland's border with Belarus has been experiencing its own small-scale migration crisis. And while the right to seek refuge is a universal right provided under EU and Polish law, the Polish border agency began a large-scale refusal of entry for asylum seekers, claiming that they tried to enter the country without a valid visa, which is not required when applying for refugee status. Marta Szczepanik, an immigration expert with the Warsaw-based Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, said the number of people being turned away at the Polish border in 2016 reached unprecedented levels. Human Constanta, a Belarusian human rights organization that assists would-be asylum seekers in Brest, has said that during the peak months of drama in August and September, up to 3,000 people were living in the city hoping to be allowed into Poland. As Russian citizens, Chechen migrants have been able to rent private accommodation and stay in Belarus without registration for up to 90 days. The situation for those from Tajikistan is more complicated. Tajiks are forced to stay in overpriced hotels that can officially register their stay in Belarus. After 90 days, they are no longer allowed to remain in the country. Tajiks can, in special circumstances, apply for a temporary residence in Belarus for up to one year, but few either know about the loophole or choose to avail themselves of it. In December, Ali and his family were coming to the end of their allowed period. With one day left before their stay in Belarus legally expired, they were again turned back at the border with Poland, and denied the right to claim asylum. The reasons why migrants are not allowed to claim asylum in Poland are unclear. According to Dariusz Sienicki, a spokesperson for the Border Guard, there were no instances of people being refused the opportunity to apply for refugee status. But human rights groups working with the migrants, as well as the asylum seekers themselves, contend otherwise. Failure is sometimes the outcome of procedural errors. According to the Terespol monitoring mission of the office of the Polish Ombudsmen for Human Rights, which is the only body allowed to observe the interview process at the border, the majority of migrants fail to directly request asylum in conversations with the border guards. A number of those who do ask are denied entry to Poland anyhow. This constitutes a clear violation of international refugee law and the right to asylum, especially since Polish law dictates that the Office for Foreigners, and not the Border Guard, is responsible for handling asylum applications. The Border Guard, therefore, is making decisions outside its purview, while the Polish Office for Foreigners has no representatives at the border. Szczepanik said denying that a migrant has expressed his or her will to claim asylum has become a common explanation used by authorities. Another problem, Szczepanik added, is methodological. "The questions asked by the border guards are often put in such a way to prove the preponderance of economic factors behind migration, while the part of the story suggesting persecution is usually not pursued," she said. As Anna Cieslewska, a Central Asia expert from the Jagiellonian University, explained, the persecution in Tajikistan of the IRPT and its supporters dates back several years, to around 2010, when the government sought to set strict rules on religious life under the pretext of combating Islamic extremism. Repression reached a new level of intensity in September 2015, after an alleged coup attempt by a disaffected deputy defense minister was linked to the party. The Polish government's reluctance to acknowledge this downturn has exasperated rights advocates. Tajikistan's human rights crackdown "requires the European Union, including Poland, to provide protection for those who have been persecuted on political grounds," Steve Swerdlow, Human Rights Watch's Central Asia researcher, told EurasiaNet.org. "It also requires that the right to asylum be protected and implemented consistent with Warsaw's international obligations, rather than the blatant attempt to do an end-run around refugee law." There are multiple examples of Tajik authorities taking their hunt of the opposition beyond their own borders. Maksud Ibragimov, a young Russia-based opposition activist, was stabbed in Moscow in late 2014, and weeks later forcibly deported to Tajikistan, where he was charged with extremism and imprisoned for 17 years. In March 2015, the leader of the anti-government Group 24, Umarali Quvvatov, was assassinated in Istanbul after Turkish authorities refused his extradition to Tajikistan. Rights activists suspect Quvvatov's killing was the handiwork of people working at the Tajik government's behest. Other times, the government in Dushanbe has used international extradition treaties to repatriate critics. In June 2015, Polish authorities denied Shabnam Khudoydodova, who came to the attention of Tajik authorities for social media postings critical of the government, entry into Poland. Upon her return to Brest, Khudoydodova was stopped by Belarusian police and detained on terrorism charges. The Tajik government had placed her name on an Interpol wanted list, and requested her extradition. Khudoydodova claims that after her arrest she was visited in her cell by Tajik special services officers and beaten. It took nine months of interventions from international human rights groups and the United States Embassy in Belarus to secure Khudoydodova's release and passage into Poland, where she is now awaiting a decision on her asylum application. Cieslewska said there are a few possible factors behind Poland's hardline position on Tajik and other asylum seekers. One is a perception that large numbers of economic migrants have sought to ride the coattails of people subject to political repression. Economic decline in Russia has left its toll on conditions all across the former Soviet Union, including in Tajikistan. The economic fallout is compelling many would-be labor migrants to look further afield for places to live and work. Also, Cieslewska noted that in 2015 around 90 percent of the 500 or so applications for asylum submitted by citizens of Tajikistan in Poland were withdrawn, most likely because the applicants moved onward to other western European countries, where salaries are higher and Tajik communities are more vibrant. Given that Berlin hosts the headquarters of the IRPT, the majority of political dissidents aspire to move to Germany. The stricter admission policy adopted by the Polish authorities could be a response to pressure from within the EU, in particular from Germany, which is struggling to cope with its own massive influx of refugees. Many view Poland as merely a transit point on their way to other destinations, namely Germany. While experts have speculated on the possibility of behind-the-scenes diplomatic wrangling, there is no hard evidence to prove such a claim. According to the data provided by Poland's Office for Foreigners, in 2016, 13 Tajik nationals were granted refugee status or another form of international protection in Poland. Another 633 applications were discontinued, most of them due to the absence of the applicant. Six people were sent back to Tajikistan. This is clearly bad news for Ali and fellow dissidents trying to reach Poland. While the number of families remaining in Brest is slowly declining, and it seems that the worst crisis is over, those escaping Tajikistan in search of international protection remain bereft of escape routes. Editor's note: Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska is a freelance journalist covering the post-Soviet space. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute Uzbekistan: Female Day Laborers Open Window on Unemployment Problem Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 11 January 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Uzbekistan: Female Day Laborers Open Window on Unemployment Problem, 11 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885e0fb4.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. Early every day, groups of women dressed in vividly colored overcoats muster in two locations in Kokand, a city in Uzbekistan's Ferghana Valley. Throughout the morning, they are picked up, either alone or in small groups, by people looking for extra hands to do some construction work or farming. The money they get for their efforts is a precious lifeline in a region where unemployment is pervasive. Mardikor is a composite Persian word that stands for a day laborer. Mardikors are traditionally a strictly male class, but with the economy in an unremitting funk, women are also resorting to this day-laboring way of life. Nafisa is 40 years old and has only a basic education. Her husband scrapes together some occasional work in the city's central market, but with four children to feed, his income does not meet all their needs. "Usually they hire us for farming work - digging and weeding plots and orchards, gathering fruit on private plots or farms, cleaning manure from cattle sheds. The standard fee is [around $5] for a day's work," Nafisa told EurasiaNet.org. The surnames of the women interviewed by EurasiaNet.org have been withheld at their request. As a rule of thumb, a daily fee is typically equivalent to what it would cost to buy one kilogram of beef. Women of all ages have joined the ranks of the mardikors. Girls straight out of school, women with young children, and the elderly. Hilola, 17, graduated from secondary school last year and is now studying in a pedagogical institute to become a teacher. "I need clothes, copybooks and textbooks. My parents cannot afford to buy me these things as apart from me there are also another four children in the family. Recently, my brother got married and all the money was spent on his wedding. Now dad has gone off again to work in Russia," Hilola told EurasiaNet.org. Hilola said she can perform most kinds of farm work - milking cows, sweeping the manure, shucking corn. She said she needed to make about 200,000 sum ($35) to cover the cost of buying study materials. Mahzuna, a teacher at a school in Kokand, said she hired two middle-aged women and three students from a local institute over the summer to help demolish an old kitchen in her courtyard. During the day, the women used hammers and crowbars to tear down the walls of the building, dismantling the structure brick by brick. The women were given two square meals and paid around $18 each for their trouble, Mahzuna said. "We have female mardikors in every neighborhood. They are trusted more than male mardikors. Women are more conscientious about doing the work, and they will agree to do it for less money," Mahzuna said. "All the money they make is taken back home. The men are liable to drink it away, or spend it on their own needs." With time, people in the Ferghana Valley have become used to the idea of women entering what are traditionally considered male spheres. If at the start of the last decade, muster points for female mardikors existed only in the larger cities - such as Kokand, Namangan and Andijan - now you can see them even in villages. Mardikor bazaars, as the laborer muster points are known, are a Ferghana Valley phenomenon and remain alien to southern and western regions of Uzbekistan. The very word mardikor embodied a somewhat archaic Uzbek concept that had largely fallen out of use by the 1940s - a time when the Soviet government pursued the effective abolition of unemployment. The word made a comeback - as did the concept itself - toward the latter part of the Soviet era and has occupied an ever-growing role ever since. "If they start withholding our salaries at work, or my husband loses his job, then we too will become mardikors," Mahzuna said. The social status of mardikors is ambivalent. While urbanites are inclined to look down on people forced to do casual work, they acknowledge that the cheap labor the mardikors carry out is indispensable. City authorities also regularly draw on this pool of labor to perform hasty cosmetic work before major public events. As they are afforded no legal protection, mardikors are easy targets for the police, who routinely harass them for bribes. By and large, the official response to mardikors is to pretend they are not there. Authorities are determined to disguise the scale of the unemployment problem. According to the State Statistics Committee, in the period from January to June last year, unemployment in Uzbekistan was around 5.2 percent of the economically active population. In numerical terms that would amount to around 725,000 people. But state statistics only reflect those people who formally go through the official labor exchange, which is very far from everybody. No unemployment benefits are in place for those without jobs. Accurate data concerning joblessness in general, and among women in particular, in Uzbekistan is impossible since this information is actively hidden by the state. A way to get an anecdotal sense of the situation is by trawling the hangout areas of mardikors in the city markets. The evidence is not encouraging. Writer and journalist Marfua Tohtahadzhaeva learned about female unemployment at first hand while doing research into the growing mardikor phenomenon. Tohtahadzhaeva said that one problem is that since the authorities are hiding the scale of the shortage of employment, there is no immediate incentive to create government initiatives to get more women into work. That leaves women particularly vulnerable to all manner of abuse. "The female mardikor markets are the reverse side of the real economy in this country. There are many problems. Women do not have their legal rights protected, and there is no way of keeping tabs on the employers. Women do men's work and sometimes they incur injuries or get maimed. And they are often singled out for sexual abuse," Tohtahadzhaeva told EurasiaNet.org. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute Azerbaijan: Using Soviet Methods to Revive Cotton Industry Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 13 January 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Azerbaijan: Using Soviet Methods to Revive Cotton Industry, 13 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885e1824.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. In September, at the beginning of the cotton harvesting season, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev convened a conference on cotton growing. At the meeting, held in the city of Sabirabad, in the country's agricultural heartland, he fondly recalled memories of the 1970s and 1980s, when he would accompany his father, Heydar Aliyev - then the first secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan - to Sabirabad to meet with cotton growers in the fields. Azerbaijan, Aliyev noted, was at the time producing a million tons of cotton per year, compared with a mere 35,000 tons in 2015. "Unfortunately, cotton-growing in Azerbaijan is experiencing a downturn these days," Aliyev told the assembled experts. But under a new state plan to boost the industry, he promised, "we will return cotton growing its former glory." This pursuit of glory comes at a hidden cost: according to farmers, workers, and independent experts, students and state employees are forced into the fields to pick cotton to fulfill production quotas. And the farmers are paid well under market value by firms that have a state monopoly. The system is reminiscent of the Soviet planned economy, which Aliyev mentioned in his speech as a historical relic. It is also a system still utilized in Uzbekistan to this day. "In those years [the 1970s and 80s], we engaged students in the harvesting of cotton, which is no longer necessary today, because we have sufficient manpower," Aliyev said. Many others, though, say that Baku is in fact bringing back that Soviet system. This harvest season, "every government institution was given a quota to fulfill and because of this order, we saw teachers, students, doctors and government employees in the field," said Vahid Maharramov, an expert on Azerbaijani agriculture at the Economic Research Center, a Baku think tank, in an interview with EurasiaNet.org. "They received an order from above and they had to implement it." Information on this forced labor is hard to come by in Azerbaijan's restrictive media environment, which is especially forbidding outside the capital. But several reports have surfaced this harvest season. In the city of Goychay, for example, one hospital sent all its staff to work picking cotton, according to a report for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Azeri service. The head of the local executive committee, Ikram Valiyev, acknowledged that doctors and other hospital employees were working in the fields, but said that it was voluntary. "The whole country has been informed. Whoever wants to can go work after work hours, on Sundays, [and] bring us the cotton they collect, and get paid for it," Valiyev said. But one Goychay resident told RFE/RL that the labor was not voluntary: "They force everyone into cars when people show up at work in the morning and send them to the fields. They only tell us it's the order of the director of the hospital," the resident said. It is not clear whether the practice started before this year, or how many people were involved, but Javad Javadov, an independent labor law expert, told EurasiaNet.org he estimated that it was "in the thousands" in the most recent harvest season. Another controversial element of the cotton-farming push is that Azerbaijani farmers are forced to sell their goods at prices well below market value. Aliyev, in his Sabirabad speech, noted that farmers are now paid 50 gapiks per kilogram of cotton (about $0.28), "a very serious increase" over the previous price of 40 gapiks, thanks to an additional government subsidy. Aliyev said that further price increases were being considered, but only to a point. "The focus should be on people's income here. At the same time, we need to ensure the economic viability of the business," Aliyev said. But the 50 gapik price is still well below market rates. In Iran, farmers are paid three times as much, 1.5 Azerbaijani manats, and in Turkey, 90 gapiks, Maharramov said. In international markets, cotton trades for about $1.60 per kilo, or 2.85 manats. Namiq Pashayev, a farmer from Azerbaijan's Imishli region, said in an interview with EurasiaNet.org that he does not mind the arduous labor of cotton collection. But he complained that low prices allow him to barely make ends meet. "They are the ones who set the price. When we complain, they threaten us, telling us they might lower it even further," Pashayev said. Azerbaijan's cotton industry is dominated by two companies, CTC-Agro and MKT Istehsalat Kommersiya. Little is publicly known about these companies, but analysts believe they are somehow connected with government officials. "The Ministry of Agriculture, as well as Ministry for Economic Development, have financial interests in this business. They are not interested in farmers, but in making profits," Maharramov said. An official at the Ministry of Agriculture acknowledged that state employees and students may be picking cotton, but denied that the ministry had anything to do with it. "It is possible, but as the Ministry of Agriculture, we do not intervene in these things," Imran Cumshudov, the ministry's Director of Crops Production, told EurasiaNet.org. Company representatives did not respond to requests for comment. "The government subsidy of 10 gapiks makes very little difference for a farmer, and does not solve any of the problems," Maharramov said. "Authorities need to take stronger steps, such as encouraging the cotton companies to share some of the revenues received from their exports with the farmers." The new interest in cotton growing is a result of the collapse in world oil prices, which has forced Baku to try to quickly diversify its largely hydrocarbon-based economy. The cotton industry was largely neglected during Azerbaijan's oil-and-gas boom in the early 2000s; the 35,000 tons produced last year is down from annual figures of 130,000-150,000 tons in the mid-2000s. "The government became lazy. Rather than investing in industry, it opted for easy solutions, relying on energy revenues. If they [officials] had focused on serious reforms [in the cotton industry] at the time, we wouldn't be facing these problems now," said Natig Jafarli, an independent economist, in an interview with EurasiaNet. Aliyev, in his September speech, said that the country's goal for 2016 was to harvest 100,000 tons of cotton. The Ministry of Agriculture has reported that, as of December 12, the total collected stood at 84,494 tons. "I believe that next year cotton acreage should be even greater, which will also increase the number of people employed," Aliyev said. "Hundreds of thousands of people will be attracted to this work in cotton-growing districts." Editor's note: Arzu Geybullayeva is a freelance writer. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute Some 45,000 people have fled uncertainty in Gambia as tension mounts Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Author Helene Caux Publication Date 20 January 2017 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Some 45,000 people have fled uncertainty in Gambia as tension mounts, 20 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885e2424.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Thousands of people have fled to Senegal from The Gambia, where last-minute talks are taking place to persuade the incumbent President to leave office following an election defeat. According to Senegalese authorities, 45,000 people have crossed the border between the two West African countries, and more people may continue to flee as the situation remains tense. "Our fear is, if this situation is not resolved soon, more people may have to leave their homes trying to seek safety," said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch in an interview after a press briefing in Geneva today. Mediators are holding talks in The Gambian capital Banjul to persuade Yahya Jammeh to step down after the internationally recognised President Adama Barrow was sworn in during an inauguration ceremony at the Gambian embassy in Dakar on Thursday. Latest figures from the government of Senegal show 75 per cent of the people crossing the border from The Gambia to Senegal are women and children, who are finding shelter with family members, host families or in hotels. The village of Dienouncounda, near the Selety border crossing point, is hosting 333 persons who arrived from The Gambia within the past 10 days. The village normally has 500 inhabitants. "I am hosting 21 persons in my home," said Djibril Coly, 68, who has eight children. "I give them food of course, we eat rice all together, but we won't have enough soon. A 50 kilo bag of rice costs about 16,000 CFA ($26), and we manage to eat for three days all of us on that bag. If we would eat properly, we would eat it in two days but we limit ourselves a bit to make it last. So more food is the main concern for us." The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, with other humanitarian actors has deployed assessment teams to Senegal's key border areas with the Gambia and is working closely with the local authorities to assess the needs of people who have arrived in Senegal. In Dakar, UNHCR is constantly in contact with the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of coordinating the humanitarian response and has developed plans to distribute food and relief items to up to 100,000 people. As part of the assistance programme, 40 tons of food arrived in the Ziguinchor region yesterday and distribution to recent arrivals and host families should start in the next days. People have arrived in Senegal's Fatick, Kaolack and Kaffrine regions, to the North of the Gambia, as well as in the Ziguinchor, Sedhiou and Kolda regions at the southern Gambian border with Senegal. Arrivals in Senegal have been a mix of Gambians, Senegalese, bi-nationals, as well as Ghanaians, Liberians, Lebanese, Guineans, and Mauritanians among other foreigners. In addition, at least 800 people have crossed into Guinea-Bissau. The Gambia itself, hosts some 8,000 refugees, most of whom are Senegalese. Investigate potential extrajudicial execution of North Sinai men: Six of the men were in police custody at the time of their killing Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 23 January 2017 Reference MDE 12/5534/2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Investigate potential extrajudicial execution of North Sinai men: Six of the men were in police custody at the time of their killing, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5885fb7f4.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 Egyptian judicial authorities must conduct an impartial, independent and thorough investigation into the killing of 10 men by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) on 13 January in al-Arish in the North Sinai governorate and bring those responsible to justice, Amnesty International said today. Six of the 10 men were in police custody at the time of their killing, having been held incommunicado for up to three months. The families only learnt of their relatives' death from the MOI's announcement. They told Amnesty International of their shock at the news given the assurances they had received from the al-Arish security officials that their sons will be released in a matter of days. Anger escalated among the residents of al-Arish after the MOI announcement and the city saw hundreds protesting against the false allegations of the MOI and calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. They also called on the government to immediately release all detainees held under conditions of enforced disappearance or outside judicial oversight. On 13 January 2017, the Ministry of interior announced on its official Facebook page that its forces had raided a house on the same day in al-Arish where 10 members of the armed group Ansar Bait alMaqdes, a.k.a. "Sinai Province" were hiding. The MOI added that the 10 men fired at the security forces as they tried to raid the house and the MOI forces then responded with live ammunition killing all 10 men. In the same statement, the MOI listed six names, stating that the other four men were unidentified and that all men participated in operations targeting the security forces in which dozens of soldiers and police had been killed. Amnesty International spoke to five relatives of the men as well as more than eight Sinai- based activists including lawyers, political activists, and also with neighbours of some of the victims who had witnessed the arrests. They all confirmed that six of the men had been in the custody of the National Security Agency (NSA) of the Ministry of Interior in al-Arish for up to three months. They had been arrested from their homes or from the streets between October and November 2016. The six men had been detained incommunicado and were not allowed to see their families or given access to a lawyer or referred to a prosecutor for questioning. Security officials in al-Arish had confirmed to the relatives that the six men were in the custody of the NSA in al-Arish but did not allow them to see or visit them. Two of the families told Amnesty International that following their relatives' arrest in October they had met with the security officials in al-Arish security directorate who told them that their sons were in the custody of the National Security Agency, and that they had been arrested on suspicion grounds of their involvement in criminal or terrorism-related activities and that they would be "released in a couple of days". Yet the men were never released. Three of the families sent postal telegrams to the Minister of Interior, Public Prosecution office, and the Minister of Justice informing them about the arrest of their relatives and that they had not been brought to the prosecutor office for questioning. The families also added that they had raised their relatives' case with the National Council for Human Rights in the hope that they could obtain a presidential pardon but they received no response to their postal telegrams. Accounts from the families of the victims One of the 10 men is Ahmed Youssef aged 22 years old who worked as a driver. His uncle told Amnesty International that Ahmed Youssef was arrested on 17 October 2016 after security forces from the Ministry of Interior raided his home in al-Arish. He had married just two months at the time of his arrest and his wife was pregnant. When the security forces raided his home, they also beat his wife, including by pushing her to the ground, and she suffered a miscarriage. Following his arrest, his family went to the National Security Agency building in al-Arish where a security official informed them that Ahmed Youssef was in their custody and would be released in a couple of days. They did not allow the family members to see him. On 20 October 2016, Ahmed Youssef's wife sent postal telegrams to the Minister of Interior, the Public Prosecutor and the Minister of Justice stating that her husband had been arrested and, three days later, had yet to be brought before a prosecutor. She also sent a postal telegram on the same date to the National Council for Human Rights. The second man, Abd el-Aty Ali Abd el-Aty, was 23 years old and a student at Al Azhar university, was arrested on 8 October on al-Qahera street in al-Arish, according to his father. He had been driving a pick-up truck and had stopped to help a car that was stuck in the road. Minutes later, armed security forces dressed in black and covering their faces arrested him and the driver of the other car and took them to the National Security Agency premises in al-Arish. The family of Abd el-Aty only learnt of his arrest a couple of days later when they found his pick-up truck parked in the grounds of the Second al-Arish police station. His mother later met with the head of al-Arish security directorate who informed her that her son had been arrested on "suspicion" grounds and that he would be released soon. His family sent postal telegrams on 5 November to the Presidency, the Minister of Interior, the Public Prosecutor and the Minister of Justice but they never received a response. They also sent telegrams to the National Council for Human Rights asking for Abd el-Aty to be pardoned by the president through the Pardons Committee. Another close relative told Amnesty International that Abd el-Aty had a paralyzed left arm and had applied to the government recruitment scheme for people with disabilities. The uncle of the third man, Mohamed Ibrahim, aged 22 years, told Amnesty International that his nephew had been arrested on 23 November 2016 from his home at 2:00am. He stated that heavily armed and masked security forces from the Ministry of Interior had arrived in Humvees armoured vehicles, breaking into the family home of Mohamed and arrested him, his younger brother Ayman and his father. The security forces did not inform their family where they were taking them to or why. The security forces then put the father and brother in one Humvee vehicle and Mohamed Ibrahim in another and took them to unknown locations. The family went to the National Security Agency building in al-Arish who denied that the three men were in their custody. The family then headed to the Third al-Arish police station where police told them that the three men were in the custody of the National Security Agency and would be released soon. The next day, police released the father and brother from the Second al-Arish police station. They did not know the whereabouts of Mohamed since the time of their arrest as he was not held in the Second al-Arish police station with them. The fourth man was Mansour Gamee, aged 27 years old, who worked as a driver. According to a close relative, security officials arrested Mansour Gamee from his home in Karam abu Negela neighborhood in al-Arish in October 2016 and took him to unknown location. The family learned later through informal sources that he was in the custody of the National Security Agency. His family was not able to visit him until they saw the statement by the Ministry of Interior announcing his death. The fifth man, Belal Hemdan al-Naggar was a 19-year old student. According to a close relative, he had been arrested in October 2016 by the Ministry of Interior from his home in al-Arish and that was the last his family heard of him until they saw the Ministry of Interior statement. The sixth man Ahmed Saad al-Mahdy Mohamed el-Sherbeeny was a 17-year-old student and according to a local Sinai group documenting cases of arbitrary detention, he was arrested in November from his home in al-Masaeed neighborhood in al-Arish by the Ministry of Interior. Escalating steps from families and residents of al-Arish Anger amongst the residents of al-Arish escalated after the killing of the 10 men and in a rare public meeting of protest hundreds of residents including the families of the victims gathered on 14 January 2017 in the house of al-Ayoub, the family home of two of the victims. In this meeting, the families and residents agreed to a list of demands to the government and to members of the parliament representing al-Arish district. The demands include: 1. Calling for an investigation into the killing of the 10 men and for those responsible to be brought to justice. 2. Facilitation of the procedures for the families to receive the bodies of the victims and bury them without harassment and intimidation from the authorities. 3. Immediate release of all detainees held under conditions of enforced disappearance or arbitrarily detained and held incommunicado without judicial oversight. This condition was specifically highlighted as the "residents of al-Arish do not trust the MOI to follow the legal channels after this incident". They also called upon the al-Arish members of parliament to resign and stated that they would turn to peaceful civil disobedience if their demands are not met. The participants in the meeting formed a committee to follow up the implementation of these demands. The committee then announced that they will hold daily meetings in the house of al-Ayoub to follow up the implementation of these demands and put pressure on the authorities. In response to these demands member of parliament for al-Arish district Dr. Hossam el-Refaiy communicated with tribal leaders and condemned the incident and showed his solidarity with the families and residents of al-Arish. According to Ashraf Hefny, a member of the follow-up committee, Dr. al-Refaiy also informed them that he will raise the issue in the parliament, including the demands of the families and residents, and if his efforts did not lead to the implementation of these demands he will resign in response to the demands of the people. The MP on 16 January called on the speaker of parliament and other members of parliament to establish a fact-finding committee to investigate the killing of the 10 men. However, the Speaker declined to form such a committee and stated that the "security forces are responsible for ensuring the safety of our citizens and cannot commit such acts". So far the bodies of five of the six men were received by their families from al-Ismalia morgue. Belal Hemdan's family received his body on 15 January and buried him the same day in a funeral that was attended by hundreds of people. On 16 January, the bodies of Ahmed Youssef and Abd el-Aty Ali were received and buried on the same day in one funeral that saw hundreds of residents in al-Arish. Also, the bodie of Mansour Gamee was received by him family on 17 January and buried on the same day while the body of Mohamed Ibrahim was buried on 19 January. The body of Ahmed Saad al-Mahdy is still in the Ismalia morgue to be received by his family in the next few days. An autopsy has been conducted on the bodies and the reason for death is specified as "gunshots". One witness who attended the washing of the body of Abd el-Aty Ali ahead of the burial informed Amnesty International that the body bore bruises and a bullet wound. Background information on the situation in North Sinai Since the ousting of Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 and the violent dispersal of the two sit-ins of his supporters in Cairo on 14 August 2013, armed attacks against the security forces have been on the rise across the country and particularly in North Sinai. Scores of ordinary residents in North Sinai have been either killed or injured as a result of the armed attacks from the military or the armed groups. The armed group Ansar Bait al-Maqdes, which changed its name to Wilayet Sina (Sinai Province) when it declared allegiance to the armed groups calling itself Islamic State (IS), has claimed responsibility for many attacks against the security forces, members of the judiciary and even ordinary residents and tourists. The group has claimed responsibility for the killing of more than 220 passengers and crew of a Russian airliner blown up over North Sinai Governorate in October 2015 and the shooting to death of three judges in al-Arish in May 2015. According to officials, more than 500 members of the security forces were killed by armed groups in North Sinai since July 2013. The Egyptian government has used these security threats as a pretext to clampdown on human rights. Thousands of families had their homes demolished and forcibly evicted without being provided alternative accommodation or housing. Further, reportedly hundreds more are held under conditions of enforced disappearance or arbitrarily detained outside of judicial oversight. The government's heavy-handed security measures have also taken a heavy toll on the residents of al-Arish and other cities and villages in North Sinai who have suffered economically as a result of the curfews imposed in many areas, shortages of food and medical supplies as well as long-standing power and water cuts and insufficient communications infrastructures. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Turkmenistan: Two prisoner of conscience deaths from torture? Publisher Forum 18 Author Felix Corley Publication Date 23 January 2017 Cite as Forum 18, Turkmenistan: Two prisoner of conscience deaths from torture?, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/588601d94.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. Two Muslims jailed for attending meetings in Turkmenabad died in top-security Ovadan-Depe prison. At least one had been beaten there. Relatives were ordered not to reveal the state of their bodies, but one weighed only 25 kilogrammes. Interior Ministry officials refused to say if their deaths were investigated. At least two Muslim prisoners of conscience died in Turkmenistan's top security Ovadan-Depe prison in the second half of 2016, the exile Alternative Turkmenistan News noted on 10 January. Lukman Yaylanov died in summer 2016, possibly as a result of torture, and Narkuly Baltayev several months later. Both men were in their thirties. The two were part of a large group of Sunni Muslims from the eastern Lebap Region imprisoned in 2013 to punish them for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. Although the two men's bodies were handed over to their families for burial, relatives had to sign a document banning them from revealing what they saw, Alternative Turkmenistan News added. However, Baltayev's body showed that at death he weighed no more than 25 kilogrammes (55 pounds). In his lifetime he had been a large man. Forum 18 has been unable to establish whether Yaylanov and Baltayev died of illness, starvation, neglect or torture. Alternative Turkmenistan News cites a former fellow prisoner who said he heard Yaylanov being tortured in Ovadan-Depe Prison (see below). An official of the Penal Correction Department at the Interior Ministry in the capital Ashgabad [Ashgabat] - which is supposed to investigate any prison deaths - refused to give Forum 18 any information (see below). Long prison terms The two deceased prisoners of conscience were members of an informal Sunni Muslim study group led by Bahram Saparov, a resident of Turkmenabad [Turkmenabat] in Lebap Region. Saparov and 19 others - including Yaylanov - were arrested in March 2013 and sentenced to long prison terms in May 2013 (see full list below). Baltayev was among other members of the group sentenced in separate trials later (see below). In a separate case in Turkmenabad, a Muslim committed suicide in December 2016 after weeks of daily police interrogation where he was pressured to identify other "Wahhabis" (a term used for Muslims the authorities do not like) (see below). Like members of all religious communities in Turkmenistan, Muslims face severe government restrictions on their exercise of freedom of religion or belief. The Sunni Muftiate (Muslim Spiritual Administration) is under tight government control. The government names the Chief Mufti. The Muftiate appoints all imams down to the district level, but the MSS secret police has the decisive input. Independent Muslim communities outside Muftiate control are banned (see Forum 18's Turkmenistan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244). Did Interior Ministry investigate prison deaths? Another Muslim reportedly imprisoned for exercising freedom of religion or belief died in labour camp near Turkmenabad in 2013. Atageldi aga was imam of an unregistered Sunni Muslim mosque in the Khitrovka district of Ashgabad until his 2008 arrest (see F18News 26 September 2016 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2218). Other prisoners of conscience have survived torture, including Jehovah's Witness Mansur Masharipov, tortured by police in the northern city of Dashoguz (see Forum 18's Turkmenistan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244). The Turkmen government claimed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on 25 October 2016: "In 2015 to 2016, no cases were known to Turkmenistan's Interior Ministry of harsh treatment on the part of officials towards sentenced people" (CCPR/C/TKM/Q/2/Add.1). Similarly, the Turkmen government had earlier denied that anyone is tortured while in detention in its written report submitted to the United Nations Committee Against Torture on 16 July 2015 (CAT/C/TKM/2). "No cases of death resulting from torture during custody have been recorded in the country," it added. "The Penal Correction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs investigates all cases of death in any detention facility," the government claimed in its July 2015 submission. "Records of all cases of death during detention are kept in every prison and in the above department. There is no record of death due to torture or brutal treatment in a detention facility." An official of the Penal Correction Department at the Interior Ministry - who would not give his name - refused to tell Forum 18 on 23 January if any investigations into the prison deaths of Yaylanov and Baltayev had been undertaken and, if so, what the results were. "We can only give information to relatives who come in person to our Ministry in Ashgabad between 3 and 5pm on working days," the official insisted. "We can't give any information by phone." Other Interior Ministry officials reached on 23 January similarly refused to give Forum 18 any information by phone. "Come to the reception desk of the Ministry," another responded. Arrested, sentenced Yaylanov was from Garabekevul District 80 kms (50 miles) south-east of the regional capital Turkmenabad. He had joined the Muslim group Saparov had started in Turkmenabad in 2007 to study the basics of Hanafi Sunni Islam. However, the Ministry of State Security (MSS) secret police soon began several years of harassment, including interrogations and beatings. Police also used known local criminals to attack them to try to provoke members of the group to respond. Police opened a criminal case on 18 January 2013 against numerous members of the group. Yaylanov and Saparov were among the first group of 21 Muslims arrested by the Police Department to Counter organised Crime on 9 March 2013. They were tried in closed hearings at Lebap Regional Court. On 22 May 2013, at the conclusion of the trial, the Judge sentenced 20 of the Muslims to long prison terms. One was acquitted and released (see F18News 26 September 2016 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2218). Those sentenced: All 20 Muslims were punished under Criminal Code Article 174, Part 1 ("Conspiracy to seize power"), Article 175, Part 2 ("Calls to violent change of the constitutional order"), Article 177, Part 3 ("Incitement of social, ethnic or religious hatred"), Article 275, Parts 1 and 2 ("Creation of an organised group, criminal association or other criminal structures or participation in their activity") and Article 291 ("Theft of extortion of weapons, military materiel, explosive substances and explosive devices"). This last charge was subject to Article 14, which covers cases where an individual did not manage to carry out the crime through circumstances that did not depend on themselves. - All sentenced under Criminal Code Article 174, Part 1, Article 175, Part 2, Article 177, Part 3, Article 275, Parts 1 and 2, and Article 291: 1/Mekan Nurmamedovich Jomartov 2/Lukman Yaylanov 3/Agamammet Meretgulyevich Gaipov 4/Yusup Atajanovich Akyyev 5/Bahram Jumanazarovich Saparov 6/Azamat Charyevich Kurbanov 7/Tahir Sharipovich Davletov 8/Babajan Dovletdurdyevich Kadyrov 9/Maylis Muhammedovich Mejidov 10/Allaberdi Maratovich Kurbanov 11/Umarkuly Dovrankulyevich Jumashov 12/Hasan Saburbayevich Yusupov 13/Mansur Ishanmuradovich Islamov - Sentenced additionally under Criminal Code Article 279 Part 2 (Points a and b) ("Hooliganism" in a group or with resistance to the authorities): 14/Guvanch Myradovich Gurbanov 15/Dovletmyrat Kakyshovich Ahipov 16/Nuritdin Kamilovich Jurayev 17/Atajan Imitjanovich Raimov 18/Ahmet Ergeshevich Mirzayev 19/Sultan Ahmetovich Bebitov - Sentenced additionally under Criminal Code Article 279 Part 2 (Points a and b) and Article 287 Part 2 ("Illegal weapons"): 20/Adylbek Erkinovich Atajanov Saparov was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, the Turkmen government delegation told the UN Committee Against Torture in writing on 24 November 2016 (see F18News 6 December 2016 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2236). The sentences the others received are unknown. Saparov worked in the fuel-and-oil supply service of Turkmenabad Airport. Another defendant, Azamat Kurbanov, had a family business selling sweets at local markets. Another, Hasan Yusupov, worked as a hairdresser at a small market in the Central district. "And none of them paraded their faith or recruited followers," Alternative Turkmenistan News said. One of the 20 sentenced, Sultan Bebitov, appears to have been a supporter of more radical Islam than that espoused by the group's leader Saparov. One source told Alternative Turkmenistan News that "the community did not know much about him", adding that "you can't really say that his views represented those of the entire community". Torture, death in Ovadan-Depe All 20 of those sentenced are believed to have been eventually transferred to the isolated top-security prison at Ovadan-Depe (Picturesque Hill) in the Karakum desert 70 kms (45 miles) north of Ashgabad. Saparov, Yaylanov, Atajanov and Mejidov, and possibly some or all of the others, were imprisoned there in the blocks reserved for prisoners the authorities describe as "Wahhabis". In Saparov's case his transfer to Ovadan-Depe Prison in October 2014 followed a second trial - apparently while he was in Tejen Prison. He was sentenced a third time in July 2016 while already in Ovadan-Depe, according to the Turkmen government's information to the UN Committee Against Torture (see F18News 6 December 2016 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2236). It was in Ovadan-Depe Prison that Yaylanov was tortured and died, though it remains unknown if his summer 2016 death was the result of torture. "When they tortured Lukman Yaylanov, we heard his cries and groans on the upper floors of the prison," said a former fellow-prisoner who happened to serve part of his term with Yaylanov, Alternative Turkmenistan News noted. Arrested later After the initial March 2013 arrests, the Police and MSS secret police continued to arrest other members or associates of Saparov's Muslim group in and around Turkmenabad. Among those arrested later was Baltayev, who died in the top-security Ovadan-Depe Prison in autumn 2016. He was from the Dostluk (former Spark) collective farm in Turkmenabad, where he looked after animals, Alternative Turkmenistan News noted. Forum 18 was unable to find out when Baltayev was arrested, when he was tried or what sentence he received. Nor is it known when he was transferred to Ovadan-Depe Prison. Another of those imprisoned in a further group trial was Aybek Atajanov, who was just 17 years old, Alternative Turkmenistan News added. He is (or was) the cousin of Adylbek Atajanov, sentenced in the first mass trial in May 2013. Both Atajanovs were severely tortured in pre-trial detention, it said. No news As the trials were conducted in secret, relatives were given no information about the charges against the defendants, the sentences they received or - for many - where they were sent to serve these sentences, Alternative Turkmenistan News noted. They were also unable to hire lawyers to defend them in court. "The relatives don't even know if their children are still alive, and if yes, where they are kept," Alternative Turkmenistan News said. It added that relatives are regularly summoned for "conversations" with the MSS secret police. "When they try to visit prison camps, they are told that their children are not there, or that they had been transferred somewhere else. Sometimes they even say where, but it usually turns out to be a lie. Getting permission to visit them or send a food parcel is also not possible." Disappeared Although the secret May 2013 mass trial was not the first, other associates or alleged associates of Saparov's group appear to have been arrested and disappeared. Two brothers from the village of Dachny near Turkmenabad airport - Hamra and Jumabai (last name unknown) - have not been seen since their apparent arrest some time after the initial trials, Alternative Turkmenistan News said. "Their mother soon died from anxiety and uncertainty," it added. Police interrogation led to suicide? Meanwhile, in a separate case in Turkmenabad, police repeatedly summoned Muslim resident Yoldash Khodjamuradov for interrogation about his religious views under orders from the MSS secret police, Alternative Turkmenistan News noted on 28 December 2016. Police summoned him every day for several weeks. "Are you a Wahhabi?" Alternative Turkmenistan News cited police as asking. "We'll lock you up many years for Wahhabism if you don't give us the names of two Wahhabis." On releasing him from interrogation on 17 December 2016, officers ordered him to return on 19 December. On 18 December he hanged himself. His wife was unable to prevent this, Alternative Turkmenistan News said. The 52-year-old Khodjamuradov and his wife have three children. He worked as a butcher at the market. He regularly attended the local mosque and recently began wearing the khirqa, a long white robe often worn by Sufi leaders as a sign of their spiritual authority, local people told Alternative Turkmenistan News. "Suicide is a grievous sin in Islam, so you can imagine how far they must have driven a Muslim that he took this course," one source said. Residents of Lebap Region told Alternative Turkmenistan News that the police and MSS secret police have increased their surveillance and interrogation of those who attend mosque. Police summon Muslims of all ages for questioning. (END) For a personal commentary by a Protestant within Turkmenistan, on the fiction - despite government claims - of religious freedom in the country, and how religious communities and the international community should respond to this, see http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=728. For a personal commentary by another Turkmen Protestant, arguing that "without freedom to meet for worship it is impossible to claim that we have freedom of religion or belief," see http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1128. More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Turkmenistan can be found at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?query=&religion=all&country=32. For more background information see Forum 18's religious freedom survey of Turkmenistan at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=2244. A compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments can be found at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1351. Russian Federation: Constitutional Court ruling - an opportunity to annul criminalisation of "unauthorised" peaceful protest Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 23 January 2017 Reference EUR 46/5542/2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Russian Federation: Constitutional Court ruling - an opportunity to annul criminalisation of "unauthorised" peaceful protest, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/588614688c.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. On 24 January, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation will consider prisoner of conscience Ildar Dadin's complaint questioning the constitutionality of Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.(1) The Article was introduced in July 2014 to criminalise the repeated violation (more than three times within 180 days) of Russia's unduly restrictive rules governing public assemblies.(2) This "crime" is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. Ildar Dadin is the first, and so far only, person convicted under Article 212.1, and is currently serving two-and-a-half year-long sentence. The hearing by the Constitutional Court offers the opportunity to repeal this legislative provision which enables criminal prosecution and imprisonment of peaceful protesters for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly, to overturn Ildar Dadin's conviction and enable his release. The rights to peaceful assembly and expression are protected under international human rights law and guaranteed in the Constitution of the Russian Federation which states: "Citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, meetings and demonstrations, marches and pickets."(3) Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code violates these rights in that it allows for criminal prosecution not only for acts of violence and other acts not protected by the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, but also for the legitimate exercise of this right. Article 212.1 criminalises repeated administrative violation(4) of the rules governing public assemblies. Some of these rules are inconsistent with the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression per se and hence non-compliance with them should not be regarded and penalised as an administrative violation in the first instance. For example, the requirement to notify the authorities far in advance of a public assembly and receive their prior approval,(5) and the imposition of administrative liability for the failure to do so, is inconsistent with international standards on the right to peaceful assembly.(6) Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code allows criminal prosecution and imprisonment of peaceful protesters for being repeatedly found in breach of these unduly restrictive requirements. Ildar Dadin is a prisoner of conscience, who has been prosecuted solely in connection with his peaceful street protests. He is the first person in Russia to be sentenced under Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code. Ildar Dadin was criminally prosecuted for participation in four peaceful street actions within 180 days. In December 2015, Ildar Dadin was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, reduced to two-and-a-half years on appeal. In September 2016, Ildar Dadin's lawyers submitted a complaint to the Constitutional Court, arguing that Article 212.1 violates Dadin's constitutional rights. Amnesty International believes that Ildar Dadin's conviction and imprisonment under Article 212.1 of the Russian Criminal Code violates several of his rights under international human rights law and the Russian Constitution, including the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and the right to a fair trial, including protection against double jeopardy. Amnesty International has repeatedly urged the Russian authorities to release Ildar Dadin immediately and unconditionally and to repeal the legislative provisions that enable prosecution and imprisonment of peaceful protesters for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Article 212.1 contravenes a number of international and regional human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to which Russia is a State party. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression - The treaties guarantee the right to freedom of peaceful assembly (Article 11 of ECHR, Article 21 of ICCPR) and freedom of expression (Article 10 of ECHR, Article 19 of ICCPR). - The European Court of Human Rights, in the cases of Oya Ataman v. Turkey, Bukta and others v. Hungary, and others has emphasized that, unless demonstrators engage in acts of violence "it is important for the public authorities to show a certain degree of tolerance towards peaceful gatherings if the freedom of assembly is not to be deprived of all substance." (7) - The European Court of Human Rights, in the case of Ylmaz Yldz and Others v. Turkey, ruled that "a peaceful demonstration should not, in principle, be made subject to the threat of a penal sanction."(8) - In a joint report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on the proper management of assemblies, emphasized that no person should be held criminally, civilly or administratively liable for the mere act of organizing or participating in a peaceful protest.(9) - Article 212.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, on the contrary, enables criminal prosecution and imprisonment of peaceful protesters for the violation of excessive restrictions on the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in Russia. Ildar Dadin's case illustrates particularly well how Article 212.1 of the Russian Criminal Code contravenes international and regional human rights law. Not only did he act peacefully during the street protests, but he even did not resist while being detained. The right to be protected against double jeopardy Article 212.1 also violates the right to be protected against double jeopardy, guaranteed by ICCPR and Protocol No. 7 to the ECHR (Protocol), in particular: - The treaties provide that no-one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which they have already been finally convicted or acquitted (Paragraph 7 Article 14 of ICCPR, Paragraph 1 Article 4 of the Protocol). - Article 212.1 imposes criminal liability for the cumulative administrative violations, which are already individually punishable. - The European Court of Human Rights, in the case of Kasparov and Others v. Russia(10), has held that administrative sanctions for violation of the rules on public assemblies in Russia were so severe that they "actually constituted a criminal offence for the purpose of the applicability of Article 6". This decision relates to a public gathering in April 2007, when the administrative penalties for violating the rules was considerably less severe than those introduced since. Ildar Dadin was fined four times for participating in peaceful protests on four occasions, and then imprisoned for those same acts under Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code because of the "repeated violation". Other fair trial violations Furthermore, Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code violates the rights of the accused, contained in Article 14 of ICCPR and Article 6 of ECHR: - The treaties guarantee the principle of presumption of innocence and contain several fair trial guarantees that everyone charged with a criminal offence is entitled to, including the right to defend oneself and the right to legal counsel (Article 14 of ICCPR, Article 6 of ECHR). - Article 212.1, however, makes proving the relevant "crime" a mere formality. It allows the prosecution and the court, instead of exploring the facts, to use the decisions taken in administrative proceedings, which use a lower standard or proof, as evidence of "crime" against the defendant. The proceedings that lead to such administrative decisions do not offer the same safeguards as those involved in criminal proceedings, including the entitlement to legal aid. Besides, in Ildar Dadin's case, the period of time set in law during which he could appeal the relevant administrative decisions had not expired before his criminal conviction on the basis of these decisions. Background The respect for the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association has long been tenuous in Russia. Since May 2012, however, these have come under a sustained assault. Legislative changes have tightened the screws on already restrictive regulations. New and old laws are being more restrictively applied, while the penalties for their violation and the range of those falling within their scope have significantly increased.(11) Russian overly restrictive legislation on public assemblies, with minor exceptions (limited numbers of protesters assembling in specially designated, and typically desolate, areas), outlaws any form of collective public protest except when expressly pre-approved by the authorities. Most protest actions in Russia have been either severely restricted or barred and dispersed. While pro-Kremlin rallies (often organised by the authorities) are allowed to take place in prominent locations in big cities, opposition protests have been pushed out of busy streets and central squares. Progovernment groups have been given free rein to organise counter-protests, and in some instances even intimidate and physically attack the protesters. Those who continue to seek to organise public protests face increasingly onerous approval procedures. The only form of street action that currently does not require a prior notification of authorities is a single-person picket, which is, by definition, not a vehicle for realising one's right to freedom of peaceful assembly. And even this small loophole is further limited, for example by strict rules on distance between the participants and discriminatory legislation prohibiting "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors". Amnesty International has also documented numerous cases of single-person pickets being interrupted by the authorities on grounds that have no legal basis.(12) The wave of protest activities in Russia in 2014 prompted by the EuroMaydan events in Ukraine led to legislative initiatives further restricting the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Introduction of Article 212.1 was part of these initiatives and a shortcut enabling imprisonment of peaceful protesters, and was accompanied by increasing administrative penalties for the violation of public assembly rules. The punishment for the first formal violation of the rules includes a fine of up to RUB 30,000 (approximately US$ 508) and up to 10 days' administrative detention, while for the second and third violations, it foresees a fine of up to RUB 300,000 (approximately US$ 5,000) and up to 30 days' administrative detention. Four violations within 180 days are prosecuted as a criminal offence punishable by a range of penalties, including a fine of up to RUB 1 million (approximately US$ 17,000) and up to five years' imprisonment. The punishment for repeated violations of the rules governing public assemblies in Russia does not differentiate between peaceful and violent protesters, the kind of actions the participants in these assemblies take, and the consequences of such actions. The fines are hugely disproportionate to the minimum monthly wage, which in Russia is currently RUB 7,500 (approx. US$ 127).(13) To date, the Russian authorities have initiated criminal cases under Article 212.1 against several human rights activists, including Ildar Dadin, Vladimir Ionov, Mark Galperin, and Irina Kalmykova(14). Ildar Dadin has become the first person convicted under this criminal provision, and he has challenged the constitutionality of Article 212.1. If the Constitutional Court finds Article 212.1 unconstitutional, it will no longer be applicable. The Court may also interpret the Article with a view to limiting its scope without declaring the entire article unconstitutional. Additional information on Ildar Dadin Ildar Dadin became the first person convicted for "repeated violations of the law on public assemblies" under Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code.(15) Ildar Dadin was detained by police at least four times between 6 August and 5 December 2014 while protesting peacefully in Moscow. He was arrested while holding peaceful street actions that did not cause any harm or danger to others. On every one of these occasions, he was fined for his "offences". Immediately following his latest 15-day "administrative detention" for a street action that ended on 30 January 2015,16 instead of being released he was placed under house arrest pending trial in connection with the newly opened criminal case against him under Article 212.1. On 7 December 2015, Moscow's Basmanny Court sentenced Ildar Dadin to three years in penal colony, despite prosecutors having requested a two-year sentence. Upon appeal, on 31 March 2016 Moscow City Court reduced his sentence to two-and-a-half years, but upheld his conviction. In a letter sent to his wife and published on a news website on 1 November 2016, Ildar Dadin described the torture and other ill-treatment he was subjected to, including severe beatings and rape threats, since his arrival at the prison colony in Segezha in Russia's Karelia region on 10 September 2016.(17) While denying his allegations of torture, on 13 December 2016, the Federal Penitentiary Service reported that Ildar Dadin was being transferred to another penitentiary facility "with a view of ensuring [his] personal safety". (18) His location remained unknown to his family and lawyers for a month. On 8 January 2017, Ildar Dadin's wife, Anastasia Zotova, learned that he had been transferred to the penal colony in the Altai region (IK-5). This place is more than 3,500 km away from Moscow and makes visits from his relatives and lawyer extremely costly and burdensome. Ildar Dadin's transfer to a remote prison colony appears to be intended as a form of harassment in retaliation for his complaints. 1 Members of the public may attend the hearing if the space allows. The pre-registration for attending the hearing takes place at the Constitutional Court website (available at http://www.ksrf.ru/ru/Sessions/VisitTo/Pages/default.aspx). 2 Federal Law No. 54-FZ "On Assemblies, Meetings, Demonstrations, Rallies, and Pickets", dated 19 June 2004 (as amended and supplemented). 3 See Article 31 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, available at http://www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-01.htm. 4 The violations of the rules on public assemblies committed less than four times within 180 days are administrative offenses specified in Article 20.2 of the Administrative Offenses Code. 5 For more information on the requirement of prior notification, as well as onerous rules for single-person pickets, additional restrictions on assemblies organized by LGBTI activists, and other ways in which Russian rules contravene the freedom of assembly, please see Amnesty International, A right, not a crime: Violations of the right to freedom of assembly in Russia, report, June 2014, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR46/028/2014/en/. 6 Please see Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, at the 20th session of the Human Rights Council, Twentieth session, Agenda item 3, distributed on 21 May 2012, paragraph 28-29, page 9, A/HRC/20/27, available at http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session20/A-HRC-20-27_en.pdf 7 See the judgement in the case of Oya Ataman v. Turkey, Paragraph 42 (available at http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{"fulltext":["Oya Ataman v. Turkey"],"documentcollectionid2":["GRANDCHAMBER","CHAMBER"],"itemid": "001-78330"]}), reiterated in Bukta and others v. Hungary, Paragraph 37 (available at http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{"fulltext":["Bukta and others v. Hungary"],"documentcollectionid2":["GRANDCHAMBER","CHAMBER"],"itemid":["001-81728"]}). 8 See the judgement in the case of Ylmaz Yldz and Others v. Turkey, Paragraph 46 (available at http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{"fulltext":["Ylmaz Yldz and Others v. Turkey"],"documentcollectionid2":["GRANDCHAMBER","CHAMBER"],"itemid":["001-147470"]}). 9 Please see Joint report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on the proper management of assemblies (UN Doc. A/HRC/31/66), February 2016, available at http://daccessods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/HRC/31/66&Lang=E. 10 For the text of judgement, please see http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{"fulltext":["Kasparov and Others v. Russia"],"documentcollectionid2":["GRANDCHAMBER","CHAMBER"],"itemid":["001-126541"]}. 11 For a review of developments, see Amnesty International, Freedom under threat: Clampdown on freedoms of expression, assembly and association in Russia, report, April 2013, available at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR46/04/2013/en; Amnesty International, A right, not a crime: Violations of the right to freedom of assembly in Russia, report, June 2014, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR46/028/2014/en/; Amnesty International, A Summary of Amnesty International's Concerns in the Russian Federation, public statement, October 2016, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur46/5009/2016/en/. 12 For information on obstruction of single-person pickets, please see Amnesty International, A right, not a crime: Violations of the right to freedom of assembly in Russia, report, June 2014, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR46/028/2014/en/. 13 Please see http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201606020022?index=0&rangeSize=1. 14 Vladimir Ionov and Irina Kalmykova have escaped from Russia. The status of criminal case against Mark Galperin is currently unclear. On 16 January 2017, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported his lawyer's statement that the case has "sputtered out" (see http://www.ng.ru/politics/2017-01-16/1_6903_sud.html). 15 Please see https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/12/russia-peaceful-activist-sentenced-under-repressive-new-lawmust-be-released/. 16 Ildar Dadin was arrested on 15 January 2015 when he was holding a picket in support of Charlie Hebdo (a French satirical weekly magazine that suffered an armed attack in January 2015). For details, please see Amnesty International, Prisoner of conscience writes of torture: Ildar Dadin, urgent action, November 2016, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur46/5083/2016/en/. 17 Please see Amnesty International, Prisoner of conscience writes of torture: Ildar Dadin, urgent action, November 2016, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur46/5083/2016/en/. 18 Please see a copy of the letter from the Federal Penitentiary Service, available at http://www.presidentsovet.ru/presscenter/news/read/3636/. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Greece: Dire Refugee Conditions on Islands Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 23 January 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Greece: Dire Refugee Conditions on Islands, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/588619e04.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. Greek authorities, with the support of the European Union, should immediately transfer thousands of asylum seekers confined to appalling conditions on the Aegean islands to appropriate mainland accommodations, Human Rights Watch said today. Heavy snow, rain, and strong winds in January 2017 have exacerbated the already dire conditions on the islands. "Europe's failed policies have contributed to immense suffering for people warehoused on the Greek islands in increasingly desperate conditions," said Eva Cosse, Greece researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Greece and the EU need to prioritize the rights, dignity and safety of asylum seekers over realpolitik." On a visit to Lesbos January 12-13, Human Rights Watch staff observed the flimsy tents in the Moria "hotspot," a refugee reception and registration center, in the aftermath of a large snowfall on January 9. "When I came here they [authorities] sent those who were vulnerable to the containers and others, like me, to the tents outside," said Alain, a 32-year-old man from Cameroon. "There are men but also women in the tents. With the snow, I thought I would die of the cold. My tent was covered in snow and you couldn't see its surface." In response to a public outcry, the Greek government sent a navy ship to the island of Lesbos to house asylum seekers, mostly single men, living in exposed tents in Moria. Vulnerable groups, with efforts from UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, were moved to heated containers inside Moria and to hotel rooms and apartments amid a strong pushback by the local authorities and hotel owners. On Samos and Chios, hundreds of refugees living in unheated dormitories and tents are exposed to the cold, damp, and heavy rain and winds. The EU, UNHCR, aid groups, and the Greek government have been accused of failing to use 90 million worth of EU funding to "winterize" the camps before the first snowfall. On January 13, UNHCR issued a call to speed up the process of transferring people from the islands to the mainland, given the very poor conditions at many island sites. To carry out an EU deal signed with Turkey in March 2016, Greek authorities instituted a policy of containment on the islands to process most asylum seekers under an accelerated border procedure designed to enable the government to send people back to Turkey. This, and pressure from the European Commission to keep people on the islands "to avoid secondary movement to the rest of Europe," means that thousands of asylum seekers who arrived after March have been restricted to the islands, often living for months in overcrowded and abysmal conditions while their asylum claims are processed. Asylum seekers who arrived on the islands in the first days of the implementation of the EU-Turkey statement have been stuck there for almost 10 months. Those identified as vulnerable under the terms of Greek law are exempt from this process and should be admitted directly into the normal asylum procedure and allowed to move to the mainland. The maximum official reception capacity on the five main islands receiving asylum seekers and migrants is 8,375, compared with the 14,336 asylum seekers on the islands as of January 17. And more people keep arriving from conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The containment policy violates Greek law, Human Rights Watch said. People who apply for asylum on the islands and are still awaiting a decision after 28 days have the right to access the normal asylum procedure and, consequently, to travel off the islands. While the EU-Turkey statement does not explicitly require keeping asylum seekers on the islands, EU and Greek officials cite implementation of the deal as a justification for the containment policy. Even if transfers would complicate possible returns to Turkey, this is an unacceptable excuse for condemning people to conditions that threaten their health and dignity, Human Rights Watch said. On Lesbos on January 18, the EU migration commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said that the European Commission will continue working with Greek authorities to eliminate overcrowding on the islands and transfer "vulnerable people" to the mainland. No one, even people who do not have specific vulnerabilities, deserves to be left out in the freezing cold, Human Rights Watch said. Greek authorities should take immediate steps to enforce Greek law and transfer asylum seekers who have been on the islands for more than 28 days to the mainland, Human Rights Watch said. The European Commission should support the move, rather than block it. In addition, authorities should expedite the processing of asylum claims, without compromising the quality of the examination. The Greek government, with the support of the UNHCR, should make it a top priority to move people living in tents and other unfit shelters on the islands and elsewhere in Greece to appropriate accommodation. "Nothing justifies keeping thousands of migrants and asylum seekers in such terrible conditions on the Greek islands," Cosse said. "Their suffering is not only the consequence of the slow winterization of facilities, but also of a deliberate refusal to transfer more people to mainland Greece." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Russia: Bill to Decriminalize Domestic Violence Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 23 January 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Russia: Bill to Decriminalize Domestic Violence, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58861a784.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. A draft law pending in Russia's parliament would seriously weaken protections against domestic violence, Human Rights Watch said today. Parliament should reject the law as dangerous and incompatible with Russia's international human rights obligations. "Passage of this law would be a huge step backward for Russia, where victims of domestic violence already face enormous obstacles to getting help or justice," said Yulia Gorbunova, Russia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The domestic violence bill would reduce penalties for abusers and put victims' lives at even greater risk." The amendments would decriminalize a first offense of family violence that does not cause serious harm requiring hospital treatment. Only violence that leads to serious injuries like broken bones or a concussion would remain criminalized. The law would apply to violence against any family member, including women and children. Abusers, if found guilty, would face a minimal fine, up to 15 days' administrative arrest, or compulsory community service. The draft law is scheduled for a second reading in parliament on January 25, 2017. The proposed law contrasts starkly with recent steps to confront domestic violence in Russia. In July 2016, parliament adopted amendment s criminalizing violence against one's relatives. Some members contended then that it would have a negative impact on "traditional family values." The politically influential leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church criticized the law as lacking "moral justification and legal grounds." Senator Yelena Mizulina, who led a failed attempt to halt the 2016 amendments, said publicly she believes women "don't take offense when they see a man beat his wife" and that "a man beating his wife is less offensive than when a woman humiliates a man." Mizulina also said that Russian law should support family traditions that are "built on the authority of the parents' power," and that parents should be allowed to hit their children. Mizulina and others introduced the bill to reverse the July 2016 law. "Contending that beating a relative is a manifestation of 'family values' is shameful," Gorbunova said. "Victims are the ones who need protection, not the abusers." Russian women's rights activists had campaigned for many years for a comprehensive domestic violence law, which stalled in parliament since 2014. Official statistics show that around 40 percent of all violent crimes in Russia are committed within the family. Independent research shows the problem to be even more serious. One study in 2013 found more than 80 percent of violent crimes against women in Russia are committed by spouses or intimate partners. Up to 36,000 women and 26,000 children face violence in the family every day. In a 2011 study of 30,000 women in 60 Russian regions, 38 percent of women said they had been subjected to psychological violence, while every fifth respondent said that they had been subjected to physical violence by their husbands or partners. In a 2005 study of 2,200 people in 50 towns and cities across Russia, 70 percent of women said they had been subjected to at least one form of violence physical, sexual, economic, or psychological by their husbands, and 36 percent experienced both physical and psychological violence. The Russian government has regularly failed to effectively prevent domestic violence and ensure justice for victims. Officials routinely do not investigate or even respond to domestic violence allegations, and shelter spaces for victims are very limited. Moscow has fewer than 150 shelter spaces for a population of over 12 million. Failure to adequately protect victims of domestic violence and ensure access to justice violates Russia's international human rights obligations. Russia is a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which prohibits violence against women, whether in public or in private, and establishes such violence as a form of discrimination. In a 2015 review of Russia, the CEDAW committee noted "the high prevalence of violence against women" and criticized the absence of legislation to prevent and address violence against women, including domestic violence. Russia is also party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits violence against children, including in the family. In a 2014 review of Russia, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Russia to prioritize the elimination of all forms of violence against children and prohibit all forms of corporal punishment, including in the home. "The proposed legislation is a massive setback to efforts to eradicate domestic violence, domestically and internationally," Gorbunova said. "Rather than weakening existing laws, Russia should adopt tougher ones to prevent domestic violence, protect victims, and hold abusers to account." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Students of Cambridge University perform the traditional Chinese dance Drunken Beauty at the 2017 Cambridge Chinese New Year Gala in Corn Exchange, Cambridge, on Jan 20, 2017. [Photo/Zhou Xingzuo] LONDON The Chinese Students and Scholar Association in Cambridge (CSSA-CAM) held a Chinese New Year Gala in the Preliminary Eveon Jan 20 in order to celebrate the coming Year of the Rooster with a theme of Cambridge Reuniting Our Love for China. About 1,000 Chinese and foreign people have been attracted to this annual celebration, with the Mayor of Cambridge delivering a gratulatory speech. A variety of fantastic performances, including dancing, singing, acrobatics and magic shows, have taken place in the Corn Exchange located in the Center of Cambridge County. It is, for overseas Chinese, a precious time to unite and enjoy a happy reunion, and for our foreign friends in the UK, an unprecedented chance to be exposed to diverse Chinese culture. More than 60 performers have been devoted to the successful event, in which Li Guangjie, an experienced Chinese mainland actor, Zhu Yunbian, a talented Hong Kong Erhu performer, and LASZLO ATTILA, a rising Hungary music star presented exclusive shows as the gala's special guest-performers. Founded in 1984, the CSSA-CAM has witnessed rapid growth in recent years and has become one of the largest and most influential student-run organizations at the University of Cambridge today. "The association aims to organize top quality events including forums, conferences and talks for students, scholars and the general public in Cambridge; among which the CSSA-CAM Chinese New Year Gala is one of our biggest and best-known annual event", said Cen Zhang, the president of CSSA-CAM. This is the twelfth year that the CSSA-CAM has organized the Chinese New Year Gala since the first in 2004. DAPL coincidence? New bill in North Dakota could make it legal to run over protesters In a frightening leap towards tyranny, North Dakota Republicans have introduced a series of bills that observers say are directly aimed at impinging upon the First Amendment rights of protestors, including those that have been congregating for months at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation where the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is set to be built. According to reports, one of the bills would prevent protestors from covering their faces at protests, which would make them easier to identify and possibly target. The other, introduced by Representative Keith Kempenich, a Republican, would make it legal to run over protestors with a vehicle, so long as the driver claims that he or she didnt actually mean to do so. Read for yourself what House Bill 1203 states in its own words: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a driver of a motor vehicle who unintentionally causes injury or death to an individual obstructing vehicular traffic on a public road, street, or highway, is not guilty of an offense. You read that right: the party of small government conservatives, or at least a few select members of it, want to remove key portions from the Bill of Rights that get in the way of their agenda to build an oil pipeline. Its the type of thing from which dictatorships are made, and if the people of North Dakota dont intervene to stop it, such oppression could become the law of the land. (RELATED: Learn more news about opposing government tyranny at Resist.news) North Dakota Republicans connected to oil industry defend killing protestors In defense of the more egregious of the two bills the legal running over of protestors Senator Kelly Armstrong, North Dakotas GOP Chairman, told ABC News that it wasnt the state legislature that came up with the idea. Instead, she says, the bill was birthed out of residents frustration with the ongoing protestors, which at one point in the summer saw thousands of them encamped in opposition. When people are having their lives disrupted, youre going to see things move up here, Armstrong, an oil company executive and former defense attorney, admitted to the media. Perhaps not surprisingly, Rep. Kempenich is also connected to the oil industry, and stands to benefit greatly from the $3.8 billion pipeline project, assuming it can ever be completed. Hes quoted as using his mothers apparent annoyance with the protestors as a justifiable reason for H.B. 1203. Tragedy might occur, he actually had the gall to say, if [drivers] have punched the accelerator rather than the brakes. Its apparently not enough for law enforcement to simply spray protestors with hoses and otherwise intimidate or provoke them with violence, which is also an infringement of their First Amendment rights. Republicans eager to get that oil pipeline installed as quickly as possible are hoping to advance the agenda even further. North Dakota has already squandered some $22 million in taxpayer money to fund ramped-up law enforcement presence at oil company facilities, for which it is now demanding repayment. Now the state wants to authoritatively obstruct free speech, and in the most egregious way. Clearly, these small-government conservatives are desperate for payback and vengeance, The Free Thought Project is reporting, referring to another already-withdrawn piece of legislation that would have allowed the state of North Dakota to claim land and mineral rights in the pipelines path under the Missouri River in order to recuperate the money the state believes it deserves as reimbursement for money spent on added law enforcement. The unabashed desire to wield state power against the most fundamental right of American citizens is truly a frightening prelude. Stay informed about protecting individual liberty and the right to protest at Liberty.news. Sources for this article include: TheFreeThoughtProject.com ABCNews.Go.com A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017 China says it will crack down in 2017 on the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to get around the complex system of blocks, filters, and human censorship known as the Great Firewall that limits what its citizens can see online. Any service providers offering VPNs or special cable services to connect to the wider internet beyond sites censored by the ruling Chinese Communist Party will now be required to obtain government approval before they can operate, according to a statement released by the ministry of industry and information technology. "Chinas internet connection service market ... is showing signs of disordered development requiring urgent regulation and governance," the ministry said in a statement on its website on Sunday. At a stroke, the move means that VPNs currently in existence are now operating in what is at best a grey area, and China's 730 million internet users are now far less likely to have access to uncensored content. A "clean-up" operation targeting VPNs will run from now until March 2018, the statement said. Online censorship monitor site GreatFire.org says that China currently blocks access to 135 sites in 1,000, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The last time government censors went after VPNs was last March, when many VPNs, which are widely used by both companies and individuals, appeared to be blocked. The move follows a pledge of loyalty to the administration of President Xi Jinping by the powerful Cyberspace Administration on Jan. 5. Strategy for total control Guangzhou-based internet expert Ye Du said many people in China currently rely on VPNs to "scale the Great Firewall" and access unfettered content, but not necessarily for political reasons. He said only a small proportion of people deliberately search out information that the government has tried to conceal from its citizens. But he said VPNs are getting directly in the way of the government's strategy for total control of the internet within China's borders. "The existence of VPNs in is direct conflict with government policy, which is to strengthen control over online information," Ye said. "That's why such control measures were inevitable." But he said most users are trying to access sites needed for work or general purposes. He added that the ruling will likely affect foreign companies operating inside China. "If they want to help these people out, they could probably leave some loopholes to allow them access to sensitive information," Ye said. Online commentators said they believe the aim is to stifle any freedom of expression in China. "Their aim is a total crackdown, total control," a Zhejiang-based internet user who asked to remain anonymous told RFA. "Everything this administration has done has shown they don't want people speaking the truth." "They are broadening the scope of their control, which they have pretty much optimized inside the Great Firewall and on social media, and now they want to close the loopholes that allow people to get over it." Currently, Chinese users of overseas social media sites like Facebook and Twitter rely on VPNs to use the service, which often allows them to communicate with the outside world when their domestic accounts are shut down by censors. Chinese domain names China is already considering changes to domain name registration that could further limit use of VPNs among the country's internet users. Draft regulations first released for public consultation in March 2016 will require websites operating in China to register with a Chinese domain name, which is subject to state control and can be used to shut down entire websites within the country-level .cn top-level domain. Experts said the new regulations, once implemented, will put an end to overseas registration of domain names by Chinese citizens trying to avoid censorship. The new rules will also likely affect overseas websites and content providers hoping to attract a Chinese audience or set up new services in China, they told RFA. China has already ushered in a new era of state control over the mobile web, ordering online app stores to register with the government starting on Jan. 16. Such apps have "resulted in the dissemination of illegal information," the Cyberspace Administration said. Final options Hebei-based journalist Zhu Xinxin said that VPNs are among the last options available to Chinese internet users wanting a window on the outside world. "In doing this, the Cyberspace Administration is in breach of the constitution, because it's stripping citizens of their right to know," Zhu said. "They are trying to implement Xi Jinping's directive at the start of the year that national security must be made a top priority." "The Chinese Communist Party is terrified by their own state of crisis, and so now China is entering into yet another so-called battle-ready state," he said. "It looks a lot like the death-throes of a dictatorial regime, where they go crazy and try to turn China into North Korea, where information is concerned." Reported by Hai Nan for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Xi Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Rohingya children are pictured at the Kutupalong camp for unregistered refugees in southeastern Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, Jan. 18, 2017. Rohingya boys and girls as young as 11 and 12 spoke of atrocities they had witnessed that forced them to flee Myanmars Rakhine state in recent weeks, with some telling BenarNews they saw Burmese security personnel burn their siblings alive. A correspondent for BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, interviewed at least 19 children during visits to refugee camps in Coxs Bazar, a district in southeastern Bangladesh where some 65,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine state since early October, according to U.N. estimates. The military whisked away my brother and killed him, set fire to our house, and tortured the women, said Tasmin Khatun, 11, using a term that refers to the rape of women. We hid in the nearby jungle. I still shudder in fear when I think about it. I cannot sleep at night, the Rohingya girl told BenarNews at the Kutupalong camp for unregistered refugees in Ukhiya sub-district. Myanmar security forces have been accused of committing atrocities against the Rohingya population, such as targeted killings, rapes and the burning of homes, while mounting a crackdown after the killings of nine Burmese border guards by suspected militants in October. Myanmars government has defended itself from widespread international criticism, denying that its forces committed such abuses against members of the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority. Last week, BenarNews reported that 17 of 54 Rohingya women interviewed at refugee camps in Coxs Bazar said members of the Myanmar security forces had raped them. Thrown into flames Rohingya youngster Abdul Malek, at the Leda refugee camp in Teknaf sub-district, said he witnessed Myanmar security personnel throw his brother into the familys burning home. Military threw my twin into the fire. They have been killing everybody by setting fires, Abdul told BenarNews. He and the rest of his family members were able to escape by jumping into a river as security forces shot at them, Abdul alleged. Zohur Ali, 12, a refugee at the Kutupalong camp, recounted a similar incident, saying that security personnel snatched his two small siblings from his mothers lap and threw them into the flames of their home that had been set alight. Zohurs mother Rahima Khatun, 35, told BenarNews: Zohur cries even while sleeping. I do not know when he will recover from this. Nazim Uddin, 12, whose mother died during childbirth several months ago, said he saw his father beaten and arrested by Myanmar security personnel some days ago, before he, four siblings and an uncle fled across the border. Two of his siblings, 2-year-old Md Yeasin and 4-year-old Umme Salma, whom he cradled, remain traumatized, Nazim told BenarNews. Count under way An official with the Dhaka office of the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said it is working to verify the estimate that 65,000 Rohingya have arrived in southeastern Bangladesh since October. This number does not include at least 300,000 Rohingya refugees who live in camps in Coxs Bazar but who fled violence in Rakhine state years ago. To determine the number of the newly arrived Rohingya, we have been conducting a survey. So far, we have registered 12,000 new arrivals including 5,000 children, the UNHCR official told BenarNews on condition of anonymity. Ali Hossain, the deputy commissioner of Coxs Bazar district, told BenarNews the government had yet to count the number of Rohingya who entered Bangladesh afresh. The government, however, has been immunizing children age 5 and younger at the camps and giving them doses of Vitamin A, he said. Md Alam, a leader of Block B at the Leda camps, said officials were finding it difficult to feed all the children in the camp. Where is the time to look after the mental trouble? he told BenarNews. These children are mentally devastated as they came across a horrible reality; counseling is a must for their mental recovery. But where is the opportunity? Many of them are not getting food for survival, C.R. Abrar, an expert on refugee issues and professor at the University of Dhaka, told BenarNews. Reported by Jesmin Papri from Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, for BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. The bodies of three Muslim villagers missing since last Friday in Myanmars violence-ridden Maungdaw township were found on Jan. 21 in a case which authorities are investigating as a murder, the State Counselors Office said Monday. The three men were identified as Mahmud Shawfee, 30, Sunta Ahmed, 70, and Mahmud Supai, 22, after their bodies were discovered in shallow graves about 500 meters west of Padakah village following an anonymous phone call to local police, the statement said. Their bodies, which bear the marks of violent injuries, have been sent to a local hospital for examination, while police investigate the murder case, it said. Last month, the bodies of three other murdered local Muslim men who worked closely with local administrative officials in restive northern Rakhine state were discovered in Maungdaw. The men were said to have collaborated with authorities as they continue to try to round up militants who raided three border guard stations in northern Rakhines Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships on Oct. 9 and killed nine officers. The government has blamed the October attacks and subsequent violence in the area on Rohingya insurgents who received training and financial support from Islamists abroad. A security sweep of northern Rakhine by the Myanmar military and border police has forced more than 65,000 Rohingya villagers to flee the area and cross the border into Bangladesh. Some Rohingya have alleged that the security forces indiscriminately killed civilians, tortured villagers, raped women and girls, and burned down houses, though the Myanmar government and military have denied the charges. Meanwhile, Myanmars foreign affairs ministry said on Monday it cannot confirm reports that 152 people from the country had been arrested by Bangladesh police for illegal entry, as reported by Bangladesh media. We need to carefully check this story because a lot of people have been arrested in Bangladesh as Myanmar nationals... especially those going to that country, said ministry director Kyaw Zeya. At present, we havent heard anything from our embassy there, he said. If we get a detailed report, well carry out inquiries and let you know. The Bangladesh media also said that 13 of those coming from Myanmar had escaped, with the rest being sent to the Myanmar embassy. Time and space to resolve crisis The international community has continued to put pressure on Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis, with concern being expressed by other countries, especially by Muslim-majority nations. Rear Admiral Myint Nwe, Myanmars deputy defense chief, asked other countries on Monday for more time and space for Myanmar to resolve the crisis amid concerns that the Islamic State terrorist group could exploit it as it seeks a base in Southeast Asia, Agence France-Presse reported. He told a told a security forum in Singapore that the Myanmar government was aware of the growing concern about widespread reports on the situation in Rakhine state, and was committed to addressing the issue and punishing wrongdoers, the report said. Myint Nwe was responding to comments by Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at a regional defense forum, who warned that a failure to address the situation in Rakhine could be exploited by Islamic terrorists with the potential to cause death and destruction well beyond the borders of ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations], the report said. Myanmar took Malaysia to task on Saturday for organizing a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a 57-member state group whose mission is to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world, on Jan. 19 to address the Rohingya crisis, Reuters reported. During the meeting, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on Myanmar to end reported violence and discrimination against the stateless Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, where security forces have allegedly carried out atrocities against the group. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has accused the Malaysian leader of using the crisis for political purposes to deflect corruption allegations surrounding his involvement in the disappearance of billions of dollars of public money from a state investment fund. On Saturday, Yanghee Lee, the United Nations human rights envoy to Myanmar, wrapped up a 12-day mission to the country, which included stops in villages and at border guard stations and prisons in Maungdaw, Rathedaung, and Buthidaung townships in northern Rakhine state. When the allegations of human rights violations consequent to the security operations started surfacing, the governments immediate response was to deny them, she said. Even when a scientifically-based analysis of the burning and destruction of houses was presented, the immediate response was dismissal. But for the government to continue being defensive when allegations of serious human rights violations are persistently reported, that is when the government appears less and less credible, she said. Lee will submit a report the findings of her visit to the U.N. Human Rights Council in March. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Myaung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Tibetans ordered home to China ahead of a large Buddhist gathering led this month in India by the Dalai Lama have been stripped of their passports and questioned by police, with authorities especially wanting to know what they discussed with others following their return, Tibetan sources say. Many Tibetans who had traveled to India and Nepal on pilgrimage were forced to return home before they could receive the Kalachakra teachings from [exiled spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama, a source in a Tibetan-populated region of China told RFA. When they came back, many had their passports taken away from them, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Most of the passports held by Tibetans who had traveled from Qinghai province had already been made invalid, the source added. Tibetans who had traveled to India from Qinghai provinces Tsoshar (in Chinese, Haidong) prefecture were called in to government offices and questioned about their trip, with officials wanting to know which pilgrimage sites they had visited, what items they had brought back with them, and whom they had spoken with after they returned, he said. No one was beaten or tortured, though, he said. Families threatened Kalachakra, which means Wheel of Time, is a ritual that prepares devotees to be reborn in Shambhala, a celestial kingdom which, it is said, will vanquish the forces of evil in a future cosmic battle. The ceremony and teachings are often conducted outside Tibet by the Dalai Lama, who is widely reviled by Chinese leaders as a splittist seeking to separate Tibet, which was invaded by Communist China in 1950, from Beijings control. In a bid to reduce attendance at this years ceremony, Chinese officials moved beginning in November to confiscate the passports of Tibetans authorized to travel abroad, at the same time ordering Tibetans already present in India and Nepal to return home. Many had been told their families would be harmed if they failed to go back, sources told RFA in earlier reports. Each Tibetan returning to Tsoshar was given 500 yuan (U.S. $72.94) by authorities as a gesture of thanks for their cooperation, with a promise of a further 2,000 yuan (U.S. $291.76) to be handed over later, RFAs source said, adding that returnees were also promised that their confiscated passports would be replaced. It is difficult to believe that they will do what they have promised, though, he said. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. Chinese artist and feminist Ye Haiyan, known as "Hooligan Sparrow," the eponymous subject of an award-winning documentary about her activism, is hanging onto her home in Beijing's Songzhuang artists' village after authorities cut off her water, electricity and heating, she told RFA. After posting photos of her and friends sitting in her candlelit home in outdoor clothing to Twitter, Ye told RFA that officials are trying to pressure her into voluntarily giving up her home. "The landlord just came round and turned off the electricity," she said. "I have called the government helpline twice but they haven't got back to me." "The landlord told me that the township government would cut off the water and electricity if I refused to move out, as well as the central heating." Beijing's temperature was reported at -8C on evening local time. "They also told me that the heating would be cut off to other households within this building," Ye said. "We have an elderly person in their 90s living in our house, so it also has an impact on our family life." Ye, who has repeatedly sent out updates via Twitter in recent days, calling for help, said she had previously been issued with the threat of eviction if she didn't stop posting on social media, but refused to comply. Criticism of Mao She believes the attempts to evict her are linked to a political essay she posted on Jan. 13 criticizing China's Maoists, whose protests have led to the sacking of a university professor, a government official and media denunciation of a prominent journalist in recent weeks. "I told the landlord they should just have the government come round and cut off the water and electric at the meter, then at least they would only be targeting me, and not the landlord as well," she said. "But the landlord said they couldn't differentiate, and that they insisted that the heating had to be switched off as well." "I can understand his point, but there is no way that I am moving out of here of my own accord. They have no cause to evict me, and yet they expect me just to leave, meekly." "They can throw me out; I won't have the strength to resist them; but they'll have to throw me out on the street," Ye said. "It's snowing in Beijing , so there's no way I am going out looking for a new place to live with my kid ." William Nee, China researcher with Amnesty International, condemned the authorities' treatment of Ye and her family. "We are following the situation closely. It is totally unreasonable for her to be ... put under such pressure to move out," Nee said. "They should stop putting pressure on Ye Haiyan and allow her to continue living there, and they should stop using such methods as a way of targeting rights activists," he said. Poet Wang also camping Beijing poet and political activist Wang Zang, who was detained in 2014 for posting a performance art selfie in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, is also camping with his young family in their home after the authorities cut off the electricity and internet connection. Wang has previously used performance art to show support for Hong Kong's 2014 democracy movement, detained Guangzhou rights lawyer Guo Feixiong, and to commemorate the execution of Mao-era dissident Lin Zhao, as well as supporting Ye's activism. Wang has also expressed opinions through his accounts on Twitter and Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent, in support of jailed Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti, self-immolating Tibetans and followers of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, which the authorities have designed an "evil cult." Commentators say the Maoist left is a growing popular movement in China, amid growing social inequality and rampant official corruption. The Communist Party typically retaliates harshly against anyone abusing Mao or his image, as this is held to represent an attack on the founding supreme leader of the People's Republic. However, it has previously also taken steps to rein in the Maoist left, who are often younger people who have no personal experience of the violence and privations of the Mao era, but who share a deep sense of anger over growing social tensions. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. The governor of Afghanistan's volatile Helmand Province said Iranians and Pakistanis have recently met with Taliban insurgents involved in fighting Afghan forces. Governor Hayatullah Hayat told Radio Free Afghanistan on January 22 that "Iranian interference [in Afghan affairs] has increased" recently, noting the meeting with Taliban fighters in Helmand's Garmsir district that he said also involved Pakistanis. He said the Afghan intelligence agency has confirmed the meeting and he has ordered a further investigation into foreign interference in Helmand. Hayat said rockets with Iranian markings were also found after a Taliban attack on the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. He added that the Pakistani military is also involved in "mobilizing insurgents" in Helmand. Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of aiding insurgents fighting Afghan forces, charges that Pakistan has denied. With reporting by Tolo News At peace talks in Astana today, Russia will seek to consolidate its gains in Syria. And that's not the only place Moscow is pushing its advantage. It seems an increasingly confident Vladimir Putin is pressing his advantage everywhere you look, from the Middle East to the Balkans to Europe. On this week's Power Vertical Briefing, we look at the risk of overreach. Joining me is RFE/RL's News Editor Steve Gutterman. Enjoy... NOTE: The Power Vertical Briefing is a short look ahead to the stories expected to make news in Russia in the coming week. It is hosted by Brian Whitmore, author of The Power Vertical blog, and appears on Mondays. An incipient leadership change in one of the smallest North Caucasus republics could jeopardize the region's reputation as an island of stability in a region plagued by violence and corruption. Meeting in the Kremlin on January 12 with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Aslan Tkhakushinov, 69, formally stepped down at the end of his second five-year term as head of Adygeya, a Russian republic in the foothills of the North Caucasus. Putin then named republican parliament speaker Murat Kumpilov as acting republic head pending the election in September of a successor. Seeing as Kumpilov is believed to be the nephew of Tkhakushinov's wife, the appointment has led to suggestions that this is a hereditary transfer of power. Putin lauded Tkhakushinov for having worked "fundamentally, seriously, with great responsibility." But his legacy cannot by any stretch of the imagination be termed impressive. According to Asker Sokht, chairman of the Adyghe Khase (Circassian Council) that represents the Circassian minority in neighboring Kransnodar Krai, Tkhakushinov relied on a small circle of trusted advisers and had little contact with the population at large. Adygeya's dependence on subsidies from the federal budget has declined over the past decade, from 61.1 percent to 38.2 percent. But in other respects the economy is stagnating. The budget deficit is currently 9.8 percent and increasing; investment is virtually nonexistent, partly due to the leadership's reputation for corruption; and the harassment and red tape local businessmen must contend with are reportedly so great that many simply give up and move their businesses elsewhere. Asked to enumerate Tkhkushinov's achievements, Sokht mentioned only the academic reputation of the Maykop State Technological Institute, of which Tkhakushinov was rector from 1994-2006. Kumpilov, 43, an economist who served as republican prime minister from May 2008 until September 2016, when he was elected parliament chairman, is widely regarded as bearing primary responsibility for the region's economic stagnation and the degradation of basic infrastructure that is compounding social discontent. But that is not the only reason why part of the republic's population does not want to see him as its head. They also resent Tkhakushinov's blatant efforts to install a member of his immediate family as his successor. (His brother, son, and other family members already occupy senior posts.) Moreover, in March 2016 he inveigled the republic's parliament into abolishing direct elections for the post of republic head that he had previously endorsed. Instead, his successor will be elected by the parliament from among three candidates Putin selects, one of whom will almost certainly be Kumpilov. Adygeya is by no means the only republic where direct elections for republic head have been abolished. The same holds true for the other North Caucasus republics, except for Chechnya, and for three other regions that, like Adygeya, constitute enclaves within a larger federation subject. On the other hand, Adygeya is the only region in the Southern Federal District that no longer has the right to hold direct elections. Possibly for that reason, Sokht founded a movement last fall to bring back direct elections. Some 5,000 people (of a total population of some 450,000) subsequently signed a petition addressed to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev urging him to do so. Meanwhile, some 2,000 people signed a second petition, addressed to President Putin, asking him to appoint as Tkhakushinov's successor Adam Dzharim, one of two candidates seen as viable alternatives to Kumpilov in the event of direct elections. Dzharim, 51, is head of the Severny district of Krasnodar Krai that borders on Adygeya and has experienced strong economic growth under his watch. The second is Dzhambulat Khatuov, a Russian deputy minister of agriculture. The news portal Regnum quoted analyst Vitaly Arkov as saying the two men's candidacies were being actively lobbied by Russian Agriculture Minister Aleksandr Tkachev, Khatuov's boss and a former governor of Krasnodar Krai, and Tkachev's successor in Krasnodar, Veniamin Kondratyev, in the hope of preserving a modicum of influence over Adygeya's next leader. The fact that Kumpilov has been named acting republic head almost certainly guarantees that he will be permanently confirmed in that post, however. And even though the level of popular disenchantment in Adygeya is relatively low, it seems equally likely that the Kremlin will ignore the petition requesting the reintroduction of direct elections for republic head rather than risk an embarrassing defeat for Kumpilov that would reflect negatively on Putin in the run-up to the Russian presidential election in 2018. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL The Wall Street Journal reports on January 22 that U.S. counterintelligence agents have investigated communications that President Donald Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had with Russian officials. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said it is unclear whether the counterintelligence probe produced any incriminating evidence or whether it is ongoing. Flynn, a retired three-star general, was sworn in as national security adviser on January 22. In his position, he will play a key role in helping to set the president's policies toward Russia. The inquiry was aimed at determining the nature of Flynns contacts with Russian officials and whether they may have violated laws, The Wall Street Journal says. A series of December 29 telephone calls Flynn made to Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, is under scrutiny, The Wall Street Journal says. That was the day the Obama administration announced sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election through cyberattacks and other means. Earlier contacts by Flynn with Russian officials were also probed, the report says. In response, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said, "We have absolutely no knowledge of any investigation or even a basis for such an investigation." With reporting by The Wall Street Journal 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 French presidential candidate Francois Fillon says that the European Union's economic sanctions against Russia are ineffective and called for dialogue with Moscow. Speaking on January 23, Fillon also expressed concern that the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump could forge links with Russia that would sideline the EU. "I am convinced that the economic sanctions are totally ineffective," Fillon told reporters after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. "We must find another way to talk." "I do not want Trump to talk with Russia at our expense. It would be damaging for Europe if Trump went above our heads, which is not inconceivable," Fillon said. Trump has said he hopes to improve ties with Russia, which have been badly strained by Moscow's seizure of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, among other things. He suggested during the presidential campaign that he would consider easing or lifting sanctions imposed by the United States. Fillon -- the front-runner in a presidential election that is expected to be decided in May -- said that a gesture from Russia would be needed before EU sanctions could be lifted. He also said Kyiv was not doing enough to ensure an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 9,750 people since April 2014. Based on reporting by Reuters 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. Britain's envoy in Kabul said he expects the United States and NATO allies to "stay strong and stay long" in Afghanistan. In an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, Ambassador Dominic Jermey also said that Britain sees better relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan as a top priority this year. AQTAU, Kazakhstan -- Dozens of oil workers are facing court hearings in Kazakhstan's western region of Manghystau after a local court found their hunger strike illegal. Hundreds of oil workers who had been on strike since January 5, protesting the closure of a confederation of independent labor unions, stopped their protest on January 21 following the court's ruling. Fifteen employees of the Oil Construction Company were found by a court on January 21 to have violated laws on public gatherings and fined $135-$340 each. Eight of those 15, along with 20 other workers, faced hearings on January 23 in the regional capital, Aqtau, on charges of causing $9,000 damage to the company. Fourteen other protesters face court hearings the town of Shetpe, an RFE/RL correspondent reported from the site. It is not clear what they were charged with. Two union leaders at OCC, Amin Eleusinov and Nurbek Qushaqbaev, were arrested on criminal charges on January 21. Eleusinov was charged with embezzlement, and Qushaqbaev was charged with organizing an illegal hunger strike. Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has called on neighboring Serbia to recognize his countrys independence and complete a process of normalizing relations "based on the values of the European perspective of the two countries." Thaci spoke to RFE/RLs Balkan Service on January 23, the day before a new round of talks between Kosovo and Serbia is scheduled to open in Brussels. The presidents of both countries are expected to attend the opening of the Brussels meeting. The last round of the talks was held more than one year ago. "It is time to open the last chapter in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the chapter of the normalization of bilateral relations, including normalization in the fields of politics, security, economics, and regional and Euro-Atlantic integration," Thaci said. Speaking to RFE/RL in Brussels, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, called for "increased commitment and engagement" by both sides in the upcoming talks. "Progress in the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is of paramount importance," spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said. "We have said that very clearly -- that goes for both sides, for the region, and for the European Union as such." Kosovo, supported by the United States and other Western countries, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade still considers it part of its territory. While 114 countries recognize Kosovo's independence, Serbia and Russia do not. Tensions between the two countries were aggravated earlier this month after Belgrade sent a train toward an ethnic-Serbian-dominated enclave in northern Kosovo with the slogan "Kosovo is Serbia" emblazoned on the side. The train did not cross into Kosovo, but Thaci accused Belgrade of plotting to take control of the enclave using the "Crimea model," a reference to Russias 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian region. Both Serbia and Kosovo are actively pursuing membership in the European Union. With reporting by RFE/RL Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Residents of villages straddling Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have clashed amid tense border relations. The situation appeared to be calmer on January 23, but several people were injured in fights a day earlier. (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service) Moldovan President Igor Dodon has said he does not believe his country will ever be part of the European Union and that in order to be fully unified, it is necessary "to find common ground with Russia." Speaking to Russias state-run RT television on January 23, Dodon said that people in Moldova's Transdniester and Gagauzia regions overwhelmingly opposed European integration. He said that for that reason "we will not succeed in uniting the country if we do not build a strategic partnership with Russia." Transdniester is a mostly Slavic sliver of land that has been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since a war in 1992. The autonomous region of Gagauzia is populated largely by ethnic Turkish Gagauz who speak Russian and have adopted Russian Orthodox Christianity. Failing to do so, he said, would mean "the risk of losing our statehood" since "we have Romania right next door, willing to absorb us at any moment." Dodon added that if a new parliament due to be elected in 2018 decided to terminate Moldova's 2014 Association Agreement with the European Union, he would "certainly" support that policy. In the meantime, he said he will work to "restore friendly relations and a strategic partnership with Russia." Dodon said that Moldova had not benefited "in the slightest" from its European-integration policies of recent years and that a majority of Moldovans now supported integration into the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. Dodon said he will work to secure for Moldova observer status in the economic union, which currently includes five former Soviet republics, a topic that he discussed during a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the European Commission, Moldovan exports to the EU grew by 21 percent between 2013 and 2015. Economy Minister Octavian Calmic told RFE/RL that trade with Russia had declined because "Moldovan economic actors have found alternatives, primarily in European markets." Dodon said he will go to Brussels in February, where he plans to propose the creation of a "trilateral platform" comprising Moldova, Russia, and the EU in order to discuss expanding Moldovan trade with Russia in the context of EU sanctions against Moscow over its annexation of Ukraines Crimea region and its involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Moldovan president also said he opposed an agreement signed in December with NATO to open a NATO liaison office in Chisinau. Dodon said that when he meets with NATO officials he will ask if the transatlantic alliance is willing to sign a statement acknowledging Moldovas neutrality. Andian Candu, chairman of the Moldovan parliament, said on January 23 that the proposed NATO liaison office, which is expected to begin operation in March, "is a technical, communications structure" that will not affect Moldova's neutrality in any way. Moldova participates in NATOs Partnership for Peace program and contributes troops to the alliance's policing mission in Kosovo. Dodon won the presidency after running a strongly pro-Russian campaign and took office in December. Previously, he was the leader of the Socialist Party, which controls the single largest faction in Moldovas parliament. The Moldovan presidency is largely a symbolic position, and the government is controlled by a coalition of pro-European-integration parties. With reporting by RT, Interfax, and TASS Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says the Kremlin expects the date for a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump to be agreed soon. Dmitry Peskov said on January 23 that the Russian Foreign Ministry is handling contacts with Washington about plans for the presidents' first conversation since Trump took office on January 20. "We are expecting the date of the possible phone call to be coordinated shortly," Peskov told reporters in a conference call."This has not happened so far." Peskov said he had "no information" about when Putin and Trump might hold their first meeting. He also said it is too early to discuss details of possible cooperation between Russia and the United States in fighting Islamist militants. Trump has said he hopes to improve relations with Russia, which are badly strained. The White House said after Trump was sworn in that defeating "radical Islamic terror groups" will the top U.S. foreign policy priority, and that the United States will "pursue aggressive joint and coalition military operations when necessary" to achieve that goal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that U.S. and Russian interests "obviously coincide" and that Moscow is ready to consider concrete proposals from the Trump administration. "Let me remind you that [Putin] called 18 months ago for the formation of a full-fledged, universal front for fighting terrorism, and this initiative is still on the table," Lavrov said in Budapest on January 23. Based in reporting by Interfax, Reuters, and TASS Moscow authorities have denied activists permission to protest in a central square against legislation that would decriminalize some forms of domestic violence in Russia. Organizers wanted to hold a demonstration on Bolotnaya Square on January 28, with up to 1,000 people attending. In rejecting the application, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin's office said that there is not enough room on the square -- the site of past protests attended by tens of thousands of people -- and that the gathering would disrupt traffic. The bill would make "moderate" violence within families an administrative offense, rather than a criminal one, with those found guilty able to pay a fine instead of serving jail time. It easily passed in the first of three votes in the lower house of parliament, and the second reading is scheduled for January 25. Amnesty International on January 19 urged Russia not to adopt the legislation, calling it a "sickening attempt to trivialize domestic violence" that would undermine already weak protections against abuse. The bill "is not going to improve the situation, to say the least," Irina Matviyenko, who runs a domestic violence hot line, told the Associated Press. Based on reporting by Meduza, AP, and The Guardian MOSCOW -- A Russian judge has rejected a motion by Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny's lawyer to recuse himself from the retrial of the opposition activist. The January 23 motion by Navalny's lawyer, Svetlana Davydoda, was based on information Navalny's lawyers say they accidentally got when judges at the Lenin district court in the city of Kirov, where the retrial is being held, spoke outside the courtroom and said the court had received instructions from Moscow to find Navalny and his co-defendant, Pyotr Ofitserov, guilty. Judge Aleksei Vtyurin rejected the motion the same day it was filed. The retrial began in early December after Russia's Supreme Court threw out the Kirov court's 2013 conviction of Navalny and Ofitserov on charges of large-scale theft involving timber sales. It resumed on January 18 after a break for the New Year and Christmas holidays. Navalny, 40, was handed a five-year suspended sentence in the initial trial in the case, which he said was politically motivated punishment for his opposition activity. A key leader of large antigovernment protests in 2011-12, Navalny was convicted of fraud in a separate case in 2014 and given a 3 1/2-year suspended sentence. Navalny has announced plans to run for president in 2018, but if he is convicted at the retrial he is likely to be barred from seeking political office. VIDEO REPORTS Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow is ready to advance a constructive dialogue with the United States in the interests of jointly combating terrorism. Activists in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet states took part in "sister marches," joining numerous global protests against newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump. Russian Orthodox Christians took the plunge in icy Siberian waters to mark the holy day of Epiphany, while the faithful in Serbia celebrated with a swimming race in Belgrade. When Barack Obama leaves office, will the restaurant named after him close its doors? OTHER NEWS At peace talks in Astana today, Russia will seek to consolidate its gains in Syria. Complimentary vodka flowed and chants of "Trumplissimo America!" resounded at a party in the Russian capital on the eve of Donald Trumps inauguration as president of the United States. A leading Democrat in the U.S. Senate has said he plans to introduce a bipartisan bill that would require U.S. President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval to lift any sanctions currently imposed on Russia. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has been reelected as head of the ruling United Russia Party. Anti-corruption crusader and potential presidential contender Alexei Navalny has posted on his blog that Russias Central Bank has ordered the payment system Yandex to block the collection of funds for his presidential campaign. (in Russian, Current Time TV) Balkar elders, citing nationalism and control over executive power by the Kabardinians, are calling on the authorities of Russias Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria to review the constitution and divide the region into two equal territorial subjects of the Russian Federation. (in Russian, North Caucasus Service) Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to continue sanctions against Russia to deter "further escalation" of the war in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he would use all legal means to counter efforts by "some politicians in Kyiv and Moscow" to force Ukraine to hold early parliamentary elections. Ukraines security service has reported that it detained two previously convicted Ukrainian citizens on January 20 who, allegedly on the Kremlins orders, sought to assassinate Ukrainian lawmaker Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Interior ministry and a vocal critic of Russia. (Ukrainian Service) The Roshen candy manufacturer, owned by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, has announced that it is planning to shut its factory in Russia and lay off 700 workers. Boris Rodos built an extraordinary career as a torturer and executioner in Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's dreaded secret police, the NKVD. His son, Valery, has spent most of his 74 years coming to grips with his fathers story. Moldovan President Igor Dodon has said he does not believe his country will ever be part of the European Union and that in order to be fully unified, it is necessary "to find common ground with Russia." Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyaev has floated a plan to abolish long-standing rules requiring citizens to obtain government permission if they want to travel abroad. In a rare public protest in Uzbekistan, a group of retirees recently took to the streets to demand their local government drop its newfangled debit-card system and pay their pensions in cash. Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloev one of the last major figures of Tajikistan's civil war era has just been removed from a key post he held for 20 years. Prominent political analyst Liliya Shevtsova told RFE/RL that U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are highly unlikely to lead America and the West out of their ideological crisis, but they may deepen it and facilitate the arrival of a new leader who would define a new historic mission for America and its responsibility as the backbone of the world order. (over 70k views on Russian Service website) Abdulkafi Alhamdo spoke with RFE/RL's Russian Service about his flight from eastern Aleppo after surviving an experience he calls worse than "living in hell itself." Rebel factions and representatives of the Syria government joined peace talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, that began on January 23. The negotiations, facilitated by Russia, Iran, and Turkey, were fraught from the beginning, with Syria's UN ambassador referring to the rebel fighters as terrorists. ((RFE/RL's Kazakh Service and Current Time TV, Reuters, AP) WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon has denied Russian state-media reports that it provided coordinates for Russian air strikes targeting Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria and that the bombing was a joint mission with U.S.-led coalition forces. Several Russian government media outlets on January 23 quoted a Defense Ministry statement as saying that Washington used a "direct line" to relay coordinates to Russia's Hmeimim air base for strikes the previous day on targets near the town of Al-Bab in the Aleppo region. "After conducting reconnaissance...two Russian Air Force planes and two planes from the forces of the international coalition delivered air strikes on terrorist targets," the state-run RIA Novosti agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying. The ministry did not post the statement on its website or its Facebook page, though state-owned news outlets RT and TASS reported on the statement using identical language in places. The Pentagon, however, quickly denied the reports. "The Department of Defense is not coordinating airstrikes with the Russian military in Syria," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon told RFE/RL in an e-mailed statement. "[The] DoD maintains a channel of communication with the Russian military focused solely on ensuring the safety of aircrews and de-confliction of Coalition and Russian operations in Syria." Another Pentagon spokesman, Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway, told RFE/RL, "There was no U.S. provision of targets to the Russian military and no joint coalition-Russian air strikes." Russia and the United States have been on opposite sides of the six-year war in Syria, with Moscow backing President Bashar al-Assad, while Washington and its allies have supported some of the rebel groups he is battling. Both Russia and the U.S.-led coalition have hit IS targets in Syria, though Washington has accused Moscow of using its operation primarily to prop up Assad. The conflicting accounts come just days after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn into office as Barack Obama's successor. Trump has said repeatedly he wants to repair ties with Moscow that were badly strained over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. During the election campaign he said it would be "great" if the two sides could get along and "knock the hell" out of IS forces. After Trump was sworn in, the White House said that defeating "radical Islamic terror groups" will be the top U.S. foreign-policy priority and that the United States will "pursue aggressive joint and coalition military operations when necessary" to achieve that goal. Asked by reporters about the reported Russian announcement, White House spokesman Sean Spicer deferred questions to the Pentagon. But, he said, "I think the president has been very clear he will work with any country who shares our interest in defeating" IS. The Kremlin has expressed optimism about the prospects for improved bilateral relations under Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on January 23 that Moscow was working to arrange a call between the two leaders. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Budapest on January 23 that the two countries' interests "obviously coincide" and that Moscow was ready to consider concrete proposals from the Trump administration. The beginning of Trump's presidency comes amid the ongoing fallout over what U.S. intelligence calls a hacking and public-opinion influence campaign directed by Putin that aimed to help Trump defeat his rival, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, in the November 8 election. Trump has conceded that he believes Russia was likely behind the hacking targeting Clinton's campaign but says it had no impact on the outcome. The Kremlin has dismissed the allegations. With reporting by Interfax, Reuters, and TASS There are at least four separate coalitions that claim to be battling the extremist group Islamic State (IS). Three of those coalitions are reporting great success, and the failures of the fourth coalition tell us many things about the state of regional and geopolitical affairs. The physical "dawla," or "state," that was solidified by IS in 2014 at one point stretched from northwestern Syria to the outskirts of Baghdad in Iraq. Now it is attacked on all sides and is rapidly shrinking. On the eastern front, the Iraqi government, the Kurdish peshmerga, Turkish military units, Iraqi militias, U.S. Special Forces, and a broad coalition of international air support led by the United States has liberated Ramadi and Fallujah from IS control and is now rapidly retaking IS's western Iraqi stronghold, Mosul. It has been a tough fight, but progress in Mosul is now daily, or even hourly, news. On the western front, in Syria, the Turkish military and Syrian rebels have dealt major blows to IS. Azaz, Jarabulus, Mari, and (most importantly) Dabiq have all been liberated from IS since August. The Turkish coalition has met heavy resistance in the IS stronghold of Al-Bab, but they are making progress in cleaving IS's territory in two pieces. IS's defeat is only a matter of time -- and lives. At IS's center, the U.S. backed Syrian Defense Force (SDF), made up largely of Kurdish fighters, has eaten a giant crater in the northern part of IS's territory. The SDF is now threatening the IS capital, Raqqa, which is now regularly targeted by U.S. and coalition air strikes. Together these three coalitions are besieging all of IS's most important cities. They are threatening to capture IS's most important oil and gas resources as well. Perhaps most importantly, the United States believes that it has trapped many of the extremist group's most important leaders in this area. It's hard to imagine, then, that a fourth coalition, fighting for far less important outposts, would be losing ground to IS's offensives. This fourth group is the coalition supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It is made up of Russian soldiers, special forces, and private mercenaries (many of whom cut their teeth during Russia's invasion of Ukraine), as well as commandos from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Lebanese Hizballah extremists, and Shi'ite militiamen from Iraq. The purported mission of this coalition is to fight terrorists. And yet they have often let extremist groups like IS expand their territory while they concentrated on defeating U.S.-backed rebel groups, some of which were specifically organized to fight IS. During the pro-Assad coalition's campaign to capture Aleppo from anti-Assad rebels, IS launched a surprise operation to recapture the historic city of Palmyra. IS easily won a victory there because so few military units were left to guard the city. Even though the battle for Aleppo has ended in an Assad victory, IS has been allowed to expand its territory west of Palmyra. Though heavy battles are being waged near this city today, nothing like a full-scale operation has been launched to halt the IS advance. Though Russia announced it was withdrawing from Syria, evidence suggests that the opposite is true, and the focus of Russia's military might in particular has been moderate rebel groups north of Damascus -- not Al-Qaeda-linked groups in the north, and not IS near Palmyra. All of this seems to confirm what evidence has told us all along -- that the Russian-led victory in Palmyra nearly one year ago had little to do with fighting terrorism, but was simply an opportunity to spread the propaganda that Russia and Assad were standing up to IS. Last week, new evidence emerged that Russia and Assad may have had a mutually beneficial relationship with IS rather than an adversarial one, though that relationship dynamic appears to be changing. The Syrian city of Deir ez-Zour has been largely controlled by IS since 2015, but an oddly shaped part of the city and its surrounding areas have remained under the control of the Syrian military. Most importantly, the military airport has never fallen to IS, allowing the Syrian regime to continue to move troops, ammunition, and supplies into and out of the city. In the last week or so, IS has launched a concerted effort to drive the Syrian military from those positions. Russia is now scrambling to bomb IS as the extremist group has cut Assad's position there in two. It is a tale told in two maps -- last week, as IS was collapsing in Mosul, it was advancing in Deir ez-Zour. But Deir ez-Zour is more than 250 kilometers away from the nearest Assad-held position in Syria, in the heart of IS's caliphate. If IS could have seriously threatened those positions, why did this only happen now when it is in such a weakened state? Russian propaganda networks and pro-Assad journalists would have us believe that the United States is allowing large numbers of IS fighters to withdraw west to Deir ez-Zour. We have not seen any evidence to support this conclusion. Furthermore, any IS extremists who escape Mosul could threaten U.S. Special Forces who are operating in Syria, so this strategy would make little sense. Even if it were true, why would IS wait until it was so weak to launch a new offensive, rather than send those forces to any of its more important positions that are in need of reinforcement? The obvious answer is that IS has allowed the Syrian military to hold those positions, and the Syrian military has given little cause for IS to change its mind. Though battles have certainly been fought between these two groups before in Syria, the situation there has been mutually beneficial for Assad and IS. By keeping its positions there, the Syrian government has been able to maintain that it is locked in a desperate struggle against IS extremists. IS's proximity to Syrian military positions has discouraged U.S. coalition air strikes against the extremist group. Instead, when the U.S. had intelligence on potential high-value targets within Deir ez-Zour earlier in the month it launched a risky special-forces raid on the outskirts of the city. IS is collapsing. It needs victories. And so it is attacking Syrian positions, in Palmyra and Deir ez-Zour, because it knows that it can probably win. Experts have repeatedly warned us from the start of this conflict that the Syrian government played a role in the creation of IS. We should not be surprised that the pro-Assad coalition and IS have at best taken advantage of a mutually beneficial relationship and at worst have openly colluded to create the mess in Syria and Iraq that we see today. If the West is to take the fight against IS seriously, it should do so with eyes open as to the motives of both the Assad government and the foreign powers, particularly Russia, that support it. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid has told visiting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that she supports continued sanctions against Russia over its involvement in eastern Ukraine. Kaljulaid said following a meeting with Poroshenko in Tallinn on January 23 that the economic sanctions should remain until "the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and until Russia observes all its international obligations." She said Estonia also supported the granting of visa-free travel for Ukrainians to the EU "as soon as possible" and pledged to support Ukraine as it undergoes difficult economic and social reforms. Poroshenko thanked Estonia for its resolute support and assistance it has given to Ukraine, which included the medical rehabilitation of 40 wounded Ukrainian troops. He added that there was a necessity for a "global, European, and transatlantic solidarity until Ukrainian territory is liberated from the Russian aggressor, Russian troops are fully withdrawn, and the uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian border is placed under Ukraine's control." Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and has provided support to separatists in eastern Ukraine fighting Ukrainian troops in a conflict that has killed more than 9,750 people. Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax Three years ago the streets of Ukraine's capital were engulfed in protests as Euromaidan demonstrators demanded the resignation of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. January 22, 2014, marked a turning point when Berkut riot police cracked down violently on protesters. Twenty-year-old demonstrator Serhiy Nihoyan and 25-year-old Mikhail Zhyzneuski were shot dead. To mark the third anniversary of the clashes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service returned to Hrushevsky Street, which was the scene of the most vicious street battles. A leading Democrat in the U.S. Senate has said he plans to introduce a bipartisan bill that would require U.S. President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval to lift any sanctions currently imposed on Russia. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (New York) told ABC television on January 22 that the initiative was supported by leading Republican colleagues John McCain (Arizona) and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina). They expect to introduce the bill later this week. Schumer, citing Russian involvement in the military conflict in Ukraine and its alleged interference in the U.S. presidential election, said the country presents "a danger that we have never faced to this extent in American history." During the presidential campaign, Trump expressed hope for closer relations with Russia and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. Based on reporting by ABC and The Hill Russia launched more kamikaze drones on infrastructure and civilian targets in southeastern Ukraine, officials said on November 4, as extensive damage to the power grid left millions of Ukrainians without electricity, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to accuse Moscow of "energy terrorism." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Valentyn Reznichenko, the governor of the Dnipropetrovskov region, said the Ukrainian military destroyed eight Iranian Shahed-136 "kamikaze" drones in the region's southern Nikopol district. "Our air defense did a great job this night. Eight enemy Shaheds downed," Reznichenko wrote on Telegram. It was the second day in a row that Nikopol was targeted by Russian drones. Reznichenko said Russian troops also pounded four settlements in the same district -- Myrivska, Chervonogrigorivska, Marganetska, and Nikopolska -- with Grad rockets and artillery fire, damaging a gas pipeline and a power line and destroying residential buildings. Russian troops regularly bombard the Dnipropetrovsk region, one of Ukraine's steelmaking hubs, with various types of weapons. Moscow denies its attacks on civilians in Ukraine. Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on November 3 that millions of Ukrainians were temporarily without power due to the Russian attacks. "Tonight, about 4.5 million consumers have been temporarily disconnected from energy consumption," Zelenskiy said. "The very fact that Russia is resorting to energy terrorism shows the weakness of our enemy. They cannot beat Ukraine on the battlefield, so they try to break our people this way." Russia has been targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure and other civilian buildings with missile, drone, and artillery attacks for several weeks amid a Ukrainian counteroffensive that has driven Russian troops out of the northeast and pushed them back in the east and southeast. Over the past days, however, despite heavy fighting, there has been no significant change on the ground on the eastern and southern Ukraine fronts, with preparations building for a fight over the southern city of Kherson. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry accused Moscow of forcibly deporting Ukrainian citizens from Kherson to Russia. "The Russian occupation administration has begun mass forced relocation of residents of the left bank [of the Dnieper River] of the Kherson regionto the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea or the Russian Federation," the ministry said in a statement on November 3. Similar deportations are also being carried out by Russia in the Zaporizhzhya, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions, as well as in Crimea, the ministry said. Russia in September proclaimed to have seized the partially occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Luhansk, and Donetsk following referendums condemned by Kyiv and the West as shams. Volodymyr Saldo, the Russia-appointed head of Kherson, announced on October 31 an expansion of what Russia has called the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens. Saldo said he was moving people further into the region or to Russia because of the risks of a "massive missile attack." Just three days earlier, the Russian-installed officials announced that the evacuation process in Kherson region had ended. Kyiv reiterated on November 3 that it saw the move as a "deportation." It also said reports continue to circulate about the alleged mining of the Nova Kakhovska hydroelectric power plant by Russian troops. Zelenskiy previously said that Ukraine suspects Russia has mined the dam and units of the power plant on the Dnieper River, and that if it were blown up, more than 80 settlements, including Kherson, would be in danger of flooding. The Foreign Ministry statement also accused Russian troops of looting industrial, cultural, educational, and medical institutions, as well as private houses and apartments. Russian forces also removed roadblocks in Kherson. The head of the Kherson regional military administration, Yaroslav Yanushevich, believes that they did this to create the illusion that Russian forces have left the city. WATCH: Near Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region, Ukrainian forces often rely on artillery from the 1970s and '80s. The front line there is one of the most hotly contested areas. The soldiers say that although the Soviet-era weaponry is old, it is still very effective. It was also reported that the Russian flag was removed from the Kherson regional administration building. The head of the joint coordination press center of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, Natalya Humenyuk, said that this could be a provocation. The loss of Kherson, which Russian troops captured in March in the early days of the war, would signal a significant retreat. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, asked to comment on the battlefield situation in southern Ukraine, said he believes Ukrainian forces in the Kherson region have the capacity to retake the territory on the west side of the Dnieper River and Kherson city from Russian troops. With reporting by Reuters Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyaev has floated a plan to abolish long-standing rules requiring citizens to obtain government permission if they want to travel abroad. A draft of a presidential decree posted on a government website includes, among other things, a clause under which exit visas would be abolished. The draft indicated that the decision to scrap exit visas would come in the third quarter of 2017 -- July-September -- but it was unclear when the policy would actually be implemented. The exit-visa system inherited from the Soviet era has been a tremendous barrier for Uzbeks seeking to leave the country for any reason as it requires regular renewal, costs money, and involves lengthy bureaucratic procedures to obtain. Uzbekistan is the only former Soviet republic that still requires exit visas. Mirziyaev's plan to abolish exit visas is one of a number of initiatives that appears aimed to open up the tightly controlled Central Asian nation following his election after the death of longtime autocrat Islam Karimov, which was announced on September 3. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Police are asking for the public's help to find a missing Hopewell woman. Family members say Brenda McQueen, 64, was last seen Monday, Dec. 12, at a bus stop near the hhgregg store on Southpark Boulevard in Colonial Heights, according to Hopewell police. McQueen is known to frequent Hopewell, Petersburg and Colonial Heights, and gets places by either walking or using public transportation, police said. McQueen is described as a 64-year-old black woman, 5 feet 3 inches tall and 125 pounds. Police do not suspect foul play. Henrico Countys top administrator trumpeted statistics that have earned the county a reputation of well-run government at a regional business meeting Monday morning before projecting a vision for the localitys future that includes efforts to provide affordable housing and combat substance abuse. Our Henrico Way is really a simple process if you boil it down to the individual parts, County Manager John Vithoulkas said during the annual State of the County address. Its based on sound fiscal practices, maintaining infrastructure, ensuring this business-friendly environment and providing exceptional services. The breakfast meeting at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen was sponsored by the Henrico Business Leaders. In a sweeping 50-minute overview, Vithoulkas gave updates on infrastructure improvements, including a variety of projects that have been funded through the countys meals tax or will be paid for by a recently passed $419.8 million bond referendum; a $115 million regional project to replace the radio system emergency responders use to communicate along with development and revitalization projects throughout the county. He touted the countys AAA bond rating, success in courting international businesses the county and also noted that 16 private companies located in Henrico were named as one of Inc. magazines 5000 fastest growing the most in central Virginia, he said. And he spoke of the countys burgeoning diversity the school division is minority-majority and he relayed statistics showing growth in the African-American, Asian and Latino populations since 2000. This diversity leads to the richness of our community, he said. It is becoming more and more a reason that many corporations and businesses are choosing to locate in Henrico County. Vithoulkas said the county will continue to focus and do well on our finances and provide funding for public safety and education before turning to areas where the county could improve. He described the traditional model of Section 8 housing as outdated and said hes convened task forces aimed at giving people living in a Henrico affordable housing complex the opportunity to an acceptable quality of life. He indicated that internal efforts are underway to combat the scourge of heroin addiction and that a community forum featuring FBI director James Comey addressing the issue will take place in March. In the realm of public education, he talked about the importance of technical education and gave a nod to the planned opening of an Achievable Dream Academy at Highland Springs Elementary School. Vithoulkas closed by remarking that the county is run out of an obligation to the people who live and work there. The state Senate on Monday rejected a bill calling for potential jail time for the crime of remaining at an unlawful assembly or a riot after being ordered to leave. By a vote of 14-26, several Republicans joined Democrats to stop Senate Bill 1055 by Sen. Richard H. Stuart, R-Stafford. Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond, said the bill did more than increase penalties for rioting. Because an unlawful assembly could stem from a peaceful demonstration, she said, the bill does subject peaceful protesters to a penalty that quite frankly in many circumstances could be too harsh. Stuarts bill would increase the punishment from a Class 3 misdemeanor to a more serious Class 1 misdemeanor. Such a conviction could result in up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Under current law, a Class 3 misdemeanor could not result in jail time and could result in a fine of up to $500. Stuart and some Republicans said the bill was necessary to deter illegal behavior at an increasing number of political demonstrations. This is a public safety bill for us and the protesters, frankly, Stuart said. This has absolutely nothing to do with civil disobedience or peaceful protest. This has to do with a riot, looting, pillaging, breaking into peoples places of business. McClellan rebutted that point. Republicans also said remaining at an unlawful assembly after being told to disperse is already illegal the bill simply enhances the punishment, they said. What this bill does is give teeth to that law, said Sen. Charles W. Carrico Sr., R-Grayson, a former state trooper. Carrico cited a protest in Richmond after the November election in which demonstrators blocked an interstate. Two bills to decriminalize marijuana by punishing possession of small amounts with a civil fine instead of a criminal misdemeanor were not approved by a Senate committee on Monday. But its not because the senators were necessarily opposed. Consideration of such legislation in Virginia is an issue on which the state hasnt done much study, and the Virginia State Crime Commission will be studying decriminalization of marijuana. Senate Republican Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. of James City County made the request for a study in December after saying he was open to decriminalization. Senators on the Courts of Justice Committee held a hearing Monday on two decriminalization bills: Senate Bill 1269 from Sen. Adam P. Ebbin, D-Alexandria, and Senate Bill 908 from Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth. Ebbin cited Virginia Beach religious broadcaster Pat Robertson one of my favorite philosophers among those who has called for decriminalization of marijuana. Im not exactly for the use of drugs, dont get me wrong, but I just believe that criminalizing marijuana, criminalizing the possession of a few ounces of pot, ... its costing us a fortune and its ruining young people, Ebbin quoted Robertson as saying in The Middle and Working Class Manifesto, a book by Paul J. Bern. Ebbin said the state shouldnt give someone a criminal record for something thats not harmful. Virginia State Police and the Virginia Association of Commonwealths Attorneys opposed his bill. Regardless of how anyone on the committee felt, the bill wont be moving forward without the Crime Commission study, said Committee Chairman Mark D. Obenshain of Rockingham. Were Game for Education! the Virginia Lottery proclaims at its display booth in the General Assembly Building. Lottery profits may be the game for Virginia lawmakers working on a revised state budget that helps local schools without necessarily providing money for teacher pay raises that most school divisions already have given. The budget already includes an additional $157.2 million in per-student funding for local school divisions in the next fiscal year all lottery money that would not require local matching funds and more could be coming. I would see us adding to what they currently have, House Appropriations Chairman S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, said in an interview Monday. Earlier in the day, teachers from across Virginia held a boisterous rally outside a House committee room to demand that the state pay its share of the 2 percent raise that was promised and withdrawn last year in the face of a revenue shortfall now projected at $1.26 billion. Its time to bridge the gap in state funding! shouted Jim Livingston, president of the Virginia Education Association, to a thick crowd of teachers who were gathered early Monday morning just around the corner from the lottery display. Livingston, a middle school teacher from Prince William County, delivered a letter Monday to Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, to demand that the state do your part, hold up your end of the bargain, and provide state support for a teacher salary increase. The localities have done more than their fair share, he said. Norment, co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, declined to respond to the letter Monday, as the assembly money committees work to address the dominant issue of the General Assembly session compensation for public employees. Were hoping to work out a resolution, said Jeff Ryer, a spokesman for Norment. While legislators have made it a priority to restore a 3 percent raise to state employees that also was eliminated last year, only one, Sen. Frank M. Ruff Jr., R-Mecklenburg, has proposed to amend the budget to provide a raise for teachers. Ruffs proposed amendments would give a 3 percent raise to teachers instead of the 1.5 percent one-time bonus Gov. Terry McAuliffe proposed. The proposal would cost about $127 million, or roughly $72 million more than the governors proposed bonus. Teachers werent part of the amendment proposed in the House of Delegates by Del. Charles D. Poindexter, R-Franklin County, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on compensation and retirement. It would restore raises that had been planned last year for state employees and state-supported local employees, such as sheriffs deputies and other constitutional officers. His amendment would include about $91 million, on top of the money proposed by the governor for one-time bonuses. Jones noted that all but a dozen or so local school divisions still gave teachers a 2 percent raise after the state suspended its $346.3 million compensation package for public employees, which had been tied to revenue performance in the fiscal year that ended June 30. They chose to proceed, he said. Tom Smith, lobbyist for the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, said most school divisions gave the raise because they were already obligated under teacher contracts before the state confirmed the shortfall and canceled the raises. Once we start raises at the beginning of the (fiscal) year, either you give it the rest of the year or you have to change the contract to take it away, Smith said. One of the localities that did not give the raise was Dickenson County, in far Southwest Virginia. The school division did not pay the raise after the state canceled its share, said Larry Barton, finance director for the Dickenson school system. If the state had not done that, we would have given the raise, Barton said. The state decision brought Phyllis Mullins, a seventh-grade civics teacher in Dickenson, more than 350 miles to Richmond early on Monday to advocate for the states share of a teacher pay increase. With the economic situation the way it is in the coalfields, were desperate, said Mullins, who has been a teacher for 27 years. But the House, at least, is not likely to provide money in the budget to pay the states share of raises that already have been given. That would set a terrible precedent we shouldnt do that, said Jones, who added that schools will get much of the money back when the state updates costs under the Standards of Quality in the next budget. Instead, the committee is looking to build on a new approach that it pushed last year to increase per-student funding for school divisions through the lottery, without requiring them to match with local funds as they do under the Standards of Quality. We want to help our schools, but we dont want to put a burden on them, said Robert P. Vaughn, staff director of the Appropriations Committee. In Dickenson, the lottery money is welcome, Barton said. It really helps as far as the match. Our locality is really strapped for cash. The financial plight of Petersburg, just 23 miles south of the state Capitol, has the attention of an influential group of state officials and lawmakers concerned about the potential for other local governments to slip into fiscal distress without their awareness. Former Richmond City Manager Robert C. Bobb, whose Washington consulting firm is working under contract to sort out the Cockade Citys messy finances, is scheduled to appear before the House Appropriations Committee this week, along with the citys financial consultant. Bobb was part of an informal work group that met in Richmond last week to discuss potential ways to improve state tracking of fiscal stress among local governments. The group included Secretary of Finance Richard D. Ric Brown, who stepped in last summer at Petersburgs invitation to help the city address a deepening budget deficit and operating shortfall, as well as the state auditor of public accounts, representatives of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees, and local government organizations. I thought it was a very positive meeting, said Bobb, who described the effort as developing an early warning system for municipalities that may be looking at some sort of fiscal stress. Less certain is what the state can do to help localities it finds in trouble. Thats a harder nut to crack than the early warning system is, said Brown, who provided technical assistance to Petersburg that determined the citys debts totaled more than $18 million with no way to pay them. The efforts by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and legislative leaders this year are likely to be modest in scope, focusing more on what information to collect about local government finances, how to analyze it, and where to report it than on ways for the state to intervene in managing local finances. I dont think theyve put enough thought into what the appropriate state role should be, said Neal Menkes, director of fiscal policy at the Virginia Municipal League, who attended the state work group meeting Wednesday. I think they know what they dont want to do they dont want the state to become a bailout agency. Menkes wants the General Assembly to take a broader look at the financial challenges facing local government, as Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., R-Augusta, has proposed to do with a resolution that would create a joint legislative subcommittee on local government fiscal stress. Hes trying to take a look at the causes that propel our local governments into fiscal straits, Menkes said. Hanger, co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he is concerned about the limitations of local revenue sources from the partial phaseout of the car tax and other state efforts to restrict local taxes to the way Virginia provides money for constitutionally required local services, such as public education and mental health. Id like to have more revenue resources for our local governments that would offset the need to get most of that from real estate taxes, he said. House Appropriations Vice Chairman R. Steven Landes, R-Augusta, does not support Hangers proposed subcommittee, which he said has been tried previously. I didnt see a lot of progress, he said. Landes was appointed in September as chairman of a new legislative work group to examine options for monitoring fiscally stressed localities and potential ways for the state to respond. The work group has yet to meet but is expected to do so shortly as legislators look for ways to get ahead of potential financial crises for localities. Were convinced if we had this early warning system in place, we would have known for a long time what was happening in Petersburg, said Appropriations Chairman S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk. Auditor of Public Accounts Martha S. Mavredes, whose agency receives and reviews audits of local governments each year, said she became aware of financial concerns in Petersburg last spring because of an unfilled purchase order by a constitutional officer. She later discovered that an accountant for the city had raised concerns with the City Council last February. It really didnt get picked up by the city, Mavredes said. Brown brought a team of auditors to Petersburg to determine the scope of its problems, which included a budget deficit of $12 million, unpaid debts of almost $19 million, and a severely constrained cash flow. I think everybody was surprised at that stage of the game that things were as difficult down there as they were, he said. The options for Petersburg were limited. The Virginia Constitution does not allow local governments to declare bankruptcy, and the law does not provide a way to place them into receivership. We dont have constitutional authority to come in and take over a locality, Landes said, and, to be honest, the state doesnt want to do that. In October, the Petersburg City Council hired Bobb, who served as city manager in Richmond from 1986 to 1997, to help turn around the citys finances. In addition to Richmond, he had served as city manager in Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C., as well as emergency financial manager for the Detroit school system. The community recognized it has a problem and developed a plan to make the tough decisions that are required to bring their budget in balance, Bobb said last week. But balancing the budget is only part of the challenge, he said. The critical thing that many localities dont understand is there is a significant difference between budget and cash flow. For the state, the concern extends beyond Petersburg, which had ranked third on the fiscal stress index compiled by the Council on Local Governments behind Emporia and Buena Vista, but just ahead of Martinsville and Covington. The index measures local revenue capacity, effort and median household income, but Mavredes has been reviewing the mechanisms other states use to monitor fiscal stress in a locality. During the Appropriations Committee retreat last fall, she reviewed more than a half-dozen methods used to measure fiscal stress in a locality and deal with it. Some, such as a state oversight commission like North Carolinas, would require a change in state law. Others, such as the financial assessment model used in Louisiana, could be adapted to measure and compare stress for Virginia localities. Compared with localities in Louisiana, Petersburg would have been classified as fiscally distressed in 2015. Mavredes said her staff is developing a way to use the model to compare stress among Virginia localities. Its not clear whether Virginia would need legislation or even budget language to work on ways to collect and analyze data better to determine the level of a localitys fiscal stress. Mavredes expects to address the options soon with Landes subcommittee and other legislators. Depending on which way they want to go, you may or may not need legislation to do it, she said. The things my office can do from the analytical side in terms of the data we can get, I dont have to have (budget) language to do that, she added. What the state does to intervene with the localities it finds distressed is a different kind of challenge. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, its really creating an opportunity for localities to manage themselves, Bobb said. Last Friday, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States of America. Gulp. I spent two years working on the effort to make sure this wouldnt happen. We failed. Sigh. As he becomes president, Democrats, independents and even some Republicans across the country are asking the same questions about how they should stand up, how they should fight back and how they should resist. There are lots of good ideas and countless important efforts in Washington. While all these efforts are important, none of them is as important as the one here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Having grown up in Richmond and worked for nearly a decade in Virginia politics, I see one top focus for every Virginian in 2017: November 7. Thats when we choose our next governor. Obviously, this election matters to the future of the commonwealth. It will affect how we carry forward the successful legacy of Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the progress we make on important issues ranging from strengthening education to improving transportation to providing quality, affordable health care. But theres something beyond that and something that matters beyond Virginia. The election of Virginias governor is the first chance the voters of this country will get to speak up about the Trump administration. The resistance will start in Richmond. Many people have said that the 2018 midterm elections are our version of Star Wars New Hope where we fight back against the Death Star. If that analogy is to hold true in 2018, then 2017 in Virginia is going to be our Rogue One, where the seeds of the resistance are sown. Elected representatives in Washington will have been doing battle with Trump for a year by Election Day 2017. The Virginia governors race is the first real chance that our democracy gets to weigh in and the voters get to speak. And when voters speak in Virginias governors races, it matters. On the heels of Bill Clintons victory in 1992 presidential campaign, upstart conservative George Allen defied expectations in defeating an establishment Republican in the primary and defeating the Democratic front-runner Mary Sue Terry in the 1993 general election. One year later, we had the Gingrich revolution. In 2004, Democrats were demoralized when George W. Bush won a second term as president, but one year later, Tim Kaine won the Virginia governors mansion. That was the first political wound to the Bush administration and the Republican Party, setting the stage for the GOPs loss of the Senate and House in 2006 and the White House in 2008. And, just a few years ago, President Obama won a historic victory in 2008, including becoming the first Democrat to win Virginia since LBJ in 1964. But, one year later, conservative ideologue Bob McDonnell swept the state the first harbinger of the Tea Party revolution that would take a record number of seats in Congress in 2010. Now, we look at 2017. What will Virginians do? What message will we send to the nation and what will it portend for the midterms and the future of the Trump administration? Virginians have the chance to be the first major electoral blow to the Trump administration that, hopefully, begins its electoral decline. But its going to take some work. In November, Virginians will elect a governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, as well as all 100 members of the House of Delegates. While we fell short of winning the Electoral College votes needed nationwide in 2016, Hillary Clinton did better in Virginia in 2016 than Barack Obama did in 2012. Democrats have a roadmap to win in Virginia if we build on that coalition. In fact, 17 Republican members of the House of Delegates hold seats in districts Clinton won. Once known as the Mother of Presidents, in recent years Virginia has been the early warning system and first signal of electoral troubles for presidents instead. We can perform that role again in 2017. The diversity of Virginia with urban, suburban, exurban and rural populations makes the voice of Virginia voters in 2017 a good representation of what we may see across the nation in 2018. Virginia is the right place for the decline of the new Trump administration to formally begin. First, were a diverse state, a tolerant state, and a state that appreciates progress, building a brighter future for every resident. Second, were a state that has steadily moved away from our one-time role as the Capital of the Confederacy and now largely embraces who we are and who we want to be as a country things Trump has often rejected. Third, and most importantly, the motto of the Commonwealth of Virginia is Sic Semper Tyrannis Thus Always to Tyrants. Where better to launch the resistance? A storm system that brought deadly tornadoes to the Deep South over the weekend delivered heavy rain, high surf and strong wind gusts to Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. The blustery, soaking rain on Monday morning was caused by an unusually strong area of low pressure tracking from west to east across North Carolina. Now a noreaster, the low will continue moving toward New England by this evening. The air rushing around the low was responsible for the strong gusts felt in much of the area. Richmond International Airport recorded a gust of 35 mph Monday morning, while Charlottesville and Stafford peaked at 40 mph. Farther to the northeast, gusts topped 52 mph at Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore. The barometer provided another clue to the systems strength. The sea-level pressure dropped down to 991.7 millibars in Richmond, the lowest reading since March 12, 2014. Every part of the state saw steady rain on Monday morning. Richmond had picked up about 0.8 inch of rain by 3 p.m. Monday, and the Petersburg area had received about 1.2 inches. The totals were higher to the west, where Roanoke had received nearly 2 inches by midafternoon. A few showers could linger into this morning, but expect clearing skies as the day goes on. Even as the low moves offshore, it will stay breezy across the Richmond area, with northwest gusts to 25 mph. Rain may switch to snow higher in the ridge tops of Northern Virginia and the West Virginia panhandle, then clear out as today goes along. The main snow and ice threat will affect the mountains and interior of the Northeastern states, while the major cities along Interstate 95 stay on the rainy side. In Richmond, the rest of the week will be quiet by comparison. The next cold front on Thursday will only bring a brief chance for a light shower in the morning. Expect Wednesday to be the warmest day of the week, with a high in the mid-60s. Colder weather will return by the weekend. Instead of bitter cold, it will just be a return to normal midwinter levels. Expect highs in the lower to mid-40s from Friday into early next week. Friday morning may get close to 32 degrees in Richmond, but Saturday morning is most likely to be the next time for freezing temperatures. Central Virginia still looks dry through the first half of the weekend, but a few questions have arisen about the second half. And there are m Richmonds Riverside taps Waller as head of school RICHMOND Riverside School has named Hal Waller as head of school for the 2017-18 school year. Waller has previously worked at the Veritas School and the Maggie L. Walker Governors School in Richmond. As head of Riverside, Waller will continue to support the unique education of students in Central Virginia with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences, the school said. He will be the fourth head of school since Riverside was founded more than 40 years ago. Waller is currently principal of the lower school at the Veritas School in Richmond. Before Veritas, he was the community relations director, chief development officer and chair of the English department at the Maggie L. Walker Governors School. His background also includes serving as the summer school dean of students at Woodberry Forest and working as a teacher at secondary schools in Greece, Germany and England. Waller earned his Ed.S. in educational leadership, administration and supervision from the University of Virginia; a master of arts in English literature from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor of arts in English from Washington and Lee University. Riverside School is an independent K-8 day school in Richmond dedicated to providing students with dyslexia and similar language-based learning differences with the educational resources they need to reach their maximum potential. Meeting set for Tuesday on adult literacy grants RICHMOND The Virginia Department of Education is inviting organizations with experience providing adult education and literacy services to a pre-proposal conference in Richmond on Tuesday. Attendees will learn about competitive grant opportunities available for fiscal year 2018 under programs authorized by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. Organizations that may be eligible to apply for the grants include school divisions, community-based organizations or faith-based organizations, volunteer literacy organizations, libraries and public housing authorities. The meeting will be held at the Westin Richmond, 6631 W. Broad St., from 9 a.m. to noon. In the event of inclement weather, the alternate date will be Jan. 31. More information, including the downloadable competitive grant application package, is available on the VDOE website at http://doe.virginia.gov/instruction/adulted/grants_funding/index.shtml. Three Goochland students to go to SPARK! Hackathon GOOCHLAND Goochland High School students James Deloach, Austin Payne and Jack Williamson were selected to attend the 2017 SPARK! Hackathon in Charlottesville on Saturday and Sunday. The students were among more than 90 applicants from 16 regional schools to apply for places at the hackathon. SPARK! Hackathon is an event of learning and hacking that is open to high school students across the region and offers them an opportunity to connect with industry experts and other students who are passionate about changing the world through technology. SPARK! defines a hackathon as an event where people come together to collaborate on creating tech that solve real-world problems. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Chuck Akers of Roanoke didnt retire from being a locomotive engineer because of the man who committed suicide before his eyes and whose remains were washed by firefighters from the front of his train. It wasnt specifically over the bicyclist he hit or the woman in the older white van he killed, either. Or the person standing beside the track mowed down one day. Or about the run-ins with a cement truck, dump truck, front-end loader, motorcycles or various passenger vehicles whose drivers failed to yield to the train on the tracks and lived. It was the shock of all those incidents combined, followed by a bruising derailment, that drove Akers to the sidelines of the profession he loved. To step down from the cab after nearly 40 years was hard but necessary for peace of mind, he said. Its the fear of hitting the next big thing that you wont survive through, said Akers, 58. What do I hit next, a gas truck, wipe me out? I got people to consider. A million-plus miles traveled, a lifelong personal and family connection to railroading, a house full of photographs and memorabilia. Akers had a lot invested in the movement of freight and people. He had been on course to achieve a high point of his career: running the new Amtrak train to Roanoke later this year. Then a large truck blocked the track ahead of him on March 9, 2015. It was a routine trip between Raleigh, North Carolina, and Richmond, run at 79 mph. A sign at the crossing that was blocked, in Halifax, North Carolina, read: DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS. Emergency brakes on, Akers hit the floor. The Amtrak Carolinian T-boned a 162-foot superload carrying a modular building. Sixty-five Amtrak passengers and several crew went to the hospital. All but one person was treated and released. No one died. Rescuers approached Akers blue locomotive, lying on its side, and freed him through a broken-out window. Im done, he recalled telling himself at the scene. A psychologist he had seen for several years, a psychopharmacologist to whom he was referred and a railroad retirement board-appointed psychiatrist agreed he needed to retire because of post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD occurs when a person exposed to a traumatic event or events continues to feel stress and fear even when they arent in danger. Before the Halifax crash, with 12 crashes on his record none involving a violation on his part or a derailment the anxiety had been real but not overpowering. I just kind of sucked it up and went on, but its that fear of the unknown, Akers said. At its worst, the condition brought on nightmares and flashbacks. In one incident, he tripped on a rock in his yard and when I fell down I was back in that locomotive and we were wrecking, he said. You think about it every day. John Tolman, vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said locomotive engineers experience an average of three fatal crashes every 25 years of service. PTSD from exposure to multiple crashes is a recognized occupational hazard and has cost other train personnel the remainder of their careers, according to Tolman. Regulators said there were 2,291 highway-rail grade crossing collisions in the United States in 2015. Im sure hes relieved to be away from that pressure, said a friend and former co-worker, David Booth of Roanoke. What Ive seen of him, he appears OK to me. What his battles are inwardly I dont know. The split with Amtrak didnt involve the usual retirement kudos for veterans, which is a source of angst for Akers, according to his wife, Lisa Stoneman, an assistant professor of education at Roanoke College. I hate that for him, she said. Theres no big picture of him in his engine coming in. Some colleagues wince when they think about it. His last act as a locomotive engineer was riding out a locomotive that turned over on its side because somebody didnt have common sense, said Chuck Jensen, a lifelong friend and fellow railroad worker. In any collision at a public crossing, the driver decides to pull out in front of the train. The train doesnt decide to pull out in front of the driver, he said. Regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration make a similar point in a video depiction of a train hitting a car and pushing it on along the tracks in a shower of sparks. If you think trains will stop if they see a car on the tracks, the narrator says, youre right. They will. About a mile after they hit you. Amtrak said it does not comment on employee matters. Though he recovered from extensive bruising to his torso, Akers said he abandoned a dream: to bid for the engineers assignment on Amtraks soon-to-launch Roanoke passenger service. He said he couldnt say for sure he would have gotten it, but his seniority likely would have been sufficiently high. The idea was to cap a career he had begun at the Norfolk & Western offices, once also located downtown, where he was hired on in 1976, three weeks after high school graduation. Akers grew up in Elliston 350 feet from tracks owned by Norfolk Southern, then Norfolk & Western. Every time I heard a train coming, if I was in the house, Id come running out the back door to watch it go by, he said. I come from a long history of railroad people. Its all I ever wanted to do. It was either that or construction, but the railroad won out just simply because it was right out the back door. He shares a middle name with his late father, Gordon Lacy Akers, a railroad fireman and sheet metal worker, and his late great-uncle, James Lacy Akers, the Norfolk & Western station agent who appears in The Pelican At Rural Retreat, 1957, a photograph by O. Winston Link. Akers late grandfather, Charles Emory Akers, was a conductor for 50 years. Akers spent nearly 21 years in freight railroading and the rest at Amtrak. As the miles added up, so did the collisions. He said people might assume that if no one dies in a collision, the engineer is spared any trauma, but thats incorrect. When youre up there running and see a vehicle youre about ready to make into scrap metal, you dont know if theres a 2-year-old in there or a 90-year-old in there, he said. Hes had rescuers come up to him and say, Its OK, they lived or There was nobody in it. I say, it didnt make any difference to me. I still had the experience of somebody maybe dying three foot from me. A metal cowling wrapping around the front console of the train is about all that separates the locomotive engineers seat from impacted objects, he said. The Halifax crash caused an estimated $2 million in damage to the locomotive and other Amtrak equipment. Lawsuits were filed and confidential settlements were signed. Akers said the oversized loads route, which had been approved by North Carolina officials, was supposed to have been tested in advance, but nobody mentioned the shipment to him even though Amtrak ran a train through the area daily. Federal regulators said eyewitnesses told them that the truck driver blocked the crossing while making three tries to complete a left turn at a nearby intersection. None of his three escorts, which included a North Carolina state trooper, dialed CSX at an 800 number posted on a blue sign at the crossing to report problems, according to a report issued by the Federal Railroad Administration on Jan. 6. Witness estimates for how long the crossing was blocked ranged from four minutes to 20 minutes. When Akers rounded a curve in the northbound track, the crossing could have been visible about 1,000 feet away, according to the report. To have been able to stop the train before the crash, Akers said, he would have needed at least half a mile, or 2,600 feet, or about 30 seconds warning that the crossing was blocked. Investigators credited Akers with slowing the train from 70 mph to 32 mph before the impact at 12:19 p.m. Akers said he had been going 79, cut his speed to 68 in the curve and was going 40 on impact. The speed limit for the crossing was 70 mph. In naming a cause for the crash, the Federal Railroad Administration faulted the truck driver for highway user misjudgment. In assessing Akers conduct, the report found no train handling issues or exceptions. In addition, the train whose brakes passed inspection that morning and the crossing equipment were working normally, the report said. Akers posted a photo of his crashed locomotive on his Facebook page the day after the investigative report was made public. Akers isnt quoted in the official report but said he was interviewed at length. All he saw, he told interviewers, was a blue rectangular object the payload on the flatbed truck across the track ahead, he said. About five seconds elapsed before impact. It was total, sheer terror, he said. You can do nothing to me the rest of my life, nothing, that will give me that much terror as I had that day. RICHMOND Teachers arent happy with the states decision to eliminate its share of a 2 percent pay raise last year, even though most school divisions paid it anyway. Its time to bridge the gap in state funding! shouted Jim Livingston, president of the Virginia Education Association, to a thick crowd of teachers thronging the lobby of the General Assembly Building on Monday morning. Livingston wants Virginia to pay its share of the 2 percent raise that was canceled Dec. 1 because of a revenue shortfall now projected at $1.26 billion for the two-year state budget ending in June 2018. While legislators have made a priority to restore a 3 percent raise to state employees that also was eliminated, only one legislator, Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Mecklenburg, has proposed to amend the budget to provide a raise for teachers. Ruffs proposed amendments would give a 3 percent raise to teachers instead of the 1.5 percent one-time bonus proposed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The proposal would cost about $127 million, or roughly $72 million more than the governors proposed bonus. Teachers werent part of the amendment proposed in the House of Delegates by Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Franklin , chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on compensation and retirement, to restore raises that had been planned last year for state employees and state-supported local employees. While all but a dozen or so localities gave teachers a 2 percent raise anyway, Livingston said the states decision to tie its funding to revenue performance is unfair to local school divisions. They recognize the state is not stepping up to the plate and meeting their constitutional obligation to provide a high-quality education to the children of the commonwealth, he said in an interview before the rally outside a House committee meeting room. Tom Smith, lobbyist for the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, said most school divisions gave the raise because they were already obligated under teacher contracts before the state confirmed the shortfall and canceled the raises. Once we start raises at the beginning of the [fiscal] year, either you give it the rest of the year or you have to change the contract to take it away, Smith said. One of the localities that did not give the raise was Dickenson County, in far Southwest Virginia. The school division did not pay the raise after the state canceled its share, said Larry Barton, finance director for the Dickenson school system. If the state had not done that, we would have given the raise, Barton said. The state decision brought Phyllis Mullins, a seventh-grade civics teacher in Dickenson, more than 350 miles to Richmond early on Monday to advocate for the states share of a teacher pay increase. With the economic situation the way it is in the coalfields, were desperate, Mullins said. Robert Vaughn, staff director of the House Appropriations Committee, said the decision on teacher raises rests with local school boards, not the state, which only offered incentive funds for a raise. This time, the incentive money went away, and all but 12 [school divisions] paid, he said. The committee is looking for a different way to boost funding for school divisions by channeling more money to them from the Virginia Lottery, without requiring a local funding match. The assembly dropped the match requirement as part of a new budget approach last year to eventually send 40 percent of lottery profits to K-12 education; currently, about 30 percent of lottery money goes to education. We want to help our schools, but we dont want to put a burden on them with the funding match, Vaughn said. In Dickenson, the lottery money is welcome, Barton said. It really helps as far as the match. Our locality is really strapped for cash right now. De Beers said it is essential for different parts of the diamond pipeline to find ways to work together more effectively following the unpredictable events of a volatile year in 2016. We have made some good steps in this direction, with greater collaboration across the value chain to stimulate demand, to share industry insight and to support pipeline efficiency, Group chief executive Bruce Cleaver said during a reception for customers of its Global Sightholder Sales. But we must continue on this path and maximise the impact of our combined efforts to grow industry value. He said it was, however, important for all parts of the value chain to benefit from industry progress. None of us in the diamond industry can succeed sustainably in isolation. We must find ways to progress together, and we must continue to view challenges and opportunities from each others perspectives, said Cleaver. He said with the industrys medium to long term fundamentals positive, there was opportunity for investing in financially robust and transparent diamond businesses. The commercial environment in which we operate is changing rapidly andif we can find ways to compete more effectively in this evolving environment, then the change becomes a great opportunity, said Cleaver. Meanwhile, De Beers chief executive said that the group would launch a new and improved diamond verification instrument later in the year to help maintain trade and consumer confidence. Our new Automated Melee Screening instrument, the AMS2will be a significant leap forward in the technological response to product integrity challenges and we believe the AMS2 will play a major role in bolstering confidence across the value chain, he said. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Deputy Paul Glover wrote in the report that McIvers eye appeared to be very red and that the science teacher and Florence Public School District trustee was upset because he recently had eye surgery. The student admitted to throwing the paper airplane , in a meeting with McIver and a vice principal. He even said he intended to hit him in the eye. It was also proved that the teacher and the student previously had a history. The student was taken to the Georgetown County Detention Center and was released on bond. His first court appearing is scheduled for Feb. 14. Some commentators on this story after it became viral said the student should be exemplary punished to be a subject of reflection for other kids. Valley Metro | File image Stacy and Witbeck, Inc., has been awarded a contract from the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority for Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) for the Tempe Streetcar project. The $186 million project was organized through the use of various federal, regional and local funds. The transportation authority says construction of the three-mile streetcar line is expected to begin later in 2017, with an anticipated launch set for 2020. Stacy and Witbeck has a successful history working with Valley Metro Rail, said Tempe Mayor and Valley Metro Rail Board Chair Mark Mitchell. Their experience building in the region, attention to safety and community engagement make them a perfect fit on the Tempe Streetcar project. Valley Metro and Stacy and Witbeck will partner with the city of Tempe, Stantec, the project designer, and five project artists in addition to the local community to construct the regions first streetcar line, representatives say. We look forward to partnering with the Valley Metro team, the city of Tempe, ASU and the community on this exciting project, said Erik Yingling, Stacy and Witbeck vice president. We successfully completed a streetcar line in Kansas City last year and will carry that experience and expertise to Tempe Streetcar. Stacy and Witbeck worked with project partner Sundt to build 13 miles of Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. The contractor is also building two additional miles to Gilbert Road and is the CMAR on Valley Metros latest station at 50th Street station/Washington. The Tempe Streetcar line will transport riders along Rio Salado Parkway from the Marina Heights development west to Mill Avenue. The line will make a downtown loop on Mill and Ash avenues before continuing south to Apache Boulevard. The streetcar will then turn east to Dorsey Lane, connecting to the Dorsey/Apache Blvd. station. Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) spiked to the downside around mid-morning Friday on reports that the FTC may not approve the proposed merger of the company and Walgreens. Rite Aid ended the session with a loss of 1.14 at $7.46 on the highest volume of the year. The stock sank to a 2-month low and dropped below its 50 and 200-day moving averages. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (PNFP), the holding company and parent of Pinnacle Bank, and BNC Bancorp (BNCN), the holding company and parent of Bank of North Carolina, announced the signing of a definitive agreement by which BNC will merge with and into Pinnacle in an all-stock transaction. Upon completion of the merger, Pinnacle will merge Bank of North Carolina with and into Pinnacle Bank. The transaction is valued at approximately $35.70 per share, or $1.9 billion in the aggregate Pinnacle will operate the Carolinas and Virginia region out of BNC's existing corporate headquarters in High Point, North Carolina. Richard D. "Rick" Callicutt II, BNC's President and Chief Executive Officer, will be named Chairman of the Carolinas and Virginia region once the acquisition is consummated and will join Pinnacle's board along with three other BNC directors. David Spencer, BNC's Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be named Executive Vice President supporting Callicutt in growing the firm's presence in the Carolinas and Virginia and working in the combined company's treasury and corporate finance areas. As per the terms of the merger agreement, BNC shareholders will receive 0.5235 shares of Pinnacle common stock for every BNC share. All fractional shares will be cashed out as of the closing. Additionally, BNC's outstanding stock options will be fully vested upon consummation of the merger, and all outstanding BNC options that are unexercised prior to the closing will be cashed out based on Pinnacle's ten trading-day average closing price ending on the trading day immediately preceding the closing date. Based on Pinnacle's 20-day trailing average closing price as of Friday, January 20, 2017, the transaction is valued at approximately $35.70 per share, or $1.9 billion in the aggregate. Based on Pinnacle's most recent dividend, BNC shareholders will receive an approximate 47 percent increase to their current $0.05 quarterly dividend per share upon completion of the transaction. The proposed merger has been approved unanimously by each company's Board of Directors and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2017. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the approval of both Pinnacle and BNC shareholders. Pinnacle anticipates the transaction, with cost savings fully phased in and other adjustments, to be accretive to its 2018 earnings per share by about 10 percent, excluding acquisition-related and integration costs associated with the transaction. Pinnacle also estimates that the transaction will be accretive to tangible book value including all acquisition-related and integration costs associated with the transaction. Separately, BNC Bancorp reported that its net income for the fourth-quarter of 2016 $15.7 million, or $0.31 per share, compared to $18.1 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for third quarter of 2016. Operating net income for the fourth-quarter was $21.8 million, or $0.43 per share, compared to $19.7 million, or $0.42 per share, for third quarter of 2016. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Cabinet office is set to release final Japan leading economic indicators index data for November at 12:00 am ET Monday. Ahead of the data, the yen fell against its major rivals. As of 11:55 pm ET, the yen was trading at 122.07 against the euro, 141.19 against the pound, 113.78 against the Swiss franc and 113.66 against the U.S. dollar. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Forex News Gold futures rose Monday, keeping early gains after President Donald Trump formally pulled out of the Obama Administration's Trans-Pacific Partnership with Asia. In addition, Trump struck a protectionist tone over the weekend, vowing the renegotiate NAFTA. He has scheduled meetings with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to start reworking the trade deal. On his first working day, Trump also promised corporate executives he intends to slash taxes and regulations as part of an effort to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. Markets reacted with some anxiety, boosting gold's safe haven appeal. Gold for February rose $10.70, or 0.9%, to settle at $1,215.60/oz, the highest since last November. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Bruce Springsteen performed in Perth, Australia on January 22 where he expressed solidarity with the Women's March movement. The Boss said, "We're a long way from home, and our hearts and spirits are with the hundreds of thousands of women and men that marched yesterday in every city in America, and in Melbourne." Springsteen went on to say, "[They] rallied against hate and division and in support of tolerance, inclusion, reproductive rights, civil rights, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, the environment, wage equality, gender equality, healthcare, and immigrant rights. We stand with you. We are the new American resistance." Springsteen is currently on a 14-day tour of Australia and New Zealand. The Perth show kicked off the excursion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Entertainment News TipRanks One thing investors are not lacking for after 2022s market rout: beaten-down stocks going for cheap compared to levels seen at the start of the year. The problem is how can investors sift through the stock debris to pick out the names which will dust themselves down and push ahead again? As with anything, there are multiple ways to run a stock through the litmus test, but one tried-and-true method is to watch out for the moves the insiders make. These corporate officers know the inner workings By SA Commercial Prop News South Africa's First Solar Plant Unveiled In Ekurhuleni South Africa has unveiled first solar power plant, situated at the environmentally friendly OR Tambo Precinct, produces about 200 kW of electricity through 860 PV (photovoltaic) solar panels on 2,500 m of land. The City of Ekurhuleni showed its commitment to promote low carbon technologies when executive mayor, Mondli Gungubele officially unveiled the first and only solar plant in the country in Wattville, outside Benoni, on Friday. The solar power plant, situated at the environmentally friendly OR Tambo Precinct, produces about 200 kW of electricity through 860 PV (photovoltaic) solar panels on 2,500 m of land generating enough energy to power about 133 low cost houses. Gungubele said the solar power is a sign of human care by the City in terms of improving the living conditions of residents. This solar plant is also signaling greater things to come in our City, he said. He said the City is committed to promote the up-take of renewable energy as this will enhance them to become a progressive low carbon friendly City. This technology is the future in terms of saving the consumption of electricity, taking advantage of the sun as well as keeping our planet green and healthy, which has healthy benefits to us as well. This will go a long way in relieving the surging costs of electricity for the poor, he said. The launch of the renewable energy project is in line with Ekurhulenis Energy Strategy that identifies proactive promotion of green power as key for creating a sustainable future for the municipality. At the solar plant there are specialised techniques such as rammed earth, strawbale and cob wall construction, green roof technology, thermal mass earth flooring. Project director, Tshilidzi Thenga said solar panels are devices that harvest the suns light and turn it into energy that can be used for a lots of things. They are also referred to as active solar power producers. During the day, if exposed to sunlight, these solar cells will collect the energy that come from the sun and transform it into electrical power that is stored in special batteries attached to the solar panel, he said. Asked if the solar power will work at night and during cloudy weather conditions, Thenga said: The beauty with the type of PV solar panels used here in Leeupan solar power plant is that they can still generate electricity even during the cloudy weather. According to Thenga some of the advantages of solar energy are that they are not costly, no fuels, waste, or pollution expelled to the atmosphere. Thenga said as the Citys energy Division, they are committed to proactively promote Green Energy as a key for creating a sustainable future for their Metropolitan municipality. He said the energy to be produced from the solar pant will be connected into the grid using 18 inverters and one combiner unit. We are envisaging connecting a 300 m cable from the combiner unit, laid into a cable trench to an existing power grid via 380 V kiosk, he said, adding that a 25 metre high Mast Pole with 6 LED spot lights and separate PV panels will be used to serve as a security light to aluminate the site at night. This he said will be done to reduce the level of theft during the night. The solar PV plant is made up of solar panels mounted on a support steel structures and are connected together in strings. An inverter located in the storage house converts direct electricity current generated by the solar generator into alternating current that are fed into the municipal power grid. According to Thenga, the operation and maintenance of the power plant is done by simple manual cleaning of the solar panels from rain water and dust. He said solar panels are expected to last for 20 to 25 or more if they are properly maintained. By SA Commercial Prop News Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2013 Tourism Indaba, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk announced that through South Africas marketing efforts in tourism they have reached over one billion consumers. Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has announced that through South Africas marketing efforts in tourism they have reached over one billion consumers. Our brand message on channels such as National Geographic and CNN International enabled us to reach over one billion consumers in 2012. Our video, banner and text adverts were displayed to targeted audiences over 1.1 billion times. This complemented our online partnerships with the likes of Expedia, Facebook, TripAdvisor and WAYN.com, said Minister Van Schalkwyk. Speaking at the glittering opening ceremony of the 2013 Tourism Indaba held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban on Saturday night, the minister said last year, South Africa generated over R4.6 billion in editorial coverage for the countrys destination through global and in-country media relations work. All these marketing efforts have paid off handsomely as the overall international tourist arrivals grew by 10.2% equating to 9.2 million tourists in 2012, compared against an average global industry growth of 4%. We certainly performed remarkably. We are growing into a most sought-after tourist destination, with a vast array of unique experiences on offer, he said. The minister revealed that the launch of the South African National Convention Bureau has delivered exceptional results and has greatly boosted the countrys global competitiveness in pursuing the countrys target of R 6.2 billion in direct spend via business events over the next five years. To achieve this ambitious direct spend target, he announced that in the coming year, South African Tourism (SAT) will open fully-fledged offices in Brazil, Angola, Kenya and Nigeria, whilst also expanding its marketing presence and partnerships with the trade in South Korea, Russia, Scandinavia, Shanghai in China, Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania. In positioning our country as a globally competitive and responsible tourism destination, we will, amongst other things, be raising the profile of our heritage and cultural tourism assets. This year, our Heritage and Cultural Pavilion here at the Tourism Indaba aims to profile and promote the eight world heritage sites we are proud to have in South Africa. He also emphasised the importance of increasing domestic tourism, saying that at any given time, three quarters of all tourists in South Africa are South Africans, with domestic tourists having contributed R101 billion to the countrys economy in 2011. To further increase domestic tourism, the minister announced new initiatives for 2013 and beyond. These are: Investing in new partnerships and relationships, including between provincial tourism marketers and SAT; Investing in a new marketing campaign for domestic tourists. This is to be launched during Tourism Month in September, targeted at a broad cross-section of the South African population. Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize in his opening remarks said the province has perfected the art of hosting major events. Dr Mkhize said the province was ready to host the Tourism Indaba on a permanent basis. Speaking at the same event South African Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima said he was buoyant and upbeat. Nzima said the 2013 Tourism Indaba was trending on Twitter having reached 55 million people through its handle #meet South Africa. Nzima said this years Indaba has also upped the stake in being green through the use of token gadgets - some 35 000 documents were shared without using paper possibly saving 61 trees. The City facelift recently made way into the Thai market and rumours were rife that it would come to India as early as January 2017. Our sources, however, point to a Feb 2017 launch. Dealerships in Delhi are accepting bookings for the updated model as some buyers are ready to wait out for the new City. Official bookings for the updated model are expected to commence in the last week of January 2017. Honda dealerships are therefore in the process of selling off their existing City stock by offering juicy deals on top of cartel discount.The City facelift for the Thai market gets a mildly reworked fascia with a new bumper and a new sleeker front grille. The most talked-about update is the inclusion of LED headlamps in the package that may make way into the Indian market as well. Honda City's chief rival in India and the current segment leader, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, already gets projector headlamps as standard. With Maruti Suzuki's Ignis sporting LED projector headlamps, we expect Maruti Suzuki to offer the same in the upcoming Ciaz facelift as well. Dear Editor Re: Hiking warning for women and females This is awful. How is tourism ever going to take hold in Samoa with rapes, child beggars, high cost for food and accommodations, third rate service to name some of the problems? Another problem is mosquitoes. Who wants to go on a vacation to a place where you either get eaten alive or have to wear big spray 24/7? I had to be treated by the Canadian health services with lab tests, antibiotics, and creams. I cannot return to work because I am ill due to the mosquitoes in Samoa that bit me even though I wore bug spray all the time. If you want visitors, jail the rapists, help the street vendors families, and start spraying those disgusting mosquitoes. Wendy in wonder Dear Editor Re: Use of Police vehicle questioned This Police Toyota Truck was received as part of Australias Aid and paid for by the Australian taxpayers. Now the police have abused this vehicle for personal use the day it arrived. This is exactly why Police Commissioner Egon introduced new policies and procedures for police vehicles to be stationed and locked up in the police compound at 5:00 pm; all the lights in the police station to be switched off at night when not in use; no police are to Facebook during work hours/on the job and abuse other police resources. These are some of the factors that contributed to the police going against P.C. Egon yet the policies and procedures he introduced were to save taxpayers money from being abused. At the time, former Police Minister Sala Fata Pinati, P.M. Tuilaepa and the corrupt police saw these money saving policies as a crime and ganged up against him which led to his suspension. The question I would like to ask, now that P.M. Tuilaepa is the new Police Minister, what is he going to do about this? Again, this photo was taken by the public and sent to Samoa Observer - its not from the media just in case corrupt PM Tuilaepa blames the media again. Sao ai loa le pese foi lea ga ave i le pothole, Blame it on the rain. lol lol lol Mea lea e maua e le akuguu ua kaikai ai kagaka corrupt, aivalea koe le akoakoa le mafaufau Mebahel Raguel SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Apple is suing mobile chip maker Qualcomm for $1 billion in a patent fight pitting the iPhone maker against one of its major suppliers. The 100-page complaint filed Friday in a San Diego federal court depicts Qualcomm as a greedy monopolist abusing its power in a key segment of the mobile chip market to extort royalties for iPhone innovations that have nothing to do with Qualcomm's technology. For instance, Qualcomm demanded royalties on Apple's fingerprint identification system built into recent models of the iPhone and also for larger storage capacities on the devices, according to the lawsuit. Qualcomm denied the allegations. "We welcome the opportunity to have these meritless claims heard in court where we will be entitled to full discovery of Apple's practices and a robust examination of the merits," said Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm's general counsel. Apple says it has been cooperating with government regulators who have been investigating Qualcomm's business practices, prompting Qualcomm to retaliate by withholding about $1 billion in scheduled payments. "Qualcomm's recent effort to cover its tracks by punishing Apple for providing truthful testimony at the request of government regulators underscores the lengths to which Qualcomm will go to protect its extortion scheme," the lawsuit alleges. Apple launched its legal attack three days after the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit alleging Qualcomm has been imposing unfair licensing terms on manufacturers. Besides cooperating with the FTC's investigation, Apple says it has been providing information about its dealings with Qualcomm to regulators in Europe, South Korea and Taiwan. South Korea regulators last month imposed an $853 million fine on Qualcomm for violating its antitrust laws, a decision that Qualcomm is fighting. Shares in San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc. fell $1.56, or 2.4 percent, to close Friday at $62.88. Those of Apple Inc., which is based in Cupertino, California, ended up 22 cents at $120. Re: Do Samoans really need new cars? There are a lot of good points in this piece. New cars need the correct equipment to programme and diagnose problems and the technicians (not mechanics any more because of the level of skill required) need to be trained to use them correctly. Google OBDII or VAGCOM and you can see what the devices look like. The other side to old cars breaking down is what happens to them once they are beyond repair. Samoa also needs to actively collect broken cars from around the island instead of letting them rust away on peoples properties as an eyesore. There is money to be made in scrap metal. If the government collected them for free and crushed them for export, the exercise would be very close to cost-neutral. Sikivi The plight of millions of women around the world protesting against the inauguration of Donald John Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America is not lost in Samoa. As images of protest marches at different parts of the globe continue to make headlines around the world, women in Samoa are closely following the events and offering their support where they can. For the majority of them, social media platforms, mainly Facebook and Twitter, have been their avenue to express their support for the courage of their sisters to voice their concerns. For one Samoan woman, Suisala Mele Maualaivao, she said there are leigitimate reasons to be concerned about Trumps behaviour as he takes the most powerful political office in the world. The Country Programme Coordinator for United Nations Women supports the protest marches, expressing concerns about Trumps documented inappropriate behavior towards women. This womens march wasnt just about how Trump treats women, she told the Samoa Observer yesterday. It was really about how he treats members who he doesnt share the same values with. My concern is where he was talking about kissing women and grabbing without their permission is illegal in majority of the countries in the world. Yet, still he was elected. I think that was for a lot of people at the core of what urged them on in terms of these protests. He is somebody who has admitted and caught on tape purposefully grabbing women, assaulting women. It would be considered assault overseas in the States, I dont know about the law here in Samoa but any unwanted touching is inappropriate. Yet he was still able to run for office. And not just run for Office, he won. For a presidential candidate one would presume that the information that was revealed about him prior to the election would have ruined his campaign and prevented him from continuing on, she said. It didnt seem to work! It didnt seem to surprise people that he behaved that way. I think the people who supported Trump didnt care and thats just who he was. Its more of a matter of, when this man spoke this way and was publically caught speaking that way, the fact that there werent people who decried him. I think a lot of us here would think it to be inappropriate for a man to speak that way especially someone in leadership. For Ms. Maualaivao, witnessing women of Pacific Island heritage engage in political activism thorough out the globe was absolutely astounding. The marches have been dominating world headlines for the past 24 hours. Less than 24 hours after President Trump took office, over five million men and women worldwide and over 1 million in D.C. Washington marched on Washington to let their voices heard. What started out as a Facebook post by a saddened grandmother from Hawaii soon snowballed into a global demonstration uniting people of all walks of life standing united advocating on behalf of the marginalized and those who have been target of Trumps fury. Even a million miles across the vast Pacific Ocean, their voices were heard here in Samoa. In Washington DC, women protesters, many wearing pink knit hats, marched through downtown Washington around the White House and other landmarks, and also protested in other U.S. cities. Thousands of women also took to the streets of Sydney, London, Tokyo, New Delhi and other European and Asian cities in solidarity. Trump has angered many people with comments seen as demeaning to women, Mexicans and Muslims, and worried some abroad with his vow on Friday to put "America first." "I came in support of women's rights and to protect our future and our health, and to prevent backsliding from the few gains we've made in the last few decades," Karla Jackson, a 56-year-old pensioner from Raleigh, North Carolina, said as the Washington march got underway. Meredith Dutterer, 37, of Clover, South Carolina, came to Washington with her 9-year-old daughter Ellie. "We came to celebrate women's equality, because she's nine and I'd like for her to have more opportunities than I had," Dutterer said. In London organisers said an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people took part in the march, including Mayor Sadiq Khan. "I'm here to show support for all the women, especially in Washington," said Penny Dedman, 66. "They need to see other people coming together. People woke up this morning realising (Trump's presidency) was real. We have to do something about it," she said. "In 2017 it's a disgrace there's inequality, so I'm here to support equality and freedom, and protest against sexism and the suppression of women's rights," said writer Kip Hall, 42, another London protester and one of the many men who joined the march. In Barcelona, Spain, around 2,500 people joined the protest, organisers said. "My message is that it is time to wake up and inform ourselves. This is no time to sit by. We need to make it happen," said Stephanie Loveless, 33, a doctoral researcher and organiser of the Barcelona march. Protesters also took to the streets of the Indian capital New Delhi. "I am here because I want to go out without feeling scared of being molested. You face it day and night. It has become normalised," said activst Logna Bezbaruah, 25. "I am here today because I support the cause of equality. Women aren't asking for more rights, just equal rights," said activist Bhanu Pratap Pangtey, 27. In the southern city of Bengaluru, where police are investigating reports of the mass molestation of women on New Year's Eve, protesters said people should fight against sexual harassment being seen as normal. "I and a lot of my friends have to deal with a lot of crap, mostly from men," said Gayatri Ashta, 25, a technology consultant. "Somewhere my anger had over the years become acceptance and then plain complacency. This march has reminded me that we don't have to accept this," she said. - Additional reporting from Reuters Members of Parliament and officials of the Legislative Assembly are set to enjoy new laptops and other valuable equipment thanks to the Chinese government. The gesture will no doubt continue to grow the relationship between China and Samoa. Yesterday, the Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng, visited the Ofice of the Clerk of Legislative Assembly at the temporary Parliament precincts at Tuanaimato. The purpose of the visit was to deliver on a promise made by a Chinese delegation led by Zhang Baowen, when they visited Parliament last year in December. The donation included office equipment including 50 new sets of laptops, printers and photocopiers amounting to $500,00 RMB Yuan which is equivalent to $WST178,580. We are happy to present these office equipment to help with the work of the people here at the Parliament of Samoa, said Mr. Xuefeng. Last year in September, a Chinese delegation visited Samoa and paid this office a visit. The head of the delegation had a meeting with the Speaker of the House, and they had an agreement to deliver and donate office equipment. And today, we are here to deliver that promise. The Speaker of the Houser, LeaupepeToleafoaFaafisi spoke on behalf of the Parliament of Samoa to thank the Ambassador and the Chinese government for their generosity. I would like to extend to you our appreciation and word of thanks for these very expensive materials that you have donated to us. This is not the first time youve donated to us. We are grateful for your ongoing support not only for the Parliament but for all the other areas in Samoa as well. Thank you very much. He went on to say that the office equipment would help improve the work not only for the staff at the O.C.L.A, but also for the Members of Parliaments in Samoa. You are the salaried manager of a busy, high-end San Diego restaurant. A large, obviously well-heeled party walks into the restaurant on a Friday night. You assign your three best people two servers and a busboy to take care of the table. You provide occasional guidance to the crew over the course of the three-hour meal about how to maximize the tables enjoyment of the evening and, therefore, the restaurants revenue. Your suggestions had an impact: the total check was over $1,000. The host leaves a $150 gratuity on top of the 10 percent mandatory service charge for parties of eight or more and the 3 percent surcharge many restaurants, including yours, started charging this year when San Diegos minimum wage jumped to $11.50 per hour. Whose tip is it anyway? California law prohibits an employer or agent of an employer from collecting, taking, or receiving any part of a gratuity that is paid, given to, or left for an employee by a patron, or deduct any amount from wages due an employee of a gratuity, or require an employee to credit the amount, or any part thereof, of a gratuity against and as a part of the wages due the employee from the employer. Unlike federal law, California law prohibits an employer from using tips to offset the employers obligation to pay employees at least the minimum wage. By law, every gratuity is the sole property of the employee or employees to whom it was paid, given, or left for. Advertisement But what is a gratuity? A gratuity is voluntary. In our example, it is not either the 10 percent mandatory service charge or the 3 percent surcharge. By definition, a gratuity is any tip, gratuity, money, or part thereof that has been paid or given to or left for an employee by a patron of a business over and above the actual amount due the business for services rendered or for goods, food, drink, or articles sold or served to the patron. The restaurant may share those charges with its staff and many do but it is not required to do so. The San Diego division of the California Court of Appeal addressed this very issue in a 2002 ruling concerning hotel room service surcharges. The court observed that an establishment is legally free to retain for itself mandatory service charges or to remit all or some of the revenue to its employees. Because the service charge is mandatory and because the [establishment] is free to do with the charge as it pleases, the service charge is simply not a gratuity which is subject to the discretion of the individual patron. So what about the $150 the host of the party left over and above the mandatory charges? You, the manager, are entitled to none of it, notwithstanding your role in the quality of the service the customers received that night. That is because an agent prohibited from sharing in tips includes anyone having the authority to hire or discharge any employee or supervise, direct, or control the acts of employees. But nor is the $150 tip necessarily the sole property of the servers who serviced the table alone, regardless of what the customer may have intended. California courts and labor regulators have held that tip-pooling policies in effect in many service establishments that are fair and reasonable are legal. Such a policy would entitle the servers, the busboy and anyone else in the chain of service that contributed to the customers overall experience, such as the bartender, to a share of the $150 tip. The same concept permits spas to require masseuses to share their tips with locker attendants and gaming establishments to require dealers to split their tips with porters and runners. In San Diegos vast service industry, a tip is of interest to the server, the patron, and the employer. California law determines who may -- and may not -- ultimately pocket it. Eaton is a partner with the San Diego law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek where his practice focuses on defending and advising employers. He also is a business ethics and employment law instructor at San Diego State University. Email: eaton@scmv.com. Twitter: @DanEatonlaw Debra Reed has made a career out of getting places first and fast. Since 2011, Reed has been CEO of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 company with more than $41.1 billion in assets and 17,000 employees serving 32 million customers worldwide. Centered around electricity and natural gas, Sempras subsidiaries include San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas. Beyond California, the companys reach extends to projects in 15 states as well as Chile, Peru and Mexico, where the energy landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Advertisement Running all those disparate corporate pieces is a big job but Reed may know Sempras inner workings better than just about anybody. Reed started with SoCalGas in 1978, shortly after graduating from USC with a degree in civil engineering. Within 10 years, she became the companys first female officer. Since then, Reed has held no less than 15 executive positions, including assisting in the $6.2 billion merger that created Sempra itself in 1998. From the companys downtown offices, Reed sat down with the Union-Tribune to discuss her leadership philosophy. The interview has been edited for space and clarity. Q. What is your idea of leadership? A. When I look at a leader, I look at someone who is able to get exceptional performance out of others. Q. So what leadership style do you adhere to? A. Im very much a team-oriented person. I love to have diverse viewpoints because I think we make better decisions. What I really enjoy doing with our team is challenge each other, getting different perspectives and putting that out on the table. People with the same information often make the same decisions. And if theyre part of the decision process, I think you get people who are aligned and supportive of the decisions that are made. Theyre engaged. Q. So does the culture at Sempra drive the leadership or does the leadership drive the culture? A. Thats an interesting question and I think it is kind of a chicken and the egg. Some things at Sempra would be more focused on a team orientation. The success of others is important. What you want is people who want others to be successful. It cant just be someone focused on themselves. Q. There arent many female CEOs out there. Does that affect the way you lead? A. Honestly, I havent noticed much of a difference. Now I have to say as I was coming up to this job, being a woman at an energy company was not common. And to become an officer when I was 32, I was the first. I was the youngest and first. I was at SoCalGas at the time. I had guys who worked for the company 30-odd years who were reporting to me. They had worked at the company longer than I had been alive. That brings more challenges. Now, Ive been here a long time (39 years) so Im kind of a known commodity and I dont think there are significant differences. Q. Some research about CEOs shows that while some may have magnetic personalities, they can also tend to be loners. It can get lonely at the top. Do you feel that way sometimes? A. You ultimately need to get performance out of an organization. As I told you, were very focused on having everyone being successful. In that kind of mentality, I dont think it separates the CEO as much. Most people who work with me here would say Im friendly and pretty approachable. I think they would also say Im demanding and very performance-oriented. I think you can have both. Its not a social relationship, its a business relationship. You can be kind to people, you can be supportive, you can want their success and all those things because theyre still aligned with getting business performance. What you cant do is tolerate a lack of performance due to personal relationships. Thats kind of where I draw the line. Q. Is the conventional idea of leadership overrated? A. Im not really sure. To me, its really simple. To me, leadership is helping people do their best. If you define leadership that way I dont think its overrated. I think (a CEO saying) do this, do this, I dont subscribe to that. Q. Like barking out orders, ruling by charisma or by fear like Steve Jobs? Look at Tim Cook. Hes done well. And he has a totally different style. You can have very different styles of leaders who can be quite successful. Q. Like the Chinese adage that there are many ways to the top of the mountain? A. I think thats exactly correct. rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski ALSO Sempra shakes up its executive ranks Sempra wraps up deal to buy massive wind project in Mexico Sempra files with feds for LNG project in Texas A new health care clinic under construction in Campo has been awarded a $1 million donation from the Grossmont Healthcare District to buy medical equipment. The districts board of directors recently approved the grant to Mountain Health & Community Services Inc. for the new health center, which is expected to open in June. The award is the largest single community grant in the health care districts history, according to the district. Advertisement The money will pay for equipment for primary care exams, surgical procedures, dental examinations, X-rays and on-site lab testing and other patient care support functions in the Mountain Empire region. The area covers about 950 square miles in East County. Mountain Health was founded in 1974. It operates six federally qualified health centers in Campo, Alpine, Escondido, Santee and San Diego. It also provides health services at several public schools in rural East County communities. Mountain Health officials said the new 23,500-square-foot clinic at 1388 Buckman Springs Road in Campo will be called Mountain Health Family Medicine. It will replace Mountain Healths existing clinic 1 1/2 miles away on state Route 94. Construction began last year. Judith Shaplin, president and CEO of Mountain Health, said the areas 2,800-square-foot clinic has long served as the towns main health care facility. Over time, she said, it has lagged in meeting the needs of the community. Mountain Health served more than 8,000 patients last year, many of whom live at, or below, the federal poverty level. The new clinic will have 12 primary care exam rooms, two medical procedure rooms and telemedicine technology allowing patients increased access to specialists outside the area. Also available will be dental, pharmacy and X-ray facilities, as well as behavioral health treatment services. The Grossmont Healthcare District began its community grants program in 1996. Over the last 20 years, it has awarded more than $45 million in grants and sponsorships to community-based, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and Grossmont Hospital. A Carlsbad-based hospice team traveled to Southeastern Africa to help terminally ill patients. The four-person team from Hospice of the North Coast traveled to Malawi this month to study how Nkhoma Hospitals Palliative care team provides nursing visits to more than 200 patients in remote villages. Many of the terminally ill patients in Malawi rely solely on relatives, typically young children, to give basic care, according to hospice officials. Advertisement Part of the groups mission will be to train adult volunteers in the villages to care for the terminally ill. The team is led by Hospice of the North Coasts executive director Sharon Lutz and includes the nonprofits director of philanthropy Shelly Dew, care advocate Cristina Montanez and volunteer coordinator Cyndie Acosta. The Hospice of the North Coast in Carlsbad created a Global Partnership last year with Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi, Africa. The aim is to respond to the hospitals need for hospice and palliative care. The partnership operates under the auspices of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Global Partners in Care program. Visit hospicenorthcoast.org Oceanside City Council members agreed this week to limit their own comments at public meetings to 10 minutes each, calling it the best way to keep the panel from being too long-winded. The 4-1 vote seem to be aimed at Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, who voted against it. She said the council enacted the change because the mayor wants to get home earlier and that the restriction limits transparency in a way that prevents people from hearing about all the councils activities. This is a violation of our commitment to the community, Sanchez said. This is not a good idea. Advertisement Mayor Jim Wood said he suggested the limits because hed had a lot of calls and personal comments about how long the council meetings are. The council typically meets in closed session starting at 3:30 p.m., then moves to open session at 5 p.m. That portion of the meeting can last for hours. We talk forever up here .., Wood said. Some people up here talk for 25 or 30 minutes. Thats not acceptable. When Sanchez suggested that Wood just wanted to get home earlier, the mayor responded, I dont want to sit here all night and listen to you, thank you. The council also voted to eliminate the panels individual reports, in which each council member gets a chance to talk about recent events or committee meetings theyve attended. Most city councils limit how long members of the public can speak at public meetings three minutes is a popular standard but formal limits on council speech appear to be rare. Instead, the mayor or council president is typically tasked with keeping the meetings . In October the Denver City Council rejected a proposal by the council president to limit council comments to 10 minutes each, according to The Colorado Independent. One councilman reportedly told the president, You have a gavel for a reason. In Oceanside on Wednesday, several public speakers opposed the limit on council comments. Long-time Oceanside resident and council gadfly Jimmy Knott said some subjects require extensive comments, and that science has shown women talk more than men. Sanchez is the only woman on the council. Another speaker, Joan Bockman, pointed out that Sanchez was the highest vote-getter in the last City Council election. The public wants her to speak, Bockman said. You need to give her the time. This is very wrong-headed. Another resident said a time limit would stifle the thinking process of the council. However, the majority of council members sided with the mayor. We can be transparent, we can be open, but we can be brief, said Councilman Jerry Kern. It does get rambling at times. Other council members said they should at least try the time limits. They noted that the council holds workshops where they can talk about issues at length, if necessary. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl Labeled with squint-inducing type that spells out an eccentric gospel ALL-ONE! the blue and white bottles of Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps have always been works of visual art. Now, the Vista company is venturing the realm of audio art. Sisters & Brothers is a new vinyl LP culled from decades of recordings made by the companys founder. Although the man died almost 20 years ago, this is pure, uncut Emanuel Bronner, in his own words, in his own voice. Advertisement This is Emanuel Bronners project, said Darwin Westich, who listened to more than 100 hours of Bronners recordings while editing this LP. There were days when I wondered, What is Emanuel trying to tell me today? Wednesdays release party at Little Italys Music Box is a fundraiser, a concert and the latest chapter in one of San Diego Countys oddest epics. Emanuel H. Bronner (1908-1997) was a self-styled doctor, negligent father and erratic businessman. In the 1940s, he endured a brief stint in an insane asylum. He was also a newer-than-New Age visionary, an early advocate of organic products whose dense and sometimes baffling gospel of Judeo-Christian-humanist ideals has endured. For were ALL-ONE OR NONE! thunders a key passage from Bronners Moral ABCs. ALL-ONE! ALL-ONE! ALL-ONE! Whether read or heard, Bronners impassioned words can be hard to follow. Yet scholars who have absorbed his complete testament say it is a unique synthesis of age-old wisdom. Its eclectic and hes borrowing from various things, said Roger Chapman, a history professor at Floridas Palm Beach Atlantic University. I think its perfect for the post-modern period we are living in. And perfect, some believe, for an LP. This project turned out to be a lot bigger than we thought it would be, said Michael Bronner, president of Dr. Bronners All-One!, the Vista company his grandfather founded. This is timeless. Family legend As a boy, Michael was curious about his familys past. His grandfather wasnt much help. What did you eat in Germany, grandpa? Michael remembers asking. That is not important! the elder Bronner replied. What is important is saving Spaceship Earth! As men, Michael and older brother David have filled in some gaps in the family tree. The Heilbronners, it seems, were a German family who entered the soap trade in the mid-19th century. A third-generation soap maker, Emanuel emigrated to the U.S. in 1929. Tragically, the rest of his family did not follow. In the 1940s, the Nazis seized his familys company and murdered his parents. In the U.S., Heilbronner shortened his name to Bronner and adopted the honorific Dr. Entrusting his children to a rotating cast of friends and relatives, he embarked on a career as an itinerant speaker. In parks and street corners, his thickly accented voice advocated eternal brotherhood and sisterhood. An unauthorized lecture at the University of Chicago led to Bronner being locked up in an Illinois asylum. Family lore maintains he escaped, thumbed his way to Las Vegas, then used $400 in roulette winnings to resettle in Los Angeles. For living expenses, he revived the family trade, selling bars of soap wrapped in emphatic, staccato messages of universal love. WERE ALL ONE OR NONE! a representative line reads. EXCEPTIONS ETERNALLY? NONE!! Founded in Los Angeles, the company then known as Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps moved to Escondido in the late 1960s. In 2014, the headquarters shifted to Vista. Mix tape Bronner anticipated the green movement by decades, insisting on pure ingredients. Yet he was always more interested in the label than the product, and a brush with the Internal Revenue Service pushed the company toward bankruptcy. Bronners adult sons, Jim and Ralph, stepped in and set things right. Today, led by grandsons Michael and David, Dr. Bronners All-One! employs 150 people and reports annual revenues of more than $95 million. When Ralph Bronner died in February 2015, his possessions included more than 400 reels of recordings. Dating back to at least 1968, these contain at least 200 hours of monologues and occasional literary interpretations from Emanuel Bronner. Although self conscious and shy in front of a tape recorder, Bronner was determined to pass along his Moral ABCs. He honed this philosophy for years. His sense of urgency intensified after he began to lose his sight around 1978. He was always looking for the right words, Michael Bronner said, the right grammar. The record contains relatively brief pronouncements a minute or two, sometimes less delivered in a rapid-fire cadence. Between some segments are snippets of music, most lifted from Johann Strauss waltzes. He was totally making a mix tape, said Westich, who spent months editing the LP. Potential liability entanglements led him to eliminate one notable segment: Bronners detailed description of how his soap can be employed as a birth control method. Different concerns surrounded another arresting clip. Bronner loved Rudyard Kiplings 1895 poem If, but the version he recorded during a 1982 trip to New Orleans is unusual for two reasons. 1. He Bronner-izes the British laureate, including the poets conclusion: & which is more, my son, youll be a man! A MAN! A MAN! 2. Bronner riffs on Kipling are set to background music from Tom Sanders, a street musician playing dulcimer. Westich needed the performers permission to reproduce the music, but he had no address, no phone number. On Youtube, Westich found old videos of Sanders performing on the Big Easys Jackson Square. From Vista, Westich called shops that ring that landmark square, asking if anyone knew Sanders. The first call was a dud. And the second. The third: I know Tom! Hes still around. Westich flew east and, sample bottles of Dr. Bronners soaps stashed in his backpack, found Sanders and gained his permission. If, revised by Dr. Bronner and accompanied by Tom Sanders, is one of the highlights on Sisters & Brothers. The LP will sell for $20, with proceeds benefiting Jail Guitar Doors, a nonprofit that provides music lessons and instruments to prisoners. Bronners Moral ABCs dont mention prisoners or guitars. But passages in this unique prophets work seem to support this cause and others. we must teach friend & enemy, the whole Human race... Thats on Side One. Sisters & Brothers release party, Wednesday at the Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego. VIP pre-party, 6:30 to 8 p.m., $50; general admission, 8 p.m. to midnight, $15. Tickets and information: https://fgtix.to/2j4dsDF New Defense Secretary James Mattis started work over the weekend, but there are still mostly acting secretaries running the military branches and lots of empty Pentagon desks. However, on Monday, President Donald Trump announced his second nominee for a military branch. A former Republican congresswoman from New Mexico has been named to be Air Force secretary. Advertisement Heather Wilson, 56, is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a Rhodes Scholar. She served from 1998 to 2009 in the House of Representatives and made unsuccessful runs for U.S. Senate in 2008 and 2012. She is currently the president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Reportedly a private pilot in her spare time, Wilsons Twitter photo shows her standing next to the tail of a small plane. Welcome to The Intel, a blog examining the hot military news of the day Theres still no word on which civilian will lead the Navy and Marine Corps as secretary of the Navy. Former Virginia Rep. Randy Forbes was the early front-runner. However, financier Philip Bilden, who spent most of his career in Hong Kong, appears to have risen to the top of the list. Bilden is a board member of the Naval War College Foundation, which means he circulates with current and former leaders in Navy circles. Retired Navy four-star James Stavridis said about him this month: I know him very well through his activities at the Naval War College, the Naval Academy and the U.S. Naval Institute where I serve as chairman, Stavridis told Foreign Policy during a phone call. He is definitely in the running and I think he would be an exceptionally good candidate, added Stavridis. He definitely shares the view that we need a more robust, deployable navy Hes lived in Hong Kong for decades, so hes seen the rise of China first-hand. Vincent Viola, the billionaire businessman and owner of the NHLs Florida Panthers team, was named early as Trumps nominee for Army secretary. Viola is a West Point graduate and served with the 101st Airborne before transitioning to the reserves. He founded an electronic trading firm in 2008 and became a billionaire when it went public in 2015. Violas nomination has been forwarded to Congress but theres no word yet on when his confirmation hearing will be. If confirmed, these leaders would have a hand in shaping the military buildup that Trump campaigned on. RELATED: 3 military takeaways from Trump inauguration speech Mattis sent out a memo to the Defense Department on Friday evening and showed up to work on Saturday. The Pentagon released a photo of a smiling Mattis meeting with Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford and Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, Joint Chiefs vice chairman. But Mattis still has a reported 200 high-level appointed Pentagon positions to help fill. Its apparently not unusual for those to be empty in January after an inauguration. In 2008, then-President Barack Obamas choices for deputy defense secretary, William Lynn, and policy chief Michele Flournoy, werent confirmed until February, according to the Washington Examiner. In the meantime, longtime Pentagon deputies have been named to run the service branches until new secretaries are confirmed. Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal jen.steele@sduniontribune.com Facebook: U-T Military Twitter: @jensteeley Lawyers for three girls who allege they were sexually abused by their teacher are seeking a new trial after a civil jury cleared the National School District of negligence in its handling of the accusations made more than three years ago. Court documents filed by attorney John Gomez claim the jury was prejudiced against the plaintiffs by testimony that should not have been allowed in the case. He also alleges lawyers were hobbled by being barred from questioning teacher Alejandro Ochoa about the claims of sexual abuse. The district was sued for negligence in 2014 by the girls, who accused Ochoa of touching them inappropriately and exposing himself to them. Advertisement The plaintiffs were identified in the complaint as Isis R., Tamar R. and Vanessa T. They were all students in Ochoas third-grade class at Palmer Way Elementary School in National City in 2013 when Isis R. told her mother about the alleged conduct. The other girls stepped forward later. A jury decided Nov. 17 that Ochoa did not sexually abuse any of the girls. The determination cleared the district of any wrongdoing. Among the court proceedings that are alleged to have prevented a fair trial was testimony from a National City Police Department detective. He told the court Ochoa was never arrested or charged in connection with the accusations. The motion for a new trial, filed Jan. 6 in San Diego Superior Court, claims that testimony is inadmissible in a civil case. Ultimately, jurors were tainted by the perception that simply because law enforcement did not pursue charges, the sexual abuse as alleged in the complaint must not have happened, according to court records. The argument for a new trial also cites the detectives additional testimony that he did not believe the alleged sexual abuse took place because he did not believe Plaintiffs or their reports of abuse to be credible. According to the motion, witnesses are not allowed to express an opinion about guilt or innocence, or the veracity of particular statements made by another. Lawyers also believe a new trial is warranted because they were not allowed to ask Ochoa in open court if he sexually abused the girls. The attorneys wanted jurors to be able to judge his demeanor and response to the question. They also claim they were entitled to know whether Ochoa asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination. But they were prohibited from doing so by San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor, who cautioned them to not intentionally ask a question that would illicit a Fifth Amendment assertion by Ochoa before the jury, according to the motion. If such a question were asked, the defense was told to object before Ochoa could answer. The jury was to be excused, and then Ochoa could take the Fifth. The court documents claim the proceeding was wholly improper, as a party who exercises the privilege must accept the civil consequences of silence. A hearing on the request for a new trial has been scheduled for March 17. Follow me on Twitter: @HuardSDUT Emergency shelters for the homeless are expecting a greater demand for beds this week as up to six straight days of rain are forecast for the county. With an emergency shelter program already in place for severe cold and rainy weather, however, theres little extra that can be done. All the places are full, said Bob McElroy, president and CEO of the Alpha Project. Theres no room. No beds. So were handing out plastic. Advertisement McElroy said he and other people from the Alpha Project have been giving out plastic, jackets, socks and blankets to homeless people in the Santee river bed, behind Qualcomm Stadium, in La Mesa, National City and other places. San Diego closed tented winter shelters operated by the Alpha Project and Veterans Village two years ago and started a permanent shelter program with 350 beds, the same as the two tents, at Father Joes Villages. About 1,000 people still are on the street in downtown San Diego, however, and the city has started an emergency shelter program during inclement weather. As part of that program, Father Joes Villages can find space for up to 250 more people when its raining or cold, and another 30 beds are set up at PATH San Diego/Connections Housings downtown shelter. Ruth Bruland, chief program officer for Father Joes Villages, said so far this season the shelter has not reached its maximum, but has had just over 200 people at times. When its not a super, super hard rain, we havent reached that high a number, but with this storm, Im thinking it could happen, Bruland said. People will be put on cots and mattresses in dining rooms, and Bruland said precautions will be taken to make sure the room is not overly crowded. We want to make sure people are more safe inside than outside, she said. In North County, Interfaith Community Services converted its winter shelter program into a year-round program last year. Greg Anglea, executive director of the Escondido nonprofit, said all 49 beds are taken and there is no room to expand during inclement weather. Because there is turnover at the permanent shelter, however, Anglea said its possible that a bed could open up in the next week. Anyone interested in a bed will have to be screened for drugs and alcohol, he said. Even if no beds in the shelter are available, Anglea said Interfaith still would try to help anyone who comes in. Were going to do what we do every day of the year, Anglea said. Were going to sit down with somebody, see if theres a place for them to go within Interfaith, and if not, see where else they can go. Anglea said someone at Interfaith also will help people contact 211, the countys emergency assistance service, which lists 45 shelters including ones for people living in cars. Pastor Steve Bassett, director of Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside, said he is ready to expand his winter shelter program by 20 beds if more people show up during the coming rainy weather. The mission is part of a winter shelter network in North County, and Bread of Life is authorized to have up to 50 beds between Dec. 1 and March 31. Bassett said he has room in the dining room to set up cots if people come in from the rain. Were supposed to do the best we can when its raining, said Bassett, adding that he doubts anyone is going to object too loudly if he occasionally takes in more than 50 people. I dont think anyone on the City Council will say, Oh, you broke the rules, he said. The beds are reserved for the people who first claimed them on Dec. 1, so theres usually no room to take in more. Bassett said a half dozen new people have shown up seeking shelter during the rain in the past, but he expects more will come this coming week. Margery Pierce, Housing and Neighborhood Services director for Oceanside, said the city allows any church to set up as many as 50 beds for homeless people during inclement weather. Id invite anyone who can open to open their doors for at least the next few nights, she said. We all need to do our part. gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump made promises that he would swiftly ramp up immigration enforcement and undo former President Barack Obamas policies. On his fourth day in office, Trump has yet to announce any changes or actions specifically regarding immigration. Trump promised that on Day One in office, he would start work on the wall with Mexico, and that he would take action against at least two million criminal aliens now inside the country. So far, he has signed at least four executive orders, and none had to do with immigration. Advertisement Day One, my first hour in office, those people are gone, Trump said in his Arizona campaign speech on immigration. In his 10-point immigration plan, Trump also said he would cast aside Obamas two executive actions that allowed certain unauthorized immigrants to apply for temporary deferment of deportation and work permits. While one of those actions was struck down in court, the other deferred action for childhood arrivals, or DACA has given more than 700,000 people in the U.S. temporary protections, which University of California San Diego researchers say has benefited the economy. Trumps plan also said he would end sanctuary cities, suspend visas to places he felt adequate screening could not occur and ramp up immigration enforcement in the workplace. Trump signed an executive order on Friday targeting the Affordable Care Act. On Monday, Trump signed three executive orders, one pulling out of the Trans-Pacific trade deal, one freezing federal hiring and one barring federal aid to groups that provide or promote abortions overseas. None of the executive orders are posted to the section on the White Houses website meant to house such orders. The White House press office did not readily provide copies of the orders after The San Diego Union-Tribune called on Friday and Monday. Trumps administration has also taken action on an Obama policy that would have reduced mortgage insurance premium rates. Press Secretary Sean Spicer also told reports on Friday that he planned to send out a memo that evening calling for an immediate regulatory freeze. Details on the freeze were not clear, and no further information was available on Monday. Trump on Monday tweeted his focus for his first full week in office, saying, Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security. Top executives coming in at 9:00 A.M. to talk manufacturing in America. Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked about immigration on Monday, and his response was, For now the focus is going to be on people who have done harm to our country. Spicer said immigration will be high on Trumps list of legislative priorities. Its not just building a wall, its how do we enact policies that make sure what we have now doesnt happen again, he said. In terms of whether the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order will be canceled, Spicer deferred to the legislative process, saying, We dont have anything in front of us to sign on that. In his contract with the American voter, Trump said, among other things, that on his first day he would cancel DACA, cancel all federal funding to sanctuary cities, begin removing more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants and cancel visas to countries that wont take them back, and suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. Spicer was asked about this. He said Trump would be taking care of things listed in the contract in short haste but would be sequencing them. If we put them all out on one day, they get lost in the ether, he said. kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate Join the discussion On Facebook Not every new mother has the means to provide even the simplest of necessities to their newborn. Some in fact, arrive at the hospital in labor with only the clothes on their back. But for the last five years, a local nonprofit has done what it can to help these women. Based in Rancho Bernardo, Gently Hugged was created by retired San Diego nurses Judy Blackford and Nancy Sweeney. Blackford said when she was teaching community health nursing, she noticed there were many women struggling to keep their babies clothed, and there were also women with a lot of excess. Advertisement Our goal is to provide a way to get these surplus items into the arms of mothers with babies in need, so they stay warm and thrive during their crucial first year of life, Blackford said. Items included in the 12-pound brown paper bag, labeled girl or boy, are filled with gently used or new infant clothing, ranging from preemie to 12 months, along with socks, shoes, hats, bibs, blankets and books. Some have a typed tag that reads: Handmade for you by Gently Hugged volunteers. Others are hand written Made just for your baby and signed with the makers name. The donated items are distributed by nurses and social workers to low income, military, immigrant, and foster families at hospitals, prenatal clinics, social service agencies and homes. The volunteers produce about 40 bags a month on average. In 2016 they pulled together roughly 520, and Blackford said theyre on track this year to do more than 600. Some of the largest partnerships include the county Department of Public Health; Vista Hill Parent Care Family Recovery Center; North Island Childrens Protective Services; and Homestart Maternity Shelter Program. The public health department distributed 220 bags in 2016. When the women receive these, the look on their facesthey cant believe somebody cares, Blackford said. We want them to feel dignity and respect, to move forward and have a good future for them and their baby. Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center began partnering with Gently Hugged in 2014. Katie Maldonado, a medical social worker at Sharp Chula Vista, lets Blackford know when shes running low on the bags. About 35 were given to women at Sharp Chula Vista last year. Maldonado said many of the women who receive the bags are teen moms and young adults who are homeless, drug or alcohol dependent or simply have no resources for themselves, let alone the capability to clothe their newborn. In the South Bay we have a predominantly working class, low income (families) with a large population of young mothers, Maldonado said. Many are struggling to provide a safe life for their baby. The items are checked for blemishes, taken home and washed by volunteers, ironed and brought back to Gently Hugged headquarters. There, they are sorted by gender, folded, and organized into different bins for packaging. The organization runs solely on volunteers including people like Marcia Lowe, 74, who helps sort and fold clothing two times a week. When I had my children I didnt have any money either, and I can fully understand what this means to a woman in need, Lowe said. To realize these mothers have nothing, this is huge. Since 2012, Gently Hugged has collected more than 20,000 pounds of donated baby clothing, purchased almost $20,000 worth of new clothing, books, and supplies for infant packages. In total, more than 2,000 babies have been provided with sufficient clothing and blankets to keep them warm and help them thrive their first year of life. Our mission, Blackford said, is to provide warmth and care to the babies and give the moms hope for the future. Gently Hugged is at 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, Suite 1-B in San Diego. For more information call (858) 649-3450 or visit: gentlyhugged.org. Conrad Prebys, one of San Diego Countys most successful business executives who gave hundreds of millions of dollars to a wide range of causes, has died of cancer at age 82. His family, including life partner Debbie Turner, confirmed his Sunday passing at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest but asked for privacy otherwise. The news of his death triggered a wave of tributes from the regions political, medical, cultural and fine-arts institutions. He touched and emboldened everyone he met. His contagious optimism and selfless generosity have forever changed our campus and the entire San Diego region, said Elliot Hirshman, president of San Diego State University, which had received more than $22 million from the philanthropist. We are privileged to have been a recipient of his thoughtful and giving spirit, said Dr. Perry Nisen, chief executive of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla. The institute was renamed after Prebys gave it $100 million. He was a guy who knew the value of hard work, and he knew that he needed to give back, said longtime friend and county Treasurer Dan McAllister. View the Video Conrad Prebys dies of cancer Those comments were given very shortly after Prebys death was announced Monday. As the day progressed, the praise kept coming. Most people and institutions expressed the same central notions: Prebys was a humble man who followed his heart and his passions and gave where he felt the most joy. Born in South Bend, Ind., on Aug. 20, 1933, Prebys came to San Diego in 1965. At age 32, he was starting over in a new town and a new state after working in a steel mill and owning a pizzeria back east. He did not arrive as a successful businessman with a fat bank account looking for a new opportunity on the West Coast. Things, he often recalled, were much less certain than that. I had $500, no job, no prospects. I looked out at the ocean and said, If I could just make a buck, Prebys recalled in a 2015 interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune. Major gifts by Conrad Prebys 2015: $100 million for the renamed Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute 2014: $25 million to the Salk Institute; Conrad T. Prebys Auditorium to be named in his honor. $20 million to San Diego State University to endow scholarships and $2.5 million to create the Conrad Prebys Chair in Bio-Medical Research; the university named its newly opened student center the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union in recognition. $20 million for the La Jolla Music Societys yet-to-open The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. $5 million-plus to the San Diego museum of art for 2014-2016 programming and the purchase of a 15th-century Spanish painting. 2011: $45 million to Scripps Health for the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute. $15 million to the San Diego Zoo for Africa Rocks. $1 million to the San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine, adding to the Conrad T. Prebys Fund for Charitable Care established with a $1.5 million gift in 2009. $2 million to Salk Institute for an endowed chair in vision research. 2009: $10 million to the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research for the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics. 2007: $6 million to UCSD for the Conrad Prebys Music Center. $10.1 million to the San Diego Zoo to revamp the Polar Bear Plunge and elephant care center. 2006: $10 million to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest for the Conrad Prebys Emergency and Trauma Center. 2005: $10.4 million to the Old Globe for the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. 2004: $1 million to Boys and Girls Clubs in Santee for the Conrad Prebys Clubhouse. His timing was decent and, as his friends are quick to note, his work ethic was strong. Soon he was scouting vacant lots for starter homes, a job that honed his knowledge of real estate and construction. Forty years later, that know-how had developed into a real estate empire 90 properties and nearly 8,000 rental units. As his business became ever more successful, Prebys began to give back, and he let his personal interests guide him. For example, a childhood bout with blood poisoning led to curiosity about hospitals. Chris Van Gorder, chief executive of the Scripps Health network, said Prebys had a chance meeting with a Scripps doctor that turned into a conversation about the regions trauma system. Prebys learned where he would be taken if he suffered a medical emergency. He said, Maybe I ought to get to know what my hospital is like, Van Gorder recalled. That process eventually turned into a $10 million donation to support renovation of Scripps Mercys trauma department. And that experience led to a much larger donation to help build the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute in La Jolla. Despite Prebys ability to write checks with seven or eight zeros, he never carried himself like a rich guy, Van Gorder said. For instance, he delighted in joining Scripps discount program at Sammys Woodfired Pizza. He didnt lose his humble beginnings, and I think thats really hard to do, Van Gorder said. In addition, a childhood spent happily studying the piano led to a lifelong love of the arts and major financial gifts for them. Barry Edelstein, artistic director for The Old Globe theater in Balboa Park, said Prebys often wanted to dig deeper into the work of the institutions that he supported. About three years ago, he received a personal visit from Prebys after directing a performance of William Shakespeares The Winters Tale. He wanted to know, why did you do it that way? Why did you make that choice? He had a hungry, curious mind, Edelstein said. These visits were never about entitlement. People who knew Prebys said he always seemed to be excited, even humbled, to have access to people who were doing interesting things be it performing music or sequencing genomes. Edelstein said Prebys understood that his success was equal parts good fortune and elbow grease. He saw himself as a lucky guy who happened to live in a country that rewards hard work, Edelstein said. Perhaps his highest-profile philanthropic act was in giving millions with Turner and fellow San Diego philanthropist Darlene Shiley to public televisions Masterpiece Trust, which supported the Emmy Award-winning British drama series Downton Abbey. Here too, Prebys was following his passion. Obsession might be a better word, said Rebecca Eaton, Masterpiece Theaters executive director. Im sure he was a shrewd businessman. He was also a romantic. He loved England and he loved British drama. He could recite entire scenes from movies that he loved, and he would bring tears to his own eyes, Eaton said, adding that the early donations from San Diego, led by local public broadcaster KPBS, were critical to getting and keeping Downtown Abbey on the air in the United States. Though Prebys had a head for numbers and and a deep interest in science, it was clear that his heart ultimately drove his philanthropy, friends and admirers said. Conrad gave me his special rule for how he went about deciding what to support. He told me once, If a proposal makes me want to jump up and down, Im all in, said Mark Stuart, president of the San Diego Zoo Foundation. The zoo was one of Prebys earliest and longest-running causes. Generations of children and adults have his generosity to thank for the Polar Bear Plunge, world-class elephant care center and new koala bear exhibit, which is billed as the largest outside of Australia. The polar bears, Stuart said, got adored because they helped Prebys through a time early in his career when success was still an idea on the horizon. He told me he would come to the zoo when things werent going so well in his life. He would find his solace by going all by himself and watching the polar bears. There was something about how they jumped in the water and played with each other that just mesmerized him, Stuart said. Prebys family did not provide information Monday about survivors or give details about a memorial service. For the record: A previous version of this story gave the wrong location of where Conrad Prebys died Sunday. RIGA, Latvia (AP) Latvias prime minister has resigned after accepting political responsibility for the collapse of a supermarket roof in the capital that killed 54 people and wounded at least 40 others. Valdis Dombrovskis was the longest serving prime minister in Latvias history. Police have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of last weeks tragedy. Possible explanations for the disaster include a flawed design, substandard construction materials, and corruption. Continuing with its strategy of growing through acquisitions, Accenture Plc ACN recently announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Seabury Group a strategy consulting firm that mainly focuses on the aviation industry. However, the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. About Seabury Group Founded in 1995, Seabury Group is best known for providing strategic planning and cost reduction solutions to distressed aviation companies. Through its strategic consulting services, the company helps aviation companies in managing fleet, network, commercial, maintenance, airports and cargo in a more planned and cost effective way. It also helps organizations to make improvements in their human capital. Through a combination of its industry expertise, analytical techniques, data and proven tools, Seabury has provided its services to over 300 clients across 50 countries. A few of its major clients include Azul Airlines, TAP Portugal, Monarch Airlines, and Etihad Airways. Headquartered in New York City, the company has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Seabury Group currently has employee strength of 120. Rationale Behind Acquisition Accenture intends to integrate Seabury Groups business into its Accenture Aviation Practice division and expects the target companys employees to join the integrating division upon successful completion of the acquisition. By integrating Seabury Group, Accenture will not only get a large talent pool but will also gain a huge customer base. Therefore, we believe that this acquisition will strengthen Accentures presence in the Aviation consulting market and also help it to gain more market share. By combining Seabury Groups corporate advisory and consulting businesses with its global capabilities, Accenture thinks that it can help airline companies in making a digital transformation at a much accelerated pace. Group chief executive of Accentures Products operating group, Sander van t Noordende said, With digital transformation forcing the aviation industry to rethink its business and operating models, we expect continued strong demand for consulting services in this industry. This acquisition will enhance our ability to accelerate the pace of transformation our clients need and to deliver the industry-specific strategies that our clients are increasingly seeking to drive competitiveness and differentiation. Story continues Therefore, we believe that the buyout will expand Accentures capabilities in providing end-to-end strategy consulting services to the airline companies. It will also help it to gain more market share, thereby boosting its top-line performance. Acquisitions A Key Growth Strategy Accenture pursues strategic acquisitions to diversify its offerings and expand operating markets. Last year, the company completed or signed about 12 acquisition deals across various business segments, including IT security, CRM capabilities and strategy consulting. In 2015, it had closed 21 takeovers. These acquisitions have enabled Accenture to foray into newer markets, diversify and broaden its product portfolio, and maintain its leading position. A strong cash balance of $4.08 billion and an operating cash flow of $1.08 billion at the end of first-quarter fiscal 2017 are expected to support Accentures inorganic growth strategy. Bottom Line Accentures long-term prospects look promising due to its sustained focus on new and innovative product launches, continuous investments in enhancing digital and marketing capabilities, as well as major acquisitions. Moreover, we believe that regular acquisitions will significantly contribute to the company's revenue stream. Notably, shares of Accenture have been trading in line with the Zacks categorized Consulting industry over the past one year. The stock generated a return of 13.1% almost matching the industrys gain of 13.7%. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked stocks in the Consulting Services industry include Gartner Inc. IT, Hill International Inc. HIL and NV5 Global Inc. NVEE, all carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Gartner, Hill International and NV5 Global have long-term earnings per share growth rate of 17.3%, 25% and 20%, respectively. Zacks' Top Investment Ideas for Long-Term Profit How would you like to see our best recommendations to help you find todays most promising long-term stocks? Starting now, you can look inside our portfolios featuring stocks under $10, income stocks, value investments and more. These picks, which have double and triple-digit profit potential, are rarely available to the public. But you can see them now. Click here >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Gartner Inc. (IT): Free Stock Analysis Report Accenture PLC (ACN): Free Stock Analysis Report Hill International Inc. (HIL): Free Stock Analysis Report NV5 Holdings Inc. (NVEE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Kolkata, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/22/2017 -- In a bid to establish itself as a leading player in TMT manufacturing business in Kolkata and India, TopTech is offering TMT bars manufactured by Tempcore process. Pioneering the Tempcore process, the bars manufactured by TopTech boasts of high strength, ductility and earthquake resistance. "We know the importance TMT bars play in the construction industry. With India evolving as a rapid economy, the bars manufactured through Tempcore process help us save 17% steel as compared to a normal TMT. It is also cost effective and we deploy high-class manufacturing process using the latest technology conforming international standards of CRM, Belgium. We take quality very seriously and leave no stone unturned to ensure that we deliver the best products at the best rates. The TMT bar manufacturing market is highly competitive and we are constantly upgrading our products portfolio to stay ahead in the competition," opined the management of TopTech. One of the essential features of the company is its excellent after sales service. With an efficient distribution network, it provides support to its clients and the company's team of dedicated engineers provides personalized service. The company is constantly upgrading its services and innovating with its products to strengthen its clientele. The bars are exported to different parts of West Bengal and India. About TopTech TopTech is a new age steel enterprise whose mission is to achieve technological advancement by producing the best quality TMT bars at par with international standards. The products manufactured by the company boast of high tolerance, durability and sustainability that can stand against all odds. With its passion to innovate and offer an easy and fast building solution in every condition, TopTech is carving a niche for itself in the market. The Tempcore process helps TopTech to deliver quality products at the best prices. It also helps the company 17% steel as against normal TMT For more, visit http://toptechtmt.com/best-tmt-bar. For more information, contact: Tech Nirman Ispat Pvt Ltd 46, BB Ganguly Street Kolkata - 700012 Phone: (033) 4003 5050 Email: info@technirman.com Pittsburgh, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/23/2017 -- 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. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Announces New Geneology Support Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.xocohealth.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. Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child. Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children. BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins. FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604. SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England. CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles. CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth. DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269 Master Christopher Jones and several business partners purchased the ship Mayflower about 1607. Its origins prior to that remain uncertain. Its first documented voyage of record was to Trondheim, Norway, in 1609. Andrew Pawling hired the ship to take a cargo of London goods to Norway, sell them off, and buy Norway goods (lumber, tar, and fish) to return back to England. Unfortunately on the return voyage, the Mayflower encountered a severe North Sea storm and the master and crew were forced to toss most of Pawlings goods overboard to lighten the ship. The home of Master Christopher Jones: Harwich, co. Essex, England. http://mayflowerhistory.com/ Following that, Christopher Jones seems to have stuck with safer trading routes. The Mayflower made numerous trips primarily to Bordeaux, France, returning to London with cargoes of French wine, Cognac, vinegar, and salt. The Mayflower could freight about 180 tons of cargo. The Mayflower also made occasional voyages to other ports, including once to Malaga, Spain, and twice to Hamburg, Germany. Upon returning from a voyage to Bordeaux, France, in May 1620, the Mayflower and master Christopher Jones were hired to take the Pilgrims to Northern Virginia. This was the first recorded trans-Atlantic voyage for both ship and master, though Christopher Jones had several crewmembers, including pilot and master's mates John Clarke and Robert Coppin, who had been to the New World before. The Mayflower was supposed to accompany another ship, the Speedwell, to America, but the Speedwell proved too leaky for the voyage so the Mayflower proceeded alone. Departing on 6 September 1620, the ship was at sea for 66 days, arriving November 9. The ship and crew overwintered with the Pilgrims and departed back for England on 5 April 1621, arriving back to England on May 6. Christopher Jones took the ship out for a few more trading runs, but he died a couple of years later in March 1621/2. The ship was appraised for probate purposes in May 1624, and was referred to as being "in ruins." It was only valued at 128 pounds sterling, and was almost certainly broken up and sold off as scrap. Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.MarketingChocolateInternational.com http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company. http://www.mxicorp.com/fab/ http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen http://www.ImAdamGreen.com About MayflowerHistory.com MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material. http://mayflowerhistory.com Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/23/2017 -- Urgent care in Los Angeles facility, Vermont Urgent Care, has earned a reputation of excellent medical care and patient-service in their many years of being in business. This medical facility treats the full gauntlet of illnesses and injuries that aren't life-threatening. Their doors are open six days a week from 9:00a to 7:00pm, only closing on Sundays. These long hours enable them to treat as many patients as possible in their urgent care in Los Angeles treatment center. Some of the common ailments treated by the medical professionals at Vermont Urgent Care include coughs, sore throats, colds, fevers, flus, ear infections, minor burns, strains, sprains, rashes, skin irritations, allergic reactions, animal bites, broken bones and more. To best serve their community, this urgent care in Los Angeles center also offer lab work, x-rays, pre-employment evaluations EKG's and urine or blood drug screenings. To see a full list of treatments, visit their website. When it comes to urgent care in Los Angeles, Vermont Urgent Care vows to keep wait times to a minimum, they can do this because they don't offer emergency room treatments. Without emergency room treatments, other visitors with less serious conditions are not pushed to the back of the line. The entire staff and medical personnel have dedicated their careers to providing top-quality treatment to those in need of urgent care in Los Angeles services. About Vermont Urgent Care Urgent care in Los Angeles facility, Vermont Urgent Care, is a trusted provider of healthcare in the Los Angeles community. They provide medical treatment for a variety of non-life-threatening problems. To receive a full list of the illnesses and injuries they provide treatment for, visit their website or call their offices at 213-386-2511. Vermont Urgent Care is centrally located to serve all of the greater Los Angeles area at 1435 S. Vermont Ave #100 Los Angeles, California 90006. Media Contact: Dana Smith Company Name: Vermont Urgent Care & Multi Specialty Center Phone Number: Call: 213-386-2511 Address: Los Angeles, CA E-mail: info@vermonturgentcare.org Website: http://vermonturgentcare.org/ New observations from NASAs Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) show that Ceres does not appear to have the carbon-rich surface composition that space- and ground-based telescopes previously indicated. The results were published in the Astronomical Journal on Jan. 16, 2017. SOFIA detected the presence of substantial amounts of material on Ceres surface that appear to be fragments of other asteroids containing mostly rocky silicates. These observations are contrary to the currently accepted surface composition classification of the dwarf planet as a carbon-rich body, suggesting that it is cloaked by material that partially disguises its real makeup. This study resolves a long-time question about whether asteroid surface material accurately reflects the intrinsic composition of the asteroid. Our results show that by extending observations to the mid-infrared, the asteroids underlying composition remains identifiable despite contamination by as much as 20 percent of material from elsewhere, said Dr. Pierre Vernazza, a researcher at the Laboratoire dAstrophysique de Marseille, France, and lead author on the study. Planetary researchers have classified Ceres, as well as 75% of all asteroids, in composition class C based on their similar colors. The mid-infrared spectra from SOFIA show that Ceres differs substantially from neighboring C-type asteroids, challenging the conventional understanding of the relationship between Ceres and smaller asteroids. SOFIA is the only observatory that can make this kind of observations. These and future mid-infrared observations are key to understanding the true nature and history of the asteroids, said study co-author Dr. Franck Marchis, a planetary researcher at the Carl Sagan Center of the SETI Institute. Ceres and asteroids are not the only context where material transported from elsewhere has affected the surfaces of solar system bodies. Dramatic examples include Saturns moon Iapetus and the red material seen by New Horizons on Plutos moon Charon. Planetary scientists also hypothesize that material from comets and asteroids provided a final veneer to the then-forming Earth that included substantial amounts of water plus the organic substances of the biosphere. Models of Ceres based on data collected by NASAs Dawn spacecraft plus ground-based telescopes indicated substantial amounts of water- and carbon-bearing minerals such as clays and carbonates, Dr. Vernazza said. Only the mid-infrared observations made using SOFIA were able to show that both silicate and carbonate materials are present on the surface of Ceres. To identify where the pyroxene on the surface of Ceres came from, the team turned to interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) that form meteors when they are seen streaking through Earths atmosphere. The researchers had previously shown that IDPs blasted into space by asteroid collisions are an important source of material accumulated on the surfaces of other asteroids. The implication is that a coating of IDPs has caused Ceres to take on the coloration of some of its dry and rocky neighbors. _____ P. Vernazza et al. 2017. Different Origins or Different Evolutions? Decoding the Spectral Diversity among C-type asteroids. AJ 153, 72; doi: 10.3847/1538-3881/153/2/72 This article is based on a press-release from NASA. The rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf has continued spreading by another 10 kilometers since the start of January 2017. The rift now totals to more than 100 miles long or 195 kilometers. Adrian Luckman, the professor of Swansea University, said that the rift has just entered a new area of softer ice, which will slow its progress. He further said that although one might expect any extension to hasten the point of calving, it remains impossible to predict when it will break because the fracture process is so complex. Professor Adrian Luckman is uncertain on how long the 5,000 sq km block will break. On the other hand, it is theorized that once the crack reached its peak, a massive iceberg bigger than Rhode Island will break off Antarctica. This would be the biggest iceberg ever recorded, according to BBC News. According to Project MIDAS, a British Antarctic research project, the break "will fundamentally change the landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula." Meanwhile, Ted Scambos, a NASA scientist with the data center, explained that if the iceberg did break off, it would not contribute to sea-level rise since it is already floating. On the other hand, the land ice that had been locked by the berg would plop into the sea. This will trigger the rise of sea levels. He added that ice shelves serve a critical role in buttressing ice that is on land, according to USA Today. The cause of the rift on the Larsen C Ice Shelf is unclear as of yet. On the other hand, the British researchers said that there is a good scientific evidence that climate change has triggered the thinning of the ice shelf. Once the iceberg is cropped, it would float in the coast of Antarctica then leads to the Southern Ocean. Scambos said that as it moved north, ocean temperatures both at the surface and at the base of the berg would begin to thin it and erode it from the edges. The berg would break into smaller parts, then it would liquify into the ocean. Students will be lucky enough to have an interview with a real-life astronaut. The astronaut will be the recent spacewalker, Thomas Pesquet. The exciting chance would happen to 300 Irish primary students. They will be able to talk to an astronaut straight from the International Space Station or the ISS. The students and their 50 teachers from schools in counties Limerick, Kildare and Tipperary will have the chance to talk to the European Space Agency, spacewalk star, astronaut Thomas Pesquet. This will happen on Jan. 24, Tuesday, according to Leinster Leader. Also, they will be joined by students coming from Portugal and Romania. They will also have the chance to ask astronaut Thomas Pesquet different questions. However, the questions that the students will ask runs around a theme of how to use space in humans' daily lives. The short interview with astronaut Thomas Pesquet is part of a range of educational activities given by the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) project and will happen at Limerick Insitute of Technology. The ESERO Ireland manager, Stephanie O'Neill, explained that ESERO is run by the European Space Agency and Science Foundation Ireland. Thus, O'Neill told The Journal that the event is part of their educational program. It is the first time they have organized this event. "I think it'll be very exciting - it's not every day you get an opportunity to talk to an astronaut, never mind an astronaut that's actually on the space station," she said. As follows, the talk between the students and astronaut Thomas Pasquet will be live-streamed. It will happen from 3 p.m. tomorrow. Here is the link for you to witness this amazing event. A mathematician's theory suggesting that there is a higher power over all existence has been confirmed by scientists. Express UK reported that scientists have proven the existence of God after calculating the equation left by Austrian mathematician Kurt Godel when he died in 1978. The complex equation, which was derived from modal logic, supports Dr. Godel's theory that there is no higher power other than God that can be conceived, and His existence can be manifested through a person's belief. Computer scientists Christoph Benzmuller from Berlin's Free University and Bruno Woltzenlogel from Paleo of the Technical University in Vienna ran Dr. Godel's complicated equations in a computer and were astounded by what modern technology could do. Dr. Godel's equation goes as follows: Ax. 1. {P()x[(x)(x)]} P() Ax. 2.P()P()Th. 1.P()x[(x)]Df. 1.G(x)[P()(x)] Ax. 3.P(G)Th. 2.xG(x)Df. 2. ess x(x){(x)y[(y)(y)]} Ax. 4.P()P()Th. 3.G(x)G ess xDf. 3.E(x)[ ess xy(y)] Ax. 5.P(E) Th. 4.xG(x) "It's totally amazing that from this argument led by Godel, all this stuff can be proven automatically in a few seconds or even less on a standard notebook," Benzmuller told Spiegel Online. Dr. Kurt Godel was born in Austria-Hungary (presently Czech city of Brno) on April 28, 1906 and studied at the University of Vienna. When the World War II broke out, he moved to the United States and worked at Princeton where he met the renowned scientist and close friend Albert Einstein. Both a mathematician and a logician, Dr. Kurt Godel came up with one of the most important mathematical discoveries of the 20th century: The Incompleteness Theorem. According to Kurt Godel, "Anything you can draw a circle around cannot explain itself without referring to something outside the circle - something you have to assume but cannot prove." However, with the use of a MacBook, which obviously was not available during his years, Benzmuller and Woltzenlogel were able to prove what Dr. Kurt Godel assumed. An avalanche hit Central Italy on Thursday and buried a four-star spa hotel known as Hotel Rigopiano. It is reported that about over 30 people had been inside the hotel when the avalanche happened. The rescuers tried to save those people trapped inside the hotel, which was dragged about 30 feet from its foundations. Giampiero Parete, the chef vacationing at the hotel, asked his boss to call rescuers because his wife and two children were trapped inside the hotel. He survived because he left the hotel to buy medicine for his wife when the avalanche struck. At least six more people have been found alive after the avalanche that partially buried a hotel in central Italy https://t.co/vP0Hugynem Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 20, 2017 Quintino Marcella said that the hotel was submerged. Then, he called the rescue crew. On the other hand, no one believed him and the prefect's office said it was not true because everything was okay at the hotel. So, Marcella called other emergency numbers and caught someone who finally believed him and mobilized a rescue after more than two hours later, according to Popular Mechanics. The rescue crew, firefighters, police and alpine experts came to search for survivors at the hotel till Sunday. Luca Cari, a spokesman for the firefighters, said that they have hope. Even though there are no signs of life, they could drill through a wall and suddenly there would be contact. He added that is what happened with other survivors. Meanwhile, Alessandro Sciucchi, from the alpine rescue team, hoped for the heavier equipment because the snow is getting heavier. On the other hand, he was pessimistic that there aren't any signs of life and the hope is fading. Nevertheless, the rescue teams are doing everything to save survivors. They also used sniffer dogs and scanning technology to try to pick up signs of mobile phones to identify any survivors, according to Telegraph. A NASA scientist said that India and the U.S. must work together on space exploration and research. He acknowledged two young Indian astronomers, who discovered asteroids in 2010 that are identified by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in the U.S. Paul Rosen, the project scientist, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), said that India and the U.S. should collaborate on such research programs. He further said that NASA is looking forward to inviting students from across the globe to participate in their space outreach programs, as noted by the Indian Express. The two Indian astronomers who discovered the main belt asteroid with code 2010 PO24 are Amanjot Singh and Sahil Wadhwa. They are part of the All India Asteroid Search Campaign (AIASC) organized by Science Popularization Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE), a New Delhi-based organization. It is in partnership with the International Astronomical Search Collaboration. Singh stated that what started as an excuse for night-out with friends became a passion. He added that it is this passion that helped him succeed. During the asteroid search campaign, the students from all around the world discovered almost 500 new rocks in space. These have to be confirmed yet. Meanwhile, Sachin Bahmba, the Chairman and Managing Director-SPACE Group, said that out of the 37 asteroids discovered worldwide in 2016, 27 have been discovered by Indian students. Aryan Mishra, a 17-year-old astronomer who also discovered an asteroid in 2014, said that curiosity to explore the unknown and an opportunity provided by SPACE led her to the field of astronomy. She further said that for children living in a developing country like India, it is not easy to dream about space and the field of astronomy. On the other hand, she added that this change the mindset of people towards this field. Meanwhile, 17-year old Yashraj Bhardwaj advised not to end one's doubt with nothing as this might lead to a huge discovery someday, as noted by News 18. With one-night stand becoming increasingly popular and common in many countries, the psychology of men and women before and after actually doing it was studied by researchers in the USA and Norway. The American researchers conducted a survey on people especially young folks and found out that women regret the decision. Norway being a more sexually liberal nation, researchers from Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) and the University of Texas, Austin, tried to find out whether or not there is any difference in the psychology of young men and women. Surprisingly, they did not find one. A Morning with Regret The psychological status of 263 sexually active students in the age group of 19 to 37 years, who had one or more one-night stands, was studied and it was found that 35 percent of women felt regretful the morning after, while only 20 percent of men regretted the experience. In addition, 70 percent of women were unhappy after the experience as compared to 50 percent men who felt unhappy after such casual sex encounters. The study results were published in the Evolutionary Psychology journal, PsychCentral reported. Professor Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), who was also the lead researcher in the study, said that, "Women regret that they agreed to a one-night stand more often than men. Men regret passing up the chance more than women." It was also found that, after turning down the offer of casual sex, 80 percent of women were happy to have declined while 57 percent men were unhappy that they passed an opportunity of meaningless sex. Why Is It So? Researchers suggest that the difference in reactions of men and women is attributed to many factors. First, women psychology is less likely to undertake a task, which they deem risky. Furthermore, women worry more and they also have to face the possible risk of getting pregnant and contracting STDs from such sexual encounters. Above all, women are worried about creating a bad reputation of themselves, Sowetan Live reported. Experts say that evolutionary psychology may also be a main factor, which defines such remarkable differences in male and female sexual psychology. Dr. Buss, a chief contributor in the study, said, "Women and men differ fundamentally in their sexual psychology. A key limitation on men's reproductive success, historically, has been sexual access to fertile women. These evolutionary selection pressures have created a male sexual mind that is attentive to sexual opportunities." Professor Kennear further explained this by saying, "So for men, it's a case of quantity not quality so he can improve his reproductive success by having as many fertile mates as possible." Whatever may be the reason, the study shed light on a different and often undermined aspect of one-night stands. A new technology was able to capture "sonic booms" of light -- a feat achieved by scientists for the first time. The same technology could allow them to image live activity in the brain. The Seeker noted that like aircraft flying at supersonic speeds, these sonic books have pulses of light that can leave behind cone-shaped wakes. A superfast camera was able to capture videos of such events for the first time, thanks to a new technology that one day could allow scientists to help watch neurons fire and keep images of brain activity. As noted, objects that move through air propels away the air that is in front of it, creating pressure waves that move at the speed of sound and in all directions. Sonic booms are said to be confined to conical regions known as "Mach cones" and are said to extend primarily to the back of supersonic objects. To explain this better, think of the pressure waves from boats that generate as the boat pushes water out of the way, making waves move across the water. Previous research also indicated that lights can generate such conical waves similar to sonic booms. The technology was developed by a researcher at Washington University by designing a narrow tunnel filled with fog from dry ice. According to India Today, the tunnel was sandwiched between plates made of a mixture of silicone rubber and aluminum oxide powder. They fired pulses of green laser light that only lasted trillionths of a second each. The pulses scatter off the specks of dry ice within the tunnel, thus generating light waves that were able to enter surrounding plates. The green light that traveled inside the tunnel was noted to have traveled faster than they did in the plates. The laser pulse left a cone of slower-moving, overlapping light waves behind it. Author Jinyang Liang, and optical engineer and lead of the study, said, "Our camera is fast enough to watch neurons fire and image live traffic in the brain. We hope we can use our system to study neural networks to understand how the brain works." NASA has initiated an experiment to understand the psychology and human behavior of astronauts who will be undertaking long-term space travel and exploration programs soon. The outcomes of the experiment will directly impact the journey to Mars, which is planned for the 2030s. The experiment involves sending six scientists inside a geodesic dome, which has been set up in a remote location near the Big Island's Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii. The participants of the experiment must spend eight months inside the containment during which they will be remotely monitored by NASA scientists. The experimental setup is all set and the participants will enter the dome, this coming Thursday. During their stay, the participants will not be allowed to have any physical connection with the outside world, and communication network of the containment will have a 20-minute delay, which is the time delay between Mars and Earth, Vox reported. Kim Binstead, Professor at the University of Hawaii and the principal investigator of the project, said, "We're hoping to figure out how best to select individual astronauts, how to compose a crew and how to support that crew on long-duration space missions." Binstead informed that the date and time of the experiment is all fixed. But the professor expressed the uncertainty if the Trump administration interferes and imposes any change in the plans. Until now, NASA has confirmed to have not received any form of e-mail or communication from the President's office regarding the same. The Crew Is All Geared Up The six-membered team was finalized after careful screening of 700 applications received from across the world. The team will be led by mission commander James Bevington, who is well-known as a freelance space scientist and as a visiting researcher at the International Space University. The rest of the team encompasses a computer scientist, a biomedical researcher, a doctoral candidate and two engineers, CBC News reported. NASA, the participants of the experiment and the rest of the world are eagerly waiting to see whether the team is able to complete the scheduled eight months or will the mock journey to Mars be called off just like the Biosphere 2 program. LAKE CITY, S.C. When children are in the school nurses office because they are hungry, they are not learning. Thats one reason it is important for students to have the proper nutrition they need to function, according to nurses in Florence County School District Three. FLORENCE, S.C. The activist organization Action Together Pee Dee was created by a small group of women following the Nov. 8 presidential election. The women formed the group as a way to channel their political frustrations and turn those feelings into positive action. What began as a group of just 10 people now boasts a membership of close to 350, all working toward a similar goal: making their voices heard. Suzanne La Rochelle, a founding member and spokesperson for Action Together Pee Dee, said the group gained popularity after joining social media and advertising their mission on a billboard on David H. McLeod Blvd. La Rochelle said the billboard was meant to spread messages of tolerance and inclusion, a common theme within the Action Together group. Were about human rights, La Rochelle said. A lot of it is about practicing what we preach, getting visibility and showing people they are not alone. The group received more than 60,000 views about their billboard on their Facebook page, and as the number rose, so did membership interest. Group member Kim Derakhshan said now with approximately 350 members, Action Together reflects the diversity of the community. We have a pretty progressive message, but we are not all democrats, Derakhshan said. We have young people, retired people, we have women, we have men, different religions, sexual orientations. We want to make sure our voices are heard. Group members remain active in the political scene as well as throughout the community by visiting homeless shelters, entering political forums in person and on social media and participating in activist rallies, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Day March in Florence. More than 30 members also attended the Womens March on Saturday in Washington, D.C., the day after President Trumps inauguration. Group member Natalie Mahaffey said by being proactive in voicing their concerns, the groups opinions and feelings about certain policies or legislation cannot be ignored by those in power. We want to make sure that were making our politicians, people that are representing us, responsible, Mahaffey said. Were not passively sitting by. We want to be actually involved so our politicians know were watching, and we want to be a part of whats happening. Carolyn York said she is relatively new to the Action Together group but is looking forward to being a member and being able to affect change. She said the organization offers an outlet for those who feel as though they are a part of the voting minority. We stand for inclusiveness. We stand for helping people who are underprivileged in the community, York said. No one should ever be afraid of speaking up in a peaceful way about any issue that is out there. By advocating for human rights and giving people a voice, the group members in Action Together Pee Dee plan to help the oppressed and represent unity for all people both in this community and nation. We can do these things all together for the good not only of our city and our state but of our country, Mahaffey said. There is such as diversity and getting along. It doesnt have to be us versus them. It can be just us. Second in a series JOHNSONVILLE, S.C. Johnsonville Elementary School teacher Margie Perry said her second-grade students will let her know when they are hungry, instead of beating around the bush. And she and other teachers at the school are prepared to accommodate their needs. Perry said signs that students might be hungry include them complaining of a stomachache or wanting to go to the school nurse. I think to me, early in the morning, thats a huge sign My stomach is hurting, Perry said. (Theyre) just trying to tell me, Im hungry. I havent had anything to eat. I dont know whether they had supper the night before, or dont know what they did eat. Breakfast is offered at the school, but sometimes, students do not arrive in time to eat. Perry said it is important for parents to get their child to school in time to eat breakfast. But even if they do arrive at school on time, Perry said, some students dont want to go to the cafeteria for breakfast without a friend. But that friend might be a student who does not receive free breakfast or is someone who has a parent at home to provide breakfast. Ill tell you what I wish: What would be a blessing is if the schools could offer free breakfast to all the kids," Perry said. "That way no child would be singled out saying you get free and I don't get free. Canelia Bellflowers teaches kindergarten at Johnsonville Elementary School. She said when her students are hungry, they will sometimes act out in class, and they are not able to concentrate and might even cry. Because they are so young, they dont know how to handle those emotions or that sickness, she said. And sometimes it becomes a behavior problem, especially when they know their mama and daddy were supposed to feed them and didn't, Bellflowers said. Thats whenever they just cant handle those emotions. They dont know what to do with them. Perry added that hungry students might even seem tired, sluggish and have no motivation. A lot of times, when a child is hungry, there are other needs that are not being met, Bellflowers said. But some teachers, including Perry and Bellflowers, have snacks in their classrooms for students who are hungry. My sister actually teaches in the classroom beside me, and if we ever have a case or time when we have a child come in thats hungry, we just go to each other and say, I need a snack for such and such. Hook me up, Bellflowers said. She said all staff members make sure the students are taken care of. Some students at Johnsonville Elementary School receive free bags of food to take home on Fridays from the Help 4 Kids nonprofit organization based out of Florence. Perry said the students look forward to the food. If that bag appears in my classroom anytime in the morning, its like, When do I get that, Perry said. I mean, theyre ready to get it and ready to put it in their book sacks. Bellflowers said teachers know the food is useful to the students, because junk food is not included in the bags from Help 4 Kids. And for them to want that healthy food and crave it the way they do, you know its being really put to use at home, Bellflowers said. The faculty at Johnsonville Elementary School is concerned about the students and their well-being, Perry said. So no child is going to go hungry at Johnsonville, Perry said. No child. Donald Trump A bill introduced by Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers earlier this month calls on the US to "terminate" its membership in the United Nations and effectively sever all ties with the organization. The bill, titled the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017, was proposed on January 3. It is cosponsored by a handful of Republican lawmakers, including North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones, Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, Tennessee Rep. John Duncan Jr., and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. Biggs said in a statement on Monday that he cosponsored the bill because he believes that "our sovereignty as a country is harmed by our membership in this body." "We need to take a long look at our relationship with the United Nations to ensure that American interests are protected first and foremost," Biggs said. "I'm grateful to Congressman Mike Rogers for introducing this legislation." Rogers and the bill's other cosponsors did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The bill proposes barring the US from committing funds or troops to UN peacekeeping operations worldwide and stipulates that the UN must vacate property owned by the US government. It would repeal the 1973 Environment Program Participation Act, strip UN employees of diplomatic immunity in the US, and repeal the US's membership and participation in the World Health Organization. The bill's language is strong, and it's an extreme long shot to garner the necessary support to pass the House and move on to the Senate. Rogers tried, unsuccessfully, to pass a similar bill in 2015. "I suspect foreign governments will be more interested in what the administration does with regard to the UN," said Stephen Biddle, an adjunct senior fellow for defense policy at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University. Story continues "This proposal doesn't strike me as something that's likely to rise above the noise," Biddle said, "but it does play into the administration's narrative about opposing multilateral institutions and withdrawing from global leadership roles." Sarah Binder, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a professor of political science at George Washington University, said that the bill looks like messaging and "sheer position-taking" by Rogers to Trump voters. Rogers doesn't serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Binder noted, "and thus would have little opportunity, resources, or leverage to push his bill through." Samantha Power President Donald Trump has characterized the UN as "just a club for people to get together, talk, and have a good time" and promised that relations between the US and the UN "will be different" during his presidency. Trump's criticism of the organization came after the UN Security Council passed a resolution in late December calling on Israel to halt building settlements on occupied Palestinian land. Trump, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urged the US to vote against the resolution, which was sponsored by Egypt. But the US ultimately abstained, and the resolution passed. Many Republican lawmakers have accused the UN of having an "anti-Israel" bias that aims to isolate and weaken the Jewish state. Arizona Sen. John McCain said the UN vote marked "another shameful chapter in the bizarre anti-Israel history of the United Nations." House Speaker Paul Ryan called the vote "absolutely shameful" and vowed that "our unified Republican government" would work to reverse the resolution. Few, if any, mainstream Republican lawmakers have gone as far as to advocate a full withdrawal of the US from the UN. In 2015, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he thought he'd be "happy to dissolve" the UN because he didn't like "paying for something that two-bit Third World countries with no freedom attack us and complain about the United States." But some have said they would support defunding the organization, which received $594 million roughly 22% of its total budget from the US in 2016. Earlier this month, BuzzFeed reported that the House Freedom Caucus was drafting a bill, proposed by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, to sever financial ties with the organization. Republican Sens. Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, and McCain said that they would support the initiative. "I anticipate this vote will create a backlash in Congress against the United Nations," Graham said in a statement shortly after the Israel resolution passed. "The United Nations will regret this vote and I hope the Obama administration will realize the massive mistake they made on their way out of the door." Nikki Haley, Trump's pick to replace Samantha Power as the US ambassador to the UN, said during her Senate confirmation hearing last week that the UN is a body that is "often at odds with American national interests," and called the US's decision to abstain from the Israel vote "a terrible mistake." She said that while the US should reexamine its "disproportionate" financial contribution to the UN, she doesn't think there should be "a slash and burn" of the US's support for the organization. "I want to bring back faith in the UN," Haley said. "I want to show that we can be a strong voice at the UN. I want to show that we can make progress and have action at the UN." NOW WATCH: Trump signs three executive orders, including a withdrawal from the TPP More From Business Insider The bunker tankers are of 3,600-dwt and 3,100-dwt carrying capacity with fast pumping rates to maximise speed throughout the delivery process. The vessels, operated out of Antwerp, will also support customers who require bunkers in Rotterdam, Ghent and Vlissingen. Bomin will provide a range of products in ARA, including 380 cst bunker fuel and distillate fuels of 0.1% sulphur content. Both barges have Coriolis Mass Flow Meters installed to guarantee customers receive the quantity of products that they order, and to drive further operational efficiencies, said Jan Christensen, global head of bunker operations, Bomin. Bomin launched its physical operation in Antwerp in 2015. The addition of two new bunker tankers in the ARA region follows the launch of physical operations in Singapore and Mauritius in 2016. As part of the groups business reform, Bomin last year suspended operations in Estonia and Spain, closed its Rio de Janeiro office, and shut down trading offices in Athens and London. News agency Reuters quoted sources as saying it had concluded deals with Japans Orix Corp to sell $290m in loans, while Germanys Berenberg Bank would acquire around $300m in loans. Most of the loans being sold to Orix are reportedly with Greek shipowners. Loss make RBS announced last September it was exiting the shipping sector having failed to find a buyer for its $3bn Greek shipping portfolio. The Dubai-based company will acquire approximately 20,000 km sq of data in 2017, using two if its vessels and its multiple source acquisition method to deliver data. The project is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017, with the remaining 10,000 km sq to be acquired in the second quarter of 2018. "Polarcus is very pleased to expand its collaboration with TGS for this major award," said Rod Starr, Polarcus ceo. "A project award of this magnitude will drive vessel utilisation and provide significantly improved visibility for Polarcus." The contract award will come as a boost to Polarcus, which has previously said it expects a challenging 2017. Following this award, Polarcus said its booked capacity for its fleet is as follows: Q1-2017 at 75%; Q2-2017 at 70%; Q3-2017 at 60%; and Q4-2017 at 20%. Computer simulations and theoretical models have shown that clusters of miniature galaxies, some 10- to 1,000 times smaller than the Milky Way, should exist, but proof has been elusive. Detections of dwarf galaxy clusters would provide key evidence that the current theory for how the universe evolved structures is correct. The so-called Lambda Cold Dark Matter paradigm is the prediction that smaller things merge to form bigger things, University of Virginia astronomer Sabrina Stierwalt told Seeker. But there has been scant observational evidence of this process for low-mass galaxies despite the fact that small galaxies greatly outnumber bigger ones like the Milky Way, she added. In paper published in this week's Nature Astronomy, Stierwalt and colleagues describe a new hunt for dwarf galaxy clusters using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The team first looked for pairs of interacting dwarf galaxies, then studied those pairs to see if they could be part of a bigger group. Follow-up observations with the Magellan Telescope in Chile, the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico and the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii provided optical images and spectroscopy of additional suspected group members. RELATED: Dark Matter Dwarf Galaxy Found Hidden in Spacetime Warp In all, the scientists found seven groups of dwarf galaxies, each with three- to five members. "We suspect these groups are gravitationally bound and thus will eventually merge to form one larger, intermediate-mass galaxy," Stierwalt said. The galaxies are located between 200 million and 650 million light-years from Earth. "That sounds like a lot but it is relatively nearby given the vast size of the universe. Dwarf galaxies are fainter and smaller than more massive galaxies like the Milky Way we reside in, and so they are harder to detect at farther distances," Stierwalt said. The number of clusters matches predictions, which builds confidence in the computer models. "Such groups are predicted to be rare theoretically and found to be rare observationally at the current epoch," the astronomers noted in the paper. RELATED: Could Nearby Dwarf Galaxy be a Dark Matter Factory? The newly found dwarf galaxy groups "provide direct probes of hierarchical structure formation in action at the low mass end, giving us a new window into a process expected to be common at earlier times, but nearly impossible to observe at such redshifts," the paper said. "Redshifts" is a cosmic yardstick for measuring distance and time. It refers to the lengthening of wavelengths of light as a radiating object moves farther away, similar to how the sound of a train shifts as it recedes. Image: An optical observation of one of the isolated galaxy groups observed with the Magellan Telescope in Chile. The red knots reveal emissions that signify recent and ongoing star formation. The deep optical image also reveals asymmetrical morphologies/shapes possibly resulting from an interaction. Credit: Kelsey E Johnson, Sandra E Liss, and Sabrina Stierwalt. WATCH VIDEO: This Is How We See The Universe Scientists have mapped 100-year-old brains of two extinct thylacines - better known as the Tasmanian tiger - to reveal how the carnivore was wired to be a predator. Sophisticated imaging shows the thylacine had a larger brain than some other Australian carnivores, with more cortex allocated to decision-making and planning behaviors. Professor Ken Ashwell, an anatomist at the University of New South Wales and co-author of the research, said no-one had ever studied the thylacine brain in such detail before and that the findings opened the door for use on other extinct and endangered animals. "What's quite exciting about it for comparative neuroscience and brain evolution is that there are many brains sitting in museums of rare animals, extinct animals," he said. "[This] opens up the possibility of analyzing the internal structure of those brains in ways that were never possible before." He said the research, published today in PLOS ONE, will help scientists understand how and why animals evolved to behave the way they do. The last Tasmanian tiger, a carnivorous marsupial about the size of a medium-to-large size dog, died in Hobart Zoo in 1936. RELATED: Prehistoric 'Tasmanian Tiger' was a Tiny Killer Scientific evidence of the natural behavior of the thylacine is limited, so researchers turned to the well-preserved brains of two thylacines housed in Smithsonian Institution in the US and the Australian Museum to gain an insight into the iconic animal. Using a technique called diffusion tensor imaging (which looks at how water diffuses inside parts of the brain) alongside traditional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the researchers mapped how molecules moved through the brain of the thylacine while it was alive to reveal the neural wiring of different brain regions. Gene Cernan, the last human to walk on the moon, died last week at age 82. The naval aviator joined NASA in 1963 and remained with the agency for over a decade, flying three times in space. He is one of only three people to travel to the moon twice and one of only 12 people to walk upon its surface. Here are some of the most memorable photographs from his last mission, Apollo 17, in 1972. Liftoff of the Apollo 17 mission, aboard a powerful Saturn V rocket, took place early in the morning on Dec. 7, 1972. On board were commander Gene Cernan - a veteran of the Gemini program and moon-orbiting mission Apollo 10 - as well as two rookies, lunar module pilot Harrison (Jack) Schmitt and Ron Evans. Apollo 17 targeted a landing in the lunar Taurus-Littrow valley and had two main geological objectives, according to the Lunar and Planetary Institute: to sample material in the highlands that were older than rocks created from an impact in nearby Mare Imbrium, and to see if volcanism had happened in the valley. Apollo 17 was the sixth Apollo mission to land on the moon, and the last to see humans walk on the surface. Though there are no firm plans from any space agency to return humans to the moon in the near future, robotic exploration of the moon (mostly in orbit) has continued, particularly as scientists discovered evidence of water ice on its surface. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has also taken high-resolution imagery of all the Apollo landing sites, including Apollo 17. Cernan and Schmitt, the first scientist-astronaut to fly in space, landed on the surface in the lunar module Challenger. Evans stayed in lunar orbit in the command module America. (America is on display at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, while Challenger's ascent stage impacted the moon as planned after the mission was finished.) RELATED: Eugene Cernan, Last Man to Walk on the Moon, Has Died at 82 "There's no way I'm going to go all the way to the moon, particularly for a second time, and let a computer land me on the moon," Cernan, who landed Challenger, said in a 2007 oral interview with NASA. "The arrogance of a pilot, particularly naval aviators, is too great to allow that to happen. Nobody ever landed on the Moon other than with their own two hands and brain and eyeballs and whatever. Computer-assisted, yes. Got a lot of information. We got help from a lot of sources." While the first lunar missions relied on the astronauts' feet, the lunar rover allowed missions to range further from the lunar module, although NASA was careful to watch astronauts' oxygen supplies so they could still walk back even if the rover stopped operating. On Apollo 17, Cernan accidentally ripped off one of the lunar rover fenders after inadvertently catching a rock hammer on it. "We had to fix it," Cernan said in a NASA interview in 2008. "Because otherwise a rooster tail of dust would really, really be bad. And the bottom line, we came up with a fix where we took some geology maps and taped them together in the spacecraft with, of all things, duct tape. And then took a couple clamps from lights we had in the lunar module and clamped them to what was left of the fender. And it stopped the dust." In his 1999 autobiography "Last Man On The Moon", Cernan wrote about the strange nature of the Apollo program's timing. "President Kennedy reached far into the twenty-first century, grabbed a decade of time, and slipped it neatly into the 1960s and 1970s," he wrote. "Logic dictates that after Mercury and Gemini, we should have proceeded to build the shuttle, then an orbiting space station, and only then sought the Moon. It was as if our young nation had chosen to never again cross the Mississippi River after Lewis and Clark discovered the Northwest Passage." A dirty and tired Cernan is photographed here after the second of his three extravehicular activities (moonwalks) on the moon. Behind the camera was Schmitt, who used a 70 mm Hasselblad camera to capture this image. The three moonwalks comprised more than 22 hours all told, and yielded nearly 250 pounds of moon rocks that are still being analyzed by scientists today. RELATED: After Cernan, Only Six Apollo Moonwalkers Remain "Science and technology got me there, but when I got there and I looked back home at the Earth, science and technology could not explain what I was seeing nor what I was feeling," Cernan said in a 2007 interview with NASA. "You look at the Earth, and it very majestically yet mysteriously rotates on an axis you can't see, but must be there." The ascent stage of Apollo 17's Challenger spacecraft leaves the moon forever, as captured by a remotely operated camera on a nearby lunar rover. Below it is the descent stage, which remained behind. Cernan and Schmitt left the moon on Dec. 14, 1972 to rejoin their crewmate Evans in the command module orbiting the moon. A plaque left behind on the moon reads: "Here Man completed his first explorations of the Moon, December 1972 AD. May the spirit of peace in which we came be reflected in the lives of all mankind." It is signed by Cernan, Evans, Schmitt and then-U.S. president Richard Nixon. WATCH VIDEO: Why Are There No Stars In The Apollo Photographs? Press Release January 23, 2017 TIME TO CLEAN UP THE POLICE RANKS, ANGARA URGES "BATO" Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa should consider himself "on probation" and use President Duterte's decision to retain him as a "great chance" to clean up the ranks of the PNP. Sen. Sonny Angara said dela Rosa should "use what is basically a new tour of duty, to improve things in the national police." "I think with what happened, the PNP Chief will be more motivated to turn this unfortunate incident into a big opportunity to reinstitute reforms in the PNP," Angara stressed, pointing out that "now is the best time to do it. The people will support bold reforms in the PNP. Bold not piecemeal." Angara urged the PNP leadership to fire corrupt cops, and to file cases against them. "The people are watching and they expect bold measures now that the police have already been put in the spotlight," said Angara. The senator reminded Dela Rosa to impress upon his men that the President's support for the police covers lawful actions only. "They should be reminded not to abuse his support. I think it has reached that point where the chief executive's support for the police has emboldened some to take shortcuts in law enforcement," Angara emphasized. After hearing the news that a Korean trader abducted by policemen was strangled to death inside Camp Crame, the lawmaker said that "just everyone like else, I was deeply disturbed. It happened right inside Camp Crame which should probably be the safest place in the country." "This undeniably drives home the issue of police corruption. And right there in the backyard of Dela Rosa," he added. It will be recalled that Angara filed the Magna Carta for the PNP bill which seeks, among others, to establish a separate salary scale for the PNP to attract more qualified and competent law enforcers in the country. The bill provides for additional benefits such as cost of living, clothing, quarters and subsistence allowances, longevity pay, reasonable leaves and retirement program. Saying the latest controversy affects the centerpiece of the Duterte administration, Angara said: "Nararapat na maipakita ng liderato ng ating kapulisan na walang sasantohin sa imbestigasyon na gagawin. Hustisya para sa pamilya ng biktima ang dapat maging pangunahing layunin upang mapanagot ang mga sangkot. Ating isaisip na ang buong mundo ay nakasubaybay, at tahimik na nagmamanman." (Adds senior Chinese leader comment, byline) By Benjamin Kang Lim BEIJING, Jan 23 (Reuters) - China has agreed to cooperate with the Philippines on 30 projects worth $3.7 billion focusing on poverty reduction, the two countries said after a meeting in Beijing on Monday. Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng announced the deals without giving details, saying it was an "initial batch" of projects that still needed to be finalised and paperwork still needed to be processed by the banks involved. Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he had a "very productive" meeting with Gao and they had discussed large projects in rural areas, as well as some smaller projects. The deal is the first announcement from a two-day visit by a Philippine cabinet delegation to China that comes three months after President Rodrigo Duterte visited Beijing to pave the way for new commercial alliances. China has welcomed Duterte's foreign policy shift away from traditional ally the United States and towards doing more regional deals for loans and business under his "pro-Filipino" policy. Relations between the Philippines and China "fully recovered" after Duterte's visit, and "China supports president Duterte to lead the Philippines people in developing their economy," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing on Monday. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang told the Philippines' delegation that the two countries were friends and there was enormous potential to develop trade and business ties, state news agency Xinhua said. Both countries should continue to push for the healthy development of relations, Wang added. Chinese officials pledged $15 billion of investment to the Philippines during Duterte's visit in October, according to the Philippine finance department. Asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump's economic policies would affect commercial ties between China and the Philippines, Dominguez said: "It's better to be with good friends." Story continues "I'm not sure at this moment exactly what the new U.S. policies, but I believe that the reorientation of our president to our neighbours really was very smart," Dominguez told reporters. The Philippine delegation is due to meet Vice Premier Wang Yang at Zhongnanhai, the Beijing complex that houses China's central government, later on Monday. The Philippine team on the trip includes Duterte's finance, budget, economic, public works and transport secretaries. The two sides will also discuss the Philippines' chairmanship of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said on Jan. 11 he was confident a code of conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China could be finished by mid-2017. (Additional reporting by Joseph Campbell, Ben Blanchard and Christian Shepherd; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Robert Birsel and Clarence Fernandez) Press Release January 23, 2017 Cayetano: 'comprehensive approach' needed to end usurious 5-6 scheme Senator Alan Peter Cayetano stressed the need to enact a 'comprehensive approach' to end the problem of poor Filipinos falling prey to usurious money lending schemes just to get enough capital for their livelihood. When asked about his stand on President Rodrigo Duterte's policy on microfinance, the senator said the administration, with the help of Congress and other government and private institutions, has come up with a plan to finally put an end to the practice of the '5-6' money lending scheme. Cayetano said he had discussed with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Land Bank of the Philippines, and five non-government organizations (NGOs), the President's directive to provide the poor with capital. "Kaya this year, through the efforts of myself, the senators, Secretary Lopez, and (Budget) Secretary (Benjamin) Diokno, nagkaroon ng P1 billion fund ang DTI para sa anti-5-6," he said in a press conference last Friday (January 20). Congress recently approved Department of Trade & Industry (DTI)'s P1-billion worth of "Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso" or P3, which will be used to grant loans to small businesses with minimal interest. As for Duterte's earlier directive to arrest Indian nationals in the country who are involved in 5-6, Cayetano said the ones whom the President actually wants arrested are illegal money lenders who evade tax payments and charge usurious interests. "There's no conflict. Ang sinasabi lang ng Pangulo, follow the law. Kung Pilipino ka o foreigner, kung nagpapautang ka, make sure registered ka. Make sure nagbabayad ka ng tax. (Otherwise,) subject ka to arrest because you are violating the law," he said. The senator had expressed support for Duterte's commitment to promoting the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. He also lauded the President's directive to arrest loan sharks who impose illegal money lending schemes. Cayetano has been a staunch advocate of MSME growth since his successful reelection campaign in 2013, during which he launched his PTK (Presyo, Trabaho, Kita) platform. "Noong 2012-2013, sa pag-iikot ko sa buong Pilipinas, nakita ko, mula sa pinakamataas na bundok hanggang sa pinakamababang valley at pinaka-isolated na isla sa bansa, may 5-6," he said. The PTK program has so far provided assistance in the form of low-interest loans to over 190 organizations of farmers, fishers, market vendors, PUV drivers, and small-scale workers nationwide. Press Release January 23, 2017 On the assembly and induction of officers of Pilipinas Kong Mahal United Coalition 22 January 2017 Fighting for Justice and Dignity HON. LEILA M. DE LIMA Senator Good day to all. Thank you very much to all the organizers, especially to the members and leaders of Pilipinas Kong Mahal, for making this event possible. During these challenging times, the chance to spend time with kindhearted people and very supportive people like you lifts up my spirit and reminds me why I continue fighting the good fight. I will continue fighting. (Applause) I thank you all for being here, kahit nga po Linggo ngayon, it's a Sunday, it's a good day, and I know you would like to relax or spend time with your family. Still, you chose to give me your time and show your support and encouragement. In the face of everything that is happening in the Philippines today, these kinds of gatherings are concrete proof that there are still a lot of open-minded people from different sectors of society who are dedicated and ready to uphold democracy, justice, and human rights. Dahil po sa inyo, lumalakas ang loob ko. (Applause) Sabi nga ho kanina ni Tito Robert, anuman ang ibato nilang paninira, tuloy lang po ako sa trabaho. Sulit ang pagod at sakripisyo dahil kasama ko kayong nakikipaglaban. Makakaasa po kaya ako na kasama ko kayo sa aking laban? (Applause) Kilala ang Bacolod bilang "The City of Smiles." Sa tood lang: sa pagbisita ko diri, sa yuhum n'yo pa lang, nabatyagan ko ang inyo pagpalangga kag pag ugyon niyo sa akon. Madamo gid nga salamat.[1] (Applause) And as everyone here realizes, I am perhaps most well known today for having invited upon myself the ire of President Duterte and the entire administration. My stance as an advocate for justice and human rights--my desire to simply do my duty--has become the reason why the most powerful man in the country and his allies are waging a vendetta on me. It is clear he has not forgotten the days when I investigated the rampant killings in Davao City, attributed to the so-called Davao Death Squad. Hindi niya po yun nakalimutan. He would never forget that, and he would never forgive me for going there to Davao City and dare investigate him in his role dun sa mga tinatawag na DDS killings. Not to mention the fact that now, as a Senator, I initiated an inquiry into the spate of extrajudicial killings in the country. But that cost me my chairmanship of my committee, the Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Siyempre, masakit po yun sa akin kasi yan po ang aking mga core advocaies--hustisya at karapatang pantao. Justice and human rights--these are my core competencies. These are the advocacies closest to my heart: human rights and justice. Kaya nga po, yun po ang in-aspire ko pag nanalo po tayo sa eleksyon, na maging chairperson ng Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. But dahil nga po sa ginawa natin, na pinaimbestiga natin yung EJKs, at prinisenta po natin bilang witness si Mr. Edgar Matobato, I was ousted from that role. And to be honest, it's really painful for me. But I accept that it is more a numbers game in the Senate. That it is, what I call, the tyranny of the majority. As the most outspoken critic of President Duterte, I am also the most maligned, the most demonized, and as Senator Ping Lacson put it, "the most wiretapped" public figure in the country today. Hindi nga lang country ang pagkasabi ata ni Senator Ping, sabi pa niya: the most wiretapped in planet Earth. I think it is not even a joke. I know he meant it to be a joke, but I didn't take it as a joke. Wiretapping certain public figures now seems to be a priority of our law enforcers or state agents. Wala naman ho kasi silang pakialam kung ano yung nasa batas. They consistently defy the rule of law. Grabe po ang panggigipit nila. Sobra na nga ang paninira nila sa akin sa publiko, pati pribado kong buhay at ng aking pamilya, dinadamay pa. What else can we expect from a President who seems to have lost his conscience and his reason to Fentanyl, an extremely powerful drug that he admitted to use for his medication? What can we expect from a President who is used to having his way, no matter what the law says, and who seems to be drunk with power? What can we expect from a President who seems to have no plan to stop the killings today, and instead, continues to encourage it and excuse it? Ang abi guru sang presidente sa kaugalingon niya hari-- kung ano gusto niya, amo na ang masunod.[2] What else should I expect from the President, if he himself publicly stated: "I will destroy you"? What else should I expect from a man who has told me, quite bluntly, to go hang myself? I think yung iba sa inyo narinig din yung mga sinabi niya na yun. "I will destroy you." "You will never win this." "Go hang yourself." At nakikita na nga natin ang sagot. Araw-araw na lang, kaliwa't kanan ang mga bangkay na natatagpuan sa mga lansangan, lalo na sa Metro Manila. They put the law and justice into their hands by killing small time drug users and pushers who belong to the poorest of the poor, the ones living in the slum communities and depressed areas. A Rappler article said that since July 1, 2016--magugulat po kayo kasi yung figures nga po na nakalagay dito sa speech ko nung isang araw, mas mababa. Ngayon mas mataas na. This was just updated. Since July 1, 2016, there have already been 7,025 men, women, and children killed as a result of the so-called war on drugs. Nung isang araw 6,775 pa lang yan. As of last night, I think it's now 7,025, 2,500 of which are suspected drug personalities killed in police operations, as of January 17; and 3,603 victims in cases of deaths under investigation, including the vigilante killings, as of January 9.[3] Pag-isipan ho natin yun. Just think: more than 7,025 corpses, and we are only in the seventh month of this administration. Talo pa ho yung mga pinatay o namatay nung Martial Law era, mga 3,000 plus. And kahit i-combine niyo po yung mga cases of EJKs or EJK victims nung mga nakaraan na mga administrasyon from Cory Aquino, to FVR, to Erap, to GMA, to PNoy, combined. Talong-talo na ho yung data on EJKs. But only after seven months under the bloodthirsty Duterte administration, almost 1,000 people killed each month, or more than 30 people killed each day. Katanggap-tanggap ho ba yun? This is inhuman, abhorrent, and despicable. This is terrifying. Ewan ko po sa inyo, ako, natatakot po ako rito. Hindi ho ba dapat matakot tayo? Ano ho ba yung sinasabi nila na it brings to the community because the bad people, the bad guys are gone? Anong klase po yun? Does it really bring genuine peace in the community if there are dead people everyday, creating a culture of fear in the community? Ilan pa ba ang mamamatay bago magising sa katotohanan ang mga pinuno natin? Ilan pang inosente--dumadami na po yung so-called collateral damage--ilan pa hong inosente ang madadamay bago magising sa pananahimik ang marami nating kababayan? Can we not hear the cries of the bereaved families whose father, mother, son, daughter, or siblings have been shot dead? Can we not see the violence and injustice happening in the streets in which even innocent victims have fallen, including aged 4, 5 and 7-year-old children? "Collateral damage", walang mga kamuwang-muwang. They were just there at the wrong time, at the wrong place, when somebody in their family was gunned down by these death squads. Look at that, 5, 4, 7 years old. Have we been desensitized? Do we still pretend to feel safe, even if there seems to be evidence and growing international concern that we are turning into a barbaric society? Putting aside the fact that our President has made offensive jokes about rape and curses in public habitually, and engages in misogynistic behavior, or sexist behavior na namamana ng ilan-ilan sa ating honorable congressmen. Look at how they conducted or handled the so-called House inquiry into the Bilibid drug trade. Seryoso kaya sila doon sa imbestigasyon nila into the so-called Bilibid drug trade? Ang pagkakaalam ko ho noon, dati na ho yan inimbestigahan by the House Committee on Justice. I was the Secretary of Justice when they conducted a series, also, of hearings right there in the Bilbid. Sinamahan ko rin sila na mga members na yan ng Justice Committee nung nag-ocular inspection sila sa Bilibid. And some of them are the very same congressmen who were lording it over in that House inquiry na doon sa mga kabastusan ng mga linya ng kanilang questioning on certain resource persons in that House inquiry. Because yung agenda ho ng so-called inquiry na yan hindi naman ho para malaman ang katotohanan dun sa proliferation ng drug trade in the penitentiary, kundi pahiyain lang si Leila de Lima. And that is the very reason, ladies and gentleman, why I refused to participate in that inquiry. Alam ko na ho yung mangyayari. Babastusin lang ako nang husto dun. Ano ho ba yung objective nila? Para masira ang kredibilidad, para takutin si Leila de Lima, para tumahimik na lang po siya. Misogynistic behavior of some of our leaders. Sexist, offensive behavior. Naturingan pa man din sila na mga honourable congressmen. Our children are growing up in an environment where it is okay to kill and see dead bodies all the time. This is the present we are living through: When you have no money or connections, when the door to your house--a shanty--can easily be broken down, you are murdered in cold blood. Yet when you are connected with a powerful political figure, who can ask for a private meeting with the President, you are not even investigated for being present at a drug den. At nasan na po yung sinasabing big-time drug lord na yun na nakipag-meeting pa sa Pangulo? Kinasuhan na ho ba siya? Tumakas na ho yata. Clearly, this so-called war on drugs has become anti-poor, in the same manner that the re-imposition of the death penalty would also be anti-poor. Once sentenced, convicted individuals who are poor cannot defend themselves or challenge their convictions because they have no lawyers or good lawyers. Walang pambayad kaya't walang makapag-asikaso sa kanilang mga kaso. My prior experience as Secretary of Justice gave me a clear picture of what more needs to be done. Our system is riddled with gaps and pitfalls, and is susceptible to the miscarriage of justice. Ang pinaka-numero ko pong dahilan kung bakit kontrang-kontra po ako diyan, sa death penalty na yan, ay dahil nga kapag ginawa na at ito ay naipataw sa isang inosenteng tao pala, mababawi pa kaya yun? It is irreversible. And on the issue of wrongful convictions, the Supreme Court's review of capital cases up to January 2006 revealed that four out of five death inmates have been wrongfully sentenced by the various lower courts. Of the 1,513 cases reviewed, almost half or 645 were modified from death penalty to reclusion perpetua or indeterminate sentence, close to a third, 456, were transferred to the Court of Appeals, 69 were acquitted, and 37 cases were remanded for further proceedings. Only 270 cases or 18 percent only reviewed were affirmed by the high court. 18 percent, so yung iba, mali yung pagpataw sa death penalty. So it's 82 percent yung mali ang pagpataw ng death penalty upon review by the Supreme Court. [4] What we need is to ensure the swift delivery of justice--and this does not mean killing, whether extrajudicial or sanctioned by the re-imposition of the death penalty. Ang kailangan lang po ay swift delivery of justice, certainty of arrest, certainty of punishment. Hindi po natin kailangan ang death penalty. Many of the people who have been killed in the administration's war on drugs were only suspected to be connected to drugs. Some were sentenced criminals by signs made of cardboard. The past few months have shown us the gravity of the fact that we cannot bring the dead back to life. We cannot atone for the wrongful deaths of those who did not even get a chance to prove their innocence. Kasi nga ho yung EJKs, mas grabe pa sa death penalty. Dahil sa death penalty, dadaan pa sa proseso. Pero yung EJKs, wala. Summary execution, and some people are playing god. And that is definitely wrong. This is why I stand firm in my opposition against both EJKs and the death penalty. I strongly believe that both are discriminatory to the poor. These are un-Christian, apart from the important fact that the death penalty or EJK has not been shown to reduce crime. Ano pong sinasabi nila na bumababa na daw po ang istatistika ng krimen mula nung inumpisahan nila itong sinasabi nilang Operation Tokhang, and then yung mga operations na yan which result to death and killings? How can they say that criminality--or the peace and order situation has improved when there are more dead bodies? Ano ho bang tawag dun? Di ba homicide or murder. So homicide, murder, these are against the law, against the Revised Penal Code, against the Constitution. So anong peace and order ang sinasabi nila? There cannot be peace and order if you violated the law. That's very clear. Tini-twist-twist kasi nila yung mga ganyan eh in trying to convince people, in trying to justify what they're doing. Pero nakita niyo naman, takot na takot kapag sinasabi natin, kapag wina-warningan natin na kung hindi niyo ihinto yan, yang pagpapatay niyo araw-araw, be ready to face the consequence, maybe not now, but in the future. Be ready for interventions coming from international tribunals, for example, the ICC or the International Criminal Court. They're monitoring already the situation here. So puwedeng makalusot sila under our own legal mechanisms, pero makakalusot kaya sila sa ICC? Kayo na lang po ang sumagot niyan. Others who push for the re-imposition of the death penalty even used the Bible to legitimize capital punishment. (Laughter) Alam niyo na po siguro kung sino yun. Kahit daw po si Hesukristo ay na-death penalty. Ang sa akin lang po, nung binitay ho ba si Kristo o pinatay si Hesukristo, may kasalanan ho ba siya? Ano hong klaseng argument yun for death penalty? (Laughter) Si Hesukristo ba may tunay na may sala? This is why amid calls to reinstate the death penalty here in the Philippines, I filed a bill introducing a new penalty of imprisonment: qualified reclusion perpetua. It's sort of an alternative punishment to death penalty. Huwag lang death penalty. Dagdagan lang. Impose stiffer punishment for those convicted of extraordinary heinous crimes without having to deal with the problems that beset the death penalty system. And still about the death penalty, hindi ho ba mismong ang ating Pope Francis, ang sabi niya talaga, the fifth commandment, "Thou shall not kill" applies to both the innocent and the guilty. Klarado ho na mensahe yan ni Pope Francis. Ano no crime ever deserved killing another human being. Siguro naman karamihan sa atin dito Katoliko. Siguro naman ho karamihan sa atin dito ay Christians. Naniniwala tayo sa inviolability and sanctity of life. So hindi ho tayo dapat tumanggap ng kung anumang argumento in favor of the reimposition of death penalty. Let me borrow the words of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., in order to explain why I have never believed that peace and order can be achieved through violent means. In a book, he wrote: "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars." Malinaw po sa ating kasaysayan: Walang ibang naidudulot ang pagmamalupit at karahasan, kundi karahasan din. I know, many of you, like me, are already frustrated with this administration's failure to deliver its campaign promises. Maayo lang sila sa paglapta sang mga binutig, sa mga sala nga impormasyon, kag pang into sa mga katawhan.[5] Pito na sila ka bulan sa puwesto. Ano na ang na ubra nila? Karahasan. Patayan. Pag depensa sa mga tao nga gapatay sa mga wala bato.[6] This is why I urge the Filipino people to remain vigilant. Hindi puwedeng lagi na lang silang magpapalusot o kung may isyu silang gustong iwasan, maninisi sila ng iba. Nasanay na siguro ang Pangulo na kapag wala nang ibang isagot, puro "kasalanan yan ni De Lima" nalang ang sinasabi niya. (Laughter) Or could this be their tactic to confuse the public? I'm talking about "kasalanan yan ni Leila de Lima". Kapag ho may nangyayari, katulad nung latest jailbreak sa Cotabato, akala ko sa akin na naman ituturo yun. Pag may bomb scare, akala ko sa akin din ituturo. Kasi hindi lang daw ako the drug trade queen in the country today, kundi leading narcopolitician, and then narcoterrorist pa raw ako. Seryoso po. Meron pong kaso...I have one of those cases. Alam niyo po ang dami ko na pong kaso, siguro 16 na po. At isa sa mga kaso sa Ombudsman, violation of the Terrorism Financing Act. So ako ngayon ang leading terrorist of the country. And that's why that SolGen tags me as "public enemy no. 1". Mga sira-ulo, ano ho. (Laugther) Mga loonies. (Applause) I have long felt that they are trying to make an example out of me--anyone who will go against them will be silenced and humiliated. By putting me in the spotlight, they are trying to distract public attention from the real and dire state of the nation. The proliferation of fake news has made matters worse. Isang problema ho natin yan, mga fake news. Napakadami po. Back in September, when I was told that there are news report that literally the Queen herself, that is, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, had "expressed her joy" over reports that the so-called "Philippines Senate" had removed me as a member, going so far as to "congratulate" my fellow senators for having ousted me because I obviously, "should be dealt with" because I allegedly "wanted to bring confusion in Duterte's government"[7]--Isa po yan sa mga pinaka-unang fake news na ginawa nila para sa akin. And upon seeing that, I was torn between being flattered to know that my profile was so high that news of my ouster ranks high in Her Majesty's foreign affairs agenda (Laughter), or just plain confused because I was, and am still, very much a Senator of the Republic. That was definitely one fake news that was so obviously fake that I would have simply laughed it off if it weren't for the possibility that even one of our person had been led to believe it. Yan po kasi ang problema sa mga fake news, meron din po kasing mga ilan-ilan na naniniwala agad. But when other fake news started getting more and more attention, and got more and more fake and dangerous in its ability to spread propaganda, I quickly realized that we have gotten to the point where it is not even close to being a laughing matter anymore. Kung ano-anong iniimbento nila laban sa akin, sa pamilya ko, sa anak ko, sa kapatid ko, kahit sa pamangkin ko. Pinakita ho sa akin ang listahan ng aking Comms Group yung mga fake news tungkol sa akin. More than 30 fake news na pala. Akala ko, hindi pa aabot ng sampu. Just to cite examples, examples lang po kasi napakarami pang iba. "Leila de Lima resigns as a Senator"; "NBI confirms Leila de Lima is the Queen of all drug lords in Philippines and pork barrel"; "De Lima on tight security after attempting suicide"; "De Lima's sister, Caroline De Lima arrested in China for drug trafficking"; De Lima's son arrested at airport--Berlin airport ang nakalagay sa balita na yan--with 50 kgs of drugs"; "Bagman at pamangkin ni Sen. De Lima dawit sa kalakaran ng droga". Ilan-ilang lang po yan sa mga pinakakalat nila na fake news. And it isn't just me or my family, fake news is also damaging, not just political careers, but serious advocacies that seek to protect the national interest by undermining the integrity of advocates like myself and Senator Trillanes, who, in one website are accused of having receiving a P500-million peso check from me, which he allegedly used to pay for political ads against the President during the election period[8] dahil nga daw Bilibid drug trade ako, napakadami pera ko, sabi ni Aguirre ang aking assets daw po ay 12 to 15 billion pesos. Ganun sila kasinugaling. Ganun sila kasama sa mga kasinungalingan nila. That website claims this to be "viral news", yung tungkol dun sa P500-million check to Senator Sonny, but is actually just a personal blog that lures people to click and visit it so that its owner can make money from the lies it publishes. Even the Ombudsman has been the subject--or more like victim--of fake news. Ayon po sa isang headline, "Sabwatang De Lima at Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Nabunyag Na!!" May dalawang exclamation points pa. At nag-aanyaya pang "Alamin" ang istoryang naka-tag na "local news", "news" or "video" kuno, pero wala namang video na mapapanood. That site even has the guts to hold itself out to the cyberspace public as a "social news" site publishing "breaking news", but, curiously does not even state a date or time stamp for its article, or even the name of the author or contributor and, worse, contains a moronic disclaimer that it "cannot guarantee the legitimacy of some of the information" it publishes on its own site. It is good that my colleagues, Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Sonny Trillanes have already filed Senate resolutions which seek to conduct an inquiry on the spate of fake news in social media. I am wholeheartedly supporting these, and in fact, I might deliver a privilege speech on this this coming week. All these fake news aim to counteract the critical news coverage that the Duterte administration has received from the beginning. News coverage that, I might add, is accurate and well-documented. Remember the deceptive and insulting Marcos burial? The thousands who have died in the streets? The huge increase in the intel funds of the Office of the President? The alleged bribery attempt by Chinese businessman Jack Lam to former BI Associate Commissioners? And now the "Tokhang for ransom" issue? This issue that is more than just an example of how evil elements are still operating in the guise of our law enforcers, but, more importantly, a display of how the blind faith and blanket license to kill given by the President is not just an ineffective means to address the illegal drugs problem, but, worse, one that creates a moral vacuum that allows graver crimes to be committed in the name of the law. Our public interest, in effect, is being used as an alibi for the rampant commission of crimes. We are being kidnapped, robbed and butchered allegedly in our own interest. And yang kaso na yan, especially involving that Korean, the killing of that Korean, yung "Tokhang for ransom". That to me is a damning proof that it's the police that is behind these death squads. Yang mga involved diyan sa Tokhang for ransom na yan, sa Korean na yan, these are officials and personnel of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit itself of the PNP. And that Korean was killed right there inside Camp Crame. Hindi naman ho yata Camp Crame yan, Camp Crime na. (Laughter) Imagine that. So what is this? Yan po kasi ang sinasabi ko eh. If you give license to the police to be undertaking those summary executions, then you are also giving them license to do more abuses, lalo na na pinagtatakpan sila, dinedepensahan sila, pinoprotektahan sila by no less than the President. Remember the Espinosa killing? May finding dun yung NBI na that was really execution. But anong sabi ng Pangulo? "Naniniwala ako dun sa mga pulis na yun." So what else can they expect? These are the contentious issue that need to be tackled. These have divided our people and our society. Even us in the Senate have had heated debates about these issues. Ang masaklap, humahantong pa ang pagtatalo namin sa Senado sa personalan, yung mga ilan-ilan diyan nagkaka-personalan na. What further adds to the public confusion is the President's constantly changing pronouncements. Even his spokespersons use their "creative imagination" to interpret the President's statements. Talo pa ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga Miss Universe contestants dahil siya, laging may mga interpreters. (Applause) One of them even blasted the media for their alleged irresponsible reporting on Duterte's Martial Law remarks--when there was ample documentation to show that no misquoting had taken place. Kasi sabi mini-misquote lang palagi daw ng media ang Pangulo. Eh klarado naman ho yung mga lumalabas sa bibig ng ating Pangulo. And as you very well know, they are also pushing for federalism. Tinatanong po ako dito kung ako daw po ay in favor of charter change. Ang sagot ko po: Under ideal circumstances, we can perhaps be assured that charter change will be undertaken solely to further the interests of the Filipino people. But these are not ideal circumstances to say the least. It's the worst time to tinker with our Constitution. It's too big a risk, especially given the kind of power-hungry, abusive and morally bankrupt leaders calling the shots these days. I cannot trust a regime with authoritarian and oppressive tendencies, and propensity to engage in outright lies and deceptions to initiate changes in our Constitution. Honestly, I wouldn't even trust this government with the responsibility of looking after my beloved dogs, (Laughter) trese po ang aking mga aso--let alone with messing with the Fundamental Law of my beloved country. Maganda nga po siguro ang layunin nito, pero kaduda-duda naman ang mga nasa likod ng nagsusulong ng Federalismo: mga politikong dati nang umabuso sa kapangyarihan at gusto ulit maghari-harian. Rest assured that as Senator, I will be a critical voice in discussing this bill. The relentless attacks against my character have not kept me from actively participating in floor debates and public hearings. Like some of my fellow Senators, I am focused on ensuring that the laws we produce will deliver the greatest benefit to the Filipino people. I would ask your help in doing my job: If you see that the administration is doing the right thing, then let's acknowledge it. At the same time, if we see wrong--if we see them working against the Filipino people, let's make our voices heard. (Applause) Hindi tayo puwedeng manahimik lang. Sabi nga po ni Fr. Robert Reyes, what he sees now is the evil of silence, not just the evil of impunity. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan habang buhay. And allow me to quote another author. Professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who passed away in July of last year, once wrote: "We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must--at that moment--become the center of the universe." We have to fight for the rights, not only of ourselves, but also the rights of others--especially those who cannot defend themselves, like those being killed everyday. We have to stand for the rights of all, because if we do not, we are making it easier for our own rights to be abused. I urge the public. Let your voices be heard. Use media coverage to understand the issues. Do not abuse or misuse social media. There are so many lies and propaganda in social media resulting to a culture of hate. Do not be a part of this. Use your freedom of speech to educate and to enlighten. Use it always with due regard for the rights of others and for the good of our country. I believe that none of us here want glory or fame. As Filipinos, I know that we want the same things: justice, peace and order, integrity in government. And I know that we will do our part to ensure that we save our country. (Applause) Hindi po natin hahayaang masira nang tuluyan ang ating lipunan. Gawin natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya upang ipaglaban ang tama. Gaya ninyo, hindi ko tatalikuran ang aking mga kababayan, bansa, at Panginoon. Ano man ka bug at ang pagtilaw, mabato ko sa pinaka ulihi ko nga ginhawa, tindugan ko ang kung ano ang tsakto, kung ano ang kamatuuran, nga may hustisya, kag demokrasya. tindugan ko ang bilog nga Filipino, matindog ko upod sa inyo. Madamo gid nga salamat.[9] Maraming salamat po. (Applause) ________________________________________ [1] Kilala ang Bacolod City bilang "The City of Smiles". At sa totoo lang: Sa ngiti n'yo palang, ramdam ko na ang lambing ng inyong pagmamahal at pakikiisa. Maraming salamat po. [2] Ang tingin siguro ng Pangulo sa sarili ay hari, di dapat masuway ang utos niya. [3] Bueza, Michael. IN NUMBERS: The Philippines' 'war on drugs'. http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/145814-numbers-statistics-philippines-war-drugs. Updated 17 January 2017. [4] Debate on death penalty rages anew. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. http://pcij.org/blog/2006/04/17/debate-on-death-penalty-rages-anew. 17 April 2006 [5] Magaling lang sila sa pagkakalat ng kasinungalingan, ng maling impormasyon, at panloloko sa taumbayan. [6] Pitong buwan na sila sa puwesto. Ano na ba ang nagawa nila? Karahasan. Patayan. Pagtatanggol sa mga ilegal na pumapatay ng mga walang kalaban-laban. [7] http://thet1mes.com/uk-congratulates-philippines-senate-for-ousting-de-lima/ (accessed 21 January 2017). [8] http://whattrendz.blogspot.com/2016/09/viral-news-trillanes-and-his-500.html?m=1 (accessed 21 January 2017). [9] Gaano man kabigat ang pagsubok, lalaban ako. Down to my last breath, I will stand with what is right, with truth, with justice, with democracy. I will stand with the Filipino people. I will stand with you. Maraming salamat. Public schools around California are bracing for a crisis driven by skyrocketing worker pension costs that are expected to force districts to divert billions of dollars from classrooms into retirement accounts, education officials said. The depth of the funding gap became clear to district leaders when they returned from the holiday break: What they contribute to the California Public Employees Retirement System, known as CalPERS, will likely double within six years, according to state estimates. CalPERS, a public pension fund with $300 billion in assets that is the countrys largest, manages retirement benefits for 1.8 million current and former city, state and school district employees, though it does not cover teachers, who fall under a different pension system. School district officials say that unless the situation changes, they will have to make cuts elsewhere, possibly leading to larger class sizes, stagnant worker pay, fewer counselors and librarians, and less art and music in schools. Insolvency and state takeover are not out of the question for some districts. Its like an OMG moment of, How are we going to cover this? said Dennis Meyers, assistant executive director of governmental relations at the California School Boards Association. Its scaring districts right now. A lot are questioning whether they can stay afloat. Californias pension problem isnt new. For years, economists and policymakers have warned that the states pension systems wont have enough money to fulfill promises to millions of current and retired workers. But next year, officials said, rising pension costs will eat up more than a third of proposed increases to the state education budget. There is a predicted shortfall among all state retirement accounts of at least $230 billion based on whats owed to current and future retirees. The pension funds, including CalPERS, havent made as much money from the stock market and other investments as they had hoped. That means school districts like other public agencies have had to backfill pension funds. Workers have also been forced to pay more. But it hasnt been enough. CalPERS officials had hoped to gain a 7.5 percent annual return on investments, but they didnt come close in either of the last two years. So in December, the CalPERS board voted to reduce the expected return rate to 7 percent by 2019-20 which will translate to billions of dollars in additional payments. This was a very difficult decision to make, but it is an important step to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fund, said Rob Feckner, president of the CalPERS board. He said the board was committed to a phased approach that would allow agencies to deal with wounded budgets. Currently, districts pay the equivalent of 13.88 percent of payroll for CalPERS employees into the pension fund already the highest-ever rate. For Oakland, thats about $14 million this year. But the payroll rate will jump to 28.2 percent over the next six years. There is still a lot of speculation at this point, but this would likely create a significant increase in expenditures for school districts, said Raul Parungao, associate superintendent for the Fremont Unified School District. The resulting impact to budgets will require very careful planning in the immediate future. Yet the states education budget has increased significantly over the last several years, with a projected $2 billion increase next year to $73.5 billion a big jump from the $47.3 billion allocated to schools at the height of the recession in 2011, said H.D. Palmer, deputy director of the California Department of Finance. School districts, as employers, are responsible for workers retirement plans, he said. This is an effort to make a more solvent and sustainable retirement system for public employees over the long haul, Palmer said. These increases are not going to be immediate, theyre going to be phased in. In Pittsburg Unified, district officials are deeply concerned about the mounting burden, while arguing the responsibility to cover failed investments should not fall on students. Why is it the school districts are having to pay for the inability of CalPERS to make money? asked Enrique Palacios, the deputy superintendent and chief business officer. You tell me what business in the state of California contributes that level of funding for retirement benefits. No one. Pittsburg expects to pay about $2.2 million of its $100 million budget this year into CalPERS. Doubling the cost will hit hard, Palacios said, requiring districts to pull money from academic programs and limit staff raises. Who gets the black eye in the public opinion? The local agency. Not the state, Palacios said. While the state has increased education funding over the last few years, he said, The financial impact to districts will compromise all the education reforms that Jerry Brown has been trying to do. The state needs to step into this. San Francisco Unified is among a handful of districts unaffected by the CalPERS changes because its employee pensions are managed by the city. Still, the district is facing rising costs. The pension system that serves California teachers has required districts to pay more in recent years, and is expected to follow CalPERS with additional increases. Leah Millis/The Chronicle The funding crisis may fuel calls to cut public retirement packages. But while some retirees at the top end of the pay scale make six-figure pensions, the average CalPERS beneficiary gets $1,438 per month in retirement. Are teachers and classified employee pensions too large? Of course not, said Bill Sokol, a labor studies lecturer at San Francisco State University. If the amount youre setting aside for a really inadequate pension is too great, then youre not collecting enough money for education. Gov. Browns state budget proposal, released this week, includes about $2 billion more for schools, but increases in CalPERS and the California State Teachers Retirement System costs alone will equal more than $723 million, according to the California School Boards Association. Moreover, the governor cautioned that the state could be in for a rough financial ride in coming years, with the possibility of reduced federal funding and an economic downturn. That could mean less state money for schools despite the surging pension costs. District officials in Oakland said rising pension costs could kill raises for teachers and other district workers. A clause in the current labor contract requires a percentage of additional state funding to go to employee compensation. But pension payments would come first. Whatever amount remains after the increase goes to salary, said Vernon Hal, senior business officer. It remains to be seen whether there will be leftover funds dedicated purely to salary increases. Hal said he was buoyed, though, by the knowledge that the pension crisis is shared by school districts across the state. Thats a lot of loud, angry voices. It we dont get the money to pay for that, he said, we are not alone. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker The Bay Area will soon be a laboratory that tests how urban regions can prepare for the likelihood of sea level rise. Thats the aim of a $5.8 million design competition being announced this week that will select 10 multidisciplinary teams and assign each a different bayside setting. Each team will have $250,000 to work with and is expected to come up with a proposal that not only looks good but can become reality and has the support of the community where it is located. Dubbed Bay Area: Resilient by Design, the competition has been slow to get off the ground because of fundraising difficulties. Now the Rockefeller Foundation in New York has agreed to provide $4.6 million to pull off the ambitious 15-month effort. This is a great opportunity for our region to start thinking about what the future holds and how to manage that future in a way thats exciting, said Allison Brooks, executive director of the Bay Area Regional Collaborative and one of 12 members of the competitions executive committee. The competition is modeled on Rebuild by Design, which was started in 2013 in New York and New Jersey. That effort was part of larger recovery efforts in response to the cataclysmic damage from Hurricane Sandy a few months earlier in 2012. This time the hope is to get ahead of the curve. We were drawn to the idea of working with a region on a competition thats about preparation, not recovery, said Dr. Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, which also had a central role in Rebuild by Design. I love the idea that the setting is the Bay Area, which is so well-known for its energy and innovation. The setting is also known for the body of water that defines it, an estuary that extends roughly 50 miles from San Jose in the south to Napa County in the north. That range exposes it to the threats posed by sea level rise, which is related to climate change and is expected to increase in coming decades. Tides could climb as much as 66 inches by 2100 in the Bay Area, according to forecasts done in 2012 by the National Research Council. Some of those vulnerabilities were explored in The Chronicles Rising Reality series last year, from environmentally rich wetlands that would be engulfed to highways that would be submerged during even moderate storms. If nothing is done during the next few decades, for instance, a severe storm coupled with high tides could send water spilling into San Franciscos Market Street subway. Resilient by Design will identify 10 sites around the region, at least one in each of the nine counties and each posing a different type of challenge. Then the design teams will submit their qualifications in an attempt to be one of the chosen 10. The schedule calls for teams to be selected by summer, followed by a research period where the finalists will study the ecology and infrastructure for the different sites. Theyll also meet with community activists and the public. The entire effort really has to be open and transparent, allowing people to weigh in, Brooks said. We have a long track record of planners and engineers going into communities and concocting remedies that end up having deleterious effects. The final six months of the competition would be where the research is translated into design concepts that, theoretically, will be visually enticing but also scientifically sound. Something that can be financed and something that wary citizens will embrace. Were going to really challenge the teams to think about multiple returns, to design things that can benefit as many people as possible, Rodin said. Though the Rockefeller Foundation will have a seat on Resilient by Designs executive committee, the staff will be local. When youve got a major national foundation investing, it starts to wake people up beyond the region, said Zack Wasserman, who chairs the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. That agency, which oversees changes proposed for the bay and its shoreline, last year voted to update its planning documents to take a more proactive approach to sea level rise. We describe what were doing as a 10-year campaign, Wasserman said. We need to figure out what we can do, what we should do and how to pay for it. That could be tough. Unlike in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, theres no pool of disaster relief funds. A page on climate change was purged from the White House website after President Trumps inauguration. And while several of Trumps Cabinet nominees last week testified to Congress that they believe climate change is real, they didnt indicate there was an urgent need to try to lessen its impacts. Bay Area voters, by contrast, in June passed Measure AA a 20-year parcel tax that will raise an estimated $500 million for bay restoration and improvement efforts. The hope is that commitments such as this and Resilient by Design will attract other sources of funding to prepare for sea level rise. This is not a future concern. Its something we need to grapple with right now, said Adrian Covert, a vice president of the Bay Area Council, a business-sponsored think tank. If we have the chance to get ahead of something that will be a major challenge, we should do it. John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron Rising Reality In-depth report: Stories, videos and interactive graphics: www.sfchronicle.com/risingreality When William Scott takes over as San Franciscos police chief Monday, he will be inheriting many of the problems that plagued his predecessor, Greg Suhr and then some. For starters, the recent introduction of police body cameras means Scott could be forced to respond to a flood of videos of officers confrontations with suspects. The first body camera video premiered last week when Public Defender Jeff Adachi released footage of police shooting an unarmed man after pepper spray failed to subdue him. Police said the shooting was in self-defense, but Adachi said the footage contradicted the police account and was proof that the officers had failed to follow the departments new conflict de-escalation policy. Adachi, who obtained the footage as part of pretrial discovery, said its likely that his office will release more videos down the line. Certainly if we have a case when the video is relevant, we will consider releasing it, Adachi said. Part of the reason we brought body cameras to San Francisco was to increase accountability. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Some cities have found that the number of police shootings dropped after body cameras were introduced. For law enforcement, however, the downside is that there can be enormous public pressure to release footage from controversial incidents before investigations are completed. Dealing with body cameras wont be Scotts only challenge. He also has to implement a whole new use-of-force policy mandated by the Police Commission, parts of it over the screams of the police officers union. There is a culture that has been embedded there for some time, said Board of Supervisors President London Breed. And there is still the question of when or if officers will be issued stun guns. Suhr asked for them repeatedly, but the Police Commission has yet to OK even a pilot program. The result is we have fewer options for less-deadly force than ever, said Martin Halloran, head of the Police Officers Association. And at some point, District Attorney George Gascon is going to decide whether to file criminal charges against officers in a string of fatal shootings, including the December 2015 killing of Mario Woods. Prosecuting cops will infuriate the rank and file. Letting them off will infuriate activists. Either way, managing the fallout will be Scotts problem. As will the era of President Trump, during which disruptive protests on San Franciscos streets can be expected to grow exponentially. In Los Angeles, where he was deputy police chief, Scott earned a reputation for being fair, reasonable and level-headed. Hes going to need those traits and then some to succeed here in the Land of Oz. On the law: Talk about a high-stakes poker game. Records show that San Franciscos City Attorney Dennis Herreras office has paid out more than $2.5 million to the law firm headed by former Police Commission President John Keker to fend off a whistle-blower lawsuit filed by a former top trial deputy at City Hall. And the case hasnt even gone to court yet. Joanne Hoeper says she was shown the door by Herrera in 2012 for exposing kickbacks to fellow city attorney staffers who approved $10 million in allegedly unwarranted property owner claims for tree-damaged sewer lines. Herreras office said that Hoepers sewergate suspicions were independently reviewed and found baseless, and that it was her costly and scorched-earth approach to the law that led to her dismissal. The city attorney also said he had been planning to replace Hoeper more than a year before she began her probe of the sewer program. Now, after more than two years of legal skirmishing including appeals all the way to the state Supreme Court the case is finally scheduled to go to trial this week. In the meantime, Hoepers attorneys, Therese Cannata and Karl Olson, have been turning the spotlight on Herreras expensive outside legal team, Keker and Van Nest, which is charging a discounted rate of $850 an hour. Keker, who has represented the likes of Lance Armstrong and George Lucas, has been a major Herrera supporter over the years. Records show that he, his family and members of his firm have contributed more than $16,000 since 2009 to Herreras races for city attorney and mayor. Keker has also helped raise money for Herrera from others in the legal community and elsewhere. Its troubling that Herrera has given this much money to a campaign contributor on a no-bid contract, Olson said. Andrea Guzman, spokeswoman for the city attorneys office, said Herrera was required to hire outside counsel to allow for an impartial defense. She declined to comment on why the job went to a big Herrera contributor, saying only, We owe it to the taxpayers to hire the best lawyers to defend against these baseless allegations. Why not simply cut the losses and settle? Ultimately, that kind of precedent would be much more expensive for taxpayers, Guzman said. Incidentally, Hoepers attorneys say they have spent upward of $1 million preparing for the case. And you can bet that if they win, the city will also be on the hook for that, and a lot more. 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 When William Scott is sworn in as San Francisco police chief Monday, he will be taking control of an embattled department facing a daunting set of challenges. But on the eve of his swearing-in ceremony, Scott told The Chronicle that it is not the push for reform, nor the outspoken union, nor the vocal activists calling for progress he sees as his biggest challenge its earning the trust of his rank-and-file officers as an outsider chief. Ive been in that position before with a new chief coming in from outside the organization, and I know many of the officers that I will have the pleasure of serving will look at this situation with skepticism, said Scott, a former deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. But I see it as a great opportunity. Its not about being a popular chief. Its about being the chief that officers see as being consistent, that officers see as doing the right thing in giving them what they need to do their jobs. Its about being accountable to the community. Scott, 52, is only the third outside hire for chief in the departments 167-year history. Mayor Ed Lee selected Scott after a nationwide search that bypassed several in-house candidates, including interim Chief Toney Chaplin, who had led the department since a fatal officer-involved shooting of an unarmed African American woman prompted Greg Suhrs resignation in May. Law enforcement watchdogs celebrated the hire, saying an outside perspective is necessary for reform to take place. Meanwhile, Police Officers Association President Martin Halloran sent an email to his members saying the mayor had turned his back on the rank-and-file police officers in not hiring Chaplin or another candidate from within the department. But to Scott, a mild-mannered and soft-spoken man, the challenge lies not in tiptoeing the delicate tightrope of criminal-justice politics in San Francisco. You take away the titles, you strip away everything, and what it comes down to is, Is this person a good person? he said. That is something that in over 27 years in law enforcement that Ive always tried to do and always tried to be, and I felt it served me well and it is genuine. Its not about trying to curry favor and ingratiate myself to people. Its about letting people get to know who I am. In the month since his appointment was announced, Scott has bounced between Los Angeles and San Francisco, meeting with city leaders, station captains and rank-and-file officers. Unlike Chaplin, he plans to live in San Francisco. Scott told The Chronicle that as chief, he plans to walk beats with the officers and show up to morning briefings to make sure they get to know him and he gets to know them. Its in doing this that he hopes to ease the process of implementing the widespread reforms the city has committed to putting in place after the fatal December 2015 shooting of Mario Woods, an African American suspect in a stabbing. Amid the rollout of a new use-of-force policy and a body-worn camera program, Scott will also be charged with implementing the 272 reform recommendations made by the U.S. Department of Justices community-policing division. This is where he says he thinks his outsider perspective will benefit the department. Scott came up in an organization forced to reform under a federal consent decree in 2001, an experience that he went through in a variety of different ranks. He was a detective when the consent decree was first put in place and was promoted to commander one year before the binding agreement was lifted. 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. I can relate to what the officers are going through, he said. But with an outsider perspective, he knows he still needs institutional knowledge. While he has not finalized changes to the command staff, Chief Chaplin will definitely be a major part of my administration, he said. While Scott is looking to rise above the politics one of his recent meetings with city leaders was with District Attorney George Gascon, the last San Francisco police chief hired from outside the force and a constant adversary of San Franciscos police union hes not afraid to wade into difficult issues. I think Tasers are a good option and one that I hope we will get to at some point, he said, meeting a decades-old debate head-on. I say that with all respect to anybody who doesnt agree, but at the end of the day, our officers need options. As to the unions comments, Scott said hes not dwelling on them. I just ask that I get a fair opportunity to earn everybodys respect, he said. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo By Benjamin Kang Lim BEIJING (Reuters) - China has agreed to cooperate with the Philippines on 30 projects worth $3.7 billion focusing on poverty reduction, the two countries said after a meeting in Beijing on Monday. Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng announced the deals without giving details, saying it was an "initial batch" of projects that still needed to be finalised and paperwork still needed to be processed by the banks involved. Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he had a "very productive" meeting with Gao and they had discussed large projects in rural areas, as well as some smaller projects. The deal is the first announcement from a two-day visit by a Philippine cabinet delegation to China that comes three months after President Rodrigo Duterte visited Beijing to pave the way for new commercial alliances. China has welcomed Duterte's foreign policy shift away from traditional ally the United States and towards doing more regional deals for loans and business under his "pro-Filipino" policy. Relations between the Philippines and China "fully recovered" after Duterte's visit, and "China supports president Duterte to lead the Philippines people in developing their economy," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing on Monday. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang told the Philippines' delegation that the two countries were friends and there was enormous potential to develop trade and business ties, state news agency Xinhua said. Both countries should continue to push for the healthy development of relations, Wang added. Chinese officials pledged $15 billion of investment to the Philippines during Duterte's visit in October, according to the Philippine finance department. Asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump's economic policies would affect commercial ties between China and the Philippines, Dominguez said: "It's better to be with good friends." "I'm not sure at this moment exactly what the new U.S. policies, but I believe that the reorientation of our president to our neighbours really was very smart," Dominguez told reporters. Story continues The Philippine delegation is due to meet Vice Premier Wang Yang at Zhongnanhai, the Beijing complex that houses China's central government, later on Monday. The Philippine team on the trip includes Duterte's finance, budget, economic, public works and transport secretaries. The two sides will also discuss the Philippines' chairmanship of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said on Jan. 11 he was confident a code of conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China could be finished by mid-2017. (Additional reporting by Joseph Campbell, Ben Blanchard and Christian Shepherd; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Robert Birsel and Clarence Fernandez) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When local school district officials pulled out their calculators and started crunching the numbers based on the governor's new plan to shore up the state's teacher pension fund, their jaws hit the floor. The proposal, part of Gov. Jerry Brown's May budget revision, would more than double the 8.25 percent of payroll that districts now pay toward teacher retirement each year. Phased in over seven years, districts would end up paying 19.1 percent. For San Francisco, that would mean spending $34 million each year above the current $25.8 million for teacher pensions, district officials said Friday. More immediately, it would require the district to find $4 million to cover the increase the governor wants for the 2014-15 school year. "Quite frankly, we are stunned," said district Superintendent Richard Carranza, who took his case to state legislators this week. "We agree that the pension shortfall is a problem that has to be fixed, but the burden is being smacked down on school districts at the last minute just as we are finalizing budgets created with extensive community input and hours of thoughtful planning around how to serve our most disadvantaged students." The district, like many others, is also in contract negotiations with teachers, who expect a raise in this postrecession era. The United Educators of San Francisco has asked for a 21 percent raise over three years. "This will take a huge portion of the very same revenues school districts are counting on to provide services for our students and salary increases for our teachers," Carranza said. "It undermines what the governor said just six months ago he intended to do, which was to increase funding for underserved students." In Oakland, district officials said the first year of the governor's plan would cost the district an extra $1.8 million and at full implementation, $15.6 million. Yet no one disputes the urgent need to backfill the California State Teachers' Retirement System, or CalSTRS. $74 billion shortfall The pension plan is underfunded by $74 billion with only two-thirds of the assets it needs to cover what it owes the 868,000 current, former and retired teachers over the next few decades. This debt is arguably "the state's most difficult challenge," according to the Legislative Analyst's Office. It will take an extra $5 billion a year for the next 30 years to cover the cost. The state, districts and teachers all pay into the fund. The state currently pays 3 percent of payroll costs, teachers pay 8 percent and districts pay 8.25 percent. The governor's proposal would require districts to pick up 70 percent of the additional tab to pay down the debt. The state would cover 20 percent of the increase, and teachers 10 percent. The law limits how much teachers pay. So the rest comes down to districts and the state. "We don't think there's any one right way to split this up," said Ryan Miller, the teachers pension fund expert in the Legislative Analyst's Office. "In broad terms, between the last budget and this budget, schools are expected to have a substantial increase in funding. This would be a new cost." Districts, however, were very much anticipating that extra cash, much of which the state tied to services for English learners and low-income students. Unexpected hurdle The governor's pension fund proposal throws a big, last-minute wrench into district plans to spend the money, local administrators said. "Gov. Brown is expecting school district budgets to pay out a multibillion-dollar bill for the state's unfunded pension liabilities as soon as next year and every year after for the foreseeable future," Carranza said. There is some debate as to whether Proposition 98's minimum-funding guarantee for schools would require the state to increase education funding to cover the required payments to the teachers pension fund. Some legal experts say yes, others say no. If the Legislature adopts the governor's pension proposal, there probably will be a lawsuit to decide. In the meantime, fiscal analysts say delaying action on the retirement fund will only cost more in the long run. Without any action, the debt to the pension fund is growing by about $22 million each day and the fund would run out of money by 2046. The San Francisco superintendent has asked legislators to help districts offset the retirement system cost, especially for the next school year, and perhaps extend the plan to eliminate the unfunded pension costs over 45 years rather than 30. "We recognize that there are no easy fixes to the unfunded CalSTRS liability, and understand that increases in employer contributions are a necessary part of the solution," he wrote in a letter to Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, chairman of the Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee. "We have committed to changing the trajectory for many students and families in our city. Your willingness to modify the CalSTRS proposal is critical to supporting our ability to make this sorely needed and anticipated change." San Franciscos most experienced teachers will make more than $92,000 a year, a $10,000 raise granted under the terms of a new contract approved unanimously by the districts school board Friday. The contract, an agreement reached after several months of contentious negotiations, gives teachers and teacher aides a more than 12 percent raise over the deals three-year term. The average starting salary in the district, already the highest in the Bay Area, will reach $56,000, up $6,000. Under the contract, teachers will work 184 days a year, including four noninstructional days, seven hours per day. They will maintain other benefits offered under the old contract, including 10 personal or sick-leave days, as well as free personal health coverage and pension benefits. All told, the district will increase total compensation, including benefits, by 19 percent over the life of the contract, said Superintendent Richard Carranza. We are very proud that once again S.F. has gone first, he said after the boards vote Friday. As far as we know, the 12 percent raise in this contract is the largest raise for teachers over a three-year span in the state of California. More than 78 percent of the 2,799 teachers voting approved the terms of the contract Thursday, which United Educators of San Francisco leaders called a good step toward addressing an affordability crisis in the city. We firmly believe that our students are best served by teachers and paraprofessionals who live in the community, said union President Dennis Kelly. This agreement is a great first step in ensuring that there is a place in San Francisco for public school teachers, but as the affordability crisis in the city continues, there is more work to be done. The deal, however, sets a high bar for all other urban school districts negotiating contracts across the state. In Oakland, Superintendent Antwan Wilson announced in late November his commitment to a 10 percent raise for teachers, which at the time was among the largest on the table in the Bay Area. The new San Francisco agreement also more than doubles the amount of preparation time for elementary school teachers, to 150 minutes per week from 60 minutes. Teacher aides with at least eight years experience will get a 15 percent raise over the three years, while all others will see the same 12 percent increase as the teachers. The first 2 percent of the raise for teachers and aides is retroactive to July 1. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker A state program that helps people pay for expensive, lifesaving HIV drugs is in disarray after the Oakland company that managed it for nearly 20 years was replaced by three out-of-state operators, say patients and AIDS advocacy groups. So far, the transition between contractors, which occurred last summer, has mostly proved stressful and time-consuming for patients and their caseworkers. But advocacy groups worry that patients could be delayed in obtaining HIV medications they rely on to stay healthy, which would be problematic not only for them but for programs designed to control spread of the virus. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program was always our system that worked really well. It was always stable, said Courtney Mulhern-Pearson, senior director of state and local affairs with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The fact that its now not working is causing this mass sort of panic throughout the system. Among the complaints, patients say their reimbursement claims have been repeatedly rejected. Caseworkers, meanwhile, say enrolling patients is taking three or four times longer than it used to. In November, an online portal where patients could register or re-enroll was taken down because of security concerns, and it has not yet been replaced, forcing patients or their caseworkers to register by fax. But for weeks, there clearly werent enough fax machines or customer service workers to handle the load, patient groups said. California Department of Public Health officials said in an emailed statement that they were aware of the problems and had launched some temporary workarounds, including a system for providing 30-day drug supplies to people who have trouble re-enrolling in the program or are turned away from pharmacies. As of mid-January, the state had received 13 complaints directly from drug assistance program clients, said public health spokeswoman Ali Bay. Amy Osborne/Special To The Chronicle The rough transition comes as the state and San Francisco in particular pushes hard to stop the spread of HIV. The citys Getting to Zero campaign seeks to end all new HIV infections, but a cornerstone of that plan is treating people already infected. People who have HIV but take antiviral drugs that make the virus undetectable in their blood are highly unlikely to spread the infection to others. When people arent on their meds, they get sick. And they have higher viral loads, and that means theyre more likely to infect other people, said state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco. Its in everyones interests for people to be healthy and to have suppressed viral loads. This just isnt a tenable or acceptable state of affairs. In December, Wiener sent a letter to state public health Director Karen Smith demanding that she immediately fix problems with the drug assistance program, or cancel the new operators contracts. Smith replied Jan. 6 with notes on how the state is addressing problems. She did not say whether she would consider terminating the contracts but said her department is exploring all options. The states AIDS Drug Assistance Program covers all or part of medication costs for nearly 32,000 low-income Californians with HIV or AIDS. The program is part of a federal network created in 1987 to help states pay for AZT, which at that time was the only antiviral drug available to treat AIDS. It now covers costs for more than 200 drugs. Each state is responsible for its own drug assistance program. Oaklands Ramsell Corp. had a contract to run Californias program for about 19 years before the state, after an open bidding process, divvied up operations last summer among three companies. The companies are A.J. Boggs of Michigan, which handles enrollment services, Magellan Rx Management of Arizona, which covers pharmacy benefits, and Pool Administrators Inc. of Connecticut, which covers insurance premiums. A.J. Boggs and Magellan Rx Management have been the source of almost all of the complaints. Representatives from both companies declined to comment, referring questions to the state. Even before the transition, patient advocacy groups and local public health agencies sent letters to the state expressing concern that the change would create chaos in the drug assistance program. They said state officials assured them repeatedly that the new companies were prepared to take over. But problems emerged right away. Patients who had been on the drug assistance program for years suddenly had trouble re-enrolling. Reimbursements took twice as long to arrive in the mail. Caseworkers spent three or four hours signing up new patients a task that used to take half an hour. San Francisco resident Sean Johnson, who has been enrolled in the program since 1998 without encountering any problems, said he realized something was wrong in July when he tried to submit a reimbursement claim. He went online to get the new forms from Magellan and couldnt find them. In fact, he said, many of the links didnt work. He called the help line, reaching someone who agreed to email him a form. He sent that in but the company returned it, saying hed filled it out wrong. Over the next six weeks, he said, he repeatedly ran into glitches. He was told to fax in paperwork, only to have the fax not go through or be told by customer service workers that theyd never received his forms. Only after he contacted the state for help did he finally get his claim resolved, he said. He got his $30 reimbursement in October, three months after first submitting the request. In the past, he said he got checks in four to six weeks. It was nothing but a nightmare, Johnson said. He noted that his reimbursement is relatively small and that hes financially secure enough to go without it for three months. But many others cannot, he said. And they also may not have his persistence. Thats what worries Mulhern-Pearson of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and others who work with patients. She said she hasnt heard of anyone going without their drugs, but is mindful that so many in the drug assistance program are already socially and financially unstable, lacking permanent housing and access to health care. If one snag interferes with their ability to get HIV drugs, they may just give up and go without. My sense is there are clients who have probably missed doses, but I just dont know, Mulhern-Pearson said. The system just isnt working for the caseworkers or the clients, she said. Were trying to get more people treated and faster, and this is counter to everything else going on in the epidemic right now. This is extremely frustrating. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday Police in Vallejo shot and killed a 21-year-old man who was in a fight with a 250-pound teenager amid a drunken melee that broke out at a house party early Monday morning, officials said. The chaos began around 12:40 a.m. when three neighbors near the home on the 1700 block of Sacramento Street called police about a fight involving people with weapons, said Lt. Jeff Bassett, a spokesman for the Vallejo Police Department. One neighbor reported hearing a woman screaming for help amid the brawl, he said. When officers got to the scene, they found highly intoxicated partygoers in fights throughout the home, Bassett said. During the fracas, two officers came upon a 6-foot-2, 250-pound 16-year-old boy who was in a mutual combat situation with a 21-year-old man on a second-story back deck, Bassett said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle / / Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle / / Show More Show Less One officer tried to use his Taser on the 16-year-old, who at that point was on top of the other man, but one of the prongs missed, officials said. Moments later, the teen fell on his back and the man he was fighting with pounced on him, Bassett said. Seconds later, one of the officers, an eight-year veteran of the force, fired four shots at the man, police said. The attacker, Bassett said, had a knife and presented himself as an immediate and lethal threat to the victim down on his back. The man police shot, identified by family members as Angel Ramos, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said Ramos and the teenager were acquaintances. Ramos uncle, 50-year-old Carlton Evans, wasnt at the party and arrived at the scene around 1 a.m. He said the fight started after Ramos defended his sister from the 16-year-old. Ramos 28-year-old brother, Michael Saddler, said his brother lived at the Vallejo home with his mother, sister and nephew. Saddler, an Oakland resident, tearfully cleaned up blood that covered a second-story balcony, where his brother was shot. 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. Its not right. Its just not right, he said, while describing his brother as a happy person with a free spirit. Officers arrested three people on suspicion of resisting police, including the 16-year-old, who was handed over to the custody of his parents. Officials did not release the names of the other people who were arrested. Police were reviewing body camera footage of the encounter that they will give to the Solano County district attorneys office, which is investigating the shooting. Evan Sernoffsky and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky, @SarRavani This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate President Trumps White House wasted no time in coming up with a term for its propaganda: alternative facts. On his first full day in office, the new president told CIA employees he had a running war with the media and then escalated it by accusing journalists of distorting the size of the crowd at his inauguration. We caught them in a beauty, Trump said of the news media, and I think theyre going to pay a big price. Trump also made the ludicrous argument that his feud with the intelligence community was a media creation. His succession of tweets challenged the veracity of U.S. intelligence and even accused the community of allowing a leak about an unsubstantiated evidence about his dealings in Russia. Are we living in Nazi Germany? he tweeted about that leak. Within hours, the White House doubled down on its disinformation, sending out press secretary Sean Spicer to make the readily refutable claim that the Trump had drawn the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration. Aerial photographs comparing Fridays crowd with the 2009 Obama inauguration clearly showed otherwise. So did the ridership figures for Washingtons Metro system. Metro officials said Fridays ridership was 570,000, compared with 782,000 four years ago and more than 1 million for President Obamas first inauguration. Spicer delivered his remarks in a testy tone and took no questions. Were going to hold the press accountable, Spicer warned. A defiant Kellyanne Conway, formerly the campaign manager and now a counselor to Trump, refused to back down from the White House falsehood on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday. Youre saying its a falsehood, Conway snapped at host Chuck Todd. She said Spicer was merely offering alternative facts. The dissembling by Trump and his team was striking in its pettiness and audacity, and ominous in what it portends for the credibility of the White House. There will be times when any administration must ask Americans to trust facts that cannot be immediately viewed and assessed by outside watchdogs. Team Trump served notice to the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in Washington, and many more across the nation, that their apprehensions about the judgment and temperament of the new administration are well justified. The womens march signaled the breadth and depth of disgust with Trumps persona as well as his policies. Pink hats with cat ears were the sartorial statement of the day in reference to lewd remarks Trump had made about sexual assault in a 2005 video that surfaced during the campaign. But concerns about myriad other issues were reflected in the homemade signs: from climate change and police brutality to reproductive rights and immigration. It remains to be seen whether this remarkable show of resistance was a singular cathartic moment for Americans frustrated at the election outcome or the beginning of a sustained campaign to hold this White House accountable. The challenge to the nation was set in high relief on the first weekend of the Trump presidency. Seeing Love Sick, Ofra Daniels new play with music that was inspired by the Hebrew text The Song of Songs, is like discovering a Greek myth. Remember when you didnt yet know that Medea takes vengeance on her husband by killing her own children, or that Oedipus blinds himself after finding out hes killed his father and married his mother? Greek tragedies are always described as inexorable, their characters dooms written and sealed by their flaws. Yet neither are they predictable. In a lesser story, for instance, Medea might have simply killed her unfaithful husband. That she instead kills her sons feels at once more horrifying, more complicated and more true; that contradiction, that central mystery elevates her tale to myth. Love Sick, a production by Jewish Circle Theatre in association with John Gertz Productions, is a newly invented myth in that same vein. The Song of Songs describes a woman who is sick with love, but it doesnt actually have a narrative. Immersing herself in the texts poetry, Daniel created one. The result, seen Friday, Jan. 20, at Berkeleys Osher Studio, is at once economic and lush, both human and cosmic in scale, its plot steadily propelled toward inevitable ruin yet simultaneously full of surprises. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Cheshiredave Creative/Jewish Circle Theatre, in association withJohn Gertz Productions Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Cheshiredave Creative/Jewish Circle Theatre, in association withJohn Gertz Productions Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Cheshiredave Creative/Jewish Circle Theatre, in association withJohn Gertz Productions Show More Show Less The show could easily have felt static, since on the surface, much of it consists of Tirzah (Daniel) saying repeatedly how much she longs for her lover a man who leaves her impassioned letters but says he cant reveal his face to her. Shes a young woman in a loveless but respectful marriage to a widowed fisherman. Her husband is embodied once or twice by David McLean, the shows guitarist, but he never speaks in character; Love Sick is a womans story, and Daniel does most of the narration, flanked by a quartet of Women of Jerusalem (Deborah Del Mastro, Aleksandra Dubov, Bekka Fink and Regina Morones) who evoke the snippy, gossipy vibe and the restrictive gender norms of Tirzahs neighborhood. Daniel and director Christopher Renshaw make dynamic that overarching feeling of unfulfilled lust by finding within it myriad finer shades of emotion the way love variously awakens the body; renders it, through its own desire, more desirable in turn; exposes it, emboldens it, drives it to foolishness; and ultimately sickens and wrecks it. Particularly helpful in that effort are the vibrant hues of Kate Boyds lighting design, with striking combinations of fuchsia, burnt orange and teal giving Tirzahs ardor additional depth. Daniels performance is ferociously committed, and her language finds fresh ways to make love feel forbidden: I wish we were twins nursing at the same breast, Tirzah says of her lover. But perhaps the most extraordinary part of Love Sick, beyond the story itself, is the music, written by Daniel and Lior Ben-Hur and performed by a six-person band, many of them world musicians. Asaf Ophir gives the clarinet the timbre of a trumpet, then a violin, then a raspy scream. In one climactic moment, seizing center stage, he scores a climb in pitch and volume so perfectly that the instruments wail almost becomes too plaintive and beautiful to bear. Ali Paris, who plays a Middle Eastern string instrument called the qanun and also embodies Tirzahs lover, has a singing voice so lovely and ethereal it at times doesnt sound human, helping mythologize Love Sick: In his voice, this story seems ordained by gods. Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak Love Sick: Written by Ofra Daniel. Directed by Christopher Renshaw. Through Saturday, Jan. 28. Osher Studio, 2055 Center St., Berkeley. Feb. 23-March 12. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. 80 minutes. $25-$54. http://lovesickmusical.com To meet the cast and creative team: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=ODiFCQD8Fps It was only a gesture, said one of the participants in the Ghostlight Project demonstration on Thursday, Jan. 19, the night before the Trump inauguration. But the concern was all too real for members of the Bay Area theater community who gathered at the Geary Theater to let their lights shine through what many fear will be dark times ahead. The ceremony itself didnt last very long. Participants made signs identifying who they were and what they were fighting for. Addressing the crowd, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Marc Bamuthi Joseph attested to the Bay Area theater communitys refusal to succumb to the darkness and its choice instead to stand here in solidarity. Joined by ACT Artistic Director Carey Perloff and Crowded Fire Artistic Director Mina Morita, he invited everyone packed into ACTs Geary Theater lobby to let your light shine, i.e., to turn on some kind of light cell phone, flashlight, lantern or other; these were theater people, after all and observe a moment of silence. Finally, Morita asked participants to head outside, under the theaters Geary Street awning, for a group photo. That, officially, was it. In her remarks, Perloff acknowledged the limitations of the Ghostlight Project, whose stated aim was to create a light for dark times ahead and to celebrate the values of inclusion and compassion on the evening before President Trumps inauguration. We are not naive, she said. We know that this is only a gesture. It was a gesture shared by more than 800 theater companies, university theater departments and other artistic organizations across all 50 states and abroad, including at least 38 in Northern California. Many other Bay Area groups hosted their own Ghostlight gatherings on Thursday, among them Marin Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep, Ragged Wing Ensemble and Hammer Theatre Center. Still, to outsiders, the ACT event might have looked insular or useless as a political statement: theater people gathering in an ornate Beaux Arts lobby as part of a campaign named after a theater superstition. (A ghost light is the term for a light often a bulb atop a pole wheeled about on casters left on in an otherwise pitch-black theater, partly to ensure that no one tumbles into an orchestra pit, partly to help ward off or placate ghosts.) Could such an event actually do anything to counter the words and actions of a new president who before taking office directly attacked artists Meryl Streep, the casts of Hamilton and Saturday Night Live and their interests? On the same day as the Ghostlight Project, Washington publication the Hill reported that Trumps administration had proposed plans to eliminate the NEA. In a phone interview in advance of the Ghostlight gathering, Perloff pointed out that San Franciscos failure to pass Proposition S in Novembers election, which would have reallocated some local hotel tax money toward the arts, makes the citys theaters vulnerable, especially if Trump should decide to deny federal funding to sanctuary cities. Embedded in questions about the efficacy of the Ghostlight Project is a larger one: After Trumps election, does theater as an industry and an art form have a new responsibility, to its artists and audiences, to the neighborhoods and cities where its playhouses lie? Few would argue that its a theaters job to canvass door-to-door or to provide social services, even if Trumps policies make those needs more dire. In a phone interview, Berkeley Rep Associate Director Lisa Peterson said theater cant invite people to come and live in the lobby. Peterson was one among many who helped spread the Ghostlight Project from New York, where it started and where shes based part time, to the Bay Area and elsewhere. A few hours before the event, she said the idea for it came in the wake of Trumps tweets about Hamilton actor Brandon Victor Dixon addressing then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence. One began, The Theater must always be a safe and special place, before telling the shows cast they were rude and demanding an apology. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle It is a safe space, Peterson thought at the time, but not in the way that you define it. Its a place where one should be free to speak the truth to power, to say something thats not popular. For her, the Ghostlight Project is a kind of recommitment ceremony to the values and to the missions theaters have always had. Thats part of what brought Matthew Quinn to the event at ACT. Hes part of the touring ensemble of Finding Neverland, now at the Orpheum Theatre, though he emphasized that he represented only himself, not the show. Trumps impending inauguration made him want to find an outlet to take a pledge. We have to take a stand, he said. If we dont, weve already seen what could happen. His sign read, I am one man. I fight for all humanity. Freelance actor and New Conservatory Theatre Center board member Dana Zook came to ACT even though shes not a protester type of person, she said. For her, theater has always had the same responsibility, to be inclusive, creative and supportive. Now it needs to keep doing what its doing, but be louder and bigger. If a theater wanted to change its programming in response to Trumps election, audiences might not see that manifest right away. For both financial and artistic reasons, seasons of shows often get planned a year or more in advance. Still, even a play thats long been in the works can speak to current events. Trumps election, Perloff said over the phone, means that the choices one makes resonate in a different way. She cited ACTs coming production of A Thousand Splendid Suns, which is about multiple generations of Afghan women. It is so unbelievable to me, surreal, that two nights after Trumps inauguration, we will be touching that play, that story, she said. Its incredibly upsetting, and its also incredibly motivating: Now we really have to tell this story. Jaclyn Babcock, 38, isnt a theater professional herself, but, as an ACT patron, she decided to attend the Ghostlight gathering partly because of theaters unique storytelling power and what that can mean in difficult times. Its one of the most empathic experiences you can have, she says. People are literally putting themselves in other peoples shoes. She also came, she says, because I need to find some light before a dark day. Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. E-mail: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Maybe its a matter of self-preservation, but Ive long since lost track of how many different animals Ive eaten. Spending time exploring other countries and other cultures comes with the opportunity to try new things and often those things once crawled, slithered, shimmied or hopped. Then they ended up on a plate. Nothing endangered, but there have been kangaroo, ants, fruit bat, alligator, ostrich, tentacles of various kinds, and a tiny, crunchy bird in Kyoto that may have been a sparrow. Or a really small buzzard. Id prefer to not think about it too much. Its extremely improbable, however, that if given the chance I would eat a dog. And if I did try it, I wouldnt tell anyone. Its not the whole mans best friend thing. Its mostly because people here are emotional about domesticated animals. Extremely emotional. After a feature that ran in this section recommending destinations to consider during the coming year (Where to Go in 2017, Jan. 8), we received some mail from readers about our choice of South Korea. Its horrific dog and cat meat trade needs to be abolished before Korea is favorably advertised. Until such time as these barbaric practices are abolished, such places should be boycotted, a reader wrote. Another added, I dont know if you do your homework on these countries but South Korea is a vile, barbaric country. It is the home of 17,000 dog meat farms While I respect people having strong opinions, I cant agree with the approach boycotting an entire country. Never mind that calling all 50 million South Koreans vile and barbaric because of one issue that involves a fraction of the population is misguided demonizing an entire country, an entire culture, an entire religion is never a good idea and rarely leads to better understanding. (And never mind that if theres a list of countries that might be boycotted for what other cultures deem vile and barbaric practices, the United States would be firmly on it.) Whats important is that you cant have change without negotiation, and sometimes the best form of negotiation is travel. Travel is not just about getting on a plane to go see a few museums, take selfies in front of monuments and eat at the place some food blogger loved. Travel is taking your comfort zone, your beliefs and your perceptions and reconciling them, through personal experience, with the standards, the beliefs and the perceptions of another culture. Everyone and everything you encounter or observe is part of the negotiation. Everyone you talk to is part of the process, although travel is a negotiation even if you dont speak to anyone. We negotiate for context. We negotiate for insight. We negotiate for understanding when we have little to begin with. Sometimes, we negotiate language, other times its food, or money, or directions or recommendations or insight about life in a place youve never been. In the same way that negotiating without compromise in the real world leads only to impasse, the cultural negotiation of travel stalemates only if travelers are not open to changing their perceptions. Or if they dont go. For decades, U.S. citizens who traveled to Cuba and met its people had the only negotiations of any kind that took place between entire populations that are 90 miles apart. Its that negotiation that changes us, changes others and changes the world. Unlike in the negotiations of high finance, however, everyone profits whether they feel like it or not. We dont always agree, but we always learn, even in disagreement. And learning is always enrichment. In his 1961 inauguration, President John F. Kennedy offered a quote not typically attributed to travel. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. If we boycott, we break off negotiations. No one gains. Spud Hilton is the editor of Travel. Email: shilton@sfchronicle.com Twitter and Instagram: @SpudHilton Attempts to a search for a vehicle that had careened into a creek in Niles Canyon late Saturday morning were derailed by bad weather and raging waters, according to law enforcement officials. The driver, an 18-year-old woman from Tracy, is missing. Officials have not released the victims name. At about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Alameda County sheriffs deputies responded to calls that a car had crashed into Alameda Creek along Niles Canyon Road, between Fremont and Sunol. The vehicle drove into the river after colliding with oncoming traffic just east of Palomares Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Because of dangerously high currents and inclement weather, first responders were unable to search for the vehicle, which became fully submerged in the water, police said. Alameda County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Ray Kelly said the department deployed drones and helicopters, and conducted foot searches along the banks of the river, but found no signs of the driver. We hold out hope this person will be found, but as the hours tick by that becomes less and less likely, Kelly said. It would be very hard to survive in those conditions. The search efforts were hampered by the weekend storm. Multiple rockslides and mudslides unrelated to the accident closed Niles Canyon Road, and heavy rains caused the water level in Alameda Creek to rise dramatically, creating rapid currents, police said. The Sheriffs Office is working with a state agency to reduce water flowing into the creek from nearby reservoirs, but until the water level drops, rescuers will be unable to search for the vehicle. You cant put a diver in the water when you have logs and tree branches and debris coming down rapidly. Its just too dangerous, Kelly said. You couldnt pick a worse time to have to do a recovery than right now, with all of the conditions going on. The earliest search-and-rescue divers would enter the river is Monday, Kelly said. The Alameda County Sheriffs Office is leading the search-and-recovery effort with the Fremont Fire Department. The California Highway Patrol, Fremont Police Department, Alameda County Fire Department and other state, county and city agencies are assisting. Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino Wind gusts topping 50 mph brought down trees across Northern California in a round of weekend storms. In Mendocino County, a massive oak toppled onto an apartment in the city of Ukiah early Saturday, crushing the building and killing a woman as she lay in her bed, fire officials told the Press Democrat newspaper of Santa Rosa. The woman's boyfriend and a 3-year-old boy escaped. Capt. Pete Bushby of the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority said heavy rain apparently had destabilized the 125-foot tree. Strong thunderstorms packing heavy rain and possible hail hit the San Francisco Bay Area over the weekend. Wine country communities that already experienced destructive flooding this month faced new flood warnings. "We're seeing mudslides Bay Area wide," said weather service meteorologist Steve Anderson, adding that heavy rain over the past few weeks has saturated the ground. Officials warned of a "high avalanche danger" at all elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountains because of heavy snowfall that has closed several ski resorts. The Sierra Avalanche Center advised Sunday against travel in the area, warning of intense snowfall rates and gale force winds. Along the coast, big surf rolled ashore, with record 34-foot swells recorded Saturday in Monterey Bay. The San Francisco Bay Area was under a high surf advisory along the coast until early Tuesday with waves of up to 19 feet expected, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Anderson said. "Surf will be coming up and down, but coming so fast there's no break," he said. Two women were swept from the shore in San Diego, where waves topped 10 feet Saturday. One woman was rescued immediately, but it took lifeguards about 40 minutes to pull the other one from the surf. She was hospitalized in critical condition, San Diego Fire-Rescue Capt. Joe Amador said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A vintage 1970s fire department ambulance got a rocking second life thanks to Todd Evans, a Metallica fan living in San Diego. A 1974 Chevrolet G10 van once fitted with medical capabilities and first aid items, the vehicle dubbed "Hit the Lights" after the 1983 Metallica song of the same name now serves as an all-purpose partymobile, to be used as a devoted fan's transportation option to concerts, tailgates, and, when the occasion serves, parades. It fully embraces both the medical and Metallica themes, with the car featuring a flatscreen TV hidden behind a mock X-ray screen, functional lights on the top, sides, and grille of the vehicle, and a decal on the side reading, "Get Hell Soon." "Even if you're not a Metallica fan, it makes everyone smile," Evans told SFGATE. "It makes everyone laugh, young and old." After years of amusing crowds by taking the van on the streets of Southern California, Evans is now ready to part ways with it; not because there's anything wrong with it, but rather, because there's one car he likes a little better. "I am selling this because I also have my 1967 Ford Econoline Shorty van with a Motorhead theme named the General Lemmy," the Craigslist posting reads. "My dog Johnny Cash likes it better." Evans has listed the item for sale (in San Diego) at $7,950, but hopes the prospective buyer meets one other stipulation. As he says, "I actually care that the buyer is happy and has fun with their purchase." See the listing here. (Peter Van Buren is the author of "We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People." His next book is "Hooper's War: A Novel of WWII Japan." The opinions expressed are his own. They do not reflect views of the Department of State or Reuters.) By Peter Van Buren Jan 23 (Reuters) - What do you do when you're a federal employee working for an administration and you don't agree with its policies? I have some experience with this question. Ronald Reagan signed my commission when I entered the State Department as a Foreign Service officer, and Barack Obama was president when I retired. Over the intervening 24 years I was present for multiple presidential transitions. Like most of the government, I was rank-and-file, a lifer, not a political appointee chosen by a president to serve only during his term. There has been a lot of hot-blooded talk about President Donald Trump's first 100 days and the federal workforce. The media once claimed Trump would not be able to fill his political appointee positions, and now suggest civil servants and intelligence officers will resign en masse. Pundits say Trump is... different, ignoring the fact that change is part of elections, sometimes the point of elections (witness the ideological swings from Carter to Reagan, Bush to Obama). Yet to many in 2017, the current transition appears dramatic, even frightening. Some of the concern among federal workers comes from lack of experience. Looking at my old employer, the average State Department Foreign Service officer has served 12 years. Overall within the government the average is less than 14 years, meaning a large number have never worked for any president other than Barack Obama and more than half have seen only one Democrat to Republican presidential transition. Still, no matter how much or little experience one has, not everyone is going to like what is coming next. On a practical level, what can you do? Story continues Take a deep breath and remember this is what you signed up for. Every federal employee takes an oath of service to the Constitution, not to Barack Obama or Donald Trump. Government carries out the policies of the president on behalf of the United States. It's called public service for a reason. If you're thinking of resigning because the wrong candidate won, you're probably in the wrong business. If you stay, the strategy many have followed in the past is patience. No president - or policy - lasts forever. Ideas promoted in an election can disappear overnight as world events intervene. Political appointees, ideologues and amateurs (and there are always a few good ones mixed in with the bad; the best ambassador I served under was an appointee from a party I didn't support) can move on quicker than expected, often backfilled with steady careerists. Perspective helps: can anyone claim they supported every decision of any administration? Staying can be hard, but there are ways to make it easier. One is to seek out offices and programs with less of a partisan focus. Once faced with a job coordinating educational exchanges that turned into a full-time propaganda operation, I found more comfortable circumstances moving to an office dealing with technology. There are those who will want to change the system or alter policy. That goal needs a tough-love reality check: how much effect on change do you have now under the best of circumstances? Don't expect your powers to level-up just because there was an election; in fact, it may be the opposite. The political appointees Trump will send into federal offices have as their purpose driving his agenda. They have the ear of powerful people, and you likely don't. Those who have strong objections to a policy or program may consider, within the law, working with a journalist to amplify their concerns. Don't make a call or send an email without speaking to a qualified lawyer first. And remember unofficial leakers are not treated kindly by the federal government, and security clearances can disappear on thin pretenses as a result. The final option is to consider resigning. Everyone has limits to their conscience. But you'll probably be alone, or near enough. Policies of significant moral consequences over the 15 years of the "war on terror" are not new - torture, drone killings, spying on Americans and allies, manipulated intelligence. There were few public resignations as a result, certainly nothing reaching anywhere near "en masse." One of the most divisive events inside the State Department in recent times was the decision to send diplomats in large numbers to Iraq in support of the 2003 invasion. Internal opposition grew so strong that then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice threatened to compel people to work in Iraq, breaking State's long more-or-less volunteer tradition for dangerous assignments. The result? Most people ended up voluntarily going to Iraq when needed anyway. Out of a workforce of thousands at the State Department there were only three resignations of conscience over Iraq, one other related to Afghanistan. The last time more than a handful of diplomats resigned in protest was at the height of the Vietnam War. Resignation from federal government service is a nuclear option that affects everything: family relationships, security clearances, future government and contracting jobs, mortgages student loans and one's own mental health. Pensions and other retirement benefits require 20 or more years on the job; few people 17 years in are going to quit. The decision to risk all is deeply personal and cannot be made en masse. For me, when the waste, fraud, and mismanagement of the U.S. reconstruction program in Iraq under Presidents Bush and Obama reached the limits of what in good conscience I could participate in, and after failing to see any change by going through channels, I chose to blow the whistle via my book, We Meant Well. My opposition was to a policy pursued under two presidents, one of whom I actually campaigned door-to-door for. The State Department in response flirted with sending me to jail, tried to fire me and strip me of my pension, and in the end pushed me into an early retirement. It is early days for the Trump administration. Slow down. Focus on specific policies of concern as opposed to a person. Think practically, not emotionally. Consider options if conscience calls. You can take a principled stand, but expect to pay for all you take. (By Peter Van Buren) In early 2016, SFGATE went through public health records to find San Francisco restaurants that failed health inspections. We've created a new list of the businesses that received failing grades from June 2016 to January 2017. During that time frame, the San Francisco Department of Public Health listed 54 businesses that failed health inspections, including the popular Nick's Crispy Tacos and Ruby Skye. Many of the restaurants, including Nick's Crispy Tacos, were re-inspected and corrected the violations. BAY HEAD, N.J. Oceanfront homeowners in this wealthy New Jersey shore enclave have so little faith in the governments ability to protect them from catastrophic storms that theyve spent $5 million of their own money on boulders placed between their homes and the ocean. Members of the group, which includes a national Republican fundraising powerhouse, want a judge to exempt them from a plan by Republican Gov. Chris Christie to erect protective sand dunes along New Jerseys entire 127-mile coastline. Their homes lie in an area that was devastated by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. But they say that parts of the town that had a rock wall underneath the sand fared better than those that didnt. And they are deeply skeptical of the ability and willingness of the federal and state governments to pay to maintain the dunes for the next 50 years. On Feb. 6, they will go before the same Superior Court judge who has already ruled in favor of Christies administration. Judge Marlene Lynch Ford ruled last year that the state Department of Environmental Protection has the legal right to use eminent domain proceedings to seize strips of land from oceanfront homeowners who dont voluntarily sign easements allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out the work on their land. The homeowners want her to allow them to opt out of the project, asserting that what they have done privately offers as much protection as, if not more than, what the government proposes. We already have sand twice as big as what they say we need, with rocks underneath it, said Thacher Brown, a leader of the group. He estimated that about 18 homeowners paid for the bulk of the rock wall, but noted that more than 100 residents contributed to it, including those who dont live on the ocean. Im a firm believer that no rational, intelligent person can look at the two options a big pile of rocks and a big pile of sand and not see that ours is better, said resident Bob Hein. The dunes would be built in addition to the rock wall, which would remain in place. That would require giving up an additional slice of privately owned beach. In other places along the shore, property owners also oppose the dunes because they will block oceanfront views. But Bay Head residents downplay such concerns; Brown said he already cannot see the ocean from his first floor because of sand atop his own rock wall. While the rock wall protected some Bay Head homes during Sandy, others that sat behind it still sustained catastrophic damage. The residents say damage to those homes would have been even worse without the rock underpinning to sand dunes during the storm. Our engineer says our system is better than what the DEP and the Army Corps propose, and we intend to prove that, said Anthony DellaPelle, an attorney for the homeowners. The litigation involves about 50 homeowners in Bay Head, as well as neighboring Point Pleasant Beach and Mantoloking. DEP spokesman Bob Considine said the best storm protection involves sand dunes with a replenished beach. Even after a moderate noreaster, there is no beach in Bay Head, he said. Theres just ocean beating up against a rock wall. What makes for better protection is an engineered beach and dune system in front of it. Lawrence Bathgate II was the national Republican finance chairman under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and raised money for both of George W. Bushs presidential campaigns and Jeb Bushs 2016 primary campaign. Were not asking the government to do anything, he said. We paid for this out of our own pockets. Bathgate said he and his neighbors each pay $1,000 to $1,500 two or three times a year to hire bulldozers to push sand back up onto the rock barrier. It is an expense they say they will gladly fund rather than relying on Congress to allocate money for beach replenishment or storm repairs for the 50-year life of the project; it will need touch-ups as frequently as every four years. They also worry that they wont be permitted to maintain the dunes behind their individual homes. Its going to wash away, and the money isnt going to be there to replace it, Bathgate said. Hein articulated the feeling of many that the project would be a waste of public money where its not needed. We dont need any help, he said. Its a wonderful town; dont screw it up. This is a horribly stupid idea. Wayne Parry is an Associated Press writer. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ADEL, Ga. A severe storm system that spun off apparent tornadoes and left scattered destruction around the Southeast has claimed at least 18 lives on a two-day sweep across the region, authorities said. The enormous system put millions of people in the South on edge during a weekend of violent weather that left crumpled trailer homes, downed trees and other damage in the hardest-hit communities from Mississippi to Georgia. The severe weather threat was still continuing late Sunday in some parts, extending into the Carolinas and north Florida. At least 14 people were killed Sunday in Georgia as the fast-moving storms tore across the state throughout the day, with at least one deadly tornado reported before dawn and violent storms still rumbling after nightfall. Four people were killed Saturday in Mississippi when the system began its deadly assault. There are houses just demolished, said Norma Ford, who rushed out with other relatives Sunday evening after hearing that a twister had overturned her nephews mobile home in the southwestern Georgia city of Albany. Ford said downed trees and power lines made roads impassable, forcing them to walk the 2 miles to the mobile home park to check on her relatives. She said her nephew was fine, but several of his neighbors homes were destroyed. Georgias latest three deaths were confirmed Sunday evening in Dougherty County, where Albany is, said Catherine Howden, spokeswoman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Sebon Burns, the countys deputy chief for emergency management, said rescue efforts were continuing Sunday night after reports of injuries and extensive damage. Yet the days deadliest toll came before dawn when an apparent tornado blew through a mobile home park in south Georgia about 60 miles southeast of Albany shearing away siding, upending homes and killing seven people. Coroner Tim Purvis of south Georgias Cook County confirmed that seven people died at the mobile home park, where about roughly half of the 40 homes were leveled. The other Georgia deaths occurred elsewhere. Not far from the mobile home park, 19-year-old Jenny Bullard wore a sling on her injured arm as she combed through the rubble of her familys brick house. All that remained standing Sunday afternoon was the master bedroom and parts of the kitchen. Its a horrible tragedy, Bullard said. But all this stuff can be replaced. We cant replace each other. Were extremely lucky. Georgias governor declared an emergency in seven Georgia counties, freeing up state resources to assist recovery. Brendan Farrington and Jay Reeves are Associated Press writers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Bay Area will get a welcome period of dry weather after a streak of powerful storms drenched the region and made this the wettest January in two decades, forecasters said. The last onslaught of storms to slam California over the past five days caused flooding in the Bay Area, blizzard-like conditions and avalanches in the Sierra, and record-breaking, destructive rainfall in Southern California. Weve had a lot of rainfall and well appreciate a break, said Brian Mejia, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. But at the same time, we dont want prolonged periods of dryness because we could easily be in a drought again. The Bay Area was under a flood watch Monday as pockets of rain moved through, causing brief downpours in some areas. The hardest hit spots were in the North Bay, where the Mark West Creek spilled over its banks and the Russian River neared flood stage in the morning before receding. The California Highway Patrol closed Highway 37 between Highway 101 and Atherton Avenue in Novato for the second time this month when deep water overtook the road Sunday and continued to get worse throughout the day Monday. Officials expect the road to stay closed through much of the week. Nine inches of rain have fallen in San Francisco this month the most January rain since the El Nino of 1997-98, when more than 12 inches fell by months end, according to the weather service. But this months rain total likely wont increase much as the Bay Area is looking at several dry days ahead. High pressure is building, so any frontal system will run into a brick wall, Mejia said. Theres a slight chance of showers on Thursday, but from then it looks dry for the next week or so. The dry weather will be gladly received by those whove been dealing with weeks of weather-related mayhem. Jeff Assadi, the chef and owner of La Finestra Ristorante in Lafayette, watched as a massive eucalyptus toppled over on several cars in front of his restaurant Sunday night. No one was injured, but a group celebrating a womans 70th birthday party was startled when the tree fell. It sounded like thunder, he said. Everyone was shocked for a few seconds. After Assadi went outside and determined no one was hurt, his guests got back to their celebration. They really got a kick out of it, he said as arborists carved up the tree Monday. But weve got another tree next to it. I hope that one doesnt fall. In Oakland, the CHP closed one lane of southbound Highway 13 after a 5-foot-wide sinkhole opened up Monday morningnear Broadway Terrace. Caltrans and the CHP also closed Niles Canyon Road between Fremont and Sunol due to several landslides. Alameda County sheriffs officials also closed a section of Niles Canyon Road to search Alameda Creek for a missing driver who skidded off the road and into the water after hitting another car Saturday. The creek had been raging due to the rainstorms, making waters too swift for dive teams to look for the vehicle and missing 18-year-old Tracy woman who was inside. On the coast, there were powerful swells for a second day as 25-to-30-foot breakers slammed the Bay Area shoreline. The weather service issued a high surf advisory warning to beachgoers about sneaker waves and strong rip currents. Several feet of snow fell in the Sierra over the weekend, closing Interstate 80 for part of the day Sunday and putting much of the Lake Tahoe area under avalanche warning. An avalanche buried two cars under a 12-foot-deep pile of snow on Highway 89 on Monday morning, closing the road between Alpine Meadows Road and Tahoe City. The most recent storms have been especially intense in Southern California, where most areas are still experiencing extreme and exceptional drought, according to the federal Drought Monitor. Los Angeles International Airport got 2.78 inches of rain Sunday, breaking a record for the day. Several inches fell around the region, flooding roads, causing mudslides, and toppling trees. Southern California has been missing out on a lot of the rain weve had, but over the past couple weeks, its been raining pretty good Mejia said. A couple in San Bernardino County who were rescued after their pickup truck was caught in rushing water were among several people stranded in waters in Southern California. The National Weather Service placed most of Southern California under a flash-flood watch Monday, while areas above 6,000 feet in the mountains in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties were getting significant snow. By Monday evening, the brunt of the wet weather was to have passed, with showers lingering into Tuesday. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for 50 California counties including all nine in the Bay Area that were drenched by winter storms. The declarations direct Caltrans to ask for immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administrations Emergency Relief Program. Brown also directs the state Office of Emergency Services to provide assistance to local governments. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Sarah Ravani and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky The good and bad of how Trumponomics will trickle down to the consumer No matter where you stand politically, America's new president wants to put policies in place that are likely to have a major impact on taxes, regulationand consumers' wallets. President Donald Trump wants to spur economic growth by enacting a new tax plan that would reduce the current seven brackets down to three. When it comes to business, he wants to cut corporate tax rates from 35 percent to 15 percent. On trade, President Trump has said on the campaign trail that the current deals are hurting American workers. He wants out of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is a trade deal with Asia that has yet to be ratified. In addition, he wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a deal enacted more than 2 decades ago with Canada and Mexico. And with a Republican controlled House and Senate, it raises the question of how likely he'll be able to follow through on his campaign promises. Another open question is what impact those changes will have on individual consumers. "He's going to start on the trade front and the immigration front with some of these executive orders," Politico's Senior Economic Correspondent Ben White told CNBC's "On the Money" in an interview. "He'll start the process of building a wall with Mexico, he'll pull out of that TPP agreement right away, renegotiate NAFTA," White predicted. "The bigger ticket stuff, that's really going to impact Americans, that's going to take a longer period of time." Sara Fagen, a former aide of former president George W. Bush, said he'll be able to act quickly on trade because he doesn't have to go through Congress. "Quite a bit of trade can be done through executive action, particularly NAFTA," said Fagen. As for his tax plan, however, Trump and Republicans don't yet see eye to eyewhich will mean delays. "There is a big disagreement between House Republicans and the Trump administration on the border adjustment tax, which is the Republicans plan to tax imports, and that would raise prices on consumers," Fagen told CNBC. Story continues She added that the Trump team knows the people who voted him into office are not going to like paying higher prices for essential items like gas, shoes, school supplies, that U.S. consumers typically import. The hidden tax of tariffs However, White said if we do get into a trade war with some of the countries President Trump has called unfair to the U.S. , and if tariffs are added, higher prices on goods are inevitable. For example, the next car a driver buys could cost more than they think, given the added costs that get passed on to consumers. "If [automakers] are forced to pay tariffs to bring those cars into the U.S., that could make that market much less competitive for them. They could stop making those cars entirely," said White. According to White, Trump will have to balance not starting a trade war, while at the same time incentivizing companies to manufacture in the United States. As for deregulation, Trump has pledged to issue a moratorium on new agency regulations to give companies the certainty they need to reinvest, hire, and expand. "I think it could have a huge impact on small businesses. Right now you see small business hiring fewer people because the cost to maintain an employee is high, and if he rolls those back, he's certainly able to hire more people which will be good for the economy," said Fagen. On the Money airs on CNBC Saturdays at 5:30 am ET, or check listings for air times in local markets. More From CNBC By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Smarting from its biggest-ever yearly loss, hedge fund Viking Global Investors has reordered its stock picking team and plans to invest more money in financial and consumer stocks and less in pharmaceutical stocks, its co-founder told clients. The $30 billion firm's biggest portfolio, Viking Global Equities, lost 4 percent last year, marking only the third time since its 1999 launch that it lost money. The broader stock market index S&P 500 gained 12 percent in 2016. In the letter to clients from Andreas Halvorsen dated January 17 and seen by Reuters on Monday, the firm said it was "very disappointed by these results". It got sector weightings and the size of its bets wrong and shifted its organizational structure to perform better this year. "In a year when sector selection turned out to be a significant driver of returns, our concentrated bets, being at a decade high, proved to be largely wrong," the letter said. Halvorsen, who trained at industry legend Julian Robertson's Tiger Management, grew the firm into one of the largest and most successful U.S. hedge funds. But last year's losses prompted some investors, including the state of Rhode Island, to ask for some money back. Pharmaceutical company Teva, which has lost roughly half its value in the last year, was Viking's biggest loser and has been eliminated from the portfolio, the letter said. Drug companies Allergan and Valeant Pharmaceuticals also hurt returns. Southwestern Energy's losses were especially harmful in the last three months of the year and Viking has now exited the position, the letter said. Energy company Encana was the year's biggest winner with Amazon and Facebook also contributing gains. Bank of America, one of the biggest contributors in the last three months of 2016, could rise more, but fund managers have trimmed the position some. To fix last year's problems, Halvorsen shifted responsibilities and capital, cutting the number of investment team members who report to chief investment officer Dan Sundheim in half to three, the letter said. Financials have been consolidated under Hani Sabbagh who is working closely with Ning Jin while Steve Mykijewycz and the consumer team is working directly with Ben Jacobs. Viking's most senior portfolio managers and their direct reports already invest about 60 percent of Viking's capital and will oversee more in the months ahead. "We plan to shift more capital towards this group throughout 2017," the letter said. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Andrew Hay) * Troops dislodge Islamic State militants from east * Mosul is last major IS stronghold in Iraq * Tough battle expected for western half of city * UN expresses concern for 750,000 civilians in west Mosul (Adds UN expressing concern ahead of battle on western side) By Maher Chmaytelli and Saif Hameed BAGHDAD, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Iraqi officials said on Monday government forces had taken complete control of eastern Mosul, 100 days after the start of their U.S.-backed campaign to dislodge Islamic State militants from the city. The deputy parliament speaker announced the capture of the east of the city, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, after a meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. "We completed the total liberation of the left bank of Mosul and this is a gift to the Iraqi people," said Sheikh Humam Hamoudi in a statement, quoting Abadi at the meeting. The army on Sunday entered Rashidiya, the last district under the control of the militants on the east bank of the Tigris, said military spokesman Brigadier-General Yahya Rasool. Mopping-up operations were still under way on Monday to flush out remaining militants in a pocket in this northeastern district, he said in a statement. A resident of Rashidiya said the army had stormed the area after air strikes destroyed a tank and car bomb the militants had been preparing to attack the advancing forces. A resident of Zanjali, a district on the west side of Mosul, said Islamic State fighters "have arrived from the left bank and are trying to find houses on the right bank", fleeing from the government forces' advance. The resident asked not to identified as the militants kill those caught speaking with the outside world. Iraqi forces launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul from the hardline Sunni group, which captured the city in 2014, declaring from its Grand Mosque a "caliphate" that also spanned parts of Syria, ruled by its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. MILITANTS CORNERED Story continues The defence ministry had earlier on Monday issued a statement announcing the complete takeover of eastern Mosul, adding that Abadi would be making a formal announcement later. The statement was later removed from the ministry's website. A U.S.-led coalition is providing air and ground support to the Iraqi forces. The west side of Mosul could prove more complicated to take than the east as it is crisscrossed by streets too narrow for armoured vehicles. The militants are expected to put up a tough fight as they are cornered in a shrinking area of the northern Iraqi city. Mosul had a pre-war population of nearly 2 million, and about 750,000 people are estimated to live in western Mosul. More than 160,000 have been displaced since the start of the offensive, according to the United Nations. The UN expressed "deep concern" for the fate of civilians in western Mosul ahead of the looming battle. "The reports from inside western Mosul are distressing," Lise Grande, humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, said in a statement. "The prices of basic food and supplies are soaring ... many families without income are eating only once a day. Others are being forced to burn furniture to stay warm." The battle for Mosul, involving 100,000 Iraqi troops, members of the Kurdish security forces and Shi'ite militiamen, is the biggest ground operation in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. Iraqi forces estimated the number of militants inside the city at 5,000 to 6,000 at the start of operations three months ago, and says 3,300 have been killed in the fighting since. The militants blew up a landmark hotel in western Mosul on Friday in an apparent attempt to prevent advancing Iraqi forces from using it as a base or a sniper position when fighting moves west of the Tigris. The Mosul Hotel, shaped as a stepped pyramid, stands close to the river. State TV said the army had set up temporary bridges across the Tigris south of Mosul to allow troops to cross in preparation for the offensive on the western bank. The city's five permanent bridges across the Tigris have been damaged by U.S.-led air strikes and Islamic State blew up two. (Editing by Andrew Roche) BANJUL, Gambia Exiled Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh stole millions of dollars in his final weeks in power, plundering the countrys coffers and shipping luxury vehicles by cargo plane, a special adviser for the new president said Sunday. Meanwhile, a regional military force worked to secure the tiny West African nation so that the democratically elected president, Adama Barrow, could return home after taking the oath of office in neighboring Senegal on Thursday because of concerns for his safety. At a news conference in the Senegalese capital late Sunday, Barrows special adviser, Mai Ahmad Fatty, said the president will return home as soon as possible. Underscoring the challenges facing the new administration, Fatty said Jammeh made off with more than $11.4 million during a two-week period alone. That is only what they have discovered so far after Jammeh and his family took an offer of exile after more than 22 years in power and departed late Saturday. The coffers are virtually empty, Fatty said. It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia. Fatty also said a Chadian cargo plane had transported luxury goods out of the country on Jammehs behalf in his final hours in power, including an unknown number of vehicles. Jammeh is now in Equatorial Guinea, which is not a state party to the International Criminal Court. Jammehs agreement to step down brought an end to a political crisis in the tiny nation of 1.9 million that brought it to the brink of a regional military intervention. Barrow, who defeated Jammeh in December elections, will begin forming a Cabinet and working with Gambias national assembly to reverse the state of emergency Jammeh declared in his final days in power, said Halifa Sallah, spokesman for the coalition backing the new leader. Krista Larson and Carley Petesch are Associated Press writers. CAIRO The top Hamas official from the Gaza Strip has arrived in Egypt for meetings with security officials, the highest level visit by a member of the Palestinian militant group since Egypts army overthrew an Islamist president in 2013. Ismail Haniyeh arrived late Sunday, Egyptian security officials said, as Hamas officials confirmed the visit. All spoke on condition of anonymity. Hamas, an Islamic militant group with historic links to Egypts Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed warm relations with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, a top Brotherhood figure who was overthrown by the military after a divisive year in power. The Egyptian government tightened an Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza shortly thereafter, but in recent months there have been signs of a thaw in relations. For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, stifling the economy and largely blocking its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, signs are emerging that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the group. In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gazas main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013, and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations. Haniyeh left Gaza in September to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca the first time Egypt allowed him to leave the territory since Morsis ouster. Brian Rohan is an Associated Press writer. JERUSALEM Israels prime minister has accepted an invitation to visit the White House next month in hopes of forging a common vision for the region with President Trump that could include expanded settlement construction on occupied territories and a tougher policy toward Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his plans Sunday to head to Washington in early February hours after delaying a vote on an explosive proposal to annex one of the West Banks largest settlements, apparently to coordinate his policy toward the Palestinians with the new administration. The move put on hold legislation that threatens to unleash fresh violence and damage already faded hopes for Palestinian independence. It also may have marked Trumps first presidential foray into Middle East diplomacy. After eight years of frosty relations with President Obama, Netanyahu has welcomed Trumps election as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two allies. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was gearing up plans to expand settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem a policy that had been condemned by Obama. Late Sunday, the two men held what Netanyahus office described as a very warm conversation by phone. It said they discussed the international nuclear deal with Iran, which both men have harshly criticized, and the Palestinian issue. A date for Netanyahus visit is to be finalized in the coming days. The White House said Trump told Netanyahu that peace with the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between the two parties and that the U.S. will work closely with Israel on that goal. With Trump signaling a more tolerant approach toward the much-maligned settlement movement, Israels nationalist right now believes it has an ally in the White House, and Israeli hard-line leaders make no secret they will push for aggressive action in the occupied West Bank. But after convening his Security Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said his Cabinet ministers had decided unanimously to delay action on the annexation plan until he goes to Washington to meet with Trump. Netanyahu, a longtime supporter of the settlements, has nonetheless been cautious about expanding them in the face of strong opposition from the international community. Josef Federman is an Associated Press writer. CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuelan officials may face U.S. sanctions for profiting from food shortages that have exacerbated hunger in the South American country. The calls by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle come in response to an Associated Press investigation that found trafficking in hard-to-find food has become big business in Venezuela, with the military at the heart of the graft. Embattled socialist President Nicolas Maduro has given the military increasingly broad control over the food supply as shortages have led to widespread malnutrition this year. When the military is profiting off of food distribution while the Venezuelan people increasingly starve, corruption has reached a new level of depravity that cannot go unnoticed, said Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. The AP report published last month detailed a chain of dirty dealing by the military, including kickbacks to generals for food contracts and bribes to move food out of the port. Some of the food is purchased in the U.S. and some of the bribes passed through the U.S. banking system. U.S. prosecutors are investigating senior Venezuelan officials, including members of the military, for laundering riches from food contracts through the U.S. financial system, the AP learned from four people with direct knowledge of the probes. No charges have been brought. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said President Trump should take immediate action to sanction the top officials named in the AP report. This should be one of President Trumps first actions in office, Rubio, who is chairman of the Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees Latin America, said in a statement. The AP cited documents and testimony from business owners who pointed to food minister Gen. Rodolfo Marco Torres and his predecessor, Gen. Carlos Osorio, as key figures involved in fraudulent food imports. Neither official responded to requests for comment, but in the past, both have dismissed charges of corruption. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said she is urging the State and Treasury departments to apply sanctions to Marco Torres and Osorio, as well as anyone else getting rich off Venezuelas food shortages. She is also asking that government agencies ensure U.S. companies are not doing business directly with any Venezuelan business owners fronting for corrupt officials. Hannah Dreier and Joshua Goodman are Associated Press writers. Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch . Important as ever. I truly believe we're always Stronger Together. January 21, 2017 "There are bigger concerns in Niles[, Michigan] than expanding the rights of women, many people said. They worry about the state of local schools, the cost of health care and the town's economy, which has struggled with the loss of manufacturing jobs. Mr. Trump's campaign promise to 'Make America Great Again' had special resonance in Rust Belt towns like Niles, said Tracy Guetterman, 49, a retail manager.... 'Personally, I'd love to see our country go back to one parent working, like the good old days,' she said. 'I want to be able to quit my job." "I would absolutely love to live in a world where I didnt have to constantly navigate the fact that I am a woman, or that I am bisexual, or that I am transgender. But I dont have the privilege of not thinking about these aspects of my person, because I am often treated inferiorly and targeted for harassment because I am a woman. And there are tons of people out there who hate me and wish to silence me because I am bisexual and transgender. Donald Trump ran a campaign that constantly stoked hatred against minority and marginalized groups. He selected one of the most anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-womens reproductive rights politicians in the nation to be his Vice President. His entire platform and rhetoric were predicated on racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and other prejudices. And yet, these pundits have the gall to claim that were the ones who are making this about identity?" For the first time since November 8, 2016, I feel more than just small glimmers of hope. It is a cautious thing, but it is a real hope, still, and I will take all I can get. Despite some last-minute male concern about how calling it the Women's March on Washington might have been "bad" marketing , attendance at the DC March and the more than 600 Sister Marches around the world, including an online Disability March , in response to Donald Trump's Inauguration exceeded all expectations. Via Politico,I found being in the physical presence of hundreds of thousands of other people opposed to Trump and his agenda to be a powerful bolster to my resistance. I say this while I also recognize the efforts of those who have been, and continue, resisting Trump and his fans online and off, apart from the Marches - writing, commenting, refusing to normalize deplorable actions, and speaking out when we can.That we are living in a historic moment cannot be overstated. Trump continues to fill his Cabinet with unqualified extremists as though he has the strongest of mandates, even though by key measures he has no mandate to do so.His electoral college win, temperament, lack of competence, lack of knowledge, and bigotry have inspired the largest protest in US history. He lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. And, via Media Matters , he is "the least popular president-elect since modern polling was invented."For posterity, I note some reactions to this historic weekend.Winner of the 2016 popular vote Hillary Clinton:Yes.Meanwhile, loser of the 2016 popular vote, Donald Trump:Two hours after that tweet, Trump (or someone) wrote another tweet recognizing "the rights of people to express their views." How big of him. Such a presidential pivot! Because the bar is so very low for this man, I'm sure he'll get some major props from some people for this basic acknowledgement of our constitutional rights.Jill Stein of the Green Party, and 2016 presidential candidate, re-tweeted this statement:I think that the March was "mainstream" is supposed to be a bad thing. And, if so, I strongly oppose this sort of "hipster activist"/non-pragmatic attitude among some segments of the left.Listed as the number one value on the Green Party USA's Ten Key Values page of its website is: Grassroots Democracy. The Women's Marches were events in which millions of people were active participants in grassroots democracy. That these protests were extremely popular, even among celebrities and politicians, does not and should not detract from them. Rather, it is a testamentthe marches for doing something the Green Party is rarely able to do:I suspect that if and when I get through the Trump years, I will be most grateful for the people who walked along beside me - physically or in spirit. We need to reject this type of cynical mocking of major resistance events as too "mainstream" and, hence, imperfect.And, especially given the role that misogyny played in this election, it should be fundamental to every progressive movement to want large-scale resistance to misogyny mainstreamed.Speaking of which, on the conservative side of things, I've heard that some folks have the vapors about the pussy hats some women wore, calling them "vulgar." This notion comes from an ideology in whichsaying pussy is worse than grabbing one without consent.Relatedly, we also saw commentary of the always-creative "get back in the kitchen"/"you're ugly" variety. For instance, this headline at[sic], by Drew Belsky, tells you all you need to knowMeanwhile, Julie Bosman at, in a piece entitled, "In a Rust Belt Town, the Women's Marches Draw Shrugs and Cheers From Afar," began her piece quoting a few women who hadn't heard of the Marches and mostly let non/anti-feminist women frame the piece. Sample:One day, I hope the mainstream media might stop gazing into the the navels of white Trump supporters long enough to learn that there are lots of other disgruntled folks in this country. Again, the election of Trump has inspired the largest protest in US history. Let's start centering more protagonists innarrative.Also, note how this "economic anxiety" rhetoric parallels the "no identity politics" approach that some on the left take. The woman's quote in this article encapsulates my ongoing fear when people reference these "bigger concerns" people have that supposedly have nothing to do with gender or other aspects of identity. She worries about the economy and jobs, but also wants to see economic opportunities for women limited.Economic issues are almost always gender (and racial) issues as well, even if that's not immediately apparent to some. Progressive politicians who speak about, and advocate centering, economic issues need to show me that they understand the intersections of identity and economics before I will trust them. We had that candidate. We don't anymore.On the positive side, there were some fantastic speeches. Julia Serano shared the text of hers, after speaking at the San Francisco March Meanwhile,posted March photos from the around the world , and they are stunning.Also, people sang:As the left continues to work through internal critique and dialogue, I hope we can do so while also keeping a wide view. To me, a man like Trump in power, with the people he's surrounded himself with, signifies an existential threat.Accordingly, I am grateful to the women who organized the March on Washington, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez, and Linda Sarsour. I acknowledge their work even as I disagree with the decision to not list Hillary Clinton's name as one of women who has inspired the March , even as the website used Clinton's "Women's Rights Are Human Rights" quote without attribution.It is still hard for me not to think about how hard Hillary Clinton would have worked for us as President, and how I trusted thatmore than anyone else would have done what she thought best for the country in all its pragmatic complexities. I think about this every day. I was marching for many reasons but, in part,. For what she endured. And, for the pain many of us felt when we watched what she endured. To be a qualified woman and to lose to an unqualified bigot like Trump is a devastating testament as to how perfection is expected in female leaders while the grossest of imperfections are tolerated, and even celebrated, in men.For this reason, too, I try to extend understanding to other progressive and liberal women, knowing that we do and will disagree, and that deep divisions exist. I say this knowing that the Democratic primary was a brutal one and I certainly took a side in that. And, at least some of the divisions were egged on by Russian agents (I have a strong suspicion/evidence my own blog was targeted).Social movements and events often start out as exclusionary messes and are gradually improved, over time, with dialogue - dialogue that is hard, ridden with power imbalances, frustrating, and also hurtful at times. But, as we excoriate Trump for wanting to build a wall, we have got to get better at building bridges with each other on the left and question some some of the thinking that if a person makes mistakes then they are forever ruined.We are stronger together, still. We have to be.Perhaps this, too, is too much to hope for, but sometimes I imagine what political poetic justice might look like, for me. Sometimes, in my most hopeful moments, I imagine that Trump could do the impossible: unite a diverse left that is centered around opposition to him. Prime Minister Bill English is declining to say whether the date for this years general election will be announced on Tuesday this week after the first Cabinet meeting of the year. Were still considering that, he said in answer to questions from journalists at Ratana Pa, where English led a delegation of government ministers to the annual celebrations of the religious movement founded by Tahu Potiki Wiremu Ratana. An early new year announcement of the election date would maintain a practice established by Englishs predecessor, John Key, who believed the public favoured certainty over the election date rather than the tradition of the ruling party keeping the date close to its chest to keep opposition parties guessing. English appeared to deflect rather than deny the suggestion. The decisions havent been made yet. Well let you know. Speculation about election dates centres around Saturday, Sept. 23 or, if held early, a date in late July after the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of New Zealand has finished. English appealed to members of the Ratana church gathered at the movements spiritual home, Ratana Pa south of Whanganui, to reawaken the spirit of enterprise among Maori because we have reached the limits of what government can do government grants, programmes, more public servants. What I see around the country and its obvious to every New Zealander, is the burgeoning spirit of enterprise among Maori businesspeople. This was not traditional development, which implied government action to create wealth, but enterprise owned by iwi, whanau, and hapu. On Maori social issues, English said the public sector had now entrenched the concept of Whanau Ora a policy to deliver Maori health and family services through Maori channels. Its you who know the whanau, you who they know they can trust. The government cant and doesnt know it. Thats tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) and we believe in that, English said. Occasional downpours held off during the powhiri and Englishs response on a blustery day at Ratana Pa. English acknowledged the fact it was his second time at Ratana as leader of the National Party the first time 15 years as ago as leader of a failing Opposition and today as the leader of a successful government. English quipped the government was doing so well under his leadership that the former Prime Minister, John Key, who resigned in early December, had noted a few days ago that English was doing the job almost as well as he did. Also due at Ratana Pa this afternoon is the Maori Party leadership, who are choosing to go onto the marae with the Maori King, Tuheitia, rather than with other political parties tomorrow. The Maori Party has been urging Ratana to break its tradition of support for the Labour Party, as the Kingitanga did last year. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKC - ADDITIONAL US PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUNDING SECURED Spark New Zealand Limited's Annual Meeting Results 2022 Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update November 4th Morning Report FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022 ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022 GEO - Quarterly Operating Update New Zealand shares eked out gains on the first day of trading after US President Donald Trump's inauguration as a rise in Auckland International Airport and defensive stocks like Kiwi Property Group offset a sharp fall in Comvita. The S&P/NZX 50 index rose 19.37 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,067.840. Within the index, 26 stocks gained, 16 fell and eight were unchanged. Turnover was a light $83 million due to a holiday in the capital city of Wellington. "The big news of the day was the pretty disappointing profit warning from Comvita," said Brad Gordon, investment adviser for Hobson Wealth Partners. Comvita ended down 17 percent at $6.50. Earlier Monday the manuka honey products maker warned annual earnings will tumble by about two-thirds as the nation's unseasonably wet and windy weather saps the honey harvest and slow sales via China's informal trading channels. That news also weighed on A2 Milk Co, which shed 4.4 percent to $2.17, as investors are concerned they are also facing challenges after China moved to tighten regulations in a bid to crack down on the grey market - or 'daigou'. "The avenues for direct selling into China are much tougher," said Gordon. In the other direction, Auckland Airport rose 0.7 percent to $6.85, helping offset some of the slide in Comvita, said Gordon. He said strong visitor numbers and an improving regulatory environment is a "confluence of good news" for the stock. Air New Zealand added 0.7 percent to $2.18. Chorus rose 0.7 percent to $4.17. Gordon noted the stock has had a "good run of late," also on the potential for a better regulatory environment. Spark New Zealand added 0.6 percent to $3.52 while construction company Fletcher Building added 0.7 percent to $10.45. New Zealand Refining Co was the top performer on the benchmark index rising 1.5 percent to $2.69, paring some of Friday's losses. While oil edged up on Monday after statements from producers they have been complying with output cuts, a surge in US drilling put a damper on gains. Kiwi Property was also a top performer on the benchmark index, gaining 1.4 percent to $1.44, possibly a defensive play as markets await more clarity on Trump's policies for the world's largest economy. "There is a bit of nervousness out there," said Gordon. Analysts said Monday that equity and foreign exchange markets are likely to tread water until there is more detail on his plans to accelerate economic growth, principally by easing taxes and regulation. Scales Corp shed 1.4 percent to $3.43 while Summerset Group was down 0.8 percent at $4.71. Hellaby Holdings ended unchanged at $3.58 after ASX-listed auto firm Bapcor installed four new directors at Hellaby Holdings after securing control of the New Zealand firm. Last week Hellaby's independent directors said they supported the takeover, having previously argued that it undervalued the company. The offer closes on Feb. 7, and Bapcor has received acceptances for 78.4 percent of Hellaby's shares. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKC - ADDITIONAL US PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUNDING SECURED Spark New Zealand Limited's Annual Meeting Results 2022 Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update November 4th Morning Report FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022 ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022 GEO - Quarterly Operating Update New Zealand's top 30 cooperatives contribute more than $42.3 billion per annum to the economy in revenue, a new report has found. The report, by industry body Cooperative Business New Zealand and researchers from Massey University and Auckland University, shows the top cooperatives and mutuals have a revenue-to-gross domestic product ratio of 17.5 percent. The data "confirms the importance of the cooperative business model to New Zealand as a country," said Cooperative Business chief executive Craig Presland. A total of 1.4 million New Zealanders are members of cooperatives. Led by dairy giant Fonterra Cooperative Group, the agri-food sector generates 65.2 percent of that revenue, holds 67.6 percent of assets and employs 82.8 percent of the 48,500 people employed by cooperatives. Fonterra alone has revenue of $18.8 billion. Fonterra is followed by the two regional Foodstuffs cooperatives and Silver Fern Farms. The next largest sector by revenue is retail and wholesale, which accounts for 30.3 percent of the revenue. When the authors of the report compared New Zealand to other countries they found the agri-food and retail and wholesale sector account for twice as much of New Zealand's cooperative economy compared to the top 300 in the world and three times that of Australia's top 100 cooperatives. "We expected the agrifoods sector would be important but we were surprised to find it is twice as much as the global situation," said lead researcher Elena Garnevska of Massey University. The reverse was true for the insurance, banking and finance sectors. Globally, the sector accounts for 45 percent of revenue in the cooperative economy but in New Zealand, it is only 3.4 percent. Given the importance of the cooperatives to the economy, the authors of the report are calling for more research to look at the sustainability of the model and map long-term trends and cycles. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKC - ADDITIONAL US PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUNDING SECURED Spark New Zealand Limited's Annual Meeting Results 2022 Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update November 4th Morning Report FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022 ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022 GEO - Quarterly Operating Update Japan 's Chief Cabinet Secretary conceded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal faces an uphill battle without the United States , even as Tokyo pressed other member countries to ratify the pact to keep the pressure on Washington, suggesting that Tokyo would work hard to convince President Donald Trump to rethink his stated opposition. In an interview with CNBC, Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 's top adviser said the Japanese government would properly assert itself in trade talks, to prevent a move towards protectionism. "A TPP without the U.S. would be incredibly difficult, but we do have a window until 2018, when the treaty needs to be ratified," Suga said. "We believe we still have an opportunity to convince the U.S. about the importance of free trade." Trump has already vowed to withdraw from the TPP in the first 100 day of his administration, calling the pact "a potential disaster" for the U.S. In his inauguration speech, Trump reiterated his call for an "America first" policy, saying every decision on trade as well as taxes and foreign policy, would be made to benefit American workers and American families and has already moved to start potential renegotiation over the existing North American free Trade Agreement 104233449 (NAFTA). Still, Abe, who has championed the regional trade pact, has pushed Japan to ratify the treaty, becoming the first of a dozen member countries to complete domestic procedures required for the pact last week. Challenges over the TPP come, as Japan finds itself in the crosshairs of the new U.S. administration. Trump has singled out the country, alongside China and Mexico , for its trade deficit with the U.S. He's also targeted Toyota (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 7203.T-JP), threatening to slap the Japanese carmaker with a "border tax," if it moves forward with plans to build Corolla cars in Mexico. That has rattled Japanese lawmakers, who consider the U.S. Japan alliance a cornerstone of regional stability. Story continues "Japanese investments into the United States top $410 billion and create 800,000 jobs" Suga said. "This is the reality of what's happening right now. As long as we convey that clearly, we believe that there will be a clear understanding on the economic front." Analysts have pointed to a slight possibility that the TPP could proceed even without the U.S. "I'm not saying it's going to happen, but there is a very remote chance we could have the other countries of the TPP saying 'let's go ahead,'" Alex Capri, a visiting senior fellow at National University of Singapore's business school, told CNBC's " The Rundown " on Monday. "There are some loopholes that would have to be closed, but it's possible." He noted that the deal's other 11 parties may want to proceed as unlike most free-trade agreements, which tend to be shallow, the TPP was a deeper agreement addressing non-tariff barriers, such as intellectual property. Because the U.S. market was already very open and generally already had adopted such measures, these provisions would have impacted it less, he said. "It's really the other 11 countries that would have benefited," he said, noting that if the deal goes forward without the U.S., American companies would be at a competitive disadvantage in the region. Trump has also called on Japan to shoulder more of the cost, when it comes to hosting the roughly 50,000 American troops based in the country, while suggesting the country arm itself with nuclear weapons. Suga has maintained that Japan pays more than half the costs. He said he discussed the importance of the U.S. Japan Security Treaty with National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, in a 90-minute meeting prior to the November election. "I do believe the two countries can have an appropriate conversation about the role that Japan is playing in reality, including cost. We need to take this step by step," Suga said. Japan faces increasing uncertainty in the region, following reports last week, that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was preparing to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile, to provoke the new Trump administration. Suga refused to comment on North Korea 's weapons capability, but said the threat from Pyongyang had reached a new level, citing the significance of two nuclear tests last year. "Up until now, the tests were conducted once every three years," Suga said. "We believe the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous. Amid that threat, our country, in addition to the U.S., and South Korea the alliance must work together to counter this." Leslie Shaffer contributed to this article. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. More From CNBC Kazakhstan's officials prepare working space for delegations at a hotel lobby where Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold talks on Syrian peace, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. The talks are the latest attempt to forge a political settlement to end a war that has by most estimates killed more than 400,000 people since March 2011 and displaced more than half the country's population. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) BEIRUT (AP) The latest on Syria talks that are being held in Kazakhstan and developments on the ground in the war-torn country (all times local): 9:30 p.m. The Trump administration says it is willing to partner with Moscow to combat the Islamic State group. In his first daily White House press briefing, press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that President Donald Trump has been "very clear" that he will "work with any country committed to defeating ISIS." He says the administration will work "with Russia or anyone else" to defeat the militant group, either militarily or economically. The president has vowed to defeat IS "quickly" when he takes office, though he has not provided specifics on his plans for U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Syria. On Monday the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had carried out a joint airstrike mission with U.S.-led coalition warplanes against IS in Syria. That claim was immediately denied by the Pentagon ___ 8:30 p.m. The U.S. says Russia's claim that its warplanes flew a joint mission over Syria with the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group is "rubbish." Russia's Defense Ministry said Monday its forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday "from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters." U.S. Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, almost immediately labeled the Russian claim as propaganda. U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. does have routine "deconfliction" talks with Russia to avoid unintended aerial incidents in Syria's crowded skies. But Davis says there have been no changes to that arrangement, and the U.S. has insisted for months that it has no coordination or sharing of targets with Russia. ___ 8 p.m. The Russian military says its warplanes have flown a joint mission in Syria against the Islamic State group together with the U.S.-led coalition. Story continues If confirmed by Washington, the mission would represent the first coordinated action against IS by Russia and the U.S.-led coalition. Russia has pushed for such cooperation in the past, but Barack Obama's administration had refused. New U.S. President Donald Trump has called for joint efforts with Russia against IS. The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces in Syria had received coordinates of IS targets near al-Bab on Sunday "from the U.S. side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters." It said Monday that two Russian warplanes and two aircraft of the U.S.-led coalition then struck the targets, destroying several ammunition and fuel depots along with militants and weapons. The attack followed a joint raid in the same area flown by Russian and Turkish jets on Saturday. ___ 7 p.m. A Syrian opposition spokesman says the first day of talks has concluded, after rebel representatives met Russia's presidential envoy to the talks to discuss ways to reinforce a shaky cease-fire. Yahya al-Aridi, the spokesman for the rebel delegation to the talks, says the opposition also met Monday with the Russian and Turkish delegations in the presence of the U.N. envoy to Syria to discuss a nationwide cease-fire. He says the talks are scheduled to conclude Tuesday. He says the talks with Russian president envoy Alexander Lavrentyev touched on political issues, but the focus was on the cease-fire. He didn't elaborate. Russia had previously asked that Jaysh al-Islam, the group to which the lead rebel negotiator belongs, be designated as a "terrorist" group. Russia, an ally of the Syrian government, and Turkey which backs the opposition, have sponsored the talks and a shaky cease-fire reached on Dec. 30. ___ 6:05 p.m. Russia's official news agency says the final document for the talks held in the Kazakh capital is to call on Syria's rebels to distance themselves from an al-Qaida linked group in Syria. Tass news agency published the draft communique Monday, on the opening day of talks that brought for the first time government and rebel representatives in the same room. The face-to-face meeting was brief, and was followed by proximity talks mediated by the U.N. The talks are sponsored by Russia and Turkey. Iran, a major ally of the Syrian government, backs the talks. Tass said the three countries will confirm their determination to jointly fight the Islamic State group and Fatah al-Sham Front, an al-Qaida-affiliate in Syria. Fatah al-Sham works closely with a number of rebel groups in Syria, and has called the meeting a "conspiracy" designed to drive a wedge between the insurgents. ___ 3:20 p.m. The head of Syria's rebel delegation at the peace talks in Kazakhstan has called for placing foreign militias fighting alongside President Bashar Assad's army on the list of terrorist organizations. In a speech at the opening session of talks in Astana Monday, Mohammad Alloush said such groups include Lebanon's Hezbollah. He also said Syrian civilians were subject to two forms of terrorism: "The terrorism of Bashar Assad or the terrorism of Daesh," in reference to the Islamic State group. A video of his speech was leaked by opposition delegates inside the meeting and obtained by The Associated Press. Alloush also reiterated the call for consolidating a Russian-backed ceasefire agreement announced late last month. Syria's government envoy later slammed the speech as "provocative" and "insolent." ___ 2:50 p.m. A Syrian Cabinet minister in charge of national reconciliation says the peace conference that began Monday in Kazakhstan is a "juncture to test intentions" on the cessation of hostilities and the possibility that some rebel groups may join the Syrian army in fighting extremists. National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press on Monday that although Turkey is a sponsor of the talks, Ankara "still has a long way to prove its intentions" because it is still backing Syrian rebels. Haidar said that last month's capture of rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo and achievements in other parts of Syria paved the way for more reconciliation. He was referring to areas where rebels decided to stop fighting in return for an amnesty or to move to other rebel-held areas. ___ 2:40 p.m. The United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura is calling on participants in talks between Syria's warring sides to agree on mechanisms to implement a nationwide truce. De Mistura says the talks in Kazakhstan, if successful in consolidating the current cease-fire, can pave the way for direct talks between the different Syrian parties in Geneva next month. Speaking on the first day of the talks Monday, De Mistura says finding ways to build confidence between the Syrian government and its armed opposition will also improve the fight against terrorist groups, who are excluded from a cease-fire reached on Dec. 30. ___ 2:30 p.m. Russia's Defense Ministry says six Russian long-ranger bombers have struck Islamic State group positions in eastern Syria. The ministry said in a statement on Monday that the Tu-22m3 bombers took off from an air base in Russia and conducted air strikes around the city of Deir el-Zour, targeting the militants' command posts and ammunition depots. The ministry said fighter jets from a Russian air base in the government-controlled part of Syria provided cover for the bombers. The raid came as Syrian government troops in Deir el-Zour find themselves in an increasingly difficult situation, cut in half in an ongoing IS offensive against the last remaining pockets of government control. The Islamic State group is excluded from the shaky cease-fire currently in place in Syria. ___ 1:15 p.m. The head of Syria's rebel delegation at the peace talks in Kazakhstan says the opposition is "ready to go to the ends of the earth" to end the bloodshed in Syria. Mohammad Alloush told reporters on Monday, after an hour of indirect talks with government representatives in Astana that the rebels "are men of peace, and at the same time knights of war." Alloush is a political officer for the powerful Army of Islam faction fighting mostly around Damascus. He attacked President Bashar Assad's rule, calling it a "terror" state and said only after the cease-fire becomes a "reality on the ground" can the two sides move on to political talks. He says the Syrian opposition will also insist at the talks in Astana on the resumption of aid deliveries and other humanitarian demands. ___ 1 p.m. Syria's government envoy at the peace talks in Astana has denounced as "provocative" and "insolent" a speech delivered by the head of the rebel factions attending the gathering in Kazakhstan. Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's U.N. ambassador, says rebel leader Mohammad Alloush's speech in Astana did not rise to the level of the gathering of diplomats attending the conference. Ja'afari in remarks to reporters in Astana repeatedly referred to the rebel delegation as representatives of "terrorist armed groups." He also said that the agenda for the talks, which are sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran, is "not ready yet." The harsh and uncompromising tone of Ja'afari's remarks was a bad omen for the talks, which had barely started with an opening ceremony and speeches by various representatives. ___ 12:40 p.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the U.N. envoy for Syria is mediating between the representatives of the Damascus government and the rebel factions at the talks underway in Kazakhstan. Lavrov said at a news conference on Monday in Moscow that Russia is "glad these talks started today, despite predictions and attempts to hamper" them. He says the U.N. envoy, Staffan de Mistura, will have the support of the Iranian delegation in contacts with Syrian government representatives while the Turkish delegation will be helping de Mistura reach out to the rebels attending the talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana. After the opening ceremony in which the Syrian rebels and the government delegation sat across from one another at a round table, the talks went into a closed session. There was no indication if rebels and government officials would be talking face-to-face behind closed doors but Lavrov's remarks indicated that part of the gathering is more similar to proximity talks, with de Mistura shuttling between the two sides. ___ 11 a.m. Iran says that preserving a tenuous cease-fire in Syria will be "the most important issue" in talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Kazakhstan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi says Iran is hopeful that the talks held Monday and Tuesday can shore up the cease-fire and pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid. He suggested that discussions over a larger political settlement would have to wait, saying: "Let's wait and see how the process can be continued based on conclusions that will be announced Tuesday." The talks, organized by Russia and Turkey, are the latest attempt to halt the nearly six-year conflict. Russia and Iran are the main backers of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, while Turkey supports the armed opposition trying to topple him. The two sides have traded blame for repeated violations of the Dec. 30 cease-fire, which was also brokered by Russia and Turkey. ___ 10:10 a.m. Russia- and Turkey-backed talks between Syrian rebel factions and government representatives have opened in Kazakhstan. The talks are the first between the two warring sides in a year and mark the first face-to-face meeting between government representatives and a delegation heavily made up of rebels. Representatives of Syria's rebel factions sat on one side of a room at the luxury Rixos Hotel in the capital, Astana, while government delegates sat on the other side. The talks are expected to focus on consolidating a shaky cease-fire that has been in place since Dec. 30. ___ 9:30 a.m. Talks between Syrian rebel factions and the government they are trying to overthrow are set to begin in Kazakhstan. Monday's meeting will be the first between Syria's warring sides in a year and is expected to focus on consolidating a shaky cease-fire that has been in place since Dec. 30. The talks are sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran whose representatives in the Kazakh capital of Astana have held meetings with delegates from both sides late into the evening Sunday and early on Monday. The opposition delegation, which arrived in Astana on Sunday, is made up of about a dozen rebel figures led by Mohammad Alloush of the powerful Army of Islam rebel group. The Syrian government has sent its U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, and military delegates. NEW DELHI: With digital transactions gaining traction, the government is mulling setting up of a separate regulator for enabling electronic payment system in the country as well as regulate transaction charges. While the Ratan Watal committee on digital payments suggested that the government makes regulation of payments independent from the function of central banking, sources said the RBI is not very keen on giving up the regulation on Payment systems. Official sources said that RBI, as a banking regulator, frames policies to benefit banks and not enforcement of competition and innovation objectives in conduct of firms in the payment industry. "So far, regulations are becoming bank focused. If there is a separate regulator, the focus would be on ease of transaction and rationalisation of cost. Hence, there is a case for setting up of an authority for enabling electronic payment system in India," an official source told PTI. The Reserve Bank, in its representation before the Watal Committee, has stated that regulation of payments should be with the central bank because regulating money supply is an integral function of a central bank and includes maintaining the confidence in money as a means of exchange. Explaining the need for a separate regulator, the source said that electronic payment does not entail exchange of physical cash and it does not involve deposit taking or credit offtake or servicing of loans/deposits. "Payments can happen without banking. Payment regulation is different from banking regulation. RBI is not agreeing to it," the source said, adding the proposed regulator should have majority of its membership from businesses having direct familiarity with the payment process, or allied businesses. The Watal Committee, which submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month, weighed two options on how best regulation of electronic payments can be made independent from the function of central banking. The committee considered creation of a new payments regulator, or making the current Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) within RBI more independent. Sources said that RBI, as a regulator, is focusing more on the interest of banks rather than creation of a financial ecosystem and even after coming up with consultation paper on fixing MDR charges in March 2016, it has not been able to fix the charges. Read Also: Now Purchase Mutual Funds Via Freecharge BHIM Downloads Reach 1.1 Crore; 4 Banks On Board For Aadhaar-Based System Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vietnam on September 2-3, 2016. The visit was the first by an Indian Prime Minister after 15 years. Twelve agreements were signed during the visit which included cooperation in outer space, UN peacekeeping, avoidance of double-taxation, cyber security, information technology, information on white shipping and contract for procurement of offshore patrol vessels. Further, based on the strong relations which have been vindicated during the last 44 years of diplomatic relations and nine years of strategic partnership, both the countries agreed to elevate their current level of strategic partnership to a higher level. The relationship would be upgraded to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Vietnam currently enjoys with Russia and China. This is pertinent as it gives an official stamp to the mutual trust exhibited in our training and day-to-day dealings. With regard to the defence issue, there is no doubt that both the countries respect the recent Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea and they agree to the freedom of navigation on the high seas. To further strengthen the defence relationship, Prime Minister Modi extended a $500 million Line of Credit for purchase of defence equipment. The list of equipment to be procured is not exactly known but there is a high probability it could be frigates, submarines or the BrahMos missile. Vietnam during the visit signed a contract with L&T for purchase of four Offshore Patrol Vessels. In addition, Prime Minister Modi announced a grant of $5 million for the construction of an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. Further to assist surveillance, there will be cooperation in downloading images from outer space to provide real-time picture of activities in Vietnam's area of interest. Economic issues formed an important aspect of the visit. Enhancing bilateral economic engagement is a strategic objective. Both the countries would do their utmost to increase the bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2020. This would need immense efforts but can be achieved if both the countries enhance their business interactions and diversify their range of commercial activities. Further, there must be increased two-way investment especially by private investors of both countries. Prime Minister Modi especially sought contractual facilitation of Tata's Soc Tranh 1320 MW plant at the earliest. Both the countries would do their best to enhance exploration of oil and gas in the new blocks allotted for exploration. Connectivity between both the countries needs to be optimised. There is need for direct non-stop flights, dedicated shipping, and land connectivity to be optimised. This would automatically strengthen economic relations between the two countries. It was indeed creditable that both the countries exhibited the highest degree of cooperation in regional and international forums. Prime Minister Modi was grateful to Vietnam for consistently supporting India's candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council. It was further decided that India would support Vietnam's candidature for non-permanent seat for the term 2020-2021 and Vietnam would similarly support India's candidature for the same in 2021-2022. Overall, India and Vietnam relations moved to a higher trajectory during the visit. India and Vietnam enjoy strong strategic relations which emerged with the First Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence being signed in 1994, the formal Defence Protocol in 2000 and the Strategic Partnership in 2007. Ever since, we have an annual Strategic Defence Dialogue with the Indian Defence Secretary representing India. Considering the intensity of the bilateral relations, the upgradation of these talks to the Ministerial levels would commence. The Cam Ranh Bay has been often described as one of the jewels of Vietnam. The long protective seaward peninsula, natural inner and outer harbours form what many believe to be possibly the best deep water sea port facility in the entire world. There is also an air force base with excellent runways for state-of-the-art aircraft. The usage of these facilities by the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force would help India strengthen its strategic partnership and enable us to undertake actions to protect our assets in the South China Sea. The area is being quietly considered between the two countries. Based on Vietnam's requirements, India could provide Dornier surveillance aircraft, mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), upgraded T-72 tanks and indigenously manufactured artillery equipment once the same has proved trials and a few old ships of the Indian Navy. Vietnam is currently procuring Offshore Patrol Vessels with the line of credit offered. Vietnam is impressed with India's missile development and is keen to purchase the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos which could be used on land and sea. The issue merits serious consideration as there are no objections from the foreign joint developer. Vietnam is also keen that opportunity be accorded to train their scientists in missile technology and running of nuclear reactors. Vietnam admires the professional training of the Indian armed forces and looks forward to assistance in training in the following areas: Conversion training for SU-30 pilots of the Peoples Vietnam Air Force by the Indian Air Force Submarine crew training of the Peoples Vietnam Navy by the Indian Navy Training in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare with the Indian Army Training in English language Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang as also the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc were frank in strengthening defence relations with India. Vietnam would like to cooperate in the field of training as also gaining knowledge in the field of rocketry and missiles. It would be in India's interest to cultivate Vietnam and cooperate in strategic aspects to dissuade China from undertaking a misadventure. Vietnam is looking for cooperation with India in areas of outer space. It has already launched two satellites and is planning its own navigation satellites. Cooperation with India would be mutually beneficial to both the countries. India is also setting up receiving stations to enable Vietnam receive downloads from Indian Reconnaissance Satellites on the areas bound by the South China Sea. Vietnam, along with Japan, forms the two pillars of India's Act East Policy and New Delhi's partnership with Hanoi in the strategic domain is important to counter China's growing assertiveness in the region. The Modi government in India is accelerating measures to further strengthen the bonds of friendship. This would lead to better stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Read Also: New Legislation To Tighten H1B Visas To Foreign Techies Alibaba Becomes Worldwide Olympic Partner Through 2028 NEW DELHI: Industry body CII today said Indian companies are very much part of the fabric of America and stand ready to work with US President Donald Trump going forward. In a statement, Director General of CII Chandrajit Banerjee said in the last two decades, the US-India partnership has grown exponentially in a wide array of areas. Cooperation has produced valuable initiatives in areas like space, science and technology, homeland security, defence, cyber security, healthcare and prevention of infectious diseases, advanced manufacturing and so forth. Banerjee said that business has always been at the forefront of the bilateral relationship and has helped strengthen the strategic imperative. "As President Trump begins to implement his America First vision, we hope that the enormous mutual complementaries between our two economies are fully leveraged. "Indian companies are very much a part of the fabric of America and they stand ready to work with President Trump going forward," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said he looked forward to working with the new US President to further deepen the bilateral ties. Trump yesterday took over as the 45th President of the US. Read Also: New Legislation To Tighten H1B Visas To Foreign Techies Alibaba Becomes Worldwide Olympic Partner Through 2028 WASHINGTON: The India-US relationship is headed for the best days ahead under new President Donald Trump, his Indian-American supporters believe. "This is the beginning of a new era, new dawn of new (India-US) relationship," Indian-American Digvijay Singh 'Danny' Gaekwad from Florida told PTI. Having closely worked with Trump and his campaign during the grilling election campaign last year, Gaekwad, who is an hotelier and a first general successful entrepreneur, said. "With Trump becoming the president, a new India-US relationship will begin. This is one President in my lifetime, who has come on a national television and said I love India, I love Indians, I want to help India, I want to fight terrorism. If that is not enough then what is enough," said Gaekwad. "No President has ever said this on a national television at the election time. He is not afraid. He is the new breath in the time," he said adding that during the election campaign he had a chance to interact with Trump. "He understands India very well. I have not met a presidential candidate in my lifetime who knows about India, who has been to India and who understands India and who ever dared to say in the middle of a heated political debate that I love India and I love Hindus," said Gaekwad, who hails from the illustrious Gaekwad family of Baroda. He has been living in Florida for 29 years. Concurred Harry Walia, a member of the Trump's Asian American and Pacific Islanders Advisory Committee. "The relationship is going to be fantastic because we are natural allies. Trump has already made a statement that we are going to be best friends," he told PTI referring to the October Edison speech of the 45th president of the United States. With Trump inside the White House, Walia said is expects "a very open dialogue" between India and the US. "And it would be fruitful on defense side and economic side. Trump recognises US relationship with India is very different than the rest of the countries that he has been mentioning. Because we bring talent, we are economic engines in America. We are a peaceful community. We are activist in mainstream and we do not talk trash to anyone. We contribute a lot to the American society," he said. "Under Trump, the US-India relationship would be far better than it has been under any other American president," said California-based K V Kumar. "He is a businessman. He is going to establish a good business relationship with India. And India will greatly benefit from his administration," Kumar said. A large number of Indian-Americans from across the country have gathered in Washington to participate in Trump's inauguration. Read Also: Indian Companies Very Much Part Of American Fabric: CII Jack Ma Joins Foundation Board Of Global Shapers Community MUMBAI: Use of India-made steel by the industry would help in sustainable growth of the sector, Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said today while asserting that the government is taking steps to make the country the world's second largest producer. "Use of 'Swadeshi' steel is the way forward not only for steel consumption but also for sustainable growth of the steel industry and economy," the minister said during the meeting of of National Steel Consumers' Council of the Steel Ministry here. Singh said that there is great potential for increasing steel consumption in the country. "Government of India's emphasis through Make in India and support to Swadeshi production offers huge opportunity to raise the domestic steel consumption," the minister said. He said that India's current per capita steel consumption stands only at 60 kg, which is very less as compared to the world average of 208 kg. Singh also said the Steel Ministry has started a campaign to boost steel consumption in country through encouraging all concerned ministries to use only India-made steel for infrastructure and construction projects of the government. In 2016, India emerged as the third largest steel producer in the world and the central government is taking all steps to make the country world's second largest steel producer, he said further. Representatives of MSME producers, integrated steel plants of private and public sector, machinery manufacturers and consumers of infrastructure, transport housing equipment sectors were present in the meeting. Singh stated that the support extended to the steel industry by way of various trade remedial measures in recent times have led to a significant reduction in imports and stabilisation of domestic market. Globally, trade protection by various governments is on the rise. Indian steel industry has to acquire the competitive edge by benchmarking with the best in the world, in order to be a global leader, the minister said in the meeting. Read Also: New Legislation To Tighten H1B Visas To Foreign Techies Alibaba Becomes Worldwide Olympic Partner Through 2028 Stepping into Hotel Imperial Vienna feels like taking a portal into the pasta past filled with glamorous royalty, glorious balls and brilliant musicians. And its no wonder you get that feeling, Hotel Imperial started life in 1863 as a palace built for the Prince of Wurttemberg and his wife. Only 10 years later it was transformed in to a luxury hotel in time for the universal exhibition and since than has become synonymous with grandeur and perfect service. Hotel Imperial would be our home in Vienna for the next three nights and its safe to say that we were blown away as soon as we entered the grand foyer. Huge glittering chandeliers dripped from the high ceilings, plush red velvet chairs and a grand piano set the stage; my friend Theresa and I already felt like princesses. Also lining the hallways were grand portraits, reminding visitors of the hotels historical past as a political and social hub. The hotel is included in The Luxury Collection and, as with some of the other hotels in the collection, what I loved most about this hotel was the intrinsic link to the citys past. Boasting a unique location on the famous Ringstrae near Musikverein Vienna (Viennese Music Association) it has been the temporary home for conductors and composers for the duration of the hotels history. Great names such as Brahms, Mahler and Bruckner were frequent visitors and Richard Wagner set up home here in 1875 playing music and composing all night long on the piano that he had set up in his salon. You can almost hear the beautiful music dancing through the corridors of this majestic hotel as you imagine its past. There are many wonderful anecdotes from the hotels history but one of my favourites was that Luciano Pavarotti asked to use the grand piano in the Imperial Hall to practice arias before his performance at the State Opera. With the utmost levels of service the concierge checked with the guests to see if they would mind but of course they were astonished and utterly enchanted. The foyer opens right into the glamorous 1873 HalleNsalon bar, but Ill tell you a little more about our time there in my next post. The Royal Staircase suitably covered by a red carpet leads the way for those famous feet to head upstairs to bed and once again a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. At the end of the staircase is the image of Emperor Francis Joseph I, who famously met with Prince Bismarck at the hotel in 1879. From the mezzanine level balcony you really take perspective of how lofty the hotel entrance way is. Actually the lobby used to be the driveway for horse-drawn carriages arriving to the hotel and where the Princes guests would alight from their transportation. It was only in 1912 that the cobble stones were covered in marble and the entrance way closed off, making the hotel even more private and discreet. The hotel has seen many changes over the years as continual face lifts and maintenance have kept the rooms looking fresh. The latest was completed in September 2014 with renovations to the ground floor; Cafe Imperial Wien and 1873 HalleNsalon have been given a spruce up and OPUS restaurant was created. The private dining rooms were all set up for a ball that day and I could just imagine how these rooms appeared 130 years ago, filled with beautiful ladies and elegant gentleman waltzing the night away. The gorgeous room pictured above, known now as Marmorsall, was actually once part of the horses stables. A careful restoration in keeping with the hotels history has given this a look of an imperial palace whilst incorporating modern amenities. The Festaal room with its beautiful frescoes and shimmering chandeliers is also fit for the grandest ball or banquet. But I have so much to tell you about this beautiful hotel that Im going to save the food and restaurant experiences for another post but for now I want to show you the bedrooms. At Hotel Imperial Vienna even the corridors are grand with full size portraits, elegant furnishings, high ceilings, marble pillars and royal red carpets leading everywhere. This area, known as The Belle Etage, features a painting of the Emperors wife, the beautiful Empress Elizabeth. With Mr S on a ski trip, this time I was with my friend Theresa for a girly getaway and what could be more perfect than two girls playing princesses in the magnificent Elisabeth suite. Named after the aforementioned Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the room was fittingly feminine and beautiful. The Empress, known to her family as Sisi, led a fascinating life and was married to the Emperor at just 16 when he chose her over her sister. She was a beautiful woman but hugely troubled and unhappy for much of her life, hers is a tragic story and her life has often been compared to Princess Dianas. Each one of the Elisabeth suites is different but I loved the blue wall paper and high ceilings in ours. A spacious bedroom area with floor to ceiling windows framed with silk curtains is connected to a separate salon via mirrored doors. Delicate sofas, a desk area, high ceilings, and oil paintings give the room that old world charm but the modern amenities such as a large flat screen TV bring you right back into the 21st century. A pink marble bathroom with Bulgari products and elegant monogramed bathrobes completed the picture. I loved the room and all the furnishings were beautiful and well-maintained, my only minor quibble was the bathroom was a little dated with a shower over the bath instead of stand alone. Treats awaited our arrival, including the world-famous Imperial Torte! Now Vienna is well-known for its coffee and cake culture, and trust me youll be seeing a lot more cake in my upcoming posts but we were excited to get our first taster as soon as we entered the room. The story goes that a kitchen apprentice created the Imperial Torte in honour of Emperor Franz Joseph I when the Hotel Imperial opened. The recipe is, of course, top-secret but a combination of chocolate, marzipan, almonds and cacao makes the perfect confection that has international demand. One thing that really sets the Hotel Imperial Vienna above the other luxury hotels in the city is the private butler service that is offered. As well as a packing and unpacking service, the butler is there to help with any other detail for your stay. Every day at around 4.30 he hand delivers treats on a silver platterthe first day it was savoury canapes and the second a selection of sweets. As you know, I love having a good nose around a hotel and we were thrilled to be given a tour of the hotels top suites. Our tour started with incredible split level maisonette suite. We were told that this room was due to be updated but it was incredibly beautiful as it was; soft pink tones, and a balcony with a view out to the city. A spiral staircase leads to the upper level where a grand parlour lies Next we moved on to an even grander option. There are six Imperial suites and each one is different, the one we were shown housed the hotels most valuable chandelier in a vast living area. As well as a gorgeous parquet floor, honestly the living area was so huge, I could imagine having a ball right here! I particularly loved the rooms red and gold colour palette which to me really expresses luxury. But Ive saved the best until lastquite possibly the grandest hotel suite Ive ever seen: the royal suite. These rooms were once the private apartments of Prince Phillip of Wurttemberg and they have housed royalty ever since. With seven metre high ceilings and the most exquisite decor, its no wonder that this room has been occupied by heads of state, artists and megastars. During our tour, the manager told us about the many celebrities that have stayed in the hotel from Michael Jackson, to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Charlie Chaplain and Madonna. But perhaps most prestigious of all, Englands Queen Elizabeth II stayed in this room in 1969, and waved to the crowd from the balcony. Apparently our dear queen was surprised that she would be residing at an ordinary hotel during her royal visit but the hotel clearly won her heart as she gave every single member of staff a gift on her departure. A bed truly fit for a queen! Youve probably noticed that every room at the Hotel Imperial has a chandelier but in the Royal Suite, even the bathroom has one! Its safe to say that I simply fell in love with Hotel Imperial Vienna. Not just for the incredible service and decor but because the history of the city vibrates from the very walls of the place. Hotel Imperial Vienna, A Luxury Collection Hotel Kaerntner Ring 16 Vienna 1015 Austria +431 50 11 00 PIN FOR LATER: We received two nights complimentary at Hotel Imperial Vienna on a bed and breakfast basis and one night at a media rate. Page Content Recently, the Council of Ministers hosted a New Years breakfast meeting to introduce key staff members to all ministers. The staff of the cabinets of the ministers, Secretaries General of the 7 Ministries, their replacement and their secretaries as well as the support unit of the Council of Ministers, the Secretariat of the Council, were invited and were introduced by the respective ministers. All Ministers, including the Minister Plenipotentiary, were present at the breakfast. Ms. Cassandra Janssen, Secretary General to the Council of Ministers welcomed the staff to the event. Ms. Janssen explained that the Council of Ministers deemed it necessary to organize such a special session for these introductions as team work is essential in order to execute the vision and goals of the ministers. Knowing who is who within and across ministries is therefore key for the proper functioning of Government. In general, the persons present welcomed the initiative and thanked the Council of Ministers for the gesture. In addition to the formal introductions, Prime Minister William Marlin took the opportunity to briefly provide basic information on the Governing Program to ensure that key players have a shared vision. In the near future additional information sessions throughout the organization in relation to the Governing Program will be organized. NIPA students under the leadership of Ms. Renata de Weever and Mr. Alexander Adoptie displayed their skills and catered for the breakfast. The staff present was served a healthy and hearty breakfast which included a mobile omelet station. The New Years breakfast meeting was conducted in the future area designated as the cafeteria of the new Government Administration Building. To access the newsletter, click on the link: http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNCGeneric_CA_01232017.pdf You can read Morning News Call Canada via TOPNEWS Canada page. If you would like to receive this newsletter through your email, please register at: https://forms.thomsonreuters.com/MorningNewsCall/ ECONOMIC EVENTS 0830 Wholesale trade mm for Nov: Expected 0.5 pct; Prior 1.1 pct COMPANIES REPORTING RESULTS Jan 23: Brookfield Canada Office Properties (BOX_u). Expected Q4 earnings of 74 Canadian cents per share Centerra Gold Inc (CG). Expected Q4 earnings of 25 cents per share Patient Home Monitoring Corp (PHM). Expected Q4 loss of 3 Canadian cents per share Jan 24: AGF Management Ltd (AGFb). Expected Q4 earnings of 13 Canadian cents per share Canadian National Railway Co (CNR). Expected Q4 earnings of C$1.21 per share Metro Inc (MRU). Expected Q1 earnings of 58 Canadian cents per share CORPORATE EVENTS No major events are scheduled for the day. EXDIVIDENDS AltaGas Ltd (ALA). Amount C$0.18 Cogeco Communications Inc (CCA). Amount C$0.43 Pembina Pipeline Corp (PPL). Amount C$0.16 For Morning News Call U.S. -- a preview of market-moving news for the trading day: - type US/MNC in a news browser if you are an Eikon user, or type RT/US/MNC in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For The Day Ahead -- a recap of the day's events and preview of the next trading day: - type DAY/US in a news browser if you are an Eikon user or type RT/DAY/US in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For an index of our newsletters click on By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Jan 23 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - President Trump starts his first week with a packed schedule - from pushing through his slate of cabinet nominees to a raft of executive orders and setting the direction on foreign trade. http://on.wsj.com/2kihKcr - U.S. authorities are investigating whether Yahoo's two massive data breaches should have been reported sooner to investors. http://on.wsj.com/2kivCU5 - Counter-intelligence agents have investigated communications that President Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn had with Russian officials. http://on.wsj.com/2kirkMx - The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russian officials said they were making good progress on their pledges to cut back crude-oil production and raise global prices. http://on.wsj.com/2kitjAk - United Continental Holdings Inc. had a computer issue on Sunday evening that caused it to ask the Federal Aviation Administration to put into effect a "ground stop" for its arriving and departing flights. http://on.wsj.com/2kimzCK - A re-trial is slated to begin on Monday in a financial-fraud case brought against the firm Dewey & LeBoeuf's former executives, more than a year after an earlier attempt to place criminal blame on the one-time leaders ended in a mistrial. http://on.wsj.com/2kiuJe8 - Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro on Sunday named a long-time ruling Socialist Party lawmaker as the new head of the central bank as the oil-rich nation tries to turn around a devastating economic crisis. http://on.wsj.com/2kivvrO (Compiled by Vishal Sridhar in Bengaluru) Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. The Proper Procedure Poor Richard's Retirement Polar Bear Facts & Myths Polar Bears: Outstanding Survivors of Climate Change. Pilgrim's Progress Trump The Establishment Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. 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Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. 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Paul Dundon, the managing director of Direct Health Solutions, estimates $54 million will be lost from the Australian economy on Friday. Employer groups are concerned many Australians will take a sickie on Friday and head to the beach as part of an extended Australia Day long weekend. "Sick leave will rise from an average of 3.5 per cent of workers each day to 5 per cent when there is an opportunity to extend the Australia Day break to a long weekend," Mr Dundon said. "This increase represents a jump in sick leave of 42 per cent compared to the average. A firefighter working to control a blaze was mocked by a group of men who snatched his keys and threw them into the bushes. The captain of the Sutton volunteer brigade approached the group on Saturday evening after he saw them doing "burnouts" near the spot where a fire started on Wednesday. "The local station were out there mopping up the fire near Sutton," Southern Tablelands Superintendent Peter Alley said. "The captain noticed a big cloud of smoke out near towards the original fire." Prima Biomed Ltd. PBMD announced that it has dosed the first patient in the enlarged randomized phase of the phase IIb study AIPAC (Active Immunotherapy PAClitaxel) on its most advanced pipeline candidate, IMP321, (based on the LAG-3 immune control mechanism) for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. The companys shares improved 2% after the news. Primas share price movement in the past one year shows that the company has underperformed the Zacks classified Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry. Specifically, the stock declined 19.3% during this period, than the industrys fall of 4%. Coming back to the latest news, the study followed the Dose Escalation Committees approval of a 30 mg dosage level on IMP321 on Dec 30, 2016. Patients in the study will be randomized to receive IMP321 in combination with Celgene Corporations CELG Abraxane (paclitaxel), or Abraxane plus placebo. We remind investors that in Dec 2016, the company reported positive interim data from the AIPAC study that evaluated IMP321-Abraxane combination in patients with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. Initial data demonstrated that 6mg and 30mg doses of IMP321, in combination with Abraxane, was found to be safe and well tolerated with no drug-related serious adverse events. Prima expects to provide additional data on safety and efficacy of the candidate by mid-2017. Meanwhile, IMP321 is being evaluated, in combination with Merck & Co., Inc.s MRK PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda, in a phase I study (TACTI-mel) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma. The company noted that many large pharmaceutical partners are developing LAG-3 products including antibodies for immune response modulation in autoimmunity and cancer. Currently, Prima is developing an agonist of LAG-3 IMP761 for autoimmune disease. Pre-clinical development on the candidate is expected to be initiated this year. Going forward, we expect investors to remain focus on further updates by the company on its lead candidate, IMP321. Story continues Prima BioMed Ltd. Price and Consensus Prima BioMed Ltd. Price and Consensus | Prima BioMed Ltd. Quote Currently, Prima carries a Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy). A Key Pick in the Sector A better-ranked stock in the health care sector is Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. SCMP with 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%. Zacks' Top Investment Ideas for Long-Term Profit How would you like to see our best recommendations to help you find todays most promising long-term stocks? Starting now, you can look inside our portfolios featuring stocks under $10, income stocks, value investments and more. These picks, which have double and triple-digit profit potential, are rarely available to the public. But you can see them now. Click here >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Merck & Co. (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report Celgene Corp. (CELG): Free Stock Analysis Report Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SCMP): Free Stock Analysis Report Prima BioMed Ltd. (PBMD): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The ACT election result is being challenged in the Supreme Court, where a candidate who was barred from standing wants the result in Gungahlin declared void. It is the first time in the ACT's history that an election has been challenged in the courts. Mohammad Hussain and his wife Bazlun Bilkis. Businessman Mohammad Munir Hussain says he was wrongly shut out of the race. He wanted to stand as an independent candidate in the October territory election, but his nomination was rejected by the ACT Electoral Commission, which said he did not have the required number of signatures on his nomination form. Nominations must be signed by at least 20 voters on the ACT electoral roll in the Gungahlin electorate of Yerrabi. Matt Pridham can still taste licorice bullets and the heat of a hot meal, but not much else. "How crap's that?" he says of one enduring imprint of the severe brain injury he suffered when his head clashed with the footpath in Civic, early on a September morning in 2013. On the other hand, the lasting positive in Mr Pridham's life is his fiance Danni Poulet. They met three months before the injury; next January, they're getting married at the Canberra Yacht Club. Ms Poulet, 25, also acts as a carer, a role she shares with Mr Pridham's mother, Elizabeth, and she admits life has not been easy. Eight months ago, Mr Pridham moved out of the family home and into a house in Gordon - victims of crime compensation and insurance paid for the deposit - with Ms Poulet and their miniature foxxie Millie. A decorated Bungaree netballer accused of defrauding the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation of hundreds of thousands of dollars has been charged. As reported in The Ballarat Courier, accountant Kelly Howard, 43, appeared briefly before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday to face a single charge of theft of almost $300,000 from the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation. The matter was set down for a filing hearing before magistrate Frank Jones. Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation manages Aboriginal heritage values and culture within Wadawurrung country. Credit:Ballarat Couier The court heard Howard was charged by Ballarat CIU detectives on January 10. Howard's lawyer, Simon Gillespie-Jones, told Mr Jones his client had moved from the Ballarat region and wanted the matters transferred to Echuca. The manoeuvrings to take control of Hunter Hall International stepped up a notch late Monday with a second takeover bid being lodged which further complicates the likely outcome. In a statement to the ASX late on Monday, Pinnacle Investment Management said it will offer $1.50 a share for Hunter Hall International, the fund management company. Peter Hall is to receive a second offer for his shares in Hunter Hall Credit:Peter Braig It has also flagged it will raise that offer to $2 a share if it wins control of the company. Soul Pattinson has offered $1 a share to shareholders after it recently bought a 19.9 per cent stake from the founder, Mr Peter Hall. Mr Hall had undertaken to accept the Soul Pattinson's offer for his remaining 24 per cent stake in the company in the absence of a higher offer. There's an "exciting new world of work" out there, and not only is Sarah Moran embracing it, she's encouraging others to do the same. Ms Moran, 32, is chief executive of Girl Geek Academy, which builds technical and entrepreneurial skills among women. She said the lines between traditional jobs and entrepreneurship were "blurring further and further". When a school careers counsellor recently asked her about the future of work, Ms Moran told her: "You get a job or you make a job, and it's totally OK to bounce in between." It's what she and her four Girl Geek Academy co-founders have done. With backgrounds in fields including digital marketing, robotics, engineering and gaming, they started the organisation as a side project while working full time, and they now run it remotely. If comic books have taught us anything, it's that punching Nazis is good. And Nazis themselves approve, what with their whole "that which does not kill me only makes me stronger" bit. But then somebody goes and punches a Nazi, conveniently standing in front of a television camera, and all of a sudden nobody knows anything any more. The putative Nazi in this case was a floppy-haired fascist by the name of Richard Spencer who coined the term alt-right. He was talking to the ABC's own Zoe Daniel and most people who saw the video of him getting elbow-smashed in the head would not know that he'd been hit just a few moments earlier, by the same masked avenger. Daniel saw the initial assault and quickly grabbed Spencer for an interview about the deteriorating situation on the streets around them. Police were starting to fire tear gas and flash bangs to break up the contending mobs. Donald Trump is loathed and derided in elite liberal circles in the United States (and elsewhere in the world) as a crude populist with an overblown sense of his intelligence. It's a simplistic assessment, but one which may have acquired additional currency after Mr Trump's intemperate outburst against the US media on Saturday. In a speech at CIA headquarters a day after his inauguration, Mr Trump accused the press of "lying" and called them "among the most dishonest human beings on earth". His extraordinary denunciation followed media claims that the crowd at Friday's inauguration was smaller than that which had attended Barack Obama's swearing-in in 2009. Aerial photographs of the two events appeared to give credence to the media claims, but White House press secretary Sean Spicer accused journalists of "deliberate false reporting", suggesting "this was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration. Period. Both in person and around the globe". Mr Spicer said temporary white flooring on the National Mall had accentuated spaces in the crowd, while the use of magnetometers by the Secret Service meant the main spectator areas filled up less quickly than it did four years ago. However, the Secret Service later denied having used the devices, while it transpired that the same white flooring had been there four years ago at Mr Obama's inauguration. Mr Trump's campaign team grumbled endlessly last year about what it alleged was the mainstream media's habit of downplaying attendances at his rallies (while exaggerating the numbers who turned out to hear Hillary Clinton speak). Some sensitivity about spectator numbers at Mr Trump's inauguration was therefore very likely. But whatever the extent to which the liberal media downplayed his popularity with ordinary voters, it was never likely Mr Trump's inauguration would be a bigger draw than of Mr Obama an outstanding orator whose election as America's first president of colour was epoch-making. The Andrews government bail law reform response to the Bourke Street tragedy needs to focus on reducing risk of offending rather than increasing the already record number of people on remand in the Victorian prison system for the sake of it. While Andrews is right to move to ensure that only lawyers, as opposed to bail justices, hear bail applications we need to examine how we can better support people who are on bail and for those whom we refuse to bail, how the prison system treats them. Floral tribute at Bourke Street Mall on Sunday night. Credit:Eddie Jim It is worth remembering that in Victoria there are record numbers of people warehoused in prisons around 6500 and the number of people who are detained because they have been refused bail has increased dramatically since 2012 courtesy of a series of laws that have made it increasingly difficult to gain bail. Almost 30 per cent of that total prison population are remand prisoners who, according to Ombudsman Deborah Glass in a 2015 report, are getting no access to mental health and behavioural programs that might assist them on release. He listed scientific achievements of 2016. China finished building the world's biggest radio telescope, half a kilometre across; launched the world's first quantum satellite, with the aim of pioneering unhackable communications; successfully orbited its "dark matter" detection satellite; tracked its manned space mission. Notably, in his promise of prosperity he included not only the Chinese people but a world audience: "The Chinese people have always believed that the world is a commonwealth," said Xi, speaking from a lectern. "We Chinese not only aspire for good living for ourselves, but also hope people in other parts of the world lead a decent life." One of Beijing's specific economic offerings to other nations is participation in its ambitious "One Belt, One Road" plan, redolent of the ancient Silk Road. This is to link Asia to Europe by land the belt but also by sea, a maritime "road". It's planned to involve multi-trillion dollar infrastructure investments spanning 60 nations. It's a Xi signature and he made sure to mention it. He followed this performance by travelling to the Swiss town of Davos, where the high priests of globalisation gather every year to fret, fashionably, about the state of the world. It was the first time in the 45-year history of the World Economic Forum that a Chinese president had attended Davos. Trump was absent. It was "Hamlet without the prince," according to a commentator with Britain's Guardian newspaper. "The world is looking to China," said the founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, in introducing Xi to the stage last week. The Chinese leader did not disappoint. With Trump's America promising to impose drastic trade restrictions, Xi pledged to his international audience that "China will keep its doors wide open". Giving substance to his rhetoric, officials in Beijing simultaneously announced new measures to open China's mining, infrastructure, services and technology sectors to foreign investors. With Trump announcing America's withdrawal from the market-opening TPP trade agreement, Xi declared that China would "vigorously foster" an "opening-up for common development". China would press ahead with two big international trade deals, both of which, incidentally, include Australia. Xi again addressed his signature plan, One Belt, One Road: "Chinese companies have made over $US50 billion of investment and launched a number of major projects in the countries along the routes," he told the Davos elite. As the US turns inwards, China is reaching out to the world. With Trump scorning the Paris climate treaty, Xi described it as a "hard won agreement" that "all signatories should stick to". The former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt commented: "There is a vacuum when it comes to global economic leadership, and Xi Jinping is clearly aiming to fill it. With some success." Trump drove home the contrast with his inaugural address: "From this moment on, it's going to be America First," the newly minted president said. "Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength," oblivious to the searing lesson of Smoot-Hawley, the US protectionist blunder that helped turn the 1930s downturn into the Great Depression. It fell to the leader of the Chinese Communist Party to make the case for open markets: "Pursuing protectionism," said Xi, "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." The problem wasn't globalisation, said Xi, but how best to manage it to make sure that the benefits are shared fairly. In the competition for influence with the other governments of the world, the contrast between Trump and Xi is reminiscent of the Aesop's fable where the north wind and the sun compete to see who is stronger. The test is to see which of them can take the cloak from a traveller walking in the countryside below. The howling north wind buffets him but the traveller only draws his cloak more tightly around his shoulders. In the fable, the beaming sun takes his turn, shining warmly until the traveller removes the cloak. Trump is an angry north wind of threats and bluster; Xi is the benign sun promising prosperity. Of course, China's PR job cannot be taken at face value. It remains a repressive dictatorship that continues to intimidate its neighbours. Its economy recently has been growing not in the rich loam of private entrepreneurship but in the poor soil of government stimulus. America's institutions are strong enough that even Trump will not be able to destroy the country altogether. But we are seeing a momentous contest as America retreats from the world and China embraces it. And governments everywhere weigh their options. Peter Hartcher is international editor. In an abrupt about-face that has shocked homeless services, last Thursday Lord Mayor Robert Doyle proposed new laws making it illegal to sleep on Melbourne's streets. "I welcome any move by police to bring an end to what has become a blight on our city," he said. Yet the day before, he'd sensibly said the opposite: "There are cities around the world where they simply bundle homeless people up and ship them out. I'd hate to think that we were ever that sort of city." What's behind his sudden change of heart? Signs point to intense pressure from senior police, disgruntled city traders and tabloid media, who've been vocal about Melbourne's visible homelessness problem. A mother and child pass the homeless camp along Flinders Street. Credit:Joe Armao, Fairfax Media. Criminalising rough sleeping is a disastrous idea: misguided, dangerous and doomed to fail. It assumes rough sleepers have viable alternatives. But they don't our homelessness crisis is real. Despite new funding announced in November, Victoria still has a chronic lack of affordable long-term housing. We have 22,000 people homeless and 33,000 on the public housing wait list. Last year a City of Melbourne survey found 247 people sleeping rough around the CBD, a 74 percent increase since 2014. Experts say banning rough sleeping would simply shift the problem elsewhere, unjustly punish vulnerable people, and impose a huge burden on police and courts. It would also disconnect rough sleepers from support services, exacerbate stress, drug use and isolation, and may force people into dangerous housing situations for example, back with violent partners. Bernie Sanders President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Monday effectively killing the landmark trade agreement was met with praise and dismay that did not fit neatly along partisan lines. Some progressive lawmakers touted Trump's decision to back out of the 12 nation deal, which needed congressional ratification before being implemented. "I am glad the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead and gone," Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said in a statement moments after Trump made his executive order official. "For the last 30 years, we have had a series of trade deals including the North American Free Trade Agreement, permanent normal trade relations with China and others which have cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and caused a race to the bottom which has lowered wages for American workers." Sanders, who sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, said he would be "delighted" to work with Trump on new trade policy, so long as it helps "American workers." Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a progressive Democrat, praised the move as well, calling it "the first necessary step in overhauling our trade policy." "I stand ready to support Ohio workers by working with the Trump Administration to renegotiate NAFTA, put American workers ahead of corporate profits, and create jobs," he said in a statement. Trump had also pledged to sign an executive order to renegotiate NAFTA Monday. On TPP, Trump had called it "a rape of our country" during the campaign, and he had promised to pull out of the deal for months. On Monday, he told the White House press pool the move is a "great thing for the American worker." The agreement was the cornerstone of President Barack Obama's planned "pivot to Asia" in foreign policy. Dan DiMicco, who led Trump's trade transition team, said in a statement that the deal "should not be resurrected" now that the president pulled out. Story continues But while progressive senators came out quickly in favor of the move, one of the strongest rebukes of the move came from Sen. John McCain of Arizona. The Arizona Republican called the move "a serious mistake." "President Trumps decision to formally withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for Americas economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region," he said. "This decision will forfeit the opportunity to promote American exports, reduce trade barriers, open new markets, and protect American invention and innovation. It will create an opening for China to rewrite the economic rules of the road at the expense of American workers. And it will send a troubling signal of American disengagement in the Asia-Pacific region at a time we can least afford it." "Abandoning TPP is the wrong decision," he continued. "Moving forward, it is imperative that America advances a positive trade agenda in the Asia-Pacific that will keep American workers and companies competitive in one of the most economically vibrant and fastest-growing regions in the world." Many mainstream Republicans and economists were in favor of the agreement. Prior to the election, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who sought the Republican Party's presidential nomination in this cycle, was tapped by Obama to help promote the deal and get Congress to pass the agreement. The National Taxpayers Union, a conservative taxpayers advocacy organization, also said Trump's move to withdraw from the agreement was not the best decision. "President Trump should re-engage in TPP negotiations while pursuing these pro-growth goals and resist a move toward protectionism," NTUs Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold said in a statement. "Further, as the president reexamines NAFTA, he should strive to update and modernize the agreement in a manner that reduces the taxes and burdens that impede international commerce." The decision was also met with skepticism from those in other countries involved in the multi-lateral deal. Roland Paris, a former foreign policy adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, went as far as saying the decision to dip out of TPP considered by some to be a renegotiation of NAFTA as both Canada and Mexico were involved in the deal was a huge win for China. "Historians will look back at US cancellation of TPP as a major milestone in America's retreat from global leadership," he tweeted. "Big winner: China." NOW WATCH: These are Stratfor's chilling predictions for 2017 More From Business Insider From the outset of the Cold War to the war on terrorism, US leaders have tended to see their country's calling of global leadership in moral terms, a sacred trust that only America can truly fulfil. In the past, and certainly since the end of World War Two, American presidents have used these occasions to offer a version of the national myth, the idea that the United States has a special mission, a divine providence, to spread its values to the rest of the world. There is a direct line from John F. Kennedy's commitment in 1961 to "pay any price" and "bear any burden" to ensure the "survival and success of liberty" to George W. Bush's declaration in his first inaugural in 2001 which declared that America's faith in freedom and democracy was now a "seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations". If the speech had its own rhetorical flourish it was relentlessly channelled into bestowing on the promises of the campaign trail the legitimacy of the presidential voice. Here was a new commander-in-chief keeping faith with those that elected him, chiselling the new populism into the annals of American history. Most analysts of President Trump's inaugural address , especially those in the United States, have stressed its pointed preference for the strident, pungent messages he used to such devastating effect in his run for the Oval Office rather than the soaring oratory used by his predecessors. Donald Trump has never identified himself wholeheartedly with the tradition of American exceptionalism. Credit:AP Few Presidents in living memory have challenged this nationalist orthodoxy: fewer still have done so in an inaugural address. When Trump spoke on the Capitol steps of a "glorious destiny" for his country, he was not talking about American exceptionalism or military adventurism abroad, but about his desire to revitalise the domestic economy, to deliver for the "forgotten people" who swept him to power. Similarly, his idea of an America "winning again" was a clarion call to bring back jobs and growth, not the spoils of war, and it was most certainly not a cry for the export of American liberty. To be sure, Trump did pronounce a vision of an America that would "shine as an examplefor everyone to follow". But this was pitched first and foremost at the home front. It should have come as no surprise that in his inaugural address Trump did not summon forth the American national myth. As the Republican nominee, he ran hard against this deep current of the American national experience. Unlike his Democrat opponent, Hilary Clinton, and many of his Republican challengers, Trump did not speak the language of the Pax Americana. He did not call forth, as did Clinton, the idea of the US as the world's "indispensable nation". There was no reaching back for George Washington, for Thomas Jefferson or Abraham Lincoln. His vision of the past has always been about an America that had wilted under the assault of globalisation and its unevenly distributed profits. And so it was in his inaugural address. Herein lies a key difference in Trump to many of the presidents that have come before him. So much of the talk about the threat he poses to the post-war liberal international order his seeming desire to trash alliances and dismantle trading regimes has missed the point that Trump himself has never identified himself wholeheartedly with the tradition of American exceptionalism that underpins it. True, he initially supported the Iraq war, but his scathing criticism of it during the campaign resonated with an American public genuinely fatigued with the blood and treasure Washington has expended overseas. One of the more emphatic lines in his inaugural was that "we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone". From the podium, the crowd really truly did look yuge. Bigly. So it wasn't actually Donald Trump trying to lie, at least not in the first instance. That's the explanation Keith Still has for Trump's delusion that there were millions of people at his inauguration. As a crowd science analyst for almost 30 years, Still has been analysing crowd numbers for all that time. From the podium, he says, Trump could only see the high-density crowd right in front of him. "He had no vision . . . the way people pack these spaces there is no way you have depth perception of how the space is being occupied," he said. Those who occupied higher vantage points along the Washington Memorial had a better sense of the crowd. "From where he stood, Trump sees a high-density crowd, eye-level with the mall." Stories about marches are often filled with the passion of those who rallied but there is nearly always a hitch. And that's the claims about how many people marched. I was at the Sydney Women's March on Saturday, running in and out from the back of the march up to the beginning, trying to get a feeling of how many people turned up. A police officer on the side of the march told me he thought it was about 2000, a march organiser said 10,000. Australia will attempt to salvage what is left of the moribund Trans-Pacific Partnership after US President Donald Trump used his first full day of business to formally withdraw from the free trade deal, as he had long promised. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull indicated the 11 remaining countries could look to include China as a possible replacement for the US, the world's largest economy, as he mounted a strong defence of free trade on Tuesday. "It's a great shame [but] it's not unexpected": Trade Minister Steve Ciobo. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Certainly there is the potential for China to join the TPP," Mr Turnbull said, noting he had "active discussions" with other leaders, including Japanese PM Shinzo Abe on Monday, about resuscitating the doomed trade agreement. Stressing that Australians were more dependent on trade than Americans, the PM said other nations could "make whatever judgments they wish" but "Australian trade policy is written in Canberra in the interests of Australian jobs". The peak body representing Australian universities has urged the Turnbull government not to pursue a "dramatic overhaul" of the nation's higher education system as it prepares to legislate a new round of university reforms. Universities Australia, in its submission for the May budget, also urges the government to abandon its proposed $3.2 billion in cuts to university funding because there is "no defensible case" for such a reduction. Universities Australia, led by chief executive Belinda Robinson, is urging the government to abandon its proposed higher education funding cuts. Credit:Daniel Munoz The government last year released an options paper for higher education reform including proposals for a new tier of "flagship courses" with deregulated fees, uncapping postgraduate student places and recouping HECS debts from deceased estates. A panel of experts is providing advice on reform and the government plans to introduce a new package of legislation by the middle of the year. Ashley Donnert was unsure what to expect Saturday before she arrived for the Women's March in Wichita, Kansas. And she was a bit nervous; in her deep-red home state, where pro-Trump slogans and merchandise are a common sight, she is largely outnumbered in her objection to President Donald Trump. What she found were hundreds, if not thousands, of smiling marchers, chanting as they carried homemade signs demanding equal rights for women and protesting the president. "It was amazing. I was not expecting a turnout like that in Wichita," said Donnert, 27. "It was a day of hope. And I hadn't really felt that in a while." The record-breaking participation in women's marches across the country on Saturday has drawn attention to the sharp opposition facing Trump across liberal American cities, which pushed Democrat Hillary Clinton to a strong popular-vote victory against him even though he won in the decisive electoral college. The 20-fold increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism in the past 30 years is due to clinicians diagnosing less severe autism in children, a study has found. And the so-called "epidemic" is putting pressure on the public purse, potentially risking the sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. A study of more than 1200 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders which encompasses a range of behavioural symptoms - in Western Australia found no evidence of more children being born with autism than in the past. Professor Andrew Whitehouse, the head of autism research at Perth's Telethon Kids, said there had been a clinical shift towards diagnosing autism in children with less severe behavioural symptoms. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. Credit:Daniel Munoz Ms Berejiklian was speaking alongside Finance Minister Dominic Perrottet, who was elected deputy Liberal leader on Monday and is expected to become Treasurer in a reshuffle. Mr Perrottet has advocated scrapping residential stamp duty in favour of a broad-based land tax as one affordability solution. Asked about this, Ms Berejiklian said it was "not my preference." Ms Berejiklian said housing supply was "the best way to address housing affordability" but that the government "needs to do more". "That is the biggest issue people raise with me in Sydney; it's the biggest concern people have across the state," she said. However, she also pledged to be "open-minded and seeking advice of people outside the government, outside the bureaucracy, outside elected officials to support us in that". In a prepared speech, Ms Berejiklian outlined two major influences that will determine the type of premier she will be: her Armenian migrant parents and public education. Ms Berejiklian's father, Krikor, was a boilermaker who worked on the Sydney Opera House; her mother, Arsha, a nurse. "They made us believe we could be anything we aspired to be," Ms Berejiklian said, referring to herself and her two sisters. "That's certainly what I bring to the job today." On public education, Ms Berejiklian noted that while she was born in Sydney, when she started school she couldn't speak English. She paid tribute to her teachers who "saw something in me and encouraged it". "That's why you'll have, in me, the strongest supporter of [the Gonski education funding reforms]," she said. "Because I know what a public education can do for somebody. And if I didn't have access to that education, I wouldn't be standing here today". Ms Berejiklian, who is single and has no children, was asked how prepared she was for questions such as those put to former prime minister Julia Gillard. "I say, take me as you see me," she said. "I'm someone who's always been myself. Not all of us can plan how our life turns out. I'm a very happy person. "The closest people in my life are my family. I'm not going to judge anybody on their personal circumstances. I'm here to govern for everybody. And I hope that people judge me on my merits and on what I can do." Ms Berejiklian has been reviewing some of the Baird government's more contentious policies. It is unclear which policies are in the spotlight but those that have caused controversy include forced council amalgamations, lockout laws for licensed premises and the proposed privatisation of the Land and Property Information service. Ms Berejiklian said she was comfortable with the current situation with the lockout laws. On council mergers, she said she was open to discussions with the nationals, who are pushing to halt further amalgamations. On fresh policy directions, Ms Berejiklian said: "there are some things that I would like to talk to my colleagues about. "To suggest that everything's on the table wouldn't be an accurate description, but to suggest that I would listen on issues that obviously are causing angst for people of course I will do that." Ms Berejiklian would not be drawn on a forthcoming reshuffle but said appointments would be made "on merit". Labor leader Luke Foley said that Ms Berejiklian would inherit the premiership at a time of immense challenge and called on her to divert more of the state's surpluses toward key services. A man has been charged after he was allegedly found with 22 balloons of heroin on him near Centennial Park, in the city's east, on Sunday. Trent Chapman, 38, from Ambarvale in south-west Sydney, was searched as he sat in the passenger seat of a purple RAV4 parked on Martin Road, Centennial Park, on Sunday morning. Part of the alleged drug haul. Credit:NSW Police Media Officers from the Police Transport Command noticed the car while they were patrolling a nearby bus interchange on Anzac Parade. They spoke to the driver and the passenger before searching Mr Chapman. A sailor who sparked a massive air and sea search off Sydney's northern beaches told authorities he swam to shore after falling off his yacht, and then caught a taxi home, oblivious to the massive operation that had been launched to find him. Police on Tuesday are expected to interview the man, whose yacht was discovered floating about 18 kilometres out to sea off Barrenjoey Headland just after 4pm on Monday. The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crew took this photo of the abandoned yacht off the Sydney coast. Credit:Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter A passing vessel raised the alarm after discovering the seven-metre Etchells yacht, which appeared to have no one on board. A NSW Police spokeswoman said a Marine Area Command vessel went out to the yacht, and confirmed no one was on board. A Sydney council is lobbying electricity provider Ausgrid to pay for the replanting of "several thousand" trees and consolidate its powerlines after the company's tree trimming contractors damaged as much as 25 per cent of the area's trees. Trees were trimmed by up to three metres during pruning undertaken last year, according to a spokeswoman for the Inner West Council, which has previously had similar clashes with the company. Trees along Renwick Street in Marrickville pruned by Ausgrid last week. Credit:Jacqueline Yetzotis "The so-called 'pruning' of our street trees by Ausgrid amounted to vandalism of our natural heritage," Labor MP for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said. Ausgrid has offered to undertake a "joint tree replacement program", under which the company would remove the trees and the council would be responsible for their replacement. By Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng BEIJING (Reuters) - Russia overtook Saudi Arabia in 2016 to became China's biggest crude oil supplier for the first year ever, customs data showed on Monday, boosted by robust demand from independent Chinese "teapot" refineries. Russian shipments surged nearly a quarter over 2015 to about 1.05 million barrels per day (bpd), the data showed, with Saudi Arabia coming in a close second with 1.02 million bpd, up 0.9 percent in 2016 versus the previous year. China is the world's second-largest oil buyer and the fastest-growing major importer. While Saudi Arabia counts China's state oil firms as backbone clients through long-term supply contracts, China's independent refineries - nicknamed "teapots" due to their smaller processing capacity - saw Russia as a more flexible supplier. For the teapot plants, authorised to import crude oil for the first time in late 2015, shipments from Russia's eastern ports are easier to process, coming in smaller cargo sizes at a closer proximity. Russia may be able to maintain the top spot in 2017 as it expands exports of its East Siberian-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline blend crude. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is set to shoulder the lion's share of supply cuts agreed to last year by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers. "OPEC cuts means Gulf producers take a hit in terms of market share, even though most of their cuts are to Europe and US ...Russia has an ESPO expansion coming up as well as supplies via Kazakhstan earmarked for China," said Michal Meidan of consultancy Energy Aspects. State-run Saudi Aramco is expected to look to a new refinery under state-run CNOOC to lift sales. For December, Russia also held the top spot with supplies up 4.8 percent from the same month a year earlier at 1.19 million bpd. Meanwhile Saudi sales dropped nearly 20 percent from a year earlier to 841,820 bpd, data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed. Total crude oil imports in December hit a record as refiners stepped up purchases ahead of a deal by oil-producing countries to reduce supply and bolster prices. For the whole of 2016, imports gained nearly 910,000 bpd over 2015, the strongest annual growth on record and mostly driven by teapot buying. Third-largest supplier Angola shipped 13 percent more crude last year versus 2015, while No. 4 seller Iraq recorded similar growth. [O/CHINA1] China also boosted imports from South American producers last year, with growth of 37.6 percent from Brazil and 26 percent from Venezuela, the data showed. Imports from Iran expanded nearly 18 percent last year to a record 624,260 bpd, as Chinese state oil firms started to lift barrels from their investments in Iranian oilfields in addition to term supply agreements. (Reporting by Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Christian Schmollinger) Sydney will celebrate a multicultural Australia over 17 days as the Lunar New Year makes way for the Year of the Rooster. The city's Lunar New Year festival will celebrate its 21st anniversary as the biggest outside of Asia. Sydney prepares to welcome the Year of the Rooster with lion dancers. Credit:Edwina Pickles "The Chinese New Year will be colourful, it will be noisy, it will be a lively celebration, and I hope Sydney will join us in this wonderful celebration," Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore said. The annual celebration will bring together residents and visitors to the "sights, sounds and tastes of Asia". The festivities will begin on January 23 and conclude February 12. A company has been fined more than $116,000 for deliberately underpaying foreign employees at two Japanese fast food outlets in Brisbane. WY Pty Ltd, was recently penalised in the Federal Circuit Court for underpaying a man and woman working as kitchen hands at the company's Hanaichi outlets at Westfield Chermside by $18,491 in 2015. Taiwanese employees were found to have been exploited at Brisbane restaurants. The Taiwanese employees, who speak limited English, were in Australia on 417 working holiday visas at the time and were employed after responding to advertisements on Mandarin-language websites. The company's director and part-owner Chong Yew Chua was also fined $20,000, while the company's former internal payroll and account manager, Ning Yuan Fu, was fined $7000. Nine months on from the botched 60 Minutes child snatch attempt that saw her thrown into a Lebanese jail, Sally Faulkner says she still has not had any contact with her estranged children. Speaking to KIIS 1065's Kyle & Jackie O show on Monday morning, the Brisbane mum issued another public plea to ex-husband Ali Elamine to let her back into their kids' lives. Sally Faulkner and her children. "I do not have and did not have any contact with them from the moment I said goodbye to them at the Beirut playground, at the McDonald's," she said. "When I said goodbye, that is literally the last time I have spoken to them." The desperate search for a dog that had been muzzled with tape in south east Queensland has been called off after a 12 day effort by the RSPCA and volunteers. Truck drivers first spotted the dog that had tape around its nose and mouth on January 9 as it ran across the Cunningham Highway, at Aratula south west of Brisbane, describing it as a skinny-looking canine believed to a German shepherd-cross. A number of truck drivers had called into the RSPCA letting them know about the muzzled dog. Credit:Sasha Woolley Concerned for the dog's welfare and ability to eat, drink and breath properly the RSPCA coordinated a search and rescue effort using baiting traps and the last confirmed sighting was on January 17, when the tape appeared to have moved down the dog's muzzle. Inspector Laurie Stageman praised the efforts of the volunteers and said the search wouldn't have been possible without their help. Tradie Jack Chadwick started an electrical services business last year in Werribee and hasn't looked back. He said 2016 was "my best financial year ever". Owner operator Jack Chadwick of Chadwick Electrical Contracting is juggling a new business and contract work. Credit:Chris Hopkins The 24-year-old is behind one of 7159 businesses that registered in the outer suburban growth hub, which is 32 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. Data from government agencies shows Werribee and Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne's west, Liverpool in Sydney's south-west and Toowoomba in Queensland emerged as the hottest hubs of new business activity in Australia. Crisis talks about homelessness have led to another puzzling move by lord mayor Robert Doyle. Cr Doyle has asked for bylaws to be re-drafted to meet a request from police for further move-on powers, following a meeting with Minister for Housing Martin Foley, Victoria Police and several homelessness support agencies at town hall on Monday. A mother and child pass the homeless people camp along Flinders Street. Credit:Joe Armao However, Cr Doyle has not confirmed which bylaws will be re-drafted, or to what effect. Fairfax Media understands the altered bylaws will apply to homeless people who are seen to refuse the help of support services. Those people will be forced to move on, should the bylaws be passed at the next council meeting. A suspicious fire has "gutted" a classroom at a Ballarat primary school just over a week before the start of the school year. Firefighters were called to reports of a portable classroom at St Aloysius School being "fully involved" at 1am, and it took them more an hour to put out the blaze. Fire gutted a portable classroom at St Aloysius School. Credit:Courtesy: The Courier A graduate teacher who spent hours during summer break preparing her 2017 classroom came to work on Monday to find every item destroyed. St Aloysius Parish School principal Michael Kennedy said the double portable destroyed by fire housed grade five and six students who would now have to be relocated to the library and art room for the duration of term one. Police have arrested five teenagers over the daylight robbery of a Toorak jewellery store. Glass cabinets were smashed and a large sum of jewellery was taken from IMP Jewellery, on Toorak Road, during the robbery on Saturday January 14, police say. IMP Jewellery owners Denis Kelleway and Tony Fialides. Credit:Penny Stephens It is alleged four males entered the shop just before 1pm. It was the second time IMP Jewellery had been robbed in recent months. In October last year three masked men broke cabinets and stole jewellery. London: Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain knew about an unarmed Trident missile that reportedly misfired during a test in June, a spokesman said on Monday, after claims that the government had kept the failure a secret. A day earlier, May had refused to comment about the missile test, which was first reported by The Sunday Times of London. The Sunday Times article said that the Trident II D5 missile, which is designed to carry a nuclear warhead but which was unarmed for the test, had veered off course off the coast of Florida after being fired from HMS Vengeance, one of Britain's four aging nuclear-armed submarines. Instead of heading toward a target off the coast of West Africa, it turned and headed toward the United States, the paper reported. It was the first test-firing in four years. Trials carried out in 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2012 were all successful and publicised by the Ministry of Defense using videos and news releases. Growing discontent with 'free trade' deals in the US: An anti-TPP protest last year in Atlanta, Georgia. Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican who chairs the Armed Services Committee, ripped Trump's decision. Obama's last defence secretary, Ash Carter, once said that the Asia-Pacific trade pact would be more strategically valuable than another aircraft carrier battle group in the Pacific. US withdrawal from the pact "will create an opening for China to rewrite the economic rules of the road at the expense of American workers," McCain said. "And it will send a troubling signal of American disengagement in the Asia-Pacific region at a time we can least afford it." Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Credit:Andrew Harrer Obama saw TPP as "much more than an agreement that would increase international trade," according to Jack Thompson, a senior researcher at the Centre for Security Studies in Zurich. The pact was a crucial initiative "to build and maintain long-term relationships to reassure the other nations in the region," he said in an email. The fate of the TPP matters a lot to Australia and Japan: Pictured: Japanese PM Shnzo Abe and PM Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:AP It's a giant gift to the Chinese because they now can pitch themselves as the driver of trade liberalisation. Eric Altbach, former US trade official But Trump's withdrawal "directly undermines all of this careful work and gives China yet another opportunity to demonstrate that it represents the future of the security and economic system in East Asia, and that the US is in decline and can't be counted on to stick around," Thompson said. China's 16-nation RECP would include southeast Asia countries, as well as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India. Pleased: Senator Bernie Sanders. Credit:AP While it reduces tariffs, it wouldn't require its members to take steps to liberalise their economies, protect labour rights and environmental standards or protect intellectual property. Developing nations within the agreement are also given more time to comply with regulations that do exist. "It's an opportunity for China to defer its own reforms and use its own system as a model to draw other countries closer to its orbit," Dan Ikenson, the director of the Cato institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Centre for Trade Policy Studies, said in a phone interview. Leaders from Australia, Malaysia, and other nations who had championed TPP quickly signalled, following Trump's election, that they would shift their attention to the RECP. When Obama tried to garner support for TPP in the US, he regularly warned that failure to pass the deal would allow Beijing to replace Washington in driving the rules of global trade. And his Council of Economic Advisers estimated that the passage of RECP would lead to the loss of market share among US industries that now export more than $US5 billion in goods to Japan. Democratic opposition But the trade deal never had overwhelming support in Congress, where many Democrats applauded Trump for withdrawing from it on Monday. "I am glad the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead and gone," Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who campaigned for president as a Democrat on the same promise to scrap the deal, said in a statement. "For the last 30 years, we have had a series of trade deals -- including the North American Free Trade Agreement, permanent normal trade relations with China and others -- which have cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and caused a 'race to the bottom' which has lowered wages for American workers." The ramifications of Trump's move could extend beyond trade. Asian leaders are stung that after investing political capital in the US-led trade deal, America was unable to follow through, and have signalled a new wariness that could extend to other aspects of the relationship. Killing TPP "really undermines the United States" in the eyes of Asian allies, Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia group, said in a phone interview. "They put a lot of effort into it, and now they feel like they can't rely on the United States," he said. Countries in both Asia and Latin America are saying that "if they can't get the US to commit to a deal, then screw it, they're going to China," Bremmer said. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, during his visit to the White House in August, warned that abandoning the agreement would damage every part of Japanese-US relations, including the military alliance between the countries. Loading Washington: US President Donald Trump on Sunday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House early next month, working quickly to forge close ties with a crucial ally who was often at odds with his predecessor. On Mr Trump's second full day in office, he and the prime minister discussed by telephone "ways to advance and strengthen the US-Israel special relationship, and security and stability in the Middle East". White House officials said. Mr Trump also expressed an "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: his office expressed shock at the US team's position. Credit:AP The two also discussed efforts to make peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, officials said. Both leaders described the discussion in friendly terms. Mr Trump told reporters gathered in the East Room as he swore in senior White House officials that the conversation had been "very nice", while Mr Netanyahu said in a statement that it had been "very warm." Mr Trump did not respond to questions about whether the two men had spoken about moving the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, a campaign promise that has symbolic significance for Israelis and Palestinians. Both regard the holy city as their rightful capital. Washington: President Donald Trump began recasting America's role in the global economy on Monday, cancelling an agreement for a sweeping trade deal with Asia as one of his first official White House actions. The TPP's demise in the US is being watched closely in Australia where the trade deal divided politicians and much of the public - both because of its complex rules and its role as a tool for US influence in Asia to counter China. After meeting with business executives to discuss the US manufacturing industry, Mr Trump headed to the Oval Office to sign an executive order formally ending the United States' participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The move was largely symbolic - the deal was unlikely to make it through Congress - but served to signal that Mr Trump's tough talk on trade during the campaign will carry over to his new administration. London: All the victims from Rolf Harris first sex assault trial went on to sue him for compensation, the jury in his second trial heard on Monday. One had said she wasn't in it for the money and went to police with her complaint because she was seeking "closure" - but after his conviction sued the disgraced Australian entertainer and won 22,000, Mr Harris' defence counsel Stephen Vullo QC said. Prosecutors are using Harris' convictions in the first trial to bolster their case in the new trial. "Mr Harris' previous convictions establish that since 1969 he has a propensity indecently to assault young girls and women," prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC told the jury two weeks ago. London: Being the first European leader through the door of Donald Trump's White House is an honour that Theresa May worked hard to get. But it's one that comes with a daunting set of challenges. The British prime minister will visit Washington on January 27, seven days after Trump took office. Her stated goal is to engage the new president on questions about the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Syria's civil war. Her most important task is to nail down details of what a US-UK trade deal would cover. But what common ground can there be between a prime minister who sees herself as a champion of global free trade and a president who sees commerce as "other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs"? How does a woman with a Muslim in her Cabinet deal with a man who said he wanted to ban all adherents of Islam from entering the US? Speaking on Sunday, Mrs May was keen the emphasise the positive. "He's already said to me that he wants to see a very strong relationship between the UK and the US going into the future," she told the BBC, before insisting that she would stand up to him. "Whenever there is something that I find unacceptable, I won't be afraid to say that to Donald Trump." Mr. Editor, I foresee 2017 as a very challenging year for St. Maarten in which it is going to define the future of our beautiful island and our Leaders. We are right now in the eye of the storm which is January where there is calm before the storm. Mr. Editor, this letter is not to scare our people but to prepare them for the hard and uncertain times we're living in. These are times where we have to stay strong for the tough times that lie ahead of us. The good thing about going through the eye of the storm is that the tough times don't last forever because we are resilient people that rise above these times. But as good Leaders we have to prepare our people and trust God during these difficult times. No matter what is going on, we need to remember what Jesus said" the things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (Luke18:27) As good Leaders, we have to prepare our people for the challenges ahead and the only way we can get out these difficult times are by us working together as French and Dutch people and as one island. St. Maarten is at a cross road and this year will determine if we are moving forward or backward as an island. If we don't get our act together and our Leaders and Elected Representatives don't step up to the plate in the general interest of our people then we need to buckle up our belts. The only way to move forward is by Government making firm decisions and addressing the priority issues with their Governing Program and a plan of action for 2017. Parliament also needs to get active and start back legislating laws which is lacking tremendously as new elected Representatives of the People. It is about time to start doing at least something this coming week by updating the people of the recent concluded IPKO meeting of why the Kingdom Government endorses their version of the Dispute Regulation proposal while the proposal by the Dutch Caribbean islands was not handled. Simply Amazing way of working together by the Dutch. The Dutch has a master plan for this island in which some of us brought upon ourselves and they are going to continue to embarrass a lot of our Leaders and local people in 2017 through the Justice System and tarnish our image internationally to divide and conquer St. Maarten. Mr. Editor, I was doing some research and reading about the Dutch Tax Office Chief who resigned after reorganization failures to revamp the Dutch Tax Office which collapsed into chaos after thousands of staff signed up to leave the service. Imagine the Dutch who pride themselves on Integrity appointed the same person as Quarter Master to lead the non-existent Integrity Chamber in St. Maarten. This is simply amazing. Imagine we are fighting each other and arguing over the petty issues while the Dutch are strategically planning and looking to see how they can take over the hub of the Caribbean St. Maarten and reposition their people here to lead and do their pirates of the Caribbean works in St. Maarten. When one of their own breaks the law they repositioned them with a good pay or send them to one of the Dutch Caribbean islands. Imagine the Finance Ministry of Holland who pride themselves on integrity issues said in a written press statement that the job no longer match his expectations. I have never seen anything like what is happening now in St. Maarten among us as Leaders of this island. Some can't pass the screening or owed taxes but want to lead, Parliament on a stand still, the French and Dutch Governments are playing this power struggle among themselves while their people are suffering. Where is the unity and working together for the people? Our late ancestors and deceased Leaders such as Dr. Claude Wathey and Dr. Petit are turning over in their graves the way our current Leaders are behaving and acting as representatives of our people who should be living up to the Concordia Treaty by displaying harmony and togetherness between the two sides of the island. St. Maarten is unique, I am born French and Dutch and I will continue to represent the interests of the people on both sides of the island as a member of our island community. Mr. Editor, we need to do a study to see how many residents are living on the Dutch side of the island for us to build the necessary infrastructure, housing, medical facilities, improve our tourism product, tax system, safety and Security system and quality care for our people. We also need to get serious with Immigration control because our districts are over populated and become a major burden for Government and certain districts are in a deplorable state and needs to be upgraded for 2017. Government needs to change where the upgrading and beautification of Front Street and Back Street which falls under the Minister of VROMI. This is not the time to play politics and games with our livelihood and tourism product. We need to start putting the right professionals in the right positions with the right checks and balances to get the job done to move St. Maarten forward. In closing, we need to wake up and smell the coffee and plan and lead our people better for 2017. We need to start making firm decisions in the general interest instead of self-interest of our people. Our ancestors paved the way for us with Integrity while our parents brought us up with similar qualities and principles but my generation (including myself) the 40 plus needs to step up to the plate and lead and be a better example for the future generation to follow. Todays generation needs to get away from the adopted culture of slander through social media, bad talking and self without contributing anything back to our community. We become a complaint society where everything is Government problem instead of theirs and self-society rather than what our Grandmothers taught us of working hard with Integrity, pride and respect. Our ancestors (which are our original culture) are different than the adopted culture we teach today's generation. We need to start teaching the future generation our history and culture in the schools for them to know their destiny. We need to start believing in ourselves and our own professionals by giving them the opportunity to grow. We have a long way to go for 2017 but let us start getting our act together and clean up our mess with integrity and come together as one nation for the difficult times which are ahead of us. God bless St. Maarten. Former MP Maurice Lake PHILIPSBURG:--- NV GEBE stated in a press release the commencing of its Senior Citizens temporarily relief 62+ program. The program will be geared towards certain eligible Senior Citizens and will aim to reduce the electricity costs for individuals that qualify for this program. Senior Citizens eligible for this program must apply and meet certain criteria in order to qualify, the company noted that even the seniors who are presently in the program must reapply. The relief granted will be in the form of a monthly fixed amount to be deducted from the electricity invoice. Applications will be available as of Monday, January 23, 2017, and the program will run for six months after which reapplication and/ or re-assessment will be necessary. Applicants must be 62 years or older, legally residing on the Dutch side of the island and, must be a GEBE client with contract in his or her name. The applicants electricity consumption of the previous year should not have exceeded an average 150KW hours per month. If the contract account is on a name of a deceased client then the spouse, after submitting proof of marriage, can also apply for said relief. The registration form for the senior citizen relief program can be picked up at the Main office and Simpson Bay Customer Care Department. After the form has been completed together with the necessary original documents, said documentation can be submitted at the Customer Care located at the Main office building in Philipsburg. Please bear in mind in order to qualify for the relief program, all documents must be submitted and the client must be in good standing order with N.V GEBE for the last 5 years. Management of N.V GEBE reserves the right to accept or decline any relief request at their discretion. This Senior Relief program will be transparent and everyone will be treated in a fair manner, once they are able to prove compliance with the mentioned criterias. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister Plenipotentiary, H.E. Mrs. H. Doran York on Thursday, January 19h, 2017. received an official visit from Mr. Chris Johnson, the Representative of the Netherlands for Sint Maarten. The purpose of this visit was first and foremost to officially introduce himself to the Minister as the appointed Representative to Philipsburg and to further discuss possible areas of cooperation. Through his office on Sint Maarten and directly with the Minister Plenipotentiary the lines of communication will remain open to discussing any developments or changes which will have direct impact on or benefit the island of Sint Maarten. Minister Plenipotentiary Doran-York deemed the visit as haven been very informative where ideas in areas of cooperation were exchanged between herself and Mr. Johnson. THE HAGUE/ ST. MAARTEN:--- The Minister Plenipotentiary, H.E. Mrs. H. Doran York on Wednesday January 18th , 2017 received His Excellency Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba Mr Juan David Yrausquin, during an official introduction visit to her Cabinet. The primary purpose of his visit was to introduce himself as the newly appointed Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacao and to further discuss with her the continuation of cooperation between the two cabinets here in the Netherlands. Minister Plenipotentiary Doran-York stated that it is of grave importance that the three Ministers Plenipotentiary in The Hague continue to maintain an open line of communication as has been in the past, in order to carry out the duties of their individual governments in the interest of their respective Countries. Many pertinent and pressing issues were discussed and at the end of the meeting, both parties were pleased with the agreements reached. The Newly appointed Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacao is scheduled to visit the Sint Maarten Cabinet in the very near future. Photo: Ministers Plenipotentiaries Henrietta Doran-York of Sint Maarten and Juan David Yrausquin of Aruba Market Outlook of PV Inverter to Exhibit Substantial Growth Globally During the Forecast of 2016-2021 Albany, New York, January 23, 2017: The global market of PV inverters is the focus of a new study report, added to the vast portfolio of Market Research Hub (MRH). The title of the report is Global PV Inverter Market Outlook 2016-2021 which provides a detailed analysis of the global market by covering the major regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Rest of the world. This study also encapsulates the prime technological and market trends that are driving the growth of the market. Additionally, it also analyzes the factors impacting the supply and demand of PV inverters in the global market. Request for Sample Report: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=924745 In the first section, the report introduces PV inverters and its functionality. A PV inverter is a device that converts direct current (DC) from the photovoltaic solar panels into alternate current (AC) of the required frequency, which is then supplied to the electric grid or it is used by a local, off-grid and electrical network. Though its functions just as a simple converter, a PV inverter is an essential part of a solar power plant and thats why it is also known as solar inverters. This device also uses the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique to extract the maximum amount of power from a range of solar panels. Furthermore, the market has been segmented by the products and end users. Geographically, revenue growth in the inverter space has been driven largely by the emerging market in Asia such as China, Japan and India. Demand for PV inverters is continuing to shift from the established European markets of Germany and Italy, which was previously accounted for much of the market. It has also been studied that, as of 2015, over 600 million residents in Africa have poor electricity access. Thus, increasing off-grid electricity demand and rising need for clean and unfailing electricity will contribute towards the industry growth. Next section of the report analyzes the competitive landscape including the market share among the key industry players. At present, inverter manufacturers are very much trying to position themselves strategically in the global market to take advantage of the large growth opportunities. The major players in the global PV Inverter market are as follows: Browse Full Report with TOC: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-pv-inverter-market-outlook-2016-2021-report.html SMA Solar Technology (Germany), ABB (Switzerland), KACO (Germany), Power Electronics (Taiwan), Sungrow (China), Omron (Japan), Power One (USA), Schneider Electric (France), Sineng (China), SolarEdge (Israel), TBEA (China), Fronius (Austria), TBEA (China), Enphase (USA), Huawei (China), Tabuchi (Japan), TMEIC (Japan), Clenergy (China) among others. Among these, Huawei took the top spot in terms of shipments according to 2015 figures. ABB, TMEIC, Sungrow and SMA are rounded out as the top five. President Donald Trump wasted little time in trying to make good on his campaign pledge to slash government spending to make room for his initiatives, beginning with an executive order issued Monday morning freezing hiring in the federal workforce except in the military. But Trump may be on a collision course with key Republicans on Capitol Hill over his drive to simultaneously cut fat from the government and reduce the deficit while promoting an ambitious agenda of new spending and tax cuts. Many of the programs Trumps advisers are targeting have long enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress. Related: Trump Era Begins with Moves Against Regulations, Obamacare Even before the billionaire businessman was sworn in as the 45th president last Friday, Trumps budgetary transition team reportedly began working with the conservative Heritage Foundation on the groups wish list of major cuts in departments including Commerce, Energy, Justice and State, and the elimination of long-standing programs including the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Heritage recently unveiled a blueprint for achieving a balanced budget necessitating nearly $10 trillion in cuts and savings over the coming decade. Trump, apparently, is eagerly embracing the spending cut road map especially deep cuts in non-defense domestic discretionary spending, according to The Hill. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said today that members of Trump landing teams met with department and agency officials before the inauguration and talked about ways to create greater efficiencies, eliminate duplication and maximize federal tax dollars. Its more a question instead of cutting, its about how do we spend and respect the Americans taxpayer dollars more going forward, Spicer told reporters at the White House in discussing proposed spending cuts and the federal employee hiring freeze. Theres been frankly some degree of lack of respect for taxpayers dollars in this town for a long time. Story continues Related: Trump Outlines an America First Agenda in a Dark Inaugural Address And I think what the president is showing through the hiring freeze, first and foremost today, is that weve got to respect the American taxpayers, Spicer added. They are sending us a ton of money ... and to see money wasted in Washington on a job that is duplicative is insulting to the hard work they do to pay their taxes. Spicer didnt highlight specific cuts the new administration has in mind or confirm a goal of $10 trillion in cuts over the coming decade. Nor did he reconcile the administrations drive to slash spending with Trumps ballyhooed agenda that will substantially add to the deficit. That includes $7 trillion or more in tax cuts, construction of a costly wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a massive buildup of defense and the U.S. nuclear arsenal, $1 trillion of highway, bridge and other infrastructure projects, and government subsidies for paid family leave, just to name a few. If Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), Trumps choice to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), survives his Senate confirmation hearings beginning on Tuesday, the fiscal conservative may have a tough time reconciling some of the more glaring contradictions in Trumps fiscal strategy while the national debt fast approaches $20 trillion. Mulvaney will likely be grilled by Senate Budget Committee Democrats about his failure to pay $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee. But he may encounter even more difficult questions about how he will make the numbers in Trumps budget add up. Related: Trump Again Calls for Rebuilding US Infrastructure in Inaugural Address There seems to be a hell of a lot on the table, and its not just in discretionary spending, Jim Dyer, a former Republican chief of staff of the House Appropriations Committee, said in an interview Monday. I am stricken by the sheer volume of stuff that has been thrown out there. Dyer warns that the new Trump administration will soon experience fiscal circuit overload, as it tries to balance its major challenges of new tax and trade policies, infrastructure construction and rewriting of the nations health care laws with more small-bore concerns of conservative activists such as doing away with the National Endowment for the Humanities or the Legal Services Corporation, an agency that provides financial support for civil legal aid to low-income people. He continued, You only have so much political capital, and it seems to me that if I were at the White House I would be investing all of my political capital in taxes, trade, infrastructure and social safety net. Trump and his advisers have been counting on an extended honeymoon with House and Senate Republican lawmakers, as they drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act early in the year and complete work on spending bills for fiscal 2017 that runs through next Sept. 30. Related: GOP Governors Voice Alarm About Losing Expanded Medicaid House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pushed through a short-term extension of spending authority through late March to allow Trump and his budget advisers to have more input in funding the government through the remainder of the fiscal year. I think the new, incoming government would like to have a say-so on how spending is allocated," Ryan said at the time. However, The Hill reported today that Trump may be headed for a tough fight with Republican lawmakers especially veteran members of the Senateover his plans for deep cuts in federal programs and agencies. Programs like legal services, essential air service for remote parts of the country including Alaska, and the endowment for the humanities and for the arts all have strong backing on Capitol Hill in both parties and have weathered previous GOP efforts to gut them. Related: 8 Steps Trump Could Take on Day One to Remake the Country I think that would be hard thing to do, Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch (R-UT), said of any attempt to kill legal services, despite the projected savings of $400 million next year. Even if you wanted to do that, you couldnt get it through the Senate, he said. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a senior Republican from Alaska, told the newspaper that she would lead a vigorous battle against any effort to cut funding for essential air service. It would basically shut down rural Alaska, she said. If there is discussion about that, we as the Alaska delegation really have to ramp it up and let people know how critical it is. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Meso Numismatics Prepares Collection for First Major Auction LAS VEGAS, NV (Marketwired) 01/23/17 (OTC PINK: PNOW), parent Company of the Central American-Caribbean Online Travel Agency (OTA) and Numismatic Specialty Store () announced today that the Company is finalizing initial shipments of a rare world currency collection to auction powerhouse, Heritage Auctions, for the World Coins Show in Chicago, on April 7, 2017. This past week was one of the most exciting weeks I have experienced in quite some time, stated Melvin Pereira, President and CEO of Pure Hospitality Solutions, Inc. In addition to some truly amazing acquisitions, my team and I prepared our first package for Heritage Auctions World Coin Show in Chicago, Illinois. With , we are very bullish on our own success on April 7th. As for new acquisitions, lets just say we picked up some incredible numismatic inventory at relatively low cost; sure to yield incredibly handsome profits. Management has not yet disclosed the total sum of inventory heading to Heritage Auctions, but has leveraged its resources to ensure Meso presents the strongest collection it can, for its first, multi-million dollar auction participation. Management further pointed out that this is just the first shipment going to Heritage Auctions, with several other packages being finalized for , and , continued Pereira. It is important to me that the numismatic community, as well as our shareholders, know the process we go through, and the fact that we do not simply just buy cheap items and sell them. Our typical process, which will also apply to the collections we acquired this past week, is somewhat extensive. After thoroughly analyzing each and every item we acquire, we then proceed to send it to its grading destination. For most of our coin-based numismatics, this includes sending the item to the for cleaning, then the for certification and grading. For our paper-based numismatics, after careful examination of each item, it is then sent to the for certification and grading. Although these processes can be costly and time-consuming, it is absolutely crucial in order to maintain honor and legitimacy in the numismatic markets. By utilizing the location and expertise of the Companys management and directors, Meso is able to acquire some of the finest global inventory at the least-expense possible. Pereira concluded, That my friends, is how you build a company We will not stop until the name Meso Numismatics is known throughout the entire numismatic community and serves well to deliver increased value to PNOW shareholders. PURE provides proprietary technology, marketing solutions and branding services to hotel operators and condominium owners. The Companys vision is to build competitive operations in the areas of (i) online marketing and hotel internet booking engine services, (ii) hotel branding and, (iii) own, operate and in some instances develop, boutique hotels under the new, by PURE brand. PURE is the creator of , the online travel hub. Safe Harbor Statements in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements about plans and expectations regarding products and opportunities, demand and acceptance of new or existing products, capital resources and future financial results are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause the Companys actual results in future periods to differ materially from those expressed. These uncertainties and risks include changing consumer preferences, lack of success of new products, loss of the Companys customers, competition and other factors discussed from time to time in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. zvelo Unveils Free Bot Detection Platform That Quickly Identifies Fraudulent Web Traffic GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO (Marketwired) 01/23/17 , the leading provider of categorization and malicious detection data for web pages, devices and traffic, today announced the immediate availability of the industrys first . With the new offering, businesses can automatically gain crucial insights into the quality of the impressions earned by their digital campaigns. Instant dashboard analysis shows the distribution of human, non-human, and low quality impressions, along with a breakdown of the top five domains supplying bot and low quality traffic to a site. This knowledge enables businesses to more deeply understand the true impact of their campaigns, and to take informed steps that optimize the effectiveness of their advertising investments. By providing the ability, for free, to precisely determine which traffic comes from bad sources, zvelos bot detector eliminates the barriers that keep businesses from recognizing bot activity from unwanted traffic. The platform allows advertisers or the demand-side platforms or ad agencies working on their behalf to easily add a lightweight JavaScript detection tag to the code of their ad creative, and have their bot detection up and running within minutes. The detector uses extensive algorithms to examine dozens of different traffic- and page-level signals and identify bot activity. Key variables analyzed for zvelos categorizations include mouse movements, time on page, browser and window properties, historical bot activity associated with specific IPs and users, and more. The bot detection dashboard then provides an interface for charting impressions from humans, non-humans and even low-quality or pay-to-surf traffic over a specified period of time. As bots become more complex, the mechanisms that identify them and ensure that fraudulent traffic doesnt claim wasteful chunks of online ad spend must keep pace, said Jeff Finn, CEO, zvelo. Bots are bad customers, but with zvelos bot detector, businesses can get clearer insights on the magnitude of their unwanted traffic problem. Were proud to offer this new service for free, and to remove any roadblocks for businesses who want to make sure their ad buys are targeting human eyes only. We released this offering to a select group of zvelo early adopter clients in late 2016 and have been thrilled with the adoption and growth in the deployment and positive feedback. zvelo is making its new bot detection service free with the knowledge that some customers will wish to supplement the platforms valuable detecting and reporting capabilities with more granular and specifically-actionable invalid traffic data to completely eliminate bot and NHT traffic from their campaigns. For these customers, zvelo offers the , which delivers a continuously updated stream of IPs detected as bot and non-human traffic (NHT), allowing advertisers the ability to block inventory originating from bot IP addresses at the bidder level. Further, by combining the IVT dataset with zvelos other datasets that detect fake, clickbait and other sites, an advertiser is able to virtually eliminate ad fraud from their campaigns no more money wasted on serving ads to fake sites visited by non-human traffic. As a proven market leader for leading provider of categorization and malicious detection data for web pages, devices and traffic, zvelo is the trusted partner for the markets preeminent ad tech, network security, and mobile service provider/subscriber analytics vendors. zvelo solves a diverse range of client business needs including providing the foundational datasets for web filtering, parental controls, brand safety, contextual targeting, subscriber analytics and ad fraud prevention. zvelo, headquartered just outside of Denver, is committed to providing the markets highest quality data products and best responsiveness. The company has additional offices in the Philippines, Spain, and Florida. Justin Omans of Roseville said he was devastated to learn his mothers' body was discovered in the covered bed of a truck. What you need to know about Powerball's $1.6 billion lottery jackpot News Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Want the latest Welsh news and politics updates sent straight to your email? The controversial Communities First anti-poverty programme has finally been killed off by the Welsh Government . Communities and Children Secretary Carl Sargeant confirmed he will be phasing out the initiative, which despite receiving more than 300m since 2001 has not raised prosperity levels in the most disadvantaged parts of Wales. The schemes credibility took a knock in 2011 when Miriam Beard, the co-ordinator of Plas Madoc Communities First Partnership in Wrexham , was jailed for 32 months after defrauding the body of more than 53,000. Beards family members benefited by tens of thousands of pounds from payments made by the partnership. Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Sargeant set out plans for a new approach to building resilient communities, focusing on employment, early years and empowerment. He said: We have listened very carefully to thousands of people who have been involved in Communities First, either as employees or participants. While it is clear that Communities First was successful in its impact on many individuals, it has not had an impact on overall poverty levels in these communities, which remain stubbornly high. We are clear, as a Government, that we must now transition into a new phase in our fight against poverty in Wales. Our support for those who need it most will not end with this programme. Indeed, our aim is to intensify our efforts to give people the tools they need to have a more equal share of this nations prosperity. At the centre of this must be the promise of good, secure work. A new approach is needed which deals with the root causes of poverty.. We will take forward a cross-government, all-Wales approach focused on helping people into work, giving children the best start in life, and ensuring peoples voices are heard in the design of local services. Funding at 70% of current levels will be provided to the Communities First programme until March 2018. A legacy fund of 6m a year, to enable some of the programmes most effective projects to continue, will be introduced in April 2018. In addition, the Community Facilities Programme will receive an extra 4m a year from 2017-18, with priority given to Communities First areas, to help protect valuable community assets such as community centres. A new 12m a year grant to support those who are furthest from the labour market will also be launched. Mr Sargeant said: In total, including these and other ongoing projects, we will continue to put over 25m annually directly into deprived communities. This figure cannot be viewed in isolation. Across the Welsh Government, there is increasing investment in a range of initiatives which are crucial to preventing and alleviating poverty. "These include increasing our investment in apprenticeships to over 126m and investing over 93m through the Pupil Deprivation Grant in 2017-18 to help close the attainment gap of disadvantaged children. In addition we are establishing the Valleys taskforce and creating the North and South Wales metros. Investment in Flying Start and Families First, both of which provide practical support to thousands of families and their children across the country, will continue, while the development of Childrens Zones and the establishment of a new Adverse Childhood Experiences hub have already been announced. Support for the Streetgames programme which engages young people in positive activities, and for Citizens Advice, will continue. Mr Sargeant added: Investing in our children is an investment for the long term. It is the most sustainable means of building a more prosperous future. Change is never easy. But we cannot ignore the combination of new and deep-rooted challenges we face. We must have the courage to find fresh ways to respond. That is what I and all of my government colleagues are determined to do. But Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood accused Mr Sargeant of failing to come up with a genuine alternative to Communities First, saying the amounts of money allocated to new and existing programmes were far too small to make a real difference. Three views of the Apollo Basin taken with NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument on India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft. The false-color image on the right reveals composition, which can help scientists discover the history of the moon's surface and impact craters. The rocky worlds of the solar system may bear scars from the debris that didn't quite make the cut as planets, a new research suggests. Billions of years ago, when the solar system was very young, showers of material slammed into the infant Earth, its moon and Mars, in a period known as the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB). For years, studies have suggested that a group of rocks that now surround the modern-day asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter were responsible for that early hammering of the inner solar system. Those rocks would have been thrown toward the sun as the gas-giant planets settled into their present-day orbits. But new simulations suggest that the rocky debris between Mars and Jupiter may not deserve all of the blame. Instead, bits and pieces of the same material that formed the planets also might have peppered the young inner solar system bodies. [Solar System Evolution: Peering Back at the Sun's Cosmic Womb] "We have evidence for two early-bombardment populations and a time difference between them a late one, plausibly made by escapees from the asteroid belt, and an early one from elsewhere," William Bottke, an impact scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado, told Space.com. Bottke presented his ongoing research on this subject at the 229th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Grapevine, Texas, earlier this month. The research is based, in part, on new simulations he has run in the past few months. Over the past decade, as spacecraft have gathered more detailed looks at the moon and Mars, and models have become more sophisticated, Bottke found himself growing less convinced that the massive scarring on both worlds came from objects that originated in the asteroid belt. A new population The young solar system was a chaotic home filled with collisions. One recent model of those early days, known as the Nice model, suggests that the gaseous outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) formed much closer together, while populations of rocky, icy material clustered at the borders. As the gas giants engaged in a complex dance to move into the positions they occupy today, their gravity might have scattered both the icy, rocky material that would become the Kuiper Belt (the band of objects beyond Neptune) and the rocky material of the asteroid belt, the Nice model suggests. Most asteroids orbit the sun within a broad belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter: the asteroid belt. Get the facts about the asteroid belt in this SPACE.com infographic (Image credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor) According to Bottke's fellow SwRI researcher David Nesvorny, the outer solar system (which includes the Kuiper Belt and the larger Oort Cloud) probably housed another Neptune-size world. The planet, which eventually would have been flung out of the solar system completely, would have pushed Jupiter into its present-day orbit, he said. These dancing planets probably played a role in the Late Heavy Bombardment, the brief escalation of material crashing into the moon and terrestrial planets 3.8 billion to 3.9 billion years ago, Bottke said. Weathering and tectonics erased the evidence of the LHB on Earth, and planet-wide volcanic activity might have covered up the proof on Venus. But Bottke said Mars and Earth's moon still show signs of their history. Without wind, rain or earthquakes, traces of these bodies' acne-scarred youth remain permanently etched on their surfaces; billions of years of activity remains visible for explorers to see. By looking at the scarring, in combination with new studies of the moon and techniques for modeling impacts, Bottke found that the LHB might not have been the brief, intense uptick in activity many scientists hypothesize it to be. Rather, the ancient basins formed by collisions on the Martian surface seem to have come from objects that originated in the inner and central main asteroid belt, he found. Bottke's simulations show that the moon would have been hit by only a quarter of the material its scars reveal. "The question is, what made the most ancient craters and basins on the moon?" Bottke said in an interview with Space.com. In his presentation, Bottke suggested that the craters on the far side of the moon were drawn from a completely different group of objects than those found in the asteroid belt. Speaking of the impacts on the moon, he said, "That doesn't look like any population, really, that we have." As he has studied the evolving evidence, he's come to think that perhaps something other than the asteroid belt hit Mars and the moon and, by extension, the Earth. A major impact Although Mars and Earth's moon show visible evidence of their scars, that evidence can be challenging to interpret. Samples from the moon are limited to those returned in the 1970s by the Apollo missions. Although the samples were gathered from various places across the moon's surface, some scientists think all of the samples might have come from a single basin, which would explain why they are all roughly the same age. Martian samples are similarly limited, arriving as meteorites on Earth, with no context of where they came from or what their early life might have been like. Future missions may return samples from Mars and the moon, but current missions have improved the mapping of the two worlds in the interim. Bottke pointed to NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission to study the moon, as well as other similar missions that have helped build a more detailed map of Mars. The detailed maps allow scientists to study craters of all sizes more accurately, thus improving scientists' understanding of how material slammed into the two worlds throughout their lifetimes. At the same time, advances in computing have allowed for more detailed simulations of how material in the early solar system might have behaved. Meg Schwamb, a planetary scientist at Yale University who attended Bottke's talk and is not involved in the research, found the idea of a more dispersed bombardment period interesting. "It doesn't put any holes in the Nice model," she said, which provides a good explanation for the formation of the Kuiper Belt. What she'd really like to see is how the impacts on the moon and Mars compare to those on the surface of Mercury, whose lack of volcanism means it should carry the scars of its youth. Bottke isn't alone in thinking that the LHB might have come from beyond the asteroid belt.. A recent paper by Nesvorny, for which Bottke provided earlier models, argues completely against the need for a bombardment. Nesvorny holds that the lunar scars make it unlikely that the falling material came from the rocky asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. In an attempt to reproduce the scarring on the moon and Mars today, he modeled the motion of the gas giants that could have flung asteroids toward the inner planets (called a dynamical instability). "We find it unlikely that asteroids could be responsible for the LHB, independently of whether the dynamical instability in the outer solar system happened early or late," Nesvorny said in his paper. Nor did he find comets to be the culprit. With orbits that reach out into the Kuiper belt, comets were also stirred up by the dance of the gas giants, and many of them were tossed toward the inner planets. When Nesvorny modeled their disruption, he found that the comets also failed to produce the desired results. Instead, Nesvorny proposed that the material responsible for carving the enormous craters on Mars, Earth's moon and the early Earth came from debris left over from the formation of the major planets. Those "planetesimals" would have been larger than the objects in the asteroid belt, according to Nesvorny, and would have collided with the inner planets at a different time. At least one Mars-size body is believed to have slammed into the Earth to create the moon. Other, smaller planetesimals might have carved out the pockmarks visible on the solar system's rocky worlds. The planetesimals that weren't destroyed when they crashed into worlds were cast out of the solar system by Jupiter's gravity, according to existing theories. But Bottke isn't quite ready to dismiss the LHB completely. Though the second, later impacts might have come from young planetesimals, he still thinks the early cratering on Mars may have originated from asteroid-belt objects. Over the past few weeks, as Bottke has continued simulating what could have happened in the solar system, he has thought that the case for the asteroid belt has grown. "The bottom line is that I believe the case for the LHB defined as a fairly late uptick, not a narrow spike of impacts has gotten stronger in the last two weeks," Bottke said in an email to Space.com. "The precise form the LHB took is a more involved question that I need to explore with David's data." Follow Nola Taylor Redd on Twitter @NolaTRedd Facebook or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. More than 460 million years ago, a massive solar-system collision generated many of the meteorites still falling to Earth. Now, researchers are probing the meteors that came before that event. Many meteorites found on Earth are remnants of one titanic solar-system collision that took place more than 460 million years ago. But for the first time, researchers have specifically targeted meteorites that fell to Earth just before that asteroid collision and found that the composition of those earlier space rocks is quite different than those today. By sifting through the minuscule remnants of those ancient solar-system crashes, called micrometeorites, the researchers found that the most common types of meteorites today used to be quite rare and the rarest ones used to be common. Understanding the makeup of asteroids provides insight into the history of solar-system collisions and the evolution of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, scientists say. "We spend lots of time studying the debris from the big asteroid destruction event 466 million years ago, but recently, we went a little bit further back in time," said Philipp Heck, a researcher at The Field Museum in Chicago and lead author of the new research paper. "We found it very different from what comes down today that was our big surprise," Heck told Space.com. [The Strangest Asteriods in the Solar System] Meteorites come from flying debris after a collision of two bodies in the solar system, and their makeup reflects the asteroid, comet, moon or planet that suffered through the crash. The rarest meteorites found on Earth today come from differentiated or partially differentiated bodies big clusters of dust and debris that got hot enough to form (or partially form) a core, mantle and crust, as on Earth, Mars or the asteroid Vesta. It's much more common for meteorites today to come from undifferentiated bodies, which remained mixtures of rock, dust and metal. But according to the new research, that type of meteorite, called an ordinary chondrite, used to be much less common than ones from differentiated bodies were. By avoiding the most recent meteorites, researchers can get a glimpse of more collisions in the solar system's past. "This is not an event, what we're looking at this is basically the background," Heck said. "You can say these are tails of different events; the results of different [collision] events in the solar system, in the asteroid belt, that generated fragments and those fragments arrived to Earth." A few events and asteroid populations seem to dominate that background, he added: 34 percent of the micrometeorites came from partially differentiated bodies, which had partially melted and begun to separate out, whereas only 0.45 percent of meteorites today are that type. This indicates that many more of those bodies were experiencing collisions in the past, Heck said. The researchers also found micrometeorites that originated from a collision at Vesta, the brightest asteroid visible from Earth, billions of years ago, as well as meteorites that the researchers think came from the formation of the Flora asteroid family, also about a billion years ago. Both reside in the asteroid belt. Notably, there were very few ordinary chondrites most were generated later, by the 466-million-year-old collision or by an even later event, which generated another type of ordinary chondrite, Heck said. A false-color image taken by an electron microscope of a polished cross-section of chrome spinel. The mineral was taken from a fossil micrometeorite that likely came from the asteroid 4 Vesta. (Image credit: Philipp Heck/The Field Museum) "Using relict minerals in the rock record to determine the previous asteroid flux is incredibly inventive," Tasha Dunn, a planetary geologist at Colby College who was not involved in the research, told Space.com by email. "I was quite surprised by the results." Dunn noted that the proportions of meteorite types that rain down today don't match the populations of asteroids found in the belt a disparity that has puzzled meteorite researchers. "Trying to understand why the proportion of asteroids in the asteroid belt doesn't match what we see in the meteorite collection has been one of the biggest questions in meteorics for some time," she said. Dunn said she was particularly interested in seeing the large proportion of meteorites from the Flora family back then, because researchers have wondered why there weren't many of them coming down despite the Floras' good position. Maybe, she said, much of the material was expelled during the initial breakup of the family. [The Asteroid Belt Explained (Infographic)] "Needle in a haystack" Understandably, meteorites that fell more than 466 million years ago are difficult to find. Heck's Russian and Swedish colleagues turned to micrometeorites less than 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) across. By sifting through samples of rock from a river valley in Russia that used to be seafloor, they managed to separate some. They chose a location that would have had a slow buildup of sediment, leading to a greater proportion of the desired micrometeorites. The researchers took advantage of a lucky fact: chromites and chrome spinels, the key grains necessary to determine the age and makeup of a micrometeorite, are resistant to acid. So to find the meteorite compounds, they treated the material with hydrochloric or hydrofluoric acid to eat away the Earthly sediments, leaving the meteorite markers behind. "The approach is essentially a needle-in-a-haystack problem, and we use the crude method of burning down the haystack to find the needle," Heck said. Heck's group analyzed samples dating back from the target era, zeroing in on the chromites and chrome spinels whose makeup can help scientists classify the type of object they came from. "Even almost 500 million years in the sediment didn't change them," Heck said. "They still preserve the original composition, which makes it a really, really good and robust mineral to study meteorites that arrived in the past." They also measured the oxygen isotopes that is, oxygen with different numbers of neutrons whose proportions likely represent how far from the sun the body formed, Heck said. Going forward, Heck said, researchers should look at different time windows to try to understand those earlier solar system collisions, like the one that blasted fragments off of Vesta. "We can do that for the different types of fragments from different parent bodies, parent asteroids, and get a better picture of what collisions happened and what were the effects on planets in the inner solar system," he said. One could also track meteorite fragments on places like the moon and Mars for a more complete view. All results can be fitted into models of the events, increasing their accuracy and our understanding of the solar system's evolution and, potentially, those titanic crashes' impact on Earth's life and climate. "It's really a multidisciplinary collaboration with different fields geology, cosmochemistry, planetary science, chemistry all working together to try to tackle that problem," Heck said. The new research was detailed today (opens in new tab) (Jan. 23) in the journal Nature Astronomy. Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Bir Lahlou (Liberated Territories), January 22, 2017 (SPS) - The President of the Republic,Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO, Mr. Brahim Gali, sent a letter this week to European leaders following the ruling of the European Court of Justice on 21 December 2016 that found "that the association agreements and liberalization between the EU and Morocco are not applicable to Western Sahara" . The Secretary-General of the POLISARIO states in his message to Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta and President of the Council of the European Union, that the Court of Justice of the EU stated that "the people of Western Sahara have not given their consent" through its sole and legitimate representative, the Frente POLISARIO, "that these agreements are implemented in Western Sahara." The Saharawi president calls for an analysis "of the status of the protocol of understanding signed in 2013 between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco, for now" the management of fishing rights must be treated in accordance with the judgment of 21 December 2016 ". The same message was addressed to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Nicholas Westcott, Executive Director for the Middle East and North Africa in the European External Action Service (SEAE), in an exchange of views with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) has stated that "the ECJ judgment is binding on the EU and its Member States, we live in a state of law, and every decision of justice must be respected." SPS 125/090/TRA Algiers, January 23, 2017 (SPS) - Sahrawi President Brahim Ghali said Monday in Algiers the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) had acknowledged the ratification of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) by Morocco, which he called on to respect international borders. "We have acknowledged the ratification by the Moroccan system of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) including the articles demanding Morocco to respect SADR's recognized international borders," President Ghali said in a statement to the press after his meeting with Premier Abdelmalek Sellal. According to the provisions of the AU Constitutive Act, the members states must resolve their conflicts through peaceful means and Morocco, which seeks to become the 55th member of the AU, must respect the sovereignty of member countries, stressed Ghali. President Ghali hoped Morocco's approach (adhesion to the AU) would be followed another more courageous one, which consists in compliance with international treaties, fulfilment of commitments and negotiations with the Polisario Front so that this country withdraws its forces and administration from the occupied territories of Western Sahara, allowing the Sahrawi people to establish its state and regain sovereignty on its territories. Besides, Ghali said his meeting with Sellal was part of periodic consultation meetings on the developments of the Sahrawi cause and the exchange of views on issues of common interest. He described Algeria-SADR ties as brotherly and exemplary, hailing their current level. This meeting was an opportunity to address the situation in the occupied territories and in the Sahrawi refugee camps, as well as "the major political and legal assets gained by the Sahrawi people particularly following the recent decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on the resources." As regards his visit to some African countries, Ghali emphasized "the strong support" provided by many African countries to the Sahrawi cause as "they back the Sahrawi people in its struggle for freedom and independence."SPS 125/090/TRA VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan 23, 2017) - Targeted Microwave Solutions Inc. (TSX VENTURE:TMS)(TGTMF)(FRANKFURT:A2ACNT) ("TMS", the "Company") is pleased to announce exceptional air emissions and water quality results. TMS recently retained Air Monitoring Specialist, Inc. (AMS) to determine particulate matter and VOC emission levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) from the use of the Company's proprietary industrial microwave drying system in King William, Virginia. AMS conducted multiple test runs using montmorillonite clay and coal as sample materials and followed test methods and analytical procedures recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results of the tests significantly exceeded the minimum targets set by the EPA. Exhibit 1 - Reactor Emissions Summary Compound Clay Test Run Emissions Coal Test Run Emissions Particulate Matter 0.0897 lbs/hr N/A Sulfur Dioxide 0.00 lbs/hr 0.00 lbs/hr Nitrogen Oxides 0.00 lbs/hr 0.00 lbs/hr Carbon Monoxide 0.03 lbs/hr 0.22 lbs/hr The emissions test results conclusively show that TMS's proprietary microwave drying system significantly reduces, and in some cases completely eliminates, toxic emissions that contribute to air pollution. "Drying systems, no matter how complex, all have the same core function - they remove moisture from a material. Using our system, industries can reduce and, possibly, eliminate toxic emissions depending on the application. When technology eliminates toxic emissions and associated costs, significant growth in production capacity can be unlocked. Industries will be able to lower production costs and reduce their negative impact on the environment. Traditional industrial drying methods, powered by fossil fuel, are expensive, inefficient and emit significant amounts of toxic emissions. With our proven technology, we are positioning TMS to become a global leader in the greening of heavy industry," said Dr. James Young, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. Story continues TMS' Research and Development team also conducted tests on the quality of captured water when processing coal samples. Multiple water samples were tested by qualified third party laboratories and analyzed by Environmental Resources Management (ERM). ERM referred to Chinese standards for drinking and irrigation water to analyze and compare the water samples. Testing was carried out using EPA approved techniques. The results confirmed that the quality of water captured and conserved, exceeded the standards for Agricultural Grade water as set by the Chinese government. The world's largest coal production and consumption occurs in China and India; as a result, they are also the largest emitters of toxic emissions. These two countries are also home to some of the world's highest "water-stressed" environments. Significant amounts of water consumption takes place in coal production and coal based energy production. This makes coal mines and coal-fired power plants in these regions high potential customers for TMS, as TMS' technology is capable of addressing these critical global issues. The Company's excellent test result, demonstrate its superior environmental performance and is further supported by the technology's strong economic benefits. "Our technology is revolutionary. Coal mines depend on water to wash and process coal. Coal-fired power plants also require water to generate energy. Our technology has the ability to assist the coal industry to become self-supporting with respect to their water consumption. The agricultural grade water captured and conserved while drying low-rank coal using our Company's technology can be reused. Therefore, our customer's need to draw water from the local aquifers will be reduced," said Steve Lawson, Chief Technology Officer. On behalf of the Board of Directors, - Dr. James Young, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman About Targeted Microwave Solutions Inc. Targeted Microwave Solutions Inc. is a clean technology company that designs and installs vertical microwave reactors to dry and process coal, clay and biomass, including wood fibre. As a global leader in the advancement of microwave technology the Company's mission is to provide the industry with a cleaner and more efficient technology solution by eliminating toxic emissions, reducing energy requirements and conserving significant amounts of water. The Company's R&D and commercial demonstration plant in King William, Virginia is strategically located near several major industrial clay and biofuel manufacturers. The marketing and testing facility in Shanghai, China collects and analyzes material samples from nearby coal power plants and coal mines. The Company is a reporting issuer in Canada and is listed on the following stock exchanges: (TSX VENTURE:TMS)(FRANKFURT:A2ACNT)(TGTMF) For further information, please visit www.tmsenergy.com or review the Company's public disclosure filing on www.sedar.com. About Air Monitoring Specialist, Inc. Air Monitoring Specialists, Inc. (AMS) is an independent source testing firm located in Richmond, Virginia. Specializing in providing on-site stack sampling, AMS has the equipment and the staff to assist industrial and government facilities, waste management firms and engineers. AMS was incorporated in January, 1991 and has administered compliance testing following state and federal EPA regulations. In addition, our specialized company is capable of, and is experienced in, providing testing for design and engineering data. Our field staff is very flexible in meeting our customers' individual needs. For further information, please visit http://www.airmonitoringspecialists.com/ About the United States Environmental Protection Agency The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develops and enforces environmental policy and regulations throughout the country. It is responsible for administering all or part of a multitude of laws, such as the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the ubiquitous National Environmental Policy Act. Besides working to ensure compliance with federal environmental rules, the agency provides support for state environmental protection programs. The agency is led by an administrator appointed by the US President. For further information, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ About Environmental Resources Management Environmental Resources Management (ERM) is a leading global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting services and sustainability related services. We have more than 160 offices in over 40 countries and territories employing more than 4,500 people who work on projects around the world. ERM is committed to providing a service that is consistent, professional and of the highest quality to create value for our clients. We have worked with many of the Global Fortune 500 companies delivering innovative solutions for business and selected government clients helping them understand and manage the sustainability challenges that the world is increasingly facing. For over 40 years we have been working with clients around the world and in diverse industry sectors to help them to understand and manage their environmental, health, safety, risk and social impacts. The key sectors we serve include Oil & Gas, Mining, Power, and Manufacturing, Chemical and Pharmaceutical. All face critical sustainability challenges and our clients in these and many other areas rely on our ability to assist them operate more sustainably which has a positive impact on our planet. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain statements which are, or may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that address or discuss activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical and, in this news release, include, without limitation, statements regarding drying performance of the company's technology with respect to clay and coal. When used in this news release, words such as "estimates", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "projects", "will", "believes", "intends", "should", "could", "may" and other similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts of our management. Because forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which are difficult to predict, our actual results, performance or achievements or the actual results or performance of the industries and markets in which we operate and intend to operate may be materially different from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant uncertainties and risks, should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be an accurate indication of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in our forward-looking statements, including the ability to obtain all necessary stock exchange approvals, our ability to negotiate and executive definitive documentation and to fulfill any conditions precedent contained therein, the general level of interest to participate in the private placements and such other matters described in our public filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should exercise caution in relying upon our forward-looking statements and we undertake no obligation to publicly revise such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. 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. NSA is facilitating a team of expert sheep consultants to carry out a project to investigate the longevity of rams in commercial flocks. The project has two main elements a short, online survey to gather views from a large number of producers, coupled with more in-depth focus group meetings of 10 producers each held at different locations around the UK. Independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings is one of those involved. She says: This study is a great opportunity for us to pin down some actual data on how long rams are lasting on commercial farms. The aim is to gather information on how we can improve their longevity and reduce costs per lamb reared as a result. Ultimately, we want farmers to not only get the most out of their investment but also feel confident they can pay for improved genetics and know it will pay dividends over the lifetime of the ram. To achieve this we need help from commercial farmers and are asking individuals to get involved by completing the quick online survey or get involved through local focus groups. So why not volunteer to join myself or one of my colleagues for a discussion around the data collected so far? Afterwards we can continue to chew over other topics while enjoying a hot supper. Sheep farmers with more than 200 commercial breeding ewes and at least two years worth of ram purchase information are eligible to take part in the focus group meetings, with several still to be held in England and Scotland. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD With expressions of optimism and resolve, and admissions of fear over the ascent of President Donald Trump, clergy members and others urged listeners Sunday to remain united and work to protect the rights of all citizens, especially the most powerless. A number of clergy members and members of groups representing African-Americans, Muslims, Latinos and gay and lesbian residents in Stamford spoke to roughly 100 people at a vigil at the Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday afternoon. The vigil was organized by the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, a group of clergy and community leaders who foster understanding between different faith traditions. Words matter and weve ended up with a leader who doesnt think words matter to the body politic, said the Rev. Michael Hyman, director of the Chester Addison Center. One after the other, speakers denounced Trump and his campaigns often divisive rhetoric regarding, among others, Mexicans and Muslims. The great teacher Jesus Christ said you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free, said the Rev. Todd Yonkman, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Stamford. As seekers of truth and pursuers of freedom, we will not be bamboozled by alternative facts or other euphemisms for the truth that is among us. That truth is kindness, compassion and unity. Yonkman was, presumably, making reference to an interview that aired Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press, in which Kellyanne Conway, counselor to Trump, said the presidents press secretary gave alternative facts when he referred to the crowd at Fridays inauguration at the largest ever. Others who spoke included Anthony Crisci, executive director of the Triangle Community Center in Norwalk, a gathering spot for LGBT residents in Fairfield County. Crisci talked about the struggle for same-sex marriage, and how LGBT people and their supporters have battled intolerance for years. This (Trump) administration isnt the biggest threat to our rights weve ever faced or the biggest challenge we will overcome, Crisci said. It is just another chapter in the battle of good versus evil, light versus darkness. ... Weve been in this fight before. Invoking the Biblical figure of Moses, Stamford Mayor David Martin said he has worried whether the opposition to Trump will have the mettle to resist losing ground on rights. But Martin said he was heartened by the sight on Saturday of thousands of women and other outraged constituencies protesting in Mill River Park, along with hundreds of thousands more nationwide in an effort to safeguard rights. Im not sure there was a single Moses. I think it was a number of people over a period of time that led Israel out of slavery, Martin said. I think many of our Moseses were out there and they are the audience today. Earlier, Martin told the congregants has been dispirited by the tendency of Trump and others to insult critics and others, instead of arguing rationally. These arent just insults toward politicians, but toward women, African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims and people with disabilities and I admit I am ashamed, Martin said. I wonder where the Moses is who will lead us to the promised Land and it scares me. After more than an hour and a half of speeches and music, the congregants were asked to reflect and write down what they would commit to do to produce a more unified society. Daniel Beltran, 60, of Stamford, who attended the vigil with his husband, Armando Calderon, said he pledged to never give up and to also support the diverse rights of other groups when they are threatened. I am not only a Cuban-American, but also a gay man, married to my husband, so there is more than one right that I could lose, said Beltran. But I realize that this is about more than me. It is about protecting the rights of all Americans. STAMFORD A man working on a West Side home found a gun under the porch, police said. A person hired to clean debris under a porch on Richmond Hill Avenue alerted police about 9:30 a.m. Sunday about the discovery. The person was pulling out old gutters when he found the weapon, Sgt. Sean McGowan said. McGowan said the gun was manufactured by the Belgium gun maker, Fabrique Nationale. The home is about a quarter mile from where an 18-year-old city man was shot several times in the head in a convenience store on West Main Street Thursday night. McGowan said the report did not indicate if the gun was loaded. The gun will be examined to determine if it has been used in previous crimes. Jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com; tesla autopilot fatality Just a few months after the federal government opened up its investigation into Tesla's Autopilot system, the electric carmaker released a software update that could have prevented the whole ordeal in the first place. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched its investigation in June after a driver died in an accident that occurred while his Tesla Model S was operating with Autopilot activated. The Model S passed under a truck and, ultimately, drove off the road because the Autopilot system was unable to distinguish between the white truck and bright sky to apply the brake. NHTSA closed the investigation on Thursday and said it will not issue a recall. But the government agency also hinted that there is room for the nature of recalls to change if over-the-air updates can make cars safer. "Sure I think thats something we will take a look at in the future," NHTSA spokesperson Bryan Thomas said when asked if NHTSA is considering changing the recall structure as over-the-air updates become more common. He added that such a change is not in the works right now. Tesla and accountability Tesla autopilot NHTSA raised two keys points when clearing Tesla of any wrongdoing. One was that, as a Level 2 self-driving system, the onus was on the driver to monitor the system and intervene something the driver who died in this accident had ample time to do. The other was that Autopilot was known to be unable to detect traffic crossing in front of the vehicle, so it was not defective when it didn't apply the brake. Thomas said that even though Tesla issued a software update in September 2016, which the company claimed could have prevented the accident, it shouldn't be seen as a "remedy." Essentially, Autopilot was not defective by not applying the brake before hitting the truck, even though it presumably would do so in the same situation today because of the software update. Story continues Still, the Tesla investigation suggests that in the future, automakers may be able to avoid costly recalls through software updates before investigations into potential defects even close. NHTSA even acknowledges that the Tesla update addressed some of its concerns about Autopilot in its report. That's something most traditional automakers can't currently do during an ongoing investigation because their vehicles aren't capable of wireless updates. Instead, most car owners today have to take their vehicle to a dealer to get a software update. In the future, NHTSA may change how it handles defects if it determines issuing a software update is faster than the recall process, Thomas said. "These are questions the agency will have to deal with in the future, but we would very much like to move quickly toward that future," Thomas said. Still, at least for now, automakers are still on the hook for a recall if a defect is found, even if a simple over-the-air update could fix it. "While we are getting to an era of being able to do over the air updates and correct problems as they arise, it doesnt change the manufacturer's responsibility that if a defect has been identified they still have to file a 573 and issue a recall," Thomas said. "In the future, if a defect was identified, it's not enough just to issue a software update, an actual recall has to be issued. And then that software update can happen," he continued. Ultimately, the Tesla investigation highlights how the government will need to race the clock to ensure automakers are held accountable for defects, even if they can be fixed easily with software updates. NOW WATCH: Watch a Tesla predict an accident and react before it even happens More From Business Insider B ack of the queue, eh? We now know that Theresa May will be the first European head of government to visit the White House, this Friday. And we are told that preliminary talks on a trade deal start right away. The idea that trade talks with the US should begin this week is encouraging for a number of reasons. The US is our largest trading partner, bigger than Germany, though of course the EU as a whole is much larger still. It is also a more equal relationship you might say a more healthy one in that our trade account with the US is in rough balance whereas with Europe it is in huge deficit. So anything that enhances trade with the US must be welcome. It is welcome, too, as a signal that the new Administration is prepared to look outwards rather than crudely stamp on all foreign trade relationships. We know so little about the direction that Donald Trump and his cabinet will take on just about everything that any indication it will be pro-international trade rather than knee-jerk protectionist is a bit of a relief. Besides, a trade deal with the US gives a signal to the rest of the world that the UK will remain an open economy, whatever the arrangement reached with Europe. And it bodes well for co-operation in other fields. We are and will remain a most junior partner of the relationship, but at the margin we are useful. We may be able to nudge. However, in going into these negotiations, the UK team should remember three things. The first is that America will put America first. The harsh message from Trump last Friday does at least have the benefit of clarity. We all know where we stand. There will be a deal, and that will benefit both sides. But it would be naive not to accept as we go into negotiations which side has the stronger hand. The second is that you do not easily transform economic relationships. Distance matters less than it used to, but it is not dead. The trucks and trains will still be bringing stuff across the Channel. European supply chains are so integrated that, while as a proportion of our total trade with the EU has been falling for more than a decade, Europe will remain our largest overall trading partner for some years to come. Trade deals with the US and the rest of the world are welcome but do not replace those with Europe. We need a deal there too. The third point is that the UK is useful to the US in part because of our relationship with Europe. The greater the rift with Europe, the less use Britain is to America. That is not a simple trading thing although, in financial services in particular, London has been the base for many American banks to enter the EU market. It is the wider issue, the extent to which Britain has been able to push Europe in a direction that broadly supports our mutual interests. Under many different US administrations and UK governments, there have been common objectives for the European continent as a whole. But outside the EU, it will be harder for the UK to achieve those. We will have less leverage in Europe, maybe much less. There is, however, a model and that wise bird, German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble pointed to it yesterday in an interview in the Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung. It is Switzerland. Britons should take as an example how cleverly Switzerland has linked national sovereignty and close co-operation with the European Union, Schauble said. He meant it as a warning that we should not overplay our hand. We should, for example, accept as Switzerland has done substantial immigration from Europe. But there is another way of looking at the Swiss model, which is to see how it has cleverly bolstered its global position while doing bilateral deals with the EU. Some while ago, I was chatting with the head of one of our largest property companies. He was in favour of Brexit, before that looked on the cards. He argued that the world needed a big Switzerland: an advanced developed country in the European time zone that was outside the regulatory straitjacket the bureaucrats had imposed. Switzerland was too small to be able to carry out that role. Britain, with its links around the world could do it. Europe in a way was too small for Britain. That surely should be the mindset that our negotiators should adopt in their talks in the US this week. Brexit will work best for America if Britain remains closely engaged in Europe but uses its new freedoms to become a more effective base for American companies in the European time zone. They may have to set up their little branch offices in Paris or Frankfurt, if they dont already have them. But they will do the real business in the UK because we can create a more welcoming business environment. You can see in their speeches both Theresa May and Philip Hammond stumbling around this space, but their ideas have yet to gel. The big Switzerland is not a bad target to aim for. May should remember this in her talks with The Donald on Friday. O ne day last summer, security guards at the London Metal Exchanges swanky new Finsbury Square offices thought they were coming under fire. Loud bangs like gunshots resounded around the building. Thankfully, it wasnt a terror attack but the sound of structural steel pins cracking in the upper floors. Trading was evacuated from the financial capital of the world to Chelmsford. Chief executive Garry Jones pointed out how lucky it was the incident happened during the summer months when trading volumes were low. Trouble is, its not just July and August that have seen low trading volumes in this last outpost of open-outcry holler-and-wave trading in London. Even as the market has picked up, volumes have been low. And for traders, the reasons simple: since the Hong Kong Exchange bought it for $2.2 billion four years ago, the price of access to the market has gone up too much. In these quarters, Joness departure today will not be mourned. But their criticisms tell only half the story. When the LME was mutually owned by its members, it was the cheapest place to trade anywhere. Those trader-members who agreed to take the money from the highest bidder must have known it would want to make a return on its investment. And given that their fees are the main source of revenue, they must have expected prices to go up. Under pressure to make profits for Hong Kong and keep access charges low for customers, Jones was in an impossible position. He tried some compromises but the complaints continued getting louder, doubtless a prime reason for his sudden departure today. But whoever his successor is, the Hong Kong Exchange will still want to get its moneys worth. If members were worried about prices, they shouldnt have sold in the first place. Industrious approach Theresa Mays industrial strategy is a welcome change both from the laissez-faire yea rs of George Osborne and the business-bashing that marked the PMs first months in charge. Key industries must work hand in hand with the state to make sure theyre getting the support from state functions like education, transport and tax that they need. Two points that mustnt get lost in the hubbub: while Britain languishes at the bottom of the world league tables for fast-internet fibre optic to homes and businesses, forward-looking companies will struggle to thrive. And as long as schools fail to make coding a key part of the curriculum, well never keep up with competition from Asia and the US. Much work to do. T he London Metal Exchange is on the hunt for a new chief executive after the surprise departure of Garry Jones. Jones, who headed the bourse for three and a half years and was formerly CEO of Liffe, will retire from the business with immediate effect, LME owner Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing said on Monday. He will remain an informal adviser to the 140-year-old institution for the next 12 months. We thank Garry for the contributions he has made to the transformation of the LME over the last few years and we wish him the best in his new endeavours, HKEX chief executive Charles Li said. Chief operating officer Matthew Chamberlain will take over as interim chief executive, with the head of market operations Andrew Dodsworth stepping into Chamberlains shoes. The departure comes amid a challenging time for the London exchange with trading volumes down 7.7% last year, despite a strong rebound in global commodities in the second half. A big rise in member fees in January 2015 has also prompted anger while the LME was also forced to temporarily move to Essex last year after a technical hitch with its new offices in Finsbury Square. The LME is the last bastion of open-outcry trading in Europe, with traders entering a ring to buy and sell orders for customers. U K manufacturers and tech companies today threw their weight behind the Governments new industrial strategy but warned that ministers need to maintain the pressure to shake up the sector. Prime Minister Theresa May was today setting out a 10-point plan in a consultation paper in an attempt to give the Government a more active role in UK industry. Antony Walker, deputy chief executive of Tech UK, said: Were very positive about it. The Government is recognising we need to build capacity and a strategy over time. It shouldnt be measured on whats announced today its about building capability over time to work with businesses across different sectors. EEF chief economist Lee Hopley said: Industrial strategy should span over parliaments. This is the start of a process. She added the strategy should not just fall on the shoulders of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy but spans different departments. Mike Hawes, chief executive of carmakers group SMMT, said current policies worked well and the new plan must build on that success, addressing Britains weaknesses. T he boss of recruiter SThree on Monday cast doubt on Frankfurts claims it will steal City jobs after Brexit, and cautioned against believing scaremongering about the industrys future. Ahead of the referendum a number of banks warned they would consider moving jobs from London should Britain elect to leave the EU. Since the vote, Frankfurt and other European cities have begun to woo financial firms. Morgan Stanley reportedly has plans to move 1000 roles from Britain, while Citi will shift 100 jobs to Dublin and JPMorgan is scouting possible locations in Germany and Poland. But SThree boss Gary Elden said his concern for the banking industry, which provides 16% of turnover, was a hiring freeze rather than an exodus of roles. Only two of the top 10 investment banks are actively recruiting in the US and UK. SThrees banking revenue was down 19% in Britain and 9% overall in the year to November 30. When we saw the Brexit announcement the Frankfurt office did celebrate thinking the world would change completely, but it hasnt really, said Elden. It will take a while to flow through to recruitment and there is a lot of scaremongering floating around. Elden said SThree is doing more business in fintech to offset bankings weakness. SThree has diversified into different areas, such as life sciences, and focused on contract rather than permanent roles. That helped it report a 6% rise in adjusted full-year revenue to 959.9 million. Pre-tax profit fell 1% to 40.8 million. I have a running war with the media, President Trump declared on his first day in office. And that much, we can safely say, is true. But what came next in a speech to the CIA at Langley quite simply was not. They made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community, he said, reminding us of his claim that the CIA had leaked the compromising dossier about him. Remember that tweet? 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? He then accused the papers of manipulating photographs to make it seem as if his inauguration had not drawn many people. We caught them in a beauty, said the President. Theyre going to pay a big price. Size matters when youre Donald Trump. And he perceived the photograph as a slight. And that hurt. He then sent forth the man who may be the worlds unluckiest press secretary, Sean Spicer, to spread the word that his inaugural crowd had bettered President Obamas in 2009. Spicer attacked his new role with vigour, telling a White House briefing room: These attempts to lessen the enthusiasm of the inauguration are shameful and wrong. White House press secretary condemns reporting of Donald Trump's inauguration George Orwells Minitrue could not have put it better. When history is wrong, it needs rewriting. This, let me remind you, was on day one. Those searching for meaning want to believe that what sounded like rampant, clinical narcissism was in fact Trumps way of diverting the news cycle from the (record-breaking) Womens March on Washington going on right on their doorstep. Perhaps. But maybe the real question now is how those of us listening to the lies respond. So much centres around the question of balance. So weaponised, so overused. Thrown in our faces when we strive to say anything that reaches past a seesaw of yes and no. Of course the natural instinct is to report the statement in its entirety then reach to the other side for reaction. But that doesnt work when you are the other side: something as amorphous as the media itself. Nor should it have to work, when a statement is so easily, demonstrably untrue. Our priority, uncomfortable as it sounds, is not one of balance but of fairness. We are not being fair to our readers or our viewers if we know something to be untrue and we simply fail to say it. How the worlds newspapers reacted to Donald Trumps inauguration 1 /14 How the worlds newspapers reacted to Donald Trumps inauguration New leader: An arrangement of British newspapers show US President Donald Trump on the front pages the day after his inauguration Getty Images The New York Post quoted Mr Trumps inaugural speech in which he promised to return power back to American voters. It said: Power to you, the people. New York Post The Washington Post ran with the headline: Trump takes power: New president vows to end American carnage. Washington Post Frances Le Figaro featured the billionaire businessman on the cover of its magazine edition, writing: What if he did the job? Le Figaro The headline of German newspaper Der Spiegel read: The new world order Trumps game. Der Spiegel The Daily Mail newspaper ran with the headline I swear to be the Peoples President with a picture of Mr Trump taking the oath of office Daily Mail The Daily Mirrors front page read: Trumps war on the world. Daily Mirror "Trump unveils new era", read the frontpage of the Times The Independent's headline said: "So help us god" The Guardian referred to Mr Trump's pledge to "Put America first" The Telegraph referred to Mr Trump's pledge to "end American carnage" At the weekend The New York Times reported Trumps claims as falsehoods. It was a gentle word. But it did what few other papers felt able to do: it told its readers the difference between fact and fiction backed up, in this case, by a scientist and expert in crowd control who had studied both the Obama inauguration and the Trump inauguration to compare numbers (Obamas he declared to be much larger). It is unedifying to be in a position where the media is fighting back against the democratically elected leader, on his first day in office. But the alternative is worse: to become a voice cowed by a sense of neutrality or decency into not doing its job. Words matter in a presidency. And the President took an oath of allegiance not to the media but to the country. We are lucky yes, lucky to have a President who still insists on tweeting. And long may we encourage him to do so. Those 140 characters may provide the best way of reminding him what he once said. T he finding that a majority of Londoners 55 per cent in an Ipsos Mori poll for this paper back a strike ban on train drivers is published on what is another strike day for Southern rail. It would be unsurprising if Southern commuters were not even more supportive of a ban than any other group of Londoners. Southern promises that tomorrow there will be no stoppages on its services; right now this feels like an unusual state of affairs. Feelings in the rest of the country about banning rail workers from striking are very different from in London: 61 per cent of respondents nationwide do not support a ban. But that is because the rest of the country is less dependent on rail. London is reliant on a functioning rail service; if the trains dont run, commuters dont get to work, or arrive late, and business cannot function. The RMT and Aslef strikes have taken a toll on passengers jobs: some people have given up the struggle to commute and some have been sacked for being late. Rail workers are indisputably essential workers so far as London is concerned. They are the group who run the service which enables the London economy to function. When other workers strike it affects just their sector; when transport workers do so, it has an effect on everyone. Tomorrow a Tory MP, Chris Philp, proposes a Bill that would give judges power to decide whether a strike on essential services, including rail and the NHS, is legitimate; if it became law, a strike could only go ahead with judicial approval. This will be an indication of parliamentary support for such a measure. Bringing in judges to decide the validity of a strike is one way to go; others would include raising the bar for approving action in a strike ballot or confining action to overtime bans. The freedom to withhold labour is a valuable right but it cannot be absolute for those on whom the functioning of the economy depends: that includes rail workers. Its time for the Government to introduce legislation of its own. Brexit and the banks The news that some banks including Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan are touring various European cities to establish where they should relocate workers and functions following Brexit should not make us panic. It would be astonishing if they were not to do so, given that they, like the rest of us, know nothing about what the outcome of the Brexit negotiations will be. This is not a mass exodus; but it should remind us of the potential risks of a bad Brexit. Still, the banks regulators would be remiss if they were not to encourage banks to plan ahead for every possible outcome to the negotiations. This spreading of functions around Europe by the banks may be simple caution, but all the same the Government should be doing all it can to ensure the great majority of their operations remain here and with it the tax revenues provided by the City. Post-Trump, London may have more to fear from more robust competition from New York than the EU. We must look to our strengths. Dont breathe in Alerts were issued in several parts of London today in response to heightened levels of particulate pollution another indication that there is still much to do to make Londons air safe. People with pre-existing respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable. Indeed, Professor Jonathan Grigg a specialist in paediatric respiratory and environmental medicine says children with asthma should not play outside when pollution levels are at their highest. It is a sensible suggestion but a bleak one. What has it come to when our children have to stay inside to stay healthy? T heres a lot to worry about these days: hard Brexit, Trumps protectionism, Diego Costas future at Chelsea, Putins manoeuvres, conflict in the South China Sea, Boris Johnsons next gaffe, climate change. But I want you to spare a thought for US truck drivers. Because what happens to them might provide a better clue to what happens next in the world than even this Fridays summit between Theresa May and Donald Trump. According to one recent report, truck driving and related jobs employ more people than any other job in 29 out of Americas 50 states. It is estimated that there are 8.7 million trucking-related jobs in the US. It is one of the few jobs that still attracts a fairly decent income about $40,000 (32,000) a year without requiring higher academic qualifications. In other words, its a precious ingredient in the American Dream: a dependable job, accessible to everyone. Except it might soon be extinct. On May 6, 2015 in Nevada, a huge, shiny Daimler truck became the first licensed self-driving truck to hit the American highways as part of a massive testing programme before self-driving trucks are rolled out nationwide. The technology is not very complicated: radars, cameras and some straightforward software. It is a question of when, not if, American highways will be crisscrossed by thousands of similar self-driving trucks. Theresa May holds regional Cabinet meeting on industry Brexit plan And what then for the millions of truck drivers, their families and their communities? An economic earthquake, thats what, which could leave millions of people out of work. It is not as if technology hasnt devastated workers before: a century ago, around a third of workers in America had jobs in agriculture; today it is between one and two per cent. But the difference is that as machines ploughed, threshed and harvested the fields instead of the human hand, new jobs opened up in cities and factories. As technology destroyed jobs in one community, it invariably created more in others. So the technological revolutions of the past caused a mass migration from the countryside to urban areas. The coming technological earthquake risks doing something altogether more radical: eliminating the need for humans to do a vast array of jobs altogether. As one commentator has declared, software is eating the world. If you think this sounds alarmist, consider this: the Nomura Research Institute and academics from Oxford University estimate that almost half of all jobs in Japan could be done by robots in 20 years time. And the astonishing speed with which Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing is taking even the most pointy-headed scientists by surprise: in March 2016 in Seoul, Googles AI computer beat Lee Sedol, the worlds No 1 Go player, four games to one. Go is an ancient board game which originated in China 2,500 years ago, in which the number of board positions is estimated to be greater than the number of atoms in the universe. Googles team from its DeepMind division did not expect AI to adapt and win as ruthlessly as it did. David Ormerod, an American commentator, said that watching AI outmanoeuvre Sedol made him feel physically unwell. He knew he was watching a seminal moment in the victory of machines over humans. Machines that know how to adapt, innovate and improve what they do machine learning highlight something qualitatively new about the impending technological revolution: machines will not only replace humans in performing straightforward tasks such as driving a truck, they could hollow out professional jobs, too, such as book-keeping, accountancy and even the law. Blue-collar factory workers were the first to suffer obsolescence brought about by machines. But soon white-collar professionals will also be elbowed aside by the unforgiving effects of machines that can learn for themselves. Much of the rage that propelled Donald Trump to the inauguration stage on Capitol Hill last Friday was fuelled by angry blue-collar workers threatened by technological change. His answer is the deeply misguided reflex of populists down the ages: build walls, yell my country first and impose protectionist barriers against products from abroad. But he had nothing to say about the bigger, unstoppable technological change just around the corner. Nor, I safely predict, will Theresa Mays new Brexit industrial strategy have much to say either. AI is not only rendering peoples jobs obsolete, it exposes the hopeless parochialism of a political class obsessed with fighting yesterdays battles, whether its car imports from Mexico or bureaucrats in Brussels. No wonder the leaders of Silicon Valley who gathered in Davos last week were reported to be fretting. They realise, rightly, that theres a risk they will be vilified, as the bankers were after the financial crisis. Their ingenious inventions not only displace jobs, they will also generate vast profits for the tech companies. Widespread unemployment combined with new concentrations of wealth is a guarantee of more political and social unrest. So the Silicon Valley crowd, to their credit, are trying to find a way of squaring the circle: how can people lead fulfilled lives if there are fewer and fewer jobs to go round? Their favoured solution is to give everyone a universal basic income whether they have a job or not. The idea, or a variant of it, is being piloted in Finland and the Netherlands. It has a seductive simplicity to it: if machines will render many of us idle, we might as well live comfortably from the profits they produce. But I also have an old- fashioned belief in the importance of work to peoples sense of self-esteem and happiness. A society that eradicates poverty at the cost of mass worklessness is not without its problems. Technological change cannot be stopped. The benefits will be enormous, from better medical diagnoses to fewer traffic jams. How we ensure Artificial Intelligence will enhance, not hollow out, society is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Neither Trumps protectionism nor Mays hard Brexit, coming together this Friday, provide any answers. A leading British fashion company is teaming-up with Central Saint Martins to encourage more women to aim for top jobs within the industry. Suzie de Rohan Willner, chief executive of designer womenswear brand Toast, said not enough women are reaching boardroom level because they lack confidence and role models. The fashion boss, who has previously worked at FitFlop, Levi Strauss and Puma, will launch a mentoring competition on February 2 as part of the universitys Women in the Arts scheme. Saint Martins course leader Jennifer Tuckett said research shows only a handful of women occupy chief executive positions despite women accounting for two-thirds of fashion customers. Central Saint Martins - 2016 graduate runway 1 /24 Central Saint Martins - 2016 graduate runway Central Saint Martins show Joe Boon and Adnan Salman Jalal designs Central Saint Martins show A Yuhan Wang design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Yuhan Wang design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Yuhan Wang design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Yuhan Wang design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Joe Boon design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Joe Boon design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show An Alex Po design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show An Adnan Salman Jalal design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Jaeeun Shin design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Liam Johnson design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Soyoung Park design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Soyoung Park design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Soyoung Park design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Soyoung Park design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Soyoung Park design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show A Soyoung Park design Lucy Young Central Saint Martins show Soyoung Park designs Lucy Young Ms de Rohan Willner said: "When you look at the leading brands at CEO level theyre nearly all men. There are talented women coming into the industry, but theyre not getting to the top positions." "We need to ensure they take every opportunity they get to connect and learn from mentors to give them the confidence and skill-set to lead." Ms de Rohan Willner is one of 15 women bosses taking part in the programme including Royal Court Theatre artistic director Vicky Featherstone and English National Ballet head Tamara Rojo. For more information see universitywomeninthearts.com The London shoe designer who helped dress Tiffany Trump for her fathers inauguration today said it was "amazing to be a part of history". Aruna Seth got a phone call at 2am the day before the ceremony informing her President Donald Trumps daughter wanted to wear her shoes for the day. The 32-year-old Knightsbridge-based designer, whose shoes have been worn by Pippa Middleton and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, sent one of her staff on the first flight to Washington DC. Ella Weinberg, Seths head of marketing, arrived Thursday afternoon to hand deliver the 645 green Italian suede boots to Miss Trumps staff at her hotel. Miss Seth told the Standard: "We made the decision within a few hours. It was such an important occasion and we didnt want to miss it at all." "It wasnt a private jet it was a normal Virgin flight." "Its great to be a part of it. Its very prestigious to dress the presidents daughter and be a part of history." The forest green suede boots were made in Venice, Italy, and have emerald green Swarovski butterflies on the side and leather lace detail on the back. A friend of Miss Seths had shown Miss Trump her designs in the past but it was only at the last minute they found out they were wanted for the inauguration. Miss Seths career broke when the Duchess of Cambridges sister Pippa wore her Lynn sandal to the Buckingham Palace reception after the royal wedding. She added: "Watching the inauguration was a similar feeling to watching the royal wedding. I had the same thought process, as I couldnt see her feet either but then Pippa texted the next day to say she actually wore them." Aruna Seth "It was an amazing opportunity. We were just trying to look at her feet during the ceremony. When all the children came out on the balcony I had two screens up and desperately trying to see her shoes. It was amazing. It was brilliant." Some high-profile designers have boycotted the Trumps, with Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs stating they would never work with Melania Trump. Melania Trump: Best fashion moments - In pictures 1 /66 Melania Trump: Best fashion moments - In pictures September 22, 2017 At the Boys and Girls Club event Getty Images 1990s At an event in New York Diane Freed/Getty Images 1990s With her then-boyfriend Donald Trump Getty Images November 13, 2003 At the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York Getty Images June 7, 2004 At the CFDA Fashion Awards Getty Images December 13, 2004 At a gala to honour leaders in tourism Getty Images February 27, 2005 At the Vanity Fair Oscars Party Getty Images January 22, 2005 On the way to her wedding with Donald Trump Jeffrey Langlois/PB Daily News/Palm Beach Daily News/Rex April 20, 2005 At the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Annual Hot Pink Party Getty Images June 23, 2005 At the premiere of "War Of The Worlds" in New York Getty Images September 18, 2005 At the Emmy Awards Getty Images February 6, 2008 At a reception to benefit UNICEF hosted by Gucci Getty Images May 24, 2010 At the "Sex And The City 2" premiere in New York Getty Images May 2, 2011 At the Met Gala Getty Images May 7, 2012 At the Met Gala Getty Images October 9, 2016 At the second presidential debate at Washington University AFP/Getty Images November 9, 2016 On stage during Donald Trump's election night event Getty Images January 19, 2017 At the Candlelight Dinner one day before her husband Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President EPA January 20, 2017 With Michelle Obama at the White House AP March 17, 2017 At their Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach Getty Images April 27, 2017 At the White House AFP/Getty Images April 5, 2017 The Trump's welcomes King Abdullah II of Jordan and his wife Queen Rania of Jordan Getty Images May 25, 2017 At the arrival of the French President AFP/Getty Images May 26, 2017 At the Chierici Palace City Hall of Catania AFP/Getty Images May 26, 2017 At the ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina AFP/Getty Images June 29, 2017 Awaiting the arrival of the Korean President and his wife AFP/Getty Images June 26, 2017 Bidding farewell to Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi AFP/Getty Images June 24, 2017 At the wedding of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin Getty Images July 6, 2017 On route to the Hamburg G20 economic summit Getty Images July 7, 2017 At the G20 economic summit Getty Images July 8, 2017 At the second day of the G20 summit Getty Images July 25, 2017 At the Make America Great Again rally AFP/Getty Images July 13, 2017 On a visit to Paris Getty Images September 23, 2017 Ahead of the Invictus Games 2017 Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation September 20, 2017 At the United States Mission in New York AFP/Getty Images September 14, 2017 At the White House Historical Association Getty Images October 3, 2017 Preparing to board Marine One AFP/Getty Images October 11, 2017 With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Getty Images October 20, 2017 At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History AFP/Getty Images November 3, 2017 On a trip to Asia Getty Images November 7, 2017 On a visit to Seoul Getty Images November 9, 2017 In the Great Hall of the People AFP/Getty Images November 9, 2017 At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing AFP/Getty Images November 21, 2017 At the pardoning ceremony of the National Thanksgiving Turkey Getty Images December 31, 2017 At Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort New Year's Eve party AFP/Getty Images April 23, 2018 US first lady Melania Trump walks outside the White House AFP/Getty Images April 24, 2018 U.S President Donald Trump, and U.S. first lady Melania Trump arrive at first State Dinner Getty Images April 24, 2018 Melania stands with French first lady Brigitte Macron Getty Images 24 April 2019. US President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington EPA January 13, 2020 Melania Trump and Donald Trump put their hands over their hearts for the anthem Getty Images Michelle Obamas designer Sophie Theallet wrote an open letter encouraging a boycott citing the "rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia" of the presidents campaign. But Miss Seth said it was "not an issue" for her, adding: "Tiffany Trump is a young girl, she just graduated." "Shes an educated girl. I think its an amazing thing." "Its still a historical occasion and now hes president and she is his daughter. She just wants to look elegant and pretty." C entrepoints Young and Homeless Helpline will launch on February 13 thanks to the generosity of Standard readers who have helped raise more than 2 million via our charity appeal. Announcing the date, Centrepoint ambassador Lorraine Kelly hailed the success of the Standards fundraising drive and voiced delight that the service will soon be assisting young people. She added: The helpline is absolutely vital. It could be a lifesaver. It is going to get as many young people off the streets as we can, get them out of situations where they are vulnerable, make them proud of themselves, arm them with education and skills: basic things that everybody is entitled to. It will be the first national helpline for 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of a life on the street. The Freephone, online and text service will give vital housing support, provide expert advice on issues such as mental health, addiction and family breakdown, and link people with services they need. The amount raised means the start date can be confirmed. Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin said: Because of Londons generosity the helpline is almost ready to launch. Standard readers have made this incredible campaign unforgettable and this vital service possible. Thank you. Kelly urged people to keep on giving to ensure the helplines long-term future and fund other Centrepoint services. The ITV host said she despaired that homelessness still existed in Britain. She warned of a creeping acceptance of the problem: Its shameful. It shouldnt be happening, not in a country like this. Its almost like its not a problem, when its everybodys problem. Most of us through no fault of our own could end up like that. Kelly has made a commitment to Centrepoint in her will and urging others to do the same for the Give homeless young people the chance to dream legacy campaign. Tickets are still available for Centrepoints Laughing Point charity comedy gig at the Lyric Theatre tonight. Call 0330 333 4812 or visit nimaxtheatres.com/lyric-theatre. For details about the legacy campaign, visit centrepoint.org.uk/dreams W ith money a little tighter at the start of the year, and some friends doing Dry January, it doesn't feel quite right to splash out on an expensive bottle of wine. Buying a cheaper wine is always a risk, though. Sometimes a 6 Sauvignon or special-offer Pinot slips down a treat; other times, the sharp aftertaste feels as though it's corroding your throat. Now one keen wine-drinker has shared a simple trick that he reckons could improve a poorly-balanced vintage. Nathan Myhrvold, Microsoft's former chief technology officer, told the Wall Street Journal that he added a pinch of salt to a glass of Cabernet at a dinner party after a guest said it wasn't savoury enough. That guest was none other than Gina Gallo of E. & J. Gallo Winery, and she was apparently very pleased with the result. "Pretty soon everyone at the table was doing this," Myhrvold said. Now, this trick's not going to work with all wines, but if you find yourself drinking something that's just a little too sweet, it's surely worth a try. Incidentally, if you're looking to shake up your wine-drinking habits this year, these new flat wine bottles could be just the thing. Read more from Refinery29: The Best Restaurants In London For A #BathroomSelfie You Have To See This Unicorn Corn The 10 Most Ordered Deliveroo Dishes In London T his weekend, millions of people marched on Washington DC, London and other cities around the world to protest against President Donald Trump. In a show of peaceful protest, the coordinated marches - more than 600 in total - brought cities across the globe to a standstill, just one day after President Trump was inaugurated into office. Men and women marched for a number of issues, from racial equality to sexism, in a mass mobilisation of those who felt under threat from the new US administration. The message of diversity was clearly not lost on future generations - with protesters barely able to talk coming out to show their support for the cause. One particular toddler lit up the internet by giving President Donald Trump a piece of her mind with this homemade sign. She had been watching us make our signs and she had grabbed the markers and she had gone to town on it, her father told Buzzfeed. She obviously had something to say and she did it herself. The picture was posted to Facebook by an observer during the marches, where it recieved thousands of shares. People were soon taking to Twitter to talk about the young girl and her creation, inspiring the hashtag #WokeBaby ('woke' being the slang term for being aware of what's going on in your community). "I feel like #WokeBaby just gave us something powerful here but our third eye ain't ready for the truth", wrote one Tweeter. "When #WokeBaby's sign still makes more sense than Trump's policies", said another. But #WokeBaby wasnt the only youngster making history on the streets of her city. From Trafalgar Square to Downtown DC, weve gathered together some of the most passionate young activists who were on the move this weekend. Click through the gallery above to see. Follow us on Twitter: @eslifeandstyle S ulking is an indulgence. Unlike the corrosive fury of rage, or the distraction of anxiety, sulking is silly and selfish. And obviously it never works, because sulking is not convincing. In fact, it is pointless: no one will handle you until the grimace clears and that plump bottom lip retracts and you will not get what you want. Furthermore, its also an admission of weakness. Ultimately, you do not sulk when you have the courage to address something directly: its a way of mollifying yourself because youve been ignored. Which is, obviously, why you regularly sulk in the office. At work you are a pathological sulk. Loath to address your dissatisfaction and terrified of telling anyone how you feel, you defer instead to sitting in damp anger, sulking. Later, swilling wine from a bucket, you complain until your housemates agree youre in the right just so that youll stop talking about it. Everyone does it, though every office will have a designated teenager: someone who performs their sulks, adding a flounce as they turn on their heel, or an exaggerated sigh when the office is at its quietest pitch. And while it feels like no one has noticed no one appreciates you chances are your boss has. And has decided youre toxic. At which point, it becomes sort of irrelevant whether or not theyre in the wrong: youre in trouble. Ultimately, you dont pay your rent with self-righteousness. If your boss thinks youre being a brat, then you need to change your approach. Mercifully, theres advice waiting. Esoteric educational establishment The School of Life recently addressed sulking recommending that you probe the reasons why you sulk and try to gently correct them and the latest intel from Silicon Valley, the crucible of workplace buzzwords, recommends that we all practice radical candour in the office, which is basically an emphatic way of suggesting we speak our minds. Radical candour is, obviously, the opposite of sulking. But while the latter is a redundant weapon, the former can be potent if used effectively. Effectively does not mean brutally, or as part of a kamikaze mission; it does not mean telling your line manager coolly, after a pause that you stopped listening when they spat on your cheek during that one-on-one. It simply means having the hard conversations: responding, honestly, when someone asks you for your thoughts. Its undeniably a better way to make a change. Smart laptops - in pictures 1 /6 Smart laptops - in pictures AirBar Turn your laptop into a fancy smart one with this plug-in bar: it enables you to tap, swipe and pinch your screen as if it were a real touchscreen. 61, Airbar, Buy it now MacBook Pro 15 Apples latest employs some of the touchscreen capabilities of your iPhone thanks to an integrated Touch Bar, replacing the row of function keys on the old one. From 1,449, Apple, Buy it now Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Tap tap and away: Dells XPS model has been frequently lauded as the best laptop on the market thanks to its hyper-responsive and super-high-resolution screen. 999, Dell, Buy it now Lenova Yoga 900 Who needs a laptop and an iPad when you can get two in one? The 360-degree rotating screen allows you to flip away the keyboard, enabling touchscreen usage whenever youre in tablet mood. 1,000, Amazon, Buy it now ASUS Republic of Gamers GX700 If youre a serious gamer you need this, the worlds first liquid-cooled laptop. A hydro overclocking system slots into the back, pumping coolant to keep the processor and graphics running perfectly. 4,000, PC World, Buy it now On the other hand, sulking at work condemns you to perpetual dissatisfaction, and its also quite distracting you dont have time to change your role, but you also dont have time to do the work youre supposed to. Sulking is whats stopping you from getting that promotion, probably. Obviously it takes (Dutch) courage (disclaimer: do not drink at work), but next time you feel your mood curdling into a sulk, consider what it is that is making you feel so resentful. Perhaps you want more responsibility; perhaps you have too much. Perhaps you feel bored or overlooked. Analyse your feelings, then take a deep breath and consider how you can outline them so you can raise them with someone else. Contrary to common lore, your boss would rather take five minutes to hear your measured thoughts than listen to you mutter from across the open-plan office. Moreover, stop those little tics rolling your eyes, huffing, sighing through gritted teeth, frowning at a spreadsheet and you might find your mood improves a little on its own. Sulking is detached and disengaged; honesty is brave. Time to reconnect. Follow Phoebe Luckhurst on Twitter: @phoebeluckhurst L ooming behind St Andrew Holborn, the Sir Christopher Wren-designed parish church that sits at one of Londons busiest junctions, a glass-and-steel giant is taking shape. Goldman Sachss gleaming 1 billion European headquarters has been a long time coming. The investment bank bought an old BT building around the corner from its Fleet Street base 16 years ago but demolition plans were halted when a set of Sixties ceramic murals were granted protected status. Four years ago, the banking factory with capacity for 8,000 staff moved a step closer to reality when approval was granted and the murals were relocated. Today, construction is gathering pace and by 2019 it could be complete just as the UK formally exits the European Union. Post-Brexit, as fears rise of a banking exodus, will the City of London still warrant headquarters status? The Square Mile burghers hope so. But last week, as Theresa May confirmed Brexit meant giving up membership of the single market, bankers gave voice to the numbers they have for months been whispering quietly the human cost to the financial services industry of the UK going it alone. Theresa May holds regional Cabinet meeting on industry Brexit plan JP Morgan bosses are touring Germany and Poland looking to relocate 2,500 staff, while Morgan Stanley has identified 1,000 sales, trading and legal jobs that could go. HSBC indicated it would transfer about 1,000 trading staff from London to its Paris base on the Champs-Elysees in two years time. The chairman of UBS, Axel Weber, said around 1,000 of the Swiss banks London employees would be affected by Brexit. Goldman, whose very visible commitment to the capital is taking shape on Farringdon Street, played down reports that half its London workforce was on the move. A final decision is still to be made, but it could send 1,000 jobs to Frankfurt to continue servicing EU clients. As JPMorgan Chase supremo Jamie Dimon said: It looks like there will be more job movement than we hoped for. With the loss of passporting rights that let banks sell services across the EU from London, even Lloyds Banking Group, which does the majority of its business in the UK, will need to set up a subsidiary, probably in Frankfurt, so it can hang on to its German and Dutch retail clients. But it is not all doom and gloom. Bankers are still betting that London will hang on to its crown as Europes dominant financial centre, with Barclays boss Jes Staley saying it will continue to be the financial lungs of the region. HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver forecasts that the industrys Brexit-induced lost revenues will be made good in two or three years time and that little of the foreign exchange, bonds and equities activity would need to move. Insurers and asset managers believe it will be much easier for them to adapt to the new world. JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley are rumoured to be relocating staff / EPA The banks are actually very keen not to move jobs if they can avoid it, not least because their staff dont generally want to move overseas. Theyve got houses here and they enjoy living in London, says Anthony Browne, chief executive of the British Bankers Association (BBA). The banks are working out what it is they need to do, what all the options are. Now we have certainty we are not going to remain members of the single market, we can cross that off the list. Farage: Brexit and Trump the start of a 'global revolution' So much remains up in the air, such as confirmation that EU nationals already living in the UK are free to stay on after Brexit. This uncertainty affects 12 per cent of City workers as well as many more in other industries. Big hitters led by Baroness Vadera, chairman of Santander UK, are trying to persuade international lenders not to act yet as a future trading agreement is thrashed out for the financial services sector and bosses press for a standstill deal in the meantime. Consulting firm Oliver Wyman predicts the best-case scenario would have cost the UK 4,000 jobs and 500 million in tax revenue and the worst where our relationship with the EU is defined by World Trade Organisation terms could add up to losses of 35,000 jobs and 5 billion in tax. However, those latter figures could be doubled by the knock-on effect elsewhere in the City for example, if lines of business are closed because Brexit has made them too costly to continue. How Europe's newspapers reacted to Theresa May's Brexit speech 1 /12 How Europe's newspapers reacted to Theresa May's Brexit speech Die Welt "Little Britain" said German newspaper Die Welt in a striking splash. Politiken Brits slam the door hard on EU says Danish newspaper Politiken. Liberation French newspaper Liberation ran 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. La Repubblica "Brexit: London gets its wall," says Italy's La Repubblica, adding: "away from the EU and commonmarket". The Irish Independent The Irish Independent picked up on the PM's pledge about the open border, calling it "an illusion". El Pais Immigration is the issue for Spain's El Pais. Although it wasn't on the front, the paper ran an article with the headline: "May quits the single market to have full control over immigration." (Photo Pilar Fernandez) El Mundo Similar to El Pais but splashing with the story, Spain's El Mundo said: "Theresa May quits the single market in order to control immigration" Corriere della Sera Italian paper Corriere della Sera splashed with Theresa Mays clear cut Cinco Dias "May challenges the EU with a hostile Brexit". The irony is not lost on financiers vilified for their fat bonuses and supposedly thin morals that a vote to leave has suddenly made them flavour of the month. The strategic importance of financial services accounting for 12 per cent of the UKs economic output is one thing; the wealth that keeps tills ringing in Londons best restaurants and car showrooms is quite another. Rather than physically relocating people, some of the rebalancing can be done by not filling roles as staff quit and hiring alternatives hundreds of miles away. For now, a whole Brexit industry has whirred into life as businesses consider what to do next. Karen Briggs, head of Brexit at consulting group KPMG, reports that clients are most concerned about customs, tariffs, immigration, supply-chain management, tax and passporting. Theresa May lectures super-rich at Davos as Brexit plan backlash grows The potential for some businesses to relocate outside the UK is an area of huge interest, but in general companies are not presenting things as a binary choice between uprooting themselves or persevering in the same location, says Briggs, who co-ordinates a team of 35 UK industry Brexperts that have helped to plan for different scenarios to hedge against disruption. Its more about keeping their options open and being able to make a nimble response. Beyond financial services, activity has been brisk in the healthcare and airline industries. Its all systems go and that will carry on right through this calendar year, says a senior Brexit lawyer at a City legal firm that has begun staffing up as demand for regulatory advice increases. So far, its more of the intellectual stuff rather than hordes of lawyers trawling through documents. Fears are rising of a 'banking exodus' / EPA But that will quickly change. Contingency plans are being made for the hardest Brexit as banks examine their operations line by line, which regulators they must comply with as they shift business and how few staff they can get away with relocating. Finding new real estate is the easy bit. What takes time is the setting up of new legal entities with the appropriate banking licences, trading technology, clearing, risk and payments systems. Bosses are divided on where to go. Paris appeals, but what about the labour laws? says one senior banker. And if we take advantage of the tax-free deals that are on offer, theyll be burning piles of tyres in La Defense, he adds, referring to the major business district to the west of Paris. Not only do Paris and Frankfurt have inferior nightlife, but they lag behind in the education stakes too. According to Reuters Breakingviews, when JPMorgan explored how hard it would be to move its currency trading desk from London to Paris years before the Brexit vote, it concluded it would take 30 years to find school places for the offspring of the departments 800 staff. Anthony Browne of the BBA is convinced London will hang on to its global pre-eminence. Watch Theresa May's speech in full as the Prime Minister outlines her Brexit strategy in detail It has so many strengths: the depth of talent and the agglomeration of so many sectors based here. That is not going to go away. Banks and other financial services firms are still going to want to have major operations based out of London. As an example, just look at how Goldman has chosen to run its business from London. Its decision to scale up here can be traced back to the introduction of the euro. Co-locating its traders with its compliance and technology experts is cheaper and safer. It is why the vast majority of the Wall Street banks 6,000 staff in Europe, Middle East and Africa sit in London, even though only one-third of its business in the region is for UK clients. There are only 250 bodies in Frankfurt. Brexit means New York has already gained, Goldmans chief executive, Lloyd Blankfein, confessed last week, because the vampire squid bank was already moving more operations staff to London to take advantage of the time zone. In New York it is hard to watch Asia, and so we were on track to move more and more of our global activity, so global ops, global technology, all those things made more and more sense to operate out of UK, Blankfein said. Now were slowing down that decision because we dont value doing things twice; moving them there and then moving them away from there. As for its new European headquarters, it was always going to sub-let space once staff had been moved in from its two sites on Fleet Street. Now Goldman might have to sub-let some more. Follow James Ashton on Twitter: @mrjamesashton D ozens of new beat officers are being deployed in London in a major shake-up of policing in the capital. The officers are the first to take up neighbourhood patrol roles as part of Mayor Sadiq Khans pledge to put at least two beat cops on local wards. About 60 officers are being deployed in two new police command areas, where a cluster of boroughs will be managed by a senior officer. The plan will replace the existing borough-based policing system with about 12 new super boroughs commanded by a chief superintendent. Under the trial, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Havering will form one new command unit and Camden and Islington will merge into a second. This week Havering council said it was deploying 20 extra neighbourhood officers in the trial. The shake-up means CID and other investigation units will be merged and buildings, technology, vehicles and other resources will also be shared across the boroughs. Police say the mergers will free up officers who will be re-deployed on the extra neighbourhood patrols. About 33 officers are being re-deployed as neighbourhood officers in the eastern area and 27 officers are being sent to the north central unit. However, the move has faced opposition from local campaigners who argue that policing will become less responsive to local concerns. Steve OConnell, the Conservative chairman of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, said: I hope there is a positive outcome but I have some concerns that some of these boroughs are not a good fit. We will see how it plays out. A cocaine dealer caught driving around the Square Mile with 30 bags of drugs stuffed inside socks has been jailed for more than two years. Admir Palushi, 23, of no fixed abode, was pulled over by City of London police after he was spotted balancing an iPhone on his leg while hiding another phone under his lap in an Audi A6 in Aldgate. He was searched along with the car where officers found 30 bags of cocaine concealed inside two socks and a large amount of cash on December 16. Palushi was arrested for drugs offences and faced further charges when insurance documents and the cars logbook did not match his identity. Furthermore, despite initially telling police he was Greek and showing them a licence as part of his claim, he later admitted he was actually Albanian. Analysis of the ID documents proved they were fraudulent while messages stored on two phones seized from the car showed postcodes and estimated arrival times, a hallmark approach for people buying and selling cocaine. In his police interview, Palushi answered no comment to all questions put to him while he told officers he could not remember where he lived. On Monday he was jailed for 32 months at Inner London Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and holding false ID documents. He also received six penalty points for driving without insurance, while an order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, with the car and cash also seized. Detective Constable Vincent Baughan from the City of London Police said: I hope this sentence acts as a warning to anyone those engaged in this sort of criminality that the City is a hostile environment for them its just not worth the risk. We have officers out on the streets to keep the Square Mile a safe place to live, work and visit. If youre involved in this kind of offending, we will find you, and well do everything in our power to bring you before the courts. A n Islamic extremist who murdered soldier Lee Rigby near his London barracks is seeking 20,000 compensation from the taxpayer. Michael Adebolajo has found a solicitor to take on his claim after the killer had two teeth knocked out during a scuffle with Belmarsh prison officers shortly after his arrest, The Sun reported. The five officers accused by Adebolajo were suspended from work but later told they had no case to answer. Adebolajo and fellow killer Michael Adebowale were jailed after running down the 22-year-old soldier with a car as he walked towards Woolwich barracks in May 2013, before hacking him to death. Murdered: Fusilier Lee Rigby / PA The soldiers mother Lynn Rigby claimed any payout would be nothing more than blood money. She told the paper: This is the last person on earth who deserves compensation. You can replace broken teeth but you cant bring back the life of my treasured boy. It hurts so much that he just wont go away and leave us to pick up the pieces of our broken lives, she said. A mother who plotted to let a paedophile rape her seven-year-old daughter has been jailed for nine years. The woman met paedophile Stuart Bailey, 54, on online dating website Plenty of Fish and the pair began exchanging a string of depraved text messages. The mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sent a naked picture of her daughter before arranging the perverted attack, for which she was told she might receive 300. She had bought sleeping pills but was caught by her then-partner who to his disgust had found the phone messages. The woman and paedophile Stuart Bailey, 54, were both found guilty of conspiracy to rape a girl aged under 13 after a trial in December. The mum was jailed for nine years and Bailey for 13 years at Cardiff Crown Court. The judge, Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees QC, said Bailey was "prolific" in contacting a number of women on the dating website Plenty Of Fish. She said a "pattern emerged" whereby Bailey, of Rhydyfelin in Pontypridd, South Wales, quickly turned to talking about "perverted and unlawful" sexual activity, seeing how far he could push the women. "The discussion, unless cut short by the women, would then escalate to you encouraging them to (engage in) sexual activity with children, she said. Officers began investigating in June last year after the mother's then partner found "to his disgust" the messages and she was arrested, Judge Rees added. The investigation led to Bailey, who, it was discovered, was having similar discussions with other women. Judge Rees said of the pair: "You met once face to face for sex. During that encounter you, Bailey, saw a photograph of (the woman's daughter)." The mother later posed her daughter naked in the bath, exposing her genitals, to take pictures to send to Bailey. Another image showed the girl in school uniform with her underwear exposed, the court heard. Judge Rees added that the pair claimed they never had any intent to carry out the content of their "depraved discussions of a perverted sexual nature". The mother, who was described as "vulnerable and gullible" by Judge Rees, asked Bailey at one point what she would get out of the plan to rape her daughter and Bailey responded by mentioning sums of 200 to 300. The pair planned to rape the girl during the Whitsun school holiday and talked about drugging her. Judge Rees said that despite speaking to her GP, who advised against giving a child melatonin, the mother went ahead and bought some online. Additional reporting by Press Association. P olice are hunting a serial flasher who repeatedly exposed himself to dog walkers as they strolled through south-east London woodland. According to police, the man has been seen on five separate occasions in just over a month at Lesnes Abbey Woods in Belvedere. Each incident occurred between midday and 5pm, police say. The flasher, who struck between December 12 and January 17, is described as black, aged from 20 to 30, slim and around 5ft 9ins tall. Police say he has been seen wearing a dark-coloured coat, blue trainers and a scarf or hood covering his face. A Met Police spokesman said: Members of the public are advised to take extra care using the park. If they see a man matching the description or anyone acting suspiciously within or near Lesnes Abbey Woods, please call 999 immediately." A 31-year-old who was arrested earlier this month has since been released without charge. Anyone with information should call Bexley police on 101, tweet @MetCC or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. P olice removed a poster for a film about Holocaust denial from a Tube station after the Star of David was daubed onto it in an apparently anti-Semitic act of vandalism. The promotional poster for the film Denial at Highbury and Islington station was targeted by vandals over the weekend. A Star of David was crudely drawn on the forehead of Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz alongside the word B-witch. The film stars Weisz as historian Deborah Lipstadt who has to prove the Holocaust occurred when sued by denier David Irving, played by Timothy Spall. British Transport Police said the poster, on the southbound Victoria line platform was reported to them at 1pm on Sunday. Officers removed the defaced poster and are investigating what happened. Jewish neighbourhood watch group the Shomrim tweeted a photo of the poster, saying it was the capitals fifth anti-Semitic incident over the weekend It comes as the Met Police launched an investigation into four alleged hate crimes in Barnet, including a Jewish woman having eggs hurled at her and a brick covered in swastikas being thrown through the window of an Edgware home. Gary Ost, chief executive of Shomrim North West London, said: "These cowardly anti-Semitic attacks targeted Jews when they were asleep in their homes or walking with their families after dinner. These attacks are intended to instil fear in Londons Jews. The best response to these disgusting acts is to ensure that the perpetrators are caught. Anyone with information on the poster vandalism can call police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 183 of 22/01 or Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111. D ating fraudsters conned a record 3,889 victims out of 39 million last year, it emerged today. Figures show the number of people in the UK who were defrauded via online dating scams reached a record high in 2016. Action Fraud, the UKs cyber-crime reporting centre, says it gets more than 350 reports of such scams a month. Its deputy head, Steve Proffitt, said each victim on average lost about 10,000. He told the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme: A lot of the online dating fraudsters we know are abroad. "Theyre in west Africa, eastern Europe and its very difficult for British law enforcement to take action against them in those jurisdictions. Last week, Office for National Statistics figures showed fraud is the most commonly perpetrated crime, with almost one in 10 adults falling victim to scams. Todays figures, from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, reveal that the number of victims of online dating fraud has risen steadily in recent years. In 2013 there were 2,824 reports of dating scams, with reported losses of 27,344,814. In 2014, these rose to 3,295 reports and 32,259,381. In 2015, the reports rose to 3,363, although reported losses fell to 25,882,339. One woman told the Victoria Derbyshire programme how she was left feeling brutalised after losing more than 300,000 to a dating fraudster. Business owner Nancy not her real name signed up to dating website Match.com in 2015 after her marriage broke down. The single mother, 47, from Yorkshire, said she made contact with a man called Marcelo from Manchester, an attractive Italian supposedly working in Turkey, with whom she found she had a rapport and similar values. Marcelo persuaded her to move their chat off the website on to an instant messaging service and the two began exchanging messages from morning until night. After about six weeks, he said he had been mugged in Turkey and was unable to pay his workers before returning to the UK, when he and Nancy were due to meet. He also said his son was in hospital and needed surgery. Nancy said she felt uncomfortable with the situation but ended up reluctantly sending 3,650 (3,160). She said: It escalated unbelievably quickly, so straight away it was the medical fees, then it was money for food, money needed to pay rent, money for taxes to get out of Turkey. I wasnt comfortable, and then I got so far in I couldnt get myself out, and I didnt want to walk away having lost 50,000 or what-have-you, so you keep going in the hope that youre wrong and this person is genuine. Nancy said she now faces bankruptcy after losing over 300,000, maybe even over 350,000. She said: Thats really frightening, and the other aspect is that somebodys got inside your head, and theyve just brutalised you emotionally. "In some ways Im not sure Ill ever recover from that. Police advise people never to send money to someone online they have not met and think twice about posting personal information that could be used to manipulate or bribe them. L ondoners woke to a stunning blanket of heavy fog on Monday morning after a bitterly cold night which saw temperatures drop below freezing. Striking photos taken by commuters on their way to work show the capital transformed by the dense mist. The Shard skyscraper and Tower Bridge usually mainstays of the citys skyline were obscured by the heavy mist which descended overnight. Other photos taken by people on river banks across the capital show the River Thames shrouded in fog as an icy blue sheet appears to merge the water and sky. Atmospheric: The fog brought with it some eerie scenes across the capital. (Yui Mok/PA ) / Yui Mok/PA Parks across the capital, including Brockwell Park in south London and Craig Park in Enfield, were photographed in atmospheric scenes which reminded many of stills from films. But the thick fog caused chaos for many travellers including Londons air passengers who were hit with 100 flights cancelled at Heathrow Fog at Kew Gardens and Imperial Wharf The poor visibility sparked a severe weather warning issued for London, south-east England and parts of south-west England by the Met Office. Heathrow airport urged passengers to check flight details on the website before leaving home after around 100 flights were axed from the schedule by 7am. London City Airport also said around 15 flights were cancelled. The yellow warning of fog is in place until 10.30am. Temperatures overnight in London dropped as low as -6C before picking up to around -1C by 9am. L ondons air passengers were being warned of travel chaos on Monday morning as thick fog saw 100 flights cancelled at Heathrow. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for London, south-east England and parts of south-west England over dense, freezing fog that is likely to hit the morning rush hour. In England a low of minus 6.2C (21F) was recorded in Northolt, around 10 miles from Heathrow. Visibility on the tarmac at Heathrow airport was down to just 100 metres. Heathrow airport warned passengers to check their flight details before they leave home. Thick fog obscures the tarmac at Heathrow airport this morning / @Planenews_777 A message on the airport's website said: "Foggy weather across London is expected on Monday, 23 January, and some passengers may experience disruption to their journey as a result. "Heathrow advises passengers to check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport. Mayhem: Flights from all of London's airports have been affected / @Planenews_777 "Heathrow's top priority is the safety of passengers and we apologise to those whose travel has been affected." One hundred flights have been cancelled at Heathrow due to fog / Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Around 100 flights were axed from the flight schedule by 7am due to the low visibility, meaning planes were not able to take off every 45 seconds as usual. London City airport said there were around 15 flight cancellations by 6.45am, with others being delayed. @Planenews_777 A spokeswoman said: Passengers due to travel are advised to contact their airline for the latest information. You can also keep an eye on the live departures info on our website. At Gatwick airport, only one flight had been cancelled by 7.30am but travellers were warned there could be delays to others throughout the morning and passengers should check with their airlines. Traveller Quintin Young said he had been warned his EasyJet flight from Gatwick to Glasgow was facing delays of two-and-a-half hours. He told the Standard: Its a nightmare. I dont know if anythings flying. On my way here you couldnt even see out of the train, the fog was so dense. There seems to be slight confusion about whats really happening. A Stansted Airport spokeswoman said there had not been any cancellations, but advised passengers to check with their airlines for the latest information and allow enough time to get to the airport. A yellow warning of fog is in place until 10.30am, but freezing temperatures and low winds could see it persist into the afternoon, Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said. "Heathrow is currently on 100 metres visibility which is very dense fog, Gatwick is on 100 metres, London City Airport is on 100 metres and Stansted is on 100 metres," he said. "It looks like it will generally improve through the last part of the morning and into the afternoon, but one or two spots will hang on to fog for much of the rest of today." Road users are also being warned of difficult driving conditions after freezing conditions overnight. C asino owner Damian Aspinall has vowed to give away a million pounds in champagne to lucky roulette players at Aspers Stratford. Gamblers can get their hands on a bottle of 600 Armand de Brignac Ace Of Spades Brut Gold champagne when their number comes up at the venue, in the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. Players who place a bet on a repeat number at the wheel can win a token which will then give them a one in three chance of winning a bottle. Mr Aspinall said: We wanted to do something really special for the tens of thousands ordinary players who have helped make Aspers such a success. T oxic air hit the top black alert in London today leading to one school in the centre of the capital restricting time outdoors for young children. The very high readings for tiny particulate pollution were recorded before 6am at Sir John Casss Foundation Primary School, in the City area, Marylebone Road in Westminster, and three sites in Camden - Swiss Cottage, Euston Road and Bloomsbury. There were also 12 red high alerts for pollution peaks today, by 9am, at sites across London including Kensington & Chelsea, Richmond, Ealing, Brent, Enfield, Lambeth, Lewisham, Harrow, Hammersmith & Fulham, Redbridge, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets. Outdoor activity was being reduced for children, aged three months to five years, at Sir John Casss primary school, Aldgate, which has several air pollution monitors. The restriction was partly due to the filthy air and also the cold. Loading.... Older pupils were being advised to cut back on strenuous exercise if they felt unwell. Head teacher Tim Wilson said: We make sure our staff can take sensible and informed action on days like this. As a school we are supportive of any action that improves air quality in London. Other schools were advised to consider similar measures. Professor Jonathan Grigg, Professor of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine at Queen Mary University of London, said: For children with asthma and other long-term respiratory diseases, it would be prudent not to have them exercising outside on these sort of days when pollution is so high. CES 2017: Interview with inventor of pollution busting scarf Toxic air blackspots can be very localised and change rapidly, clearing if winds pick up, or often worsening if more filthy fumes are belched out by growing traffic. By 8am this morning, PM2.5 levels at the worst-polluted areas had fallen below the black level of 100 microgrammes per cubic metre. The official advice from health chiefs is if air pollution hits very high, then people should: Reduce physical exertion, particularly outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as cough or sore throat. If it is high, then the advice is: Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors. Adults and children with lung and heart problems, and pensioners, are recommended to take more precautions. Father-of-two Jason Pritchard is one of a group of parents at St John Cass School leading a campaign, called We Can Win, to raise awareness about air pollution in the area. The community worker said: We know that air pollution can damage childrens lungs and how they develop and mean they have small lungs for life. Sadiq Khan needs to act. He needs to ban diesel cars. Emma Chottin, 43, a mother-of-two, said it would be a real shame if air pollution meant children could not play outside at break time. Mayor Mr Khan is introducing a series of measures to tackle toxic air including a daily 10 T-charge later this year on the most polluting vehicles to drive into central London. A City Hall spokesman said on high pollution days extra care may be needed for children who are particularly vulnerable to its impact. A spokesman for the City of London Corporation said: We are fully supporting Sir John Cass Primary by reducing the traffic flows around the school and through the Mayor of Londons Schools Clean Air Zones Project. L ondoners who joined 100,000 anti-Donald Trump protesters in Saturdays Womens March on London have praised the event's "electric" atmosphere. The action was planned in solidarity with similar demonstrations taking place in Washington DC and the rest of the world in the wake of Donald Trumps inauguration. Organisers called for people to join them "as part of an international day of action in solidarity" aimed at promoting womens and human rights. Protesters descended on central London for the start of the demonstration just after midday - wielding a rainbow of homemade signs with slogans referring to gender equality or President Trump. Thousands attend Women's March on London protest against Trump The march, which ended with a rally in Trafalgar Square, was described as incredible by one attendee, but another added: Its crazy to think marches like this still have to happen in 2017. Just 37 per cent of US citizens say they approve of President Trump, compared to the 80 per cent support which Obama enjoyed at this stage in his own presidency in 2009. 'The air was thick with determination and energy' Janet Oganah, a social media business owner, said she felt powerless after Mr Trump's election victory Janet Oganah, 33, a former barrister turned social media business owner from Shoreditch, said: The election result - as well as the political events of 2016 - have left me feeling powerless, disenfranchised and under attack. "The march was the first time in months that I have felt positive about the state of the world. The air was thick with determination and energy. I saw placards on race equality, gender equality, LGBT rights, climate change, abortion rights, immigration & refugee causes and the list goes on. "It is profoundly disappointing that one person, who is now one of the most powerful people in the world, can pose such a real and direct risk to all of these groups and causes. 'I needed to march for equality' Georgie White-Aldworth, 30, welled up 'several times' at the demo Georgie White-Aldworth, 30, an artist and gallery worker from Walthamstow, said: I needed to march for equality, for freedom, for trust and honesty, for respect, to be heard, to be listened to to feel in control and really simply for some common courtesy which I think has been forgotten in politics. "The march was fantastic, incredible in fact. It felt empowering that everyone was out in the freezing but sunny streets of London knowing we all believed the same thing. I welled up several times. 'It affects all of us' Louisa Connolly-Burnham, an actress from Barnet, said 'its crazy to think marches like this still have to happen in 2017' Louisa Connolly-Burnham, 24, an actress from Barnet, said: The atmosphere was electric, but amongst all the excitement there were also emotional moments because its crazy to think marches like this still have to happen in 2017. It matters because America is the worlds leading global super power politically, militarily and economically. It matters because fear, division and inequality are universal issues. It matters because global warming is real. It matters because it affects all of us. I feel sorry for the poor man [Trump] if he thinks were going to go quietly into the night. 'Its not just about the presidency' Liza van der Smissen argued President Trump mattered in Britain too Actress Liza van der Smissen added: This matters in Britain as I believe its not just about the presidency in the US. "Its about creating a feeling of solidarity with one another wherever you are in the world. 'He makes my skin crawl' Molly Long, a journalism student, said she thought Trump was 'hideous' Molly Long, a journalism student from Islington, added: I think Trump is hideous, he makes my skin crawl. W elcome to a new era. When Donald Trump was sworn in as President on Friday, the crowd at his inauguration was far smaller than that which attended Barack Obamas in 2009. Not that Trump would agree: his press secretary offered more impressive or false statistics, described by Trump assistant Kellyanne Conway as alternative facts. Cue the Twitter meme #alternativefacts, with a virtuoso performance by Courtney Love. My name is Courtney Love, I was born with that name in 1992, said Love, whose first album was released in 1991. I mostly remind people of Grace Kelly or Jackie O. with my manners and polish. Ive never done any drugs in my life nor have I ever sworn in public or smoked a cigarette. I went to Yale and majored in Japanese history. I am schooled in the classics and speak Greek and ancient Latin fluently. My measurements are exactly the same as Marilyn Monroes in her prime. Love was the partner of late Nirvana icon Kurt Cobain, frontwoman of 90s alt-rock band Hole, and in 2014 attempted to find the lost MH370 plane using Google Maps. Those are, amazingly, all true. For all of today's Diary click here. Follow The Londoner on Twitter and Facebook here. L ondon, sitting in a cloud of fog, seems to be in need of some spiritual Viagra. So thank the gods of love: 2017 may be the dawn thanks to a new magazine from the grand dame of the erotic arts. Its Rowan Pelling: Reloaded. Back in 1997, journalist Pelling became editor of The Erotic Review, a monthly collection of titillating prose and images. It was enlightening and avant garde, but Pelling packed up her desk in 2004 when the publication was bought by new owners and it became more smut than smart. Now shes been seduced back into the magazine world. Her new publication, The Amorist, a monthly anthology of erotica, news, reviews and fiction, a blend of love, romance and sex, hits the shelves in late April. Pelling teases the arrival in the catalogue for Sothebys risque new sale Erotic: Passion & Desire; she writes an introduction to the theme and places an elegant advert for the mag. And its about time. Were living in a time where people feel overwhelmed by the surge of porn on the internet, Rowan told The Londoner. When I was doing The Erotic Review, the internet was a brave new world and it was hard to compete with. But now, after all the filth, many long for something more romantic and elegant. Our main challenge is to get it on the general interest shelf next to National Geographic. The Amorist will be published by James Pembroke, who also prints The Oldie, and Pelling will share their Great Titchfield Street office. Will the distinguished gents of the OAP-targeted mag be able to handle her? Oldies tend to know more about sex than youngies. Theyve been there, done all that. The Amorist expects to get a lot of bracing advice. London, gird your loins ----- Meanwhile, the original Erotic Review is gasping for a good review. Writing for The Times Literary Supplement, Eimear McBride was not aroused by Desire, the Erotic Reviews book of sexy stories. Editor Mariella Frostrup took to Twitter to vent. Surprised Eimear McBride finds no difference between real human misery on dark net and pick n mix fiction in Desire! But The Erotic Review fits in praise from The TLS after all. The books Amazon page took a line from the papers editors letter, which outlined McBrides take on Desire and mentioned the elite selection of writers including DH Lawrence and Anais Nin. From the jaws of defeat... The Art of the Deal? Bring out the Buffett The Londoner overheard a fascinating story at dinner the other evening, from a banker sitting across the way. A few years back, Donald Trump approached a certain global bank for a loan of a few hundred mill. The bank wasnt too keen: Trump was a serial bankrupt, but they didnt want to destroy relations with the pugnacious mouthpiece, so they came up with an elaborate excuse when Trump paid them a visit. Donald, they said, there are three people in the world that we never give loans to: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and you. Trump was so flattered, he left feeling like a winner. Kate's got eyes on the big prize now Dave Benett/Getty Images All rise Kate the Great. Actress Kate Beckinsale was at The May Fair Hotel last night, picking up yet another gong for her luminous performance in the Austen adaptation, Love & Friendship, presented by the London Critics Circle. Beckinsale was joined by Tom Bennett, who won the Best Supporting Actor prize for his role in the same film. Beckinsale pictured right with Bennett plays the calculating Lady Susan, and won big at last years London Evening Standards British Film Awards. The Londoner hopes Oscar voters might get their heads out of La La Land for long enough to give our Kate due consideration. Alt-rock Courtney riffs on Trump Welcome to a new era. When Donald Trump was sworn in as President on Friday, the crowd at his inauguration was far smaller than that which attended Barack Obamas in 2009. Not that Trump would agree: his press secretary offered more impressive or false statistics, described by Trump assistant Kellyanne Conway as alternative facts. Cue the Twitter meme #alternativefacts, with a virtuoso performance by Courtney Love. My name is Courtney Love, I was born with that name in 1992, said Love, whose first album was released in 1991. I mostly remind people of Grace Kelly or Jackie O. with my manners and polish. Ive never done any drugs in my life nor have I ever sworn in public or smoked a cigarette. I went to Yale and majored in Japanese history. I am schooled in the classics and speak Greek and ancient Latin fluently. My measurements are exactly the same as Marilyn Monroes in her prime. Love was the partner of late Nirvana icon Kurt Cobain, frontwoman of 90s alt-rock band Hole, and in 2014 attempted to find the lost MH370 plane using Google Maps. Those are, amazingly, all true. If you see Ed Balls on the train to Milton Keynes give him a sympathetic smile. Balls Strictly rival Laura Whitmore starts her theatrical career in murder mystery Not Dead Enough at the Milton Keynes Theatre tonight, and when we ran into her she said the Strictly crew would come to watch but Balls would have to buy his own ticket. I cant even get a free ticket for my mum, she said. Nuttall is keeping it real Getty Images Launching his by-election campaign in Stoke Central on Saturday, Ukip leader Paul Nuttall claimed his party stands for Stoke-on-Trent, while Labour stands for Stoke Newington. Its a nice line but the MEP is more London society than he claims. Nuttall then nipped off, The Londoner is told, to spend the night in London at a posh club in St Jamess. When Robert Peston queried this on his show yesterday, Nuttall muttered that the venue has a reciprocal deal with his club in Liverpool. A spokesperson told us: He used to stay in a hotel near Marble Arch but he found its cheaper to stay at a club in Mayfair, seeing as thats expensed as an MEP. Ukip, rather meanly, wont tell us the name of this dirt-cheap club. ----- Promotion of the day: for Nigel Farage, on Fox News on Saturday with the banner Fmr leader of UK opposition party. Jeremy Corbyn might have something to say about that. Follow The Londoner on Twitter and Facebook here. S adiq Khan has written to Fiat Chrysler to demand answers about the impact on Londons air quality after the car giant became embroiled in the dieselgate scandal. The Mayor asked the firm how many vehicles carrying defeat devices software which allows a car to emit more pollution than permitted could be on the capitals roads. It follows accusations that Fiat Chrysler failed to disclose such software in some of its diesel models. Similar devices were fitted to VW cars at the centre of the emissions debacle that engulfed VW in 2015. Mr Khan believes vehicles with defeat devices pose a risk to air quality levels. The Department for Transport has asked US officials for details of a probe into Fiat Chrysler. The notice of violation issued to the firm by the US Environmental Protection Agency covers 104,000 vehicles, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, of which there are thought to be some 3,700 registered in the UK. Mr Khan asked Fiat Chrysler if any defeat devices had been installed on its vehicles sold in the UK. He wrote that his efforts to cut pollution would be undermined if vehicle manufacturers seek to manipulate emissions output and obtain type approval by using software to produce false results. Fiat Chrysler insists it has done nothing illegal. Its spokesman said: The US and EU have different software calibrations, standards and testing. Our vehicles sold in the EU conform to EU regulations. L abour MPs in London may force Jeremy Corbyn into abandoning attempts to make his party vote for Brexit. Up to half of the capitals Labour members are said to be considering defying Mr Corbyn over his decision to back the Governments plan to invoke Article 50 in March. Today shadow frontbencher Tulip Siddiq said she would consider resigning if he continues to push for Brexit. Three quarters of my constituents voted to remain and I will stand up for them. If it means stepping down from the front bench then that would be unfortunate but its something which Ive considered, said the MP for Hampstead and Kilburn. Theresa May lectures super-rich at Davos as Brexit plan backlash grows A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn said he will ask MPs to vote in favour of triggering Article 50 but has not decided if they will be issued with a three-line whip. The matter comes to a head tonight when MPs will lobby shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer over how they should vote. Ilford South MP Mike Gapes, Helen Hayes, the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, and David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, are among those in London set to defy Labours plan to back the Tories. Jeremy Corbyn attacks "Irony Lady" Theresa May over Brexit Abstaining from the vote would be a fudge, according to backbencher Neil Coyle, but could be a way of ensuring front-benchers do not have to resign. A police officer has been shot and wounded in a terrorist attack in north Belfast. The suspected drive-by shooting occurred at a petrol station on the Crumlin Road and it is understood the officer was shot in the arm. The road was closed while police investigated. Dissident republicans have attempted to kill members of the security forces in Northern Ireland in recent years. The Police Federation for Northern Ireland said it was a terrorist shooting and added that their thoughts were with the officer and his family. Chairman Mark Lindsay described the incident as an appalling attack. He said: "This attack on the life of an officer is a stark reminder of the determination on the part of terrorists to murder and maim police officers. "They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan. Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds added: "This is a deeply disturbing incident which echoes back to the kind of terrorism we used to face on a daily basis. Senior Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly said those responsible had "absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately". Additional reporting by Press Association LOS ALTOS, CA and VIENNA, AUSTRIA--(Marketwired - Jan 23, 2017) - Tricentis, the Continuous Testing Company for agile enterprise organizations, today announced that it has raised $165 million in Series B financing from Insight Venture Partners, a leading global private equity and venture capital firm. According to Nelson Hall, the global software testing market is expected to be a $34 billion industry in 2017. Tricentis today helps more than 400 companies - including HBO, Whole Foods, Toyota, Allianz, BMW, Starbucks, Deutsche Bank, Lexmark, Orange and UBS - achieve software testing automation rates of more than 90 percent. Tricentis Tosca has been proven to achieve 10 times the test-automation efficiency of tools that employ manual scripting. "As a high-end brand, Swarovski is committed to responding fast to global trends, and embracing new technology that's part of our customers' lives. We need to master the increasing speed of change in our Omni-Channel world with its significant number of end-to-end processes and the related fast-evolving digital platforms," said Max Braun, CIO of Swarovski. "With Tricentis' capabilities in risk management, test automation and test management, we could significantly enhance our testing processes and decrease the efforts in that area, with the clear target to meet the demand of our business partners and ultimately, the demand of our customers." The funding comes on the heels of Tricentis being named a Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Software Test Automation for the second year in a row. Tricentis has also been recognized as a Leader by The Forrester Wave: Modern Application Functional Test Automation Tools 2016. According to the Forrester report, "Tricentis Tosca provides top test automation and optimization design capabilities, test assets reuse, and combined automation." "Today's predominately manual software testing processes fail to meet the needs of today's Agile and DevOps initiatives, which require highly-accelerated development cycles and, at the same time, a strict accounting for the business risks associated with rapid, iterative code changes," said Sandeep Johri, CEO of Tricentis. "Applications drive corporate growth, and continuous testing has been identified as the linchpin to achieve agility and ultimately competitive differentiation." Story continues According to Narsimha Rao Mannepalli, EVP - Head Global Services, Infosys Validation Solutions, Infosys: "Infosys helps organizations become more competitive in their digital and enterprise transformation journey through its latest QA offerings and IP solutions. Our partnership with Tricentis has benefited our clients in realizing higher automation and faster time to market. We congratulate Tricentis on this new milestone, which further validates their innovative approach to reducing software testing time, effort and cost." Tricentis, which serves customers from its operations in the United States, Europe, India and Australia, will use the funds to continue accelerating its market penetration and scale its operations. Pacific Crest Securities, Technology Specialists of KeyBanc Capital Markets, acted as exclusive financial advisor to Tricentis on this transaction. O'Melveny & Myers LLP, acted as U.S. legal counsel to Tricentis and Wolf Theiss acted as Austrian legal counsel to Tricentis. As part of the transaction, Insight Managing Director Mike Triplett, who is a long-term investor in key infrastructure technology companies, will join Tricentis' board of directors. Since its founding, Insight Venture Partners has raised more than $13 billion and invested in more than 250+ growth-stage software, Internet, and data services companies. According to Triplett, "Software quality testing has traditionally required a large amount of time and manual effort, forcing compromises between speed, scope of testing, and quality of testing. To reduce time to market and improve software quality, organizations are abandoning monolithic testing solutions, and turning to Tricentis. This is evidenced by its strong growth rate, Global 2000 customers, and industry recognition from Gartner and Forrester." Additional Quotes Sujit Unni, Vice President of IT at Vantiv: "We are constantly iterating and improving the business applications that are critical for supporting customers and employees. However, prior manual testing processes were inefficient and tedious. With Tricentis Tosca, quality assurance now happens continuously - without scripting, without programming. Our manual testers have become automation specialists. As a result, we've significantly expedited and scaled testing across the business." Arun Kumar Melkote, Global Head -Testing Services, Wipro Limited: "Today, software testing paradigms have evolved from traditional quality assurance to quality engineering. Our partnership with Tricentis is key as we constantly innovate to ensure higher application quality at minimum business risk. Working together with Tricentis will open up opportunities for us to offer strategic inputs and solutions that address the requirements of next-generation enterprises with agility and effectiveness." Marco van den Brink, Chief Operational Officer, Sogeti Netherlands: "In a rapidly changing IT-market, short time-to-market, excellent quality, good performance and 24x7 availability are a must. Agility and the ability to release software faster are of crucial importance. Automation of the test processes is a must! With the combination of Tosca Testsuite and our thought leadership in testing, Sogeti is able to test software faster, easier and more effectively. This means we can help our customers even better in this fast-changing IT world." To learn more about Tricentis, access the Tricentis Info Pack. About Tricentis Tricentis, the Continuous Testing Company, specializes in agile market leading software testing tools for enterprises. We help Global 2000 companies adopt DevOps and gain success by achieving automation rates of over 90%. Our integrated software testing solution, Tosca Testsuite, consists of a unique Model-based Test Automation and Test Case Design approach, encompassing risk-based testing, test data management and provisioning, service virtualization, and more. We are established as a reliable enterprise partner, helping to deliver significant performance improvements to testing projects. Prominent analysts have recognized us as a Leader in both Software Test Automation and in Functional Automation Tools, with Model-based Test Automation as our standout feature. Tricentis' 400+ customers include global names from the Top 500 brands such as ExxonMobil, HBO, Whole Foods, Toyota, Allianz, BMW, Starbucks, Deutsche Bank, Lexmark, Orange, A&E, Vantiv, Vodafone, Telstra and UBS. Tricentis has offices in Austria, Australia, Germany, India, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, United States and the UK. For regular news and information about Tricentis and the automated testing market, like and follow the company on: About Insight Venture Partners Insight Venture Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth software, mobile and internet companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight has raised more than $13 billion and invested in more than 250 companies worldwide. Our mission is to find, fund and work successfully with visionary executives providing them with practical, hands-on growth expertise to foster long-term success. For more information on Insight and all of its investments, visit http://www.insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter: @insightpartners. G CHQ chief Robert Hannigan has announced he will step down as head of the British intelligence agency. Mr Hannigan, 51, told Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson he will be leaving the post for personal reasons. He was appointed director of GCHQ, often referred to as Britain's listening post, in 2014. In a letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Hannigan wrote: "After a good deal of thought, I have decided that this is the right time to move on and to allow someone else to lead GCHQ through its next phase. "I am, like you, a great enthusiast for our history and I think it is right that a new director should be firmly embedded by our centenary in 2019. "I am very committed to GCHQ's future and will of course be happy to stay in post until you have been able to appoint a successor." Mr Hannigan said he has been "lucky enough to have some extraordinary roles in public service over the last 20 years", adding: "But they have all demanded a great deal of my ever patient and understanding family, and now is the right time for a change in direction." He was director general of defence and intelligence at the Foreign Office before he succeeded Sir Iain Lobban at GCHQ. His tenure at the Cheltenham-based agency started in November 2014, following a period of intense scrutiny of its work sparked by revelations by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. Its activities have taken on particular significance in recent years as terrorists use increasingly sophisticated technology to avoid detection, while the threat from cyber crime has evolved. He described leading the men and women of GCHQ as a "great privilege". He wrote: "I am proud of what we have achieved in those years, not least setting up the National Cyber Security Centre and building greater public understanding of our intelligence work. "I am equally proud of the relentless 24-hour operational effort against terrorism, crime and many other national security threats. "While this work must remain secret, you will know how many lives have been saved in this country and overseas by the work of GCHQ. "Underpinning this is our world-class technology and, above all, our brilliant people. "As you know, I have also initiated the greatest internal change within GCHQ for 30 years, and I feel that we are now well on the way to being fit for the next generation of security challenges to the UK in the digital age." Mr Johnson thanked him for his service. He said: "You have led the renewal of some of our most important national security capabilities, which we continue to depend on every day to save lives from terrorism and to protect our interests and values. "Following your successful tenure, and thanks to the work of thousands of excellent GCHQ staff, the organisation is well placed to play its part continuing to protect our nation." An internal competition will be carried out to identify candidates for the job. These will be sent to Mr Johnson and the Prime Minister for a final decision. T heresa May was briefed on the outcome of a nuclear submarine test during which a missile reportedly went astray, Downing Street admitted today. But No 10 refused to say whether the Prime Minister was told when she took office in July about the specific details of the test. During it, an unarmed missile may have hurtled off in the wrong direction towards America, according to a report, after being fired from HMS Vengeance off the coast of Florida. The Prime Ministers official spokeswoman said: She would have been informed about this demonstration and shakedown operation and its outcome. But she insisted that details of such tests were not routinely made public, even though there appeared to be several reports of this happening in previous years when they were successful. The test certified that the crew and submarine could return to operations.No 10 said it had absolute confidence in Britains nuclear deterrent. Chairman of the Commons Defence Committee Julian Lewis said whoever decided to draw a veil over the failed test should be sacked and Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon was pressured to answer questions on the test. Cabinet minister Greg Clark said that the Government would not answer questions because it was a matter of national security. Its been the long-standing policy not to comment on tests of weapons systems, he said. But Mr Lewis said: When they work... film is released. He said the decision to cover up the problem seemed to have been made under David Cameron. Labour called for a Commons statement by Sir Michael and hoped Speaker John Bercow would order a defence minister to the Despatch Box to face questions. Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith told BBC Breakfast: A missile veering off course is something to be concerned about. But we need the full detail. A YouTube star has taken heat from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) after filming himself burning a popular childrens toy with a blowtorch. In the clip Dan Middleton, whose DanTDM channel has nearly 14 million subscribers, gleefully singes and chars pink penguin Hatchimal with the dangerous tool. The furry toy, which can hatch their own eggs and grow up as youngsters play with them, was one of the most popular gifts for children for Christmas last year. In the video, which has racked up more than 3 million views since January 14, Mr Middleton explains: Today I want to try something a little bit crazy. Im going to give [the toy] a haircut Im going to give him a haircut with fire. I just want to set him on fire, so will you just give me this please? Mr Middleton, 25, from Northants, did think to remove the batteries from the toy before attacking it with the blowtorch but later puts them back in and remarks the Hatchimal could explode in his face. He also describes the stunt as literally the dumbest thing I have ever done - an assessment shared by fire chiefs who criticised him for his reckless behaviour. The vlogger, whose YouTube videos have been watched more than 9billion times, is a firm favourite among pre-teen audiences. Charlie Pugsley, head of LFBs fire investigation team, said: We 100 per cent condemn this reckless behaviour and would urge the YouTube vlogger to remove the clip immediately as it may inspire copycat incidents which may go tragically wrong. Playing with fire is not a game and the YouTuber even admits that his behaviour is incredibly dangerous, despite trying to pass off the irresponsible act as humorous. This behaviour could easily have had severe consequences. The blowtorch could inflict severe burns instantly if handled carelessly and if hot melted plastic came into contact with a persons skin, it could literally stick to it, causing much more severe burns. Mr Middleton is currently in Australia promoting his YouTube channel with a live tour. He could not be reached for comment today. A radical Left-winger dubbed Frances Jeremy Corbyn was today on course to become the ruling Socialist Partys candidate in presidential elections this spring. Benoit Hamon, 49, has caused a stir with his policies including giving a guaranteed income of around 550 a month to every citizen, whether they work or not. This did not stop thousands voting for him in a first-round presidential primary yesterday, and he will now go head-to-head with former Prime Minister Manuel Valls in the second round next weekend. Left-wing constituents voted with their hearts and have not given up, Mr Hamon said after his surprise victory. Mr Hamon won by 36 per cent of the total vote, compared to his nearest rival, Mr Valls, on 31 per cent. Mr Valls said he hoped to replace Francoise Hollande as president, so as to prove that his party is not dead. But Mr Valls also warned that voting for Mr Hamon who hopes to fund his universal income scheme with billions in wealth tax would mean certain defeat. Both men hope to put almost five years of mediocre Socialist governance behind them, even though opinion polls suggest the Socialists will be wiped out in the first round of the presidential elections in April. It follows President Hollande effectively already conceding defeat, announcing that he would not even bother seeking re-election. His presidency has been characterised by soaring unemployment, business failure, and violent street demonstrations, and his approval rating is currently just four per cent. The eventual winner of the Socialist primary will be up against Francois Fillon, the conservative Republican candidate who is already the favourite to succeed Mr Hollande. D onald Trump is facing a lawsuit being filed in court today alleging his businesses are accepting payments from foreign governments in violation of the US Constitution. The moment the new president was sworn in on Friday he was in breach because he failed to divest his interests in the Trump business empire, according to the suit. The legal action, being brought by the non-profit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, will ask a judge to forbid Mr Trump from accepting the payments. The new Commander-in-Chief does business with countries like China, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, the lawyers group noted in a statement. White House press secretary condemns reporting of Donald Trump's inauguration When Trump the president sits down to negotiate trade deals with these countries, the American people will have no way of knowing whether he will also be thinking about the profits of Trump the businessman, it said. The group - which includes former Bush White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter - said that because Trump-owned buildings take in rent, room rentals and other payments from foreign governments, the president has breached the Emoluments Clause in the nations Constitution. The clause reads: No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. Although the president will not be unduly worried about the suit - and his son, Eric, described the move yesterday as harassment for political gain - it is likely to be the first in a wave of legal challenges over the Trump familys business interests and conflicts of interest they may pose to Americas new leader. The group insisted it was forced to act because Mr Trump hadnt sufficiently distanced himself from his business before he moved into the White House. Donald Trump Inauguration Day - In pictures 1 /44 Donald Trump Inauguration Day - In pictures Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States AP US President Barack Obama (right) and First Lady Michelle Obama (left) welcome Preisdent-elect Donald Trump (second right) and his wife Melania to the White House in Washington Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images President Barack Obama stands at right as first lady Michelle Obama hugs President-elect Donald Trump at the White House in Washington Evan Vucci/AP The presidential motorcade drives down Pennsylvania Ave towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington Joe Raedle/Getty Images Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waves as she arrives with her husband former President Bill Clinton Rick Wilking/Reuters People gather on the National Mall prior to the inauguration Patrick Smith/Getty Images Donald Trump's children Ivanka Trump (L), Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump Jr, and Eric Trump arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington lex Wong/Getty Images US President Barack Obama (right) and First Lady Michelle Obama (second left) welcome Preisdent-elect Donald Trump (left) and his wife Melania (second right) to the White House in Washington Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the seats on the West Front of the US Capitol several hours before Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States in Washington Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Ivanka Trump, Vanessa Trump and Jared Kushner arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Drew Angerer/Getty Images Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Bryan Woolston/Reuters People begin to gfill in the National Mall a short time before Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States in Washington Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA Supporters and protesters turn out for the Inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump in Washington Theo Wargo/Getty Images A man walks a dog in a Donald Trump costume carrying a doll depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin holding an US flag as they head to join a demonstration at the US embassy in central London Hayoung Jeon/EPA President Elect Donald Trump's children Barron Trump (L), Tiffany Trump and Eric Trump arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Joe Raedle/Getty Images President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet President-elect Donald Trump at the White House in Washington Evan Vucci/AP Former US President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter arrive for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators march on the street near a security checkpoint inaugural entrance Jose Luis Magana/AP Former US Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne arrive at the US Capitol in Washington Saul Loeb/EPA Demonstrators chant near a security checkpoint entrance to the inauguration, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 in Washington, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration Jose Luis Magana/AP US Senator Ted Cruz arrives for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Former US President George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush arrive John Angelillo/EPA The statue of Civil War General and former US President Ulysses S. Grant faces the Washington Monument and the crowd gathering for the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Carlos Barria/Reuters A military helicopter lands at the US Capitol Rob Carr/AFP/Getty Images Protesters attack a man trying to pass at an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington Bryan Woolston/Reuters President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrives for a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House in Washington Alex Brandon/AP Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington Bryan Woolston/Reuters Vice President-elect Mike Pence and his wife Karen, arrives for a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House in Washington Alex Brandon/AP The sun begins to rise behind the Capitol dome several hours before Donald J. Trump takes the oath of office as the 45th President of the United States in Washington Andrew GombartAFP/Getty Images Protesters move toward an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Bryan Woolston/Reuters The early morning sun lights up the Washington Monument as people gather on the National Mall prior to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Protesters chain themselves to an entry point Bryan Woolston/Reuters US Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden leave the White House for the final time as the nation prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in Washington Kevin Dietsch/EPA President Trump has made his slogan America First so you would think he would want to strictly follow the constitutions foreign emoluments clause, since it was written to ensure our government officials are thinking of Americans first, and not foreign governments, said the organizations executive director Noah Bookbinder. The latest controversy comes days before Theresa May flies to Washington to become the first foreign leader to be given talks with the new President. Theresa May on Andrew Marr talks about meeting Trump They will hold talks on Friday - and he is expected to show her the Churchill bust he has restored to the Oval Office as a symbol of the special relationship. The British premier will raise a series of issues, said Whitehall sources, including the importance of Nato and her hopes for a swift trade deal with America after Brexit. With alarm bells ringing in Europe over Mr Trumps description of Nato as obsolete, Mrs May is keen to bring both sides together. In a phone call with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, she said it must evolve to deal with modern threats like terrorism and cyber warfare. Ted Malloch, tipped to be the next US ambassador to the EU, suggested there would be more burden sharing in the military alliance, in the latest sign that Mr Trump will pressure Nato countries to increase their defence spending. Thousands attend Women's March on London protest against Trump No 10 said: The Prime Minister said she would be taking these messages to Washington later this week where she is expected to discuss Nato with President Trump. Mr Trump this weekend came face-to-face with FBI Director James Comey, the man many believe helped win him the presidential election by re-opening a corruption probe into Hillary Clintons email scandal just days before the country went to the polls in November. Mr Trump saw the FBI chief at a reception for law enforcement officials at the White House and ended up giving him a hug. After the election, Mrs Clinton privately blamed Mr Comey for her defeat, claiming the FBI investigation sewed the seeds of doubt in voters at a crucial time. Meanwhile, support for the presidents 10-year-old son, Barron, came from an unlikely source yesterday. Mrs Clintons daughter Chelsea pleaded with people on Facebook to give the boy a chance after he was criticized for his behaviour during the inauguration. Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does-to be a kid, posted the former First Daughter, who spent much of her teen years in the spotlight when her father, Bill, was in the Oval Office. But Chelsea, who is close friends with Mr Trumps daughter, Ivanka, added a criticism of the president, writing: Standing up for every kid also means opposing POTUS policies that hurt kids. D onald Trump has reinstated a ban on providing money to international groups that perform or promote abortions. Mr Trump signed an executive order to reintroduce the regulation, known as the Mexico City Policy, after the ban was ended by Barack Obama in 2009. The ban has been subjected to political volleyball after it was instituted by Republican administrations following its introduction in 1984 under Ronald Reagans presidency, only to be rescinded by Democrat leaders. The order prohibits federal money from being provided to international groups or charities that perform abortions or provide information on the option. Mr Trump signed the order a day after the anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalised abortion in the United States. Executive decision: President Donald Trump shows the order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after signing it in the Oval Office / Getty Images The date is traditionally when presidents take action on the policy. Critics have branded it the global gag rule while pro-life campaigners celebrated Mr Trumps decision. Republican Michael Burgess said: I applaud President Trump for taking this important action and look forward to continuing to work together in advancing pro-life policies and protecting taxpayer dollars. But Democrat senator Jeanne Shaheen, said the move represented Mr Trumps dangerous obsession with rolling back reproductive rights. She said the return of the rule ignores decades of research, instead favoring ideological politics over women and families futures. Ms Sheehan said she would introduce a bill to repeal the rule on Tuesday. Mr Trump also signed executive orders for the United States to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and a freeze on federal government hiring except the military. D onald Trump showed off a beautiful letter he had been left by Barack Obama in the White House - but refused to divulge its contents. At a swearing-in ceremony for senior staff, the US President showed off the letter addressed in handwriting to Mr President and said he will cherish it. Traditionally outgoing US presidents leave personal letters for their successors in the famous Oval Office, which President Trump moved into after Fridays inauguration. President Trump said: I just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama. Barack Obama leaves a letter on Oval Office desk before Trump's inauguration "It was really very nice of him to do that and we will cherish that, we will keep that and we won't even tell the press what's in that letter." 'Mr President': The note was penned on official White House paper. / REUTERS George W. Bushs handwritten note to Barack Obama on his inauguration day in 2009 was released by the National Archives on Friday. The letter shared Mr Bush's congratulations before reading: Very few have had the honor [sic] of knowing the responsibility you now feel. Very few know the excitement of the moment and the challenges you will face. How the worlds newspapers reacted to Donald Trumps inauguration 1 /14 How the worlds newspapers reacted to Donald Trumps inauguration New leader: An arrangement of British newspapers show US President Donald Trump on the front pages the day after his inauguration Getty Images The New York Post quoted Mr Trumps inaugural speech in which he promised to return power back to American voters. It said: Power to you, the people. New York Post The Washington Post ran with the headline: Trump takes power: New president vows to end American carnage. Washington Post Frances Le Figaro featured the billionaire businessman on the cover of its magazine edition, writing: What if he did the job? Le Figaro The headline of German newspaper Der Spiegel read: The new world order Trumps game. Der Spiegel The Daily Mail newspaper ran with the headline I swear to be the Peoples President with a picture of Mr Trump taking the oath of office Daily Mail The Daily Mirrors front page read: Trumps war on the world. Daily Mirror "Trump unveils new era", read the frontpage of the Times The Independent's headline said: "So help us god" The Guardian referred to Mr Trump's pledge to "Put America first" The Telegraph referred to Mr Trump's pledge to "end American carnage" There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your friends will disappoint you. After showing off his own letter and tucking it into the breast pocket of his jacket, President Trump added: We are going to tell you that its been a very interesting few days. We have set up meetings with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister May will be coming over to the United States shortly. Thousands attend Women's March on London protest against Trump He will also be meeting with the presidents of Canada and Mexico. A dorable puppies rescued from the rubble of a mountain hotel crushed by a deadly avalanche in Italy has sparked hopes more survivors can be found. Emergency crews removed three dogs from the rubble on Monday after days under tons of snow, giving rescuers renewed hope the 23 people still unaccountable following the disaster may be found alive. At least six people are known to have died after the avalanche flattened the four-star Hotel Rigopiano in Farindola on Wednesday. The animals were rescued as the first human survivors were released from hospital as questions intensify into whether Italian authorities underestimated the risks facing the mountain resort in the hours before the avalanche. Five days after up to 60,000 tons of snow, rocks and uprooted trees ploughed into the Hotel Rigopiano in central Italy, rescue crews were still digging by hand or with shovels and chainsaws in hopes of finding alive some of the 23 people still buried. Firefighter spokesman Fabio German said the three puppies showed conditions under the snow could still support life. An Italian firefighter kisses one of the three puppies / AP Emergency crews have been hoping the missing may have found air pockets under the debris, and the snow itself had insulated them from the frigid temperatures. So far nine people have been rescued from the Hotel Rigopiano and six people have died. The first survivors were released on Monday from a hospital in the nearby city of Pescara. Firefighters hold three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano / AP But more than two days have passed since anyone has been pulled out alive from the hotel, and rescue crews were still trying to recover the body of the sixth known victim from the rubble. The investigation intensified, meanwhile, into whether local government officials underestimated the threat facing the hotel, which was already covered with two metres of snow, had no phone service and had dwindling gas supplies when a series of earthquakes rocked central Italy on the morning of January 18. Italy Avalanche - In pictures 1 /25 Italy Avalanche - In pictures The Hotel Rigopiano was engulfed in snow when the avalanche struck. Up to 30 people are feared dead Vigili del Fuoco A rescuer clears snow in front of the Rigopiano Hotel, following the avalanche in Farindola, Italy Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS) via AP Rescue workers in vehicles pave the way to hotel 'Rigopiano', buried an avalanche in the Abruzzo region near Farindola, Italy Vigili del Fuoco Rescuers work in front of the Rigopiano Hotel hit by an avalanche Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS) via AP These two cars were upturned and buried by the force of the snow Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS) via AP A rescuer stands in front of the Rigopiano HoteL Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS) via AP Workers dig their way through deep snow that covered the hotel EPA A wall of snow and debris in the hotel lobby AP Rescuers dig through a snow drift in an effort to find survivors A helicopter and rescue workers en route to the hotel Rigopiano after it was hit by an avalanche in Farindola (Pescara), Abruzzo region Italian Mountain Rescue/EPA A rescue worker digging through the snow Sky News It is not thought any Brits were involved in the tragedy Italian Mountain Rescue/EPA The hotel was hit amid heavy snowfall in the alps after a long dry spell Italian Mountain Rescue/EPA Emergency vehicles en route to the hotel Italian Fires Department/EPA An ambulance drives in Campotosto village after the earthquake Claudio Lattanzio/EPA The village of Campotosto in central Italy has seen heavy snowfall in recent days Claudio Lattanzio/EPA Locals sit in a rescue centre after the avalanche Claudio Lattanzio/EPA A tractor fitted with a snow plough clears a road in the Italian village Sky News Rubble and debris of a destroyed building covered with snow are pictured in the damaged central Italian village of Amatrice, after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the region Adreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images Italian newspapers on Monday reproduced what they said was an email sent by the hotel owner to local and provincial authorities that afternoon asking for help because "the situation has become worrisome". "The hotel guests are terrorised by the earthquakes and have decided to stay out in the open," Bruno Di Tommaso wrote. "We've tried to do everything to keep them calm, but since they can't leave due to the blocked roads, they're prepared to spend the night in their cars." Additional reporting by Associated Press T he death toll from storms sweeping across southern USA rose to 18 today as scenes of devastation emerged. Georgia was the worst hit with 14 people killed including seven who died when a tornado ripped through a mobile home park. There are houses just demolished, said Norma Ford, from Albany, Georgia, the regions largest city with 76,000 residents. She said rushed out with other relatives on Sunday evening after hearing a reported twister had overturned her nephews mobile home. Ms Ford said downed trees and powerlines made roads impassable, forcing them to walk the two miles to the mobile home park to check on her relatives. Storm clouds: the scene after the tornado / EPA She said her nephew was fine, but several of his neighbours homes were destroyed. The latest three deaths occurred late last night in Dougherty County where Albany is located. Sebon Burns, the countys deputy chief for emergency management, said search and rescue efforts were continuing today following reports of injuries and extensive damage. The deadliest toll came before dawn yesterday when an apparent tornado blew through a mobile home park about 60 miles from Albany, levelling roughly half of the 40 homes and killing seven people. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia and expressed our sincere condolences for the lives taken. Tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong, and they suffered greatly, Mr Trump said during a White House ceremony where he was swearing in aides. So well be helping out the state of Georgia. Two of yesterdays deaths occurred in Brooks County when a mobile home was struck by an apparent tornado, moving it 100 yards before dawn. A tornado hit a mobile home, picked it up and put it in the middle of Highway 122, Brooks County Coroner Michael Miller said. I dont know if it rolled or was lifted, but it blocked the entire highway. Georgia emergency officials said two people were also killed in nearby Berrien County. Four people were killed on Saturday in Mississippi when the system began its deadly assault. T he so-called special relationship between Britain and the US "can always be closer" the White House has said as Theresa May prepares to meet Donald Trump on Friday. The Prime Minister will be the first foreign leader to meet the new president for talks, a decision which reflects the historic ties between the UK and US, Mr Trumps press secretary Sean Spicer said. Mr Spicer said Mr Trump was excited about meeting Mrs May and would have a great conversation about the potential for trade with the UK. He told reporters: "I think we have always had that special relationship with Britain and that reflects in the Prime Minister's first visit here. "He's had a great conversation with her and he looks forward to having her here but we can always be closer." Mrs May has said she will use the meeting to make the case for increasing free trade between Britain and the US. But Mr Trump has been clear that he believes international trade deals have been damaging for American industry. Mr Spicer said there would be a "new era of trade policy" that would "put American workers first and foremost". But he added: "When he [Mr Trump] talks to Prime Minister May he is going to have a great conversation about the potential for greater trade with the UK." The Prime Minister will travel to the United States on Thursday when she will become the first foreign serving head of state or government to address the annual congressional Republican retreat, when it gathers for its 30th anniversary in Philadelphia. In her meeting with Mr Trump, the Prime Minister said she will also stress the "importance of Nato as the bulwark of our defence", following his description of the transatlantic security alliance as "obsolete". Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon talked to US counterpart James Mattis in a "very warm" telephone conversation on Monday. He said: "We talked of our joint leadership in Nato, including modernising the Alliance and how we ensure that all members meet the Nato 2% spending commitment alongside America and Britain, with our growing defence budget. "Operationally, we discussed the importance of working together to accelerate the defeat of current threats, including from Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and tackling terrorism in all its forms. "I look forward to meeting Secretary Mattis at the next meeting of Nato defence ministers in February." Additional reporting by Press Association S uch is Britain's love of pie that we have not just a day, but a whole week dedicated to celebrating it. Whether you like sweet or savoury, gooey fillings and crumbling, buttery pastry are sure to restore you after a long day of work or play. In an ode to British Pie Week , weve found some of the prettiest dishes to bake them in. 1. Falcon Original Pie Dishes Falcons classic blue and white enamel always looks great when offset by perfectly risen pastry. If youre into instagramming your food, then this family set is exactly what you need. 41, Amara, Buy it now 2. Emile Henry Ruffled Pie Dish Why spend ages meticulously crimping the edge when theres a dish that will do it for you? French designer Emile Henry lends a hand with perfect presentation in the form of this ruffled pie dish, which can be taken straight from oven to table. 27, Amara, Buy it now 3. Mauviel Copper Tart Tatin Copper is all the rage these days and its easy to see why; that golden glow looks great whatever its surroundings. Aside from its looks, the copper exterior actually helps to conduct heat, meaning your tarte tatin will be so evenly baked that even Paul Hollywood wouldnt be able to resist. 115, Harrods, Buy it now 4. Fluted Gold-Rimmed Baker A hand painted gold rim gives this fluted pie dish a bit of an edge. Crafted from high-fired stoneware, its durable and scratch-resistant. Ideal for presenting to dinner party guests. 28.57, Williams Sonoma, Buy it now 5. Le Creuset Apple Pan Le Creuset can always be relied on to provide cookware that is so hardwearing it will undoubtedly outlive us and this apple shaped pan is no exception. Cast iron and coated with porcelain enamel, heat is distributed slowly and evenly. Just try not to drop it on your foot. 157, Williams Sonoma, Buy it now 6. Jamie Oliver Non-Stick Tart Tin Theres nothing worse than slaving over a handmade pie, only to find it stuck to the tin when its finished. For something you can turn out onto a pretty plate or cake stand, youll need to go with a non-stick tin. As always, Jamie Oliver comes to the rescue with his loose-based offering. A ctor Gorden Kaye, best known for his role in Allo, Allo, has died at the age of 75. The BAFTA-nominated British actor passed away while in a care home on Monday morning, his agent has confirmed. Kaye played cafe owner Rene Artois in the classic sitcom, focusing on resistance fighters in France during World War II. The actor appeared in all 84 episodes of the hit television show, having taken on the role in 1982, as well as 1,200 performances of the stage show. 'Allo 'Allo! actor Gorden Kaye obit He then returned to reprise the role in 2007 for a one-off television show and later for a new stage version in Australia. Co-stars: Gordon Kaye and Vicki Michelle Kaye released his autobiography in 1989, entitled Rene & Me: A Sort of Autobiography, a few years after he was the subject of This Is Your Life. The actor suffered serious head injuries during a car accident during the Burns Day storm back in 1990. Gordon Kaye at John Inman's funeral in 2007 / Rex Features He received emergency brain surgery following the accident and later admitted that he had no memory of the event. Accident: Gorden Kaye suffered serious head injuries during a car accident in 1990 / Mark Richards Kayes started his acting career back in a series of radio plays before landing a role in Coronation Street in 1969, playing Elsie Tanners nephew Bernard Butler. Roles in Are You Being Served?, the 1979 Porridge film and It Aint Half Hot Mum followed. One of Kayes final appearances on screen was in BBC sketch show Revolver back in 2004. Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning said: "Gorden Kaye was a terrific comic actor whose signature role, Rene Artois, earned his place in the comedy hall of fame "He was instrumental in making 'Allo 'Allo! such a long running and well-loved series. "His work lives on and thoughts are with friends and loved ones at this sad time." V icki Michelle has paid tribute to her late Allo, Allo co-star Gorden Kaye, saying that he was loved the world over. The British actress, 66, who played Yvette Carte-Blanche in the iconic sitcom, offered her condolences on Twitter just hours after news of his death broke. So sad to hear news of Gorden Kaye A brilliantly talented actor consummate professional, loved the world over There'll never be another Rene, she wrote. Kaye, who was 75, passed away while in a care home on Monday morning, his agent confirmed. The pair starred opposite each other in the classic television show from 1982-1992 and both later reprised their roles for the touring stage show in 2008. A number of well-known names paid tribute to Kaye on Monday, including Piers Morgan, Nigel Farage and actor Greg Mchugh. 'Allo 'Allo! actor Gorden Kaye obit RIP 'Allo 'Allo star Gordon Kaye, 75. Wonderful comedy actor, wrote Morgan on Twitter. Mchugh posted: #GordonKaye was a master of his art. Very sad to hear of his passing. He lead Allo' Allo' with such a clever, warm and funny performance. Gorden Kaye - In pictures 1 /13 Gorden Kaye - In pictures Gorden Kaye on stage in the 'Allo 'Allo' play (1987) Rex Features Just a humble cafe owner: Gorden Kaye as Rene in 'Allo 'Allo (1986) With onscreen wife Edith (Carmen Silvera) in 1986 Rene's life saw him torn between wife Edith and saucy waitress Yvette (Vicki Michelle) With Vicki Michelle on-set in 1986 Kaye with Michelle launch Sealink's Horsa ferry luxury lounges in 1986 In a cockpit of the Regionair's London-Paris service from Southend Airport in a 1989 publicity show Receiving an SOS Star Award with Phillip Schofield and Sarah Green in 1990 On Des O'Connor Tonight in 1991 Rex Features At John Inman's funeral in 2007 Rex Features Sad to see the death of Gorden Kaye. Brilliant as Rene in the hilarious 'Allo! 'Allo! wrote Farage. Kaye appeared in all 84 episodes of the hit television show, having taken on the role in 1982, as well as 1,200 performances of the stage show. He then returned to reprise the role in 2007 for a one-off television show and later for a new stage version in Australia. The actor suffered serious head injuries during a car accident during the Burns Day storm back in 1990. This should have been a celebratory weekend for the new Trump administration a jubilant time for newly inaugurated President Donald Trump and his top aides who assumed the reins of power on Friday with a populist vow to push aside the political establishment and Make America Great Again. Instead, Trumps first full day as president on Saturday was one bitter fighting with the news media and the former head of the CIA. At the same time, millions of Americans marched in Washington and scores of cities across the country to protest Trumps election and policies that threaten womens rights, illegal immigrants, health care coverage for more than 20 million people, and long-standing international alliances. Related: Trump Era Begins with Moves Against Regulations, Obamacare The days events were both breathtaking and alarming, as Trump and his new White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, appeared unhinged at times as they clashed with reporters and bitterly complained that the media had vastly understated the size of the crowd on hand for Trumps swearing in ceremony. The White House also complained about what proved to be an inaccurate tweet by a Time Magazine reporter that Trump had removed a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. from the Oval Office. Trump appears to be digging in for what is likely to be a long and contentious relationship with the news media that could mean less access for reporters or even eviction from the current White House press room. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus did little on Sunday to try to calm the roiled waters, declaring on Fox News Sunday that Trump wont allow his critics in the media and elsewhere to delegitimize his presidency. Im saying theres an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president and we are not going to sit around and let it happen Priebus said. Were going to fight back, tooth and nail, every day. Without conceding that the president and Spicer had grossly exaggerated the size of the inaugural day crowd, claiming that as many as 1.5 million people had turned out when it was closer to 250,000, Priebus said the controversy is really not about crowd size, what its about is honesty in the media. Story continues Related: Trumps Brand of Nationalism Reinforces a Divisive Us v. Them Playbook Trumps senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, also complained about the unfair treatment of Trump during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press. She added, I dont think ultimately presidents are judged by crowd sizes at their inauguration, I think they are judged by their accomplishments. Conway and Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd then engaged in an extraordinary, protracted argument over why Trump sent Spicer into the White House press room to deliver an obvious lie about the size of the inaugural crowd on Friday. Why was it necessary to send out the press secretary on his first day in office to utter a provable falsehood that now calls into question everything the press secretary will say from here on out for many Americans? Todd asked. What was the motive to have this ridiculous litigation of crowd size? Your job is not to call something ridiculous that is said by our press secretary and our president, thats not your job, Conway fired back. Youre a news person, youre not an opinion columnist. Think about what you just said to your viewers. Thats why we feel compelled to go out and clear the air. Related: America First: Full Text of President Trumps Inaugural Address Conway never answered Todds question, saying instead that the news media should devote more energy to highlighting the provable, quantifiable facts that Trump outlined in his acceptance speech, including the devastation and destruction in our schools, with our health care system, the economy and national security efforts against terrorists. For his part, Trump spent the morning downplaying the importance of Saturdays protest in Washington by an estimated half million people, tweeting that Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didnt these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly. Later, however, he leavened his critique, tweeting that Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I dont always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views. On Saturday, Trump used a visit to the CIA intended as a peacemaking gesture after weeks of clashing with the intelligence community over its assessments of Russian hacking and interference in the U.S. electionto tee off against journalists, who he called the most dishonest human beings on Earth, according to an account by The Washington Post. Related: 8 Steps Trump Could Take on Day One to Remake the Country Trump called out Zeke Miller, the Time magazine reporter who mistakenly tweeted a report that the Martin Luther King Jr. bust had been removed from the Oval Office and subsequently apologized and corrected the report. But other reporters had already reported the missing bust as fact. They said that Donald Trump took down the bust the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King. But it was right there, Trump told the CIA gathering. There was a cameraman that was in front of it. Trump sought to express his gratitude to the intelligence community, despite repeatedly railing against it during the transition and likening alleged leaks of unflattering and unsubstantiated intelligence about Trump to a Nazi-style smear. Standing before the CIAs hallowed wall of stars honoring the agencys fallen, Trump launched into a rambling, campaign-style monolog blaming the media for stoking dissension between him and intelligence agencies. I have a running war with the media, Trump declared. They are among the most dishonest human beings on Earth, right? Trumps statement drew laughter and applause from dozens of CIA employees who showed up for the meeting on their day off and other Trump loyalists. But John Brennan, who resigned Friday as CIA Director at the conclusion of the Obama administration, said through a spokesperson that he was saddened and angry at Trumps despicable display of self-aggrandizement in front of CIAs Memorial Wall of Agency heroes. Brennan added that Trump should be ashamed of himself. Spicer later summoned reporters to the White House briefing room for a tongue-lashing, falsely insisting that more than 700,000 people stretched from the West Front of the Capitol down the Mall to the Washington Monument to observe Trumps inauguration. He falsely insisted that the turnout was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period both in person and around the globe. Figures from Nielsen confirm that 31 million people watched the Trump inauguration worldwidebut that was still 9 million less than Obamas inauguration in 2009. Related: Trumps Blunders on NATO and Russia Make Our European Allies Cringe Many reporters were shocked that Spicer would use his maiden appearance at the White House podium to advance the preposterous notion that the turnout for Trumps inauguration was larger than that of President Barack Obamas 2009 inauguration, or that Trumps crowd reached all the way to the Washington Monument. Side by side aerial photographs of the Mall taken shortly before noon during those two events showed that Trump had grossly exaggerated the size of his crowd. Spicer refused to take questions from the reporters but set an ominous tone before stalking out of the press room: Theres been a lot of talk in the media about the responsibility to hold Donald Trump accountable, and Im here to tell you that it goes two ways, he said. Were going to hold the press accountable as well. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: GettyImages 632237412 WASHINGTON John Fiore booked a last-minute flight from Florida at three-times the standard rate so he could see Donald Trump, the first president he voted for who actually won the election since Ronald Reagan, sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday. Fiore, a Boston native, summed up his feelings about the now-present Trump presidency following his inaugural address in two words: "I'm psyched." Although the number of revelers on-hand for Trump's inaugural festivities was dwarfed by the past two ceremonies, in addition to the well-promoted Women's March on Saturday, supporters who made the trek to see Trump sworn into office were impressed with his performance, and stoked to see what comes next. Trump's roughly 16-minute, populist "America First" address, which was dubbed by some in the commentariat as "radical," was deemed "fantastic" by central Virginia Trump supporter Dovonna Bevington, who made the short trek to the nation's capital. Tracy Dean, who was alongside Bevington, said the address was "spot on" and "really showed his professionalism and how he's going to lead our country." The pair of women who backed the real estate magnate said they're excited for him to put "our country back to work" and get "our foundation back," Bevington told Business Insider. And, pointing to the protests occurring elsewhere in Washington as the inaugural ceremonies were ongoing, some of which had turned violent, Dean said she was looking forward to Trump "stopping all this nonsense violence going on up the street here for no other reason than that they lost." "That's the only reason," she said. Bevington, who conceded that a personal disliking of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton played a significant role in her warming up to Trump, said she was a fan of "his love of America," and added that Trump "picked a d--- good vice president" in Mike Pence. Story continues Dean agreed, saying she was looking forward to seeing how the country would be with Trump's "love for its country and its people." "The Americans," she said. The selling point for her on Trump was that "straight up he's a real person." "Of course, he's a billionaire," she said. We know that. But he hasn't lived serving this country his whole life having to mind his p's and q's everywhere he went. And, he related to us." For Fiore, who said he worked decades back as an independent journalist on Capitol Hill for a brief time, he's most looking forward to the relaxed regulations and lower taxes Trump has promised. "And I'd like to see the way the military is going to take it to the terrorists rather than wait for something to happen and then hunt them down," he said. "And I think that that is going to be a refreshing change for the people. I actually think a lot of the people protesting him are going to benefit more than me from Donald Trump." John Fiore Fiore called himself a "big believer in getting stuff done," and was sold on Trump as a doer years back when he read "Art of the Deal." An ex-girlfriend as well as a college roommate of Fiore's tried to hold a "Trump intervention" with him last year prior to to the inauguration, he said. "We want to talk you out of voting for Trump," Fiore recalled them telling him. "By the end of the conversation, I almost had them voting for Trump. We had a good philosophical conversation. I wasn't into the 'lock her up' stuff. I said, 'Look, Donald Trump is someone who is going to get things done.'" Namely, working across the aisle with Democrats is what Fiore wants to see happen in that regard. And, he was sympathetic to those protesting Trump across town. "Back in the day, I mean, I'm from Boston, I just thought Donald Trump was a loud-mouthed New Yorker," he said. "And it wasn't until after I finished his book that I started to like him. I never watched 'The Apprentice,'" he said, later adding, "I can understand [people protesting Trump.] Back in the old days, he rubbed me the wrong way because he's Donald Trump. He's a New Yorker. But I actually think he's going to do well." NOW WATCH: Here's how President Obama starts every morning More From Business Insider * Trump invites Netanyahu to meet in early February * Trump aides say no announcement on embassy move imminent (Recasts with details from call between Trump, Netanyahu) By Ayesha Rascoe and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington in early February during a phone call in which they discussed the importance of strengthening the U.S.-Israeli relationship, the White House said on Sunday. In his first call with Netanyahu since taking office on Friday, Trump stressed his "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security." "The president and the prime minister agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran," the White House said in a statement. Trump also said peace between Israel and the Palestinians could only be negotiated between the two parties, but that the United States would work with Israel to achieve that goal. Relations between Israel and the Obama administration ended on a contentious note, when the United States declined to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a halt to Israeli settlement-building. The readout from the White House did not include any mention of moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, an action that would likely spark anger in the Arab world. Earlier on Sunday, the White House said it was only in the early stages of talks to fulfill Trump's campaign pledge to relocate the embassy. "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement. Aides said no announcement of an embassy move was imminent. Washington's embassy is in Tel Aviv, as are most foreign diplomatic posts. Israel calls Jerusalem its eternal capital, but Palestinians also lay claim to the city as part of an eventual Palestinian state. Both sides cite biblical, historical and political claims. Story continues Any decision to break with the status quo is likely to prompt protests from U.S. allies in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. Washington relies on those countries for help in fighting the Islamic State militant group, which the new U.S. president has said is a priority. The U.S. Congress passed a law in 1995 describing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and saying it should not be divided, but successive Republican and Democratic presidents have used their foreign policy powers to maintain the embassy in Tel Aviv and to back negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on the status of Jerusalem. In early December, then-President Barack Obama renewed the presidential waiver on an embassy move until the beginning of June. It is unclear whether Trump would be able to legally override it and go ahead with relocation of the embassy. U.S. diplomats say that, despite the U.S. legislation, Washington's foreign policy is in practice broadly aligned with that of the United Nations and other major powers, which do not view Jerusalem as Israel's capital and do not recognize Israel's annexation of Arab East Jerusalem after its capture in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel approved building permits on Sunday for hundreds of homes in three East Jerusalem settlements in expectation that Trump will row back on the previous administration's criticism of such projects. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe, Warren Strobel and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Howard Goller and Paul Simao) WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $418 million sale to Kenya of aircraft with weapons and related support, a Pentagon agency said on Monday. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement the approval was for the possible sale of up to 12 Air Tractor AT-802L planes and two AT-504 trainer aircraft, a weapons package, technical support and program management. The prime contractor is L3 Technologies Inc, formerly known as L-3 Communications, at its Platform Integration Division, in Waco, Texas. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech) Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Canada's largest alternative asset manager, has entered into exclusive talks to buy bankrupt SunEdison Inc.'s two yieldcos, valuing the power companies at as much as $2.46 billion. Toronto-based Brookfield offered $12 a share for TerraForm Power Inc., conditional on acquiring more than half of sister company TerraForm Global Inc., according to a regulatory filing Monday. That's lower than TerraForm Power's closing price Friday of $12.17. Brookfield offered as much as $4.35 a share for all of TerraForm Global, or $4.25 to acquire 50.1 percent of TerraForm Global and replace SunEdison as its financial sponsor, according to a statement. The shares closed Friday at $4. A spokesman for the TerraForm companies declined to comment Monday and a spokesman for SunEdison didn't immediately return a call. Maryland Heights-based SunEdison formed the two yieldcos as part of an expansion effort that made it the biggest clean energy company in the world, with assets spread across six continents. The two-year buying binge left it overextended and in April it filed the biggest U.S. bankruptcy of 2016. TerraForm Power and TerraForm Global were designed to buy and own its completed power plants, and their portfolios of wind and solar farms are among the most coveted assets as SunEdison's creditors and other buyers assess the company's value. "The distribution of outcomes is certainly starting to narrow," Michael Morosi, an analyst at Avondale Partners in Nashville, said in an interview Monday. "At this point, the best assumption is that Brookfield walks away with both of these assets." The Bethesda, Md.-based yieldcos said the exclusive talks would continue until Feb. 21 for TerraForm Power and March 6 for TerraForm Global, and there are no assurances a deal would be completed. Brookfield is the largest shareholder of TerraForm Power, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. TerraForm Global gained 9.4 percent to $4.38 at 2 p.m. in New York. TerraForm Power slipped 5 percent to $11.56. The yieldcos said they had also entered into a memorandum of understanding with SunEdison to resolve their complex legal relationship. Under the terms of the agreement, SunEdison would receive considerations equal to 25 percent of the total paid for TerraForm Global and 36.9 percent of TerraForm Power. "Brookfield doesn't come as a surprise," Daniel Shurey, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in New York, said Monday by instant message. "It is a global asset manager with significant power generation experience and like many Canadian investors, with a huge interest in the U.S. renewable energy markets." Of the potential buyers for TerraForm Power, Brookfield was the most vocal. It first disclosed its interest in TerraForm Power in June, prompting Morosi to describe it then as the yieldco's potential "white knight." Other companies that have expressed interest included AES Corp., funds managed by BlackRock Inc., D.E. Shaw & Co. and Golden Concord Holdings Ltd. "Brookfield is among the best positioned for these types of complex restructuring situations," Andrew Kuske, a Toronto-based analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG, said in a research note Monday. TerraForm Power attracted much more public interest than its sister yieldco. TerraForm Power owns operating wind and solar farms in developed countries, while TerraForm Global owns assets in emerging countries. TerraForm Power owns almost 3,000 megawatts of wind and solar farms in OECD countries, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K. TerraForm Global has about 917 megawatts of assets in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay. TerraForm Power said in December that it had a $1 billion claim against SunEdison, while TerraForm Global said that month that its unsecured claims against its parent exceed $2 billion. Brookfield disclosed this month that it had floated four proposals, including an all-cash purchase of TerraForm Power at $11.50 per share. It also offered an all-cash offer for both yieldcos for an incremental cash consideration of $1 per share. "There are multiple offers on the table," Morosi said. "There's still a sense that there could be upside, especially for Global. I think TerraForm Power sells in the $11.50 to $12.50 range." A federal judge has blocked Aetnas bid to buy rival Humana on grounds that the deal would hurt competition and raise prices for consumers in hundreds of Medicare Advantage markets, including nearly half of the counties in Missouri. U.S. District Judge John Bates said in an opinion filed Monday that federal regulation would probably be insufficient to prevent the merged firm from raising prices or reducing benefits, and neither new competitors nor an Aetna plan to sell some of the combined companys business to another insurer, Molina Healthcare Inc., would be enough to ease competitive concerns. An Aetna spokesman said the company was considering an appeal. Aetna, the nations third-largest health insurer, had announced in 2015 its plan to spend about $34 billion on Humana Inc. and become one of the top providers in the fast-growing Medicare Advantage market. Medicare Advantage plans are privately run versions of the governments Medicare program for people who are over age 65 or disabled. The Justice Department sued last summer to block the Aetna deal as well as Anthems separate, $48 billion purchase of Cigna. Both cases went to trial late last year. An opinion has yet to be rendered for the Anthem case. The two deals would consolidate the nations five largest insurers into three, a list that includes UnitedHealth Group Inc., currently the largest. The big insurers had argued that by getting bigger they will be able to negotiate better prices with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and doctor groups that also are growing. They also expect to cut expenses and add more customers, which helps them better spread out the cost of investing in technology to manage and improve care. But Bates, who is based in Washington, said in a 158-page opinion that the Aetna-Humana combination would likely substantially lessen competition for Medicare Advantage plans in 364 counties, including 54 in Missouri and 35 in Illinois. The merger was also deemed to lessen competition in the health insurance exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act in several counties. The ruling represents a victory for Missouri regulators who moved last year to block the giant insurance deal, threatening to bar Aetna and Humana from offering certain plans in the state if they completed the merger. In a preliminary order issued in May, the Missouri Department of Insurance cited decreased competition as a reason for the move. In his ruling, Bates cited Missouris efforts to block the deal. David Balto, an antitrust attorney in Washington, said that Missouris actions helped unearth the weaknesses in Aetnas arguments and was very helpful to the Department of Justice. Doctors and hospitals had urged both state regulators and the Justice Department to try to block the deal, and some large employers also opposed the combination. Reducing competition In his ruling, Bates said nearly 1.6 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans would be negatively affected by the merger. He dismissed Aetnas argument that there was plenty of choice for consumers because Medicare Advantage, which is managed by insurance companies, competes with traditional Medicare, which is managed by the government. In that [Medicare Advantage] market, which is the primary focus of this case, the merger is presumptively unlawful a conclusion that is strongly supported by direct evidence of head-to-head competition as well. The companies rebuttal arguments are not persuasive, Bates wrote. Humana is the nations second largest Medicare Advantage insurer, while Aetna is the fourth, and the two compete in more than 600 counties, the government said in its complaint. The Justice Department also argued and Bates agreed that consumers who bought insurance on the exchanges would be negatively affected by the merger. In its lawsuit, the Justice Department specifically identified 17 counties in Florida, Georgia and Missouri where Aetna and Humana would stop competing for business if the merger were approved. But after the lawsuit was filed, Aetna quit offering plans in those counties. Bates, in his ruling, said the company had decided to quit in those counties as a way to avoid antitrust scrutiny. The decision to pull out of these 17 counties was made without consulting profitability a calculation used to decide exits from other markets, according to the opinion. For example, Florida was projected to be profitable on the exchange and was Aetnas third-most profitable state for on-exchange business. In an email to a higher-up, the head of Aetnas national exchange business, Floridas market president, Christopher Ciano, wrote : I just cant make sense out of the Florida decision. Never thought we would pull the plug all together. Based on the latest run rate data we are making money from the on-exchange business. Was Floridas performance ever debated? Reuters, the Associated Press and the Washington Post contributed to this report. WASHINGTON U.S. Republican Senator Susan Collins called President Donald Trump's executive order against Obamacare "very confusing" on Monday, saying whatever actions the Trump administration takes, legislation will still be needed to replace the health insurance law. "We really don't know yet what the impact (of the order) will be," Collins told reporters, adding that it will be difficult to assess the impact until there is a new Cabinet secretary in place in charge of health. Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, was speaking at a press conference to introduce her own legislation to replace former Democratic President Barack Obama's health care law. Trump, who campaigned on a promise to dismantle Obamacare, signed his first executive order Friday within hours of taking office. It directs U.S. agencies to "waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation" of provisions of Obamacare deemed to impose fiscal burdens on states, companies or individuals. But the order did not specify which parts of Obamacare would be affected, or over what timeline. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are working on legislation to repeal and replace the law. Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Georgia Representative Tom Price, has said there is no plan for "pulling the rug out" on millions of Americans' health care as a replacement is designed. Any changes are unlikely to affect the government-funded or subsidized insurance plans covering more than 20 million people in 2017. Collins' replacement proposal, which she offered together with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, would allow states to stay in Obamacare if they like. They could also choose an alternative plan that would be developed using the funding they would otherwise get from Washington for subsidizing Obamacare coverage and the expansion of the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor. "We need legislation," Collins said. "There are some improvements that can be made through the executive order, and through the regulatory process, but that by no means takes away the need for comprehensive legislation." Cassidy rejected the idea that letting states keep Obamacare if they like amounted to a retreat from Republican vows to repeal the 2010 law. "What we're doing is moving the locus for repeal to state governments," he said. Republicans believe such decisions should be made at the state level, Cassidy said, but added that this approach could also help attract Democratic votes that will be needed for a replacement plan. LONDON Oil prices fell 1 percent on Monday as signs of a strong recovery in U.S. oil drilling activity outweighed news that OPEC and non-OPEC producers were on track to meet output reduction goals set in December. Global benchmark Brent crude prices were down 53 cents to $54.96 a barrel at 1026 GMT (4:26 a.m. Central time), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures traded at $52.61 a barrel, down 61 cents, or 1.1 percent, on Friday's close. Ministers representing members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers said at a meeting on Sunday that of almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) they had agreed to be taken out of the market, 1.5 million bpd had already gone. "A lot of this is already priced in and the U.S. rig count keeps rising and gathering pace," said Carsten Fritsch, commodities analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. U.S. drillers added most rigs in nearly four years last week, data from energy services firm Baker Hughes showed on Friday. This extends an eight-month drilling recovery and is supporting signs that U.S. production will continue to rise strongly just as other producers are cutting output. "Baker Hughes said that 35 new rigs were activated last week, fueling fears of a significant rise in U.S. production which would offset the reduction by OPEC and making a mockery of the Saudis' claim that they had managed to break the U.S. shale drillers," said Ashley Kelty, research analyst at Cenkos Securities. U.S. oil production has risen more than 6 percent since mid-2016, although it remains 7 percent below a historic high in 2015. It is back to levels of late 2014, when strong U.S. crude output contributed to a crash in oil prices. The Missouri Legislature is considering bills that would issue $125 million in tax credits to subsidize investments in rural communities, but recent comments by Gov. Eric Greitens suggest the proposal may not move forward. The Show-Me Rural Jobs Act passed the House last year but did not advance in the Senate. It was filed again in both houses this year but faces an uncertain future after Greitens in his State of the State address criticized a burdensome, complex and unfair Missouri tax credit system gamed by insiders. The tax credit plan would be the states third go-round in 20 years with a type of tax credit that subsidizes investments in a fund that makes loans to or investments in businesses. A common thread to these programs is that the laws are set up with narrow eligibility rules, giving a few firms that help design and promote the bills an advantage. Unlike other tax credits, projects that get subsidies are picked by those firms not by the state. Missouris first round of subsidized debt lending, from 1996 to 2004, gave a tax credit match on funds that capital companies, or CAPCOs, could raise from insurance companies to lend to businesses as venture capital. Promoters claimed their model encouraged lending to small businesses by insurance companies, which hold billions of dollars but are not required like banks under the federal Community Reinvestment Act to invest in local businesses. The tax credits were a boon for the CAPCOs, because the subsidies eliminated their risk. But an audit by then-Auditor Claire McCaskill in 2004 found the economic benefit did not come close to the $140 million cost. The most recent subsidized business lending program, the state New Market Tax Credits, were designed to supplement a federal tax credit program of the same name and promote lending to businesses in economically distressed areas. The program ended in 2013 amid criticism that it did not create enough jobs, although it cost Missouri taxpayers $120 million. A legislative oversight review found little transparency in the program. The state Department of Economic Development did not publish details about the projects that received loans or investments from New Markets tax credits, despite a state law requiring detailed information about all tax credits to be posted on the state accountability portal. A reporter asked economic development officials on Jan. 3 to provide a list of the state New Markets projects; a department spokeswoman said the information had to be pulled out of archives. It had not been made available Friday. Greitens used the strongest language to criticize tax credits, saying that the people who get paid first today are insiders and lobbyists who have rigged the system. Since 2010, almost $2 billion has been promised to special interests, he said. The people taking the money swore that it was going to create jobs, but their performance hasnt lived up to their promises. If special interest tax credits made for a prosperous economy, Missouri would be thriving. After Greitens comments, the senate sponsor of the Show-Me Rural Jobs Act said the bill appeared to be doomed. It doesnt look real doable, said Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa. I dont mind talking about it and having it out there. I doubt it is going anywhere. Wasson said even though the program can generate jobs and has built-in protections if a company doesnt keep employees, he said it probably cannot show a dollar-for-dollar return. That makes it unlikely the proposal will move forward during a tight budget year, he said. Tracy King, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said her group strongly supported the concept of spurring investments in rural areas, and published a series of videos to promote the law. She said the group hoped the state could support it somehow without tax credits. Business lending tax credits, especially CAPCOs, have been controversial in other states. A Maine newspaper in 2015 highlighted an extreme case, in which the state subsidized a $40 million investment in a paper mill. None of the investment reached the mill, but taxpayers still had to pay the investors $16 million. Julia Sass Rubin, a Rutgers University professor who studies tax credits, said the Show-Me Rural Jobs Act was an elaborate ruse to take taxpayer dollars and give them to CAPCOs. Show-Me Rural Jobs would entitle lenders to earn up to 60 cents in tax credits for every dollar loaned to a rural business, assuming certain benchmarks for job creation were met. This is not a tax credit, this is a giveaway, Rubin said. The state just gives tax money to these people. Why doesnt the state of Missouri just give the businesses money instead of paying investment companies to make loans? she asked. Advantage Capital Partners, which has offices in New Orleans and Clayton, dominated the state New Markets tax credits, and was the architect of Show-Me Rural Jobs. According to a blog item on the Missouri Chamber website, Jeff Craver, an Advantage principal, testified during a House hearing on the Show-Me Rural Jobs Act in January 2016 that there was a tremendous workforce capacity in rural Missouri for manufacturing and other industries, but that those businesses lacked capital. Craver on Friday declined to comment. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday tapped Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai to head the Federal Communications Commission, which is expected to roll back many of the Obama administration's telecommunications and internet policies. Pai, a former Justice Department, FCC and Capitol Hill staffer, in December said the administration's landmark net neutrality rules adopted in 2015 would not last. Pai, the son of Indian immigrants who grew up in Kansas, said last month the commission should take a "weed whacker" to unneeded rules and was harshly critical of many FCC regulations imposed during the Obama administration Librarians from across the country announced their favorite children's books on Monday, tapping Rep. John Lewis' civil rights memoir for four awards and giving Kelly Barnhill's "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" the Newbery Medal. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, written and illustrated Javaka Steptoe, won the Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book. Steptoe is the son of another award-winning children's author/illustrator, the late John Steptoe ("Mufaros Beautiful Daughters"). Popular author Rick Riordan was honored for one of his many novels based on mythology: The honor came in the form of the Stonewall Book Award. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor" won the award based on "exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience." Lewis's graphic novel, written with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell is guaranteed a long life, probably never going out of print. It won the King Author Award, the Printz Award, the Sibert Informational Book Award and a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. The 2017 children's book awards, which are sometimes called the Academy Awards in their field, were given during the American Library Association's midwinter meeting in Atlanta. They honor books published in 2016. Unlike the "#oscarssowhite" scandal of last year, however, the ALA awards typically give recognition to widely diverse books and multicultural topics and not only through the prestigious Coretta Scott King awards. Even the Newbery winner, which is a fantasy tale about an abandoned baby who is raised by a witch, shows the protagonist with brown skin on its book cover. Although children's book publishing is often criticized as not showing enough diversity, the modern ALA awards usually don't seem to have that problem. A St. Louis native, Naomi Shihab Nye, who was born here in 1952 to a Palestinian father and American mother, was honored with the May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Award. Nye, a poet and novelist, will give the annual lecture next year. This year's lecture will be delivered in April by Jacqueline Woodson. A listing from the ALA of all the 2017 award winners follows: John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: The Girl Who Drank the Moon, written by Kelly Barnhill, is the 2017 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan, written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; The Inquisitors Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, written by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; and Wolf Hollow, written by Lauren Wolk and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe is the 2017 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: Leave Me Alone! illustrated and written by Vera Brosgol and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; Freedom in Congo Square, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Du Iz Tak?" illustrated and written by Carson Ellis, and published by Candlewick Press; and "They All Saw a Cat," illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: March: Book Three, written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by Nate Powell and published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Two King Author Honor Books were selected: As Brave as You, written by Jason Reynolds, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division; and Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan, written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division. Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Three King Illustrator Honor Book were selected: Freedom in Congo Square, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan, illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division; and In Plain Sight, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, written by Richard Jackson, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: The Sun Is Also a Star, written by Nicola Yoon, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop is the winner of the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved childrens author Virginia Hamilton. Bishop is a winner of numerous awards and has served as a respected member of many book awards committees over the course of her long and distinguished career. Her influential writing, speaking, and teaching articulates the history and cultural significance of African-American childrens literature. Her globally cited work, Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors, has inspired movements for increased diversity in books for young people, and provides the basis for the best multicultural practice and inquiry for students, teachers, writers and publishing houses. Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: March: Book Three, created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: Asking for It, by Louise ONeill and published by Quercus, a Hachette Company; The Passion of Dolssa, by Julie Berry and published by Viking Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers; Scythe, by Neal Shusterman and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schusters Childrens Publishing; and The Sun Is Also a Star, by Nicola Yoon and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille, written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 10). as brave as you, written by Jason Reynolds and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division, is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13). When We Collided, written by Emery Lord and published by Bloomsbury Childrens Books is the winner for teens (ages 13-18). Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences: The Queen of Blood, by Sarah Beth Durst, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The Regional Office is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales, published by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, by Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford, published by Henry Holt and Co. Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded, by Hannah Hart, published by Dey Street, an imprint of William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Arena, by Holly Jennings, published by Ace Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire, a Tor Book published by Tom Doherty Associates. Romeo and/or Juliet: A Choosable-Path Adventure, by Ryan North, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Die Young With Me: A Memoir, by Rob Rufus, published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The Wasp That Brainwashed the Caterpillar, by Matt Simon, published by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko, by Scott Stambach, published by St. Martins Press. Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video: Ryan Swenar of Dreamscape Media, LLC, producer of Drum Dream Girl: How One Girls Courage Changed Music is the Carnegie Medal winner. Adapted from Margarita Engles book, a girl in 1930s Cuba aspires to play the drums, a privilege afforded only to boys. Based on the life of Chinese-African-Cuban Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, this story demonstrates how the power of persistence can break barriers, shatter expectations, and make ones dreams a reality. Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. The 2017 winner is Nikki Grimes, whose award-winning works include Bronx Masquerade, which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2003, and Words With Wings, the recipient of a Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2014. In addition, Grimes received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in 2016 and the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 2006. Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: The 2017 winner is Sarah Dessen. Her books include: Dreamland, Keeping the Moon, Just Listen, The Truth about Forever, Along for the Ride, What Happened to Goodbye? and This Lullaby, all published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a Penguin Random House Company. 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site. Naomi Shihab Nye will deliver the 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. The daughter of a Palestinian father and an American mother, Naomi Shihab Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San Antonio, Texas. The author and/or editor of more than 30 books for adults and children, her latest for young people, The Turtle of Oman, was chosen as a 2015 Notable Children's Book by the ALA. She has received four Pushcart Prizes, was a National Book Award finalist, and has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, amongst her many honors. Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding childrens book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States: Cry, Heart, But Never Break is the 2017 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Danish in 2001 as Grd blot hjerte, the book was written by Glenn Ringtved, illustrated by Charolotte Pardi, translated by Robert Moulthrop and published by Enchanted Lion Books. Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: Over the Ocean, published by Chronicle Books LLC, written and illustrated by Taro Gomi and translated from the Japanese by Taylor Norman; As Time Went By, published by NorthSouth Books, Inc., written and illustrated by Jose Sanabria and translated from the German by Audrey Hall; and The Ballad of a Broken Nose, published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division, written by Arne Svingen and translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson. Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: Anna and the Swallow Man, produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Groups, is the 2017 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Gavriel Savit and narrated by Allan Corduner. Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks also were selected: Ghost produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written by Jason Reynolds and narrated by Guy Lockard; Dream On, Amber, produced by Recorded Books, written by Emma Shevah and narrated by Laura Kirman; and Nimona, produced by HarperAudio, written by Noelle Stevenson and narrated by Rebecca Soler, Jonathan Davis, Marc Thompson, January LaVoy, Natalie Gold, Peter Bradbury and David Pittu. Pura Belpre Awards honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, illustrated by Raul Gonzalez, is the Belpre Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Cathy Camper and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Two Belpre Illustrator Honor Books were named: Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, written by Susan Wood and published by Charlesbridge. The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes, illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. "Juana & Lucas, written by Juana Medina, is the Pura Belpre Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Juana Medina and published by Candlewick Press. One Belpre Author Honor Book was named: "The Only Road," written by Alexandra Diaz and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/A Paula Wiseman Book. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: March: Book Three, written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Four Sibert Honor Books were named: Giant Squid, written by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivors Story, written by Caren Stelson and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.; Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II, written by Albert Marrin and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler, written by Russell Freedman and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Childrens & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language childrens and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor, written by Rick Riordan and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, and If I Was Your Girl written by Meredith Russo and published by Flatiron Books, are the 2017 recipients of the Stonewall Book Awards Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Childrens & Young Adult Literature Award, respectively. Three Honor Books were selected: When the Moon Was Ours, written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martins Press; Unbecoming, written by Jenny Downham and published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with David Fickling Books; and Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community, written by Robin Stevenson and published by Orca Book Publishers. Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book: We Are Growing: A Mo Willems Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! Book, written by Laurie Keller. The book is published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. Four Geisel Honor Books were named: Good Night Owl, written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper, written and illustrated by Mike Twohy and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; Go Otto Go! written and illustrated by David Milgrim and published by Simon Spotlight, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and The Infamous Ratsos, written by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers and published by Candlewick Press. William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: The Serpent King, written by Jeff Zentner, is the 2017 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a Penguin Random House Company. Four other books were finalists for the award: Girl Mans Up, written by M-E Girard, published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; Rani Patel in Full Effect, written by Sonia Patel, published by Cinco Puntos Press; The Smell of Other Peoples Houses, written by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a Penguin Random House Company; and Tell Me Something Real, written by Calla Devlin, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: March: Book Three, created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Excellence winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. ST. LOUIS Pastor Titus Irvings sermon Sunday about keeping faith in the face of hardship held extra meaning to the congregation of Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Only six months after flames from an early-morning arson tore through the building, more than a hundred members gathered to worship in their newly refinished sanctuary for the first time. For many, it felt like a hard-earned homecoming. To be back home is a blessing, said Edna Kemp, one of the members. It is prayers answered. The blaze, set about 2 a.m. July 5, charred the sanctuarys interior and caused $200,000 in damage throughout the building at 5503 Gilmore Avenue, in the Walnut Park neighborhood. It looked like the warehouses you see that are gutted out, said Kemp. It was the most serious of a spate of crimes targeting churches last summer, mostly limited to graffiti. The case has remained under investigation. St. Louis also experienced seven church set fires in late 2015. A suspect was eventually charged in connection with two of them. Insurance covered some of the cost at St. Pauls, but charitable contributions from members, other congregations and a GoFundMe page added to the rebuilding effort. There was no indication from the sanctuarys new looks or in the upbeat demeanor of those inside it Sunday of how devastating the fire had been. It was a lot of work, Irving, the pastor for 21 years, said after the service. To see the condition that the church was in and to see the transformation to today, its just so much joy. Irving described the buildings rehab as a total gut job, with walls replaced throughout the building. In the first few months after the fire, the displaced congregation was accommodated in the Celestial Temple of Peace Church, a few blocks away. St. Paul members returned to their own building for limited use in October. Until Sunday, services were confined to the smaller fellowship hall, typically the site of social events and meals. Sunday marked the congregations triumphant return to the sanctuary. As Irvings sermon reflected, the challenging stretch provided a firsthand lesson in perseverance that was not lost on the congregation. Its a church that has been damaged but is keeping the faith to move forward despite what the enemy tried to do to us, Irving said. Its always an encouraging message, a message of hope. Shirley Little, a minister there, said she believes that overcoming both the fire and the threatening graffiti left with it had made the church stronger. She said the setback was especially painful because it came after the church had expanded its space to meet the needs of its growing membership. It made us more resilient and determined, Little said. As much as it hurt when it happened, it feels so good now. Although major portions of repairs have been completed, Little said that some bathrooms, an office area and a space for childrens church activities still need work. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A pair from Maryland Heights have been charged in three recent bank robberies in Creve Coeur. Charges say Amy M. Nelson, 42, served as the getaway driver for Limule C. Greenwade, 29, as he robbed three banks along Olive Boulevard since Dec. 30. Charges filed Saturday against Nelson say she drove a sport utility vehicle and waited for Greenwade as he robbed the Reliance Bank, 13033 Olive Boulevard on Dec. 30; the American Eagle Credit Union at 12395 Olive Boulevard on Jan. 6; and the BMO Harris Bank at 12452 Olive Boulevard on Wednesday. Greenwade and Nelson each were charged with three counts of first-degree robbery. Bail for each was set at $250,000 cash. According to charges, Greenwade and Nelson made off with $1,973 in the Reliance Bank robbery, $5,000 in the American Eagle Credit Union robbery and $2,835 in the robbery of the BMO Harris Bank. Greenwade handed bank teller notes demanding money each time, court records say. Prosecutors say police developed a lead on the pair after Greenwade was acting "in a suspicious manner" at a bank in St. Charles on Jan. 5 and was seen getting into an SUV driven by a woman. Greenwade was wearing the same clothes the next day when he allegedly robbed the American Eagle Credit Union in Creve Coeur. Using bank surveillance video of the vehicle, police tracked it to Greenwade and Nelson's address in the 12300 block of Lakepoint Drive in Maryland Heights, documents say. Nelson and Greenwade confessed to the three robberies, according to court documents. Jail booking photos were not immediately available Monday. JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri Senate only just began to debate right-to-work legislation on the floor on Monday, but neither the proposal's supporters nor the states labor unions are waiting for final passage to make contingency plans. Sensing an inevitable passage of right to work legislation, which would limit unions abilities to collect dues from their members, AFL-CIO President Mike Louis in December filed petitions for the 2018 ballot that would essentially reverse any right-to-work law passed this year. They would give employers and employees the unalienable right to negotiate contracts that would require workers to pay fees covering the cost of union representation. Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander approved the ballot title language of those petitions, among dozens of others, before leaving office on Jan. 9. Backed by the National Right to Work Foundation, a Missouri nurse and two Kansas City police officers are now challenging the petitions on the grounds that their summaries are insufficient and unfair, asking a court to rewrite them with more detail about union dues, collective bargaining agreements and the right-to-work law they would supercede. Louis petition would amend the Missouri constitution to read the following: "That employees shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing," it reads. "No law or ordinance shall restrict or impair an agreement which requires employees to support their chosen collective bargaining representative." The lawsuits filed Monday one for each of Louis petitions allege that the language is misleading, as it fraudulently presents itself as an employees rights proposition when it only protects those organized in labor unions, not employees who choose to withhold their support. The petitions would block lawmakers efforts to prohibit forced-unionism agreements, to the detriment of employees who seek to exercise their Right to Work without being compelled to subsidize a labor organization. These deliberately misleading initiative petitions are nothing more than an attempt by Big Labor to confuse voters in hope that the confusion will result in overturning popular Right to Work protections, said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation, in a statement. Louis, in a statement, dismissed the foundation as a "dark money group." Why is a DC-based special interest group, funded by the uber-rich, challenging the rights of hard-working Missourians to have their voices heard at the ballot box?" Louis said. "Missouri voters wanted to see the swamp drained, that means putting the power back with the people." Senate lawmakers have begun to debate right-to-work proposals this week. Measures have already passed the House 100-59 on Thursday. Republicans, who say the proposals will create jobs and bring in more business, have worked quickly to make Missouri into a right-to-work state now that Gov. Eric Greitens has assumed office with vows to sign legislation that would do so. Meanwhile, Democrats have tried to attach a voter referendum to the bills that would put the issue before voters, but havent been successful. During initial debate in the Senate on Monday, a similar attempt by Sen. Jason Holsman, a Kansas City Democrat, proved futile. The Senate bill differs from the House legislation with its inclusion of a grandfather clause protecting labor contracts negotiated before the law takes effect, until they expire on their own. We felt it was probably proper to honor those contracts that are in effect now, said Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, on the Senate floor. Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said last week he intended to allow plenty of time for debate on the Senate floor, but that he ultimately expected the bills to sail through. Its been a priority issue that everyone has been talking about for a long time, its been through this chamber before, several times, and its going to go through it again, Kehoe said. But Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh said she hoped the Republican supermajority didnt try to slam-dunk this and move-on. I just think we need to have a thorough discussion on this. And I dont think a thorough discussion is two hours on the Senate floor on a Monday night, she said. They are the stewards of the land, the so-called first environmentalists, and they rely heavily on the weather and predictable climate to grow food to put on your plate. That's why it's somewhat surprising that Alberta farmers are resoundingly opposed to the key government policy to help the environment and meet climate change goals a carbon tax. The vast majority of scientists say human-caused climate change is dangerous for the planet and economists say a carbon tax is an effective tool to address the issue, but farmers aren't buying it. That includes Cherylynn Bos, who gives her goats a rub under their necks while thinking about how her farm could be any more energy efficient. Her barn, which houses 1,200 goats, is already insulated to the maximum and uses very little electricity for lighting. "Besides implementing a solar-type system on our farm, our farm is as green as you can get," says Bos, whose family runs Rock Ridge Dairy near Ponoka, Alta., about 100 km south of Edmonton. With margins pretty tight for farmers, there is little room to be wasteful, whether it's with feed for animals or diesel for the tractors. Bos is upset about the financial impact Alberta's new carbon tax will have on her farm, which produces cheeses that are sold in five provinces. "In the end, that is going to translate into an increase for the customer on the food that they purchase," she says, giving examples such as increased trucking costs for bringing supplies to the farm and moving products to stores. Farmers already conserving Organic farmers like Tim Hoven are also upset about the tax, which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He figures he'll have to pay another $1,000 a year in natural gas just to heat his buildings. "Our farm's shop we keep at three degrees Celsius, just so the tractors start nice. So, do we turn it down so it stays at minus five? And how much of a cash savings is that going to be?" says Hoven, who raises certified organic cattle, chickens and hogs at his farm near Eckville, Alta., about 175 km north of Calgary. Story continues Many farmers employ environmental practices to protect soil, like zero-till seeding and using trees as windbreaks. Hoven is also working with academics from Texas A&M and Colorado State universities to research what's known as adaptive grazing, which attempts to raise the largest number of animals on the smallest amount of land for the shortest amount of time. It's supposed to give the land enough of a rest period to re-grow and pull carbon into the roots and soil. But the carbon tax, he says, is pointless in helping the climate. "We can't see the purpose of it. Is it really going to make a difference? Is the government taking an extra thousand or two thousand dollars out of my bottom line every year going to do anything to the environment? I don't think it is," Hoven says. Of the producers and agriculture groups contacted by CBC News, none could suggest a farmer who supports the carbon tax. "I don't know anybody who would be in favour of this," says Matt Sawyer, a director with the Western Canadian Wheat Growers. "It's unbelievable." Cornucopia of complaints One by one, Sawyer lists all of the concerns farmers have with the carbon tax, including that it's a tax grab, that it could drive up costs from manufacturers and that it will hurt the industry's competitiveness to export globally. "Anything that leaves the farm, like commercial transportation, will be taxed. All of your imports will be taxed, all your manufacturers will be taxed," Sawyer says. "I think it's a huge deal." Farmers also question whether politicians actually want to help the environment or whether they are trying to redistribute wealth and create more government jobs to administer the tax and other climate-related programs. Some also question the legitimacy of climate change, despite overwhelming scientific evidence suggesting global warming is melting glaciers and raising sea levels. "I don't believe in those things as far as the human aspect goes, and what they trying to tout as truth," says Bos, the goat farmer. Agriculture and forestry accounted for nine per cent of Alberta's greenhouse gas emissions in 2013, according to Environment Canada. Carbon tax does not impact trade The complaints of farmers in Alberta is reminiscent to what happened in neighbouring B.C. after the province brought in its carbon tax in 2008. The provincial government received an earful from producers during its five-year review of the policy and prompted new exemptions for farm fuel and 80 per cent of the natural gas costs incurred by greenhouse growers. In 2013, B.C. had experts crunch the numbers and found the province's agriculture industry did not actually suffer any negative trade impacts because of the carbon tax. Nonetheless, the government bowed to the lobbying of farmers. "This exemption that was offered to the tax in B.C. was supported more by anecdote than data," says Nic Rivers, a professor at the University of Ottawa who co-authored the report. Alberta chose to offer the same exemptions as B.C., as well as create subsidies for solar panels and other energy-efficiency programs. "It's interesting to me that farmers are upset about this, because they have been granted an exemption from the main way you would think they would be impacted," says Rivers, referring to the farm fuel. He says farmers will face a small impact from the carbon tax, but that it won't be as noticeable as they fear. ST. LOUIS Four teenagers told police someone fired shots at their car on Interstate 70 late Saturday night. One of the victims, 17, was hit in the shoulder. He was taken to a hospital, where police say he was stable. Police had no medical condition for the injured teen. Three others in the car, also 17-year-old males, were not injured. They told police someone shot their vehicle while they were driving on westbound I-70 near North Broadway at about 11:20 p.m. Saturday. They flagged down a police officer near West Florissant and Pope avenues. Police had no suspects in the case. ST. LOUIS As recently as November, there was some transparency to city police disciplinary issues as officers could appeal decisions and have public hearings to rebut them. But that tradition ended after the Civil Service Commission voted unanimously Nov. 17 to close the hearings, also known as police board trials even if the officer wants them open. Richard Frank, the personnel director, said the move has been in the works for years and brings the police in line with city policies. He said it should have happened when the city took control of the police department from a state board about four years ago, but that opposition of at least one civil service commissioner delayed it. The decision surprised Alderman Dionne Flowers, 2nd Ward, who was among about two dozen supporters who sat outside a recent closed hearing over the unpaid suspension of former Capt. Ryan Cousins. The proceeding is expected to resume in February. Cousins is accused of intervening in an investigation on Jan. 29 by instructing officers to ignore that a man who had shot at attempted intruders was a felon who could not legally possess a firearm. Chief Sam Dotson put Cousins on forced leave, and Cousins appealed to the Civil Service Commission. His last employment date with the department was May 24, but no one has said whether he was fired or resigned. He joined the force in 1996 and was commander of the 6th District. Flowers said that Cousins policed her ward in a responsible way and was the subject of 1,000 letters of support. The Ethical Society of Police, which represents interests of black officers, also has defended him. Pam Boyd is the committeewoman in Flowers' ward. They held a news conference to announce their objection to the closure of the hearing before it happened. Well never know what happened, Boyd complained. We want transparency. Frank said public notices were issued and letters were sent to unions about closing the process and no one objected. Jeff Roorda, business manager of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, said closed hearings should help deter false complaints that defense attorneys can use to challenge police witnesses in trials later. He also said other officers should be protected from publicity about their disciplinary records, which could be an issue if lawyers for Cousins, who is black, claim that punishment of whites in similar circumstances was lighter. This is a perfect example of why they should be closed, Roorda said. Its not just about the person whos on trial, so to speak, its about the privacy rights of other members. Frank said the closed hearings comport with the state Sunshine Law, which requires only that the commission reveal its vote within 72 hours, and a city privacy ordinance, with forbids release of disciplinary matters. He said the old process, with a public hearing, was unfair. You go through this whole dog-and-pony show and you have your reputation defamed only to be exonerated under the old civil service rule, and I was uncomfortable with that, Frank said. He also said police are now under greater scrutiny by a civilian oversight board. Cousins attorney, Lynette Petruska, said transcripts of his Civil Service Commission hearing could be made public if it leads to a court appeal. It becomes a matter of public record anyway, she added. Frank said judges have discretion when deciding whether to release transcripts. Petruskas argument played out in a similar situation in St. Louis County. In 2016, county counselors closed a police board trial of former Lt. Patrick Rick Hayes, who had been fired by Chief Tim Fitch following allegations that he ordered officers to racially profile blacks in South County. Hayes appealed, and opposed closing the hearing. Ultimately, the police board reversed the firing and reinstated him at a lower rank. Hayes appealed in court, and the judge publicly opened transcripts of his police board trial. ST. LOUIS The owner of tax preparation franchises in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas was sentenced to 27 months in prison for evading his own taxes and ordered to pay $298,178 to the IRS, the U.S. attorney's office said Monday. Semere Tsehaye, 39, owned at least 20 Instant Tax Service franchises from 2005 to 2011, through A&S Tax Service LLC and ERI Enterprises LLC. In 2010 and 2011, Tsehaye understated the gross receipts from his companies by a total of more than $1.5 million and provided those false financial summaries to his tax preparer, dodging more than $500,000 in taxes, prosecutors said. He was convicted by a jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis of two felony counts of tax evasion on Oct. 4. A Villa Duchesne high school student reported she received a note with a racial slur in her locker last week on the heels of Donald Trumps presidential inauguration. The anonymous note, which included a partial use of the n-word, read: hes (sic) president now bitch. youll never be anything more than an a nigg you know lol. The student who received the note took a photo of it on her Snapchat account and wrote: You know whats sick? this is someone I walk the halls with everyday. someone violating me. belittling me. people wonder why I have a bitch attitude at school. Bc every single day I hurt more and more. Thank u villa duchesne. The school does not know who wrote the note or whether the author is a student, said Sapna Jos, the schools director of marketing and communications. The school is looking to identify the author. Jos said she couldnt discuss possible disciplinary action. In a letter to the school community, Head of School Michael Baber said the note was unacceptable for a community called to civility and compassion. Our hearts go out to the student who received this note and to all who saw its message and were hurt by it, Baber wrote. Even as we acknowledge this pain, I ask us to pray for the unknown author. What must you have experienced to be so filled with hate? The school convened its students Monday morning to talk about the note. Jos said several members of the school community alerted the school to the note over the weekend. Other schools have dealt with similar incidents recently. In November after Trumps election, a racist incident involving a Ladue student on a school bus prompted a walkout of hundreds of students. In December, Francis Howell staff had to remove racist and profane graffiti at one of the districts middle schools that denounced Hillary Clinton and called for the building of a wall. Villa Duchesne is an independent, all-girls Catholic school in the affluent community of Frontenac. Part of the schools mission is to prepare students for lives of faith in God, integrity, leadership and service to others, according to its website. INDIANAPOLIS An Indiana lawmaker is apologizing for an "offensive" message about women who attended the Women's March on Washington, but says he doesn't know how it was posted to his Facebook account. The meme says, "In one day, Trump got more fat women out walking, than Michelle Obama did in 8 years," and appears to include a photo of women participating in Saturday's march. It has since been deleted. Republican Sen. Jack Sandlin of Indianapolis says the post does not represent his views toward women and that it is "unclear" how the post appeared on his Facebook page. Sandlin says he was "horrified" by the meme and immediately removed it. He says he changed his passwords. His spokesman, Matt Werner, confirmed the content of the message but declined to comment further. JEFFERSON CITY In one of his first acts as Missouris new attorney general, Republican Josh Hawley decided he doesnt have to live in the capital city. That decision comes despite a law that says the states top legal officer shall reside at the seat of government and keep his office in the Supreme Court building. The states constitution designates Jefferson City as the seat of government. Hawley, a political newcomer who campaigned as a constitutional lawyer, is living on the south edge of Columbia, about 24 miles to the north. Hawley, a former law professor at the University of Missouri, won his bid for office on Nov. 8 and was sworn into office on Jan. 9. He took over for Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster, who left the post after two terms to run for governor. As attorney general, Hawley is required to defend the state constitution and ensure state laws are followed. At the Capitol on Monday, Hawley declined to discuss his residency decision with the Post-Dispatch. His spokesman, Ryan Cross, said Hawley believes the residency clause only requires that his boss work in the capital city, not actually live within its borders. The statute says the Attorney General shall reside at the seat of government, Cross said in a prepared statement. Having conducted a thorough legal analysis, the statute in question refers to where the primary Office of the Attorney General resides, not where the Attorney Generals home is located. This isnt an issue, Cross said. Hes 10 minutes from the office and he shows up for work every day. Cross later said the trek was 15 minutes on a good day. Boone County property tax records show Hawley owns 10 acres near the southern border of Columbia, situated 24 miles from the Missouri Supreme Court Building in downtown Jefferson City. The fastest route, on Highway 63, crosses the Missouri River, two county lines and the city of Ashland. The speed limit for most of the trip is 70 mph. Hawleys decision to live outside of Jefferson City came as a surprise to Stephen Webber, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party. He sold himself to the voters as a constitutional lawyer. And now hes ignoring the parts of the law that he finds inconvenient, Webber said Monday. Assistant House Minority Leader Gina Mitten of St. Louis said Hawley must either move or give up his seat. If he wants to be attorney general then he must comply with state law by moving his residence to Jefferson City, Mitten said. But if he wants to live in Columbia, then he needs to resign his office. Unilaterally declaring that state law doesnt mean what it says just wont cut it. Former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Wolff, former dean of the St. Louis University School of Law, said he was unaware of any of Hawleys predecessors living outside Jefferson City dating back nearly 50 years. Nobodys ever tried that in my memory, Wolff said. It is not the first time in the past year that residency has become an issue for elected state officials. Former state Rep. Ron Hicks, a Republican, resigned his seat after moving out of his St. Charles County district. And former state Rep. Keith English, an independent, battled accusations that he lived in Jefferson City, rather than in Florissant, where he was elected to serve. He lost his bid for re-election in November. It was unclear Monday whether any action could be taken against Hawley if he does not live in Jefferson City during his service as attorney general. A determination of the legal definition of reside is not included in the specific statute governing the attorney generals office. Im not sure what kind of relief a court would offer, Wolff said. Model Hanne Gaby Odiele told USA Today she is intersex, one of the first high-profile intersex people to share their stories. In an exclusive interview, Odiele, 29, said "it is very important to me in my life right now to break the taboo." The model, who is from Kortrijk, Belgium, said it should be acceptable to talk about such an issue in 2017. Intersex individuals are born with sex characteristics such as genitals or chromosomes that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female. Odiele decided to make the disclosure to raise awareness about the importance of human rights protection for intersex youth, who are often subjected to harmful and unneeded medical procedures. 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. A LOCAL tree surgeon says the future of his 20 year-old business is in doubt following the theft of three chainsaws worth 1,800 from the back of his truck on 15th January. Stephen Morgan of Preston-on-Stour built up his tree surgeon business Heart of Oak Tree Care from scratch but the future looks unclear for Stephen when he realised the chainsaws had been stolen from the back of his padlocked Land Rover which was parked metres away from his front door. I was livid! said Stephen when he discovered the loss. You go numb and I felt as though my whole world had fallen around my ankles. I was apoplectic with rage at the pure selfishness on their part knowing that my tools will be sold at a fraction of what they would cost to replace. Thanks to a friend and business colleague, Stephen has been loaned two chainsaws to carry on working for the short term but his long term plan is far less clear. Its not just the ramifications to my business, I have to pay rent and bills just like everyone else. The police have been informed and Ive knocked on neighbours doors but not heard anything. Its unusual because Preston is a crime free area, Stephen said. He reckons the theft occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning but he didnt discover it until 12.30pm. The chainsaws are coloured white with orange flankings. On his Facebook page Stephen posted: To the scroats that took all my chainsaws from my truck last night whilst I slept, after bolt cropping the lock, whilst you may well toast one another with your ill-gotten gains, my business of 20 years is now crippled, I will not be able to work, something I'm sure you are a stranger to, the roof over my head will now be in jeopardy and my normal way of life is potentially altered irreversibly. I hope one day life will deal its timely and deserved revenge to you. In the meantime, should anyone be able to help with any information or might see anyone trying to sell Stihl chainsaws surreptiously, please contact me privately via Facebook. And please all be vigilant if you are a tradesperson with a vehicle that might be a potential target. A flag with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) logo is seen before a news conference at OPEC's headquarters in Vienna, Austria December 10, 2016. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader LONDON (Reuters) - Equatorial Guinea has now applied to join the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, an OPEC source familiar with the matter said on Monday, which would bring the oil producer group's membership to 14 countries. The African nation, which said earlier that it was seeking to join OPEC, is one of the non-member producers that has agreed to cut output in the first half of 2017 alongside OPEC in an effort to boost oil prices. (This version of the story corrects second paragraph to read "said earlier" instead of "said earlier this month") (Reporting by Alex Lawler; Editing by Greg Mahlich) By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices ended less than 1 percent lower on Wednesday after data showed a build in U.S. crude inventories, reinforcing the view that oil prices are range bound, buoyed by expected OPEC production cuts while pressured by U.S. output growth. U.S. crude futures for March delivery settled at $52.75 a barrel, down 43 cents, after earlier dropping to as low as $52.56 per barrel. Benchmark Brent crude settled down 36 cents a barrel at $55.08. "Crude oil is in the middle of a trading range that began to unfold in early December," said Walter Zimmerman, chief technical analyst at ICAP. "You have a market with a serious case of indigestion, it swallowed too much speculative length." Market expectations of output cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have provided a floor for prices, while extreme speculative length and looming U.S. production growth provide a ceiling, he said. The U.S. government's Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that crude, gasoline and diesel stockpiles rose, confirming a report from the American Petroleum Institute trade group late on Tuesday. [API/S] [EIA/S] The EIA data, however, showed a substantial build in gasoline stockpiles of 6.8 million barrels, exceeding analyst expectations and figures in the API report. U.S. gasoline crack spreads, or refining margins , hit a session low of $12.20 a barrel after the data was released, the lowest since Dec. 14. Oil prices have found support in recent weeks from plans by OPEC and other producers to cut output. Around 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) has already been cut from the market out of the 1.8 million bpd agreed by major producers starting on Jan. 1, energy ministers said on Sunday. Bernstein Energy said global oil inventories declined by 24 million barrels to 5.7 billion barrels in the fourth quarter of 2016 from the previous quarter. The amount remaining equates to about 60 days of world oil consumption. Meanwhile, U.S. oil production has risen more than 6 percent since mid-2016, yet it remains 7 percent below its 2015 peak. Output is back to levels reached in late 2014, when strong U.S. production contributed to a crash in crude prices. President Donald Trump's promise to support the U.S. oil industry has encouraged analysts to revise up their forecasts of growth in domestic oil production, which is already benefiting from higher prices. A push by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives for a shift to a border-adjusted corporate tax could help propel U.S. crude prices higher than global benchmark Brent, triggering large-scale domestic production, Goldman Sachs said. (This corrects headline, paragraphs 1 and 2 with U.S. crude settlement price.) (Additional reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov in London and Naveen Thukral in Singapore, Christopher Johnson in London; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Meredith Mazzilli and David Gregorio) By Jonathan Barrett SYDNEY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Moves to abruptly unwind boom-time wage hikes in Australia by cancelling agreements and threatening workers with minimum industry pay are unfair, according to the head of a parliamentary committee examining the issue, and could prompt changes to the law. Several companies operating in Australia including Indian conglomerate and coal mine owner Lanco Infratech, energy retailer AGL, commodity freight operator Aurizon and Exxon Mobil subsidiary Esso have all terminated, or are in the process of terminating, long-standing agreements when they expire. The pay negotiation tactic has gained momentum with Murdoch University, in Western Australia, last month applying to the country's industrial relations tribunal to terminate a pay agreement. Once the agreement has been terminated, the companies and workers negotiate under the threat that should a new agreement not be reached, they could be thrust on to the statutory minimum pay in their sector. Employers can, however, give an undertaking to the tribunal that various pay and conditions agreements are not affected. Labor Senator Gavin Marshall, who is chairing a parliamentary committee examining the issue, said investigate whether the tactic had broken industrial relations rules and if so, if these rules needed to be tightened. "Whilst I do not want to pre-empt the work of the committee, there has been a recent spate of industrial adventurism by employers that is inconsistent with the principle of workplace fairness," Marshall told Reuters in a statement. CROSSING SECTORS Australian wages are growing at their slowest pace on record, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows, representing less than half the wage growth rate workers enjoyed a decade ago. Resources companies that apply to the tribunal to terminate agreements tend to argue that wages, rostering and conditions are hurting operations, with changes needed in order for them to remain competitive. Story continues "Our focus is to reach a new agreement so we can deliver secure supply to all consumers in Victoria," said AGL, the operator of the Loy Yang power plant in the Australian southern state. The emergence of the negotiating tactic comes five years after the peak of a commodity price boom that saw miners, truck drivers and even cleaners earning six-figure incomes. Grahame McCulloch, general secretary at the National Tertiary Education Union, said a move by Murdoch University to terminate an agreement had been inspired by resources companies. "It's straight out of the resources sector playbook and it's spreading across the economy as a whole," said McCulloch. That matter is before the country's industrial relations tribunal. Murdoch University said in a statement that it had been bargaining in good faith. "Our goal is to position the university for growth and success well into the future," the university said. (Reporting by Jonathan Barrett; Editing by Eric Meijer) AerCap Holdings N.V. (AerCap) (NYSE: AER) today announced it has signed a lease agreement for twenty new aircraft with Chinese carrier, Loong Air. The signing ceremony took place in Hangzhou between AerCap Chief Executive Officer, Aengus Kelly and Loong Air Chairman, Liu Qihong. This agreement represents the largest deal ever signed by a lessor with a Chinese private airline. Chief Executive Officer Aengus Kelly of AerCap commented, "AerCap is delighted to partner with Loong Air by providing twenty aircraft to facilitate their dynamic expansion plans. With the growth prospects of Hangzhou and an excellent management team, the future is very bright for Loong Air. We wish the airline every success and look forward to a long and prosperous business relationship. Chairman of Loong Air, Mr. Liu Qihong, commented, Loong Air is pleased to cooperate with AerCap. After three years of development and accumulation, Loong Air has become part of the Chinese aviation industrys backbone, with clear strength in its business fundamentals and significant development potential. Hangzhou is accelerating its pace of becoming an international metropolis. The Hangzhou airports number of passenger throughput exceeded 30 million during December 2016, making it the fifth largest airport nationwide and one of the busiest in the world. The airports plan to expand further provides historical development opportunity for Loong Air, consistent with our aim to become better, bigger and stronger. The cooperation with AerCap is supportive of the speedy growth of Loong Air, allowing us to better service the Zhejiang economy. Following this successful beginning, we will look into further development need of the Hangzhou airport, and the potential to introduce wide-body aircraft for mid-to-long-range international routes. I look forward to entering into more transactions with AerCap that will benefit both parties. By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON (Reuters) - Smarting from its biggest-ever yearly loss, hedge fund Viking Global Investors has reordered its stock picking team and plans to invest more money in financial and consumer stocks and less in pharmaceutical stocks, its co-founder told clients. The $30 billion firm's biggest portfolio, Viking Global Equities, lost 4 percent last year, marking only the third time since its 1999 launch that it lost money. The broader stock market index S&P 500 gained 12 percent in 2016. In the letter to clients from Andreas Halvorsen dated January 17 and seen by Reuters on Monday, the firm said it was "very disappointed by these results". It got sector weightings and the size of its bets wrong and shifted its organizational structure to perform better this year. "In a year when sector selection turned out to be a significant driver of returns, our concentrated bets, being at a decade high, proved to be largely wrong," the letter said. Halvorsen, who trained at industry legend Julian Robertson's Tiger Management, grew the firm into one of the largest and most successful U.S. hedge funds. But last year's losses prompted some investors, including the state of Rhode Island, to ask for some money back. Pharmaceutical company Teva , which has lost roughly half its value in the last year, was Viking's biggest loser and has been eliminated from the portfolio, the letter said. Drug companies Allergan and Valeant Pharmaceuticals also hurt returns. Southwestern Energy's losses were especially harmful in the last three months of the year and Viking has now exited the position, the letter said. Energy company Encana was the year's biggest winner with Amazon and Facebook also contributing gains. Bank of America, one of the biggest contributors in the last three months of 2016, could rise more, but fund managers have trimmed the position some. To fix last year's problems, Halvorsen shifted responsibilities and capital, cutting the number of investment team members who report to chief investment officer Dan Sundheim in half to three, the letter said. Financials have been consolidated under Hani Sabbagh who is working closely with Ning Jin while Steve Mykijewycz and the consumer team is working directly with Ben Jacobs. Viking's most senior portfolio managers and their direct reports already invest about 60 percent of Viking's capital and will oversee more in the months ahead. "We plan to shift more capital towards this group throughout 2017," the letter said. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Andrew Hay) (Updated) Aetna's (NYSE: AET) $37 billion Humana (NYSE: HUM) takeover was blocked by a federal judge as anticompetative. Federal District Judge John Bates said: "The proposed merger of Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc., as originally reflected in the July 2, 2015, merger agreement, would "substantially . . . lessen competition" in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18. Specifically, the proposed merger is likely to substantially lessen competition in the sale of individual Medicare Advantage plans in 364 counties identified in the Complaint and in the sale of individual commercial insurance on the public exchanges in three counties in Florida identified in the Complaint." ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards at its Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. A list of all the 2017 award winners follows: John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:"The Girl Who Drank the Moon," written by Kelly Barnhill, is the 2017 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; "The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog," written by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; and "Wolf Hollow," written by Lauren Wolk and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: "Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat," illustrated by Javaka Steptoe is the 2017 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: "Leave Me Alone!" illustrated and written by Vera Brosgol and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; "Freedom in Congo Square," illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Du Iz Tak?" illustrated and written by Carson Ellis, and published by Candlewick Press; and "They All Saw a Cat," illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Corretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: "March: Book Three," written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by Nate Powell and published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Two King Author Honor Books were selected: "As Brave as You," written by Jason Reynolds, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division. Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award: "Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat," illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Three King Illustrator Honor Book were selected: "Freedom in Congo Square," illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan," illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "In Plain Sight," illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, written by Richard Jackson, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: "The Sun Is Also a Star," written by Nicola Yoon, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop is the winner of the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children's author Virginia Hamilton. Dr. Bishop is a winner of numerous awards and has served as a respected member of many book awards committees over the course of her long and distinguished career. Her influential writing, speaking, and teaching articulates the history and cultural significance of African-American children's literature. Her globally cited work, "Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors," has inspired movements for increased diversity in books for young people, and provides the basis for the best multicultural practice and inquiry for students, teachers, writers and publishing houses. Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: "March: Book Three," created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: "Asking for It," by Louise O'Neill and published by Quercus, a Hachette Company; "The Passion of Dolssa," by Julie Berry and published by Viking Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers; "Scythe," by Neal Shusterman and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing; and "The Sun Is Also a Star," by Nicola Yoon and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: "Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille," written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 10). "as brave as you," written by Jason Reynolds and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13). "When We Collided," written by Emery Lord and published by Bloomsbury Children's Books is the winner for teens (ages 13-18). Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences: "The Queen of Blood," by Sarah Beth Durst, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. "The Regional Office is Under Attack!" by Manuel Gonzales, published by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided," by Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford, published by Henry Holt and Co. "Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded," by Hannah Hart, published by Dey Street, an imprint of William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. "Arena," by Holly Jennings, published by Ace Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "Every Heart a Doorway," by Seanan McGuire, a Tor Book published by Tom Doherty Associates. "Romeo and/or Juliet: A Choosable-Path Adventure," by Ryan North, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "Die Young with Me: A Memoir," by Rob Rufus, published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. "The Wasp that Brainwashed the Caterpillar," by Matt Simon, published by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. "The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko," by Scott Stambach, published by St. Martin's Press. Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video: Ryan Swenar of Dreamscape Media, LLC, producer of "Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music" is the Carnegie Medal winner. Adapted from Margarita Engle's book, a girl in 1930s Cuba aspires to play the drums, a privilege afforded only to boys. Based on the life of Chinese-African-Cuban Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, this story demonstrates how the power of persistence can break barriers, shatter expectations, and make one's dreams a reality. Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. The 2017 winner is Nikki Grimes, whose award-winning works include "Bronx Masquerade," which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2003, and "Words with Wings," the recipient of a Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2014. In addition, Grimes received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in 2016 and the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 2006. Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: The 2017 winner is Sarah Dessen. Her books include: "Dreamland," "Keeping the Moon," "Just Listen," "The Truth about Forever," "Along for the Ride," "What Happened to Goodbye?" and "This Lullaby," all published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a Penguin Random House Company. 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site. Naomi Shihab Nye will deliver the 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. The daughter of a Palestinian father and an American mother, Naomi Shihab Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San Antonio, Texas. The author and/or editor of more than 30 books for adults and children, her latest for young people, "The Turtle of Oman," was chosen as a 2015 Notable Children's Book by the ALA. She has received four Pushcart Prizes, was a National Book Award finalist, and has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, amongst her many honors. Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States: "Cry, Heart, But Never Break" is the 2017 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Danish in 2001 as "Grd blot hjerte," the book was written by Glenn Ringtved, illustrated by Charolotte Pardi, translated by Robert Moulthrop and published by Enchanted Lion Books. Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: "Over the Ocean," published by Chronicle Books LLC, written and illustrated by Taro Gomi and translated from the Japanese by Taylor Norman; "As Time Went By," published by NorthSouth Books, Inc., written and illustrated by Jose Sanabria and translated from the German by Audrey Hall; and "The Ballad of a Broken Nose," published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, written by Arne Svingen and translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson. Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: "Anna and the Swallow Man," produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Groups, is the 2017 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Gavriel Savit and narrated by Allan Corduner. Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks also were selected: "Ghost" produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written by Jason Reynolds and narrated by Guy Lockard; "Dream On, Amber," produced by Recorded Books, written by Emma Shevah and narrated by Laura Kirman; and "Nimona," produced by HarperAudio, written by Noelle Stevenson and narrated by Rebecca Soler, Jonathan Davis, Marc Thompson, January LaVoy, Natalie Gold, Peter Bradbury and David Pittu. Pura Belpre Awards honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: "Lowriders to the Center of the Earth," illustrated by Raul Gonzalez, is the Belpre Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Cathy Camper and published by Chronicle Books LLC. Two Belpre Illustrator Honor Books were named: "Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist," illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, written by Susan Wood and published by Charlesbridge. "The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes," illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. "Juana & Lucas," written by Juana Medina, is the Pura Belpre Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Juana Medina and published by Candlewick Press. One Belpre Author Honor Book was named: "The Only Road," written by Alexandra Diaz and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/A Paula Wiseman Book. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: "March: Book Three," written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC. Four Sibert Honor Books were named: "Giant Squid," written by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; "Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story," written by Caren Stelson and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.; "Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II," written by Albert Marrin and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and "We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler," written by Russell Freedman and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children's and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience: "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor," written by Rick Riordan and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, and "If I Was Your Girl" written by Meredith Russo and published by Flatiron Books, are the 2017 recipients of the Stonewall Book Awards Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award, respectively. Three Honor Books were selected: "When the Moon Was Ours," written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press; "Unbecoming," written by Jenny Downham and published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with David Fickling Books; and "Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community," written by Robin Stevenson and published by Orca Book Publishers. Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book: "We Are Growing: A Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! Book," written by Laurie Keller. The book is published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. Four Geisel Honor Books were named: "Good Night Owl," written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; "Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper," written and illustrated by Mike Twohy and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; "Go Otto Go!" written and illustrated by David Milgrim and published by Simon Spotlight, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and "The Infamous Ratsos," written by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers and published by Candlewick Press. William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: "The Serpent King," written by Jeff Zentner, is the 2017 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a Penguin Random House Company. Four other books were finalists for the award: "Girl Mans Up," written by M-E Girard, published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; "Rani Patel in Full Effect," written by Sonia Patel, published by Cinco Puntos Press; The Smell of Other People's Houses," written by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a Penguin Random House Company; and "Tell Me Something Real," written by Calla Devlin, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: "March: Book Three," created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Excellence winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing. Four other books were finalists for the award: "Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History," by Karen Blumenthal and published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives," by Kenneth C. Davis, and published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; "Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune," written by Pamela S. Turner, illustrated by Gareth Hinds and published by Charlesbridge; and "This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration," written by Linda Barrett Osborne and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children's experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma . Book cover artwork available at - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y68l44xpepvs9i3/AABvsaKYdkF_Unwyo_8Ya934a?dl=0 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-library-association-announces-2017-youth-media-award-winners-300394587.html SOURCE American Library Association LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) recently received the school's highest ranking in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding since the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research began its annual ranking of medical schools in 2006. The rankings represent total NIH funding granted from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. Keck School of Medicine of USC received more than $140.8 million in NIH grants during this time. In addition to overall funding to medical schools, the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings also break down funding by academic discipline. The USC Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC both ranked No. 2 nationally among the nation's ophthalmology and preventive medicine departments receiving NIH funds. Overall, seven Keck School of Medicine of USC departments ranked within the top-20 NIH-funded in their respective departments: Department Ranking Total NIH Funding Ophthalmology 2 $12,347,629 Preventive Medicine 2 $33,223,457 Otolaryngology 11 $2,943,382 Microbiology 17 $12,570,057 Neurology 18 $10,803,331 Urology 18 $1,111,928 Physiology 20 $6,896,225 "Keck School of Medicine's current positioning represents the most impressive ranking of NIH funding the school has received to date," said Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, dean of the Keck School of Medicine and director of the USC Roski Eye Institute. "Our strong performance and rise in rankings reflect the ground-breaking work of our world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff and committed researchers, including the addition of 19 new principal investigators in the last year." The Keck School of Medicine of USC also ranked No. 1 in NIH funds received per principal investigator. A total of 158 principal investigators received an average of more than $891,000, securing the school's place in that top spot. "The Keck School of Medicine of USC No. 1 ranking in NIH funds received per principal investigator demonstrates the strength of researchers that we attract at the Keck School," said Thomas A. Buchanan, MD, vice dean for research, Keck School of Medicine. "These competitive grants allow us to further innovate and support our mission to improve the quality of life for individuals and society by promoting health, preventing and curing disease, advancing biomedical research and educating tomorrow's physicians and scientists." Several large grants contributed to the Keck School's increase in NIH funding, including the renewal of the Clinical & Translational Science Award and several significant new grants in the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and the departments of preventive medicine, neurology, medicine and pathology. The full 2016 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research NIH rankings can be found at www.brimr.org. ABOUT THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USCFounded in 1885, the Keck School of Medicine of USC is among the nation's leaders in innovative patient care, scientific discovery, education, and community service. It is part of Keck Medicine of USC, the University of Southern California's medical enterprise, one of only two university-owned academic medical centers in the Los Angeles area. This includes the Keck Medical Center of USC, composed of the Keck Hospital of USC and the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. The two world-class, USC-owned hospitals are staffed by more than 500 physicians who are faculty at the Keck School. The school today has more than 1,500 full-time faculty members and voluntary faculty of more than 2,400 physicians. These faculty direct the education of approximately 700 medical students and 1,000 students pursuing graduate and post-graduate degrees. The school trains more than 900 resident physicians in more than 50 specialty or subspecialty programs and is the largest educator of physicians practicing in Southern California. Together, the school's faculty and residents serve more than 1.5 million patients each year at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, as well as USC-affiliated hospitals Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Keck School faculty also conduct research and teach at several research centers and institutes, including the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at USC, the USC Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute, the USC Roski Eye Institute and the USC Institute of Urology. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Keck School of Medicine among the Top 40 medical schools in the country. For more information, go to keck.usc.edu. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keck-school-of-medicine-of-usc-receives-its-highest-national-institutes-of-health-funding-ranking-to-date-300394422.html SOURCE Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California CONCORD, Calif. (PRWEB) January 23, 2017 Marie Tapia returns to the literary limelight with a new novel featuring the adventures and challenges of a young woman on the hunt for true connection and companionship. The headstrong and go-getter "Maxine" (published by iUniverse) is an embodiment of the varied characters the author has met and of herself as well, easily relatable as she undergoes the daily drama and thrill many readers can relate to. How she solves them is the unique part of her she will soon discover. Maxine is a passionate, independent woman with an unruly head of curly brown hair, who believes in the power of love. The intertwining of fate brings Max and Marjorie Talbot, a headstrong but lovable gallery owner, together. Max's relationships from a hot, romantic lover to a foreign stranger, compel Marjorie to interject her expertise at the proverbial "girls night." Together they develop a bond of friendship that resists time. "It will appeal to readers because everyone has a bit of Maxine inside themselves. They can see why she reacts in a particular way to each person. It might have happened to them. Some readers might feel uplifted that their life isn't so bad compared to what Max has to experience," the author shares. Entertaining and evocative, "Maxine" underscores the strength and resiliency of women in today's world. "They can lead lives that have meaning for them as well as have an effect on the world." "Maxine" By Marie Tapia Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 342 pages | ISBN 9781532002533 Softcover | 6 x 9in | 342 pages | ISBN 9781532002199 E-Book | 342 pages | ISBN 9781532002205 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Marie Tapia, a graduate of the California College of the Arts, is passionate about painting and writing. While in France, she explored a past life, which inspired her first book, "The Red-Haired Man." Tapia has traveled to the Amazon in Brazil, Rio, to Urubamba Peru, from Paris down to southern France and up to Normandy. She has lived in Mexico and traveled from the east to the west coasts including the Yucatan Peninsula and Xcaret. She has currently returned to her first love, the Pacific Ocean, where she continues to write Maxine's story and paint. iUniverse, an Author Solutions, LLC, self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader's Choice, Rising Star and Editor's Choice designations--self-publishing's only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter. Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/Maxine/MarieTapia/prweb14003888.htm SAN DIEGO and PALMA, Spain, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Laboratoris Sanifit S.L., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for calcification disorders, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the Phase IIb "CaLIPSO Study" clinical trial of lead candidate, SNF472, for the treatment of cardiovascular calcification (CVC) in end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD) patients on haemodialysis (HD). Most ESRD patients, in the last stage of chronic kidney disease, suffer from accelerated cardiovascular calcification, which correlates with higher cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with ESRD and there are currently no approved therapies for the treatment of CVC. SNF472 is being developed to address this significant medical challenge. The CaLIPSO Study is a 52-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial which will evaluate the effects of 300 and 600mg of SNF472 on the progression of cardiovascular calcification (CVC). The study will be conducted at approximately 75 investigation sites across the US, Spain, Italy and the UK. It is the largest trial ever in the field of cardiovascular calcification with plans to enrol 400 patients and results expected in 2019. Joan Perello, CEO of Sanifit, said: "SNF472 selectively blocks the pathological cardiovascular calcification progression and we are delighted to initiate this trial. We believe SNF472 has significant potential as a novel treatment of cardiovascular calcification for ESRD patients suffering from this life-threatening clinical condition. We have assembled a strong management team and look forward to progressing the development of our lead compound for this high unmet medical need." Sanifit has also initiated a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate SNF472 for the treatment of calciphylaxis, the most severe form of cardiovascular calcification. SNF472 has received orphan drug designation from both the EMA in June 2012 and the FDA in December 2012. For media enquiries: Sanifit Joan Perello CEO Sanifit Hume Brophy Conor Griffin, Alex Protsenko, Alexia Faure Tel: +44 (0) 20 7862 6475 Email: [email protected] About SNF472 SNF472 is an intravenous formulation with a novel mechanism of action for haemodialysis patients with cardiovascular diseases linked to calcification. SNF472 is being developed for two indications: reduction of cardiovascular events in dialysis patients and for the treatment of calciphylaxis. SNF472 has orphan drug status for the treatment of calciphylaxis from both the EMA and FDA. SNF472 selectively blocks the pathological cardiovascular calcification progression and poses an innovative solution for these unmet medical needs. About Sanifit Sanifit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of SNF472. The company was founded in 2007 as a spin-off of the University of the Balearic Islands and expanded its activities in the USA in 2016 with the incorporation of a subsidiary with offices in San Diego. SNF472 is an experimental drug for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases linked to calcification in the End Stage Renal Disease population undergoing haemodialysis. Sanifit has completed Phase I studies with healthy volunteers and haemodialysis patients, and after a recent series C funding round of $41.3M (36.6M), Sanifit has launched two Phase II programs in ESRD and in the orphan space in calciphylaxis. For more information please visit www.sanifit.com SOURCE Laboratoris Sanifit S.L. Small Business Big Opportunity series to begin in London where it will feature Leah Totton, winner of the UKs The Apprentice NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), will expand its Small Business Big Opportunity symposium series beyond the United States this year, with events being planned in the UK and Canada. The first event of 2017 will take place on January 24 at the historic London Science Museum, where public- and private-sector professionals will discuss solutions for small business challenges, including access to capital and business continuity planning. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, London & Partners and SmallBusiness.co.uk are collaborating with the Travelers Institute on the symposium. There are many distractions for small business owners, and it is important for them to stay focused on the things they can control, said Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute and Executive Vice President of Public Policy at Travelers. Having the appropriate plans in place to manage traditional and emerging business risks is vital to successfully navigating the current environment. We are pleased to host this event abroad to help entrepreneurs tackle their business challenges. The symposium will feature professionals from across the UK, including Dr. Leah Totton, winner of BBC Ones The Apprentice, who will discuss how she overcame many challenges in building a successful business and the steps she takes to protect it. Two panel discussions also will be held, including one titled Accessing Capital and Managing Risk. Moderated by Travelers Woodward, this panel will address the evolution of small business lending and the key steps business owners can take to effectively manage risks. Woodward will be joined by: Richard Harrison, Head of Risk Control, Travelers Europe Saurav Chopra, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Perkbox Conrad Ford, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Funding Options Matt Cooper, Chief Commercial Officer, Crowdcube The second discussion, Expanding Your Marketing Reach Locally and Globally, will be moderated by Peter Bishop, Deputy Chief Executive, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Business. This discussion will focus on how small businesses can compete in todays global market. The following speakers will participate: Nicola Byrne, Chief Executive Officer, Cloud90 Guy Mucklow, President, PCA Predict Geeta Sidhu-Robb, Chief Executive Officer, Nosh Detox In 2016, Travelers launched a new, online insurance platform for UK-based small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and less than 2.5 million in revenues. For more information, please visit www.travelers.co.uk. Since 2011, the Travelers Institute has hosted multiple events to raise awareness of small business concerns, such as cybersecurity, and discuss potential solutions. These events have been held in nearly 30 cities across the United States, attracting some 4,000 small business owners. Visit www.travelersinstitute.org/smallbusiness for more information. About the Travelers InstituteThe Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., engages in discussion and analysis of public policy topics of importance to the insurance marketplace and to the financial services industry more broadly. The Travelers Institute draws upon the industry expertise of Travelers senior management, as well as the technical expertise of many of Travelers underwriters, risk managers and other experts to provide information, analysis and solutions to public policymakers and regulators. Travelers is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. For more information, visit www.travelers.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005111/en/ Media: Matt Bordonaro +44 020-3207-6603 (UK) +1 860-277-7014 (U.S.) [email protected] or Judy Senechal, +1 860-277-2366 [email protected] Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc. A car is parked in front of Rixos President Hotel, the venue that hosts Syria peace talks, in Astana, Kazakhstan, January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Mukhtar Kholdorbekov By Denis Dyomkin and John Irish ASTANA (Reuters) - Syria's warring sides met for their first talks in nine months on Monday, with their Russian and Turkish backers pushing to cement a ceasefire that could pave the way for political talks. The meeting in the Kazakh capital comes at a time when Turkey, which backs the rebels, and Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, each want to disentangle themselves from the fighting. That has led them into an ad-hoc alliance that some believe represents the best chance for progress towards a peace deal, especially with the United States distracted by domestic issues. After facing each other to make opening remarks on Monday, the rival delegations spent the rest of the day negotiating indirectly through intermediaries and at times trading barbs. But the rebel side expressed optimism about Moscow's position. "We noticed a real understanding on the part of the Russians," Yahya al-Aridi, an opposition spokesman, told reporters. "We understand that militarily they have achieved what they wanted in Syria. Now they want to translate this military achievement into some sort of political deal. That has to be a ceasefire." Diplomats said Russia, Turkey and Iran were working on a final communique that could be completed as early as Tuesday. It would reaffirm a Dec. 30. ceasefire that each side accuses the other of violating. Russian news agency TASS cited an early draft communique as saying Moscow, Ankara and Tehran would commit to jointly fighting Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the militant group formerly known as Nusra Front. They would set up a mechanism for trilateral monitoring of the ceasefire. But fundamental divisions remain between Russia and Turkey which could complicate the final text. Turkey and Russia may also be at odds with Iran, whose militias are core to Assad's military strength and who rebels blame for rights violations. Mohammed Alloush, a leader of the powerful Jaysh al-Islam group who heads the rebel delegation, insisted he wanted to stop "the horrific flow of blood" in the six-year-old war. To achieve that, the Syrian army and its Iran-backed allies had to abide by the truce and Shi'ite militias had to leave the country. Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's United Nations envoy, leading the government delegation, said the talks were an opportunity to reconcile the country with Assad staying in power, a red line for rebels. He accused opposition negotiators of defending "war crimes" by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. OVERSEEING CEASEFIRE The head of the Russian delegation, Alexander Lavrentyev, told reporters talks had been heated because of the mistrust between the parties, but he remained optimistic that Tuesday could yield results. Some observers said the meeting, sponsored by Moscow and Ankara with the support of Tehran, could jump-start U.N.-led negotiations that were suspended in April. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, attending the Astana talks, said it was crucial to get a mechanism to oversee and implement a nationwide ceasefire. "That by itself ... would be a major achievement," he said, adding he hoped Astana could pave the way for talks that he has proposed for next month in Geneva. The rebels' loss of their former urban stronghold, Aleppo, has shifted the momentum of the fighting in favor of Assad. On Sunday, warplanes bombed rebel-held areas of western Syria, killing 12 people in one location, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, while insurgent shelling of Aleppo killed six. The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said on Monday it would not be bound by any decision that came out of the talks in Kazakhstan as it was not involved in the meetings. The West is playing no role in Astana, although Kazakhstan, with the backing of Moscow and Ankara, extended an invitation to the new U.S. administration last week. The local U.S. ambassador was present, while several Western envoys for Syria were also in Astana to observe developments. "It's not very serious. You don't seal a ceasefire in two days. You have to work on the modalities, things like observers, mechanisms, maps, the list goes on," said a senior Western diplomat. But he added: "There is momentum now. The Russians hold the keys. It's now time to use them." (Additional reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi, Kinda Makieh and Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Roche) Protesters take part in a demonstration against government plans to grant prison pardons and decriminalize some offences through emergency decree, in Bucharest, Romania, January 22, 2017. Inquam Photos/Liviu Florin Albei via REUTERS BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Thousands of Romanians rallied in Bucharest and cities across the country on Sunday to protest against government plans to decriminalize some offences and pardon some convicted prisoners through emergency decrees that critics say threaten to undermine a crackdown on high-level graft. The new cabinet of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu last week unveiled the draft decrees that have been criticized by the president, the prosecutor general, the supreme court, the chief anti-corruption prosecutor and the chief of the directorate fighting organized crime, as well as civil rights groups and diplomats. All have expressed concern about the drafts, as well as a lack of transparency and the intention to legislate through decrees instead of going through parliament, despite having a strong majority there. According to drafts, the government intends among other changes to decriminalize abuse of power actions causing financial damage of less than 200,000 lei ($47,500), an offence the leader of the ruling Social Democrat party is accused of inciting a third party to commit. According to the drafts, the government also intends to pardon convicts sentenced to less than five years for committing certain crimes, and cut sentences by half for all prisoners aged over 60, those having a terminal illness or children to support, regardless of their crime. The president, Klaus Iohannis, urged the government on Friday to scrap the decrees, which he said would undermine the rule of law and anti-corruption. The government has not commented. On Sunday more than 15,000 people in Bucharest gathered in freezing weather at University Square, the site of all major protests since Romania overthrew the communism in 1989. "I was here during the revolution 27 years ago and I am noticing that almost nothing has changed since then, thievery ... still exists," pensioner Ioan Ilincuta said. "I am protesting in the hopes that my children and grandchildren can see better times." Protesters of all ages carried banners that read "We are awake", "We want justice, not corruption", chanted "Thieves" and marched towards government headquarters. Iohannis joined them briefly. Thousands also rallied in the cities of Cluj, Timisoara, Iasi, Sibiu and several other cities across the country. Smaller gatherings also took place outside embassies in London, Paris and Copenhagen, according to photographs posted on Facebook by Romanians living abroad. Despite Romania joining the European Union in 2007 its legal system continues to be the subject of special monitoring by the European Commission, which has praised magistrates' efforts to fight widespread graft but noted that Romanian politicians have a history of trying to pass legislation which could weaken investigative powers. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Greg Mahlich) The Iraqi government said last week that its forces and partners had retaken the eastern half of Mosul, ejecting ISIS fighters from a big chunk of their last stronghold in the country. Even as signs of everyday life return to parts of eastern Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, ISIS militants are still trying to dash across the Tigris River to western Mosul, which the terror group still controls. The five bridges connecting the two halves of the city have been destroyed, and Iraqi forces have retaken the eastern sides off all those former bridges. But ISIS is still using boats and watercraft to transit the river, and those vessels are in the crosshairs of US-led coalition aircraft, as shown below in footage provided by the US Defense Department. The strike shown above, carried out on January 18, destroyed an ISIS boat near Mosul, and it came amid three days of strikes that knocked out 90 watercraft and three barges between January 18 and 20. "Many of these watercraft were being used to ferry ISIL fighters and equipment across the Tigris River from east to west Mosul in an attempt to escape the Iraqi Security Forces as they continued to clear the remaining portions of East Mosul," Operation Inherent Resolve officials said in a statement. "We believe this was a desperate attempt to retrograde ISIL fighters now that the Iraqi Security Forces own the Eastern bank of every bridge in Mosul," Col. John L. "JD" Dorrian, the Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, said in the statement. Iraq Mosul ISIS Iraq's offensive against ISIS in Mosul started on October 17, and while it got bogged down at the end of December, January has seen quick progress, in part because of the way conditions in Mosul changed ISIS' tactics. Recapturing the western half of the city, however, will present greater complexity for Baghdad and its partners. That part of the city, with dense warrens of ancient buildings and markets, has many narrow streets and alleys that tanks and other armored vehicles cannot pass through. Story continues Close-quarters fighting there is expected to yield more causalities, soldier and civilian alike, than fighting in eastern Mosul did. iraqi special forces mosul ISIS in western Mosul has already started taking preparations to deny government forces easy access to that half of the city. While ISIS appears to be on the ropes in its last Iraqi stronghold, it hasn't lost its ability to project violence to other parts of the country. In recent weeks, there have been car bombings in Baghdad, the capital, and attacks on police farther south. The terror group is also expected to pursue attacks in Europe with more intensity as its caliphate fades. US air forces have participated extensively in operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and in recent weeks US military personnel have stepped up their presence on the ground in Mosul, though they remain behind the front lines. President Donald Trump has said the US would make defeating ISIS and other terror groups its "highest priority." And elsewhere, others are looking to reckon with the period of history from which ISIS sprang. iraq isis smoke war Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi said he would like a "thorough investigation" of the decisions and events that led US forces from "liberating" Iraq in 2003 from "Saddam (Hussein's) terrorist regime" to "occupying" the country until 2011, saying the invasion destabilized Iraq and "led to chaos" and opened the country to "all terrorist groups from all over the world to enter." In what the Associated Press said may have been a comment meant for the Trump administration, Abadi said he hoped "Iraqis will be compensated for the tragedies and catastrophes they endured." A US judge has ordered the Department of Defense to release photos showing how US Army personnel treated detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and other facilities there and in Afghanistan. Reports of abuses against detainees at Abu Ghraib helped drive sentiment against the US during the war in Iraq. NOW WATCH: Footage reveals ISIS' secret underground tunnels near Mosul More From Business Insider German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung on Monday tweeted documents to help Pakistanis from their own opinion on the role of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif's daughter in Panamagate. For those in Pakistan who doubt the role of the premiers daughter Mariam Safdar in Panama Papers some of the documents. Judge yourself, Suddeutsche Zeitung tweeted, along with attachments purporting to show her involvement with Minerva Financial Services. Maryam Safdar is her legal name after marriage. Read more: Not running election campaign through Panama Papers case: Imran Khan View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter For those in #Pakistan who doubt the role of the prime ministers daughter Mariam Safdar in #panamapapers - some of the docs. Judge yourself. pic.twitter.com/DCd45aTxTK SZ Investigativ (@SZ_Investigativ) January 23, 2017 The tweet is accompanied by a document titled "Minerva Financial Services Limited Personal Information", which contains the personal details of Maryam Safdar. The "source of wealth" section on the form says "Family's wealth and businesses which spreads [sic] over 60 years." Read also: Govt failed to present money trail in court: Sheikh Rasheed A copy of the premier's daughter's old passport also accompanied the tweet. Suddeutsche Zeitung was the first news outlet to receive the 11.5 million secret files from Panamagate, which included the names of Pakistanis with offshore holdings. See also: Panama Case: SC questions if PM can be disqualified under Article 184 During Panamagate hearings at the Supreme Court, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has been trying to establish that Maryam Nawaz is indeed the beneficial owner of Minerva. Minerva is the holding company for Nescoll Limited and Nielson Enterprises Limited, two off-shore enterprises at the centre of the scandal engulfing the prime minister's family. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders have said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has failed miserably to prove its assumptions in Panama Papers case and now trying to escape while German newspaper has published old story. Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Dr. Musadik Malik accompanying with Danyal Aziz, addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday said the BBC report was testimonial of PML-N stance while German newspaper published old news story. He lashing out at Imran Khan said that PTI leadership did not submit even a single solid document in favour of their stance during the last three weeks. Also Read: German daily highlights Mariam's connection to Panama Papers Speaking on the occasion, MNA Daniyal Aziz said BBC report supports our stance and all the papers mentioned in BBC reports have been presented in the court. He said Imran Khan is of the habit of using uncivilized language against the national institutions and the political leadership. Minister said that Imran did not get immunity from election commission while Jahangir Tareen has also requested to EC for immunity. He alleged that Imran collecting funds from across the world and carry it to Us and then take the money return to Pakistan while he also used flood fund for his politics. One big-cap is a potential outperformer. Investors in Hong Kong and Malaysia are looking to oversold offshore and marine names as the way to profit from the Singapore market, a report by CIMB revealed. "Most of the investors we met during our marketing in Hong Kong and Malaysia were receptive of our view that the under-owned offshore & marine names could be the way to play the Singapore market, as oil prices sustain at the current level," CIMB noted. While CIMB remained neutral on the sector's overall prospects, the report highlighted that Sembcorp Marine is a potential outperformer as it is a direct proxy to ride the oil price upturn. Apart from O&M names, investors are also interested in stocks which would benefit from the US dollar's strength, as well as undervalued consumer stocks. In sum, CIMB reported that there is slightly warmer interest in Singapore stocks from international investors, as the rally in the local market made the STI the strongest performer in the region. More From Singapore Business Review Donald Trump DAVOS, Switzerland The Ivy League professor walked up to the economist, who was sipping a coffee and noshing on an assortment of croissants. "How are you feeling?" the professor asked. "Not bad, aside from the fact that the world is going to end this week!" the economist quipped. They chuckled. It was three days before the inauguration of a man who wasn't seen at the World Economic Forum, the premier annual gathering for global elites here in Davos. But Donald Trump was a constant presence in the hearts, minds, and words of the attendees and organizers. "He's like a ghost, hovering over everything this week," one journalist who has covered the conference for several years said. "For once, these people are wondering, 'Why are we not getting any attention?'" The gathering nearly perfectly encapsulates the image Trump railed against on his way to victory in the US presidential election. The crowd of more than 3,000 participants from more than 100 countries was full of billionaires, CEOs, finance ministers, left-leaning economists generally, the type of people Trump labeled as the "global power structure." They spent most of the week figuring out what to do about him and the world events that foreshadowed or have followed his rise Brexit, the Italian referendum, and the rise of populism in the US and across Europe. "You look at the mood last year, it was so shocked that Donald Trump was even in the primaries," former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, whose stunning 2014 primary defeat in 2014 was perhaps the first shot in the war on the establishment elite, told Business Insider in an interview. "There was a lot of skepticism about his candidacy. It wasn't just here we had skepticism at home among the establishment Republicans as well," added Cantor, now a managing director and vice chairman at the investment bank Moelis & Co. "But I think this year, there are a lot of people who just don't want to admit that there is a lack of confidence in the establishment however you want to define that and that there needs to be willingness to respond in a way and not just defend your position." Story continues DAVOS MEETING Panelists and attendees at the conference warned about what they described as the dangers of protectionism. They called for an expansion of free trade at a time when they are under assault from Trump and other populist-style leaders. They promoted the rise of China to fill a perceived void from the US, as its president, Xi Jinping, took center stage with the opening plenary speech. From all over the world, they were on the defensive. One panel featured finance ministers from G-20 countries cautioning against a protectionist path for Europe and the US. "If you want to get more inclusive growth, you need more free trade," Wolfgang Schauble, the German finance minister, said in a panel discussion on Thursday. "The new administration is opening the economy and wants to open up and receive the benefits of globalization to generate more inclusive growth," added Nicolas Dujovne, the treasury minister of Argentina. A day later and across the Atlantic Ocean, Trump riled up a crowd in Washington with a fiery inaugural address that encouraged the "America first" approach he espoused on the campaign trail. "Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families," he said. "We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength." Anthony Scaramucci World Economic Forum Davos Though it was inauguration week, the incoming Trump administration and its viewpoint was largely absent from the conference. Trump adviser Anthony Scaramucci, the well-known New York financier, had a short stay, speaking on two panels while clarifying comments Trump had made about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Rep. Darrell Issa, the Republican congressman from California, is one of the few frequent conservative-leaning conference attendees. He said he spent a lot of time this year answering questions about the new president, reassuring the attendees that Trump was deliberate, thoughtful, and willing to seek input from many sources. "They ask, 'What does he mean? What is he going to say?' And of course, the question I haven't been able to answer very well for the last eight years, but I can answer a little better with Donald Trump is, 'Who does he listen to? Who does he seek counsel from?' Those kinds of things," Issa said in an interview. He added: "The good thing is, President Trump takes calls from people all over the world. He is a very active listener. And so, a lot of people have his ear. And a lot of people here are happy to hear that." But the first few hours of Trump's tenure seemed to confirm many of the suspicions that pervaded through the conference all week. Trump delivered a fiery inaugural address that stood out as one of the most ideological in history. Throughout the weekend, his aides proceeded to lambaste the media for accurately reporting information about inauguration crowd sizes with one Trump adviser describing White House staff members' falsehoods about the crowds as "alternative facts." One former Obama administration official left the week with a striking conclusion: China has traded places with the US in terms of policies related to trade and globalization. "It's odd, is all I can say," the official said, requesting anonymity to speak candidly. "It's odd to feel rather comforted by China." NOW WATCH: These are Stratfor's chilling predictions for 2017 More From Business Insider Right to information dead on arrival at UN View(s): By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS) The 193-member UN General Assembly has been dragging its feet on a proposal that has been kicked around the corridors of the United Nations for over 10 years: a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) providing journalists the right to information in a sprawling bureaucracy protective of its turf. Ironically, nearly 100 countries all of them UN member states have approved some form of national legislation recognising the right to information (RTI) within their own borders but still seem unenthusiastic in extending it to the press corps at the United Nations. The US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which dates back to 1967, has provided the public and the press the right to request access to records from any federal agencyand has been described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. In the US, federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement. In Australia, the legislation is known as Right2Know; in Bangladesh, the Right to Information (RTI) Resources Centre provides resources for those seeking to file a request with government agencies; in Japan, the Citizens Centre for Information Disclosure offers help to those interested in filing requests; in India, the Right to Information: a Citizen Gateway is the portal for RTI; Canadas Access to Information Act came into force in 1983 and Kenyas Access to Information Act was adopted in August 2016, according to the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD). The strongest law among the new countries on the RTI Rating is that of Sri Lanka, which scores 121 points, putting the country in 9th place globally, says CLD. The passage of this law means that every country in South Asia apart from Bhutan now has an RTI law. The region is generally a strong performer, with every country scoring over 100 points except Pakistan, which continues to languish near the bottom of the rating, according to CLD. And Swedens Freedom of the Press Act of 1766 has been described as the oldest in the world. Samir Sanbar, a former UN Assistant Secretary-General who headed the Department of Public Information (DPI), which provides media accreditation and doles out free office space to UN-based journalists, told IPS the right to information is an integral part of U.N. principles. But providing that righteven the basic information available in the public domain has been stymied both by member states and the UN bureaucracy, he added. He pointed out that the need to inform the peoples of the United Nations is implicitly indicated in the Charter. But implementing it was a basic issue I had experienced throughout my work, with both certain government officials including those publicly claiming open channels and many senior U.N. Secretariat colleagues. Those who believed Information is Power were very hesitant, to what they perceived was sharing their authority with a wider public, said Sanbar who served under five different UN Secretaries-General. It was most evident that when I launched the now uncontested website www.un.org, a number of powerful Under-Secretaries-General (USGs) and Permanent Representatives cautioned me against telling everyone what was happening (in the UN system) and refused to authorize any funds. I had to raise a team of DPI volunteers in my office, operating from within the existing budget, to go ahead and eventually offer computers loaned from an outside source, to certain delegations to realise it was more convenient for them to access news releases than having to send one of their staffers daily to the building to collect material from the third floor. Eventually, everyone joined in, and the site is now recognised as one of the ten best official sites worldwide. We had a similar difficulty in prodding for International World Press Freedom Day through the General Assembly. It seems that even those with the best of intentions since delegates represent official governments that view free press with cautious monitoring are usually weary of opening a potentially vulnerable issue, said Sanbar, author of the recently-released Inside the U.N. in a Leaderless World. Matthew Lee, an investigative UN-based journalist who has been pursuing the story for over 10 years, told IPS he has been virtually fighting a losing battle. When I first got to the UN in late 2005, I noticed there was no FOIA. After asking around about it, I got then Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Management, Christopher Burnham, to say he would work on it. But he left. So I asked his replacement at Under-Secretary-General, Alicia Barcena, who said she would work on it. She never did. The UN Secretariat, he said, has continued to blame the General Assembly. But the Secretariat could easily adopt its own policy, for example, to disclose who pays for UN Secretary-Generals travel. Asked about the FOIA, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told IPS last year: The secretary-general supports the idea of transparency. But this would be an issue for member states. Barbara Crossette, a former UN Bureau Chief for the New York Times and currently contributing editor and writer for PassBlue, an online publication covering the UN, told IPS: I think you are right, to be sceptical about getting anything like this through the General Assembly. Or for that matter that the Security Council would be cooperative, if asked for information. As you would know, a lot of people who have worked in DPI see the General Assembly and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) in particular as loathe to promote the sharing of information, even in the current setup, and assume that not enough countries would back making access to it a right, she noted. A FOIA would be a godsend to would-be spies. And how would it be legally crafted, I wonder?. It would be interesting to know if places like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have these policies. The new SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres team is supposed to be writing a new communications policy for the UN making it more open and effective in outreach generally. But I dont know if that will include journalists. In one of her recent pieces in PassBlue, Crossette said the DPI is also completely hamstrung by its mandate, officials acknowledge, and the head of the office, who ranks as Under Secretary-General, is not chosen primarily for his or her media skills, but is often a political appointee with little or no journalism experience. He or she must work under tight budgetary conditions deliberately framed to not give the department the tools it needs, she added. Sinha Ratnatunga, editor-in- chief of the Sunday Times, a major weekly newspaper in Sri Lanka, told IPS the RTI law was passed by parliament last June; signed into law by the Speaker in August and becomes operational on February 4 (independence Day). However, there is a provision to stagger its implementation if the government isnt ready, he pointed out. In any event the law must be operational whether the government is ready or not by August 4 (one year after the Speaker signed it into law). But the government is rather silent on how prepared they are for February 4 which is hardly a fortnight or so away, said Ratnatunga , Deputy Chairman, of the Sri Lanka Press Institute and Board Member of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN-IFRA). He said the law is progressive but many people, including journalists are pretty clueless about its power and reach and what difference it can make to empowering citizens and journalists in the quest of good governance. He said theres a whole exercise of educating public servants, appointing Information Officers, educating the journalists and the citizenry ahead. Yes, the law took 12 plus years in the making, but the most difficult process of educating the country on the potential of the law lies ahead. Hopefully, the media will play the role of whistleblower, but fewer journalists are now interested in investigative journalism; so we have to wait and see if all the trouble in bringing the law was worth it, after all, he declared. The writer can be contacted at thalifdeen@aol.com In less than a week, the winners of the inaugural Trustpower Photographic Exhibition will be announced, with more than 1740 submissions received. Downtown Tauranga project manager Sally Cooke says the organisers and sponsors have been overwhelmed by the range and calibre of the entries. Theyre delighted with the interest in the competition. The judging panel will certainly have their work cut out for them. She says there are a range of amazing prizes on offer, including international travel thanks to House of Travel Tauranga. Someone will win the Supreme Prize and, as well as $1000 in spending money and their photo being showcased in the exhibition, they will be winging their way to London, Paris, New York or Rome for five nights so they can take some amazing photos. Some of these will then feature in an UNO Magazine travel feature. There is also a Young Photographer section and Student section, which both offers prizes of $400 cash. Their photos will be showcased in the exhibition and an amazing one week Creative Media Internship run and delivered by the amazing teams at UNO Magazine, More FM and Weekend Sun. Its a fantastic opportunity for these emerging creatives. The winners will be published on Saturday January 28. The public will be able to view the photos on display on The Strand, Downtown Tauranga in The Trustpower Photographic Exhibition, which runs until April 9. The government is trumpeting the success of their Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant, but Whare Tauranga director Tommy Wilson believes the homeless problem is only getting worse. Last week the government reported 2600 New Zealanders had benefited from the uptake of the special needs grant. The grant serves as financial support for households in need of emergency housing, contributing towards the cost of short-term accommodation, for up to seven days initially with extensions available where required. Were providing a quick, short-term solution for those in need while longer term solutions are being developed, says Social Housing Minister Amy Adams. The number of New Zealanders requiring support is expected to reduce as 1400 additional contracted emergency housing places come available in the coming months. This is part of $344 million announced last year for emergency housing support, which included funding for up to 2200 contracted places, and will provide households with accommodation for up to three months. Tommy says, in reality, the situation is not getting any better. The level of homelessness is getting worse in Tauranga. The prices of houses are going up, and so are the rents, which correlates with an increase in homelessness. Throwing them into hotels or motels are short-term solutions. These people need fixing up, and to do that you need at least six weeks with them. Thats why Whare Tauranga has been so successful. However, he says their budget is stretched thin at the moment they can only pay for five workers, but have 15 and they need to expand their services if a real difference is to be made. We need another two Whare Tauranga out at Greerton and Merivale, which could make my commitment to us being homeless-free by 2020 achievable. He doesnt believe the special needs grant can work. What experience does a motel owner have in social services, or fixing up people who need all kinds of counselling, budgeting advice, drug and alcohol and domestic violence services? The solutions are there, but the system as it is isnt working. Its not about the homelessness; its about how they became homeless. His suggestion for the government is to pour some resources into front-line services like Whare Tauranga. A lot of people dont understand most of these people are Maori not from Tauranga. About 85 per cent of Maori we deal with arent from here. So when the government say iwi will look after iwi, and pour funding into them, thats a flawed system, because the people arent under the umbrella of the local iwi. Its easy for the government to pass the problem onto iwi, but iwi have no experience with these people because they dont have the tribal connections. He believes Whare Taurangas approach is having a real impact, more so than the governments initiatives. Weve put about 20 families through Whare Tauranga, and we get them to a place where we can take them to a landlord and say these guys have a warrant of fitness now, they will be good tenants. A 14 man squad has been named for the Blackcaps opening two ANZ ODI matches of the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia, including potential debutant Tom Blundell. The two sides first square-off at Eden Park on January 30 in what will be the 11th time New Zealand and Australia have competed for the trophy. The series then moves to Napier for game two on February 2, before the third and final encounter in Hamilton on February 5. Blackcaps Squad Kane Williamson (c) Tom Blundell Trent Boult Neil Broom Colin de Grandhomme Lockie Ferguson Martin Guptill Matt Henry Tom Latham Colin Munro Jimmy Neesham Mitchell Santner Tim Southee Ross Taylor Luke Ronchi, Ben Wheeler, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan and Doug Bracewell were not available due to injury, while Corey Anderson was considered as a batsman only. Blackcaps selector Gavin Larsen says in Blundell and Tom Latham, the side had options at wicketkeeper. Its hard to replace the experience that Luke brings, but its good Tom Blundell got a small taste of the environment during the Twenty20 series against Bangladesh and this will be another opportunity for him in the squad. Having Tom Latham as an option gives the squad flexibility and allows us the chance to play an extra bowling option. Hes done it before for us, but well look to give Tom an opportunity to have a game with the gloves in the Ford Trophy before the opening match. Larsen says that the batting line-up has a balanced look to it. We have a number of options to consider in the middle order and having Ross and Neil in there gives the batting line-up a much more experienced look to it than the squad which toured Australia. Australia have shown how dangerous they are, but with the Chappell-Hadlee trophy on the line at home, we know we have an exciting opportunity. An international survey of housing affordability ranks Tauranga among the top unaffordable cities in the world for house prices. Housing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Melbourne and Honolulu is more affordable than Tauranga, according to the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey. Auckland is even worse than Tauranga on the affordability scale, being the fourth least affordable city on the planet. Beaten only by Hong Kong, Sydney and Vancouver. The 2017 international housing report surveyed 406 metropolitan housing markets in nine countries, with Aucklands placement among just 26 markets in the severely unaffordable category. Christchurch and Wellington housing markets are also classified as severe. The survey rates middle-income housing affordability by dividing the median house price by the median household income. The top eight New Zealand markets for unaffordability are: Auckland, median house price $830,800, median income $83,000. Tauranga-Western Bay of Plenty median house price $591,900, median income $61,200. Hamilton-Waikato, $444,900, $72,100. Christchurch, $435,300, $73,900. Wellington, $463,700, $79,600. Napier-Hastings, $340,500, $59,300. Dunedin, $322,000, $59,700. Palmerston North-Manawatu, $255,800, $54,900. Increased subsidies, overcrowded households and lower home ownership are blamed in the report as contributors to unaffordability. The median multiple is not a perfect measure because it does not account for house sizes or build quality. But it is the only index that allows a quick comparison of different housing markets, and it is the best approximation of housing affordability measures we have to date, says the writer of this years Demographia survey introduction, Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative, Oliver Hartwich. Demographias reports and countless other surveys and studies do not leave the slightest doubt that unaffordable housing is almost everywhere and every time caused by the same factor: housing supply restrictions. The more restrictive the market, the more prices will increase over time. To any undergraduate student of economics, this will not come as a surprise. But it is still a relatively novel discovery for many planners and politicians. The report contrasts Germany which is the most boring housing market because house prices are so stable compared with countries like Australia, New Zealand and parts of the US. The reason German and Swiss house prices are stable has a lot to do with the ways councils are funded, says Oliver. In Germany and Switzerland, council budgets largely depend on their ability to attract new residents and taxpayers. This is why both countries are have traditionally had a more responsive and flexible housing supply side. Housing affordability is an urgent problem because the effects of unaffordable housing on society are becoming more visible by the day. Policies that raise housing costs are always likely to hit those on low incomes the hardest. Thus in our work on different measures of poverty and inequality, we have argued that the best way to tackle both issues would be to make housing more affordable. gibraltar. British prime minister Theresa May outlined her basic plan for Brexit on Tuesday, and the Gibraltar government's reaction was that the content of her speech came as no surprise and that Gibraltar is well prepared to face whatever challenges her 'hard Brexit' will bring. On Wednesday, chief minister Fabian Picardo and deputy chief minister Dr Joseph Garcia flew to London for further talks with the UK government about a number of matters, including the process of leaving the EU. The Gibraltar government is determined that the needs and concerns of Gibraltar are fully understood in London, and Mr Picardo had reassuring words in a statement released after May's speech, saying, "We are seeing that there are many positive pathways and routes through the areas of concern which can arise from Brexit and it is clear that Gibraltar is likely to continue to do well in the future because we have understood those potential pitfalls and prepared for them." The Royal British Legion Spain South district held its annual conference in Torremolinos on Thursday last week. The meeting was attended by members of RBL branches in Gibraltar, Marbella, Coin, Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Alhaurin el Grande and Mollina. The event, which was held at the Pablo Picasso Cultural Centre, began with a parade of the district and branch standards. Reverend Doreen Cage presided over the opening prayers, followed by the swearing in of the new district president, Neal Toplis, managing director of City FM Radio. The congregation was also informed of the news that Mary and Ray Le Corney, from the Torremolinos branch, were stepping down after serving on the district committee for more than twenty years. One of the many items on the agenda was the lack of adequate publicity and the misguided image of the RBL in southern Spain. Brian Turner, chairman of the South district, suggested that more could be done by individual branches, adding that the legion "really, really, must be better at blowing its own trumpet". In his address, Turner claimed that some people think the RBL is only about "old men in blazers". He advised members to take a long, hard look at ways of improving the conception of the RBL in Spain. "I am not criticising a branch in any shape or form, but the future of the RBL District South is in your hands," the chairman said. His comments were reiterated by Rob Bedford, representative of the Membership Council for Overseas Branches and Districts. He warned that the southern district could become annexed to the northern district if action was not taken. Two branches of the legion closed in southern Spain in 2015, and last year the Torre del Mar branch was temporarily shut down. This branch is now operating under the auspices of the Los Romanes branch. However, both the chairman and Rob Bedford were quick to point out that all branches in southern Spain are upholding the standards of the Royal British Legion. The southern branches were commended for their outstanding fundraising efforts during the last Poppy Appeal. The district secretary said, "It is a credit to the branches and members of Spain South, because, although we have lost branches, the 2016 Poppy Appeal raised over 69,000 euros." Other good news is that the RBL in Spain has plans to open two new branches in the near future. These will be in Casabermeja and Duquesa. Brian Turner said, "If we pull together we can achieve our aim and continue to administer, and support, the delivery of welfare services to the RBL branches throughout southern Spain." White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer strongly defended the crowd size of President Donald Trump's inauguration on Saturday, using his first official briefing as the administration's spokesman to blast the media for what he called "deliberately false reporting." In his maiden voyage as the Trump adminstration's chief press liaison, Spicer harangued the press corps for at least four of the five minutes he stood before them. Primarily, he took them to task on the reporting of the number of spectators present at Inauguration Dayusing assertions that could be easily refuted by publicly available figures. "Yesterday at a time when our nation and the world watched the peaceful transition of power ...some members of the media were engaged in deliberately false reporting," he said. Spicer took issue with a tweet from a reporter, whom he did not name, who posted about the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. being removed from the Oval Officesomething Spicer flatly denied. He saved most of his invective for reporting of the inauguration crowd size relative to the throngs that greeted Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, at his 2009 inauguration. Spicer echoed the sentiments expressed by his boss, who at an appearance at the nation's top intelligence hub also blasted the media . "Photographs of the inaugural proceedings were intentionally framed in a way...to minimize the enormous support that had gathered on the National Mall," Spicer said. He blamed the protective covering on the grass that created "defective highlighting" and made the crowd appear smaller than it was in actuality. He called reporting of numbers of crowd size "inaccurate," saying the National Park Service doesn't put any of those figures out. Yet according to figures issued by Washington's transit authority, Metro ridership during Friday's inauguration was the lowest since at least 2005, The Washington Post reported. By 11 am Eastern, approximately 193,000 trips had been taken on the Metro, compared to 513,000 trips at the comparable time in 2009. Story continues Additionally, the grass was covered during Obama's second installation ceremony in January 2013, with media reports and pictures taken at the time showing the lawn at the National Mall covered by protective panels. That said, Spicer still insisted that the inauguration crowd was "the largest audience to ever witness an inaugurationperiod, both in person and around the globe." However, Nielsen ratings data showed that an estimated 31 million Americans watched the transfer of power. That figure was also lower than Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009, when an estimated 38 million watched, and below the record 41 million that watched Ronald Reagan take his oath of office. Spicer added that "...these attempts to lessen the enthusiasm of the inauguration are shameful and wrong," while stating that the presidentwho met with staff members of the Central Intelligence Agency after weeks of publicly sparring with the agency's findings on Russia's attempts to influence the U.S. general electionwas greeted warmly in his maiden visit. Spicer said Trump's reception at the CIA was "raucous and overflow crowd" and that staffers were "ecstatic...and gave him a five-minute standing ovation" to show their enthusiasm. He also called on Democrats to stop "playing politics" with Trump's nominee for CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, saying that the Trump administration would "hold the press accountable" for coverage it perceived to be biased or inaccurate. After spending a brief minute recapping Trump's upcoming meetings with world leaders, Spicer took no questions and departed the area. The director of the Real Academia Espanola (RAE), Dario Villanueva, has described the disappearance of the Spanish language from the White House website as "negative", "very significant" and an "important step backwards". Nevertheless despite Donald Trump's decision, Villanueva stated that the presence of the Spanish language in the United States is "unstoppable". Villanueva pointed out that there are more than 37 million active Spanish-speakers in the United States. He said that this week's decision was reminiscent of the 'English only' debate in the late nineties. "The Constitution of the United States does not declare any one language as official and back then [in the late nineties] there was a movement by some States that wanted English and Spanish to be the official language against others that wanted only English. That created a wound and caused great controversy," he said. The Australian-first Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) will bring together the best of Victorias aerospace research, design and manufacturing leaders to work with industry on the next generation of air mobility. Investors are always looking for stocks that are poised to beat at earnings season and Texas Instruments Incorporated TXN may be one such company. The firm has earnings coming up pretty soon, and events are shaping up quite nicely for their report. That is because Texas Instruments is seeing favorable earnings estimate revision activity as of late, which is generally a precursor to an earnings beat. After all, analysts raising estimates right before earningswith the most up-to-date information possibleis a pretty good indicator of some favorable trends underneath the surface for TXN in this report. In fact, the Most Accurate Estimate for the current quarter is currently at 82 cents per share for TXN, compared to a broader Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents per share. This suggests that analysts have very recently bumped up their estimates for TXN, giving the stock a Zacks Earnings ESP of 1.24% heading into earnings season. Texas Instruments Inc. Price and EPS Surprise Texas Instruments Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Texas Instruments Inc. Quote Why is this Important? A positive reading for the Zacks Earnings ESP has proven to be very powerful in producing both positive surprises, and outperforming the market. Our recent 10 year backtest shows that stocks that have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better show a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and have returned over 28% on average in annual returns (see more Top Earnings ESP stocks here). Given that TXN has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and an ESP in positive territory, investors might want to consider this stock ahead of earnings. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Clearly, recent earnings estimate revisions suggest that good things are ahead for Texas Instruments, and that a beat might be in the cards for the upcoming report. Zacks' Top Investment Ideas for Long-Term Profit How would you like to see our best recommendations to help you find todays most promising long-term stocks? Starting now, you can look inside our portfolios featuring stocks under $10, income stocks, value investments and more. These picks, which have double and triple-digit profit potential, are rarely available to the public. But you can see them now. Click here >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,632 Thanked: 10,424 Times View My Garage Re: Spreading Xmas cheer from Bangalore to Chennai with the Ford Mustang Reminiscence and Summary: This is the phase where i began to consider the touring potential of the Mustang. After all, Ford did bring the Grand Tourer (GT) edition to India. Space in the boot for a couple of travel bags for the weekend trip? Check. Good enough to load in a couple of travel bags for the weekend getaway Fuel economy to be able to travel without having to stop for fuel stops often? Hmm.. Allow me to explain. When i first got hold of the Mustang on this drive, it showed about 4.x kmpl on the meter. This was inline with GTO's observations during his drive of the same car. As i mentioned earlier, i did expect multiple fuel stops on this drive which can be classified as a weekend drive. However, despite the quick bursts of speed to listen to that exhaust, as well as idling time in between as the photographer went about his task, the FE began to show signs of improvement. Somewhere into the drive, i reset the meter, and observed how it performed for my kind of driving. Let me explain. I am not a fast driver. I enjoy speed in bursts and love to listen to the gurgle of the Mustang as it announced itself with the massive V8. Along the course of my drive with the Mustang, the car returned a displayed FE of 8.2 kmpl. Such Fuel Efficiency from a 5L V8?! This included speed runs on the highway, navigating narrow, winding state highways, idling for photoshoots, and also traffic in multiple places. The only fuel stop during the day was when we tanked up at Shell in Bangalore. So, this helps us conclude the Mustang is not as bad a guzzler as it has been made out to be. Fuel requirements in Indian conditions? Check. All along our journey, and along the pan India tour this particular Mustang has embarked on, it sipped on normal octane petrol. Yes, you read that right. Fuel expenses for the Mustang in India would not be too different from that of an ordinary car, except ofcourse the lower FE owing to a higher displacement engine. This in itself is a big plus, coinsidering its touring potential. Ability to handle bad roads? Check. A point which has come up on both the Team-BHP reviews as well as GTO's drive of the car is it's relative ability to handle bad roads with disdain. While due diligence is to be applied regarding possible damage to the low profile tyres, the suspension in itself is supple and does not jolt you out of your skin on the bad roads. On indian roads, this is surely a trait worth having. Performance? Check. Even at idle the Mustang promises to be fast. The muted throb is like the slow start to an orchestra as it ascends to a crescendo with the pedal to the metal. The Grand Tourer Out on the highway, the Mustang revved freely as it made quick progress, only at times to be let down by the AT box which played spoilsport. Needless to say, there is the S mode which allows you to play with the paddleshifts, but even these had a momentary pause before the gearbox responded. Needless to say, this is not necessarily a deal-breaker. For someone like me, i got used to it soon enough, but in a garage where the Mustang shares space with more illustrious peers, this can be a bit of a downer. The Mustang does make a strong case for itself with the other advantages though, as described earlier. Comfort and convenience? Check. The dual zone climate control and heated seats help the Mustang take you around in comfort. Sound from the speakers were a bit boomy, but i didnt spend time playing around with those settings to see if it helped. For me, the sound from that exhaust was music in itself. Quite divine, to my ears. Ford has done a great job in getting the Mustang to indian shores. Just about the time i got to drive the Mustang in India, fellow mod moralfibre was driving a Mustang in red on American shores. Ofcourse, that wasnt the same engine, and was a convertible, but nevertheless, it's a great feeling to have access to an American muscle car sitting in India while your friends drive the same on foreign shores. Observe how the Mustang in the pics above are not the GT and hence do not sport the GT logo on the tailgate. Meanwhile, I shall treasure this pic from the drive: Disclaimer: Ford India invited Team-BHP for the Mustang drive. They covered all the travel expenses for this driving event. Certain pics from the drive were provided by Ford India for use by Team-BHP. This is the phase where i began to consider the touring potential of the Mustang. After all, Ford did bring the Grand Tourer (GT) edition to India.Space in the boot for a couple of travel bags for the weekend trip? Check.Fuel economy to be able to travel without having to stop for fuel stops often? Hmm.. Allow me to explain.When i first got hold of the Mustang on this drive, it showed about 4.x kmpl on the meter. This was inline with GTO's observations during his drive of the same car.As i mentioned earlier, i did expect multiple fuel stops on this drive which can be classified as a weekend drive. However, despite the quick bursts of speed to listen to that exhaust, as well as idling time in between as the photographer went about his task, the FE began to show signs of improvement. Somewhere into the drive, i reset the meter, and observed how it performed for my kind of driving.Let me explain. I am not a fast driver. I enjoy speed in bursts and love to listen to the gurgle of the Mustang as it announced itself with the massive V8.Along the course of my drive with the Mustang, the car returned a displayed FE of 8.2 kmpl.This included speed runs on the highway, navigating narrow, winding state highways, idling for photoshoots, and also traffic in multiple places. The only fuel stop during the day was when we tanked up at Shell in Bangalore. So, this helps us conclude the Mustang is not as bad a guzzler as it has been made out to be.Fuel requirements in Indian conditions? Check.All along our journey, and along the pan India tour this particular Mustang has embarked on, it sipped on normal octane petrol. Yes, you read that right. Fuel expenses for the Mustang in India would not be too different from that of an ordinary car, except ofcourse the lower FE owing to a higher displacement engine. This in itself is a big plus, coinsidering its touring potential.Ability to handle bad roads? Check.A point which has come up on both the Team-BHP reviews as well as GTO's drive of the car is it's relative ability to handle bad roads with disdain. While due diligence is to be applied regarding possible damage to the low profile tyres, the suspension in itself is supple and does not jolt you out of your skin on the bad roads. On indian roads, this is surely a trait worth having.Performance? Check.Even at idle the Mustang promises to be fast. The muted throb is like the slow start to an orchestra as it ascends to a crescendo with the pedal to the metal.Out on the highway, the Mustang revved freely as it made quick progress, only at times to be let down by the AT box which played spoilsport. Needless to say, there is the S mode which allows you to play with the paddleshifts, but even these had a momentary pause before the gearbox responded. Needless to say, this is not necessarily a deal-breaker. For someone like me, i got used to it soon enough, but in a garage where the Mustang shares space with more illustrious peers, this can be a bit of a downer. The Mustang does make a strong case for itself with the other advantages though, as described earlier.Comfort and convenience? Check.The dual zone climate control and heated seats help the Mustang take you around in comfort.Sound from the speakers were a bit boomy, but i didnt spend time playing around with those settings to see if it helped. For me, the sound from that exhaust was music in itself. Quite divine, to my ears.Ford has done a great job in getting the Mustang to indian shores. Just about the time i got to drive the Mustang in India, fellow mod moralfibre was driving a Mustang in red on American shores. Ofcourse, that wasnt the same engine, and was a convertible, but nevertheless, it's a great feeling to have access to an American muscle car sitting in India while your friends drive the same on foreign shores.Observe how the Mustang in the pics above are not the GT and hence do not sport the GT logo on the tailgate.Meanwhile, I shall treasure this pic from the drive: Last edited by GTO : 23rd January 2017 at 11:41 . Photos of the purported 2017 iteration of the popular flagship Android smartphone of Chinese tech giant Huawei have already started to surface online.Based on these images that were first uploaded by an anonymous user on Weibo ( source ), the upcomingshares a handful of qualities with its best-selling sibling from 2016; Most notable of which is the Dual Optics rear camera module, which is also Leica-branded. In addition, its shell appears to also be crafted from real metal, making the device look and feel more elegant and durable.Though, there are also obvious differences. First, the display now seems to have curved edges just like that ofmatched with a unibody frame that likewise curves down the sides and edges, resulting in a more tubular feel in the hand.Also, the 2017 flagship already has a physical home button in front that's believed to feature or to be be lined with the Fingerprint Scanner for quickly unlocking the device with but a touch of a finger. Hence and needless to say, unlike the Huawei P9, P10 no longer has sensor-pad for fingerprint at the back.Currently, we know very little about Huawei P10's exact technical specifications. Various sources and Huawei Fans online, however, are confident that the handset would havefor smooth multitasking plus a 64-bit Octa Corechipset (4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.4GHz + 4x Cortex A53 @ 1.8GHz + Mali-G71 MP8 @900MHz) with power and energy consumption comparable to that of Samsung Exynos 8890.As for the smartphones official launch, I'm expecting it to land in the Philippines sometime in Q2 2017; Around April, maybe. By Steven Ralston, CFA OTC:IEGH IEG Holdings Corp. (IEGH) is a consumer finance company that offers unsecured consumer loans (under the brand name Mr. Amazing Loans) to individuals in 19 states via an online platform (mramazingloans.com). The company provides $5,000 and $10,000 personal consumer loans over a term of five years in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Virginia. Investment Evolution Corp (a subsidiary of IEG Holdings) holds state licenses and/or certificates of authority to lend in these 19 states. Over the intermediate-term, management plans to offer loans in 25 states, which would cover approximately 75% of the US population. IEG Holdings is well positioned for organic growth, leveraging its unique presence in the faster-growing unsecured personal loan market and its concentration on differentiated, higher-margin products. The companys online loan application portal increases the potential to scale operations and enhances margins. Brick-and-mortar businesses add costs, such as rent payments and salaries/wages of branch supervisors/employees. Through the effective execution of managements business plan, including the online loan origination platform, effective supporting marketing programs and the pursuit of additional state licenses, IEG Holdings has achieved impressive growth of its loan portfolio. The company should benefit from its disciplined underwriting process, which should deliver a high margin loan portfolio with relatively low underwriting credit risk. IEG concentrates on providing 5-year $5,000 and $10,000 loans, which are the sweet spots that maximize return and minimize potential credit losses. Customer-lead acquisition costs and shorter-term loans (less than 5 years in duration) reduce the economic attributes of underwriting unsecured consumer loans. Also, credit risk significantly increases for loans greater than $10,000. On November 3, 2016, IEG Holdings released an update to the companys corporate strategy. Strategically, CEO Paul Mathieson is exploring a full range of alternatives for the purpose of increasing stockholders value. A major step towards becoming profitable is that Paul Mathieson agreed to forgo his 2016 bonus and also entered into a new consulting for 2017 which reduced his annual base compensation from $1.0 million to $1, which should reduce operating expenses by 16%. During 2017, management intends to focus on increasing the companys capital base in order to finance further growth in the loan book and on cutting costs with the aim of becoming cash flow positive and profitable. Management has provided earnings guidance for the first quarter of 2017. Due to the anticipated significant cost reductions in compensation, consulting fees and other operating expenses, management forecasts that IEG Holdings will report a net profit (albeit small) and positive operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2017. In view of the anticipated improvement in IEGs financial position, management intends to pay a small dividend to shareholders and anticipates paying regular quarterly dividends thereafter. IEG Holdings has developed the enterprise functions to support scalability, including technology-based customer acquisition, risk-controlled loan generation, capital funding and regulatory compliance. The companys business model is expected to drive growth through geographic expansion (through being granted additional state licenses) and underwriting an increasing amount of loans (through a low cost customer acquisition approach and a highly efficient underwriting process). Given the companys track record, we expect IEG Holding to be able to continue finance its businesses expansion through various sources of capital funding. Loan Book Growth After IEG Holdings launched the Mr. Amazing Loans online loan origination platform in mid- 2013, loan volumes grew dramatically. In the first year of the online platforms operation (June 30 2013 to June 30, 2014), total cumulative loan originations increased over 450%from$237,000 to approximately $1.32 million. In the second year (June 30 2014 to June 30, 2015), loan originations increased over 580% from to $9.08 million. IEG Holdings continues to generate year-over-year (YOY) loan and revenue growth, key metrics indicative of the companys potential. In the third quarter of 2016, total revenues increased 5.1% YOY driven by 7.3% growth in loans receivable. The strong growth in loan originations was not only a result of the online platform, but also the successful execution of other growth initiatives. Several effective marketing programs supported the effectiveness of the online application portal, including online advertising, partnering with online lead generators and direct mail advertising. Loan growth was also significantly enhanced by pursuing additional state licenses. Furthermore, management also positioned the company to address and benefit from certain consumer needs, namely 1) IEG focuses on the under-banked marketplace of non-prime consumers requiring affordable credit and 2) the company offers a considerably lower cost alternative to payday loans And, of course, management secured funding to maintain and expand operations as well as finance the origination of loans. Consumer lending companies fall into several business line categories: traditional lenders (secured loans), marketplace lenders, credit card issuers, educational finance companies, payday lenders, middle market commercial lenders, non-prime consumer loans, etc. Even though IEGs direct competitors in the state-licensed, personal loan space are companies are companies like OneMain Financial (OMF) and World Acceptance Corporation (WRLD), the company is in a unique life cycle position. IEG Holdings has exhibited dramatic loan book growth and is on the verge of positive operating cash flow and profitability. Larger, profitable lenders tend to trade at low P/S ratios usually in the 0.7 and 2.1 times revenues; however, higher growth potential marketplace lenders trade in a higher range (7.8 to 18.1 times revenues). Marketplace lending category is composed of companies that provide an online marketplace where investors and borrowers can connect. The companies offer a technology-based platform that automates the borrower application process and provides loan servicing, and at the same time provides analytical tools that enable investors to decide whether to add the loan to their portfolios. IEG Holdings is still in an early phase of its life cycle with the loan originations volume on a high growth trajectory. The company should trade at a much higher multiple reflecting the companys potential. It is difficult to find a comparable lending company today with revenues in the $2-to-$3 million range with the same upside potential as IEG Holdings. However, in the past, Lending Club (LC), Main Street Capital (MAIN), Manhattan Bridge Capital (LOAN) and NewStar Financial (NEWS) were in roughly the same position as lenders with a particular focus but with significant loan portfolio growth potential. These stocks all attained Price-to-Sales valuation levels over 9.0 times and one as high as 51.8 times. Utilizing annual revenues of $5.0 million (our estimated revenue level for profitability with the CEO receiving normal compensation), which we expect the company to attain organically by 2020, and with the expectation that IEG Holding stock can attain a P/S ratio of 20.0 at that time, we employ a net present value (NPV) calculation arriving at a price target of $8.50 for IEGH. READ THE FULL RESEARCH REPORT HERE SUBSCRIBE TO ZACKS SMALL CAP RESEARCH to receive our articles and reports emailed directly to you each morning. Please visit our website for additional information on Zacks SCR and to view our disclaimer. It's not very easy to distinguish legitimate videos from fake ones these days, and such is the case of a recently posted video of a massive alligator strolling through Polk County Discovery Center's reserve in Florida. However, experts were quick to react saying that the video is most likely real and that, incredible as it seems, alligators do have the capacity to grow that huge. This truly massive alligator was spotted casually walking across a path in Central Florida. The locals call it "Hunchback." pic.twitter.com/rBMt6JwtQ4 CNN (@CNN) January 17, 2017 The creature was later identified as an American alligator, the males of which grow significantly larger than the females. Many experts believe that alligators have the capability to grow throughout their whole lives, which in some cases can last for up to 70 years. It's no wonder many were skeptical about the video when it hit the internet, especially considering the sheer size of the alligator. Nevertheless, in this particular case, massive as the gator in the video was, wildlife ecologist and conservation biologist David A. Steen says it's still not nearly as huge as the largest recorded alligator caught in Alabama at 14 feet. The Human-Wildlife Conflict This incidence in Florida is not the nearly the first time that wild animals have been seen in places where humans reside. As the human population continues to expand, animal habitats continue to shrink, leaving them displaced. In places such as Namibia, the human-wildlife conflict is more severe as it endangers both the humans and the animals. In cases of such conflicts, the humans' properties and even lives are placed in danger as animals are oblivious to boundaries, while the animals' lives are endangered as the humans protect themselves. Supplementary to this conflict is the demand for animal mead and merchandise. Such is the case for the American alligators once grew even larger than they do today. When humans came into their territory either for sport or produce, their numbers dwindled down to the point of being on the brink of extinction. It was only after massive preservation efforts that their number began to increase again until they were listed off the endangered animals list in 1987. Conservation Triumph In the case of this sighting, the folks who shot the video got a glimpse of the giant in a nature reserve. What's impressive about the video is not the sheer size of the gator that they captured, but the fact that from nearly being extinct, these American alligators are now capable of growing yet again to massive sizes. The protection and conservation efforts that once saved the species from extinction is now giving them the ability to grow to full maturity and in peace in a safe habitat. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Android community has already bid adieu to Cyanogen Inc. after it closed shop last month. CyanogenMod users who are concerned about the fate of their devices can already heave a collective sigh of relief as LineageOS announced that it is now ready to take over where Cyanogen left off. LineageOS Is Now Live In a blog post, the team behind LineageOS stated that devices that support Android Marshmallow and Android Nougat will start getting experimental and nightly builds next weekend. These devices could mean those that have been flashed with the CM13 and CM14 builds. If you head to their website, you will even find official builds for the Google Nexus 5X and the Nextbit Robin ready for download. If you are itching to get your hands on LineageOS at this point, there are already unofficial builds available online. Community Support At this stage the developers seems quite brisk and business-like in their approach. The announcement immediately included all the critical information that provides users how they intend to go forward. First, there is the reference to the fact that the website and the LineageOS initiative is open source and therefore relies on the community for survival. It promptly provided the link where users can make their contributions. LineageOS Features The statement also included what one could probably call as innovations in comparison to the way CyanogenMod has been used. For example, there is the experimental migration builds, which offer the capability to flash your device from CyanogenMod to LineageOS without wiping any user data. As is usually the case when installing custom ROMs, make sure that you still back your files up in case something goes wrong. There is also the authentication system that could prove to be significant in the way developers maintain the security of the LineageOS. "Our official builds will all be signed with a private key for authentication and signature permission control," the team stated. "This will not break, prevent or stop any 'unofficial' builds." Users will be able to check if their ROMs have been tampered. A dedicated page has been set up for this purpose. Finally, LineageOS does not support native root functionality. You have to download a separate zip file for this, which can be installed like gapps. Developers have promised that builds will be released on a weekly basis. It is quite a tall order especially with the fact that they will be supporting more than 80 Android devices. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In an exciting announcement, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed that an "upgraded" version of the Falcon 9 missile will be launched soon. The missile will be used to deliver a satellite for EchoStar Corporation. The missile, scheduled to launch on Jan. 30 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will feature a reusable rocket, responded Musk to a query on Twitter. This launch is being anticipated as one of the last times a Falcon 9 booster will be used by SpaceX. The rocket will be carrying a 5.5-metric ton communication satellite to a geostationary transfer orbit. @gdoehne Expendable. Future flights will go on Falcon Heavy or the upgraded Falcon 9. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2017 He also added that the upgraded version of the Falcon 9 rocket, also known as Block 5, would greatly improve the rocket's performance and reusability. The new rocket would be commissioned for flight by the end of 2017. The Falcon 9 is a two-stage-to orbit rocket developed and manufactured by Space X. There are three versions of the Falcon 9 series of rockets - namely Falcon 9 v1.0, Falcon 9 v1.1 and Falcon 9 Full Thrust. Out of the three, only the Full Thrust variant is in use. This rocket comes equipped with a reusable launch system and is powered by liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene. The Falcon 9 series is designed to lift loads ranging from medium to heavy categories. Musk had hosted an "Ask Me Anything" session on Twitter, where his followers could interact with him. During this session, he mentioned that the rocket had been equipped with new thrusters and improved legs. SpaceX has claimed that the Falcon series of rockets are the most powerful in the world. They can carry over 54 metric tons into orbit, thanks to a first stage comprising of three Falcon 9 engines. SpaceX commenced flight once more, after a four-and-a-half month hiatus, on Jan. 21. The rocket had carried 10 satellites for Iridium, a communication company, and had delivered them to low-orbit the Earth. The gap in flight operations was due to an explosion which had destroyed a Falcon 9 rocket and the $200 million satellite it was carrying. The launch will put SpaceX back on its pursuit to fulfil its ambitions. There are currently 70 delayed missions, amounting to a total of more than $10 billion. The Wall Street Journal recently accessed internal documents of SpaceX which suggest that the company plans to fly 27 times this year, the most it has ever done. Elon Musk is excited about the launch, as is the entire community. Everyone is speculating what SpaceX will introduce in its newest rocket. Photo: Heisenberg Media | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Move over, EpiPen. You've got competition. Kaleo, a privately held pharmaceutical company based in Richmond, Virginia, has revealed that its Auvi-Q Auto-injector (epinephrine injection or USP auto-injector) will be available by prescription starting Feb. 14 this year. Auvi-Q was voluntarily recalled nationwide back in October 2015 because of reports of potential inaccurate dosage delivery. One of EpiPen's strongest competitors so far, Auvi-Q Auto-injector will make a big comeback in 2017, boasting features that include voice instructions and an automatic needle retraction system, plus an access program to get it at no cost. What Is An Epinephrine Injection, USP Auto-Injector? Epinephrine belongs to the alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists (sympathomimetic agents), which is a class of medications that works by relaxing the muscles in the airways and tightening the blood vessels. Epinephrine injections or USP injectors are specifically designed for emergency medical treatments of life-threatening allergic reactions usually triggered by certain food, drugs, latex, and insect bites or stings. They come as pre-filled automatic injections with vials containing the liquid solution. An epinephrine shot should be given either subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle) at the first symptom of a serious allergic reaction. Cheapest EpiPen Alternative For Kaleo, Auvi-Q is a stark contrast from EpiPen, Mylan's anti-allergy prescription drug, which drew public flak after its price went up to a whopping $600 last year. Kaleo claims it offers a more pocket-friendly product - offering two auto-injectors at a guaranteed price of $360 - and a first-of-its-kind AffordAbility commitment program. "We met with patients and physicians and listened to the very real challenges in the current healthcare environment with obtaining access to affordable medicines," stated Kaleo President and CEO Spencer Williamson. "As a result, starting Feb. 14, for more than 200 million Americans with commercial insurance, including those with high-deductible plans, the out-of-pocket cost for Auvi-Q will be $0." "We wish we didn't have to do this, but the system is set up in a way that without this bold move, patients wouldn't get access and be able to afford Auvi-Q," Williamson told CNBC in a telephone interview. "We're confident the model provides access and affordability, and that it is a sustainable model." In reality, its actual price is many times higher compared to existing competitors, but according to Kaleo, with many insurance providers covering the product, nothing in the market "will cost a commercially insured patient less out of pocket than Auvi-Q." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. FINEST KIND CLINIC AND FISHMARKET.... Discussing medicine, culture, and the joys of cooking Pansit. The Venezuelan government will increase cooperation with Colombia's military and police forces to face transnational crimes caused by drug trafficking, announced Friday by the Minister of... | Read More Sky has bought a majority stake in indie True North and has invested in new UK drama production company Chrysalis Vision run by Chris Wright and Mick Pilsworth. Leeds based True North was previously backed by Channel 4s Indie Growth Fund but Channel 4 will now exit its minority stake and plough the profit back into the Growth Fund. Founders Andrew Sheldon and Jess Fowle (pictured) are staying on as creative directors and other key members of True Norths senior team including md Marc Allen and exec producer Fiona OSullivan, who leads the companys Manchester offshoot, will also be staying with the company to help drive international and format ambitions. The indie is behind shows including A New Life in the Sun for Channel 4, the Junior Vets/ Ultimate Vets brand for CBBC, Homes By the Sea and Building the Dream. Sky has also invested in UK-based television drama production company, Chrysalis Vision, which was founded by media executives Chris Wright CBE, Mick Pilsworth, Roger Parry CBE and Luke Johnson. Led by Mick Pilsworth (CEO), the Chrysalis Vision team includes Sue Gibbs as Creative Director and Clova McCallum as Development Executive, and has a wide-ranging slate in development. Jane Millichip, Managing Director at Sky Vision, said: Were excited to be investing in True North. Jess and Andrew have a fantastic reputation for creating and delivering high quality returnable series. Were also delighted to be working with Mick and Chris, who have a great track record in building successful, creative businesses, and the whole team at Chrysalis Vision which will bolster our drama ambitions. Andrew Sheldon and Jess Fowle, Creative Directors and Founders of True North said: Were delighted to be working with Sky, one of the most exciting and ambitious brands in the global TV industry, to help us achieve our international ambitions. Our previous investment partners Channel 4 were always going to be a hard act to follow. But Jane and her team showed an instinctive understanding and respect, not just for our content but for our culture too, and that proved irresistible. Chris Wright CBE, Chairman of Chrysalis Vision, said: I am delighted to welcome Sky as a shareholder in the business and we all look forward to working with Skys Content team, and with Sky Vision, to develop, produce and distribute long-running prime-time television drama series with worldwide appeal and long-term value. This new arrangement gives our team the resources and contacts to take the business forward. David Abraham, Chief Executive at Channel 4 said: We set up the Indie Growth Fund to help support creative UK companies get to the next level and in just two years weve helped secure a strong future for True North. In this time, and with Channel 4s support, Andrew and Jess have built one of the biggest factual indies in the country and established an important training ground for new and diverse creative talent in the north. The return on our investment in True North will support our ongoing commitment to the UK wide creative sector. As part of the agreements True North and Chrysalis Vision, Sky Vision will become the commercial and distribution partner for content, worldwide, for both True North and Chrysalis Vision. Existing terms with other broadcasters and distributors remain unchanged. Share this story Food lovers can enjoy three-course meals at more than 50 of Baton Rouges best restaurants for a fraction of the cost during Restaurant Week Baton Rouge, presented by DIG & Table Fresh. Here's everything you need to know: When can I eat? January 23-28 What can I eat? View menus and make reservations at EATBR.com/Menus Who benefits (besides me and my taste buds)? The event benefits the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. ($1 will be donated to the food bank for every Restaurant Week photo tagged #EATBR on Instagram up to $5,000.) Is my favorite restaurant on the list? We dunno. Check out the participating restaurants below. 18 STEAK at L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge, Barcadia Baton Rouge, Bin 77 Bistro & SideBar, Bistro Byronz Mid City, Bistro Byronz Settlement At Willow Grove, Boil & Roux BR, Bonefish Grill. Cafe Americain Restaurant and Catering, Canefield Tavern, Capital City Grill Downtown,Celebrity Grill, Cheesecake Bistro in Baton Rouge, Copeland's of New Orleans, City Pork Brasserie & Bar, City Cafe BR. Doe's Eat Place of Baton Rouge, Drusilla Seafood Restaurant & Drusilla Place Catering, Eliza Baton Rouge, Galatoire's Bistro, Gouter Restaurant, Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, Kona Grill. Lava Cantina Baton Rouge - Perkins, Lava Cantina Downtown Baton Rouge, Mason's Grill, Marty J's Seafood, Burgers and Po-boys, Mansurs On The Boulevard, Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine, Monjunis Italian Cafe on Jefferson Hwy, Olive or Twist, Phil's Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant. +5 Phil's Oyster Bar makes a comeback on Perkins Road Although it had a four-year run on Concord Avenue, generations of Baton Rouge diners remembe Reginelli's Pizzeria, Rock-n-Sake Baton Rouge, Stroubes Seafood Steaks, Sullivan's Steakhouse - Baton Rouge, Table Kitchen & Bar Baton Rouge, Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine BarTexas de Brazil. The Londoner - Baton Rouge, The Melting Pot, The Overpass Merchant,UMAMI Japanese Bistro, The Velvet Cactus Baton Rouge, LSU Voodoo BBQ Bar & Grill, Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar Burbank. Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar At Towne Center, Willie's Restaurant, Your Mom's Restaurant & Bar,Zorba's Greek Bistro, Zoroona Mediterranean Grill. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission GONZALES Armed with new data from the August flood, Ascension Parish officials are going to revisit an old idea to dredge Bayou Manchac with the goal of improving drainage in the Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp areas where water pooled for weeks last summer. Even after water retreated from the rest of the region, allowing people to get back into their homes and start gutting, some Iberville and Ascension parish residents in those swamps had to cope with standing water that kept them from their properties for weeks. An estimated 14 billion gallons of water flowed over a 3-mile stretch of the Alligator Bayou-Manchac road in August, as Bayou Manchac filled with backwater from the swollen Amite River and downstream runoff out of Baton Rouge. Officials dug deep trenches across the road to get water to drain more quickly from the vast bowl-shaped swamp into Bayou Manchac. The road, which is on a 14-foot-high berm, acts like a levee, except for two small floodgates. But, even with all the trench digging, the water still took weeks to drain, and Ascension officials believe natural and man-made blockages in Manchac contributed to the slow-going. Residents in one patch of Ascension Parish still flooded out Friday morning, Michael Halun took his boat out to check on his home on Ridge Road in Ascens They say they can now make a strong case with their new model for the need to snag and dredge the historic bayou to clear out those holdups. Longer term, the officials also want to create more space for water to flow under highways and a railroad track that cross over Manchac and they'd like to see a new flood control structure on the bayou. Ascension officials maintain that Manchac, as shown in the model produced by Baton Rouge engineer Stokka Brown, is restricted by these natural snags and highway crossings at Interstate 10, Perkins Road, Airline Highway and Jefferson Highway. The proposed dredging and other work, parish officials say, would bolster the effectiveness of expanding floodgates that allow Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp to drain into Manchac and eventually the Amite River. Well before floods in Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp, Ascension, Iberville eyed important fix For more than a decade, officials in Ascension and Iberville parishes have sought ways to sp It proves the fact that there (are) constrictions within Bayou Manchac, Bill Roux, the Ascension Parish public works director, said in a recent parish drainage meeting. No matter what we do there (at the Spanish Lake floodgates), it can only benefit up to a point. If we dont dredge and enlarge or do something with Bayou Manchac, we never will be able to get an efficient outflow from the Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp area. In addition to the Spanish Lake area in Ascension and Iberville parishes, Manchac also serves as a major drainage outlet for fast-growing south Baton Rouge, receiving water from Bayou Fountain and Ward Creek. Its just too much for that bayou to handle, Roux said of all the water headed to Manchac. Trouble viewing animation below? Click here. The animation above of the Spanish Lake and Bayou Manchac areas shows how water rose and fell during the rains of August and weeks afterward. The deepest areas are red, orange, yellow and green. The shallowest are purple and blue. The animation, which lasts from midnight Aug. 11 to midnight Nov. 1, was created with a computer model that relied on actual rain and water level data. Watch how Spanish Lake filled later than other areas, but Bayou Fountain drained more quickly than Spanish Lake. (Video by Stokka Brown, Natural Resource Professionals) Once an international boundary and now at the intersection of the three parishes, Bayou Manchac and the Spanish Lake area are a crossroads with a history and politics as complicated as their hydrology. Louisiana explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'lberville, found Bayou Manchac in 1699. Once a navigable shortcut between the Mississippi River and Lake Maurepas, the bayou once called the Iberville River was used a trade route for Native Americans and early settlers for centuries. Before 1800, loggers floated cypress cut from the swamps around Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp down the bayou to the Mississippi and New Orleans. The levees built after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 cut off the bayou and are one of several man-made changes that altered the bayou and its surrounding swamps. In 2009, the state named Manchac and Bayou St. John in New Orleans, another waterway heavily influenced by the hands of man, as historic and scenic rivers. The designation would typically block the kind of work that Ascension officials are proposing, state wildlife officials said, but the law establishing the designation for Manchac has exemptions written for dredging and the other flood control projects that parish officials are now considering. The parish would still need to get a permit from the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, along with permits from other agencies. "Our role would be to authorize that activity in a manner that conserves those fish and wildlife resources as much as possible," said Kyle Balkum, department biologist director and co-author of the Manchac management plan. Despite the centuries of man-made change and more recent threats from Manchac's overuse as an outlet for treated sewage, environmentalists and recreational users say the bayou and its surroundings still are an undiscovered environmental jewel just outside Baton Rouge. The endangered manatee, for instance, has been seen in the Manchac area, according to a state wildlife plan. Virgin cypress hundreds of years old still stand in surrounding swamps, more than 400 in the Bluff Swamp alone. Ascensions developing plans are only starting to get attention, however. Some environmentalists who study the region weren't ready to state a position without more information. Theryn Henkel, assistant director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation's Coastal Sustainability Program, said dredging can affect tiny organisms that live in the soil at the bottom of waterways and the vegetated banks that are important for water quality and overall ecological health. Henkel said her group, which is focused on the health of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, including the Amite, Manchac and Lake Maurepas, would have concerns if lots of native tree species were removed from the water side. On the other hand, the removal of nonnative species, like the tallow tree, could be helpful if native species also replaced them, and, Henkel added, there's always the possibility of using dredged material to create new marsh. "We would want to wait until we saw the science before we would make an official position," Henkel said. Others suggest simply dredging the eastern portions of Manchac would have little benefit without also opening up railroad and highway crossings. But doing that allows backwater flooding upstream from the Amite to more easily reach the far western sections of Manchac, potentially worsening initial flooding. That's one reason Roux, in addition to opening up highway crossings, has also suggested reconsidering a proposed control structure across Manchac near Ward Creek that would slow backwater flooding from the Amite. That project, proposed by the Pontchartrain Levee District, never got off the ground in 2008 and 2009 due to opposition from other parishes. Roux told Ascension council members this month that East Baton Rouge officials may be more open to some of these ideas in light of the August flood and the recent change in administration. East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and Metro Councilman Chandler Loupe, who represents areas along Manchac, both could not be reached by deadline Saturday. Paul Kemp and John Day, two LSU researchers who study the coast and wetlands and have focused some of their work on the Spanish Lake area, said average water levels in Bayou Manchac are going up about one-tenth of a foot every two to three years due to continued land development and sea level rise. Kemp said bigger floodgates for Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp would help those areas' ecology. "But I don't think that even if you do all that dredging, you're going to see a reversal (in the bayou). The trend for Bayou Manchac is to go up," he said. "Sea level's coming up," Day added, "and every inch it comes up, you got to overcome that, you know." "This is always the tendency," Kemp added, "to try and just increase the size of the outlet and at some point it doesn't really do much for you." Kemp said finding ways to detain more rainfall runoff across the region would make more of a difference to stem flooding. Stokka Brown, the Natural Resource Professionals engineer who built the computer model, originally created it for large landowners in the swamps of Spanish Lake. But he said Ascension officials are talking to him about using the model to see what kind of impacts clearing snags and dredging on Manchac would have. He said he has not been asked to look at enlarging highway and railroad crossings over the bayou. Glen Reynaud, 64, has lived with his wife on the Ridge Road in the Bluff Swamp for 16 years. When he moved in, longtime residents told him his house had never flooded. The area is on a high ground in the swamp. Though he avoid the worst flooding some experienced, his porches and some parts of his house got a few inches of water. The water didn't completely leave his lot for a month. Reynaud said he understands the competing interests in Manchac and the Spanish Lake area. He believes there has to be some kind of compromise that can help him and his neighbors on Ridge Road he favors clearing out snags and trash in Manchac and not hurt residents in other parishes. "I don't want to flood anybody, but I don't want to flood myself," Reynaud said. "I don't know. I guess if there were easily solutions, it would have been done already." Traffic congestion in Baton Rouge is a major issue that the chamber will take on by making a new Mississippi River bridge a top project priority in 2017. At $1 billion, it's the most costly solution to traffic congestion but also the one that provides the greatest relief, BRAC's CEO said. After more than a year of public hearings, forums and debates, key questions remain on just how the state plans to overhaul its public schools. The multipronged review, which was sparked by a 2015 federal law called the Every Student Succeeds Act, is nearing an end since officials hope to have new rules in place for the 2017-18 school year. However, there are big differences in what state Superintendent of Education John White backs compared to plans proposed by a panel named by Gov. John Bel Edwards. The governor's panel has recommended more sweeping changes, including a push to eliminate public school letter grades, major revisions in annual teacher evaluations and fewer science tests. Group recommends teacher-evaluation overhaul, other major changes in public schools A panel named by Gov. John Bel Edwards recommended major changes in public school policies T Donald Songy, the governor's education policy adviser, said he is in regular contact with White. Both officials stressed that the talks have been cordial. "On most of these issues, there is going to be a lot of agreement," Songy said. "There are going to be two or three that will be contentious," he said. "We will try to work through those and see what we can do." Gubernatorial panel weighing fewer student tests Public school students would take fewer tests under a plan being reviewed by a panel to stud One of those issues, Songy said, is how much the state should trim testing, an Edwards priority. The council wants to limit science exams to grades five and eight. They are now given annually in grades three through eight. The chairwoman of the state's ongoing review of science standards said last month that the move would devalue science. Report: Louisiana again ranks 49th in public school achievement Louisiana public school achievement ranked 49th in a report done by Education Week magazine White's draft plan includes a more general call for less testing and focused in part on older students. His proposal would limit end-of-year state testing to no more than one week per student and to never exceed 2 percent of instructional minutes in a school year. Also, state exams in math and English would be limited to one per year in grades 9, 10 and 11. Michael Faulk, a member of the council and superintendent of the Central School District, said he would put the need for fewer tests at the top of his list. "We hope that would be addressed, but I don't have the sense that it will," Faulk said. White's initial draft, which he said will be revised by the end of the month, proposed modest changes in public school operations, including a new formula to measure schools that is still under debate. The state review is supposed to result in a plan to improve student achievement and help students from low-income families and those with disabilities. But like many education issues in Louisiana, this one has turned into another battle between those who have backed sweeping changes in public schools since 2012 and those who want to roll those changes back. The call by the governor's panel to consider dropping public school letter grades is a hot-button topic. Consider dropping public school letter grades, group named by Gov. John Bel Edwards says The state should consider scrapping the annual issuance of letter grades for public schools, The council also wants teacher job reviews to focus on classroom observations by principals for 80 percent of the score and student test scores for 20 percent. Under a 2016 state law, classroom observations by principals account for 50 percent of the score, academic gains 35 percent and other signs of student achievement 15 percent. No such changes in grades or job reviews was part of White's draft plan, which he released Sept. 28. However, Songy said neither topic is expected to spark major arguments in the plan submitted to federal officials, because both would require changes in state law. Songy said that on Feb. 22, he and others will meet with education consultants to review White's plan and the recommendations of the governor's advisory council. "And try to more or less say what is in line with ESSA, what is not, what is good policy and what is bad policy," he said. Songy said the governor will have at least 30 days, and maybe 60, to review the final version. In another dispute, council members favor implementing the changes for the 2018-19 school year. "The goal is to make sure all stakeholders have sincere, meaningful input into the process for whatever our new system looks like," said Scott Richard, a member of the panel and executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association. Key meetings are pending on the final details. On Feb. 8 the Louisiana Accountability Commission is set to meet to resume debate on a big part of White's proposal. The commission advises the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Under current rules, public school letter grades are based most on test results. White proposed setting the weight of annual academic growth at 25 percent of the grade for all students, not just 7 percent for low-achieving students, which is current policy. Whether that should be higher or lower remains in dispute on the commission. Panel leaders hope to win approval for a compromise next month. Edwards' advisory group is set to hold its final hearing on Feb. 23. BESE may take up the final state plan at its March meeting. White said the final version will include policy input from BESE, the Legislature and the governor. "And the Department of Education is the vehicle for taking all of those policies and putting them into one plan," he said. WASHINGTON (AP) Two Republican senators said Monday that they'll propose legislation that lets states keep former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul or opt for a new program providing trimmed-down coverage. The plan by Sens. Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, and Susan Collins, of Maine, would retreat from years of GOP cries to repeal Obama's law and replace it with a still undefined Republican alternative. It comes as GOP lawmakers face pressure from President Donald Trump to quickly void and replace the health law and as Republicans continue hunting for a proposal that would unite them. [Click here to see video of the news conference.] "It has been a Republican principle that power is best held by individuals and states, not the federal government," Cassidy told reporters. Trump has said he wants to keep some of the Obama overhaul's consumer protections, like requiring insurers to cover people with pre-existing medical problems. Collins and Cassidy said their bill preserves many of those. Not seeing video below? Click here. But Trump and congressional GOP leaders have not suggested letting states retain the entire statute. Such a proposal could dismay conservative voters who for years have viewed Republican calls to repeal the law as a top-tier promise and goal. Cassidy said he's discussed the proposal with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who he said is "waiting to see how this plays out." Cassidy described the senators' proposal as a way to help Republicans overcome a key obstacle: To enact a full replacement for Obama's law, they will need 60 Senate votes in a chamber they control by just 52-48. "If you can say to a blue-state senator who's really invested in supporting Obamacare, you can keep Obamacare but why force it upon us, we think that helps us get to 60," Cassidy said, using the law's nickname. Collins said the bill is still being written but would protect families and give insurers time to transition to new programs. She said if Republicans don't advance legislation and start the health care debate, "Then we will fail the American people." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the GOP measure would reduce care and drive up medical costs for consumers. "Ultimately, this proposal is an empty facade that would create chaos not care for millions of Americans," he said. If states decide against keeping Obama's statute, the senators' proposal would let them adopt a program that charges consumers a high deductible and helps cover some basic medical services like emergency care and prescriptions. Gov. John Bel Edwards defends Medicaid expansion as GOP works on repeal Gov. John Bel Edwards laid out his defense for Louisiana's Medicaid expansion Thursday by ha Insurers would not be allowed to refuse coverage to people with pre-existing medical problems, and money states would get under existing law would instead go to patients in the form of a tax-advantaged health savings account they'd use to pay for care. States could also design their own programs but would receive no federal payments if they did. Congressional leaders of both parties met with Trump on Monday at the White House, with participants saying they discussed health care and other issues, including infrastructure. No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Cornyn, of Texas, said Trump told them he intended to enact an alternative that is "better and more affordable" than Obama's overhaul. Cornyn said that prompted pushback from Congress' two top Democrats, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, but he and others said the conversation was not specific. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., met with administration officials later in the Capitol, with Vice President Mike Pence saying, "Good progress tonight." Later this week, congressional Republicans will stage a retreat in Philadelphia at which health care will be a chief topic. Also late Monday, a memo prepared for Tuesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing on Trump's nomination of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to become health secretary said that in financial disclosure forms he's filed, Price undervalued around 400,000 shares of stock he purchased last August in an Australian drug company. The bipartisan staff memo, obtained by The Associated Press, said Price reported the shares were worth $50,000 to $100,000, based on the purchase price then. Those shares were worth up to $250,000 when he filed his forms to the Finance committee in December, the report said. The shares are in Innate Immunotherapeutics Ltd., which Democrats have accused Price of purchasing based on insider information. Price has denied that. The memo said Price had omitted from submitted forms any mention of a 2010 House Ethics Committee investigation into his campaign fundraising that was later dropped, as well as late tax payments and improper deductions involving rental properties. Gov. John Bel Edwards began raising money for his re-election campaign only eight days after taking the oath of office in January 2016 and ended the year having collected about $3 million, according to his fundraisers. Most of those who sponsored the events were business lobbyists and others with interests before the governor and the Legislature, which is the norm in a state where private dollars fund candidates campaigns. Edwards and his political allies are expecting a tough re-election campaign in 2019 from well-funded Republicans determined to prove that his election in 2015 was an anomaly in a conservative state dominated by Republicans. If there is opposition, you have to have the resources early on to wage a campaign, said Dale Atkins, who helped organize a Sept. 28 fundraiser at the New Orleans home of Terrell Clayton, a developer of affordable housing. Edwards, a Democrat, is following the example set by his Republican predecessor, Gov. Bobby Jindal, who raised $3.4 million during his first year and had such a bulging war chest (and high approval ratings) when he ran for re-election in 2011 that no big-name Democrats dared challenge him. If Im looking at running for governor and see a guy with $10 million in the bank a year beforehand, I would think twice about it, said Atkins, who is the clerk of civil court in New Orleans. Edwards success in 2016 speaks to the power of his office and stands in sharp contrast to the difficulty he faced raising money for more than two years during the governors race when he was a long-shot candidate. The first event for Edwards, on Jan. 19, 2016, was organized by two Baton Rouge lobbying outfits, Spradley & Spradley and Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balhoff & McCollister, and consisted of a dinner at Dooky Chases, the famed New Orleans restaurant. Cost of entry was $5,000 per donor, the maximum allowed. We decided to get together to have a fundraiser for the new governor and then talked to our clients, said Tom Spradley, a veteran lobbyist for a variety of business interests. Randy Haynie, another prominent lobbyist, hosted a $5,000 per couple fundraiser at his Lafayette home on Oct. 25. The invitation host list included lobbyist Tyron Picard; trial attorneys Glenn Armentor, Jim Roy and Craig and Pat Morrow; state Sen. Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte; and former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and her husband Raymond. A lot of these folks were citizens in Lafayette Parish who own their own businesses and care about the state, said Haynie, whose clients include the NFL, the tobacco giant Altria and the Harrahs New Orleans Casino. Very few in that audience deal with the state of Louisiana businesswise. Haynie said he has organized fundraisers for the past five governors and acknowledged that putting on these events helps his business. But Id do it if I was retired, he said, estimating that the event raised at least $150,000. As at other events, Edwards mingled with the crowd, posed for selfies and spoke to the group about his goals for the state, including his plans for ending Louisianas budget problems. A dinner at Arnauds restaurant in the French Quarter raised more than $1 million, said Dan Robin Sr., the main organizer. It is believed to have been the biggest single event for Edwards in 2016. Richard Carbo, the governors spokesman, declined to discuss Edwards' 2016 fundraising or to provide a list of the events. Edwards wont have to provide the specifics until he files a campaign report on Feb. 15 for his 2016 activities. Emelie Tenenbaum, who raised money for former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and worked for the nonprofit New Orleans Business Alliance, is the governors chief fundraiser. Robin said the Sept. 7 event at Arnauds collected $5,000 apiece from some 220 people, the maximum number that could fit in the restaurant space. Donors got a seven-course meal that ended with cafe brulot. I had to turn away a lot of people, Robin said, adding that hes planning to hold another event around the same time in 2017. Weve never had a more honest person around. Hes a great young man who cares about the state. Robin announced a year ago that he, his son Dan Robin Jr. and Ted Jones, a veteran Baton Rouge-based lobbyist who also organized the Arnauds event, had affiliated with a New Orleans law firm, Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert. The news caught the eye of political insiders because James Garner had been a top campaign attorney and adviser to U.S. Sen. David Vitter when Vitter lost the 2015 race to Edwards. In 2016, Edwards included Garner on a team of private attorneys preparing a lawsuit against oil and gas companies that alleges their drilling activities caused the coast to erode and that will seek heavy damages to restore the lost land. Gov. John Bel Edwards: State will sue oil and gas companies directly if parishes don't Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to step up the fight to win damages from oil and gas companies f Garner raised money from clients for the Arnauds event. Garner wasnt the only foe from the 2015 campaign who raised money for Edwards last year. Oil and gas interests, which favored Vitter, hosted two events for Edwards in January. Im raising money where I can, Edwards said in an interview then. You cant start too early or raise too much. Running for governor and running for re-election are expensive. Republican lawmakers pan coastal lawsuits targeting oil and gas companies Gov. John Bel Edwards decision to pursue lawsuits against oil and gas companies to restore He said political reality explains why the groups are hosting the events. They opposed me last year, and Im governor this year, he said. Edwards followed up the oil and gas fundraisers with a Feb. 4 event at the Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, just east of Ruston. Afterward, the governor was busy working with legislators to resolve the states budget crisis during two special sessions and the regular session, followed by the massive flooding in metro Baton Rouge and the high-profile shootings that convulsed the region. (The governor cannot raise money during the regular session or for the following 30 days, according to the states ethics agency.) On Sept. 20, he attended a fundraiser at the Shreveport Club hosted by three public officials Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler, Bossier City Mayor Lorenz Walker and Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart Sr. and Wayne Brown, owner of Brown Builders in Bossier City. Stewart said Edwards got a good reception from the crowd. It wasnt the normal politicos entirely, Stewart said. It was a lot of average people excited about the governor. On Oct. 19, Baton Rouge attorney Kris Kirkpatrick hosted Edwards at his home, with hosts contributing $5,000 and attendees $1,250. Hosts included lobbyists C.J. Blache, Gabrielle Kees, Darrell Hunt and Paul Rainwater, who served as chief of staff to Jindal. Another host was Richard Lipsey, a Republican gun store owner who provided an important endorsement of Edwards in the 2015 race. He is chairman of the Board of Regents, which oversees the states higher education policies. Another host was developer Mike Wampold, who got the Legislature to change state tax law that benefited the construction of his Watermark Baton Rouge hotel downtown. On Nov. 28, Edwards attended an event at the Uptown New Orleans home of Mickey and Hilary Landry, both attorneys. Mickey Landry said Edwards was very direct as he described the states budget situation and added, Hes a middle-of-the-road guy who tries to bring people together. Alton Ashy, who represents video poker truck stop and video poker machine owners, organized fundraisers for Edwards with his clients in November at Ruths Chris Steak House in Baton Rouge and at Hammonds Trey Yuen restaurant in December. Hes been very fair with my clients, Ashy said. He feels like they are small businesses that want a fair shake. Editor's Note: The original version of this article incorrectly said Richard Lipsey, who provided an important endorsement of Gov. John Bel Edwards during the 2015 governors race, was named by Edwards as chairman of the Board of Regents. Actually, the members of the Regents board chose Lipsey, who was vice chairman, to be chairman. The article also incorrectly reported that Edwards, after getting contributions in 2016 from oil and gas companies, tried to curtail tax breaks that benefit the companies. In fact, Edwards did not target tax breaks that specifically benefit oil and gas companies. Instead, Edwards and the Legislature in 2016 trimmed several tax breaks that benefit an array of industries, including oil and gas companies. The Advocate regrets the errors. I just read Jeff Sadow's deeply misinformed piece about the data used to formulate Louisiana's 2017 Coastal Master Plan. I am horrified that T With Louisiana already criss-crossed by pipelines, is there a need for another? The market appears to see it, with a Bayou Bridge line to be built across 11 parishes from Lake Charles to St. James Parish. It has become a focal point of criticism from environmental groups, but we encourage regulators to support the pipeline unless there is found some compelling reason not to. A public hearing in Baton Rouge for a required U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit drew more than 400 people, both for and against the project. Many of the opponents said they fear fouling the states wetlands. How is that the case? Modern pipelines built of high-quality metals and continuously electronically monitored are arguably safer than the older transmission lines, and costs would be reduced for refineries in Louisianas petrochemical corridor. The Bayou Bridge project is being jointly pursued by subsidiaries of Phillips 66, Sunoco Logistics and Energy Transfer Partners, all three of which have a stake in the Dakota Access pipeline, where controversies raged when tribal groups opposed its path. We see another pipeline not as a new burden but a safer alternative to moving crude oil with trucks, trains or barges. Its a $750 million project that has already boosted the Baton Rouge economy with purchase of pipe. As is typical with these projects, there would be few permanent jobs maybe a dozen, because monitoring of the pipelines operation and safety can now be done electronically. But more than 2,000 construction jobs would be generated by this project. Because Bayou Bridges path involves a small part of the states Coastal Zone in Assumption and St. James parishes a second hearing is Feb. 8 in Napoleonville for a permit from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. Again, we do not see any compelling reason for this project to be blocked. Unless one is reflexively opposed to fossil fuel consumption, the rational discussion of this pipeline is based on safety of operation and responsible construction during its path. State agencies and the Corps have a lot of experience with pipelines in Louisiana; as is usual in these cases, the project cost includes environmental mitigation for any loss to wetlands. The Atchafalaya Basin is one of Louisianas crown jewels. Much damage was done to it over decades, not only for energy production but the clearing of wetlands for farmland. Today, there are not only vastly better construction techniques but the process is overseen with a lively appreciation by regulators, businesses and the public of the value and importance of the basin. Louisiana can use the new jobs, both from construction of the new pipeline and its support of the economy of our states vast petrochemical corridors along the Mississippi and Calcasieu rivers. John Bel Edwards' first year in office has been a pretty rough ride, as these things go. And not just because he faced a massive budget shortfall, epic flooding, the Alton Sterling police shooting and subsequent protests in Baton Rouge, and the fatal ambush there that killed three police officers and injured three more. Edwards also has had to contend with a new political reality, one in which he hasn't gotten the deference from fellow politicians that his predecessors have enjoyed, at least early on. Chalk it up to his position as a Democrat in a state that generally votes Republican, facing a Legislature dominated by members of the opposite party and working alongside at least a few officials who see his 2015 victory as an aberration. Despite all this, it's clearly still good to be a Louisiana governor. Edwards has said he has every intention of running for reelection in 2019, and according to a new story by the Advocate's Tyler Bridges, has already socked away a tidy sum for what will surely be a tough challenge. Official fundraising reports aren't in yet, but Edwards' advisors say he raised some $3 million in 2016. That's not much less than Bobby Jindal's first year take, which set the stage for a reelection campaign so dominant that he drew only token opposition. Much of the money has come via fundraisers organized by lobbyists and those with business interests before the state, which is typical. Also typical: The donor list includes some players who opposed Edwards' candidacy in 2015 but are willing to put all that aside, at least for now. They include the oil and gas interests, despite Edwards' backing for lawsuits to recover money from the industry to compensate for coastal damages, and even a named partner in runoff opponent David Vitter's campaign law firm. You could call these antagonists-turned-supporters hypocrites, but really, they're just being clear-eyed about how these things work. So, for that matter, is the governor. They opposed me last year," Edwards said a year ago, when news of the fundraisers first broke. "And Im governor this year." It's a question most people wonder but are too polite to ask: How much are your neighbors paying in property taxes, and how much money are their homes worth? The city-parish released a data set Monday through its Open Data BR website, data.brla.gov, that allows people to scroll through tax roll assessments for every piece of property in East Baton Rouge Parish, answering those questions without awkward conversations. Not only does the data set show fair market and assessed values, it also reveals new insight into how much property damage the August floods caused. The 2016 property tax data includes reassessed values that the Assessor's Office recalculated after August floods ruined homes and took hundreds of thousands of dollars off the bottom lines of property values. Values remained mostly the same between 2015 and 2016 for properties that did not flood, but those that did flood saw significant losses between the two years. For example, the Target store on Millerville Road took 29 inches of water in the flood, destroying all of its merchandise. In 2015, Target on Millerville was assessed at a $10.5 million fair market value with a $1.4 million taxable value, according to the data. In 2016, the store's assessment dropped to $7.3 million in fair market value and $891,050 in taxable value. Millerville Target set to re-open Thursday, without food sections fully stocked The Millerville Target store, which was temporarily closed by the devastating mid-August flo Despite the devastating floods, Assessor Brian Wilson said East Baton Rouge Parish's total taxable value was slightly higher for 2016 than it was in 2015. Growth from new construction, new properties going onto tax rolls and property values increasing because 2016 was a reassessment year helped make up for the flood losses, Wilson said. "All of that compensated for parishwide agencies that would have taken a loss because of the flooding," he said. Agencies that are not parishwide did not fare as well, Wilson said. He pointed to the Central Fire Department and the Central Community School system as two agencies that that saw drop-offs between 2015 and 2016. The properties with the highest market values in the parish mostly belong to companies. ExxonMobil's refinery had the highest market value in the parish in both 2016 and 2015, followed by Georgia Pacific's Port Hudson plant. Open Data BR began under East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Kip Holden's administration and includes data sets showing how much government employees are paid, crime incidents and 3-1-1 requests for service. Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome has said she will continue to support making more data available. The release of this tax roll data through our Open Data BR platform is a prime example of how local government agencies can and should collaborate to provide valuable information and resources to the residents we serve, Broome said in a statement. Given this data set includes post-flood property assessment values, its also a stark reminder of the devastating economic impact created by last years flooding and the uphill battle many residents face as they recover and rebuild. Crime in New Orleans continues to be a frightening reality, and city and state criminal justice officials all say they're focused on fighting it. The City of New Orleans unveiled a new vehicle inspection certificates, commonly called brake tags, on Jan. 18, 2016. And ever since that January, the city's parking enforcement officers have been checking to see if parked cars have current tags. Angry radio show callers pepper Mike Yenni with questions about texting scandal Angry callers press Mike Yenni for details in his first live interview since texting scandal Angry radio show callers pepper Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni with questions about texting scandal Roughly halfway through a 180-day window to force a recall election against Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni, organizers say they have collected about half the signatures they will need to be successful. The pace suggests getting the recall on the ballot will be difficult, given that the campaign has likely already reached the lowest-hanging fruit people most appalled by Yenni's admission that he exchanged inappropriate texts with a teenager. But organizers remain optimistic, saying that with the holiday lull behind them and a door-to-door campaign underway, they expect to recapture the momentum they need. The tempo is back up to where it was during the election period before Nov. 8, said Mikey Bowler, who runs the day-to-day operations for the Recall Yenni drive. Bowler said the effort has between 40,000 and 50,000 of the roughly 90,000 signatures one third of Jefferson's 270,000 registered voters it will need to force a recall election, a range he admits doesnt exactly pin things down. But he said that uncertainty will change in the coming weeks. The campaign has built a database of all registered voters, and volunteers are loading the signatures into it, providing for a more accurate count. For a while we were counting everything by hand, and by the time you counted them, another pile got dumped on top, he said. It just got to the point where the hand counts were unreliable. Campaign workers began knocking on doors about two weeks ago, Bowler said, initially hitting hundreds of homes in the western portion of East Jefferson, particularly around West Esplanade Avenue and Power Boulevard. Workers also have put out signs along those corridors to pave the way for an effective door-to-door effort. We really want that logo out there, he said. Its been a few months since everyones been used to seeing the image. He said the campaign also plans to soon begin mailing signature forms to registered voters, who can sign along with a witness and mail back the form to be turned in to the state. Bowler said some end-of-the-year down time was unavoidable. Organizers didnt want to press volunteers into service over the holiday season, and he noted a drop-off in media coverage following the heady days that followed the first explosive news of the allegations against Yenni and the start of the recall drive. With the deadline for gathering the signatures just three months away, Bowler acknowledged the campaign could face some skepticism, but he said volunteers experience so far knocking on doors suggests many voters support the effort. I dont see the interest subsiding, he said. I think its just taking time to get to it. Bowler noted an Advocate/WWL-TV poll commissioned in October that found 20 percent of voters would probably but not definitely sign a recall petition. (The poll found nearly half would "definitely" sign.) He said those results are backed up by the door-knocking campaign, which has found about one-fifth of voters are willing to sign the petition but dont seem fervent about it. It seems like were seeing 20 percent of the people kind of have a Sure, why not? attitude about it, he said. This slice of lukewarm supporters, he speculated, might not bother to come out to the dozen or so pop-up locations Recall Yenni has throughout the parish but will sign if a volunteer comes to their door. Other people, he said, will grab the clipboard out of your hands. Bowler said the campaign is shooting for 102,000 signatures by the April deadline to account for any signatures that cant be verified as those of registered voters, but that goal could be adjusted downward if the data-entry process shows nearly all of the signatures gathered are valid. Bowler said the recall campaign has about 35 volunteers, 15 of whom are capable of specialized work, such as data entry, while the rest work the pop-up locations, put up signs and knock on doors. Yenni's political troubles began in late September, when WWL-TV reported that he had sent sexually explicit texts to a 17-year-old youth while Yenni was mayor of Kenner and campaigning for job he now holds. The station said the young man claimed Yenni, who is married, went to the mall where the youth worked, bought him designer underwear and kissed him in a mens room. He also sought to set up a tryst, according to the station, which reviewed the texts. The FBI said it was looking into the texts, but Yenni said he has never been contacted by the bureau. Yenni has denied kissing the boy, though he has admitted to sending him improper texts. The youth, now 19, has since identified himself as Alex Daigle, who was graduating from Jesuit High School at the time he was corresponding with Yenni. He is now in college. The sexting scandal set off a firestorm of criticism, with nearly all of the parish's elected officials calling on Yenni to resign. But within days, it became evident he planned to dig in and try to ride out the storm, leading to the recall effort. +3 Metairie lawyer launches petition to oust embattled Mike Yenni from office Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni has released a statement on the recall petition filed against him Wednesday morning. In it, he promised to respect the result, but reiterated his contention that the sexting allegations against him are a personal matter and restating that he is still capable of doing his job. Political consultants said from the beginning that the campaign has its work cut out for it. Recalls are, by design, difficult to achieve, and they require organization, money and perseverance, not to mention intense and pervasive popular support. Yenni, meanwhile, continues to work as he vowed he would, going to his office and attending council meetings while being more selective about more ceremonial appearances. He stayed out of the public relations offensive for millage and sales tax renewals late last year, handing those duties to his top aide, Keith Conley. The renewals passed. The furor has died down somewhat at Parish Council meetings, though Yenni still catches flak from some constituents who remind him of the scandal during public comment periods. At a meeting this month, Waggaman civic activist George Peterson stopped short of accusing Yenni of illegal behavior, claiming he feels compassion for Yenni because "several clinical psychologists" had told Peterson that "most every predator has been a victim" at some point. At an earlier meeting, he made a show of offering the parish president brochures about a mental health clinic. Yenni looked back at him expressionless. Yenni got better treatment in the familiar environs of the Kenner country club managed by his wife, Michelle, on Jan. 19, when his successor, Ben Zahn, was sworn in as mayor of Kenner. The round of applause Yenni received when he was introduced was the loudest given to any official in attendance, except for Zahn. Just days earlier, on Martin Luther King Day, the Yennis publicly announced the birth of their second daughter, Madison Lucille, sister of 3-year-old Reagan. The news received nearly 140 likes on Facebook, as well as more than 50 comments in support. "Congratulations," read a typical comment. "So happy for your precious family." That same day, Yenni made a brief appearance at a Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force dinner at the Four Columns in Harvey. He spoke for a few minutes before an audience of several hundred, hitting on what he said was a key theme of the slain civil rights leader's legacy. "One thing Dr. King stood for was forgiveness," he said, according to a recording of the speech obtained by The New Orleans Advocate. "No matter how bad he was treated, he forgave. He once said, 'We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is (devoid of) the power to forgive is devoid of the power of love.' " Yenni quoted King as saying that forgiveness is not an occasional act, but a constant attitude. "'There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies,' " he continued. "We honor Dr. King for his stance on fighting for equality and making sure everyone has a fair chance. These are the basic rights every American should be entitled to and frankly is entitled to." Yenni added that he takes pride in knowing King's dream is alive and well in Jefferson Parish. He said King "knew the world wasn't perfect, but he knew he could make a difference when he stood against the evil that we are reminded of daily. ... And he just stayed the course." Advocate reporter Ramon Antonio Vargas contributed to this report. Editor's note: This story was changed on Monday, Jan. 23 to clarify that the recall campaign plans to mail out petitions for signature, not simply promotional materials. The Earth says hello. Today looks to be a top of 35 degrees with the chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon. Tomorrow will be 29 degrees and Thursday is headed for 30. Gordon man Matt Pridham has lost much of his sense of taste and smell - but not his desire to work. The 28-year-old was left with a severe brain injury after his head hit a Civic footpath in 2013. The years since have been challenging - Matt remains on three different medications and attends physio seven days a week. The trained carpenter and former removalist has had no luck finding a job despite registering with a recruitment company and handing out resumes at a local shopping centre. Read Alexandra Back's story here. How we gonna pay rent? Renting has become more expensive. Credit:Jim Rice Yet more good news for renters: the cost of renting a house or unit in Canberra has risen at a faster rate than in any other capital city. The Domain Rental and House Price Report found the median weekly rent for a house was $500 as of December 2016 - a 7.5 per cent increase on the same period 12 months earlier. It's actually cheaper to rent in Melbourne than it is in Canberra. Read Emma Kelly's report for the full story. Could the ACT election be declared invalid? Second-year Richmond defender Oleg Markov concedes he was "gifted" games in 2016 and says he is no lock to make the Tigers' side for round one. With Richmond effectively out of finals contention by July, Markov became a regular in the second-half of last season, playing eight consecutive games from his debut in round 16, and was praised for his poise. Not counting his chickens: Tiger Oleg Markov Credit:Getty Images But 2017 presents a new set of challenges for the South Australian, who believes that he while he has been improving over the pre-season, he is not assuming he will be in Richmond's best 22. "I feel I was quite gifted with a few games last year due to injury," Markov said in Maroochydore, where the Tigers are this week conducting a pre-season camp. Bermuda the world's former "top tax haven" has joined the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's fight against multinational profit shifting. Bermuda disputes it is a tax haven despite companies such as Apple and Google in the past being accused of using the British overseas territory to minimise the taxes through a tactic dubbed as the "Double Irish with a Dutch Sandwich". The strategy, which has been legally used by companies for decades but is now shunned by tax authorities, involves using payments between related entities in a corporate structure for example between higher tax nations (such as the United States) and its subsidiaries in lower tax nations (such as Ireland, the Netherlands and Bermuda) to shift income and thereby reduce tax. The OECD says Bermuda is among a handful of new nations that have finally joined the crackdown on multinationals known as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, or BEPS. Other nations to come on board in January include Kazakhstan and West Africa's Cote d'Ivoire. Canberra independent supermarket chain Supabarn has sold its wholesale operations to a company seeking to become the country's biggest food and grocery wholesaler. The family-owned Supabarn had nine supermarkets across the ACT and NSW and two development sites until last year. Theo Koundouris, general manager of Supabarn Supermarkets Credit:Graham Tidy Supabarn sought to sell most of its stores to the country's No.2 chain, Coles, but last year the competition regulator rejected that deal in favour of allowing Coles to buy five Supabarn supermarkets: three in Canberra and two in NSW. This left Supabarn with three supermarkets in NSW and one in the ACT plus two development sites. It said at the time it would "reposition and refresh" its stores. Australia is home to just 16 per cent of the world's top 250 retailers, but local retailers are bracing for international giants such as online giant Amazon.com and German hypermarket Kaufland to shake up things this year. The Global Powers of Retailing 2017 report, by professional services firm Deloitte, shows that Wesfarmers and Woolworths are the only two Australian companies to make the list of the world's top 250 retailers by revenue. Retailers need $US3.5 billion in revenue to join. For the first time, WA giant Wesfarmers (No.21) overtook Sydney's Woolworths (No.24) in the rankings thanks to the starkly different performances of their home improvements businesses, Bunnings and Masters. While the number of the top 250 global retailers operating in Australia has not changed year on year steady at 39 there have been some changes as four companies joined and four companies were pushed off the list to make way for bigger companies. Music is a glorious, personal, subjective thing and there's literally no accounting for people and their terrible, terrible taste. The world was reminded of this fact on Friday when new US President Donald Trump enjoyed an awkward dance with his First Lady Melania to the strains of My Way: a song sung from the perspective of a dying man making futile protests as he nears the grave. You'd think someone in his team might have thought to point out that "And now, the end is near" wasn't perhaps the greatest opening line with which to serenade his nation or perhaps they agreed that it was impressively on-message. Trump's got a rich history of misunderstanding songs to hilarious effect (he briefly used Neil Young's savage Rockin' in the Free World as a campaign song without apparently noticing that it's about the people left behind by the ravages of capitalism), but he's not the first politician to half-arsedly listen to the chorus and go "yeah, that's probably fine" when choosing a tune. A firm credited with helping Donald Trump win the US presidency by using unprecedented volumes of personal data to "determine the personality of every single adult" is contemplating an expansion into the Australian political arena. The subject of fascination, scepticism and concern in the 2016 US election, Cambridge Analytica was paid millions of dollars to create comprehensive "psychographic" profiles of Americans based on their basic details, consumer habits, social media activity and psychological traits. Using the OCEAN personality scale - an acronym for openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism - alongside thousands of different pieces of data on every individual, the firm claimed to be able to predict how citizens would vote. It passed the information on so the Trump campaign could target key demographics with finely tuned material playing to their hopes and dreams or fears and anxieties. "There are no longer any experts except Cambridge Analytica," respected Republican pollster Frank Luntz said of the firm's role in Mr Trump's shock victory. "They were Trump's digital team who figured out how to win." Australian parents have access to a "unique window of opportunity" to influence their children's behaviours that can not only bring short-term health benefits, but also affect health for the rest of their lives. The boosts aren't just to be had on a personal level either, with new research suggesting a change in approach could have a significant positive impact on the costs passed on to the taxpayer through the public health system. One in five Australian children are overweight or obese by the time they start school. One in five Australian children are overweight or obese by the time they start school, with about 5 per cent of children aged between two and four years classified as obese. New research published on Monday in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health estimates the direct public health burden attributed to early childhood obesity to be worth as much as $17 million annually. Vicki Brown, a researcher at the Centre for Research Excellence in Obesity Policy at Deakin University, suggests that if parents knew how much of an impact can be made during this time, so much benefit could be gained. "One in five Australian children are obese before they start school that number just speaks for itself, that we're not doing enough," she said. "The research suggests there is an immediate benefit in trying to reduce this rate of obesity in young children, but we also know there are many long-term health benefits of reducing risk of conditions like diabetes, heart conditions, stroke and all those other conditions that we know can happen later in life it's really twofold, the benefit there." Ms Brown highlights the "unique window of opportunity" afforded to parents during early childhood, and how much of an impact is on offer. "I think its a really important time it's one when children are first experiencing their tastes of food, first experiencing their attitude toward physical activity they're learning so much during this time that I think it does present this unique opportunity," she said. A woman is in a critical condition after she was hit by a truck as she got out of her car in Sydney's south on Monday afternoon. Emergency services were called to Stoney Creek Road, Bexley shortly after midday following reports a woman in her 50s was injured. The scene where a woman was hit by a truck in Bexley. Credit:Nine News The initial police investigation suggests that she was struck as she exited her Toyota Rav 4. Nine News reported she was parked in front of her own home when the collision occurred. The woman was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before she was taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition. A Gold Coast man is dead after he was shot in the chest during the filming of a music video for Australian band Bliss n Eso in the Brisbane CBD. Police were called to Eagle Lane about 2pm after reports shots were fired inside Brooklyn Standard, a basement bar. Stuntman Johann Ofner, 28, was on set for the filming of Bliss n Eso's music video when he was fatally injured. The film crew performed CPR on the man before emergency services arrived, Detective Inspector Tom Armitt told media outside the venue. A Gold Coast school cleaner has been awarded more than $150,000 in compensation after his workmates played a cruel prank on him by pretending an orgy had taken place in a staff room. On September 2014, Shane Green's colleagues set up the Helensvale State School staff room to look like a sexual orgy had taken place. A mattress, a pillow and bedclothes were allegedly taken from the school's sick room and placed in the kitchenette at the school, according to documents supplied to the Queensland Civil Administrative Tribunal. The colleagues then allegedly squirted cream into condoms and placed them around the room along with a bra, ladies boxer shorts and empty bottles of beer and wine. A number of party poppers were also allegedly discharged and chips were scattered across the floor. A truck driver charged over a road crash that killed an off-duty policewoman has been granted bail despite police concerns he is suicidal and might try to flee overseas. Samandeep Singh, 26, is charged with culpable driving causing death over a January 12 crash in Wantirna that claimed the life of police constable D-Anne Deleo, who was on a motorcycle on her way to work when hit at traffic lights about 9am. Credit:Penny Stephens Investigators believe Mr Singh's truck - laden with 12 tonnes of boxes of soap - had faulty brakes and that he could not stop as he drove downhill along Boronia Road, approaching the EastLink intersection, and hit First Constable Deleo's stationary motorcycle at about 30km/h. Detective Sergeant Andrew Lawrence told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday that Mr Singh had overseen his truck being loaded that morning, and had about two thirds of his load over the vehicle's front axle. The brakes for the two rear axles were not operating effectively, tests found. The floral tribute at Bourke Street Mall. Credit:Eddie Jim Justice Coghlan is a wise choice. A street smart victims' first advocate, he did a great job in pre-trial murder hearings, trying to cut out the irrelevant arguments and get the wheels to move slightly quicker. But tweaking the system is no longer enough. It is time to accept the whole process from arrest to trial is leaking badly. Look at the welcome changes to parole the unintended consequences are that increasingly dangerous violent offenders are not applying and are then released at the completion of their sentence without supervision. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said police have made 20,000 more arrests in the last year pushing more offenders into a system that is already overloaded. Many of those charged with serious offences are bailed, because if they are remanded in custody they may stay in jail for well over a year before their cases comes to trial. Imagine being charged, spending 18 months in jail to be acquitted, having lost your job, reputation, self esteem and possibly your family and friends. Is that justice? The simple truth is that we have a system that is no longer fit for purpose. Cases are unnecessarily complex and ridiculously lengthy. Accuseds are left bewildered and victims further traumatised. One block from where police arrested the Bourke Street accused is the court precinct. Stand there on any given day and you will see legal staff using industrial size trolleys to move massive volumes of briefs into court. Winston Churchill wrote the History of the English Speaking People in four volumes. A relatively simple criminal prosecution can take 10 volumes and some cases from arrest to appeal take longer than World War II. In January 1966, the last man hanged in Australia, Ronald Ryan was arrested and charged with murder. His trial was in March that year and went 12 days. Today a judge's summary to the jury can last longer. And yet the conviction rate has not changed markedly. We have committal hearings in a magistrates court before we move to a trial in a superior court supposedly to test the evidence. Why? A magistrate makes a decision on the balance of probabilities while the director of public prosecutions' (who has the status of a Supreme Court judge) standard to charge is a higher bar that it is more likely than not it will result in a successful prosecution. Police say that in homicide cases they no longer have to prove who did it but who didn't because defence lawyers may point the finger at someone else rather than their client. We have people who have pleaded not guilty allowed to make lengthy plea submissions about their troubled backgrounds to mitigate their sentences once they have been convicted. So someone who tells a court they didn't do it is allowed to tell the same court why they did. Surely trials should be about the guts of the case. 'Yes, it was murder, but it wasn't my guy because he was at home in bed.' Do we need to go through every forensic detail and traumatise every bit-part witness on matters that are not part of the core issue? Massive delays serve no-one's cause. Victims remain stressed, those charged have their lives on hold and witnesses' memories fade. Perhaps defence lawyers who drag cases out or call for unreasonable adjournments should have their fees docked. And if prosecutions are not prepared in reasonable time the cases should be dismissed. There will be lawyers reading this who will tut-tut and say outsiders don't understand the subtleties of the justice system. The irony is that lawyers who spend their professional careers examining the behaviour of others bristle at any form of external scrutiny. And that is the problem. The legal system is far more of a closed shop than the most militant trade union. We are all prisoners of our past and most of us are change averse (this reporter has been accused of embracing change as much as a dinosaur welcomed the ice age) but the time has come to admit there must be a better way. The civil court system is now so expensive it is out of the reach of the people it should serve. Organised crime has moved into debt collecting because it is cheaper to hire a hood in leather than a legal silk to chase down your money. Where every other business has changed the justice system drags on. Superior court hours remain the same as they were when shops closed at midday Saturday and pubs shut at 10 pm. When the courts are closed operating theatres remain open and while highly paid surgeons will respond to emergencies try getting a QC on the phone after hours. What we don't need is a judicial inquiry into the system where lawyers wedded to the system are paid huge fees to examine their own process. Equally we shouldn't have someone without practical understanding parachute in with a raft of well-meaning changes. "I'm sorry I was so useless and I froze and didn't help," reads a card attached to a bunch of white roses. Carefully written notes stand out among the red, pink, purple, orange and yellow flowers. The soft toys, candles and photos of the dead. "You never knew me and I never knew you. However, I was present at your death," reads one perched on the head of a yellow knitted teddy bear. "Words alone cannot convey the enormous impact your death had on everyone. Including myself." Police are investigating a suspicious fire that sent toxic smoke billowing across Melbourne's north on Monday night. More than 60 firefighters were called to battle the fire at a single-storey factory on Northcorp Boulevard and Camp Road, Campbellfield, which ignited shortly after 8pm. The scene of the Campbellfield fire on Camp Road. Credit:Miki Perkins A police helicopter spotted the blaze while on routine patrol. "The factory appeared completely engulfed in flames and surrounding grass alight," a police spokeswoman said in a statement. The fire, which a Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokeswoman said involved fuel drums, was deemed under control around 10.30pm, but fire crews remained at the site overnight, the spokeswoman said. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski offered this after the election, comparing Trump with a guy at the bar and saying, "You're going to say things, and sometimes you don't have all the facts to back it up." This, of course, isn't the first time the Trump team and its supporters have responded to journalists calling out their falsehoods by claiming the truth isn't so black and white or that it's not a big deal. "Wait a minute. Alternative facts? Alternative facts? Four of the five facts he uttered ... were just not true. Alternative facts are not facts; they're falsehoods." That week, pro-Trump CNN pundit Scottie Nell Hughes offered this on Diane Rehm's radio show: "One thing that's been interesting this campaign season to watch is that people that say facts are facts - they're not really facts. Everybody has a way - it's kind of like looking at ratings or looking at a glass of half-full water. Everybody has a way of interpreting them to be the truth or not true. There's no such thing, unfortunately any more, of facts." Hughes is not an official spokesman for the Trump team, but that last comment is basically what Conway was arguing on Sunday - that there are so many shades of grey that clear facts just don't really exist. This, of course, is a hugely cynical world view. But it's about the only way the Trump team can fight back, given how questionable the new President's purported facts have been throughout his time as a politician. Whether you like Trump or not, it's demonstrably true that he says things that are easily proved false, over and over again. The question the media has regularly confronted is not whether Trump's facts are correct but whether to say he's deliberately lying or not. Trump himself has been using his own brand of the truth, which is often false, for months. And there was really no way that his administration wasn't going to have to deal with that same tendency during his presidency. Washington: Senator Marco Rubio says he will support President Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state despite reservations about Rex Tillerson, virtually assuring his confirmation and provoking accusations that Mr Rubio had "rolled over" from the Democrats. In a statement posted on Facebook, the Florida senator and former GOP presidential rival to Mr Trump said he was troubled by Mr Tillerson's refusal to acknowledge that Russian President Vladimir Putin has committed war crimes in Syria. Senator Marco Rubio had voiced serious concerns about Tillerson's relationship with Russia. Credit:AP "Despite his extensive experience in Russia and his personal relationship with many of its leaders, he claimed he did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists and political opponents," Mr Rubio said. "He indicated he would support sanctions on Putin for meddling in our elections only if they met the impossible condition that they not affect US businesses operating in Russia." Test Drive a BMW or MINI At BMW and MINI Driving Experience relaunches in the USA Woodcliff Lake, NJ. January 23, 2017; BMW of North America is proud to offer customers and enthusiasts the opportunity to experience newly enhanced driver training courses for both the BMW and MINI Driving Experiences. The BMW Performance Center West in southern California and the BMW Performance Center East in Spartanburg, South Carolina now bear the seal of quality BMW Driving Experience, Official Partner of BMW M. The basis for this is the successful certification by a team of inspectors from the BMW and MINI Driving Experiences in Germany. The first international location to be awarded this status was the BMW and MINI Driving Experience in the Netherlands in 2015. BMW Performance Centers in the USA receive international BMW M GmbH certification enhancing driver safety offerings of both BMW and MINI Driving Experiences. Woodcliff Lake, NJ. BMW of North America is proud to offer customers and enthusiasts the opportunity to experience newly enhanced driver training courses for both the BMW and MINI Driving Experiences. The BMW Performance Center West in southern California and the BMW Performance Center East in Spartanburg, South Carolina now bear the seal of quality BMW Driving Experience, Official Partner of BMW M. The basis for this is the successful certification by a team of inspectors from the BMW and MINI Driving Experiences in Germany. The first international location to be awarded this status was the BMW and MINI Driving Experience in the Netherlands in 2015. We are pleased to present the second partner in the internationalisation of our successful driver safety program at the BMW and MINI Driving Experience, said Frank van Meel, President of BMW M GmbH. As with the pilot project in the Netherlands, the BMW Performance Centers in the USA fully comply with all the prerequisites for the certification. Because of this, our customers in North America can now look forward to training courses that meet the high standards of the BMW and MINI Driving Experience in Germany. The BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg has been helping drivers improve their skills, become safer drivers and experience the Ultimate Driving Machine in a very dynamic way since 1999. Now with the completion of our new BMW Performance Center West, we are better able to serve our many west coast customers. stated Ludwig Willisch President and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC. With this certification by BMW M, we can ensure consistency of our BMW and MINI Driving Experiences at both US locations and worldwide. continued Willisch. The BMW Performance Center West is the latest location for the BMW and MINI Driving Experience in North America. It is located a few miles outside La Quinta, about two hours drive southeast of Los Angeles and was the second of its type in the USA when it was opened in 2014. It covers an area of 32 acres and features a 1.4 mile circuit with a 6 acre paddock, a skid pad, and an 8,500 square foot performance facility. The BMW Performance Center West is located on the site of partner and premium automobile club The Thermal Club. 5.5 miles of racetrack and areas for maintenance and repairs are available here. The main building has a 70 foot control tower, while an outbuilding houses the fleet of track cars and safety cars. The range of courses on offer at the BMW Performance Center West is extensive. Car Control Clinics and Teen Driving Schools are aimed at young drivers and beginners. Offerings such as the M School and Advanced M School cater for more advanced drivers and the field of racing. Tailored programs, such as those for business customers, are also available. In 1999, BMW opened the BMW Performance Center East not far from the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This was the companys first permanent performance driving center in the USA. Since its opening, more than 161,000 BMW customers have taken part in courses. More than 9,700 customers have attended courses at the BMW Performance Center West in the first two years since it was opened. The international certification concept developed by the BMW and MINI Driving Experience in Germany is aimed at ensuring all locations meet or exceed uniform, premium global standards regarding the customer experience. Customers benefit from the specific know-how and experience of the BMW instructors in regions all over the world. After the Netherlands and the USA, further certifications are being prepared in South Korea, South Africa and Scandinavia. About the BMW and MINI Driving Experience The BMW and MINI Driving Experience is part of BMW M GmbH. As one of the first providers of driver training courses, it has been thrilling its customers with driving experiences in BMW Group vehicles since 1977. The BMW and MINI Driving Experience currently offers about 50 different training courses for BMW and MINI models, as well as BMW motorcycles, in over 30 countries around the world all under the watchful eye of professional instructors. In Germany alone, over 25,000 people took part in training courses in 2016. The global figure for the same year was over 100,000. Under the slogan Pure Passion Pure Adrenaline Pure Performance Pure Joy, the BMW and MINI Driving Experience plays an important role in improving driving safety on public roads, while at the same time conveying the joy of driving for which BMW is renowned. The BMW and MINI Driving Experience fulfils its social responsibility with its driver safety courses on asphalt and snow, which give the customers all the basics they need to drive safely and competently. The same can be said of the internal BMW driver training for approximately 20 different internal driving licences. On the other side of the coin are spectacular racetrack and drifting courses, which allow customers to enjoy emotional and action-packed experiences in powerful BMW M vehicles. As well as the regular range of training courses, the BMW and MINI Driving Experience also places great importance on meeting the customers specific desires. A team specialising in corporate events and incentives works closely with the customer to put together packages tailored to the customers requirements. Information on the BMW and MINI Driving Experience can be found at: https://bmwperformancecenter.com The BMW Group With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the worlds leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries. In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2015 was approximately 9.22 billion on revenues amounting to 92.18 billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 employees. The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2017 (2111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A recent audit of the La Broquerie arena by a Winnipeg accounting firm has uncovered numerous concerns about the organizations accounting practices in the 2015 fiscal year. The concerns include what the report called fraud risk factors and significant deficiencies in internal control that left the organization vulnerable to both credit risk and liquidity risk. The undated report, prepared by BDO Canada LLP, began its section on fraud risk by outlining a concern that cash receipts were not deposited into the bank of the organization. It went on to note that the board of directors were concerned that administration payments and other expenses were not properly supported. These fraud risk factors indicate that fraud could happen in your organization, the section concluded. The report then tackled weaknesses in internal controls. Pre-signed cheques were occasionally used, and rental and registration fees were sometimes collected in cash without segregation of duties. Cheques were being signed and approved when there was no supporting documentation, the report stated. The arenas management also sometimes failed to follow the standard practice of independently reviewing invoices, mailing them out, and receiving payments via cheque. Instead, payment for unreviewed invoices was sometimes received at the arena. The arena also had to pay penalties on several occasions after failing to pay its own invoices in a timely fashion. On more than one occasion, payments were made without supporting invoices, which, the audit noted, increases the risk of fictitious payments being recorded and the organizations assets being misappropriated. One invoice for nearly $1,800 was paid twice, though the overpayment was later refunded by its recipient. Arena management were unable to provide appropriate supporting documentation for a large number of the transactions selected for audit, the report said. Some of the arenas general bookkeeping practices made it difficult for accountants to later reconcile the arenas general ledger with its account balance. For instance, an October 2014 bank transfer of roughly $2,800 was not recorded, while other transactions listed in the general ledger never actually cleared the account. However, the report qualified its concerns by stating that the questionable practices it identified were discontinued as of December 2015. Our comments are not intended to reflect upon the honesty or competence of the organizations employees, the report added, and thanked Kristina Bergen, the current secretary treasurer of the arena board, who assumed her position in December 2015. In mid-October of 2015 the arena board asked municipal staff to reconsider handling the arenas books, minutes, and audit reports, and also requested a closed door meeting with council to discuss personnel issues. Reeve Lewis Weiss could not be reached for comment. Jules Balcaen, who currently helms the La Broquerie Arena Committee, also declined to comment when reached by The Carillon. It is rare to cheer the television set these days, but watching Helen (Maura Tierney) bundle her insane, awful parents into a fortress-like panic room in the basement of their Montauk home was one such moment. Thank you, The Affair, for thatand for a brilliant episode so crackling with tension and (darnit) almost the revelation of what the hell has been so corrosively eating away at Noah Solloway (Dominic West). But wow, fellow fans, you were holding your breath too, right? OK, lets breathe together again. We began the episode with Helen, still laboring under the guilt of having knocked over Scotty Lockhart (Colin Donnell) last season, after Alison (Ruth Wilson)her successor as Noahs wife after their affairpushed him in front of the car Helen was driving. Noah took the rap for it, because he felt guilty for having the affair, and because he wanted Helen to care for their children, and because he loved Alison. In jail we know Noah has been tortured by a sadistic guard called Gunther (Brendan Fraser). Noahs beat up mentally too, and we dont know what is real and what is not in his present mind. In a show that centers on the different viewpoints of characters anyway, that uncertainty has made the objective reality issue even harder to decode. Somebody tried to kill Noah, and so this season also has been an attempted murder mystery. Noah has been wearing a bandage on his neck for officially a very long time. We are all over the bandage. Unless an alien is going to mewl forth from that damn wound, lets lose the bandage. After breaking up with hot doc Vic (Omar Metwally), who could not be doing with Helens continued twisted love for Noah, Helen decides to take her kids to Montauk, and her parents, driving past the spot where she killed Scotty. Her mind is untethered most of the timebut then so is everyones on this showand especially so after Noahs sexual assault of her the night before. Her parents, menacingly marinated in therapy and yoga, have gone from being harrying bulliesat least it seemed on first sightto karmic sweetie-pies. Does Vic do yoga, her mother asks: He had great energy and a strong core (we agree, we agree). Helen confesses that she and Vic have broken up, which her parents take as a sign of her brokenness. She is falling apart, a wreck, her mother says, adding that therapy would be the answer. Helen rushes out to the Lobster Roll, because where else to go for respite but where all this agony beganthe cafe where her family, then with Noah at its head and now without, ate and where Alison first met him. Today she sees pies made by Mrs. Lockhart, and buys three out of guilt for killing her son. At home, Helens mother is boasting about the cauliflower roasted in coconut oil, the children re praising Vic for his culinary and chess tutelage, and her parents want to know what happened. Then Helens daughter Stacy (Abigail Dylan Harrison) reveals she knows that Alison housed Noah in the basement the day before. All hell breaks loose. The other children want to know why she hasnt told them. Harrisons acting is so subtle and beautiful to watch: terrified she has done something wrong, and full of upset at the state of her family. Helen, seeing that upset so wrenchingly laid out in her own child, chooses the moment to tell the truth: She killed Scotty Lockhart, she tells her parents and her children. Her parents immediately revert to type, tell her she is ill and delusional, and try to lock her in the panic room, dreaming up all kinds of demons and lawsuits that could flow from some honesty. This is where sociopaths keep women as sex slaves, Helen notes. Or daughters when they inconveniently tell the truth. Her mother slaps her when she again restates she killed someone, demanding Helen never say that again. Helen gets the hell out of there, leaving her parents locked inwe all cheered at homeand then goes to the bar where we saw her encounter with Alison play out. Last week, from Alisons perspective, Helen walked in and seemed distressed, and the two women had a civilized exchange about Noah and who he was. In Helens memory, she is on her own, drinking, and Alisona little sloshed and sloppyapproaches her. Helen explains she has brought the kids to see their grandparents. I miss them, give them my love, Alison says, which really doesnt sound like Alison. The women desultorily mull their ignorance of Noahs would-be assassin. You stole my husband, Helen suddenly says, leading Alison to order two whiskeys on the rocks. Is Alison sorry? Helen asks. Yes and no, Alison says. She doesnt think she was solely responsible for her and Noah having the affair, but she doesnt like causing anyone pain. We kind of collided. One thing led to another, everything fell apart. The sniping culminates in Alison apologizing to Helen and noting that the loss of her son Gabriel led her to behave recklessly. Noah saw that recklessness as freedom. But it wasnt freedom, Alison says: It was me not giving a shit. Having her daughter Joanie had made her feel properly againeven if we know she absconded for months, having had one of her mental wobbles. Alison tells Helen she has something to tell her about the night Scotty died. No, she doesnt, Helen said. Last week, in Alisons memory, this is the moment Helen left. But in Helens version, Helen stays. Alison confesses to being there that night too, and pushing Scott into the road. Helen wants them both to confess all, but Alison declines: Scott tried to hurt her. There is no way she is going to sacrifice her life for him. Of course, we know Alison is fighting to remain a good and present parent for Joanie, and in turmoil over her feelings for Noah and her ex, Cole (Joshua Jackson), still. Telling Helen to take care, Alison leaves, prompting the barman to say to Helen, Weird night, which is what Alison recalled him saying to her last week. The next daywith no explanation about whether her parents are still locked away in the panic room; now that would have been a fun sceneHelen goes to see Vic and confesses everything to him. She also says she doesnt love Noah, as Vic thought, but she hasnt told the truth about Scotty because she is afraid of going to prison, and that Noah taking the fall seems payback for him cheating on her. Most of all, she has been a coward. Most people are cowards, Vic says. He isnt, Helen says. Yeah, but Im an asshole, he says. And so, with a gallbladder to remove in 32 minutes (gorgeous script pearl from episode writer and show co-creator Sarah Treem), Vic leaves Helen, but with the promise of seeing her later, and finally a smile from walking rain-cloud Helen. Telling the truth worked well for her, but is she really over Noah? Speaking of which, in his half of the episode, Noah seems to be going full-scale, crazy, nuts, madder than mad. A railway bell at the start of his half sounds like one ushering a fight. And boy, are we in for one. Noah is on the hunt for Gunther, convinced he tortured him in jail and tormented and beat him only the night before at Helens. First, Noah stalks Gunthers wife, right to their modest suburban home with an American flag fluttering on the porch, whose door-knocker, with the letter G, he raps at. The door opens to reveal a disabled child. Noah asks to see his dad, but his mother freaks out, understandably, and the boy does too. And there to calm this distressing scene is Gunther, softly bearded, a dad with a disabled son, who blows comforting raspberries into his neck. Gunther asks what Noah wants from him. Noah says Gunther is trying to kill him. Why is he following him? Gunther denies all his charges, and Noah does seem unhinged. Gunther claims he has not seen Noah since Noahs time in jail. He hasnt been trying to kill Noah, he claims. He doesnt know him. Gunther restrains Noah in this exchange, but not sadistically. He did not go to Helens home the night before, he sayseven though we saw Noah fight Gunther in Noahs recollection, which we figured might be a figment of his damaged mind. Noah asks him to show the cut he made on Gunthers hand with the knife he now carries. But there are no wounds or scars. Noah runs off, and not for the first time we see Noah from another time running in some woods. This time we see him as a kid, and someone calling his name. Head in hands and back on the train, Noah recalls being in jail again, Gunther taunting him over his thinly veiled memoir of early life. In Noahs memory, Gunther has kept him from drinking water, he says he has drunk his own piss. In Noahs mind Gunther tortures him with a passage of writing about his mothers assisted suicide, and about being relieved to watch her die. Noah says she asked him for help to dienot what Gunther is reading. We both agree about what happened, but disagree about the meaning of the act, Gunther says. Noah claims not to have written the passage. Gunther says who else would have? He is too stupid to. Noah next confesses to not killing Scotty, and taking the rap for Helen because he had an affair. He thought he could save Alison, he says. As Gunthers taunting continues, he becomes more and more of an apparition in the cell itself, appearing suddenly here and suddenly there, to the point we wonder if he is really the sadist Noah recalled. Next, Noah returns to the apartment in New Jersey where he was stabbed in the neck, and againjust like that nightthere are sounds and strange things like taps running. Is someone there? His assailant again? He again goes to the sink where it happened, and again recalls running in the woods as a kid. His dad is pursuing him to the lake, where a few weeks ago we saw him thrashing about only to be confronted by a vision of himself as a teenager. What did you do, son? his dad asks Noah. There is no answer to this yetalthough Id put a far from certain bet on Noah killing another boy when he was younger. And then, The Affair reveals the answer to who Noahs assailant was: Noah. Yes, it turns out he stabbed himself in the neck, and on this return night stops himself from doing the same thing again. And so, what did Noah do as a boy? Next weeks season finale promises a trip to Paris for him to see sultry academic Juliette (Irene Jacob), and the possibility of healing a relationship in desperate need of repair. This could be either Helen or Alison, whose own stories, and poor underwritten Coles, are also in flux, and still full of secrets and lies. And thats a yes to answer your next question: If you didnt already know, there will be a Season 4. After the explosion, the next thing Army Staff Sgt. Herbert Edwin Ed Larson remembered was a cascade of feathers falling as if from on high. He saw all these feathers coming down around him and he thought he was in heaven, his older brother, David Larson, would later say. But Ed Larson was still in the hell that was Vietnam at the height of the war, and the feathers were from a pillow he had been sitting on when an enemy rocket bore through the 4-inch steel of the M113 armored personnel carrier he was manning on Aug. 18, 1968. The blast killed everybody else in the vehicle. Ed Larson survived despite losing his right arm and his right leg, as well as being riddled with shrapnel. He was 24 years old and he had an 8-month-old son. He was medevaced to a field hospital. I remember my parents getting the telegram indicating he had suffered traumatic injuries and wasnt expected to make it, David recalled. Ed survived and was transferred to a facility in Japan and then back to the States. He was beginning an extended stay at Valley Forge Army Hospital three months after he was wounded when his family was finally able to see him. I hardly recognized him, David would recall. He had lost so much weight. It must have been under a hundred pounds, minus the leg and the arm. Ed began nearly a half-century of seemingly endless surgeries and seemingly endless complications. His continuing pain, the nerve pain in particular, was such that he would sometimes cry out, even with the medication. I remember him hollering, David said. For some of the wounded, it never ends. Yet Ed remained Ed at his core, even as surgeons were forced to whittle his stumps down to the hip and to the socket. My brother did pretty well considering all the pain he went through, David said. Ed was still winningly outgoing, and he retained the same adventurous spirit that he had shown as a toddler by repeatedly climbing out of his crib and making his way down from the second floor of the familys Connecticut home. He would then set off to explore the world beyond. He was a little kid, not even 3, David would recall. He would sometimes get out of the house and people would have to go look for him. The parents, Herbert Sigurd Larson and Harriet Allard Larson, tried stretching a cloth cover over the crib. One day he managed to get out of that, David recalled. I dont know how he did it. Before you knew it, he came down the stairs. David added, Very strong-headed He was a free spirit. Lets put it that way. Ed entered his teens determined to become a soldier. He dropped out of high school and persuaded his parents to sign the necessary papers for him to enlist at 17. He served in South Korea and in Germany, and he was happily ready to spend his life in uniform, serving his country. He loved it, David remembered. He was going to make a career of it. As a member of G Troop, 2nd Squadron of the 11th Armored Cavalrythe legendary Blackhorse RegimentEd was deployed to Vietnam in April 1968, three months after the birth of his son, Michael Larson. He had been there four months when he suffered what his family would later term life-altering wounds. His soldiering days were over and he went back to school, earning a degree in biblical studies at Liberty University, as befitted a man whose life was a pendulum between heaven and hell. He had a good life, even though there was never too much time before something would go wrong, David said. There was never a year or even two months went by without him having to be hospitalized. Ed was fitted with a rudimentary prosthetic arm for a time but stopped using it after it became caught in his cars steering wheel and caused an accident. He managed to drive one-handed and got about as intrepid as ever. He always did his own thing, David said. Ed was an active member of an association of others who had served in the Blackhorse Regiment. He affirmed his pride in his Army service when he named his new Besenji dog. MacArthur, David reported. My brother named him MacArthur. On Sept. 4, 2016, Ed was in yet another hospital, this time Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. His spirit was still undimmed, but his heart failed him after enduring so many trials. He was 73. Ed had of course asked to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was set for 11 a.m. on Jan. 19 of the new year. That happened to be the day the then-president-elect, Donald Trump, was to follow tradition by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there. When the funeral procession for Larson arrived at the front gate, the immediate family members were asked to step out of the limousine for a vehicle security check. The other mourners in the group were patted down. In the chapel, a chaplain delivered a eulogy based on the simple essentials of Eds obituary, which the facts of his life made unadornedly elegant. The dates of his Army service. The severity of his wounds. His Bronze Star and his Purple Heart. His subsequent university degree in Bible studies. All of it attested to duty and devotion and strength. It was very nice, David later said. Then the procession followed the hearse bearing the flag-covered coffin past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where Trump would lay the wreath later in the day. It continued on toward Patton Drive, named for Gen. George Patton, whose son, Col. George Patton Jr., commanded the Blackhorse Regiment during Eds time in Vietnam. In Section 8A, the chaplain led the way to newly dug Grave 33. There was a rifle volley in salute, and a bugler played Taps. The honor guard lifted the flag from the coffin and folded it with solemn precision 13 times into a triangle where only the white stars on their blue background were visible. The officer in charge then took the flag in two white-gloved hands and knelt before the Eds widow, Dr. Marjorie Warnick Larson. He presented it with the flat edge facing her and intoned the prescribed words for this moment: On behalf of the president of the United States, the United States Army, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved ones honorable and faithful service. As this was a day before the inauguration, the president was still Barack Obama. But the words would have been exactly the same had Donald Trump already taken the oath. In the days since the election, many of us have had to remind ourselves that we owe the office of the presidency due respect no matter who occupies it. The officer in charges stirring recitation as he presented the flag reaffirmed that obligation. It further served as a reminder that the president must also respect the office and the basic principles that govern even him, most particularly him. When the time came for a final farewell, the widow kissed the coffin. David gave more of an older brothers farewell. I just put a hand on it and thumped it a few times, he later reported. All the mourners took comfort in the thought that Eds suffering had finally ended. We now know hes free of pain, David later said. My sister-in-law wanted to add that to the grave marker, but its too many words, so they wouldnt. The mourners departed just after noon, as the cemetery was preparing for the imminent arrival of the man who would be commencing the first of the traditional rituals before becoming the new president. Eds obituary leaves us with a request we all can honor. In lieu of flowers, Ed asked that everyone visit a wounded soldier, it said. The peach scene is in it. If youre a queer person who has read Andre Acimans 2007 novel Call Me by Your Name, a hybrid coming out and coming-of-age story set in Italy in the early 80s, that news will both comfort and titillate you. If you havent, imagine the infamous American Pie scene, but with dignity, emotional truth, and a semblance of relatability. But, you know, a guy still fucks a fruit. Its that dance between the aching familiarity that is so unfamiliar on screenfirst love, but through the eyes of a young gay personand sensuality, humor, and absurdity that makes director Luca Guadagninos (I Am Love, A Bigger Splash) latest film, the adaptation of Call Me by Your Name, so special. Its why it earned an extended standing ovation when it premiered Sunday night at the Sundance Film Festival. Its why seeing the film in a movie theater was tantamount to group gay catharsis for the audience in attendance, many of whom were weeping by the films end and then bogarted the post-screening Q&A to thank Guadagnino for the film and its portrait of struggling for acceptance. Its why Call Me by Your Name will likely go down as one of the best gay love stories of the last decade in film. Starring Armie Hammer and breakout actor, 20-year-old Timothee Chalamet, the film opens in 1983 northern Italy, in one of those dream picturesque villas that seem to only exist in cinemathe perfect setting for an intense summer romance. Chalamet is Elio, the 17-year-old son of academics who are hosting Hammers 24-year-old scholar Oliver for the summer. Their relationship is a push and pull from the start. Elio labels Oliver the usurper, yet is eager to be the strapping new arrivals guide to the new town. Theyre a captivating pair: Elio, with his lean beanpole body throbbing with pubescence, and Oliver, the toned post-grad inhabited by The Social Networks Hammer, so stylish and statuesque in every breathtaking frame. Theres their dynamic, too: quickly and effortlessly bonded, but also instantly antagonistic. Both want something from each other, but flip their magnets over to repel the second the connection draws them too close. Its not clear at first that either character is gay, or even questioning, beyond the fact that you know you just purchased a ticket to a gay romance, thus making each interaction and every meticulously crafted frame of Guadagninos its own veritable blood-rush of arousal. Each character shows off for each other. Elio, his piano skills; Oliver, his book smarts and domineering demeanor. Its mutual masturbation before theres even the hint of physical attraction, a thrill thats heightened by Guadagninos filmmaking, which is awash with sexual tension, sweaty bodies, and swimsuits that cling just so to wet, shirtless bodies. When Elio, behind closed doors, starts exhibiting his crush on Oliver, its played matter-of-factly, the kind of natural progression and self-realization that were so used to seeing in heterosexual romances that its almost jarring, even confusing, when it starts to happen. And when Oliver starts having frank confrontations with Elio about their attraction, which had thus far been treated with a wink and knowing wit by Guadagnino, James Ivory, and Walter Fasanos script, the practical reasoning that dominates their conversations seems completely ordinary. Suddenly all of Olivers peacocking in front of Elio makes sense. He wanted to be desired. Elios sexual awakening is shielded by his desire to protect himself from his confusing feelings, but is also propelled forward by his excitement over his attraction, and his perception that Oliver might be attracted, too. The two spend the entire summer shirtless, ostensibly for each others benefit, even leaving the bathroom door they share constantly open, should the other happen to sneak a glimpse. Knowing that theyre supposed to be together makes this dance akin to the kind of frustration kids these days call blue balls. But theres something incredibly endearing about Olivers concern for Elios young well-being, should they, in this year decades ago, indulge in their attraction, and Elios sheepish gumption in confronting the older Oliver about it in the first place. Their eventual coupling is presented almost as if its inevitable, understood, or even intrinsic. Imagine being a young queer person, watching this certainty about love and, more importantly, about sex, and believing that can happen to you. Because it does.Even before Elio and Oliver make their first physical contact, Call Me by Your Name rings all those spectacularly universal bells that anyone who has experienced a first love, or a forbidden love, can hear in loud reverberations. But for an audience not used to seeing that experience reflected with a same-sex couple, the film is a rarity. Just watching it is a visceral experience. Shot in Italy and benefitting from an almost preternatural connection between Hammer and Chalamet, its a film that is drenched with sunlight and hormones. The idyllic Italian setting and new-love raw intimacy emanates from the film like pheromones you are carnally drawn to. By the time Elio and Oliver start having sex, your own sex drive kick-starts as well. Its that primal. Their first physical encounter is voyeuristically intimate. Its silent enough to hear Elios heart palpitating at the anxious thrill of it. As they jump into each other arms and roll on the bed, the creaking of the old bed frame is like an aural aphrodisiac. Each movement they make has an impact: the way they tangle their bodies, use their breath, carelessly disrupt a floorboard. The camera pans out a window at the moment, and you almost want to groan. But you also want to give Elio and Oliver their privacy. They deserve it. For allowing them their modesty, were repaid with the most sensual pillow talk in recent memory, and the films namesake. Call me your name, Oliver asks of Elio, the boy whispering, Oliver, Oliver, Oliver, and Oliver cooing Elio in return. The entire sequence is a treat for your heart and your libido. Their first tryst ignites an affair, one that even Elios parents can no longer ignore, and one so beautiful that they do not want to. They suggest that the couple go off on a trip together before Oliver must return to the United States, leaving Elio behind. And before he can realize the impact of it, the most transformative summer of Elios life is over. It would all be depressing, were it not for the clarity brought to it by his father, played by Michael Stuhlbarg. Stuhlbarg delivers a monologue to Elio that is so progressive, so enlightened, and so acceptingencouraging evenof his sons relationship with Oliver that it would read as implausible were it not layered with such authenticity by Stuhlbargs performance. It is the speech any queer person would dream of hearing from his or her father at that time in their lives, to the point that you begin to wonder if Elio is an unreliable narrator. Perhaps his recollection of the conversation, in 2017 decades after a far less open-minded 80s, is wish fulfillment, or history rewritten. Regardless, its two minutes of film that will be seared into every gay person who is in its thrallexplaining why it dominated so much of the Sundance post-screening conversation. And what of that peach? That peach is what will get people buzzing about this film, thanks to Guadagninos clever teasing throughout the entire film of the pivotal scene. His own foreplay, of sorts. Maybe word of mouth about it is what will entice a wider swath of filmgoers to the movie, aside from the LGBT demographic that is already desperate to see the film. It will be a conversation starter for sure, and thats fine. Call Me By Your Name is about sex. Its about sex and sensuality and attraction and the love that bubbles underneath that. And, thanks to Stuhlbargs speech, all thats given a new name: normal. Just as Barack Obama drove conservatives crazy, Donald Trump seems to be pushing his adversaries to the brink of insanity. During the celebration of the peaceful transfer of power this weekend, we were treated to some crude and irresponsible comments from liberal celebrities: Madonna told Trump voters, Fk you. Fk you, and added that she had thought a lot about blowing up the White House. Ashley Judd continued the trend, reciting a poem called Nasty Woman that was written by a Tennessee teen. I didnt know devils could be resurrected, but I feel Hitler in these streets, the poem declared. In a tweet, Cher called Trump spokesman Sean Spicer a bitch. Meanwhile, some less famous progressives were getting into the act. I will not stand idly by while a man named Donald Trump and his team attempt to thrust us back into slavery, said Trump protester Eric Myers, according to The Washington Times. Trump Derangement Syndrome is a real thing, and I suspect it will have counterproductive results for a party that might want to win back the White House someday (which would, presumably, require convincing at least some Trump voters to switch sides). Heres the problem: The more Hollywood liberals produce condescending videos, the more pretentious and preachy celebs like Madonna (or replace her with Lena Dunham or Meryl Streep theyre basically interchangeable) lecture us at rallies and awards ceremonies, and the more protesters with signs and placards with the word p*ssy on themthe more I find myself liking Donald Trump. And this is saying a lot. Ive dedicated the last couple of years to speaking out against Trumpism. But if his adversaries are so odious as to drive me (an infamous Trump critic) into thinking maybe he is the lesser of two evils (or, at least, the less annoying!)what do you think it is doing to working-class Americans? Instead of appealing to middle America, progressives are using this opportunity to become more extreme and exclusive. A broad coalition of Americans concerned about the President Trumps temperament and character might have included a diverse alliance of voices. Heck, I might well have been among them. Instead, pro-life women were disinvited from what was ostensibly a womens parade. The dirty little secret is that many on the left seem to believe that Trump was onto something. They believe that being nice and playing by the rules of civility and decency (where truth matters) are obsolete concepts. They believe that persuasion and bringing people together are just slogans. So they fly their freak flag proudly and continue to alienate the working-class Americans who put Trump in the White House. It doesnt seem like a smart political strategy. But progressives arent the only ones who risk turning off middle America by overreacting to Trumps flouting of political norms. The media also risk becoming an unwitting foil for Trump, andin the processfurther alienating themselves from his supporters. From day one, a lot of Trump voters ignored our warnings about him because they had already tuned us out. They know that media bias isnt based primarily on how we cover a story, but rather, which stories we choose to cover. We cover the massive crowds at a womens march but not the massive crowds at the March for Life. We raise Cain when an obscure GOP staffer posts something unflattering about President Obamas daughter, but we barely notice when writers and celebrities mock Trumps 10-year-old son. Both stories get covered, but one story drives the news cycle. Lets take this past weekend as an example. If a liberal Democrat had been elected president and Republicans had staged a counter rally, how might that have been covered? What if, instead of Madonna talking about blowing up the White House, it had been Ted Nugent saying that about an Obama White House? What if Scott Baio had tweeted about the Obama daughters? The coverage would have been ubiquitous and breathless. President Trumps ill-advised obsession with the size of his inaugural crowd might have been dismissed as unimportant if Obama had done something similar. Thats not to say it wouldnt have been covered, but it would have been relegated to second-tier status (Inaugural crowds obviously dont correlate with electoral success! we might have said) in favor of wall-to-wall coverage of the dangerous rhetoric being spewed at these protests. Instead of historians and experts wringing their hands and clutching their pearls about the first post-truth president, we might have been treated to round-the-clock commentary on what sort of dangerous ramifications this violent rhetoric could have. This kind of rhetoric, we might have been told, is dangerous, if for no other reason than because it might inspire some dangerous person to try to take matters into his own hands. After years of being subjected to selection bias with little recourse, a lot of Americans have caught on to the trick, even if they dont consciously realize what it is that bothers them. Theyre fed up with it. And now, they have alternatives and options to traditional media outlets. Just as they have tuned out Hollywood elites, they are tuning out the mainstream media, too. And if, like me, you believe healthy opposition political movements make for a healthy democracyand that the Fourth Estate actually serves a valuable function when it comes to holding a president accountablethis disregard is dangerous. And so, I have some unsolicited advice. To liberals: My counsel is that engaging in irresponsible rhetoric, crazy conspiracy theories (like the birtherism paranoia that some were obsessed with during Obamas tenure), and protests is not the way to go. Republicans lost two presidential elections, and America became more divided. The end result was the election of Donald Trump. And while one could argue that Republicans wound up controlling all the levers of power, it would be a mistake to assume engaging in an irresponsible game of chicken where you end up nominating Kanye in four years would be politically prudent or productive. To the press: For your own good, check your media bias. It seductively manifests in the form of selection bias (which stories you cover) and eye rolls. And while we must be vigilant against the repression of free speech, dont be reflexively defensive when Trump talks about our industry. Yes, do fact check this new president and call him out for being wrong, but be careful not to make it personal or cross over to revenge or obsession, thereby reinforcing the existing negative perceptions about media bias. These are mutually enforcing problems, observed The Washington Examiners Jim Antle. People rightly dont trust media, freeing Trumpies to spout nonsense. Avoid what New York Times columnist Ross Douthat refers to as the temptation of hysterical oppositionalism, a mirroring of Trumps own tabloid style and disregard for truth. Something else for all of us to do: Spend some time thinking about people you might not normally rub elbows withpeople who go to church on Wednesday nights, people who drive pickups, and people who shop at Wal-Mart. No, you shouldnt gear all of your coverage toward these Americans; but yes, if you want to remain relevant and credible to them, you cant ignore them. Realize that the guy who is struggling to find work in Michigan isnt necessarily going to be receptive to the insinuation that hes a sexual predator who has benefitted from white privilege, and yet, that is so often the message he receives (albeit subtly) when he turns on his television and listens to a lot of political panels. America is facing some difficult times. What is needed is not revenge or paranoia, but rather, honorable leaders who earn the moral authority and high ground to summon us to our better angels. Resist the impulse to freak out and replicate Donald Trumps path. If Donald Trump turns out to be as bad as you think he is, we are going to need a broad coalition of voices to vote him outand were going to need a trusted and respected media to hold him accountable. KOBLENZ, GermanyLast year, they were still dining together in secret. But on Saturday, one day after the world watched Donald Trump getting sworn in as president of the United States while pledging America first, and as millions of women (and men) around the world marched in protest and while Germanys embattled Chancellor Angela Merkel was busy opening a museum, Europes emboldened far-right populists took to the stage together here for the first time in order to declare that they, too, will soon be elected the leaders of their countries. They spoke of the possibility, the likelihood, the inevitability of their elections as if it were, at this point, a mere matter fate. Donald Trump could do it, and so could they! Even if, in fact, many have little in common with Trump or, indeed, with each other, his victory is their paradigm; his specific policies, to the extent they are discernible, not so much. And his wildly eccentric personality looms as a potential embarrassment. French essayist Raphael Glucksmann, writing for the liberal weekly LObs, summed up the dominant impression in Europe. Trump is like a cocktail of Italys former bunga-bunga prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, the old xenophobic French National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, and an acerbic TV comedian, but he now has his hands on the most important army, the most important economy, and the most important diplomacy on the planet. Moreover, as Glucksmann writes, his team composed of frustrated generals, unabashed billionaires, reactionary ideologues, and admitted climate-change sceptics, will bear on its not-very-impressive shoulders our common destiny. It does no good to play down such a tragic perspective. But, here in Koblenz, none of that seemed to matter, at least for the moment. He is a winner, we are winners, everyone who is sitting here is a winner, proclaimed Harald Vilimsky of the Austrian Freedom Party, which actually lost badly in the countrys presidential elections last month. Never mind. Like Trump counting the crowd at his inauguration, the leaders assembled here believe what they want to believe, and, yes, there may be a great many in Europe more than willing to accept their alternative facts. So it was that on Saturday a small crowd of fans and functionaries sat in a hall in Koblenz and waited for the entrance of Germanys Frauke Petry, Frances Marine Le Pen, the Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders, Italys Matteo Salvini, and Austrias Vilimsky. (Missing from this picture was any sign of the United Kingdom Independence Partys Nigel Farage, Trumps Brexit promoting buddy who seems to regard some of the others as unsavory). As the house lights grew dim, blue lights were projected onto the ceiling, and eerily reworked choir music began to play. Outside, thousands of counter-protesters were said to be gathering at the citys central station. It all seemed intended to build an awkward sense of secrecy and something very verboten. Yesterday a new America, today Koblenz and tomorrow: a new Europe, announced Wilders, the Dutch populist leader, who is a free speech martyr to the far right and a hate speech convict to everyone else. This will be the year of the people, of liberation, of the patriotic spring. * * * Liberation from what? From the meddling clutches of ruling political parties, according to Petry, and the tyranny of the European Union in its current form, as Marine Le Pen called it, before warmly promising a Europe of Nations instead. But fatalism and choir music aside, the fulfilment of the somewhat ironically titled Freedom for Europe promised by the conference organizers doesnt exactly seem imminent. Wilders Party of Freedom is predicted to do very well in elections in the Netherlands, but has yet to find another party willing to form a coalition with it. And Frauke Petrys Alternative for Deutschland, riddled with infighting, will be lucky if it enters the Bundestag as a strong opposition party come Germanys elections in September. Le Pen meanwhile has feuded famously with her father Jean-Marie and her niece, and when she went to New York City recently, even visiting Trump Tower, she was reduced to drinking out of a paper cup in the lobby with no invitation to the gilded apartments of the then-president elect. (British journalists speculated Farage may have put the kibosh on that informal meeting.) Its widely predicted that Le Pen will face conservative former Prime Minister Francois Fillon in the second round of this years French elections, an event so negatively anticipated that it has already been labelled Europes Stalingrad. But, as weve seen happen again and again in the last couple of years, theres a new dark horse racing from behind in the polls: the radical former Socialist education minister, Benoit Hamon, who emerged Sunday night as the big winner in the first round of his partys primary, handily defeating former Prime Minister Manuel Valls and crushing the rest of the field. Conceivably, Hamon will draw the kind of voters who went for Bernie Sanders in the United States: young, enthusiastic, cosmopolitan and egalitarian. That would not be good news for Le Pen. At the moment, however, shes calling the tune for continental populists, and setting the terms of debate for French politics. * * * After being introduced as the lady with the loveliest smile in France, Le Pen seemed to captivate the crowd Koblenz. This immigration policy is a catastrophe! she cried, accusing Merkel of letting refugees into Germany against the will of citizens and smaller businesses. Vilimsky later warned the audience, which was notably dominated by grey-headed men, that anyone who tries to mess with Our power women.. our Marine and our Frauke, is messing with all of us. And in fact, the official tone verged on the creepy avuncular more than once. (Even two suited AfD women were overheard sniggering about all the altpartei Manner in their partymen from outdated political parties, exactly what the AfD claims not to be.) Women have become afraid to show their blonde hair, was the bizarre argument of Wilders (himself a peroxide blond) as he decried the Islamization of Europe. Meanwhile, Frauke Petry was introduced most enthusiastically as pregnant and mother of four children. * * * Petrys husband Marcus Pretzell (the father of the child shes carrying), is the AfDs representative in the European parliament, and organized the Koblenz meeting. After making headlines last week when he tweeted about banning journalists from leading publications in Germany, Pretzell did a weird 180-degree-turn on Saturday morning by pointing out that 350 journalists from all over the world had been granted access. The disdainful Whites House spokesman Sean Spicer would no doubt have felt at home here as Pretzell sneered about our fake friends before calling out and mocking a journalist from the conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, who apparently has so much interest in us that he got himself into this meeting with a court order. Lugenpresse! shouted several members of the audience. Lying press! But when Pretzell went on to lament what the EU was doing to Israel and declare that Israel is our future, that was too much to take for some of his real friends from the audience, who got up to shout something incomprehensible in protest, and immediately were escorted out of the hall. Yeah, we have a few of those in the AfD, an elderly party member called Heribert told The Daily Beast later, as he rolled his eyes. People who have a problem with, um, Israel. One of the paradoxes of the far-right in Europe is that its early members often shared the same kind of anti-Semitic sentiments one encounters on the fringes of the already out-there alt-right in the United States. Le Pen has had to struggle, for instance, to distance herself from her fathers snide references to the Holocaust as a detail of history. Last week, another leading AfD member (the hard-faced Bjorn Hocke) triggered a tremendous national uproar in Germany (and cheers from the Dresden crowd he was speaking to) when he attacked Holocaust atonement and complained that Germans were the only people in the world who had planted a memorial of shame in the heart of their capital. According to Heribert, again rolling his eyes and sighing deeply, the German papers carved up Hockes words. He adds, Tomorrow, for the first time in a long time, I am going to buy the papers something serious, like the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung or Die Welt. Ill see how they wrote about this, how they hacked up into pieces these speeches that we all heard today. As we finished the interview, Heriberts companion, a shorter man in a brown coat, muttered to him: Im proud of you. * * * In the early afternoon, Vilimsky, in his charming Austrian accent, urged the audience to relish the image of 3,000 freezing protesters, who had walked through the town in the bitter cold to oppose the conference, singing Beethovens Ode to Joy and stood behind barricades outside. A pretty picture, he grinned. The local police, who were also on the streets, helped out the protest march by tweeting the Beethoven lyrics on their Twitter accounts. Even the town mayor took sides against the populists, stating, These groups are cordially unwelcome to us. As the afternoon dragged on, several protesters continued to wait outside the hall behind the barricades. Its unbelievable that these people are allowed to come together and do their politics. and that we have to pay for it, a middle-aged woman muttered, as she shoved a bongo drum into her boyfriends car. (The event was paid for by the European Parliaments Europe of Nations and Freedoms group.) Konstantin, a nurse from Cologne, did the morning shift at the hospital where he works to take the train to Koblenz and join the protest. About claims that dismiss the conference as mere photo opportunity for its partakers, Konstantin tells The Daily Beast, When these people say Wir sind das Volk [we are the people], then we have to show its not just their opinion that counts; they arent the only voice representing the people. Certainly that is true, but of course they have their alternative facts to present. Even when they lose, as the Austrian populists did, they are likely to claim, We are winners. But its going to be a long few months as the Netherlands, France, and Germany vote. And there may yet be many surprises for the right as well as for everyone else. Josephine Hueblin reported from Koblenz, Christopher Dickey reported from Paris James Franco nearly bared all for Hillary Clinton. So the Oscar-nominated actor turned filmmaker, whose series of ads branded HRC the most interesting woman in the world, hasnt been taking the election result very well. I mean, Ive been reacting really badly! he exclaims. Ive spiraled into a depression and Ive been questioning everything that I am, and how Ive been doing things. Its been a rough few months. The arrival of I Am Michaela commendable and important filmin theaters and on-demand should help alleviate some of the pain. Directed by Justin Kelly and executive produced by Gus Van Sant, both of whom are gay, the movie dramatizes the true story of Michael Glatze (Franco), an outspoken gay activist and co-founder (with his boyfriend, played by Zachary Quinto) of Young Gay America, an influential magazine for LGBT youth. After suffering a health scare, Glatze turned to Christianity, renounced his homosexuality, and became an ex-gay spokesman of sorts, penning several disgustingly homophobic op-eds for the right-wing website WorldNetDaily about how he was repulsed by homosexuality and considered it sinful. In 2013, Glatze married a woman. Kellys film received positive reviews following its debut at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and the real-life Glatze not only confessed to finding the film healing, but was also inspired to issue a seemingly heartfelt apology for his anti-gay rhetoric. I remember before the film came out, there was a little concern about how we might be giving this guywho was at one point very anti-gaya voice, and a non-judgmental approach wouldnt be fair, says Kelly. Its something I struggled a lot with early on, because he did say some pretty nasty things. But it was really from a lot of gay filmmaker-friends, Gus [Van Sant] included, who helped me with this. I Am Michael couldnt be coming at a more important time, too, given that Vice President Mike Pence, a onetime supporter of gay conversion therapy with an alarming track record of homophobia, has the ear of President Trump. Maybe Mike Pence will watch it and learn something, offers Kelly. The Daily Beast spoke to James Franco, who delivers a heartfelt, understated turn as Glatze, about the film and much more. One of the strong points of the film is how even-handed the approach is. Theres a temptation here to be more harsh and judgmental toward Michael Glatze, but instead the film treats its subject rather gracefully, leaving much open to interpretation. That was really Justins take on it, and I thought it was great because it really allows one of the subjects were examiningthat subject being identityand how ones identity is created. Who decides? Do we decide or not? Were so used to movies having an opposite coming-out story, a coming out of the closet story, and to have it go in the reverse direction is, I think, very strange for people. People Ive spoken with about the movie tend to believe [Michael] less or think hes lying to himself, as opposed to other stories of people going from straight to gay, so to leave much of the judgment out of the film really challenges the audience to wrestle with it on their own. The film makes you think about the fluidity of sexuality. A lot of people are going to see the film and think that Michael is betraying himself, but there is a contrarian argument one could make that, if sexuality is truly fluid, couldnt a man then decide he doesnt want to date men anymore and start seeing women? It seems like were much more at ease with someone who was in the closet and then identifies as gay versus the other way around, but the way Michael identified as straight was so politicized. He was so used to being vocal when he was gay, and helping gay youths, and really putting his beliefs out into the public that when he became very religious, playing the character, it seemed like he was doing some of the same thingjust putting his thoughts out thereunfortunately they were very hurtful, and I believe very misguided. But I like what youre saying. I think the film touches on that in an interesting way, just by virtue of the fact that its going in the opposite direction than what were used to. Its very tricky. I think Michaels proselytizing was the issueone of several, reallyand how he viewed homosexuality as a disorder that needed to be fixed. Sexual fluidity is one thing, but to go out there and do a very aggressive 180 and then start demonizing the gay community, a community you once loved with every fiber of your being, rang very false. Exactly. I Am Michael seemed to have a pretty profound impact on Michael. He said he found it healing, and issued what seemed like a heartfelt apology to the gay community. Before the screening, before he saw it, and before meeting him, we were a little apprehensive. I believe our producer or financier had arranged for him to be part of a panel with IndieWire, and we were a little unsure if he would blast the film publicly or go on one of the rants hed gone on. I met him right before the panel after he had seen the film, and he seemed really moved, humbled, and it seemed like he had already been shifting away from some of the harsh, ugly stances hed taken, and maybe anticipating the film coming out got him to question some of the things hed written. But he did seem like a very changed person. Its taken the film quite some time to come out since it premiered at Sundance two years ago, but it seems like the right time for it, given the environment its being released into with President Trump and now Vice President Pence, who notoriously fought to divert AIDS funding toward conversion therapy. Many in the LGBT community are scared for whats to come. I will say, as non-judgmental and even-handed as the film is in some ways, in other ways it does take a stance. For me, one of the most horrific scenesand the hardest scene for me to dois when my character, Michael, is talking a gay kid out of his sexual orientation as if Im some spiritual guide able to dispense that kind of advice. It was so chilling to do, and so chilling to watch. This for sure is not a pro-conversion-therapy film. Theres been a lot of chatter in the tabloids and on gossip blogs about your sexuality. Ive always found it a bit disturbingthe odd obsession with it, and that you need to be labeled a certain way, and that you being gay would somehow be exotic or unusual. Gawker, in particular, wrote a series of stories insinuating that you were gay that reeked of homophobia. I really have taken a step back in just reassessing everything, but for a while I was of course aware of all that because its been happening for yearssince Milk, where Gawker did the one article that really bothered me, that I was a gay rapist and had a boyfriend that didnt exist and I beat him and raped him or something. That was so offensive. So offensive. Other than that, with the coverage, I always felt like, you know what? This is a new era. Actors from the generation before, I guess straight actors or actors rumored to be in the closet or whatever, would find this thing really scary and run from it. I thought, well, theres nothing I can do about it. This is the trash press that we have nowadays. And if I show that this isnt making me change any artistic or professional decisions that Ive made or am going to make, maybe I dont know. If theres anything good that can come out of it, its that I wouldnt be running; that I would, somehow, help usher in some sort of new kinds of discussions about coming out or portraying gay characters in filmsnot that that was my goal, or that I wanted to be in that position, but the good that maybe came out of that situation is it showed that things are changing. Ive had some interesting discussions with gay friends about outing famous actors. I am personally of the opinion that its not OK, but many gay friends Ive spoken with have expressed how important it is for prominent gay actors to be out of the closet from a representational standpoint, that there is nothing to be ashamed of, and that staying in the celluloid closet is standing in the way of progress. Im curious what you think about it. I arrive in the middle of those two. Role models are certainly importantespecially for youth groups that feel ostracized or on the fringe. Perhaps you dont have the support of your immediate peers and so a role model may be to someone in that situation what books are to me: your friend. Something you turn to for emotional support and self-discovery. If a public figure can come out in a strong way and provide an example, I think its a great thing. On the other hand, Im also in agreement with you that I guess I would say that there maybe is a little bit more weight of obligation for somebody in the public eye, but if a person is an entertainer, plays sports, or whatever, yeah, theyre going into a profession where they know what the score is and know whats going to happen and know the risks, but I still dont think they automatically lose their right to their privacy. In-laws, eh? Prince Harrys potential future brother-in-law, Tom Markle Jr., looks set to steal the title of most embarrassing relative from Kates naughty uncle, Gary Goldsmith. The 50-year-old half-brother of Prince Harrys actress girlfriend Meghan Markle has given an interview to RadarOnline after allegedly wielding a gun at his girlfriend Darlene Blount, 36, on Jan. 12, and he has come up with a novel defense, saying he made a mistake and deserves a second chancejust like Prince Harry has been given after his numerous debacles. Now, theres a slight difference between playing a game of strip billiards and threatening someone with a guneven if, as Markle claims, the weapon was unloadedbut Tom Jr. is stil hoping he will be invited to his sisters royal wedding. Markle was arrested after Darlene locked herself in a bathroom and called police after an argument at their home this month became heated. According to Radar, a police report states that Tom held the gun to Darlenes head during the confrontation. However, Tom was reported by the Sun on Sunday as saying: There was a lot of yelling. I told her to go to her parents house. Then I did the stupidest thing I could ever have done and went and got my handgun. But it was unloadedthere were no bullets in it. Darlene saw me with the gun, got scared and ran to the bathroom and wouldnt come out. I absolutely did not put the gun to her head. It was unloaded. There were no bullets in it, he told Radar, Everyone makes mistakes. This time I made a bad one, but we all do. Markle also told Radar that he had a a problem with alcohol, adding, Ive been really dumb and really stupid. Harry has made a few [mistakes] in his time and learned from them. I just need the same chance. The last thing I would ever want to do is put a black mark on [Meghans] situation with the royals. Marriage and kids is on the cards for her and Harry, and I still want to go to the wedding if theyll let me! Tom will be in court on Feb. 13 in Grants Pass, Oregon, facing a maximum sentence of six years in jail. America before the war on terror seems a quaint memory now. A decade-plus of perpetual conflict has distorted so much. But its worth remembering, or at least trying to: It wasnt always like this. The 9/11 generation of military officers came of age during these wars without end. Some of the young lieutenants and captains who were at Tora Bora in 2001 or Fallujah in 2004 are now majors and lieutenant colonels in charge of battalions or staffs. Others are part of the national security apparatus trying to learn from the lessons of the recent past rather than repeating them. Still others are leading civilian lives that have nothing to do with war or military culture. Wherever they are now, the formative experiences of going to war for the 21st century Pearl Harbor only for it to warp into something else entirely lingers within themus. Its all gone haywire in only 15 years, and this group of Americans was at the forefront for it all. The president who started the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan left office a long time ago. And now, so has another president who promised to end those wars. Now comes President Donald Trump, who has promised he will be so good at the military, your head will spin. So theres that. Not much in the way of a lucid plan, but whats new? Potential pay increases aside, no one has more to lose from impetuous decisions made by our new president than our service members. Cautious though they are, theyre battle-tested, and used to being jerked around by American politics. Days after the election in November, I gave a speech at an event at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. After, I chatted with an ROTC cadet unsure about commissioning as an officer into a military with Trump as commander in chief. The cadet believed in service to country. Butlike most of us, the cadet hadnt anticipated this, and had other options. How to respond? As a citizen, I believe we need thoughtful, skeptical young officers from places like George Washington in the military now more than ever. But thats so easy to say. My generation went through a similar decision-making process with the Iraq invasion in 2003, though a lot has happened since, and the world certainly feels more volatile than it was then, at least from the vantage point of American empire. I told the cadet that service means rising above politics, it means commitment to a cause and purpose bigger than oneself, and that the commissioning oath was to the Constitution, not to any one individual. Et cetera. If that cadet had been my child, the conversation probably wouldve gone a different direction. This is a strange moment for anyone who decided in the smoky aftermath of 9/11 to devote their life to American national security and foreign policy, whether a champion of the incoming Lord of the Heel Spur or a furious, bewildered skeptic. Just as we now have an entire crop of American young people who know nothing but their country bombing other places on television screens, we now have a military officer corps that has been in and out of combat for the entirety of their careers. The Forever War, indeed. Historically, the officer corps skews more conservative than the military at largewith a veneer of trying to follow the nonpartisan example set by Washington and Sherman and Marshall. DONT SCREW UP LIKE ROME goes the subtext of the timeless lesson. Retired General Martin Dempsey, former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has taken up this mantle in the new era. When the title or uniform is used for partisan purposes, it can erode the trust relationship, he said in 2012. And during the crazed 2016 presidential campaign, it was Dempsey who reproached retired generals like Mike Flynn and John Allen for speaking with such political fervor at the respective party conventions. But these are loud, fractious times, and military personnel read Twitter and Reddit, too. Taking the temperature of their politics can confound, though. Military veterans as a whole voted for Trump at about a 2-to-1 rate, though that comes with the obvious caveat that wider demographics shaped that ratio, such as 70 percent of vets being over the age of 50. Officers currently in uniform preferred Hillary Clinton, according to a series of Military Times polls leading up to the November election. This countered both their traditional voting preferences and that of their enlisted brethren, who overwhelmingly supported Trump in the Military Times polls. In the age of Trump, anything is possible. Even military officers preferring a Clinton for president. Wary. Thats the word an Army major named James uses to describe the atmosphere in his engineer battalion right now. A lot of soldiers are excited, mostly because they detested Hillary so much. But he also draws a correlation between excitement for Trump with deployment inexperience. Senior enlisted and mid-level and senior officers? Theres a lot more WTF, Over. Weve been doing this too long for this much unknown. That unknown. Inasmuch as Trumpland has articulated a coherent foreign policy, keeping clear of more protracted conflicts involving ground forces has been it. Which almost certainly means a continued reliance on special operations and drone strikes. Which means continuing at least some of the Obama administrations light footprint approach, though itll certainly be packaged otherwise. That acceptance of the everlasting nature of war in 2017 was one of three recurring ideas expressed by current military officers time and time again in interviews. The other two were a deep trust in, and respect for, Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis, and a pronounced fear of going on the record and being identified, even more than normal. Service members tend to be skittish with the media, especially officers, but this was something else altogether. Sorry, man, went one declined interview. Brave new world. Not about to see if the incoming COC monitors my lowly level. One active Marine junior officer wasnt as cautious. He was very eager to tell me hes an avid Trump supporter. Everyone I know in my unit is too, he said, adding that hed have voted for Bin Laden before [Hillary]. And al Qaeda tried to kill me. Twice. The Marine junior officer then asked if Id heard about Hillary belonging to a Satanist cult. Im sure hes good and effective at his job, but as I tried to push back on the conspiracy theory, I couldnt help but think of a veteran friends quip anytime a citizen tells him they support the troops. Thats way too encompassing. Me, I support, like, 90 percent of the troops. Our militaryany professional military, for that matteris always going to attract a certain type of rigid thinker drawn to authoritarianism; what one of my officer basic course instructors liked to call Goose Steppers after the German parade drill. Truth be told, sometimes you want a Goose Stepper or two next to you in the proverbial foxhole. But Goose Steppers making strategic and operational military decisions should turn the stomach of any American, whatever their politics of choice. Thats a concern always, especially in an era of an all-volunteer force fighting perpetual conflict for a republic. Business as usual, an Air Force officer attached to a SOCOM (Special Operations Command) unit wrote me in an email. At least until told otherwise. And then? You got to be flexible for this life. Then we flex to the next thing. Theres hard-earned wisdom in those words, and, perhaps, a cynical sort of fatalism. The exchange made me think of the ROTC cadet at George Washington, and conversations Ive had with other cadets at various universities in recent years. These cadets will be lieutenants and ensigns soon enough, leading soldiers and sailors in our collective name. In some ways, they remind of my own ROTC days in the early aughtsbrash, idealistic, and so much younger than they think they are. In other ways, though, theyre well ahead of the curve. We became military officers thinking wed end something. This next generation seems to hold no such delusions. Whats there to end? one asked me rhetorically at my alma mater Wake Forest last spring. Someone needs to go. Send me. Our young people are still willing, somehow. Thats incredible, and inspiring. Weve all failed them, though, if theyre asking Whats there to end? at age 21. Matt Gallagher is the author of the novel Youngblood, published in February 2016 by Atria/Simon & Schuster. Hes also the author of the Iraq memoir Kaboom. He tweets @MattGallagher0. No, U.S. and Russian warplanes are not flying combat missions together over Syria. Yet. That startling claim, which spread across the U.S. news media on the afternoon of Jan. 23, 2017, began with a vague and misleading tweet by the Associated Press that was apparently based in part on a misreading of reports by Russian state media. BREAKING: Russian Defense Ministry says its warplanes have flown first combat mission in Syria with U.S.-led coalition aircraft, the A.P. tweeted at 12:18 P.M. EST. The Pentagon flatly denied the claim. The Department of Defense is not coordinating airstrikes with the Russian military in Syria, department spokesman Eric Pahon told The Daily Beast. DoD maintains a channel of communication with the Russian military focused solely on ensuring the safety of aircrews and de-confliction of coalition and Russian operations in Syria. The A.P.s report is inaccurate, but the wire services confusion is perhaps understandableand, for Moscow, might even be the whole point. Its not hard to see how Russia benefits from news reports claiming that the United States and Russia are fighting side-by-side in Syria. After all, U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be pushing the Pentagon in that direction. Russia reportedly did conduct a powerful air strike on targets in Syria on Jan. 23. Six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from an airfield located in the territory of the Russian Federation, flew over territories of Iraq and Iran, and carried out an aviation strike on control centers, ammunition, and weaponry storages of ISIS terrorists in the Deir ez-Zor province, the Russian defense ministry stated. Nowhere in its statement did the Russian government even imply that warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition accompanied the Russian bombers. But Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quickly muddied the waters with a later report today that at least implied some degree of cooperation between the United States and Russia. The Russian defense ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. On Jan. 22, the United States banned the coordinates of targets near the village of Al-Bab in northern Syria near the border with Turkey, RIA Novosti reported. But Russian planes struck what it claimed were militant fighters in the area after further exploration. The RIA Novosti story quotes a Russian military official referring to the channel of communication that Pahon mentioneda hotline that U.S. and Russian forces use to deconflict their respective missions over Syria in order to avoid aerial collisions. American commanders can urge their Russian counterparts to avoid certain areas while U.S. planes are overhead. Russian commanders can make the same request of the Americans. But in banning certain coordinates, the Americans arent actively contributing to a Russian air striketo say nothing of sending U.S. or coalition jets to join the Russian attack. Of course, that depends on your definition of coalition. Turkey has allowed the U.S.-led coalition to use its Incirlik air base, but Turkish air strikes in northern Syria do not fall under the coalitions command structure. They are Turkish missions with Turkish objectives. Turkish warplanes have bombed rebels and militants in Syria alongside Russian planes several times since Moscow and Ankara boosted their cooperation in mid-January. The first joint air raid on targets in Al Bab on Jan. 18 reportedly involved nine Russian planes and eight Turkish ones. On Jan. 21, three Russian fighters and four Turkish ones reportedly struck Al Bab again. The air strike the following daythe one where U.S. officials banned certain coordinateswas carried out by two Russian jets and two jets from the international coalition, according to RIA Novosti. In context, its clear that the jets in question are Turkish. The Turkish defense ministry declined to immediately comment. Now closed, said an official who answered the phone. Call tomorrow. Of course, its possible that the Kremlin deliberately massaged the stories about the recent air strikes to create the impression of direct U.S.-Russian cooperation. Trump has made no secret of his desire to rekindle a relationship between the United States and Russia, particularly in counterterrorism efforts. In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, Trump designated radical Islamic terrorism as his foremost foreign policy concern, while repudiating the imposition of American values on other countriesa telegraphing of a neo-isolationist posture that complements perfectly Moscows wish that America cease to concern itself with Russias erosion of democracy and civil society and its dire record of human rights abuses, at home and abroad. Putting out a deceptive half-truth about a new era of American-Russian collaboration in Syria would be one way to test the new commander-in-chief. The Trump administration either has to accuse the Russian government of peddling disinformationwhat his own team might call alternative factsor perhaps turn a Moscow-baked lie into a fait accompli. Russia could force Trumps hand by saying that Trumps already doing what he himself has said he plans to dotether U.S. military operations in Syria to Russias own intervention in the country. If I learned anything from Trumps inauguration and the subsequent Womens March, its that Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston belong together. While hordes of women descended on Washington in pink knit hats and righteous indignation, sparking emotions from hope to confusion to mild annoyance, celebrities attempted to do their part. Their efforts ranged from exemplarywhat did we do to deserve you, America Ferrera? to polarizing, to Lena Dunham. Rihanna put on a pink tutu and dabbed outside of Trump Tower. Ashley Judd put on an uncomfortable accent and did her best spoken word routine. Scarlett Johansson advocated for Planned Parenthood and showed off her amazing haircut. And dozens of celebrities braved the slushy streets of Park City for Sundances own edition of the Womens March. Celebrities who exercise their political muscles walk a fine line between helpful advocacy and self-serving opportunism. As a collective, they occupy the same uncomfortable space as, say, men at the Womens March. We recognize that resistance finds strength in numbers, and that these powerful constituents, be they dudes or Hollywood actresses, can shed vital light on crucial issues. Still, theres something performative about a white dude surrounded by pussy hats, proudly raising his witty poster in the air, patiently waiting for his cookie, praise, Pulitzer prize and/or Academy Award. Of course, cynicism could easily reduce the entire march to much-needed image control. Men know that now is the time to insist that #NotAllMen view women as playthings, PMS-ing nags, or potential pee-pee parties. White women know that they helped elect Donald J. Trump. And celebrities may suspect that they could have done more to push our first female president towards the Oval Office. With all of the pink posturing on display last weekend, conversation naturally turned towards Taylor Swift, our nations most opportunistic celebrity. Taylor has an unrivaled ability to read the room and seize a moment. The country star leveled-up by crossing over to pop music, widening her fan base and earning Swift the title of queen of the tweens. Shes turned Kennedys into boyfriends, break-ups into hit singles, and friendships into headlines. Swifts airtight image control is at once calculating and enviable. On the one hand, shes a badass black widow, sucking all of the fame (and blood?) out of A-list white boys. To say that Taylor Swift is more famous than all of her exes combinedand that she wears the high-waisted, size two pants in every romantic relationshipis an understatement. On paper, the 27-year-old pop star has earned a spot in the pantheon of terrifying-but-totally-awesome femalesTracy Flick with a better wardrobe, or Regina George with a bigger clique. But strangely enough, Swift has no interest in leaning in to her true potential; instead, shes resolutely tried to preserve her public image as the sweet, romantic girl next door. EPA Director-designate Scott Pruitt has gained notoriety for his extreme anti-environmental positions, having sued the EPA multiple times and called for deregulation of the fossil fuel industry. But in Christian religious circles, his nomination has led to a different kind of debate: over what kind of Christian he is, and what kind of environmental policies a Christian should support. All agree that Pruitt is himself a staunchly committed, conservative Christian. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and on the board of trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, part of the conservative Southern Baptist denomination, which claims over 15 million members. Pruitts first job out of law school was with a small legal practice which he founded and named Christian Legal Services, and which focused on defending Christians in religious liberty cases. As state senator, Pruitt proposed one of the most onerous anti-abortion laws in the country, and as attorney general, he helped lead the opposition to the recent Department of Education guidelines on transgender students using gender-appropriate bathrooms. It is also undeniable that Pruitt has unusually close ties to the fossil fuel industry. Indeed, in 2014, when Pruitt was suing the EPA, he sent a thousand-word comment letter to the government that was actually drafted for him by energy industry lawyers, according to an explosive New York Times investigation. That in itself is shocking: a public official not merely parroting a private partys talking points, but using his public office to lip-sync their exact words. At the time, Pruitt was heading up the Rule of Law Campaign, which was funded by Freedom Partners, part of the Koch Brothers constellation of political organizations. (The full extent of the funding is unknown because of rules shielding donors from scrutiny.) And the Republican Attorney Generals Association, which Pruitt headed for two years, has received at least $20 million from the energy industry. Pruitt himself has received over $215,000. The ties have been of mutual benefit. Pruitt sued the EPA to stop it from reducing air pollution in Oklahoma (by requiring coal plants to install pollution controls). He sued on behalf of the Keystone XL and Pebble Mine in Alaska. He successfully blocked regulations on fracking. He opposed the listing of several endangered species, which would have limited offshore oil drilling. And so on. And of course, Pruitt has repeated the misleading claim that scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connections to the actions of mankind. Well, surebut 100 percent of peer reviewed articles agree that it is connected, and that the degree ranges from bad to catastrophic. (In the same article, Pruitt wrote that the Obama administration lawlessly rewards its supporters and punishes its enemies.) But do these two parts of Pruitts life his conservative Christianity and his promotion of fossil fuel interests have anything to do with one another? Absolutely and Christians are on both green and brown sides of the debate. On the green side, the Evangelical Environmental Network released a letter signed by over 70 pro-life Catholic and Evangelical leaders and 450 pro-life Christians urging Trump to reconsider the Pruitt nomination. The letter defined environmental protections as a pro-life issue. Caring for Gods creation is a matter of life and our faith compels us to act, especially to reduce pollution, the letter states, noting that air pollution has been linked to birth defects, infant deaths, and an array of diseases. All of us desire pure air and clean water and the opportunity for our children and grandchildren to aspire to the abundant life that Jesus brings. Unfortunately, that opportunity is hindered by pollution that poisons the minds, lungs, and hearts of our children, born and unborn. That, of course, is very different language from whats come out of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and other mainstream environmental groups. But thats exactly the point. The Creation Care movement isnt about garbing environmental issues in Christian rhetoric, but of expressing sincere conservative Christian beliefs in the realm of environmental concern. On the brown side, the anti-environmental Cornwall Alliance released their own letter with 133 signatories. It claims that the EPAs work necessarily integrates science, economics, law, politics, and ethics, all of which are rooted in religious worldviews. Which, of course, Scott Pruitt possesses. Now, you may be surprised to learn that science is rooted in a religious worldview, rather than empiricism and objectivity, but that view is a core principle of the Cornwall Alliance. Their claim, here from Cornwalls 2009 Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming is that Earth and its ecosystems created by Gods intelligent design and infinite power and sustained by His faithful providence are robust, resilient, self-regulating, and self-correcting, admirably suited for human flourishing, and displaying His glory. Earths climate system is no exception. In other words, there cant be cataclysmic climate change because Gods design wouldnt allow it. That may not seem like science, but once it is accepted as a postulate, everything else flows from it: lack of concern over pollution, the notion that natural resources are meant to be fully exploited, and climate denialism. If Gods creation will just self-correct, theres no need for us to protect air, water, or the climate. Indeed, it might seem arrogant to even try. Now, do anti-environmental evangelicals really believe this stuff, or is it just a convenient rationale for greed (in the case of oilmen) or power (in the case of those who suck up to them)? I suppose its impossible to know. Or maybe theres no difference; other Trump advisors profess the prosperity gospel, which holds, despite Jesuss statements to the contrary, that God wants you to be rich. So if God wants you to be rich, and oil makes you rich, then theres no conflict anyway. As for Pruitt, we dont know what he himself believes, only that his conservative Christianity and his anti-environmental ideology align with the brown side. So senators should ask him. They should ask if Pruitt agrees that intelligent design means that the Earth is robust, resilient, self-regulating, and self-correcting. They should ask if he believes that God put oil in the ground as a gift to humanity, as his close confidant, Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin recently opined. They should ask if his religious views impact how he evaluates the science of climate change. Of course, one of the nice things about facts is that they dont care what you believe. In fact, toxic chemicals stay in ecosystems, and our bodies, for decades. In fact, climate change is real and undisputed by experts. And in fact, sexual orientation and gender identity (which the Southern Baptist Convention declared nonexistent) are also real and undisputed by experts. Of course, one of the sad things about our political moment is how little facts seem to matter. By Christina Jewett and Marisa Taylor As Cabinet nominee Tom Price faces Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, a newly released trove of documents sheds further light on how he interacted as a congressman with Medicare, the massive agency he may soon oversee. Letters provided by Medicare after an open records request show that the Health and Human Services pick has repeatedly stepped up in favor of drug firms, device manufacturers and higher physician payments, leading some experts to question whether he would be a reliable advocate for the publics health. The documents reveal additional instances where Price, a doctor from Georgia, set aside his priority of budget discipline in favor of special medical interests, including by sending a letter endorsing a medical procedure that Medicare later decided not to pay for, pointing to weak evidence that it helped patients get better. Hes clearly shown in this case and in other ways allegiance to the corporate interest, but not to the patient interest, said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research, a nonpartisan think tank that has studied medical device safety. Price aligned with pharmaceutical firms in one letter, criticizing a policy meant to steer doctors away from the costliest drugs. He also sided with physicians who balked at a move to cut their pay for epidural pain-relief injections. A spokesman for the Trump transition, Phillip Blando, said Price has always brought a compassion and commitment to caring for patients and his public service as a lawmaker. Any suggestion that his motivations for public service have been anything other than seeking to improve the lives of the American people is simply wrong, Blando said in a statement. On Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers pressed the Republican congressman on his investments and elicited few details on the Congressmans plans for replacing Obamacare during a four-hour Senate health committee hearing. Pointed questions came from Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who grilled Price about his investment in an Australian drug company, Innate Immunotherapeutics. Price bought stock cheaper than what was offered on the open market, according to a Kaiser Health News report cited in the hearing. Newly released documents show that in August, Price signed a letter to Medicare criticizing the use of step therapy in the drug program for seniors. The policy encourages doctors to first prescribe low-cost, established drugs and determine if theyre working before going to newer, more expensive options. In the letter, Price and eight other lawmakers said the program should remain flexible enough that it does not take prescribing power out of the hands of physicians. Julie Donohue, co-director of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, said Medicares use of step therapy is one of the few tools it has to contain soaring drug costs. Unfortunately, unfettered choice of medicines leads to higher drug spending and higher cost for taxpayers, so you have to strike the right balance, Donohue said. Price signed another letter in 2013 that would have helped major pharmaceutical firms by reducing the reports they must file on educational materials they hand out to doctors. Price and 22 other lawmakers wanted to relieve the companies from reporting what they spend giving doctors journal article reprints or textbook chapters. At the time, Medicare declined to make a change. Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, a physician and Georgetown University professor who studies drug industry relations with doctors, said the disclosure is important since such materials handed out to doctors are often vetted and controlled by drug companies, and then are used as promotional materials by sales teams. A proposal similar to the 2013 letter recently emerged as a flashpoint before the 21st Century Cures Act passed in December. Then, Sen. Charles Grassley threatened to hold up the bill over a provision exempting drug firms from reporting on the handouts, as well as another stream of funding, continuing education to doctors. With taxpayers and patients paying billions of dollars for prescription drugs and medical devices, and prices exploding, disclosure of company payments to doctors makes more sense than ever, Grassley said in a November statement, spurring the provision to be dropped. Another letter shows Price endorsing a medical procedure before it was proven to help patients. In a 2012 letter, Price urged Medicare officials to assign a payment code for a new procedure meant to relieve a condition associated with lower back pain. Prices letter notes that the procedure was pioneered by a California company called Vertos Medical that sells the device used to perform the spinal operation. We have spoken with providers unaffiliated with Vertos who have confirmed that this is a significant therapy that we need to advance, according to the letter signed by Price and Dr. Bill Cassidy, a Republican Louisiana senator who is also a physician. Lobbying records show that Vertos spent $70,000 on lobbying in 2012, the same year Price and Cassidy sent the letter. Lobbying records do not show whether Vertos reached Price. Vertos and its lobbyist, Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, did not respond to requests for comment. The doctors request to Medicare, though, did not achieve the desired outcome. Medicare officials later examined research saying the procedure had helped patients, but issued a decision refusing to pay for it, citing weak studies, questions about missing information, questions about adverse events and conflicts of interest. The Medicare decision says the evidence does not support a conclusion of improved health outcomes for our Medicare beneficiaries. In 2014, Medicare said it would pay for the procedure only if its done as part of more rigorous studies, which so far have had favorable results. Price waded in with the Congressional Doctors Caucus in early 2014 over another controversial medical procedure. He and seven other lawmakers signed a letter complaining about a Medicare pay cut to doctors who perform epidural pain-relief injections on patients spines. The letter also came after researchers began to question whether the side-effects of the spinal injectionsincluding nerve damage, paralysis and strokeswere worth the short-term pain relief benefit, according to a report in the journal Surgical Neurology International. Medicare responded to lawmakers concerns over the proposed pay cut, saying it was the result of an analysis comparing doctor pay rates to the amount of time the services take to perform. Medicare ultimately reduced the scope of the pay cut, though, after heavy lobbying by pain physicians and lawmakers. Murray and other Senate Democrats have called for a House ethics inquiry into Price. Public Citizen, a nonprofit government accountability group, also filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission. After this weeks hearing, Im afraid we have more questions than answers about Congressman Prices stock trades and the kind of information he had when they were made, Murray told reporters Thursday. I remain deeply disappointed that Republicans brushed aside these serious concerns and decided to hold his nomination hearing anyway. Lawmakers have recently called for an investigation into Prices purchase of six pharmaceutical company stocks in March, weeks before he led a bipartisan effort to quash a policy change that would have hurt the companies bottom line. In last weeks hearing, Price said his stockbroker made the purchases without his knowledge. Nike Cuts Ties With Kyrie Irving Over Hate Speech JUST DID IT The brand has suspended its relationship with Irving and will no longer release the Kyrie 8. HOUSTON (AP) Former first lady Barbara Bush was discharged from a hospital Monday while former President George H.W. Bush is expected to be moved from the hospital's intensive care unit soon. The 92-year-old former president was struggling to breathe when he was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital Jan. 14, and had since been treated for pneumonia in the intensive care unit. Ninety-one-year-old Barbara Bush was suffering from bronchitis and entered the same hospital Wednesday. Two doctors who have been treating the Bushes, Dr. Amy Mynderse and Dr. Clint Doerr, talked about the Bushes medical treatment during a news conference at the hospital. Mynderse said the former president had been sitting up and watching television, describing him as "not your average 92-year-old." She said Mrs. Bush has been discharged and that "she is back to her normal self." Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said Sunday that the former president's vital signs were normal and that doctors hoped he could be moved out of intensive care in the next day or so. At one point during the former president's stay, doctors inserted a breathing tube and a ventilator was employed to assist his breathing. The tube was removed Friday. McGrath said Mrs. Bush was given the option of leaving the hospital Sunday, but that she opted to stay overnight to continue her recovery and be close to her husband. The Bushes thanked "their well-wishers for their kindness, and especially their prayers," McGrath said. The couple's 72-year marriage is the longest of any presidential couple in American history. Households in Suffolk are being asked to conserve water because it is recognised that this is one of the driest regions in the country and there is little scope for abstracting more water from local water sources. [4] The committee on climate change report 'UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017' [5] cites "Flooding and coastal change risks to communities, businesses and infrastructure" as the biggest threat that comes with climate change the top six risks also includes "Risk of shortages in the public water supply, and for agriculture, energy generation and industry." The report goes on to say: "Climate change is projected to reduce the amount of water in the environment that can be sustainably withdrawn whilst increasing the demand for irrigation during the driest months. At the same time the growing population will create additional demands on already stretched resources in some parts of the country. Even low population growth and modest climate change scenarios suggest severe water supply deficits." [6] A shocking disrespect for process and local people The impact that Sizewell C will have on the mains water supply was recognised and flagged up during the Stage 1 Consultation by individuals and in the response from Leiston Town Council: "9.5 There are serious issues concerning Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council regarding potable water. It is unclear from the information provided what the actual intake of water associated with Sizewell C is going to be, and how much will be needed for the reactors. Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council has been informed that, with the intake of Sizewell B, the potable water situation in the area is currently only just in balance." [7] And now (25/01/17) a reader has written in with important further information. Emma Bateman contacted Essex and Suffolk water to find out where reference to Sizewell C's water appears in the Essex and Suffolk Final Water Resources Management Plan 2014, which gives a forecast of local water use up to 2040. Section 4.8 details new customers requiring over 10,000 cubic meters of water per year. This should include Sizewell C as it would need about 1,600 cubic meters per day. But according to the report "no new identified customers will open during the forecast period." On the 20th of January Bateman spoke to Julie Maxwell, developer team leader at Essex and Suffolk water, who said: she knew nothing about Sizewell C and its possible demand for mains water; she had not been contacted by anyone from EDF or Sizewell; and EDF have made no application for mains water or even indicated that they might need any for Sizewell C. The fact that EDF have completely ignored the question of mains water use despite it being queried by respondents in the first consultation and as early as 2010 [3] shows that EDF have a complete lack of respect for the consultation process and local people. Furthermore they have an irresponsible blase attitude to where the water will come from over the next 60 years. Christmas: a good time to hide a consultation The Stage 2 Consultation for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station runs from 23rd November 2016 until 3rd February 2017 [8]. As with the Stage 1 consultation this runs over the Christmas / New Year period. In effect this significantly cuts the consultation period due to the disruption caused by the extended holiday period. The probability of the 72 day consultation period starting by chance before 25 December is 72/365 which is a about 20%. The probability of this happening twice by chance is 20% x 20% which is about 4%. Well we could just be unlucky. As indicated above I am currently looking at local water resources. Interestingly we also received an email from Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) on the 6th December about their consultation which ran from the 6th December 2016 until 6th January 2017 [9]. Again this runs over the holiday period. Initially I searched for Essex and Suffolk Water which I now know is part of NWG. While I was looking I found another consultation, this time by Essex County Council which runs from 16th December 2016 until 31st January 2017. [10] It is impossible to draw any firm conclusions but this does make me suspicious that some consultations are being deliberately run over the Christmas holiday period. Private Eye [11] claim that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy release 51 energy documents on Christmas Eve. Again this could just be a coincidence but it does make you wonder ... Peter Lux writes on a variety of themes on plux.co.uk. This article combines two articles by Peter Lux published on his website. Action: write to 'FREEPOST SZC CONSULTATION' or email info@sizewellc.co.uk. See the Second Consultation Document. References 1. Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1), Department of Energy and Climage Change UK), July 2011 (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47854/1938-overarching-nps-for-energy-en1.pdf) 2. Suffolk Sizewell C Ecology Principles, Suffolk Coastal Council, January 2014 (http://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/assets/Planning/Sizewell/JLAG-Final-SZC-Suffolk-Ecology-Principles-24-01-14.pdf) 3. Sizewell C threat to water supplies', Beccles and Bungay Journal, 8 March 2010 (http://www.becclesandbungayjournal.co.uk/news/sizewell_c_threat_to_water_supplies_1_555834) 4. East Suffolk Abstraction Licensing Strategy, Environment Agency (UK), February 2013 (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/289827/LIT_7741_616823.pdf) 5. UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017, Committee on Climate Change (UK), July 2016 (https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/UK-CCRA-2017-Synthesis-Report-Committee-on-Climate-Change.pdf) page 2. 6. UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017, Committee on Climate Change (UK), July 2016 (https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/UK-CCRA-2017-Synthesis-Report-Committee-on-Climate-Change.pdf) page 4. 7. Sizewell C Stage 1 Consultation Response, Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council, 30 January 2013 (http://www.leistontowncouncil.gov.uk/ 8. EDF Energy's proposals for a new nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast, EDF (http://sizewell.edfenergyconsultation.info/szc-proposals/stage-2/). 9. Draft Assurance Plan Summary, Northumbrian Water Group (NWG), (http://communicatoremail.com/FS/1448/Documents/PC 0171 Assurance Plan Summary 2017-18 OR FINAL.pdf) 10. Primary School Places in Colcheste, Essex County Council, December 2016 (https://www.essex.gov.uk/Education-Schools/Schools/Delivering-Education-Essex/School-Organisation-Planning/Documents/Primary_places_in_Colchester_consultation.pdf). 11. Keeping The Lights On, Private Eye 1435. Roanoke Valley Governors School for Science and Technologys 31st annual Student Project Forum is set for Saturday, Jan. 28. During the forum, 264 gifted and talented students from across the Roanoke Valley will represent several scientific disciplines, such as biochemistry, computer and mathematics, medicine and health, physics and engineering. This years project titles include: * The Effect of Different Amounts of Carbon Dioxide on a Contained Aeroponics System * The Use of a 3D-Printed Robotic Hand to Communicate Sign Language * The Effect of Vitamin D Milk as a Natural Mouth Rinse on Streptococcus mutans * Moving a Robot with Electroencephalographical Technology * Determining the Effect of Connexin-43 Mutations on Intercellular Communication A panel of more than 60 judges will evaluate the projects and determine scores based on strength of presentation, comprehension of subject matter and depth of research. Cash prizes will be awarded to outstanding participants, and the top-placing students will have the opportunity to advance to a variety of local, regional, state and international science fair competitions. More than 100 Governors School parents, local businesses and community supporters have donated gift cards, gift certificates and cash for Project Forums Silent Auction and the schools Annual Appeal. Public viewing of the student research projects will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Patrick Henry High School cafeteria in Roanoke. The awards presentation will follow at 3:30 p.m. in the schools auditorium. Silent auction live bidding will take place from 12:45 to 3 p.m. in the school library. All events are free and open to the public. ROANOKE - David Lee Fox, 62, of Rocky Mount, pled guilty Thursday in District Court to two counts of coercion and enticement of a juvenile, according to information from Acting US Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle. Foxs guilty plea was made in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke, according to a news release from the US Attorneys Office, Western District of Virginia. Fox will be sentenced on April 11 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Fox allegedly contacted at least two local teenagers via social media and exchanged explicit sexual messages with them and attempted to coerce them into meeting with him to engage in sex acts, the release states. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing by Assistant US Attorney Ronald M. Huber, in August 2015 Fox initiated contact with a 14-year-old female, Victim A, via Facebook. Victim A initially ignored the defendant, who over numerous days continued to attempt to engage her in conversation, the release states. On Sept. 30, Victim A responded to Foxs attempts at conversation and Fox told Victim A she was pretty, the release states. The conversation quickly turned sexual, with Fox asking if Victim A had a picture of herself in a bar or bikini and if she could take one and send it to him. Fox told Victim A to promise not to tell anybody about their conversation. Victim A told her parents about the exchanges with Fox. On that same day, Victim As parents contacted the ICAC/Franklin County Sheriff Office about the exchanges and gave law enforcement permission to assume control of Victim As Facebook account, according to the release. All messages from Victim As Facebook account after that date were controlled by law enforcement. From Oct. 2 to Oct. 22, Fox initiated contact with Victim As Facebook account multiple times. On October 21, Fox asked Victim A is she knew Victim B, the release states. On Oct. 22 Fox expressed concern about Victim As family discovering their conversation, but Victim A reassured him, according to the report. Fox then went on to discuss his penis size and asked Victim A about her breasts as well as her sexual experiences. Fox allegedly asked if Victim A would meet him and continued to describe sexual acts he would like to do to Victim A. Victim A agreed to meet Fox at the Franklin County Baptist Church around 4 p.m. on the afternoon of Oct. 22. On the afternoon of Oct. 22, an investigator with the Franklin County Sheriffs Office, the Virginia State Police and the Rocky Mount Police waited at the church for Fox to arrive. When law enforcement observed a man fitting Foxs description arrive in the churchs parking lot to meet who he thought was Victim A, he was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor to perform sex acts, the release states. Prior to his arrest, Fox also was simultaneously being investigated for his online interactions with another minor female. On Oct. 2, 2015, a Roanoke County Police detective contacted the Franklin County Sheriffs Office regarding Victim B, another juvenile female, who had received a suspicious message from Foxs Facebook account. The parents of Victim B gave law enforcement permission to assume control of their daughters Facebook account. As with Victim A, Fox again engaged in sexual conversations with Victim B, asking her to send him pictures of herself in her bra and bikini and stressed to not let anyone know what the two of them were talking about. Unlike with Victim A, with Victim B, Fox initially lied about his age, at first saying he was a teenager himself before later admitting he was much older, the release states. Throughout multiple conversations, Fox repeatedly described sex acts he wanted to perform on Victim B, sent her images of himself and images sexual in nature and, on multiple occasions, attempted to make plans to meet her in person, according to the release. The night Fox and Victim B planned to meet in person, Fox cancelled, telling Victim B he had to go out of town; however, he was in fact going to meet Victim A, where he was ultimately arrested. The investigation of the case was conducted by Franklin County Sheriffs Office, the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Franklin County Commonwealths Attorney, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Virginia State Police and the Rocky Mount Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber prosecuted the case for the United States. How to watch, stream and listen to Iowa football's game against Purdue This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Four men were arrested Sunday night in South Norwalk on a host of drug and weapons charges. Adam Robertson, 18, of Newtown was charged with theft of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $100,000. Jimmie Springer, 24, of Wright Street Stamford, was charged with theft of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a gun without a permit, interfering with an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia,criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, and possession of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $100,000. Anthony Thompkins, 25, of Sheridan Street, was charged with theft of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a gun without a permit, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $100,000. Stephen Violet, 18 of Sandy Hook, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a gun without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle and theft of a firearm. His bond was set at $100,000. Police said that Springer, Thompkins and Violet are convicted felons. Shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday police responded to a call reporting a suspicious car at the corner of Sheridan Street and Woodward Avenue. Responding officers parked behind the vehicle, and said that the smell of marijuana and a haze of smoke were coming from the car. Police asked the operator, Robertson, if they were smoking marijuana and he admitted that they were. Police say that Springer had a lit "blunt" in his lap. The four occupants of the car were removed and police said that officers recovered a sandwich bag of a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana and a watertight case containing a pipe and marijuana wax. Upon further investigation, police located a holstered Smith and Wesson semiautomatic handgun under Springer's seat, police said. Police say that gun had been reported stolen last summer from Chester, Vermont. Police also say they located a silver facsimile revolver from the trunk, along with marijuana wax wrapped in parchment paper. The marijuana totaled 16.78 grams. All of the men were taken into custody without incident and all were given court appearance dates of Jan. 30. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK The Board of Education has approved a new operating budget for the 2017-18 school year many are calling the largest increase they can remember 10.1 percent or an extra $17.74 million. Though the increase is large, it is predominantly driven by rising health care costs, which account for 4.9 percent, or roughly $8.61 million, of the rise. Without those costs, the budget would be more in line with prior years increase, such as last years 3.9 percent, or $6.6 million increase. Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski has called the health care cost surge a crisis and said he is working with Norwalk city officials on various ways to find a sustainable solution. The Board of Education approved the whopping 10.1 percent increase in an 8-0 vote, with one abstention, an action many members called merely a formality or a way to pass on their financial needs to the citys Common Council where the budget will go next knowing the budget will not pass as it exists. I think its a valuable process for us to approve this budget as requested in order to put it in front of the city so that we can begin not just a conversation but an educational process, said Mike Lyons, chairman of the board. I think the city leaders, the Common Council, finance director, etc., have to understand where this health insurance crisis is coming from, where management of financial reserves has to be changed to take this into account. At the same time, Lyons said, he wants to say to city officials the board doesnt want to submit a budget that will just cover health insurance costs and nothing else, which would force district officials to lay people off and drop all the Strategic Operating Plan improvements, and just tread water or maybe sink a little deeper. More Information OPERATING BUDGET INCREASE 2016-17 budget $176,150,073 2017-18 budget $193,893,243 Budget increase$17,743,170 +10.1% increase Base increase $2,618,562 +1.5% Program improvements $3,978,051 +2.3% Special appropriation to cover enrollment growth $2,537,102 +1.4% Increased health insurance costs $8,609,455 +4.9% 2017-2018 Operating Budget Increase 2016-17 Budget $176,150,073 2017-18 Budget $193,893,243 Budget increase of $17,743,170 10.10% Base budget increase $2,618,562 1.50% Program improvements / Strategic Operating Plan initiatives $3,978,051 2.30% Special appropriation to cover enrollment growth $2,537,102 1.40% Increased health insurance costs $8,609,455 4.90% See More Collapse Still, Board of Education member Shirley Mosby has never seen a time when a 10.1 percent increase has ever come from the Board of Education. Other members said their eyes bugged out when they saw the figure and they though city leaders heads would explode when they saw it. Besides health care costs, the other 5.2 percent increase to the districts operating budget is dedicated to meeting the expanding needs of the growing school district and improving the quality of the district via initiatives listed in the Strategic Operating Plan. About 2.3 percent or roughly $3.98 million of the increase would go toward program improvements stemming from the districts Strategic Operating Plan. That includes an extra $1,000 funding per student for some of the districts magnet school programs. Another 1.5 percent or roughly $2.62 million would cover normal cost escalation, including labor contract settlements. A 1.4 percent or roughly $2.54 million would comprise a special appropriation to cover enrollment growth in the district. That money would go toward an expected extra 151 students for the combined current and forthcoming school year. Mosby expressed concerns about the increase of the budget and what would be cut if necessary. She has presented cutting the 1.4 percent or $2.54 million increase for enrollment growth from the coming years budget. While she realizes the district is growing and extra funding would be ideal, she said it may be able to wait. Adamowski has said, though, solely covering health insurance costs and cutting all of the other areas of budget increase would not be an option. He said he has met with Mayor Harry Rilling to discuss immediate and long-term solutions to the health care increase issue to be able to pass most of the coming years budget without cutting funding that the district needs. We agreed it was time for a different approach for this, Adamowski said of his meeting with Rilling. The extra health care costs, Adamowski said, stem from a spike of anticipated health insurance claim costs, at a roughly 16 percent expected increase, for the 2017-18 school year, in addition to a one-time reduction made to the districts Insurance Fund after a surplus in the fund built up in prior years which was transferred to cover the Special Education Development Fund for the 2017-18 school year. The number of high costs claims has gone up, said Tom Hamilton, chief financial officer of Norwalk Public Schools. We were averaging about 15 claims of $75,000 or more. That went up to about 30 claims. 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 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. KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz Thousands of women, men and children took to the streets in Stamford to protest against newly inaugurated President Donald Trump on Saturday, and in addition to their hats, they brought their sign game. From the whimsical-with-a-message "Equal Pay for Equal Twerk" to the sincere "All Genders Are Equal," here are some of the best we saw covering the Women's March on Stamford. Well, here we are. We have a new administration, maybe even a new era. Hailed at least for the time being by some; strategically tolerated, again at least for now, by others. An unbelievable carnivalesque sound: President Trump. I didnt think wed be here; I didnt think it would happen. Count me among the mystified and morally shaken, silenced by a new sort of civic fear. Yet I have not (I hope) succumbed to the irrational, the fringed fevered fears of either left or right. Both apocalypticism and quixotic glee are the passions of fools and the historically ignorant. Those who are wise have already stripped away the mythology of the man and the hyperbole of the election and have begun to set sober eyes upon a presidency of unique moment and a president of strange provenance. Which is what we all should do, turning away from the spectacle to look simply to the man: Donald Trump. And hes only a man, little else. Neither a monster nor an idiot nor even a politician; neither unique nor brilliant nor moral; merely a man, given now the near sacred duty to be our president. Which again is why its now time to put away our biblical fears and even our biblical hopes and just get on with it. You have not awoken from this very odd dream, it happened. Theres a new president, and his name is Donald Trump. Really whether you like it or not. So what do we owe Donald Trump? If its not possible to ignore him or leave the country or collapse inwardly upon oneself, what do we owe him as citizens? If were to make the best of it, what do we owe him as Americans, granted we still believe in America and in the union we hopefully still all hold dear? We owe him, I think, a chance to succeed, which is of course also a chance to fail. We owe him reasoned cooperation as well as reasoned resistance. We owe him fairness but also fearlessness. We owe him a chance to earn the respect he has yet to realize he owes others. And we owe him our best even when he shows us his worst. And speaking as a Christian (as I am), I suggest we also owe him love. We do not owe him unthinking obedience, as is sometimes supposed from a rather pernicious and ubiquitous reading of the New Testament. We neednt accept the idea that somehow this new president has been ordained by God, which would be pure idolatry. Rather, we must remember that we owe no one, neither president nor peasant, anything but love. Which, for Donald Trump, means that we owe him the better forms of love, which are the witness of moral truths, the eternal truths of what some of us believe to be a moral and eternal God. We owe him unchanging unpolitical love, love which sees Donald Trump for what he is a child of God whom God loves and not simply for what he can deliver the churches. (Which is something we Christians have not done hitherto, sadly the opposite.) The tragedy is not that Christians loved Donald Trump so much they voted him into office in overwhelming numbers. Its that they didnt love him genuinely. Its that they saw him only as a politician and not a brother, as only a weapon in their culture wars and not as a sinner in need of Gods mercy. So far weve shown him only that cheap false love of false affirmation, rationalizing his sins simply because we hated the other candidate so much we were willing to justify them with thin fake religious language we would otherwise see right through, all for the sake of uncertain political victory. We used him; we didnt love him, and we must do better. I know it sounds strange to say we owe him love, but what I mean is that we owe him the love that is also truth. But aside from this, what we all owe our new president is a better country, a better citizenry. Vaclav Havel said that a nation gets the politicians it deserves. Politicians, he argued, both reflect and refract the morality and potential of an age and of a people. Thats why we owe our president our best selves, for the sake of ourselves and for his sake. And for the good of our country and our collective soul. And so heres to love, fairness, cooperation, reasonable and not irrational dialogue, sisterhood and brotherhood, empathy and lived fragile truth; these things we owe Donald Trump as well as ourselves. Whatever your joy or whatever your dread at the inauguration of this new president, of these good things we are all still capable. Or at least I hope so. Because if we arent, President Trump is the least of our worries. Anybody who has attended college is familiar with student-run media. From newspapers to radio to even TV stations, these outlets are oftentimes the main sources of information to the college community. They vary in quality and content, with some even carrying out investigative reporting of their own institutions and taking critical stances about policies and practices that, while may seem inconsequential to outsiders, are crucial to education. Although these media are supposed to serve as training grounds for students interested in journalism, recent examples demonstrate how public opinion and college priorities have marginalized them. Despite the supposedly sacrosanct belief in a free press in the American psyche, recent news out of higher education shows serious cause for concern. It seems that more and more college administrators, which partially or totally support financially these information outlets, are trying to manipulate them. This general concern is now supported by a number of reports, including a report recently issued by the College Media Association (CMA), an organization that provides support to college student media programs and their advisers. According to their website, the CMA is finding that colleges and universities in every sector of higher education are threatening the independence of their student journalists. They present as recent examples the cases of Mt. Saint Marys University in Maryland, Northern Michigan University and Wesleyan University in Connecticut. In those cases, student newspapers or their advisers have complained of coming under undue pressure to restrict content. According to their reports, these are just a few examples in which administrators have tried to curtail or outright control the contents of these media. The fact that a few people are speaking out about these problems is remarkable given that many of them owe their jobs and financial support to their universities. In a recent report jointly published by the American Association of University Professors, the College Media Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Student Press Law Center, administrative efforts to subordinate campus journalism to public relations are inconsistent with the mission of higher education to provide a space for intellectual exploration and debate. Among the reports recommendations are for colleges to create structural barriers to outside interference in student journalists decisions, while urging other states to follow Marylands and North Dakotas lead in adopting laws that protect the free speech rights of student journalists and their advisers. And what it is at stake is not just the concept of freedom of the press but even the safety of students and others in the campus communities. Take the case of University of Kentuckys campus newspaper that investigated the case of a professor who had been accused of groping students. After an investigation the college permitted him to leave quietly. Now the student newspaper is being sued by the university in a continuing battle over whether records in the case should be disclosed. The paper, which is partly financed by the University of Kentucky, is a well-respected student newspaper that has won numerous journalism awards. Curiously, the University of Kentucky itself is home to a First Amendment Center. Yet, when the paper sought the records about the accusations against the professor, the university refused to release the documents. Then the newspaper, following procedure under the Kentucky state law, appealed to the state attorney general. The attorney general first ruled that the university should submit the documents to him for review in private. When it refused, he ruled that the university should release the documents to the newspaper with the names redacted. However, this legal dispute was in certain ways disrupted when the records in the case were leaked to the newspaper, which published an article based on them. Although the records have already been disclosed, the university sued the paper to prevent the attorney generals order from establishing what it called a dangerous legal precedent, arguing that such a ruling would open the floodgates for the release of additional documents protected by student privacy provisions, which looks more like a legal maneuver than a solid ethical concern. Although the University of Kentucky and other institutions of higher education claim that they are trying to protect the privacy of victims, it seems that they are also trying to cover their own tracks when it comes on taking actions on a problem of national dimensions sexual assaults on campus. Look at the case of Brandeis University in Massachusetts, where three staff members on The Justice, the student newspaper, were notified in February that they would be called to a university meeting the first step in a disciplinary process because the newspaper had audiotaped a public rally in 2015 at which students criticized the universitys handling of sexual assault cases. No formal charges were filed, the university said, because it concluded that student journalists covering public events were within their right to use recording devices. Others see this as a way to intimidate reporting on sensitive issues. Some student newspapers far from feeling intimidated are taking a more aggressive stance. The Daily Tar Heel, an independent publication at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, sued the university on Nov. 21 after officials refused to release details about sexual assault cases there. At Indiana University, the independent Indiana Daily Student has been battling since September to obtain a 13-page report on the schools inquiry into sexual assault accusations against a former ballet instructor who was arrested in July and charged with sexual battery of a student. The criminal case is pending. Although student media are largely designed to serve as training grounds for students in journalistic practices, they are also becoming a training ground for administrators who have yet to learn that when battling the press, they will end up losing. At the end of the day public opinion will support responsible journalists over college administrators trying to use legal technicalities to control student media. Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. is a writer and college professor with leadership experience in higher education. He can be contacted through his website at: http://www.aromerojr.net An attempt to call a special meeting to re-do the actions at the December re-organizational meeting was gaveled down by Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler. The attempt, by board member Art Asadorian, of Granite City, came at end of Wednesdays monthly meeting of the Madison County Board. It was his second attempt. Asadorian said that a special meeting could be called by the chairman, by any member during the monthly meeting, or by submitting a petition signed by 10 members. When Asadorian, at the end of new business, tried to call for the special meeting, Prenzler said: Youre out of order, as you were at the last meeting. A special meeting, he alleged, would be a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Afterward, Asadorian said he will be circulating the petition in time for the February meeting. Jack Minner, of Edwardsville, said he will be signing it, and he predicted Asadorian would have no trouble collecting 10 signatures. The special meeting, he said, would legitimize actions taken at the December meeting and would thereby protect the county from any ensuring legal action. The re-organizational meeting had been called to swear in new board members elected following the November elections. It was to have been run by Prenzler, who had defeated incumbent Alan Dunstan for chairman. Instead, Steve Adler ran part of the meeting. Adler had been on the County Board but had decided not to run for re-election. Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons said later the decicision to allow Adler to run the meeting violates state law and Madison Countys own ordinance. Gibbons advice for a do-over was backed up by the Illinois Attorney Generals office. Until that has been done, there is a cloud of uncertainty hanging over every act of the County Board and any individual appointed by the Board and Chairman, Gibbons wrote in a joint statement. In other action, the County Board adopted a new rule to increase the amount of hours employees need to work for pension eligibility. Local governments have the option of choosing the minimum of 600 hours per year or 1,000 hours per year. This change affects new hires, not existing employees, Prenzler said in a news release. The county board had operated under the 600-hour minimum, or roughly 12 hours a week. In September, the board voted to end its membership in IMRF as a way of reducing costs. The vote came after the state of Illinois passed a law that prohibits newly-elected County Board members from receiving pensions. State lawmakers passed SB 2701 in the spring of 2016 and Gov. Bruce Rauner signed it into law in late August. At Wednesdays meeting, the County Board also appointed hiring David Baker to the Madison County Mental Health Board. The nomination was to have been voted on in December, but Prenzler withdrew it. On Wednesday, it was put to a voice vote. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dino Patti Djalal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 12:48 2111 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bc46f15 3 Opinion dino-pati-djalal,Donald-Trump,#DonaldTrump,international-relations,foreign-policy Free As Americas 45th president, you will become the leader of the free world, manage the worlds largest economy, command the worlds most powerful military, control the worlds largest nuclear arsenal and be in charge of the worlds only superpower. We hope you will keep a sense of humility despite the enormous power and awesome responsibility of your new position. You have successfully made the transition from businessman to politician to president-elect. Now we hope you will swiftly transition to president and to statesman. The election of the president of the US is the democratic election most consequential to world affairs. As you rightfully pointed out, Americas invasion of Iraq was an ill-advised strategic blunder that has caused more not less conflict and suffering in the Middle East and led to the rise of the Islamic State (IS) movement. The world will still have to live with the dire consequences of that US mistake in the short and medium terms. Similarly, Mr. Trump, the decisions you will make as president of the US will have a direct impact on international security and prosperity. We want you to know, Mr. Trump, the world still needs and expects American leadership. This is the right kind of leadership, because American power, know-how and resources are critical to humanitys efforts to save our planet, eradicate poverty, resolve conflicts and manage globalization. American leadership in world affairs does not come automatically. It must be renewed and earned periodically. And it is not compatible with unilateralism. We wish you the best as you try to make America great again, and lead America to win, win, and win. We understand that you were born and bred all your life to compete and to win at all costs. It is in your DNA, and we understand that. As you move to the White House, what we hope you will understand is that America cannot win alone. We ALL want to win, to succeed. The world of the 21st century can only reach peace and progress in a win-win mode. What has made America great all throughout her history is her ability to inspire others and struggle for a better world. What makes America great is her openness, her achievements, her idealism and her humility. As we come from a country with the worlds largest Muslim population and a country that embraces pluralism, democracy and religious freedom, we urge you to do all you can to build positive, peaceful and stable relations with the Islamic world. Islam is a great faith with 1.6 billion followers. Islam is also one of the fastest growing religions in the US. Know it in your heart that the quality of relations between the Islamic world and the Western world is one of the key determinants of world peace. Get it wrong, we all suffer. Get it right, we all prosper. We therefore hope that you will see Islam with the greatest judgment and wisdom. It would also be wise for you to preserve the office of the US Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). We urge you to work for Palestines right to independent statehood. Continued oppression and deprivation of freedom for the Palestinian people will bring neither benefit nor security for Israel, the Middle-East and the United States. Successive American presidents have tried and failed to deliver Palestinian independence. Rather than backtracking, we hope you will intensify Americas support for a two state solution in which Palestine and Israel can live side-by-side in peace, dignity and security. In this vein, the idea of moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would serve no logical diplomatic purpose other than to cause a serious blow to the Palestinian struggle, which would only complicate any future peace process. We request that you reinforce Americas commitment to our region by personally attending the East Asia Summit this year in the Philippines and the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Vietnam. The leaders of the Indo-Pacific region, which still serves as the locomotive for world economic growth, expect to hear directly and clearly from President Trump about Americas regional plans. Keep in mind that if America misses the train of events, we may not wait for America to come around and America will be left behind by the rest of the region. This is not in Americas interest. We hope that as president you will not retreat from Americas global climate responsibility. In Indonesia, and in much of the world, climate change is not a theory or an opinion. It is a fact. We in Indonesia live with increasingly severe forest fires, floods, loss of species and extreme weather patterns that affect our economic and social security. The peoples of the Pacific islands are experiencing a rising sea level that they did not cause but will make some island nations physically disappear below the sea. All future generations, including your grandchildren, will be forever indebted if you become a fierce climate warrior. Please, please, Mr. President, do all you can to stay with the US commitments to the Paris climate treaty and stay in the lead in this epic struggle for the survival or humanity and our earth. We strongly believe that you should exercise prudence and restraint in managing US-China relations. We understand that some changes in US policy toward China are to be expected. As you ponder your next steps, we want you to know that China, like the US, is an important partner to nations in the region. Bad US-China relations is bad for business. We want the US and China to work together with regional countries to build a stronger architecture for peace and cooperation. This is how strategic trust is built, and in todays world there is too little of it. While some say this is wishful thinking, we continue to expect that under your presidency, the US Senate will finally ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is beyond comprehension that the worlds greatest naval and maritime power still has not signed the very convention that American and international (including Indonesian) negotiators worked hard for decades to craft, culminating in the historic signing of the UNCLOS in 1982. With the growing maritime agenda worldwide, intensified competition for marine resources, naval build-up of great and emerging powers, border disputes, and rising tension in the South China Sea, the US Senate ratification of UNCLOS would be a huge milestone to the stability and predictability of a rulesbased global maritime order. After all, the US navy already uses UNCLOS as the de facto basis of its legal and operational manual. Finally, we hope that you will avoid the worst mistake any leader can make. *** The author, a former Indonesian ambassador to the US, is founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI). This letter was read out in an event at Erasmus Huis, South Jakarta on Jan. 19. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. For more information, click here. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Michael Herdi Hadylaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 16:14 2111 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bc548f1 3 Opinion Blasphemy-Law,blasphemy,democracy Free Can't you understand? That if you take a law like evolution and you make it a crime to teach it in the public schools, tomorrow you can make it a crime to teach it in the private schools? And tomorrow you may make it a crime to read about it. And soon you may ban books and newspapers. And then you may turn Catholic against Protestant, and Protestant against Protestant, and try to foist your own religion upon the mind of man. If you can do one, you can do the other. Because fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding. And soon, your Honor, with banners flying and with drums beating we'll be marching backward, through the glorious ages of that Sixteenth Century when bigots burned the man who dared bring enlightenment and intelligence to the human mind! Those fiery words come from Henry Drummond in an adaptation of Inherit the Wind, a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. Its title was derived from the proverb He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind. The play itself warns that when people create problems within their own households, they will gain nothing. Lawrence and Lee depicted the tension between religion and science and, in a broader sense, the role of the state. The role of the state is supposed to be neutral, to give a fair chance to both religion and science. But, very often, the state fails to do so. As the story showed, science can be regarded as blasphemy, and so can artistic expression. Cases of paintings and poems being condemned as blasphemy are countless, even including jokes, puns or cartoons. Blasphemy is a very sensitive charge. For certain kinds of people, it may become the casus belli to shed others blood. Unfortunately, there is no limit with regard to interpreting blasphemy. One may find an act to be blasphemous while others are not bothered by it. Of course blasphemy is unacceptable. The problem is, how far should the state be involved in this matter and what is its role supposed to be? I think the state should not be involved with regard to religious matters or, even worse, become the executioner of religion. The state should measure only the crimes that are defined under an objective law. Therefore, while a certain religion may allow its followers to kill for the sake of God, it is still unacceptable because killing itself is a violation of law. The problem with the Blasphemy Law is that the boundaries between state and religion could break. There are reasons why the Blasphemy Law is problematic. First, blasphemy cases are full of theological and dogmatic debate. Where a seasoned scholar is needed to extract the truth from such debates, the court only provides layman judges who have no profound understanding of the subject. The capacity of a layman judge to address such complexity is a problem. Also, it would be inappropriate for the state to determine which school of thought or dogma or theological view was acceptable. The freedom to believe is guaranteed by the Constitution. Second, the Blasphemy Law will only spread discourse among members of the public. It will not become the trial of the defendant, but it will be a trial of scripture. Such an atmosphere will create prejudice that the defendant is guilty. There is no equality before the law in this case as the Blasphemy Law will set the climate for leading public sentiment toward the point where the defendant shall gain no favor. Third, there is the legal maxim nemo iudex in causa sua, which states no one can be a fair judge in his or her own case. Every judge may be a follower of a certain religion, and their objectivity is in question when they have to try a case of blasphemy regarding their own religion. There is no objectivity in this, and there is no fairness without objectivity. Thus, the defendant in a blasphemy case is the real victim of an unjust law. As Thomas Aquinas put it, lex iniqua lex non est an unjust law is no law at all. The law has not appeared out of thin air. As Lawrence M. Friedman stated in The Legal System: A Social Science Perspective, it involves the interaction and reaction of sanctions, social influence and internal values that result in the attempt to create the law, even to bend or corrupt the law. Hence, the Blasphemy Law too is a product of our society and, therefore, a sign of the existence of a problematic and wounded society. The problems lie not only within the Blasphemy Law itself, but are rooted deeply within our society, a society that is not able to open a dialogue about differences and thinks about religion only in black or white dimensions. On the contrary, religious differences involve more than just a right or wrong perspective. To abolish the Blasphemy Law is the first step in healing our nation. Thus, the President and all members of the House of Representatives have to revoke this law. The new Criminal Code must not contain the Blasphemy Law. The state must not be afraid of the claim that public tension will arise. It is only a paranoid claim from the mob that benefits from using the states hand to whack its adversaries. The state must not blame the victim, but instead blame the criminals who hide under a veil of godliness. Abolishing the Blasphemy Law is not only about changing the law, but also about educating people to respond to religious differences in a non-violent way. Religion is supposed to take a dialectic process where clashing ideas are presented in a more civilized manner. Religion must not hide behind the state to attack whoever challenges the status quo. The Blasphemy Law is not only hurting our society from within, but also provoking differences toward a bloody war, and giving justification to bigotry. In the end, we will only inherit the wind from our internal conflict. *** The writer is a lawyer at Frans Winarta & Partners and lecturer at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Hukum Litigasi, Jakarta. He can be found at Twitter @ko_kokel. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. For more information click here. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stevie Emilia (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 14:40 2111 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bc517cd 4 Books Book,book-recommendation Free Talented young chef Budi Lee has traveled the world to spread his passion for Indonesian food yet he still finds time to read. I usually read before I sleep or when traveling, unless Im driving of course, he laughed. The chef, who took culinary studies in Singapore, has worked in several top restaurants, including in Singapore and Bali. He was also co-owner and executive chef of Munchies Bistro as well as chef/host for the Chef Surprise and MoDISHfication TV cooking shows. Budi, who is the father of a little girl, has been busy recently as a food consultant for clients who are working to set up their restaurant businesses. He also represented Indonesia at the World Association of Chefs Society and was named World Young Chef Ambassador for Asia. In February, I am scheduled to go to Paris to promote Indonesian food with Om [uncle] Will, he said, referring to renowned chef William Wongso. Budi, who will turn 30 this year, said he prefers to read real books not digital ones, and mostly culinary books along with several self-improvement, psychology and literary pieces that sit in his home collection. (Read also: Book Review: Questioning our food choices and their affects on sustainability) When I still lived at my parents house, my dad and I used to read Kho Ping Ho together, said Budi, referring to the legendary Kho Ping Ho action novel series. However, none of the three favorite books that he says he reads repeatedly are cooking books. The Magic of Thinking Big A photo posted by -iM- GregKeefe (@im.gregkeefe) on Oct 21, 2016 at 4:39pm PDT Author: David J. Schwartz I used to be a pessimist and not very confident. But after reading this book, I slowly changed. I started to dare to dream big. I first read this book 10 years ago and since then I think I have bought three copies. Inti kebijakan (Roots of Wisdom) Author: Tsai Chih Chung This book is a light one since it comes with illustrations, but content wise, its rich with moral messages that are useful in ones daily life and in society. Its Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want To Be A photo posted by Scott Quinn (@scottpquinn) on Nov 25, 2016 at 1:09pm PST Author: Paul Arden I find the book simple and straightforward. The message is brief: how to be a better person, businesswise. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity) served as the highlight of a dance recital at the Usmar Ismail Film Building in South Jakarta on Saturday. Titled Warnaku Indonesia (My Color Indonesia), the show presented various types of dance, such as waacking, hip hop, ballet, Broadway jazz, contemporary, urban choreography and traditional dance. Performed by dance academy Indonesian Dance Theater as its first anniversary celebration, the recital consisted of 19 parts. (Read also: Surakarta kicks off Chinese New Year with Umbul Mantram ritual) We would like to present something to our nation in the form of dance, especially the types of dance that are taught at our academy, such as hip hop, urban choreography, contemporary, classical ballet, modern jazz, Broadway jazz and traditional dance, said the academy principal Sisilia Oei, adding that they wanted the art of dancing to combine music, passion, soul, fashion and make-up. The recital started with a performance of one of Indonesias songs, Rayuan Pulau Kelapa (Solace on Coconut Island), followed by Urban Life in Motion, where the dancers, all dressed in batik, interpreted the current situation in society where many different identities collide in urban life. Choreographed by Josh Marcy, the piece showcased the beauty of diversity. Some of the segments highlighted meaningful messages. Unity, for example, portrayed the beauty of harmonization. Wearing all-white costumes, the dancers performed gracefully. Meanwhile, choreographer Morine Erine presented Sepuluh, where 10 dancers were portrayed confronting different conflicts to achieve their purpose together. We come from different cities, religions, cultures, schools, but we believe that were Indonesians. Thats why the show is called Warnaku Indonesia, said the academy director Claudia Warni. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jason Gale and Natalie Obiko Pearson (Bloomberg) Mon, January 23, 2017 Smallpox, syphilis, plague, cholera some of the planets most notorious scourges dramatically expanded their reach thanks to unsuspecting travelers. With a record 3.77 billion air passengers worldwide last year, new disease-causing microbes have never traversed the planet faster. The recent case in Reno, Nevada of a woman who died from a rare bacterial infection is a tragic reminder. She picked up a variant of a germ called Klebsiella pneumoniae, probably while she was treated in India for a leg fracture and hip infection, Washoe County health authorities said last week. Tests found the bacterium was resistant to 26 antibiotics. In fact, no available drug could stop it from poisoning her bloodstream weeks after she was admitted to the hospital in Nevada. The fatal case fits a patterndoctors in North America, Europe and Australia have observed for more than a decade: travelers who have spent time in India have an especially high risk of returning home with unwanted germs. Most often, the drug-evading bugs are ingested in fecally contaminated food or water, and take up residence in the intestines, where they are incorporated into the bodys normal bacterial flora. The stowaways can be dangerous if they escape from the bowel into other tissues, like the bladder or bloodstream. There are lots of studies that show that being in India does put you at risk for these infections, said Ramanan Laxminarayan, a New Delhi-based director for the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy in Washington. (Read also: Rise of antimicrobial-resistant superbugs) Babies Dying India carries one of the highest health-care burdens from antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the world. Sepsis caused by drug-defying germs kills more than 58,000 newborns in India, according to Laxminarayan. The overuse of antimicrobial medicines, and the lack of toilets and clean water, helps propagate and spread the mutant microbes in the environment. The Indian government is trying to counter that. The direct sale of antibiotics to the public was prohibited in March 2014 to halt excessive, unnecessary use. Later the same year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a program to wipe out open defecation within five years as part of a nationwide Clean India campaign. Johann Pitout, a medical microbiologist at the University of Calgary, was one of the first doctors to make the link between travel and the spread of resistant germs. When he arrived in Calgary in 2002, the South Africa-trained doctor noticed that his lab was receiving a disproportionately high number of supergerm-containing patient specimens from general practitioners and nursing homes, instead of hospitals typically the biggest source of hard-to-kill bacteria. The microbes that piqued Pitouts interest were common intestinal-dwelling bacteria that harbored special enzymes, known as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), which destroy most penicillin- and cephalosporin-based antibiotics. ESBLs were mostly in the community setting, which was the first time Id ever seen that, Pitout said in an interview. He began surveying patients to understand why, and found the answer in responses to a question on travel history. The majority of patients had previously traveled to India and China. Those were the two places that stood out. (Read also: Save our lives, use antibiotics wisely) India is predicted to be the worlds third-biggest air travel market by 2035. (Thomas Tangden et al, in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Sept. 2010 via Bloomberg/File) Travel Destination India is predicted to be the worlds third-biggest air travel market by 2035. Since Pitout noted the infection link, the South Asian nation has come up as the country from where travelers are most likely to return with digestive tracts colonized by ESBL-producing bacteria in at least eight studies by research groups from Australia to New York City. In one study, doctors in Sweden tested rectal swabs from 105 volunteers who were about to travel internationally. Only one already had E. coli with the drug-resistance enzyme before departure. Of the remaining 104 travelers, 100 provided a second rectal swab on returning to Sweden, 24 of whom were colonized with ESBL-producing bacteria. Of the eight who traveled to India, seven carried the superbug in their digestive tract. Taking an antibiotic, such as for travelers diarrhea, significantly increases the risk because it disturbs normal gut flora, allowing new intestinal microbes to take hold, Pitout said. Prostate Biopsy Once inside the bowel, the supergerms can migrate to cause a difficult-to-treat urinary tract infection. They also pose a risk for men undergoing a prostate biopsy or anyone having bowel or gallbladder surgery, said Peter Collignon, head of infectious diseases at Canberra Hospital, who sits on a panel advising the World Health Organization about antimicrobial resistance. Patients hospitalized with an invasive, ESBL infection are usually treated with a medicine from the carbapenem class, though even those high-powered antibiotics are failing now that bacteria are increasingly harboring carbapenemase enzymes that neutralize these drugs. In many cases, that leaves just one antibiotic: colistin. That too is losing its potency, thanks to a bacterial gene first identified in China thats since turned up in at least 20 countries. (Read also: Getting ready to tackle 'superbugs' on farms, food) The recent case in Reno, Nevada of a woman who died from a rare bacterial infection is a tragic reminder. She picked up a variant of a germ called Klebsiella pneumoniae, probably while she was treated in India for a leg fracture and hip infection, Washoe County health authorities said last week. (Shutterstock/File) Trips to China That finding and other recent studies show antimicrobial resistance is a growing worldwide problem, with an especially high incidence in countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, and some areas in southern Europe, such as Greece, said Lindsay Grayson, head of infectious diseases at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne. The extent of the spread of these organisms and the size of the problem is still being defined, Grayson said in a phone interview from Geneva, where he is assisting WHO formulate clinical guidelines to control the spread. In Australia, we have increasing concerns about travelers, such as businessmen, who have recently returned from China who are about to undergo surgical procedures. They should undergo fecal screening to see if they have acquired similarly resistant organisms that could later affect their health care. Swedish Patient The bacterium that killed the woman in Nevada resisted carbapenem as well as colistin. It was fortified with a gene dubbed NDM -- short for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase, a reference to the city where a Swedish man was hospitalized in 2007 with an infection that couldnt be stopped by carbapenem or any commonly prescribed antibiotic treatment. The gene is now found in bacteria worldwide, including in the U.S., making it impossible to prove whether or not the Nevada patient, who was in her 70s, picked it up during her extended visit to India, said Laxminarayan at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy. Even still, its plausible that India was the source. Carbapenem-resistance is rife in India -- both in the community and in hospitals, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 14:12 2111 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bc4e2a7 4 People Donald-Trump,#DonaldTrump,inauguration,kellyanne-conway,meme,#meme Free The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States saw a trail of interesting spectacles during and after the ceremony and the internet has swiftly turned them into comical moments. From George W. Bushs battle with his poncho to the resemblance between Melania Trumps inauguration dress and Jackie Kennedys, memes have emerged to ease the pain that some people in the United States are feeling at the dawn of a new America. One remarkable sight was President Donald Trumps incoming counselor, Kellyanne Conway, and her red, white and blue outfit on the morning of Trumps inauguration, which has been dubbed Trump Revolutionary Wear as reported by Time. Kellyanne was a leading strategist in Trumps presidential campaign. (Read also: Madonna defends her anti-Trump speech at women's march) When asked about her colorful wool coat, she responded Oh, its just Gucci. Side by side comparisons of Conways outfit to a mascot, the Paddington bear, to an American Girl doll, to the Nutcracker doll and many other things has flooded the internet. (mra/kes) Heres what the memes have to say: Why does Kellyanne Conway look like the old New England Patriots logo? pic.twitter.com/swgdHH53v6 Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 20, 2017 That was nice of Molly the American Girl doll to let Kellyanne Conway raid her closet #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/fVR8lJ4O6y Erica Steiner @ TMZ (@SendARavenPlz) January 20, 2017 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Severianus Endi (The Jakarta Post) Ketapang, West Kalimantan Mon, January 23, 2017 More than 1,000 waterbirds were seen recently in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, an indicator that the regencys wetlands were in good condition, an environmentalist said on Monday. A Jan. 7-21 census held by Ketapang Friends of Birds found 350 nests of five different waterbird species. More than 750 adults and some 500 young birds were also found during the census, with the Ardeidae family dominating the numbers, said Abdurahman Al Qadrie, chairman of the group, which comes under Ketapang Biodiversity Conservation. According to Abdurahman, Ardeidae were protected under Government Regulation No. 7/1999, as the birds were sensitive to disturbances in habitat and changes in land use. [Their existence] is an indication that Ketapang has a very good condition of wetlands and supportive ecosystem sustainability, Abdurahman told The Jakarta Post. Following the good news, Sungai Nanjung village chief Riduan said he would support the groups findings. I will tell villagers to not hunt the birds, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) New York, United States Mon, January 23, 2017 More than a century after his death, Mark Twain's publishing life continues. Doubleday Books for Young Readers announced Friday that it has acquired a fairy tale only recently discovered. The book is called "The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine" and is scheduled for Sept. 26. The work is based on 16 pages of notes written by Twain in 1879 that were spotted at the Mark Twain Papers & Project at the University of California at Berkeley. (Read also: 12 Indonesian books you should add to your reading list) Doubleday Books for Young Readers has acquired a never-before-published Mark Twain childrens story https://t.co/KnCtWSm9El pic.twitter.com/nqVldqDgIc Kids' BookBuzz (@kidsbookbuzz) January 20, 2017 The prize-winning team of Philip Stead and Erin Stead have expanded the unfinished story to an 11-chapter, 152-page illustrated book. The Steads are best known for "A Sick Day for Amos McGee." "The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine" tells of a boy who can talk to animals and their joint effort to rescue a prince. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Bloomberg) Mon, January 23, 2017 Xiaomi Corp.s international chief Hugo Barra has quit after a turbulent four years during which the Chinese smartphone maker rose to the top of its home market before local rivals mimicked its model and dethroned the brand. The former Google executive is returning to Silicon Valley after being hired with much fanfare in 2013 to be Xiaomis global face, becoming a fixture on the conference circuit and the up-and coming vendors main pitchman to foreign audiences. In a Facebook post Monday, Barra said it was time for him to return home to embark on a new adventure, without elaborating. Senior Vice President Xiang Wang will oversee global operations after Barra departs in February, after the Lunar New Year holidays. Barra was given the task of taking Xiaomi global, helping the company make inroads into India, where sales topped $1 billion for the first time in 2016. During his tenure, it briefly became Chinas biggest smartphone vendor by packing high-end components into inexpensive devices and building a vibrant online community of users. But local brands such as Oppo, Vivo and Huawei Technologies Co. rapidly copied its moves and developed more innovative competitive tactics. Hugo was a key figure for Xiaomi in the early days because he helped overseas marketing, said Kitty Fok, managing director of IDC China. Barras departure is likely to have limited impact because Xiaomis position in India has stabilized and the task has shifted to growing market share, said Fok. (Read also: Xiaomi targets niche smartphone market as growth slows down) His exit may indicate that Xiaomi is re-focusing on its home market, said Nicole Peng, an analyst at Canalys. Barra will be departing Beijing -- a city infamous for hazardous air pollution -- just as Xiaomi is struggling to find its footing at home. What Ive realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health, Barra wrote in his post. Seeing how much Ive left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return. Xiaomi was last valued at $45 billion in 2014, making it one of the worlds largest startups. It drew comparisons to Apple Inc. after doubling revenue that year and climbing to the top of the Chinese smartphone market . Its since struggled, missing its 2015 shipments target and falling behind Oppo and Huawei. The company is aiming for 100 billion yuan ($14.5 billion) in revenue this year -- the same target it had set as far back as 2015. Since that valuation in 2014, analysts have questioned its price tag given a sliding market position. In a memo posted on his WeChat account, billionaire co-founder Lei Jun said his company had tried to grow too rapidly in past years and missed opportunities. Its had more success in India, where it grew shipments 150 percent last year. Chinese brands account for 51 percent of Indias smartphone shipments in November, according to Counterpoint Research. Xiaomi is now counting on the country to drive its next phase of growth: it already assembles over three-quarters of its Indian smartphones in the country under the governments Make in India program. (Read also: Xiaomi tablet that transforms into robot is oh-so-cool) Yet despite that success, Xiaomis most important market by far remains its home country, where it may be preparing a comeback. Xiaomi realized the Chinese smartphone market will be their top priority, Peng said. India was the only shining point for Xiaomis overseas expansion over the years, and entering the U.S. market will not be easy because the market is strongly held by Apple and Samsung. Xiaomi secured $1.1 billion in 2014 from investors including GIC Pte., All-Stars Investment Ltd. and DST. Executives have since said repeatedly that it isnt on the hunt for financing, while deflecting speculation about an initial public offering. Apart from phones, the company also sells other types of electronic gadgets and appliances, from air purifiers to robot vacuums, made by what it calls its ecosystem-partners. Sales through such manufacturing and branding partners exceeded 15 billion yuan in 2016, Lei has said. As much as we would love to have Hugo stay with us in Beijing for a much longer time, we understand his personal challenges and wish him all the best in his future endeavors, co-founder Lin Bin wrote in a comment on Barras Facebook post. With assistance by Yuan Gao Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23 2017 Authorities detained 17 citizens on Saturday upon their arrival from Turkey, a country that can be a gateway to war-torn Syria, on suspicions that they had joined the Islamic State (IS) militant group. The 17 Indonesians, including eight women, arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten on Turkish Airlines flight TK 056. Airport immigration authorities, in coordination with the polices counterterrorism squad Densus 88, secured the citizens over allegations that they had helped IS in Syria. Theyre still undergoing investigation at [the polices Mobile Brigade detention center] in Kelapa Dua by Densus 88, police spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) The Ministry of Economic Affairs has ruled that steel products imported from China, South Korea and four other countries have caused "substantive damage" to the local steel industry and will ask the Ministry of Finance to decide whether to impose anti-dumping taxes on the imports. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Vietnam Mon, January 23 2017 Well-known human rights defender Tran Thi Nga from Vietnams northern province of Ha Nam has become the second activist to be arrested so far this year, six days after General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong returned from China where he paid an official visit to the neighboring country, the Defend the Defenders group reported Saturday. On Saturday, authorities in Ha Nam deployed a large number of police officers to arrest Nga, a labor and land rights activist with two children, one who is 5 years old and another who is 3 years old, Defenders stated in an email obtained by The Jakarta Post. Police also arrested her boyfriend Ly Van Phong, who is a pro-democracy activist from Hanoi, Defenders said. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Winny Tang (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura Mon, January 23, 2017 Low-cost carrier Citilink Indonesia, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, has launched a new route to Jayapura as part of its strategy to expand to eastern regions of Indonesia. Citilink president director Albert Burhan said the passenger load factor was almost 100 percent on Monday, the day of the maiden flight, thanks to peoples enthusiasm about the new service, which includes a stop in Makassar. We have started with Makassar and Manado, and now Papua. In 2017, we plan to serve more flights to areas surround Papua. It has long been Citilink's dream to fly to Papua, although this is the first time it could be realized," he said in Sentani, Jayapura, on Monday. The flight from Jakarta to Jayapura is scheduled to depart at 5.55 a.m. and touch down in the Papuan capital at 3.35 p.m., using Airbus A320 with a capacity of 180 passengers. Meanwhile, planes from Surabaya will take off at 7.10 a.m. and arrive in Jayapura at the same time. A round trip ticket from Jan. 23 to Jan.24 from Jakarta to Jayapura cost Rp 4.3 million (US$337.5) as of Monday morning, while the Surabaya-Jayapura trip cost Rp 4.1 million. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 A group of legal experts and environmentalists on Monday reported Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan to the Indonesian Ombudsman for alleged maladministration regarding newly issued regulations that provide further relief for the mineral export ban. On Jan. 11, the government issued a fourth revision of Government Regulation No. 23/2010 on the management of mineral and coal businesses, which allows 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). Law No. 12/2011 mandates that the public has the right to propose substance to be considered in the making of laws and regulations. But as those regulations were issued concurrently on the same day, people weren't able to use such rights, Tarumanagara University legal expert Ahmad Redi said before filing the report against Jonan at the ombudsmans office in Jakarta. (Read also: Indonesia pledges leeway for obedient miners) Ahmad represented the Civil Society Coalition for the Constitution and Natural Resources, which he said consisted of at least 20 institutions, in reporting the case to the ombudsman. At present, the coalition is also collecting testimonies from various experts to use in filing a request for a judicial review at the Supreme Court against the relaxation policy, which it claims has violated the law. (hwa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya and Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23 2017 Ethnic and religious sentiments are two factors driving voter decisions in the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election, studies have reported. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the first son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), and his running mate Sylviana Murni seem to have taken these factors more into account than the two other candidate pairs. As proof of this, Agus and Sylviana have been more assertively reaching out to various ethnic groups than incumbents Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat or Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 Trade Minister Airlangga Hartarto has lauded a plan by state-owned fertilizer company PT Pupuk Indonesia and Germany based Ferrostaal to develop a fertilizer factory in Bintuni Bay, West Papua. The two companies have agreed to carry out a feasibility study for the US$1.5 billion project. The two parties have a commitment to provide the government with comprehensive data related to the petrochemical factory, the minister said as reported by kontan.com on Monday. (Read also: Pupuk Indonesia intensifies research to strengthen food security) Airlanggas statement was made after witnessing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Pupuk Indonesia investment director Gusrizal and Ferrostaal CEO Klaus Lesker in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Jan. 21. The plan to develop a fertilizer factory in West Papua is part of President Joko Jokowi Widodos plan to distribute development fairly nationwide. Bintuni Bay is known for its gas resources as raw material for the fertilizer. We will support the allocation of gas with good prices, he said. The fertilizer producer is among industrial sectors that will enjoy the gas-price cut introduced by the government, as stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 40/2016 on natural gas prices. The potential of the natural gas in the area that has been identified reaches 23.8 trillion standard cubic feet (tscf). New gas reserves with potential between 6 tscf and 8 tscf has already been found. Meanwhile, Gusrizal assured that his company was interested in developing a fertilizer factory in Bintuni Bay by optimizing the use of gas resources in the region. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab fulfilled a Jakarta Police summons on Monday in relation to allegations that the firebrand preacher had insulted the rupiah in a sermon. Rizieq arrived at the Jakarta Police headquarters around 11 a.m. and immediately rushed to the police's special crimes directorate, where his questioning was to take place. He will be questioned regarding a speech that went viral on social media, in which he allegedly claimed the countrys banknotes featured the communist hammer and sickle symbol. He was reported by the Anti-Slander Youth Intellectual Network (Jimaf) group for allegedly insulting Indonesias currency. Central bank governor Agus Martowardoyo previously rebuffed Rizieq's claim, saying Bank Indonesias logo was printed in such a way to protect the money from counterfeiting. The questioning was overshadowed by a rally staged by hundreds of FPI members in front of the Jakarta Police headquarters. Hundreds of police officers and soldiers were seen held on standby to secure the rally. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 The government has been urged to strictly enforce the law when dealing with members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and other violent mass organizations instead of merely suspending them, an act that could be considered anti-democratic. Sociologist Vedi R. Hadiz from the University of Melbourne told a discussion in Jakarta on Monday that the growing intolerance pushed by groups such as the FPI was the result of years of omission by the state. Intolerant groups can continue to engage in their violent actions because there are part of a State that preserves them. Do we see any of these groups that attack minority groups such as the Ahmadiyah, for example, take accountability for their actions? Vedi asked. Vedi encouraged law enforcers to punish any organization that disrupted peace and the public. However, Vedi also argued that dissolving intolerant groups is anti-democracy. Discussions on how to best discipline violent mass organizations have arisen once again after the FPI attracted public attention for mobilizing mass demonstrations calling for the imprisonment of incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian and a Chinese-Indonesian, for alleged blasphemy. To crack down on the amplifying violence that is spreading across Indonesia, the government is planning to revise the prevailing Law No. 17/2013 on mass organizations to expand the definition of anti-Pancasila in order to include more categories of groups that can be banned from operating in the country. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 The Health Ministry has urged the public to take precautionary measures to prevent the outbreak of anthrax following the death of a 9-year-old boy in Yogyakarta, suspected to have contracted Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that causes the infection. We urge the public to sincerely practice a healthy lifestyle, especially following the case in Yogyakarta. For example, consume only meat that is cooked properly, the ministrys spokesman Oscar Primadi told The Jakarta Post. He added that the ministrys health research development center was currently investigating the case to confirm whether the death of the boy was caused by an anthrax infection. The hospital [where the boy died] found the possibility [of an anthrax infection], but its still preliminary. We need to confirm it, Oscar said. The bacterial scare emerged after 16 people from Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta, were reported on Jan. 10 to be suffering from skin infections caused by anthrax. Oscar said that the report was not true as there was only one patient who was treated at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital. The public doesnt have to worry because it is still safe to visit patients or receive treatment at the hospital, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 The West Java provincial administration has prepared a location for a reclamation project to create a new islet for the Patimban seaport in Subang, an official has said. The new islet is in the form of a U, the inside of which will be the seaport. The plan has been made, said the economic and development assistant to the West Java provincial administration, Deny Juanda Puradimaja, as reported by tempo.co on Monday. The Patimban seaport project has two parts one that would be developed on the new 350-hectare U islet and the other that would be developed on a 250- to 300-hectare plot of land, Deny added. (Read also: Patimban Port expected to help boost automotive exports) Both parts will be connected by two bridges, one 900 meters long and another 800 meters long, Deny said, adding that the bridges would be developed to prevent the mangroves in nearby areas from being disrupted. Meanwhile, the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) document is being finalized by the Environment and Forestry Ministry, he said. Meanwhile, the West Java administration and the West Java Legislative Council had revised Bylaw No. 22/2010 concerning the space required to accommodate the development of the Patimban seaport, Deny said. Because of the project, the central government and the House of Representatives are also required to revise the national spatial law. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23 2017 The Attorney Generals Office (AGO) announced on Friday that it had stopped an investigation into alleged graft in a contract between a state-owned enterprise and the Grand Indonesia complex near Jakartas Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. Ask the Supreme Audit Agency; dont ask us. They were the ones who said [there was the potential for state losses]. We concluded that it was only a violation of civil law, Attorney General HM Prasetyo said as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday. He said his office had concluded that the case was not corruption and therefore he had handed it over to the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry for follow-up. He said the ministry could file a civil lawsuit to revise the contract. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Asila Jalil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23 2017 Indonesians should work together to disassociate Islam from terrorism from the mind of the United States 45th president, Donald Trump, speakers at a discussion said Saturday. Researcher at the Center for Political Studies Nanto Sriyanto said that Trumps idea on Islam probably stemmed from the unfavorable depiction of the religion by mainstream media in the US. The harsh perception that Trump has about Islam does not reflect the Islam that Indonesians practice, which is based on our traditions. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Medan Mon, January 23 2017 After being on the run for four days, five suspects in the murder of businessman Indra Gunawan, aka Kuna, were arrested on Sunday by detectives from the Medan Police and North Sumatra Police. Two of the suspects were shot dead after reportedly resisting arrest. Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Sandi Nugroho said the suspects were arrested in different locations. The suspects who were shot dead, [identified with the initials] RA and PU, were the ones who ordered the shooting [of Indra], Sandi told reporters at Bhayangkara Police Hospital in North Sumatras provincial capital of Medan. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) is set to engage the citys residents in sorting and folding 7.2 million ballots for the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for Feb. 15. KPU Jakarta commissioner M. Fadlilah said KPU offices in five municipalities and Thousand Islands regency would be given the authority to recruit residents get involved in the sorting and folding of ballots for the Jakarta election. Each KPU office will be able to determine the number of recruited workers by considering the number of ballots it receives, he further said. We expect the sorting and folding process to be complete within the next seven to 10 days," Fadlilah told The Jakarta Post on Monday. He added that KPU Jakarta had allocated Rp 150 (1.5 US cents) for each ballot sorted and folded by the residents. (Read also: KPU Jakarta ready to distribute 7.2 million ballots) Separately, KPU Central Jakarta logistics working unit head, Yose Rizal, said the commission had recruited 30 people to sort and fold about 766,000 ballots. He said residents were expected to work eight hours a day when the process began on Tuesday. We estimate each resident can fold 5,000 ballots per day. We hope that next week we will have finished sorting and folding the ballots," Yose said at the KPU Central Jakarta warehouse on Jl. Kalibaru Timur, Senen, on Monday. The sorting and folding process will be supervised by several staff members from KPU Central Jakarta, he added. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 The Jakarta Police have deployed personnel to safeguard a rally involving Islam Defenders Front (FPI) protesters on Monday. "We will follow the protesters from their meeting point at the Al Azhar Mosque to the headquarters of the Jakarta Police," Jakarta Police traffic chief Sr. Comr. Ermayudi said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday. Ermayudi said the police had stationed at least 500 traffic police along the route of the rally to help ease traffic. "The protesters will be directed to march via Jl. Raden Patah to the Kemenpan t-junction and then turn left to Jl. Jend. Sudirman," Ermayudi said. According to Ermayudi, the traffic police will temporarily close down the slow lane on Jl. Jend. Sudirman for the protesters. The protesters are holding the rally to protest the questioning of their leader Rizieq Shihab regarding the latter's allegedly slanderous statements. Rizieq was reported to the Jakarta Police by the anti-slander young intellectuals network (Jimaf) in relation to alleged comments he made about Indonesias new banknotes. Rizieq allegedly said the banknotes featured a symbol that resembled the logo of the now defunct Indonesian Communist Party. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya, East Java Mon, January 23, 2017 Printing house PT Temprina Media Grafika (TMG) in Gresik, East Java, has completed the printing of 800,000 ballots for regional elections in West Papua but bad weather has triggered worries that delivery of election materials will be disrupted across the province. West Papua is the electorate furthest to the east that will participate in the simultaneous regional elections scheduled for Feb.15. Its ballots were the latest batch printed by TMG Gresik. Because only 800,000 ballots are needed, the printing process took only eight hours. We have packed and begun to distribute the ballots. It is expected that all ballots will have arrived in municipalities and regencies in the province by Jan. 30, said Abdul Halim Shidiq from the West Papua General Elections Commissions (KPU) logistics and finance division. He said the printing of the 800,000 ballots was completed on Jan. 20. Once they arrive in each regency and municipality, local election offices will begin to carry out the sorting and folding of ballots before they are packed and sent inside ballot drop boxes to villages, districts and polling stations across Fak-fak, Kaimana, Manokwari and Sorong. Abdul said KPU West Papua was worried weather conditions would hamper delivery of the ballots to polling stations. He said Raja Ampat was the farthest location the officers had to reach. Around 90 percent of its area is sea and islands. Currently, waves in Raja Ampat are quite high. We will rent a longboat or big vessel that is more stable in rough waters. There is quite a huge challenge here, said Abdul. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries have agreed that multilateral trade negotiations are better than bilateral and plurilateral trade as it avoids the domination of trade rules by one country amid growing protectionism concerns. "The system managed by the WTO is the best multilateral trade scheme today," Trade Minister Enggartiasto "Enggar" Lukita said after an informal meeting with WTO country members' ministers on Saturday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Other alternatives would just be chaos, where one could punish the other on a unilateral basis without proper legal process, he said in a statement. (Read also: Indonesia revises down export growth target in 2017) The organization will hold the 11th ministers' conference (KTM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December. However, a decision on the topics of the conference has seen slow progress, pending the US' trade stance following the new administration of President Donald Trump. Enggar warned members to start preparing for the next KTM and to make follow-ups from previous conferences in Bali and Nairobi as well as the settlement of public stockholding proposals and special safeguard mechanisms the main focuses of the 11th KTM. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eva Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Manado Mon, January 23, 2017 Hundreds of Muslim students in North Sulawesi staged a rally on Monday following a wave of demonstrations nationwide pressing the government to dissolve violent radical mass organizations. The North Sulawesi Muslim Students Front marched to the North Sulawesi Religious Ministry Office and the governor's office in Manado. We demand the Religious Affairs Ministry to not tolerate radical organizations, including the Islam Defenders Front [FPI], stated Vanni Datukramat, one of the students, saying that the FPI did not reflect Islamic values. They only use Islam for their own interests, he added. The North Sulawesi administration should be able to refuse the FPI [if they come to the province], said Vanni, who is also a member of the Indonesian Muslim Students Movement. Another student, Rahmat Makalalag, read out the students petition on supporting the police thoroughly investigating FPI leader Rizieq Shihab, who is facing more than a dozen police investigations over his alleged insults against the state's symbols and ideology, as well as against other religion. The police should not be afraid when facing threats from radical groups. We support the investigations against Rizieq Shihab, he said. The head of the North Sulawesi Public Order Agency, Edyson Humiang, said the students petition was in line with the administrations stance to clear the province of radical organizations. Together we will prevent the presence of radical organizations, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab has warned the police that they should not accept without reservation all public reports filed with them, especially those that could trigger public uproar. He made the statement after being questioned at the Jakarta Police headquarters over his claim that the newly issued rupiah banknotes contain a hammer and sickle logo. The claim has been reported as alleged hate speech aiming to provoke public anger. Rizieq said that his case was an example of the polices poor ability to analyze public reports, arguing that the case against him was so weak that, if the police continued to process it, people would think the police were criminalizing ulema, or Islamic teachers. If every little thing [I have done] is reported to the police, there will be a widespread perception among the public that ulemas are being criminalized." Thats why we ask the government to be more critical and not just accept without reservation all reports that can create false impressions among members of the public, Rizieq said. (Read also: FPI leader calls for withdrawal of banknotes with communist symbol) Rizieqs questioning on Monday was accompanied by a rally staged by hundreds of FPI members. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono said the police were not targeting Rizieq and were just processing the reports filed with them. Apart from the hammer and sickle logo issue, two other police reports have been filed against Rizieq. They comprise one count of alleged defamation of the nations first president Sukarno and the nations founding ideology Pancasila, as well as alleged blasphemy against Christianity. The FPI leader is currently being investigated by the West Java Police over his alleged defamation of Sukarno, based on a report submitted by the late founding fathers daughter, Sukmawati Soekarnoputri. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 The government is expected to protect the country's economy from the negative effects of global and domestic risks, including the recent rise of intolerance and religious radicalism. The fear is that the recent increasing incidents of intolerance and terrorism would start affecting the perceptions of investors and businesspeople, which could affect the economy if the government fails to implement strong measures to curb such disruptions. "Radical and intolerant voices are growing right now, even in sermons during Friday prayers. It seems that these intolerant sermons are the popular ones in our society," said National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar during a discussion on Monday. (Read also: Noose tightens around FPI leader) He stressed that the party, along with the largest Islamic organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), would help the government to counter radicalism and intolerant groups. "However, the government should show its seriousness in handling those issues," he added. At the same event, Sofjan Wanandi, chief economic advisor to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, said businesspeople were actually very confident about the country's economy, as shown through their enthusiasm in participating in the government's tax amnesty. However, the rising intolerant and fundamentalist voices, which was demonstrated by the large protests against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama last November and December, had somehow affected businesspeople's perception and thwarted their willingness to repatriate their assets. "With the recent racial and religious conflicts, Chinese investors also choose to wait and see. Some of them have even canceled their investments. I worry that there will be a snowball effect," he said. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Winda A. Charmila (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23 2017 While many people in Greater Jakarta might not care about separating their organic household waste from their inorganic waste, some others think that doing so is a big deal. These environmentally conscious residents, however, have started to feel that their efforts in separating waste have been useless after having found out that in the end, all the waste is collected together, only to end up in landfills. One of the environmentally friendly residents is Shafira Amerta, 22, a Jakarta-based private employee who usually separates her organic waste from inorganic waste everyday. She, however, was disappointed when she found out that her effort was meaningless as the waste got mixed together again in a garbage truck once workers from the sanitation agency came to collect the garbage. The inorganic waste can be recycled to not end up only as garbage. When I take out my garbage, it is not merely because I want to get rid of it, but I also hope for the garbage to be turned into something useful, Shafira, a Depok resident, told The Jakarta Post recently. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands Mon, January 23, 2017 The authorities in Riau Islands have called on Singapore to improve its immigration treatment of Indonesian travelers entering the neighboring city state especially during holiday seasons like the upcoming Chinese New Year. Riau Islands Police chief Insp. Gen. Sambudi Gusdian said Singapores Immigration Checkpoint Authority usually opened only five out of 20 gates at the Harbour Front Centre ferry terminal during holiday seasons. We ask Singapore to open all 20 gates during the holidays, when the number of travelers peaks. Every day some 5,000 to 8,000 Indonesian travelers and businesspeople enter Singapore via four Batam ports. The limited number of open checkpoints creates problems in the flow of people. Lines at immigration can last up to two hours, Sambudi told Singaporean Consul General Gavin Chay during a meeting event with the Association of Industrial Parks in Batam on Monday Sambudi said that most Indonesian travelers went to spend money, shopping in Singapore so Singapore should treat them well. Apart from the Harbour Front Centre, travelers from Batam ports can enter Singapore via Tanah Merah checkpoint. Riau Islands Police deputy chief Brig. Didi Haryono also used the opportunity to deliver his personal experience of the slow immigration procedure. Consul General Chay was unable to comment when approached by The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arif Gunawan S. (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23 2017 Activists are furious, vowing to bring the case to the Constitutional Court, while PT Freeport Indonesia has sent a letter listing some circumstances around the implementation of the latest mineral-ore export rules amid the inauguration of the new US protectionist president. However, these things have yet to change the governments stance on its rules on mineral exports and share divestment. No door is going to be opened for negotiation, not until time proves the opposite, an executive at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has said. Within a month, complaints and challenges have surfaced against the new four rules that allow miners to export semi-processed minerals while requiring them to convert their contract of work (CoW) permits into special mining licenses (IUPKs) and divest their shares within five years. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23, 2017 West Java provincial administration has allowed 43 companies across the province to postpone payments to their workers based on the new city and regency minimum wages due to various difficulties, an official has said. Head of West Java Manpower and Transmigration Agency Ferry Sofwan Arief said the administration had received proposals from 140 companies requesting the postponement of new minimum wage levels. Most of the companies that requested the postponement are engaged in textiles, garments and leather, he said, as quoted by tempo.co on Friday. He, however, stressed that the companies that had been allowed to postpone payment of new minimum wage levels had to pay the postponed wages later, as per a verdict of the Constitutional Court, which had accepted the judicial review against Law No. 13/2003 on manpower. Before allowing the companies to postpone new minimum wage levels, the government required the companies to agree to pay the postponed wages when their cash flow recovered, said Ferry. If they cannot pay in the first half of the year, they can start paying in the middle of this year up to December, he said, adding that the administration would encourage the companies to pay all postponed wages no later than December. Other requirements for the postponement included agreements with trade unions, financial reports from the previous two years and the companies plans for the next two years. Although the decree on the minimum wage was signed by the governor, debates on the issue were held at city and regency levels. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 23 2017 The call is getting louder. The government may choose to remain silent or try and bury the issue with more empty promises. But there is no stopping the demand for justice and truth for past human rights abuse cases related to 1965 and other tragedies that have taken the lives of thousands in the country. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Malaysia Tue, January 24 2017 Three more Indonesian citizens have been confirmed as victims of another kidnapping incident in the waters of Sabah state in Malaysia, raising questions about the measures taken to overcome the string of abductions in the region, which have spilled over into the New Year. Identified as Hamdan bin Salim (29) and Subandi bin Sattu (47) from South Sulawesi, and Sudarling bin Samansung (26) from West Sulawesi, the three Indonesians were abducted by Philippine-based militants last Thursday, according to a Foreign Ministry official. Our representatives in Malaysia will continue to coordinate with the local authorities who are investigating the case, said Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, the ministrys director for the protection of Indonesian nationals and entities abroad, on Monday. And while they havent come to a conclusion just yet, our sources in the field have informed us that the three Indonesians have already been taken to Sulu Island [in the Philippines]. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, January 24, 2017 Dialogue among different cultures and faiths as well as media literacy programs for the public are needed to resolve the current challenges of freedom of expression, such as hate speech, fake news and hoaxes, experts have said. Speaking at the Global Inter Media Dialogue Conference on Monday, communications expert from the University of Indonesia (UI), Ade Armando, said conservative Muslim groups were enjoying freedom and expressing their aspirations through diverse media, especially social media. Expressing different aspirations is no problem. The problem starts to emerge when the groups express hatred for other [religions], calling others kafir (infidels), Ade said at the three-day conference held at the UI campus in Depok, West Java. He said the government had recently blocked dozens of Islamic websites that were considered to be spreading hatred. However, he said the Indonesian Ulema Council had opposed blocking the websites as it contravened freedom of expression. He said the same council had recently issued a fatwa that Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama had committed blasphemy in relation to his speech in September that went viral in social media. (Read also: Jokowi declares fight against disseminators of fake news) Meanwhile, Elisabeth Eide, a director of the Journalism and Media International Center, Department of Journalism and Media Studies of Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences recommended dialogue and public media literacy to deal with problems related to freedom of expression. Exchanges of views, may, in a small, yet pertinent way, contribute to alternative approaches. Media people and researchers can play a vital role, Eide said. (jun) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Depok Tue, January 24 2017 Depok Police arrested an East Jakarta resident named Munawan who allegedly stole two laptops from a US citizen, David Tucker, who lives in Depok, West Java. The laptops have [allegedly] been sold for Rp 4 million [US$300] [each] and the money has been used for paying debts, said the head of the Cimmangis criminal investigation department, First Inspector Suparno, on Monday, as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com. Police arrested Munawan while he was queuing at a gas station in Pasar Rebo in East Jakarta on Saturday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim and Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, January 24, 2017 The Indonesian government insists that weapon-smuggling allegations leveled at Indonesian police officers returning from a peacekeeping mission in Sudan are marred with inconsistencies, as officials seek more details on the incident. With regard to the case in Sudan, we have information on the incident, [and] there are a number of inconsistencies in the details we received early on. The United Nations are currently conducting an investigation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said on Monday. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian on Monday met with Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on the issue, but no details of the meeting have been disclosed. Sudanese media reported over the weekend that the North Darfur administration had detained an Indonesian police unit that was in the process of returning home after serving for one year under the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). The officers were prevented from leaving the country when El-Fasher Airport security seized a large number of weapons and ammunition found in luggage believed to belong to the Indonesian Formed Police Unit (FPU), which the unit denied. The initial information we received was that the luggage did not belong to the Indonesian police unit, Arrmanatha said, adding that a team from the National Police was set to leave for Khartoum to seek answers and provide legal assistance to the detainees. According to the Sudanese Media Center, various weapons and ammunition were unearthed during a search by local authorities, including 29 Kalashnikov rifles, six GM3 rifles and 61 other handguns, as well as large quantities of ammunition. National Police spokesman Sr. Com. Martinus Sitompul confirmed that the entire 139 personnel of FPU VIII were currently being held in Sudan after local authorities had accused them of attempting to smuggle weapons. Martinus said the officers had left the Garuda Camp on Saturday, as the replacement team, FPU IX, was due to arrive on the following day. The outgoing group had left with two containers full of luggage, which had already been checked before being packed, he said, adding that 40 FPU VIII personnel had accompanied the luggage to El Fasher Airport. He said all scanned items passing through the X-ray eventually ended up piling up some 10 meters away from the machine. Airport officials asked several times whether the entire pile belonged to the Indonesian personnel, to which the police personnel repeatedly said no, Martinus told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Monday. Citing an explanation by FPU VIII chief, who was on site, Adj. Sr. Comr. John Hutajulu, Martinus said several items did not belong to the Indonesian group and did not bear the marking sticker to signify ownership. They are currently being held, not detained, in a transit camp in Sudan. They are there because the Garuda Camp is already occupied by FPU IX, Martinus said. Police had deployed 140 personnel in FPU VIII, which is the maximum number allowed by the UN for the task force. However, Martinus said, one person had returned early due to illness. According to the UN, the peacekeeping mission in war-torn Sudan comprises 19,248 police and military personnel from various countries. The FPU task force refers only to the police personnel involved in the UNAMID force. Indonesia first sent the FPU to Darfur in 2008. The armed conflict in Darfur has claimed between 200,000 and 300,000 civilian lives and displaced more than 2 million people since it began in 2004, according to UN data. Last week, Tito led a ceremony to see off 140 police officers from the Garuda Bhayangkara II FPU IX to replace the outgoing FPU VIII. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has distanced itself from the case, with TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Wuryanto saying the Garuda Contingent XXXV-B also serving under UNAMID had no role in the incident. Having consulted with a number of commanders in the field, Wuryanto said the military contingent continued to carry out its duties in Sudan until March. What is clear is that no one from the TNI is involved, he told the Post on Monday. Indonesia first sent military peacekeepers to serve under UNAMID in February 2015. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, January 24 2017 Indonesia has symbolically handed over two new schools in Myanmars Rakhine state in an effort to help spur a culture of peace and tolerance in the Buddhist-majority country, the Foreign Ministry said. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi was on a social mission in Sittwe in Rakhine state over the weekend to personally hand over state-sponsored humanitarian aid to its Southeast Asian neighbor, including two schools. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Abrori Charliene (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, January 24 2017 Panelists of a media seminar in Depok, West Java, have noted a lack of uniformity in upholding freedom of expression in Indonesia. Ade Armando, a communications lecturer at the University of Indonesia (UI), said the country was facing a dynamic situation on its journey to ensure freedom of expression. He added that the annual conference was a platform to seek agreement on the matter. At this conference we are not only comparing the freedom of expression across the world; this is a 10-year movement to push the world to believe in the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press, Ade said on Monday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim and Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, January 24 2017 The Indonesian government insists that weapon-smuggling allegations leveled at Indonesian police officers returning from a peacekeeping mission in Sudan are marred with inconsistencies, as officials seek more details on the incident. With regard to the case in Sudan, we have information on the incident, [and] there are a number of inconsistencies in the details we received early on. The United Nations are currently conducting an investigation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said on Monday. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian on Monday met with Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on the issue, but no details of the meeting have been disclosed. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, January 24, 2017 Indonesia has had difficulties de-radicalizing convicted terrorists, with many of them continuing their involvement in terrorist activities after serving their time in prison. Two former terrorism convicts were involved in two of the six terrorist attacks that occurred in 2016. They were Afif, alias Sunakim, a perpetrator of the Thamrin attack in Jakarta that killed four civilians, and Johanda, who threw a Molotov cocktail at a church in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, killing a 2-year-old. De-radicalizing militants is not an easy thing to do, said Ihsan Ali Fauzi, the director for the Center for the Study of Religion and Democracy (PUSAD) at the Jakarta-based Paramadina University. Most militants, he said, would not abandon their radical ideology, but they could be conditioned to disengage from involvement in acts of terrorism. The government, he suggested, should focus on that outcome. A study by PUSAD involving 23 terror convicts and former terror convicts in Poso, Central Sulawesi, and Jakarta has found that it is possible for militants to disengage from terrorism while retaining their radical ideology. The study, which was conducted between 2010 and 2012, identified a number of reasons why some terror convicts decided to stay away from terrorism. One of the factors that reportedly discouraged the 23 terrorists and former jihadists from continuing terrorist activities is the aggressive anti-terror campaigns launched by the National Polices Densus 88 counterterrorism squad. This is the first factor that is keeping them away from terrorism. The increasing security measures carried out by the National Police and Densus 88 have made them think twice about continuing terror activities, Ali said. He added that some of those who took part in the study also reported that at first they thought all police officers were thoghut (infidels) but they changed their opinion after finding out during their time in prison that some police officers were good Muslims. The study also found that some of the 23 militants left terrorism and jihadism due to their families disapproval. Some of them also decided to give up on terrorism after they became aware that they were already in their 30s, an age at which they believe men should start focusing on taking care of their wives and children instead of risking their lives taking part in terrorism, Ali said. The PUSAD study also found that some terror convicts decided to disengage from terrorism after they met and talked with families of the victims of their attacks. The last factor that Ali found in his research was that many of the participants claimed they were disappointed by the radical ideologies of the terrorist organizations they had joined in the past. Some of them also said that the conflict between Islam and Christianity in Poso is over so there is no longer any reason for them to attack Christians in the region, Ali said. However, the expert asserted that the 23 militants involved in the study claimed they would take up arms again if there was a new religious conflict. That, he said, was an indicator that they were still holding on to their radical ideology. Codirector at the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) Solahudin blamed the government for failing to establish the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) in the early 2000s when a number of terror attacks indicated that terrorist movements had started to gain momentum in Indonesia. The fact is that BNPT was established in 2010 after the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriot Bombing in 2009. Imagine that there was no body in charge of handling radicalization between 2000 and 2010, Solahuddin said, adding that many people were radicalized after the series of terror attacks in the early 2000s. 2017 is the year of the Fire Rooster, which last fell in 1957. Like Victoria, Fire Roosters are known for being trustworthy, punctual and very responsible, (especially when it comes to work). If you or someone you may know is looking to sell or buy, working with Victoria and the #1 real estate firm with the best marketing, The Corcoran Group, can give you the ability to make sure your next stage in life is in good hands. Victoria can offer you the same excellent level of service; her goal is to help you achieve the highest profit in your real estate investment. Contact her at victoria.reichelt@corcoran.com or call her at 212-500-7038. *This is a paid advertisement. Save Save Save We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. #Goodbye TNS - You were there for me at my lowest, I struggle to think where Id be without you Women (and men) marched across the world this weekend from Boston to Madrid, and from Manchester to Stockholm, and from London to Washington DC to Los Angeles. As estimated turnout of more than a million in the home of US politics, Washington DC, was joined by 175,000 in Boston, 100,000 in London, and many more hundreds of thousands from Japan to South America to Australia. Its estimated that more than 600 separate marches took place in cities across the world to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th US president on Friday. Here are our favourite photographs from a weekend of always passionate, often sweary, entirely unfiltered activism. Manchester Lucy Fletcher London Anna Hammond Lucy Miller Miriam Chappell Madrid Georgie Harris Stockholm Calum Henderson Washington DC Casey O'Hara Boston Allie Michelle Los Angeles Still can't get over yesterday, forever inspired by this movement! ( captured by @megansistachs ) A photo posted by WomensMarchLA (@womensmarchla) on Jan 22, 2017 at 10:33am PST We loved seeing families with little marchers and future activists yesterday! Tag us in your family march photos! A photo posted by WomensMarchLA (@womensmarchla) on Jan 22, 2017 at 10:00am PST Ending today on a high note ( via @vonswank ) #thefutureisfemale A photo posted by WomensMarchLA (@womensmarchla) on Jan 21, 2017 at 10:00pm PST "I've decided to stick with love, hate is too great a burden to bear." - MLK @dblaze___ A photo posted by WomensMarchLA (@womensmarchla) on Jan 22, 2017 at 7:35pm PST Additional reporting by Laurie Presswood. New pictures from the Serbian border show the dire living conditions over 1,000 refugees and migrants are enduring as freezing temperatures persist in the region. The images show people huddled in abandoned warehouses, queuing for food in the snow and washing by makeshift baths made from barrels in temperatures as low as -16C at night. (Darko Vojinovic/AP) The pictures come after the UN refugee agency criticised European nations for mistreating refugees and migrants in the cold weather and urged them to do more. (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says up to 2,000 refugees and migrants are sleeping in abandoned buildings near Belgrades main train station with no heating, toilet facilities or beds. It is 10 degrees in #Belgrade #Serbia today. Imagine you have to face the cold in these conditions. pic.twitter.com/IflZqwNfBL MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) January 12, 2017 For months we have called on EU, UNHCR and Serbian authorities to put in place long-term solutions to avoid this catastrophic situation,said Stephane Moissaing, MSFs head of mission in Serbia. The collective failure of these institutions has left even the most basic needs uncovered, exposing already vulnerable people to even more suffering. (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Some action is being taken to alleviate the situation. According to Amnesty International, 200 people were moved to an emergency centre yesterday. However, the charity estimates there are still 1,000 people sleeping rough. According to numerous aid agencies, some refugees and migrants are refusing places in official camps for fear of being deported. In 2017, sexism shouldnt be thing - but in the era of pussy-grabbing presidents, cry-baby Meninists and institutionalised-apologists for sexual assault, it most certainly is. This is definitely apparent in the live music arena, where a shameful amount of women have spoken of sexual harassment and violence levelled at them. In the riot grrrl tradition Girls Against, a group of teenage feminists, decided enough is enough and started to work for change. Following a whirlwind year we spoke to founder Hann about the problem with sexual assault at gigs and what Girls Against hopes to achieve. Since founding in late 2015, Girls Against have taken their campaign fighting sexual harassment and assault at live music events to high places, offering support to victims and making strides in helping venues handle these issues better. Its something that needs to be addressed, as Hann explains, We get varying stories from people every day. It's mainly less violent ones where the other person won't leave them alone, makes lewd remarks and keeps touching them. "Sometimes though we get really violent ones - both are equally as important and both deserve to be defamed just as much as the other; some kinds of experiences are just more common. Hann herself knows all how common it can be. The genesis of Girls Against came from her own experience of assault at a Peace gig. There was no direct person who made us want to start Girls Against. It was more the response online after my story about being assaulted was shared. It got hundreds of retweets and a response from the band themselves, who I had seen that night. We were just taken aback and thought 'wow, this is a much bigger issue than we thought'. We just wanted to help other people and see what we could do that might change something. To be honest, it wasn't really a conscious decision - it was more when I started with this and I was asked about it and I just went 'oh, I guess I have to talk about this now'. It's never really been a huge problem for me though; I am lucky enough that talking about it actually made me come to terms with it in my head. This simple act of starting to talk about it openly has started a large discussion. It's almost exactly a year since we started and we're over 14,000 followers strong. This started out as just an idea on a rainy Tuesday night - it's insane to think about the amount of influence we could and do have. This influence hasnt just brought forward victims, but some of the biggest names in the industry. The campaign has gained support from bands like the 1975, Slaves, Royal Blood and Wolf Alice. Their badges have had cameos in numerous music videos and their logo has even adorned the main stage at Reading and Leeds festivals. It's a bit of an out of body experience whenever we get the notification that someone has followed us. There's only been a handful that we've got proper excited about following us; it's more when we meet them in real life or we see them giving GA a shout out online that it becomes more real. "I think when The 1975 showed their support it was probably the most excited we've ever been because we got to meet them all together, and a love of the band is originally how we all met so it was quite special from that perspective. @the1975 support Girls Against and you should too x pic.twitter.com/tWpXb9aVfs Girls Against (@girlsagainst) 19 March 2016 Theres a reason that NME placed the four girls at number four in their People of The Year 2016 list. Their activism draws a direct parallel with the riot grrrl scene of the 90s and their girls to the front gig philosophy. A big moment in their short history was getting the nod from scene legends, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin front-woman Kathleen Hanna. We were so happy when Kathleen Hanna followed us. Of course it was an inspiration both in the subject matter and the grassroots kind of ideology as well. It makes us laugh when people say that we're too young to be speaking about such an issue; we looked to those older than who are supposed to sort this kind of thing out and no one was doing anything about it so we took matters into our own hands. Love that @kathleenhanna and @thejulieruin got @girlsagainst up on stage. No to sexual harassment at shows and everywhere. pic.twitter.com/xzJFyjfmMu Emma Ritch (@EmmaRitch) 6 December 2016 Regardless of age, the work of Girls Against is vital - which is proven by how busy it now keeps them, and also the bond it has created between the members and those who connect with them. I was just saying the other day that I've loved how busy Girls Against has made me. I've always got something to do and I'm always going to meet or call people because of it. We've all made so many friends through it and have really matured as people because of what we have to do every day. We've also got to meet some of our idols, which is pretty cool too. says Hann. Collectively we'd met once for about three hours before Girls Against but now I consider the rest of the girls my best friends and we tell each other everything - the group chat is 50% gossiping, 50% actual work. Obviously the most important aspect of our chat, and the campaign altogether, is all about helping people cope with incidents of sexual harassment and assault at gigs. In light of this, I asked Hann about any advice she has for people going through this trauma themselves. I say the same to everyone, and that is to take your time and to process it in the way that works for you. Everyone is different and so is everyone's coping mechanism, and how they'd get over something like this is different. For me, it was easier to speak to someone online who I'd never met about it than speak to my family or friends. Some other people like to deal with it by themselves and others like to air it immediately on social media and to their friends. "None of these options are wrong or better than the other. It's all about you and what works for you. You are the priority because you've been through a horrific experience that no one should have to go through. It is this personal understanding and non-judgmental approach which makes Girls Against such a valuable resource for those needing help. Only with dialogue and groups like Girls Against can we all make a positive change to make gig-going environments a safer place for everyone. After all, no one should be assaulted anywhere, especially not when trying to enjoy their favourite band live. An ominous trailer to Netflix political drama House of Cards reveals the official release date of the fifth series. In the short teaser , an American flag is hung upside down in front of the Capitol Building, flapping in the wind, while a chorus of children recites the Pledge of Allegiance. The main conclusion from the short teaser is that the Underwoods (Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright) are following through with their promise to make terror at the end of series five. The previous season ended with the fictional president declaring "We make the terror." Watch the teaser below. We make the terror. pic.twitter.com/VpChwGOSMj House of Cards (@HouseofCards) January 20, 2017 House of Cards is coming back with a fifth series on Netflix on May 30th. As the second part of season two begins airing on ABC, data shows that the TV series Quantico, starring the former Miss Universe Priyanka Chopra, is performing badly. The show has lost over 28% in audience and more than one million viewers since its first screening in September. Odenvy, the last episode before the Christmas break, in particular, has marked the crisis of the series with only 2.29 million viewers. Overall, this years start has been much more problematic than expected. While the first season arguably had some novelty in the storytelling, this has now worn off, as the audience was already used to the contrast between the characters life in the academy and outside. Anything and everything can be said about Quantico, as according to its producers it represents the ideal meeting between Greys Anatomy and Homeland. Surely, no criticism can be raised when it comes to acting. Chopra has been recently awarded the Peoples Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic TV actress, and shes undoubtedly fit for the role of Alex Parrish. Yasmine Al Massri has been excellent in interpreting both Raina and Nimah Amin, to such an extent that many still think the two arent interpreted by the same person. Plaudits go also to Jake McLaughlin (Ryan Booth), Russell Tovey (Harry Doyle) and Johanna Braddy (Shelby Wyatt). Under those premises and given that the first season got wonderful reviews and an 80% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, Quantico series two can still surprise us and take back that wonderful pathos that we were used to seeing in every episode last year. As series two hits our screens, here are a few thoughts on what hasnt worked well so far. OVERUSE OF STORY TWISTS To be fair, it wasnt the best expedient ever to re-use the same structure as series one. Replicating and substituting Quanticos academy with The Farm showed a lack of inventiveness. Once they will run out of governmental investigative institutions, aka the CIA and the FBI, where will Alex Parrish end up? Kind of limiting, isnt it? Producers must have thought: "Lets pretend everyone ends up being a villain." In the long run, those story twists risk to weaken the plot. Its a bit like the boy who cried wolf! Wolf! What will happen now that even Ryan seems to be against Alex? What will happen? We can bet you a tenner that hell go back on himself. Another happy ending is waiting for us. NEW CHARACTERS ARENT INCISIVE Perhaps it was the fact that series one was much clearer in terms of both structure and plot. Ryan and Alex were presented as the heroes, while Miranda and Liam were their supporters/rivals. Raina, Nimah, Shelby and Simon, on the other hand, were meaningful background actors. Those were the ones to look at. When it comes to series two, this is not happening. Who do we need to frame? Harry, Dayana Why do we struggle to even remember their names? Lydia and Owen, the two instructors at The Farm, do not seem to have the same potential as Liam and Miranda had. Also, what's new in making Lydia act as a villain? Just two words: old chestnut. Hopefully, something will start to change. Lets pray the producers will slim down the amount of characters. We only need a couple of decent ones, and we need to know something more about them. Yes, suspense is good, but it can easily turn into boredom, especially after eight episodes. Quanticos producers should rely more on Alex, Ryan and the whole squad from series one, without worrying so much. They already smashed it; theres no reason why they shouldnt succeed even this time. WEAK LOVE STORY Finally, Alex and Ryan seem to have lost their disinterested complicity. She isnt the positively blase, feminist figure we were used to anymore. He is just much more enigmatic and controversial. They constantly go back and forth: he proposed to her, she refused, he proposed again. She accepted, even though she gave him the engagement ring back, in a flash-forward right at beginning of the series. Both of them are confined in that sort of confession room, where they meet with Raina and Shelby respectively . That's not reaching the seven-year itch: its barely half of series two! Quantico airs weekly on ABC at 10pm. It might be some teachers dream come true, but when no students turned up to Adam Avitables class he thought he was in an existential nightmare. Avitable, who describes himself as a a small business owner, lawyer, motivational speaker, educator, best-selling author and comedian, was in educator mode at a college in central Florida, getting ready for a class teaching for the graduation equivalency degree. Unfortunately, nobody turned up. You know that college rule if the professor is more than fifteen minutes late, class is canceled? Does the opposite apply as well? pic.twitter.com/IX0QzbX37Z Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 And thereafter Avitables Twitter feed turned into a detailed account of a guy beginning to question himself and his existence. Classwatch 2017. Class started 30 mins ago. No students yet. I thought one was coming but it was just an administrator. Who laughed at me. Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 Five more minutes have passed. I'm starting to doubt myself. Did I tell them no class? Is today Thursday? Am I dreaming? #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 It's so quiet. Every time I hear a door open, I sit up and smile. But when nobody enters my classroom, I die on the inside. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 Is everyone else in the world dead? Was there a sudden zombie attack and I survived, alone in my classroom? #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 A bird lands outside my window. I invite him in to learn about algebra. He declines and flies away. I hope a cat eats him. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 By this time, Avitable was descending into what can only be described as an existential crisis. I check my email to see if I missed something. I have no emails at all. This is weird. Did I die? Am I dead? Is this hell? #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 I SWEAR TO GOD IF SOMEONE IS PULLING A PRANK ON ME I WILL probably break down and cry. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 And then despair set in. The lights just went off on me automatically. I start to get up to move around so they turn on again, but what's the point. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 I have started to name the chairs in the classroom. Funfetti is the good student. Charmander, the troublemaker. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 I fire off an email to my boss. "WHERE ARE ALL THE STUDENTS???!!?? " No reply. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 That's it. I give up. I'm packing up and going home. Clearly this is a sign that I wasn't meant to teach anyone today. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 And just when it seems like no student could possibly be turning up, this happens. Two students just walked in. Remorseless, no apology, no explanation. I hope they don't think they're getting any candy. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 I can't do it. I give them candy anyway, but remind them that class started 95 minutes ago. They shrug. Urge to kill rises. #Classwatch2017 Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 Both students ask to use the computer today. I sigh and say okay. I don't even need to be here. End. #Classwatch2017 pic.twitter.com/FKEaTDaxuU Adam Heath Avitable (@avitable) January 19, 2017 The GED is a course for students who didnt graduate from high school, and Avitable teaches three days a week. He said the teaching is non-traditional, adding: Each student is working on a different area, and we use print and computer materials to help them work on their own. They each work at their own pace, and when they hit a wall or start making errors, I work individually with them to explain it. My roster varies some days I might only have a couple of students and other days, 10-15. I dont expect them to come every day, or even to stay the whole period, but this was the first time that Id been there for over 90 minutes without a single student showing up. To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) Police have arrested eight women from Thailand for being involved in the illegal sex trade in Miaoli County, but they are still trying to identify those who were responsible for the bringing the women into Taiwan. Welcome to followthemedia.com The article or material you have chosen... Tickle File ...is available for restricted access. You may access this specific article or material for 4 If you are an ftm Member, please go to the home page HERE and log in ftm Members can access all site material at no additional charge. You can JOIN ftm here The ftm newsletter available at no charge to all with registration To register click here. Italian man dies in Phuket motorbike crash PHUKET: An Italian man has died after the motorbike he was riding struck a roadside barrier near Phromthep Cape today (Jan 23). transportaccidentsdeathtourism By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 23 January 2017, 04:47PM The Italian man lost conrtol of his motorbike while riding to Phuket's iconic Phromthep Cape. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Rescue workers recover the motorbike the Italian man was riding, which was pinned under the guardrail. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The Italian man's helmet found at the scene. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Rescue workers recover the motorbike the Italian man was riding, which was pinned under the guardrail. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Rescue workers recover the motorbike the Italian man was riding, which was pinned under the guardrail. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Maj Thada Sodarak of the Chalong Police was informed of the accident at 12:30pm. When police arrived at the scene, the mans body was by the side of the road, Maj Thada told The Phuket News. He had wounds on his head and his ankle. Nearby was the black Yamaha motorbike he was riding and his helmet, he said. Mr Angelo was riding with a friend who said they were travelling from Saiyuan (in Rawai) to Phromthep Cape, Maj Thada explained. Mr Angelo lost control of his vehicle on a bend and hit the barrier, he added. Maj Thada did not confirm whether the man was a tourist. The mans body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital. Dr Francesco Pensato, the Italian Consul in Phuket, has been notified of the incident. * The Phuket News is withilding the mans name until it has been confirmed his next of kin have been notified. Two Phuket Livestock officials injured as elephant bolts PHUKET: Two local government officials were injured on Saturday (Jan 21) as Phuket Provincial Livestock Office continued to carry out their current campaign to identify and register all legal elephants in Phuket. animalshealthpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 23 January 2017, 04:03PM The elephant's mahout recaptures the bolting animal. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The injuries occurred when one elephant, believed to have been spooked by another, bolted during officials inspection of the Safari elephant camp in Saiyuan, Rawai. At 11:30am on Saturday, Capt Somkiet Sarasit of the Chalong Police was informed of an incident where an elephant had bolted at the Safari elephant camp Rawai leaving two persons injured. Upon arrival at the camp Capt Somkiet and his team witnessed one elephant making a run from the camp. The elephants mahout Mr Sorapong Chalaethaisong, 37, and a camp staffer Mr Wanchalearm Siripak, 29, were chasing after the animal. After a time, Mr Wanchalearm managed to get the elephant under control and return it to the camp. During their investigation, police discovered a damaged pickup truck and minivan in the elephant camps car park. They were also told that two Livestock officials, who had already been taken to Chalong Accident and Emrgency Centre, had suffered various injuries to their bodies, but nothing serious. One male official had sustained minor injuries to his left arm and a split eyebrow, while his female counterpart had sustained scratches to her legs caused as she attempted to escape from the bolting animal, police were told. An livestock official told police that as they were taking blood from an elephant named Lucky, another elephant walked past which appeared to frighten Lucky causing him to bolt. The Safari elephant camp told police that they will take full responsibility for the incident. This is now the second incident of a bolting elephant Livestock officials have witnessed during their campaign. The first incident occurred last Thursday (Jan 19) when a 15-year-old bull elephant reared and bolted while officers were trying take a blood sample. A team of 30 officials from the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office were taking blood samples and checking microchip implants from the six elephants at the Phrayai Changthai elephant camp in Soi Yodsanae, in Chalong, when the incident happened. (See story here.) Wanchai on a mission to kill graft BANGKOK: Many people might be appalled at first glance by the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) proposal for harsher punishment, including the death penalty, against public figures convicted in corruption cases causing damages exceeding one billion baht. corruptioncrimepolitics By Bangkok Post Monday 23 January 2017, 08:50AM Lawyer Wanchai Sornsiri is the head of the National Reform Steering Assembly. Photo: Post Today Yet Wanchai Sornsiri, the NRSAs political reform chairman, who floated the radical proposal during the assemblys meeting early this month, stands by the idea, saying the country has been weak on fighting corruption for too long. Mr Wanchai, also a lawyer, said mechanisms to examine the abuse of state power need to be reformed to stop state officials unlawfully exercising their power and causing damage to the country. He has proposed a range of tough measures, including life imprisonment for those found guilty in corruption cases causing damage of between B100 million and B1bn. Those convicted in cases causing damage of between B10mn but not exceeding B100mn baht could face a 20-year jail sentence. Those involved in causing damage of more than one million baht but less than B10mn baht would face a 10-year prison sentence; and a maximum five years' imprisonment would be handed down to those found guilty in cases which cause damage of less than one million baht. Of the 162 steering committee members, 155 voted in favour of the measures while the rest abstained during the meeting. Mr Wanchai said mechanisms to keep state officials in check have been in place for several decades, but they are not robust enough to stop corrupt officials. They continue to exploit legal loopholes to commit unlawful practices, he said. More austere punishment was needed to send a warning to state officials that corruption has consequences, he said. Mr Wanchai said corruption has taken deep root in Thailand because of failures in the system to examine the abuse of state power, adding previous coups also partly resulted from corruption. I think it is better to kill one corrupt official than deploying the whole army to stage a coup, he said. The strict measures form part of NRSA proposals to impose checks and balances on the use of state power. They also aim to regulate no-confidence debates and clarify the qualifications of members of independent organisations. Mr Wanchai stressed the severe penalty was aimed not just at politicians, but also state officials and civilians who collude in corrupt practices. He also insisted the measures do not focus on only high-profile cases involving ex-premiers Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra. Asked how the punishment will be enforced, Mr Wanchai said that would depend on the committee for national administration under the framework of national reform, strategy, and reconciliation, which has Prime Ministers Office Minister Suvit Maesincee as its secretary. The committee must set up panels to oversee various issues, he said. Nevertheless, Mr Wanchai said it would not have a retrospective effect on convicted corrupt politicians or those who are currently in the prosecution process. Mr Wanchai said the NRSA is now working on an amendment putting the proposal into effect, adding it would be sent to various agencies for deliberation including the National Council for Peace and Order, the cabinet, the National Legislative Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee, the Election Commission and other anti-corruption organisations such as the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission under the Justice Ministry. Under the proposal, the NRSA also proposed measures to regulate no-confidence debates to prevent politicians from proposing motions or issues for political reasons rather than focusing on the countrys problems. In the past, information presented in the debates was not solid enough to prosecute politicians suspected of being involved in corrupt practices as most of the information was gathered from the media. With the new regulations, motions raised by the opposition must be presented along with solid information which must be acceptable by state anti-corruption agencies such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Read original story here. hehdat msm narrative headline.anyway, it was only one of those wee buick thingies.WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WEAR) A 33-year-old man from Providence, Rhode Island was killed in a vehicle crash Saturday afternoon.It happened Walton County on U.S 90 near Laird Road around 1:15 p.m.According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the man was walking westbound on the south shoulder of U.S. 90 (State road 10).The FHP says 51-year-old Sonja Siglar of Westville Florida failed to maintain her lane and drove onto the south shoulder.She hit the pedestrian, who has not been identified, with her Buick SUV.Walton County Fire-Rescue pronounced the man dead on the scene.Charges in this case are pending. The FHP says alcohol was not involved in the crash. First National Bank Fremont is issuing a request for proposals for its upcoming Community Development grant cycle, focused on programs related to stable housing, strong local economies and vibrant neighborhoods, announced Alec Gorynski, Vice President, Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility. Programs must be implemented for the benefit of low or moderate income individuals, families and/or communities within the First National Bank Fremont area, and must align with one of the following three goal areas: Stable Housing: Increasing access to safe, affordable, and quality housing through construction, site development, housing rehabilitation, homeownership education and foreclosure prevention programs and services. Strong Local Economies: Growing local economies through small business and entrepreneurial development and job creation by supporting training, technical assistance, education and microfinance. Vibrant Neighborhoods: Stimulating revitalization that attracts or retains individuals and/or businesses to blighted, underserved and distressed communities. First National Bank Fremont will operate two grant cycles in 2017, dedicated to specific focus areas. The first 2017 grant cycle opens on Jan. 23 and the bank will accept applications from eligible nonprofit community organizations for stable housing, vibrant neighborhoods and strong local economies until Feb. 27. For more information and to apply, visit: www.fnbfremont.com/community and click on Request Support. The second grant cycle will open on June 5 for educated workforce programs, which are dedicated to strengthening individual core competencies that will improve personal economic self-sufficiency, including adult basic education, and vocational and employability training. First National Bank Fremont is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. How many people have already voted absentee in South Dakota ahead of Election Day? elections PLATTSMOUTH Three people admitted Monday morning that they had been involved in theft-related crimes at Cass County businesses. Plattsmouth resident Jessica M. Shipley, Papillion resident Beth A. Hawkins and Omaha resident Charles E. Derrick all appeared in Cass County District Court. All three entered into plea bargains with the state in their cases. Shipley, 26, appeared in the mornings first case. She pled guilty to a Class III felony charge of first-degree forgery. The state agreed to dismiss charges from two additional cases. The state also agreed to recommend probation at the time of sentencing. Deputy County Attorney Steven Sunde told the court Shipley entered the Caseys General Store on Chicago Avenue in Plattsmouth on March 16. Shipley presented two $20 bills to make a purchase of $33. She then left the store with $7 in change. The clerk immediately became suspicious after taking a closer look at the bills. Court records show that Shipley had copied the design of a $20 bill onto a $1 bill. Sunde told the court Shipley knew the bills were counterfeit but had decided to use them anyway. Shipley was later arrested in Omaha on shoplifting charges there. She remains free on bond. The court set a sentencing date of March 13. Hawkins, 45, appeared in the second case. She pled guilty to one Class IV felony charge of theft by shoplifting-less than $500-third or subsequent offense. She also agreed to admit she had violated her probation from a 2015 case. The state agreed to dismiss charges in a third case as part of the plea bargain. Sunde told the court Hawkins entered the Plattsmouth Hy-Vee on Sept. 21 and picked up a small red basket to use to carry groceries. Sunde said she filled the basket and then walked out of the store without paying for the items. Hawkins began serving 36 months of probation in December 2015 for stealing a nebulizer from a residents room at a Plattsmouth assisted living facility. One of the terms of her probation was to obey all laws. Hawkins remains free on bond. Sentencing will take place March 13. Derrick, 66, appeared in the third case. He pled guilty to one Class IV felony charge of theft by shoplifting-less than $500-third or subsequent offense. Prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than one year in state prison in exchange for the plea. Deputy County Attorney Colin Palm told the court a Cass County Sheriffs Office deputy traveled to Cubbys near Greenwood on Oct. 6 for a report of a theft. The deputy soon learned several people in a Lincoln Town Car had driven away from the convenience store and were heading westbound on Interstate 80. The Nebraska State Patrol was notified and joined the CCSO deputy on the interstate. Authorities stopped Derricks car after it exited I-80 at the Waverly interchange. Derrick gave a false last name at the beginning of the interview. Palm said other people in the car then told authorities that his real name was Charles Derrick. Authorities learned Derrick had taken four bottles of alcohol from Cubbys and placed them inside his coat. He then left the store without paying for the items. The bottles were valued at $89.96. Derrick is currently incarcerated in Douglas County on unrelated charges. Sentencing in the Cass County case will take place Feb. 13. Elmwood resident and real estate broker BJ Burrows knows buying a house is one of the most important decisions a person makes in his or her life. Knowing all the facets that go into purchasing a home, land or commercial property as an agent for Nebraska Realty, BJ decided to start his own brokerage business and officially opened Burrows Tracts Real Estate Jan. 2. Ive had a team for two years under Nebraska Realty and it worked similar to a brokerage, BJ said. The team has been successful for a couple of years and we decided to break off on our own. Its very rewarding to run your own company. His interest in real estate began a decade ago. I started my real estate career in 2005 by buying, selling and managing rental properties, BJ said. Shortly after, I acquired my real estate license and began representing clients all over southeastern Nebraska. With over 10 years of experience in this business, I can safely say I have seen and overcome so many different and difficult situations by learning from each transaction. I am constantly continuing my education and keeping up on all the changes in this fast paced industry so I am better prepared to serve my clients. In September 2016, BJ obtained a brokers license and opened his own business, Burrows Tracts Real Estate. Prior to getting his license, he worked as a real estate agent for five years in Elmwood. He earned his real estate license and brokers license from Randall School of Real Estate in Omaha. He also has an Associates Degree in Information Technology. In addition to buying and selling properties, Burrows Tracts drone footage, market analysis and notary services. Burrows Tracts Cass County office is at 102 S. Fourth St. in Elmwood. He recently opened a new office in Johnson County at 135 Broadway St. in Sterling. In addition to himself, his team is comprised of two licensed real estate agents, Ashley Smith and Tyler Kreifels, business administrator Kim Kreifels and BJs wife, marketing director and professional photographer Kristy Burrows. Tyler is based in Syracuse area and Smith works out of Omaha. All the agents, however, work with customers throughout Southeast Nebraska. BJ said he is looking for someone in the Plattsmouth area to join his team, too. One agent can service you in any city in Nebraska. We have knowledge in each market, he said. Like BJ, his team knows the importance of having a strong work ethic. Being from a small town with a farming background has allowed me to experience a work ethic at a very young age. I have always been a motivated, self-driven, and positive person, BJ said. BJ said owning the business allows him to provide competitive commission splits to his agents, more tools to work with, increased flexibility and more leads to the agents. Our team of agents lives in between Omaha and Lincoln, which allows us to be experts in all of southeast Nebraska, BJ said. We can sell your house in Omaha, and help you buy one in Lincoln or vice versa. Its nice to have one agent work with you through the entire process and not have to hand it off to someone else. That is truly what service is all about. BJ said he and his team know their clients must trust them. We focus on the highest service level possible, he said. You cant push a person to buy a house. We are that small town service that you have been waiting for. The team here at Burrows Tracts strives to make your real estate transaction the most pleasurable experience possible. Team members start the process by meeting one-on-one with their clients. We go over information and work to understand their needs and wants. We make sure they understand their loans and types of loans out there. If they are not with a lender, we partner with many different lenders. Burrows Tract doesnt just focus on residential properties. We sell a lot of land, acreages and commercial properties. This year our land sales almost doubled, because we are able to market at the local level and at the national level. We suggest listing your property to gain this exposure vs more traditional methods, so we are not just throwing a sign on your property and leaving, he said. BJ said he and his team can also provide information on inspection companies, staging advice using furniture the seller owns and professional photography, all at no additional charge. The time investment we put into each listing is much higher than the average agent, he said. Im a big believer in relationships. I have connections with other agents and businesses. I belong to the Lincoln Mastermind Group and am very honored to be a part of it. Kristy takes the photographs as well as helps with creating a special closing gift for homebuyers. We do our own customized closing gifts such as shirts, wine glasses, T-shirts and photographs, BJ said. Since 2015, BJ and his team have worked with more than 150 properties. He and his staff have sold houses in 35 Nebraska communities and eight counties. Because of his success and passion for helping people with real estate, Top Agent Magazine featured him in its July 2015 issue. Burrows Tract Real Estate office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, however, BJ said he makes himself available to his agents 24-7. I shut off my phone when I go to sleep, he said. BJ is as concerned as the seller or buyer when it comes to marketing a property and wanting to meet his clients expectations. Whether its a persons first house or 10th house, its still the biggest transaction of their lives, he said. I've had many different opportunities, but nothing compares to the experience of helping a client with the largest sale or purchase in their lifetime. For more information, check out the Burrows Tracts Real Estate website at burrowstracts.com. Napoleon's life and career disapproves the Leftist challenge to the "Great Man" theory of history, for he not only influenced the course of European history but also of faraway India, where it was his talk of alliance with Tipu Sultan, that ensured a virtual death sentence for the Mysore ruler from the British colonial rulers, says a leading British historian. 'It was his letters to Tipu Sultan proposing an alliance that got Tipu into trouble.. were a veritable death sentence for him," Andrew Roberts said at a session titled "Napoleon the Great" on the penultimate day of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 on Sunday. "This was despite no way that Napoleon, who was then in Egypt, could have marched on to India. He didn't have the requisite military strength, there were two major deserts on the way, and the British were too powerful. Nevertheless, it meant the end of Tipu and he was finally eliminated after the Battle of Seringapatnam in 1798," said Roberts, who has written an exhaustive biography of the French Emperor. Noting it is a rare historical figure whose legacy prevails despite his defeat and banishment from his homeland and his subsequent vilification by the victors, he said the influence on Napoleon still survives not only in France but the countries he conquered. "In France itself, the laws (Code Napoleon), the central bank, the education system, Paris itself, the Legion of Honour, the concept of meritocracy are among his enduring legacies," said Roberts, terming Napoleon "a liberal imperialist" and an "Enlightener on Horseback" for how most of his achievements came by force of arms following his military successes. In the biography, Roberts said he also sought to debunk many myths about Napoleon, including that he was a war-monger, the sobriquet "Little Corporal" that has stuck to him, and consequently the theory of "Napoleon complex" implying overly-aggressive behaviour among short-statured people as a sort of a compensation for the drawbacks of their physical aspect. "Napoleon only initiated two wars the Peninsular War (in Spain and Portugal) 1808-14 and the attack on Russia (1812), though both proved disastrous for him," he said, adding all the rest of the wars he fought were in response to attacks by other European powers who detested him for his revolutionary and liberal ideas and want to oust him. "It is fascinating that after winning his wars, it was Napoleon who sought to make peace with his enemies," he observed. And about Napoleon's height, he said the French Emperor was not short, which is a perception encouraged by British caricaturists of the time, but was stood five foot, six inches the average height for a Frenchman of that period. "I know this because once filming a documentary on St Helena (a lonely island in the South Atlantic where Napoleon was exiled after his defeat at Waterloo and spent his last six years), I, after the cameras had stopped rolling, lay down on his deathbed. I am five-six and it was a perfect fit." The RTI structure of Delhi University (DU) is fraught with various 'loopholes' and ironically there has been no Transparency Officer (TO) in its setup for several years. DU recently made news when the Central Information Commission (CIC) imposed a penalty of Rs.25,000 on its Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) for rejecting an RTI application seeking Prime Minister's degree. These shortfalls include lack of sufficient legal knowledge on the part of concerned officials of the transparency body. Further, no official has not been uploading quarterly returns to CIC on DU's website. Besides, no separate RTI training programmes are being held for its employees. Notably, the CIC had directed all the public authorities to appoint a Transparency Officer (TO) as the institution is an administrative arrangement for promotion of transparency within the public authority. The students and RTI activist alleged that in the absence of TO, the efficiency of varsity's RTI structure is adversely affected. The DU, in a reply to an RTI filed by activist Mohit Kumar Gupta, has provided that no one has been designated as TO, and the same has been repeatedly communicated in 'NO' every quarterly return to the CIC since year 2010. "This clearly goes against the very purpose of transparency as the CIC itself has provided that the record management practice should be technologically driven and technology should be used for efficient and wide dissemination of information," said Mohit. Students also alleged that RTI replies are still being sent in hard copies, although online replies in soft copies can be made available. Dr Ajay Gupta , Director , DU Computer Centre (DUCC), who also acts as Nodal Officer of RTI-MIS (Management Information System) by the University and is responsible for uploading the content on the website said: "I am the Nodal officer and I forward the RTI queries to the CPIO, which physically sends the reply or sends it online is upto CPIO. If they ask me to upload I will upload. Meenakshi Sahay,CPIO,refused to comment citing that she is not authorised to talk to media. But she said she would look into the matter whether the quarterly returns are uploaded or not. State-owned Coal India's fuel supply to the power sector dropped by 3.6 per cent to 288.2 million tonnes in the April-December period of the ongoing fiscal amid weak demand for the dry fuel. According to official data, coal dispatches to the power sector in the same period of previous fiscal were 299.1 million tonnes (MT). CIL's coal supply in December also declined by 4.2 per cent to 35.9 MT, compared to 37.5 MT in the same month of the previous fiscal. Coal supply by Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) during April-December increased by 2.2 per cent to 36.4 MT compared to 35.6 MT in the corresponding period of previous fiscal, the data showed. SCCL is a government coal mining company owned by Telangana and the Centre on 51:49 equity basis. The overall dispatches of fossil fuel by CIL in the first nine months of the ongoing fiscal were at 391.7 MT against 389.2 MT in the same period of the previous fiscal. CIL, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production, is eyeing 598 MT production in 2016-17. It has a target to produce 1 billion tonnes of fossil fuel by 2020. With digital transactions gaining traction, the government is mulling setting up of a separate regulator for enabling electronic payment system in the country as well as regulate transaction charges. While the Ratan Watal committee on digital payments suggested that the government makes regulation of payments independent from the function of central banking, sources said the RBI is not very keen on giving up the regulation on Payment systems. Official sources said that RBI, as a banking regulator, frames policies to benefit banks and not enforcement of competition and innovation objectives in conduct of firms in the payment industry. "So far, regulations are becoming bank focused. If there is a separate regulator, the focus would be on ease of transaction and rationalisation of cost. Hence, there is a case for setting up of an authority for enabling electronic payment system in India," an official source told PTI. The Reserve Bank, in its representation before the Watal Committee, has stated that regulation of payments should be with the central bank because regulating money supply is an integral function of a central bank and includes maintaining the confidence in money as a means of exchange. Explaining the need for a separate regulator, the source said that electronic payment does not entail exchange of physical cash and it does not involve deposit taking or credit offtake or servicing of loans/deposits. "Payments can happen without banking. Payment regulation is different from banking regulation. RBI is not agreeing to it," the source said, adding the proposed regulator should have majority of its membership from businesses having direct familiarity with the payment process, or allied businesses. The Watal Committee, which submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month, weighed two options on how best regulation of electronic payments can be made independent from the function of central banking. The committee considered creation of a new payments regulator, or making the current Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) within RBI more independent. Sources said that RBI, as a regulator, is focusing more on the interest of banks rather than creation of a financial ecosystem and even after coming up with consultation paper on fixing MDR charges in March 2016, it has not been able to fix the charges. PLATTSMOUTH Four people appeared in Cass County District Court on Monday morning for plea hearings in drug-related cases. Weatherford, Texas, resident Colton C. Pfeifer, 19, took part in the days first case. The Plattsmouth native pled guilty to one Class IV felony charge of possession of controlled substance-lorazepam. The state agreed to recommend probation at the time of sentencing if Pfeifer did not collect any additional charges. Deputy County Attorney Steven Sunde told the court a Cass County Sheriffs Office deputy was patrolling the area near Tobacco Island in rural Cass County at 12:43 a.m. May 5. The deputy noticed a vehicle parked on a road and decided to investigate due to the late hour. Sunde said the deputy noticed a white cloud coming from the vehicle and soon smelled the odor of marijuana. Sunde said Pfeifer was in the front-passenger seat at the time. He said Pfeifer tried to place a container under his seat when he saw the deputy walking toward the car. The deputy searched the car and discovered the container had several items in it. One of the items was a drug called lorazepam. Pfeifer remains free on bond. The court set a sentencing date of March 27. Weeping Water resident Tyler J. Wipf, 32, appeared in the second case. He pled guilty to one Class I misdemeanor of attempted possession of controlled substance-methamphetamine. The plea agreement did not contain a sentencing recommendation. Deputy County Attorney Richard Fedde told the court a Cass County Sheriffs Office deputy stopped a car on July 13 after noticing the driver had an active warrant. Wipf was a passenger in the vehicle. The deputy received permission to search the car and located a methamphetamine pipe and several baggies filled with a powdery substance. Fedde said the state crime lab later confirmed the baggies contained a total of .0943 grams of methamphetamine. Fedde said Wipf admitted he had smoked the drug with the driver in the car. Wipf remains free on bond. Sentencing will take place March 27. Lincoln resident Anthony J. Rushing, 27, appeared in the third case. He pled no contest to one Class I misdemeanor of attempted possession of controlled substance-tetrahydrocannabinols. The state said it would recommend probation as part of the plea bargain. Deputy County Attorney Colin Palm told the court a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped Rushings car on Interstate 80 on March 5 after noticing the vehicle had an inoperable headlight. The trooper soon noticed the odor of marijuana and received permission to search the car. Palm said the trooper found three small bottles of oil and a red rubber container. The state crime lab later confirmed a substance inside the rubber container was tetrahydrocannabinols. Rushing remains free on bond. Sentencing will take place April 3. Plattsmouth resident Jodee L. Wasco, 57, appeared in the fourth case. She pled guilty to one Class I misdemeanor of attempted possession of controlled substance by fraud. The plea agreement did not contain a sentencing recommendation. Fedde told the court a member of the pharmacy staff at Hy-Vee received a voicemail on Oct. 12. The voicemail said Wasco was authorized to pick up a prescription of 120 pills of tramadol. The staff member was suspicious about the phone message and contacted the medical office where the caller said she had received a prescription. The medical office said Wasco was not a patient there and did not have a prescription. Fedde said Wasco had been a former employee at the medical facility. Fedde said Wasco later attempted to obtain a prescription when she arrived at the pharmacys drive-through window. The pharmacy did not fill the fraudulent prescription. Wasco remains free on bond. Sentencing will take place April 3. India is opposing an informal proposal made by the EU and Canada about a global investment pact with an investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision at WTO. The issue was discussed at an "informal meeting" of key WTO members, including India, China, Brazil, Japan and Australia, in Davos last week. "We rejected it (the attempt made by the EU and Canada) completely. We want anything to do with investments to be a bilateral thing We do not believe in making investments a subject of multilateral disputes," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters here. The minister said she is not in favour of the "contentious" investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms, which is part of a bilateral agreement between the European Union (EU) and Canada. Under ISDS, corporates can take sovereign governments to international arbitration for resolution of disputes. Both these countries wants other WTO members to agree to this mechanism and the template to resolve investor disputes at the multi-lateral level. " there is no way, we will have investment treaty in which companies can take the sovereign or even the regional governments to court. Anything with regard to investments, we wanted to be settled by the domestic laws and courts and only after that appeal outside," she said. Sitharaman said other WTO member countries, including Argentina and Brazil, too did not support the move. "So at this stage, to have this template for a multi-lateral approach to investment may be immature," she said. However, the minister added that India put its view "informally" as this was an informal discussion of WTO member countries. On WTO issues, she said the countries discussed the forthcoming ministerial conference in Argentina in December. "We reinforce that the Bali and Nairobi issues to be fulfilled," she said, adding that WTO DG Roberto Azevedo admitted that although Nairobi meeting was successful, the "process was not right". India, Sitharaman said, wants resolution on providing safeguards to poor farmers and permanent solution for public stock holding purposes. India asked the members for detailed discussions on these issues among the groups before they meet in Paris in June. On its proposal on trade facilitation agreement on services, Sitharaman said India will submit a proposal soon. "Many people said it is a low-hanging fruit which can be harvested," she said. Outlining the need for smart and efficient electrical appliances, Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said smart meters can be a game changer in long-term planning for the power sector. "Smart meter can be a game changer when it comes to planning for the electricity sector in the long run," Goyal said at an event organised by the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA). IEEMA today launched the 'Intelect 2017' and 'DistribuELEC', a three-day exhibition-cum-conference at the India Expo Center, Greater Noida. The exhibition was inaugurated by Goyal. Heavy Industries Secretary Girish Shankar was also present on the occasion. "India is the world's largest market for this sector and we have a billion people aspiring for better quality of life and have a nascent and latent energy demand which will expand this sector by almost four times in next 15-17 years," Goyal said. "Different estimates have been made but very clear this is one sector where any amount of investment made has the fastest payback both in economic terms and terms of quality of life of our people," he added. The conference and exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Power, National Smart Grid Mission, with Madhya Pradesh as partner state and CESC as partner utility. With over 100 exhibitors, the show has brought together senior officials from Ministry of Power, state utilities, discoms, IESA, India IOT Panel and TERI under one common platform to discuss global best practices and seek solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the field of 'intelligent electricity'. Voicing concern over widespread protests that turned violent on Monday against the ban on Jallikattu, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth urged agitators to end their protest stressing that miscreants were trying to hijack the protest. In a letter penned in Tamil, the actor urged the protesters who have gathered at Chennai's Marina beach to remain peaceful and expressed solidarity with them. The biggest stars of Tamil cinema had attended a day-long protest organised by the Nadigar Sangam on Friday in Chennai. Some of the demonstrators turned violent on Monday as they threw stones at police after being evicted from the protest site.Vehicles outside a police station were set on fire by agitators who are demanding a permanent solution to the issue. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused the Election Commission of promoting bribery by banning him from telling people to take money from other parties but vote for the AAP. Kejriwal's letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi comes after the poll panel censored him on Friday for violating the Model Code of Conduct and warning of stern action. Kejriwal was accused of "deliberately and intentionally" instigating the public to take bribes for voting in the Goa assembly election of February 4. "The allegation is baseless. The truth is I am trying to curb bribery. The whole nation knows the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was born to fight corruption and bribery and is committed to put an end to them," Kejriwal wrote in his letter. Kejriwal said he was not instigating people to take bribes. "What wrong am I saying? If I asked them to vote for the same party that they take money from, that would be bribery. I am telling them not to vote for the party which gives them money," he wrote. "My statement will reduce bribery. When parties distributing money will realise that people won't vote for them even after taking money, they will stop distributing money," he added. Kejriwal said the people of Delhi voted for AAP even after taking money from the Congress and the BJP and these parties would think twice before distributing money again as "they would feel it is of no use". "By stopping me from making my statement, the Election Commission is promoting bribery instead of curbing it. A Delhi court has also ruled that my statement doesn't instigate anyone to take bribes," he wrote. Kejriwal said the Election Commission was trying for 70 years to prevent the use of money to lure voters but this had only gone up. "If the Election Commission accepts my statement and advertises that people should not vote for parties that offer them money, I assure parties will stop distributing money in two years," he said. Around 2,000 school students and tableaux depicting prevailing issues were part of a huge colourful procession here in Tripura on Monday to mark the 121th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. As many as 26 groups of students from the 68-year-old Netaji Subhash Vidyaniketan highlighted terror strikes across the world, September 29, 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian troops, demonetisation of high value currency notes, bad effect of fast food, consumption of nutritious foods, traditional culture of tribal people, drug menace, crimes against women, earthquakes and incidents related to India's freedom struggle. The groups also depicted the terror attacks in India, sacrifice of life of revolutionary Bhagat Singh and Indian soldiers, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, national integration and Tripura's achievements in different fields. Thousands of spectators gathered by the roadside to watch the procession that was flagged off by state Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty. Government departments and NGOs also took out tableaux illustrating various national and regional issues. "We have been organising the procession on the occasion of Netaji's birthday for the past 66 years to highlight the role, sacrifice and dedication of this great freedom fighter," said school teacher Monimoy Roy. On the occasion of 42 years of 1975 crime drama film Deewar since its release, megastar Amitabh Bachchan said that the Yash Chopra directorial had the best screenplay. Amitabh, who got the "angry young man" image from the film, took to Twitter on Monday to share the news with his fans. "42 years of Deewar. The best screenplay ever! And 100 weeks trophy, compared to the weeks of today's films. Times change," Amitabh tweeted. Deewaar tells the story of two brothers who, after their family is betrayed by the misplaced idealism of their father, struggle to survive on the streets of Mumbai. The film also featured Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh and Nirupa Roy. In the controversy over 33 per cent reservation for women in Nagalands urban local bodies, the most pertinent aspect the economic connotations inherent in politically-empowering women through reservations is yet to be discussed. To suggest that such reservations violate Article 371 (A) of the Constitution and will adversely affect Naga culture and customs would be to miss the whole point of the argument against reservations. It all revolves round land and related resources. Naga culture and customs debar women from land ownership hence our customary laws preclude women from inheriting land. Land inheritance falls under three categories ancestral property, acquired and gifted. Normally, under the first two, only sons, or others, or other male members of the family, can inherit such property. In the second category, a daughter may inherit, if the father gifts his acquired land to his daughter(s) during his life-time, and leaves a will or expresses his will, which has to be respected by male members of the family/clan. Ancestral property is always clan-land. But, even the second and third categories are not without contest by male members of the family or clan. There still are divergent views on definitions of these categories. This is exactly what Article 371 (A) protects the social, cultural and customary practices of the Nagas, which are mainly germane to land ownership and inheritance thereof. Much as Naga scholars acclaim that the Nagas is the purest form of democracy in our sovereign village-republics and compares it to the democracy of the Greek city-states, the fact is this democracy is pertinent only to males for one, only they have the right to land ownership; two, only males can participate in the village parliament. The core issue for Naga village-republics and Greek city-states were not culture and customs or political and martial issues but economics for it is economics that spawn and dictate cultures and customs, as also political and martial expediencies. Against this very brief background, it is understandable why Naga male-dominated tribal bodies are opposing womens reservations in ULBs the fear is that women will finally have a say in how resources are to be used and shared in our towns, which has all the potentials to spill over to our villages. So far, only men are privy to utilisation and sharing of resources allotted by the Central and state governments, as also available resources of clan and tribe land ownership. Arguably, with political powers comes economic powers and with economic powers, political power is reinforced and consolidated. All of these also have the potential to disrupt the status quo in Naga society that has thus marginalised women politically and economically for centuries. Male-dominated tribal bodies, as also individual Naga males, who oppose womens reservation in ULBs that do not come under the purview of traditional Naga decision-making bodies opine that Naga men and women are equal and that the latter have high status in society. If so, why are women debarred from owning and inheriting immovable property and from decision-making bodies and process in our village-republics? If so, why different rules for men and women in our social practices; why rapes, domestic violence and other crimes against women? If so, why have women always been excluded from the martial activities of the village? The questions do not end here, but suffice it to say that patriarchal Naga society has never held men and women to be equals the very opposition to womens reservation in ULBs accentuates that reinforced by Naga male-dominate tribal bodies recent dicta to ex-communicate anyone who contest the ULB elections with 33 per cent womens reservation. Women reservation is necessitated in patriarchal societies for the historical fact of practiced culture of inequalities ubiquitous in Naga society even if we dont practice dowry, sati, female foeticide and infanticide and the caste-system. All patriarchal societies and states deny women access to economic and political powers, starting with land ownership the primary marker of power hierarchies. Opposition to womens reservation in ULBs not only underlines the badly bruised Naga male ego but also definitely has critical economic connotations accentuating how their economic and political holds are perceived to be threatened, which few realise, much less acknowledge. The writer is journalist-poet and editor of Dimapur-based Nagaland page When their fate is stuck in snow for over six months, it is time for them to celebrate. The tribal folks in Lahaul valley of Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh virtually dance away this ordeal of harsh winter every year, when they are landlocked. It is our lifestyle. We have one crop season, just five-six months from May, to run our economy for the year. So we work 247 at that time. When the valley cuts off due to snow in November- December, we have no option but to dance, dine and party, Mohan Lal Relingpa, 60, of Malang in Lahaul shared with The Statesman. The only problem we face in snow is that of medical emergency, as we are sometimes unable to take the patient outside for uncertain weekly chopper flights, he said. The 13050 feet high Rohtang Pass, the gateway to beautiful tribal valley of Lahaul, officially closes for vehicles on November 15 for snow and re-opens in May every year. For this reason, many elderly tribals and pregnant women prefer to come over to Manali and Kullu in winters for lack of health care facility back home. But others, who stay back, just enjoy and wait for every little reason to arrange a get together. The vehicular movement within Lahaul comes to a halt in winters with snow on roads. Same with development works, which cant be taken up in winters. It gives us a golden opportunity to preserve our culture. It is this time around that we have all our tribal festivals scheduled, said Angmo, an aged tribal from Jispa. Lahaul has three separate valleys- Gahar Todh, Tinan and Patan, which have their own timings to celebrate the similar festivals. They start with Halda (mashaal utsav), wherein the villagers make bundles of sticks chopped from rare Juniper tree in Lahaul and light them up, taking rounds of the village, to ward off evil spirit, pray before the local deity and seek blessings of ancestors. Then comes Gochi, in which all those tribals blessed with a baby boy in the past one year, celebrate in the community, to get blessings for the new born. Another tradition is Phagli, which marks the end of winters and the onset of spring. There are occasions, in between, for community to pay respect to elderly tribals. Arak (local liquor) extracted from Barley is a must in all the festivals. Every household in Lahaul has got a license to extract and keep 24 bottles of traditional liquor. While men consume Arak, the women drink Sing (which has lesser alcohol but good nutritional value) to beat the chill, said Jalmo, 50, of Keylong. Almost every house in Lahaul owns a flock of sheep and goat. As the tribal women work harder than men, winter is the right time for them to weave and knit for the whole year. For men, a favourite pastime in winters, however, is Chhollo (local style of gambling). Only the children are hard pressed in winters. They have holidays in summers and have to attend the school full time in winters. But then the administration makes proper arrangements for heating in all the schools. The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday searched the offices of Vijay Mallya-owned United Breweries (UB) group here, a CBI official said. "A 12-member team of the CBI is searching the offices in the UB City with a search warrant from a Delhi court. We are providing logistical support and assistance to the team," the official said. Though the official declined to specify the reason for the search warrant, informed sources hinted that the exercise was in connection with a FERA violation case against the group companies and Mallya. The group company said its officials were cooperating with the CBI team. On November 4, a Delhi court issued a non-bailable warrant against Mallya for allegedly evading summons in a case of FERA violation. The CBI search comes three days after the Debt Recovery Tribunal's Bengaluru bench ordered the attachment and recovery of Mallya's properties for defaulting on bank loans by his defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. Allowing a joint petition filed in June 2013 by a consortium of 17 banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI), the Tribunal's Bengaluru bench said properties of Mallya and Kingfisher worth Rs 6,203 crore ($909 million) be recovered from them with 11.5 per cent interest per annum since July 26, 2013 over unpaid loans. Bangladeshi author and freedom of expression advocate Taslima Nasrin, who has been living in exile since 1994 after facing the ire of fundamentalists, said on Monday India urgently needed a uniform civil law. During a surprise session at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the controversial writer also said that criticism of Islam is the only way to establish secularism in Islamic countries. In conversation with Salil Tripathi, the chair of the Writers-in-Prison Committee of PEN International, Nasrin said: "When I or anyone else criticise Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions nothing happens. But the moment you criticise Islam, people come running after your life. "They issue fatwas against you and they want to kill you. But why do they need to do so? If they disagree with me, they can write against me, share their views like we do. They can have conversations rather than fatwas," the 55-year-old writer contended. Nasrin said that Muslim women are "oppressed" and that uniform civil law is the need of the hour to protect their rights. "If you have a set of laws for Hindus, if Hindu women can divorce their husbands and have a say in their property, and we have seen how progressive that has been, then why are Islamic fundamentalists against a uniform civil law? Is not having a uniform civil law democratic," she asked. From a poet in the late 1980s, Nasrin rose to global attention by the end of the 20th century owing to her essays and novels from the feminist viewppoint and severe criticism of Islam. Her 1993 novel "Lajja" garnered severe criticism in Bangladesh, forcing her to leave the country. "A uniform civil law is urgently needed in India for the protection of women. The fundamentalists should introspect and ask themselves why are they not ready to accept criticism. "What do you mean by secularism, does it require you to encourage Muslim fundamentalists? For Muslim votes, you throw a writer out of the country and continue to patronise misogynists," she maintained. After multiple threats and attacks against her in the backdrop of "Lajja", Nasrin escaped to Sweden in 1994 and spent the next 10 years in exile in Europe and America. Coming to India in 2004, she settled in Kolkata, where she lived till November 2007 and then moved to New Delhi. she again moved to Sweden in 2008 and later worked as a research scholar at New York University. "Why shouldn't Muslim women have the same rights? Is it democracy? Encouraging fundamentalists and misogynists from any side is neither democratic nor secular. I am against all kinds of fundamentalists. "Without serious criticism of Islam, you will not be able to make Islamic countries secular. The women will continue to suffer and be oppressed," she said. Nasrin also said that without freedom of expression, secularism is meaningless. Nasrin is now a Swedish citizen. She has been continuously getting Indian visas since 2004 and currently lives in New Delhi. The session was themed around her latest memoir "Exile" a" a cumulative chronicle of her days in Kolkata and the circumstances under which she was, in her own words, "hurriedly shifted, first to Jaipur and then to Delhi, confined to an obscure safe houses, and faced incessant pressure from senior officials and politicians to leave India" and is replete with dark imageries and repeated provocations. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Obituaries Newsletter Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday gave away National Bravery Awards to 25 young children in New Delhi and motivated them to lead a better and successful life. What you all have done does not only show how brave you are, but also explains your determination. And that saved someones life, the prime minister said. Take this as a beginning, this is not the destination, he added. Twenty five children, including 12 girls and 13 boys, were given the National Bravery Awards 2016. Four of the awards have been given posthumously. The coveted Bharat Award has been conferred on eight-year-old Late Km Tarh Peeju of Arunachal Pradesh, who sacrificed her life in an attempt to save two of her friends from drowning. Eligible awardees will be granted financial assistance until they complete their schooling. Some state governments will also provide financial assistance to them. In a crackdown, police on Monday started evicting scores of pro-jallikattu demonstrators from protest venues across the state, especially from the Marina Beach, epicentre of the stir for the past one week, amid reports of stone-pelting and lathicharge at a few places. At the Marina, the police action began early in the morning with roads to the beach being cordoned off and police personnel being deployed in large numbers. Some protesters lined up at the seashore forming a human chain and a group entered the water refusing to heed police requests to disperse. Some others staged a sit-in on the sands while others regrouped in nearby areas, shouting slogans and allegedly throwing stones on policemen. Police burst teargas shells and reportedly lathicharged to chase away a section of protesters who had regrouped at Triplicane near Marina beach and allegedly started throwing stones at police personnel. The protesters had been demonstrating for the past one week demanding lifting of the ban on jallikattu. Despite promulgation of an ordinance on Saturday for conducting the bull-taming sport, they had vowed to carry on with their protest till a permanent solution was found to ensure that the sport is held annually without any hindrance. TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing protesters from the beach. At Coimbatore, police forcibly evicted the protesters from VOC Park Grounds here where they were agitating for the last six days. As the appeal made by senior officials to clear the grounds failed, police in large numbers started to bodily lift the protestors and shift them out of the venue. Women police personnel were seen taking women agitators, some elderly and some with babies in their arms, out of the grounds, despite them appealing with folded hands not to disturb the peaceful agitation. 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 a human chain on the main Avanashi chain and police made a 'mild' cane charge to disperse them, police said. A section of protestors were raising slogans in support of their demand for a 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 people, they said. Police said they had cleared the ground, venue for the Republic Day function, and it is under control of the district administration and police. Protests are reportedly continuing in Madurai with demonstrators allegedly throwing stones at police in Alanganallur even as officials are trying to persuade the agitators to disperse. The Republic Day Parade on Rajpath on January 26 will witness tableaux from 17 states and six ministries of the Union government this year. These tableaux will showcase varied themes starting from countrys rich cultural heritage and socio-economic development to nations progress in key areas like IT, women, empowerment and environment protection. The tableau of Odisha will showcase Dola Jatra, a popular festival celebrated in the state and the tableau from Arunachal Pradesh depicting the Yak Dance, one of the most famous pantomimes of the Mahayana sect of Buddhist tribes, will be on display. While, the Maharashtra tableau will depict the commemoration of the 160th birth anniversary of Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, the Manipur tableau will recreate the ambience of rich cultural tradition of the state. The tableaux from Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, Tripura, Jammu & Kashmir and Assam will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the respective states. The tableaux prepared by the Central Board of Excise & Customs, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry, the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Central Public Works Department and the Skill Development Ministry, will depict various initiatives taken up by the Union government. A mind so strong can make as well as break greatest of the great walls. When there is a man with strong will and patriotism flowing in his blood, he can make the toughest rulers break into a sweat. The inspiration to not only Indians but patriots all around the world, Netaji subhas Chandra Bose was always surrounded by suspicion and had a mystery draped all over him which continued even after he passed away. From his personal life to the way he died, has always been a mystery. On January 23, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declassified 100 files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Despite the infinite conspiracy theories of his death, these documents did not offer any confirmation to defy his death in the plane crash in Taiwan. Earlier, in September 2015, Mamata Banerjee had announced the release of 64 documents that contained information about him and yet many questions remain unanswered. The ever so intriguing mystery that surrounds his disappearance and death is one that has aroused the interest of many a man. This has led to the theories of him being killed in the soviet prison to a plane crash near Taipei to him being alive as a 'gumnaami baba' in UP. In 2015, a request was made to the soviet embassy by one AS Sharma regarding the truth about Netaji being killed in a Soviet prison. To this, the Russian State Archives emphatically responded, "Subhas Chandra Bose had never been in any penitentiary (in the Soviet Union)". In the latest response to a string of queries on the same topic, most recent being by Govind Talwalkar, Former editor of Maharashtra Times, has been researching on this for over 60 years. The Russian Archives clarified that in the responses given earlier also in 1992 and 1995, the records found in a letter of correspondence between soviet officers clearly dismiss the false propaganda that Bose met his end in Siberia. These files released a 60 year-old report by the Japanese Government which explained that the death was caused by a plane crash near Taipei on August 18, 1945. This seven- page report also mentions that he was admitted to Nanmom branch of Taipei Army Hospital at 3 pm and by 7 pm he died. According to the report, the ashes of Netaji are interred in Tokyo. The Shah Nawaz Khan-led inquiry instituted by the then Indian Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru investigated the matter later in 1956 and reached the same conclusion as the Japanese Government. These stories only touch the tip of the iceberg that surrounds the mystery relating to the death of Netaji, who founded the Azad Hind Fauj and fought the British Raj to attain Purna Swaraj. He gave birth to the slogan Jai Hind that holds the patriotic vibe even today as the nation observes his birth anniversary. Of all the policy vows that United States President Donald Trump made and unmade during his long electoral campaign, none has been more prominent or more durable than his promise to forge a new strategic partnership with Russia. The promise has been repeated so often and in such categorical terms that it has spawned a wave of conspiracy theory explanations. Mr Trump is, supposedly, obsessed with the topic because hes a Russian agent under deep cover, a real-life Manchurian Candidate, following the example of the character from the famous Cold War movie who was programmed by Russian spies to take over the US. Or, alternatively, that the new US President is being blackmailed by the Russians, who allegedly have compromising material on him. Yet, there is also a more humdrum and perhaps more persuasive explanation: That the new occupant of the White House genuinely believes in the advantages of friendship with Russia. Be that as it may, the chances that Russia and the US will join hands in a new strategic partnership remain very slim indeed. For even if they genuinely try, leaders in both Washington and Moscow will soon discover that what they are prepared to offer each other, neither will find very appealing, while the price each partner expects to extract from the other for such a strategic deal will be deemed unacceptable by both sides. This is the story of a divorce slated to occur before the partners even go out on a date, let alone get married. There was always something very odd about Mr Trumps fascination with Russia, and with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two have almost certainly never met face to face, although Mr Trump, just like many other international businessmen who exaggerate their connections in high places, frequently implied that he did. Furthermore, Mr Putin is hardly a household name in the US; most ordinary American voters have no idea who he is, and those who do recognise the name are unlikely to have a positive opinion of the Russian leader. Meanwhile, Russia itself is not popular in the US, and foreign policy initiatives hardly swing elections. So, far from being a vote-winner, Mr Trumps repeated pleas for an American partnership with Russia were an electoral liability; as time went by, they became one of the biggest political millstones around Mr Trumps neck. Yet, the Republican candidate persevered in praising Mr Pyootn, as he calls the Russian leader. Mr Trumps admiration for Mr Putin is partly explainable by the broader popularity which the Russian President has enjoyed for years among far-right political circles in the industrialised world. Within these circles which Mr Trump also frequented Mr Putin is seen as a can-do, no-nonsense leader who rejects political correctness, has no difficulty in claiming that Christianity is superior to all other religions, does not know what ethnic diversity is, and believes that gays should remain in the closet, that the poor should remain poor and that traditional family values should mean that women stay at home, somewhere between the kitchen and the bedroom. Whether these are post-liberal values, as some Western intellectuals now complain or merely 19th century liberal values as some of Mr Putins defenders allege, is ultimately immaterial; Mr Putins ability to reject and defy the current political wisdom by exposing current Western societies as morally bankrupt has made him hugely popular with Western right-wingers. Mr Trump also has more specific reasons for liking Mr Putin, for the system over which Mr Putin presides is one run by oligarchs, hugely wealthy individuals who blend family, business and politics in every days work. Mr Putin detests intellectuals and believes that media outlets that do not praise him are merely lying. He also has a real-estate view of international relations: Mr Putins world is divided between properties he either owns or wants to own, and those owned by competitors. The similarities between Mr Putins and Mr Trumps visions are, therefore, compelling. And although the Russian leader has largely kept a polite silence about the US elections, there is little doubt that he views Mr Trumps inauguration as a personal vindication. As seen from Moscow, its the US political system which is now copying some Russian features, rather than the other way around. The rise of people like Mr Rex Tillerson, President Trumps nominee for US secretary of state, only reinforces Mr Putins perception that political trends are now running in his favour, since Mr Tillerson is not just an old partner, but also a master in the business which keeps Russia going: oil and natural gas. Either way, the admiration and perhaps even affection between the top leaders in Moscow and Washington are evidently mutual. Yet, this does not mean that they can actually forge a strategic partnership, for there is a huge gap in the expectations of both partners in this putative relationship. Although Mr Trump has never spelt out in detail what he wants from Moscow, it is clear that there are two tasks for which he deems Russia useful. The first is Russian cooperation to eradicate completely from the face of the earth the radical Islamic terrorism, as Mr Trump put it in his inauguration speech. And the second is eliciting potential Russian support in cornering China, the one power Mr Trump sees as presenting the US with the biggest and most sustained strategic challenge. Yet, the Russians have very different objectives. Moscow is happy to cooperate with the US on counter-terrorism measures, but sees that as merely a diversion from the top priority, which is to regain for Russia the status as a global power, a country whose support is required in the management of any future world crisis. And that means an acceptance that Russia should be allowed to have its own spheres of influence in Europe and Central Asia, since without these, its difficult to see why the US should allow Russia a country with a population not much bigger than Japans and an economy not much bigger than that of Italy a permanent place at the top table. The continued crisis in Ukraine is largely about getting Western approval for the establishment of a Russian sphere of influence, and Mr Putin has no intention of compromising on this quest. But at the same time, although the Russians have their own reasons to mistrust the Chinese, they have no intention of cooperating with the US in containing China. Thats partly because China will retaliate by challenging the already declining Russian influence in Central Asia, but also because it is in Russias interest to have a powerful China as a permanent counter-balance to the US. The Russians may well be tempted to engage in their own China-hedging. Yet, they will do that and, arguably, are already doing it with the help of older Russian partners such as India or Vietnam, rather than in conjunction with the Americans, who are always liable to dump the Russians at a later stage by playing the China card against Moscow, as the Americans did during the 1970s. And even if one assumes that Americas new president is prepared to put the China question aside and forge a partial strategic deal with Russia over Europe and the Middle East, its difficult to see how this will be accomplished, or what purpose it will serve. The US can abandon Ukraine to Russia by simply stopping all economic and military assistance to that country. But it cannot deliver Eastern Europe to a Russian sphere of influence even if it wanted to; this is not 1945 when, at the end of World War II, countries were bartered away with the mere whisk of a pen. Nor is it very obvious what the Russians can actually do to eradicate terrorism. The Russian military can drop bombs, but bombs are precisely the commodity Mr Trump does not lack either. Yet, on almost every other count, the Russians are part of the problem rather than part of the solution to terrorism: Their internal problem with domestic separatists and marginalisation feeds violence, and Russia has one of the highest rates of people volunteering for terrorism. A true Russian counter-terrorism partnership should entail a change in domestic Russian policies, precisely what neither Mr Putin nor Mr Trump is seeking. In sum, therefore, the Russia-US relationship is one doomed from the start; the partners are not merely incompatible, they dont even understand each others aspirations, and most certainly have no incentive to address each others needs. The only remaining question is whether President Trump wants to pursue this dream or whether, like a good businessman who realises that hes faced with a dud business proposal, he cuts his losses and moves on to other projects. With Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister, there were hopes of a closer Indo-China relationship. After all he had visited China and established close bonds with the leadership during his tenure as chief minister. He himself was hopeful that relations would come on an even keel and investments would flow. The first visit by the Chinese president post Modis takeover was expected to be the take-off point. China made the right noises, the correct gestures, but refused to budge and accept India as an equal. That visit was followed by a series of interactions at every level, from the President downwards, yet nothing changed. Over two years have gone by and the situation is clear. China believes in listening but not moving forward. Chinas recent posturing, statements and actions have indicated that it is an adversary. It is Chinese diplomatic and military support to Pakistan which enables it to continue supporting terror groups operating against India. Hence China ensures India would always face a nuclear-capable Pakistan, pursuing an anti-India policy on its western border, with a possibility of a two-front war. For China, India is a competitor, the only power in Asia which can threaten its hegemony and stand up to its bullying. Therefore, it grabs every means to act against India, whether it is the NSG, the UN nominating Masood Azhar as a terrorist or establishing bases surrounding India. The recent speech by the prime minister at the Raisina dialogue indicating that it was not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have differences, was putting it across mildly. The foreign secretary was blunter when he stated that China should be sensitive to Indias concerns, especially as it concerned the China Pakistan Economic Corridor transgressing disputed territory. The fact remains that China has never shown sensitiveness to others concerns, especially when it affects its national interests. Its actions in the South China sea brushed aside any concern of its smaller neighbours and at times even threatened them with its economic and military power. Expecting any concern towards an adversary like India is unlikely, unless India shows resoluteness and competitiveness. India therefore needs to reconsider its China strategy. It has limited options ranging from open confrontation to acceptance of Chinese hegemony to creating alliances to counter China. Ideal should be a mix with the intention of conveying the message that India too can hurt China in some measure, if not equally. Seeking alliances with smaller neighbours of China may backfire at some stage. The US-Philippine relationship is heading for difficult times, as China has won over the country with an economic carrot. The same is also likely to happen to the US-Cambodia relationship. India-Vietnam may also go the same way at some point in time. India came to Mongolias aid in its confrontation with China, but soon Mongolia succumbed to Chinese pressures. The only strong relationship which we need to develop is with Japan, a nation whose enmity with China would remain, irrespective of any overtures by China. India has the trump card of the Dalai Lama. While his movements and statements would continue to irk the Chinese, India should resist imposing any restrictions on him, instead enhance his visits. The Chinese may criticize or comment, but it should be ignored. This would convey the message that one nation cannot be sensitive to the interests of the other, both need to be equally concerned. India made the mistake of cancelling the visas, on Chinese request, of Uighur exiled leaders, an action which it should never repeat in the future; after all, if Masood Azhar cannot be declared an international terrorist, India should feel the same way about anti-China terrorists. Our acceptance of Tibet as part of China in exchange for them recognizing the merger of Sikkim was possibly a wrong decision. However, with the Dalai Lama card, India could consider iterating the settlement of the Tibet issue. Though such words may take an already troubled relationship to further depths, as Tibet has always been a super sensitive issue with China, yet it may have to be raised. India should deepen its relationship and cooperation with the US. Trump has issues with China, which would only increase with time. His policy of mending relations with Russia, while challenging Chinese hegemony, should be exploited by us. The two navies, operating jointly, to counter Chinese forays into the Indian Ocean would convey a stronger message. The aim should not be to challenge China but counter its actions, by a show of force. Simultaneously we should seek bases to counter Chinese expansionism. Early development of Chabahar port would counter the Chinese base at Gwadar. Enhancing naval exercises with Vietnam and other nations of the region is essential. Simultaneously, there is a need to enhance the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) with adequate resources to dominate the Indian Ocean and monitor hostile shipping in the region. The Indian Navy is presently ahead of the Chinese in capacity and should remain so. Other military actions should be faster raising of the strike corps and enhancing deployment of air assets in the Eastern theatre. This would convey that India can counter Chinese misadventures. India should continue testing and induction of its Agni series of missiles. The one advantage which China always possessed was the ability to target India, while we could only target Tibet. The induction of Agni IV and Agni V (which will still need more tests) and the Arihant Submarine would bring in compatibility in missile capability. Losing this advantage has irked the Chinese, as their press statements indicated. With CPEC and Indias rise as a military and economic power, China-India relations would always be one of competition. While China remains an economic and military powerhouse, India is no pushover. It is only by showing determination and unwillingness to back down, that we can indicate it takes two to tango. China will not change its policies anytime soon, however such actions by India may result in Beijing softening its stand. The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army. The BSF constable, Tej Bahadurs video posted on the social media has set off a chain reaction. Similar videos by the jawans of other central police forces and the army have also surfaced, thus creating an adverse impression. The Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat, has now warned his men against the use of the social media for expressing their grievances, instead of following established procedures for redressal. He has also threatened disciplinary action against those who continue using the social media. It is a fact that the videos in social media, highlighting the poor quality of food and other indignities, can prejudice the public mind and convey the impression that soldiers and personnel of para-military forces are not being properly looked after in operational areas where they often have to risk their lives. Wide publicity in the social media has had a demoralising effect on the members of the force who are doing a splendid job in inhospitable circumstances. This is a reflection on the leaders of the force. Yet it would be wrong to sweep such allegations under the carpet as the outpourings of disgruntled elements, and take no notice of them. There is need for introspection and corrective action. Leaders of the armed forces know that the honour of the country and welfare of the men under them should always be accorded uppermost attention. For those posted in difficult terrain and under hazardous circumstances, the supply of well-cooked nutritious food is imperative. Duke Wellington, the victor of Waterloo, had aptly remarked that the army marches on its stomach. Hence, the jawans feel short-changed if the food is unfit for consumption. This affects their fighting spirit and capability. Their sense of grievance and alienation is intensified if their senior officers are impervious and do not care for their welfare. Many of them are performing their duties far away from their homes and families and remain taut and tense. Hence, it is of utmost importance to address their problems with compassion and urgency. I had done a long stint in the BSF and have seen how the men perform their duties with commendable discipline and commitment in difficult and inhospitable terrain and in daunting circumstances The food provided in the BSF mess and in border outposts (BoPs) is adequate and wholesome and the battalion commandant and the company commanders see to it that the quality of the fare is nutritious. In border areas, where BSF units function under the operational control of the army, the ration is procured by the army and supplied to the BSF. There are odd complaints that the ration is often of poor quality. But such cases are few. In other areas, where the BSF operates on its own, the ration is bought from the market under the direction of the Commandant, who is assisted by a mess committee. At times the quality and taste of cooked food is not up-to-the mark because of the dearth of good cooks in battalion headquarters and in outposts. The problem relates to the taste of the food, and not its quantity and variety. It is necessary, therefore, to recruit trained cooks and not greenhorns who have to be trained and groomed as cooks. In the early years of the BSF, the first DG/IG, Rustamji, ensured that trained chefs from well-known hotels and restaurants were inducted into the force. They could prepare palatable dishes and train other cooks as well. The system needs to be revived. However, the key issue is not just the quality of food or supply of rations, but the equation between the supervisory officers and men serving under them. In the BSF as well as in other central police forces, there have been instances of a rift between the commanders and the men. Battalion commanders and Company Commanders have to be in close touch with their men and stand by them when they face problems. The jawans should feel that the senior leaders feel and care for them. Some of the stalwarts of the BSF are still remembered with love and respect for their concern for those serving under them. In the police and in armed battalions there are grievance redressal mechanisms and also facilities for discussions in open forums (Alochana Sabhas) where the other ranks are free to articulate their grievances. There are force leaders who respond positively to the grievances raised in such sabhas. In parallel, there are some who allow things to drift. The unit leader must care for the men serving under him, and at the close of his tenure he should leave things a little better than he found them. The Home ministry has called for a report from the BSF authorities on the constables video which went viral. The BSF brass has ordered a Court of Enquiry to probe the matter and submit a report if it is a one-off issue or an indicator of systemic malfunctioning. The Court of Enquiry will conduct a comprehensive investigation and suggest corrective measures including disciplinary action against the complainant if the allegations lack substance. Normally such boards of enquiry are known to do a thorough job. The service record of the aggrieved constable is poor, but it is necessary to ascertain if his grouse has a factual basis and whether it highlights a local issue relating to poor ration or whether it points to systemic mismanagement and lack of concern for men battling it out for the countrys defence. Similar videos have resulted in negative perceptions of the functioning of the armed forces. The public has the right to know the truth of the matter. Genuine grievances of the personnel of the armed forces do need to be expressed, but posting of videos in the social media without proper verification or without explaining the attendant circumstances may not be the correct and responsible thing to do. This can result in demoralisation and foment indiscipline. From my experience in the BSF, I can vouch that this large and proud force of 200,000 officers and men are guarding the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh with commendable zeal. The BSF has made the supreme sacrifice on many occasions and this has been possible because it is effectively led and looked after well. Relentless concern for the welfare of the men was the legacy bequeathed by the founding fathers of the force, pre-eminently Rustamji and Ashwini Kumar. Their motto should continue to inspire the present generation of BSF leaders. The writer is Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences; former Director-General; National Human Rights Commission; and former Director, National Police Academy. China plans to launch the Chang'e-5 lunar probe at the end of November this year aboard the heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-5. This mission, which will be the first to collect samples from the Moon's surface automatically and the first that will return to Earth, will take place four years after the deployment of China's last mission to the Moon and a little more than a year after the cessation of operations of the robotic Moon rover, which was part of that mission, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced on Monday. "With a weight of 8.2 tonnes, the lunar probe has four parts: an orbiter, a returner, an ascender and a lander," said Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the programme. The lander will put moon samples in a vessel in the ascender after the moon landing. Then the ascender will take off from the moon to dock with the orbiter and the returner orbiting the moon, and transfer the samples to the returner, the People's Daily reported. The orbiter and returner will then head back to the earth, separating from each other when they are several thousands kilometres from earth. Finally, the returner will re-enter the earth. The development of Chang'e-5 has entered the end of its flight model phase, and relevant work is proceeding smoothly, according to CASC. China plans to fulfil three strategic steps with the launch of Chang'e-5, "orbiting, landing and returning". The country also plans to launch the Chang'e-4 lunar probe around 2018 to achieve mankind's first soft landing on the far side of the moon, and to conduct an in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point, according to the China National Space Administration. Administering glucose supplements to women during childbirth, especially for the first birth, may shorten the labour time, researchers say. A prolonged labour, or a failure to progress, is a labour that takes more than 20 hours for first-time mothers and more than 14 hours for mothers who have given birth before. A prolonged labour is not only defined by the duration, it is regarded as prolonged but, when cervical dilation takes place at less than 1 centimetre per hour. Prolonged labour can be harmful to maternal and foetal health. According to the study, because glucose supplementation is known to improve muscle performance, adding glucose to the intravenous hydration solution women receive during childbirth could accelerate labour. "Glucose supplementation significantly reduces the total length of labour without increasing the rate of complication. This is great news for women experiencing induced labour," said Josianne Pare from the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada. For the study, 200 pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either a standard hydration solution containing salt and water or a solution containing glucose, salt and water. The results showed that the median duration of labour was 76 minutes shorter in the group of women receiving glucose. However, "there was no difference in the mode of delivery caesarean section, forceps, etc. or the neonatal well-being measures," Pare said. Thus, being a low-cost and safe intervention, glucose should be the solute of choice during labour, the researchers recommended. The findings will be presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, in Quebec. Are you a space enthusiast? Then there is a golden opportunity for you to decide where NASA's Juno spacecraft should aim its camera during its next close flyby of Jupiter on February 2. NASA has, for the first time, offered space enthusiasts an opportunity to vote on the site of images that the JunoCam will capture as the spacecraft approaches Jupiter's north pole on February 2, the space agency said in a statement. "We are looking forward to people visiting our website and becoming part of the JunoCam imaging team," said Candy Hansen, investigator in the Juno probe from the Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona. "It's up to the public to determine the best locations in Jupiter's atmosphere for JunoCam to capture during this flyby," Hansen added. JunoCam is a colour, visible-light camera designed to capture remarkable pictures of Jupiter's poles and cloud tops. Juno will make its closest approach to Jupiter when the spacecraft is about 4,300 kms above the planet's swirling clouds. Two hours later, the imaging will conclude as the spacecraft completes its close flyby, departing from below the gas giant's south pole. Juno is currently on its fourth orbit around Jupiter. It takes 53 days for Juno to complete one orbit. "The pictures JunoCam can take depict a narrow swath of territory the spacecraft flies over, so the points of interest imaged can provide a great amount of detail," Hansen said. The pictures will play a vital role in helping the Juno science team establish what is going on in Jupiter's atmosphere at any moment. Each participant will get a limited number of votes per orbit to devote to the points of interest he or she wants imaged. After the flyby is complete, the raw images will be posted to the JunoCam website, where the public can perform its own processing, NASA said. At least 69 Pakistani are being held in Saudi Arabia for their alleged involvement in terror-related offences, local media reported on Monday. The most recent arrest came on Saturday when Saudi security forces rounded up Fatima Ramadan Balochi Murad along with her Saudi husband from an apartment in al Naseem district after a tip-off, Saudi Gazette reported. Murad was detained in a security operation launched after a firefight and subsequent blowing up of two suspected terrorists in Jeddah on Saturday. This is not the first time Pakistani citizens have been suspected of perpetuating terror in the oil-rich kingdom. In July last year, a Pakistani suspect Abdullah Qalzar Khan blew himself up near Solaiman Fakeih Hospital in Jeddah, which led to the arrest of as many as 49 Pakistani residents who were put under interrogation. Meanwhile, a terror attempt, which involved two Pakistanis Solaiman Arab Deen and Farman Naqshaband Khan was also foiled last October in Jeddah. The suspects had planned to carry out blasts in al Jowhara Stadium. Through its communications portal, the Saudi interior ministry revealed that 5,085 terror suspects from 40 countries were undergoing detention in five intelligence prisons in the kingdom. "There are 4,254 Saudis detained in intelligence prisons constituting the largest number of suspects," it said. The Saudis are followed by 282 Yemenis and 218 Syrians. There are three suspects from the US and one each from France, Belgium and Canada. India has contributed $100,000 to a UN fund to help Haiti recover from the ravages of a 2010 cholera epidemic that claimed more than 10,000 lives and was blamed on peacekeepers from Nepal. Ashish Sinha, first secretary in India's UN, mission handed over the cheque last week to Jennifer Topping, the executive coordinator of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), which administers the Haiti fund. The UN Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund was set up last year in response to criticism about the organisation's failure to quickly take responsibility for the cholera outbreak attributed to Nepali peacekeepers and improper disposal of human waste that polluted the water supply. The fund has a target of $200 million to be raised through donations. The fund says that its aim is to "significantly improve access to care and treatment in short term and also to address issues of water and sanitation and health systems in long term". India's contribution comes after recent disclosures that a contingent sent by India to Haiti peacekeeping operations had not been properly inoculated against cholera, a serious lapse because of the earlier history with Nepali troops. The Indians are participating in the peacekeeping operations as police. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters earlier this month that the peacekeepers who had not been vaccinated against cholera were being inoculated in the field and the country that sent them would be charged for the procedure. The Malaysian Government has withdrawn its offer of a reward to find the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after the search for the missing aircraft officially ended on Monday. The three-year underwater search for the Boeing 777 that disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people on board ended with the search vessel Fugro Equator docking in Fremantle, Western Australia, earlier in the day. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the offer of a reward was not a government proposal, rather a personal decision by the country's Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported. "The government has not made any decision it was the Deputy Minister's personal view, not the government's," said Lai. Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester and Liow went aboard the Fugro Equator to thank the crew. "This has been an extraordinary search effort, it's been in some of the most inhospitable oceans in the world," Chester said. "The search for MH370 has been at the very cutting edge of technology and scientific expertise, but also has been quite a heroic human endeavour." The search covered an area of 120,000 sq.km. and while some experts believe the plane is likely to be just outside the searched area, the investigation will now take a different turn, the ABC said. "Work will continue in relation to further analysis of data and if any more debris comes forward, we'll work with our Malaysian counterparts in assessing debris of interest and work is also going on in terms of further analysis of satellite imagery," Chester said. He thanked the crew, the Australian and Chinese governments for the help in the $200 million search effort, of which Australia contributed about $60 million. Liow and Chester are expected to later meet the families of the victims, who began a campaign Sunday to urge Malaysian and Australian authorities to resume search operations. Myanmar's deputy defence chief on Monday urged the world to give his government "time and space" to solve a crisis involving the Rohingya Muslim minority amid concerns jihadists could exploit the situation. Rear Admiral Myint Nwe told a security forum in Singapore his government is "fully aware of the growing concern about the widespread reports on (the) situation in Rakhine state" where the Rohingya live, and was committed to address the issue and punish wrongdoers. Since October Myanmar's army has carried out "clearance operations" in the north of the western state to root out insurgents accused of deadly raids on police border posts. At least 66,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, alleging rape, murder and torture at the hands of security forces. Myanmar has long faced international criticism over its treatment of the Rohingya. Most people in the majority Buddhist community consider them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. "The government does not condone rights abuses against innocent civilians. Legal action will be taken in response to any substantiated claim," Myint Nwe said. The admiral was responding to a keynote address by Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at th Fullerton Forum organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Hishammuddin warned that the situation in Rakhine if not addressed properly could be exploited by the Islamic State group as it seeks a base in Southeast Asia. "This horrific possibility has the potential to cause death and destruction well beyond the borders of ASEAN," he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Answering a delegate's question, Hishammuddin said the Rohingya issue "is going to test ASEAN solidarity It needs to be resolved, we cannot sweep it under the carpet, it affects a lot of Muslims and it's very emotional". Myint Nwe said both Yangon and the international community should focus on finding a "lasting solution" to the problem. "Allowing time and space is essential for the government's efforts to bear fruit in finding a sustainable solution of this complex issue." Hishammuddin said ASEAN the regional bloc to which both Malaysia and Myanmar belong should play a key role in working out a solution with Myanmar's leaders. Nepal government has launched a 10-year-plan to cut dependence on vegetable imports from India and make the land-locked country self-reliant in food. Vegetable imports from India have continued to increase even despite the far-western region seeing a rise in commercial vegetable farming, a local media report has said. According to the report, the region imports vegetables worth 55 billion rupees every year from India. Exports volume, however, was negligible. Potatoes worth 370 million rupees was imported annually. Green vegetable imports stand at 180 million rupees, according to the Regional Plant Quarantine at Gadda Chauki the second important border trading point with India after Birgunj. According to District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), vegetable is cultivated on 4,450 hectares in Kanchanpur and the output is 56,000 metric tonnes annually. Belauri, Krishnapur, Jhalari, Mahendranagar and Mahakali are some of the major vegetable producing areas in Nepal. However, the production barely meets the local demand. India exports around 25,000 metric tonnes of vegetables annually, the report in The Kathmandu Post said. "More than 50 per cent of the imports is consumed in Kanchanpur district," said Yagya Raj Joshi, senior agricultural development officer at DADO. "Reaming is consumed in Banke, Kailai and other hilly districts of the far west." In a bid to decrease reliance on imports, the government has launched a 10-year scheme to boost domestic production. Starting this fiscal year, the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project has envisioned adopting modern farm techniques to boost productivity, and making the country self-reliant in food, it said. The government has aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in wheat and vegetables by this fiscal year, and in paddy and potato in two years. It has targeted making the country self-sufficient in maize and fish by the next three years, and in fruits like bananas, papaya and litchi by four years. By its end, the project envisages becoming self-sufficient in fruits like kiwi, apple and orange. Officials say British Prime Minister Theresa May was told about the June test of Britain's nuclear deterrent system when she took office last year. Downing Street did not confirm or deny a newspaper report that one of the unarmed missiles fired during the test of the submarine-based Trident system had malfunctioned. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about a possible cover-up because Parliament was not told about the test before it debated whether to renew the aging Trident missile system. May's spokeswoman told reporters on Monday that she had been briefed about the test. She said the government does not discuss operational details of tests. The Sunday Times said the missile fired off the coast of Florida went off course and may have veered toward the United States. US President Donald Trump has reiterated he will soon renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and discuss immigration when he meets the leaders of Canada and Mexico. "Anybody ever hear of NAFTA," Fox news quoted Trump as saying during a White House swearing-in of several top administration officials, including senior adviser Kellyanne Conway. "I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA, on immigration and security at the border. And Mexico has been terrific." Trump in his campaign last year promised to renegotiate the 22-year-old trade deal and provide more favourable terms to the US. The new President will meet his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto on January 31. A meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected soon, according to the White House. "We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," Trump said. Pena Nieto and Trudeau in a phone conversation on Sunday agreed to join forces to encourage economic integration in North America, according to a statement from the Mexican President's office. "Trump is committed to renegotiating NAFTA. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, he will give notice of the US intent to withdraw from NAFTA," reads Trump's America First Foreign Policy published on the website of the White House. Since the New York mogul's victory in last year's election, both Canada and Mexico have said they will reexamine the free trade agreement with the new US administration. Canada has said it expects to keep its 1989 bilateral free trade agreement with the US if Trump withdraws from NAFTA. Canadian Ambassador to the US David MacNaughton on Sunday said the country was not the focus of US efforts to renegotiate NAFTA, suggesting the Trump administration was more concerned about trade deficits with Mexico. During a surprise trip to Mexico City to meet Pena Nieto in August, Trump said: "I shared my strong view (with Pena Nieto) that NAFTA has been a far greater benefit to Mexico than it has been to the US and that it must be improved to make sure that workers, so important, in both countries benefit from fair and reciprocal trade." Mexico shuddered at the comment. The trade pact has helped Mexico channel 80 per cent of exports to its neighbour and an improvement Trump wants might mean huge losses for Mexico, Xinhua news agency reported. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, created one of the world's largest free trade zones by reducing or eliminating tariffs on most products. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. High 74F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. "...everything else about Americas ultra-secret military base, which UFO buffs believe may house the crashed Roswell spacecraft and frozen extraterrestrials, is suspiciously murky." EXTRATERRESTRIAL HIGHWAY, NEVADADo not, under any circumstances, cross the line that separates a perfectly legal thrill ride into Area 51, with instant arrest by the camo dudes. By Jennifer Bain The Star 1-19-17 That much is clear. But everything else about Americas ultra-secret military base, which UFO buffs believe may house the crashed Roswell spacecraft and frozen extraterrestrials, is suspiciously murky.[...]At the Alien Research Center, which is actually a gift shop, Desiree Plummer hands out sample shots of Alien Tequila with a chaser of alien honey (agave nectar) and then eagerly shares the secret route that should only be used in daylight. Patnaik's close aides say that to understand him, one has to understand his empathy By Pratul Sharma/Photos Sanjay Ahlawat In October last year, Indias largest spectrum sale ended after five days of bidding, with the government raising Rs 65,789.12 crore in revenue. Some 965 MHz of spectrum was soldof 2354.55 MHz put up for auctionjust 41 %. Monewise, it was a fraction of the Rs 5.63 trillion base price that the government had set. It is a scientific fact that lower frequencies cover longer distances and save on the number of cell towers needed. Yet of the seven bands auctioned ( 700 MHz, 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz ), the two lowest frequency bands on offer700 and 900 MHz remained unsold. Why? Because of the impossibly stiff reserve price on them. A short sighted government gloated: "The total upfront payment of Rs 32,000 crore is the highest upfront payment received in five years!" It was a classic case of killing the golden goose. By its avaricious pricing, it had effectively shut the door to faster, more efficient communications precisely when it was needed most: when the world is preparing to move from 4G to 5G in wireless technology, around 2020. On one hand, demonetization was pushing the nation to a new era of less-cash, e-payments. On the other, government had hamstrung the telecom industry from rolling out the faster, more reliable networks needed to support such a massive switch to e-cash options. 5G is not just about faster data speedsfor the first time these would touch 1 GBPS or 1000 MBPS compared to around 100 MBPS tops today. It was more about quality than quantity. Rajeev Suri, President and CEO of Nokia says 5G will make a huge change in Time, Productivity and Health. "Technology took time away from us. The Future can give it back", he feels. As regards productivity, simple actions will perform complex tasks in the near future o 5G, even as robotics and automation will influence health giving in a myriad ways. All this is the promise of 5G. But should the world get bogged down in the nitty gritty of auctions of scarce spectrum? No said, Kalpak Gude, President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance last week. He was admittedly not speaking specifically of the Indian situation, but there are learnings to be had. DSA is a global cross industry alliance focused on increasing dynamic access to unused radio frequencies. India-born Gude assumed his position at DSA, in November last year, after an earlier tenure as Vice President of Legal, Regulatory, at OneWeb, an organisation tackling the issue of affordable global connectivity. He has also served as Associate Bureau Chief at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, D.C., where he gained insight into complex political and regulatory areas. His views are important in an environment, where government seems bent on milking every last paisa from spectrum, without measuring the effect such high pricing will have on the ability of service providers to reach the country's unreached, with Internet and telecom connectivity. Speaking at the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) annual conference in Hawaii, Gude told the audience that while there have been, and continue to be, great technological advancements, the industry must face facts: We must either embrace new sharing techniques to drive spectrum efficiency, while still protecting incumbent services, or continue to spend our energy on the spectrum battles of scarcity and diminish the possibilities of the future wireless world. He added: Spectrum auctions are a symbol of scarcitya way to ration what we have lefthowever it focuses energy in the wrong place. Every conversation about spectrum today begins and ends with the question of limits, but the spectrum revolution can end this. With the technological advances that have occurred, spectrum scarcity is not a necessary law of nature. Dynamic spectrum sharing is a solution to overcome, and ultimately end, the focus on limits and it will be at the heart of the future 5G world. Gude commented on how at its core the new 5G world is all about wireless solutions and connectivity enabling, among other things, the Internet of Things (IoT). However, he mentioned it is more than just faster internet, it is about satisfying our societal expectations of being connected anywhere and everywhere, without limits. To satisfy the expectations, however, 5G cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach to spectrum management if it is to meet the differing demands. Low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrum, each with its own strengths, will need to be available and abundant. Dynamic spectrum sharing, with a regulatory structure embracing unlicensed and lightly-licensed regulations, is the only way to satisfy these growing spectrum requirements. In turn, this will enable the IoT and provide connectivity anywhere and everywhere to bring the benefits of the connected future to the four billion that currently are not part of the global conversation, concluded Gude. His comments come ahead of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliances fifth annual Global Summit, which takes place between 9 and 11 May 2017, in Cape Town, South Africa. Tech Note: TV White Spaces Unused and largely unlicensed spectrum is widely recognized as a way for developing economies. These include the so called TV White Spacesfrequency bands (470-646 MHz ) vacated by the old terrestrial TV transmissionsthat can be used to provide WiFi to millions of rural users and very little cost. Yet the Indian government has been hesitant in encouraging schemes to harness such white spaces when the initiative has come from players like Microsoft. 5G 5th generation mobile networks wireless systems, called 5G, are the proposed next telecommunications standards beyond 4G. 5G aims at higher capacity than current 4G, allowing higher number of mobile users per area unit, and allowing consumption of higher or unlimited data quantities in gigabyte per month and use. This would make it feasible for a large portion of the population to stream high-definition media many hours per day with their mobile devices, when out of reach of Wi-Fi hotspots. 5G also aims at improved support Internet of things, aiming at lower cost, and lower battery consumption than 4G equipment.The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance defines the requirements that a 5G standard should fulfill. These include Data rates of tens of megabits per second for tens of thousands of users and 1 Gb per second simultaneously to many workers on the same office floor.5G should be rolled out by 2020 to meet business and consumer demands. ( from Wikipedia) The British government is being accused of concealing the failure of an unarmed ballistic missile launch ahead of a debate in Parliament over whether to refurbish the countrys aging Trident nuclear launching system. Britains prime minister refused to say Sunday whether she knew about an unarmed Trident missile that reportedly failed when it was test-fired off the coast of Florida last year. Theresa May told BBC she has total confidence in Britains Trident nuclear launching system, but didnt confirm or deny a newspaper report about the alleged failure of a ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear warheads. The prime minister was asked about the missile test after the Sunday Times reported that an unarmed missile launched from a submarine off Floridas coast in June veered off course and may have headed toward the U.S. The newspaper said top government officials decided to keep the failure of a Trident II D5 ballistic missile out of the public eye because of an upcoming debate the next month in Parliament over whether to spend 40 billion pounds to refurbish the aging Trident, the cornerstone of Britains nuclear deterrent system. I have absolute faith in our Trident missiles, May said Sunday when asked if she had known about a possible missile failure when she spoke to Parliament in July. When I made that speech in the House of Commons, what we were talking about was whether or not we should renew our Trident, whether or not we should have Trident missiles. The government triumphed in that debate, winning overwhelming support for the Trident overhaul in July, but some opposition figures in the British government now seek an inquiry into the reported missile failure and a possible cover-up. Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon, who opposes having the Trident submarine fleet based in Scotland, said reports of a failure and cover-up are a hugely serious issue. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, also a Trident opponent, called it a pretty catastrophic error. The British government hasnt confirmed the newspapers report of a misfire. A government statement posted on a Defense Ministry blog indicated there was a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance in June. The Royal Navy launch was part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew, the statement said. The Vengeance submarine and its crew were successfully tested and certified, it said. The statement says the government does not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons. The British governments website says Trident has provided Britains security every day for the last 46 years. The system consists of Vanguard-class submarines which can carry up to 16 Trident ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads. Defense policy calls for one of the submarines to be on patrol at all times. (AP) In the heart of bustling lower Manhattan sits one of the countrys most secure federal lockups and the new home of Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. Guzman, who pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges he ran one of the worlds biggest drug-trafficking operations, can expect to be kept in a special unit inside the drab 12-story Metropolitan Correctional Center, where such other high-profile, high-risk inmates as Gambino crime family boss John Gotti and several former close associates of Osama bin Laden awaited trial. Its got extra security above and beyond what you would have in a restricted housing area, second only to the super-maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado, said Catherine Linaweaver, who served as the lockups warden for 15 months before retiring in 2014. There is no other unit in the Bureau of Prisons like the high-security unit in New York. To authorities, its a setting befitting a man who twice escaped from maximum-security Mexican prisons. Federal prosecutors wrote in a court filing that it is difficult to imagine another person with a greater risk of fleeing prosecution than Guzman. The jail is sandwiched between federal prosecutors offices and two federal courthouses and is protected by steel barricades that can stop a 7 1/2-ton truck. Cameras capable of reading a newspaper a block away are trained on the area. Inmates can be transported to court through corridors linked to both courthouses, though Guzman will be ferried to and from court in Brooklyn, a potentially risky job for the U.S. Marshals Service. In the 10th-floor Special Housing Unit, known by its acronym, the SHU, pronounced like the shoe, around a dozen prisoners spend 23 hours a day in 20-by-12-foot cells, prohibited from communicating with one another. Meals are eaten in cells, and exercise is in a recreation area specifically for these inmates. To reduce the risk that a wealthy inmate such as Guzman might try to corrupt jail staff, the number of jailers who have access to him will likely be limited and each will undergo extra screenings by top jail officials, Linaweaver said. The special units strict confinement drew criticism in 2011 from the human rights group Amnesty International, which expressed concern that the sparse cells, exercise restrictions and isolation amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The jail saw an audacious escape attempt in 1982, when two armed people in a hijacked sightseeing helicopter tried to pluck an inmate off a roof. Four years earlier, three prisoners broke out by cutting through window bars. Security there was tightened significantly after Mamdouh Mahmud Salim, described as a right-hand man to bin Laden and awaiting trial in a terrorism case, used a sharpened comb to stab a guard on Nov. 1, 2000. Salim, who later apologized for the stabbing, is serving a life sentence. Guzmans case doesnt mark the first time federal authorities have grappled with how to hang onto a member of his Sinaloa drug cartel. Authorities expressed concern that the cartel might attempt to break a son of one of Guzmans cartel partners out of a federal lockup in Chicago in 2011. Of particular concern in that case: A fenced rooftop recreation center officials feared could make a defendant susceptible to sniper fire. The son was moved to a more secure facility. (AP) A military court will weigh the real-world consequences of President Donald Trumps fiery rhetoric as Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl argues he cant get a fair trial under his new commander in chief. Minutes into the Republican presidents term, lawyers for Bergdahl cited Trumps scathing criticism in a request to dismiss charges that Bergdahl endangered comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan. The motion filed Friday argues Trump violated his due process rights by repeatedly calling him a traitor and suggesting ways he could be punished. The motion noted more than 40 instances of Trumps criticism at public appearances and in interviews through August 2016. Remember the old days? A deserter, what happened? Trump said while campaigning in July before pantomiming pulling a trigger and adding: Bang. Trumps negative comments take on new importance now that he is commander in chief. Legal scholar Rachel VanLandingham said she thinks it will be hard for potential jurors and others involved in the case to ignore what Trump has said because of the sheer repetition. Ingrained in military culture is the desire to serve and follow commanders orders, and that what commanders say is right, said VanLandingham, a former Air Force lawyer who teaches at Southwestern Law School in California. And so that applies to the ultimate commander in chief. They were made time after time after time, and I do think they are seared into the military psyche. Bergdahls trial is scheduled for April at Fort Bragg on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. The latter carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Bergdahl, who is from Idaho, has said he walked off his post in 2009 to cause an alarm and draw attention to what he saw as problems with his unit. He was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years. The Obama administrations decision in May 2014 to exchange Bergdahl for five Taliban prisoners prompted some Republicans to accuse Obama of jeopardizing the nations safety. During his campaign, Trump made criticism of Bergdahl a staple of his campaign speeches, suggesting such outlandish punishments as returning him to the Middle East by throwing the soldier out of a plane without a parachute. At a December 2015 rally in Iowa, Trump said: Lets fly him over. Well dump him right in the middle; throw him out of the plane. Should we give him a parachute or not? I say no. There is precedent for a military judge to decide a presidents comments have tainted a prosecution. In 2013, a Navy judge cited comments by then-President Barack Obama when he said two defendants in sexual assault cases couldnt be punitively discharged if they were found guilty because of Obamas public comments about cracking down on sexual assault. Now, Bergdahls lawyers say the question of whether Trump went too far is one of monumental importance to the military justice system. The circumstances require the military justice system to defend itself, the defense lawyers write. Administrations come and go, but the credibility of the system must remain the lodestar. Eric Carpenter, a former Army lawyer who teaches law at Florida International University, said dismissing the charges wouldnt be an unreasonable decision, but that military judges typically seek ways to keep cases moving. The judge could also give the defense wide leeway to challenge potential jurors or limit Bergdahls punishment if convicted. VanLandingham said she believes dismissing the case would be the right thing to do. I think justice demands a dismissal. But do I think its going to happen? No, she said. As to whether Trumps brashness could affect future cases, Carpenter said he expects the secretary of defense or military lawyer to give Trump advice on how to avoid comments that create problems for the military justice system. Time will tell whether Trump would respond to that advice, he said. (AP) Deadly weather in the Southeast killed 15 people and injured dozens more, authorities said Sunday, as residents along the Georgia-Florida line braced for more intense, fast-moving storms including unusually strong long track twisters. On Sunday, a tornado blew through a mobile home park in rural Cook County in southern Georgia sheering off siding, upending homes and killing seven people, officials said. Coroner Tim Purvis said an apparent tornado leveled the park before dawn Sunday and that emergency responders searched for survivors for hours after the twister struck. Purvis said the park had about 40 mobile homes, and roughly half were destroyed. The area was cordoned off by police. Photographs from Cook County posted by WSB-TV (http://2wsb.tv/2jPv8Ec) showed a large area strewn with twisted metal and broken wooden beams, with some mobile homes damaged but still standing. Jalen Bennett, who lives about a mile from the mobile home park, said he was sleeping when a severe weather alarm sounded on his cellphone at about 4 a.m. I woke up and I looked outside it was just a lot of thundering and lightning, and it was real dark, Bennett said. I had to move downstairs to find shelter. Bennett, 19, said his home wasnt damaged. He and other family members were staying put inside as more stormy weather pushed into Cook County. Several homes appeared to be destroyed along on a road within about 2 miles of the mobile home park, with cinderblocks scattered on the ground and pine trees uprooted and snapped in half. The tops of broken utility poles lay alongside the road. The South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil was heavy damaged; a grandstand was ripped apart. Barrels, signs, insulation and garbage were strewn over the speedway and parking lot. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in seven southern Georgia counties, freeing up state resources to assist with recovery efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storms impact, Deal said in a statement. In addition to seven deaths in Cook County, four people were killed in adjoining counties Sunday. Another four people were killed in Mississippi by a tornado on Saturday, bringing the weekend death toll to 15. The National Weather Service said Sunday that southern Georgia, northern Florida and the corner of southeastern Alabama could face forceful tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail. Long track tornadoes, which plow on for miles, were also a real risk. The weather services Storm Prediction Center warned on its website of a dangerous outbreak of tornadoes on Sunday afternoon and pressed for residents to prepare. Long track tornadoes, somewhat rare and capable of staying on the ground for 20 or more miles, were possible. There are 4.8 million people under the high risk area; the total area of bad weather in the Southeast, who fall under the slight risk category or worse, is about 38 million people. Two of Sundays deaths occurred when a mobile home was struck by an apparent tornado in Brooks County, which moved the home roughly 100 yards. A tornado hit a mobile home, picked it up and put it in the middle of Highway 122, Brooks County Coroner Michael Miller said. I dont know if it rolled or was lifted, but it blocked the entire highway. He said the storm struck in the middle of the night, at about 4 a.m. Sunday, and both people inside the home were pronounced dead at the scene. Catherine Howden of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency said earlier Sunday that the deaths occurred in Cook, Brooks and Berrien counties in southern Georgia near the Georgia-Florida line. She said another 23 people were injured. The sheriffs office and coroner in Berrien County could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday. Calls to their phones were met with busy signals for several hours. The southeastern United States has been pounded by storms, high winds and unstable weather over the weekend, with an overall death toll of 15. Four people died after a tornado with winds above 136 mph tore a 25-mile path across southern Mississippi before dawn Saturday. While the central part of the U.S. has a fairly defined tornado season the spring the risk of tornadoes never really goes to zero for most of the year in the southeast, said Patrick Marsh, the warning coordination meteorologist at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. The last time that the prediction center issued a high-risk weather outlook where forecasters are very confident of a tornado outbreak was in 2014. Sunday marked only the third time since 2000 that any part of Florida had been at a high-risk for severe weather, Marsh said. This is a pretty rare event in this location, Marsh said Sunday. Any time the SPC issues a high-risk, for me, its sobering. Were coming to work and theres a strong likelihood that peoples lives will forever be changed. Its very sobering. Russell Schneider, the director of the Storm Prediction Center, said although many longtime Gulf Coast residents understand that severe weather and tornadoes could strike any time of year, some new to the area might not immediately associate January with a tornado outbreak. We live in a very mobile society, were moving around the country all the time, I think people in the Gulf Coast unfortunately understand these tragedies (are possible), Schneider said. Bill Bunting, the chief of forecast operations at the center, said meteorologists expect severe storms to again fire up in the Southeast and when they develop, the cells will move rapidly. There will be many severe storms covering a large area, and they will be moving so quick that you really need to heed the warnings, or it could be too late at that point, Bunting said. There will be a risk well after dark. January tornado outbreaks are rare but not unprecedented, particularly in the South. Data from the Storm Prediction Center shows that, over the past decade, the nation has seen an average 38 tornadoes in January, ranging from a high of 84 in 2008 to just four in 2014. If the storm fatalities reported so far this year four each in Alabama and Mississippi and the 11 in Georgia are all attributed to twisters, this Januarys death toll would be worse than 1999. That year, 18 people died in series of storms in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. (AP) Just shy of becoming the most powerful Android in the free world, President Donald Trumps personal cellphone has reportedly sent its last tweet. The incoming president of the United States gave up the device in the interest of national security, swapping it for a Secret Service-approved clunker, according to the New York Times. Believed to be a Samsung Galaxy, the phone was one of Trumps closest companions on his journey from write-off to the White House, and the pair often made trouble on the way. The Android is survived by at least 900 tweets, from Trumps earliest presidential musings to early-morning rants and ultra-brief victory speeches. Its phone number is still known by countless journalists, politicians and world leaders regardless of whether anyone ever answers again. Someone said Im the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters, Trump once told a crowd in South Carolina, back when he was still a long shot for the Republican nomination, let alone president. It gives you a lot of power if someone says something badly about you. Then he air-typed: Bing, bing, bing! I say something really bad. When the New York Times interviewed the mogul-turned-politician in 2015, Trump kept interrupting the reporter to pick up his Galaxy. And to good effect, the paper noted: Trumps tweets could be crude like when he told an 81-year-old actress to sue her plastic surgeon. But they worked. The Times compared two bombastic tweets by Trump and his then likely rival Jeb Bush. Bushs message got 600 retweets. Trumps got 7,000. His phones number, meanwhile, was just as famous. Even after beating Bush and every other Republican rival for the partys nomination, Trump would answer himself when a reporter or senator rang. He would even return calls from unknown numbers. Trumps human companions were not always thrilled with his love for the machine. Melania Trump has repeatedly told her husband to get off Twitter, especially after midnight, The Washington Posts Jenna Johnson wrote in May. A few months later, Trump confirmed his wifes fears. After stumbling through a presidential debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton, he went on a Twitter rant against a former beauty queen at 5:30 a.m., a tweet storm that threatened to doom his campaign for days afterward. Even a scientist took an interest in the bond between man and phone. David Robinson analyzed hundreds of @realDonaldTrump missives when they were posted, how and what sort of language they contained. The data clearly shows that the Android and iPhone tweets are from different people, Robinson wrote. Whats more, the Android tweets are angrier and more negative. The iPhone tweets were probably impostors, he concluded banal campaign messages crafted by staffers. The Android tweets, Robinson said, sound like the Trump we all know. As Election Day grew nigh, the Android suddenly went dark, causing some to wonder whether Trumps campaign staff had seized it for his own good. On Saturday morning, Trump tweeted, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' The Posts Ben Guarino wrote. As of publication, this was the last tweet sent from an Android phone. But the phone returned in victory alternately magnanimous, gloating or distracted as the Trump administration took shape. Trumps last known message from an Android came at exactly 8 a.m. Thursday. Getting ready to leave for Washington, D.C., he wrote. The journey begins. More tweets followed, but not from an Android, according to a Twitter search. Bowing to security experts who did not like the prospect of a president on the phone with the world, Trump traded the Android for a secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess, according to the Times. Museum curators are now trying to get their hands on the Android, the Associated Press reported. Some Trump aides were privately relieved, according to the Times. Others immediately noted its absence. We have not seen any tweets from Donald Trump, a CNN reporter said as Trump walked toward the inaugural lectern Friday with a new @POTUS handle no one knew if hed use. Who knows how Trump feels. His administration minutes old did not immediately respond to questions about the phone. He isnt the first president to face cellphone separation. Barack Obama surrendered his for a heavily restricted, Secret Service-approved Blackberry before he took the oath. But Trump is no technophile. He has never cared for email or computers. He liked his phone. Months ago, when his victory was far from certain, he mused about muting the device in the White House. We wont tweet anymore, Trump told a crowd. I dont know. Not presidential. The crowd booed. As another crowd streamed out of the White House after Trumps inaugural speech Friday, @realDonaldTrump roared back to life: January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. It sounded like him. But it wasnt his Android. (c) 2017, The Washington Post Avi Selk Former Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger has signed a plea bargain agreement which will most likely result in a 3.5-year jail term. The rabbi agreed to a deal after realizing the damaging evidence against him may result in a far more severe outcome if he takes his chances in a criminal trial. At one point, the rabbis attorney offered a confession in exchange for an 18-month jail term, which the state called a nonstarter. According to the Channel 2 News report, Rabbi Metzger during his term as Chief Rabbi of Israel received over NIS 10 million in bribes, some taken in the form of astronomically high commission from tzedaka funds collected. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on worked hard on Sunday, 24 Teves, to persuade the Bayit Yehudi party not to insist in discussing annexing Maale Adumim as planned. PM Netanyahu explained to Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennet that such a move should be made after notifying the United States rather than surprising President Trump with new realities in the region shortly after assuming office. Netanyahu has opposed all calls from Bayit Yehudi since Trumps success in the presidential elections to make any significant changes, explaining this is not how such matters are handled and Israel must permit the new administration to take office and then develop a working relationship. Bennett and his colleagues immediately following the presidential election called to resume construction in yishuvim and to annex Maale Adumim. Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel spoke with Kol Berama Radio on Monday morning 25 Teves, defending his partys position. He stated the bottom line is it is ours and we have to get used to saying this and we do not need anyones permission to act. He stressed Israel is a sovereign nation and as such, Jerusalem is not required to ask or seek permission from anyone prior to acting. MK (Kulanu) Michael Oren, a former Israeli Ambassador to Washington, told Reshet Bet Radio on Monday that he agrees stating PM Netanyahus approach is the correct one. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) BSD, with the assistance of Heaven Dear Jared and Ivanka, , May you live to one hundred and twenty years. Mazal Tov on your new position in the administration. We trust and hope that this administration, with your assistance, will truly make America great once again. Greatness, of course, is not just an economic or military term. It is a term that encompasses moral greatness as well. It implies greatness in standing up for our moral responsibilities, and in the commitment to doing what is just and right. As religious Jews, greatness means sanctifying G-ds Name, being a conduit of Kiddush Hashem doing what G-d wants of us. Yours is an appreciatively difficult position. As an advisor and family member of the most powerful man in the world, your every actions can have significant repercussions. How does one undo, for example, the handing over of the keys to nuclear mayhem to the sworn enemies of Israel, where a vast majorities of your brethren live? Will the new administration continue to supply Israel with the supply of life-saving technologies of Iron Dome and the like? In your new capacity, you have to make very difficult decisions, having to do both with Halacha as well as with serving as an example for others ,in your roles as the most famous Sabbath-observing couple in the world. You have been posing your questions to your Rabbinic advisors, as you should be. This past week. you had posed a question about being driven by a gentile on Shabbos regarding the inaugural balls, and issues of safety. You must deal with the secret service, the mood of the president, other people or elements within the administration that may not be on your side or even are jealous of you. There are probably issues that cannot be raised or discussed in a public forum, such as concerns about angering the government and such. There have been great precedents in the Talmud about certain Rabbinic restrictions being lessened when the great sages of Israel travelled to Rome. And although it is still very controversial, a recently released responsum from Rabbi Eliezer Berkowitz, also permitted under very specific and unique circumstances entering a church. The vast majority of halachic authorities do not agree with this position, but we assume that your Rabbis relied upon it for you, under your unique circumstances. These rationales were probably not released to the public under fear that others may copy it, applying it where it may not and should not be applied. Regardless, there is great opportunity for Kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the great Name of G-d, in the weeks, months and years that lay ahead. Standing up for President Trumps labelling ISIS as pure evil that must be wiped out, where thousands of innocents are mercilessly murdered is one example. Another example, may be found in the prayer of HaNosain Teshuah, where we pray for the welfare of the government. You can undo the damage that has been done by those who have undermined this prayer in their demeaning and denouncing of the current administration. It should, of course, only be demonstrated in a manner where Shabbos observance remains completely intact but it is a great opportunity for Kiddush Hashem. In the coming years, you will have opportunities of great Kiddush Hashem in Kashrus, in the Jewish education of your children, in Shabbos observance, prayer, the Yomim Tovim, advising in areas of Torah morality and so much more. The Lulav and Esrog that you and Ivanka purchase will cause tens of thousands of your brethren to purchase them as well. In your new role, the media will not erroneously label them as flowers that you have just purchased for your wife. The world will know of this remarkable Mitzvah. The nation of Israel is compared to the moon for a number of reasons. Among those reasons is the ability for us to come back in full glory after we have dimmed and or erred, becoming smaller. We, like the moon, can rise again, and become ever closer to G-d when we do the right thing in His eyes. This country has made some errors in how we have dealt with those who deal in murder and state sponsored terrorism and threats. We have allowed evil people great liberties. But this can be changed. The United States, as well, can rise like the moon and undo the damage that has been done. Jared and Ivanka, Chazak vamatz, may you be granted great strength and courage in your role and may you be given the strength to sanctify Hashems Great Name by following in His path in all that you do. May you be a source of Nachas to your family, your people, and to your nations Klal Yisroel and the United States of America. We look forward to great things. Sincerely, a Rabbi. [Name withheld upon request] NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSTED ON YWN? SEND IT TO US FOR REVIEW (YWN World Headquarters NYC) ! On a freezing Erev Shabbos, in the community of Portland Oregon, a brutal fire destroyed the home of one of the frum families that teach Torah in our community. While Boruch Hashem the family managed to get out in time, they did so with literally just their shirts on their backs, unable to save most of their possessions. The fire began when their self-cleaning oven caught fire and quickly spread throughout the home. Fire, smoke, and water damage have destroyed everything belonging to the family. They are currently displaced and facing very difficult financial circumstances as a result of the fire. The Senate is on track to confirm President Donald Trumps pick to run the CIA and is expected to vote on his nomination Monday evening. Rep. Mike Pompeo, a conservative Republican from Kansas and a member of the House intelligence committee, faced a mostly nonconfrontational confirmation hearing on Jan. 12. Senate Republicans had hoped to vote on Pompeos nomination Friday, after Trumps inauguration. But Democrats succeeded in stalling action until they could debate it on Monday. Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Patrick Leahy of Vermont objected to what they said was a rushed confirmation and demanded more time for Pompeos nomination to be vetted, questioned and debated. If confirmed, Pompeo would take the helm at the nations top spy agency at a critical time for U.S. national security when intelligence traditionally a nonpartisan issue has been thrust into the political arena. In its final days, President Barack Obamas administration announced intelligence findings that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election with the goal of getting Trump elected. Trump himself has denied most of the assessment, though eventually conceded Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic emails during the campaign. One of Trumps first stops as president was at the CIAs headquarters in Northern Virginia on Saturday where he made a speech that focused more on falsely accusing the media of lying about how many people attended his inauguration than on the role the CIA plays protecting the U.S. Standing in front of a memorial for fallen CIA agents, Trump assured intelligence officials, I am so behind you. He made no mention of his repeated criticism of the intelligence agencies following the election, including his public challenges of their high-confidence assessment that Russia meddled in the White House race to help him win. Obamas CIA director, John Brennan, said Trump should be ashamed of himself for his behavior at CIA headquarters. Wyden, one of the senators who fought to delay a vote on Pompeo, said the congressman has been inconsistent in his statements about Russias involvement in the 2016 election. In written responses to questions from the Senate, on Jan. 3, Pompeo said that intelligence agency assessments should be taken seriously. After Trump conceded Russia was behind the campaign hacks, Pompeo on Jan. 12 told the Senate intelligence committee that the assessment was solid. He enrolled as a teenager at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated first in his class in 1986. He served in the Army at a time when the Soviet Union was Americas No. 1 adversary. (AP) President Donald Trump moved to pull the United States out of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact Monday, dealing a quick blow to Barack Obamas legacy as the new chief executive began fulfilling campaign promises in his first full week in office. Great thing for the American worker that we just did, Trump said in brief remarks as he signed a notice in the Oval Office. The president also signed memorandums freezing most federal government hiring, though he noted an exception for the military, and reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the Mexico City Policy, has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984. Following a tumultuous first weekend in office consumed by Trumps criticism of the medias inauguration coverage and his spokesmans angry, inaccurate tirade against journalists the president was seeking to refocus on the sweeping, yet often vague, promises he made as a candidate. He campaigned as a fierce opponent of multilateral trade agreements, particularly the 12-nation Pacific Rim deal. The deal was the cornerstone of Obamas attempt to counter Chinas influence in Asia. The Obama administration labored for years to finalize TPP. But Obamas own Democratic Party was skeptical of the pact, and the former president never sent it to Congress for ratification. As Trump pressed forward with executive actions, a legal watchdog group filed a lawsuit alleging he is violating the so-called emoluments clause in the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments. The liberal-funded watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics says the clause prohibits Trump from receiving money from diplomats for stays at his hotels or from foreign governments for leases of office space in his buildings. Asked about the suit, Trump said it was totally without merit. The president was spending much of the day reaching out to lawmakers and others with a stake in his economic policies. Congressional leaders from both parties were attending an evening reception at the White House. The president was also scheduled to meet with union leaders and workers. He began the day huddling with business leaders. He warned that he would impose a substantial border tax on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States. He also promised tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically. All you have to do is stay, he said during a meeting in the White Houses Roosevelt Room. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders. Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, hes aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S. Some people say thats not free trade, but we dont have free trade now, Trump said Monday. The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, anywhere from 15 to 25 percent, although Trump has not been clear on how he intends to make up for the lost tax revenue. He also called for cutting 75 percent of federal regulations and insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety. Mondays developments came after a first weekend in the White House that included Trump lambasting news organizations for correctly reporting on the size of the crowds at his inauguration and mass protests against his presidency on the following day. Spokesman Sean Spicer was dispatched to the White House briefing room Saturday to reinforce the message, though his remarks included several inaccuracies, including a claim that floor coverings were used on the National Mall for the first time, accentuating empty spaces. Coverings were also used during Obamas 2013 inauguration. In his first days in office, Trump has been reaching out to several world leaders, including a call Monday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. On Sunday, the president spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a common vision with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded Israeli settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran. Trump also announced that hes set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose countries are partners with the U.S. in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump has vowed to renegotiate the terms of that pact. Were going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA, he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Later in the week, hell address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May. (AP) There is a belief, which has almost become universal in some circles of the Jewish world, that President Barack Hussein Obama harbored a kind of deeply held animosity to Jews and Israel. Some even have gone as far as to accuse him of being both anti-Semitic and pro-Islamist. Rabbi Avi Shafran of Agudas Yisrael in the US already has written in the Yeshiva World about the imprudence of this kind of rhetoric: Our Sages speak of the respect with which we as a people must approach rulers in our long Exile, and it is undoubtedly reckless to engage in the kind of public attacks that have gone on. But that is not the only problem with the rhetoric about the 44th President of the United States. The main issue is a misunderstanding of the ideological source of President Obamas policies towards Israel and Jews living there. If this misunderstanding continues, it could negatively affect the position of the American Jewish community as well as the Jews of the Land of Israel. Thus as this Administration has left office, it behooves us to figure out what happened with President Obama on the Israel issue in order to confront similar challenges that face us as the country especially the youth of America are increasingly critical of Israel and with the likelihood that a person of similar views may very well occupy the White House. I am not attempting to do so as a representative of anything and anyone other than myself. But I have a slightly different perspective than most on this man who was until this past week the President of the United States: I was one of the very few observantly Jewish former students (if not the only one) who saw Barack Obama and interacted with him for many hours in the more informal setting of the University of Chicago Law School during the class he taught on constitutional law: equal rights and equal protection under the US Constitution. This was in the early days, a decade before he vaulted himself into the White House as President. But his meteoric political career had already begun outside of our classroom, and shortly thereafter he was to speak at the Democratic Convention for Senator John Kerry in a speech that would make his reputation. But in the classroom he was a law school lecturer, not a politician. There, on Chicagos South Side, in the sloping amphitheater-like classroom where he taught me nearly 20 years ago, I remember him well. He paced back and forth constantly, answering students questions and calling on them to answer his. He was eloquent, funny, sharp-witted, and when someone disagreed with his vision of equal rights and equal protection he could be cutting and sarcastic as well. He was well-liked and even admired in a starry-eyed way by many of the students in the class. I sat in Barack Obamas constitutional law class for months and watched his personal and friendly attitude towards Jews and how he addressed issues of anti-Semitism (the course itself was about equal protection and equal rights under the US Constitution). Despite the conspiracy theories, his issue was not in fact anti-Semitism at all. (This is not to excuse his former association with Jeremiah Wright, but the reasons for that association are different than one might think, as this article discusses.) While in office, he has publicly, frequently, and enthusiastically participated in Pesach Seders, Chanukah lightings, and other Jewish events and has even kashered the White House kitchen. He has contributed a great deal of treasure to building Israels military capacity. The problem is not Islamist tendencies either: He himself led the successful effort to kill Osama Bin Laden, and he has sponsored anti-ISIL and anti-Al Qaeda efforts globally. Albeit relatively feebly and ineffectually, he has supported Israelis efforts against the Shiite Hizbollah and has condemned and attempted to interfere militarily in the Shiite-Alawite-sponsored slaughter in Syria. Yet undoubtedly, on the Israel-Arab conflict as well as on the matter of the Iranian existential threat to Israel, and previously in his relationship with the anti-Semitic Jeremiah Wright, he often seemed to misunderstand the pressing need to protect Jewish lives against Arab and Iranian terrorism and has been soft on understanding the persistent Islamic incitement and terrorism against Jews and the consistent Arab and Iranian denials of the Jewish right to settle the Land of Israel as well as insufficiently sensitive to antisemitism. He turns a blind eye to the unapologetically judenrein Arab areas, while pressing Israel to relinquish integrated areas of Israel where Arabs have citizenship. He has also been unwilling to label Islamist forces as a threat because of their Islamism. He only belatedly distanced himself in the year 5766 from the virulent and anti-Semitic black nationalism of Jeremiah Wright. These seemingly anti-Jewish and anti-Israel and lukewarm anti-Islamist stances seemed puzzling and troubling during his Administration. What, then, explains President Obamas stances if not anti-Semitism and Islamism? Based on my experiences as a student in his class, the explanation is quite simple: his brand of radical Hyde Park liberalism. President Obama made his ideological home in an ethnically integrated neighborhood on Chicagos South Side called Hyde Park-Kenwood, at the heart of which was the University of Chicago. Founded in part by liberal and assimilated German Jews more than a century ago, Hyde Park was well-known for being a bastion of leftist views. Indeed, so ideologically leftist was the Jewish community there that even the last Lubavitcher Rebbe, R Menachem Mendel Schneerson, was rumored to have ordered his emissaries no to establish themselves there (and indeed they did not do so until after his death). It was a place that voted 96% for Michael Dukakis in 1988, and equally overwhelmingly for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. But even more than that, it was a place where the ideology that characterized the Obama Administration flourished and could be be summarized by the following 4 premises: 1. Different ethnic groups needed to assimilate into one another, anything else was discrimination; 2. Singling out cultural differences was almost surely a form of bigotry; 3. Anyone who was unequal either in power or money was unequal due to oppression by an oppressing class; and 4. If you disagreed with 1, 2, or 3, it could get a little too personal you were labeled a bigot or primitive and potentially bad person. And in the case of Israel, it often did get all too personal. This kind of radical Hyde Park liberalism explains his policies in every area as follows: It is not Islamism that is a problem, because Islam is just a religion like all others, and singling Islamism out is bigotry. Meanwhile, Israel as a Jewish state is a problem because defining something as a Jewish state does not promote integration with the Arab ethnicity, and that is bigotry. Defining who is in the right, Arabs in the Land of Israel do not have their own Arab state, despite their violent struggle to achieve one against the Jewish state, and therefore the Arabs must be the ones who are oppressed and the Jews must be oppressors. That means that if the Arabs effectively ethnically cleanse the Jews from the territories under their administration as well as incite and commit terrorism against Jews, this is simply the frustration and desperation of an oppressed people. Outside of Israel, in the broader Middle East, appeasing Iran is desirable because ultimately we all just want to get along with one another and live in peace, just like people do in Hyde Park. This radical Hyde Park liberalism is indeed the ideological source of the policies enumerated above. Finally, because the Israeli government did not accept that narrative, this made them into bad people. (This is incidentally the same kind of worldview that considers the Toeva community to be oppressed because their lifestyle was viewed as deviant and rejected during the last millennia.) By contrast, the Yeshiva world approaches the issues differently. We posit the Jewish view of the Torah-based right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. We condemn the denial of the Arab population and of the Islamic State of Iran of our right to settle the Land, expressed in acts of brutal and cruel murder against Jews because they are Jews, justified by reference to Islamist calls to martyrdom and calls to wipe Israel [and its Jews] off the map. We posit that there are cultural and religious differences that prevent people from wanting to get along with others in the same way as they get along near the University of Chicago in Hyde Park. We affirm that it is morally right and desirable for there to be a Jewish and not multicultural state in the Land of the Israel, and that that is not bigotry but self-determination. And we deny that we are oppressors because we wish to build a Jewish land of only 6 million Jews on a tiny sliver of land amid a gigantic land-mass housing 350 million Arabs and 75 million Iranians. Indeed, if anything, we wish the Jewish State were more Jewish in its approach and less ambivalent about the robust and unapologetic application of Torah values, including in the areas of education and social issues. In short, the Yeshiva world and Hyde Park radical liberals operate under different assumptions about the way the world works and about Jews in the Land of Israel in particular. This is the ideological source of the differences, and the more we understand the source of those differences, the more we will be able to address issues not via misdirected attacks but via addressing the fallacies of radical Hyde Park liberalism as these are used in the future against the Jews of Israel. When we understand the source as a mistaken understanding of oppression, we can better respond. As our Sages advise, we should know how to respond to falsehood. Of course, despite all that I have written here, there is a far more important factor at play. As we learned first in the Egyptian Exile, and indeed in every Exile thereafter including the current one, finding favor in the eyes of non-Jewish rulers is directly related to how much favor we find in Hashems eyes: whether we as individuals and as a people in a deep, internal way are acting properly as Jews. To eliminate the baseless hatred and jealousies and lack of love for our fellows that lie at the heart of this long Exile. If we make an effort to do so, the results will be more effective than any efforts at what the State of Israel calls hasbara. This key point, at least, is a reason to focus far less others, whether on President Obama, or on any other President of the United States for that matter whether those others are suffering from radical liberalism or not and more on improving our own individual and community actions and interactions in accordance with the injunctions of our Torah itself. In short, to live with our Ribono shel Olam in a real way and without outward show, to be worthy of Him first and foremost. David Page is an American and Israeli partner with the law firm Woolfson Weinstein & Co. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children and is the author of Rav Gustman: The Youngest Dayan of Vilna and the Illustrious Rosh Yeshiva in New York and Jerusalem (Artscroll 5777/2017). (YWN World Headquarters NYC) [By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times] In a recent FaceBook post that was re-tweeted on a frum website, OO-Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz falsely states that Rav Ovadia Yosef recommended praying in a mosque over praying alone. This is patently false. Rav Ovadia never made such a ruling. He never mentions it in any of his responsas neither in Yabia Omer nor in Yechaveh Daas. This is a falsehood that OO-Rabbi Yanklowitz came up with to justify him going to have a joint prayer session at a mosque together with Moslems. So where did he get it from? This author suspects that he had casually misread a website that quotes Rav Ovadia in permitting davening at Maaras HaMachpela. He has the audacity to attack that other website by writing, What they dont know is that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef writes etc. In the meantime, he has besmirched the name of a leading Posaik by attributing false halacha to him. The website passage that this author suspects that the OORabbi misread states as follows: Is a Jew Permitted to Enter a Mosque or Church in a Case of Great Need? Question: May a Jew enter a mosque or church when there is a need to do so or to visit there as a tourist attraction? The Practice of Maran Harav Shlita While Serving as a Rabbi in Egypt Entering a Muslim Mosque Regarding entering a mosque, the Rambam explains in one of his responses that Ishmaelites are not considered idol-worshippers since they believe in Hashem, blessed is He, and there is no denial of Hashem in their religion or anything else that should cause them to be considered idol-worshippers. We are therefore lenient and sell our lands to Ishmaelites during the Shemitta (Sabbatical) year based on the Heter Mechira process although it is forbidden to sell land in Eretz Yisrael to an idol-worshipper; this is because Ishmaelites are not considered idol-worshippers. Based on this, mosques are not considered actual houses of idol worship and one may enter them according to the letter of the law. Summary: It is absolutely forbidden to enter a house of idol worship. Included in this prohibition is entering a Christian church or other kinds of houses of idol worship in the Far East. Nevertheless, there is no halachic prohibition to enter an Arabic Muslim mosque; this is especially true when this is being done in order to pray there, such as at the graves of our forefathers in the Machpela Cave in Chevron. It is this last line of this link and the title [and the fact that No where in his vast writings does Rav Ovadia zatzal say what Yanlowitz has him saying) that indicates to this author the source for his mistake. So please, please, if you are reading this do not erroneously read websites in your attempt to state halacha. You should also apologize for the falsehood. In another development, Rav Shlomo Miller Shlita, one of the leading Poskim in North America, released a request that Orthodox Jewish news media should refrain from using the term Open Orthodox when describing this movement because they are not Orthodox and it is misleading. Rav Miller added that their commitment to halacha is similar to that of the Reform movement when they first started. The letter from Rav Shlomo Miller is attached here:. The author can be reached at [email protected] Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority. GOP members of Congress had been holding up the money. A State Department official and several congressional aides say the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning, just before Donald Trump became president. More than $227 million in foreign affairs funding was released at the time, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations. At least two GOP lawmakers had placed holds on the Palestinian funds. Congressional holds are generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding. The official and the aides werent authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. (AP) The boss of the historic London Metal Exchange left abruptly yesterday after less than three-and-a-half years in the job leaving a 34-year-old in charge. Garry Jones, 57, is 'retiring' as chief executive of the world's oldest and largest metals market, its Hong Kong owners said. He will be replaced by Matthew Chamberlain, the LME's chief operating officer, until a permanent replacement can be found. Meltdown: Garry Jones, 57, is 'retiring' as chief executive of the London Metal Exchange, the world's oldest and largest metals market, its Hong Kong owners said Jones is the second senior manager to leave the 140-year-old business in two months, following the departure of former chief operating officer Stuart Sloan in December. The shake-up at the top of the LME follows a stormy period in the company's history following its 1.8billion takeover by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) in 2012. When Jones was given the top job at the LME by HKEX chief executive Charles Li in September 2013, he was tasked with making it more profitable as the new owners sought to get a return on their investment. But his decision to raise trading fees by more than 30 per cent in 2015 infuriated LME members, such as brokers and traders. In a climbdown last August, the LME slashed some of its fees as it attempted to win back business which had moved to investment banks and rival exchanges. But as recently as November, hedge fund trader and LME veteran Michael Farmer described the cost of trading on the exchanges as 'prohibitive'. LME trading volumes fell 7.7 per cent last year, following a 4.3 per cent fall in 2015, as the downward trend was reinforced by weak demand from China, the world's top consumer of industrial metals. While the LME has been struggling, rivals such as Chicago-based CME Group and the Shanghai Futures Exchange in China have grown. HKEX said Jones, who was paid 1.7million in 2015, has agreed to stay on as an adviser to the LME until the end of the year. 'We thank Garry for the contributions he has made to the transformation of the LME over the past few years and we wish him the best in his new endeavours,' said Li. Industry figures welcomed Chamberlain's promotion despite his age. 'The decision to appoint Matt is not a surprise,' a source at one metals brokerage told Reuters. 'He's young, intelligent and understands the business. Charles Li may decide to keep Matt in the chief executive's position, if he can find a way to improve volumes.' Andrew Dodsworth, the LME's head of market operations, will take over as interim chief operating officer. Perks: Sainsbury's 496,000-a-year chairman David Tyler Sainsbury's chairman used the supermarket giant's staff and its suppliers to revamp his 1.5million country bolthole. Sainsbury's contractors installed underfloor heating at David Tyler's luxury barn conversion near Lewes in East Sussex. Tyler (pictured below right), who earns 496,000 a year, later told the board, which launched an investigation and issued the chairman with a warning. He later gave a 5,000 charity donation. Sainsbury's said his failure to comply with company policy was 'unintentional' and that he 'did not act dishonestly and made no financial gain'. However, it found there had been 'material breaches' of three company policies, which the grocer viewed as an 'extremely serious matter'. In 2013, Tyler asked workers to help him refurbish his lakeside second home which has a swimming pool and extensive grounds. Several times during working hours, an employee visited Tyler's home. He then asked a supermarket building contractor to come up with an action plan which it then carried out for free. Liberty: Sainsbury's workers installed underfloor heating at David Tyler's luxury barn conversion near Lewes in East Sussex The contractor fitted a 10,000 oil-fired boiler using builders already working on Tyler's property. The 63-year-old also asked two Sainsbury's suppliers for specialist advice on alternative fuel sources for the heating system. After the work was complete, Tyler contacted company secretary Tim Fallowfield to arrange to pay the company for its employees' time. This sparked an investigation which found Tyler had breached the grocer's code of ethical conduct and guidelines on ethical suppliers. He had also breached company policy on conflict of interest and relationships at work. As well as his home in Sussex, he has a London property where he lives with his partner Margaret Fingerhut, a concert pianist. A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'The chairman was given a warning but the board concluded his failure to comply with policy was unintentional, that he did not act dishonestly and made no financial gain.' Britons now enjoy more flexibility on how to access their pension savings than ever before, but so much choice can make finding the right option a little confusing. Two years ago, the Government introduced 'pension freedoms', designed to give people more choice about how they access their pensions. The result is undoubtedly more financial choice. But with plenty of cold callers itching to suggest 'ingenious' ways to grow your money by giving them your pension pot, knowing how to manage your money and what your rights are is even more important. For this reason, the Government has provided Pension Wise - a service designed to offer unbiased information to help guide you through your options. Two years ago, the Government introduced 'pension freedoms', designed to give those retiring a bit more choice What are my options when I reach retirement? There are many ways you can access the money you've saved into your pension pot. If you decide to keep working past your state pension age, you can leave your savings untouched and even continue to pay into your pot, building up a bigger stock of money to last you through a shorter retirement. If you stop working altogether when you retire, but would still like the security of knowing you have a guaranteed level of income, you can use your pension pot to buy an annuity. This is effectively an insurance policy that pays you a regular income for the rest of your life, no matter how long that may be. There are lots of different types of annuity, each offering different benefits. For example, if you smoke or are ill, you could be entitled to a much better annuity rate, meaning you get larger monthly or annual payments. It's really worth shopping around different providers to ensure you get the most out of your pension savings. Shortly before you reach retirement age, the companies you have saved your pensions with during your working life will send you a pack of information confirming the value of your pension pot and highlighting the products you could purchase with your savings. Your provider will sometimes tell you only about the products they sell and these won't always offer the best value. In fact, research shows that eight out of 10 people would have benefited from switching providers. It's for this reason that it's really important to shop around. If you're not so fussed about a guaranteed income, then you can invest your savings in a way that should generate an income for you. The upside is that your savings have the opportunity to grow. The downside is that investments can fall in value as well as rise and income isn't guaranteed. If you have saved into a defined contribution pension, the Government's 'pension freedoms' mean you can now take money out of your pension from age 55 in small chunks until the money runs out or in a lump sum that you can then spend or reinvest elsewhere. It's possible to combine any of these options and with all of them, 25 per cent of your savings are tax free when you take them out of your pension. After this, you will pay tax on any additional money taken out. There are other tax implications involved in all of these options so it's a good idea to understand how each method will affect how much tax you are likely to pay in your individual circumstances. The other thing to watch out for is scammers trying to con you out of your hard-earned savings. Over the past two years, an array of firms have set up deliberately to try to convince you to release cash from your pension and invest elsewhere - and this may or may not be a good idea. If you are contacted out of the blue by someone offering to help you decide what to do with your pension, hang up. How much tax will I have to pay to access my pension? The Government set up Pension Wise to offer free and impartial help with your pension The table above shows the tax that you'll have to pay when you access your savings in simple terms. How and when you pay tax will vary depending on the options you choose to manage your money in retirement. The general rule of thumb is that while your savings remain in your pension, you don't pay tax on them. The first 25 per cent of your money can be withdrawn without incurring any tax. Thereafter you will pay tax on money you take out. If you buy an annuity and the income you receive exceeds your personal allowance - currently 11,100 - you will pay income tax on the remainder at your marginal rate. If you decide to buy an annuity you can still take up to 25 per cent of your pension pot tax free as cash. This doesnt use up any of your personal allowance and you can still buy an annuity with the other 75 per cent. If you have invested your savings, you will owe income tax on income generated in excess of your personal allowance. There may also be capital gains tax to pay if you sell your investments and realise a gain above the annual tax free allowance, which is currently 11,100. If you choose not to take your 25 per cent tax free lump sum up front when you retire, you can still get this benefit but spread it out over your retirement by taking your savings in chunks. If you have a 60,000 pension pot and decide to withdraw 1,000 a month, you'll pay no tax on 250 and income tax at your marginal rate on the remaining 750. It's not compulsory to get financial advice in every situation when you retire but it can be a very helpful step to take Will this affect my benefits? Yes. Your pension savings will affect which benefits you qualify for depending on your age. If you have not yet reached your state pension age, then only money you take out of your pension will be counted towards your income when you are being assessed for benefits such as housing benefit or a council tax reduction. After you pass your state pension age, all of your pension savings are included in this calculation regardless of whether or not you have withdrawn the money. This calculation will look at the income you could generate if you bought an annuity with your remaining pension savings at today's rates. If your weekly income is below 155.60 for single people or 237.55 for couples, you could be entitled to pension credit, an income-related benefit made up of guarantee credit and savings credit. Guarantee credit tops up your weekly income while savings credit is an extra payment for people who saved some of their own money towards their retirement. You may not be eligible for savings credit if you reach state pension age on or after 6 April 2016. Pension credit is tax free. The Government has a handy calculator to help you work out if you qualify for pension credit. You can work out your State Pension age here. It's also worth using a benefits calculator to find out what you could be eligible for. You'll also continue to pay tax on any taxable benefits you might get, for example carers allowance. If you're not sure what sort of pension you have, you can also check that using the Pension Wise pension type tool. What happens to my pension pot if I die? Can I leave it to my spouse or family? Money you leave in your pot can be passed on tax free if you die before the age of 75. If you die on or after age 75, then anything you leave will be taxed at your beneficiary's marginal rate of income tax. Any money you have taken out of your pot before you die will form part of your estate and your beneficiaries may have to pay inheritance tax (IHT) on it if your estate exceeds the IHT threshold which is currently 325,000. Currently, if youre married or in a civil partnership, any unused IHT allowance can be added to your partners when you die. This means their IHT allowance can be as much as 650,000. Some annuities are also specially designed to allow you to leave them to someone after you die. A joint annuity will pay you a fixed sum while you're alive and then continue to pay a sum to your beneficiary after you die. They can't leave this income to anyone else, however. Guaranteed period annuities allow you to purchase a regular income for a fixed period of time. If you buy a 10-year annuity and die after seven years, your beneficiary can claim the remaining three years' of income after you die. You can opt to leave a beneficiary a lump sum, calculated by subtracting the value of all your annuity payments received from the total value of your pension pot. This is your pot minus any annuity payments you took before you died and is known as either a capital protected annuity or a value protected annuity. Alternatively you can leave any money left in your pot after you die to anyone you choose and they can withdraw it as income. Some annuities are also specially designed to allow you to leave them to someone after you die How do I find a financial adviser and what will they charge? When the Government announced the pension freedoms they also confirmed that everyone would be able to get free guidance from Pension Wise. The service is available to anyone and is completely free. You can arrange phone or face-to-face appointments, for free, in hundreds of locations across the country. This is a good first step for everyone to take as the service will take you through all your options. It's important to note that this isn't full financial advice however - Pension Wise won't be able to tell you what you should do or what option would be most appropriate for your personal financial circumstances. For this sort of advice, you'll need to go to a financial adviser. It's not compulsory to get financial advice in every situation when you retire but it can be very helpful. Good financial advisers and financial planners will talk to you about how you spend your money, what sort of lifestyle you'd like in retirement and consider how your pension savings fit into any other wealth you have - for example any other savings or investments and whether you own your home and have any outstanding debts or a mortgage to repay. They will then recommend the most appropriate pension option to support you throughout your retirement. This is an important consideration - your pension savings aren't infinite and many people rely on these to supplement their state pension. You need to think about how long your savings will last - spending lump sums on a cruise once a year might be fun to start with but could severely compromise your standard of living later in life. Financial advice doesn't come free however. In the past, insurance companies and fund managers used to pay advisers commission but now all advisers must charge a fee directly to customers. This is to ensure that the advice they give you is unbiased and right for you. Advisers' fees and charges vary - many will offer a free consultation initially, some will charge you a flat up front fee, others charge an hourly rate and others charge an annual fee of around 1 per cent of the value of your investments. All advisers are legally bound to tell you what their charges are before you start. If your money is invested in funds, you will also be charged a fund management fee in addition to this, and other investment costs include platform fees and trading costs. There are lots of ways to find a financial adviser. The Government-backed Money Advice Service has a directory you can search and there are various private directories that allow you to put in your postcode and search for a local adviser. The best known of these are Vouched For and Unbiased. MBABANE Swaziland is politically older than South Africa! This is a statement that was issued by Government Spokesperson Percy Simelane when reacting to South African politician Julius Malemas attack on the African National Congress (ANC), saying it had not promoted democracy if it did not ensure that it was practiced in Swaziland. Malema, the Commander in Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and revolutionary activist for radical change, mentioned Swaziland when addressing journalists at a post-plenary media briefing at the partys headquarters in Johannesburg yesterday. The media briefing was broadcast live on SABC News and most Swazis commented on social networks including Twitter and Facebook, with most of them making fun of the fact that Malema always made it a point that he attacked the kingdom. This is not the first time the controversial politician has criticised Swaziland as he has done so in previous conferences. We must be asking the ANC what their programme is in order to address the issue of Swaziland. What stops the ANC from leading the charge against Swaziland? There is no democracy in Swaziland but Zuma dines there, Malema said. In response to this, Simelane said the Swazi Government was not prepared to go into a battle of wits with people who were not armed, save to say that novice politicians were always going to hallucinate about democracy due to the fact that their understanding was decimal. One of EFFs female administrators from Mpumalanga resigned from the political party, citing undemocratic practices including ills such as demanding sexual favours before a female is promoted. In her farewell speech she painted the EFF as a party of Romeos and pimps. Malema himself resigned from the ANC citing undemocratic practices, he said. He mentioned that it was ludicrous that Malema had now turned around to ask the ANC to teach Swaziland democracy. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Patrick Donachie Former mayoral candidate John Liu, who began his political career as a city councilman representing northeast Queens, was fined more than $15,000 for violations related to his successful 2009 run for New York City comptroller by the citys Campaign Finance Board. Lius campaign was fined for accepting 31 over-the-limit contributions, as well as five corporate contributions, eight contributions from unregistered political committees and 16 over-the-limit Doing Business contributions. The latter refers to contributions from individuals who have some sort of business with New York City, which the Campaign Finance Board restricts more heavily. He had received more than $1.3 million in public funds for his 2009 comptroller race, according to the CFB. Lius 2009 campaign has a remaining balance of $28,315, according to the CFBs site. Liu was elected to the City Council in 2001, representing parts of Flushing, Bay Terrace, Bayside and Whitestone. During his tenure, he served as chairman of the Councils Transportation Committee. He served as the citys comptroller for four years after a successful campaign in 2009. He announced a campaign for mayor in 2013, running in the Democratic primary with four competitors, including eventual victor Bill de Blasio. The Campaign Finance Board dealt a strong blow to Lius mayoral prospects in 2013 when it refused to grant him $3.5 million in public matching funds. At the time, the CFB cited about 550 donations to Lius mayoral campaign it considered to be questionable. The CFB also took into account information gleaned from a federal trial resulting in the conviction of two former Liu aides who attempted to solicit fake donations. In 2014, Liu attempted to re-enter the political arena by challenging state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) for his seat in a primary. Liu ran at the urging of the Queens Democratic Party, which sought a challenger for Avella after he joined the Independent Democratic Conference. The IDC periodically aligns itself with state Senate Republicans. The IDC attempted to sidestep the looming threat of primary challenges by forming a power-sharing agreement, and support for Lius run dropped afterwards. In the aftermath, Avella received support from former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, who represented parts of northeast Queens, and Mayor de Blasio, who Avella is now challenging for mayor. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Larry Penner It was four years ago, on Monday morning, Jan. 7, 2013, I was able to board the first bus departing from the Little Neck Long Island Rail Road station. The Q36 resumed weekday service on the old Q79 Little Neck Parkway bus route. My wife and I had the opportunity to be the last two riders prior to the demise of our old New York City Transit Q79 Little Neck Parkway bus. On Saturday, June 25, 2010, at 6:23 p.m., right on time, we boarded the Q79 bus departing Little Neck for its last run to Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park. Many of my neighbors residing in Great Neck within walking distance of the City Line periodically utilized this bus route. Service began June 4, 1950. The newly created New York City Transit Authority assumed operations in 1953. The bus would take me to Union Turnpike and after short walk, to the old Glen Oaks Movie Theater along with Mays Department Store. Many have long forgotten that there was a time when bus drivers actually had to make change and drive all at the same time. No one dared bring any food on the bus or leave any litter behind. When the MTA introduced Metro Cards in 1996 with free transfers between subway and bus, riding the Q79 became an even better bargain and become a more frequent part of my journey. If service was suspended or seriously delayed on the Port Washington Branch, the Q79 was my little secret lifeline. It was always sad that residents of Floral Park practiced the NYMBY (Not In My Back Yard) philosophy and refused to grant permission to extend the Q79 to the Floral Park LIRR Station. Extending the Q36 route from its previous terminus on Jericho Turnpike at the City Line north along Little Neck Parkway to the Little Neck LIRR station restores all the old Q79 connections and adds many new ones. At Northern Blvd., you can transfer to the Q12 Flushing bus. Last stop is the Main Street Flushing No. 7 Subway Station. There are over sixteen other local NYCT and MTA bus connections available in downtown Flushing. At Horace Harding Blvd and Long Island Expressway, you can transfer to the Q30 bus. At Union Turnpike, there is the Q46 bus providing service to 260th Street Glen Oaks and the City Line. At Hillside Avenue, you can transfer to the Q43 bus in either direction to the City Line or Jamaica LIRR Station, along with the subway. There are also many other local NYCT bus connections along with N22 NICE bus to Mineola and Hicksville. At Jericho Turnpike, you can walk three blocks south and catch the Hempstead LIRR Branch at the Floral Park Station. There is also the N24 NICE bus with connections to Mineola, Roosevelt Field Mall and East Meadow. This new enhanced Q36 bus service now provides a new one seat bus ride for riders boarding along Little Neck Parkway with a direct connection to the Hempstead branch LIRR at the Queens Village Station (at the corner of Jamaica Avenue & Springfield Blvd.) and F subway line at either the 179th St or 169th Street stations along Hillside Avenue. It continues to be up to several thousand Queens and Nassau County residents who live within a one to ten block walking radius west and east of Little Neck Parkway to utilize this new bus service. Without sufficient ridership supporting a reasonable fare box recovery rate, it may be difficult to continue justifying this service. Sadly, many old riders have yet to return. The LIRR Little Neck parking lot is at capacity regularly. You are directed to drive to the adjacent Douglaston LIRR Station parking lot. Things are so bad, that the attendant sometimes has to double park cars to accommodate everyone. Many who do not want to pay, park on the street, sometimes many blocks from the station. This periodically creates conflicts with some neighborhood residents who use the same spots in front of their homes. Why not consider asking the LIRR to promote the new Q36 Little Neck Parkway service on their passenger information seat drops? NYCT could also ask the LIRR to include an insert with the next monthly mail and ride ticket informing customers of the Q36 service. Buying a weekly or monthly Metro Card addition on to your LIRR Monthly Commutation ticket can be a good deal. Many new people who have moved into the neighborhood have no idea that there is bus service on Little Neck Parkway. Why not consider doing a mass mailing by census track to identify those people who live within walking distance of Little Neck Parkway? This might attract new riders. Your support is critical to ensure that this important local community service remains available tomorrow. Larry Penner Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry A high stakes game of musical chairs is playing out at City Hall as another key member of the de Blasio administration heads for the exit. Less than two weeks after Carl Weisbrod, the mayors chairman of City Planning, announced he was leaving his post, Housing Commissioner Vicki Been elected to return to teaching at New York University. The city announced last week that under Beens leadership, the administration was securing affordable housing at a rate not seen since the Koch administration in 1989, extending affordability for decades to come at 41,600 homes and spurring construction of 20,800 new affordable apartments. Her exit comes three years into de Blasios signature Housing New York Plan after overseeing the financing of a record 62,500 affordable homes, enough for 170,000 New Yorkers. With her signature brand of grit and grace, Vicki created and implemented our ambitious affordable housing plan, de Blasio said. She is a brilliant public servant and law professor, and her students are lucky to have her back. Been said her time as the leader of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development was akin to being part of an all-star housing team. We came in with a bold agenda to change the paradigm for how we grow as a city, Been said. We promised to produce and preserve more affordable housing than ever achieved, to reach New Yorkers at a broad range of incomes, and to work with communities to ensure neighborhoods are diverse, inclusive, and rich in opportunity. Weve changed the way we work to ensure that we achieve more affordable housing for every public dollar spent, and that our housing reaches the New Yorkers who need it most. Been will depart City Hall Feb. 6. The mayor announced Tuesday that Maria Torres-Springer, the president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, would take over Beens post at Housing while James Patchett takes over as the leader at NYCEDC. As progressive thinkers and proven deal makers, Maria and James have worked closely with me to advance our most important initiatives, de Blasio said. Together, we will continue to build on the successes of our first three years, and make this city fairer and more affordable for everyone. Torres-Springer oversaw the implementation of the Citywide Ferry Service that will be coming to Rockaway, Astoria and a second landing in Long Island City this summer. She has been in charge of other notable projects in Queens such as the Downtown Far Rockaway Neighborhood Plan and the new industrial center in Ozone Park. At NYCEDC Torres-Springers work included creating large affordable housing projects with mixed use retail and community spaces. Having grown up in Section 8 housing, I know firsthand that the work we do is a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of families, Torres-Springer said. Housing is the top expense for New Yorkers, and for far too many rising rents threaten their ability to stay in the city they love. Ive spent my career helping people secure better jobs with better wages, and developing neighborhood projects that provide affordable homes and economic opportunity. Vicki leaves big shoes to fill, but Im honored to have a chance to keep up the record-breaking progress shes achieved. 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. President Donald Trump has disputed climate change, pledged a revival of coal and disparaged wind power, and his nominee to head the Energy Department was once highly skeptical of the agency's value. What this means for states' efforts to promote renewable energy is an open question. States that are pushing for greater reliance on wind and solar power are not quite sure what to expect as Trump takes over. Many of them depend heavily on federal renewable-energy tax credits, grants and research, much of which comes from the Energy Department. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Trump's pick to lead the department, presents a contradictory figure: A Texas oil promoter, he also oversaw a huge expansion of wind-energy production while governor. When he ran for president in 2011, he included Energy on a list of departments he thought should be abolished, though he disavowed the idea Thursday at his Senate confirmation hearing. "We don't know what version of Perry is going to show up," said Michael Webber, deputy director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas, Austin. Renewable energy accounts for about 15 percent of the electricity generated in the United States. And 29 states have set targets for boosting their reliance on such power. Officials, experts and advocates in more than a half-dozen states with some of the most ambitious goals told The Associated Press that they are on course to meet their targets. Most said that while Trump policies could slow the expansion, they won't stop it. The price of harnessing the power of the sun and wind has dropped so much that in many areas of the country, experts say it could be competitive with traditional power sources such as coal and natural gas even without federal subsidies. Further, they do not expect a fast repeal of the key federal tax credits that have propelled the industry for years. "We need to be moving faster, not slower," said Jeff Forward, president of the trade group Renewable Energy Vermont. "I fear we're tapping on the brakes right now." Those who promote renewable energy are concerned because Trump has expressed doubts about whether climate change is real, even though scientists agree that it is happening and that the burning of fossil fuels is a major reason for it. In December, Republican Gov. John Kasich of Ohio vetoed a bill that would have delayed the requirements for renewable power there. This month, Phil Scott, the new GOP governor in Vermont, affirmed his commitment to Vermont's goal of 90 percent green power by 2050. Some Democratic-leaning states have been pushing their requirements upward. Since 2015, both New York and California have increased their targets to 50 percent by 2030, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has indicated he would like to go further than that. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Proponents of medical aid in dying reintroduced legislation Monday to make it legal for mentally competent, terminally ill New Yorkers to take a lethal dose of a medication prescribed by a doctor. At the state Capitol, advocates and lawmakers framed the issue as one option New Yorkers should have at the end of their lives, in addition to hospice and palliative care. Susan Rahn, a 46-year-old mother from Rochester, shared her wish to be able to choose when to end her life, should her incurable breast cancer become unbearable. She will seek every treatment available, she said, but doctors have told her there will come a point where nothing will work. "I don't want to suffocate when the cancer invades my lungs. I don't want to starve when the cancer invades my liver. And I don't want to not recognize my son if the cancer invades my brain," Rahn said. Six other states allow medical aid in dying, which opponents call physician-assisted suicide. They include California, where a law went into effect in June, and Colorado, where voters passed it in November. New York's bill is modeled after a 20-year-old law in Oregon, which requires patients to have six months or less to live to be eligible for the option. A version of the bill was introduced in New York two years ago. Last year, it was approved by the Assembly Health Committee, but did not advance in the Senate. The bill faces opposition from the Catholic Church and some disability rights groups. A couple of changes were made to this year's proposal to address concerns that the legislation lacked adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable patients. One would require that only the patient be allowed to request a medication to end life. Another would require mental health professionals who review patients' ability to make informed choices about ending their lives to report back to two physicians. But a few opponents of the legislation said Monday that no modification could make physician-assisted suicide safe enough to win their support. They fear patients may be pressured to choose aid in dying or fall prey to heirs seeking speedier access to their inheritance. Insurance companies might encourage policyholders to take advantage of such a law to reduce medical expenses, they said. "There's no way to open this door just enough," said Adam Prizio, government affairs manager for the Center for Disability Rights. "No matter where you open it, some number of people with disabilities will be killed through coercion, through abuse, or through insurance companies trying to save money." chughes@timesunion.com 518-454-5417 @hughesclaire New York She tried drugs. She tried arguing. She tried writing a book. After a quarter century, the daughter of the longest-held American hostage during Lebanon's civil war says she's found her father's love. And it took coming face-to-face with one of his captors to do it. "I was searching and searching and this search, the journey, brought me closer to my father," said Sulome Anderson, a Brooklyn journalist whose father, Terry Anderson, was seized by Shiite kidnappers in Beirut in 1985 and held until 1991. "I love my dad very much. My dad has always loved me. I just didn't know that because he wasn't able to show it to me." Her recently published book, "The Hostage's Daughter," chronicles what happened after she met her father for the first time, at age 6, after his release from his long imprisonment. Anderson, then the chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, was among around 100 foreign hostages taken during the war. Sulome Anderson said she expected him to be a "superman" as a young child. Real life was more turbulent. Before she turned 10, the two were having screaming fights. Sulome, now 31, said she escaped into drugs and depression for years, growing so distant from her father that they went weeks and months without speaking. By 2009, she had given up plans to be an actress and decided to become a journalist. Before long, she headed to Lebanon, her mother's birthplace, and began trying to reconstruct the events surrounding the Lebanese hostage crisis that tore her family apart. The trail she followed led her to a Hezbollah official in one of the southern towns near the Israeli border. That man revealed himself to have been one of her father's teenage captors. She confronted him and then forgave him. "I think she did some extraordinary things, went on a very difficult personal journey, but also accomplished a pretty important piece of journalism doing it," said Terry Anderson, now 69 and retired. "She's now a better journalist than I ever was." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A plan by Apple supplier Foxconn to build a $7 billion flat-panel display screen factory in the United States could provide a new opportunity for New York state's high-tech economy. Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou told reporters on Sunday that Foxconn wants to move fast to find a site for the plant, which will likely command a large government subsidized economic development package. Right now it appears that Pennsylvania has the edge. "I have discussed with my major clients about going to (the US) and they are also willing to invest, including Apple," Gou said, according to Agence France Presse. "Pennsylvania is active and I urge other states to act more quickly or I will sign the contract with Pennsylvania." However, New York state would also appear to be a viable candidate, having just lost a tenant for a $600 million computer chip factory it was planning to build outside of Utica that already has state funding secured. Plans for the factory could easily be changed to make display screens and would help ease the pain of losing the tenant, analog chip maker ams AG of Austria. A spokesman for Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, could not immediately be reached for comment. Foxconn issued a statement to the Times Union on Monday that said the company is "conducting an evaluation of the conditions and potential locations for establishing manufacturing facilities in the US," but has not yet decided where to build the factory. "As a company practice, we would only announce an investment plan after related negotiations have been completed and only after we have received the relevant approvals from our company's board of directors and any other relevant authorities," the statement reads. Agence France Presse also quoted Gou as saying the Foxconn fab would generate 30,000 to 50,000 jobs, although that likely would entail construction and supplier jobs while direct employment at the factory would total in the several thousands at most. In its statement, Foxconn said "while it is not currently possible to confirm the location for that potential investment or estimate the number of jobs that might be created, it is expected that it would create many direct and indirect job opportunities with the new operation and throughout the supply chain in the U.S." Foxconn was also rumored five years ago to be scouting the United States to build a display screen factory for its Apple business, and may have considered New York state at that time. It was also at that time that an undisclosed company was scouring manufacturing sites across the United States, and in New York, under the code name Project Azalea. Apple and one of its suppliers was rumored to have been behind Project Azalea, which never materialized. Gou was pressed to address plans for the $7 billion plant after it was mistakenly revealed on a document photographed during a meeting last month in the lobby of Trump Tower between President Donald Trump and Masayoshi Son, the chief executive of Softbank of Japan. Softbank owns ARM Holdings, the company that provides chip designs to Apple. Gou is a fierce negotiator and last month announced plans to build an $8 billion flat panel factory in China. Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th president of the United States was met with celebration by some, but for many not only in the U.S. but across the world the event was met with protest. From Washington D.C. to Tokyo and many places in between, protesters took to the streets to show their disapproval of Trump, his policies and the direction they believe the U.S. would go under his leadership. Anywhere between 200 and 300 Titusville area residents made their way to Washington, D.C., for Saturdays Womens March on Washington. April Weis, of Titusville, explained, We want to ensure that no ones rights or needs are stepped on or lost in the new administration. Bus Tour to Honor Black History, Promote School Choice Riding under the theme "Creating Opportunity for Every Child," the Parent Express Bus will tour Connecticut beginning at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 1, in honor of National School Choice Week and Black History Month. The Connecticut Parents Union will host the two-day event, beginning at Hartford's Phillips Metropolitan CME Church and touring throughout Hartford, East Haven, and West Haven to educate, empower, and engage communities about the importance of ensuring educational and economic equity for all Connecticut children, regardless of zip code. Keynote speakers include retired Georgia Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, Financial Empowerment expert Charles "Tank" Harris, Andrea Comer, Executive Director CBIA Education and Workforce Partnership, Fathers In Education, Civil Rights Attorney Josephine Smalls Miller, Connecticut lawmakers and school parents, faith leaders, and community leaders. This event is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2017, which will feature more than 21,000 school choice events across all 50 states. Each stop will include presentations on the current state of education in Connecticut, particularly in maginalized communities, and emphasize the ways educational options promote academic success. Additional talks and discussions on topics like bullying, economic development and empowering girls will be presented along the way. "Parent Express Bus is designed to meet people where they are," said Gwen Samuel, president and founder of Connecticut Parents Union. "Ensuring student success is an intentional effort, the bottom line is that every child deserves equitable access to safe great schools and educational opportunity. Our goal is to help parents and students understand the importance and gain access to those opportunities." For more information, contact Gwen Samuel at [email protected] or (203) 443-3203. The Connecticut Parents Union (CTPU) is a membership organization whereby parents, guardians and families are connected with educational resources and supports necessary to ensure that neither race, zip-code nor socio-economic status is a predictor of their child's success. 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/20170122005171/en/ ISO 17025 Accreditation for Microbiology Manufacturing Site Offers Increased Confidence to Microbiology Testing Laboratories Microbiology testing laboratories can be confident in selecting products from a manufacturer with ISO 17025 accreditation. The Thermo Fisher Scientific microbiology manufacturing facility in Wesel, Germany, recently achieved ISO 17025 accreditation, one of the most important standards for calibration and testing laboratories around the world. Accreditation to this standard provides the highest level of reassurance that test data for manufactured products are reliable and accurate. Working with an accredited supplier can limit supplier management requirements, reduce product failure and associated down time, and control manufacturing costs. "Our customers rely on the culture media products manufactured at our Wesel site for critical testing in clinical diagnostic, food manufacturing and industrial environments," said Martyn Rogers, European Quality Director, Microbiology, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "The ISO 17025 accreditation confirms our ongoing commitment to utilise industry leading practices and provides assurance to our cutomers that the Quality Control test data we supply are both accurate and reliable." Thermo Fisher offers a range of microbiology products that includes culture media, antimicrobial susceptibility testing solutions and market-leading molecular solutions for food safety testing. Find out more by visiting http://www.thermofisher.com/microbiology About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and more than 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands - Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services - we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005079/en/ K12 Inc. Recognizes National School Choice Week January 22-28 K12 Inc. is marking National School Choice Week (NSCW) January 22-28 by highlighting the powerful role online and blended learning continues to make in the lives of students from coast to coast. "Attending North Carolina Virtual Academy (NCVA) has empowered my son to fulfill his passion to become an anti-bullying advocate for other kids," said Diana Santos mother of 11-year-old child author Brenden Santos. "Brenden experienced debilitating physical and emotional bullying at his brick and mortar school. NCVA's online classroom provided Brenden with a sense of safety and meaningful friendships, not to mention the ability to thrive academically. " Wyoming Virtual Academy (WYVA) 11th grader Grace Belize Anderson, named to the prestigious 2017 United States Senate Youth Program, opted for online school for a different reason. "I've logged more than 450 community service hours volunteering for various causes including Wyoming's Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)," said Grace. "WYVA's personalized learning model instilled in me a profound sense of confidence that has allowed me to take on leadership roles in community service projects I am passionate about." Held annually since 2011, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness initiative to inform Americans about the types of education options available for students, including online learning, blended learning and public charter schools. In recognition of NSCW, more than 21,000 events are taking place across the country, including Utah's Charter Day on the Hill on Thursday, January 26th where pianist and Utah Virtual Academy 10th grader Junhao Wang will perform. "Our nation's future depends on all students having access to appropriate educational opportunities that meet their needs," said Stuart Udell, CEO of K12 Inc. "We've witnessed progress in expanding public school choice. However, there's more work to be done to protect and advance the ability of American families to choose the best school or environment for their children." Both K12 CEO Stuart Udell and partner school families are available for interview. Visit bloggEd, Twitter (News - Alert) @K12bloggED, and Facebook for more information. K12 is helping to provide innovative education options to families by delivering its high quality curriculum and academic programs to online and blended schools, and to thousands of school districts across the U.S. The education provider also works with more than 5,000 teachers, the nation's largest network of online school teachers. About K12 Inc. K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is driving innovation and advancing the quality of education by delivering state-of-the-art, digital learning platforms and technology to students and school districts across the globe. K12's award-winning curriculum serves over 2,000 schools and school districts and has delivered more than four million courses over the past decade. K12 is a company consisting of thousands of online school educators providing instruction, academic services, and learning solutions to public schools and districts, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. The K12 program is offered through K12 partner public schools in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and through private schools serving students in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. More information can be found at K12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005686/en/ [January 22, 2017] Quark IOE and Cumulocity enter strategic partnership to deliver IoT solutions and services in China Quark IOE, a subsidiary of Guangdong Eastone Century Technology Co Ltd (300310:Shenzhen) and Cumulocity, the leading Internet of Things (IoT) software platform provider, enter a strategic partnership to deliver IoT solutions in mainland China and Taiwan. The partnership combines the capabilities of Cumulocity's advanced IoT platform and Quark IOE's extensive enterprise communications expertise to form the best of breed IoT solutions environment for China. The combined capabilities allow Quark IOE's customers to benefit from: rapid machine, sensor and device integration and data collection; real-time analytics for condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and supply chain automation; comprehensive device management and remote control; vertical application configurable real-time dashboards; and enterprise IT integration micro-services. In China, the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and Industry 4.0 practices are mirroring the same rapid adoption as their earlier generation techniques. A recent report from the GSMA (News - Alert), the global mobile operator industry association, stated that China is fast becoming a global leader in adopting IoT technologies due to strong government support and substantial private investment. China's IoT deployments are growing rapidly and deliver real change across its economy. Guangdong Eastone Century Technology (Eastone) is one of China's leading solution providers for high-tech enterprises. Through its many subsidiaries, it focuses on providing wireless, core and transmission construction, integration and optimisation services for telecommunication operators and original equipment manufacturers. Quark IOE harnesses all the networking expertise gained across the Eastone businesses to solve their customers IoT and enterprise digitisation challenges. Eastone already has wide experience i IoT with a range of high quality multi-functional remotely controlled PLC's. The "Quark IOE Platform" will be jointly developed by both Quark IOE and Cumulocity specifically for the Chinese market. The partnership allows Quark IOE to benefit from the continuous evolution of Cumulocity's leading IoT platform and focus on local market requirements through the development of customer plug-ins, vertical applications, complementary IT system integration and local operations and support. Exclusivity for the Chinese market provides both parties with a solid foundation for the partnership's success. "We are delighted to have an exclusive partnership with Cumulocity to extend its market leading IoT platform and assist Chinese enterprises in their digital transformations. The combination of Cumulocity, Quark IOE and the breadth of Eastone organisations provides enterprises with not only the experience of what is important to each local vertical market, but also the technical capability to overcome challenges and realise opportunities thoroughly." - Xiao Li, CEO Quark IOE "In Quark IOE and Eastone we have found very strong strategic partners to exploit the enormous opportunities the Chinese market holds for the Internet of Things, powered by the world's leading IoT software platform. The combination of Quark IOE's considerable local technical and Go-to-Market expertise allows the vast Chinese market to build IoT solutions rapidly, securely and reliability." - Bernd Gross, CEO Cumulocity About Quark IOE Quark IOE is an innovative IoT solutions and service provider in China. Quark IOE is a subsidiary of the leading Chinese telecommunications provider Guangdong Eastone Century Technology Co Ltd (300310:Shenzhen) and was founded in 2016 to catalyse Eastone's expertise in the Internet of Things (IoT). The company delivers a one-stop IoT solution for customers managing their connected devices, exploiting big data and successfully realising business transformations. With professional service teams across China, Quark IOE develops IoT applications and solutions for a wide range of vertical markets rapidly and efficiently. About Cumulocity Cumulocity is the leading independent Application and Device Management software platform for the Internet-of-Things (IoT) since 2010. Cumulocity is an open platform that provides a complete feature set for rapidly deploying IoT solutions. The key features include Data collection and Storage, Real-Time Analytics, Real-Time Visualization and IoT Device Management. Our open and publicly documented APIs and the open UI framework, enable our partners and customers to configure and extend the platform to their unique needs. Scalability, security and reliability are critical in IoT solutions and our origins as part of Nokia Siemens (News - Alert) Networks, the world's mobile broadband specialist, gives us the experience of securely managing millions of devices without service interruptions. Cumulocity can be deployed in a Cloud and On-Premise and enables enterprises to start small and scale out to millions of devices with the deployment model fit for their business. Today Cumulocity software is operated in more than 20 data centres across 5 continents. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170122005025/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2017] THIS WEEK: 723 Events in Greater Chicago Area to Raise Awareness About School Choice National School Choice Week begins today in Chicago and across the country. There are 723 events planned in the greater Chicago, Evanston, Gary, and Valparaiso area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide. The events in the Chicago area, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. School Choice Week provides families in the Chicago area with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options. With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US history. SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR CHICAGO AREA FAMILIES Families in Ilinois can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Prairie State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. The state also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive tax credits to attend private schools. Families in Indiana can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Hoosier State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The state also has a programs allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships or tax credits to attend private schools. ABOUT NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The Week runs from January 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com or follow the discussion on Twitter (News - Alert) using #schoolchoice. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170122005159/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2017] THIS WEEK: 229 Events in Greater Boston Area to Raise Awareness About School Choice National School Choice Week begins today in Boston and across the country. There are 229 events planned in the greater Boston, Manchester, and Nashua area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide. The events in the Boston area, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. School Choice Week provides families in the Boston area with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options. With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US history. SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR BOSTON AREA FAMILIES Families in Massachusetts ca use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Bay State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. Families in New Hampshire can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Granite State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The state also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools. ABOUT NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The Week runs from January 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com or follow the discussion on Twitter (News - Alert) using #schoolchoice. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170122005161/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2017] THIS WEEK: 450 Events in Greater Washington, DC Area to Raise Awareness About School Choice National School Choice Week begins today in Washington and across the country. There are 450 events planned in the greater DC, Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide. The events in the Washington area, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. School Choice Week provides families in the Washington area with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options. With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US history. SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR WASHINGTON AREA FAMILIES Families in District of Columbia can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Nation's Capital can choose from the following education options for their children: traditinal public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the District, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The city also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools. Families in Maryland can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Old Line State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. The state also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools. Families can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Old Dominion State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The state also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools. ABOUT NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The Week runs from January 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com or follow the discussion on Twitter (News - Alert) using #schoolchoice. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170122005163/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2017] THIS WEEK: 464 Events in Greater Philadelphia Area to Raise Awareness About School Choice National School Choice Week begins today in Philadelphia and across the country. There are 464 events planned in the Delaware Valley area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide. The events in the Philadelphia area, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has issued an official proclamation recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as "School Choice Week." School Choice Week provides families in the Philadelphia area with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options. With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US history. SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIOS AVAILABLE FOR PHILADELPHIA AREA FAMILIES Families in Pennsylvania can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Keystone State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The state also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools. Families in New Jersey can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Garden State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. ABOUT NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The Week runs from January 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com or follow the discussion on Twitter (News - Alert) using #schoolchoice. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170122005165/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2017] THIS WEEK: 1041 Events in Greater New York City Area to Raise Awareness About School Choice National School Choice Week begins today in New York and across the country. There are 1,041 events planned in the greater New York City area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide. The events in New York City area, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has issued an official proclamation recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as "School Choice Week." School Choice Week provides families in the New York City area with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US histry. SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR NEW YORK CITY AREA FAMILIES Families in New York can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Empire State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. Families in New Jersey can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Garden State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. ABOUT NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The Week runs from January 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com or follow the discussion on Twitter (News - Alert) using #schoolchoice. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170122005167/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 23, 2017] Logistics and Truck Aggregation Start-up Ezytruk Raises Funding From Dubai-based Investors BANGALORE, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bangalore based start-up, logistics and truck aggregator Ezytruk has raised 147,000 USD (INR 1 Crore) funding from Dubai-based investors, Mr. Ajith Nair and Mr. Anish K. The investment will help Ezytruk establish its commercial operations, invest in marketing and IoT development as well as in its organic growth strategy. Established in November 2015, Ezytruk is a data-driven aggregation and IoT platform for the goods transportation market place, connecting Carriers and Shippers in near real-time enabling on demand transportation for all. CEO and Founder Mr. Srikanth Maheswarappa said, "With the support of our experienced teams and funding, Ezytruk intends to create an ecosystem bringing Shippers (those who ship goods) and Carriers (transporters who carry these goods) along with strategic OEM partners on a single connected platform built on the backbone of data-driven innovative solutions." Ezytruk has forged a partnership with 'Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited' as a National Aggregator of Trucks, which brings financial benefits and cashless transactions to truckers for every liter of fuel fill with the usage of HPCL DriverTrackPlus card at their fuel stations across India. In partnership with Digital Wallet Providers, Ezytruk will enable cashless transactions to both the Carriers and Shippers. Ezytruk plans to setup transaction outlets for drivers across highways in India for cash deposits and withdrawals as per RBI norms. Speaking about the investment Mr. Ajith Nair said, "We are excited to invest in the growth of Ezytruk. We are certain the company is poised to change the landscape of logistics operations and bring about a disruption in the transportation marketplace." Mr. Anish K added, "Happy to support Ezytruk to estblish itself. The logistics industry needs an aggregator platform which will help create an ecosystem of trusted Carriers, Shippers and Strategic OEM partners." In the last one year Ezytruk has developed and tested the Connected Transportation Platform successfully with the 'Proof of Concept' running on more than 100 trucks in real time. Ezytruk has in its prospective client list, some big names on both the Shippers and Carriers front that are ready to go live with the platform once it is launched. Ezytruk has robust growth plans for 2017 with a few high-level appointments, getting 1000+ Truckers and supporting Shippers on-board, and new investments. Ezytruk will move into their new corporate office cum 24x7 customer experience centre known as the 'Ezytruk Hub' at the Truck Terminal, Yeshwanthpur in Bangalore, by the end of January, 2017. Ezytruk has impressed industry experts like Anand Mutalik (CEO of Agathsya Technologies), Ravi Ramu (CEO of VBHC), Sujoy Guha (CEO & MD at CriticaLog India Private Limited) and Aravind Appaji (Secretary, Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association and Joint secretary of BCLTAA), who are on its board willing to share their expertise and guide the company in its growth. Benefits of Ezytruk: Using the data analytics and visualisation tools available to them on the Ezytruk platform (App and website), 'Carriers' will be able to improve their fleet utilisation leading to revenue growth, reduce their fleet downtime through regular maintenance alerts, reduce their fleet management administration expenses through data availability on a common dashboard, acquire new customers and service existing customers through QoS and be able to compete on an equal opportunity platform, become more efficient through vehicle and driver performance monitoring and improve the profitability of their business. Using Ezytruk's aggregation platform, 'Shippers' will get the benefit of verified and rated 'Carriers' on demand, ability to compare prices between Carriers in a transparent manner, real-time knowledge of the movement of their goods and warehouse space management, all from a native Android app. Ezytruk had raised seed funding in November 2015 from private investors Mr. Narasimha B S (Co-founder) and Mrs. Jyothi Narasimha. About Ezytruk (http://www.Ezytruk.com): Ezytruk is a data-driven aggregation platform for the goods transportation market place. Ezytruk will bring about a systematic shift in the way businesses use transportation infrastructure and derive value from it, while bringing in efficiency and transparency in transactions. Ezytruk Platform is a cloud-based SaaS application working on a 'Pay Per Use' Model for both the Carriers and Shippers. All features of the platform are available on a Smartphone for information on the GO and as a WebApp. In today's hyper-connected world, where one can order a pizza or a cab at the click of a button on-demand, finding a reliable and trusted carrier to transport their valuable goods is still a process of luck and faith. Ezytruk will bring a correction in the transportation industry by implementing the IoT (Internet of Things) infrastructure complimented with data-driven analysis, reporting and analytics while giving unparalleled value to the stakeholders. Media Contact: Bhuvaneshwari T.V Ezytruk Solutions Private Limited Mobile: +91-9886770263 Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 23, 2017] The FileMaker 2017 State of the Custom App Report Reveals Citizen Developers Are Improving Business Processes SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2017 FileMaker State of the Custom App Report examines how citizen developers are creating custom apps to solve real business challenges and increase job satisfaction. The global report, released today, is based on surveys of hundreds of citizen developers across North America, Japan and Europe. The report provides insight into how these individuals are using custom apps to drive better end results. Those surveyed said they didn't consider themselves to be IT professionals and developing custom apps wasn't their full-time job. Download the 2017 FileMaker State of the Custom App Report. Key findings of the report include: Citizen developers are proactive problem solvers 83 percent wanted to create a better way to work 48 percent sw an increase in satisfaction at work Custom apps can be developed quickly and solve diverse business challenges 82 percent of users saw a reduction in inefficient tasks 46 percent of apps were up and running in less than four weeks Businesses of all sizes are creating and using custom apps 25 percent are large businesses (1000+ employees) 23 percent are medium-sized businesses (100-999 employees) 52 percent are small businesses (5-99 employees) Ann Monroe , vice president, worldwide marketing, FileMaker, Inc., said: "Citizen developers are using custom apps to solve everyday business problems to change the way they work. At FileMaker, we're proud to be part of this journey." About FileMaker, Inc. FileMaker, Inc., an Apple subsidiary, delivers simply powerful software for easily creating custom apps that work seamlessly across iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and the web. Business teams use the FileMaker Platform to streamline their operational processes, boosting overall productivity. www.filemaker.com 2017 FileMaker, Inc. All rights reserved. FileMaker, FileMaker Go and the file folder logo are registered trademarks of FileMaker, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. FileMaker WebDirect is a trademark of FileMaker, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars and subject to change without notice. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-filemaker-2017-state-of-the-custom-app-report-reveals-citizen-developers-are-improving-business-processes-300394245.html SOURCE FileMaker, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Church House Westminster has welcomed Rianne Baker to its events team. The University of Hertfordshire graduate has joined the venue as an event coordinator, having previously worked at 99 City Road Conference Centre. Of her appointment, Rianne said: Im excited to be joining Church House Westminster when the venue is looking to build on its success. It is an amazing venue in the heart of London and whilst it has a wealth of history it provides the backdrop for a wide variety of events and I am looking forward to working with clients to deliver these. The role will also allow me to use the skills I have gained through my previous roles as well as the opportunity to develop by learning from the experienced team here. General Manager Robin Parker comments: Rianne is a welcome addition to our team. Our people are one of our main strengths as a venue, and this appointment allows us to maintain our personal approach to event organisation and enhance our reputation for providing clients with first class event support and delivery. Situated in the heart of London, Church House Westminster has AIM Gold accreditation and is one of the citys most versatile event venues, accommodating between 2 and 664 guests. For more information call 0207 390 1590 or visit www.churchhouseconf.co.uk [January 23, 2017] Leading Solution Providers Select DesignCon 2017 to Debut New Products, Demos and Services SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, DesignCon previews announcements from more than 50 exhibitors participating at the event next week. DesignCon, the premier educational conference and technology exhibition for electronic design engineers in the high-speed communications and semiconductor communities, will present three days of deeply technical sessions, special events and a robust expo hall hosting the industry's leading solution providers. Via the expo hall, attendees will have the opportunity to experience emerging solutions first hand and connect with leading companies on what's to come. DesignCon will take place January 31 February 2 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. For additional information and to register, please visit: designcon.com Below is a preview of announcements exhibitors will showcase at DesignCon 2017: 3M (booth 514) announces Twin Axial Cable Assemblies that bring incredible flexibility in an ultra-thin, space-saving form. Featuring a low-profile ribbon design with a remarkably tight bend radius, it can help save substantial space inside congested systems, allowing for optimal airflow and cooling to maintain the speeds and power your system demands. Anritsu (booth 633) will display signal integrity solutions featuring its Signal Quality Analyzer MP1800A BERT, VectorStar and ShockLine VNAs. Demos include a 56G/112 NRZ and PAM4 Accurate Jitter Tolerance Test System that satisfies communications standards such as OIF, IEEE, and InfiniBand. Applied Simulation Technology (booth 1149) introduces Mesh Gnd module for accurate modeling of flex circuits and other mesh ground/power structures on PCBs. Mesh Gnd is a new feature set of ApsimRLGC 2D+ field solver. ApsimRLGC now also expands its capability by adding an optimizer which helps synthesize trace parameters for ZO optimization. Artek, Inc. (booth 309) will be introducing all new, all passive & tunable ISI, XTalk, Tr/Tr, Skew controllers for receiver physical layer tolerance testing. Bellwether (booth 652) will showcase both Hi Speed & Hi Power connectors and cables. Cable such as SlimChroma can be used to meet USB 3.0/3.1 signal integrity requirements. Connectors such as CrystalBand can provide excellent connectors capable of handling high electrical current in small space. Benchmark Electronics (booth 301) announces expanded RF development capabilities and is showcasing their latest innovations in electronics design expertise. Benchmark services have been providing advanced product engineering and manufacturing solutions in high-speed computing, telecommunications and related industries for over a quarter century. Cadence (booth 515) will show how designers can optimize signal and power integrity design and analysis as well as get support for designing with the PCIeO 4.0 interface. EDADOC USA (booth 518) will showcase new service offerings for turnkey solutions in addition to their high-speed PCB design capabilities. EMSCAN (booth 211) significantly improves the speed and the resolution (0.06 mm) of the world's fastest EMC/EMI scanner: the EMxpert ERX+. Now PCB and design engineers can diagnose EMC/EMI issues on a 2.25 cm x 2.25 cm (0.89" x 0.89") sized PCB at 0.1 mm in less than 9 minutes. Feinmetall (booth 1153) is proud to introduce its new RF HF66 series for reliable contacting of SMD assembled RF mini connectors and new coaxial high current 1860 series suitable for formation/test of Li-ion cells, quality control of batteries/power storage and charging, and discharging processes of batteries. Hitachi Cable America (booth 811) will showcase new product and service offerings including Direct Attach Cables (DAC), DensPac, ACC and more. HSIO Technologies (booth 423) has a new line of Zero Footprint Sockets that incorporates a device size socket footprint with industry standard spring pins. These small test sockets allow a customer to place them into any end application allowing a Spring Pin socket to be directly re-flowed into the same location as the device. Huwin (booth 1152) will introduce a new USB 3.1 Type C test solution. It contains test fixtures and a compliance test software. The test fixtures have been optimally designed to measure any USB 3.1 Type C connectors using a commercial network analyzer. Imagineering (booth 1240) announces it is now AS9100C Certified for printed circuit boards and Assemblies. This certification is an internationally recognized standard focused on quality requirements necessary in the Defense and Aerospace industry. Ironwood Electronics (booth 752) introduces a new BGA socket family using high performance elastomer capable of 75GHz, very low inductance and wide temperature applications (-55C to +160C). These low-profile sockets are only 2.5 mm per side larger than actual IC packages (industry's smallest footprint). Kandou Bus (booth 218), together with Keysight, will demonstrate the Glasswing Ultra-Short-Reach PHY that uses Chord Signaling to deliver sub-pico Joule per bit in-package communications. The PHY delivers 125 Gb/s over 6 data wires. Keysight Technologies (booth 725) will demonstrate new test and measurement techniques for 400G/PAM-4 designs, data analytics, digital interconnect test and physical layer test and will provide complimentary workshops on these technologies. Keysight specialists will be available to discuss new services for calibration and technology refresh plus training and consulting. Luxshare-ICT (booth 801) will be showcasing its OCuLink 4x Enhanced Vertical receptacle along with a 2 x 4x solution for x8 OCuLink applications. Luxshare's Type C, Power assemblies, Standard I/O, FFC/FPC, Power Bus Bar, Braided Copper Cables, SAS, PCIe, Magnetic Jacks, Active Optical Cables, and JDM Capabilities will all be available to discuss with its engineering team. Micram (booth 658) launches new and enhanced features for its ultrafast 100 GS/s, 35 GHz bandwidth VEGA DAC4 signal generator, which now supports fully automatic synchronization of two and four channel configuraions. Software enhancements include rational sampling, fully adjustable channel skew and predefined filters, pre-distortion, pre-compensation, noise cancellation, PAM-4/PAM-8 and other complex patterns. Microlease (booth 222) will be leading hands on demonstrations with the latest test and measurement equipment from Keysight and Tektronix. From the publishers of Microwave Journal comes an online journal specializing in signal integrity, power integrity, and EMC/EMI: Signal Integrity Journal (booth T2). The Editorial Advisory Board includes DesignCon luminaries Eric Bogatin (Editor), Bert Simonovich, Yuriy Shlepnev, Istvan Novak, Alfred Neves, Doug Smith, and Vladimir Dmitriev-Zdorov. Contributing: Janine Love & Patrick Hindle. Molex (booth 619) will showcase versatile, high-density, space-saving connectivity solutions that are rapidly increasing network bandwidth is the crux of next-generation system architectures. Advancements in Molex technologies provide clear paths to adoption of higher data transmission rates that are in demand by manufacturers today. National Instruments (booth 705) announces new higher performance model of VirtualBench with 500 MHz of analog bandwidth and 40 MHz sine output for higher performance benchtop and automated test applications. VirtualBench consolidates five of the most commonly used test and measurement instruments into one device without compromising performance, creating new efficiencies for engineers. Neoconix (booth 320) announces the availability of new DLBeam enhancements to its PCBeam connector products. Engineered specifically for high speed applications, the DLBeam construction utilizes a more streamlined electrical path with reduced capacitance to further improve signal integrity. DLBeam has been developed for data rates up to 56Gbps. Novotech Technologies (booth 207) will showcase wireless products/solutions with a focus on the new CAT M technology which is predicted to be a true game changer for the Internet of Things. Oak-Mitsui Technologies (booth 1244) is thrilled to announce the launch of its thinner product MC2TS which offers 40 nf/sq in capacitance and 18 Dk @1 KHz. MC2TS is perfect for small factor applications such as MEMs and modules with space limitation that require higher capacitance. Cross-Correlator ASIC is one of Pacific Microchip Corp.'s (booth 1237) unique products that was developed under NASA SBIR contract. The ASIC has greatly reduced power consumption and includes an array of 128 ADCs with 2-bit precision sampled at 1 GHz and a 64x64 cross-correlation matrix based on a novel architecture. PacketMicro (booth 755) is excited to showcase the complete hardware and software solution for Intel Delta-L+ test methodology that allows PCB manufacturers to easily measure the PCB loss and extract Dk and Df. This solution includes an R&S ZNB20 VNA, EMStar Advanced Interconnect Test Tool (AITT) software, and rugged handheld D-Probes. Paricon Technologies (booth 400) will present its latest technologies in its new ribbon cable to board connector system which introduces minimal signal degradation between the cable and the PWB. Using its patented PariPoser contact system, very high performance electrical interconnection capability can be obtained for a wide range of applications including test and production interconnection products. PCB Droid (booth 1341) will display its easy-to-use and easy-to-learn 'WYSIWYG' printed circuit board design application for Android mobile devices. It has an ergonomic menu structure designed for touch screens, and offers an extended macro library. Polliwog Corporation (booth 1057) will showcase DFx which allows users to reduce expense and loss of time occurring in a mass production cycle. Numerous electrical defect items are checked against the PCB design data, and any design errors are reported at the point of error so that they are easily identified and corrected. Pulse Electronics' (booth 632) is excited to be displaying the Pulse JT7 product line of 1 x1, 1, 10GBASET ICM, 4P POE with options for 4 and 5 Channel magnetics, PH9400 SMT high isolation gate drive transformers, SMPTE292M Video Baluns and Militarized Ethernet and AFDX products. RoBAT Ltd. (booth 200), is excited to announce the release of two new robotic test machines: The RCI machine is a fully automated 4-head high speed VNA/TDR tester for Backplane assemblies. The PDM machine will detect the presence of pressfit pins and backdrills on both Backplane and Daughtercard assemblies. Rohde & Schwarz (booth 841) will be featuring test solutions for challenges in high speed digital design and signal integrity as well as power integrity measurement solutions. The setups cover crosstalk, PAM-4 measurements, high bit rate channel characterization, low noise probing for signal integrity, battery life analysis, and high speed PCB probing. SIGLENT Technologies (booth 402) will be displaying its latest developments in oscilloscopes, DMMs, spectrum analyzers, and generators. SL Power (booth 642) will showcase its external and internal power supplies that address the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Level VI efficiency requirements, as well as enhanced performance to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards for applications in test equipment, medical devices, and specialized LED lighting equipment. Socionext (booth 1239) will feature advanced SoC design and solutions including ultra energy-efficient 56Gb/s PAM4 and 56Gb/s NRZ analog and ADC-based SR to LR CMOS transceivers, 100+Gbps transceiver utilizing the company's ultra-high speed ADC & DAC technology, and high-end package designs for high-performance SoCs. Southwest Microwave (booth 411) will showcase its SuperMini Board-to-Board DC to 67 GHz blind-mate connectors for PCBs stacked as tightly as 3 mm. Southwest Microwave will also display its SuperSMA, 2.92, 2.40, 1.85, 1.0, and 0.9 mm End Launch Connectors and its matching cable and harness assemblies. Spectra7 Microsystems (booth 803) will showcase the GaugeChanger and GaugeChanger Plus line of data center interconnects and components. Using Spectra7's patented active cable technology, the GaugeChanger series of ICs and cable modules enable the thinnest 3 meter and 5 meter QFSP cables used in rack-to-rack applications. SPISim (booth T6) announces enhanced IBIS-AMI and link analysis capabilities in latest 2017.1 SPIPro release. Datasheet based cross-platform AMI models for FFE, CTLE, DFE and CDR stages can be configured and generated directly from SPIPro. SV Microwave (booth 1055) manufactures a large variety of solderless precision RF connectors in high frequency bands including SMA, 2.92mm and 2.4mm connector series. Our solderless application makes assembly fast, easy and without damaging the PCB board. Additionally, SV can customize a PCB footprint design for your application. T Plus Co. Ltd. (booth T4) will showcase 67GHz Wide pitch Probes, 40GHz Handheld probes, 26.5-170GHz standard RF probes and a variety of custom designed DC/RF probes. Additionally, T Plus Co. Ltd. will provide a Manual Probe Station as well as displayed measurement accessories. Tektronix (booth 741) will be showcasing its comprehensive set of solutions for automated transmitter and receiver test solutions for data center technologies and emerging serial bus standards along with automated test solutions. Tektronix will also launch an exciting new product that will help engineers ease 4th generation receiver testing. Teledyne LeCroy (booth 733) will showcase the HDO family of 12-bit high definition oscilloscopes; PAM4 signal analysis; digital power management IC, power sequencing, and power-integrity testing; USB 3.1 and Power Delivery compliance test over Type-C; MIPI M-PHY physical- and protocol-layer test; PCI Express Tx/Rx compliance; and DDR4 compliance and debug capabilities. TestEquity (booth 648) provides value-added electronic test and measurement solutions, MRO tools, recently acquiring JENSEN Tools, and in-house line of environmental test chambers. TestEquity works alongside customers to find the best solutions for specific needs, offer unmatched post-sale support and industry-leading warranties. TestEquity is an authorized stocking distributor for hundreds of leading manufacturers. Total Phase (booth 603) will showcase the new Advanced Cable Tester - the quickest and most convenient way to test USB Type-C cables. The Advanced Cable Tester provides thorough continuity testing, DC resistance measurement for safe operation/reliability, and E-Marker verification. Rapid spot-checking of cables, easy-to-understand reports, and 100% test coverage are also features of this tester. TOYO Corp. (booth 815) will be demonstrating the latest EMIStream Ver5.0 (EMI Simulation Software) from NEC and 67GHz near-field EMI scanner from Aprel. TOYO Corp. is also excited to showcase the latest PCB materials from Risho and high-frequency low-loss cables from Junkosha. Ventec International (booth 118) will unveil the industry's most advanced ultra-low Dk PCB materials for high-speed low-loss applications. A technical presentation on the subject will demonstrate how lower losses and lower system power requirements are realized by using an ultra-low Dk material with Dk values between 2.3 and 2.8. Wurth Electronics Midcom (booth 949) is presenting for the first time a seminar on High-Speed EMI Prevention Techniques Wednesday, February 1 at 9:20am. Attendees can also stop by the booth on Wednesday and Thursday from 1-3pm to meet presenter Ismael Molina Alba, Product Manager for CMCs, and ask him questions about his presentation and more. Yamaichi (booth 1049) will present 200GbE/400GbE, and Coherent Optics Interconnect Products. Its CFP2, CFP4, CFP2-64G and CFP8 connectors perform at high speed signal requirements 200GAUI-4 and 400GAUI-8 on 200G/400GbE, and also perform at 64Gbaud signal requirement for Future Coherent Optics. Yamaichi will display demos showcasing these connectors' performances. For the full list of DesignCon 2017 exhibitors, please visit: http://www.designcon.com/exhibitors-list DesignCon Media & Association Partners DesignCon is proud to partner with the following publications: Aspencore, Chinese American Semiconductor Professional Association (CASPA), Chip Design Magazine, ConnectorSupplier.com, EDA Cafe, Electronic System Design Alliance, Embedded Systems Engineering, How2Power, IBIS Open Forum, Microwave Journal, Signal Integrity Journal. Follow DesignCon online: Facebook: facebook.com/DesignCon Twitter: @UBMDesignCon Flickr: flickr.com/photos/designcon Register for a Media Pass: designcon.com/santaclara/media-center/ About DesignCon DesignCon is the world's premier conference for chip, board and systems design engineers in the high-speed communications and semiconductor communities. DesignCon, created by engineers for engineers, takes place annually in Silicon Valley and remains the largest gathering of chip, board and systems designers in the country. This three-day technical conference and expo combines technical paper sessions, tutorials, industry panels, product demos and exhibits from the industry's leading experts and solutions providers. More information is available at: designcon.com/santaclara. DesignCon is organized by UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc (UBM.L), an Events First marketing and communications services business. For more information, visit ubmamericas.com. Contact Kimberly Samra DesignCon Public Relations [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-solution-providers-select-designcon-2017-to-debut-new-products-demos-and-services-300394433.html SOURCE DesignCon [January 23, 2017] Esker Opens Second US Office in Denver Esker, a worldwide leader in document process automation solutions and pioneer in cloud computing, announced today that it has opened a second U.S. office in Denver. Esker (News - Alert) chose to expand into Denver to accommodate growth, enhance recruiting efforts and better serve its clients in the western half of the United States. In recent years, Esker has seen its customer base in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific states, along with the western region of Canada, grow significantly, especially within the medical device, food production and semi-conductor industries. With a satellite office in Denver now in place, the Esker team is better able to srve these customers. Esker is also well-positioned to accommodate companies that utilize enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms SAP (News - Alert) and Oracle, each of which has a dominant presence along the West Coast, since Esker's solutions enhance and integrate with ERPs. "Over the past three years, Esker has seen a considerable increase in business out of this region," said U.S. Chief Operating Officer Steve Smith. "In order to maintain our reputation for excellent customer service while growing so quickly, it was crucial that we open a second U.S. location near the West Coast." In addition to accommodating current and future customers, Esker's expansion into Colorado is a strategic move to facilitate growth within the company. "Denver is an ideal campus for recruiting top talent," said Daniel Reeve, director of field sales and head of the satellite office. "With a great quality of life, solid infrastructure, including an airport hub, and economic growth that surpasses the national average, the city is home to a solid and growing talent base." In addition to Reeve, the Denver office employs sales representatives and a sales engineer, who provides technical support to the sales team and West Coast customers. About Esker Esker is a worldwide leader in cloud-based document process automation software. Esker solutions, including the acquisition of the TermSync accounts receivable solution in 2015, help organizations of all sizes to improve efficiencies, accuracy, visibility and costs associated with business processes. Esker provides on-demand and on-premises software to automate accounts payable, order processing, accounts receivable, purchasing and more. Founded in 1985, Esker operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific with global headquarters in Lyon, France and U.S. headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2016, Esker generated 66 million euros in total sales revenue. For more information on Esker and its solutions, visit www.esker.com. Follow Esker on Twitter (News - Alert) @EskerInc and join the conversation on the Esker blog at blog.esker.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005160/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 23, 2017] NOAA Releases First GOES-16 Image from Harris Corporation-Built Imager and Ground System The National Oceanic (News - Alert) and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the first image taken by Harris Corporation's (NYSE:HRS) Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard their next-generation weather satellite. The image taken from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (GOES-16) is of Earth's full western hemisphere with detailed cloud and water features. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005593/en/ The first image of Earth released from NOAA's GOES-16 weather satellite was taken by the Harris Corporation (News - Alert)-built Advanced Baseline Imager. (Photo: Business Wire) The Harris ABI,the main payload on the satellite, is a high-resolution digital camera with image resolution of one-tenth of a square mile, or four times better than current imagers. Additional filters, or spectral bands, on ABI will detect more information about volcanic ash, dust, clouds, winds, fires, rainfall rate, and hurricane intensity than previous generations of geostationary weather satellites. Critical information about severe weather events can come as fast as 30 seconds, five times faster than previous technology. "Once the satellite is fully operational, the resolution of the imagery taken from the Harris ABI will be comparable to seeing a quarter from a mile away," said Eric Webster, vice president and general manager, Harris Environmental Solutions. The image was downloaded and processed by the Harris-built enterprise ground system, which controls the weather satellite and all of its six major instruments, including ABI. The ground system will also process the significant increase in new data, producing 1.75 terabytes of data per day for the National Weather Service and other users. In only three-and-a-half years, ABI data production will equal the total data production from 1975 through 2015 of all prior GOES imager and sounder data combined. The GOES-16 was called GOES-R prior to its launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Nov. 19, 2016. Like its predecessors, GOES-R was renamed GOES-16 after launch, following NOAA's numerical naming convention. About Harris Corporation Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving customers' toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Harris supports customers in more than 100 countries and has approximately $7.5 billion in annual revenue and 21,000 employees worldwide. The company is organized into four business segments: Communication Systems, Space and Intelligence Systems, Electronic Systems and Critical Networks. Learn more at harris.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170123005593/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 23, 2017] Websites Depot to Host Next Google Partners Connect Event in Silver Lake SILVER LAKE, Calif., Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Los Angeles Web Agency Websites Depot will be hosting the next Google Partners Connect event on February 8 at its Sunset Boulevard headquarters in Silver Lake. The event is a free educational workshop and is open to all members of the public who RSVP before the event. Attendees will learn about some of the inner-mechanisms of Google and the latest digital marketing trends. Jeff Montgomery and Kevin Cho of Google Marketing Solutions will be two main keynote speakers transmitting live into the Websites Depot offices. The event is especially-tailored to key decision makers and marketing representatives of businesses. Key topics covered will be pinpoint-targeting of new customers based on where they spend the most time online as well as management of multi-device and multi-platform advertising campaigns. Businesses can gain valuable insight into how to drive at key decision points among their customer base. Montgomery, Director of Mid-Market Sales at Google, will take participants through new trends in the evolving mobile landscape. As there has been a shift towards mobile devices and new online platforms, Montgomery will share insight into how get found and get contacted during micro-moments when consumers choose to seek out a product or service. Cho, Agency Accounting Strategist, will give insightful tutorials on how to decipher metrics and adequately bid on dgital advertising campaigns in order to "leverage the most successful touch points." By using constantly-evolving analytic tools that are easily available to most marketers, business owners can learn how to gauge feedback from web traffic and new customers in real time. Since their previous Google Partners Connect events hosted in 2016, Websites Depot has upgraded its offices to include more seating accommodations to the boardroom conference-style event. In the last event, Google's Tim Reis showed participants techniques for generating "intent, context and immediacy" when interacting with customers. Websites Depot will be providing complimentary refreshments such as coffee, bagels, fruits and other snacks for the enjoyment of attendees during their visit. Those who call the office in advance can receive a technical marketing audit of their website that will be prepared for them when they arrive. Bringing a laptop to the event is encouraged. The event starts at 9:30am on February 8, and should run no longer than two hours. Websites Depot is located at 4343 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The office is in suite 201 on the second floor. For more information, or to make a press inquiry, please call (323) 912-1105 or e-mail [email protected]. Related Images image1.png image2.png image3.png Related Links Event RSVP Information Websites Depot Blog 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/websites-depot-to-host-next-google-partners-connect-event-in-silver-lake-300394922.html SOURCE Websites Depot Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017 crime Samsung is vowing that the next smartphone you buy from the company will undergo more thorough quality assurance testing to avoid the kind of design and assembly problems that caused the batteries in Galaxy Note 7 phones to overheat. Samsung's DJ Koh outlines the cause of the Note 7's explosions at a press conference. Samsung outlined its more stringent safety process during a press conference in South Korea where the company revealed its findings after several months of investigations into the problems that caused the Note 7's recall last fall. "We are taking responsibility for our failure to ultimately identify and verify the problems with design and manufacturing prior to the launch of Note 7," said DJ Koh, president of the mobile communications business for Samsung Electronics. MORE: Samsung Galaxy S8 Rumors: What Features to Expect As was widely expected, Samsung put the blame for the overheating and explosions of the Note 7 on the device's battery. Specifically, the problems arose from batteries that came from two different suppliers. Batteries from Manufacturer A didn't provide a cell pouch with enough room for the battery to expand, which happens as the battery charges and discharges. (Samsung didn't reveal the names of the suppliers at its press conference.) Meanwhile, Manufacturer B ran into assembly problems where weld defects were left on one side of the battery; as the battery swelled during normal charging, those defect were pushed into the opposing electrode, causing a short circuit. Even worse for Samsung, that assembly problem wasn't initially detected while Samsung was busy with its initial recall of the Note 7. Source: Samsung To determine the cause of the Note 7's woes, Samsung said it built a large-scale charge and discharge facility where it could replicate incidents involving the phone overheating and exploding. The company's investigation included examining both hardware and software for for a cause, as well as the assembly, testing and logistics parts of brining the Note 7 to market. Samsung says 700 engineers analyzed 200,0000 fully assembled Note 7 devices as well as 30,000 batteries to narrow down the cause of the Note 7's problems. The company also hired three independent firms safety science firm UL, engineering and scientific consulting company Exponent and TUV Rheinland, which inspects testing and certification to look into the incidents as well. So how does Samsung prevent similar problems with future phones? "We used the lessons from this investigation to improve upon our robust quality and assurance process and establish comprehensive preventative measures," Koh said. To that end, Koh says Samsung plans to implement a broad range of internal processes focused on product safety, building on its existing quality assurance efforts with teams that will now focus on each core component of its devices. It's forming a battery advisory group staffed by academic and research experts who will provide Samsung with a review of device safety. Most significantly, Samsung says it's developed an eight-point battery safety check that will include visually inspecting each battery, x-ray batteries to search for abnormalities and large-scale charging and discharging tests. Samsung also runs tests to make sure the volatile organic compound in its batteries won't leak and checks for any change in voltage during the manufacturing process It will also run tests to simulate accelerated usage scenarios and take batteries apart to assess their quality. Samsung didn't specify what steps in its quality assurance process are new versus the steps it was taking during the Note 7's assembly, though. Samsung says 96 percent of the Note 7s have been returned. Koh also promised changes at the design stage for batteries that will include more space around the battery and a new bracket design as well as improve safety standards for materials in the battery's design. "We hope this case will serve as an opportunity to improve the safety of lithium ion batteries, not just for us, but for the entire industry," said Koh, who promised that Samsung would share its findings with global standard groups. Samsung's announcement comes as the company is gearing up to release the Galaxy S8, its first major smartphone release since last fall's disastrous Note 7 launch. That phone will reportedly debut in April, though we could hear more about it at next month's Mobile World Congress. Tsinghua Unigroup, one of the many tentacles of the Chinese state-controlled Tsinghua University, announced that it is investing $30 billion to build a new DRAM and NAND fab in Nanjing, China. The development comes as the company seeks to rapidly expand after its 51% buy-in of Yangtze River Storage Technology, which recently announced a separate $24 billion DRAM and NAND fab in Wuhan, China. The NAND industry is falling deeper into the largest shortage in its history, and many industry analysts predict that we will experience yet another DRAM shortage in the coming months. Both the NAND and DRAM industries have consolidated down to a few key players, and predictable production output has kept supply and demand dynamics largely balanced for several years. However, a rash of 3D NAND developmental delays have delayed major players, such as SanDisk, Toshiba, SK hynix, and to a lesser extent Intel and Micron, from reaching production projections. These delays are the catalyst for the current shortage, but the entrance of the potentially unpredictable Tsinghua could upset the delicate supply balance, thus causing an eventual glut. The staid semiconductor industry would rather weather shortages than the margin-killing gluts, so the Tsinghua developments are concerning for the established players. The Chinese government is diving into the semiconductor business with aplomb, as it cites the lack of native production as a national security risk. The brass ring of flash IP has eluded Tsinghua as it attempts to buy its way into the semiconductor business. The first of its fruitless efforts came in the form of a $2.8 billion investment in Western Digital (through its Unisplendour subsidiary), which at the time was in the midst of purchasing SanDisk for $19 billion. The strategic investment promised to grant Tsinghua access to the patent-protected IP it needs to jump-start production, but it later withdrew the offer after the US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) threatened to scuttle the deal based on the US' own national security interests. Undeterred, Tsinghua also reportedly began talks with both Micron and SK hynix, but neither initiative came to fruition. With those avenues closed, the company proceeded to deepen its investment in home-grown projects and hired several high-level Taiwanese semiconductor executives to bolster its capabilities. The company projects that its new Nanjing, China facility will produce up to 100,000 wafers per month and will begin pilot production in 2018. The company will likely need to license several key aspects of the technology, and it's unclear if it will select floating gate or charge trap technology, though the latter is more likely. Tsinghua might attempt to invest in Toshiba's pending semiconductor spinoff. WD appears to be the key player in the Toshiba negotiations thus far, but if a determined Tsinghua approaches, it's possible it could offer Toshiba an enticing offer. Other experienced and established industry stalwarts have faced significant challenges while transitioning to smaller DRAM lithographies and 3D NAND, so the multibillion-dollar question is if the fledgling Tsinghua initiatives can jump the hurdles in a time-effective and economical manner. However, if the Chinese government-backed initiatives succeed there is no question that it will drastically alter the status quo. The country also has its sights aimed squarely at producing its own processors, so its investments in key semiconductor technologies is far from over. Fox4 Followup From Saturday Report: Police suspect homicide after body found in creek bed near 67th & Lewis WE'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED AS KANSAS CITY'S 2017 JANUARY MURDER COUNT EQUALS LAST YEAR'S HISTORIC RATE OF KILLING!!! Postscript to the tragic, unchecked and largely ignored urban core slaughter that continues in Kansas City.Here's the update on a decomposed corpse that recently turned up . . .And so . . . Some of you called this one quickly . . .At this time last year there were 9 murders in KCMO and now this killing added to the list brings usto 9 murders so far in 2017 as the quotient of killing doesn't seem to change or confront any significant challenge while politicos ask for more cash this Spring.Developing . . . KANSAS CITY IS CATCHING UP TO LAST YEAR'S HORRIFIC HOMICIDE RATE!!! Recently, at around midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning, police found a man shot to death in the middle of the street atSadly, while this killing isn't out of the ordinary, it signals a more disturbing trend . . .The ice blast and then fake news fear of a followup ice blast that didn't happen seemed to give the city a moment of respite at the outset of the year . . . But now, tragically, the cycle of murder and violence is back in full swing.Developing . . . UNGUARDED SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS REVEAL KANSAS CITY NEWSIES CALLING B.S. ON THE TONI ANDERSON ONLINE FUNDRAISING EFFORT AND SHARING DEETS OF POLICE SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE MISSING WOMAN'S STORY!!! "I live in KC and work in local news. This girl was on the way to a party at a strip club when she got pulled over and got a warning. Then she went to the gas station, where surveillance video shows her coming, getting gas, then leaving. Her GPS immediately afterward pinged out of town. Police believe she left town of her own free will. Her boyfriend and father have gathered thousands of dollars in GoFundMe to supposedly hire a private investigator, although local ones have come forward to volunteer pro bono. The case of missing strip club worker Toni Anderson has come to a standstill and, even worse, both a law enforcement and media are starting to express a great deal of skepticism behind the scenes.Accordingly . . .Here's the word that shows Kansas City newsies holding their nose while reporting the "official" story that doesn't have much in common with the reality . . . AFTERMATH: THE BIGGEST ISSUE CONFRONTING LADY PROTESTERS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PREZ TRUMP BUT INSTEAD REVEALS AN INTERNAL CONFLICT BETWIXT PRO-LIFE AND PRO-ABORTION FEMINISTS!!! LIKE IT OR NOT, A GREAT MANY KANSAS CITY TRUMP HATERS WE'RE TRICKED INTO SUPPORTING BABY KILLING!!! In Kansas City and across the nation . . . The message of a recent and massive women's protest against President Trump was both unclear and undefined given that the new American leader currently isn't promoting any legislation specifically aimed at the fairer sex.We might get into that at another time. But for now, let's look at far more sinister forces at play.According to ourand our own operatives within the crowd . . . Here's thetakeaway . . .Again, unreported by the media, let's remember that thewas the fiscal agent for the local march that didn't actually march anywhere. This group has a long history of endorsing candidates who vow to make abortion more accessible to mostly poor and minority women . . .noted GKWPC signing up members and selling merch in the crowd . . . However, we can't confirm if they were offering abortion discount coupons . . . Because . . . Despite my better angels, in a pinch, those might have been worth snagging depending on the expiration date.But I digress . . .More to the point . . . The pro-abortion message and conflict of the Women's March was clearer at the national level . . . Further reading . . .And so . . .President Trump might not be great and there are. . . But there's no way that he's as bad as- The ongoing holocaust of the modern era.And so, taking a pause for tonight, we prepare to start a new week as American culture war politics continues to deceive the weak minded whilst our blog community does its best to shed light on the Kansas City discourse . . . Seeking the truthpolitical correctness, polite social conventions, and good taste. Four great European classical music composers that lost their lives during WWI were the inspiration for the conductor Byron Fidetzi to come up with a program that will be presented to the public on Wednesday 25th Four great European classical music composers that lost their lives during WWI were the inspiration for the conductor Byron Fidetzi to come up with a program that will be presented to the public on Wednesday 25th of January at 20:30 by the ERT Orchestra at the Athens Concesrt Hall (Megaro Musikis). I thought of a program that will would capture with the most direct way the European tragedy of a war that was meant to be the cradle of all the disasters that followed in the 20th century, "Fidetzi said. The first piece will be Enrique Granads Intermezzo fro the opera Goyescas.The composer went to New York on 1916 for the premiere with his wife and on their way back their ship was torpedoed killing both of them. The second piece is from the English composer George Butterworth with the title A Shropshire Lad. The young composer was killed by a sniper during the battle of Somme. The next one will be Music for violin and Orchestra of the German composer Rudi Stephan, a great hope of the German music who was killed in Galicia. Very few of his works have survived, especially after his fathers house was bombed to the ground during WWII. The last piece is Symphony No.3 of the French composer Alberic Magnard. Due to the fact that he was wealthy enough (his father was the director of the newspaper Figaro), he was publishing his works himself, until one day his house was demolished by a German tank with him and a lot of his work gone forever. 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 governments of Bahrain and the US have signed an agreement to improve international tax compliance and implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca). The agreement was signed by Bahrain's Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, and US Ambassador to Bahrain William Roebuck, said a Bahrain News Agency report. The signing aims to ensure the compliance of Bahrain financial institutions with Fatca, and reflects the keenness of the government to provide all necessary requirements in this respect. It comes within the strong co-operation between the two parties with regard to enforcing tax compliance, and on the financial and economic levels as a whole. The agreement applies to US citizens only and will be submitted to the legislative authority for approval according to standard procedures. The US has signed similar agreements with several countries to ensure the implementation of Fatca, which was issued in 2010 as a mechanism to combat tax evasion, through the reporting of non-American financial institutions to the US Treasury of information on the identities and accounts of their US clients, it said. Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has deposited Dh1.47 billion into the Central Bank of Sudan to secure increased liquidity and stimulate economic growth in the North African country. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the director general of ADFD, signed an agreement to that effect with Hazim Abdegadir Ahmed Babiker, governor and chairman of the board of the Central Bank of Sudan. Reaffirming the UAEs keenness in strengthening bilateral relations with Sudan, Al Suwaidi said: "The deep-rooted affiliation between our two countries is a prime example of productive collaboration among nations." "Over the past few decades, the UAE has proactively supported the long-term socio-economic development efforts of the Sudanese government," he stated. Babiker lauded the UAEs wise leadership for its unwavering support to the Sudanese people and its invaluable assistance in overcoming financial and economic challenges in the country. He also thanked ADFD for the financial injection aimed at promoting monetary and fiscal stability in the country and encourage investment and optimise cash flow. A national organization owned by the Abu Dhabi government, ADFD has been successfully driving sustainable development activities in Sudan across key sectors, most notably energy, transport, water and agriculture since 1976.-TradeArabia News Service Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) has renewed its status as a Strategic Sponsor of Gulf Industry Fair 2017 in Bahrain and will continue to emphasise on the energy and environmental protection sectors at the event. Gulf Industry Fair 2017 (GIF), the Gulfs leading industrial expo, is held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, and takes place from February 7 to 9 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre. We are honoured to have Bapco and Noga, Bahrains leading energy provider and environmental protection advocate, to support Gulf Industry Fair 2017. Their joint involvement is a major statement on the serious approach that they have taken to invest in Bahrains industrial development and achievement of stronger national economy," said Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of HCE, organisers of the show. Supporting organisations for the GIF 2017 include the Bahrain Industry Association, AHK Saudi Arabia, the German Saudi Arabian Liaison for Economic Affairs and the Saudi British Economic Offset Programme. More information on Gulf Industry Fair is available at www.gulfindustryfair.com - TradeArabia News Service Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza yesterday patronised the opening ceremony of Solar One, a factory being set up to manufacture solar panels in Bahrain. Speaking on the occasion, the minister praised the promoters for having chosen Bahrain for investment in renewable energy and said the plant is a distinctive initiative to support Bahrains policy of encouraging investment and use of solar energy to produce electricity. The minister explained the Cabinet decision to adopt a national plan to raise energy efficiency and the national plan for renewable energy. He said among its objectives was to develop a national goal for six per cent of the population to rely on renewable energy by 2025. He said these plans and objectives would help Bahrain in achieve its objectives of sustainable development and will help attract new international investment. He added that these goals would also bring Bahrain in line with countries that have a diversity of energy sources and attract new technology that helps diversify its sources. Solar One chairman Abdullah Al Khalifa, speaking on the occasion, welcomed the minister and thanked the government for its support. Factory director general Rami Khalifa said the plant is fully managed by a professional workforce and will operate at an initial production capacity of up to 60,000 solar panels a year, enough to generate 15 megawatts of electricity. It would include the development of factory production in three phases and will provide in the last phase approximately 50 jobs for Bahrainis. He thanked the minister for the opening of the plant and his support in the development of solar energy products and systems. The value of Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports decreased in November 2016 by 9.1 per cent to SR14.397 billion, compared to SR15.842 billion in November 2015. The value decreased in comparison to October 2016 by 3.9 per cent or about SR592 million, a Saudi Press Agency report quoting the General Authority for Statistics data said. The value of the kingdom's imports in November 2016 amounted to SR39.757 billion compared to SR511.39 million, down by 22.3 per cent compared to November 2015, it said. 32 Brazilian medical equipment firms set to attend two major health shows in Dubai - Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2017 and Medlab 2017 - are expected to secure $13 million worth of deals, said Brazilian Medical Devices Manufacturers Association (Abimo). Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2017, the Middle Easts largest healthcare exhibition and medical congress, takes place from January 30 to February 2, and Medlab 2017, the worlds largest laboratory exhibition and congress is set to take place from February 6 to 9 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. According to Abimo, Arab Health generates huge deals for Brazilian companies, with the most sought after medical equipment at the event being neonatal incubators, physiotherapy machines, cosmetic apparatus, and solutions for intensive care units (ICU) and surgery. Most of the visitors to Brazils pavilion at Arab Health and MEDLAB will be representatives of medical equipment distributors who market and sell these products and solutions to other countries in the Middle East. Dr. Michel Alaby, secretary general and CEO, ABCC, said: Brazilian medical equipment firms continue to mark their presence at the leading healthcare events of the Middle East Arab Health and MEDLAB. Brazilian companies aim to address the high demand for healthcare products and solutions in the Middle East particularly in the key markets of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan through their presence at the regions two leading healthcare exhibitions. In the 2016 edition of Arab Health, Brazil signed contracts worth $1 million, and this year it expects to do business of over $13 million during the shows and within the next 12 months via participation at Arab Health and MEDLAB. The Brazilian pavilion at Arab Health will spread over 460 square meters at Hall 2 - Stand 2B70 of the venue while it will be located at Hall 8 of the MEDLAB grounds. According to ABIMO, the Middle East buys nearly 2 per cent of its medical equipment requirements from Brazil with demand witnessing robust growth. The South American country exported $778 million worth of healthcare machineries worldwide in 2015 of which $12 million worth of equipment went to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Bahrain, the UAE, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman. - TradeArabia News Service "As the Prophets saw, as the Apostles taught, as the Church has received, as the Teachers express in dogma, as the inhabited world understands together with them, as grace illumines, as the truth makes clear, as error has been banished, as wisdom makes bold to declare, as Christ has assured, so we think, so we speak, so we preach, honouring Christ our true God, and his Saints, in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in churches, in icons, worshipping and revering the One as God and Lord, and honouring them because of their common Lord as those who are close to him and serve him, and making to them relative veneration. This is the faith of the Apostles; this is the faith of the Fathers; this is the faith of the Orthodox; this faith makes fast the inhabited world." Excerpt from the Synodikon of the Sunday of Orthodoxy (http://www.anastasis.org.uk/synodikon.htm) By the Grace of God, here are presented a few true stories of the Saints, sayings of the Holy Fathers, sacred icons, and many other things so that, maybe in a small way, we may remind ourselves that (though we might not be ready to accept it)I must say that I am not a part of the clergy, so I hope to primarily put forth quotations from the Gospel, Saints and Holy Fathers, and not my own opinions. But if you see my own words or opinions, keep in mind that they are my opinions or comments and they have little weight, as opposed to the quotations from Christ, the Saints and the Fathers which do.I ask forgiveness if in this site any of my passions are acting, hindering the Grace of the Holy Spirit because of my sins. I apologize for any errors of mine, mistakes, problems with translations, etc. due to my ignorance and conceit. If anyone notices any mistakes or can suggest a better translation, please let me know. I try to post all of my sources. Please also let me know if I am violating any copyrights or other laws, and I will do my best to comply. Bali is one island everyone needs to visit atleast once. It is a popular destination for nomads or travelers who want to explore the real beauty of the place and and calming environment that everyone should experience atleast once a year to soak in the real meaning of relaxation. Bali is not just known for their high end resorts and beaches but its also known for their wonderful sceneries. Not only that, but one of Bali's most unique features is their cafes, yes they do offer the best cafe services in the world. To guide you here are the top five best cafes in Bali, Indonesia. Angelita Patisserie. This Cafe in Bali has every bit Parisian detail, in the softest pastel hues and candy colored chinaware presentation. A beautiful display of local bakes and sweet creations, Angelita Patisserie is an elegant tea tea salon Patisserie that serves French sweets like no other. As per Lady Iron Chef, they offer well known eclairs in assorted flavours like oreo and passionfruit, chocolate tarts and raspberry mousse cakes and a very delectable banana and nutella tart with a chocolate biscuit base. Fine and exquisite, everything here is so reasonably priced between RP30,000 to RP50,000 which is not that bad for the quality. Anomali Coffee. This Cafe shop is just a simple coffee pitstop located in Seminyak Square. Anomali Coffee makes a great stop for quality brew at affordable prices. The downside is that they don't do latte arts, but they use one of the best coffee machines for every cuppa which takes it back to greatness again. Nothing extraordinary in this cafe just good old drinks to quench your thirst and to beat the heat. Balique. Located just near Intercontinental Hotel at Jimbaran, Balique is a beautiful old classy and vintage restaurant which offers a unqiue fusion of both Indonesian food and western food. This restaurant is very known in Bali and offers a very peaceful and calm vibe combined with the great cuisine is just amazing. Bistrot. According to The Bali Bible, this restaurant and bar was put together by a Morrocan and Belgian team of Zohra and Blaise. The place is designed with impressive wooden and natural hrwn stone air conditioned yet highly elevated open space where guest will feel very comfortable and welcoming upon entry. The place has a very metro feeling like New York City. Bistrot offers an array of gourmet style breakfast and dinner that will keep you wanting for more. Lesica Bali. This bakery and restaurant only serves not only delicacies and delicious food but they also offer outside seating area which is called as Kartel. The Kartel offers live music twice a week and you can also see magic performances every Sunday, For the food, they offer an array of desserts to indonesian cuisines. For more about Bali please stay tuned to Travelers Today. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 A flight of stairs sounds cool but the tons of grottos in different American and European cultural heritage sites and cities make stairs kind of overused. But across America is one set of stairs -- which a storm had recently washed away -- that was truly terrifying the local government considered it illegal. The flight of stairs downward does not feature ghost stories or other apparitions -- only a death-defying set of steps to a secret lair. According to Huffington Post, the Hawaii-based "Haiku Stairs" situated itself on top of mountain ridges and only had outlines of metal barriers to protect hikers from falling into the deep chasms with enchanting views. The risk of great altophobia -- or inducement thereof -- is likely possible here. Huffington Post said police fined guides and travelers caught walking the illegal tourist spot with an amount around $600. The Haiku Stairs were established during the Second World War and until the time a typhoon damaged the stairs, it was still government property, which explains the $600 trespassing fine. According to Asia One Travel, it was a Navy Research facility during the war and the US Coast Guard transformed it as a modern navigation facility for marine vessels in the area during the 70s to the late 80s. No ghosts here, but the terrifying threat of a free fall is always present. Asia One Travel reports that before the storm hit and damaged the stairs, travelers lucky enough to witness it once in their lives spoke of an amazing sunrise creeping from the side of mountains. Before the storm, a group called "The Friends Of Haiku Stairs" intended to repair and open the trail for the public legally. Should their endeavor have pushed through, travelers can pay $100 to enter the stairs. The state of the stair's disarray after the storm had dislodged the light metal barriers and some steps, making the trail more treacherous. Further investigation by Huffington Post reveals the local Hawaiian government is currently looking for sponsors to manage the trail or have it removed completely. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Residents may measure the coolness rating of their neighborhood based on the number of remote-controlled garage doors, the number of arcades and shopping malls in the area and the number of amazing cars families own. But travel veterans have their own preferences when stating one neighborhood is cool. These five neighborhoods in the US and Europe are the best when it comes to culture, creativity and overall real estate value. Often a part of Euro trips, Romania has amazing architecture and a rich historic culture. In Bucharest is the startup neighborhoods of Cotroceni where students and entrepreneurs make the economy revolve through their small innovative businesses that often involve food and alcoholic beverages. Despite being on the uptrend of innovation, Cotroceni houses the National Museum. According to The Independent UK, Vienna's Mariahilf is a haven for history buffs -- particularly those into the classical side of things. Mariahilf in Vienna has the Mariahilfer Strasse featuring some amazing luxury to affordable merchandise made by locals and the national opera house -- the Theater An Der Wein -- which classical music legend Beethoven once used as his house. Technology makes everything trendy and in Canada's Montreal, travelers can never go wrong when it comes to a technologically cultural approach to living. According to Business Insider, Montreal's citizens would be the first to taste the power of new technologies aside from California as the city's startup businesses encourage knowledge and use of technology. The low pollution in Moscow is certainly due to the mass mentality of using bicycles rather than cars or even commuting as people head to work. Russia's capital features amazing architecture and remains forward thinking by welcoming startup technology companies and their innovations into the city's urban planning. Germany was the first country to provide free education for all its citizens. While critics are quick to discuss that the quality of German education has suffered because of its free education program, Munich has universities that provides in-depth academic programs free. Finding lodging and applying for citizenship remains the only challenges to stay in this well-to-do neighborhood. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 News of Queen Elizabeth II retirement has been aplenty since the last quarter of last year. The Queen has turned 90 and can no longer manage all her queenly duties at her age. It has been reported that Her Majesty will be retiring this year. In view of this, her grandson Prince William will assume some of her obligations. According to Marie Claire, the 34-year-old Prince will quit his military job to assist his grandmother in performing her royal duties. Prince William has been an air ambulance helicopter pilot at East Anglian Air Ambulance. Although it is a job closest to his heart, he will give it up for the Queen's sake. He informed that his experiences from this job will be in his heart for as long as he lives. He added that those actual life-saving experiences will be highly valuable to him when he assumes the kingship in the future. But his resignation is also beneficial not only for the Palace but for his own family. The father of two will have more time for his wife and children. Kate Middleton and Prince George will be staying most of the time in London because of the Prince's schooling. The Duke will be with his family because he will spend his time in the Palace more often. The Queen takes charge of 25 organizations where she is the patron. She will soon step down and delegate some of her duties to the younger royal family members. Kate Middleton has assumed Save the Children, NSPCC, and Barnardo's. According to Newsweek, she was also assigned as the patroness of the Wimbledon. For England's rugby leadership, RFU, her brother-in-law Prince Harry has taken over. Prince William was assigned to head Wales' WRU. Queen Elizabeth has delegated her duties to the other members of the royal family to ease the transition one she retires reported to be this year. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be a lot busier this year. A statement from Kensington Palace confirmed this which says, "The Royal Highnesses are keen to increase their official work on behalf of the Queen and for the charities and causes they support, which will require greater time spent in London." Queen Elizabeth II retirement will soon take place but her subordinates need not worry because the Palace will be in good hands. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Dubai is well known for its world's tallest buildings and tallest hotel. It is not a surprise to think that it also holds one of the best restaurant experiences and cuisines in the world as well. The ever growing city of Dubai offers many luxurious restaurants where you can experience the best food and drinks while also enjoying your stay in the city. Overall Dubai is just a crazy city, seems like they just one to be luxurious in every way. from the cars, to the hotels, to the food, they just offer the best of the best for their nation and to tourists all over the world visiting Dubai. Here are some of the best top notch restaurants in Dubai. Coya. Coya was recently named as the best restaurant for 2016. Coya is not only known for their local cuisines but also international cuisines that we almost eat anywhere in the world. Their staff also compliments their food and drinks since all are very comforting and accomodation which is a very nice gesture for a customer to receive. The staff not only takes orders but also recommends food and drinks for you which is quite different but it helps a lot especially if your a tourist. Coya is also known to serve the first peruvian dishes in the city and as of now, they are still the best when it comes to peruvian cuisine. Tomo. Dubai is a very expensive city overall but you can have a luxurious dining experience that comes with an affordable price in Tomo located way up high in the hotel. Tomo is a Japanese restaurant located in Raffles Hotel, not only does it provided good food but also one of the best views of the whole city. The food is serves bento style and prices are very affordable depending on the range limit you have. The whole restaurant looks lavish done in wood archicture, but what its really known for is its outdoor environment in the terrace area which provides one if not one, the best seats for food and sights all in one. Mint Leaf Dubai. According to CNN Travel, this restaurant is located in Dubai's financial district and looks luxurious floor to ceiling and it faces the same side of the famous hotel, Burj Khalifa. Mint Leaf Dubai offers a evening events where people can come around the bar to have fun and party all night. For food and drinks, they pretty much offer local to international cuisines as what others do, but their specialty is Indian food. Mint leaf is the best places to have business lunch or just to party and stroll the night away. Namu. Namu offers an array of both Korean and Japanese cuisines, not only that but the restaurant also has one of the best panoramic views of the city as it is located in the 31st floor of W Dubai Hotel. W Dubai hotel is known for its sexy and chill environment with house genres playing all over the places making it one restaurant to truly visit and chill if you have time to. Korean signature dishes from bibimbap which is a fusion of rice, vegtables, meat and sauce are available in Namu as well as Sushi menus. Solo Bistronomia And Vino Bar. For Italian food fanatics, this is the place for you. As per Timeout Dubai, the food decors and artistry is just something, from pasta dishes to meat dishes, it just wants you to eat more as it does not only taste great but looks pleasing as well. Solo Bistronomia And Vino Bar is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants with is food artistry and authentic Italian food making it one of the must visit restaurants in Dubai. This restaurant was named the best Italian restaurant last year. For more about Dubai and the latest restaurants in the city stay tuned to Travelers Today. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Afghan officials say a dangerous Pakistani network with links to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) militants has established a sanctuary in southern Afghanistan. Officials in Zabul Province, which borders Pakistans restive southwestern Balochistan Province, say members of Lashkar-e Jhangvi Al Alami are among the fighters hiding in the remote mountainous districts of Dey Chopan, Arghandab, and Khak-e Afghan in the vast, arid region. "[Fighters] of Lashkar-e Jhangvi and other groups linked to terrorists, particularly to IS and international terrorists, are present here, provincial Governor Bismillah Afghanmal told Radio Free Afghanistan. But they have no permanent location or single stronghold. Ghulam Jilani Farahi, a senior police officer in Zabul, said the number of foreign fighters and their families runs into the hundreds. "Based on intelligence reports and what the locals say, more than 300 families are in Khak-e Afghan district, [and there are more fighters and families] in one or two points of Arghandab district and some areas of Dey Chopan. Lashkar-e Jhangvi Al Alami seems keen on making its presence known in Zabul. In December, Ali Bin Sufyan, a purported spokesman for the group, told the Associated Press that their leader, Yousuf Mansoor Khurasani, survived an insider attack while traveling in Zabul Province. The claims mark a new milestone in the evolution of Lashkar-e Jhangvi Al Alami. It was once seen as an offshoot of Lashkar-e Jhangvi, which emerged as a major domestic terror group in Pakistans eastern Punjab Province in the 1990s. Following a government crackdown, Lashkar-e Jhangvi -- which mostly targeted Pakistans large Shiite minority -- splintered into various small factions over the past decade. According to the U.S. National Counter Terrorism Center, the group collaborated with Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban. Washington declared Lashkar-e Jhangvi a terrorist organization in 2003. In recent years, Lashkar-e Jhangvi Al Alami has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on Pakistans Shiite communities. Most of its attacks were concentrated in Balochistan. Spokesman Sufyan told Reuters in November that they cooperated with IS in attacks that killed more than 100 police cadets and devotees at a Sufi shrine last year. We will provide help to anyone who asks [for it] against the Pakistani security forces, and we will also accept help for this [purpose]," he said. Hekmatullah Azamy, a researcher at the Kabul-based Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies, says the Lashkar-e Jhangvi Al Alami alliance with IS is based on their mutual hatred of Shia. Their attacks are not limited to Pakistan and have recently been extended into Afghanistan, he said, adding that the group participated in an October attack on Shiite pilgrims at Kabuls Karte Sakhi shrine. Police officials investigating the attack told me that two of the suicide bombers involved in the carnage were from Lashkar-e Jhangvi, he said. ISs Pakistan and Afghanistan affiliate -- known as Khorasan Province -- had claimed responsibility for the October 11 attack. It said one of its suicide bombers had carried out the attack, which Afghan officials said killed 18 people and wounded 60 more. Azamy said the presence of Lashkar-e Jhangvi Al Alami not only poses a major battlefield threat for overstretched Afghan forces, it also complicates Kabuls bid to negotiate peace with the Taliban. The Taliban view them as a major headache because foreign terrorists are a hurdle to peace. These foreign fighters will never conclude peace with the Afghan government, he said. They will provide an alternative to the Taliban militants who are now fighting for money or ideology even if their organization concludes peace with Kabul. The Taliban seem to have realized that foreign fighters are a major threat to their designs. In 2015, the Taliban killed one of its former commanders, Mansur Dadullah, and hundreds of the Central Asian fighters he was sheltering. After fighting for Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban for more than a decade, they had joined IS after fleeing a Pakistani military offensive against their North Waziristan hideout in June 2014. Zabul police official Farahi said they plan to stop these fighters. "They might create more problems in the coming spring. These fighters are organized in Zabul, and from there they might be deployed to [nearby] Uruzgan, Ghazni, Paktia, and Paktika provinces, he said. We're working on launching massive operations this winter in order to clean up the areas from the presence of the insurgents and foreign nationals. In Kabul, Afghan Defense Ministry deputy spokesman General Mohammad Radmanesh told Radio Free Afghanistan they are aiming to completely reclaim Zabul from the insurgents. We are trying our best so that no district in Afghanistan will be threatened by any group, he said. Lashkar-e Jhangvi Al Alami, however, appears to be on the offensive. It claimed to have coordinated a January 21 attack on the Shiite community in northwestern Pakistan. Sufyan told Reuters they had coordinated the attack with a faction of the Pakistani Taliban. At least 21 people died in an explosion at a busy vegetable market in Parachinar, a small city that is the capital of Kurram tribal district on Afghanistans border. General John Nicholson, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, recently said that out of the 98 globally designated terrorist groups, 20 are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This represents the highest concentration of terrorist groups anywhere in the world, he said in a December briefing. as/fg The Clement Palo Alto, which opened in March 2016, warms up this Winter with its new Cozy Up at the Clement Palo Alto Package. Stay two nights and get a third night free! (TRAVPR.COM) USA - January 22nd, 2017 - Palo Alto, CA, January 22, 2017 The Clement Palo Alto, which opened in March 2016, warms up this Winter with its new Cozy Up at the Clement Palo Alto Package. Stay two nights and get a third night free! The luxury all-inclusive hotel that boasts 23 spacious and richly appointed one-bedroom suites, starts your weekend off in style this Winter. Guests can upgrade their stay with an extra day to enjoy the wonderful shopping, spas and dining in Palo Alto! Spend the day out and about and cozy up fireside at The Clement Hotel at night in your room's naturally luxurious fireplace seating area. o Complimentary third night with two consecutive paid nights (limit 1) o Stay must include a Friday and Saturday. The 3rd night free would be Thursday or Sunday o Offer valid for stays prior to 5/31/17 Please call one of our staff member at (650) 322-7111 to book this special package or email reservations@theclementpaloalto.com. About The Clement Palo Alto The Clement Palo Alto opened its doors March 2016 and is one of the most innovative, personalized and unique luxury hotels in the country. With 23 spacious and richly appointed one-bedroom suites, The Clement Palo Alto sets a new standard for personalized luxury accommodations in a contemporary residential-style atmosphere. While unparalleled service is key to any great luxury hotel, The Clement Palo Alto takes its impeccable service to another level with an all-inclusive concept, including personalized concierge services, breakfast, lunch and dinner in an on-premise location of the guest's choice. All wine, beer and cocktails, in-room mini-refrigerator (stocked with the guest's favorites), and fully-stocked Guest Pantry available around the clock, are just a few of the amenities included in this all-inclusive experience. In fact, The Clement Palo Alto is more than all-inclusive, it is all-exclusive, catering exclusively to the guest's personal tastes and desires. The Clement Palo Alto is ideally located across from Stanford University and next to downtown Palo Alto, with its award-winning restaurants, world-class shopping and upscale spas. It is just 45 minutes south of San Francisco and only 30 minutes north of San Jose, not only making it convenient, but easily accessible to the world-famous sights and myriad activities of both cities. Contact: The Clement Hotel 711 El Camino Real Palo Alto, California 94301 650.322.7111 www.theclementpaloalto.com Overall, The Clement Palo Alto offers a unique, one-of-a-kind 6-star experience in the heart of Silicon Valley with unparalleled personal service, all-inclusive luxury and privacy in a warm, inviting and luxurious residential environment. Contact: Marci Bracco Cain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 747-7455 http://www.theclementpaloalto.com ### It was deja vu all over again, reading the Guardian's recent list of ways to reduce your carbon footprint. All the green living websites used to be full of lists like this (including TreeHugger) but they have pretty much disappeared, since they were often impossible to do or really, did not make that much difference. Sami has addressed the complexity of this issue by noting: By focusing too strongly on the ethics of each personal lifestyle decision, I fear we lose many a would-be environmentalist who would support policy-level action to transition to a low carbon culture which in itself would do more to discourage fossil fuel use and overconsumption than any individual lifestyle decision ever will. Do our individual actions matter anymore? Are the lifestyle suggestions that the Guardian recommends actually meaningful? Do they still make any sense? 1. Reduce air travel According to Chris Goodall, "a single return flight from London to New York including the complicated effects on the high atmosphere contributes to almost a quarter of the average persons annual emissions." Alas, his suggested alternative, taking the train, doesn't get you from London to New York; it is one of those things where people do not really have many alternatives, so it is hard to cut back. It also turns out that flying is in fact pretty fuel efficient on a passenger-mile basis. In fact, cutting back on flying is one of the most complex and difficult choices, as we have noted before. 2. Eat less meat This has been a TreeHugger mantra, going back to founder Graham Hill's weekday vegetarian campaign. But it also makes a difference what meat you eat; switching from beef to chicken saves tons of carbon. But again, it is not so simple; cheese and dairy have a big footprint (although people don't sit down and gobble half a pound of cheese like they do meat) and out of season vegetables are not terrific either. More in TreeHugger: Weekday Vegetarian: Finally, A Palatable Solution by Graham Hill 3 and 4. Home heating / fix your furnace Poorly insulated housing requires large quantities of energy to heat. If you have properly insulated the loft and filled the cavity wall, the most important action you can take is to draught-proof the house, something you can do yourself. Sealing the house can make a difference, but it is not something that you can do yourself easily, without borrowing a thermographic camera to see where it is all leaking. And changing the furnace will not generate anywhere near the savings in fuel (a third or more) that are promised here. And really, it is hard to talk about housing these days without mentioning that the best way to save energy is to share walls, by living in either townhouses or apartments. A list that assumes that everyone is going to live in a single family detached dwelling is not covering all the bases. It is also proven that where you live has a far bigger impact than the quality of your insulation; people who live in denser communities tend to live in smaller spaces and drive a lot less. More: For Saving Energy, Like Real Estate, The Three Most Important Things Are Location, Location and Location 5 and 6. The distance you drive matters / fix your old car Lloyd Alter/ a red light in Copenhagen/CC BY 2.0 Reducing the mileage of the average new car from 15,000 to 10,000 miles a year will save more than a tonne of CO2, about 15% of the average persons footprint. If car travel is vital, think about leasing an electric vehicle when your existing car comes to the end of its life. Again, the big change in the UK or North America is the realization that a car is a car is a car, and that using transit or getting a bike is what can really make a difference. Thinking about an electric car is great, but thinking about no car is better. 7. Convert to LEDs An absolute no question, no brainer, they are cheap and they are good and come with great color rendering now. On the other hand, 8. Home Appliances makes no sense at all, suggesting that "Theres often a surprising premium to really efficient fridges or washing machines." There isn't that I know of. More: I converted my home to 100% LED lighting and you should too 9. Consume less. "Simply buying less stuff is a good route to lower emissions.... Buying fewer and better things has an important role to play." No argument from TreeHugger on this one. As Katherine notes, Purchasing green can be good, but buying less is better. 10. The CO2 impact of goods and services matters Bananas, for example, are fine because they are shipped by sea. But organic asparagus flown in from Peru is much more of a problem. We have been on about this for years, about how hothouse tomatoes, even if local, have a huge carbon footprint. That you have to eat seasonal and not just local. More: Stop Eating Fossil Fuels, Start Eating Food White House /Screen capture But the more of this list that I read, the more frustrated I become, because these steps are all so small and so meaningless in the face of the bigger threats that we face. Sami has written, long before the recent election and inauguration: Yes, I should turn the lights off. Yes, we should all try harder. But ultimately this battle is about cultural and political change on a scale that has rarely been seen before. First and foremost that will require collective action. We all should turn our lights off, ride our bikes and try harder. But we also have to think of those collective actions that will make a difference. This is the challenge that we face in the next few years. There is a lot of history here, and a great future. Way back in the early days of Treehugger, our first writer, Meaghan O'Neill, wrote about the Wee House, with a wee photo and a wee paragraph. Around that time I was in the prefab biz and met Steve Glenn, who was just starting Living Homes; we covered it when the photos were just a bit bigger. He and Geoffrey Warner, founder of Alchemy Achitects and entrepreneur behind the weeHouse, are both true pioneers in modern prefab and tiny living, and are still at it. Alchemy Architects / LH1 Exterior Now they are working together and have introduced a line of wee accessory dwelling units (ACUs) ranging from 310 to 600 square feet, inspired by the weeHouse. Plant Prefab founder Steve Glenn says in the press release: Since Alchemy has long been an expert in designing for prefabricated building methods and a pioneer in sustainable design, and weve already completed two projects together, it was easy for us to partner together to offer a set of unique, ultra-efficient, standard LivingHomes for the market. Geoffrey Warner ripostes: Having worked together to build two prior homes in California, were confident that Plant Prefab is the right partner to bring our ADU designs to this market. The lightHouse is intended to be a beacon for sustainable living; Plant Prefab has built up its reputation around sustainable building practice. The specs sound appealing, with "thoughtful details, such as window nooks that double as seating and guest sleeping areas, laundry, and flexible storage spaces, provide utility where it matters most. Carefully-chosen finish options ensure that the units can blend in with their surroundings and adapt to different climates, a key consideration for building on the West Coast." Plant Prefab/ Alchemy Architects But as is so often the case, it is the planning that makes these things a success or failure, and this is where Geoffrey Warner has been refining his designs for the last fifteen years. Here are 380 square feet of really usable space with a generous bathroom. I am also intrigued by this (2) bench + sleeping concept. It's shown as the same depth as the kitchen counter, which is camp cot width, but it's a lot less work than unfolding a sofa bed. Alchemy Architects I wouldn't mind living in this 480 square foot unit, especially if it comes with that view. But it also has a very interesting plan: Alchemy Architects My first thought was, why is the kitchen out in the living space when there looks to be enough room in (7) laundry/mechanical/storage to fit a galley kitchen? On reflection, I conclude that ADUs should be designed for universal accessibility, which that bathroom is big enough for, as is the open kitchen. A galley might be too tight. You can also never have enough storage. Alchemy Architects There are lots of options in size and layout: "Thirteen floor plan variations allow customers to achieve their ideal space, siting, and view, regardless of lot limitations. Configurations range from a compact studio to a one-bedroom unit atop a two-car garage, accommodating just about any end use." Plant Prefab has figured how to do it affordably, with entry-level units starting at $170,000: Construction of all LivingHomes is made significantly more efficient with use of the Plant Building System (PBS), Plant Prefabs patented, hybrid system for building prefabricated homes. PBS uses a combination of Plant Modules and Plant Panels, a new panelized construction system developed by Plant Prefab, which include plumbing, electrical, and finish materials. By integrating both modules and panels, PBS provides architects with greater design flexibility and reduces the complexity and cost of transportation and installation. Fifteen years ago when I was working in prefab, Steve Glenn, Geoffrey Warner, and I were all trying to make "great architecture more accessible, affordable, and sustainable." I didn't have the talent or the discipline, but Steve and Geoffrey stuck it out, survived the Great Recession (a lot of others didn't), and are launching lightHouse LivingHomes at a very difficult and precarious time. On the other hand, the timing might be excellent; there may be a big demand for retirement downsizing, home offices, or rental units. As for me, it is such a pleasure to see two people that I have known and admired for 15 years working together. They will do great things. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. New Delhi, January 23 Xiaomi Global vice-president Hugo Barra on Monday announced his exit from the Chinese handset maker to return to the Silicon Valley. The former Google executive, who has been working with Xiaomi for nearly four years, will continue as an adviser with the Chinese firm. In a Facebook post, Barra said nearly four years ago he embarked on the "most challenging adventure". "But what I've realised is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return," he added. Talking about Xiaomi's international business, Barra said, "We turned India from a dream into Xiaomi's largest international market with $1 billion in annual revenues, faster than any company in India's history." The company also expanded into Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and more recently 20 other markets, including Russia, Mexico, and Poland, he added. "As a friend and shareholder of the company, I am honoured that he (CEO Lei Jun) has been very supportive of my transition and has asked me to remain an adviser to Xiaomi indefinitely, as we continue to extend our reach around the world," Barra said. PTI New Delhi: Xiaomi Global Vice-President Hugo Barra on Monday announced his exit from the Chinese handset maker to return to the Silicon Valley. The former Google executive, who has been working with Xiaomi for nearly four years, will continue as an adviser with the Chinese firm. Talking about Xiaomis international business, Barra said, We turned India from a dream into Xiaomis largest international market with $1 billion in annual revenues, faster than any company in Indias history. The company also expanded into Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and more recently 20 other markets, including Russia, Mexico, and Poland, he added. PTI Patiala: School of Social Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala conducted a workshop on Personality Development in the department. Dr Shad Ahmad Khan from Royal University, Bhutan, taught students the skills to become good managers and administrators in the workshop. Dr DK Madaan, Professor and HoD, formally welcomed the chief guest, Dr Shad Ahmad Khan. Dr Khan taught students about how to become successful professionals and administrators. TNS Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 22 While rejecting the proposals for a hike in the water tariff and parking fees, Asha Kumari Jaswal, Mayor, has decided not to allow agendas to be placed in the first meeting of the general house scheduled for January 24. Sources said while the officers were in favour of a hike in the tariff and wanted that the agendas should be placed in the next House meeting, the Mayor put her foot down. The officers wanted the increase as the water tariff has not been hiked for years. Likewise, the parking fees have also not been hiked for the past few years. The sources said the MC official prepared the proposal as the civic body required fund for the development of the city. The city will also have to generate revenue to meet the conditions to get funds under the AMRUT scheme and the Smart City project. The sources said the proposal had been prepared to improve consumption and water distribution in the city. One of the officers of the MC said the gap between the operational cost and the revenue was increasing which had become a burden on the MC. The city is receiving 87 million gallons of water daily (MGD) against the demand of 116 MGD. The MC prepared a revised tariff plan that will affect only those residents who are consuming more water. Northern sectors in the city consume more water than the southern sectors. The northern sectors are using more than 1,000 litre of water per person against the national norm of 135 kilolitre per day. The MC has proposed an increase in the parking rates with the aim of generating more revenue. A hike from Rs 5 to Rs 20 has been proposed for cars, and from Rs 2 to Rs 10 for two-wheelers. Parking lots in many sectors are lying vacant, causing a loss to the MC. Vivek Katju At the recently concluded Raisina Dialogue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the 2014 electoral verdict, the global situation and his own foreign policy initiatives. Modis tour dhorizon is significant both for the issues that he dwelt on and those that he chose to side step; hence, it merits close scrutiny. Modi asserted that his election victory was a mandate for bold, decisive and transformative reform that was based on the aspirations and boundless energy of millions of Indians. He said that he drew on this sacred energy in his work for the security and prosperity of India. There is little doubt that the Indian people desire a new normal and reposed vast trust in Modi to usher it in. Modi has taken many important transformative measures and yet he chose not to mention any, not even demonetisation, the boldest step of all, as yet. Was this only because the theme of the Dialogue was on Indias engagement with the world? That may be a plausible reason but still it leaves an uneasy feeling that he deliberately omitted a measure that was so important that he came on national television to declare it. This is all the more because one of the principal reasons claimed for demonetisation was its role in combating terrorism through the elimination of counterfeit currency. Modi correctly asserted that Indias transformation was impacted by the external environment. Equally he rightly stated that if India needed the world, the world in turn needed India. This is a message that Indian diplomacy needs to stress for India is one-sixth of humanity and Indias rise is a positive for global welfare. Modi pleaded for an open world. He pointedly mentioned the dangers of protectionist tendencies whether on trade or migration to global prosperity. With Trump committed to making America into a virtual fortress on these issues how will Modi work for open systems? He will of course find more traction with Trump on the continuing dangers of extremism and terrorism. Modi also rightly, but surprisingly, only gently, referred to the outdated structures of international governance. More importantly he did not assert Indias rightful claim to an equal role with the major powers in these institutions after they were reformed. This is all the more when he acknowledged that the world was now multi-polar. Has the push for permanent membership of the UN Security Council no longer a priority or for that matter the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism? It is refreshing that Modi while outlining the principles that guide Indias foreign policy gave pride of place to realism. He did mention co-existence, cooperation and partnership as the other three but in clearly spelling out realism Modi has done well to shed the moralistic, preachy undertone that so infuriated many of Indian interlocutors in the past. Like all countries Indias foreign policy has sought to be founded on realism but there has been a tendency to emphasise ideals and international morality. Now a Prime Minister has said openly that India will safeguard its interests realistically in a turbulent and difficult world. In doing so Modi has also rooted it in Indias civilisational ethos. Modis foreign engagement agenda emphasises the neighbourhood and economic interests, Indias human resources and civilisational goods. What is new is the inclusion of islands stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic and the Pacific. In many of these are Indian origin communities. If this is a reference to Indias ambition to be a maritime power it is fine but it is too tangential for the role assigned to the people of Indian origin in his foreign policy which surprisingly has no direct mention. Is there now a Modi doctrine in the making? The last time a foreign policy doctrine was associated with a Prime Minister was Inder Gujral in respect of Indias neighbourhood. Gujral saw Indias economic success linked to that of its neighbours. He was willing to give Indias neighbours a little more than India got in mutual economic and commercial interaction provided they did not act to harm Indias security. For obvious reasons Pakistan was excluded from this initiative. Gujral was much misunderstood for his doctrine but Modi is in essence pursuing a similar path as Gujral in Indias relations with its neighbours. He has met with success in Afghanistan and in Bangladesh as he mentioned in the Raisina address. With other neighbours the record is patchy and so Modi mentioned them only in passing. The problem as always is Pakistan. The time when Modi set out to try and turn the course of history with Pakistan seems to be long past. In his Raisina speech he reverted to the standard Indian position of the impossibility of meaningful dialogue as long Pakistan pursues terrorism. And in this context he implied that Pakistan stands isolated and ignored. The fact is that while Modi is correctly seeking to get the international community to pressure Pakistan on terrorism, he is engaging it if nothing else than to end it. On dialogue with Pakistan the question always is if India will show the stamina to hold firm to the position: terror and dialogue cannot go together. Modi signalled that China must respect the sovereignty of states the implication to the CPEC was clear and international norms. Despite these cautions, in emphasising that the rise of the two countries is good for the world and that they will continue their economic and commercial cooperation Modi has fallen back on the traditional approach towards China. There is no indication here of joining the US in containing China. This is a correct posture for the direction that Trump will take with China is unclear. Modi has imparted energy to Indias engagement with West Asia and he takes justified pride in taking the process forward as he does in his Act East policy. While these engagements are moving ahead, nothing dramatic has occurred nor should be expected. As India grows, countries in Indias extended neighbourhood will naturally seek to upgrade relations with it. The major powers find a passing reference. The priority is the US but it is good that Modi has made warm references to Russia. It is an old and valued strategic partner and should never be given the feeling of neglect as Indias engagement and interests expand. Myanmar finds no specific mention in the address. This is a serious omission for Myanmar is critical to Indian interests and an important neighbour. The emphasis on Buddhism, yoga and Ayurveda derives from Modis own philosophy; the spread of the last two as signs of Indias soft power and influence cannot be underrated but should never be overrated either. The frenetic activity that marked Modis diplomatic engagements is perhaps over. Now a sober, realistic and calibrated assessment of approaches and possibilities seems to be taking place. This will be all to the good. The writer is a former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs New Delhi, January 22 The country's Capital will make a comeback in the Republic Day parade after three years with its tableau managing to secure a place after passing through the competitive selection process. Delhi's tableau had last participated in the 2013 Republic Day parade. It had portrayed the city's diverse culture, owing to its inhabitants from different backgrounds and regions, and its status as the country's hub for performing and fine arts. "The tableaux are selected through a very competitive process and a high-level committee headed by the Defence Secretary makes the selection. Delhi has been participating every year but could not make it through the selection process in recent years. This year it has been selected," a Defence Ministry official said. Set up as a Model Government School, the tableau will portray the transformation in state-run schools and the recent initiatives taken in the education sector. A Union Territory (UT) that is making a comeback in the 68th Republic Day parade is Lakshadweep. Its tableau, which will portray it as an unexplored tourist destination, is getting ready to pass through the Rajpath after 23 years. As last year, the parade will see participation of 23 tableaux of which 17 are from states and UTs. "A total of 23 tableaux would participate in the parade, with 17 of them belonging to states and the union territories. Besides, six tableaux from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Party Alleviation, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research will also be part of the parade," the official added.--PTI For media, at the best of times, existence is a struggle. The challenges to journalism come not only from malicious forces but also financial constraints, the overall economy, and currently for the print medium, even technology. But adding to these concerns is a peculiar observation by the National Green Tribunal, Bhopal, that the use of newsprint (the paper used for newspapers) for publishing full-page advertisements is an irresponsible act. It has sought the views of the stakeholders, including the Ministries of Environment and Forests and Information and Broadcasting. The tribunal may be planning to take a view on the matter out of concern for environment, but what it has touched upon is a matter of survival for the print media, which continues to be relatively the more trusted form of mass communication. Advertising revenue, which is the biggest source of income for newspapers, has not been growing at the same rate as the circulation. That translates to increasing production costs and a dipping bottom line. Subscription income is only a fraction of the total revenue. In a lacklustre economy, commercial advertisements are hard to come by, leaving newspapers at the mercy of government advertisements. For obvious reasons, that is not a very happy situation for the freedom of the Press. Any idea, thus, that may curtail newspapers freedom to accept and publish advertisements, or a limitation on the number of pages they may print, must be junked at the earliest stage. Newsprint to a large extent is made from wood, which comes from trees. A significant part of the wood-based newsprint in India is imported from Europe, which had reached an equilibrium in its tree cover long ago. In fact, they grow more trees than they cut. As for environmental awareness, educating the masses is important. And there is no medium more effective than newspapers towards that end (English circulation is only 15 per cent of the total). All stakeholders would do society a service by doing everything in their power to ensure survival of the printed word. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is an earnest man. He is on a mission for the future. Railway companies from six countries are surveying tracks for running high-speed trains. The structure of the Railway Board has been dismantled but the middle level functions on old lines while the unions are restive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conducted bhoomi pujan at sundry locations without selecting the contractor to execute them. The Bullet Train project is quietly proceeding on the back of a Rs 10,000 crore loan from Japan and railway stations will resemble malls once the loans come through, never mind if there arent enough passengers with the paying capacity to provide business. Suresh Prabhu has vowed social media by rushing odds and ends to passengers lucky enough to own smartphones. But the real world keeps intruding into this miasma-in-progress like the train accident in Andhra Pradesh or the three major derailments last year. Adept at converting a challenge into an opportunity, the Centre is hinting at a Maoist hand. Just like Pakistans ISI has been blamed for last years major mishaps. Had luck not favoured the passengers of Jhelum Express near Jalandhar in October last year, the ISI would have been credited with that too. To any railway watcher, the trend of major mishaps and providential escapes tell a story that has played out in the past. Tragedies occur whenever the Railway top brass stops bothering about the mundane. Amidst the self-declared brainstorming to generate new innovative ideas to improve rail functioning, Prabhu also needs to look at the many red signals he has passed on the way to running faster and fancier trains. The consequences of 1.40 lakh vacant rail safety staff posts and cut in the Depreciation Reserve Fund (to replace aged assets) are becoming apparent. The ISIs involvement or not, there were 80 major railway accidents last year as against 69 in 2015. Most of them were caused at unmanned level crossings and due to derailments. The PM and Prabhu must put the brakes on fanciful plans that are going nowhere and, instead, attend to the widening tears in the existing system. Chandigarh, January 23 As Jats threaten to renew protests for reservation, the Haryana Government has sent for backup. The state government has asked for 55 Companies of Central paramilitary forces and 7,000 Home Guards. "Although the leaders of various agitating organisations have promised to hold peaceful dharnas, the administration is fully geared up to maintain law and order," Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Ram Niwas said on Monday. Keen to avoid the crisis that the state faced when protests by Jats turned violent last February, the state government has asked deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to ensure that highways and railway tracks are not affected and there is no damage to property. The dharnas will also be recorded on video. "Every citizen has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, but it should be in a peaceful manner," Niwas said. Jat organisations in Haryana have accused the state government under chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar of having gone back on its promise for reservation and have threatened to hold protests from January 29. Protests by the politically dominant community in February last year led to 30 deaths and losses running into several crores, with the damager being the worst in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonipat. Jat leaders have claimed they have support from 250 villages in Haryana and Delhi. PTI Legal Correspondent New Delhi, January 23 The Centre today told the Supreme Court that it paid Rs 450 crore to Himachal Pradesh as reimbursement for the land acquired for the Rs 5,242 crore Renuka Dam. Appearing before a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said the state governments appeal had become irrelevant as the Centre had reimbursed the compensation amount and sought disposal of the case. The dam is primarily meant for providing drinking to Delhi, but the pipeline could also be utilised for areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh falling in the National Capital Region (NCR) such as Faridabad and Noida. The project will come up across Giri river, a tributary of Yamuna, in Sirmour district. Himachal also has a stake in the project as it will get 40 MW of electricity from the project free of cost. Himachal has approached the SC as it is not in a position to pay further compensation to comply with an order passed by the state high court on November 20, 2014. DES MOINES | Job-seekers, graduating students, employers and others now have a new information source the state has designed to help with career choices and placement to better match skilled workers with Iowa employment opportunities. Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds used their joint news conference Monday to announce the launch of the Future Ready Iowa website www.futurereadyiowa.gov. "The Future Ready Iowa website is an important tool to help close the skills gap so more Iowans can have great career opportunities and employers can hire enough skilled workers they need to grow and innovate," Branstad told reporters during the announcement at Des Moines' central campus facility, where students are offered advanced classes for college credit or apprenticeships. "The website also promises to serve as a recruiting tool for the state by showcasing the outstanding education, training and jobs available in Iowa," added Branstad, who said the goal of the Future Ready Iowa initiative is for 70 percent of the work force to have education or training beyond high school by the year 2025. Less than half the work force does now. The Future Ready Iowa website is a one-stop shop where students and adults can review and evaluate different career opportunities in Iowa and plan their paths for landing a good-paying job, Reynolds noted. The website helps identify what education and training is needed as well as financial resources that may be available, and more information about career pathways will be added in coming months, she said. "Providing one easily accessible place to find information about education, training and high-demand jobs will enhance Iowans' quality of life and promote economic growth in communities across the state," said Reynolds, who co-leads the Future Ready Iowa Alliance which is slated to make recommendations by Oct. 31 on how to reach the administration's 70 percent goal. "The website will be useful for everyone considering their future career plans from high school students to adults already in the workforce to unemployed Iowans," she added. The mobile-friendly website features a menu so navigating users can find what advanced knowledge or technical skills are required for various careers and where those jobs are located in Iowa. "We think it's going to be a very helpful tool," said Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development. "It was very important to incorporate geographical features into the website so that when job seekers are researching career paths they can have accurate information based on their exact location," added Townsend. "The website uses labor market information to identify the number of jobs, the average median income and what training is necessary." Dipender Manta Tribune News Service Mandi, January 23 Scanty snowfall and rainfall has aggravated water crisis in remote village Demul in tribal district of Lahaul Spiti, where villagers were fetching water from nearby rivulet, four kilometres away. The villagers said that the natural water resource had dried up because of deficient snowfall and rain during the last few years and they have no option but to fetch water from a long distance. The villagers were seeking government help to set up water lift scheme in the region, which will make potable water available round the year. Demul village, located in Spiti valley of district in Himachal Pradesh, is situated 230 km away from district headquarter Kaza. Total geographical area of the village is 184 hectares. At present, there are nearly 50 households. Talking to The Tribune here today, Gram Panchayat Pradhan of Demul Panchayat Padma Butith said, Life has become miserable because of water crisis these days as natural water source of village has been dried up. This was the prime source of water for us. The villagers are forced to fetch water from Pagangtse rivulet, four kilometer from here and store it for domestic use and for cattle. The nearby villages Jidanga and Ligang, situated on the vicinity of Spiti river, were also facing water crisis, he added. We are demanding from the state government to set up water lift scheme in the region, which will be a great help. Otherwise, life will become difficult here in coming days if situation will remain same he remarked. Villagers said they had to bear the brunt of the rainfall deficit, which had adversely affected production of agriculture produce. Tribune News Service Shimla, January 23 Former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said he would not campaign for the Congress in Punjab as Capt Amarinder Singh had adopted an anti-Haryana stance on the SYL canal issue. Hooda was in town here today to take part in the Congress protest outside the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Office against demonetization plan of the Modi regime. Till Amarinder does not ensure that Haryana will get its due share, there is no question of my campaigning for the Congress in Punjab. Hooda said that it was Amarinder, who as Chief Minister of Punjab, had violated the agreement on SYL canal and water sharing, he said. He added that Amarinder had even gone to the extent of stating that he would not allow even a single drop of water being given to Haryana. Hooda said he had no problem campaigning for Congress but then there must be some solution to providing water to the people of Haryana. If Amarinder is willing to restore the agreement on water sharing, I will start campaigning for the Congress candidates right away in Punjab Assembly polls, he said. Despite, Punjab and Haryana being neighbouring states and the two even having a common capital, Hooda and some other Congress leaders have completely refrained from campaigning for the Congress in poll-bound Punjab. Congress leaders from all other states, including Himachal, have been assigned poll-related duties but Hooda and other senior Congress leaders from Haryana have avoided any kind of campaign in Haryana polls as a matter of principle. New Delhi, January 23 The Jammu and Kashmir government has identified 100 acres of land at eight places in the Valley for rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits who migrated from the state in the early 1990s following outbreak of militancy. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) These pockets, where Kashmiri Pandits are likely to be rehabilitated, will be spread across all 10 districts of the Valley, officials in the Union Home Ministry said today. According to the official figures, 62,000 Kashmiri migrant families were registered with the government out of which 40,000 were registered in Jammu, 20,000 in the national capital and remaining 2,000 in the rest of the country. The NDA government, after assuming office in 2014, had earmarked Rs 500 crore for rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandits who had migrated from the valley since January 19, 1990 following the rise in militancy. Taking up the issue of their rehabilitation, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had written to the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to identify land for resettling them. The Union Home Minister had suggested that land may be identified near their native places also keeping in mind the security aspect. However, the Abdullah government had cited the model code of conduct for elections, which was in existence at that time, as the reason for not taking up the task immediately but told the Centre that the idea was fraught with a danger as they could become easy targets for militants. The Centre has also asked the state government to fill vacancies earmarked for Kashmiri Pandits. The sources said that out of 6,000 jobs, 1,700 had already been filled and the selection process for the remaining 4,300 was being completed. PTI Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, January 23 The Jammu and Kashmir Government has identified 723 kanals (nearly 100 acres) for the rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandits who migrated from the Valley in the early 1990s following the eruption of militancy. This comes after the Central governments recent approval for the construction of 6,000 transit accommodations in the Kashmir valley for Kashmir migrants (Pandits). The Government of India has conveyed the approval for construction of 6,000 transit accommodations in the Kashmir valley for allotment to Kashmiri migrants to whom state government jobs have been provided or will be provided. In this regard, the Deputy Commissioners of the Kashmir valley have identified 723.03 kanals with the tentative cost of land being Rs 374.65 crore, Minister for Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Basharat Ahmed Bukhari said in a written reply to a question of BJP MLA Rajesh Gupta in the Legislative Assembly today. The Union Home Ministry has also conveyed its approval for the creation of 3,000 additional posts for migrant Pandit youth with funding from the Government of India, the Minister said, adding that the proposal is under active consideration for submission to the Cabinet. According to the official statistics, around 62,000 Kashmiri migrant families were registered with the government. Out of these, 41,462 families are residing in different areas of Jammu province and the remaining in the rest of the country. Post-insurgency in Kashmir, nearly 3.5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits and some Sikh and Muslim families had migrated to Jammu and other parts of the country for safety. The mass migration had begun on January 19, 1990. The Centre had sanctioned a package of Rs 1,618 crore during 2008-09 for the construction of houses and transit accommodations and creation of government jobs for Kashmiri Pandits. The amount spent on account of cash assistance and free ration from April 2014 to November 30 last year was over Rs 455 crore, including cash assistance of Rs 413 crore, the minister said. The transit accommodations, where Kashmiri Pandits are likely to be rehabilitated, will be constructed across 10 districts of the Kashmir valley, said a PTI report quoting the officials of the Union Home Ministry. On January 19, the J&K Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution seeking the respectable return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley after their exodus from Kashmir 27 years ago. Tribune News Service Jammu, January 23 Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Assembly after Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi furnished a wrong reply on the Tawi lake project. Opposition parties also raised hue and cry over the issue and grilled the minister for giving the misleading reply to a question of BJP legislator Gagan Bhagat, who had sought the details of the lake project. After Bhagat walked out from the House after tearing the reply and throwing it, National Conference and Congress legislators, too, staged a walkout overdiscriminatory attitude of the government towards tourism in Jammu and not furnishing satisfactory answer. The uproar started over the Tawi lake project which is under construction since November, 2010. The BJP MLA had asked what was the present status of the project. The government replied that 80 per cent of the work had been completed. Terming the answer as misleading, Bhagat alleged it amounted to deceiving the people of Jammu. Opposition MLAs Devender Singh Rana, Vikar Rasool and Javed Rana also jumped in and demanded answer from the government. Pawan Gupta, Independent legislator from Udhampur, who was also a part of Council of Ministers during Mufti Mohammad Sayeeds tenure, also attacked government. Before staging the walkout, the Opposition MLAs raised slogans and registered their protest by coming close to the Well of the House. As Priya was not able give a satisfactory answer to her partys legislator query and Opposition members, Minister for Education Naeem Akhter intervened but to no avail. Chandigarh BJP president Sanjay Tandon inaugurated the office of the Maritime Union of India (MUI) in Sector 47, Chandigarh, on Saturday. After Mumbai, this is MUIs second office. The need to open the MUI office in Chandigarh was felt because several officers are from northern part of the country, said Capt Naveen Passey, Chairman, Foreign Owners and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA). He made the observation at a programme in Hotel Shivalikview, Sector 17. Three Bees Shipping Private Limited organised the programme. Amar Singh Thakur, general secretary, MUI, said the union was working on three matters. First, the MUI is pursuing a case in the Kolkata High Court pertaining to taxation of seafarers income. Last year, an appellate authority in Kolkata had wrongly ruled that seafarers income should be taxable, said Thakur. Uzair Kazmi, legal adviser to the MUI, explained the lacuna in the ruling. Say, an Indian seafarer is working for a Dubai shipping company. He earns and receives his income abroad. Since he is on the deck, he cannot deposit the money in his bank account. So, he asks his employer to deposit the salary in his Indian bank account. The salary is only deposited in India, and not received in India, as the appellate authority had ruled. Hence, the income cannot be taxed. Second, the MUI demands that there shouldnt be a delay in the examination process for promotion. In India, the examination process takes nine months to a year, while in the UK, Singapore and Australia, it takes six months. As a result, Indian seafarers go abroad to write examinations, said Capt KS Rai, Director, Three Bees. Third, the MUI wants a marine training centre in north India. Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bhubaneswar have training centres, but there is none in the northern part of the country, Capt Rai added. Capt BB Sinha, Director (Planning), Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), urged seafarers to seek avenues in the Indian shipping industry instead of going abroad. The MUI has opened a guest house for seafarers in Sector 39, Chandigarh. A directory of officers from the Tricity was released on the occasion. TNS Lucknow, January 22 After days of hectic parleys, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress today forged an alliance to contest the UP Assembly elections together. At a joint press conference here, leaders of the two parties said the SP would contest 298 of the 403 seats and Congress 105. The SP and the Congress have forged an alliance and will contest the UP Assembly polls together, SP state president Naresh Uttam said. State PCC chief Raj Babbar said a common minimum programme would be ready within a week. A beaming Kironmoy Nanda, SP vice-president, claimed, We will get an absolute majority and Akhilesh Yadav will be the Chief Minister again. In the 2012 Assembly poll, the SP had won 224 seats with a vote share of 29.3 per cent while the Congress had bagged 28 seats with a vote share of 11.7 per cent. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Sources said the alliance materialised after Congress president Sonia Gandhi intervened with top leaders of both parties finalising the seat-sharing arrangement in the wee hours today. Prospects of an alliance had run into rough weathe, with both parties hardening their stance over the number of seats. At one stage senior SP leader Naresh Agarwal had said the possibility was "almost over". CM Akhilesh Yadav had initially offered 100 seats to the Congress but they were adamant on 120. The SP then argued that it had 234 sitting legislators and there were some others who would also contest. Thus, it needed at least 300 of the 403 seats. But this was unacceptable to the Congress. The Congress' Central Election Committee met in Delhi and went ahead with finalising candidates for 140 seats going to the polls in the first two phases. It, however, did not declare its candidates for these seats, keeping the door ajar for further negotiations, even as Babbar maintained, "There are no roadblocks in the talks." The Congress had reportedly demanded that its candidates be fielded in the Amethi and Rae Bareli segments of the Lok Sabha constituencies represented by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul. It was not known if the SP had accomodated this demand. Also, the Congress was keen to include the Ajit Singh-led RLD in the alliance, which the SP did not want. Earlier, RJD chief Lalu Prasad tweeted that he was in talks with the Congress and the SP for forging an alliance in UP. Hoping and doing my best to stitch the Bihar-like alliance, he tweeted. PTI Chennai/Madurai, Jan 22 Three persons died, two during Jallikattu at Pudukottai and one ina protest at Madurai, as the bull-taming sport was conducted in various parts of Tamil Nadu today amid protests that forced Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to leave for Chennai without inaugurating the event at Alanganallur. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, urging that the state be heard if anyone challenges the newly promulgated ordinance on Jallikattu. PTI Chennai/Coimbatore, January 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a Bill to replace an ordinance that will allow Jallikattu to be played in the state on a day when what has been protests so far peaceful turned violent. Police began to clear Chennais Marina Beach early on Monday morning, with roads that lead to beach being sealed off. Several protests refused to leave: while some formed a human chain along the seashore, others sat in protests and still some others regrouped in areas nearby. Police used tear shells and baton charge to disperse a group that has reassembled near Triplicane, a few kilometers from Marina Beach, and allegedly hurled stones at police. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The development comes after a week of peaceful protests for lifting a ban on Jallikattu, a popular rural bull taming sport. Protests continued even after the state government promulgated an ordinance to allow the sport to be played. Protesters however refused to climb down: they want a more permanent solution amendment of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. TV visuals showed men and women in khaki physically removing protesters from the beach. In Coimbatore, police forcibly evicted the protesters from VOC Park Grounds, a site of protests for the past week, after appeals to have them cleared fell on deaf ears, Policewomen were seen escorting women agitators, some elderly people and some women with children, out of the grounds. Police claimed some 300 protesters had to be bodily removed from the protests site. Protesting against the police action, some youths formed a human chain on the main Avanashi chain and police used 'mild' cane charge to disperse them, police said. Some protesters held demonstrations near the Central Jail, some 200 metres from the venue, prompting the police to take into custody nearly 300 people, they said. Police said they had cleared the ground, venue for the Republic Day function, and it is under control of the district administration and police. Protests are reportedly continuing in Madurai with demonstrators allegedly throwing stones at police in Alanganallur, a major centre for the sport. Police claimed 20 people, many of them policemen, were injured in stone pelting by protesters. Roads near the protest venue were strewn with stones, glass pieces and logs. Police claim Alanganallur village is now under police control. 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 protesters. Police claimed some protesters belonged to ultra-left organisations such Puthia Jananayakam, CPI(ML) and Revolutionary Youth Front of India. Agencies New Delhi, January 23 Days after the Election Commission censured him for exhorting voters in poll-bound Goa to accept bribes, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday told the poll panel that his remarks were aimed at containing graft and sought a review of its order to allow him to repeat the comments. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Holding that the EC misinterpreted his comments, he also asked the poll panel to make him the brand ambassador to put an end to bribery in elections, alleging its order against him was encouraging corruption. By stopping me to say what I am saying, the Election Commission is not stopping corruption, but encouraging it. I hope you (the EC) will re-examine this. Through this comment, I am trying to stop bribery. In fact, the Election Commission should make me its brand ambassador, Kejriwal said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi. On Saturday, Kejriwal was censured by the EC for his comment asking voters in Goa to take money from political parties, but vote only for AAP. The commission had also warned of strong action, including derecognition of AAP, if the Delhi Chief Minister repeated his comments. He claimed that he was trying to end corruption through his remarks and that the EC can publicise his statement to deal with bribery and corruption during elections. We have shown this in Delhi election. People took money from the BJP and the Congress, but voted for us. If the Election Commission uses my statement and propagates it then in two years, the political parties will stop distributing notes, Kejriwal said. He also said the EC has not been able to stop corruption in the last 70 years and if his remarks were used, then bribery during polls could be ended in two years. A court in Delhi had ruled that a similar statement I made earlier does not amount to bribery, he said in the letter. PTI New Delhi, January 23 Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has convened an all-party meeting on January 30 evening as Parliament prepares to meet for Budget Session, sources said on Monday. President Pranab Mukherjee will address a joint sitting of the two Houses in the Central Hall of Parliament. The central government will table its Budget and Economic Survey on the same day. The first half of the session will be a short affair and will end on February 9 as it is being held in the middle of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. A shorter first part will help parties focus on electioneering. The second half of the session will begin on March 8 and will conclude on April 12. Sixteen opposition parties had this month moved the Election Commission urging it to ask the government to present the Union Budget after the elections are over on March 8 so that it is not used as a tool by the NDA to influence voters in the five states. While the Supreme Court on Monday refused to give any directions to the government in this regard, the Commission's decision is long awaited. PTI Legal Correspondent New Delhi, January 23 The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed an order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) asking Delhi University (DU) to disclose details of Prime Minister Narendra Modis BA degree issued in 1979. Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva also issued notice to Neeraj Sharma, an activist of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), seeking his response to DUs appeal against the CIC order. The HC slated the next hearing for April 27. Appearing for the university, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pleaded that the CIC had failed to appreciate the fact that the institution was not supposed to show its record on bachelors degree issued to any student to third persons. The university had a fiduciary relationship with its students and as such details of degrees and mark sheets could be provided only to the respective students, not to others, Mehta contended. Sharma had initially approached the university pleading for a copy of Modis BA degree under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The university rejected the plea, stating that such information was not covered under RTI as no public interest was involved in it. Upon this, Sharma went to the CIC. The CIC slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on DUs information officer for denying information and directed her to provide it. Earlier, the university had confirmed that Modi completed his BA course in 1978 and obtained the degree in 1979. Delhi Chief Minister AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has raised doubts over Modis educational qualification. Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 23 The Supreme Court on Monday gave four weeks to the Centre to file its response to a PIL seeking compulsory voting across India in all elections. A bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar gave the time to the Centre after government counsel Kiran Suri said the government would like to file its reply in the matter. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Election Commission has already filed its reply. It has said that the commission was already doing its best to spread awareness among voters. But it has left it to the court to decide if there should be compulsory voting. Petitioners counsel Vipul Maheshwari told the court that out of 90 crore voters only 66 per cent exercised their franchise and a government is formed only on the basis of votes of the 31 per cent of those voting. He said it meant only 20 per cent of the electorate managed to install a government which is not a fair representation of the people in the largest democracy in the world. The court is likely to take up the petition again after a month. Washington, January 23 Several hundred Tamil-Americans have gathered at the Gandhi Statue here to hold a rally in support of the ongoing Jallikattu movement demanding lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport which is an integral part of Tamilian culture. Several dozens of them also held a protest demonstration outside the PETA headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Laced with posters and banners, Tamil-Americans, including a large number of children and women, raised slogans in support of Jallikattu and vented out their anger against animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which is leading in supporting the ban on the grounds that it is a torture to animals. We love our animals. We know how to treat our animals. This is part of our tradition and culture, said Babu Vinayagam, one of the anti-PETA protesters at the Gandhi Statue in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington. Todays rally is to show our solidarity with our people back home fighting against ban on Jallikattu, he said. Majority of the slogans were in Tamil, but at times they shouted Down Down PETA, venting their anger at the animal rights group. They also shouted We want Jallikattu. Vinod Kumar, an IT professional from Tamil Nadu, said expatriate Tamilians wanted a permanent solution and an ordinance route to lift the ban on Jallikattu. We want legislative measures, so that this age-old tradition could be continued, he said. This was one of the largest protest rallies and demonstrations in front of the Indian Embassy in recent years. We may be away from home, but home is always with us. We are Tamil people and are proud of our heritage, it is our pride that is being taken away from us, said Nalini Britto speaking on behalf of the Greater Washington Tamil Diaspora, which had organised the anti-PETA, pro-Jallikattu rally in Washington. Meanwhile, an ABC-affiliate local news channel in Virginia reported a protest outside PETA headquarters here in Norfolk. Dozens of people travelled to Hampton Roads from all across the world to protest outside of the PETA headquarters, the news channel said. In a statement, PETA alleged that these protesters are anxious to overturn the court ruling and preserve a culture as heinous as fox hunting was in the UK and bullfighting is in Spain, one now outlawed, the other being banned, city by city. PTI Kathmandu, January 23 Two Indian nationals have been arrested by Nepal police here on charges of stealing NRs 6,00,000 from bank accounts of many people by forging debit cards and hacking their ATM pin. Iqtedar Khan, 23, from Chandigarh and Niranjan Mehta, 33, from Delhi were attested from the capitals tourist hub Thamel on January 12 after police examined CCTV footage from multiple ATM booths in the Kathmandu Valley. The Nepal Polices Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) had swung into action after receiving numerous complaints from the public that they lost balance from their bank accounts though they did not withdrawn any money, the Himalayan Times reported. According to the police, the duo had withdrawn around Nepali rupees 6,00,000 from around 20 ATMs in the past one month. Police also seized mobile phones, Rs 8,000 cash, a forged ATM card among other materials from their possession. If convicted, the suspects would face a jail sentence up to five years and a fine equal to the amount they defrauded, police informed. PTI Mohali, January 22 Jitni takat Punjab ke log hamen denge, utna hi hum unke liye kar payenge, said Alka Lamba, AAP MLA from Delhi here today. Lamba, who is taking care of the election campaign of Mohali AAP candidate Narinder Singh Shergill, addressed a gathering at Jal Vayu Vihar in Sector 67. She told The Tribune that the old, young, women and others were supporting the AAP candidate because they now wanted a corruption-free government and an end to the drug menace. She said the party had contested elections earlier in Punjab and this time it was sure to improve its performance. Lamba said residents of Delhi were provided power at cheaper rates and a lot of improvement was brought about in the medical and educational spheres. "In Punjab, the party will be able to govern in a much better way as compared to Delhi as it would not have to depend on an authority like the Lieutenant-Governor. The Lokpal and the Lok Ayukta will be appointed in Punjab after AAP comes to power. What we couldnt do in Delhi, will now be done in Punjab," added Lamba. OC Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 22 In spite of the Supreme Court directing Punjab to re-construct the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today said he would not get the canal re-constructed at any cost on coming to power. I am ready to face the wrath of the Supreme Court and go behind bars for this. But if Punjab gives me two-thirds majority (so that I do not need to depend on less-trustworthy Akalis and AAP) so that a suitable constitutional amendment can be made, I will overcome the crisis legally, thus not violating any law, he said during his visit to the city after addressing an ex-servicemen rally in Jalandhar Cantt. Punjab has been unable to present a logical picture on water sharing with Haryana, he said, adding that during reorganisation of states, Punjab got 60 per cent of land but only 40 per cent of water. We will take up the matter constitutionally again to save 10 lakh acres from going dry. He asked Congress rebels to sit back or campaign for the Congress otherwise they would be expelled from the party for life. Evades query on CM face Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh avoided a query about being named the CM candidate. There are reports that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi could announce Amarinder as the CM candidate during his Punjab tour. "There is nothing like that. All that I know is that the Congress vice-president is finalising his tour in a day or so," Amainder said. Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, January 22 Two women associated with the fashion industry one from a royal family and the other from an Army background are doing their bit for their families in the Patiala Urban Assembly segment. They make no political statements and urge voters with folded hands. Humbleness is their forte. Back from Tamil Nadu after completing her American High School, 21-year-old Seherinder Kaur is the granddaughter of Capt Amarinder Singh and daughter Raninder Singh. She landed in Patiala a few days ago; she has been making rounds the city as part of her door-to-door campaigning since. I am yet to vote in Patiala. This is my first brush with politics. I am seeking votes for dadaji, who is busy touring the state, says Seher. Draped in a phulkari that covers her white suit, Seher traverses lanes with her grandmother Preneet Kaur meeting people with folded hands. Please vote for Capt Amarinder and ensure that the Congress forms the next government in the state, she says in Punjabi interspersed with some Hindi words. Seher is eager to leave for the US to make a career in the fashion industry. But for now, she is getting groomed in politics from her grandmother, a three-time MP. Wherever I go, I feel peoples warmth for my grandparents. It feels nice. Campaigning is tough, but I am enjoying meeting people. I can feel the connect and so can they, she says. I have not made any speeches, but I have talked to youths, elders and shopkeepers. I tell them that dadaji will address their problems, she says, as she recalls how her grandfather skipped important events to be with her in Delhi to attend her birthday. In another lane, another proud daughter speaks. My father General Joginder Jaswant Singh served the country by heading the Army. Later, he served the people of Arunachal Pradesh by being a Governor. And now, he will serve Patiala after being elected as the MLA, says Urvashi Kaur, a fashion designer in Delhi. Peoples affection for my father gives me the confidence that he will. Covering her coloured hair strands, she talks about her fathers quality of facing every situation bravely. One thing I have learnt from him is to never give up. He is working hard. I am sure people of the city will honour his commitment, she adds. Varinder Singh Tribune News Service Moga/Jagraon, January 23 The rough and tumble of Punjab politics has attracted the Punjabi diaspora to the state. This is the time of elections, and NRIs want to contribute their bit to ensure their party wins. More than 500 NRIs from Canada, New Zealand and Australia reached Delhi on the intervening night of January 18 and 19 and proceeded towards Punjab. A group of 400 NRIs from Chicago have arrived in the state to support the Congress. And hundreds of NRI supporters of the SAD are in the field. The maximum number of NRIs has come from Canada and nearly 75 per cent of them are supporting AAP. The failure of the traditional parties to effect a change explains the support to AAP from abroad. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is expected to hold an interaction with them in Majitha tomorrow. Punjabi NRIs from other countries such as Norway, New Zealand, Germany and Sweden are trickling in small groups of 20 to 25. We have been mute spectators to the pitiful performance of all political parties for so long. Now, it is the turn of people to experiment with something new. All our matters are related to corruption, says an emotionally charged Harry Dhaliwal, a former federal citizenship judge based in Toronto. He is a native of Sherpur Kalan village near Jagraon. NRIs have spread out, campaigning in Ferozepur, Bathinda, Moga, Jagraon, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Balachaur and Jalandhar. Tarlochan Sohal from San Francisco spent two months in Punjab, campaigning for AAP. He returned recently. A group of seven tech-savvy youngsters from San Francisco have already reached Punjab to pitch for AAP candidates. Punjabis in the US are enthused about the Assembly elections, he says. Dhaliwal outlines AAPs strategy. The party has deployed at least 20 to 25 NRIs in each of the 117 Assembly constituencies. They are persuading their friends and relatives to vote for party, he says. Wooing is not limited to relatives alone. NRIs are campaigning in villages as well. At Kot Karar village near Talwandi Bhai township, Harpreet Khosa a transporter from Brampton addresses a gathering. We want you to enjoy a dignified life as we do abroad. Everybody here is ready to work hard like us, but where are the right opportunities here? he says. Manjinder Singh of the UK and Surinder Singh Nambardar of the US have been camping in their native Chakkar village Jagraon, creating awareness among people about the importance of their vote. For Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), grim law and order situation in the state is a cause for concern. MASON CITY A busy Mason City intersection will close Monday for continued work on the Alliant gas line project. Alliant Energy spokesman Justin Foss said all traffic to Pierce Avenue and First Street Northwest will be blocked so workers can dig up the road, connect two gas lines and repave the road with "winter concrete" so traffic can resume. The work is expected to take two weeks. The intersection will then reopen in all directions. After that we will shut down all work to early spring, Foss said. Were getting close to a stopping point. Its part of Alliant's project to build a gas line along Pierce Avenue from 12th Street Northwest down to 19th Street Southwest. Alliant project delays frustrate Mason City neighborhood MASON CITY Residents along North Pierce Avenue in Mason City are frustrated as the constru City officials granted Alliant permission to post signs for the detour around the Pierce and First Street Northwest closure, said Mason City Engineer Mark Rahm. The project, originally slated to be complete in December, has suffered multiple delays. The first delay occurred when the crews hit granite while drilling, slowing progress. Second, one of the bores was not done properly and needed to be redone on North Pierce Avenue, said Foss. Crews pulled out temporarily in early January during bitterly cold temperatures, which dropped well below zero. The company had planned to be done for the winter by Jan. 31, but the closure announced Friday means crews could be at the site about a week longer. Alliant is working to alleviate stress in the area while trying to complete the project, Foss said. We appreciate peoples patience and understanding, he said. Were working on getting this wrapped up. Construction will resume when conditions improve, likely March or April, Foss said. He said thats when theyll close Pierce and First Street Northwest again to rip up the winter concrete and repave with a permanent concrete. Thats expected to take a few days. Alliant: First Street Northwest intersection will reopen in February MASON CITY Crews working on the Alliant gas line project along North Pierce Avenue should Workers will then begin boring underneath Highway 122 and continue moving south along South Pierce Avenue toward the ending point on 19th Street Southwest. Rachna Khaira Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 22 Gangster Noor Pancham Sangha was shot at and grievously injured in a busy locality here today despite the tight security for Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's visit with both police and paramilitary forces deployed in the city. Sangha is believed to have been helping a Congress candidate. The alleged attacker, Gursharan Bhalu, is said to have links with a BJP candidate. The gangsters were working for the rival candidates in the fray from the same constituency, claimed sources. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Sangha's family held a protest against the BJP leader outside the hospital where Pancham was admitted. As his condition worsened, Sangha was shifted to the DMC, Ludhiana. His condition is critical. The police said Sangha, who runs a dairy, stopped his car near a shop at Cool Road to collect payment from a client. He was approached by Bhalu and two others, one of them on a motorcycle. As soon as he stepped out of his car, he was shot at five times. According to the DCP, Bhalu is booked in more than 10 cases and Sangha four. Three persons from the Bhalu gang were arrested recently. Surprisingly, though a proclaimed offender, Bhalu went unnoticed at various check posts in the city. A case has been filed under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. Sanjay Bumbroo Tribune News Service Fatehgarh Sahib, January 23 Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal formally announced the partys 15-point manifesto assuring freebies for the electorate here on Monday. Sukhbir, who was here to address a rally in favour of former MLA and party candidate Didar Singh Bhatti at old grain market, said each street of every village in the state would be equipped with solar lights besides extending the width of the link roads from 9 feet to 18 feet in the next five years. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) He said a government owned gaushala (cattle shed) for stray animals would be constructed in each assembly segment besides setting up 2,500 skill development centres one each in a cluster of five villages. He said the youths after being trained at these centres would be provided loans up to Rs 10 lakh by the Punjab State Cooperative Bank for opening their own ventures. The Deputy Chief Minister also said the SAD-BJP government would provide desi ghee and sugar to blue card holders at the rate of Rs 25 and Rs 10, respectively under the flagship Atta-Dal scheme. To woo the economically-weaker sections in the general category, Sukhbir announced that free electricity would be provided as had been done in the cases of schedules castes and backward classes. He said old-age and widow monthly pension would be increased to Rs 2,000 from the current Rs 500, Shagun scheme to Rs 51,000 from Rs 15,000, Bhagat Puran Singh Medical Insurance scheme to Rs 1 lakh from the present Rs 50,000. He said houses would be constructed for five lakh people living in dilapidated homes with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore. Regarding farmers, he said, they would get Rs 100 bonus over and above the MSP, Rs 2 lakh annual loan without interest for purchase of agriculture inputs to those, who had less than five acres, besides loans of poor farmers would be waived off. The SAD president said media hype was being created that the SAD-BJP was having triangular contest with arch-rival Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. He said there was a direct fight between his party and the Congress in the Majha and Doaba regions while the AAP was showing its presence in 21 assembly segments in Malwa region. He claimed that his party would win 85 seats in the state as the Congress was gripped with infighting. Tribune News Service Mussoorie, January 23 Ganesh Joshi, sitting BJP MLA from Mussoorie, today filed his nomination papers amid beating of traditional drums in Dehradun today. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Rajkumar Jaiswal, who is also the state general secretary of the Narendra Modi Vichar Manch, also filed his nomination from the Mussoorie seat. Both candidates reached the nomination centre along with their supporters to file their nomination papers. In the Congress fold, Godavari Thapli heaved a sigh of relief after former Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola backed out in her favour at the eleventh hour. She visited Mussoorie after being named the Congress candidate from this segment to thank party workers for their support. She also thanked Gunsola for supporting her. Now, a three-cornered contest is imminent here. Sitting Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi said he would win with a thumping majority. I have worked tirelessly for the development of my constituency, he added. BJP rebel Rajkumar Jaiswal said, I have understood that the national parties are misleading the people of the state. The BJP and the Congress are working with only one objective, thats to win elections by any means. Mussoorie is a renowned tourist destination, but it struggles for adequate drinking water and parking facility which shows that the representatives of Mussoorie have done nothing so far. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started a campaign against the corrupt, but what the party leaders were doing was the antithesis. The BJP, by inducting corrupt leaders into the party, has become the second form of Congress, he said. Tribune News Service & PTI Dehradun, January 23 Accusing top Uttarakhand Congress leaders of giving up their constituencies in the hills and moving to the plains out of a sense of insecurity, the BJP today said the states ruling party was going to the polls with a defeated mentality. Top Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Pradesh Congress Chief president Kishore Upadhyay, have shifted from their constituencies in the hills to the plains which was something unheard of. It shows their sense of insecurity, Union Health Minister and BJPs election in-charge for Uttarakhand JP Nadda told reporters here. He said the migration of the youth from the hills to the plains in search of works was a known phenomenon but was unheard of for leaders. The Congress is going to the polls with a defeated mentality, he claimed. Switching constituencies by the Chief Minister and the Pradesh Congress chief showed their lack of confidence ahead of the elections, he said. Not only that, the Congress also seems short of candidates otherwise it would not have fielded candidates who were denied ticket by the BJP, he said. Shifting from Dharchula in the hills, a seat he represented in the last Assembly, the Chief Minister is to contest this time from two seats in the plains- Kichha and Haridwar (Rural). Also, PCC president Kishore Upadhyay has been fielded from Sahaspur in the plains, instead of Tehri in the hills. Also, Nadda flagged off eight campaign-vehicles, fitted with LED screens, to different directions from the partys state office to drum up support for the party. He claimed people were fed up with corruption and had made up their mind to elect BJP to power. People are tired of corruption and want a government which delivers. The BJP has had a track record of delivering in Uttarakhand. It not only created Uttarakhand, but also gave it special category status and an economic package, Nadda said. Fitted with LED screens, the eight campaign vehicles will tour different regions of the state and highlight steps taken by the Centre for the welfare of Uttarakhand, including the all-weather Char Dham road project whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 27 amid much fanfare. Slogans like Come with BJP and change Uttarakhand, Atal Ji ne banaya, Modiji sawarenge (ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee created Uttarakhand, PM Modi will build it) are written on different sides of the campaign vehicles. Claiming that demonetisation was a big step towards the countrys economic cleansing, Nadda said drastic measures like these made people across the country optimistic about their future under the leadership of Narendra Modi and it will be reflected in the elections. Refuting the charge of promoting dynastic politics by giving tickets to more than one people from a family, he said, tickets were distributed strictly on the basis of merit. Winnability was a major criterion and surnames were not important. Moreover, it was a collective decision of the party not only mine, he said when asked how both Munna Singh Chauhan and his wife Madhu Chauhan were given tickets by the party. Union Health Minister meets sulking BJP leaders Dehradun: Amid rebellion in the state BJP after distribution of the ticket for the Assembly poll, partys state in-charge JP Nadda on Monday said it was tackling the problem in right earnest. Ours is a democratic party, if some party leaders have said something within the party forum, it will be heard, he added. Sources in the party claimed that Nadda, along with Uttarakhand party affairs in-charge Shyam Jaju, met several party leaders who were denied ticket. Around 28 leaders have been heard, others are being brought around with gentle reprimand, said a senior BJP leader. Talks were also held on the appointment of Teerath Singh Rawat as the state party president, but senior leaders refused to comment on the matter. Similalry, efforts were also made to approach Asha Nautiyal, a contender for the Kedarnath seat, and Vijay Barthtwal from the Yamkeshwar seat. Both are undecided on filing papers as Independent candidates against the official candidates of the BJP.TNS Chennai, January 23 The Madras High Court directed Tamil Nadu DGP on Monday to ensure safety of the public and pro-jallikattu protesters holding their stir peacefully even as the state government claimed anti-social elements have infiltrated the students protests in the last few days. Till January 19, it was protest by students, but after that anti-social elements had infiltrated them, state Advocate General R Muthukumarasamy said, quoting intelligence reports. He also told the court that 25 vehicles in the Ice House police station in the city vicinity were burnt and as many as 24 police personnel injured in stone pelting and hospitalised. Two sub-inspectors and four constables were severely injured, he told the court, which was hearing petitions by two protesters who wanted a direction to the police to not harass them. In his oral orders, Justice R Mahadevan directed the state DGP to ensure safety of public and pro-jallikattu protesters conducting their stir 'peacefully'. However, he said police could take action if the protesters violated the law or in the event of any untoward incident. The petitions came up for hearing hours after the police crackdown at Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation. Posing questions such as why police resorted to baton charge, the judge directed the AG to instruct the DGP to ensure safety of public and protesters. The judge also asked protesters as long they would continue their agitation in the wake of the government passing an ordinance for conduct of jallikattu. In their petitions, G Pavendhan and Senthil Kumar sought a direction to the police not to harass the protesters. Sankarasubbu claimed that police unleashed violence on the protesters who were peacefully protesting since January 15 last. He claimed some protesters 'collapsed' in the baton charge. "We are only students. We may have concluded (the protest) after discussing with the legal fraternity about the ordinance passed. But the government did not have patience," he said. Countering the charges, the AG, who traced the sequence of events leading to the promulgation of the ordinance, submitted that a number of protesting students had withdrawn their stir in view of the promulgation of the ordinance. He also said the petitions had been filed under Section 482 of CrPC and not PILs. The government was also supporting the cause of the protesters. At 5.30 am on Monday, police asked the remaining agitators to leave sites of protest ane even showed them copies of the ordinance, the AG said. At this, the judge asked the petitioner's counsel how long they would continue the protest. "Who is the regulator? Get instructions, public safety is first." He also said the general public should be given safety. "The public safety comes first. If the protesters violate law it is for the police to take action." PTI ASTANA, January 23 Syria's warring sides met for talks for the first time in nine months on Monday, with frosty initial exchanges suggesting chances of a significant breakthrough were slim as the country's six-year-old conflict ground on. They sat opposite each other at a round table in a hotel conference room before a day of negotiations sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran in Kazakhstan's capital Astana got under way. Both delegations said the focus was on the country's ceasefire, a fragile precursor to a wider political solution. But Bashar al-Jaafari, the head of the delegation representing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said negotiators for the rebel forces had been rude and unprofessional, accusing them of defending "war crimes" committed by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the militant group formerly known as Nusra Front. A rebel source said opposition representatives planned to negotiate with the government side only via intermediaries. Mohammed Alloush, the head of the opposition delegation, told delegates he wanted to stop "the horrific flow of blood" by consolidating the shaky ceasefire and freezing military operations, saying Iran-backed militias had to leave Syria. Russian news agency TASS cited a draft communique in which Moscow, Ankara and Tehran would commit to jointly fighting Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and set up a mechanism for trilateral monitoring of the ceasefire, which took effect on December 30. But fundamental divisions also remain between pro-Assad Russia and Turkey, which has supported anti-Assad rebels including whether Syria's president should stay in power or, as the rebels are demanding, step down. There were no senior government figures among the delegations in Astana and Kazakhstan's foreign ministry said it expected the meetings to be over by midday on Tuesday. Overseeing ceasefire Some observers said the talks, which UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is attending, could help jump-start UN-led negotiations that were suspended in late April. De Mistura said it was crucial to get a mechanism to oversee and implement a nationwide ceasefire in place to build confidence. "That by itself ... would be a major achievement," he said, adding he hoped Astana could pave the way for direct talks between the government and opposition in Geneva next month. The Astana talks pointedly exclude the West, though Kazakhstan, with the backing of Moscow and Ankara, extended an invitation to the new US administration last week, which Washington declined. Iranian officials have said they strongly oppose US involvement, though George Krol, the US ambassador to Kazakhstan, attended as an observer. Turkey and Russia each for their own reasons both want to disentangle themselves from the fighting. That has pushed them into an ad hoc alliance that some people believe represents the best chance for progress towards a peace deal, especially with Washington distracted by domestic issues. The opposition arrived in Astana aware that the fall of their former urban stronghold, Aleppo, has shifted the momentum in the fighting in favour of Assad. On Sunday, warplanes bombed rebel-held areas of western Syria, killing 12 people in one location, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, while insurgent shelling of Aleppo killed six. "The ceasefire is clinically dead, but the Russians and Turks want to keep it alive to send a message to the international community that they are the ones in charge of the Syrian situation," said Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman. Reuters Port Louis, January 23 The Indian-origin Prime Minister of Mauritius Sir Anerood Jugnauth on Monday handed over power to his son Pravind despite anger from the opposition which has called for new elections in the island nation. Jugnauth, 86, officially handed his resignation to President Ameenah Gurib Fakim whose role is ceremonial after long hinting he would step down before his term expires in 2019. "The job of prime minister involves great responsibility. It is a great burden. I have carried it but now it is time to make way for the youth," he said after resigning. His son Pravind, 55, was then handed a letter nominating him to the post ahead of a swearing-in ceremony later today. Mauritius is a model of political stability in Africa. However the handover has created turbulence on the Indian Ocean island, best known as a dream beach holiday destination. The younger Jugnauth is both finance minister and leader of the ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM). Constitutionally, it is he who takes over if the prime minister resigns. However the opposition has rejected his "inheritance" of the position, and will be boycotting his inauguration. "The best would have been for the prime minister to dissolve the national assembly before his resignation and call an early election," said opposition leader and former prime minister Paul Berenger. That sentiment is shared by numerous residents phoning in to local radio shows, declaring they voted for Jugnauth senior in 2014, not his son. Jugnauth has done several stints as premier since 1982 and one in the ceremonial role of president. "It is a shame he has ended more than 50 years of political career in this way. We will organise a political campaign across the country to demand the holding of general elections," Berenger said. Mauritius, an island of 1.3 million inhabitants, regularly tops the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, and has held a series of peaceful elections and smooth handovers of power since independence from Britain in 1968. AFP Baghdad: Iraqi forces have captured all of eastern Mosul, dislodging Islamic State militants from the last pocket they held east of Tigris river, the Defence Ministry said on Monday. Mosul is Islamic State's last major city stronghold in Iraq. "The armed forces succeeded in liberating the left bank of the city of Mosul completely, after inflicting heavy losses in lives and equipment to the enemy," the Defence Ministry said in a statement on its website. Iraqi forces launched a United States-backed campaign in October to retake Mosul from the hardline Sunni group, which captured the city in 2014, declaring from its Grand Mosque a "caliphate" that also spanned parts of Syria. Reuters 10 dead after boat sinks off Malaysia Kuala Lumpur: Ten persons are confirmed dead and about 30 missing after a boat believed to be carrying Indonesian illegal immigrants capsized in rough seas off Malaysia, officials said on Moday. The bodies of six women and four men were washed ashore at a beach near the east coast town of Mersing, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said. "We believe there were about 40 Indonesians on the boat and we believe they were illegal immigrants," an agency spokesman said. The boat was headed from Indonesia to Malaysia when it capsized. Two passengers were rescued and taken to hospital but their condition was unknown. A search is underway for the missing. AFP Port Louis, January 23 Mauritian Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth handed over power to his son Pravind today despite anger from the Opposition, which has called for new elections in the island nation. Jugnauth, 86, officially handed his resignation to President Ameenah Gurib Fakim, whose role is ceremonial, after long hinting he would step down before his term expires in 2019. The job of prime minister involves great responsibility. It is a great burden. I have carried it, but now it is time to make way for the youth, he said after resigning. His son Pravind, 55, was then handed a letter nominating him to the post ahead of a swearing-in ceremony. Mauritius is a model of political stability in Africa; however, the handover has created turbulence on the Indian Ocean island, best known as a dream beach holiday destination. The younger Jugnauth is both finance minister and leader of the ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM). Constitutionally, it is he who takes over if the PM resigns. However, the Opposition has rejected his inheritance of the position, and will be boycotting his inauguration. The best would have been for the prime minister to dissolve the national assembly before his resignation and call an early election, said Opposition leader Paul Berenger. AFP London, January 22 British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she would not be afraid to tell Donald Trump when she finds something he has said unacceptable, as she prepares to meet the new US President in Washington this week. May, who is Britains second woman premier, made the comments after thousands of women marched in London on Saturday to protest about Trumps attitude to women, joining demonstrations held from Australia and Asia to continental Europe and Washington. Following last years vote to leave the European Union, the British government has been keen to deepen ties with the United States and other nations outside Europe to show that Brexit will not diminish its standing in the world. The meeting on Friday will be an opportunity for May, who initially struggled to build relations with Trumps team, to discuss what has long been called the special relationship between London and Washington, a pillar of British foreign policy. But the visit will also be clouded by his perceived attitude towards women, including a boast in a 2005 video about grabbing womens genitals, which prompted the wave of mass protests on Saturday. May is trying to improve relations with Trump after he irritated the British government soon after being elected by saying Nigel Farage, an outspoken anti-EU campaigner and critic of May, would be a good choice for Britains ambassador to Washington. May will be the first world leader to hold bilateral talks with the new US President when she meets him in Washington DC on Friday, White House has said. The two leaders will hold talks on issues such as trade, and security but the British PM today also stressed that she would not shy away from addressing difficult issues. She said the Trump team is interested in discussing a new trade arrangement with Britain despite the America first theme of Trumps inaugural address and his vow to evaluate every trade deal for its possible benefits to the US. She said the US and UK had a deep and broad-based relationship, spanning a range of shared interests and values. The British PM is set to fly out to Washington DC later in the week for what is expected to be a two-day visit to the US. Agencies " Ive already said that some of the comments that Donald Trump has made in relation to women are unacceptable, some of those he himself has apologised for. When I sit down (with Trump) I think the biggest statement that will be made about the role of women is the fact that I will be there as a female prime minister. Whenever there is something that I find unacceptable I wont be afraid to say that to Donald Trump." Theresa May, Britains Prime Minister MASON CITY | A Mason City woman accused of slamming another woman's head into the exterior of the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse was arrested on a warrant Sunday. Misti Lynn Thoe, 50, waited outside the courthouse for the woman to exit the building late Thursday morning and then smashed her head into a concrete corner of the building, according to the criminal complaint. Thoe has been charged with felony willful injury causing serious injury. The assault was witnessed by four people and was recorded on courthouse security cameras, the complaint stated. Thoe also allegedly admitted her intentions to a Department of Human Services worker before the assault took place, authorities say. The injured woman was transported to the hospital, according to the complaint. Thoe is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $20,000 cash or surety bond. -- Mary Pieper Washington, January 23 US President Donald Trump on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House early next month, working quickly to establish close ties with a crucial ally in the Middle East who was often at odds with his predecessor. As the Trump administration took steps toward relocating the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, Trump, on his second full day in office, spoke over phone to Netanyahu and discussed ways to ensure security and stability in the Middle East. The President emphasised on the importance the US places on US-Israel close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between the two countries, it said. The two leaders discussed efforts to make peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Trump and Netanyahu agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran, the White House said. During the call, Trump invited Netanyahu to an early February meeting at the White House. The President affirmed his unprecedented commitment to Israels security and stressed that countering ISIL and other radical Islamic terrorist groups will be a priority for his Administration, it said. During the call, Trump emphasised that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between them and that the US will work closely with Israel to make progress towards that goal. Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, called the conversation very warm. He said he had expressed his desire to work closely with the administration, with no daylight between the two countries. This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Trump was sworn in as the US President on Friday. A day earlier, he spoke over phone with the Mexican and Canadian leaders. Relations between Israel and the US were strained under former President Barack Obama and his administration abstained from a UN resolution in December that declared settlement construction in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank illegal. But the White House statement on the call did not mention Trumps suggestion to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump pledged during his campaign to move the US embassy, and his designated ambassador to Israel. No country in the world has its Israel embassy in Jerusalem, which is also claimed by the Palestinians as their capital. While Congress long ago passed a resolution ordering the move, both Republican and Democratic presidents have repeatedly waived the order on national security grounds. PTI Washington, January 23 President Donald Trump today formally withdrew the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), making good on a pledge to scrap a deal he denounced as a job killer and a rape of US interests. Embarking on his first full week in office, the 45th US President began rolling out his policy agenda after a tumultuous first weekend for his administration by signing a series of executive orders. Among the first was a memo on withdrawing from the vast TPP trade pact, which aimed to set trade rules for the 21st century and bind US allies against growing Chinese economic clout. Weve been talking about this for a long time, Trump said as he signed the executive order in the Oval Office. Great thing for the American worker what we just did. Negotiated by former President Barack Obamas administration and signed by 12 countries in 2015, the TPP had yet to go into effect and US withdrawal is likely to sound its death knell. It had been the main economic pillar of the Obama administration's pivot to the Asia-Pacific region to counter China. Its signatories Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Brunei together represent 40 per cent of the world economy. The real estate moguls White House bid was fuelled in part by a pledge to overturn trade deals such as TPP and NAFTA that he says have drained US jobs and destroyed its industrial heartlands. The Republican leader also signed two other orders, on freezing the hiring of federal workers and hitting foreign NGOs that help with abortion. Trump is looking to shift attention firmly back onto his policy agenda after a first few days that put his incoming administration on the back foot. Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security, he tweeted. Agencies Israeli PM invited to White House The President on Monday invited Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House next month, working quickly to establish close ties with a crucial ally in Middle East which was often at odds with his predecessor. Trump spoke over the phone to Netanyahu and discussed ways to ensure stability in the Middle East. Border tax on firms for shifting jobs abroad: Prez Trump warned business leaders that a substantial border tax will be imposed on firms that set up manufacturing units abroad as he promised to massively cut down regulations and taxes to encourage firms to produce products domestically. During a meeting with 12 business leaders, he warned them of consequences if they shift jobs abroad. Trump vows to start renegotiating NAFTA Trump has pledged to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement in upcoming talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Were meeting the Canadian PM and we will be meeting the President of Mexico (on Jan 31), who I know, and were going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA, he said. New York, January 23 In a gaffe, Donald Trump has misspelled honour in one of his first tweets as US President, evoking both amused and critical responses on the social media giant. Trump, an avid Twitter user, may have become the leader of the free world but moving to the White House does not seem to have helped his spelling. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States! he tweeted shortly after assuming his office. Instead of using the US spelling of honored or even the British spelling honoured, Trump decided to spell it in a completely different (and incorrect) way. The tweet was quickly deleted and re-posted with the correct spelling, but not before a number of people had replied querying the Presidents spelling. Good grief. Four more years of this, wrote one on Twitter. Another accused the Republican of being the most illiterate president ever. Its kinda fitting that he doesnt know how to spell honor lol. The New York Times reported that the 70-year-old swapped out his phone for a secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess. In December, Trump tweeted that China had ripped a research drone out of international waters in an unpresidented act. It was soon corrected to unprecedented. In February, he also boasted about his performance at CNNs Republican debate in Houston, tweeting, Wow, every poll said I won the debate last night. Great honer! PTI SAF-Holland USA says it will close its two plants in Michigan and shift their component manufacturing to three of its remaining factories, which are closer to customers. As part of the restructuring, the Muskegon facility will retain the company's Americas headquarters and engineering operations, and absorb sales and administrative functions from Holland. Production will transition to locations in Dumas, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Wylie, Texas, the company announced last week. It will invest about $3 million at those facilities, and will build "a new state-of-the-art engineering and technology center" in Muskegon. Two other U.S. plants are not affected. All production now in the U.S. will stay here, Steffen Schewerda, president, Americas, for SAF-Holland, told HDT on Jan. 23. Meanwhile, production will be adjusted to lower demand for components as a part of "market swings," he said. For the coming year, "the forecast is a little bit down in the truck business and a little bit down in the trailer business. Nothing abnormal. "For me, its a matter of the external and internal supply chain and where is my customer base," he continued. "Logistics is a huge part of costs." For example, moving some production to Cincinnati will better serve the Kenworth plant at Chillicothe, in southern Ohio. Ending of Michigan production will affect 230 jobs, of which 180 to 190 will go to Cincinnati, Dumas and Wylie. Michigan workers who are willing to move might get at least some of those jobs, Schewerda said. Sixty to 70 administrative workers from Holland will be shifted to Muskegon, about 30 miles away. The Muskegon and Holland plants now make auxiliary-axle suspensions, fifth wheels, couplings and drawbars. The transition, which is expected to be implemented over 18 months, will lead to one-time restructuring costs of as much as $10 million this year. That will consist mainly of moving costs, impairment on machines and equipment, and severance payments. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story updates the one posted on Jan. 20. LAKE MILLS | Freeborn County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested a Lake Mills man Sunday morning after he allegedly broke into a Hayward, Minn., bar. Jeromy Eugene Dann, 34, could face charges of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, felony first-degree burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Freeborn County Attorneys Office. Dann was arrested after deputies were dispatched to Julios Bar and Grill at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on a report of a burglary in progress, according to the sheriffs office. As deputies were en route, Dann allegedly left the scene and they were informed that he had taken the cash register. A deputy reportedly found the vehicle traveling south on Freeborn County Road 26 south of Hayward, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Dann attempted to ram the pursuing deputys squad car, but was unsuccessful, according to the Sheriffs Office. The vehicle left the roadway near Freeborn County Road 1 and 820th Avenue and entered the ditch, according to the Sheriffs Office. Dann was then taken into custody. No injuries were reported in the pursuit. The cash register, along with other items, were recovered from Danns vehicle, the Sheriff's Office reported. The incident is being investigated by the Freeborn County Sheriffs Office. The Albert Lea Police Department assisted with the pursuit. Dont make any sudden moves is the advice offered to the new president by Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations, which has not traditionally been known as a beer hall of populist beliefs. Haass meant the president should bring his National Security Council together to anticipate the consequences before tearing up the Iran nuclear deal, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem or shooting down a missile being tested by Kim Jong Un. In arguing against rash action, Haass is correct. Where the CFR and the establishment are wrong, and Donald Trump is right, however, is in recognizing the new world we have entered. The old order is passing away. Treaties and alliances dating from the Cold War are ceasing to be relevant and cannot long be sustained. Economic patriotism and ethnonationalism, personified by Trump, seem everywhere ascendant. Transnationalism is yielding to tribalism. The greater danger for President Trump is that the movement he led will be abandoned, its hopes dashed, and the agenda that Trump rejected and routed will be reimposed by a Republican Establishment and its collaborators in politics and the press. The existential threat to the West no longer comes from the East, from a Russian army crashing through Poland and Germany and driving for the Elbe and Fulda Gap. The existential threat to the West comes, instead, from the South. The billion-plus peoples of the Maghreb, Middle East and sub-Sahara, whose numbers are exploding, are moving inexorably toward the Med, coming to occupy the empty places left by an aging and dying Europe, all of whose native-born populations steadily shrink. Americans bleeding border is what concerns Americans, not the borders of Estonia, South Korea, Kuwait or the South China Sea. When Trump calls NATO obsolete, he is saying that the great threat to the West is not Putins recapture of a Crimea that belonged to Russia for 150 years. And if the price of peace is getting out of Russias face and Russias space, maybe we should pay it. George Kennan, the architect of Cold War containment of Stalins Russia, admonished us not to move NATO to Russias border. Of Brexit, the British decision to leave the EU, Trump said this week, People, countries want their own identity and the U.K. wanted its own identity ... so if you ask me, I believe others will leave. Is he not right? Is it so shocking to hear a transparent truth? How could Europes elites not see the populist forces rising? The European peoples wished to regain their lost sovereignty and national identity, and they were willing to pay a price to achieve it. Apparently, the Davos crowd cannot comprehend people who believe there are more important things than wealth. Yet while President Trump should avoid rash actions, if he is to become a transformational president, he will spurn an establishment desperately seeking to hold onto the world that is passing away. Article V of the NATO treaty may require us to treat a Russian move in the Baltic as an attack on the United States. But no sane president will start a war with a nuclear-armed Russia over Estonia. No Cold War president would have dreamed of so rash an action. Rather than risk such a war, Ike refused to send a rifle or bullet to the heroic Hungarian rebels in 1956. Painful, but Ike put America first, just as Trump pledged to do. And given the strength of ethnonationalism in Europe, neither the eurozone nor the EU is likely to survive the decade. We should prepare for that day, not pretend that what is taking place across Europe, and indeed worldwide, is some passing fever of nationalism. Notwithstanding Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillersons diktat, the United States is not going to force China to vacate the fortified reefs in a South China Sea she claims as her national territory. Stick to that demand, and we best prepare for war. As for the Taiwan card, it was played in 1972 by Richard Nixon as the price of his opening to China. Four decades ago, Jimmy Carter cut diplomatic ties to Taiwan and terminated our security pact. For Xi Jinping to accept that Taiwan might be negotiable would mean an end of him and the overthrow of his Communist Party of China. The Chinese will fight to prevent a permanent loss of Taiwan. The imperative of the new era is that the great nuclear powers China, Russia, the United States not do to each other what Britain, France and Germany did to each other a century ago over a dead archduke. President Trump should build the wall, secure the border, impose tariffs, cut taxes, free up the American economy, bring the factories home, create millions of jobs and keep us out of any new wars. With rare exceptions, wars tend to be fatal to presidencies. Patrick J. Buchanan is the author of the new book The Greatest Comeback: How Richard Nixon Rose From Defeat to Create the New Majority. Dear Amy: My wife of 20 years surrendered her daughter, Betsy for adoption 30 years ago. My wife and I were reunited with Betsy 10 years ago and have become very close, although Betsy lives in a different state. Betsy and her adoptive parents have become estranged over the past few years. So now Betsy wants to divorce her current adoptive parents because of what she feels are irreconcilable differences, and for (future) legal reasons that also involve her daughter (who is 8 years old). The adoptive parents considered her their granddaughter, of course. Now Betsy is asking my wife and her biological father, who has been out of the picture for 30 years, to become her new adoptive parents. Im very open-minded, but something doesnt feel quite right. At first, I thought this recognition was a nice idea, but now I feel that to go before a judge and make a public statement that she and Betsys biological father are now adoptive parents, puts me in an uncomfortable position. I really have no idea what the legal ramifications might be for me and my wife, but really, the fact that a public statement is being made between the daughters biological parents is what makes me most uncomfortable. To complicate the matter further, my wife and I also have children together, and we both have children from a previous marriage. Do you think I am being an oversensitive territorial male? No Prior Precedent Dear No Prior: You are not being oversensitive. Betsy is not being sensitive enough. As your wifes long-time husband and father to the children you two have together (and the children you had before your marriage), you detect a challenge to these relationships. I agree that this puts you in a vulnerable spot, and you should be very honest about your reaction to it. Check your state laws regarding adult adoption. Some states require a spouse to sign a form approving the adoption. You and your wife should see an attorney regarding all of the legal ramifications to this adoption, for you and your entire family circle (including all of your collective children, as well as her child). Additionally, you and your wife should see a family counselor to discuss the impact on you and your children. If Betsy manipulates your wife or pressures her for the adoption to be done very quickly, you should be skeptical about her motives. Do not agree to this in haste. Contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Amy Dickinson, c/o Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. Follow her on Twitter @askingamy or like her on Facebook. Tulsa-based accessories retailer Rustic Cuff opened its first Texas store in The Pavilion on Lovers Lane in Dallas on Monday. Owner Jill Donovan said in August she was also actively pursuing two other locations in the Big D that couldnt be named at that point, with possibly more to come. Rustic Cuff has locations in Edmond, Oklahoma City and two in Tulsa 1325 E. 15th St., Suite 106, and 7890 E. 106th Place. Its bracelets are made at the companys Tulsa production office. The collection for men, women and kids is also available online at rusticcuff.com or facebook.com/rusticcuff and at more than 250 boutique stores across the country, according to its website. New partnership Finnish design house Marimekko has announced a partnership with womens rights organization Equality Now. Through Feb. 28, Marimekko will donate $10 from the sale of each Tasaraita-print garment to the organization that fights for gender equality and to create a just world for women and girls. Marimekkos unisex Tasaraita print (meaning equal stripe in Finnish), which debuted in 1968, is recognized worldwide for its equal-spaced horizontal stripes that symbolize gender and age equality, according to press information. The Marimekko Tasaraita shirt collection is available at all Marimekko U.S. stores and on us.marimekko.com. Prices range from $95 (Ilma and Lyhythiha shirts) to $265 (Tuike dress). For spring, Marimekko is introducing revamped silhouettes, lighter material and new colorways for a collection of eight timeless, everyday pieces. Mark your calendar Get ready for the upcoming Just Between Friends spring/summer consignment sales and an Indie Trunk Show. JBF Jenks/Glenpool will hold its event Feb. 17-19 at the Glenpool Conference Center, 12205 S. Yukon Ave. in Sapulpa. JBF Tulsas event will be Feb. 26 through March 4 in the Exchange Center at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. This is the 20th year for the Just Between Friends Tulsa event, which features 1,000 consignors, and the 11th year for Just Between Friends Jenks/Glenpool owner Amber Post. Indie Trunk Show is gearing up for its April 8 event at Central Park Hall at Expo Square, 21st Street and Yale Avenue. The event will feature more than 175 Oklahoma artists, crafters, makers and boutiques. Beauty that gives back Have you ever considered buying beauty products that donate a portion of sales to nonprofit groups? If so, Refinery29.com is offering a list to get you started. Earth Tu Face coconut body butter, $42: 5 percent of sales on its site go to Planned Parenthood and the promotion continues through the current presidential term. H20+ Beauty Oasis Hydrating Treatment Deluxe 25th Anniversary Edition, $48: 10 percent of the products annual proceeds go to empower women and girls (through organizations like Girls Inc. of Alameda County). LOccitane Solidarity Balm, $6, (available Feb. 15 in stores and online): All proceeds go to the U.N. Women Fund for Gender Equality. Jennifer Behr Safety Pin Broach, $125: All proceeds go to the Southern Poverty Law Center. HAMPTON | A felony involuntary manslaughter charge filed against a Georgia man following a Franklin County crash that killed a Sheffield woman last year has been dismissed. After further investigation and analysis of the facts and applicable law, the state does not believe there is sufficient evidence to meet its burden of proof on the charge of involuntary manslaughter against Antonio Marecheau, according to the motion to dismiss filed by Iowa Assistant Attorney General Andrew Prosser. Man charged with involuntary manslaughter in Franklin county accident HAMPTON | A man was picked up in Georgia Monday on a Franklin County warrant for a felony in The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning the state can file charges against the defendant at a future date based on the same claims. Marecheau, 59, who was driving a semi, ran a stop sign and collided with a van driven by 36-year-old Penny Rust at the intersection of 190th Street and U.S. Highway 65 three miles north of Hampton on Feb. 16, according to the criminal complaint from the Iowa State Patrol. Rust was pronounced dead at the scene. Marecheau told authorities he was using a cell phone as a GPS device, according to the State Patrol. He allegedly said he received and answered a phone call at 6:30 p.m. Dispatch received the first 911 call regarding the collision at 6:31 p.m. The State Patrol filed the involuntary manslaughter charge against Marecheau in October. -- Mary Pieper On Australia Day NITV will present the Always Will Be Festival an array of programming and events that encourage a national discussion on what it means to be Australian today. NITV Channel Manager, Tanya Orman said: The 26th of January is a day of mixed emotions for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As Australias Indigenous broadcaster, NITV plays a vital role in providing a place for Indigenous voices to be heard on issues that matter to communities, and where all Australians can learn more about the rich cultures of our First Nations people. Through the Always Will Be Festival, NITV is exploring Indigenous perspectives on what this national day means for many, acknowledging our history and our survival, and encouraging more Australians to understand that Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land. Sunrise Ceremony Brought to you live from North Head in Sydney, Ernie Dingo takes Australians on an emotional journey that expresses Australias First Peoples resilience and connection to Country and one another. The live program kicks off at 5.30am with Dr Dennis Foley simulcast on NITV and SBS, and will include a musical performance and a smoking ceremony as the sun rises on 26 January. Anthems Sessions hour long special at 8.00pm AEST. See Christine Anu performing My Island Home, Archie Roach bringing an audience to tears singing Down City Streets, and Dan Sultan premiering his new song Drovers Boy exclusively on NITV. News, documentaries and films NITV News will bring live hourly updates from around the country throughout the afternoon, keeping you up-to-date with the days activities. NITV will also air a range of provocative films and documentaries that explore Indigenous identity, including its celebrated Songlines series, and critically acclaimed films such as Ivan Sens Beneath Clouds. For a full list of programming, please visit sbs.com.au/nitv/always-will-be closer to the date. ONLINE Change the Date song and 360 VR experience Some of Australias best hip hop artists have come together for NITVs Always Will Be Festival thanks to Elefant Traks and Bad Apples to produce an original song (Change the Date), and an accompanying 360 degree VR experience (produced by Start VR). It was not until 1994 that Australia Day began to be celebrated on 26 January, and for many Indigenous Australians this date marks a Day of Mourning with some asking, why not change the date? In an immersive 360 world, these iconic artists share their views on why Australia should come to grips with changing the date of Australia Day. Artists include: Urthboy (The Herd), Thundamentals (Tuka and Jeswon), L-Fresh the Lion, Ozi Batla, Nooky, Birdz (Nathan Bird), Kaylah Truth, Tas, Coda Conduct (Erica and Sally) and Hau (Koolism). The song and VR experience will be available online on Tuesday 24 January through the SBS VR app and on NITVs Facebook and You Tube pages. The SBS VR app is free to download for Apple iOS and Google Android. Information on what it is and how it works (with Google Cardboard) is here: sbs.com.au/topics/vr/virtual-reality Podcast Join Miss Ellanious, Ernie Dingo, Amelia Telford, Lydia Miller and other high profile Indigenous guests live from 2pm to 6pm on 26 January as they have hearty, live conversations about national identity. Tune into the podcast at 2pm AEST, available through sbs.com.au/nitv/. Comedy Event Indigenous drag queen Miss Ellanious will take to Sydney Harbour on a speedboat emblazoned in the colours of the Aboriginal flag, Priscilla-style. All the glitter and hilarity will be captured on NITVs Facebook Live stream. NITV is encouraging all Australians to join in a discussion around 26 January by using the hashtag #AlwaysWillBe on and in the lead up to 26 January. Filming is underway in Melbourne on the second season of Glitch, with new cast members Rob Collins (Cleverman, The Wrong Girl), Luke Arnold (INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, Black Sails), and Swedish legend Pernilla August (Star Wars, Fanny & Alexander). They join returning cast Patrick Brammall, Emma Booth, Genevieve OReilly, Rodger Corser, Sean Keenan, Hannah Monson, Ned Dennehy, Emily Barclay and Aaron McGrath. The paranormal series from Matchbox Pictures won both fans and awards, ahead of global interest thanks to its run on Netflix. But it has also been in the firing line of commercial TV execs and Screen Producers Australia accusing Netflix of entering into a co-production subsidised by public funds. An ABC spokesman said the deal delivered a better outcome for Australian audiences. Meanwhile co-creator and show runner Louise Fox said, We cant wait for our audience to see where the story goes. We want to deliver on the promise of answers and keep the thrills and spills coming. Tony Ayres, series co-creator added, We left our audience with so many questions at the end of the first series. Season 2 is our chance to answer some of these questions, whilst further exploring the confusing, messy and joyous miracle of being given a second chance at life. ABC Head of Scripted Production Sally Riley said: Glitch really broke the mould for ABC drama when audiences flocked to binge watch this fantastic paranormal mystery on iview. In 2017 we are going to shock, surprise and thrill fans, both returning and new, with what we have in store for Season 2. Glitch will film on location in Melbourne and regional Victoria until the end of March and will premiere later in the year. Production Credits: A Matchbox Pictures production in association with ABC TV, Netflix and Film Victoria. Distributed by NBCUniversal. Created by Tony Ayres and Louise Fox. Produced by Julie Eckersley. Directed by Emma Freeman and Tony Krawitz. Executive Producers Tony Ayres, Louise Fox and Chris Oliver-Taylor. ABC TV Executive Producers Alastair McKinnon and Brett Sleigh. A network banning a journo from a launch because of bad press? Perish the thought. News Corp reports three journos -two from Bauer Media and one from News Corp itself- have been banned from attending the Sydney launch of My Kitchen Rules. The suggestion is that Pete Evans has had input into the guest list approval for the Sydney event at Colin Fassnidges 4 Fourteen restaurant, snubbing 3 journos for Paleo-related yarns. Pete does not make any decisions in regards to who is given access to MKR ... that is a decision made by the publicity department, a Seven spokeswoman said. And we would never refuse access to anyone because obviously we are grateful of all publicity. Of course there is a per-head-cost for dinner events so there will always be limitations, regardless of show or network. Networks will sometimes launch events with nibbles (which is unfathomable for a food show) or schedule away from evenings to avoid an alcohol bill. Yes its first world problems. I havent seen this guest list but snubbing journos does happen from time to time (including for yours truly) where someone is unhappy with your recent copy. For the record, I have been invited to the MKR Melbourne launch, as I was last year.